Prime Minister of Iceland Jóhanna Sigurdardóttir accepted a petition with almost 50,000 signatures from the hands of musician and environmentalist Björk yesterday.
Prime Minister of Iceland Jóhanna Sigurdardóttir. Photo by Páll Kjartansson.
The government is challenged to prevent Canadian Magma Energy’s acquisition of Icelandic energy company HS Orka and hold a national referendum on the ownership of the country’s natural resources and the right to harness them, Fréttabladid reports.
Sigurdardóttir announced at the Icelandic parliament, Althingi, yesterday that a seizure of assets in the HS Orka sale is not out of the question, although it would be wiser to negotiate with Magma Energy to prevent a compensation claim.
Björk and other campaign organizers met with Sigurdardóttir and Finance Minister Steingrímur J. Sigfússon to discuss the approach. Björk said she is satisfied with the meeting even though people are in disagreement on what actions should be taken.
Meanwhile, more than 300 people gathered outside the parliament yesterday afternoon when MPs convened for the first time after the Christmas break.
One of the demonstration’s organizers, Ásta Hafberg, said protestors are demanding that the government find a solution to the debt problem of homeowners.
According to Morgunbladid, barrels were beaten and fires lit and the police erected a fence to prevent protestors from coming too close to the parliamentary building. However, the protests were peaceful.
Click here to read more about Björk’s campaign and here to read more about the debt problems of homeowners.
