STUDENTS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL REPORT 2003-4

Global Citizens Programme

WELCOMING VISIT - The students visited the Adult Learning Project & The Welcoming in Edinburgh to meet refugees and asylum seekers from various countries to hear their stories; we joined in the singing of peace songs and dancing. It was also the first time we took our banner to show and tell people about what we do at CTDU.

PALESTINE & ISRAELI CONFLICT - We had a guest speaker from the Women in Black organisation, Janet Powney who showed us her photographs, which she took in Palestine. She spoke about the unfair living conditions that people in Palestine are forced to live in.

WELCOME VIDEO - Camcorder Guerrillas - We watched a video about an asylum seeker in Glasgow who was evicted unfairly from her flat leaving her feeling angry, scared and it was a violation of her human rights.

JAN NIMMO'S VIDEO - We went to Glasgow to see Jan's video called 'Bonita' Ugly Bananas, the film was about Jan's visits to the banana plantations and speaking to the workers, how they have to fight for their basic labour rights in Ecuador and that Jan witnessed a violent attack on the workers.

JAN NIMMO'S EXHIBITION - The exhibition was held in St John's in Livingston; Jan took us round and explained the background behind the wood carvings which were of Cuban musicians and popular artists from Mexico and banana workers from Ecuador and Costa Rica.

LIVING WITHIN THE GLOW - Norman from Friends of the Earth visited us at Bothkennar and told us stories from people in Grangemouth and what the people feel about living in an area surrounded by the petro-chemical industry.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY - Female students from CTDU attended an International Women's Day event in Raploch, Stirling. We participated in various workshops and at the end of the day we performed drama and poetry pieces.

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Students Activities

GARDEN - The Students started the garden project by building the raised beds with sleepers donated by BP. We have now got three picnic benches in place and put up a bird table and feeders. We enjoyed two training days on risk assessment day and a health and safety and spent two days drystane dyking building two walls in the garden. We also had some planting and weeding days.

FILM4UM - Members participated in CTDU's Film4um's and watched 'Thirteen' and 'Fahrenheit 9/11' and debated the issues raised from watching the films.

CEILIDH - Students organised a very successful 'Burns Night' ceilidh on 30th January 2004 in the Mayfield Centre and raised over £1,223 for our funds.

BBQ - A very successful BBQ was held in our garden at Bothkennar, everyone enjoyed themselves - roll on the next one!

SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT - Students took part in one of the test days at the Parliament before it was officially opened to the public.

FAIR TRADE JUSTICE - At the Scottish Parliament to lobby MSPs on fair trade. We listened to speakers from the churches - Cardinal Keith O'Brian and MSPs. The event was hosted by Elaine C Smith.

INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ERADICATION OF POVERTY - This was held in George Square in Glasgow. Students who went along took part in a presentation of poetry and song.

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