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Axe the poll tax!
In the aftermath of the (320 protests, Anne McMeekin finds out about a commemoration of one of the most successful displays of people power
argaret 'l‘ltttlt'ltcl‘ illsc'tl [U Cttll ll lllL' communit} charge. To the rest of us it \\il\ the poll in one of the most uni\er.sall_\'
loathed ta\ I'el'orms e\ er to pass through the House ol
Commons.
To commemorate Ill wars since the introduction of
the poll ta\ and the rioting and unrest that \sent \sith it. the People‘s Palace is hosting 3!) Years ()Il.' lx’r'iiir'm/n'riiie I/H' .lrilr ’n// '/21\ lh'lnunstrut/"oils in collaboration mm the Village Stor} telling Centre. It is a da} ol‘ mum to remind people of \\ hat happened. ho“ it happened and ho\\ people-poxs er reall} did lllith‘ :l tlll'l'cl‘cltc‘t‘.
.-\ mi\ture ol' perliirinances. stor)te|ling groups and demonsti'ations. the da_\ is aimed at reopening debate and inxestigating \sliether protest can still make a difference toda). ‘()ne of the things \\ e hauled to look at is \\hether people are still inl‘luenced b) collecti\ e action in the \\a_\ the} \\ ere 2f) _\ears ago.‘ .sa)s Clare (Bra). learning and access curator for Cilasgou Cit) Council. ”Do people protest and tr) and change things as a group and il‘ the} do that no\\ hois do the} do it'.’ \\'e \santed to find out if people are protesting in a dil‘l'erent \\ t1} Ultc‘ Oi. lilL‘ things the \iillitgc‘ Stoutelling Centre has looked at is whether people want to assist others on a more personal level now rather than being out on the streets protesting.‘
()ne \sa} ol e\ploring this on the da_\ is the HelmmsHu/ion u! l/It’ l’u/m'r'. \\illL‘il gi\es people the itl’lNirtunil} to Protest \\ itliotit remit. "l'he demonstration and banner-making ilL‘ll\ it} is aimed at under l(is so \ie‘ll be keeping it at an appropriate le\el ol tllsc‘llssitm.‘ sa_\s (ira). 'But part of \\ hat \xe \\ ant to lind out is \iliat people \Hllliti protest about it the) \\ ere to protest and indeed \iould protest be the action the} \xould choose to make their opinions heard or is there a \\a_\ that people prefer to communicate mm \\L‘ might be \sriting letters to parliament.‘
In spite of some l'rank disctissions about the more contrmersial sides ol the original poll ta\ protests in the stor_\telling groups. (Era) sa_\s tlie_\‘re keen to keep the da} suitable for exeryone. “It‘s about getting )oung people to think about \xhether there‘s aii_\thing the) “ant to change and that the} could actuall} ha\e the po\\er to change it] she sa_\s. 'lt‘s as much a lamil} e\ent as it is based on protest - we named to create an exent \\ here people \\ ho \iouldn't normall} engage themsehes in thinking about protest could come along and enjo} as uell.‘
20 Years On: Remembering the Anti-Poll Tax Demonstrations, the People’s Palace, Sat 18 Apr.
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* Richard Dawkins: The Purpose of Purpose All hail the Big [)oubter! The celebrated celebrity atheist (pictured) talks about purpose and DarWiriian selection in the Science Festival's undoubted highlight this year. Edinburgh t/iiiversitv Informatics forum, Sat 78 Apr. >l< The Glasgow Craft Mafia Market Massed gathering of some of the best upcoming crafers and deSIgners in the city. Don‘t criticise the crochet. though: you don't want to end up taking a swrm in hand made concrete shoes. Glasgow, Buff Club, Sat 24 Apr; Mono, Sun 25 Apr. 7pm.
=l< Polish Cultural Festival A week—long festival that aims to speak in the language of young Polish immigrants liVing in Scotland. Featuring traditional folk music and dance. retrospectives by the founding fathers of Polish cinema. theatre. art exhibitions. lectures by eminent historians. a medieval tournament and market. See polishculturalfestival.org.uk Edinburgh, Various venues, Mon 20—Sun 26 Apr.
>i< Bangla Baishakhi Mela Bangladeshi New Year Festival showcasmg poetry, literature. music. dance. opera. theatre. and a collection of traditional garments. paintings and handicrafts from the region. Traditional Bangladeshi food and drink WI“ also be available. G/asgow, the Old Fru/tmarket, Sun 26 Apr.
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