The Empire Café explores Scotland & Empire through events, places, writing & conversation. Co-created by Louise Welsh & Jude Barber. Podcast 'Who owns the Clyde?', co-produced with Halina Rifai out now. https://podfollow.com/who-owns-the-clyde/viewhttps://bsky.app/profile/the-empire-cafe.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/the-empire-cafe.bsky.social/post/3lx6husjcsc2kWow- we've been shortlisted for the Heritage Champion Award at this year’s Inspiring City Awards, reinstated for Glasgow's 850th anniversary by @heraldscotland.bsky.social and Glasgow Chamber of Commerce. In great company alongside so many inspiring groups and people all round. 💥💥💥24 Aug 2025 21:52 +0000at://did:plc:7pbt2sha6flzfb3k5urml42m/app.bsky.feed.post/3lx6husjcsc2khttps://bsky.app/profile/the-empire-cafe.bsky.social/post/3lv5zdmwgmc2vOur new Reflections 03 Episode is out! Louise & Jude discuss their investigation into ownership around the Clyde, their Petition, meeting Colombian River Guardians, joining Swimmable Cities, their live Mapathon for @archifringe.bsky.social, & their collaborations with @chrislesliephoto.bsky.social30 Jul 2025 06:42 +0000at://did:plc:7pbt2sha6flzfb3k5urml42m/app.bsky.feed.post/3lv5zdmwgmc2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/the-empire-cafe.bsky.social/post/3lngp6gkz522yOn Earth Day 🌍, @louisewelsh00.bsky.social and @judebarber.bsky.social , with co-producer @halinarifai.com , launch Episode 4 'Run River Run' of their 'Who owns the Clyde?' podcast (click here to take you to your preferred platform 👇 https://podfollow.com/who-owns-the-clyde22 Apr 2025 22:12 +0000at://did:plc:7pbt2sha6flzfb3k5urml42m/app.bsky.feed.post/3lngp6gkz522yhttps://bsky.app/profile/the-empire-cafe.bsky.social/post/3ljmvnyewvk2kThank you to elected members on the @scotparl.bsky.social Civic Participation and Petitions Committee for their thoughtful and informed consideration of our Petition this morning. Fabulous to hear this will remain open, there will be further discussion and some steps. We will post more news soon!05 Mar 2025 11:44 +0000at://did:plc:7pbt2sha6flzfb3k5urml42m/app.bsky.feed.post/3ljmvnyewvk2khttps://bsky.app/profile/the-empire-cafe.bsky.social/post/3ljhgf257rc2dOur petition to the Scottish Parliament goes to Committee this Wednesday. Hear @louisewelsh00.bsky.social talk brilliantly about the petition, podcast, Clyde and river rights on Saturday's @bbcradio4.bsky.social Today show from 1hr 43m 10secs 👇 https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0028kvf03 Mar 2025 07:27 +0000at://did:plc:7pbt2sha6flzfb3k5urml42m/app.bsky.feed.post/3ljhgf257rc2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/the-empire-cafe.bsky.social/post/3lhv4qh7zys2kThank you Rachel Amery @thescotsmanpaper.bsky.social for the fabulous feature on our petition to the Scottish Parliament to grant the River Clyde, and other Scottish rivers, the right to legal personhood- so it might flourish. Sign here! 👇 https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE213111 Feb 2025 07:21 +0000at://did:plc:7pbt2sha6flzfb3k5urml42m/app.bsky.feed.post/3lhv4qh7zys2khttps://bsky.app/profile/the-empire-cafe.bsky.social/post/3lhv44hqqsk2kIn our new bonus episode, Jude & Louise discuss Glasgow's 850th birthday, and their decision to launch a petition to the Scottish Parliament. The petition calls for the River Clyde to be granted the legal right of personhood. Could the Clyde become the lifeblood of Glasgow again?11 Feb 2025 07:10 +0000at://did:plc:7pbt2sha6flzfb3k5urml42m/app.bsky.feed.post/3lhv44hqqsk2khttps://bsky.app/profile/the-empire-cafe.bsky.social/post/3lfnt4e5yic2cLouise gave a fabulous talk to launch the St Mungo Festival last week. It featured our podcast 'Who owns the Clyde?' and the petition to the Scottish Parliament to grant the Clyde the legal right to personhood. Great turn out, and the first event in the #Glasgow850 celebrations. 💥💥💥13 Jan 2025 22:50 +0000at://did:plc:7pbt2sha6flzfb3k5urml42m/app.bsky.feed.post/3lfnt4e5yic2chttps://bsky.app/profile/the-empire-cafe.bsky.social/post/3ldldkvulr22pGreat feature by Jody Harrison in today's @heraldscotland.bsky.social about our petition to the @scotparl.bsky.social to grant the River Clyde the right to legal personhood- with a lovely overview of the podcast too 👇 https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/24801562.call-give-river-clyde-legal-right-personhood/18 Dec 2024 12:16 +0000at://did:plc:7pbt2sha6flzfb3k5urml42m/app.bsky.feed.post/3ldldkvulr22phttps://bsky.app/profile/the-empire-cafe.bsky.social/post/3ldax6bd3i223Our petition to grant the River Clyde, and other Scottish Rivers, the legal right to personhood is now live at the Scottish Parliament website. 