Magazine april 2013 wwf

UNAAPRIL

2013

PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION Wind of Change, Elections Day The Iceland’s parliamentary election takes place on the 27th April. The processing application to the European Union but also the more and more obvious environmental matters are ones of the most debating issues. In the context of economic crisis and ecological concern, the role of volunteering has also been discussed with the candidates. This is an overview of these topics including the opinion of five of the running parties.

No posters and banners all over the city or flyers papering the streets, but the Icelandic elections take place on April 27. No less than 85% of the population is interested in voting.

For those, like us, who do not live in Iceland, it could be interesting to be briefly informed about the political situation. Iceland is quite an unusual country. The current Prime Minister, Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, is the first lesbian prime minister in Europe. And the Palestinian born Amal Tamimi is the first foreign-born woman who got elected to the Icelandic Parliament.

Unlike many other countries, Iceland does not limit the number of terms the president is allowed to serve.

Last year, the Icelanders chose Ólafur Ragnar for the fifth time. A presidential serving term lasts four years. Although he has limited power and the head of the government falls to the Prime Minister, President Ólafur Ragnar refused to sign laws three times.

Faith in politicians collapsed with the banks in 2008 and has not been restored yet. A poll in 2012 showed that 90 percent of respondents have little trust in Alþingi, the parliament. Founded

Introduction

in 930, it’s the world’s oldest existing parliamentary institution.

The Independence Party was the largest party for eight-decade until the 2009 election. The Social Democrats won the election and built the country’s first all-left coalition with the Left-Greens. However, the Independence Party and the Progressive Party could get more than 20 percents each according to the most recent poll. Only five parties would get into parliament since a minimum of 5% support is needed. They are: the Social Democratic Alliance, Bright Future, the Left-Green movement, the Progressive Party and the Independence Party. The Pirate Party could also be part of them.

The króna and Iceland’s recovery from its financial collapse in 2008 have been interesting hot issues for many media. Some old-school politicians believe in the króna, the positive value of devaluing it, and strict currency controls.

Some say that financial regulation would be stricter than in Eastern Europe under Communism. Others want to adopt the US dollar, as Ecuador and Panama did, or the super-strong Norwegian krone; others look towards Canada.

An interesting debate is the application to join the European Union and to adopt the euro. But more than half of the nation is not satisfied with that and it could cost the chair of the current government.

On one side, some political parties are promoting the industries so they can offer more work, but this could affect the environment and the natural resources. The other wing thinks the environment issue is the core of the agenda.

Five parties told us their opinion about these three topics: the application to the European Union, the concern for environment and the role of volunteering.

PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION Joining the European Union: Pro or Contra?

Should Iceland be part of the European Union? Is Iceland actually a European state? According to the recent polls, most of the Icelanders would be opposed to join the EU. And this issue could be decisive is the The Social Democratic Alliance is a centre-left party that in current parliamentary election. The current government, composed of both the Social Democratic Alliance and the Left Green Movement, is divided on this subject. The Social Democrats seem to be the only ones in favour of 1999 formed out of an alliance an adhesion to the EU. The new party Bright Future, partly composed by former Social Democrats, also shares this of four left-winged parties. The opinion. But all the other Icelandic parties disagree with it. party stands for economical

What has the situation been until now? After the former parliamentary election in 2009, the new governing coalition, the Social Democratic Alliance and the Left Green Movement, applied to be part of the EU. stability and sustainable growth This application was seen as a solution in the context of the financial crisis which hit Iceland. But today, the situation with equal opportunities for all. seems to be completely different. The unemployment in Iceland decreases to 4,70 percent in February 2013 (after It became the largest party in having reached the record rate of 9,30 percent in February 2010). The Icelandic economy is gradually becoming the Icelandic parlia-ment after stabilized, while the European Union is involved in deep economic difficulties. the 2009 Icelandic election.

So would joining the EU really serve the Icelanders’ interests? The Social Democrats point out the benefit The current Prime Minister of of taking part in a multinational system to collaborate with other nations on climate change issues as well as for economic cooperation. “Poverty, equality, immigration, environmental issue and other problems facing Iceland Iceland, Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, is the leader of the Social are not going to be solved by Iceland alone”, Robert Marshall, Member of Parliament, running for Bright Future says. According to these two parties, the EU also represents a new market and therefore means of being more Democratic Alliance. competitive. Both of them are also in favour of adopting the euro, arguing that it would reduce the inflation and the high interests currently resulting of the very fluctuating krona.

So, why not? Firstly “because of the unenviable current situation of the European Union”, Una Hildardóttir, running for the Green Left Movement, argues. Secondly, looking at the stabilisation of both the unemployment rate and the inflation, some people, like the Pirate candidate Helgi Hrafn Gunnarsson, consider the Iceland’s crisis as over. “Opening the market could besides be a threat for the agriculture and the fishery, where much opposition comes from”, according to the candidate of the Independence Party Arnar Thorisson.

Finally, the pro-EU Bright Future as well as the Pirates and the Left Green Movement, want to finish the making of application and then let the Icelandic people vote. Only the Independence Party stands for getting out of the application, reminding that Iceland is a fully independent country since 1944. Anyway, even if joining the EU and adopting the euro is one of the main decisive topics of this current election, it will probably last a long time until the end of the negotiations. That could be the matter of the next parliamentary Skúli Helgason election again.

