Circumpolar Musings: Iceland

Iceland pins Oscar hopes on 'The Deep'

Amanda Graham — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 23:29:23 GMT

(IceNews, 8 October 2012) -- Iceland’s film leaders have chosen The Deep to represent the country at the upcoming Academy Awards in Hollywood. The Baltasar Kormakur production, which depicts a fishing boat accident in the icy waters off the Iceland’s coastline, has been selected as the island nation’s contender for the category of best foreign-language film, the Icelandic Film and Television Academy announced on Thursday. The Deep, based on a true story from 1984, stars Olafur Darri Olafsson, whose character manages to make his way to shore as the only survivor after his vessel sinks. The film debuted at the Toronto Film Festival and received high praise from critics for its gripping underwater scenes. The filmmakers are hoping the picture will become the second-only Icelandic production ever nominated for an Oscar. The first came in 1992 via Children of Nature, directed by Fridrik Thor Fridriksson. Five films will be selected as nominees for this year’s award; they will be revealed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on 10 January, whilst the Oscar ceremony will take place in Los Angeles on 24 February.

Huang offers USD five million for lease of north Iceland land

Amanda Graham — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 23:00:23 GMT

(Iceland Review, 13 October 2012) -- Chinese investor Huang Nubo’s company Zhongkun Grímsstaðir ehf. has reportedly offered to pay USD 5 million (ISK 615 million, EUR 3.86 million) for a 60-year lease of the piece of land Grímsstaðir á Fjöllum in Northeast Iceland, according to a draft agreement. This is USD 3 million less than originally estimated. According to an unreleased agreement between Zhongkun Grímsstaðir ehf. and Gáf, a private limited company owned by the Norðurþing municipality in North Iceland, the use of water and other natural resources such as geothermal heat are limited to the operation of tourist services with the exemption of Gáf, visir.is reports. Bergur Elías Ágústsson, chair of Gáf and director of the Norðurþing district council, said that they do not want to waive their rights to the use of the local resources. Bergur says that any decisions would need to be made in agreement with not only Gáf but with the zoning authority in the area, which in this case is the municipality of Norðurþing. The agreement states that the rental price will be paid for “in ISK with the best available rate.” Bergur Elías declined to comment on the amount offered.

Iceland to export mink meat to China?

Amanda Graham — Mon, 07 May 2012 23:33:12 GMT

(Iceland Review News, 7 May 2012) -- Mink meat might become a valuable byproduct for Icelandic fur farmers as Chinese importers have expressed interest in buying meat at mink farms in Skagafjörður, north Iceland. The local meat product company, KS in Sauðárkrókur, has received a number of requests from keen buyers in China in recent years, and at the end of May their representatives will visit the region, ruv.is reports. “I find it an exciting prospect. In mink farming we aim to feed the animals on excess material from fish and meat production […] so we find it very positive if the carcasses can be used for human consumption or other purposes,” said fur farming consultant Einar E. Einarsson. According to Einar, mink meat is a delicacy in Asia. He has tried it himself and found it tasty. There are 24 fur farms in Iceland and the industry is on the increase. Mink skins are sought after and the price has never been higher. The local production amounts to 160,000 skins per year while the mink carcasses are used for soil production or have simply been buried, some 150 tons per year. “A meeting has been scheduled where further information can be obtained on how much they’d like to pay for it and how the procedure would be. If it is doable, farmers are definitely willing to participate,” Einar concluded.

China's Wen in Iceland, eyes on Arctic riches

Amanda Graham — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 00:19:39 GMT

(Mia Shanley/Reuters, 20 April 2012) -- REYKJAVIK - China signed accords on energy cooperation and the Arctic in Iceland on Friday as Premier Wen Jiabao started a tour of northern Europe that will focus on Chinese investment in a continent eager for funds and to trade with the rising world power. Centrepiece of the trip will be a visit to Germany, where Wen and Chancellor Angela Merkel will on Sunday and Monday burnish industrial ties that have done much for both economies. That the prime minister of the world's most populous nation should stop first, however, on a remote island of just 320,000 has raised hopes for an injection of Chinese cash into an economy ravaged by the bursting of a financial bubble in 2008 - but also suspicion of Beijing's hunger for natural resources. A Chinese developer is fighting a government decision last year to bar him from buying a vast tract of land which some had suggested might be a cover for a possible future naval base and part of a wider strategy to gain a foothold in the region. Over two days, Wen, who trained as a geologist, will see volcanic geysers and electricity plants where Iceland captures geothermal energy. Friday's meetings between Wen and Icelandic Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir resulted in agreements to cooperate in the Arctic region, in marine and polar science and in geothermal energy.

Village profile: Akureyri – Bustling with life

Amanda Graham — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 18:05:15 GMT

(Iceland Review) -- As the largest town outside the capital region, Akureyri (pop. 17,000), is the industrial and service capital for North Iceland as well as a center for culture and education with strong historical roots and numerous tourist attractions. The Artists’ Alley is the town’s cultural center and one of its most colorful attractions. The alley is literally crawling with bohemians and art lovers during the annual Summer Art Festival from mid-June to the end of August. Akureyri has fostered some of Iceland’s most beloved writers and their spirits greet visitors in their homes-cum-museums, and at the local Folk Museum visitors can learn about the town’s history since Helgi magri (“the skinny”) settled there in the 9th century. The Akureyri Theater, the only professional theater outside the capital region, is also worth a visit.

Icelandic volcanoes said to be growing restless

Amanda Graham — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 05:04:26 GMT

(Iceland Review Online, 11 April 2012) -- Two years ago, the eruption of the volcano Eyjafjallajökull caused havoc across Europe, with airborne ash grounding flights for six days. Eyjafjallajökull may be quiet now, but, according to The Telegraph, activity has been increasing in the volcano belt that stretches diagonally across the middle of Iceland from the Westman Islands in the south to the Lake Mývatn area in the north, along the line of the American and Eurasian geological tectonic plates. This region includes the volcano Katla, which has erupted about every 60 years (the last time in 1918), the volcano Hekla, which has erupted approximately once every ten years in the past decade (the last time in 2000), and Grímsvötn, which had a short eruption last year. In the 17th and 19th centuries, eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull were followed within months by eruptions of Katla, and now too, Katla has been increasingly restless. Increased activity has also been detected in the volcanoes under the largest ice cap, Vatnajökull, which is where Grímsvötn lies. ... The University of Iceland is working with Delft University of Technology and other institutions to develop more accurate systems to track and predict volcanic activity, in order to deal with the threat and damage of eruption.

