The bioaktuella icelandic film ”Woman at war” won the prestigious Nordic council film prize and has been praised by critics. It is easy to understand why.
Halldóra Geirharðsdóttir, makes a flawless bet as environmental activist Halla tired of signatures, demonstrations, and angry Facebookinlägg as a protest against the company operating the polluting aluminium plant. Now her debattmetoder shifted more to the pilbågs and sprängmedelsargument.
”I am not a criminal”, explains she. ”I prevent crime being committed against us.” Just so argue many practitioners of civil resistance, although others would argue that they are criminals but their crime is more than justified by the because it stops a lot bigger.
is a strong trend in the time. Greta Thunberg has become an international superstar by violating the compulsory – and then argue eloquently for their cause. Recently also got the activist Elin Ersson its judgment for that of an aircraft having stopped deportation to Afghanistan.
Suppose she instead burned down a planned refugee camp.
There is a lot to like in ”Woman at War”, not least its unmistakable isländskhet. At the same time can all over the filmmaker avoids three of the most important issues around activism and civil resistance.
for what is allowed in the esa action? You have ever right to harm other people, in order to achieve its goals? Must civil disobedience ”beat up” – and who determines what is up and down?
Keep it simple. She is vandalizing inanimate objects owned by an Evil Capitalist (that the company in question can then possibly deliver their aluminum for good service is a premium for both the film as this text). But assume that she was instead burning down a planned refugee centre, arguing that the commission does more harm than good even for the refugees themselves? Assume that she neglected to pay taxes for that she sees the state as förtryckarmaskin? It is to hit the ”up” or ”down”?
My opinion is that we as individuals have a duty to listen to our conscience – and then to take the possible penalty for our civil disobedience. To evade or require impunity is not courage, it’s just sabotage.
