nordstjernan The Swedish Newspaper of America
Published by Swedish News. Volume 144 No. 03, February 15, 2016. Price per copy $2.50
This Week, Page 4
Chess Grandmaster A magician never reveals his secrets, and neither does The Swedish Wall, the Viking of chess, Ulf Andersson.
Anders Ygeman announces migration rejections.
Sweden, Page 2, 3
The best country in which to raise a family / Swedish foreign minister in a housing scandal / Sweden’s persona non grata in Israel / job market opens wide in 2016 / age limits may be enforced on social media / UNICEF appoints Swedish professor as health chief.
Perspectives, Page 3
Some questions answered, others to consider. Change is coming.
Feature, Page 18
HRH Crown Princess Victoria accepts appointment as global change advocate.
Life on the professional chess circuit: Leading Swedish chess player Ulf Andersson, who was awarded the International Master title in 1970 and the Grandmaster title in 1972 by the World Chess Federation interviewed by Ulf Kirchdorfer. / Page 5
Continued on page 4
Page 16 Swedish Minister Mikael Damberg closes NASDAQ, opens a new page for NYC Swedes
Dashboard, Page 10, 11 Photo: Migrationsverket, Tomislav Stjepic
The acceptance of migrants over the last year has put a lot of strain on a country with a population of less than 10 million. A total of 163,000 people applied for asylum in Sweden last year alone. The government now expects that a large proportion of them will be expelled. “As part of Sweden having many asylum applications, it’s also a fact that a number of people will have their applications rejected and will have to return to their home countries,” Swedish Interior Minister Anders Ygeman recently said during interviews with Swedish media. The proportion of applications that are rejected is around 45 percent, meaning that of the 163,000 cases in 2015 alone, the government expects to deport 60,000 to 80,000 people. But it won’t happen immediately. “It will be spread out over a number of years, depending on when they receive their decisions,” Sweden’s
Sweden and U.S. fight crime together / A new skyline near Stockholm / Police force expansion needed / Celebrating Swedish clogs in America / Swedish actor appears in American drama and American classic premiers on Swedish stage. Page 12
A large number of the 2015 asylum applications will be rejected, says Sweden’s Interior Minister.
Shrove Tuesday variations
In the beginning, a semla was simply a bun soaked in hot milk and known as hetvägg. It was eaten on fettisdag (Shrove Tuesday or Fat Tuesday) when the last feast was enjoyed before Lent. Swedes and Finns alike began resisting the strict observances of Lent, however, and started eating a semla every Tuesday between Shrove Tuesday and Easter — the Swedes added cream and almond paste to theirs, and the Finns added cardamom and raspberry jam to theirs. Like a dialect, a person’s origins can be identified by how they like their semlor. And if you’re a Finn living in Stockholm, you needn’t fear because Finska Butiken has semlor just the way you like them. / Page 15
Page 11
Photo: Bo Zaunders
Not everyone can stay in Sweden
news in brief. page 2
Swedish News
Jämställdhet är typiskt svenskt. Våga säga det. Gästledare
Sweden ranks No. 1 in the world for its overall attention to everything that makes for a great place to raise happy, healthy children.
Photo: Elisabeth Ohlson Wallin for Nordic Reach
Sydsvenska Dagbladet 8 February, 2016
Best country to raise a family
If you want your children to have the best upbringing, make sure you are raising them in Sweden. According to a US News survey of 16,000 people, Sweden ranks No. 1 in the world for its attention to human rights, family friendliness, gender equality, general happiness, income equality, safety, developed public education and health systems. The survey, which rated every country on these eight attributes, aims to gauge global perceptions of the world’s biggest economies and specific attributes compared with different countries. According to the US News survey, Sweden must be doing exactly what it’s been working on by promoting itself as a family-friendly country — because the message is resonating. People believe all the Nordic nations have a great track record of gender equality, safety and human rights, but this year what tipped the scales is Sweden’s long, paid parental leave and child benefits programs. Sweden outranked second-place Denmark, which was previously in the number one spot, and Canada came in third. The U.S. ranked No. 15, behind Italy and Spain. Speaking of raising children in Sweden, Crown Princess Victoria is a little over a month away from the birth of her second child. She is feeling well and plans to work as long as possible until the baby is born. She has calendar commitments through February 10, but that doesn’t mean she won’t work after that, according to the court’s Communications Margareta Thorgren. The royal baby is due in March.
Foreign Minister in housing scandal
Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström has become involved in a housing scandal. Stockholm has an acute housing shortage and the average waiting time to receive a rental apartment through the system is over 10 years. Wallström received a rent-controlled apartment from the municipal workers’ union Kommunal, bypassing a queue of less eminent would-be tenants when she entered office in the fall of 2014. A Stockholm prosecutor has opened a preliminary inquiry to determine whether a crime was committed. If the contract was arranged to receive any kind of return favors or to influence the minister it could be considered a bribe. “I welcome an investigation. I have nothing to hide and it is good that this will get sorted out,” Wallström told news agency TT and added, “I will continue to do my job.”
Unwelcome to Israel
Wallström seems to adhere to the reverse of President Teddy Roosevelt’s dictum to “speak softly and carry a big stick.” In one of her first moves as foreign minister, Margot Wallström enraged Israel by announcing Sweden’s recognition of a Palestinian state. She then angered Israel again in December last year by calling for thorough investigations into the Israeli army’s killing of Palestinians that she termed extrajudicial. Israel declared her persona non grata on Jan. 13.
Nordstjernan, February 15, 2016
Fjolårets stora flyktingström till Sverige fortsätter att avspeglas i opinionen. I en ny mätning från Ipsos/DN (8/2) har invandring och integration seglat upp som den överlägset viktigaste frågan. Den prioriteras nu av 40 procent av väljarna – en uppgång med hela 20 procentenheter sedan i juni. Det är lätt att slentrianmässigt tala om överdrivet fokus på migrationsfrågor, men så som läget ser ut är detta fokus fullt rimligt. Sverige tog emot över 160 000 asylsökande i fjol. Gränskontrollerna må – åtminstone tillfälligt – ha minskat strömmen av nyanlända till en mer hanterbar nivå. Men de stora utmaningarna har regeringen framför sig. Åtskilligt mer måste göras för att integrera landets nya invånare och det finns stora luckor i den politiska strategin. Det talas mycket om behovet av jobb och bostäder, på goda grunder, men knappast alls om behovet av en gemensam värdegrund. Den liberala demokratin bygger på värderingar som det inte finns utrymme att kompromissa kring: respekt för lagar, för mänskliga rättigheter, för jämlikhet, för allas rätt att välja sitt liv. Här ingår också jämställdhet mellan kvinnor och män. Det här gäller alla som bor i landet. Det går inte att välja eller välja bort. Detta är
alldeles självklart – men samtidigt en utmaning: Omkring 70 procent av dem som sökte asyl i Sverige i fjol var män. Av de drygt 35 000 ensamkommande flyktingbarnen var 90 procent pojkar, vilket tidningen uppmärksammade i helgen. Merparten kommer från patriarkala kulturer och väl i Sverige hamnar de i redan mansdominerade miljöer – avfolkningsbygd med ett överskott på lågutbildade unga män. Det vore naivt att tro att dessa nyanlända män som genom ett trollslag skulle ta till sig de värderingar som är resultatet av en lång kamp för jämställdhet här i Sverige. Liberala kvinnoförbundet framhåller att jämställdheten måste lyftas i migrationspolitiken. Förbundet vill bland annat att asylsökande ska delta i en obligatorisk introduktionskurs om den liberala demokratin. Tanken är att de sedan ska skriva under ett kontrakt där de förbinder sig att respektera den svenska värdegrunden med demokrati – och jämställdhet. “Vi måste våga prata om de kulturella skillnaderna. Det är ju självklart att det spelar roll att det kommer så många pojkar”, säger Liberala kvinnoförbundets integrationspolitiska talesperson Ulrica Westerlund. Ja, det är självklart. Och det är viktigt att våga tala tydligt om detta. Många på politisk nivå tycks tro att det skulle gynna främlingsfientliga krafter om de gav sig in i den här diskussionen, men i själva verket är det precis tvärtom. Gemensamt för olika främlingsfientliga grupper är
försök att definiera “svenskhet” – utifrån blodsband, tradition eller religion, men alltid i syfte att utesluta personer på etnisk grund. Varför inte svara med något inkluderande? Något liknande det som Liberala kvinnoförbundet nu föreslår kunde användas för att lyfta och tydliggöra en medborgarskapstanke: svensk är den som accepterar de grundläggande värderingar som samhället bygger på. Denna tanke är högaktuell. Oroande vittnesmål hörs från utanförskapsområden om hur självutnämnda väktarråd försöker skrämma kvinnor att leva på visst vis. Här finns inget utrymme för kulturrelativism. I Sverige är kvinnor och män jämställda, här får alla välja sitt liv. Punkt. Kärnan i detta fångas väl i antologin Islam i Danmark: “Att acceptera reaktionära och undertryckande normer och värderingar, bara för att de kommer från en annan kultur, är absurt.” Boken utkom redan 2002. Frågan är på intet sätt ny. Att den kan vara komplicerad att ta i är inget skäl att låta bli. Beslutsfattarna måste ta ett större grepp om integrationen och säkerställa att den även omfattar grundläggande värderingar. Så får fler de nycklar de behöver för att komma in i samhället. Så understryks att svenskhet inte handlar om att ha en viss hudton, kultur eller tro. Väljarna vet vilken som är den viktigaste politiska frågan just nu. Den måste behandlas därefter.
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News in brief. page 3
Sweden will prevail
Swedish News
We were hesitant about our friend and columnist Ulf Kirchdorfer’s satire (page 8) this week. In the end we decided to run it simply because it is satire but also because in it he addresses something that ought to be a concern in Sweden and all of Europe these days — that politicians and the press have a lot of responsibility for the present difficulties facing their societies. You’ve seen the headlines and columns we’ve run over the last year: One thousand refugees per day — More than trust in asylum policy at stake — Sweden prepares for crisis — Sweden to close its borders — Sweden’s self-inflicted nightmare.…
While 4,100 new employees are wanted on the Swedish police force, jobs within Sweden’s entire labor market are expected to be plentiful in 2016. The Employment Service’s forecast is the labor market will increase employment for a variety of reasons but unemployment will remain about the same because of the population increase in the country. “There will be many job openings, with chances for many people to establish themselves in the labor market,” said Håkan Gustavsson, an analyst at the Employment Service, adding: “The lack of teachers and health professionals are at record levels.” Teachers, science and health care professionals, and for the first time in years, industrial workers are in high demand. Careers requiring a college degree have the greatest shortage of labor: physical and mental health care professionals, teachers and engineers in all disciplines. Jobs requiring other levels of education are also needed in the food and hospitality industries; mechanics, contractors and skilled workers are needed.
