SOCIETY / BUSINESS

Princess Ingrid Alexandra to be godmother of ship, “Crown Prince Haakon”

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway will be the godmother of the brand new Norwegian research ship “Crown Prince Haakon.” This was announced on Friday by the Director of the Norwegian Polar Institute, Ole Arve Misund to the Norwegian press.

The ship will be baptised by godmother Princess Ingrid Alexandra in the city of Tromsø, in northern Norway, on 17 November. During the ceremony, the Princess will be led by her father, Crown Prince Haakon, who has the ship named after him. Also, several guests from the Norwegian defence, parliament, government and prominent researches are invited.

When Princess Ingrid Alexandra baptises the ship, the traditional champagne bottle will be replaced by a big block of Norwegian polar ice. That was how Roald Amundsen baptised the ship “Maud “, which was Norway’s last special-purpose research vessel, in 1917, and named after Queen Maud. Queen Maud was Princess Ingrid Alexandra’s great-grandmother.

“This will be a joyful day for Norway as a polar nation. It is especially pleasing that the Princess will be godmother when the ship is called up after her father. The Royal Family has shown special interest in polar research for several generations”, said Misund to state TV, NRK. This will not be the first time that Princess Ingrid Alexandra baptises a ship. In 2015 she was godmother of the rescue boat “Elias”.

“Crown Prince Haakon” is Norway’s new flagship in polar research vessel; it has cost 1.4 billion NOK to build and has Tromsø as a home port. The in-depth research vessel has become one of the world’s most advanced ships, with both a helicopter hanger and remote controlled submarine as part of the standard equipment.

The ship has room for 35 researchers, which can work in twelve different laboratories throughout the year. Already, the ship has been on its first trip, in the sea between Svalbard and Greenland. The ceremony in Tromsø will be broadcast live on Norwegian TV, and Royal Central will keep you updated.

Featured image: The ship “Maud” (Anders Beer Wilse via Wikimedia Commons)

Princess Marie of Denmark to attend International Stop Wasting Food dinner

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – On November 13th, Princess Marie will be the guest of honour at a dinner hosted by the Stop Wasting Food Movement. The international Stop Wasting Food Dinner will be hosted by Selina Juul and the Ambassador of the Netherlands to Denmark Henk Swarttouw and will focus on the fight against food waste. In addition to Princess Marie, guests will include the Danish Minister for Environment and Food Jakob Ellemann-Jensen and high-level leaders from organisations and businesses.

The hope is to make this dinner an annual tradition with a different embassy hosting each year, and the dinner’s primary focus is to give the inspiration to achieve UN Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 which is to halve the global food waste by 2030. The dinner will be a menu made out of surplus food and prepared by Dutch chef Lucas Jeffries – who works at the InStock restaurant which fights against food waste- and Danish chef Martin Jacobsen – who works at the Kadeau and the Nabo restaurants. The guests will have the opportunity to take the leftovers home in biodegradable boxes.

About hosting the dinner, Henk Swarttouw said: “During the last 10 years, the Danish consumers are starting to become aware of the gigantic food waste in Denmark, which annually reaches 700.000 tonnes. It’s also important to get all the decision makers onboard the agenda – and that is why we are hosting this dinner; to activate and inspire Denmark’s leading key stakeholders, who can anchor the agenda in their respective organisations and projects.“

Princess Marie has been focusing on the fight against food waste a lot in the past few years. This year alone, she helped launched new material focusing on food waste in schools, opened the first Too Good To Go store in Denmark, attended the World Food Summit of which she is the patron, visited the Danish Food Bank and hosted ten school children in her home to teach them about food waste.

About Princess Marie attending the dinner, Selina Juul – the founder of the Stop Wasting Food Movement and a member of the coalition fighting to achieve the UN goal – said: “We are very thankful that H.R.H. Princess Marie will participate in our dinner against food waste – and we are very delighted for the Princess’ enthusiasm in the fight against food waste. Earlier this year in Stop Wasting Food, we had honor and pleasure to prepare a lunch with focusing on food waste at the Princess’ own home together with the Princess, the Princess’ children, and ten school children.”

