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21 April 2006
The trouble with history
STUART Dobson's letter puts the problem in a nutshell. If people are told
something and it is repeated often enough, everybody starts to believe it.
He says we don't learn from history - I think we probably do, but who writes
the history, and is it worth learning from?
History - the word says it all: 'his story', the story as written from the
perspective of one man. Different 'his stories', or 'her stories' about the
same facts will all be different, selective and coloured by each writer.
What we need to understand is the crucial difference between the historian's
perspective and the lawyer's. History is constantly being re-written as new
facts are uncovered, or to suit political or personal ends.
Through a lawyer's eyes a different picture emerges - one informed by fact,
not opinion. The factual evidence SOUL has uncovered is part of Shetland's
history that is largely unknown - not because it never happened, but because
it is politically inconvenient and had to be buried. Ask a historian the
date at which Shetland became Scottish - it's a simple enough question, but
no-one can give you an answer - because it never happened.
It is much more convenient for politicians if Shetlanders accept the
official line that Shetland is part of Scotland and has been for hundreds of
years, but this fantasy is built on the changing sands of 'his story', not
the rock of legal proof and is therefore open to question.
Here is a simple example of 'history' being written right under our noses:
It is a fact that North Sea oil production is declining. The oil companies
use this in an attempt to reduce Shetland's 'take'. The loss of production
is publicised without accompanying revenue figures - a spin that benefits
both the oil companies and the government. It was recently being trumpeted
how well Shetland had done from 25 years of oil money - the implication
being that enough was enough. 'His story' is written.
Does nobody find it strange that while production is declining the oil
companies are posting record profits? While Shetlanders are being fed the
line that oil income is falling and we will have to start looking elsewhere,
the oil companies and the government are quietly taking £4.7 billion worth
of oil through Sullom Voe every year. Wouldn't it be inconvenient if
Shetlanders were made aware of that - and the political shenanigans that
went on in the sixties to enable it to happen? Instead, we all accept the
official history - a 'his story' that has been spun, processed and packaged
to make it palatable.
Four point seven billion pounds finances lots of political adventures like
the Iraq war, the invasion of Afghanistan and so on - and props up Gordon
Brown to appear as the careful Chancellor. In fact he and his predecessors
have overseen the complete squandering of the oil money - and Shetland, the
real owner of the resource, still has the most expensive fuel in the UK.
I'm not saying Shetland would even want full control of the oil, but a
little more than the scraps from our own table (as Scotty Dyble puts it),
plus local control of our own waters would make a huge difference. SOUL is
not looking at a romantic view of the past, it's Shetland's future and I
believe it's there for the asking.
Shetland has a choice - lie back and continue to be raped as it has been for
hundreds of years, or stand up and say it has to stop. Its unique and buried
history is what enables Shetland to do exactly that. The Channel Islands and
the Isle of Man were able to do it on much more tenuous evidence than we
have - Shetlanders just need to listen to lawyers, not historians, and start
writing the 'his and her story' they want.
I'm not interested in re-creating a mythical Viking past - I'm looking
forward to what might uniquely be possible in these islands. Stuart says I
should get a life - that's exactly what I'm doing - and enjoying it hugely.
Stuart Hill
Ocraquoy
Cunningsburgh
01595 693654
stuart@blurringlines.com
18 April 2006
Planners look ridiculous
THE SIC'S planning performance over many years has been plagued with
inconsistency, breaches of policy, ribbon development where developments
should have been in clusters, unsightly buildings that have degraded the
quality of Shetland's visual environment and confusion for the general
public and building trade alike.
The decision that the council's planning sub committee made last week to
approve the car park at Chris Hodge's Gremista business, then turn down the
change of use of the building is another example of the major failure of the
planning system in Shetland and demonstrates the inability of some of the
elected members involved to grasp a common sense approach.
I totally accept the need for a planning policy and accept that decisions
should, in the main, adhere to the policy where it is clear and reasonable.
But if, on the other hand, the policy doesn't fit, doesn't show common sense
or fairness to a particular situation, then it should be flexible enough to
bend. After all, the big blue building has been there for ages and folk were
able to go there and buy things long before Mr Hodge expressed interest. The
building sits in an industrial location with other buildings/businesses
storing, fixing and selling things.
