Tuesday, 30 September 2014

Slave to technology

PEOPLE/COLUMNISTS

By Ertanch Hidayettin

The late Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckenberg. I regard these names with mixed feelings. I wish to praise them, swear at them or when I am really angry, beat them up. Well, at least beat up Mark.

A week ago I left my phone at work. I was rushing to go to a meeting. I noticed this when my hand automatically went to my pocket to look for my Galaxy S4. Horror of horrors. I first thought, “Oh great!” I could test my resolve for a few days. It was Friday, see.

In times of extreme distress, my hands begin to sweat first. This happened after forty- five minutes into my journey. Despite the cool air emitted through the train’s air conditioning ducts, my face too started sweating. Cold turkey syndrome. Until I arrived home my hands kept going into my pocket. Walking home from the station, my feet took me straight to the nearby Tesco, where I bought a new SIM-card. First thing I did when I went home was to find my old, antique looking phone and insert the new SIM card into it. Fantastic. No break from a mobile.

This, dear readers is just a little personal example of how technology has affected our lives. I am sure many of you will be familiar with the above scenario. This episode really shook and saddened me.
Ertanch's love-hate relationship with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg
I saw a nice picture of my dear friend Beste Sakalli, the poet on Facebook. Where else?! The photo showed her looking at old letters her viewers had sent her during the time she presented the Papatya Seferler programme on Kıbrıs Genc TV. Yes, you heard right. I said letters. Actual, handwritten letters.  This took me back to those good old times before the advent of email. I remembered those letters I wrote to my grandmother and auntie who lived in Lefkoşa. Letters I had hidden deep into the large wicker baskets full of orange and tangerines. It was during the times of communal strife in the sixtees, and an innocent thing like a child’s letter might have put the driver in danger if found.

There was a pen-pal fashion when I was a student in Cyprus. Kids wrote letters to pen pals all over the world. My friends and I chose English girls and boys to write to. The aim was to improve our English. I lamented those times when technology had not yet started to make such a devastating impact on our lives.


Nowadays, children first familiarise themselves with the computer keyboard, before the pencil or pen. I attended a parents’ evening at my 9-year-old granddaughter Melek’s school just before the summer holidays. We were taken to her class. Each child had a drawer, and in each drawer was a 10 inch iPad. These, and of course the internet, are liberally used in lessons. My 5-year-old other granddaughter Jeyda can competently use my desk-top. She can start it, find the CBeebies site, play games, watch videos and listen to music. All well and good. But how many parents nowadays buy their children pens, pencils, drawing brushes, books? Very few. Instead, children’s rooms are full of gadgets: iPods, iPads, iPhones, wii, X-BOX, Kindle, etc are much more favoured.

When I was at school, our most prized possessions were our fountain-pens. We loved these, even though our hands were forever full of black and blue ink marks. The smell of ink is one of my favourite childhood smells. For someone who is educated, the saying in Turkish goes: “S/he has licked lots of ink.”
 
Kindle e-books reader vs. books
Books are also destined alas to be confined gradually into history. On my train journey to work most people use Kindle or other electronic book readers, rather than books. I am in the minority. A few years ago, my daughter bought me one of these contraptions as a present. I can’t go to sleep if I don’t read. On the night I received my present, while using the Kindle, I felt sleepy. The damn thing fell and hit me squarely on the head. I explained the smallish bump on my head as, “I walked into the door”! The next day the Kindle went back to the place it was purchased. I bought 10 books with the money. I left the place enthusiastically smelling my books. I felt the strange looks of the sales people. I was not bovvered.

I used to love taking pictures. I had a very old Yassica. The other day I re-discovered it. I went straight to Tesco. In my wisdom, I planned to get a 35 mm. film and once again take interesting photos with my tired old camera. The sales girl looked at me as if I presented her with something out of the Paleolithic Age. After an intensive conference with her equally young and puzzled manager, she came and told me that unfortunately they did not sell films for such things. Yes, she actually said “things”.