Featured image: Princess Marie (Screenshot DR1/ Fair Use)

Crown Prince Haakon of Norway attends the funeral of war hero, Joachim Rønneberg

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – On Tuesday, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway attended the funeral of one of Norway’s greatest war heroes from the Second World War, Joachim Rønneberg. The funeral was held in clear, sunny weather in Aalesund in the western part of Norway where Rønneberg came from. Joachim was 99-years-old and died of old age at his local retirement home on 21 October. He leaves behind a nation’s gratitude, several children and grandchildren. His wife died in 2015.

His Royal Highness attended the funeral in his Navy uniform and was greeted on arrival by the priest who performed the funeral. Following a quick introduction to the Rønneberg family, the funeral began in the full church with the song “You Raise Me Up”.

Norway’s current Defence Chief, Håkon Bruun-Hanssen said: “He was a patriot, a true officer and a friend of the Norwegian defence”.

Minister of Finance, Siv Jensen also spoke in the funeral. She said: “When we say goodbye to Joachim Rønneberg today, we also take goodbye to a person completely out of the ordinary. Even though he would not be called a hero, it was exactly what he was; a hero who put others in front of himself all his life”.


Joachim Rønneberg, photo taken in earlier this year. Photo: Handout by Norwegian TV NRK on the occasion of the announcing of Rønneberg’s death.

Labour Party leader, Jonas Gahr Støre and Defence Minister, Frank Bakke-Jensen were also among those who praised the deceased resistance fighter.

Joachim Rønneberg (99), who was a member of Kompani Linge from 1941 to 1945, is best known for leading the famous heavy water operation at Vemork in February 1943. Operation Gunnerside resulted in Rønneberg and his soldiers placing explosive charges on the massive water electrolysis chambers of the Vemork plant. A Thompson submachine gun was purposely left behind to indicate that this was the work of British forces and not of the local resistance, to try to avoid reprisals.

The raid was considered successful. The entire inventory of heavy water produced during the German occupation, over 500 kg was destroyed along with equipment critical to the operation of the electrolysis chambers. Although 3,000 German soldiers were dispatched to search the area for the commandos, all of them escaped; five of them skied 400 kilometres to Sweden, two proceeded to Oslo where they assisted Milorg, and four remained in the region for further work with the resistance.

Rønneberg received several Norwegian and foreign awards, including the War Cross with Sword and the royal St. Olav Medal. The funeral was held at the expense of the state, as an honorary gift usually given to leading political leaders, politicians and soldiers.

Featured image: Joachim Rønneberg´s funeral (Press Office of the Norwegian office of war veterans from World War II)

Norwegian Royal Family celebrate King Karl Johan with a series of lectures at Royal Palace

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – This year marks 200 years since Karl Johan became King of Norway and Sweden. This has been celebrated with significant events in both nations, now separated from each other, each having its own royal house. Although, both King Harald of Norway and King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden descended from King Karl Johan. One of the very last events in celebrating Karl Johan is now taking place in November in Norway.

The Norwegian Royal Family has decided to end the Karl Johan anniversary with four lectures on the life of King Karl Johan. The lectures will be on Tuesdays in November at the Royal Palace in Oslo.

There will be a total of four lectures, and they are:

– Historian and Senior Europe Correspondent for Royal Central, Oskar Aanmoen will, on 6 November, talk about his last book, Karl Johan’s Coronation Journey in 1818.
– Historian Bård Frydelund, on 13 November, is to speak about Karl Johan as a strategist.
– Professor Emeritus Thomas Thiis-Evensen, will on Tuesday 20 November, talk about King Karl Johan and the heritage from Rome.
– Cultural historian Nina Høye, will, on Tuesday, 27 November, discuss the House of Bernadotte’s plans for royal homes in Christiania.

Those who visited the Royal Palace in Oslo this summer saw a brand new exhibition on King Karl Johan in the main rooms of the palace. The original uniform Karl Johan wore during the coronation in 1818 was exhibited together with Karl Johan’s bed as he used during his visits to Oslo during his reign and some of his personal belongings.

