CPH Post 14 - 28 May 2020

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With the capital’s Anglo pubs expected to open next week, you might expect the landlords to be overjoyed.

No, amid heavy restrictions, they’re apprehensive 22-23

What women miss: from filling their diaries to chilling with friends, the coronavirus quarantine has been a testing time, but it has been one of self-discovery

20-21

CPHPOST.DK 14 - 28 May 2020

LOCAL All change at the stations!

Some plans are best laid down

2

SCIENCE

Back of the tech!

Cheers boffins! Science does soccer a solid

SMOKING IN ARREARS

8

It's bad news for hippies Hugging is dead in the water, claim futurists BUSINESS FEATURE In the struggling film industry, the shoestring operator is king

BEN HAMILTON

H

UGGING strangers may be limited to particularly dramatic football games in CULTURE the future, according to researchers from the Centre for Future Studies.

Like peas in a pod!

Despite the name, the centre Collaboration with the Coping does not claim it can predict the in CPH cast was meant to be! future, but it is adamant that the habit of hugging a stranger to 19 say hello is dead in the water PRINT VERSION ISSN: 2446-0184 following the Coronavirus Crisis.

ONLINE VERSION ISSN:

11

2446-0192

Countryside urges AMONG its other predictions, according to its head Jesper Bo Jensen, are that more people will move out of the cities, and that

more people will support their local communities (help the elderly with shopping, support local stores etc).

They expect urban planners to rethink their focus away from micro apartments and other close-proximity living options.

More home tasks ALSO LIKELY to change is the way we work. While three out of four Danes would prefer to not work at home, according to a Wilke study for A4, it is predicted they will be given more work-fromhome tasks in the future.

But we’re still keen on big events, as Roskilde Festival has confirmed that more than 85 percent of its ticket holders for 2020 have held onto their stubs to go instead in 2021.

4-5 Roman era wall found

Terror attack averted

ARCHAEOLOGISTS have unearthed a massive structure in Lolland that is believed to have been used to ward off invaders back in the Roman Iron Age - so just under 2,000 years ago – with the use of spiked spears. So far, 770 metres of the structure has been detected, but Museum Lolland-Falster estimates it could stretch to twice that.

A TERROR attack was averted in the Danish capital on April 30. The intelligence agency PET arrested an individual in an undisclosed area of the city, and Copenhagen Police confirmed that person, who had attempted to procure weapons and munitions, was motivated by a militant Islamic perspective. No mention was made of the possible target.

Poet mourned

Danish-style equity

THE POET Yahya Hassan has died. He was 24. The police do not suspect anyone else was involved. The literary community, and further afield, were quick to hail a troubled life that began in the notorious neighbourhood of Aarhus V, which was touched by genius. Respected creative Jørgen Leth noted that Denmark had lost a “unique voice".

THANKS to backing from Venstre and three of its left-wing allies, the government has secured a huge municipal equalisation deal that will disperse funds more evenly across Denmark. Funds will be diverted from the 26 wealthiest municipalities – Copenhagen will lose 465 million kroner a year, for example, and Gentofte 164 million – to the country’s poorest areas.

INSIDE OUR NEXT ISSUE, OUT 28 MAY!

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FROM FOREIGN MINISTER TO PRESIDENT OF THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO AMBASSADORS IN DENMARK

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LOCAL

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

14 - 28 May 2020

It's all change at the stations

ONLINE THIS WEEK A 39-YEAR-OLD Pakistani man found guilty for beating his 34-year-old wife to death in October 2018 in Osted near Roskilde will serve his sentence in his homeland. Additionally Kamran Khan has been denied the right to inherit from his ethnic Danish wife.

Admits to negligence A DOCTOR at Herlev Hospital has pleaded guilty to inadequately treating a 16-year-old boy who died of meningitis in 2016. The doctor, who concedes that Mathias Baadsgaard-Lund needed urgent treatment, could be jailed for up to four months.

Balloonists set record

Worst rule breakers

Secret passages and a swankier Palads on the cards CHRISTIAN WENANDE

L

OCATED on either side of Nørreport, the country’s busiest transport hub, Vesterport and Østerbro stations have both been in the news recently: for reasons of the future and the past respectively.

New cinema plans VESTERPORT Station looks set to get a new neighbour: a billion kroner multi-level office building flush with cascading roof-top terraces, which will replace Palads Cinema, which with its multi-coloured facade, has been one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks since 1989.

Palads owner Nordisk Film

Got some tasty burgers

Palads 3.0 could be on the horizon

has recruited visionary architecture firm Bjarke Ingles Group (BIG) to take charge of Palads 3.0, which will include a cinema beneath 14,300 sqm of office space. However, both funding and approval from Copenhagen Municipality is needed first.

Secret tunnel found TWO STOPS down, archaeologists from the Museum of

Copenhagen have discovered a three metre-long tunnel six metres beneath Østbanegade in connection with the excavation of a new Metro link at Østerport Station.

It is believed its wooden remnants, sourced from a tree cut down in 1874, are part of a secret escape tunnel. Similar construction methods have been found in tunnels built on the western front during WWI.

THANKS to Cinemateket and Meyers, thousands of Copenhageners have been enjoying Big Kahuna burgers at a drive-in cinema in Nordhavn. Every night from May 2-15 and counting, punters have been paying 295 kroner a head for the film and movie-inspired menu at Tunnelfabrikken.

Most elderly deaths

Kindest giant in town loses shoe Gilleleje has a new landmark, and it's a size 134 BEN HAMILTON

AS OF MAY 4, Copenhageners had made the most coronavirus rule infringements. Of the fines issued across Denmark since March 17, Copenhagen (142) and Western Copenhagen (126) led the way. In total, 454 fines were issued nationwide, although 30 were later rescinded.

T

TWO TEENAGERS, aged 15 and 17, have been charged with stabbing an 18-year-old man to death on April 26 during a mass brawl in a Gentofte carpark.

HE MARBLE Shoe’ sounds like a long-lost Hans Christian Andersen tale – a play on the Cinderella story perhaps, with an alternative ending in which the prince places his love in some posh cement shoes and throws her into the Danube.

But standing 90 cm tall on the street of Vesterbrogade outside the headquarters of Moser Studio in the north Zealand fishing village of Gilleleje, this Marble Shoe is very real.

Some 165 cm in length, 75

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Charged with stabbing

Glostrup worst for virus WITH A rate of 570 coronavirus infections per 100,000 people, Glostrup currently has the highest rate in Denmark, reported TV2 on May 4. Of its population of 22,615, it has recorded 129 cases. However, Vestegnen, an area comprising the capital’s western suburbs, is quickly catching up.

MOSER STUDIO

TWO MEN have set an unofficial national record for the highest elevation reached by a hot air balloon. On April 22, Philip Mundt and Thomas Jøhnk reached a height of 8,253 metres – an adventure made possible as Danish airspace was almost empty due to the coronavirus.

BIG

Guilty of killing wife

ONLINE THIS WEEK

AS OF THE end of April, the Capital Region led the way with the most nursing home coronavirus casualties: 88 deaths out of its total of 133. According to a Statens Serum Institut report, 9 percent of all nursing homes have had a case – 88 different nursing homes in 45 municipalities.

Year of architecture Naughty giant! You're supposed to take off both your shoes

cm in width and 2.4 tonnes in weight, the new statue is the world’s largest.

Shoe size of 134 COMMISSIONED by studio head Susan Moser, it combines the company’s expertise in design and natural stone to mark the opening of the studio.

Additionally, it pays respect to a shoe shop in the building that was founded in the 1980s.

Sculpted from five tonnes of Norwegian Rose by Nabil Hassan Altinawi, a Syrian refugee, it will no doubt start doing the rounds on social media, complete with how it packs a shoe size of 134 – big enough for a T-Rex, claws and all.

UNESCO has chosen Copenhagen to host the International Architectural Association UIA World Congress in July 2023. Some 15,000 participants are expected to attend. Accordingly, 2023 will be a Year of Architecture for the city.

Brygge ban lifted COPENHAGEN Police lifted the temporary stay-ban enforced in the waterfront area in Island Brygge on May 1.

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COVER

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

14 - 28 May 2020

Some problems can’t be stubbed out: but it doesn’t stop them trying ROSELYNE MIN

C

IGARETTE butts accounted for 86 percent of all the rubbish collected off the streets of Copenhagen in 2018, according to the city municipality – at a cost of two kroner per butt.

And it would be even more if it wasn’t for the efforts of the likes of Denmark’s Bodil Fosgaard and France’s Alain Muller, who have dedicated much of their lives to removing the butts whilst raising awareness of the

LISBETH HOLTEN

BODIL FOSGAARD Fosgaard is an environmentalist, linguist and artist. She installs arresting messages made up out of cigarette butts on the streets. Over the past years, her artwork has been increasingly stopping Copenhageners in their tracks, whilst wowing social media users – in Denmark and further afield.

What was your initial motivation?

In the past years I’ve been looking for something meaningful to do. As I was interested in environmental issues, I started an initiative called ‘Garbage Run’, which was inspired by Erik Ahlstrom, a Swedish activist who introduced the trend of ‘plogging’ [a compound word of ‘to pick’ and ‘to jog’]. However, I

problem.

INSTAGRAM @MADE_BY_MY_BUTTS

CPH POST meets two activists dedicated to encouraging smokers to put their cigarette butts in the bin

Raising awareness EACH OF them have their own distinctive methods. While Fosgaard makes passers-by stop and consider her witty guerrilla messages formed out of discarded cigarette ends, Muller travels the world on his endless quest to nip the problem in the butt.

CPH POST recently caught up with the pair in Copenhagen to discover more about their endeavours. For Fosgaard it was a chance to reflect on the efforts of her city to curb the problem, and for Muller an opportunity to express mild disappointment that Europe’s green capital is no better than most of its counterparts.

wanted to have a bigger impact than just picking up garbage.

One day the joggers who participated in our event started collecting cigarette butts and they couldn’t move ahead so fast because there were so many – it caught my attention.

So how did you come up with the idea of making art?

I realised that it wouldn’t attract attention by just collecting the butts. So I decided to make art out of them. I wanted to make something sarcastic and funny with a serious message. Because Danes are very specific with humour – you can’t tell them: ‘It’s toxic. you are destroying the planet!’ You have to make fun of things.

Where do you get inspiration?

It takes quite some time to come up with an idea and to try my best to make it aesthetic. I draw sketches, look at the dictionary and pay attention to ads or signs on the streets. With this effort, I can invent new funny words. I lend a voice to nature and butts.

I let them speak.

How do you manage to get enough butts for your art?

I have a fixed stock. And since my neighbours began complain-

Fosgaard made a heart figure to honour Valentine's Day when Muller visited

ing, some people offered space so I could store some of them with them. I collect the butts to make massive-scale artworks.

But I also throw a lot of them away because they get greasy easily.

How do people react?

I prefer to install the artwork during rush hour as it’s important to interact with people to change their behaviour. Once a homeless guy started chasing me and I noticed he was collecting butts. Now he is doing it on his own from time to time! He doesn’t want anything. I offered some help, but he said he just wanted to help me. He is an amazing guy. Most people come to me and ask what I am doing and appreciate my work. That being said, sometimes I get harsh comments like: ’Get a life’.

CIGARETTE BUTTS: - Cigarette waste accounts for 81 percent of the garbage collected by the city's sweeping machines – each stub not picked up by the machines costs the city an estimated two kroner (2015) - The number of cigarette stubs collected from the streets of Copenhagen increased by 71 percent between 2007 and 2014 - DSB in 2015 donated 400 ashtrays to Copenhagen - Denmark banned smoking inside in 2007 How should this problem be solved?

It’s not like Denmark doesn’t have any legislation against flipping the butts. But people would scoff if the police imposed a fine. Ironically, once the police told me they would impose a fine if I didn't remove my art, even though it was made with already-abandoned butts. It could have been 13 million kroner!

Now I have an agreement with

[Copenhagen] municipality, but it was ridiculous. I think making people aware of their actions should take precedence, and that they should be given solutions that can be followed. I upload videos to give them some ideas of how and where to keep the butts – should they have a hard time finding a bin nearby.

This could be done on a much bigger scale with governmental co-operation.

COVER

14 - 28 May 2020

ALAIN MULLER Muller travels around the world collecting cigarette butts on the streets. He says it’s an easy way to make a trip a bit special as a tourist. Although “it’s nearly a curse to realise how many butts are on the streets every time you walk down them”, he hopes to see a world without them soon.

What was your initial motivation?

Working as a ski technician on the mountain of Chamonix I realised how many butts there are in nature. It broke my heart as snow is often associated with purity. I love travelling and I passionately wanted to make my trips meaningful. Being a smoker myself, I’m conscious of our bad image, so I wanted to get my story out there.

How was Copenhagen?

Frankly I had an expectation that the northern countries would be more conscious. But I remember at a ski resort in Norway that I was shocked by the state of the pollution on the slopes. And really, Copenhagen wasn't so different from Amsterdam on this trip. But I wouldn’t blame those countries as it’s a problem across the whole of Europe. I went to Christiania thinking that maybe with their own hippie-autonomy they would be better at keeping their commune clear of cigarette butts. But it wasn’t the case, so I went back with my equipment to clean up. However, in general, there are a lot of ashtrays and bins in Copenhagen.

How do people usually react?

Normally people who talk to me

INSTAGRAM @MADE_BY_MY_BUTTS

ALAIN MULLER

Why do you think smokers litter cigarette butts?

Being a smoker myself, I know the feeling that you just want them to be gone [when you finish]. I didn’t realise how many people just threw them away before I started this. I’m still afraid of going directly to them and telling them off. I’m still waiting to come up with a perfect and versatile line – something funny that can make them cool about it.

5

are environment-enthusiasts or non-smokers. But in Copenhagen I had quite a few smokers.

They were curious about what I’m doing and shared their opinion. It might have been a coincidence ... perhaps because I recently started cleaning around the bins – it’s a big irony that there are more butts around these ashtray bins.

Who are your best supporters?

Fellow activists. This work is pretty demanding. They’ve been through the same things. They have new ideas – new tools and ways to tackle the problem. I’m lucky to travel so I met quite a few, including the Danish activist Bodil.

What did you do with Bodil?

We went to a bridge and collected 3,000 butts in just one morning. It’s not hard to make a high number in most capital cities in Europe. Later she made an art piece with the butts, which made me think; it was a good way to send a message.

We inspired each other. It’s interesting to see how all of us activists have different ways to collect the butts. She went the hard way – she bent over for every butt. I use a broom, which totally changed my life. Another activist in the Netherlands, Bernadette, uses pliers.

