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In separate statements, the two institutions announced that they expect growth to be at an insipid 0.4 per cent next year. The Christmas Peace retained its legal status as a distinct period of peace until 1889, when it was removed from the legislature.
The Christmas Peace continues to be read from a scroll of reindeer vellum made by artist Tauno Torpo in 1956.
HBL: Finns want a patriotic, multilingual president
S T T, H T
FINNS WANT
the next President of the Republic to be a patriotic but fair-minded statesperson with good language skills, the Swedishlanguage newspaper Hufvudstadsbladet reported on Sunday.
The survey was carried out last week. 044-740 3385, Mon-Fri 10-19, Sat 10-16 Find yo ur local r e tailer www.tillander.fi
The opening hours of most shops will be affected by Christmas and New Year holidays. Patriotism was the number one requirement for almost half of the respondents, but very few attached any importance to whether the next head of state would be male or female.
On substantive questions, the willingness and ability to work for closer cooperation with the other Nordic countries and to maintain good relations with Russia were the two top priorities for over half of respondents. The combination of religious content and behavioural instructions remains: listeners are told to celebrate Christmas "with the appropriate piety" and to behave "quietly and peacefully" otherwise also.
The traditional declaration of the Christmas Peace takes place in Turku at 12 noon on Christmas Eve. The Russian military stationed a machine gun on the balcony of the Brinkkala mansion on Christmas Eve, and prevented the Magistrate of Turku from reading the Peace. The warnings come when Finland is otherwise enjoying some good news. The wording of the declaration and the other elements of the ceremony have changed over time, but the basic message has remained constant, as has the practice of reading the declaration publicly. This caused some indignation in the local press. Statistics Finland announced that in November the unemployment rate was at 6.2 per cent, down almost a full percentage point from last year. They urge the citizens of Turku to celebrate respectfully and "refrain from excessive eating, excessive drinking, and all other Vices." The most detailed orders on how to celebrate Christmas date from
precisely this period, when a puritanical form of Lutheranism was in force throughout the Kingdom of Sweden. The original purpose of the declaration was to communicate rules of conduct to the local populace, in addition to the religious message. Violation of the Christmas Peace carried heavy fines: failure to observe the seasonal prohibition on the sale of alcohol, for instance, incurred a fine of 40 silver Marks, over 200 euros in today's money. Many may be unaware of the length of tradition behind this ceremony, which has been carried out since the 1300s. "The assumption contains a clear downside risk for the forecast." Liikanen went on to warn that the downturn could significantly impact public finances. ISSUE 51 (2 31) · 2 2 DECEMBER 2011 4 JANUARY 2012 · 3 · W W W.HEL SINKITIMES.FI
Officials expect a tough 2012 for economy
DAV I D J . Several different periods of peace were enforced throughout the Swedish kingdom of which Finland would of course remain a part until 1809. · The ceremony was cancelled during the Winter War in 1939, for fear of the congregation being bombed by the Soviets.
BOTH the Ministry of Finance and Bank of Finland have issued a gloomy prediction for the Finnish economy. · In 1876, owing to the exceptionally cold winter the Peace was read inside the Brinkkala mansion to aldermen, instead of the traditional reading from the balcony of the mansion to the people congregated in the Old Great Square of Turku. More good news came from the eurozone on Tuesday, when Spain had a wildly successful bond auction. By the 1830s, the fine for the same offence had risen to the equivalent of over 300 euros. For daily news, please visit our website at www.helsinkitimes.fi
KESKUSKATU 4, HELSINKI P. C O R D HEL SINKI TIMES
Turku's enduring Peace
The tradition of reading the Christmas Peace from the balcony of the Brinkkala mansion in the Old Great Square of Turku has had a centuries-long, and often colourful history.
E E VA N I K K I L Ä - K I I P U L A S T T HT L E H T I K U VA / RO N I L E H T I
Postponing the peace Throughout its long history, there have been a number of interruptions in the Christmas Peace: · During the Great Northern War of 1712-1721. The declaration will be aired on TV1 and it can also be followed via Yle's web service.
Harsh rules The oldest surviving word-for-word instructions from the declaration of the Christmas Peace are from the end of the seventeenth century. For general information about changes in business hours and public transportation, see our Christmas memo on page 7.. The majority considered the President's primary task to be representing the country as head of state, and leading the country's foreign policy in cooperation with the Council of State. "The forecast is based on the assumption that the euro area debt crisis will not get any worse and the slowdown in growth in both the euro area and the global economy will be relatively short-lived," said Bank Governor Erkki Liikanen. This is lower than any of Finland's neighbours: Estonia has 10.9, Russia 6.5 and Sweden 6.7 per cent unemployed. The behaviour of the subjects of the Crown was closely scrutinised, with alcohol consumption being eyed with especial vigour. The Christmas Peace was just one of these "peaces" during which crimes were pun-
ished with greater severity than usual. The euro currency, which had been weakening against the dollar, jumped by almost one per cent on the good news.
CHRISTMAS for many begins on the Eve, after the traditional declaring of the Christmas Peace in Turku. He especially wanted to see steps to prolong working careers and reforms to boost labour productivity in the public sector. · A rebellion took place among the militia at Christmas time in 1917. This was essential in the Middle Ages, since the majority of the population was illiterate. The prerogative to grant a pardon to prisoners was considered the least important of all presidential functions.
Helsinki Times wishes all readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
The next issue of the paper will be published on 5 January 2012. The average yield fell from their previously monstrous heights, showing that there is once again a demand for Spanish debt. · During the transition from Swedish to Russian Rule in 1809, and apparently for a few years afterwards. These desiderata came top of the list in a survey carried out by the paper
2
22 DECEMBER 2011 4 JANUARY 2012
VIEWPOINT
HELSINKI TIMES
Helsinki Times will publish Viewpoints from each of the presidential candidates from now until 19 January, three days before the presidential election. Now that we are very likely faced with a coming decade of slow economic growth and recovery, ensuring social cohesion is vitally important. SPIRITUAL malaise easily leads to alienation of children and youth, and to the abuse of drugs and alcohol. This does not mean shutting the door against the outside world, though: the EU can only be steered in a better direction by taking the wheel, not by shouting from the back seat.
IN FOREIGN policy, we must honour our international responsibilities by promoting human dignity and human rights in every country, and we must do our part to help ensure that men and women have equal chances to influence the development of the societies they live in. What are needed instead are mechanisms for ensuring that irresponsible member states are held to account for their own debts and are committed to developing greater economic discipline.
DEEPENED
but an economic union that strongly encourages and supports people and enterprise. THE DEVELOPMENT of the EU
sifying that crisis in the long run. Militarily neutral Finland must maintain its ability to credibly defend itself if need be; this requires that we hold on to our tradition of military service and maintain up-to-date defence capabilities. Social welfare systems cannot be sustained for long through loans; we all need to adjust our spending to our level of income.
THE PRESENT scale of economic
injustice also needs to be tackled. And when care is given in time, expensive corrective programme are not needed to the same extent. Rich and well-functioning social relations are the best way of ensuring internal security, both materially and at a more intangible but no less important level.
NEITHER
economic policy integration between the member states must be subjected to strict supervision at national level, and must not be allowed to take precedence over national autonomy and democracy. These values are especially important now, when the Arab world, for instance, is in a momentous period of transformation. Finland has much to offer economically underdeveloped countries, for example in the development of education systems and nurturing of good governance.
THERE ARE other avenues for
active Finnish membership of the international community also, and it is by taking advantage of those opportunities that we can best secure our own position and improve our domestic security. In the realm of foreign affairs, the Finnish President's primary domain, Essayah has a particular interest in Middle Eastern and North African affairs and, for instance, has spoken out against UN membership for Palestine.
Sari Essayah Presidential candidate for the Christian Democrats
Steps towards greater social cohesion
It's time to fare forward towards a more responsible future in which each and every person is cared for as they are, says the Christian Democrats' presidential contender Sari Essayah.
I JOINED
the presidential campaign because of my conviction that Finland needs a clear sense of direction if we are to ensure a good, equal standard of life for future generations. Our economy is heavily in debt, and the world is on the brink of unprecedented ecological problems. The taxation system needs to be reformed so as to encourage entrepreneurship, not penalise it. The UN must be at the forefront of peacekeeping and the advancement of peace in con-
a just or caring world nor caring societies have any hope of coming into being if individual citizens do not make the effort to care for each other and those closest to them. The spiral of debt affecting domestic economies throughout the world has brought many societies to the brink of disaster. It could lead to the risks incurred by economically reckless member states being unloaded onto the more responsible states, either through a bonds system, or through the European Central Bank, or by using member states' capital to increase the EU budget. It is only by these routes that we can make our way towards more sustainable ways of living.
FOR FINLAND, current developments in the European Union are deeply disturbing, and we urgently need responsible solutions. The danger now is that lack of a democratic tradition in many of these societies may put power in the hands of extremist factions. The young need the loving care of adults, and the best source of such care is the family. Financial markets need to be brought to account, and there must be more investment in research, development and innovation. Next Viewpoint is by Timo Soini (PS).
Introducing Sari Essayah
Unlike the other seven presidential candidates, Sari Essayah became known to the Finnish public through other means than politics. At its worst, this state of disenfranchisement can have grave social consequences. Love for those near to us cannot be outsourced to the wider society, however. We need a communal spirit. Many EU citizens feel however that there is no way of exerting any influence on EU policy, and that power has become concentrated in the hands of a few who are not held accountable to the rest. Trust is the cement of society. A society's values, after all, are most truthfully revealed by how it treats its weakest members. Taking responsibility means taking care of not only our own health and surroundings, but also of our families and those who are special to us, whether they are near or far away.
I GREW up with a disabled foster-sister, and since 2004 I have served on the ethical advisory board of the disabled people's support organisation Kehitysvammaisten Tuki Ry. She was elected to Parliament in 2003 and worked for three years as the party's parliamentary group chairperson before becoming the CD' party secretary in 2007. It is time for us to take steps towards clarifying Finland's position in and towards the EU, in order to make the voices of citizens better heard.
into a federal system is not a good solution to the currency crisis, but a way of inten-
MY VISION of a European Union is an alliance that is no longer a bureaucratic maze
must be more active at the United Nations, in particularly when we take up our rotating membership of the Security Council. Cooperation on solving the European situation at the EU's crisis summits needs to bring results, and fast. Regardless on one's origin or background, each and every person here must do his or her best to build a socially sustainable future for this country. Shared responsibility is grounded in our attitudes and in the choices we each make, and it also extends beyond national borders. The Western countries have wilfully closed their eyes to human rights abuses in these and other countries, and have long conspired with armies to support tyrants. To many, it is no longer a self-evident truth that each person was created as a unique and precious individual. The path we need to take leads towards a more cohesive, caring society, where the weakest are cared for and no one is left behind.
A CARING society is based on the simple imperative that we love our neighbour as we love ourselves this could also be called the principle of shared responsibility. wards a more responsible future, a future in which each and every person is cared for as they are: unique and indispensible.
