The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #122317   Message #2681633
Posted By: Emma B
16-Jul-09 - 02:39 PM
Thread Name: its a sad day for Iceland .
Subject: RE: its a sad day for Iceland .
There is an interesting (English language) Icelandic blog from a freelance writer and translator translator living in Reykjavík.

Her site is called The Iceland Weather Report and has some interesting insider perspectives as well as some stunning photos AND actual weather reports :)

Here is her A brief treatise on Iceland's quota allocations looking at the current state of Icelandic fishing

"Last year, the UN's Commission on Human Rights ruled that Iceland's quota allocation system is unlawful because it is discriminatory. Yet the Independence Party, which if you've just joined us ruled this country for 18 years prior to the collapse of Iceland's government in January, has resolutely refused to change the system despite widespread discontent.
They have clearly been protecting the interests of the fat cats, and it is almost a given that the quota kings have paid handsomely into the coffers of the IP in the past, in return for the IP keeping the system in place.
Now that the IP is no longer in control, the demand for a recall of the quota back to the people is growing increasingly louder."

She doesn't spare the politicians of the right wing Independance Party either for their role in the collapse of the economy

On Davíð Oddsson **

'This is the man who was instrumental in selling the banks to his personal friends, who promised they would grant favour to IP supporters in return.
This is a man who with no education in economics installed himself in the Central Bank when he decided to "retire from politics" '

**Davíð Oddsson
(born 17 January 1948 in Reykjavík) is an Icelandic politician and the longest-serving Prime Minister of Iceland, holding office from 1991 to 2004.
He also served as Foreign Minister from 2004 to 2005.
Previously, he was Mayor of Reykjavík from 1982 to 1991, and he chaired the board of governors of the Central Bank of Iceland from 2005 to 2009.

In 2008, following the collapse of Iceland's banking system, his actions as the chairman of the board were seriously questioned and after demands for his resignation both by the Icelandic public and by Icelandic Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir , he was replaced as head of the Central Bank
- wiki