Swedish Government presents feminist policy for a gender-equal future

By Xuefei Chen Axelsson
STOCKHOLM, Nov. 28(Greenpost)–The Swedish Government has presented a gender quality policy communication entitled Power, targets and agencies – a feminist policy for a gender-equal future, including a ten-year National strategy to prevent and combat men’s violence against women. mj-pk-161116-07
Minister for Justice Morgan Johansson, Minister for Gender Equality Åsa Regnér and Minister for Education Gustaf Fridolin at the press conference where the strategy was launched.Photo: Bill Nilsson/Government Offices of Sweden
As one of the measures in the strategy, the Government intends to amend the degree descriptions in the Higher Education Ordinance for educational programmes where it is most necessary and where students will encounter perpetrators and victims of violence in their future careers.

“People who encounter perpetrators of violence and their victims in their work must have knowledge of how violence can be uncovered and prevented, and of the most effective measures. This should therefore be included in the teaching of particularly relevant higher education programmes. This measure is part of the first long-term national strategy to combat men’s violence against women, which prioritises preventive efforts. This communication shows the Government moving up a gear in its efforts to make a difference in people’s lives,” says Minister for Gender Equality Åsa Regnér.

“So-called honour-related crimes are unacceptable. More offences must be uncovered and more must be done to prosecute the perpetrators. It must be clear that society takes a very serious view of these offences. We are therefore appointing an inquiry to investigate the possibilities of introducing honour-related motives as special grounds for tougher penalties,” says Minister for Justice Morgan Johansson.

“Many people, often young women, are now confined by a pressure to achieve that is creating growing mental ill health. Many people, often young men, lack motivation to study and faith in the future. The gender structures and norms that constrain both girls and boys must be broken; we must strengthen young people’s self-esteem and self-confidence if we are to improve school performance. This is the basis of the Government’s major investments in school health and welfare services, special needs education support, and study and vocational guidance,” says Minister for Education Gustav Fridolin.

Highlights of the gender equality communication

The communication Power, targets and agencies – a feminist policy for a gender-equal future encompasses political objectives, an organisational structure for implementation and a follow-up system. It also includes a national strategy with a programme of measures to prevent and combat men’s violence against women. The programme of measures will apply from 2017 to 2020. Parts of the strategy are based on an agreement between the Government and the Left Party.

Gender equality agency and national assignments

The Government intends to establish a new agency in 2018 to help ensure strategic, cohesive and sustainable governance and effective implementation of gender equality policy. The Left Party supports the proposal and has been keen to establish a gender equality agency.

The three national assignments concerning honour-related violence and oppression, prostitution and human trafficking for sexual purposes, and the assignment on support to authorities (including higher education institutions) for gender mainstreaming of their activities, will be made permanent.

Two new interim targets for gender equality policy

The Government is introducing two new interim targets – gender-equal education and gender-equal health – to give these areas greater space in gender equality policy.

Focus on men’s participation and responsibility

Men’s participation is a prerequisite if a gender-equal society is to be realised. The Government intends to implement measures to strengthen the gender equality work focus on men and boys with respect to violence prevention, health and use of parental benefits.

Strategic, cohesive and long-term agency governance
During this electoral period, the Government intends to analyse which agencies’ instructions require strengthened requirements and governance with respect to gender mainstreaming.

National strategy to combat men’s violence against women

The communication includes a ten-year national strategy on men’s violence against women, including honour-related violence and oppression, as well as prostitution and human trafficking for sexual purposes. To strengthen the prospects of achieving the interim gender equality policy target of ending men’s violence against women, the Government will focus particularly on preventive measures.

Source:www. regeringen.se

2016 Nobel Prize Concert features Jonas Kaufmann

By Xuefei Chen Axelsson

Nobel Media, in association with the Stockholm Concert Hall, presents the 2016 Nobel Prize Concert –- an event of world class stature. The concert will be held on 8 December as part of the official Nobel Week programme of activities.

2016 Nobel Prize Concert Features Jonas Kaufmann

Jonas Kaufmann, “the most important versatile tenor of his generation”, will perform at the Nobel Prize Concert in Stockholm, Sweden, on 8 December 2016. Gianandrea Noseda, newly appointed music director at the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington DC, USA, will lead the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra.

Jonas Kaufmann. Photo © Gregor Hohenberg/Sony Music.

The Nobel Prize Concert is held to honour the year’s Nobel Laureates, who attend with their respective parties. Also present are members of the Swedish Royal Family and guests of the Nobel Foundation. The 2016 Nobel Prize Concert is the eleventh in succession.

The Nobel Prize Concert is sponsored by DNB.

Source: Nobelprize.org.