IT IS TIME to fare forward to-. The predominant ways of life have alienated us from each other also. THE CONSEQUENCES
of selfish lifestyles can be seen at many levels, including in the economic and environmental strain we now face. Finnish EU policy needs to be more open and respectful of our domestic sovereignty than it has been in the past. Essayah brought her sporting career to an end in 1996, around which time she joined the CD. A STRONGER sense of responsibility is also urgently needed when it comes to the economic and public finances, since both of these fields are currently affected by serious mor-
al decline. In the private sector, the grey market and tax evasion deprive the state of muchneeded revenue. Then in 2009 she was elected to the European Parliament as the CD' only MEP. This provided me with an ideal vantage point for considering how, in the goal-oriented and intensely competitive times we live in, we are losing our sense of humanity. Finland must do its share to bring the EU forward, not as a federal system but as a functioning community of states. Decision-making in the EU has to be put back in the hands of its citizens. The Christian Democrats' (CD) Finnish-Moroccan candidate became a household name in the early 1990s while representing Finland in athletics, winning bronze and gold in the 1991 and 1993 world championships' 10 km walking races respectively. FINLAND
flict-afflicted areas. Given this, I strongly feel that defending those who are in the weakest position is something that all of those who are more fortunate are obliged to do. Unfortunately often, constraints are put on human rights and respect for persons takes a back seat to economic interests
This free-of-charge city event presents five brilliant light installations plus fire art performances. They will take place throughout the city centre.. HELSINKI TIMES
22 DECEMBER 2011 4 JANUARY 2012
3
ANT! ILLI BR
SENATE SQUARE | HELSINKI MUSIC CENTRE FINLANDIA HALL | HESPERIA PARK FINNISH NATIONAL OPERA - AMPHITHEATRE OLYMPIC STADIUM TOWER Lux Helsinki brings light to the darkest time of the year
This is an issue that will be given more emphasis than ever before in official guidelines for preparedness that are currently being put together. According to Räikkönen, this may explain why being underweight at birth did not negatively affect their school grades and later study performance. "A fire blanket and a six-kilo powder fire extinguisher are helpful as long as you know how to use them properly." When waiting for the emergency services to come, decisive action of one's own and neighbourly initiative can also make a huge difference, Piirainen reminds. "People understandably want to live at home for as long as they can, but the ability of the old or infirm to remove themselves from harm's way if a fire breaks out is often limited. Nowadays there
Be prepared test smoke alarms regularly make sure fireplaces are neat and regularly swept if electrical work needs to be done, call a professional invest in a decent powder fire extinguisher, or even two buy a fire blanket, and keep it where it can be easily found in a hurry · learn to use fire extinguishing equipment · think in advance about how to react in case of emergency · · · · ·
A gift that keeps coming
Subscribe to Helsinki Times as a gift to your friend or family member for a special price: 16 for 2 months / 39 for 6 months / 64 for 12 months
E-mail your own contact information and the contact information of the person you wish to receive Helsinki Times (name, address, e-mail address, telephone number) to subscribe@helsinkitimes.fi. The research established that those in the low birthweight group performed slightly less well in tests of general intelligence. "This is encouraging evidence that even though birth weight does have negative cognitive effects, these can be compensated for through the provision of learning support." Approximately five per cent of babies are born prematurely. "People's own capacity for taking action needs to be improved. Rescue services received a total of 84,000 urgent calls
during 2010. 4
22 DECEMBER 2011 4 JANUARY 2012
DOMESTIC NEWS
L E H T I K U VA / P E K K A M O L L I S
HELSINKI TIMES
In a recent fatal house fire in Sotkamo it took the fire brigade half an hour to arrive on the scene from 30 km away.
Rescue services under severe pressure in remote areas
In sparsely populated areas it can take a dangerously long time before emergency services are called, and long distances further increase the risk of accidents turning fatal.
PEKK A MOLIIS ST T HT
passers-by when the building is already in full flame," according to fire chief Heikki Piirainen of Kainuu Rescue Department.
is perhaps a bit too much of a tendency to rely solely on the authorities to come and put things right when disaster strikes. "People living in remote areas know that it'll take time for help to come. The number of people living in remote parts of the country is steadily dwindling, bringing a corresponding increase in the risks facing those who remain. The offer is valid until 20 December and for new subscriptions within Finland only.
Low birthweight casts a long shadow over cognitive ability later in life
Although a new study shows that being born prematurely affects learning ability, remedial education can compensate for this.
SINIKK A SUOSAL MI S T T HT
PREMATURELY born babies grow up to have more memory problems and difficulties with concentration than those who were a normal weight at birth, according to a recent study. Please write "Christmas gift" in the subject field. "In both cases, by the time the fire brigade was called it was already too late to save either of the people who died. Electrical appliances should be in safe working condition, open fires should be well attended and protected with a fireguard, and every household should invest in smoke alarms. Coordination, accuracy, and visual memory were also weaker.
You will receive a voucher in the post to give to your friend at Christmas.
The negative cognitive effects that premature birth brings can be compensated for through the help of learning support.
Learning support helps The researchers also found that those who had been born underweight were more likely to have been in remedial classes during their school years. People can also do a lot to help each other out while we're on our way. Cognitive development continues after birth also," Räikkönen points out. The study, which was published in the American Academy of Neurology journal, is part of a broader research project on the health of prematurely born children when they reach adulthood.. "Full-term, normalweight babies do get a better start in life, but that doesn't at all mean that their great-
er success in life is a foregone conclusion. Sprinkler systems can prevent the fire from spreading, but the rescue authorities have no power to make them mandatory in every home," says Vainio.
Help takes time Regardless of whether help is just around the corner or tens
of kilometres away, knowing what to do in an emergency is something everyone should know. Reasoning ability was measured with objective tests, but measurement of success in learning was based on each test participant's own estimates. It has been known for some time that those who were less than 1.5 kilos at birth do less well in reasoning tests. The study covered over 100 young adults who had been born prematurely and underweight, and an equal amount
L E H T I K U VA / K I M M O M Ä N T Y L Ä
in the same age group whose weight at birth was above 1.5 kilos. The new study measured differences in accuracy, memory, and conceptualisation, and revealed that differences in these areas among underweight and normal-weight babies continued into adulthood. The very first thing to do, however, is to call 112."
DELAYS IN arrival of Finnish rescue authorities are significantly longer in isolated areas, with the regions of Kainuu and Lapland being worst affected last year. "If there are enough functioning smoke alarms in the home, if they go off you have a few minutes' time to react and prevent more serious damage," Piirainen emphasises. During the last month in the Sotkamo region of Kainuu, two people have died in
two separate fires due to excessively long delays. Being born prematurely is not necessarily an obstacle to success in learning later in life, says developmental psychologist Katri Räikkönen of the University of Helsinki, who lead the study. In both cases, it took tens of minutes for rescue services to arrive. The time for saving lives has already run out if the emergency services are called by
Precautionary measures In remote areas, the need to take sensible precautions in the event of an emergency is even more vital. In an average of seven out of ten cases, rescue services arrived on the scene within ten minutes. The value of home fire extinguishing equipment should not be overlooked. The subscription starts on 5 January 2012. In Kainuu and Lapland however, in around ten per cent of cases the response time was over half an hour. We have the best chance of helping if people act sensibly and decisively when the emergency situation is still in the early stages of development," points out senior inspector Taito Vainio of the rescue department at the Ministry of the Interior
Mauri Pekkarinen (Centre), the chair of the commerce committee, also described the forecasts as optimistic. The "eq-
uity ratio" for these companies, which is an indicator of their financial standing, is first-rate and their net profits continue to be at an adequate level. Kimmo Sasi (NCP), the chairman of the parliamentary finance committee, said the finance ministry and central bank forecasts were "relatively optimistic". The healthcare and teaching sectors, for example, are overwhelmingly staffed by women, whereas the technology and industrial sectors employ mainly men."
Who: Teemu Selänne From: Espoo Famous for: Being an internationally renowned ice hockey player who was honoured in Winnipeg at the weekend.
Private-sector services gaining ground at health centres
SINIKK A SUOSAL MI S T T HT
PRIVATE healthcare providers already supply almost one third of Finland's health-centre services. According to an analyst of the Patas wage equality programme Tapio Wallin, the messiness of the existing set-up means that "equally valued" positions bring different levels of pay.
The complexity of the system is the biggest obstacle to reform, Wallin believes. These exports could then provide income to finance Finnish services.
Teemu Selänne is a professional ice hockey winger and an alternate captain of the Anaheim Ducks. just pay system." Efforts to reform the payroll system have been long-running. The government had predicted 2.8-per cent gross domestic product growth next year in a June forecast.
Pentti Arajärvi, chair of the pay equality programme.
L E H T I K U VA / M A R I A N N E H E L M
Labour market incoherence militates against women
S T T, H T
ALTHOUGH the same salary is
often paid for the same work, the mind-boggling complexity and incoherence of labour market regulations in Finland strongly works against gender equality. "The slowdown of growth will add to imbalances in the Finnish economy. On 17 December, after a 16-year absence Selänne returned to Winnipeg when Anaheim played the Jets. Despite this oversight, however, Arajärvi does not believe that the framework agreement is necessarily a brake on promoting gender equality in the labour market. Matters are made worse by the fact that the same employer often uses several different payroll systems simultaneously, according to the study.
L E H T I K U VA / V E S A M O I L A N E N L E H T I K U VA / M I K KO S T I G
COLUMN
The ministry added it now saw GDP growth of 1.7 per cent, down from 2.4 per cent in the June forecast, in 2013. Although assessments based on the demandingness of one's job profile have led to greater efficiency in setting salary levels, there are little if any coherence among the criteria used in such assessments. Companies and organisations providing private healthcare can no longer be considered simply as services that supplement municipal healthcare. Linking salary levels to the demandingness of the position was considered too difficult, and so employers and unions made do with a simple "trading" procedure. The pay equality programme is being coordinated by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. "Economic recovery in Finland will depend largely on domestic demand," the ministry said in a statement. "It is in the interest of healthcare companies to increase internal monitoring," says Hartman. According to Arajärvi, previous income policy agreements have also been lacklustre when it comes to furthering male and female wage inequality. She believes that increasing trust among customers is vital for the sector, irrespective of who provides the services. The current gap is eighteen per cent. The healthcare business is also a lucrative one. Selänne aka "the Finnish Flash" won the Stanley Cup with the Ducks in 2007 and has been the NHL's top goalscorer in three separate seasons. "There have been successes in narrowing the gap in some fields, but not as much as we'd like to see. More than 80 per cent of these businesses employ just one person, and over 98 per cent have fewer than 10 employees. A basic problem is that different employees within the same company are often paid according to several different
collective bargaining agreements. Programme chair Pentti Arajärvi admits that four years is a realisti-
Lack of coherence "It doesn't prevent the use of new salary practices at the level of individual businesses or at union level. In 1992 he joined the Winnipeg Jets, but after three-and-ahalf seasons he made the move to Anaheim. The recently negotiated two-year framework agreement does not help matters, since it overlooks wage inequality between the sexes. He was also a member of the 1995 world championshipwinning Finnish national side. The healthcare service sector is becoming more concentrated. HELSINKI TIMES
DOMESTIC NEWS
22 DECEMBER 2011 4 JANUARY 2012
5
No progress in wage equality
cally short time for reaching the 15 per cent goal. The major operators have grown and many are now under foreign ownership. There are only a few Finnish healthcare companies on the international market because demand on the domestic market is sufficient for the small businesses that operate in the sector. ISPs slammed the idea as preposterous. "How would it be possible in practice to make a party that only provides a telecommunication service responsible for content," Karol Mattila, a TeliaSonera lawyer, was quoted as saying. STT
Police want ISPs prosecuted over hate speech TS
Finnish regional daily Turun Sanomat on Monday quoted a memorandum penned by the police and the prosecution service as saying that internet service providers should be prosecuted for hosting hate speech. Only a few of the large private clinics and private hospitals have expanded to become nationwide service providers.
