Local to global comments in three languages. Much also from Pitäjänmäki Sockenbacka in Helsinki Helsingfors Finland, as well as from the organisations I participate in. The older content is from my previous blog page which I have now closed. Most of the contents on the earlier pages deals with sustainability, human rights and social responsibility in the global supply chains.
A walk on our ’riverside’ today, here in my Helsinki city region Pitäjänmäki – Sockenbacka. Trout are back here, after ten years of diligent work since a leak from a paint factory killed all life in our Mätäjoki – Rutiån creek.
The trout is a highly endangered species here so it has been quite an achievement by the fishing and nature activists to create a conducive environment in this small river.
The government supports this work in many ways and sanctions for illegal fishing are heavy – it would cost 3,260 Euro plus fines to take up a trout from these waters. No wonder that people prefer the fish monger in the close by shopping center.
So a great day and I was especially happy to see also some old friends joining us, like my class mate from school Hans Lindqvist and a friend and colleague from our union years here in Finland, journalist Kari Arola.
Hans Lindqvist and Pekka LindbladPekka Lindblad and Kari Arola
The local association Pitäjänmäki-seura ( Sockenbacka-sällskapet in Swedish ) which I am president of will continue actively supporting these conservation efforts. We have a uniquely wonderful nature here just next to the city centre and want to take care of it. Helsinki (Helsingfors) is actually a great green city to live in.
Electrical fishing on 10 October 2019. No, not at all as bad as it sounds. Together with the head of a local sports fishing association I joined experts from the National Resource Center of Finland to find out how the seriously endangered trout is establishing itself in our local creek – Mätäjoki or Rutiån in Swedish.
Leading a weak current to the water, the two gentlemen from this government agency could draw the fish towards the electrically positive pole and catch them for measuring. After this was done they were let back into the water.
And yes, there was lots of trout in these waters that ten years ago were absolutely dead after a chemicals leak from a paint factory. On a test area of 8 x 16 meters they counted 60 trouts, small ones of course, and were surprised themselves. – There would not even be space for more, they commented.
This is part of the environmental work that we support in our local city region, through our local association Pitäjänmäki-seura ( Sockenbacka-samfundet ) that I am president of. And the fishing enthusiasts have done a truly great job which now is bearing fruit.
Just back from a walk to our Helsinki Finland village voluntary fire brigade Pitäjänmäen VPK – Sockenbacka FBK. Established 110 years ago in 1908, it used to be connected to the traditional smoke stack industry in this old community. ( 25 September 2019 )
Now times have changed but the fire brigade continues its active service. It is linked to the Helsinki Rescue Department, but works on a voluntary basis.
Like other voluntary fire brigades, ours has at times had difficulties in recruiting new young members. The intervention brigade has worked fine, but youth has been absent. Now finally, a youth group has started under the skilled and enthusiastic leadership of the fire brigade president Henrik Helenius.
Today I saw a small but happy group of young villagers taking their first steps on the road to become an active fire brigade volunteer. This was a really pleasant and positive experience. It is great that there are experienced and skilled people like Henrik who devote their time and energy to these important activities.
And yes, the voluntary fire brigade in Pitäjänmäki – Sockenbacka has a shining red fire engine and a crew bus, and yes they do all kinds of emergencies and community services as well, not only practice sessions.
Today we started a new service in my city region Pitäjänmäki – Sockenbacka for the elderly and for families who need assistance. Our new village assistant will be available to help with chores both in homes and in gardens. This will bring much relief to many. We are not competing with the private sector but providing a social service in the neighbourhood.
This initiative by the regional residents’ association Pitäjänmäki-seura which I am president of is made possible by the Finnish government. To enable long-term unemployed to get back to work, organisations like mine can apply for support from the public employment authorities. If all conditions are met they will pay the full wages for up to one year, instead of paying unemployment insurance compensations. We handle all administration and booking ourselves, and can thus keep the hourly fees paid by customers very low.
So today, Akseli started his work with us. Next autumn he plans to pick up his university studies again. There are many elderly people living in our villages so I am sure that he will be busy.
To support both local employment and provide useful social services is an important function for our association.
The one-day meeting was attended by Estonian social democratic veterans from all parts of the country. The ten Finnish participants represented the two Wanhat Toverit social democratic veterans’ associations in Helsinki as well as the national association.Liisa Jaakonsaari, former member of the European Parliament, commented the EU from the Finnish point of view.
Brexit has helped convince people that the benefits of being part of the European Union are indeed important.
Today popular support for the EU is growing almost everywhere. As global structures and rules are under pressure it is important that the EU preserves its unity as a community for peace and freedom.
The European Union was a central subject when social democratic veteran politicians, civil servants and full-time reps from Estonia and Finland met yesterday (Wednesday 11.9.) in the Estonian capital Tallinn. From Finland, a small group representing the Suomen Wanhat Toverit association participated.
