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Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Led Zeppelin honoured with.. Polar Music Prize...
Members of one of the world's legendary rock acts were in Stockholm on Monday last week to pick up the Polar Music Prize. But as Robert Plant chatted cosily with Princess Lilian and Jimmy Page politely clapped Nina Persson's rendition of Whole Lotta Love, the days when Led Zeppelin rampaged through the world's stadiums seemed distant. In a packed Concert Hall, the Polar Music Prize was awarded for the fifteenth time. Having swapped denim for dinner suits, John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and Zoe Bonham, the daughter of John Bonham, were handed the prize by our King Carl Gustaf.
In his acceptance speech, the 57 year old Robert Plant commented on how the band was recently summarized in a film clip: energetic, pioneers in the studio, experimental on stage, genre-defying, mystical, arrogant and testosterone-fuelled. 'It feels strange to see those pictures. I don't even know if I was there,' he said. He reminded the audience that in 1978 the band recorded its last album in the Polar Studio in Stockholm and referred to the groundbreaking musical journey that was Led Zeppelin's career.
The band broke up when drummer John Bonham died in 1980, but the music has stood the test of time. When the prize-winners were honoured in the Concert Hall, their somewhat younger Swedish colleagues were there to interpret Led Zeppelin's music. Nina Persson from The Cardigans sang Whole Lotta Love. Then Maja Ivarsson from The Sounds bashed out Rock and Roll wearing a short dress, startling the Royal family in the front row as she crouched on her haunches.
In reference to Zeppelin's Moroccan influences, the Swedish band Soundtrack of our Lives performed Kashmir along with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.. which, earlier in the day, had performed Shostakovich's eleventh symphony led by the other prize winner, Valery Gergiev. In honour of the Russian conductor, the mezzo soprano Ekaterina Sementchuk sang Adieu, from Tchaikovsky's Maid of Orleans. After the ceremony, the Grand Hotel hosted a banquet, which was followed by a party at Berns. 
Posted at 6:42:39 am by Sophie Cecilie
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Saturday, May 27, 2006
One year with smoking ban in Sweden...
It is
almost a year since Swedish smokers were banished from bars and
restaurants, forced to huddle outside on pavements to satisfy their
craving for the filthy weed. As the anniversary of the ban approaches
on June 1st, it is being judged a success. Perhaps because Swedes are
used to the state telling them what to do, the prohibition on lighting
up in enclosed public spaces has been welcomed even by smokers, not to
mention restaurateurs, bar staff and bureaucrats.
It's been
gone very well, stated the Swedish Institute for Public Health, which
was responsible for implementing the ban. A survey of 91 restaurant
employees before and after smokers were banished showed that their
health and their working environment had improved. State pharmacy
monopoly Apoteket reports that sales of nicotine replacement treatments
rose by 12.6 percent in the quarter following the ban. Sales were
continuing to rise in the first quarter of 2006, up 6.2 percent.
Swedish Match reported increased sales of their snus oral tobacco
products. The gambling industry was the big loser from the ban. State
gambling monopoly Svenska Spel saw income from its gaming machines in
bars fall by 11 percent. This was blamed partly on smokers prioritizing
going outside for cigarettes over playing on the machines. Bingo halls
have also lost out. Before the ban, 80 percent of bingo hall customers
were smokers. Following the ban turnover decreased by 15 percent,
meaning the loss of several million kronor in revenues for the sports
clubs funded by bingo income.
Only 21 percent of smokers say
they resent having to smoke out in the snow in the winter. As daily
smokers only account for 13 percent of the population, these opponents
of the ban only account for 3 percent of the population. The
hospitality industry had strongly opposed forbidding smoking,
predicting reduced turnover and a crisis for bars and restaurants. They
were wrong.. and they have had no negative reports at all. There is a
great majority in favour, both among bar owners and guests.
I
myself who is asthmatic welcomed the smoking ban, it wasn't easy to go
out to public places and have all the smoke around me. Going to a café
with friends over a cup of tea or coffee and then returning home with
smelly clothes and hair of smoke is not very fun either.
Posted at 5:58:21 am by Sophie Cecilie
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Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Swedish recruiters filter out women...
A tip for women looking for jobs in Sweden.. you will have a better
chance of reaching the interview stage if you conceal your identity. That is
the conclusion of new research at Uppsala University, which shows that
employers are still discriminating against women. The study is the
strongest evidence so far that recruiters consciously filter out women when
they are taking on new staff, said a researcher at the Institute for Labour
Market Policy Evaluation.