European Union

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PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION Sustainable Economic Growth ?

The environment is one of the main topics for the most politician parties.

The Social Democrats are very proud of what they have achieved till now but they think they can do more. “We are against the big or aluminum factories and we believe in creating a new industry and green economy”, says Skúli Helgason, candidate of SDA. The green economy is about taking care of the environment and thinking about how it is affected in every economic decision.

The Left Green Movement thinks the same. “There is a low unemployment rate”, 21-yearold candidate Una Hildardòttir says. ”There is no crisis here like in the rest of Europe, we don’t need the big factories. They give the same incoming like the creative industry does”.

Robert Marshall, the Bright Future’s candidate thinks the same: “Icelandic Economy is based in three foundations: tourism, fishing and aluminum plants. If we increase competition, we increase stability, so we get more foundations and this means more jobs”. His focus is on research, software industry, design, television, music, industry that doesn’t need the use of natural resources. ”Having aluminum plants means sacrificing the nature even if it produces green energy. Iceland has to decide itself”.

“We don’t need aluminuim plants”. Helgi Hrafn Gunnarsson, Pirate Party’s candidate says. “ The big industry is using the most part of the natural resources, it is threating the environment.

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Environment

I am for small and middle sized industry”.

The Independence Party has another opinion. According to candidate Arnar Thorisson the environmental issue is more about emotion.

“We are exporters of energy and with the power factories we can have plenty of it. Natural power is used to produce green energy, there is no pollution.

The debate is rather whether we have to cut down this waterfall or that river, but I don’t think the development of industry could affect nature. We just need to have standards for the pollution.”

But industry is not the only income.

Tourism is increasing very fast for a small and delicate place like Iceland. Many proposals are in process on how to face it. Helgi Hrafn Gunnarsson, Pirate Party’s candidate says: “I am for increasing tourism, but I am a politician, I can give the information and the tourism organisations can find out how to face it. Also the Independence party doesn’t have a program about how to face it. Arnar Thorisson thinks private companies could take care of it. “We want to keep things in the hands of private companies and the state to take part as little as possible.”

Left-Green’s candidate Una Hildardòttir doesn’t agree with this. She thinks it is better if the state can handle the most part of the Icelandic economy. The Left Green Movement and the SDA are working on how to face it. “Tourism is growing and we have to think about it. One of the possibilities is to implement a natural pass – tourist pay entrance fees for natural parks - and then use

the money for maintaining and renovating the biggest attractions. Another possibility is to introduce taxes on roads, cars and gas, but this is still in a thinking process.” these two parties say.

Finally, the pro-EU Bright Future as well as the Pirates and the Left Green Movement, want to finish the making of application and then let the Icelandic people vote. Only the Independence Party stands for getting out of the application, reminding that Iceland is a fully independent country since 1944. Anyway, even if joining the EU and adopting the euro is one of the main decisive topics of this current election, it will probably last a long time until the end of the negotiations. That could be the matter of the next parliamentary election again.

Robert Marshall has a detailed list of things that can be done to face tourism.

“There is a delicate balance between tourism and nature. The government wants to raise a tax for tourism services but we rather suggest to adopt the natural pass. It could be a way for controlling and distributing tourism. We have to distribute tourism in all areas and all year round. We can do this with better transport. We already have several airports that can efficiently support tourism. We need also educated guides to create awareness of the Icelandic nature, so we can protect it.”

Independence Party Formed in 1929, the Independence Party is a centre-right political party in Iceland, liberal, conservative and Eurosceptic. It is the second-largest party in Alþingi. The party has generally been economically liberal and it advocates limited government intervention in the economy. It has a broad base of support, but is most strongly supported by Iceland’s large fishing community, businesses and those on high incomes and with university education.

A rnar Thorisson

PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION Why don’t support the volunteers?

As volunteers for Worldwide Friends it was interesting for us to ask the candidates about the role of volunteering in Iceland. Why Iceland in the only one country in Europe where volunteers have to pay for coming in? Why do the Icelandic government not financially support the volunteering organisations like other European governments do? And why the British organisation TCV (formerly BTCV) is the only one which is authorized to work in the National Park of Vahtnajokull, although international volunteers could be able to work there for free?

So many questions that none of the candidates could answer to. “I really didn’t know about that”, they all said. “It’s unbelievable”, most of them admitted. “It has to be changed”, the Left Green Movement Candidate, Una Hildardóttir, affirmed. “I will mention it to our candidates”, Kristin Erna, from the Social Democratic Alliance, promised. And the Pirate candidate Helgi Hrafn Gunnarsson told us he will search for informations about that. It seems like the Icelanders are not very familiar with volunteering. “It has to be changed!”

Pirates Party According to the Pirates Party people are tired of politics and want to change the political system. That’s why the Pirates stand for more transparency in politics, free expression and direct democracy by using the internet. The party was founded on November 24 2012 by several prominent internet activists.

Bright Future Bright Future describes itself as liberal, central, very green and pro-European.

