Role Models

I was tagged ages ago by Skolfröken to list four role models. I've been thinking about it a lot but haven't actually sat down to blog about it. Last night I went to a Mentor Sverige event on the theme role models and I was yet again reminded of the task. The kids (12-16-year-olds) together with their mentors and other sponsors of the organisation (business people mainly, and Queen Silvia, who's patron of Mentor Sverige), discussed what a role model is and who can be a role model. The result was a list of key words:

* Trust
* Respect
* Accessability
* Mother (it was interesting to hear that both boys and girl list their mother as their first role model)
* Friend
* Ties
* Courage
* Parents
* Time

My role models
This is by no means an exclusive list, but a few people who have had influence in my life and whom I admire for what they have achieved.

1. My mother
My mum and I are very similar in many ways and she has passed on her interest in politics and society to me. Already at a very early age I was invited to join in discussions at the dinner table and to voice my opinions. I was never "forced" to study hard and go on to university but I always had support and was positively reinforced in a way that wanted me to aim higher. By seeing my mum be very active in local politics, work and take care of a family, I had a very good role model at home. It wasn't always that easy for my parents, having another child with a handicap (my brother) who required a bit of extra or special attention, but both of them have managed very well and I have to admire both of them for it.

2. A friend - Åsa
I didn't know Åsa when growing up and only met her six years ago. But she's a person who's done a lot in life and who I get inspiration from. Like me, she doesn't come from an academic home but decided pretty early on that she wanted to get a higher education. Like me, she went abroad for her degree and eventually ended up in Oxford, which is where we met. One thing I really admire her for, and which is probably something I wouldn't have the courage to do, is that she (twice I think) volunteered in refugee camps in Africa. Åsa's main areas of focus is gender equality and women's issues - from a gender perspective on Swedish asylum policy to violence against women in Sweden or abroad. I wish we had more people like her who works to advance women's rights and safety around the world.

3. Anna Lindh
I didn't know her personally of course but I know a lot of persons who did and I also admired her from afar. Anna symbolised a path in life that I would be interested in taking, should I opt to become politically active again. And if I don't go into politics, I still hope to have the opportunity to work for some of the issues she burned for, mainly in the international arena but also at home. I really hoped she would take over the leadership of the Social Democratic party - and the prime minister post - but fate wanted otherwise. However, she can still serve - and she does - as a role model for many young people, especially women, in Sweden and beyond.

4. The Green Movement
To go with my "climate theme" of late, I have to bring attention to all the people out there who devote their lives to saving the environment. Especially organisations like Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace, which have been around for a while, but also all individuals who try to change their everyday behaviour to make it a bit less destructive. In a recent survey 8 of 10 Swedes indicated that they are prepared to pay 5 % more for a product or a service if it's manufactured ecologically. 66 % said that they prefer to buy goods from companies that work to prevent the greenhouse effect, while 86 % find it important that companies decrease their greenhouse gas emissions. Individuals can do their bit by purchasing emission rights in the EU's trading system via the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation. Every emission right means that one tonne less of carbon dioxide is released within the EU area. DHL is selling carbon dioxide-neutral package deliveries and oil company Statoil has launched a service for its customers wishing to be more environmentallyfriendly. Some airlines also offer paying a few extra per cent to ofset the damage done to the environment by air travel.

Practice Makes Perfect

The Economist has appointed Sweden the world's most democratic country. Sweden gets 9.88 of 10 possible points. The Economist calls it "an almost perfect democracy". Sweden is followed by Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark and Finland.

Factors taken into account are how the electoral system and the political administration works, level of political participation, the nature of the political culture and the status of civic rights. Sweden gets top grades in all categories except for one: political culture, i.e. the number of politically active citizens and how losers in an election accepts the results. But the points were still 9.38 in that category.

The Economist divides the world in four categories:
- 28 countries are complete democracies (in Eastern Europe, only the Czech Republic and Slovenia belong here) (two Latin American states qualify: Costa Rica and Uruguay)
- 54 are deficient democracies (Italy is the only EU country in this category)
- 30 are called hybrid regimes
- 55 are authoritarian regimes

USA gets 8.22 points and lands in place 17 of the complete democracies. It would have scored higher if citizenship rights had not been hollowed out as a result of the war on terror. The UK does not score very well either - place 23 - which depends on a substantial decrease of e.g. voter turnout and membership in political parties.

Russia is a hybrid with weighing in at 5.02 points and North Korea gets a full 1.03 points.

Proud of Sweden (but so lucky to be born here and not in Niger)

Sweden has climbed one step and is now no 5 in the UN's Human Development Index (HDI), which measures prosperity. HDI measures three dimensions of human development: life expectancy, educational level and income (GDP per capita).

