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Monday, December 19, 2005
Posted at 8:02:56 am by Sophie Cecilie
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Sunday, December 18, 2005
Creating stem cell bank.. in Sweden...
I'm a little tired after last night, but I wanted to make another entry.. my last, because I'm not sure if I will have time to do that tomorrow before I leave for some vacation. I will then not have access to a computer and internet for about two to three weeks. This is a very interesting issue I read an article about, not long ago, which I wanted to make an entry on.. so here we go...
Our government said in a news article .. that it is planning to create a national blood bank containing stem cells from donated umbilical cords, used to treat deadly diseases like leukemia more effectively.. which today demand bone marrow transplants. Stem cells are nascent cells which can develop into replacement cells that researchers believe could help treat damaged organs and illnesses. Some 6 000 transplants using umbilical cord stem cells have been done to date worldwide, but only around a dozen have been carried out in Sweden, which so far has been forced to request the stem cells from foreign blood banks. The government intends to pump about 15 million Swedish kronor into setting up the bank at the Sahlgrenska University hospital in the southwestern city of Gothenburg at the beginning of next year. The Health Minister said it will be voluntary to donate the umbilical cord blood and she thinks that many will want to do so since it does not demand an painful procedures.. pointing out that the blood is taken from the umbilical cord after it has been cut. The decision to set up the bank, which will officially be agreed upon next week, aims to reduce the use of so called private blood banks where parents pay large amounts of money to store their children's stem cells just in case they one day fall ill. According to a clinical genetics professor, the chance that stem cells stored for personal use only will be used is one in 20 000. Instead, the Swedish blood bank aims to gather such a wide variety of stem cells that a usable specimen will almost always be available when needed. The most important thing is that the national bio bank contains stem cells that fit our entire, diverse population.
Posted at 11:48:37 am by Sophie Cecilie
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Saturday, December 17, 2005
Christmas party.. and what to wear..?
I'm going to a Christmas party later on this evening with the traditional Christmas buffet, but I'm having the vegetarian variation.. I don't have big expectation with the dinner or maybe it's because I'm a very picky person when it comes to what I eat. Anyway, I'll try to have an open mind and taste everything that will be served me tonight. When it comes to what I'm going to wear.. I've still not decided that yet. I really dislike to get myself dressed up for big gatherings and I definitely don't like to strut around in high heels all night long.. My poor feet will be numbed after barely one hour dancing. I have a few more hours to rummage about in my wardrobes, but as it looks like for now.. I'll be either wearing the black classical cocktail dress or the pink evening gown... or maybe the black evening gown.. or should I go with a trouser suit, 'cause then I could wear comfortable shoes to that. Oh gosh, what am I going to wear.. and what a silly 'girly' dilemma I've got.. I guess I'll be having the same problem to the new years eve party my friend Annica has invited me to. Well, it's no idéa to think about that now.. it won't make it easier to choose something for the party tonight.
Posted at 3:11:52 pm by Sophie Cecilie
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Friday, December 16, 2005
A cup of organic coffee.. with child labour...
Sweden's coffee imports are under scrutiny by watchdog organization SwedWatch. According to their report slavery and child labour are still common practice in Brazil where nearly half of Sweden's coffee imports originate. Coffee brands Gevalia and Zoégas received sharp criticism. SwedWatch, a non-governmental organisation reporting on Swedish business relations with developing countries, decided to take a closer look to what was hiding in a cup of coffee brewed in Sweden. They found that despite improvements, the Brazilian coffee industry still suffers from unacceptable ethical shortcomings. Gevalia and Zoégas were singled out in the report as having flaws in their work ethics. The report stated.. Neither company knows today whether indentured servitude or child labour is present in the production of their coffee beans. The problem isn't as widespread on the large coffee plantations. It's on the small and medium-sized farms that child labour can still be found. The smaller farms sell their harvest to the larger trading companies and cooperatives. That's why the companies examined, Gevalia and Zoéga, can't guarantee their coffee's origins. Nestlé, owner of Zoéga, claim they can trace the origin of the beans in their organic coffee. Approximately 4.6 million people work in the coffee industry, another 300 000 assist in the annual harvest. A third of the farm labourer are estimated to not be protected by the social welfare system since they are unregistered workers. What can we consumers do.. well, we could buy organic or fair-trade marked products. The fair-trade marked products can be more expensive, but the organic options are not more expensive. They contain excellent coffee and compared with another coffee of the same quality the price difference is either insignificant or non-existing. Barely six per cent of coffee consumption in Sweden in 2004 was produced in accordance with social or environmental criteria. Less than one per cent of the coffee Swedes drink is fair-trade marked. Organic coffee is more available on the market and makes up four percent of coffee purchased. So do the right choice next time you want a cup of coffee.. get yourself organic or a fair-trade marked coffee brand...