SMOKING BY THE NUMBERS: - Some 23.1 percent of Danes smoke. Around a quarter are in the 16-20 age bracket. However, only 12-13 percent smoke every day. The rest are ‘party smokers’ - Around 24 percent of men are smokers and 22 percent of women.

Eight percent, both genders, are heavy smokers - According to tobaccoatlas.org, the economic cost of smoking in Denmark amounts to over 50 million kroner a year. This includes direct costs related to healthcare expenditure and indirect costs related to lost productivity due to early deaths - Every year, around 11,300 people are killed by tobacco-caused diseases. They account for 22 percent of all male deaths, and just under 21 percent of all female fatalities. Around 5,000 die of cancer - As of 2015, around 6,000 children aged under 14 use tobacco each day PETER ANDERSON

6

NATIONAL

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

ONLINE THIS WEEK

THE GOVERNMENT is set to allocate 30 billion kroner from the National Building Fund towards green renovations for the public housing sector. The housing minister, Kaare Dybvad Bek, reveals that 72,000 homes are currently on a waiting list for renovations between 2020 and 2026. Around 1 million people live in public housing.

State-endorsed diets MORE THAN 1,000 lives and 12 billion kroner in economic benefits can be saved if Denmark’s official dietary advice is followed, according to a University of Copenhagen report prepared in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Food. It advises more whole grains, vegetables and seafood, along with less red meat, processed meat, salt and saturated fat.

Assassination plot trial A MAN ACCUSED of plotting to assassinate the leader of the Arab separatist group ASMLA on Danish soil pleaded not guilty on the opening day of his trial in Roskilde on May 1. The 40-year-old Norwegian-Iranian is charged with espionage and attempted murder on behalf of Iran.

He was arrested in September 2018 after a full-scale terror response operation that took place in many locations in Denmark. The verdict is expected at the end of June.

MP fighting the cause ENHEDSLISTEN MP Rosa Lund is alarmed that the government is oblivious to how many permanent residence applications are being obstructed by applicants losing their jobs. “They have not received a hand from the government,” Lund wrote on Facebook. “If you get fired now, you lose the opportunity to apply for permanent stay.”

Green light for waste app ‘WASTE Portal’, a new waste disposal app trialed in Stevns Municipality where more than 2,000 residents signed up on the first day, is being launched in at least 19 more municipalities to help better inform people how to sort their rubbish.

Four weeks of widespread reopenings PIXABAY

Green renovations

14 - 28 May 2020

The universities, nightclubs, fitness centres and swimming pools are the most notable casualties, with no plans to open them until August at the earliest CHRISTIAN WENANDE

T

HE GOVERNMENT intends to usher in the third reopening phase on June 8, at which point the maximum size of gatherings will be raised from ten to 30-50 people.

However, the phase is contingent on satisfactory results in five areas: a public testing strategy, the use of protective equipment, social distancing, good hygiene and avoiding super-spreaders.

It will include the reopening of cinemas, theatres, galleries, zoos, aquariums, museums, outdoor amusement parks, botanical gardens, language centres, night schools, public research centres and some parts of the public sector.

Guidelines will also be confirmed that should enable people to hold weddings and confirmations, and it might be possible to open up some parts of Denmark before others – depending on infection rates.

However, the universities, nightclubs, fitness centres and swimming pools will have to wait until the fourth phase in August. This means the 201920 university academic year is officially over.

Bars and shops THE SECOND reopening phase, meanwhile, commenced on May 11, with more measures coming into force on May 18 – all subject to social distancing measures, although the government has cut the recommended distance from two to one metre in areas that aren’t considered confined.

Since May 11, all retail establishments have been permitted to open and teenagers have been allowed to return to school, although the municipalities had the final say on when the schools

ONLINE THIS WEEK Pitch perfect WITH FEWER overseas holidays expected this summer, the environment minister, Lea Wermelin, has confirmed that 77 state forests are being opened up to campers this year. The addition means campers now have a choice of over 275 forests. Campers are only permitted to stay in the same spot for one night, and the size limit on camps is two tents/six people.

Angling for best spots

NB: Bubbling has been included in permitted outdoor activities

could open.

Also since May 11, most outdoor fitness activities have been given the green light, and businesses are able to welcome some of their employees back to work.

On May 18, restaurants, cafes and bars will be able to open, but their number of customers and opening hours will be heavily restricted (see pages 22-23).

Efterskole boarding schools, libraries, safari parks and churches are also allowed to reopen, and professional sport (see page 8 for news about the Superliga’s return) is permitted to start again, but without spectators.

The borders will remain closed to foreign nationals until at least June 1. The ban on all unnecessary travel outside Denmark is extended until May 31.

Fewer in hospital CLEARLY the government is optimistic that Denmark can reopen without a surge in new cases. Most heartening has been the number of hospitalised cases, which as of Tuesday stood at 177 – on April 1 there were 535.

Of course, some of these patients have died since then – as of Wednesday, 527 people have been killed by the coronavirus so far in Denmark – but many more have recovered.

Meanwhile, rigorous testing is on the agenda at the 16 new centres that sprouted up all over

the country in April (see page 9) – and better hygiene.

Patients who have recovered from or are still suffering from coronavirus will be asked to retrace their steps in the build-up to their diagnosis to help establish who they might have been in contact with.

Hygiene-wise, the country will make more use of protective equipment, continue to encourage social distancing and prohibit large gatherings where it believes many people can get infected all at once.

Bankruptcies expected IN OTHER coronavirus-related news, 45 percent of hotels and 36 percent of restaurants believe there is a risk of them being liquidated or going bankrupt within the next three months.

Considerably more young people are infected. As of early May, there were 11 cases per 100,000 teenagers – more than double the four cases per 100,000 recorded in weeks 1214.

In light of the travel industry getting hit hard by the global crisis, a 725 million kroner aid package has been put together by the Business Ministry.

And businesses with more than 50 employees risk fines of 40,000 kroner for not following the guidelines. Further offences will see the fines rise to 100,000 and then 150,000 kroner.

THE NUMBER of people fishing in Denmark has exploded during the Coronavirus Crisis, reports TV2. When Odense Hunting and Leisure stocks up on fishing equipment every March 1, it estimates that it takes a year to sell it all. But this year, it informs TV2, it has already sold out twice, as sales have quadrupled.

Touchscreen sleep blues A QUARTER of Danes aged 1824 have difficulty falling asleep without their phone or tablet switched on beside them, according to an Epinion survey for DR. Experts warn exposure to blue light curbs the body’s production of the hormone melatonin – which regulates the sleep-wake cycle, which can cause long-term diabetes and cardiovascular illnesses.

Laudrup the greatest MICHAEL Laudrup has been voted the best sportsperson in his country’s history, according to a YouGov survey for BT. He received 21 percent of the votes, ahead of Caroline Wozniacki (18), Paul Elvstrøm (12), Peter Schmeichel (10) and Anja Andersen (7).

Crisp packet brigade RIGSHOSPITALET has been busy since announcing on April 4 that blood donors would get a coronavirus antibody test, reports TV2 – to the extent its bank is full again. However, bank head Morten Hansen wasn’t happy, condemning those who “only sign up for a Coke, a bag of crisps and a coronavirus immunity status [who aren’t worth] as much as those who come earnestly”.

14 - 28 May 2020

ONLINE THIS WEEK

2019: More refugees out than in

DANISH actress Dina Rosenmeier, who featured on the cover of the last edition of CPH POST, has confirmed she expects to return on May 15 on a flight from Mumbai via Amsterdam. Meanwhile, our other cover story participant, the documentary maker Arun Sharma, is hoping to return on May 21 on a flight from Ho Chi Minh City via Seoul and Frankfurt.

A “threat to peace”?

A PLANNED US donation of 83 million dollars to Greenland has been described as a threat to peace in the Arctic by Russian ambassador Vladimir V Barbin, according to Politiken. In response, US ambassador Carla Sands said the donation is a shield to protect Greenlanders from "malign influence and extortion" from China and Russia.

Italy turns down offer THE DEFENCE minister, Trine Bramsen, has confirmed that Italy turned down Denmark’s offer of respirators in the end. In early April, it was reported the respirators were decrepit, but at that time Italy said it did not care.

Indian water deal THE UNIVERSITY of Southern Denmark is helping India to improve a water supply system that puts 600 million people at risk of poor health. Around 82 percent of rural houses in India do not have access to water.

Euros go-ahead DESPITE fears the visiting Tour de France might disrupt the capital’s plans to host four Euro 2020 games next summer, it has been confirmed that both sporting events will take place in Copenhagen.

Gucci on Facebook board FORMER Danish PM Helle Thorning-Schmidt, no stranger to a selfie herself, has been recruited to sit as a co-chair of Facebook’s new ‘Independent Supervisory Council’. The 20-member council is tasked with assessing decisions made under Facebook and Instagram’s content policies and procedures.

He caught a comet

German border deal SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN'S minister president, Daniel Günther, has agreed with the German interior minister, Horst Seehofer, to open the border with Denmark step by step from May 15, reports Flensborg Avis.

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ONLINE THIS WEEK PIXABAY

Cover stars return

INTERNATIONAL

Increasing numbers of refugees are being kept closer to 'home'

Immigration and integration minister hails “lovely numbers” NATHAN WALMER

F

sons”, such as the EU-Turkey agreement to close the border at Turkey, which has prevented them from travelling into Europe via that route.

Losing their jobs IN RELATED news, immigrants or descendants of immigrants from western and non-western countries are losing their jobs more quickly than others, according to figures from the Labor Movement's Business Council.

They account for 7.5 percent of the total number of employed people in Denmark, but 22.9 percent of all those made unemployed between March 9 and April 9. Many are unskilled and hourly workers working in the hotel and restaurant industries.

However, they still have more jobs than their parents did when they were the same age in the 1980s and 1990s.

Back then, only 59 percent of men with a higher education were employed, compared to 89 percent in 2017.

OR THE first time in nearly a decade, Denmark saw more people with refugee backgrounds leave the country than enter it in 2019, according to an analysis by the Ministry of Immigration and Integration.

The number of refugees leaving Denmark were largely made up of those from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iraq, Somalia and Syria, while those migrating here mostly came from Afghanistan, Eritrea and Iran – for a net loss of approximately 730 refugees.

Eva Singer, the asylum manager at the Danish Refugee Council, told DR that refugees “have a harder time coming to Denmark for various rea-

"Lovely numbers" THE IMMIGRATION and integration minister, Mattias Tesfaye, said they were “lovely numbers”, telling DR that “it shows, in part, that we can keep the influx at bay by pursuing sensible policy in Denmark.”

However, according to Tesfaye, the government has not yet made a decision on whether the net loss means Denmark can accommodate more UN quota refugees.

After 26 years of receiving 500 a year, Denmark called a halt to the quota in 2015 following the Refugee Crisis, but then started receiving them again last year, albeit on a smaller scale than before.

Rise in dope seizures

Air travel talks

Travel corridors

THE DANISH Customs Agency last year made 125,000 seizures of bulking-up and performance enhancement drugs at the country's borders – over double the 52,000 made in 2018. Illegal fitness doping drugs such as anabolic steroids are believed to account for most of the seizures. Experts attribute the seizure increase to more officers, controls and parcel checks.

DISCUSSIONS involving various ministries, airline representatives and trade unions have been ongoing about how best to reopen Denmark to air travel.

The talks mainly centred around infection prevention, spatial restrictions, flight destinations and the necessary clearance checks of travellers upon entry and exit.

All unnecessary travel remains banned until May 31.

PM METTE Frederiksen is discussing ‘possible travel corridors’ with eight other countries, reports Politiken. The countries, which like Denmark have mostly mitigated the impact of the virus, are the Czech Republic, Singapore, Israel, New Zealand, Austria, Greece, Australia and Norway. For example, Greece has shown interest in welcoming Danish tourists from July 1.

DANISH astronomer Heine Wieben Rasmussen has caught a stunning shot of a comet discovered on March 25 by the Solar Heliospheric Observer spacecraft.

Located 100 km from Earth, in the constellation of Cetus, the 'Comet Swan' really lit up for his lens as he stood in the mountains of Cederberg, a remote area of South Africa.

Fewer stranded AS OF EARLY May, 902 Danes were stranded abroad, according to the Foreign Ministry, which has since the start of the crisis helped 5,404 Danes return home. Two countries, Pakistan (nearly 300) and India (around 150), account for nearly half of those stranded.

Morocco, Argentina and Iraq complete the top five.

Help for exporters THE DANISH Trade Council has launched a COVID-19 help package portal to assist Danish exporters with mitigating the economic damage. The website contains an overview of other countries' current support measures: access to financial support, opportunities for compensation to local employees, and changing rules for paying taxes and fees.

Green light for bridge WORK ON the Femern Belt link will begin on 1 January 2021 on the Danish side and by mid2022 on the German side, it has been confirmed. The 18 km tunnel will link northern Germany to the Danish island of Lolland, thus reducing journeys times from 60 to seven minutes. It is expected to open in mid-2029.

8

SCIENCE

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

ONLINE THIS WEEK

AT LEAST ten applications to use Remdesivir have been received by the Danish Medicines Agency. Demand for the drug is increasing as testing has been positive. Patients are recovering 31 percent faster and having lower mortality rates: 8 compared to 11 percent among patients not given the drug. However, it is uncertain how much of the drug the agency can obtain.

Bill Gates deal MICROSOFT founder Bill Gates has signed an agreement with Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies Denmark in Hillerød to produce coronavirus medicine, reports Børsen. The agreement stipulates that the company will reserve its manufacturing facilities and a significant share of its capacity to produce the drug – but reportedly only from 2021.

Vaccine progress BIOTECH company Bavarian Nordic has signed a head of terms agreement with AdaptVac, a joint venture program spun out of the University of Copenhagen, to accelerate the development of a vaccine for the coronavirus. The program, which also involves AGC Biologics, has already received an EU Horizon grant.

Clean your hands!

THE DTU is developing a digital tool that reminds healthcare professionals to disinfect their hands. It works by placing a chip in the worker’s name tag and uses Bluetooth to track their movements. The system is expected to be tested in a pilot project at a hospital and a care centre over the next few months.

More circulatory DANISH and foreign intensive care doctors are now expressing doubt that the coronavirus can be considered a respiratory disease. Some patients have formed blood clots in their arms, legs, and kidneys – as well as their lungs – suggesting it is just as much a circulatory disease.

Science does football a favour

ONLINE THIS WEEK PXHERE.COM

High interest in drug

14 - 28 May 2020

Players spend a minute of every hour in close proximity to others, but they haven’t seen our CPH POST news team in action!