💥💥💥 If you are minded, please sign the petition & share widely with those you think might be interested.👇https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE213114 Dec 2024 09:07 +0000at://did:plc:7pbt2sha6flzfb3k5urml42m/app.bsky.feed.post/3ldax6bd3i223https://bsky.app/profile/the-empire-cafe.bsky.social/post/3ld65ptf5ds2eHear @louisewelsh00.bsky.social talking about the Clyde and the podcast at the opening lecture of the 2025 St Mungo Festival on 6th January 2025! 💥💥💥 [contains quote post or other embedded content]13 Dec 2024 06:27 +0000at://did:plc:7pbt2sha6flzfb3k5urml42m/app.bsky.feed.post/3ld65ptf5ds2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/the-empire-cafe.bsky.social/post/3lcrpa75tvk2lHow might the Clyde be more healthy & accessible over time? Like the Seine in Paris or Spree in Berlin. The Swimmable Cities initiative is a global grassroots movement supporting the connection of city dwellers & their urban waterways. #swimmablecities Charter and campaign here👇 swimmablecities.org https://swimmablecities.org08 Dec 2024 07:35 +0000at://did:plc:7pbt2sha6flzfb3k5urml42m/app.bsky.feed.post/3lcrpa75tvk2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/the-empire-cafe.bsky.social/post/3lco7q3uuvc23Yay! We've reached 3000 listens to our 'Who owns the Clyde?' podcast, across 14 countries with 5-star rating.🌟 Thank you for joining us on this citizen investigation so far. Do spread the word & leave any comments on your podcast platforms (as it helps). Listen here 👉 https://podfollow.com/who-owns-the-clyde/view06 Dec 2024 22:20 +0000at://did:plc:7pbt2sha6flzfb3k5urml42m/app.bsky.feed.post/3lco7q3uuvc23https://bsky.app/profile/the-empire-cafe.bsky.social/post/3lclonsx3y22dWe are fortunate to have collaborated with podcast producer @halinarifai.com in making & shaping 'Who owns the Clyde?'. Halina has expertly guided us in our first podcast with incredible skill & experience. She is involved in many brilliant projects & champions critical issues👇 www.halinarifai.com05 Dec 2024 22:09 +0000at://did:plc:7pbt2sha6flzfb3k5urml42m/app.bsky.feed.post/3lclonsx3y22dhttps://bsky.app/profile/the-empire-cafe.bsky.social/post/3lcec2lji5c2sEpisode 1 of our podcast opens with writer, poet and multi-disciplined artist Malika Booker reading her wonderful poem 'Yonder Awa' from our 2014 Empire Cafe anthology of the same name, edited by @louisewelsh00.bsky.social. You can listen to Malika opening EP1 here 👇 https://podfollow.com/who-owns-the-clyde/view02 Dec 2024 23:35 +0000at://did:plc:7pbt2sha6flzfb3k5urml42m/app.bsky.feed.post/3lcec2lji5c2shttps://bsky.app/profile/the-empire-cafe.bsky.social/post/3lbsdvsckks2gThe music that flows through our podcast is 'I Murder Hate', kindly shared by artist @grahamfagen.bsky.social. It is Ghetto Priest's interpretation of the words of 17th century scottish poet Robert Burns, co-produced by Graham to coincide with his 2009 exhibition "somebodyelse" in Stirling.25 Nov 2024 20:20 +0000at://did:plc:7pbt2sha6flzfb3k5urml42m/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbsdvsckks2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/the-empire-cafe.bsky.social/post/3lboszcljbs22It was a pleasure to talk with Cllr Holly Bruce about her work to embed a feminist approach within Glasgow's city planning and what this might mean for the future of the Clyde & city. She generously shared thoughts & key actions. Hear Holly in Ep3 'Clyde Rights' and bonus live event episode.24 Nov 2024 10:40 +0000at://did:plc:7pbt2sha6flzfb3k5urml42m/app.bsky.feed.post/3lboszcljbs22https://bsky.app/profile/the-empire-cafe.bsky.social/post/3lbos4eqpo222We met Kate and Mary of Clydeside Gardens to talk about their transformation of an underused space at Glasgow Harbour. They have created a vibrant and biodiverse community garden. Thank you for sharing insights into the project and its impact. We hope to talk more on this very soon.24 Nov 2024 10:24 +0000at://did:plc:7pbt2sha6flzfb3k5urml42m/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbos4eqpo222