WAKE UP SHETLAND!

In the past few months since the SFG campaign started, we have made tremendous progress. The udal law issue is now very much a public debate.

There have been many attempts in the past to get back the benefits of the old Norse law system and away from the feudal yoke, but all have failed. That does not diminish the validity of the case - it just means the time was not right for them.

Previous campaigners did not have access to the wealth of information now available. They did not have the communications we now have. Most importantly the social climate was wrong.

The last major attempt to regain the use of udal law as the primary law of the islands was by the Shetland Movement and the SOUL, two organisations with similar aims to those of SFG. At that time the oil boom was under way, there was no shortage of jobs and no sense of impending danger. Everyone was comfortable and there seemed to be no need to change. Why rock the boat?

With the oil industry in decline and fishing in trouble there is now a different climate. The SIC has acknowledged that the issue is too big for one man to deal with.

SFG has the advantage over previous movements in that we have access to all the information they collected, plus a whole lot more relevant material, both from the islands and throughout the world. We have established high level contact with interested people in Norway, Faroe, Iceland, Newfoundland, New Zealand, Australia, Scotland and England. Such is the interest in what we are doing that we have been able to attract people of the highest calibre, who have given considerable amounts of their time completely free of charge.

After considerable research we now believe that there need be no barrier to the achievement of a status similar to that of the Isle of Man or the Faroes. This would mean maintaining our relationship with the UK, but with considerable autonomy over our own affairs.

It is not something we have to go cap in hand asking for - it is a right that simply needs to be exerted.

We are now preparing the way to take a case to an international court. The success of that case will open the door for the people of Shetland and Orkney to make their choice - either leave things as they are, or grasp the opportunity that our unique status offers. According to a Shetland Times poll in 1992, 62% of people polled would like more autonomy.

This is a one-off opportunity that could secure the prosperity of the islands for future generations. Do Shetland and Orkney want a future as an insignificant place on the far outer reaches of a federation of Europe, our destiny at the whim of some distant official who neither knows nor cares even where we are? Or do we want more control over our own future and be able to properly care for the natural resources that everyone else would like to plunder?

If no action is taken there can be no choice - decisions will be taken for us. SFG with our brothers of SOUL is opening the door to make the choice available. It will ultimately be up to the people of the islands which choice they make. Let's make sure we at least have this choice.

At this point we need some more money in the bank and are asking everyone who cares about Shetland's future to make a donation to help push this forward as soon as possible. We have already secured more than one private guarantee to enable us to go ahead while we raise the estimated £40,000 it will cost to run the case.

SFG and SOUL have been given (at cost) the last 4000 replica Rheingulden florin coins. 8000 were originally made to commemorate the 8000 florins of Shetland's 1469 pawning and the original is in the Shetland Museum. For every £15 donation we will be giving a free coin in presentation packaging. They will make unique presents.

Thank you People of Shetland Islands!