Reykjavík Grapevine - 30.06.2017, Side 4

The Top Stories
June 14 – June 29
Words: Alice Demurtas
Images: Sveinbjörn & his big bag
of stock photos
A migrant worker arriving at Keflavík
International Airport, yesterday
NEWS IN BRIEF We often talk
about the insane amount of tour-
ists who have been visiting our
shores in the past few years, but it
looks like tourists aren’t the only
ones interested in coming to Ice-
land. The Directorate of Labour
estimates that around 3,000 peo-
ple will move to Iceland through
various employment agencies
this year—twice as many as last
year. In addition, 1,000 posted
workers will come here by the
end of 2017, sent on missions of
all sorts by European companies.
It ’s sti l l unclear how many of
them will actually stay and for
how long, but one thing is cer-
tain: the streets and cultural life
of Reykjavík will benefit from the
meddling of different cultures, as
will the limited local gene pool.
Half the time it'll look like a bum
Perhaps it was these home-
sick workers that shoe designer
Marta Jonsson was thinking of
when she began planning the
construction of a Ferris wheel in
the Laugardalur neighbourhood.
What’s the thing every Londoner
misses while away from home?
The London Eye, of course. So why
not slap a 120 metre wheel in the
middle of the Icelandic capital,
a city constantly at the mercy of
strong winds and heavy storms?
If the news had not blown your
mind, however, here is the cherry
on top: Marta wants the wheel to
be heart-shaped. Will it end up be-
ing a miracle of physics or a total
failure?
A money launderer at work, yesterday
Funny news notoriously travels in
pairs. Thus, if the Reykjavík Heart
Eye had not shocked the public
enough, the Finance Minister cer-
tainly gave a powerful contribu-
tion. Benedikt Jóhannesson is in
fact planning to wage war on tax
evaders by taking the 10,000 and
5,000 króna bills away from the
market, thus reducing the circu-
lation of cash. Naturally, experts
have condemned him and praised
him alike. His worst critic, how-
ever, called his statement “a PR
catastrophe.” You better get your
damage control team in check,
Benedikt: you still have a long way
to go as the Finance Minister of
this icy banana republic.
A concerned taxpayer, yesterday
Benedikt wasn’t the only mem-
ber of Parliament to be criticised
this week. Andri Þór Sturluson
from the Pirate Party responded
to the arming of Icelandic police
by inviting citizens to call the
emergency line every time they
see an officer with a gun. He was
criticised for encouraging people
to put the lives of others at great
risk by blocking the hotline. Eve-
rybody, however, seems to have
forgotten that Andri also writes
for a local satirical news site, and
that provocative statements are
his bread and butter. If you can’t
make fun of serious things, after
all, you’re taking yourself way too
seriously.
A resting tourist, yesterday
Something we truly love to joke
about, however, is tourists’ ten-
dency to make doodies where they
shouldn’t. Icelandic authorities
don’t know what to do about these
doodies, and encourage tourists
not to do it outside of designated
areas. We understand that you’ve
got to do what you’ve got to doo,
but don’t doo onto other people’s
houses or kindergartens as you
wouldn’t have them doo unto
yours. Come on now, let’s make
Iceland clean again.
4The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 11 — 2017
SMJÖRFLUGA
The Grapevine's plans for a Reykjavík ferris wheel are still under review.
First
Visit us at Reykjavík City Hall
Do you need helpful hints about
culture, dining and other activities
in our favourite city? We would love
to assist you with planning your
stay and booking your adventure!

See you at the Official Tourist
Information Centre.
Open daily from 8-20
visitreykjavik.is