One of the two sovereign wealth <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/stock-market" target="_blank" rel="noopener">funds</a> operated by <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/norway" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Norway</a> saw losses as the entity divested from certain <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/climate-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener">energy</a> companies, missing the chance to earn outsized returns in the sector.
The Government Pension Fund Global, which <a href="https://www.nbim.no/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">manages</a> more than $1.3 trillion in assets, reported a loss of $163 billion last year, constituting 14.1% of the overall fund. Performance slightly trailed a 12.8% decline in the STOXX 600 Index, which tracks major European firms.
“The market was impacted by war in Europe, high inflation, and rising interest rates,” Norges Bank Investment Management CEO Nicolai Tangen said in a <a href="https://www.nbim.no/en/the-fund/news-list/2023/negative-returns-in-a-challenging-year/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>. “This negatively impacted both the equity market and bond market at the same time, which is very unusual. All the sectors in the equity market had negative returns, with the exception of energy.”
Despite the outsized returns available in the energy sector, the Norwegian Parliament has <a href="https://www.nbim.no/en/the-fund/responsible-investment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">decided</a> that “the fund should not be invested in companies that contribute to violations of fundamental ethical norms,” such as those that “base their operations on coal.” The Norwegian Ministry of Finance has likewise established ethics <a href="https://www.nbim.no/en/the-fund/responsible-investment/divestments/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">guidelines</a> for the fund’s investments such that managers cannot devote money toward companies that “do not conform to prevailing technological, regulatory or environmental trends” or impose “substantial costs on other companies and society as a whole.”
The Government Pension Fund Global is not <a href="https://www.regjeringen.no/en/historical-archive/solbergs-government/Ministries/fin/press-releases/2019/excludes-exploration-and-production-companies-from-the-government-pension-fund-global/id2631707/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">permitted</a> to invest in companies that engage in petroleum exploration and production, although managers may devote funds to companies that refine or sell the fuel. Among other entities, the fund is <a href="https://www.nbim.no/en/the-fund/responsible-investment/exclusion-of-companies/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">barred</a> from investing in Imperial Oil, the second-largest oil company in Canada. Although the fund believes Imperial Oil produces “unacceptable greenhouse gas emissions,” the company saw 27.4% stock market returns over the past year.
Investment funds that subscribe to the environmental, social, and corporate governance movement, also known as ESG, have suffered <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/virtue-signaling-isnt-free-how-woke-investing-fell-apart-once-the-economy-got-bad" target="_blank" rel="noopener">heavy losses</a> over the past year. Harvard Management Company, which manages the elite university’s endowment, recently <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/harvard-university-endowment-loses-2-3-billion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">admitted</a> that its $2.3 billion loss was attributable to fossil fuel divestment efforts, even though the organization remains “proud to be deeply engaged in the issue of sustainability.”
Critics of the ESG movement assert that the strategy seeks outcomes in political and social causes, such as reducing carbon emissions and achieving racial diversity, in a manner that compromises the maximization of profits.
Government regulators under the Trump administration <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/esg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">barred</a> American pension funds from “selecting investments based on non-pecuniary considerations” and required them to “base investment decisions on financial factors” alone. The Biden administration is nevertheless seeking to reverse the prohibition in order to safeguard the economy from “climate-related financial risk that may threaten the life savings and pensions of America’s workers and families.”
Norway’s Government Pension Fund Global was established in 1990 to invest surplus revenues from the country’s oil sector. Norwegian economist Arne Jon Isachsen and Icelandic economist Thorvaldur Gylfason recently contended in an <a href="https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/fandd/issues/2022/12/POV-putting-oil-profits-to-global-benefit-isachsen-gylfason" target="_blank" rel="noopener">article</a> for the International Monetary Fund that Norway “ought to quit pocketing its oil profits and start giving the money to countries that need help meeting their Paris Agreement climate change goals.”
“If Norway‘s future oil and gas revenues can help the global green shift, there would be good reason to continue pumping from the Norwegian shelf,” they wrote. “In this scenario, Norway&#8217;s extraction of fossil fuels would become fundamentally different from that of other countries.”

Equinor ASA Lift A Drilling Platform Onto The Biggest Ship In The World “Pioneering Spirit”

Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund Sheds Billions Amid Fossil Fuel Avoidance