Alfred Nobel’s Will

I, the undersigned, Alfred Bernhard Nobel, do hereby, after mature deliberation, declare the following to be my last Will and Testament with respect to such property as may be left by me at the time of my death:

To my nephews, Hjalmar and Ludvig Nobel, the sons of my brother Robert Nobel, I bequeath the sum of Two Hundred Thousand Crowns each;

To my nephew Emanuel Nobel, the sum of Three Hundred Thousand, and to my niece Mina Nobel, One Hundred Thousand Crowns;

To my brother Robert Nobel’s daughters, Ingeborg and Tyra, the sum of One Hundred Thousand Crowns each;

Miss Olga Boettger, at present staying with Mrs Brand, 10 Rue St Florentin, Paris, will receive One Hundred Thousand Francs;

Mrs Sofie Kapy von Kapivar, whose address is known to the Anglo-Oesterreichische Bank in Vienna, is hereby entitled to an annuity of 6000 Florins Ö.W. which is paid to her by the said Bank, and to this end I have deposited in this Bank the amount of 150,000 Fl. in Hungarian State Bonds;

Mr Alarik Liedbeck, presently living at 26 Sturegatan, Stockholm, will receive One Hundred Thousand Crowns;

Miss Elise Antun, presently living at 32 Rue de Lubeck, Paris, is entitled to an annuity of Two Thousand Five Hundred Francs. In addition, Forty Eight Thousand Francs owned by her are at present in my custody, and shall be refunded;

Mr Alfred Hammond, Waterford, Texas, U.S.A. will receive Ten Thousand Dollars;

The Misses Emy and Marie Winkelmann, Potsdamerstrasse, 51, Berlin, will receive Fifty Thousand Marks each;

Mrs Gaucher, 2 bis Boulevard du Viaduc, Nimes, France will receive One Hundred Thousand Francs;

My servants, Auguste Oswald and his wife Alphonse Tournand, employed in my laboratory at San Remo, will each receive an annuity of One Thousand Francs;

My former servant, Joseph Girardot, 5, Place St. Laurent, Châlons sur Saône, is entitled to an annuity of Five Hundred Francs, and my former gardener, Jean Lecof, at present with Mrs Desoutter, receveur Curaliste, Mesnil, Aubry pour Ecouen, S.& O., France, will receive an annuity of Three Hundred Francs;

Mr Georges Fehrenbach, 2, Rue Compiègne, Paris, is entitled to an annual pension of Five Thousand Francs from January 1, 1896 to January 1, 1899, when the said pension shall discontinue;

A sum of Twenty Thousand Crowns each, which has been placed in my custody, is the property of my brother’s children, Hjalmar, Ludvig, Ingeborg and Tyra, and shall be repaid to them.

The whole of my remaining realizable estate shall be dealt with in the following way: the capital, invested in safe securities by my executors, shall constitute a fund, the interest on which shall be annually distributed in the form of prizes to those who, during the preceding year, shall have conferred the greatest benefit to mankind. The said interest shall be divided into five equal parts, which shall be apportioned as follows: one part to the person who shall have made the most important discovery or invention within the field of physics; one part to the person who shall have made the most important chemical discovery or improvement; one part to the person who shall have made the most important discovery within the domain of physiology or medicine; one part to the person who shall have produced in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction; and one part to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses. The prizes for physics and chemistry shall be awarded by the Swedish Academy of Sciences; that for physiological or medical work by the Caroline Institute in Stockholm; that for literature by the Academy in Stockholm, and that for champions of peace by a committee of five persons to be elected by the Norwegian Storting. It is my express wish that in awarding the prizes no consideration whatever shall be given to the nationality of the candidates, but that the most worthy shall receive the prize, whether he be a Scandinavian or not.

As Executors of my testamentary dispositions, I hereby appoint Mr Ragnar Sohlman, resident at Bofors, Värmland, and Mr Rudolf Lilljequist, 31 Malmskillnadsgatan, Stockholm, and at Bengtsfors near Uddevalla. To compensate for their pains and attention, I grant to Mr Ragnar Sohlman, who will presumably have to devote most time to this matter, One Hundred Thousand Crowns, and to Mr Rudolf Lilljequist, Fifty Thousand Crowns;

At the present time, my property consists in part of real estate in Paris and San Remo, and in part of securities deposited as follows: with The Union Bank of Scotland Ltd in Glasgow and London, Le Crédit Lyonnais, Comptoir National d’Escompte, and with Alphen Messin & Co. in Paris; with the stockbroker M.V. Peter of Banque Transatlantique, also in Paris; with Direction der Disconto Gesellschaft and Joseph Goldschmidt & Cie, Berlin; with the Russian Central Bank, and with Mr Emanuel Nobel in Petersburg; with Skandinaviska Kredit Aktiebolaget in Gothenburg and Stockholm, and in my strong-box at 59, Avenue Malakoff, Paris; further to this are accounts receivable, patents, patent fees or so-called royalties etc. in connection with which my Executors will find full information in my papers and books.