First female candidate for Iceland presidential election 2012

Amanda Graham — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 22:09:10 GMT

(IceNews, 31 March 2012) -- Herdís Þorgeirsdóttir has decided to submit her candidacy for this June’s election for the President of Iceland. She declared her intention to run at a press conference at Reykjavík Art Museum yesterday. She is the first woman to stand for President so far for this year’s election – and her decision follows a groundswell of public support for the professor to stand; not least on Facebook. Herdís is 58 years-old, is a doctor of law, and is a certified lawyer and a political scientist. She was made a professor at Bifröst University in 2004. She is also one of the owners of the Víkur legal bureau. In July 2009 she was elected president of the European Women Lawyers’ Association and she was re-elected in 2011. She has worked for the European Council on human rights issues and for the European Union on workers’ rights and equality issues, DV.is reports. She is the Icelandic representative on the EU Venice Commission and chairman of the Venice sub-commisson on human rights.

Luftwaffe takes over protection of Icelandic airspace

Amanda Graham — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 21:48:15 GMT

(IceNews, 5 March 2012) -- A three week Icelandic air space patrol mission by the German Luftwaffe begins today while discussion continues about a possible Nordic takeover. Iceland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Össur Skarphéðinsson, says that air cover has been arranged for the country for the next two years. Iceland has no military of its own. There are serious discussions in progress about whether the Nordic countries should take over Iceland’s air defence from NATO. The US Air Force last took responsibility for Icelandic air space in August and now the Germans have taken over. There are around 150 German air force personnel taking part in the Icelandic operation and they have brought four F4 fighters with them; as well as some 40 shipping containers and a variety of motor vehicles. Exercises will take place this week around Akureyri and Egilsstaðir. The Minister for Foreign Affairs told RÚV that the German patrols and exercises are standard in nature and that the Americans will come in the summer and be followed by the Portuguese air force later in the year. Regular air patrols have been organised for the next two years and will be similar in nature to patrols over the Baltic nations and form part of the wider NATO preparedness mission over European airspace.

Cement-free future for Iceland thanks to Eyjafjallajökull volcano?

Amanda Graham — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 17:55:01 GMT

(RÚV via IceNews, 20 March 2012) -- A new cement substitute made from volcanic ash could potentially see cement become obsolete in Iceland. This is the hope of a research team working to make a domestic concrete mix based around volcanic ash. The so-called concrete division of the Icelandic Innovation Centres is behind the project aimed at making a marketable and economical product which could largely see cement become unnecessary. According to project manager Sunna Ó. Wallevik, cement-free concrete is much more environmentally friendly than traditional concrete because its production does not produce carbon dioxide. Cement production is a very big producer of the greenhouse gas. “The goal of the project is really to develop an Icelandic version of environmentally-friendly concrete made from certain geographical polymers instead of normal cement.” the ash contains both aluminium and silica. Sunna says that the ash for the concrete has been collected from the foot of Eyjafjallajökull and that although the project is in full swing, it could still be two to three years before the final product is released onto the market, RÚV reports. “The first trials have been very successful and we have achieved a very good mix and good results; so we are very positive that we can finish this project.”

Plover brings tidings of spring [to Iceland]

Amanda Graham — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 17:22:03 GMT

(Iceland Review News, 21 March 2012) -- The plover in Hvalfjarðarsveit certainly brings tidings of spring if the weather forecast is anything to go by, predicting temperatures as high as 15°C (59 F°) in the northern and eastern parts of Iceland this weekend. "We can expect to see temperatures reach 8 to 10 °C in the south and western corner of the country, and 8 to 12 C° in northern and eastern parts of Iceland," Óli Þór Árnason, a meteorologist at the Icelandic Met Office told visir.is. Óli Þór predicts dry weather and bright skies in North and East Iceland, but informed residents in the south and west that they may have to settle for showers over the weekend. Temperatures will drop again on Monday but there is reason to be optimistic now that the plover has been sighted. The Golden Plover was spotted near Ytri Hólmur, a local farm in the area south of Akranes, and was photographed by a photographer for the local newspaper, Skessuhorn.

70th anniversary of British soldiers' rescue in Iceland

Amanda Graham — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:51:36 GMT

(IceNews, 23 January 2012) -- This weekend marked 70 years since residents of the Veturhús farm near Eskifjörður, east Iceland, saved the lives of over 40 British soldiers. The soldiers had set off on foot from Reyðarfjörður over the mountains hoping to reach Eskifjörður. They set off in good weather on the morning of the 20th January 1942. As the day progressed they encountered severe wind and snowfall. A total of 60 British soldiers were on the trek and eight of them died. The ill-fated walk and the ensuing rescue effort were commemorated yesterday at Veturhús, with flowers, candles and flags; as well as speeches and readings from media and personal accounts from the time. Magnús Pálsson, one of the rescuers from 70 years ago, was invited to the British embassy in Reykjavík, where he received official recognition and tribute from the British military. Mayor of Fjarðabyggð (where Veturhús is located) Jens Garðar Helgason, told Vísir.is that the recognition was more than deserved following the bravery and selflessness shown by the young Magnús, his siblings and their mother on that fateful day.

New website calls on Icelandic president to stand again

Amanda Graham — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:37:12 GMT

(IceNews, 21 January 2010) -- Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, President of Iceland, has so far kept quiet over the news that a group of supporters has opened a petition website asking the incumbent head of state to stand for re-election in June. The President has been in office since 1996 and convention dictates that four terms is the maximum; although there is no law preventing him from standing for a fifth term. Ólafur’s supporters hope that if 40,000 or more people sign the online petition then the President will succumb to their wish for him to stand again. In his new year address to the nation, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson (arguably) indicated that he would not stand at this years presidential election; but when pushed for definite confirmation since then he has repeatedly refused to comment. The website was opened yesterday at a press conference in Reykjavík; presented by its creators. The supporters of the President include former government ministers Guðni Ágústsson and Ragnar Arnalds, Vísir.is reported. The petition site had 1,828 signatures at the time of writing and the message those signatories are sending is as follows: “We the undersigned urge you, Mr. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, to put yourself forward as a candidate for the presidential election this summer. We trust you more than most other people to stand watch for the interests of the people during the difficult times which lie ahead.”

Record breaking December snow in Iceland

Amanda Graham — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 20:12:07 GMT

(IceNews, 30 December 2011) -- Those in Iceland who say they cannot remember such a snowy December have been proven right by the Icelandic Met Office, which has released details of two records which have been broken in Reykjavík this month. Yesterday morning the depth of snow was 33 centimetres in Reykjavík and neighbouring municipalities; which is a record. Since records began being kept in 1921 there has never been a 24 hour period in December with more snowfall over the Icelandic capital. Intermittent snow showers continued throughout yesterday, but the Met Office predicts a change in the weather today; with initial snow, followed by sleet and eventually rain. The forecast is for a warming trend and temperatures above zero in all lowland areas of Iceland on New Year’s Day. Another record has also been set in the capital region, where snow has laid on the ground uninterrupted since the 26th November — the longest period of early winter snow cover since records began. It is by no means certain yet that the rise in temperatures will last long enough to stop the uninterrupted snow cover record carrying on into January.

