The traffic through Hvolsvöllur in south Iceland, the town located closest to the volcanic eruption on Fimmvörduháls mountain pass, was particularly heavy this past Easter weekend because of all the tourists traveling to see the eruption.
Posts Tagged ‘Crowd’
Volcano Enthusiasts Crowd South Iceland Town
Friday, April 9th, 2010Skiers Crowd Slopes in Akureyri
Monday, February 22nd, 2010
Around 2,600 people went skiing in Hlídarfjall, the Akureyri ski resort, in north Iceland on Saturday, which comes close to being a record. It is hoped that the Reykjavík ski resort in the Bláfjöll mountain range can open next weekend.
Protesters return to Reykjavik streets
Sunday, November 29th, 2009
Several hundred people gathered outside the Icelandic parliament on Austurvollur Square in Reykjavik yesterday to protest on behalf of struggling householders. The three speakers were very well received by the crowd as they called, among other things, for continued payment strikes.
The protest speakers were Olafur Gardarsson, vice chairman of the Households’ Interest Group, and Bjorn Thorri Viktorsson and Ludvik Ludviksson from New Iceland.
The group’s demands were very clear: no debt write-offs, but fair debt correction for homeowners. Foreign currency house loans should be corrected and transferred into Icelandic kronur. Inflation indexed mortgages should be abolished. And a law should be put in place to stipulate that loan providers cannot repossess property other than that upon which the loan was issued.
According to Reykjavik Police, the protest went peacefully – although perhaps protesters did not make as big an impression as they would have liked, because the police representative talking to mbl.is believed the protesters were part of the In Defence group.
Although the protesters are calling for government action and not for government resignations and new elections; the wintertime Saturday afternoon protests will be too similar to last year’s pots and pans revolution for the country’s leaders’ comfort. The Households’ Interest Group intends to hold similar protests every Saturday afternoon in December.
Iceland holds national meeting
Saturday, November 14th, 2009
(UPDATED 16 November) A group of 1,200 Icelanders considered statistically representative of the population was brought together Saturday for the first time in an attempt to “harvest the wisdom of the crowd”.
The group of people aged 18 and over were picked randomly from the national registry to be invited to attend the event at Reykjavik’s Laugardalsholl arena, along with 300 representatives of organisations and institutions.
They were asked to name the values Icelandic society should be based upon, as well as their vision for Iceland’s future and possible ways of action to rebuild the country’s economy and society. The results are freely available to anyone who wants to take part in the rebuilding effort.
A summary of key results is already available in English here.
The event was a privately-organised grassroots event, although a week ago the government decided to invest ISK 7 million in the project. Other funding comes from businesses and individuals.
Similar groups are regularly sampled for polls and surveys; but never before have they been brought together in person in this way.
Organisers, many of whom have strong political and business links, plan to work with all present to formulate a 52-week national recovery plan with a tangible goal for the nation to achieve every week.
The motto of the National Meeting organised by a group calling itself The Anthill is, “a date with the future”.
The Wisdom Of Crowds
Thursday, November 12th, 2009The disturbing Nation’s Meeting is this weekend. Hope everyone attending has a great time.
But you are not speaking in my name. Especially when 300 people have been invited as “VIP’s” to the meeting.
On the wisdom of crowds a couple of important things must be considered.
One: The wisdom of crowds is not necessarily a good indicator of correct answers. I’ve spent a fair amount of time attending and digging into polls and focus groups. They are somewhat useful if you need to know how people “feel” at any given moment. But they might not have good information, so good answers are probably harder to come by. The Apple Computer, the relativity theory and the first man on the moon did not come happen because of national polls or focus groups. David Tamet has pointed out the case of Kasparov vs. the World as an example of expertise beating the crowd.
