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
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)
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.
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.
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)
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.
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.
NordenBladet – On Saturday, 26 May, it will be 50 years since His Royal Highness The Crown Prince was born as the son of the then-successor to the throne, Princess Margrethe, and Prince Henrik. The 50th birthday will be celebrated with various events in May – from celebratory runs in Denmark’s five largest cities to the opening of a research centre at Aarhus University and a gala banquet at Christiansborg Palace.
On his birthday, The Crown Prince will come out on the balcony of Frederik VIII’s Palace at 12.00 together with Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess, their four children and Her Majesty The Queen. In the evening, Her Majesty will host a gala banquet at Christiansborg Palace for guests from Denmark and other countries.
The birthday events begin the week before on May 18 with jubilee award presentations by His Royal Highness’s own Crown Prince Frederik Foundation, followed by a dinner at Frederik VIII’s Palace. On Monday, 21 May, The Crown Prince puts on his running shoes along with other Danes to participate in the Royal Run, which takes place in the cities Aalborg, Aarhus, Esbjerg, Odense and Copenhagen/Frederiksberg.
The Royal Yacht Dannebrog will also play a role in the lead-up to The Crown Prince’s birthday. In addition to being the setting of a reception for The Crown Prince’s patronages on 22 May, the Dannebrog will sail the Crown Prince Couple to Aarhus, where the municipality will host a number of visits to companies and organizations on 23 May. Here, The Crown Prince will also open the new centre at Aarhus University, which will be named the Crown Prince Frederik Centre for Public Leadership.
At The Museum of National History at Frederiksborg Palace, the Crown Prince Couple on 24 May will take part in the unveiling of a new portrait of The Crown Prince as well as the opening of the exhibitions “HRH Crown Prince Frederik – Prince of Denmark” and “Ralph Heimans Portraits”. In extension of the events on the actual birthday, 26 May, the celebrations conclude on 27 May with the show “All of Denmark celebrates The Crown Prince” at Royal Arena, Copenhagen. The show will be attended by The Crown Prince and the royal family.
HRH The Crown Prince of Denmark – Frederik André Henrik Christian (Photo: Steen Evald)
NordenBladet – How to apply for Swedish citizenship? Here you will find information on how you can apply to become a Swedish citizen.
Special rules (view HERE) apply for citizens of Denmark, Finland, Iceland or Norway.
Submitting an application
You can submit an application for Swedish citizenship online. When you have filled in the application you must print it out and send it by post to the Migration Agency. Write your signature and enclose the documents in original proving your identity. Fill out the application for Swedish citizenship online (HERE)
Print out and send your application to:
The Swedish Migration Agency
Citizenship Unit
601 70 Norrköping
Because you are enclosing your passport or other original documents, you should send your application by registered mail (view HERE). The post office will help you to do this.
Enclose the following documents – your national passport, travel document or alien’s passport in the original. If you have a previously issued passport you must also send the original
– if you do not have a national passport, enclose the originals of other identity documents from your country of origin. If you have several documents, number them in the same order in which you entered them in the application form.
You should not enclose your and your children’s residence permit card, your Swedish driving license or you Swedish ID card.
Further documents for EU/EEA citizens and their relatives In order to apply for Swedish citizenship you must fulfil the requirements needed for right of residence, a residence card, or have been given a permanent residence permit. You can also apply if you have been given a permanent residence card, or have permanent right of residence in Sweden.
Make sure you fulfil the requirements before you apply When you submit an application for Swedish citizenship The Migration Agency will investigate if you fulfil all requirements. If you do not fulfil the requirements your application may be rejected. You then have to send in a new application when the requirements are fulfilled and pay the fee again.
You may include your children in your application If you have unmarried children under the age of 18 who are residents in Sweden, they may become Swedish citizens with you if
– you have sole custody of the child or children or
– you have joint custody with the other parent and they have given their consent.
You do not need to submit separate applications for a child, simply include them on your application form. You do not have to pay an application fee for the children you include. However, you must enclose the following documents
– the child’s passport
– a custody decision if you have sole custody of the child and the child was not born in Sweden.
Consent required Children who have turned 12 must give their written consent to become a Swedish citizen.
To those who have children during their waiting time If you have a child during the waiting time and you want the child to become a Swedish citizen along with you, send us a letter requesting that your newborn child should be included in your application. You and the child’s custodian must both sign the letter which also informs the Swedish Migration Agency of the child’s name and birthdate.