Climate Change

Energy

Europe

Norway

Oil and Gas

Archeologists believe they have discovered the “world&#8217;s oldest” runestone in Norway, dating back to between AD 1 and AD 250, archeologists <a href="https://www.khm.uio.no/english/news/found-the-world-s-oldest-rune-stone.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> Tuesday. The find is considered one of the earliest examples of written words in Scandinavia.
The discovery was made during the excavation of a grave near Tyrifjorden, west of Norway’s capital Olso, in the fall of 2021. Researchers kept the find a secret for all this time to “analyze and date the runestone,” according to University of Oslo Professor Kristel Zilmer. Archeologists from the Oslo Museum of Cultural History and the University of Oslo were involved in <a href="https://www.khm.uio.no/english/news/found-the-world-s-oldest-rune-stone.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">investigating</a> the site.
&#8220;We thought that the first ones in Norway and Sweden appeared in the years 300 or 400, but it turns out that some runestones could be even older than we previously believed,” Zilmer told <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/worlds-oldest-runestone-found-norway-122519801.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NTB</a>.
Runes are letters that were used by Germanic peoples and are the oldest form of writing in the region, according to the museum. They were used from the first century AD until the 1400s. Just 30 runestones found in Norway prior to this discovery were dated up to AD 550.
Archeologists also found charcoal and cremated human bones dating to AD 25-250 and a spur from between 0 to AD 500 in the cremation pit grave where the runestone was found. The radiocarbon dating of the grave, as well as the bones and charcoal, <a href="https://www.historiskmuseum.no/english/exhibitions/worlds-oldest-rune-stone/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">helped date</a> the stone&#8217;s inscriptions between AD 1 and AD 250. The museum says that cremation grave pits were a “common funerary practice from the late Bronze Age to the Roman Iron Age.”
<div id="attachment_490010" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-490010" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-490010 size-large" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1246298485-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/01/GettyImages-1246298485-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/01/GettyImages-1246298485-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/01/GettyImages-1246298485-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/01/GettyImages-1246298485-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/01/GettyImages-1246298485-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/01/GettyImages-1246298485-1800x1200.jpg 1800w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/01/GettyImages-1246298485-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Photo by JAVAD PARSA/NTB/AFP via Getty Images</div>
The runes were carved into a “reddish-brown” sandstone block measuring 31 centimeters by 32 centimeters. Zilmer spent the past year researching the inscriptions on the stone, which did not all make sense linguistically, according to the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/norway-oslo-31524a0dbb0405b08fb2fba6ffafdfaa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Associated Press</a>.
The museum says “Idibera” is carved into the stone, which could be the name of the woman who might have been buried there. Zilmer admits there are a few possible variations to the name, or that it could have been a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/norway-oslo-31524a0dbb0405b08fb2fba6ffafdfaa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">family</a> name. “The stone has several kinds of inscriptions,” Zilmer said. “Some lines form a grid pattern and there are small zigzag figures and other interesting features. Not all inscriptions have a linguistic meaning,” she added, even speculating that it could have been someone learning how to carve the letters.
Zilmer says it’s difficult to interpret the inscriptions because of the constantly changing nature of language between the Viking age, the Middle Ages, and when this runestone was created. There are many examples of runestones from the Viking age, but one this old is very rare, according to the museum.
While this runestone is believed to be the oldest ever found on stone, there have been older runes not found on stone, the AP reports. The discovery will be <a href="https://www.historiskmuseum.no/english/exhibitions/worlds-oldest-rune-stone/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">exhibited</a> from January 21 to February 26 at the Museum of Cultural History in Oslo.

NORWAY-ARCHAEOLOGY-HISTORY-CLIMATE

‘World’s Oldest’ Runestone, Up To 2,000 Years Old, Found In Norway

'World’s Oldest' Runestone, Up To 2,000 Years Old, Found In Norway

Archaeology

History

World

<a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/norway" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Norway</a> plans to increase <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/taxes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">taxes</a> on billionaires attempting to flee the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/socialism" target="_blank" rel="noopener">socialistic</a> nation, where residents already experience one of the highest tax burdens on the planet.
Officials across multiple Norwegian parties agreed to end a five-year time limit on exit taxes for unrealized gains and extend the rules “to apply to the transfer of shares to close family members living abroad” with immediate effect, according to a <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-11-29/norway-to-hit-fleeing-billionaires-with-higher-expatriate-tax?srnd=premium&amp;leadSource=uverify%20wall" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> from Bloomberg. As the country’s left-leaning government continues to increase taxes on the wealthy, a higher number of wealthy citizens have been seeking emigration.
Only three European countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development levy a net wealth tax, by which individuals must pay the government according to the market value of their assets minus liabilities, according to a <a href="https://taxfoundation.org/net-wealth-tax-europe-2022/#:~:text=The%20concept%20of%20a%20net,Norway%2C%20Spain%2C%20and%20Switzerland." target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> from the Tax Foundation. As of this spring, citizens with a net worth above $190,000 must pay 0.95%, while those with a net worth above $2.3 million must pay 1.1%.
Kjell Inge Rokke, who owns two-thirds of shipping and offshore drilling conglomerate Aker, recently moved to Switzerland. The entrepreneur, who entered the business world by selling fish from a trawler in the United States, is worth $4.9 billion, according to <a href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/kjell-inge-rokke/?sh=619aa78cbfcf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">data</a> from Forbes. Bjorn Daehlie, an Olympic cross-country skiing champion, has likewise relocated since the nation’s new government took control last year.
The top individual income tax rate in Norway equates to 47.8%, according to an <a href="https://www.heritage.org/index/country/norway#:~:text=Norway%27s%20economic%20freedom%20score%20is,the%20regional%20and%20world%20averages." target="_blank" rel="noopener">analysis</a> from the Heritage Foundation, which noted that the country’s overall tax burden equals 39.9% of total domestic income while government spending amounts to 51.8% of economic output. In comparison, the United States’ top income tax is 37%, while the overall tax burden equals 24.5% of total domestic income and government spending amounts to 38.9% of output.
Democratic lawmakers in the United States have recently pushed measures to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/one-blue-state-passes-another-blue-state-rejects-hefty-new-taxes-on-millionaires" target="_blank" rel="noopener">raise taxes</a> on the wealthy. Voters in Massachusetts approved a significant tax hike on millionaires during the most recent midterm elections while voters in California rejected a similar measure, even though both states are among the most heavily taxed in the nation. Wealthy Americans already provide an outsized share of federal tax revenue, even when compared to the rich in other developed countries, according to another <a href="https://taxfoundation.org/rich-pay-their-fair-share-of-taxes/#Burden" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> from the Tax Foundation, which noted that the top 1% of earners paid more than 40% of federal income taxes in 2018.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/elizabeth-warren-proposes-ultra-millionaire-wealth-tax" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proposed</a> a federal “ultra-millionaire” tax that would establish a 2% annual levy on households and trusts with net worths above $50 million, effectively functioning as a wealth tax. Households and trusts with a net worth of more than $1 billion would pay another 1% annual surtax.
“A wealth tax is popular among voters on both sides for good reason: because they understand the system is rigged to benefit the wealthy and large corporations,” she contended. “As Congress develops additional plans to help our economy, the wealth tax should be at the top of the list to help pay for these plans because of the huge amounts of revenue it would generate.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has lauded Norway’s government-run <a href="https://twitter.com/BernieSanders/status/1170084212197810177" target="_blank" rel="noopener">education system</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/BernieSanders/status/1144417873999421440" target="_blank" rel="noopener">universal healthcare programs</a>. He <a href="https://twitter.com/BernieSanders/status/1518664388223414272" target="_blank" rel="noopener">met</a> with Anniken Krutnes, the Norwegian ambassador to the United States, earlier this year to discuss “becoming a government that works for all.”

