Author: Andreas Wolff

‘White Gold’ Rush: My report on lithium

My report on the ‘White Gold’ Rush: Demand for lithium to power the green energy transformation continues to grow. Much of this demand for what’s often referred to as ‘white gold’ is fuelled by the need for electric vehicle batteries, as well as grid energy storage. Lithium is a key component of such batteries. Much of the world’s lithium comes from South America and Australia. However, Europe wants its own supply, and is sitting on large deposits of the metal. But there are environmental concerns.

In northern Portugal a UK firm, Savannah, have permission to open a mine at a World Heritage site for farming practices, but locals continue to protest against it.

Czechia is a different case. In an established mining area, Cรญnovec sits on 3-5% of the worldโ€™s lithium, almost enough for 1m car batteries-worth of lithium a year.

Watch my report here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m00239rj/eorpa-series-32-7-the-white-gold-rushcabhag-an-oir-ghil

If you’re not in the UK you can watch a shorter version here:

Doric Bootcamp shortlisted at the Scots Language Awards

Fit like awbdy! (Thatโ€™s a common greeting in the Doric or North-East Scots.) Iโ€™m really chuffed that the Doric language bootcamp, which was my idea and was organised by myself is shortlisted at the Scots Language Awards. Please consider voting for us on page 2 (Educational Project): https://lnkd.in/eCPievfA The deadline is this Sunday. Muckle thanks!

Dougie Hay, singing and teaching us Doric ballads

There was nowhere to immerse yourself in Doric before and thanks to our brilliant teachers, Dr Jamie Fairbairn and Aidan Robertson, the event far exceded my expectations. In addition to speaking exercises they made us come up with a piece of creative writing which we all presented and everyone had a very worthy contribution. It was of course all about building your own confidence. We also enjoyed Jackie Rossโ€™ story telling. Thanks to the Doric Board for the generous sponsorship. We hope to return next year.

Doric Bootcamp took place in the Portsoy Sail Loft

Mining Companies Destroying Indigenous Peoples’ Lives

My report about a sensory art production at the Edinburgh Festival portraying how mining companies are destroying indigenous peoples’ environment and threatening their lives. One of the artists who is from Colombia lost two brothers who she claims were killed because they were defending their territory. Colombia is the deadliest country for human rights defenders (An Lร , BBC ALBA, 17/08/24).

Fering an/ agus Gร idhlig (Northern Frisian and Gaelic)

A group of North Frisians from Germany visited the Hebrides and Scotland’s Gaelic college, Sabhal Mรฒr Ostaig, where I caught up with them to explore similarities between the two minorities. Lack of housing is a pressing issue in both places (An Lร , BBC ALBA, 26/7/24).

My interview in Fering, the Northern Frisian language spoken on the Isle of Feer/ Fรถhr in Germany where I talk about my work, why I’m learning Fering and about the Gaelic minority in Scotland. As heard on the local radio, FriiskFunk.

Destination Izmir: Turkish culture spiced with Greek and biblical history

Panoramic view of Izmir

The Greek island of Lesbos is only a few miles away from Izmir. Many people there still refer to Turkey as Asia Minor. Before the population exchange in 1922, after the Greco-Turkish war, around half the city’s population were Greek. Today Izmir is a city based in Asia, but with a very European feel to it. It’s no further away than the Canaries and becoming a popular tourist destination with direct flights from many cities in Europe.

Nonetheless surprisingly many people speak nothing but Turkish. I always learn a few words of the local language because it brings a smile on people’s faces. But I wished a had learned a bit more. The car hire company was supposed to “meet and greet” us, but didn’t. When I phoned them the explanation was in broken English and pretty useless. Thankfully someone from the airline could translate and we found our way to the car and eventually to the hotel.

The breakfast buffet had a distinctly Turkish twist and I loved the savoury pastries, sausages and cheeses. In fact everywhere we ate, the food was very good. Turkish cuisine is obviously known for its kebabs, but it offers so much more. We had only excellent culinary experiences whether it was fresh fish in a harbour in Urla (about 45 minutes away by car) or Kรถfte (meatballs) in melted cheese in a small village eatery. So if you’re a foody Izmir is for you.

Smyrna Agora with Kadifekale at a distance

History is also big in the Izmir area. On day one I visited the ruins of ancient Smyrna as the city was known in Greek. Humans have settled here for 8500 years. The Persian empire and others had control of the area in the past, but most the historical ruins that can be seen today are from Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman times. The buildings around the old agora, the marketplace, are in ruins and bits of columns etc. are piled up in heaps. However work has started to re-erect some pillars and arcs where it was possible to make use of the original pieces. Where necessary new parts have been added to make the pillar whole and these new parts are clearly identifiable, but fit well into the ensemble. At the top of the hill, Mount Pagos, sits the ruined Kadifekale Castle which was founded in the 4th century BC, but visiting it seems to be a safety issue and I decided to enjoy it from down below.

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Wymysiรถeryล›, a language coming back like a phoenix

Wymysiรถeryล› has 8 native speakers left who are still fluent. It was thought by an academic to be dead by now. However around ten people have so far learnt the language to fluency and the prospects are better than at any point since WWII. A Germanic language, it isn’t mutually intelligible with German, but was still forbidden in communist Poland. However while most of the Germans in Silesia were forcibly removed (including my own grandmother) Wymysiรถeryล› speakers declared themselves Anglo-Saxon and were allowed to stay. (An Lร  on BBC ALBA, 13/4/24)

Doric Bootcamp

Some believe Scots is just bad English. But it was the language of Scottish kings and of the Scottish Parliament before its dissolution in 1707. It “lives” on a continuum with English, meaning that some speakers of Scots will be understood by English speakers, but others won’t. One of the strongest dialects is Doric or North-East Scots. I am currently organising this Doric Language Bootcamp:

Your chance to learn and practice North East Scots over a weekend in July in a beautiful setting by the beach. Get your tickets for the Doric Language Bootcamp here at bargain prices.