TAKE YOUR
DANISH NEWS IN ENGLISH VOL 22 ISSUE 2
SPECIAL EDITION
Who said February was flat? From Vinterjazz to Valentine’s Day, the shortest month is packed with things to do
Let us guide you through the complexities of the Danish education system
16-17
INSIDE
TEM DANISH SYS UP ON THE S GET CLUED LY FOR KID IS NOT ON NG EDUCATION OB TRAINI T ON-THE-J OU AB LEARN
IQREMIX
FREE PAPER
EVENTS
CPHPOST.DK 25 Jan - 21 Feb 2019
FEATURE Bemoaning the absence of consent in the rape law
5
NEWS
Death to the regions! PM’s pre-election health reform: time to sink or die
FAST FASHION’S FOOTPRINT
6
Bending to gender agenda KU academic astonished at student demands SPORT Wozniacki: Sayōnara at the next Olympics or sooner?
9 HISTORY
Holger’s helping hand Modern handball was invented by an Ordrup gym teacher
18
PRINT VERSION ISSN: ONLINE VERSION ISSN:
2446-0184 2446-0192
9 771398 100009
P
LEASE respect my pronouns” and “Don’t presume my gender” are familiar complaints on US campuses, but not as common at the University of Copenhagen (KU) – until now. Dean Jacobsen, an associate professor, has been forced to change his teaching to accommodate a group of students who felt irked by his gender references during his biology classes. Frankly it’s absurd FOLLOWING a meeting in December, Jacobsen felt compelled to change his methods, but he has since regretted the decision, arguing that it limits his freedom of speech and complicates his teaching.
“I don’t have any interest in insulting anyone, obviously. It encourages me to think more about the way I teach, but I also think it’s absurd,” Jacobsen told Jyllands-Posten newspaper. “In the world of biology you are, from a physical point of view, born male or female. Am I now not permitted to refer to people as ‘he’ or ‘she’ then?” Discussions always good AMANDA Büchert, a spokesperson for the student council, told CPH POST she did not think it would be a problem if accumulated knowledge was reassessed along new gender divides. “I think knowledge should always be up for discussion since this is what drives it forward, so we should always reassess,” she said.
4
Vestas keen on ex-PM
Snowy Saturday
SHORTLY after it was confirmed that former PM Helle Thorning-Schmidt is leaving her post as administrative director of Save the Children, her name was proposed as a potential board-member of Vestas. The wind energy company is expected to make an announcement at its AGM at the end of February.
FOLLOWING the snowfall on Monday, DMI was adamant there would be no more for at least a week. But all that changed on Tuesday night, as its latest forecast is expecting 8 cm to fall on Saturday and another 4 cm to follow on Sunday, with wind speeds of 9-10 metres per second, and a daily temperature of zero degrees.
Perished pursuing perfection World’s most sustainable A TV2 REPORT has drawn attention to how 51 people are undergoing treatment in Herlev Hospital after injecting paraffin oil in a bid to boost muscle growth. In December, the death of a 26-year-old man was blamed on him injecting three litres when he was 21. Doctors fear thousands might have also done so. The cases started surfacing two years ago.
DANISH bioscience firm Chr Hansen has been named the most sustainable company in the world at the ongoing World Economic Forum in Davos, ranking ahead of Kering and Neste. Danish companies Ørsted (4), Vestas (34) and Novo Nordisk (58) also made the top 100. The index assessed 7,500 companies across 21 different parameters.
INSIDE OUR NEXT ISSUE, OUT 21 FEBRUARY!
Diplomacy
A CPH POST SPECIAL
DIPLOMACY & LANGUAGE SCHOOL SUPPLEMENTS!
2
NEWS
THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK
25 January - 21 February 2019
Touring the human zoo by bus
ONLINE THIS WEEK Syrians on trial
BEN HAMILTON
T
HE CHAIR of Indre By Lokaludvalg, a local committee in the city centre, cautions that tourism has reached a “saturation point” amid fears that the Lonley Planet’s ‘world’s best city to visit in 2019’ will be swamped by visitors. “You don’t even meet locals in Nyhavn anymore. The tourists see only other tourists,” Bent Lohmann complained to Politiken.
M25 for Copenhagen? THE GOVERNMENT in co-operation with several municipalities wants to build a new motorway encircling the capital region. However, a preliminary investigation would take two years, with environmental concerns likely to delay it even further.
Cobblestone aversion LOHMANN contends that a proliferation of buses are rendering the capital a human zoo. “Clearly they can’t walk around themselves – presumably it’s dangerous for them to
Paternity leave rise IN JUST five years, the number of fathers working for Copenhagen Municipality taking paternity leave for at least 14 weeks has tripled. Some 36 percent took the time off, with a further 26 percent taking between 8 and 13 weeks’ leave.
Lack of sunshine costs Copenhagen a place in top ten CHRISTIAN WENANDE
I
WORKMEN renovating the roof of a building in Frederiksberg discovered a child’s skeleton last summer. The child, who was 39 or 40 weeks old, was probably born between 1938 and 1954. The investigation has been dropped.
F YOU’RE looking for a city to help you keep that New Year’s resolution of living a healthier 2019, or at least a healthier January, perhaps Copenhagen might be the next travel destination for you. At least that’s what TravelSupermarket, a travel price comparison site, seems to believe – ranking the Danish
Editorial offices: International House, Gyldenløvesgade 11, 1600 Copenhagen Denmark
Founded in 1998 by San Shepherd All rights reserved. Published by cphpost.dk ApS. Printed by Dansk Avistryk A/S
Kid’s skeleton in attic
ON MONDAY morning around 100 cabbies protested against the new taxi law, bringing traffic in the city centre to a standstill. The new law will gradually allow more people to get licenses to drive taxis, and by 2020 there will be no limit on the number of licences issued.
Tivoli to scrap Odin Roll up for the greatest show in town
walk on the cobblestones,” he said. “Meanwhile, the city is becoming more like a zoo with the tourists gazing out through the bus windows.” Wonderful Copenhagen, reports the article, is this year going to focus on drawing more tourists away from the city to the different neighbourhoods. Not a big deal HOWEVER, Szilvia Gyimóthy, an associate professor at the De-
partment of Culture and Global Studies at Aalborg University, does not believe that Copenhagen’s recent accolades will dramatically increase tourist numbers. “Copenhagen was already very popular,” she told Politiken. “Rankings tend to be a bigger influence for completely unknown destinations.” More significant than accolades, argues Gyimóthy, are capacity investments such as “the airport expansion, the harbour waterfront and more accommodation”.
Capital among the world’s healthiest
Bring transport together THE TRANSPORT minister, Ole Birk Olesen, wants to consolidate the capital region’s different transport companies under one roof to create a single company responsible for all planning, purchasing and passenger activity.
Taxi protest CHRISTIAN GIERSING
Give us our lonely city back, pleads local committee fearful of high visitor numbers in 2019
COPENHAGEN’S City Court on Tuesday held the opening day of the trial of two Syrians, along with a third unknown party, charged with attempting to carry out a terrorist attack in Denmark. It is believed the prosecutors will be pushing for life imprisonment. A verdict is expected on March 5.
ONLINE THIS WEEK
capital 11th overall in its new Healthiest City Index. Paris finished top of the list, followed by Chang Mai (Thailand), Barcelona, Pattaya (Thailand) and Vancouver, while Miami, San Francisco, Lisbon, Denpasar (Indonesia) and Buenos Aires rounded up the top 10. Great for gyms and yoga TRAVELSUPERMARKET looked into the number of parks, gym and fitness centres, spas, yoga and pilates locations, health food shops, and vegan option restau-
rants in 100 cities worldwide. These figures were then divided by each city’s size to reveal a per square kilometre ‘density’ figure. Copenhagen ranked third for gym and fitness centres, fifth for yoga and pilates and in the top 20 for parks and green spaces, vegan option restaurants and health food shops. At the bottom end of the scale, it scored poorly for average sunlight hours (41st) and the cost of a one-night stay (44th). The city also ranked in the middle for spas, coming in at 26th.
TIVOLI has been criticised for its 2019 plans to scrap the child-friendly Odin Express rollercoaster, which opened in 1985, and replace it with a faster rollercoaster called Mælkevejen (Milky Way). Meanwhile, it wants to give Karavanen, the infants rollercoaster, an oriental flavour and make it longer.
Museum move mooted DANMARKS Tekniske Museum, the museum of science and technology, is exploring the possibility of leaving its Helsingør home of 50 years to move to the Svanemølleværket power station when the Ørsted energy company moves out in 2023, reports Ingeniøren.
New city architect FROM FEBRUARY 1, Copenhagen will have a new official architect. Camilla van Deurs, 42, who is leaving Gehl Architects, is committed to incorporating recreational areas and public buildings into new urban areas.
Thousands to walk OVER 7,000 people have signed up to walk 45 km along the coast from Copenhagen to Helsingør on June 1, with a further 51,000 expressing an interest.
To advertise – call 24 20 24 11 or email sales@cphpost.dk
Fredensborg is located in northeast Zealand
To tell us your story – call 93 93 92 01 or email news@cphpost.dk For all other inquiries – email info@cphpost.dk
Ejvind Sandal
Hans Hermansen
Tanya Vinogradova
Ben Hamilton
Rosemarie Christensen
Christian Wenande
Stephen Gadd
CO-OWNER
CEO
PHOTOGRAPHER
EDITOR
SALES MANAGER
NEWS/LAYOUT EDITOR
JOURNALIST
NEWS
25 January - 21 February 2019
Maritime agreement the first of many, hopes Denmark
DANISH SHIPPING
Indian deal bodes well
ONLINE THIS WEEK New route to NY
Grounded near tunnel A 90-METRE freighter was grounded just north of the Øresund Tunnel. The ship, the Alexander Tvardoskiy, is reportedly based out of the Cook Islands and was heading towards the UK with a load of wood when its captain lost control due to a technical blackout. However, rising water levels enabled it to escape and continue on its journey.
B
two countries. “India is the world’s biggest democracy and a quickly-growing economic power, and it represents a massive market for Danish companies. The visit is a unique opportunity to promote Danish business interests in India,” said Rasmussen.
Meeting Mr Modi
PM salutes deal RASMUSSEN met his counterpart, Narendra Modi, and on Monday it was confirmed the two countries had signed a new maritime deal that aims to boost co-operation between the
Fourth largest THE AGREEMENT will focus on increased dialogue and further co-operation regarding state dock control, digitalisation, green technology and maritime competencies with a view to promoting quality shipping. With exports of over 8.5 billion kroner in 2017, India is Denmark’s fourth-largest shipping market.
Major summit THE DELEGATION – which includes the business minister, Rasmus Jarlov, several business leaders and Dansk Industri – will also take part in the official openings of the new Danish embassy building in New Delhi and the Danish Institute of Culture. The trip coincided with Vibrant Gujarat, a major business and investment summit in New Dehli.
THE DANISH Navy has assumed command of NATO’s mine-sweeping forces in the Baltic Sea and the eastern Atlantic Ocean for 2019. It will oversee six vessels tasked with keeping shipping lanes free of old mines. Around 20 ships from various countries will intermittently take part in the operation over the course of the year.
A VIDEO purporting to show the murder of the Danish and Norwegian tourists in Morocco on December 17 last year is doing the rounds – particularly amongst teenagers. Viborg’s public prosecutor Kirsten Dyrmann, who has been assigned the task of assessing the extent of its distribution, warns that sharing it is probably illegal.
