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24 JUNE - 5 JULY 2022 VOL 25 ISSUE 08

DANISH NEWS IN ENGLISH | CPHPOST.DK FACEBOOK/TOUR DE FRANCE

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TOUR DE FRANCE 2022

SPECIAL EDITION

LOCAL

FEATURE

SPECIAL EDITION

CPH JAZZ FESTIVAL

July 1 - 24

INSIDE

The Tour de France’s opening three stages in Denmark are the most northerly in the race’s 119-year history. Copenhagen is not wasting the opportunity to shine!

2 The capital could be getting a second Metro City Ring, this time encompassing the man-made island of Lyttenholm, Refshaleøen and Rigshospitalet

14 Sometimes a hunger strike is the only way to make yourself heard at Denmark’s deportation centres, but the authorities seldom listen

INSIDE Few events dominate in the same way as the Copenhagen Jazz Festival where thousands of performers descend on hundreds of venues to entertain millions

LOCAL THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

24 JUNE - 5 JULY 2022

METRO CITY RING #2 ON THE WAY?

ONLINE THIS WEEK

BEN HAMILTON

MAGER could end up being a huge beneficiary of a proposed expansion of the future Copenhagen Metro line linking the city centre to the artificial island district of Lynetteholm. Existing plans for four new stations – two on Lynetteholm and one each at Indre Nørrebro and Rigshospitalet – already had City Hall’s backing, but now a majority wants five new stations, which would take the line through Refshaleøen and looping back to Copenhagen Central Station (marked in red on the map). The new line would run from Central Station to Amagerbrogade via Bryggebroen and DR Byen, and then continue on through Refshaleøen and Kløverparken, before finally reaching Lynetteholm. Cost of 13.7 billion SOCIALDEMOKRATIET, Konservative,

"Go on, you've missed all the din and disruption, haven't you"

Venstre, Radikale, Socialistisk Folkeparti, Dansk Folkeparti and Liberal Alliance are all reportedly in favour of plans that would cost 13.7 billion kroner – double the cost of the current four-station plans. The public consultation will begin in September, a final decision is expected in 2025 and, if approved, the line could be operational by 2035. Cannabis strides? IN RELATED news, plans to legalise can-

nabis in Copenhagen have taken a giant stride recently. Both Venstre and Socialdemokratiet – its legalislation was part of Mayor Sophie Hæstorp Andersen’s election manifesto – back the plans. However, Dansk Folkeparti councillor Finn Rudaizky is unconvinced it will hit crime, warning gangs are likely to gravitate to dealing more serious drugs such as cocaine.

OPENHAGEN has the fifth-best work-life balance in the world, according to the latest report from Kisi. Oslo topped the ranking, ahead of Bern, Helsinki and Zurich. Comparing data on work intensity, institutional support, legislation and liveability, the report ranks cities based on their ability to promote a work-life balance among their citizens. It also took into account rampant inflation, the fallout from the pandemic and the War in Ukraine.

Happy and safe COPENHAGEN scored particularly well in the liveability aspect of the ranking – more specifically within the realms of happiness and safety. The capital also scored high marks for its COVID-19 support and inclusivity, tolerance, paid parental leave, minimum vacation days offered, and vacation days taken. The vast majority of US cities were ranked in the bottom half of the list, with Seattle (32) its highest placement. Cape Town ranked last.

CORPORATE KNIGHTS

FIFTH BEST WORK-LIFE BALANCE Copenhagen praised for happiness and safety

Bin swap backfires

Swans again nesting in trash

CITY HALL has approved an additional 29 million in funding for a new 146 million kroner regional bus terminal by Dybbølsbro Station, which will bring to an end decades of chaos on nearby Ingerslevsgade outside DGI Byen, where disembarking tourists are often shouted at by cyclists. Busterminal København should be ready next summer. CG Jensen won the tender to build it.

FOLLOWING widespread complaints more bins will be placed in Østerbro. City Hall admits its decision to replace smaller bins with far fewer bigger ones backfired. In other urban planning news, CPH Village and DSB have confirmed plans to build 362 homes near Bispebjerg Station in Nørrebro, and a new urban area, St Petersburg Square, has opened in Nordhavn.

SWANS are again nesting on rubbish at the Copenhagen Lakes where they make use of an inexhaustible supply of plastic bags, broken mugs and takeaway waste. A 2018 report of a swan giving birth in a rubbish heap made waves across the world, and it has become a regular fixture on the calendar. Last year, there were 508 reports of animals ingesting harmful trash.

Editorial offices: Holbergsgade 24 kld 1057 Copenhagen Denmark

Ejvind Sandal

Hans Hermansen

CO-OWNER

CEO

Ben Hamilton EDITOR

Plans to spruce up station

More bathing zones

CITY HALL will spend 217 million kroner on transforming Copenhagen Central Station – primarily Reventlowsgade, the non-descript street where famous Istedgade ends, which is best known for drunks, tourist traps and parked bicycles. Once finished, it should be heaving in fancy cafes and shops. A further 25 million kroner has been set aside for the beautification of Nørreport Station.

IN ADDITION to the recently opened Teglværkshavnen in Sydhavn, Copenhagen Harbour will add three more bathing zones over the next 18 months. Four saunas will also be set up, two this year and two next, at locations such as Kalvebod Bølge, Havnegade and Nokken.

Social dumping failures

MOST COMPANIES that supply transport-related services to City Hall are failing to live up to its strict laws. Nine out of ten are underpaying their employees and flouting working condition regulations. Out of a total 8 million kroner owed since 2019, Nemlig.com accounts for 4.7 million. At one point it had contracts with around 40 municipalities – mostly to deliver groceries to the elderly. New plans for crossroads

Living it up in the green utopia

More funds for bus terminal

DSB

KØBENHAVNS KOMMUNE

Amager could be the biggest beneficiary of proposal to build another loop

CITY HALL has for several years been trying to make the intersection near Dybbølsbro, where Ingerslevsgade and Skelbækgade come together, work efficiently, but newcomers fail to grasp how to negotiate the junction. So instead of asking cyclists to stop halfway through the junction, 3.5 million kroner plans are afoot to enable them to cycle diagonally straight across.

Pride offices vandalised

THE COPENHAGEN Pride offices on Farvergade were recently vandalised. A door was kicked in, a window smashed and outdoor planting ripped out. None of the other buildings on the street were targeted, leaving CPH Pride with the impression the vandalism was homophobic. Fewer cruise arrivals

CRUISE ship tourists are shunning the Baltic due to the War in Ukraine – and possibly because St Petersburg is out of play – and this has hit Copenhagen hard, where the expected number of cruise ships has fallen from 343 to 326. However, Denmark’s total number has risen from 544 to 592. Bornholm (up 16 to 91), Skagen (up 16 to 61) and Aarhus (up 27 to 63) have all benefited. Diesel car crackdown

CITY HALL plans to make it a legal requirement that pre-2009 diesel cars should be fitted with a particulate filter. There are an estimated 3,600 such vehicles in the Capital Region. Long-term, City Hall wants to curb speed limits in the city centre and other busy areas from 50km/h down to 40 and even 30 – again in a bid to reduce emissions.

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Christian Wenande

Stephen Gadd

Hasse Ferrold

NEWS/LAYOUT EDITOR

CONTRIBUTOR

PHOTOGRAPHER

DANISH NEWS IN ENGLISH | CPHPOST.DK

Barbara Mensah SOCIAL MEDIA

Experience

Denmark’s famous Viking Ships

Under 18 Free admission Open Daily

10:00 - 16:00

Summer:

10:00 - 17:00

Daily Boat trips

May 1st Sept. 30th Daily

Boat trips May 1st Sept. 30th

Visit The Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde

1000 years ago, the Vikings sailed along the shores of Europe, up rivers and across the open sea throughout the North Atlantic area. The Viking Ship Museum tells the story of how the Vikings changed the World with their ships.

Ålborg Århus

Roskilde Lejre

København

Odense Flensburg Puttgarten

CaféKnarr: Food with flavors from the Viking world.

Rostock

Vikingeskibsmuseet Vindeboder 12 DK - 4000 Roskilde www.vikingeskibsmuseet.dk

Historically great experiences and activities for the whole family

INTERNATIONAL THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

24 JUNE - 5 JULY 2022

UKRAINE MILITARY DONATIONS UP TO 2 BILLION

ONLINE THIS WEEK HASSE FERROLD

US NAVY/WILLIAM MCCANN

Denmark hits vaccine target

WITH A donation of more than 1.2 million COVID-19 vaccines to Thailand, Denmark has fulfilled its goal of donating 10 million vaccines worldwide. However, many vaccines, including 1.1 million in early June, have been discarded after efforts to donate them to developing countries before their expiry date failed. US and German meetings

Sands all at sea

Denmark has given Ukraine ship-sinking long-range missiles

Elsewhere, Denmark is hit by higher fuel prices after Gazprom pulls the plug on Russian gas

from prior practice, the country has been involved in European sanctions against Russia since late February.

JARED PAOLINO

Bornholm warning MEANWHILE, Vladimir Barbin, the Russian ambassador to Denmark, has warned that recent Danish-American military activity on Bornholm risks transforming Denmark’s Baltic Sea island from a “peaceful haven into a potential military bridgehead”. Speaking to TV2 he described the arrival of a transport plane laden with missiles to Bornholm – as part of training exercise Defender-Europe 2022 – as a provocation that will "increase tensions" in the Baltic Sea. The purpose of Defender-Europe 2022 was to shed light on how long it might take to secure the maritime area around Bornholm, as well as sending “a signal that nations are standing shoulder to shoulder”, the defence minister, Morten Bødskov, told TV2.

ORTEN Bødskov, the defence minister, confirmed in May that Denmark’s total spending on military donations to Ukraine has now reached 2 billion kroner – double what was previously thought. In April, PM Mette Frederiksen confirmed plans to increase spending from 400 million to 1 billion kroner, and now it has shot up even further with a delivery of Harpoon missiles – which an analyst recently told DR were “relatively long-range naval target missiles used to shoot ships with”. The 2 billion kroner has been taken from a pool of 3.5 billion kroner set aside for emergency preparedness and humanitarian efforts in 2022 and 2023. Swiss block delivery HOWEVER, donating the weapons is one thing, but delivering them is another. In early June it was revealed that Switzerland vetoed Denmark's request to deliver Swiss-made military vehicles to Ukraine, referring to its neutrality policy of not supplying arms to conflict areas. A decision to send 20 Swiss-produced Piranha three-crew cars to Ukraine was made in April, but without the permission of Switzerland, which rejected a Polish request in March and a German one in April. Switzerland has not been completely impartial, though. In a radical departure

Gazprom pulls the plug IN OTHER news, Russian energy company Gazprom, as expected, finally pulled the plug on supplying gas to Denmark in early June. The decision came after Denmark’s largest energy company Ørsted restated its position that it would not meet Russia's demand for payment in rubles. Energistyrelsen, the Danish energy agency, has assured the public that Gazprom’s decision poses no threat to Denmark’s energy supply, citing the country’s emergency reserves, aggressive green energy transition, and the upcoming opening of a new gas pipeline from Norway.

