The Copenhagen Post: August 26 - September 1 by The Copenhagen Post

Congestion fee creates debate

Arcade Fire come to rock the ‘burbs

Drama in the land of Woz

Denmark’s only English-language newspaper | cphpost.dk

26 August - 1 September 2011 | Vol 14 Issue 34

PETER STANNERS

NEWS

Denmark is failing to live up to WHO smoking conventions

Immigrant teens lag behind in reading Study: 46 percent of secondgeneration immigrants do not have functional reading capabilities

NEWS | 10

COMMUNITY

Three British cyclists stole the show at the St Alban’s Summer Fete

Churchill put his boxers on there; now you can too A piece of Copenhagen history will go under the hammer on Friday, when Hotel D’Angleterre auctions off some of its furnishings to the highest bidder.

CULTURE | 18

Mr. Assimilation sets the record straight Søren Pind knows his words have got him into trouble, but he’s okay with that 4

Surprise! PM quashes rampant election rumours

HISTORY

JENNIFER BULEY Rasmussen vexes those impatient for election by announcing he wants stimulus package approved first The legacy of ‘professional amateur’ Asger Jorn will outlast his peers

9 771398 100009

Price: 25 DKK

RIME minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen kept pundits and the voting public guessing when he dismissed any suggestion on Tuesday that he would call a general election this week. Political watchers were all but certain Rasmussen was preparing to call an election within a day, or maximum two, of presenting the Liberal-Conservative government’s economic stimulus plan, citing a list of hints and signs from pre-emptive advertising campaigns, cancelled trips and political positioning

statements. Instead Rasmussen told reporters he would wait to call an election until he had secured a majority in parliament for the plan. “I am not concerned with an election. I am concerned with taking action,” Rasmussen said. The deputy prime minister, Lars Barfoed, who presented the plan together with Rasmussen, confirmed the PM’s message. “We are not here to present an election plan. We are a government at work. We are a government that takes responsibility. That’s what we’re concerned with,” he said. However, just one week ago Barfoed gave Rasmussen a not-so-subtle hint that he had best call the election now to avoid further economic damage. Barfoed emphasised that it was up to Rasmussen to determine the exact date

for the election. “But we obviously cannot stretch it out much longer,” he told Jyllands-Posten newspaper. “The most important factor for getting growth rolling again is clarity about the election and whether there will be a majority in parliament that will carry through on the early retirement reforms and other initiatives, so that we can have some peace of mind about our economy in the long term,” he said. Margrethe Vestager, the Social Liberal’s leader, also challenged Rasmussen to call the election right away. “We cannot wait two or three months. The responsible thing is to have the election as soon as possible and, regardless of who wins, bring the parties together and show the voters that we can work together to solve these problems,” Vestager said last week.

According to a new opinion poll, the majority of voters say that the economy is the most important issue in this year’s election. By law the election must take place no later than November 12. Helle Thorning-Schmidt, the leader of the Social Democrats, who is pegged to be the next prime minister should the left-of-centre opposition parties win the election, reacted swiftly after Rasmussen indicated the election would not be called this week. “Seldom has a government created so much insecurity in so short a time. There is total confusion all over Denmark,” Thorning-Schmidt said. “Denmark cannot move on until we get clarity.” Despite Rasmussen’s indications, Thorning-Schmidt told Ekstra Bladet she still expected an election to be called in the next few days.

Week in revieW

The CopenhAgen poST CphpoST.dk

26 August - 1 September 2011 Scanpix

Art galore

The Week’S MoST ReAd SToRIeS AT CphpoST.dk Copenhagen tap water possibly tainted Water drinking ban extended until Tuesday Immigrants rate self-sufficiency higher than danes study shows new riots in Christiania Royal Theatre releases ballet cocaine report

FRoM oUR ARChIVeS Ten YeARS Ago. Two “false passport factories” were discovered in Copenhagen’s nørrebro district. FIVe YeARS Ago. The Social Liberal party and leading business professionals put forth a proposal to officially recognise english as denmark’s second language. one YeAR Ago. heavy rain surprised the nation, trapping people in the city and underlining the need for a sewer overhaul.

The fourth annual alternative art festival Galore took place in valby last weekend, featuring international artists such as Grito from Barcelona

nation occurred after rainwater seeped into a water main near Nørrebrogade 60 that had been damaged during construction. Samples of water taken on tuesday again showed traces of e. coli but on Wednesday evening Københavns energi declared that water throughout the entire city was safe to drink.

denmark’s only english-language newspaper Since 1998, The Copenhagen post has been Denmark’s leading source for news in english. as the voice of the international community, we provide coverage for the thousands of foreigners making their home in Denmark. additonally, our english language medium helps to bring Denmark’s top stories to a global audience. In addition to publishing the only regularly printed english-language newspaper in the country, we provide up-to-date news on our website and deliver news to national and international organisations. The Copenhagen post is also a leading provider of non-news services to the private and public sectors, offering writing, translation, editing, production and delivery services.

Visit us online at www.cphpost.dk

Arctic plans

IN CopeNhageN on Monday, government officials from Denmark, greenland and the Faroe Islands officially presented an arctic strategy plan, a draft of which was leaked in May. The plan asserts greenland’s right to seek development opportunities without the interference of environmental

President and Publisher ejvind Sandal Chief executive Jesper Nymark editor-in-Chief Kevin Mcgwin Managing editor Ben hamilton news editor Justin Cremer Journalists Jennifer Buley & peter Stanners

activists such as greenpeace. The strategy plan calls for the creation of a special “arctic military force” to protect the arctic sea passages and landfalls in the vicinity of the North pole. however, the strategy plan also underscores the need to settle conflicting claims through peacefully negotiated solutions.

editorial offices: Slagtehusgade 4 – 6 DK 1715 Copenhagen V telephone: 3336 3300 Fax: 3393 1313 www.cphpost.dk news Desk news@cphpost.dk 3336 4243 The Cph post welcomes outside articles and letters to the editor. Letters and comments can be left on our website or at: comments@cphpost.dk

HaSSe ferrold

Late on Wednesday afternoon, the city’s drinking water was declared clean after six days of contamination. earlier this week, consecutive samples revealed dangerously high levels of e. coli bacteria in the drinking water of the neighbourhoods in the north and centre of Copenhagen. The contami-

colourbox

All clear

CoRReCTIon Last week’s cover photo should have been attributed to Christian Lillendahl.

Baby coming

the DaNISh Royal Family is expecting yet another child. The royals announced on Wednesday that prince Joachim and his wife, princess Marie, are expecting their second child. The child is due in January 2012. one year after the birth of Crown prince Frederik’s and Crown princess Mary’s twins, prince Joachim

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will join his brother in the club of being the proud father of four. Joachim has two children with his first wife, countess alexandra – prince Nikolai, who turns 12 this week, and prince Felix, who is nine. The January baby will be his second with current wife princess Marie, following two-year-old son henrik.

Layout and design Justin Cremer aviaja Bebe Nielsen Logo by Rasmus Koch The Copenhagen post accepts no responsibility for the content of material submitted by advertisers. The Copenhagen post is published weekly by CphpoSt.DK apS printed by Dagbladet, Ringsted. all rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited by law.

THIS WEEK

InOut | THE CPH POST ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE

26 August - 1 September 2011

Swim and Walk the City OPEN WATER 2011 Starts at location on Frederiksholms Kanal; Sat 10:00; over 15s 350kr (cash or card), under-15s no entry; www.openwater.dk ECCO WALKATHON 2011 Kastellet, 2100 Cph Ø, Sun 09:30; 50kr entry to walk 10km (starts at 11:00) or 6km (starts at 12:00); www.ecco. com/dk Some Danes argue that the best thing about the Danish weather is that it allows us to wear stylish clothes all year round. Think four-metre long scarves and huge, oversized cardigans. But let’s face it; all this talk about the weather and cool clothing is really just an excuse to cover up, hide granny arms and a gut that’s sticking out far beyond the belt buckle, and avoid the gym. This weekend, however, Copenhagen has two events on offer that might encourage you to get on to that workout so that you won’t have to resort to fashion anymore. Because really, that oversized style is kind of passé. Firstly, there is the Round Christiansborg Open Water swimming contest on Saturday. Obviously, for some participants the event is all about the top spot on the podium, but for others it’s more about the opportunity to see one of the most beautiful, historical areas of Copenhagen from another perspective. And secondly, for those of you who prefer a slower pace, no competition and drier conditions, there is the ECCO Walkathon on Sunday. As the name suggests, this is a walk and even though you might be doing it in order to get rid of that big gut we referred to earlier, it also supports charity and you can really never go wrong with that.

Future Roads

Dansehallerne/Lille N Carl, Pasteursvej 14-24, Cph V; starts Thu (1 Sep), ends Sat, daily performances at 19:00; tickets: adults 130kr, under-18s 60kr; www.dansehallerne.dk Three young boys, who grew up as friends, find themselves on three different roads to the future. Will they stay close and support each other, or will they be driven apart by outside influences? Where do we come from, where are we going, and how much are our lives determined by circumstances we cannot change? Is every man really the architect of his own fortune or are we mere products of our social environment? Future roads is an attempt to find answers to some of the most pressing questions of modern society. Adequate to the topic, the story is performed by three young break dancers from Freestyle Phanatix. EK

The conditions weren’t exactly ideal for the Nordic walkers (the ones who look like they’re skiing) in the field

Open Water 2011 Round Christiansborg is an annual swimming competition arranged by the Danish Swimming Federation and held in the gorgeous settings of the city canals. The 2km route takes the swimmers around parliament. Who would have thought the water in Copenhagen was clean enough to splash around in and not dirty and murky, as in most

other capital cities. The swimmers start in Frederiksholms Kanal, then swim past the Black Diamond, continue along the waterfront, under Knippelsbro Bridge, past the Stock Exchange, Højbro Plads and Gammel Strand, before finishing in Frederiksholms Kanal. This is definitely an alternative way to explore some of the best historical sites in Copenhagen.

ECCO Walkathon 2011 This annual event starts out at Kastellet, the old citadel, where participants can sign up for either a 6km or 10km walk around the city. It’s not just an opportunity to get some exercise, but also to do it in the name of a good cause. For each km you walk, ECCO will donate 7.5kr to an charity of your choice, chosen from the three organisa-

Flying Bach

The Coronation of Poppea

SommerBallet 2011

NEW

Musikkonservatoriums Koncertsal, Julius Thomsens Gade 1, Cph V; starts Thu (Sep 1), performances at 19:30 on Thu, Sep 2, Sep 3 at 19:30; tickets: 167-212kr; www.redbull.dk Opposites attract – the more antithetic, the stronger the dynamic that evolves from the clash of cultures. Flying Bach sees JS Bach’s ‘The well- tempered Clavier’ provide the music for the Flying Steps – four-time break dance world-champions – and contemporary dancer Yui Kawaguchi. There’s no real story. We watch six dancers at a rehearsal with their teacher and a ballet dancer turns up. But the performance is outstanding. If classical music, break dance and ballet alone are not really your thing, then maybe a combination of the three arts will get you hooked. EK

Københavns Musikteater, Kronprinsens- NEW gade 7, Cph K; starts Sat, performances at 19:30 (unless stated) on Sat, Mon, Wed, Sep 2, Sep 4 (15:00), Sep 6; tickets: 150-250kr; 3332 5556; www. kobenhavnsmusikteater.dk When Claudio Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea premiered in Venice in 1643, opera was still in its infancy and the opera singers were actually singing stage actors. Just 358 years later, in an attempt to stay as true as possible to the original version, nine opera singers will take on 24 roles between them. They populate a grotesque, raven-hued baroque universe, accompanied by a small baroque-ensemble. Acclaimed musical singer Xenia LachNielsen takes the stage as Emperor Nero’s ambitious mistress Poppea. Her antagonist, Nero’s wife Octavia, is played by Swedish soprano Elisabeth Holmertz. EK Sommerballet 2011

tions ECCO are supporting this year: the WWF, SOS Children Village’s, and a local project, the city’s children’s heart foundation. Most people sign up and purchase their tickets online, but some also choose to do it on the day at Kastellet. ECCOs ‘Walk for Life’ was developed by Danish shoe manufacturers ECCO 13 years ago. It has supported a variety of charities over the

years, with a focus on three main areas: children and youth, nature and the environment, and health. Certainly, the event plays a major part of the shoe company’s branding and CSR strategy, but in its lifetime, ECCO’s programme has donated around 25 million Danish kroner to charity organisations and you can’t be pointing fingers at that. KRISTINA LUND HANSEN

Forhavekøkken

Exhibitions

NEW

There were houses everywhere NEW

Bellevue Theatre, Strandvejen 451, 2930 Klampenborg; ends Sat, performances Thu (tonight) and Fri 20:00, Sat 15:00; tickets 140-360kr, www.billetnet.dk, billetter@bellevueteatret.dk; www.bellevueteatret.dk Watching performance art, the audience wants to be captivated by beauty, horror or mystique. But a great performance should also take the artist, as well as the audience, on a journey. Join them and learn about desire, temptation, love, regret, and redemption. Featuring ballet, flamingo, hip-hop and dub-step, the choreography and scenery are spectacular – amazement is guaranteed. JK

Galerie Mikael Andersen, Bredgade 63, Cph K; ends Sep 24; open Tue-Fri 12:00-18:00, Sat 11:00-15:00; www.mikaelandersen.com Danish artist Eske Kath presents a series of acrylic paintings inspired by a trip to Belize where he saw the remains of the Mayan city Carcol. The paintings combine his interest in how the city’s ruins are now covered with lush and diverse vegetation – a real-life apocalyptic landscape. Piles of wood and plastic are reminiscent of houses, in contrast to the landscapes shown in the paintings. BF

Instant Herlev, Byskovvej 28, 2730 Herlev; ends 2 Oct, open daily 16:30-18:00; www. instantherlev.dk Inspired by the architectural surroundings of the suburbs, Danish architect Gitte Juul has created an interactive art installation, Forhavekøkken (Front yard kitchen), about breaking down the boundaries between indoors and outdoors - specifically the kitchen and the yard. Visitors will be able to take edible salad from the yard, wash and eat it at the washing station. There are also long tables with benches provided for visitors to sit and enjoy the surroundings. Instant Herlev is an artist-run gallery, led by Danish artist Anja Franke. BF

Cover story

The CopenhAgen poST CphpoST.dk

26 August - 1 September 2011

søren Pind, the immigration minister since March of this year, admitted that he often said things he regretted but said that it was more important to speak his mind than worry about the reaction

pind on assimilation, exemptions, and hobbits Justin Cremer In our exclusive interview, immigration minister Søren pind seeks to clarify his controversial statements

hen Søren Pind was named the new immigration minister in March, he made instant headlines – and ruffled feathers – by stating that he preferred ‘assimilation’ to ‘immigration’ and that people who move to denmark do so because they want to “become danish”. We sat down with Pind, who also serves as the development minister, for an exclusive interview in which he attempted to clarify his statement, discussed what it means to be danish, and laid out his vision for immigration policy. CPH Post: You hear a lot in the press about the ‘problem’ of immigration in denmark – what is the problem and what is the government trying to accomplish with its various immigration rules? søren Pind: it’s a dualistic problem. On the one hand, we need immigration. On the other hand, immigration really changed our society very quickly. The amount of people that came and the changes that occurred were among the fastest in the world. And of course that related to politics. in 2001 the new government was elected, among other things, to stop the uncontrolled migration to denmark. We have a welfare

state so people coming in were received, you know, “here’s a place to live. Oh, you don’t have work? here are social benefits.” At a certain point you saw that levels of unemployment were very high for many of the people, so that had to be changed. Quite restrictive measures were put into effect to ensure that these things changed because the larger cities in denmark couldn’t cope with that development. now ten years have passed and largely it has been a success. But in not so many years you will see a change in our demographics, where you get many old folks and not so many people to do the work, and we have a social benefit system where it is the people who earn money who pay for the elderly and so on – then of course you have a problem. So the basic fact is that we need immigration which contributes to develop our country. CP: i find, as an immigrant myself, that it is often very confusing to know where i stand. now there are suggestions for new exemptions ... Pind: You are exempted from the indvandringsprøve, where some of it also consists of the danish language [ed: in addition to language, it is a test of knowledge of denmark and danish society]. That is up to now as far as i could go – at least according to certain jurisdictions. We are now setting up a commission to see how far we can go with the exemption rules. We have tried to make an objective measure – and the three criteria we have chosen right now are membership of OeCd, in the top

CP: is the flip side of that to make it more difficult for those who you feel will not contribute?