Chinese developer livid at Iceland's rejection of resort

Amanda Graham — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 22:07:58 GMT

(Reuters, 27 November 2011) -- A multimillionaire Chinese developer is livid at Iceland's rejection of his plan to build a sprawling resort, saying it reveals western "hypocrisy and deep prejudice". Foreigners also wrongly assume Chinese companies automatically have ties to China's military, Huang Nubo said in comments published in Chinese media on Sunday. The Iceland government on Friday rejected a bid by Huang to buy 300 sq km (186 sq miles) on the island nation because it did not meet legal requirements on foreign ownership. Some commentators had said the plan raised questions over regional security because of Iceland's strategic location in the Arctic where a number of nations are competing for resources, suggesting that Huang could be a surrogate for Chinese expansionism. "I'm not buying land, I'm investing in tourism infrastructure," Huang said in an interview with Sina Finance, an online news service. "The difficulties that Chinese enterprises encounter are numerous, like the view that state-owned enterprises represent your country, that whatever your background is you're a military business and touch on national security." ... "The denial reflects the unjust and parochial investment environment facing private Chinese enterprises abroad," he told the [China Daily] newspaper. Huang had agreed to pay 1 billion Iceland krona ($8.3 million) to buy Grimsstadir farm in northeast Iceland, where he planned to build a golf course, hotel and outdoor recreation area. But Iceland's Interior Ministry said on Friday that the deal did not meet legal requirements for land sales to companies outside the European Economic Area, including that company directors must be Icelandic citizens or permanent residents for at least five years, and that 80 percent of shares in purchasing firms should be held by Icelandic citizens.

Earthquake rattles north Icelandic isle

Amanda Graham — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 18:52:52 GMT

(Iceland Review, 25 November 2011) -- There has been considerable seismic activity north of Grímsey island, Iceland’s northernmost inhabited island, lately with a quake measuring 3.1 on the Richter scale hitting less than two kilometers north of the island yesterday. An islander who was working in the fish processing plant in the harbor area at the time described the tremor as if a large truck had rammed the building at full speed. However, no one was harmed and no damages were caused, visir.is reports. The seismic activity continued through the night but no other quakes of a similar magnitude were registered. It is common for series of earthquakes to occur in the region.

IceNews changes alphabet, read all about it here!

Amanda Graham — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 00:57:28 GMT

(IceNews, 21 November 2011) -- Regular readers will begin seeing subtle changes to the writing on IceNews as we begin presenting the names of people and places as they actually are, with all the accents, umlauts and special characters included. The idea that people are easily confused by áccénts and ümläüts is pretty insulting to ‘people’ and the added information they provide allows for non-native speakers to pronounce things correctly. Another reason for avoiding special characters has always been that search engines do not like them. We hope, however, that this is less true than it once was. We will continue to use simplified spelling in tags in order to make searching easier.

Icelandic beer crowned Best Standard Lager in the world

Amanda Graham — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 05:57:12 GMT

(IceNews, 16 November 2011) -- International beer experts have voted Iceland’s Egils Gull as the Best Standard Lager Beer in the World at the World Beer Awards 2011. Andri Thor Gudmundsson, president of the Egils brewery (in the news recently for a different reason), says there is no way of knowing what the recognition could mean for the Gull brand. Judges from all over the world choose the winners of what is described as the most respected beer awards anywhere, in blind tasting sessions. The international judging panel tasted around a hundred beers from around the world and it was Gull (which means ‘Gold’) which won the gold, Visir.is reported. Beers in the World Beer Awards final first have to pass a regional stage; which means that by winning the world award, Gull could also be said to be the ‘best in Europe’ as well — making the victory still sweeter. Gudmundsson says that Icelandic water and Icelandic barley are the secrets to Egils Gull’s success; as well as the subtle changes to the beer’s production in recent years. “The secret is naturally precision and care and that things are always done in the same way. And also lots of little details which I don’t want to give away,” Gudmundsson states. Egils Gull is among the four most popular standard lagers for sale in most bars and every state alcohol shop in Iceland. The other main standard beers are Viking and Thule (made by Vifilfell) and Tuborg (which is brewed in Iceland by the Egils brewery, just like Gull). Egils Gull has also been sold in Canada in small quantities; but the future could be much more ambitious for the brand following its success last week. Egils Gull has taken four or five big awards in the past, Gudmundsson estimates — adding that the most recent one is the best. He jokes that he is worried there may come a day when there is no longer room on the bottle for the beer’s name to be seen through all the award badges.

Iceland’s Hekla volcano live on webcam

Amanda Graham — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 18:55:54 GMT

(Iceland Review, 13 November 2011) -- The volcano Hekla in south Iceland can now be watched live on the website of telecommunications company Míla, which recently placed a new webcam in the vicinity, facing the mountain. Hekla is a 1,491-meter-high volcanic ridge and one of the best known and most active volcanoes in Iceland. It has both been called “the queen of Icelandic volcanoes” and “the gateway to hell.” Although there are no signs of an immediate eruption in Hekla, some scientists have speculated that it might be preparing for one. Míla now has nine webcams in Iceland, most of which are located in the southern part of the country. The company first put up a live webcam during the volcanic eruptions on Fimmvörduháls and Eyjafjallajökull in 2010, mbl.is reports. Click here to read more about risk assessment for Icelandic volcanoes and here to read about Katla, which might also be preparing to erupt.

Kristnitakan - The Adoption of Christianity

Amanda Graham — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 08:32:27 GMT

(Katharina Hauptmann/Iceland Review, 9 November 2011) -- Throughout the history of mankind the Christianization of pagan countries has caused significant bloodshed. After all, forcing people to convert to another belief has always been a bloody and brutal business. Not so much in Iceland, though. In the Middle Ages, approximately 100 years after the settlement of Iceland in the 9th century, the vast majority of Icelanders were still worshipping the Norse gods. Only a few settlers (mostly slaves of Celtic origin) were Christian. We still don't know exactly how and when Icelanders abandoned their pagan belief in favor of Christianity so we have to rely on the few written sources we have. The most extensive sources mentioning these events are the Book of the Icelanders by Ari Thorgilsson, the Icelandic family sagas and Church chronicles about the first preachers and bishops. Thorgilsson's accounts of the events surrounding the conversion are widely considered reliable. ... ...the Christianization of Iceland is probably the most peaceful Christianization of all time. Christianity made it easier for foreign cultures to enter Iceland, as almost all neighboring countries had already adopted Christianity. With Christianity, the Icelandic literary tradition began with the teaching of reading and writing. Soon after the proclamation of Christianity the first church was built at Thingvellir, the place where the ancient parliament used to be located.

