Iceland silent revolution; money banks democracy

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Iceland silent revolution; money banks democracy




by Christophe » 02/02/11, 11:44

Two articles on the constitutional and financial reorganization of Iceland after the financial tide of 2008.

Iceland, the silent revolution whose media, google included, do not speak or very little!


Notice to amateurs (our policies that lack ideas ...)! : Cheesy:

1)
Since Saturday November 27, Iceland has a Constituent Assembly consisting of 25 single citizens elected by their peers. His goal: to completely rewrite the constitution of 1944 by drawing in particular the lessons of the financial crisis which, in 2008, hit the country with full force.

Since this crisis, which is far from over, Iceland has seen a number of rather dramatic changes, starting with the nationalization of the three major banks, followed by the resignation of the right-wing government under popular pressure. The 2009 legislative elections brought to power a coalition of left-wing parties formed by the Alliance (a group of parties made up of Social Democrats, Feminists and former Communists) and the Left Greens Movement. This was a first for Iceland, as was the appointment of a woman, Johanna Sigurdardottir, as Prime Minister.

Soon, the new government is facing a thorny problem: the settlement in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom of a debt of 3,5 billion euros following the bankruptcy of Icesave, an online bank whose operations were mainly tours to these two countries. Under the pressure of the European Union, which the Social Democrats would like to join, the government is passing a law in January 2010 allowing this refund, which would, for each Icelander, to spend eight years a sum of about 100 euros per month. But the President of the Republic refuses to ratify the law, whose text is then submitted to a referendum. At more than 93%, Icelanders vote against the repayment of debt (6 March), and since the problem remains unresolved.

It is in this context that Iceland decides to modify its constitution, which in fact was never really drafted: when in 1944 the republic had been proclaimed, it was enough to copy in outline the constitution from Denmark, a country for which Iceland had been dependent for several decades, simply replacing the term "king" with that of "president of the republic". It is therefore a new constitution that we must write entirely, and for that we have decided to trust the sovereign people. First, there was a call for nominations (everyone could run except national elected representatives, provided they were eighteen years old and had the support of at least thirty people). 522 citizens. It was among them that the constitutive 25 were elected.

The latter will begin to meet in mid-February and will return copies before the summer. Among the most common proposals are the separation of church and state, the nationalization of all natural resources, and a clear separation of executive and legislative powers.

Admittedly, Iceland is only a small country of about 320 000 inhabitants. However, it gives a great lesson in democracy to the great states including France: let us think that, in our country, the constitutional reform of 2008 was entirely drafted at the Elysee, and that the parliamentarians adopted it only two voice after being subjected for weeks to intolerable pressure from the head of state.


http://www.cadtm.org/Quand-l-Islande-reinvente-la


2)
When Iceland reinvents democracy

the Constituent Assembly was elected in November

One day, a few months ago, an Englishman passing through Paris, met at the Lady Long Solo bookstore, alerted us to the revolution in Iceland. What revolution? We do not hear about it anywhere. A quick google search gives nothing at all, today, neither by associating the word "revolution", nor even "crisis", where one only finds details on the financial crisis, actually at the origin of this revolution, which took place in 2008, in this country of just over 300 000 inhabitants, ranked second in the world on the human development index, the HDI, behind Norway, on the eve of this crisis, in 2006.

Faced with the sudden bankruptcy of the banking system, the people went down the street. Never seen in the land of hot water jeysers. The right had immediately given way to the left. And, to begin with, the banks had been nationalized. Our English informant had heard about it for the legislative projects of total freedom for the internet, such as English sites thought to shelter there. Moreover, he insisted on speaking of a real revolution, without being able to describe it more, but surprised that one had never heard of it.

Looking stubbornly, we ended up seeing images of the presidential palace besieged by a crowd that would be described here without hesitation as anarcho-autonomous. In addition to the black flags, one could guess in the crowd a strong component of citizenship type ecologist. And it was understood that the poor unfortunate cop, all alone in front of the presidential palace, must have quickly surrendered to the pressure of the crowd. This one, nevertheless pacific, only used pots and other noisy objects, according to the Argentine method of the cacerolazo, which knew to be very profitable also there.

The president had packed up. A new government was established. But, some time later, it had the bad idea to propose the repayment of the debt of the banks vis-à-vis Denmark or Great Britain. The people are down on the street again. A referendum on the issue was imposed by popular will, and a small majority of 93% rejected the agreement provided by the gentile rulers.

Among the information gleaned, this striking image of the agora in the hot public baths, where the people assemble every morning to debate how to remake the world.