Why should I be in politics if I didn’t say what I had on my mind? If people like honesty then they must also respect that you will make mistakes and you will say something that will annoy them

third of the Un development index, and i don’t remember the third criteria now [ed: it’s the ability to travel within europe without a visa], and these turned out countries like israel, America, Japan, Canada, countries like that. But actually i would like to make more exemptions than just the indvandringsprøve, but we have to get professionals to look at it. Up until now the only reason for which they have accepted that is because Germany and the dutch do it. CP: don’t these rules set you up for accusations of discrimination? Pind: A border is a discriminative measure. What is interesting is, is it an illegal discriminative measure or not? My ambition is to make it easier for people who are able to contribute to danish development.

Pind: i think it will be hard to make it more difficult than today, to be honest. What i would say is that now we have enforced certain rules since 2001. These measures have worked but some of them are also very harsh and therefore we must see how we can liberalise. CP: A lot of the comments from you that end up in the press seem less rehearsed and more, maybe, honest than other politicians. Pind: [Laughs] That’s kind of you to say so, but sometimes i also get into trouble for that. CP: Are there any instances where you said something quickly and then ended up regretting it? Pind: Of course, many times, but why should i be in politics if i didn’t say what i had on my mind? There is no such thing as perfection, so if people like honesty then sometimes they must also respect that you will make mistakes and you will say something that will annoy them. i can’t do anything about that. i mean, if they want bureaucrats instead, elect them. And i don’t even say that to be provocative, that’s just my point of view. Yes, i am not perfect and yes, i make mistakes but i do my best to speak my mind. CP: i think one of the statements that at

least among our readers was – Pind: i think i know the one – that if people come here they come here to become danish. CP: exactly. is that really something that you believe and is that something that is even possible? Or to put it another way, why should i forget that i am an American? Pind: You shouldn’t. Let me give an example. i once went to a [karaoke] bar in Washington dC and, because i love America very much, i sang ‘i’m Proud to be an American’. Then some guy comes up to me. “Are you an American?” i say “no, no, no” and he wanted to beat me up because i did not have the right to sing that song. And the girl i was with, she explained: “But he loves America more than i do ...” and then i talked him down. But what i am saying is, of course America belongs to him and not to me. Why? Because he is a citizen. And the same goes for denmark. Look, you can put this vulgarly: “denmark for the danes”, “Germany for Germans” – those kind of vulgarities. Or you can state the simple fact that of course denmark belongs to the danes, which is something else. now in that understanding, if people come to this country they can be either two things - either guests or danes. it’s just a question of logistics. People who come to spend the rest of their lives here – of course we have the expectation that they should become danes. But what do i mean by that? do i mean that everyone

COVER STORY

THE COPENHAGEN POST CPHPOST.DK

26 August - 1 September 2011

5 PHOTOS: PETER STANNERS

BIO | SØREN PIND • • • • • •

Born 20 November 1969 in Herning Lived in Switzerland from 1972 - 1977 Studied law at the University of Copenhagen Has two sons, aged 8 and 4 Member of the Liberal Party Deputy mayor for Copenhagen Council’s technical and environmental committee from 1994 - 2005 • Development minister since February 2010 • Immigration minister since March 2011

has to drink fadøl, wear a clap-hat, love football? Of course not. That is stupidity and also lacks respect for Danish culture to state that that is what it means to be Danish. I didn’t mean it to be provocative. To me it was just a statement of fact. I think it was more the assimilation comment that created a problem. I had in 2008 written a commentary on the fact that with these very quick changes, you suddenly saw that in Danish kindergartens, certain dishes were no longer served, even though nobody had asked for them not to be served. You suddenly saw that in schools, songs that used to be sung were suddenly not sung anymore. All these kind of changes. And then I wrote this commentary and said: “You know what, if this is what is called integration, I actually prefer assimilation.” Because to me that is a step backwards. The word ‘assimilation’ is actually a counter to the American melting pot. What I was trying to say is that there are few very basic principles that everyone should adhere to -you could call it trust, democracy, freedom, that kind of stuff. But this was seen as if I said that everyone should become beer-drinking,

pork-eating blah blah blah ... [So when a journalist asked me about it in March] I had two choices: I could say “No”, and then they would have said “Pind is already withdrawing, blah blah” or I could say “Yes, of course” and then explain. And even though it might have offended some, it created a debate with which I was satisfied. CP: It can often be quite difficult being a foreigner in Denmark, with constantly changing rules, and a language which is very hard to learn. What should everyday Danes do to make things easier for immigrants here? One small example is that I’m often answered back in English when I am attempting to speak Danish, which is very discouraging. Pind: [Laughs] I think one of the characteristics of the Danish culture is a kind of shyness. A shyness and also a very tight-knit tribal society. Whether you vote for Enhedslisten, or the Danish People’s Party, if Danes go to a confirmation, for instance, they all know what each other thinks. They can disagree, but they know what each other

Some foreigners see the Danes as a closed population, where I would actually rather tend to say that we are the true hobbits of this world thinks. That’s just the way it is, and that makes some foreigners see the Danes as a closed population, where I would actually rather tend to say that we are the true hobbits of this world. I mean, it’s okay to be involved in the larger world, but we like to keep to ourselves, just drinking our beer and blah blah blah. But it’s not arrogance, it is shyness. [But] in this world that we are going to live in, this attitude will no longer due. Yes, it is very good to be strong in your own culture but you have to open up even more. I don’t think the Danes know that they are considered in some aspects

to be rude to foreigners. But they are. I don’t think a government can do anything about that. That is a cultural thing that we have to discuss with each other. I agree that we have changed the rules many times, and at a certain point I also think that we must strike a balance. My perception is that I think we are getting where we should and that in the future there will be a down-bringing of rules. CP: We reported that immigration rules have changed 18 times in the last nine years, and now we’re on the verge of an election. What would you expect if the government remains in power, and what would you expect to change if the opposition were to take power?

fare benefits. They do not agree with us that some of the access to welfare state benefits creates incentives that are not very good at pushing people out in the workforce. And they will change this. According to the last Rockwell Fund report, that will create a great danger for the success we’ve had with many more immigrants joining the labour force. CP: Last question: When will the election be called? Pind: Very soon. But I don’t know when. It’s only the prime minister who knows, but it will be very soon.

More online

Pind: I will pursue this political agenda of making easier access for people coming to this country to contribute. I think that the claims of discrimination are unfounded because what we’re doing is actually reducing the rules, not introducing new ones. And I think that the rules have been too rigid. If the opposition wins, they will change some of the incitement structures on social wel-

To listen to our full interview with Søren Pind, including his thoughts on the level of rhetoric surrounding the debate on immigration and multiculturalism, see the online version of this story at cphpost.dk

ONLINE THIS WEEK Theatre releases cocaine report

One in three: Royals too costly

A SHOWDOWN between police and rioters at Christiania last week on Wednesday led to warning shots, tear gas and fires in the street. Police said the hooligans were from Christiania, but residents of the commune, who spent the night cleaning up the mess, said it was not them. Though the rioting lasted several hours, there was only one arrest.

AN ESTIMATED 80,000 people participated in Copenhagen’s annual Pride parade on Saturday. It was the city’s biggest Pride parade ever, organisers said. LGBT Danmark, the Danish association for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, announced the winners of its annual ‘Salmon Award’ – a popular, highly-anticipated award that recognises someone who ‘swims upstream’, against the current, to improve conditions for LGBT people. This year the award went to 16-year-old Caspian Drumm and 15-year-old Sarah Skaalum. Drumm, who came out as transgender when he was just 15 years old, was recognised

AFTER weeks of pressure, the Royal Danish Theatre last week released a controversial internal report alleging that cocaine abuse is rampant among members of its ballet company. In early July news was leaked of the study of workplace conditions at the Royal Danish Ballet, which alleged that artistic director Nikolaj Hübbe had a serious cocaine problem and that drug abuse had spread throughout the dance corps. However, large sections of the now-publicised report have been omitted – including almost all the passages about Hübbe.

ACCORDING to a study by Interresearch for Søndagsavisen newspaper, 34 percent of Danes think that the Royal Household is costing its subjects too much. Sixteen percent of respondents would like to see the monarchy abolished, while nearly half of all Danes surveyed – 47 percent – thought the price was right for the monarchy. In a 2009 study, it was revealed that the Royal Household, with their eight castles and a royal yacht, had cost taxpayers a total of 342.2 million kroner over the previous year.

SCANPIX

80,000 proud march in LGBT celebration

SCANPIX

Riots and tear gas in Christiania

for his personal bravery and volunteer work for sexual minorities. Skaalum, a lesbian, was the winner of this year’s X-Factor music competition. She was recognised for being open about her sexuality throughout the contest and in the media.

READ THE FULL STORIES AT CPHPOST.DK

News

The CopenhAgen poST CphpoST.dk

26 August - 1 September 2011

Task force proposals aim to improve city’s business climate

scanpix

Peter StannerS establishing a new european school among suggestions to attract and keep foreign workers

Niels Holck managed to evade capture in 1995 after dropping four tonnes of weapons from a plan into west Bengal

Indian residents: “hypocrisy” in holck case Peter StannerS While acknowledging India’s problems with the treatment of prisoners, Indians feel that unless gunrunner is handed over for trial, justice will not be served

n 1995, niels Holck, Peter Bleach and a crew of five Latvians dropped four tonnes of weapons out of a plane in India’s eastern state of West Bengal. Bleach, a British citizen, and the Latvians were caught and imprisoned in India for their part in the weapons drop, but Holck managed to evade capture, eventually returning to Denmark. Ten years of unsuccessful extradition requests by India culminated this June when the Eastern High Court decided that Holck’s risk of torture in an Indian jail – even with diplomatic assurances from the Indian government that he would be treated well – meant he could not be delivered to face trial. According to Indians living in Denmark, India’s ‘freezing’ of relations with Denmark last week was a frustrated response as there is no longer any existing legal recourse available to apprehend and convict a man implicated in domestic terrorism – a highly emotive issue in India, especially after the Mumbai attacks of 2008. “The Danes feel he would be ill treated in India and to some he’s considered a freedom fighter. But he has no place fighting a cause in another sovereign country,” an Indian who asked only to be identified as Guatam told The Copenhagen Post. Holck has admitted his part in the 1995 weapons drop, but in an interview with the Times of India this April he stated that the weapons were to protect

denmark should put some trust in India and allow authorities to investigate him the recipients from communist and state-sponsored terror. While it is difficult to confirm whether this was the case, Holck’s act was still illegal, making him accountable under Indian law. India attempted to extradite Holck on the conditions that he would not face the death penalty, would receive special treatment, and would be returned to Denmark to serve his sentence no later than three weeks after his potential conviction. But the Danish Eastern High Court decided the conditions could not be guaranteed and the extradition attempt failed. “India has already given a guarantee he would be given back and that he would not be executed, so Denmark should put some trust in India and allow India authorities to investigate him,” continued Guatam. “Even in Denmark he’s not punished and he’s not accountable,” Guatam said. “[Indians] consider him a terrorist and they feel betrayed.” Other Indians in Denmark The Copenhagen Post spoke to conceded that India is known to have problems related to the treatment of prisoners, but felt that unless he is handed over for trial, justice will not be served. “They are pretty bitter about it,” Vivek Kanwar Singh, a fashion designer living in Denmark, said about how the Indians back home were responding to the case.

“There comes a point where they want all the people responsible brought to justice. He is one of the accused and having him would give them more leads. They are trying to get to the mastermind and he would act as a good lead, and I’m sure that’s why we want him.” “Having him tried in India would be an emotional satisfaction,” he added. Devapriyo Das, an Indian journalist living in Denmark, argued that despite the frustration due to the failed extradition, many Indians sympathise with the Danish court’s decision. “When you read about the case in the Danish press, they talk about the fact that niels Holck’s people are scared he’ll be tortured. And in India some people would say: ‘Yes there’s a concern,’ because India has a poor track record with police brutality,” Das said. “Those Indians would tend to agree with niels Holck’s lawyers. But then there’s the feeling that maybe a man like this needs to face some sort of justice, so the Danish government should at least try and appeal this case and get a judgment.” Despite this, there is a feeling that India’s international role in anti-terrorism efforts is not being rewarded. “I think Indians would be upset because there’s a lot of hypocrisy. India is a democratic country that has worked with other countries on terrorism issues. So it’s unfortunate that Denmark can’t work with India on this case,” Das said. “A lot of us would agree the courts have made a decision, and that’s the decision. But the underlying point is the double standard and hypocrisy. We are a country that glorifies our democracy, but we are still unable to work together with Denmark on a straight and forward criminal case.”

VEr 80 recommendations to improve the city’s business friendliness and drive growth across the country were published last week by the Copenhagen Business Task Force, which was established in March by mayor Frank Jensen. The recommendations range from improving Copenhagen’s transport links to offering free internet to travellers and reducing the corporate tax rate. “I established Copenhagen Business Task Force because I wanted constructive criticism and good advice from people who can see things from the outside,” Jensen said. “I have to say that I am impressed with the work that the group has delivered in such a short space of time. There’s a lot to take in.” The Business Task Force was set up to address fears that Copenhagen is not a healthy business environment. Statistics released by the group demonstrate that Denmark is dependent upon the growth of Copenhagen, with every 100 jobs created in the city resulting in an additional 20 created outside. According to their findings, Copenhagen is also lagging behind Stockholm – the self-branded ‘Capital of Scandinavia’ – which has experienced far greater growth in recent years, attracting more businesses to set up Scandinavian headquarters there than in Copenhagen. Among the recommendations is a proposed Copenhagen Business Service – modelled on the successful Citizens’ Service (Borgerservice) – where businesses could be helped with all their issues in one location.

CopeNHageN BusiNess Task ForCe TargeTs: • Five percent annual increase in gross domestic product and four percent annual increase in productivity by 2020 • a population growth of 8.5 percent and the creation of 20,000 new private workplaces by 2020 • More new growth initiatives with global ambitions • Copenhagen to become northern europe’s leading location for international business headquarters • improve the image of business life and appear the most attractive city to run a business for both international and foreign businesses • Copenhagen should move at least ten places up the list of best local business climates.

Cutting red tape and speeding up the council decision-making process were also visited, with the ambition to reduce the time it takes to have decisions made by 25 percent. They hope that this, and the introduction of better incentives to ensure infrastructure projects finish on time, will fuel growth. The lack of international school places was also recognised as a leading deterrent for foreign workers relocating to Copenhagen. They are therefore proposing that the City Council establish a European school that would teach in English. The school would be connected to an existing primary school in order to allow the students and families to create networks with Copenhageners, which would make it more attractive for them to stay in the country.