Mr Hodge's business seems to be popular, creates employment and blends in
with activities in the area so what is the problem? The decision has made
the SIC look ridiculous.
Vic Thomas
Sandwick
Shetland
scrapstore@btconnect.com
17 April 2006
Old shipmate found
THANKYOU for publishing my letter last week with regard to my old shipmate
Alistair Nicolson. The response was way beyond my highest expectations. In
fact I was not sure at the time if I would even get a response. It's
wonderful to know that Alistair is not only alive and well, but highly
respected in the community and honoured with an MBE for his voluntary work.
I received 20 emails from Alistair's family and friends, including some who
were teenagers with whom Alistair had worked many years ago. They all spoke
very highly of the good work done by Alistair and Mrs Nicolson over many
years. Without question Alistair's work with youth was well underway when I
sailed with him fifty years ago and his positive influence stayed with me
ever since.
I gave him a call on Good Friday. It was wonderful to hear his voice again,
and to revive some memories of our time on the Benvrackie. He is still the
same, thoroughly decent man that I remember.
Thanks again and regards.
Len Nicol.
nicolcarroll@yahoo.co.nz
15 April 2006
Dear Stuart
With no malice or axe to grind against you, but as a resident of Shetland
for three and a half years now during which time I have had to sit silently
whilst all this long lost historical bull has been given space I have a
short message for you in modern parlance -
"Stuart GET REAL!!!! GET A LIFE!!!!"
The fact is that Shetland is part of UK PLC. It's not some off shoot of the
Scandinavian landmass or Viking playground, but part of the United Kingdom
with all that that means. Indeed it's part of Scotland and all that that
means.
We operate under the same rules and way of life in the modern era as the
rest of the UK.
For example - THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT. Wouldn't it be great if some of
the well-heeled business types who seek to run Shetland could perhaps accept
that as a guiding principle of business practice, as in the rest of the UK.
We might then actually enjoy having to deal with these people.
In the meantime Stuart, recognise one guiding principle of the detailed
study of history - it just isn't worth it, mate. Why? Because human beings
don't learn from history. They should do, I would say they MUST DO, but they
never have and unless we change significantly as a human race, they never
will.
Sad isn't it - but not half as sad as having to sit and read long boring
letters about a life that never really existed in the first place!
With my best wishes,
Stuart J. Dobson
Whitecroft,
West Yell,
Shetland.
stuart.dobson2@btinternet.com
15 April 2006
Oh boy!
OH BOY. Are the powers that be on the same planet as the rest of us poor
mortals, or are they hell bent on making sacrificial lambs of folk just
trying to go about their lives in a reasonable manner?
Over the last few weeks there have been some fantastic decisions made on our
behalf that beggar belief !!!
First up a need to cut council expenditure. All very laudable in these days
of ever rising costs, but has there been any rational thought about the
impact on those in most need and on limited income?
Social work is in need of a revamp. Since when is that new? Costs have
increased since taking over the rural centres - surprise, surprise - so a
new building will be the cure all will it? Social work has functioned out of
several buildings for years. In an ideal world a multipurpose building would
be OK, but not when the council is telling us it's strapped for cash!! There
are such things as telephones, e-mails and post for communication.
Increased charges for services is fine on the surface, but most of the
people who use and need these services are on limited incomes, are reaching
considerable old age, or have children of retirement age ( I am an OAP with
a 95 year old mother ).
A new centre for Yell to cover Yell and Unst? Whilst I agree the centre in
Yell has been inadequate for some years, trying to manage two centres miles
and a ferry journey apart will create more stresses than resolve them. Been
there, done that!!!!!!!!!!!!
And what about the blood, sweat and tears in raising cash for the Unst
centre. Is this to be a white elephant too?
And then to add insult to injury by suggesting a 15 per cent hike in ferry
fares. I thought the idea was to encourage people to live in and visit our
beautiful islands, or do some consider life outside Lerwick is not worth
living?
Then another load of money into Smyril Line. Why? The number of visits and
benefit to Shetland are minute.
