The Swedish armed forces have been hit by a major equipment problem, according to reports. Flimsy military brassieres are unable to stand up to the strains imposed when female Swedish troops perform "rigorous exercises", routinely bursting open or even catching fire - so forcing busty young conscripts to hurriedly strip off in the field.
The women complained that the bras’ fasteners have a tendency to come undone when the women performed rigorous exercise, forcing the female soldiers to take off all of their equipment in order to refasten the brassieres.
Female soldiers are taking their argument to the top brass, saying this has been a problem for 20 years and that 2,000 female soldiers will enter the Swedish military next year.
The Swedish Conscription Council, a rights group representing the country's 500-odd women soldiers, said the poor quality of the standard-issue sports bras was unacceptable.
"Our opinion is that the Swedish Armed Forces should have ordered good, flame-proof underwear," Paulina Rehbinder, a union spokeswoman, told The Local, Sweden's English-language newspaper.
Sweden has allowed women conscripts since 1980. Four to five per cent of Sweden's armed forces are women.
Friday 25 September 2009
Friday 18 September 2009
Swedish Care Foundation labels computer gaming an 'addiction'
A Swedish organization called the Youth Care Foundation claims that computer gaming addiction is reaching pandemic proportions around the world. This is the same group that called World of Warcraft "the cocaine of the computer games world" back in February.
In an interview with Sweden's English paper, The Local, Sven Rollenhagen of the Youth Care Foundation touts his position as one that helps young Swedish people to recognize and manage computer gaming addiction.
Already ahead of the curve by "daring" to view gaming addiction as something distinct from other common problems facing young people, Sweden's Youth Care Foundation has put the country on the map as a leader in developing strategies for coping with the issue.
"Sweden has long been at the forefront of efforts to battle addiction," he said, adding that there are very few, if any, experts elsewhere in the world who have dedicated their work completely to the study and management of gaming addiction.
"If you extrapolate from the number of calls we received or simply from the millions of games that are sold around the world each year, you start to see how big the pool of potential addicts is," he said.
In an interview with Sweden's English paper, The Local, Sven Rollenhagen of the Youth Care Foundation touts his position as one that helps young Swedish people to recognize and manage computer gaming addiction.
Already ahead of the curve by "daring" to view gaming addiction as something distinct from other common problems facing young people, Sweden's Youth Care Foundation has put the country on the map as a leader in developing strategies for coping with the issue.
"Sweden has long been at the forefront of efforts to battle addiction," he said, adding that there are very few, if any, experts elsewhere in the world who have dedicated their work completely to the study and management of gaming addiction.
"If you extrapolate from the number of calls we received or simply from the millions of games that are sold around the world each year, you start to see how big the pool of potential addicts is," he said.
Monday 14 September 2009
Illegal immigrant hits the jackpot on Swedish lottery
In 2003, Eritrean man Tesfaldet Tesloy arrived in Sweden to start a new life with his brother, who had lived in the country for some 20 years. In 2006 he was informed by the Swedish authorities that his application for permanent residence was rejected and that by law he would be scheduled for deportation.
Attempts to deport Tesloy back to Eritrea were met with resistance from his home country who stated clearly that they did not want him back. Swedish law stipulates that such illegal immigrants cannot be rightfully deported if there is refusal by their nation of origin, something which Swedish officials claim is an ongoing problem which they can do little about. Other nations such as Iran and Cuba also refuse repatriation, which leaves the individual in a legal wilderness.
Lacking official identification required to work legally in the country, Tesloy was facing a life in limbo until he bought a lottery scratch card. On Saturday night Tesloy appeared live on Swedish national television to collect his prize, a tax-free windfall of EUR 118,000, or 1,118,000 Swedish Kroner.
While Tesloy does not have the necessary documentation to work, a ‘personnumer’ or Swedish identity number, he has managed to open a bank account in his name, thereby meeting the criteria for receiving the winnings as laid down by Svenska Spel, the county’s gaming authority which oversees the scratch card lottery Triss.
Stockholm police were consulted by the television and lottery officials to ascertain if it was legal to proceed with the prize presentation, who gave the go ahead, claiming the National Lottery had deemed the win entirely legal. Officials added that the difficulties in attempting to send Tesloy back to Eritrea, where they felt nobody cared about him, would likely see little chance of changes to the current situation.
