From: cockburn@edieng.enet.dec.com (Craig Cockburn)
Subject: Assynt crofters' appeal
Organization: Digital Equipment Co. Ltd., Reading, England
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1992 16:28:56 GMT


Just received this - thought readers here might be interested.

 ------- Forwarded mail received on 20-Aug-1992 at 17:15:07 -------

From:	GAELIC-L%IRLEARN.bitnet@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU
	"GAELIC Language Bulletin Board"
To:	Multiple recipients of <GAELIC-L%IRLEARN.bitnet@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU>


  I am not associate with this group in any way - I simply took the time
to enter this because it seems sufficiently important.  I have tried to
enter it as accurately as possible.

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                      ASSYNT CROFTERS TRUST FUND APPEAL
                      =================================

The North Lochinver Estate was sold by the millionaire Vestey family to a
foriegn property company - SPS ltd.  That company is now bankrupt and our
croft land is being broken up and offered for sale again in small lots.
The land is virtually all croft land.

We the crofters have resolved to band together to buy the estate, not for
reason motivated by political or romantic sentiment but because we believe
that to give our crofting communities the best chance of surviving and
prospering in the future, control of our resources - especially the land -
will be our best chance.

The crofters are forming a Company United by Guarantee - to be known as
The Assynt Crofters Trust - and we hope to achieve charitable status.
Membership and control of the Trust will be restricted to the crofting
tenants of the North Lochinver Estate.

The stated objects of the Trust will be:

    to raise funds by way of donation by the crofters and friends, and
    grant to purchase our land and other resources in the North Lochinver
    Estate.

    to improve the social, educational and cultural environment of the
    crofting communities and of the natural environment of Assynt
    Sutherland.

    to help fund viable investment and to secure property development
    and its management and to secure land renewal and environmental and
    improvement projects for the crofting communities.

If we are successful 100% of the development value will ve retained
locally for re-investment instead of 50% being extracted by absentee
landlords.

We can create affordable house sites for our local young people.

We can embark on woodland and other management projects creating some
part-time employment.

We will create an atmosphere of optimism and opportunity and may be able
to help our young people stay in their own communities and develop
economic opportunities.

Whilst we expect some support from the public agencies it is vital that we
the crofters raise most of the funds ourselves with help from our many
friends.

_What's_in_it_for_me?_
Frankly, a place in history if we succeed.  Every person who donates to our
trust fund will receive a certificate and will have their name on a roll of
honour which will become bound and placed in Stoer Post Office.  Everyone
who donates #500 or more will be entitled to become an Honourary Member of
Assynt Crofters Trust without voting rights and receive regular updates
on our activities.

_How_can_I_help?_
If you would like to help the crofters secure their land and their future,
complete the attached form carefully, sign it and send it with your donation
or pledge to Assynt Crofters Trust, Lochinver. If our offer - which will be
based on the funds donated and promised by our pledges - is successful we
will call on you to honour your pledge.

If we are unsuccessful in having our offer accepted the crofters of Assynt
are resolved to acquire the title to our croft lands through the Scottish
Land Court.

          WE HAVE HISTORY, JUSTICE AND THE LAW ON OUR SIDE.
             WITH HELP FROM OUR FRIENDS WE WILL SUCCEED.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

  Send donations and enquiries to this address:
    Assynt Crofters Trust Fund
    Lochinver
    Sutherland
      IV27  4JB
      SCOTLAND

This is, to me, an issue of the utmost importance.  The fact that Scots can't
hardly afford to stay and raise families in their own homeland is one of the
saddest things I have witnessed here.  There is a great need to boost the
self-reliance and independence of Scotland, so that they will no longer be
a vulnerable back country subject to the whims of economics, losing their
own indigenous population and culture and dignity.  This "grass roots" effort
is a good place to start.

  -- Michael Newton

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------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Craig Cockburn, Digital Equipment Co. Ltd, Reading, England.     Suas
  Internet: cockburn@edieng.enet.dec.com                           leis
  UUCP:..!decwrl!edieng.enet.dec.com!cockburn                      a'
                                                                   Gha\idhlig!
  Views here are my own, and are not necessarily those of Digital