THE HARD BORDER IN THE NORTH SEA THAT MAY GET EVEN HARDER THAT NORTHUMBRIAN BROADCASTERS WON’T MENTION

6^th June 2024

Updated 19th October 2024

Dear Readers

This Website campaigns for geographic-appropriate news and for the recognition of wider Regional connections appropriate to the north-easternmost communities in England. The cross-border links (and the International boundaries affecting these) that are the most relevant for communities along the Northumberland coast are quite different from those relevant to the English South Coast, or even the Lancashire and Merseyside coasts of North-West England. The Northumberland Coast fronts the northern North Sea, around which the neighbouring countries are different from those around the Irish Sea, the English Channel, or the southernmost part of the North Sea.

The UK-Norwegian Border in the North Sea

The International Border of greater relevance to far North-East England, along with East and North-East Scotland is not the so-called “Hard Border” between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic that so much was heard about during the Brexit debates in Parliament between 2017 and 2020. True, the Irish Republic is closer to the coast of Northumberland than Norway, at least going by land-areas, but following the marine international boundaries the English waters off the North-East Coast extend to the south-west boundary of Norwegian territorial waters. Businesses which operate in the North Sea involve collaboration between Northumbrians, Scots, and Norwegians. Also, in these days of cheap air-travel a flight to Bergen takes little over an hour from Newcastle-upon-Tyne. There are also well-established links between Norway and North-East England, such as the long-established link between the Voss Ski centre in south-west Norway and schools in Tyneside and Northumberland (details here: https://vosshostel.com/en/school-groups/).

Extraordinarily little is covered in North-East British media about links between Northumberland, Tyneside, and Norway, far less of anything that might affect these links in future. I conducted a recent Google Search of the terms Northumberland, Norway, Scotland together: Apart from a few articles found online about the Vikings (over 1,000 years ago), or Norway being mentioned incidentally with other foreign lands, there is almost nothing. Put Norway in as a search term on the ITV1 News Tyne Tees website- and one must scroll back to early 2023 to find an article pertaining to Norway in connection with North-East England. If you Google “Scotland,” “Norway” you just find reports of the World Cup or European Football matches: Is that really the only time that Scandinavian countries really get a mention on the only broadcast media readily available across North-East England?!

This brings us to the more serious point: Broadcast media received in an area that does not recognise significant wider Regional links is not going to cover anything that may affect these links. And there is an International political development (which the UK is not party to) that threatens these links between Northumbria and Norway. The average Geordie or Northumbrian is unlikely to have heard about it because it has not been covered in Regional or National TV!

The International Political development is this: The Governments of the five main Nordic countries, that’s Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Finland got together at the end of October 2023: They agreed amongst themselves that they would help each other to deport illegal immigrants (article here: https://www.thelocal.dk/20231031/nordic-countries-to-share-deportation-flights-for-illegal-immigrants). All the Nordic countries are within Europe’s Schengen Area, which means that immigrants who succeed in crossing the Mediterranean from Africa or coming overland from Asia are often not really checked once inside the Schengen Area. Sweden, in particular, has recently seen a sharp uptick in immigration (often from Islamic countries) arriving and causing real problems in some of Sweden’s southern towns (here: https://www.gisreportsonline.com/r/sweden-immigrants-crisis/).

Nordic countries have (rightly) become alarmed at the problems posed by immigration, so the governments have collaborated to stem the rise- in particular- of illegal immigration. The measure agreed is to ensure the removal of those with no right to remain in any part of Scandinavia (including Iceland and Finland). There is no issue with a country seeking to control immigration from cultures inimical to the way of life in that country, especially if the immigration brings a crime-wave: It is right and proper that governments seek to protect the citizens under their rule from harm.

However, how such policies are implemented has wider implications for wider regional and cultural ties across national boundaries. This is especially important in the context of there being other moves afoot to strengthen the border around the Nordic countries, particularly where this border coincides with Europe’s Schengen border.

