Gudjon Atlason - My Window's Live Space

I had a very nice flying day today. From Reykjavik to Hólmavik to Gjögur to Reykanes to Arngerðareyri to Ísafjörður to Reykhólar and then back to Reykjavik. The West-Fjords are very beautiful and interesting to fly around. Weather was ok in most places, but there is alot of difference in the winds and weather from one fjord to another, quite gusty sometimes but in general the weather was good. For example at Ísafjörður it was sunny and close to 20°C with light winds from the east.

 

No shadow on the day execpt from the occurance yesterday but unfortunately there was a fatal aircraft accident yesterday here in Iceland. That was a very sad one and a good man lost his life there.

 

This is Ísafjörður Airport - See picture:

 

The current Icesave "agreements" will most likely be processed thru the Icelandic parliament this week. This "deal" is totally enforced onto this nation with threats and dishonesty (not wanting an unbiased international inturpretation of the EEA agreements). Iceland doesn't have support of any of the EU nations and not even from Norway. Only the Faroese nation gave us support, the others so called friendly nations all turned agains even the idea of fair negotiations and trials. It's not certain at all that the inforced and totally single handed "deal" will be agreed upon in the Parliament, even though the socialist/environmentalists government we have now is trying hard to bow their congressmen into agreement. The want this nation on its knees into the EU, for better or for worse. The EU (UK and Netherlands first and foremost) is threatening the Icelandic nation that if the people of this country will not agree and pay amount that is 4 times higher than Germany payed for war damages after the 1st World War (Versailles treaties), it will become the Cuba of the north and have status alike to North-Korea. In other words; Iceland will be sealed off from the international community. The reason for these enforced depts of the Icelandic people is that private banks operated in the UK and Netherlands went bankrupt. Those banks were privatized and operating in other countries. After the collapse those countries claimed that the common people of Iceland is liable for these losses directly and this is according to the EU/EEA rules which are really like socks with hundreds of holes in them. The UK and Netherlands do not even agree to the fair claim of the icelandic people to refer this depate to an international court of justice. Many specialists doubt very much that the people of Iceland is liable for the lost money but the EU does not want this matter to an international court of justice. This view is supported by the IMF which to top the stupidity is enforceing wrong economical strategy on the country, chocking the industries, and insisting on the state to reduce hugely the size and activities of the state entinties, to resign public workers and close down and shrink state costs. This is opposite to the economics that I read in high school, but there I read that the state should increase it activities in times of crizes to get some oxygen into the vains of the economy. This country is now seeing 8% unemployment rate and it's forecast to grow into 10%-15% the coming winter. 1000's of people are moving abroad to neighbouring countries, most likely 5% or more will have resettled by the end of next year.

 

My suggestion is for Iceland not to agree to the IceSlave loss and start seeking actively for friendsip and mutual agreements to our North-American neighbours for trade and common markets.

 

North America - Pls click on the picture to see it full size:

 

 

 

 

This week I'll be travelling to Prague, capital of the Czech Republic. I'll be arriving there late afternoon today and I'll be back on Thursday. Was in Keflavik and Grindavik last week for inspections. I'm gonna have a very busy schedule during this spring and summer.

 

The effects of the depression are getting ever more evident. The crown is so miserably unstable, it's can't be trusted at all. There are some bonds that bias all the efforts the Central Bank is putting into keeping the currency constant. The Crown has fallen 10% last few days after very slow and small recovery period. From last year it has fallen more then 40%.

I was on a meeting with representatives of the 4 largest political parties last night. They have no solutions. The Democratic Coalition (Samfylking) is the only party with a clear voice of something to do, that's to apply for EU entry and to take up the Euro as currency. The party is getting alot of support and is now the largest party in the country. People just wants to do someting and the main opponent, the Conservative party (Sjálfstæðisflokkurinn) is really going thru difficault times as they are responsible for the last two decades of governing with the dreadful result of total collapse of the whole financial sector in Iceland including all our major banks. They are not offering any alternative to the EU but they are still totally agains EU membership. I met with the representative of the party after the meeting last night and asked him why this is so? He didn't give me good answers. I asked him why we can't try to seek agreement with Canada to take up the Canadian dollar? He replied that this would be a possibility and has been discussed within the party, but as there are these bonds owned by foreigners (Jöklabréf = Glacier bonds) that need to be payed first, before we can change the Crown for another currency, he said therefore this is not possible until after at least four years. I told him that I like other voters didn't see any strategy from the party, why don't you say then that we will seek agreement with Canada with aim to take up Canadian dollar in 4 - 5 years? People would vote for you party if you did. Their problem is that they have no agenda, just don't do nothing kinda thing.. and right now Icelanders want to start doing something. I told him also that in four years he would be to late as by then we would be inside the EU for sure. He didn't belive so.

The left hand environment party (Vinstri Græn) is still against the EU but not so noicily as before. They are right now in the government with the Democratic Coallition and their leader is strong and talking well so they are gaining popularity. Weather they will change their mind about the EU I don't know but I suspect they will. The government has high majority of voters behind them now after the continuing collapse of the Conservative party, now facing a financial scandal aswell. The fourth party is smaller, the former Farmers party (Framsóknarflokkurinn). They are gaining some popularity from promissing to people who is dug in spiraling depts due crazy housing loans, to wipe out some of those depts. I don't think they have clear view about the EU, but I belive they will go with the wind.

 

My forecast ... We'll be in the EU before long. Do I want it? NO! Not if there is another choice.. but right now, what alse can we do?