BULEVARDI 2/4, www.ahjoclub.fi ISSUE 7 • 20 JUNE – 3 JULY 2007 • € 3 (SIS. ALV) FINLAND NEWS BUSINESS SPORT Midsummer Every third Finns’ spend Orienteering in Helsinki household less on holiday in the dark LIFESTYLE page 15 without digital than others woods Finnish fashion TV receiver CULTURE page 16 page 4 page 10 page 12 “Is Washington the new Moscow?” SAMI SALLINEN gap since Finland’s last offi cial visit only superpower. Both have been In the aftermath of the visit, many to exploit: who receives the invitation, HELSINKI TIMES to the White House, when president critical of the war in Iraq and the newspapers have taken a critical stance from whom, how often – or who, piti- THE LONG build-up and fanfare over Tarja Halonen met George W. Bush anti-terrorism policies of the U.S. to what they see as an orchestrated fully, never receives an invitation.” last week’s meeting between Fin- in 2002. Helsingin Sanomat also re- When Ilkka Kanerva (National campaign to undermine Halonen, while Both the U.S and Finnish gov- land’s foreign minister Ilkka Kan- ported that Bush refused to meet Coalition Party) became the foreign others have congratulated Kanerva on ernments have regularly dismissed erva and the U.S. Secretary of State Halonen during her visit to the U.S. minister in Finland’s new centre- his “triumph” in Washington. speculation of any tension or cool- Condoleezza Rice at the White in May, while fi nding time to host right government in March, he im- Etelä-Suomen Sanomat (14 June) ing in Finland-U.S. relations. Dur- House has produced some colourful the leaders of Sweden and Estonia. mediately received an invitation to suggested that Washington seems to ing a visit to Finland last week, U.S. sparring in the Finnish media. The underlying argument has Washington. Kanerva visibly en- have replaced the Kremlin as the place Secretary of State for Labour Elaine In the months preceding the vis- been that Halonen and Kanerva’s joyed the warm reception he was of pilgrimage for Finnish politicians: Chao did mention, however, that it, Helsingin Sanomat, Finland’s predecessor Erkki Tuomioja (Social given by Rice at the White House, “During the Soviet era, an invitation to a new era was starting in the rela- biggest and most infl uential news- Democratic Party) failed to main- and even pledged to help arrange a the Kremlin was a positive signal that tions between the two countries. paper, often highlighted the long tain good relations with the world’s similar visit for Halonen. the politicians and parties knew how Condi and Ike – Page 5. LEHTIKUVA / MIKKO STIG Not a single Swedish compa- Passenger ny agreed to sign the commitment. From the Finnish companies Birka ships pour Line, Seawind Line, Silja Line and Viking Line ABP agreed to dispose sewage into of their sewage responsibly. The passenger ships ploughing the Baltic the Baltic Sea produce at least 1.6 billion litres of what is known as STT grey water that comes from show- ers, washing machines and kitch- MOST OF the waste water from the ens. The black water from toilets is cruise ships ans ferries still ends up also fl ushed untreated into the sea. in the Baltic Sea. Only nine out of fi f- In a year, the untreated sewage ty shipping companies have agreed produces 460 tons of nitrogen and to process their effl uent on-board 150 tons of phosphorus emissions or to transfer it to an onshore sew- into the sea. WWF recommends that age system, according to the World the shipping lines use detergents Wildlife Fund (WWW). without phosphates if they cannot In April WWF requested the pas- treat the grey water on-board their senger shipping lines for a commit- ships. This would signifi cantly re- ment to stop dumping untreated duce the phosphorus emissions that waste water into the sea. contribute to toxic algae blooms. station buildings around Finland, Railway which are costing the state 1-2 mil- lion euros a year to maintain. The stations may condition of many of the proper- ties is deteriorating. The sale of the be sold off properties to people who are in- STT terested in renovating them could resolve the problem of how to pre- THE FINNISH state is considering serve the protected buildings. selling off hundreds of disused rail- When the properties change way stations to the public next au- hands, The National Board of An- tumn. The properties are currently tiquities (Museovirasto) would give managed by Senaatti-kiinteistöt. advice to the new owners on how to Finnish youth enter the adult world too early and are the most prone to depression and suicide, according to a new study There are about 270 