Take action today and make ONE Big noise to make trade fair.. please, sign the ONE Big noise letter today... click here.
Off topic.. tonight I'm just going to relax at home. I've lit some candles and made it really cosy.. I will read the last pages of the book I've had lying around for weeks now. Got to return it to the library before I leave for the Christmas holidays. My train ticket is for Monday at lunch time, so I've got a couple of days more to go before I get home. It has been a busy week.. as always in this time of the year and I've also been worrying about not getting a job interview at the tax office. I heard they recieved over 25 000 applications and it's a total of 420 jobs through the whole country. Those who haven't heard anything by now.. can kiss their chances goodbye. I'm one of those.. but tomorrow I will write and send a few new work applications. I was told that the social insurance offices are seeking executive officials/administrators, to help them facilitate the heavy work-load they been accumulated. Maybe I can be able to get something their.. but the most important is not to loose hope, because it feels like I'll never get a job anywhere. The bad luck must change at some point.. at least I hope so. Well, I'm signing off for tonight.. no more hanging infront of the computer. The book is awaiting and later on there's a Jet Li movie on TV that I'll probably watch too. I should definitely go and make some popcorn.. to chew on...
Posted at 7:13:59 pm by Sophie Cecilie
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Thursday, December 15, 2005
Boys more intolerant.. than girls..?
Gender is always an interesting subject. Results of a major survey revealed that Swedish schoolgirls are more tolerant than boys. The Living History Forum asked 10 500 students aged 14 and above how they felt about certain minority groups. The survey was carried out to help monitor and influence the attitude of youths. The results gave researchers some cause for optimism, showing that a majority, six out of 10, are positively disposed towards Muslims, Jews and homosexuals. Nevertheless, 20-25 percent of the students showed themselves to be 'doubtful' of different minority groups and one in twenty were positively intolerant. Of these, the majority were boys and half apparently sympathised with Nazi views. Homophobia was high among students with foreign backgrounds, although almost half of those questioned said they support gay adoption. But the most distinct division was between the sexes, with more than twice as many boys as girls being homophobic. Girls were reportedly tolerant of all three minority groups. Girls as a group seamed more tolerant.. but the researchers don't know why. Perhaps recent developments in Swedish nursery schools will help spread a little equality, at least among schoolchildren of the not-too-distant future.
Large numbers of 'dagis' centres are seeking project money to help instill sound gender principles in their daily activities and the government's special working party on equality in the nursery school is about to issue its first report. They've looked at a range of issues, such as how to encourage more men to work in the sector and how to spread knowledge and awareness. It's a relatively new area, so there's a big knowledge gap. At the same time, there's an enormous will to change. An active effort to break old gender roles starts at an early age. It must start then if there are going to be any changes in the long run. Gender principles aims to give all children the same chance to develop. It can be a question of encouraging a quiet girl, who starts to say something, but stops as soon as the boy sitting next to her starts to talk. Or letting noisy, active children get the chance to do calmer activities. It isn't actually about girls and boys, but about the needs of the individual. The children's parents seams to be positive about the approach to equality.. and it also makes them think more about how they behave towards their children.
It's also important that both sexes are represented on the school staff. Otherwise, there'll just be female norms and values. Some good techniques for describing the importance of the issue to men would be by reminding them that they are also fathers.. and ask them do they want their nice daughters to meet men who are like they were when they were a young lad..?
Posted at 7:11:39 am by Sophie Cecilie
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Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Lucia.. festival of lights...
Traditions play a central role in our lives. They affect both family life and the working year, irrespective of how we choose to celebrate them. Originating in religion and folklore and with magical, romantic or commercial associations, we are all caught up in traditions. Some traditions stem from other countries, yet have been adapted to feel Swedish. One of this traditions we adapted is the celebration of Lucia.
There are many Lucia legends. The common thread is that Lucia, called the Queen of Lights, symbolizes light and hope, and her coming ushers in the holiday season. The legend's origin is universally traced to the Italian city of Syracuse, on the island of Sicily, at a time when Christians were persecuted for their beliefs. One version tells of a young Italian girl named Lucy who was born in Syracuse in 283 A.D., the daughter of wealthy parents. She was raised a Christian. For years, she resisted the custom of a suitor being chosen for her to marry. She was especially opposed to the rich 'unbeliever' her mother was pressing her to wed. At the same time, she was smuggling food to Christians hiding from Roman persecutors in dark underground tunnels. To light her way through the catacombs, and free her hands to carry bread, she wore a wreath of candles on her head. Another version has Lucy's mother suffering from a serious illness. She was healed as she prayed with Lucy, and as a result, Lucy was allowed to break her engagement and give her dowry of money and jewels to the poor. When her pagan fiancé heard about this, he reported her Christian beliefs to authorities, who ordered her burned at the stake. The blazing fire did not harm her, purportedly because of her belief in God, so she was then struck down by a sword on Dec. 13, 304 A.D. Under the old Gregorian calendar, Dec. 13 was the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. Because Lucia's name means 'light', many of the ancient light and fire customs became associated with her day of martyrdom. She was declared a martyr and named a saint long after her death. Her bloodshed is symbolized by the red sash of the traditional Santa Lucia costume. The white robe speaks of her commitment to purity. The tray of sweets represents her service to the poor. The crown of evergreens and halo of candles symbolizes her eternal life. Lucia's legend continued to grow after her death.