Our mobiles nowadays perform a multitude of tasks, including acting as a camera. In 10 years, if they start serving tea, I would not be surprised. Two sugars please. As for Facebook, the thing that has lead to my dependence on mobiles. The worst mistake I made was to upload the Facebook application onto my mobile. I keep checking the damn thing. Who wrote what, who put up what pictures. I once uninstalled it. My plan was to look at Facebook only on my desktop and only for a half hour each day. After half an hour I re-installed it on my mobile.
 
Epiphany onE Puck technology allows your hot tea to power your phone
Look at a friends gathering. After a few minutes chatting, mobiles come out, if they are not already on the pub table. Everyone gets busy checking their emails. But most are checking Facebook. Snaps are taken to be shared on Facebook. My friends and I do this too. It’s not just a young persons’ affliction. In actual fact because Facebook is being used by so many old people like me that youngsters are increasingly dropping it.

Another summer holiday is behind us. I managed to follow the holiday escapades of my friends. On Facebook. Day-by-day. Where they visited, who they saw, where they ate, which beaches they frequented. All were revealed on Facebook. Did I want to follow these in such detail? I think not. But I have had to! Being on holiday is actually the only time I manage to drag myself away from my mobile and Facebook. I take my most basic phone, which is not capable of receiving Internet, thus Facebook with me. I use it for its original purpose. To make and receive phone calls. However I do share a few holiday snaps on Facebook. But only on my return. It’s a miracle how I succeeded in this.

My dear readers, technology is very important. It has made our lives much easier. It has cut down time wasting. We can’t do without it. It has many positive attributes. However, if not used properly it can overtake our lives in devastatingly negative ways.

T-VINE columnist Ertanch Hidayettin is a Cypriot Turk of African heritage. He arrived in the UK in 1970 and qualified as a teacher before choosing a career in local government. He has 30 years experience working for local authorities in various posts and was an Equality Officer for Islington Council before retiring in 2007. Since then he has worked with the National Resource Centre for Supplementary Education (NRCSE), supporting supplementary schools in North London. He is a community activist and a media commentator, presenting on Kıbrıs Genç TV and writing a regular Turkish column for Kıbrıs Postası.

Related articles: 70s Child, 12 June 2014


Monday, 29 September 2014

Greek Cypriot footballer branded traitor for joining North Cyprus league, as Sertoğlu urges FIFA to intervene

Dimitris Vasiliou made history last week when he signed to play for KTFF first division side Değermenlik
NEWS/TRNC

Promising football developments in Cyprus came to a sudden halt when a young Greek Cypriot footballer was branded a traitor and prevented from making his debut for his new Turkish Cypriot team on Saturday. Last week, Dimitris Vasiliou made history when he signed for first division side Değermenlik, becoming the first Greek Cypriot player in the Turkish Cypriot league. He was expected to play for his new club at the weekend in a match against Hamitköy. However, a massive backlash from nationalists in South Cyprus, who had surrounded his home, forced the player to remain indoors under police protection.

Anger started to build against Vasiliou immediately after the news of his signing broke in North Cypriot media. Negative comments were initially posted on social media, many demanding the player was not permitted to play in North Cyprus, which they view as “occupied territories”. Fanatics made their way to the player’s home where they chanted “traitor” and made threats against him, forcing the police to intervene.

Vasiliou: "my sole purpose is football not politics - I want to be a role model for the island’s youth"

Talking to Greek Cypriot media, Vasiliou rejected claims that he was a “traitor” by signing to play for a Turkish Cypriot team, saying his, “sole purpose is football not politics” and that he wants to be a “role model” for the island’s youth. He said he did not deserve what was happening to him and if he had known this would be the likely reaction, he would not have agreed to the transfer deal. When pushed on his future, Vasiliou said: “I don’t know what I will do.”

A statement from Değermenlik said Dimitris Vasiliou remained their player and is expected to play in the near future. However, due to concerns for the footballer’s personal safety, it was decided the player did not make the journey across the Green Line on Saturday.