BEN HAMILTON

S

CIENCE and football are rare bedfellows. Let’s face it, the boffins pretty much ruined the 1994 World Cup when they caught Diego Maradona out for doping.

But then again, former Brazilian great Socrates did get a PhD in medicine before his untimely death, goalkeeper Shaka Hislop earned a BA in mechanical engineering, and who can forget that Juan Mata married the two with his degree in sports science.

Contact is minimal BUT IN the last month, university researchers have played a significant role in persuading the government that there is only a minimal risk of the coronavirus being spread through full contact football.

Researchers at Aarhus University deduced that Superliga footballers spend about 1.5 minutes out of every 90 in close proximity to another player during a game.

15 minutes needed “THE SUNDHEDSSTYRELSEN health authority estimates you have to be within two metres of a contagious person for over 15 minutes before contact is relevant,” Allan Randrup Thomsen from the University of Copenhagen told Videnskab.dk.

“So there is no doubt that the [1.5 minutes] noted in the research is not critical – particularly given that football is played outside.”

Early bird tests RESEARCHERS from Aarhus University, DTU and Rigshospitalet are developing prick tests to detect early infection of the coronavirus. The test can also be used to identify patients with an elevated risk of being severely affected. With funding of 2.8 million kroner from the Danish Research Foundation, the tests could be ready by 2021.

Overweight more at risk It would have made no change to Wimbledon's crowds in the 1990s

Amateur risk lower AND THE risk is even smaller in amateur football, claim researchers at the University of Aarhus and the University of Southern Denmark, who have used GPS and video analysis to determine there is half as much close contact.

‘Close contact’ is defined by Sundhedsstyrelsen as being within two metres of someone for more than 15 minutes – which is a factor being considered as football leagues look to restart matches amid the Coronavirus Crisis and safety restrictions surrounding it.

Avoid communal showers!

HOWEVER, Thomsen does suggest that footballers get ready and shower at home to avoid changing rooms.

And he also suggests they avoid lots of physical contact during celebrations, and follow general guidelines in terms of coughing on sleeves and washing hands.

Amateur football could make a return during Phase 3 of the reopening on June 8.

confirmed that the Superliga will resume on May 28 when AGF Aarhus hosts Randers FC at Ceres Park.

The postponed season is expected to be completed by July 29 and, although fans will be unable to attend games for now, there promises to be a lot of football played in the coming weeks.

Lots of room with Zoom IN THE opening game, AGF will be introducing what it calls “the world’s first virtual grandstand”. Large video boards will be situated either side of the pitch where players will be able to see fan reactions in real-time.

Fans can join the different sections of the ‘virtual stands’ via the Zoom video platform.

Superliga returning IN RELATED news, it has been

No contact? You’re back!

IN OTHER coronavirus news related to sports, a number of different sports were given the all clear to resume on April 25, providing no more than ten players were ever involved.

The sports included tennis, athletics, beach volleyball, shooting, motor sports, frisbee golf, BMX cycling, kayaking, canoeing and SUP.

More waves expected

Autopsy focus

Blue Planet woes

DESPITE the infection rate for coronavirus in Denmark falling from 0.9 to 0.7 (so every infected person on average passes the virus onto 0.7 people) since the end of April, the Norwegian Public Health Institute predicts that more infections will come in waves in October-November and in the spring of 2021 if a vaccine is not distributed in that time.

DANISH pathologists are investigating 300 autopsies to learn more about the coronavirus in connection with a project supported by the Lundbeck Foundation. According to the foundation the autopsies are of hospitalised patients infected with the virus to varying degrees when they died.

THE BLUE Planet aquarium has initiated a fundraising process to cover the costs of the salaries of its 20 employees, along with food and medical treatment for its 20,000 inhabitants, which represent 450 different species. Moving them to other aquariums has not been a sound option, as they are also struggling and the journey could kill them.

A DISPROPORTIONATE number of overweight people are being admitted to hospital with coronavirus complications. Some 62 percent of the total are overweight (compared to 51 percent of the general population), while 35 percent are obese (17 percent).

However, only the morbidly obese (BMI of over 35 percent) are considered to be an at-risk group.

Deadlier than the flu THE CORONAVIRUS is more likely to kill an eldely person than the flu, according to a Statens Serum Institut report. It is respectively 223 and 291 percent more deadly among people in their 70s and 80s. Just 1.6 percent of the infected 60-64 age bracket have died compared to 8.9 percent of the 65-69 bracket, with the 70-79 (15.2), 80-89 (25) and 90+ (40.7) brackets even worse hit.

Studying the stools WASTEWATER company BIOFOS is collaborating with the Food Institute at DTU with a view to being able to predict a second wave of the coronavirus by monitoring human faeces. The project has already been monitoring three treatment plants where the refuse of 1.2 million people end up, including Avedøre (mostly from Amager) and Lynetten (central Copenhagen).

Family tree studies DTU RESEARCHERS are helping to develop a global platform for sharing coronavirus data that uses sequence analysis to create family trees that can help show how the virus has evolved and whether it is mutating.

SCIENCE

14 - 28 May 2020

ONLINE THIS WEEK

WITHIN just 50 years, onethird of the world’s population could be living in unbearably high temperatures, according to an international study involving Aarhus University. An anticipated three-degree rise will most acutely be felt in densely populated areas where urban heat is a factor.

Tests on stool transplants A NEW STUDY from the University of Copenhagen suggests that the transplantation of faeces can have an effect on obesity and diabetes 2. Transplantation of stools from a healthy donor to a sick patient has in recent years become a popular way of treating intestinal inflammation and dangerous diarrhoea.

Rise in organic sales SALES of organic goods increased by 9 percent to 14.1 billion kroner in 2019, reports Danmarks Statistik – an increase that consolidates Denmark’s position as the global leader. Fruit and veg (up 13 percent), beer and wine (13), oats and flour (10), dairy produce (8) and chicken (8) all saw big gains.

Bridge of words TO MARK the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Øresund Bridge, Lund University has created ‘a word bridge over Øresund’. Focusing on language and language culture in Denmark and Sweden, the project will list certain words, concepts or speech that are meaningful in relation to Swedish or Danish.

ONLINE THIS WEEK SCREENSHOT

A third at risk

Virus tracking to start in earnest Random tests also on the cards as government seeks to hunt the coronavirus down and eliminate it CHRISTIAN WENANDE

I

N A PRESS conference on Monday morning, PM Mette Frederiksen revealed that Denmark will embark upon a new ambitious coronavirus testing strategy.

Frederiksen said the Sundhedsstyrelsen health authority would start a new strategy this week in a bid to quickly locate and isolate those who have contracted the coronavirus, whilst also taking into account their movements.

Eradicating weeds TO COUNTER the growth of weeds where organically-reared cows graze, DTU Elektro robotics researchers are co-developing an autonomous robot the size of a large lawnmower, which uses AI, cameras, sensors and a laser to detect and destroy the interlopers. The project is a collaboration with Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands.

Distance learning issues Frederiksen has always give the impression of a PM on track

the health authority.

The government also intends to further increase Denmark’s testing capacity and to begin stockpiling protective equipment to better prepare the country for potential future pandemics.

Symptomless EARLIER in May it was announced that regardless of whether you have any symptoms, you might receive a message in your e-Boks any

day now inviting you to have a coronavirus test.

According to the health minister, Magnus Heunicke, several thousand people randomly chosen by Statens Serum Institut will be notified they have been invited for the voluntary tests.

People will particularly be chosen in areas of the country where not many cases have been detected so far, partially to achieve a better representative sample of the population so far tested.

More dolphins visiting

Butterfly protection

Grids better than chance

THE CHANCES of seeing the common dolphin in Danish waters have increased in the last five years. While white-beaked dolphins are commonly found in colder waters, their cousins are rare visitors, expert Carl Kinze told TV2, explaining that rising sea temperatures have attracted some of the dolphin's favourite snacks, such as sardines and anchovies.

THE ENVIRONMENT minister, Lea Wermelin, has announced new protection guidelines for the country's endangered butterflies in response to a report from the University of Aarhus that documented the harmful practices of collectors. The protections include bans on the capture of 33 butterfly species as well as on the spraying and ploughing of some meadows.

FARMERS sowing crops in an even pattern – a grid-like formation – can have 76 percent higher yields and 73 percent fewer weeds than the random sowing practice of today, according to a University of Copenhagen in collaboration with the Northeast Agricultural University in China. The grid patterns can decrease nitrate leaching and the need for harmful pesticides.

Stockpiling THE GOVERNMENT is launching a hotline for people who have tested positive to call in and convey who they have been in contact with.

Moreover, a new coronavirus authority will be established in order to take some pressure off

9

A UNIVERSITY of Southern Denmark study of 5,953 children and 4,955 parents in April claims that almost 20 percent of elementary pupils have difficulty with distance learning and 35 percent of parents are concerned about their children’s learning. Some 57 percent of the kids said that they did well, while 70 percent of the parents said the teachers handled the situation impressively.

Building delayed again THE CONSTRUCTION of the new Niels Bohr Building at the University of Copenhagen has been postponed again – this time because of the Coronavirus Crisis. Initially due to open in 2016, it was scheduled to be finished in July, but construction worker shortages have resulted in a further postponement. The total bill will end up at 3.6 billion kroner – 2 billion kroner over budget.

10 BUSINESS

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

ONLINE THIS WEEK

Public sector balance keeling over

ONLINE THIS WEEK PIXABAY

Car sales down

14 - 28 May 2020

CAR SALES fell by 37 percent last month compared to April 2019.

Not since February 2010 have there been fewer car registrations: 8,654 compared to 10,201 last month. Car sales over the first four months have fallen by 28.4 percent compared to 2019: from 82,444 to 59,059. Nevertheless, De Danske Bilimportører reports an increase in interest at stores and online.

Bestseller owns up BESTSELLER Group has donated 100,000 coronavirus antibody tests to the Capital Region. The donation was initially anonymous. However, as rumours spread that the donor might be a secret Chinese organisation, the company chose to come out.

Losses at banks DANSKE Bank has reported a loss of 1.3 billion kroner for the first quarter of 2020. Its accounts show both lower revenue and more expenses than in the same period last year – mostly due to the Coronavirus Crisis. Also badly hit is Jyske Bank, which is facing a shortage of 780 million kroner for the first quarter of 2020 compared to a surplus of 610 million kroner last year.

Novo feeling bullish NOVO NORDISK’S first quarter sales rose by 4.6 billion to 33.9 billion kroner as clients stock-piled diabetes medication out of fears that production and deliveries might be hit. Elsewhere, most companies are in the red for Q1, including Pandora (loss of 24 million), Carlsberg (sales down a billion) and the ATP Group (29 million loss on investments).

DANISH retail experienced a 2 percent dip in sales from February to March, according to Danmarks Statistik – the largest monthly decline since records began in 2000.

Retail sales never fell by more than 1.4 percent in a single month throughout the entire 2008-09 Financial Crisis. Internet commerce sales, meanwhile, rose by 20 percent.

Energy tech a winner

DSV and ISS make cuts DANISH-SWISS transport group DSV Panalpina has announced cuts of 1.4 billion kroner that will include 3,000 of its employees being laid off. However, only 60 Danish employees will lose their jobs. As of March 31, DSV had 58,788 fulltime employees. In related news, facility services company ISS is laying off an unspecified number.

Retail slump

Suddenly the holes in the coins don't look as charming as before

But can economic hope be found in the figures that followed the Spanish Flu a century ago VALMIRA GJONI

T

HE FINANCE Ministry expects the public sector balance to show a significant loss of 165-197 billion kroner for 2020 – a decrease of 7-9 percent.

The 100 billion kroner handed out in aid packages due to the current crisis accounts for a big chunk of the loss for 2020.

Depending on how quickly Denmark’s economy adapts to the Coronavirus Crisis, the country is expected to endure another loss in 2021 to the tune of 43-86 billion kroner.

larly 2019 (84.9 billion kroner).

But according to the ministry, the blow to public funding will be the highest since the early 1980s – not even the Financial Crisis of just over ten years ago can compare.

A recent report from Nationalbanken suggested that Denmark would need 250 billion kroner to tackle the Coronavirus Crisis.

to one another, as Spanish flu affected the 15 to 44-year-old age bracket, and the death rate was highest among people aged 20-34. So it is not yet clear whether the Coronavirus Crisis will be followed by a recovery of what economists call V, U or W-shaped recessions.

Good times over DENMARK’S public sector balance had been going strong in recent years with surpluses in 2017 (33.1 billion kroner), 2018 (10.7 billion kroner) and particu-

Hope in the figures HOWEVER, economists from the Southern University of Denmark and the University of Copenhagen suggest that hope might be found in the figures that followed the Spanish Flu pandemic, which ravaged the world from 1918-1920.

The pandemic led to a V-shaped recession in Denmark: the economy first massively declined, then unemployment increased, and then it quickly recovered.

However, the two pandemics cannot be fully compared

Rosier than most EMPLOYMENT-WISE, Denmark is better prepared than most other EU countries, including its Nordic neighbours, as at the end of 2019 only 5.1 percent of its workforce (ages 15-64) were without a job – although Sweden (6.5) and Finland (6.2) were not far behind.

The Czech Republic (2.1), Poland (2.9) and Germany (3.1) all had extremely low rates, according to the Arbejdskraftundersøgelsen figures, while Greece (16.9), Spain (13.9) and Italy (10.0) were all struggling.

The EU average was 6.7 percent.

Huge cuts at SAS

In red, but good rep

IKEA backtracking

WEEKS after sending home 90 percent of its workforce, SAS is laying off 5,000 employees, including 1,700 in Denmark, which is almost half its overall staff. The news came as it secured 2.3 billion kroner in guaranteed credit. In related news, Air Greenland is cutting 75-100 positions from its workforce of 540, and Norwegian has confirmed it won’t fly to or from Denmark until the summer of 2021 at the earliest.

VESTAS has confirmed a quarterly loss of 54 million euros – its first red figures since 2013. However, it continues to be one of the country’s most respected major companies and that’s despite recently laying off close to 400 workers in Denmark.

It trails only Novozymes and Novo Nordisk in ratings compiled by Caliber of the C-25. Studies suggest companies derive 40 percent of their value from their reputation.

LARGE crowds at IKEA as it reopened forced the hand of the commerce minister, Simon Kollerup, to issue new guidelines requiring stores of over 10,000 sqm in size to allocate 20 sqm per customer. In related news, Nemlig.com has introduced night deliveries between 02:00 and 06:00, and the country’s oldest bookstore chain, Arnold Busck, has filed for bankruptcy.