I just came back from Sweden. It looks and feels the same as it did a couple years ago. Then again, I only got to spend time in the cities of Stockholm and Malmö, with quick excursions to other parts of Skåne in the south. And sure, the Sweden I know has changed over the last 20 or 30 years — it has become more diverse, more cosmopolitan; Stockholm feels like a cleaner, fresher, also slower New York, but diverse or not, it’s Sweden. Communities further north where there are more newcomers and immigrants of one kind or another, communities that don’t have the major cities’ ability to become melting pots offer a different feeling. But, I spent more time in the city centers. The melting pots with a large influx of newcomers have a tendency to also create segregation — both because of people’s inherent search for the comfort of being with like-minded people and the original population’s insecurity with large groups of those that are … well, different. Ipso facto, that creates segregation and with unemployment running much higher among newcomers than in other groups, the step to what may be perceived as a ghetto (Angered, Rinkeby, Rosengård) is not far. My guess is for these reasons there are areas that can be called ghettos in towns all over Sweden. After spending time there, my sense is that the Sweden we know and its Swedishness will prevail. I am an immigrant myself, and I now live in a country founded by immigrants. I brought some of my culture with me but my main identity is American and I have learned to play by the rules. Therein may lie the rub for Sweden: Over the last 20 years acceptance became tolerance, and not accepting values of other cultures became intolerance. Or to put it another way: To set and expect clear rules for how to
The role of media: Two years ago one of Sweden’s largest dailies ran an ad for a book on statistics about immigration and integration in Sweden. Statistics aren’t as rosy as politicians would want; with such an influx of migrants during one generation there will be problems — it happened here in the U.S. one hundred years ago and it’s happening in Sweden and Europe now. At the time, every other media outlet started a campaign against the newspaper for being racist. Swedes did — and to an extent still do — fear being thought of as racist if they would write or talk about anything that could be perceived as having a problem with immigrants from other cultures. This has changed over the last few months. The language of this issue’s guest editorial (page 2), which ran in another of Sweden’s largest dailies, would have been impossible just two months ago: “About 70 percent of those who applied for asylum in Sweden last year were men. Of the over 35,000 unaccompanied refugee children 90 percent were boys. Most come from patriarchal cultures and in Sweden, they end up in male-dominated environments - depopulated areas with a surplus of low-skilled young men. It would be naive to think that these new arrivals as if by magic would embrace the values that are the result of a long struggle for gender equality in Sweden. Policy makers need to take a broader approach to integration and ensure that it includes fundamental values [of the Swedish society].” It has become acceptable to bring up problems in media, surely part of the solution not the problem. Change is coming. Ethnic clashes in Sweden: This is an area yet to be fully covered by Swedish mainstream media. Many violent crimes reported in Sweden are allegedly between rivaling groups of immigrating Serbs and Bosnians or Somali refugees representing competing clans, etc. People arriving from different factions of a wartorn region naturally bring experiences and conflicts with them. Another aspect we covered in early 2010 is the increasing harassment of Jewish Swedes, which until recently has been greatly overlooked by Swedish policy makers and media. Change is coming. Siavosh Derakhti, a young Swedish Muslim who founded a group that educates young people about the evils of anti-Semitism and xenophobia, received the Raoul Wallenberg Award in 2013.
Ulf Barslund Mårtensson Editor & Publisher
Cover-ups by police: The failure to report the atrocities at Stockholm concerts where groups of immigrant men assaulted Swedish girls both in 2015 (and in 2014 according to later reports) can not be blamed only on the police (page 4). When media itself cannot run a paid ad for a book with less than promising statistics without being called racist, what would happen to a police force that blames sex crimes on an immigrant group? These were cover-ups by the society and policy makers — politicians, media and even the general public are culpable. Fear of racism should not prevent an open discussion about problems; rules and values are for everyone in a society. Change is coming. Swedish women are being raped: The number of rapes reported in Sweden has gone up dramatically in the last 20 to 30 years. It seems to be true that a certain amount of race-related rapes do occur — in which Middle Eastern men, with a much different view of women, brutally assault Swedish girls. That said, the higher rates of rape reporting in Sweden is also seen as a sign that women feel empowered. Gender equality education in Sweden is strong: As we reported in December 2015, every 16-year-old boy and girl was given a copy of the booklength essay We Should All Be Feminists by Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Sweden is the fourth most gender-equal nation out of 142 countries, according to a recent World Economic Forum Report. It’s also important to note the recent crimes in the news are rare incidents in the context of the enormous number of migrants who have come to Sweden and Europe. Be that as it may, ignoring the reality of the refugees’ culture does a disservice to the migrants themselves and also migrant women and girls, who should benefit from the same equality with men as native-born Swedes. Make the values and the laws of society clear to everyone — make sure everyone knows how to play by the rules. Change is coming. The volume of migrants: Accepting responsibility for refugees comes at a price. No one can really foresee the final cost for Swedish society and taxpayers since it all depends on how well newcomers can be integrated and become suppliers in the system rather than dependents. The benefits are there in terms of a younger work force and population, but it will be a long and costly process to incorporate the large volumes that have arrived in recent years. We can’t blame Continues on page 8
HRH Crown Princess Victoria has been appointed global change advocate by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. /Page 18
Social media age limit becomes law
As a result of new data protection rules from the EU, the Swedish government has proposed an age limit for teenagers who want to interact on social media. Swedish authorities will consider an age limit between 13 and 16, the result of a new directive finalized by the European Union in December, according to Consumer Minister Per Bolund. “It is a binding directive, so somewhere in that range is where the Swedish rules will end up,” Bolund told Swedish Television. Children who have not yet reached the age limit will need their guardian’s consent to use social media applications or websites. While services such as Facebook or Snapchat require new users to be over 13, the EU rules, expected be implemented within two years, are designed to ensure enforcement by law, according to the report.
Swedish professor health chief of UNICEF
Stefan Swartling Peterson, professor of Global Health at Uppsala University since 2012, has been appointed as the Chief of Health at UNICEF in New York. As a health systems researcher and medical doctor, Peterson’s research focuses on medical assistance and healthcare in low-income countries. He has done extensive field work in Tanzania and Uganda, and has worked with different ministries of health, organizations such as WHO, and implemented projects supported by Sida, the Gates Stefan Swartling Peterson Foundation, and the EU.
The Exchange Rate: $1.00 = SEK 8.38 02.10.2016
February 15, 2016 Nordstjernan
Photo:Charles Hammarsten/Kungahuset.se
Are you worried? Wondering how it is possible? Whether it will work out for Sweden? Each of us likely has an opinion, and we’ve done our best in Nordstjernan to allow you to form your own opinion based on a variety of perspectives, opinions, news pieces and contributions.
behave in Sweden became intolerance. Anyone who pointed out problems — within the work environment, or men from fundamentalist Islamic countries treating their own or Swedish born women badly — became a racist, immigration opponent and bigot. This brings me to a few things that many of us looking at Sweden from the outside wonder about:
Job market opens up
lifestyle. page 4
Sweden could expel 80,000 immigrants Minister of Migration Morgan Johansson later clarified, stating that migrants who do not meet the definition of refugee must be expelled. Otherwise the country allows free immigration and that is not sustainable for Sweden, he said. Quickly scooped up by BBC, Al-Jazeera and Sky News, the comments immediately became top international news in the final week of January. Anders Ygeman has said that chartering planes is a cost-effective way to return people to their countries of origin and he hopes other European countries, or the European Union, can be a part of this
“It is a fact that a number of people will have their applications rejected and will have to return to their home countries,” Swedish Interior Minister Anders Ygeman said. The volume of rejections could easily reach 60-80,000.
process. The difficulty is getting the countries of origin to take responsibility for their citizens. “I have had discussions with North African countries and we have had a discussion with Afghanistan. And it’s a difficult task to get these countries to take responsibility,” Ygeman told Swedish Radio.
Deportations next year
He estimates the big rise in deportations will come in a year’s time, as the Migration Agency makes its decisions on whether the thousands of arrivals to Sweden have the right to stay as refugees. In an interview with news agency TT Anders Ygeman said he has no idea what the likely costs are of this rise in deportations. There will be more controls in the nation and the government also wants to make it harder for people without papers to support themselves. In an interview in daily Dagens Industri Ygeman says there have to be “palpable consequences” for companies that employ undocumented migrants. The head of the border police, Patrik Engström, has said his force of 1,000 will need to be doubled. “Most of them work with border checks and carrying out deportations,” Engström said in an interview with TT. He added they need to work closer with the Migration Agency, and be on the scene as soon as an asylum rejection is handed out. Earlier in the year the nation’s police commissioner Dan Eliasson requested an extra 4,000 police to deal with rising crime, disturbances at migrant centers and deportations.
Changing tones in media
The tone in Swedish media has changed over the last couple months since the government decided to close Sweden’s borders
Photo: Migrationsverket, Tomislav Stjepic
Continued from page 1
The Swedish migration authorities checking passengers arriving at Stockholm central station from Arlanda Airport.
— as has the opinion of most political parties, with the conservatives, who initialized the open door policy already in 1991, now leading the push for further control and reform to lower the cost of migrants. It has become acceptable to talk about problems, both in terms of integration, cultural differences and the societal cost of large volume immigration. Overall tension in Sweden has increased after reports of organized migrant sex attacks at a festival in Stockholm and the January murder of an employee at a refugee center for youth outside Mölndal in Göteborg. The 22-year-old refugee worker was stabbed to death during a quarrel among residents. A teenage Somali migrant has been arrested in the case, though Swedish authorities have not been able to confirm his identity. The lack of documents becomes an
issue for the criminal system, but given the volume of migrants arriving without papers, it also adds another level of difficulty for the migration authorities; many of those that are rejected for asylum lack identity documents, according to the Migration Board’s COO Michael Ribbenvik. “Roughly speaking, about a third of those who are rejected are so-called difficult cases where the individual refuses to leave and where you do not have any documents that are sufficient to execute the deportation,” Ribbenvik said. If a person has no documents the country of origin will not accept his return since they cannot be sure that it is their citizen.
Police and media cover up? Swedish police are being criticized for failing to inform the public of widespread sexual assaults against teenage girls at a music festival last summer. The police hadn’t mentioned the August 2015 incidents at the “We are Sthlm” festival until the newspaper Dagens Nyheter reported on them in mid-January this year. The story was released after the string of sexual assaults and robberies on New Year’s Eve in Cologne, Germany was reported all over Europe. Police in Germany were criticized for not immediately reporting the incidents in Cologne, where authorities and witnesses later described the attackers as predominantly Arab and North African men. Spokespersons for the Swedish Police have now confirmed that there was “a large
Nordstjernan, February 15, 2016
number” of sexual assaults during the fiveday festival and that scores of “young men who were not from Sweden” were detained. The Swedish police have been cautious about bringing up sensitive issues that are mostly shunned by politicians and major media alike for years. It deserves to be mentioned that Dagens Nyheter itself was blamed for covering up and not reporting the incidents, which were allegedly brought to the newspaper’s attention already in the summer. According to other sources referred to at Nyheter Idag, several police officers had repeatedly tried to get the newspaper to write about the assaults in August 2015. The newspaper’s editor now says that no independent confirmation of events could be made at the
time, a comment that contrasts with several of those involved, both among individual police officers who had been at the scene and a police psychologist who worked hard to get the media to report it.