Değermenlik chairman Emirali Öztüccar told Turkish daily newspaper Milliyet that he did not find the attitude of the Greek Cypriots correct. The two football federations on the island were committed to uniting Cyprus through football and it was in that spirit that the Vasiliou transfer was made. “The threats by Greek Cypriots are not right. Our player’s only aim is to play football. We believe our player will be in the team line-up next week.”

According to Milliyet, Hasan Sertoğlu, the head of the Turkish Cypriot Football Association (KTFF) tried to call his Greek Cypriot counterpart Kostakis Kutsokumnis to discuss the matter. However, to date Kutsokumnis had not responded to any of Sertoğlu’s calls.

Hasan Sertoğlu wants FIFA to help break football deadlock
Earlier in the week, Sertoğlu had urged FIFA and UEFA to get involved in Cyprus football. Addressing a press conference in Lefkoşa, he highlighted the lack of progress between KTFF and KOP in South Cyprus following their historic FIFA-brokered pact that was signed in Zurich last November, which aimed to bring the two Cypriot football federations under a common umbrella. In line with the agreement, KTFF had formally applied to join KOP but their application has still not been processed.

Sertoğlu claims that after numerous meetings and correspondence, they have reached a deadlock with KOP, which he believes requires FIFA and UEFA’s assistance to break. He told journalists: “We have sent a letter to FIFA and UEFA calling on them to undertake their duties [by facilitating the talks between the two federations].” He added, “KOP is not happy with this letter."   

Saturday, 27 September 2014

American capital gets ready to party Turkish style!


CULTURE / FESTIVAL

On Sunday, the third annual Turkish Cultural Heritage Month concludes with a massive street party in the heart of the American capital. Organised by the American Turkish Association of Washington D.C. (ATA-DC), the 12th Annual Turkish Festival will take place from 11 AM to 7 PM on Pennsylvania Avenue – just two blocks away from the White House.

Named “Best Cultural Festival” three years on the trot by readers of the Washington City Paper, the annual Turkish Festival draws thousands of Washingtonians eager to sample Turkish culture. Party-goers can enjoy delicious Turkish food and traditional Turkish coffee, pick-up some traditional and contemporary treasures from the Turkish Bazaar, get their fortunes told, and shimmy along to lively stage performances by top Turkish musicians and dancers. This year’s festival will also reflect the wider Turkic cultural history that stretches from the Balkans, through to Central Asia and the Middle East.

Turkic dance culture
The festival’s diverse entertainment includes the award-winning Silk Road Dance Company, the percussive Turku Nomads, Istanbul’s renowned Yeditepe University Folklore Club (YUFOLK), Oriental band Ishtar, Kardelen Turkish Dance Ensemble, and mixes from DJ Turk whose blend of commercial R&B, dance and Turkish music can be heard on numerous national radio stations. There is a Kid’s Tent and a special fashion show called, 'A Journey to Istanbul'. See online for the full line-up, performance times, and food and bazaar vendors.

Cool T-shirt designs




Festival date: Sunday 28 September 2014
Address:  Pennsylvania Avenue NW (between 12th and 14th streets), Washington D.C., USA
Start & end times: 11am - 7pm
Entry: Free

Wednesday, 24 September 2014

Cyprus’ ghost town Maraş on ITV tonight

NEWS/UK

A current affairs programme on ITV will feature a story on Maraş (Varosha) – a popular seaside resort in Mağusa on Cyprus’s east coast, which has been deserted since the 1974 War in Cyprus. Veteran newscaster Alastair Stewart visits the abandoned town for On Assignment, which airs tonight at 10.40pm on ITV1.

ITV describe their report about Maraş as, “a Cypriot seaside resort abandoned in 1974 when Turkish military intervention resulted in the division of the island - a poignant reminder of the pain of the Cypriot partition.”
 