Filling up in Germany NEVERTHELESS, fuel prices remain high, and some Danish motorists have been taking advantage of a new German tax policy to fill up over the border. The policy, which will stay in effect for the rest of the summer, has lowered the taxes on petrol and diesel in the country to the extent that a litre of German petrol costs 4-6 kroner less than a litre in Denmark. Peter Rasmussen, fuel director at Circle K Denmark, criticised the policy, which he anticipates will lead to a 10-15 percent drop in fuel sales over the next three months at stations in southern Denmark. Cyber security threat IN OTHER news related to Ukraine, the Danish foreign minister, Jeppe Kofod, recently held talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in which he called on Beijing to use its influence in Moscow to help bring the war to an end. Yi, while calling for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, emphasised Chinese neutrality. The EU has implemented a one-year freeze on tariffs and tariff quotas for goods imported from Ukraine. Kofod has declared Denmark’s support for the decision, calling it a necessary measure to protect the Ukrainian economy and send a message to Russia about the EU’s willingness to support Ukraine. And finally, due to increased pro-Russian cyber activity against western European NATO countries recently, the Centre for Cyber Security has upped the cyber security threat level from Low to Moderate.

CARLA Sands, the former US ambassador, has been the butt of many Danes’ barbs following comments that people in Denmark use bicycles because they cannot afford cars. “My embassy driver would bike an hour in the snow to get to work. That’s the future team Biden wants for Americans. Is this what you want?” she wrote on social media. In related news, Jesus wept. Dispute of Hans over

CANADA and Denmark have reached an agreement on drawing a border across Hans Island (Tartupaluk in Inuit), a 1.3 sq km isle located in the Arctic passage between Greenland and the Canadian territory of Nunavut that both countries have claimed the ownership of. Maritime rights in the area were settled in 1973. Selling off NYC properties

THE FOREIGN Ministry has made plans to offload a number of its properties in New York City, including the chief residency of the Danish UN mission in the city, which could raise 52 million kroner. State-owned properties in Tanzania and Argentina, where the embassies are closing, will also be sold. Opposed to minimum wage

THE EU Parliament and European Council have reached an agreement to ensure minimum wages are adequate to ensure a decent standard of living throughout the union. Denmark and Sweden have opposed the directive, viewing the measure as an unnecessary interference in its collective bargaining-based system of wage determination. Arctic letter of intent

Dane sentenced to death

Recoiled in anger

Tougher on refugees

A DANISH citizen has been sentenced to death by a court in Nigeria after being found guilty of killing his wife and daughter in Lagos in April 2018. Peter Nielsen denies guilt, and Denmark and the EU have issued a statement against the death penalty. Despite 3,000 prisoners being on death row in Nigeria, there have been no executions for several years.

THE GREENLANDIC parliament has unanimously adopted a bill that asks Denmark to investigate its pregnancy prevention practices between the mid-1960s and 1991 when 4,500 Greenlandic women and girls, some as young as 13, were given contraceptive coils in an effort to curb population growth. The practice has been criticised as a violation of human rights.

REFUGEES in Denmark find it harder to obtain work than their counterparts in Norway and Sweden, according to a report by the Nordic Council of Ministers and the Norwegian Institute for Urban and Regional Research, which assessed 280,000 new arrivals between 2008 and 2019. Refugees in Sweden and Norway were also paid better and more likely to take an education.

DANISH NEWS IN ENGLISH | CPHPOST.DK

THE DANISH defence minister, Morten Bødskov, has signed a letter of intent with the Icelandic foreign minister to exchange data and strengthen surveillance in the Arctic. Bødskov said that the “extraordinary situation of war in Europe” has made surveillance in the Arctic an important part of the Danish armed forces’ work.

JEPPE Kofod, the Danish foreign minister, has been busy of late. On June 2-3 he travelled to the US to meet with Secretary of State Antony Blinken to discuss the situation in Ukraine, NATO expansion and strengthened Danish-American co-operation. And the agenda was similar in Berlin when he met his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock in May. British sailor in the dock

A VERDICT is expected on June 23 in the case of a Brit charged with the negligent manslaughter of Danish sailors when their boats collided in December in the Baltic Sea between Bornholm and the Swedish port of Ystad. Copenhagen Police allege the 30-year-old was drunk and sailed off without providing assistance. Plans for Faroese prison

DANISH PM Mette Frederiksen has signed a letter of intent with Faroese PM Bárður á Steig Nielsen to open a prison on the islands by 2030. It will allow Faroese prisoners to serve their sentences in their homeland, rather than in Denmark. Calling on Israel and Taliban

DENMARK has signed joint declarations calling on Israel to halt its construction of settlements in the West Bank and the Taliban to reconsider restrictions on women's and girls' rights in Afghanistan. Apple forced into action

THE EU will require all new mobile phones, tablets and cameras sold within its borders to have a common charging port by the fall of 2024. The provisional agreement will force technology companies such as Apple to join other major smartphone makers who have widely adopted USB-C as a universal port in recent years. Help for drought victims

DENMARK has contributed 140 million kroner to aid programs for the 17 million people in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia who are experiencing food shortages as a result of the worst drought to hit the Horn of Africa in 40 years.

NATIONAL THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

24 JUNE - 5 JULY 2022

ONLINE THIS WEEK

NO RESERVATIONS ABOUT ABOLISHING IT!

Some 66.9 percent of Danish voters abolished the defence reservation on June 1 CHRISTIAN WENANDE

S EU REFERENDUM votes go, the defence reservation ballot on June 1 won’t go down in history as a nailbiter. An overwhelming majority of Danes voted to abolish the reservation and thereby pave the way for closer military co-operation with the EU in the future. Some 66.9 percent of voters voted in favour – the highest share of ‘yes’ voters ever recorded in an EU referendum in Denmark. In fact, the ‘ayes’ had it sewed up in all 92 voting districts across the country. Low voter turnout LOOKING at the numbers, the Gentofte and Rudersdal voting districts had the highest share of votes in favour with 80 percent, followed by Lyngby (78), Aarhus East and Falkoner (both 77). Fredensborg (76), Aarhus South (75), Copenhagen City Centre (75), Østerbro

(74) and Egedal (74) completed the top ten. Frederikshavn had the lowest share of ‘yes’ voters with 58 percent, preceded by Esbjerg City and Lolland (both 59), and Brøndby, Bispebjerg and Kalundborg (all 60). The day also saw the second lowest voter turnout for an EU referendum in history at just 65.8 percent. Only the referendum for the Patent Court in 2014, with 56 percent, has a lower turnout. Applause from EU president A NUMBER of European leaders voiced their pleasure with the result, as did the EU leadership. “I welcome the strong message of commitment to our common security sent by the Danish people today,” EU Commision President Ursula von der Leyen wrote on Twitter. “Denmark’s expertise on defence is much valued. I am convinced that both Denmark and the EU will benefit from this decision. We are #StrongerTogether.” Pending some formalities, it is expect-

ed that Denmark will officially enter the EU defence co-operation by July 1. Level pegging in the polls THE RESULT was a welcome boost for the centre left and right parties that supported abolishing the reservation. Only hard-right wing duo Dansk Folkeparti and Nye Borgelige and ultra left party Enhedslisten opposed it. Ahead of the vote, an Epinion poll made for DR revealed that the Blue Bloc now commands a 49.5 percent share of the vote, just ahead of the Left Bloc on 49.3 percent. Venstre has increased its share of the vote in recent months from 13.4 to 15.9 percent, to again overtake Konservative, down from 15.5 to 14.2 percent, to become the Blue Bloc’s leading party. Despite recent optimism, Dansk Folkeparti has fallen further from 5.7 to 5.2 percent. While government party Socialdemokratiet has seen its share slip from 28 to 25.5 percent, 0.4 lower than what it polled at the 2019 general election. However, the larger the share, the greater the statistical uncertainty. Socialdemokratiet could conceivably have a share of 28.2 percent.

PIXABAY

HASSE FERROLD

No Brexit-style upsets here, PM Mette Frederiksen was pleased to confirm

Perks of the membership

IN ORDER to escape her violent ex-boyfriend, a woman in Funen left in the dead of night to begin a new life. But she hadn’t reckoned on her trade union 3F Østfyn writing to her partner and informing him of her new address. Datatilsynet has expressed the gravest possible concerns, and 3F Østfyn has said it will review its way of working. More paternity leave

Living among your peers

MEN TOOK on average 35 days of paternity leave in 2020 – 18 percent more compared to 2015. It is testament to recent steps taken by the government, and another rise is expected soon, as from August 2, parental leave will need to be shared more equally, giving men the right to take 11 weeks off. Women currently average 280.1 days.

THE WEALTH disparity gap is widening according to the latest Economic Council of the Labour Movement report, which shows that people are increasingly moving to areas with income levels that are similar to their own. Ten years ago, about 40 percent of schools had students from all levels of society. Today, that figure has declined to 27 percent.

Gender-neutral cakes

2023 budgets agreed

BAKERY chain Lagkagehuset is replacing its classic Kagemand and Kagekone (cake man and woman) decorations with a gender-neutral ‘Kageperson’ (cake person) in the name of diversity and inclusiveness. The decoration, which normally consists of winegums and other sweets, is a favourite on birthday cakes. In future, gender-specific decorations will need to be ordered.

THE GOVERNMENT has agreed to 2023 deals with the regions and municipalities, who will receive 6.95 and 18.5 billion kroner. Of the 6.95 billion (up 1 billion on 2021) for Danske Regioner, 3 billion will be spent on renovating old hospitals. Of the 18.5 billion (down 1.4 billion on 2021), 1 billion has been earmarked for green investments.

Sunniest ever spring

ALTHOUGH May didn't quite live up to the billing this year, it’s actually been the brightest spring since sunshine records began in 1920, reports TV2. Denmark enjoyed 711.4 hours of sunshine, pipping the previous record of 710.3 hours set in 2020. The average is 556 hours. With 238.6 hours, it was the sunniest March in Danish history.

Gambling addicts double

THE NUMBER of adults in Denmark with a gambling addiction has doubled over the last five years to 500,000, according to the latest Danish Gaming Authority-commissioned report by Rambøll. A further 24,500 people aged 12-17 are thought to also be addicted – about 6 percent of the age group. #MeToo on the high seas

Missed the window

Hefty sentences

Urban population growth

Camping numbers soaring

PROPOSED Danish legislation to tighten up social media rules to protect the public will need to be redrafted in light of new EU regulations. It is commonly perceived that Parliament has missed the window after dragging its heels over new rules that would have required social media providers to take down all illegal content within 24 hours of it being posted.

FIVE PEOPLE have received prison sentences ranging from five to eleven years for their involvement in smuggling 20 kilos of MDMA and ketamine hidden in candles and tables into Denmark. They were sent from Belgium via international courier companies, with plans to then send them to Australia. One of the smugglers is American. Four of the five have appealed.

THE POPULATION of the Capital Region grew from 1.214 to 1.346 million between 2012 and 2022 – a 11 percent jump in line with rises in Aarhus (up 33,000 to 285,000), Odense (up 12,000 to 181,000) and Aalborg (up 15,000 to 120,000). Denmark’s population, though, only rose by 5 percent, while numbers in rural areas actually declined by 3 percent.

IN 2021, MORE Danes made their way to campsites across the country than ever before, and now 2022 is on target to eclipse last year. According to the Dansk Camping Union, July bookings for its 20 campsites are up 28 percent. An increase in foreign visitors is partly responsible.

MAERSK has admitted that it has a #MeToo problem. Following a sexual assault case last autumn, the shipper started interviewing its 350 female maritime workers and found that it needs to change how it handles these kinds of cases going forward. The company faces sexual assault and harrassment lawsuits in the US, brought against them by female former Sea Year Students.

Best for raising a family

Heavyweight politician dies

Rape compensation concerns

All-out war on Pegasus

Lawsuit set for High Court

THE JUSTICE Ministry will address the minimum compensation amount paid out to victims of rape following a Supreme Court decision in February that upheld a payment of 35,000 kroner to a woman who was raped but not subjected to violence. According to the law, victims should receive a minimum of 100,000 kroner and victims of attempted rape 40,000-53,000 kroner.