Arsonists charged with terror First time terrorism legislation used against far left activists

Our YOunG men, who have been held since April for attempting to set fire to a police school in Brøndby, are going to be charged under terrorism legislation it was decided in court last week on Thursday. A fifth man, arrested in May, is also being charged. The men were initially charged with arson and are accused of being behind a string of attacks against a range of public and private institutions since early 2010, including fur manufacturers, nestle, the Danish Security and Intelligence Service, the Greek Embassy and Arbejdernes Landsbank in Odense. According to the police, the men

had several other targets planned including Christiansborg, the Immigration Ministry, the Justice Ministry, the barracks for the royal Danish Life Guards and the hotel connected to the radical Christian church Faderhuset in Bandholm. The five men had also made plans to assault the police during one of their raids on Christiania, using balloons filled with petrol, Molotov cocktails and steel balls. The judge at last week’s hearing decided, however, that the men would not face terrorism charges for the planned attacks. The men, who have all pleaded not guilty, are the first individuals from the far left environment to be charged under terrorism legislation. (PS)

onlIne ThIS Week greenpeace activists escape jail time GrEEnPEACE activists who gatecrashed a dinner of world leaders during the COP15 climate conference in December 2009 will not serve time behind bars. Three activists who passed themselves off as a head of state, his wife and a bodyguard made it through several police checks before unfurling banners with

the text ‘Politicians talk – Leaders ACT’ in front of global media. The activists were all given two-week suspended sentences for trespassing, impersonating the police and falsifying documents. They were, however, found not guilty of offending the queen. Greenpeace expressed satisfaction with the verdict.

health minister calls for soft drink warning labels

Middle class shrinking, study finds

In A nEW attempt to fight obesity, health minister Bertel Haarder has called for voluntary labelling of sugary, carbonated soft drinks. Haarder urged soft drink manufactures to put warning signs on the bottles in order to decrease consumption among children and youngsters, who health officials say

THE GAP between rich and poor in Denmark is increasing and the current government’s policies are only making the situation worse, a social justice think-tank revealed on Wednesday. The study revealed that between 2002 and 2009 the middle class shrank by almost three percentage points to

shouldn’t drink more than half a litre per week. Haarder’s proposal did not receive an entirely enthusiastic response. Mikael Bonde-nielsen, the communication director for Coca-Cola Denmark, said his company is not planning on labelling bottles anytime soon.

28.6 percent of the population, or 150,000 people, when corrected for overall population growth. According to the study, the inequality is set to grow after a series of tax cuts last year that favoured the rich. Denmark has dropped from having Europe’s lowest poverty rate in 2001, to being number eleven in 2009.

NEWS

THE COPENHAGEN POST CPHPOST.DK

26 August - 1 September 2011

Country not living up to anti-smoking convention COLOURBOX

JENNIFER BULEY Denmark’s smoking laws are too lax, health experts warn

EVEN years after signing the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) landmark treaty to reduce smoking globally, health professionals say the government is not taking its promise seriously. In March 2004 the government and an overwhelming majority of MPs ratified Denmark’s support of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The countries that signed the convention promised to “develop, implement and regularly update and revise widespread, cross-sector national strategies, plans and programmes for tobacco control”. Norway and Great Britain are just two countries who took those requirements seriously and subsequently saw dramatic decreases in smoking. But health experts in Denmark, where smoking is still allowed in bars smaller than 40 sqm, and where an estimated 25 percent of people over the age of 13 smoke every day, say the government has not lived up to its promise. “If you compare what it says in the convention with what has happened in Denmark, we don’t think that the government has taken the convention seriously,” Niels Them Kjær, the project manager for The Danish Cancer Society, told Politiken newspaper. “Denmark has made an exception for the restaurant branch, which is the

The health minister said the government was trying to strike a balance between health issues and personal freedoms

place where you have the most smoke. It is therefore clear cut that Denmark is not living up to the convention,” Kjær added. “Most problematic is that Denmark has not created an action plan for what we want to accomplish. So absolutely nothing happens.” Kjær is among a number of health experts who are calling on the government to take its responsibilities under the tobacco control convention more seriously – starting with a formal action plan. But Jørgen Falk of the National Board of Health said Denmark was living up to most of the convention’s

Denmark has not created an action plan for what we want to accomplish requisites. “We have a variety of components – for example the decision to introduce pictures on cigarette packs – we have national quit smoking campaigns, recommendations for treatment of smoking addiction, and projects to help less educated people stop smoking,” Falk said. “But we don’t have a proper action plan.”

“An action plan is one of the things that can elevate an area,” he continued. “But Denmark is not exceptional in not having an action plan. There are many other countries that don’t have one either.” Mette Weir, the chairman of the government appointed prevention council, Forebyggelseskommissionen, said Denmark had been the least proactive of all the Scandinavian countries when it came to reducing smoking. Whereas just 50 years ago Denmark had one of the highest life expectancies in the world, today it lags behind countries with similar living standards, including Sweden and Norway, where

people live approximately three years longer on average. A 2008 study from the University of Southern Denmark’s State Institute for Public Health established that the difference was due to Danes’ higher consumption of tobacco and alcohol. The study’s authors concluded that the life expectancy here could only be raised to Norwegian and Swedish levels by reducing smoking and alcohol consumption. While Danes smoke less today than they did in the 1970s, we are, on average, still among the heaviest smokers in all 34 developed countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). And one quarter of all deaths in Denmark annually are attributed to smokingrelated illnesses, according to Forebyggelseskommissionen. The health minister, Bertel Haarder, said the government was already using as many tools as it could – from laws, to sin taxes, to health campaigns – short of infringing on people’s personal freedoms. “I think that we have found a good balance between, on the one side, personal freedom and personal responsibility and, on the other side, protections to ensure that those freedoms don’t hurt others,” Haarder told Politiken. But according to health experts, the state has shied away from implementing effective anti-smoking laws. “They have been worried about the people’s reaction, but there is no basis for that. If you took a vote today, there would be a big majority for an antismoking law,” Weir said.

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OPINION

THE COPENHAGEN POST CPHPOST.DK

Congestion charges: right direction, wrong lane

26 August - 1 September 2011

Much-needed help for a vulnerable group

OU CAN’T blame drivers for being insulted by a proposal to force them to pay a toll each time they enter or leave the city. With registration fees for new cars that amount to 180 percent of the purchase value, car ownership in this country is already taxing enough as it is. Given the added expense of some of Europe’s highest prices for fuel and upkeep, there is little doubt that the proposed congestion charge, with its suggested rush hour rate of 25 kroner, will force some onto public transport. That’s something we’re all for, especially if it leads to cleaner air, decreased energy consumption and easier commutes for those who have no alternative to driving. However, a more equitable way to accomplish the same goals would be a national road pricing system that charges drivers based on where, when and how many kilometres they drove, rather than on whether they crossed an arbitrary line. Those sceptical of road pricing need only look to the Netherlands. There, a regional pilot project has already been rolled out with some success. Up until recently, the current government that is so opposed to congestion charges was keeping an eye on this Dutch system as a potential model for Denmark, and only dropped it due to concerns about the technology, not the idea behind it. Another benefit road pricing has over a congestion charge is that it could replace the current tax and registration system, which punishes car ownership, not car use, and makes it cheaper to buy new, fuel-efficient cars. Due to the high purchase price of new cars, Denmark currently has the oldest average age of cars on the road of any country in Europe. Moreover, its “weight charge” puts relatively heavier, but more efficient, hybrid cars well out of the price range of the average family. As with any sort of tracking system, road-pricing raises enormous privacy concerns. We’ve seen in the past that, despite assurances to the contrary, these types of technologies have a way of being abused. Those concerns are valid, but until a system that can satisfy people’s privacy concerns is found, we propose a low-tech solution: reading the odometer. This is a system most people are already familiar with from their home utility meters, requires no new equipment, and all but eliminates privacy concerns. While Denmark is undeniably a leader when it comes to promoting biking, it has fallen behind other countries when it comes to strategies that limit car use. Implementing a congestion charge would put us back in the race. Road pricing would put us well ahead of the pack.

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HERE are people in Denmark who don’t get the healthcare they need. Pregnant women don’t get the checks they need. Others live too long with afflictions that are easily treatable, but left without a doctor’s care for too long can develop into serious conditions. Doctors every day find themselves in the difficult situation of whether to treat a person who needs more help than they are entitled to. The Hippocratic Oath obliges us to treat patients equally. But the law, on the other hand, discriminates. This is why the Danish Medi-

cal Association (DMA), together with the Red Cross in Denmark and the Danish Refugee Council, have joined forces to set up a clinic in Copenhagen. The new clinic will be available for undocumented migrants – those who do not have proof that they are in the country legally. Under current laws, this group only has the right to emergency medical treatment. Experience shows us though that many of them need more help than they are entitled to. Some need to keep their diabetes in check, others treatment for tuberculosis. The clinic, housed in a simple basement and run by volunteers, will offer them free, anonymous medical assistance. The Red Cross in Denmark will be responsible for running the clinic. However, they are dependent on the help of healthcare professionals. The number of doctors who have offered their time has been overwhelming. It has also been heart-warming to see how the clinic has become a common cause for the health service. The DMA appreciates the support it has received from unions representing healthcare professionals such as homecare

assistants, nurses, midwives, psychologists and medical students. We’re breaking new ground, and it isn’t without careful consideration that we have chosen to open a clinic for people who, for one reason or another, are here illegally. And for that reason it is important for us to make it clear that we will in no way enquire about whether patients

The number of doctors who have offered their time has been overwhelming have the right to be in Denmark. Our only consideration will be whether the person needs medical treatment. Health is a basic requirement for all, and the new clinic is a natural extension of doctors’ traditional involvement in efforts to improve the health of at-risk groups. In the wake of a cholera outbreak in the mid19th century, the DMA built the

development called Brumleby in order to provide healthy and inexpensive housing for impoverished workers. Helping sick people lies at the very heart of our profession, and the new clinic is founded on this principle. Fortunately, we can look to Norway and Sweden for good examples of medical associations getting involved in similar clinics. And doctors all over the world find themselves dealing with this issue. In 2010, the World Medical Association reiterated that members are obliged to ensure that undocumented migrants receive adequate medical treatment. The new clinic is a welcome outcome of this declaration. We hope, though, that we won’t need it for very long. We believe that everyone in Denmark should be able to receive treatment in the health service, and this is a goal we will continue to work towards. The author is the president of the Danish Medical Association. This submission was originally published in the Journal of the Danish Medical Association (Ugeskrift for Læger) on August 18.

READER COMMENTS Ramadan at parliament Let me see if I have this correct. Danish free speech protects Mohammed cartoons, but a dinner that might promote cross-cultural understanding and harmony is not allowed. Denmark is becoming the Berkeley, California, of Europe. Free speech is allowed only if you happen to agree with us ... I am so glad that I have decided to take my half-American, half-Danish son home to America so that he can grow up with an open mind. Won’t be long now. Tomnashdk By website

even more welcome; hunt them down and deport them. After all, it is the law. What kind of message does this send out to other would-be illegal immigrants: Come to Denmark, the land of the soft. Tolentone By website

Health clinic for illegals

You’re stretching the truth because you are overlooking the fact that the centre is privately funded. Now, if the centre was publicly funded, then you’d be more on the point, but I don’t see what is so wrong with a privately funded organisation providing emergency and preventative services for people in need. If you don’t like it or don’t agree, then don’t donate to it or its supporters. That’s the beauty of the private sector, you have the free will to avoid being compassionate. Also, “What kind of message does this send out to other would-be illegal immigrants: Come to Denmark, the land of the soft.” Dude, come on, this is better fear mongering than Villy and Helle combined. I hardly doubt that if a man from Iraq twists his ankle he is going to come to DK for emergency services. This clinic is putting band-aids on bumps and bruises, not inviting immigrants to sneak into DK to get their cancer cured or the quadruple bypass surgery they need. JFD By website

Just have the police waiting for them. This is like saying it’s OK to be here illegally and we’ll even make you better. Having illegal immigrants in your country is dangerous for security and harming to the economy - don’t set up places that make them feel

So what next? Rob a bank and Denmark should just look the other way? Some laws are okay to break, and others are hard and fast? Who gets to pick which laws are okay to break and which are enforced? HD1683 By website

So let me get this right. You’re leaving the ‘navel-gazing’ Danes to return to the (financially and morally defunct) US so your son can grow up in a safer environment? Good luck with that. I guess us poor bastards left behind will have to try our best to fill the cultural and economic chasm Denmark will surely slide into once you depart for greener pastures. Barnes By website It is amazing how the pettiness, megalomania, mean-spiritedness, xenophobia and bloody-mindedness of this country can keep reaching new, nauseating heights. Helle Møller By Facebook

Looking for illegal immigrants in a health clinic where these people come to seek one of the most basic human needs - healthcare, which could be a matter of life and death - is a disgusting way to take advantage of people’s vulnerability. Police should go and search for illegal immigrants somewhere else. Maya Zeta J By Facebook Wozniackis part company I wonder if CW simply doesn’t have the hunger anymore? I watched both her recent defeats and she looked as if she’d rather be back home in Monaco doing something else. npandjmclay By website India cools relations Thanks India for standing up for your rights in this case. If you had shielded a terrorist from the Danish state, Danes would have cried foul with righteous indignation. Interesting how quiet the Danish media has been regarding this turn of events. Ooops might look bad for Danes (and we couldn’t have that). Thorvaldsen By website Good. Serves Denmark right. Can you even begin to imagine the shit storm if the shoe were on the other foot? Heidi Patterson By Facebook Secret far right group This isn’t exactly a million miles away from how Nazi Germany started, you know. If the government itself wasn’t so racist, may-

be they’d actually do something about it all. shufflemoomin By website I will not rest until the rest of Europe learns about how frustrated, racist and xenophobic this country is. It must not be part of Europe. urbanxs By website Abolish crime age limit While I agree that the age or criminal responsibility should be lower (when a young person knows the difference between right and wrong and also consequences), having no lower limit is dangerous – in theory a four-year-old could be arrested and charged with a crime. Sure, children are growing up quicker, but many (even late teens) have a problem with consequences, so many parents seem to do nothing to enforce this lesson, for the fear of upsetting the little darling! Rugratzz By website Endangered species warning: the local library The statement “Denmark has been known as one of the best library countries in the world” is not true. If it is, where is the proof? Libraries are very important places for every age of society – what is the point of closing them? I cannot see the logic. Rugratzz By website New-look Copenhagen Post OMG, wasn’t sure I’d see that in my life-time. Frédéric Lanta By Facebook

OPINION

THE COPENHAGEN POST CPHPOST.DK

26 August - 1 September 2011

Pernickety Dicky BY RICHARD STEED English my nature – Danish at heart. Freelance journalist Richard Steed has lived in Copenhagen for nearly five years now. “I love this city and want Copenhagen to be a shining example to the rest of the world.”

Trashing the city

ECENTLY Copenhagen came out top in yet another survey. This time voted by European consumers as the best city to visit in 2011. Copenhagen already has so many titles, it’s hard to remember them all: Best Green City, Most Livable City and First Bike City in the World to name just a few. Even CNN came here earlier this year to showcase Copenhagen’s green credentials to the rest of the world. Yet, any poor traveller planning to come and visit this beacon of green living is in for a real shock. And I’m not just talking about how Copenhagen looks like a building site right now – though obviously this is no fault of us Copenhageners and means that at least the city is building for the future. The shock for the inquisitive tourist, hoping to see a sustainable green city in action, will be the amount of garbage and millions of cigarette butts scattered right across the city streets. The centre of Copenhagen has never looked dirtier and as an Englishman, who has made this supposedly green oasis my home, I’ve never been more embarrassed. Even the lakes in the heart of the city are now turning into a sanctuary for lost trash. If this is supposed to be the Greenest City on the planet, then I think we are doomed as humans. If this is the best Copenhageners can do, then my hunch is we won’t be the greenest for much longer. There is a false sense of green reality as soon as you step off your flight from Europe. As you walk down the corridors of Copenhagen Airport, you’ll see fantastic 21st century recycling bins, dividing your trash into different sections. This false sense of optimism doesn’t last long though – it’s pretty much over 20 minutes later by the time you’ve arrived at Central Station and reality strikes.

