Finland https://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/t6936 Runboard| Finland en-us Thu, 28 Mar 2024 15:01:52 +0000 Thu, 28 Mar 2024 15:01:52 +0000 https://www.runboard.com/ rssfeeds_managingeditor@runboard.com (Runboard.com RSS feeds managing editor) rssfeeds_webmaster@runboard.com (Runboard.com RSS feeds webmaster) akBBS 60 Re: Finlandhttps://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p111153,from=rss#post111153https://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p111153,from=rss#post111153New environmental law makes adder a protected species - now all reptiles and amphibians in Finland are.nondisclosed_email@example.com (Kaunisto)Thu, 27 Apr 2023 14:16:45 +0000 Re: Finlandhttps://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p110605,from=rss#post110605https://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p110605,from=rss#post110605Interesting development: of the eight "real" parties in Finland, now seven have a female leader.nondisclosed_email@example.com (Kaunisto)Thu, 19 Aug 2021 15:36:22 +0000 Re: Finlandhttps://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p110559,from=rss#post110559https://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p110559,from=rss#post110559Finland is about to get first Somalian-born member of parliament, as a Left Alliance MP becomes vice mayor of Helsinki and is replaced by Suldaan Said Ahmed who migrated to Finland 2008.nondisclosed_email@example.com (Kaunisto)Wed, 30 Jun 2021 23:15:43 +0000 Re: Finlandhttps://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p110544,from=rss#post110544https://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p110544,from=rss#post110544No great surprises in the local election. Practically all of current government (covering Left of our political field) took minor losses. Coalition (main right) 21,4%/+0,7% 1554/+64 seats Social Democrats (main left) 17,7/-1,7 1449/-248 Centre (rural areas) 14,9/-2,7 2448/-376 Finns (populist right) 14,5/+5,6 1350/+580 Greens 10,6/-1,9 432/-102 Left Alliance (far left) 7,9/-0,9 508/-150 Swedish 5,0/+0,1 463/-8 Christian 3,6/-0,5 309/-7 Movement Now (one businessman/MP doing his own thing...) 1,6/+1,6 49/+49 Others 2,1 293 Not a result I'm happy with, but better than expected.nondisclosed_email@example.com (Kaunisto)Mon, 14 Jun 2021 01:28:47 +0000 Re: Finlandhttps://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p110427,from=rss#post110427https://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p110427,from=rss#post110427Local elections will be postponed from April to June due the pandemic. This might be the first time in my lifetime that any elections are postponed.nondisclosed_email@example.com (Kaunisto)Sat, 06 Mar 2021 15:13:32 +0000 Re: Finlandhttps://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p110228,from=rss#post110228https://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p110228,from=rss#post110228European Court of Human Rights has decided state of Finland was responsible for failing to stop 2008 school shooting and has to pay 30 000€ to families of each victim and 70 000€ of total court expenses. According the decision police should've confiscated the weapon used, based on information they had on the shooter prior the act. And even doing that itself might not have been enough to qualify as necessary action.nondisclosed_email@example.com (Kaunisto)Fri, 18 Sep 2020 15:34:26 +0000 Re:https://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p110160,from=rss#post110160https://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p110160,from=rss#post110160Berry picking is a traditional pastime here, especially for the older generations. However, as they are indeed getting older, it gets harder for them to get out from the woods. So far this year 85 berry pickers have needed search and rescue... nondisclosed_email@example.com (Kaunisto)Wed, 22 Jul 2020 17:16:12 +0000 Re:https://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p110093,from=rss#post110093https://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p110093,from=rss#post110093Centre Party leader Kulmuni was forced to step down as minister of finance due a little scandal of having spend 50000€ of taxpayer money on speech lessons. She is replaced by former prime minister Vanhanen (who'll also be deputy prime minister); Vanhanen had currently been speaker of parliament. Kulmuni has chosen to continue as party leader, somewhat unorthodox thing to do. She's expected to be replaced later this year as the party chooses (presumably new) leader. What I'm wondering is what will Vanhanen do after the party has new leader? The new leader takes the minister post; I doubt he'd be interested of having a lesser one or taking it from someone else. He can't really go back to speaker with someone else on the job and it's four years before he gets a chance to