14/09/2014 Reporters

is still too close to call. Now on BBC News, Reporters. Welcome to the

special edition of Reporters, I am Lucy Hocking 's, in Edinburgh. As

Scotland prepares to vote in a historic referendum about whether to

break away from the UK, we have a special series of reports for you

from our global network correspondence on the challenges

which lie ahead. Coming up: a thirst for change. Alan Little reports from

a place is famous for its single malt whiskey on how both sides of

the debate are keen for reform. Yes, there has been national flag waving.

extraordinary and energetic debate which has energised

part of the country. David Grossman canvasses

border on how Scotland's neighbours see the debate. If we were a

separate, foreign country, different states, with that bother you? They

would just do what they want to do anyway, wouldn't they? We report on

how the yes and no campaigns are trying to woo the nation's biggest

ethnic minority. Everyone will have their own opinion. The story of

Scotland's historic failure to build its own empire 300 years ago in

Paraguay. And the old alliance, Hugh Schofield investigates how Scottish

ties with France mean more than just a love of haggis. There is clearly

deep sympathy for the Scots, not just here but right across France.

To be or not to be independent, that is the Scottish question. And soon

the 5 million people in Scotland will vote in a historic referendum

to decide whether to break away from the UK and become and an independent

nation. It is a deceptively simple question which has been so divisive,

of course, dividing not only the nation but splitting family and

friends. Our correspondent went to an island famous for its single malt

whiskeys, where there is a thirst for change. Just 90,000 people live

in Bute, but it has a coastline longer than that of France. There

are so few people in Scotland that it has a population density just 1/7

that of England and Wales. Pro`independence campaigner say that

makes it a different kind of country with different political challenges

and needs. The hotelier David Graham leaves his guests in no doubt about

his allegiance. For him independent is about making government more

accountable. We still feel distant from Westminster. Westminster still

control a lot of the key levers which could make such a difference

to Scotland as an independent country. I personally feel that the

politicians closer to home can be more answerable to the demands of

the people. The independence debate reaches into every community. The

level of engagement is unprecedented. The annual Isla

agricultural show brings the area together. Mines are being made up in

places like this in lengthy conversations with friends and

neighbours. I can just see chaos. What is the point of saying you want

to be separate, but meantime all we get is a list of the things that we

don't want to lose? It must be nice to be either one or the other and so

choose what you want to do. I keep getting pulled back and forth. I

think it is great. I think it is that we will be able to take this

step won't be easy, it will probably be

very hard and Neither side now is backing the

status passionate no campaigners, like the

local postmaster, also want change. Centralisation to a centre of zest

technocracy in Edinburgh has not helped us on the islands. The best

way to achieve devolution is not just devolution to Edinburgh, but

from Edinburgh, more local devolution, and the National 's have

a terrible track record on this. In a place like this you see something

very important about the nature of this whole debate. It is not just

about the national about power, about where it should

properly centre more accountable to people

who been national flag waving, but this

is also people in every part of the country,

and groups of friends, about the nature of democracy

itself, and how to make it that. pace of that debate has now

accelerated fast. Both sides now say they want change, and the decision,

changed in or out of the UK, is now just days away. But what about those

people across the border in England, who care passionately about the

independence debate here but don't get to vote. Our correspondent has

been to a town on the border between England and Scotland to find out

more. Obviously the debate about Scottish independence is mainly

focused on the people who live behind me, in Scotland. But what of

the other participants in this 300 `year`old marriage? What does it

mean for the people who lived over their? `` live over there? For 200

years the people in this community have witnessed a changing world and

the changing UK. For the entirety of this campaign there has been an

border that voters here don't need to really

is going on over there. After all, the polls suggest that independence

defeated. Now however some polls suggest a different picture. So what

do voters over here think now. Barry and Nancy Smith are on

Staffordshire. Changing polls worry them. We go to Scotland quite

regularly, I think this is the third or fourth time in the last few

years. We love going north of the border. But it doesn't feel like we

are going abroad. Maybe in future it will do. As an English person I am

sort of feeling that we are the British Isles, and we are better

together. We are better together than going our separate

ways, a thick we can be stronger and are stronger together. Most people

who live here identify themselves first of all as Berrickers, as

opposed to Scottish or English. Things would change, but perhaps not

culturally, I think there would still be cross`border link ``

Berwickers. Berlot might depend exactly what Scottish independence

looks like. Walking through Berwick, you get a sense of a town

which looks in both directions. What would it mean for you as a West

Highland terrier, do you think? Anything in particular? WOOF! If

Scotland were another country, a separate foreign country, a

different state, would that bother you? No. They were just do what they

want to do anyway. This bridge spans written's life is a great power.

Opened just after the Battle of Waterloo, it stood throughout the

golden age of British identity. It may begin an era ratcheted by border

posts, the union gone, the chain broken. 3% of people in Scotland

identify as Asian, making them the largest ethnic group. Our

correspondent went to a Sikh temple in Glasgow. The women here are

preparing over 2000 chapati, with help or hindrance from me. This is a

place of prayer, not politics. But still the referendum comes up in

conversation. Everyone is different. Everyone has their own

opinion. I am told that for all the Sikhs, very serious in India

influences their vote. There were separate states, and we lost the

lot. This might have negative connotations for them in terms of

their voting. Do they want a separate or stay as one United

Kingdom? There are others who see a new future in an independent

Scotland. Chandeep Singh is from an independent family. It is about

smashing the grass ceiling `` glass ceiling at every level. They use the

language which is all about trying to put Scotland on the world stage.