Cigarette butts and other litter are a blow to the city’s green image

So why aren’t there these 21st recycling bins right across the city? If Berlin can have them why can’t we? The current trash bins in Copenhagen are a joke. They look like they’ve been here since the 1970s and simply cannot cope with the lifestyles of a throwaway society. Who is to blame here? Well for starters what is the local council doing to combat this problem? Obviously they will argue that Copenhagen actually gets some of its energy from waste, by burning it in the city incinerators. They would also argue the street cleaners are out in force every single day. Yet maybe they’ve just secretly accepted the

The centre of Copenhagen has never looked dirtier and I’ve never been more embarrassed fact that Copenhageners are a wasteful and thoughtless bunch. That in a hightaxation society it’s better to keep quiet, keep taking the money and keep cleaning up the mess.

So what about the attitudes of Copenhageners to trash? Well if you visit the King’s Garden after a sunny day in the city, you’ll see that they’ve decided it’s definitely not their responsibility. The grass is literally covered in endless garbage. Goodness knows what the tourists must think. So Copenhageners see trash as someone else’s problem, even though through our consumption we created it in the first place! I can hear people saying “Well that’s why I pay my taxes” and “I’m creating a job for someone here.” Yet this ambivalent attitude to our own waste is something I find unacceptable in a land of progressive en-

vironmental thinking. So what can be done? Well we can start by giving people a fine if they leave their garbage behind, put a price on cigarette butts, so at least those collecting bottles and cans, have the chance to make some extra cash, spend money on a new public information campaign to reeducate us all, and stop businesses from creating so much unnecessary waste. Something needs to be done. Maybe it’s time for Copenhageners to individually look at their own habits, question their attitudes regarding their own waste and start owning up to some responsibility. If Copenhageners really love their city and want to be a leading green example to others in the world, then cleaning up this embarrassing mess has to be the first step.

CPH POST VOICES

‘STILL ADJUSTING’

‘TO BE PERFECTLY FRANK’

‘MACCARTHY’S WORLD’

‘SO SAYS CELIA’

A proud native of the American state of Iowa, Justin Cremer has been living in Copenhagen since June 2010. In addition to working at the CPH Post, he balances fatherhood, the Danish language and the ever-changing immigration rules. Follow him at twitter.com/justincph

Born in 1942 on the Isle of Wight, Englishman Frank Theakston has been in Copenhagen 32 years and is on his second marriage to a Dane. Frank comes from a different time and a different culture – which values are the right ones today?

Clare MacCarthy is Nordic correspondent for The Economist and a frequent contributor to The Financial Times and The Irish Times. She’ll go anywhere from the Gobi Desert to the Arctic in search of a story. The most fascinating thing about Denmark, she says, is its contradictions.

Celia Thaysen is a British love refugee who landed on these shores six years ago. With below-par Danish, a tendency to tardiness, and a fondness for Marmite, she spends her time fumbling her way through unfamiliar territory as a working mother-of-two with a house in the ‘burbs.

10 News

The CopenhAgen poST CphpoST.dk

26 August - 1 September 2011

Peter stanners Critics point to a lack of support in immigrant’s mother-tongue language

hE rEADING capabilities of second-generation immigrants falls well below the average standard of reading in Copenhagen, a study published last week revealed. The 2010 PISA report into the reading standards of 15-year-olds – carried out by the Danish Institute of Governmental research (AKF) – has shown that 46 percent of children born to immigrants – defined in the study as ‘second-generation immigrants’ – do not have functional reading capabilities. While this is an improvement on 2004 (51 percent) and 2007 (47 percent), the average rate in Copenhagen is a much lower 24 percent. Many experts point to the government’s 2001 decision to end the statesupported supplementary teaching of Danish to children in their mother tongue as hurting their reading abilities. “We know from international studies that mother-tongue education has a documented effect on reading capabilities,” Anna holmen, from Copenhagen University, told Politiken newspaper. Christian horst, from the Danish School of Education, explained that teaching children in their mother tongue is essential for their ability to learn other languages. “If they are not taught Danish in

their mother tongue, they find it more difficult to use Danish as a tool for learning. They might learn how to speak the right local accent and everyday language. But it’s not enough,” he told Politken. The criticisms that were initially levelled against the government’s 2001 decision to remove state-supported mother-tongue education have persisted ever since, with the topic recurring in the news almost every year. “Councils with bilingual children should be obligated – and provided with extra funding on top of their ordinary grants – to provide mother tongue teaching because it is a huge problem for society if we don’t lift these bilingual students,” Pernille Vigsø Bagge, of the Socialist People’s Party, told Information newspaper in 2007. While the Social Democrats also supported the idea, state-funded mother tongue education has not been reinstated despite repeated calls from the European Union to support such measures. “It’s of great consequence to immigrant children’s understanding of their cultural background and self confidence that they master the language of origin, which can also benefit them in their future employment opportunities,” according to a 2008 European Commission report. The commission made a similar call in 2005, but the government has repeatedly responded that it is not the role of the state to teach children in their parents’ mother tongue. “The government has removed the

obligation because we believe there are other elements that are more important to integration than teaching second or third generation immigrants in their mother tongues,” said the former immigration minister, rikke hvilshøj, in 2005 to Berlingske newspaper. Jesper Langballe from the Danish People’s Party told the paper that “one’s mother tongue – as the term itself says – should be learned from one’s mother.” Conservative MP Charlotte Dyremose echoed the same sentiment in 2007: “It’s up to the parents to ensure extra lessons in their mother tongue,” Dyremose said to Information. While reading standards for children in the ‘second-generation immigrant’ category have slightly improved since 2004, they still fall well below the standard of white Danes and have led to calls for action. “The decision to remove mother tongue education was a massive own goal for Danish society,” integration consultant Allan hjorth from Connectingminds told tV2 News last October. “If they don’t learn their mothertongue they can’t learn Danish properly. And if they don’t learn Danish properly, then they can’t help but be bad at other academic subjects.” But should the state choose to fund mother-tongue education again, it may still face some problems, as a 2001 study revealed that many schools had difficulty finding qualified individuals to teach Danish to children in their mother-tongues.

high number of sick days costs economy dearly

CCOrDING to a new study on sick days in Denmark, people called in sick approximately six million times in the second quarter of 2011, a period that due to the April Easter holiday already had seven national holidays. With a total employed workforce of under 2,600,000 people, it meant that the average worker called in sick more than twice in the three-month period. Those six million lost work days accounted for some 12 billion kroner in lost economic productivity, according to the study by Medhelp, which administers sick leave for many of the country’s public and private workplaces. Most of the sick days were taken on Mondays. Women between the ages of 15 and 29 took the most sick days, whereas men between the ages of 30 and 54 took the least.

Another study released in June by Personalestyrelsen, which acts as the state’s human resources department for some 185,000 state employees, revealed a worrying rise in the number of sick leave days taken by young employees and particularly young men. Sick days taken by young state employees between the ages of 20 and 29 increased by 51 percent between 2002 and 2011, with an especially strong spike occurring after 2008, according to Personalestyrelsen. While employees between the ages of 20 and 29 accounted for just 14.6 percent of the public sector workforce, they were responsible for more than 33 percent of all sick days taken. The number of sick days rose the most among young men under the age of 25. Their sick day totals nearly tripled per capita from 2003 to 2009.

“It indicates that this group of workers is not optimally integrated,” Thomas Lund, a senior researcher at the Arbejdsmedicinsk Klinik in herning, told Politiken newspaper. At Arbejdsmedicinsk Klinik, doctors, sociologists and other specialists study the causes and means of prevention of workplacerelated illnesses. Lund’s colleague, senior researcher Merete Labriola, concurred that the high number of sick days among young employees would become an expensive problem for society if left unaddressed. According to Medhelp’s new study, public sector employees take nearly 40 percent more sick days per capita than private sector employees do. In addition, workers in eastern Denmark, including the Greater Copenhagen area, take more sick days than residents in Zealand and Funen. (JB)

Ny-DaNsk UNgDomsråD

Study: Minority children are poor at reading

samira Ahmad from the Danish ethnic Youth Council welcomed the study’s findings

Immigrants hold self-sufficiency in higher regard than ethnic danes Study casts positive light on state of immigration, according to expert

StUDy investigating the values of Danes and immigrants in Denmark released this week shows immigrants value self-sufficiency even more than Danes do. The government study ‘Citizenship in Denmark’ (Medborgerskab i Danmark) involved the participation of 3,225 people with immigrant backgrounds and 1,023 white Danes. On a ten-point scale, immigrants aged between 18 and 24 were asked to rate the importance of being self-sufficient. They scored it 9.3, 0.4 more than the white Danes in the same age bracket. The immigration minister, Søren Pind, responded positively to the results. “It is very valuable that young immigrants value self-sufficiency higher than young whites,” Pind told JyllandsPosten newspaper. Jørgen Goul Andersen, of Aalborg University, has analysed the data and also feels the results casts a positive light on the state of integration. “The study demonstrates that immigrants have taken on an incredible number of elements from the Danish political culture,” Andersen told Jyllands-Posten. “With regard to political participation and citizenship it looks more like assimilation than integration. Immigrants from non-western countries often appear

Immigrants have taken on an incredible number of elements from the danish political culture more like Danes then central, southern and western Europeans do.” Andersen explained that Danes already highly rate the need to have a job regardless of whether they actually need money – the so-called ‘non-financial employment commitment’ – and said the study confirmed that immigrants are also adopting this attitude. The study also revealed that immigrants thought it less important than Danes to vote and to report crimes however. But Samira Ahmad, the chairman of the Danish Ethnic youth Council (Ny-Dansk Ungdomsråd), explained to Jyllands-Posten that there were three reasons for this. Firstly, many are tired of the tone in the debate and feel that people are more likely to talk about them than with them. Secondly, there is not the same voting tradition in their families. Lastly they don’t understand the importance of voting. “I’m happy that self-sufficiency is highly valued but it doesn’t surprise me. Most immigrants equate work with good integration.” (PS)

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A glass of Champagne + sailing cruise + 3 course meal Prices from DKK 695 per person based on a minimum of 6 persons. Dinner reservations: info@saltrestaurant.dk T +45 33 74 14 44

info@saltrestaurant.dk

www.salt.dk

11 globetrotting cyclists steal the show at church fair community

The CopenhAgen poST CphpoST.dk

26 August - 1 September 2011

Photos Clive thain & Words Ben hamilton

A young child with a Scottish heritage trying Irn Bru for the first time – it can only be the St Albans Summer Fete, which this year was another major success thanks to glorious sunshine and the efforts of its organisers, who pulled out all the stops to provide their visitors with bagpipe music, a splendid second hand English-language bookstore, an English tearoom complete with cakes, dancing from the days of Jane Austen, and plenty of bric-a-brac. It was so good that Billie Hamilton (pictured) called up all her friends.

The highlight of the day was the arrival of three 17-year-olds who had cycled all the way from Cambridge in the UK. James Robson, Marcus Turner and Max Monteith (left to right) started the journey on August 3, and have raised an impressive £4,600 for Whizz-Kidz, a charity that provides disabled children and young people with mobility equipment and wheelchair skills training. Their 1,000-mile route took them through the UK, the Netherlands, Germany and finally Denmark. “We behaved ourselves in Amsterdam,” insisted James, standing next to his clearly proud parents Charles and Katie Robson, one of the key organisers of the fete.

Mr Darcy has his hands full with all five Bennet sisters

If there was an admission price, the bookstore would be worth it alone. Three books for just 10 kroner – it stocks every type of English-language book you could possibly hope for. Kids stuff, high-brow, airport smut – it’s all here.

It was a good day for Katie Robson, seen here welcoming back her son James. “We’re enormously happy with the weather,” she enthused. “It’s the first sunny day we’ve had for a long time. Two days ago … I was not in such a happy mood!”

Where would we be without Abigail’s? Running short on almost every important ingredient in a fry-up, that’s where.

Archdeacon Jonathan Lloyd, the chaplain at St Albans Church, and British ambassador Nick Archer look at home in their little corner of England

Look at this line-up at the tea tent! It’s no wonder that once it fills up – approximately 15 minutes after the fete opens – it’s almost impossible to get a seat, as visitors cram the aisles to get their annual dollop of British goodies.

Aha, the famous preserve of the British! And fudge too at the cake stand.

COMMUNITY

THE COPENHAGEN POST CPHPOST.DK

26 August - 1 September 2011

ABOUT TOWN PHOTOS BY HASSE FERROLD UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED

The Irish Society finally got the weather it had been waiting for all summer to host its annual picnic in Dyrehaven. Over 40 gathered at the red gate of the park before heading off to the location at Ulvedalene. “Mother nature took a break from all the rain and presented us with beautiful, sunny day,” Bill McGrath told The Copenhagen Post. The day included a quiz for both adults (as old as 70) And they’re neck and neck in the Irish picnic’s famous slow bicyand children (as young as seven), a slow bicycle race and a leisurely cle race in which the object is to come last. Photo: Danish Irish Society game of rounders. Photo: Danish Irish Society

Bøf og Ost restaurant at Gråbrødretorv square, which is a great place for a civilized drink just around the corner from Strøget, held its annual ‘grill-oxe and jazz event’ on Saturday, as part of the ongoing Copenhagen Cooking festival, and once again the occasion was well attended and enjoyed.

The ambassador of India, Ashok Kumar Attri (third from right), was once again the host as India celebrated its independence day at India House in Hellerup last week on Thursday. Pictured with him here is Uffe Ellemann-Jensen (second from right), the former foreign minister who is now an export ambassador solely responsible for relations with India, which might suggest that diplomatic relations between the countries are not completely beyond repair following the latest development Meanwhile, Indians in Denmark celebrated Independence Day on Saturday with a very colourful occasion in in the case of admitted gunrunner Niels Holck. the Carlsberg area of Copenhagen.

BRITISH CHAMBER OF OF BRITISH CHAMBER COMMERCE INDENMARK DENMARK COMMERCE

Living in an Expat world Life is never dull at the national networking platform, Expat in Denmark. From questions regarding complicated tax issues to ones about the Danish psyche, Craig Till has heard it all. Here he shares his insights about the issues that mean most to our community.

Cloud Computing This “on the way home” event features presentations from two Danish-founded companies, Tradeshift and e-conomic, that have embraced “cloud technologies” and are offering their Software as a Service (SaaS). This event will give you the chance to learn:

One of the paradoxes of expat life is, I suppose, that no matter how long one is expatriated there remains an affinity to one’s home country, based in no small part upon the knowledge of the country - particularly its places, peculiarities and, of course, its people. What then to make of the recent riots in the UK? For those non-Brits who I know, there was a sense of bemusement that it happened to a country seen by many – albeit with some spectacularly large rose-tinted glasses – as a proper and civilized society where no problem is so great that it cannot be fixed by a nice cup of tea and a rousing chorus of ‘Jerusalem’. The vast majority of Brits (perhaps my Glaswegian mother would prefer me to say English) would have a more rational view of our country’s populous, though among most I know - including those who lived in the cities affected - there was immense shock over the scenes played out on their doorsteps and TVs. My friends back home cast around for someone to blame. Blame the parents, the education system, the economy, cutbacks in public services, the police, and so on. Perhaps I would have been

casting similar questions had I still lived in the UK. But I don’t live in the UK and felt so disconnected after the years away that no deterrent was too severe. After fleeting thoughts of ferocious police dogs and curfews, I soon found myself wishing to tackle the thuggish bravado of the rioters by use of (albeit a friend’s suggestion) a water canon hooked up to the local sewage drain. Bravo - job done! Except, of course, not. What I have found myself wondering in the days since are two thoughts. The garish blingloaded consumerismgone-mad TV shows that so infest British TV are also increasingly found on Danish TV. The cause of the riots? No. Related to the objects of the looters’ affections? Most certainly. Were similar riots to occur - heaven forbid - in Copenhagen tomorrow, what do you wonder the Danish looters might grab? More interesting, perhaps, were the days following the riots in which so many expats took to the streets to help clean up the mess I could not help but wonder whether a similar event would see expats living in Copenhagen take to the streets with plastic bag and gloves to clean up? Who would we blame, and which of us would help?

