More Pictures of Red Rose Film

Here is the film poster. Red Rose was translated into over 12 different languages including Chinese. Shown in many countries on TV, it has enjoyed screenings in Central Europe on HBO's satalite channel.

I wrote the screenplay during 1997 to 1999, but the film was not made by Palm Tree UK until 2004. As a native of the town of Dumfries I was brought up hearing the local stories about Robert Burns, which were not available in current books of the time.

SYNOPSIS
AD1792. Robert Burns, Scotland's national poet, falls in love with an aristocrat's wife. Denounced as a supporter of the French Revolution, four years later he is dead.

Robert Burns overcomes his upbringing as a farm labourer to become the national poet of Scotland. Love comes his way in the form of Jean Armour but his attempts at securing a happy relationship are blighted by Jean's father who disapproves of Burns. Finally, Jean and Robbie are married and Burns tries to settle down to a happy married life, but the success of his literary career brings with it many temptations and he is unable to resist the attention of the aristocratic women who fawn upon him.

Finding difficulties in supporting his growing family of children, Burns seeks work as a local tax inspector in the port of Dumfries while Britain is threatened by the spread of the French Revolution. He falls in love with married aristocrat Maria Riddell, and through this, he is unwittingly exposed to vicious rumors about him. Siding with the sentiments of the revolution, his republican stance provokes retaliation from the aristocracy. Walter Riddell, Maria's husband, circulates false rumours to ruin his reputation. Systematically Burns is ousted from all polite society, then reduced to poverty by his government employers. Only his wife Jean and his friend Lewars stand by him.

Burns, blighted by illness since youth, bids to ease his suffering by giving in to the cures of Doctor Maxwell, who wrongly prescribes mercury. Faced with death, Burns reaffirms his love for Maria, but comes to terms with his powerlessness to right his many affairs in the face of his marriage to Jean while he fights to make sure his work is not destroyed.

Below this picture shows how he got himself into trouble.

This picture shows the reconstruction in the film of an evening at the Theatre Royal, when Robert Burns was reputed to have started a revolt because he refused to stand for the National Anthem. The audience reciprocated his jesture, by singing the C'Ira instead, the song of the French revolution.

The DVD is available to download on Amazon.com
See the trailer here in the video side bar on You Tube.com by searching the channel.

Red Rose the film about Robert Burns finds some photos

This picture is of the actor Michael Rodgers playing the role of the Scottish poet Robert Burns. It was created by the still photographer Chaz Boulton as a modern day teaser copy of the famous Burns original picture by the painter Naismith.

This picture was shot in the very place Robert Burns frequented, the local pub of Mauchline, called Posie Nancies. Here Michael Rodgers, in the historical room of the pub, which remains the same as it did in the 1790's.

This photo was chosen for the A4 poster because it seemed to sum up the film. Here Lucy Russell plays Jean Armour, the wife of Robert Burns. In the coming weeks, with the discovery of these lost pictures I will be revisiting them to explain how the film crew embarked on recreating the 1790's on 35mm.

UN Security Council is dodging the moral question

The UN Security Council are still mulling over a way forward on Syria. In the meantime 300 people have been killed there this week. The moral question still remains that the Geneva Convention is not being implemented there.

The ambush and subsequent death of Chief of the Red Cross of Idlib area of Syria, Dr Abed Razq Jebairo, marks a sinister turn in the events of the Syrian Revolution. It is not likely given the call by the head of the Syrian Free Army for the implementation of Geneva Convention safety zones that his forces would have accomplished such an act of war violation. It therefore falls on the supporters of the Assad regime to take a long hard look at the direction they are moving towards in a country where the absence of the protection of the Red Cross Community exists. Such an event must also be considered very seriously by the international community because their commitment to the Geneva Convention is a stake here. If they fail to come to the aid of innocent civilians killed by this Regime, they are saying that International Law is of no importance. They are also saying that short term political goals of security, wealth and vested interests are more important than peoples lives. It is little wonder that almost every state in the world is experiencing unrest from it's people because current reigning politicians are failing to address principles enshrined in the Charter of Human Rights. It is no longer good enough for politicians just to caretake their own interests. While in power, they must seek ways of addressing the serious problems effecting their people and then try to solve them. Where a conclave of tyranny exists, the spirit of democracy in countries where representatives are elected, can not give the excuse that Human Rights of All is not their responsiblity. Nor can they say that the Geneva Convention is only for one country or one race, but it should be for all people where ever they live on this increasingly failing planet. For a politician to renage on this principle is to betray humanity.