EXPORTS of Danish energy technology were worth 122.6 billion kroner in 2019 – up 13.5 percent compared to 2018. Renewable energy tech accounted for 72 percent, with wind turbine technology the key driver of growth.

The biggest market (60.5 percent) remains the EU, but the US and China are catching up.

Crown’s conscience DANISH Crown concedes it must bear some responsibility for deforestation and forest fires in South America as a result of its purchase of soya, according to a report by Verdens Skove.

Some 1.7 million tonnes of soya, primarily from South America, is imported into Denmark each year – about 53 percent of which is used for pig feed.

Dearth of summerhouses THERE are fewer summerhouses for sale than at any other time in the past decade. The number has fallen 26 percent since the beginning of May 2019, according to Boligsiden, which only started compiling its figures in 2010.

Disney+ postpones launch THE DISNEY+ streaming service isn’t coming to Denmark this summer, reports Cnet. No reason has been given for the postponement. Instead it will most likely arrive in September.

Many bankruptcies AS OF EARLY May, around 200 hotels, cafes and restaurants had gone bankrupt since April 1 due to the restrictions imposed during the coronavirus lockdown.

BUSINESS FEATURE

14 - 28 May 2020

11

Cinema inferno: Thinking on your feet in an industry struggling to survive

NATHAN WALMER

D

URING the Coronavirus Crisis you have probably watched more television and movies than you would care to mention, or even thought yourself capable of, if your self-quarantine has been anything like mine.

Television sales and subscriptions to streaming services like Netflix are through the roof while demand for content has arguably never been higher. But what is happening on the production side of video content amid the Coronavirus Crisis?

No action for 90 percent “EXCEPT for some documentaries and some smaller talent productions, no-one is shooting in Denmark,” Claus Ladegaard, the CEO of the Danish Film Institute (DFI), told Screen Daily recently.

Jørgen Ramskov, the head of the Danish Producers Association, echoed this when he remarked that “90-95 percent of all production is on hold”.

The ban on gatherings of 10 or more people, he says, is “obviously making it quite impossible to produce film and TV outside the studio”.

Ramskov and many others in the industry hope the 10-people ban will be relaxed as part of the

PEXELS - LÊ MINH

With most productions grinding to a halt, it’s left to the independent studios to show the big boys how to adapt

forthcoming reopening phases instituted by the Danish government, and that projects in coronavirus purgatory will be greenlit again.

For the time being, the Danish Producers Association and union groups are in negotiations with the government and health authorities on how to go about resuming production and determining what safety guidelines should be followed.

Costs of start-stopping FOUR FEATURE films and two drama series saw their shoots grind to a halt as Denmark went into lockdown, according to Claus Ladegaard – most probably along with countless smaller projects.

The DFI estimates it costs around 3-4 million kroner to stop and start a major film production.

“There are still wages and subcontractors to be paid. You have to start production again with a pre-production, and you may need to find a new location,” he told DR. Not only are there untold numbers in the industry who are suddenly out of work, but many producers have slipped through the cracks in receiving financial relief from the coronavirus aid packages implemented by the government.

“When the movie goes down, you can’t show any fixed expenses or last year’s revenue.

It’s a project economy that looks completely different and doesn’t fit in with the aid packages – which is why film producers are in a situation where they are not

We're used to seeing masked men make ransom demands, not film them

actually covered.”

Ladegaard believes that if no action is taken to address this, that there will be severe consequences for the Danish film industry, and that it will mean less films being produced going forward.

Taking control M2 FILM, a commercial producer based in Aarhus and Copenhagen, has developed its own health and safety guidelines for live-action shoots that comply with Danish government directives on social distancing and proper hygiene. This has allowed the company to continue production more or less uninterrupted.

Its strategy includes the implementation of on-set sterilisation, remote producing and directing, casting talent using mobile devices, the end of the on-set snack bowl, and the introduction of a brand-new role, the ‘infection control manager’ (ICM). The ICM is tasked with performing inspections of work-

stations, carrying out onsite risk analyses, and overseeing contagion protection plans.

There are also creative restrictions that directors and producers will have to grapple with. For example, we could be seeing fewer scenes in cramped nightclubs, fewer castings of at-risk demographics for acting roles, and more computer-generated crowds of people when the screenplay calls for them.

Learning to adapt ULTIMATELY the entire operation will have to be pared down. “Like everyone else, we are just trying to get back on the horse slowly and maintain the new social norms of distancing etc – and now we are planning to break down our shoots into smaller production blocks,” David Noel Bourke, an independent film director, who is the owner of Last Exit Productions based in Copenhagen, told CPH POST. Getting the product out to a

viewing audience has also proved challenging for some directors.

CPH:DOX, the international film festival in Copenhagen described as one of the biggest documentary festivals in the world, was forced to cancel in early March. However, the organisers managed to quickly retool and launch digital versions of their conferences, meetings and workshops while making available most of their documentaries online until the end of April (see page 24).

“Filmmaking was a tough industry before, but it’s an even tougher one now. Cinemas and film festivals were hit very hard.

A lot of those tried to stream online, but it’s not the same experience,” contended Bourke.

“We need to roll with it and keep our projects tight while obeying the new rules – which are so important – to keep this virus at bay. It’s hard times, but then again there are many exciting windows of opportunities to look forward to!”

12 BUSINESS OPINION THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

14 - 28 May 2020 PIXABAY

NEIL SMITH DANISH CAPITAL IN 2020 Neil is a Scottish-educated lawyer with 18 years’ experience in corporate structuring and general commercial matters. Based in Copenhagen, he primarily advises on international deals.

Out of the office, his interests include sports and politics. His column explores topical international financial and economic issues from a Danish perspective.

D

ENMARK is gradually gaining control over the novel coronavirus. However, its consequences will have a huge impact on the country’s political economy in the coming years. Here are five issues to follow closely.

Support for government THE POPULARITY of the current Socialdemokratiet government has skyrocketed in recent months, with the party now polling 15 percent above its nearest rivals. This is not surprising, as almost all governments have experienced a ‘rally round the flag’ effect during the pandemic – even those with imperfect responses like the United Kingdom and Italy. Factor in Mette Frederiksen’s calm and forthright approach – so impressive as to be praised by opposition politicians – and the popularity is no surprise.

In normal times, the government would be tempted to call an election so they would no longer be reliant on Radikale.

This is not a practical option during a pandemic, so the question is how long will the popularity last. It may be more fragile than it looks – the com-

Throw all the algorithms together and what do you get: Winston Churchill winning WWII and losing the 1945 election

merce minister, Simon Kollerup, encountered its limits the hard way when he had to backtrack fast when IKEA opened at the gallop.

There are also sundry examples abroad about the rallying effect waning gradually – George Bush Senior lost his re-election even though he held a fragile coalition together in the Gulf War, as did Norway’s Jens Stoltenberg despite a dignified response to the Utøya tragedy. Socialdemokratiet is aware of this and will proceed carefully regardless of its current popularity.

Budgetary cuts LIKE EVERY country in the Western World, the current crisis is hugely expensive for Denmark.

The pandemic is costing tens of billions of kroner a month in extra health expenditure, lower revenues and multiple compensation packages.

Denmark is better positioned than most countries to deal with it, as it had a budget surplus and one of the lowest debt/GDP ratios in the Western World. This gives Denmark a bit of wiggle room, but the government will need to grapple with the same issue as every country: how long can the current support last, and how quickly can it be phased out?

This is complicated by the fact that Denmark, as an export-ori-

entated economy, is vulnerable to the performance of larger foreign countries. Even if Denmark stabilises, if large export countries like Germany, the US and the UK remain fragile, any recovery is likely to be slow.

The EU Issue won’t go away THE EU has enjoyed relative tranquillity of late – particularly compared to hapless British governments. Ironically, Brexit made the EU more popular, as the UK struggled to square the circle of the referendum – in the process the dysfunction of the EU was papered over by a united front.

This calm has now ended, as the coronavirus has brought dormant issues back to the fore.

Italy is (understandably) upset that its frantic pleas for help fell largely on deaf ears. Whilst it is not unreasonable for countries to prioritise their own citizens in a crisis, the lack of prompt help contrasts sharply with the EU vision of continental solidarity.

This has soured Italian public sentiment – a dangerous point given the current discussions about any mutualisation of debt.

Italy, backed with varying degrees of enthusiasm by Spain and France, insist this will help the country out of its deep economic hole. Northern Europeans, led by the Dutch, insist they cannot guarantee other countries’ debt.

Denmark unsurprisingly backs the Dutch position. Although not part of the Eurozone, the single currency distinction is mattering less and less; with the UK now gone, the EU is dominated by Eurozone economies, and the two are becoming increasingly synonymous. This means that the issue is real and the key question is simple: is the EU a glorified free trade area, or is it much closer to a federal state? Brexit may be over, but the fundamental question the referendum posed is still something Europeans can’t agree on.

Climate change BEFORE the coronavirus broke out, climate change dominated the political discourse. The government set ambitious CO2 targets, and businesses were busy planning how to meet them. Not everyone agrees that climate change is an existential threat though. The older generation are particularly ambivalent – embodied by the queen whose recent controversial comments were both poorly argued and a clear breach of protocol.

Nobody should expect Her Majesty to hit the barricades, but it is likely that other climate sceptics will form an informal alliance with coronavirus-hit businesses.

A certain logic dictates that the easiest way out of a crisis is to

tone down ambitious targets and allow a period of stability.

Climate activists will argue that the virus doesn’t mean that climate change is any less pressing – and that a delay of a couple of years could be critical.

Climate entrepreneurs will argue that governments should embrace the zeitgeist of the crisis by supporting the establishment of climate-friendly businesses. The government has the unenviable task of squaring this circle.

Supply chains THE CRISIS has forced every country to assess its supply chain and whether they can cope with an emergency. Denmark has muddled through the current crisis, although it has issues regarding protective equipment.

It will probably, though, reassess how much manufacturing is outsourced outside Europe Added to this issue are the broader geopolitics, with the Trump administration seemingly keen on provoking a global outcry against China. Whether this is because of genuine concern or simply a smokescreen for the administration’s own failings, it risks creating a dynamic in which globalisation is sharply reversed.

Managing this process would be tricky – even for a small, open country that has performed well in recent decades.

BUSINESS OPINION

14 - 28 May 2020

PIXABAY

fitness professional back in 2004, I could see the objective truth of this. I was able to eat well and consistently exercise every day and they, the clients, were not.

I was disciplined. I simply didn’t let it not happen – I let nothing get in my way.

ED LEY FIT FOR BUSINESS CEOs and Olympic medal-winning athletes come to Ed (edley. net) for help to optimise their physical and mental performance.

Using neuroscience and body work techniques, his methods improve their energy, health, fulfilment and well-being. And as the co-host of the Global Denmark podcast, he has his finger on issues pertinent to expats in Denmark.

I

S DISCIPLINE the driver of habit? I bought into the idea that it was for a very long time.

In my capacity as a health and

Honesty is key I THEN started spending a lot of time with lawyers, accountants, CEOs, doctors, and even a judge, as they were the typical clientele of the studio I worked at.

Over time it began to dawn on me. If I had discipline as my reason for consistency, then they by default must have had a lack of disciplined consistency to blame for their inconsistent eating and exercising. This was not an argument, I began to realise, which would stand up well in court.

All that I needed to get to this point was honesty. Was I killing it in every area of my life? No. Did I know what to do? Yes. Did I lack discipline? No. I was exactly the same as them

It takes discipline to reach the top

– just in a different area. This isn’t to say that discipline isn’t a great tool to have in the kit. It’s not – it’s brilliant in fact. But the first step in exploring inconsistency isn’t applying discipline to what’s present. That’s already been tried, most likely many times, and it hasn’t worked.

Doubt before discipline THE FIRST step is a diagnosis: gathering all of the evidence from your life and history to re-

veal the perfect recipe for your inconsistency. Output is cause and effect after all, so inconsistency is simply the output of the current approach.

What you’re left with is doubt that the current formula will ever create the desired result – even with additional discipline. Without doubt the approach never changes. If you think the hammer is the right tool for cleaning the windows, you’ll simply continue to apply it and apply it more

when you don’t get the result you wanted.

When doubt arrives you’re free to take a new approach – perhaps a more fun one, a simpler one, a less time-consuming one. Then, if it’s effective, you can apply the discipline to that.

If you are lacking results in any area of your life, stop and consider if your approach will ever get you the desired result.

This realisation is the first step towards transformation.

PIXABAY

we drove and how many hours we spent on the road.

Then as an international consultant, I complained/boasted about the ridiculous number of air miles I had accumulated.

I have now found myself doing the same thing when discussing video conferencing.

GARETH GARVEY UK-DK TRADE Gareth (gareth@bccd.dk), who has a passion for creativity and innovation in business, has been the CEO of the British Chamber of Commerce in Denmark since the start of 2017. Gareth has a background in management consultancy working for Price Waterhouse, PwC Consulting and IBM, and he also teaches at Copenhagen Business School.

W

HEN I LIVED in the UK, I and many other busy Brits liked to complain and boast simultaneously about how many miles

We’re all Zoomed THE HOURS we spend on Zoom has become the new benchmark.

But there is a big difference.

Whereas miles used to help me justify having a top-of-the-range company car, Zoom and other similar tools are challenging the way we work. And not before time.

Far too many people spend far too much time and money getting from A to B in order to do something we could have done at A. And we pollute the environment in the process.

Permission to speak, sir MY ORGANISATION, like many others, has been experimenting with using Zoom for webinars,

13

You silly boy: if you adjust your camera, the font on your mug will be easier to read

meetings, and even social events.

We have been able to do things at different times of the day.

We have been able to turn a Copenhagen event into a global event.

We have been able to deliver joint events with other organisations.

We have even managed to hold some really fun, international pub quizzes. Watch out Stephen Fry. ‘Zooming’ has become normal. Why don’t we grab it with both hands, do it properly and reap the benefits?

Noses: don’t like it up ‘em I HAVE a few niggles. None of us want to look up the noses of our Zoom-mates – especially in a business call. Put your camera at eye height – you will also look better.

Think about sound quality.

Avoid rooms with echo. Good microphones and/or soft furnishings help.

And just because we can be in the meeting, it does not mean we have to be. The number of hours spent per day in video conferenc-

es is not a badge of honour or something to boast about. Run meetings with a discipline and only attend the parts where you can contribute.

I don’t want to understate the need we all have for physical social interaction. I have missed the theatre and my favourite bars and restaurants, but if we can save some time by working differently, we will have more time for proper and enjoyable social contact – hopefully soon.