THE DANISH Parliament’s IT department has equipped itself with the necessary software to detect the spy software Pegasus on MPs’ phones. All it takes is a phone call and Pegasus will install itself, thereafter monitoring all of the phone’s activity. Pegasus, which was developed by Israeli company NSO Group, was sold to countries to help them fight terrorism and crime.

CONVICTED terrorist Ahmed Samsam's lawsuit against the Danish intelligence services PET and FE will now be heard at the High Court. Samsam was sentenced to eight years in prison in Spain in 2018 after being found guilty of being part of IS in Syria, but he claims he was a spy for PET and FE between 2012 and 2015. A 2020 Berlingske story backed up his claims.

BOTH AARHUS and Aalborg placed above Copenhagen in a preply.com ranking of the best cities to bring up a family in Europe. Aarhus ranked seventh, ahead of Aalborg (23) and Copenhagen (50) – the only three Danish cities included in the ranking that assessed 130. Topping the ranking was Funchal on the Portuguese island of Madeira.

DISTINGUISHED politician Uffe Ellemann-Jensen died over the weekend. He was 80 and had been fighting cancer for several years. Uffe, the father of current Venstre party chair Jakob Ellemann-Jensen, led the party for 14 years until 1998, but despite serving as foreign minister from 1982 to 1993, he never became PM as many expected.

DANISH NEWS IN ENGLISH | CPHPOST.DK

SCIENCE THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

24 JUNE - 5 JULY 2022

MOST SUSTAINABLE … MOST RUBBISH

ONLINE THIS WEEK

While Denmark has again topped the Environmental Performance Index, it also creates more waste per capita than any other country in the EU JARED PAOLINO

CCORDING to the 2022 Environmental Performance Index (EPI), Denmark is the world’s most sustainable country. It is the second year in a row that Denmark has ranked first on the index, which is compiled by US universities Yale and Columbia. The index analyses a host of sub-parameters within three central themes: Ecosystem Vitality, Health and Climate Policy. Denmark scored top marks for Climate Policy, for which it ranked first, and held the 10th and 21st spots for Health and Ecosystem Vitality respectively. Wealthier nations dominated the ranking, with the UK, Finland, Malta and

Sweden completing the top five. India was ranked last, preceded by Myanmar, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Waste management leader DENMARK is also one of the best when it comes to handling waste. On the EPI, Denmark ranked 13th in waste management, and on the Global Waste Index – a ranking of the 38 OECD countries by the company Sensoneo – Denmark came in second, losing out on the top spot to South Korea. Recent figures, however, reveal that Denmark is falling behind in one key aspect of waste management: waste prevention. In fact, according to Eurostat, Denmark creates more waste per capita than any other country in the EU: as much as 845 kilos per person in Denmark every year. According to the Danish Society for Nature Conservation, Denmark must

better incorporate waste prevention into its waste management approach – especially at a municipal level. More waste, more problems DENMARK’S national waste plan requires that all municipalities update their local waste management plans by the end of this year. The Danish Society for Nature Conservation is evaluating the plans as they are released. So far, the society’s analysis has found that municipalities have been uneven in their efforts to integrate waste prevention into their overall strategies. Maria Reumert Gjerding, the society’s president, has said that Denmark’s excessive waste production is a problem for the climate, reported DR. To keep its spot at the top of global sustainability rankings, she argues, Denmark must put an end to its excessive consumption.

Let down by lack of labour

Quantum co-operation

Attacked by buzzards

DENMARK’S green transition may soon be slowed down by a lack of skilled labour due to a shortage of young people becoming electricians, plumbers and other technicians. According to Green Power Denmark, there is a need for around 45,000 full-time positions annually to meet Denmark’s 2030 emissions reductions targets.

DENMARK and the US have signed a joint statement on co-operation in Quantum Information Science and Technology (QIST). According to Lone Dencker Wisborg, Denmark's ambassador to the US, “it is crucial that democratic governments take the lead in ensuring the responsible development and use of quantum technologies”.

TWO WOMEN in Jutland were recently attacked by buzzards, earning minor injuries. The buzzard population has increased significantly over the past 30 years – mostly due to improved air quality. Attacks by birds of prey are not uncommon during the breeding season, which lasts from the end of May to the end of June.

Spending too much!

Mostly excellent bathing water

Why we like things

STATENS Serum Institut has agreements in place to spend 2.8 billion kroner on acquiring 22 million corona vaccine doses in 2022 – up from 2.4 billion in 2021. However, only about 1 million doses have been used this year. Corona infection rates have been rising of late. In Week 22, there was a 16 percent rise – the largest increase since February.

DENMARK has the sixth best bathing water quality in Europe according to the 2021 European Environment Agency report. It ranked behind Austria, Malta, Greece, Croatia and Cyprus. Of its 1,031 bathing areas, 91.9 percent were rated as being of an excellent quality. On average, 84.7 percent of Europe’s 21,859 bathing sites were deemed excellent. Poland ranked last.

NATURE or nurture? It’s an age-old question and, now, researchers from the University of Copenhagen have answers. They have discovered that genes play a large role in determining cultural preferences. It is this genetic make-up, combined with one’s environment and upbringing, that ultimately explain our taste for everything from music to themeparks.

DANISH NEWS IN ENGLISH | CPHPOST.DK

PIXABAY

PIXABAY/BLUEBUDGIE

"No, I give up: which bin do I dump my Air Jordans in?"

Understanding Arctic ice

Sustainable soil focus

A TEAM led by experts from DTU Space have carried out extensive measurements of sea ice and inland ice in the Arctic. Travelling over 16,000 km throughout Greenland and the adjacent sea areas, the team tested new measurement techniques involving planes, drones and boots on the ground.

THE CAPITAL Region of Denmark and Danish Builders' Association are collaborating in the area of sustainable construction practices. One solution is using soil (compacted clay) as a building material in order to limit CO2 emissions and conserve raw materials.

Hello trioxides

WORKING closely with international colleagues, researchers from the University of Copenhagen have discovered a new class of super-reactive chemical compounds under atmospheric conditions. Known as trioxides, these high-oxygenating compounds are likely to have an impact on both human health and the climate. Award for ports project

THE LIVING Ports project, a collaboration between DTU researchers and the company Econcrete, has won the 2022 International Ports and Harbors Sustainability Award in the infrastructure category. Huge honour for academic

PROFESSOR Jørgen Christensen-Dalsgaard from Aarhus University is a co-recipient of the Kavli Prize in recognition of his pioneering work in the field of astrophysics – most notably in the area of starquakes. Meanwhile, the university's FACS Core Facility has received an official stamp of approval from the International Society for Advancement of Cytometry. Arresting work

KASPER Glerup Lauridsen has received the Aarhus University Research Fund's talent award for his PhD dissertation on cardiac arrest treatments. His research centred on the development of a standardised model of communication for a hospital’s cardiac arrest team, and his work has already led to a rethinking of European guidelines on cardiac arrest treatment.

Starts as babies

BABIES’ testosterone levels can reflect their sperm quality as adult men, according to a Rigshospitalet study that monitored 259 born in 1997 through to adulthood. The conclusion should pave the way for early interventive efforts to prevent fertility problems in men. New arrivals in the skies

NEW BIRD species are finding their way from southern Europe to Denmark as a result of the warming climate. One such example is the black ibis, of which there were 256 sightings in May. Meanwhile, other species, such as the heron and stilt runner, are increasing their presence due to reduced emissions and improved air quality. Cement emission issue

AALBORG Portland has a goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 30 percent by 2030, but apparently they soared between 2019 and 2021 due to increased construction activity. The exact figures need to be verified by the Energistyrelsen. Monkeypox contract

WHILE Denmark still only has 12 registered cases of monkeypox, Danish company Bavarian Nordic has confirmed it has signed a contract with an undisclosed European country to supply its IMVANEX smallpox vaccine. Symptoms of monkeypox can include fever, chills and a rash with blisters that can cause sores when they heal.

CULTURE THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

24 JUNE - 5 JULY 2022

A HAMMER BLOW TO THE TV INDUSTRY Netflix and Viaplay follow lead of TV2 Play and cease Danish series production CPH POST

WO MORE streaming services have ceased their development of new series and films in Denmark because of the expense. However, while the decision of Netflix and Viaplay closely followed the government’s unveiling of plans to levy an extra tax on streaming service profits – a 6 percent culture tax to assist such programming – they cited the same reason given by TV2 Play in March. Making TV series in Denmark for what is often a pretty limited audience is simply too expensive, they contend – particularly when you consider how cheap reality TV is. Wishful thinking? THE CESSATION is in response to a rights agreement reached between the Producent Rettigheder Danmark producers association and Create Danmark in January. At the time they were rather triumphant as the agreement guaranteed

artists regular pay, as opposed to getting lump sums – the norm in acting circles for time immemorial. It would appear their wishful thinking has come back to bite them.

At least two projects binned BENJAMIN Boe Rasmussen, the head of the Dansk Skuespillerforbund actors' association, said that two projects in Denmark have been affected as a result

of the decision. Netflix had been on a roll of late, producing successful series in Denmark such as ‘Kastanjemanden’ ('The Chestnut Man'), 'The Rain' and the most

recent installment of 'Borgen'. But now it looks like its contribution to Danish television looks set to end as quickly as it started.

The death of print

Trio of Cannes awards

Game of groans

Host of stars coming

Johnny to play Randers

JUST 25 percent of the population read a daily printed newspaper, compared to 31 percent in 2018 and 60 percent in 2012, according to the Kulturvaneundersøgelsen survey. Just 14 percent of adults in Denmark have a printed newspaper subscription (digital: 11 percent). Two-thirds are 64+, four-fifths are 55+, and one-eleventh under 45.

TSAR AMIR Ebrahimi, the star of 'Holy Spider' – a home-produced film set in Iran helmed by Danish-Iranian director Ali Abbasi – won best actress at Cannes. Meanwhile, two Swedish films co-produced by Danes also enjoyed success. 'Triangle of Sadness' won the Palme D’or and 'Boy from Heaven' best script. All three films were supported by the Danish Film Institute.

SAFINA and Filippa, the daughters of Game of Thrones star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, are the stars of ‘Salsa’, a new sexually explicit DR series that addresses many issues relating to sexuality and boundaries. The plot evolves around two young women who use a sex app to evaluate their partners’ performance in bed. It is available via DRTV.

HAVE YOU ‘heard’ the news? Johnny Depp could end up playing at the Copenhagen Jazz Festival on June 28 when Jeff Beck performs at Amager Bio. Earlier this month, he confirmed he will play with the legendary guitarist at Værket in Randers on June 29 – his third such guest appearance.

Aussie thesps on the case

The ‘Culture Tunnel’

US INDIE star Father John Misty is playing at KB Hallen on 2 March 2023. Tickets cost 425 kroner. Other recently confirmed dates include: comedian Jason Manford (8 March 2023; 250kr) at Bremen; singer Tove Lo (Nov 18; 330kr) and rapper Zack Fox (Aug 19; 200kr) at Vega; youtuber Daniel Howell (13 May 2023; 295kr), comedian Fortune Feimster (Sep 26; 295kr) and author ALOK (July 17; 295kr) at DR Koncerthuset.

TWO AUSTRALIAN actors well known to Copenhagen audiences, Kevin Kiernan-Molloy and Michael Worthman, have launched a service aimed at science and tech workers who want to improve their presentation skills. Via their company Resonate (resonatecph.com), clients learn acting skills and techniques to leave the 1970s brown suits and facial hair behind.