Attempts to deport Tesloy back to Eritrea were met with resistance from his home country who stated clearly that they did not want him back. Swedish law stipulates that such illegal immigrants cannot be rightfully deported if there is refusal by their nation of origin, something which Swedish officials claim is an ongoing problem which they can do little about. Other nations such as Iran and Cuba also refuse repatriation, which leaves the individual in a legal wilderness.
Lacking official identification required to work legally in the country, Tesloy was facing a life in limbo until he bought a lottery scratch card. On Saturday night Tesloy appeared live on Swedish national television to collect his prize, a tax-free windfall of EUR 118,000, or 1,118,000 Swedish Kroner.
While Tesloy does not have the necessary documentation to work, a ‘personnumer’ or Swedish identity number, he has managed to open a bank account in his name, thereby meeting the criteria for receiving the winnings as laid down by Svenska Spel, the county’s gaming authority which oversees the scratch card lottery Triss.
Stockholm police were consulted by the television and lottery officials to ascertain if it was legal to proceed with the prize presentation, who gave the go ahead, claiming the National Lottery had deemed the win entirely legal. Officials added that the difficulties in attempting to send Tesloy back to Eritrea, where they felt nobody cared about him, would likely see little chance of changes to the current situation.
Monday 7 September 2009
NASA censors Swedish pupil's naked astronaut query
On Sunday night, students from Sätraskolan, a school in southern Stockholm, had the chance to interview Swedish astronaut Christer Fuglesang, who is on a space mission to the International Space Station (ISS). But NASA thought some of the questions were a bit too risque.
When fourteen-year-old Zhiwar Naeimiakbar wondered if you can survive in space “without clothes” if you have access to air, it appeared the American space agency might not approve his question.
NASA explained they would not run the question if it included the words "without clothes" ("utan kläder") and instead changed it to "without a spacesuit."
Naeimiakbar was thrilled to have his question answered.
“It feels unbelievable. Sure, you talk on the telephone with your best friends, but this here was a totally different feeling, even if it was just for a few minutes, a few seconds, it felt wonderful,” he said.
Seven-year-old Cawo Ali asked Fuglesang how it felt to come back to earth after a period of weightlessness.
"It feels heavy, I can tell you. Your legs are heavy on the first day and your balance is slightly off," wrote the Swedish astronaut, who returns to planet earth on Friday night, Swedish time.
At 5:40 am on Monday, Fuglesang and his colleague Danny Olivas wrapped up the mission's third and final space walk. Fuglesang became the first astronaut from a country other than the US or Russia to complete more than three space walks.
Käppala school on Lidingö outside of the Swedish capital will also meet Fuglesang. One of the school's eighth grade classes participated in a competition and were drawn as a winner during a broadcast on Swedish Television (SVT).
When fourteen-year-old Zhiwar Naeimiakbar wondered if you can survive in space “without clothes” if you have access to air, it appeared the American space agency might not approve his question.
NASA explained they would not run the question if it included the words "without clothes" ("utan kläder") and instead changed it to "without a spacesuit."
Naeimiakbar was thrilled to have his question answered.
“It feels unbelievable. Sure, you talk on the telephone with your best friends, but this here was a totally different feeling, even if it was just for a few minutes, a few seconds, it felt wonderful,” he said.
Seven-year-old Cawo Ali asked Fuglesang how it felt to come back to earth after a period of weightlessness.
"It feels heavy, I can tell you. Your legs are heavy on the first day and your balance is slightly off," wrote the Swedish astronaut, who returns to planet earth on Friday night, Swedish time.
At 5:40 am on Monday, Fuglesang and his colleague Danny Olivas wrapped up the mission's third and final space walk. Fuglesang became the first astronaut from a country other than the US or Russia to complete more than three space walks.
Käppala school on Lidingö outside of the Swedish capital will also meet Fuglesang. One of the school's eighth grade classes participated in a competition and were drawn as a winner during a broadcast on Swedish Television (SVT).
Tuesday 1 September 2009
Swedish art student fined for faking psychosis
A Swedish art student who feigned a psychosis and acted as if she were about to commit suicide was ordered to pay a 2,500-kronor (350 dollars) fine for the stunt.