And finally the debacle concerning Chris Hodge and his business. If ever a
council can make an utter fool of itself, it is this one. Not everyone wants
to shop on the street, where customer service in some establishments is not
a service at all! Mr Hodge is giving the population of Shetland a choice and
an opportunity to keep money circulating in Shetland and gives employment to
many. Good luck to him.
But to approve his car park expansion, so as not to intrude in others'
space, then say he cannot trade is laughable.
Come on councillors, use what ever brains God gave you, use some common
sense and most of all consider what a fine mess you all got yourselves into
in the first place!!!
Yours sincerely,
Mrs Susanne Willshaw
susanne.willshaw@btinternet.com
12 April 2006
Saving money, not post offices
Re: "MP mourns PO body blow" (3.04.06)
I WRITE in response to the comments made by Alistair Carmichael MP in the
above article.
It's important to clarify that the BBC's decision to award the contract for
over-the-counter services to PayPoint will deliver the best value for the
licence fee payer and enable the BBC to put more money into programmes. We
expect to save over £100 million over the life of the new contract, savings
which will be put directly into programmes and services to the benefit of
all licence fee payers.
An increasing number of people are choosing to pay their TV licence via our
website (www.tvlicensing.co.uk),
while others choose to pay by phone (0870 241 5590) or by post. But
as Alistair Carmichael MP states, there are also five PayPoint outlets in
Orkney and one in Shetland for people to use, should they still prefer to
pay in person, over-the-counter. Nationwide, there are already more PayPoint
outlets than Post Office branches across the UK, with another 2,000 PayPoint
outlets predicted to come online by 2007, taking the total number to 17,000.
If any of your readers would like further information on the concessions or
payment schemes available, they can visit
www.tvlicensing.co.uk
or contact TV Licensing on 0870 241 5590.
Yours faithfully,
Pipa Doubtfire
Head of Revenue Management
BBC TV Licensing
7 April 2006
Keep on diversifying
I READ with interest the article on the recent report on the economy in
Shetland.
While I agree with the authors that fish is the big contributor and may
always be, I think that it would be a mistake to direct all the resources to
supporting this sector for several reasons:
1.Historically fishing has fluctuated and sometimes violently and may
continue to do so.
2. Fish farming is a growth industry at this time but it is fast developing
commodity characteristics, and high volume with low margins will become a
feature in the future. Furthermore high volume will require larger
organisations to succeed in the market and most will be controlled from
outwith Shetland.
3. The council's visionary strategy is to diversify the economy and this has
never been done seriously before. Because of its size the combined fishery
sector has drawn the attention of the authorities and soaked up much of the
resources.
4. The oil sector is a major contributor but employs only 5.2 per cent of
the workforce directly. It is in decline although it may go on declining for
decades.
5. Tourism by comparison employs three per cent at the moment and has
potential to atleast double. Therefore it can replace the lost activity in
the oil sector.
6. The total result of the diversifying effort will provide a significant
contribution to future growth in employment and in contribution to the
economy as most of what is added will remain in the islands and not be taken
away by foreign (non-Shetland) owners.
I believe that the council should not take its eye off the ball as the
opportunity to pursue a sustained diversification policy is unlikely to come
again.
John Blanche
Daldrishaig
Aberfoyle
Stirling FK8 3TQ
john.blanche@zetnet.co.uk
7 April 2006
Too pricey for tourists
WE LIVE in Belgium and every day we read your paper on the web. So I did
yesterday and read the article about tourism not being the best solution for
Shetland's economy problems.
Of course it's not the best solution! Yet I would not underestimate the
power of tourist attractions!
The Shetlands are a most beautiful group of islands with a wide variety of
possibilities. The people are very kind and helpful. What we find though is
that the islands are nearly unknown abroad. When you tell someone you go to
Shetland, you get the reaction: Where? Where is that?
I guess Shetland should do a lot more about advertising itself, eg on
holiday fairs abroad, like Brussels, Utrecht, Antwerp.
Another problem is the high price of accommodation. The average price of
hotel rooms and B&B is about double of what one pays eg. in France, which is
Europe's number one tourist country! In my opinion that deters a lot of
people, especially families, from going to Shetland.
