South Africa Here I Come!

We're off for a two-week holiday in South Africa - will be back here with lots to tell and photos to post in the new year!

Feminist Inspiration

I attended a very interesting lecture by Nawal El-Saadawi tonight. El-Saadawi is a leading Egyptian feminist, sociologist, medical doctor and writer on Arab women's problems. She is one of the most widely translated contemporary Egyptian writers, with her work available in twelve languages.

I just wanted to share a few of the interesting points she made (in the order they were raised):

• I don't like the term "the Middle East". Middle to whom? If we call it the "Middle West" people laugh but why? When I go to America I say that I go to the "Far West".
• We don't live in a post-colonial world; it is neo-colonial.
• There are global and local dictators. Local dictators imitate global ones.
• I challenge the concepts of "democracy", "diversity" and "multi-culturalism". They divide people. They are words of post-modernism, which in turn is neo-colonial.
• Condoleeza Rice is biologically a woman but when you open up her brain, George Bush is there.
• Nakedness and veiling are two sides of the same coin = the paradox of the woman's body. Plastic surgery is the post-modern veil, the veil of the body.
• The father (or the [male] teacher, professor, etc.) is the representative of the divine power.
• Religion (Christianity) has caused a split between body and spirit. The woman is associated with body, physical and feeling, while the man is spirit, mind and thinking. Eve ate from the tree of knowledge and became a sinner. Why was knowledge condemned?
• One cannot get away from the history of patriarchy in the bedroom.
• If someone says they are apolitical it means they are political but that they are hiding their politics. Everything is political.
• The education is system is based on fragmented knowledge. We specialise. We are not organised and united. But a physician must know why people get sick.
• We must believe that things are possible. The veil of the mind is the most dangerous.
• God is my conscious. Religion has no meaning if one does not do anything. If one just goes to church/mosque or read the bible/quran but never works for justice, is one then saved by religion/God?
• The religious backlash is a political backlash.
• A woman cannot marry two men because then one won't know who is the father of her children. The father's name is important. We should give the mother's name to children instead.
• There is a difference between sexual liberation and economic and political liberation. Women have the first but not the latter [not even in Sweden].

What Kind of Healthcare System Will My Children Have?

Some of the initiatives in the healthcare sector in Sweden are making me a bit worried. The new Op-Ed Dagens Arena - independent, radical and progressive - has written on the topic.

The centre-right Alliance majority in Stockholm County Council has decided to go through with major privatisation in the Stockholm region. One of the places where they are starting is my hometown (where I grew up) Södertälje. According to the proposal on the table all healthare in Södertälje should be privatised, including the emergency hospital. In addition the responsibility for financing and commissioning of the care will be transferred to a private company.

I do not have a problem with private providers of care. What I do not like is when we start financing care through private insurances or handing over responsibility that should remain in public hands. What happens with the democratic governance of the health service and the principles about equality in care ?

The emergency hospital is put in the hands of private profit interests linked to the insurance companies and a monopoly is created consisting of a private company that develops healthcare fully on its own conditions. Simply a private county council in the county council.

As mentioned above, I do not mind diversity of providers in the care sector (or education for that matter), in fact I think it can be a good thing in many ways. But when the majority of these providers are being bought up by big companies or international venture capitalist my alarm bells are ringing.

The centre-right talk about diversity within healthcare, social care services and schools and that different ideas, providers and methods are needed. But sometimes, or really, they seem to be pretty keen on privatisation for the sake of privatisation. Why are private monopolies better than government ones?

As pointed out in Dagens Arena, Fredrik Reinfeldt said in the election campaign last year: "We don't want to sell emergency hospitals. We are not proposing that and I'm happy that you gave me the opportunity to announce that decision tonight." (10 Sep 2007)

But what is this proposal if not selling out the health service in Södertälje? And that is just the start.

Age and Gender

Sweden has just (October) changed to the ILO definition of unemployment which encompasses the 15-74 age range instead of 18-65-year-olds. The Swedish unemployment rate accordingly rose to 5.7% from 4.8%.

This being said, according to fresh labour market figures from the European Commission, Sweden's elderly work the most in the EU. The statistics only look at 55-64 year-olds, but if Sweden is already best in the class in that age range, I would assume that the 65+ are doing reasonably well (although I really hope that our elderly don't have to work if they prefer to retire but that they can work if they want to).

The EU average for employment among 55-64-year-olds are 43.5%, far below the Swedish figure of 70%. One reason for the Swedish scoring top place is that employment among women aged 55-64 is by far higher than other EU countries: 67%. The equivalent in Belgium is 23% (wow, that's low!), in the UK 49% and in Finland 54.3%.

