Finland remembers the Winter War of 1939-1940

Today Finland marked the 70th anniversary of the start of the Winter War, during which the country fought to hold of the massive force of Stalin's Red Army, which attacked Finland on November 30, 1939. The conflict lasted for 105 days, claiming the lives of approximately 27,000 Finns and wounding 43,000 more during a winter that was so cold it caused hallucinations. Soviet losses were reported to be as high as 217,000 killed or wounded, according to an article in the Associated Press.

Although the March 1940 peace treaty forced Finland to cede large parts of Karelia, the strength of the country's resistance surprised the Soviets and preserved Finland's independence. According to the Finnish news site YLE, a survey released last week found that a majority of Finns consider the Winter War to be a pivotal moment in "saving the nation from tyranny."

Memorial services were held throughout Finland to mark the anniversary.

Christmas markets in Copenhagen

Earlier this month Real Scandinavia listed some of the best Christmas markets in Sweden. Of course, Sweden is not the only one of the Nordic countries to have a great tradition of holiday markets. Laura Stadler-Jensen, an American living in Denmark, has compiled a list of Christmas markets in Copenhagen. She writes:

There is no place like Scandinavia during Christmastime. And although it’s often cold, rainy and/or snowy and dark, the city transforms into one of the coziest places on earth this time of year. Tasteful decorations are all around from huge red, light-filled hearts strung along the street lights, to warm-glowing candles in cafes, ice skating and beautiful displays in shop windows. There are also a host of traditions in Denmark that help put you in the Christmas spirit. One of my most cherished is going to Christmas markets. Handmade arts and crafts, including ingeniously designed house wares and other practical things are usually available. In addition, museums and specialty shops often arrange holiday exhibitions that are not to miss.

Check out Laura's round-up of Copenhagen Christmas markets on her blog, An American in Denmark.

Cow's milk and more: Energy efficiency in Samsø, Denmark

As the Copenhagen climate summit draws ever closer, climate change and clean energy are on the minds of many. It's fitting that the summit will take place in Denmark, which continues to be a leader in addressing these issues. The Danish island of Samsø is one example of sustainable energy development, as the news service Tierramérica reports.

Samsø Island, Beyond Fantasy 

by Julio Godoy, Tierramérica

On the Danish island of Samsø, a model of energy self-sufficiency, even cow's milk helps reduce emissions of climate changing gases.

Samsø is an island of 114 square kilometers with just over 4,000 people, located in the Bay of Kattegat, in the North Sea, some 120 km west of Copenhagen.

Its much-deserved reputation as model of sustainability is due to the fact that it uses wind turbines and solar panels to generate all of the energy its inhabitants consume.

Since 1997 when Samsø won a national competition to become a prototype community in the use of renewable energy sources, the Samsingers, as its people are known, revolutionized all aspects of their daily lives in order to contribute to greater efficiency.

The effort has such a broad scope that even milk production is part of the energy system.

Read the rest of this article at Tierramérica

Christmas markets in Sweden

Christmas is just a little over a month away, and that means the holiday markets are in full swing in Sweden. The markets start up in early November and continue on until Christmas. Some last for just a few days, while others are open daily for a month or more before the holiday. Most are annual events, so even if it's too late to attend some of the fairs this year, they'll come around again next year. Here are several popular markets around the country.

STOCKHOLM AREA

Held every year since 1903, the Christmas festivities at the Skansen open-air museum are a Stockholm tradition. The Christmas market is held Saturdays and Sundays in Advent. Christmas decorations, Sami crafts from Lappland, textiles, and woodcrafts are among the many items for sale. On market days there's dancing around an outdoor tree to the tunes of a Christmas band. Even on weekdays, you'll find good old-fashioned Swedish Christmas traditions and atmosphere inside Skansen's historic houses and farmsteads, as well as holiday concerts in historic Seglora Church. On the final weekend, a special "Ice on Fire" celebration ("Isen brinner") lights up the darkest nights of winter with fire and ice, food and music. 2009 dates: November 28-December 20; open daily 10-4. Admission fee. More info

Another Stockholm tradition is the annual Christmas market in Gamla Stan. During the month before Christmas, Stortorget, the medieval cobblestoned square at the heart of the Old Town, fills with cozy red booths selling such goods as traditional Christmas decorations, high-quality crafts, and holiday snacks. 2009 dates: November 21-December 23; open daily 11-6. Free. More info

In the downtown retail district, a popular market is the one in Kungsträdgården park, which also boasts a popular outdoor skating rink all winter long. (Skates are available to rent.) 2009 dates: November 27-29 and December 4-22, open daily 11-6. Free. (Ice rink open October 31-March 7.)