Therefore when it comes to the UN Security council it can not ignore the violations of the Red Cross which amounts to gross war crimes. If they don't view this in that light then they are failing the Geneva Convention's protection of civilians and they are demeaning it to the status of a scrap of paper. It is little wonder that the people of the World are on mass rejecting the stewardship of their Leaders who seem incapable of supporting their aspirations.

It is also not surprising that the Syrian populace have begun a campaign to have the right to self defense in the absence of Geneva Convention Common Law being implemented by their Government or anyone else for that matter. However if the international Community orchestrates the abandonment of the Syrian people in favour of power politics their leaders are sowing the seeds of their own demise because in underestimating the moral code of the common populace they are sealing the fate of their own destruction.

Better then to uphold the Geneva Convention in ALL cirumstances than make it a scrap of paper.

It seems the Geneva Convention is only a scrap of Paper.

The ambush and subsequent death of Chief of the Red Cross of Idlib area of Syria, Dr Abed Razq Jebairo, marks a sinister turn in the events of the Syrian Revolution. It is not likely given the call by the head of the Syrian Free Army for the implementation of Geneva Convention safety zones that his forces would have accomplished such an act of war violation. It therefore falls on the supporters of the Assad regime to take a long hard look at the direction they are moving towards in a country where the absence of the protection of the Red Cross Community exists. Such an event must also be considered very seriously by the international community because their commitment to the Geneva Convention is a stake here. If they fail to come to the aid of innocent civilians killed by this Regime, they are saying that International Law is of no importance. They are also saying that short term political goals of security, wealth and vested interests are more important than peoples lives. It is little wonder that almost every state in the world is experiencing unrest from it's people because current reigning politicians are failing to address principles enshrined in the Charter of Human Rights. It is no longer good enough for politicians just to caretake their own interests. While in power, they must seek ways of addressing the serious problems effecting their people and then try to solve them. Where a conclave of tyranny exists, the spirit of democracy in countries where representatives are elected, can not give the excuse that Human Rights of All is not their responsiblity. Nor can they say that the Geneva Convention is only for one country or one race, but it should be for all people where ever they live on this increasingly failing planet. For a politician to renage on this principle is to betray humanity.

Therefore when it comes to the UN Security council it can not ignore the violations of the Red Cross which amounts to gross war crimes. If they don't view this in that light then they are failing the Geneva Convention's protection of civilians and they are demeaning it to the status of a scrap of paper. It is little wonder that the people of the World are on mass rejecting the stewardship of their Leaders who seem incapable of supporting their aspirations.

It is also not surprising that the Syrian populace have begun a campaign to have the right to self defense in the absence of Geneva Convention Common Law being implemented by their Government or anyone else for that matter. However if the international Community orchestrates the abandonment of the Syrian people in favour of power politics their leaders are sowing the seeds of their own demise because in underestimating the moral code of the common populace they are sealing the fate of their own destruction.

Better then to uphold the Geneva Convention in ALL cirumstances than make it a scrap of paper.

Safety Zones for Syria are a Human Right, but they are threatened by deceit

Update Ribbon Friday 6th Janaury 2012
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Large Explosions were reported in Damascus Qaboun districts in the night with another reported in Midan, Domascus this morning. Activists say including the 10 dead from the explosion in Damascus reported by the BBC there are 35 dead in #Syria today, some singled out in other shooting incidents. There are over 100 demonstrations today throughout Syria in line with Dignity strike, which has moved up a notch to be called the Noise Revolution Strike. Over 69 spontaneous demonstrations took place in Damascus city.