And I think that is kind of way I see a lot of what I am trying to

achieve. In the streets of this town, it seemed yet Scotland have

been making their presence felt. This woman from Muslim Friends of

Labour was voting no but has changed her mind. She says business voters

in particular are listening. If we are independent we have the ability

to say what taxes we want, and we can

effectively, aiding small businesses, predominantly the

Scottish Asian community what this. The idea of a shared history

resonates with the Asian vote. They see the UK as a place where they

have been given opportunities. My father talks a lot about what it was

like when he the opportunity to give his daughter

's education. representation of that opportunity.

Evra has their own reasons for voting yes or no. The Asian

population has `` is no The implications of this referendum

are being watched all around the world, even in Quebec which has had

two referendum campaigns themselves in which both times they decided to

stay with in Canada. Nick Bryant has been to Quebec City. A parade

through the streets retelling the story of the settlement of what was

then called New France. The province has retained its brand of foam

character although it never achieved independence. The festival organiser

explains the dilemma. He sees himself as a Quebec residents burst

and a Canadian second `` resident first. Will be still have the

Canadian dollar? Will be still trade with our neighbours? Will it be that

easy to trade with the other Canadian provinces? How would the

other Americans consider us? Those are big concerns for parts of the

population. In a decades long struggle, Divac has dealt with

losing two referendums, in one case coming within 1% of separation. The

lesson for Scotland is that independence is a multiphase

affair. It is unbelievable. They just got a new parliament in 1997

and now they are having a referendum to be a free country. If it won't

work this time, it's Mike's next time. `` it might. Quebec has

achieved a great deal of autonomy but for Scotland, the separatist

spirit has been dampened. The last referendum was almost 20 years ago

in Quebec but the wish for separation hasn't run away. In

Canada, Baycol at never ending referendum `` they call it. For all

of Quebec's distinctive culture, there is no appetite for a third

referendum. Many feel that the culture of this province has not yet

reached its pinnacle. It is widely acknowledged that Scotland became

much more keen to join England years ago after the catastrophic failure

of their own attempts to build an empire. This scheme was to take over

part as Paraguay known as Darien. It almost bankrupted Scotland and led

to the phrase, if you can't beat them, join them. This attempt at

settling brought ruin to the Scots. The Anglo Scottish union that is now

being challenged has its origins here in Darien in Panama. When a

nation rethinks its future as Scotland now does, it also

re`examines its past. Scotland is rethinking the lessons of what is

still known as the Darien Disaster. Documents tell the story of an

attempt by Scottish merchants to found a trading colony which they

were going to call Caledonia and its capital city New Edinburgh. Here is

the Constitution of Caledonia in America. Here is how they wanted

their economy to be run. Everything from judiciary to have disputes

would be settled. Not just a new colony but a new country. All of

these things about beginning. How do you begin a country? It was

fantastically ambitious. Very. There would be two major expeditions to

Panama carrying 3000 settlers between them. The first embarked in

a mood of national euphoria. They set sail on the 14th of July 1698.

The Hull City came down to see the colonists depart `` entire city.

This was an adventure that everyone wanted to be part of. The colonists

bought themselves the luckiest Scotsman alive. They had no idea

that they were sailing into personal and national catastrophe. There it

is. Scottish harbour and when the hole in his came here after four

grueling months at sea, they found themselves surrounded by fertile

land not occupied by any European party and they thought this would

have had great implications. What they didn't know is that it rains

here for most of the year and that nothing ever dries out. It was the

amazing fertility of this place that brought the Scots here in the first

place. One of the colonisers wrote that the back `` asked breaking work

of breaking down the jungle was futile as it grew back after only a

month. They had to fight against disease like malaria and yellow

fever. Somewhere in this tangle is Scottish cemetery with hundreds of

graves. No one has ever found it stop nine months after the first

fleet set sail, two thirds of the colonists were dead. We went to the

place they named New Edinburgh. It is still named that on some maps.

Nothing survives of that capital city. Descendents of the Indians

that they try to defend and no one more. It was the goal of the English

that was to cause lasting bitterness in Scotland. In London, the king

ordered colonies not to trade with Caledonia. To deny all assistance to

the colonists. He was placed in a difficult position because English

trading interests were very much against the Scottish competition.

The realities were that he was going to side where the power and money

was. Orders were sent to English plantations saying that they were

not allowed to supply the Scots with extra provisions. They were trying

to starve them out. Scotland's Imperial ambitions in Canada were

defeated by disease and starvation `` Panama. Under the treaty with

England, England agreed to pay a sum of money to the investors which was

known as the equivalent of the price of Scotland. The referendum debate

has been closely followed by Britain's European allies and no

country more so than France. They have a union that goes back to the

13th century. How has that shaped French attitudes Scottish

independence? What are Scottish pipe band 's doing parading in July

through and after central Frenchtown? They have annual

festivities to mark the old alliance in this small town. Warriors from

one Scottish family fought alongside the French against the English and

were rewarded with lordships and a chateau which stayed Scottish were

nearly 400 years. Enthusiasm for things Caledonia and here extends to

the culinary. This is French haggis. The bond is felt. It is a

question of blood. They bled for us and French people bled for

Scotland. What else? Whether it is the old alliance and their common

antipathy towards the English or whether it is just that both

countries like to share a drink, there is clearly deep sympathy for

the Scots, not just in here that right across France. We carried out

an impromptu poll with the audience about Scottish independence and the

result was clear enough. The old alliance has left its traces. The

French instinctively like the Scots but Scottish independence? It is not

really their fight. That is all from this special edition of Reporters

with just days to go until Scotland decides. Goodbye for now.

Mixed fortunes up and down the UK as we look ahead through the coming

week. There will