HDI top 10
1. Norway (nothing beats that oil)
2. Iceland (tiny country)
3. Australia (oh, that sun)
4. Ireland (thanks the EU millions)
5. Sweden (paradise)
6. Canada (about)
7. Japan (happy to see that Japan is making a comeback)
8. USA (but major inequalities)
9. Switzerland (duh, banking!)
10. The Netherlands (Holland is just a part of the NL)

At the other end of the spectrum in place 177 is Niger, followed by Sierra Leone, Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea-Bissau.

According to the report the distance between the world's richest and poorest countries is growing fast - sadly. HDI is a part of the UN's development programme's (UNDP) yearly Human Development Report. This year the report focusses on the growing water and sanitary crises in great parts of the world. The situation south of the Sahara desert in Africa is grim. No progress has been made and the HDI for these countries is roughly the same as the beginning of the 1990s, mainly due to the HIV/Aids pandemic. The average life expectancy is just 46, which is lower than 30 years ago (and almost half of Sweden's 80+). Norwegians are 40 times richer than the unfortunate inhabitants of Niger. Swaziland's life expectancy is only 31.3 years on average. That's my age at some time next year.

God, I feel so lucky having been born in Sweden!

Friday Four

There's a Swedish blog called Fredagsfyran (Friday Four), which helps you blog on a Friday when/if you're out of ideas or don't really have the time to blog about anything longer. Admittedly I don't blog every day (sometimes not even every week) so it's not like I need ideas for Fridays while I always have ideas the other days of the week. But Friday Four poses some interesting questions - sometimes just picking up on the week's gossip but often also touching upon more serious topics, like this week. So I think that this week is a good time to start.

(I will already apologise for next Friday when I probably won't blog since I'll be in St Petersburg, Russia)

Theme: Moral questions

1) If a homeless person begs you for money, what do you do?
Very, very, very rarely give any money. I like to think that I contribute directly to shelters, etc. instead but I have to admit that happens only once a year or so.

2) If you see someone standing with a broken down car by the side of the motorway and waves his/her hands, what do you do?
If I was alone in the car I probably wouldn't stop because you never know, but if I was with a friend or with my boyfriend, we would at least stop and ask whether we could call some services for him/her.

3) If someone rings your doorbell and asks you to take care of a kitten that would otherwise be put to sleep, what do you do?
I would love to take care of it but my boyfriend is a little allergic and I don't really feel like I have the time to take care of a cat right now. So Id probably recommend he/she to call a animal shelter.

4) If a friend asks to borrow 5,000 SEK (€550, £380, $715), but absolutely does not want to say for what, what do you do?
Sorry friends, but you would have to tell me what the money is going to (I would keep your secret). Then I would consider lending out the money.

Anna's ABC

Another list taken from Skolfröken.

A is for age: 30
B is for booze of choice: A glass of nice red wine or a bitter
C is for career: Political scientist with a European studies direction (now working as desk officer at an embassy)
D is for your dad's name: Lars-Gunnar
E is for essential items to bring to a party: A bottle of something drinkable or a nice gift for the hosts; and a great party mood
F is for favourite song at the moment: Tired of all the summer hits that are still being played!
G is for favourite game: Trivial Pursuit
H is for home town: Stockholm
I is for instruments you play: Played violin for a year or two when I was little and took a few months of piano lessons back in 1996, but now nothing
J is for jam or jelly you like: Lemon curd, homemade jams made of Swedish berries
K is for kids: Hope so, preferably 2, maybe 3 even
L is for living arrangements: Flat, partly at my own and partly at my boyfriend's
M is for your mother's name: Elisabet
N is for name of your crush: Peter, but I think he knows it :)
O is for overnight hospital stays: When I was born (of course), when I was 1 or 2 and operated my eye, when I was 3-4 and had croup, and when I had appendicitis in the summer of 1996 while I was living in the US
P is for phobias: None really but I don't like the slimey bugs that sometimes appear in my bathroom
Q is for quotes you like: Carpe Diem (boring, I know, but it's true)
R is for relationship that lasted the longest: Former American boyfriend but I'm hoping my current one will overtake by far!
S is for sartorial style: Usually dressy trousers or skirt and a nice top or a jacket for work, and jeans or skirt at the weekend
T is for time you wake up: 7 am (weekends around 9-10 am)
U is for underwear: Once I didn't
V is for vegetables you love: Broccoli (British kids would say chips)
W is for weekend plans: Celebrating a friend's 30th, going to a X-mas market, eating an early X-mas buffet
X is for x-rays you've had: Some at dental appointments and once or twice otherwise
Y is for yummy food you make: Enchiladas, different pasta sauces, salad dressing
Z is for zodiac sign: Aquarius but I don't believe in it

Swedish bonus letters:
Å är åt dem du vill skicka listan vidare till / Who you want to send the list to: Anyone can "steal" it but tell me so I can read your lists!
Ä är för älsklingstrend / Trend you love: Blogging
Ö är för en önskan just nu / A wish right now: If I tell you it won't come true!

