CPH Post Newspaper 3-30 September 2021

EDUCATION

REVIEW

As well as our round-up of options on the journey from nursery to night school, we also have news of Efterskole Day and a new kid on the block

An army of volunteers, a sea of athletes and tons of visitors over 11 days of non-stop action – Copenhagen 2021 will not be forgotten in a hurry

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VIET NAM OF UBLIC

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REP IALIST N THE SOC BETWEE MARK DAY OF RELATIONS OF DEN DENCE TIC KINGDOM INDEPEN OF DIPLOMA Y AND THE OF THE SARY IVERSAR VIET NAM ANNIVER 50TH ANN UBLIC OF 76TH REP IALIST THE SOC

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How EU-Vietnam free trade and investment protection agreements have yielded new opportunities for Danish enterprises in the Southeast Asian nation

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S PAULSSO

PIXABAY

ANDREA N

DANISH NEWS IN ENGLISH CPHPOST.DK VOL 24 ISSUE 09 3 - 30 September 2021

LOCAL

Eyes on high office Mayor candidate wants to offer cannabis like Sweden sells its alcohol

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SCIENCE Proof we love dogs more than cats ... but not that much

7 BUSINESS

Footprints tell a story Meat producer accused of using uni to cook its climate data

KABUL AND KAPUT

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Students cut off mid-degree BEN HAMILTON

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SPECIAL FEATURE Looking back with pride on 75 years since India’s foundation

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HISTORY

Lost in Madeira Did Danish sailors really save the island’s wine industry?

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PROTEST against the government’s plans to shut down many English-language courses will be held outside Børsen in Copenhagen on October 8 at 16:00.

According to the organiser, the Facebook group ‘We Need To Complete Our Studies’, the decision to end many courses does not only affect international students interested in coming to Denmark to study, but also many currently here – particularly those at business academies.

Incomplete studies IN ORDER to obtain a bachelor’s in many of the subjects under threat, explains protest organiser Feli Martinez, students have to reapply halfway through

their studies – a formality if they have met the standards required.

Specifically, they must reapply after completing their Academy Profession (AP) degree program, which provides students with a professional qualification.

However, this is not enough to get a job in most cases, contends Martinez.

Qualification is useless “THE PLAN of most students is to apply for the 'Top-Up Degree' which takes one and a half years. When you are done with the top-up, you receive your bachelor,” Martinez told CPH POST. “So in lots of cases we won’t be able to get the bachelor. Having just an AP degree is useless for what the professional market requires in every part of the world.”

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Safer than most!

Crop top rebellion

COPENHAGEN has been heralded as the safest city in the world after topping the 2021 Safe Cities Index, even though only 60 were assessed. It placed in the top five in three of five pillars: personal, infrastructure and digital. Completing the top five were Toronto, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo. Reykjavik is generally regarded as the world’s safest city.

FIREHØJESKOLEN in Vejle has banned students from wearing crop tops, sparking off protests that the ruling is sexist against girls. In solidarity, #MeToo pioneer Sofie Linde and her husband posted photos on social media of themselves exposing their stomachs, while Nationalmuseet pointed out that the Egtved Girl also wore one.

Top for singletons

Tornado central

COPENHAGEN has been rated as the 14th best city in Europe for singles. Big 7 Travel assessed datas such as the usage of apps like Tinder (for which the Danish capital ranked 16th) and Badoo and the population percentage of singletons per capita. Stockholm topped the list with Madrid, Oslo, London and Berlin completing the top five.

DENMARK has again been hit by a tornado – for the third successive year. On August 15, two were sighted. One caused damage on Møn in southern Denmark, while another was caught on camera on nearby Lolland. Last year, a tornado hit Albertslund in the Capital Region, and in 2019 one was sighted in Aabenraa just north of the German border.

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LOCAL

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

Mayor candidate eyes legal cannabis

ONLINE THIS WEEK FÆLLEDBY, the construction firm in charge of the contentious plan to develop part of Amager Fælled, has confirmed it is downing tools. It follows yet another victory by Amager Fælleds Venner, which has raised the necessary 2 million kroner required to legally halt the development. The group is confident of seeing off the bid – in a EU court if necessary.

Hotel bookings jump OVERNIGHT stays at hotels and holiday centres in Copenhagen increased by 125 percent in June compared to the same month last year. However, there were 520,000 fewer overnight stays than two years ago – a decrease of 68 percent. Nationwide, the figure was a little less dramatic at 27 percent below pre-COVID levels.

Cemetery closing in

MARIESA BRAHMS

S

OCIALDEMOKRATIET mayoral candidate Sophie Hæstorp Andersen, the outgoing chair of the Capital Region, has big plans concerning the decriminalisation of cannabis.

Should she win in November, she will take on "the fight against criminality and uncertainty", according to her Facebook profile, as she wants cannabis sales to be legal and regulated – not just in Copenhagen, but across Denmark.

Adopting an approach similar to Sweden’s Systembolagetof system, which governs how peo-

A RABBIT disease is moving fast across the capital region from Albertslund. The rabbits tend to die within 48-72 hours if not treated.

Historic toilets to close THE HISTORIC toilet cellar at Kongens Have will be closed after various parties could not agree on who should pay for the renovations. Nine new public toilets are planned along Gothersgade.

End of Pusher Street?

FOLLOWING a shooting in July in which a 22-year-old was killed in Christiania – the latest in a long line of violent incidents linked to the cannabis market on Pusher Street – there has been a clamour of voices, led by local group 'Enough is Enough', demanding the end of illegal drug deals within the free state.

Around 300 Christiania res-

Sown, grown, now in your home?

idents attended a historically large meeting on August 15 to discuss how to remove the market. But despite the turnout, no new ground was made.

Christiania operates under the principle of a vote needing to be unanimous. Furthermore, a quarter of those who oppose the cannabis trade do so anonymously for fear of reprisals from gangs.

A survey conducted by DR in 2017 found that 53 percent of Danes were pro-legalisation.

Snow storm: Prepare to be piste off Copenhill under threat of closure due to concerns over its safety and the possibility its insurance won’t cover the repair costs LENA HUNTER

Rabbit disease

ple buy drinks with a more than moderate alcohol content, Andersen proposes a governmental monopoly should be established around cannabis sales.

Historically, every single one of Copenhagen's mayors has been a Socialdemokratiet – a stretch going back to 1938.

However, this year's contest is hotting up to be the closest ever.

U

NEXPECTED wear and tear on Amager Bakke's ski surface could force the famous slope, designed by architecture firm Bjarke Ingels Group, to shut down due to safety concerns.

Amager Bakke Foundation reportedly needs 9.5 million kroner to repair the slope. Either insurer Tryg coughs up, or its five owner municipalities

KALLERNA

FREDERIKSBERG Municipality plans to reduce the size of Solbjerg Park Cemetery to create more parkland near Copenhagen Zoo. Part of its distinctive 150-year-old red brick wall will need to be moved.

Sophie Hæstorp Andersen’s election pledge is a welcome boost to the efforts of Christianites keen to close down Pusher Street

• PXFUEL

Construction ceased

Editorial offices: Holbergsgade 24 kld 1057 Copenhagen Denmark

3 - 30 September 2021

(Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Tårnby, Dragør and Hvidovre) provide a grant (on top of the 50.1 million kroner they have already been spent).

However, ski slope operator Copenhill insists there are no plans to close.

Could end up in limbo TRYG HAS already disputed the 9.5 million kroner claim, and there will be no arbitration decision until 2024, which could leave the ski slope in limbo.

“There is no agreement between the parties on the cause of damage and ultimate liability.

Tryg has rejected the notification

Founded in 1998

by San Shepherd All rights reserved Published by cphpost.dk ApS. Printed by Dansk Avistryk A/S

ONLINE THIS WEEK

Distortion changes name DISTORTION has changed its name to Distortion X to distance itself from the huge crowds that have wreaked havoc on Nørrebro and Vesterbro over the last decade. A decade ago, their early June street parties rose from 10,000 to 100,000 in the space of two years, and ever since then Distortion has been under pressure to regulate the noise and pollution they produce. In the future, the parties will be held in zones. When you behave like an animal, you are put in a cage,” explained Distortion organiser Thomas Fleurquin.

Discrimination rise MORE COPENHAGENERS are experiencing workplace discrimination on the grounds of their gender, ethnicity, religion or sexuality than ever before, according to Copenhagen Municipality Survey of 3,433 people aged 18-29. More than a quarter reported discrimination in the past year, of which 42 percent said it took place at work. In 2019, the figure was 34 percent.

Something rotten …

Downhill venture?

of the damage,” wrote the Amager Bakke Foundation in June.

Another potential spanner-inthe-works is the risk that temporary closure may lead to claims from Copenhill for lost earnings.

THE OPENING day of Copenhagen 2021, arguably the largest event to be organised in Denmark this century, was plagued by a rotting stench in the air. People were initially checking their shoes and their babies’ nappies, but after some investigation it was concluded the source was fertiliser in Amager, the aptly-named ‘Shit Island’.

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THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

3 - 30 September 2021

Forgotten in the retreat from Afghanistan, but not by the Taliban

LENA HUNTER

D

ENMARK has completed its evacuation of Danish delegation staff in Afghanistan. As of the morning of August 27, 988 people have been extracted.

“All local employees at the Danish embassy, both current and those who have worked for us within two years, and their families, who have accepted the offer of evacuation, are now in Denmark,” the foreign minister, Jeppe Kofod, has confirmed.

But soon after, Kofod stated that 40 people from Danskerlisten (legal residents of Denmark) remained in Afghanistan and the government is reportedly still working on extracting a total of 83 people from Kabul. The Foreign Ministry cautioned on August 27 that the process is extraordinarily difficult.

No man left behind?

ACCORDING to Venstre’s foreign affairs spokesman, Michael Aastrup Jensen, the evacuation agreement left no Danish employee in Afghanistan in the lurch.

“The model guarantees the safety of local employees, and thus delivers on the moral responsibility we have towards those who help us,” he said, according to TV2.

But the government’s ‘no man left behind’ mentality came with the caveat that evacuees must have worked for the embassy within the past two years … meaning many previous embassy employees were, in fact, left in the lurch.

But it’s not just the embassy. Employees at other Danish organisations in Afghanistan, many of whom consider their lives at risk, are desperately seeking support and facing silence.

Cost of the cartoons SPEAKING to CPH POST on

condition of anonymity, an aid worker for Danish humanitarian organisation Mission East in Afghanistan, described the acute danger the lack of support from the Danish government had left him and his family in.

“I joined and helped to establish Mission East after the fall of the Taliban in 2001. I maintained close contact with all our stakeholders including government officials, communities, opposition groups in the field and other organizations to ensure we delivered our programs safely and protected our staff from any potential hazards,” he said.

“However, after the release of the Prophet Mohammad Cartoon photo, Mission East’s reputation as impartial was damaged in the communities where I was able to reinforce our mandate and identity as a humanitarian organisation.”

Kidnapping of aid workers THE AID worker had no doubt his life is in peril.

“The Taliban released a direct statement against Denmark and all Danish organisations in Afghanistan. It led to the kidnapping of staff in northern Takhar, for example, whose release was only made possible thanks to the intervention of influential local people,” he continued.

“Now that the Taliban are in full power in Afghanistan, they have again voiced a direct threat to Danish organisations, including Mission East and me, specifically, as the face of Mission East [in my region]. Official documents linking me to the organisation registration and additional records at a provincial level have put my family and I at great risk.”

Unacknowledged work THE AID worker has had no choice but to move back to the lion’s den: Kabul itself.

“I have now moved to Kabul to remain invisible and am living in great fear and uncertainty. I have sent an appeal to Mission East, which was forwarded to the Dan-

FLICKR/DEFENCE

The curtain has come down on official evacuations from Kabul.

Speaking anonymously for fear of reprisals, the Afghan employees of Danish organisations share their stories of being left behind

ish authorities, to seek evacuation support. It was disappointing that no answer at all was heard back from them,” he explained.

“I have implemented Danish projects in Afghanistan for the last 20 years. The Danish government has not even acknowledged my situation. I fear for myself and my family.”