Success expected in exports of healthcare services The provision of healthcare services is dominated by small businesses. In this situation it is essential that measures are put in place to foster market-driven growth." Banks see the Finnish economy slipping into recession by next year, with the Bank of Finland forecasting modest growth. Talks on gender equality relating to salaries have
been ongoing since 2006, with the goal of bringing down the male-female wage gap to an average of fifteen per cent by 2015. "Simplistic shortcuts" were taken in the process, according to Wallin, and adds that this same flawed method was behind the gender equality-related
provisions of several previous income agreements. "The goal is that by 2015 around three quarters of employees will be working within an encouraging and
Government forecasts 0.4 pct growth in 2012
Finland's finance ministry said Tuesday it expected the country's economy to grow by 0.4 per cent next year, "suggesting the possibility of recession". "Reducing the level of inequality between men's and women's salaries requires comprehensive structural changes, starting at school level, when both sexes are socialised towards particular professions. This was an increase of seven per cent on the previous year.
Recent malpractice should prompt sector to re-examine itself According to Sanna Hartman, sector manager for health and social services at the Uusimaa ELY Centre, the sector needs to take a long hard look in the mirror due
to recent malpractice scandals related to the grey market and fake doctors. In the mid-1960s a goal was set of achieving wage equality within three years," Arajärvi noted. "Responsibility always lies with the publisher, otherwise oversight will easily slip into censorship." STT
The male-female divide in the Finnish labour market is more rigid than in many other European countries.
The recently negotiated nationwide deal on employer-employee relations contains no provisions for tackling pay inequality between the sexes.
TIMO SIPIL Ä ST T HT
EFFORTS TO
improve pay equality are proceeding at a snail's pace, so slowly that there is little if any realistic prospect of the government's gender equality objectives on pay being met this electoral term. "I fear that we will slip at least slightly into recession," Pekkarinen said. In addition, they rarely include any objective for improving gender equality on pay. Inequality is exacerbated by the different levels of success that different labour unions have had in negotiating terms of pay for their members. The male-female divide in the labour market is more rigid than in many other European countries. In 2009, the combined revenue of these businesses was 2.56 billion euros. The proximity of the Russian market is expected to mean success for the export of healthcare services in the future. Both also pointed out that the assumption behind the forecasts was that the eurozone debt crisis would not get any worse, with efforts to contain it succeeding. The audience cheered for Selänne for over ten minutes, and booed all the other Anaheim players.. In dental care, the role of private-sector services now exceeds that of public dental care, according to a recent report by the Ministry of Employment and the Economy. More adequate means of setting pay levels are sorely needed, says Wallin. Good objectives always suffer from a lack of goodwill. With the right opportunities to grow and develop, these operators should also be able to expand into international markets. According to a study jointly conducted by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and Aalto University's Business, Innovation, Technology (BIT) research centre, previous income agreements repeated and maintained the same long-established malebiased pay structures. "The goal is challenging, let's say," Arajärvi said at a presentation in Espoo last week of a new study related to the programme
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Small grocery stores and Central Railway Station shops may be open outside these hours, check your local store for detailed opening hours. Having taken more than our fair share of earthly goods, it might not be such a bad idea to do something very different for a change and try to conserve the few bits of untouched forest and its fauna that there is left. Pekka Haavisto, the Greens' candidate, came second with 12 per cent, followed by the Finns Party's Timo Soini with eight per cent and Paavo Lipponen of the Social Democrats with five per cent. Patria added that together with 1,440 ammunition storage tubes and spare parts the deal was worth 100 million euros. For as little as 5 euros you can buy 10m2 of land through the Finnish Natural Heritage Foundation, which purchases old-growth forests with donations and applies for permanent protection for them. The arson attack happened in a parking garage, with the fire damaging another police vehicle. And that´s just what we do at Savonia UAS - combining both."
- YANA KURBAT, INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS, VARKAUS
F I N D Y O U R W AY T O S TA R T A N I N T E R N AT I O N A L C A R E E R : W W W . On New Year's Eve post offices will close between 16:00 and 18:00 and on 5 December at 18:00; all post offices are closed on 6 December. HELSINKI TIMES
DOMESTIC NEWS
L E H T I K U VA / R I N I R E KO M A A
22 DECEMBER 2011 4 JANUARY 2012
7
Christmas memo
· Most shops are open on Christmas Eve 24 December from 7:00 until 12:00; however, some shops on the Helsinki Central Railway Station's ground floor are open until 15:00. It is also highly recommended to buy tickets well in advance to ensure a seat on the desired date. The police said a number of arson attacks had happened in eastern Helsinki in recent days. STT
Something different for Christmas
J E N N I T O R I S E VA HEL SINKI TIMES
Finland approves 100 mln arms shipment to Saudi Arabia
The Finnish government has granted an export licence for 36 Patria mortar systems to be shipped to Saudi Arabia, the government-controlled arms maker said in a statement Thursday. On 31 December shops close at 18:00, and all shops are closed on 1 and 6 January. On New Year's Eve Alko will be open until 16:00 or 18:00; on 1 January Alko will remain closed. On New Year's Eve banks are open until 13:00; on 1 and 6 December banks will be closed. · Banks are open as usual on 23 December, but will be closed on 24 December. S A V O N I A . · Public transportation in the capital region will follow normal Saturday timetables on 24 December until 15:00, and passenger traffic will commence again on 25 December at around 11:00. "By exporting arms to Saudi Arabia, Finland gives a signal to the effect that human rights violations and dictatorship are acceptable courses of action that Finland is ready to support through arms deals," Hautala and Niinistö said. "The country is a theocracy and a dictatorship in which party activity is banned." STT
STILL trying to figure out what
A Finnish day in the life
If all the things that happened in 2010 were to be divided evenly between each day of the year, each day there would have been: 167 births, with 86 boys to 81 girls 139 deaths 82 marriage ceremonies 37 divorces granted 12 foreign-born recipients of Finnish nationality 2,403 changes of address, 1,559 of them remaining within the same municipality 30 new residential buildings completed 41 fires involving the fire brigade 91 new companies established, and 58 closed down 8 bankruptcy applications put into effect 160 credit cards cancelled due to inability to pay the bills 2.8 million euros paid out in Finnish development aid 206 grammes of meat, 154 g of fresh vegetables, 87 g of sugar, 130 g of fresh fruit, and 502 g of dairy products eaten for each person in the country 1.1 million litres of medium-strength beer, 179,000 litres of wine, and 82,000 litres of hard liquor drunk 28 abortions and 11 sterilisations 1,183 crimes notified to the police, customs, and border security authorities, including: 58 charges of drunk driving, 54 charges of narcotics abuse, 91 charges of assaults, 2 charges of rape, 18 residential break-ins, and 37 break-ins to motorised vehicles 11 million text messages sent.
Source: Statistics Finland 2011
· · · · · · · · · · · · ·
· · ·
kind of a present to give that someone who already seems to have it all. · Post offices will be closed on Christmas Eve. With 30 euros or more, the recipient of the gift will receive a greetings card, while with donations under 30 euros you will receive an electronic one, which you can print yourself.
Niinistö scores 33 per cent in youth poll
Finnish Youth Cooperation (Allianssi) on Monday quoted a poll as indicating that some 33 per cent of young people intended to vote for Sauli Niinistö, the National Coalition candidate, in the first round of January's presidential election. · There will be various changes in train and long-distance coach timetables during the holidays visit the VR and Matkahuolto web pages for further information. Ferries to Suomenlinna will operate normally. Heidi Hautala (Greens), the international development minister, and Ville Niinistö (Greens), the environment minister, condemned the permit, saying Saudi Arabia was a dictatorship where political parties were not tolerated, people tortured
by the authorities and killed for practising their religion. All shops are closed on 25 and 26 December. For more information about Helsinki region transport, see page 14.
Police van torched in Helsinki
A police van was set alight in eastern Helsinki in the early hours of Friday. Four ministers, including Erkki Tuomioja (SDP), the foreign minister, voted against granting the permit. "Saudi Arabia is considered to be one of the most undemocratic countries in the world," the Left Alliance Youth said in a statement. Commissioned by the youth lobby, market research company Taylor Nelson Sofres interviewed about 1,000 people aged between 18 and 29. APPLY: 9.1.-14.2.2012 Degree Programmes: Industrial Management (Varkaus) (Kuopio) (Kuopio and Varkaus)
"Most important thing after graduating is to know how to apply theoretical knowledge to practice, I think. Well, here's something they might not have: a piece of old-growth forest. A number of human rights groups and parties have raised concern about the arms deal. F I. The margin of error was stated as three percentage points. · Alko will close its doors on 23 December at 20:00 and open again on 27 December. STT
·
The Finnish Natural Heritage Foundation www.luonnonperintosaatio.fi
course credits
O OF CREATING A WEBSTORE"
BECOME AN INTERNATIONAL EXPERT ON YOUR STUDIES
The application form and additional information on the application procedure, fees etc. Even within in the EU, there are countries that still don't have plastic driving licences, using ones made from cardboard with the holder's photo stapled onto it instead.
`There is nothing we can do about the administrative practices of other countries. is available on the School's website www.esh.fi -> Enrolment.
