ScandAsia China December 2013

DEC 2013

China

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Opinion

Buy a piece of Paradise

R

ecently there was an advertisement in an English-Language Magazine: ‘Invest in Paradise, prices start from 12.2 million Baht…..….’ I imagine The Land Developer and Saint Peter himself sitting there, at Heaven’s gate, issuing eternal Title Deeds to the hopefuls - all of them dressed in white, fresh from the earthly struggle for fortune and fame.

Maybe His Darkness, the Devil, will also be in attendance, ready to help those of us who cannot pay 12.2 million Baht. He will then guide us on the voyage deep downstairs to an even warmer location.

Well, well, just marketing words of course but this ad made me think of real and false development.

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St. Matthew’s gospel 13.12 says: “For the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away”. Maybe the Land Developer knew this text and just looked at it face value, ‘let’s sell Paradise then’ but that is meanwhile not within his reach and I suppose the church can come up with an interpretation, showing the silliness of the developers misuse of words.

One of my theological friends gave the following interpretation: ‘The one who will listen and learn [to the teaching of Our Lord] will experience lots of fruits thereof, but the one who let himself be deceived by greed, will lose it all’.

My friend added that his interpretation was maybe a bit ‘rough and ready’, but in accordance.

And as it shows so often, the Christian message is well in line with the Buddhist teaching; in this case the teaching of ‘The Middle path’, where we are told “to stay neutral, upright and centered.

Meaning to investigate and penetrate the core of life………with an unbiased attitude” [Teaching in Chinese Buddhism 1996].

Behind both teachings are of course that if our intellectual compass is biased and for example geared solemnly towards money matters or sexual pleasures we cannot think in a true analytical way, we then become mental slaves. Then we maybe will fall into the trap and believe that a piece of paradise can be bought!

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Andrew Carnegie (1835 – 1919) was an American business magnate who owned the biggest steel empire in the US. He became meanwhile, and quite early in life, a bit untraditional and decided to give away his billions. He declared: “There is no idol more debasing than the worship of money” – or: “There is nothing lower than money worshipping” [Wikipedia]. He then founded more than1.200 public libraries both in the USA and in Europe, he built Carnegie Hall; MellonCarnegie University etc. etc. and he was left with only a few millions when he died.

Editor-in-Chief : Gregers A.W. Møller gregers@scandmedia.com

What he saw and what we all have to see is that money is without soul and if we worship them they will freeze our mind and make us senseless addicts.

Assistant Editor: Wachiraporn Janrut wachiraporn@scandmedia.com

Happy Christmas and May your God be with you.

Advertising : Finn Balslev finn@scandmedia.com Piyanan Kalikanon piyanan@scandmedia.com Nattapat Maesang nattapat@scandmedia.com Graphic Designer : Supphathada Numamnuay supphathada@scandmedia.com Distribution : Wanvisa Rattanaburi wanvisa@scandmedia.com Printing : Advance Printing Services Co., Ltd.

Daily news and features here: www.scandasia.com Flemming Winther Nielsen is Senior Lecturer (retired) DSH. DK. M.Sc.soc. (Aalborg University).

The author has working and research experience from the Sudan, Zambia, Portugal and Thailand.

Past Events

Norwegian Consulate General in Guangzhou marked 5th anniversary

T

he Norwegian Consulate General in Guangzhou marked its 5th anniversary on 7 November 2013.

Since the opening in 2008, the Consulate has not only provided consular and visa related services, but also served as a facilitator for Sino-Norwegian business relations, as well as promoting cultural exchange.

The Consulate’s activities have included hosting seminars on everything from water treatment and waste management to gender equality in business, dinners promoting Norwegian seafood, and participation in several architectural projects.

The Norwegian folk music project Laus Levande fascinated and impressed during the Anniversary reception.

Christmas Basar at Mariner’s Club in Hongkong

T

he Christmas Basar held on 16 November at Mariners’ Club in Hongkong saw close to a thousand visitors! At times it was quite crowded around the table of the Church of Sweden.

Many also bought beautiful gifts from the handicraft table.

The Church of Sweden send heartfelt thanks to all visitors who shopped genrously, all contributors who donated home baked delicacies for the event and all participants in the organising committee for all its hard work during the autumn.

Young Professionals of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong

E

bba Lo from Swedish apparel brand, Lindex, shared her experience in establishing and running production office for lingerie in China at the 6 November 2013 meeting of the Young Professionals of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong.

A great evening filled with personal reflections, life changing choices and how to run a production office in China, the world’s biggest manufacturing hub.

Lindex has a grand plan for the China market as Chinese consumers are being targeted. In September 2014, the first Lindex store will open its doors in Shanghai. According to the agreement with the new Chinese franchise partner Suning, which is one of the largest companies in China, the goal is to open 100 stores within four years.

