Issue 112

July 2020

Hello and a really warm welcome to the July issue of the Voice for Arran. We hope you are well and enjoying the prospect of (hopefully) stepping into the summer months with a bit more freedom than we have been used to in recent weeks.

I’m sitting here with a bit of a problem, a tricky but not unhappy one, where I am wondering how I can do justice to the wonderful articles that have come in for this issue. My heart feels full from the pieces that have arrived – accounts of compassionate activity and dedicated work going on in Arran, on Holy Isle and further afield, that are helping others and our planet during this time of lockdown and wider ecological crisis. From news of free vegetable boxes that the Arran Community Land Initiative are organising, to Niamh Dillon’s account of her experience of lockdown on Holy Isle, to Alice Maxwell’s article on LifeLines, in which she describes her personal journey writing to a prisoner on death row, there are messages of real beauty and hope in the pages that follow. One focus of this issue is Holy Isle  which developed over the last few weeks and began with Jim Henderson’s history. A couple of other related pieces came so that I then contacted Lama Yeshe Rinpoche, founder and Director of the Buddhist Centre for World Peace and Health on the island, to see if he would be able to write about Holy Isle too. Happily he agreed! As the Holy Isle articles formed one thread, the connections between the pieces grew as well – around interfaith communication and understanding, our interdependence, even notions of “oneness”, which the the Dalai Lama spoke of recently.

There is suffering apparent in the pieces too. This is no more evident than in the experience of death row prisoners, but we are also taken to it by Cicely Gill’s words and poem in the piece, ‘What’s on my mind? Well BLM of course’. With her words, we are reminded that while the recent and horrific event of George Floyd’s death and the protests that followed are not on our doorstep, even here on a small island in the west of Scotland, we are not apart from it and our interconnectedness is revealed over and over. Alice Maxwell reflects on this theme in her article, ‘We’re in this together’, a piece inspired both by our enforced isolation due to a virus we are all vulnerable to, and by the practice of isolation that many spiritual traditions have observed over the centuries. In revealing our connectedness through this practice, Alice quotes the famous poem No Man is an Island, by John Donne, and his lines – Any man’s death diminishes me, Because I am involved in mankind – speak right to the cause of BLM and to this issue as one of and for humanity. Understood from this angle we see how we are all responsible; it becomes so close it is painful.

In other pieces in this edition the urgent message to protect our environment stands out. Last month the Animals and Wildlife Bill (Scotland) was debated in Holyrood, and the Committee on Climate Change sent its progress report to the UK government. At this time when we have a chance to rebuild our economies post-Covid, the CCC strongly recommends that “Ministers seize the opportunity to turn the Covid-19 crisis into a defining moment in the fight against climate change”. Focusing on environmental matters closer to home, in his article Lama Yeshe Rinpoche, describes the ecological work that has taken place over the last 30 years (and which continues on the Holy Isle) and Sally Campbell calls for stronger measures to be implemented to safeguard the UK’s Marine Protected Areas.

So rather than for me to say much more, I will leave the articles to speak for themselves, and I hope their messages connect with you as they have with me. In the words of Thich Nhat Hanh, another Buddhist master, whose poem Please Call Me By My True Names, opens the issue, may the juxtaposition of joy and suffering that we are so often exposed to in life, help us to “wake up”, and as we recognise ourselves in all these situations, “so the door of my heart can be left open, the door of compassion”.

I hope you have a wonderful month, Elsa

Poem for July

Please Call Me By My True Names

Do not say that I will depart tomorrow -
because even today I still arrive.

Look deeply: I arrive in every second
to be a bud on a Spring branch,
to be a tiny bird, with wings still fragile,
learning to sing in my new nest,
to be a caterpillar in the heart of a flower,
to be a jewel hiding itself in a stone.

I still arrive, in order to laugh and to cry,
In order to fear and to hope.

The rhythm of my heart is the birth and death
of all that is alive.

Support Scotland’s Rangers’ jobs!

