About 70 people turned out to protest against plans to drill for oil in Drekasvæði, a supposedly oil-rich area within Icelandic waters.
Vísir reports that 12 different organisations were amongst those represented at the protests, which were held in front of the National Museum of Iceland this afternoon.
The time and place were set to coincide with the signing off of a third licence to begin drilling in the area. In a joint statement (.pdf file) from the organisations involved, they point out that climate change is “the greatest problem facing humanity.” They point out furthermore that drilling will not only contribute to this climate change in the atmosphere; Icelandic waters and the fish populations therein will also be threatened.
“The Icelandic government raises itself up on green energy,” the statement continues. “They sell this image whilst at the same time encouraging corporations to search for oil within Icelandic waters. We oppose this hypocritical policy.”
Strong indications of oil in Drekasvæði came to light in 2012. Drilling itself, however, has not yet begun.
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