Øyvind Alnæs is the man to take over during Are Høidal’s leave of absence. Alnæs takes up his position on 1. September and will serve as Acting Director for a period of eighteen months. We were curious as to how he is, and therefore decided to meet him in a local cafe in Oslo Prison’s local district of Grønland, for a short portrait interview.

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Tekxt and photo: Knut-Erik Rønningen, published 08.08.08.

-What’s your focus right now?
-To commence a new and challenging job in Oslo Prison.

-Which book has meant the most to you?
-I’ve read a lot of acedemic books in recent years. "The Good Enemy" by Nils Christie and "Humanitarian Leadership" by John M. Steinberg have been important books to me. But the most important one must be "We are a part of the Earth", a tiny book containing the speech that Chief Seattle held as his response to a USA president’s offer to buy the tribe’s land in approximately 1850.

-Which record has meant the most to you?
-I am very interested in music, but it is difficult to pick out a single record. I am most fond of punk and old heavy. UK Subs and Six Pistols are old heroes, but I also enjoy listening to Johnny Cash. Otherwise I listen a lot to norwegian groups such as Raga Rockers, Kaizers Orchestra and Turboneger.

-What is the best concert you have ever attended?
-David Bowie at Rockefeller Night Club, Oslo in -79, or perhaps REM’s concert, also at Rockefeller. I cannot completely remember the year, but it was at the end of the eighties, just before they reached fame. But I saw Iggy Pop last autumn and that was impressive, and Kaizers is always good live...

-Which film has made the biggest impression on you?
- "Apocalypse now!" from 1979 b Francis Ford Coppola.

-Which politician appeals to you the most?
-Knut Storberget, the first Minister of Justice that appeals to me.

-What is the most unnecessary thing you own?
-The microwave, it’s completely useless for cookery.

-What do you have a bad-conscious over, environmentally wise?
-The car, ought to drive far less. I would willingly pay far more in fees, but they should be specifically reserved for environmental initiatives, e.g. better and cheaper public transport.

-What acheivement are you most proud of?
-To have opened the world’s first human ecological prison.

-Which matters are you willing to join a demonstration procession for?
-The environment or "No to Nuclear Weapons" for whom I have demonstrated previously.

-Where do you really want to be right now?
-At Folgefonni sking in short trousers, people ought to ski much more during the summer!

-And finally, what are your plans for Oslo Prison?
- First and foremost I am going to use a lot of time wandering around and getting to know people and buildings, but I am also aware thet one of the prison’s most significant challenges is activitating inmates. Therefore a new Activity Building has to be priority no. 1. It’s important to give inmates a meaningful day. Content and safety/security are two sides of the same issue, but too much focus on just one side can knock the other to pieces. Without any content it is stupid to release a prisoner. Good rehabilitation is public safety and security.

RELATED LINKS:
This feature was supposed to have been included in Michael Moore’s last film "Sicko", but was edited out apparently since it would have been considered unlikely by Americans. From 3:30 onwards the feature is all about Bastøy Prison.
Michael Moore On Norway

TV stations from near and far have made reports about Bastøy and a russian journalist who recently visited the prison expressed that Alnæs must be the world’s most well-known director for the world’s most important prison. Here is a report from Aljazeera:
Norway's Eco Prison

Here is an extract from a book that is among the most important to Alnæs.
Chief Seattle’s speech

Øyvind Alnæs' Master Degree Thesis:
Prison – Offenders’ School or rehabilitation institution?

Bastøy Prison