The National Trust for Scotland is Scotland’s largest conservation charity and one of the biggest employers of countryside rangers. However, the Trust has put 75% of their rangers, ecologists and other countryside staff at risk of redundancy. This means leaving many of Scotland’s most-loved natural places without day-to-day protection. NTS manages over 76,000 hectares of countryside, including Glencoe, Ben Lomond, St Kilda, and Glen Rosa on the Isle of Arran, home to a huge variety of wildlife and world-famous natural landscapes. The monitoring and management of these sites adds to our understanding of the natural world and is vital in tackling the climate crisis.

We’re All In This Together

We’re All In This Together - by Alice Maxwell

No man is an island,Entire of itself,Every man is a piece of the continent,A part of the main.If a clod be washed away by the sea,Europe is the less.As well as if a promontory were.As well as if a manor of thy friend'sOr of thine own were:Any man's death diminishes me,Because I am involved in mankind,And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee.

Holy Island – a history

In the fourth episode of the Viking story (see Voice for Arran, issue 111) reference was made to ‘Innis Shroin’ (Holy Isle.) In fact, over the years, there have been many inaccurate references to Lamlash and Moliase. What follows is the background to the village and island name, which has developed and changed over centuries.

The hamlet, now named Cordon was the original settlement and was named Loch an Eilean (The Loch of the Island).

Holy Isle’s first recorded name was ‘Innis Shroin’ (Island of the water spirit). Over the passage of time the names of the two areas were conflated resulting in Lamlash and Holy Isle. The story behind naming the village of Lamlash is a convoluted one. Innis Shroin was changed to Eilean Molaise, which became Elmolaise, Limolas, Lambath and finally, Lamlash.

Lockdown on Holy Isle

Lockdown on Holy Isle - by Niamh Margaret Dillon

Niamh is a parishioner of St Augustine’s Church, Milton, and has spent lockdown on Holy Isle during her gap year. Niamh will soon go to study law at Edinburgh University. First published here. The featured images shows volunteers on a pilgrimage (pre-Lockdown) to St Molaise’ cave in celebration of his feast day. Photo courtesy of Kevin Curtis.With many thanks to Niamh for letting us reprint her article here.

Protection

It’s Thursday at 8pm.

I’m standing clapping in recognition of the NHS, the care workers and all of those putting their own lives at risk during this pandemic when I spot the Trident submarine lurking in the waters around Holy Isle. It sends a shiver down my spine. The sinister, slinking death machine which patrols in our waters offering “protection”.

I keep clapping though, because I am so appreciative of our support workers; I feel it would be wrong not to be showing my support. I have family, friends and neighbours who work for the NHS - I know the personal sacrifices and dedication.

What’s on my mind? Well BLM of course…

With many thanks to Cicely Gill for letting us publish her poem here which she originally posted, together with the following words, on social media pages last month. Cicely is a poet and writer who lives on Arran.

What's on my mind? Well BLM of course.

I want to share with you a poem I wrote I think, in the 90s, which describes how I felt age 16. I used to think of myself as a white person in a black skin. Now I have learnt that it is the visual that counts for most people. Then I knew nothing about black culture. Now I know more--enough to feel very upset inside about Geo Floyd and the aftermath. I mean reading and listening to article after video re the daily discrimination undergone by black people in the UK. But we have to fix this together, black and white together.

Wanted – sub spotters on Arran!

Sinister, familiar, menacing, mysterious, commonplace … whatever you may think of them, submarines are visitors in the seas around Arran on a regular basis. The Royal Navy's submarines pass the island on their way out to the deeper waters of the North Channel and the Atlantic Ocean – and sometimes on missions to waters further afield.

The UK's submarines are all nuclear powered and some of them are also armed with nuclear weapons of mass destruction – carrying more destructive power than all the explosives used in World War II, including the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombs. The Navy's submarines now operate entirely from HM Naval Base Clyde, following a programme to relocate submarines based at Devonport in Scotland. As well as British submarines, nuclear powered submarines from the USA and France are also occasional visitors to the Clyde, and sometimes conventionally powered submarines from other NATO nations also visit.

Arran Community Land Initiative’s response to the virus

In this update from ACLI we hear about what the Land Initiative's response to the virus has been - 

In common with everyone else, the Land Initiative had to radically alter its plans for the year as a result of the Covid 19 virus. We quickly decided to increase our production of fruit and vegetables as a way of responding to possible shortages. None of us knew whether the global transport of food would be affected and accordingly growing more local produce seemed not only worthwhile but we also thought it might help offer volunteers purposeful activities during lockdown and recovery.

