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‘Exploited by a large multi-national, aided by a council that failed to take account of local concerns’

Home / Opinions / Viewpoint

We Sood Be Prood o Wir Pride

This Saturday, the third annual Shetland Pride will take place and our author Hannah Nicholson is excited to be attending for the first time. Here she explains why. 
•Viewpoint
Aerial view of a barren landscape with sparse vegetation and scattered blue ponds under a cloudy sky.

What is happening to Yell?

Yell will see some big changes over coming years with two large onshore wind farms plus associated infrastructure set to be constructed on the island which is also part of the Scottish Government’s carbon neutral islands project. In this long and thorough ViewPoint contribution, local resident Adrian Brockless explores some of the contradictions of the processes involved and wonders if, perhaps, we are all on the brink of making some catastrophic mistakes in the name of climate progress.
•Viewpoint
People are standing in front of an Equinor building, holding signs and banners with messages including "STOP BAY DU NORD" and "#EQUINOROUT" in a protest.

‘A really bad deal for Shetland’

Local climate campaigner Andrea Sanchez finds ‘no adults in the room’ at Equinor when she attended the Norwegian oil company’s AGM earlier in May. Here she argues that developing the Rosebank oil field has little to do with ‘transitioning to clean energy’.
•Viewpoint
Sullom Voe Terminal. Photo: BP

‘History is repeating itself’

On the day Alex Armitage announces his intention to stand in the upcoming general election, the Green councillor reflects on the 50th anniversary of the Zetland County Council Act and what the future may hold
•Viewpoint
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A stormy sky with wind turbines in the background.

A key test for Shetland’s political leadership

In this opinion piece Green councillor Alex Armitage challenges the council’s leadership in their approach to negotiations with the renewable energy industries and argues that a tougher stance is needed for Shetland to maximise the benefits
•Viewpoint
A group of wind turbines.

On community benefits

Managing director of local energy consultancy Voar, Daniel Gear, shares his thoughts on navigating Shetland’s resource ownership in the wind and hydrogen age
•Viewpoint
A blue and white boat named "Good Shepherd IV" is docked near a pier. Inset shows a close-up of a man wearing glasses.

‘It could all go horribly wrong’

Shetland’s Labour councillor Tom Morton offers his views on the replacement Fair Isle ferry project, which has been awarded around £27 million from the UK Government but faces a 2026 deadline.
•Viewpoint
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Time to fully embrace the energy transition

Following a visit to the isles earlier this year climate activist Tessa Khan offers her views on the need for a rapid and just transition away from fossil fuels, and the role Shetland can play.
•Viewpoint

The moment for federalism has arrived

A week after the Supreme Court found the Scottish Government has no powers to legislate for a second independence referendum, isles MP Alistair Carmichael argues that the case for constitutional reform to turn the UK into a modern democracy has never been more pressing.
•Viewpoint
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Covid two years on: the promise of spring never fails

In April 2020, we asked Tresta resident Carol Jamieson to share her thoughts on the early days of the pandemic, at a time we were all experiencing the first weeks of the lockdown. Now, exactly two years after Shetland’s first Covid cases were confirmed, she says she is a different person.
•Viewpoint
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A cleaner and greener future is possible

As world leaders gather in Glasgow for the COP26 UN climate summit, Celestine Verdcourt-Lawrence of Shetland Eco Youth calls on governments to stop pretending and start working seriously towards a net zero future
•Viewpoint
Buses in Shetland will soon be fitted with a new smart ticketing system. Photo: Shetland News

Free bus travel for youngsters welcome, but more can be done

This week the Scottish Government confirmed that under 22s will receive free bus travel from January next year – but at this stage transport on ferries for islanders is not part of the plans. One of Shetland’s two members of the Scottish Youth Parliament, Jonathan Dorrat, gives us his view
•Viewpoint
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Racism takes many forms

Following news reports of racist graffiti appearing on some crumbling Cold War buildings in the southend of Shetland, Peter Hamilton puts pen to paper to reflect on the many forms racism, sexism, transphobia and discrimination can take.
•Viewpoint

Fuel poverty facts speak for themselves

Chief executive of Hjaltland Housing Association and vice chair of the Shetland Fuel Poverty Action Group, Bryan Leask, is urging the incoming government to make tackling Scotland’s ‘shamefully’ high levels of fuel poverty, particularly in rural and island areas, a top priority
•Viewpoint
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SIC convener Malcolm Bell

Island self-determination ‘completely normal’

Frustrated with the limitations of local government in Scotland since devolution, Shetland Islands Council decided earlier this year to look closely at the options of clawing some back political powers from Edinburgh and thus reviving local democracy. Here, council convener Malcolm Bell sets out the case for self-determination.
•Opinions
Councillors approved the refreshed policy at the Lerwick Town Hall on Monday. Photo: Shetland News

Autonomy debate returns to Shetland

Ahead of Wednesday’s council meeting, modern political history PhD student Mathew Nicolson argues that the latest bid for self-determination reflects grievances with centralisation and the continued erosion of local government powers rather than the desire for full autonomy.
•Viewpoint
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Time for local action to combat climate change

Here in Shetland we have a climate crisis and we need our council to declare a climate emergency, write Anderson High School students Isla Johnson, Laura Bisset and Celestine Verdcourt-Laurenson of Eco Youth Shetland.
•Opinions

Shetland has again all eggs in one basket

The focus on building a 600Megawatt subsea cable is preventing investment in local renewable energy projects, writes James Mackenzie, the outgoing vice-chairman of Sustainable Shetland, the grassroots group that opposes the Viking Energy wind farm.
•Opinions
A mocked-up image of Viking turbines as they would be seen from the north end of the Lang Kames.

Why we’re carrying a coffin along the Lang Kames

Pete Bevington is one of the organisers of Lament for the Lang Kames, a ‘funeral procession’ being held on Saturday for “all that will be lost if Viking Energy goes ahead as planned”. He explains why the procession – coffin and all – is taking place.
•Viewpoint
Wind farm in Shetland

Welcome to Turbineland

Hillswick based journalist and broadcaster Tom Morton has been supporting the Viking Energy wind farm as a community project for many years. Now, with local control of the project and community benefit lost, he has changed sides.
•Viewpoint
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