Earthquake in Iceland

Iceland rocked by earthquake

An earthquake shook southern Iceland on Thursday, reportedly causing injuries and damaging roads and buildings.

A seismograph at the Institute of the Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, shows earthquake activity.

The 6.1 magnitude temblor struck about 3:46 p.m. (11:46 a.m. ET), according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Its epicenter was about 50 km (31 miles) east-southeast of the capital, Reykjavik, and was about 10 km (6.2 miles) below the Earth's surface.

It was unclear exactly how many people were injured or the severity of their injuries, Olli Tynes, a journalist with Reykjavik's Channel 2, told CNN.

A hospital in a town near the epicenter was also reported damaged, and some wings have had to be evacuated, he said.

There were no reports of fatalities, but "great material damage," Tynes said. Roads and bridges in the area have been closed.

The Associated Press, quoting civil defense authorities, reported 15 to 20 people from Selfoss, near the epicenter, were taken for medical treatment.

Iceland's emergency management agency has swung into action, and rescue crews were headed to the area most affected by the quake.

Tynes said he has been speaking to residents of the towns closest to the epicenter. "They said they thought the world was coming to an end," he said. "They thought they were going to die."

There have been no reports of homes collapsing, as most homes in Iceland are built to withstand earthquakes, he said.

Alti Mar Gylfason said he had received reports of damage to the road that rings the island nation. The quake was felt nationwide, he said.

"It was a little bit like you're sleeping in a waterbed, you know ... everything floats around," he said, adding that people poured out of buildings into the street. "This is not something we experience on a normal basis."

Although Iceland is seismically active, its last major quakes were on June 17 and June 21, 2000, with quakes of 6.5 and 6.4, respectively. The temblors damaged homes and buildings, but caused no serious injuries.

As I write this, I am hoping all of my friends in Iceland are alright. Since finishing my book, "Dragon, Book Of Shang", I have a special place in my heart for Iceland. Peace and safety to all in Iceland.

Love & Peace Iceland,

Bobby Sharpe Bobbysharpe3.blogspot.com

Hello, Iceland Calling

Blue Lagoon geo-thermal spa

Learn Some Lessons – “(Iceland) lacks coal reserves, and is endowed with massive glaciers, which produce huge volumes of water that can be harnessed to generate electricity. It also happens to sit atop a rift in the earth's crust that keeps significant reservoirs of heat bubbling near the surface. To a large degree, it is the polar opposite of the United States. Yet we—and other developed nations—can learn some valuable lessons from Iceland about what happens when a society commits to the systematic development of renewable energy.”–

Daniel Gross, Newsweek, April 14, 2008

Praise from RFK, Jr. – “Iceland was 80 percent dependent on imported coal and oil in the 1970s and was among the poorest economies in Europe. Today, Iceland is 100 percent energy-independent, with 90 percent of the nation’s homes heated by geothermal and its remaining electrical needs met by hydro. “The International Monetary Fund now ranks Iceland the fourth most affluent nation on earth. The country, which previously had to beg for corporate investment, now has companies lined up to relocate there to take advantage of its low-cost clean energy.” –

Robert F, Kennedy, Jr., “The Next President’s First Task, Vanity Fair, May 2008

Is anybody out there listening? Just reading the two above statements should be a wake up call for anyone with a brain. Especially with the way the economy is today. Mainly the oil crisis! Come on people, let's turn our country around and start moving forward again.

Iceland and Common Sense Rule,

Bobby Sharpe Dragon, Book of Shang Amazon.com: Dragon: Book of Shang: Books: Bobby Sharpe

Best Country To Live In Is...!

Iceland Named Best Country to Live In

BRASILIA (Nov. 27) - Iceland has overtaken Norway as the world's most desirable country to live in, according to an annual U.N. table published on Tuesday that again puts AIDS-afflicted sub-Saharan African states at the bottom.

Rich free-market countries dominate the top places, with Iceland, Norway, Australia, Canada and Ireland the first five but the United States slipping to 12th place from eighth last year in the U.N. Human Development Index.

But the index, blending 2005 figures for life expectancy, educational levels and real per capita income, finds that all 22 countries falling into its "low human development" category are in sub-Saharan Africa, with Sierra Leone last.

In 10 of these countries, two children in five will not reach the age of 40, said the compilers at the U.N. Development Program. Last year's report said HIV/AIDS had had a "catastrophic effect" on life expectancy in the region.

The index ranks 175 U.N. member countries plus Hong Kong and the Palestinian territories. It does not include 17 countries, including Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia, because of inadequate data.

Norway had held top spot for six years but was edged into second place by Iceland this year because of new life expectancy estimates and updated figures for gross domestic product, or GDP, the report said.

U.N. officials played down the significance of minor short-term shifts in the rankings including the slide in the U.S. position. They said if subsequent data for the year in question been available for last year's report, the United States would have been in 10th, not eighth place.