The party was founded on 4 February 2012. It asserts its different approach to potitics from the other parties, considering that politics should not be a fight. They promote the participation of each citizen on their website since they see themselves as a temporary service to interpret what people think. The party supports Iceland joining the European Union and the euro.

Robert M arshall

Una Hildardóttir

Left-Green Movement The Left-Green Movement is a left-wing political party,.founded in 1999. The Left-Green Movement focuses on democratic socialist values, feminism, and environmentalism as well as increased democracy and direct involvement of the people in the administration of the country. The party rejects membership of the European Union.

r write

Why don’t support the volunteers?

Helgi Hrafn Gunnarsson

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It is said that every Icelander writes at least one book in his or her life. That’s why Iceland has a very rich literary tradition and there have always been great writers among the Icelandic people.

Icelandic writings can be divided into 4 groups: poetry (eddic and scaldic poetry), scholarly writings (most important are the works of Snorri Sturluson), laws (Grágás) and sagas (among them, the Íslendingasögur).

Sagas are stories about Scandinavian and Germanic history, mythology and early Viking battles. There are around 8 different kinds of sagas in the Icelandic literary traditions, of which the Íslendingasögur make up the largest part (40 sagas). The Íslendingasögur tell the tales of early Norse and Celtic settlers in Iceland. They form the foundation of Icelandic literary tradition. The national sagas, like the Landnámabok, focus on early settlement and history of Iceland. The sagas of the kings are similar to the Íslendingasögur, but they tell mainly of Norwegian kings. The sagas of the saints are mainly the translations of biographies of foreign saints.

The Icelandic sagas are usually realistic in nature and they focus on topics like courage, jealousy, revenge, crime, love and quarrels. The events in the sagas take place in the 10th-11th century, but were written down 12-14th century. That means that there can be more than 5 generations between the actual events and the time when the stories were written down. So, even though the sagas are fairly realistic, noone can really tell who wrote them, when they were written and even if the events took place at all. But in the olden days it was thought that the sagas represent valid history and even today many Icelanders trace their ancestry back to some of the great heroes of the Saga age.

Maybe the sagas did not have single authors and each storyteller adding something to the plot. But this seems written and seamless. It is most probable that the authors of compiled the sagas using genealogies, poems, oral traditions

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evolved over time when they were passed down generations orally, with unlikely for the most prominent sagas, because the stories are so well the sagas were skilled writers who had many different sources and who and other materials.

Saga.

history

Map of Reykjavík & Sagas

The sagas live on in many parts of the modern Icelandic life. For example, the street names in the centre of the city are taken from the sagas.

Also other streets around the city centre have stories behind the names. Flókagata is named Flóki Vilgerðarson, the first Norseman who thought about settling in Iceland around 870 AD. Ingólfsgarður and Ingólfsstræti bear the name of Ingólfur Arnarson, the founder of Reykjavík. He and his wife were the first to settle in Reykjavík area, naming the city after the smoke that rose from the many hotsprings surrounding the city. The streets near the harbour have names connected to the sea, like Fiskislóð, Hólmaslóð, Eyjaslóð and Ægisgarður. Ægir is the Norse god of the sea, and the word means ocean in Old Norse. But the most interesting stories lay behind the streets around the Hallgrímskirkja.

When one looks closely at the map, one can see that the streets are also positioned in a way that shows the relationships of the characters with one another.

Saga.

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history

Egilsgata Bald and ferocious, sensitive and brutal, Egill Skallagrímsson, son of a blacksmith, is a man of many surprises and opposing polarities. But like many Norse Gods and heroes, nothing is just black and white. An icelandic scholar Jónas Kristjánsson has said that in the sagas noone is so bright as to be without shadows and also the dark have their lighter tones. Egill Skallagrímsson is the most famous of the warrior poets unrivalled among all the great men of the Icelandic sagas.

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Kjartansgata Laxdæla saga tells us of a love triangle between Guðrún Ósvífrsdóttir, Kjartan Ólafsson and Bolli Þorleiksson. Both men love Guðrún, and their love brings about their deaths in the end. Kjartan and Guðrún are like the Romeo and Juliet of the sagas. Their love for one another

Grettisgata Grettissaga tells the story of a famous outlaw who spent 19 long winters in the most desolate and isolated places in Iceland.

He was strong and courageous, but also had a kind side to him.

Hrefnugata Kjartan married Hrefna Ásgeirsdottir when returning from Norway he discovered that Guðrún was married to Bolli. She loved Kjartan very much and died of a broken heart right after Kjartan’s death.

Saga.

brings about death and sorrow and it is just not meant to be.

According to the saga, Kjartan Óláfsson was the most handsome man ever born in Iceland. His silky hair fell down to his shoulders in curls.

Bolli , foster-brother of Kjartan was such a dandy, that he only wore the finest clothes and his weapons were all adorned with gold. .

Njalsgata Njall is the most famous lawyer of the saga age.

He knew the law by heart and was really good with words, so that he was always asked for advice or to be a middleman in disputes. He is also famous for not being able to grow a beard and be bald at a young age. He was married to Bergþora Skarphéðinsdóttir and had a son named Skarphéðinn. We learn about Njáll in Brennu-Njáls saga or “The Story of Burnt Njal”.

