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First Prime Minister of Greenland Jonathan Motzfeldt dies at age 72

Sat, 30 Oct 2010 14:13:01 GMT

Saturday, October 30, 2010

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Motzfeldt at the Bogforum book fair in 2008

Jonathan Motzfeldt, the first and third Prime Minister of Greenland, has died at the age of 72. He had been admitted to the Queen Ingrid Hospital in Nuuk after being diagnosed with pneumonia. He died on Thursday of a brain hemorrhage. He started his first role as Prime Minister in 1979.

Motzfeldt first trained as a teacher but later started his career in politics. At the introduction of the home land rule, he became the first Prime Minister of Greenland in 1979. He lost the post in 1991. He later became Prime Minister again in 1997 and held the post until 2002. He was also the leader of the Siumut Party on two different occasions.

Tributes have been paid to the two-time leader. "We knew Junnuk as a spirited personality, intelligent and human. Junnuk was for many years the Greenlandic people's supporter and torch-bearer, our national rallying point. In our country's recent history, there was not a prouder person than Junnuk," said the current Premier of Greenland, Kuupik Kleist.

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Sources [edit]

"Greenland mourns politician Jonathan Motzfeldt" — Nunatsiaq Times, October 29, 2010
"Greenland's first premier and self-rule pioneer Jonathan Motzfeldt dies at 72" — The Canadian Press, October 29, 2010

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Greenland assumes self rule Sunday

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 19:53:27 GMT

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Greenland, population over 57,000, assumes the national right of self government today. The occasion will be honoured in the nation's capital, Nuuk, by the Danish monarch Queen Margrethe II, the current Head of State.

Nuuk, Greenland

With the ceremony, Kalaallisut becomes the official language of the mainly Inuit island, and Greenland will become the only country in North America where an indigenous language has official status nationwide. Newly elected Prime Minister of Greenland Kuupik Kleist will embark on an agenda of tackling social and education challenges and increasing independence.

This step follows Greenland's November referendum concerning independence from Denmark and continues the development of self government in the country. Sunday marks when Greenland is internationally recognized as an independent country with control over its natural resources, police and judicial matters. Denmark will still maintain responsibility for Greenland's foreign affairs, finances and defense.

In 1985, Greenland withdrew from the European Union, of which Denmark remains a member.

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark

The government has declared June 21 as Greenland's National Day, which is to be a national holiday. June 21 is also the Summer solstice in the northern hemisphere, the longest day of the year, a day when much of Greenland will receive continuous daylight for 24 hours.

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Sources [edit]

"Self-rule introduced in Greenland" — BBC News, June 21, 2009
"Decolonising the Arctic Nearly independent day" — The Economist, June 20, 2009
"Greenland set for self-rule" — The Australian, June 19, 2009
Randy Boswell CanWest News Service. "Greenland takes big step towards full independence" — Canada.com, June 19, 2009

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US senators on Greenland tour

Fri, 18 Aug 2006 09:56:09 GMT

Friday, August 18, 2006

Climate change

Sources [edit]

"Senator skal se på grønlandsk is" — Danmarks Radio, August 18, 2006. In Danish.

Eric Berger. "Thawing ice alarms scientists" — Houston Chronicle, August 14, 2006

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