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feature. page 5
Life on the Chess Circuit
Chess champion Ulf Andersson contemplating a life out of the ordinary—here, back at his roots by the Arboga river (Arbogaån) in quaint historic Arboga (pop. 10,000).
by Ulf Kirchdorfer ulf.kirchdorfer@nordstjernan.com
On a cold winter night, near the river in Arboga, one of Sweden’s oldest towns, it is very likely you would see a figure in blue under the lights of the Old Bridge. The figure is Ulf Andersson, grandmaster in chess. He might look up at you and wave a mitten to be polite, though most likely he will keep on moving, at a deliberate pace, like an athlete in training. Ulf Andersson is moving in many directions at the same time. His thoughts come and go, some of them about chess, some that are no one’s business but his. For part of the walk he is able to dissociate, if he is lucky. Chess takes a toll on a person, and walking is one way to recharge, or at least still the febrile imagination and obsessive thoughts ... for a while. Ulf Andersson was born in this town of 10,000 in 1951. Many generations before, Arboga was home to the first Swedish Riksdag, in 1435, and famously, King Carl Gustav Vasa—after whom the famous ski race is named—drove out monks from a monastery in the 16th century when a Lutheran wind swept over and against Catholicism in Sweden. You may wonder why a Swedish grand-
master would choose to live in his small hometown. After all, this is a man who has traveled the globe on a crusade to do battle with chess players. He has lived for months, even years, in countries with climes very unlike Sweden’s: Argentina, Brazil, Cuba. Why would Andersson return to a place where he wears traditional Swedish winter sweaters? Well he is fond of them, judging by the hundreds if not thousands of photographs that repeat this same fashion motif over his 43 years as a professional chessplayer. Stability and sanctuary are an answer, not that one can ever find a definitive solution. The world of professional chess is stressful. Says Andersson, “There are many professional chess players and I feel it is like a fight in the jungle. The very strongest players of today have surely been struggling a lot in order to reach their positions and must keep on doing so, in order to maintain their positions.” For those of us who think of chess players as geniuses who calculate 20 moves ahead in just seconds, Andersson’s frankness is as instructive as it is disarming. “To play well, that is another story. It is not easy and I believe it is blood, sweat and tears.” But lest anyone think he is lamenting the plight
of the misunderstood and tormented artist, Anderson is quick to add, “I suppose it is the same in various different lines of work in society, too.”
An arduous sport
If Andersson has led a stressful life on the professional chess circuit, the river Arboga, after which the town is named, must be a fountain of youth. Andersson is animated and slender with youthfulness, including ash blond hair at the age of 61 that shows more or less gray depending on the lighting. Only a few strong lines on his face, like the rings of a tree, betray the passage of time. One of the charming qualities of Andersson is his down-to-earth, relatable nature. He is a big sports fan. Even when talking about chess, he resorts to sports metaphors and comparisons. He says he does so because he does not want to be misunderstood. “When I talk about a game of chess, then I often mix it with, let’s say, tennis or soccer. Tennis and soccer are sports that almost all people know about. I try to translate, so to speak, the position from the chessboard into a position on the soccer field or the tennis court, as I see it.” But Andersson’s love for sports and physical activity is deep-rooted. He has
mentioned on Swedish Radio that when he was retained to coach the great chess player Boris Spassky, who at the height of the Cold War played in the notorious showdown against Bobby Fischer in Iceland, the training regimen of Andersson and Spassky consisted of weeks and weeks of playing tennis. That was how Spassky prepared for a chess tournament. A lifetime of sports, both as a recreational athlete and huge fan, has been a welcome mainstay for Andersson. We even interrupt our interview so he can “rest” and play table tennis. When we resume discussion about life as a grandmaster, Andersson drives home the point about tenacity. Again he could be speaking about sports, though he has said in the past that he does not consider chess a sport. “I will play as well I can all the games I play. About the standings in the Continues on next page
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feature. page 6
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Continued from previous page
tournaments I am not able to do anything, only hope that I will play my own games well. Many times it is difficult to play well.”
The living legend
While some famous and talented people have been known to broadcast their abilities very loudly—the verbal sparring of Muhammad Ali comes to mind, as do proclamations by chess players who shall go unnamed—Andersson is very modest, even to the point of resigning himself to failure. One would not expect to hear from a man who was ranked 4th in the world of chess and continues to hold a high ranking, to say, “I never had the talents or the skills like the champions.” No matter what Andersson says about his skills, his international chess rating in the 2600s speaks for itself. While he makes repeated references to old age, skills of the Swedish dinosaur signify evolutionary adaptation and promising years ahead. As do headlines in newspapers, such as The Guardian’s announcement of Andersson’s “return to form in Geneva” and several recent articles celebrating the Swede’s prowess on the 64 squares that have seen many a player suffer humiliation and agony, but also triumph and joy. A photo from an article published in a German newspaper from April 2013 shows Andersson—again wearing his signature Swedish winter sweater—moving chess pieces with an expression on his face that spells both concentration and élan. Of course it is best not to ask Andersson how he feels about being referred to as a living legend, “The Swedish wall,” “part of chess history,” and the usual labels he must endure in media coverage. Self-deprecating, described by more than one person as “ödmjuk,” the Swede also does not suffer fools gladly. When prompted by a good friend I asked Chess champion Ulf Andersson in one of his favorite winter sweaters in 1983. half seriously, for example, “If you could be a chess piece, which one would you be Arboga is home as much my fault as his, since I introduced the and why?” Andersson replied, “I am sorry, It is little wonder that Andersson chooses to topic and it keeps coming up. Believe it or not, but I do not have any answers for those live in the small town of Arboga, his refuge our conversation is not filled with quadratic two questions!” In an interview given at the from a heavy travel schedule, chess tourna- notation used to indicate chess moves, nor do 2009 Chess Tournament Magistral Casino de ment life, well-meaning but sometimes over- we discuss moves by famous players, the way Barcelona, Andersson was asked to tell his enthusiastic fans, even prying journalists. Chris Farley in his memorable Saturday Night secret about endgames. Normally affable, he At home, Andersson remains a kind person, skit asks famous actors, “Remember when ...,” answered very precisely: “I have nothing to able to appreciate what life can offer that while pointing out the public’s obscene fascisay about this.” is not chess-related. When I tell nation and obsessions with what they consider Perhaps his answers to these him about my wife, our three seminal moments of celebrities. two questions are both reaAndersson would love to play chess in the mini-Dachshunds, and the A magician sonable and superstitious. United States if the right opportunity presented beautiful roses my wife never reveals his A magician never reveals itself. This comes up when he mentions Swedgrows, he says, “It seems secrets, and neither does his secrets, and why should to me that you have a good ish hockey players making their living in the The Swedish Wall, the “The Swedish wall” take and nice place where you NHL. I have told him that chess in America is Viking of chess, the mystery and hard work are living. Wife and dogs! definitely not mainstream. He tells me many out of perfecting the art players would love to come to the U.S. and Ulf Andersson. Very good life!” of the endgame, for which Andersson is one of the few play chess. If Andersson comes, it will defiAndersson is so well known and people I know who does not have nitely have to be during the football season. revered among chess players. In addition, Internet access in his home. This surprises me, “In the U.S. you have American football! beginning to speak about a favorite chess especially since he knows so many people Here in Europe it hardly exists. I have seen it piece would only afford the competition more in the chess world that you could call his a a few times on TV and think it is an interestinsights into Andersson’s game. global existence. On the spur of the moment ing sport.” We have here, demonstrated by his reluc- he is able to name more than a dozen chess Andersson, who has told me he does not have tance to speak on some matters of chess, players in the United States, for example. But a sense of humor, reveals over and over that he dare I say it, a promise that Andersson will life without Internet access at home allows really does have one. A clip on YouTube capcontinue to play chess. It is made even more Andersson peace from too much and constant tures it, along with Andersson’s impeccable evident from him telling me, “My wish is stimulation. Besides, he flies all over to meet comedic timing. Watching the clip without any that I can [play chess] until my last breath!” his friends, this Viking of chess. Continues on next page We can’t get away from talking sports. It is
feature. page 7
Sweden’s Chess Grandmaster Ulf Andersson, a solid positional player contemplates a first move.
The city of Arboga - at one time a residence of the royal family of Vasa - is known to have existed as a town since the 13th century but the area has been inhabited since around 900 AD. The name (originally Arbugæ) consists of the two words “Ar” which in ancient Swedish means river and bughi which means “bend” and which together have the meaning “river bend.”
knowledge about the chess tournament proves to be amusing, but knowing the circumstances is useful. Andersson explains how he was playing an exhibition game where he was taking on several chess players at once. This was on a scheduled rest day for the players of the established Sigeman tournament. “One of my opponents was then Emanuel Berg,” says Andersson. “He was covering his face very well, but suddenly I saw it was him. It was a nice friendly joke by him! Of course we stopped the game and I continued the other games. Berg was playing in the tournament and came to watch this exhibition, just for fun. Later on I was invited together with the other participants of the tournament for a very nice lunch. These moments are nice moments in life and make you feel good!” Andersson has a wonderful mischievous side. When I ask him what a chess player eats for breakfast, lunch, and dinner—hoping to learn some magical diet that will help one become a chess champion—he tells me that what he eats is “top secret!” Without missing a beat he adds, “Perhaps with the help from the CIA or the Swedish SÄPO you will find this out.”
A king of adventure
But life was probably not always easy for the Swede with a drive and penchant for chess. As a child, Andersson did not find chess to be an activity that was encouraged. He more or less fell into it by accident, after
pursuing several sports with friends in the neighborhood. One by one the sports peeled away until, and at the age of 13, Andersson was taken to a chess club for the first time. From then on, he was hooked on the game. While he was not discouraged by his parents, they did many times advise him to think about other things. In the small town of Arboga, getting a “real” job was more a priority than the pursuit of the art of painting or chess. Andersson attended trade school, and had a factory job lined up, when the pursuit of chess got the better of him. And what an adventure it must have been to be invited to play in the top tournaments of the world. I have purposely waited until late in the interview to bring up the names of Karpov and Kasparov, even Bobby Fischer, names which follow Andersson like what must be a blessed curse just about every time his name is mentioned in the annals of chess. Surprisingly, Andersson is not at all taciturn when it comes to the subject of these world famous chess champions. I can feel his enthusiasm and excitement over the talents and skills of these two men as he tells me about Karpov and Kasparov. He says he “likes both of them very much also because they were active as world champions. Both took part in so many of invitational tournaments.” For those who don’t know the world of chess, some players choose to play less often to maintain their rankings and ratings. I also hear lament in Andersson’s words, the way someone speaks about friends one has not seen in many years. “Now Karpov hardly plays normal games any more. I have seen that he has played one or two games, or something like that, in the German Bundesliga. Kasparov has not played since 2003, I believe. I miss his games now in the tournaments. When he withdrew from tournament play, to me he was like the Incredible Hulk. He became so strong that nobody could challenge him. I believe that Kasparov was so incredibly strong the last years he played.” Andersson has not played against Kasparov since around 1990 but has always been watching his tournaments and games. “His games have impressed me extremely much.” For Karpov, who was born in the same year as Andersson, the Swedish grandmaster has
high praise: “He has been outstanding from perhaps 1974, more or less, until almost the year 2000. Such wonderful games he has played, too!” I had to bring up the talented and controversial Bobby Fischer, someone whose loss to the chess world Andersson clearly laments. It is a loss that occurred before Fischer’s death in Iceland at the age of 64. “I think it was a great pity that Bobby Fischer withdrew after his very good victory against Boris Spassky. Then he played a match against Boris Spassky in 1992 in Yugoslavia. It would have been nice to have seen Fischer playing in the top tournaments after 1972. Unfortunately it never happened. For me, he was fantastic. His games were so impressive to me.” Hearing from Andersson about these chess greats conveyed something very impressive about Andersson. No jealousies, no backhanded compliments. It says something about a man who has lived the life of a professional chess player for 43 years and does not carry any bitterness like a missed check-mate opportunity with him. With the question about the great chess champs Andersson has faced out of the way, I have to satisfy my own curiosity about how Andersson feels about two favorites of mine, actors John Wayne and Clint Eastwood. I am pleasantly surprised to hear he remembers John Wayne from his childhood and saw many of his movies on Swedish television. Andersson is cleary a devotee of Clint Eastwood, much to my relief. “Eastwood, of course, I have seen many films by
him on TV and in the cinemas. I have liked almost all those films.” This was one of those interviews I don’t want to end, a great conversation. But I must return to my world and Andersson to his. I have an idea I have not shared with him: I am going to visit Andersson in the summer and bring the humble man a sweat-wicking shirt he can wear on his long walks around Arboga. On the front I will have printed something that will suit his temperament: “I am not a great chess player.” The back of the shirt will read, “Don’t listen to Ulf. He is a GREAT chess player.” Then I will go for a run by the river and wait for Andersson to return from one of his extensive promenades. As he gets closer, this time by summer’s daylight, I will notice that he has turned the shirt inside out. He will smile. Once again, graciously, he has gotten the best of his opponent and comrade.