So how is this relevant to discussion of the North Sea border between North-East England and Norway? Britain is outside the Schengen Area, which has implications for connections between North-East England/ Scotland and Norway if the Schengen border is strengthened. One might argue this should be positive for attempts to keep a lid on illegal immigrants arriving in (and dilution of local communities across) Northumberland and Tyneside from immigrants that come across Europe, arrive in the UK and make their way north to Northumberland and Tyneside: However, despite Brexit the imposition of judges in Strasbourg and a weak-willed government has meant that, in the UK at least, immigration has been at record levels.

In the context of a stronger border in the North Sea breaking/ weakening wider Regional ties with Norway that would otherwise  help keep Northumbria “uniquely Northern” in the face of population-mixing that still happens; a Hard Border between North-East England/ Scotland and Norway would be a disaster: Northumbrian communities could be diluted of their unique characteristics- without a Norwegian bulwark against such happening.    

The wider Regional Links with Norway threatened by Schengen and Scandinavian area Border Controls

In March this year, the Norwegian Government terminated an Au Pair Scheme for Third-country nationals, i.e., those outside of the European Economic area (EEA): After Brexit the United Kingdom is a Third country in that definition  (details here: https://schengen.news/norway-to-terminate-au-pair-scheme-for-third-country-nationals-from-march-15/). The Norwegian government has also required of students from outside the EEA to pay tuition fees for all studies within Norway (details here: https://schengen.news/norway-introduces-tuition-fees-for-international-students/). A series of measures aimed at tackling immigration has incrementally led to tougher conditions for folk wishing to travel from North-East England to Norway, despite their being historical links between the two.

Additionally, there is the requirement for a Passport for anyone outside of the Schengen Area who wishes to visit Norway: This means that someone who lives in southern Greece can- in effect- travel to Norway without a Passport: That is almost 2,500 miles. However, it is necessary to have a Passport to travel less than 370 miles from the Northumberland coast to coastal south-west Norway! This is also despite there being a smattering of Norwegian-origin words like beck, fell, bairn, gan, kirk, etc, in the Northumbrian dialect and there are historical ties between Northumberland and Norway. What links are there between Norway and Greece (or Portugal, to name another distant country in the Schengen Area)?

This is relevant because not everyone living in Tyneside, Northumberland and the Scottish Borders can easily get (or retain) a Passport. People can lose passports based on “balance-of-probability” findings from a judge in the UK. Police can confiscate Passports as bail-conditions after someone is arrested for an alleged misdemeanour.

The Norwegian Border Coastguard is also very strong with over 900 personnel, including soldiers (details here: https://www.forsvaret.no/en/organisation/navy/coastguardnorway). There would be no way that someone without a Passport could get  to Norway from outside the Schengen Area. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a country protecting its borders, which is right and proper. However, arbitrary hard borders on a map because that forms the edge of a major political area cuts across inter-regional community links: And that has negative consequences- economically, culturally, and regionally.

Potential future threats to Cultural, Business and Tourism links between North-East England/ Scotland and Norway

This is not all. Whilst folk voted for Brexit in North-East England because of concern over immigration swamping local communities (amongst other things), the execution of Brexit by the Conservative Government in 2019-2020 has resulted in a cooling of relations between Scandinavian countries and the UK. One example has been the wrangling over fishing in the North Sea in the last few years, which is also a great example of how North East English businesses come into contact with Norwegian interests (this article highlights some of these problems: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9043253/Norway-close-access-waters-EU-British-fishing-vessels-Jan-1.html).

In view of the problems with immigration that has affected communities across Britain, as well as in the Nordic countries I will make the point here that it is right that governments control immigration- specifically if it is from countries which have ideals and policies inimical to the national interests of northern European countries. However, in doing so Governments need to take care not to enact policies that are harmful to wider Regional links, specifically those that impact on Regions at the northern margins of the country and damage wider cross-border ties.

If, in future, there ever is a falling-out between the UK and Norway at national level (through there is no real indication this is going to happen today), then this would lead to a tightening of the border between Norway and the UK. This would further cut across cultural and business links between Northumberland/ Tyneside and Norway. Relationships between Northumbria/ north-east Scotland and Norway- family friendships, cultural and business ties would be damaged.

