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Last updated 17th October 2007
North
of Vatnajökull glacier, Iceland is one of of Europe's last surviving
wildernesses. But not for long. Plans to build one of the biggest dams
in Europe along with a 57 km2 reservoir right in the heart of the area
are now in progress.
 This
will be the one of the greatest environmental disasters in Icelandic
history. The biggest non-arctic glacier in the world is the heart of a
fantastically intricate eco-system that will be destabilized and
damaged forever if these dam projects are allowed to happen.
From 2005
The Icelandic Left-Greens
who held 6 of the 63 seats have seen their popularity rise to
up to 20% in polls in part due to their opposition to these plans and a
bill about media control.
 The
6 Left-Greens were amongst only 9 MPs who voted against the proposal to
give the Minister of Industry authority to negotiate with Alcoa on the
construction of the aluminium plant - the only customer for the dam.
They were also out voted in calling for a national referendum on the
issue.
Thurdur Backman, a Left-Green MP said: "The
project is too big for the nature up there and for the region. We who
have another view on how to use nature had hoped to set up a national
park there."
Support the protest here
See a stunning slide show at: http://www.inca.is/show/index.html
Update 20th August:
Report from SchNEWS: The campaign stepped up a gear last week as
activists relocated their protest camp from Snaefell, some hours walk
to the construction site, to a much nearer, more disputed area at
Lindur, an area threatened with flooding by the dam.
An
eyewitness reports that the move took place in the face of massive
police efforts to frustrate it, using exclusion zones and roadblocks,
which required breaching by the activists. The new camp has
subsequently been surrounded by cops, who are refusing to let vehicles
in with food and water. On August 3rd, 7 activists broke in to the
construction site and police were liberal with their batons,
mistreating and arresting four. The next day, there was another
invasion by more than 30 people who locked on to vehicles and stopped
work for 4 hours. The police were back on brutal form, attacking video
activists and damaging equipment, and cutting through people's D-locks
with scant regard for safety. 17 people were arrested and many people
had serious bruise injuries from the handcuffs used. One British woman
could hardly walk on leaving the police station. The police refuse to
state what laws they are using for this repression, but its clear who's
side they are acting on. The camp needs bolstering to maintain a strong
international presence to keep up awareness of, and pressure on, the
tactics being used in pursuit of this devastatingly destructive plan to
turn large areas of Iceland's unique environment into industrial
wastelands - polluting for profit.
Read more at:
http://www.savingiceland.org/
Update 9th March 2007:
According to
a new Gallup poll, the Left-Green Party is the second biggest in
Iceland with a support of 27.7 percent, only 6.8 percent behind the
leader, the Independence Party.
The new Gallup poll shows further increases in Left-Green supporters,
up by 4 point, which brings the Left-Green well into second position
over the Social Democrats, who have a support of 21.7 percent. See here.
Update 31st July 2007:
Twenty three year old British Saving Iceland activist Miriam Rose has been arrested by the Icelandic police. She was protesting against the Icelandic government's support for heavy industry, in particular Rio Tinto Alcan's Straumsvik smelter in South-West Iceland. Reports suggest she is still being held by the police. (1)
Dr. Derek Wall, Green Party Principal Speaker, said: "Although Rio Tinto have been making the headlines for their recent purchase of the Canadian aluminium group Alcan for 38.1bn dollars (18.7bn pounds), it is the environmental degradation and damage that goes hand in hand with most of their projects that should be drawing the spotlight. Iceland is the largest remaining wilderness in Europe. Acitivists such as Mirian Rose, most of whom belong to the Saving Iceland campaign group, are protesting againsts plans to turn it into the heavy industry capital of Europe - with companies such as Rio Tinto reaping in the profits."
There are no less than 8 new smelters or enlargements of existing smelters planned in Iceland. Rio Tinto, as a a world leader in finding, mining and processing the earth’s mineral resources, is involved in most of them.