Tory betrayal on food standards

A report from Patricia Gibson, MP for North Ayrshire and Arran

Last week, I challenged Tory MP John Lamont in the Commons on National Farmers Union (NFU) fears and those of consumers, about the threat to food standards and safety.  I was astounded when he responded that the NFU “is spreading misinformation” about this important matter and the prospect of substandard, low quality food imports flooding the UK market and undercutting our excellent quality produce following a trade deal with America.

Free school meals extended over summer

A report by Kenneth Gibson MSP.

Ahead of the official school holidays, the SNP Government has announced an additional £27.6 million to help feed pupils and other vulnerable people over the summer.

Children eligible for free school meals are among those who will continue to be supported through funding that ensures councils are able to continue with additional food provision to help low income families during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The latest data from local authorities shows that around 175,000 children and young people are currently receiving free school meals, vouchers or cash payments to buy meals.

Water Savvy Arran

Posted by Eco Savvy on 25th June

Yesterday the Savvy Film Club successfully screened the mini-documentary ‘Explained: World’s Water Crisis’ This 18min documentary from Netflix has been shared to Youtube to allow the public to access educational resources during the pandemic. The film posed the question, how do we price our most valuable resource, while also ensuring access to it as a human right?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C65iqOSCZOY

Around 50 people tuned in to watch the screening which resulted in a highly engaging post film discussion within the event page on Facebook. To lead the discussion, and be on hand to answer any questions relating to Scotland’s freshwater resource, was Rachel Elliott who is a Strategic Planner for water efficiency at Scottish Water.

UK Marine Protected Areas and overfishing in the oceans

Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Bill. How can we protect the Inshore Waters and their communities? 30X30: A Blueprint for Ocean Protection

By Sally Campbellpetition to ban supertrawlers from MPAs launched by Greenpeace130,000 signaturesWhat of further afield?The science is clear: our oceans are in crisis. Now all we need is the political will to protect them.A Brighter Future?References:How China’s fishermen are impoverishing Africa30×30: A Blueprint for Ocean Protection.sign the petitionSally Campbell

Photos from June

Flowers in Blairbeg House garden this last month and sunset from top of Lamlash Hill towards Brodick. Photos courtesy of John Campbell - thanks!

[slideshowck id=7558]

Learning the language of nature

Art, spirituality and epidemiology do not often intersect. But when they do, it’s worth taking a closer look, especially when the emerging perspective can help us respond to epidemics such as Covid-19 in a more constructive manner.

The current global health crisis is an invitation to listen and reflect on the varying consequences of different kinds of collective human action and the impact of wider social and economic structures.

The inspiration for this way of seeing originates in a recent documentary by artist James Bridle titled Se ti sabir, the essay 'Spirituality as Common Sense' by Brother David Steindl-Rast, and the idea of a “language of epidemics” suggested by epidemiologist David-Waltner Toews.

The Animals and Wildlife Bill

On 17 June I was pleased to vote in favour of the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Bill.

Acting to stop animal cruelty is important to many people and I received hundreds of emails from constituents urging me to support specific amendments to the Bill.

A key feature of the Bill is the increased penalties for the worst types of animal cruelty and ‘Finn’s Law,’ which protects service animals such as police dogs and horses.

Arran’s MP calls for Island furlough to be extended

Arran’s MP Patricia Gibson has urged the UK Government to prolong furlough for island businesses as we work to ease lockdown restrictions and rebuild our island economies.

Mrs Gibson made her call in a parliamentary petition to the House of Commons on Wednesday 10 June highlighting the precarious position islands are in as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, not least because of the higher proportion of older people who live there and the dependency of islands on tourism. She said:

Marine News

Sent in by John Kinsman, station manager at Coastwatch St Monans, east Fife.

Floating Fish Factories

Destructive supertrawlers are targeting areas off the Fife and Tayside coast, stripping them of fish and harming the livelihoods of local crews, claim campaigners. Greenpeace is calling for a ban on the floating factories which it says spent a total of 2,600 hours which equals 108 days operating in marine protected areas off the coast of Scotland in 2019.