Special edition • December 17 January 18 • 8€ THE STORY OF FINLAND From independence to the best country in the world in 100 years Baby in The Box How a tradition of a gift for new mothers is spreading to the world Helsinki Hospital Patient-centred care TRANSFORMED CONNECTIONS AND ENHANCED COHESION Will Finland be connected to Europe by a super-fast Hyperloop? The Sound of Finland You may have heard of Sunrise Avenue and Alma, but how about these? WHERE TO GO | WHAT TO DO 9 789525 284997 PAL.VKO 2018-04 285205-1701
Helsinki Times Special Edition 2 IITTALA BIRDS BY OIVA TOIKKA, SUOMI FINLAND 100 KUULAS Iittala Birds by Oiva Toikka, Suomi Finland 100 Kuulas has a unique numbering from 1 to 2017 in the bottom. Kuulas has ultramarine color and its size is 140 x 90 mm. 160,48 € LIMITED EDITION! IITTALA ALVAR AALTO COLLECTION VASE 50 X 195 MM Suomi Finland 100 Iittala Alvar Aalto collection vase 50 x 195 mm Duo is a union of white and ultramarine. The color of the vase and Suomi Finland 100 engraving in the bottom makes it unique. 139,00 € LARGE SUOMI STEEL TRAY Size: 43,5 x 20,7 x 2,6 cm 39,00 € SMALL SUOMI STEEL TRAY Size: 24,1 x 11,5 x 2,6 cm. 19,90 € IITTALA ALVAR AALTO COLLECTION VASE 200 MM Suomi Finland 100 Iittala Alvar Aalto collection vase 200 mm Duo is a union of white and ultramarine. The color of the vase and Suomi Finland 100 engraving and numbering from 1 to 2017 in the bottom makes it unique. The vase is valuable collector’s item. 219,00 € Delivery cost will be added to price. All the prices VAT 0%. +3583 3454 5000 Suomi steel tray is design by Suomen Kolibri. The tray is part of of? cial Suomi Finland 100 collection and it has Suomi Finland 100 engraving in the bottom. SUOMI FINLAND 100 YEARS PRODUCTS DIRECTLY FROM OUR WAREHOUSE LIMITED EDITION! IITTALA ALVAR AALTO COLLECTION VASE 160 MM Suomi Finland 100 Iittala Alvar Aalto collection vase 160 mm Duo is a union of white and ultramarine. The color of the vase and Suomi Finland 100 engraving in the bottom makes it unique. 199,00 € www.suomenkolibri.? www.kolibri-shop.?
Helsinki Times Special Edition 3 T his December, once-lonely elderly people will gather for Christmas parties, to sing carols and make holiday cards. In fact, all year round they have new opportunities to get together for concerts, movie nights or just good old conversation. This is made possible by an unlikely source: Finland’s gaming company Veikkaus. Veikkaus plays a unique role in Finnish society. Owned by the Finnish state, it is the main provider of games of chance, from casinos to the lottery, from online sports betting to slot machines. The group is also extremely popular: it has 2 million loyal customers out of a Finnish population of 5.5 million. Besides providing good entertainment, one of the reasons for Veikkaus’ popularity is how its profits are used. About one billion euros are distributed annually for the public good. Finnish sports, culture, science, health and welfare all receive a significant boost thanks to Veikkaus. Another recipient of Veikkaus’ funds are organisations for communities and the elderly, such as Siskot ja Simot. Thanks to Siskot ja Simot, many elderly people won’t be bored and alone this holiday season, or any other season for that matter. The community aid organisation Siskot ja Simot is the brainchild of Eero Väisänen. He worked for a local government for years, but wanted a new way to give back to the community. Volunteering is a great way to do this, but Väisänen realised something important. Volunteering is not one person helping another. In reality, both people benefit. Siskot ja Simot’s first activity was taking nursing home residents outside for a walk, and so many volunteers showed up they ran out of residents. Väisänen knew he had something special, but to help more people he needed financing, which he received from Veikkaus funds. Now Siskot ja Simot are helping the elderly across Finland to enjoy a communal “Little Christmas” party.• Veikkaus How some Veikkaus profits – altogether over one billion euros – are reinvested: art €233 million; sports €148; science €103; child, youth and family €100; Finnish war veterans €100; sickness and disability €91. Portfolio covers all gambling products offered in Finland. Finland’s largest consumer webstore and over 7,000 gaming locations. Encourages people to play games safely and with moderation. All games are subject to the age limit of 18 years. veikkaus.fi/company veikkaus.fi/avustukset CHANCES FOR THE COMMON GOOD VEIKKAUS
Contents Revolution and Opportunity The story of Finland’s independence is intertwined with the Bolshevik revolution of Russia, the rise of Lenin and the birth of the Soviet Union. It all started with a political assassination in the heart of Helsinki 100 years ago. Campéon Finlandés The Nobel Prize-winning Chilean poet Gabriela Mistral couldn’t have been further away from Finland at the time of the nordic nations struggle against the Soviet Union, yet she was so touched by the falling of Gunnar Höckert, the 5000 metres Gold Medalist at the Berlin Olympics of 1936 in The Winter War, that she composed a poem in his memoriam. 12 16 22 24 8 TIMELINE OF 100-YEAR-OLD FINLAND Lots can happen in 100 years, even though it’s just a life time nowadays. Here is an illustrated timeline, the main events in the history of Finland. From Independence to the Best Country in the World When Finland broke away from Russian rule 100 years ago, plenty of hard work was ahead to raise the country to the level of one of the most developed countries in the world, but few could have imagined that this small nordic nation was on its way to be ranked the best in many different fields. Here are just a few examples of those rankings. Aiming at Nordics? Locate in Helsinki As increasing numbers of international companies establish their regional headquarters in Helsinki, there is good reason for the capital’s reputation as a haven for innovation. It is home to companies specialising in everything from mobile games and robotics to the IoT and healthtech. The Helsinki area hosts many corporate and regional headquarters of multinational companies, all forming a rich ecosystem. Yet there is more to the booming region than just technology. In fact, it has quite a few well-kept secrets.
