Icelandic activist Hordur Torfason will speak about modern
democracy, in Dunedin next week. Photo supplied.
An Icelandic activist will speak about modern democracy
to an ''open-minded'' Dunedin audience next week, as part of
his national tour.
Tour organiser Sian Clement (48) said activist Hordur
Torfason (66) would speak at Otago Polytechnic's Dunedin
School of Art and St Paul's Cathedral on March 27 and the
University of Otago's School of Politics on March 28.
Mr Torfason was a gay rights activist in Iceland in the 1970s
and an activist against the Icelandic government and senior
bankers after the economic crash in 2008, she said.
The Icelandic constitution was re-written by Icelandic
residents, some via Facebook and Twitter.
Dunedin School of Art head Leoni Schmidt said Mr Torfason was
a human rights pioneer.
''[He] has proven that the people can indeed inspire and make
change. I think we will all learn something from him.''
Miss Clement said Mr Torfason's husband, Italian architect
Massimo Santanicchia, would also speak at the polytechnic and
university and would talk about Iceland's capital Reykjavik
and the importance of a more responsive, integrated and
holistic urbanism.
All of the Dunedin events would be free and open to the
public, she said.
The lectures in Auckland and Wellington had more than 200
people attend but Dunedin had given a great response and
financial support to the upcoming lectures, Miss Clement
said.
''Dunedin [people] are much more open-minded.''
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