4 ScandAsia.China • December 2013

Nordic Dwsign and Innovation Week

Past Events

T

he Consulates General of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden jointly organized the Nordic Design and Innovation Week in Shanghai on 1-10 November 2013 to showcase the Nordic concept of sustainable and innovative design.

The first NDIW held in Shanghai this year, featured a range of design sectors focusing on the idea of design as a process, not just a product.

The Nordic countries have a long tradition in the fields of design and innovation. Nordic design is often characterized by simplicity, clean lines and functionality.

The Nordic Design and Innovation Week (NDIW) was presented by the Nordic Consulates General in Shanghai (Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland), supported by the Nordic Cultural Fund and Shanghai International Culture Association.

The exhibition highlighted Nordic design and innovation in food, fashion, service design and industrial design. In addition, a range of seminars, workshops, master classes and networking events will happen.

Norwegian fashion designer Nina Skarra presented designs and ideas of sustainable design during Nordic Fashion Day. Among others, was the project “Designing for Dignity” presented for the audience, where AHO graduates have designed solutions that dignify the medico-legal process a victim goes through after a sexual assault.

A dinner on the topic of “Food vs. Fashion” was held, in this picture the newly appointed Consul General of Denmark to Shanghai, Mr Nicolai Prytz is helping create the dessert.

December 2013 • ScandAsia.China 5

Past Events

Sweden Education and Career Day at Peking University

T

he first ever “Sweden Education and Career Day” was held on Tuesday 5th of November at Peking University in Beijing. Chinese students had the opportunity to meet with twelve universities and eight well-known Swedish companies, as well as with representatives from the Swedish Institute and the Embassy of Sweden.

The Sweden Education and Career Day was organized by the Swedish Institute, the Sweden Alumni Network in China (SANC) and the Embassy of Sweden for the first time on Tuesday. Participating students had the opportunity to meet with Swedish universities and companies and they also got to listen to an inspirational speech by curator of the Nobel Museum, Olof Somell, on the topic “Spark of Creativity”.

Liu Weichen, a former student at Stockholm University, shared with the audience his experience studying in Sweden, and Douglas Washburn of the Swedish Institute spoke about what makes Sweden a great study destination.

In today’s global job market companies need people who think independently and creatively. This trait is highly valued by multi-national companies (MNC) around the world, says Washburn. Sweden is one of the most innovative and creative countries in the world and routinely rank among the top in innovation and creativity indexes and have the most number of MNCs per capita in the world.

The informal and non-hierarchical study environment, a focus on team work and the development of student’s ability to think critically and creatively are some other things that Washburn highlighted in his presentation.

On November 1st the Embassy of Sweden organized a Weibo Chat with Douglas Washburn on the Embassy’s micro blog on Sina Weibo.

During one hour followers of the Embassy’s micro blog had the opportunity to ask Washburn questions about studying in Sweden. You can find questions and answers (in Chinese) here.

Thank you to participating universities and companies: Chalmers University of Technology, University of Gothenburg, Halmstad University, Jönköping University, Kristianstad University, Linköping University, Linnaeus University, Lund University, Mid-Sweden University, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm University and Umeå University.

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6 ScandAsia.China • December 2013

News Brief

IKEA outdoes ‘stingy’ China in Philippines relief

T

he outpouring of international aid to the Philippines in the wake of devastating typhoon Haiyan made China’s half-hearted contribution for emergency relief look stingy unworthy of a country aspiring to Superpower status. Even Swedish furniture chain IKEA and beverage giant Coca-Cola have done more than the world’s second-largest economy.

China has pledged less than $2 million in cash and materials, compared to $20 million provided by the United States, which also launched a massive military-driven rescue operation that includes an aircraft carrier.

Norway also initially offered more for typhoon relief than China and has since raised total aid to more than US$33 million as of end of November.

Another Chinese rival, Japan initially pledged another $20 million in aid, raising its total to $30 million, and offered to send troops, ships and planes. Australia is giving $28 million, and IKEA has offered $2.7 million through its charitable foundation. The Coca-Cola Company said early it was donating more than $2.5 million in cash and aid material.

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Novo Nordisk’s insulin recalls traced to China plant dosage error

N

ovo Nordisk in late October recalled 30 batches of a prefilled insulin product following a dosage error at a manufacturing facility in China.

The recall covered certain batches of its prefilled insulin product NovoMix®30 FlexPen® in Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Norway and Slovakia. In Ireland and the UK, three batches of NovoMix®30 Penfill® are being recalled. Other countries in the EU might have received the affected batches through parallel distribution.

NovoMix®30 is a product used for the treatment of diabetes.

A quality control conducted by Novo Nordisk has shown that a small percentage (0.14%) of the products in these batches do not meet the specifications for insulin strength, which may lead to the patient’s blood sugar level becoming higher or lower than expected. To protect patient safety Novo Nordisk is recalling all products in the affected batches from wholesalers, pharmacies and patients.