"RioTinto-Alcan’s aluminium alloys are sold for a whole range of military purposes. Alcan is the main supplier for European Aerospace and Defense and Space, producer of military helicopters, military satellites, the Eurofighter Tycoon, Mirage F1, EF18 Hornet and other jets"
Alcan further supplies Boeing a “variety of high performance aluminum-products”. Boeing produces the Apache and Chinook military helicopters used in Iraq.
"I am appalled by what looks to be the arrest and imprisonment of Miriam Rose as a political prisoner, and urge the Icelandic government to release her. In March this year the Left-Green party in Iceland called for an independent investigation into the conduct of the Icelandic police against Saving Iceland protesters in the the years of 2005 and 2006. It seems clear that there concerns were justified."
Notes;
(1) More info on Saving Iceland and the arrest of Miriam Rose can be found at www.savingiceland.org
(2) Proposed smelters or enlargements include:
The new ALCOA smelter in Reydarfjordur.
The new ALCOA smelter in Husavik.
The Rio Tinto ALCAN enlargement of the existing smelter in Straumsvik.
The new Rio Tinto ALCAN smelter in Keilisnes or Thorlakshofn.
The recent Century Aluminum/Nordural smelter enlargement in Hvalfjordur.
The new Century Aluminum smelter in Helguvik.
The new Altech smelter in Thorlakshofn.
The new Norsk Hydro smelter in Thorlakshofn.
The enlargement of the Icelandic Alloys/ELKEM in Grundartangi.
The new R & D Carbon anode rod factory at Katanes in Hvalfjordur.
Update 17th October 2007
This news below came in a while ago re Miriam but the latest news is that the political situation is changing rapidly - there has been a major shakeup of the energy industry within the past few days in Iceland. It appears the conservative majority of Reykjavik Council, including the Mayor, have been booted out of office for attempting a privatisation merger of Reykjavik Energy with Geyser Green Energy, a move which would have allegedly lined the pockets of all the head Councillors and their chums.
Here is a comment from one campaigner: "What this means is that a weak Social Democratic minority is now in control of Reykjavik and the council is being reformed, with the potential for ardent anti-heavy industrialists to be involved. With Reykjavik Energy being vital to the next few aluminium projects in Iceland this potentially has a major effect on these projects ability to pass through. It also puts far greater scrutiny on the other major energy company, Landsvirkjun, making their plans more unstable too."
GREEN BACK BRITISH ACTIVIST IN ICELAND THREATENED WITH DEPORTATION
Twenty-three year old 'Saving Iceland' activist Miriam Rose was held for 8 days by Icelandic police in July of this year, after protesting against the Icelandic government's support for heavy industry, in particular Rio Tinto Alcan's Straumsvik smelter in South-West Iceland. She has now been threatened with deportation. (1)
Icelandic Police on Friday presented her with a letter stating that they judge 'the professed aim of the organization “Saving Iceland” is to disturb public order and threaten fundamental societal values.' The police are also said to have admitted that this was to be the first of many attempted deportations of activists. (2)
Saving Iceland are a network of people of different nationalities who work to drive away what they describe as the 'corporate threat' to Iceland. Currently, 8 new smelters or enlargements of existing smelters planned in Iceland.
Green Party Principal Speaker Dr. Derek Wall today urged the Icelandic authorities to reconsider their actions with regard to Miriam Rose and other environmental activists: "The Icelandic authorities, not satisfied with arresting and holding Miriam Rose as political prisoner, now seem intent on expelling her from Iceland. It's vital that we protect the right to peaceful protest. Non-violent direct action is one of the few weapons we have to affect change, and government's around the world must be called to account when they try to repress it. I support the Left-Green party in Iceland's call for an independent investigation into the conduct of the Icelandic police against Saving Iceland protesters in the the years of 2005 and 2006, and am appalled by what looks to be systematic persecution of Miriam Rose as a political and environmental activist. I urge the Icelandic authorities, especially the Icelandic government, to reconsider their actions in this case. "
Notes for Editors
(1) & (2) More info on Saving Iceland and the arrest of Miriam Rose
can be found at www.savingiceland.org
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