Category Archives: News

今日头条:中国致公党北京市委代表团访问瑞典

北欧绿色邮报网报道(记者陈雪霏)--由刘学增秘书长率领的中国致公党北京市委代表团一行日前访问瑞典。11日下午代表团成员与总部在瑞典首都斯德哥尔摩的北欧致公协会部分会员举行了座谈会。

img_8980 北欧致公协会总召集人之一叶沛群先生首先对远道而来的客人表示欢迎。他说,中国致公党的前身是由海外华侨社团组建的海外组织,旨在维护华侨的正当利益。关注民族的独立和祖国的富强。现在的中国致公党是在中国共产党领导之下被中国各方认可的八大民主党派之一。她为了中国的繁荣与强大团结海外的华侨专家做出了贡献。今天致公党北京市委代表团能来与北欧致公协会进行交流,能见到新老朋友,对此,我致以真诚的谢意。

img_8983中国致公党北京市委秘书长刘学增先生说,我们这次来访问有两个目的,一个是中国正在搞一带一路建设,在这个过程中,我们能做哪些贡献,我们是带着这个问题来的,第二,我们是来考察华文教育的问题,探讨怎样进行文化走出去。还有北京正在进行治霾的过程中,我们还想了解发达国家在交通,人口和治霾过程中有哪些好的举措。

img_8988-edit-2随后,双方分别介绍了北欧致公协会组织建设与活动的情况,致公党北京市委在过去三十多年,尤其是在过去三年所取得的成就,所做的工作,尤其在科技环保和可持续发展方面汇集了各方面人才。

img_8997北欧致公协会成员也分别介绍了各自所在的领域,尤其在科技环保领域都愿意通过相互交流与合作为祖国的科技环保等各方面的事业做出自己应有的贡献。

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              致公党北京市委代表团向北欧致公协会赠送题词。

出席座谈会的其他代表团成员有中国致公党北京市委宣传处调研员刘兴朝,致公党北京市海淀区委常务副主委顾传强,致公党北京市西城区委委员朱桂林,致公党北京市房山支部副主委赵圳和致公党北京市委员会海外联谊工作委员会副主任周斌。

img_9047北欧致公协会15位会员参加了本次座谈会。

图/魏学超          文/陈雪霏

瑞典发明自动服务助力手套

北欧绿色邮报网报道(记者陈雪霏)--由世界著名的瑞典卡罗林斯卡医学院外科医生和瑞典皇家科技大学自动化机器人研究教授一起合作研究的帮助病人,职业工人或体力较弱者助力的手套日前已经问世并进入临床使用。

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瑞典生物服务技术公司(BIOSERVO)CEO埃里克.兰得格林日前在接受本报记者采访时表示,该手套也被叫做骷髅手套,因为它看起来很简单,不是每个手指都有,但是,该手套可以帮助受伤的人早日回到工作岗位,对于产业工人,可以防止他们扭伤,从这个角度讲可以为企业省钱,降低成本,减少工伤事故等。

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他说,该产品已经在很多市场都开始应用了,例如,在医院里,虚弱的病人可以借助这种手套拿杯子,饭碗等。他们也已经和通用汽车公司签署了合作协议,要为他们的工人生产这样的助力手套。他们还和美国航天局NASA签署了合作协议。

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在瑞典,那些受伤的人们可以通过使用这个助力手套尽早返回工作。那些病入膏肓的病人,用这个手套,也可以拿杯子。可以自己吃饭了。这些人过去都必须每天有人帮助他们料理吃饭喝水事宜。

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手套的手指部分有感应器,它可以自动感受到你自己的力气以及拿杯子需要多大的力气,就好像你身体自带的感应器,因此很特别。

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扬.维坎德教授在脑外科领域与卡罗林斯卡合作。我们想用机器人的手来工作,但是,我们去除了机器人的一些设备,但加上了线手套,加上了感应器,和一些传导线,所以,其原理来自于机器人手。这是我和汉松教授,一个脑外科大夫的联合发明。

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我们有很多受伤的病人,他们有手受伤的,也有腿受伤的,他们的肌肉需要力量,他们希望重新获得力量。这可以通过技术来补充。所以,我请教我的好朋友维坎德教授。我们一起研究,我有外科经验,他有机器人的经验,所以,我们发明了这种助力手套。是工程和医学的有机结合。

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据介绍,这种助力手套可以通过感应器感受带手套者本身的力量并智能判断达到目的能需要的力气,然后,引擎摩托可以自动给力,恰到好处。这样手套就成了人体感知的一部分。

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它可以帮助虚弱的病人拿苹果,或者吃饭,喝咖啡,也可以帮助渔业工人搬运装鱼的箱子,或者帮助通用汽车公司的工人做一些机械工作。