disused maintain the buildings. comparing the lives of young people in the Nordic countries. Full story on Page 4. Subscribe to Subscribe now! Get Helsinki Times delivered to your home HELSINKI TIMES for one year 120€! News from Finland in English every week E-mail your contact information (Name, Address, Telephone, E-mail) to [email protected] 2 20 JUNE – 3 JULY 2007 VIEWPOINT HELSINKI TIMES said&done “The apostles of moderation always rise up like a force of na- ture on the eve of wage negotiations. ... On the other hand, in the beginning of spring during the company annual meetings, the economists are still hibernating after a tough skiing trip … That’s why company owners have not assumed the golden virtue of moderation. There are enough high digit examples of that.” Matti Litukka, Aamulehti, 14 June. Facing the “When he wanted something else to think about, he went to a job arranged by his mother Liisa at a day nursery in Valli- kallio. Opting to bring the soft world alongside the hurly-burly of hockey was a big move in the macho ice hockey inevitable community.” Pasi Kostiainen, 15 June, Seura, describing the unusual self- confi dence of the young ice hockey player Teemu Selänne, now a in Iraq Finnish sporting legend. Mikhail Gorbachev served as the leader of the former Soviet Union from 1985 until its collapse in 1991. Awarded the Nobel “It’s possible that you start missing the cigarette smoke dur- Peace Prize in 1990, he is currently president of the Internation- ing a gig when your nose is invaded by the subtle scents of the al Foundation for Socio-Economic and Political Studies sweating audience and the smell of beer splashed on the fl oor, (The Gorbachev Foundation). and when the person next to you is a mixture of sweat, spilled drinks and vomit.” Aku-Tuomas Mattila, Sue 6/2007, on the effects of the smoking LASHES between U.S. the better? Is there a light at the this apparently constructive new Soviet leadership – with ban at music gigs. Ctroops and insurgents end of the tunnel? attitude for self-serving ends. me as its president – set the throughout Iraq, political While asking its partners to goal of withdrawing from Af- maneuvering in the United THE KEY to understanding the help Iraq, it refuses to do the ghanistan while urging other States over its presence there situation – as it appears today one thing that would real- countries to help in securing “I don’t mind warming up the sauna for her.” and the repercussions of that and as it appeared one, two or ly aid that country: develop a peace and stability. presence around the world three years ago, indeed as it strategy for withdrawal. Matti Tourunen, Baywatch star Pamela Anderson’s grandfa- leave no doubt that the Bush ad- appeared from Day One of the REGRETTABLY, the U.S. gov- ther’s second cousin, quoted in Image 05-06/07. Anderson is ministration's hopes for a turn- invasion – is simple. Iraq is AMERICANS will put increas- ernment chose to forget its coming to visit her roots in Finland during Midsummer. around have been frustrated. occupied by U.S. forces. ing pressure on the admin- own assurances, as it had on istration to do exactly that. other occasions. Instead of “Why aren’t there any Midsummer socks? What else could ex- THE RECENT American troop THAT FACT hasn't been changed Keeping a certain number of cooperating with all respon- press the festive spirit quite as well as birch switches (sauna- "surge" has only increased by Iraq's creation of a parlia- U.S. troops in Iraq for a rea- sible Afghan forces, includ- vihta) and Midsummer bonfi res on the legs of the socks.” the grim statistics of mil- ment, the election of a new sonable period would be ac- ing President Mohammad itary casualties, civilian government or the establish- ceptable to most Iraqis, as well Najibullah, the United States Aino Junnila, 23 April, Trendi. deaths and overall devasta- ment of relative quiet in some as to the international com- favoured the proxies of cer- tion. The U.S. Congress re- parts of the country. Millions munity. But only if it's recog- tain elements in Pakistan. of Iraqis per- nized that the occupation has ceive the oc- ended. Such recognition can WE HAD warned our Ameri- “The bomb was dropped by the then minister Tuula Haatainen “In 1985, it took a change of lead- cupation as be achieved only if normali- can partners about the long- … she wrote that while sitting on the toilet she always makes a national hu- zation of Iraq becomes a true term dangers of playing this good use of the time and sorts out the laundry into different ership in the Soviet Union to rec- miliation.