Reykjavík Grapevine - 09.01.2015, Blaðsíða 6

6
The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 1 — 2015
The Year 2015—Where
Does Iceland Stand?
Steingrímur J. Sigfússon
MP, former Minister Of
Everything, Left-Green Party
Iceland saw progress in several areas in
the year 2014. We enjoyed some economic
growth, even though Statistics Iceland’s
quarterly numbers were disappointing.
The economic recovery, which began
with the economy’s turnaround in 2010,
continues for the fourth consecutive year.
Unemployment numbers kept decreas-
ing, as they have since they peaked in the
spring of 2010. The state treasury further
recovered after being balanced for the
first time post-collapse in 2013. However,
the recovery of 2014 is unfortunately first
and foremost due to irregular, one-time
credit entries from the Central Bank of
Iceland and Landsbankinn. The underly-
ing recovery of the state is thus nominal
in actuality. Nonetheless, 2014 marks the
state’s sixth consecutive year of overall
recovery. Furthermore, public spending
power continued improving, although
a growing economic divide is implicit in
this development.
To summarize: the recovery process
continued in 2014. There are those who
maintain that a great transition, a turn-
around even, occurred when the current
government took power at the end of May
2013. The Prime Minister, the head of the
state budget committee and other gov-
ernment affiliates are prone to speak as
if the brunt of any good fortune Iceland-
ers have enjoyed since settlement times
occurred when the collapse-parties
resumed their reign over Iceland. Such
claims are naïvely egocentric, solipsistic
even, as official economic statistics aptly
demonstrate. Regardless, we continue
pulling forward in most areas, and the re-
covery that commenced halfway through
the last parliamentary term is still ongo-
ing.
There are unfortunately storm clouds
on the horizon. The year 2015 has poten-
tial to be the first one a long time where
the state treasury’s returns do not im-
prove, but grow worse. There is much un-
certainty with regards to the imminent
general wage negotiations, and the gov-
erning parties seem to harbour funda-
mental disagreements over how to lift the
currency restrictions. This does not bode
well, as it is the biggest, most fateful post-
collapse task that remains unresolved.
So: Iceland is in an infinitely better
position than it was in 2008-2009, but
there is still much work to do—and the
current outlook is uncertain, to say the
least.
Somewhere Between
Worried And Cynical
Andri Snær Magnason
author, poet
The world’s mood is very strange and
Iceland swings along. The post-crash era
was interesting in many ways: offering
promises of social innovation, the rise
of small businesses and a general opti-
mism—a euphoric feeling that anything
might be possible. This situation caused a
wave of urban legends about Iceland. We
were creating a new constitution, excit-
ing initiatives, etc... Such stories are still
circulating, even as the new government
has been busy systematically killing most
of the post-crash initiatives—along with
dismantling the older systems we were
so proud of along with raising taxes on
culture and food (while lowering taxes
on TVs, sugar and cars).
Many are stuck somewhere between
worried and cynical. Online, they try to
leave comments on viral videos detailing
all the amazing stuff going on in Iceland,
saying “nothing of that is true: the consti-
tution failed, the innovation failed, our
cops want guns, not kittens, the culture is
To mark the beginning of a new year, we posed two ques-
tions to dozens of Icelanders, old and new. Representatives of
every single political party, ministers, mayors and machin-
ists alike (as per usual, the governing parties mostly ignored
our queries). We asked them to tell us—in their own unique
ways, from their own unique perspectives—what summed up
the year 2014, and what they expected of the coming one. We
asked them to answer the following: “Where are we now, at the
end of 2014. Looking back, how did that journey begin, and where
did it leave us?” Furthermore: “Where are we headed? What would
be the best possible outcome of the year 2015—and what might the
worst one entail?” Or not. There were no restrictions—our cor-
respondents were free to respond in any way, language and
format. From their hearts or from their minds. Throught
this issue you’ll find the replies we received. Every last one of
them. We hope that when read together, in the context of one
another, they may give a broad and even enlightening view
of how Icelanders as a nation perceived the events of the last
twelve months, and what hopes (and/or fears) they harbour
for the next twelve. Each and every one speaks for itself, and
each one tells a story. Our hope is that this “perspective-mo-
saic” might help us gain an insight into and understanding of
our current situation. If nothing else, it makes for a pretty fun
read. Enjoy.