The study was based upon information provided by 8 000 men and women who
applied for jobs via the Swedish Labour Board's online database. Of those, 992
chose to leave their name and gender off the application form. In general, the
research shows then men were contacted by recruiters more often than women. But
only in a small number of cases could that be explained by the fact that the
men had better qualifications.
That confirms what I and many other women already know. Everything masculine is
valued more highly than everything feminine in the labour market. You just have
to look at how we financially value what women do compared to what men do. Just
the fact of being a man is a plus. Even when men and women had exactly the same
qualifications, such as education and work experience.. men had a 20% higher chance
of being contacted by an employer.
But that difference disappeared among those who chose not to reveal their name
or gender when they applied for jobs. When the recruiter could only see the
qualifications, women had precisely the same chance as men. Employers are
legally bound to aim for an equal gender balance in the workplace, but that
makes little difference... since discrimination is largely subconscious.
This research does really show how unequal men and women are treated.. and I
don't think it's just in the labour market there's difference between the
genders. I believe and hope that there are very few employers who consciously
sit there filtering out female applicants. The research could possibly be an
indication that anonymous applications could be the way to go.. for us females.
Posted at 6:21:39 am by Sophie Cecilie
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Sunday, May 21, 2006
Most Swedes against.. joining Nato...
A majority of Swedes remain opposed to joining Nato, preferring instead Sweden's policy of military non-alliance, an opinion poll released last week showed. A total of 46 percent of Swedes are against membership of the Western alliance, partly because of scepticism towards US policies, while 22 percent are in favour. The remainder are undecided, according to the survey of 3 000 people conducted by the Gothenburg University SOM institute in October and November 2005. The results are in line with previous SOM surveys on the subject.
The strong opposition to Nato is mostly the result of Sweden's longstanding policy of military non-alliance. Sweden is a little unique in the sense that we have had a long period of peace, some 200 years without a war. So many people associate that period of peace with the fact that we have not been part of a military alliance. But there is also a strong scepticism towards US foreign policy. Swedes don't want to be closely affiliated with US foreign policy beccause that could make us a target. The sentiment have increased under US President George W. Bush's time in office.
Sweden is not a member of Nato but does participate in the alliance's Partnership for Peace program. The question of Nato membership is not expected to be a focal issue in Sweden's September 17 general elections. The ruling Social Democrats, which have dominated Swedish politics for the better part of 70 years, are opposed to Nato membership while the centre-right four-party alliance is divided on the issue. 
Posted at 7:19:51 am by Sophie Cecilie
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Thursday, May 18, 2006
With temperatures in the twenties centigrade and warm southerly winds, many Swedes have been out making the most of the sudden improvement in the weather. But scientists are warning that ground-level ozone partly caused by the warmth could have negative consequences for public health. A weather station in Sörmland, south of Stockholm, recorded levels of ground-level ozone over the level at which Swedish authorities are obliged to warn the public. High levels were also noted in Småland and Östergötland.
Ground-level ozone can be dangerous for people with asthma or heart or lung illnesses. There hasn't been such high levels over the past five years, according to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (Naturvårdsverket). What happens is that southerly winds come from central Europe with high levels of emissions, and these combine with Swedish emissions, and together with a lot of sun they create ozone. The highest levels of ozone tend to be recorded outside urban areas, with the problem worse on hills than in low-lying areas.
Most people doesn't even know that it exist ozone on a ground-level and when we hear about ozone warnings.. it's mostly about in the atmosphere. This kind of ozone threat is as dangerous as the other one. But then it's really hard to live if we should go around being scared to get ill for every thing or anything around us. There's probably lots of bad things around us daily.. The most important is to use some common sence as I'm always talking about. Those with asthma, such as myself or those who have some kind of heart or lung illness take it easy.. which we should do either if there are high levels of ground-level ozone or not...
Posted at 7:15:49 am by Sophie Cecilie
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Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Online boose ban.. breaks EU law...
Sweden's
ban on importing alcohol for private use breaks article 31 of the
European Community Treaty, according to the Advocate General in the
European Court. The stance taken by the Advocate General, Antonio
Tizzano, could have far-reaching consequences for Swedes' right to
import alcohol from other EU countries. According to Tizzano, the
monopoly held by the state alcohol retailer Systembolaget means that
alcohol producers in other countries could be discriminated against. A
simple example would be if Systembolaget refused a request for a
particular type of drink from another EU country. If Systembolaget says
no, said the Advocate General, the customer has no other alternatives.
