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.
Fifty years ago I was president of this Swedish-language small social democratic party local and last night I was asked to be its secretary. So the circle here is kind of closed again. Not really a students’ organisation anymore 😊, but yes there are also some of us original members left. Its not-too-big membership comes from the whole Helsinki (Helsingfors) region and we meet once a month for a political discussion – and a dinner for those who wish. Socialdemokratiskt Forum as it is called is also an active member in the party itself and in its Swedish-language organisation. And Zinnkeller where we met last night once again is an authentic German family-owned neighbourhood restaurant so the cuisine is rich, hearty and delicious…
Fast, free and efficient. Today’s flu vaccination at a Helsinki municipality service center close to my home took less than two minutes. Walk in, show the government-issued health service card for identification, pull up the left shirt sleeve, a fast vaccination, and that’s it. Free for all those over 65 or under 7 years old, free for other vulnerable groups and people in some professions, and very low cost for others. Public sector in Finland at its best, again.
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.
Coffee break today in a very traditional café some 30 kms from central Helsinki – Helsingfors. Already as a child I sometimes went there with my parents. Usually this was during the winter when we were coming back from a day of cross country skiing in a nearby sports area. Those were times with much more snow than today…
The red house, Bemböle coffee cottage, is from 1734. Inside, the coffee was good and the large open fireplace created a light sensation of smoke throughout the room, but we did survive…
A bit worn out after a highly successful village celebration yesterday, arranged by the Helsinki Pitäjänmäki community association which I am president of.
Welcoming the villagers and other guests
Well, village is maybe not the right word. This city region has a population of 20,000 and covers everything, from a war veterans’ village to the Helsinki ’silicon valley’.
Lots of people crowded around the library and sports field where the retired bus and tram drivers’ brass band animated the event. Voluntary fire fighters showed their equipment, the sports club held running races starting with three years olds, kids sold their own bakeries, families crowded a large flea market and I counted at least four cafe’s.
Selling home made pastries.
Inside the library we could show some unique 5,000 years old artefacts that were found by archaeologists in a park around the corner. Next summer we will continue excavations where our community association will of course participate.
Finland’s environment minister Kimmo Tiilikainen addressing the crowd. He spent much time at the event, talking with many activists and familiarizing himself with their projects. As a result we saw him a few weeks later on a Saturday afternoon with a shovel and wheelbarrow working on a neighbourhood creek where trout is being planted by local enthusiasts.
All our main political parties were present with numerous members of Parliament discussing with the villagers. Also the environment minister spent a good few hours here and was especially interested in a project where local fishing enthusiasts are reviving the fish population in the creek that runs through our part of town.
Wondering at the stone age artefacts found in the Pitäjänmäki Sockenbacka village in Helsinki.
We wanted this celebration to look like our city region itself instead of just being a market day among others. Our community took up the challenge and the result exceeded all our expectations.
A last moment scare when a local thunderstorm was predicted for exactly these hours passed away and we enjoyed a beautiful late summer day. If it was because of the strong support and presence by our parish here in Pitäjänmäki goes beyond my competence to assess 😊
The Helsinki Traffic Authority HKL veterans’ brass band entertained during the event.Coffee anyone?The local sports club – Pitäjänmäen Tarmo – had their coffee and pastry stand next to the sports field where children were competing in playful competitions. Everyone got a prize, thanks to the local K-Market grocery store.The flea market was of course an important part of the day.The voluntary fire brigade – Pitäjänmäen VPK in Finnish, Sockenbacka FBK in Swedish – was established 110 years ago in 1908. Still going strong but would need more young members. Yes they live in the local Marttila – Martas village also, these sheep…The political parties were there also. Here the green party booth is being set up.See you all next year… The 2019 village celebration will be on 1 September.
Yesterday the final agreement was made for me to be part of the Stakeholder Board of APSCA. The Association for Professional Social Compliance Auditors (APSCA) is a new organisation created by the world’s leading social and environmental auditing companies.
Already for some years I have been pushing for the industry itself to get together to defend both the quality and the credibility of serious and professionally qualified auditing. I am happy to see that this has now been done.
I was pleased to accept the invitation of APSCA as I am convinced that social and environmental auditing will continue to play a key role in laying a credible and useful foundation for protecting human rights and improving labour conditions. The Stakeholder Board will bring into the organisation’s work the expectations and views of brands and retailers, civil society organisations, independent experts and others.
In most supplier countries it would take a long time before labour relations built on collective agreements, protective legislation and an efficient government control and labour inspection can take over completely. To ensure positive change, a multitude of approaches and involving different global and local partners are needed. Among the most important participants in this work are the environmental and social auditors.