Stringent evacuation eligibility DENMARK has turned a blind eye to the appeals of many ex-employees, citing seemingly arbitrary eligibility criteria. On condition of anonymity, the relative of an ex-embassy employee relayed his experience.

“My brother worked for the Danish Embassy in Kabul from 2008-2012. He asked the Danish embassy for assistance on August 15 and he was not just rejected, but got no help of any kind,” he said.

“I read that local staff got help and were evacuated. That is not the whole picture. He is left behind with no help from Denmark while other countries have helped all those who have worked for them.”

Responding to questions about eligibility, Kofod explained: “Afghans who worked for Denmark more than two years ago can seek help via the existing interpreting agreement if they are specifically threatened.”

However, that window is now closed, as the Defence Ministry accepted its final applications on August 21.

Denmark’s policy compared COMPARED to other countries, Denmark’s eligibility criteria is indeed a little tight.

The UK promised to consider relocating all local Afghan embassy staff since 2006 under the Locally Employed Staff Ex-Gratia Scheme if they “face regular danger from threats, including insurgent forces and improvised explosive device attacks”.

Spain, in an exemplary move, has set up a reception camp in Madrid with a capacity of 800 for evacuated Afghan EU Delegation staff.

What future can these children expect?

EU President von der Leyen, during her visit to the Spanish ‘welcome hub’, praised Spanish PM Sánchez and the initiative.

“Spain has shown humanity and Spain has proven a great sense of solidarity. So Spain is an example of the European soul at its best, and I really want to thank you,” she said.

The EU’s first flight of Afghan evacuees, which arrived at Madrid’s Torrejón airbase on August 26 with 36 people on board, will eventually be settled in Denmark, Germany, Poland and Lithuania, according to Spanish officials.

By comparison, Denmark could be doing more.

Time to step up THERE’S still time for Denmark to take a proactive stance regarding its acceptance of Afghan refugees. Human Rights Watch recommended that European states should “revisit all asylum rejections affecting Afghans and provide them temporary legal status”.

However, when Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was asked several times whether Denmark would accept Afghan refugees at a press conference on August 18, she refused to answer.

“I would like to appeal to us to take things in the right order, and right now our people in Afghan-

istan are in an extremely difficult situation, and that is what we are focusing on,” she said.

Hesitant to talk numbers VENSTRE’S political spokesman Andreas Steenberg was similarly non-committal: “Of course we have to help, but it is too early to put numbers on it yet. We do not know how many refugees are coming.”

Mai Villadsen of Enhedslisten also voiced support, suggesting that 2,000 refugees, based on Denmark’s population, should be accepted. “Right now we are in a desperate situation without much overview, and it is important that resourceful countries step up,” she said.

Karsten Hønge, a spokesperson for Socialistisk Folkeparti, contended that “Denmark has an unconditional extra responsibility. For 20 years we have participated in a completely hopeless war.”

While no concrete promises have been made, the Danish government has donated 100 million kroner to the Red Cross and the UN “to alleviate the crisis in Afghanistan”.

The next few weeks will be decisive in terms of the rhetoric in Europe concerning Afghan refugees. Now is a key moment for Denmark to outline a strong humanitarian stance.

POLITICS

3 - 30 September 2021

ONLINE THIS WEEK

RADIKALE MP Kristian Hegaard, a 30-year-old wheelchair user elected to Parliament in 2019, is stepping down from politics. He explained on Facebook that excessive drinking at a party had left him with no memory of what happened at the event. “I have violated the values ​​I stand for,” he said.

Failures in Afghanistan DENMARK’S former PM Anders Fogh Rasmussen sees three fundamental mistakes in how the situation in Afghanistan was tackled not only by the US, but also by Denmark. He told TV2 that Donald Trump should have never met the Taliban because it legitimised them. Secondly, Joe Biden should not have committed to an exact deadline to leave the country. And finally, no proper consideration was given to an evacuation plan by any of the involved countries.

High hopes for proposals TWO CITIZENS' proposals – to introduce a more humane refugee policy, and to alter hate crime legislation – will now be considered by the parliamentary parties after gaining the necessary 50,000 signatures. If approved, they will be presented to MPs for a first reading and then referred to one of Parliament’s committees, which could lead to ministerial consultation, followed by a second and final reading, after which MPs will decisively vote.

NEWS ØRESUND/JOHAN WESSMAN

MP in wheelchair quits

DF deputy appeals against guilty verdict Morten Messerschmidt avoids prison, but is still keen to clear his name of wrong-doing LENA HUNTER

D

ANSK FOLKEPARTI deputy chair Morten Messerschmidt was quick to appeal after being handed a six-month suspended sentence for fraud and forgery in connection with his chairing of the Meld organisation.

At Lyngby Court, the jury was unanimous with its verdict.

The prosecution had demanded a six-month custodial sentence.

The investigation had been ongoing since 2015, both in the EU and more recently by the Bagmandspolitiet in Denmark.

What’s Meld? What’s Feld?

THE ‘MELD og Feld’ case concerns the use of public funds by the EU alliance ‘Movement for a Europe of Liberties and Democracy’ (MELD) and its affiliate fund Feld, whose task was to “contribute to the European political debate”. Meld brought together Eurosceptic groups from across the EU – including DF – under one united party front.

Suspicion was sparked in October 2015 when EU parliamentarian Rikke Karlsson from DF resigned in protest at a disagreement with Messerschmidt, her colleague at the time, over the opaque use of Meld og Feld funds in the EU. The European Parliament

Nobody had partied this hard since Caligula in AD37

responded with an external audit of Meld and Feld’s finances, which concluded that DF owed 2.9 million kroner to the EU. It appeared that while Messerschmidt had been helming Meld, public EU funds had been illegally spent on national election campaigns in Denmark.

ments had indeed taken place.

The case was handed over to the Danish Bagmandspoliti – the Public Prosecutor for Special Economic and International Crime (SØIK). As the SØIK investigation got underway, the media went quiet. An update was promised in the first half of 2021.

More controversy IN AUGUST 2016, when DF paid back 1.6 million kroner, original whistleblower Karlsson reported Messerschmidt for identity theft. Her accusation that he misused her personal data on documents for Meld og Feld in 2014 led to Messerschmidt’s acknowledgement of his failings and ultimate resignation as chair.

Two months later, DR and Ekstra Bladet reported that from 2014 to 2015 DF illegally spent 200,000 kroner of EU support on the party’s summer group meetings. This prompted the EU anti-fraud unit, OLAF, to start asking questions, and Messerschmidt to take indefinite sick leave due to stress.

In October 2019, OLAF concluded its investigation and determined that unjustified pay-

What’s happening now?

IN COURT, the evidence was damning.

A series of politicians were called to the witness stand to, amongst other things, verify potentially forged signatures and falsified documents.

Antonio Gambetta Vianna of the Italian party Liga Nord, when presented with a document he had allegedly signed but which is suspected to be a forgery, responded “that’s not my signature”.

Earlier in the case, Romanian Meld member Cristian Radulescu also claimed that he did not recognise his signature on the party registration form.

Both Rikke Karlsson and Jørn Dohrmann testified they were registered without their knowledge. Messerschmidt is accused of orchestrating all these forgeries.

ONLINE THIS WEEK

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Konservative bins Khader FOLLOWING a sexual misconduct investigation led by an independent team of lawyers, MP Naser Khader has been kicked out of the Konservative party. Party head Søren Pape Poulsen revealed that the investigation included seven women and 17 witnesses.

The party group in Parliament unanimously supported Khader’s exclusion. “I’m convinced that none of the cases would hold up in court – time will show,” a “shocked” Khader said on Facebook.

Tightened tech rules THE GOVERNMENT has formulated 35 initiatives to tighten the rules concerning tech giants and social media usage. The Ministry of Trade and Industry chiefly wants to tackle unfair competition and the lack of consumer security in the arena, whilst strengthening the digital education of children and young people. Of huge concern is the sharing of illegal content like revenge porn and fake news.

Minister ran out of steam JOY MOGENSEN, the 41-yearold minister for culture and church affairs, has stepped down, signalling her intention to leave politics altogether, because she has run out of steam. The mayor of Roskilde from 2011-19 found national politics a harder nut to crack. Her successor is the education and research minister, Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen, who has been replaced by Jesper Petersen.

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DENMARK

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

ONLINE THIS WEEK

A SHORTAGE of aluminium will lead to fewer cans being on the market over the remainder of the year. For example, Bryggeriet Vestfyen expects to sell 20 percent fewer canned beers than expected this year. A drought in China is apparently to blame, as it has left the country with not enough energy from its hydropower plants to power its factories.

Let’s host more sport SOME 58 percent of Danish people think that extra effort should be made to attract major sporting events to the country, according to a study carried out by Norstat for Dansk Erhverv in the days following Denmark’s exit from Euro 2020, of which Copenhagen hosted four games. Denmark is good at involving the local population, concluded Dansk Erhverv.

Oasis honoured A PROJECT at Budolfi Plads in Aalborg has been selected to represent Denmark in the 2021 Green Cities Award. The green urban space offers a climate-proof oasis, and it has been warmly embraced by residents and businesses alike.

More immigrants DANMARKS Statistik’s most recent population figures do not present any huge surprises.

While the total net immigration figure during the second quarter of 2021 saw a 41 percent rise on the same period in 2020, it was 9 percent lower than Q2 in 2019. The same period saw a 2.1 percent increase in the birth rate.

Extradition approved FRANCE has permission to extradite a 37-year-old Viborg resident suspected of being involved in the drowning of refugees during a passage to Britain. In related news, a Moroccan man will be deported once he has served a five-month sentence for his involvement in a racket to steal and sell smartphones in Copenhagen.

Back to normal end of next week

ONLINE THIS WEEK PIXABAY

Expect a can shortage

3 - 30 September 2021

All restrictions to be lifted

by September 10 LENA HUNTER

F

RIDAY August 13 was the last day on which we were required to wear facemasks on public transport. Originally, the restriction was due to be lifted on September 1.

And then on August 27 it was announced that all restrictions would be lifted on September 10.

Beyond the need to show corona passes at nightclubs, permitted to open since September 1, the public weren’t really sure what the government was referring to.

But the message was clear: we are back to normal.

If corona was Ludo, the nation's youth would finish last

Brugsen is owned by Coop, and its communications manager, Lars Aarup, said customers wanted the added security.

“It turns out that customers are very satisfied with the guidance regarding where they should queue,” he told DR.

Supermarkets cautious CITING the progress of the vaccination program – 71.6 percent of the population are now fully covered – the lifting of the restrictions enabled the LGBTI+ mega-festival Copenhagen 2021 to attract higher than thought attendances.

However, a number of supermarkets, including Netto and Brugsen, intend to continue with the floor stickers indicating staggered queuing, hand-sanitiser at the entrance and plexiglass at the checkout.

Drive to jab young NOT ENOUGH young people aged 15-30 are vaccinated, so the government is concentrating its efforts on encouraging them to do so.

For example, 250 education institutions in the Capital Region will be visited by vaccination teams by September 10.

Odense University Hospital and Hvidovre Hospital recently confirmed that most of their corona-infected patients are people aged 20-40 who have not been vaccinated.

The number of hospitalisations has been rising of late.

Today it stands at 147 – up from 18 in early June.

Danish vaccine on course MEANWHILE, the first clinical trials of the Danish corona vaccine ABNCoV2 have demonstrated “an antiviral response 10 times stronger than natural immunity to COVID-19”, according to Professor Søren Riis Paludan of Aarhus University.

The vaccine does not appear to have any serious side-effects.

A report concluded it “was well tolerated across all dose groups with no observed difference in adverse effects after the first and second vaccination”.

The phase 2 trial was due to be held in Germany in late August, with a phase 3 trial expected early next year.

Danish company AdaptVac developed and patented the technology behind the new vaccine, but in July last year the Hellerup-based, global biotech firm Bavarian Nordic bought the rights to the vaccine and is financing further clinical development.

Country’s best burger

Billionaire loses bid

No Russian notice

HUNGRY Dane’s Dandelion Burger has been named the best in Denmark. It uses four cheeses.

Cheddar, goat’s cheese and dry mozzarella are mixed together for the cheese, while pecorino can be found in the sauce.

