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Autonomy debate returns to Shetland

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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

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
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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

Everyone is entitled to equal rights

I often delight in boring my students with the unique social, cultural and political status of Shetland, but the debate around (Lerwick) Up Helly Aa leaves me feeling ashamed, writes former Brae resident Karl Johnson.
•Viewpoint
Lerwick Up Helly Aa gets under way. All photos: Austin Taylor

Women are a major part of Up Helly Aa

‘We are not adverse to change because of gender issues. We oppose it because Up Helly Aa is part of our culture and heritage and we love it the way it is’, writes Linda Hughson.
•Viewpoint
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Brexit – we didn’t vote for this!

WE ARE living in unprecedented times with record defeats, cabinet resignations every other week and a woefully ineffective and disunited Labour opposition, writes SNP Highlands and Islands list MSP Maree Todd.
•Viewpoint
SIC leader Gary Robinson 'ferry fares reduction will be delivered' - Photo: Hans J Marter/ShetNews

SLAP deal ‘extremely good news’

FORMER council leader Gary Robinson explains why buying Shetland Charitable Trust (SCT)’s property arm SLAP was the right thing to do for the council and why public buildings should never have ended up in the ownership of the company in the first place.
•Viewpoint
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