Allan Bain allan@helsinkitimes.fi
EDITORIAL space in Friday and Saturday's papers was hogged by thoughts on the new Finnish Broadcasting Company (Yle) tax. For example, the number of Finnish visas issued in Murmansk has doubled. At present, one TV licence per home is required in those houses with a TV. A millionaire who lives alone will pay half this. Bad-mouthing someone online, publishing their photo after `photoshopping' it, or creating a fake Facebook profile are all part of school bullying nowadays. This is Parliament's prevailing concept of equity." Lahti's Etelä-Suomen Sanomat succeeded where Pentikäinen failed: "A TV licence will cost 252 euros next year, but in the future a household with two earners will pay 280 euros in total. 8
22 DECEMBER 2011 4 JANUARY 2012
FROM THE FINNISH PRESS
T R A NSL AT IONS B Y A INO B A IN
HELSINKI TIMES
L E H T I K U VA / J U S S I N U K A R I
TURUN SANOMAT 18 December
Almost half of foreign driving licences forged, police find
"OF THE FOREIGN
The Finnish Tourist Board estimates that there will be up to 350,000 Russian tourists in Finland around the New Year.
driving licences analysed by the National Bureau of Investigation (KRP), about 40 per cent has turned out to be forgeries. It offers education in three languages: English, French and Finnish. Petri Varjos from the technical division of KRP's crime laboratory explains that the quality of those driving licences analysed can be very poor
in terms of their level of security. JUHANI SAARINEN
Record amount of Russian tourists coming to Finland for New Year
"A RECORD
ITÄ-SAVO 17 December
amount of Russian tourists will visit Finland around the turn of the year during the holiday season. The two-year nursery cycle starts at the age of four and the five-year primary cycle at the age of six. Extra control points have been set up in freight containers at the border controls in Imatra and Vaalimaa. But it happens a lot.'"
L E H T I K U VA / J U S S I N U K A R I
KAUPPALEHTI 17 December
people pay taxes'
"During an interview with the regional newspaper Keskisuomalainen, the chairman of the shareholder association Osakesäästäjien keskusliitto, Timo Rothovius, heavily criticises Finland's tax laws for discriminating against small investors. Helsinki Times reserves the right to accept or reject submissions, and to edit and shorten all submissions chosen for publication.
Comments can be sent by e-mail to: info@helsinkitimes.fi
An increasingly large amount of people from all over northwest Russia travel to Finland. Helsingin Sanomat's editor-in-chief, Mikael Pentikäinen, attacked the new tax for its feasibly inequitable elements but had to resort to exaggeration in order to make his point: "If a family has two adults, both of whom earn 21,900 euros, they'll have to pay 280 euros a year. Prior to the decision being announced there had been talk of allocating money to Yle straight from the state budget, but some feared that the. This year, Finland has taken a clear lead: Russians travelled to Finland more than four million times, which is over a million more than the number who travelled to secondplace Turkey."
"BULLYING is a significant problem on the internet as well. `If your stock portfolio is big enough, you can always make the arrangements needed for tax evasion. `Does school bullying take place on the internet, too?' `Yes. Elsewhere, the inability to opt out of paying to use Yle's services come 2013 was mentioned. Tampere's Aamulehti noted the similarity between the Yle tax and Church taxation but also the difference: "At least you can leave the Church with Yle the partnership's for life." Jyväskylä-based Keskisuomalainen chose to remind its readers that the tax addresses the problem of so-called free riding by simply making the option of using Yle's services without paying for them impossible. The Finnish Tourist Board estimates that there will be 300,000 to 350,000 Russian tourists in Finland around the New Year.
The rail operator VR has set aside 35 extra trains for traffic from Russia, and long queues are expected at Finnish border controls. The Finnish Border Guard estimates that up to 50,000 people a day will cross the northeastern border. Helsinki Times will not give the information to third parties. The traffic at the borders will start getting busier on the Tuesday after Boxing Day and will only quieten down after Epiphany on 6 January. In those cases, sometimes even his lab can't tell whether they are forgeries or not. The full charge (140 euros) will only apply to those earning 21,900 euros a year, with a progressive rate put in place for those people who earn between 7,800 euros and this larger figure. The general feeling seems to be that only those stupid people who don't understand anything pay taxes,' he says. Finland is a signatory to international agreements, according to which the police have to issue a Finnish driving licence in place of a foreign one after its holder has resided in Finland for half a year."
HELSINGIN SANOMAT 18 December. KRP analyses the driving licences of people who want to exchange their licence for a Finnish one. Rothovius is disappointed that no headway has been made towards allowing dividend yields of less than 1,500 euros to remain tax-free, even though politicians have spoken about the need for this. His
Dealing with internet bullying `Only stupid
job is to monitor the internet, in other words, to be where young people also are. For years, Finland, China and Turkey were competing for the title of number one destination. The school follows the syllabi of the European Schools.
PRESS RE VIE W
Impartiality guaranteed
broadcaster's independence and neutrality would be affected. Pseudonyms will be accepted only in exceptional cases. Instead, this solution will see every person in Finland taxed bar under-18-year-olds and those earning less than 7,800 euros a year, regardless of whether they use Yle services or not. Finland is by far the number one destination for Russian tourists if CIS countries are discounted. Senior Constable Toni Reinikäinen works with youth issues at the Etelä-Savo Police Department. Belgium, for example, still uses cardboard driving licences,' she says. Transfer from lower to upper secondary school is automatic once inside the school and it is not subject to any further admissions procedure. Osakesäästäjien keskusliitto has been pushing for this change to be made in the law.
More and more school bullying is taking place on the internet.
European Schooling Helsinki is a state school accredited to the European Schools' network (www.eursc.eu). The tax will replace TV licences in 2013 as the means by which Yle is funded. Many people don't even think editing someone's photo without their permission or giving out false information about others is bullying. Minna Gråsten from the National Police Board says that in many countries forging a driving licence is easier than in Finland. Whatever you think of the new tax, at least Finland's main non-commercial broadcaster's future looks secure, if it was ever in any real danger in the first place.
PUPIL ENROLMENT FOR SCHOOL YEAR 2012-13
The application period is 9-24 January 2012. The Finnish Consulate General in St Petersburg has issued almost a million visas this year, while the figure for last year was about 750,000.
READER'S LETTERS
Helsinki Times wants your views on current issues and comments on news articles as well as anything of interest from a multicultural perspective.
Comments should be no longer than 2,000 characters with spaces. The increase isn't very big, but it should be acknowledged, not lied about." Seinäjoki-based Ilkka added that, "If what is wanted is a slightly fairer charge, one person will end up paying more in the future than now and another person less." In other words, there are always winners and losers in this sort of situation and gauging whether the new system will be fairer or not can't be done by highlighting the plight of one group in isolation. That means that the border will be crossed every two seconds. Writers should include their name, address and possible daytime telephone number. Since the number of enrolments is restricted the School will organise entrance tests in February. Transfer from the Finnish schooling system to the European schooling system is still viable after Finnish Primary. The secondary cycle consists of seven year classes and leads to the European Baccalaureate exam which is fully recognised in all the countries of the European Union, as well as in a number of others
According to Manning's counsel, David E. Meade, where Manning's preliminary hearing began on 18 December.
Though charged with aiding the enemy, Manning based on online conversations he reportedly had with the informant who turned him in explained that he was motivated by a desire to inform the American people about what was being carried out in their name. The stated justifications for going to war Saddam Hussein's ties to Al Qaeda, weapons of mass destruction, a rapidly developing nuclear weapons programme proved utterly unfounded, while the mightiest, highesttech war machine in history failed to suppress a variety of rag-tag insurgencies.
Of course, material US losses pale when compared to those of the Iraqis estimated at well over 100,000 dead, and countless others, including hundreds of thousands of children, injured or traumatised by their experiences. He also reportedly leaked hundreds of thousands of State Department cables exposing US support for dictatorial regimes, the Obama administration's responsibility for a missile strike in Yemen that killed dozens of women and children and the cover-up of child rape by private US military contractors in Afghanistan.
LEHTIKUVA / AFP PHOTO / CHIP SOMODEVILLA
FORT MEADE, MARYLAND
CHARLES DAVIS IPS
AN US ARMY intelligence analyst, Bradley Manning, was arrested in May 2010 by US military police in Iraq when a government informant reported him to law enforcement after he allegedly confessed to leaking to the public scores of classified information containing evidence of corruption and war crimes. For the first 10 months of his imprisonment, Manning was denied almost all contact with the outside world and held in solitary confinement 23-hours-a-day, contrary to the recommendations of mental health professionals and despite the fact he had not yet been to trial, much less convicted of a crime.
In March, the chief spokesman for the US State Department, PJ Crowley, resigned after publicly remarking, "What is being done to Bradley Manning is ridiculous and counterproductive and stupid." More than 50 members of the European Parliament sent a letter to President Obama and other top US officials late last month demanding that UN access to Manning be allowed in light of reports that he "has been subjected to prolonged solitary confinement and other abusive treatment tantamount to torture".
Iraq intervention ends with scarcely a whimper
WASHINGTON
JIM LOBE IPS
WHEN The United States formally ended its eight-and-ahalf year military adventure in Iraq on Thursday with a flag-lowering ceremony in Baghdad presided over by Defence Secretary Leon Panetta, hardly anyone here seemed to notice, let alone mark the occasion in a special manner. Nor can the social costs also be ignored: the United Nations has estimated the number of people who have fled their homes since the invasion at nearly five million, roughly equally divided between internally displaced persons within Iraq and refugees who have fled to neighbouring countries, including much of Iraq's previously thriving Christian community, or beyond. Scepticism about Iraq's future stability is remarkably high, according to a NBC News/Wall Street Journal survey released this week. "I want people to see the truth, because without information, you cannot make informed decisions as a public," he wrote.
"Treatment tantamount to torture" Manning's case has become an international cause célèbre not just because of what he allegedly disclosed, but also because of the way he has been treated in captivity. A majority of respondents said they thought "all-out civil war" was either "very" (21%) or "somewhat likely" (39%) in the wake of the US withdrawal. A former US Army interrogator, Patterson credits Manning and the "Collateral Murder" video of the 2007 massacre in Baghdad in particular with finally turning him against a war he once supported. what would you do?" Manning reportedly asked. Coombs, the hearings are expected to conclude before Christmas. "If you had free reign over classified networks... "So he went outside the influence of the government and gave it to an entity that was for the public good." Despite White House claims that the disclosures threatened US national security and the lives of US informants named in diplomatic cables, a State Department review conducted earlier this year concluded that they had caused no serious damage.
Supporters of Bradley Manning hold vigil outside the gates of the US Army's Fort George G. In addition, the US suffered an immeasurable loss in international credibility. HELSINKI TIMES
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
22 DECEMBER 2011 4 JANUARY 2012
9
Hundreds rally in support of Bradley Manning
Hundreds of people gathered last Thursday outside the US military base where evidence against Bradley Manning, the soldier accused of leaking classified information to the whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks, is being presented before a military judge for the first time since his arrest.
land's Fort Meade, home of the US National Security Agency (NSA), as dozens of police and a helicopter circling above looked on. The surprising lack of interest could be explained by the distractions of the holiday season, the Republican presidential race or the health of the global and US economies.