These are important questions about the future of cross-boundary links from North-East England and eastern/ NE Scotland to Norway that no-one at a local or regional level is asking. Policies for mitigation of such potential future threats to North-East England/ Scotland- Norway ties are also worthy of coverage in a Regional TV documentary to be shown across Scotland and North-East England and they include the following:

• Joining (or initiating) discussion between the UK and Norwegian authorities to appeal for agreement and explaining the damage caused to Regional trade and cross-border cultural and business links on both sides of the northern North Sea by a Hard Border in the North Sea.

• Local authorities in Northumberland, Tyneside and the Scottish Borders pushing for Norwegian to be taught in schools and colleges: If Northumbrians learn Norwegian it helps strengthen ties and understanding across the North Sea. That in turn makes it easier to forestall attempts by the Scandinavian countries to cut Britain (including North-East England), out from their Nordic Common Travel and Defence areas on the grounds of being utterly foreign. The teaching of Norwegian and local dialects like Geordie would (in its own right) also help to preserve the distinctive Northumbrian dialects as unique from other parts of Britain.

• Political pressure to get the UK Government to back down if the Government ever develops a cold stance towards Scandinavian countries on the basis that such is harmful and damaging to cross-border links. Given the existence of North Britain- Nordic ties there should be political pressure exerted on national Government for co-operation and warmth towards neighbouring lands with values and culture that are beneficial to Britain. The strongest political pressure would be a push for Regional devolution which would enable North-East England to pursue different wider regional and cross-border policies than the British Government might wish to pursue.

None of the wider Regional links cross-border to Norway, nor the potential future threats to those links have in any way, shape, or form been discussed in local and Regional TV programming. It is like, as far as Regional broadcasters for Tyneside, Northumberland and Scotland are concerned that they consider all local communities, under their collective remits should just think that Norway is a totally foreign country across the northern North Sea that is utterly irrelevant to them! That is patently not true, and Regional News and documentary coverage in Scotland and North-East England misses News and Political developments that would be of interest to thousands of viewers.

There are real connections, the Voss Ski centre links with schools in Northumbria (mentioned above) being a prime example. These connections involve real people- in families, communities and businesses who would be hurt- culturally, economically, and emotionally– were their Norwegian ties severed! An example in microcosm makes the point here: In many families, there will be children who are best friends with their mothers’ sisters’ children. In this example, one day the mother has a blazing row with her sister over the share of an inheritance. The mother responds by cutting off all contact and refusing to let the children visit their cousins (with whom they are friends), and her sister refuses to allow her children to visit. The children are devastated and end up hating their mother. This example is a microcosm of what would happen to precious cultural, family and business ties between Northumberland/ North-East Scotland and western Norway were there ever to be a chilling in relations between Britain and Norway.

Music in Northumberland, Scotland, and Norway

An example of the common wider regional links between North-East England/ Scotland and Norway that could be limited/ damaged by a Hard Border in the North Sea is that of great music. Northumberland has some great musical talents with businesses like Core Music in Hexham (here: https://coremusic.co.uk/), Northumberland Folk Music based near Alnwick (https://northumbriafolk.org.uk/). An example of a great Northumberland music artist is the singer and fiddle- player Roddy Matthews, who lives at the hamlet of Bingfield just four miles north of Corbridge off the A68: An example of some of Roddy Matthew’s music can be found here: https://musicscotland.com/products/roddy-matthews-the-high-road-o-er-the-border. The Scottish music industry with the bag-pipes is well-known. There are a number of Scottish folk music bands such as Westward the Light (one of their songs is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmMMuNgu99s) which have come onto the music scene in recent years.  

Norway has outlets such as Prima Music which has a whole section on Norwegian Christian music (https://www.primamusic.no/cd/pop-rock-gospel/3) and instrumental music (https://www.primamusic.no/cd/instrumental/7), there are large folk music festivals in different parts of Norway (more here: https://www.fjordtours.com/en/norway/people-and-culture/norwegian-folk-music ). A good example of this type of music is the band Vassenguttane – here is an example of their songs Hytta Mi (or My Hytte– in English, Hytte being a Norwegian- type cabin): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mx-lx9zpLt0. Another great example of music from pop groups of young people is the song Vestlandet (i.e., Western Norway) by young Norwegian singers Vilde og Anna- link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zw_5eHy8lGE.