ANDERS Holch Povlsen has lost his legal bid to prevent Orbex from launching rockets next door to his 200,000-acre estate in Scotland. Nevertheless, he intends to continue fighting.

RUSSIA did not inform Denmark that three of its subs would sail past the Storebælt bridge in August, although it did give notice in early July. It is presumed the subs were on their way back from an event in Sankt Petersburg.

Schools learning

Search for airmen’s bones

High burglary rate

MANY SCHOOLS are retaining corona techniques such as teaching in smaller groups, maintaining stricter hygiene, and using better communication with parents to keep kids learning at home. Meanwhile, keeping classes separated during break-times for health reasons has led to reduced playtime conflicts, and this has led to an improved teaching environment.

DANISH Navy divers are currently helping US researchers to locate the bones of 15 Allied air force personnel, who were shot down during World War II, in the waters off the the shores of Langeland – the island pretty much at six o’clock on the map of Denmark. Should any be found, their DNA will be compared to living relatives in the US.

THE COUNTRY has one of the highest rates per capita of home burglary in the world, according to Budget Direct. It ranks eighth with 694 burglaries per 100,000 people, placing it third in Europe behind only Greece (762) and Sweden (736). Norway only had 33!

Meanwhile, Peru had the worst figure, 2,086, and Bangladesh the lowest at just one.

Speeding fines might rise THE GOVERNMENT has proposed that speeding fines should rise by 20 percent next year. For example, a fine for doing 80km/h in a city zone with a speed limit of 50 would be a hefty 4,200 kroner. If approved, the new fines will start on January 1.

Kids helmeting up SOME 82 percent of school kids wear helmets – a historic high, according to Rådet for Sikker Trafik, which believes it will substantially reduce head injuries. The biennial survey began in 2004 when the total wearing helmets was only 33 percent.

However, only 63 percent of 12-years-olds wear them.

More cars on roads THE NUMBER of vehicles in Denmark has risen from 389 to 466 per 1,000 citizens, according to Danmarks Statistik. People are also driving more, spending 24 percent more time behind the wheel than ten years ago. More families are buying a second or even a third car, and the expense of using public transport is also blamed.

Wildfire Dane in court THE DANE accused of starting a wildfire in 2018 in Spring Creek, which burned down 149 homes, spreading across an area of 404 sq km, has been told by a court that he needs to take medication recommended by a psychiatrist. The Dane, who is awaiting judgement, has been diagnosed with a delusional disorder.

Boost for cruises VISITORS arriving by cruise ship will no longer be required to prove they are fully vaccinated to enter Denmark. The alteration to the rules will put them on a par with motorists, who only need to show a negative test result, and hopefully result in more one-day tourists in the capital.

SCIENCE

3 - 30 September 2021

ONLINE THIS WEEK

FEARS are growing that the Japanese beetle, which has been creating havoc near Basel close to the Swiss-German border, could make its way to Denmark. Far from being a fussy eater, it is estimated that 300 plant species could become endangered by a potential invasion.

Handling stress A DANISH book that helps people to handle stress in the workplace, 'The Little Guide to An Almost Stress-Free Life', has been translated into English.

Author Birgitte Wärn told CPH POST that workplace stress tends to be caused by a “mixture of work and personal issues”.

Why diabetics should cycle DANISH researchers from TrygFonden's Center for Active Health (CFAS), Rigshospitalet and the University of Southern zDenmark have been the first to show that cycling can reduce excess mortality among diabetes sufferers. Moderate and high intensity exercise that elevates the heart rate is a cornerstone of diabetes treatment.

Just the tonic IN COLLABORATION with Aarhus University, local distillery Njord is piloting production of two new types of sustainable, low-alcohol beverages made from the waste products of their gin production. The new drinks are a tonic and an orange cocktail.

ONLINE THIS WEEK PIXABAY

Beetle mania

The bitter end of being our best friend Dogs might be more popular than cats, but over half of us would let them die if faced with a 5,000 kroner vet bill

D

OGS HAVE overtaken cats as Denmark’s most popular pet, according to a survey by the University of Copenhagen.

Around 20 percent of families own a dog, and 14 percent a cat.

In total the nation has 810,000 dogs and 730,000 cats.

Sun-lounger lizards

Let them die THE FAVOURITISM runs deeper than just numbers, as the research reveals that dog owners straight-up love their pets more.

Participants were asked if they would pay more than 5,000 kroner for life-saving medical care – or just let their pet die - and 45 percent of dog owners said they’d pay the bill, compared to only 23 percent of cat owners.

"Our owner told you to stand there in case of snipers"

The favourite child OF THOSE who own both, 78 percent said that the dog meant most to them, while only 11 percent chose the cat.

"The study confirms that

dogs are able to open human hearts and wallets in a way that no other animal can," said Peter Sandøe, the head of the Danish Centre for the Study of Companion Animal Welfare.

Longer reproductive lives

Obesity raises risks

Arctic cruise to reveal all

UNIVERSITY of Copenhagen fertility researchers have identified nearly 300 gene variations that affect the reproductive life of women. Experiments on mice succeeded in manipulating several of these key genes to increase the reproductive life of the mice by 25 percent. The average Danish woman has her first child aged 29 – up from 23 in 1961.

OBESE young adults have much higher levels of different markers of cardiovascular and metabolic disease compared to those of healthy weight, claims a Aarhus University study. In related news, one of the university’s professors is leading a Novo-funded, 20 million kroner project to develop a cheap and effective reading program for teenagers who struggle to read.

THE MOVEMENT of water masses around Greenland has a huge effect on both the climate and sea life in the Arctic, conclude researchers aboard the inspection vessel 'Knud Rasmussen', which recently set off on a 6,000 km around the island to investigate physical and chemical traces of the movements of ocean currents. DNA tests should reveal more.

In these confusing times Why Not Theatre Company presents Beckett’s epic play about existence, hope and survival.

3rd - 25th of September 2021 Mon - Fri 8pm; Sat 5pm

by Samuel Beckett

Electrifying Africa A NEW POLICY commentary by DTU researchers in the journal Science has posited a roadmap for the much-needed expansion and modernisation of Africa's electricity sector. In related news, DTU Physics is helping to develop a pioneering method of depicting the vibrations and movements of atoms.

LENA HUNTER

HAPPy dAys

7

Directed by PETER DUPONT WEISS With SUE HANSEN-STYLES and NATHAN MEISTER

UNIVERSITY of Copenhagen researchers have been busy, demonstrating that the world of the dinosaurs was warmer and more volatile than previously thought, that intensive exercise regulates our DNA and can ‘turn off’ disease genes, and that haptic technology can replicate the experience of being hugged and caressed.

Root cause of defunct sperm A BREAKTHROUGH global study led by Rigshospitalet concludes that 2 percent of men cannot produce sperm due to specific gene mutations. In related news, research involving Rigshospitalet has identified a link between our genetic make-ups and the risk of serious side-effects from taking medication.

Eelgrass importance A STUDY by the University of Southern Denmark into eelgrass beds, which absorb and store carbon and nitrogen, has demonstrated that their loss leads to significant emissions of the two gases.

TEATRET VED SORTE HEST VESTERBROGADE 150 1620 KBH V TICKETS: BILLET@SORTEHEST.COM

8

CULTURE

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

Berghain

3 - 30 September 2021

The Money Shot

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Miss Julie's Happy Valley THEATRE

THEATRE

THESPIANS

EXHIBITION

THEATRE

THAT THEATRE COMPANY

MICHAEL MAYER

SHOW

King of the Dinosaurs

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THE MAIN character briefly comes to, first to find himself up against a wall getting sucked off, and then eating the ass of a big-tittied trans seductress in one of the debaucherous dark rooms. No wonder the audience, in cold turkey ahead of the reopening of the city’s nightlife scene, were swaying or twitching in the pulsing darkness. Berghain is brave, honest and above all a huge amount of fun. If you get the chance to see it this weekend (Sep 3-4), embrace it. Go in your leather, bring a collar and a leash, wear a strap-on! Or whatever.

Berghain doesn’t hold back and neither should you. (LH)

THE MONEY Shot’s strongest card is its physicality: both its depiction and enactment. Two standout physical endeavours bring the house down at the end of each act – most particularly when Shakira is brilliantly blended with Arthur Miller for hilarious effect. Overall, the play felt rather low-energy as a quartet, but really came to life as a three-piece. Director Jeremy M Thomas’s trademark is bringing an extra twist, like swapping the male and female roles, so this is more or less his ‘straightest’ telling – perhaps ironic, given that this was the opening play of the Cph Queer Theatre Festival. (BH)

GET IT on with Tristan Otto the amazing T Rex, one of the original children of the evolution and original 680,000th Century BC Boy, at the 'King of the Dinosaurs' exhibition at the Natural History Museum of Denmark, which runs until December 31. Projected coniferous imagery creates a mysterious, almost nightmarish mood that stays with you through dark corridors until you finally come face-a-face with the world’s best preserved T Rex fossil. It’s a date you won't forget in a hurry. If he asks you to buy the drinks, don't hesitate: after all, they can sense fear, can't they? (MB)

ON A MIDSUMMER'S night, on a grassy bank sloping down to the Botanical Gardens' magical, flower-fringed lake, a strange dream unfolded under the open sky in August. Set against the urban mumble of people and traffic, there was a tangible ‘glitch in the matrix’ feel to a production: the perfect stage for the hypnagogic hallucinations of Shakespeare’s most malleable play. And while brevity is the soul of wit, and this version clocked in at a lean 105 minutes, it still managed to be a fast and frivolous rendition of a dressed-down Athens in silk slips and floral shirts with nudge-nudge-wink-wink allusions to modern life. (LH)

DERANGED chairs litter the parlour room. They seem to have crash-landed in the orbit of a large dining table bristling with empty bottles and wine glasses. The lady of the house, Countess Alice de Janzé, and Lord Errol’s butler Jean stand, panting with rage like lions amongst the chaos, glaring at one another from across the table. The erotic to-and-fro and blazing argument is at the centre of playwright Michael Omoke’s racially-charged reinterpretation of August Strindberg’s ‘Miss Julie’. His reworked script takes no prisoners, touching additionally on male dominance, female solidarity and notions of religious forgiveness.

In other words: he went there. (LH)

Rocking September

Enfant terrible making film Bridging nations

Acting inequality

Farvel Denmark’s Kinsey

FREDAGSROCK'S September line-up at Tivoli includes singer Jada (Sep 3), rapper Tess (Sep 10) and pop band Alphabeat (Sep 24). All of the concerts are accessible with the standard Tivoli entry free.

SORT/HVID'S controversial director Christian Lollike is making his first feature film. 'Kagefabrikken' (the cake factory) is an adaptation of his 2013 play. Lollike is best known for ‘Manifesto 2083’, a play about Anders Breivik.

ACCORDING to Politiken, actors tend to get 35 percent more than actresses. Furthermore, men get 57 percent of the main roles and 59 percent of the supporting parts.

Celebrating research

Kissy-kissy with Esben

STEN HEGELER, Denmark’s answer to Alfred Kinsey, has died at the age of 98. Like his counterpart, he published his first seminal work in 1948: a sex education book for kindergarten children, which was met with praise and book burnings!

DANISH research is not getting enough global attention, according to Michael Magee, the Irish host of Science and Beers, the country’s first English-language science podcast. Magee claims 40 percent of the listeners live abroad.

DIRECTOR Bille August has confirmed his next project will be the historical drama 'Kysset' ('The Kiss'), which will see him reunite with ‘Lykke-Per’ star Esben Smed for another pre-World War I tale.

READ THE REST OF THESE REVIEWS AT CPHPOST.DK RAMBØLL chief executive Jens-Peter Saul was the keynote speaker at a recent event for the Move the North culture initiative, which brings together creatives from Denmark, Sweden and Germany. He said culture needed to be backed – even during difficult times like the pandemic.

In the bucket club TIVOLI Gardens (14th) and Legoland in Billund (39th) are on Father Mag's list of the Top 50 Bucket List Destinations for family vacations in Europe.

Europe’s top burger GASOLINE Grill offers the best burger experience in Europe, according to Big 7 Travel.

