Free tickets are now available for an event which will consider how Scotland
and the estimated 40 million "diaspora Scots" worldwide can best work together
for their mutual benefit. The Scottish
Diaspora Forum, being held at the Scottish Parliament on 25 July 2009 is part of the Homecoming Scotland celebrations.
Held in the same weekend as The Gathering, one of the largest
international gatherings of Scottish clans ever held, tickets (free) for the
Scottish Diaspora Forum are available from www.scottishdiasporaforum.org.
The Forum will be chaired by Presiding Officer, Alex Fergusson MSP,
with the two former Presiding Officers, Rt Hon Lord (David) Steel of
Aikwood,
KT, KBE and Rt Hon George Reid taking major roles throughout
proceedings which will look at Scotland's richest export over the years
- its people
With participants including Professor Tom Devine, Jonathan Mills, Dr
Louise Richardson, Professor James Hunter, James Naughtie, Alan MacFarlane,
Joyce MacMillan and Gus Noble the
Scottish Diaspora Forum will discuss how the past influence of Scots around the
globe can work for the future benefit of this country.
More names, including the guest of honour,
will be announced in the near future.
The Forum aims to inspire
debate on the economic, intellectual, social and cultural capital of Scots
around the globe, and most importantly to consider how we might use that
capital for the benefit of Scotland. The Scottish Diaspora Forum hopes to engage
and influence government, business and others to support and develop both short
and long term relationships and initiatives.
Professor Tom Devine, Director
of the Scottish Centre for Diaspora Studies at Edinburgh University, will deliver a keynote
speech to be followed by a panel debate - "Is Scotland resting on the laurels of the past or can there be a new
Scottish Enlightenment? If so, how critical is the Scottish diaspora to
achieving this?".
Culture
Minister Michael Russell MSP said:
"As we welcome home Scots from around the world in
the Year of Homecoming, this Forum presents a great opportunity for us to
consider how best to keep in touch for mutual benefit. The Scottish Government is funding this
event, recognising its potential in
helping to identify the future direction of our engagement with the huge number
of ambassadors we have spread across the globe and the social, cultural,
intellectual and economic benefits available for Scotland and all Scots.
"Working closely with the Scottish Diaspora Forum, I
hope we can realise this potential and create a really significant and
long-lasting legacy of Homecoming Scotland 2009"
Alex
Fergusson MSP said:
"As
the Parliament marks its 10th anniversary and the Year of Homecoming, the
Scottish Diaspora Forum will provide a unique opportunity to reflect upon how
Scots have shaped today's world - and how they can continue to do so in the
future."
Rt Hon the Lord (David) Steel of Aikwood,
KT, KBE said:
"In my frequent travels abroad I am always
amazed at the number of people with Scottish heritage who have pivotal roles in
countries around the world. There is no doubt that Scots have helped
shape what we now know as the Commonwealth - in terms of explorers, engineers,
teachers and missionaries, disproportionately far more than our English
cousins. The forum is a chance to recapture that history and magic."
Rt Hon George Reid
said:
"There is a vast pool of goodwill around the
world among our diaspora. In this interconnected Internet age, Scotland is
not just a country of 5-million, but a potential community of 30-million plus.
We have to learn from the Armenians, Irish and Jews about building links across
the seas."