Edinburgh.  The ancient capital of Scotland (if you disregard Scone, Stirling, Perth and, possibly, London).

Inheritor of a nation-state which ceded its (nominal) sovereignty over its territories in return for trading-privileges.   Site of a devolved Parliament which still has no real sovereignty over its land and seas.  Epicentre (pace Glasgow and Aberdeen) of the Scottish Enlightenment.  Centre of finance, political governance and touristic tartanry.

Edinburgh is a service economy – knowledge based and highly dependent on travel.

By the time we arrived in Edinburgh it was a hot afternoon: Australian tourists drifted from bar to bar on the Royal Mile feeling they’ve been lied to about the Scottish weather. 

Visits by tourists to the city and their spending has grown rapidly in the last decade. The total spending by visitors staying overnight has increased by 30% from 2010 to 2015. This is faster than in Scotland as a whole, and the UK. Growth has come from both domestic visitors (33% more than in 2010) and from overseas visitors (27% more than 2010).

The city’s affluence depends upon administration and long-distance travel.

Here is some of what I heard about Climate Justice in Edinburgh

I heard that scientists talk to other scientists who speak to us. 

I heard that it was not just Piper Alpha but also Grenfell, 3 Mile Island, Bhopal…

I heard someone ask “What inspired you to write Pibroch?”

I heard we are, by nature, a selfish, greedy species.

I heard someone ask, ”What is the role of art in climate debate/ activism?”

I heard someone say that, years ago, there was a gas release in the lab where he worked but there was not enough oxygen for it to explode.  There was a big hoo-ha at the time then back to normal and the guy who ran the lab got a bonus.

I heard someone say I use big words ‘but he made it simple and clear for me’.

I heard we can all do something about reducing our consumption

I heard someone ask if Pibroch started as a collection or a spoken word show?

I heard that a 4 hour gig for a Girl Guide Convention used 66% of a bowser of diesel.

I heard someone ask, ”Are there too many lights on in this room?”

I heard someone say that if people have been lied to enough, what are they going to do but make things up?

I heard someone stress the importance of compassion in Pibroch’s voice.

I heard someone ask, “Why Dad?  Was your Dad directly involved?”

I heard someone ask, “What did people say in Aberdeen?”

I heard someone ask me to say more about the tension between old and young activists in XR?

I heard someone say Dad is clearly the patriarchy.

I heard someone ask, ”Why did you choose this form?”

I heard that most buildings are made of concrete.

I heard someone ask how the words-music collaboration developed.

I heard someone ask, “Did you write this: how do you remember all of the words?”

I heard that people talk about green, about green cars, but even if there’s a battery, the rest of the car isn’t green until you figure out how to make all of the other bits without using any carbon.

I heard someone ask, “Will you perform it at the Fringe?”

I heard the Scottish Government was only asking for permission to consult on Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs).

I heard someone ask, “What would you make roads of if you couldn’t use tarmac or concrete?”

I heard that Electric Vehicles are OK for short range but it takes 5 ½ hours to recharge a battery from 50% : no-one can wait around all day!

I heard someone ask, “If you were in oil for 30 years – how did you feel about the issue at the time?  Why did you leave?”

I heard that if we didn’t get rain in a few weeks we’d be in real trouble.

I heard that, after the drought, only the newly arrived species will survive (and recolonise).

I heard that the expected cost of mitigation and adaptation to stay below 2 degrees is not $194Tn but $273 Tn.

I heard someone ask, “What were the towns about? Other places that had disasters?”

I heard that the atmosphere was fairly intense in the auditorium.

I heard someone ask “What do you think about Norwegians?”

I heard someone ask, “Have you performed it at the parliament?”

I heard that people get wound up – or is someone winding them up?