Iceland / Environment / Climate / Activism

Press Release


Speakers from Five Continents at Saving Iceland Conference
Reverend Billy to Preach Against Heavy Industry, July 7-8th

REYKJAVIK (ICELAND) - Organisation of the Saving Iceland conference
"Global Consequences of Heavy Industry and Large Dams" is well
underway. Speakers from social movements in the South America,
Europe, Africa, Asia and North America will join Icelanders to unite
in their opposition to heavy industry and large dams.

Presiding the conference is the well known American preacher,
humorist and social activist, Reverend Billy of the Church of Stop
Shopping. Changeallujah!

The conference 'Global Consequences of Heavy Industry and Large Dams'
aims to strengthen the ties between social movements around the world.

"The protection of the Icelandic wilderness is very much connected to
global issues such as climate and energy," says Jaap Krater from the
Netherlands, a member of the conference organising collective.

"Our conference will look at the Icelandic struggle in this
perspective and will be a unique possiblity for people from over a
dozen countries all over the world to exchange experiences. We do not
want more heavy industry or large dams, not in Iceland, and not
anywhere in the third and first world alike. Together we are aiming
to stop overdevelopment and promote social justice and a life in
harmony with the earth's natural systems."

Saving Iceland is an international network of individuals who want to
actively resist the destruction of the Icelandic wilderness by heavy
industry and large dams. It's principles are non-hierarchical
structure, consensus decision-making and working to invigorate the
ecological movement against the might of big business by not giving
up and not compromising ideals. The conference is part of a 'summer
of dissent' that includes a camp following the conference with an
array of workshops and skill sharing, a street party in Reykjavik on
July 14th, an art exhibition, concerts and film screenings and of
course direct action.

Admission to the conference will be free, donations welcome. There
will be organic, vegetarian food available at cost price from a new
Icelandic mobile action kitchen collective.


Speakers at the Saving Iceland Conference

At the conference, there will be speakers from Icelandic Naturewatch,
the Icelandic Society for the Protection of Birds, Futureland, Saving
Iceland and local Icelandic grassroots groups. In addition, the
following international speakers will be attending the Saving Iceland
Conference.

- Cirineu da Rocha for the Dam-Affected People's Movement from the
Amazone area in Brazil, where ALCOA wants to build a number of dams.

- Dr. Eric Duchemin, adjunct professor at the University of Québec at
Montréal Canada and research director of DREXenvironnement, has been
a leading author for the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC) and will be talking on the effect of large dams on
climate.

- Lerato Maria Maregele is involved in the struggle to stop a new
ALCAN smelter in South Africa.

- Kailash Awasya, involved with the Save the Narmada Movement
(Narmada Bachao Andolan), the most well known south-Asian social
movement, fighting against large dams and for tribal rights in
India's Narmada River Valley and beyond.

- Samarendra Das, an investigative journalist and writer from India,
is involved in a struggle against UTKAL/ALCAN in Kashipur.

- Helen B will join us from the UK. She has been heavily involved
with the succesful British anti-roads movement. She will give an
overview of the fascinating history of direct action.

- Attilah Springer, Rights Action Group, is fighting a new ALCOA
smelter in Trinidad & Tobago.

- Till Weidensticker has been involved and will be talking about the
recent mobilisation against the the G8 in Germany and in Saving Iceland.

- Sir Julian Rose is a director of the International Coalition to
Protect the Polish Countryside. He has been an organic farmer for
over 35 years. He will be discussing the threats posed by genetically
modified organisms. In Iceland the first experiments are commencing
with modified barley.

- Jaap Krater, the Netherlands, is editor of the magazine 'Out of
Order' and involved in Dutch Earth First!. He will be talking on the
response of the aluminium industry to peak oil, the looming energy
crisis and climate change.

Location for the conference
Hótel Hlíð,
Krókur,
Ölfus,
801 Selfoss.

Further information
More information on Saving Iceland:  http://www.savingiceland.org
Full program for the conference:  http://www.savingiceland.org/conference
To get in touch with one of the speakers of the conference, and for
any other information, please email  conference@savingiceland.org or
phone 00354 - 8430629