Our heritage, that of Swedish descendants here in America, blesses all of us with traditions, wisdoms and culture. It is a living heritage and a link we are proud to maintain—a link of traditions between families, friends and Swedes across the nation.
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the refugees or immigrants for the volume; after all, if America had offered the same amount of incentives to the emigrating Swedes 100 years ago, only noblemen and priests would have remained in Sweden at the time.… The majority of migrants arrive in Sweden to create a better life in a more peaceful society and are willing and ready to work hard for that. Sweden could allow this by being clear about the rules and how to achieve a better life. Sweden of 2016 is far from the pioneer land of America of the 19th century.
Not without problems
With Sweden’s open door policy, the large influx of migrants should not have come as a surprise. Any one of the governments of the past 25 years could have tweaked the rules or put a different quota system in place. If not for the good of the present constituents then for the sake of those who arrive. No one gains from a failing system.* That didn’t happen, which is why, after millions of people streamed into Europe and hundreds of thousands into Sweden, the pres-
Sarcasm Ahead Not too much, not too little, just enough— lagom är bäst, in more ways than one. America: Thanksgiving. In a very large apartment, high up, the kind of real estate Fredrik on Bravo’s Million Dollar Listing New York handles when he is not busy jumping around for the camera and singing, “Små grodorna, små grodorna.” Cocktails and stories of business prowess are circulating in this well-lit place that has a golden telescope affixed before the giant window offering an entitled view of New York. A fat man with a red face is playing with the telescope and of course he wants to see what is beneath him. All of a sudden his pig-shrieking voice chuckles, and several members of the party join him to share and laugh: Below, on the sidewalk in the bitter-cold are street people, hungry, and one well-heeled man has just kicked one of them. Back up in the apartment, the pig man shrieks, “Serves him right! Look at those people down there! Too lazy to get up and go after the American Dream!” Other partygoers, women with purchased breasts and pearls costing much more, join in and we have a wonderful American grunting feast at Thanksgiving! Sweden: Crayfish Fest. On a beautiful summer day, the lake is lapping in peace, the green grass is a mat of democratic bliss, celebrations everywhere at everyone’s sommarstuga (cabin), the red painted siding not quite a match for the sunburned, blond Swedes sucking the crustaceans and chasing the taste with liquor, burning their stomach lining like the sun their white skin. Braless women wearing beautiful summer dresses, children playing innocently as if in a
Nordstjernan, February 15, 2016
ent left-green government saw fit to close the Swedish borders in December last year. Today, travelers must have valid ID or a passport to enter Sweden, but closing the border hasn’t meant that asylum seekers have ceased to come. Sweden is still accepting on average 100 refugees every day. Between 5 and 10 percent are unaccompanied children, stating to be under 18. If the statistics the Interior Minister is referring to (page 4) hold, around half will have to be sent back. But to where? If they are without papers or proper ID, which seems to be the case for one-third of the already arrived who are not confirmed as refugees, no country will accept them. Looking at things from the outside you have to wonder how the paperless travelled to Sweden, and how travel without identification, even in an open Europe, is possible. This will be a very real problem inside of a year or two. A problem Europe will have to shoulder unanimously. It is still my conviction that Sweden will find solutions. Remember, most migrants arrive to create a better life in a peaceful country. They need to be able to pursue that dream. Most of the newcomers would rather be Medelsvensson** than live in a war zone or in an oppressive system where theocratic leaders set rules for how
you dress, where you go, when and with whom. Make no mistake: Getting to Sweden or Europe was a hard struggle for most. Once there, they need to feel there’s something worth struggling for. People need hope. Hope for education, a job and a better life. People who have lived under oppressive systems will need clear rules and they need to become part of a functioning, expansive society as quickly as possible. You cannot let people sit in refugee centers for years on end without hope of working toward a better future. This is an important part of the refugee issue, the cost of housing and subsidies — the immigration authorities expect to be in excess of $7 billion per year — not withstanding. There will be more restrictions on immigration in the future for sure, not because Sweden becomes more hostile toward immigration but because society cannot absorb more people in an efficient and constructive way. It has happened before.* Finally, we should all be deeply proud of Sweden being a sanctuary for refugees to a much larger extent than most nations in the world. Every nation should be just as humane and willing to open its arms and hearts to people from areas where, through war, famine or other
hardships, their lives are constantly at stake. Unfortunately, too few do. Regardless, in the end, in spite of politicians’ or media’s early refusal to see problems, in spite of costs and in spite of difficulties, it is my conviction that the Swedish way will prevail. Ulf Barslund Martensson * In 1989, after Sweden had experienced an unprecedented volume of asylum seekers (roughly 100 per day) the then social democratic government restricted Sweden’s asylum policy. After the so-called Lucia decision it was only possible to be granted asylum as a refugee if there were particularly strong protection needs, a “difficult but necessary decision to take.” The strain on the Immigration Services had made it impossible to receive refugees “in forms regarded as dignified,” according to government communications. The restrictions were lifted two years later by the Carl Bildt-lead conservative government. ** Medelsvensson = average Joe
‘Lagom är bäst’ Carl Larsson painting come to life. Suddenly shrieks can be heard and hordes of immigrants, Muslims or Syrians (aren’t they all the same?) descend upon the families and grope the women right there, while shouting the name of their deity and smashing with contempt the liquor bottles. A crayfish fest unlike no other that can be had only in Sweden! The above scenarios are made up, but how far from the extremist truths of journalistic fiction makers are they really? The first one, painting a picture of America as a nation of have and have-nots with ill will assigned to the moneyed, could easily have emanated from a Swedish “source.” The other, until recently, could be attributed to an American quill, though some of the Swedish press coverage is no longer rolling out the welcome mat for immigrants or attributing their behavior as a cultural norm Swedes just do not understand and must learn to understand and accept. These days the first thing I hear from people here in the South is, “Hey, what’s going on in Sweden?”—a question that is also followed up by a statement with a combination of sympathy and baiting of “All these immigrants [the most polite word] are raping your women.” No matter the intellectual, educational or socioeconomic level of Americans I come into contact with, their interpretation is: “Sweden is a mess!” or that Muslims are ruining my country and Americans never thought such a thing possible. Then, as if I were a spokesman for Sweden (just because I am tall, have grey-blond hair, and used to have a Swedish passport), people want to divest themselves of anger they have over immigration in America and are looking for my deposit to match their sense of outrage or sense of helplessness. The gym, post office, a restaurant, work, a
civic club meeting—I am besieged with the not so polite protestations about Sweden, whereas in the past any conversation involving my heritage had to do with someone’s relatives being from the old country, a discussion about Swedish food or holidays, or, at worst, a misplaced compliment of “I love Swiss chocolate.” My answer to these people who are allegedly angry over what is happening in Sweden is somewhat Swedish-neutral (that part of Sweden still lives in me, for better or worse). Until recently, I would have been chastised by many Swedes and some in the Swedish press for replying that it is economically difficult for a small country such as Sweden to “absorb”—whatever that means—large numbers of immigrants. I really don’t have an answer for the overly simplistic question, “What is going on in Sweden.” And sadly, no answer other than an extreme position on either side of the opinion spectrum would satisfy inquisitioners. That is when I wonder about my most favorite Swedish saying and credo that I try hard to live by: “Lagom är bäst.” How in the world did Swedish politicians (though politicians no matter what nationality cannot abide by that dictum) and the Swedish press manage to forget about that one? The fictitious Thanksgiving scenario could easily have appeared in a Swedish newspaper, yet another example of opinion writing having invaded news reporting. But this is a global phenomenon, and pointing our fingers at Sweden and/or the U.S. alone would do no good. Divisive forces, even those of the Fifth Column, are at work. Which brings me to Nordstjernan, my home for several years now. I have enjoyed writing for you and I have enjoyed reading the pages, including the new and improved digital version
(no, this is not a paid plug by the publisher to sign up for a digital subscription). But Nordstjernan, and that means all of us, writers, makers and readers—roles which are interchangeable, really, should be able to answer how to best and responsibly live our lives. We should be able to answer the questions that have formed in my mind, driven by external forces, such as the extremes I mentioned in the fictional scenarios. How does one find the right mix of reporting and opinion on traditional Swedish culture and customs and political and other news events? The publisher, in my opinion, has gone out of his way over the years to not only allow but to encourage divergent points of view, as long as they are expressed in a respectful way that does not resort to ad hominem attacks. Remarkably, things have remained relatively civil, with the exception of some online expressions that were vile, vitriolic, vicious, to say the least with three v-words. But some of those expressions, as on any webpage these days, appear to come from people who do not really read contents and are more or less adopting a flash mob mentality as they troll the globe’s websites. Which brings me back to “Lagom är bäst.” My question to you, readers of Sweden, America, the world: What is the best way to “mix it up”? Is there a good way to maintain our beloved Swedish culture and customs in the face of the storm or are we better off to just sticka huvudet i sanden? Your faithful skribent, Ulf Kirchdorfer ulf.kirchdorfer@nordstjernan.com The Swedish expression to “sticka huvudet i sanden” (literally “stick your head in the sand”) means avoiding the more often than not painful truth.
feature. page 9
A cold dip in the lake
In the U.S., a few adventurous folks might take a novel dip in a lake at an organized “polar bear plunge” on what’s usually a frigid New Year’s Day. Jumping in a lake in the dead of winter also takes place all over Sweden, but it’s not a once-a-year, organized event.
