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 Best Island Destination: The Faroes |  The Faroes scored 87 out of 100, the only island to reach the category "Authentic, unspoiled, and likely to remain so", but not even close to the top category "Enhanced".
Some quoted phrases from the expert panelists' remarks suggesting the thinking behind their scores:
"Superb glaciated landscape with improbably steep slopes. Little flat land. Local society unified and resolutely Faroese, not Danish, with own language, etc. Built heritage, down to the grass roofs, reasonably protected, certainly cherished. Most tourists adventurous and well-informed."
"Cultural integrity strong. On Koltur, visitors can meet a farmer, tour the island, experience a living museum of farm life today, and sample local traditional cuisine. The farmer is part of a green certification program. If the numbers of cruise ships continue to grow rapidly, there may be problems with island carrying capacity."
"All new buildings are required to maintain historic architecture."
"Quite rightly, tourists are expected to be like the Faroese, such as taking choppy ferries and hiking through any weather. The future could bring severe social and environmental impacts, but the Faroese are aware of the dangers and are debating solutions."
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on November 04 2007 01:44:15
Even if the Faroes topped this list, there's still quite a way to go for top marks (100). I'm quite skeptical of the Faroese people's ability to preserve their own islands, and attribute the fact that they're so well preserved as they are, to dumb luck and the fact that none of them have found a way to make money off of ruining the nature.
I have to admit that it seems to be going the right way, and a minority even seem to be taking the environmental issues seriously as well. But I'm pretty sure the Faroes are still one of the biggest polluters in the world (per capita), and with the possibility of a treasure trove of subterranean black gold looming on the horizon, do you think it will keep going the right way, or do you believe, as I, that in the Faroes, responsibility is inversely proportional to profit? |
on November 04 2007 14:42:10
Though I have now read the story in many publications it would be nice with a link in your news item so others can do the same.
Anyhow here is the link to the original story. |
on November 04 2007 15:06:32
Well, I'm certain of one thing; If the Faroese population continues to perpetuate the idea that they're unable to do anything and keep attributing any indication to the contrary to dumb luck, then we will - sooner or later - have a self-fulfilling prophecy on our hands.
I know that you're probably right though. In the past, we have been particularly unconcerned with the environment, but I think that is in the past. In any event, I think it's counter-productive to downplay what little good news there is. We should be proud of topping this list and take it to mean that the Faroes know what they're doing and are on the right track. |
on November 04 2007 16:18:20
@Norlander: You get a gold star for reading the article before and more often (you didn't get it the first time?) than anyone else. Well done.
Anyhow, the very first thing in the news item is a link to the original story. Just open your eyes  |
on November 04 2007 16:25:11
@Grizlas: I'm pretty tired of people pulling the "no responsibility unless independence" card.
Little children stop pissing their own pants long before independence from their mommy pops up on their radar. For severely retarded children it's a different story, but maybe they shouldn't get any independence anyway.
Responsibility must come before independence. |
on November 04 2007 18:46:24
@vuzman
I fail to see what independence has to do with anything. I'm just pointing out that you do not positively _have_ to take every single oppurtunity to focus on everything that's bad about the Faroes. To use your children methaphor, then no child will ever be able to bear responsibility for anything if it is constantly told how useless it is.
Topping this list is a good thing. It means that - despite all our problems - there is still something positive to be said about the Faroe Islands. Why not be a bit happy about that and go back to being a sour pus tomorrow? Being goofily optimistic about everything is moronic to be sure, but so is the opposite. |
on November 04 2007 20:20:03
and in case you're wondering what a methaphor is, then its the same as a metaphor, but on crystal meth. |
on November 06 2007 19:20:26
@Grizlas: I took your first paragraph as a hint to your usual argument that the Faroese won't assume responsibility unless they get their independence. If I misinterpreted, sorry.
I ran the news item because I think it is good news. I also wrote it as a positive article, and didn't introduce any 'sourness' until my separate comment, where I did say that it was going the right way.
I don't mean to be a sourpuss, but history has taught me to be skeptical of the Faroese people's abilities. When it comes to moral responsibility, it seems limited to donating used clothes when a natural disaster strikes, and donating money to bashing bibles on peoples' heads all over the world (something I find not only immoral, but also foolishly arrogant). Environmental responsibility; well, I don't see that very much. I don't see that the industry tries at all, and the government not so much either. SEV has been holding back on windmills years; already back when we were in high school they were questioned about their reluctance to set up anything but that sole windmill we know so well, which was set up as a test. The hydro-power plants were set up (I presume) because they're cheaper in the long run. We could have been the authority on one kind of wave power by now with the Hestur (Koltur) subaquatic tunnel plan, but that would ruin a landscape which no one sees anyway. There could have been other plans too (there are now, but in cooperation with foreigners). I could surely go on, and sure, I haven't pointed to the good things (to be honest, I can't think of any, but I'm sure there is something if I tried), but I'm trying to point out that I don't see a tendency towards real environmental responsibility as I see it here: Where corporations generally have an environmental policy at the very least, but often make environmental responsibility a priority. Where the government has a clear focus on the environment. Where every politician says he will work for even better care for the environment. Where even the Conservative party tries to brand itself as a green party. The Faroese Conservatives have Óli Breckmann...
I'm not saying it's all roses here; surely a lot of it is pretend, or pandering, but I just don't see it in the Faroes to anywhere near the same degree, and I actually think that the Faroese should be even more focused on it than here; considering the fragile and relatively unspoilt nature, and the fact that the environment is so much closer to the individual Faroese. Environmental events, natural or man-made are felt much more readily by every individual in the Faroes than down here. For a nation whose economy is bound up in the ocean we sure don't seem to treat it well, to name but one example.
But I digress. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy that it's going the right way, but I also think the Faroese need to do more, and maybe more than anything be more aware that we are all living in a fragile ecosystem and even though the Faroes are small their impact can be relatively huge.
I also think that the Faroese (as most people, I guess) are very good at patting their own backs, rather than taking an honest look in the mirror. That makes me want point fingers, in order to start a debate. Instead I get chastised for pointing fingers and being too hard on us. |
on November 06 2007 19:20:52
/rant.... |
on November 16 2007 11:22:59
I think, that a lot of Faroese are reluctant towards 'green' ideas and ideals, because we've had the fore-runners of these organizations, bashing at us for decades, trying to force their ideals upon us unwillingly.
For my part, having Greenpeace, Sea Sheppard and others ranting about us and our way of life, and causing severe negative media storms towards us, without even trying to understand our point of view or even listening to it, negates all of their potential 'good will'.
Many of these, have appointed themselves as a sort of 'ecological policeforce', and are in my view trying to force their will and statutes upon everyone else, with no exceptions and no rebutals possible.
This has also caused me, personnaly, to be very cautious towards all trends and organizations that bear a 'green' logo. I consider them more popularist hype than fact, until rationally declared othervise by other more sceptical organizations. |
on November 16 2007 16:40:34
So... why are you still dismissing global warming... ??? |
on November 17 2007 09:23:08
Because I still have not heard a non-hype declaration from more negative organizations. |
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