Rotvoll controversy
Encyclopedia
The Rotvoll controversy refers to a political controversy in Norway
in 1991 concerning the construction of a research and development
(R&D) facility for Statoil
at Rotvoll
outside Trondheim
.
life area. There were some old farms at Rotvoll as well, considered to be worth protecting.
There was a lot of secrecy around the formal approval of the construction at Rotvoll, and the approval process did not, like the law required, undertake a study of the consequences for the environment. Both the Norwegian Directorate for Nature Management
, the County Governor and city antiquarian opposed the construction. Nonetheless, the city council gave Statoil the permission.
The controversy became national on 30 June when the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation made a large story on the national news, followed up by a number of national newspapers. The strategy had been chosen to remind Prime Minister
Gro Harlem Brundtland
of the Alta controversy
that had been a large political burden on the government in which she was Minister of the Environment
in the early 1980s. The main content of the news was the tent camp that had been established at Rotvoll, to prohibit the construction. The tent camp consisted among others of members of Natur og Ungdom
and the Norwegian Society for the Conservation of Nature
. The first week of the tent camp there was sunshine, but since then it was continuous rain. Each weekend there was a family day at Rotvoll, including appearances of singer Hans Rotmo
. Statoil refused to accept any of the alternative locations provided by the environmentalists, despite meetings between the CEO Harald Norvik
and environmentalists. Statoil also had multiple full-page advertisement in the Trondheim newspapers Arbeider-Avisa
and Adresseavisen
.
After school start in August there were few activists left at the camp, and in early October Statoil sent a letter to them informing them that they would start construction soon. On 10 October 1991 the police woke the activists and informed them that Statoil was to start construction. This resulted in quick mobilisation and 75 activists denied to move, resulting in civil disobedience
. They were removed by the police, and that day the construction workers did as much damage as possible to hinder more actions, but the next day 65 people let themselves be arrested again to hinder the building. The following day a legal demonstration
was held by 500 people outside the construction area.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
in 1991 concerning the construction of a research and development
Research and development
The phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...
(R&D) facility for Statoil
Statoil
Statoil ASA is a Norwegian petroleum company established in 1972. It merged with Norsk Hydro in 2007 and was known as StatoilHydro until 2009, when the name was changed back to Statoil ASA. The brand Statoil was retained as a chain of fuel stations owned by StatoilHydro...
at Rotvoll
Rotvoll
Rotvoll is an area of Trondheim, Norway located between Leangen to the west and Ranheim to the east. The area has some suburban housing and is otherwise dominated by the StatoilHydro research facility and Sør-Trøndelag University College campus for teacher education...
outside Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
.
Key events
The background for the controversy was that Statoil wanted to establish a new research and development centre in Trondheim, and had acquired land at the recreational area Rotvoll to the east of Trondheim. This area was an agriculture boundary right outside Trondheim, and was connected to Leangenbukta, an important birdBird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
life area. There were some old farms at Rotvoll as well, considered to be worth protecting.
There was a lot of secrecy around the formal approval of the construction at Rotvoll, and the approval process did not, like the law required, undertake a study of the consequences for the environment. Both the Norwegian Directorate for Nature Management
Norwegian Directorate for Nature Management
The Norwegian Directorate for Nature Management is Norway's national governmental body for preserving Norway's natural environment, including establishing and regulating national parks and other protected areas...
, the County Governor and city antiquarian opposed the construction. Nonetheless, the city council gave Statoil the permission.
The controversy became national on 30 June when the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation made a large story on the national news, followed up by a number of national newspapers. The strategy had been chosen to remind Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Norway
The Prime Minister of Norway is the political leader of Norway and the Head of His Majesty's Government. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Stortinget , to their political party, and ultimately the...
Gro Harlem Brundtland
Gro Harlem Brundtland
Gro Harlem Brundtland is a Norwegian Social democratic politician, diplomat, and physician, and an international leader in sustainable development and public health. She served three terms as Prime Minister of Norway , and has served as the Director General of the World Health Organization...
of the Alta controversy
Alta controversy
The Alta controversy refers to a political controversy in Norway in the late 1970s and early 1980s concerning the construction of a hydroelectric power plant in the Alta river in Finnmark, Northern Norway.-Key events:...
that had been a large political burden on the government in which she was Minister of the Environment
Minister of the Environment (Norway)
The Norwegian Minister of the Environment is the head of the Royal Norwegian Ministry of the Environment. The Ministry was established in 1972....
