Speaker Evening

In a change to the programme, members enjoyed a fascinating talk by club member Morrison Handley-Schachler on financing terrorism. The term 'terrorism' is first recorded in the Reign of Terror of revolutionary France, though there is evidence the French copied the brutal regime that the Hanoverian monarchy imposed on Scotland after Culloden. The practice of intimidating not only opponents but friends dates to ancient Assyrian and Greek times and was a particular skill of Romans like Augustus Caesar. Morrison, who lectures in financial crime, explained modern legal definitions of terrorism which now include serious disruption of electronic systems as well as causing death and injury to civilians during peacetime. Political terrorism can be used either by the state itself or by those wanting to take over the state. State terrorism is often funded through taxing the people being terrorised. Examples include Argentina, the Philippines and Guatemala. The US used proceeds from illicit arms sales to Iran to finance the Contras in Nicaragua. The notorious Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) counted Sadam Hussein, Colonel Gaddafi, the CIA and the Western Isles Council among its clients. Ways insurgent terrorism can be funded include drug trafficking (South America), racketeering and extortion (IRA) and very wealthy donors, both states and individuals, (al Qaida). Morrison's interesting presentation provoked many questions from the floor. He was introduced by Liz Mackenzie and Richard Brown proposed the vote of thanks.

Thursday 7th November saw President Jim McCulloch induct Lesley Beirne as a member of the Rotary Club of South Queensferry. Lesley's career in nursing includes a degree in gastro-enterology for nurses and work in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary Transplant Unit. She also volunteers with  the Vine Trust, nursing deprived people in Peru.

In a change to the programme, members enjoyed a fascinating talk by club member Morrison Handley-Schachler on financing terrorism. The term 'terrorism' is first recorded in the Reign of Terror of revolutionary France, though there is evidence the French copied the brutal regime that the Hanoverian monarchy imposed on Scotland after Culloden. The practice of intimidating not only opponents but friends dates to ancient Assyrian and Greek times and was a particular skill of Romans like Augustus Caesar. Morrison, who lectures in financial crime, explained modern legal definitions of terrorism which now include serious disruption of electronic systems as well as causing death and injury to civilians during peacetime. Political terrorism can be used either by the state itself or by those wanting to take over the state. State terrorism is often funded through taxing the people being terrorised. Examples include Argentina, the Philippines and Guatemala. The US used proceeds from illicit arms sales to Iran to finance the Contras in Nicaragua. The notorious Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) counted Sadam Hussein, Colonel Gaddafi, the CIA and the Western Isles Council among its clients. Ways insurgent terrorism can be funded include drug trafficking (South America), racketeering and extortion (IRA) and very wealthy donors, both states and individuals, (al Qaida). Morrison's interesting presentation provoked many questions from the floor. He was introduced by Liz Mackenzie and Richard Brown proposed the vote of thanks.