NordenBladet – The loss of biodiversity is one of the biggest challenges facing mankind. The Nordic ministers for the environment now want to set the bar high and ensure that the voice of young people is heard in negotiations for new UN targets.
International studies show that species are disappearing and that ecosystems are being damaged and destroyed at a pace that threatens the living conditions of our own and future generations.
Progress
Under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the nations of the world are working together to stem such losses by preserving nature and transforming the industries that make use of natural resources – primarily agriculture, fishing, forestry, and tourism.
“The CBD is very important, and now that our biodiversity targets are to be revised, it’s vital that we set the bar high for new targets and that we strive even more purposefully to achieve them. We need to focus on the synoptic links between biodiversity and other environmental challenges, including the fight against desertification and climate change,” says Guðmundur Ingi Guðbrandsson, Minister for the Environment and Natural Resources of Iceland, which holds the presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2019.
Letter to the UN
During this week’s ministerial meeting in Iceland, the Nordic ministers for the environment agreed to send a joint letter to the CBD to address the importance of setting the bar high in order to fulfil the new targets that will take effect after 2020.
The ministers for the environment also decided that the Nordic countries should share their positive experiences in relation to the harmonisation of legislation, policies, and administrative practices for climate and biodiversity targets, as well as participate in the UN Climate Action Summit on 23 September 2019 on the topic of nature-based solutions.
Inclusion of young people
Last autumn, the Nordic Council decided to give young people a stronger voice in international negotiations on biodiversity and in following up the new targets.
The Nordic ministers for the environment are requesting that the Nordic Council of Ministers follows up the initiative with a project that ensures that the views of children and young people are taken into account in efforts relating to the new framework for the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.
“It’s young people who will inherit our planet, so it goes without saying that they should have a say in how we treat it and look after it,” says Guðbrandsson.
Conservation conference The conservation of natural areas and national parks is one of the most important instruments that national authorities have for preserving natural diversity. This also contributes to the protection of landscapes, large virgin areas of nature, geological diversity, heritage sites, and history. In addition, it is important for tourism, recreation, and the connection between people and nature. The conservation of nature is a priority area of the Icelandic presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2019.
“We’ll be hosting an international conference in the latter half of 2020 where we will bring together the Nordic institutions in charge of managing protected areas,” explains Guðbrandsson.
NordenBladet – In a joint declaration, the Nordic countries are pushing for a new global agreement on the reduction and prevention of plastic waste and microplastics discharged into the sea. Plastic pollution in our seas and oceans is a worldwide environmental problem posing a threat to life and ecosystems and affecting fisheries, maritime transport, outdoor recreation, tourism, and other areas of concern.
Change of course required Although the issue has gained global recognition, there is a lack of focus on the need for stricter and more committal global governance.
“We need a change of course whereby discussions start with the question ‘What can the world achieve together?’ No country can solve this on its own,” says Ola Elvestuen, Norway’s Minister of Climate and the Environment, who initiated a new Nordic declaration on plastics approved by the Nordic ministers for the environment in Iceland on 10 April.
We must do better In the declaration, the ministers for the environment are pushing for a global agreement on plastic in order to protect our seas and oceans. The ministers stress that this is a global problem, and that more concrete measures need to be implemented globally in order to make progress on this issue.
Vital Nordic input into the UN and the EU
The statement – which has been sent to EU governing bodies, UNEP, the G7, and the G20 – also asks the Nordic Council of Ministers to prepare a study to consider which specific elements should be included in a global agreement to combat microplastics and plastic waste in the marine environment.
In March, the fourth UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-4) decided that the intergovernmental process relating to marine litter and the proliferation of microplastics and the expert group created to identify stronger global governance structures should both continue.
Global leadership The Nordic report will be submitted to the expert group before it meets again at the end of 2019. In addition, it will serve as useful input in efforts to refine the EU’s position ahead of the fifth UN Environment Assembly in 2021.
“The Nordic Region must be a pioneer in reducing the environmental impact of plastics. With this declaration, we are continuing to take the lead globally,” says Guðmundur Ingi Guðbrandsson, Minister for the Environment and Natural Resources of Iceland, which holds the presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2019.