Main speaker from our side was Ms Liisa Jaakonsaari who recently retired from the European Parliament and did not stand for re-election. She was member of the Finnish parliament and Minister of Labour. For the Estonian participants, Mr Ivari Padar gave a presentation. He is Member of the European Parliament and former Minister of Finance, Minister of Agriculture and former chairman of the Estonian Social Democratic Party.
The speakers said that it is regrettable that there are EU Member States which want to break down basic European values. The rule of law, freedom of the press, academic freedoms and human rights are being violated in countries like Poland and Hungary. It is unacceptable that common values are not respected.
Responding to wishes from the European Parliament and European Commission, the Finnish EU Presidency is keeping these issues high on its agenda, Liisa Jaakonsaari told participants.
Growing right-wing populism was an important subject at this Estonian-Finnish social democratic get-together. Estonian Member of Parliament (Riigikogu) Ms Heljo Pikhof told about the many incidents where the top leaders of the populist EKRE party have been attacking the country’s democratic institutions. The Estonian Presidency and the person of President Kersti Kaljulaid have not been spared, but on the contrary been given special attention. This the EKRE leaders have done even from their present positions as members of a conservative coalition government. The social democrats positioned themselves strongly against EKRE in this year’s parliamentary elections but had to see their numbers go down.
Speakers and other participants stressed the need to actively present democratic alternatives to many of the concrete questions that the right-wing populists have chosen for their agendas. It was suggested that this could be one of the important subjects when the Estonian and Finnish social democrats develop their cooperation further.
Mr Kari Salmi’s presentation of the new left-centre government in Finland as well as the ongoing Finnish health care reforms raised much interest among the Estonian participants. He is chair of the national association that brings together social democratic veteran activists, Suomen Wanhat Toverit. In the lively discussion that followed we could see both the many similarities between Estonian and Finnish approaches as well as important differences.
Walking to the Tallinn mansion that housed our meeting we had the opportunity to visit the new monument raised in remembrance of the Estonian victims of communism and communist state terror. It gave a strong impression to go up the hill between two gigantic walls of black stone with all the names of the 12,256 people deported in 1940-41, 11,080 politically imprisoned or murdered 1940-43, 35,472 deported 1944-53 including those 32,990 deported in 1949, and the 49,347 politically imprisoned or murdered between 1944 and 1991.
Speakers and participants in the discussion stressed the need to actively present democratic alternatives to many of the concrete questions that right-wing populists have chosen for their agendas. It was suggested that this could be one of the important common subjects when the Estonian and Finnish social democrats develop their further cooperation.
With two former Finnish Ambassadors to Estonia, Mr Jaakko Blomberg (2001 to 2005) and Mr Jaakko Kalela (2005 – 2010) as members in our group we were well briefed about the political backgrounds.
I participated in the meeting as president of one of the two veteran social democratic activists association of the Finnish capital Helsinki, Pääkaupungin Wanhat Toverit.
Highly interesting discussion today ( 3 September 2019 ) when Finland’s former Prime Minister and Speaker of Parliament Paavo Lipponen visited the social democratic veterans association which I am president of. His role in bringing our country into the core of European Union integration was absolutely crucial. Today some 50 of us former full time activists listened attentively to his analysis of the truly fateful years for Europe and the world that we are living through now.
Paavo Lipponen covered much subject matter in what was almost a lecture, from the rise of authoritarian rule and the hardened global climate over growing inequality, the spread of anti-semitism and racism, concluding with the need for an intensified cooperation within the European Union. The EU needs to play a stronger role. Further strengthening of the European monetary union EMU is part of the necessary measures.
There was a clear consensus in our group that we cannot just stand on the side-lines and watch extreme right wing groups and ideologies spread in different parts and countries of Europe. We have to take the lead away from these circles on issues where they are now allowed to dominate. This calls for speaking fearlessly out for our own values and standing up to these dangerous movements that are putting humanity and democracy at risk.
Almost 50 years have gone from when Paavo Lipponen often took the same city bus as I did, on the way to our neighbouring offices in Hakaniemi-Hagnäs in Helsinki. At times Paavo came on board of Bus 17 two stops after mine and we could have a brief chat during these 15 minutes on the road. It was fun to refresh the memories of far back early morning rides – we both indeed left very early for work.
When I welcomed Paavo Lipponen and told our friends that in my view, he did play a historical role in securing Finland as a European western democracy with a Nordic welfare state orientation there was clearly a broad agreement in the room. Here I believe he has placed himself alongside some of our most important social democratic leaders of the 20th Century, such as Väinö Tanner, Karl-August Fagerholm and Mauno Koivisto.
