Greens see red

despite stiff opposition from the greens, the parliament of Norway cleared the nation's first petroleum development project in the Arctic Barents Sea. It was passed by a 75-25 vote recently. The natural gas project -- the Snoehvit -- was backed by the Labour Party, Conservatives, Christian Democrats, and the Party of Progress, comprising 128 seats in the 165-member parliament.

While generating jobs in Finnmark, the controversial us $4.5 billion Snoehvit project is expected to provide liquefied natural gas for the us and European markets. However, Elin Lerum Boasson, leader of the Nature and Youth group, remarked, " We think it is completely irresponsible to open the Barents Sea, which is so vulnerable and valuable, for oil and gas activity."