NordenBladet —The Board of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) approved the number of members in its ten standing committees, and decided how many seats each faction would have in the committees.
The allocation of seats in the committees depends on the size of the factions and the proposals made by the factions. It is also necessary to take into account that each member of the Riigikogu can belong to only one committee, and the members of the Board of the Riigikogu cannot serve on standing committees, with the exception of the European Union Affairs Committee.
When distributing the seats in committees between the factions, the Board of the Riigikogu also had to keep in mind that the composition of the committees should reflect the true correlation of political forces in the Riigikogu, or the proportions of the coalition and the opposition. The Board will approve the specific membership of the committees after receiving the proposals from the factions.
The Environment Committee (9 members) will have 3 members from the Reform Party Faction, 2 members from the Centre Party Faction, 2 members from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction, 1 member from the Faction Isamaa and 1 member from the Social Democratic Party Faction.
The Cultural Affairs Committee (9 members) will have 3 members from the Reform Party Faction, 2 members from the Centre Party Faction, 2 members from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction, 1 member from the Faction Isamaa and 1 member from the Social Democratic Party Faction.
The Rural Affairs Committee (9 members) will have 3 members from the Reform Party Faction, 3 members from the Centre Party Faction, 1 member from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction, 1 member from the Faction Isamaa and 1 member from the Social Democratic Party Faction.
The Economic Affairs Committee (9 members) will have 3 members from the Reform Party Faction, 2 members from the Centre Party Faction, 2 members from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction, 1 member from the Faction Isamaa and 1 member from the Social Democratic Party Faction.
The Constitutional Committee (9 members) will have 3 members from the Reform Party Faction, 2 members from the Centre Party Faction, 2 members from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction, 1 member from the Faction Isamaa and 1 member from the Social Democratic Party Faction.
The Finance Committee (11 members) will have 4 members from the Reform Party Faction, 3 members from the Centre Party Faction, 2 members from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction, 1 member from the Faction Isamaa and 1 member from the Social Democratic Party Faction.
The National Defence Committee (11 members) will have 4 members from the Reform Party Faction, 3 members from the Centre Party Faction, 2 members from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction, 1 member from the Faction Isamaa and 1 member from the Social Democratic Party Faction.
The Social Affairs Committee (9 members) will have 3 members from the Reform Party Faction, 3 members from the Centre Party Faction, 1 member from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction, 1 member from the Faction Isamaa and 1 member from the Social Democratic Party Faction.
The Foreign Affairs Committee (13 members) will have 4 members from the Reform Party Faction, 3 members from the Centre Party Faction, 2 members from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction, 2 members from the Faction Isamaa, 1 member from the Social Democratic Party Faction, and there will be 1 seat for independent member.
The Legal Affairs Committee (9 members) will have 3 members from the Reform Party Faction, 2 members from the Centre Party Faction, 2 members from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction, 1 member from the Faction Isamaa and 1 member from the Social Democratic Party Faction.
The membership and the allocation of seats between the factions in the European Union Affairs Committee will be determined later. Under the Riigikogu Rules of Procedure and Internal Rules Act, the European Union Affairs Committee must have not less than15 members, including at least one member from each of the other standing committees.
Select committees are formed after the Riigikogu has passed the relevant resolutions. The previous Riigikogu had the Security Authorities Surveillance Committee, the Anti-Corruption Select Committee and the State Budget Control Select Committee.
NordenBladet – Anxiety and stress are seemingly becoming more and more common. Luckily, there could be a simple way to help alleviate this without pumping your body full of prescription medications. That’s not to say that prescription medications aren’t sometimes useful, but they’re very expensive and often have unwanted side effects.
Magnesium Importance Magnesium is known as the ‘original chill pill’. It plays an important part in biochemical reactions throughout the human body, including those related to anxiety and stress. Dietary surveys of people in the United States consistently show that intakes of magnesium are lower than recommended amounts. Since the end of the Second World War, reported levels of anxiety have risen alarmingly. This corresponds with the low rates of magnesium. You may think that this is a coincidence, but scientists have found a demonstrable link between the two. It is even possible to cause lab animals to display anxiety by depriving them of magnesium.