Also ranked in the top 50 were Burger Anarchy in Odense (23) and The Burger Shack in Aarhus (27).

Women DJ academy FUTURE Female Sounds will spend a fair chunk of a million kroner grant from the Tuborg Foundation on establishing a DJ academy for women and gender minorities.

Opening September 4 14.00-17.00 artXR.io Digital (XR) and Physical Art Anywhere!

Featuring ArtXR, original paintings and drawings by E.C. Prince (USA), Glen Garner (DK) Prince Gallery Hauser Plads 16 A 1127 Copenhagen K T: +45 42 61 78 50 Caution With Children#3

E.C.Prince 2021

www.princegallerycph.com Supported by

SPORT

3 - 30 September 2021

ONLINE THIS WEEK

DANISH coach Kasper Hjulmand is concerned about the effect foreign ownership could have on the Danish Superliga.

He told Forbes he does not like the idea of multiple club ownership and players constantly being switched around, but could find it permissible “if they understand Danish values and have respect and knowledge that can add value”.

Saints to Foxes NATIONAL team defender Jannik Vestergaard has swapped English Premier League club Southampton for rival Leicester City, which he has joined on a three year contract for an undisclosed fee. Meanwhile, national team-mate Andreas Cornelius has left Parma to join Turkish outfit Trabzonspor and Thomas Delaney has moved to Sevilla from Dortmund. In other news, Denmark has fallen to 11th in the FIFA World Rankings despite making the semis of Euro 2020.

ONLINE THIS WEEK UEFA

Wary of foreign owners

Danish delights for European nights Brøndby, FC Copenhagen, FC Midtjylland and Randers will all be representing Denmark in critical season in Europe

Corting greatness WITH VICTORY in the sixth stage of the Vuelta a España, Magnus Cort, 28, claimed the fifth Grand Tour stage win of his career, putting him on a par with Jesper Skibby and Michael Rasmussen, just one behind pacesetter Bjarne Riis. Four of his GT victories have come in Spain.

CHRISTIAN WENANDE

F

OLLOWING a couple of rather meagre years for Danish teams in European football, this season could help turn the tide.

With Brøndby, FC Copenhagen, FC Midtjylland and Randers all participating in European competition group stages, there is ample opportunity to make up lost ground in the European coefficient rankings.

Denmark needs every point it can get on the UEFA coefficient list, which is based on performances over the past five years in Europe.

Currently, Denmark sits 23rd, but can make up lost ground this season because of the many teams still in contention and the few number competing nations have.

For instance, Sweden, Nor-

9

Highest ever ranking The last time this happened, President Clinton was still in power

way, Greece and Israel (ranked 19-22) all have either two or only one team left to get points.

And the teams ranked 15-18, Croatia (1), Cyprus (2), Turkey and the Czech Republic (both 3), all have fewer teams participating too.

Decent draw IN THE Europa League, Brøndby went into Group A with Lyon, Rangers and Sparta Prague, while FC Midtjylland, will take on Braga, Red Star Belgrade and

Ludogorets in Group F. Meanwhile, FC Copenhagen and Danish Cup holders Randers were involved in the group stage draw in the inaugural Conference League.

FC Copenhagen, a top seed in the draw, will face PAOK Thessaloniki, Slovan Bratislava and Lincoln Red Imps in Group F. And Randers, another fourth seed, will match up against AZ Alkmaar, Cluj and Jablonec in Group D.

Huge e-sports centre

Named after Viktor

On his way to Germany

LeMans tough for Mags

COUNTER-STRIKE tournament organiser Blast has raised 100 million kroner to build a new studio for global e-sports in Priorparken in Brøndby. The proposed studio will be much larger than Astralis Nexus at Tivoli, the home of C-S team, which used to share the same owner as Blast. However, the Astralis team bought itself out of RFRSH Entertainment in 2019.

OLYMPIC madison winner Michael Mørkøv will name his next son after badminton player Viktor Axelsen, a fellow gold medallist. “I found huge inspiration watching Viktor Axelsen,” he told DR. “In every one of the 50 km in the final, the only thing I thought about was being as cool as him when he played his final.” Mørkøv named his first son after Crown Prince Frederik.

DANISH handball star Mathias Gidsel, who was named MVP at the 2020 Olympics, is leaving GOG to join German outfit Füchse Berlin in the summer of 2022. The 22-year-old has signed a three-year contract.

Mikkel Hansen, the top scorer at the Olympics with 61 goals, was the only other Dane to make the all-star team in which the champions France had four players.

AN ENTIRELY Danish team made up of Kevin Magnussen, his dad Jan, and Anders Fjordbach finished 29th in Le Mans, 35 laps behind the winners. For Magnussen Jr, who earlier this year joined Chip Ganassi Racing to compete in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, it was his debut. Dennis Andersen and Marco Sørensen, were the best placed Danes in 18th.

TENNIS player Holger Rune, 18, is now number 162 in the world following yet another Challenger tournament victory – this time in San Marino. At the beginning of the year, he stood at number 474. His latest victory resulted in him rising 29 places. The world’s best Scandinavian player is Norway’s Casper Ruud who stands at number 11.

Three Para medals so far DENMARK has won three medals at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo, so on target to reach the five-seven target set by the DIF sports confederation. The games began on August 24 and will continue until September 5. In 2016 at Rio, Denmark won seven medals, at London five, and at Beijing nine.

Schmeichel the captain KASPER Schmeichel is now officially the full-time captain of Leicester City following the departure of Wes Morgan and one of his first tasks was to lift the Charity Shield following his side’s unexpected defeat of Manchester City on August 7.

Since joining in 2011, he has made 427 appearances for the club.

10 BUSINESS

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

ONLINE THIS WEEK

TIVOLI has reported a second quarter loss of 11.9 million kroner – a long way off matching its 2019 profit of 26.1 million.

Some 500,000 fewer visits in the first half of 2021, compared to around 1.5 million two years ago, were chiefly to blame. Foreign guests tend to account for a third of all visitors to the park and they spend more on admittance.

Jyske Bank profits JYSKE Bank has reported a profit of 1.7 billion kroner for the first half of the year – up from 82 million in the same period last year.

The bank has profited from cutting costs, fees on the issuance of loans and trading in securities.

Arla recycling boost AN EPINION survey for Arla reveals that 70 percent of Danes support a new waste sorting category for the dairy producer’s used milk and yoghurt cartons. The average family disposes of 165 of the cartons a year, but most end up in incinerators. Around 167 million cartons a year will be potentially sorted – 37,400 tonnes of cardboard.

DFDS thriving SHIPPING company DFDS has announced a turnover of 4.2 billion kroner for the first six months of 2021 – up 51 percent on the same period last year. Its profits rose from 8 to 306 million. It attributed the success to the healthy freight market, where demand is outstripping supply.

Pork producer charged with greenwashing Danish Crown is being taken to court by the Vegetarian Society of Denmark, the Climate Movement and Den Grønne Studenterbevægelse over its marketing claim that its bacon comes from climate-controlled pigs

ONLINE THIS WEEK DANISH CROWN

Tivoli losses continue

3 - 30 September 2021

ROBERT ADES

T

HE WORLD’S largest pork exporter, Danish Crown, is being taken to court for greenwashing over its marketing claim that its bacon comes from “climate-controlled pigs”.

In its defence, Danish Crown cites evidence that Danish farmers have already reduced the carbon footprint of its sold pork by 25 percent since 2005 and aim to hit 50 percent by 2030.

However, these figures are based on an Aarhus University study Danish Crown paid for.

"The proof of this pork pudding is behind us"

Lawsuit is “fitting" THE CASE has been filed by the

Vegetarian Society of Denmark, the Climate Movement, and the green student movement Den Grønne Studenterbevægelse.

Additionally, Kristine Clement from Greenpeace Denmark, which has lodged a complaint with the Danish Consumer Ombudsman, describes Danish Crown’s campaigns as “a clear case of greenwashing” and urges the company to withdraw them immediately.

Rune-Christoffer Dragsdahl from the Vegetarian Society of Denmark felt it was “fitting” that Denmark’s first climate lawsuit involves a meat company, noting that “animal agriculture is getting special treatment while all other sectors have to pay the price and adjust.”

Economy bounces back

Investments questioned

Cashless here we come?

THE DANISH economy grew by 2.2 percent in the second quarter of 2021, taking it to a higher level than the one experienced in the fourth quarter of 2019, the last complete pre-corona period.

The Q2 gradual reopening played a big role, and so did growth in the public sector. Employment grew by 1.9 percent.

DANWATCH has accused Aarhus Municipality of investing in two companies whose subsidiaries service illegal Israeli settlements to the tune of 750,000 kroner.

Altice subsidiary Hot Telecommunications Systems provides cable TV and telephony, and eDreams Odigeo subsidiary Opodo arranges accommodation and hotel stays.

A NATIONALBANKEN report based on Coop and Salling Group figures reveals that cash accounted for 17 percent of all payments in supermarkets in mid-April 2020 – down from 28 percent pre-corona in early 2020. Brian Mikkelsen, the head of Dansk Erhverv, believes corona might bring a cashless society sooner than expected.

Academic greenwashing EXPERTS point to a crucial flaw in the logic of the pork study, whilst campaigners argue that trying to claim that some meats are more carbon-friendly than

others is muddying the whole debate around climate responsibility in the agricultural sector.

The Aarhus study did not include emissions caused by indirect land use, such as the land used for producing fodder for the pigs which, according to Jannick Schmidt from Aalborg University, paints a false impression of a product’s total carbon emissions.

In 2019, Aarhus University withdrew a study about the climate impact of beef when an investigation found that Danish Crown and Landbrug & Fødevarer, a Danish agricultural industry group, had influenced and co-written the report.

Traffic a two-way story DANISH leisure traffic has returned to normal over the Øresund Bridge, but the same is not true in the other direction, which was 70 percent down on the same month in 2019. While many Danes pass through Sweden on their way to Bornholm, Swedes who are not fully vaccinated are still required to pay for a corona test when they arrive in Denmark.

Jeweller’s nice shine JEWELLERY company Pandora has overseen a 37 percent increase in sales over the first half of 2021, thus yielding a turnover of 9.7 billion kroner and a profit of 1.6 billion.

In the same period last year, it made a loss of 200 million kroner.

Airport busier IN JULY, 1.2 million passengers passed through Copenhagen Airport – more than twice as many as in June. The figure nearly matched the 1.4 million passengers who passed through during the first half of 2021. However, the July figure was only 40 percent of the same month in 2019. The most popular destination was Palma de Mallorca.

Insurance discrimination BAGMANDSPOLITIET has confirmed it is investigating 14 of the country’s largest insurance firms for discriminating against women. It is alleged that the firms routinely reject claims by pregnant women, or those who have just given birth, for reimbursement for bills paid to chiropractors.

INDIA - DENMARK: A NEW AGE PARTNERSHIP

VISIT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER OF INDIA TO DENMARK (4-5 SEPTEMBER 2021)

Kofod, Foreign Minister of Denmark and co-chair the 4th Joint Commission Meeting between the two External Affairs Minister of India, Dr. S. Jaishankar will countries. pay an official visit to Denmark from 4-5 September 2021. During his visit, the External Affairs Minister will The Joint Commission Meeting will undertake a have an audience with Her Majesty Queen Margrethe comprehensive review of the bilateral cooperation II and a courtesy meeting with the Prime Minister under the Green Strategic Partnership which was of Denmark, Ms. Mette Frederiksen. Minister Dr. established during the Virtual Summit between S.Jaishankar will hold bilateral talks with Mr. Jeppe Prime Minster of India Mr. Narendra Modi and the

Danish Prime Minister Ms. Mette Frederiksen and Indian Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi during the India-Denmark Virtual Summit on 28 September 2020

INDIA

H.E. Ms. Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Denmark, spoke at the inaugural session of the Raisina Dialogue with Honourable Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi on 13 April 2021

Prime Minister of Denmark Ms. Mette Frederiksen in September 2020, a landmark moment between the two countries which established a unique template of bilateral cooperation for the world to emulate.

two Prime Ministers agreed to elevate India-Denmark relations to a Green Strategic Partnership started a new chapter in the India - Denmark relations. The Green Strategic Partnership is the first such partnership for either country to cooperate and collaborate in a In recent years, a new vigour and dynamism has been futuristic way. It was the first such Virtual Summit held imparted to the India-Denmark relationship. During the by India with any country in the EU bilaterally. Prime Covid-19 pandemic, interactions at the highest level Minister Mr. Narendra Modi stated during the Virtual between the two countries have continued unabated. Summit that this was a “new age partnership and will add a new dimension to our bilateral relations and Prime Minister of India Mr. Narendra Modi had a help to expand economic relations and green growth, telephonic conversation with Prime Minister of and strengthen cooperation on addressing global Denmark Ms. Mette Frederiksen on 14 May 2020 challenges; with focus on implementation of the Paris during which they exchanged views on the steps taken Agreement and Climate Change goals.”

by India and Denmark on Covid-19 and discussed establishment of a Green Strategic Partnership.

