Reklaam

Helena-Reet Ennet

Helena-Reet Ennet
4698 POSTS 0 COMMENTS

Helena-Reet: We have opened NordenBladet.fi and NordenBladet.se!! There is great interest for the NordenBladet pages and every day I am thinking – where from here? what from here?

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet – For many months I have actively been involved with the archives and documentation of NordenBladet. As of today also the portals of Ohmygossip Finland and Ohmygossip Sweden have been joined under NordenBladet! How cool is that?! NordeBladet pages are published online now already in four languages – in Estonian, in English, in Finnish and in Swedish, covering the entire Scandinavia. NordenBladet-owned OHMYGOSSIP sites can be read already in six languages – besides those that have previously been mentioned, one can also read them in Russian and in German.

NordenBladet media is the youngest yet among the largest media groups in Scandinavia / the Northern countries. While Bonnier was founded already 215 years ago, Alma Media 170 years ago, Aller Media 146 years ago, then NordenBladet is just 7 years of age (and NordenBladet-hosted OHMYGOSSIP sites are 10 years oled). During these seven years however so much has been achieved! We are active in Estonia, in Finland and in Sweden, yet we reflect news from all Northern countries. We are focused on reflecting life and news in the Nordic countries. We give our best to bring to you the most important information, prognoses, announcements. Administration of ten NordenBladet + OHMYGOSSIP websites along with their 10 Facebook and 10 Twitter pages is quite an undertaking. All in all 30 separate pages that each own a unique group of readers – millions of followers and hundred thousands daily visits. Every page needs galleries, posts, articles, blogs, fresh ideas and IT-solutions. Amazing what you can achieve when you have the certain idea and are determined to carry it out.

I remember when back in 2006 I began thinking about my own media channel. I was looking for IT-solutions, being completely green as an media owner. Though I had many years of experience as a journalist working in the television magazine Nädal and also experience of working as editor-in-chief in Buduaar, this was basically everything. It soon became very clear that the greatest challenge were IT-solutions that had to be kept running. Oftentimes the development of one line took down another line, every step cost me, on every step I depended on someone else – and this is something I cannot take. I like to depend on myself – only myself. I like when anything I do is for myself, everything I decide is my individual decision, etc. The first web site was built by several IT-specialists before it was finally set up. I made one bad decision after another and constantly I was financially set back. The first example of a bad solution was that I had my web built, instead of using WordPress environment where the entire world operates today. Every innovation had to be paid for by me and in every movement I was dependent on others. That was a very inconvenient circumstance for someone who wishes to take off but has to stay to wait for the solutions. I invested my finances endlessly to the project and the activity rather reminded a hobby than business. Yet with the years comes experience – today I build the web myself, change the code and the design myself. When I need a new solution, I complete that myself in a few days. Today I am rather good in multitasking – obviously I could be working on every level of the media business – beginning from a journalist, to the web specialist or a ads marketing specialist, including the positions in between like a photographer, translator, designer, programmer, in charge of contracts, coordinating the staff and in charge of publishing. Name it.. I have learned a lot and this is positive. Today I can already anticipate so many aspects as well as errors that have already been made and must not be repeated. It could make a full post to write about selection of topics, social media, finding the sources and working on background material.

I am also very happy about our team – it is small but efficient. Everyone who is included is doing their work with commitment and this is important. I like people who can come up with new solutions, who think beyond their narrow line of tasks, who are easy to communicate with. Since there are ten websites to run (NordenBladet.ee; NordenBladet.com; Nordenbladet.se; NordenBladet.fi; Ohmygossip.ee, Ohmygossip.com, Ohmygossip.se, Ohmygossip.fi; Ohmygossip.de ja Ohmygossip.ru) then lack of work does not occur. I am glad that I have people I can lean on and who have been there through the years. One of them is Marju Rõmmel who joined in 2015 as an intern from a Finnish school and has stayed until this day. Marju compiles fashion, beauty and relation related articles for Ohmygossip.ee website and health, home and travel related articles for NordenBladet.ee website + from last month on she is also the Managing Editor of OHMYGOSSIP Estonia (Ohmygossip.ee). Thank you  for all your wonderful ideas and for the commitment! Overall… NordenBladet has the world’s greatest team!