A three trillion dollar war On the US side of the ledger, the costs have been staggering: nearly 4,500 soldiers killed, with tens of thousands more wounded, in many ways including severe brain injuries and posttraumatic stress disorders that haunt and disable their victims for the rest of their lives. He has been charged with aiding "the enemy" through the disclosures, a charge that carries the possibility of death, though prosecutors say they are seeking a life sentence. Similarly, earlier this week, when US President Barack Obama hosted Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki at the White House to discuss apparently rather inconclusively the future strategic relationship between the two countries, hardly anyone paid attention. "Bradley shouldn't be doing time for the Pentagon's war crimes," chanted approximately 300 supporters outside the gates of Mary-
Exposing America's "dark underbelly" "He did the right thing," said Michael Patterson, a 21-year-old Alaska native and veteran of the Iraq war. Joseph Stiglitz, winner of the Nobel Prize for Economics, has estimated total costs of the Iraq war on the US economy, including the costs of health care for veterans, at more than three trillion dollars, a significant amount given the difficult economic straits in which this country finds itself. Manning knew his commanders would be unwilling to act on the evidence of war crimes he witnessed, said Patterson. The rally, one of 50 taking place across the world, coincided with Manning's 24th birthday and the second day of court hearings aimed at determining whether evidence against him is sufficient to proceed to trial. Rather than making him a traitor, he said, Manning's actions demonstrated his commitment to upholding a "soldier's honour". Manning is accused of leaking video evidence of a 2007 massacre outside Baghdad in which at least 18 people, including two Reuters journalists, were killed by US troops in what many consider a war crime. A similar majority rated the chances of Iraq achieving a "stable democracy" as either "somewhat" (32%) or "very unlikely" (28%).. and you saw incredible things, awful things..
For example, the whole concept of transporting oil by tankers can be questioned. Most of them accumulate in living organisms, and in many cases we and other creatures eat them and thus they are transported upwards in the food chain. The advertising agency Taivas has agreed to help raise awareness. Commitments can be financial, nonfinancial, ambitious or modest. "These facts mean that we have reached, and in many cases passed, some critical thresholds of the ecological balance of the Sea. The microbes consume all the oxygen in the water and so the sediment becomes dead and hostile to almost all life. "These substances are potent poisons at extremely low concentrations. Instead
of collecting money and buying services, BSAG finds those who can donate their expertise. "Right now we are preparing for the next Baltic Sea Action Summit, to be arranged in St. From our point of view, it is more efficient to get service, expertise or a product instead of first raising money and then buying the needed item."
Biodegradable waterproofing As an example of this process Communications Officer Pieta Jarva cites Halti, a Finnish
outdoor clothing company. C O R D
FINNS are often justifiably proud of their environmental record, yet right off our coast is one of the most polluted seas in the world. The conclusion is that if we do not do anything very soon and very rapidly, the Baltic Sea will become a stinking dead pond. Previously all wastewater went untreated into the Baltic. The University of Helsinki has started a new multidisciplinary program on research and education. "If we had such a dead, smelly, poisonous sludge anywhere on land we would have started a revolution long ago." BSAG is a Finnish foundation devoted to marshalling the citizens of the fourteen nations in the Baltic Sea's catchment area to act in saving it. The only responsible and business-wise sustainable way to do that is to use pipe lines, preferably on land." Bergman concludes with the statement that BSAG is borderless, neutral and always for the benefit of the sea. The risks are far too great and so are the costs of constant development of oil spill response. "The other large invisible threat to the sea and to us is the accumulation of hazardous substances in rivers and in sea bottoms," continues Bergman. She also points out that since November 2011 BSAG can approach the public for fund-raising.
J A N N E G RÖ N I N G
· · · · ·
Baltic Sea Action Group www.bsag.fi BSAG Focus Areas Eutrophication Clean and safe maritime activities Hazardous substances Innovative solutions
What is a Commitment. "We want companies to support us by donating their know-how," explains Anna Kotsalo-Mustonen, one of the founders. "BSAG is working hard so we wouldn't have to answer to our children and grandchildren what we were thinking when we let human mechanisms destroy such large areas of our habitat!"
www.helsinkibusinesshub.fi
This page is provided by Greater Helsinki Promotion.. · Participants commit to actions that best marry their interests with their abilities. One can make a difference by using one's expertise, be that in advertising, academics or farming. "The effort bore fruit and a new combination of substances for waterproof coating was developed." The surface treatment, Sympatex, will be biodegradable and fluorocarbon free. It is not a simple lobby or public relations group; instead it is more of a catalytic or match-making affair, enlisting the help of individuals, companies, organisations and states. There they are consumed by microbes, attracted by the nutrients in the dead algae. Petersburg has agreed to provide wastewater reception facilities to ships at a fair price. Its work has never been more important than now.
Eutrophication "The ecological state of the sea varies from area to area, but all-in-all the state of the sea is critical," says Bergman. "This method profits all parties more than traditional sponsoring. "As an independent foundation BSAG is ready to take up the measures needed to help the Baltic Sea. Any group or individual interested in being involved should contact BSAG, Jarva says. Gundby Farm is developing
a bio energy plant and is retrieving nutrients that would otherwise have been carried to the Baltic in runoff. "By letting enormous amounts of nutrients, phosphorus, and nitrogen run into the sea from farmland we have created a marine envi-
ronment that favours algal blooming." He explains that the massive blooms of algae die and sink to the bottom of the sea. "BSAG brings together those who have solutions with the issues to solve," explains Bergman. Petersburg, Russia, in 2012," continues Bergman. The Passenger Port at St. When a company donates know-how for the work for the Baltic Sea, it also becomes a receiving party. Compared to other problems of the Baltic Sea, relatively little is known about the hazardous substances getting into the sea. · Photographer Janne Gröning has allowed his photos of the archipelago to be used in media devoted to Baltic Sea environmental work.
High-level help To scale up the work, BSAG organised the first Baltic Sea Action Summit together with the president and prime minister of Finland in Helsinki in February 2010. And this is not a negativism it is a basis for action."
Relevant expertise BSAG has an unusual approach: it asks those with relevant skills to help. Some companies may be able to directly impact the Baltic Sea, while others might be able to offer indirect support. We invite everyone to think out of the box and find fresh ideas and perspectives. It will accept money, but it is more interested in actions and expertise.
DAV I D J . And its logic for action is that everyone can help the sea best by doing what they are best at. Examples: · Russia has announced a wastewater plant in Kaliningrad. HELSINKI TIMES HELSINKI TIMES
HELSINKI Business Hub
BUSINESS BUSINESS BUSINESS
22 DECEMBER 2011 4 10 MARCH 2010 4 JANUARY 2012
www.helsinkibusinesshub.fi
11 11
J A N N E G RÖ N I N G
Save Our Sea
The Baltic Sea Action Group is not a typical NGO. · IBM, VT T and SYKE are developing a smart phone application so the public can monitor and report visual algae observations. "In this work, we are constantly searching for organisations that have the will, means or resources to solve a specific issue." The commitments to act are diverse. · The Finnish Navy is starting a new course for Navy personnel to learn about environmental issues in the Baltic Sea. "The hazardous chemicals used for waterproofing outdoor clothes came into focus and Halti eventually started looking to replace them with biodegradable ones," she says. "All problem areas are critical but special awareness-raising is needed with hazardous substances," states Bergman. "At the same time we are spreading our activity to Sweden, in close collaboration with Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel. Without the involvement of those in power the pace cannot be maintained, so BSAG wants to make sure that these issues are high on political agendas. Crown Princess Victoria has announced that protecting the Baltic Sea is one of the key issues in her work. The participating heads of state as well as some 140 companies and organisations made concrete commitments. "The area of the dead sea bottom is now about the size of Denmark," says Mathias Bergman, Secretary General of the Baltic Sea Action Group (BSAG)
He thinks that we should concern ourselves more with how we can achieve ecologically sustainable structural change that would help expand those sectors that produce the least emissions.. Johdatus kasvukritiikin uuteen aaltoon, Degrowth.fi
"If that growth does not take place for one reason or another, for instance as a result of environmental policy or economic crisis, the welfare society falters. She thinks that the fading of growth gives a good opportunity to highlight the ideas of the degrowth and environmental movements. "The fading of economic growth might be a challenge to the degrowth discussion because at times like these, sustaining growth and supporting employment and demand can easily become the only priority. "In Finland, coach services are still governed by route permits, which effec-
Fortum offloads two arms for 200 mln
Finnish utility Fortum said in a statement Monday it had agreed to sell two subsidiaries to private equity group EQT for about 200 million euros. Paavo Järvensivu, a researcher at Aalto University, points out that all of the institutions currently struggling with the debt crisis have been built on the idea of economic growth.
From left to right: Elina Turunen, Antti Alaja and Paavo Järvensivu. Thus, this could be a favourable time for the Degrowth movement and its supporters, who believe that strong ecological sustainability requires intervening in economic growth. The distance between the two cities is about 115 kilometres, or about 71 miles. STT
tively amount to a monopoly," Möttö said. 12
22 DECEMBER 2011 4 JANUARY 2012
BUSINESS
HELSINKI TIMES
L E H T I K U VA / J A R N O M E L A
Court fines Iittala 3 mln for price-fixing
Finland's Market Court on Tuesday fined houseware group Iittala three million euros for aggravated restrictive practice. The court found that Iittala had engaged in retail price-fixing for at least two and a half years, probably inflating the price paid by consumers for some of Iittala's most popular products. · One of the Degrowth theses is to get economic degrowth on the political agenda. Degrowth challenges the idea of continuous growth · Degrowth challenges the ideology and cultural supremacy of economic growth. · Many critics of growth recommend downshifting: the attempt to achieve a more meaningful life by accepting a lower income and working less.
Sources: Antti Alaja: Mikä ihmeen Degrowth. Pekka Möttö, the managing director of Onnibus, said the company would launch further routes as they were opened to competition. The degrowth movement strives to create a Plan B that could provide the welfare state services in such a situation," Järvensivu says.
According to Alaja, the growth criticism concentrates too much on what will happen to growth. · In a world of limited resources, the movement sees the renouncement of economic growth as an outright moral duty of the richest countries. STT
DUE TO THE debt crisis currently raging in Europe and the US, it is starting to seem doubtful whether Western countries will be able to maintain constant economic growth. · The movement strives to promote social and ecological welfare in ways to which the concepts, practices and agreement systems of economic growth in capitalism do not apply. STT
Onnibus to launch Finland's first nofrills coach service
Onnibus said in a statement Monday it would launch Finland's first nofrills coach service in January. Still, he does not believe that the debt crisis will lead to a rapid downwards spiral in the economy. "The end of growth is not a deterministic fact, but can be influenced by political actions. Antti Alaja, a project coordinator who has written a report concerning degrowth for the Kalevi Sorsa Foundation, thinks that the criticism of growth hits the nail on the head in that the current economic system has exceeded or will soon exceed global ecological limits. I believe that in Finland there is quite a lot of disagreement
Remedy for a faltering welfare society Degrowth active Elina Turunen does not believe that economic growth is ending. Until now, growth has mainly been discussed during times of stable growth, and thus, the debt crisis may now change the conventional standpoints in the discussion. The company's first route will be Pori-Tampere, with single fares starting from three euros. STT
Economic decline challenges degrowth supporters
TA S J A S A L I N S T T HT
on whether we should increase or decrease our working hours," Alaja says.