Prime Minister of India Mr. Narendra Modi also mentioned that the Danish companies are already The Virtual Summit on 28 September 2020 where the “Making in India for the World” and that “Denmark has

The inaugural session of RE-Invest 2020 was addressed by the Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi and Mr. Dan Jørgensen, Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities of Denmark on 26 November 2020

INDIA

EAM Dr.S. Jaishankar chairing the United Nations Security Council meeting during India’s Presidency in August 2021.

the skills and India has the scale and to this “scope” and “speed” should be added.”

He also welcomed Denmark’s decision to join the International Solar Alliance. Both sides noted with satisfaction the continued development of bilateral relations based on historical links, common democratic traditions and shared values of democracy, pluralism, inclusivity and freedom.

Prime Minister of Denmark, Ms. Mette Frederiksen was the Chief Guest at the inaugural session of the Raisina Dialogue on 13 April 2021.

Denmark has been a partner country of India for Vibrant Gujarat in 2017 and 2019, Reinvest India 2020, Maritime India 2021, and in other fora as well.

Prime Minister of India Mr. Narendra Modi had also met the Prime Minister of Denmark, Mr. Lars Rasmussen twice – first at the India-Nordic Summit in Stockholm in April 2018 and again in Gandhinagar in January 2019. Since December 2016 there has been a total of 12 Ministeriallevel between the two countries.

Bilateral ties between India and Denmark have continued to develop and expand rapidly in recent years. The 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries was marked in 2019. The year 2020 marked the 400th anniversary of the first interaction between the peoples of India and Denmark, with the establishment of the first trading post in Tranquebar by Denmark in 1620.

The visit of the External Affairs Minister of India will provide an opportunity for reviewing the progress in the bilateral ties and further strengthening of the multifaceted relationship between India and Denmark.

External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar with Denmark’s Foreign Minister Mr. Jeppe Kofod during the Raisina Dialogue 2020 in New Delhi

GUEST OPINION

3 - 30 September 2021

it, to just get on with it and be grateful for the lives we’ve got, with our long sleep-ins, regular dining out and exotic travels.

Yet, for the childless person, this is a very real, living loss.

With every milestone for others – first day of school, graduation, weddings, becoming grandparents – comes the reminder of a life missed, a life dearly wanted.

Lack of acknowledgement IT’S ALSO the changes in relationships that come with childlessness. From the feeling of isolation among parent friends, who gravitate to others with children, to our strained familial relationships as the focus zeros in on our siblings’ children, we increasingly experience exclusion in everyday conversations.

It’s what is known as a form of ‘disenfranchised grief’, where the loss is neither witnessed, heard nor acknowledged by the communities we live in. It is one that is ever present, at some level, even after years have passed.

As if navigating this loss is not hard enough, there’s society’s judgment of us. There are assumptions we are selfish and career-orientated, and that we

Shrouded in shame DESPITE the high numbers of those childless not by choice (which come as a surprise to many), the experience of the involuntary childlessness is a silent one, shrouded in taboo and shame.

Too often, us childless folk are complicit in the silence, simply because that’s what society expects of us: to not talk about BARBARAMENSAH.DK

Bowling 'em over with her shea butter

I

N THIS article I would like to introduce myself to all CPH POST readers whilst reintroducing myself to those who have been following my journey here in Denmark.

I’m super excited to join the team here at the newspaper.

In this month's edition, I will answer some of the questions that I get asked a lot by online followers, clients, friends and family.

Who is Barbara Mensah?

I WAS BORN in London and

relocated to Copenhagen in 2017.

I have been a professional international makeup artist for 12 years, as well as an eyelash extensions specialist for four years. Shortly after moving to Copenhagen I set up my own business: Barbara Mensah Beauty Studio, which is based in the heart of Østerbro in Copenhagen.

I recently embarked on a relatively new journey of sourcing, branding my own brand of raw, organic shea butter. My team and I worked tirelessly to source the purest form of shea butter from Ghana. It has been a huge success here in Denmark, where we are currently stocked in three retailers around Copenhagen, and we also ship worldwide.

To order yours, visit barbaramensah.dk.

What is your favourite part of working in the beauty industry?

The beauty industry in general can be quite brutal and a harsh

don’t like children. There’s the notion that we are not contributing to society and that, somehow, we are not as worthy as parents.

The preface, so often heard, “as a mother …” says it all.

But we the childless are coming together, seeking to bring about a cultural shift in the way society views and treats us. We are realising that if we are to change this narrative, we must tell our stories. All around the world, we are coming together to support each other, bring awareness to our experiences, break the silence concerning childlessness and show by example that life can be happy and meaningful without children.

A week to be heard ONE POWERFUL initiative, the World Childless Week (WCW), is taking place from September 13-19. Now in its fifth year, this online international event reaches 97 countries. It’s an opportunity for all of us who wanted children, but for various reasons didn’t, to take part and meet others in the same position who ‘get it’. It’s a chance to find support and strength in a community.

Each day will cover a dediindustry to be a part of. Lots of long hours and hard work. You definitely have to be tough-skinned to work in it. It’s not always as glamorous as people would like to think, and as with most jobs there are very high highs and some lows that come with it.

If I had to choose, my favourite part would be knowing that I’m part of one of the biggest industries in the world and have a part in influencing in a positive way how someone feels about themselves.

I’m particularly excited when I get feedback from clients and customers letting me know that they loved a makeup look I created for them, or that they loved a product or treatment I recommended.

How do you balance family life with being a business owner?

Having a family and running a business doesn’t mean you cannot be successful at both. I try to plan and prioritise my time and simply

PIXABAY

Y

OU’RE LUCKY you don’t have kids ...”

Ever made this remark to a childless friend or relative?

Chances are, you’ve unintentionally stepped on a landmine of grief and loss for the person on the receiving end. On average, one in five women in the developed world does not have a child by the time they reach 45 (in some countries it's as high as one in four).

Of these childless women, 90 percent are childless not by choice. For some it’s due to infertility, but for the greater part, it’s by 'circumstance'. There are similar, if not greater numbers of childless men too. (According to Danmarks Statistik, one in eight women in Denmark are childless by the time they reach 50 years; for men, it’s one in five.)

15

Even playgrounds can trigger feelings of regret

cated theme, such as ‘Have You Considered Adoption’ – why we hate this question and why it’s inappropriate to ask it – and ‘Leaving a Legacy’: because parenthood is not the only way to contribute to society or leave a legacy. Submissions, named or anonymous, are accepted up until August 29 and can be made on the WCW website.

A local organisation for the childless not by choice in Denmark will be supporting WCW with a picnic on Sunday 19 September at Kongenshave.

For those interested in joining, contact This Unknown Place through its website.

And for those who make

throwaway comments, involuntary childlessness is a really tough experience. Please don’t make it worse.

pause when it gets too much. I try to give both family and work equal amounts of energy. Setting small achievable goals keeps me on track. Most importantly, I always take time out for selfcare.

the whole family.

What key tips do you have for someone new to makeup?

Get yourself a good foundation that matches your skin tone; invest in a good mascara; use a good nude lipstick; find a good neutral eyeshadow pallet; and remember that a bb or cc cream is a great start for a newbie in the makeup world.

Which one skincare brand would you choose to use for a lifetime?

My own of course. I’m obsessed with Shea Butter. I’ve been using it for as long as I can remember.

There are so many benefits: it restores my skin’s elasticity and reduces inflammation, irritations and bumps. It’s great for

Janine Ford is a New Zealander who has been living in Denmark with her Danish partner for eight years. She is childless not by choice and is the co-founder of This Unknown Place.

How do you keep your skin young, fresh and youthful?

Moisturise daily, drink lots of water and eat fresh foods.

London-born Barbara Mensah, a professional international makeup artist for 12 years (and lash stylist for four), relocated to Copenhagen in 2017, where she is the owner of the Barbara Mensah Beauty Studio. The cosy, chic studio provides a welcoming, comfortable space for clients to spend their time getting glammed and pampered for all special occasions.

16 OPINION

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

3 - 30 September 2021

Soldiers out, nurses back

U

NTIL LAST week, for more than ten weeks 10 percent of the nurses were on strike in the hope of getting a better deal than their negotiators came up with.

Striptease in the dark THE RED-BLOUSED nurses have been demonstrating, hopping, singing and shouting that they were worth more, but at the end of the day it turned out that it was just a striptease in the dark.

Nobody cared and inevitably the Socialdemocratiet government turned to legislation to end the conflict, so the nurses ended up with the terms they rejected – twice.

Now they can start paying increased conflict fund contributions on top of what they still pay from the last conflict six years ago. One

A Dane Abroad

cannot help thinking that the Danish model might be a bit outdated.

Too much dithering EQUALLY outdated is Denmark’s foreign policy when it comes to participation in armed conflicts in far-away countries.

The Afghanistan campaign ended in chaos and now the battle-weary Taliban warriors have their day.

On the Danish side we had to establish airlifts for all Danish citizens, along with Afghans with a Danish connection. At the last count, 40 listed individuals are left behind. Really, though, that is not good enough.

The reason why it did not work better is that most of the political parties spent valuable time discussing how few needed to be taken from Kabul Airport.

Better to talk than fight THE COLLAPSE in Afghanistan was indeed faster than anyone expected, but the foot-dragging was an embarrassment. Maybe the demanded investigation will reveal the true shame of the situation.

On thing is for sure. The stream of refugees will increase, and we will see fences and walls being built to control the people.

In Afghanistan we can only hope that 20 years without Taliban rule has left enough of an impact on the 40 million-plus population to inspire an evolution towards a society that respects human rights, if not a modern democracy.

The nurses did not succeed in fighting – but negotiations are the answer even if it is hard.

Negotiations with the Taliban and Islamic State are next to impossible, but ultimately they're the only feasible answer. (ES)

Born and raised in Denmark and a resident of New Zealand for over 14 years, Kirsten has lived a pretty nomadic life since her early 20s. A physiotherapist, yoga teacher and keen home cook, she is passionate about food, good living and natural health.

Email her at kirstenlouise@protonmail.com

I

N THE AUGUST 21 issue of Politiken, Jonas Pröschold discussed the findings of a 2018 international report that stated that microplastics were found in the digestive systems of 100 percent of participants (humans) from eight different countries.

Pröschold further cited a 2020 research project from SDU that concludes there is no way to avoid eating plastic, as it is now found in just about every single substance that we humans ingest, such as salt, air and water.

Beat the beads DESPITE not being surprised at all, my heart sank.

We have cringed at seeing the stomachs of marine life around the world containing absurd amounts of plastic items, and somehow we humans have counted ourselves superior and fortunate in that we (mostly) have the cognition to refrain from eating plastic bags or getting plastic straws stuck in our noses. But alas, common sense is no longer sufficient, as there are plenty of other obscure ways that we can unknowingly gobble up plastic.

Pröschold particularly highlights the bizarre amount of microplastics in skin care, makeup and personal care products like toothpaste. He discovered this after using the app ‘Beat The Micro Bead’, which allows you to scan the ingredient list of any product, which then identifies the types of microplastics it contains.

I want to use it not eat it AFTER downloading the app myself, I have been somewhat obsessed with scanning prod-

FLICKR/OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY

Bizarrely structured HOWEVER, the conflicts have had a bizarre structure. The praised Danish labour conflict model recommends the employees and employers fighting it out without any interference from the public authorities – even when the employers are the state or the regions.

