Bad News from Norway

Geldof: Norway is all talk and no action

Bob Geldof is attending some kind of conference in Oslo on peace and trade but isn't complimenting the host country. He's particularly upset about Norwegian protectionism, but also points out that Norwegian foreign aid doesn't amount to that much, even compared to the US. He wonders why Norway isn't doing more for Africa. And he doesn't think Norway is doing all that much to reduce carbon emissions.

Research kroner, renewable energy, and conflicts of interest

Add this to the lengthening list of broken promises from the "red-green" coalition government's Soria Moria declaration: research in renewable energy. Although the International Atomic Energy Agency believes that Norway has numerous opportunities to take advantage of renewable energy, Norwegian authorities have only invested NOK 44 million in the field; compared to 242 million by Denmark, 202 million by Sweden, and 109 by Finland.

On the other hand, the Norwegian government has invested extensively - to the tune of NOK 436 million - in oil and gas exploration and production. And that's in addition to investments by oil and gas companies who are trying to figure out how to conduct deep sea drilling in the arctic.

The leading theory for this is that Norway - after all - is an exporter of oil and gas and is more motivated by immediate financial gain than sustainable growth.

Norway criticized in Bali for CO2 emissions

Norway arrived at the international climate conference in Bali prepared to act as a leading voice for reduced emissions, but found itself on the defensive, as NGOs including World Wildlife Federation and Greenpeace accused the country of being all talk and no action. Norway's per capita greenhouse gas emissions are high by international standards, and the gas terminal at Melkøya in Northern Norway is about to be a major source of pollution that neither the government nor the operator have figured out yet.

Crisis for the birds; looming crisis for marine ecocystem?

Norwegian Institute for Nature Research has found that several species of marine birds are endangered in Norwegian waters. This apparently in large party because the fisheries are depleting the birds' prey in order to get feed for the fisheries in Norwegian fjords. The researchers believe that the diminishing stock of birds is a leading indicator of a larger crisis in the coastal ecosystem in Norway.

Allegations of toxic dumping and cover-up in Oslo harbor

On October 25th, Aftenposten reported that over 90,000 cubic meters toxic sludge is unaccounted for in the Oslo fjord, raising the possibility that more PCB has been dumped into the waters outside Oslo per day than what is allowed per year. The Oslo fjord is a popular boating and bathing destination for Oslo's residents.

The Harbor authority denies the allegations, and the right-wing politician Peter N. Myhre says "everything is under control."