Wind blows shipping container away in east Iceland

Amanda Graham — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 08:08:11 GMT

(IceNews, 7 November 2011) -- Remarkable scenes in eastern Iceland yesterday as a gust of wind so strong that it blew an entire shipping container off the dock and out to sea, was caught on film. A 40-foot freezer container is a common sight on the quays of coastal towns all around Iceland. The metal boxes are the size of small buildings — and just as hard to move without heavy machinery. But yesterday morning in the tiny East Fjords village of Stodvafjordur (on the shore of the fjord with the same name), the wind managed the seemingly impossible. Local resident Bjorgvin Valur Gudmundsson got the whole thing on a video which he quickly uploaded to the internet. It can be watched here. The viewer sees an undeniably blustery day, before a gust visibly comes in, almost looking like a sandstorm or a tidal wave. All the boats in the harbour move in unison, and so does their pontoon. And the unlucky shipping container does not stand a chance. The Coastguard was called upon for help and the brand new cruiser, Thor, was sent to the scene. By lucky coincidence, Thor was located in neighbouring Faskrudsfjordur following Saturday’s rescue of the rudderless freighter, Alma. It now appears that Thor’s first proper search and rescue mission in Iceland will be less dramatic and glamorous than perhaps some had imagined: to save a 40-foot shipping container. That is not yet certain, however; because no decision had been made at the time of writing as to whether or not the container would be brought aboard. In other news related to Saturday’s rescue, divers in Faskrudsfjordur yesterday discovered that Alma has completely lost her rudder, in its entirety. Details are expected early this week as to whether Alma will be repaired; where; when and how long it might take.

Arctic weather conditions disrupt Iceland fishing grounds

Amanda Graham — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 08:00:55 GMT

(FishUpdate, 4 November 2011) -- An early sign of wintry conditions has appeared on some of the Icelandic fishing grounds which may not bode well for supplies in the next few weeks. At the moment fewer than 100 of Iceland's vessels are at sea because of the weather. The trawler company HB Grandi has said it has suspended fishing for capelin – the season is currently in full swing – over the past several days because of some very difficult weather and plenty of sea ice in the Denmark Strait. ... So far supplies of cod and haddock to the Humber have not been affected and Grimsby has had some good supplies in recent days. But bad weather has a habit of blowing itself from the Denmark Strait towards the cod and haddock fishing grounds.

New German silicone factory for north Iceland?

Amanda Graham — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 23:51:25 GMT

(IceNews, 9 September 2011) -- A declaration of co-operation will be signed tomorrow for the construction of a 66,000 tonne/year silicone factory planned for Bakki near the north-eastern Icelandic town of Husavik by the German company PCC. Negotiations are ongoing with Landsvirkjun about the provision of electricity to the proposed new plant from a geothermal field at Theistareykir. PCC is the only company which submitted a formal proposal for the industrial lot at Bakki and negotiations between the company and the Nordurthing local government have been taking place over the last month. The Nordurthing council yesterday received an application from PCC to begin formal co-operation on preparing the project and bringing it to fruition. The application includes a request for a long-term lease on the 20-hectare plot; which is one tenth the total area of land at Bakki which has been zoned for energy intensive industrial development. PCC representatives will arrive in North Iceland tomorrow to sign the declaration of co-operation.

Alcoholic beverages made from Icelandic birch

Amanda Graham — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 20:54:08 GMT

(Iceland Review Online Daily News, 28 August 2011) -- The startup company Foss Distillery has launched production of two new types of alcoholic beverages made from Icelandic birch. They are called Birkir, which is a schnapps, and Björk, a liquor. Both names are also popular human names, male and female, and simply mean “birch”. The new beverages are the results of the experiments of Ólafur Örn Ólafsson, chairman of the Icelandic Sommelier Association, and Gunnar Karl Gíslason, captain of the Icelandic national team of master chefs, mbl.is reports. Dairy technician Jakob Svanur Bjarnason and sociologist Elsa María Jakobsdóttir have also participated in the project, which received an encouragement award at a entrepreneur course hosted by the Universities’ House of Ideas and funding from Promote Iceland for making a design for export. Foss Distillery’s ambition is “to create spirits made from flora indigenous to Iceland,” as stated on the company’s Facebook site. Catco vín in Borgarnes, west Iceland, which makes Reyka vodka, among other products, facilitates the project. In Iceland, alcoholic beverages can only be bought in the state-run Vínbúd, apart from bars and restaurants.

Famous Lewis chessmen originally from Iceland?

Amanda Graham — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 00:18:55 GMT

(IceNews, 6 August 2011) -- A chess piece recently discovered at Siglunes, Iceland could explain the origin of the mysterious Uig chessmen associated with the island of Lewis, off Scotland: they could originally have come from Iceland. A chessman newly dug up at an archaeological dig at Siglunes is remarkably similar to the famous Lewis chessmen and could mean they came from Iceland instead of from Norway, as usually assumed.The Lewis chessmen (or Uir chessmen) were found on the island of Lewis in 1830, RUV reported. They are thought to be from the 12th Century; and therefore the oldest modern-style chess pieces to have been found anywhere in the world. The Lewis chessmen are among the most prized exhibits at the British Museum. The piece found at Siglunes at the end of July looks extremely similar. The chessman is believed to be from the same period and exhibits similar workmanship and personal likeness the Lewis carvings. A conference is scheduled for the 19th August in Skalholt, South Iceland, where international delegates will discuss the Lewis chessmen and examine their newly-discovered Icelandic cousin.

Iceland, Norway and Japan walk out of IWC meeting

Amanda Graham — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 20:42:49 GMT

(Iceland Review, 15 July 2011) -- The representatives of Iceland, Norway and Japan walked out of a meeting at the International Whaling Commission (IWC) yesterday along with representatives of other states who approve of whaling. Tómas H. Heidar, Iceland’s main representative on the IWC, told visir.is that the purpose of this move was to prevent the meeting from being legally constituted; a voting on Argentina and Brazil’s suggestion on founding a whale reserve in the South Atlantic Ocean was about to start. For IWC meetings to be legally constituted in the case of a proposal like this, representatives of at least half of all IWC members states have to be present and to be approved, 75 percent of those present have to vote in favor of it. Heidar said he believes the proposal would not have been approved but the pro-whaling member states still wanted to prevent the voting as it might increase the split between processions and cause disputes within the IWC. “In the past months we have worked towards reaching a compromise between the followers and opponents of whaling within the IWC and the atmosphere has improved significantly,” Heidar stated. He added the foundation of the aforementioned whale reserve was part of the draft of a package solution which was submitted at the IWC’s general meeting last year but the South American states wouldn’t accept any package solutions and weren’t prepared to show any flexibility in regards to whaling. Heidar said it is absurd for the states to now submit a proposal on only the whale reserve and even more absurd that they have attempted to push it through on a vote. He pointed out that Iceland and other states that approve whaling are overall against the establishment of reserves in areas where whaling is banned, unless the need for reserves has been scientifically proven, adding no scientific evidence has been submitted to support a whale reserve in the South Atlantic. The 63rd annual meeting of the IWC, which opened in Jersey on Monday, ended yesterday.