Magnesium Deficiency In 1968, scientists named Wacker and Parisi reported that magnesium deficiency could cause depression, behavioral disturbances, headaches, muscle cramps, seizures, ataxia, psychosis, and irritability. They also found that these were all reversible with magnesium repletion.
Magnesium Supplements Studies have shown that useing magnesium supplements can help alleviate some of the symptoms associated with anxiety and stress and can effectively lower rates of anxiety related symptoms. Magnesium bath flakes (Photo: Elisheva&Shoshana)
Magnesium Chloride Bath Flakes Natural STRONG 47% The product Elisheva & Shoshana “Magnesium Chloride Bath Flakes Natural STRONG 47%” is a natural bathing supplement with a broad spectrum of muscle relaxation, spasm alleviating and nervous system calming effect. E&S magnesium chloride flakes are dermally promptly absorbed, it takes 5-15 seconds to enter the cells. About 95% of the applied magnesium enters the cells, the absorption through the skin is therefore preferred to oral intake in the form of capsules, powder or pill, also transdermal application of magnesium entails no gastric or intestinal burden!
E&S comely package for the product magnesium flakes (47%) is a suitable gift to pamper yourself as well as your loved ones. E&S magnesium chloride flakes are from the depths 1600m of the earth, from the 250 million year old Zechstein salt layers underneath the North Sea and the Netherland. Magnesium chloride flakes are 100% natural and can be used by all age groups, incl. children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, persons with diabetes and also vegans.
Magnesium oil (Photo: ElishevaShoshana.com)
Magnesium Oil Natural STRONG 31% Body spray
Elisheva & Shoshana “Magnesium oil Natural STRONG 31%” is a health product with broad spectrum muscle relaxation, spasm alleviating and nervous system calming effect. E&S magnesium oil spray is well-absorbed through the skin, within 5-15 seconds it has entered the cells. Ten doses of spray amount to 150-180 mg of the product ( 43-60 % RDA). About 95% of the applied magnesium enters the cells, the absorption through the skin is therefore preferred to oral intake in the form of capsules, powder or pill, also transdermal application of magnesium entails no gastric or intestinal burden. The product can be sprayed onto the tongue, however it does not have a pleasant taste.
Magnesium chloride (MgCl2) can help alleviate the following complaints: depression, anxiety, fatigue, headache, asthma, muscular tensions, painful joints, sleeping problems, spasms, intestinal complaints, accumulation of toxins (detox effect), excess weight, magnesium deficit. Magnesium chloride is an important factor in the elimination of toxic elements and heavy metals and helps recover the minerals balance in the organism, it regulates the cholesterol level and normalizes the values of blood pressure.
Magnesium Hair Energy Maximus+ Scalp spray
The healthy and beautiful hair begins with the healthy scalp. Elisheva & Shoshana “Magnesium Hair Energy Maximus+ scalp spray” is an ultra efficient scalp treatment product for individuals experiencing various scalp problems (dandruff, hair loss, psoriasis, dermatitis, seborrheic eczema, pruritus, fungal infection of the scalp and hair, etc). Magnesium Hair Energy Maximus+ scalp spray removes from the scalp the calcium salts that interfere with hair follicle and scalp oxygen metabolism. The spray is absorbed in the scalp immediately, it takes 5-15 second to enter the cells. Ten doses of spray amount to 100 mg (28% RDA).
E&S “Magnesium Hair Energy Maximus+ scalp spray” (15% concentration Zechstein magnesium chloride) is a suitable gift to pamper yourself as well as your loved ones – the spray protects the scalp and the hair against external taint, it boosts the hair and provides the scalp with sufficient hold of magnesium, it deeply cleanses the scalp, stimulates and activates the growth of hair follicles. The hair spray is 100% natural and it can be used by all age groups, incl. children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, it is also suitable for persons with diabetes and also for vegans. It prevents hair loss as well as dental decay in pregnant women and individuals on a special diet.