For that reason, the import ban is not a way for Systembolaget to
control demand rather, it is an insurmountable obstacle for Swedes
wishing to buy alcoholic drinks from other member states.
The
European Commission decided in summer 2004 to bring Sweden before the
European Court of Justice for maintaining a ban on Swedish consumers
using independent intermediaries to import alcohol. In effect, that
meant that ordering booze from abroad via the internet, since private
individuals are allowed to bring alcoholic drinks into Sweden for their
own use, if they themselves travel and bring the goods physically with
them. Consumers are not allowed to ask other people to import alcohol
on their behalf, even if they are prepared to pay the Swedish excise
duties due. But the Swedish government maintained that 'the ban on
private imports of alcoholic beverages is in compliance with European
law since it is an integral and non-discriminatory part of the Swedish
state's retail monopoly for alcoholic beverages and is necessary for
the protection of public health'.
The EU took the position
that Sweden's ban on alcohol imports broke laws on the freedom of
movement of goods and services in the Community. The Advocate General
agreed with the Swedish government that the issue fell under article
31, regulating state monopolies. However, he still judged Sweden's
position to be illegal, although his recommendation to the court is not
binding. The issue came to the attention of the EU Court after Sweden's
Supreme Court requested a preliminary verdict on how the law should be
interpreted. That verdict will be used by the Swedish court in a case
brought by a number of Swedes whose wine imported from Spain was
confiscated by customs.
Posted at 6:49:21 am by Sophie Cecilie
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Saturday, May 13, 2006
Freshness with chemical treatment..
A new chemical treatment means that apples can be kept for a year and sold in shops as if they were freshly picked yesterday. The method, known as Smartfresh, was approved by the EU last year and supermarket chain ICA is the first in Sweden to sell apples that have been treated this way. Neither Axfood, which owns the Hemköp and Willys chains, nor Coop is selling fruit which has been treated with the Smartfresh method, and critics say that too little is known about the consequences of the technique.
Swedish apple growers have also rejected the method. However, it is not currently possible to test whether fruit is fresh or Smartfresh and in fact a year old. A number of short scientific studies have examined the method. The objective has been to prevent ageing so as to preserve the vitamin C. But the studies have showned that it doesn't work so well. I think it's so unnecessary to put more chemicals in the food we eat. So what if we can't eat a certain fruit or vegetable all year around. The more delight it would be when it's apple, strawberry, cabbage season.. and so forth. It's plain stupidness to treat fresh food with chemicals... 
Posted at 10:49:52 am by Sophie Cecilie
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Tuesday, May 09, 2006
High pollen count.. in the air...
The warm spring air at the weekend contained the highest concentration of birch pollen for several years and the pollen count will remain very high, said pollen experts. Last Saturday, Stockholm registered a count of over 4 000 pollen per cubic metre of air. In recent years, only 2000 and 2002 have seen such high concentrations. Gothenburg had even higher counts on Saturday, 4 900 pollen per cubic metre of air. That's also a record for recent years, but a long way off the all-time high of 13 500 pollen on 26 April 1993. Hayfever sufferers poured into the country's pharmacists over the weekend and over the counter medicines disappeared from the shelves in many stores faster than you could say 'Atishoo'. But the state-owned pharmacist chain Apoteket promises that there's no need to panic.
The birch has blossomed late this year. It usually starts around the end of April in the Stockholm area, but is about a week late. Yesterday, birches were blooming as far north as Östersund, but progress along the cooler coastal areas was far slower. As was predicted earlier, this year's pollen season has been shorter and more intense for hayfever sufferers. The key trees for sufferers are hazle and alder, which blossom first, and then birch and oak. The blossoming periods overlap with little respite in between. The later the blossom comes, the higher the chances of extreme pollen concentrations, according to an expert with Gothenburg University's botanic analysis group. The days are longer, the sun is up a longer time and drives the process. According to the Swedish meteorological office, SMHI, the weather in northern Sweden will remain stable until around Thursday. The weather in the south isn't expected to turn until the weekend. But experts doesn't expect the high concentrations of pollen to last more than a few days, irrespective of when the rain comes.