This Will and Testament is up to now the only one valid, and revokes all my previous testamentary dispositions, should any such exist after my death.

Finally, it is my express wish that following my death my veins shall be opened, and when this has been done and competent Doctors have confirmed clear signs of death, my remains shall be cremated in a so-called crematorium.

Paris, 27 November, 1895

Alfred Bernhard Nobel

Source: www.nobelprize.org

Sting will perform at Nobel Peace Prize Concert

By Xuefei Chen Axelsson

STOCKHOLM, Nov. 27(Greenpost)–Composer, singer-songwriter, actor, author, and activist Sting will perform at the 23rd annual Nobel Peace Prize Concert, according to Nobelprize.org.

sting181x181_2016“It is a true honor to take part in the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize Concert,” says Sting. “I have always believed in music as a tool for promoting the message of peace, and I believe this concert will do just that.”

As one of the world’s most distinctive solo artists, Sting has earned an additional 10 Grammy Awards, two Brits, a Golden Globe, an Emmy, three Oscar nominations, a TONY nomination, Billboard Magazine’s Century Award, and MusiCares 2004 Person of the Year. Also a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, in December 2014 he received the Kennedy Center Honors, one of the most prestigious cultural prizes in the United States. Throughout his enduring career, he has sold close to 100 million albums from his combined work with The Police and as a solo artist.

In addition to his well-known and much loved hits, Sting will also perform music from his solo studio album, 57th & 9th, his first pop/rock project in over a decade.

Bob Dylan might come to Sweden in Spring

STOCKHOLM, Nov. 27(Greenpost)–According to the website, the Swedish Academy,  has decided not to organize an alternative plan for the Nobel Lecture traditionally held on December 7.

“There is a chance that Bob Dylan will be performing in Stockholm next year, possibly in the spring, in which case he will have a perfect opportunity to deliver his lecture. We will post more information as soon as we have it.”

That means Bob Dylan will not come to Sweden on Dec. 10 to receive his Nobel Prize.

 

2016 Right Livelihood Award laureates receive their awards

Stockholm, Nov. 25(Greenpost)–Syria’s White Helmets, Russia’s Svetlana Gannushkina and Turkish newspaper Cumhuriyet receive awards in Stockholm’s Vasa Museum today. 

Egyptian feminist Mozn Hassan was barred from attending the ceremony, according to a statement from the award foundation.

The Laureates of the 2016 Right Livelihood Award received their prizes at tonight’s ceremony in Stockholm. Meanwhile, the Egyptian Laureate Mozn Hassan has been prevented from travelling to Europe, and 10 journalists from Turkey’s leading independent newspaper Cumhuriyet remain in prison.

Jakob von Uexkull, Founder President of the Right Livelihood Award, said: “Our 2016 Laureates work in some of the most difficult circumstances. Hailing from Syria, Egypt, Russia and Turkey, they have witnessed some of the most turbulent events in modern times. Amid the failed coups and stalled peace negotiations, despite propaganda wars and persecution, they stand up for the fundamental rights to life, equality, education and freedom of expression, and are not afraid to speak truth to power.”

Raed al Saleh, Director of Syria Civil Defence, commonly known as “The White Helmets”, said: “In 2013, the Syrian regime gave us a choice: leave or be killed. For most of our communities, leaving was not an option. But nor was waiting to be killed. Three years on we are now 3,000 volunteers working in 120 teams across Syria. It is not only on their behalf that I am with you today, but also on behalf of all the Syrian civilians that daily face indiscriminate bomb attacks and that live in fear.”

The White Helmets were recognised by the award jury “for their outstanding bravery, compassion and humanitarian engagement in rescuing civilians from the destruction of the Syrian civil war”.

In her video address, Mozn Hassan, who shares the award with her organisation Nazra for Feminist Studies, said: “The award is not only a recognition of Nazra’s work, it is a recognition of a century of feminist activism in this country that has inspired us. Back in 2011, when everything seemed possible, hundreds of thousands of young men and women were politicized and introduced to the public sphere. A new feminist wave is being formed in the aftermath of the 2011 revolution.”

Hassan, who was commended “for asserting the equality and rights of women in circumstances where they are subject to ongoing violence, abuse and discrimination”, is under a travel ban imposed on her by the Egyptian authorities.

Russian human rights defender Svetlana Gannushkina received the award “for her decades-long commitment to promoting human rights and justice for refugees and forced migrants, and tolerance among different ethnic groups”.