Foreign physicians recruited to fill empty positions in Akureyri Hospital

Amanda Graham — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 07:49:19 GMT

(Iceland Review Daily News, 28 June 2011) -- Icelandic healthcare clinics have begun to look for foreign physicians as Icelandic physicians are not returning to Iceland after completing their specialist education. Indian doctors have been hired by the hospital in Akureyri and more are expected to come. “We have advertised for physicians and specialists overseas and been able to recruit qualified individuals in most cases. However, not all positions have been filled,” Gróa Björk Jóhannesdóttir, a stand-in director at Akureyri hospital, told Morgunbladid. She said the hospital would consider hiring more foreign specialists. Gróa continued to say that “it’s probably been about 30 to 35 years since the first Indian came to practice medicine here and in the last 5 to 6 years more physicians have come to Akureyri.” Indian doctors are well educated and they fill the necessary positions the hospital has not been able to fill with Icelandic specialists. The hospital would prefer to hire Icelandic-speaking physicians whenever possible. In recent editions, Morgunbladid has reported on the lack of physicians in Icelandic hospitals and clinics and the problems arising from fewer and fewer Icelandic doctors returning to Iceland following their specialist education. Loss of local specialists is also a growing problem.

Iceland’s sea bird stock 'in dismal shape'

Amanda Graham — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 07:15:48 GMT

(IceNews, 28 June 2011) -- The nesting season of many types of sea bird all around Iceland has been poor this year and there is an all-out puffin and Arctic tern collapse in progress to the south and west of the country. Ornithologists say the situation has not looked worse for many decades. Scientists have been travelling around Iceland in recent days and weeks, researching sea bird stocks and the status of their nesting. RUV reported at the weekend that extremely few Arctic tern nests were found on the Snaefellsnes peninsula, where thousands of the birds usually lay their eggs. A similarly worrying picture is emerging about the puffin stock and the situation is particularly bad on the Westman Islands and the south and west of the Icelandic mainland. Ornithologist Aevar Pedersen told RUV that the situation had been bad last year, but is even worse this year. The overall picture is pretty dismal, he said — adding that he has not seen a worse breeding season for many years, indeed decades. “Among sea birds it is generally extremely poor, and among waders it seems to be quite poor as well — at the very least they are nesting very late. We have been looking at snipes out west on Flatey island in Breidafjordur and there are only about 20 percent as many as there should be. On the other hand, it appears to be a good nesting season for small birds like wagtails and snow buntings,” Pedersen said. The nesting season among Arctic terns and puffins has simply failed to take place in large parts of Iceland. Both species mainly eat sand eels which have almost disappeared — especially in the seas to the south and west of Iceland. Puffins are still nesting in North Iceland, where they feed on capelin; but the lack of sand eels further south is causing Arctic tern and puffin breeding seasons to fail yet again. The most plausible explanation for the sand eels’ disappearance is the continued ocean warming around Iceland.

Surprise archeological find from Iceland’s settlement

Amanda Graham — Thu, 19 May 2011 21:54:46 GMT

Archeological remains that were found during an excavation in Urridakot in Gardabaer, a neighboring town of Reykjavík, were much older than archeologists had assumed. They date back to the settlement of Iceland in the 9th century AD while Urridakot is first mentioned in written sources from the 16th century. Excavation has been ongoing in Urridakot in the past years because of planned construction in the area. In 2006 the local authorities asked the Institute of Archaeology to fully complete the registration of archeological remains within the town limits, Fréttabladid reports. “The first test dig was made in Urridakot in 2007 and last year the excavation was to be completed at which point I decided to dig in the area between those that had been tested,” said archeologist Ragnheidur Traustadóttir. “Nothing could be seen on the surface and there are no sources on anything in the area but then we discovered a magnificent cowshed from the Settlement Era,” she described, adding that they also found a lodge, storage room, pantry and a cooking hole from the 9th to 11th century; further research is required to determine how old the remains are exactly. Click here to read more about archeological discoveries in Iceland.

Icy weather surprises Icelanders

Amanda Graham — Mon, 02 May 2011 04:27:14 GMT

(AFP via Vancouver Sun, 1 May 2011) -- Iceland saw its first May snowfall for almost a decade over the weekend, with more than 16 centimetres falling on the capital Reykjavik, meteorologists said Sunday. "We recorded 16.4 centimetres of snow in the Reykjavik area and the small town of Hvalfjoerdur (a few kilometres north of the capital) received 18 centimetres," Thorsteinn Jonsson from the Icelandic Meteorological Office said. "It's the first time since 1993 that it has snowed in May (in Reykjavik)," he said, adding that it was the second most significant May snowfall since 1987, when 18 centimetres fell on the capital. "We did not see it coming and we were as surprised as everyone else in Reykjavik," he added. The snow fell from Saturday evening through Sunday morning on Iceland's west coast, where "an air mass... brought temperatures below zero and turned the rain into snow," said Mr Jonsson, who said the spell looked to be over. "This afternoon and this evening it will return to rain, and perhaps we'll wake up to summer tomorrow with some sun," he added.

Video of northern lights and stars in Iceland. Not to be missed

Amanda Graham — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 21:45:04 GMT

(Iceland Review, 30 April 2011) -- Many come to Iceland for the amazing northern lights. Sometimes you are lucky to see them, sometimes not. Amateur photographer Ásgeir Ingvarsson took more than 6,500 photos of the sky over Reykjavík and made a video of the nights in the vicinity of Reykjavík. Ingvarsson said in an interview with pressan.is that many of his photos were taken in Reykjanes (the Keflavík area), Hvalfjördur and Thingvellir. The lighthouse at Grótta by Reykjavík is also great. “I had the idea in December and I wish I had got it a bit earlier since a lot of nights have been cloudy since then. But I used the nights when some stars could be seen and the northern lights were active.” Many tourists come to Iceland in winter to see the northern light and some hotels even specialize in such tours. But you can never be sure so watch Ingvarson’s amazing video, an be sure to enlarge it to full screen. AURORA ISLANDICA - a Northern Lights Timelapse from Agust Ingvarsson on Vimeo.

