Iceland: a ray of hope in a dark world

For a while now, I have been lamenting about the demise of real democracy. An ignorant populace cannot really be democratic because knowledge is necessary for free choice. What passes for knowledge these days is what the mass media tells people is happening. And people digest this propaganda whole, sheltering themselves in apathy because either they feel politically impotent, or they have no concept of the obligation each person has to seek the truth when exercising one's vote in a democracy.

People who can make us believe absurdities can make us commit atrocities. To protect ourselves from becoming zombified media consumers, we need freedom of information to empower people.

In all this darkness of today's economic and political meltdown, there is a single ray of light which Ireland would do well to follow: Iceland. Birgitta Jonsdottier has come forth to lead her country in practicing real democracy, of the people, for the people and by the people.
The people of Iceland were hit hard by the banking collapse - but they did something about it. They demanded that the people VOTE on the use of their tax money to pay off debts caused by the deriviative fraudsters. They also demanded freedom of information about what their government was doing. In short, the implemented real democracy for their island.

I needed the hope Icelanders are giving me: that people can take control of their country's government and future - if they want to - non-violently and democratically.

The interview below explains the changes the people of Iceland have made following the collapse of their banks. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I have.





Find the next two parts of the interview here.