There is great interest for the NordenBladet pages and every day I am thinking – where from here? what from here? One big decision that I made lately was that preserving life in the countryside is vital and crucial. I definitely wish to move the offices of NordenBladet Sweden and NordenBladet Finland away from the capital city and develop the portal so that Nordic country life and countryside would be in focus. On the big trip around Finland where I was with my children in October for vacation as well as on mission I saw how much there is to do in the sphere of country life and on important part in that is for sure played by journalism. Among the near future missions of NordenBladet is to attract people from towns to the countryside, create new jobs in the countryside and be on the front on the journey towards a more healthy and nature friendly lifestyle. I wish that countryside schools were more valued, as well as local enterprises, that more effort was directed towards country regions and that the local production were valued more.

Prince Nikolaos of Greece and Denmark undertakes 10-day mission with Axion Hellas

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet – Prince Nikolaos of Greece and Denmark has undertaken a 10-day mission with Axion Hellas, the royal revealed on his Instagram account on Easter. The trip took place the week ahead of Easter Sunday.

This was the Prince’s eight mission to date and one of the “most successful yet,” according to his Instagram post. They travelled to the islands of Astypalaia, Halki (also called Chalki), Kastellorizo, and Tilos, – all of which are in the Aegean Sea.

The mission, which was made challenging by weather conditions and logistics, consisted of 150 volunteers who His Royal Highness called “dedicated” and “selfless.” The programme consisted of health, culture, and educational elements which included the Prince cleaning beaches alongside children.

Prince Nikolaos described the trip’s focus on health, “The local communities were offered free preliminary medical examinations by 50 doctors with 23 different specialities, including 10 nurses and 3 dentists. 2,500 examinations were carried out on 665 individuals.”

Adults and approximately 300 children were helped with these exams.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bwgxj41H8_a/

Regarding the cultural and educational programmes, various organisations lent their support including Marianna V Vardinoyannis Foundation, Robert F Kennedy Human Rights, Helmepa, WWF Greece, Prolepsis, and Mazi gia to paidi (Together for Children), among others.

Two theatre groups also joined the trip. He explained, “On the island of Kastellorizo the world-renowned singer Alkistis Protopsalti performed for the locals a live concert free of charge, made possible by private sponsorship.”

Moreover, the infrastructure team of Axion Hellas built ten projects on these islands through private donations.

The group also donated books, technology equipment, art equipment, toys, geographical maps, parade flags, and cleaning equipment before their departure.

The Prince added, “Every child also received a multipurpose insulated bottle, to reduce the burden of plastic on the planet.”

Prince Nikolaos, 49, is the third child of the deposed King Constantine II and Queen Anne Marie of Greece. His maternal aunt is Queen Margrethe of Denmark, and his paternal aunt is Queen Sofía of Spain.

Nikolaos has been married to Princess Tatiana since 2010.
___________________________________________

HRH Prince Nikolaos was born on 1 October 1969, in Rome, Italy. His parents, TM King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie, had moved there in 1967. In 1975 the family settled in London, where Prince Nikolaos was home-educated for six years. He then attended the Hellenic College of London.

In 1988 he began his studies in International Relations at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, focusing on Diplomacy and National Security. During his sophomore year, he took a sabbatical to join the British Army on a Short Service Limited Commission, serving as 2nd Lieutenant with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.

Upon his college graduation (1993), Prince Nikolaos moved into TV production for Fox News in New York. He returned to London in 1995 to work in the foreign exchange options department of NatWest Markets. From 1997 to 2003 he worked in King Constantine’s Family Office. Since then he has been active in business consulting.

An avid photographer for all his life, Prince Nikolaos has passionately dedicated himself to photography since 2013. He prints his works on a number of materials, including Giclee Fine Art Paper; Fine Art Sublimation print on HD aluminium panel; and has pioneered a technique of printing on marble.