Crazy weather causes blackouts, grounds travelers

Amanda Graham — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 05:13:09 GMT

(Iceland Review, 15 March 2011) -- The weather was stormy across Iceland yesterday, making roads impassible and causing blackouts in the Dalabyggd region in west Iceland and in the West Fjords. The weather forecast today is not much better; south and southwesterly winds of 15-23 meters per second. The stormiest weather is predicted for the far east and northwest. According to ruv.is, domestic flight schedules were disrupted this morning and the weather isn’t expected to calm until the evening. A fiber optic cable run by the telecom company Míla was cut between Vík and <a href="/icelandreview/upload/files/maps/kirkjubaejarklaustur.jpg">Kirkjubaejarklaustur in south Iceland yesterday, causing disturbances to telecom service and television and radio broadcasts, Morgunbladid reports. A truck blew over and landed on its side on the bridge across Borgarfjördur fjord by Borgarnes, west Iceland, yesterday morning. The driver was unharmed but the truck couldn’t be removed from the bridge until the storm calmed. Cranes had arrived to remove the truck when the newspaper hit the printers last night. ... Members of the search and rescue teams Húnar, Heidar, Strönd, Blanda, Brák and Ok worked well into the night to assist commuters in driving down from the mountain pass and seeking shelter in the district boarding school Reykjaskóli.</a >

Fisherman drowns in Icelandic waters

Amanda Graham — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 16:33:55 GMT

(Iceland Review, 1 March 2011) -- A Greenlandic fisherman on a Greenlandic capelin vessel drowned after falling overboard in stormy weather off Malarrif on Snaefellsnes peninsula, west Iceland, on Sunday evening. The captain immediately requested assistance from the Icelandic Coast Guard. By coincidence, one of its helicopters was located in west Iceland for training purposes. The Coast Guard’s other helicopter was also sent to the scene from Reykjavík, visir.is reports. The crew of one of the helicopters managed to hoist the fisherman onboard in very difficult circumstances but it was too late; he was pronounced dead shortly afterwards The ship is manned by both Icelanders and Greenlanders. It arrived in Helguvík on Reykjanes peninsula in southwest Iceland last night and the Sudurnes police questioned the crew.

Iceland volcano drilling suggests magma could become source of high-grade energy

Amanda Graham — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 04:51:58 GMT

(University of California - Riverside press release via Science Daily, 16 February 2011) -- Geologists drilling an exploratory geothermal well in 2009 in the Krafla volcano in Iceland encountered a problem they were simply unprepared for: magma (molten rock or lava underground) which flowed unexpectedly into the well at 2.1 kilometers (6,900 ft) depth, forcing the researchers to terminate the drilling. "To the best of our knowledge, only one previous instance of magma flowing into a geothermal well while drilling has been documented," said Wilfred Elders, a professor emeritus of geology in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of California, Riverside, who led the research team. "We were drilling a well that was designed to search for very deep -- 4.5 kilometers (15,000 feet) -- geothermal resources in the volcano. While the magma flow interrupted our project, it gave us a unique opportunity to study the magma and test a very hot geothermal system as an energy source." Currently, a third of the electric power and 95 percent of home heating in Iceland is produced from steam and hot water that occurs naturally in volcanic rocks. "The economics of generating electric power from such geothermal steam improves the higher its temperature and pressure," Elders explained. "As you drill deeper into a hot zone the temperature and pressure rise, so it should be possible to reach an environment where a denser fluid with very high heat content, but also with unusually low viscosity occurs, so-called 'supercritical water.' Although such supercritical water is used in large coal-fired electric power plants, no one had tried to use supercritical water that should occur naturally in the deeper zones of geothermal areas." Elders and colleagues report in the March issue of Geology (the research paper was published online on Feb. 3) that although the Krafla volcano, like all other volcanoes in Iceland, is basaltic (a volcanic rock containing 45-50 percent silica), the magma they encountered is a rhyolite (a volcanic rock containing 65-70 percent silica).

Iceland buys back its own natural resources

Amanda Graham — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 21:09:53 GMT

(Nordic Council News, 25 January 2011) -- The Icelandic government will buy back a privatised power station from its Canadian owners. This is the result of a proposal from the Left-wing Socialist Green Group in the Nordic Council, supported by the singer Björk. The Left-wing Green Socialists are now calling for state ownership of natural resources to be upheld in all the Nordic countries' constitutions. The proposal is being discussed at the Nordic Council's meetings in Finland on 25 - 26 January. The proposal for securing state ownership of all natural resources was launched in November in Reykjavik at the Nordic Council's annual summit of the Council's Left-wing Green Socialists (VSG). This initiative has already had consequences in Iceland where the government has now decided to buy back the power station HS Orka. The case was helped along by Björk, the world-famous singer, who collected 50,000 signatures in support of the VSG proposal - representing support from about one in seven Icelanders. In a press release the Left-wing Green Socialists stated: "The discussion has become a popular movement which will now ensure that the Icelandic government can win back that which was lost by the sale of the power station HS Orka". In addition to writing the ownership of natural resources by the people into the constitutions of the Nordic countries, the Left-wing Green Socialist MPs call for a guarantee that all income from the use of these resources will benefit the community. "It is gratifying to follow the result of our proposal through developments in Iceland. Norway, for example, has good experience of state ownership of natural resources, such as water and hydroelectric power, even to the satisfaction of the business community", says Alf Holmelid, member of the Left-wing Green Socialists Group representing the Norwegian Socialist Left Party. The proposal has now been submitted for consideration by the Nordic Council, which will then decide whether to recommend the governments to proceed further.

First Icelandic toboggan produced

Amanda Graham — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 20:12:44 GMT

(Iceland Review, 16 January 2011) -- Kaldbakur, the first Icelandic toboggan, has been released. Named after Mt. Kaldbakur in Eyjafjördur, north Iceland, it is specifically designed for adult practitioners in Icelandic conditions and is very resilient—one of the designers even called it unbreakable. The toboggan was designed for the company Kaldbaksferdir which offers tours to the 1,174-meter high mountain in the winter. People are driven to the top on snowcats and have the option of sliding down on skis, snowboards or toboggans, ruv.is reports. However, the company’s manager Sigurbjörn Höskuldsson said they had trouble finding toboggans that were strong enough for the rough ride down Kaldbakur’s slope and so they decided to have one custom made. In addition to being resilient, the Kaldbakur toboggan is also light and can easily be stacked, Höskuldsson said.

Feasibility of biofuel factory in north Iceland studied

Amanda Graham — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 23:08:18 GMT

(Iceland Review, 7 January 2011) -- Landsvirkjun, the national power company, and Icelandic-American company Carbon Recycling International (CRI), have agreed to conduct a joint feasibility study for constructing and operating a plant to produce renewable methanol (RM) next to the geothermal power plant at Krafla in northeast Iceland. The plant would at full capacity produce more than 100 million liters annually of RM, a clean burning high octane fuel for cars, using only carbon dioxide (CO2), water and renewable energy from the Krafla plant. The process would eliminate 45,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year. The feasibility study is expected to be concluded in February 2011. Provided that the study is successful, parties reach mutually beneficial agreements and necessary permits are obtained, preparations for the engineering and site preparation of the CRI plant at Krafla may start in the first half of 2011. Landsvirkjun and CRI recently presented details of the feasibility studies and plans for fuel production to the local district council, Nordurthing.