Taking an icy dip is a tradition in Sweden that requires no social media advertizing to gather participants. Swedes have long recognized the benefits of a quick, winter swim, and many people do it for that reason. Often. No Facebook invitations needed. It’s not by accident that the sauna (bastu) houses of yore were often built near lakes. Long ago, it was very practical to bathe in the water after sweating in the sauna. And in the far north, tradition was that if they couldn’t jump in a hole in the lake, people would throw themselves into the snow instead.
Health reasons were the primary reason for the dip in the cold water, but it also known to be invigorating and refreshing. Studies show that when the body is exposed to cold, the outer blood vessels constrict and the blood flows faster through the body. The shock releases adrenaline and endorphins, making the cold bather feel refreshed and exhilarated. There is also an effect on the immune system that appears to be beneficial in fighting infection. Of course there are risks, and a dip in the lake in the winter should be brief. Icy cold water can jump start heart and lung emergencies, among other concerns, in vulnerable people. And of course staying in the water for too long poses the risk of hypothermia in anyone. When cautious and healthy, however, studies show the positive effects outweigh the bad. So, next time you jump in a cold lake, consider these recommendations: 1) swimming naked is best (wet bathing suits keep the body cold); 2) never swim alone; 3) do not immerse your head; 4) do not stay in the water longer than 20 seconds.
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SWEDEN
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Stockholm with Uppsala and Dalarna as well as Oslo, Bergen and the fjords
• CAPTIVATING SCANDINAVIA July 13 - 26
The fjord country, the Swedish Glass District and visits to Bergen, Oslo, Copenhagen, Gothenburg and Stockholm
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‘Not my time to die’ The Titanic and the Swedes on board Perfect bound, large size paperback, 296 pages. Richly illustrated. Please send me ____ book(s) x $19.95 = _______
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The 123 Swedes on board made up the third largest ethnic group on the Titanic after the American and the British. The book profiles each of the Swedish passengers; including the 34 survivors... Mail order form to: NORDSTJERNAN P.O. Box 1710 New Canaan CT 06840 Or call 1.800.827.9333 ext. 10
February 15, 2016 Nordstjernan
dashboard. page 10
Sweden and the U.S.
Sweden and the United States will strengthen their cooperation to combat crime by exchanging fingerprint data with each other. The Swedish government Sweden has drafted legislation that will result in a deal with the United States on sharing fingerprint data to fight crime. The law would let authorities in both countries run fingerprint searches in each other’s databases. “We are exchanging fingerprints with the United States to strengthen our work against serious crime,” Interior Minister Anders Ygeman said in a statement.
Travel
Stockholm, Sweden
After the Armed Forces put the kibosh on plans for a 240-meter-high building (78 floors) to be built in southern Stockholm because it would disrupt national defense systems, the city changed the building site. The City of Stockholm and the real estate company SSM have developed a new site for the skyscraper that is already being called northern Europe’s tallest residential building. Tellus Tower will instead be built in Kista, just north of Stockholm where it will also be directly connected the Telefonplan metro station. There are plans for three additional buildings, that altogether will accommodate 1200 new apartments. The first should to be ready for occupancy in 2020.
Lindblad inspires tourism for tomorrow
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has a prestigious award to give in its Tourism for Tomorrow Environment Award, and Lindblad Expeditions is among three finalists. The Tourism for Tomorrow Awards program celebrates business leadership that works toward a more sustainable future by educating and inspiring governments, travellers and other tourism businesses. The finalists for this award were chosen after a rigorous judging process of applications
from 62 countries across all continents for five categories: community, destination, environment, innovation and people. The other two Environment Award finalists, whose organizations and companies achieved environmental best practice through biodiversity conservation, protection of natural habitats, addressing climate change and green operations, are Alcatraz Cruises, U.S. and Wilderness Safaris, South Africa / Botswana. The next phase for the selection of a win-
ner is on-site evaluation of each finalist by international sustainable tourism experts,
Herr & Fru | Mr. & Mrs.
She: “Pastries!? Yummy!”
Her: “Perhaps we’re celebrating our life…”
Her: [The life] ... we shared through the bad times and the good.”
Him: “You don’t want your piece?”
Archive image of the company founder Lars-Eric Lindblad (1927-1994) in China. Lindblad introduced cruises along the coast of China as early as 1978.
‘Name’s days’ of the Swedish Calendar: February 15 Sigfrid /Kommande två veckors namnsdagar
In New York In Stockholm In Kiruna Lund In Los Angeles
February 15: Sunrise 6.50 a.m. 7.24 a.m. 7.57 a.m. 7.32 a.m. 6.39 a.m.
Sunset 5.30 p.m. 4.39 p.m. 3.49 p.m. 5.10 p.m. 5.37 p.m.
Nordstjernan, February 15, 2016
February 16 Julia/Julius February 17 Alexandra/Sandra February 18 Frida/Fritiof February 19 Gabriella/Ella February 20 Vivianne February 21 Hilding February 22 Pia February 23 Torsten/Torun February 24 Mattias/Mats February 25 Sigvard/Sivert February 26 Torgny/Torkel February 27 Lage February 28 Maria February 29 Skottdagen March 1 Albin/Elvira
assessing the organizations and the business practices they have highlighted in their application. Following the evaluations, the winner is chosen by a panel of leading authorities in sustainability. The winners will be announced during the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards Ceremony at the 16th WTTC Global Summit in Dallas, Texas on April 7. Lindblad Expeditions, founded by LarsEric Lindblad as Lindblad Travel in 1958. Lindblad was born in 1927 near Stockholm, Sweden and immigrated to the United States in 1951, eventually becoming an American citizen; he was president and CEO of his company, based in Westport, Connecticut, for more than 30 years. It became the first travel company to bring civilians to some of the most exotic parts of the world. Later, under his son Sven Lindblad’s stewardship, the company embarked on developing innovative and educational travel expeditions fueled by the younger Lindblad’s passion for helping to preserve natural resources and become involved in conservation efforts. In 2004, Lindblad Expeditions joined forces with National Geographic to expand its expedition travel. From offices in New York and Seattle the company now operates its own fleet of ten ships for expeditions and adventures covering all seven continents. For more information, see www.expeditions.com and www.wttc.org/tourismfor-tomorrow-awards
Lindblad began organizing cruises to Easter Island and the Galapagos Islands (right and above) as early as 1967.
dashboard. page 11
Hollywood, CA
House of Cards lures Swedish actor—Joel Kinnaman, 36, has been cast in the fourth season of the hit Netflix drama House of Cards. One of Sweden’s biggest stars, Kinnaman was born and raised in Stockholm and has dual citizenship in Sweden and America. He has appeared in many films and television roles, rising to stardom in the U.S. thanks to his role in the AMC series The Killing, in which he played detective Stephen Holder, as well as Alex Murphy in the 2014 RoboCop remake and Mike Conlon in Run All Night. The 2010 Swedish-produced Snabba Cash (Easy Money) is what bought both Kinnaman and the movie’s director Daniel Espinoza (Safe House, Child44) tickets to Hollywood. His exact role in the Emmy-winning House of Cards hasn’t been leaked, though he is on set with another distant Swedish connection, Kate Mara, the sister of Rooney Mara, who plays the title character in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, based on the Swedish Millennium book series. House Of Cards Season 4 premieres March 4 on Netflix. Online teaser.
American classic premiers in Sweden American author Lorraine Hansberry was just 26 years old when she wrote “A Raisin in the Sun.” It premiered in New York in 1959, marking the first Broadway play written by an African American woman. Since then — many years, awards and productions later — the play still resonates with many audiences. Set at the start of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s, it focuses on a black family who dreams of a better life but encounters the harsh realities of American racism. Now “A Raisin in the Sun” (En druva i solen) is coming to Sweden, in Swedish. It will be the first time a play features an all-black cast in A Swedish cast performs Sweden. And it comes, director Josette Bushell-Mingo believes, at a the acclaimed Broadway pivotal time when black Swedes are more likely than any other minor- classic “En druva i ity in the country to be victims of racist attacks. An estimated 180,000 solen” (A Raisin in black Swedes currently live in Sweden, and Bushell-Mingo draws par- the Sun ) by Lorraine allels between the experiences of the play’s family in segregated 1950s Chicago, its psychological consequences and the experiences of many Hansberry. black Swedes today. “Many of our actors and actresses went through a personal journey of selfdiscovery and reckoning with their reality as black Swedes,” she said. En druva i solen’s Nordic premiere was on February 5, 2016 at the National Theatre in Gothenburg. It will tour Sweden through May 3. http://riksteatern.se
Sweden
As many as 4,100 new employees are wanted as refugees continue to migrate into Sweden and the terror threat increases. The request was made in a letter to the Ministry of Justice on January 25, proposing an increase of 1,500 to 2,500 more officers and 1,600 new civilian employees by 2020. Swedish Radio reports that police need a greater presence in areas that are socio-economically disadvantaged, to combat terrorism and manage border controls and deportations as well as asylum accomodations. An increased terror threat also requires more investments in facilities, equipment, vehicles and training, estimating a they will need an extra SEK 1.8 to 2.8 billion ($210 to $327 billion) from 2017 to 2019. Minister for Home Affairs Anders Ygeman told Swedish Radio that he was “cautiously positive” about the new demands. Style
Cape Clogs celebrates ten years
It all began with a pair of Swedish clogs given as a gift from one cousin in Sweden to another cousin living in America. Suddenly, these uniquely designed pattern clogs began catching the eye of Cape Cod natives and tourists. So in June 2006, Pamela J. Irving formed Cape Clogs, Inc. to be a designer, distributor, and marketer of Swedish orthopedic clogs. The company curNot your typical clogs—here, the ideal rently represents three manufacturing partners shoe for the hardworking chef. located in Småland, Sweden where every shoe is handmade, each with inspiring, individual designs. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, only about one third of small businesses survive to their tenth year. Hats off for founder and owner Pamela Irving who will celebrate the milestone with customers in several ways—one free pair of clogs will be given every month on the company’s Facebook page and all customers receive free shipping by simply entering promo code FREESHIPPING online. For more info, see www.capeclogs.com
February 15, 2016 Nordstjernan
The Pacific states. page 12
Life of the party for all her youthful 90 years, Lisa Wiborg is the Grande Dame of the Scandinavian Bay Area
Celebrating the Lady of a Thousand Hats The newly renovated Swedish American Hall was revitalized on January 30 when 120 dear friends (with many more on the waiting list) celebrated the 90th birthday of Lisa Wiborg at a reception in her honor. Arranged by Inger and Björn Skogström, Nina Webber and their team, the banquet tables were beautifully decorated by Charlotte Ferrey and the program, slides and graphics were created by Britta Swartz. The party was made possible with support of Barbro Osher, the Church of Sweden SF, the Young Scandinavians Club and the Swedish Club. Lisa Wiborg is honored and decorated both here and in Sweden. She is the founder and first woman president of the Young Scandinavians Club — with almost a thousand members, one of the most active clubs here. She inaugurated the club’s annual Lucia pageant at the Hall in 1957, the longest running of all such programs here and in the U.S. Under Barbro Osher she helped found the San Francisco Bay Area chapter of SWEA, one of the largest and very active chapter of this essential organization in the world.