In November 2015 he exhibited his work for the first time at Christie’s in London, UK. In March 2016 his photography was featured at The New York Times “Art for Tomorrow” Conference in Doha, Qatar. A selection of his photographs were also featured in the book “A Taste of Greece”, published by teNeues. In June 2018, Prince Nikolaos had his first solo museum exhibition at the Hellenic Museum in Melbourne. Prince Nikolaos was recently selected, according to the recommendations of Philippe Starck Studio, along with 6 other photographers, to exhibit their photographs in Spain, at La Almazara.

Prince Nikolaos sits on the Board of Knightsbridge Schools International, established in 2008 to develop and operate a network of international schools around the world. He is a special advisor to the board and an active volunteer of Axion Hellas, a Greek non-profit organization supporting local communities on remote islands. Prince Nikolaos and his wife Princess Tatiana (née Tatiana Blatnik) married in 2010. Three years later, they moved to Athens, Greece, where they currently reside.

Featured image: Prince Nikolaos (Instagram/@skylightchaser)

The Riigikogu and the National Library are holding a presentation for a book about the history of the parliament

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet — On Wednesday, 24 April, there will be a public presentation of the book Estonian Parliament 1917–1940 in the National Library.

The author, Jaak Valge PhD., has written a 700-page study on the early years of the parliament, from the Constituent Assembly until the last sitting of the 6th Riigikogu in 1940.

Valge began the book commissioned by the Chancellery of the Riigikogu in 2015. The emphasis of the book is on the political activities of the Parliament. “This is not a glossed-over study. Estonia’s history in the turbulent Europe of inter-war years is so unique and interesting, full of extraordinary successes but also sorry failures that it would be a sin against history to gloss it over,” Valge explained.

The author found the work on the book fascinating. “The main sources – protocols of plenary sittings and parliamentary committees – were very colourful. Of course, I also used many other sources, including documents in archives abroad,” Valge said.

Jaak Valge is now a member of the new Riigikogu himself, and expects to be recorded in the history of the parliament by future researchers. “I hope to at least appear in an annex that lists all the members of the Riigikogu,” he said.

The book presentation will take place from 4 p.m. until 5 p.m. on 24 April, in the Humanities Reading Room on the 7th floor of the National Library. Jaak Valge will present the book together with its reviewer Meelis Saueauk.

Copies of the book are on sale at the presentation.

E-book Members of the 1st Riigikogu and virtual exhibition Parliament and Time will be presented in the same location from 5 p.m. until 5.30 p.m.

 

Featured image: Riigikogu fotoarhiiv/Erik Peinar
Source: Parliament of Estonia

 

Riigikogu is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a special sitting

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet — Today at 12 noon, the Riigikogu is holding a special sitting to celebrate its 100th anniversary. This will begin with an opening address by Henn Põlluaas.

“The Constituent Assembly shaped Estonia’s developmental avenues as the first representative body. It declared that the people of Estonia wanted to live independently in a nation state. Forever, as our Constitution also confirms,” said Põlluaas. He emphasised that we have survived destructive historical storms, we have persevered and restored our country. “We have something to be proud of. I really hope that the members of the current Riigikogu will not forget the democratic and noble principles of the founders of the Republic of Estonia and the Constituent Assembly,” the President of the Riigikogu stressed.

President of the Republic Kersti Kaljulaid will also speak at the sitting, as will Prime Minister Jüri Ratas, Chairman of the Administrative Law Chamber Ivo Pilving, Auditor General Janar Holm, and Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise.

On 23 April 1919, the first representative body elected by the independent Estonian nation – the Constituent Assembly – convened in Tallinn. The Assembly was essentially our first parliament, passing the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of Estonia, and the Land Act, and solving other issues of vital importance for the Republic of Estonia. The decisions of the Constituent Assembly formed the foundation of the Republic of Estonia.

The festive spirit is heightened by the chamber choir Collegium Musicale, under conductor Kristel Marandi.

The sitting will be streamed live.

More information on the anniversary week of the Riigikogu can be found on the home page of the Riigikogu.

