North of Vatnajökull glacier, Iceland, is one of the biggest unspoiled areas in Europe. Since its establishment in 1997 INCA has campaigned for the conservation of this area.
Today two major glacial rivers running north off the glacier are being destroyed by the Karahnukar Project. However one river with its watershed will be protected as part of a new national park.
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.
North of Vatnajökull glacier, Iceland, is one of the biggest unspoiled areas in Europe. Since its establishment in 1997 INCA has campaigned for the conservation of this area.
