Comments on: Hand in Hand: Aluminium Smelters and Fluoride Pollution

By: David Dennison

David Dennison — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 04:29:25 +0000

My very near by Aluminum plant smells like ammonia daily. Messes up our sinuses and make you feel like your choking. Our tree’s are dying rapidly. I’m in Ohio, USA. EPA says it’s with in their limits. I’m not too sure.

By: Cougar

Cougar — Wed, 11 Jan 2017 03:34:42 +0000

I did my best to read Námshestar using Google Translate, which doesn’t work as well for Icelandic as it does for languages that have a larger population base. (Link from above: http://namshestar.is/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=199%3Aum-heilsufar-hrossa-a-kuludalsa&catid=34%3Aalmennar-frettir&Itemid=149&lang=en )

It’s been five years since that Námshestar page was published and four since the above article. I didn’t see any indication (on Námshestar) of improvement in the situation, in terms of a more responsive government or a more responsive industry. The farm was providing educational programs on horses through 2015, which is over a year ago, but it appears to continue operating as a tour guide.

This left me wondering about whether the disaster has continued for these farmers. I was also concerned and wondering about the children that appeared on the site–apparently this is a family farm, and the page referenced seemed to indicate that young horses are more susceptible. Maybe children, too?

UPDATES

However, on the home page, if you scroll down to the bottom, you can read parts of the letter from the Ministry of the Environment (I think) that was sent on 14 January 2016. This letter was about issuing a new license for Norðurál with even fewer environmental safeguards.

This letter from 2016 says, “There’s an absence of evidence of a causal link between flúormengunar and condition of the horses,” and “It is not clear that this factor is why the health of the horses had deteriorated.”

Yet the scientific research of the one of the farmers, Ragnheiður Þorgrímsdóttir, is conclusive. In addition, the government did not conduct their own research.

A search of the Saving Iceland site (for Norðurál) suggests that this story has not been updated. Given the new license and the unabashed and arrogant response of the government, I suggest that this story be updated.

By: Tony

Tony — Sun, 19 Jan 2014 21:30:03 +0000

Fluoridation is indeed a farcical waste of public money. Remember sodium fluoride has been widely used as an effective rat poison – so studies favouring it are likely to be heavily biased and/or financed by companies with vested interests. Farmers with concerns for the welfare of their livestock are often careful to ensure that their animal feed has a low fluoride content. Look at what is happening in Iceland:

By: Blossom

Blossom — Sun, 19 Jan 2014 06:47:44 +0000

I urge you to Google ‘Poisoned horses + Justus’ and read/view the information about horses poisoned in Colorado, USA, ‘merely’ from artificially fluoridated community drinking water.

By: Richard S.

Richard S. — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 00:13:19 +0000

Looks like Greenland is falling for ALCOA afterall:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-01-15/greenland-courting-alcoa-to-build-smelter-finance-minister-says.html?cmpid=yhoo

By: Tasha Kersey

Tasha Kersey — Sat, 25 May 2013 11:38:11 +0000

another pristine natural habitat festering with industrialization. as the plague spreads, iceland equals mining and refinery oasis. witness a living planet — home to 3 billion years of cells, 500 millions years of fish, 400 million years of insects and plants, 300 million years of amphibians and reptiles, 200 million years of mammals, 150 million years of birds, 100 million years of flowers, 20 million years of apes, 200,000 years of homo sapiens sapiens — devolve into a toxic industrial cesspool in less than 100 years. greed accelerates extinction. proof.

By: More Info

More Info — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 11:04:29 +0000

By: Information on negative aspects of geothermal and hydro

Information on negative aspects of geothermal and hydro — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 16:48:38 +0000

Hello Dom Here are a few, but you will find much more on these topics if you spend time reading material on our site. Development of Iceland’s Geothermal Energy Potential for Aluminium Production – A Critical Analysis Negative aspects of geothermal power Negative effects of large dams ‘Aluminium Tyrants’ – The Ecologist Hydropower Disaster for Global Warming ‘Role of river-suspended material in the global carbon cycle’ ‘Glacial Rivers Reduce Pollution on Earth’ by Gudmundur Páll Ólafsson Hydroelectric Power’s Dirty Secret Revealed – New Scientist If you use the search facility you will find other informative articles by Krater and Rose. Also look at the 'Iceland Under Threat' sections, the 'Destroyed Areas' section and our Frequently Asked Questions etc. Greetings from the SI collective

By: Dom Ranson

Dom Ranson — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 08:17:46 +0000

Hello there, I am a Masters Degree student at Sheffield Hallam University,in the UK.

I am doing a project on renewable energy and I have picked Iceland as my national case study. An Icelandic friend gave me this email address to ask for some information…

I was hoping that you could send me information / publications / links which might give me some details of the downsides and damage caused by Geothermal and Hydroelectric power projects?

Many thanks for your help.

Dom

By: Siltyoll

Siltyoll — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 21:15:28 +0000

If the fluoride pollution comes with aluminium industry, the the impact for Icelandic wilderness might be horrible! There are many endangered Arctic species in the areas where smelters are situated, and their survivability may be in direct coonection with pollutants distribution. During the constructin of a Karanjukar dam, Royal bird protection society, Proact and Eurobirders conducted research and provided figures, showing which species and populations were endangered, and the numbers were more than disturbing. If someone is interested http://proaction.tripod.com/Iceland/
And the decision to build the dam was taken all the same! The results were horrifying, and now this new problem with fluoride.

By: Ababsi - Bjarne Lyberth

Ababsi - Bjarne Lyberth — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:34:34 +0000

Seems like Icelandic authorities somehow have a problem with monitoring the impact of these industries, I mean, is it really that difficult to simply examine some tissue samples?
Wonder if our Greenlandic authorities would be geared for such a difficult task??

Ababsi

By: Kenneth Kristiansen

Kenneth Kristiansen — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 22:29:13 +0000

Lucky for us we have not started a smelter in Greenland, but I can promise you that ALCOA have tried all they could.

Sorry for Iceland you “fell” for there suckle up.

Sincere
You family In Greenland

By: Eva Atladóttir

Eva Atladóttir — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 02:34:08 +0000

i have always been against these ugly factories who look so out of place in the lovely Icelandic country side and believe that american corporation fascists should do their own aluminium industry work in their own country instead of polluting up Iceland. Go away alcoa.