Sustainable Shetland

by poshpenguinsbtinternet.com in Voe ZE2 9PX

We did it
On 13th March 2014 we successfully raised £20,285 with 115 supporters in 56 days

Sustainable Shetland is a community group that supports social, environmental and economic sustainability in Shetland.

by poshpenguinsbtinternet.com in Voe ZE2 9PX

Financial appeal for Judicial Review of Viking Windfarm in Shetland Our organisation

Sustainable Shetland is a campaign group formed in March 2008 in response to a proposal for a large scale wind farm in Shetland. We believe such large industrial projects are damaging to our environment. We want to support social, environmental and economic sustainability in Shetland. We want to see sustainable renewable energy projects in the islands which are fit for scale and fit for purpose, and provide real community benefit. 
The population of the Shetland Islands is 23,000. At the moment Sustainable Shetland has about 850 members. We believe:

  • That the integrity of Shetlands environment, landscape, archaeology and society are important, and should not be treated as mere commodities.
  • That man-made pollution and man-made climate change pose serious risks to ourselves and the environment.
  • That Shetland should promote and support efforts at reducing energy consumption, and support economic and environmental sustainability.

Sustainable Shetland has no paid employees. All our activities are undertaken by volunteers and paid for through fundraising activities and donations. It is not limited by guarantee so the financial risks are borne by individual members.

Our project: The Story so far....

On 4th April 2012 the Scottish Energy Minister Fergus Ewing granted consent for the 103 turbine Viking Windfarm on the Mainland of Shetland. Sustainable Shetland petitioned the Court of Session in Edinburgh to judicially review this decision. Originally scheduled for 4 days in January 2013, The Judicial Review instead took place over 14 days, and the Judge, Lady Clark of Calton, finally found in favour of Sustainable Shetland on two counts:

  1. Ministers were incompetent in granting consent for the Viking windfarm since Viking Energy partnership did not have a licence to generate electricity
  2. Ministers did not properly take account of their obligations under the EU Wild Birds Directive, specifically in relation to Whimbrel – a migratory wading bird of which 95% of the UK breeding population is in Shetland, and concentrated on the windfarm site.

The full judgement of Lady Clark of Calton can be read here:

This is the first successful Judicial Review challenge to a windfarm decision in Scotland. It is a landmark decision for communities around the UK who believe they and their environment have been sacrificed for the benefit of Government policy and big business.Scottish Ministers are appealing this decision on both counts. The Appeal is to be held at the end of February 2014, in the Inner House of the Court of Session, Edinburgh, with three days allocated to the competency issue, and three to the Wild Birds Directive. Due to the cost of legal action, Sustainable Shetland is opposing the appeal in relation to the Wild Birds Directive only.

 Our project: Access to justice

We have made a submission to the Aarhus Convention regarding access to justice, and the severe financial difficulties NGOs and individuals face when undertaking a Judicial Review process, based on our own experience. Our submission can be read here

To date the Judicial Review has cost Sustainable Shetland nearly £100,000. The appeal is estimated to cost further tens of thousands. Sustainable Shetland has been granted a Protective Expenses Order which means that if Lady Clark’s judgement is upheld, Scottish Ministers will be liable for up to £105,000 of Sustainable Shetland’s costs. If the judgement is overturned, Sustainable Shetland will have to pay £5,000 towards Scottish Ministers’ costs in addition to our own.

Sustainable Shetland continues to fundraise and members have donated generously of their time and money, but we need to widen our campaign to meet the projected costs of the Appeal Process. We would like to raise £20,000 by 14th March 2014 and we need your help!

Please give generouslySmile

We would like to thank Carol Jamieson and Jonathan Bulter for volunteering their time and expertise to make our film. 

We also thank Allen Fraser, Richard Rowland, Debbie Scott, Carol Jamieson, Paul Bloomer and Lea Gardens for generously donating some lovely crowdfunder rewards.

 

 

Rewards

This project offers rewards in return for your donation. Please select a reward below.

£5 or more

£5 Reward

You will receive a personal thank you on our Facebook Page from all of us at Sustainable Shetland :-)

£10 or more

£10 Reward

A guiddick is a Shetland riddle. We have ten different guiddicks that have never been published before. You can have 1 for every £10 pledged. Why not collect them all and put yourself to the test? You can tell us your answers - or for an extra £5 per riddle we'll give them to you!

£15 or more

£15 Reward

For £15 we'll give you a Shetland riddle (guiddick) and the solution. There are 10 different riddles to collect...

£15 or more

6 of 20 claimed

£15 Reward

£15.00 Fabulous photograph of Aurora borealis by Shetland photographer Ivan Hawick. 5” x 7” mounted and backed (suitable for 6” x 8” frame).