She used the occasion to draw the attention to the current political discourse surrounding migrants and refugees: “The political trends we are now witnessing cause great alarm. Right-wing political forces are becoming stronger around the world. The rhetoric of their leaders is built upon anti-immigration sloganeering, as they posit themselves as the defenders of the people in their countries. Radicalism has become a serious challenge to civil society,” Gannushkina said.

Turkey’s leading independent newspaper Cumhuriyet received the award ‘for their fearless investigative journalism and commitment to freedom of expression in the face of oppression, censorship, imprisonment and death threats’.

Representing Cumhuriyet in Stockholm, Zeynep Oral, columnist at the newspaper and President of PEN-Turkey, read out a statement from Orhan Erinç, Chairman of the Cumhuriyet Foundation, who has not been allowed to leave the country: “Cumhuriyet represents the enlightened and the contemporary face of Turkey. The only force that can defeat darkness, oppression, violence and non-existent justice is the unconditional defence of freedom and secularism. The ‘Alternative Nobel Prize’ that we receive during these very crucial days is therefore a light of hope and solidarity that is so essential for us.”

The Right Livelihood Award Foundation urged the governments of Egypt and Turkey to lift undue restrictions on Laureates Mozn Hassan and immediately release Cumhuriyet staff.

UNESCO Frank La Rue, OSCE Mijatovic on Freedom of Speech

By Xuefei Chen Axelsson

STOCKHOLM, Nov. 25(Greenpost)–UNESCO Assistant Director -General for Communication and Information Frank La Rue said on November 2, International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists. UNESCO sent out a message.

This is an important day not only to commemorate and honor all those who have died in the line of duty, but also to call for justice in cases of violence and harassment against journalists.

Harassment against journalists in any form must be rejected, including arbitrary arrests and verbal intimidation. Ending impunity on all of these acts is the most important step to guarantee the safety of journalists.

To help secure justice for journalists, UNESCO works with judiciaries around the world, to sensitize them about the importance of cases in which journalists are killed. UNESCO also partners with media, governments and civil society gorups to also raise awareness on this issue.

Protecting journalists and guaranteeing a free press is essential for the development of societies and important for every woman and man to exercise their right to access information, their right to participate as citizens in democracy, and to work for the right to development.

Dunja Mijatovic OSCE representative on freedom of media said for 250 years the Swedish Freedom of the Press Act has been a shining example of the importance media freedom and freedom of expression play in the advancement of democracy.

En frihet står på spel

Gemensam debattartikel i Journalisten.se den 3 maj av Margot Wallström, Sveriges utrikesminister och Timo Soini, utrikesminister i Finland.

Margot Wallström och Timo Soini
Finlands utrikesminister Timo Soini och utrikesminister Margot Wallström.Foto: Regeringskansliet

Mediefriheten hotas alltmer inom EU, dess närområde och runt om i världen. Aktuella exempel därpå omfattar repressiv lagstiftning, våld mot journalister och spridning av statligt kontrollerad propaganda och desinformation. Åtgärder av detta slag innebär inte bara en begränsning av journalisternas arbete och ett hot mot deras liv. De begränsar även medborgarnas delaktighet i samhället, vilket underminerar själva grunden för demokratin.

I år då tryckfrihetsförordningen firar 250 år arbetar Sverige och Finland tillsammans i syfte att öka våra ansträngningar för att försvara yttrande- och pressfriheten inom och utanför Europa.

I Sverige och Finland tryggades pressfriheten för 250 år sedan, i och med att Sveriges riksdag antog den första tryckfrihetsförordningen i världen. Riksdagsledamot Anders Chydenius från Karleby, som idag ligger i Finland, var pådrivande i denna process. Förordningen innebar att censuren för tryckta skrifter avskaffades samt att allmänhetens rätt att få tillgång till allmänna handlingar och delta i politiska debatter tryggades. Utöver att skydda yttrandefriheten har tryckfrihetsförordningen på ett avgörande sätt bidragit till framväxten av våra moderna och nydanande nordiska samhällen.

Vi beklagar att de grundläggande fri- och rättigheterna i allt större utsträckning hotas runt om i världen samtidigt som tryckfrihetsförordningen nu firar 250 år. Demokratin och rättsstatsprincipen undermineras på många håll, samtidigt som man kränker de mänskliga rättigheterna och inte erkänner deras allmängiltighet. Centralt för dessa utmaningar är att medielandskapet är hotat. Repressiv lagstiftning riktas mot journalister och människorättsförsvarare. Vissa stater lägger allt större medel på spridning av ren propaganda och desinformation. Journalister trakasseras, hotas, förföljs och dödas. Gärningsmännen ställs alltför sällan inför rätta. I många fall kan rädslan för repressalier och trakasserier resultera i självcensur bland journalister och mediearbetare.