NORWAY-BRITAIN-ROYALS-QUEEN

Norway’s Left-Wing Government To Hit Fleeing Billionaires With Even Higher Taxes

Norway To Increase Taxes On The Wealthy

Democratic Socialism

Social Issues

Taxes

Archaeologists believe they have found the shipwreck of a possible medieval vessel in the largest lake in Norway, the Norwegian Defense Research Establishment <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-discover-700-year-old-ship-in-norway-180981201/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">revealed</a> earlier this month.
The shipwreck is <a href="https://sciencenorway.no/archaeoloy-medieval-history-ships/shipwreck-discovered-at-the-bottom-of-norways-largest-lake-possibly-700-years-old/2110769" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dated</a> sometime between 1300 and 1850, meaning it could potentially be from the Middle Ages. It was discovered by researchers who were searching for surplus ammunition and explosives previously dumped in the lake.
“Because this is a freshwater lake, the wood in such a ship is preserved,” Norwegian University of Science and Technology marine archaeologist Øyvind Ødegård <a href="https://sciencenorway.no/archaeoloy-medieval-history-ships/shipwreck-discovered-at-the-bottom-of-norways-largest-lake-possibly-700-years-old/2110769" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> Science Norway. “The metal may rust, and the ship may lose its structure, but the wood is intact. A similar ship to the one we now found would not have survived for more than a few decades if it had gone down on the coast,” he added.
Scientists had been mapping the bottom of the lake in search for explosives and ammo that had been dumped between the 1940s and 1970s by an ammunition factory. While analyzing sonar images, they spotted what they believe to be the stern of a ship. The wood ship was located 1,350 feet deep in Lake Mjøsa, and researchers believe it is 33 feet long.
Based on the observation that the stern of the ship was distinct from the bow, archaeologists believe that it would have been built sometime after 1300. Viking ships are much more likely to be identical on both ends and would have come from before 1300, the outlet notes. Other features distinguishing this ship from a Viking one include it having a central rudder, while a Viking ship rudder or steering oar would likely be on the starboard side of the hull.
Archaeologists also observed that this ship was built by overlapping the planks, which helped make it lighter. The result, according to the outlet, is what is referred to as a “clinker-built” ship, as opposed to “carvel-built,” which have smooth joints. This method of shipbuilding was <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/clinker-construction" target="_blank" rel="noopener">popular</a> during medieval and ancient times.
Prior to this discovery, archaeologists state that they had expected to make interesting finds in the project. Ødegård describes the lake as a “mini ocean,” adding that he believed “the chance of finding a shipwreck was quite high, and sure enough, a ship turned up.” The lake is about 60 miles north of Oslo, Norway’s capital, and has been a busy trade route since the Viking age.
Around 20 different shipwrecks have been found in Lake Mjøsa, but all of them were discovered at depths between 20 and 30 meters. This expedition, which began weeks ago, was the first time researchers have explored past those depths. Scientists have so far been unable to further examine the wreck or capture the site with camera equipment due to poor weather and limited visibility.

Shipwreck At Beach Against Cloudy Sky

Shipwreck Found At Bottom Of Norway’s Largest Lake Could Be 700 Years Old, Archaeologists Believe

Shipwreck Found At The Bottom Of Norway's Largest Lake Could Be 700 Years Old, Archaeologists Believe

Princess Märtha Louise of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/norway">Norway</a> said Tuesday that she is no longer representing the Norwegian royal family in an official capacity after getting “many questions relating to me and my fiancé&#8217;s role.”
The daughter of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/royal-family">King Harald</a> is fourth in line to the Norwegian throne. Princess Märtha got engaged in June to Durek Verrett, an American citizen who describes himself as a shaman and a healer. This turn of events caused an uproar among royal followers and led to the princess losing her role as patron for at least one foundation.
“I have decided that at the present time I will no longer carry out official duties for the royal household,” the 51-year-old royal family member said in a <a href="https://www.royalcourt.no/">statement</a> issued by the palace. She continued, saying the decision was made along with her parents “to create peace around the royal household.”
She will retain her title but will no longer serve as a patron to former organizations.
“I am sorry that the princess will no longer represent the royal house,” King Harald said during a press conference, adding that for this matter, “we agree to disagree.”
“We have looked at this process from all sides,” his wife, Queen Sonja, said. “This has been a unanimous decision.&#8221;
Märtha Louise also noted in the statement that she’s had an ongoing interest in “alternative methods” of treatment, which she claimed “can be an important supplement to help from the conventional medical establishment.”
She and her fiancé have conducted seminars featuring “meditations and shamanic exercises” that promise to “reveal to you your divine self activated and how you can utilize your gift to change the world,” per <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/09/europe/norway-princess-martha-royal-duties-scli-intl/index.html">CNN</a>.
Verrett also wrote a book called “Spirit Hacking.”  The 47-year-old author has worked with celebrities, including Gwyneth Paltrow, offering shamanic healing sessions and other services such as a “spirit optimizer,” which he says “can invite spiritual and energetic protections to keep you safe from external energies seeking to harm you, allowing you a safer space to heal.”
In 2002, Princess Märtha Louise gave up her “royal highness” status and allowance to seek a media career. She wed Norwegian author Ari Behn the same year, and the couple went on to have three daughters together. The royal and her husband separated in 2016, and Behn died by suicide on Christmas Day in 2019.