Focus on the Horn
Borrowing from English
No more arms to UAE
Esbjerg men die in Egypt
Forsaking Pia’s handshake
THE FOREIGN minister, Anders Samuelsen, has met with representatives of the African Union and the EU regarding peace and stability in the Horn of Africa, with a particular focus on piracy in the western part of the Indian Ocean. Denmark is a key player in fighting extremism and terrorism in the region, as well as preventing irregular migration and promoting maritime security in an area critical to Danish and international shipping. The Danish efforts, which earmarked 223 million kroner from mid-2018 to mid-2022, are concentrated particularly in Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia. (CW)
IT’S DIFFICULT to eavesdrop on a conversation involving young Danes these days without hearing an English word or two being bandied about. And that’s not a coincidence, according to an expert who has found that upwards of 10 percent of the Danish language is influenced by English. Henrik Gottlieb, an associate professor at the Department of English, German and Romance studies at the University of Copenhagen, contends that of the 50,000-100,000 words that make up the Danish language there are 12,000 Anglicisms – a word or construction borrowed from English. (CW)
DENMARK will no longer export arms to the United Arab Emirates. The Foreign Ministry has asked the Rigspolitiet state police to withdraw export permits that have already been approved. The move comes as a result of the UAE’s involvement in the conflict in Yemen, according to the foreign minister, Anders Samuelsen, and it comes on the heels of a similar suspension of arms exports to Saudi Arabia in November last year in the wake of the conflict and murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Amnesty International has applauded the decision. (CW)
TWO DANISH men from Esbjerg died under mysterious circumstances on holiday in Egypt at the turn of the year. The two friends were staying at the Elysees Dream Beach Hotel in the touristy town of Hurghada. Verner Strunck, 65, was found dead in his bed on December 31, while his friend Leif Kristensen, 68, was found dead in his bed just two days later. No cause of death has been confirmed, but it was suspected they’d been poisoned, eaten contaminated food or – most likely – succumbed to a bacteria such as Legionnaire’s disease due to faulty air conditioning in their rooms. (CW)
THE CURRENT Iranian ambassador to Denmark, Morteza Moradian, chose not to attend the traditional New Year’s reception at Parliament this year because he did not want to shake hands with a woman. The official host of the party is the Speaker of the House and, at the moment, it happens to be Pia Kjærsgaard. In 2016 a similar incident happened when the then Iranian ambassador, Himad Bayat, announced before the event that he would not shake the hand of a woman. When it was reported back to him that the handshake was not in fact optional, he simply disappeared. (PM)
CHRISTIAN WENANDE
ILATERAL relations between Denmark and India seem to have got back on track, following a frosty few years due to the incendiary Niels Holck case, and this week PM Lars Løkke Rasmussen led a business delegation to the Indian capital.
MAIREAD
SAS COULD introduce a direct route from Aarhus to New York if the city backs up the idea, reports check-in.dk. Its chief executive Rickard Gustafson raised the possibility at a local business meeting in the city, calling Aarhus an “exciting city that is developing really strongly at the moment”. A decision could reportedly be made in March.
3
Head of NATO force
READ THE REST OF THESE STORIES AT CPHPOST.DK
Video sharing warning
– when love locks you up and throws away the key
Teatret ved Sorte Hest • February 15 - March 9 • teaterbilletter.dk
4
COVER
THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK
25 January - 21 February 2019
Style at a snip: sustainability suffering… unless it’s second-hand
MAYA HARRIS
M
ANY POUR scorn on Denmark’s green reputation in light of the emissions of huge shipping companies like Maersk. Others are openly critical of the ‘frequent traveller’ mindset of modern business, shunning airline travel all together in favour of 48-hour coach journeys in their effort to make a difference. But there’s a bigger enemy in our midst, or rather on our backs: clothes! We are the goon squad THE BRIGHT colours and chic contours of Copenhagen Fashion Week will once again be permeating onto our streets at the end of January, but how often do we properly appraise the carbon footprint the industry is responsible for. It might surprise many to learn that the textiles industry, from which 60 percent of the output goes towards the fashion industry, produces more greenhouse gas emissions – 1.2 billion tonnes a year – than the airline and shipping industries combined. In fact, only the oil industry produces more. Clearly our consumer choices impact on the textiles industry’s carbon footprint, and it is only going to get worse, according to State of Fashion, a 2018 report compiled by McKinsey & Company. It blames the increasing popularity of fast fashion – the demand for trendy but affordable clothing, which consumers tend to quickly discard due to their poor quality, after wearing only once. The average number of times a garment is worn has fallen by 36 percent in the last 15 years, and just 1 percent of all materials are recycled to make new clothing. But just doubling
the average number of times a garment is worn would reduce emissions by 44 percent – proof consumers can make a difference. Future looking bleak THE TEXTILE industry’s emissions will rise by 60 percent by 2030, according to UNFCCC, if nothing is done to address it, while the Ellen MacArthur Foundation warns that the fashion industry could account for 26 percent of emissions by 2050. The number of garments is projected to rise from 60 to 100 million by 2030, and it doesn’t help that the number of fashion industry seasons – traditionally autumn/winter and spring/ summer – has exploded with the addition of 50-100 micro-seasons. With fossil fuelled-China and India increasingly taking a larger market share, whilst simultaneously demanding more clothes for their increasing middle class populations, the future understandably looks bleak. High-street culprits ANDERS Larsen, an expert in visual culture and sustainability, contends that Denmark is as much to blame for the explosion of fast fashion as other countries. “Danes prefer to buy fast fashion from chains such as H&M and Zara. This indicates that the consumer values cheap disposable fashion over sustainable clothing,” he told CPH POST. However, just as many are buying second-hand clothing, reports TV2. According to an Epinion poll for DBA, 56 percent of the population bought a used product last year (see factbox). And while some said it was a question of price, others said they were concerned about the environment and not using things enough. No longer a taboo “IT IS NO longer a taboo to buy used clothes,” Claus H Andersen from Dansk Super-
marked Group told Berlingske, and according to Rita Christina Biza, who runs the popular flea market Rita Blås Lopper in Copenhagen, this is reflected in the figures. “The demand for this is really great,” she told Main magazine. “We haven’t had a single flea market where we have not sold out, and there is always a queue to be allowed to sell clothes with us – because there are more than enough customers interested in it.” Gitte Mikkelsen, a senior ethnologist at the consultancy Antropologerne, told Politiken that the increase in popularity is “fully in line” with the sharing and circular economies. “There is a greater focus on sustainability, and at the same time more and more people are becoming confident about using used clothing, as they hear about others who have had a good experience with it,” she said. “Previously, there was widespread scepticism about being cheated, or if the items were stolen, but recycling has become so widespread that it has become the norm.” Greenwashing concerns EVERY spring Copenhagen hosts the Copenhagen Fashion Sustainability Summit, but Larsen is not convinced Denmark is doing enough in this area. Several companies, he contends, are guilty of greenwashing – convincing consumers they are shopping sustainably when they are not. “It is evident that sustainability has become a convenient marketing tool that allows them [the fashion industry] to sell more to the ethical consumer who is lulled into believing that it is possible to use more than you need and still be good to the environment,” he said. “When we look at the results they produce they are however limited, which indicates that it is more important to look sustainable than it is to change the way you produce clothing.”
PIXABAY
There’s no doubt the fashion industry has a huge carbon footprint, but Danish consumers are playing their part in making it more environment
Time to put the whole industry on the rack?
Is the industry learning? LARSEN is concerned about how little legislation governs the production of the raw materials in countries such as China and Bangladesh. Such problems were highlighted in 2013 when an eight-storey building in Bangladesh called the Rana Plaza collapsed, killing 1,100 textile workers. Companies such as H&M, Zara, Texman and Mango were among those that had clothes produced in the building. Larsen questions how much the industry has learnt from this, almost six years later. But while Denmark does have long strides to take towards a sustainable future, there are steps in place to get there. The Nordic Fashion Association is committed to the NICE (Nordic Initiative Clean and Ethical) project. While it has not yet come into effect, it revolves around four main goals: reducing the use of chemicals and water whilst producing less carbon and waste. Meanwhile, the UN Alliance on Sustainable Fashion is being formally launched in March, aiming to reach out to the private sector, the governments of UN member states, NGOs and other relevant stakeholders with a unified voice.
Consumers to the cause! NEVERTHELESS, the biggest impact must come from the consumers, concludes Larsen. “Reusing and mending are some of the best and most sustainable ways to wear clothing,” he said. “By extending the life of a garment you reduce the environmental impact. So take good care of your clothing, turn it inside out before you wash it, wash it at the lowest possible temperature, never tumble-dry your clothes, and make sure you repair it if it tears or a button falls off – instead of throwing it away.”
SECOND-HAND BOOM - The second-hand fashion site trendsales.dk recently confirmed it has over 1 million users, with the numbers growing by 5,000 a month. - The Den Blå Avis website recently reported an annual 90 percent rise in the number of women’s fashion and accessory ads – most particularly clothing brands and designer bags – compared to a general increase of just 53 percent. - The flea market app Tradono is on average downloaded 30,000 times a month - The Red Cross enjoyed a record-breaking profit of 66 million kroner in 2017 from selling recycled goods. It now has 240 stores nationwide
FEATURE
25 January - 21 February 2019
5
Consent discontentment: Battling for a rape law sea-change KATIE ANDERSEN
I
T IS ESTIMATED that 5,100 rapes and attempted rapes took place last year. However, only 944 of these cases were reported and there were only 60 convictions. Could that have something to do with the rape laws in Denmark and, if so, what can be done about it? In the wake of the ‘Me Too’ and ‘Time’s Up’ movements that went viral on social media in 2017, sexual harassment has been heavily in the spotlight. This has accelerated the drive to change rape laws.
Grassroots pressure A NUMBER of countries have already adopted a ‘consent-based’ approach. In Europe alone, Sweden, Germany, the UK, Ireland and Cyprus have all adopted such measures, and pressure is growing on Denmark to follow suit. The UK laws are actually 15 years old. As the Danish rape law looks today, it is the presence of violence or threats of violence that determine whether there is rape. By adding consent instead of focusing on what the victim did to avoid being raped, one would ask what both parties did to make sure that sex happened voluntarily. The burden of proof still has to be lifted by the prosecutor, and the accused is still presumed innocent until proven otherwise. Group efforts IN OCTOBER last year, the justice minister, Søren Pape Poulsen, announced the setting up of an expert group to examine rape legislation that will also draw on the experience of other countries. In concrete terms, the group will examine the victim’s progress through the judicial system, the various measures to
prevent rape, and the over-representation of foreigners as perpetrators in rape cases. The minister stopped short of agreeing to the ‘consent-based’ approach, and he is not alone amongst his political colleagues. The minister for equality, Eva Kjer Hansen, recently told Avisen Danmark that the law should be amended to protect women better, but that she was not in favour of the type of legislation recently adopted in Sweden. Dansk Folkeparti is more positive. “We’d like to see a situation in which the justice minister heads up a process that looks at models from other countries. We know Norway and Sweden have models different to Denmark, and we’d like to have an overview of the possibilities that they contain,” said Peter Kofod, DF’s spokesperson on legal matters. However the party is also unwilling to commit to legislation. This was apparent when in November a proposal to introduce a consent-based law in Parliament from SF was defeated. Only SF, Alternativet, Socialdemokratiet and Radikale supported the idea when it came to a vote. Outdated legislation AMNESTY International, which has just published a report on the issue, is represented in the expert group set up by the justice minister. An opinion poll carried out for the organisation by Voxmeter showed that 56.7 percent of women support a new rape law. However, only 33.1 percent of men agree that sex without consent is rape. Additionally, one in four people – 25.6 percent of men and 28.8 percent of women – are in doubt. Helle Jacobsen, the organisation’s program leader for gender, told CPH POST how she has spent nearly two years researching sexual assault, rape and human rights in Denmark. In her research, she’s found that “gender stereotypes are one of the main problems for rapes in
PIXABAY
‘No’ should always mean ‘no’, but opinion in Denmark is divided on whether legislation is the way ahead
The mind is damaged forever, but Danish courts still want to see some tangible evidence
Denmark, and that we still are heavily influenced by gender stereotypes and notions on how men and women should behave.” She also found that Danish legislation surrounding consent and sexual assault was shockingly outdated. Currently, no laws in Denmark exist regarding consent. Sexual assault is only considered a crime if there is proof of physical resistance, threat or physical violence, and consent is conveniently absent from any written laws. “If we had consent laws and consent culture, it would prevent rapes in the long run,” contended Jacobsen. Look to Sweden THE SWEDISH laws state that a person must give clear consent, verbal or physical, or the act will be considered sexual assault under the law. The law came into force on 1 July 2018. It criminalises sexual assault and rape and makes it easier to convict perpetrators. Under previous legislation, victims of sexual assault in Sweden had to prove the perpetrator had used physical violence or that the victim was in a vulnerable position, such as under the influence of alcohol. Over the last three years, the number of reported rapes in Denmark has doubled. Part of
the explanation for this increase is due to the new police records system. Previously, the police decided if they would register a reported rape as rape or simply give it an investigation number. Today, if a rape is reported, it must be registered as such. The problem might also have something to do with the way that sexual consent is discussed throughout the educational system. Even at university level, the notion seems to be that assisting sexual assault victims is not a matter for the university. Teresa Geertsen, a native Dane currently attending graduate school at Lund University in Sweden, told CPH POST this is normal. “Consent was not even talked about at my bachelor’s degree in Copenhagen,” she revealed. “It’s very separate from our private lives. They see us as adults when we start university.” Better sex education SEX EDUCATION in general is also under fire. “I think our sex education is not good, and it should play a role in terms of preventing rapes by teaching consent culture from a young age, which it doesn’t,” observed Jacobsen. For international students studying in Denmark, the differences in consent standards and definition of sexual assault
between, for example, the United States and Denmark can be a difficult cultural transition. Susie Oliver, a psychology major from North Carolina, told CPH POST how she remembers learning before she came to Denmark that “consent in Denmark is respected, but not explicitly stated. Agreeing to go back to a guy’s apartment is often seen as consent.” Empowering women GEERTSON echoes Oliver’s statement. “It’s not talked about or taught that much – it’s just an unwritten or unspoken rule.” Yet, according to Jacobsen, because of the lack of consent in the rape legislation in Denmark, accountability in sexual assault cases is nearly non-existent, making it incredibly difficult to convict perpetrators. “A law based on consent will deal with the current notion that it is the woman’s responsibility to fight back if she is raped. It will most likely lead to an increase in the number of reviews, and it will thus help to strengthen the legal certainty of rape victims,” says Jacobsen. In addition, a new law will mean that Denmark lives up to its international human rights obligations, as Denmark has ratified the Istanbul Convention, which dictates that a rape law must be based on a lack of consent.
