Lögberg-Heimskringla - 15.11.2012, Side 13

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Lögberg-Heimskringla • 15. nóvember 2012 • 13
EU purchases fish to discard them
Morgunblaðið – Swedish MEP Christofer
Fjellner wrote on Svenska Dagbladet’s website
that the EU purchases great quantities of fish and
then has them destroyed. This is done to keep the
price of fish sold to European consumers high.
Fjellner said that it could not be viewed as anything
but “sick” when taxpayers’ money was used in
this way. “In 2009 alone more than 17,000 tonnes
of fresh fish in Europe were destroyed, including
34 tonnes in Sweden,” wrote Fjellner. In Sweden
it was halibut, mackerel, plaice and shrimp.
According to Fjellner, nothing indicates that the
situation is improving, “rather the opposite.”
Former Fisheries Minister Einar K. Guðfinnsson
(MP-IP) said that he found this news completely
incredible, but that he had no basis to evaluate
how true it was. However, he said that Icelanders
know how awful the EU’s treatment of fishing
grounds is. Its regulatory system encourages
the discarding of catch – discarding is actually
an integral part of the system. When this latest
news is added, “the picture is still uglier,” said
Guðfinnsson. He pointed out that at the same
time, the EU was enacting law directed against
Icelanders, ostensibly for the purpose of covering
those engaging in irresponsible fisheries. The EU
is “throwing stones from a glass house.”
Great majority opposed to EU membership
mbl.is – According to findings from a recent
poll conducted by Capacent for the No to EU
Association in Iceland, 57.6% of Icelanders oppose
Iceland’s membership in the EU. On the other
hand, 27.3% favour membership, and 15% take
no position. Amongst voters for the Independent
Party and Progressive Party, 80% and 79%,
respectively, oppose EU membership. Also, 62%
of those voting for the Leftist Green Party oppose
EU membership. The least opposition to member-
ship is amongst those voting for the SDA (12%).
The poll sample was 1450 people and the response
rate was 58.5%. The question was: “Are you for or
against Iceland’s membership in the EU?”
Most gender equality found in Iceland
mbl.is – According to a new report from World
Economic Forum, gender equality is greatest
in Iceland, which has held first place on the list
in recent years. Finland is in second place, and
Norway in third. Last year Norway was in second
place and Finland in third. Sweden is in fourth
place, as it was last year, and Ireland is in fifth place.
This is the seventh time that WEF has published
the report, and it this is the fourth year in a row that
Iceland has been in first place. In preparing the list,
emphasis is placed on access to healthcare services,
access to education, participation in politics and
economic status, which is assessed according
to employment participation, wage equality,
total employment income and the proportion of
genders in management and specialist positions. In
December 2011 the Minister of Welfare appointed
an Implementation Committee on wage gender
equality. Among other things, the committee
was charged with integrating measures to reduce
wage inequality between genders and work on
a dated action plan for this purpose in addition
to completing preparation of a wage equality
standard. This was done in accordance with the
Government’s declaration of collaboration.
Agreement signed on oil spill prevention
Fréttablaðið – The member states of
the Nordic Council have reached a binding
agreement on joint preventive measures and
responses regarding oil pollution in Arctic areas.
The agreement was signed in Reykjavík at a
meeting where about 70 representatives of all
Arctic states met for the sole purpose of achieving
solidarity on the matter. The agreement, which
will be further detailed next month and signed
at a meeting of the states’ ministers next spring,
entails an obligation to provide mutual support in
the event of an oil pollution accident. It includes
provisions for the collaboration, entailing
information dissemination and contingency
drills. In addition, states already have diverse
equipment and expertise that can be utilised in
this context. “This agreement is historic,” said
Foreign Minister Össur Skarphéðinsson (SDA).
It is one of the most important achievements
because it constitutes essential support for
Iceland’s Arctic policy in recent years in respect
of the rest of the world.
Number of bankrupt companies decreases
visir.is – According to Statistics Iceland’s
website, 46 companies went bankrupt in August.
Most of them were in construction of buildings
and engineering structures. The first eight months
this year there were 661 bankruptcies, but this is
more than a 30% reduction from the same period
last year when 950 companies went bankrupt.
