Avainsana: Wanhat Toverit

Julkaistu

Social democratic veterans: A very pleasant Christmas lunch with friends and former colleagues

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The ’Old Comrades of the Capital’ – an association of retired social democratic party and trade union employees and political office holders met at the traditional restaurant at Workers Hall in Helsinki. From January onwards I am the president of this respected organisation which meets once a month to discuss a current political theme. At ’my’ first meeting soon after the holidays, former party chair and multiple minister Ulf Sundqvist will discuss Nordic and European social democracy against the backdrop of growing populism.

Humble and pleased to work with these people who have been so important for building up our democracy and the Finnish welfare state, and who are now committed to working actively for protecting these values.

Oh the accordion music – this was Maunu Ihalainen who for many-many years was in charge of the national social democratic party organisation. How many we were? Around 40, I guess.

Julkaistu

Pääkaupungin Wanhat Toverit – joululounas 2018

Miellyttävä joululounas Helsingin Työväentalon Juttutuvassa vanhojen työtovereiden ja ystävien kanssa.

Pääkaupungin Wanhat Toverit on sosialidemokraattisen puolueen ja ammattiyhdistysliikkeen eläkkeellä olevien aktiivisten toimijoiden yhdistys. Yhdistys on osa valtakunnallista Suomen Wanhojen Toverien verkostoa. Nöyränä mutta myös erittäin motivoituneena aloitan yhdistyksen puheenjohtajana vuoden alusta. Jos kukaan niin juuri nämä toverit ovat tehneet aivan ratkaisevan päivätyön suomalaisen demokratian ja hyvinvointivaltion puolesta.

Kerran kuussa tapaamme keskustelemaan ajankohtaisista teemoista. Tammikuussa on vieraanamme SDP:n entinen puheenjohtaja ja moninkertainen ministeri Ulf Sundqvist. Ajankohtaiset tapahtumat Ranskassa samoin kuin eurooppalaisen populismin leviäminen nousevat varmaan esiin, samoin kuin ääriliikkeiden uhka. Pohjoismainen ja eurooppalainen sosialidemokratia on tärkeässä asemassa perusarvojemme rauhan, tasa-arvon, demokratian ja solidaarisuuden puolustamisessa.

Tuntui hyvältä tänään. Niin ja Maunu Ihalaisen soitto toi meille sitä oikeaa tunnelmaa joka ei vuosien saatossakaan ole muuttunut .

Julkaistu

Not easy to say no at times – elected president of Pääkaupungin Wanhat Toverit

Not easy to say no, at times. Just back from a meeting with an association of veteran social democratic politicians, officials and activists as newly elected president of the largest local organisation ”Pääkaupungin Wanhat Toverit” – The Old Comrades of the Capital City.

The picture is not from today’s meeting here in Helsinki, however, but from our national conference last year in Tampere.

We get together once a month around a theme which today was the challenge of Europe’s extreme right. Many friends and colleagues from years far back were there. And yes, most looked ’like themselves’, even after my 26 years in Geneva.

This is a group of really experienced people with deeply imbedded values of human rights, democracy, equality and tolerance. Working together with these friends and colleagues is definitely a very special and pleasant but also inspiring challenge. Also happy for the confidence they showed me.

Julkaistu

Back to school: Social media skills for veteran political activists

Back to school today – but this time running a training session. Our association for retired social democratic party and trade union activists – Suomen Wanhat Toverit (Finland’s Old Comrades) – arranged a session where local club representatives developed their information skills. My subject was social media, the benefits and downsides for democracy. Nice people and nice get-together with lots of experience and responsibilities in the room. Inspiring. Here Heikki Virkkunen with broad skills both in printed and electronic media and photography is discussing picture editing.