Norwegian Royal Silver Jubilee Tour – Visit to Trondheim

Princess Märtha Louise of Norway Gives Up Royal Duties For American Shaman Fiancé

Entertainment

Global Politics

Royal Family

A <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/norway" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Norwegian</a> man who identifies as a woman has inspired ire on social media for also identifying as <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/disability" target="_blank" rel="noopener">disabled</a> and using a wheelchair despite not physically needing one.
“I have struggled with this every day my whole life,” Jørund Viktoria Alme, 53, told the Norwegian outlet Vi earlier this year, according to <a href="https://reduxx.info/norwegian-man-now-identifies-as-a-disabled-woman-uses-wheelchair-almost-full-time/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reduxx</a>.
“It is a cognitive dissonance: in the same way that I experience <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/transgender" target="_blank" rel="noopener">being a woman</a> in a man’s body, I experience that I should have been paralyzed from the waist down. This is not a desire to be a burden on society. It is about the wheelchair being an aid for me to function in everyday life, both privately and at work,” Alme continued.
The publication noted that Velme faced backlash following a recent interview with Good Morning Norway (God Morgen Norge, GMN). It became such a big story that Norway’s TV 2 did a follow-up piece including the perspectives of four disabled women.
One of those interview subjects was an 18-year-old woman named Emma Sofie Grimstad who spent two months in a wheelchair after contracting an inflammatory disease.
She said “there are many who don’t have that choice” to be in a wheelchair.
“I don’t think everything should get airtime,” Grimstad told TV2. “[Alme’s] interview can harm people who are in wheelchairs and do not have a choice. It can even lead to suspicions about people who have no visible illnesses.”
Twitter users reading about Alme&#8217;s story were equally outraged, especially those who were disabled themselves or had family members who were.
“My daughter has had a wheelchair since she was 18 [months] old &#8211; it was tiny, specially made,” one person <a href="https://twitter.com/VonAlawon/status/1587552971176706049" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared</a>. “The 1st thing she said was, ‘I walk!’ This man should be ashamed. But&#8230;of course he&#8217;s not.”
“‘Able-bodied male uses wheelchair almost always [because] he identifies as a woman who is paralyzed.’ Mental illness is reaching levels we never thought possible,” another <a href="https://twitter.com/PekalaLaw/status/1587575962761396226" target="_blank" rel="noopener">agreed</a>.
“This is so insulting,” another Twitter user shared. “I’m a wheelchair user. I went through excruciating pain with spinal &amp; neurological damage. It’s not a joke &amp; this to me is mocking me &amp; others who’ve suffered awfully. Being in a chair has taken so much life away from me &amp; my family. This is appalling.”
Per <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19132621/#:~:text=The%20term%20body%20integrity%20identity,transection%20of%20their%20spinal%20cord." target="_blank" rel="noopener">PubMed</a>, body integrity identity disorder (BIID) is an “extremely rare phenomenon of persons who desire the amputation of one or more healthy limbs or who desire a paralysis. Some of these persons mutilate themselves; others ask surgeons for an amputation or for the transection of their spinal cord.”
Alme replied directly to the criticism, saying, “I have struggled with my own shame and prejudices for 50 years before I was so bothered by BID that I finally had to open up about it.” The Norwegian said the interviews were done to promote “diversity and inclusion.”
When asked if the BID was sexually motivated, Alme replied, “I don’t know, maybe so.”
Alme described being “envious” of an elementary school-aged child with crutches. 
“My reaction was an intense interest. My heart pounded, my pulse increased and I was activated in my body. I was incredibly focused on him and what this was all about. Everyone gathered around and was going to try the crutches, while I kept my distance. I was so afraid that someone would find out what was going on inside me,” Alme told the Norwegian outlet Budstikke.
Reduxx noted that GMN was deleting negative comments on their social media pertaining to the news story about Alme.

A disabled man is sitting in a wheelchair.

‘Should Be Ashamed’: Twitter Reacts To Man Who Identifies As Disabled Woman, Uses Wheelchair ‘Most Of The Time’

Twitter Reacts To Man Who Identifies As Disabled Woman, Uses Wheelchair 'Most Of The Time'

Disability

Transgender

Tesla and SpaceX CEO <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/elon-musk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Elon Musk</a> cautioned on Monday that the global <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">economy</a> places itself at risk by pursuing a rushed transition to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/climate-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener">renewable power</a>.
Energy prices in many developed countries — particularly nations in western <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/europe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Europe</a> heavily dependent upon renewable sources — have soared following the <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/russia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Russian</a> invasion of <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/ukraine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ukraine</a>, with natural gas prices in Germany and France soaring to an <a href="https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/08/26/europe-energy-crisis-natural-gas-economy-winter/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">order of magnitude higher</a> than usual levels. During an energy conference in Norway, Musk remarked that “some additional exploration” of <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/oil-and-gas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">oil and gas</a> resources “is warranted at this time.”
“Realistically I think we need to use oil and gas in the short term, because otherwise civilization will crumble,” Musk <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/elon-musk-says-world-still-needs-oil-gas-2022-08-29/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> reporters. “One of the biggest challenges the world has ever faced is the transition to sustainable energy and to a sustainable economy. That will take some decades to complete.”
Many developed countries are indeed shifting their energy portfolios toward renewables and away from conventional sources. As a result, Norwegian production of oil, natural gas, and other fossil fuels reached a peak in 2004 and has steadily declined since, according to data from the <a href="https://www.norskpetroleum.no/en/facts/historical-production/#annually" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Norwegian Petroleum Directorate</a>. More broadly, the European Union — of which Norway is not a member — <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/clima/eu-action/climate-strategies-targets/2050-long-term-strategy_en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">aims</a> to be “a climate-neutral society” by 2050 in accordance with the European Green Deal and the Paris Agreement.
Meanwhile, Switzerland and Germany are among several countries progressively shuttering nuclear power plants in reaction to the 2011 meltdown in Fukushima, Japan. Germany — which imported 55% of its gas from Russia before the war — will likely <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/germany-poised-to-shut-down-last-nuclear-plants-despite-gas-shortage-ahead-of-winter-months" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proceed</a> with the scheduled closure of its three remaining nuclear facilities before the end of the year.
Musk issued a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/elon-musk-pushes-energy-policy-for-u-s-that-would-negatively-affect-his-own-company-extraordinary-times-demand-extraordinary-measures" target="_blank" rel="noopener">similar warning</a> to the United States earlier this year — despite possible harm brought to Tesla, which exclusively manufactures electric cars. “Extraordinary times demand extraordinary measures,” he commented on social media, noting that sustainable energy solutions “simply cannot react instantaneously” to cope with lower energy supplies.
The national average price of gasoline was $2.38 per gallon when President Joe Biden assumed office, according to the <a href="https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafHandler.ashx?n=PET&amp;s=EMM_EPMR_PTE_NUS_DPG&amp;f=W" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Energy Information Administration</a>, and increased to $3.53 per gallon by the start of the Russian invasion. Prices surpassed <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/gas-prices" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$5.00 per gallon</a> in early June before subsiding to $3.85 per gallon as of Monday, according to <a href="https://gasprices.aaa.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AAA</a>.
Multiple states — including California, Massachusetts, and Washington — are nevertheless moving to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/two-more-states-follow-californias-ban-on-new-gas-cars">ban</a> the sale of new gas-powered cars in alignment with rules from the California Air Resources Board. “This is a critical milestone in our climate fight,” Governor Jay Inslee (D-WA) said, establishing the goal of “all new car sales to be zero emissions by 2030.”
However, Governor Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ridiculous-edict-virginia-gov-glenn-youngkin-blasts-californias-gas-car-phase-out" target="_blank" rel="noopener">opposed</a> the law and vowed to prevent the policy from impacting his state.
“In an effort to turn Virginia into California, liberal politicians who previously ran our government sold Virginia out by subjecting Virginia drivers to California vehicle laws,” Youngkin wrote in a statement. “Now, under that pact, Virginians will be forced to adopt the California law that prohibits the sale of gas and diesel-fueled vehicles. I am already at work to prevent this ridiculous edict from being forced on Virginians. California’s out of touch laws have no place in our Commonwealth.”