It is basically a resources battle: who has the deepest pockets. And it is not rocket science to figure out that the nurses will run out first.

The nurses’ only hand was to exert public pressure on the politicians, chiefly by drawing attention to their heroics during the early days of the pandemic. This in part was what drove them to ask for a pay rise. Equality also came into play, as they argued they had not been rewarded for their work because the majority of them are women.

KIRSTEN LOUISE PEDERSEN

"Strangest vomit I've ever seen"

ucts in my cupboard, as well as in shops, to see which contain microplastics. After many an appalled public gasp, this turned out to be the majority.

No labelling exists that warns of the presence of microplastics, so while your product may be labelled ‘natural’, ‘organic’, ‘vegan’, ‘ethical’, ‘non toxic’ or whatever, it most often still contains microplastics. The biggest offenders identified thus far are nail polish, make-up, hair care products and sunscreen.

I don’t know about you, but I find it disturbing that a product that I might eat or breathe in contains any plastic whatsoever.

Anything that goes over your lips – like moisturiser, foundation and lip gloss – obviously comes with the risk of you ingesting some of it. The same goes for hair spray as it cannot be used without inhaling a significant amount of it in the process.

The vegan cover-up I EXPECTED the younger and hip brands to at least somewhat live up to their self-righteous and über ethical mission statements.

But much to my annoyance, they were just as full of microplastics

as any other brand, so clearly not deserving of their ‘ethical’ halo when they are contaminating both human bodies as well as the environment.

I think the word du jour is greenwashing? Our ability to discern as consumers has never been more important with so much rubbish allowed on store shelves, but unfortunately it has also become extremely difficult to decode products and goods.

I’m not going to call out any companies here, but let’s just say that the biggest beauty brands tend to be the worst offenders, and that even the holier-than-thou vegan makeup brands also have loads of microplastics in them.

How is it that we know all this and plastic is still permitted with so many natural products: from vegetables to facial cleanser? At what point will there be a ban on this stuff? Likely never, as plastic is just too versatile and too cheap to produce. So what do you do? Apart from quietly despairing, I suggest starting with this app, so as to at least gain some level of control in reducing your plastic munching.

Trust no-one, test everything.

OPINION

3 - 30 September 2021

ADRIAN MACKINDER

Early Rejser

Mackindergarten

Irma, meny, puny, MØ DANISH supermarkets vary of course. There’s Meny, which I like as it most closely resembles the supermarkets back home and actually has some variety, but costs you a kidney just to buy groceries for the weekend.

Similarly expensive is Irma, which thinks it’s posh because it has its own branded packaging, but isn’t.

REMA, Føtex and SuperBrugsen are fine – that’s about as good as the praise can be – while Fakta tends to have about eight things on the shelves and is only fit for purpose as a containment unit for daytime drunks to stagger about, looking for chunks of meat that butchers in other countries don’t consider fit for human consumption.

Face up … to yourselves THEN THERE is Netto, a supermarket chain that has given up. Oh sure, Netto has what you need, but you’re going to have to go on a quest to find it yourself.

Don’t expect any help or clues.

The cereal you say? Oh yes, that’s here somewhere … hidden

Crazier than Christmas VIVIENNE MCKEE FACEBOOK/NETTO

I

NEXT ISSUE

ADAM WELLS

British writer and performer Adrian Mackinder (adrianmackinder.co.uk) and his pregnant Danish wife moved from London to Copenhagen in September 2015. He now spends all his time wrestling with fatherhood, the unexpected culture clash and being an Englishman abroad. ’VE HAD it with Danish supermarkets.

First off, Denmark is a wealthy, resourceful, highly-developed country with a heightened sense of social welfare, trade and commerce. Why can’t they get this right?

Secondly, because I have experienced decent supermarkets, I know exactly how simple, straightforward and worthwhile it is to actually create and curate a fantastic shopping experience. Denmark doesn’t know this, or doesn’t want to. And given how expensive it is, that’s just not good enough.

17

IN 2 ISSUES

Mishra’s Mishmash MRUTYUANJAI MISHRA

Straight Up ZACH KHADUDU IN 3 ISSUES Netto is in fact an acronym for 'No end to the oddness'

in between the bleach, novelty condoms and the mountain of fruit left to rot in the middle of an aisle, right next to a pile of hideous outdoor ornaments, DVDs and gin.

I find it baffling. For many years as a teenager back home, I worked in a local, understaffed supermarket and so I have experience of how easy it is just to do a little mopping up here, some facing up there, or DISPLAYING PRODUCTS IN SOME SORT OF LOGICAL SEQUENCE! Come on, Netto, I don’t want to shop in a disused warehouse that never cleaned up its industrial accident.

Super annoying markets I THINK the reason people – and by ‘people’ I mean me – seem so disproportionately irate about their supermarket shopping experience is precisely because the standard of living here is so high.

People often dismiss this genuine gripe as a ‘first world problem’, or simply reply “So don’t shop there”, but this is missing the point. Bottom line, food and drink is so expensive here across the board, so there’s

a perfectly justifiable expectation for superior quality and service.

And yeah, it’s a first world problem, but if you’re reading this, you live in the first world, so it’s a problem. Yeah, it’s trivial, but I do get pretty annoyed returning from a supermarket run with only half the things on my list due to poor quality or insufficient stock.

Making Asda look good AND THAT’S another thing.

How come it’s virtually impossible to get all you need in one chain? You have to trudge between two or three. The amount of times I hear people say: “I don’t get veg from Netto, I have to go to Irma for the fruit - oh, the bread is good only in Føtex …”

How hard can it be for such a wealthy, tiny country to get the service industry up to speed with somewhere like, oh I don’t know, Mordor.

Anyway, what’s this got to do with raising kids in Denmark?

Nothing. Except to say that now travel has opened up and I can go home to Britain to visit my friends and family, the first thing I’m going to do with the kids, probably, on the way back from the airport, is take them to Sainsbury’s. It’ll be a treat.

The Road Less Taken JESSICA ALEXANDER

An Actor’s Life IAN BURNS IN 4 ISSUES

Living Faith REVD SMITHA PRASADAM

Englishman in Nyhavn JACK GARDNER IN 5 ISSUES

Straight, No Chaser STEPHEN GADD

Green Spotlight SIBYLLE DE VALENCE

18 COMMUNITY

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

ABOUT TOWN

3 - 30 September 2021

PHOTOS BY HASSE FERROLD

As its tendency towards the end of every summer, the UK Embassy hosted a classic British Garden Party on August 24 to promote trade relations with Denmark. Among those enjoying the sunny weather, cream teas and warm beer were Gareth Garvey, the president of the British Chamber of Commerce, and British ambassador Kate Hopkins

Indian ambassador Pooja Kapur (fifth from left) oversaw festivities at the celebration of her country’s 75th national day at the Indian Embassy on August 15. As well as the traditional flag-hoisting ceremony and special ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebrations, the event was attended by many members of the diaspora and streamed online

Among those in attendance at the Hamburg Copenhagen Business Forum on August 25, an event hosted by Dansk Industri with a special focus on energy and development, were German ambassador Pascal Hector (right) and Philip Koch (left) of Handelskammer Hamburg, the city’s chamber of commerce. Also present was Danish transport minister Benny Engelbrecht

Icelandic ambassador Helga Hauksdottir (right) was at the opening of ‘NERVESCAPE IX’, a new exhibition by Shoplifter (centre) at Nordatlantens Brygge on August 28, along with gallery director Karin Elsbudóttirved (left).

The Icelandic artist (aka Hrafnhildur Arnardóttir) is well known for featuring brightly-coloured hair. The exhibition will run until January 2

The dignitaries were out in force for an event promoting Move the North, a cultural exchange initiative between Hamburg, Copenhagen and Malmo.

Among those present were (left-right) former culture mayor Pia Allerslev, Rambøll CEO Jens-Peter Saul, who is also an ambassador for Hamburg, German ambassador Pascal Hector and project initiator Jana Pulkrabek

At Kulturhavn last weekend, the team behind ‘The Visit’ (Krudttønden, Oct 19-Nov 27) performed in between The Little Mermaid statue and St Albans Church. That Theatre’s play, which recounts HC Andersen’s (Peter Holst Beck) unwelcome visit to Charles Dickens (Ian Burns) in 1857, also features Barry McKenna and Andrew Jeffers (centre)

OPINION

3 - 30 September 2021

19

Chinese ambassador: Base COVID-19 origin-tracing on science and boost international cooperation FENG TIE

S

INCE THE outbreak of COVID-19, China has been working closely with WHO in COVID-19 origin-tracing. However, there have been groundless accusations against China. On August 12, TV2 aired a documentary on origin-tracing. This documentary, full of specious assumptions and vague inferences, is not based on facts but presuppositions and aims to smear China and politicize the origin studying issue by misleading the audience. Mr. Embarek said the relevant media distorted his views by publishing his words out of context online. He himself, as the head of the WHO origins-tracing mission to China, has been always upholding the China-WHO joint mission report on origin study.

China has attached high importance to the study into the origin of the virus. We have actively participated in global cooperation with an open and science-based attitude. China has been firmly supporting and coordinating with WHO. We have twice invited WHO experts, including experts from Denmark, to carry out joint research on origin-tracing. WHO experts and their Chinese colleagues overcame difficulties brought by the pandemic and had face-to-face exchange in a candid, in-depth and friendly manner. WHO experts spoke highly of the good collaboration from the Chinese side. They said that they had full access to every place they asked to visit and met everyone they wanted to meet, and obtained important new data and learned more about possible transmission routes of the virus. They were impressed by the candor and trustworthiness of their Chinese colleagues.

The WHO-China joint report formed after the trip was in full compliance with WHO procedures and scientific meth-

ods. It has been proved to be a valuable and authoritative report that can stand the test of science and history. Officially released by the WHO, the report should serve as the basis and guide for global efforts on origin-tracing. Any attempt to overturn or distort the conclusions of the joint research report is a result of political manipulation and disrespect to science and scientists from different parts of the world. In the WHO-China joint origin-tracing report, the conclusion was that laboratory leak is extremely unlikely. The report’s recommendations were to search for possible early cases on a global scale, and to study the possibility of cold-chain transmission of virus, etc. These are scientific and objective conclusions reached by international and Chinese experts after a lot of serious and meticulous research work and discussions, which have been recognized by the international scientific community, and should be respected and maintained.

Recently, over 80 countries have sent letters and notes to the WHO or issued statements in support of the WHO-China joint report, opposing politicizing origin-tracing, and more than 30 countries clearly expressed their opposition or reservation to WHO Secretariat’s work proposal for the next stage origin-tracing.

Many political parties, organizations, experts, scholars and media have expressed their opposition to politicizing origin-tracing and their support to scientific efforts. More than 300 political parties, social organizations and think tanks from over 100 countries and regions have submitted a joint statement to the WHO Secretariat, calling on the WHO to carry out the Covid-19 origin study in an objective and impartial manner and firmly opposing politicization of origin-tracing.

These voices for justice should and must be heard.

Feng Tie, the Chinese Ambassador to Denmark

China supports the second phase of origin-tracing study.

What China disagrees with is politicization of origin-tracing.

What China rejects is the origin-tracing that deviates from the relevant WHA resolution.

And what China will not participate in is the origin-tracing that disregards the conclusions and recommendations of the first phase of the study. Origin-tracing is a serious and complex scientific question that requires the collaboration of scientists around the world and joint efforts and cooperation of governments and people of all countries. China will continue to take an active part in global cooperation on origin-tracing with a responsible, open and transparent attitude.

The Chinese position on the second phase of origin-tracing study is as follows: Firstly, the second phase should be guided by the relevant WHA resolution, based on science and evidence, and conducted mainly by scientists. The conclusions and recommendations of the joint WHO-China study report of the first phase

have been widely recognized by the international community and the community of science, and should serve as the basis for the second phase of studies.

Secondly, the second phase should not repeat what has already been done during the first phase, especially in the aspect where clear conclusions have already been drawn. For example, the joint WHO-China study report states clearly that lab leak is extremely unlikely.