Maraş in Cyprus. Map illustration by BBC
The town had been Cyprus’ main tourism destination, popular with celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Raquel Welch, and Brigitte Bardot. Since the summer of 1974, when the town’s mainly Greek Cypriot residents moved south following the end of the Cyprus Conflict, Maraş has been under the control of the Turkish army.

For four decades, the Turkish Cypriot side has locked off access to the town, waiting for a comprehensive settlement with Greek Cypriots, after which the town was to be returned to its former owners. The lack of a political solution has meant that the uninhabited town remains “eerily untouched” and in a poor state of decay.

For his Cyprus assignment, Alastair Stewart meets refugees on both sides of the divide. They include some who are happy with the status quo, along with others working to recreate a sustainable future for both Greek and Turkish Cypriots in the city of Famagusta.


The Maraş report is one of a number of factual stories that will be covered on tonight’s On Assignment. The weekly TV programme is fronted by Rageh Omaar, who heads ITV News’ award-winning team of specialist journalists that deliver in-depth reports from around the world on unique stories. 

Sunday, 21 September 2014

British Council stresses importance of learning Turkish as new academic year for UK Turkish schools start

Students & teachers at Hülya Turkish School in Surrey
NEWS/UK

This weekend, Turkish schools across Britain begin their new academic year. Pupils can take Turkish language and cultural classes at 38 Turkish and 39 British schools, with language teachers supplied from both Turkey and the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus. The increase in the number of available classes reflects the growing demand to learn Turkish, not just among the British Turkish Diaspora, but also the wider British population.


Last November, the British Council released a report titled Languages for the Future  including Turkish in its top 10 list of foreign languages to be learnt.  The other languages were: Spanish, Arabic, French, Mandarin Chinese, German, Portuguese, Italian, Russian, and Japanese. These languages are deemed the most vital to the UK over the next 20 years when considering a range of economic, geopolitical, cultural and educational factors, and: “the needs of UK businesses, the UK’s overseas trade targets, diplomatic and security priorities, and prevalence on the internet”.

Noting the British Council report, Abdurrahman Bilgiç (pictured), Turkey’s new ambassador to London, said: “I congratulate our teachers, volunteer educators, head teachers and civil society groups for ensuring the Turkish language is passed on from generation to generation in Britain, and is now regarded as one of the most important [foreign] languages in the UK.”

Ambassador Bilgiç added that, “As important as it is to pass on these valuable teachings to our younger generations, so too is their upbringing to ensure they contribute positively to their social circles and wider community, by increasing their self-confidence and ability to draw on their personal talents, their respect for universal values and as individuals their ability to maximise the opportunities arising from their era.”



For more information on UK Turkish schools and language classes:


Saturday, 20 September 2014

Çiğdem Aslan brings the Aegean Blues to Britain

Çiğdem Aslan & band live in Paris. Photo: Yassine Hamrouni
CULTURE / MUSIC

It’s been an incredible 12 months for Çiğdem Aslan. Described by the Guardian as, “one of the best British-based discoveries of the year”, she released her debut album Mortissa last October to critical acclaim and then found herself nominated in Songlines’ Best Artist category alongside World Music legends Manu Chao and Mulatu Astatke.

The front cover star of T-VINE issue 7, Çiğdem has beautifully reworked the rebetiko and smyrneika sounds of the 1920s and 30s for Mortissa ('a strong independent woman'). Both in her studio recording and live renditions, she sings effortlessly in both Greek and Turkish, her sublime vocals and theatrical stage persona perfectly suited to these once outlawed songs of the Aegean, which were popular with the underclass in the hash dens and music houses of Athens and Istanbul during one of the most turbulent periods in the two countries’ history.




Of Kurdish origin, Çiğdem was born and raised in Istanbul, and her music reflects the cultural mosaic she has grown up with. Previously best known as the lead vocalist of British Balkans band She'Koyokh, the soulful singer has a way of connecting her audiences to songs even where we don’t understand any of the words.

