The famous Icelandic singer, Bjork held a press conference yesterday in Reykjavik where she discussed her fears about Canada’s Magma energy purchasing HS Orka, an Icelandic geothermal company.
People were queuing out of the doors at the Nordic House, disappointed that only members of the media were able to enter Bjork’s press conference. But the conference was still well attended due to the presence of foreign as well as Icelandic media.
Bjork has been a strong proponent of ensuring Iceland’s energy sources remain in the hands of Icelanders and are used for everybody’s benefit and not sold off cheap for the benefit of foreign corporations. Magma Energy’s purchase of HS Orka through a specially created daughter company in Sweden falls under that category, the singer believes.
Bjork Gudmundsdottir decided to call a press conference following a release of information last week that appears to suggest the purchase is much more beneficial to Magma than it is to Iceland and its residents – partly because the purchase is to be financed with a loan from the Icelandic government itself.
No questions were allowed. Bjork instead went over the points raised on bjork.com, calling for answers from the government.
“On Tuesday 13th July a Formal Proposal was submitted to the Public Representative of the Icelandic Parliament, signed by Björk Guðmundsdóttir, Jon Thorisson (the Icelandic assistant to Eva Joly) and the writer Oddny Eir. This Proposal, concerning the sale of Iceland’s natural resources to the company Magma Energy, aims to initiate an open discussion and encourage reconsideration of this sale, ensuring that the interests of the public are being protected and that clarification is achieved on all aspects of this decisive case concerning the future of Iceland,” the website says.
Bjork closed the press meeting with a short musical performance.
Click here: “Question_list_Bjork_English” to see a document prepared by the singer which explains her viewpoint (.pdf document).
Here is a link to sign the petition:
http://orkuaudlindir.is/
I wonder WHY NObody is mentioning it??
when in fact the press conference was to present this petition.
When the petition about Icesave was going on, you could find a link almost everywhere, off course the independence party had a great interest on people signing it(thought they could make the gov. collapse, little did they know that the greens and the “lefts” would sell their souls to remain in power), but clearly they don’t have an interest on people signing this, It is incredible how the main streem media has nothing about this press conference and petition, they dont even mention it, clerly they control more media than we thought.
Note that this petition avoids the unfortunate problem of the Indefence one, with multiple and non-Icelandic signatures, by requiring a kennitala. So Icelanders only.
“clerly they control more media than we thought.”
ROLF!!! wake up man!!
I posted at the first mention of magma coming here that this will happen, get ready to lose all energy rights soon
Bromley86 says:
July 20, 2010 at 1:15 pm
“Note that this petition avoids the unfortunate problem of the Indefence one, with multiple and non-Icelandic signatures, by requiring a kennitala. So Icelanders only.”
Not just Icelanders but residents also.
Of all the completely irrational decisions ever made by an Iceland government this one must be at the top, easily reaching into pure lunacy.
>easily reaching into pure lunacy
Agreed. If it’s a good deal, then transparency would get enough of the public on side that some of the less savoury elements, such as the continuing use of bullet loans/long term, could be excused. If it’s not a good deal, then don’t do it.
Who cares about Björk.
I want to know what Jón Gnarr our mayor of Reykjavík has to say about it. I trust him to have a fair opinion and look into the facts.