Artist Björk Guðmundsdóttir, in an interview on state broadcasting service RÚV, said that she would like to see the proposed aluminium smelter in Helguvík changed into a giant greenhouse for growing domestic vegetables. She also said that the government still has the power to nix the Magma Energy deal, reminding the Leftist-Greens of their environmentalist platform.
As the Grapevine reported in its latest issue, the Icelandic government still has the power to stop Magma Energy’s purchase of HS Orka by, among other ways, citing “eminent domain”, i.e., that it is within the interests of the nation to stop the sale.
Björk repeated this point during the interview, saying that this was also the opinion of the committee assembled by the prime minister to investigate Magma’s purchase. She added that the Leftist-Greens should remain true to their environmentalist platform and do whatever they can to stop the sale.
When asked what she would do if she were mayor of Reykjanesbæ, where Magma intends to centre their operations and where unemployment is highest in the country, the artist said she would build a giant greenhouse for growing vegetables, so Iceland wouldn’t have to import them anymore. This would also create as many or possibly more jobs than a smelter, with the added bonus of being less hazardous to humans and the environment.
Overall, she wants to see Iceland’s natural resources in public ownership, and wants a national referendum on that question put into action.
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