Archives
A Swedish Model for Scottish private rented sector – meeting notes
Here are all the meeting notes for the event; “A Swedish Model for the Scottish private rented sector. We have included an audio recording of the entire meeting divided into sections, a copy of Mariell Juhlin’s presentation ; which you can download here and , finally we have included a short video interview with Mariell about the Swedish Union of Tenants.
Opening Doors
Opening Doors; the urban revolution in Denmark Thursday September 24th 2015, 6pmSpeakers: Jesper Koefoed-Melson and Sara Melson of GivRumChair: Lesley Riddoch, broadcaster & writer Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street, Edinburgh Sponsored by the Scottish Government An abandoned paint factory in Copenhagen is transformed into a bike shop, wood workshop, gallery, shared office space, circus group space, textile printing studio, ceramics workshop, photography studio, an urban garden and a publishing house. This is only one example of a revolutionary trend to hit Danish cities following the financial crisis; the creative use of empty buildings. The non-profit organisation GivRum involves Danish civil society, the public sector (i...Read More
Next event announced – A ‘Swedish Model’ for private rented sector?
A 'Swedish Model' for the Scottish private rented sector? November 4th 2015 6pm Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SR Mariell Juhlin, Head of National Policy and Analysis Unit at the Swedish Union of Tenants The state of the private rented sector in Scotland is a hot topic, largely focused around high rents. The average Scottish tenant spends 25 per cent of their income on housing costs. This compares to 18 per cent of social tenants, and 11 per cent for owner-occupiers with a mortgage. The Scottish Government is committed to significant reform of the private rented sector this year, and it seems likely better protection against eviction and rent regulation are on the cards. Tenants and housing charities are generally very supportive...Read More
Givrum and City Link Festival videos
Following the sell out Nordic Horizons meeting ; 'Opening Doors; the urban revolution in Denmark'; we spoke to both speakers and here are the short interviews. So, if you missed the event; here is the presentation Download Opening Doors, the urban revolution in Denmark.
24 September – Our Next Event
Opening Doors; the urban revolution in Denmark Thursday September 24th 2015, 6pmSpeakers: Jesper Koefoed-Melson and Sara Melson of GivRumChair: Lesley Riddoch, broadcaster & writer Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street, Edinburgh Sponsored by the Scottish Government Please book your place via Eventbrite: An abandoned paint factory in Copenhagen is transformed into a bike shop, wood workshop, gallery, shared office space, circus group space, textile printing studio, ceramics workshop, photography studio, an urban garden and a publishing house. This is only one example of a revolutionary trend to hit Danish cities following the financial crisis; the creative use of empty buildings. The non-profit organisati...Read More
Swedish Elections – Kristina Lemon
Swedish Elections – Kristina Lemon – Digital Notes Tuesday June 9th 2015, 6pm Speaker: Kristina Lemon from the Swedish Elections Authority Chair: Lesley Riddoch, broadcaster & writer Host : Alex Rowley MSP Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh The recent UK General Election had a ‘high’ turnout of 66%. The last General Election in Sweden produced no single party with a working majority – Swedes have used PR since 1909 and coalition government is normal. So is last year’s turnout of 85.8% – higher even than Scotland’s record breaking referendum. The turnout for the last council elections was 38% in Scotland but 82% in Sweden. How do the Swedes do it? Elections are on a Sunday. All elections (for municipal and county councils and general elections) take place on th...Read More
Is Small Still Beautiful?
Is Small Still Beautiful – Digital Notes With Professor John Bryden, Aberdeen University Chaired by Lesley Riddoch, writer and broadcaster Edinburgh City Chambers Wednesday 27 May – 6.00pm-8.00pm Norway has 428 kommuner (councils) The average size of a kommune is just 12,000 people. In Scotland the average council serves a whopping 178,000 people. How do these tiny Norwegian kommuner function and avoid bureaucracy and uneven standards? Whatever the answer it seems they are doing something right. Turnout at elections is 64% – almost twice that of Scotland. And 1 in 81 Norwegians stands in council elections compared to 1 in 2071 Scots. The new Norwegian Government has proposed mergers which would bring the average kommune size closer to 15 or 20 thousand people. Even this...Read More
People Power : Towards Equality Through Technology
People Power : Towards Equality Through Technology For those of you fortunate enough to be at the “People Power – Towards Equality Through Technology”; you were able to hear the inspiring Uffe Elbaek in person. On this page we have included the audio recordings and a short video interview. His presentation in person was stunning as he recounted his journey from activist to starting a new political platform in Denmark. As a gifted public speaker, he held the Nordic Horizons audience wrapt. Men sitting in an office, a coffee pot and a young woman with the ambition to invade the Soviet Union (but with no plan) are the unlikely starting points for this inspiring story. Uffe explains his personal journey to becoming an MP and what happened next. He also talks about the future...Read More
McHorizons – Oslo 10 March 2015
McHorizons from Nordic Horizons on Vimeo. As part of the Nordic Horizons mission to engage, we ventured to Oslo to talk 'social enterprise'. Susan Aktemel, the social entrepreneur and founder of 'Homes for Good' spoke to an audience of housing specialists drawn from the private and public sectors and academia. It was a lively interactive meeting and this short video gives a flavour.
Uffe Elbæk – the video interview
This is the video interview with Uffe Elbæk of Alternativet who talks about politics, building a new party, trust and Borgen. His full presentation to a sell out Nordic Horizons audience is still available as two audio recordings on our Soundcloud channel.
New event announced “A world heading towards equality – through technology”
"A world heading towards equality – through technology" Committee Room 2 , Scottish Parliament 5th March 2015 6pm Speaker ; Uffe Elbæk MP Sponsor ; Jean Urquhart MSP Chaired by journalist and NH Director Lesley Riddoch
Events 2015
‘Nurturing nature’ Comparing land quality and land use in South West Norway and Scotland Dr. Duncan Halley, Research Ecologist, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research – NINA Sponsored by Rob Gibson MSP Scottish Parliament December 1st 6pm South West Norway and Highland Scotland are closely similar in climate, geology and landforms; but very different in land cover, human population and land use. SW Norway is rapidly reforesting but Scotland is not. Rural areas are more heavily populated. Is that because southwest Norway is so very different in the basic conditions of life – or because land use history differs profoundly on either side of the North Sea? Duncan Halley (a Scot who has lived and worked in Norway for 20 years) describes how moorland in Norway has transformed to far...Read More