Tina Andersen Vågenes, activist on trial and member of central board in Young Friends of the Earth Norway (Natur og Ungdom). Contact at tinav@nu.no
The Norwegian government has approved massive disposal of mining waste in the Førde fjord. Nordic Mining has been allowed to extract rutile from the Engebø Mountain, and dump 250 million tons of mining tailings in the fjord, over a period of 50 years. The mine will use mountain top removal and open pit mining for the first decade of extraction. The approval was given by the Ministry of Environment in 2015, and has met resistance from both marine biologists, environmental activists and local businesses. The mining waste risk harming the eco system in the fjord, and may put several endangered fish species at risk. The environmental authorities wrote in its approval that the waste will “leave parts of the fjord dead during the mining period.” The authorities gave approval to the mine despite this, based on the possible new jobs in the area.
In February, people from all over Norway stopped test drilling by Nordic Mining through civil disobedience. The peaceful actions stopped Nordic Mining’s test drilling on the Engebø Mountain for several hours every day, for three weeks. The actions lasted for over three weeks, and 86 people were arrested. The activists from the first day of actions have been now put on trial. They are pleading not guilty, as the actions were done to protect the Førde fjord. During the trial, marine biologists from the Institute of Marine Research told the court about the damage mining waste can have on the Førde fjord. Called to witness for the prosecutor was Nordic Mining’s CEO, who claimed the activists have no reason to worry.
These activists risk fines up to 2670 euros (24 000 NOK) for participating in the peaceful actions. The trial lasted two days from 29th to 30th of November, and the activists are still waiting for verdict. It may take a few weeks for the verdict to be ready.
During the actions, more than 100 people participated. They put their bodies in front on the way of mining drilling, to protect the fjord. During the three weeks, many wanted to support the peaceful actions. More than 50 000 euros was collected to support activists who stopped drilling work on the Engebø Mountain. Now there is a collection to help the activists to pay their fines.
On the last day of trial, Young Friends of the Earth Norway mobilized demonstrations of support in both Oslo and Førde, where the trial was held. The trial has received widespread attention in the media, as it is the biggest case of civil disobedience since 2010 in Norway. Local groups in Friends of the Earth Europe have sent messages of support during the actions.
Over 2300 people have signed onto a list where they threaten to use peaceful civil disobedience actions to stop mining plans in the Førde fjord. If construction work is started on the Engebø mine, activists have promised to use more peaceful direct actions to stop the mine. A similar mining project in the Reppar fjord, in the north of Norway, has also been approved by the Norwegian authorities. The Reppar fjord mining plans include a sea disposal of toxic waste in the Reppar fjord, and mining work in native Sami areas. Young Friends of the Earth Norway will continue to work against harmful mining plans and waste disposal in both Førde fjord and Reppar fjord, to protect valuable nature.