Lesley Riddoch

Just when the internet went quiet...a podcast strolls in

Lesley has been writing a book. In Sweden. You can read all about it here. And now you can hear her again. Here. Talking about Stieg, wolfs, equality and other Nordic things.

The Guardian Podcast

Lesley appeared this week in the Guardian's 'Politics Weekly' podcast in the aftermath of the Glasgow North East by election result. You can listen to it here.

The Dragons Glen...my pitch

There was a very positive response to my “Dragon’s Glen” proposal on Saturday at the Diaspora Forum – so I have posted the proposal in its entirety here to make it easier for people to access – and comment upon.

Scottish Development International and the Clan Donald Trust are amongst those who expressed an interest in taking things further. If you’d like to get involved email me here.

Killing with Kindness - BBC Radio Scotland - today at 9.00am

Killing with kindness

Scottish children record the lowest feelings of wellbeing in Europe. Could that because so many are cooped up indoors without stimulating play because of adult inadequacies and fears over safety?

Lesley went to visit four kindergartens in Norway this March -- every child has a statutory right to a kindergarten place from 1-6 for a maximum of £200 per month.

She filmed kindergartens where the children spend the bulk of the day outdoors in snow showers and temperatures of minus 5 degrees. The kindergartens are often situated near farms where the kids feed and play with animals, watch slaughtered cows being dissected, grow tomatoes and make hay. The Norwegian belief is that children divorced from the whole of nature – the cycles of life and death -- become couch potatoes, estranged from nature and the outdoors and less independent, confident, co-operative and happy as young adults.

UNICEF’s wellbeing index shows the Nordic countries like Norway at the top and Britain bottom of the 17 countries surveyed. Scotland came lower still.

On every indicator – health, drug use, educational attainment and general happiness – Scottish children are doing less well than Nordic children in particular.

Could that be because.......

1. We coop up children indoors and try to insulate them from all risk – ironically making them more susceptible to danger by exposing them to nothing.
2. We are generally spending too little cash money on the early years – and too much trying to “retrofit” skills onto the casualties of poor childhood learning experiences?

Listen in to the programme and for goodness sake call if you’ve something to say.

0500 92 95 00

An Icelandic Saga for Christmas 2008

As we all depart for a festive Christmas and jolly Hogmanay, I thought I would pass on some thoughts about my continuing fascination with all things Nordic, Scandic, Viking and Baltic. I went to Iceland on a number of occasions this year and took my recorder and my camera to record . Here are the results.

Historic Scotland Investigation - BBC Radio Scotland Listen Again

The Investigation into Historic Scotland is available here for Listen Again. Judging from the early feedback, there are still more stories to be told on this one. As ever, I am happy to receive comments on this and also ideas for Riddoch Questions which returns September 12.

Historic Scotland Investigation - BBC Radio Scotland

Scotland has 47 thousand listed buildings – the majority allow Historic Scotland to intervene in repairs. And developers large and small, public and private are complaining about the extra cost, delay and obstruction the agency’s involvement appears to cause. Factor which could be pricing ordinary Scots out of restoring and inhabiting listed buildings.

Sisters Stephanie and Mandy Roxburgh, from Rothesay, bought a tenement to renovate and create 12 affordable flats. But when their bid to fit the highest quality uPVC windows was rejected by Historic Scotland, the sisters took their fight to Holyrood.

The agency’s preferred option -- 42 single glazed wooden sash and case windows -- was £100k more expensive than the uPVC option.

In Benbecula, Phil and Mairi Ladyman who run a heritage centre – the Nunton Steadings -- claim Historic Scotland’s insistence on authentic draughty, solid wooden doors without windows has created a hard-to-heat, unviable building they may have to leave.

And at Rowallan Castle near Kilmarnock, Niall Campbell a stonemason and civil engineer who helped restore Glasgow’s Rotundas has been told by Historic Scotland that he cannot refurbish a thirteenth century castle as the centrepiece of his £60m hotel and golf course.

Is conservation becoming preservation? Does the agency value authentic empty shells more than habitable buildings?

You can hear my investigation including Culture Minister Linda Fabiani, with live studio guest John Graham Historic Scotland’s Chief Executive --  9am-10am Radio Scotland Monday August 4th. If you’ve comments email me here or call on the day 0500 92 95 00

Channel 4, Ofcom and Martin Durkin

Ofcom has just published its findings about the 'Great Global Warming Swindle' . The documentary formed part of a Riddoch Question outside broadcast in May 2007. Martin Durkin, the documentary's director and producer, was interviewed by Lesley for this programme. An extended interview with Martin Durkin, recorded before the Riddoch Questions programme, is available here. Lesley clarifies a lot of the scientific assertions and touches on many of the issues referred to in the Ofcom report.

The Prisons Commission Reports

The Prison Commission Reports

After six months work -- the Prisons Commission report was launched today at the Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. The speech given by Commission Chair Henry McLeish was a tour de force (but maybe I'm biased) listing the cocktail of problems that have given Scotland a prison population more like an emerging Soviet Republic than a modern Western nation.

There were 23 recommendations -- and I was glad I wasn't one of the hacks sight-reading the 82 page report and trying to figure out which one should make the headline. Will the tabloids describe us as deluded, do-gooding lefties (Sheriff Alistair Duff would never live that down!) or over-ambitious... or might Scottish institutions use this report to tackle troubled citizens instead of locking them up?

If you want to read the report email business.edinburgh@blackwell.co.uk or call Blackwell's Edinburgh bookshop on 0131 622 8283.

Young cyclist/busker needs support ...sets off Monday

This young lady is cycling from Moscow to Edinburgh setting off on June 30. Not only that; she intends to busk all the way to raise money for street children in Ethiopia. Isla is the daughter of a good friend of mine, Andrew Wightman. She has written a little bit about this trip here on her website.

Isla is looking for sponsorship and I am sure she would be grateful for any contributions you could make. Details of how to give are on her web site at buskingforchildren.org  or sweetypops.net

And, just in case you were worried, mum and dad will be coming along too. I know there are a lot cycling fans out there and I do hope you can support Isla. Having seen the route, I am impressed and a wee bit jealous !