Elon Musk

‘Civilization Will Crumble’: Elon Musk Issues Dire Warning About Rapid Shift To Green Energy

Elon Musk Calls For More Oil Drilling

Norway&#8217;s beloved celebrity walrus, nicknamed Freya, was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/euthanasia">euthanized</a> by the government on Sunday. And despite backlash from the public, the agency is defending its decision to end Freya&#8217;s life.
The Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries seemed to blame the public for its decision to euthanize the 1,300-pound walrus, citing concerns for Freya&#8217;s welfare and the risk that she could harm a human who was too close.
&#8220;Through on-site observations the past week it was made clear that the public has disregarded the current recommendation to keep a clear distance to the walrus,&#8221; the agency <a href="https://www.fiskeridir.no/Yrkesfiske/Nyheter/2022/hvalrossen-i-oslofjorden-er-avlivet">said</a>. &#8220;Therefore, the Directorate has concluded, the possibility for potential harm to people was high and animal welfare was not being maintained.&#8221;
The Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries claimed that it looked extensively at moving Freya, but such an option was impossible.
&#8220;Moving the animal was deliberated thoroughly with the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research,&#8221; a press release said.
&#8220;The extensive complexity of such an operation made us conclude that this was not a viable option,&#8221; agency director general Frank Bakke-Jensen said in a statement. &#8220;There were several animal welfare concerns associated with a possible relocation.&#8221;
Freya was known for <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/juliareinstein/freya-walrus-norway-killed">sunbathing</a> on small boats, and sometimes sinking them with her massive body. The walrus&#8217; endearing nature made her a celebrity over the summer, drawing large crowds of adoring Norwegians.
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Big story in Norway this summer is a walrus we&#39;ve named Freya has made it to our shores and is touring the country, laying around and sinking boats <a href="https://t.co/rQolsxd88b">pic.twitter.com/rQolsxd88b</a>
&mdash; Wild Geerters (@steinkobbe) <a href="https://twitter.com/steinkobbe/status/1549470090030202885?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2022</a></blockquote>
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According to the government, it was those large crowds of adoring fans that did her in.
&#8220;The operation was conducted in a humane fashion by personnel from The Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries,&#8221; the agency said.
&#8220;Highly skilled and trained personnel executed the order in conduct with current routines and regulations for euthanasia for marine mammals,&#8221; Bakke-Jensen added.
Some are not at all happy with the decision to kill the beloved walrus.
One Norwegian headline in the aftermath read, &#8220;Rage after Freya&#8217;s death,&#8221; and a TV broadcaster said the walrus was &#8220;killed by her audience,&#8221; NBC News <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna43073">noted</a>.
&#8220;She was a nice young lady &#8212; good health &#8230; everything was fine with Freya,&#8221; <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9NtRYL1lPc">reacted</a> Rune Aae, a biologist who was tracking the walrus. &#8220;So, I&#8217;m really sad on her behalf &#8212; what we did to her, that was really not nice.&#8221;
Bakke-Jensen acknowledged the backlash, but stood by the decision.
&#8220;We have sympathies for the fact that the decision can cause reactions with the public, but I am firm that this was the right call,&#8221; the director general said. &#8220;We have great regard for animal welfare, but human life and safety must take precedence.&#8221;