Finnish unemployment rate down at 7.3 pct
Finland's adjusted jobless rate fell to 7.3 per cent in November from a revised 7.5 per cent the month before and eight per cent in the year-ago period, Statistics Finland said in a statement Tuesday. · Degrowth is not only a concept, but also an international movement that has its origins in France. Fortum added it expected to complete the sale of Fortum Energiaratkaisut and Fortum Termest in the first quarter of next year. Möttö said Onnibus's average fare level would be about half of the prices charged by Finnish Railways and existing coach operators. The adjusted unemployment rate in the 15-24 age band fell to 18.6 per cent from 19.8 per cent in November last year. In any case, degrowth-related questions like working-time reduction should still be discussed. The challenge then is, how we can ensure that the ecological aspects don't get left out of the discussion," Turunen says
12. 30% of children receive extra help during their first nine years of school. 8. The Finnish government's net financial assets diminished by 14.2 billion to 102.9 billion in the third quarter..."
sudoku
SOLUTION ON PAGE 18
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English-language monthly for only 25/year (10 issues) Contact subscribe@6d.fi www.6d.fi. In an international standardised measurement in 2001, Finnish children came top or very close to the top for science, reading and maths..."
ISRAELIDIAMOND.CO.IL 12 December
Finland Diamond Exploration Results Boost Karelian Diamond's Share Price
"COULD FINLAND be the newest source of rough diamonds. 4. 10. 93% of Finns graduate from high school. 3. The difference between the weakest and strongest students is the smallest in the world. 11. The general government debt increased to 89.35 bil-
lion in the third quarter from 85.01 billion in the second quarter. 14. So how do they do it. The national curriculum is only a broad guideline. All teachers in Finland must have a master's degree, which is fully subsidised. Teachers only spend four hours a day in the classroom, and take two hours a week for `professional development'. Finland spends around 30% less per student than the US. 16. 5. HELSINKI TIMES
FINLAND IN THE WORLD PRESS
22 DECEMBER 2011 4 JANUARY 2012
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THEJOURNAL.IE 16 December
16 surprising facts about Finland's unorthodox education system
"SINCE IT implemented huge education reforms 40 years ago, Finland's school system has consistently come at the top of international rankings for education systems. Teachers are selected from the top 10% of graduates and their average starting salary in 2008 was $22,235. In the third quarter of 2010, the value of public debt was 83.26 billion. 1. 15. High school teachers with 15 years of experience earn 102% more than other college graduates. The value of central government debt was 79.2 bil-
lion during the quarter, while local government debt totalled 10.1 billion. The school system is 100% state funded. 6. They rarely take exams or do homework until they are well into their teens. 66% per cent of students go to college.
L E H T I K U VA / M A R K K U U L A N D E R
The difference between the weakest and strongest students in Finland is the smallest in the world.
7. All children, regardless of ability, are taught in the same classrooms. 43% of Finnish secondlevel students go to vocational schools. It's simple -- by going against the evaluation-driven, centralised model that much of the Western world uses. Last year, 6,600 applicants vied for 660 primary school training positions. Karelian announced that sampling conducted by the Geological Survey of Finland at the Seitaperä kimberlite pipe had revealed the
existence of 12 diamond indicator minerals. Karelian Diamond Resources is an exploration company involved in the development of mineral exploration opportunities, principally in Finland..."
NASDAQ.COM 16 December
Finland General Government Debt Rises In Q3
"FINLAND'S
general government debt increased in the third quarter, data released by Statistics Finland showed last week. 13. Positive sampling results indicating that a diamondiferous kimberlite could exist at the Riihivaara target in Finland boosted the
share price of Karelian Diamond Resources last week. Finnish children don't start school until they are 7. 2. The children are
not measured at all for the first six years of their education. There is only one mandatory standardised test in Finland, taken when children are 16. 9
Bus 15A from Elielinaukio to the West Harbour will run more frequently on weekdays, with at least three buses an hour during the daytime. The electric motors will be powered from battery cells that are charged by braking.
Award for Journey Planner's open data
HSL's open-source timetable data and the mobile technology applications that have been designed using it have been awarded the Phenomenon of the Year by MikroPC magazine. All services on 6 January will operate on the Sunday schedule.. From next autumn, there will be a tram connection to the West Harbour via Kamppi.
From the start of the new year, trams will travel along the Crusell Bridge to the end stop at Saukonpaasi in Jätkäsaari, and the end stop at Salmisaari will then no longer be in use. One extra morning service from Elielinaukio will also be added to the 15A route, and one extra evening service from West Harbour, with both additional services running from Monday to Saturday. There will be reduced service on regional bus routes on Christmas Day, and reduced commuter train service before 11 am. The bus service 15 will from then on operate as a rush hour service between Ruoholahti metro station and Salmisaari.
New tracks and trams
Extensions of the Jätkäsaari tram service are also in the planning, but plans are still at a very early stage. There will be additional buses running that night, and metro service will continue for two hours longer than usual. Early-morning buses will be running on the night between New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. The Suomenlinna ferry will run throughout the day. The Suomenlinna ferry will run until nighttime, however. The Volvo buses are 30 per cent more efficient in terms of fuel consumption than regular diesel buses, with a corresponding reduction in CO2 emissions and 40 to 50 per cent less particle and nitric oxide emissions than regular diesel buses. Regular Friday service will be in operation on New Year's Eve. In announcing its decision, the magazine noted that HSL's open-source policy directly benefits consumers. The route will be operated by Helsingin Bussiliikenne Oy. The data has been used in the development of many useful services, allowing public transport users to check timetables, routes, stops and other details on their mobile devices. In spring 2011, tram service operator Helsinki City Transport (HKL) signed a contract with Finnish rolling stock manufacturer Transtech Oy for the delivery of 40 new trams.
Hybrid buses come into operation
The first two hybrid buses will come into operation in the Helsinki metropolitan area on route 24 in Helsinki from the beginning of the new year. Sunday services on the 15A route will be changed in order to take account of changes in the ship schedules. The regular Saturday schedule will be in operation on December 24, but service will end at approximately 3 pm. Instructions on using the interface are available on HSL's website.
Service during the Christmas and New Year holiday season
Regular Friday service will be in operation on 23 December, but the early-morning buses will not be running on the night of 23-24 December. On Christmas Day, service will begin at approximately 11 am, and will run on the Sunday schedule. The increases in bus service benefit not only those travelling
by ship, but also those living and working in the Jätkäsaari area. All HSL services on 26 December will operate on the Sunday schedule. All HSL services will run on the Sunday schedule on New Year's Day. The tram will run from Kaivokatu via Kamppi to Ruoholahdenkatu and on to the West Harbour. Developers are free to take advantage of the reserves of open-access data available on HSL's Journey Planner open API. The diesel motors will switch off at the bus stop and electric motors will get the buses on the move again, saving passengers from both the noise and the fumes of diesel engines. From 2025, when the Jätkäsaari residential project is due to be completed, a loop-shaped tram network will serve the area. Tram service to Jätkäsaari will be added to further from next August on, when tram route 9 is extended to the West Harbour.
More buses to the West Harbour
Helsinki Region Transport (HSL) increases its bus services in the West Harbour area. A new schedule for the route will also come into effect to take account of the route changes. From next autumn on, the bus service will be replaced by tram 9. Journey Planner has now been in operation for ten years. Transport planners are also working on a tram service to Hernesaari. 14
22 DECEMBER 2011 4 JANUARY 2012
HELSINKI TIMES
To Jätkäsaari by tram
From the beginning of 2012, route of tram 8 extends from Ruoholahti to Jätkäsaari. With the new tracks will come new trams. A new residential area is being built in the former harbour area, bringing thousands of jobs
Not to mention making better economic sense. Don't be shy with the bling.
lief for most. HELSINKI TIMES
LIFESTYLE
22 DECEMBER 2011 4 JANUARY 2012
15
Time to welcome yet another year
J E N N I T O R I S E VA HEL SINKI TIMES
FOR YEARS, a traditional and popular way to greet the New Year in Helsinki has been to spend it under the fire-blazing sky in Senate Square. It's a lot better than our Glühwein in Germany. In Finland, being with family is much more important than in Holland, where you can easily do it just with your own family or even just with friends. Don't get carried away by sentimental nonsense, like the celebrated idea of "personal presents". With this approach, dealing with disappointment is good for the character.
SOME
WHICHEVER type of giver you choose to be, keep in mind that giving is more blessed than receiving. Some hardcore Finns and Swedes go to the church early in the morning on Christmas Day. Studies have shown that even if the gift is well received, the average recipient's valuation of it lies at 90% of the buying price. For my 18 years of living with my parents in the UK, I cannot remember once ever going to visit dead relatives at Christmas. In the real world, kids are constantly begging for this and that. The best part of Christmas in Finland, since I have two children, is getting a friend to dress up as Santa and have him visit the house. If none of the above are to your liking, how about plain dancing to good ol' oldies. The deadweight loss of 10% is almost 30. THE "It is the thought that counts" argument is just a lame excuse for bad presents. There is a great deadweight loss as the economists call it in Santa's bag even though Christmas spending does, at first glance, generate GDP growth. Porkkana- and maksalaatikko! [Carrot- and liver and rice casseroles] 3. There is variation. If you enjoy the eloquent sounds of classical music, then the New Year's concert at the Helsinki Music Centre, Brave New World, may suit your interests. The children are so excited and it makes the giving of gifts much more fun. Also, the speeches and fireworks are accompanied by a spectacular light installation that uses the Helsinki Cathedral as its canvas. The only thing that differs a lot is the food. In Finland you are with your family, no matter what! 2. The food on the table is very different, but I add to that with a few British dishes, which my Finnish family also enjoys. But I do have my Finnish family and we have a great Christmas together. 2. The ball will be the biggest of all dances organised by We Love Helsinki, taking over Korjaamo's mighty settings pretty much entirely. (Remember to leave the price tag on.) This way everyone will know who loves whom and how much.
