Protests force Norwegian energy minister to cancel trip to UK

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) – Protests forced the Norwegian energy ministry to cancel a trip to the UK, media reports said Wednesday.

Public broadcaster NRK said Terje Aasland has “opted to reprioritize his calendar” and will not head to the UK but instead deal with protests by activists who are demonstrating the planned construction of wind farms on indigenous Sami people’s land.

Meanwhile, Norway and the UK signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance cooperation on hydrogen, The Dutch Energy Ministry said in a statement.

“Hydrogen will likely play an important role in cutting greenhouse gas emissions, and it’s important to share and learn from each other,” said Aasland.

- Norway's ambitious energy plans and Sami people

The Sami people have lived in Europe's far north for thousands of years in a borderless region with the same name, where they live close to nature.

One of Europe's most distinct Indigenous communities inhabited untouched areas of Sweden, Finland, Norway and Russia where they coexist with the modern world while maintaining ancient traditions and culture.

Despite a Supreme Court ruling that the two wind farms violated the Sami people’s rights under international law, the turbines remain in operation.

Sixteen months later, the Indigenous group demanded that the turbines be removed immediately, citing that the sight and noise they produce frighten animals and impose on the community's traditional lifestyle.

Activists, who assert that the transition to green energy must not come at the cost of ruining the traditional lives of Indigenous communities, have expressed anger at Norwegian authorities after police detained demonstrators who were engaged in a days-long occupation of the Energy Ministry's reception area.

Norway said the issue was in the hands of the judiciary and the Energy Ministry will do all it can to resolve the matter.

The Sami still suffer human rights abuses, violations and racism, according to the UN, which also criticized Oslo's policies aiming to forcibly assimilate the Indigenous group.

Traditionally, the Sami people have survived reindeer herding, fishing, farming and hunting. The community, however, said reindeer herding, which carries a cultural significance and value to them, is being threatened by Nordic countries' green energy policies.