Saving Iceland

ShiftShapers
Guerilla News Network
13 Aug 2006

An International Action Camp in Iceland’s Eastern Highlands against the destruction of this last great European wilderness for a series of giant hydro-power dams for the aluminium industry has been ongoing since 21st July.

I just got back from Iceland yesterday. Here is the latest news as i understand it…
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2 October 2007

Protest Outside Iceland’s London Embassy

Today a protest against Iceland’s current persecution of environmental activists was held outside London’s Icelandic Embassy in Sloane Square. The protestors handed in a letter [below] to Sverrir Haukur Gunnlaugsson, Iceland’s ambassador to the UK, which condemns Iceland’s current attempt to deport Miriam Rose, a British citizen. They held a banner which read: Iceland: Police State. Read More

A demonstration against Iceland’s persecution of environmental activists will take place in London on Tuesday 2nd October, meeting at Sloane Square (nearest tube: Sloane Square) at 1pm.
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Saving Iceland
26 September 2007

On Friday 21st September, Saving Iceland activist Miriam Rose was presented with a letter from the Icelandic Directorate of Immigration threatening her with possible expulsion from Iceland. The letter claims that due to her participation in two actions at smelter sites she may be considered a threat to ‘public order and security’ and ‘fundamental societal values’. The letter also claims that Saving Iceland pays activists for being arrested, a claim repeatedly denied and proven to be false.(1)

Miriam has already served 8 days in prison for protesting against the destruction of Icelandic wilderness, for which the UK Green Party Principal Speaker Dr Derek Wall accused the Icelandic government of political harassment and demanded her immediate release.(2) In Radio 1 Icelandic news program Spegillinn yesterday, the police admitted that this was to be the first of many attempted deportations of activists.

Protest Response! Tuesday 2nd October, London Click here for more details.
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Green Party UK
27th Sep 2007

ICELANDIC AUTHORITIES CRACKDOWN ON POLITICAL ACTIVISTS

Greens back British woman 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. “

ENDS

Notes for Editors

(1) & (2) More info on Saving Iceland and the arrest of Miriam Rose can be found at www.savingiceland.org
 http://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/3171

6 October 2007

Concerts, info, movies of 2007 SI summer actions, vegan food, bar, a lot of beautiful people and a big party!

Sleeping places available if you let us know:  savingiceland at riseup.net

Click here for a flyer to print and distribute

On the 12th of September 2007, the Global Day of Action Against Heavy Industry, people in South Africa, Iceland, Trinidad, Denmark, New York, Holland and the UK protested against the heavy industrialisation of our planet. This marked the first coordinated event of a new and growing global movement that began at the 2007 Saving Iceland protest camp in Ölfus, Iceland. The common target of these protests against heavy industry was the aluminium industry, in particular the corporations Alcan/Rio-Tinto and Alcoa. Read More

Jaap Krater
Earth First Journal
3 August, 2007

Summer of Resistance in Iceland – an overview

This year, Iceland saw its third Summer of direct action against heavy industry and large dams. In a much-disputed master plan, all the glacial rivers and geothermal potential of Europe’s largest wilderness would be harnessed for aluminum production (see EF!J May-June 2006). Activists from around the world have gathered to protect Europe’s largest remaining wilderness and oppose aluminum corporations.
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The 12th of September has been called as a day of international action against heavy industry.

In the 2007 Saving Iceland protest camp, people from five continents explored the similarities between their fights against common enemies, in particular the aluminium industry, and were empowered by the enormous strength of the global movement they were creating. From there, this global day of action was decided upon.

We call on activists from all over the world to join in with creating a locally based yet global movement for planet and people that kicks heavy industrial corporate greed off this earth! Read More

Saving Iceland
27 July 2007

Today we wrapped our protest camp at Bringur, Mosfellsheidi, but we are not through with this summers actions.

This means that if you are planning to join us in our fight against heavy industry in Iceland you are not too late. We have plenty of energy left and loads of targets to protest at.

Write to us at  savingiceland at riseup.net if you want to find us.
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