Today people from around Reykjavik will gather to clean rubbish around the Vatnsmyri area as part of the largest global day of climate action ever. The event—one of more than 4,600 rallies in more than 170 nations—is coordinated by 350.org to urge world leaders to take fast and effective action on global warming. This is the first global campaign ever organised around a scientific data point: 350 parts per million CO2 is the safe upper limit for the atmosphere according to the latest scientific data. Read the full story

As the result of a dairy strike in Norway, the country is losing two million litres of milk every day. According to reports in Aftenposten, continued strike action is likely to hurt Tine, the largest producer of dairy products in Norway and may affect Norwegians desire to drink milk on a more long-term basis.

The majority of the milk being poured down the drain was destined to end up as cheese. Cheese production in Norway has ground to a halt as a result of the strike.

Dairy employers ended an agreement with dairy workers in 1996 and since then workers have been displeased with changes made to their pension rights.

Dairy workers have also been adversely affected by the strike. Researchers believe the average worker is losing approximately USD 100 every day they don’t work. Farmers have also been affected as Tine is owned by farmers in Norway.

If the strike continues much longer, dairies may be forced to close; the closure of dairies could occur as soon as the weekend, leaving Norwegians with little milk in the chillers.

Both Sweden and Denmark were plagued with strikes last week as workers in the health sector demanded better wages, according to reports on the World Socialist website.

Public sector health care workers in Denmark are striking for the first time in over a decade. The dispute started on April 16th and has grown to encompass nurses, laboratory technicians, nurses’ aides, physiotherapists and day care workers, all of whom are insisting on a 15 per cent increase in salary over the next three years.

In Sweden, nurses began taking action on 21st April when 2,500 workers went on strike. Another 900 joined them three days later. The walkouts have affected all areas of the country with nurses in 40 municipalities affected.

Last month in Finland 12,000 nurses almost quit in order to secure their pay rise. The issue was resolved by an agreement to increase wages by 28 per cent over the next two years.

Danish Finance Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen predicted that the government would be intervening in Denmark soon. “It’s absolutely essential that people understand that they need to restrain these wage expectations. The danger of slower growth is greater if pay demands are too high,” he said.

He said, “If we’re not vigilant and don’t show an intelligent approach to these areas, we’ll lose competitiveness.”