Denna utveckling gör det nödvändigt att öka ansträngningarna för att främja yttrande- och mediefrihet, bland annat genom främjande av mediekompetens och ökat stöd till fria och oberoende medier runt om i världen.

Många internationella organisationer och frivilligorganisationer har uttryckt oro över den försämrade mediemiljön. OSSE:s representant för mediefrihet, som är ett viktigt organ på området, har vid flera tillfällen uttryckt oro över situationen för mediefriheten i OSSE-området.

EU:s nyligen inrättade grupp för strategisk kommunikation har vid upprepade tillfällen avslöjat rysk propaganda och desinformation som inte enbart handlat om att snedvrida sanningen eller påverka den allmänna opinionen. Den förefaller även syfta till att underminera själva konceptet objektiv information, genom att framställa all information som antingen vinklad eller ett politiskt maktinstrument. Sådan propaganda och desinformation riskerar att underminera förtroendet för medier och institutioner samt främja utbredningen av nätforum som vidareförmedlar konspirationsteorier och halvsanningar riktade mot motståndare och journalister. Därigenom urholkas allmänhetens förtroende för de institutioner som utgör det demokratiska samhällets grundvalar. Därför samarbetar vi med våra grannar i Norden och Östersjöområdet för att utbilda journalister i undersökande journalistik och stödja fria och oberoende medier i områden som är särskilt utsatta för desinformation och propaganda.

Medielandskapet förändras snabbt, vilket skapar både möjligheter och utmaningar i fråga om yttrande- och mediefrihet. Många länder har redan gått över från traditionella tidningar och tv till digitala distributionskanaler. Internet och sociala medier ger människor möjlighet att använda sig av sin yttrande- och åsiktsfrihet samt rätt att få tillgång till information. Tack vare de tekniska framstegen och sociala medierna är vi alla potentiella “journalister” idag. I utövandet av rätten att uttrycka en åsikt går frihet och ansvar hand i hand.

Ny teknik kan skapa möjligheter för demokratisk utveckling. Samtidigt kan teknik användas för att sprida propaganda och desinformation. I detta sammanhang är kritiskt tänkande och källkritik av avgörande betydelse. Medierna spelar en nyckelroll när det handlar om att koppla samman information, så att medborgarna själva kan avgöra vad som är sant respektive osant.

De nordiska länderna är ingalunda fredade mot yttrandefrihetshot. Hatpropagandan och radikaliseringen, särskilt på nätet, utgör ett ständigt växande problem även i våra samhällen.

Terroristorganisationer som Daesh använder sig i sociala medier av bilder på extremt våld för att påverka den allmänna opinionen och provocera våra samhällen i syfte att skapa ökad radikalisering och rekrytering. Det vanliga bruket att publicera foton och videor på extremt våld och avrättningar i sociala medier skapar rädsla och ökar polariseringen inom våra samhällen, vilket ger ytterligare näring åt extremisternas sak.

250-årsjubileet för tryckfrihetsförordningen i Sverige och Finland påminner oss om den långa väg vi har vandrat för att främja yttrandefriheten. Utvecklingen i världen i stort visar emellertid tydligt att det inte är läge att stanna upp nu. Sveriges och Finlands regeringar har åtagit sig att, tillsammans med företrädare för media och det civila samhället, arbeta än hårdare för att främja yttrandefriheten i världen.

Margot Wallström
Utrikesminister, Sverige

Timo Soini
Utrikesminister, Finland

Celebration of 250th anniversary of free press in Sweden

Stockholm, Nov. 25(Greenpost)–Dec. 2 marks the 250th anniversary of free press in Sweden.

It’s 250 years since Sweden established the world’s strongest freedom of the press through a ground-breaking new fundamental law, the Freedom of the Press Act.

Freedom of the press, freedom of expression and opposition to censorship are of course well worth celebrating – and continuing to fight for today!

Human rights are unfortunately now being challenged more and more around the world. The democratic space for defenders of human rights, opinion-formers, journalists and bloggers is tending to shrink. It is incredibly important to stop this trend.

It is easy to be inspired by the founding figure, member of the Riksdag Anders Chydenius, who in 1766 championed this historic fundamental law in Sweden, which in fact predates both the United States Declaration of Independence and the French Revolution.

The Freedom of the Press Act was based on principles that were formulated during the Age of Enlightenment in 18th-century Europe. People have intrinsic rights, and the State has a responsibility and an obligation to defend those rights. The purpose of the Act was to strengthen the influence of citizens.

Chydenius sat on the parliamentary committee that prepared the legislative proposal, and his hard work eventually pushed a majority decision through, despite the nobility voting against.

