Reykjavík Grapevine - okt. 2019, Blaðsíða 4

What Are Icelanders
Talking About?
Gripes and grumbles from social media
Words: Andie Fontaine Photo: Stöð 2
Apart from Israel/Pales-
tine and penile circumci-
sion, few topics are as contentious
as veganism, as a recent discussion
in Reykjavík City Council attests.
Recently, the Icelandic Vegan Soci-
ety issued a statement that pointed
out what climate scientists have
long been saying: the meat industry
is directly linked to Earth’s green-
house gases, and reducing the
consumption of animal products
would certainly help in the fight
against the climate crisis. Ergo,
the Society recommended that
area primary schools begin taking
steps to reduce animal products in
school lunches. This has sparked a
backlash, in particular from conser-
vatives, who contend that a vegan
diet would be bad for children (not
true) and that a lack of meat in their
diet would mean a lack of protein
(also not true). The topic itself has
prompted Icelanders across social
media to offer their own hot takes
on veganism, from all sides of the
issue. Imagine getting mad about
what people don’t eat.
Although it made international
headlines when it was reported that
Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir
would be out of the country during
US Vice President Mike Pence’s
visit to Iceland next month, it has
now come to light that Pence will
probably stick around long enough
to meet her. The fact that he is even
coming at all is itself controversial.
Protests are being planned, and the
express purpose of his visit—the
impending updates to be made at
the military base in Keflavík—has
certain attracted criticism. But it’s
Pence’s politics, in particular his
far-right attitudes towards queer
people, that make his arrival partic-
ularly galling for a country known
for its progressive attitudes about
sex and gender.
Lastly, the Reykjavík police are
under criticism for the only arrest
made at Reykjavík Pride: Elínborg
Harpa Önundardóttir. This activ-
ist, who is also queer, was stopped by
three police officers, slammed to the
ground and arrested. The charge?
“Being a known troublemaker,”
to paraphrase the police, who
suspected she was only attending
Pride to protest. First of all, protest-
ing is not only a respected tradi-
tion in Iceland; it’s also perfectly
legal. Second, you can’t exactly
arrest someone because you don’t
like them (for context: Elínborg
had previously gotten into a scuf-
fle with police during a protest for
refugee rights, where unprovoked
police violence was recorded on
video). The National Queer Organ-
isation and Pirate Party council-
person and chair of the Reykjavík
City Human Rights Council, Dóra
Björt Guðjónsdóttir, have both
requested a meeting with the police
and are demanding an internal
investigation of the matter.
4The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 15— 2019First
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