14 OPINION

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

14 - 28 May 2020

STEPHEN GADD

Straight, No Chaser An Englishman abroad, Stephen has lived and worked in Denmark since 1978. His interests include music, art, cooking, real ale, politics and cats.

M

AY 5 SAW the 75th anniversary of Denmark’s liberation after WWII, with substantial TV coverage and reminiscences of the war years. Coincidentally, this year also marked the centenary of Southern Jutland’s reunion with Denmark when land lost to Germany in 1864 was restored through a peaceful plebiscite.

Had it not been for the restrictions imposed by the coronavirus, there would have also been country-wide celebrations to mark the 80th birthday of Queen Margrethe II. All good excuses to go out and wave the flag and celebrate, you may say.

Friends, Romans, countrymen DURING her press conferences on the coronavirus, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has gone out of her way to refer to the population as ‘Danes’ or ‘the Danish people’ at every opportunity. Danes should do this or that – not ‘people’ or ‘the population’ should do this or that.

Frederiksen and her advisers are far too media savvy to do this

by mistake; it is all part of the idea that we’re ‘all in it together’ when unpalatable medicine has to be dispensed.

A flag-waver NATIONALISM is certainly enjoying a renaissance in Denmark. On TV the country is singing its way through the ‘High School Song Book’ whilst waving Danish flags from balconies and back gardens. All harmless fun, but is it?

In a debate piece in Politiken on April 26, Peter Skaarup, the group chair of Dansk Folkeparti, argued that above all it is patriotism and the natural community spirit engendered by the nation state that will get us through the crisis: “This Danish community spirit is defined by history ... as well as the Danish language and the culture that spiritually binds us together.”

The EU is written off as “an artificial ideological construction that will never have the same popular legitimacy as a national state, and because of this has only limited room for action as far as solutions [to

major crises] go”.

Playing the Nazi card HISTORY – and the use it’s put to – is a very potent weapon. I was born in 1957 – just 12 years after the end of WWII. The war was still very fresh in the minds of my parents’ generation and coloured my childhood and adolescence. I became fascinated by history – with a special interest in post-WWI Germany and the Nazi period.

As a Brit I’m certainly not alone in that. Early on in our relationship my Danish wife remarked on the fact that British people seem obsessed by the war.

She also enjoyed pointing out that the UK was in fact part of Europe – and not just something that started at Calais.

As I became a teenager I embraced the idea of Europe and the opportunities it opened up.

If it hadn’t been for the UK and Denmark joining the EEC (as it then was) I probably would have never come to Denmark.

Of course there were things that didn’t work so well, but it was a democratic institution

and changes could be made, I reasoned.

Bulldog breed BREXIT certainly put paid to that pipe-dream. The toxic campaign surrounding this brought out the very worst in the British people and led to a resurgence of a chauvinistic nationalism.

And now the coronavirus seems to have exacerbated this.

The UK government and bullish PM Boris Johnson, in full-on Winston Churchill mode, are all fond of using military metaphors to describe the crisis – the ‘Blitz spirit’ is frequently invoked.

Coronavirus counter-measures saw borders being closed all over the world and immigration restricted – music to the ears of many. The question is whether post-coronavirus we will see a return to a relatively open policy or whether more restrictive measures will become permanent.

Annie get your gun IN A NUMBER of countries including Denmark, Asians or people of Asian origin have reported discrimination and stereotyping for being coronavirus risks. One of the more bizarre things that happened when the coronavirus first hit (at least to non-Americans) was a massive increase in gun sales in the US. Many of these were to Asian first-time buyers afraid of what their neighbours might do.

PIXABAY

We're not quite at the 'Ring-a-ring-o'-roses' stage yet, Stephen

US President Donald Trump is ratcheting up the anti-Chinese rhetoric as he dismally fails to contain the crisis. A scapegoat must be found. First it was the Democrats sabotaging the economy to make sure he lost the next election, and now it is China for failing to inform the world in time and maybe even releasing the virus from a laboratory in Wuhan.

The blame game WHEN IT comes to scapegoats, China is hardly blameless. A Guardian article from April 13 reports “a senior Chinese official has acknowledged accusations of authorities discriminating against black people in the city of Guangzhou as ‘reasonable concerns’.”

The article goes on to report that “health authorities in Guangzhou have been accused of racially targeting Africans, including with forced evictions, repeated testing for Covid-19 without providing the result, and refusing service or business”.

India has also seen conspiracy theories targeting the Muslim community for conducting a malevolent campaign to spread the coronavirus to the Hindu majority. Religious riots have taken place in Delhi.

All in this together THAT ALL brings me back to nationalism. Rather than hunkering down in our own self-satisfied little enclaves, we must treat the coronavirus as the pandemic it is – it does not recognise borders or nation states. It is a cliché but there is only one world, and we can do much more together than as individuals.

By all means be proud of your country and its achievements, but when this is transformed into an ingrained belief in the inherent superiority of a specific race, religion or nation, that’s when the trouble really starts.

We must keep a very close eye on civil liberties, politicians and those behind them and not be blind-sided by excuses about coronavirus measures or patriotic flummery.

OPINION

14 - 28 May 2020

JACK GARDNER

Englishman in Nyhavn Jack escaped Brexit Britain in October 2019 to forge a new life in Copenhagen. In this column, he outlines the challenges expats face when integrating into Danish life. Jack (jacksgard@gmail.com) co-hosts the comedy podcast ‘Butterflies on the Wheel’, which is available on all major podcasting platforms

A

T THE START of quarantine, I began a diary about ‘How to survive as a couple in quarantine’.

Unfortunately, I was unable to update it for reasons that I can’t get into, but may have involved my fiancée, my laptop and the concept of things being thrown out of a fourth-storey window to teach me a lesson for implying she was unreasonable.

However, fear not, the endless fountain of knowledge I draw upon prevails, and I can now provide yet more relationship advice, akin to some kind of guru or semi-divine being: ‘Boardgames you shouldn’t play with your partner in quarantine’.

I was inspired to write this after reading about Bastard Café’s Rent-A-Game initiative.

The boardgame café in Huset on Rådhusstræde has opened

up its 3,500+ strong inventory to us, the common scum, and is renting out games for 50 kroner per kilogram, alongside discounted alcohol. (It appears I’ve now become a travel critic alongside a relationship guru.

“Hey Siri, how many strings can one bow take?”)

As great as this offer is, I am concerned about quarantined couples, hopped up on cheap booze, on the precipice of a blazing row with their supposed loved ones. So, here are some tips on which boardgames to play in quarantine with your ex-Imean-partner.

Scrabble IT MIGHT seem harmless, but it has the potential to cause friction. There’s the obvious “Freedomly-isn’t-a-word”-esque debate, but there is the added danger your partner might

read something in your words.

Something as innocent as “Lusting”, “After” “Another”, might stir something in her paranoid brain and the next thing you know you have to sleep through the sound of her checking your texts.

Also, the tiles are big enough to be effective projectiles, whilst small enough to swallow. Turn down her offer of soup in the upcoming days.

Verdict: Avoid (9 points) Pandemic IN PANDEMIC, you tackle a deadly virus sweeping across the world.

Now, it’s perfectly normal to want to distract yourself from the ongoing apocalypse by fondly imagining another appalling global tragedy. I’m sure we’ve all been there.

But just pause to think of the ramifications if you manage to actually win the game and eradicate the disease. You will literally be handling the Pandemic better than your significant other. It’s your funeral.

Verdict: DOA Cluedo ONE SUPER quick question: what the shit are you playing at?

You think the tonic your… well let’s face it… your rapidly deteriorating relationship needs right now is a game based around suspicion? Accusation? Murder?

Just calm down. What’s wrong with a nice game of Scrabble?

Also, in the game’s latest edition, Reverend Green is a legit snack. Add that to the "Fleabag" storyline and you’ve got yourself some competition. If you let him into your house, the good Reverend will spend his days and nights taunting you from the box cover. Don’t let him in.

Verdict: No, Reverend, we are fresh out of tea and crumpets I’m afraid. Begone.

Chess ONE OF the classics. Chess was invented all the way back

15

in 1982, if memory serves, by one Dr Peter Chess, a reformed hippie who used his class warfare-themed hallucinations as inspiration.

Chess is great, because it makes you feel really smart when you play it, despite having literally no idea what you are doing.

There’s the pawns, all lined up in a row. The knights with the funny little horses. The queen, with her crown, her endless dexterity, her voluptuous curves, her ability to move any which way she wants because she’s the goddamn queen and doesn’t care who knows it. You must do everything to protect her, to show her your worth.

Sure, she’s a queen and you are just a stupid peasant – yes, you are made of flesh and she of wood – but just because your love is forbidden, does that make it wrong?

Why is my fiancée looking at me like that? No, I will not take the queen out of my mouth.

Verdict: It’s too risky. Take a cold shower instead.

Monopoly PERFECT. Verdict: A+ , no cause for concern PIXABAY

Panik with a 'K'? Ah, the Danish version ... But they've only got 73 original words

16 OPINION

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

14 - 28 May 2020

New guidelines: As we reopen, try not to murder anybody

T

HE KIDS are back in school, the hairdressers are clipping away and Danes can rest easy because they’ve been so good, so dygtige, and have shown so much samfundssind – thanks Mette, we get it.

But despite the usual self-satisfaction, Denmark is 14th on Statista’s list of corona-related deaths per million population – only four places behind the US, which is 10th on that same list.

Some 82 people have died per 1 million residents in Denmark, which is only slightly lower than the 203 in the USA. And don’t forget that the police had to issue a ban on gathering at Islands Brygge a little over a week ago, after sighting irresponsibly large crowds in the area.

So it’s worth asking the question: have you killed anyone lately?

I don’t care Mom, I gotta go LET’S GO back to a train ride on April 9, the week before the government opened nurseries and partly some schools. During my commute to Copenhagen, I overheard a conversation.

A girl and a guy talked for a big chunk of the ride, sitting across from one another – of course less than two metres away – on their way to meet a friend from what I gathered. She called her mother: “Mom, did you block my card?”

Mom was breaking up.

“Mom! Mom? Did you block my card?”

I couldn’t hear what Mom said over the phone.

“No? Okay, because for some reason, when I tried to top up the Rejsekort, it said payment was cancelled.”

Mom said something.

“Yeah but I’m just meeting with a friend.”

Mom again.

“I know and that’s why I’m only ever meeting with three of

my friends.”

She talked some more with Mom and, after she hung up, she said to her friend: “She’s so annoying; she just told me: ‘You should not be going out when the prime minister just told you to stay inside’ and all that.”

“Mmmh” came the agreement from the guy sitting across from her.

“I know, right? She’s so irritating, I can’t stay inside all the time – I want to see my friend.”

I mean, I feel her, to be honest with you. I moved back with my folks last year, at 25, and it’s not like I never go: ‘Fuck this shit, I’m outta here.’ Your parents get on your nerves, they push the buttons and keep their fingers on them, and – rightly so or not – sometimes you’ve just had enough.

On April 9, some kept the distance, some … not quite The fuck is going on?

SO YEAH, I was in similar shoes as girl-on-train: I could be making my phone interviews in my room, at home, instead of being in that carriage with her and her friend and many others.

It’s just more comfortable to do it somewhere my family is not talking in the other room, where they can’t hear me speak, and where I don’t have their presence lurking in the back of my mind.

Plus, there’s that mental distancing: I’d rather work in a room that doesn’t have my bed in it. Could I conduct an interview under such home-conditions nonetheless? Yes. Have I done it before and successfully? Yes. Yet, I packed my bag and left, took an hour-long train ride, got on the S-train before finally arriving at International House and the CPH POST headquarters.

But still, the fuck was she doing? The fuck was I doing?

Later, I heard them talk about songs and lyrics and Gucci Mane.

And about how the girl’s conscription into the armed services starts a month later than it should’ve because of the virus.

Peer pressure ANOTHER failure I had to re-

SOMA BIRÓ

Denmark’s back in business and Nørreport’s nearly as busy as usual. But do we understand the danger still out there?

To be fair, facemasks make some teens look like potential muggers

cord was the face mask: several times I bowed in the face of peer pressure. I had the mask in my bag the whole time during the train ride – a mask similar to the highly-sought-after N95 – and I didn’t put it on … not once.

I’m sure any New Yorker who just lost a loved one would spit in my face reading this. Though I already knew the right thing to do, and have done it before, I failed to do it on this occasion.

Still on the same train ride, there was only one (!) guy who had a face mask (cloth), travelling with his sister who didn’t. And I think, but I’m not sure, that two girls getting off at Høje Taastrup were joking about coughing in the carriage where we, including the brother and sister, were sitting. They came from the part of the carriage with the masked guy and perhaps they thought the covering was too much. Perhaps they thought the guy was a bit ridiculous and this was how they ridiculed him – but I’m sure if anyone uttered a word of criticism about their hijabs, they’d go mental.

Not all that great SO NO, Danes weren’t all that great at doing everything in their power to stop the virus from spreading. And now we’re seeing news story after news story about how people are increasingly forgetting to keep their distance, stay away from crowds or wash their hands a satisfactory number of times each day.

Thus, though we’ve heard the warnings a million times now (‘stay at home’ has become a cli-

ché), it seems many of us don’t truly understand the situation yet. But the danger is still out there: your loved ones can still die. Many Italians didn’t understand it either until the shit hit the fan. And perhaps some of us won’t fathom it until we’re walking in the same shoes as residents of Lombardy, Madrid or New York. And maybe we won’t have to ever truly understand because that’s not going to happen – Denmark will sail through relatively unscathed like it did through two world wars.

An age of murderers BECAUSE maybe your decision to go out today won’t skyrocket Denmark’s coronavirus numbers, and maybe you don’t have the virus, and maybe you won’t infect anybody, or maybe you’ll only add a few digits to the number of sick – maybe just one to the number of dead. And no-one will ever know that you killed Jonathan, a single parent of three.

And, the thing is that you will never know either. Your conscience will rest safely in the trenches of uncertainty because no-one will be able to trace it back to you. The virus passes by, following the flatter green curve, and who will know why Jonathan died? It’s the perfect murder – both you and your conscience get away with it.

In fact, many of us have probably become murderers by now.

It’s easier than ever. No gun, no poison, no knife or cars needed.

All you need to be is a little careless.

This time there won’t even be trials for war criminals, or should that be virus criminals (although Missouri is already suing China), because how many would be convicted? Boris Johnson would be, Trump would be, all of Nørrebro would be, and so would I, the girlon-the-train and perhaps even you.

Sure, you don’t want to kill anybody. But you know you might.

