With parliamentary elections nearing in April 2015, politicians will do almost anything to get attention. We heard Perussuomalaiset (PS) chairman Timo Soini state this week that his party’s ass isn’t for sale. National Coalition Party (Kokoomus) MP and Espoo city councilwoman, Pia Kauma, now joins this questionable group by asking why the municipality should help migrants…
Month: August 2014
BALOBESHAYI: Are Africans Really Black?
Beatrice Kabutakapua Ferguson. One of the most known city in the US right now, not for the happiest reasons though. It’s the place where Michael Brown, an African America man, was shot by the police. Usually the ethnic background is useless for me,but in this case is the engine that started the turmoil happening in this…
Perussuomalaiset of Finland: From bashing immigrants and the EU to “not selling one’s ass”
What is wrong with the Perussuomalaiset (PS)?* In order to score their historic election victory in 2011, they went on a rampage and bashed migrants wholesale, especially Muslims. Today, PS head Timo Soini said that the party has its principles and therefore “doesn’t sell its ass [to anyone].” Folks, the person making this statement is…
Effectively challenging intolerance and promoting respect in Finland and elsewhere
An effective weapon that racists use is to convince you that you don’t count. One of the overriding matters that I’ve learned time and again is that silence is the worst decision you can make when challenging intolerance. There are many effective ways to challenge racism like a simple question: I disagree with you. Can…
Migrants’ Rights Network: Is migration blocking the way to post-national global outlooks?
Don Flynn* We are living in a world that is evermore global in the way it lives its daily life. So why does public opinion seem to be becoming more nationalistic? Is the experience of migration a part of the reason? An interesting new book considers these questions. Read original posting here. Here is a…
PS MP forced to explain why he refused to take a taxi driven by a non-white Finn
Tabloid Ilta-Sanomat reports that two sources saw Perussuomalaiset (PS)* MP Mika Niikko refuse take a taxi in front of parliament because the driver was”dark-skinned.” Niikko later retracted his version of events to the reporter after the interview. He said that since the incident took place a year ago, he now remembers the driver to be…
Finland President Niinistö’s “information-gathering exercise” about dual citizenship should worry us a lot
President Sauli Niinistö has asked Christian Democrat Interior Minister Päivi Räsänen, an anti-gay an anti-immigration politician, to look into the possibility of tightening Finland’s dual citizenship laws or ending the practice altogether, according to YLE in English. Prime Minister Alexander Stubb was, however, quoted as saying on YLE in English that plans to end dual citizenship are not…
Helsingin Sanomat: Non-white taxi drivers face suspicion and outright racism from customers
There’s an interesting article on Helsingin Sanomat today about how non-white Finnish taxi drivers face suspicion and outright racism from potential customers. It’s refreshing to see the country’s biggest daily taking a more serious attitude towards discrimination. It’s a big improvement from the days when it published polls in 2010 about what Finns thought about…
Defining white privilege #9: Mohammad Ali’s insight
In many respects white privilege, or specifically white Finnish privilege, is a good way to understand some of the challenges that migrants and especially non-white Finns face in this country. The interview below of Mohammad Ali* says a lot about white privilege in the United States even if the interview took place 33 years ago. What…
Helsingin Sanomat poll shows the PS heading south
A poll published today by Helsingin Sanomat reveals that the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party is at its lowest point (15.9%) in two years. The most popular party in Finland continues to be the National Coalition Party (22.1%) followed by the Center Party (19.9%). The Social Democrats, which are still struggling, are in the mid-teens (14.9%) with…