CITY HALL has approved plans for a new centre for business, culture and innovation in Nordhavn. ‘The Tunnel Factory’ will inhabit a 261x125-metre, 1990s hall belonging to Øresund Tunnel Contractors. The 27 metre-high hall will be divided into three floors and have room for 400 new homes. The completion date is 2025.

Digitally-dedicated

THE GOVERNMENT’S 2022-25 media agreement places democracy at the forefront and embraces the digital age. It includes a 6 percent culture tax on streaming service profits, greater democratic control of the tech giants, and an updated framework for media responsibility so the public are better protected on social media. DR will get an extra 100 million kroner a year.

You can forget about finding the Chestnut Woman for starters

DANISH NEWS IN ENGLISH | CPHPOST.DK

Cooking festival plaudits

COPENHAGEN Cooking, the ten-day event that traditionally takes over the capital every year over the last two weeks of August, has been proclaimed the second best summer food festival in Europe by Big 7 Travel. The Aarhus Food Festival placed 16th.

Concerns about wiring

THE SIKKERHEDSSTYRELSEN safety technology authority has expressed concerns about the quality of wiring at smaller musical festivals ahead of a busy program this year. Last year, it checked 30 outdoor venues and found that 37 percent had faulty wiring. It fears visitors could suffer electric shocks due to incorrectly installed residual current circuit breakers.

BUSINESS THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

24 JUNE - 5 JULY 2022

COPENHAGENERS A BAD HIRE, CLAIMS STUDY

ONLINE THIS WEEK PIXABAY

Ecco expects blisters

Long-haul partner

ECCO, the footwear company heavily criticised since late February for continuing with its operations in Russia, has warned of a likely fall in profits in 2022. In related news, Danish companies have gradually begun to reopen in Ukraine. Out of the 86 stores that Jysk has in the country, for example, more than 70 stores are now open.

THE DANISH government is increasing its stake in SAS from 21.8 to as much as 30 percent. While Sweden is looking to divest its stake, Denmark has reconfirmed its intention to be “a responsible and long-term co-owner”. Parliament has written off debts of 3.5 billion kroner. Meanwhile, SAS faces a pilots strike sometime after June 24.

Remote work makes sense

WHILE many companies are insisting that employees return to the office full-time, a new study from Aarhus University suggests that a mix of in-person and remote work encourages innovation and increases efficiency. Researchers claim Danish companies that fail to adapt to this new normal risk losing employees and falling behind. Esbjerg eyes NATO status

"Sorry, come again: it's 4 pm and you must have your family time?"

Local Talent Index reveals painful truths about the employability of people working in the Danish capital BEN HAMILTON

OPENHAGENERS are not a good hire for international companies, according to the Local Talent Index, a new remote working study by WorkMotion. The number of people working remotely worldwide has increased by 140 percent in the last 15 years, and the study specifically assesses which "global cities’ residents are best prepared to compete for high-paying and English-speaking remote positions”. Copenhagen clearly isn’t not one of them. Poor in all professions THE INDEX compared the quality of the local workforce in six key professions, along with the remote working infrastructure, and Copenhagen was found wanting in every one. For Developers, Seoul ranked first with Copenhagen 60th; for Cyber Security, Bangalore ranked first with Copenhagen 59th; for Data Scientists/Analysts, London ranked first with Copenhagen 84th, and for Digital Marketing Managers, HR Professionals and Video Game Developers, Buenos Aires ranked first, with Copenhagen 77th, 84th and 75th respectively. Across the parameters, Copenhagen ranked better for access to junior talent

than access to senior talent – a finding in line with Danish companies’ tendency to recruit experts and executives from overseas. And it also ranked highly for available salaries. Woeful for co-working places COPENHAGEN'S poor score for co-working places (25.0/100) suggests that the phenomenon of working remotely simply isn’t catching on fast enough in Denmark, and likewise the ease of compliance score (50.76). Again, this was well below average. “The study aims to shine a light on the cities that are set to become central players in the globalised remote job market,” asserts WorkMotion. “In order to adapt and remain competitive in the future global employment market, it is essential that cities adequately equip their local talent to work the jobs of tomorrow. As such, cities need to cultivate an English-speaking, tech-savvy workforce through education and develop proper infrastructure for remote workers through affordable coworking spaces. Crucially, governments must legislate forward-thinking compliance procedures to ensure it is easy for foreign companies to manage local employees.”

worldwide embracing the opportunity to work from anywhere, as well as a rise in competitive, foreign location-based salaries available to the best global talent,” observes WorkMotion. “Despite this extraordinary opportunity for economic growth, most governments have done little to capitalise upon the opportunity.” But good at English THERE was one saving grace, though: Copenhageners are among the best urban-dwelling non-mother tongue speakers of English in the world. In the latest English Proficiency Index, a country-by-country report last updated in November 2021, the Danes trailed Austria, but Copenhagen came out on top over Vienna in the WorkMotion study. The WorkMotion report accordingly suggests that Denmark’s overall score is dragged down by those who live outside the capital.

Government at fault THE STUDY’S findings suggest that the Danish government is failing to equip its citizens with the tools to compete in a global employment market. “Since the pandemic began, we have witnessed a rapid increase of workers

Well ahead of Sweden! COPENHAGEN scored 95.49 out of a possible 100, trailing only two Dutch cities: Amsterdam (100) and Rotterdam (97.91). Vienna (94.95) and Helsinki (92.53) completed the top five. Sweden will be disappointed with the scores of its leading cities: Stockholm (91.65) and Gothenburg (89.12). Fury erupted several years ago when Sweden topped Denmark in the English Proficiency Index.

Mr Big arrests

Scale-up growth

Improved startup credentials

SANJAY Shah, the main suspect in the Danish dividend tax scandal – which defrauded the state out of 12.7 billion kroner between 2012 and 2015 – should soon be extradited to Denmark following his arrest in Dubai. The two companies signed an extradition agreement on March 17. In related news, Danish police have arrested another ‘Mr Big’ – this time in connection with the laundering of 353 million kroner.

DENMARK is a regional leader for scale-up companies, which enjoyed revenue growth of 258 billion kroner between 2017 and 2020 – an increase of 136 percent, compared to Norway’s 123. However, employment growth did not follow suit, rising just 64 percent, lagging behind regional leader Sweden on 81. As of 2020, there were 1,232 scale-up companies in Denmark.

DENMARK’S startup environment has been ranked the 18th best in the world by the startup ecosystem map and research centre StartupBlink – up four places from 2021. It scored well for Hardware & IoT (10), Ecommerce & Retail (13) and Health (14). In Europe, it is the tenth best. Meanwhile, Copenhagen has a world ranking of 53 followed by Aarhus (213) and Herning (564).

DANISH NEWS IN ENGLISH | CPHPOST.DK

ESBJERG could become a NATO maritime hub by the end of 2023. NATO has expressed an interest in using the harbour to deploy allied forces to the Baltic Sea region and it satisfies many parameters with its size, location and proximity to airports and rail links. It’s also close to motorways and several big military barracks. Who needs cows?

ISRAELI startup Remilk has raised 120 million US dollars to build a 69,677 sqm production centre in Kalundborg that it describes as the “world’s largest facility for cow-free milk”. In related news, Arla has confirmed an investment of 190 million euros in its Pronsfeld dairy in Germany in a bid to greatly increase its production of nutrient-rich milk powder. Highest inflation for 40 years

INFLATION has reached its highest level since 1983. In May, prices were 7.4 percent higher than they were at the same time last year, according to Danmarks Statistik, which predicts that 60 percent of companies will further increase prices this summer. The year-on increase corresponds to an ordinary family having to spend an extra 32,000 kroner a year, reports TV2. Licorice joy

SALES at gourmet licorice producer Lakrids By Bülow shot up by 14 percent to an all-time record of 293 million kroner last year. E-commerce accounted for 36 percent of the revenue, and sales shot up overseas: most noticeably by 33 percent in Germany and by 25 percent in the UK. Meanwhile, bakery chain Lagkagehuset made a loss of 89.4 million kroner. Nike’s new megastore

NIKE IS opening a megastore in Copenhagen this autumn – the first of its kind in the Danish capital. The 725 sqm site is located near the famous Rundetårn on Købmagergade.

Attractive among students

THE STUDENT Survey report released by Universum reveals the most attractive companies across four sectors in Denmark. They are Maersk (business), Novo Nordisk (engineering and natural sciences), Google (IT) and Poul Schmith (law). The report also revealed that male graduates expect a starting monthly salary of 37,786 kroner – 8 percent more than women. Slight dip in housing prices

TAKING into account standard seasonal fluctuations in the housing market, housing prices fell by 0.5 percent in May. In related news, Danmarks Nationalbank has voiced its concern that Danish homeowners are increasingly opting for variable-rate and installment-free loans, saying that the trend makes the Danish economy more vulnerable to a fall in house prices. Busy May for airport

IN MAY, more than 2 million people passed through Copenhagen Airport, making it the busiest month for travel since the pandemic began. On May 29 it dealt with more than 85,000 – the busiest single day. All that is missing, reports the airport, are returning foreign tourists, as Danes and southern Swedes “have really got their wings again”. Dark stores creeping in

THE POPULARITY of dark stores is taking off in Denmark. Driven by Wolt, which already has eight stores with another 11 on the way, customers use an app or website to order groceries, which are then dispatched to them within minutes from warehouse-like shops with blacked out windows. Gorillas has seven shops, and Coop also has plans to open some. More weekend work

SELF-EMPLOYED people are working more on the weekends, according to figures from Arbejdskraftundersøgelsen. They reveal that 41 percent of self-employed worked regularly on Saturday and Sunday during the first quarter of 2022 compared to 30 percent in the same period last year.

SPORT THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

24 JUNE - 5 JULY 2022

FROM FLATLINING TO FABULOUS FOOTY

ONLINE THIS WEEK DMITRIY NEYMYROK

Canada to the sword

Rune strikes sweet tune

THE DANISH men’s ice hockey team recorded their biggest ever scalp at the IIHF World Championships last month: a 3-2 inaugural win against powerhouse Canada. But in the end, they still needed a draw against Slovakia to progress to the quarters and duly lost 1-7. The first game against Canada in 1949 ended in a 0-47 loss – the beginning of a losing streak that finally ended in 2022.

HOLGER Rune eventually bowed out of the French Open in the quarter-finals, losing to Casper Ruud, the Norwegian number 8, in a bad-tempered match that both players had plenty to say about afterwards. While Rune accused Ruud of shouting “JAAAA” in his face in the locker rooms, at one point during the match Rune screamed at his mother to leave the arena! Rune’s world ranking has soared from 40 to 28 as a result.

Stack ‘em high!

ARCHITECTURE firm Werk Arkitekter wants to make Copenhagen a trailblazer for multi-storey football pitches. Made primarily of wood, the buildings stack five or more pitches on top of one another. Hailed as environmentally sustainable, Werk Arkitekter hope urban planners the world over will demand the buildings in light of the scarcity of pitches in cities.

