Steinar Lem
Encyclopedia
Steinar Henning Lem was a Norwegian
environmental activist
, author and spokesperson for Fremtiden i våre hender (Future In Our Hands), Norway's largest movement for comprehensive social change. He criticized the consumption-oriented society and focus on economic growth, and the difference in income between the rich and poor part of the world. He also supported better preservation of predators in Norway, like the wolf. Lem died aged 57 from pancreatic cancer
at Aker University Hospital
in Oslo, two months after it was diagnosed. He is survived by his wife and two six-year-old daughters.
with a master's degree in literature. He was awarded Tarjei Vesaas' debutantpris
for his first book, Signaler, in 1973.
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...
environmental activist
Environmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
, author and spokesperson for Fremtiden i våre hender (Future In Our Hands), Norway's largest movement for comprehensive social change. He criticized the consumption-oriented society and focus on economic growth, and the difference in income between the rich and poor part of the world. He also supported better preservation of predators in Norway, like the wolf. Lem died aged 57 from pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer refers to a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 95% of these tumors is adenocarcinoma, which arises within the exocrine component of the pancreas. A minority arises from the islet cells and is classified as a...
at Aker University Hospital
Aker University Hospital
Aker University Hospital was founded in 1895 in Oslo, Norway. From January 1, 2009, the hospital is part of the Oslo University Hospital.Since January 2002 the hospital is organized as a health trust that is fully owned by Southern and Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority and which also is...
in Oslo, two months after it was diagnosed. He is survived by his wife and two six-year-old daughters.
Environmentalism
Lem joined The Future In Our Hands during the 1970s. He fronted the organization demanding higher fuel prices, higher taxation and increased aid to developing countries. In 1994, he was a strong opponent in the European Union membership referendum. During the 2000s, he stated that he had become in favor of Norwegian membership, since he felt the EU was better at solving environmental issues than Norwegian authorities. He has also criticized the Norwegian authorities' immigration policy. In the last few weeks of his life, he stated that he would like more public debate about death.Authorship
Lem was educated at the University of OsloUniversity of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
with a master's degree in literature. He was awarded Tarjei Vesaas' debutantpris
Tarjei Vesaas' debutantpris
Tarjei Vesaas's debutantpris is a prize awarded annually for the best first literary work in Norwegian. It is awarded by the Norwegian Authors' Union, and the organisation's 9-member Literary Caucus constitutes the jury for the prize...
for his first book, Signaler, in 1973.