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on http://twitter.com /helsinkitimes twitter com /helsinkiti i l i k. In Holland we eat well, just as in Finland, but one year it can be a big table of sushi, the next can be raclette. Either way, telling the truth about Santa sooner rather than later could actually be a good idea. There is only one thing I could do without at Christmas and that is the tradition of going to the cemeteries. I really like the tradition of Christmas rice porridge with the "lucky almond". Richard (34), from the UK, has lived in Finland for 13 years. A couple hundred metres away the Finlandia Hall will be housing the Riku Niemi Orchestra, starred by the fairy-voiced Scot singer
L E H T I K U VA / K I M M O M Ä N T Y L Ä
Maggie Reilly famous for hits such as `Moonlight Shadow' and `Family Man' along with Finnish tenor Pentti Hietanen. Otherwise, they thought it was not very special and something we would eat in Germany on a normal weekday. Several studies state that those keeping their money for themselves are less happy than the ones sharing it selflessly. And sometimes being with friends can be nice, too. 4. I do miss the feeling of Santa coming during the night and waking up on the morning of 25 December to open the gifts. In case you insist on giving non-cash gifts, put the receipt in the package. 3. 2. Going to the other end of the music scene, Jukka Poika, the head figure of Finnish reggae, will be spreading his Caribbean-influenced warbles at Tavastia, together with the Sound Explosion Band. It does not differ that much. 4. The only traditions I had back in the UK was to wake up, open gifts and later on have a great Christmas dinner, drink some wine and beer, and then talk and watch TV in the evening. This way you will at least enable the inevitable refund. I once brought my parents typical Finnish Christmas food (ham, rosolli, different laatikot, tähtitortut), but the only thing they liked was the glögi. There is always the option of saving money in a children's account, which they can have when they turn 18. I again have to go with the variation of food. That I can definitely live without! I have never done it myself and I am not planning to try it. The only thing I really miss are Christmas markets, and I mean big Christmas markets that open in November and last until Christmas, like in Germany. 3. might argue that a happy childhood includes Christmas presents. This might cause some whining during the holidays but the 18-year-old will appreciate the money more than the Lego pirates or the Hello Kitty junk. Finding the right presents is a challenge. What kind of Christmas traditions do you miss from your own country. 4. Think about the loss of millions (hours lost to shopping not included) sitting under the Christmas tree when you choose your presents.
AVOIDING
Helsinki Times asks...
1. The only justification for giving non-cash gifts is when adopting the list services of the type normally used by people getting married. Dance in the romantic Wagon Hall amid the old wooden wagons, along tunes from the beloved 1930s, the swanky 1970s, or anything from between, while the Corner Hall is reserved for Kreba-Disco, featuring Finnish pop, rock and disco classics. People get stressed out organising pre-Christmas parties and are frantic about the time-consuming Christmas shopping. This is because the choice of the presents is often badly thought out. Robert (40), from the Netherlands, has lived in Finland for 11 years.* 1. I do it out of respect to my wife and my mother and father-in-law, it's something they all wish to do around midday each Christmas eve. Lux Helsinki will also be presenting its lightshow creations at Hesperia Park, on the Finlandia Hall, the Olympics Tower and the Helsinki Music Centre. I still cannot believe that they had never had a roast potato before I made it for them. How does Finnish Christmas differ from your native one?
Britta (26), from Germany, has lived in Finland for six years. At least Finland gets points for serving up a white Christmas, whereas in Holland it is usually just windy and wet! *Robert and his son Max-Emil, who passed away no long before Christmas last year (22 May 2005 - 4 December 2010)
deadweight is easy. The one in Helsinki (in Esplanadi) is way too small and unspectacular for my taste. For one, it is a much bigger celebration here in Finland, because in Holland we have also Sinterklaas (with Saint Nicholas) on 5 December. 1. The system works, whether you like or not. After graduating from the University of Helsinki in 2003, she went abroad and currently lives and works in Berlin and Frankfurt.
Thoughts that count
THERE
is no time of the year when the gap between the advertisement's fictional life and real life is greater. It's just as big a celebration for children, as Christmas is in Finland. If rockabilly happens to be more to your liking, prepare to boogie with the Swedish group the John Lindberg Trio and Tennessee-bred Hillbilly Casino at the Rockabilly Jamboree On Tour event at DOM Helsinki. It is difficult to be away from family at Christmas but I have got used to it because I have been away from the UK so long. Multiplying this amount across the country is easy maths. Are there Finnish Christmas traditions that you particularly like. 3. Be sure to dress up accordingly: men should dig out their snappy
The Helsinki Baroque Orchestra & Lezhneva Helsinki Music Centre, 19:00 Tickets: 16-36 www.musiikkitalo.fi Rockabilly Jamboree On Tour DOM Helsinki, Fredrikinkatu 42 20:00-04:00 Tickets 20 www.domhelsinki.fi Riku Niemi Orchestra Finlandia Hall, 19:00 Tickets: 55/45/35 Show & Dinner 109 Dinner from 17:00 www.finlandiatalo.fi Jukka Poika & Sound Explosion Band Tavastiaklubi Urho Kekkosen katu 6 20:00-23:30 Tickets in advance 23.50 25 at the door www.tavastiaklubi.fi We Love Helsinki: New Year's Ball Kulttuuritehdas Korjaamo Töölönkatu 51 a-b 21:00-04:00 Tickets in advance 13 13.50 at the door www.korjaamo.fi
Heidi Wellinger was born in Helsinki. Those who are prone to an epileptic seizure from rap-
idly changing and strongly coloured lights or simply prefer to stay indoors have a decent amount of excellent alternatives. 4. It's a lot of fun and it tastes delicious! Another favourite of mine is glögi [mulled wine] with almonds and raisins. The commercials create images of peaceful gingerbread-smelling winter wonderlands, where children behave like little angels because they know that Santa Claus' Big Brother is watching. But there is a way out.
ENDING the present-buying habit can actually be a re-
suits and women their fancy dresses. 1. 2. This year the average Finn will spend 295 on presents. The house will be taken over by the Helsinki Baroque Orchestra, who will be interpreting arias from Händel's operas Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar. Others might oppose cash gifts to children while having doubts about kids' investments choices. Giving money yes, dosh, dough, moolah or wonga will provide a total flexibility for the recipient and prevent deadweight. Consider heading to Töölö's "Cultural Factory", Korjaamo, which will be hosting a groovy New Year's Ball. Are there some that you would do better without. The enhanced gift-giving procedure would consist of three steps: a cash gift worth 90% of the value of the intended purchase; the difference of 10% for charity; and the time saved by not shopping used for moments spend with loved ones. Another option is to give a gift voucher
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HELSINKI TIMES
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The exhibition, composed of photography and videos that mix the private with public life, is titled Take Care of Yourself, which were the last words written by Calle's exboyfriend in e-mail when he ended their relationship. One of the most popular rock artists to have ever come from Finland, Monroe truly personifies the term "rock star", with his shock of bleached-white hair and rock attire. Fast forward to 2011 and Monroe remains as big a star as ever, both with his continuing solo career and with Hanoi Rocks. In May, Helsinki will see the opening of the wooden WDC Helsinki 2012 Pavilion, which will be located between the Museum
of Finnish Architecture and Museum of Design in Eira. And if it's a bunch of aliens invading Moscow that you are after, then look no further than The Darkest Hour, also out on 30 December. HELSINKI TIMES
CULTURE
22 DECEMBER 2011 4 JANUARY 2012
17
L A C O N S E R V E R A , C E U T Í & M U R C I A , S PA I N / E DU A R D O B A L A N Z A
`twas the weeks surrounding Christmas
J A M E S O ' S U L L I VA N HEL SINKI TIMES
AMONG the Michael Bays of this world, it's fair enough to say that David Fincher stands tall as one of the most innovative and interesting cinema auteurs working in American cinema today. Finally, in February 2001, Monroe and McCoy performed together for the first time since breaking up, going on to reform Hanoi Rocks after a successful tour performing as a duo. Subsequent releases saw Monroe developing his rock persona both onstage and off as the band began to enjoy growing attention from different corners of the world. A week later, and 50/50 lands in cinemas, bringing with it a swag of positive word-of-mouth talk as it deftly walks the line between comedy and drama. From 2 March the Espoo Museum of Modern Art (EMMA) will showcase French
W D C H E L S I N K I / E R I K S S O N & C O M PA N Y / VA LT T E R I H I R V O N E N
artist Sophie Calle. A crucial element in these programmes is the belief that design can make Helsinki a better place to live, not only for ourselves, but for the future generations as well. Fingers crossed that everything clicks this time around. and Jude Law team up with the original Girl with the Dragon Tat-
too, Rapace, to battle their adversary, Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris). Not to be outdone, a couple of days later and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows arrives in cinemas, hopefully making for a better viewing experience than the rather tepid original. But what usually goes unnoticed is that design is visible everywhere, in everything man-made. With the title depicting the odds that Gordon-Levitt now faces with his predicament, laughs and tears are ensured in equal measure. Well, head on down to Nosturi on 30-31 December to join Monroe! Support on both nights comes from Imperial State Electric, fronted by the former lead singer of The Hellacopters, Nicke Andersson.
Michael Monroe The End Of The World Party 30-31 December, 20:00 Tickets 27 Nosturi Telakkakatu 8 Helsinki
Rocking out 2011
J A M E S O ' S U L L I VA N HEL SINKI TIMES
WHEN you come up with a stage name, you'd best find something that personifies who you want to become when parading in front of throngs of adoring fans. Apart from more than a hundred paintings, the exhibition also presents Carl and his wife, Karin Larsson, as designers of furniture and art handicrafts. So, wondering just how to celebrate the end of 2011. While the film hasn't been bowling critics over, Williams' performance has been winning praise. In 2012 the World Design Capital will be Helsinki, which has chosen Open Helsinki as its theme connoting transparency, curiosity, global responsibility and innovation. For Matti Antero Kristian Fagerholm, "Michael Mon-
roe" seemed to be the perfect fit. Here, Russian director Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted, Night Watch) makes himself comfortable in the producer's chair for this effects-heavy tale, with Emile Hirsch on hand to save the day.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Release date: 21 December Director: David Fincher Starring: Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows Release date: 23 December Director: Guy Richie Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Jude Law 50/50 (K11) Release date: 30 December Director: Jonathan Levine Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen My Week With Marilyn Release date: 30 December Director: Simon Curtis Starring: Michelle Williams, Kenneth Branagh The Darkest Hour Release date: 30 December Director: Chris Gorak Starring: Emile Hirch, Joel Kinnaman Varasto (K11) Release date: 30 December Director: Taru Mäkelä Starring: Kari-Pekka Toivonen, Minttu Mustakallio Eduardo Balanza's installation The record is not over yet can be seen at Kiasma from 20 January.