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头条要闻:陈育明大使在瑞典中国商会揭牌仪式上讲话

北欧绿色邮报网报道(记者陈雪霏)--据北欧中华网报道,中国驻瑞典大使陈育明12月8日在瑞典中国商会成立揭牌仪式上发表讲话祝贺商会成立。

  中资企业在当地创造就业岗位近1.7万个

webwxgetmsgimg-5陈大使说,中国在瑞企业作为双边经贸合作的中坚力量,在瑞开展业务已有30年,近年来更是发展迅速。目前,在瑞中资企业已有30个,投资总额近36亿美元,在当地创造就业岗位近1.7万个,已成为中瑞经贸与投资合作不可或缺的推动者。

“今天,在瑞中资企业组成的瑞典中国商会的成立,是中瑞经贸关系发展的可喜结果,有重要的象征意义。希望商会用心经营,积极发挥作用,成为两国企业之间、企业与政府之间交流的平台与沟通的桥梁,招商引资的载体和文化交流的窗口,为中瑞合作发展插上新的翅膀,推动中瑞经贸关系再上新台阶”。

陈大使说,在这个值得庆贺的好日子,我想强调:第一、中国经济的稳定发展是中国企业走出去的坚强后盾。近年来,面对世界经济复苏乏力和中国经济转型的严峻挑战,中国经济运行保持稳中有进,增长速度位居世界主要经济体前列,工业增速和企业效益、进出口、投资企稳回升。今年前9个月,中国国内生产总值同比增长6.7%。同时,中国对160个国家和地区的6535家企业的非金融类直接投资也累计1342亿美元,同比增长53.7%,其中对瑞投资增长21%。中国对瑞投资无论从规模、质量和领域都有大幅度提高和拓展。

 中国改革开放与法治建设不断深化

第二、中国改革开放与法治建设的不断深化为外资企业在华发展提供了更好的投资环境。习近平主席在不久前召开的中共十八届六中全会上再次强调全面深化改革、全面依法治国和严厉惩治腐败。中国政府一直致力于为外资企业提供公平、透明、可预期的投资环境,先后修订了《外商投资产业指导目录》,通过了《中外合资经营企业法》等4部法律修正案,制定修订了《商标法》、《消费者权益保护法》等12部保护知识产权方面的法律法规,大大提高了外资准入开放度和法律保护。今年前10个月,外商在华新设企业22580家,同比增长7.4%;实际使用外资金额1039亿美元,同比增长4.2%,这充分证明中国的投资营商环境更好了,外商投资的领域更宽了。

 40年来,中瑞双边贸易额增长110多倍

第三、平等互利的中瑞和中欧经贸关系有良好的前景。40年来,中瑞双边贸易额增长110多倍;超过500家瑞典企业在中国投资兴业,双方在全领域实现合作,而这些成就的基石是平等互利共赢。我们希望瑞典继续坚持自由贸易立场,在欧盟发挥积极、建设性的作用,推动中欧经贸关系在健康正确的轨道上不断前行。

“ 今天是12月8日,按照中国传统说法,8象征着事业兴旺发达。再过几天,过了农历新年就是鸡年。祝愿中国商会的会员企业和瑞典的合作伙伴以及在场的各位嘉宾在新的一年雄鸡高啼、事业成功。” 陈大使说。

webwxgetmsgimg瑞典中国商会揭牌仪式在中国驻瑞典大使馆举行。出席揭牌仪式的有瑞典国务秘书斯坦斯特罗姆,中国银行,中国国航,华为,中兴等30多家公司代表出席了揭牌仪式。

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国务秘书斯坦斯特罗姆,中国驻瑞典大使馆经济参赞韩晓东和五矿驻斯德哥尔摩总经理,首任商会会长李洪钟都在会上致辞。中国银行驻斯德哥尔摩分行行长郝连才,中国国航斯德哥尔摩总经理朱津川被选为副会长。中兴,华为,中欧汽车CEVT(吉利瑞典)和人民网是理事单位。

来源:中国驻瑞典使馆微信

图/崔寒飛, 文/陈雪霏

 

Nobel Prize Concert soloist Janine Jansen

STOCKHOLM, Dec. 8(Chineseonline)–According to Nobel Media, in association with the Stockholm Concert Hall, Violinist Janine Jansen will perform soloist during the 2016 Nobel Prize Concert –- an event of world class stature.

The concert is being held on 8 December as part of the official Nobel Week programme of activities.

Gianandrea Noseda. Photo © Sussie Ahlburg.

Janine Jansen.  Photo © Decca/Marco Borggreve.

Kaufman’s performance was cancelled.

 

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.

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.