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8 ScandAsia.China • December 2013

News Brief

Sino-Norwegian ties remain frigid despite government change in Oslo

T

he fact that Norway had a new government does not seem to change anything in the relationships between the two countries, which has not been the best since the Nobel prize in 2010.

It will not lead to any changes in the tense relationship between China and Norway, that Norway recently had a new government, Danish Newspaper Kristeligt Dagblad reported. That is how the message from the Chinese Foreign Ministry to Norwegian broadcast NRK sound.

“It is completely up to the Norwegian government to improve the relationship to China. It knows what to do,” said a spokesperson from the ministry in Beijing to the Norwegian TV-station.

Norway’s new Prime Minister, Erna Solberg, who pointed out Børge Brende, as the new Foreign Minister, is on good terms with the Prime Minister of China, Li Keqiang, because Brende has been special adviser for China’s government in reference to climate issues.

But that does not mitigate the Chinese.

“That Foreign Minister Børge Brende and Prime Minister Li Keqiang are close friends makes no difference. Norway has created this situation, and Norway will have to solve it,” the spokes person said.

The relationship between the two countries have been bad since the dissident Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010.

Now it will be Brende’s task to reestablish the former good relations between the two countries. Brende comes from a top position in World Economic Forum.

Asked by the news agency NTB, if it was relevant to apologize to China for the award of the peace price, Brende replied that he would not “enter that discussion”.

Did China hack Finland’s Foreign Ministry?

T

he Finnish Foreign Ministry has been the target of large-scale spying, according to the Finnish commercial broadcasting company MTV3.

The espionage has been kept under wraps, with just a few key officials aware of the matter. MTV3 says that the true extent of the hacking is still not clear. Neither is it certain that the problem has been fixed.

The spying could have been running for up to four years.

The matter was first reported by MTV3, and was confirmed to Yle by Finland’s Security Police, SUPO. A Supo investigation is underway.

According to the authorities, either China or Russia is suspected to be responsible for the snooping, which focused on data traffic between Finland and the EU, reports MTV3.

Finland shines at China’s enterprise innovation forum

F

inland was given a place of honor at an international forum on enterprise innovation held recently in Shanghai, China this year. Experts and officials from Finland, at 2013 Pujiang Innovation Forum in late September, shared their experiences in developing a knowledgeintensive economy.

Finland is home to the likes of Rovio Entertainment, the company behind the popular “Angry Birds” video games, Kemira, a leading global water chemistry company, and mobile phone brand Nokia.

Jan Vapaavuori, Finland’s minister of economic affairs, said innovation can’t be taught as it is about creating something that no one has done before. However, the environment can be improved to promote cooperation and encourage creativity, said Vapaavuori.

“We believe that investment in people, knowledge and innovation is the key to future success,” Vapaavuori said.

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December 2013 • ScandAsia.China 9

Sexy girls Birger Christensen, a century-old fur brand from Denmark, has officially landed in China. The leading fur-retailer has developed a strategy and action-plan to better exploit the brand potential in a new market as China, and the most crucial part has been to find the right partner.

By Alexandra Leyton Espinoza

10 ScandAsia.China • December 2013

ls like Danish furs

A

lthough established in 1869 and entitled to be Purveyor to the Danish Royal Court, the exclusive Danish fur brand Birger Christensen, remains internationally rather unknown.

Establishing itself in China has been high on the agenda for years, but finally, it has happened.

“We found it crucial to have the best setup, before we launched our brand in China. The market has been ready for a brand like ours for some time now, but for us it was about selecting the right partner,” says Morten Lagsted, Chief of export.

The partner, that Birger Christensen finally selected, is a Chinese luxury jewelry designer, who appeals to the same type of customers as Birger Christensen. And who, according to Lagsted, knows how to create a luxury brand in China and how to handle their target group.

“We all know that jewelry and fur go hand in hand. This influenced our choice of partner and last but not least, they were chosen because they share a lot of the same values as Birger Christensen in how to brand a company like ours. It is important that Birger Christensen is branded as a single brand, so that the customers are not confused of who we are,” Lagsted says.

According to Lagsted, both the marketing organization and the production is ready to cope with a rising demand from their Chinese customers. They have spent a lot of time preparing to establish in China.

Different sizes “The biggest challenge for us back here in Denmark has been about the sizes. Danish sizes are very different from the Chinese sizes, but our sizes are now adjusted for the Chinese ladies, our tailor and furrier have been on several research trips to China, so have I and our managing director – we are ready.”

In 2012, Birger Christensen announced that its goal was to establish five to ten franchises in China by 2016. But those plans have changed.

“I believe that Birger Christensen had a different idea of the Chinese market then compared to now. The goal is to establish a showroom and a shop in Beijing, and start from there. We have plans of reaching other major cities in China, but the important part is to be established in Beijing to begin with,” says Lagsted.