Lady of a thousand hats
Lisa is so venerable that she seems to have arrived in the U.S. fully made for her role. Born in Örebro, Sweden, Lisa Gustafsson longed for more adventure and came to the U.S. in 1954 — first to Rochester, NY, and shortly thereafter to San Francisco. Here she married Christian Frederik Wiborg in 1964, and together they often sailed with Norway’s King Olaf and Crown Prince Harald. So, quite naturally, her second home is at the beautiful Norwegian Seamen’s Church overlooking the Bay beside the cable cars on Russian Hill. There she attends both the Norwegian services under Pastor Gisle Meling and the Swedish ones under Pastor Staffan Eklund, both of whom spoke during the evening. Lisa’s reputation as the Lady of a Thousand Hats is well earned, and at the celebration her successor as president of the YSC wore one of his special hats at her command as he addressed the guests. The evening began with tributes by her many admirers. A most special treat was that the beautiful
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Photographs: Erik Gaensler
Ted Olsson, San Francisco ted@nordstjernan.com
Astrid & Ted Olsson greet the grand dame of the Bay Area Scandinavians, Lisa Wiborg, on her 90th birthday.
and gifted mezzo soprano, Ann Assarsson, formerly from San Francisco but now of Boston, flew in to serenade Lisa. She was accompanied at the piano by Maestro Ragnar Bohlin, director of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus.
When Ann began, she wore a colorful feather boa, later bestowing it upon Lisa, the ultimate showgirl. Ann first sang a medley of songs and later in an encore performance she led the guests in a delightful rendition of “Vill ni se en stjärna?” [Do you wish to see a star]!
The party began with a reception as guests entered at Freja Hall’s bar.
The hall revives its grand banquets
The occasion was not merely a celebration of Lisa’s 90 youthful years, but it also set a precedent. After the Swedish American Hall was first built and dedicated in 1907, it hosted many banquets and festivities for the surrounding Scandinavian community. This reception and banquet demonstrated that the new hall retains that same magic to host special occasions for the whole community. Indeed as host Inger Skogström joked, a second seating for those on the waiting list could fill the balcony of Freja Hall with a dozen more tables. This was an opportunity for the Swedish Society and its new president, Nina Webber, to reintroduce this new capacity and capability of the renovated hall. Sitting in attendance were immediate Past President Bengt Sandberg and Vice President Fred Bianucci, the two men most responsible for assuring and supervising the entire renovation. They made sure the hall was ready to host all the guests for this special occasion. And, suitably, all the guests marveled at the remarkable achievement of the space and how it complemented the camaraderie of the evening. But the Swedish Society was not alone in its demonstration of quality. Enrique Landa, managing partner of the hall’s master tenant, Upper Market Vikings, together with David White, partner of NeTeimeas Restaurant Group, who have made the Swedish American Hall such a nightspot in the city, and Chef Ryan Pollenow of the popular Aatxe Continues on next page
The Pacific states. page 13
Restaurant on the ground floor, displayed their notable artisanship with a truly memorable menu. The evening began with a reception at the Freja bar followed by abundant wines at dinner tables. After delightful Swedish delicacies for appetizers and a delicious pea soup with rutabaga and chive fritters, the mouth-watering entrées of slow-baked local halibut with chard, fennel kraut and meyer lemon beurre blanc or glögg-braised beef short ribs with pearl onions and carrots served with scalloped potatoes stilled the table conversations as everyone savored his dish. Dinner concluded with Princess Cake and coffee.
Memories are made of this
It was a delightful evening. Lisa has been a dear friend of my folks, my sister and our family for well more than half a century. Indeed she holds a special place in my heart for she was responsible for my greatest gift and treasure: When I was finally able to live and work in San Francisco, I visited YSC’s summer cabin at Clear Lake — it was there I met my wife, Astrid. We married and raised our family, and we are both grateful to Lisa for being such a guiding spirit for YSC, where we met and fell in love. I believe Lisa’s salient characteristic is her zest for life. She has always been the life of the party and has blessed all of us with the joy of living a full life. She is my exemplar in that and in taking an active role in all local Swedish and Scandinavian activities. If there ever was a song made for this lively lady, it must be transcribed as:
Entertainment: Lisa and guests
During the dinner Lennart Swartz interviewed Lisa on her eventful life. Among the many fond memories she shared was one from 1976 when Hugo Olson was publisher of Vestkusten and a leader in the community. Hugo recognized in Lisa even 40 years ago that she was becoming the Grande Dame of Swedes here. So, he chose her to represent the local Swedish community in presenting to King Carl Gustav XVI an engagement gift for him and his queen when he visited San Francisco. While there had already been many skåls to Lisa, it remained for Consul General
Lisa greeted at hall by admirers. Photography: Erik Gaensler
Barbro Osher, after reflecting upon seeking Lisa’s advice in founding SWEA here, to lead us all in “Ja, må hon leva,” concluding with a hearty four-fold “hurrah.” Later in the evening Lisa was serenaded with musical show tunes by Paul Vida with John Houghton at the piano. And toward the end of the program, a number of women entered to music shaking their feather boas as they filled the stage to serenade Lisa. In a moment of laughter, they realized Lisa was not where they thought she was, but soon she was joining them in a jolly song, swaying to the beat wrapped in her own boa.
At 90, the most youthful of her peers, impromptu Lisa steals the show.
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The dozen tables of 10 were quickly reserved.
“Hello, Lisa, well, hello, Lisa! It’s so nice to have you back where you belong.” (here at the Swedish American Hall among all your friends.) You’re lookin’ swell, Lisa. We can tell, Lisa: You’re still glowin’, you’re still crowin’, you’re still goin’ strong! Ted Olsson San Francisco
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February 15, 2016 Nordstjernan
feature. page 14 perspectives.
Olle Wijkström olle.wijkstrom@nordstjernan.com
Några frågor som debatteras i Sverige dessa dagar: Ett EU-direktiv, som nu väcker heta känslor, gäller om åldersgräns skall införas för användandet av sociala media. Åldersgräns för ungdomar att fritt få använda sig av sociala media bör begränsas menar EU. De vanligaste sociala nätverk som används är Instagram, Snabchat, Kik, Facebook och Twitter. EU anser att det borde finnas en åldersgräns på 16 år för att få använda sig av dylika media. Målsmän måste godkänna vad ungdomar ägnar sig åt. Skälet till att direktivet behövs är att man vill skydda barn från att dela med sig av alltför personlig information. Var tredje ung har blivit utsatt för kränkningar på nätet enligt Friends nätrapport från 2015. Vår svenske konsumentminister, Per Bolund, bekräftar att en åldersgräns skall införas även i Sverige. Nätexperten Elza Dunkels är emot EU-direktivet. ”En dålig idé ” av flera skäl” menar Elza. Bör de politiska partierna i Sverige fälla den rödgröna regeringen? Enligt senaste opinionsundersökningar ligger såväl socialdemokraterna som miljöpartiet darrigt till. Enligt SVD/SIFOs januarimätning var moderaterna Sveriges största parti med 25,6 % medan socialdemokraterna fick historiskt låga 23,2 %. ”Sverigedemokraterna står inte i vägen om ni vill överta makten,”säger Jimmie Åkesson. Centerpartiets Annie Lööf, kristdemokraternas Ebba Bush Thoor och liberalernas Jan Björklund skulle förmodligen inte heller vara nödbedda att fälla de rödgröna om initiativ togs. Förmodligen är Anna Kindberg Batra, moderaternas chef, utsatt för press från många håll att ta initiativ till att den rödgröna regeringen faller. Tydligen är hon inte beredd att ta det steget.
First papal visit since 1989
Heta Frågor bli 80,000”, säger inrikesministern. Hela den här processen leder givetvis till svåra problem. Allra värst drabbas givetvis de asylsökande som ofta flytt från liv i elände och hoppats landa i en fredlig och välmående värld. Men också hanteringen bidrar till ett stort underbetyg vad gäller mottagandet av flyktingar. De flesta förstår och accepterar kanske motvilligt att det från början var omöjligt att inse vidden av problemet. Det var givetvis svårt att förutse att så enorma mängder av flyktingar med uppenbar risk för sina egna liv skulle söka sig hit. Många svenskar som yvats över att Sverige varit ett öppet land för främlingar är besvikna. Det tiggeri som nu äger rum på gatorna irriterar många. Frusna kvinnor i pulsiga koftor och sorgsna ögon utanför butikerna. Självfallet en svår tragedi för de tiggande själva. En beklämmande känsla av maktlöshet även hos alla förbipasserande. Skall man hjälpa? Är det fel väg att hjälpa? Lill Lindfors berättade i ett TV-program om hur tagen hon blev av att möta blicken på den stackars unga kvinna hon stötte på varje gång framför butiken där Lill handlade sina frukostvaror. Lill funderade på om och i så fall hur hon på något praktiskt och konkret sätt skulle kunna hjälpa den unga kvinnan. Efter begrundan frågade hon den tiggande kvinnan. ”Kanske du ibland vill ha tillgång till ett badrum? Eftersom jag har ett badrum är du välkommen att titta hem till mig och duscha!” Kvinnan tackade varmt för erbjudandet. Hon är därför ibland gäst i Lills badrum. Det finns många sätt att visa sin omtanke på. Med en gnutta fantasi och uppoffring kan vi säkert fundera ut olika vägar att visa vänlighet och omsorg.
Den kanske viktigaste politiska frågan i vårt land gäller förmodligen migrationspolitiken. Enligt inrikesminister Anders Ygeman skall polisen och migrationsverket förbereda sig för att avvisa upp till 80,000 människor. Förra året ansökte 163,000människor om asyl i Sverige. De senaste åren har drygt hälften av dem som sökt asyl fått uppehållstillstånd, vilket innebär att tiotusentals kommer att avvisas de närmaste åren. ”Jag tror att det i vart fall rör sig om 60,000, men det kan också
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An interior view of Lund Cathedral. Photo by Christian Bickel/Wikipedia
Pope Francis will attend the Lutheran World Federation meeting, the first time Catholics and Lutherans will celebrate the Reformation together, on Oct. 31, 2016. The date marks 499 years since 1517 when Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses on the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany, where he lived and preached. The Lutheran World Federation and the Vatican have jointly organized the Pope’s visit around this meeting, hosted by the Swedish Church in Lund. It is there that the LWF was founded in 1947. Pope Francis’ decision to come to the LWF meeting shows his strong commitment to ecumenism and a dialogue between the Catholic and Protestant churches. It is otherwise unusual for a
Pope Francis is coming to Sweden - what was in 2014 considered a “best April Fool’s joke” in Sweden (pictured here) is coming true in 2016. He isn’t coming for advice on hunting from the Swedish king, however - he’s coming to celebrate the Reformation with the protestants.
pope to visit a protestant country. John Paul II came to Sweden in 1989, but mainly to meet today’s Swedish Catholics, who number about 100,000. Last summer, the Archbishop of Sweden Antje Jackelén visited the Pope at the Vatican with Queen Silvia and Princess Madeleine and her family. They spoke about refugees and ecumenism, of efforts to protect children from violence and abuse — issues that are close to his heart and for which he has thanked Sweden on several occasions. He appreciates Sweden’s long tradition of receiving refugees and the Nordic country’s efforts to protect the environment. The Pope and the leaders of the Lutheran World Federation will celebrate a joint worship in Lund Cathedral. The service will be open to the public.
