They are judged the happiest people on earth, with the world’s best energy system, a GDP per capita almost a third higher than Britain, more bikes in daily use than the Netherlands, a swim just 15 mins away from every Copenhagen resident and state-run TV that changed the face of drama with Borgen, the Killing and the Bridge. Yet Denmark is small (with about half Scotland's land mass and the same population). It has less oil/coal/gas to fuel its economy and lost an empire - just like Britain. Yet the Danes have bounced back to become the modern, eco-leaders of Europe. How did they do it?  

The new film, made with Charlie Stuart has a run time of 60 minutes. It's the latest in the series of Nordic films that includes Norway, Iceland, Faroes and Estonia and was produced courtesy of the Scottish Independence Foundation and Dr Simon Forrest. 

April 6th 2020 marked the 700th anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath, widely regarded as Scotland’s most iconic document and probably the first declaration in medieval Europe to promote the idea that people are above Kings, that a nation is its people and that any nation has the right to self-determination. Written in 1320, its evocative sentiments about freedom and independence have given it special distinction, not just in Scotland, but around the world. But the coronavirus cancelled all live celebrations of the event and no UK broadcasters scheduled any significant TV coverage. Filmmaker Charlie Stuart and myself were halfway through making a film about Estonia and once it became obvious our return trip would be cancelled, we put our energies instead into making a 30-minute video for web release, so the anniversary did not go completely unmarked. We filmed in and around Arbroath Abbey, in Edinburgh and in Bannockburn House with glimpses of the surviving medieval document in the National Library and a convincing replica, produced in haste, for this film. The public contributed lines from the Declaration recorded on phones - the most famous contributor was award-winning actor Brian Cox, whose lines were sent from his phone in deepest New York State. Scots-born, Oscar nominated film composer Patrick Doyle produced an original score, after hearing about the project in the Lesley Riddoch podcast, and lottery millionaire, Chris Weir supported the whole thing with some funding.

Icelanders live on a restless, barren island with eight volcanoes overdue an eruption and 12 small earthquakes a day. With a population less than Aberdeen and Dundee combined, in an area far bigger than Scotland, Iceland is the world’s most literate nation with the best opportunities for women and the world’s oldest Parliament. After the financial crash in 2008, Iceland jailed its bankers and let failed banks go to the wall. But though its growth rate is now higher than the UK, Icelanders know they will never return to the crazy ‘glory’ days of pre-crash wealth and consumption. Now the debate is whether to embrace a different, green economy or remain reliant on tourism and ‘dirty’ aluminium production. The precarious, unpredictable nature of life on a volcanic island, means that whichever path they choose, Icelanders have the bonus of resilience and an incredible willingness to embrace change.