In a move that’s as refreshing as a crisp Arctic breeze, Iceland’s political scene is witnessing an unprecedented campaign: a glacier is being nominated for the presidential race. The candidate in question is Snæfellsjökull, a 700,000-year-old glacier that sits atop a volcano and is visible to half of Iceland’s population.
The brainchild of Angela Rawlings, the campaign began as a whimsical idea in 2010 but has since crystallized into a serious bid for office. Rawlings, who has legally adopted Snæfellsjökull as her middle name, serves as a proxy for the glacier, allowing it to meet the candidacy requirements.
This symbolic gesture aims to bring the climate crisis to the forefront of the election discourse. As Icelanders watch Snæfellsjökull melt, the campaign underscores the urgency of environmental issues. The glacier’s candidacy is a novel approach to ensuring that the voices most affected by climate change are not just heard but are also represented in the highest office.
The campaign has gathered a team of over 50 people, working tirelessly to secure a spot for Snæfellsjökull on the ballot for the upcoming election on June 1. The initiative reflects a broader movement that has seen nature’s rights being recognized legally, as seen in Ecuador and with the Whanganui River in New Zealand.
Whether or not Snæfellsjökull secures a presidential nomination, the campaign has already succeeded in sparking a global conversation about the intersection of politics and the environment. It’s a bold reminder that sometimes, the most enduring leaders come not from the corridors of power but from the very earth beneath our feet.
Read more at Bid to secure spot for glacier in Icelandic presidential race heats up, by Ashifa Kassam, The Guardian, April 19, 2024.