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feature. page 15
Eastern Semla By Gunilla Blixt
If you have your roots in Finland and live in Stockholm, it is the Finnish store in Hötorgshallen you guide your steps to when the longing for authentic Finnish food becomes overwhelming. Just like Swedes who move to the United States periodically seek out specialties at a Scandinavian store or go for the meatballs, sauce and lingonberry jam at the nearest IKEA. Finska Butiken, the Finnish store, is run by mother Marjatta Stobin and her four daughters Anniina, Elisa, Rosanna and Sonja. Customers flock to the store from the entire greater Stockholm area.
Green Rabbit’s recipe is clearly a secret, but here’s my take on the slightly less sweet bun for this year’s Shrove Tuesday:
Kitchen visit in Hötorgshallen
Today Elisa Stobin is in the kitchen downstairs of the shop. She fills Finnish buns with cream and raspberry jam. A Finnish bun is a bit different from its traditional Swedish relative, the semla. The bun itself consists of dough baked on spelt flour and whole grain rye flour. The dough is seasoned with cardamom and therefore tastes just as good as a Swedish bun, but it is not as sweet. In Sweden, it works to call the Shrove Tuesday bun a Finnish semla, but hardly so in Finland. In Finland, a semla is the same as “småfranska,” a round baguette-like bread roll. If you’re looking for a Swedish semla, order a “Fastlagsbulle,” otherwise you might get a sandwich instead. “Our Shrove buns are baked daily by the rye bread bakery Green Rabbit and delivered to us every day during the Lenten period,” says Elisa. Rye bread bakery Green Rabbit was founded by renowned chef Mathias Dahlgren and pastry champion Martin Berg. They describe the idea behind the bakery as good, green, fast, cool and smart. “Here at Finska Butiken we simply fill the buns with genuine Finnish raspberry jam and freshly whipped cream,” continues Elisa. We expect to sell about 50 per day from now until Easter.
Finnish Fastlagsbulle (makes 12 buns)
2/3 stick butter (75g) 6 tbsp (2dl, a little less than a cup) whole milk 1 ounce of yeast (25g) 3-1/2 tbsp sugar (1/2 dl) 1 tsp salt (1 krm) 1/2 tsp crushed cardamom 1 egg 2-1/2 cups spelt flour (6dl) 1/2 cup flour (1dl) 1/2 cup whole rye flour (1dl) 2 tsp baking powder (2 tsk) 1 egg Filling: 1-1/2 cup raspberry jam (3-1/2dl or approximately 2 tbsp per bun) For the cover: confectioner’s sugar (icing sugar) You’ll also need: baking paper
Instructions: Melt the butter, add the milk and heat until luke warm (98˚F). Crumble the yeast in a bowl, pour the milk over and stir until yeast is dissolved. Add the egg to the mixture. Mix spelt flour and rye flour with sugar, salt and cardamom. Stir down flour mix into the liquid dough a little at a time. Knead the dough until it has a smooth, soft consistency. Let rise for 30 minutes. Heat the oven to 450˚F (225˚C). Place baking paper on a baking sheet. Mix the remaining flour with baking powder and work it into the dough. Move the dough onto a work surface sprinkled with flour, divide it in half and cut each half into six pieces. Make 12 round buns and allow rise for about 20 minutes on the baking sheet. Whip the egg and brush the buns before baking in the center of oven for 10 minutes. Allow the buns to cool on a rack under a tea towel. Serving: Cut off the top of each bun, scoop out some of the center of buns, fill the buns with raspberry jam. Whip the cream and pipe it on top of the raspberry jam. Replace the top and sprinkle with confectioner’s sugar.
Finska Butiken’s ELisa Stobin with food columnist Gulilla Blixt. More recipes at www.gunillablixt.se
LINGONBERRIES • Fresh Frozen • Dried • Preserves www.sturdiwheat.com February 15, 2016 Nordstjernan
local events. page 16
A reinstated consular office in New York January 26 marked the new Consul General’s first day at the Consulate General of Sweden in New York. Leif Pagrotsky assumed his duties as Consul General after being appointed in December by the Swedish government. He joined the Swedish Minister for Enterprise and Innovation to ring the closing bell at Nasdaq in the afternoon, then publicly opened the consulate a day later, in the afternoon of Jan. 27. The consulate will remain at its former honorary offices at 445 Park Avenue for the time being but will move into premises at its former address, at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza in midtown this summer. 600 Park Avenue, which has been utilized for representation by the Swedish Embassy and the UN Ambassador (who has also had his home in the building), will once again become the official residence of the Consul General after the summer.
Pagrotsky, who was born and raised in Gothenburg, Sweden, has a long ministerial career as Minister for Trade as well as Minister for Education, Research and Culture. Between 2002 and 2012 Pagrotsky was a member of the Riksdag (the Swedish Parliament), and before that he served at the Riksbank, the Organization for European Economic Cooperation in Paris and in various positions in the Ministry of Finance. In June 2013, King Carl XVI Gustaf awarded him the King’s Medal “for many years of outstanding political achievement.” The outgoing former Honorary Consul General, http://tinyurl. com/yfhu3kt|[Mr. David Dangoor], has done amazing work for Sweden during his five-year tenure. Dangoor’s commitment to Sweden and its representation in New York was graciously acknowledged by all representatives of the Swedish government.
Photo: Bo Zaunders
For more information on how the new representation developed at the consulate in New York, see Nordstjernan’s http://tiny.cc/ zq8o8x|[report from October 2015].
Mikael Damberg, Sweden’s Minister for Enterprise and Innovation handling the ribbon-cutting scissors on January 27. He was expertly assisted by the new Consul General of Sweden in New York, Leif Pagrotsky, former honorary consul David Dangoor, Ambassador Björn Lyrvall and NYC Deputy Commissioner for International Affairs Hillary Schrenell along with Deputy Assistant Secretary Benjamin G Ziff of the U.S. State Department.
Sweden’s Minister for Enterprise and Innovation, Mikael Damberg, center, and Consul General Leif Pagrotsky, left, ringing the closing bell at Nasdaq in the afternoon of January 26..
Tax & Accounting - US Tax Returns Business- Individuals- Expats • Income Tax Treaty Sweden-USA
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235West 48th St # 42B, New York NY 10036 Tel 1 212 582 3647 Email westmusa@aol.com Nordstjernan, February 15, 2016
The NASDAQ closing televised to the world through the screen on Times Square, New York.
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Palm Beach and members. See www.sacc-sfl.org
More events and list your own, at www.nordstjernan.com-EVENTS
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02.12.2016 - 02.13 .2016 Nordic Spirit Symposium at California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks. The Scandinavian American Cultural and Historical Foundation is organizing an indepth discussion and study of how Martin Luther’s ideas spread from Germany to Denmark and beyond. To provide a comprehensive presentation, SACHF, also known as the Scandinavian Center, is devoting two of its annual Nordic Spirit Symposiums to this history. www.scandinaviancenter.org
l Florida
Continuously The Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce of Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach promotes trade, commerce and investment opportunities between Sweden, Fort Lauderdale -
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01.15.2016 - 03.26.2016 MIgrating Visions: The Art of Indira and Karl Johnson. Living and creating together in India, Sweden and the United States for over 40 years has had a profound influence on the work of wife and husband artists Indira and Karl Johnson. They met at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in the late sixties and as their work evolved over the next four decades, their individual thoughts and ideas have migrated back and forth appearing in different forms in each other’s art. 773-728-8111 | www.swedishamericanmuseum.org 02.27.2016 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM The Dream of America Exhibit Guided Tour Dive into the history of Swedish immigration to Chicago with this guided tour of the Swedish American Museum’s permanent exhibit, “The Dream of America.” Uncover the stories of real immigrants like Karl Karlsson, who left Sweden with his family in 1893, or Elin and Birgitta Hedman, who made the journey in 1924. Learn about what awaited the millions who came to America via Ellis Island and what life was like in Swedish neighborhoods like Andersonville in Chicago then and now. Suggested donation for the tour is $4 adults, $3 seniors and students, members free. Space is limited; reservations , made via email to museum@samac.org recommended. www.swedishamericanmuseum.org 02.14.2016 01:00 PM - 03:30 PM Scandinavian Jam It is music at the Museum-wake up your ears, exercise your fingers and play along with us! Musicians and instructors Mary Allsopp and Paul Tyler co-host a Scandinavian Jam at the Swedish American Museum the second Sunday of every month. Join us for an afternoon of traditional roots music starting with instruction from 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. New tunes are taught in the call and response “aural” tradition. The afternoon continues with a brief snack, and the jam session kicks off at 2 p.m. Build a repertoire with the unique tones and unusual rhythms
of Scandinavia. Recording devices are encouraged. Bring your instruments, request your favorites, share a tune, and play along on what you can, sit back and listen when you want a break. We are a group of musicians who enjoy spending time together, and would enjoy having you sit in with us! Contact Scandi.Fiddler@yahoo.com or PTyler@ ameritech.net with any questions. 773-728-8111 | www.swedishamericanmuseum.org 02.19.2016 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Hejsan - Story & Craft Hour. All ages are welcome to attend with a caregiver for this free (with admission donation) program. 773-728-8111 | www. swedishamericanmuseum.org 02.21.2016 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Bullerbyn Taking place roughly every other Sunday in tandem with Svenska Skolan, Bullerbyn is a time for singing cherished children’s songs, reading fun tales, and having lots of fun in Swedish. Children ages 6 months to 5 years are welcome to attend with a parent. Only Swedish is spoken. www.swedishamericanmuseum.org 02.21.2016 12:00 PM - 0417.2016 03:00 PM The Swedish American Museum houses the Andersonville Winter Market on the third Sunday of the month now through April. 02.27.2016 10:00 AM - 02.28.2016 12:00 AM Genealogy Session - Orphan Train Video Join us for this video exploring the Orphan Train. Cost is free for Swedish American Genealogical Society members; there is a suggested donation of $10 for non-members to participate. More info at genealogy@samac.org or by calling the Museum at 773.728.8111 IL 03.04.2016 07:30 PM - 03.18.2016 10:00 PM Scandinavian Dances with Linda and Paul Three Friday Sessions: March 4, 11, 18, 7:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. Continuously Step back in time in historic Bishop Hill. Utopia on the Prairie, then and now. For information call 309-927-3899 or email heritage@bishophill. com. Visit our Website at: www.bishophill.com
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21/2 Högmässa 11.00
MÅNDAG
Caféet öppet 12-18 12.15 Middagsbön 18.00 Aftonbön
TISDAG
ONSDAG
01.23.2016 PM - 05.22.2016 04:30 PM The Watercolor Worlds of Lars Lerin. Solo exhibition of contemporary Swedish watercolor master Lars Lerin (b. 1954). American Swedish Institute 2600 Park Avenue Minneapolis MN 55407. 612-871-4907 | www.asimn.org 02.13.2016 10:00 AM - 02.14.2016 03:00 PM Vasaloppet USA: vasaloppet.us/race-weekend/
l New York
02.17.2016 07:00 PM - 09:00 PM 7 Sámi Stories WED, Feb. 17: 7 PM FRI, Feb. 19: 6:30 PM $10 ($7 ASF Members) The end result of a commissioned project by the International Sámi Film Institute, 7 Sámi Stories features seven incredible new short films by Sápmi’s rising talent from Norway, Sweden and Finland. 212.779.3587. www. scandinaviahouse.org 02.19.2016 06:30 PM - 02.19.2016 08:30 PM 7 Sámi Stories
l Pennsylvania
09.12.2015 04:30 PM - 02.28.2016 04:00 PM United Stockholms of America See Stockholm like you’ve never seen the city before! ... a large-format photography exhibition by Swedish photographer, Charlie Bennet, who beautifully documented the wildly varying degrees of Swedishness of the different Stockholms. American Swedish Historical Museum. 215.389.1776. www.americanswedish.org 02.13.2016 11:00 AM - 02:00 PM Semlor and a Movie. Experience a decadent Swedish treat at the American Swedish Historical Museum! American Swedish Historical Museum. 215.389.1776. www.americanswedish. org
l Washington
02.21.2016 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM Brooding Baltic Breezes. The Mostly Nordic Chamber Music Series and Smörgåsbord has entertained our guests for more than two decades.This month’s concert: “Brooding Baltic Breezes” from FINLAND: The innovative and versatile Kairos Quartet quartet-in-residence at Central Washington University since 1998 have toured internationally, seeking to break down the barriers between audience and performers. Program features global works of Sibelius String Quartet “Voces Intimae” and William Walton’s timeless String Quartet in A Minor. www.nordicmuseum.org/mostlynordic. WA 03.15.2016 05:00 PM - 03.18.2016 08:00 PM Immigration Conference In collaboration with six cultural institutions from the Nordic Region, the Nordic Heritage Museum is hosting this exciting international Immigration Conference. A comprehensive program of five sessions with 17 museum professionals and academics from Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Germany, and various locations in the United States will explore the impact of Nordic immigration to the Pacific Northwest from the 1850s to the 21st century. Key Note Speaker is Diana Pardu, Chief of Museum Programs at the Statue of Liberty National Monument and the Ellis Island National Immigration Museum. Nordic Heritage Museum. http://nordicmuseum.org/events/immigrationconference.