My friends back home cast around for someone to blame. Blame the parents, the education system, the economy, cutbacks in public services, the police, and so on.

• •

How e-conomic’s strategy has put them on a strong course to become the biggest accounting system for small businesses in Denmark. How the emergence of Cloud technologies allowed the founders of Tradeshift to start a high growth company in the middle of the financial crisis and how their new disruptive business model lets them offer their services at a fraction of the price of traditional e-invoicing & supply chain management software.

is a social network for business that allows anyone to exchange invoices for free. Tradeshift was founded 18 months ago and now employs nearly 50 people with 18 different nationalities. The company has been funded by PayPal and Notion Capital and offers large enterprises the ability to connect to their entire supply chain with electronic invoicing. Customers include TDC, COOP, Stark, DSV and the National Health Service in England. is one of the fastest growing online accounting systems and was one of the first companies to succeed with Software as a Service. e-conomic is a web-based innovative accounting system that exploits the opportunities of the Internet for easy-to-use, flexible and secure accounting solutions. e-conomic constantly endeavours to develop, improve and adapt the application to match technological development as well as the individual client’s needs – regardless of the size and industry of the business.

Programme – Wednesday September 7 16:00 Registration 16:30 Cloud technologies and social media – changing the way we do business 16:50 Building the world’s largest business network – e-invoicing and more with Tradeshift 17:10 From e-invoicing to online accounting – lowering barriers for SMEs with e-conomic 17.30 Panel Discussion Location: Tradeshift, Nørregade 36B, 3rd floor, 1165 Copenhagen K Directions: 50 meters from Nørreport Station on the left side of Nørregade. Look for the neon sign for Sømods Bolcher (famous Candy factory appointed by the Royal Court) Parking: Use the parking garage at Israels Plads You can sign up via the website, send an email to event@bccd.dk or phone 31 18 75 58. This event is free of charge for members / 125 DKK inc MOMS for Nonmembers. • official media partner

COMMUNITY

THE COPENHAGEN POST CPHPOST.DK

26 August - 1 September 2011

Brilliant bike culture a beacon for Brit who’s barmy about bicycles BY VICTORIA STEFFENSEN Gentofte’s newest bike-shop owner, Richard Horton, loves how rush hour traffic includes queues of bicycles

icycles, bikes, cycles … whatever you call them, you can’t have helped noticing that the Danes like the things. Maybe you’ve admired the way so many people use them – after all, they’re good for your health and the environment. Or maybe you’ve sworn at a couple, as they race past your car with a look that says “I own the road”. Or maybe you simply ride one yourself – a great way to see things with the family at the weekend and a much more efficient way to get to work (making you smile as you speed pass the invariable queue of traffic heading to Copenhagen during the rush hour).

Yes, Denmark is a perfect place to use a bicycle, and that hasn’t escaped the notice of expat Brit, Richard Horton. Horton opened a bicycle shop in Gentofte, a suburb in the north of Greater Copenhagen, at the beginning of the summer, and I caught up with him in that very same shop to speak to him about his experiences thus far. How did you end up in Denmark? Like many expats here, my ‘other half ’ is Danish. We have lived for many years in London, and my wife had always wanted to move home. However, the reason we finally made the move was mainly due to me. I felt my job in the UK was not going forwards, and a move to Denmark just felt right. I guess we had also grown a little tired of London. Why open a bicycle shop? I worked at an outdoor bicycle circuit for many years in London, and I learned a great deal about the me-

Richard Horton is proud to have realised his dream

chanics of bikes there. Since moving to Denmark, I have worked in bicycle shops on Vesterbrogade and in Valby. I decided I wanted to own my own place before I hit the big 40, and I’ve made it with a few months to spare! Did you especially look to start up in Gentofte? Not particularly – it just had to be within a reasonable distance of our home, which is in Herlev. I started looking in the centre of Copenhagen, but it is impossible to find an area that doesn’t already have three or four bike shops on each road! Then a space popped up in Gentofte, so I came and took a look. You must have realised what a huge amount of expats there were in this area? Not at all. We don’t have children, so I had no idea where the international schools were located. It is only since opening here and chatting with the people around, that I have found out how many foreigners live around here. And I’ve already had a few English customers! I see you don’t have a vast amount of stock here yet No, I don’t want to make the mistake of investing in a lot of stock before I know what the market here wants. I already hold some basic lines here in the shop, but I’m concentrating on the repair side of the business while I get to know the neighbourhood. From my own experience, I know that people often get to know a cycle shop by going in to get a repair, and if they’re happy, they return to buy their children’s new bike and so on. This is how I hope to grow my business at the start.

Richard’s shop Horton Cykler is located at Gentoftegade 66 C

What is your impression of the neighbourhood of shopkeepers around you? Very good indeed. Soon after I opened, a gentleman from Ny Bolig – the shop above me – came down and welcomed me, and we have since spoken about ways we can co-operate on advertising and such things. I have also heard that the shops work together on many projects such as Gentofte’s Halloween evening, when all the shops on our section of Gentoftegade open late, there are good offers, and lots of fun and entertainment. Of course, it is in everyone’s interest here that new shops are a success – so that the feel of a busy high street is maintained.

Is it difficult to start a business here? Not really. I think they are very supportive of new ideas. However, I do see that it could be very problematic for people without access to a native Danish speaker. Most of the written information is obviously in Danish, but having lived here a while, there were many friends from my network who could assist with translation. Are you happy you moved to Denmark? Yes, totally. Before I came, I thought: “So many people cycle to work – these people must have their heads screwed on!” And I’ve been proved right. It is so refreshing to see the jam of bicycles at the traffic lights in the morning. That’s precisely the direction the world should be moving in.

COMING UP SOON PhotoMarathon

Chess for Kids and Teenagers

ESF’s men European Cup

Gammeltorv, Cph K; Sat 27 August, starts 09:30, ends Sun 11:30; admission: 250kr; www.fotomarathon.dk

Skakforeningen AS04, Frejasgade 14, Cph N; every Thu, 18:00-19:00; www. as04.dk

Hørsholm Sportspark, Stadionallé, 2960 Rungsted Kyst; Sat 27 August, 11:0018:00; free adm; www.ecm2011.dk

At 22 years of age, PhotoMarathon is still the biggest and most enjoyable event of its kind that you will find throughout Denmark. The challenge is to take 12 or 24 unique pictures during a specific time frame. Simply come to Gammeltorv at 9:30 to register for either the 12 or 24 hour competition. The submitted photos will be judged according to their concept, composition and uniqueness, and quality. For more information about registration and the schedule, visit the marathon’s website.

Every Thursday the chess club in Nørrebro offers lessons for kids and teenagers (6-16 years), including practical as well as theoretical instruction. Learn from experienced chess instructors about opening variations, combination-techniques, basic chess principles and how to make notes on a chess game. The first three lessons are free - after that membership is 200kr for six months.

For the first time ever, the European softball elite is gathering in Denmark to find out who is Europe’s best. As the only Danish team, the Hørsholm Giants will compete against eight other sides from the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, France, Spain, Czech Republic and Croatia, with the final scheduled for 4 pm on Saturday. You can of course bring food and beverages, but you can also purchase them at the event.

Children’s Choir Kristkirke, Enghave Plads 18, Cph V; every Thu, children aged 5-7 years: 15:00-15:45, 8-11 years: 16:00-16:45; contact: metteskovmark@gmail.com, 2857 9407; www.kristkirke.dk

After their summer break the children’s choirs at Kristkirke are resuming their practicing hours and welcoming new members. If you are between five and eleven years old and eager to sing, just contact singing teacher Mette Skovmark to get more information. After a little warming up, you will experience the dynamic of singing songs for several voices, a canon or whatever the group is up for.

Round Christiansborg 2011 Den Sorte Diamant, Søren Kierkegaards Plads 1, Cph K; Sat 27 August, starts 09:30; admission: 2000m: 350kr, 4x500m: 800kr; registration: www. openwater.dk

The Danish Swimming Union once again invites you to take part in the famous open-water event Round Christiansborg. Registration starts at 09:30, and the minimum age is 15 years. The starter’s gun at Fredriksholm Kanal is given at 11am for individual swimmers and at 15:30 for relays. From there you will swim past the Black Diamond, continue along the waterfront, under Knippelsbro Bridge, past the Stock Exchange, Højbro Plads and Gammel Strand and end again at Fredriksholm Kanal.

Lovers without Borders Vor Frue Plads, Fiolstræde1, Cph K; Sat 27 August, 14:00-19:00; free adm; visit Kærlighed uden Grænser on Facebook

Love who you want, where you want! If you say YES to this motto, come and join this celebration of a love without borders, which doesn’t care about regulation, immigration and language barriers. Since leading politicians were invited to present their point of view on the subject, it is also a possibility to make a stand before the upcoming elections and demonstrate for new laws of family reunification in Denmark. Different musical acts will support the cause during the day, before the after-party moves to the Compass Bar.

BY EVA KORTE

Subeditor – science news Videnskab.dk is seeking an entrepreneurial subeditor with web media experience and a love for science to help run our English-language site for updated science news from the Nordic countries. You will be responsible for content from Denmark, Finland and Iceland – selecting, editing and translating articles from Videnskab.dk and our partners, and occasionally writing your own content. In collaboration with an Oslo-based colleague and with the support of external translators you will secure a steady flow of cutting-edge Nordic research news. ScienceNordic will launch this autumn. You will be based at Videnskab.dk in the heart of Copenhagen. Due to the nature of the project, the job is offered as a 12-month position with the possibility of extension. See the full job description and contact info here: www.videnskab.dk/subeditor Please send application and CV to vh@videnskab.dk. Applications close September 5, 2011.

14 sport

The CopenhAgen poST CphpoST.dk

26 August - 1 September 2011

Woz ditches dad ahead of final grand slam of the season scanpix

Ben Hamilton glimmer of hope for world number one’s form approaching next week’s US open

he world number one tennis player Caroline wozniacki has terminated her coaching relationship with her father Piotr, who in an interview with ekstra Bladet tabloid has revealed that the pair have parted in a bid to improve her offensive game. “we continually hear about how Caroline should play,” complained Piotr, a former professional football player from Poland, who initially moved to denmark to join Boldklubben 1909. “So now she’s trying something new and trying to become more aggressive. But as you can see, she’s not winning games right now because she does not know how to play.” The father and daughter reached a mutual decision following wimbledon in early July following wozniacki’s disappointing exit in the fourth round. In recent weeks, her form has slumped and seen her knocked out of tournaments in Toronto and Cincinnati in the first round, although she did win her first match in the New haven open at Yale on Tuesday, comfortably beating the world number 41, Slovenia’s Polona hercog, 6-3 6-0. wozniacki is bidding to win her fourth New haven in a row ahead of the US open, the final grand slam of the year - which she made the final of in 2009, but is only a 20/1 sixth favourite to win this time around – which is due to start on Monday August 29. In Cincinnati she lost to American 19-year-old Christina Mchale (her next opponent at Yale, with the game scheduled for Thursday), the world number 76 - the first time the dane has lost to

Caroline Wozniacki and her father piotr have agreed to go their separate ways

a player outside the top 75 since 2009. And the tension between player and coach was evident, with Piotr yelling at her daughter throughout, mostly in Polish apparently. whether the choice of language was due to the presence of her rumoured boyfriend rory McIlroy, the Northern Irish golfer who this year won the US open, is anybody’s guess, but it didn’t take long for the danish tabloids to start questioning what kind

of effect their relationship is having on her game. Apparently she hasn’t won a single match since they started dating, a tabloid declared on its front page on Saturday, demonstrating once and for all that newspapers of that ilk are capable of counting to two. rumours of a romance with McIlroy, 22, have been growing since the pair were snapped at a london café over the summer. McIlroy decided to stay in

Ikkel kessler, 32, has been handed a chance to become world champion again, after it was last week confirmed that the Viking warrior will box Germany’s wBo super-middleweight champ robert Stieglitz on November 5 at Copenhagen’s Parken stadium. Stieglitz, 30, who has defended his title four times since winning the belt in August 2009, will be wary of an opponent fighting at home, who held the wBA, wBo and wBC super-middleweight belts before losing to Britain’s Joe Calzaghe in 2007, and regained the

wBC title in April 2010, before giving it up due to an eye injury that threatened to end his career. “The fans are my big advantage,” kessler told media outlet SId. “Stieglitz will be very surprised when he comes into the stadium. The fans will be driving me forward.” A crowd of 20,000 is expected at Parken, where kessler is undefeated in two fights, to watch the fight. Furthermore, kessler has never lost in denmark before. “I will completely blank out the spectators in the stadium and totally concentrate on the fight,” said Stieglitz, who revealed he was happy the fight was taking place in a heated arena with a roof. “he is a very popular man, but I will be very well prepared.”

scanpix

32-year-old will take on german WBo champ Robert Stieglitz at parken

Kessler: home advantage will be big help

kessler has won 44 of his 46 professional fights, with 33 knockouts. Stieglitz has won 40 of his 42, with 23 knockouts. (Bh)

handball team ends magnificent year with a gold

T wAS a case of third time lucky for the men’s handball team over the weekend when denmark finally won gold in a major world final, after finishing runners-up in both the senior and junior (under-21s) tournaments earlier in the year. Its youth side on Sunday won the handball Under-19s world Championship following a 24-22 defeat of Spain in the final in Argentina. Trailing 17-13 after a high-scoring

first half, the danish keeper Thorsten Fries managed to keep a clean sheet for the first 18 minutes of the second half, enabling his side to draw level. And although Spain edged ahead again, denmark hit back, scoring the final three goals of the night. In all, Fries went on to keep out 16 of Spain’s 21 shots during that half – an impressive 76 percent save ratio, which his coach Claus hansen later described as “life-saving”.

At the other end meanwhile, Theis Baagøe netted seven times to top score in the final. denmark were similarly devastating in the second half of their semifinal against France, as they avenged the senior side’s defeat in the final of the world championship. The gold medal follows silvers in the seniors in January and in the juniors in July. (Bh)

oB derails 40 minutes short of CL europa League for odense side that fought bravely to the end

scanpix

kessler earns shot at world title

the US after competing in golf ’s final major of the year, the US PGA Championship, ten days ago, after which he tweeted: “I’m actually going to go to Cincinnati for a few days. I hear it’s nice there this time of year.” And he was courtside on Tuesday to watch her victory to finally end his ‘jinx’. Since wimbledon, wozniacki has only competed in three other tournaments: the Swedish open in early July, which she retired from after cruising

through the first round; the rogers Cup in Toronto, in which she was defeated by the world number 23, Italy’s roberta Vinci; and the western & Southern open in Cincinnati. “Such things happen during a season, to have highs and lows,” wozniacki, who has won five tournaments so far this year, told media after the Cincinnati defeat.”I cannot remember the last time that I lost my first match on successive occasions. But such things happen.” It is believed that a coach has already been lined up to replace her father, and that it is a former pro, although wozniacki’s agent John Tobias, from the lagardere sports agency, told Tennis.com that no contract has been signed yet. It was confirmed in April that the wozniackis had asked the sport’s greatest attacking player ever, Martina Navratilova, to be her consultant to help wozniacki in connection with her bid to represent denmark in doubles at the 2012 olympics. Most pundits agree that the dane has one of the best defensive games in world tennis, and blame her failure to win grand slams on her poor offence. Analysis from this year’s Australian open, in which she bowed out in the semi-finals, revealed that five of her six opponents hit considerably more winners than she did. In the first round, Gisela dulko made 35 winners to wozniacki’s 15, in the third round dominika Cibulkova made 41 winners to wozniacki’s eleven, in the fourth round Anastasija Sevastova made 26 winners to wozniacki’s 16, in the quarters Francesca Schiavone made 41 winners to wozniacki’s 13, and in the semis, losing to li Na, the Chinese player made 42 winners to wozniacki’s ten.