Anna Odell, 35, had risked up to two years in jail for the incident she staged in January as part of her final exam project at the Swedish University College of Arts, Crafts and Design.
The Stockholm district court convicted her of abusing the psychiatric health system and resisting arrest, but she was cleared of raising a false alarm. The project has been hailed as a legitimate arts project by some, while others say she drained resources from the psychiatric health system that is severely stretched.
Odell's lawyer told reporters they would consider an appeal against the conviction of abusing the health system.
Odell - who testified that she had a history of mental health problems - filmed her actions on a bridge in Stockholm. She was so convincing that police were called to the scene chose to take her to a psychiatric ward in central Stockholm, where she was admitted.
She also used her hospital records and other documents as part of the arts project. Odell resisted police officers and hospital staff, who gave her sedatives and were forced to strap her down to a bed.
In her testimony she said the pretence was necessary to offer a real view of how the Swedish psychiatric care system treats people.
Anna Odell, 35, had risked up to two years in jail for the incident she staged in January as part of her final exam project at the Swedish University College of Arts, Crafts and Design.
The Stockholm district court convicted her of abusing the psychiatric health system and resisting arrest, but she was cleared of raising a false alarm. The project has been hailed as a legitimate arts project by some, while others say she drained resources from the psychiatric health system that is severely stretched.
Odell's lawyer told reporters they would consider an appeal against the conviction of abusing the health system.
Odell - who testified that she had a history of mental health problems - filmed her actions on a bridge in Stockholm. She was so convincing that police were called to the scene chose to take her to a psychiatric ward in central Stockholm, where she was admitted.
She also used her hospital records and other documents as part of the arts project. Odell resisted police officers and hospital staff, who gave her sedatives and were forced to strap her down to a bed.
In her testimony she said the pretence was necessary to offer a real view of how the Swedish psychiatric care system treats people.
Thursday 13 August 2009
Many Swedish students failing maths
More than one in ten Swedish school pupils fall below minimum standards for entering high school, according to new statistics from the Swedish Board of Education.
Mathematics has once again proved to be the major stumbling block, with In 8.5 percent of pupils unable able to achieve a passing grade in the subject, although a higher proportion of those that did pass achieved distinctions.
The new statistics show minor changes on the corresponding figures for 2008 with 88.8 percent of school pupils achieving the passing grades required for high school (gymnasium) entry in the core subjects of Maths, Swedish and English.
"The figure, over 11 percent, would appear high but has largely remained the same for the past decade," Helena Svensson at the board told The Local on Wednesday.
"Over the longer term there has been some decline. Before it was little under ten percent, now it is a little over."
In English 7.1 percent of pupils did not make the grade while in Swedish the figure was 4.1 percent. In Swedish as a second language the figure was 27.5 percent.
The new report is based on preliminary statistics compiled from estimates produced by Statistics Sweden (SCB). Final grades will be published in November.
The board writes that the national statistics hide significant variations between and among school and local municipalities.
"Schools and municipalities are supposed to ensure that pupils are given the support that they need. They get this support, but may be it is not always the right kind of support," Helena Svensson explained.
Mathematics has once again proved to be the major stumbling block, with In 8.5 percent of pupils unable able to achieve a passing grade in the subject, although a higher proportion of those that did pass achieved distinctions.
The new statistics show minor changes on the corresponding figures for 2008 with 88.8 percent of school pupils achieving the passing grades required for high school (gymnasium) entry in the core subjects of Maths, Swedish and English.
"The figure, over 11 percent, would appear high but has largely remained the same for the past decade," Helena Svensson at the board told The Local on Wednesday.
"Over the longer term there has been some decline. Before it was little under ten percent, now it is a little over."
In English 7.1 percent of pupils did not make the grade while in Swedish the figure was 4.1 percent. In Swedish as a second language the figure was 27.5 percent.
The new report is based on preliminary statistics compiled from estimates produced by Statistics Sweden (SCB). Final grades will be published in November.
The board writes that the national statistics hide significant variations between and among school and local municipalities.
"Schools and municipalities are supposed to ensure that pupils are given the support that they need. They get this support, but may be it is not always the right kind of support," Helena Svensson explained.