The saga got its name from the fact that Njáll was burned alive in his home, as a result of neverending waves of vengeance and feud.

Gunnarsbraut Gunnar Hámundarson or Gunnar of Hlíðarendi was a 10th century chieftain who is always described in the most positive terms. He is the star of the first part of Njálls saga. He is said to have no rivals in archery, fighting and in beauty.

He is said to be handsome and have beautiful skin, a straight nose turned up at its tip. He is blue-eyed with thick lustrous blond hair.

Guðrúnsgata Laxdæla saga focuses on women like no other saga. Another important female figure in that saga is Guðrún Ósvífrsdóttir. She was the most beautiful, most intelligent and generous of the women in all the sagas. She was also very feminine in her jealousy and love of beautiful things. After Kjartan’s death she regretted many of the things she had done in her life, saying “I was the worst to those I loved the most”.

Eíriksgata Eirík the Red founded the first settlement in Greenland.

Leifsgata Leifur Eiríksson is the son of Eirík the Red, first to reach North America.

Saga.

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history The gods

Most of the information about the Norse Gods can be found in Snorri’s Poetic and Prose Edda.

Oðinsgata Lokastígur Oðinn is the chief god of the Loki is a god of mischief and destruction. He Æsir in the Norse Mythology.

He was not so popular in Iceland is the father of three magnificient beasts Hel, like in Norway, the Icelanders Fenrir & Midgarðsormur. Loki is a kind of a worshipped þorr and Freyr more. trickster and a shapeshifter who creates chaos Oðinn is the god of wisdom, magic, among the gods. poetry, runes and much more. He sacrificed one eye to drink from Mímir’s well and acquired great knowledge. He has two Ravens who bring him news from all over the world.

þórsgata Þór, together with Freyr are the two most popular gods in Iceland. Þór, son of Oðinn, is the god of thunder and battle. He also protects gods and humans from the giants with his hammer Mjöllnir.

Baldursgata The word ‘baldr’ means strong or courageous in Old Norse.

He is the the God of beauty, purity, innocence and joy. He is the son of Oðinn and was killed by his half-brother Höðr through Loki’s mischief.

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Freyjugata Freya, the sister of Freyr, is a Vanir goddess of love. Vanir are gods associated with love, fertility, wisdom and the ability to see the future. They practised magic that was thought to be dishonourable by the Æsir gods. Freya always got what she wanted and often used sex and her female charms to get it.

pher photogra & writer

References : Wikipedia - National Museum of Iceland - Saga Museum at Perlan - Sagas and Eddas by Jónas Kristjánsson - Saga database online

history The Nordic mythology

Was spread by Teutonic and Norsemen people.

Teutonic People were established in Scandinavia, Baltic Sea, and North of Germany around the 3 and 4th century before Christian era. Even if their territory was split, and politically separated, fought with each other several times, they spoke the same languages. They curiously had community in their culture, and share the same religion. Because of their Indo European ancestors, their beliefs were influenced.

Thereby the Nordic mythology is the reflection of those multicultural beliefs and lives of Teutonic people, as the Viking. As the Roman or the Greek mythology, Nordic mythology was the foundation of the polytheist and pagan religion in Scandinavia’s countries and in Iceland as well.

During the settlement of Iceland the Viking bring their culture, their habits and their religion which was more or less preserved despite the Christianization waves.

Until the 10th century this mythology was transmitted by word of mouth. After that, people want to preserve it and start to write those poems in Old Norse language.

But we have to wait until the 13th century, to have a compilation of all those poems. The Poetic Edda, the first book which set down “these pre-Christian Nordic myths” in vernacular language. Ásatrú community is based on this book.

Edda Prose was written by the Christian Snori Sturluson, in the same period. He took inspiration about Edda Poems, Nordic saga (the most famousVölsunga Saga) and Skaldic Poems.

The mythology There are two different families: The Æsir and the Vanir.

The Æsir is composed by different gods: the most famous are Ođin, Þor, Tyr, Balđur the are gods of war and power.

The Vanir is composed for the most famous Freyja, Freyr, Njörđr. They are the god of nature, fertility and prosperity.

Sources: -The encyclopaedia of myths &legends of all nations, Herbert Spencer Robinson &Knox Wilson, Barbara Leonie Picard.

-New Larousse encyclopaedic mythology, introduction by Robert Graves

ÁSATRU

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history … something more about THE ÁSATRÚAR FÉLAGIÐ COMMUNITY

Ásatrú is a neologism, formed by the Norse words Ása and trú, which means “faith in Æsir” (the group of gods in which they believe). The members call themselves asatruar.

The association was established in 1972, eleven people reunited for the first day of summer in 1972, and asked to be recognized. It shows the Nordic paganism from a modern point of view. At the beginning Asatruar religion was centralized with the Icelandic foundation by Sveinbjörn Beintesson.

Throughout the years Ásatrú was gradually recognized together with others associations in other countries like Norway in 1994, Denmark in 2003 and Sweden in 2007, in Us even if the movement is present since the ‘70s there is no recognition yet.