A worrying trend which seems to have developed with the Syrian Government regime is the misuse of Red Cross symbol on vehicles used to carry shooting squads. A video has emerged posted by the Red Cross in Geneva on it's website from November 2011 which clearly shows how a vehicle was used by the government army falsely marked with the neutral medical Red Cross emblem. Such a tactic by the Assad regime is devastating to the reputation of the Red Cross but it is also dangerous development, seriously undermining it's attempts to set up Hospital safety zones. Unverified reports say that there may have been more use of false Red Cross vehicles firing into protestors this week. The Red Cross have flagged up the misuse of their emblem in Syria as a violation of the Geneva convention. The crime of falsely displaying the Red Cross symbol with intent to deceive comes with a 25 year prison sentence so it is a serious violation of human rights and international trust for any country to perform.

But with such a serious action, the even more serious consequence is that by undermining the Red Cross, the Assad Government is jeopardizing the creation of neutral safety zones for civilians. It is little wonder that the Military Commander of the Free Army has cast up a warning this week of further reprisals when the military request for a safety zone has been so tarnished. What is even more shocking is that the international community would allow Assad to get away with it. Below is an explanation of civilian SAFETY ZONES
(By the way Goulian head of the Syrian national Council has requested there be Safety Zones as well as a No Fly Zone in a restricted area of the country when he was interviewed by the BBC yesterday)

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Syrian National Council launches new Website at the url http://syriancouncil.org/
Red Cross Fail to implement Safety Zones in Syria

When you examine the International Committee for the Red Cross's guidelines on Safety Zones in places of war you have to read it twice, not because it's a hard read but because one's mind races at the thought of a solitary soldier walking through the enemy line trying to organize the correct apparatus to set them up, with the agreement of an enemy, who could fire on him at any moment.

I imagine the vehicle he travels in winding though his own lines, taking the path across his own comfort zone knowing he has cover from his own side, but then entering enemy territory holding his fire, perhaps with a makeshift sign of white and red trying convey he has a message to deliver. Then being fired on, luckily avoiding the fire then reaching the enemy commanders outpost. What do they say to each other? How do they begin the truce if only in selected areas of ground, in hospitals and designated neutralised zones for children, women, the sick, the old, the wounded civilians as well as injured soldiers of both sides? They must speak to each other man to man and say Yes Ok we will do it, we will mark out our hospitals with a 5 mile excusion zone, we will assign towns as neutral zones, we will tape off villages for the wounded an perhaps even allow an aid corridor to feed the children, the women, the old and the dying. They have to agree to do this together, then instruct their troops to abide by this new way of doing things.

But this is not a new idea Henry Dunnat founder of the Red Cross, was the creator of an idea that was to revolutionize war. It successfully reduced civilian casualties, and deaths of soldiers in war whose right it became to be treated for their wounds. He advocated safety zones, neutral, hospitals, and living areas for people caught up in the tragedy of war. In 1870 in the Franco Prussian war he himself walked across the battle field to the enemy side where he began talks with them. When they agreed he put up the Red tape himself around the Hospitals and Villages or even Towns where the wounded were then to be treated. He campaigned for extended neutralised zones therefore allowing food and supplies into these towns. Today we know them as neutralised zones called the Humanitarian Corridor normally campaigned for by the UN when it has successfully secured access to the country at war. His wonderful idea was to become reality in 1938 with the draft constitution of the Geneva Agreement. Later in 1949 it received approval from all countries, after World War 2, to become what is known as the GENEVA CONVENTION. Since then it has become the world wide constitution for the Human Rights of children, men, women, unborn and the dying soldier in war to have dignity in being removed for the battlefield.
Here below are the guidelines from the 1949 4th Geneva Convention word for word, but to enact these simple things there needs to be intermediaries, to make requests to the other side to create space for civilians to remain as human beings in their own homes. The Convention also requests that these intermediaries are the legal right of both sides, to accomplish these zones.


