|
|
 News |
 |
|
|
Industrial fishing in the deep sea should be banned because it has depleted fish stocks that take longer to recover than other species, according to a paper to be released this week by an international team of marine scientists.
See Washington Post.
|
|
|
|
|
If one can say anything about recent arguments of the Federation of Icelandic Fishing Vessel Owners (FIFVO) in favour of whaling, it is but propaganda which misquotes scientific research, which are taken out of its natural context.
|
|
|
|
Iceland's fisheries ministry has issued whaling quotas substantially enlarged from those in previous years, as the government prepares to leave office.
The quotas would allow catching of 100 minke whales and 150 fin whales annually for the next five years.
See BBC
|
|
|
|
Now we have three aluminium smelters, which are the biggest in Europe; and in the space of the next three years they want to build two more. The smelters would need energy from a handful of new geothermal power plants and the building of dams that would damage pristine wilderness, hot springs and lava fields. To take this much energy from geothermal fields is not sustainable.
See Bjork's article on TimesOnline.
|
|
|
|
REYKJAVIK, Apr 1 (IPS) - Controversy has arisen yet again over the construction of an aluminium plant in Iceland. In this case the proposed plant will be located at Helguvik in the southwest, and will be powered by geothermal energy rather than hydroelectric power.
See IPS Article here.
|
|
|
|
The required return on investment of the hydroelectric power plant at Kárahnjúkar was too low said Ágúst Gudmundsson, chairman of Bakkavör on the current affairs program Kastljós (Spotlight) Tuesday, according to the Icelandic Broadcasting Service, RÚV. "I would have preferred that the money had been spent in a different way," he said.
See Iceland Review
|
|
|
|
Half of the Icelandic population is unhappy with how the government and the public addresses environmental issues according to a new Gallup poll as reported by the Icelandic Broadcasting System, RÚV.
more
|
|
|
|
In east Iceland, one of the last remaining wildernesses of Europe is now being destroyed for an Alcoa aluminum smelter. The Icelandic government is turning Iceland into a heavy industry zone, and seems willing to destroy a vast amount of Icelandic wilderness for that purpose. In September 2006, a series of huge dams will flood an area of highland vegetation, birdlife and reindeer, also causing hazard to seal breeding grounds on the coast. A series of 20 waterfalls will be dammed in a glacial river that falls from one cliff after another, a total of 600 kilometers running from Vatnajokull, the greatest glacier in Europe.
Please see here
|
|
|
|
What would you do when your country is located in the worlds biggest environmental trouble zone and nations far larger than your own are threatening to destroy your climate and your way of life? - During the period 1995 to 2005 the glaciers lost 1m per year evenly distributed over their entire area. Shrinking at this rapid rate they would disappear in 300 years.
Text by Bart Cameron Photograps by Páll Stefánsson
See article in Iceland Review on PDF
|
|
|
|
The Price of Wealth - Economic development and environmental concerns square off in a remote, unspoiled region of Iceland
By MARYANN BIRD | EGILSSTADIR
See Time Artcle here
|
|
|
|
The Orion Magazine recently published an article by Jon Swan who has for years followed the debate in Iceland with regard to conservation v.s. hydropower development Sjá hér
|
|
|
|
A case was filed in the Reykjavík District Court February 10, brought by natural scientist Hjörleifur Guttormsson, resident of the district Fjarðabyggð in East Iceland, against the multinational aluminium conglomerate Alcoa and the Icelandic Ministers of the Environment and Finance, concerning the proposed aluminium smelter in Reyðarfjörður, East Iceland. Supreme Court Attorney Atli Gíslason will prosecute the case on behalf of the plaintiff.
See Press Release here as a word document
|
|
|
|
|
The Iceland Nature Conservation Association, one of the main Icelandic environmental NGOs, has hit out at proposed changes to Iceland's environmental impact assessment (EIA) Act.
|
|
|
|
|
FARMED ESCAPEES ENTER ICELANDIC RIVERS -
NOW CONFIRMED OF NORWEGIAN ORIGIN
Farmed escapee salmon thought to be of Norwegian origin (now confirmed) have started entering the premium clear water rivers in Iceland. Already a salmon was caught in the middle reaches of the famous Selá river on the east coast of Iceland. The Selá river is considered in the top rank of the world´s best rivers. It is a model river reflecting the best of wild salmon management in accordance with principles introduced by the North Atlantic Salmon Fund.
|
|
|
|
|
The Iceland Nature Conservation Organisation (INCA) condemns the decision to hunt minke whales for so-called scientific reasons and regrets the damage to Iceland’s international image.
|
|
|
|
Complaint to the EFTA Surveillance Authority concerning failure by the Republic of Iceland to comply with the relevant EEA provisions while implementing the environmental impact assessment procedure of a project on a hydropower plant to be built at the location of Kárahnjúkar in the east of the country. The complaint in Word document here
|
|
|
|
|
International Rivers Network sends a letter to International Financial Institutions
|
|
|
|
|
IRN letter to International Financial Institutions.
|
|
|
|
|
Protests against the Karahnukar Hydro Power Project, which is to provide energy to a smelter to be built by Alcoa Inc. gain new heights in Iceland.
|
|
|
|
|
The the assumption of 14,600 kWh for each ton aluminium produced used in Landsvirkjun´s profitability estimate appears much to high.
|
|
|
|
|
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has sent the attached letter to Prime Minister, Mr. David Oddsson, Environment Minister, Ms. Siv Fridleifsdottir and Alcoa.
|
|
|
|
|
Thorsteinn Sigurlaugsson has made a new Estimate of Profitability for The Karahnjukar Power Plant (november 2002) The project is still expected to result in big losses. This is not surprising as Alcoa's smelter will be much smaller than the one previously planned.
|
|
|
|
|
NORTH OF VATNAJOKULL GLACIER, Iceland — This is Europe's second-largest wilderness, a high plateau of lakes and virgin rivers, jagged canyons and snowy former volcanoes linked by swards of treeless tundra inhabited by thousands of reindeer and geese.
|
|
|
|
|
National Geographic Traveler magazine, July/August 2002
Travelwatch: Preserving Our Great Destinations
Iceland's Choice
Hydropower vies with traveler power for the future of a unique landscape
By Jonathan B. Tourtellot
Geotourism Editor, National Geographic Traveler
Director of Sustainable Tourism, National Geographic Society
|
|
|
|
|
The chairmen of 7 Icelandic NGOs have sent a letter to the President of Alcoa urging him "...to withdraw from negotiations with the Icelandic government concerning delivery of energy from the Karahnjukar Dam Project for an aluminum smelter in Reydarfjoerdur."
|
|
|
|
|
WWF condemns plans by aluminium giant Alcoa that would destroy great Icelandic wilderness
|
|
|
|
|
INCA along with three individuals intend to sue Landsvirkjun, the National Power Company and the Environment Minister and demand that the ruling by the Minister with regard to permitting the Karahnukar Power Plant. Earlier this week the High Court dismissed the case.
|
|
|
|
|
Impacts of the Karahnukar Dam Project on flora and fauna
|
|
|
|
|
Hera is an example of the different picture the icelandic government wants to show the world while destroying the largest wilderness area left in Europe.
|
|
|
|
|
Oslo, Norway – WWF, the conservation organisation, today welcomed Norsk Hydro’s decision to indefinitely postpone plans to build a huge aluminium smelter in Iceland.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
© Copyright 1998-2002, Iceland Nature Conservation Association
The Reykjavik Academy, Hringbraut 121, 107 Reykjavík - Phone: 551 2279 E-mail: nsi@mmedia.is |
|