King Karl Johan (1763-1818-1844), originally Jean Baptiste Bernadotte, was born in the south of France and became a soldier 17-years-old. In 1810 there was a political and constitutional crisis in Sweden. The Riksdag chose Jean Baptiste Bernadotte to be King Carl XIII’s successor. It happened in Örebro in August 1810.

Karl Johan had to go to war in Norway in 1814 to get Norway to accept the union. After a short military campaign, the convention in Moss was signed, and on 4 November 1814 Carl Johan’s adoptive father, Carl XIII, was elected Norwegian King as King Carl II. Carl II died in 1818, and his adoptive son became King of Norway and Sweden.

On August, His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf and Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden attended a seminar at Ørebro Castle in Sweden in connection with the 200th anniversary of King Karl Johan’s ascension to the throne. The workshop “The Coronation year of 1818” was held in the main hall at Ørebro Castle in Sweden. The guests where mainly historians and politicians from the Nordic countries as well as Russia, France and Great Britain.

Royal Central’s Senior Europe Correspondent, Oskar Aanmoen has published his book this autumn about King Karl Johan’s journey in Norway in 1818. He had the honour to hand over a copy of the book to Their Majesties the King and Queen when they left the castle. Aanmoen describes the royals as “very nice and warm people who showed great interest in the book”.

Featured image: King Karl Johan (Photo via Wikimedia Commons)

King Harald of Norway speaks openly about #MeToo and gender equality

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – It was during the annual solemn parliament dinner, held at the Royal Palace yesterday, that King Harald of Norway spoke about both gender equality and the #MeToo movement.

His Majesty spoke about the historical high gender equality in Norway, and said:

“This year’s dinner is actually historic: Never before have we had women cover the positions of Parliament President, Supreme Court Justice and Prime Minister. Times are changing. For the better, many will rightly claim. I feel that I am in the right place. In addition, when I am surrounded by both the Queen and the Crown Princess, I find myself in the middle of the gold.”

His Majesty also addressed the #MeToo campaign. The King said:

“The year that has passed since we met last time, has, in various ways, been characterised by change. Stories and special women’s revealing stories – not only in Norway but over much of the world – have been told, and we have listened. That some people have the courage to show their most vulnerable experiences, creates room for reflection. I am touched by all of the stories.

“Stories of abuse of power and lack of respect awaken all of us. To go into ourselves. To learn. To be better people.”

It is Their Majesties the King and Queen who, once every year, receive the parliament representatives for a dinner at the Royal Palace. This is a tradition dating back over 100 years. The dinner was established as a permanent tradition by King Haakon in 1906. The dinner has been held every year – except for the years during World War II and when major maintenance work at the palace made it impossible.


The Palace’s own gardeners and flower decorators are responsible for the table decorations. Photo: Kjartan Hauglid, The Royal Court.

During the dinner this year the menu consisted of the following:

Starter: Halibut with roe, artichoke, cucumber and hazelnut milk.

First main course: Crayfish Taco with pickled vegetables and marinated tomatoes.

Second main course: Moose from Sikkilsdalen, served with onion, thyme, rutabaga, grilled pear with a sauce of cranberries

Dessert: Warm apple pie with room and rosins.

Featured image: The large dining room is used during the parliamentary dinner. Photo: Kjartan Hauglid, Det kongelige hoff / The Royal Court

Swedish Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden attend Gen Pep Forum

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – This week Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden were in Solna to attend a Gen Pep Forum at Karolinska Institutet. Organised by Generation Pep, the seminar and workshop brought together more than 800 representatives from politics, industry associations, research bodies and internship schemes to discuss and commit to changing and improving the health of children and young people.

The Crown Princess opened the event with a keynote speech which highlighted the importance of the UN’s Global Goals, for which she is an ambassador. She said:

“The point of the UN’s global goal is that they are just global; that they are about us all. And in order to achieve the goals by 2030, in order to achieve sustainable development, we must all contribute. In big and small [ways].

“And now I’m coming back to that Swedish schoolyard: It can be empty because the kids are indoors watching funny clips. Or, it may be full of children in motion, because the school organizes fun weekend activities. That choice, and that responsibility, are not the children’s. It’s ours. ”

Topics covered during the course of the full-day event included the general health picture in Sweden, the Scapes survey, the commitment to giving all children the opportunity to participate in sport, and factors that motivate positive change.