In August, 122 new private limited companies
were registered, most of them in real estate. By
comparison, in August last year 110 new private
limited companies were registered. In the first eight
months this year, the number of new registrations
was 1180 (up 7% from the year before) vs. 1105
new registrations in August last year.
Letdown over failure to reach agreement
mbl.is – According to a press release from
the Ministry of Industries and Innovation, no
agreement was reached in the mackerel dispute
at a meeting of coastal states concluding in
London. According to the press release, Iceland’s
representatives, with the goal of advancing
matters, proposed that all coastal states with
a stake in the dispute submit new proposals
on division of the total catch, but this was not
endorsed. When it became clear that parties were
not prepared to submit new proposals, and it was
clear that an agreement would not be reached
on division of the total catch, Iceland, as a
temporary measure, proposed that the total catch
be set at 542,000 tonnes in accordance with the
International Council for the Exploration of the
Sea’s (ICES) recommendations, but there was
no support for this, either. On the other hand,
there was solidarity at the meeting regarding the
necessity of strengthening the scientific basis for
assessing the stock and advice regarding mackerel
fisheries. It was decided to send a request to this
effect to ICES. It was also decided to strengthen
collaboration on monitoring pelagic fisheries in
the North-east Atlantic. Minister of Industries
and Innovation Steingrímur J. Sigfússon (LGP)
said he was disappointed that no agreement
was reached despite Iceland’s proposal on
considerably less fisheries. “We are, as before,
ready to negotiate a solution reducing mackerel
fisheries of all coastal states, based on scientific
advice, as well as ensuring a reasonable share
for all parties at the same time and safeguarding
the stock for the sake of future generations,” said
the minister. He emphasised in the declaration
that the coastal states are equally responsible
for preventing overfishing of the mackerel stock
and ensuring sustainable fisheries. More damage
has resulted from failing to reach an agreement
on resolving the dispute and, at the same time,
the economic interests of all the states involved.
On the other hand, he applauded the agreement
on strengthening the foundation for monitoring
pelagic fisheries in the North-east Atlantic, as
Iceland had actually emphasised all along in
negotiations on mackerel fisheries.
Reprinted with permission from INB, published
by KOM PR
EVENTS
Saturday 17 November
Edmonton, AB: Christmas celebration
at the Scandinavian Library. 10 a.m. to
1 p.m. Icelandic Library is a part of the
Scandinavian Library, located at 15212-
117 Ave. second floor.
Winnipeg, MB: Norwegian Canadian Club
holds its annual Lutefisk and Meatball
Dinner. Scandinavian Centre, 764 Erin
St. Reception 5:30, Dinner 6 p.m. Tickets
$25. Call 204-774-8047 for reservations.
Sunday 18 November
Edmonton, AB: ICCE, Norðurljós
Christmas Party at the Dutch Canadian
Club, 13312 142 Street NW.
Monday 19 November
Gimli, MB: Gimli Icelandic Canadian
Society holds its general and annual
meetings. Betel Boardroom, 7 p.m.
Saturday 24 November
Calgary, AB: Leif Eiriksson Icelandic Club
celebrates Yule in Iceland. Scandinavian
Centre, 739, 20th Ave. NW. Doors open
5:30 p.m. For more information email:
vl8810@telus.net
Sunday 25 November
Winnipeg, MB: Scandinavian Centre
Christmas Market from 11 – 3. Market
features some imported food products,
a Cafe with traditional open-faced
sandwiches and desserts, traditional and
non-traditional crafts. Applications are
now available for table rentals. Contact
774-8047 for more information.
Sunday 2 December
Winnipeg, MB: The Icelandic Canadian
Frón will host a brunch at the Scandinavian
Cultural Centre, 764 Erin St. 11:30 – 1 p.m.
$13.50 adults, $6 for children 8-12, ages
7 and under free. Everyone welcome.
Saturday 15 December
Winnipeg, MB: You are invited to the Frón
Intergenerational Christmas Party to be
held at the Scandinavian Cultural Centre,
764 Erin Street, 2 – 4 p.m. There will
be entertainment, Viking costumes on
display and the Jólasveinar will be there
too. Everyone welcome.
