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Life Onboard |
LAST UPDATE
August 18, 2008
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| July 2, 2008 |
Poetic Justice – Andri Snaer Magnason |
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| Passengers were entertained with stories of trolls, hidden people and Viking adventures |
As Peace Boat made its journey to Iceland, a very special guest was invited onboard to educate passengers on the magic of his country. As an artist, a poet, a film-maker, an author, a play writer, environmentalist and peace activist, Andri Snaer Magnason’s unique insight into the history and society of Iceland was an invaluable experience for Peace Boat participants.
Mr Magnason’s family tree can be traced back to the first permanent settler in Iceland, Norwegian born Ingólfur Arnarson. His grandmother was the first female Icelandic pilot, and his grandfather’s sister was nanny to J.R.R. Tolkien, author of the Lord of the Rings. |
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The Story of the Blue Planet is a brutal comment on man’s constant search for something bigger and better at the cost of humanity’s dignity and environmental obliteration |
By the time Mr Magnason graduated from college at the age of 24, he had already published two poetry books and one novel.
A turning point in his career occurred when a local television station interviewed him about his second poetry compilation. As his interview continued for longer than planned, the station postponed a screening about fugitives in Rwanda – leading Mr Magnason to wonder if his poetry was worth this sacrifice. He then made a decision about his future role as a writer.
His answer to this dilemma was his next book, The Story of the Blue Planet. This was to set the stage for outstanding literary achievement and win him respect among Icelanders as an advocate of human values and a master of human psychology.
The Story of the Blue Planet was the first children's book to receive the Icelandic Literary Prize. It has been published in 12 countries and is now being performed on stage as a play.
A tale for adults and children alike, it is a fable of good versus evil. Mr Magnason poetically addresses issues of war and peace, the politics of humanitarian aid and the destruction of the environment whilst artistically capturing the essence of human nature in its entirety. |
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| Andri Magnason and his 14 year old son Hlynur were a hit with the passengers |
His most recent book, Dreamland, a montage of ideas culminating in revealing truths about the booming aluminium smelter projects in Iceland, hit record sales in the first week it was published. He soon became the ‘Al Gore’ of Iceland and took on the role of champion for the preservation of Iceland’s majestic environment.
As Mr Magnason said, “in the first half, I had to decompose progress, economic growth, our perception of possibilities and our sense of reality. I had to use neutral political terms and remove the clichés that had come to define them”. The result of this was that when the book was published, its universal values meant that it was recommended by both the left and right.
In his final lecture on board, Mr Magnason introduced passengers to traditional Icelandic music, which he is currently campaigning to save from being forgotten forever. Iceland’s isolation from the rest of the world for more than 1000 years meant that its music developed without any external influence. When the doors finally opened to Europe, Icelanders became very embarrassed by the sounds of their music and stopped producing it in its traditional form. Hence the generation thereafter grew up never hearing the music of their ancestors.
Mr Magnason played the audience a rhyming rimur ballad, a traditional form of music telling epic tales with complex metaphors and elaborate rhyme schemes, of which Mr Magnason has produced a compilation. |
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| Andri Magnason was joined by his family at the 62nd Voyage Green and Peace Event held at Reykjavik port |
On the topic of the environment, he acknowledged Iceland as being the world leader in natural energy. Its geothermal and hydropower energy initiatives emit no carbon dioxide, and the extremely cheap rates have contributed to Iceland’s economic prosperity. However the flip side was also conveyed with firm authority: “I do not believe the present policy of land destruction is in the interests of this nation. Iceland is destined for something greater and deeper than being merely a link in a chain of squander and waste on the international markets”.
He spoke of the “enormous speed and inexorable determination” of the aluminium industry that is infiltrating his country, giving the example of the corporation Alcoa’s plans for another smelter in North Iceland, which would threaten high geothermal heat areas and possibly use two more glacial rivers.
According to Mr Magnason, the politicians of Iceland see no danger in turning this community of 300,000 into the world’s biggest aluminium smelter. They are playing on the fear of a failed economy, to prevent resistance to change.
However, all is not yet lost and Mr Magnason plans to continue using his artistic talents to bring the awareness and change that will ensure his baby daughter grows to see the Iceland that has captivated his heart and soul. |
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Mr Magnason’s passion for Iceland and his determination to preserve its beautiful highlands were certainly an inspirational and thought-provoking introduction to Peace Boat’s first adventure into the country's mythical beauty. “I believe the future will be amazing, and after that the whole world will become a better place. If we cannot make that happen, then no one can”. – Andri Snaer Magnason.
Andri Magnason Profile
Andri Magnason, an Icelandic writer, has been published or performed in more than 16 countries. His novel LoveStar was chosen as “Novel of the year” by Icelandic booksellers in 2002, and received the DV Literary Award and a nomination to the Icelandic Literary Prize. He has collaborated with various artists, including the internationally renowned band Múm in a bid to preserve Icelandic music. Vice-President of The Icelandic Writers Union and board member of The Culture House in Reykjavik, Mr Magnason is also active in the fight against the destruction of the Icelandic Highlands. His homepage can be viewed here: www.simnet.is/andri/index.php
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