Friday 7 August 2009
Swedes benefiting from tougher hockey at home
Peter Forsberg was one of 11 Swedes selected in the NHL draft. This year, the draft was nothing short of a Swedish invasion.
Seven Swedes were drafted in the first round, for a total of 25. Only Canada and the United States had more players taken.
"It's a record," Forsberg said. "I would never have guessed there would be seven Swedes in the first round."
Experts credit a revolution at the grass roots of Swedish hockey. They say an emphasis on making players mentally tougher has created a new generation of Swedes better prepared to make the leap across the Atlantic.
"The biggest change is the attitude improvement," said Hakan Andersson, a Red Wings scout based in Sweden for the past 20 years. "Swedes have always been skilled, but they used to be more timid."
Things started changing in 2002 when the Swedish Ice Hockey Association launched an initiative to improve the performance of its juniors after five years of mediocre results in international youth competitions. An "ABC of hockey" curriculum was written by the association for the first time and was distributed to 400 clubs throughout the country. Twelve chief coaches were hired to mentor the clubs and coaches in their areas. Competitive practices emphasizing winning were designed to create a stronger mentality.
Tommy Boustedt, Sweden's head of hockey development, said it used to be acceptable for Swedish junior teams to finish in the top four in international competitions. "Now the only thing the players are going for is gold," he said. Sweden's under-20 team won silver medals at the past two world junior hockey championships, losing both finals to Canada. They finished eighth in 2003, and their results have improved steadily since.
And each year since 2005, Sweden has had more players enter the NHL draft than any other European nation.
Seven Swedes were drafted in the first round, for a total of 25. Only Canada and the United States had more players taken.
"It's a record," Forsberg said. "I would never have guessed there would be seven Swedes in the first round."
Experts credit a revolution at the grass roots of Swedish hockey. They say an emphasis on making players mentally tougher has created a new generation of Swedes better prepared to make the leap across the Atlantic.
"The biggest change is the attitude improvement," said Hakan Andersson, a Red Wings scout based in Sweden for the past 20 years. "Swedes have always been skilled, but they used to be more timid."
Things started changing in 2002 when the Swedish Ice Hockey Association launched an initiative to improve the performance of its juniors after five years of mediocre results in international youth competitions. An "ABC of hockey" curriculum was written by the association for the first time and was distributed to 400 clubs throughout the country. Twelve chief coaches were hired to mentor the clubs and coaches in their areas. Competitive practices emphasizing winning were designed to create a stronger mentality.
Tommy Boustedt, Sweden's head of hockey development, said it used to be acceptable for Swedish junior teams to finish in the top four in international competitions. "Now the only thing the players are going for is gold," he said. Sweden's under-20 team won silver medals at the past two world junior hockey championships, losing both finals to Canada. They finished eighth in 2003, and their results have improved steadily since.
And each year since 2005, Sweden has had more players enter the NHL draft than any other European nation.
Monday 3 August 2009
Why the pirates are on the rise in Sweden
It is estimated - but nobody really knows - that at least one in 10 Swedes swap music illegally via BitTorrent file-sharing websites like Sweden's notorious Pirate Bay, and it is thought that in 2008, some 15m films were illegally downloaded by Swedish internet users.
Such internet activity as propelled the country into the biggest political debate for 20 years. At its heart is a controversial law passed in parliament last year. Known as the FRA Law, in honour of the Swedish electronic intelligence agency, it permits the monitoring of international phone calls, e-mail and internet traffic.
Some of the world's most powerful computers will scan all cross-border e-traffic in real time for a quarter of a million trigger words and phrases that the security services believe warrant further investigation.
While Finland has Nokia, Sweden gave us Ericsson. Swedes enjoy some of the highest - and fastest - rates of connectivity in the world, a development that has been spurred by necessity because of the country's sparsely populated geography, and a key factor in driving the discussion around the new law. Cultural differences also play a part, for example Sweden's liberal culture, part of which is the principle of Allemansratten.
Allemansratten means everyone's right to roam and it's an important part of Swedish culture and identity and a major factor dividing people for and against the new law.
Such internet activity as propelled the country into the biggest political debate for 20 years. At its heart is a controversial law passed in parliament last year. Known as the FRA Law, in honour of the Swedish electronic intelligence agency, it permits the monitoring of international phone calls, e-mail and internet traffic.