I sincerely do hope the situation could change for the better, Shetland
deserves it.
Regards,
Helen McDermott- Van Driessche, Belgium
iain.mcdermott@pandora.be
3 April 2006
Ding dong: reality calling
"THE NEW Shetland Museum and Archives project is more than £600,000 short
of funding despite an additional cash injection from the National Lottery
Fund (NLF)."
Six hundred thousand quid short!...in Australian terms that's
$1,455,643.20!......unless I am mistaken someone is gouging someone for
incredible amounts of money!.....
"Earlier this year, it emerged that the landmark building at Hay's Dock,
Lerwick, was more than £1 million over budget."
One million pounds over budget!......how could this possibly occur?.....I
and I'm sure many others would like to see the state of the books!.....
"This led to hectic efforts by Shetland Amenity Trust to secure
additional funding, but forced the postponement of the fitting-out
contract."
Yeah I bet it did!......
"Yesterday (Friday), NLF announced they had approved top up funding of
£267,957, more than £300,000 short of what the amenity trust had asked for.
"In 2002, NLF and the Shetland Charitable Trust both put £4.9 million
towards the £10.4 million project.
"In January, it emerged that the final cost will be nearer £11.5 million
due to "pre-contract inflation" and unforeseen extras such as the need to
redesign the foundation and move the archive section to the upper floor in
response to fears of rising sea levels due to global warning."
Hello..........pre contract inflation.......give me a break...the contractor
doing this is writing his own cheques.....why wasn't this contract let as a
lump sum, no ifs buts or anything else......do it for the price or don't do
it at all......who ever has been involved in the letting of this contract
from the start stinks of gross technical incompetence.....in this day and
age how can something be so grossly underestimated or over paid?......the
piece de resistance is the relocation of the archives to the upper
floor!.....what a laugh...what the hell was the whole site doing at sea
level in the first place?.....ding dong......reality calling.....I would
have thought a geological stable site with low wind velocity and appropriate
sun angles might have been a consideration.....
"The amenity trust subsequently applied for £585,000 of additional
lottery money and won a commitment from the charitable trust that they would
match fund any further contribution from NLF."
Lucky them....
"Now the project could be short of as much as £634,000.
"Yesterday project manager John Mackenzie said he was pleased that the
lottery fund had awarded some new money towards the project."
Well why wouldn't he be happy?......anything's better than nothing with a
disaster!.....
"He added that the amenity trust now had no other choice than to go to
"local funders" in the hope that they would help fill the funding gap."
Good luck mate.....
"Mr Mackenzie said: 'We are pleased to have received a top up grant all
be it not as much as we have asked for. We are speaking to local sources of
funding to see how the shortfall can be addressed."
Better go buy a lottery ticket I'd say!....
"It is understood that this new money together with the matching sum
committed by the charitable trust will be sufficient to award the contract
to fit out the building."
What?...let me get this right?......the building fit out hasn't been
included in the initial contract or a separate contract established prior to
commencement?......better go buy two lottery tickets......
"Colin McLean, NLF's manager for Scotland, said that trustees had
considered Shetland Museum's application at a meeting on Tuesday."
Hope someone sent lotza booze and dancing girls to help them be
generous!......
"He added: 'This award of £267,957 and our initial investment of almost
£5 million clearly demonstrate the Heritage Lottery Fund's support for what
will be an outstanding new cultural facility for Shetland.'"
Yeah right......here's a paint brush on entry ...and sir or madam are you
any good at building displays...we offer a discount for people who are handy
at finishing a contract and using power tools.........
"Mr Mackenzie said he expected the new museum and archives building to be
handed to the amenity trust within the next few days. Local construction
firm DITT has been working on the site for the last 18 months."
Is DITT listed on the stock exchange?.....I'd like to buy shares in that
little outfit......what a money spinner....
"Shetland Amenity Trust hopes to open the new museum before the end of
the year."
What's the opening date?.....I'd bet $50 it doesn't happen....
Bruce Stewart
Bungendore
Australia
bruce.stewart1@bigpond.com
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