(THIS ARTICLE IS MACHINE TRANSLATED by Google from Norwegian)
It is approaching Easter, and for everyone who is going on a trip, it is worthwhile to come up with the mountain vetting rules. Rarely, however, the mountain vetting rules have been more relevant outside the Easter mountains. This winter, they have also gained relevance for an important environmental issue.
In two national salmon fjords, Repparfjord in Finnmark and Førdefjord in Sogn and Fjordane, the mining companies Nussir and Nordic Mining will dump toxic mining waste right in the fjords. The government has given permission for the projects, and calls it a lawful decision to demolish two of our most valuable salmon fjords. The cases are so serious that so far 2200 people have expressed their willingness to resort to civil disobedience – or in good Norwegian, to get stuck in order to prevent the projects. In the first three weeks of February, the Government and the mining companies got a taste of the actions they can expect if they do not drop the excavation projects, as about 100 people from all over the country acted in civil disobedience to the Nordic Mining test drilling on Engebøfjellet near Førdefjorden.
The mountain vetting rules are based on the precautionary principle. The same principle underlies much of the thinking about how we manage our nature and resources. It's about taking one chance too little rather than one chance too much. On the Easter mountain the precautionary principle helps you to make sure you do not get lost or taken off the leash. In environmental management it may mean that we do not gamble with important habitats for endangered species or the nature's endurance.
Does not recommend sea landfill. The permits the government has given to mining in Repparfjord and Førdefjord are very contentious. In particular, the decision to dump the mine waste into the sea is controversial. Norway is one of only five countries in the world to use this practice, and the seabed is advised by, among others, our foremost marine scientists at the Institute of Marine Research. 250 million tonnes of hazardous mining waste will be dumped in Førdefjorden – equivalent to one truckload every two minutes for 50 years.
The fjords are a continuous ecosystem, and when the seabed in the landfill area is abandoned, it affects not only the bottom animals, but the entire life of the fjord. The experience from the seabed in other Norwegian fjords confirms this. In another national salmon fjord, the Bøkfjord in Finnmark, water quality has gone from good to bad. The mining industry of the future cannot grow at the expense of renewable industries and important natural areas. An extension of the mining projects in Førdefjorden and Repparfjord will add a list for future mining projects. Then the project cannot be permitted with the worst possible environmental standards.
The fight against dumping of mining sludge in Førdefjord and Repparfjord are two individual cases where the arguments against are strong – but at the same time it is a matter of principle. Should we sacrifice perpetual renewable resources and important natural areas for short-term profits?
For three weeks, the shareholders blocked the construction work for Nordic Mining. Less than five percent of those on the action list acted. 2100 people are ready for new actions.
Dear Erna. I hope you will read up on the mountain vetting rules before heading out for Easter, but more importantly: I hope you spend your holidays reading the Engebø mountain vetting rules, and think about one more time before it's too late. Norwegian nature is under threat. The future of the fjords is at stake. Listen to experienced marine scientists: It's no shame to turn around!
Engebø MOUNTAIN CODE:
- Show respect for nature and the environment
- Listen to experienced marine scientists
- Turn around in time. There's no shame in turning around
Skjoldvær is the leader in Nature and Youth.
ingridsk@nu.no