Her ability to bring the Aegean Blues to a whole new audience has prompted Making Tracks to claim Çiğdem is, “creating the same kind of buzz about rebetiko as Mariza did for fado, Yasmin Levy did for Ladino song, and Amira for Bosnian Sevdah.”

If you’ve not had the chance to see Çiğdem live, do! Having toured extensively Europe’s festival and live music circuit throughout the year, she concludes with 11 dates in the UK, kicking off at the Brighton Dome on Sunday.

See Çiğdem Aslan live this autumn 2014
21 Sep Brighton Dome
24 Sep Bristol
25 Sep Birmingham
26 Sep York National Centre for Early Music
27 Sep Gateshead

28 Sep LONDON
01 Oct Milton Keynes
02 Oct Bury Saint Edmunds
03 Oct Pontardawe Cardiff
05 Oct Manchester
07 Oct Cambridge
16 Oct Vienna

Bestselling author Louis de Bernières appears as a special guest at Çiğdem’s London show on 28 September

Her London show at Union Chapel the following Sunday features bestselling author Louis de Bernières, whose blockbuster Captain Corelli's Mandolin made him a household name. His book Birds Without Wings was set in the historical town of Kayaköy near Fethiye. De Bernières will set the scene for Çiğdem’s concert by talking about his love for the region, the music, and what led him to write the book.

Look out for the new edition of T-VINE (out at the end of September) for our exclusive interview with Çiğdem. Mortissa is available from all good music stores.




London show date: Sunday 28 September 2014
Venue address:  Union Chapel, Compton Terrace (off Upper Street), Islington, London N1 2UN
Start time & duration: 7pm
London ticket prices: Standard Tickets £15 / VIP tickets £25 (front 5 rows, allocated on a first-come-first-served basis) / Tickets on the door (Standard only) £17.50 - cash only
London show & tickets:  Union Chapel
Artist info: cigdemaslan.com

 

Related stories:
Çiğdem Aslan: Mortissa album launch, 7 October 2013


ISIL releases all 49 Turkish hostages


Turkey's consul general Öztürk Yılmaz talks to family members following his release, watched by PM Davutoğlu
NEWS/TURKEY

Turkey woke up to the news that all 49 hostages seized by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) forces on 11 June 2014 had been freed. Among them were Öztürk Yılmaz, Turkey's consul general in Mosul, northern Iraq, his diplomatic staff, children and special forces police, who were all taken after ISIL had captured the city from Iraqi forces and stormed the Turkish consulate.

The hostages arrived in Turkey via Syria at 5am this morning and were said to all be in good health following their 101 days in captivity. Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu cut his trip to Azerbaijan short to fly to Şanlıurfa, by the Syrian border in southeast Turkey, to meet with the freed hostages.

Following the release of the hostages, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan issued a written statement praising the Turkish Prime Minister and Turkey’s intelligence service MİT for their successful covert operation.

“Our Consul General in Mosul, his family and Turkish citizens at the consulate who had been abducted have been freed in a successful operation…I thank the Prime Minister and his colleagues for this carefully planned, detailed and secret operation, which continued all night and was successfully completed early in the morning.”

“Our National Intelligence Agency [MİT] has followed the issue with patience and dedication, and finally performed a successful rescue operation,” Erdoğan’s statement added.

Officials have said there were no military clashes with ISIL, nor has any ransom been paid. They said negotiations with the local Iraqi authorities had created the opportunity to free the hostages. Few other details have yet been released.
 
ISIL forces in Iraq

Turkey had publicly resisted joining a coalition to defeat ISIL, citing its 49 kidnapped citizens. Given the delicate situation, the US had been careful not to push Turkey too hard as it tried to free the hostages.

In recent weeks, the extremist group has beheaded two American journalists and a British aid worker, who were all seized while they worked in Syria. ISIL said the killings were “payback” for the airstrikes that Washington has launched against them in Iraq.

Friday, 19 September 2014

How to recognise depression

Wellbeing / Mind

By Muge Ahmet

A quarter of all people will have experienced a mental health problem during their lives. So why is such a common problem still so taboo, especially in certain ethnic communities including the Turks? Are we immune from mental health problems? I think not. Yet it is grossly underreported and often people still look for physical signs instead of mental symptoms.
 