There’s popular Christian music in Norway with artists with great musical talent like the Christian singer Marie Hognestad (here is an example of her songs called Den Du Elsker -in English The One You Love– here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDWisIOjJSE). Another example is the musically-talented Børud family covering three generations -from the singer and musician Arnold Børud to his granddaughter- the child pop-star Lisa Børud. The music, and the melodies, rivals much of what is produced in the UK today- with their own Nordic flavour. An example of one of Lisa Børud’s songs, Alt Du Har Gjort (in English “All You Have Done”) is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJFpSBNUyRk. Another example of Lisa Børud’s songs is Han Glemmer Adri Meg (in English- He Never Forgets Me) and the link to it is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svSOsoqNZOI. Really good Christian or gospel-style music abounds in Norway.

Unfortunately, Christian music is, in much of Britain, considered “religious”: Christianity is increasingly frowned upon across much of Britain which has, in my view, turned her back on her Christian heritage and become very secular. It would be great for North-East England, at least, to retain a link with Christian music and the remedies they offer. This too, would help restore some of the warmth, kindness and positive community attributes which have traditionally been part of Northumberland, Tyneside, and the Scottish Borders.

The Norwegian Pop-music scene features great pop- groups such as Innertier, with an example of their songs Si Ja (in English “Say Yes”) here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xBtIV3CDp5w. The Norwegian pop-music industry rivals much of the modern pop-music produced in the UK today, and that is despite Norway’s population being no more than Scotland’s. Other great Norwegian pop-groups that have come onto the Norwegian pop-scene in recent years include:

• Röyksopp (an example of one of their songs is Eple here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFP7jVIxE2c)
• Nico & Vinz
• Highasakite
• Marcus & Martinus Gunnarsen (an example of one of their songs is Slalom– the title needs no translation to English- and this song is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxCIg21Kq4s)
• M2M
• Datarock
• Oslo Ess
• Sløtface

Where it easier for the Norwegian music industry to collaborate with Northumbrian and Scottish artists (and vice versa), it would- in time- lead to Northumberland and Tyneside show-casing local and regional music talent that would provide more unique selling points for North-East England and for Scotland.

Consequences of the Hard Border in the North Sea              

For the English North-East and the Scottish Borders, tough National controls against Immigration and International travel (on both sides of the northern North Sea) could (counterintuitively) contribute to the easier and quicker dilution of Northumbria’s unique characteristics- the Northumbrian and Geordie dialects, the warmth, kindness, and unique hospitality which gives Northumberland it’s unique northerly attractiveness. Why should this be so? Historical Norwegian links originally gave Northumberland and Tyneside some of the words that make the Northumbrian and Geordie dialects what they are. Culturally, Norwegians have kindness, hospitality, a love of hearth, home, and coziness (what Norwegians term hygge) which may well have been a wider regional influence that has rubbed off on Northumbrians to give them their warmth, hospitality, and kindness for which Northumbrians have been well-known.

It follows, then that promoting the wider Regional links with Norway would help Northumberland, Tyneside and the Scottish Borders retain the unique warmth, kindness, homely welcoming and unique dialects in the face of immigration and mixing of the population from the South of England and the English Midlands. A Hard Border between the UK and Norway means that there is no Norwegian bulwark against the dilution- by mixing from the South- of what makes Northumberland and the Scottish Borders uniquely Northerly and pleasant to visit.

The Hard Border in the North Sea cuts right across other cultural influences that could, otherwise, have been much stronger in enhancing the Northumbrian brand- such as with music (as discussed above). There are other industries, forestry, outdoor activities with wooden country cabins, winter sports (with better accessibility to places with decent winter snow-cover), boating, etc, which could easily take off with stronger ties with Norway that might develop in the absence of  a Hard Border in the North Sea.

Regional News-coverage and Programming discussing the North Sea Hard Border

There has been almost no discussion about links between North-East England/ Scotland and Norway in recent years, at least no Regional TV programming. That is let alone discussion of how policies pursued in Scandinavia or in the UK may impact adversely on connections between the north-east quadrant of the UK and Norway!

