– I would like to argue that when people are first going to use such serious means as civil disobedience, it is quite wise to educate people so they know what they are getting into. That’s what artist and activist Márjá Karlsen says. She is now on tour and will hold courses in civil disobedience in five cities before new actions in the Fosen case. She does this in consultation with Nature and Youth. On 11 October, it will be two years since the Supreme Court ruled that the wind turbines at Fosen violate Sami rights. It is still unclear what will happen to the turbines. – In February and March we had large actions in civil disobedience and with them we were able to press forward an apology from the Norwegian government. Nevertheless, nothing has actually happened and it doesn’t hold up, says Karlsen. Therefore, they will campaign again on 11 October. Parents would join Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Oil and Energy Minister Terje Aasland in deploring human rights violations in the Fosen case earlier this year after large demonstrations in Oslo. New actions have now been announced. But what fines can one get? Do they end up on the roll? How is the course of events? That’s what the people who show up for the course are wondering, explains Karlsen. – There are slightly different people who attend these courses. Some are from nature and youth, Sami youth organizations and many are also just themselves. Here, Márjá Karlsen (on the left) sits inside the Ministry of Oil and Energy campaigning in Fosensaka. Photo: Rasmus Berg Karlsen had a course in Bodø on Friday, then went to Harstad, Tromsø, Alta and Kautokeino. On the course in Harstad and in Tromsø, even parents showed up and wanted to join. Frp: – They have little to do – It is quite alarming that someone should be disobedient, says Dagfinn Henrik Olsen. He is a parliamentary representative for Nordland in the Progress Party and believes that it seems as if the organization has little to do. – If you don’t have a greater understanding of this, then you just have to increase the fees for this and the sentencing for not adhering to Norwegian law. That is what must be the medicine from society if one does not have greater understanding. Olsen advocates punishing the organizations further. He wants to both remove state support and increase fines. – Taking state support away from them is an appropriate reaction, says Olsen. Nature and youth receives approximately NOK 7 million in state support. Olsen believes it is wrong for society to support such activities. Nature and youth: – Need a history lesson The head of Nature and Youth, Gina Gylver, completely disagrees. – I have long been clear that civil disobedience is not something that challenges democracy or something that you should lose state support for. We have shown time and time again that civil disobedience is actually something that builds democracy, says Gylver. Gina Gylver during a course in civil disobedience during Riddu Riđđu 2022. Photo: Håkon Mudenia / news She thinks the complaint from the government proves this. – We saw that clearly during the Fosen action earlier this winter, where the government denied that a human rights violation had taken place at Fosen, until we blocked ten ministries and gathered several hundred for a civil disobedience action in the center of Oslo, says Gylver. – If you want to withdraw an organization that engages in civil disobedience, you need a history lesson, because this helps to strengthen democracy. – Can you understand that people have critical objections to it? – Yes, I do. I understand that people find it frightening to encourage young people to break the law. Gylver nevertheless points out that the actions are peaceful, and that many of the rights we take for granted have been fought for by people who have had the right to use tools such as civil disobedience. – Whether it’s women, queers, black people, or those who want their rights, there are battles that dare to challenge the status quo.
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Márjá is on tour to teach people civil disobedience – FRP thinks they should lose state support – news Nordland
