Shetland is the group of the UK's most northerly isles with a population of 23,000.
Shetland Friends of the Earth is a local group of Friends of the Earth Scotland and we hold meetings on a regular basis.
We have run several campaigns all with the aim of fully informing the public on the environmental issues most often left out by the proposers of new projects
Our first campaign was about West Side Oil, the oil fields to the west of Shetland. BP and other companies are developing this area using sea bed technology and floating storage vessels. While the fear is of a major disaster the increased number of tanker movements are going to raise the background level of oil pollution. It well not be a catastrophe but an insidious unmonitored slow destruction of the eco systems around Shetland. We continue to ask BP to monitor changes but studies such as their sea bed survey are implemented after the drilling has occurred!
The education group offshoot has had success working with the local council to set up a recycling network for schools. When it is up and running we hope to set up a page for it.
The group is very active in recycling
And we dont just sit an our backsides. We join in Shetlands annual clean up - Da Voar Redd Up
The 10th anniversary of Chernobyl was on 26 April. This was a reactor that was described in 1979 by the then head of the CEGB as "a safe and reliable design". The sarcophagus covering this reactor is now breaking up. The monied West dont seem very interested in that fact.
Australia asked for all our support in condemning the French nuclear testing in the Pacific. They don't like nuclear warships tying up in their harbours. But they don't mind sending 'nuclear waste' to Dounreay to be reprocessed. It has been pointed out that as soon as the Australian waste is admitted then the Russians might think of sending theirs!!
For more nuclear information contact Nenig