midwives — The Reykjavik Grapevine %

Icelandic Midwives: Low Pay, Long Hours, But Going On Strike “Pointless”

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Icelandic midwives have been fighting to improve their pay for nearly two years, but going on strike would prove ineffective…

Not So Cut-And-Dry: The Circumcision Controversy Continues

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The recently proposed ban on male child circumcision has continued to spark controversy both domestically and internationally. The legislation currently…

Catholic Bishop Of Iceland Speaks Up About Circumcision

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Davíð Tencer, the Catholic Bishop of Iceland, has recently declared his support for the Jewish and Muslim community in their fight…

Hip-Hop Christmas: The Second Coming Of Emmsjé Gauti

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Emmsjé Gauti’s alternative hip-hop Christmas concert, ‘JüleVenner,’ promises nothing less than the Second Coming of Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus…

Word Of The Issue: Ljósmóðir

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Literally translated as “mother of light,” “ljósmóðir” is the Icelandic word for “midwife,” and it’s considered by many to be…

SPARKS TURN TO FLAMES: A Conversation With Bryndís Björgvinsdóttir

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Or: Fucking Around Can Make A Lot Of Difference, And It’s Important To Always Keep Trying And Not Give Up…

UK Trade Union Supports Iceland’s Nurses

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The UK’s second largest trade union has issued a statement of solidarity with Iceland’s nurses, who are preparing to take…

Iceland Strikes Again!

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The conventional wisdom says that Iceland is a happy, prosperous place with that strong Nordic welfare system. But if things…

Doctors On Strike

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About 300 doctors are now on strike as collective bargaining negotiations remain at a stand-still. Vísir reports that the strike…

Placenta Debate Arises In Hospital

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It has come to light that midwives in hospitals are often asked by mothers to be able to take their…

When I Want To Feel Good, I Dance Like This

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Dansaðu fyrir mig at TjarnarbíóCurrently in a limited return run in Reykjavík, the spare, searching, and ultimately joyful two-person show…

Magic Lore

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Legends and Lanscape [Ed. Terry Gunnell, 2009] A full moon glimmers across snow-laden fields.  Somewhere in the distance a wolf…