Unusually many TB infections in Iceland

Amanda Graham — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 17:54:15 GMT

(Iceland Review, 2 January 2011) -- Unusually many individuals, 21, were diagnosed with a tuberculosis infection in Iceland in 2010, compared to around nine persons in 2009 and six in 2008. Sixteen of the 21 TB patients, or 71 percent, were of foreign origin, most of whom came from Asia. Those diagnosed were aged between 20 and 70 and their average age was 34, as stated in Farsóttafréttir, a newsletter from the Directorate of Health. No multiresistant TB surfaced this year but one Icelander was diagnosed with bovine TB, which is usually found in cattle. It is unclear how the person was infected; there is no known bovine TB infection in Icelandic cattle at the moment. It should be pointed out that only ten percent of those infected with TB have to be treated for the disease.

How Iceland Air kept flying when British Airways was grounded

Amanda Graham — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 18:42:58 GMT

(Dorrit Moussaieff/Huffington Post, 24 December 2010) -- When planes were at a standstill in England, and in Europe, the pilots of an Iceland air plane that was about to take off were informed they could not do so, as there was not enough snow clearing equipment to clear a path for the refueling car. Rather then facing an overnight stay, the captain and co-pilot, took matters and shovels into their own hands. Some 15 minutes of shovelling later, the path was cleared, the plane refueled and went airborne. That is how Icelandic pilots deal with winter challenges. Perhaps Britain and other countries could learn from that example.

Population increases in Iceland

Amanda Graham — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 06:47:28 GMT

(Iceland Review, 21 December 2010) -- Inhabitants with a legal domicile in Iceland totaled 318,236 on December 1, 2010, according to Statistics Iceland, and have increased by 643 since December 1 last year, or by 0.2 percent. Inhabitants in the capital region increased by 0.7 percent and by 0.3 percent in northeast Iceland. However, in other regions inhabitants decreased, most significantly in the West Fjords where their number dropped by 3.2 percent, ruv.is reports. In the Sudurnes region in southwest Iceland there was a population decrease by 1.4 percent and by 1.2 percent in east Iceland. In other regions the decrease was insignificant. On December 1, 2010, approximately 202,000 people lived in the capital region, 118,000 thereof in Reykjavík. Kópavogur is inhabited by more than 30,000 people and Hafnarfjördur has a population of nearly 26,000. The largest municipality outside the capital region is Akureyri in north Iceland with approximately 17,500 inhabitants.

Icelandic cod fisheries certified as responsible

Amanda Graham — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 03:23:13 GMT

(Iceland Review News, 16 December 2010) -- Icelandic cod fisheries received a Global Trust Certification, an international certification based on strict conditions which confirms responsible fishery control and sustainable use of the ocean’s resources, yesterday. Managing director of Global Trust Certification Peter Marshall presented the certification to the representatives of the Icelandic fishing industry at a special ceremony in the Reykjavík Maritime Museum, a press release from the Federation of Icelandic Fishing Vessel Owners states. “This certification from a third party which meets the demands and ethics regulations of the FAO in fisheries shows that cod fishing in Iceland is well and responsibly managed. I’d like to congratulate the Icelandic fishing industry,” Marshall said, adding that Iceland could become a role model for other nations. Minister of Fisheries Jón Bjarnason said in his speech at the ceremony that the certification is important to the Icelandic fishing industry as it has now been confirmed that it meets the market’s demands on sustainability and renewability of natural resources.

Heathen buried in Iceland, 1,100 years post-mortem

Amanda Graham — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 21:52:43 GMT

(Iceland Review, 2 December 2010) -- A burial took place in Reykjanesbaer municipality in southwest Iceland yesterday. The news wouldn’t have had any special significance if not for the fact that the person buried, an ancient heathen, passed away 1,100 years ago and the ceremony took place inside the Viking World museum. The heathen in question is on loan from the National Museum of Iceland. The skeleton was unearthed from a pagan grave at the farm site Hafurbjarnarstadir in 1868 along with the bones of a dog and a horse, a sword and various other objects, Morgunbladid reports. The burial ceremony is part of an exhibition at Viking World, which will continue for the next two years. According to museum director Elisabeth Ward, research has shown that most Icelandic settlers were pagan and that paganism was practiced among the first generations of Icelanders. “We are reconstructing the pagan grave from Hafurbjarnarstadir,” Ward explained. “The skeletons are placed in a wooden boat, which is a replica of a Viking boat, and sand from Hafurbjarnarstadir has been put inside. Some people believe the man was buried inside a boat but it is not quite clear.” Ward said chieftains were often buried inside their boats and the size of the boat depended on the material wealth of the deceased. Such burial practices are also known among other pagan cultures. “Maybe it has to do with the person having a means of transport to another world.” Among objects on display at Viking World is the ship Íslendingur, which is a replica of the Gokstad ship, a Viking ship excavated in Norway. It was found inside a grave containing bones from a human, dog and horse. The timing of yesterday’s ceremony, December 1, was considered particularly suitable because that is when Ásatrúarfélagid, the pagan society in Iceland, holds a ceremony in honor of the four land wights of Iceland. The archeological discovery at Hafurbjarnarstadir is among the first in the country. A local farmer found bones in the sand in 1868. He called for a priest who contacted the National Museum, which had just been founded.

Killer whales spotted bird hunting in East Iceland

Amanda Graham — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 06:14:56 GMT

(Iceland Review, 1 December 2010) --Four killer whales swam into the fjord Berufjördur by Djúpivogur in southeast Iceland on Monday — a rare sight — where they attacked one flock of birds after the other, practically in the shallows. One of the whales chased an eider duck right up to the pier at Gledivík bay where it caught up with the unfortunate bird with a lot of splashing, Morgunbladid reports. Killer whales are known for cruel hunting techniques and sometimes it is difficult to determine whether they are hunting for food or playing with the prey. In 2008 whale watchers in Húsavík observed how a group of killer whales attacked and killed a minke. The most famous Icelandic killer whale is Keiko, the star of the Free Willy movies. It was released back into the wild but died in a Norwegian fjord in 2003. His relatives who went hunting in Berufjördur were a little wilder, Morgunbladid concludes. Click here to read about 20 killer whales that were spotted in Eyjafjördur fjord in north Iceland last summer.

Municipality in Iceland’s West Fjords wants reindeer

Amanda Graham — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 22:55:47 GMT

(Iceland Review News, 24 November 2010) -- The minority in the district council of the Vesturbyggd municipality in the southwestern West Fjords want to apply for a permit from the Environment Agency of Iceland to establish an up to 4,000-animal wild reindeer stock in the West Fjords. Currently, there are only reindeer in east Iceland. According to the proposal, reindeer are to be transported from the east and with time, form a large reindeer stock which could roam the area and serve as a source of income for the municipality, ruv.is reports. Proposals to that end have been rejected before due to fear of impact on farming in the region and possible diseases being transmitted to sheep. However, the minority in Vesturbyggd’s district council reasons there is no risk in relocating reindeer to the west as there are no examples of reindeer having infected sheep in east Iceland. Also, the number of sheep in the West Fjords has dropped significantly in the recent decades. The proposal is awaiting review.