Magnesium Rich Foods If taking a supplement isn’t for you, why not try increasing the amount you get in your diet? In general, foods containing dietary fiber provide magnesium, but some foods, such as certain breakfast cereals, have magnesium and other nutrients specially added to them. Since many people have a magnesium deficiency, it’s worth making a mental note of some magnesium-rich foods.
Nuts & Seeds Some nuts, like almonds, cashews, and peanuts can give you up to 20% of the RDI (recommended daily intake) of magnesium in just 1 ounce of nuts in addition to being full of heart-friendly healthy fatty acids and a highly filling snack. One ounce of pumpkin seeds provides a whopping 37% of the RDI for magnesium.
Veggies Spinach is basically a superfood when it comes to almost every nutrient it contains, and for magnesium, it’s no exception. With just half a cup providing you with a massive 20% of your RDI, it’s a very easy way to include more magnesium in your diet.
Fruit One single medium banana contains up to 8% of your RDI for magnesium. Apples only contain around 2%, but grab one of each for a decent 10% chunk from an also extremely healthy snack.
Meat & Fish Not all fish contain magnesium but 3 ounces of halibut or salmon contain up to 7% of your RDI. Chicken breasts and ground lean beef contain 6% and 5% respectively, per 3 ounces.
Other Food Have two shredded wheat with a cup of soy milk for breakfast and you’ve hit 30% of your recommended daily magnesium. This can be before the caffeine from your morning coffee has even hit you. At 15% of the RDI each, this breakfast is a fantastic start to the day. Add half a cup of raisins for a tasty treat and top it up to 36%.
Rice and other grains also contain a high level of magnesium. Unfortunately, some types of food processing, such as refining grains in ways that remove the nutrient-rich germ and bran, lower magnesium content substantially. You should always try to choose the less processed version. For example, half a cup of cooked white rice contains 3% of your RDI of magnesium, whereas the brown version contains almost 4 times that amount, coming in at 11% for the same quantity.
Featured image:E&S 100% naturalMagnesium products are very good for your health! (Instagram/@sipsukene)
NordenBladet – I like to praise myself and I also do praise myself, even on a daily basis. I do this as alone time. I acknowledge myself for the achievements that make me happy, I feel joy about several things (my achievements, fulfillment of goals, my children’s achievements, but also just the nearby presence of animals and birds, and the aspects of a home are a source of joy for me).
I need praise and since usually nobody lauds me but my children then I am left to praise my own self. Iccccc.. Around me I find more and more things to be happy about and I must admit that by and large I have reached inner peace and joy. There is no use in lingering on to hear praise from others, it is up to ourselves to be happy and praise ourselves for the smaller and the greater achievements! This sounds much like the cover of a self help book, but I can assure you that it does have the effect of meditation. The notion “praise” itself is perhaps slightly misleading, rather the wording “value yourself and give worth to what is accomplished” suits best.
For example in the morning I greet the little birds that are abundant in our garden. They sing and chirp so loud to have me react to their existence. And I am not mean to ignore them. I went outside and talked to them, were long awaiting for them to return from the South. To welcome them, I even poured a handful of seeds around in the garden. As I love the nature then I was extra happy to find in Juhan’s garden shop eight two-meter linden tree plants that I now have already planted in my own garden a week ago (for years and years there have been no linden trees in the garden shops, so now the plants really made me glad!). I already have five large linden trees, but one can never have too many of the linden trees! Linden trees are good for the bees and they are surely a source of joy for me around the year when I drink linden tree blossom tea with honey and in gratitude think back to having the trees.
But now back to achievements. While tuning the humour volume button a bit lower then I actually believe that one has to praise oneself, has to recognize and value one’s achievements. We make plans with shorter and longer perspectives, compile various tables, do calculations, predict success and try to attain it, set goals and overcome obstacles. But what do we do once we have achieved something that still a year or two ago seemed an unattainable dream to us? we do nothing.. We already make room for new and even bolder dreams, we are already beforehand nervous and anxious about completing what we have planned to achieve, instead of taking the time to be thankful to ourselves and others and to take time to enjoy the ends we have already achieved.
