Norway has never been “blessed” with an auto industry, save for its role as provider of parts to car makers throughout Europe, not exactly in demand these days. With an international auto industry threatening to file for bankruptcy, drastic measures have been made to keep it afloat, both in terms of governmental bailouts and a massive reorientation towards environment-friendly cars.
One would think that electric vehicle producers have a field day, all things considered. In Norway not so. In spite of the country’s apparent financial success amid global recession (I suggest …

A bill proposed by the Norwegian government today suggests that the marine and land-based environment be treated differently, with nature at sea entitled to less protection than on land.
Undoubtedly, this will have a huge impact on marine life, not least the vast corral reefs discovered on the Lofoten coast two years ago:
[...] The world’s largest cold water coral reef was found off Lofoten, the scenic archipelago that stretches into the Norwegian Sea west of Narvik. It lies at a depth of 300-400 meters about 110 kilometers west of Røst. The …

After 69 days in office, US president Barack Obama is preparing a European tour for long-awaited talks with leaders of selected countries. About time, some would say, but the president simply couldn’t ignore the immediate business at hand, as domestic – and global – finances crumbled amid the otherwisely festive “honeymoon”.
In recent days we’ve seen him play down the Iraqi problem, while putting equal emphasis on Afghanistan, planning to deploy thousands of personnel, of which several civil advisers. He’s gearing up to take a lead in environmental questions, scheduling a …

Tonight, between 8:30 and 9:30 PM, local time, is the global Earth hour, of which I’m sure you’ve already heard, but in case you haven’t, here’s a little info:
[...] In 2009, Earth Hour is being taken to the next level, with the goal of 1 billion people switching off their lights as part of a global vote. Unlike any election in history, it is not about what country you’re from, but instead, what planet you’re from. VOTE EARTH is a global call to action for every individual, every business, and …

In this day and age, with greenhouse gases engulfing the planet amid a financial crisis likely to bury the auto industry (which in all honesty ought to be long-since buried anyway) we need to explore the alternatives, of which one has been available for decades. The first streamlined high-speed trains, with a 130 km/h average speed and a more than 160 km/h top speed were introduced in Europe and the United States as early as 1933, as a matter of fact, and yet, some countries, such as Norway, are still …