28 Saunas Everywhere There is a sauna in almost every Finnish house, but going to sauna is a social event for Finns. That is why there are numerous public saunas in Finland. On the national Sauna Day, people invite total strangers to their saunas. For those who dare, adding in a roll in the snow or a swim in an ice hole is an unforgettable experience. Change Makers Not every company with social and economical impact is well known to the public. In fact, many of the nation’s hidden gems are hard working entrepreneurs who have come up with interesting concepts on their own. The Helsinki Times team has uncovered a few of these who are worth knowing about. 54 41 Hyperloop us to Europe Being on the north-eastern edge of Europe and separated by the Baltic sea from the rest of the continent, Finland has always felt a bit of an isolated place, but hold on; several visionary projects are planning to change that. Although still in initial phases and on the drawing table, Hyperloop enthusiasts such as Risto J. Penttilä and Peter Vesterbacka want to connect Finland to Estonia and Sweden by a super-fast tube, which could take you there in minutes. 45 Baby in the Box Finland’s maternity package box turns 80 this year. When the BBC published an article about a longlasting tradition by the Finnish Social Security Services of sending a box full of useful items and baby clothing to every new mother, the idea began to spread to other countries. It is now a growing idea. Where to Go? Check our selection of December and January events in Finland. 69 58 Finland in Numbers One of the best public organisations in Finland is Statistics Finland. There is hardly any measurable subject that is not researched and put into Excel and graphs by this office. Here is a small sample of their stats put into infographics perspective by our designer. 61 Christmas in Helsinki Every year, the darkest time of the year is brightened by street lights, decorations, markets and events in Helsinki and other Finnish cities. Dress warm and enjoy the ride.
Helsinki Times Special Edition 6 The Helsinki of the future is much more international H elsinki is the most international city in Finland. This newspaper, for instance, serves as a testament to that. However, in the future, we want to be still much more international. It is not enough to be the most significant metropolis of our own country. Urbanization is a global trend which has led to the fact that competition in the future will be more and more between cities instead of nation states. The city of Helsinki has a newly approved strategy, in which the amibition of being more international is very clear. Clear are also the steps that we need to take in order to become a truly international metropolis: The children of Helsinki will in the future start learning a first foreign language much earlier than today; Chinese will be taught in our schools to a larger extent than before; the capacity of education and day care fully taught in English will be doubled. Our labour market also needs to make much better use of the knowledge and skills that immigrants and new citizens possess – this is also a condition for successful integration. Helsinki’s objective is also to be one of Europe’s most captivating locations for innovative start-ups. But not only do we need to be the location companies want to make their business in, we also need to be a place where individuals, where ever they may be from, will want to move to, make a life for themselves and make the world a better place to live in. Helsinki is a wonderful place to call home. Helsinki welcomes its international friends, the expat community, people who visit or stay here only for a short period of time as well as those who aspire to make Helsinki their home. This year Finland celebrates 100 years of independence. Before Finland became independent the population of Helsinki was very diverse. Now that non-natives make up for over 15 percent of the population of Helsinki, one could say that we are returning to the old normal. Jan Vapaavuori Mayor of Helsinki FOREWORD
Helsinki Times Special Edition 7 I was born and raised on an island in Finland’s largest lake, Saimaa. In my childhood life was quiet in the countryside of this beautiful southeastern region and public services were not available around every corner. However, the most essential one for the future of every child was close by a public school. We were only 24 kids in the entire school, yet we enjoyed the same high-quality basic education that has put Finland at the top of international rankings measuring students’ learning results several times over the years. The tuition-free educational system that provides top-quality teaching to all children and youth, no matter their gender or the social status or wealth of their families, is the most important building block of Finnish society. It provides us with equal opportunities to develop