become president - I believe he well could, but kind of doubt he intends to. Maybe he's doing this to leave top politics (aside that the party desperately needed him to), just being regular MP next three years and then not running anymore. Anyway, this mess within one party doesn't really shake Finnish politics in whole, except in very long term. After the disastrous rightist government 2015-19 led by Centre, the party has been in deep decline and that kind of worries me because it could lead to a left vs right bloc politics. Almost no other party can be said to be between the main right Coalition and Social Democrats on the left (except arguably Swedish People's Party - which wouldn't be the worst possible group to hold balance of power). Instead of traditional "any majority of parties that can work together is next government" we'd have rightist and leftist governments - like now: last government was furthest right since WWII, current is furthest left since early 80's. Or the two main parties sharing power, with no proper opposition... boosting the far-right ranting idiots aka Finns Party.nondisclosed_email@example.com (Kaunisto)Thu, 11 Jun 2020 14:24:23 +0000 Re:https://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p110067,from=rss#post110067https://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p110067,from=rss#post110067Apparently drive-in beer selling isn't legal in Finland. Small breweries have a problem and they were trying this as solution, but it was quickly shut down. According the law, handing alcohol to customer has to happen within a shop. And right now they're not allowed to keep the shops open.nondisclosed_email@example.com (Kaunisto)Sat, 23 May 2020 12:40:28 +0000 Re:https://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p110013,from=rss#post110013https://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p110013,from=rss#post110013First same-sex couple adoptions in Finland are now official. Law enabling them has existed three years, but with processes and bureaucracies it took this long to become reality.nondisclosed_email@example.com (Kaunisto)Mon, 20 Apr 2020 15:15:20 +0000 Re:https://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p110009,from=rss#post110009https://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p110009,from=rss#post110009Former president and Nobel winner Martti Ahtisaari and his wife (83 and 82) are told to have recovered from covid. So far no notable current government people - not sure if even any MPs - have gotten sick.nondisclosed_email@example.com (Kaunisto)Tue, 14 Apr 2020 13:33:25 +0000 Re:https://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p110001,from=rss#post110001https://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p110001,from=rss#post110001On more positive political news (from my POV), prime minister party SDP has for first time since elections passed the Finns in polls. Not that these matter and it's long time to any elections, but it's been disturbing to see Finns on top so long.nondisclosed_email@example.com (Kaunisto)Thu, 09 Apr 2020 12:38:42 +0000 Re: Finlandhttps://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p109989,from=rss#post109989https://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p109989,from=rss#post109989The warm winter was disastrous to seal pups. Lack of ice left them without shelter from environment and predators.nondisclosed_email@example.com (Kaunisto)Sat, 28 Mar 2020 15:17:15 +0000 Re: Finlandhttps://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p109987,from=rss#post109987https://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p109987,from=rss#post109987OK, have to talk about the CV... Finland shuts down capital region Capital region of Uusimaa that has about third of country's population and so far majority of confirmed coronavirus cases is to be isolated from rest of country for weeks. This is a very drastic measure - it's even arguable if it's legal by constitution - especially considering Finland hasn't yet been hit as hard as western Europe: currently about 900 infected and 3 dead (all within week).nondisclosed_email@example.com (Kaunisto)Thu, 26 Mar 2020 01:18:09 +0000 Re:https://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p109947,from=rss#post109947https://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p109947,from=rss#post109947It's estimated that 2040 Finland will have 44 towns with more retired people than working age. Currently there's zero.nondisclosed_email@example.com (Kaunisto)Wed, 12 Feb 2020 16:42:55 +0000 Re: Finlandhttps://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p109876,from=rss#post109876https://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p109876,from=rss#post109876Finland now has the youngest prime minister in the world (34). I still don't quite understand what happened, what was the motive of