On EU matters for example, the Nation’s Meeting might find out that people are either inclined towards or against the EU membership. But their “feelings” are not based on deep experience, scientific research or knowledge of the matter, but rather exposure to propaganda or a certain group of family or friends. Pollsters regularly ask people what they feel about possible EU membership but they do not ask you on what you base your feeling. They just want a for or against. For example many have criticized the fact that US pollsters ask “do you believe in God”, but the option “well, I am somewhat sceptical in the existence of a higher being, but I would like to believe in one even if my better judgement tells me that it might be far stretched” is not included between “yes” and “no”. Yes or no sells newspapers, all those things in between don’t.
Two: Not all opinions are equal. Killing Jews for example is probably wrong even if someone from 1930’s Germany didn’t think so. Bombing places that might include Palestinian children in the West Bank is probably just as wrong, even if the Israel army thinks it is a good idea. In similar vain, it would probably be wiser to listen to a professor in political science who hasn’t been found guilty of plagiarising talking than one that has. And a gas station attendant would probably be a better bet to help you choose a good motor oil for your ride than the professor, whether he plagiarised or not. Media outlets have mistaken their supposed objectivity as an encouragement to seek opinions instead of seeking truth. That’s why some people in Iceland think having a former aerobics teacher spurt water up their behinds is comparable to receiving prescription drugs from someone who spent ten years at medical school.
Three: Some people might not get their desired point across in a discussion group of nine. They might feel uncomfortable telling people they don’t know that they hate Asians and Poles. Others might recognize someone who’s a noted Progressive Party member and not feel it prude to say their real meaning of that person’s party. Some people are shy, did they maybe stay at home?
But seriously, enjoy the free food and have fun.
Protesters gather in front of Parliament today against Icesave deal
Thursday, August 27th, 2009
A group of people broke away from the crowd of protesters this afternoon and tried to break into the Parliament building. Two police officers stopped the small group from entering. Drumming and whistling could be heard from the protesters inside the Parliament.
This noise and commotion going on is in result of a controversial Icesave deal. The third and final round of talks concerning the Icesave deal is being discussed in Parliament during the protests. According to Visir, roughly 300 people attended the protests outside Austurvollur (East Square) in front of the Parliament today.
“The idea is that those who show up and protest this Icesave deal could wind up saving themselves one to two million kronur,” Frosti Sigurjonsson says, who is the managing director of the Dohop Flight Search System.
(Photo/MBL – Jakob)
UEFA Women’s Euro Cup: Finland 1-0 Denmark
Sunday, August 23rd, 2009
Finland have won the opening game of the UEFA Women’s Euro Cup on home soil with is 1-0 defeat of Denmark.
Maija Saari scored the only goal shortly after the break in from of a women’s football record-breaking crowd of over 16,000 spectators.
Finland play the Netherlands on Wednesday and Denmark are up against Ukraine on the same day.
Nude sax player crowned Sweden’s water fairy
Thursday, July 30th, 2009
It was a surprise for all parties involved when a nude saxophone player beat out four similarly clad violinists to be voted the best representation of a water fairy from Swedish folklore. The Arets Nack (Water Fairy of the Year) has been a popular event in north-western Sweden for more than a decade. But for the first time in the 15 years of its history, a contestant played something other than a violin.
Martin Norberg is now the official water fairy, but he almost missed his chance when he showed up just two hours before the contest and asked if he could play a saxophone. The Swedish legend tells of a nude supernatural man who plays a violin on the shores of the country’s rivers and lakes.
It is the captivating music of the water fairy that lures people into the water, causing them to drown. But Calle Hernmarck, the founder of the competition, decided to put a twist on the old story and allow alternative instruments. He defended his actions to The Local, explaining: “The myth of the water fairy is really old and predates when the violin first came to Sweden in 1646.”
This year’s event featured five musicians who had to play nude in icy creek water to a crowd of more than 400 onlookers. Contestants are only allowed to cover themselves with things “which can be found in nature.”
“It takes a special type of person to be a water fairy,” said Hernmarck. “They have to be something of an actor so that they can play without thinking, ‘OK, now I’m naked.’ They also have to be good musicians.”