Chydenius was a priest in Gamlakarleby (today called Kokkola), Österbotten, which is now part of Finland. He was an early advocate for free trade, and became famous when he criticised the then prevailing policy of high trade barriers. Some rich people in the big towns and cities became even richer, but life became more difficult for ordinary people, many of whom starved. This was a major problem in remote Österbotten. This is why he was sent to the Riksdag.

There, he argued in the same way for freedom of the press and openness in government administration as he did for free trade. Without these principles, a small power elite in Stockholm holds all the influence and wealth. The periphery will always be brushed aside as long as it does not receive information about what is going on in the corridors of power. State secretiveness benefits a small clique at the expense of the rest of the country.

What made the Freedom of the Press Act so fantastic for its time was the four principles that still today lay the foundation for Sweden’s strong freedom of expression.

  • State censorship was abolished. Previously, all written material required advanced permission prior to publication. It was often difficult to obtain permission if the text was not flattering towards those in power.
  • The principle of public access to official documents was created. The documents of the authorities would no longer be secret, but public. Previously, it was punishable to print and spread state documents. For a long time, even the parliamentary record had been classified as secret.
  • The main principle shifted from prohibited to permitted. Previously, it had been prohibited to print anything without prior special permission. Now, instead, almost everything was permissible until such times as it was prohibited. Every writer was allowed to print and spread their texts until such times as a court found a breach of the law in the publication. All state documents could be read and spread as long as they were not classified as secret.
  • Freedom of the press was guaranteed in a fundamental law. Ordinary laws set boundaries for citizens, but a fundamental law sets boundaries for the State. The State may not breach a fundamental law, even by enacting new legislation, as that legislation would be invalid.

Lars Johan Hierta, pioneer of a free press

STOCKHOLM, Nov. 25(Greenpost)–The statue of Swedish newspaper publisher Lars Johan Hierta watches over Riddarhustorget in Stockholm’s Old Town. 

Lars Johan Hierta founded the evening newspaper Aftonbladet − currently Sweden’s largest newspaper − as early as in1830.

Aftonbladet was not Sweden’s first newspaper but it is now one of the oldest daily newspapers in Sweden. Its predecessors were uncritical and indulgent of King Karl XIV Johan, who ruled with the help of the nobility. One of Hierta’s primary aims was to attack what was referred to as the ‘bedchamber rule’ of the King. This meant that the King had his favourites, who had special access to the royal bedchamber. The most favoured of all, Count Magnus Brahe, was one of Sweden’s most powerful men, despite not having any political position.Ahead of the first edition, he promised that the newspaper would “seek quick information about strange measures within the administration”. For Hierta, it was self-evident that the newspaper would be independent.

This, of course, bothered Lars Johan Hierta, who through his newspaper was fighting for freedom of expression, free trade (including lower import tariffs) and democratic development towards a two-chamber parliament of elected representatives.

Criticism from the ruling classes was devastating. During its first four years, Aftonbladetwas prosecuted five times.

As much as the newspaper was hated by the powers that be, it was loved and lauded in equal measure by the people. In particular, the section called ‘Kaleidoscope’, written in a light-hearted and satirical tone, met with great acclaim. This was the birth of the modern newspaper column. And Wendela Hebbe, Sweden’s first woman journalist to be employed full-time, began at Hierta’s newspaper.

The King eventually tried to close down the paper. But Hierta, who was both clever and prepared, had already issued new publishing authorisations to other publishers. He changed the paper’s name to The new Aftonbladet, The second…, The third… and so forth. When he sold Aftonbladet in 1851, he had changed the name twenty-six times.

So free speech survived, albeit under threat.

As we now celebrate the 250th anniversary of Sweden’s Freedom of the Press Act, regarded as the strongest in the world, we should all send a thought of gratitude to Lars Johan Hierta.

Source: Foreign Policy News

250th anniversary of free speech celebrated in Sweden

Xuefei Chen Axelsson

STOCKHOLM, Nov. 25(Greenpost)–Sweden, a small country located at the northernest corner of the world, was almost the first in the world that guaranteed the free speech and transparency 250 years ago.

Margot Wallström, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs issued 250 words on free speech as saying that free speech and transparency were guaranteed on 2 December 1766, when the Swedish Parliament passed the Freedom of the Press Act, the first legislation of its kind anywhere in the world.

This is an important landmark to celebrate-250 years of media freedom!

The ACT has served Sweden well. Free speech and transparency are prerequisites not only for democracy, but also for innovation, feeding ideas through critique, debate and scrutiny. Transparency is also an important tool in combating corruption.