The European Commission praises Sweden for its work with lifelong learning and active aging. Coupled with the high birth rate in Sweden this provides a basis for an increase of the work force until 2050.

Countdown to Christmas

My blog has been given an early Christmas present! A new dress for advent and Christmas! What do you think?!

Spreading the Word!

I want to promote the blogs of the people I work for - you have seven bloggers to choose from!

More Pasta for the People

Håkan Bengtsson writes about an interesting experiment in Italy that he thinks should be followed around the world (he read about it in Dagens industri).

A union leader in Italy recently called the low salaries in Italy a "national emergency" and he is supported by pasta producer Enzo Rossi. Rossi grew tired of his teenage daughters wanting money all the time and being used to getting what they wanted. His solution to the problem was to make the family survive on the same amount of pay as his employees at the pasta factory, i.e. 1,000 euro a month. To succeed the family gave up the car for a scooter, reduced their consumption of nice wines and [Rossi] stopped smoking. They only ate out twice a month. After 20 days the money was gone.

His experiment was meant to open up his daughters' eyes but opened up Rossi's about his employees' salaries. He didn't like the experience of running out of money.

So Rossi decided to raise his staff's salaries!

Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!

We've been thinking about getting one for a while and today we did, a Nintendo Wii! 30 mins of play (tennis mostly) and I'm hooked. And I was supposed to bake and blog about serious stuff (climate change) tonight!

For those of you who also like games, here's another addictive game for you: pick the correct meaning of a word and win bowls of rice for hungry children around the world (for real).

P.S. We've got that Super Mario Galaxy game too!

Still A Long Way to Go

Sweden may be one of the most gender equal countries in the world, but in some areas we are far from reaching the goal. Some stats:

Women in the 20 biggest stock-listed companies' boards
2005: 16.1%
2006: 18.1%
2007: 18.3%

Swedish stock exhange companies completely lacking women on their boards
Industrivärden
Handelsbanken
Skanska
Volvo
SCA
Nordea
Telia
Sonera

The share of newly appointed board members who are women
2005: 20.6%
2006: 26.9%
2007: 16.8%

Share of female chairs
2005: 0%
2006: 0.7%
2007: 2.7%

Board election committees
Women: 18
Men: 84

7 election committees completely lacked women

(Source: Svenska dagbladet)

When Can I Try?!!

Picture Perfect

I did a test on Facebook called Picture Personality, which had me pick pictures that I thought symbolised different states of mind (freedom, love, success, etc.) or my dream house or dream car. I don't think the analysis was that accurate but I will share it with you nevertheless.

Temperament - Energetic
Your energy is boundless - you are racing ahead to some goal, dream or opportunity that lies before you. And you always make sure that you are two steps ahead of the pack. You move so fast through life that you sometimes forget to take time to smell the "proverbial" rose. Channel your energy into what lies immediately ahead of you and your future will be full of even more exciting happenings.

- It's probably true that I'm a bit restless, always looking for the next thing (e.g. job) or thinking that the grass is greener. However, I do enjoy the moment and don't worry to much about that path to the future, even though I'm constantly planning.

Interests - Thrill Seeker
You are interested in anything that is exciting and pleasurable. You're not afraid to indulge yourself - you live by your own set of rules and don't allow yourself to get hung on what others think. For the most part, you are independent and do whatever you please to do. Trying to stop you from doing something only makes you want it even more. At the end of the day - you live for life's most thrilling moments.

- I am pretty independent and don't get hung on what about other people say or think (at least if I know in my heart that I'm right). But I wouldn't say living for life's most thrilling moments is an accurate description of me.

Amusement - Adventurous
It's a good thing that you are filled with energy and ambitions (that others sometimes find exhausting) because you're continually looking for a new adventure and exciting experience. You struggle with a continual feeling of restlessness which constantly pushes you to the next level of excitement. Once you have accomplished one thing, you are eager to accomplish something more exciting, riskier and distinguishable.

- Ready to accomplish something new, yes, but not necessarily taking risk.

Passion - Physical
You are a cuddle bug - from a warm hug shared with your best friend to steamy sex with your partner, you enjoy every bit of human contact that you can get. You demonstrate your love for others most fluidly through physical one-on-one contact and you feel the most loved when you are being touched. You feel disconnected when you are physically isolated from others. You're a people person and a lover of all things human.

- I'm definitely a social, people-person but I actually touch others (like patting a friend on the back) quite sparingly. I have a friend who's like that though and I've always thought I should be more touching (in the non-harassment way).

