Despite so much shared history – in fisheries and, more recently, fossil fuel development, Peterhead in the North of Aberdeenshire feels very different from Lerwick.   There is the sea, of course.  The modern trawlers and the bright orange supply boats.  The seagulls.    

A crowd of cormorants dry off on a rock, the grey sea seething around their perch, just yards from the first rows of houses.

We’re in the theatre in the Peterhead Community and Leisure Centre.  It’s a big space – tall with  a steeply raked seating back separated from the stage by a (currently floored over) orchestra pit.  After the up-close atmosphere at Mareel I was afraid we would feel apart – behind that mythical fourth wall.  We weren’t.

A small crowd generously joined the after-show discussion, reflecting on issues and developments that will impact Peterhead directly.

Here are some notes on ‘What I heard about Climate Justice in Peterhead.’

I heard that people wanted to know who was held responsible for the Piper Alpha disaster. And, since there were no criminal charges and the vast majority of financial losses to Occidental and its contractors were covered by insurance, why no one really WAS held responsible?

I heard that some elements of the Trades Union movement – such as Prospect and GMB in Scotland – are still pressing for the inclusion of Nuclear Power as part of the country’s Just Transition to clean energy.  Whilst the majority of unions resist pressure to include nuclear energy as part of ‘the solution’.[3]

I heard that we need communities – to re-build communities based on personal interactions, common local interests and civic and political empowerment  at the community level.

I heard that people in the Torry community, on the South of the Dee, are actively resisting ‘big industry’ moves to clear the little remaining greenspace in the historic burgh in the interests of industrial development of the new harbour.  I heard that their resistance will include legal action and people’s assemblies.

I heard that people are looking for ways to make a change but feel too many vested interests from corporations and the 1% who only care about money stand between us and meaningful change.

I heard that a large part of Torry was cleared in 1974 and redeveloped so that Shell could build a supply base.

Source: might-brent-anniversary-of-first-production.pdf (shell.co.uk)

I heard that people want alternatives to the received and dominating narratives provided by mainstream media and the constant pressure to consume.

I heard that the proposed expansion of the Boddam Gas Power Station by SSE and Equinor will increase the power plants emissions to 1.54 MtCO₂ per annum.  11% of Scotland’s carbon budget for 2034.  Boddam is already amongst the dirtiest of fossil fuel power plants in the UK.[2]

I heard that community led legal action at the Court of Session had been effective in blocking the loss of woodland for the sake of development.

I heard that the UK’s new energy strategy aimed at creating 20-30 MtCO₂ per annum carbon sequestration capacity by 2030.[1]

I heard that the St. Fittick’s community plan a People’s Assembly on 27^th May to articulate what the community REALLY want for Torry.

I heard that fishers are concerned about the impact of offshore windfarms on fishing grounds and marine diversity.

I heard that we need to find ways to re-educate ourselves and our children.  To explain the basic physics of GDP and economic growth.  To understand the dynamics of desire.

I heard that the ACORN carbon sequestration project centred on Peterhead had NOT received funding support in the governments current allocations of funding related to Carbon Sequestration.

I heard that Powering Up Britain – the Net Zero Growth Plan uses the term ‘industry’ 131 times and the word ‘community’ 13 times in its 126 pages.[1]

I heard that people are too ‘ground down’, by labour and commuting to make ends meet, to have any energy for community building  or social activism.

I heard that the UK Government believes “The UK has already made huge progress in decarbonising its economy and decoupling emissions from economic growth.”[1]

[1] Powering Up Britain Powering up Britain – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

[2] SSE admits new Peterhead gas plant will belch out more climate pollution – Friends of the Earth Scotland (foe.scot)