in the early 1980s. The main content of the news was the tent camp that had been established at Rotvoll, to prohibit the construction. The tent camp consisted among others of members of Natur og Ungdom
Natur og Ungdom
Natur og Ungdom which translates Nature and Youth, also known in English as Young Friends of the Earth Norway is a Norwegian youth environment protecting organisation. It is the only environmentalist youth organisation in Norway. 7000 members in 80 local groups work on environmental issues all...
and the Norwegian Society for the Conservation of Nature
Norwegian Society for the Conservation of Nature
The Norwegian Society for the Conservation of Nature , also known as Friends of the Earth Norway and commonly abbreviated NNV is the largest Norwegian environmental organization with 28,000 members. The organization is based on a volunteer work among the members, constituting work both at local and...
. The first week of the tent camp there was sunshine, but since then it was continuous rain. Each weekend there was a family day at Rotvoll, including appearances of singer Hans Rotmo
Hans Rotmo
Hans Per Rotmo is a Norwegian singer and songwriter, known by most Norwegians as the leading figure of 1970s folk-rock band Vømmøl Spellmannslag, and also known as the writer of hit songs like "Fire fine lænestola" and the Christmas tune "Vårres jul"...
. Statoil refused to accept any of the alternative locations provided by the environmentalists, despite meetings between the CEO Harald Norvik
Harald Norvik
Harald Norvik is a former chairman, president, and chief executive of Norwegian oil giant Statoil. Since 2007 he has been Chairman of Telenor....
and environmentalists. Statoil also had multiple full-page advertisement in the Trondheim newspapers Arbeider-Avisa
Arbeider-Avisa
Arbeider-Avisa was a daily newspaper published in Trondheim, Norway, started in 1924 and defunct in 1996...
and Adresseavisen
Adresseavisen
Adresseavisen is a regional newspaper published daily, except Sundays, in Trondheim, Norway. It is an independent, conservative newspaper with a daily circulation of approximately 85,000. It is also informally known as Adressa. The newspaper covers the areas of Trøndelag and Nordmøre.Adresseavisen...
.
After school start in August there were few activists left at the camp, and in early October Statoil sent a letter to them informing them that they would start construction soon. On 10 October 1991 the police woke the activists and informed them that Statoil was to start construction. This resulted in quick mobilisation and 75 activists denied to move, resulting in civil disobedience
Civil disobedience
Civil disobedience is the active, professed refusal to obey certain laws, demands, and commands of a government, or of an occupying international power. Civil disobedience is commonly, though not always, defined as being nonviolent resistance. It is one form of civil resistance...
. They were removed by the police, and that day the construction workers did as much damage as possible to hinder more actions, but the next day 65 people let themselves be arrested again to hinder the building. The following day a legal demonstration
Demonstration (people)
A demonstration or street protest is action by a mass group or collection of groups of people in favor of a political or other cause; it normally consists of walking in a mass march formation and either beginning with or meeting at a designated endpoint, or rally, to hear speakers.Actions such as...
was held by 500 people outside the construction area.
Legacy
The controversy was quite noticeable in Trondheim, and though Statoil Rotvoll was built, it resulted in other environmental victories later- A few years later a green area at Fagerheim in Trondheim was not demolished, partially to avoid a new Rotvoll incident.
- Area planning in Trondheim has since shifted, and instead of building large work places outside the town, they are being moved into town. Examples of this include Fokus BankFokus BankFokus Bank is a brand name for Danske Bank's Norwegian operation. Danske Bank has long been one of the largest banks in Scandinavia.Fokus Bank has 41 local branches spread around all of Norway. The main office is in Trondheim and the bank employs approximately 1,000 workers...
, the city administration, the county administration and Adresseavisen (announced) in addition to the planned centralising of the Norwegian University of Science and TechnologyNorwegian University of Science and TechnologyThe Norwegian University of Science and Technology , commonly known as NTNU, is located in Trondheim. NTNU is the second largest of the eight universities in Norway, and, as its name suggests, has the main national responsibility for higher education in engineering and technology...
and Sør-Trøndelag University CollegeSør-Trøndelag University CollegeSør-Trøndelag University College or HiST is a Norwegian university college located in Trondheim. The school offers higher education within nursing, teaching, economics, food science, engineering and information technology...
, totaling many thousands of jobs. - Environmental groups threatened with new demonstrations and actions when Statoil announced plans for expansions of Statoil Rotvoll in 2004.