News from Reykjavik: there have been many many in front of the Parlament-house last days and nights, singing

and shouting: invalid government! dancing and drumming on drums and pots and pans. The prime-minister was egged yesterday and was very shocked, he seems to be in a denial of the situation. The police is professional, just only once in a while using undeserved violence and pepper-spray and tear-gas and arresting teenagers!

A big dead cedar tree, former christmas-tree, was put on a big fire in front of the parliament and in the air a hint of a revolution, makes one think of for example the Hungarian revolution in 1956. Last night, some teenagers threw stones at the police and tonight the protesting people in front of the parlament house wear many of them an orange ribbon as a reminder of a peaceful protest. The weather is horrible, but the protest goes on, until the weekend, there will be a stop, so that the weekend-alchohol doesn’t blend into the tear-gas.

On Björk and Auður Capital’s fund for innovation in aim of sustainable development in New York Times on the 24 th of december Bjork and Audur Capital in NYT

Synopsis: The powers and expertise of Icelandic educational institutions need to be put to use more purposefully. The basic infrastructure of educational institutions needs to be cultivated by promoting international research and revising the current evaluation and grant systems. Increased collaboration between educational institutions in Iceland is necessary, in addition to the creation of more diverse arenas for research and learning for both Icelandic and foreign parties. The independence of Icelandic educational institutions must be ensured against dominant market forces, and extensive connections to the economy and societal structure promoted. The establishment of digital databases is proposed for research in the humanities, social, environmental, and natural sciences.
(more…)

Synopsis: We need to develop a comprehensive policy in energy affairs, considering everything that concerns energy processing. We need to look systematically at various possibilities for energy usage. It is in the interests of the nation to allow informative and responsible debate to clarify the options. Therefore we need to be transparent when it comes to decision making in energy affairs.
(more…)

… that can be made to further sustainable development in Iceland :

1. HEALTH
Important objectives and projects within the health sector in Iceland
Synopsis: There is great value in the Icelandic health sector; it is found in people, knowledge, technology, equipment and the structure of the sector itself. Nevertheless, there is also a great deal of waste within the system and this could easily be reduced by reorganising the system in part or in its entirety. Furthermore, increased co-operation is needed in order to share information and to connect with other sectors, such as the tourism industry, food and pharmaceutical production, both domestically and abroad. The health sector is based both on human capital and natural resources, and it is important build up the system with sustainable development in mind.
(more…)

Photo: www.visir.is

On the occasion of Björk Guðmundsdóttir presenting Prime Minister Geir H. Haarde with eight proposals for changes that can be made to further sustainable development in Iceland

After the Náttúra-Concert last summer, Björk began researching the economic life of Iceland and summoned a workshop on the October 12th and 19th, together with the website Nattura.info, University of Reykjavik and The Centre of Innovation. Around one hundred experts gathered at the open discussion of the workshops; academics, investors and industrial designers, representatives from Region Business agencies, professional organisations, knowledge societies around the country, together with those who have worked on creating ideas, companies and other innovation activity, on sustainable growth and diversity.
(more…)

The Spark Workshop, organized by Björk, Nattura.info and the University of Reykjavik, discussed and worked on those notes on important actions and goals in Icelandic energy affairs. Participants did not agree on all matters, naturally, since this is one of the hottest issues in Iceland of today: Are we going to try to solve our economic crisis by building more of aluminium smelters, or are we going to do it other ways? Björk then gave those points to the governement.

Synopsis: We need to develop a comprehensive policy in energy affairs, considering everything that concerns energy processing. We need to look systematically at various possibilities for energy usage. It is in the interests of the nation to allow informative and responsible debate to clarify the options. Therefore we need to be transparent when it comes to decision making in energy affairs. (more…)

Here are the points on important opportunities and objectives in Icelandic design, made by the Spark workshop series organized by Björk, Nattura.info and the University of Reykjavik, and given to the government.

In a nutshell: Icelandic design is a creative force that can strengthen Icelandic society and promote a diverse economy. All innovation projects call for the ingenuity and expertise of designers. It is important to involve designers in the early stages of projects, whether with private businesses, the public sector, or in different arenas. There is a prevailing tendency to get designers involved too late in the process, instead of bringing their experience into play at the very beginning of product and project development. There are already many interesting projects up and running that involve designers working with Icelandic heritage such as museums, agriculture, gastronomy, tourism and professional manufacturing. It is important to support these projects and to construct a network of designers, investors, business and marketing people, in order to create new and diverse opportunities in Iceland.
(more…)

Here are some suggestions on important projects and goals in technology sector development in Iceland, made during several work-shops, organized by Björk, Nattura.info and the University of Reykjavik. Eight suggestions were made and handed over to the government the other day.

Synopsis: It is necessary to create an attractive international working environment, both judicial and social, to emphasise the correlation between the working environment, education and research, to support all innovation processes. These goals can only be achieved by good co-operation between the government and professionals. The former must be forward-thinking and well informed about the potential of  the high-tech industry in Iceland.
1.    Ensure a stable working environment in Iceland
Most technology companies in Iceland work internationally and need economic stability. It is almost impossible for these companies to estimate revenue and expenditure when everything depends on an unsteady exchange rate. Iceland needs to adopt the Euro and enter the European Union.

(more…)

Auðlind (Resource) is selling shares in Iceland’s natural resources! This year’s Christmas gift. You are invited to an opening of Auðlind in the National Museum of Iceland, at 17.00 on the 1st. of december, 2008.

Enthusiasts of Iceland’s natural treasures have worked for years to establish a fund dedicated to supporting the reclamation and maintenance of the country’s natural resources.

There is no model for such a fund in Iceland, but comparable institutions exist abroad, often through cooperation between the private, public and business spheres, undertaking projects in the field of environmental conservation. At the same time, the fund has parallels in European and North American land trusts, which are thought by many to be one of the most effective ways for the general public to bring about land conservation. Funds of this type operate according to public guidelines so that everyone can learn about their activities and the results they achieve. (more…)