TOPSHOT-NORWAY-ANIMAL-WALRUS-FREYA-OFFBEAT

Norway Defends Euthanizing Walrus That Got Too Famous

Animals

Nearly two dozen people were shot at a gay bar in Oslo, Norway, early Saturday, leading officials to cancel the city&#8217;s annual Pride parade this weekend.
Reuters <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/two-dead-several-wounded-norway-nightclub-shooting-police-say-2022-06-25/">reported</a> that the terrorist who allegedly committed the atrocity, which killed at least two people, was a &#8220;a 42-year-old Norwegian citizen of Iranian origin, was believed to be a radicalized Islamist.&#8221;
The victims who were shot were &#8220;inside and outside the London Pub, a longstanding hub of Oslo&#8217;s LGBTQ scene, as well as in the surrounding streets and at one other bar in the center of the Norwegian capital,&#8221; the report added. &#8220;The deceased were two men in their 50s and 60s.&#8221;
Prosecutor Christian Hatlo told reporters that the suspect was &#8220;known to the police&#8221; and had in the past been convicted of crimes. The Norwegian Police Security Service <a href="https://www.pst.no/alle-artikler/pressemeldinger/pst-raises-terror-threat-level-following-shooting-incident-in-oslo-25-june/">said</a> that the suspect was on law enforcement&#8217;s radar due to concerns that he was part of an Islamic extremist network and that they had talked to him as recently as last month.
The Norwegian Police Security Service raised the terror alert level from a moderate terrorist threat to extraordinary threat situation following the shooting.
The Norwegian Police Security Service added in a statement:
<blockquote>Our assessment is that this was an attack motivated by extreme Islamism. We are actively working to clarify the scope of the perpetrator’s ideological beliefs, and potential links to other Islamic extremists or extreme networks.
Experience has shown that completed terrorist attacks might inspire others to plan and commit further terrorist attacks. Our focus now is to prevent potential follow-up attacks. To clarify, we hold no information of that as of now.</blockquote>
John Kirby, the NSC coordinator for strategic communications, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/24/europe/norway-oslo-gay-bar-shooting-intl-hnk/index.html">told</a> reporters on Air Force One: &#8220;We&#8217;re all horrified by the mass shooting in Oslo today, targeting the LGBTQI+ community there. And our house our hearts obviously go out to all the families of the victims, the people of Norway, which is a tremendous ally.&#8221;
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said in-part: &#8220;Let there be no doubt. We are a community, we are a diverse and strong community, and we will never be threatened or give up our values.&#8221;

NORWAY-CRIME-SHOOTING-HOMICIDE-POLICE-INVESTIGATION

Suspected Islamic Terrorist From Iran Shoots Nearly Two Dozen People At Gay Bar In Norway

Mass Shooting

Radical Islamic Terror

Shooting

Terrorism

Several lawmakers took to social media to express their condolences for the four U.S. Marines who died during a NATO training exercise in Norway on Friday.
The identities of the four men were released on Sunday. They included Cpl. Jacob M. Moore, 24, of Catlettsburg, Kentucky; Gunnery Sgt. James W. Speedy, 30, of Cambridge, Ohio; Capt. Matthew J. Tomkiewicz, 27, of Fort Wayne, Indiana; and Capt. Ross A. Reynolds, 27, of Leominster, Massachusetts.
The four men belonged to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing stationed at Marine Corps Air Station in New River, North Carolina, according to a <a href="https://news.usni.org/2022/03/18/officials-marine-mv-22b-crashes-in-arctic-norway-rescue-teams-unable-to-reach-crash-site-by-air" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> from the Naval Institute.
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Marines Identify Four Killed in MV-22B Crash Site in Arctic Norway &#8211; USNI News<a href="https://t.co/INKNbW4Yvu">https://t.co/INKNbW4Yvu</a> <a href="https://t.co/8A4m1RP1ur">pic.twitter.com/8A4m1RP1ur</a>
&mdash; U.S. Naval Institute (@NavalInstitute) <a href="https://twitter.com/NavalInstitute/status/1505717393301159941?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2022</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;I was saddened to learn that Cpl. Jacob Moore of Catlettsburg, Kentucky, was one of four Marines killed during NATO exercises in Norway Friday night. I am incredibly grateful for his service defending our nation’s freedom. My prayers are with his family in this difficult time,&#8221; Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) wrote.
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I was saddened to learn that Cpl. Jacob Moore of Catlettsburg, Kentucky, was one of four Marines killed during NATO exercises in Norway Friday night. I am incredibly grateful for his service defending our nation’s freedom. My prayers are with his family in this difficult time.
&mdash; Leader McConnell (@LeaderMcConnell) <a href="https://twitter.com/LeaderMcConnell/status/1505727307952099335?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2022</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Praying for the family, friends, and community of Capt. Matthew Tomkiewicz from Fort Wayne, Indiana, one of the four Marines who died on Friday in Norway during a NATO exercise when their aircraft crashed. We honor Capt. Tomkiewicz’s service and we’ll never forget his sacrifice,&#8221; Indiana Republican Sen. Mike Braun wrote.
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Praying for the family, friends, and community of Capt. Matthew Tomkiewicz from Fort Wayne, Indiana, one of the four Marines who died on Friday in Norway during a NATO exercise when their aircraft crashed. We honor Capt. Tomkiewicz’s service and we’ll never forget his sacrifice.
&mdash; Senator Mike Braun (@SenatorBraun) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenatorBraun/status/1505734275102130182?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2022</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;We mourn the loss of four Marines who tragically perished during a training exercise in Norway, including Capt. Matthew Tomkiewicz of Fort Wayne. We will never forget their sacrifice and service, and I offer my deepest condolences to their loved ones,&#8221; fellow Indiana Republican Sen. Todd Young shared.
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We mourn the loss of four Marines who tragically perished during a training exercise in Norway, including Capt. Matthew Tomkiewicz of Fort Wayne. We will never forget their sacrifice and service, and I offer my deepest condolences to their loved ones. <a href="https://t.co/0fkBXqGvMy">https://t.co/0fkBXqGvMy</a>
&mdash; Senator Todd Young (@SenToddYoung) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenToddYoung/status/1505716096049029125?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2022</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Heartbroken to learn that Captain Ross A. Reynolds of Leominster was one of the four U.S. Marines who died yesterday during a NATO training exercise crash. Massachusetts and the nation are praying for their families during this terrible time,&#8221; Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Jim McGovern wrote.
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Heartbroken to learn that Captain Ross A. Reynolds of Leominster was one of the four U.S. Marines who died yesterday during a NATO training exercise crash.
Massachusetts and the nation are praying for their families during this terrible time.<a href="https://t.co/ElaLQ8gg0f">https://t.co/ElaLQ8gg0f</a>
&mdash; Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMcGovern/status/1505707892963426305?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2022</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Losing four brave, dedicated #NC03 service members is heartbreaking. As our @MCASNewRiver community mourns the fallen, and I ask that you pray for the loved ones impacted by this tragedy, and for all of our beloved service members serving overseas,&#8221; North Carolina Republican Rep. Greg Murphy shared.
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Losing four brave, dedicated <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NC03?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NC03</a> service members is heartbreaking. As our <a href="https://twitter.com/MCASNewRiver?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MCASNewRiver</a> community mourns the fallen, and I ask that you pray for the loved ones impacted by this tragedy, and for all of our beloved service members serving overseas. <a href="https://t.co/ZhHVmww87u">https://t.co/ZhHVmww87u</a>
&mdash; Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. (@RepGregMurphy) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepGregMurphy/status/1505874889189777415?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2022</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Kay and I are praying for those who knew and loved Capt. Tomkiewicz, Capt. Reynolds, GySgt. Speedy and Cpl. Moore. We will forever remember and honor their service to the @USMC and to our nation,&#8221; Oklahoma Republican Sen. Jim Inhofe wrote.
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Kay and I are praying for those who knew and loved Capt. Tomkiewicz, Capt. Reynolds, GySgt. Speedy and Cpl. Moore. We will forever remember and honor their service to the <a href="https://twitter.com/USMC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USMC</a> and to our nation. <a href="https://t.co/rxkL8u1Zak">https://t.co/rxkL8u1Zak</a>
&mdash; Sen. Jim Inhofe (@JimInhofe) <a href="https://twitter.com/JimInhofe/status/1505696348976341003?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2022</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Absolutely tragic. We are grieving the heartbreaking loss of these heroes and praying for their families. Endlessly grateful for the sacrifices our men and women in uniform make to keep us safe,&#8221; Iowa Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson tweeted.
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Absolutely tragic. 
We are grieving the heartbreaking loss of these heroes and praying for their families. 
Endlessly grateful for the sacrifices our men and women in uniform make to keep us safe. <a href="https://t.co/CHo6pVpS7S">https://t.co/CHo6pVpS7S</a>
&mdash; Ashley Hinson (@RepAshleyHinson) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepAshleyHinson/status/1505896902344249345?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2022</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Heartbreaking loss. Praying for their families and the Marine Corps community who is grieving the loss of their brothers-in-arms,&#8221; House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) wrote.
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Heartbreaking loss. Praying for their families and the Marine Corps community who is grieving the loss of their brothers-in-arms. <a href="https://t.co/OZxDxbGeNR">https://t.co/OZxDxbGeNR</a>
&mdash; Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) <a href="https://twitter.com/GOPLeader/status/1505731726991147008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/four-u-s-marines-killed-in-norway-nato-training-identified?%3Futm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=dwtwitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>:
<blockquote>The four men were reported missing on Friday evening after failing to report back following a training mission in northern Norway, according to the statement. The incident involved an MV-22B Osprey.
“Norwegian search aircraft, including a rescue helicopter from the airbase and a Royal Norwegian Air Force P-3C Orion maritime surveillance aircraft, found a suspected crash site but could not reach the location by air and local rescue crews had to reach the site from the ground,” the report added.
“The four crew members have been retrieved from the accident site by a Sea King rescue helicopter from Norwegian 330 Squadron. The deceased will remain in Bodø until being transported back to the USA,” the Norwegian military said in a separate <a href="https://www.forsvaret.no/en/news/press/cr22-osprey-accident" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>.</blockquote>