WHERE WERE WE?
WHERE ARE WE?
WHERE ARE WE HEADED?
What are we thinking?
Compiled by Haukur S. Magnússon
a thorn in the side of the ruling elite and
there is a general polarization going on.”
Thus, if 2014 was the year of shock,
disbelief and cynicism, the year 2015
should be the year of new hope, where
we find the core of the good old ideas,
and start working for them all over again.
Getting the constitution done and agreed
upon with the help of international spe-
cialists and activists in the field, prevent-
ing the money from natural resources
(such as fisheries and hydro/geothermal
power) from being drained away. Break-
ing up the polarization from the grass-
roots up—leaving the elite cold and lonely
on the top—finalizing a new constitution,
founding a national park protecting the
highlands of Iceland from further exploi-
tation and getting the innovative spirit on
the rise again.
This would be the best. The worst
would be going from cynicism to despair
or depression—to just giving up and mov-
ing to Norway.
Optimistically Moving
Forward
Vigdís Hauksdóttir
MP, The Progressive Party
We Icelanders are at a good place in
light of how little time has passed since
the last parliamentary elections and the
subsequent turnaround. Fundamental
services have been placed in a prior-
ity position—healthcare, education and
transportation. The national budget has
been settled deficit-free for the second
time since the current government took
the reigns, which is very important and
affirms that the state’s debt collection
has ceased. This has vastly improved
our credit terms on the international
market. That the household debt relief’s
implementation has commenced is cause
for great joy, as it signifies that we have
gained the necessary foothold to move
society forward, because the household
serves as the cornerstone of every society.
We have set the course for the abol-
ishment of currency restrictions and
the settlement of the collapsed banks’
estates. If done right, these acts will
completely transform the Icelandic na-
tion’s standing. I am very optimistic for
the coming year, and choose not to re-
mark upon what the worst-case scenario
would entail
Empire Of Illusion
Biggi Veira
musician, GusGus
I read an interesting book last year, Chris
Hedges’ ‘Empire of Illusion: The End Of
Literacy And The Triumph Of Spectacle’.
Even though it’s focused on U.S. affairs
and realities, I found it corresponded
with developments in Iceland and our
current government’s policies to the
point of discomfort.
Chris depicts a world where dema-
goguery and stupidity have conquered,
where the education system aims only at
producing a malleable workforce, where
the media has been commandeered by
the ruling classes and has abandoned
any pretence of keeping the authorities
in check and speaking truth to power, in-
stead wholly devoted to providing brain-
dead entertainment and propagating a
distorted worldview in the service of its
owners. On the surface, the public has
little to complain about, as it now resides
entirely on the surface level. The public
is intellectually castrated, completely as-
similated to economic models where it
plays the role of subservient workforce in
service of the elites.
Ideology is dead. Democracy is an il-
lusion. Critical thinking has been deemed
impractical and unprofitable, entirely
abandoned by educational institutions.
Scholars’ focus is so narrow and local-
ized that any kind of ethical or contextual
overview is all but impossible. The me-
dia’s role as a Fourth Estate has evaporat-
ed, as the public is uninterested in—and
unable to comprehend—anything beyond
sports and vapid entertainment.
Chris Hedges seems uninterested in
finding reasons for optimism. Rather, he
delves into the blackest night of a future
that is already deeply rooted in modern-
day America. In the end, he attempts to
console us with a single paragraph, citing
humankind’s deeper natures.
Especially interesting to me was a
chapter entitled “The Illusion Of Happi-
ness,” which revolves around corpora-
tions’ attempts to quell any negativity
or attempts at critical thinking amongst
their employees.
I detect similar sentiments in Ice-
land. From our president, from our Prime
Minister, from the bishop, and from oth-
ers. “Negativity is so boring, so tiring, so
2009, it doesn’t contribute and provides
no opportunity.”