There is a constituency, which is of folk who live in northern North-East England and east/ north-east Scotland, who are firstly concerned about the dilution of their culture by people moving up from the south (including Asian immigration) and moving into their communities. This constituency is also one that is desirous of stronger, easier connections with Norway because it is a beautiful country and there are historical and cultural affinities with the country that, if maintained, can help protect against cultural and dialect dilution in their region. The existence of organisations such as the Scottish Norwegian Society (link here: https://www.scottishnorwegiansociety.org/) and the Anglo Scandinavian Society Newcastle (link here: https://www.facebook.com/p/Anglo-Scandinavian-Society-Newcastle-100071618570989/) shows that this Constituency exists. Who is championing their concerns? Which Regional TV outlets highlight some of the possible threats to wider Regional ties?

At a Regional and National level there is no official recognition of the ties between North-East England/ Scotland and Norway, let alone of what may get in the way of these ties. This is something that needs to happen. In terms of the geographical position of Northumberland, Tyneside and eastern Scotland, political developments affecting the adjacent North Sea impacts on local businesses. The fishing industry is a prime example, as has been discussed above, where cross-border relations with Norway can and do impact on the livelihoods of fishermen and women who live along the coast of North-East England and East/ North-East Scotland.

It follows then, that all Regional TV providers serving Tyneside, Northumberland, and East/ North-East Scotland must be made aware of cross-border links with Norway and matters that might affect them.

Regional TV should, of course provide news that is local to the communities they serve. By any definition even the land areas of south-west Norway are not local to any part of Scotland or North-East England: However, there is a marine border between North-East England/ Scotland and Norway where folk work on offshore windfarms, and where fishing vessels go. Thus, it follows, that a sizeable number of  folk who live in Tyneside, Northumberland, and East/ North-East Scotland do meet with Norwegians in their work!

Communities also have wider Regional or even International links beyond what is local, which is why cross-border links with Norway are so important. If folk travel to places more than an hour’s travel-time away it usually involves an overnight stay, and most folk only do this once or twice a year. For those in professional jobs their work can take them cross-country, or even across international borders. Broadcast media provide International and National news for this very reason (as they must) because people are affected by what happens nationally, and beyond national boundaries. For instance, currently in the UK there will be a General Election due to take place on 4^th July 2024: It will pertain to everyone in Britain (even those living in the Shetland Isles) whether or not Labour get into power with a big majority because, though based in London, the legislation that they will be able to pass will affect everyone in the UK.

However, at a national level there are geographical variations in what the wider regional connections will be. These will be different for  northern Northumberland around Berwick-upon-Tweed compared to Kent. If one lives in Berwick-upon-Tweed or anywhere close to the Scottish Border, then if the Scottish Government imposes restrictions on travel north of the Scottish Border (as happened during the Covid-19 Pandemic) that places restrictions on where one can travel. If the Norwegian authorities restrict access to the Norwegian part of the North Sea it will directly impact a North Sea fisherman from Seahouses, but if the French authorities decide to close the Channel Tunnel that will have no impact locally. Regional TV may not be the ideal fora for such issues to be covered in depth, but special documentaries covering such matters should be aired in the appropriate TV transmission regions.

Communities can put Pressure on Broadcasters and Local/ National Government

Broadcasters covering this north-eastern quadrant of the UK include ITV1 Tyne Tees, ITV Border (Scotland), Scottish TV Regions (STV- East, STV-NE, and STV-North), BBC1 Scotland and BBC1 NE & Cumbria. If viewers are not getting coverage of wider regional links across the northern North Sea and they wish to see it, they should write to these broadcasters in the first instance. They should then write to their local Member of Parliament. If one lives in Scotland one should write to the local Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) too. Broadcasters must be told that Britain is not one homogeneous country, that the far North-East of England and North-East Scotland has wider regional links that differ from those in the rest of Britain. Broadcasters also need to know that anything that affects these unique Regional ties is also going to be of interest to viewers in the most north-easterly parts of the UK.

If broadcasters and local and national politicians continue to ignore local folk in Northumbria and North-East Scotland regarding recognising Nordic ties, viewers can take further action. A start would be boycotting Regional TV services, learning a bit of Norwegian and watching Norwegian news-broadcasts. Norwegian National news can be watched on Dagsrevyen (in Norwegian) via the Internet from the NRK2 website (link here: https://tv.nrk.no/serie/dagsrevyen).

