Björk asks for world’s help to protect Iceland’s wilderness

06 November 2015, 10:56 | Written by Paul Bridgewater

(News)

(Björk) (Iceland Airwaves)

Björk has hit out against plans to build over 50 dams and power plants in her home country - a move that could have a drastic and irreversible impact on Iceland’s nature and wildlife.

Speaking at a press conference this morning in Iceland on behalf of Protect the Park - which seeks to preserve Iceland’s nature and wildlife - the musician explained, “Icelanders have a deadline. We have eleven more days to protest these plans. We propose to start a national park in our highlands. We ask the world to support us against our government. Help us to protect our wilderness.”

Protect the Park is trying to combine the forces of Iceland’s environmental organisations to fight the plans and build a national park in Iceland’s highlands.

The proposed power line would cut the central highlands into two. With 90 percent of all energy in Iceland already going to heavy industry, the nature of Iceland - the organisation claims - cannot provide all the energy needed to complete the project. Eleven more days of the planning process remain for Icelanders to register their dissent against the plans.

“I’m not forcing my views on Icelanders, said Björk, “I know 80 percent of Icelanders [support] this. I”ve decided to put all my energy into Iceland and all my time away from my music I’ve put into this battle. I can be more valuable here in Iceland and get more done than…if I were to fly around the world and fight global warming.”

”We’re all doing this in our free time…we’re volunteers,” Björk added. “We’re artists pretending we’re really good at statistics!”

Addressing the foreign press present, Björk added, “Your support means a lot…just to say you agree with us means a lot. Your views…mirror back here to the people in power.”

The press conference also flagged the threat of David Cameron’s plans for Iceland’s volcanos to heat UK homes via the world’s longest subsea cable. The move is intended to provided sustainable, long-term renewable energy. “We’ve seen the hype before and we’ve seen the damage that has to be done to harness this energy…there’s not more nature available for silica factories and the cable. Tell elf stories, tell cute things, but when it comes to engineering, use facts,” added renowned writer and environmentalist Andri Snær Magnason.

Cameron was in Iceland last week meeting with Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson about the planned cable. The move is intended to provide sustainable, long-term renewable energy.

The announcement took place half-way through the annual Iceland Airwaves Music Festival where Björk was originally slated to play before cancelling all live appearances earlier this year.