It seems that many objections raised against a wind farm in Shetland seek to project only a narrow and exaggerated view of things. I despair that the opportunities to benefit Shetland and the world in the face of climate change may be lost through a lack of perspective.

The South Mainland Up Helly A’ began with a group of just four people. One of them was Ross Smith, from Sandwick.

“We just thought, well, everywhere else has one, and it would be a fun,” Ross told me. “There’d been an attempt to get one going about ten years ago, but it didn’t come to anything, so we thought we’d try again. We decided to have a public meeting to see what the interest was – that was on 22 February last year. There was a fair number of folk turned up, so we formed a steering group to see if it was feasible. The original idea was to have just one hall, and four or five squads.”

Davy Cooper argues that the visual arts should be better recognised in Shetland for their role in driving social and economic progress.

I’ve wandered the edges of the visual arts community in Shetland for many years. I’ve been a journeyman illustrator, photographer and art instructor, in fact a jack of all trades and master of none. I’ve never been a true artist and never desired to be, but I do have an appreciation of the visual arts and the role which they can and, I believe, should play in our society.

Marsali Taylor finds that this winter’s unusually cold weather has had a severe impact on the islands’ crofters and livestock.

The snow was bonny, but it wasn’t much fun for people with animals. Crofters had a lot of extra work over Christmas, and the effects will still be with them for a while to come.

Shetland Life meets a young band with island roots, currently making musical waves in Glasgow and beyond.

The Shetland music scene could be said to extend far beyond the shores of these islands, and some of the most interesting local music is currently being created by Shetland musicians living elsewhere. This is certainly true in the alternative and other contemporary genres, with student bands and young ex-pats regularly recording, gigging and generally making a name for themselves. Some of these acts are well worth a listen, and one such band is The Red Show.

As another year and another decade begin, Marsali Taylor offers Shetlanders a hypothetical New Year fairy, and asks what their special wishes might be.

Fair Isle musician, singer and songwriter Inge Thomson has just released her first solo album, after many years of involvement with other bands and artists. Neil Riddell finds it a rewarding and surprising listen.

In 1933, Charles Lindbergh was probably the most famous man on the planet. Charlie Simpson tells the story of his spectacular arrival in Lerwick harbour, and the rapturous welcome that awaited him.

In the first of our new monthly series of articles, celebrating 2010’s Power of Place event, Iain Malcolmson suggests it is time for all of us to

Look up

The marquee was flapping in the flans of wind that swept down through the harbour. The scaffolding skeleton held on to its skin, but the creaks and the infuriating sound of aluminium on aluminium rose above the band on stage. The band was no longer the window of the event but had become the curtains.

Specially-built modules which will form the bulk of the new Mid Yell Junior High School will be shipped to the isle this week.

WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR SHETLAND

Tuesday, 16 March 2010 at 11:14

HEADLINES

TODAY: MOSTLY DRY THOUGH CLOUDY
TONIGHT: RAIN SPREADING NORTH
TOMORROW: BRIGHTER AFTER RAIN, BREEZY
DAYS 2-5: RAIN, SHOWERS AND CHANCE OF GALES
DAYS 6-10: MOSTLY DRY, COOL E’LY WINDS

Shetland MSP Tavish Scott will meet the transport minister tomorrow to discuss the impact the Scottish Government order for NorthLink to save fuel by lengthening its journey times without prior consultation will have on the isles.