The main focus of the second phase should be on possible pathways identified as “very likely” and “likely” by the joint report, including introduction through an intermediate host or cold-chain products. Efforts should be made to advance origin study in various countries and regions.

Thirdly, the practice, mechanisms and approaches used in the first phase should be applied to further studies in an orderly and smooth manner. There should be assessment and analysis of existing research outcomes and new evidence.

The regions to be covered by the second phase and the work

plan should be determined after comprehensive assessment based on open evidence study.

At present, the COVID-19 pandemic has not yet been effectively controlled around the world, and the variants of SARS-CoV-2 have spread to many countries. China has done all it can to constantly provide substantial support, including vaccines, to other countries and WHO. China calls on WHO to pool the efforts of all parties including scientists to make controlling the pandemic as the top priority. China calls for further promoting Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A) and COVAX at a quicker pace, and developing and distributing more effective diagnostic reagent, medicine and vaccines to save lives. On the basis of that, the virus origin-tracing should be studied as a serious and scientific issue without any politicization.

Continuous and appropriate origin-tracing on a global scale should be actively promoted and international exchanges and cooperation further enhanced.

20 HISTORY

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

3 - 30 September 2021

Urbane legend: How two Danish sailors saved the Madeiran wine industry FRANK SONDERBORG

M

ADEIRA is a Portuguese island stuck way out in the wild Atlantic.

Beyond its namesake tipple, it’s not famous for much else beyond its New Year firework extravaganza celebrations in Funchal and the very scary Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport, which is ranked as the ninth most dangerous airport in the world.

Madeira’s modern economy is mostly based on tourism, banana production, flowers and, of course, its wine. Whether it’s drunk as soon as it can be, or left to mature in barrels for 100 years, it’s a very important part of the Madeiran economy.

Madeira lies at 32°45 north and 17° west, which made it a perfect location for ships to resupply before rounding the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa on their way to India or China. Equally it could have been ships crossing the Atlantic to North America, South America or the Danish West Indies.

Up until World War 1, the Danes had a Navy frigate permanently stationed in the Caribbean, but that all changed when it sold its West Indies colonies of St John, St Croix and St Thomas to the United States in 1917 for the princely sum of $25 million.

The frigates would do a resupply stop-off at Madeira and load up with fresh water, stores and

barrels of Madeira wine, before upping anchor and departing on the long haul back to Copenhagen. The trip had to be completed before certain straits became impassable due to ice.

Sailing home stealthily OUR STORY, which is a Danish Navy legend, goes way back.

It concerns two Danish Navy cadets and their liberation of some property belonging to a local Funchal wine grower.

Jens and Jesper hurried down the early morning sleepy streets of Funchal in a desperate dash to get back to their Danish frigate ... before the cries of alarm started up.

It was the 1800s and the Danish Navy frigate had just finished its tour of duty in the Danish West Indies. It was heading home.

The priceless treasure they had just stolen was held in a sand-filled bucket and needed to be smuggled aboard. There it would be carefully nurtured in a warm sail locker on the long voyage back to Denmark.

While in port, the two sailors had decided to embark on a dangerous venture: to steal some of the precious blue grape vines.

Their end plan involved replanting the cuttings in Holmen, the Danish naval yard in Copenhagen, and cultivating their very own Danish Madeira wine ... in the harsh Scandinavian climate.

Grapes of wrath THE MADEIRANS, like their French wine-growing counterparts, guarded their vines like the source

of liquid gold they were. And they would not have taken kindly to two foreign sailors making it away with the island’s crown jewels.

Having suffered the near obliteration of their vine culture by a fungus in 1849, they were well aware how fragile their industry was, so they guarded the vines with their life.

Jens and Jesper were accordingly overjoyed their plan came off without a hitch. On the long voyage home they took turns caring for the sensitive vines in the balmy sail locker room.

Back home in the naval dockyard Holmen, they set to work replanting and protecting their priceless vines, bedding them down in a south-facing garden at Nyboder well protected from the northerly ice winds.

And it might surprise you to learn that after a period of time, despite the climate, the vines began to produce fine blue Madeira grapes.

It was indeed possible to bottle and indulge in Danish Madeira blue grape wine in the far cold north.

Pestilence on your houses THEN, in the 1870s, disaster struck the French wine industry.

A great blight took down the great wine houses of France: a pestilence believed to have been imported into the country from the Americas.

The French wine-growers had themselves imported vines from the New World, but they had also brought in a hidden stowaway: a dangerous American pest called phylloxera.

Some blamed the speed of the

FLICKR/ALEXANDER BAXEVANIS

The credibility of the story might depend on whether you believe a vineyard could prosper in Holmen

"100 odd years! I hope Spanish Flu's cleared up"

new-fangled steam packet ships for carrying the pest across the water.

The French government offered a staggering reward at the time, of 320,000 francs, for a cure. Meanwhile, the French vines withered away as the pest laid waste to the whole wine industry.

Seventy percent of the vines in France were wiped out, taking with them the fortunes and livelihood of thousands. And even today there is still no cure for this pest that attacks the roots of precious vines.

Nevertheless, the French eventually found some sort of salvation by grafting the American vine onto the European vine. The reward, though, was never paid out.

Unexpected homecoming MADEIRA did not escape the ravages of the pestilence. In 1873, their vines came under attack and started succumbing to the infections. Soon their industry was on its knees.

The wine-growers fought back by bringing in vines from the Americas, but they didn’t have

the same quality as their beloved blue Madeira grapes. The growers, despondent and unsatisfied, could only pray for a miracle.

Perhaps they were facing north.

Enter a Danish diplomat onto the Madeira stage. Formerly a sailor who had sailed the seven seas, he had been on that same ship that had sailed the vines to the far north.

Now, back in Funchal, he perceived the plight of the wine-growers. He immediately contacted the Danish Admiralty and recommended that some of the original blue Madeira vines be cut down and transported back to their homeland.

The Danish Admiralty granted his request, and soon the vines were back on their island home, restoring the Madeira blue grape to the centre of their wine universe.

Thanks to this wonderful diplomatic gesture, nearly all the grapes produced on Madeira are the offspring of the Danish blue grapes.

Or so the Danish Navy’s Madeira legend claims!

EVENTS

3 - 30 September 2021

21

International Citizen Days

Kill-Town Death Fest VIII

The Lockdown After Party

Resina – concert

Copenhagen Half Marathon

Sep 24-25, Fri 16:00-20:00 & Sat 10:00-15:00; DGI-Byen, Tietgensgade 65, Cph V; free adm This two-day event is part of the ‘Welcome September’ initiative, a collaborative effort to make internationals in Denmark feel they are wanted. More than 65 partners have joined forces to make this a one-stop place to ask questions: about housing, education, jobs ... you name it.

Sep 2-5, 15:00-00:00; Pumpehuset, Axeltorv 8, Cph K; free adm Death metal ghouls and fiends of the world, it's with disgusting pleasure that Pumpehuset can announce the 8th edition of the Kill-Town Death Fest. Four days of death beckons involving 36 bands, three stages, a metal market, horror cinema, food, drinks and death metal freaks from across the globe. (NJB)

Sep 1-5, 20:00-05:00; Pablo, Studiestræde 5, Cph K; 100kr Pablo is celebrating the end of corona restrictions with this year’s biggest party. The dress code is smart casual and the club is strictly 21+. Do not forget your corona pass and make sure you secure a table by reserving at info@pablocph.dk or 2758 2670. (NJB)

Sep 9, 20:00; Musikcaféen, Rådhusstræde 13, Cph K; from 120kr Karolina Rec is a composer and cellist who has been performing under the Resina moniker since 2016. Her work has been described

by The Guardian as “unforgettable”. Resina collaborates with artists of diverse musical genres (including the likes of Ben Frost, Bicep, Christina Vantzou, Daniel Szlajnda, Zamilska and Noon). (NJB)

Sep 19, 15:15-20:00; free adm Welcome to the seventh edition of the Copenhagen Half Marathon – an IAAF Gold Label & SuperHalfs event and world record race. CPH Half is organised

by Sparta Athletics & Running and the Danish Athletic Federation. The race will begin and end in Fælledparken. (NJB)

English Speakers

Salsa Latin Party

Bad Movie Club

Sep 16-18, 17:00-20:00; Skuespilhuset, Skt Annæ Plads 36, Cph K; 120kr Take a performative sonic journey through linguistic structures and poetic and musical genres linked to the English language.

Expect both verbal inflectional R&B and serenades about insults on this 70-minute-long new composition that intertwines speech and song. (NJB)

Sep 25, 19:30-02:30; Støneriet, Blågardsplads 5, Cph N; 150kr Cubakultur and El Studio invite everyone to a night filled with salsa. During the day, and the day before, there will be a lot of guest workshops featuring some of the Cuban dancers from the Salsa Camp. Everyone is welcome! (NJB)

Sep 19, 10:00-14:00; Mosede Fort, Greve; free adm Come to the Mosede Fort and enjoy a day filled with kite-related activities. The festival is aimed at all age groups. It is a good opportunity to enjoy our scenic surroundings with wind in the hair and colour in the cheeks in company with others.

(NJB)

Rave at the Candy Factory

Prince Gallery reopening

Sep 3-19; multiple locations; various tickets The festival offers more than 230 events and experiences throughout Greater Copenhagen as well as a number of the capital's surrounding municipalities. The program offers debates, exhibitions, lectures, city walks, parties, film screenings, concerts, performances and much more, including free museum entry in Week 37 for everyone aged 27 and below. (NJB)

Infinite Deep

Sep 3, 22:00-05:00; Bolsjefabrikken, Ragnhildgade 1, Cph N; 30kr Drum & Bass Klubben, Studio 7 and Bolsjefabrikken are holding an epic two-room night with a lot of local talent! It’s going to be great to be back with a blast!

The event is cash-only and the capacity is 700, so make sure you come in good time. (NJB)

Sep 4, 14:00; Hauser Place 16A, Cph K Enjoy the latest exhibition using a VR headset as the gallery reopens following a lengthy closure.

Sep 4-Jan 16; Nikolaj Kunsthal, Nikolaj Plads 10, Cph K; 40kr Curator Christian Nørgaard had exclusive access to David Lynch's photo archives to make this exhibition. It’s tailor-made to fit in with the gothic style of Nikolaj Kunsthals Øvre Galleri og Tårn. The church tower dates back to the 16th century. (NJB)

Copenhagen Metal Fest Sep 17-18, 14:00-00:00; Amager Kulturpunkt, Øresundsvej 6, Cph S; free adm Just like in 2019, all of the bands performing at the festival are exclusively Danish. Embracing as many sub-genres as possible, this is a great chance to appreciate the Danish metal scene. (NJB)

Karina – concert Sep 23, 20:00; Musikcaféen, Rådhusstræde 13, Cph K; from 100kr Karina (Karin Mäkiranta & Helmi Tikkanen), a dream pop duo from Helsinki, are touring with their second album. Karina’s first album was nominated for the Nordic Music Prize and championed by BBC 6 Music, BBC Radio 2, and more. (NJB)

Kite Festival

Happy Days Sep 3-25, 20:00; Teatret ved sorte Hest, Vesterbrogade 150, Cph V; 205 kroner, teaterbilletter.dk Sue Hansen-Styles and Nathan Meister from Why Not Theatre bring Samuel Beckett’s play Happy Days, originally written in 1961, back to life on stage in Vesterbro. The play has lost none of its resonance, as it perfectly lampoons our globalised world with a darkly humorous approach. Advocates of absurdist theatre will surely get their money’s worth.

Sep 4, 21:00-00:30; Husets Biograf, Rådhusstræde 13, Cph K; 70kr Husets Biograf presents a peculiar movie club where you can see a selection of the world’s worst cinema. This time around, you can indulge in two classics of cinematic disaster: Lady Terminator, which is about a young anthropological student who gets possessed by a spirit of an ancient evil queen, and Strike Commando, which tells the tale of an American soldier on a botched mission during the Vietnam War. (NJB)

The Green Flea Market Sep 12, 10:00-16:00; Jagtvej 16, Cph N; free adm Finally, the Green Flea Market can invite you to an event again - and it will be a bigger and even more cosy version this year. Find old treasures and things that have lived several lives. To book a stand, contact organisers via detgroenneloppemarked.dk. (NJB)

Monday Matchup Sep 6, 16-20:00; Bastard Café, Rådhusstræde 13, Cph K; free adm Play boardgames with complete strangers and make friends.