and challenge ourselves, study and build our future based on our own aspirations. It also teaches us something important right from kindergarten: we are all equal and able individuals, equipped with the capabilities to build a bright future. All we need to do is seize the opportunity offered to us. High-quality education starting from kindergartens all the way to universities, together with deep appreciation for nature, have made Finland a global leader in environmental governance, sustainable use of natural resources as well as clean technology development and energy efficiency. These are key elements of Finland’s ambitious climate policy we aim to be carbon neutral by 2045. In order to succeed we need to lead by example the urgently necessary transition from a fossil pipeline economy towards a circular economy based on the sustainable use of renewable raw materials and energy. We will, for example, end the use of coal in energy production by 2030. In a circular economy we reuse, recycle, remanufacture, repair and share products, materials, services and ideas. Efficient use of our globally scarce natural resources is essential. As part of the government’s actions to promote circular economy we are currently testing new solutions for sustainable food systems, timber construction and recycling of municipal waste, just to name a few. The battle against climate change will be won or lost in cities. In our national Sustainable Urban Development program we are focusing particularly on low-carbon, resource-efficient and smart services as well as promoting equality. The government also supports urban circular economy and cleantech iniBuilding Blocks for a Sustainable Future “The battle against climate change will be won or lost in cities” Photo: Teemu Kuusimurto / YHA kuvapankki tiatives and pioneering networks such as the Smart and Clean Foundation in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. I’m proud of the initiative that my current hometown Helsinki and its neighbors have taken to promote sustainable development. In the future, we will make the most of our educational system and the expertise it has enabled us develop to foster an economic paradigm change towards circular economy and a carbon neutral future. Kimmo Tiilikainen Minister of the Environment, Energy and Housing FOREWORD
1904 – Assassination of Nikolay Bobrikov A supporter of the limiting of Finland’s autonomy by Russia, Governor-General of Finland Nikolay Bobrikov was given dictatorial powers over Finland by the Tsar in 1903. He was assassinated in Helsinki by Finnish nationalist Eugen Schauman in 1904. 1906 – Establishment of Parliament The single-chamber Parliament of Finland was established by the Parliament Act in 1906. Women were permitted to vote and run for office as equals, as were non-land-owning people. 1917 – End of the Russian Empire The February Revolution in Russia leads to the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II. The newly-formed Provisional Government of Russia fully reinstates the Constitution of Finland in March. 1917 – Finnish independence The Provisional Government of Russia are defeated in the October Revolution and the ruling Bolsheviks declare a general right of self-determination for Finland. The Senate of Finland is formed in November and on December 6 the Parliament of Finland approves the Finnish Declaration of Independence. 1920 – Peace Treaty A peace treaty between the Republic of Finland and the Federal Socialist Republic of Soviet Russia is signed in Tartu, Estonia on October 14, 1920. 1938 – Finnish baby box The Finnish maternity packages were issued to low-income parents in 1938. They contained a blanket, crib sheets, diapers and fabric from which parents could make clothing for the baby. In 1949 Finnish maternity packages began to be issued to all mothers-to-be. 1899 – February Manifesto A Russian imperial proclamation that abolished Finland’s autonomy within the Russian Empire. The manifesto allowed the Tsar of Russia to rule Finland without regard for the principality’s constitution. This marked the beginning of the “Years of Oppression”. 1918 – Civil War The Finnish Civil War breaks out in January between the Social Democratic Party-led Reds and the conservative-led Senate, i.e. the Whites. The Reds seized power in Helsinki and set up their rule in southern Finland, while the legal government fled to Vaasa and struck up an alliance with Germany. Despite being reinforced by the Russian Imperial Army, the Reds lost the war after key defeats in Tampere, Viipuri, Helsinki and Lahti. Approximately 39,000 died in the conflict. 1929 – Lapua Movement Brought about by the Great Depression and influenced by Italian fascism, the Lapua Movement was a fascist movement in Finland that supported anticommunism and a hatred of Russia. Followers of the movement, led by General K.M. Wallenius, unsuccessfully prepared to carry out a coup d’état in 1932. Lapua was later banned and the movement subsequently collapsed. 1939 – Nobel Prize Finnish author Frans Eemil Sillanpää won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1939 “for his deep understanding of his country’s peasantry and the exquisite art with which he has portrayed their way of life and their relationship with nature”. 1907 – Female MPs The parliamentary elections of 1907 saw the election of 19 female MPs, making Finland the first country in the world to elect female members of parliament. finland centenary timeline Helsinki Times Special Edition 8