Like dynamite when they get going. these guys never know when they're beaten

How Eriksen's Denmark is now among the favourites to win the 2022 World Cup BEN HAMILTON

UNE 12 MARKED a full year since Christian Eriksen collapsed with a cardiac arrest at Parken Stadium during his country’s opening game of Euro 2020. Over the following hour his life lay in the balance: a nation’s collective thoughts willed him to pull through and live. Denmark went on to lose the game 0-1 to Finland, but truly it was a day of victory: Eriksen regained consciousness in his hospital bed, scarcely able to believe how a fit professional footballer could suffer such a calamity. Brutal truths BUT THE business world continues regardless of death, war, famine, disease and natural disasters. Had Eriksen been a share price, his stock would have crashed that day. So too did Denmark’s odds of winning Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup, which it was already so well placed to

qualify for. Eriksen was their playmaker: the genius in attacking midfield who makes the red and whites tick. Without him, their hopes seemed … well … hopeless. Lazarus would be proud A YEAR can be a long time. Not only has Eriksen made an astonishing comeback, but in his absence new matchwinners have emerged, taking the national team to heights not seen since the 1980s and 90s. Denmark destroyed Wales and saw off the Czech Republic to make the final four of Euro 2020, qualified comfortably for the World Cup with maximum points and no goals conceded in their first eight games, and currently lead their UEFA Nations League Group after three wins from four games. With 13 wins in their last 17 matches, Denmark could become the smallest nation since Uruguay in 1950 to lift world football’s biggest prize.

Europe’s answer to Uruguay THE BOOKMAKERS have certainly

changed their tune. They now rate Denmark the tenth most likely team to win the 2022 World Cup, with odds generally ranging from 25/1 to 33/1. That’s not that far off the number of World Cups a person can expect to see in an average lifetime, and as Uruguay has proven twice, along with Denmark and Greece in the Euros, smaller nations can dare to dream. Particularly when you have playmakers like Eriksen and the likes of Mikkel Damsgaard queuing up to deputise, along attacking left back, Joakim Mæhle and one of the best goalkeepers in world football, Kasper Schmeichel. Easier group beckons LAST WEEK brought the news that Denmark will again face Australia in the group stage – a team they have nothing to fear of. On the other hand, Peru, who lost to the Socceroos on penalties, might have posed more serious questions. With Tunisia also in the group, Denmark should comfortably make it through to the knockout stages along with France.

DANISH NEWS IN ENGLISH | CPHPOST.DK

At least three groupies

A TOTAL of five teams will participate in European football next season. Worst-case scenario, champions FC Copenhagen will end up in the Europa League group stage, and Superliga runners-up FC Midtjylland and third-place finishers Silkeborg in the Conference League group stage – the best Brøndby and Viborg can hope for. Zincker’s in the EPL

PHILIP Zinckernagel helped Nottingham Forest beat Huddersfield Town 1-0 in the Championship playoff final to seal promotion to the Premier League. The Reds haven’t played in the top flight since 1999. FCM win cup again

FC MIDTJYLLAND washed away the disappointment of missing out on the Superliga title this year by beating OB Odense to win the Danish Cup - their second triumph following victory in 2019. The match ended goalless and went to penalties with the Wolves winning 4-3.

Not bad under-17s

DENMARK’S under-17 national football team had a decent run at the 2022 Euros in Israel. The Danes lost their opening game to Sweden but then beat Scotland and Portugal to win their group. However, they came unstuck in the quarter-finals, where they lost to Serbia 1-2. Main man at Monza

DENMARK forward Christian Gytkjær was instrumental in helping his club Monza win promotion to Serie A for the first time in its history. The club, owned by Silvio Berlusconi, won its playoff against Pisa in extra time with a 6-4 aggregate victory. Gytkjær did his part, scoring three goals across the two legs, including one in extra time. Cyclist ends drought

JAKOB Fuglsang, who until Jonas Vingegaard’s emergence was Denmark’s best chance of winning a Tour de France, hadn’t triumphed in a race since the Tour of Lombardy in 2020. But in late May he ended his 649day drought when he landed the Mercan'Tour Classic Alpes-Maritimes in France. Now 37, it’s his first title with new team Israel – Premier Tech. Sweet six for Bears

THE BAKKEN Bears have extended their Danish league basketball title streak to six by beating the Svendborg Rabbits in a best-of-seven finals series. The Bears completed a 4-0 whitewash with a 81-77 win in Game 4 in Svendborg.

OPINION THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

24 JUNE - 5 JULY 2022

THE NEW NORMAL

HE WAR in Ukraine is no longer frontpage news in Denmark. But the war is still on and growing in ferocity, as more heavy weapons are being positioned at the front. The Russians are pounding missiles and artillery into enemy positions; the Ukrainians are waiting for heavy arms to arrive and retaliate. There seems to be no end to it as none of the parties are willing to compromise.

Times of the unexpected NOBODY saw the War in Ukraine coming. This was a wake-up call, as we thought that ever-more-reasonable Russia was on the path towards global integration. After all, they hosted the last World Cup. But then again, we should have learned a lesson from the erratic presidency of Donald Trump. Out of office for a year and five months, he still never fails to amaze us: this time via the Capitol Hill hearings in Wash-

Minds are changing BUT WHILE much has changed as a result of all this belligerence – new defence budgets have been drafted in Denmark to the extent they’ll account for 2 percent of GDP eventually – minds have also been altered. Some 26,000 Ukrainian refugees were received with open arms by a country that has spent 10 years becoming increasingly hostile towards immigrants, refugees or otherwise. Support for NATO and the EU is growing – not just in Denmark but all over the continent. Just one year ago, the June referendum, and Sweden and Finland’s eagerness to join NATO, would have been as unexpected as the fall of the wall in 1989. Uncertainty at SAS ANOTHER big question is the future of SAS. Once the joy and pride of Scandinavia, it now seems that the state-driven enterprise has been bypassed by new business models and SAS has a long way to go to become profitable again. COVID-19 changed the modus operandi for business travelling and virtual meetings, and now SAS and the pilots’ union have to come to terms face-to-face. That could be ugly. But in the meantime, have a nice summer.

After living in Copenhagen for more than ten years working for an international organisation, Expatria doesn’t have a bestselling book or a career on the stage. Her house is messy, she looks her (middle) age and half the time her life is in chaos. Like most of you, dear readers, she doesn’t conquer, rock or manifest anything, but instead muddles through, leaning heavily on her sense of humour and engaging personality.

NYONE trying to squeeze their car past this is going to need Vaseline.” I muttered, looking at a badly parked car on my street. It was not any old badly parked car, being also ostentatiously large and belonging to the new ‘neighbour we all hate’. He bought the house for a song and then brutalised it with a preposterous refurbishment. The adjacent houses sprung cracks in their walls and the whole street had electricity and water cut off several times a week for months – just when so many were working from home. A warning notice would be posted in our letterboxes the day before, but who checks their letter box every day? Horrified of Hellerup “I’D THOUGHT, living in Denmark, I’d be able to rely on running water and electricity,” I posted plaintively on our street Facebook group. “Is anyone planning to complain?” A fair reply would have been: “Why don’t you complain yourself?” Compose a stiffly-worded missive signed ‘Horrified of Hellerup’? Well, here’s the thing: I’ve never got the

hang of complaining in Denmark. There are multiple obstacles in my way. I can’t manipulate the language well enough, plus I feel like my complaint won’t be taken on board because they will think I am an American tourist (and no-one takes their complaints seriously … obviously).

importantly, my home, yet I still feel I’m a guest … and a guest shouldn’t complain. I looked around to see if there was anyone out who might help me pen a note expressing my indignation to the annoying neighbour, this time asking him to park closer to the curb.

Blackbelt language proficiency WHEN I was back home in the UK recently, I started complaining in the arrivals hall of the airport – in polite and righteous tones of course – and kept it up until the moment I left. I felt capable, empowered. This is honestly what should be on every country’s language and citizenship exams: a thorough multiple choice exam on how, and when, to complain. Because effective complaining is surely blackbelt level when it comes to language ability and cultural mastery.

You’re a good cat, CB BUT NO-ONE was around except my cat, Charlie Brown, who was slouching towards me along the pavement. The preposterous refurbishment was difficult for Charlie, as he didn’t like the vibrations of the building work. But it had the advantage that the construction waste turned the house’s whole front garden into a giant litter tray. He paused while I stroked him and gave me a look of deep understanding, as if to say “Leave it to me, I’ll sort this one out for you”. He lumbered up the steps of the disliked neighbour and, turning to face me, arched his tail and let rip a magnificent jet of urine onto the guy’s front door. Needless to say, there were extra treats for Charlie Brown that night.

The role of a guest I TURNED my gaze from the badly-parked car to the sleepy street. It was dark and people had their lights on, so I could see into my neighbours’ houses (side note: what do Danes have against curtains?). It was the embodiment of hygge and, more

FICKR/ROB LEE

Eventful few years IN THE meantime, the rest of the world is trembling. Inflation has reached new records in no time. The food supply to the developing world is logistically in chaos, and energy is in short supply everywhere amidst skyrocketing prices. All that in just a few months since February. Predictions for the foreseeable future are uncertain to say the least. What is certain is that we are heading towards a general election in Denmark. Within a year we will see if COVID-19, Minkgate, the arrival of the Ukrainian refugees and the downward spiral of Dansk Folkeparti has changed the political landscape. The political establishment and lots of institutions and NGOs have been on Bornholm singing and dancing as if tomorrow has no dark skies – an indication, perhaps, that all of our current problems are of a passing nature. But then again, it’s the summer holiday period, when the Danes tend to be carefree and happy regardless of their woes.

EXPATRIA

ington DC that have recently revealed the lengths he was willing to go to remain in office. It will be a sad day for democracy at the end of January 2025 if both Trump and Putin are in power. Clearly it’s time for a reboot.

Ejvind Sandal

"The vaseline jar? Where you last used it ... in the dungeon"

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OPINION THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

24 JUNE - 5 JULY 2022

NEXT NEXTISSUE ISSUE IAN BURNS

The Road Less Taken

An Actor’s Life

JESSICA ALEXANDER

A resident here since 1990, Ian Burns is the artistic director at That Theatre Company and very possibly Copenhagen’s best known English language actor thanks to roles as diverse as Casanova, Shakespeare and Tony Hancock.

Straight, No Chaser STEPHEN GADD IN 2 ISSUES

HE VOTE in Denmark to strengthen its connection to Europe and boost its own defence was a positive step. Finland and Sweden about to join NATO is another. Ukraine deserves peace PUTIN should be taken to The Hague ASAP for war crimes. Any sane person is saddened by his horrific and unjust invasion of Ukraine. He is a mass murderer. He could just do us all a favour and die. Scotland lost to Ukraine in the playoffs of the World Cup and will have to wait another four years to try and qualify for a major tournament. The reception the Scots fans gave their opponents was heart-warming and something the Tartan Army can be proud of. I hope Ukraine will be un-invaded and a place of peace, sooner rather than later. Shortcomings … in all units TALKING of awful leaders, Boris Johnson’s latest attempt to distract us from Party Gate turns ye olde, wind-up clock back to 1971, when we still used pounds, shillings and pennies, pounds and ounces, yards, pints, quarts, feet and inches. The imperial measuring system will, according to the UK’s pathetic and failing PM, be beneficial and enable us to maintain our sense of Britishness. (Sigh.) Oh dear. Even the most loyal and sycophantic Tory MP and supporter must be thinking

that this fool has lost the plot. I wonder what ‘Twaddle Par Excellence’ is in Latin? Every day we hear of shortages of everything and chaos in Little England. For example: doctors, nurses, fruit pickers, driving instructors and teachers. Anything to do with running an airport is hitting foreseen difficulties. Haulage drivers have been in the news again and apparently only 1 percent are women! Any other business boasting that would be dragged over the coals. Women who endure the difficulties of long-distance lorry driving with their male counterparts have to put up with Victorian-style, overflowing and disgusting toilet facilities as they plough the length and breadth of this sceptic isle from dawn to dusk. Brexit to blame BLAMING COVID-19 doesn’t cut it, Boris et al. The reason, as we all know, is the self-inflicted wound called Brexit. I wish the BBC would be brave enough to say it because it is the sad but inevitable truth. People laid off because of the pandemic have had to find other ways to support themselves and to survive. Wages are too low and there are lots of job vacancies, but the levels of poverty in a country that claims to be the fifth largest economy are positively Dickensian and there are approximately 2 million Brits suffering from ‘long COVID’.