Robin Williams was battling depression before he committed suicide in August
In the wake of the death of talented actor Robin Williams, who unfortunately took his own life because of his depression and other problems, more people have started to speak about mental health issues and to raise awareness about it. The two most common health problems are depression and anxiety.

Cognitive symptoms include:
  • feeling irritable and intolerant of others 
  • feeling hopeless and helpless
  • having low self-esteem 
  • feeling tearful
  • feeling guilt-ridden
  • not getting any enjoyment out of life
  • feeling anxious or worried 
  • having suicidal thoughts or thoughts of harming yourself
 

Physical symptoms include:
  • change in appetite or weight (usually decreased, but sometimes increased) 
  • constipation 
  • unexplained aches and pains
  • lack of energy or lack of interest in sex
  • changes to your menstrual cycle
  • disturbed sleep (for example, finding it hard to fall asleep at night or waking up very early in the morning)

Social symptoms include:
  • not doing well at work
  • taking part in fewer social activities and avoiding contact with friends
  • neglecting your hobbies and interests
  • having difficulties in your home and family life

Depression can come on gradually, so it can be difficult to notice something is wrong. Many people continue to try to cope with their symptoms without realising they are ill. It can take a friend or family member to suggest something is wrong in order for the person to realise.


Anxiety is a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear that can be mild or severe.
Everyone has feelings of anxiety at some point in their life. For example, you may feel worried and anxious about sitting an exam or going to a job interview. During times like these, feeling anxious can be perfectly normal. However, some people find it hard to control their worries. Their feelings of anxiety are more constant and can often affect their daily life.

Symptoms of an anxiety or a panic attack can include:
  • a surge of overwhelming panic.
  • feeling that you're losing control or going crazy.
  • heart palpitations or chest pain.
  • feeling like you're going to pass out.
  • trouble breathing or a choking sensation.

      

Anxiety is the main symptom of several conditions, including panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and social anxiety disorder (social phobia)

Experiencing a panic attack is common for people who experience any of the anxiety disorders. Although a panic attack can feel you are having a heart attack, it is not physically dangerous. It is a response to a situation we fear or to the thoughts going on in our head. 

If you are experiencing any of these difficulties, it is important you talk about them: don’t struggle alone. Please contact your GP and seek help. You can also ring the Samaritans who can offer you emotional support, but it is always best to speak to your doctor if you have health-related concerns.

For more information about anxiety and depression, including how to cope and where to seek help:

Mental health foundation website: www.mentalhealth.org.uk

Mental health charity MIND (most boroughs have their own branch): www.mind.org.uk

Self-help books:
o        Living with Fear Issac Marks






Muge Ahmet is a psychology graduate who has been working in the mental health field for over three years. She recently started a Masters in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy. She is keen to help raise awareness about mental health issues and to remove the stigma many British Turks commonly associate with mental illness.

Tuesday, 16 September 2014

Rooting for an independent Scotland

PEOPLE / OPINIONS / İPEK ÖZERİM

When details first emerged that Scotland will hold a referendum on independence a few years ago, I was firmly in the ‘Better Together’ camp. Not that I have a vote, mind you. Just that I liked the idea of the United Kingdom staying together under one roof, as we’ve happily managed to do since the historic Acts of Union in 1707.

What was to be gained from separation? More cost, more red tape, more risks and more division. Being part of a greater whole meant sharing our common resources and taking advantage of bigger and better opportunities.

There seemed no end to the reasons why we should all stay together. Yet my sister and her family – who bucked the trend and moved from London to Scotland five years ago – and many of my Scottish friends remain squarely behind the campaign for independence.

Over the past few months, I’ve tried to keep abreast of the debate. Like many others, I have found it difficult given the amount of conflicting information issued by both camps. Will the Scottish economy be stronger or weaker with independence? What about the currency issue, defence, education, and welfare?