When a great famine spread throughout Italy, the townspeople of Syracuse gathered in the cathedral on Lucia's feast day, Dec. 13, to pray. Legend has it that two ships loaded with wheat arrived, with Lucia at the helm of one, dressed in white with candles on her head. This explains why she is a patron saint for Italian fishermen and is said to help guide them home through the rough seas during a storm. Even though Santa Lucia is the patron saint of Syracuse, Sicily, she is probably most celebrated in Sweden. The legend became part of Swedish lore when Sweden suffered its own severe famine. The church celebrated the Santa Lucia 'Festival of Lights'. According to this version of the legend, Santa Lucia appeared on Lake Vannern in Sweden, dressed in a white gown with a glow above her head, standing at the bow of a ship. Lucia came ashore and carried food to the starving masses. To this day, the Swedes remember the kindness and mercy of the young Lucia, considered the bringer of light. She heralds the birth of the Christ Child, the Light of the World.
In Sweden, Lucia Day is celebrated in homes, schools and workplaces on the morning of Dec. 13. The other Scandinavian countries.. Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Norway... celebrate Lucia as well. In addition to family traditions, parades are held throughout Sweden. There is a Lucia competition, with young women from all over competing to be crowned Santa Lucia. At schools, they gather in the auditorium or gym first thing in the morning. The lights are dimmed and the Lucia and Lucia maids enter, singing the old song 'Sankta Lucia'. The Feast of Santa Lucia is celebrated differently throughout Italy. In Sicily, a bonfire commemorates Lucia and residents abstain from eating bread and pasta. In northern Italy, children leave carrots and hay for the donkey that brings Santa Lucia and her bag of gifts. Here in my student house the student choir comes every year early in the morning.. walking through every hall of the building singing very beautifully.. gathering those who are up to penthouse where they keep singing and we are given glogg, Lucia cat (saffron buns) and gingerbread. I think this is a really nice tradition and I will miss it when I move away from here...
Posted at 5:32:48 am by Sophie Cecilie
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Monday, December 12, 2005
A row has broken out between Sweden's opposition parties over a proposal from the Centre Party to try and force a vote of no confidence against Freivalds, Sweden's foreign minister. The confidence vote suggestion is the result of damning criticism of Freivalds in last week's report on the government's handling of the tsunami disaster in South Asia. The agreement reached between the four centre-right opposition parties on their approach to the government following the tsunami report left no room for interpretation. The four parties of the centre-right opposition had agreed to wait for a report by the parliamentary consitution committee, due to be published next spring, before deciding whether to launch a vote of no confidence in Persson and the government. The parties also agreed to take soundings with deputies from the Left and Green parties to see whether there is a majority in favour of dumping Freivalds. Deputies from the Liberal Party were due to hold a meeting.. at which they were rumoured to be due to discuss the Centre Party's actions in the confidence vote question. The party's press secretary refused to say why the meeting was taking place. The Centre Party wants a vote of no confidence in Freivalds before Christmas, said its party secretary. Many Centre Party deputies were disappointed with the decision by the Alliance to take soundings to see whether a majority for a no confidence vote could be acheived before Christmas. The Centre Party only has 22 members of parliament; for a confidence vote to be called requires the support of at least 35 deputies. Centre Party leaders are now attempting to persuade members from other parties to join them. If the Greens are faced with a confidence vote, each and every one of them will have to judge whether they want to actively support Freivalds. Opposition group leaders were due to discuss the possibilities of calling a confidence vote.. which would force the government's coalition partners to nail their colours to the mast.