The United States scores high on real per capita GDP, which at $41,890 is second only to that of Luxembourg ($60,228), but less well on life expectancy -- joint last in the top 26 countries, along with Denmark and South Korea, at 77.9 years.

Japanese have the longest life expectancy -- 82.3 years -- and Zambians the lowest, at 40.5.

The report said most countries had seen their human development index rise over the last 30 years, but in 16 it was lower than in 1990, and in three -- the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia and Zimbabwe -- lower than in 1975.

Per capita GDP is 45 times higher in Iceland than in Sierra Leone.

The United Nations has published its human development index every year since 1990.

I have been saying for awhile now that Iceland is the place to be. However, if I lived there, I would certainly have to have a place in Florida, Hawaii or the Caribbean somewhere. Yes, I do plan on visiting there one of these days sooner than later.

The top ten places to live are: 1) Iceland 2) Norway 3) Australia 4)Canada 5)Ireland 6) Sweden 7) Switzerland 8) Japan 9) Netherlands 10) France. The good ole USA came in at number 12. So, when are we moving? lol

Iceland Rocks,

Bobby Sharpe www.myspace.com/akuasharpe Dragon, Book of Shang

Iceland, Northern Lights, Dragons & Me

In this life, as I have learned to believe intently over the last year or so, nothing happens by chance. It is all "synchronized". That is kind of what happened with me and Iceland.

First, my book "Dragon, Book Of Shang", ends in Iceland. Therefore, I started doing some research on Iceland. That really peaked my interest in this fascinating country. Then, from out of nowhere, I got this overwhelming urge from within telling me that I needed to go to Iceland. Why, has not manifested itself to me yet. And lastly, I started getting friends on my myspace profile from Iceland that turned out to be really great people and friends. In the last couple of months, I have actually met people in Orlando, Florida who are from Iceland. Reykjavik to be exact. They have convinced me that Iceland is a place I should really visit. Hopefully, sometime in 2008, when the book is out, I will get a chance to go there.

In the meantime, I am putting up a couple of links to sights that may make YOU want to go to Iceland also. The pictures at the top of this blog are an Iceland geysir, and, on the right, midnite sun in Reykjavik. Enjoy! Iceland Tourist Board: Destinations Iceland Worldwide - Northern Lights PlanetIceland

Love, Peace & Dragons,

Bobby Sharpe reggae8@aol.com Dragon, Book of Shang www.myspace.com/akuasharpe

Imagine Peace Tower, Reykjavik, Iceland

Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono, Olivia Harrison

Yoko Ono unveils imagine peace tower

Mon Jul 09 2007

On October 9th, which would have been John Lennon''s 67th birthday, Yoko Ono will unveil IMAGINE PEACE TOWER, dedicated to her late husband, in Reykjavik, Iceland.

In 1967, John Lennon predicted that the conceptual light tower, envisioned by Yoko Ono, would one day become a reality. On October 9th of this year, exactly 40 years later, IMAGINE PEACE TOWER, a permanent landmark for peace will be unveiled in Reykjavik, Iceland.

IMAGINE PEACE TOWER is surrounded by a Wishing Well Wall on which the words "IMAGINE PEACE" are engraved in 24 languages.

IMAGINE PEACE TOWER gives light and power to the realization of World Peace, which was John Lennon''s lifetime wish, and what he had worked for. For this day, October 9th, 2007, like minded friends from all over the world have been invited to Reykjavik, Iceland to join Yoko Ono for the special ceremony, lending their spiritual power to the tower, and their affirmation of unity for it''s unveiling.

Joining those present will be over 100,000 written wishes collected from all over the world through Yoko''s Wish Trees presented in different countries. They are put in a series of capsules and will be placed on the Island of Viðey, surrounding IMAGINE PEACE TOWER.

More wishes are being sent every day for IMAGINE PEACE TOWER to the P.O. Box set up specially for it in Iceland (IMAGINE PEACE TOWER, P.O. Box 1009, 121 Reykjavik, Iceland.) You, of course, are more than welcome to send your wish as well.

Yoko Ono said today; "I have chosen Iceland for IMAGINE PEACE TOWER because it is a very unique eco-friendly country. 80% of Iceland''s energy is provided by water, not oil. Because of this, the air, water and earth are surprisingly pure and clean. The energy for the Tower is also provided by water.

I hope IMAGINE PEACE TOWER will give light to the strong wishes of World Peace from all corners of the planet and give encouragement, inspiration and a sense of solidarity in a world now filled with fear and confusion. Let us come together to realize a peaceful world. I consider myself very fortunate to see the dream my husband and I dreamt together become reality."

What a great honor for the great people of Iceland to have had Yoko Ono choose Reykjavik as the spot for the Imagine Peace Tower. Iceland deserves it. Hopefully, one day soon, I will get to see it first hand.

Peace and Love to Iceland,

Bobby SharpeBobby Sharpe's "Indigo Spiritz" www.myspace.com/akuasharpe