When I examine the core facts offered up by each side, there does seem to be greater clarity from the Yes campaign. That is to be expected. They are pushing for this historic change and to achieve it, they have to demonstrate to the majority of Scots that independence can not only work, but will significantly improve their lives. Yet changing the status quo is never an easy task.

Even minor societal changes, such as wearing a seat belt in cars – with proven safety advantages and fatal consequences for those that don’t – is difficult to achieve without legislation, let alone trying to motivate people to opt for something so much more complex and all-encompassing. Simply put, when push comes to shove most humans prefer the ‘better the devil you know’ option, rather than risk entering into the unknown.

It would seem that up until recently, this was the prevailing attitude in Scotland, but in recent weeks a real momentum has been building behind the movement for independence. According to various polls, the race is now virtually neck and neck. Leaving aside the Don’t Knows (some 10% of the electorate), support for ‘No to independence’ is down to 53%, while the Yes’s are up to 47%. A month ago, the gap was huge: only 39% in favour of independence, with a whopping 61% against.

An estimated 4.5 million over the age of 16 living in Scotland have the right to vote in the referendum on September 18 and all councils have reported a big surge in voter registrations this past fortnight: people who have never bothered to vote in regular elections are now signing up in their tens of thousands to ensure their vote about independence counts.

Those of us on the outside are witnessing one of the most empowering aspects of this referendum. On a daily basis Scots of all ages and backgrounds are passionately debating their future. It is fantastic for any democracy to see so many ordinary people engaged in active politics – long may it continue!

Of course, there have been some nasty moments with idiots on either side taking their campaign to the gutter by using physical violence and intimidation tactics to silence the other side’s supporters. Thankfully, most have not. Yet as the deadline for the vote looms, things can and will only get more heated.

I do sense some desperation in the Better Together camp, whose main thrust for keeping the United Kingdom whole is based on fear. 90% of their campaign seems to set out a ‘doom and gloom’ case if the Scots opt to go it alone. Yet the facts just don’t support this.
 
Scottish whisky, worth £4bn to the economy, is Scotland's second biggest export after oil & gas
Scotland has a strong economy: from food and drink manufacturing, to life sciences, tourism, wind farms, and of course North Sea oil. They have made conscious decisions to keep higher education and prescriptions free, but have very little say on how the considerable wealth they produce is spent – or should I say squandered!

From fighting illegal wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, to plundering the pensions schemes of millions, and undermining the NHS…and all the while, us English are made to believe we subsidise Scotland. The truth is the Scots would have the highest per capita income in the UK outside of London if they did not subsidise us!

Our social connections and common history wouldn’t end with independence, merely that the Scottish people will have the right to determine what’s important for them. The elites in Whitehall and Westminster have never prioritised the needs of Scotland and the real power brokers in the wider world of business are not sentimental about nations and patriotism: where there is money to be made, they will be there.

So the main question is: who is better at running Scotland? As the florist in the Yes campaign video says: Independence? It’s what we all want in our lives, so why shouldn’t our country be independent too?”

It seems ironic to deny Scotland this, when a growing number of voters in England support the UKIP line of reigning back control from Brussels. So why expect the Scottish to continue surrendering their sovereignty to London?

Throwing his weight behind the Yes campaign, English author George Monbiot argues, “Scots voting no to independence would be an astonishing act of self-harm.” Indeed it would. The most heartbreaking outcome would be for Scotland to fail to take this lifetime opportunity, not because the facts don’t stack up for independence – they do! – but because they failed to believe in their ability to run their own lives in the best possible way.

As a Turkish Cypriot, I can relate to this. We’re also always being told we’re not capable of being masters of our own destiny; that our future wellbeing is best served by remaining locked into a unity with a bigger power, when in reality their interests will always dominate ours. That’s why I’m rooting for Scotland to seize the day and inspire us all with their vote for independence.

This article was first published in Cyprus Today on 6 September 2014