Centre Party (leader?) to knock Rinne out of the job, because this reflects badly to the whole government and Centre is doing worse in polls than ever. Also the new prime minister Marin is probably further left(=away from Centre) than Rinne, so they didn't trade up there. Social Democrats are now in unusual situation: Rinne continues as party leader, despite Marin becoming prime minister. Apparently Rinne now becomes vice speaker of parliament.nondisclosed_email@example.com (Kaunisto)Tue, 10 Dec 2019 15:34:53 +0000 Re: Finlandhttps://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p109870,from=rss#post109870https://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p109870,from=rss#post109870In a somewhat surprising turn of events, prime minister Rinne resigns. It's likely the current government continues (despite opposition protests), with just the prime minister (and another minister earlier) switched. The mess that knocked him out began with postal service trying to cut wages, resulting to widest strikes we've had for couple years. Aside some unclarities on how exactly had government controlled the bosses of post, Rinne was accused of "giving incorrect information" to parliament (which he denies, despite resignation). The two persons next in line among the party are less familiar names, I can't say much about next PM.nondisclosed_email@example.com (Kaunisto)Tue, 03 Dec 2019 15:53:34 +0000 Re: Finlandhttps://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p109786,from=rss#post109786https://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p109786,from=rss#post109786Sad - we have a decline in tourism here too, largely due to our politicians.   nondisclosed_email@example.com (Petal Alderin)Fri, 04 Oct 2019 14:03:22 +0000 Re: Finlandhttps://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p109774,from=rss#post109774https://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p109774,from=rss#post109774The Thomas Cook bankruptcy, aside potentially stranding couple thousand Finnish travelers, will hit Lapland tourism which is already about suffer from Brexit, Brits being a major group of visitors.nondisclosed_email@example.com (Kaunisto)Mon, 23 Sep 2019 16:07:33 +0000 Re: Finlandhttps://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p109648,from=rss#post109648https://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p109648,from=rss#post109648Regular knitting or this one? Wife carrying was real close this year.nondisclosed_email@example.com (Kaunisto)Sat, 27 Jul 2019 22:52:38 +0000 Re:https://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p109647,from=rss#post109647https://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p109647,from=rss#post109647Have seen some interesting things about Finland lately - a knitting competition for one, and also a wife carrying competition!nondisclosed_email@example.com (Petal Alderin)Sat, 27 Jul 2019 15:56:31 +0000 Re: Finlandhttps://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p109641,from=rss#post109641https://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p109641,from=rss#post109641Related to above, latest poll says 51% of Finns are currently against joining NATO, while 26% are for. Bit of news that caught my eye: nondisclosed_email@example.com (Kaunisto)Mon, 22 Jul 2019 20:14:26 +0000 Re: Finlandhttps://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p109568,from=rss#post109568https://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p109568,from=rss#post109568Something I wrote on another forum when they wondered why Finland isn't in NATO:quote:Basically it's that... for better and worse, we have to live with Russia. Though due EU membership and especially current sanctions Germany has become our biggest trade partner, relations with Russia will always have great meaning to Finnish economy. And on that NATO membership is a strong card Finland wants to hold onto as long as possible. Then there's the idea of NATO getting us dragged into stuff we don't have any business on - or rather US doing so. Iraq War and its various consequences have strengthened that impression (and obviously Trump doesn't help the issue). Related to that, there are also arguments that EU membership and military cooperation provides good enough guarantees, without the US influence. And from that we get to the attitude of "neutrality" and suspicion on superpowers that results from lifetime of balancing between West and East, leaving Finns thinking it's good idea. "If you bow to West, you moon to East." Similarly the same era has rather lulled us to thinking that military conflict just isn't realistic, that doesn't happen here. Even more so for Sweden, which hasn't been in war for two centuries. (IMO there's an equal opposite phenom in US, with people having become used to being at war every few years as normal.) Practically speaking, I don't