Mackindergarten

Obviously pro-European I CAN’T write this without mentioning the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. Hard right now to hear about anything else for the celebrations of her Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years since she acceded to the throne. I have a great deal of respect for her, even though her dysfunctional family are a cause for concern. I have the feeling that Liz has always been pro-European and anti-Brexit. She can’t say it, but her choice of clothing sometimes suggests that to be the case. At the State Opening of the UK Parliament in 2017, for example, her blue hat festooned with yellow flowers looked to me like the European flag.

ADRIAN MACKINDER

Living Faith REVD SMITHA PRASADAM IN 3 ISSUES

A Dane Abroad KIRSTEN LOUISE PEDERSEN

Boris must go! BACK TO the tellers of untruths, commonly known as the Conservative Party. How much longer can they tolerate Johnson as PM? Are they worried about electing a new leader? Does anyone actually want to take over his job? The only ‘plan’ the Tories seem to have is to do everything they can to keep Johnson in office. The longer they dither, deviate and defend the indefensible Johnson, the worse Britain will become at home and in the eyes of the world.

Crazier than Christmas VIVIENNE MCKEE IN 4 ISSUES

Englishman in Nyhavn JACK GARDNER FLICKER/NUMBER 10

Mishra’s Mishmash MRUTYUANJAI MISHRA IN 5 ISSUES

Green Spotlight SIBYLLE DE VALENCE

Conrad the Contrarian CONRAD MOLDEN So until the day he tells Britain: "Smile, you're on Candy Camera"

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24 JUNE - 5 JULY 2022

KATERINA DELIGIANNI WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD Katerina is a visual artist/interior architect who came to Denmark a year ago to explore the north together with Wally, her dog. With a Greek heritage, Italian culture and universal vibes, she gets inspired by Mother Nature and human smiles, finding beauty in the details. Her dream would be being able to take pictures with her eyes to show you the world as she sees it. Find her at katerinadeligianni.com

BELIEVE greenhouses hold a sort of magic inside them and around them, so it was such a pleasure to discover their extended use at homes in Denmark. All shapes and sizes DESPITE their position in the garden next to the main building, greenhouses have their own charm, and it is always so interesting to see how people treat them. Some have wooden structures and others are made of aluminium, some are painted or rusted, some have clear glass and others have a patchwork of second-hand glass, wire or acrylic panels.

In some greeneries, there are meticulously placed shelves and wooden boards, and in others, a clutter of all sorts of pots layered one upon another. Some of them have a specially made floor of paving stones, bricks or wooden boards, and others sit abstractly on the soil. It’s worth asking: do greeneries tell us more than we think about someone’s character? Hives of activity TRADITIONALLY, greeneries serve as an extension to the garden for planting and growing vegetables, fruits and flowers, but occasionally

they can be also used to prepare oils, dry herbs or cook jams. But of course, they can be more than that. If greeneries protect from the harsh weather and provide ambient daylight at the same time, then how about doing some pottery inside by creating a small workshop? The daylight also helps with drawing: what better inspiration than being creative in the outdoors, surrounded by nature? Most of the time, greenhouses or glasshouses do not come with much comfort, but it is always interesting to see how people implement special figures like party lights, benches with cushions, candle lights, colourful windmill toys, baskets for gardening tools, hooks for clothing and more. And what if we had a much bigger greenhouse and we could build inside a fireplace or a stove? Wouldn’t it be lovely to transform our greenhouse into an outdoor dining area that could work all year round? Escaping to a magic land SINCE I’m a creative soul with a huge imagination, I’ve always thought greenhouses could be designed as a magical playroom for children, a meditation/yoga room or a quiet office space. You see, greenhouses work as an escape land outside the ordinary – as an extension to the basic everyday life tasks. The benefit of setting up a greenhouse in our backyard is not only having fresh, organic produce

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or our own compost. In addition, it provides time spent doing some physical exercise, a commitment to taking care of something that gives us a sense of stability, contact with the soil that keeps us grounded, and several forms of activities that give us an outlet of the daily routine. The magic within it is that it can be anything and everything at the same time without mingling with the rest of the house or the people living in it. It is a few square metres of a unique universe that can have different colours, unique art, decorations, symbols, unusual objects and a personalised touch. Making a green contribution AND LET'S not forget that a greenhouse is always a special sanctuary for bugs, butterflies and insects, and that a small fountain next to it can attract all sorts of birds and provide water to our precious bees. For all of you who have a greenhouse or are thinking of building one, I thank you for that. You are contributing to a form of nostalgia and innocence that tends to disappear in these days of extreme attachment to our cell phones and social media. And please, don’t forget the solar lights. There is nothing I enjoy more than walking with my dog late in the evening, passing by the shimmering lights within your gardens. It’s pure magic!

LIFESTYLE: EDUCATION THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

24 JUNE - 5 JULY 2022

GABRIELE VISCO

JENNIFER & JONATHAN BAUER ED TALK Jennifer and Jonathan Bauer are both teachers. Jennifer is from Chicago, and Jonathan is from New York. Jennifer has been teaching for 14 years and Jonathan for 11. They are parents and amateur Epicureans. Jennifer currently teaches privately. For more information, go to jennibauer.com.

HE IDEOLOGY of learning in one’s mother tongue is well-connected to the psychology and philosophy that language is tied to identity. When enabled to speak and learn in one’s own language while living in another country and learning the target language, school subjects and concepts are buttressed by learning in the language spoken at home while the target language (in this case, Danish) is learned in

everyday school. This is the goal of Copenhagen’s mother tongue school, Modersmålsskolen. 19th century trends NFS GRUNDTVIG, the Danish philosopher, educator and theologian, who is known for starting the first Danish folk high school, believed that Nordic language, history and culture should be at the forefront of education in Denmark.

This broke from the practice of learning Latin and Greek, which extended literacy to a limited number. Common people, during this time period, did not have access to education as we know it. But the influence of Grundtvig, the demands of industry, and concepts of freedom and democracy would allow room for everyday people to learn and appreciate their own culture and history. While some interpretations, which still resonate in today’s political climate, lean towards nationalism, the idea that one is free to learn in one’s own language should be the fruit plucked from this historical vine. The school MODERSMÅLSSKOLEN is a municipality school that is part of Tove Ditlevsens School in Vesterbro. It offers education in over 30 native languages, catering to approximately 2,300 students, divided into around 160 groups, with over 50 teachers. The school’s philosophy is grounded in Grundtvig-like principles in which students’ everyday learning is reinforced by supplementary learning in their own language. Modersmålsskolen acknowledges the importance of language identity and raising the

status of native languages to an equal footing with Danish. It aims to boost the self-esteem of students while reinforcing what they learn at their Danish schools. Socially, it allows students to find a common ground and express themselves in their native languages. Things to be aware of IN ORDER to be enrolled, one must attend day school where the learning language is Danish. Classes are available for residents of the municipality, but exceptions may be made for students outside of the municipality. Classes are free for EU citizens, but are available for a fee for families who are citizens of non-EU countries. So, Irish families go for free, but British families pay a fee (thanks, Brexit!) Furthermore, students have an opportunity to attend lessons in one language only. So, if English and Japanese are spoken at home, only classes offered in one of these languages may be attended. Modersmålsskolen classes are offered after school hours. Go to mms.aula.dk to find out more about the scheduling and languages offered, as well as much more.

JONATHAN BAUER

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24 JUNE - 5 JULY 2022

HELPLESS IN A DEPORTATION CENTRE, THE LAST RESORT IS HUNGER STRIKE FACEBOOK/ROSKILDE FESTIVAL

The will to protest outside Kærshovedgård is strong, but will anything change for Jahangir Eliasi and his fellow 'inmates'?

There’s the Denmark famed for its happiness and sustainability, and then there’s the country that doesn’t want to know if you don’t fit into its idea of everyone being the same SANDRA ABDELBAKI

EING AN agent of your own life is somewhat impossible when you are a rejected asylum-seeker residing at one of Denmark’s deportation centres. Your life is not your own but is rather subject to higher forces: from the security guards at the entrance of the deportation centre to the political authorities who decide your future. Going on a hunger strike remains one of the only forms of agency that you can have. While the nation feasted ON CHRISTMAS Eve of 2021, 31-year-old Jahangir Eliaisi went on a hunger strike to protest against his living conditions in Kærshovedgård, one of Denmark’s deportation centres. Eliasi is a Kurdish Iranian who sought refuge in Denmark back in 2015. After his residency got rejected, the Danish authorities sent him to a deportation centre, and for more than five years, Eliasi has been residing in this camp with little to no hope in sight of his application being reviewed. “I was silent for many years, but I was suffering. This suffering changed me and I no longer saw life as beautiful,” said Eliasi. According to a study conducted by Amnesty International Danish Medical Group, detention centers have a negative toll on the residents’ physical and mental health, often causing stress, PTSD and depression. This is also more true for residents who have previously experienced trauma and violence in their

lives and have turned to immigration to escape, only to be faced with another form of violence: their detention. Life without purpose AS THE years have passed, Eliaisi’s conditions have worsened to the extent he has been struggling to find value in his life. With each day that passes, his life loses more of its purpose – especially when he cannot see an end to his struggle. For 110 days, Eliasi cut out all solid foods, consuming only juice and coffee. As his health worsened, he has recently started eating food again, but was left struggling with health complications. “I spent the days of my hunger strike trembling because I was in so much pain. I cried under my blanket at night until the morning. I was alone, but I told everyone I was fine,” said Eliasi. A hopeless cause? WITH THE help of some networks, Eliasi was able to get in contact with a second lawyer and is currently waiting for the possibility of his case being reopened in the coming months. However, his case is similar to many other Iranians residing at the centre, and their prospects are not good. Out of the many rejected asylum-seekers from different countries at the camp, the majority of them belong to the Kurdish minority group from Iran, as their rejection rate is very high, according to a research report on Danish asylum-seekers. Additionally, there are no repatriation agreements between Iran and Denmark for the return of the rejected asylum-seekers, making the future of these individuals uncertain and pushing them into the unknown.

