If you know me then you will have heard me talk of Jokkmokk and the beautiful Muddus National Park; now part of the Laponia World Heritage Area.
I went to check the news at lunchtime and watched the above report on the plans for mining in the area. It would be a huge environmental disaster, and because this is a little known part of Europe and the resistance is largely from the ethnic Sami minority it is unlikely that it will get much coverage in the media.
We tend to think of Sweden and being a very civilised and liberal country but time and again they have ignored the protests of the indigenous Sami and gone ahead with massive mining and hydroelectric projects in the Arctic north.
The Sami are unique among the European minorities -In the documentary the distinctive Asiatic features are seen in several of the speakers. - and their culture and lifestyle is very much under threat. It is they who should have the last word on what is to happen on their land.
In the past I have mentioned the devastating effects of big mining in Papua, but this is much closer to home.
I will try and find out more about what is happening and what we can do to support the protesters.
Meanwhile please watch the video and tell other people what is happening.
This area is truly the last wilderness we have left in Europe.
I went to check the news at lunchtime and watched the above report on the plans for mining in the area. It would be a huge environmental disaster, and because this is a little known part of Europe and the resistance is largely from the ethnic Sami minority it is unlikely that it will get much coverage in the media.
We tend to think of Sweden and being a very civilised and liberal country but time and again they have ignored the protests of the indigenous Sami and gone ahead with massive mining and hydroelectric projects in the Arctic north.
The Sami are unique among the European minorities -In the documentary the distinctive Asiatic features are seen in several of the speakers. - and their culture and lifestyle is very much under threat. It is they who should have the last word on what is to happen on their land.
In the past I have mentioned the devastating effects of big mining in Papua, but this is much closer to home.
I will try and find out more about what is happening and what we can do to support the protesters.
Meanwhile please watch the video and tell other people what is happening.
This area is truly the last wilderness we have left in Europe.