*Saving Iceland Summer Mobilisation -- join us from 18th July to resist the industrialisation of Europe's last remaining great wilderness and take direct action against heavy industry!*



*The Struggle So Far*
The campaign to defend Europe's greatest remaining wilderness continues.
For the past four years direct action camps in Iceland during the summer
have targeted aluminium smelters, mega-dams and geothermal power plants.

After the terrible destruction caused at Kárahnjúkar and Hengill, it is
time to crush the 'master plan' that would have seen every single major
glacial river dammed, every substantial geothermal field exploited and
the construction of aluminium smelters, oil refineries and silicon
factories, as well as a significant increase in Iceland's greenhouse gas
emissions.

*The Situation Now *
Despite optimism following the 'cutlery revolution' where mass street
protests and direct action brought down the Icelandic government and
forced the issue of heavy industry back onto the political agenda, the
battle is far from over.

The fall of aluminium prices on the world market and the global economic
crisis has taken its toll on heavy industry projects and aluminium
companies in Iceland, putting many of the plans for aluminium smelters,
mega-dams and geothermal power plants on hold, or ruled out completely.
The heavy industry machine is far from having been defeated but recent
uprisings show the deep impact Saving Iceland has had on the grassroots
and the political landscape.

*Political Changes*
The recent elections are a major blow for the environmental movement in
Iceland, with the 'Left Greens' booting the minister of the environment
out for being too much of a genuine environmentalist. We are looking at
a heavily fortified pro-heavy industry government, doing away with any
pretence of the government being 'Green' or even remotely Left wing. On
top of this, national energy companies have already started negotiations
with other types of industry in the North, where some politicians ruled
out a new smelter.


*Anarchy in Iceland *
Years of work by Saving Iceland to introduce the ideas of direct action
and anarchy into mainstream society, coupled with a radicalised
population following the downfall of the government, has resulted in a
constantly growing movement of radical activists and anarchists in Iceland.

Over the past few months squatters have twice taken a social centre and
defended it from eviction, refugee and no borders activism is going
strong, Food Not Bombs hit the streets every week and actions such as
the four "skyr attacks" (where green yoghurt is thrown all over
displays, computers and suits) in two months have targeted politicians
and nature killers.

The mutual support between the Icelandic radical community and Saving
Iceland this summer will make for a very exciting and action-filled
mobilisation!


*Targets this Summer *
The Helguvík aluminium smelter, targeted by Saving Iceland last summer
with an action that stopped construction for a whole day after 40
activists invaded the site, is still being built. Powering the smelter
will mean eight new power plants, at least seven of which will be
geothermal from the Reykjanes Peninsula, drying it up, and Hellisheiði
-- also targeted by Saving Iceland last summer that saw a drill rig shut
down costing thousands of pounds. One of the geothermal plants powering
Century's smelter could be in Bitra, close to Hengill, where a local
campaign last winter stopped construction from taking place. The eighth
power plant will probably be a mega-dam on the beautiful Þjórsá River.

If ever there was a building site and "test drilling sites" destroying
unique and fragile ecosystems and vulnerable to direct action this
summer they are on the Reykjanes peninsula, South West Iceland!

*Get involved! *
Come to Iceland from the 18th July and join us for a summer of
resistance and direct action. Check www.savingceland.org for regular
updates and information for people joining us, or email us on
 savingiceland@riseup.net to let us know when you're arriving.

Help support our struggle with donations, translations, solidarity
actions and by spreading the word.