Some of the world's most powerful computers will scan all cross-border e-traffic in real time for a quarter of a million trigger words and phrases that the security services believe warrant further investigation.
While Finland has Nokia, Sweden gave us Ericsson. Swedes enjoy some of the highest - and fastest - rates of connectivity in the world, a development that has been spurred by necessity because of the country's sparsely populated geography, and a key factor in driving the discussion around the new law. Cultural differences also play a part, for example Sweden's liberal culture, part of which is the principle of Allemansratten.
Allemansratten means everyone's right to roam and it's an important part of Swedish culture and identity and a major factor dividing people for and against the new law.
Tuesday 21 July 2009
Sweden pushes EU climate action
Sweden has called on the European Union to take the lead in fighting climate change despite facing the worst economic downturn since the 1930s.
Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said the EU should reach a common position ahead of a major international climate conference in Copenhagen in December.
Climate change is “coming quicker and earlier than we thought” and our way of living is “not sustainable”, he said.
Sweden has taken over the revolving presidency of the EU. Mr Reinfeldt, during the presidency, will also try to make headway on financial regulation, the fate of the stalled Lisbon treaty and admitting new members.
The slogan of the Swedish presidency is “taking on the challenge” and Mr Reinfeldt sees a lot of challenges over the next six months. His priority is to persuade all 27 EU countries to speak with one voice on climate change, in order to get the US and other major polluters such as China to sign up to substantial cuts in greenhouse gas emissions in December.
Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said the EU should reach a common position ahead of a major international climate conference in Copenhagen in December.
Climate change is “coming quicker and earlier than we thought” and our way of living is “not sustainable”, he said.
Sweden has taken over the revolving presidency of the EU. Mr Reinfeldt, during the presidency, will also try to make headway on financial regulation, the fate of the stalled Lisbon treaty and admitting new members.
The slogan of the Swedish presidency is “taking on the challenge” and Mr Reinfeldt sees a lot of challenges over the next six months. His priority is to persuade all 27 EU countries to speak with one voice on climate change, in order to get the US and other major polluters such as China to sign up to substantial cuts in greenhouse gas emissions in December.
Thursday 7 May 2009
Swedish Customs and Culture - Food
No one visiting Sweden in August can fail to notice how shop window displays from variations on the theme of crayfish.
Nowhere is the crayfish so ardently worshipped as in Sweden. Eating of crayfish has expanded into a ritual meal surrounded by all manner of accessories, preferably with an authentic full moon thrown in. The decorations consist mostly of colored paper lanterns in the form of smiling moon-faces suspended over the table.
A hundred years ago, the catching of crayfish was forbidden except for a couple of months every autumn. At one time the lakes of central Sweden teemed with this black gold, which was exported to the high-class restaurants of Paris, London and Berlin, but over-fishing was threatening to annihilate them.
In 1907 the Swedish crayfish enthusiasts were struck by a disaster: the “crayfish plague” which was a lethal parasitic mould, which eliminated rare crayfish from most of Sweden’s fishing waters. The Swedes imported crayfish, first from Turkey and then from Spain and today from the US. making Sweden the world’s biggest crayfish importer.
Eating crayfish the Swedish way is not easy, but the experience of a crayfish party can very well modify the myth of Swedish uprightness.
Nowhere is the crayfish so ardently worshipped as in Sweden. Eating of crayfish has expanded into a ritual meal surrounded by all manner of accessories, preferably with an authentic full moon thrown in. The decorations consist mostly of colored paper lanterns in the form of smiling moon-faces suspended over the table.
A hundred years ago, the catching of crayfish was forbidden except for a couple of months every autumn. At one time the lakes of central Sweden teemed with this black gold, which was exported to the high-class restaurants of Paris, London and Berlin, but over-fishing was threatening to annihilate them.
In 1907 the Swedish crayfish enthusiasts were struck by a disaster: the “crayfish plague” which was a lethal parasitic mould, which eliminated rare crayfish from most of Sweden’s fishing waters. The Swedes imported crayfish, first from Turkey and then from Spain and today from the US. making Sweden the world’s biggest crayfish importer.
Eating crayfish the Swedish way is not easy, but the experience of a crayfish party can very well modify the myth of Swedish uprightness.
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