Lögberg-Heimskringla - 15.02.2015, Síða 15

Lögberg-Heimskringla • 15 febrúar 2015 • 15
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Plague and famine
followed the robbers, and
Iceland seemed to be accurst
of God and men. Cruel laws
made by Norwegians or
Danes oppressed them, and
life must have been horribly
drear to the unfortunate
islanders. The long-forgotten
national life of the people
was galvanized into fresh
existence by the grant of a
constitution in 1848, and
when, in 1874, the King of
Denmark granted them a new,
full, liberal constitution, it
seemed as though Iceland had
started on a fresh career of
prosperity.
But laws cannot make
sterile lands fertile; man-made
laws cannot hinder storms;
constitutions are excellent
things in their way, but they
are poor apologies for climate
and fertility. The Icelanders
celebrated the gifts of a new
constitution and their 1000th
anniversary of political life
together, but now the entire
population wants to go to
Canada! The constitution
has failed, and 1000 years of
national life have not satisfied
the yearnings of this God-
fearing people for creature
comforts.
They are simple, honest,
earnest people, and will make
good colonists, and they would
have been a great acquisition
to New South Wales; but
Canada is nearer to them than
we are, and Canadian winters
will remind them of their
Icelandic home.
This history is indeed a
strange one, and it may be, as
Emerson says, that:
“Deep love lieth under
these pictures of time
They fade in the light of
their meaning sublime.”
Down Under
... from 15
The Svartárkot Culture-Nature project (SCN) is a educational program inspired by Svartárkot farm in northern Iceland
and managed by the Reykjavík Academy in
cooperation with Svartárkot’s farmers. SCN
will host a unique graduate summer course
in Bárðardalur from June 5 to 15, 2015:
“Understanding the Human Dimensions of Long-
Term Environmental Change: Transformations
of Iceland from the Viking Era through the late
Medieval Period (CE 850-1500).”
This is an intensive ten-day summer course
for masters and doctoral students who wish
to supplement their studies with a unique
site-specific curriculum in the environmental
humanities and social sciences. The course
involves multiple excursions and lectures in the
field and integrates perspectives, theories, case
studies and methodologies from the following
disciplines: literary eco-criticism, environmental
history, environmental archaeology,
environmental anthropology, integrated digital
and environmental humanities, historical ecology,
saga studies, and palaeo-ecology.
The course consists of a series of seminars,
lectures and field-study visits on closely
related research topics and themes within the
environmental humanities for the benefit of
approximately 20 international participants. The
cost of this program is $2,950 (US) per person,
which includes room and board, excursions,
lectures, and on-site materials. Please note that
airfare and other transportation costs are not
included. The deadline for registration is March
15, 2015. Further information is available at the
SCN website: scn.academia.is.
Here are the highlights of the Icelandic National League of North America’s executive meeting on January 22,
2015. This information can be shared freely via
newsletter, email, discussion, or at club websites.
Convention in Minneapolis – May 14 to 17, 2015
Early bird registration for the convention will
be $170 (US) to end March; after that, the standard
rate of $180 will apply. Late registration will cost
$200. The hotel is now open for booking at a rate
of $95 per night.
This year’s convention will feature three
concurrent sessions and Vigdís Finnbogadóttir,
who was president of Iceland from 1980 to 1996,
will be a special guest.
A bus from Winnipeg is being organized
for convention-goers from that city, nearby
communities, and attendees who would find it
convenient to travel to Winnipeg and take the
bus from there. The bus will leave Winnipeg
on Thursday, May 14, at 6:00 a.m. and return to the
city immediately after the convention on Sunday,
May 17, arriving around 10:00 p.m. The trip is
about 8 hours each way and costs $180 (Canadian)
roundtrip. The charter requires 35 travellers. To
book, contact Pat Odegard (pat_odegard@hotmail.
com) or call Vi Hilton at 204-889-9995.
Financial News
The executive thanks all member clubs for the
good effort selling calendars and paying dues. The
INL of NA has a small surplus. Ron Goodman
reported that dialogue continues with the Canadian
government to ensure that there is no overlap in
issuing receipts for contributions when chapters
also have charitable status.
Merchandise
DVD sets of Egill Helgason’s documentary,
Vesturfarar (Westward Bound) sold out fast. The
INL of NA has ordered 200 more sets for sale
here. Vesturfarar is a ten-episode tour of Icelandic
settlements in North America, which appeared
on the television station RÚV last year, where it
received rave reviews. The DVD set includes a
bonus 1976 feature, Western Icelanders. Details
about pricing and how to order your own set can
be found at the INL of NA website.
Clubs accessing the Donald K. Johnson Film
series for local presentation are reminded to
acknowledge the INL of NA and the generous
support of Donald K. Johnson.
Next year’s INL of NA calendars will be printed
in Minnesota and should be ready in time for the
Minneapolis convention. Ron Johnson was praised
for his excellent work in selling calendar ads.
INL of NA executive meeting highlights
Human dimensions of environmental
change to be explored at Svartárkot