“China is definitely the biggest and most important fur market in the world, and that is the main reason for us being there. We are sure that there is room for us in the market - actually we believe that there is a gap in the market for high quality fur like ours. The Chinese customers are ready for our furs and they are well educated within fashion and their knowledge about high quality,” Lagsted adds.

“We are not trying to make the brand more international known, - we are just making it known to the Chinese customers. Our customers are individuals who appreciate the same values as Birger Christensen, the best quality, exquisite craftsmanship and exclusive design.”

“We want to approach them trough private VIP events, making the brand very exclusive and thereby create some hype around Birger Christensen. Our brand is not for the masses and it is very important to keep it that way,” Lagsted says.

Purchase top 5 pct quality One way for Birger Christensen to remain exclusive, is to purchase only the best.

Kopenhagen Furs is the largest supplier of raw skins to Birger Christensen and Birger Christensen buys only the top 5 percent of its quality stock which helps give the company its status as the fur producer who chooses the best quality and never compromises.

Kopenhagen fur has for some time sold its furs directly to the Chinese market. In 2010, Kopenhagen Fur estimated that the total sale of fur products in China reached 20 billion DKK which makes China it the company’s biggest market.

Wearing fur has become the perennial symbol of status and wealth, which makes the fur industry in China booming.

Although established in 1869 and entitled to be Purveyor to the Danish Royal Court, the exclusive Danish fur brand Birger Christensen, remains internationally rather unknown. Establishing itself in China has been high on the agenda for years, but finally, it has happened.

“We found it crucial to have the best setup, before we launched our brand in China. The market has been ready for a brand like ours for some time now, but for us it was about selecting the right partner,” says Morten Lagsted, Chief of export.

The partner, that Birger Christensen finally selected, is a Chinese luxury jewelry designer, who appeals to the same type of customers as Birger Christensen. And who, according to Lagsted, knows how to create a luxury brand in China and how to handle their target group.

“We all know that jewelry and fur go hand in hand. This influenced our choice of partner and last but not least, they were chosen because they share a lot of the same values as Birger Christensen in how to brand a company like ours. It is important that Birger Christensen is branded as a single brand, so that the customers are not confused of who we are,” Lagsted says.

According to Lagsted, both the marketing organization and the production is ready to cope with a

rising demand from their Chinese customers. They have spent a lot of time preparing to establish in China.

Different sizes “The biggest challenge for us back here in Denmark has been about the sizes. Danish sizes are very different from the Chinese sizes, but our sizes are now adjusted for the Chinese ladies, our tailor and furrier have been on several research trips to China, so have I and our managing director – we are ready.”

In 2012, Birger Christensen announced that its goal was to establish five to ten franchises in China by 2016. But those plans have changed.

“I believe that Birger Christensen had a different idea of the Chinese market then compared to now. The goal is to establish a showroom and a shop in Beijing, and start from there. We have plans of reaching other major cities in China, but the important part is to be established in Beijing to begin with,” says Lagsted.

“China is definitely the biggest and most important fur market in the world, and that is the main reason for us being there. We are sure that there is room for us in the market - actually we believe that there is a gap in the market for high quality fur like ours. The Chinese customers are ready for our furs and they are well educated within fashion and their knowledge about high quality,” Lagsted adds.

“We are not trying to make the brand more international known, - we are just making it known to the Chinese customers. Our customers are individuals who appreciate the same values as Birger Christensen, the best quality, exquisite craftsmanship and exclusive design.”

“We want to approach them trough private VIP events, making the brand very exclusive and thereby create some hype around Birger Christensen. Our brand is not for the masses and it is very important to keep it that way,” Lagsted says.

Purchase top 5 pct quality One way for Birger Christensen to remain exclusive, is to purchase only the best.

Kopenhagen Furs is the largest supplier of raw skins to Birger Christensen and Birger Christensen buys only the top 5 percent of its quality stock which helps give the company its status as the fur producer who chooses the best quality and never compromises.

Kopenhagen fur has for some time sold its furs directly to the Chinese market. In 2010, Kopenhagen Fur estimated that the total sale of fur products in China reached 20 billion DKK which makes China it the company’s biggest market.

Wearing fur has become the perennial symbol of status and wealth, which makes the fur industry in China booming.

December 2013 • ScandAsia.China 11

Risky Burma Dreams Veteran Foreign Correspondent Bertil Lintner warns foreign businessmen of bitter lessons to be learned in Burma.

By Gregers Moller

B

ertil Lintner, award winning Swedish Foreign Correspondent based in Thailand, is highly critical of the majority of corporations moving in to do business in Burma since the country has opened up and international sanctions against the regime has been lifted.

“I am much more critical of the so-called transition process in Burma than most other foreign observers, and foreign investors don’t want to hear that,” Bertil Lintner says.