6
NEWS
THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK
25 January - 21 February 2019
Election starts here: “Death to the regions!”
ONLINE THIS WEEK
HASSE FERROLD
One held over thefts
PM wants to overhaul the health service at part of a new reform bill ahead of the next election
A YOUNG man is being held in custody, suspected of being involved in two thefts at Kolding’s Trapholt Museum. A 30-kilo Kay Bojesen wooden monkey was stolen on December 10, and then ‘Rolexgate’, a work by the Chilean-born artist Marco Evaristti, was nicked on January 1.
ONLINE THIS WEEK
T
HE REGIONS are dead – long live the health management bodies! Or at least they will be if the government succeeds in getting its health reform bill through Parliament. Less than 14 years after their creation by the Venstre-led government in November 2005, the same party has announced it intends to replace them. The general election – which can be held on June 17 at the latest – will only be called once the reform has been passed, according to PM Lars Løkke Rasmussen. Over the rest of the month the government will be in discussions with stakeholders in the health service. Only after that will the different political parties be called in for discussion.
19 struck down by TB SOME 19 pupils in a 9th grade class at Sofiendalskolen in Haslev have been infected with tuberculosis. While 18 of the pupils have it in a latent form and are not sick, they are being treated so that they cannot infect others. TB has an incubation period of two to three months.
Croatian family jailed TWO CROATIAN brothers got 15 years in prison for around 30 robberies in which they bound their mostly elderly victims in their own homes. Their parents got 12 years for helping them, and a friend eight years. All five must leave Denmark once they are released.
Tax rebate for cyclists?
You can tell it’s the election: he’s bringing out the big guns
A further 21 local combined health groups attached to hospitals with A&E facilities (akutsygehuse) covering on average four to five municipalities will build bridges between hospitals, GPs and the community. A national authority called Sundhedsvæsen Danmark will be responsible for raising the quality of treatment across the whole country.
21 combined groups THE FIVE health management bodies will be situated in Aalborg, Viborg, Vejle, Sorø and Hillerød.
The patient first THE GOVERNMENT intends to establish a fund with 6 billion kroner to kickstart the ‘Patienten først – nærhed, sammenhæng, kvalitet og patientrettigheder’, which roughly translates as ‘The patient first –
nearness, interrelation, quality and patients’ rights’. “Too many people travel far too far to receive relatively simple treatment and go to check-ups – for example, patients with chronic obstructive lung disease and diabetes. There is a lack of co-ordination,” said the PM. “During the next decade there will be around a quarter of a million more 75-year-olds and the number of diabetics is expected to double.” As the government sees it, the way around the problem is for more people to be treated locally and by their own GPs, which will require more nurses and doctors to be trained.
Lefties want to leave
Let the shops decide!
Where are their rights?
Young driver crackdown A BROAD majority in Parliament has agreed to toughen the penalty for 17-year-old drivers caught driving without adult supervision following a spike in cases. Previously, they faced a 3,000 kroner fine, but now they will lose their licence and be required to retake the test upon turning 18.
Transport prices rise LAST MARCH, the national rail operator DSB said that ticket prices would fall in the future, but on January 20 the cost rose across the country, affecting all modes of transport. The average rise in Zealand was 2.1 percent, while the price of using the Øresund Bridge rose by 2.7 percent.
Royal Run to return THE ROYAL Run that celebrated Crown Prince Frederik’s 50th birthday is set to return to Denmark’s five largest cities on June 10. Frederik, himself, will be taking part in runs in the Faroe Islands, Aarhus, Aalborg and Copenhagen.
Stress panel targets parents PIXABAY
JOINT BASE
KRISTOFFER TROLLE/FLICKR
MOGENS ENGELUND
MIKAEL COLVILLE-ANDERSEN
More incentive needed?
Skipper and the EU corpse
“9-20?” 7-Eleven is quaking
Heels on expenses surely?
“I think Daddy’s crying”
A NEW CAMPAIGN launched by the Cyklistforbundet cyclists’ federation has turned heads by proposing that people should receive a tax deduction for cycling to work. The point is one of four in a campaign aimed at making it more attractive to hop on the old iron horse in Denmark. Other points include subsidising electric bicycles and reducing car speeds in urban areas. With the general election on the horizon, Cyklistforbundet head Klaus Bondam hopes the campaign will be discussed in an election race that promises to concern climate issues more than ever before. (CW)
IN EARLY 2017, a Gallup survey found that 67 percent of the Danish public wanted to remain in the EU – up from 54 percent before the Brexit referendum in June 2016. By October last year, according to a Eurobarometer poll, the figure had risen to 77 percent. Nevertheless, left-wing party Enhedslisten would appear to approve of Denmark pulling out of the EU. It argues that the union puts the market before humankind; destroys ecology; is trading on the conditions of the rich; is turning into a military superpower; and is nationalism at a European level. (PM)
GOVERNMENT party Liberal Alliance has described the current retail opening hours law as “patronising” to shop owners. Not long ago, only selected shops could open on a Sunday, but now the only days on which large establishments cannot open are public holidays – for example, all of the country’s shops are obliged to close at 15:00 on New Year’s Eve. The government would like to do away with the restrictions, arguing that in the interest of free enterprise it should be the shops that decide when they open. Socialdemokratiet and DF disagree, leaving the government without a majority. (BH)
SINCE the legalisation of prostitution in 1999, sex workers have been obliged to register as business owners with the tax authorities as their income is taxable. However, the social minister, Mai Mercado, is concerned they are not being treated fairly, and he has charged a taskforce with improving their conditions. “It’s lamentable that this is an area where basic rights don’t exist,” he said. For example, sex workers don’t have the right to unemployment insurance payouts (dagpenge) or pensions. In 2011, an estimated 3,131 people, mostly women, worked in the industry. (CW)
“QUICK, get your coat on, we’ve got another parents’ meeting to discuss the camping trip, the cake competition and the half-term picnic. Camilla’s gone on stress leave so she can dedicate herself full-time, and we need to replace Jan … you know … the feel-good campfire singer, so we can close our eyes and imagine it’s 1981 again.” Many of us have been there. What started as a perfectly ordinary-looking class for our six-year-old children has spawned an extra-curricular life that we never bargained for, but now the government’s stress panel has had enough, reports Politiken. (BH)
READ THE REST OF THESE STORIES AT CPHPOST.DK
NEWS
25 January - 21 February 2019
ONLINE THIS WEEK A TEAM of Danish and South Korean researchers from DTU Biosustain and KAIST have developed a bio-chemical mapping system that will ease the road towards the biological production of industrial chemicals. The metabolism map shows all of the reactions that can lead to the production of various types of industrial chemicals.
No more control visits IN A BID to modernise the struggling agricultural sector, the government has turned to technology in a bid to do away with bureaucracy. In the future, farmers will avoid hundreds of time-consuming physical control visits, as the government will instead use satellite data for monitoring purposes. The EU Commission has green-lighted the project.
Post-natal failing AROUND half of the country’s 98 municipalities screen men for post-natal depression, but only five of them actually provide any services to fathers with problems, reports DR. A man seeking help needs to get a referral to a psychiatrist from his own GP, but this can be hard. Likewise, GPs cannot help them get group therapy, which is said to be a huge help.
Cambrian effect questioned FOSSILS in Greenland suggest that animals coped well in the oxygen-starved conditions on Earth 520 million years ago. Researchers from the University of Southern Denmark were involved in the discovery, which questions the importance of the Cambrian Explosion to the evolution of animals.
Asian interest in DANMAP A NUMBER of Asian countries have expressed an interest in Denmark’s DANMAP system for monitoring antibiotic resistance among humans and animals, which WHO regards as one of the greatest threats to human health. Over the last six months, experts from the DTU have visited Thailand, China and Hong Kong.
All hail the mosquito hunters
Stronger wind co-operation PIXABAY
Industrial chemicals boost
A new vaccine being developed in Denmark could save 220,000 lives every year STEPHEN GADD
M
ONTY PYTHON had the right idea. We laughed at the absurdity of their sketch about mosquito hunting in late 1970, but was it any more ridiculous than the notion of chasing down a shark a few years later in ‘Jaws’? After all, sharks are the planet’s 15th worst man-killers, accounting for six deaths a year. And along with the likes of wolves (10 deaths), lions (22), hippos (500) and crocodiles (1,000), we tend to give them a disproportionate number of column inches. Mosquitos, of course, account for the most deaths, killing 750,000 of us every year, almost double the number of the second biggest culprit on the list: humans with 437,000. Given that six of the top eleven are insects, suddenly the idea of hunting insects doesn’t sound too absurd … okay maybe a little.
7
THE GOVERNMENT and representatives from the wind energy sector – including Vestas, Siemens Gamesa, MHI Vestas, Ørsted and Vattenfall – have signed a declaration of intent that aims to further strengthen the co-operation between Denmark and the global wind industry.
Incinerator’s helping hand
“Smile you son-of-a-bitch”
every year, as pregnant women face a much higher risk of contracting the disease. The results, which have been published in the Clinical Infectious Diseases journal, confirm that the clinical trials have shown that the vaccine is safe and gives the recipient the desired antibody response. The next step is a so-called ‘Phase 2 clinical trial’ to make sure, as well as being safe, that the vaccine is actually able to prevent the disease. For this, the researchers are working together with hospitals in Benin, with the results of this are expected next year.
Encouraging results RESEARCHERS at the University of Copenhagen have perhaps found a better method than harbouring a bazooka: science. They are developing a vaccine that is especially targeted at pregnancy-associated malaria – a disease that kills 220,000 people
No alarm bells yet MEANWHILE, in related news, DTU scientists have discovered that blood-sucking stable flies are capable of infecting pigs with the dreaded African swine fever – and not just by biting them, but by being eaten. At the agricultural research
centre on the island of Lindholm (soon to become a prison for criminal foreigners and rejected asylum-seekers), researchers from DTU’s veterinary institute have been able to feed pigs with flies infected with the disease. However, senior researcher René Bødker told DR that he doesn’t think the flies are currently a threat, as they are only infectious for 6-12 hours, and they do not fly over long distances. There might however be a problem if there is a herd of wild boar very close to a pig farm. In such cases the only way to eliminate the risk is to make the farm fly-proof, and that would be a very expensive proposition. Danish agriculture has estimated that it could cost up to 11 billion kroner in lost exports should the disease take hold, and a 70-km long, 30 million kroner fence is currently being built along the border with Germany to keep the wild boar out.
