bet many of you do not know what happened in Iceland recently and have the latest news in mind that country is the eruption of that volcano with an unpronounceable name. As the revolution taking place should also be front page news programs, but will not see his eyes. Why? Then you will understand, keep reading.
In late 2008 the effects of the crisis in the economy led to Iceland into bankruptcy. All the Icelandic bank debt amounted to several times their GDP, the currency plummeted and the stock stopped its activity after a plunge of 76%. The government officially requested aid International Monetary Fund (IMF), which approved a loan of 2,100 million dollars, supplemented by another 2,500 million some Nordic countries.
In this situation, citizen protests outside parliament in Reykjavik were on the rise. In January 2009, after days of mass demonstrations, pans and broken eggs Conservative government fell in a block. The April 25 general elections were held which saw a coalition government formed by the Social Democratic Alliance and the Left-Green Movement.
Throughout 2009 and although the Bank was nationalized, continued the dismal economic situation. A bill proposed the return of debt through the payment of 3,500 million euros, a sum that would pay all Icelandic families monthly for the next 15 years at 5.5% interest. Given this, the Icelanders were laid back to the street and asked to submit the law to referendum.
In January 2010 the country's President, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, refused to ratify it and announced the referendum. In March it held a referendum and NO payment of the debt wiped out 93% of the vote. pending the resolution of the repayment of its debt. Thus, while the IMF freezes financial aid to Iceland, the government launches an investigation to resolve legal the responsibilities of the crisis. Begin the arrests of several senior bankers and executives, in some cases through Interpol.
In this context of crisis, we choose a constituent assembly last November to draft a new constitution to incorporate the lessons learned from the crisis and to replace the current one. To do so, go directly to the sovereign people. 25 citizens are elected without political affiliation of the 522 who have submitted applications for which only needed to be older and have the support of 30 people. The constitutional assembly will begin its work in February 2011 and submitted a draft Constitution, based on the recommendations consensus in different assemblies to be held across the country, which must be approved by the current Parliament and which formed after the legislative elections.
same time, the parliament also approved an initiative to the Media that aims to create a legal framework for the protection of freedom of information and expression, Iceland becoming a safe haven to sources, journalists and Internet Service Providers accommodating media coverage: a paradise for Wikileaks and the lifeline for cyberspace netizens and other countries, victims of repression.
Icelandic Revolution has, in short : the mass resignation of the government, nationalization of banking, a popular referendum to make economic decisions concerning the crisis, persecution and imprisonment of those responsible for the crisis The development of a new constitution by the citizens and a new initiative on freedom of information and expression.
A popular revolution, peaceful and quiet, has not only echoed in the mainstream media (to vent Wikipedia are three hidden lines) that can be followed through network. A revolution that lets us believe, really, what other solutions to the crisis is possible and not all of them for the slaughter of the citizenry in the interests of the financial market. Logically, no matter who you know is taking place. They just lit the fuse. And with pots, not dynamite.
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