torfason

We need a whole lot of frontline activists working to challenge this failing neoliberal system that we reside under, where the corporations are taking control, and democracy is likely to die, and where the government fails to listen to the people!

It is possible for brave individuals to make a difference. In this interview Icelandic protest leader Hordur Torfason speaks of what makes an activist, by relating his own experience. First he talks about his gay rights activism, and then onto the Iceland Revolution, of which he was the major initiator. Importantly, he allowed other people to do their own thing, and did not insist that everyone worked with him. This allowed other leaders to express themselves and come to the fore and the movement grew.

What really went on in Iceland?

Iceland was the first of the economies to collapse in the increasing list of countries affected by the corrupt banking system.

After most people lost their savings, how did the people of Iceland survive? How have they moved from a complete financial collapse in 2008 to a successful functioning "local economy”?

After the collapse on October 2008 actor, singer and gay rights activist Hordur Torfason planted himself outside parliament. Every day for a week he stood in the same spot and asked the people two questions. The first, do you know what has happened in this country? The second, do you have any ideas about what we can do about it?

By gauging opinion on the streets, and through innovative social media, he devised three demands which reflected the people’s immediate wishes: the government should resign, the board of the financial supervisorial authority should resign, and the board of the national bank should resign.

Within three months and in extremely cold and wet conditions, Torfason inspired thousands of people to take intelligent action resulting in radical change in Iceland’s government and economy. All of this was achieved peacefully.

Top economists are now saying Iceland is showing the way: While many countries within the Eurozone have bailed out the bankers and 'made the public pay the price' Iceland let the banks go bust and actually expanded its social safety net.

Nobel prize-winning economist Joe Stiglitz noted:  “What Iceland did was right. It would have been wrong to burden future generations with the mistakes of the financial system.”

Is it as rosy as it sounds, and what might happen in the next election?

Yet, why is mainstream media so very quiet about what happened in Iceland?

Hordur Torfason tells his story and explains that there is still much work to be done.

For details of Torfason’s 'extensive' March 2013 New Zealand tour go to:

www.theawarenessparty.com

See also www.facebook.com/HordurTorfasonNZTour.