Busy Social Bee

Training course during the day, dinners and the like at night, no time to blog :(

What's In a Name

Another challenge or list if you will.

YOUR ROCK STAR NAME (first pet & current car): Kitty Golf

YOUR GANGSTA NAME (fav ice cream flavor, favorite cookie): Chocolate Ginger Thins

YOUR "FLY Guy/Girl" NAME (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name): Akom

YOUR DETECTIVE NAME (favorite color, favorite animal): Blue Cat (I like that!)

YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME (middle name, city where you were born): Elisabet Södertälje (not to much fun...works better with English names)

YOUR STAR WARS NAME (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first): Koman (could be a Star Wars name!)

SUPERHERO NAME (2nd favorite color, favorite drink put "The" first): The Pink Moijito (haha, I like it, I wonder what my superpower is!)

STRIPPER NAME (the name of your favorite perfume/cologne, favorite candy): Oui Licorice (yes, could probably be a stripper)

WITNESS PROTECTION NAME (mother's & father's middle names): Edit XXX (as my dad has a double Christian name but no middle name)

Can you resist finding out your stripper name?!!

Another List

1. Take the book nearest to you and open page 18 - what does it say on line 4? "It's made up, it' as simple as that"

2. Stretch your left arm as long as you can, what do you touch? An armchair

3. What was the latest you watched on TV? Austin Powers 3

4. Without looking, guess the time: 18.10 (it is 17.57)

5. Besides the computer, what can you hear right now? A film with Zach Braff

6. When were you last outside last and what did you do? Drove to Ica and bought some stuff for dinner (and earlier today we took a walk in our wellingtons in the woods here at the country house)

7. What did you look at before you began this survey? At the other blogs on my roll (and Facebook)

8. What are you wearing? Jeans and a green T-shirt

9. Did you have a dream last night? Actually something with Britney Spears (who was a mess in my dream too, just like in real life) and Angelina Jolie, but I was happiest when Brad Pitt showed up

10. When did you last laugh? Watching Austin Powers earlier

11. What are on the walls of the room you are in right now? Windows, two pictures with old maps of the Stockholm archipelago

12. Have you seen something strange lately? That Austin Powers film

13. What do you think of this challenge? A good blog posting when you cannot think of something else to blog about

14. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Bourne Ultimatum

15. If you were a multimillionaire, what would you buy? A house in Stockholm, a green car and a flat or a summer place abroad somewhere (and give some to charity)

16. Tell something about yourself that people don't know? I'm really very lazy

17. If you could change ONE thing in the world, without taking into account politics and guilt, what would it be? The brains of men who beat or rape women and little children

18. Do you like dancing? It's alright but I'm not too good at it

19. George Bush? Can't wait until he's gone!

20-21? What would you name your children, boy and girl? Isolde and Julius

22. Would you consider living abroad? I have lived abroad and I would love too again!

23. What do you want God to say when you come to heaven? "You're late!"

Anyone is welcome to answer these very same questions!

A Bit of Sicko in the Swedish Healthcare System

Johanna Graf is always so spot on! I agree with her completely so I have translated her post:

"Unfortunately I have to throw up...
...because this is one of the most tasteless things I have heard. A private children's hospital is opening at Sophiahemmet in Stockholm [where] children of parents who have paid into a private child insurance can receive care. In a web survey carried out by [the tabloid] Aftonbladet it is admittedly a majority who thinks it is wrong with privately financed [through insurance] children's healthcare, but alarmingly many who still think it is a good idea. Maybe they have fallen for the insidious talk that is always brought out when private care is the topic; "But, if more people pay for their care themselves, the pressure on the public health service will be relieved and it can work better".

But think one step further! What do you think happens to the private caretakers' willingness to pay for care they no longer need, or need less and less often? What happens with the strength of a tax system where some, often those who are less willing to pay, do not think that the quality of the service that they are getting for their money is good enough, och therefore join another [health] insurance system?

In the particular case with private children's hospitals one can also quietly ask oneself what will happen with children who are born sick and in all likelihood have not yet been - or would never be - granted a private insurance?

This with private children's insurances is already today a chapter to itself. My middle son gave the wrong answer during a hearing test at the children's health centre and is still to this day, at age 16, not granted a full child insurance with our insurance company. And I have heard a lot worse stories. NO to such a society!

In the long term one could ask why all of us together must pay for their expensive medical training if many doctors only devote themselves to help those who pay the most for their services?