 

Source: Parliament of Estonia

 

The Riigikogu anniversary week starts with the opening of a travelling exhibition

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet — Today at 1 p.m., the President of the Riigikogu Henn Põlluaas will open the travelling exhibition Riigikogu 100, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Riigikogu, in the Governor’s Garden. The exhibition presents the century-long history of the Estonian representative bodies, and covers the activities of the Estonian Provincial Assembly, the Constituent Assembly, and the Riigikogu.

Põlluaas said that the Riigikogu is starting its anniversary week with a homage to the one hundred years long parliamentary history. “The exhibition will remind us of the significant contribution of the Constituent Assembly and the Riigikogu to the building of the Republic of Estonia and its parliament,” the President of the Riigikogu noted. He invited everyone to visit the exhibition, which will remain open in the Governor’s Garden until 27 May.

The exhibition dedicated to the centenary of the parliament is designed as a street, with pairs of houses on both sides representing the decades in the history of the national assemblies. The exhibition is accompanied by texts and pictures in the styles of the time. Historical figures and events can be seen through the doors and windows.

The exhibition covers two long periods: the years 1917–1940, and 1991–2018. These are separated by a gap of 50 years, when the Estonian representative body was unable to convene. At the exhibition, this is represented by empty houses.

On 23 April 1919, the first representative body elected by the independent Estonian nation – the Constituent Assembly – convened in Tallinn. The Assembly was essentially our first parliament, passing the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of Estonia, and the Land Act, and solving other issues of vital importance for the Republic of Estonia. The decisions of the Constituent Assembly formed the foundation of the Republic of Estonia.

The exhibition area is 10.5 metres long, and 3 metres wide and high. The exhibition is transportable and lit by LED lamps. It has been designed by design agencies Identity and Ruumilabor, and built by design agencies Ruutu6 and Red Hat. The curator of the exhibition is the Parliamentary Information Centre of the National Library of Estonia.


Images: 6x Riigikogu fotoarhiiv/Erik Peinar
Source: Parliament of Estonia

 

The Riigikogu authorised Jüri Ratas to form a Government

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet — At today’s sitting, the Riigikogu authorised the candidate for Prime Minister Jüri Ratas to form a Government. 55 members of the Riigikogu supported the authorisation and 44 were against.

In his speech, Ratas said that Estonia had been doing well after regaining its independence. “I have felt this, I have seen a constant development of my daily life, and I have witnessed our country becoming a European welfare society,” Ratas stated.

The candidate for Prime Minister said that many different values were represented in society, but they should not be in conflict with one other, and people should not be in conflict with one another either. Ratas said that it was necessary to rely on what united all people in Estonia, and not to emphasise differences.

Jüri Ratas said that three political parties – the Centre Party, the Estonian Conservative People’s Party and Isamaa – had formulated the major principles in the social and health care sector, education, development and research, foreign and security policy, internal security and the business environment. The issues concerning the cultural, environment and energy policies, the development of e-government, the governance and civil society sector, and transport and infrastructure had also been pointed out.

“We will continue to stand for a cohesive and strong country with a growing population, and we will support local life in Tallinn and Tartu, in Kärdla and Kanepi, as well as in Rakvere and on the island of Ruhnu. In doing so, we will pay more attention in particular to those who need help the most,” Ratas said.

The candidate for Prime Minister pointed out the main priorities of the coalition: “Together and with the support of the whole society, we wish to build a family-friendly Estonia where society is cohesive and the economy is successful and knowledge-based, that is governed effectively, and that is free and protected.”

“Estonia will continue steadily on its current foreign and security policy course, an important part of which is our membership in the European Union and NATO. In the foreign and security policy, we will proceed from the national interests of Estonia, national sovereignty and international law, observing international agreements and the principles of the UN,” Ratas said.

Jüri Ratas said that Estonia was a democratic state governed by the rule of law, where important values, human rights, the freedom of speech and personal freedoms were ensured. “We must respect all people who live in Estonia, and their views and opinions, and everyone must have an opportunity for self-realisation,” Ratas said.

After having delivered the speech, Jüri Ratas answered questions from members of the Riigikogu.

