The “arctic Wednesday” is about to continue soon! Birgit Lutz and I have scheduled 6 dates and themes for our the continuation of our popular series of online presentations in December 2021 and January 2022. No lesser than the famous adventurer Arved Fuchs will open the new series with his presentation “Shackleton 2000”, his narration of his adventures in Ernest Shackleton’s footsteps!
These proposals have both been made by the government in Oslo. As of now, final decisions have not been made yet.
And both proposals were made by the Norwegian government without involving local politicians or the people living in Spitsbergen or industries working there. There is the public hearing, but that is quite late in the day to involve the local council. And based on experience from recent hearings, trust that the input given into such processes will actually be heard is rather limited, to put it mildly.
Longyearbyen: many people living here are currently shocked about political proposals coming from Oslo. If the sun is politically going up or down over this beautiful place is a question that remains to be answered by national politicians soon.
Many people who live in Longyearbyen or who otherwise have a strong connection to Svalbard are now fed up with this way to rule the place. The is “NOK er NOK” (“enough is enough”). Local groups and organisations have now called on the local public to join a torchlight procession today (Tuesday, 16 november) in Longyearbyen. Politicians, locals, organisations and companies in and connected with Longyearbyen and Svalbard want to be heard and involved when it comes to decisions that may well decide over their future. The demand is that both political proposals, regarding both the closing of large parts of the archipelago and the idea to deprive non-Norwegian locals of their voting rights, disappear from the political agenda in Oslo.
Organisations that called on the public to join their protest include Svalbard næringsforening (an organisation of local industries and companies), AECO (an organisation representing the expedition cruise operators), Longyearbyen jeger- og fiskerforening (club of local hunters and fishers), To-takteren (club for snow mobile and boat enthusiasts), Svalbard Turn (local sports club with a large number of outdoor enthusiasts amongst the members) and the Svalbard Guide Association. Altogether, these organisations represent an impressive number of people in Longyearbyen, but also elsewhere.
Due to the weather, today’s protest may turn out to be a headlamp procession rather than a torchlight processions.