Consecration of this revolution, the election of a Constituent Assembly on November 27 2010, event may be greater than the night of August 4 1789 which was voted the abolition of privileges, which we would not have without the overview the vigilance of Truks in bulk, of our friend B.Bec, of the Gers, relaying the CADTM, or of Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who finds there a similarity with his own constitutionalist theses, but does not seem to see further than the end of his anti-capitalist nose.

Wonder of misinformation. An event as great as a real democratic revolution, such as has never been seen in Europe, can happen without the press, or google, making it possible to know anything about it. Certainly at the time of the anti-democratic consolidation that most European countries live, the Icelandic example does not really make the case for our police regimes, which again show their ability to rigorously lock the collective consciousness.

We would certainly like to know more about this Icelandic revolution. For months now, Paris has been waking up dreaming of teleporting its editorial staff for an in-depth report to the country of whale hunters and utopians. To be immersed in the hot baths of the democratic revolution certainly makes you want, especially seen from the heart of our safe winter.

It is necessary to imagine 25 "simple citizens" who go floor on the ideal constitution. The breath of humanity should be restrained. Where we will probably see that it is not difficult to do better than all the figures of pseudo-democracies that have emerged so far on five continents.

This article would like a call to who would have more information on this extraordinary Icelandic story. You can write to me at: michelsitbon@gmail.com, and I will relay with pleasure. A dossier on the Icelandic revolution tries to gather articles that can be found on the subject.


Tags (Tags): Iceland Justice Liberties Media Politics Revolutions


http://www.parisseveille.info/quand-l-i ... ,2643.html
Last edited by Christophe the 02 / 02 / 11, 17: 49, 2 edited once.
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by netshaman » 02/02/11, 14:06

So I say that most of our dear politicians should take some seed.
It is not surprising to me to note that the official state press did not inform us on the subject: it is too subversive!
Power to the people ?
How are you?
Farewell backchiches and lobbies that are full pockets, do not push anyway, there is no democracy here!
And then it's not violent enough as a revolution, there's nobody killing anyone, it's not interesting, it takes blood for it to sell!
Nationalize the banks?
Right here ?
You do not think about it, my dear sir!
No more mirobolant bonuses from traders, and speculation !!!
We must preserve liberalism, it is a national duty!
And if the people knew we could have a real democracy it would be the cat for the profits of these gentlemen!
Go go back to your star academy and secret story, go back to sleep, the people, all this is just a dream, go back to the matrix ...
Do not make waves especially, stay caaaalmes .... continue to work without thinking, do what we tell you, obey very wisely and all will be well .... (For us ...)
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by bernardd » 02/02/11, 17:20

Concerning the financial problem of the Icelandic banks, it is in April 2010 that I heard Evan Joly speak about it one morning on France Inter. She said the Icelandic parliamentary report pointed out that the banks had gone bankrupt because they had 80% of their credit to ... the owners of the banks and their friends.

cf http://sic.althingi.is/

But these reports are still not translated by the commercial media, and no other media has resumed the words of Eva Joly on this subject: the black hole ...

Do you think that the credit ratios are different in the Euro zone? Nobody can know, the ECB does not seem to monitor this point.

If you want to thank an influential politician, easy: he contracts a loan, at preferential rate. No marks....

There is another solution: you are a publicly traded company. And you arrange to vary the course of action at times you know. It's enough that the people you want to thank buy and sell at the right time ...
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by Christophe » 24/02/11, 16:17

Mailing of the late news magazine "Arrêt sur Image" (which continues + or - on the web via a paid service ...)

In recent weeks, your alert emails have multiplied: it seems that an anti-capitalist revolution is taking place in Iceland; the people, by referendum, would have refused to pay for the banks; the Icelanders, having turned their institutions upside down, would have elected a constituent assembly. And of all this, the French media do not breathe a word, so as not to give bad ideas to other peoples, subject to rigor. It was necessary to be clear about it. This is why this week we have invited all the authorities available in matters of knowledge of Iceland. Result? Even if "Internet Radio" magnifies the event a little, the French media silence about Iceland is truly astounding. "Revolution"? Maybe not. But for the first time, a country is experiencing what will happen when the people refuse to pay for the banks. Yes, we should pay more attention to it. Our show is here (1). The chronicle of Didier Porte is there (2).

It was your emails, too, that alerted us to the issue of shale gas. This new ultra-polluting hydrocarbon research technique is developing in France, in the greatest secrecy. Does this mean that the media did not know? Yes, they knew, but not everything. By reading our article (3), in any case, you will not be able to say that you did not know.