A flag flies at half staff.

Lawmakers React To The Four Marines Who Died In Norway NATO Training Exercise

James Inhofe

Marines

Mitch McConnell

Four U.S. Marines killed in a helicopter crash during a NATO training exercise in Norway have been identified.
The Marine Corps revealed the identities of the four men in a <a href="https://news.usni.org/2022/03/18/officials-marine-mv-22b-crashes-in-arctic-norway-rescue-teams-unable-to-reach-crash-site-by-air" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> on Sunday as Cpl. Jacob M. Moore, 24, of Catlettsburg, Kentucky; Gunnery Sgt. James W. Speedy, 30, of Cambridge, Ohio; Capt. Matthew J. Tomkiewicz, 27, of Fort Wayne, Indiana; and Capt. Ross A. Reynolds, 27, of Leominster, Massachusetts.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Marines Identify Four Killed in MV-22B Crash Site in Arctic Norway &#8211; USNI News<a href="https://t.co/INKNbW4Yvu">https://t.co/INKNbW4Yvu</a> <a href="https://t.co/8A4m1RP1ur">pic.twitter.com/8A4m1RP1ur</a>
&mdash; U.S. Naval Institute (@NavalInstitute) <a href="https://twitter.com/NavalInstitute/status/1505717393301159941?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The four Marines served in the “Raging Bulls” of Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 261 stationed at Marine Corps Air Station in New River, North Carolina.
The four men were reported missing on Friday evening after failing to report back following a training mission in northern Norway, according to the statement. The incident involved an MV-22B Osprey.
&#8220;Norwegian search aircraft, including a rescue helicopter from the airbase and a Royal Norwegian Air Force P-3C Orion maritime surveillance aircraft, found a suspected crash site but could not reach the location by air and local rescue crews had to reach the site from the ground,&#8221; the report added.
&#8220;The four crew members have been retrieved from the accident site by a Sea King rescue helicopter from Norwegian 330 Squadron. The deceased will remain in Bodø until being transported back to the USA,&#8221; the Norwegian military said in a separate <a href="https://www.forsvaret.no/en/news/press/cr22-osprey-accident" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>.
The U.S. Naval Institute issued the following biographical information regarding each of the deceased Marines:
<blockquote>Capt. Matthew J. Tomkiewicz served as an MV-22B Osprey pilot with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261, Marine Aircraft Group 26, 2d Marine Aircraft Wing stationed on Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina. Tomkiewicz, 27, from Fort Wayne, Indiana, joined the Marine Corps June 18, 2015. Tomkiewicz’ decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. 
 
