Odd F. Lindberg
Encyclopedia
Odd F. Lindberg is a Norwegian
freelance journalist, Arctic explorer and film maker.
about what he believed to be illegal conditions in the seal hunt. The report was published in full on July 20, 1988, in the newspaper Bladet Tromsø
, even though the Norwegian Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs had kept it from the public.
The "Lindberg case" questioned the freedom of speech
in Norway, and particularly its position regarding privacy
, in this case the privacy of the seal hunters who had participated in what internationally at the time was largely conceived as inhumane and brutal slaughtering of seal pups (whitecoat
s) with hakapik
. In the report from 1988, Lindberg had claimed that seals were skinned alive, and that sealers knowingly afflicted suffering on the seal.
The newspaper was sued by the seal hunters, and sentenced in two court rounds to pay compensation. The Supreme Court of Norway
turned the case down, and the ruling stood until the European Court of Human Rights
in Strasbourg
in May 1999 reversed it. The ruling from Strasbourg expanded the Norwegian media's access to publicize public documents even if these can be a burden to individuals.
inspector on the vessel Harmoni. The documentary, Seal Mourning, had its premiere on the Norwegian television station NRK on February 9, 1989, when the channel showed clips from the film. The negative attention Lindberg received from both seal hunters and the Norwegian government, as well as the public at large, was eventually so intense that he chose to move out of the country and settled abroad, in Sweden
, with his wife and two children; he later moved back to Norway. The Norwegian foreign minister
at the time, Thorvald Stoltenberg
(father of the current (per February 2009) prime minister
Jens Stoltenberg
), called Lindberg up in February 1989, warning him not to let his documentary be shown on CNN
because of national interests, and that the whole government stood behind him in this message to Lindberg. Lindberg taped this phonecall. (The taping would later be part of one of Lindberg's documentaries). Stoltenberg also sent the attorney general
to NRK to censor
material to CNN. Lindberg eventually stopped the whole film from being sent on CNN, afraid to do otherwise. Clips from the film was shown on CNN, the BBC
and 18 other broadcasting companies worldwide. The documentary was, in its entirety, broadcast by a Swedish television channel on February 11, 1989.
's TV documentary
series, Dokument2, showed a Swedish
documentary, En Folkefiende - sälfångstinspektören som tvingades i exil (en.
An Enemy of the People - the Sealing Inspector Who was Forced into Exile) that strongly criticized Norway's treatment of Lindberg, and accused Norway of allowing libel charges stop an important debate. Then the editorial office for Document2 was also sued for libel. A group of seal hunters reacted to the fact that the program showed pictures of them while they were hunting seals. The pictures were taken by sealing inspector Lindberg who claimed that these pictures documented illegal hunting methods. A court had earlier ruled in favor of the seal hunters that the images constituted libel, and forbade the showing of the images. Dokument2's editor Gerard Helskog argued that the public had a right to know
what happened on the hunting grounds, and won completely in Bergen
City Court, Norway
. The ruling marked an expansion of freedom of speech in Norway.
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...
freelance journalist, Arctic explorer and film maker.
Sealing report in Bladet Tromsø
Lindberg had been making documentaries and worked as a journalist, author and photographer until 1988, when he gave an official report to the Norwegian Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal AffairsNorwegian Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs is a Norwegian ministry responsible for fisheries industry, aquaculture industry, seafood safety, fish health and welfare, harbours, water transport infrastructure and emergency preparedness for pollution incidents. It is led by Lisbeth...
about what he believed to be illegal conditions in the seal hunt. The report was published in full on July 20, 1988, in the newspaper Bladet Tromsø
Bladet Tromsø
Bladet Tromsø is a daily newspaper published in Tromsø, Norway by Bladet Tromsø A/S, a subsidiary of Harstad Tidende, and through this part of the Schibsted Group. In 2006 the paper had an average circulation of about 110.000. It distributes daily, except Sundays...
, even though the Norwegian Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs had kept it from the public.
The "Lindberg case" questioned the freedom of speech
Freedom of speech
Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without censorship. The term freedom of expression is sometimes used synonymously, but includes any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used...
in Norway, and particularly its position regarding privacy
Privacy
Privacy is the ability of an individual or group to seclude themselves or information about themselves and thereby reveal themselves selectively...