However, as the 250th anniversary approaches, it is disturbing to see that the fundamental rights and freedoms it sets out to defend are increasingly under threat around the world. In many places, democracy and the rule of law are being underminded, human rights violated and their universal nature denied.

These developments call for redoubled efforts to promote freedom of expression, tansparency and media freedom, including promotion of media literacy and increased support to free and independent media around the world.

In the second half of 2016, the Swedish MFA is running a campaign in defence of freedom of expression where we hope to contribute to the global discussion on this important topic.

Please join us in this important conversation. Let the 250th anniversary become the starting point for a new era of freedom of expression, said Margot Wallström.

头条要闻:《北欧中华网》应运而生

北欧绿色邮报网报道(记者陈雪霏)--昨天看到一部电影的名字叫《我不是潘金莲》。心里突然想说,我不是潘金莲,我是谁?同时,又闪出另一部电影的名字《我不是杀人犯》。该片是在斯德哥尔摩国际电影节中放映过的。 可惜我没看。

我并不想对电影有什么评价,只是这两个否定句的题目让我感慨万千。潘金莲因为历史上已经有名,然后说,我不是潘金莲,一下子吸引了读者的好奇心和眼球。同样,我不是杀人犯也有同样的嫌疑,可惜,我没有被吸引,但是同样的句子用多了,也就约定俗成地被人接受了。

同时我又想到另外两个名字,一个就是电影节期间的《凯渧说再见》Katty says Goodbye. 另一个是海明威的小说《永别了,武器》Farewell to Arms.  Farewell也是说再见的意思,但是是永远都不要见了。象津巴布韦总统穆加贝在津巴布韦被开除出英联邦时,他主动说,Farewell, 永别了。给人印象十分深刻。

凯渧我之所以用渧而没有用蒂,原因就是凯渧的命运其实是十分悲惨的。生活中的眼泪和困难多于欢乐和自由。

所以,名字如果起好了,会有很大帮助,让人一下子记住,能抓住人的记忆。

同样,我当初创立《北欧绿色邮报网》的时候,是因为我觉得瑞典乃至北欧国家都非常注重可持续发展,他们是最早意识到工业化不可持续的问题的。在70年代,中国还没怎么建设的时候,就开始注意这个问题了。因此有很多经验值得中国借鉴。所以,本着这样的重心就起名绿色邮报网。因为身处北欧,所有又加上北欧二字。

《北欧绿色邮报网》是2014年初注册的。但是,到2015年5月底,笔者才把精力放在它身上。六月初一天就有3000多阅读量。后来回落到1500-2000左右。到现在也就是一年半多的时间。

《北欧绿色邮报网》以注重原创,注重稿件质量著称。本网稿件99%是原创。 主要是绿色新闻和华人的红色文化新闻。逐渐也引起华人的注意。渐渐的,华人朋友开始评头论足,有的人说,绿色邮报听起来没有欧洲时报名气大。

我心想一定是国内的高大上思想蔓延到这里来了。人们什么都喜欢大,喜欢有名气,不能容忍普通和一般。因此,建议我改名字。说了好多名字,但最后,想出的还是一个能代表华人大多数的一个名字,所以,就叫《北欧中华网》。其宗旨就是要做中国北欧中国瑞典之间的桥梁,反映瑞典华人华侨北欧华人华侨的风貌和生活。因为名字不一样,内容也各有侧重,因此,《北欧绿色邮报网》也依然在继续。

因此,希望广大华人华侨关注《北欧中华网》,有什么意见要求和希望,尽管提,有什么需求也可以尽管提,北欧中华网竭诚为您服务。

作为《北欧中华网》的创始人,本人深知其艰难,并非是改个名字,人家就都认可了,还是需要长期艰苦的努力,同时要吸引更多的人才才能可持续,因此,《北欧中华网》热烈欢迎广大华人华侨朋友爆料,投稿,转发传播该网站。有需要刊登的信息,也不要客气,尽快与我们联系。

北欧中华网的网址是www.chineseonline.se

北欧中华网的生日应该是中国重返联合国45周年纪念日那天2016年10月25日。

info@chineseonline.se

微信: chenxuefei7

北欧中华网-CHINESEONLINE.SE

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The 2016 Audience Award goes to I, Daniel Blake by Ken Loach

By Xuefei Chen Axelsson

STOCKHOLM, Nov. 21,(Greenpost)–The 27th Stockholm International Film Festival ended on Sunday and the 2016 Stockholm Audience Award goes to I, Daniel Blake by British director Ken Loach. I, Daniel Blake also attracted the largest audience during the festival, according to a press release from the Festival Organizing committee.