Design and beyond
J E N N I T O R I S E VA HEL SINKI TIMES
Last, local film Varasto sees a variety of comedy high jinks involving chief protagonist Antero Rousku (Kari-Pekka Toivonen) and his workmate Raninen, just a few of the characters working in the warehouse of a paint shop. Many may think of design simply as something extravagant and available only for the hip and high-flying elite. World Design Capital collaborates with the makers of events such as the DocPoint Festival, organised on 24-29 January, and the Design Capital Weekend, on 3-5 February, during which you will not only bump into some extraordinary design all over the wider Helsinki area and Lahti, but may also take part in the many organised workshops, exhibitions and shows. The year-long programme consists of up to 300 events, projects and initiatives that all examine the ways in which design is embedded in everyday life, while also being open for conversation and communication. Also out just before New Year's Eve, My Week With Marilyn charts a week in the life of the infamous blonde bombshell Marilyn Monroe (Michelle Williams) and director Sir Laurence Olivier, during the making of The Prince and the Showgirl in the 1950s. Up this week sees his adaptation of Stieg Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo for the American audience. With Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara stepping into the shoes previously made comfortable by Michael Nyqvist and Noomi Rapace, it remains to be seen how the book will translate to American sensibilities. Here, Joseph Gordon-Levitt learns that he has cancer, with pal Seth Rogan being one of the few people remaining by his side. Regardless of the answers to these questions, however, advance word suggests that it's going to be huge. From 10 February The Finnish National Gallery will host the works of Swede Carl Larsson (1853-1919), whose work has had an enormous impact on the perceptions of Swedes and other Europeans of what constitutes a better life. Every second year, the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID) recognises one city for its accomplishments in utilising design as a tool to improve social, cultural and economic life. The unfortunate death of drummer Razzle in 1985 saw about the demise of the band, with Monroe emerging from the ashes to continue as a solo artist. See what you think. hugely influential rock band Hanoi Rocks. Here Robert Downey Jr. After the early career wobble of Alien³ (1993), Fincher has gone on to create an unparalleled run of high quality efforts, including Se7en (1995), Fight Club (1997) and last year's The Social Network. When considering an area where, contrary to design, the idea itself is more important than the physical form that is, art there is a healthy abundance on offer in the coming year as well. After Monroe met guitarist Andy McCoy in the late 1970s, the two started the
VILLE AK SELI JUURIK K AL A
Michael Monroe, a true rockstar.
FINLAND is well known for its sleek and relatively minimalistic design. Will Mara prove to be an acceptable replacement for Rapace. Will the plot remain the same. The first album, the brilliantly titled Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Hanoi Rocks, saw the band explode onto the scene. Another exhibition in the same facilities presents the jewels of Italian futurism, including works of artists such as Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, with whom the entire movement originally began.
Helsinki World Design Capital www.wdchelsinki2012.fi Thank You for the Music 20 January-17 June 2012 Kiasma www.kiasma.fi Carl Larsson In Search of the Good Life 10 February-29 April 2012 The Finnish National Gallery Ateneum www.ateneum.fi Sophie Calle Take Care of Yourself & Italian Futurism 2 March-10 June 2012 Espoo Museum of Modern Art www.emma.museum
Helsinki, the World Design Capital of 2012, will feature interesting design-related events and activities throughout the year.. Starting on 20 January, Kiasma will play host to an exhibition titled Thank You for the Music, featuring works that examine our relationship with music and its ability to take our minds to different places, irrespective of time and space
13. Boil the swede slices under a lid in salted water. Whisk the egg whites to stiff peaks. Add the melted chocolate to the sugar and yolk mixture. 17. Recipe from a vegetarian cookery book by Somersalo, Mattila et al. Leave to cool. Cook on the bottom shelf of the oven at 175°C for 1-1.5 hours. 5. 18. Swede casserole You can start the preparation of this dish well in advance of Christmas and freeze it, so all you need to do later is cook it in the oven. The sponge might break and crack as you do this. Mix the dry ingredients together and add to the dough, and stir until smooth. Pour enough water into the pan to just cover the swede slices. Whisk the whipping cream into soft peaks and spread over the sponge. Use a spoon to make dents in the surface and sprinkle breadcrumbs over the top. 20. For me, Christmas just isn't Christmas without a delicious yule log. While we might not be able to arrange to fly our entire families' network of friends out for Christmas, we can certainly bring a little bit of home to the Christmas table. Cover the whole tray, making an even rectangle and don't worry if some of the mixture goes over the edges of the baking paper.
8. Be sure to get all of the chocolate mixture from the bottom of the bowl mixed in too. Bake in the oven at 250°C for 15-20 minutes. Place another piece of baking paper over the top of the sponge and another baking tray, upside down, on top of that. Keep pulling so that the sponge rolls all the way towards you. It is a good idea to put several different Christmas casserole dishes into the oven at the same time.
1 kg swede 3-4 dl water 1 tsp salt 1 dl breadcrumbs 2-3 tbsp syrup 2 dl oat cream 0.5 tsp powdered ginger pinch of white pepper pinch of nutmeg for greasing the dish: rapeseed oil for the surface: breadcrumbs 1. It can also be a bitter-sweet time for those of us who live abroad and are unable to spend Christmas with family and friends from home. You can also make a mustard or red-wine sauce to serve as an accompaniment. Add the water and mix together. 14. Pour the mixture into your baking tray. Dough: 50 g margarine 100 g dark chocolate 2 dl soya milk 2 tbsp strong coffee 1 dl icing sugar 3.5 dl wheat flour 1 tsp baking powder 0.25 tsp vanilla powder or 1 tsp vanilla sugar pinch of salt Chocolate fondant filling:
0.5 dl oat cream 75 g dark chocolate First make the filling: heat the oat cream in the saucepan. Finely crush some hapankorppu (crispbreads) and roll the dough-covered tofu in the crispbread crumbs. If you are using a metal muffin tray, place paper or silicone muffin cases in the holes or grease the holes. 2. Serve with raspberries and whipped oat cream. The filling should be slightly set when filling the cakes. Transfer the cake to a serving dish by gently pulling it on to the dish using the baking paper. 2. 9. 3. Stir a spoonful of the whisked egg whites into the chocolate mixture and then carefully fold the rest of the egg whites into the mixture. You will also need to add more syrup. Drain the swede, saving the water it was cooked in, and mash with a potato
Chocolate fondant Serve the chocolate fondant cakes hot from the oven or heated up so that the inside is melted chocolate. You can add a little Christmas decoration like holly to make the holly on my cake I added two bay leaves and then three or four glacier cherries. Remove from the oven when ready and leave in tin to go completely cold. 12. 16. 19. Thinly slice the swedes and peel the slices. Cook in a bainmarie at 200°C: place the muffin tray on a deep oven tray and pour water onto the oven tray. 6. 3. You can also slice it and fry it in oil in a pan. To remove from the tin, first gently go round the edges of the sponge with a knife, making sure the sponge isn't sticking to the tray where it has gone over the edges of the paper. Turnip casserole: follow the instructions for swede casserole but use turnips and add oat milk instead of adding the water that was used to boil the turnips. To make the bark effect, drag a fork down the length of the log in the direction of the bark and make circular patterns at the ends. Don't worry about it, that will all be hidden beneath the frosting. Melt the chocolate with 8 tbsp of cold water by placing it in a bowl over a pan of simmering water. Break the chocolate into pieces and add to the cream, remove from the heat and stir until the chocolate has melted. 4. 7. The best way to do this is to pour a little oil onto a piece of wadded-up kitchen paper and use the kitchen paper to oil the baking paper. Enjoy!
The cheat's way A simpler way to make this, if you are short on time, is simply to buy two Swiss rolls from the supermarket. The easiest way to separate eggs is by pouring it out gently onto your hand and letting the whites drain away through your fingers, being careful not to break the yolks. Put the yolks in one bowl and the whites in another. Pour the mixture into a greased oven dish. Prepare the cake moulds: you do not need to do anything to silicone moulds. Book your table tel. Scatter the raspberries over the top. Add the milk and coffee and stir. Line a baking tray with baking paper and oil it lightly. Sieve a little icing-sugar over the top. Härkäpapua sarvista herkullista kasvisruokaa läheltä, Multikustannus 2006.
Smoked tofu an easy, meat-free alternative to ham You can eat smoked tofu on its own, or diced and added to salads. Bake the cakes for about 20 minutes.
HI
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Nepalese Cuisine
Since 1993
The Oldest Nepalese Restaurant in Finland
Open Mon-Fri 11-23, weekends 12-23, Lunch: Mon-Fri 11-15 Contact Ratakatu 1B, 00120 Helsinki. Melt the margarine in a saucepan. Put the breadcrumbs into the oat cream so that they swell up. If the mixture is still a little too stiff to spread, when finished you can add a little more water, a tablespoon at a time. Separate the eggs. Bake for 15 minutes until risen and just about firm when you press lightly on the top. Next, make the dough. Ingredients: For the sponge A little oil for greasing the tray 300g brown sugar ( fariinisokeri) 12 eggs 500g cooking chocolate A little icing-sugar for decoration For the filling 500ml of whipping cream 300g raspberries defrosted For the frosting 250g butter 450g icing-sugar 50g cocoa 6tbsp water Pre-heat over to 200ºC
1. Slice the ends of the sponge so that they are straight and neat looking. Whisk together the brown sugar and the yolks in a large bowl. Here are some vegetarian recipes courtesy of cookery-book author and chef Inna Somersalo.
pounder, food mill or a food processor. Place a tablespoon of the dough into each hole, then a generous teaspoon of the filling and then portion out the rest of the dough and place over the filling. 15. Add the breadcrumbs, syrup, seasoning and a little of the water that they were cooked in until the mixture is quite runny. Quickly and carefully flip the trays over and then remove the top tray. 5. 10. Chop one in half, place one half end to end with the full roll to make it a little longer, and the other one third of the way down as a branch. 4. Chop off about 1 third of the cake and add it as a branch about a third of the way along the main log. Then follow the instructions from number 16.
EVEN though lots of people are vegetarian, varied vegetarian dishes are seldom served at Christmas and far too many vegetarians have to make do with just potatoes and salads. Then slide
the baking paper out from underneath. To roll the sponge, take hold of the baking paper on the long side opposite you, and gently lift and pull it towards you. 18
22 DECEMBER 2011 4 JANUARY 2012
EAT & DRINK
H E AT H E R S U N D E R L A N D
HELSINKI TIMES
Delicious vegetarian dishes for Christmas
HEL SINKI TIMES
The Yule log (Bûche de Noël) is a traditional dessert served at Christmas in the UK and several francophone countries and former French colonies.
Christmas Yule log
H E AT H E R S U N D E R L A N D HEL SINKI TIMES
CHRISTMAS
is a magical time of the year a time for family and celebration. Preparing varied, tasty and Christmassy vegetarian dishes is easy and fun, but it is not always easy to find recipes for good vegetarian dishes. Using smoked tofu you can make a tasty dish that is similar to a leg of ham: Cover a whole block of smoked tofu with a loose dough made from wheat flour, salt and water. This recipe makes one 2.5-litre casserole dish or two smaller dishes. Keep checking to make sure there is enough water while cooking. Partially defrost the casserole and place in the oven on the day of serving. 6. 11. To decorate the yule log, spread the frosting evenly over the sponge with long strokes, being careful around any cracks in the sponge and the join of the branch and the log. Veggie dishes provide variation and are a welcome change to the traditional dishes normally served at Christmas. Carefully peel away the back the baking paper. Break the chocolate into pieces and add to the mixture and stir until the chocolate has melted. To make the frosting, beat the butter in a bowl and then sift in the icing-sugar and cocoa. (09) 647 551, mob 040 7347 638 www.himalaya.fi
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