The next thing to do, would be to send an e-mail to the Broadcasting Council of Norway (Kringkastingsrådet) via the following contact page (details here: https://info.nrk.no/kontakt/kringkastingsradet/kontakt/). If one can write in Norwegian that would really show the Norwegian broadcasting authorities that there exist folk living in Northumberland and North-East Scotland who have ties with Norway sufficient enough to try to learn Norwegian. If not, one can write in English as the vast majority of those working in any professional capacity in Norway do understand English. Get friends and family who feel similarly to do the same. The content of the message should be to explain that the most north-easterly communities in Britain has ties with Norway, folk want to know what happens there and it is not possible to get such news on any broadcast media, even in the most northerly parts of the UK. Explain that one tries to watch Dagsrevyen on NRK2 via the Internet.

The eventual result, if enough folk write in, is that Norwegian broadcasting authorities might approach broadcasters in northern Britain to explain what is happening: Northern British broadcasters BBC1 Scotland, STV, ITV1 Tyne Tees & Border and BBC1 NE & Cumbria would get one almighty shock! That’s probably because no-one who works in those broadcasting organisations could appreciate why viewers along the Northumberland coast or in East/ North-East Scotland might have any real interest in Norway. All the same, a threatened loss of viewers, in sufficient numbers (and therefore, a loss of revenue) would sharp focus minds at the headquarters of Regional broadcasters in Scotland and North-East England.

At a political level too, local communities can bring pressure to bear on local and National Government through the power of the ballot-box and, at other times, through protest organisations such as 38 Degrees. If enough people can get together, they can Crowdfund legal challenges against the Government- to challenge policies that are demonstrably harmful to ties between Northumberland/ north-east Scotland and Norway.

So, if ever a future British Government decides, for example, to freeze the assets of Norwegian banks using anti-terrorist legislation- because some local councils lost money in them (as a previous Labour Government did to Landsbanki, an Icelandic bank- details here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7662027.stm), then communities in Northumberland or Scotland with ties to Norway would be within their rights to take action. Communities could try to take the British Government to Court to stop the Government from doing something harmful to their cultural and business ties with Norway. And if they didn’t succeed with that, another course of action would be to protest: A group of just 100 Northumbrians protesting (peacefully) outside the offices of MPs in the North-East would also bring them a good deal of negative publicity- and pressure to back-down for fear of losing votes.

Were that not sufficient, communities could get together to write to the Norwegian Government to express their grief and sorrow at the actions of a UK Government (were a British Government to push through such policies as illustrated above). If folk can write in Norwegian, so much the better. Communities can also take actions, within the parameters of the law, to ameliorate the effects of harmful Government policies. Small gestures can go a long way to repair and mend relationships, at least with regards the communities doing it.

No Government in a democratic country should be allowed to get away with enacting blanket policies that they think are good for the country that can end up doing harm to the far North of the country by damaging cultural, business, and historical ties cross-border. For example, folk living in North-East England voted for Britain to leave the European Union in 2016, along with much of the rest of the country. That was because millions of folk were concerned about immigration and the control of national borders. And so, Brexit was enacted but voters in North-East England did not see the benefits- either reduced immigration or economic benefits. There were also the unwelcome side-effects that communities in Northumbria and north-east Scotland did not sign up to- a slight cooling of relationships with Norway leading to a weakening of historical cultural and business ties. Stronger border controls, with a real cap on numbers coming from countries with interests inimical to British values, combined with easier travel (perhaps waiving Passport requirements) for countries with strong regional ties to northerly parts of Britain would have produced better results and left less of a nasty taste in the mouths of the Northumbrian and Scottish electorates.

It’s worth mentioning here that many folk in Scotland have really turned against the (outgoing) Conservative Government. Scotland is the one nation of the UK that voted against Brexit in 2016 (possibly because the northerly latitudes of Scotland meant that folk there wanted to retain ties with Nordic countries that are not much further to the north-east). The Scots have been just as concerned about immigration, but that is flavoured more with an anti-English sentiment- partly because they feel that they have been cut adrift from regions across the northern North Sea with which they have strong links.

For the Northumbrian and Scottish communities that wish to maintain their cultural and historical ties with Norway that is all that really matters.

Ian Pennell

(Look North Must Look North)