Since I wrote this entry.. I have been sneezing several times. Yes, unfortunately I'm one of the 40% in Sweden who is allergic to pollen. I'm having trouble to sleep during the night because it's difficult to breathe for me.. so I'm quite tired during the days. Experts recommend that allergic people should stay indoors as much as possible, but that is really hard. Finally the nice warm spring comes and you are told not to go out in the lovely weather. Well, I take the bad with the good or the otherway around depending on how I look at it. Tomorrow we are going to our summer house, which is situated in the middle of a great forrest.. and on Thursday I'm meeting Ida and we will be having an outdoor picnic in the park. The one we missed out on when it was 'Valborg'.. due to the rain. Today I have second unpleasant appointment at the dentis, which I don't look forward too at all. The sooner it's done.. the better. 
Posted at 6:47:19 am by Sophie Cecilie
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Monday, May 08, 2006
Lift off from Sweden.. space tourists...
Space tourists could soon be heading into orbit from Swedish soil under plans announced last week. British company Virgin Galactic, headed by flamboyant entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson, plans to start commercial flights in 2008 and wants to make the Esrange launch pad in Kiruna one of its bases. Two representatives of Virgin Galactic visited Kiruna, in the far north of Sweden, in March, and met Norberg and representatives of air traffic control operators LFV. The proximity of the base to the Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi has added to Virgin Galactic's interest in the area.
LFV, the Swedish Space Corporation and the Ice Hotel are now putting together a consortium, Kiruna Spaceport, which will cooperate over space tourism, Norberg says. Virgin Galactic plans to start commercial space flights in 2008 from New Mexico. Tickets will cost $200 000, for which passengers will get to experience five minutes of weightlessness, 120 miles above the earth. Passengers will fly on specially-built planes built by a company in California, says Norberg. The planes take off from a normal runway. When they reach an altitude of 15 kilometres, a rocket booster propels the six passengers into space. The plane then lands like a glider, if everything has gone according to plan.
The planes are planned to take off from Kiruna Airport. Esrange's role is to service the craft and charge the rocket motor after every flight. They believes that the first space tourist flights from Kiruna will take off in 2010 or 2011.
Posted at 7:48:36 am by Sophie Cecilie
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Friday, May 05, 2006
No changes.. in the chocolate industry...
Chocolate is often produced by child workers and other labourers who are not given basic rights, a report by Swedwatch, the Church of Sweden and Råd & Rön magazine has shown. The report shows that people working in cacao production often work in poor conditions and that the industry creates environmental problems.
Chocolate production has been criticized in the past, including in a documentary from Channel 4 in Britain, which showed how young boys were exploited as slave workers in Cote d'Ivoire. The report was followed by a number of surveys by international organizations, which showed that working conditions in the cacao industry were often very poor. Around 284 000 children and young people were estimated to work in production of cacao, the main raw ingredient for chocolate. The reports led to strong protests around the world and the chocolate industry promised to improve things. A system for verifying working conditions was due to be in place by July 2005, but the industry has now delayed this to 2008.
The new report shows that little has changed, Råd & Rön writes. The report is based on interviews with growers, international organizations and former labourers. Working conditions are still poor and wages low. There are no trade unions and children are still used for work that is often tough and straining. The report also says that children are occasionally tricked out of their pay and kept in almost slave-like conditions. The background to this is that growers are badly paid for their cacao. Growers also use strong pesticides, which make workers sick.
Swedwatch is an organization that monitors Swedish business relationships with developing countries and has investigated Nestlé, Kraft-owned Marabou and Cloetta Fazer, all of which buy cacao from West Africa. The companies say they take responsibility for ensuring their suppliers follow ethical rules, but the report said their systems for ensuring compliance were failing.
Posted at 6:13:59 am by Sophie Cecilie
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Blog Owner » Sophie Cecilie
Yogini » Suryananda
Location » Sweden
Hobbies » Yoga, music, litterature, TV/Movies, blogging...
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All other love is like the moon,
Which grows and shrinks like flower on plain;
Like bud that blooms and withers soon;
Like passing day that ends in rain.
All other love begins in bliss,
And ends in tears and suffering:
No love can salve us all but this,
The love that rests in heaven's King.
For ever green, renewed again,
For ever full, it never pales.
It ever sweetens, free from pain,
Continues always, never fails.
'You can close your eyes to the things you don't wanna see, but you can't close your heart to the things you don't wanna feel...'
Sophie Cecilie © 2006
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