“They seem to prefer glossy, more upbeat interpretations of recent developments in Burma.

But most of my Burmese friends share my views.

They know as well as I do that the military is still in charge of all important decision making, and 12 ScandAsia.China • December 2013

that the military even controls the country’s most powerful business conglomerates, the Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings and the Myanmar Economic Corporation.”

“I would argue that most foreign businessmen, business consultants and risk analysts are out of touch with reality. There are a few exceptions, though, but the general trend is to look at things through rose-tinted glasses,” Bertil Lintner adds.

“It’s not just that the military remains in power, there are many other obstacles as well which are the legacy of decades of brutal military rule: rampant corruption on all levels, military meddling in private businesses, a fragile legal system – yes, the military is acting with impunity even when

it comes to businesses - and an acute shortage of educated and skilled people. Hundreds of thousands of educated people have left the country because of military rule; at home, universities and even high schools have been closed off and on ever since the military seized power in 1962.”

“Many new Western investors are talking about “ethical” and “socially responsible” investment, but they have to remember that their competition comes from Chinese, Indian, Thai, Singaporean, Malaysian and Korean businessmen who do not have such considerations when it comes to investing in Burma.”

“It is my impression that most foreign investors are very naive when it comes to Burma and its supposed economic potential. They should be

Most foreign investors are very naive when it comes to Burma and its supposed economic potential. They should be prepared for some bitter lessons to be learned, but most of them are not.

prepared for some bitter lessons to be learned, but most of them are not,” he warns.

The ethnic wars Bertil Lintner agrees with the observers who are concerned with the brutal war that the central Burmese rule is waging against states with different ethnic majority.

“There is hardly going to become any peace in the ethnic areas because there are two fundamentally different, incompatible views of what kind of country Burma should be,” he explains.

“The ethnic groups, whether armed or not such as political parties and civil society organisations - are demanding the same thing: a federal system with autonomy for ethnic areas. The military wants to maintain a highly centralised state structure. The military believes that federalism would be the first step toward disintegration of Burma.”

“Although peace talks are being held and ceasefire agreements agreed upon, the military keeps attacking Kachin and Shan rebels in the north. In the south, we are seeing a heavy militarisation of Karen and Mon areas.”

First visit in 23 years Bertil Lintner is one of many foreign correspondents who have been blacklisted and not been allowed to enter Burma for many years. Only in his case, he has been on the list since 1985. The previous Burmese government body, the State Peace and Development Council, said his reports on Burma were groundless and based on wishful thinking. Ironically, Lintner was the first foreign journalist to learn about Aung San Suu Kyi’s release from house arrest in 1995.

In October 2012, Bertil Lintner legally visited Burma for the first time in 23 years. He wrote about this in a report in the German magazine Du: “While walking down the streets of Rangoon for the first time in 23 years, I remembered how it all began in March 1988.”

“It was March 12, a Saturday, and Win Myint, his namesake Win Myint and Kyaw San Win – three young students from the prestigious Ran-

goon Institute of Technology, RIT- strolled down to a small teashop opposite their campus on Insein Road. It was a simple, country-style bamboo structure with an earthen floor, not fancy but popular with locals as well as RIT students. A brawl broke out between them and some locals over what kind of music should be played on the teashop’s tape recorder: their favourite, Sai Hti Hseng, a singer from the Shan national minority whose songs resembled Bob Dylan’s, but set in a Burmese context - or Kaizar, a Burmese crooner who sang only love songs.”

“The police intervened, but mishandled the situation. A 23-year old RIT student, Maung Phone Maw was shot and killed by the police, the first victim of the turbulent events of 1988. From then on, resentment with the authorities grew and, in August 1988, erupted into a nationwide uprising. Burma would never be the same again.”

“I have no idea where Win Myint, Win Myint and Kyaw San Win are today, and they could never have imagined the avalanche of events they were about to precipitate when they strolled down to that nondescript teashop a Saturday evening 24 years ago.”

Suu Kyi and the 2015 election During this visit, Bertil Lintner also met with Aung San Suu Kyi. About this visit he wrote: “It was evident from my discussions with her that she has her own agenda and refuses to be a pawn. But it is also clear that the government has gained an enormous amount of goodwill by releasing her from house arrest, and letting her travel to Europe and the United States to promote “the new Burma” - without having to give up an inch of its power.”

“There is still an open question, what will happen at the next general election, scheduled for 2015? Judging from statements by several ethnic leaders and spokespersons, the NLD may already have lost “the ethnic vote” by being vague on issues relating to the civil war and the refugees.

Moreover, Aung San Suu Kyi seemed very frail when I met her - and three years from now, she

will have turned 7o. Her NLD is also not nearly as well organised - and well funded – as the military’s Union Solidarity and Development Party, USDP.” “There is no doubt that Aung San Suu Kyi will have her place in Burma’s history - and the world’s - but then perhaps more as a beacon of hope during the dark years of military rule and, in the words of the Nobel Peace Prize Committee in 1991, her “struggle is one of the most extraordinary examples of civil courage in Asia in recent decades. She has become an important symbol in the struggle against oppression.”

