Swedish Press Apr 2018 Vol 89:3

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April 2018 Vol 89:03 $5.95

Swedes Pushing Boundaries and Crossing Frontiers

03 7 2018 2014

Sahara Marathon Exclusive Interview with Dag Blanck Gemla Mรถbler

Svenska Kulturfรถreningen Swedish Cultural Society

Valborgsfirande Walpurgis Celebration Ambleside Beach West Vancouver

Sunday, April 29, 6:00 pm Bring your own hotdogs & picnic

Contact us at: SwedishCulturalSociety.ca@gmail.com www.SwedishCulturalSociety.ca

Swedish Press is the world’s leading magazine on all good things Swedish.

An authority on design, business, culture and travel since 1929, Swedish Press delivers insightful news and commentary in a visually striking format. With a nod to the past, and a peek to the future, Swedish Press is your go-to source for updates and inspiration from Sweden.

SWEDISH PRESS (ISSN 0839-2323) is published ten times per year (Feb, Mar, Apr, May, June, July/Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec/Jan) by Swedish Press Inc, 862 Peace Portal Drive, Suite #101, Blaine WA 98230 for $45 per year.

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NEXT ISSUE DEADLINE: APRIL 10

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CONTENTS ( April 2018 ) 4 Letters to the Editor

5 From the Editor’s Desk Swedish Headlines 6 Headline News: President Trump berömde Sverige i Vita huset 7 Swedes in the News 8 Landskapsnyheterna Business 9 Business News Borgströms Blogg 10 Company File: Velove AB Heritage 11 Saluting Beda Hallberg and her Mayflower Pin Feature 12 Saharamaraton till stöd för nationell frihet

Majblomman. Photo: Lisa Barryd

Interview 14 Evert Andersson – A Swedish-American with Deep Roots Global Swedes 16 Dag Blanck – Professor of North American Studies and Director of the Swedish Institute for North American Studies, Department of English, Uppsala University

Lifestyle 18 Top Sju 19 Music: Looking at the Atoms – An Interview with Bonefish 20 Travel: Småland – Gemla Möbler: The Art of Bending Wood 21 Culture: From History to Holmes

Hemma Hos 22 Design: Warm Lights and Colorful Sights at the ‘Jin’ by Jin Kuramoto.

Stockholm Photo © Jin Kuramoto.

Furniture & Light Fair 2018 23 Treats à la Swenson Swedish Press Connects 24 SCA – Swedish Council of America 25 SVIV – Svenskar i Världen Road to 2045 26 California and Sweden: A Coalition of the Willing In the Loop 27 Canada, US & Beyond 28 Calendar and Events 29 Ads and Info 30 Sista Ordet Meet Ulla the Baker!

31 Press Byrån Cover images: 1. Lisa Söderlindh at the 2018 Sahara Marathon.

Photo ©Valentina 4 5 Ángela & Pablo García.

2. Charlotte Kalla took the first gold 6 medal awarded at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang when she won the skiathlon and silver medals for the 10 km freestyle individual start, the 4 × 5 km relay and the team sprint.

Photo © Aftonbladet 3. André Myhrer awarded the gold medal for Alpine Skiing – Men’s Slalom.

Photo © Olympic.org 4. Team Hasselborg took home the gold medal for Women’s Curling. Photo © Aftonbladet 5. 2018 Winter Olympics gold medalists from left to right: Stina Nilsson, Charlotte Kalla, Frida Hansdotter and André Myhrer.

Photo: Petter Arvidson 6. Sahara Desert. Photo: Kunthika Panyawuthikrai

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Letters to the Editor Editor Peter Berlin: Reading your article on Northvolt, I am reminded of the 1970 film “Five Easy Pieces” in which Jack Nicholson tries to order a serving of plain toast in a roadside diner. The problem is that plain toast is not on the menu; however, a chicken salad sandwich is.

His pragmatic solution? He orders the chicken salad sandwich, but tells the waitress to hold the chicken, hold the lettuce, and hold the mayo.

Much the same applies to your article on Northvolt which begins with the statement that “…hydroelectric power stations produce fossil-free electric energy continuously and reliably, but their eco-friendliness is debatable.” Enter Northvolt which claims to solve the intermittent and unreliable output of solar and wind by building a gigantic battery factory in northern Sweden. The rare earth minerals needed will be mined in and “around“ Sweden. What will provide the electric power for this enterprise?

Northern Sweden will provide “…an ample supply of hydro-electric power.”

The hypocrisy so blatant here seems to have escaped you. Ecounfriendly hydro-power is used to power a battery facility, and suddenly becomeseco-friendly. The end-justifies -the-means reigns in the faux war on fossil fuels. No mention of the ecodestruction of Swedish native habitats by heavy metal mining, disposal of toxic manufacturing by-products, the disposition of lithium batteries at the end of their life span, and longdistance power-line construction.

The Jack Nicholson pragmatic solution? Just skip the problems of battery production and disposal, and use the hydro-power directly. Water is non-toxic, is recycled by nature as rain, and is an abundant natural

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resource of Sweden. Hold the mining, hold the lithium, hold the cobalt, and hold the taxation subsidies.