1939 – Winter War In November 1939, the Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov demanded that Finland give up some of its border territory to help with the Soviet Union’s protection of Leningrad. Finland’s refusal led to a Soviet invasion of Finland on November 30, 1939 and the beginning of the Winter War. 1940 – End of the war Finland repelled the Soviet attacks for several months. After finally overcoming the Finnish border defence, the Soviets demanded that Finland give up a total of 11% of its territory, including East Karelia. Finland agreed and the Moscow Peace Treaty was signed on March 12, 1940. 1941 – continuation War With reason to believe that the Soviets would resume hostilities, Finland allowed Germany to send its troops through the country in exchange for material support and military cooperation. A state of war was declared on June 25, 1941, when the Soviets carried out an aerial attack on Finland. With help from Germany, Finland was able to reclaim East Karelia later that year. By 1944, however, the Soviets drove Finland back and eventually forced them to seek peace negotiations. 1945 – Nobel Prize Finnish chemist Artturi Ilmari Virtanen wins the 1945 Nobel Prize in Chemistry “for his research and inventions in agricultural and nutrition chemistry, especially for his fodder preservation method”. 1944 – Lapland War Another condition of the Moscow Armistice was for all German troops to be expelled from Finland. After mining the seaward approaches to Finland and attempting to seize the island of Suursaari, Germany was forced out of most of northern Finland by November 1944. The Germans took their revenge by devastating large stretches of Lapland as they left. Rovaniemi was burned down, $300 million of property damage was incurred and about 100,000 Finns were displaced. The last German troops were expelled by April 1945, although the landmines they left continued to be triggered as late as 1948. 1948 – Treaty of Friendship Finland signs the Agreement of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance with the Soviet Union on April 6, 1948. The treaty increased Finland’s political independence but also distanced them from the West. 1944 – Moscow Armistice Following a ceasefire on September 5, the Moscow Armistice was signed on September 19, 1944. Finland agreed to give East Karelia back to the Soviet Union and return to the borders of 1940. On top of that, they conceded the northern area of Petsamo, agreed to pay reparations and reduced the size of their armed forces. 1946 – Election of President Paasikivi Juho Kusti Paasikivi became President of Finland in March 1946. His time in office was marked by an uncompromising attitude over Finnish independence and a foreign policy that prioritised peace and cooperation with the Soviet Union. 1952 – War reparations Finland completes payments of war reparations to the Soviet Union. 1952 – Olympic Games The 1952 Summer Olympics were held in Helsinki, Finland. The hosts finished eighth overall with 22 medals including six golds. Helsinki Times Special Edition 9
1958 – Night Frost Crisis The Finnish-Soviet “Night Frost” Crisis was sparked after the left-wing SKDL party were not given a place in the government despite receiving the most votes in the Finnish elections of 1958. The crisis was resolved after Kekkonen removed the Finnish Rural party from government, which in turn toppled the Social Democratic coalition that the Soviets objected to. 1961 – Note Crisis The Finnish-Soviet Note Crisis came about after the Soviet Union proposed to Finland that the two countries begin consultations on securing their defences against West German militarisation and a possible threat of war. Not wanting to strain Finland’s relationship with the West or upset its position of neutrality, while also fearing a Soviet military presence in Finland, President Kekkonen managed to placate Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev during three days of personal talks. 1966 – Popular Front government The Finnish parliamentary election of 1966 saw a “popular front” of left-wing parties form a coalition government. The Social Democrats, Centrists and Communists formed a so-called “big three” that would govern in Finland for most of the period between 1966 and 1982. 1975 – Helsinki Accords The Helsinki Accords was part of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe that was held in Helsinki during the summer of 1975. The declaration represented an attempt to improve relations between the Communist bloc and the West. 1982 – Election of President Koivisto Mauno Koivisto succeeds Urho Kekkonen as President of Finland on January 27, 1982. Koivisto’s election represented a less authoritarian style of governance and a new era of parliamentarianism in Finland. 1987 – Blue-Red government The Finnish parliamentary election of 1987 saw the formation of a new government between the Social Democrats, Centre party and the more conservative National Coalition party. 1990 – Finnish depression After the country’s economic boom of the 1980s, Finland experienced a severe recession and mass unemployment in the early 1990s. Part of the reason was the collapse of the Soviet Union, which led to Finland’s key export market being almost completely wiped out. 1994 – Election of President Ahtisaari Martti Ahtisaari succeeds Mauno Koivisto as President of Finland on March 1, 1994. An active participant in international affairs, Ahtisaari urged Finland to enter the European Union and Finnish peacekeeping helped end the conflict to end the conflict in Kosovo. 1956 – Election of President Kekkonen Urho Kekkonen succeeds Juho Kusti Paasikivi as President of Finland on March 1, 1956. Kekkonen continued along the same line as his predecessor and adopted a policy of friendly neutrality towards the Soviet Union during his near-26 years in office. 1955 – United Nations Finland becomes a member of the United Nations and the Nordic Council. 1995 – EU membership Finland joins the European Union. Helsinki Times Special Edition 10