Tightened policies FOLLOWING the heightened Syrian immigration wave that Denmark witnessed in 2015, the government has decided to decrease the number of refugees and immigrants by tightening immigration policies. In 2020, the number of applications recorded was only 1,515 compared to over 21,000 applications in 2015. Only 601 applications were approved – the lowest number recorded in 30 years. The tightening policies have included many different measures such as doubling punishments, taking away resident permits and making departure centres less hospitable. Some of these measures fall under “motivation enhancement measures” and aim to motivate residents to go back to their home country. Opposed to immigration COMMENTING on Denmark’s immigration policies, Lotte Segal, a lecturer in social anthropology at the University of Edinburgh and researcher in migration and displacement, argues that these policies are put in order to stop asylum in Denmark in the long run. “It’s an attempt at masking the fact that Denmark sees itself as a relatively homogenous country that does not have a long history of dealing with heterogeneity and therefore frames itself as being at sea under the so-called pressure of immigration,” he explained. “A lot of social science research testifies to the fact that the cultural ethos and values in Scandinavian countries demonstrate that ‘in order to be equal, you have to be the same’. So, equality is associated with sameness. A large influx of people who do not qualify on the surface as being similar – whether due

to their skin colour, ethnicity, religion or their experiences – thereby become easy to reject by the Danish state due to a cultural idea of homogeneity as harmony.” Like prison SURROUNDED by metal fences and security guards, Kærshovedgård is a Danish detention centre situated close to Mid Jutland town of Ikast with poor infrastructure and transport connections. Rejected asylum-seekers, deported residents and those on tolerated stay are usually sent to this camp. Inside the camp, there are residential buildings that are divided among men, women and those who have committed crimes. The areas are equipped with video surveillance. “It is like going to prison in a democracy. It is similar to a prison sentence in the sense that all your movements are surveyed and you are not allowed to take part in everyday sociality without the carceral institution,” said Segal. Aids criminalisation OVER THE past years, the living conditions in the camp have worsened. A report on the motivation enhancement measures in Denmark argues that the political framework and day-to-day practices of deportation centres contributes to the criminalisation of the migrants. For instance, residents are expected to spend all their nights in the camp and are only allowed to leave with special permission to spend the night outside. Therefore, those who do not report their presence at the camp are punished with prison. Residents have no right to work and have limited access to activities and

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healthcare; they also do not have a food allowance and are therefore expected to eat at the centre’s cafeteria during certain times of the day. Additionally, the asylum cases of these residents are subject to bureaucracy as many residents have reported that their cases have been stalled, delayed, or sometimes even left unopened. In limbo “THE MAIN problem for these residents is that they can't go home in their view, and they can't get access to real life here or in other countries because of the Dublin regulations. They cannot just leave Denmark and apply for asylum in another European country. So, they are kind of stuck in place,” said Katrine Syppli Kohl, a researcher in migration studies. According to Kohl, many people at the departure centers leave and feed into the cycle of illegal paperless existence in Europe. “Some go to other European countries, and some others are probably underground in Denmark. This is also a miserable way of living because you tend to be exploited in the labour market, always afraid of being caught, and most probably not have access to healthcare and social benefits. So basically, they have to choose between a range of bad solutions,” concluded Kohl. The story of Jahangir’s hunger strike challenges the concept of democracy in Denmark: is democracy accessible and inclusive to all or are only certain groups entitled to it? Inside the fences of Denmark’s deportation centres, the light at the end of the tunnel keeps getting dimmer, and going on a hunger strike becomes the only way to rekindle it.

HISTORY THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

24 JUNE - 5 JULY 2022

TIVOLI’S MURKY PAST: RECKLESS SHOWMANSHIP AND KIDS IN CAGES

POLLY DAVIS

HEN TIVOLI opened for the first time in 1843, Copenhageners were able to leave behind their cramped and smelly city and step into a magical world of entertainment. A look back at Tivoli’s history reveals entertainment that seems hard to imagine today: from highly flammable hot air balloon rides to children exhibited in cages. Its highest ever ride THE MID-1800s was a time of innovation and adventure during which hot air ballooning captured the people’s imagination. In Copenhagen, Balloon Captain Lauritz Johansen used the Tivoli Gardens for his thrilling ascents. Accompanied by music from Tivoli’s orchestra, he would hang out of the basket and salute onlookers as the balloon lifted into the air. Sometimes he even attached fireworks to the basket, which he detonated once the balloon was airborne to the delight of the crowds below. In 1891, Tivoli took the enthusiasm for ballooning one step further and created a breathtaking ride for paying guests. Johansen took over as captain of the enormous hot air balloon ‘Montebello’. The balloon was tethered to the ground, but when the ropes were loosened, it would rise high above the city, giving guests a fantastic view. The height of the balloon’s ascent was dependent on the price of the ticket. For one crown you could reach 350 feet, or three times the height of the Round Tower, and for five crowns as high as 1,000 feet. Some 305 metres in the air, that’s an incredible four times higher than Tivoli’s current tallest ride: the Star Flyer carousel swing ride. 19th century cloud coms TO MAKE the ride even more exciting, one of the ropes that tethered the balloon to the ground contained a telephone cable. This let passengers make use of another novel invention from the time and make telephone calls from high in the sky so they could describe the fantastic experience. Balloon Captain Johansen also enjoyed delighting visitors who wanted to keep their feet on the ground. In 1900, the adventurous and theatrical airman bought the restaurant Grøften and made it the talk of the town. Today if you visit Grøften, you can still see its ballooning history in the form of lamps shaped as hot air balloons. Travel the world at Tivoli THE TURN of the last century was also the heyday of ethnographic exhibitions drawing attention to life in different parts of the world. In 1905 Tivoli held its great colonial exhibition displaying artefacts, houses and people from its

ALL HPTOS: KØBENHAVNS KOMMUNE

There has certainly been plenty of weirdness, to go alongside the wonderful events, at the gardens over the course of its nearly 180-year history

colonies: the Danish West Indies, Greenland, Iceland and the Faroe islands. Each colony had its own pavilion complete with human representatives who wore clothes from their culture, showed off their local handicrafts and acted as guides. The West Indian pavilion had a traditional palm tree hut complete with coconut trees, animals and three people from the West Indies: William Smith and two children Victor Cornelins and Alberta Viola Roberts. The families of the two children had agreed to their trip to Copenhagen in return for the children receiving an education. See the spitting child AT THE time of the exhibition, Victor was seven and Alberta was four. Then as now, Tivoli was a paradise for children with lots to see and do. Victor was particularly fascinated by the Greenlandic Pavilion. In fact, he spent so much time running off to be with the Greenlanders that the two children were put in a cage to keep them in the Danish West Indies pavilion. Understandably, Victor was not happy at his loss of freedom and would show his displeasure by spitting through the cage bars at passers-by. Crown Princess Louise was patron of the exhibition, and it drew a large crowd of over 100,000 people, including many government ministers and members of royalty. Although hugely popular, the exhibition was beset with problems. In particular, the Icelanders protested loudly as they considered themselves superior to the other groups and didn’t want their pavilion to show their country as a primitive culture. To smooth out these concerns, Denmark agreed to show items and exhibits from its own agricultural history. End of an era THE ICELANDERS’ protest was a sign of the changing times and Denmark’s numbered days as a colonial power. Just over a decade later, in 1917, the islands in the Danish West Indies were sold to the US and then, a year later, Iceland became an independent state. And what happened to Victor and Alberta following the exhibition? Sadly, Alberta died in her teens but Victor completed his schooling and teacher training. He ended up as a highly respected deputy headmaster of a school in Nakskov where he lived until his death in 1985.

Polly Davis was born in the UK and has lived in Denmark for over 20 years. When she is not researching stories to use on her guided tours of the city, she works as a freelance copywriter.

Soaring into the sky in 1904: nobody's been higher since

Fly me to the Moon: preparing for lift-off in 1891

Alberta and Victor in 1905 ... before they ended up in cages

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COMMUNITY THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

24 JUNE - 5 JULY 2022

ABOUT TOWN

PHOTOS BY HASSE FERROLD

Jens Stoltenberg, the Norwegian general-secretary of NATO, was a visitor to Denmark on May 19. He met with PM Mette Frederiksen, as well as Jeppe Kofod, the foreign minister, and Morten Bødskov, the defence minister. The War in Ukraine was top of the agenda

Former US President Barack Obama was a guest speaker at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit on June 10, an event organised by former Danish PM Anders Fogh Rasmussen. Obama took part in a panel debate

A great many ambassadors joined Ukrainian ambassador Mykhailo Vydoinyk (left with wife) on a solidarity bicycle ride on World Bike Day on June 3, which coincided with the 100-day anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The dignitaries gathered at the Ukrainian Embassy on Toldbodgade in the city centre, from where they cycled around 5 km to the Latvian Embassy on Rosbæksvej in Østerbro. Among those joining Vydoinyk were (left to right from centre left) Portuguese ambassador Jose Maria Cabral, Latvian ambassador Alda Vanaga, Dutch ambassador Rob Zaagman and Estonian ambassador Mart Laanemae

Georgia held a dual celebration at Sølyst in Klampenborg on June 14 to celebrate its national day and mark 30 years of diplomatic relations with Denmark. Georgian ambassador Nata Menabde (centre), pictured in national costume, welcomed a great many of her fellow members of the diplomatic corps, including the dean, Romanian ambassador Mihai-Alexandru Gradinar (right). The guest of honour on the occasion – which included speeches and Georgian cuisine – was the speaker of the Georgian Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili (left)

The Crown Prince Couple’s family were out in force for the Royal Run in Copenhagen on June 6. Prince Christian took home the bragging rights after finishing ahead of ‘Dad’ and younger brother Vincent. Nationwide, a record 92,000+ people took part

TV personality Mascha Vang was among those satisfying their need for speed at the Danish premiere of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ at Imperial Cinema on May 24. She was joined by Troels Dehli, a bonafide Danish fighter pilot

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24 JUNE - 5 JULY 2022

ELEMENTARY, NOBODY DOES IT BETTER: BRITS CELEBRATE QUEEN’S PLATINUM JUBILEE A spoonful or two of magnificence at tea parties and banquets across Copenhagen HASSE FERROLD Wasn't that a dainty dish to set before the guests of the British Embassy on June 9, who assembled to celebrate the ‘Platinum Jubilee’ of Queen Elizabeth II of Britain. True, France’s Louis XIV, the Sun King, still holds the record for being the longest-serving monarch in history, but he was four when he took the mantle. Lilibet was 25! Only four monarchs have celebrated a Platinum before, so it was a no-brainer for British establishments in Copenhagen to mark the big day in style. From tea parties to banquets, the lips were rarely dry among the feverous toasting to her majesty.

When they sing “long to reign over us” in the British National Anthem, they aren’t kidding

Among the guests at the British Embassy Tea Party to not only mark the Platinum Jubilee, but also the Golden Jubilee of Queen Margrethe II, were: (left) British Chamber of Commerce in Denmark president Gareth Garvey and chair Klaus Søgaard, pictured here being greeted by British ambassador Emma Hopkins; (centre) a host of dignitaries, including Indian ambassador Pooja Kapur (second right), and members of the Anglophone community, including several teachers from Copenhagen International School; and (right) none other than British fiction’s most popular characters – James Bond, Sherlock Holmes and Mary Poppins – pictured here with South African ambassador Fikile Magubane

A week later it was the turn of the participants in the UK Embassy’s ‘Ambassador for a Day’ mentorship initiative to take over its lawns. Among the ambassadors taking part were Moroccan ambassador Khaija Rouissi (centre) and, of course, Hopkins (right)

Meanwhile, at the Hotel D’Angleterre on June 10, the Royal Society of St George held a lavish banquet to mark the jubilee. Enjoying themselves at the top table were (left: left to right) British ambassador Emma Hopkins, Royal Society of St.George president Simon Mears, St Andrew’s Society president Kaj Larssen (standing), Princess Eleonore-Christine of Schaumburg-Lippe and British Chamber of Commerce in Denmark president Gareth Garvey. Among those providing the entertainment (right) was one half of Denmark’s 2000 Eurovision winning duo, Jørgen Olsen, who later found time to take a picture with Canadian ambassador Denis Robert. The evening began in the Louis XVI room – a nod surely to the inevitable moment when Elizabeth overtakes his ancestor as the world’s longest reigning monarch

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EVENTS THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

24 JUNE - 5 JULY 2022

Roskilde Festival

Science and Cocktails

The Rört Festival

June 25-July 2; Roskilde Station and follow the crowds; festival pass 2,250kr, one-day tickets 1,100 kr, all sold out; roskilde-festival.dk Art, music and activism are the three main pillars of the Roskilde Festival. For its 50th edition, the festival will feature more than 290 artists from different parts of the world including stars such as Dua Lipa, Megan Thee Stallion, Baby Keem and Anitta. In addition to the music, the festival will host artistic events and activists tackling topics such as anti-racism, LBGT rights, freedom of expression and climate change. Again it’s sold out, but check internet forums for tickets!

