Mailbox
GB BOO BOYS
Re: G8 (524)
Good on The list for deing its part to address the G8 Summit and the political demos. But boo. hiss to those politicians. business people. media commentators and meml.)ei's of the general public who derided the peoples' democratic right. if not moral obligation. to protest.
Fine for Edinburgh to accept v-iith open arms land cash registers) an almighty influx of visitors every August and Hoginanay. but protesters concerned enough about the millions of people dying in Africa to come to Scotland to make their voices heard — not on our doorstep. iight’?
\./\.’rong. Criticism levelled by some locals at the protests n‘akes the Scottish capital look small. iiiward-Iooking. mean—minded and miserly. Shame on you.
Miles Fielder Edinburgh
BAND AID? Re: G8 (524) Isn't giving away free Ira/III“) ari'nbands With every issue of The List rather missing the point. which is to raise money for the Make Poverty History campaign? PTOSIIIII’dbly you wouldn't give away free poppies on Armistice Day? Having said that. I think the very positive thing about the campaign this year is the amount of awareness that is being generated. There seems to be far more in the media about Africa generally than I remember from the LiveAid days. I'd still like to have seen more isome!) African musicians at Iiveti though. Dave Midgeley IVIachesfieId Actual/y. Make Poverty History is not a tundra/sing
The List,
organisation. It is lobbying governments to change in three crucial ways: eliminate debt, improve the amount and quality of aid and promote trade justice. ln any case, we purchased the bands from Make Poverty History. just like anyone else would have done. so we weren 't taking money away from the organisation.
IT’S ACADEMIC
Re: Letters (523)
In the past couple of issues the Carling Academy has come in for a fair bit of criticism and I really can't understand why. The best gigs I've seen in recent years have been there. most notably the Flaming Lips and the Hives.
Ever Since the venue opened it has been compared with the Barrowlands. This was always going to be the case. as the Barras had long been Glasgow's main live venue. Times are changing and I, for one. am no longer satisfied with what the Barras has to offer. I've queued for half an hour at the bar. only to be presented with an overpriced. warm. flat pint. Add to this that the place looks like it hasn't been cleaned in ten years and you suddenly find that other venues are a lot more appealing. These days I'm much happier to attend a gig at the Academy. It's not filthy. you can get a half-decent pint and the atmosphere is as good as any I've sampled anywhere.
I think people are gOing to have to accept that live venues are changing. Dark and dingy holes are becoming a thing of the past. As far as I'm concerned. the Carling Academy is a huge step in the right direction.
Andy Wilson Inverkip
14 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1TE
or The List at the CCA
350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow 62 3JD or email editor@list.co.uk
ACADEMY REWARDS Re: Letters (523)
The Carling Academy is a superb live venue and one which Glasgow had been Crying out for. It is in fact my preferred venue in Glasgow. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy the Barrowlands. however, the Academy has superior acoustics and an intimate atmosphere which is surprising for such a large venue. For Mike Sutcliffe. if the Academy were any wider that intimate feeling would be lost. I have never felt crushed or claustrophobic and I have seen a wide variety of gigs there. In fact. I've found it
spacious enough to dance comfortably during Prodigy. Basement Jaxx and Massive Attack gigs.
If you don't like the venue then don't buy tickets for it. plus it'll leave us fans of the Academy more tickets for the bands we love.
Lorna Barton
By email
Favourite venue? It's a subject that inspires plenty of passion, so this autumn we 'll be running a comparison of all the live venues in Glasgow and Edinburgh, giving readers the chance to nominate their favourites. On this evidence. the debate will be fiery.
9' i. "F. fl, \nr '1'- a
bags to the shop.
Erik Baurdoux Edinburgh
Executive for a tax on plastic bags. Over a billion are currently thrown into landfill sites in this country each year.
THE LETTER OF THE ISSUE WILL RECEIVE TWO BOTTLES OF
THE TAWNY
GREEN? I’M A DUTCHMAN Re: How green are you? (522) I just moved from the Netherlands to Edinburgh and I must say I am really enjoying the city so far.
There are three things which struck me most concerning the green issue during my first month here in Scotland: 0 I am stunned by the amount of plastic bags one gets in shops. I always have a rucksack with me when I go shopping. I do not understand why more people don't bring their own
0 In the Netherlands recycling is common. There are many special bins for paper and glass. I haven't seen any of these close to where I live. and obviously people are not going to walk 15 minutes to bring all their paper and glass to these bins. I am sure more peeple would recycle glass and paper if they were given the opportunity.
0 In the Netherlands people pay a bit more for their
glass/ plastic bottles and you get that money back when you hand them in at any Supermarket.
To me these three points don't seem to be too difficult to overcome. but my impression is that it is just an issue of habit.
Since we published Our green iSSue, we're delighted to say that a motion has been tabled in the Scottish
GRAHAM'S
GLAS ON AID EDINBII II
What did you think? War of the Worlds ucc Fountainpark. Edinburgh. Thursday 30 June
David
| w l
4THE LIST T I” .It.
effects.
Prison officer
I thought it was really. really good. It was a good take on the story and had some cracking special
Simon
Graphic designer Really enjoyed it. l'rn a big fan of the book and muSical version. The effects were awesome: I wasn't too scared by the aliens though.
Tricia
Civil servant
The film was entertaining but typically American. It was a nice touch to have Gene Barry in the end, who was also in the original.
EVENTS GUIDE
CONTRIBUTORS Publisher 8 General Editor Robin Hodge
EDITORIAL
Editor Nick Barley
Deputy Editor Brian Donaldson Assistant Editors
Mark Robertson.
Paul Dale. Ruth Hedges Subeditor Ashley Davies Research Henry Northmore (Film, Rock 8 Jazz) Ruth Hedges (Art) Rachael Street (Theatre. Dance. Comedy 8 Sport). Morag Bruce (Around Town. Classical. Folk & Kids)
SALES E: MARKETING Advertising Sales Manager Rachel Shields
Senior Media Sales Executives
Carol Ferguson
Brigid Kennedy
Media Sales Support Sharon Stephen
Media Sales
Ruth Kerr
Sarah Earney Promotions Manager Sheri Friers Promotions Assistant Gemma Beard Circulation Manager Neil Earnshaw Circulation Executive Keith Benzie
Special Projects Amanda Mungall
PRODUCTION Art Director
Krista KegeI-Dixon Production Manager Simon Armin Designer Lucy Reeves Production Assistant Russell Steedman
ADMINISTRATION Accounts Manager Georgette Renwick Accounts Assistant Manager Donna Taylor
Reception
Julie Graham
Edinburgh Office Manager Katie Scott
Glasgow Office Manager Katharine Haslett
SECTION EDITORS Around Town Morag Bruce Books Brian Donaldson Clubs Henry Northmore iwith Sandra Marron) Comedy Brian Donaldson Comics Paul Dale
Dance Kelly Apter
Eat 8 Drink Barry Shelby Film Paul Dale
Gay Nick Barley
Kids Ruth Hedges
Music Mark Robertson iiiith Norman Chalmers. Carol Main. Kenny Mathieson. Fiona Shepherd)
News Allan Radcliffe
Play Henry Northmore tiiiith Iain Davidson)
Shop Katy McAulay Television Brian Donaldson Theatre Steve Cramer Travel Rachael Street Visual Art Ruth Hedges