Stiffer sentences backed
Organic food shortage
Plastic action urged
A BROAD majority in Parliament is prepared to crack down on psychological violence to the point where perpetrators will face fines and even prison time of up to three years. A proposal, which has the support of Socialdemokratiet and Dansk Folkeparti, will step up punishment for people who spread malevolent rumours, gossip or intimate information about individuals.
AN ØKOLOGISK Landsforening report on organic farming reveals that production needs to be increased by 50,000 tonnes per day to satisfy demand. It urges more farmers to switch from conventional methods. In related news, DTU is supervising a project to make the extraction of protein from grass profitable, with a view to offering more products for public consumption.
A MORE effective way of recycling plastic could save 1.6 billion kroner a year in Denmark, as less plastic and oil products would need to be imported, and more jobs would be created, claims a report compiled by Innovationsfonden and McKinsey. It recommends better sorting, less incineration, and placing a duty on plastic so companies have an economic incentive to recycle.
THE AMAGER Bakke incineration facility is investigating the possibility of helping Copenhagen Municipality to attain its climate goal by capturing around 160,000 tonnes of CO2 from the plant’s emissions, reports Politiken. Much of the CO2 is derived from plastics mixed in with the household rubbish burnt at the site.
Dog link to hunting NEW RESEARCH from the University of Copenhagen and University College London suggests dogs were originally domesticated to help humans hunt as far back as 14,000 years ago. Archaeologists in the Jordanian desert discovered lots of small animal bones whilst excavating a Stone Age settlement – the remains, they concluded, of a dog’s breakfast or two.
Robots screwing up RESEARCHERS from the University of Southern Denmark have developed robots that are so nimble-fingered they can pick up small screws and tighten them with screwdrivers – technology that landed them first prize at the Robot Challenge in Japan. With 211 industrial robots per 10,000 workers in Denmark in 2016, the country is the sixth-most automated country in the world.
Ultimate CO2 trap RESEARCHERS from Hamburg University have been burying teabags in the beach meadows by the Wadden Sea, a system of intertidal sand and mud flats stretching from the Netherlands to Denmark, and concluded that sea meadows are a better CO2 trap than forests. The tea bags simulate plant matter, and it is easy to see how much of the contents have disappeared.
8
CULTURE
THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK
ONLINE THIS WEEK Unusually good WELSH crooner Tom Jones, 78, is performing at Tivoli on July 5 as part of its Fredagsrock program. Also recently confirmed as coming to Denmark in 2019 are comedian Aziz Ansari from ‘Master of None’ (DR Koncerthuset; April 8); Alice Cooper (Royal Arena; Sep 25); John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival (RA; July 11); and Clean Bandit, Martin Garrix, Larkin Poe and 30 Seconds To Mars (Smukfest; Aug 7-11).
Still Danish at 90 ON THE occasion of the 90th anniversary of Hergé’s creation of Tintin, DR has again wheeled out the theory that the Belgian based his creation on a Danish 15-year-old explorer Palle Huld, who in 1928 won a Politiken contest to travel around the world – a story the queen told the visiting Belgian royals about on their visit to Denmark in 2017.
Kingdom reboot planned ‘THE KINGDOM’, the 1990s TV series directed by Lars von Trier, could be revived, reports Euroman. Eight episodes of a planned 13 were screened in 1994 and 1997, and Von Trier recently took a tour of Rigshospitalet for inspirational purposes, cautioning that he did not want to make a “damp squib” like the recent return of David Lynch’s series ‘Twin Peaks’.
25 January - 21 February 2019
Curiosities among the nominations For once the Roberts and Bodils haven’t released duplicate lists BEN HAMILTON
A
S IS OFTEN the case when an English-language film has been made with Danish money, there are plenty of curiosities in this year’s Robert and Bodil nominations – Denmark’s answers to the Oscars and Golden Globes, which will be handed out on February 3 and March 2 respectively. But while the Danish Film Institute’s Roberts have given Lars von Trier’s ‘The House That Jack Built’ ten nominations, the film critics’ Bodils have given it just one – which is a refreshing change, as a CPH POST analysis a few years ago revealed that 60 percent of the major award winners spread over a five-year period were duplicates. Furthermore, while ‘Lykke Per’ got 16 nominations from the Roberts, it picked up only one from the Bodils – suggesting the film critics are focusing more on less traditional candidates in line with recent US trends. Only ‘Ditte & Louise’ and ‘Den Skyldige’ make both ‘Best Film’ lists, with the Bodils finding room for ‘Den tid på året’, ‘Holiday’ and the cartoon ‘Ternet Ninja’. Stiff competition NEVERTHELESS, US actor Matt Dillon has been nominated as best actor in both the Robets
Andersen film delayed ODENSE Municipality is withdrawing 4 million kroner in support for a film about the life of Hans Christian Andersen, a project led by Zentropa with Chinese support. ‘My Best Friend Andersen’ has been postponed indefinitely, and Zentropa will pay 1 million kroner back to the municipality.
Life imitating art
Matt Dillon’s only two nominations worldwide have come in Denmark
and Bodils for ‘The House That Jack Built’, and he will face stiff competition (sorry) from Baard Owe for ‘Christian IV – Den sidste rejse’, who died in November 2017 aged 81. It’s curious to note that 27 films have Robert nominations – so pretty much every Danish film released in 2018. This is because ten of them picked up a solitary nomination for the Blockbuster Audience Award. The decision to recognise them means ten distinctly average films can crow about being Robert-nominated, including verifiable turkey ‘Backstabbing for Beginners’. CPH POST name dropping MEANWHILE, eagle-eyed CPH POST readers might spot
that regular That Theatre collaborator Adam Brix, who appeared alongside Ian Burns in ‘The Zoo Story’ in 2011 along with several other plays, has been nominated for best supporting actor for ‘Ditte & Louise’. Johanne Algren, the former wife of CPH POST co-founder Thomas Dalvang Fleurquin, Mr Distortion himself, has been Robert-nominated for best original screenplay alongside Isabella Eklöf for her script for ‘Holiday’. And finally, Sabine Hviid, the wife of sometime CPH POST reviewer Mark Walker, has received her umpteenth Robert nomination for best set design for her work on ‘Vildheks’. In fact, should she win, it will be her third on the trot.
LIFE IMITATED art on the set of DR1 crime series ‘Bedrag’ in Nørrebro during the 2017 Copenhagen Gang War. Actor Thomas Hwan told DR how the crew filmed a shooting on a street and then learned that an actual shooting had taken place on the opposite side of the road the very next day.
Knickers in a twist TRANSLATORS have been struggling with ‘De’, a novel by Helle Helle shortlisted for 2019 DR Romanprisen nominee. In the book, a prudish shopworker refuses to write the word ‘Buksestrømper’ (pantyhose) on a sign – a word that has since evolved into ‘strømpebukser’. The Norwegian version improvised by using ‘brassiere’.
Kanye heritage K-PHAX, an up-and-coming Danish mumble rapper with Kenyan heritage, owes everything to his dad, apparently. When K-Phax was seven, his father tried to download a compilation of Kenyan music, only to find out they were Kanye West tracks.
SPORT
25 January - 21 February 2019
Denmark has a semi
Fed up or Fed Cup: rankings slide the least of Woz’s worries
N
OBODY really knows what the future has in store for Caroline Wozniacki – both on and off the court – following her confirmation that she has rheumatoid arthritis. Windmills of her mind THE INCURABLE condition can drastically affect her ability to play tennis – but this wasn’t too evident in her bid to defend her Australian Open title, which ended with defeat to an inspired Maria Sharapova in the third round. But overall, it might be playing on her mind as she considers whether she should represent Denmark in next month’s Federation Cup. She needs to play to be eligible to represent Denmark at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo – the point when most pundits had expected her to retire from the game, prior to the diagnosis confirmation.
Retiring in Tokyo? “WE HAVE yet to make a final decision. It’s in the distant future so I don’t know when we’ll make that final decision,” said Wozniacki in Melbourne. A week earlier, on January 7, the Danish Tennis Federation confirmed that Wozniacki had been called up for the Federations Cup in February in Poland. Wozniacki has stated a number of times that she intends to retire from competitive tennis before the age of 30, but as a former flag bearer she has a special affinity with the Olympics, at which she has so far failed to win a medal in three previous appearances. Russian in the zone WOZNIACKI looked comfortable in her first two matches in Melbourne, seeing off big-serving Alison van Uytvanck in the opening round, before easily dispatching Sweden’s Johanna Larsson. But in unseeded Sharapova, a player she openly criticised several times last year for receiving
CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON (GLOBALITE)
Imminent decision likely to indicate retirement plans in light of recent arthritis diagnosis
In the closing stages Woz never got this close to the ball
wildcards following her drugs ban, and then preferential court scheduling at the US Open, Wozniacki could not have faced a tougher third round opponent. When the Russian is in the zone, she is unstoppable, and she was at times unplayable in the first and third set. Having lost the opener 4-6, it is to Woz’s credit that she won the second 6-4 after surrendering a 3-0 lead. But she subsequently dropped the final set 3-6.
9
Top ten freefall WOZNIACKI’S big chance
came midway through the final set at deuce on the Russian’s serve when an average volley gave her the chance to pass, but she failed to capitalise. Sharapova promptly held serve and proceeded to dominate, finally finding the measure of the Dane as she wrong-footed her on several occasions to break serve and close the match out comfortably. Given that she was defending 2,000 ranking points, Woz faces a big slide down the list – possibly down seven places to number 10. (BH)
Nation will be glued to their screens on Friday, but who will Denmark be playing?
A
T THE TIME of going to press, undefeated Denmark were preparing for their final group game in the 2019 Men’s World Handball Championship. And they are playing well, with Mikkel Hansen in splendid form. His 14 goals against Norway was just one shy of tying the Danish record for most goals – a record currently held by ... the coach Nikolaj Jacobsen. Scandi permutations SHOULD they beat Sweden, they’ll top the group and play either France or co-hosts Germany in the semis. A loss will leave them in a three-way tie with Sweden and Norway, which means they must avoid losing by five or more goals to qualify. While the semis are in Hamburg, the final will be held on home soil at Jyske Bank Boxen in Herning on Sunday.
Top netminder
New sprint record
Huge badminton upset
Great Dane # 1
No coming back
TORONTO Maple Leafs netminder Frederik Andersen is the best netminder in the league, according to an NHL.com pundits poll – despite a recent injury that he has just recovered from. The 29-year-old Dane owns a save percent of 92.3 percent over 30 games, allowing about 2.5 goals in per game. Andersen and Toronto are aiming to win the Stanley Cup this year for the first time since 1967.
MATHILDE Kramer, who didn’t start sprinting until she was 18, has smashed the 31-year-old national record in the 60m sprint. The 25-year-old clocked 7.36 seconds in Sweden to qualify for the Indoor European Championships in Glasgow in March. Kramer is now targeting the 100m record of 11.42 seconds, which was set way back in 1983 by Dorte Rasmussen. Kramer’s personal best is 11.58.
SINGAPOREAN badminton player Kean Yew Loh, who plies his trade at second-tier Danish club Langhøj, sprung one of the biggest upsets in history to sensationally win the men’s singles at the Thailand Masters on January 13. The 21-year-old, who is ranked 125 in the world knocked out the sixth and seventh seeds, before upsetting the favourite Lin Dan 21-19, 21-18 in the final.
PETER Schmeichel has comfortably won a BBC poll to determine the best ever Premier League goalkeeper. Some 53 percent of voters selected the Great Dane ahead of David De Gea (15), Petr Cech (13) and Edwin van der Sar (10) – a poll dominated by Man United keepers. Schmeichel, who led Denmark to victory in Euro 1992, was also voted the world’s best goalkeeper twice.
A LINGERING shoulder injury has forced Rikke Møller Pedersen to retire from competitive swimming at the age of 30. The current world record holder in the 200 metres breaststroke is stepping away from the sport effective immediately due to an injury she sustained during the 2016 Olympics in Rio, where she won a bronze medal in the 4x100 metre medley. In total, she won 24 major medals.