T wAS looking increasingly likely at the time of going to press that denmark will have no representatives in this year’s Champions league group stage. while odense side oB were unable to defend their 1-0 first leg lead in Spain on Tuesday night, conceding three second half goals to lose 3-0 to Villarreal, FC Copenhagen on wednesday night faced the unenviable task of travelling to the Czech republic to overturn a two-goal deficit following a 3-1 defeat to FC Viktoria Plzeň in their first meeting last week. Both sides will take solace out of the knowledge that this season’s champions will automatically qualify for next season’s Cl group stage. Meanwhile, they will have to content themselves with the europa league group stage, where there are still plenty of UeFA coefficient ranking points up for grabs to improve the country’s chances of achieving regular Cl group stage football in the future. Still with a chance of joining them in the europa league group stage were the 2011 danish Cup winners, FC Nordsjælland, who will on Thursday night travel to Sporting lisbon – the same side that knocked them out last season – to contest the second leg of their europa league play-off, following a 0-0 draw in denmark last week.

The odense side fell 3-0 to Villarreal

on Tuesday night, Villarreal, the perennial ‘underdogs’ of Spanish football who are known domestically as the Yellow Submarine, never looked like being upset at home, despite a goalless first half in which the oB keeper Stefan wessels was in inspired form. But when the inevitable first goal came – a 50th minute strike from former Manchester United forward Giuseppe rossi that wessels was unlucky to concede, the odense side never looked like likely scorers. while their midfield battled bravely, they were completely ineffective in the final third of the pitch. Villarreal had 23 attempts on goal to oB’s two. rossi – no relation to Paolo – added a superb second in the 66th minute goal, and then as oB pushed for a vital away goal in the final ten minutes, they gifted possession back to Villarreal in a dangerous area, from which they conceded a third. (Bh)

The CopenhAgen poST CphpoST.dk

26 August - 1 September 2011

Welcome Reception and

Copenhagen Expat Fair Meet more than 60 clubs and associations

13 September 2011 Copenhagen City Hall 3:30 pm – 6:30 pm ~ Copenhagen Expat Fair Joining a sports club or any leisure activities is a great way to meet Danes and fellow expats. Denmark is a country with many clubs and associations. At the Copenhagen Expat Fair, you have the chance to talk to members from various clubs and associations from the Greater Copenhagen Area about what they can offer you and your family and how to sign up. 4:00 pm ~ Official welcome by Anna Mee Allerslev, Mayor of Employment and Integration. The City of Copenhagen and Mayor, Anna Mee Allerslev, would like to welcome you officially to Copenhagen. Also, we are happy to announce The President of The National Olympic Committee and Sports Confederation of Denmark, Niels Nygaard as our guest speaker. After the two presentations, the world famous "City Hall Pancakes" will be served. Many kind regards, City of Copenhagen, Copenhagen Post and Spousecare Please enter through the Main Entrance facing Rådhuspladsen (City Hall Square)

Win a club membership up to 1000 kr.

Please register at: http://www.kk.dk/cphinternational

We look forward to seeing you! Supported by:

Denmark’s only English-language newspaper

THE COPENHAGEN POST SPOUSE EMPLOYMENT PAGE SPOUSE: Ying Yuan FROM: China SEEKING WORK IN: Great Copenhagen QUALIFICATION: Medical Degree & Master in Human Nutrition EXPERIENCE: Practiced medicine for 2 years China 2000-200. Conducted a clinical trial for ½ year England 2008. Work in nutrition, pharmaceutical industry, food industry and health secto IT EXPERIENCE: I am experienced in Statistical software SPSS and MINITAB, Nutritional software NetWISP/WISP LANGUAGE SKILLS: Chinese, English and Danish CONTACT: yuanying118@hotmail.com +45 31 36 92 58 SPOUSE: Nina Chatelain FROM: Vancouver, BC, Canada SEEKING WORK IN: midt- og syd jylland QUALIFICATION: ba courses in english and anthropology, certificate in desktop publishing and graphic design, internationally certified yoga teacher since 1999 EXPERIENCE: over 7 years experience as the assistant to the director (what would correspond to a direktionssekretær position) at an international university museum where i also was seconded to act as the program administrator—a project management internal communications role—for the museum’s major renovation project. i acted as the director’s right hand and the museum’s communications hub where i had daily contact with the visiting public, community stakeholders, volunteers and students. i have earlier worked as an editor and writer in various capacities, as well as a desktop publisher/graphic designer. LOOKING FOR: an administrative role in a creative company that needs someone who can juggle a variety of projects and use excellent english writing and editing skills language skills: English (mother tongue) and Danish (fluent comprehension--studieprøven / university entrance exam) IT EXPERIENCE: MS Office Package, PC and Apple, have earlier worked with various desktop publishing software, quick to learn new software and systems CONTACT: nina.chatelain@gmail.com Phone: +45 29707430 SPOUSE: Francis Farias FROM: Venezuela (CPR number) SEEKING WORK IN: Greater København QUALIFICATION: Master in Spanish Studies from Universidad de Cadiz, Spain, as a Spanish Teacher and BA in Teaching English as a Second Language. Diplomas in Digital Photography (from Venezuela and Spain) EXPERIENCE: 7 years experience as a teacher of English and Spanish at JMV University. Academic translator (Spanish-English/English-Spanish) and freelance photographer LOOKING FOR: Spanish language teacher, translator, interpreter, photographer. LANGUAGE SKILLS: English, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish (native). Basic Danish. IT EXPERIENCE: Office tools, Photoshop. CONTACT: carolina1928@gmail.com, +45 50814073 SPOUSE: Enikő Tóth FROM: Hungary SEEKING WORK IN: Psychology QUALIFICATION: Psychologist (MA), Teacher of English (BA) EXPERIENCE: A beginner in psychology, 10 years of teaching experience LOOKING FOR: A possibility in getting practical experience in clinical psychology, voluntary work LANGUAGE SKILLS: English, Hungarian, elementary French and Danish IT EXPERIENCE: Basic computer skills CONTACT: tenila@gmail.com SPOUSE: Bhargavi Lanka Venkata FROM: India SEEKING WORK IN: IT industry- Software - Manual & Automation Testingr QUALIFICATION: Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science Engineering EXPERIENCE: Part Time/Full Time work in Software Testing, 4yrs and 9 months experience as Senior Software Engineer – Testing in a U.S based MNC in Bangalore, India LANGUAGE SKILLS: English, Hindi, Enrolled for Danish classes IT EXPERIENCE: Manual testing, Automation Regression testing using QTP, Web service testing using SOA Tool, HP Quality center, Unix, SQL, XML, Basic shell scripting CONTACT: bhargavipsk@gmail.com; Mobile: 50376689 SPOUSE: TEJA PRIYANKA FROM: INDIA SEEKING WORK IN: Copenhagen QUALIFICATION: MBA in Finance and marketing , bachelor in Biotechnology LANGUAGE SKILLS: Telugu(mother tounge), Hindi, English, Danish(biggnier) IT EXPERIENCE: Familier with Microsoft office(word, excel,powerpoint,access, ), photoshop. CONTACT: teja.priyanka.n@gmail.com SPOUSE: Chao Wen FROM: China SEEKING WORK IN: Great Copenhagen QUALIFICATION: Language teacher (German, Chinese) EXPERIENCE: Teaching Chinese as a foreign language by offering company-course for 2 years, in Germany; teaching Chinese to native speaker in private school for 4 years, in Germany; teaching German as a foreign language by offering private course; exhibition interpreter; translator. LOOKING FOR: Part time or full time in Aarhus, Language teacher, translator or interpreter LANGUAGE SKILLS: Chinese, English, German, Danish IT EXPERIENCE: Windows, Open office, Powerpoint CONTACT: wenlily80@googlemail.com tel.: 48417526 SPOUSE: Malgorzata Tujakowska FROM: Poland SEEKING WORK IN: Aarhus and the surrounding area QUALIFICATION: Masters in Ethnolinguistics with major in Chinese and English, Chinese HSK and Business Chinese Test certificates, 2-year long studies at Shanghai International Studies University and National Cheng Kung University,Taiwan LOOKING FOR: Working for companies hiring Polish and Chinese employees, teaching Chinese, Polish, Business English, linguistics, translation and interpretation, proofreading, Chinese business and culture consulting, administrative work LANGUAGE SKILLS: Polish (native speaker), Chinese – simplified and traditional (fluent), English (fluent), German(intermediate), Danish (intermediate-currently learning) IT EXPERIENCE: MS Office CONTACT: Tel:+45 28702377, m.tujakowska@gmail.com

Make the most of your foreign employees – help their spouses find jobs Companies that hire foreign employees often find that it can be difficult for them to settle in if their family doesn’t feel at home here. A job for an accompanying spouse can be a decisive factor in whether that happens. Workindenmark partners with companies ranging in size from major global companies to small companies hiring their first foreign employee. We try to make it easier for public and private sector employers to find the right candidate for the job – and to make sure that they make the most of their new employees. We offer new employees a welcome packet that includes information relating to their stay. We can often provide assistance in the employee’s native language. We also invite companies to participate in Partner Link, our nationwide job bank for spouses. Partner Link’s goal is to help companies retain foreign employees by helping their spouses find career opportunities here.

PARTNERS:

SPOUSE: DANIEL JONES FROM: UNITED KINGDOM SEEKING WORK IN: Greater Copenhagen QUALIFICATION: Qualified Teacher Status, UK; Bachelor of Science Degree (1st Class), UK EXPERIENCE: Enthusiastic , hands on teacher with 8 years teaching experience of Mathematics and Science in UK and International Schools. IB, GCSE and A-Level, including as Head of Department with excellent feedback from pupils, parents and teaching colleagues. LOOKING FOR: Teaching positions in secondary schools; Private tuition; Education related roles LANGUAGE SKILLS: Mother tongue English, fluent in Italian IT EXPERIENCE: MS-office. CONTACT: daniel_glyn_jones@hotmail.com

SPOUSE: VIDYA SINGH FROM: INDIA SEEKING WORK IN: Copenhagen, Odense, Arhus, Aalborg or nearby areas. QUALIFICATION: Master in Computer Management, Bachelor of Science, Certified Novell Engineer, Microsoft Certified Professional. EXPERIENCE: Total 8 years (4 year in telecommunication as customer care + 4 year as HR recruiter consultant) LOOKING FOR: HR (Trainee/Assistant/Recruiter/consultant), Customer service, office work, IT LANGUAGE SKILLS: English, Hindi and Danish (currently learning) IT EXPERIENCE: MS-office, Hardware, Networking, Intranet and Internet. CONTACT: vidya.singh37@gmail.com, Mobile: +45 71443554

SPOUSE: S.M. Ariful Islam FROM: Bangladesh SEEKING WORK IN: Copenhagen QUALIFICATION: PhD student (2nd year) in Language Policy and Practice in Aalborg University, MA in Bilingualism, MA in English Linguistics, BA in English EXPERIENCE: 18 months as a University lecturer in English in Bangladesh. Taught advanced grammar, four skills (listening, speaking, reading & writing), ELT courses, Second Language theories, Psycholinguistics, Sociolinguistics. LOOKING FOR: A position of English teacher/lecturer in English Medium Schools, Colleges and Universities. LANGUAGE SKILLS: Bengali (mother tongue), English (second language), Danish (fluent), Hindi and Urdu (Spoken) and Swedish (basic). IT EXPERIENCE: MS Office. CONTACT: Mail: ariful@id.aau.dk, arif401@yahoo.com, mobile: +45 42778296

SPOUSE: Fernando Carlos Cardeira da Silva FROM: Portugal SEEKING WORK IN: Copenhagen QUALIFICATION: Accounting course from Danish Institution (Regnskabs medarbejder at Niels Brock), previous frequency of Accounting and Management courses in Portugal. EXPERIENCE: I have more than 5 years of experience in accounting LOOKING FOR: Job as accounting assistant IT EXPERIENCE: Microsoft Office (Excel, Word and Power point) and accounting software such as Navision C5 LANGUAGE SKILLS: I can read and write Danish, English, Portuguese, Spanish and French CONTACT: fercardeira@gmail.com +45 50437588

SPOUSE: Anisha Kanjhlia FROM: India SEEKING WORK IN: Arhus in Teaching/Training/Administration/Media/Public Relations QUALIFICATION: Post Graduate in Advertising & Communication EXPERIENCE: 6+ years of professional experience in Training, Customer Service, Promotions, Brand Marketing, Content Analysis and Team Management. Strong experience in planning and executing initiatives. Extensive training experience and influencing skills that will assist me in building a high potential, motivated and an effective team. Hands-on training in soft skills like crucial conversations and people management Branch Manager & Head of Training for Cosmo Aviation Training School in New Delhi, India. Proficient in analyzing market trends to provide critical inputs for decision making and formulating training strategies. LOOKING FOR: Part time or full time in Aarhus IT EXPERIENCE: Comfortable with all the basic computer knowledge like Excel, Word, Power Point, Internet browsing… CONTACT: anisha.feb@rediffmail.com P: 4522305837 SPOUSE: Debasmita Ghosh FROM: India SEEKING WORK IN: Copenhagen QUALIFICATION: Master of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Pharmachemistry specialization) EXPERIENCE: 4 years in Clinical Research (Pharmacovigilance/Safety and Medical Coding) in a leading CRO (Quintiles) and 6 months experience as a lecturer for bachelor degree students in Pharmacy College. LOOKING FOR: Job in pharmaceutical industry, CRO or any vocation suitable per qualification and experience. LANGUAGE SKILLS: English (fluent written and spoken), enrolled for Danish language classes, Indian Languages (Hindi, Bengali, Kannada). IT EXPERIENCE: MS Office Applications i:e Microsoft office word, excel, outlook, power point and tools, lotus notes, medical and drug softwares like micromedex and ISIS draw. CDM systems like ds Navigator-Medical coding tool and AERS database. CONTACT: ghoshdebasmita@gmail.com, Mobile No. +4571488438 SPOUSE: Shilpa Lingaiah FROM: India SEEKING WORK IN: Copenhagen, Aarhus, Odense and nearby areas of the mentioned cities QUALIFICATION: PG Diploma in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (JSS University, India); Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (RGUHS, India). Danish agency for international education has assessed the above qualification and corresponds to Danish Master’s degree in Health Sciences. LOOKING FOR: Research related to health science, Jobs in pharmaceutical industry or new challenging career opportunities LANGUAGE SKILLS: English(fluent written and spoken),Enrolled for Danish language classes, Indian languages(Kannada and Hindi) IT EXPERIENCE: MS Office CONTACT: drshilpalingaiah@gmail.com Tel-+4552742859 SPOUSE: Lena Schulz zur Wiesch FROM: Berlin, Germany SEEKING WORK IN: Copenhagen and Capital Region QUALIFICATION: Cand. scient. pol. from the Humboldt-University Berlin and London School of Economics. EXPERIENCE: Seven years work experience from the German Parliament (EU-consultant) and as distinguished research associate at the Humboldt-University (urban planning). Strong analytical and inter-cultural skills. Team-worker. LOOKING FOR: Jobs in consulting, public administration, politics, NGOs, international institutions or companies LANGUAGE SKILLS: German (mother tongue), English, Spanish, French, Danish (all fluently) IT EXPERIENCE: Microsoft Office, CMS CONTACT: lenaszw@web.de SPOUSE: Sadra Tabassi FROM: Iran SEEKING WORK IN: Copenhagen QUALIFICATION: Master of Business Administration (MBA) LOOKING FOR: Any full time job related to my qualification field LANGUAGE SKILLS: Languages Fluent in English; Native in Farsi (Persian) and elementary level of Arabic. IT EXPERIENCE: Basic knowledge about computer (Windows), Office 2010 (Word, Excel, Power Point),Statistical software (SPSS) CONTACT: sadra.tabassi@gmail.com , Tel:+4550337753

Please contact us to learn more about what Workindenmark can offer you.