Prince Daniel provides closing remarks, summing up the findings of the forum and highlighting the importance of a coordinated commitment from people, businesses and organisations from all walks of life in society.

Generation Pep was launched by Prince Daniel – together with Swedish companies, foundations and non-profit organisations – in July 2016 with a vision of giving all children and adolescents in Sweden the opportunity (and inspiring a willingness) to live an active and healthy life. Generation Pep works to spread knowledge, inspiring and supporting children and young people as well as parents and other adults to institute positive change.

Featured image: Swedish Crown Princess couple attend Gen Pep Forum (Raphael Stecksén, The Royal Court, Sweden)

Lapland Chamber of Commerce – Promoting Arctic business

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – Lapland Chamber of Commerce is the Northernmost Chamber of Commerce in the European Union. Its mission is to create success and growth for business in Lapland and Finland by promoting local businesses, entrepreneurship, economic freedom, fair competition and international trade.

The Chamber was established in 1939 and it operates both regionally and nationwide, offering business related support services and comprehensive networking possibilities for companies looking to expand or export their business. Members of the Chamber include a variety of companies from different industries and branches of business, from big industrial companies to SME’s, as well as municipalities and other industry stakeholders.

Lapland Chamber of Commerce offers its members high quality events, trainings and workshops as well as various counseling services designed to support local companies and their growth. As the Northernmost Chamber of Commerce in Europe, arctic issues are the expertise of the Lapland Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber is also a member of the Arctic Economic Council and the Northern Forum.

SOLUTIONS
1. Promoting Arctic Know-How
Lapland Chamber of Commerce actively promotes the internationalization of local businesses. The Chamber provides its members with business export counseling in Lapland, helps companies grow their networks and provides the latest information of changes in the business operation environment of Northern Europe.

Companies looking to expand their area of operation abroad can also benefit from the events arranged by the Lapland Chamber of Commerce, as well as enjoy the extensive networks and a comprehensive list of international business contacts the Chamber holds.

In addition to the events and counseling supporting the internationalisation of companies, the Chamber also confirms and issues foreign trade documents such as ATA Carnet customs documents and European export certificates.

2. Northern networks and partnerships
International Arctic business cooperation and networking play an active role in the Chamber activities. The Lapland Chamber of Commerce is an active member of various business networks and communities in the Arctic and can offer valuable contacts to businesses willing to expand their network.

Through the extensive network Lapland Chamber of Commerce has, companies can find new potential customers, business partners and key business contacts in their operation area. The Chamber also organizes events and actively participates in forums focusing on various topics of business growth, competitiveness and innovation, economic fluctuations and business exports. These events are an excellent way to learn more about business development and export possibilities in Lapland and network with the key stakeholders in the area.

3. Arctic business forum
The annual Arctic Business Forum introduces the latest business development of the Arctic, investigates global and local trends and future prospects, and offers companies and organizations the chance to present their own business at the forum.

The Arctic Europe has been calculated to hold investment potential worth of at least 197 billion euro. The forum offers valuable information about the possibilities and future investment potential of the Arctic region both for the local business representatives and international investors. The aim of the forum is to build networks and relationships among the region’s various business representatives.

The speakers of the Arctic Business Forum are all key representatives and stakeholders from various fields of Arctic industry. The themes addressed cover topics such as business investment potential in the Arctic, business policies and risks, innovation and Arctic cooperation.

Featured image: Lapland (NordenBladet)

Look also:
Arctic Business Forum Yearbook 2018

The annual Arctic Business Forum introduces the latest business development of the Arctic + PROGRAM!

Arctic Business Forum Yearbook 2018

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet – The 9th Arctic Business Forum Yearbook is an overview of the European High North investments and business development published in association with the Arctic Business Forum.

The Yearbook 2018 by Lapland Chamber of Commerce addresses Arctic cooperation, policies and business, as well as an estimation of European High North investment potential for the same time frame. Regionally the Yearbook covers the Northern parts of Finland, Sweden and Norway as well as Murmansk and Arkhangelsk regions in Russia.