I disagree. It’s true that negativ-
ity isn’t constructive in nature, but for
people who foster no particular vision of
what they desire, determining what one
doesn’t want is a great starting point. And
for me, the reality that Chris depicts—
that grim future that’s currently gaining
a foothold—is the opposite of what I de-
sire, for myself, for my friends and for my
descendants. I suspect that most people
would agree.
This leaves us with the question of how
we can collectively work against going
there, what concrete actions we can take
to veer off that path.
numbered folders
Jófríður Ákadóttir
musician (Samaris,
Pascal Pinon)
life is a current and we are currents, ev-
erything is the same but always chang-
ing. we make a monument of it when
dividing a flow of things, situations and
happenings into a year. i feel, more now
as i grow older, that this particular year
has no particular meaning and that it's
merely a matter of convenience, putting
life in numbered folders. nonetheless i do
hope that we will see good people spread
good energy and good things taken into
action, amity kismet and harmony in ev-
ery corner.
"Ideology is dead. De-
mocracy is an illusion.
Critical thinking has
been deemed impracti-
cal and unprofitable,
entirely abandoned by
educational institutions.
Scholars’ focus is so
narrow and localized
that any kind of ethical
or contextual overview
is all but impossible."
JANUARY
The year came out of the gate
running, with television person-
ality-cum-sports announcer Björn
Bragi Arnarson remarking that Iceland’s
dominant performance in a handball
game against Austria was “like the Ger-
man Nazis in 1938. We’re slaughtering
the Austrians!” All the while, Icelandic
brewery Steðji put slaughtered whales
to good use, crafting the novel Þorri
“Whale Beer,” which contains trace
amounts of whalebone meal. And, in an
attempt to harness the 40% increase of
tourists arriving to Iceland, landowners
of Geysir started charging admission
fees to their site, only to be thwarted by
the government itself. So much contro-
versy!
FEBRUARY
Despite pressure from LGBT
groups to boycott the Sochi 2014 Win-
ter Olympics due to the host country
Russia’s recently passed homophobic
legislation, Iceland sent two government
ministers and president Ólafur Ragnar
Grímsson. The latter was even spotted
chatting amicably with the man Putin
himself. And, after twelve years of op-
eration, anti-bullying association Reg-
nbogabörn (“Rainbow Children”) shut
down, its founder and chairman, actor
Stefán Karl Stefánsson (AKA “Robbie
Rotten”), blamed lack of funding.
MARCH
When the two coalition parties pro-
posed to prematurely rescind Iceland’s
EU application, despite explicitly stating
such decisions should be made through
a referendum throughout their election
campaigns, people were not amused.
An estimated 8,000 people gathered
in protest outside Alþingi, and fifteen
protesters assembled to greet ministers
with the now infamous “banana gaunt-
let,” indicating that Iceland was in fact a
banana republic.
In other, more inspiring protest
news, Björk, Darren Aronofsky, Patti
Smith and their friends raised 35 million
ISK for Icelandic environmental NGOs
at a benefit event in Harpa. And when
Icelander Kristján Kristjánsson went on
Facebook asking for help in locating
a new kidney, he wasn’t just met with
likes, but offers from twenty people!
Charitable indeed.
APRIL
April proved to be a super positive
month, as Icelanders retained the tile
of Europe’s Chlamydia Capitol, a crown
we’ve proudly worn for the past decade.
Educators were more sensible, however,
as upper secondary school teachers
reached a compromise with the state
negotiator, ending a three-week strike,
and university teachers managed to
settle before their planned strike actions
during exams. Airport staff also reached
an agreement that saw an end to costly
strike actions. Oh, and a sixteen-year-
old cat named Örvar was reunited with
its owner after going missing a whop-
ping seven years ago.
MAY
According to the annual “State of
the World’s Mothers” report, issued by
Save The Children, Iceland is the world’s
fourth best country in which to be a
mother. Which maybe didn’t provide
much consolation to local parents as
primary school teachers went on strike.
Airplane pilots also went on strike, re-
maining grounded for a while, before
the government passed a law making
BY GABRÍEL BENJAMIN
2014
IN
BRIEF
CONTINUES OVER