And the Nobel Peace Prize goes to...

The winner of the Nobel Peace Prize still makes me puzzled. I do realise the difference the European Union has made since it was founded, but a Nobel Peace Prize? And why now? Aren't there other people/organizations that get less attention that probably deserve it more?

I find this almost as random as that time when Finland won the Eurovision Song Contest...

Tycker valet av årets vinnare av Nobels Fredspris var ganska överraskande. Visst har EU spelat en stor roll för freden i Europa, men ett Nobels Fredspris? Varför just nu? Tycker inte EU har åstadkommit något anmärkningsvärt på flera decennier. Fanns det verkligen ingen annan organisation eller person som skulle ha förtjänat detta erkännande mer än EU?!

Tycker det hela är lika konstigt som den gången då finland vann schlagerfestivalen...

Age is just a number

Yesterday morning I was met by the news that the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Prince Sultan, had passed away. Now if you are like me, you'd think that an heir to the thrown is a man in his best years. Let's face it, most European crown princes/princesses are in their thirties or forties. Prince Sultan however, was in his eighties! Depending on the source of the news the age stated will vary, some say he was 80, others say he was 83.

Let's have a look at the current ruler, King Abdullah, who is said to be in his eighties as well, however some sources suggest that he might be 90+! Imagine ruling a country at the age when most people in the west are enjoying retirement and an easy life, some people may not even live to that age!

The reason why all the rulers are of a mature age is that the succession to the throne goes from one brother to another, rather than from father to son. It is said that the father of the current king, the founding father of modern Saudi Arabia King Abdul Aziz, had dozens of children. At least 20 of them were boys and while many died young there is still about a dozen brothers that all have a right to the throne, at least in theory. Some have however, relinquished their right to the throne due to health or other reasons. The youngest brothers are in their late sixties and they may never succeed to the throne at all.

In recent years the debate regarding the order of the succession to the throne has been discussed. Any changes are not to be expected any time soon, this is after all a place reluctant to change.

Iftar at the White House

This took place roughly over a week ago, but I only found out today so I'm posting this now.

I believe my invitation must have gotten lost in the mail...



Dethär ägde rum för en dryg vecka sen, men eftersom jag inga lltid hänger med så fick jag nys om det idag och skriver därför först nu om det hela.


Jag antar att min inbjudan kom bort i posten...

Pargas, nej tack!

Segelbåt på Keistiöfjörden augusti 2006

Missförstå mej rätt: jag har ingenting emot Pargas. Men vill jag att min hemkommun (jo jag kallar det så fast jag inte har bott där permanent på flera år) ska kallas Pargas? Nej.

För det första så ligger min hemby så långt från Pargas som man bara kan komma i Väståboland. Det är tom. närmare till Åland! Jag tycker att dom som en följd av denna brilljanta kommunsammanslagning skulle kunna komma på ett helt nytt namn, istället för att använda namnet på en av de kommuner som är del av sammanslagningen. Därför tycker jag att Väståboland är ett riktigt bra namn. Eller kanske ett uniname som de kallas på engelska, t.ex. ParNaKoInSkär. Eller kanske en förkortning, t.ex PHINK.

Vad tycker ni, kanske har ni några namnförslag?



P.S Vem var den ENDA person i Iniö som röstade för Pargas? Det skulle jag gärna vilja veta...

Disappointed

Day 11 in the Kingdom - Dag 11 i Kungariket

I thought I'd check the news from my native Finland, just to see how the results from the general election turned out. I am extremely disappointed to learn that the nationalist party the True Finns have managed to gain 19% of the vote! That makes them the third largest party.

I am also disappointed that I did not get to cast my vote in this election. The reason being that I was traveling while the polling was held in Australia as well as Bahrain, which means I missed out completely!

Redigerat den 24 april: Ganska störande att jag skriver en lång berättelse ENDAST PÅ ENGELSKA om hur upprörande valresultatet var... Jag var i djup schock, vad annat kan jag säga! Däremot är jag glad att se att den finlandssvenska identiteten har förstärkts som en följd av detta.

Election time

August 21 is election day here in Australia. The people will be voting for a new prime minister. I do not get to vote, seeing that i am not an Australian citizen. I don't see that as a bad thing though. The local election campaigns are nothing short of a joke, filled with little substance. Most of the time is spent by mocking the other party (there are only two main parties) and making empty promises. One candidate is quoting Eminem on national TV, the other one will always be remembered for her back stabbing coup that made her the current prime minister.

In order to make sure that people vote, it is actually compulsory to vote. Failure to do so, results in a fine. Unless you can prove that you were unable to vote. So that's democracy Australian style for you people!

My husbands citizenship ceritificate/ Min mans medborgarintyg


Om ca tre veckor ar det valdags i Australien, de ska valjas en ny statsminister. Jag har ingen rostratt, eftersom jag inte ar Australiensisk medborgare. Men jag kanner mej int snuvad pa konfekten. Snarare tvartom.
Valkampanjerna har gar mest ut pa att smutskasta opponenten (de finns bara tva stora partier i Australien) och fa den andra att se lojlig ut genom att upprepa nagot dumt som sagts/gjorts. Idag citerade den ena kandidaten Eminem "Won't the real Julia please stand up". Jag kan se medierna gotta sej at dethar. Utan tvekan kommer det att visas nan remix av dethar citatet senast imorgon bitti, garanterat med tillhornade musik. Den andra kandidaten lever fortfarande med folkets missnoje efter att hon genom en mindre "statskupp" tog over rollen som statsminister. Vilken haxa, tycker manga.


De ar nog sakert manga som bara singlar slant i dethar valet, hur kan man valja mellan tva sa usla kandidater?!?! Gud forbjude att man inte rostar alls. Att rosta ar obligatoriskt i dethar landet, om man inte rostar sa far man boter. Om man inte kan bevisa att man var oformogen att rosta forstas, tex pga koma fororsakad av hemska valkampanjer. Sahar fungerar demokratin har i Australien.

This is how the Australian national anthem starts/ Sahar borjar den australiensiska nationalsangen:

"Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are young and free"

Free you may be, but big brother is telling you that you have to vote! Ironic.