All this might come off as overly didactic, but there is a powerful realisation beneath it, driving it towards publication: the very real possibility of hurting others. And maybe the closing statement will sound familiar but, really man, take all your counter-arguments (redundancy, exaggeration, radical thinking etc) and say it to someone whose mother, 49, drew her premature last breath with the help of a ventilator. I dare you fucker.

Now put your mask on when you get on that bus – you might be carrying the virus.

SOMA BIRÓ is a long-form journalist at CPH POST. By his standards, this is one of his shorter pieces.

This opinion piece was first published on cphpost.dk on May 4.

OPINION

14 - 28 May 2020

RAY WEAVER

Under the Raydar

M

Y MOTHER is famous for saying, during the worst of times: “You know, there is humour in everything – you just have to look for it.”

And yeah, when you are looking at the remains of a car that you had one payment left on, which some 16-year-old with no insurance just turned into something that looks like the remains of a rusted 1975 Maytag washing machine, that kind of chirpy cheerfulness could be used in court as a defence for matricide.

As far as finding humour in every situation, I didn’t think that there was anything remotely humorous about my recent brush with death at the hands of Covid-19, but now that I seem to have safely avoided the grim reaper, my wife and kids do chuckle a bit at my asking them to leave my bedroom because their chatter was making it hard for me to hear my father

Our former journalist Ray Weaver has been living here for most of the past 25 years. Originally a member of the ‘Guinness pipeline’ – that group of expats who make a living annoying the punters at the nation’s many Anglo-themed pubs – he also writes songs, stories and anything else that earns a crust. and sister who were apparently speaking to me from the back of the room.

Both my dad and my sister went to their reward many years ago.

Hey kids, fevered hallucinations can be fun!

Locked down loaded WHILE most folks have not actually had the virus, pretty much all of us have been locked inside for a long time.

A very long time.

This is hard on most people.

Humans, it turns out, are social animals. The fact that Sean’s Bar in Athlone, Ireland is said to have been serving in 900 AD should have been a clue that we as a species like to gather in dark rooms and tell lies over strong beverages.

Oh, there are the introverts among us like my oldest daughter, who when I called to check on how she was doing being alone in her flat during the

lockdown told me: “Dad, I have been training for this moment my entire life.”

Most of us, though, are at the point when we run out holding two beers and a packet of crisps if someone just turns around in our driveway.

As things loosen up a bit, with the governments giving us Plan A, Plan B, Step Six, Addendum 13, all many of us want to know is when we will be allowed to rip up a beer coaster onto a bar, whose lumber “comes from a shipwreck off the coast of Kalymnos, I swear”, while watching overpaid ectomorphic freaks fight over a ball of some sort.

To be sure, we will be complaining about the potency of the drinks when the pubs reopen. There’s no way that Johnny and Seamus are going to be pouring as generously at the pub as we’ve been with ourselves on the kitchen counter.

Make it stop!

ONE OF the main reasons we, even the most Howard Hugheslike hermits among us, will be glad to escape our computers is to get away from the uncountable number of livestreams that now pop up every day.

People you didn’t even know owned a guitar are doing livestreams and warbling meaningful ballads.

And asking for tips.

OK, I’m guilty of doing a few of those myself, but while I admire the enterprising nature of the efforts, there are only so many versions of ‘Wonderwall’ one can endure.

In my case, that number is zero.

Into the great wide open ALL IN all, it’ll be a brave new world that we stumble back into.

We will all need new day-planners that have the real days of the week and not the ‘Monday, Tuesday, Thisday, Whatthefeckdayisitanyway’ days that we have been counting in our minds of late.

There will be those of us needing to remind ourselves to wear trousers as we venture outside, or at least change out of our yoga or sweatpants before heading to the office for a meeting with top management.

17

One of the most compelling reasons for us all to get back to our routines – as soon as it is safe, that is – is that it will definitely help keep the ‘homicide in the home’ rate down.

As someone once said: “I married my wife for her looks … just not the ones she has been giving me lately.”

Hopefully the coronavirus quarantine has given us all more time to reflect, and not just to sit on the couch, drink beer, pass gas, watch ‘Tiger King’ and drink beer.

Hopefully we will be a little kinder to ourselves and our planet and not spend so much time harming it and each other.

There could be many great reasons for us to spend more quality time together.

For example, according to one of the endless memes I have seen while spending 22 hours a day on social media, when a plague ended during the Middle Ages there was a bacchanalia-type party that included copious amounts of food and drink and orgies.

If this happens, I’ll make sure that Ben lists it in the entertainment section.

And as 2020, the year that just keeps getting weirder, moves on, do look for my upcoming howlingly funny column about murder hornets!

PEXELS

If I survived COVID, surely I'll survive murder hornets ... right?

18 HISTORY

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

14 - 28 May 2020

A year on from Paludan, this was a different celebration of freedom

No Koran throwing at Blågårds Plads this year – instead the construction of a huge candle to mark the eve of Liberation Day BEN HAMILTON

M

AY 5 MARKS the 75th anniversary of the end of the German Occupation during World War II. And it also marks the fifth anniversary of one of this newspaper’s most intriguing history stories.

It all started when the neighbour of a CPH POST staffer found an old copy of Politiken dated 4 May 1945 under his floorboards.

“Berlin er faldet” (Berlin has fallen) read the headline, but it was on page 3 where the juiciest details could be found.

It painted a picture of a country freed from its German captors, patiently waiting to be liberated by the advancing British forces.

But for some Danes it was a window of opportunity impossible to resist.

Bomb Bornholm Day HOWEVER, not everyone in Denmark was able to celebrate Liberation Day in 1945 – or for that matter to mark the date ever since.

The people of Bornholm had to wait a full year for liberation, because their German occupiers were replaced by Russian forces who did not finally return home until March and April 1946.

While the likes of Copenhagen was celebrating in May 1945, most Bornholmers were being bombed. Their German captors were instructed to hang on to the island as long as possible, as it was crucial to the country’s efforts to evacuate troops from its falling territories.

“It was cruel. Every time we turned on a radio, all we heard were cheers,” recalled islander Inger Drewes, 91, in a recent interview with TV2.

Following several nights of furious bombing, the Germans eventually surrendered on May 8. A day later the Russians sailed into Rønne.

How Politiken and a candle told the same story 75 years apart BOD

Revenge killing sprees AS THE newspaper reveals, revenge was bloody and swift in the two days leading up to liberation, as Danes perceived to be traitors were sought out by their countrymen and summarily executed.

It’s interesting to note that none of the stories are reported as retribution against Nazi collaborators, but it’s safe to assume that was the case.

Suspected Nazi collaborators, stikkere (informants), were rounded up, while many of the women, who were mostly accused of sleeping with Germans, were publicly humiliated. Some were even stripped naked and daubed with swastikas.

In total, 40,000 were rounded up, of which 13,500 were eventually punished for collaborating with the enemy.

There were more reported deaths in Denmark between January and May 1945 (1,531) than there were in the four years prior (1,154).

19 metre candle AS IS TRADITIONAL, hundreds of thousands of Danes this year lit candles to display at their windows on May 4 to mark the eve of Liberation Day. Among these was a 19-metre-long candle placed in Blågårds Plads in the Copenhagen district of Nørrebro.

Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke, a NGO, commissioned the candle, and it was made from 3,000 recycled glass jam – each one containing a tea light.

The square is the same location where just over a year ago the lawyer and failed politician Rasmus Paludan provoked residents of the district by throwing the Koran into the air, leading to lengthy riots in the area.

A year apart, some might argue they were both celebrations of liberation, although the soldiers who came to Copenhagen in 1945 might argue they did not fight Nazism for those kinds of freedoms.

How Soviet troops celebrated their ‘liberaton’ of Bornholm in 1945

CULTURE

14 - 28 May 2020

19

Proving that podcasts can be practical and pack a punch

DAVE SMITH

S

OMETIMES inventors are just too ahead of their time.

Take Faust Vrancic, for example.

In the early 17th century he invented the parachute – almost 400 years ahead of the Wright Brothers making their maiden flight in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. He had to make do with testing it by jumping off St Mark’s Campanile in Venice.

Or maybe that’s a rumour – he was 64 at the time!

If you think that’s bad, not only did Leonardo da Vinci pretty much invent the helicopter a century earlier, but also the armoured car. Yes, not the car, but an armoured one!

Well, to trump them all, a Greek mathematician who was modestly called Hero of Alexandria invented the coin-operated vending machine in … the first century AD. Now you really are taking the piss.

Podcast pioneers AND YOU can add the Copenhagen Post to that list of pioneering ‘we’re too ahead of our time for our own good’ brigade.

We kid you not that we actually launched a podcast in the summer of 2009. Or was it 2008? Put it this way, it was a long time ago, even though a day doesn’t pass by when it isn’t brand new in a galaxy far, far away.

We like to think it was so brilliant it stopped a full-scale alien invasion – tentacles on tenterhooks over what we would broadcast next (more snooze news tended to be the answer) – but most people, including our client Copenhagen Municipality, concluded it was the audio equivalent of watching paint dry.

After six months the municipality cancelled the contract,

instead investing in ‘House for Internationals’, or something like that. Like that was ever going to be a success!

Merely coping no longer ANYHOW, fast-forward a decade and podcasts are all the rage.

Who knew? And we’re delighted to announce that the fine fellows behind the Coping in Copenhagen podcast are allowing us to host their weekly efforts, starting from today.

Simply click on the link at the end of this story, or access the episode via our homepage.

Every week it will be updated in time for your listening pleasure over the weekend.

Where we got it so badly wrong – twice-a-day news podcasts that had a no humour policy – Coping in Copenhagen has got it so right since its launch in September 2018, since when it has been available via Spotify and iTunes, as well as via Frederiksberg Lokal TV. While its content is extremely relevant to the lives of expats and immigrants living here, and does its best to address serious points that arise in Danish society, the tone is distinctly irreverent.

Its lively, conversational and humorous approach to news (straight from CPH POST of course), interviews, event information, historical context and other fun segments – among the regular guests is English comedian Adrian Mackinder – is a perfect fit for internationals still trying to decipher the Danish code.

A strong team “WE TRIED our best with a similar venture in early 2017 but it only lasted 12 weeks, so I’m extremely happy to confirm that Coping in Copenhagen will be available on our website,” revealed CPH POST editor Ben Hamilton.

“With their experience and proven track record in drawing in listeners, we hope Copenhagen Municipality will wake up to the need to cater to the nearly 200,000 foreigners who live within its borders – and

CIC

Now available via cphpost.dk as of today, listening to Coping in Copenhagen once a week is the perfect way to stay up to date with Danish current affairs and make the most of your time living here

Looks like Marius and Eoin are coping well with their 'Play Misty for Me' caller

properly fund it! Because we can’t afford to!”

Both of the regular hosts, Marius Lathey from Denmark and Eoin O’Sullivan from Ireland, are regular improv performers. Many of you will remember Lathey as the lead in the Leftfield Theatre production of ‘The Pillowman’ in the spring of 2017, while O’Sullivan can be seen performing with his twoman improv show 'Sir.Réal'.

“We are very excited to be collaborating with CPH POST,” enthused Lathey.

“We see it as a great opportunity to dive deeper into the stories and experiences within the expat community and pull back the curtain on how to stay coping in Copenhagen.”

O’Sullivan is nodding.

“Over the last two years we’ve had some amazing guest like Jay from Science & Cocktails, Copenhell’s founder Jesper, the lovely ladies from Kabaret Copenhagen, Garba Diallo, the head of Crossing Borders, and many more. Still we feel that we have only just scratched the surface,” he said.

“During the lockdown we’ve been developing new segments and we can’t wait to introduce the show to a broader audience.”

Perfect platform HAMILTON is adamant that the authorities need to realise the potential of the podcast, along with other English-language media, such as CPH POST. “Today, internationals comprise 24 percent of the city's population. Dansk Industri estimates there are 145,000 highly-skilled foreign workers in Denmark, and the majority of these will only be here between one and five years and probably not master Danish.

“They are vital to the local and national economy, primarily due to their work for major companies, and it is our belief that services in English indicate that Denmark appreciates their contribution. These people are understandably our target

readers and target listeners. So in theory, we are the perfect candidates to host this podcast.”

After all, how good a job is the municipality doing at keeping their foreign residents informed, asks Hamilton.

“We at CPH POST are dedicated to providing our customers with information about Danish society that will improve their quality of life and understanding of the country, as well as details of events coming up they might like to attend,” added Hamilton.

“We believe this podcast is the perfect platform for letting internationals know about events organised by the municipality, as well as other logistical information that they might otherwise overlook.”

Find the podcast via bit.ly/3biXSMB

20 FEATURE

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

14 - 28 May 2020

What women miss: learning, burning, perming and long hug yearnings Last issue we learned how men are missing football, the pub, crossfit and sex – no surprises there. Needless to say that the women of Copenhagen have some slightly more nuanced responses

slowed down, even stopped, and they are stuck in between.

With so many windows in their schedules, they finally have the freedom to do the things they have always wanted to do.

ELLA NAVARRO

A

LL OVER the world women are longing for what has been taken away from them during the coronavirus quarantine.

It’s almost like they’ve been robbed of part of their personality, whether it’s dinners with the girls, weekend getaways with the family, making plans for the future, being pampered, gym classes or simply being able to express themselves through long, heartfelt hugs.

Physically challenging BUT IN their absence women have been transformed as they look for new alternatives. For many, it feels like time has

And also spiritually AT THE same time it isn’t easy adjusting to a situation that came so abruptly. It is nerve-wracking, and it has left them amid great uncertainty.

The up-side is that they have more time to reflect on their lives and realise what they have been taking for granted.

Gender balance IN THE last issue we were told what men have been missing during the quarantine.

To balance it out we are bringing the voices of the city’s women to the forefront to find out what they miss, what they don’t miss, and what they’ve learned.

A

LL WOMEN are natural-born planners and during this lockdown they have realised what a big part planning plays in their lives and how much they yearn for it.

“I miss planning my future. It's strange not knowing when I'll next see my family in Australia, or my Mormor who is in hospital. Most of our plans for the year have gone out the window and, with all the uncertainty, it's impossible to know what the next week, month or even year will bring,” says Pia Marsh, an Australian expat who’s half-Danish.

Grace Mason, an American engineer married to a Dane, concurs: “One of the hardest things about this virus so far

PLANNING

Pia Marsh

V

GYM

Elena Rey

ICTORIA Pease, a German-born copywriter living in Copenhagen, has always been an avid gym-goer.

Before quarantine she would take classes at least four times a week.

“At first I thought not going to the gym would ruin my routine, but It's actually led me to some really good YouTube workouts.

Plus I finally started jogging,” says Victoria.

