Icelandic art to make you think -do perfumes have colors? (see end of post for more details)
Iceland is only on my list due to its exciting period from 2008
(banks) to 2010 (eruption). It wouldn’t make the list on other criteria. So,
with this forecast, it is rather a case of “I’ve started therefore I’ll
finish.”
I probably won’t be going into as much detail as I do with
other countries unless I see something very exciting again to report.
The first thing to note is that most of the heavy
configurations of the earlier years have now past. The situation is summarised
here:
Briefly he
says ; while countries such as Ireland and Greece, which handled their crises
more conventionally, continue to struggle, Iceland looks like an economic
miracle: the country that went over a cliff, hit the bottom, and bounced.
Unemployment has fallen from its post-crisis peak of more than 9% to a
relatively respectable 4.7%. Inflation, which once approached 20%, is now below
4% and is expected to keep falling. And after shrinking by around 10% in
2009-2010, the national economy has returned to a steady simmer, with growth in
the region of 2% per year since 2011.
The first couple of months of 2013, were however still
concerned with some of the historic issues. But a change was in the air, such a
change in fact that the people seemed to want to go back to the conditions that
got them into trouble in the past.
The elections in April therefore resulted in an upset to the
status quo and a transfer of power more towards the right.
This was not too upsetting however and there were definite
suggestions of most things settling down in the country. Other than tentative discussions by the new government
about EU membership and a return to whale harpooning after a two year ban, not much of note has been
happening at all in the country
Although there is little to suggest that banking is still on the minds of the country,
one suspects that there are occasional lapses into the subject and the
resultant economic changes as not everyone is equally happy with the outcomes.
September is not expected to be eventful. But October is likely
to be more interesting, with restrictions being felt more keenly and some
dissatisfaction being shown.
The dissatisfaction is likely to turn to disillusionment by
November, but the general conditions are not too bad. There may also be
discussions again about water issues such as fishing etc.
December is a mixed but not particularly noteworthy month
Similarly there is not much to remark about in January 2014. Although in February there may be some brief residual issues
relating to the debt situation.
Certainly, in March there is a sense of restriction for the
people and a little less stability.
April to July is a bit more eventful too. Once again there
are issues relating to water and fishing, perhaps also to the currency. There
is also some evidence that there may be the beginnings of some minor eruption
at this time.
Although the themes continue into August and September,
these months look to be positive
overall.
October and November are more mixed, with more emphasis on
possible eruptions – or perhaps just heater discussions about economic matters.
December sees closure of the 12 year cycle which created and destroyed the indebtedness. There
is likely to be some disagreement between government and people about the way
to proceed in future.
2015 is characterised by
a number of issues. There is an on-going low level sense of restriction
in the country as a whole. Some hidden matters relating to communication etc
might come to light, and there may be water, fishing or even climate issues to
content with.
The themes are in evidence from the beginning of the year.
In February there are some challenges for the leadership
despite a drive for economic growth but again these may also be possible early
signs of eruption.
The whole period from March to May seems to be the most
likely for things to spill out. However if this means volcanic activity there
is less evidence of the problems from smoke clouds which accompanied
2010’s. Still it is a disruptive phase
all round.
June’s events suggest a return to the discussions of
December 2014 and the finalisation of that 12 year cycle.
July and August look excellent economically and politically.
September is a bit more dramatic, with the country perhaps
being in the world spotlight for a while.
But this would be temporary as October is more internally
focussed on the people.
The end of the year is
mixed again, with a return to the communication issues, the
water/climate matters and the more tricky condstions for the government.
Some of the issues that have been creeping up in 2015 come
to a head in 2016 in what might be rather disruptive ways.
There are restrictions from January, with crackdowns on some
behind the scenes ( or perhaps illegal) activity.
Restrictions, and deceptions, seem to be there theme of the
spring.
There is a brief return to the conditions of September 2015
in April, but things are more free flowing.
May is lighter in tone. But June to august sees much more drama, challenge to
government thinking and a negative external image.
September therefore sees a lot of the things that have been
brewing over 2014-16 coming to a head.
Hot water is an Icelandic theme and this is particularly the case now.
October is a mixed month – there are conflicting signals,
all relating to the behind the scenes issues that were the focus earlier in the
year.
November is calmer
but there is a now a once in a country lifetime shift to a new economic model
perhaps based on the country’s natural resources.
About the artwork
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