2015 – Finns party enter government The Finnish parliamentary elections of 2015 saw the formation of a right-wing coalition between the Centre Party, True Finns party and National Coalition party. 1995 – World Ice Hockey Championships triumph Finland wins its first World Ice Hockey Championships by beating rivals Sweden in the final 4-1. 1995 – Rainbow government The Finnish parliamentary elections of 1995 saw the formation of a “Rainbow Coalition” between the Social Democrats, National Coalition party, Left Alliance, Swedish People’s Party and the Green League. 2000 – New constitution Finland’s new constitution came into force on March 1, 2000. One key difference was a reduction of presidential power and an increase in the influence of parliament. 2000 – Election of President Halonen Tarja Halonen succeeds Martti Ahtisaari as President of Finland on March 1, 2000. Finland’s first female president, Halonen was a left-wing Social Democrat who was known for her interest in human rights issues and strong foreign policy. 2006 – Eurovision triumph The Eurovision Song Contest of 2006 was won by Finnish rock band Lordi . 2007 – Blue-Green government The Finnish parliamentary elections of 2007 saw the formation of a new coalition between the Centre party, National Coalition party, Green League and Swedish People’s Party. 2011 – True Finns rise in popularity The 2011 elections saw the True Finn party win 19% of the vote and become Finland’s third most popular political party. They chose to remain in opposition, and a “six-pack” coalition government was formed of the National Coalition party, Social Democrats, Green League, Swedish People’s Party, Christian Democrats and Left Alliance. 2011 – World Ice Hockey Championships title Finland wins the World Ice Hockey Championships a second time, again defeating rivals Sweden in the final. This time the final score was 6-1. 2012 – Election of President Niinistö Sauli Niinistö succeeds Tarja Halonen as President of Finland on March 1, 2012. A supporter of Finland’s involvement in the European Union, Niinistö has gained a reputation as a pragmatist and sound steward of the Finnish economy since becoming president. 2017 – Terrorism In the first ever foreign terrorism act in Finland, an asylum seeker stabs two people to death and wounds eight others in Turku. 2017 – Finland celebrates 100 years of independence. Timeline text by Dan Anderson Photos by Kalle Havas, Volker von Bonin, Olympiakuva Oy, Simo Rista, Grünberg Constantin / Helsingin Kaupunginmuseo, SA-kuva, Tuomo Salonen, Albin Olsson, Helsinki Times Special Edition 11
Helsinki Times Special Edition 12 I n 1908, the Finns marked a rather less jubilant centenary than the one being celebrated this week. The occasion then was 100 years of Russian rule, after having been part of Sweden for six centuries before that. Little did they know then, they would be living in their own country in less than a decade. Finland declared its independence in 1917, but how? In short: the Finns, then part of the Russian Empire, found themselves in the middle of an overthrow of monarchy and political turmoil. As this turned into the revolution that created the Soviet Union, Finland quietly made for the exit while attention was elsewhere and whispered the parting words, “well, we’ll leave you all to it then, shall we?” And Finland avoided being part of Soviet Russia. It wasn’t quite that simple but the full story is intriguing. INDEPENDENCE Revolution and Opportunity By Jesse Karjalainen
Helsinki Times Special Edition 13 N ATIONALIST FEELINGS . The Finnish independence movement took shape following the Crimean War – a war where the British navy attacked Finnish towns over two summers in 1854–55, blockading the coast with steam-powered battleships with orders “to take, burn or destroy”. Finnish nationalism grew and from 1881 onwards Russian tsars fought to stamp out Finnish national feelings with bouts of “Russification” for the next 40 years. In June 1904, a Finnish nationalist assassinated the Russian GovernorGeneral in Helsinki’s Senate. In 1905, Russia lost its war with Japan and the country was broken. Finns pushed to consolidate their autonomy. The Finnish Diet in 1906 enacted a new constitution, a singlechamber parliament and universal suffrage for citizens over 24. The following year saw the world’s first female MPs sit in parliament. Despite this, the Russification continued through political oppression and arrests of outspoken nationalists. Many were deported or executed. The Finns played the long game of passive resistance, not risking their autonomous status within the Empire. At this time, the Grand Duchy of Finland was the most stable Russian province, loyal to the Tsar and by far the best-developed part of the Empire. Over 50 years, Finland had quietly gained many things the rest of Russia did not have: its own parliament, universal suffrage, a central bank and currency, its own legal system, a state railway, modern institutions, a university, a coat of arms and a national anthem. Finns remained largely loyal to Russia up until 1917. Edvard Isto The Attack the Russian eagle attacking the Finnish Maiden Finnish Civil War 1918, Photographer Matti Luhtala, Vapriikki Photo Archives.