£20 or more

£20 Reward

'The Boggers': a quasi-historical, not to say hysterical, and ribald tale of devilish doings on the bogs of Shetland. Illustrated

£20 or more

£20 Reward

'Sphagnum': seven little haiku poems in praise of Shetland peat bogs and their inhabitants, with explanatory notes and a guide to all the Sphagnum species known to be growing in Shetland. If you go out walking on the moor, you're guaranteed to watch out for and treasure what's beneath your feet...and elsewhere. Illustrated

£25 or more

£25 Reward

Have you ever wondered how the Draatsie (otter) got his name? We've got a lovely original short story (text and MP3 download) in traditional Shetland dialect to tell you all about it.

£30 or more

£30 Reward

BOGO(A)F - Buy One Get One (Almost) Free! For £30 you can enjoy BOTH 'Sphagnum': seven little haiku poems in praise of Shetland peat bogs and their inhabitants, with explanatory notes and a guide to all the Sphagnum species known to be growing in Shetland AND 'The Boggers': a quasi-historical, not to say hysterical, and ribald tale of devilish doings on the bogs of Shetland. Illustrated.

£35 or more

£35 Reward

Fishing or sightseeing trip in St. Magnus Bay. 4 or 5 persons are required for each trip, which lasts approx. 3 hours. Fishing equipment, tea and coffee provided. Offered on fine days between May and September.

£40 or more

3 of 18 claimed

£40 Reward

You are invited to spend a relaxing Sunday afternoon in April at Setter, Weisdale where you will hear stories of the Weisdale valley, followed by afternoon tea and a short cine film of Shetland 1962-70, which includes the old North boats and the 1970 Walls Show.

£50 or more

21 of 100 claimed

£50 Reward

We have a beautiful etching of either a Whimbrel or a Red Throated Diver (subject to availability) by Richard Rowland to send your way

£50 or more

0 of 8 claimed

£50 Reward

Take a guided Simmer Dim tour along the dramatic Eshaness cliffs. Explore the remains of Shetland's 395 million year old volcano with a noted local guide and enjoy the breathtaking beauty of this land on which the summer sun never sets! Available 25th June

£75 or more

£75 Reward

Renowned Shetland fiddler and composer Debbie Scott has kindly donated recordings of 3 previously unheard tunes (you had a taster of one at the end of our film). Debbie has been writing and recording her Shetland tunes in her own inimitable style for many years, and has teamed up with Carol Jamieson to create a more unusual approach to the traditional type of accompaniment and harmony (available as MP3 download).

£250 or more

1 of 4 claimed

£250 Reward

Sail and film 1 day expedition (max 3 persons) aboard yacht Zealander. Price includes a gourmet dinner at Greenvale. The day will be filmed on professional broadcast equipment and a hi-res edited version given as a keepsake. The 4 days will be in July (dates weather dependent.

£250 or more

0 of 1 claimed

£250 Reward

Beautiful scarf designed by Ina Irvine, one of Shetland's well known lace knitters. The scarf was knitted by Sue Arthur using Jamieson & Smith Shetland supreme 1ply yarn

£1,500 or more

0 of 2 claimed

£1,500 Reward

We have two framed prints by the late great photographer and gardener Gunnie Moberg, who lived in Orkney. These photos are not digital, she always worked in the traditional dark room manner. The blue poppy is Meconopsis betonicifolia, native to the Himalayas, and is well suited to these oceanic latitudes and to damp peaty soils. It thrives in Shetland gardens. For more info about Gunnie, please see http://www.artinscotland.tv/2014/the-orkney-library-and-archive-gunnie-moberg/"

£40 or more

1 of 1 claimed

£40 Reward

‘Three Hares’ Limited edition lino print by wildlife and landscape artist Howard Towll unframed). 21x21 cm, 2013

£100 or more

14 of 10 claimed

£100 Reward

We'd like to invite you and a friend on a guided walk through the Shetland landscape followed by a friendly soiree with wine and a buffet at the beautiful Lea Gardens in Tresta this spring (you must find your own way to the meeting point)

£125 or more

1 of 1 claimed

£125 Reward

‘Chickadee and winter apples’ Limited edition woodcut by wildlife and landscape artist Howard Towll unframed). 57 x25 cm, 2000

£150 or more

12 of 10 claimed

£150 Reward

A limited edition woodcut of Curlew and Snipe by acclaimed artist Paul Bloomer. Hurry, supplies are limited! (Woodcut dimensions 24x30 inches).

£150 or more

1 of 1 claimed

£150 Reward

‘Razorbills and Guillemots’ Limited edition woodcut by wildlife and landscape artist Howard Towll (unframed). 60x35 cm, 2012

£150 or more

1 of 1 claimed

£150 Reward

‘Hare in Heather' Limited edition woodcut by wildlife and landscape artist Howard Towll unframed). 45x45 cm, 2010

£150 or more

1 of 1 claimed

£150 Reward

‘The Dog, the Crow and the Cursing Creeler’ Limited edition woodcut by wildlife and landscape artist Howard Towll unframed). 64x36 cm, 2006

£400 or more

1 of 1 claimed

£400 Reward

1 week’s 4-star self-catering accommodation (15th -22nd September) in a traditional croft house in Vidlin, on the east side of Shetland. Sleeps up to 6. (No pets.)

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