Windmills considered viable option for Iceland

Amanda Graham — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 21:13:07 GMT

(Iceland Review News, 22 November 2010) -- Landsvirkjun, the national power company, has plans to harness wind power for electricity production in Iceland. A task force was recently appointed to evaluate which areas are suitable for wind power plants and the initial conclusions show that the lowland in south Iceland may be the best location for such operations. Úlfar Linnet, a specialist in energy scouting at Landsvirkjun and a member of the task force, told Fréttabladid that the final conclusions of the research can be expected in about one year. “We are conducting all the basic work which needs to be done before operations can begin,” Linnet said. “Extensive research is necessary and it is important that we are successful because we were at the absolute starting point when we started working on this.” Basic research strongly indicates that there is a stable enough wind in Iceland for harnessing its energy. The general rule is that windmills shut down at a wind power of 25 meters per second and Linnet said such scenarios are rare in Iceland. The lowland in south Iceland is being considered because the wind is steady there and squalls uncommon, Linnet explained. The lowest windmills used for power plants abroad are 70 meters high, around the same height as Hallgrímskirkja, the Reykjavík landmark church. The tallest windmills can reach 198 meters when the blade is in the top position.

Money gets less in Iceland

Amanda Graham — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 22:27:55 GMT

(Siku Circumpolar News, 7 November 2010) -- The purchasing power of the lowest-earning households in Iceland lost 6.6 per cent of their purchasing power after taxes between 2008 and 2009 while the highest-earning households lost 28.2 per cent of their purchasing power. The purchasing power of the lowest-earning households is now similar to what it was in 2006-2007, while the purchasing power among those who earn more hasn’t been as low in six years, Fréttabladid reports. “This shows that the government’s actions which were supposed to soften the impact of the crisis on the groups who earn the least have worked out. They were spared from the impact of tax increases,” says Stefán Ólafsson, a professor of social sciences and director of the University of Iceland Social Research Center, which covers the issue in its latest newsletter.

Iceland gears up for national gathering

Amanda Graham — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 18:30:16 GMT

(Iceland Review, 5 November 2010) -- The 1,000 invitees—members of the public who were chosen at random — are now gearing up for the National Gathering at Laugardalshöll in Reykjavík on Saturday, where changes to the country’s constitution will be discussed. “They asked me to come. If everyone would have said no, then what? Someone has to do the dirty work,” quipped Ingibjörn Tönsberg to Fréttabladid, yet admitting that the Constitution of Iceland is a subject she has always taken an interest in. At 89, she will be the oldest attendee of the National Gathering. Steinunn Hlíf Gudmundsdóttir, on the other hand, who turns 18 late this month—only a few days before the election to the Constitutional Assembly takes place—will be the gathering’s youngest attendee. “It will be a good experience,” she said. Tönsberg and Gudmundsdóttir said they haven’t formed any specific opinions on what can be improved in the constitution, yet Tönsberg stressed that independence is the most important issue. Even though there are 71 years between them, the two women agree on the basic values in society; the goal should simply be that everyone can lead a good life. According to a press release, an almost equal number of men and women will be in attendance and their representation is more or less consistent with the nation’s age and area of residence distribution. By coincidence, a few couples were invited and a new mother has also announced her attendance, although she must take a break every now and then to breastfeed her baby. The conclusions of the National Gathering will be reported the following day. Then they will be submitted to the upcoming Constitutional Assembly, which will convene in February to draft a new constitution for Iceland. The assembly’s members will be elected on November 27.

Glacial flood peaks, no sign of eruption

Amanda Graham — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 20:08:38 GMT

(Iceland Review, 3 November 2010) -- The water level in Gígja river has been rising. Early this morning, the level was at 4.8 meters and the flow was 1,650 cubic meters last night. This compares with 3.8 meters and 630 cubic meters yesterday morning. According to mbl.is, Gunnar Sigurdsson from the Icelandic Meteorological Office said last night that the river had risen to its maximum level at the bridge over the river. Yesterday he went to the source of the river up at the glacier and said that it looked much different than the previous day. Many lagoons and ponds had formed by the end of the glacier in a 24 hours time period. Sigurdsson said that some of the water from Grímsvötn volcano had flowed into the Súla River. However, the flow in Súla is very limited. No earthquake activity has been recorded in Grímsvötn in the last 24 hours.

High probability of eruption, scientist says

Amanda Graham — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 21:07:38 GMT

(Iceland Review, 1 November 2010) -- Geophysicist Páll Einarsson says that all measurements indicate that the flood in Grímsvötn will be similar to the one in 2004. As the flood develops, the probability of an eruption will be high. Einarsson says that there is no reason to fear the flood or the eruption, ruv.is reports. The flood was preceded by some earthquakes in Vatnajökull over past few days and scientists believe that water began flowing slowly from the crater on Thursday and has progressed since then. Einarsson says that the storm has rendered the equipment not as sensitive as it should have been when measuring the earthquakes. He says that this flood will not be among the biggest in history, but similar to the one in 2004. In 2004 the flood peaked after five days and Einarsson says it is highly probable that an eruption will start then, just as happened in 2004. The conditions in Grímsvötn are exactly the same. The eruption in 2004 was small and harmless. This time should be no different.

Second round of mackerel talks ends with no agreement

Amanda Graham — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 22:54:21 GMT

(IceNews, 30 October 2010) -- The second round of negotiations trying to solve the mackerel quota row have ended without agreement. Representatives from the EU, Norway, Iceland and the Faroe Islands have been attempting to broker a deal on quota limits for 2011. Iceland and the Faroes caused outrage earlier this year when each unilaterally set its own mackerel quotas in their own waters. According to the BBC, Scottish Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead said the positions of Iceland and the Faroes remained “far apart” from those of the EU and Norway. “We will continue to explore all possible avenues in order to ensure there is sustainable management of the mackerel fishery for next year and beyond,” he said. “Our intention now is to pursue further talks with Iceland and the Faroes as soon as possible.” It is not yet known when the third round of talks will take place, but it will likely be next month in London. The EU has been praised by Scottish fishermen for its tough stance in the negotiations.

Iceland and Canada sign defense agreement

Amanda Graham — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 22:00:12 GMT

(Iceland Review, 15 October 2010) -- Foreign Minister of Iceland Össur Skarphédinsson and Peter G. MacKay, Canadian Minister of National Defense, signed an agreement on defense cooperation today. It forms the basis for further cooperation in defense matters between the two countries. The agreement includes increased consultation, further exchange of information and collaboration on education and on-the-job training. It also assumes increased collaboration regarding training and visits, a press release explains. The agreement was signed alongside a summit in Brussels attended by the foreign affairs and defense ministers of NATO countries. Since 2006, Iceland has made agreements on defense cooperation with Norway, Denmark the UK and US. Click here to read more about the NATO summit.