“Where someone sees gold and green forests, we see a gray future”

We want the best for Florø. But where some see gold and green forests, we see a gray future

During Firdaposten’s public meeting, it emerged that it is among young people in the 30-44 age group that the opposition to the Måsholmen case and the destruction of nature is greatest. Nevertheless, not many of us had time to speak during the meeting.

It was the local newspaper, and not the municipality, that had invited the meeting at the cultural center. This underlines the asymmetry Stein Malkenes mentioned during his presentation. There is not enough provision for citizens to be able to participate in matters that directly affect our lives.

Our local newspaper has taken this responsibility, and they should be proud of that. But despite their attempt to balance the debate, the power imbalance was unfortunately reinforced during the public meeting.

The opposing side was represented by Stein Malkenes from Florø Bulystforeining and stateless Ove Henning Smelvær. With two opponents pitted against six advocates, the local newspaper fails to balance the representative pages despite good intentions and questions. Especially considering that their analysis shows that a total of 44.8 per cent of the population are somewhat or very negative about the plans. 34.1 are slightly or very positive.

We would have liked to hear more from the young opponents, but were they busy putting the little ones to bed?

There are several of us who could imagine coming home one day. Some of us have already moved here for family and nature because we want our children to grow up in the safe landscape and the good surroundings we remember from our childhood. But we are beginning to lose faith that it is something we can expect.

After Firdaposten had presented the opinion poll, it became clearer than ever that the majority of the politicians do not listen to the target group that most municipalities in the districts aim at in order to ensure viable local communities. In the political panel, it was expressed that we have enough scenic areas to enjoy in Florø.

The question then becomes where the boundary should be, and whether it is not those who represent the future who should be allowed to set this boundary.

This is about much more than the expansion of Gunhildvågen and the Måsholmen area. It is about realizing that natural interventions are and will be irreversible. The more interventions one makes, the less nature we have.

If this continues as the spatial plan suggests, the industry will not only dominate on the south side, but also further from Botnastrand in the north and further into Brandsøya and Grønenga.

The main impression we are left with is that the majority of politicians will continue with an already established bit-by-bit mindset and destroy what we have left of coastal nature around Florø. We cannot go back in time when one day we realize that we have destroyed the most beautiful thing we had.

We have heard that it is too late to turn around in the Måsholmen case, but in Øygarden municipality they have done something historic. There, they have stopped the development of a fully planned road because they have realized that the time for building in bogs and heaths is over. It’s time for Florø to catch up with the times!

So let’s turn it all around. We are not opposed to the development of Måsholmen. We are champions for Florø, nature and our children. We want the same as the politicians: The best for Florø. But the picture of the future we see is different. Where someone sees “gold and green forests”, we see a gray future. It should be possible to come up with good solutions where both sides are heard, one does not exclude the other.

We need more than a one-sided working life. We need a diversity of jobs and natural diversity. For those of us who choose Florø, the proximity to nature is an important part of what makes our city so attractive. There are many places we can choose to live.

We will challenge our politicians to include young people in their future plans. Because so far they don’t seem to take either us or bulyst seriously. Here we would like to encourage Aksello with their commitment to the Flora U40 network to participate and facilitate a better dialogue that includes us who want to build our future in Florø.

Siri Linn Brandsøy, 38

Cecilie Eikås Nygård, 38

Suneetha Rani Gill, 45

Lasse Huldt Pedersen, 37

Eirin Stensvoll Brandsøy, 35

Elise Svardahl, 38

Synne Våge Jagedal, 31

Malin Johannessen, 32

Marthe Hestdal Standal, 36

Emilie Grube, 33

Merete Endestad, 38

Kjetil Øvregaard Østebø, 44

Tarjei Langeland, 42

Iris Kvellestad, 40

Margrethe Nygård, 36

Tonje Eikås Nygård, 33

Håvard Stubhaug, 37

Terje Klokkernes Jahn, 38

Sara Marie Ytreøy, 37

Charlotte Prydz Ottesen, 36

Alette Igland Avsnes, 28

June Osland Melvær, 32

Christian Tjessem, 37

Mari Melvær Langaas, 34

Øyvind Årdal, 35

Magnus Berge Melvær, 31

Olav Lima Frorud, 33

Irmelin-Therese Bjerknes Book, 47

Knut Grønlien, 47

Anette Berg Sundsøy, 34

Malene Berg Sundsøy, 28

Lene Ellingsund, 28

Christine Nordal Sunde, 34

Stian Nordal Sunde, 31

Hedda Marie Hopkinson Fonn, 24

Marius Hopkinson Standal, 37

Tobias Sagen, 26

Kristoffer Sigdestad, 29

Astrid Berg, 35

Anna Catharina Mølster, 28

Sandra Nekkøy, 31

Daniel Renè Notø, 34

Lisa-Mari Lundebrekke Swensen, 31

Erlend Baugstø, 38

Hilde Kristin Hovden, 31

Adrian Stamnes Rambjørg, 32

Robert Larsen-Hovden, 40

Therese Larsen-Hovden, 35

Christian Svardahl Hovden, 37

Sara Svardahl Hovden, 34

Camilla Hansen, 31

Hanne Sande, 32

Vilde Aaberg, 32