Workindenmark WEST Nordhavnsgade 4-6 8000 Århus C Tel. +45 72 22 33 60 Fax +45 72 22 33 77 E-mail: west@workindenmark.dk

Workindenmark EAST Skagensgade 37, 1. 2630 Høje Taastrup Tel. +45 72 22 33 00 Fax. +45 72 22 33 15 E-mail: east@workindenmark.dk Workindenmark SOUTH Dannebrogsgade 3 5000 Odense C Tel. +45 72 22 33 30 Fax +45 72 22 33 44 E-mail: south@workindenmark.dk

SPOUSE: Clémence Arnal FROM: France SEEKING WORK IN: Copenhagen; Region Sjælland QUALIFICATION: Wastewater/drinking water (processes and treatments, building design, water sampling and pollution rate measurement) ; environment protection ( river basin management, waste management). EXPERIENCE: Waste sorting representative (Office “Communauté du Pays d’Aix”, France) ; Leaks investigation on drinking water networks, Help to communes to deal with their drinking water system, Control operation of individual sanitation systems (Office “G2C Environnement”, France) ; Drinking water stations security : putting the Antiterrorist security plan in practice, employees security , Distribution network security : determining the cost of a network re-chlorination unit (“Drinking Water” administration of Aix en Provence, France) LOOKING FOR: Water treatment assistant / engineer LANGUAGE SKILLS: French (mother tongue) ; English (Fluent) ; Danish (Prøve Dansk 3) IT EXPERIENCE: MS-Office ; AutoCAD (basic) ; Mapinfo (basic) CONTACT: clem.arnal@gmail.com / tlf: 23 34 63 22 SPOUSE: Francesco Grandesso FROM: Italy SEEKING WORK IN: Copenhagen QUALIFICATION: Constructing architect EXPERIENCE: 4 years at TFF Engineering 2005-2009, 3 years at ADproject 2002-2005 LANGUAGE SKILLS: English, Italian & Danish IT EXPERIENCE: AutoCAD 2011 CONTACT: grandessodk@gmail.com Mobile: 50110653 SPOUSE: Lillian Liu FROM: Taiwan SEEKING WORK IN: Marketing/Public Relations QUALIFICATION: Bachelor of Foreign Language and Literature (Major in English, and minor in French) EXPERIENCE: 5+ years of professional experiences in Marketing and PR. I am a dynamic and creative marketing communications talent with substantial international working experience in large corporation and in agencies, possessing Integrated Marketing Communication ability. Proficient in analyzing market trends to provide critical inputs for decision-making and formulating marketing communication strategies. Familiar with brand image build-up, channel marketing, media communication, issue management, etc. Possess in-depth understanding/knowledge of APAC market and Chinese culture. LOOKING FOR: Marketing jobs in Jylland LANGUAGE SKILLS: Mandarin Chinese, English, Danish, French IT EXPERIENCE: Familiar with Windows O/S and MS Office CONTACT: sugarex@hotmail.com SPOUSE: Megan Rothrock FROM: California-USA,Via SEEKING WORK IN: Toy Design, Games Design, or Photography (Syd Denmark Jutland) QUALIFICATION: Associate Arts Degree: Corporate Communication, Design, and Commercial Illustration, with a background in animation. EXPERIENCE: Former LEGO Product Designer, LEGO Universe: Level Designer, European Bureau Editor Brick Journal Magazine. I have a strong knowledge of Toy and Gaming Markets. I am driven, enjoy solving daily challenges and I’m a strong communicator wanting to join a creative team of colleagues. LOOKING FOR: Part/Full time work in an innovative and creative LANGUAGE SKILLS: English: native- Dutch: Excellent- Danish (currently in): Danskuddannelse 3, modul 3. IT EXPERIENCE: PC and Mac- Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Flash, Dream Weaver, Director, Maya, 3D Studio Max, ML Cad, LDD CONTACT: megzter1@yahoo.com +4535140779 SPOUSE: Heike Mehlhase FROM: Berlin, Tyskland SEEKING WORK IN: A job opportunity in Copenhagen (administrative position, research assistant or psychosocial care) QUALIFICATION: MPH, Master degree in Psychology, Lerntherapeutin;. EXPERIENCE: Five years experience in psychological research andchild psychology LOOKING FOR: Looking for: a position to expand my experience where I can use my excellent organisational, social and communication skills LANGUAGE SKILLS: German (mother tongue), English (fluent), Danish (Module 2) IT EXPERIENCE: I am proficient in software such as word processing, spreadsheet, presentation software and basicgraphic editing programs (Microsoft Office, Open Office) plus statistical software (SPSS). CONTACT: heike@mehlhase.info

Denmark’s only English-language newspaper

THE COPENHAGEN POST SPOUSE EMPLOYMENT PAGE WHY: The Copenhagen Post wishes to help spouses looking for jobs in Denmark. We have on our own initiative started a weekly spouse job page in The Copenhagen Post, with the aim to show that there are already within Denmark many highly educated international candidates looking for jobs. If you are a spouse to an international employee in Denmark looking for new career opportunities, you are welcome to send a profile to The Copenhagen Post at aviaja@cphpost.dk and we will post your profile on the spouse job page when possible.

EMPLOYMENT

THE COPENHAGEN POST CPHPOST.DK

26 August - 1 September 2011 SPOUSE: Jennifer Bouma FROM: The Netherlands SEEKING WORK IN: Egedal Kommune, Copenhagen 30 km QUALIFICATION: Managers Secretary, hands on, reliable, structured, self reliant, social, teamplayer) LOOKING FOR: Secretary job LANGUAGE SKILLS: Dutch, Danish, English, German, French, Italian IT EXPERIENCE: MS Office ( Word, Excel), Outlook, SAP CONTACT: jenniferbouma@ hotmail.com SPOUSE: Vadim Fedulov FROM: USA SEEKING WORK IN: Pre-clinical or clinical/ biotech or academia/ Copenhagen region (100km radius) QUALIFICATION: Ph.D., Biological Sciences (2008) EXPERIENCE: 5 years research experience in biotech and 6 years in academic settings. For full experience summary, please visit: http://dk.linkedin.com/in/drvadim LOOKING FOR: Position in research, project management, writing, editing, teaching, or new challenging career opportunities LANGUAGE SKILLS: English (native), Russian (native), Danish (completed Module1 at Studieskolen) IT EXPERIENCE: Proficient in both Mac and PC OS, MS Office (Excel, Word, Powerpoint etc.), StatView, Adobe (Photoshop, Illustrator) CONTACT: fedulov@gmail.com and mobile tel: +45 41 83 36 60 SPOUSE: Weihua Xiao FROM: China SEEKING WORK IN: Great Copenhagen QUALIFICATION: Master in American Studies from University of Southern Denmark. Master in Education and B.A. In English. Diploma of Secretary. Certificate of Teaching Chinese as a Second Language from East China Normal University EXPERIENCE: Work in the fields of education, training, translation, interpretation, administration, Chinese (business) culture consulting. 8 years of full-time English language teacher in China. Work for a global company in Shanghai and Copenhagen as Personal Assistant to General Manager/ Secretary for about 2 years from 2009 to 2010. LOOKING FOR: Chinese Language teacher, translator, interpreter, administrative position LANGUAGE SKILLS: Chinese, English, basic Danish IT EXPERIENCE: A good user of Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel...) CONTACT: weihua06@gmail.com +45 5048 9667 SPOUSE: Lorenzo Albano FROM: Venezuela (with CPR number) SEEKING WORK IN: Greater København and Hovedstaden QUALIFICATION: PhD in Physics EXPERIENCE: I have wide experience as an university lecturer in physics, physics laboratory, mathematics and informatics. I have done research in theoretical quantum optics and quantum information. I have done research and development / programming of numerical methods applied to geophysical problems, such as tomographic inversion and wave propagation, independently and as part of multidisciplinary teams. I have participated in gravimetric and magnetometric geophysical surveys LOOKING FOR: Short and long term work in education in science and mathematics / research / scientific computing / oil exploration or other geophysical applications LANGUAGE SKILLS: Fluent in Spanish (native), English and Italian. Basic Danish IT EXPERIENCE: OS: MSDOS, Windows, Linux (Ubuntu), Solaris, incl. shell scripting. Programming Languages: BASIC, ANSI C, C++, FORTRAN. Web: HTML, CSS, Joomla!. Typography: LaTeX2E. Software: Mathematica 7, MS Office and OpenOffice suites, several Windows utilities CONTACT: lorenzoalbanof@gmail.com. Tel: +45 50 81 40 73

SPOUSE: Suheir Sharkas FROM: Syria SEEKING WORK IN: Copenhagen, Odense, Aarhus and the nearby areas of the mentioned cities. QUALIFICATION: MBA–International Management, Bachelor in English Literature. LOOKING FOR: Positions in Organizations/Companies in the fields of: Administration and organization, Event & Project Management, and Assistance Management. LANGUAGE SKILLS: : Arabic: Native speaker, English: Fluent (understanding, speaking and writing), German: Fluent (understanding, speaking and writing), Danish: Basic 3.3 (understanding, speaking and writing) IT EXPERIENCE: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Access, Power Point) and web publishing. CONTACT: ssouheir@gmail.com, Tel: 533 721 20 SPOUSE: Simon Rigby FROM: United Kingdom (originally Scotland) SEEKING WORK IN: Jylland, Fyn or Sjælland (anywhere in Denmark) QUALIFICATION: Secondary High School - 8 ‘Ordinary’ levels & 3 ‘Advanced’ levels achieved. EXPERIENCE: Business Development, Sales & Marketing and Client Relationship Management specialist. 15+ years experience in securing ‘insurance and lifestyle benefits’ contracts with high volume and high consumer numbers within the Affinity Group Marketing sector from a wide variety of distribution channels including banks, financial institutions, large membership affinity groups and employers, credit card issuers and insurers. Highly accomplished and skilled at ‘low cost, high perceived value’ large scale marketing to B2B and B2C target audiences through both on-line and other direct marketing channels. Entire career spent in the banking, finance and insurance sectors the latter of which I have spent in the UK employment of 3 of the top 4 global insurance brokers. A team player and a ‘people person’ with the skills and abilities to easily and comfortably interact with individuals at all levels. Natural problem solver who sees opportunities rather than obstacles. Simplistic and structured approach to finding straightforward and practical solutions to problems. LOOKING FOR: A job within an organisation (financial services or otherwise) where my Sales & Marketing and Key Account managerial skills and experience are fully utilised and where I can provide a sustainable and tangible long term contribution to my new employer as well as to my new country within which I have chosen to permanently live. LANGUAGE SKILLS: English (mother tongue) ; German (very good) ; French (good) ; Danish (basic, but currently enrolled on a ‘Danskuddannelse 3’ language course). IT EXPERIENCE: Word - Advanced user. Powerpoint - Proficient user. Excel - Basic. CONTACT: simon040561@hotmail.co.uk or mobile +45 60 16 80 40. SPOUSE: Jawon Yun-Werner FROM: South Korea SEEKING WORK IN: Healthcare, Hospitals, Elderly/Child Care (in Greater Copenhagen Area) QUALIFICATION: B.A. in Nursing, Masters in Public Health. I am AUTHORIZED to work as a Nurse in Denmark. (have Danish CPR and work permit) EXPERIENCE: 1O years of experience as a nurse and midwife from the prominent hospitals LOOKING FOR: Any healthcare related jobs (hospitals, clinics, elderly/childcare places). I am open to any shift or day. LANGUAGE SKILLS: ENGLISH, KOREAN, DANISH (Intermediate, in progress, Module 3) IT EXPERIENCE: MS Office, SASS Statistical Software CONTACT: cuteago@yahoo.com +45 30 95 20 53 SPOUSE: Maihemutijiang Maimaiti FROM: China SEEKING WORK IN: Aarhus area, Denmark QUALIFICATION: M.Sc. In Computer Science, Uppsala University, Sweden; Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science, Southwest University; LOOKING FOR: IT jobs LANGUAGE SKILLS: English, Chinese, Uyghur. IT EXPERIENCE: 1 year experience in Java programming and modelling in VDM++. CONTACT: mehmudjan@live.se

SPOUSE: Hugo Ludbrook FROM: New Zealand SEEKING WORK IN: Copenhagen QUALIFICATION: BA (1st Class Honours) in International Relations + BA in History and Religious Studies EXPERIENCE: Have worked in a wide variety of organisations with focus ranging from the organics sector, to international development, to company directors, to work with the United Nations. LOOKING FOR: Research, writing, editing and/or communication work LANGUAGE SKILLS: English (Fluent), French (Good), Danish (Basic) IT EXPERIENCE: Strong MS Office, Outlook and Excel Skills. CONTACT: hugo.ludbrook@hotmail.com SPOUSE: Chiara Stevanato FROM: Italy SEEKING WORK IN: København or nearby areas QUALIFICATION: Bachelor degree in Physics EXPERIENCE: Now completing the Master’s degree in Physics at Københavns Universitet LOOKING FOR: Research in Physics. Research projects related to scientific areas LANGUAGE SKILLS: Written and spoken Italian, written and spoken English, written and Spoken French, very basic written and spoken Danish (still attending a second level course) IT EXPERIENCE: Operating systems: Windows, Linux. Programming languages: basic C, C++; Python CONTACT: chiarasteva@gmail.com. Tel: 41681741 SPOUSE: Isaac P Thomas FROM: India SEEKING WORK IN: East Juthland preferably Århus QUALIFICATION: Bachelor of Engineering (Computer Science) EXPERIENCE:Process Consulting, Quality Assurance, CMMI, ISO, Quality Audit, Process Definition, Software testing, software development, data analysis, best practice sharing, quality gap analysis LOOKING FOR: Process Consulting, Quality Assurance, CMMI, ISO, Quality Audit, Process Definition LANGUAGE SKILLS: Danish beginner, english, malayalam, hindi tamil IT EXPERIENCE: 8 years experence in IT Industry in software quality assurance, software quality control, software development. CONTACT: isaacpthomas@gmail.com, +4552225642 SPOUSE: Lorena Augusta Moreira FROM: Brazil SEEKING WORK IN: Great Copenhagen QUALIFICATION: Interior Designer EXPERIENCE: + 3 of experience with interior design and sales of furniture and decoration products. LOOKING FOR: Position in an Organization/Company in the fields of: Interior design, lay-out and organization of vitrines, sales and assistance management IT EXPERIENCE:Microsoft office (word, excel, outlook, access and power-point) access to internet LANGUAGE SKILLS: English (fluent), Portuguese (native) and Spanish (pre-intermediate) CONTACT: lorena-augusta@hotmail.com, + 45 52177084 SPOUSE: Debjani Nandy Biswas FROM: India SEEKING WORK IN: Would like to join in kindergarten, School teacher in English, official work in English. QUALIFICATION: B.A., M.A in English literature and language (American, European and Indian). EXPERIENCE: Temporary school teacher in Bongaon, India and involved in social work (handicapped society). LOOKING FOR: A possibility in getting practical experiences in kindergarten or any international school, official work (administration) in English, voluntary work also. LANGUAGE SKILLS: English, Hindi, Sanskrit, Bengali, little Danish (currently learning). IT EXPERIENCE: Diploma in basic computer applications. CONTACT: E-mail: debjaninb@gmail.com, Tel: +45 50219942.

Denmark’s only English-language newspaper

Intern

Rygaards International School Invites experienced, enthusiastic and well-qualified teachers, familiar with and experienced in British-style education, to apply for the following teaching position. Applicants should be lively, energetic and committed professional teachers. They must also be native English speakers. The job will be for October 2011.

The Copenhagen Post is seeking an Intern.

Rygaards School has a Danish and an International English-speaking school each teaching its own separate curriculum. Rygaards International School consists of Key Stages 1 – 4 (Years 1 – 11).