ART BY YASMINA REZA Translation by Christopher Hampton
“A comedy classic” – The Times
Krudttønden
20 Feb – 23 Mar
Director Ian Burns Peter Vinding Benjamin Stender Rasmus Emil Mortensen
teaterbilletter.dk
10 BUSINESS
THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK
ONLINE THIS WEEK
DANSKE Bank could face a 28 million euro fine in France in relation to its 1.5 trillion kroner money-laundering scandal in Estonia. In related news, a New York pension fund has launched a group action lawsuit, which alleges fraud inflated the share price, and three Berlingske journalists have won the prestigious Cavling Prize for their investigation into the scandal.
Salling salvation SUPERMARKET giant Salling Group has signed a confidential deal to buy the toy shop chain Fætter BR following the bankruptcy of its owner Top-Toy. A plan to keep five Fætter BR and 21 Toys”R”Us stores open in January to sell off stock was scrapped.
Radius sale checked THE FINANCE Ministry has informed Ørsted there is no longer political support for its proposed sale of Radius, the electricity distribution business that has over a million customers in Zealand, because some parties view it as a privatisation that would lead to increased prices. Ørsted believes a new owner – most probably a foreign pension fund – is in the best interest of all concerned.
Crypto currency checks IT COULD be bad news for Bitcoin speculators who have chosen to keep the taxman out of their dealings. The tax authorities have received permission from the tax council to access information relating to all the trading that has taken place on three Danish crypto currency platforms from 2016 to 2018.
World’s fourth most competitive Denmark bounces back into the top five on INSEAD’s global talent index
DSV bids billions INSEAD
Fat French fine
25 January - 21 February 2019
CHRISTIAN WENANDE
D
ENMARK has been ranked in the top five on INSEAD’s Global Talent Competitiveness Index – a rise of two places on 2018. It trailed only Switzerland, Singapore, the US and Norway, with Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands, the UK and Luxembourg completing the top 10. Top 10 all the way IT RANKED well for Enable (3), Labour and Business Landscape (3), Retain (4), Lifestyle (6), Sustainability (7), Regulatory Landscape (10) and Market Landscape (10), leaving Attracting Talent (17) as the only result outside the top ten. Australia, Iceland, Germany, Canada, and Ireland all made
Parken not for sale
Sorry Harry, but these cuckoo clock producers are competitive
the top 20, while other notables included Japan (22), South Korea (30), China (45), Russia (49), Mexico (70), Brazil (72) and India (80). Elsewhere, Yemen finished at the bottom of the index in 125th place, just below Congo and Burundi. Copenhagen second MEANWHILE, Copenhagen also improved compared to last year, moving up from fourth to
second, following a tumble the year before. The Danish capital finished just behind Washington DC and ahead of Oslo, Vienna and Zurich, while Boston, Helsinki, New York, Paris and Seoul completed the top 10. Other notables included Stockholm (11), London (14), Sydney (26), Berlin (32), Dublin (35), Moscow (42), Beijing (58), Sao Paolo (88), Mexico City (91) and Delhi (95).
Setting the table for a Hard Brexit Food minister contends that growing markets can match UK prices STEPHEN GADD
I
F THE UK crashes out of the EU in a ‘Hard Brexit’, it will have a big impact on Danish exports, warn economists. Exports headstart HOWEVER, the environment and food minister, Jakob Ellemann-Jensen, contends that the
DSV HAS tabled a 26.5 billion kroner offer for rival Swiss company Panalpina. With 14,000 employees and a presence in 70 countries, the acquisition would increase DVD’s staff to 62,000. For 2017, Panalpina made an operating profit of 683.5 million kroner.
ERIK SKJÆRBÆK and Karl Peter Korsgaard Sørensen, who between them own 40 percent of Parken Sport & Entertainment, have confirmed they have no intention to sell their stake to Redstone Advisory Partners. Their rejection followed Lønmodtagernes Dyrtidsfond, which owns 29 percent, saying it was interested and the shares jumping 25 percent.
Company car concerns THE TAX minister, Karsten Lauritzen, has told Jyllands-Posten there is too much tax-avoidance in the area of company cars. It would appear that some companies are bypassing hefty charges by selling the cars to leasing companies, which means that car drivers often avoid a third of the due tax – in the case of a brand new Audi A8 around 75,000 kroner a year.
government has already made a headstart. “I’m going to continue the efforts the government has made to open up new markets through a number of export drives and open the world’s eyes to good Danish food,” he said. “There are growing markets that can match the UK prices. It could be countries such as China, Hong Kong and Japan for dairy produce, and South Korea and Australia for pork.”
Butter hit hard IN THE event of a ‘Hard Brexit’, it will especially be the dairy, pork, and fish and shellfish sectors that will be heaviest hit. It is likely there would be tariffs of 30-40 percent on butter and spreads and 25 percent on pork. The report estimates the food industry and related industries in Denmark could lose exports to the tune of 17 billion kroner. The UK imports 24 percent of its foodstuffs, and 71 percent come from the EU.
IF THE money-laundering scandal has made you think bankers are dishonest, you might not be wrong. A University of Copenhagen study involving a dice game has revealed that students who want to work in the financial sector have a tendency to be more dishonest than those who prefer the public sector, reports Information.
Bankers are dishonest!
Amazon poised to enter?
Dankort worries
New DHL mega hub
OAPs hitting the net
Economy praised
NIELS Ralund, the CEO of Foreningen for Dansk Internethandel, believes Amazon might enter the Danish market this year. “We know it is inevitable,” he told DR. With no devoted Danish site, Amazon’s share of the Danish online trading market is relatively small, although many Danes do use the German site. In Germany, Amazon’s share is 40 percent.
ONE OF Denmark’s major banks, Jyske Bank, wants to stop offering its customers the combined VisaDankort in a bid to encourage more competition, reports Jyllands-Posten. But consumer watchdog Tænk and Dansk Erhverv are worried that when the Dankort part is split from the Visa, there won’t be much interest in a card that only works in Denmark.
DHL EXPRESS will spend 1 billion kroner on establishing a new hub at Copenhagen Airport that will be able to handle five times more packages than its current operation can: 37,000 an hour. It will enable many packages to skip a visit to DHL hubs in the UK and Germany, as is the case today. The hub is expected to open in 2023 and create 100 jobs.
SOME 81 percent of Danes over the age of 66, and 88 percent of 55 to 65-year-olds, shopped online last year, according to an analysis carried out by the payment service DIBS, which deduces that far more are using their mobiles to do so. Some 50 percent of people over the age of 60 bought at least one Xmas gift online – compared to 63 percent of all adults who did so.
THE OECD has given the Danish economy a glowing report, praising its high standard of living and quality of life, effective pension and benefit reforms, tech-savvy standing, and commitment to environmental concerns. However, it warned that “improving public sector efficiency remains a challenge” and that poor productivity growth could hinder future well-being.
25 January - 21 February 2019
MIND OVER MANAGING Daniel is the managing director of Nordeq Management (nordeqmanagement.com), managing cross-border investment projects with a focus on international corporate and tax law issues. Educated as a lawyer, Daniel also teaches in the International Business and Global Economics department at DIS Copenhagen. Daniel is passionate about mindfulness as a means of personal transformation.
I
N MARCH 2017 an investigation by journalists from Berlingske first brought to the world’s attention the ‘Russian Laundromat’ – the laundering of funds, sourced mainly from Russia, through Danske Bank’s Estonian branch. The fallout has been immense, with criminal investigations ongoing in Denmark, Estonia, the US and France. When you consider the amount involved, this is not surprising. At an estimated 200 billion euros, it’s the largest money-laundering scandal in history. 200 … billion … euros BEARING in mind the sheer scale, you might ask why this isn’t bigger news than it has been? Although it’s been covered by the financial press abroad, it hasn’t received extensive coverage. Even in Denmark, many people are unaware of the scale.
GARETH GARVEY UK-DK TRADE Gareth (gareth@bccd.dk), who has a passion for creativity and innovation in business, has been the CEO of the British Chamber of Commerce in Denmark since the start of 2017. Gareth has a background in management consultancy working for Price Waterhouse, PwC Consulting and IBM, and he also teaches at Copenhagen Business School.
Citizens at the forefront COUNTRIES have introduced or are introducing legislation to provide an extension of citizens’ rights in the absence of a deal. From January 21, EU citizens living in the UK who meet certain criteria will be able to apply online for ‘settled status’. Similar arrangements are being developed in Denmark. For businesses, this provides some benefit. Their employees will have a clear legal right to stay in the countries in which they are currently working. However, we are still no closer to knowing what the post-Brexit relationship will be.
A hazardous game IT SEEMS we are no longer shocked by both the ultra-aggressive risk taking and alleged criminal actions of international bankers. Following the 2008 global financial crisis, it’s clear to both the public and the bankers themselves that they are effectively operating with moral hazard – the knowledge that no matter what risks they take, they can’t lose. Either they’ll be bailed out by the state, or snoozing regulators will pay no notice. For example, the Danish Financial Supervisory ‘No deal’ still a threat ONE THING most agree on is that they would like to avoid a ‘no deal’. Business organisations such as the British Chambers of Commerce and the CBI are lobbying the UK government and opposition politicians to bring some certainty to the table as soon as possible. At the time of writing there is little sign of light at the end of the tunnel, and all options – including a ‘no deal’, a customs union, Norway, Canada and second referendum – are still being discussed.
Authority has been accused in the Danske case of being too close to the bank. Asked about this recently, the business minister, Rasmos Jarlov, responded that “it’s a fair point”. After all, only one banker has been jailed on charges directly related to misconduct during the 2008 crisis. Unpicking the jigsaw YOU COULD argue that over the past 30 years our civilization has become “financialised” to such an extent that, despite our outrage, the effect of attacking our financial institutions may well have such detrimental knock-on effects for the rest of society that governments are unable and/or unwilling to do so. Does the Danish government really want to see the board of Denmark’s largest and most prestigious lender escorted from is not to wait any longer, but to assess their situation and be aware of any actions they might need to make. Fortunately, many industry bodies and advisors, both in the UK and in Denmark, are producing relevant checklists and guidance that can be a useful first step. BCCD can point you in the right direction. Just drop us a mail.
Bankers never play well
Holmens Kanal in cuffs? Do pension companies, even individual investors, want to see the value of their banking shares plummet? This apathy is expanded on in Kaspar Kolling Nielsen’s brilliant 2013 novel ‘The Danish Civil War: 2018-2024’, which envisages the country erupting in revolution. With the scale of the scandal growing by the day, it will be fascinating and alarming in equal measure to see how this saga plays out. MAX PIXEL
B
REXIT is dominating the news – not just in the UK, but also in the rest of Europe.
Why haven’t the police raided the head office of Danske Bank in a similar fashion to how Deutsche Bank (also involved in the scandal) was stormed by the German police last November? Do numbers lose their meaning when they get this big?
11
PIXABAY
DANIEL K REECE
BUSINESS OPINION
Worse than the Crystal Maze
Consider guidance! MANY LARGER businesses now have contingency plans, but smaller businesses can find the situation overwhelming. My advice to these businesses
Long list of synergies ONE IMPORTANT thing for businesses to remember is that change also gives rise to business opportunities. There are still many reasons for Britain and Denmark to do business with each other. Apart from the obvious synergies that enable Danes and
Brits to work together easily, both countries have deep expertise in key industries and technologies that can benefit each other. There are significant opportunities out there for companies that approach the potential changes creatively. Britain is still open for business, and the UK wants to do business with Denmark.
NEXT ISSUE
IN 2 ISSUES
IN 3 ISSUES
IN 4 ISSUES
IN 5 ISSUES
Living in an Expat World
Union Views
We're Welcome – Honest!
Economics Explained
Danish Capital in 2016
The Valley of Life
Startup Community
Brexit Border-Dash
Give Yourself a Chance
21st Century Alchemy
12 OPINION
THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK
25 January - 21 February 2019
In Brexit and in health
A
S PREDICTED, the PM has dusted off his most powerful weapon – health reform – in the run-up to the general election later this year.