Capt. Ross A. Reynolds served as an MV-22B Osprey pilot with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261, Marine Aircraft Group 26, 2d Marine Aircraft Wing stationed on Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina. Reynolds, 27, from Leominster, Mass., joined the Marine Corps May 13, 2017. Reynolds’ decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and multiple certificates and letters of appreciation.
Gunnery Sgt. James W. Speedy served as an administrative specialist with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261, Marine Aircraft Group 26, 2d Marine Aircraft Wing stationed on Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina. Speedy, 30, from Cambridge, Ohio, joined the Marine Corps June 15, 2009. Speedy’s decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two gold stars, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Marine Corps Drill Instructor Ribbon, and multiple certificates and letters of appreciation.
Cpl. Jacob M. Moore served as an MV-22B Osprey crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261, Marine Aircraft Group 26, 2d Marine Aircraft Wing stationed on Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina. Moore, 24, from Catlettsburg, Kentucky, joined the Marine Corps August 20, 2018. Moore’s decorations include the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.</blockquote>
Indiana Republican Sen. Mike Braun released a statement on Twitter on Sunday regarding Tomkiewicz.
&#8220;Praying for the family, friends, and community of Capt. Matthew Tomkiewicz from Fort Wayne, Indiana, one of the four Marines who died on Friday in Norway during a NATO exercise when their aircraft crashed. We honor Capt. Tomkiewicz’s service and we’ll never forget his sacrifice,&#8221; he wrote.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Praying for the family, friends, and community of Capt. Matthew Tomkiewicz from Fort Wayne, Indiana, one of the four Marines who died on Friday in Norway during a NATO exercise when their aircraft crashed. We honor Capt. Tomkiewicz’s service and we’ll never forget his sacrifice.
&mdash; Senator Mike Braun (@SenatorBraun) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenatorBraun/status/1505734275102130182?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Twitter / US Naval Institute

Four U.S. Marines Killed In Norway NATO Training Identified

A new ad for the postal service in Norway portrays the story of a man falling in love with Santa over the years and ends with them kissing to celebrate the decriminalization of homosexuality in Norway. 
The nearly <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/santa-finds-gay-love-in-heartwarming-new-holiday-ad-in-norway-204356039.html">four-</a>minute long ad, entitled “When Harry Met Santa,” begins with a shirtless man wandering downstairs and discovering Santa dropping off gifts before vanishing up the chimney. 
Throughout the ad it is apparent that the two become friends as they are seen sharing cups of tea, talking, and even feeding each other chocolate. At one point the man writes a letter to Santa saying, “All I want for Christmas is you.” 
At another junction, Harry falls asleep on his couch and wakes up to Santa looking fondly at him telling him “You’re snoring,” before saying “I’ll be back next year.” The two also fashion Christmas tree ornaments for each other.
Apparently, the two are only able to meet up briefly once a year as Santa makes his annual toy run leading Harry to become increasingly sad and lonely. 
At the end, a postal worker knocks on Harry’s door to drop off mail and wishes him a Merry Christmas. He walks back inside and finds Santa who tells him, “Well, I arranged some help this year, so I can be with you.”
Then taking a new twist on the song “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” Harry and Santa proceed to kiss multiple times before zooming out to the words “In 2022, Norway marks 50 years of being able to love whoever we want.” 
The ad, for Norway’s postal service “Posten” was celebrated by LGBT activists and the media. 
&#8220;Posten is an inclusive workplace with great diversity, and we would like to celebrate the 50th anniversary with this fine love story,&#8221; Monica Solberg, Posten’s marketing director told <a href="https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2021/11/norwegian-postal-services-gay-themed-christmas-ad-going-viral/">LGBTQ Nation</a>, “In addition to showing the flexibility of our services, we want to put it in a socially relevant setting, with themes that are important for the society around us and for us at Norway Post.”
She also claimed that the “right to love whoever you want” was a “fundamental human right” that shouldn’t be political, especially in democracies.
“Norway Post has connected people for 375 years, and will continue to do so regardless of orientation or gender identity,&#8221; Solberg continued. 
The Guardian <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/video/2021/nov/24/norwegian-christmas-advert-goes-viral-as-santa-claus-gets-a-boyfriend-video">reported</a>, “Heartwarming Christmas advert featuring Santa getting a boyfriend goes viral.” Adweek <a href="https://www.adweek.com/creativity/santa-is-gay-in-this-heartfelt-christmas-ad-from-the-norwegian-postal-service/">proclaimed</a>, “Santa Is Gay in This Heartfelt Christmas Ad From the Norwegian Postal Service,” with subheading “Posten continues tradition of subverting classic festive tales.”
Controversial ads are not <a href="https://www.adweek.com/creativity/santa-is-gay-in-this-heartfelt-christmas-ad-from-the-norwegian-postal-service/">new</a> for Posten, which in previous years has in one made Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, a mailman, and in another entitled “Make Christmas Great Again,” had an angry Santa supposed to be like former President Trump. 
Ads have become increasingly more political with everything from candy bars to life insurance ads making not-so-subtle political messages. 
Last month an ad for the U.K. based John Lewis Company, featured a young boy wearing makeup, jewelry, women’s shoes, and a dress he took from his mother’s closet causing mayhem in his house. 
“These latest attempts by woke companies to normalize gender confusion and the destruction of innocence in young children is perversely wrong; indeed, it’s nothing short of child abuse,” Terry Schilling of the American Principles Project told The Daily Wire at the time.

Santa Claus carrying sack of gifts, portrait, close-up

Goodbye Mrs. Claus: Norway Postal Company Makes Santa Gay In New Ad

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