ROCK N ROLL
by June Kolflaath & Thea Marie Sando
The Førdefjord case concerns the permission the mining company Nordic Mining was granted by the state to dump 170 million tons of mining waste in the Førdefjord. Norway is one of the two countries that still allows new projects with a seafill. There are currently 11 seafills on our planet today, half of them are in Norway. Environmental organizations believe that having a seafill in the fjord will endanger life and biodiversity in the national salmon fjord.
The overweighing argument for allowing the seafill was that the societal benefits outweigh the environmental consequences. We are left with the feeling that the societal benefits do not benefit the public, nor the local society. On the contrary, they are negatively affected by allowing the seafill.
The few who do benefit do not live in Vevring. We find it concerning that even with great amounts of activism, resistance, public engagement, and media attention against the seafill, the state stands by its decision to allow it.
However, the resistance and engagement also make us hopeful. It has resulted in stricter regulations, fewer chemicals, and higher surveillance of the seafill, and possibly most importantly, it has drawn attention to the topic.