I altered the tactics a while ago. I began giving worth to my own achievements, and enjoying them and celebrating them. Achievements are to be enjoyed, you must let the feeling of happiness get to you. Why not allow yourself to have some attention, some happiness, some sense of importance? It is not others that need to bring the happiness to you, happiness is rather a mental state that you must attain.
All my life I have been raised in the spirit: be modest; it is not nice to praise yourself; avoid bringing shame; first achieve something and only then let others know, etc.
I now argue for the opposite:
a) do things and be brave;
b) praise yourself (I hereby do not mean showing off), because all kinds of positivity brings along more positivity in your life and positively minded people do more and achieve more than the whining and complaining folks;
c) also the attitude that first you must do and then you can talk about it does not always hold true. You must enjoy the entire process and be proud about it, not only once you’ve attained the final target. The road to the target is also important and beautiful. Our society tells us to work hard and always worry and never be glad. However, I fid that we must find joy in living, enjoy every moment!
One great thing that I have learned is, don’t wait for others to praise you, to give their opinion, to give their approval. Be the active agent! Decide for yourself! And finally, praise yourself and take time to enjoy what you have achieved.
NordenBladet – An example of the Estonian national cuisine is barley bread karask, which is easy to prepare and one might even say this is the lazy man’s bread. The classic karask is a pastry made from kefir, sour milk or butter milk, also from curd or yoghurt, barley or whole wheat dough pastry. Barley contains B-group vitamins (including folic acid) and E-vitamin, also barley helps lower the levels of cholesterol and gives you the feeling of fullness for a long time.
As for me, I always make karask from a mixture of three types of flour, with kefir, not using soda, yeast or any other leavening agent – the bread will rise nicely anyway. The crispy warm karask tastes wonderfully and it is far easier to prepare than the regular bread. You do not need the leaven and do not need to wait for the dough to rise. Today I will share with you one of my recipes for making barley bread karask.
Helena-Reet’s home made hemp seed karask with maple syrup:
For a large loaf you need : 600-800g of 2,5% kefir, 300-400g barley flour, 150-200g oat flour (or buckwheat flour), 150-200g wheat flour (or corn flour), 2 eggs, 2-3 tablespoonfuls of maple syrup, 2-3 tablespoonfuls of linseed oil, 7-9 tablespoonfuls of pumpkin seeds, 5-6 tablespoonfuls of sunflower seeds, 2 tablespoonfuls of sesame seeds, 2 tablespoonfuls of pared hemp seeds, and pink Himalayan salt (add generously).
I add all ingredients with no particular sequence, then I gently mix everything together (so that eggs will blend in the flour) and then either fill the bread baking containers or add the little buns straight to the baking tray. Oftentimes when using the bread container, I remove the half baked bread, turn it upside down and then bake the soft base of the bread as well. The crunchier, the better. The bread is best when still warm and with some added herb butter. I prepare basil-spinach butter (mix smashed basil, spinach and butter. Also, you can add chopped garlic and wild garlic/bear leek to the mixture).
Note that the more seeds you add the more nourishing the pastry becomes. The calories in one loaf might be as many as 3000-4500 (in a 1 cm slice around 300-450kcal, therefore one or two slices will be quite enough for one meal). So what useful ingredients do you get from the pastry loaf? A barley bread karask prepared with this recipe will contain plenty of beneficial biotin, folic acid, phosphorus, calcium, sodium and B1, B6, B12, C, D and E vitamins.
NordenBladet – In a very close election, the Social Democratic Party won the most seats in Parliament – but only just. The main issues driving Finland’s 2019 parliamentary election on April 14, 2019 included the previous government coalition’s unsuccessful attempt to pass a long-debated social and healthcare reform; the need for action to mitigate climate change; and immigration policies. A new Parliament is elected every four years.
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) took 17.7 percent of the votes, entitling it to 40 seats in the 200-seat Parliament. This marks the return of the SDP, which had not been the largest party in Parliament since 1999. It also represents a historically narrow victory, as the SDP was followed by the unabashedly populist “Finns” Party with 17.5 percent (39 seats) and the moderate conservative National Coalition Party with 17 percent (38 seats).
