The youth wing of the conservative Independence Party, SUS, will award their annual Freedom Prize to the controversial whaling company Hvalur hf. The prize is awarded in recognition of outstanding work to increase freedom in Iceland and to spread the ideas of libertarianism. The prize will be awarded at a ceremony on October 3.
Update: Whaling season over: 146 fin- and 6 minke whales caught. Future of whaling uncertain
A controversial character
The prize has been awarded annually since 2007. Each year two different individuals, organizations or companies have received the award. The local newspaper Stundin reports that the other recipient this year is Ásdís Halla Bragadóttir, the chairman of the board of Klíníkin, a privately owned healthcare provider. Hvalur hf. is, of course, best known for being one of the largest commercial whaling companies in the world. This year Hvalur hf. has killed at least 125 fin whales. The products from the hunt are all exported to Japan.
Hvalur hf. has been the center of controversy on numerous occasions in recent years. It's CEO and owner, Kristján Loftsson, is an outspoken critic of the conservation of marine mammals, and dismissed international criticism of his whaling operations. He has also questioned the science behind global warming. He is also one of the wealthiest men in Iceland, and a major financial backer of the conservative Independence Party.
Read more: Whaling company Hvalur hf sued for abusing its workers: Union confident it will win
SUS has not offered a public explanation for their decision of awarding the Freedom Prize to Hvalur hf. The decision might be explained by a certain contrarianism, as an overwhelming majority of Icelanders oppose the privatization of healthcare or the increased role of market forces in the provision of healthcare, and the continuation of commercial whaling.
Read more: Support for whaling continues to drop: Only 34% of Icelanders now in support
According to the last publicly available figures the whaling operations of Kristján Loftsson generate enormous financial losses, in addition to their negative effects on both the reputation of Iceland abroad and the marine ecosystems around Iceland.
The youth wing of the conservative Independence Party, SUS, will award their annual Freedom Prize to the controversial whaling company Hvalur hf. The prize is awarded in recognition of outstanding work to increase freedom in Iceland and to spread the ideas of libertarianism. The prize will be awarded at a ceremony on October 3.
Update: Whaling season over: 146 fin- and 6 minke whales caught. Future of whaling uncertain
A controversial character
The prize has been awarded annually since 2007. Each year two different individuals, organizations or companies have received the award. The local newspaper Stundin reports that the other recipient this year is Ásdís Halla Bragadóttir, the chairman of the board of Klíníkin, a privately owned healthcare provider. Hvalur hf. is, of course, best known for being one of the largest commercial whaling companies in the world. This year Hvalur hf. has killed at least 125 fin whales. The products from the hunt are all exported to Japan.
Hvalur hf. has been the center of controversy on numerous occasions in recent years. It's CEO and owner, Kristján Loftsson, is an outspoken critic of the conservation of marine mammals, and dismissed international criticism of his whaling operations. He has also questioned the science behind global warming. He is also one of the wealthiest men in Iceland, and a major financial backer of the conservative Independence Party.
Read more: Whaling company Hvalur hf sued for abusing its workers: Union confident it will win
SUS has not offered a public explanation for their decision of awarding the Freedom Prize to Hvalur hf. The decision might be explained by a certain contrarianism, as an overwhelming majority of Icelanders oppose the privatization of healthcare or the increased role of market forces in the provision of healthcare, and the continuation of commercial whaling.
Read more: Support for whaling continues to drop: Only 34% of Icelanders now in support
According to the last publicly available figures the whaling operations of Kristján Loftsson generate enormous financial losses, in addition to their negative effects on both the reputation of Iceland abroad and the marine ecosystems around Iceland.