Posted at 8:15:32 pm by Sophie Cecilie
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Our Swedish Prime Minister Persson has apologised for his government's response to last year's South Asian tsunami disaster.. in which over 500 Swedes died. But despite what one political commentator called 'the strongest criticism of a government in modern times'... Persson restated that there would be no resignations. In the official report into how the Swedish government handled the catastrophe, both Persson and Foreign Minister were held personally responsible for the fact that there was no mechanism in place for dealing with a major crisis. The commission said that 'confidence in the Swedish state as the highest guarantor of safety and security' had been damaged. But Persson made clear at a press conference.. and then again on national television, that there was no reason for any ministers or senior civil servants involved to lose their jobs. He said instead that it is more important for the people in their jobs to learn from the mistakes so that they will be more prepared in future. He also said.. I have been pointed out as ultimately responsible and there is no doubt about that. I have responsibility and I take responsibility. To take responsibility in this situation means to make sure the government office's failings are put right.. to make sure we have an organisation which meets its requirements. But commentators, opposition politicians, survivors and relatives of victims have not been calmed by that notion. This is the end of Persson as a prime minister. Several other senior Social Democrats selected by him should also be removed from their posts.. in any respectable democracy this kind of criticism would have led to resignations. The Moderates' leader also said that Persson's worst sin was not the failure of initiative to help those caught up in the disaster on December 26th last year, but that nothing had been done to improve crisis preparedness within the government. The leader of the Liberal Party put the report in perspective.. and said this is the most devastating criticism a government has ever had in a similar situation in modern times. He added that the opposition parties were considering bringing a vote of confidence against the government..
Posted at 7:25:18 am by Sophie Cecilie
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Sunday, December 11, 2005
Our Prime Minister has been held personally responsible by an official inquiry for the failures in the Swedish government's reaction to last year's South Asian tsunami disaster, in which over 500 Swedes died. Persson, who had managed to deflect most criticism onto the foreign minister.. in the immediate aftermath of the catastrophe, came in for unexpectedly severe reprimand in the report. In the commission's opinion, the Prime Minister Persson has the all-embracing responsibility for the government offices' shortcomings in their handling of the consequences of the tsunami. As well as criticising the PM, the report published last week by a special commission slammed the foreign minister for the fact that the foreign ministry had no mechanism for dealing with a major crisis.
The report also recommends that the government set up a central crisis management unit at the foreign ministry for handling major disasters in the future. The unit would monitor events across the world and report back to the government. The unit already proposed by the government is insufficient, said the chairman of the commission. More developed procedures for crisis management at the foreign ministry are needed.
It was unclear who was ultimately responsible for failures at the Foreign Ministry. The commission argues that the cabinet secretary, ought to have taken a more active leadership role. The foreign minister is criticised for failing to spread information about the catastrophe effectively among foreign ministry staff. Responsibility for delays in arranging medical help for those hit by the disaster is shared between the state secretary at the health ministry and the health minister. They ought to have pressed more actively for action. The consequences of them failing to do so was increased physical and psychological suffering for victims and their relatives, the commission reported.
The report also says that important information that had been received by the foreign ministry was lost in the hours after the catastrophe. Information that reached the ministry's switchboard did not reach the appropriate people in the government and incomplete information was therefore passed on to relatives. The defence ministry had a duty office for emergencies that was scrapped in the summer of 2004.. but which was ressurected at the time of the tsunami catastrophe on a private initiative.
The National Board of Health and Welfare waited three days before it took the initiative to provide medical help.. as it was waiting for instructions from the foreign ministry, even though the foreign ministry did not have competence to provide such instructions. The report was received by finance minister shortly before a 9 am press conference. He received the commission's report and passed on the government's thanks to the commission members for taking on this heavy responsibility. The commission's report will now be studied and analysed carefully by the government. What that now means..
Posted at 7:34:22 am by Sophie Cecilie
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Friday, December 09, 2005
According to new research.. Swedes are getting taller and heavier. Today's Swedish women are two centimetres taller and three kilos heavier than women thirty years ago. The findings are part of a survey of the size of the Swedish population being carried out by IFP Research. The survey is intended to help companies adapt their products to suit the average Swede. Car manufacturers and clothing retailers are among those expected to benefit from the results. IFP Research is measuring 4 000 Swedes.. and although the project is not yet finished, some patterns have started to emerge. The people have become taller and heavier compared with when IFP first carried out this survey in the 1970s. A spokesman for carmaker Volvo said that it was important to know the average size of the population so that car seats could be made comfortable. Exact figures for men have not yet been revealed, but figures from the Swedish National Service Administration, which every year takes detailed measurements of each potential Swedish conscript, show that men are also getting taller and heavier. In 1975.. the average potential conscript was 178.6 centimetres tall and weighed 68.3 kilos. Last year the average height was up 1.6 centimetres to 180.2 cm.. and the average weight was up 6.4 kilos to 74.7. If the Swedish population keeps getting fatter for every year.. they will be so heavy that they will eventually sink through the crust of the earth... causing massive mantle plumes. This is just not happening to the Swedes, we can see the same development in many other countries. The sad thing is that while lots of people are overloading in their eating consumptions which leads to different health problems such as obesity, in some cases already in early ages.. while others are starving to death due to lack of food and water. Everyone lets be temperate with the eating.. not just only during the Christmas holiday, but also for everyday life and forward.
Posted at 7:59:20 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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