think there's ever been a 50% popular support for joining NATO; with option "undecided" in poll, hardly even 40%. Government would have the power to do it (and I'm sure NATO would be quite happy to have us), but it would be a political suicide for the parties. However there is wide support for current level of cooperation and exercises with NATO or with all EU countries using same equipment standards as NATO. If it would appear that Sweden is about to join, that might trigger Finland to join NATO. There has in fact been suggestion that Finland and Sweden would make agreement on neither joining NATO without the other (because of existing cooperation). But mostly Swedes have been even slightly more anti-NATO than Finns.nondisclosed_email@example.com (Kaunisto)Sun, 30 Jun 2019 11:26:12 +0000 Re: Finlandhttps://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p109541,from=rss#post109541https://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p109541,from=rss#post1095417.3% of population in Finland are of foreign origin; the number has doubled in 10 years. About sixth of those were born in Finland. The most common background is Russia/Soviet Union, followed by Somalia and Iraq.nondisclosed_email@example.com (Kaunisto)Wed, 19 Jun 2019 13:42:20 +0000 Re: Finlandhttps://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p109508,from=rss#post109508https://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p109508,from=rss#post109508As EU and Russia have been adding sanctions to each other, travel from Russia to Finland has increased by about 10% from last year. Russians do private shopping trips to get products no longer available there.nondisclosed_email@example.com (Kaunisto)Thu, 06 Jun 2019 00:28:36 +0000 Re: Finlandhttps://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p109504,from=rss#post109504https://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p109504,from=rss#post109504quote:Kaunisto wrote: Beginning next month, raccoon dogs are outlaws. They are defined harmful invasive species and you no longer need hunting license for them. ...and starting today, that goes also for musk rat, nutria, mink and raccoon. (Which is odd because I though we didn't have any raccoons yet. There are in Sweden and they're expected to spread here, assuming climate change, but as far as I know this is legal permission to hunt animal we don't have.) Also for these animals are allowed some hunting methods (night vision equipment for example) that aren't with game animals.nondisclosed_email@example.com (Kaunisto)Sat, 01 Jun 2019 14:40:24 +0000 Re: Finlandhttps://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p109503,from=rss#post109503https://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p109503,from=rss#post109503Law changed today that from now on anyone under 18 can't get married in any circumstances. Until now it was possible to apply for exception licence; approximately dozen were given annually, practically always in cases where both were 16-20. I'm a bit undecided about this. I understand the legal argument - under 18 you still have guardian, you don't have full power to make decisions for yourself, including about your wealth and marriage clearly is that - and there are good moral reasons too. But still, I prefer there to be exceptions and some room left in laws.nondisclosed_email@example.com (Kaunisto)Sat, 01 Jun 2019 12:22:12 +0000 Re: Finlandhttps://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p109339,from=rss#post109339https://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p109339,from=rss#post109339happiest country againnondisclosed_email@example.com (Kaunisto)Wed, 20 Mar 2019 14:37:42 +0000 Re: Finlandhttps://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p109318,from=rss#post109318https://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p109318,from=rss#post109318Amount of Estonian workers in Finland is falling. Wages in Estonia have risen and cost of living in Finland is so much higher that it's not as profitable as before to come across the bay. As another sign of changes, Finns are no longer getting as much cheap alcohol from Tallinn as before. It's become so that Estonians go to Latvia to get carload of cheap beer.nondisclosed_email@example.com (Kaunisto)Mon, 11 Mar 2019 14:54:44 +0000 Re: Finlandhttps://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p109225,from=rss#post109225https://banythinggoes3.runboard.com/p109225,from=rss#post109225I'll tell you what's awful. A hunter on TV told that best bait for raccoon dogs is... dead raccoon dog! They're cannibals! But seriously, it's East Asian species that was brought to Europe by Russians for furs. They're menace to birds nesting on ground. Shocking statistics: 2018 Finland had least births since famine years in mid-1800's.nondisclosed_email@example.com (Kaunisto)Fri, 01 Feb 2019 15:35:45 +0000