Do you need to use your passport during the processing time? The Swedish Migration Agency needs your passport in original in order to process an application for Swedish citizenship. You will get your passport back when your application has been processed.
If you need your passport back before your application has been processed, you can require to have it back. You should not send your passport back until the Swedish Migration Agency asks you to do so. We will write to you when we start processing your application and need you to send your passport back to us.
After the decision has been made The Swedish Migration Agency will send the decision to your address listed in the population registry. If you have become a Swedish citizen, we will also inform the Swedish Tax Agency of the decision. We will also put a block on your residence permit card, which means that the card will be invalid and can no longer be used for travel. You should not send in your residence permit card to the Swedish Migration Agency. You can destroy the card yourself by cutting it up.
If you have children with you who have become Swedish citizens and who also have residence permit cards, a block will be placed on their cards as well.
Swedish passports Those who have become Swedish citizens can apply for a Swedish passport. An application for a Swedish passport is done through the Police.
Those who are abroad and wish to apply for a Swedish passport can do so at a Swedish embassy or consulate-general.
If the Swedish Migration Agency refuses your application If the Swedish Migration Agency refuses your application, you can appeal within three weeks from the date you received the decision. You will find more information on how to appeal in the decision.
If you do not apply online If you are not able to apply online, you must fill out the form Ansökan om svenskt medborgarskap för vuxna, number 316011 (only in Swedish). The form specifies which documents to enclose.
NordenBladet — This spring’s main exhibition at the Royal Palace of Stockholm will showcase the talents of young draughtsmen. The exhibition will be on display in the Palace’s beautiful sculpture gallery – Gustav III’s Museum of Antiquities.
The Thinking Hand: creative encounters in a classic setting
‘The Thinking Hand’ will be unveiled to mark The King’s birthday, featuring around a dozen entries for His Majesty the King’s Award Competition for young draughtsmen.
The drawings will be displayed in Gustav III’s Museum of Antiquities at the Royal Palace of Stockholm, representing a fascinating interaction between old and new in the beautiful sculpture gallery.
The exhibition will be on display from 21 April to 24 June 2018 in Gustav III’s Museum of Antiquities. Free entry to the exhibition.
The Royal Academy of Fine Arts was founded at the Royal Palace of Stockholm in 1735, with the aim of supporting trainee painters, sculptors and architects. More than 280 years later, this aim lives on in the form of the new scholarship fund!
‘The Thinking Hand’ is a collaboration between the Royal Court and the Royal Academy of Fine Arts.
Elias Martin’s painting of King Gustav III’s visit to the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in 1780. Photo: The Royal Academy of Fine Arts
About the competition
A scholarship fund was established on The King’s birthday in 2016 by Elisabeth and Gustaf Douglas to support young professionals who work with draftsmanship. Three scholarship recipients are named, each receiving SEK 100,000. The aim is to recognise specific knowledge and the interaction between eye and hand, in order to develop thoughts about visual interpretation and to enhance its status.
The competition is open to young draughtsmen working with visual interpretation within art, architecture, fashion, design, illustration, games development or other related fields. The competition is being arranged by Royal Academy of Fine Arts, and around a dozen entries will be displayed in Gustav III’s Museum of Antiquities at the Royal Palace of Stockholm. ‘The Thinking Hand’ will be an annual event.
Featured image: Gustav III’s Museum of Antiquities is one of Europe’s oldest museums. (Photo: Alexis Daflos/royalcourt.se)
Source: Swedish Royal Court Find us also on Twitter: @NordenBladet
NordenBladet —Welcome to the Royal Gift Shop. The shop is located at the Royal Palace and is open daily all year round at 10:00 to 17:00.
Welcome to a boutique that is something out of the ordinary. The Royal Gift Shop is a unique present and souvenir shop offering products with a connection to the Royal Collections.
Many of the products are produced in limited editions and can only be purchased at the Royal Gift Shop. Amongst other things, you can find unique interior design articles based on patterns from original material from the 1600s, 1700s and 1800s.
The boutique’s broad assortment offers everything from popular souvenir items such as postcards and key rings to exclusive jewellery in gold and silver.
Featured image: At the Royal Gift Shop, at the Outer Courtyard, you will find quality souvenires and products with links to the Royal Collections. (Photo: Alexis Daflos/The Royal Court)
Source: Swedish Royal Court Find us also on Twitter: @NordenBladet
