Petroleum Development and Social Responsibility in the North of Norway
The electronic music scene and the petroleum developers both wish to contribute regarding the future of Tromsø and the north of Norway. The Insomnia Festival and ENI Norge invite you to a constructive debate where the developers’ social responsibilities are on the agenda:
TROMSØ KUNSTFORENING
THURSDAY OCTOBER 25.
2pm/14:00
FREE ADMISSION
The future of northern Norway is changing alongside the development of petroleum recourses.
In the wake of oil development follows both environmental issues, jobs, and for the cultural sector, fresh funds. The norm of the private industry is companies managing private money. The oil in the Barents Sea is a resource belonging to the Norwegian citizens. But what happens when private petroleum companies extract and make a profit from the same source? One answer is raising awareness of the social responsibility that these companies have concerning Northern Norway. This debate will address key issues relating to this question. Norut researcher and debate participant, Trond Nilsen, has access to results that show changes in prospects among young people in Northern Norway. New allowances for petroleum extraction have required oil companies to develop new technologies and new strategies for safety. Director of Information of ENI Norge, Andreas Wulff, believes that the social responsibility of the oil industry in Northern Norway should be clearly defined. Petroleum development creates jobs in the region while spending significant resources on environmental measures. Some funds are also directed towards cultural backing; but should we expect the company to contribute more towards the development of the region? Head of Troms SV, Torgeir Knag Fylkesnes, would also like to contribute defining the oil operators' responsibility. Which social contract should a participant that extract resources in the region take on; and who should be involved in drawing up such a contract? Meanwhile, the oil companies' social responsibility has gradually spread throughout the North Norwegian cultural sector. What exactly is a fruitful collaboration between an oil company and a cultural contributor? Can oil and culture live in a healthy symbiosis? Where do we draw the line regarding independence? How far can cultural participants stretch to receive much needed sponsorship on one hand, while on the other hand retaining a credible identity? Electronic music and petroleum development has at least one thing in common; despite belonging to widely different sectors, both want to play an important role in Tromsø and in the future of Northern Norway. This debate looks at some of the challenges of collaboration between two very different players.
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