Norway Is Walking Away From Billions of Barrels of Oil

[ombugge]

The battle was within one political party and not a decision by the Government of the time. I think too much have been made of it.
So far this is a political fight over whether to even make an impact study, not about awarding exploration permits in the area.

Nothing is decided yet, nor is the political fight over by a long way.

[ombugge]

Here is a long article about a lady that is fighting tooth and nail against ANY talk of oil exploration in the Lofoten/Vesteraalen/Senja (LOVESA) offshore area.
She makes her living as a fisherman/woman there, being the owner and single person on board a 34’ “sjark”:

Da Monica fant fiskelykken

Don’t know how well it will translate, but hopefully good enough to get a feel for her point of view and why she hold it.

For those who don’t have the patience to read the entire article, here is the essence of her view on the matter:

What are you most afraid of?

• Poor weather, poor economy - and the future of this planet.
  She looks out over the ocean. Powerful forces want to do oil extraction right here.
  But for now there are only fishing boats to see, and several acquaintances drift on the horizon: “The Sea Star”, “Andøygut” with her boyfriend Kim Ivan on board, “Braken” and “Outlaw”.

Monica has fought long and hard against oil development and impact assessment in the sea areas outside Lofoten, Vesterålen and Senja.

Since 2009, she has been involved in the People’s Action Oil-free Lofoten, Vesterålen and Senja, and there she is now also on the board.

• It really scares me a lot. Global warming, more storms, species disappearing. And politicians who don’t take enough responsibility and say stop. I don’t think anyone is willing to gamble with an area that’s so important to our fisheries, she believes.

• We have enough wealth in this country to let the oil stay under the fishing bank.

I like the last bit:

But right now she can only think about getting the catch delivered, getting the bill and then getting home.

• Tonight it will be taco. Cod Tongue Taco.

Not sure if that would be self caught and cut Cod Tongues, or of the last bit is left to local kids to make some pocket money, as is normal.