Images: the Riigikogu authorised the candidate for Prime Minister Jüri Ratas to form a Government (9x Riigikogu fotoarhiiv /Erik Peinar)
Source: Parliament of Estonia

 

Crown Prince Haakon of Norway must undergo surgery again

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet – In early March, the Norwegian Royal Court announced that Crown Prince Haakon had to undergo surgery. The heir to the throne was admitted to hospital for one day for an operation on an exostosis in the ear canal. This week, the Crown Prince Haakon announced himself to the Norwegian News Agency NTB that he will most likely undergo the same surgery again, now on his other ear. The Crown Prince said:

“I am fine. It was not dramatic. It is simply the ear canals that have been clogged, so I had an operation. I must probably do the operation again, on the other ear. One of the things that can aggravate it is to be in cold water. I was doing a lot of wind surfing when I was younger”.

When it will happen, so far, it is not decided, but it may be this autumn. The Crown Prince told NTB the operation is not urgent. An exostosis in the ear canal is a bone outgrowth that can narrow the ear canal and may predispose to ear canal eczema and ear wax accumulation. The cause of such outgrowth appears to be a reaction in the bone tissue due to cooling or constant exposure to cold water in the ear canal. Therefore, the condition occurs especially among swimmers and surfers and is also called “surfer’s ear”. The condition is not in any way dangerous.

It was on March 4 that the royal court release the following statement:

“His Royal Highness The Crown Prince will today, on Monday, March 4, 2019, have a minor surgical intervention for exostosis in the ear canal. The surgical procedure takes place at Rikshospitalet in Oslo. As a result of the intervention, the Crown Prince will have a reduced program for the next two weeks.”

The Crown Prince has been surfing as a hobby for many years, with the Norwegian royal court publishing pictures of the family surfing as recently as 2017. The pictures were from a private holiday the Crown Prince family took in Hoddevik outside of Stadt, in the west of Norway. Some of the images were also from another surfing holiday Crown Prince Haakon had in 2016. In 2017, it was announced that His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon was asked to sit on the committee that will plan the European Championships in surfing.

Featured image: The royals on surfing (Fjordlapse Photography / Det kongelige hoff / The Royal Court)

Queen Margrethe to visit Estonia for 800th anniversary of Danish flag

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet – Queen Margrethe will pay a visit to Estonia in June, the Royal House announced, in conjunction with the 800th anniversary of the Danish Flag. The Queen will visit Tallinn, the Estonian capital, on 15 June. The capital shares a mythical connection to Denmark and its flag, known as the Dannebrog.

On that date 800 years ago, according to the Royal House, “According to the legend, Dannebrog descended from Heaven and helped the Danish king Valdemar Sejr win the dominion of northern Estonia.” The Danish king gained dominion over the town of Lyndanisse – which is now known as Tallinn (Taani Linn is an Estonian phrase that means ‘the Danish city’).

Queen Margrethe’s visit will coordinate with this anniversary and will also include commemorations for Estonia’s independence, which was marked last year with a visit from Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary.

The Queen will arrive on the royal yacht Dannebrog. During her visit, Queen Margrethe and Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid will open an exhibit at the Kadriorg Castle Art Museum focusing on the Dannebrog.

‘Dannebrog: The Flag That Fell From the Sky’ will feature artwork by Christen Købke, CW Eckersberg and Nicolai Abildgaard that depict this event; and CA Lorentzen’s painting, ‘The Battle of Lyndanisse’, which will be exhibited for the first time outside of Denmark.

Queen Margrethe will also participate in the opening of The Danish Queen’s Garden, the opening of a historical exhibition, and will present research scholarships during her visit.

Further tying into the Dannebrog theme, Queen Margrethe will visit the Frihetspladsen to attend an event for the Danish and Estonian flags and which will feature Danish and Estonian performers.

The Queen and President Kaljulaid will attend a concert at the Estonia Concert Hall, as well as a gala dinner in the Queen’s honour.

Queen Margrethe’s visit will wrap up with a service at Tallinn Cathedral, which was founded in 1219 shortly after the Danish conquest.