Games will be set up and introduced by our gurus as players arrive (or end other games). (NJB)

Golden Days Festival

Grand Nordic Festival Sep 23-26, 18:00-22:00; Musikhuset, Vesterbrogade 59, Cph V; from 100kr The third edition of the Grand Nordic Festival welcomes audiences from Copenhagen, as well as expats, for classical guitar renditions and poetry readings.

(NJB)

Democracy Drinks Sep 2, 16:45-19:00; Democracy Garage, Rentemestervej 57, Cph NV; free adm A reoccurring event for open, impartial and inspiring conversations about democracy, the focus of the first of the season is about RKV2021 and the Conference on the Future of Europe, as well as the first Danish super algorithm that can detect hate speech on Facebook. (NJB)

22 ON SCREENS

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

3 - 30 September 2021

Quentin Tarantino presents … are you sure he’s even met them?

BEN HAMILTON

T

HERE’S no doubt Quentin Tarantino is one of the best directors of all time. He’s only made nine films over a career spanning nearly three decades, and his lowest score on Metacritic is 64 – surprisingly for Jackie Brown, a movie many pretentious critics often cite as his best work ‘to be different’. He doesn’t pick his films willy-nilly – nearly 30 projects have been kicked to the curb since 1992. Ridley Scott, whose best work is comparable, has made nine films in the last six years.

But Tarantino is less picky when it comes to being an executive producer. In fact, it’s a struggle to find any that he’s produced since the mid-90s that are any good. But yet, there his name is, in bolder letters than the director’s – an age-old Hollywood trick to draw in the suckers.

More like Waterworld ONE PROJECT Tarantino passed on was a 2007 remake of Westworld starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. His darker tone wasn’t what the producers wanted … then. Nine years later, it emerged as a TV series and is still haunting people today. Anyhow, a glance at this month’s releases reveals that Reminiscence (Sep 2; 46) – starring Hugh Jackman, Rebecca Ferguson and Thandiwe Newton – is from the creators of Westworld, which is something of a stretch as Westworld was created by Michael Crichton on

his own in the early 1970s ... and he died in 2008.

The spark this time around is Jonathan Nolan, the screenwriting brother of Christopher, whose screenplays include both The Dark Knight films (sample line: “Batman scowls broodily”) and Interstellar, so he has the chops.

Sadly, though, this attempt to draw in audiences who loved Inception is contrived and flat.

“All you have to do is follow my voice,” sounds deliberately evocative of other films in which people are put into a sleep. Bottom line: the plot is bananas (in a world of rising water levels we only come out at night because it’s too hot) and only sounds palatable in the opening 10 seconds of the trailer.

Craig’s time to die?

IF YOU want blockbusters, we’ve got plenty, but we’re not going to harp on about them as Dune (Not Released Worldwide; Sep 16) and Bond flick No Time to Die (NRW; Sep 30) were due to be released last year.

Yes, their respective authors, Frank Herbert and Ian Fleming, are suitably credited, and the word is strong for the former, which stars Timothée Chalamet and (again) Rebecca Ferguson, with strong support from Oscar Isaak, Zendaya and Jason Momoa – if anyone needs a hit, he does.

The ace card, though, is Denis Villeneuve, a director resolutely against ever making a bad film.

Bond has it all to do, given this is Daniel Craig’s final outing.

Diamonds are Forever, A View to a Kill and Die Another Day all made us wish that Sean Connery, Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan had all respectively called it a day with You Only Look Twice, For Your Eyes Only and … er … Goldeneye.

Craig has been a great Bond, but this film, with its frankly shit title, is tempting fate a little.

Former Bond girl Michelle Yeoh is in Marvel film ShangChi and The Legend of the Ten Rings (Sep 2; NRW), joining a who’s-who of Anglo-Asian actors that also includes Awkwafina and Benedict Wong.

While Denmark has a ‘blocky’ of its own to look forward to: Margrethe den Første (NRW; Sep 16) starring Trine Dyrholm. Titled Margrethe: Queen of the North in English, one wonders whether they should have a credit reading “Title Created by Game of Thrones”.

Some worth it, some not ELSEWHERE in filmland, the team behind the Saw franchise (surprised they want to crow about that one) are behind Malignant (Sep 9; NRW) and Escape Room: No Way Out (Sep 2; NRW), while the producers of Spotlight (better) bring us Worth (Sep 9; 68) starring Michael Keaton and Stanley Tucci in a recount of how compensation was paid out by the US government to the relatives of those who died in 9/11.

Also worthy of your consideration is British film Nowhere Special (Sep 23; 67) starring James Bond wannabe James Norton, in a

Nobody goes out during the day ... you'd just frazzle

surprisingly touching turn, as a terminally-ill single dad trying to find a family to adopt his son. The Starling (Sep 24; Netflix) could move the old cockles too. Following the death of her child, a grief-stricken woman (Melissa McCarthy) left alone by her institutionalised husband (Chris Dowd) gets help from the local vet (Kevin Kline – so not like Crichton then) after she’s attacked by a random bird.

Pinocchio (Sep 2; NRW) is another big budget film that should have come out last year, or never at all; Kate (Sep 10; Netflix) is another pointless female assassin film; and Afterlife of the Party (Sep 2; Netflix) is yet another take on Heaven Can Wait that belongs in hell.

Oscar’s fighting himself THREE days before the release of Dune, its star Oscar Isaak will be doing his best to distract us with Scenes from a Marriage (Sep 13; HBO Nordic). Jessica Chastain co-stars in this reworking of the Ingmar Bergman classic by Hagai Levi (The Affair).

Among the returning series are The Morning Show (S2; Sep 17) on Apple; Sex Education (S3; Sep 17), Money Heist (S5A; Sep 3), Lucifer (S6; Sep 10) and Love on the Spectrum (S2; Sep 21) on Netflix; and What we do in the Shadows (S3; Sep 3), Billions (S5B; Sep 5), AP Bio (S4, Sep 3) and Doom Patrol (S3; Sep 24) on HBO Nordic. Meanwhile, two promising Scandi series – Vinterviken (Sep 8) and Kastanjemanden (Sep 29) – suggest the Netflix production line is beginning to pay dividends.

Cartoon series Q-Force (Sep 2; Netflix), with its team of LGBT superheroes, looks like fun, and Spanish Nazi-hunter series Jaguar (Sep 22; Netflix) seems promising (particularly following the disappointment that was Hunters), but not so sure about Midnight Mass (Sep 24; Netflix). Does horror, in this case a yarn about a demonic priest, ever work on television?

Then again, at least they’ve had the good sense not to say from the franchise that gave us Saw.

ENGLISH JOB DENMARK Recruitment Announcements Part of The Welcome Group TECHNICAL SUPPORT SPECIALIST, EPOS

As technical support specialist your focus will be on quality issues, challenging support cases and customer satisfaction providing results which create customer loyalty. You need to be fluent in English & French.

Location: Ballerup Deadline: 15 September 2021 Sara Aknooni, Team Manager, Contact: Global Support & Service, +45 44 70 01 24

TALENT ACQUISITION RECRUITER, GRUNDFOS

Your primary responsibility is to drive the entire recruitment process from a - z. You will be supporting Hiring Managers in Denmark and across Europe.

Location: Bjerringbro, Jutland Deadline: ASAP Mette Buch Hansen , Contact: Talent Acquisition Manager, mehansen@grundfos.com

SENIOR CLINICAL RESEARCH SPECIALIST, AMBU

Do you have a passion for working with clinical documentation and clinical investigations? Are you able to take responsibility for the strategic direction of how we work to document our medical devices?

Location:

Ballerup

Deadline:

26 September 2021

Contact:

Daniel Carter, Head of Clinical Research, +45 72 25 21 90

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

DISHWASHING STAFF AT RESTAURANT HØST

We might have the right job for you if you are service minded and like to work in a very busy kitchen – sometimes you are on your own and other times you are part of a team.

Location: Copenhagen Deadline: ASAP cofoco.dk Contact:

REGULATORY AFFAIRS MANAGER, OTICON MEDICAL BAHS

CUSTOMER EXECUTIVE, PROGRAM MANAGEMENT (CUSTOMER OPERATIONS) TEAM, TP AEROSPACE HOLDING A/S

We are looking for a team player to take up an entry level position, who is responsible for dealing with all our contract customers.

Location: Hvidovre Deadline: 15 September 2021 Rikke Skovbo Holst, Contact: Director of Customer Operations & Supply Chain, +45 25 46 08 44

One of your key roles is to be the everyday link between different units to facilitate cross functional work. You will be working with a wide variety of the newest technology – so if you are a tech and regulatory nerd, this is the job for you.

Location: Smørum Deadline: 16 September 2021 Anja Ravn, Contact: anjm@oticonmedical.com

STRATEGIC AND SOCIABLE SALES AND BUSINESS DEVELOPER, FORCE TECHNOLOGY

MARKET PRODUCT MANAGER, SATAIR

Location:

Hørsholm

Deadline:

26 September 2021

Contact:

Søren Vase Legarth, Team Manager, svle@force.dk

Your objective will be to continuously develop sales and manage our product pipeline to secure value for our Airline customers and suppliers.

Location: Kastrup Deadline: ASAP satair.com Contact:

GLOBAL ACCOUNT LEAD FOR THE BARN, ARLA FOODS

As our new Account Manager, you will be playing a central part in our agency operations setup and work closely with the entire team, but especially teaming up with our project management team and producers – and of course the brand teams.

Location: Aarhus or Copenhagen Deadline: ASAP Liberty Sveke, Contact: Head of Account Management, lisve@arlafoods.com

We offer world-class acoustics testing services – but we need you to get the word out. Can you analyse the markets, lay out our commercial strategies and open the right doors? Then you are just the person we need.

PROJECT MANAGER, TELECOMMUNICATION, SEMCO MARITIME

You will work with a strong team of experienced project managers and engineers who are all committed to delivering optimal solutions matching the needs of our offshore wind and oil & gas customers around the world.

Location: Esbjerg Deadline: ASAP Tommy Brøde Manly, Contact: Director - Project Execution, +45 20 77 03 82

Working together with internationals and companies to better understand the needs of one another.

The Welcome Group has created this page and provides additional services, including an online community supporting employment for internationals on Facebook.

INTERN TI NAL CIT ZEN DAYS 24 & 25 SEPTEMBER, 2021

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Welcome to Greater Copenhagen – and welcome to International Citizen Days 2021, which is part of Welcome September. Taking place in the very heart of Copenhagen on 24 & 25 September, International Citizen Days bring together public authorities, private organisations and local communities for two days of endless inspiration on housing, job and social life through a carefully curated fair together with talks, debates and activities relevant to all newcomers. A jam-packed programme awaits you, making sure that settling in in Greater Copenhagen is a smooth journey for not only yourself but also for your accompanying family. The event is free and all you need to do is to sign up, show up and have fun – ses vi?

FRIDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER

SATURDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER

This evening is devoted to exploring the field of job and career, starting with a warm welcome by Mayor of Employment and Integration in Copenhagen, Cecilia Lonning-Skovgaard.

Public and private experts, including the Danish tax authorities, employees’ associations and trade unions, will be present to guide you through the Danish tax system, traditional models of collective bargaining and the inescapable codes of Danish workplace culture.

You will also find professional guidance on job search and career development together with plenty of opportunities to mingle and widen your network in casual surroundings oozing of good old Danish ‘hygge’.

This day is devoted to exploring the field of housing, job and social life, starting with a warm welcome by Mayor of Culture and Leisure in Copenhagen, Franciska Rosenkilde. With a lively fair representing unique organisations from the housing market, banking sector and cultural scene, we invite you to engage in talks, debates and activities all day. You will be guided through the jungle of housing options, banking services, tax laws, language classes and bombarded with great inspiration on kick-starting your social life, not to mention, local delicacies to satisfy your appetite.

The festivities continue even after 15.00 with an after-event taking place in one of the city’s most remarkable culture houses.

16.00-20.00

10.00-15.00