The Finnish Swimming Teaching and Lifesaving Federation (SUH), in collaboration with a representative from the University of Jyväskylä and the Finnish National Agency for Education, conducted a nationwide swimming proficiency study in 2022 (SUH, 2023). The study revealed that a staggering 45% of sixth-graders either lacked sufficient swimming skills or couldn’t swim at all. Reports…
Author: Migrant Tales
Finland is backpedaling to the dark corners of nationalism and xenophobia
The impact of National Coalition Party (NCP) Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s government (Perussuomalaiset PS*, Swedish People’s Party and Christian Democrats) on Finland will be devastating. It will be a regression into the darkest corners of nationalism, xenophobia, chest-thumping, and bravado. With the help of these social ills, there are plans to displace Finland’s liberal roots…
Sandra Alloush’s “In Your Eyes” is a documentary about migrants surviving in today’s Europe
To part is to die a little,What you love dies:You leave a little of yourselfAt any time and in any place. Edmund Haraucourt (1856-1941) In Your Eyes is a documentary about migrants in Europe by Sandra Alloush, a Syrian refugee, journalist and documentarist, in collaboration with Enrique Tessieri, editor of Migrant Tales, a community blog…
The Finnish government’s migration and economic policy lack credibility and are bound to cause more harm than good
It is concerning for migrants and minorities in Finland that we have a government that is openly hostile to them. As in Juha Sipilä’s (2015-2019) government, there was an agreement that migration policy would be handled by the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party in exchange for the National Coalition Party (NCP) and Center Partry dictating economic policy….
Government remains silent on the threat of far-right terrorism in Finland
How is it possible that we do not hear a word from the government about three suspects tried on terrorism charges in Lahti. Helsingin Sanomat published an editorial Tuesday about the threat of far-right violence in Finland. Writes Helsingin Sanomat: “However, the case is a fresh reminder that the extreme right is a real threat…
Espoo Perussuomalaiset councilperson reveals his and party’s ignorance of migrants
Hannu Järvinen is a Perussuomalaiset (PS)* councilperson from the city of Espoo. One of his big pastimes is speaking badly of immigrants. Like many of his party, xenophobic and especially Islamophobic opinions are his pet topics. His advice will scare away people from Finland than keep them here. Järvinen’s solution for migrants: “When you move…
Angel Barrientos is one of the kind beacons of Finland’s Chilean community
“Walking, walking, walking I go looking for freedom, hopefully I will find my way, so I can keep on walking.” Victor Jara (1932-73), Caminando, caminando September 11 marks the 50th anniversary of the bloody coup that overthrew Chile’s democratically elected President, Salvador Allende. Finland’s small but active Chilean community has organized a number of events…
Foreign Student: Our last issue after our reporting of a deportation case in 1982
The Foreign Student experienced life across 11 editions, spanning from January 1981 to January 1982. The newsletter, which was put out by the Foreign Student Club ry of Helsinki, was outspoken on immigrant rights issues. The last issue of the newsletter below, got itself in trouble with the newly elected president of the club, Fadi…
Culturally diverse Finland has a history
The story was originally published on Migrant Tales on June 15, 2016. Because migrants and minorities in Finland do not have power, we are taught to believe we are rootless and have no historicity. It is not true: migrant and anti-racism activism in Finland was already very alive in the 1980s. The demonstration in October…
Migrant Talesin toimituskunnan jäsen Ahti Tolvanen pääsi Helsingin Sanomiin
Ilahduttavaksi yllätykseksemme Migrant Tlesin toimituskunnan jäsenen Ahti Tolvasen kuva oli sunnuntaina Helsingin Sanomien etusivulla. Hän oli yksi niistä yli 11 000-20 000 mielenosoittajasta, jotka sunnuntaina vastustivat pääministeri Petteri Orpon hallituksen rasismia. Onnittelut Ahti! Olet kuuluisa! ”Suomen hallituksen tilanne on sama kuin Britanniassa korona-aikaan, kun pääministeri Boris Johnson järjesti juhlat rajoituksista välittämättä. Eivät ministerit voi tehdä mitä hyvänsä….