Dreamland
Iceland is experiencing an environmental catastrophe. In the last two years, Alcoa and Rio Tinto´s irresponsible business strategy has already resulted in the destruction of glacial rivers, canyons and over 60 ancient waterfalls and valleys in Iceland. After an intense fight and, despite growing public opposition, the aluminium giants managed to pull off the build of Europe’s largest hydroelectric power plants, Kárahnjúkar, directly affecting over 1000 km2 of
spectacular untouched nature.
The future belongs to those who prepare for it.
Imagine putting a massive power plant, dam and reservoir plus a 400 thousand ton aluminum smelter in an area comparable to the Lake District, both in beauty and size. That’s what has happened in Iceland and a similar fate will surely follow in other remote and treasured areas of Europe, unless something changes and a new mentality adopted.
To the horror of the informed observers (a majority of the Icelandic public), this was just the beginning.
The expansion plans include the destruction of even more waterfalls, glacial rivers and some of the main breeding sites for several rare European bird species. The wilderness now under threat is stunning to behold and home to an incredibly diverse and fragile ecosystem. Its waterfalls, millions of years in the making, are disappearing into dams and reservoirs.
The majority of the people of Iceland are against these expansion plans but the Government seems to be under the spell of the conglomerates, while the nation is slowly being lulled into submission and acceptance. It has been revealed that the price of electricity that the conglomerates have managed to wield out of the Icelandic authorities is half of the going rate in Europe. Why the government submitted to these outrageous prices needs to be investigated and raises questions whether our democratic institutions can deliver in such
situations.
It is in this atmosphere that Dreamland is written. The book exposes the spell, and shows us that all this devastation is also absolutely needless - the destruction of nature is not to our advantage. The book demonstrates that human society can be organised in harmony with nature, that we need not destroy to survive. That we can use technology better, explore new methods of harnessing energy, which will in the end also be less costly than these archaic, low-tech and brutal methods.
Press Information for Dreamland – A Self-Help Manual for a Frightened Nation
The brilliance of Dreamland is that it turns us unto a different way of thinking. It encourages us to look for solutions outside the box and it shows us that the solution lies in the adoption of a new mindset. It rejects the philosophy of fear, a fear of the future, a fear of unemployment, a fear of starvation; and the book’s contagious optimism reminds us of the huge advances in technology in recent years and asks us to make better use of it.
Dreamland has been praised for its gripping style and originality. Despite the serious nature of the subject, the author never looses his sense of humour. Andri Snær´s extensive research enables him to put the issues into a global context.
- ABOUT ANDRI SNÆR MAGNASON -
Andri Snær is one of Iceland’s most respected authors and environmentalists. He has also written “The
Story of the Blue Planet”, a children’s book already published in over twenty countries and soon to be published in the UK by Citizen Press, as well as several other well received works. Andri was born in
1973, lives in Reykjavik with his wife and four children. Andri will be giving lectures in the UK in the
coming year.
- EARLY PRESS COMMENTS & REVIEWS FOR DREAMLAND –
-
“In wry and entertainingly digressive prose, Magnason confronts a national problem from a global
perspective. Dreamland reads like a sort of Icelandic No Logo, teaching us valuable lessons about
capitalism, sustainability and the ways in which the world can develop deep into the twentieth century.”
Times Literary Supplement
“Yet as committed to Iceland’s most pressing environmental issue as Dreamland is, Magnason is also a
wry and entertaining commentator, capable of disarming through humour rather than diatribe.”
Permaculture magazine
“His modest charm figures into his writing, which juggles reasoned talk of carbon emissions with
aspirational ideas for how we might think about living in a world with changing wants and needs. It’s a
testament to Dreamland that it was always tempting to set aside quiet time to read.”
The Onion
“Before I say anything else: Read this book… regardless of your opinion of power plants, aluminium
smelters… and regardless of which political party you vote for, red, green or blue… this book will
provide you with information and help you form a balanced opinion. “
Iceland Review magazine
“Dreamland… runaway bestseller [that] exposed the spell…”
The National Geographic Magazine
published by www.citizen-press.co.uk
Andri Snær Magnason´s
Dreamland
A self
foreword by Björk
adapted and translated by Nicholas Jones
available from here
available via Smekkleysa
Tags: Dreamland, English, Fréttir, News
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