Citizens of Different Value

With the Democrats having regained power in (what it looks like now) both houses, hopefully they will reverse this decision: the Bush administration has decided that children born in the US to illegal immigrants with low incomes will no longer automatically be entitled to state (Medicaid) health insurance. This is despite the fact that they are Americans citizens. Previously these children have had access to health care during their first year of life - a time when it is especially important with check-ups and vaccinations - and their mothers have been entitled to Medicaid during labour and delivery. Now parents will have to prove the child's citizenship (that it is born in the US) before getting access to health care, which can take some time - weeks or months - with applications and documentation, etc. Parents, being illegal immigrants, may be afraid to go through this process because of fear of deportation.

Listed

Following the lead of Skolfröken...

Three names I listen to: Koheden, Ans, sötnos

Something I like about myself: I'm very tolerant
Something I don't like about myself: I'm sometimes too nice and avoid bringing up an issue even though I should; I let people get away with stuf

I'm afraid of: Dying young

Three things I want to have every day: TLC, Internet access and food
Three things I absolutely can't do: Be quiet, roll my tongue, draw/paint
I like to do: Buy books, take long walks, travel, dine

Right now I want to: Go to sleep

Best feeling: Happiness
Worst feeling: Being deserted

My partner is: Kind and unselfish, funny and indecisive

Three things I want to do before I die: Have children, visit all continents, experience the world community reversing climate change

My dearest possession: The bracelet I received when I was christened
Something I want as a present: iPod

What I wearing right now: Jeans, red sweater
Favourite clothes: Jeans, skirts, my boots

Star sign: Aquirius but don't believe in astrology

Favourite smell: Spring, freshly baked buns, my boyfriend

Colour of my eyes: Blue
My lenght: 168 cm

Favourite quote: It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried - Sir Winston Churchill

Weird/odd characteristic: Remember stupid facts

European, Swede, World Citizen

Feelings of 'Europeanness' are apparently on the rise, according to a new study published in the journal Science. Despite gloomy analyses over the EU's failure to connect to its citizens, Europe's younger generations are increasingly feeling "European" next to their national identities.

A team of Austrian sociologists found that older generations of citizens who only feel attachment to their nation – not to "Europe" - are dying out. The sociologists based their findings on European Commission's Eurobarometer studies from 1996 to 2004, which contain the question whether respondents feel, for example, only Swedish; Swedish and European; European and Swedish; or only European.

The group of respondents who express that they have "multiple identities" is on the rise, i.e. European identity is not replacing national identity. In 2004, 58 percent had some sense of feeling European, a number which is set to rise to 68.5 percent by 2030 if the current trend continues. Luxembourgers are the most "European" with 78 % feeling some sort of European identity. The Italians came second at 72 %, followed by the French (68 %) and the Spanish (64 %) while Swedes (45 %), Finns (43 %) and Brits (40 %) are at the other ends of the spectrum.

The study thinks that increasing media reporting at the European level, increasing mobility within the EU - across national borders - both among students and workers, and the fact that we live in the information communication age are factors contributing to Europeanness.

The study covers neither the period following the rejection of the EU constitutions in France and Netherlands nor the enlarged union of 25 member states, so we'll have to wait for new studies to find out what the present mood is. Being the ever European I think we'll have even better figures in the next study!

If you want a taste of European politics, play the "Be a MEP" game!

More Climate Change

Continuing on the same theme (picking up where I left a few weeks ago), several estimates of the cost of environmental destruction have been published. Turns out climate change may become more expensive than expected. According to a British study published on Monday, the Stern review, the world economy may shrink by 20 per cent. The cost for Sweden may be several billion SEK.

The Swedish government has launched a few studies to find out what needs to be done to decrease emissions and cope with the effects of climate change as well as estimate some of the costs. An initial report from one of the inquiries into the effects of climate change was published today. Tom Hedlund, principal secretary of the inquiry, predicts that global warming will increase rain and snow falls, which will threaten the waterways and coastal areas. Warmer weather will have an effect on agriculture and forestry.

So what can the individual citizen do? S/he does not need to stop driving but must look at what kind of car to drive and as soon as possible change to environmentally friendly fuel. Citizens should also demand that politicians increase access to and benefit green fuel in different ways. The individual can also look at trying to save energy at home, maybe by changing the old oil burner to a more environmentally friendly alternative.

At the global level it is about putting in extensive measures against the reasons for the climate changes, which foremost depends on the emissions of greenhouse gases. The new Swedish environment minister wants Sweden to be active and lead the global work in this area. He's planning a environment ministerial meeting in Sweden in June next year. One problem to solve is how to deal with the fast-growing economies, such as India, China and Brazil, which will be responsibnle for the biggest emissions in just a few years' time. Another problem is the USA.

I'm not expecting too much from the new Swedish government - in their election campaign the main coalition party downplayed the climate threat - but I'm hoping that these recent and forthcoming reports will give them the right push.