Helsinki Times Special Edition 14 R EVOLUTION AND OPPORTUNITY. Finland’s independence came not via uprising but by a combination of action, reaction and opportunity. In the March Revolution, the Duma dissolved and Russian autocracy disappeared virtually overnight. Finland’s close link with the Tsar was lost. Russia had no viable government and the nation floundered. By summer, Finns knew something major was up – they sensed freedom, mixed with anxiety and excitement. In July, the Finnish Diet approved the “Enabling Act”, giving it supreme powers in all matters apart from defence and foreign affairs. Russia’s Provisional Government ordered the Diet dissolved in August. This was done after a vote and fresh elections in October. The Social Democrats lost a majority as voters veered to the right. The game-changer for Finland was the Bolshevik Revolution in October 1917. The Reds took power in Russia on 7 November and the chaos caused a power vacuum in Finland. Finns were split between Bolshevik supporters wanting to stay in Russia and those wanting independence. The Finnish Bolsheviks declared their own right to self-determination and on 13–14 November the Social Democrats called for classwar, a General Strike and arrests by the Red Guards. Violence followed. On 15 November, the crisis spooked Finland’s parliament into claiming supreme authority of Finland. They appointed a new senate and Finland sought support from Germany. On 4 December, the government proclaimed Finnish independence, ratified by the Diet on 6 December. Lenin, who had been given refuge by Finland as a political radical before the revolution, recognised Finnish independence on 31 December – the first head of state to do so. H owever, Bolshevik Red Guards ignored government requests to leave. Instead they took control where they could. Thinking Red factions in Finland could maintain order, Joseph Stalin recognised Finland’s independence from the new USSR on 4 January 1918. The next to do so were France, Germany and Sweden, followed by 13 more countries that year. That month, blood was spilt on the frozen streets as a 105-day civil war ensued between Finland’s Reds and Whites. Germany and Russia ended their war in March. General Mannerheim won a key victory in Tampere on 6 April. German troops landed in Helsinki a week later and took the capital. The Civil war ended in May 1918 and Finland got its first Prime Minster, JK Paasikivi. In July 1919, Parliament approved a republican constitution and appointed its first president. In October 1920 Finland signed a peace treaty with Russia that ended the war. The peace lasted 19 years. • Jesse Karjalainen is an author who lives in the UK. His latest book ‘Sisu: the secrets behind Finland’s can-do spirit of resilience’ is out in early 2018.
Helsinki Times Special Edition 16 – ca. 2000 casualities – which has been noted as a remarkable phenomen and as something which helped Finland get back on her feet relatively quickly both economically and politically after the traumatic war years. Gunnar Höckert, the 5000 metres Gold Medalist at the Berlin Olympics of 1936, perished in The Winter War, and his tragic fate has been mentioned as the source of inspiration for this remarkable poem by Gabriela Mistral. Unlike many other Finnish sports champions in the early years of Finland’s independence, Höckert came from a wealthy family based in Helsinki, had completed his academic studies and launched a promising commercial career after he had abandoned competitive sports due to bad bouts of rheumatism. CAMPEÓN FINLANDÉS G abriela Mistral’s poem “Campeón finlandés” (“The Finnish Champion”) has probably not been well-known in Finland previously, although the poet herself, the Nobel Laureate, has been known and appreciated among Finnish friends of world-class poetry. This powerful text was inspired by Finland’s Winter War (1939-40) which was top-news widely around the world. That conflict and Finland’s almost miraculous survival from the throes of World War II has had a lasting impact on Finland’s international reputation. The sacrifices inflicted upon Finland by World War