The conservative Centre Party, leader of the previous government coalition, fell precipitously from 49 seats to 31, with 13.8 percent of the vote. The Greens, strong in urban areas, posted a personal best by adding five seats for a total of 20, their largest ever. The Left Alliance added four seats to bring its total to 16. Both the Greens and the Left Alliance had kept climate change at the forefront of their campaigns.
The Swedish People’s Party, whose constituency relies mainly on speakers of Swedish, which is also an official language in Finland, held steady at nine seats. The Christian Democrats, in turn, clung to their five seats. Well-known businessman and MP Harry Harkimo retained his place in Parliament after leaving the National Coalition Party to form a non-party called Movement Now.
Voter turnout was the highest since 1991, at a respectable 72 percent, almost two percentage points above the 2015 figure. All citizens 18 or over are automatically registered to vote and receive a letter of notification in the post before each election. A total of 4.5 million people are entitled to vote, including about 250,000 Finnish citizens living abroad.
A record number of women won seats: 93, equaling 47 percent of the new Parliament – the previous high point, 85, happened in 2011. Eighty-five percent of Green candidates were female, and only three out the party’s 20 MPs are male. Women hold 22 of the SDP’s 40 seats.
All in all, 83 incoming MPs are new to Parliament. Eight members are under 30 years old, and 48 percent of Parliament is under 45. Iiris Suomela, 24, a Green from the central western city of Tampere, is the youngest MP in the new session.
The biggest vote-magnet candidates receive tens of thousands of votes, but in some districts, candidates can squeak into Parliament with just over 2,000 votes. This means that every vote carries a value that is both significant and mathematically appropriate. Perhaps this is one reason that people get out and vote, keeping voter participation high.
As the SDP begins negotiations to form a government coalition, Finland’s largest daily, Helsingin Sanomat, suggests that one likely scenario would involve the SDP, the National Coalition Party, the Greens and the Swedish People’s Party. Many other combinations are possible – even ones that don’t include the SDP – but each additional party brought into the coalition complicates the path to finding common ground.
NordenBladet —At today’s sitting, the Riigikogu did not support authorising the candidate for Prime Minister Kaja Kallas to form a Government. 45 members of the Riigikogu supported Kallas and 53 were against.
At the beginning of her speech, Kallas admitted that she would not become Prime Minister that day. “We all know that. At this point, I might put a full stop, congratulate the coalition and go back to my seat in the fourth row, and keep my mouth shut in the future. However, I will not do that. No one in my Party or among the Social Democrats is going to do that,” Kallas said. She spoke of the events of the recent weeks and meetings with supporters of various political parties, where anxious emotions had prevailed in various places. However, at peaceful and business-like meetings, there had been interest in finding solutions to the real concerns of the people.
Kallas said the following about the new coalition: “You are afraid of change. You will not change anything, and you are not even concealing it. Estonia needs reforms, however. Salary rise, development of business, labour shortage, increasing of competitiveness, keeping abreast of the developments in the global economy, the environment, development of a smart economic model, a modern education system − these are just a few of the challenges of which entrepreneurs and state officials, analysts and top-level managers have spoken to me. These are the problems to which solutions are needed, but you are not offering any. Instead of that, you speak of spending and borrowing, and you do that in a situation where the financial situation of the country is poor. And I will not even ask how your ideas of an Estonia absolutely independent of all others agree with loan slavery.”
Kallas went on to say: “You have read the document on our values which we published last weekend. Understandably, this is not a coalition agreement, but it sets out the values and principles on the basis of which our Government would act. Our task and your task before this country and its people is to aspire for a better future, and not for a new coalition at any cost. Every one of us has been elected here not to just press the green button, but to think, to listen and to take responsibility. For our voters, our children, and our county.”