“As an elected politician, however, she has a long way to go before she becomes a national leader assuming any high office within the state. If indeed she ever gets there.”

Swedish immigrant – stays in Thailand Bertil Lintner was born in Sweden, but his father was Austrian, so he only became Swedish citizen when he was three years old. His surname, Lintner, is south-German/Austrian, not Swedish.

“My father came to Sweden as a refugee from Nazi Germany, which at that time had occupied Austria, and he and my grandfather had both been incarcerated in concentration camps in Germany. So you can see that my background is not exactly that of an “ordinary” Swede,” he explains.

He left Sweden in 1975, when he was 22 to travel in Asia and worked in New Zealand, Hong Kong and Japan before returning to Thailand in December 1979 with the intention of staying here for good.

“I have lived here since then, apart from two years in the wilds of northern Burma in 1985-1987.

I feel much more at home in this part of the world Thailand, Burma, India and so on - than in Sweden.”

He has no intention ever of moving permanently back Sweden.

“When I am in Sweden, which happens about once a year, I feel like an outsider, can’t relate to what’s going on and what people are talking about. Chiang Mai, where I now live, is my home and I am not going to move anywhere.”

December 2013 • ScandAsia.China 13

Swedes lead the way in global sustainable entrepreneurship pioneering event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

By Andrea Hessmo

14 ScandAsia.China • December 2013

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radicating poverty and creating a better, greener world with sustainable entrepreneurship was the main topic for discussion at the Club Terra Viva event at the World Marketing Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 28-30 September.

Club Terra Viva is a group of pioneering entrepreneurs, key influencers, scientists and NGO:s that convened under the umbrella of the World Marketing Summit in Kuala Lumpur to find solutions for sustainable entrepreneurship. The meeting was initiated by Swedish-born entrepreneur and business connector Camilla Hall, who is based in Singapore.

The aim of the Club Terra initiative is to raise seed capital for sustainable entrepreneurship projects.

The Club is led by Dr Ashok Khosla, world renowned environmentalist who spoke at the event. Dr Khosla is former president of IUCN and founder of Development Alternatives in Delhi.

Present were also representatives from France, SeaOrbiter, a groundbreaking underwater vessel, Waste2Wear, a Dutch-owned environmentally friendly clothing company in Shanghai as well as other entrepreneurs and scientists.

“Camilla has the ability to bring key people together and create meaningful relationships,” said Dr.Khosla.

“We now need to influence global decision makers to realise the gravity of the world’s problems,” he said.

Swedes making a global environmental difference One of the speakers at the event was Anna-Sofia Winroth, a Swedish entrepreneur and founder of Gefle Chocolaterie. Winroth’s mission is to continue creating high-end, ecofriendly and ethical chocolate that does not destroy the environment and that creates fair working conditions. She owns two plantations of cacao in the Dominican Republic where she has started a knowledge project to improve the transformation of the cacao bean in a natural way.

“My ambition is to create a positive and visible change in the cacaobelt,” Winroth said. I want to show that quality is equally important as ethical and environmental aspects.

The greatest challenge for me now is to make this vision scalable and globally acknowledged.”

Another Swede making an impact on the African continent is the legendary zoologist Annie Olivecrona. Passionate about animal welfare since childhood, Olivecrona has worked for 40 years in East Africa to preserve the chimpanzees who are very near destruction. A large part

of the market for the illegal hunt of these animals is in Asia.

“I don’t think people are aware of what is happening worldwide, the illegal hunt of animals, the rainforests being burnt down, and how that affects the wild life,” Olivecrona said.

“You cannot re-grow a tropical rainforest again and we can’t afford to lose it. It’s not just about the

trees disappearing but also medicine plants that are so important for the future. We are so badly informed about it, but the indigenous people living there, they know this. And we can’t afford to lose all these animals living in the rain forest because everything is connected.”

Olivecrona cooperates with a number of organisations and indi-

viduals worldwide to prevent the destruction of the African apes. She and Dr Khosla had a long debate at the summit on how to influence key global decision-makers.

“We can no longer say that we will do this tomorrow, or the next generation will do this, or we need to save humans now,” Olivecrona said. “There is no point in saving humans if you’re not saving nature and animals at the same time, because if your saving humans but not nature, then we’ll all die in the end. If we destroy the forests and the oceans we won’t be able to breathe,” she said.

Further down on the African continent, in South Africa, Zaiga and Thomas Magnusson from Falsterbo, Sweden, have created and developed a programme called Star for Life to help and combat the HIV epidemic.

The programme is financed by Swedish entrepreneur Dan Olofsson.