Quieter on immigration IMMIGRATION will surely dominate the battlefield at the end of the campaign … not that there is much to fight about. Even Radikale agrees there has to be a limit. On the other hand the party has categorically ruled out supporting the PM and Inger Støjberg’s austerity plans together with the handshake, burqa and island isolation schemes. Once again it may be that Dansk Folkeparti will hold the balance of power, although it is under pressure from the extreme-right Nye Borgerlige, which looks a good bet to win up to eight seats. Climate consensus CLIMATE is the other major issue. All politicians are turning green, but
Doubled-up elections? INFRASTRUCTURE projects such as a bridge between Zealand and Jutland and the construction of the Fehmarn link to Germany are not issues that anyone is ready to fight over. Defence and the EU could be in play, but Donald Trump and Brexit in the UK have put these far down the list. The elections to the European Parliament which could coincide with the general election – and may even be on the same day – could open up the debate. However, Danes are now supporting the EU more than ever, so it will not be a deal-breaker on election day. Never had it so good THE POINT is that Denmark is well off, with low unemployment and well-run health and education systems, albeit with some room for improvement. The big question is really if the blue bloc-supporting Dansk Folkeparti will join the Social Democrats and thereby change the colour of the political spectrum, as has happened in Sweden and Norway. Apart from an ageing population that most politicians are doing their best to ignore, nothing is rotten in the State of Denmark.(ES)
Straight, No Chaser An Englishman abroad, Stephen has lived and worked in Denmark since 1978. His interests include music, art, cooking, real ale, politics and cats.
B
FLICKR/ HUNTER DESPORTES
Definitely his region IT ALSO happens to be his strongest suit. As a former minister and local politician, he masters this area better than any other. He wants to centralise and decentralise at the same time. His own invention, the regional councils, are history. GP-staffed medical centres under the control of the municipalities are the future backbone, combined with the huge new regional hospitals for specialist treatment. Even medical professionals are supporting this structure, leaving the opposition struggling. But can the PM win the election in this area alone? Probably not; he needs to pull another rabbit from his top hat.
mostly in the context of becoming unpopular – we have read about costly measures such as taxes on plastic, water, petrol, air travel etc. So far there have been more general attitudes on display than real proposals, and the ones that are out there could have a negative effect on lower-income families. Lower taxes on electric cars will also result in a loss of revenue, which will be unwelcome.
STEPHEN GADD
ENJAMIN Franklin once said the only certainties in life were death and taxes. I’d like to add to that increased ticket prices on Danish public transport. Cross my heart … DESPITE promises to the contrary as recently as last March, the national rail operator DSB has just announced ticket price ‘adjustments’ averaging 2.1 percent for using the bus, train and Metro in Zealand. Additionally, prices will also go up on the Rejsekort travel card, Pendlerkort commuter card and single tickets for journeys in Funen and Jutland, while the trip across the Øresund Bridge will also rise – by an average of 2.7 percent. Politicians keep assuring the public that they are really taking global warming seriously and doing their utmost to cut down on CO2 emissions. However, the reality seems somewhat different. Petrol heads rule AFTER a promising start in 2008 that encouraged people to buy electric cars through scrapping the registration tax, sales have more or less completely stagnated due to heavy-handed political meddling. Lip-service is continually being paid to the idea that public transport is a vital tool for protecting the environment and that we need to reduce car use, but the car and the motorist still seem paramount. The transport minister, Ole Birk Olesen, wants to build a bridge from Zealand to Jutland, turning Samsø into little more than a motorway junction along the way. The bridge is to be fi-
A cost worth ‘bearing’ for tax-payers
nanced by the users – in other words, it is primarily designed for motorists. Protests have forced the minister to at least consider adding a rail element, but it is obvious he has little enthusiasm for the idea. My precious WHEN THE new Metro City Ring opens, a two-tier pricing system will come into effect in Copenhagen. After a decade of inconvenience, delays, hideous levels of noise pollution and unsightly construction sites all over the city, travellers will be rewarded by having to pay a socalled ‘quality supplement’ of 1.60 kroner to use the Metro in the rush hour and 1.28 kroner at other times. When quizzed on the fairness of this on DR Nyheder, a politician stated: “The important thing is that people who don’t use the Metro don’t end up paying for it.” Now I don’t actively use schools, and so far (thankfully) my use of the health service has been limited, but I wouldn’t dream of demanding exemption from tax for that reason.
Turning the tide THESE buccaneering economic liberals must be given a run for their money. We must turn the tide and aim for solutions that benefit ordinary people and the environment – and time is running out climate-wise. Inspired by London perhaps, Socialdemokratiet had a go with its proposed road-pricing scheme. That ended before it started, sacrificed on the altar of popular protest. A more viable idea could be to make public transport (or parts of it) free and paid for through taxation. There are a surprisingly high number of precedents. Tallinn recently joined the club and Luxembourg is set to be the first country in the world to make all public transport free from the summer of 2019. Germany is considering the idea as a response to the threat of an EU fine for its air pollution levels. So why not Copenhagen too? Denmark is always keen to trade on its green credentials, and this would be something it could be genuinely proud of.
OPINION
25 January - 21 February 2019
ADRIAN MACKINDER
Mackindergarten British writer and performer Adrian Mackinder (adrianmackinder.co.uk) and his pregnant Danish wife moved from London to Copenhagen in September 2015. He now spends all his time wrestling with fatherhood, the unexpected culture clash and being an Englishman abroad.
An Actor’s Life
13
NEXT ISSUE
IAN BURNS
Living Faith REVD SMITHA PRASADAM IN 2 ISSUES
FLICKR/MATT BROWN
The Road Less Taken JESSICA ALEXANDER
Mishra’s Mishmash MRUTYUANJAI MISHRA IN 3 ISSUES
Crazier than Christmas VIVIENNE MCKEE For whom the Bells toll, Adrian. They’re going to be closed on your birthday
I
’VE TAKEN a break from drinking. I don’t know how long it will last. It’s not a ‘Dry January’; I don’t want to give it a timeframe. Nor am I naïve enough to declare I am never drinking again. I just think I need to lay off the booze for a bit and we’ll take it from there.
British pub culture immensely. Seeking out some aged, dark-wood tavern on a Sunday afternoon, collapsing into cosy leather sofas as the ale and wine flow as heartily as the conversation, confessions and raucous laughter – that’s our hygge, and we’re damn good at it too.
night. That’s just insane. So I’ve started dabbling in alcohol-free beer, which used to be horrific, but is now surprisingly palatable. It made me feel as though I was still involved in the timeless social activity of ‘having a few beers’, but without the risk of later being sick in a bin. So that’s good.
A brew to a kill I’VE DECIDED to do this for a number of reasons. The main reason is that I can no longer handle hangovers. When you’re younger you can mainline alcohol well into the small hours, grab what sleep you can on someone’s sofa, and on the following morning defeat that slightly fuzzy head with some fried abomination from your local fast-food establishment. Now my hangovers last at least two days and make me feel like John Hurt’s character in ‘Alien’, only without the merciful release of a violent, agonising death. So there’s that.
Warms cold fingers WHILE Denmark lacks the same pub culture, this country seems hardwired for drinking. I blame the darkness. And the cold. But mainly the darkness. And the cold. The bars in Copenhagen are great. A particular favourite of mine is Café Langebro, tucked under the bridge of the same name and affectionately referred to by those ‘in the know’ as The Troll Bar. But I should state that other bars are available.
When tomorrow never ends ANOTHER reason why I’m giving the booze a rest is that, while my hangovers are now apocalyptic, it is even worse now that I am a parent. Spending time with offspring while nursing a hangover is hell on earth. Truly, truly awful. After a few beers too many after work one recent Friday, I was awoken at 6am the next morning by my three-year old jumping on my head, which already felt like it was being pierced by a thousand rusty nails. Quite rightly, I received no sympathy from my wife and then endured a whole day of ‘family activities’, which proved slightly less enjoyable than a ménage a trois with Theresa May and Donald Trump. So I cannot face doing that again anytime soon. It is just not an option. Seriously. It’s enough to drive a man to drink.
Weekend is not enough IT’S HARD for me not to drink. I mean, I AM British. Getting slowly sozzled with good friends is what we do best. I miss
Dr no alcohol WHEN I first went out to a Friday bar and didn’t drink alcohol, I discovered it wasn’t so much the ‘getting drunk’ I missed, more the ritual of drinking a beer over a given period of time. I needed to hold a pint of something and, frankly, I’m not drinking pints of cola all
Early Rejser ADAM WELLS IN 4 ISSUES
Straight Up ZACH KHADUDU
A Dane Abroad KIRSTEN LOUISE PEDERSEN
14 COMMUNITY
THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK
ABOUT TOWN
The dignitaries were out in force at Parliament’s annual reception for the diplomatic corps on January 8. Among those in attendance were (left-right) Indian ambassador Ajit Vinayak Gupte, the speaker of the Faroese parliament, Páll á Reynatúgvu, Icelandic ambassador Benedikt Bjarki Jonsson, who once again fulfilled the duties of the dean of the diplomatic corps, Austrian ambassador Maria RotheiserScotti, the former minister Bertel Haarder, and the wife of the Icelandic ambassador
The Swedish ambassador Frederik Jörgensen (second right) invited his country’s handball side to his residence on January 15 ahead of their participation in the ongoing Men’s World Championship, which at the time of going to press were hanging onto their title dreams by a thread ahead of a big game against Denmark
25 January - 21 February 2019
PHOTOS BY HASSE FERROLD
The Korean Embassy hosted a performance of the Korean Symphony Orchestra at DR Koncerthuset on January 16 to mark 60 years with cultural ties with Denmark. Among the guests of South Korean ambassador Choi Jai-Chul and his wife (centre) were Czech ambassador Radek Pech (left) and Austrian ambassador Maria Rotheiser-Scotti (right). Also present at the concert was Ole Philipson, the first ever Danish ambassador to South Korea
The Romanian Embassy marked its takeover of the presidency of the EU Council from Austria with a reception at Sølyst on January 10. Among those in attendance were (left-right) Romanian ambassador MihaiAlexandru Gradinar, Austrian ambassador Maria Rotheiser-Scotti and Per Stig Møller, the Danish foreign minister from 2001 to 2010
25 January - 21 February 2019
COMMUNITY
15
As was revealed in our December supplement on the Philippines, the longserving honorary consul general since 2009, Poul Krogh (centre right), is stepping down ahead of the Southeast Asian island nation opening a new embassy in Copenhagen imminently. On January 7 it was time to bid him farewell at a reception at Sølyst attended by Jocelyn Batoon-Garcia (centre left), the Olso-based ambassador to the Philippines
The Chinese Year of the Pig might not start until February 5, but the anticipation is growing thanks to a wide array of events lighting up a wintry city normally bereft of colour. On January 18 at the Landbrug & Fødevarer building on Vesterbrogade, a celebration organised by the Chinese Culture Center welcomed guests including the former minister Bertel Haarder (centre) and Chinese ambassador Deng Ying (second right)
A great many diplomats attended a reception held by the Greenlandic Representation in Denmark at Nordatlantens Brygge on January 10, where Kim Kielsen (left), the premier of Greenland, addressed those present
The Chinese Year of the Pig is already dominating, and it hasn’t even started yet. With new year events continuing until the second half of February, it’s going to be a busy month for Hans Hermansen, the CEO of CPH POST, and Chinese ambassador Deng Ying
16
EVENTS
THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK
PHOTO: DAN SAVILL
gade) are looking for new players ahead of the new season – so contact the club via Facebook to find out more. Or maybe you could try out a training session. Celtics meet at Valby Idrætspark, where they play their home games, on Mondays and Tuesdays, and March
PHOTO: CHRISTIAN WENANDE
age groups, including three over18s teams (two 11s, one 7s), two over-33 teams (7s – photo right – and 11s), and one each for over-40s (photo left), over-45s, over-50s and over-55s – all of which play seven-a-side. Almost all of these teams (particularly the over-50s bri-
OUT AND ABOUT PHOTO: CHRIS PILBEAM
PHOTO: CHRISTIAN WENANDE
PHOTO: HRAFNKELL BIRGISSON
I
NTERNATIONAL football club Copenhagen Celtic is already training for the start of next season, which will again kick off in April and last until October. The club has nine different teams, encompassing over 20 different nationalities and lots of
25 January - 21 February 2019
will be a particularly busy month for friendlies – a great opportunity to get involved. Founded in 1982, the club has a great social life, with many beer-fuelled events where most of the members and former Celtics come together to celebrate as one.