To be very clear, so that no one goes mad now: What I'm criticising is NOT private care, but private insurances. (It is the same thing with the education system: It is not the free-standing schools that is the problem, it is the financing system that moves tax money around in an eternal moving merry-go-around that is very financially unsound.)

It makes me happy that it is not only Social Democrats who criticise these systems. Also the Swedish Association of Health Professionals is a warning voice: "The risk is that the cleavages in society increase, that those who cannot afford to pay receive worse care and that the public health service cannot be financed at the same level as today."

Less that three years to the election, but there are unfortunately a lot that can be destroyed before then."

The Super List

1. When did you get up today? 10ish (it's Sunday and we went to a party last night)

2. Diamonds or pearls: Pearls (diamonds are beautiful too but I would have to make sure they weren't conflict diamonds)

3. Latest film you saw at the cinema? Bourne Ultimatum

4. Favourite TV show? Heroes, House, Two and A Half Men

5. What did you have for breakfast? Home-made juice, tea, bread and croissants

6. What is your middle name? Elisabet

7. Your favourite food? Indian

8. What food don't you like? Brown beans

9. Favourite crisps? Don't eat crisps that often but either salt & vinegar or sour cream & onion

10. What is your favourite CD at the moment? Either Salem el Fakir or Sofia Talvik

11. What car do you drive? The Golf my boyfriend and his sister share

12. Favourite sandwich? Ciabatta with pecorino

13. What human characteristic can't you tolerate? Cynicism

14. What are your favourite clothes? Jacket (i.e. suit jacket)

15. If you could go anywhere on vacation? Mauritius or somewhere like it

16. Favourite brand? I go more on if I like the item

17. Where do you want to retire? Stockholm but with flats in NYC and London and maybe some place warm

18. Favourite time of the day? Evening when I just have come home from work

19. Where are you born? Södertälje, Sweden

20. What is your favourite sport to watch? Football

21. Coca cola or Pepsi? Coke

22. Football or ice-hockey? Football

23. Are you a morning or night person? Both or neither

24. Pedicure or manicure? Pedicure

25. What did you want to become when you were little? Lawyer

26. Best childhood memory? So many

27. Been to Africa? No, but I'm going in December!

28. Ever rolled someone in toilet paper? No, I think that's just done in the US

29. Been in a car accident? No, but witnessed one

30. Favourite day of the week? Friday

31. Favourite restaurant? Depends on what I want to eat

32. Favourite flowers? Roses and tulips

33. Favourite fast-food restaurant? Lebanese one I can't remember the name

34. Do you own a bike? Yes, an old one that hopefully doesn't get stolen

35. Who sent you the latest e-mail? Sarah (not counting Facebook)

36. In what shop would you choose to max your credit card? Furniture and design

37. Bedtime? Too late, usually 11pm

38. Last person you shared a dinner with? Shared? Well, I had a buffet with 30 others at a 30th birthday party last night

39. What are you listening to right now? Savage Garden

40. Favourite colour? Blue

41. How many tatoos do you have? NONE

It's All Relative

On this site you can find out how your income compares to the rest of the world. I was No 59 million in the world but that still makes me within the 1% richest in the world. Gives you some perspective those days you're mad at your boss for not giving you that raise that you deserve, and makes you think how you can help someone out there.

Those Americans!

Kids drink too much soda and not enough good stuff, such as milk, so what do we do?

We carbonate milk! The result is Refreshing Power Milk or E-moo, served in American schools but also for sale in stores.

What will they think of next?!

What about a Swedish invention, caviar cream (Swedish bread spread made of fisheggs, which is tasty but probably sounds weird to the non-Swede) WITH BANANA!!! Yuck! Well, I haven't tried it yet and I don't think I ever will!

Early Dementia?

I had this great idea for a blog post at work today but now I can't for the life of me remember what it was about!

Does the same thing happen to you?

Yes, Why Do They?

So why do "normal" people get tattoos?

It used to be the thing to do among sailors, prisoners and bikers but now tattoos are (maybe not as common but) common among lawyers, doctors, teachers and other "regular" people, and among men and women alike. And the tattooers were of a similar "breed".

Tattooing used to be the preserve of people who were too lazy to work and too scared to steal. Nowadays you have got proper artists.

According to the article tattoos were popular among the upper class in the 19th century, at least discreet ones. After that they became associated with macho, working class culture but now they are gradually becoming a middle class domain. The difference is instead in the motifs people choose.

That may be so but I'm still not getting one. I like the piece of advice given at the end of the article:

Fashions change but tattoos are forever.