A day about Palestine at Beyond Borders

Where to start about such a stimulating and emotional day at Beyond Borders festival which focussed mainly on Palestine.

It was an early start - up at 6.15 to get on the road over the Border to Traquair. As we went in we had a happy chance meeting with Blipper esiuol.

The first event was Prof Murray Pittock speaking about John Buchan as it’s his 150th anniversary. He pointed out that he was conflicted with in his role within the empire and his belief in the rights of indigenous people.

The next event was the stand out one of the day for me. Blinne Ni Ghralaigh KC spoke about her role as an international human rights lawyer. It started with a video of her powerful submissions to the International Courts of Justice, which rightly made headlines around the world. She couldn’t talk about her present cases but she did say she was representing people who had been arrested for demonstrating for Palestine action. Ironically she recently fell and broke her kneecap - she’s also representing Kneecap. Her message to us was -

“Until you have done all you can you don’t have the luxury of despair ”.

I had my sandwich listening to Barbara Dickson who comes every year to sing folk songs about resilience and hope.

A high school student questioned former first minister Jack McConnell who came across very well, as he explained why keeping talking was so important, citing both his role in the Philippines conflict and the Good Friday Agreement. Martin Griffiths, former UN Under Secretary for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator reinforced the fact that the famine in Palestine was genocide and the American armed contractors currently responsible for the distribution of the aid that does get in are complicit in creating more deaths.

Another really powerful session started with an address by video from Ramallah by the current Palestinian ambassador. He praised the Scottish people for their support and encouraged us all to do what we could. After this Humza Yousaf, SNP former First Minister, facilitated very well a discussion about the war and future of Gaza and Palestine with Palestinian diplomat Afif Safieh and William Dalrymple (you can’t keep him away from this festival - he comes every year and is so passionate and eloquent). They talked about the Balfour Agreement and why Britain bears a particular historic responsibility towards the current situation.

“History is the cemetery of the oppressed” a quote from Afif Safieh.

Our last event was a bit of a come down, - we were tired - although the high school pupils who did the interviewing, and the questions from young people in the audience were excellent. Jeremy Corbyn read us one of his poems and was there to promote his new political party. He is an idealist and his heart’s in the right place but not a pragmatist.

We are parked up in the field for the night. It’s been such a wonderful day.