Like Victoria, Pia and Oumaima have readjusted to the new situation to the extent they’re even considering cancelling their gym memberships. “I don’t miss the gym – I've found that home workouts and running are fine for me,” says Pia. Oumaima pretty much feels the same: “I used to go to the gym every morning at

Oumaima Dalil

has been the lack of certainty and not being able to plan for the future. Not only can I not plan something as simple as a vacation, but my job and working visa have been put on hold.”

Grace and her husband had plans to relocate to China for work in February for a couple of years. Now they do not know when that will happen: “I went from having a clear plan of what I would be doing and where I would be living, to having no idea, with my future in the hands of foreign consuls who probably don't know what the future holds in their own country either. It's a very scary feeling to not know if you should pack your bags or extend your lease.”

Freedom of movement has been one of the fundamental rights of EU citizens, making it possible for people to create relationships despite the distance. During the quarantine many couples haven’t been able to see each other.

"We were planning, my partner and me, to meet in London, but the flight got cancelled," says Oumaima Dalil, a Moroccan-German living in Odense.

"The uncertainty of not knowing when we will be able to meet each other has impacted me. It’s nerve-wracking. Knowing that in one month we will meet was comforting, but now we don’t know what to expect."

around 5 or 5:30, just before work, and this was quite a change for me at the beginning. However, I have adjusted my program thanks to workout tutorials and improvised equipment. At this point, I am considering cancelling my gym subscription.”

Elena Rey, a Spanish dietitian and crossfit lover, would respectfully have to disagree, as she definitely misses doing her workouts at the gym: “You have more equipment available, so you can do a bigger variety of exercises, lift heavier and see better results. Also, it’s way easier to do a hard workout with other people sweating and going through the same right next to you!”

When the lockdown started, she wasn’t concerned and simply bought some

equipment to keep up the training at home and hope for the best. With the gym still not having any confirmed dates about when it will be reopening, she has come to see the situation differently.

“I am aware that it is going to be hard and will take a long time to go back to my usual workouts. It will probably mean more difficulties to train like annoying waiting lists. I am really not a cardio person and sports like running are just boring for me. I don’t think it will ever make me feel the same as crossfit,” she said.

Depending on what happens, she is considering going back to artistic roller skating instead – she used to compete in Spain when she was younger.

FEATURE

14 - 28 May 2020

M

ANY WOMEN agree that they miss their old routines.

“I miss working from cafes.

As a freelance writer, I spend a great deal of time working there. I can't wait till I can go back to working from anywhere other than my dining room table,” says Pia. Oxana Gerasimova, a freelance consultant from Moscow, says it has been hard to focus at home and misses going to the library: “There is no bed, no fridge, you can’t talk aloud, so no distractions like phone calls from friends.

Besides, during quarantine time my neighbourhood became rather noisy – the kids were at home and started playing outside early in the morning and these sounds didn’t help me stay concentrated.”

On the contrary, for Oumaima working at home has been positive, and she is not necessarily longing to go back to the office: “I save a lot of time. I wake up and start right away. I finish earlier

P

ROUTINES Oxana Gerasimova

and do not spend all day in front of my computer.”

W

SOCIAL ENCOUNTERS Victoria Pease

OMEN HAVE realised how they’ve been taking some things for granted.

“Simple things like taking the train or ferry, having a coffee break with your favourite colleague or hugging good old friends feels more like daydreaming lately,” says Monica Herrera, a Mexican expat.

“Just now, I acknowledge the privilege of being able to take a short Metro ride to Copenhagen Airport and flying off for a weekend adventure. It’s been challenging and worrisome not knowing when I can go back to Mexico and meet my parents and siblings again.”

Victoria has made a point of seeing her family more once the travel ban is lifted: “Although, I don't see them too

T LESSONS

Monica Herrera

HE LOCKDOWN has taught us that we can let go more than we thought was possible, that life can really change from one day to another, and that barely anything should be taken for granted, but more importantly that every new day should be really celebrated,” reflects Monica.

Jasmine agrees, contending that she’s learned to live with the minimum. “Before I really tended to hoard everything and take loads of stuff with me everywhere; now it's becoming an ongoing joke that I live out of one suitcase. But I do still need my hairdryer and barrel-brush to tame my beloved new fringe every morning.”

Grace, Oumaima and Oxana have

21

AMPERING our bodies is part of feeling good about ourselves. We all need a bit of me-time now and then.

Whether it is going to get our hair or nails done, or having a wax or a facial, it’s part of taking care of ourselves.

“It was difficult to stay away from the normal beauty routine. I am not that handy, so I prefer professionals taking care of my hair, nails and skin. A couple of my male friends suggested that I go to the park, but I felt uncomfortable showing up with my hair roots uncoloured. I had to wait till the hairdressers opened their service,” says Oxana.

British expat Jasmine Chinnery is not a regular hairdresser-goer, but during quarantine when her fringe started getting in the way of her eyes she realised how much she needed to go to the hairdresser: “I did watch some videos on how to trim a fullfringe yourself, but it looked way more complicated than expected, and I don't have a flair for symmetry, so thought it best to wait things out.”

She also misses stocking up on beauty products when she goes home to the UK, which she has been unable to do: “My main problem has been trying to get hold of some more vegan/cruelty-free mascara!”

often as they are in Germany, being here has made me realise that I shouldn't take them for granted. If something happened to them and they got sick, I couldn't even be there for them right now.”

On the other hand, sitting down in restaurants, coffee shops and bars gives us little pleasures that are definitely missed by all.

“I am used to eating out once a week and going to a café almost every day. It is not only about the taste of the meal but also about the atmosphere and vibes. I miss that a lot. It has affected my well-being as I feel I lost an important part of what gives me joy,” says Oxana, who is looking forward to the opening of these venues.

Grace feels it has been stressful to think about how to act in social situations

or when she is out and about: “I miss not having to worry about what I can and can't touch. It goes against human nature not to touch. Not just touching surfaces but even just shaking hands or hugging a friend. It's stressful having to consciously think about it all the time.”

For others the lockdown might have made them rethink about socialising.

“I've always been extremely social, but all this time in isolation has made me feel weird about human interaction. I've found myself retreating from social settings more than usual and dreading the return to normal life more than I expected. I'm sure this will pass over once I've spent some time interacting with anyone other than my boyfriend and my neighbour's dog,” concludes Pia.

found new hobbies and discovered new ways to keep busy.

"In a way the isolation helped me to focus more on myself and finally do the things that have been on my list for a long time. I started skateboarding again – something that I used to do when I was younger – and I play basketball more often,” says Oumaima.

Oxana has felt like a tourist in her own neighbourhood: “As I was stuck at home and had to find a way to distract myself, I started to walk a lot in my area, exploring new streets and small paths. We were lucky with the amazing weather all these months, so I really improved my leg muscles.”

“When quarantine started I bought a

sewing machine, hoping maybe I could start a hobby and spend less time watching Netflix. I was worried that without a sewing class or an expert I wouldn't be able to sew. Luckily there are a lot of people who share videos of what they make and lots of tutorials,” says Grace who has become part of an online community of sewers that help her every time she gets stuck on one of her new creations.

“It's still a lonely time in quarantine, but I think it is an advantage that there are others out there going through the same struggles, and it's made people more approachable – albeit from afar,” she concludes.

BEAUTY

Jasmine Chinnery

Additional Reporting: Valmira Gjoni

22 FEATURE

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

14 - 28 May 2020

Pub owners cautiously opening their doors, but were they safer shut?

PIXABAY

An uncertain future lies ahead – particularly for small venues where restrictions will limit the number of drinkers OLI ROSS

I

MISS GOING to the pub.

I miss everything about it. The overweight landlord with the offensive moustache.

The occasional good fight. The balding, middle-aged regular taking his usual place at the end of the bar who spends the evening shouting curse words at the wall. Even thinking about that musty carpet smell brings a tear to my eye. I miss sitting with my friends engaging in inane chit-chat, putting the world to rights. I miss enlightening them with another one of my failed Tinder dates whilst three pints down and overly emotional.

Ah, those were the days, but the reality is that these memories are in danger of remaining just that. Memories.

The outbreak of COVID-19 has had a significant impact on everyone across the world, both personally and professionally.

And the pub industry has not come out unscathed.

In fact, it has been hit hard.

Going to the pub is one of – if not the – most social activities one can engage in during socalled 'normal times'.

Some of our most-beloved drinking institutions are being forced to close their doors for good, whilst others are struggling to stay afloat as the punters stay away and the beer taps go dry.

No reward for craft IN PARTICULAR, independent craft bars are more at risk than ever. With such a lengthy period without custom and less financial reserves to call on than some of the newer, bigger brewery bars, the threat of imminent closure hangs over many smaller venues.

“In recent years the surge in

This is pretty much what the Holy Grail looks like now

brewery bars has squeezed the smaller, independent craft beer bars,” contended Richard Darby, the owner of the Lord Nelson on Hyskenstræde in central Copenhagen, as well as the Gypsy Mermaid, which is moored near Nyhavn.

“They have the financial advantage of cutting out the middleman.”

From identifying new and interesting beers to supporting the smaller more up-and-coming microbreweries – of which some are now the biggest around – these smaller, independent venues have played a huge part in the so-called ‘beer revolution’ here in Denmark over recent years. The rise in brewery bars has provided customers with a wide variety of choice. This is not good news for everyone, however.

“As a result, there are many bars to choose from,” lamented Darby.

“And the worst hit by the lockdown would be the independent ones, which are run by people with a passion rather than those with external financial backers looking at the bottom line.”

Accessible, but is it viable?

THERE is light at the end of the tunnel, however. Lockdown in Denmark is now beginning to ease. As of May 18, pubs and bars are finally due to open their doors once again for the first time since the start of the lockdown. It’s a big sigh of relief for the bored beer-quenched customers, pub owners and staff – one and all desperate for a return to social and financial normality.

The reopening of these venues comes, of course, with restric-

tions. The number of customers and opening hours will likely be limited to some degree – the details of which are still yet to be confirmed. There is currently debate over social distancing within these venues – something that is a lot easier to accomodate for the bigger venues. However, it may not be possible for the smaller businesses to reopen.

“Ending the lockdown for small indoor bars and imposing social distancing rules may not be viable for us,” conceded Darby.

The Tipsy Mermaid has seen better times

“I would prefer that these bars would only be allowed to open when it is safe to do so without limitation.”

Hard to anticipate WHILST the reopenings will come as a relief for many pubs and bars, some landlords are still wary.

“We don’t know what is going to happen,” mused Brian McKenna, landlord and owner of The Globe, an Irish pub on Nørregade in the city centre.

“We don’t know how people

FEATURE

14 - 28 May 2020

It’s all down to the missus!

WHAT DOES the future hold for the pub industry? Whether large or small venues, pub owners are looking to their regulars to stay loyal and keep frequenting their locals.

“I hope that this crisis has made us all realise and appreciate how much we enjoy meeting up in these small independent beer bars, forgetting the daily fuss outside over a decent craft beer with good company,” said Darby.

McKenna hopes his regulars return in their droves, but he does make a good observation: “Regulars can help by spending more money. However, there are only so many times your wife will let you out!!”

The man has a point. Though, to be fair, given the lack of freedoms we have endured over the last couple of months, I’m fairly certain that the majority of wives will be more than happy to see the back of their partners for a few evenings a week.

The reality is that the future is very uncertain for us all. The next few weeks could be pivotal for many pubs and bars across the city, as they wait and watch to see how Copenhagen’s residents respond to their new social freedoms. I for one will be first in the queue.

Kennedys co-owner Tim Tynan questions whether it will be worth it THE GLOBE

Mixed feelings THE LOCKDOWN has not all been doom and gloom for the industry, however. The government has offered financial assistance to many businesses – some of which has enabled many bars to continue to operate.

“We’ve sent staff home but they are still employed thanks

to the government's rescue package,” revealed Tynan.

“It was difficult to get the money to come through, but we’ve got most of it now.”

In contrast, not everyone has been satisfied with the government’s offer of financial assistance. Smaller businesses do not always meet the criteria required for funding, which has hurt some independent bars like the Lord Nelson.

“The announcements of financial help all sounded promising, but very little has been forthcoming,’ noted Darby.

“Furthermore the government has excluded owners from the furlough scheme, even if they are a full-time employee of the company, receiving salary and paying tax on it, which hurts the small businesses.”

SOMA BIRÓ

will be. Will they be cautious?

It’s tough to know. There could be a mad dash to begin with, but I don’t expect that to continue. Maybe by September or October people will return to their normal routines, but it’s hard to say.”

Even with lockdown due to be lifted, it is still not a guarantee that all pubs will decide to open. High rents, maintenance costs and of course staff wages have put many venues in financial difficulty. Furthermore, when they closed their doors in March, they were forced to literally pour money down the drain with opened beer kegs and other stock that would not last.

“People need to realise that we’re running on a shoestring,” explained Tim Tynan, the co-owner of Kennedy’s Irish Bar on Gammel Kongevej in Vesterbro.

“I think it’ll actually be tougher to make ends meet when we open than it has been during lockdown. We won’t be operating at capacity, so will it be worth opening at all? We will see how things go.”

With the borders remaining firmly shut and live sport such as the Premier League currently on hiatus, it’s understandable why the landlords aren’t jumping for joy.

The usual influx of tourists to the city is something that many pubs rely on, and European football like the Premier League and the Champions League are a huge draw for punters everywhere.

Without these two key elements, many pubs are missing a huge chunk of their usual revenue. As a result, there is still a big question mark over the future of the industry, with any return to the pre-coronavirus status quo potentially a long way down the road.

23

Globe landlord and owner Brian McKenna is appealing to your missus

Craft beer is all about improvising, according to Lord Nelson owner Richard Darby

24 CULTURE FEATURE THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

14 - 28 May 2020

How CPH:DOX became a digital trailblazer for all festivals ELLA NAVARRO

T

HE CORONAVIRUS Crisis has resulted in CPH:DOX becoming one of the first international film festivals to go all-digital.

In a recent interview with the Danish Film Institute, the festival director Tine Fischer says the process was a bumpy road, but overall a success.

In record time they were able to find a solution to make the documentaries accessible online.

festivals will change,” contended Fischer.

Is the future digital?

CPH:DOX learned the lesson and has certainly blazed the path for other festivals to go all-digital, as the crisis is preventing movie-goers from attending crowded theatres, not to mention the glamour of the red carpet.

Tribeca and YouTube announced recently that they are teaming up to offer a 10-day festival called 'We Are One: A Global Film Festival'. It won’t be replacing the original Tribeca Film Festival, but it will be a global collaboration among many festivals of the world, as well as available to stream worldwide for free. Donations are welcomed and will be directed to the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.