II were heavy: about 93 000 soldiers lost their lives in the 1939-45 period. The civilian losses of life, in turn, were more modest this chilean event here at europe house is a good example of our foreign partners ’ willingness to participate in our a nniversary y ear in a creative and memorable manner . Gabriela Mistral (1889-1957) Born as Lucila Godoy y Alcayaga in 1889, Gabriela Mistral was the first Latin American to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1945. Although Mistral is best known as a poet, she was a prominent educator, diplomat and feminist. She served as Chilean consul in Naples, Madrid and Lisbon, and was involved in cultural committees attached to the League of Nations. She held numerous honorary degrees and taught Spanish literature in the United States at Columbia University, Middlebury College, Vassar College and at the University of Puerto Rico. Sonetos de la muerte, a collection of love poems in memory of the dead was published in 1914 helped make her name a standard within the literary community. In 1922 her book, Desolación was published followed in 1924 by Ternura. Her complete poetry was published in 1958. She died in 1957. t ext by p ekka h uhtaniemi , f inland 100 s pecial a mbassador
Helsinki Times Special Edition 17 As the war effort required that large numbers of reservists were mobilised for the battlefields, it was inevitable that the fatalities included many sports heroes. About a dozen Finnish Olympic Medalists and other champions were killed in uniform. But the losses of life did not spare other segments of Finnish youth, either. Among the casualities were also cultural figures, artists, film-makers and members of families of highranking Finnish politicians and generals. The tragedy had a truly national character with impacts in all parts of the country and across all social, religious and other boundaries. Events on the battlefronts inspired artistic recollections and statements also in Finland: novels, films, paintings and drawings, music and poetry. For example, the leading Finnish poet of that period, V. A. Koskenniemi, wrote lyrics for the famous “Finlandia Hymn” of Sibelius soon after the Winter War. The hymn itself had been composed by Sibelius already in 1899 in another context and without any lyrics. The most famous war-time collection of Finnish poems is “The Purgatory” (“Kiirastuli”) by Yrjö Jylhä, published in 1941, a powerful evocation of humanistic values haunted by the terrible circumstances of a bloody war. Gabriela Mistral’s poem is a moving reminder of the strength of such values in a more global context. Sensitive spirits care about the fates of human beings and far-away nations when they see and hear about great tragedies and unjustices. Mistral has been inspired by a fallen Finnish sports champion but her message is more universal and ever-lasting.• The Ambassador of Chile in Finland, Mr. Eduardo Gálvez, presents the Poem, “Finnish Champion” written by Gabriela Mistral in 1940 to Finland100 special Ambassador Mr. Pekka Huhtaniemi as the official gift of Chile to Finland for the 100 year anniversary. Finnish Champion * Finnish Champion, you are stretched out in the burnished light of your final stadium, red as the pheasant in life and in death, stitched with wounds, drained as a gargoyle spout of your blood. You have fallen in the snows of your childhood, among blue edges and steely mirrors, crying No! to the North and the East, a No! that compresses profusion of snow, hardens the skis to diamonds, stops the war tank like a wild board. Swimmer, ball-player, runner, let them burn your name and call you “Finland.” hallowed be your final course, hallowed the meridian that took your body, hallowed the midnight sin that granted your final miracle. You denied the invader the draught of your lakes, your paths, the life-thread of your reindeer, the threshold of your home, the cube of your arena, the rainbow of your Virgins and Christ, the baptized foreheads of your children. Translated by Doris Dana * During World War II Finland put up amazing resistance to massive invasions by Russian forces.