Whether it’s at the English FA Cup Final meet-up in May, the football golf day in July (centre), the Summer Party in early August (centre right) and end of season party in November, good craic is had by all. DAVE SMITH
COMING UP SOON Treasure Island ongoing, ends Feb 2; weeknights 19:00, weekends 18:00, all matinees sold out; Krudttonden, Serridslevvej 2, Cph Ø; 160kr, ctcircle.dk The CTC’s eighth winter panto offers music, comedy, singalongs, cross-dressing and interaction – family entertainment at its best. (VP)
Art Feb 20-March 23; Mon-Fri 20:00, Sat 17:00; Krudttonden, Serridslevvej 2, Cph Ø; that-theatre.com That Theatre is back with this award-winning comedy about friendship directed by Ian Burns. How would you feel if your best friend suddenly did something colossally stupid? (VP)
The Lover Jan 30-Feb 3; Wed-Sat 19:00, Sun 14:00; HIT, Radhusstraede 13, Cph K; 160kr, tickets@houseofinternationaltheatre.com Don’t miss this cross-gender version of this Harold Pinter play about mysterious cat and mouse games of sexual provocation. The twist adds a new dimension. (VP)
Turandot ongoing, ends June 8; Operaen, Ekvipagemestervej 10, Cph K; 150925kr; kglteater.dk Ann Petersen, who last season dazzled audiences as Minnie in Puccini’s La fanciulla del West, will sparkle once again in the demanding title role Puccini’s fairy-tale opera. (VP)
Winter at Tivoli Feb 1-24; open Sun-Thu 11:0023:00, Fri-Sat 11:00-24:00; Tivoli, Cph V & K; tivoligardens.com Explore the beautiful installations and illuminations by the lake. Valentine’s Day proves to be particularly memorable as lovers gather in the sparkling winter landscape. (VP)
Hard helmets on Feb 3, 23:00; Hard Rock Café, Vesterbrogade 3, Cph K; booking at copenhagen.sales@hardrock.com The ‘Big Game bar ticket’ (150kr) gets you three bottles and some snacks, while the ‘Big Game Dinner’ (399kr) gets beers and a main course dinner. (PM)
The Watchers Of Malheur ongoing, ends May 12; Den Frie Centre of Contemporary Art, Oslo Plads, Cph Ø; denfrie.dk Søren Thilo Funder’s work combines reportage with speculative fiction. The overall focus is a mini coup at the HQ of Oregon’a Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in 2016 by local militia. (VP)
Ludwigsen linebackers Feb 3, 20:30; Café Ludwigsen, Sundevedsgade 2, Cph V; free adm The pre-game party includes beer pong competitions washed down by draught beers (30kr) and bottles (20kr) on discount. There are plenty of pool tables and good student discounts. (PM)
Glad gridiron Feb 3, 18;30; Den Glad Gris, Lille Kannikestræde 3; 525kr Den Glad Gris is going all out again this year for Super Bowl LIII. The package gives you free drinks all night, an American-style buffet with all the trimmings, a pre-game quiz, and a special host. (PM)
Imperial interception Feb 3, 20:00; Imperial, Ved Vesterport 4, Cph V; 399-599kr The biggest screen in Scandinavia showing the Super Bowl (22 metres wide) has space for 1,000 people. The American buffet provided by Bones is eat all you like, plus there is a free bar for the 599kr package. (PM)
Pub quizzes Jan 31 & Feb 14, 19:30; The Globe, Nørregade 43, Cph K; 30kr, five per team / Feb 4, 19:30; Kennedy’s, Gammel Kongevej 23, Cph V; 25kr, four per team Don’t miss the quizzes at the Globe and Kennedy’s. The winners get 1,000 kroner at the Globe, and 800 at Kennedy’s.
Valentines for vegans Feb 14, 18:00-23.55; Råhuset, Onkel Danny’s Plads 7, Cph V; 250kr As part of Vinterjazz, enjoy a tasty vegan meal whilst listening to love songs performed by southern African duo Maria Thandie (SA) and Deodato Siquir (Moz). Are they in love? You better be to enjoy it! (PM)
Valentine’s Escape Room Feb 14, 17:30-19:00; Aldersrogade 6A, st, Cph Ø; 379kr each The closest thing to eloping comes at the Da Vinci Escape Room where this lovers’ special challenges you to come together – minds not bodies – to persevere. The reward is a glass of bubbly and then … she probably knows. (PM)
Valentine’s City Walk Regnbuepladsen, Cph K; Feb 14, 19:00-20:15; 75kr Grab your beloved under your arm and join a city walk taking in the locations where hearts have been woken and broken. Copenhagen is rich in love stories: from the sad and bittersweet to the dramatic and happy. (PM)
Pete International Airport Musikcafeen, Rådhusstræde 13, 3th; Feb 14, 20:00; 110kr This US neo-psychedelia band – which were formed in 1997 by Peter Holmström of the Dandy Warhols – have just released their second album, ‘Safer with the Wolves’, a “journey into the dark heart of electronica”. (PM)
Krolsom performs Jan 25, 19:00; Café Hygge, Norrebrogade 28, Cph N Explore the miracle of life with this Danish singer-songwriter who sings in English. (VP)
Turn on Denmark Jan 26, 11:30; Neighbourhood, Frederiksborggade 20, Cph K Integrate over food at this alcohol-free event at the expanding gourmet pizza chain. (VP)
Café coverage Feb 3, 20:30; Café Guldhornene, Vestergade 20, Cph K; 299kr The full menu includes roast beef, shots of Jack D during the half time show, and coffee and popcorn all night. (PM)
Pub & Superbowl Feb 3; Pub & Sport, Vester Voldgade 7, Cph K; free adm, bookings via mail@pubogsport.com This lively venue will be going all out on the nachos and other snacks. (PM)
People in the Space starts Jan 25; DGI-Byen, Tietgensgade 65, Cph V; dgi-byen.dk Four young Copenhagen-based photographers take you on a visual journey through time and space. (VP)
EVENTS
25 January - 21 February 2019
I
NTERNATIONAL House Copenhagen opened is doors to all international newcomers interested in making the best possible start to their new lives in the Danish capital. The event took place on the afternoon of January 14, of-
fering attendees information about the countless opportunities the city has to offer. In her warm welcome speech, Franciska Rosenkilde (centre right), the deputy mayor for culture and leisure administration,
focused on the cultural and recreational activities that Copenhagen Municipality has to offer, including activities related to public libraries, services for citizens and tourist information. “My best advice is to use
ALL PHOTOS: HASSE FERROLD (UNLESS STATED)
PHOTO: VIRGINIA PEDANI
OUT AND ABOUT
17
Copenhagen actively. Exploring the city is a great way to improve socially and professionally,” she told a crowd estimated to be at least 150-strong. Also present was Michèle Bramstoft (right: right), the
managing director of Copenhagen Relocations, who was keen to advise newcomers to the city about the array of services her company can offer to smooth their transition to a new way of life in Denmark. VIRGINIA PEDANI
COMING UP SOON CPH Vinterjazz Feb 1-24; various times and venues; jazz.dk The 19th edition of the Danish nationwide Vinterjazz festival is back for three weeks featuring more than 600 concerts at 100 venues. It might be in the shadow of the summer edition, but it still packs a punch! (VP)
Copenhagen Light Festival Feb 1-24; various locations; free adm; copenhagenlightfestival.org Celebrating the best of Danish art and design, the installations inhabit city spaces, particularly around the city centre and harbour, offering a family-friendly nightime experience. Check the website for the handy map. (VP)
CPH Gin Festival Feb 15-17; Lokomotivværkstedet, Otto Bussesvej 5A, Cph SV; 250kr, billetto.dk Apparently this is the biggest gin event in Europe. Visit 71 stands selling gin, equipment, snacks and more. Book fast as the six sessions are already selling out. The entry include samples and a glass. (VP)
Into The World ongoing, ends April 28; Louisiana, Gl Strandvej 13, Humlebæk; louisiana.dk This new exhibition in the series ‘On Paper’ focuses on the graphic work of Dea Trier Mørch, a pioneering Danish feminist artist. Most of the work has never been exhibited before. (VP)
6 Nations at the Globe Nørregade 43-45, Cph K; Feb 1-March 16; free adm Local tycoon and wannabe comedian Brian McKenna puts on a great party at The Globe for the 6 Nations. Shown on all nine screens, with every game shown, the place is always heaving. (PM)
CPH Dining Week Feb 11-17; various locations; diningweek.dk Dining Week gives thousands the chance to experience some of the best restaurants throughout Denmark at an affordable price. Book your tickets fast, as they tend to sell out quickly. (VP)
Danish culture close up International House Cph, Gyldenlovesgade 11, Cph K; Feb 19, 17:00; free adm This welcome guide to Danish culture and traditions covers all the classics: from Skt. Hans Aften to Mortens Aften to Juleaften – in fact they’re all aftens! (VP)
Rival Poets Jan 25, ends March 2; Galerie Mikael Andersen, Bredgade 63, Cph K; mikaelandersen.com Enter the enigmatic, surreal world of British painter Ryan Mosley, which is inhabited by a cast of fictitious characters impossible to pin down in time and place. (VP)
Phantom of the Opera ongoing, ends March 31; Det Ny Teater, Gammel Kongevej 29, Cph V; tickets: 209-748kr, detnyteater. dk; in Danish A historically huge production thanks to an equally large budget exploited to its full potential. It’s like entering an eye-popping gothic sweetshop. (MW)
Leisure Guidance Feb 13, 17:00; Huset-KBH, Radhusstraede 13 , Cph K International House Cph is organising an interesting and useful event for international citizens just arrived in the capital, which is guaranteed to enhance your lifestyle opportunities, whilst expanding your network. (VP)
Improv Comedy CPH nights weekly shows Wed-Sat 20:00, stand-up Sun 20:00; Frederiksholm Kanal 2, Cph K; 100-125kr The Byens Bedste winner Improv Comedy Copenhagen offers a staggering five English-language shows a week. The pick right now is ‘Murder of Crows’, a film noir-inspired show.
Horisont ongoing, ends March 3; Danish Architecture Centre, Bryghusgade 10, Cph K; 110kr Visit the Danish Architecture Centre and see an exhibition honouring the Danish architect Jørn Utzon. ‘Horisont’ celebrates the 100th birthday of the architect’s birth. (MV)
Marina Abramović ongoing, ends 2020; Royal Library Søren Kierkegaards Plads 1, Cph K; pre-booking necessary at kb.dk/en ‘Method for Treasure’, the Serbian artist’s new installation at the Black Diamond, allows visitors to become actors in her world of treasures. Experience an immersive installation. (MV)
Night Terrors Film Festival Feb 7-8; Huset KBH, Rådhusstræde 13, Cph K; 50kr; huset-kbh.dk In days of old, the Black Death would visit each town in turn, bringing terror in its wake. In Denmark that role is filled by the video nasties of the Night Terrors Film Festival. Next stop Copenhagen! (VP)
English-language comedy Feb 14, 20:00; Dubliner Downtown, Ny Østergade 14, Cph K; 110kr, 190kr for two, billetto.dk Laugh yourself silly at English Comedy Nights, which is compered by CPH POST columnist Adrian Mackinder. The line-up includes Irish comics Rory O’Hanlon and Steve Bennet.
CPH Cocktail Week Feb 10-17; various locations; cocktail-week.dk Many of the city’s fantastic cocktail bars are taking part in this special week – a great chance to sip affordable cocktails. (VP)
Employment assistance Feb 7, 11:00; Café Cadeau, HC Øresteds Vej 28, Frederiksberg; 25kr Bring your LinkedIn profile to life at this Welcome Group Consulting workshop and connect with those that matter!