For a Christmas market in a royal setting, head to Drottningholm Palace on the second weekend in Advent, when a popular annual market is held outdoors in the palace courtyard. For a special day trip, take the boat to Drottningholm from the City Hall Quay in Stockholm. 2009 dates: December 5-6; open 11-4. Free.

The Stockholm archipelago also gets into the Christmas spirit, most famously on Utö, where a popular Christmas market has been held for 33 years running. Near the ferry dock are several vendors' booths decorated for the holiday. A short walk up the hill leads to the main market on the grounds of the Utö Värdshus restaurant, which serves a well-known julbord (Christmas table). 2009 dates: December 5-6, 12-13, and 19-20; open Saturdays 10-5, Sundays 10-3. Free.

The Christmas market at the small palace of Taxinge Näsby, located west of Stockholm on Lake Mälaren, bills itself as the largest Christmas fair in Sweden. More than 130 master craftspeople display their products, along with vendors selling traditional foods for the Christmas table. The palace café is known for its delicious homemade breads, pastries, and other baked goods. 2009 dates: November 12-15 and 19-22; opening hours vary. Admission fee.

GOTHENBURG AREA

On the west coast, Gothenburg also has its fair share of Christmas markets. Now celebrating its tenth anniversary, the Christmas market at the city's famous amusement park, Liseberg, features roughly 80 stalls selling everything from traditional straw crafts and other holiday decorations to knit items to a mouth-watering array of foodstuffs. A special market inside the Liseberg Tower features works by major well-known designers and local artisans. There's also a wide range of other holiday entertainment, activities, and special events. 2009 dates: November 13-December 23; opening hours vary. Admission fee. More info

Another popular Gothenburg Christmas market is the one in Haga, the city's oldest district. The cobblestoned streets provide an atmospheric setting for crafts stands, Christmas goodies, and musical entertainment. 2009 dates: November 28-December 19; open Saturdays 10-4, Sundays 11-4. Free.

Outside Gothenburg proper, Tjolöholms Palace hosts one of the largest Christmas markets in western Sweden: a five-day event featuring approximately 100 artisans, craftspeople, and food vendors. The palace dining room serves coffee and pastries, the palace church offers musical entertainment, and Santa Claus himself is on site to receive wish lists from children. 2009 dates: November 18-22, opening hours vary. Admission fee.

OTHER AREAS

Another of the west coast's top Christmas fairs is the one at Wapnö, a large working farm near Halmstad. The historic farm buildings play host to more than 90 vendors selling everything from woodcrafts to silver to handmade candles to textiles, as well as a variety of Christmas delicacies. 2009 dates: November 19-22, hours vary. Admission fee.

Even larger is the Christmas fair at Huseby near Växjo in Småland, organized by the same people as the Wapnö market. The roughly 100 handicraft stalls include works in wood, ceramics, metal, straw, textiles, glass, and other materials.The market also features one of the largest assortments of small-scale and artisan food producers in the country, selling everything from baked goods, patés, and cheese to mulled wine and Christmas meats. 2009 dates: November 7-15 (already past). Admission fee.

Also in Småland, the historic 800-year-old Kalmar Castle makes a beautiful and atmospheric setting for its popular annual Christmas market. In a region of Sweden known for its handicrafts, this market features approximately 120 artisans and craftspeople, together with the usual traditional food vendors and holiday music in the castle church. 2009 dates: November 26-29, open Thursday 11-9, Friday 11-8, Saturday 10-6, and Sunday 10-5. Admission fee. More info

In the folkloric Dalarna region, Leksand's Christmas market is held on the first weekend in Advent. Along with all the usual Christmas market traditions, Leksand adds a historic and atmospheric twist with a medieval market, torch dancing, and choral singing. 2009 dates: November 28-29; open Saturday 10-6 and Sunday 12-6. Free.