The festival kicks off on May 29. The program hasn’t been released yet. However, among the festivals participating will be Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Toronto, Sundance and San Sebastián.

CPHDOX

Saved from bankruptcy THE FESTIVAL has been an all-out success. Extended until April 30, they sold more than 65,000 tickets, and it saved them from going bankrupt.

It is also estimated that at the end of the month they might beat the record of admissions from last year (114,000).

By April 20, they had already notched up 113,000, based on a 1.7 audience member per view.

The digital screening of the festival has also expanded its audience. In previous years 90 percent of the audience were from Greater Copenhagen, but now figures reveal that 30 percent are coming from the rest of the country.

“CPH:DOX has been transformed forever. There is no doubt that we will exist both physically and digitally next year.

The transformation process has shown that it is possible to go digital, and that this has enormous value, and so the role of

What an audience!

FACEBOOK CPHDPX - RADINA VLADIMIROVA

We are going digital AFTER the announcement of the government on March 11 regarding the lockdown and the restricted gatherings, the festival organisers quickly said that their 700 screenings (220 films) would be cancelled.

Instead, they began working on a plan to take all the films into the digital realm – something that would have been unimaginable months ago.

“On the evening before the lockdown, we made a fundamental decision: the festival would not be shut down but be held digitally – not as a pale imitation of itself but with the same scope as the physical festival,” Fischer told DFI. The first solution was to stream 40 films with their partner Festival Scope, but they still had to convince production companies and rights owners to allow the online streaming.

Although giants like Netflix have made online premieres seem normal these days, many are still defenders of the theatre culture, and fears remain that if their film only premieres online it could be lost in the cloud.

But, in light of the pandemic, it was this or nothing, and CPH:DOX managed to convince them.

Surviving the heavy traffic WITH THE approval on the table, CPH:DOX worked for four days to get everything ready to launch with 40 films on the intended start date, March 17. However, once they went live, challenges started arising.

“When we went online, there were a lot of problems with the platform because the traffic was so heavy. That was probably the worst night ever in my DOX life because we had been publicising the online edition and then immediately had problems with the streaming,” Fischer told DFI. They quickly decided to try a new platform run by Shift72, a startup in New Zealand. The new streaming system was up and running in 18 hours - not bad as it would normally take four days. With Shift72 they were able to show up to 150 films, without compromising an overload of the system.

CPHDOX

Organisers were forced to think fast on their feet when the coronavirus completely derailed all their preparations

ENGLISH JOB DENMARK Recruitment Announcements Part of The Welcome Group SUPPLY PLANNER, FLYING TIGER COPENHAGEN

Your main responsibility is to secure optimized procurement planning and order management. One of your primary tasks is to collect, process and analyze data to estimate sales expectations and prepare recommendations to stakeholders.

Location: Deadline: Contact:

Copenhagen When filled corporate.flyingtiger.com

STUDENT ASSISTANT, CLINICAL OPERATIONS, GENMAB

You will become part of an engaged and experienced group of clinical trial team members who operationalize the science and strategy of Genmab trials and projects, gaining an insight into cancer disease areas.

Location: Deadline: Contact:

Copenhagen When filled www.genmab.com/careers

DIRECTOR FOR NEWLY ESTABLISHED DATA SCIENCE DEPARTMENT, LUNDBECK

Are you passionate about using statistics, epidemiology, and machine learning to extract insights from large or complex data? Do you thrive using your extensive methodological knowledge to help others succeed and grow?

Location: Deadline: Contact:

Valby 1 June 2020 Ingrid Sofie Harbo, VP Biometrics, insh@lundbeck.com

To advertise your vacancy here and reach 60,000+ readers weekly, contact: info@englishjobdenmark.dk or call 6070 2298.

For more information about what we can offer: https://englishjobdenmark.dk/

ENGLISH JOB DENMARK

BUSINESS FINANCE PARTNER, NOVOZYMES

You will set the financial agenda by driving the planning, forecasting and performance management processes, as well as facilitating discussions on resource allocations and supporting area specific projects and business cases.

Location: Deadline: Contact:

Bagsværd 27 May 2020 Per Dalbjerg, Senior Business Finance Manager, pda@novozymes.com

FINANCIAL DATA ANALYST, ALK

You will be working close to management and your tasks and responsibilities will range from monthly reporting, coordination and consolidating of budgets to insight and root causes analysis of master data issues.

Location: Deadline: Contact:

Hørsholm 31 May 2020 Louise Engelsen, Director, Financial Planning & Analysis, +45 50 44 24 04

SENIOR DIRECTOR – DATA PRODUCTS, CARLSBERG GBS

Running this team, you will be responsible for a key element of delivering the data journey which is alignment and partnering with the business. Strong people management skills and leadership skills are essential.

Location: Deadline: Contact:

Copenhagen 24 May 2020 Wilmer Peres, Wilmer.Peres@Carlsberg.com

TEST DEVELOPER (11806), OTICON

Would you like to work with the some of the world’s most advanced technologies and do you want to make the lives of millions of people worldwide better? Then you should apply!

Location: Deadline: Contact:

Smørum 6 June 2020 Claus Torp Hansen, QA Manager in Software Solutions, +45 40 91 35 06

VALIDATION ENGINEER, FUJIFILM DIOSYNTH BIOTECHNOLOGIES You will be part of setting the overall Computerised System Validation (CSV) strategy and set the direction on CSV for specific projects and implementations.

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Hillerød When filled Gitte Brynningsen, +45 41 94 99 94

SENIOR SUPPLY CHAIN SPECIALIST, ØRSTED

Join us and become Senior Supply Chain Specialist in the Operations Supply Chain department where you’ll support our global wind farms by being responsible for supply chain projects, module sourcing and supply chain strategy.

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Gentofte 28 May 2020 Troels Klit Pedersen, Head of Operation Supply Chain, +45 99 55 94 44

DESIGN AND VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER, DTU

Would you like to contribute to the development of a world-leading scientific supercomputing infrastructure? Could you be committed to developing and implementing a strong visual identity and powerful visual communications in an innovative environment?

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EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE FOR EXPATS

Finding a job in Denmark is not always easy – especially if you don’t speak Danish.

The Welcome Group holds employment courses, workshops and webinars designed to help you find paid employment & guide you through the job process in Denmark.

For more information & to register Contact: twg-academy.com

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.

26

EVENTS

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

14 - 28 May 2020

Dis.Art in Denmark ongoing, ends Sep 1; dis.art; free adm The museum has teamed up with the internationally renowned artists’ collective DIS, the contemporary art exhibition site Tranen and the world’s biggest documentary festival CPH:DOX to offer films and series on the streaming platform Dis.art!

Online Zumba Party May 14 & 15, 17:30; free adm; register via irina.cernova@gmail. com Stay fit and party hard with Irina, as she takes you off to sway to some Zumba beats.

The party on May 14 will have a carnival theme, while May 15 will bring alive the disco of the 1980s and the 90s in your home. The sessions are free, but donations are appreciated. Irina has inspired a lot of people to stay fit with Zumba. Join her Facebook group, Zumba with Irina Cernova, to stay updated on news about events and other online links. (NG)

Goodnight stories for the neighbourhood May 19, 21:30; Teatret ved Sorte Hest, Vesterbrogade 150, Cph V; free adm Sweet, poetic evenings await in the carpark of the Teatret Ved Sorte Hest where Denmark’s favourite British comedian Vivviene McKee will be performing bedtime stories and a couple of songs in English on May 19. The theatre’s parking lot has been transformed into a small magic scene surrounded by colourful lights and welcoming neighbours in magical nights from May 14-22. There is free entrance.

However, the theatre can accommodate only ten people at a time, so arrive early. (VG)

Yin Yasa: Outdoor Yoga Bootcamp May 14, 19, 21, 26 & 28; Tickets @ namasteoutdoorsco.com Mula Yoga and Namaste Outdoors have organised an outdoor yoga bootcamp, where you can practice intimate yoga sessions in close circles of a maximum of nine people. The locations are in Nørrebro, Bellahøj and Frederiksberg, where you meet with a mat and sit outdoors for an hour’s yoga. The classes combine yoga and fitness to train your mind, body and brain. With the weather shining bright, this can be a fruitful outing. (NG)

Littlepinkmaker workshops ongoing, any time; littlepinkmaker. com; various prices Grab your apron, unleash your creativity and find your next new skill under the guidance of the distance learning workshops of Littlepinkmaker. The Norrebro-based studio/lab is offering classes and workshops for the whole family. Learn how to use a sewing machine, create patterns and practise sustainable printing with all the tools and materials needed to complete the class, which are delivered to your doorstep with tea and coffee. Visit the website to find out the available workshops and prices. (VG)

Magali Michaut concert May 17, 17:00; Facebook Live; hosted by Magali Michaut The beautiful French singer Magali Michaut is performing an online concert. You won’t reget tuning into her smoky voice. (NG)

Dance of Imagination and Transformation May 28, 10:00; Bøllemosen; hosted by Dance of Imagination and Transformation in Nature This dance session is a great stressbuster right now. Inspired by natural phenomena, Butoh (Japanese dance theatre), BMC (body-mind centring), tai chi and other somatic forms, it will have a healing effect on your body and soul. Safe distancing and guidelines for gatherings are being maintained. (NG)

Online meditation and yoga May 14, 20 & 28, 16:45; Skandinavisk Yoga & Meditation Skole; via Zoom In these challenging times, you need to relax with yoga and meditation. Learn various breathing and yoga techniques to give your mind a break from all the ongoing stress. Take part in the sessions through Zoom. Participants are expected to join in 15 minutes early.

The Zoom ID and password is available on the Facebook page. (NG)

Concert at MellemRummet May 22, 20:00; MellemRummet, Ravnsborggade 11, Cph N; free adm The Mellemrummet, the city’s cosiest volunteer-run café, proudly presents the debut of the Azadeh musical collaboration between the singer and songwriter Azadeh Ghavamrad and producer Emil Lundbak. Enjoy fair trade coffee and cheap, locally brewed beer. All profits are donated to support social change and sustainability through the work of Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke, ActionAid Denmark. (VG)

Two exhibitions at V1 Gallery ongoing, ends July 9; weekdays 10:00-17:00, Sat 11:00-15:00; Flæsketorvet 69, Cph V; free adm This vernissage is taking place on a Tuesday at 10 am. In adherence with the health authority guidelines, the gallery presents Signs of Life by HuskMitNavn and What did I know of your days by the duo Danielle Orchard and Nikki Maloof. Book online via booking@v1gallery.com to avoid waiting outside as the gallery can accommodate a maximum of 20 visitors at a time. (VG)

Jazz Meets Storytelling May 16, 20:00-21:00; LiveStream via youtu.be/Ml6l4-oep9c Join an intriguing program of jazz interpretations of the Danish jazz vocalist Tine Bruhn. This is an intimate concert presenting a combination of contemporary jazz sounds and melodic folk music with a poetic depth and passion. The concert will live stream from The Village recording studio in Copenhagen. Visit the Facebook event’s page and follow the link. (VG)

Low Fi presents MOODY May 21, 20:00; lowficoncerts.com; Live on Low Fi’s Facebook page Low Fi has successfully created an online platform for artists and musicians from all over the world. They treat music lovers with remarkable online concerts. Moody is known for spunky and soul-inspired flirtatious music that “connects to a generation and inspires them”. (NG)

Louisiana channel – 750 meets with the art ongoing, anytime; free adm; channel.louisiana.dk While Louisiana remains closed until June 8, explore 750 videos profiling artists, architects, writers and more on its channel. The museum’s virtual 24-hour ‘wing’ is always open to inspire us with art, literature, music, architecture and design. All the videos are in English. (VG)

Online exhibitions @SMK ongoing, any time; artsandculture. google.com; free adm With collections dating back to the mid-16th century, the National Gallery offers digitalised exhibitions and a collection of selected paintings. With ‘Art’ it provides its visitors with insights on how a work of art comes into existence. The museum is planning to reopen on June 9 under specific safety measures. (VG)

Flexibility training May 23 & June 9, 19:00; KU.BE, Dirch Passers Alle 4, Frederiksberg; free adm Get rid of stress accumulated during the isolation with some positive training that focuses on flexibility and agility. The training is available for people over 13 years old, regardless of their level. Make sure to register yourself at 2973 1019 by entering your name and date of participation. (VG)

Quarantine Film Club ongoing, ends May 24, YouTube Working with partners across the world to extend free access to information for everyone, The Why Foundation produces and donates documentaries to underserved countries and distributes them on a sliding fee scale to other broadcasters around the world to combat disinformation. Don’t miss this journey across the world through selected films. (VG)

West African sabar dance ends May 25, every Monday, 18:00; hosted by sab’ ART Sab’ ART and World Dance Academy are hosting weekly online Sabar dance and drum lessons for all levels. Sabar is a high energy dance form, hence anyone who is interested in West African beats and dancing is welcome to join. The sessions are held on Zoom. (NG)

Bakken & Tivoli reopening June 8 They are respectively the oldest and third oldest themeparks in the world, so you would imagine they’re used to closing due to pandemics. After all, Bakken was over 130 years old when plague hit Copenhagen in 1711, wiping out a third of its entire population.

While Tivoli has survived cholera and polio outbreaks. (BH)

Hot yoga in sunshine ongoing; Dóttir HotYoga, Teglholmsgade 76A, Cph K; 65-125 kr Keep a healthy body for a healthy mind in this extraordinary time. While most of the workout spaces are closed, boost your activity with outdoor yoga by joining the Dóttir Hot Yoga community. Keep an eye on the official Facebook page for the exact location. (VG)

Sceneindgangen Live vrious dates updated on Facebook page; free adm Enjoy online dance classes during the lockdown period for free via Facebook Live every week. If you are looking for something more sophisticated and classic than hip-hop or salsa, this is a good opportunity for you to try ballet or contemporary dance. Take the online class as a trial. (RM)

Online concert from Kristian’s living room May 17 & 24, 21:00; facebook. com/traddk; Free adm A Danish musician hit hard by cabin fever has started giving free live music concerts on his page.

Kristian specialises in strong Danish folk music traditions. He is very active on the Danish and Scandinavian folk music scene as well as the rest of Europe. (RM)

Danish will look fantastic on your lips

Kiss bad language learning goodbye We have been teaching foreigners the beautiful language of Danish for more than 40 years. So, if you are looking for high-quality learning, outstanding teachers and fast progression, Studieskolen is the place to go. Right in the center of Copenhagen.

Choose from a variety of classes at Studieskolen.dk Check out how we look on SoMe