GENERAL 1949 GENEVA CONVENTION 4th PROTOCOL article 14

1. ' Terminology '

The terminology in normal use should first be defined. A distinction is drawn between:

(a) ' hospital zones and localities, ' generally of a permanent character, organized outside the combat zone in order to shelter military or civilian wounded and sick from long range weapons, especially aerial bombardment (1);

(b) ' safety, zones and localities, ' generally of a permanent character, organized outside the combat zone in order to shelter certain categories of the civilian population, which owing to their weakness require special protection (children, old people, expectant mothers, etc.) from long range weapons, especially aerial bombardment (2).

[p.207]
(c) ' hospital and safety zones and localities, ' which are a combination of (a) and (b) above;

(d) ' neutralized zones, ' generally of a temporary character, established in the actual combat zone to protect both combatant and non-combatant wounded and sick, as well as all members of the civilian population who are in the area and not taking part in the hostilities, from military operations in the neighbourhood. END QUOTE


UN's Fails to Act on Syryia

It remains for the UN to act out, it's own bible, the Geneva Convention in Syria where the Opposition have made repeated requests for the safety zones to be set up. It also remains for the Red Cross to enforce its own guidelines in Homs where there are no designated civilian safety zones or neutral hospitals. There instead, the Red Cross have created the dangerous turf war of a compromise that only one hospital is freely available to Opposition fighters or supporters. This arrangement is NOT a safety zone but a poor compromise that bears no relation to the Geneva Convention. The Geneva representative of the RED CROSS is currently unavailable for comment due to leave over the New Year. I await his answer.

The Syrian National Council actively support the need for Safety Zones.

It remains if the International community will swiftly set up the apparatus to do so under the security council or the other processes available to it under the UN charter of Human Rights and Organs. Meanwhile the Syrian People await with their Children under fire.

Safety Zones for Syria are a Human and Military Right

NEWS UPDATE RIBBON *******UPDATE ********UPDATE*********UPDATE********UPDATE*********UPDATE*****
Reports yesterday evening - 6 or more were killed during localized demonstrations in each city and town of Syria. In Damascus alone there were more that 10 district protests against Assad's ruling Government. One nurse was killed in Dumayr, 3 were people were killed in Hama, I in Madayana another in Qamahanah. In Homs a doctor was killed, his name was Imad Sawaf. The Qamahanah death was named as Mohamad Sweden. One Funeral took place in Homs and another in Idlib. There was an explosion near the Rasan pipeline late last night. Blue painted tanks were seen on the outskirts of Homs in an area where shelling had previously taken place from evidence of fallen masonery. Snipers were still seen patrolling rooftops as a deterent for protesters. Many wore white gowns indicating they were ready for martyrdom. Today via Algazeer the Commander of the Syria Free Army, who has been the only one in the Arab Spring, to assert his right for safety zones, said if the killing does not stop he will have no choice but to step up the offensive. He was angry that deaths had not ceased since the Arab League had been on Syrian soil.
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Syrian National Council launches new Website at the url http://syriancouncil.org/
Red Cross Fail to implement Safety Zones in Syria

When you examine the International Committee for the Red Cross's guidelines on Safety Zones in places of war you have to read it twice, not because it's a hard read but because one's mind races at the thought of a solitary soldier walking through the enemy line trying to organize the correct apparatus to set them up, with the agreement of an enemy, who could fire on him at any moment.

I imagine the vehicle he travels in winding though his own lines, taking the path across his own comfort zone knowing he has cover from his own side, but then entering enemy territory holding his fire, perhaps with a makeshift sign of white and red trying convey he has a message to deliver. Then being fired on, luckily avoiding the fire then reaching the enemy commanders outpost. What do they say to each other? How do they begin the truce if only in selected areas of ground, in hospitals and designated neutralised zones for children, women, the sick, the old, the wounded civilians as well as injured soldiers of both sides? They must speak to each other man to man and say Yes Ok we will do it, we will mark out our hospitals with a 5 mile excusion zone, we will assign towns as neutral zones, we will tape off villages for the wounded an perhaps even allow an aid corridor to feed the children, the women, the old and the dying. They have to agree to do this together, then instruct their troops to abide by this new way of doing things.