When he realised that his 5-star safari lodge was located in the middle of the greatest HIV area in the world where 40% of the population was infected, he wanted to make a difference.

He asked the Magnusson couple for help to create an education programme which started in 2005.

The couple has 25 years of experience in competence and leadership development for clients such as McDonalds and Toshiba.

“When we got to the first school there were 38 girls aged 12-16 who were pregnant. It was a challenge to understand how we could help,” Magnusson said.

The couple created an education programme with a concept of a “dream-book” where students write down their dreams. It is about changing mindsets and building selfconfidence, especially with girls.

“If youths don’t have their own dreams they will follow the dreams of someone else. That’s how it works, “ Magnusson said.

The couple has worked with 100 000 students in South Africa to encourage these simple and positive values. The performance of the students who received the Star for Life programme increased dramatically compared to the ones that didn’t receive it. It was all about education and changing the mindset.

“If you have only 1 dollar to live on, hope is what is most important,” Magnusson said. “We have brought hope to these schools and I think hope is the greatest thing you can give another human being.”

Zaiga and Thomas Magnusson want to continue to make a difference and expand their programme to Asia. They are convinced that the programme will work very well in Asia too.

December 2013 • ScandAsia.China 15

in Asia 2013 Romhild’s Bangkok Christmas 2013

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lizabeth and Peter Romhild are frequent participants in events in the Bangkok community and a very charismatic couple. Together the couple has one daughter and one son who are both studying abroad.

Elizabeth and Peter met in Iran, where Elizabeth was born by a Danish mother and Armenian father. In 1979, they had to leave the country when the revolution started. Since then, they have lived in several countries and in 1988 they arrived in Bangkok and have no plans on leave.

Elizabeth has made herself a name as an artist, known for her sensual paintings and impressive sculptures. Her paintings are as colourful as she is; a warm hearted woman with a great smile. Peter is a tall guy with wild white hair, active board member in different companies and President of the Danish Chamber of Commerce.

Asking Elizabeth what she and her family’s plans are for Christmas, she replied quickly, “We will celebrate a traditional Gammel Jul (Christmas) in our Bangkok home, with a big Julebord (Christmas table) and all the typical Danish dishes, and of course Gingerbread and Glögg (hot spiced red wine).

“Our son will be home from New York and our daughter from Denmark. When the kids lived at home, they used to help me with the Christmas preparations, but this year I have to do it by myself as they arrive just in time for the holiday.”

When asked if she has a special Christmas memory, she answered, “When I was a child, I once received some Marionette dolls and I got so deeply attached to them and I still am.”

Trying to get her to spill the beans about Peter’s secret wish for Christmas, Elizabeth paused and with a smile she said, “Well, a sleigh-ride through a snowy landscape, that’s what he would enjoy I think. The closest he will get will be a boat ride through the klongs, I suppose.”

At last Elizabeth was asked what her big wish for her children would be. “I wish for them to live their lives and fulfill their dreams, to stay honest to themselves, appreciate the good life they have and be healthy and happy”.

What more could one ask for? Merry Christmas!

Øystein Tønnessen Singapore Christmas 2013

16 ScandAsia.China • December 2013

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ystein Tønnessen, Head of Music & Information at the Norwegian Seamen`s Mission, will celebrate Christmas in Singapore together with his family.– Christmas Eve we have a great Scandinavian celebration with 200 people at the Norwegian Seamen`s Mission. On Christmas Day we will have a private family celebration together with my mother who is visiting us from Norway. We are looking forward to have lots of time together, eat great food, travel a bit and just relax. Our daughter Ella will meet Santa for the first time, wonder how that meeting will go:)

Eskil Hallstrom’s Dream Christmas

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’ve been fortunate to have parents that put an enormous amount of effort into making Christmas a special experience. Starting as early as advent 1st with the start of the Christmas calendar on TV you knew that something was up. And when you got your first chocolate calendar you just knew that it was going to be incredible, you were getting chocolate out of a calendar every single day for crying out loud!

On the eve of December 23rd my parents would put me and my brothers to bed early and then spend hours meticulously cleaning and decorating the house, changing every table cloth, curtain and carpet to a special Christmas kind in red white and green.

On the morning of the 24th our socks would be full of candy but most importantly with pieces of paper that, puzzled together, would create a map to where the first morning gift for the whole family was hidden, one year we had to go on a one hour walk to find our new ice hockey game! This kept us brothers very busy in the

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Katja Nordgaard, Norways Ambassador to Thailand

eeting the blond, good looking Norwegian ambassador to Thailand is a great pleasure.

When she smiles, the whole world smiles.

Katja Nordgaard has been an ambassador for Norway located in Bangkok since three years and three months. She loves her job and enjoys meeting interesting people.

Katja was also responsible for Myanmar until October 28th this year, when an Embassy was opened and a new Ambassador arrived. During her many trips to Myanmar she learned to love that country and its people. She enjoyed seeing how the country developed and opened up.