4 to 7 April 2013
Seattle, WA: Join old friends and meet
new ones at the 94th annual INL of NA
Convention in Seattle at the Crowne
Plaza Hotel. Hear engaging speakers,
participate in fun activities, mingle with
fellow lovers of our Icelandic heritage,
and enjoy the springtime beauty of The
Emerald City. Registration forms available
at www.inlofna.org on convention page.
Early registration discount ends January
31. Questions? Contact David Johnson
at Dj4Seattle@comcast.net or 206-235-
9596.
ICELANDIC CLASSES
Mondays
Toronto, ON: Language Classes
(Íslenskukennsla) began October 1. Adult
Icelandic Level 1 (Beginner) and Level 2
(Intermediate) for 8 weeks. Contact Arden
at classes@icct.info. 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. (at
the Morningside-high Park Presbyterian
Church. Cost: $75 ICCT) members, $85
non ICCT members.
Tuesdays
Winnipeg, MB: The Icelandic Canadian
Frón is offering Icelandic language classes
at the Scandinavian Cultural Centre, 764
Erin St. Fee for 10 week session: $40 for
members, $45 for non-members. Drop-
ins welcome, $5 each class. For more
info, call Gunnvör at 204-284-1535 or
email at gunnvor@mfa.is.
Third Tuesdays
Arborg, MB: Arborg Hotel lounge, 8 p.m.,
Kaffitími for those who want to learn
words or phrases. No pressure.
Wednesdays
Arborg, MB: Meet to speak Icelandic 3
p.m. Molasopi at Eldhús restaurant at the
Arborg Hotel. No pressure.
Edmonton, AB: Icelandic Language
Classes at the home of Helgi Thorvaldson.
This is brand new – just started on October
24. Helgi has generously offered his skills
of the Icelandic language to anyone who
is interested.
Wednesdays
Gimli, MB: Kaffitími (coffee time) in Gimli
takes place at 3 p.m. each Wednesday,
meeting at Amma’s Tea Room, Waterfront
Centre. No signup and no teacher. Drop ins
welcome; the only fee is the price of your
cup of coffee. There is only one rule – you
need to talk Icelandic in order to participate
in the chat around the table. If you just
want to listen at first that’s fine too.
LITERATURE
Lestrarfélagið Gleym-mér-ei
Winnipeg, MB
Lestrarfélagið Gleym-mér-ei, an English-
language reading society for Icelandic
Canadians and their friends, meets
monthly at the Icelandic Collection in
the Elizabeth Dafoe Library of the U
of M. Anyone who loves reading and
conversation is welcome to attend. 7
p.m.
29 November: - Film TBA
31 January: Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir – The
Greenhouse
28 February: John K. Samson – Lyrics
and Poems 1997 - 2012
28 March: W.D. Valgardson – What the
Bear Said
17 April: Yrsa Sigurðardóttir – Last
Rituals
30 May: Robert Johnson and Janey
Westin – The Last Norse King of North
America
GENEALOGy
Sundays
Victoria, BC: The first Sunday of each
month the Icelanders of Victoria offer a
genealogy night open-house style at Fred
Bjarnason’s. You will have the opportunity
to use his collection of genealogy books,
use his password to a variety of databases
and have an experienced hand to guide
you in your quest to find your Icelandic
ancestors. Please join us from 6 – 9 p.m.
Fred Bjarnason 250-477-3535.
Music
Iceland’s Of Monsters and Men US/
Canadian tour. www.ofmonstersandmen.
is
15 November: Kool Haus – Toronto, ON
17 November: Metropolis – Montreal, QC
19 November: Orpheum – Boston, MA
20 November: Terminal 5 – New York, NY
24 November: Tower Theatre –
Philadelphia, PA
25 November: 9:30 Club – Washington,
DC
26 November: WXRL Radio Show –
Richmond, VA
29 November: Tabernacle – Atlanta, GA
30 November: Beacham – Orlando, FL
2 December: WXXJ’s The Big Ticket
Radio Show – Jacksonville, FL
8 December: Visalia Fox Theater –
Visalla, CA
12 December: Boulder Theatre, Boulder, CO
The Lögberg-Heimskringla
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Send information to appear in the Calendar of Events to
catherine@lh-inc.ca. Please include date, place, time and other particulars.
For more listings, visit our website at www.lh-inc.ca.
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