Featured image: JOHANNES JANSSON (CC BY 2.5) VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Brexit calls for more Nordic-EU co-operation

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet – “More Nordic co-operation is needed in the EU when the UK leaves” was one message that was put forward during an EU election debate in connection with the Nordic Council’s theme session in Copenhagen.

This was the first time that candidates from all three Nordic EU Member States – Denmark, Finland, and Sweden – met in a debate ahead of a European Parliament election. The debate covered three topics: the Nordic Region after Brexit, climate policy, and defence and security policy.

With regard to Brexit, the panel agreed that the Nordic countries will lose an important friend and partner when the UK leaves the EU.

“We’re losing a like-minded and close ally. Although we have a shared history and similar values here in the Nordic Region, if we’re to continue to have a strong voice in the EU, we must work closer together,” said Denmark’s Minister for Culture Mette Bock, who is a leading candidate for the Liberal Alliance in the European Parliament election.

Mette Bock received strong support from Kimmo Sasi of the Finnish National Coalition Party. He stressed that the Nordic countries now have to seek partners elsewhere, such as by working more closely with the Baltic countries and Germany.

“Just look at the statistics. The Nordic countries are leaders in many areas and we can take a more leading role in the EU. We can export the Nordic model more effectively in Europe.”

The Nordic Region also faces challenges
Several candidates saw opportunities for closer Nordic co-operation also on the issue of the climate. The message was that the Nordic Region has a lot to offer Europe and the world when it comes to showing that the green transition can be beneficial in terms of both jobs and economics.

But Rasmus Nordqvist, who is a leading candidate for the Danish Alternative Party, said that the Nordic Region should not only be seen as a pioneer.

“The Nordic Region not only has fantastic responses to climate challenges, but also faces huge challenges,” he said.

Opinions differed on a number of issues in the debate on defence and security policy. This is not only because the Nordic countries have chosen different paths in terms of alliance affiliation, but also because of party affiliation.

The Nordic Council’s Danish delegation organised the event, and the moderator was Anna Gaarslev, European correspondent for Danish state broadcaster DR.

The debate was a side event at the Nordic Council’s theme session which took place in Copenhagen on 8 and 9 April.

Source: Norden.org

Report: the time is right to promote the Nordic “peace” brand

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet – The momentum and willingness are growing for the Nordic countries to work even more closely together on peace and conflict resolution. Opportunities are available right now to boost the “Nordic peace brand”, according to a new Nordic report.

The growing Nordic interest in working together on peace and conflict resolution is partly due to international political trends, according to the report.

The growing threat to multilateralism and international norms is one reason that the Nordic countries are increasingly willing to work together, but they also believe that co-operation has practical benefits. The growing interest is also partly explained by geopolitical changes in areas close to the Nordic Region.

The report also points out, on the other hand, that there is no great willingness to formalise Nordic co-operation on peace and conflict resolution.

The Centre for Resolution of International Conflicts (CRIC) at the University of Copenhagen conducted the analysis on behalf of the Nordic Council of Ministers, which was acting on a recommendation from the Nordic Council. The report New Nordic Peace: Nordic Peace and Conflict Resolution Effort was published on 9 April in conjunction with the Nordic Council Theme Session 2019.

Two priorities
The report highlights two areas in particular where there are good reasons for the Nordic countries to work more closely together: women, peace and security, which the report recommends should be stressed as part of the Nordic peace brand, and preventive diplomacy and conflict resolution.

“Wide-ranging Nordic co-operation on conflict resolution and promoting a Nordic peace brand should be in the foreign-policy interests of all of the Nordic countries. I hope that the Nordic governments will welcome the report and implement the conclusions that they consider relevant for the peace work of the future. Given the current international political situation, the time is now right to work more closely together,” says the President of the Nordic Council, Jessica Polfjärd.

The report also identifies a new trend, called “non-exclusive Nordic co-operation”, in which the Nordic countries work alongside other regional and global players. The report sees this as a method that can provide inspiration for future Nordic work on peace and conflict resolution.

The report is in English. It is free and available for download HERE.

Source: Norden.org

1...396397398...470Page 397 of 470