occupy reykjavík

After weeks of camping out at Austurvöllur square in downtown Reykjavík, right across from Alþingi, Iceland’s parliament, the Occupy Reykjavík movement seems to still be in effect. I’m not sure how much longer this will last, given that there have been crackdowns of the occupations in various cities across the US, the weather will likely be getting colder imminently, and the enormous Christmas tree gifted to Iceland by Norway every year is going to be erected soon.

When tents here were initially pitched, their inhabitants were met by police during the middle of the night, who destroyed them and took them down. Angry protesters were subsequently granted permits to camp on the lawn, and new tents were hoisted in their place. “Alvöru Lyðræði” translates to “functional democracy” and the large blue sign says something about bringing your ideas- 99% are willing to listen.