, in this case the privacy of the seal hunters who had participated in what internationally at the time was largely conceived as inhumane and brutal slaughtering of seal pups (whitecoat
Whitecoat
A whitecoat is a newborn harp or grey seal with soft, white fur.-From newborn to whitecoat:Newborn seals have yellow fur because of amniotic fluid, and are still wet. When the pup dries, it is called a yellowcoat. The amniotic stain fades and the fur turns white within a few days, and it gets the...
s) with hakapik
Hakapik
A hakapik is a club, of Norwegian design, used for killing seals. The hakapik is a multipurpose hunting tool—a heavy wooden club, with a hammer head , and a hook on the end. In Norway, and possibly elsewhere, the hakapik is used only to kill seal pups, while a rifle is used to kill more mature seals...
. In the report from 1988, Lindberg had claimed that seals were skinned alive, and that sealers knowingly afflicted suffering on the seal.
The newspaper was sued by the seal hunters, and sentenced in two court rounds to pay compensation. The Supreme Court of Norway
Supreme Court of Norway
The Supreme Court of Norway was established in 1815 on the basis of the Constitution of Norway's §88, prescribing an independent judiciary. It is located in Oslo and is Norway's highest court...
turned the case down, and the ruling stood until the European Court of Human Rights
European Court of Human Rights
The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg is a supra-national court established by the European Convention on Human Rights and hears complaints that a contracting state has violated the human rights enshrined in the Convention and its protocols. Complaints can be brought by individuals or...
in Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
in May 1999 reversed it. The ruling from Strasbourg expanded the Norwegian media's access to publicize public documents even if these can be a burden to individuals.
Lindberg's documentary
Lindberg made a documentary while he was a volunteer sealingSeal hunting
Seal hunting, or sealing, is the personal or commercial hunting of seals. The hunt is currently practiced in five countries: Canada, where most of the world's seal hunting takes place, Namibia, the Danish region of Greenland, Norway and Russia...
inspector on the vessel Harmoni. The documentary, Seal Mourning, had its premiere on the Norwegian television station NRK on February 9, 1989, when the channel showed clips from the film. The negative attention Lindberg received from both seal hunters and the Norwegian government, as well as the public at large, was eventually so intense that he chose to move out of the country and settled abroad, in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, with his wife and two children; he later moved back to Norway. The Norwegian foreign minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
at the time, Thorvald Stoltenberg
Thorvald Stoltenberg
Thorvald Stoltenberg is a former Norwegian politician. His ancestors stem from Northern Germany and emigrated to Norway in the 17th century. He served as Minister of Defense and Minister of Foreign Affairs in two Labour governments.From 1989 to 1990 he was appointed Norwegian Ambassador to the UN...
(father of the current (per February 2009) prime minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Jens Stoltenberg
Jens Stoltenberg
is a Norwegian politician, leader of the Norwegian Labour Party and the current Prime Minister of Norway. Having assumed office on 17 October 2005, Stoltenberg previously served as Prime Minister from 2000 to 2001....
), called Lindberg up in February 1989, warning him not to let his documentary be shown on CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
because of national interests, and that the whole government stood behind him in this message to Lindberg. Lindberg taped this phonecall. (The taping would later be part of one of Lindberg's documentaries). Stoltenberg also sent the attorney general
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
to NRK to censor
Censorship
thumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
material to CNN. Lindberg eventually stopped the whole film from being sent on CNN, afraid to do otherwise. Clips from the film was shown on CNN, the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and 18 other broadcasting companies worldwide. The documentary was, in its entirety, broadcast by a Swedish television channel on February 11, 1989.
Swedish documentary
In 1994 the Norwegian television station TV2TV 2 (Norway)
TV 2 is the largest commercial television station in Norway. Over 30% of the time Norwegians spend watching TV is spent watching TV 2. The station has 65% of the market for TV commercials in Norway....
's TV documentary
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
series, Dokument2, showed a Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
documentary, En Folkefiende - sälfångstinspektören som tvingades i exil (en.
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
An Enemy of the People - the Sealing Inspector Who was Forced into Exile) that strongly criticized Norway's treatment of Lindberg, and accused Norway of allowing libel charges stop an important debate. Then the editorial office for Document2 was also sued for libel. A group of seal hunters reacted to the fact that the program showed pictures of them while they were hunting seals. The pictures were taken by sealing inspector Lindberg who claimed that these pictures documented illegal hunting methods. A court had earlier ruled in favor of the seal hunters that the images constituted libel, and forbade the showing of the images. Dokument2's editor Gerard Helskog argued that the public had a right to know
Right to know
"Right to know", in the context of United States workplace and community environmental law, is the legal principle that the individual has the right to know the chemicals to which they may be exposed in their daily living. It is embodied in federal law in the United States as well as in local laws...
what happened on the hunting grounds, and won completely in Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
City Court, Norway
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...
. The ruling marked an expansion of freedom of speech in Norway.