A new association called Kansavinvälinen Mikkeli (International Mikkeli) was registered on September 23. One of its most important aims is to serve as a forum where Finns and immigrants can openly debate topics that affect each other and create a greater sense of community.
Muslims are not the real enemy to European democracy
It is quite significant when EU heavyweights such as France and Germany start using anti-immigration sound bites. Recent statements by German Chancellor Angela Merkel are a good example of the disturbing trend, when she stated that multiculturalism has “utterly failed” in Germany.
As Nations Age, a Chance for Younger Nations (New York Times)
Here is a very interesting article published today in the New York Times of how rapidly industrialized nations are aging.
Two questionable eras in Europe with the same message
Two posters (apologies for the offensive content) from different eras: One that is anti-semitic from Germany in 1940* and the other from a referendum in Switzerland in 2009 on a ban of building minarets on mosques. Even though these posters were printed in different periods, the message is the same: barbarization of a group. *The…
Full assimilation in Bread and Chocolate
This is one of my favorite movies called Bread and Chocolate/Pane e cioccolata (1973) starring Nino Manfredi, who is an Italian immigrant that is trying to integrate at all costs into Swiss society. He even dies his hair in order to fit in as a Swiss. Then there is a football match in a bar between England and Italy. The Swiss clients are watching the game as is Manfredi. Everything seems to be going well until Italy scores a goal…
Can Finland deal with the challenge of immigration?
Some claim that Finland is at an important juncture concerning immigration and its role in our society. There are already clear signs that the Finns want to deal with this challenge in a civil manner without the usual dose of fearmongering and nationalistic bravado.
Populist chatter and a tale of elk flies
There is a True Finn candidate in the April 2011 elections that spreads elk flies everytime he opens his mouth or presses on the keyboard to bash immigrants. His multicultural name, James Hirvisaari, gets a lot of free publicty whenever blogs like mine which comment on his extremist views.
Finland: A taste of one’s medicine
Can an immigration policy of country take us on the right societal path if it hinges on suspicion of other groups? With the April 2011 elections nearing, some are asking if a big election victory of the anti-immigration True Finns will take us down the same questionable path as Denmark, which has the tightest immigration controls in the European Union.
The Finland we all want
By many standards, Finland is an exceptional country. Newsweek magazine recently named it the best country in the world according to education, quality of life, economic dynamism as well as other factors.
RPT-Swedish govt still short of majority after recount
(Reuters) – Sweden’s centre-right government was still just short of a parliament majority after a preliminary recount of Sunday’s election, though it picked up one more seat.