Iceland's coalition struggles to survive protests

[Cronopio]

Source: Guardian UK

Iceland's government was last night scrambling to avoid becoming the first administration to be ousted by the global financial crisis, as ministers huddled to try and hold together a coalition in the face of some of the biggest protests the country has seen for 60 years. ...

The USA is getting rid of Bush today, we want to get rid of you" and "Yes, we can" were among banners carried by thousands of protesters.

The protesters banged pots and pans, wheelbarrows and a drum set. "We are protesting against useless ministers," said one of three ladies who were beating teapots with spoons. They, like many others, had taken time off from work. "We are taking a long lunch break," they said.

The latest protest rally is thought to be the biggest since 1949, when Iceland joined Nato. On Tuesday night, the crowds lit a bonfire and once it ran out of fuel, the Christmas tree in the town square was torn down and used as firewood. Nearby benches were also thrown into the pyre. ...

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/22/iceland-protests-recession

[marchellojones]

1. Scandinavians are usually

pretty cool headed. It could spread elsewhere in Europe if thing get worse!

[Irish Girl]

3. Danes are a bit crazy though

A video from the riots of March 2007 in Copenhagen, Denmark

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iupbxsHGlAA

Love those Danes, just don't piss them off!

[marchellojones]

4. Its all that

Viking blood that sometimes boils over

[Chulanowa]

5. I thought it might have been because of all the rotten fish and rancid butter they eat

Scandanavia's GOT to have hte worst food in the world... Well, their pastries are nice... but the entrees? Gyugh.

[depakid]

2. The consequences of blindly following uncle Milty

[Lautremont]

6. It really can be traced back to Friedman's mid-Eighties visit to Iceland.

He virtually hyp-mo-tized David Oddsson with his free market bullshit ideas; Oddsson later became the longest-serving Prime Minister (during which time he went privatization- and deregulation-apeshit, Thatcher-styles), and then subsequently was made the head of the Central Bank. Fox, meet henhouse.