The Faroese - the Ferengi of Northern Europe Commentary by Captain Paul Watson The Faroes are unique amongst the peoples of Europe. They are not part of the European Union but because of their relationship with Denmark they receive benefits in the form of subsidies from the European Union. These subsidies amount to about 6% of the Faroese GDP which is 2.2 billion dollars U.S. This is a sizeable subsidy of just over $100 million U.S. The Faroese economy is primarily dependent upon fishing and the Faroese catch more fish per capita than most other nations in the world. Fish is the mainstay of their entire economy. There is some hope that oil will be a future producer of revenue, but this is not guaranteed and it is probably the main reason that Denmark is inclined to hold onto the Faroes. But although the Faroes receives subsidies from the EU and their primary export partners are Denmark, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, the Faroes have not been appreciative neighbours. Instead they have been downright greedy and opportunistic. In addition to taking more than their share of North Atlantic fish quotas, the Faroe Islands are now taking advantage of the EU’s sanctions on Russia over the situation in the Ukraine. The Faroe Islands, part of the Kingdom of Denmark, refuse to observe European Union sanctions and in doing so they anticipate a surge in fish exports to Russia. “I have a responsibility to my people and I don’t believe in boycotts,” Home Rule Prime Minister Kaj Leo Holm Johannesen said yesterday in a phone interview. The Faroes has stayed outside the European Union but unlike Norway, also not a member of the EU, the Faroes has seen an opportunity to take advantage of the politics between Europe and Russia. This is allowing them to not only increase sales to Russia to replace Norwegian and other European suppliers but also to escape President Vladimir Putin’s retaliatory trade ban. The Faroese see this as an opportunity to triple their exports to Russia. “Criticism from abroad has been very muted,” 50-year-old Johannesen said. “I’ve explained the situation to Brussels, to Danish lawmakers and to the Obama administration when I traveled to Washington and New York recently.” In other words he said that the Faroes put profit before loyalty. Danish Foreign Minister Martin Lidegaard said “It’s no crime not to be a member of the EU nor is it a crime not to be the subject of a boycott. On the other hand, it’s clear that the EU expects that others don’t take advantage of the situation to capture market from countries impacted by the boycott.” This is diplomatic language that in short is saying the Faroes are screwing Denmark and the EU over and they don’t appreciate it. “We don’t want to opt out of selling to Russia,” Prime Minister Johannesen said. “We operate in the world market where we get the best prices. We’re big on sales of salmon to the U.S., China, Europe and Russia. Trade policy and foreign policy weave into each other.” Norway is the world’s biggest salmon producer and the government there has sought to support its fishing industry during the trade ban by adjusting quotas as firms seek out new markets. Norwegian sales have declined by 3 percent while Faroese sales have risen by 12 percent Since Putin unveiled his trade ban against countries signing up for imposing sanctions in early August, shares in Norway’s Marine Harvest ASA (MHG), the world’s largest salmon producer, have lost 3 percent through yesterday, while Bakkafrost of the Faroes has gained more than 12 percent. The Faroese are also prepared to ignore any protests from Denmark over their expected ethical obligation to support the EU. There is “a real risk” Denmark might object to the decision to ignore EU sanctions, Johannesen said. His administration would “acknowledge the Danish position, but wouldn’t stop trading,” he said. This latest insult to Europe follows a one-year feud with the EU on fishing quotas that just recently ended. Brussels had imposed trade sanctions against the Faroe Islands, a ban that obliged Denmark to block imports of Faroese fish. “Should the same country that recently imposed sanctions on us ask us to boycott Russia? That would be insane,” Johannesen said. “Then we would have a huge problem in the commonwealth.” Of course the Prime Minster fails to mention that the trade sanctions imposed on the Faroese was because of their greedy and excessive catch of fish. It is a mystery as to how this translates into their alliance with Russia against the rest of Europe and North America. What does this mean for Sea Shepherd? It means the time is ripe for us to work towards getting the EU to take action to block subsidies in retaliation for continued Faroese refusal to stop the slaughter of pilot whales and dolphins. The killing of cetaceans is prohibited by EU regulations. Sea Shepherd’s position is that if they receive EU subsidies they should comply with EU regulations. The Faroes simply wants to keep their cake and they want to eat it also. They unashamedly take $100 million dollars a year of EU money and demonstrate their lack of appreciation by allying with Putin, over-fishing and slaughtering whales. This year’s Sea Shepherd’s Operation Grindstop served two purposes. First to block the approach of pilot whales and dolphins and secondly to focus international media attention on the on-going slaughter of the whales. We succeeded with both goals. Compared to last year’s slaughter of over 1300 whales and dolphins, this year saw the killing of only 35. And the story made headlines around the world. Sea Shepherd intends to take advantage of this increased awareness to rally efforts to take political and legal action against the Faroese for receiving EU subsidies while violating EU regulations. The Faroese are like the Ferengi of Star Trek’s Deep Space Nine. The Ferengi Rules of Acquisition, in the fictional Star Trek universe, are a set of guidelines intended to ensure the profitability of businesses owned by members of the ultra-capitalist alien species known as Ferengi. The Ferengi recognize five Stages of Acquisition: 1. Infatuation: An unreasoning love or attraction … I want it. 2. Justification: Moral excuse used to explain … I must have it! 3. Appropriation: To take to ones self in exclusion of others … ITS MINE AT LAST! 4. Obsession: A compulsive or irrational preoccupation with profit. 5. Resale: The action of selling something previously bought … Make me an offer. This sounds exactly like the trade rules of the Faroes. 1. We want subsidies from the EU 2. We want them without conditions or appreciation to the EU 3. We are entitled to these subsidies from the EU because Denmark has always provided the teat we love to suck from. Mommy’s milk is good but mommy is bad. 4. We have no loyalties other than our shameless obsession with profit 5. If we can’t make money on it, we’ll kill it. Photos: Quark and his Earthly Counterpart Prime Minister Kaj Leo Holm Johannesen
Posted on: Wed, 15 Oct 2014 21:48:18 +0000
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