“Just like the Water Fairy, he appeared in a guise we didn’t expect. He captivated and frightened, with his eyes and his enchanted saxophone, he seduced the jury,” wrote the jury which named Norberg the winner.
A Crowd of Scouts in Iceland for Jamboree
Monday, July 20th, 2009
The past few days the local population of Reykjavik and the Capital Area might have taken notice of quite many scouts from all over the world. About 3,000 scouts from roughly 44 different countries have met in Iceland over the weekend for a European scout Jamboree called Rowerway. In the next few days, scouts will be exploring and traveling around the nation to familiarize themselves with Icelandic culture and society.
Their daily schedules of activities are much diverse, which is common for scouting events. At the end of the week, a “scouting village” will be set up just east of Lake Ulfljot (Icelandic: Úlfljótsvatn) where there will be held some fun activities.
“This is a great opportunity for us to take advantage of this Jamboree to establish more friendship relations with the participating countries”, says Margret Tomasdottir who is the Head Scout of Iceland.
See the Official Scouting Website of Iceland for more information, although information in English might be limited.
(Photo/Scouts meeting outside of University of Iceland, photo by Jakob Fannar from mbl)
A Crowd of Scouts in Iceland for Jamboree
Monday, July 20th, 2009The past few days the local population of Reykjavik and the Capital Area might have taken notice of quite many scouts from all over the world. About 3,000 scouts from roughly 44 different countries have met in Iceland over the weekend for a European scout Jamboree called Rowerway. In the next few days, scouts will be exploring and traveling around the nation to familiarize themselves with Icelandic culture and society.
Their daily schedules of activities are much diverse, which is common for scouting events. At the end of the week, a “scouting village” will be set up just east of Lake Ulfljot (Icelandic: Úlfljótsvatn) where there will be held some fun activities.
“This is a great opportunity for us to take advantage of this Jamboree to establish more friendship relations with the participating countries”, says Margret Tomasdottir who is the Head Scout of Iceland.
See the Official Scouting Website of Iceland for more information, although information in English might be limited.
(Photo/Scouts meeting outside of University of Iceland, photo by Jakob Fannar from mbl)
The Icelandic Eurovision team gets a warm welcome
Sunday, May 17th, 2009
The Eurovision team led by Johanna (Yohanna) Gudrun got a warm welcome in Reykjavik this afternoon when arriving from Moscow after taking the second place in the Eurovision contest. Central Reykjavik was crowded by fans wanting to congratulate the young singer.
Johanna was joined onstage by her backing singers and the rest of the Eurovision team. The ‘festival’ was led by Iceland’s foremost Eurovision expert and former participator, Pall Oskar, who welcomed Johanna onstage to perform her song to a crowd of thousands.
The event was helped by the fact that today enjoyed Reykjavik’s best weather so far this year, with temperatures of 20 degrees celsius.
New resort coming to Finland’s town of Levi
Sunday, May 3rd, 2009
The sustained global economic recession isn’t deterring Finland from building more resorts to try and lure tourists to the remote Nordic countryside. A new four-star hotel is going to be built on top of the Levitunturi fell, a stunning site just minutes away from the centre of the Lapland resort town of Levi and accessible by gondola.
When completed, the hotel will provide the most luxurious and expensive accommodation in the region. It will target the winter skiing crowd, but is just as spectacular during the brief but beautiful summer months.
According to Helsingin Sanomat, the hotel is being built to complement the new Levi Summit Conference and Exhibition Centre. But the lingering question is whether tourists will bother to make the long trip to get there in the current economic situation.
Compared with March 2008, the number of overnight stays in Levi has dropped by 20 percent. But this isn’t deterring construction companies like YIT, who will begin work on a condominium project right next to The Summit once it completes the hotel. As vacant rooms now outnumber tourists, many question the logic of building more lodging in Lapland.
SIKUnews reports that restaurants and shops in Levi are also taking a hit as visitors spend less. Local supermarkets, however, are doing rather well as visitors are starting to cook more meals at their holiday residences instead of eating out.