Also in Dalarna, Falu Gruva (the Falun Mine) hosts an annual one-day oldfashioned Christmas market with 150 vendors and a variety of holiday activities in and around this historic 1300-year-old copper mine. 2009 date: Sunday, December 6, open 10-5. Admission fee. More info

Further north, at Östersund in Jämtland, the Christmas market at the Jamtli open-air museum features more than 200 vendors selling local products, musical entertainment, and plenty of holiday fun for children. Santa and Mrs. Claus have gingerbread cookies and fruit drink for the kids, while the Hov restaurant serves a traditional Swedish Christmas table with a Jämtland flavor. 2009 dates: December 4-6; open Friday 11–6, Saturday and Sunday 11-5. Admission fee. More info

Throughout November and December, there are countless other Christmas fairs and markets taking place in communities of all sizes throughout Sweden. The Swedish tourism office, VisitSweden, is a good resource for further information.

Sweden tops 2009 Commitment to Development Index

At the risk of turning this blog into a Nordic love fest, here's yet another recently released set of rankings that place the Scandinavian countries at the top. This time it's the Center for Global Development's (CGD) Commitment to Development Index (CDI), an annual compilation that rates the world's 22 richest countries in seven "major policy areas that support the development of poorer countries." Released in late October, this year's CDI places Sweden at the top, with Denmark in second place and Norway in fourth. (Rich but very small countries such Iceland are not included in the index.)

According to the CGD, the rankings measure the following policy areas: "aid, which funds initiatives such as child vaccinations and new roads; trade, which gives industries in poor countries access to larger markets and creates jobs; investment, which can be a source of capital and good management practices; migration, which lets workers seek higher-paying jobs in rich countries and send earnings back home; environment, which underscores the point that rich and poor countries are tied together by shared resources; security, which is a prerequisite for development; and technology, since innovation is a critical factor in development."

In its evaluation of Sweden, the CDI states: "Sweden places in the top half of CDI countries in all components except for investment, security and technology. The Swedish foreign aid program is one of the best in the world in terms of quantity, weighted for country size, as well as its quality. Sweden also bears a large burden of refugees in humanitarian emergencies and one of the lowest greenhouse gas emissions rates in the CDI. Its investment, security and technology scores are driven down by relatively poor investment practices from the perspective of developing countries, high arms exports to poor and undemocratic governments, and weak support for the creation and dissemination of technological advances."

The CDI website includes detailed evaluations of the 22 ranked countries and further explanations of the different policy areas. Use the tabs at the top of the index to read about the different policy areas. Country evaluations can be accessed by clicking on the country names under the Overall tab.

If you're wondering what the CDI means in general, the Center for Global Development has an answer for that, too. Here are the organization's conclusions (click here for more on these points):

1. Rich-country policies matter
2. Development is about more than aid
3. Aid is about more than money
4. Coherence matters
5. Partnerships are powerful
6. No one is perfect
   

Denmark and Norway honored among most peaceful nations in the world

Denmark and Norway were among the nations honored at the recent Global Symposium of Peaceful Nations, held in Washington, DC, November 1-3, 2009. Eighteen countries from nine global regions were invited to attend the event, which was sponsored by the J. William and Harriet Fulbright Center and the Alliance for Peacebuilding.

The countries represented were the two most peaceful nations from each region, as ranked by the Global Peace Index (GPI), described on the Symposium website as "the first index to rank countries based on their peacefulness and identify some of the key drivers of peace." The GPI ranked 144 countries based on 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators, including "military spending, organized conflict, access to small arms, relations with neighboring countries and respect for human rights, among others. The GPI also incorporates a thorough analysis of correlations between peacefulness and factors such as education levels, prosperity, corruption, and well functioning government."

Though only the top two countries from each region were invited to the Symposium, all five of the Nordic countries ranked in the world's top 10 most peaceful nations. Denmark and Norway tied for second place (behind New Zealand), with Iceland right behind in fourth place, Sweden in sixth, and Finland tied for ninth place with Slovenia.

Click here to view the full rankings. Details for each country can be viewed by clicking on the country name.

Norway tops list of best-rated sustainable destinations

The National Geographic Society's Center for Sustainable Destinations has ranked Norway's fjords region as the world's best destination in terms of stewardship and sustainable development. The rankings, which were announced last month and appear in the November/December issue of National Geographic Traveler magazine, list 133 destinations around the world. The rankings were determined by a panels of 437 experts from fields such as historic preservation, site management, geography, sustainable tourism, ecology, indigenous cultures, travel writing and photography, and archaeology.

