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– I care about the municipality of Nordkapp and right now it is not pleasant to live here, says Lena Ingebrigtsen.
She was the initiator of the torchlight procession that was organized in Honningsvåg on Tuesday evening. She says that the inhabitants are tired of all the arguments and fear that people will move out of there.
She hopes the torchlight procession can contribute to a change in attitude.
At the core of the dispute are the numerous conflicts around the North Cape Plateau.
A conflict that, especially between politicians, has been intense. Among other things, two young politicians experienced lies, comments, and harassment at their first city board meeting earlier this year.
The difficult political climate has spread to other issues, as well as to citizens, who have had enough.
Lena Ingebrigtsen believes that many have moved from Honningsvåg due to the environment in the municipality.
Photo: Jo Hermstad Tronsen / NRK
– may be the beginning
On Tuesday, about 250 residents of the municipality showed up to show that they want a change in society.
– You see in the comment field on Facebook, when issues are discussed, that they become rude to each other, says Mina Brynjulfsen.
She was one of those who participated in the torchlight procession.
– We may have allowed ourselves to go in a line that has not been very good for Honningsvåg, says Fredrik Helgesen, participant in the torchlight procession.
– I think it’s bad that you have to disagree so much that everything stops, says the initiator, Lena Ingebrigtsen.
Photo: Jo Hermstad Tronsen / NRK
– We must endure disagreement
Lena Ingebrigtsen believes that the conflict around the North Cape Plateau now goes beyond the reputation of the municipality. She believes that people are tired of bad moods and that the desire is about to disappear.
Today, just under 3,000 people live in the North Cape. And the population is decreasing every year. So it doesn’t help in a society characterized by harassment and conflict, believes Ingebrigtsen.
– Some people find it shameful to say they are from Honningsvåg. Last year 46 people from the municipality moved, and I know that some of them moved because they didn’t see a future here.
However, he believes that it is possible to reverse the negative trend in the municipality.
“We want to live here, and it has been a good place to grow up for me,” he says.
– We must find out how we, as a society, can build a better reputation for our municipality, says initiator Lena Ingebrigtsen.
Photo: Jo Hermstad Tronsen / NRK
Wants better role models
– When so many, of all ages and from all walks of life, show up at such an event on such short notice, it shows how important it is, says Mayor Jan Olsen (SV), who participated in the procession of torches.
– It also shows that for a long time there has been a need to express what is not perceived as correct, says Olsen.
Urge residents to take this sign seriously.
The leader of the Conservative Party group in the North Cape, Sirin Figenschou Høyen, was also present during the celebration. She thinks the torchlight procession was a good initiative.
– I think that’s how it should start, that people have fun to reflect on their own behavior. At least I hope so.
Ingebrigtsen does not believe that a change will occur in society overnight, but still hopes that politicians have seen that the inhabitants want visible change.
– Adults in such a small society are role models and role models, and where we are now we are not good role models and role models, says Ingebrigtsen.
– Now we hope that society can become more inclusive and that we can show more mutual respect.