Every year, the audience selects the winner of one of the festival’s most prestigious prizes. This year’s Audience Award goes to director Ken Loach for his film I, Daniel Blake. On a very close second and third place respectively came Manchester by the Sea by Kenneth Lonergan and Adult Life Skills by Rachel Tunnard.

The Stockholm Audience Award was established in 2009 and was awarded to Louie Psihoyos’ The Cove. Among previous winners are Steve McQueen’s12 Years a Slave and Xavier Dolan’s Mommy. The audience have cast their votes at the festival’s website and smartphone app during the festival period November 9-20.

– A big thank you to the audiences at the Stockholm International Film Festival. The warmth of the reception was very moving. It shows that we understand and share each others’ struggles – they make us smile as well as touch us deeply. Thanks again to the Festival and all who came to see the film, Ken Loach says in a statement.

I Daniel Blake by the two time Palme d’Or winner Ken Loach was also the most visited screening – over 1100 people saw his depiction about the dismantling of the British welfare system.

The most watched films during the festival were:

  1. Jag Daniel Blake by Ken Loach
  2. Your Name by Mankoto Shinkai
  3. Manchester by the Sea by Kenneth Lonergan
  4. Arrival by Denis Villeneuve
  5. Nocturnal Animals by Tom Ford

Stockholm Impact Award goes to Wayne Roberts

By Xuefei Chen Axelsson

STOCKHOLM, Nov. 21(Greenpost)–Ms Karin Wanngård, Mayor of Stockholm, has announced that Wayne Roberts, director of Katie Says Goodbye, as winner of Stockholm Impact Award.

During the Stockholm International Film Festival Award Ceremony, Roberts received the prize designed by Ai Weiwei and was given 1 million SEK in support to upcoming film projects.

The jury including the directors Sofia Exarchou (Park), Alankrita Shrivastava (Lipstick Under My Burkha) and Mohammed Hammad (Withered Green) – all of them with films of their own in the festival program – has announced Wayne Roberts as winner of the film award Stockholm Impact Award.

Motivation: Katie Says Goodbye is a sensitive, layered and complex, coming of age story of a young American girl.  The film displays a clearly female sensitive gaze, without sensationalizing Katie’s heart breaking story. It shows us the complexity of human nature and people and relationships, be they women or men, without judgment. The cinematic style of the film is fresh and subtle, and the performance of Olivia Cooke as Katie is compelling.   It leaves you experiencing the innocence, the darkness, the vulnerability and the strength of the lovable Katie. It is a startlingly brave portrayal of  a young woman. Through its sensitive handling of the politics of what it means for a woman to have agency over her own body, it challenges age old stereotypes of women.

– I am very glad that Stockholm and Stockholm Film Festival for the second year hands out Stockholm Impact Award. The purpose of the prize is to highlight film that reflects our society and film that does not shy away from sensitive topics. Film has the ability to reflect our modern society, and films like this one are contributions in the shaping and development of our society, says Karin Wanngård (s), Mayor of Stockholm.

Wayne Roberts received the film award designed by Ai Weiwei during the Stockholm Film Festival Award Ceremony on Friday 18th of November.

The section Stockholm Impact Award is a collaboration between the Stockholm International Film Festival and the City of Stockholm with the purpose to highlight the possibility of film to create change and debate through the depiction of contemporary subjects. The prize amount of 1 million SEK will help the winner in the development of new film projects.

Nominated for Stockholm Impact Award:

500M800M by Yao Tian (Hong Kong, China),

The Citizen by Roland Vranik (Hungary),

The Dark Wind by Hussein Hassan (Iraq, Germany, Qatar),

The Fixer by Adrian Sitaru (Romania, France),

Katie Says Goodbye by Wayne Roberts (USA, France),

Play the Devil by Maria Govan (Trinidad& Tobago, Bahamas, USA).

 The purpose of the prize is to highlight the possibility of film to create change and debate through the depiction of contemporary subjects. The prize amount of 1 million SEK will help the winner in the development of new film projects. The winner will also receive an award designed by the acclaimed artist and filmmaker Ai Weiwei.

– I am very glad that Stockholm and Stockholm Film Festival for the second year hands out Stockholm Impact Award. The prize strengthens Stockholm as an attractive film city. My clear ambition is that more filmmakers use Stockholm as their film location. That creates jobs, provides income to the city and business and markets Stockholm’s place in the world, said Karin Wanngård (s), Mayor of Stockholm earlier.

Stockholm International Film Festival and The City of Stockholm instituted the prize Stockholm Impact Award last year and 2015’s winner was the Indian director Leena Yadav for her film Parched.

Stockholm International Film Festival also arranged an Impact Seminar where the Politics of Storytelling was debated. People have discuss how, by highlighting issues such as class, religion, civil rights, freedom of speech, immigration and war crime, a film impacts the society it portrays.