nordstjernan The Swedish Newspaper of America
Published by Swedish News. Volume 144 No. 19, November 15, 2016. Price per copy $2.50
This Week, Page 13
Pope Francis talks with Swedish PM Löfven.
Hats off to the successful choir ensemble from Sweden; World Champions in barbershop second year in a row: 150 plus members of the Rönninge Show Chorus on stage in Las Vegas in October. Co-conductor Anna Alvring center at the opening number. / Page 10
Photo: Read Photography
Sweden, Page 2, 3
Siri Berg: A life in color
Swedish manufacturing highest in 5 years / Swedes consume too many natural resources / Millions not connected to digital technology / Decreased number of incoming refugees / Young, assimilated refugees could get deported / More want to outlaw begging / Special funding for highly educated foreigners.
Perspectives, Page 3
Remembering the crows, avoiding to eat it.
Readers Forum, Page 7
On the M/S Stockholm, Andrea Doria and how Wheelys “crowdfunded” its business.
Local Events, Page 16
Mark your calendars with the holiday events happening in Swedish America.
Ulf Barslund Martensson editor@nordstjernan.com
Page 11
Parts of Sweden may be darker this winter.
The first solo artist to be showing at the Fiterman Art Center in downtown New York is Swede Siri Berg. Her show, In Color, opens at The Shirley Fiterman Art Center on November 17.
Historic papal visit to Sweden
Joined by leaders of the Lutheran World Federation, Pope Francis spent Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 in the Swedish cities of Lund and Malmo, leading thousands of people in a unified commemoration of the Protestant Reformation that began 500 years ago. In an attempt to reform the Roman Catholic Church on October 31, 1517, Martin Luther’s famous deed of posting 95 theses on a church door was actually catalyst to the splintering of the Catholic Europe into political, intellectual and cultural ways that would define modernity. Pope Francis wanted this trip to the historically Lutheran country, on the anniversary date itself, to focus on promoting Christian unity in general, and to reach out to / Page 13 Sweden’s small Catholic community.
Photo: Stefan Anderson
Dashboard, Page 10, 11
Photo: Paul Haring/CNS
Most of us can really only share tidbits of the experiences of our lives, and when it comes to Siri Berg, one of the world’s most prominent abstract artists, this fact becomes obvious right away. She was born in Stockholm to a German father and a Polish mother but left Sweden on her own when still a teenager. Befitting the doyenne of Scandinavian artists in New York City, Siri Berg will be the first solo artist to be showing at the Fiterman Art Center in downtown New York. Her show, In Color, a retrospective curated by Peter Hionas opens on November 17. Siri Berg is a veteran artist who has exhibited around the world since 1970. Her works are hanging at the Guggenheim, the Jewish Museum, in Coca Cola’s board room and in the homes of private collectors. She enjoyed abstract Continued on page 8
The Swedish Sweet Adeline singers win again / Gotland may well be the perfect setting for next season of Game of Thrones / Water shortage in Sweden?
Sports, Page 19
Swedish ice hockey teams are stocked with American and Canadian players.
Pacific States, Page 4
Many people deserve thanks for saving Sveadal from a forest fire in the Santa Cruz mountains.
Page 4