The asatrua ethic is based on Nine Nobles Virtues, a series of moral precepts taken out from the Edda ( a mythological Icelandic poem) on which the Asatruar should build his life. These virtues are: Courage, Truth, Honor, Fidelity, Discipline, Hospitality, Industriousness, Self-Reliance, Perseverance.

Communities of Asatru are called Kindreds, Hearths, or Garths. Priests are called Gothi; priestesses Gythia.

The most important Asatru ritual is blot (=sacrifice). Once they used to sacrifice horses, but now in place of them they offer to the goods mead, beer or cider. The liquid is consecrated to a god or goddess, then the worshippers drink a portion of it and pour the rest as a libation. In Iceland one fo the blot is held on the 25th of June, Summerblot, the first day of summer.

Their most important holidays are −Summer Finding (spring equinox, March 21) dedicated to Ostara −Winter Finding (fall equinox, September 21) −Midsummer (summer solstice, June 21) −Yule - the most important holiday; starts on the winter solstice (December 21) and lasts for 12 day

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ÁSATRU

history

The Hallgrím Church watches over Reykjavik

Who visits Reykjavik, can’t ignore Hallgrímskirkja. The landmark, watching over the city from Reykjavik’s largest hill, is already notable from a far distance.

I was curious at whether the church still has a meaning in today’s society, or would just be fun for tower climbing tourists. I headed to Hallgrímskirkja to see Hörður Áskelsson at a delicious mushroom soup lunch. As a musician he is connected with the church.

In the 1920’s the architect Guðjón Samúelsson foresaw that a cathedral-like church was needed in a newly to be designed art metropolis. After gaining independence from Denmark, Reykjavik became the capital of a new, young nation. ‘For sure a capital is nothing without a cathedral’, must have been his thought. The second world war had left behind some military debris at the church site. Before the war Reykjavik wasn’t any bigger than what’s currently known as the city centre, so Iceland’s largest church was built at the edge of the city. Since the 1950’s urban expansions the church became situated in the middle of the city. The idea was to adorn the entrance with a beautiful gate to an art metropolis; the people would promenade along all kinds of museums and galleries. Finally only the church appeared. ‘After my music studies in 1982 in Germany I got employed by the church although it wasn’t even finished yet’, said Hörður. Constructing had lasted 40 years, from 1945 till 1986.

According to Hörður church and society were obviously linked in the past. That’s different nowadays. At that time the politics were sympathetic towards a new church building getting established. Today the institutional church has lost its status. Several parties want to separate church and state. Some politicians think that the state pays too much to the church. Until the 1970’s there even used to be a Ministry of Religious Affairs.

Afterwards the church obtained independence and the emphasis shifted from state church to people’s church.

The institutional church holds aloof from politics. But if it’s necessary to let the church’s voice hear, so will be done. Some politicians take the ecclesiastical appeal as just an opinion. The church could rather be focussed on the people’s wellbeing. The church is there for everyone, regardless whether they are paying or confessing members. To serve the people in case of problems or needs, supporting the poor. But the church needs income, too. Hörður said: ‘As a musician I am of course very happy that Hallgrímskirkja develops cultural activities as well. I am involved with many concerts and musical events. And the church is there also for the many tourists who want to enjoy the beautiful scenery from the tower.’

HALLGRÍMSKIRKJA

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history

The Hallgrím Church watches over Reykjavik

Hallgrímur Pétursson (1614– October 27, 1674) was one of Iceland’s most famous poets and a minister at Hvalneskirkja and Saurbær in Hvalfjörður. The Hallgrímskirkja in Reykjavík and the Hallgrímskirkja in Saurbær are named after him. He was one of the most influential pastors during the Age of Orthodoxy (1580–1713).

Hörður Áskelsson (born 19 July 1953 in Akureyri) is an Icelandic organist and choirmaster. He studied music in Akureyri and Reykjavík.

From 1976 to 1981 he studied at the Robert-Schumann-Hochschule in Dusseldorf. Before he returned to Iceland, he served as an organist at the Neander Church in Dusseldorf for a year. Since 1982 he has been organist and choirmaster of Hallgrímskirkja. In 1987 he founded a festival of spiritual music. In 1993, he founded the chamber choir Schola Cantorum Reykjavicensis. With his choirs he won prizes in Cork, Noyon and Gorizia..Áskelsson teaches organ and choral conducting at the National School of Church Music of Iceland. He also teaches as a lecturer at the Faculty of Theology of the University of Iceland. He was awarded the Icelandic Music Award in 2002. In 2004 he received the Knight’s Cross of the Icelandic Falcon Order. (From Wikipedia)

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pher photogra & writer

HALLGRÍMSKIRKJA

iceland LIFE

As I was really curious about the alcohol policy in Iceland and other countries, I decided to find out what happens during the night in Reykjavik.

Firstly, you would think it’s similar, but when you look closer and ask Icelanders about the alcohol system, you could hear another story. youth is very clever with making fake identity cards, or Why, for example, is there such a strict alcohol policy? The just asking older friends to buy for them. She told me usual supermarkets do not sell alcohol. There are special also that many tourists have the same question, why shops where people can buy alcohol for extremely high there are special alcohol shops in this country. Nobody prices. And still an alcohol problem seems to occur by really understands. young people, so I wonder if this system works.