Helsinki Times Special Edition 18 T his year marks the 100th anniversary of Finland’s independence. With the sisu spirit of perseverance and great vision, the Finns have built their country into one of the most stable, successful and competitive societies in the world. It has been actively engaged and played an increasingly important role in regional and international affairs. We truly admire Finland for the extraordinary achievements it has made and share the joy with the Finnish people in their centenary celebrations. This year also marks the 67th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Finland. During the past decades, we have become close partners, both politically and economically – in good times and bad. Finland’s centenary slogan, “Together”, is extremely fitting also for our bilateral relations in the past year. At the invitation of President Sauli Niinistö, President Xi Jinping concluded a successful state visit to Finland in April. The two heads of state confirmed the establishment of the future-oriented, new-type partnership between the two countries by further enhancing political mutual trust and expanding cooperation to the benefit of our two peoples. As a follow-up, Prime Minister Juha Sipilä visited Building Better China-Finland Relations Together China and participated in the Summer Davos Forum. A record number of agreements were signed during this visit, which will bring billions of euros to Finland over the coming years in the form of investments and commercial deals. Recently, Finnish Parliament Speaker Maria Lohela paid an official visit to China, holding talks with top Chinese legislator Zhang Dejiang for the fourth time. The two sides agreed to lift bilateral ties further through pragmatic cooperation and by enhancing exchanges between our respective legislative bodies. China has maintained the position of being Finland’s biggest trading partner in Asia for 14 consecutive years and, vice-versa, Finland is China’s key trading partner in Northern Europe. Chinese investments in Finland have surged over the past year to nearly US$10 billion. Likewise, there are approximately 400 Finnish companies operating in China, with a total investment of over US$10 billion, and their investments have proved successful. Under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, we believe the “Digital Silk Road” (along the northeast passage) and a new rail express between Kouvola and Xi’an will bring brand-new opportunities for future cooperation. Text by Mr. Chen Li Ambassador of China to Finland
Helsinki Times Special Edition 19 svenskfinland.fi welcome.fi visit us ! PROVIDES ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT FINLAND! Have you recently moved to Finland? PUBLISHED BY THE CITY OF HELSINKI Moving to Finland, everyday life, housing, work, starting a business, Finnish language, education, family and children, leisure time. With the announcement of the 2022 Winter Olympics being awarded to Beijing, more Chinese are getting onto the snow and ice. The coming winter-sport theme year of 2019 between China and Finland offers great opportunities for Finnish companies. We are happy to see great examples already: top-class Finnish players in China’s first KHL team, Kunlun Red Star; a Finnish coach leading the Chinese crosscountry ski team; more Chinese winter sport players coming to Finland for training; and bilateral cooperation on snow technologies growing rapidly. These cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and Finland have been dynamic. With more Chinese coming to Finland, the number of overnight stays by Chinese tourists increased by 50% in the first half of this year. We are glad to see that Alipay – the popular Chinese mobile payment platform – has been gradually adopted by the Finnish service industry. The airline Chinese Lucky Air will start flying to Helsinki from Kunming via Chengdu as of winter 2018 and Finnair will soon launch direct flights to Nanjing, which marks its seventh destination in China. In a couple of months from now, a pair of giant pandas are expected to settle in at Ähtäri Zoo in Finland. The joint project is a gift from China to Finland on its 100th birthday. The pandas will help build a new bond between our two countries and our peoples. Recently, China’s 19th Party Congress was concluded in Beijing. As the congress heralds a new journey for China’s future development, it also creates new dynamism for cooperation between China and Finland. In the next five years, China will press ahead with supply-side reform, speed up industrial upgrading, facilitate innovation and promote clean energy and green development. As China rolls out its modernisation agenda, it will build up the momentum of ChinaFinland relations and highlight Finland’s unique strength in clean-tech, green economy, innovation and creative industries. We stand ready to work with our Finnish friends to seize the opportunities to deepen cooperation and boost our relations to a new height. Congratulation to Finland on its 100th birthday and we wish you every success in the next centenary! Let’s build better China-Finland relations together! • “Chinese investments in Finland have surged over the past year to nearly US$10 billion. Likewise, there are approximately 400 Finnish companies operating in China, with a total investment of over US$10 billion, and their investments have proved successful.“ B w h o th Centenar of Finlan ’ Independenc T HE E MBASSY OF THE R EPUBLIC OF I NDONESIA IN H ELSINKI .
Helsinki Times Special Edition 20 Our warmest and best wishes to Finland on its 100 anniversary www.mofaic.gov.ae @MOFAUAE Congratulation Finlan ! Best wishes on the 100 year anniversary of Finland. Ambassador and sta? of the embassy of Saudi Arabia in Helsinki T oday, Finland is a strong nation with rich history and cultural heritage, as well as many success stories of building a modern civil society and innovative economy. Your country’s tremendous achievements provide solid basis for amplifying its remits and prestige in the international community as active contributor to the cause of peace, cooperation and dialogue. A significant role of Suomi in addressing acute issues of regional and global agenda within the framework of the UN, EU, OSCE and other multilateral organizations vividly speak in favor of these points. 2017 is a special year for us as we mark the 25th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and Finland. Here, let me stress that the past quarter century of true friendship and effective interaction of the two countries has been crowned with many records and landmark events. Thanks to gradual deepening of mutually beneficial political, economic and cultural ties, Helsinki has become one of the key partners of Astana in Northern Europe. I am confident hat future of our multifaceted interaction will be even more dynamic and fruitful. I also would like to express my sincere appreciation to all Finnish friends for their valuable contribution to the success of “EXPO-2017” International Exhibition in Astana. Suomi’s Gold medal at the EXPO is an excellent demonstration of its “green” power, as well as of our shared aspirations to meet sustainable development goals TOGETHER and ensure wellbeing of the entire world. I wish Finland many centuries of continues prosperity and progress! • I offer my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to the Government of the Republic of Finland and its People on the occasion of the 100th Anniversary of Suomi’s Independence. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kairat Abdrakhmanov