Saving Iceland
20 March 2007
Campaign group Framtídarlandid (‘Future Land’) have pulled off a herculean stunt by finally managing to rally the Icelandic bourgeoisie to the defence of Icelandic nature.
Representatives of the group presented the pact ‘Gray or Green’ at a press conference last Sunday and asked Icelanders to sign it to put a stop to further heavy industry projects.
The pact, which can be read and signed on Future Land’s website, encourages the government to:
“Secure a varied and vibrant society in Iceland, where ingenuity and creativity of individuals is celebrated for the benefit of themselves and others.
To respect future generations by creating law to protect nature before further projects to harness energy for industry are undertaken.
To take responsibility in times of climate change by following international agreements on the reduction of CO2 emissions.”
The pact says Iceland should make decisions which coincide with its identity and image rather than become the biggest aluminium manufacturers in the world.
If the smelters in Straumsvík and Hvalfjördur are enlarged, new smelters in Helguvík and Húsavík constructed and aluminium production in Reydarfjördur is begun, energy comparable to three Kárahnjúkar power plants will be required, the pact states.
Finally all Icelandic MP’s are invited to make a clear statment in favour of environmental protection by commiting themselves to the pact.
Andri Snaer Magnason and actress María Ellingsen presented the pact yesterday.
The press conference was also attended by Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, the former president of Iceland, who is the pact’s official patron.
Supporters of the ‘Gray or Green’ pact include such prominent luminaries as Bishop Sigurbjörn Einarsson, writer and vice-director of Time Warner Ólafur Jóhann Ólafsson, former Prime Minister Steingrímur Hermansson, professor in philosophy Vilhjálmur Árnason and film producer Sigurjón Sighvatsson.
Saving Iceland welcomes this initiative because, as they say; better late than never.