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🗞️ Driving the news: The Shetland Way by Marianne Brown blends memoir with climate journalism in Shetland
• Begins with her father's funeral, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of identity
• Brown unexpectedly remains in Shetland through lockdown, reconnecting with her roots and the land
🔭 The context: Shetland reflects global tensions between tradition, fossil fuels, and renewable futures
• Oil brought prosperity in the 1970s, but the future now lies in wind energy potential
• Plans for 103 onshore wind turbines sparked legal battles and community division
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The island’s debate mirrors global challenges in balancing progress and preservation
• Windfarm critics cite harm to wildlife and landscape; supporters seek a just energy transition
• Brown explores these tensions with nuance, drawing from science, history, and lived experience
⏭️ What’s next: A call for a new paradigm where community and sustainability take priority over profit
• Brown ultimately rejects the “hero’s journey” and centres local voices in climate dialogue
• The book urges deeper reflection on how we navigate grief, memory, and ecological responsibility
💬 One quote: “This wasn’t a story about me… only a new paradigm can break that cycle” — Marianne Brown
📈 One stat: Each turbine in the proposed Shetland windfarm would stand 145 metres tall
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