Charles G. Battig Houston, Texas

in Chicago. We are grateful for the worldwide exposure, which brings new visitors to the U.S. into our Museum.

Stephen Anderson Chicago, Illinois

Short comment from Northvolt: As batteries consume a lot of energy to produce (60 to 80 times the battery storage size) it really makes sense to put battery production to locations where low CO2 energy can be used (for example Sweden, Norway and Iceland). The hydro-power capability Sweden built through the last 100 years had of course impacts on the environment, but few would dispute that the investments have been really positive in total. In an era of reducing carbon footprint, the electricity generation is one of the best in the world.

Northvolt plans to build a factory that can fully recycle our own and other batteries after use. Mining does have side effects, but the more circular we can build our system, the better we will be able to achieve the world’s most sustainable battery. That is the best way to remove oil from transportation and reduce our CO2 emissions.

Peter Carlsson, CEO Northvolt AB, Stockholm, Sweden

To whom it may concern: Thank you for all the years I had this magazine. It is a very good and interesting paper. But I cannot have it anymore. I have very bad eyes. Very sorry. Thank you.

Gunnel Kekkonen Elliot Lake, Ontario

Peter Carlsson, CEO of Northvolt AB.

Dear Joan, Thank you for your prompt reply to my phone call. Yes, I would like the 10 back copies sent to me along with the March issue of the magazine.

The copies will be shared with students in the adult Swedish class at North Park University in Chicago.

North Park is a small liberal arts college in Chicago that was founded

by Swedes over a 100 years ago. I am a student in the class and discovered this magazine while visiting the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I thought it would be a great magazine to share with my classmates. All of the students are adults who have family or friends in Sweden and are interested in learning the language as well as following Swedish news and culture. Most of us have visited Sweden or plan to do so in the near future.

Again, thank you for attention to this request.

Karla Hayter Oak Park Illinois

Joan and Claes, Thank you heartily for your generous allotment of space for events at the Swedish American Museum

Enjoy reading Swedish Press? Email us your pictures along with your name and comments to info@swedishpress.com and we’ll be happy to publish them.

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from the Editor’s Desk

Swedes Pushing the Boundaries We need your support!

Swedish Press strives to create a high quality magazine for you, but the costs are considerable and ever-increasing.

Given that the subscription rates have remained unchanged since 2014, we are compelled from 2018 to increase the various rates by 13 percent.

Please consider making a generous donation to help keep your publication, and Swedish heritage, alive. You’ll find a form on page 29. Tack!

GRATTIS PÅ FÖDELSEDAGEN

T

he 2018 Winter Olympic Games have run their course, and what an amazing event it has been! Watching skiers somersault high above the slopes, skaters twist and twirl, and curlers launch their rocks with millimetre precision is truly mesmerizing – as are many of the other athletic exertions, depending on which ones arouse our imagination.

What is more difficult to imagine is how the athletes manage to learn their sports without breaking their necks and other vital body parts. Flying with one’s head pointed downward is a go/no-go decision, with scant opportunity to change one’s mind mid-air.

Looking back at the medal tables from the past five Winter Olympics, the United States, Canada and Norway are always found at or near the top, with Sweden trailing a half-dozen medals behind. But why is Norway always better than Sweden? Every Swede knows that the snow is whiter, the ice blacker and the mountains steeper in Sweden than in Norway, so there is no lack of opportunities to train. Come on, Swedes, rally around your flag and show the Norwegians who is really on top! Ah, but therein lies the problem, because Swedes tend to see their flag not as a call to war, but rather as a cosy backdrop to merry autumn garden parties where the tables groan under mountains of crayfish and bottles of akvavit. Oh well, whatever turns a nation on …

The main theme for the April issue is Swedes Crossing Boundaries, both literally and figuratively, and in former as well as modern times. The Feature story has the title Sahara Marathon in Support of National Freedom, an unusual report by a Swedish migration expert (page 12). Under the heading Global Swedes we meet Dag Blanck, Professor of North American Studies at Uppsala University (page 16). We interview 92-year-old Evert Andersson in California who remembers arriving with his parents in America in 1928 from Sweden (page 14).

The outcome of Prime Minister Löfven’s meeting with President Trump on March 6 and with Swedish companies the following day is summarized under Swedish Headlines (page 6). Borgström’s familiar blogg appears in the Business section (page 9), along with a profile of the Swedish innovation company Velove (page 10).

You will find the third instalment in the ecology series Road to 2045 – California & Sweden: A Coalition of the Willing (page 26). The Lifestyle section features an interview with lead singer Bie Karlsson and his Swedish rock band Bonefish (page 19).

We continue to turn the spotlight on recent events in the world of art and literature (page 21), as well as on the Province of Småland with its hardy, entrepreneurial inhabitants (page 20).

As always, this issue of Swedish Press includes contributions from established Swedish and North American institutions, plus the usual mouth-watering recipes under Treats. Glad Påsk!

Peter Berlin Editor Peter@Swedishpress.com April 2018

Apr 23 Tomas Dahl, 12 år Apr 25 Eowyn Magnusson, 12 år Apr 26 Sebastian Wolff, 15 år

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‘Sverige är ett litet men skarpt land...’