Veckomässa i Taizéton med kyrkkaffe
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@sk.ny Svenska kyrkan i New York TORSDAG
FREDAG
LÖRDAG
Caféet öppet 12-18
Caféet öppet 12-18
Caféet öppet 12-18
Caféet öppet 12-18
Caféet öppet 12-16
12.15 Middagsbön 18.00 Aftonbön
12.15 Middagsbön 15.00 Träffpunkt 18.00 Mässa
12.15 Middagsbön 18.00 Aftonbön
12.15 Middagsbön 18.00 Aftonbön
14.00 Melodifestivalen
14.00 Melodifestivalen
14-16 Ung Svensk i NY
February 15, 2016 Nordstjernan
feature. page 18
Crown Princess appointed global change advocate It is both an honor and a pleasure for Sweden that Crown Princess Victoria has been chosen for this important role and that she has accepted, said Prime Minister Stefan Löfven.
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Nordstjernan, February 15, 2016
Crown Princess Victoria with Isabella Lövin and Ardalan Shekarabi at “Agenda 2030 Sweden’s efforts to achieve the global objectives of sustainable development.” Image source Instagram
In Stockholm on January 18, leaders gathered for the conference “Agenda 2030—Sweden’s efforts to achieve the global objectives of sustainable development,” in which they discussed Agenda 2030. Its global objectives were adopted at the UN World Summit in September 2015 where world leaders committed to creating conditions through 17 global objectives for inclusive, sustainable economic growth between 2016 and 2030. The objectives are: to eradicate poverty and hunger everywhere; combat inequalities within and between countries; to build peaceful, equitable and inclusive societies; protect human rights and promote gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment; and, to ensure lasting protection of the planet and its natural resources. World leaders have created conditions for inclusive and sustainable economic growth and decent work for all, taking into account different levels of national development and capacity.
As a reflection of Sweden’s deep engagement in and commitment to the 2030 Agenda, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Crown Princess Victoria as one of the 16 members of the Sustainable Development Goals Advocates of Agenda 2030. Advocates are charged with leveraging “their unique standing and leadership” to promote the messages and encourage partnerships with governments, the private sector and civil society,” with an important role in inspiring action toward peace, security and respect for human rights. “The Global Goals give us 15 years of opportunities to build a better world,” said Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Margot Wallström. “I am very honored to have been appointed as one of 16 advocates to promote the 2030 Agenda. The issues that the UN development goals highlight are crucial for the world. I hope to be able to contribute to this important work,” said Crown Princess Victoria in a Royal Court press release.
sports. page 19
American leads Frölunda to European title
Above: Ryan Lasch celebrates with the CHL trophy. Left: The Frölunda Indians celebrate February 9 after winning the final of the Champions Hockey League. Chipp Reid, Sports Editor chipp@nordstjernan.com
When Ryan Lasch signed with the Frölunda Indians last year, the well-traveled American brought with him a reputation as a gritty, hard-working winger who knew how to win hockey games. It was exactly what the Indians needed. Lasch scored once and put in a workhorse defensive performance as he led Frölunda to a 2-1 win over Oulu Kärpät of Finland February 9 to claim the 2015-2016 European Champions Hockey League title. Lasch was the MVP of the tournament, racking up a CHL-leading 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) in eight games. “It’s awesome — a great feeling to win with these guys,” he said. “We’ve worked together all season, scored some big goals . . . this game we scored a couple and defended. Everyone was really focused and we all wanted it, you could tell from the opening faceoff. Everyone put in a maximum effort and this is the result.” The European crown was the biggest success in the 29-year-old Lasch’s career. A native of Orange County, California, Lasch bounced from juniors to college to Sweden and Finland before signing with the Anaheim Ducks in 2012. He was the first Orange County native to sign with the hometown team, but his success on the big ice in Europe never translated to the NHL. The Ducks assigned him to Norfolk in the AHL in 2013 before sending him down to the Fort Wayne Komets of the ECHL. Rather than stay in the minors, Lasch returned to Sweden, signing with Växjö. He moved to Frölunda during the off-season.
Since he arrived in Göteborg, Lasch has helped Frölunda return to the top of the standings of the Swedish Hockey League and is the current leading scorer in the SHL. He was the difference in the Champions League final as he scored once and was a plus-2 for the game as the Indians overcame Kärpät on its home ice at Oulun Energia Arena. “It was a tight game from start to finish,” said Frölunda defenseman Oscar Lauridsen. “Two highly competitive teams who came out and battled with everything they had.” Normally an offensive-minded club, Frölunda put on a defensive show against the Finns. The Chiefs killed all four penalties it gave up and held Oulu to just 19 shots in the game. The Finns were just as tough as Kärpät goaltender Sami Aittokallio stopped 21 of 23 shots he faced. The two he couldn’t stop came at the end of the first period as the Indians scored twice in an 83-second span. “I think we started fairly well, despite the negative result,” said Kärpät coach Lauri Majamäki. “We played well. We did what we wanted. We forced a lot of turnovers in the offensive zone but couldn’t capitalize on those.” Lasch put Frölunda on the board at 16:20 of the opening period when he tipped an Oscar Fantenberg shot past Aittokallio for a 1-0 lead. Spencer Abbott then doubled the lead at 17:43 when he tried to dig the puck out from under the Kärpät netminder, only for it to deflect off a defenseman in the crease to make it 2–0. “That was something we talked about before the game, getting guys in front of the net, creating some traffic, and getting shots through,” said Lasch, who took home the CHL’s Cramo Top Scorer Award and Nor-
dicBet MVP Trophy in addition to the gold medal. “We knew it would be a tough game and we’d have to win those inside battles. That’s what I was trying to do on that first one there, Fanty got the shot through and I got a piece of it.” Kärpät went on an early power play at the beginning of the middle session but were again unable to generate much offense. As the period developed, Ivan Huml had a great chance for the home side but found Lars Johansson in no mood to be beaten in the Frölunda net. The visitors had the better of the final minutes of the period, but it ended goalless and Kärpät having it all to do in the third. “We talked about it before the game — we knew we were playing a good team and we’d have to keep their chances to a minimum,” said Johansson, who stopped 18 of 19 Karat shots. “Thanks to these guys, it was not that tough a game for me, but still it feels great.” Again the Finns got an early man advantage as the third period began, but again Frölunda held out. It was only on the home side’s fourth power play of the game when they finally found a breakthrough — as the penalty to Anton Axelsson ticked off, Juho Keranen’s pass deflected off the stick and found a way through Johansson to half the deficit with 12:49 to play. “These are games of small margins,” said Frölunda’s Artturi Lehkonen. “We got a lucky bounce in Abbott’s goal and they had one in Keranen’s goal. It takes some luck and tremendous amount of work to get to the crease. You don’t get easy goals in these games.” Kärpät tried to tie the game for the rest of the period, but a combination of resolute
defending and Johansson kept them at bay. “I’m really proud of my team now. It was a tough game, we played well defensively, and kept the lead until the end,” said Frölunda coach Roger Rönnberg. “I told the guys to stay calm, play with the puck, and not be too passive. I’m really happy, it would have been hard to lose a second final!” Frölunda lost in the final last year to SHL club Luleå. Lasch said even though he was not part of that team, the Indians had a goal of gaining CHL revenge. “It’s part of what we’ve been working for all season,” he said. “Right from the start one of our goals as an organization was to be playing in this game and win it.” Lasch was just as happy about winning both the scoring title and the CHL Tournament MVP award. “It’s nice. I thank the fans who voted and everyone who supported that. Winning that is a reflection of the team — this was a team victory,” he said. “You know, individual awards are nice but this is what it’s all about. When those final seconds tick off the clock and the team pours off the bench to celebrate, that’s the best part of being a hockey player.” Frölunda is currently second in the SHL, seven points behind Skelleftea. Lasch said the CHL win could provide a boost as the Indians make a last push to claim the top seed in the SHL playoffs. “This is going to give us confidence going forward, not just winning but the way we won — a battle like that — those are the types of games that you have to be able to win,” he said. “I think that’s going to help us in the future.”
February 15, 2016 Nordstjernan
Photography: Carl Sandin/Bildbyrån
Ryan Lasch scored goal and earned tournament MVP honors as he led the Frölunda Indians to the European Champions Hockey League title.
colors of venice
PARIS – VENICE – ISTANBUL
We are in Paris, boarding the train to the Far East, with a suitcase filled with clothes from the beautiful spring collection. There are soft jersey garments, a beautiful embroidered blouse, a bright red beret and the occasional intricately knitted cardigan. All of carefully selected natural materials – we want to think GREEN in everything we do. And color-coordinated because then the cardigan matches the pants that match the blouse that matches all the different accessories – shoes, socks, scarves, bags. . .
PIAZZA SAN MARCO Venecia dress $98, embroidered Carnevale $138 and Gondola tunic $108
Time to get Gudrun Sjödén’s 2016 SPRING CATALOG and experience “Swedish design with a green soul” with greetings from
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08/02/16 11:15