You can download the book from here: ABF_2018_yearbook

Look also:
The annual Arctic Business Forum introduces the latest business development of the Arctic + PROGRAM!

 

Swedish scientists: Sweden’s Highest Peak, a Melting Glacier, is no longer the Nation’s Tallest

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – A glacier on the southern tip of Sweden’s Kebnekaise mountain has melted so much that the height of the peak has shrunk, and it’s no longer the country’s tallest, scientists said this week. The announcement came Wednesday in a press release declaring the mountain’s northern tip as the nation’s new tallest peak. From July 2 to 31, the southern tip lost 13 feet of snow to melting as much of Scandinavia baked in searing heat.

“This is happening very fast,” Stockholm University geography professor Gunhild Rosqvist said in a statement. “The result of this hot summer will be a record loss in snow and ice in the mountains.”

The news came after scientists measured both peaks and found the southern tip measured 6,880 feet above sea level, less than a foot taller than the mountain’s northern peak. At the time the measurements were taken, the scientists said the northern tip would surely be taller by Aug. 1, and the next time they measure, it’ll become official.

Last year, the southern tip was 6.5 feet taller than the northern tip at Kebnekaise, the release also said. But according to Stockholm University, the glacier on the southern tip has melted more than 3 feet per year for the last two decades.

“I’ve never seen this much melted snow on the southern peak as I did this summer,” said Rosqvist.

The snowmelt has been so rapid because of soaring temperatures that set all-time records in some parts of Sweden. North of the Arctic Circle, the village of Kvikkjokk recorded an all-time high of 90.5 degrees Fahrenheit in July, and other areas recorded temperatures in the 90s in Scandinavia, previously unseen heat for any time of year in the region.

The news came as researchers from numerous countries came together for an IPCC meeting in China, according to GlacierHub. The goal of the meeting was to give the scientists a chance to compare research and discuss ideas for future studies of the world’s glaciers, the report added.

At a Glance
* A glacier on Sweden’s tallest peak is melting rapidly, causing the southern tip’s overall height to shrink.
* Scientists say the southern tip of the Kebnekaise mountain is no longer Sweden’s tallest.
* It’s shrinking 3 feet per year, on average, and the northern tip is now the tallest peak.

Featured image: Sweden’s Kebnekaise mountain is seen in this image captured in June 2014. (Wikimedia Commons)

Prince William begins first British royal Israel visit by honouring Holocaust victims

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – Prince William became the first British royal to visit Israel and the Palestinian territories, beginning his trip with a visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem.

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bkfq_7ena22/?taken-by=kensingtonroyal

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Yad Vashem (Hebrew: יָד וַשֵׁם‬) is Israel’s official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. It is dedicated to preserving the memory of the dead; honoring Jews who fought against their Nazi oppressors and Gentiles who selflessly aided Jews in need; and researching the phenomenon of the Holocaust in particular and genocide in general, with the aim of avoiding such events in the future.

Established in 1953, Yad Vashem is on the western slope of Mount Herzl, also known as the Mount of Remembrance, a height in western Jerusalem, 804 meters (2,638 ft) above sea level and adjacent to the Jerusalem Forest. The memorial consists of a 180-dunam (18.0 ha; 44.5-acre) complex containing the Holocaust History Museum, memorial sites such as the Children’s Memorial and the Hall of Remembrance, the Museum of Holocaust Art, sculptures, outdoor commemorative sites such as the Valley of the Communities, a synagogue, a research institute with archives, a library, a publishing house, and an educational center, the International School/Institute for Holocaust Studies.

A core goal of Yad Vashem’s founders was to recognize non-Jews who, at personal risk and without a financial or evangelistic motive, chose to save Jews from the ongoing genocide during the Holocaust. Those recognized by Israel as Righteous Among the Nations are honored in a section of Yad Vashem known as the Garden of the Righteous Among the Nations.

Yad Vashem is the second-most-visited Israeli tourist site, after the Western Wall, with approximately one million visitors each year. It does not charge any fee for admission.

 

Look also:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJVQUVTXCH4

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJVQUVTXCH4

 

Featured image: Prince William (YouTube)

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