Today, the first of a total of 17 mining shareholders will meet in Sogn og Fjordane District Court. A total of 84 people were arrested after they this spring linked themselves to the controversial mining project for Nordic Mining by the Førdefjord. Many of these refused to accept the fines they received of NOK 10,000 and must therefore appear in court. None of them admit criminal guilt. Magnar Falkenstein from Sunnfjord is one of those who chained himself. – I hope to save the Førdefjord, but I also hope that in the long run this can have an effect, he says, and points out that civil disobedience can historically have a big effect. MATCH: Magnar Falkenstein (in the middle) would rather be in prison than pay the fine he probably ends up having to pay. – It has more impact, says Falkenstein. Photo: Fredrik Helland / news A total of 65 shareholders have been convicted of actions by the Førdefjord since 2016. Can create antipathy – Civil disobedience can lead, but as a rule the activists do not stop the project, but delay them. That’s what Stig Harald Solheim, professor of law at the Norwegian Arctic University, says. – I believe that if the actions happen too often and do not seem spontaneous, then it can probably create a little sympathy, but also antipathy, he says. He points out that people who would normally have listened to the activists may be less willing to do so. – It’s a double-edged sword. MAY LOSE SYMPATHY: Law professor Stig Harald Solheim does not think shareholders will only get sympathy if there are too many actions. Often, media awareness can be just as important for those who take action, says Solheim. Historically, the Alta campaign is often used as such an example. Here the action created sympathy for the Sami and their cause. John Reidar Nilsen, researcher at the Faculty of Law in Bergen, sees that illegal actions rarely lead to decisions being made. On the other hand, the media attention will help to present the case to the shareholders. – It can also lead to a future looking differently at such cases, says Nilsen. Vidar Strømme, director of the Norwegian Institute for Human Rights (NHRI), says that civil disobedience can be perceived as undemocratic, but that it is a democratic procedure as long as it is peaceful. – Well-directed media campaign? Prosecutor Lisa Førde Refsnes calls the action a “well-directed media campaign” from Nature and Youth. She tells news that the case received a “massive” media attention when the activists chained themselves and were removed by the police. – And on the last day, the activists stated that they had sent a letter to the ministry with notice of lawsuit. All this happened at the same time as the political processes. While defenders of the activists think they are trading in naudrett, the prosecutor rejects this. – They had an alternative to action, since they had also notified a lawsuit, says the prosecutor. SHAREHOLDERS: From left Mali Regine Børset (20) and Emma Hinderaker Pedersen (21). Photo: Oddleif Løset / news On Friday, the next ten shareholders will meet in the district court, including Anna Mali Regine Børset (20) from Nature and Youth. She does not want to pay the fine because she thinks she is innocent. – But the mining company has made a legal decision, and they have also been warned about fines if they chained dives. Aren’t the fines just something they have to accept? – I see civil disobedience as a safety valve in democracy. Even if a decision is legally made, it does not mean that it is right. – What effect does civil disobedience have? – Historically, we see that people have gained a foothold for many civil rights through this, says Børset, who risks a fine of 12,500 kroner. Nature and Youth says the purpose is to save the Førdefjord, but also a permanent ban on sea landfill.
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I think people may lose sympathy for the activists – news Vestland