But this is not a new idea Henry Dunnat founder of the Red Cross, was the creator of an idea that was to revolutionize war. It successfully reduced civilian casualties, and deaths of soldiers in war whose right it became to be treated for their wounds. He advocated safety zones, neutral, hospitals, and living areas for people caught up in the tragedy of war. In 1870 in the Franco Prussian war he himself walked across the battle field to the enemy side where he began talks with them. When they agreed he put up the Red tape himself around the Hospitals and Villages or even Towns where the wounded were then to be treated. He campaigned for extended neutralised zones therefore allowing food and supplies into these towns. Today we know them as neutralised zones called the Humanitarian Corridor normally campaigned for by the UN when it has successfully secured access to the country at war. His wonderful idea was to become reality in 1938 with the draft constitution of the Geneva Agreement. Later in 1949 it received approval from all countries, after World War 2, to become what is known as the GENEVA CONVENTION. Since then it has become the world wide constitution for the Human Rights of children, men, women, unborn and the dying soldier in war to have dignity in being removed for the battlefield.
Here below are the guidelines from the 1949 4th Geneva Convention word for word, but to enact these simple things there needs to be intermediaries, to make requests to the other side to create space for civilians to remain as human beings in their own homes. The Convention also requests that these intermediaries are the legal right of both sides, to accomplish these zones.


GENERAL 1949 GENEVA CONVENTION 4th PROTOCOL article 14

1. ' Terminology '

The terminology in normal use should first be defined. A distinction is drawn between:

(a) ' hospital zones and localities, ' generally of a permanent character, organized outside the combat zone in order to shelter military or civilian wounded and sick from long range weapons, especially aerial bombardment (1);

(b) ' safety, zones and localities, ' generally of a permanent character, organized outside the combat zone in order to shelter certain categories of the civilian population, which owing to their weakness require special protection (children, old people, expectant mothers, etc.) from long range weapons, especially aerial bombardment (2).

[p.207]
(c) ' hospital and safety zones and localities, ' which are a combination of (a) and (b) above;

(d) ' neutralized zones, ' generally of a temporary character, established in the actual combat zone to protect both combatant and non-combatant wounded and sick, as well as all members of the civilian population who are in the area and not taking part in the hostilities, from military operations in the neighbourhood. END QUOTE


UN's Fails to Act on Syryia

It remains for the UN to act out, it's own bible, the Geneva Convention in Syria where the Opposition have made repeated requests for the safety zones to be set up. It also remains for the Red Cross to enforce its own guidelines in Homs where there are no designated civilian safety zones or neutral hospitals. There instead, the Red Cross have created the dangerous turf war of a compromise that only one hospital is freely available to Opposition fighters or supporters. This arrangement is NOT a safety zone but a poor compromise that bears no relation to the Geneva Convention. The Geneva representative of the RED CROSS is currently unavailable for comment due to leave over the New Year. I await his answer.

The Syrian National Council actively support the need for Safety Zones.

It remains if the International community will swiftly set up the apparatus to do so under the security council or the other processes available to it under the UN charter of Human Rights and Organs. Meanwhile the Syrian People await with their Children under fire.

A request for a Safety Zone by Syria can't be ignored It's a HUMAN RIGHT

Syrian National Council launches new Website at the url http://syriancouncil.org/
Red Cross Fail to implement Safety Zones in Syria

When you examine the International Committee for the Red Cross's guidelines on Safety Zones in places of war you have to read it twice, not because it's a hard read but because one's mind races at the thought of a solitary soldier walking through the enemy line trying to organize the correct apparatus to set them up, with the agreement of an enemy, who could fire on him at any moment.

