The Norwegian government is doing its best to keep the oil industry under control.
The
Norwegian
government
is
doing
its
best
to
keep
the
oil
industry
under
control
.
A new law limits exploration to an area south of the southern end of the long coastline; production limits have been laid down (though these have already been raised); and oil companies have not been allowed to employ more than a limited number of foreign workers.
A
new
law
limits
exploration
to
an
area
south
of
the
southern
end
of
the
long
coastline
;
production
limits
have
been
laid
down
(
though
these
have
already
been
raised
)
;
and
oil
companies
have
not
been
allowed
to
employ
more
than
a
limited
number
of
foreign
workers
.
But the oil industry has a way of getting over such problems, and few people believe that the government will be able to hold things back for long.
But
the
oil
industry
has
a
way
of
getting
over
such
problems
,
and
few
people
believe
that
the
government
will
be
able
to
hold
things
back
for
long
.
Ever since the war, the government has been carrying out a program of development in the area north of the Arctic Circle.
Ever
since
the
war
,
the
government
has
been
carrying
out
a
program
of
development
in
the
area
north
of
the
Arctic
Circle
.
For the past few years this program has had a great deal of success: Torso has been built up into a local capital with a university, a large hospital and a healthy industry.
For
the
past
few
years
this
program
has
had
a
great
deal
of
success
:
Torso
has
been
built
up
into
a
local
capital
with
a
university
,
a
large
hospital
and
a
healthy
industry
.
But the oil industry has already started to draw people south, and within a few years the whole northern city could be in ruins.
But
the
oil
industry
has
already
started
to
draw
people
south
,
and
within
a
few
years
the
whole
northern
city
could
be
in
ruins
.
The effects of the oil industry would not be limited to the north, however.
The
effects
of
the
oil
industry
would
not
be
limited
to
the
north
,
however
.
With nearly 100 per cent employment, everyone can see a situation developing in which the service industries and the tourist industry will lose more of their workers to the oil industry.
With
nearly
100
per
cent
employment
,
everyone
can
see
a
situation
developing
in
which
the
service
industries
and
the
tourist
industry
will
lose
more
of
their
workers
to
the
oil
industry
.
Some smaller industries might even disappear altogether when it becomes cheaper to buy goods from abroad.
Some
smaller
industries
might
even
disappear
altogether
when
it
becomes
cheaper
to
buy
goods
from
abroad
.
The real argument over the oil industry is its effects on the Norwegian way of life.
The
real
argument
over
the
oil
industry
is
its
effects
on
the
Norwegian
way
of
life
.
Farmers and fishermen do not make up most of the population, but they are an important part of it because Norwegians see in them many of the qualities that they regard with pride as real Norwegians.
Farmers
and
fishermen
do
not
make
up
most
of
the
population
,
but
they
are
an
important
part
of
it
because
Norwegians
see
in
them
many
of
the
qualities
that
they
regard
with
pride
as
real
Norwegians
.
And it is the farmers and the fishermen who are most against the oil industry because of the damage that it might cause to the sea and to the countryside and to the whole country.
And
it
is
the
farmers
and
the
fishermen
who
are
most
against
the
oil
industry
because
of
the
damage
that
it
might
cause
to
the
sea
and
to
the
countryside
and
to
the
whole
country
.
One Norwegian politician said last week, "We will soon be changed beyond all recognition."
One
Norwegian
politician
said
last
week
,
``
We
will
soon
be
changed
beyond
all
recognition
.
''
The Norwegian government is doing its best to keep the oil industry under control. A new law limits exploration to an area south of the southern end of the long coastline; production limits have been laid down (though these have already been raised); and oil companies have not been allowed to employ more than a limited number of foreign workers. But the oil industry has a way of getting over such problems, and few people believe that the government will be able to hold things back for long.  Ever since the war, the government has been carrying out a program of development in the area north of the Arctic Circle. For the past few years this program has had a great deal of success: Torso has been built up into a local capital with a university, a large hospital and a healthy industry. But the oil industry has already started to draw people south, and within a few years the whole northern city could be in ruins.  The effects of the oil industry would not be limited to the north, however. With nearly 100 per cent employment, everyone can see a situation developing in which the service industries and the tourist industry will lose more of their workers to the oil industry. Some smaller industries might even disappear altogether when it becomes cheaper to buy goods from abroad.  The real argument over the oil industry is its effects on the Norwegian way of life. Farmers and fishermen do not make up most of the population, but they are an important part of it because Norwegians see in them many of the qualities that they regard with pride as real Norwegians. And it is the farmers and the fishermen who are most against the oil industry because of the damage that it might cause to the sea and to the countryside and to the whole country.  One Norwegian politician said last week, "We will soon be changed beyond all recognition."