Category Archives: People

“We need to deal with historic child sex abuse and ensure we do not repeat mistakes perpetrated in the past.” Ewan Gurr: ‘Conversation required to deal with historic abuse’ – Evening Telegraph This article appeared in the print edition of the Evening Telegraph 21/12/2020 Historic child abuse is not a subject anyone should feel comfortable with. AccordingContinue reading “Scotland Must Reckon with Child Abuse”

“I don’t feel scarred by smacking and am not the psychologically damaged person supporters of the ban wish I was.” This article appeared in the print edition of the Evening Telegraph: 26/10/2020 One year ago, the Scottish Parliament voted by 84 votes to 29 to pass The Children (Equal Protection from Assault) Bill making ScotlandContinue reading “Excluded Voices on the Smacking Ban”

“Finlay McFarlane is 27-years-old but his world was turned upside down when he was raped after having his drink spiked.” This article appeared in the print edition of the Evening Telegraph: 12/10/2020 Finlay McFarlane is 27-years-old but his world was turned upside down when, shortly after his 18th birthday almost a decade ago, he wasContinue reading “The Invisibility of Male Sexual Violence”

“Students not only bring life to our city but it is also extremely likely your own dentist was educated here.“ This article appeared in the print edition of the Evening Telegraph: 05/09/2020 To some, students are tax-dodging, shower-avoiding, noise-making agitators of peace and civility yet Dundee has become an educational magnet and global pioneer inContinue reading “Students Under House Arrest In Dundee”

“When exactly do we consider the wider psychological pandemic of lives lost to mental ill health, loneliness, isolation and suicide?” This article appeared in the print edition of the Evening Telegraph: 28/09/2020 – Article Unavailable Online In this column four weeks ago, I asked if Dundee was on course for another lockdown but restrictions introducedContinue reading “The Other Pandemic We Currently Face”

“How we deliver social security speaks fundamentally to who we are especially as we emerge out of a violent pandemic.” This article appeared in the print edition of the Evening Telegraph: 21/09/2020 [Online] Available:  Ewan Gurr: ‘Social Security Scotland deal will be good for us all’ [Accessed: 2020, Sep 22]  Last Wednesday, it was revealedContinue reading “The Valuable Anchor of Social Security”

“From Friday this week, face coverings will become mandatory in all shopping centres and supermarkets throughout the entire United Kingdom.” This article appeared in the print edition of the Evening Telegraph: 20/07/2020 [Online] Available: https://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/fp/face-mask-guidance-is-ill-informed-i-wont-comply/  [Accessed: 2020, Jul 21]  Later this week, face coverings will become mandatory in all shopping centres and supermarkets throughout theContinue reading “Guidance on Face Masks Divides Opinion”

“For every steel shutter lifted and window board removed, many remain as a symbol of livelihoods lost to the virus.” This article appeared in the print edition of the Evening Telegraph: 13/07/2020 [Online] Available: https://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/fp/ewan-gurr-building-back-better-or-building-back-broken/   [Accessed: 2020, Jul 14]  As the vision of a new normal embeds itself as reality, I am concerned about theContinue reading “Building Back Better or Building Back Broken?”

“The utterance of household names like Timex, Levi’s, NCR and now Michelin sends shivers down the spine of ordinary Dundonians.” This article appeared in the print edition of the Evening Telegraph: 06/07/2020 [Online] Available: https://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/fp/michelin-closure-takes-us-back-to-dark-days-of-1972/  [Accessed: 2020, Jul 01]  The utterance of household names like Timex, Levi’s and NCR are enough to send shivers downContinue reading “Dundee, De-Industrialisation and Deprivation”

“Tragically, discrimination resides in the United Kingdom and the cry for justice has been snuffed out on British soil too.” This article appeared in the print edition of the Evening Telegraph: 08/06/2020 [Online] Available: https://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/fp/cries-against-injustice-havereverberated-around-world/  [Accessed: 2020, Jun 09]   A fortnight ago, 46-year-old George Floyd died of asphyxia having gone into cardiac arrest whenContinue reading “Kneeling on the Neck of Justice”