And to think of something else, this weekend, I highly recommend a great trip in ... the music of movies, since the creation of the cinema. It is our columnist, Rafik Djoumi, who undertook to take you there. If you want to understand why the great post-war composers in Hollywood were all of Austro-Hungarian origin, and learn how they lost their supremacy in the 60 years, embark on this two-step journey, which you will drive from Casablanca to the Godfather, through Ben Hur. It's here (4), and there (5).



Daniel Schneidermann



Remember: subscriptions are our only resource. To subscribe, for a month or for a year, this is where (6)


Some email clients block direct access to links. Also, you will find below and in clear all the addresses of this message:
(1) http://www.arretsurimages.net/contenu.php?id=3763
(2) http://www.arretsurimages.net/contenu.php?id=3761
(3) http://www.arretsurimages.net/contenu.php?id=3757
(4) http://www.arretsurimages.net/contenu.php?id=3703
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(6) http://www.arretsurimages.net/abonnements.php
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by dedeleco » 24/02/11, 16:39

To hide, to stifle, information, people, we end up with explosions of awareness of the collective strength of the spoiled, as in some Arab countries and not in Iceland.

Is Europe protected?
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by Christophe » 10/04/11, 10:04

Another lesson of democracy which one should be inspired ... on the other hand I do not see how the yes could have won ... You would agree to pay to save banks (foreign) you? Banks whose financial mafia practices have brought the real economic crisis that affects almost everyone (except banks)? Banks that made huge profits (records) in 2010?

Obviously this "no", the banksters are not going to like it and will "take revenge" and put even more pressure on Icelandic courage!

Hey yes there is no room for humanity or feelings in a bank ...

(The moral functioning of a bank is also not far from that of the definition of a psychopath ...

The psychopath wiki definition wrote:Psychopathy is a behavioral disorder characterized by the denial of the individuality of others and a generally impulsive and antisocial behavior that can go as far as crime. In psychology, this type of personality is characterized by antisocial behavior based on impulses without guilt.


http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychopathie )

Icelanders reject Icesave agreement

released the 10 / 04 / 2011 to 09: 38

'No' won for the second time in Iceland in a referendum on the government's deal to reimburse Britain and the Netherlands following the bankruptcy of online bank Icesave in 2008.

"The worst option was chosen. The vote cut the country in two", reacted the Prime Minister, Johanna Sigurdardottir, on the air of public television, late Saturday evening.

After counting about 169.000 ballots, the "no" is in the lead with just under 60% of the vote, according to the latest official results relayed Sunday morning by Icelandic television and covering five of the six electoral districts.

Iceland has 230.000 voters and the participation rate for this consultation is unknown.

Voters on the island were asked to vote on an agreement on 3,5 billion euros, the sum paid by London and Amsterdam to compensate their nationals who deposited money on the online bank managed by Landsbanki, one of three institutions in the country swept away by the financial crisis.

The Icelandic government assured that the new Icesave agreement had been better negotiated than another arrangement rejected by a previous referendum in March 2010, but the population refuses to be put to use for the bankruptcy of banks deemed irresponsible.

"I am aware that this will certainly affect us internationally, but it is worth taking a stand," said Thorgerdun Asgeirsdottir, a 28-year-old barmaid, met at the exit of a polling station.

This "no" victory undoubtedly constitutes a setback for the center-left coalition which has governed the country since the 2008 crisis.

Johanna Sigurdardottir, who had underlined the risks of a victory of "no" for the Icelandic economy, did not reveal her intentions as for a possible resignation of her government.

"We must do everything to avoid political and economic chaos after this result," she said on Saturday evening.

With the rejection of the deal, the Icesave case should end up in a European court, a solution that could cost the country more, economists say.

The government and economists argue that a settlement of the Icesave case would have allowed Iceland to return to the markets to finance its economy, after the expiration this year of the rescue plan granted by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Return to markets is a condition for lifting controls on capital flows.

These restrictions on capital flows, imposed by the authorities to prevent a collapse of the crown, the national currency, make 465 billion crowns (2,86 billion euros), a quarter of Iceland's GDP, remain in the hands of foreign investors, who for the most part seem to want to get rid of them as quickly as possible.