The destinations were evaluated based on six weighted criteria: environmental and ecological quality, social and cultural integrity, condition of historic buildings and archaeological sites, aesthetic appeal, quality of tourism management, and outlook for the future.

Norway's fjords received a score of 85 points, ahead of other top destinations Kootenay/Yoho National Parks in British Columbia (81 points); Quebec's Gaspé Peninsula (80 points); New Zealand's South Island (80 points); and ancient Kyoto, Japan (79 points). Also on the list of places doing well was central Copenhagen, Denmark, with 72 points.

Explaining the fjord region's top ranking, the National Geographic Traveler article states:

The Fjords, which topped the charts in our 2004 rankings, get even higher marks this year. "about as good as can be done," says one panelist. the gorgeous scenery and the "well-preserved Norwegian rural life" are vigorously protected, plus "the local people seem to benefit." Should keep a wary eye on the growing cruise business.

 Read more about the survey here 

Photo by Terje Rakke/Nordic life/Innovation Norway

Lonely Planet names Iceland one of best value destinations for 2010

Leading guidebook publisher Lonely Planet has just released its new title, Best in Travel 2010, containing 17 top travel lists. One list ranks the "best value for money" destinations in the world - and Iceland is one of the 10 places included. Known until recently as an expensive place to visit, the country's banking collapse and the overall global economic crisis have made Iceland a surprisingly affordable destination.

"Have you always wanted to explore this magical, mysterious country?" the book asks. "To explore ice caps and volcanoes, and wallow in hot springs? Been put off because of the prohibitive prices? Well, 2010 is your year. Last year's dramatic collapse of the currency, the kronur, against numerous currencies, including the British pound and the US dollar, made Iceland suddenly much, much more affordable. National air carrier Icelandair (www.icelandair.com) has also slashed fares in a bid to attract tourists."

According to Lonely Planet, Best in Travel 2010 "captures the world’s hottest travel trends, destinations, journeys and experiences for the year ahead, bringing together the expertise of Lonely Planet authors, staff and travelers. This is Lonely Planet’s fifth eagerly-awaited annual collection of the best places to go and the best things to do around the world for the year ahead."

Other destinations listed as best value are: Thailand, London, South Africa, Malaysia, Mexico, India, Bulgaria, Kenya, and Las Vegas. Destinations are not ranked.

Swedish prime minister urges US and others to follow EU lead on climate change

Sweden's Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt today urged the United States and other developed countries to follow the European Union's lead and make concrete emissions cuts to address climate change. "With just over a month left until the climate summit in Copenhagen, the EU is more united than ever," Reinfeldt wrote in an op-ed piece in Sweden's largest newspaper, Dagens Nyheter. "But efforts by the EU are not enough. We can only reach an ambitious agreement in Copenhagen if all parties contribute to the process. Therefore, other developed countries must display the same leadership by committing to similarly ambitious emissions reductions, presenting proposals for financing, and intensifying their efforts. Developing countries, particularly the more advanced ones, must also present clear commitments that reflect their responsibilities and capabilities."

Concrete commitments to emissions reductions are essential to meeting the United Nations goal of halting global warming at no more than two degrees Celsius, Reinfeldt wrote. As part of these efforts, global emissions must be reduced by 50 percent by 2050, compared to 1990 levels. "We know that the developed countries must take the lead and reduce their emissions," Reinfeldt emphasized. At a summit last week the EU set its own long-term goal of reducing emissions by 80 to 95 percent by 2050.

Sweden holds the presidency of the European Union until the end of the year. Reinfeldt met with U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House yesterday in advance of the first formal summit between the Obama administration and the European Union, which began today.

"My message to President Obama and Congress is that now we must put climate in focus, with the two-degree goal as our guideline," Reinfeldt wrote in his Dagens Nyheter piece. "We are in agreement as to what needs to be done in the long term, but in order to succeed we also need to have an aggressive goal in the medium term....The mid-range goals can for the most part be reached through energy savings and improved efficiency. The sooner we refocus on a green economy, the lower the costs will be."

Reinfeldt plans to convey a similar message in high-level meetings in India later this week and China at the end of the month.

For more on Reinfeldt's Monday meeting with Obama, see Climate talks top EU-US summit in Washington

Swedish speakers can click here to read Reinfeldt's complete op-ed piece