I imagine the vehicle he travels in winding though his own lines, taking the path across his own comfort zone knowing he has cover from his own side, but then entering enemy territory holding his fire, perhaps with a makeshift sign of white and red trying convey he has a message to deliver. Then being fired on, luckily avoiding the fire then reaching the enemy commanders outpost. What do they say to each other? How do they begin the truce if only in selected areas of ground, in hospitals and designated neutralised zones for children, women, the sick, the old, the wounded civilians as well as injured soldiers of both sides? They must speak to each other man to man and say Yes Ok we will do it, we will mark out our hospitals with a 5 mile excusion zone, we will assign towns as neutral zones, we will tape off villages for the wounded an perhaps even allow an aid corridor to feed the children, the women, the old and the dying. They have to agree to do this together, then instruct their troops to abide by this new way of doing things.

But this is not a new idea Henry Dunnat founder of the Red Cross, was the creator of an idea that was to revolutionize war. It successfully reduced civilian casualties, and deaths of soldiers in war whose right it became to be treated for their wounds. He advocated safety zones, neutral, hospitals, and living areas for people caught up in the tragedy of war. In 1870 in the Franco Prussian war he himself walked across the battle field to the enemy side where he began talks with them. When they agreed he put up the Red tape himself around the Hospitals and Villages or even Towns where the wounded were then to be treated. He campaigned for extended neutralised zones therefore allowing food and supplies into these towns. Today we know them as neutralised zones called the Humanitarian Corridor normally campaigned for by the UN when it has successfully secured access to the country at war. His wonderful idea was to become reality in 1938 with the draft constitution of the Geneva Agreement. Later in 1949 it received approval from all countries, after World War 2, to become what is known as the GENEVA CONVENTION. Since then it has become the world wide constitution for the Human Rights of children, men, women, unborn and the dying soldier in war to have dignity in being removed for the battlefield.
Here below are the guidelines from the 1949 4th Geneva Convention word for word, but to enact these simple things there needs to be intermediaries, to make requests to the other side to create space for civilians to remain as human beings in their own homes. The Convention also requests that these intermediaries are the legal right of both sides, to accomplish these zones.


GENERAL 1949 GENEVA CONVENTION 4th PROTOCOL article 14

1. ' Terminology '

The terminology in normal use should first be defined. A distinction is drawn between:

(a) ' hospital zones and localities, ' generally of a permanent character, organized outside the combat zone in order to shelter military or civilian wounded and sick from long range weapons, especially aerial bombardment (1);

(b) ' safety, zones and localities, ' generally of a permanent character, organized outside the combat zone in order to shelter certain categories of the civilian population, which owing to their weakness require special protection (children, old people, expectant mothers, etc.) from long range weapons, especially aerial bombardment (2).

[p.207]
(c) ' hospital and safety zones and localities, ' which are a combination of (a) and (b) above;

(d) ' neutralized zones, ' generally of a temporary character, established in the actual combat zone to protect both combatant and non-combatant wounded and sick, as well as all members of the civilian population who are in the area and not taking part in the hostilities, from military operations in the neighbourhood. END QUOTE


UN's Fails to Act on Syryia

It remains for the UN to act out, it's own bible, the Geneva Convention in Syria where the Opposition have made repeated requests for the safety zones to be set up. It also remains for the Red Cross to enforce its own guidelines in Homs where there are no designated civilian safety zones or neutral hospitals. There instead, the Red Cross have created the dangerous turf war of a compromise that only one hospital is freely available to Opposition fighters in the form of the Al-Birr Hospital by hearsay arrangement. This arrangement is NOT a safety zone but a poor compromise that bears no relation to the Geneva Convention. The Geneva representative of the RED CROSS is currently unavailable for comment due to leave over the New Year. I await his answer.

The Syrian National Council actively support the need for Safety Zones.

It remains if the International community will swiftly set up the apparatus to do so under the security council or the other processes available to it under the UN charter of Human Rights and Organs. Meanwhile the Syrian People await with their Children under fire.