June 28; Koncertsalen, DR Koncerthuset, Ørestads Boulevard 13, Cph S; 145-195kr, drkoncerthuset.dk Join Nobel Prize-winning physicist Frank Wilczek for ‘What Physical Reality Has Taught Me.’ Accompanied by the Danish jazz trio Hess/AC/Hess Spacelab, Wilczek will show how the scientific exploration of the physical world has come to touch on issues once confined to the realm of philosophy and, in some cases, theology. While Wilczek unravels the mysteries of the universe – discussing the concepts he calls cosmic humility, cosmic chutzpah and complementarity – you will be drinking one (or more) of the many original cocktails on the menu. (JP)

July 1-3; Rört, Vermundsgade 13, Cph N; tickets: from 1,495kr; rort.dk This alcohol and drug-free weekend is all about movement, community and meditation. In addition to talks and concerts, there will be more than 30 two-hour, English-language workshops in disciplines like yoga, dance, parkour, massage, acroyoga, play fighting and meditation. (JP)

TinderBox Festival

Opera Tours in English

Kløften Festival /3hrs

June 25-26 & July 6, 12:00; Ekvipagemestervej 10, Cph K; 135kr, under-12s 60kr, kglteater.dk Discover the Opera's beautiful foyer with its clean lines, Olafur Eliasson's light sculptures, and views over Copenhagen Harbour that embrace the shiny maple shell around the Main Stage. There is also a weekly tour of Gamle Scene on Saturdays at 11:00. (AD)

June 23-25; Gasværksvej, Haderslev; festival pass: 1,300kr, one-day tickets: 600-700kr; kloften.dk Kløften Festival is held in a park in the middle of Haderslev town, generating fun and energetic vibes from a diverse music line-up encompassing rock, pop and a genre that is best described as summer music.

Nibe Festival

June 29-July 2; Nibe, Bork Havn; festival pass: 2,005kr, one-day tickets: 785kr; nibefestival.dk Head to the scenic Sklaskoven in Nibe to indulge yourself in a cosy atmosphere. Headliners include Carly Rae Jepsen, Tom Jones and the Black Eyed Peas. When you’re not jiving to the music, enjoy the beautiful nature and nearby cool communities. Globe Quiz

June 30, 19:15; Globe Irish Pub, Nørregade 43-45, Cph K; 50 kroner per person to enter Game night’s on at this pub on Nørregade! The winners will be awarded 1,200 kroner, and there are plenty of spot prizes too. (MB)

June 23-25; Tusindårsskoven, Odense; festival pass: 2,345kr, one-day tickets 1,195; tinderbox.dk TinderBox Festival will again feature many acclaimed international artists this year, such as Imagine Dragons, Kashmir and Stormzy, while offering a fun site with an electronic stage, a ferris wheel, and a groove box. In collaboration with Odense Municipality, the festival will present Forum 2022, a new annual climate conference to discuss green initiatives and sustainable development. Copenhagen ROSÉ Festival

July 5, 19:00; Søndre Fasanvej 24, Frederiksberg; entry 30kr Maximum of four per team, it’s 1,000 kroner for the winners and a crate of beer for second. Two beer rounds, and shots for last place!

June 24 & 25; The Plant, Raffinaderivej 22, Cph S; 359kr; copenhagenrosefestival.dk This annual wine festival was created to kick off the summer in style. Explore more than 100 different wines from around the world and meet some of Denmark's best retailers and importers of rosé. A ticket comes with a two-hour session and 10 optional tastings, as well as entry into a prize draw for an exclusive rosé package. (JP)

Sand Sculpture Festival

Sound ‘N’ Sauna

ongoing, ends Aug 31, daily from 10:00; Kajgaden 7, Hundested; sandskulptur.dk Local and international sand sculptors, including several world champions, will display their biodegradable masterworks.

June 26, 10:00-16:00; Vestbad, Nykær 26, Brøndby; 310kr; justsaunda.dk A steaming sauna, cold drinks and good music are what this event is all about. Come visit Vestbadet's atmospheric wellness facilities and enjoy four hours of selfcare, including two hours of sauna access and two hours to enjoy the jacuzzi and hot water pool. You’ll also have the chance to take a dip in the ocean, enjoy a full-service bar and chill in lounge tents while DJs spin some deep house tracks. (JP)

Gravens Rand Quiz

Kennedy’s Quiz

July 4, 19:30; Kennedy’s Irish Bar,Gammel Kongevej 23, Cph V Quiz night at Kennedy’s Irish Bar includes raffles, cash prizes, and drinks rounds.

CPH Garden 2022

June 30-July 3; Marbækstien, Ballerup; tickets: from 200kr; cphgarden.dk Stop and smell the roses at Denmark’s largest garden show. Visitors will have the chance to stroll through eight unique show gardens skilfully designed and cultivated by teams of handpicked gardeners, as well as enjoy access to over 100 different lectures on topics like biodiversity, landscape design and kitchen gardening. A ticket comes with free admission to all lectures. (JP) Art Nordic

June 24-26; Lokomotivværkstede , OBV 037, Otto Busses Vej 5A, Cph V; tickets: from 85kr; art-nordic.dk Interact with and see the work of over 200 artists coming to Copenhagen for Scandinavia’s largest art fair. Now in its eighth year, local and international visitors alike will have the opportunity to experience and purchase contemporary art across a diverse array of media, including photography, painting and sculpture. (JP) The Spanish Garden

ends July 2, open June 23 & 30, 18:0020:00, June 25 & July 2, 12:00-16:00; Peltier Gallery, Amager Boulevard 126, Cph S; free adm These paintings are inspired by Danish artist Maria Dubin’s visit to the Danish Valparaiso Foundation in Mojacar, Spain last autumn: a 7,000 km drive in her little green car.

Journey Into Sound Festival

June 24-26; Brønshøj Vandtårn, Brønshøjvej 29, Brønshøj; tickets: from 120kr; kulturn.kk.dk A blend of music, meditation and spirituality, the Journey Into Sound Festival offers its guests the opportunity to “explore different sounds with different intentions – from meditative & ceremonial to colorfully creative & adventurous expressions”. Take part in relaxation sessions accompanied by the sounds of the gong, or attend performances by Sounding Society, a world music quintet, and Lots of Double Basses, an improvisational orchestra with – you guessed it – lots of double basses. (JP) Vintage Garden Party

June 26, from 11:00; Tivoli, Cph V; entry included with admission to Tivoli Put on your most stylish vintage outfit and enjoy a day of swing music and picnic fun in Tivoli Gardens. It’s not a costume party, and the event does not seek to recreate a particular era; it’s a chance for you to pay tribute to the past in your own way – whatever vintage means to you! DJ Per Rock will be playing the swing and jazz of a bygone era, and you can bring your own picnic basket and blanket to relax in the sun. (JP) Streetfoodfestivalen Malmö

July 1 & 2; Posthusplatsen, Malmö For the price of a quick trip across the Øresund, this festival – which will also be held later in the year in Gothenburg and Stockholm – offers those living in Copenhagen the opportunity to experience beer, wine, music and, of course, a veritable smorgasbord of the Malmö’s best street food. (JP)

latin american film festival

films - talks - music - parties 1-30 june Visit Latin American Film Festival 2022 in Cinemateket in June! The ﬁlms have English subtitles and many of the talks are in English as well.

See what’s on at cinemateket.dk or visit us in Gothersgade 55. DANISH NEWS IN ENGLISH | CPHPOST.DK

ENGLISH JOB DENMARK Recruitment Announcements VISUAL MERCHANDISING TOOLS SPECIALIST, PANDORA Are you a passionate and creative individual, keen to pursue a career in Visual Merchanding with one of the world’s largest jewellry brands?... If so, this could be the role for you! Location: Copenhagen Deadline: 3 July 2022 Contact: careers.pandoragroup.com

JUNIOR DIGITAL MARKETING SPECIALIST (EUROPE), NILFISK Do you want to be part of an international digital marketing team? Do you have a passion for digital marketing and content creation? Location: Brøndby Deadline: ASAP Contact: Christian Kiær Sønderbæk, +45 40 70 06 93

IT STUDENT WORKER FOR R&D AND GLOBAL QUALITY APPLICATIONS, ALK Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to develop your IT skills as part of your education in an international pharmaceuticals company full of dedicated people who are passionate about driving an ambitious growth agenda to fulfil the aspiration of becoming a true global allergy leader? Location: Hørsholm Deadline: 1 July 2022 Contact: Jing Zhou Tolstrup, Manager, R&D and Global Quality Applications, jztdk@alk.net

To advertise your vacancy here and reach 60,000+ readers weekly, contact: info@englishjobdenmark.dk or call 60 70 22 98. For more information about what we can offer: https://englishjobdenmark.dk/

ENGLISH JOB DENMARK

STUDENT ASSISTANT C&BINTERNATIONAL MOBILITY, TOTAL ENERGIES DENMARK Would you like to kick-off your career in Compensations and Benefits-HR area supporting our dynamic International Mobility department?

Location: Copenhagen Deadline: ASAP Contact: María José Holmegaard Sánchez, Mobility Lead, +45 30 24 23 44

IDENTITY MANAGEMENT EXPERT/ARCHITECT, MAN ENERGY SOLUTIONS You will be the architect of our Identity lifecycle management solution Location: Copenhagen Deadline: 10 July 2022 Contact: Peter Heuchert, Manager, +49 160 972 171 81

GLOBAL PROJECT ADMINISTRATOR FOR OUR PROJECT DEPARTMENT, ISS FACILITY SERVICES A/S You will effectively implement financial, commercial, administrative, reporting and coordination elements of the team, and you will work in close cooperation with the whole team.

Location: Søborg Deadline: 15 July 2022 Contact: Lindsey Walker, Global Head of Projects, Lindsey.Walker@dk.issworld.com

MULTILINGUAL CUSTOMER CARE AGENT, LIFE CARE EUROPE APS Your primary tasks will be to help and guide our customers by phone and email along with collaborating across teams to solve adhoc tasks. Fluency needed in at least 2 of the following: English/Italian/Spanish or French. Location: Copenhagen Deadline: ASAP Contact: roberto@lefeurope.com

MATERIALS ENGINEER, SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWEABLE ENERGY Your primary area of responsibility will be within failure analysis of metals, spiced with various challenges within metallurgy, composites, polymers, failure analysis of electronics and other interesting challenges related to our wind turbine busines Location: Lyngby Deadline: ASAP Contact: Kasper Bondo, Hiring Manager, +45 42 44 19 83

FLOOR MANAGER TO NEXT HOUSE, ARP-HANSEN HOTEL GROUP What’s Next? - join the team of Copenhagen’s largest luxury hostel. We are looking for our next Floor Manager. Location: Copenhagen Deadline: 1 August 2022 Contact: Rikke Frederiksen, Front of House Manager, r.frederiksen@ nexthousecopenhagen.com

SOCIAL MEDIA AND CONTENT MANAGER, MATAS BEAUTY You will play a key role in promoting the Matas Beauty brand and private labels outside of Denmark. Location: Allerød Deadline: ASAP Contact: Angela Klinger, Brand Manager, +45 26 23 87 14

We support international: Students, Graduates, Spouses, Professional Job Seekers & Career Changers through an online community, workshops, events and 1:1 coaching. Find out more at: englishjobdenmark.dk/

English Job Denmark started in 2019, in response to how challenging and unforgiving the employment market can be for foreigners. The team had firsthand experience and wanted to share their knowledge in successfully finding a job in some of the top organizations in Denmark.

Exhibition 12.02 – 04.09.2022

A Space Saga The Future of Space Architecture

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