Even for older people, the price of a bottle of

For me it was surprising to see very young wine is so high that you really have to think twice before people in clubs. It’s quite hypocrite that they are allowed buying it. According to the bartender the alcohol prices in clubs without being allowed to drink. It could be easy are high due to the crisis in 2008. to ask someone older than 21 to get it for you, I guess.

For instance, one glass of wine costs around 7 euro, and

So, with all these questions in my head ,I trieto a beer approx.. 6 euros. find some answers in clubs. Reykjavik is full of nice clubs In many other European countries, it’s half of this price. and bars, so it won’t be difficult to get some answers.

In the alcohol shops the cheapest wine costs approx. 7

The first thing I did was going to a bar in euros, which is not very cheap for some liquid that does the centre of Reykjavik, to ask the bartender what her not even taste like wine! experience was about alcohol consumption in Iceland.

She told me that one of the reasons for having special alcohol shops in Reykjavik is to make it more difficult for young people to buy alcohol. But at the same time, she told me that this system does not work, because the So, either be very rich or just don’t like alcohol at all when you are thinking of coming to Iceland!

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ALCOHOL

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iceland LIFE

Hi, I´m Daeun from South Korea. Since I came here, I was curious at the nightlife in Iceland. I heard it has the most vibrant and hottest parties above any other countries. As a party lover, I decided to go through the nightlife myself, and compare it with my countries. But before that, I wanted to hear how Icelanders think of it.

This is what they say:

Those with the age of 17-22 enjoy the party till 6 in the South Korea faktory - Reykjavik morning. It´s cool!’

Firstly, the Icelandic clubs start very early. But if you want to enjoy the festival mood, ‘It´s good. a lot of people enjoy the night with dancing and drinking´´ you have to go there over midnight. Korean clubs start at 8 or 9 in the evening, and B´ ut sometimes people get drunken too much and they fight´´ real parties start after 10 or 11 in the night.

The space of stage in Icelandic clubs is kind of small. So when the stage is crowded with people, you will feel very close to each other when you dance on the floor. Korean stages are larger. Also here in Iceland, people dance their own styles by the music DJ’s play. They just seem to enjoy the music and don´t care how they look.

But Koreans tend to put importance to dancing. So there always exist t´ rend dance´.

There are also things in common. It´s that Friday is the hottest nightlife day of the weekend. There are much more people who enjoy the Friday.Partiers like the Fridays, Reykjavik faktory - Reykjavik Now I´m on the live stage of F´ aktory’, which is the hottest because they can burn up their nightlife till Saturday and Sunday. club in Reykjavik.I can see many people dancing passionately on the Both Koreans and Icelanders have passion for their nightlives. It seemstheydon’t just bottom of laser light. There are also people sitting on chairs, drinking want to waste their youth for fun,but they refresh their energy of youth by burning alcoholics or just having chats.DJ’s are playing house music, which is not up the whole night.

I hope that the enthusiasm for nightlife both in Iceland and Korea will go on! very interesting, though.The party keeps going on and on over 3 at night, but the party animals don´t look tired at all. All of them literally enjoyed the party till the sun comes up.

Having gone through the hot nightlife myself, I could find some similarities and differences between Icelandic and Korean nightlives.

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Night Life.

apher photogr & writer

iceland LIFE FOOD FLAVOROUS VOYAGE TO THE PAST AND THE FUTURE A delicious gastronomic journey to the past and the future of Icelandic cuisine … It’s highly recommended to hungry people not to read this reportage…

Discovering features of Icelandic cuisine, I met Fridrik V. Karlsson, the chief of very cosy family restaurant in Reykjavik’s downtown.

The first day: trip to the past Fridrik explained me the main aspects of this topic: “Here in Iceland we are not as aware of our gastronomic history as many other countries. We lost some of our old traditions. Let us say Italians have taken their gastronomy through the time preparing meals which are suitable nowadays. You probably heard about fermented shark and you think this is Icelandic food.

Of course it is part of our ancient food history. Presently we eat it just once a year during the festival of rotten food.”

To find out more about the Thorrablot festival I visited iceland. is, the official gateway to Iceland. It “was a sacrificial midwinter festival offered to the gods in pagan Iceland of the past. It was abolished during the Christianisation of Iceland, but resurrected in the 19th century as a midwinter celebration that continues to be to this day. The timing for the festival coincides with the month of Thorri, according to the old Icelandic calendar, which begins on the first Friday after January 19th (the 13th week of winter).”

During this time you can try ancient local meals. Iceland.is also observes regular Thorrabot menu which “consists of unusual culinary delicacies, known as traditional Icelandic food. These include rotten shark’s meat (hákarl), boiled sheep’s head, (svið) and congealed sheep’s blood wrapped in a ram’s stomach (blóðmör).”

In the middle of the winter Icelanders start to eat food stored in previous seasons.

In the past people didn’t have coolers, so the ways to store the products were salt, smoke or sour them. Fridrik V stands by some of those traditions. The chief of Fridrik V notes: “We prepare our own bread and hold on to the seasonable menu.