Kallas said: “Voters all over Estonia, I want to assure you that Estonia is still a democratic country. The new coalition may be accused of lacking content, but it is democratic. And please do not blame anything on the voters of the new coalition. Their voice must be audible, their needs must be catered for, their concerns must be addressed − do not silence or label them. There is still very much that needs to be done in our country, and as the new coalition is indifferent to that need, many people feel ignored. This is real and true, and addressing these concerns must also be real and true. Then will we have hope. Because we do have hope.”
Kallas said that the speech she had made had not been an announcement of surrender and good-bye. “In a few days’ time, the beginning of government will be announced from this rostrum − I have just announced the beginning of our opposition. I am still ready to govern Estonia on an equal basis with most of you, but until this happens, we will not let Estonia to be destroyed. We will not let our country to be steered into hatred and stagnation,” she said.
After her speech, Kallas replied to questions from members of the Riigikogu.
NordenBladet – Since the Crown Prince left Fiji, he received a letter from the authorities thanking the Crown Prince for his recent visit to the nation and asking the Crown Prince for help. Earlier this week, the Norwegian Crown Prince visited the country together with the nations of Samoa and Tonga. The tour was to focus on the climate and the sea. Afterwards, he received an open letter from Fiji’s government with criticism of Norwegian oil policy.
The letter stated the following: “As you leave our shores, Your Royal Highness, may we respectfully plead that Norway helps us in the Pacific to retain our proud, rich place in the world, by moving swiftly to eliminate exported emissions and de-escalate fossil fuel extraction.”
The open letter was published in the newspaper “Islands Business” and written by Vice President Seini Nabou of the nation’s largest opposition party, the National Federation Party.
In the letter, it is also written: “While many like me applaud Norway as one of the first industrialised nations to formally ratify the Paris Agreement, we also know that it is also actively involved in further opening up its part of the Arctic for oil and gas exploration. This would essentially undermine the Paris Agreement’s decarbonisation goal.”
The Norwegian Crown Prince cannot respond to a political letter, as he is a non-political figure. In Norway, State Secretary Rikard Gaarder Knutsenin, from the Department of Petroleum and Energy, answered the following on questions from the letter on Norwegian TV station NRK:
“We are not going to answer on an open letter to the Crown Prince. However, like the writer of the letter, the Norwegian government is also concerned with climate. Norway was, as is pointed out in the letter, among the first to ratify the Paris Agreement. It points out that the climate challenge can only be solved through global cooperation. All countries, including Norway, must cut their own emissions.”
Featured image: Sven Gj. Gjeruldsen / Det Kongelige Hoff / The Royal Court Source: Royalcentral.co.uk
NordenBladet – This week, Crown Prince Frederik, heir apparent to the Danish throne, used the Danish Royal House’s Instagram account to show photographs of his time aboard the Danish Navy frigate, Niels Juel, currently sailing in the Mediterranean as part of the carrier group alongside the French Navy’s aircraft carrier, Charles de Gaulle.
The Crown Prince spent two days onboard the ship, during which time he was informed of the work Danish Defence does; he also saw the air options available with the fighter jets that operate from the deck of the Charles de Gaulle. Whether it is part of a NATO operation or that of a single navy, the floating airfields that are the aircraft carriers are always protected by a number of smaller frigates to ensure them a safe passage to wherever the proposed theatre of operations is, and whatever type of role that may be, including relief work or as they are in the Mediterranean, keeping an eye out for refugees in frail crafts.
Afterwards, he posted on Instagram, in part, “During my visit I have been informed about Niels Juel and Charles de Gaulle’s many tasks. In addition, I have greeted the crews and gained insight into the many complex tasks that the Danish Defence solves in this marine military operation. It has been a great experience.”
During his life, Crown Prince Frederik has served in all three branches of the Danish Armed Services. When it comes to his naval service, it is very impressive, and comments have been made as to how dashing he looked in a camouflage jacket! During his time in the Navy, he trained as a Frogman and qualified to be a member of the Danish equivalent of the US Navy Seals.
The Crown Prince enjoys his time on the water, and not just in the larger boats like the Niels Juel or Charles de Gaulle. He is also a very accomplished sailor and has competed in many regatta’s both European as well as domestic and has finished high up the leader board. He is a keen campaigner for both a healthy lifestyle as well as climate change.