Source: http://www.lexpress.fr/actualites/2/mon ... 81264.html
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by Christophe » 12/04/11, 13:40

"The worst option was chosen. The vote cut the country in two," Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir (Social Democratic Alliance Party) said on state television after the referendum results were announced on April 9. The Icelanders have indeed rejected the new law on the Icesave agreement by 58,9% "no" and 39,7% "yes". The South was, among the six constituencies of the country, the most mobilized against the text (72,9% of "no"). The turnout was high, amounting to 70%, or +7 points to that recorded during the previous popular consultation on the first law on the Icesave agreement on March 6, 2010.


Source Suite: http://www.lemonde.fr/idees/article/201 ... _3232.html
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by Christophe » 31/01/12, 20:56

The ongoing revolution of Iceland
by deena stryker


We remember that at the beginning of the financial crisis of 2008, Iceland literally went bankrupt. The reasons were only mentioned by the way, and since then, this little-known member of the European Union has seemed to slip away from the news.

As one European country after another faces near-bankruptcy, putting the euro at risk, Iceland becomes a beacon of hope for choosing people before profit. here's why:

Five years of a neo-liberal regime led to a privatization of all banks in Iceland, (320.000 inhabitants, no army). in order to attract foreign investors, these banks offered online banking services whose minimal costs allowed them to provide relatively high rates of return.

These accounts (banking), called Icesave, attracted many small investors English and Dutch. as investments increased, the banks' foreign debts also increased. in 2003, Iceland's debt was equivalent to 200 times its GNP (gross national product), and in 2007 it was 900 per cent.

The global financial crisis of 2008 became the coup de grace. the three main Icelandic banks went bankrupt and were nationalized, while the krona (Icelandic currency) lost much of its value against the euro. at the end of that year the country went bankrupt.

Citizens recover their rights

Contrary to global expectations, the crisis has led the population to take the power of their country, through a process of direct participatory democracy. This eventually led to a new constitution, but only after fierce perseverance.

Geir Haarde, the prime minister of a social democratic government coalition, negotiated a loan of more than two million dollars, to which the Nordic countries added another two and a half million dollars. but the foreign financial community pushed for Iceland to impose drastic measures.

Protests and riots ensued, eventually forcing the government to be replaced by a newly formed left-wing coalition.

The coalition finally complied with demands from abroad that Iceland should pay a total of three and a half million euros. this would have required each Icelandic to pay 130 $ a month for fifteen years, at 5,5% interest, in order to repay a debt contracted by private parties vis-à-vis other private parties. it was the drop of water that broke the camel's back.

What happened next was extraordinary. the belief that citizens had to pay for the mistakes of a financial monopoly, that an entire nation had to be taxed to pay off private debts, was broken.

The lively relations between the citizens and their politicians empowered the leaders of Iceland to act alongside their constituents. the head of state, Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, refused to ratify the law that made Icelanders responsible for bank debts, and supported calls for a referendum.

The furious international community

The world only increased the pressure. Britain and Holland warned of terrible reprisals that would isolate the country, including stopping IMF aid and freezing Icelandic foreign bank accounts.

During the March 2010 referendum, 93% of the population voted against debt repayment. the IMF immediately froze his loan. but Iceland was not going to be intimidated. as Grimsson puts it: "We were told that if we refused the conditions of the international community, we would become Cuba of the North. But if we accepted them, we would have become northern Haiti.

With the support of angry citizens, the government launched civil and criminal investigations against those responsible for the financial crisis. as a result, the former finance minister served a two-year prison sentence, while Interpol issued international arrest warrants against the bankers involved in the crash.

The Icelanders also agreed on certain budget reduction measures such as the dismantling of their military infrastructure - the Icelandic Defense Agency (IDA), ceased to exist in January 2011.

The new constitution of Iceland

In order to liberate the country from the exaggerated power of international finance and virtual money, the people of Iceland decided to draft a new constitution

They elected 25 citizens among 522 adults not belonging to any political party, but recommended by at least thirty people. The meetings of the voters were diffused on line, and the citizens could send their comments and suggestions, being the witnesses of this document to measure that he was taking shape. the constitution that emerged from this process of participatory democracy was submitted to parliament for approval this autumn.

The Greek people have been told that the privatization of their public sector is the only way to keep the country afloat. the peoples of Italy, Spain and Portugal face similar pressures. they, as well as the rest of us, could learn a lot from Iceland, refusing to bow to foreign interests, and declaring loudly that people can resume and regain their power.


More information:

www.stjornlagarad.is/english

Translated from Iceland's On-going Revolution

http://www.positivenewsus.org/editions/ ... l1105.html
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by antoinet111 » 31/01/12, 21:30

This is the Finaleuu luteueu ...
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by Flytox » 31/01/12, 21:43

That's when we do it like that ????????????? 8)
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