For example: now is a high time for fish such as plaice and cod, but in the meantime we continue using stored stuff like dried mushrooms and frozen berries.”

FOOD

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iceland LIFE invited me to try special dishes at lunch time.

The Icelandic cuisine consists of a wide variety of traditional food items such as fish, lamb, dairy products. Lifestyle.iloveindia.com writes that “some of the most popular dishes of traditional Icelandic cuisine are: bread soup (made by using rye bread), fish pate (ground fish in a shrimp sauce with heavy cream) lamb pate, meat soup with lamb, Icelandic shrimps, lamb fricassee with vegetables, lightly smoked puffins.

To satisfy the sweet tooth, Icelanders eat rice pudding with raisins and kleina (traditional pastry). Cinnamon roll, herring with lemon sauce and potato ring are also popular in Iceland.”

But how could I write an article about the Icelandic food if I never tried it? The problem was solved very fast: the chief of Fridrik V restaurant

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The second day: trip to the future

At midday I arrived at the restaurant in anticipation of something extraordinary. A traditional cod dish was served with dense dark rye bread which was baked long time in the oven and has its special sweet taste. As a dessert I got home made skyr topped with blackberries. I wondered by the delicate flavour of Fridrik’s skyr: you never will find a similar one in an ordinary supermarket.

Skyramisu, skyracotta and other mysteries…

During this appetising lunch we discussed about current and future trends of worldwide food industry. It was difficult to avoid “fighting” between Italian and French cuisines. Over a cup of coffee with Fridrik the debate was resolved. According to him every chief has to start his career with French cuisine. That’s the basis, like a first book for people who want to learn to read.

FOOD

iceland LIFE

Many recipes currently prepared in the country have been adapted from other cuisines, such as Danish, French, Italian and American as well. “Today our habits have changed. In the present time we use more vegetables and much less soups. The same tendency can be observed as well in Russia and Germany. Nowadays Iceland is trying to adapt international meals to its features. For instance, in “Fridrik V” restaurant it’s possible to try skyramisu, skyr-brule, skyracotta, caprese islandese and other “reincarnate” creatures.” – says the chief of the restaurant. - “To sum up our country is ready to experience something new. That’s probably why we are so open to fast food”.

Master class by Fridrik V. Karlsson

Trying a traditional meal without sharing its recipe with our readers is simply not fair . Cod is the most popular fish in Iceland, so here is a precise description for a yummy dinner.

Traditional Icelandic Fish Stew (for 5 til 6 persons) 1200 gr cod; 800 gr potatoes; 400 gr onion 150 gr butter; 80 gr flour 10 - 15 gr freshly ground black pepper; Salt 4 dl whole milk; 1 - 2 dl fish broth; 1 - 2 teaspoon chicken boullion powder

Put the cod in cold water and simmer for approximately 3 to 4 minutes. Let it cool for about 5 minutes. Boil the potatoes, cool down and peel (it is important that you boil the potatoes with the skin). Cut the potatoes down to bite-sized pieces. Chop the onion finely and fry in the butter, season it with the pepper and then incorporate the flour into it. This will create a thick paste, then add the milk slowly and the fish stock, along with the chicken boullion. The texture should be somewhat thick. Add the fish and the potatoes and bring to boil, season with salt and black pepper to taste and serve with rye bread. Garnish with slices of radish, dill and spring onion.

Enjoy your meal !

r write

FOOD

apher photogr

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Phototgraphy exhibition “A Playful Life”

A nostalgic look at old photos from Drafnarborgar kindergarten.

Children’s Concert Concert with the LúðrasveitarVerkalýðsins Brass Band and the school bands of Árbæjar og Breiðholt

photographer

Eldborg, Harpa Concert Hall

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Children´s Culture Festival

apher photogr

nature excursions

STONES & BEACH When these small stones were in clear pools and nets of weed tide-tumbled teased by spray they glowed moonsilver, glinted sunsparks on their speckled skins.

Spilled on the shelf they were wet-sand jewels wave-green still flecked with foam.

Now gray stones lie dry and dim.

Why did we bring them home?

by Lillian Moore

STONES & BEACH

pher photogra & writer

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nature excursions

The First Horses Were Made of Sea Foam The first horses were made of sea foam.

They rode their waves to the beaches Then broke loose and dashed for the shore.

Wild horses, raging with pride– Look how much of the untamed sea Is within them still.

By David Day

pher photogra & writer

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HORSES

nature excursions

Thin Ice Step out onto white not as a body bearing any weight but as a feather might think of ink in a quill drawing a cantata out of light.

by Claire Beynon

pher photogra & writer

ICE

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nature excursions

Waterfall Whooshing, pushing, gushing over rocks Attacking every thing in sight Thrashing, bashing, crushing rocks and things like that Error, terror, hear the power Recking, decking, pecking in and out of rocks Faster, crashier, bashier all around the place Arting, darting, carting all the rocks around Looking, cooking, booking in and out like a meander Lushing, sushing, mushing every-where

By Molly

pher photogra

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WATERFALL

voluntary Creating international friendship

Being interested in the foundation, life and future plans of Worldwide Friends I’ve met Thorarinn Ivarsson, the director of the non-profit environmental organization.