Jewish Film Festival Jan 27-Feb 3; Cinemateket, Gothersgade 55, Cph K; cjff.dk Learn about Jewish history, traditions and culture – and a bit about their religion too. (VP)
Void Film Festival Jan 24-Feb 2; Schacksgade 11 st.tv, Cph V; voidfilmfestival.com This animation film festival bridges nations, cultures and creeds with its diverse output. But sadly kids, it’s adults only! (VP)
Cecily Brown ongoing, ends March 10; Louisiana, Gl Strandvej 13, Humlebæk; 125kr ‘Where, When, How Often and with Whom’ is Brown’s first European exhibition for years. (MV)
18 HISTORY
THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK
25 January - 21 February 2019
The triple Olympic medallist who invented handball and the forerunner to CPR
BEN HAMILTON
E
VERYONE knows that Chinese warlord Ying Zheng invented football in the third century BC. Legend has it that he kicked his rival’s severed head into the paddy area and a passing peasant accidentally sat on it – it’s where we get the expression “on the head, mate” from. We also concur that the ape in ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ invented cricket. And really, that goes for any sport invented by the English (nobody overly disputes that the Scots invented golf, although they were too drunk to remember exactly who) and the Danish, apparently. Handball, it would appear, was invented in ancient times. Ariadne’s thread got caught up into a ball, and she threw it at her saviour Theseus, who promptly caught it – it’s where we get the word ‘save’ from. Other games involving a round object being caught, which today are claimed as early versions of handball, were contested in medieval France (holding the basket under the guillotine) and among the Inuits (snowballs?). By the time a game of similar ilk caught on in the late 19th century in several countries – including Germany (torball), the Czech Republic (házená), Ukraine (handbol), and Norway, Sweden and Denmark (håndbold) – they were merely retreading old ground. “No, I said crap shot” NEVERTHELESS, nobody can deny that Colonel Holger Nielsen – who gave up on his dreams to become a doctor aged 15, instead joining the army where he excelled in artillery and fitness, before working as a gym teacher at Ordrup Latin og Real School, just north of Copenhagen – was
the first to draw up a set of rules, one of several accomplishments over an extraordinary life that began in Copenhagen in 1866 and lasted nearly a century. Other highlights included three medals in the inaugural 1896 Olympic Games in Athens and developing a form of external cardiopulmonary resuscitation in 1932, a method to restart breathing through the manipulation of the shoulder blades, which was eventually superseded by mouth-to-mouth resuscitation two decades later. You’d be forgiven for thinking Nielsen – who competed in the fencing, shooting and discus in Athens – merely invented a sport to suit his good aim and penchant for throwing things, but in reality he was an accomplished fencer (who won bronze in the sabre) coaxed into taking part in the other sports to make up the numbers. The record books might show he won two shooting medals, but with only seven nations competing – host nation Greece provided 50 of the 61 marksmen, scooping 60 percent of the silverware – the standard was woefully low. In finishing second in the free pistol competition, his score of 285 was well short of the winner’s 442 total, while the rapid-fire 25-metre event (in which he came third) only had four competitors, of which one failed to finish. Striking a balance AFTER completing his first draft in 1898 – inspired by a school playing field not big enough for football – Nielsen spent eight years finessing the rules until he published them in the 1906 book ‘Vejledning i Håndbold’, and by 1919 – with the help of several Germans taking time out from the trenches – they had pretty much metamorphosed into the rules of the modern game we know today. The first ever game had pitted Nielsen’s Ordrup against a school from Helsingør in 1807, which Ordup won 21-0. The oppos-
ing coach, Lieutenant Rasmus Nicolaj Ernst Petersen (18721937), blamed the differences in the rules observed by the sides, and he had good reason to feel aggrieved. Since 1897, he had been promoting his own version of the game – first at the Nyborg school he taught at in Funen, and then in Helsingør. As the sport expanded from the schools, the early conditions were tough. While it was mostly played outside at first, in the cities it quickly developed into a popular indoor sport that could be played during the winter. Some venues were known for having iron brackets protruding into the wings, while others had particularly hard floors and players quickly adapted to shooting from distance. It was common to find handball at an army barracks and it is noticeable that most of today’s leading clubs are based in cities that had one. Fortunately the first ever international men’s contest, between Germany and Belgium in 1925, was a slightly closer affair than the schools’ game, and Germany then played Austria in the first women’s game in 1930 – just two years after females were finally allowed to compete in some of the vigorous sports at the Olympics (more genteel disciplines such as croquet were permitted in 1924), the same year in which the sport’s first significant body, the International Amateur Handball Federation, was founded. European domination SIX YEARS later, the outdoor version of handball (played by eleven players) made its bow at the summer games in Berlin, although it would not return to the Olympic fold for another 36 years – waiting for Germany to host them again – in 1972 in Munich as an indoor sport. The women were admitted in 1976 (19 years after getting their own world championship). The first men’s world championship (for indoor teams composed of seven players) had
WENFLOU
Move aside HC Andersen, Niels Bohr and Søren Kierkegaard, as Colonel Holger Nielsen has a strong claim to being the greatest Dane of all time
Denmark are looking to complete the set
been organised in 1938, with the Scandinavian countries initially dominating the sport in the 1950s, before the Eastern Bloc took over in the 1960s, with Romania taking four of the five titles contested between 1961 and 1974. Those nations shared the men’s medals at the first three Olympics, only yielding to the west during the boycott, although Romania, the only Eastern Bloc nation to turn up in LA, scooped the bronze. To this date, after 12 Olympics, a team featuring Russia has won four golds. Nevertheless, other countries have flourished, with Sweden making three finals at the end of the last century, and France contesting the last three, although their bid for a hat-trick was thwarted by the Danes picking up their first gold in 2016. Russia also leads the way in the women’s competition, featuring in three gold-winning teams – a feat matched only by Denmark, which won three on the trot between 1996 and 2004. The first of these was under Ulrik Wilbek, who stepped down when his team were reigning European, world and Olympic champions. A slightly less successful spell with the men’s team followed from 2005-14, during which the team won two European crowns. South Korea have made the most Olympic women’s finals, with five, but only won twice: in 1988 and 2002.
While the Olympics remain the pinnacle, the men’s and women’s teams contest a major championship every year: alternating European and world championships (initially every three or four years, to fit in with the Euros it became biennial in 1995) in December and January. While the Danish women have won all three major tournaments, the men are yet to win a world’s, so it is with extra incentive that they are currently chasing the title – and on home soil, co-hosting with Germany. The bookies rank them as favourites to end a drought that has seen them take two silvers and one bronze in the last six tournaments. It’s not bad for a nation of 5.8 million people, given that the International Handball Federation now has 166 member federations, but the colonel won’t be satisfied until they’ve completed the set.
Holger Nielsen
ON SCREENS
25 January - 21 February 2019
19
Everything’s a dramedy these days – but that’s real life innit? BEN HAMILTON
H
ATS OFF to the streaming platforms for taking over the world, but thumbs down for doing their best to hide their programs.
Assassinate him? He’s AWOL! TAKE THE Assassination of Gianni Versace – one of the best TV series last year. Sure it’s not a Netflix title, so maybe it doesn’t care, but three weeks after releasing it, it was still listing it as new episodes of The People vs OJ Simpson. While a fair few might have clicked hoping to see a second season about OJ losing his civil case and getting 33 years for armed robbery, many won’t have twigged that the new episodes refer to Versace, S2 of the anthology series American Crime Story. Meanwhile, C More always seems to be hiding movies. From Lady Macbeth to Detroit to My Friend Dahmer, I’ve lost count of the number of good films (The Shape of Water and Red Sparrow are recent releases) I had to conduct a search for on the site last year. And don’t get me started on DR. A friend told me about the series Deep State starring Mark Strong, so I searched in its ‘Drama’ section. Was it there? Was it heck! I waited patiently, imagining it was delayed, but no … and now the first episode has apparently expired due to an understandable rights issue. Of course, I’m a fine one to talk. Last issue, my pick was Paul Schrader’s First Reformed and ultimately it was a case of ‘first come, first served’, as the film was only on at Cinemateket. Including this nugget of information might have alerted casual film-goers that the limited run ended on January 19. Need a dramedy category MAYBE I should have searched under ‘Comedy’ for Deep State. At the Golden Globes, we had at least three actors in musical
roles (Freddie Mercury, the A Star is Born duo) nominated for ‘Drama’, and two in primarily dramatic roles up for Musical/ Comedy: Christian Bale playing former US vice-president Dick Cheney in Vice (61; Jan 31) and Viggo Mortensen for Green Book (70 on Metacritic; Feb 21). One is a depiction of deep-seated racism in the South, the other the tale of an Italian hoodlum chauffeuring a black classical pianist … given the themes, both films are more dramatic than comedic. Still, you could argue this all day long. A comedy enables your cast to speak in an artificial fashion, punctuated by beats that give the audience time to laugh, but in the wake of mockumentaries like The Office and celebrities playing themselves like in Curb Your Enthusiasm, the lines are blurred. Maybe, we can forgive the Golden Globes this one time, providing they include a Dramedy section next time. Strong roles for women THE OSCARS don’t have that problem, and with up to ten movies allowed on the Best Film shortlist, The Favourite (90; Jan 24) and If Beale Street Could Talk (87; Feb 14) will be there. Set during the early 18th century reign of Queen Anne (Olivia Coleman), who until this film was possibly the most ungoogled British monarch in history, The Favourite depicts a struggle for her affections between her closest confidants (Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone). A delightful cast make this a glorious romp. Sadly for the Danish acting community, Anne’s husband Prince George of Denmark died before the events of the film, although he did make her pregnant 17 times. She died heirless, which might be why it is also listed as a drama. If Beale Street Could Talk has an equally good cast, with recent Golden Globe winner Regina King the favourite to win the
One person’s vice is another person’s ... this sure as hell isn’t a comedy
Oscar. A miscarriage of justice in early 1970s Harlem leaves a young mother to fend for herself, and director Barry Jenkins proves that Moonlight was no fluke with a tale dripping in tragedy that ultimately offers hope. The wrong kind of chills? THE SAME can’t be said of Kursk (53, Jan 24), as most of us know how that ended. With a cast boasting both pedigree (Colin Firth) and pedigree chum (Matthias Schoenaerts), the critics have found the disaster film wanting. Faring better is Arctic (67; Jan 31) starring Mads Mikkelsen as a man who must survive a snowy wilderness following a helicopter crash. Peculiarly, another Mikkelsen vehicle, Polar, is coming out six days earlier on Netflix. It’s got nothing to do with Earth’s extremities, but its absurdity knows no bounds. It is one of those fake-looking action films that should have been a cartoon, and joining their esteemed ranks is Alita: Battle Angel (NRW; Feb 14) in which the Luke/Neo/Harry P charac-
ter is a girl straight out of Tim Burton’s Big Eyes. But if it’s cartoons you’re after, sequels to three reputable films – Ralph Breaks the Internet (71; Feb 7), How to Train your Dragon: The Hidden World (Not Released Worldwide; Jan 31) and The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (NRW; Feb 7) – should tick the box. Nightcrawler 2? BEN IS Back (68; Feb 7) ticks the box with its cast – Julia Roberts and Lucas Hedges (the nephew in Manchester by the Sea) – but it would be a disservice to TV movies like OG (HBO Nordic from Feb 24) to say this prodigal son tale looks like one. If this tale of a lifer (Jeffrey Wright) on the verge of being released looks brutally realistic, it’s because it was filmed at a prison using the inmates as extras. Several NBA stars play themselves in Steven Soderbergh’s High Flying Bird (Netflix from Feb 9), an insider’s take on the game (nothing to do with Larry Bird!) based on a script by Tarell Alvin McCraney, a co-writer of Moonlight.
And Dan Gilroy, the creator of Velvet Buzzsaw (Netflix from Feb 2), has similar clout, as he wrote and directed the brilliant Nightcrawler. So while it sounds like a Final Destination for the art world, it is infinitely more with Gilroy once again hooking up with Jake Gyllenhaal. Meanwhile, a quieter month for television sees Russian Doll (Netflix from Feb 2) give a flat party the Groundhog Day treatment; I am the Night (73; Jan 29 – no Danish release yet) goes all-out Zodiac on the Black Dahlia case with Chris Pine in the chewed-up journalist role; BBC miniseries Black Earth Rising (Jan 25) and Informer (released) are worth seeking out but not available in Denmark yet; and there are new seasons for HBO Nordic series The Walking Dead (S8; Feb 15) and 2 Dope Queens (S2; Feb 9) and Netflix pair Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (S4.2; Jan 25) and Star Trek: Discovery (S2; Jan 18). So I guess I’ve started telling you about series the services don’t have – the exact opposite to them then.
Try the finest Danish courses in town
Do you have a taste for high-quality learning, outstanding teachers and fast progression? At Studieskolen, Danish has been on the menu for more than 40 years. We know how to serve it. Choose from a variety of different classes at studieskolen.dk
Check out what’s cooking at Studieskolen