You will be assisting with various tasks including administration, events and customer support.

Rygaards is a Catholic school founded in 1909 by the Assumption sisters. The school has strong ecumenical traditions and welcomes applicants who are interested in actively supporting Christian values. It would be an advantage but not a requirement that the applicant be willing to teach in the Catholic Religion Programme.

We are looking for a candidate who has completed or is currently pursuing a marketing-related or other relevant degree. You must have excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and be able to work daily for approximately 20/25 hours per week. You should be an enthusiastic team-player with the ability to work independently at times. It would also be an advantage if you have a driving license.

The teaching position is as follows: • Junior trained Year 4 class teacher for a position in the Primary School.

InOut

The CPH Post Entertainment Guide August 19 - 25

Terms of employment in accordance with contract between The Ministry of Finance and LC (Teaching Unions) Applications should be addressed to The Board of Governors and sent by e-mail to: The principal of Rygaards International School, Charles Dalton, charles.dalton@rygaards.com. Information about the school can be obtained from our website www.rygaards.com

The internship is unpaid. Don’t miss this Dolly fixture Forum: Thursday 20:00 Tickets 415 - 815 kr

page

Restaurant

Hercegovina Tivoli Croatian restaurant with a wide choice of national and international dishes. “Eat as much as you like” Live music and dance Tivoli/Bernstorffsgade 3 - 1620 - Copenhagen V

Closing date for applications: Thursday the 1st of September 2011

Please send your application and CV to hans@cphpost.dk noting ‘Intern’ in the subject line.

Free access to 65 museums and attractions in the entire metropolitan area

See more at copenhagencard.com

For more information please contact Hans Hermansen, hans@cphpost.dk, tel.: 3336 3300

culture

The CopenhAgen poST CphpoST.dk

26 August - 1 September 2011

historic city centre hotel auctions off furnishings Churchill put his boxers on there; now you can too

piece of copenhagen history – 2,500 pieces to be exact – will go under the hammer this Friday, when the Hotel D’Angleterre auctions off most of its furnishings to the highest bidder. The five-star hotel, with a French name that identifies itself as being British (‘The english Hotel’), has played a starring role in Denmark’s history over the past 250 years from its corner of Kongens Nytorv square facing the Royal Theatre and Nyhavn harbour. But now Hotel D’Angleterre is closing its doors for the best part of a year to undergo a much-needed facelift. Most celebrities get them, after all, when they reach a certain age. The hotel’s history started out as a love story in 1755 when a servant of the royal court fell in love with the daughter of the king’s personal chef. The lovers left the court and opened a restaurant on the site of today’s premises. A few years later it became a hotel. in 1791, after the couple died, it was renamed Hotel D’Angleterre after an anglophile club that made its home there. Over the passing centuries, many of the world’s leading lights stayed in the palatial white hotel – Gustav Mahler, Søren Kierkegaard, Winston churchill, Walt Disney and Grace Kelly among them. More recently Michael Jackson,

Madonna and Bruce Springsteen have bedded down in its rooms. Not all of it has been glamourous, however. Twice the hotel caught fire, losing its pre-computerised guest books in the flames. Under the German occupation during the Second World War, it was seized by the Nazis, who used it as a base for the SS’s top officers. Now some 90 percent of the hotel’s furnishings will be auctioned off on Friday at Auktionshuset in Hørsholm or retired to make way for a new era. Other hotels have expressed interest in the grand dame’s cast-offs, but private citizens are also curious. More than 600 people showed up to see the goods at the initial viewing on Sunday. A 200-year-old Gobelin tapestry of a Falcon hunt (starting price 15,000 kroner) and a bamboo armchair upholstered in white deer skin from the Karen Blixen suite (starting price 2,500 kroner) are just two items from the auction catalogue. “Some people who know and love Hotel D’Angleterre might think it is fun to take a little piece of it home with them,” Auktionshuset appraiser Birgitte de Roepstorff told The copenhagen post. And if a celebrity like Bob Dylan or claudia Schiffer perhaps just happened to sit in that Louis XVi-style chair for a few nights, buyers like it even better, she added. The auction is expected to bring in between two and three million kroner, but that is just a drop in the renovation budget’s bucket. For that, the own-

Hans Jørn storgaard andersen

Jennifer Buley

The Hotel D’Angleterre will remain a sleeping beauty until renovations are completed in 2012

ers have earmarked several hundred million kroner – close to a billion – a source within the hotel told The copenhagen post. Last year hotelier Henning Remmen bought Hotel D’Angleterre back from the icelandic investors he had sold it to just three years before. He rebought it with the idea of restoring it to its full glory. A labour of love for a

beloved hotel founded on a love story. The British firm GA Design has been commissioned to do the redesign, which will reduce the number of rooms from 123 to 91, enlarging them and adding more suites. The largest suite will be 250 sqm, not including a spacious balcony overlooking Kongens Nytorv. Antiques and artwork saved from the hotel’s collection will be in-

corporated into the new contemporary modern design. According to the hotel’s creative director, Alan evens, Hotel D’Angleterre will remain classic in style. ”When you are a lady of 256 years, then you have reached what i would call timeless elegance,” evens told politiken. Hotel D’Angleterre is expected to reopen for guests in 2012.

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victoria steffensen

copenHagendesignfair.dk

Code 11 Copenhagen design Kristina lund Hansen

ost of us are familiar with the term “Danish design”, a phrase often used to describe the functionalistic and simplistic style that characterised design and architecture in the mid-20th century. Just think of the egg chair by Arne Jacobsen and the pH lamp by poul Henningsen, both key examples of modern, Danish design. in the 1970s and 1980s, Danish industrial design was highly sought after and in the 1990s some contributions were made to the collection of impeccable Danish design, but it wasn’t comparable to the heydays of the 1950s. So in 2002, the Danish government and the city of copenhagen initiated a new project, the non-profit organisation iNDeX:. The organisation made the foundation for the muchcoveted iNDeX: Award for life-improving designs and for a wider branding strategy, promoting the country for its approach to design. From next Thursday, copenhagen Design Fair 2011 at the Bella center, or cODe11 as it’s called in professional circles, will

build onto that branding strategy by showcasing some of the latest and most innovative design. The four day fair is an integrated part of Denmark’s second international design week, copenhagen Design Week, where the world’s largest monetary prize for design, the iNDeX: Award, is the central component. The copenhagen Design Week consists of a selection of exhibitions, seminars, lectures, open show rooms and, of course, cODe11, which is free to enter providing you register. recomenDeD HigHligHts: seminar: Pure Function On Thursday, four companies are presenting a new concept for hospital furniture. Design Debate On Thursday and Friday the theme of the Design Debate is ‘Think Human – Think Design’. inDeX: Playground At iNDeX: playground it’s all about playing around. Here visitors gets the opportunity to explore and play around with designs that previously were nominated for the iNDeX: Award for life-improving designs.

He is a Danish writer, TV commentator, and the man who drapes himself over a kitchen table top in invita adverts. He is also known as ‘Den Store Blærerøv’. What exactly does that mean? it means ‘The Show-Off’ That doesn’t sound very complimentary! indeed not, but it is meant ironically – christensen has even published a book with this very title. All part of the ‘self-branding’, you see. christensen sees himself as a branding guru. How so? He advertises on the web that he is able to hold presentations about self-promotion: how to decode the signals sent from around the world, and how the world reads those signals we ourselves send out. problem is that he has just totally misread some such signals and sent out a very loud and very bad signal in the Danish press. What do you mean? Unfortunately, christensen felt the need to comment on the terrible massacre that occurred on the small Norwegian island of Utøya. What did he say? He couldn’t understand why more of the children on the island weren’t willing to stand up against the killer. Hmmmm.

BJarne Bergius Hermansen

Who is ... Mads Christensen? The Copenhagen Post Quick Crossword

Does he have any experience to base this comment on? Maybe his tour-of-duty as fashion editor of euroman? Or his dangerous posting as a barman in a richman’s bar in copenhagen? He was also an officer in the Royal Guards (those that stand outside the queen’s palace in copenhagen), so i’m sure, based on this field experience in ‘war-torn’ Amelienborg, he felt fully equipped to comment on how a 16-year-old should handle a surprise attack by an armed maniac with automatic guns. Why couldn’t he have just kept his mouth shut? Good question. He has now successfully branded himself as a giant tool. Has he apologised? Yes he has, but that has not stopped him receiving a lot of abuse online, and threatening phone calls in the middle of the night. My guess is that the numbers interested in booking him for a speech at their party have fallen dramatically since his comments.

Across 4. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 18. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24.

Prisoner (7) Yearly (6) Courteous (7) Option (6) False (6) Steadfast (8) Recover (8) Zodiac sign (6) Demands (6) Lay down (7) Engraver (6) Communication (7)

No 359

Down 1. 2. 3. 5. 6. 7. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 19.

Eye-lash make-up (7) Approve (7) Scamp (6) Wealthy (8) Characteristics (6) Courage (6) Rebellion (8) High pleasure (7) Fruit course (7) Tranquil (6) Guides (6) Tell (6)

Post Quick Crossword No 358 Across: 1 Manufacture; 9 Arm; 10 Harbinger; 11 Trier; 13 Awkward; 14 Canopy; 16 Heroic; 18 Parvenu; 19 Press; 20 Tenseness; 21 Ado; 22 Reverberate. Down: 2 Aim; 3 Usher; 4 Abroad; 5 Twinkle; 6 Rigmarole; 7 Participate; 8 Predecessor; 12 Ignorance; 15 Precede; 17 Superb; 19 Poser; 21 Act.

19 Artist whose radicalism too often concealed his talent The CopenhAgen poST CphpoST.dk

26 August - 1 September 2011

Bonnie fortune Asger Jorn may have been a ‘professional amateur’, but his legacy will outlast many of his more seriously-minded peers

A collection of Asger Jorn’s artwork can be found at both Louisiana and the Museum Jorn in Silkeborg

a new book about the scandinavian situationist Movement that he co-edited with Danish artist Jakob Jakobsen, which is available in english from nebula press. “But…it kept alive the promise of another world not yet realised.” The expressive action used to make this artists’ book project is an example of what would become a principle idea of the situationist movement, détournement or disruption.

We are only artists in so far as we are no longer artists: we want to realise art for the situationists, détournement was a form of media critique. it means to take a familiar form of media, such as a magazine or a well-known painting, and then add to it, rewrite it, or paint over it to create something new. Jorn, Debord and others in the situationist group developed the idea as a way to firstly critique the art world they were part of, but more importantly to go beyond art and critique society. Very much like the preceding CoBra group, the situationist international was a reaction to boredom, alienation, and rampant consumerism in the society of the 1950s and 60s. The group rapidly spread to include sections in Debord’s france, Holland, and Germany among other locations. They were involved not only in several controversial art exhibitions in Denmark and other parts of europe, but also in political activism. The situ-

ationist international would continue as a movement until the 1970s, but would see the height of its influence in the 1960s, specifically during the May 1968 student revolt in paris. after the dissolution of CoBra, and before the situationist international began, Jorn spent time in silkeborg in Denmark learning techniques in ceramics. He also travelled to the Mediterranean coast in albisola, italy, and to paris. for Jorn, this marked the turning point in the development of his signature artistic style. He was also able to build lasting relationships with gallerists outside of Denmark, leading to the continuous sale of his paintings. Jorn was able to bankroll several situationist publication projects from the sale of his artwork. Jorn brought the concept of détournement into his paintings when, in 1959, he created the first of his series of paintings called Modifications. Jorn would take an older painting by an anonymous painter and paint over it to create something new. for example, his painting Le canard inquiétant (1959) shows a large, misshapen, multicoloured duck on top of a traditional farmhouse in a country landscape. The painting appears almost as a prank, or joke. Détournement and the general attitude of the situationists could often veer off into the direction of the absurd. The group would employ the absurd to draw attention to what they saw as a need for change in everyday life. The situationists were active at getting their ideas into print and had several publications, including the selftitled Internationale Situationniste, a journal that discussed artistic practice as a tactical game and to which Jorn

bonnie fortune

professional amateur is a contradiction in terms” is a familiar term in art circles, so it’s perhaps equally contradictory to learn that the organisation that coined the phrase - CoBra (Copenhagen Brussels amsterdam), an experimental art group named after the cities its members lived in - was made up of artists who all professed themselves as professional amateurs. one of their co-founders, the celebrated Danish painter asger Jorn, who was also a founding member of subsequent art movement The situationist international, was born asger oluf Jørgensen in Vejrum on 3 March 1914. in 1945 he changed his last name to ‘Jorn’. He may have called himself a professional amateur, but he was by no means an amateur professional, as his long career, on-going influence on the art world of today, and position in the canon of Danish art history, will attest to. His experimental antics and radical art philosophy were the hallmarks of his contradictory but always entertaining career. CoBra, active from 1948-1951, was one of the first international avantgarde art collectives that grew out of the post-World War ii, Cold War period in europe. Calling themselves professional amateurs, they encouraged art made by artists and non-artists alike that blurred the boundaries of professional specialisation. CoBra members wanted to disrupt everyday life with radical artistic practice because of an increasing sense of alienation in the social climate of the ideologically conservative Cold War period. Collectively making paintings and then attributing them to the group was an attempt to change the way people thought about art and the people who made it. The CoBra journal, published by the group, also promoted their ideas about shifting the world’s perception of art. Jorn, though he is known today more for his abstract paintings, was centrally involved in the publishing activities of this radical group of artists. not only a painter, Jorn was also a thoughtful writer, theorist and researcher - although he could veer from the intellectual to the physical, as in the publication of the influential Fin de Copenhague art book. in 1957, several years after the end of the CoBra collective, Jorn cofounded the now legendary art movement, The situationist international, with Guy Debord, a french theorist and filmmaker. one of the first collaborations between the two men was to make Fin de Copenhague. it took only 24 hours to put the book together but it marked the start of an art movement that would change the contemporary art world significantly. Jorn climbed up a three-metre ladder to splatter printer’s ink onto pages ripped from travel books and pornographic magazines in an attempt to pull the reticent Debord into the physical act of making art. “Fin de Copenhague was incoherent because the world was incoherent,” Danish art historian Mikkel Bolt rasmussen wrote in ‘expect anything, fear nothing: The situationist Movement in scandinavia and elsewhere’ (2011),

If you’ve ever seen this wall in Christiania and wondered who that was taking up space between Bob Dylan and Bob Marley, now you know

contributed. During his tenure with the situationists, Jorn also published Pour la forme in 1958, in which he called artists “an army of swindlers and liars”, and Critique de la politique économique in 1960. The medium of print effectively spread situationist ideas, expanding their network of influence globally. Jorn stopped active participation in the situationist international in 1961, though he maintained his friendship with Debord. at this point, Jorn’s profile as an established artist was growing and he did not want to compromise the anti-art critique of the politicallyminded situationists. The group had famously said: “We are only artists in so far as we are no longer artists: we want to realise art.” Jorn turned his attention to

extensively researching nordic and scandinavian folk art, which would later influence his own paintings and sculptures. He also enjoyed growing fame thanks to several international solo exhibitions. Though he was rapidly becoming an accomplished professional, he remained true to his radical roots, when in 1964 he refused to accept the Guggenheim award, a prestigious cash art prize from the John simon Guggenheim Memorial foundation in new York City. Jorn, it seems, was once a professional amateur, always a professional amateur, creating disruptions in the routines of everyday life. He died in aarhus on 1 May 1973. Today, you can visit the Museum Jorn in silkeborg to see a large collection of his paintings and sculptures.

The Copenhagen posT CphposT.dk

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Take the Metro to the beach It only takes 8 minutes to reach the beach from the Kgs. Nytorv Metro Station. And with our ‘Metroen’ app, you can plan your trip down to the half minute or buy your ticket using your smartphone. The next Metro leaves in under 4 minutes, so hurry up and find your beach ball. Want to go for a swim?

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