Katja has not been back to Norway for Christmas holidays in three years. “This is the best part of the year in Thailand” she says “so why leave?”

She is looking forward having her 2 eldest daughters, 21 and 19 years old, coming home to Bangkok for the Christmas celebration. They both study in England, while the youngest daughter, who is fourteen, goes to school at NIST Bangkok and sees her mummy daily.

Katja comes from a family who cares a lot about traditions. There will be a Christmas table with Norwegian dishes like “Ribbe”, which is similar to

morning and our parents did not have to worry about us waking them too early, very cleverly designed I must say.

Christmas morning was the first time I ever had coffee, I believe it was from a tradition from my mother’s side that on Christmas morning everyone should be well dressed and everyone including children should have coffee. Did I like coffee at 4 years? Oh yes!

Simply because my mum had made it half cream half coffee and lots of sugar, any kid would love it :) In China I have spent many a Christmas trying to recreate the magic of Christmas from my childhood with homemade meatballs and glögg on bustling international Christmas parties. This year though, I will fly back to Sweden just before Christmas to go with my parents, brothers and their families to our vacation house in southern Dalarna to enjoy a tranquil Christmas with short, eye-blindingly white, snowy days and long starlit nights.

Spare ribs, but more meatier and you serve it with cabbage and “lingon” Cranberry which is heavy food, so you have to take a small Aquavit to digest, she explains ”.

Her mom and brother with family will arrive in time for the festivities and her home will be full but before that, the four women will take a needed rest and be visiting a Yoga resort in south of Thailand, a pre-Christmas gift.

Asking Katja if she has a special Christmas memory she replies: “Yes, in 2001 we were located in South Africa and the kids were young. We spent Christmas Eve on a beach, sitting on a rug, listening to the Norwegian Choir “Sölvguttene” who were singing on the car radio, we shared the Christmas gifts and enjoyed the sea and calmness around us, that is a very dear memory to me.”

Unfortunately Katja will move back to Norway 2014, in time for her youngest daughter to begin the gymnasium (high school).

“We still have time here and we do have much more to experience she finishes before we say good-bye and Merry Christmas to an amazing Thailand!

Hanna Holtinen’s Beijing Christmas 2013

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s a nonbeliever Christmas has not had any particular meaning to me for years. Despite the tacky Santas at local malls and on restaurant windows, it has been rather easy to forget about the whole Christmas frenzy that occupies most people’s minds for weeks before the actual celebration back home. No pre-Xmas parties, company Christmas dinners or panicky last minute Christmas shopping and most importantly, no akward attemps to start a conversation with that one distant relative who has been coming around for Christmas all your life but whom you never really bothered to get to know better.

Last time I recall celebrating Christmas was almost ten years ago when I had just moved to China. I shared a flat with two other students and we invited a few friends over. Living on a very limited student budget our Christmas dinner wasn’t much to brag about, but we had rice porridge, hot glögg and good company and I have to say that was the best Christmas I’ve had since childhood.

This year Christmas might not just be another day in the grey. My Chinese husband and I had a baby this autumn and since she seems to appreciate all things glittery, we’ve been thinking about decorating the house. No worries about overdoing it, I am sure she will love even the ugliest Santa as long as it has a little shiny wreath wrapped around its neck and belly.

Whilst going to Christmas church is not on our list, we will listen to some Finnish Christmas carrols, exchange gifts and eat Ikea ginger bread. Maybe I will manage to make rice porridge and I think there is some glögg ingredients buried somewhere at the back of the kitchen cupboard. Also, let’s not forget family time wearing matching red thermal underwear, an age-old tradition in my Finnish family.

December 2013 • ScandAsia.China 17

Medium

Icelandic layercake Ingredients: 3 cups of cream Evil

The sponge: • 4 egg whites • 140 grams icing sugar • 140 grams shredded coconut Chocolate crème: • 4 egg yolks • 60 grams icing sugar • 100 grams melted cooled butter • 100 grams melted chocolate

Procedure: Whisk the egg whites very stiff and mix with icing sugar and shredded coconut. Spread the mass in a butter greased cake tin. Bake the sponge in 50-60 minutes at 175 degrees in the lower drill in the oven.

Crème: Whisk egg yolks with icing sugar, the melted but cool butter and mix it with the melted chocolate.

Are you done?

W

hen you have completed the above puzzles, please send your solution by fax to +66 2 943 7169 or scan and email to puzzles@ scandasia.com. We will make a lucky draw among the correct answers. Five lucky winners will receive a ScandAsia polo shirt.

Name:

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Deadline for submitting your solution is 15 January 2014 18 ScandAsia.China • December 2013

Take the finished sponge out of the cake tin and place it on a round platter. Spread the chocolate crème on the sponge and decorate with whipped cream on the top.

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