REYKJAVIK — After a year of soul-searching over the financial crisis that floored Iceland's economy, Icelanders are apparently yearning for the return of old-fashioned qualities like honesty.
Honesty came top on Saturday when 1,500 Icelanders gathered in Reykjavik were asked to discuss what kind of society they wanted.
A grassroots organisation calling itself The Anthill convened a so-called National Assembly of 1,200 people from the age of 18, chosen randomly, along with 300 representatives of organisations and institutions.
They were asked to name the values Icelandic society should be based upon, as well as their vision for the country's future and possible ways of rebuilding the country's economy and society.
"We have been trying to find a vision for Iceland, what kind of society we want for the future," participant Erlingur Hansson told AFP.
"We want to have honesty number one in this society and hope that it will be followed," he said.
In October 2008, the nation of 320,000 people saw its oversized financial sector crumble amid the global credit crisis, forcing the government to take over the three biggest banks.
As the country teetered on the brink of bankruptcy, Icelanders took to the streets to vent their fury over having lost their savings and their jobs -- all because of the actions of what many perceived as a few overly-aggressive and out-of-control bankers.
On Saturday, participants were divided into 162 tables, and each table agreed on the value they wanted to emphasis. A large majority of the tables named honesty.
Other important values were equality, respect and justice.
"We have high expectations from this meeting," Dora Johannsdottir, an elderly participant, said.
"This is going to change much of the values of this society," she added.
Halla Tomasdottir, one of the National Assembly organisers, told AFP one of the reasons for the meeting was to try to halt the negativity that has prevailed in Iceland since the start of the crisis.
"We are seeking positive solutions to the situation we find ourselves in. This is a unique opportunity to ask ourselves what kind of a nation we want to be and what kind of a nation we want to hand down to our children," she said.
Iceland's government was not involved in the event but supported it financially with seven million kronur (56,000 dollars, 37,500 euros).
Source:http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gKlu6b2lM2-a3p9-CF73sx24m2Ag
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