Why did you found Worldwide Friends?

In the past I have been working in many organisations such as “Greenpeace” and “International Cultural Youth Exchange”. During a meeting in Finland one of the directors of the hosting organisation asked me why I don’t develop short term volunteering in Iceland. I didn’t have an answer, because those kinds of programs didn’t exist in our country.

When I came back home I phoned the ICYE and offered them to host work camps. They were not really interested in the proposal, that’s why afterwards I and my partners decided to create a new organisation focusing on short time volunteering.

Our main aim was to bring people from different origins together and create a multicultural friendship. This is also the reason why the name of the organisation is Worldwide Friends.

Is it difficult to establish and lead environment associations in Iceland?

In a way it’s easy to create non-governmental organisation and find the projects since we are living in a rural country. So, there is a lot of environmental work to be done. On the other hand it’s fairly difficult to get finances to run activities. The most complicated task for us is to find support.

Does the government support NGOs? Yes, they support some NGOs, but most of them are old and exist more then 50 years. Worldwide Friends had been established since 2001, the government doesn’t fund us.

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voluntary What kind of background needs the leader of a Non-Government Organisation?

The educational aspects are not so important. Everyone can establish an NGO and the registration usually takes not more than two days.

Why did you decide to create “UNA” Magazine for WF? I think it’s a good way to register the history of organisation and to keep track on what we’re doing. Also we are sending our online magazine all over Iceland and to international partners what is a good promotion for the organisation.

Had you ever been a volunteer?

I have been volunteering for a long time for different associations in Iceland and abroad. For instance: Amnesty International (human rights projects), International Red Cross, Green Peace and others.

I daresay that everyone has to contribute in social important activities without being paid at least once in life. That’s why I’m trying to involve my children to this work as well.

How do you see the future of Worldwide Friends?

I believe the number of volunteers will not change and we will have more environmental activities in protected areas. Projects in rural areas are extremely important for Iceland. We are also planning to organise more work camps in poor countries, for example at the moment we have a project in Columbia.

I sincerely hope that Worldwide Friends will achieve its support from the state in near future.

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r

write

pher photogra

Voluntary

goals and receive adequate

voluntary

Volunteering is generally considered as an altruistic activity to improve the quality of human life. The first volunteering associations were founded early twentieth century, but they didn’t have the possibility to establish themselves because of the big crisis during the 1930’s. After the second world war volunteering became more relevant, concrete and widespread, also due to the establishing of international organisations, such as Greenpeace, WWF, Red Cross, Unicef etc. They propose international projects in different fields.

Nowadays volunteering has a common meaning for many Europeans, due to an ever-growing number of projects financed by governments as well as international organisations. In this broad set of projects, we can recognise two big fields: longterm volunteering and short-term volunteering.

Regarding long-term volunteering in Europe, the most known program is surely the European Voluntary Service (EVS). The program “Youth in Action” is inserted in EVS. This program for young people aims active European citizenship, solidarity and tolerance among young

Europeans and involving them with shaping the Union’s future. It promotes mobility within and beyond the EU’s borders, informal learning and intercultural dialogue. All European citizens can participate with EVS, particularly those aged 18 to 30. It allows them to live abroad until a period of 12 months. The project covers a part of the expenses that usually depend on the volunteer (food, accommodation, flight tickets and a little pocket money). EVS also gives the possibility of exchange between different cultures, because participants come from many different countries.

Regarding short-term volunteering, there are projects available all over the world.

Usually the expenses are covered by the volunteer.

Many work-camps cover several aspects (environmental, social, cultural, education). For instance: Worldwide Friends Iceland organises projects all year round, with many participants coming from all parts of the world.

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voluntary in a society

and to be part

of

to be integrated countries, y to discover wa good me it’s a because for S volunteer EV ).

21 an , , France “I chose being way.” (Julia . in a useful ” (Aicha, France, 21) something y and help people communit a of part an association, be with a country, with “I like to be involved it at the same time. For me being a me to discover this amazing country better, helping “I already knew Iceland and this opportunity helps y growth”. (Eneida, Italy, 30). obviousl and cultures other , learning something about volunteer means sharing experiences, contributing “For me being an EVS volunteer is a great opportunity because it means exchange. Because you can meet a lot of people and know the cultures of each other; you learn from each other. It gives the opportunity to have a personal growing process, sharing life experiences.

This is a great life experience” (Ellen, 25, The Netherlands).

“Volunteering is for me a great opportunit y to do many important things, such as helping people, travelling, taking care about and developing myself. It’s a perfect opportunit nature y to meet new friends and to learn a lot from them and to contribute our skills also important that I can check myself . It’s in several situations, how I can co-operate with others, how to find compromises myself among different cultures” (Maria and how I see , 23, Poland).

“Volunteering doesn ’t mean saving the world . It means giving total love for free. For this unconditional reason being a volunteer means also making something and useful, such as rec ycling, not wasting good water, not wasting nobody wastes his time food. I think that with volunteering. All parts involved in volunteering can gain something from this kind of acti projects vities. Of course it’s a everyone should try.” life experience that (Claudio Scordato,26, her Italy). otograp r write

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