Lögberg-Heimskringla - 16.07.1993, Blaðsíða 6

6 • Lögberg-Heimskringla • Föstudagur 16. júlí 1993
ká
Protection of the marine ecosystem
a matter of life and death for us”
says Fisheries
Minister Thorsteinn
Pátsson, who
does not fear US
government threats
ofsanctions
By Asgelr Frldgelrsson
“The struggle for moderate
exploitation of whale stocks
will be won in the end,” says
Fisheries Minister Thorsteinn
Pálsson convincingly as his
ministry currently prepares
plans to resume harvesting of
minke whale. “The future of
mankind depends on self-sus-
tainable development, and
moderate exploitation of
marine mammal stocks is an
important part of this.
“Understanding of the
importance of maintaining
ecological balance is increas-
ing, along with a growing
realization that it is impos-
sible to over-protect one
species without disrupting
this intemal equilibrium,” he
continued in a recent inter-
view with News From
Iceland.
Pálsson points out that
Icelanders have shown by
their actions that they protect
the marine ecosystem. “We
have reduced the catch of our
fishing fleet and imposed a
tough policy of conservation
on stocks whose condition is
in doubt.
“Our exploitation of the
natural wealth of the ocean is
based on the protection of the
ecosystem of the seas which
surround us,” he continued.
“Our survival, present and
future, depends on this.”
Pálsson restated his opin-
ion, adding that as marine
products account for almost
80% of Iceland’s total export
eamings, Icelanders have no
option but to watch over and
protect the marine ecosystem.
Threatening voices
When the conversation
turns to US government
threats of economic sanctions
if Iceland resumes minke
whaling, Pálsson admits that
he does, of course, take them
seriously. Given the power of
the US it is impossible not to.
“They (the Americans) are,
however, on thin ice,” he
says. “All environmental
argument is on our side.
Since modest exploitation of
marine resources does not
upset the balance of nature to
the same extent as the total
protection of one or a few
species, the US cannot justify
its position.
“Apart from that, by
adopting this attitude, the
Americans themselves are
breaking the international
treaty on whaling which calls
for the protection and ratio-
nal exploitation of whale
stocks. At the same time, they
are also at odds with those
clauses of the UN Environ-
mental Charter, issued last
year in the wake of the Rio
conference, which are shaped
by the concept of self-sustain-
able development.”
Pálsson believes the most
serious aspect of the affair is
that one of the world’s lead-
ing nations should breach
international agreements in
such a way.
“The US is fínding itself in
an increasingly tight corner
and I an convinced we will
win in the end,” he says.
Pálsson dismisses the
notion that Icelanders are
postponing the resumption of
minke whaling due to a fear
of environmentalists, as was
claimed recently in an article
in Time magazine. He stated
that the Icelandic govemment
had no fear of environmental-
ists as the majority of them
appreciate Iceland’s point of
view on exploitation of
stocks.
“Two things must be bome
in mind when making a deci-
sion on minke whaling.
Firstly, is there is a scientific
basis for resuming?” he asks
and pauses for a moment.
“According to the con-
clusions reached by the
scientific committee of
the International Whaling
Commission
(IWC), there
is. Its re-
search has
revealed that
stocks are
large enough
to sustain
limited har-
vesting with-
out damage.
“Secondly, we feel that we
are bound by the rules of the
UN Convention on the Law
of the Sea not to catch whale
except in consultation with
the appropriate international
organizations. At present we
feel we have not satisfied this
condition.”
Since resigning from the
IWC last year, Iceland has
become a founder-member
of the North Atlantic Mar-
ine Mammal Committee
(NAMMCO), along with
Norway, Greenland and the
Faroe Islands.
Since to date this organi-
zation has concerned itself
solely with seal and small
whales, the issue of minke
whaling has not arisen.
Pálsson says that the individ-
ual circumstances of the
NAMMCO member nations
differ so much that there is
not yet full unity as to what
should be the next step.
However, it is clear that
Iceland would never resume
minke whaling except in full
consultation with NAMM-
CO.
Histoiy supports our position
Thorsteinn Pálsson
Pálsson believes that histo-
ry supports Iceland’s position
and shows that the nation
can be trusted with the pro-
tection of the marine life in
the seas which surround it.
His words were not confined
to control of fish stocks.
Iceland was one of the first
countries in the world to
impose a ban on whaling.
This was done in 1916, fol-
lowing decades of relentless
hunting by foreign vessels off
the country’s coasts. Whaling
did not resume again until the
end of the 1940’s, continuing
until 1985 when it was sus-
pended on consultation with
the IWC.
FAMILYIFUNERAL
COUNSEUjORS
lcelandic Choir of
North Dakota Performs
The Icelandic Choir of Pembina
County, a group of eighteen
singers from the communities of
Cavalier, Mountain, Gardar and
Edinburg, performed at the
Scandinavian Hjemkomst Festival in
Trollwood Park, Fargo, North Dakota
on Sunday, June 27, 1993.
The group was accompanied by
Suzanne Olafson of Mountain, and
John E. Johnson of Gardar and
Langdon directed two of the numbers.
All of the members are either natives
of, or current residents of Pembina
County.
They performed eight songs: “Ó
Guð vors Lands”; “Eldgamla ísafold”;
“Ó fögur er vor fósturjörð; “Stóð ég úti
í túnglsljósi”; “Hvað er svo glatt sem
góðra vina fundur”; “Nú er veðrið svo
gott”; “Vorið er komið og grundimar
gróa” and “Lofsöngur”, with introduc-
tions and commentary by Magnus
Olafson of Edinburg. In spite of the
cold, windy weather, they performed
to a very large, warm and receptive
audience.
Earlier that day, following the
Parade of Flags —- featuring the five
Scandinavian flags, Christine Bjomson
Hughes of Cavalier sang the Icelandic
National Anthem, “Ó Guð vors
Lands”, as the Icelandic flag was pre-
sented.
In addition to the entertainment,
the day offered a wonderful opportuni-
ty to sample a good variety of ethnic
foods, and to visit with the many
Icelanders and other friends from the
Fargo-Moorhead area and a number of
other places.
Choir members were: Christine
Hughes, June Bjornson, Lorraine
Schroeder, Jana Abrahamson and
Dean Bjornson of Cavalier, Esther
Jonasson, Rosa Thorfinnson, Doris
Reopelle, Laurraine Byron, Loretta
Bemhoft, Bradley Edin, Dean Olafson,
Palmer Jonasson, and Curtis Olafson
of Mountain, Ina Sigurdson and John
E. Johnson of Gardar and Runa Sveen
and Magnus Olafson of Edinburg.
Fjallkona’s
Message...
May I take this opportunity to
invite you to join me at the 104th
anniversary celebration of the
Icelandic Festival of Manitoba.
A spectacular 3-day program has
been planned for the weekend of
July 31, August 1 and August 2
at Gimli.
Islendingadagurinn is unique
in its scope and purpose... that of
celebrating a cultural heritage
which we continue to cherish. The
ties which bind us ancestrally to
Iceland are woven into the fabric
of our nationhood here.
Bless,
Shirley McCreedy
'ef- Shirley is the daughter of Norma and Fred Thordarson (Winnipeg); maternal grandparents
were Sveinn Thorbergsson (Vatnsdalur), and Helga Hinriksdóttir (Húnavatnssýsla, lceland);
paternal grandparents were Erlendur Thordarson (Eyjafjörður) and Signy Björg Erlendsdóttir
(Húnavatnssýsla).
This space is provided monthly by Neil Bardal Inc.,
Family Funeral Counsellors, for the use of community groups.
If your group would like to use this space, please call us at 949-2200.