Reykjavík Grapevine - 01.06.2007, Síða 2

0_REYKJAVÍK_GRAPEVINE_ISSUE 07_YEAR 05_JUNE 01_JUNE 14
The Reykjavík Grapevine
Vesturgata 5, 101 Reykjavík
www.grapevine.is
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The Reykjavík Grapevine Staff
Publisher: Hilmar Steinn Grétarsson / publisher@grapevine.is
Editor: Sveinn Birkir Björnsson / birkir@grapevine.is
Assistant Editor: Steinunn Jakobsdóttir / steinunn@grapevine.is
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Contributing writers: Haukur Magnússon / haukur@grapevine.is
Ian Watson / www.ianwatson.org
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The Reykjavík Grapevine is published 18 times a year by Fröken ltd. Monthly
from November through April, and fortnightly from May til October. Nothing
in this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without the written
permission of the publishers. Although the magazine has endeavoured to ensure
that all information inside the magazine is correct, prices and details may be
subject to change. The Reykjavík Grapevine can be found in Reykjavík, Akureyri,
Egilsstaðir, Selfoss, Keflavík, Ísafjörður, Kárahnjúkar and at key locations around
road #1 and at all major tourist attractions and tourist information centres.
You may not like it, but at least it's not sponsored. (No articles in the Reykjavík
Grapevine are pay-for articles. The opinions expressed are the writers’ own, not
the advertisers’).
Printed by Prentsmiðja Morgunblaðsins printing press in 30.000 copies.
Green is the catchphrase of the day. As PR firms
bend over backwards in order to establish eco-
conscious images for their clients, the current
marketing mantra seems to be: all that is green
will bring you the green.
This is not a positive development. We
cannot afford to lose this discourse to the
hands of the marketing powers that be. So,
the Grapevine goes green.
It has been a while since we have done
a theme issue, but this time we decided to
focus on environmental issues and do our
best to bring the discussion to the people. The
discourse has to take place in a democratic
public forum, free from the financial influ-
ences on the one hand and free from people’s
prejudices on the other. We need an intelligent
and open discussion on how we are going to
deal with this situation that we have created
and which could threaten our very existence.
So, the Grapevine goes scholarly.
For those who fear the serious tone in the
feature section of this issue, rest assured that
we will probably return to our usual tongue
in cheek reporting in two weeks time.
Having devoted over five years of my life
to the study of philosophy, I am extremely
pleased to have an opportunity to present an
article by the philosopher Ólafur Páll Jónsson
on environmental rationality and democracy.
If it is even possible to speak of a rising star
in Icelandic philosophical circles, Ólafur Páll
Jónsson is surely it. Although it is unusually
academic in tone for the Grapevine, I urge
you to read it. At this point, we cannot afford
to dumb down the discussion to appeal to
the lowest common denominator. It is our
responsibility as citizens to make the extra
effort to grasp the discussion of environmental
issues and partake in the public discourse.
Our future is at stake.
I would also urge you to read Fabrizio
Frascaroli’s article on the need to change
the way we approach environmental discus-
sions. While Frascaroli has been a frequent
contributor to the Grapevine in the past, I
believe this to be his best work yet and an
important input for anyone who has given a
second thought to these matters.
While this issue of the Grapevine will prob-
ably not be regarded as a watershed moment
in the struggle for sustainable development in
the future, We are extremely proud to have
fought the good fight. I hope the discussion
that is offered on the pages you have before
you will be able to make some people think
twice about their environment and their ac-
tions upon it. Heck, even if it would be only
one person, it would all be worth it. It is a
cliché, I realise. But sometimes, all you really
need to turn the tide is one good person.
From the Editor’s Chair
Opinions
05 The Grave-digger and the Bell-Ringer
An opinion by Magnús Björn Ólafsson
05 To Be Green or Not to Be Green
An opinion by Marvin Lee Dupree
1 Kolviður: A Noble Idea Gone Wrong
An opinion by Sveinn Birkir Björnsson
1 The Fate of Small Town Iceland
An opinion by Haukur S. Magnússon
Articles
06 Hydrogen (Brain) Power
An interview with Þorsteinn Sigfússon
08 Iceland: A Hot Server Spot?
Iceland and Internet data centres
10 One Giant Step for Mankind
Ecological “footprinting”
1 Reykjavík Bike Punks
Ræbbblarnir and the bike scene
Features
14 The Nature / Culture Duality
Approaching a unified view of nature
16 Democracy and Environmental Rationality
Discord between democracy and environmental issues
Music & Nightlife
18 CD Reviews
0 The Night the P.A System Blew
Motion Boys, FM Belfast, Sprengjuhöllin and Hjaltalín in concert
0 Orchestral Manoeuvres in London
Benni Hemm Hemm at London’s Catch
Outside Reykjavík
6 Walking Trails Near Reykjavik
8 Sólheimar: A Trip to an Eco-Village
info.
B1 Listings
B7 Ghetto Yoga
B10 Festival of the Sea
B11 Motion Boys Interview
B1 Food Reviews