President Trump berömde Sverige i Vita huset Av Jesper Spanne, Praktikant vid Embassy of Sweden i Washington DC

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resident Donald Trump gav Sverige lovord när han mötte statsminister Stefan Löfven i Vita husets ovala rum tisdagen den 6 mars.”Litet men skarpt” lät utlåtandet. Under den efterföljande presskonferensen stod presidenten fast vid sin linje om höjda ståltullar, trots statsminister Löfvens önskan om att finna en gemensam lösning med EU. Det var en uppsluppen president som tog emot statsminister Löfven med delegation i Vita huset. Statsministern signerade traditionsenligt gästboken innan han slog sig ner bredvid president Trump framför pressuppbådet i Ovala rummet. Det hör inte till vanligheterna att presidenten svarar på frågor redan i Ovala rummet, men dagen till ära pågick frågestunden i hela nio minuter. På frågan varför det är viktigt för USA att ha samtal med Sverige, svarade han: – Bra land, bra allierad. De har varit med oss länge nu. Vi har varit tillsammans i 200 år, för att vara exakt.

Det här är ett jubileum.

Sedan följde en rad frågor gällande USA:s relation till Nordkorea och Sveriges inblandning i den. President Trump mötte frågorna med diplomatisk ton och svarade att tiden måste utvisa hur relationen mellan USA och Nordkoreas högste ledare Kim JongUn kommer att utvecklas i framtiden.

Därefter följde överläggningar.

Statsministern fick sällskap av näringsoch innovationsminister Mikael Damberg och ambassadör Karin Olofsdotter med flera. President Trump hade bland annat utrikesminister Rex Tillerson,

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Foto: Tomas Enqvist/Embassy of Sweden USA

handelsminister Wilbur Ross, Vita husets stabschef Kelly, nationelle säkerhetsrådgivaren McMaster och ekonomirådgivaren Gary Cohn vid sin sida. Sammankomsten i Vita huset avslutades med ett näringslivsmöte där statsministern deltog tillsammans med Marcus och Jacob Wallenberg, VD:arna för Volvo Group, Astra Zeneca, SAAB och Ericsson samt chefen för Business Sweden.

Vid den efterföljande presskonferensen hyllade president Trump de svenska näringslivsrepresentanterna: – Sverige är ett litet men skarpt land. De har några av de bästa företagsledarna i världen. De investerar stora summor i USA och bidrar med jobb här.

Statsministern kommenterade också mötet efter presskonferensen: – När president Trump träffade våra näringslivsrepresentanter var det en bra diskussion. Han har stor respekt för dem och de svenska företagen.

Nordkorea var ett ämne som fick stor uppmärksamhet under dagen.

Sverige är ett av få länder som har en ambassad i Pyongyang, samtidigt som man är skyddsmakt till USA, och det är därför av säkerhetspolitiskt intresse för USA att använda Sverige som länk vid förhandlingar. President Trump lovordade Sverige för samarbetet i samband med utlämningen av Otto Warmbier, den amerikanska college-

studenten som fängslades i Nordkorea 2016 och släpptes i juni 2017, men dog bara dagar efter hemkomsten till USA. I debatten om höjda tullar på stål stod presidenten fast vid sin tidigare linje och menade att andra länder dragit nytta av USA under de senaste årtiondena. Statsministern förde fram EU:s ståndpunkt.

– Som en del av den Europeiska Unionen tror jag det är viktigt att vi hittar en väg att samarbeta. För oss, som ett litet land, är den öppna och fria handeln väldigt viktig.

På kvällen hölls en jubileumsmiddag i House of Sweden för att uppmärksamma 200-årsjubileet av diplomatiska relationer mellan Sverige och USA, som bland annat gästades av handelsminister Wilbur Ross och IMF:s direktör Christine Lagarde.

Under onsdagen fortsatte statsministern sin resa med företagsbesök på Volvo Group i Hagerstown och MedImmune, Astra Zenecas dotterbolag i Gaithersburg. Under besöken fick delegationen se arbetet i fabriken och laboratoriet. Dessutom fick statsministern provköra en ny lastbil från Volvo. Intresset för statsministerns besök i USA var stort både i Sverige och USA, och totalt följde 25 svenska journalister statsministerns möte med president Trump.

Foto: Tomas Enqvist/Embassy of Sweden USA

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Swedes in the News

Swedish Spies, Gold, and a Royal Birthday Gold for Kalla

Prince Oscar Turns Two

Charlotte Kalla. Photo: N. Jakobsson

Prince Oscar and Princess Estelle. Photo: Erika Gerdemark/Kungahuset.se

Charlotte Kalla earned a gold medal in the women’s 15 kilometer skiathlon crosscountry skiing during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea after an impressive race. The 30-year-old Pajala native finished in 40 minutes and 44.9 seconds, beating defending champion Marit Bjørgen from Norway who finished second, and Krista Pärmäkoski from Finland who finished third. “I was quite nervous today and the Olympics is something I have focused on for a long, long time,” said Kalla. “On the finish line. I did not want to look back and just focused on keeping pushing,” she told BBC sport.

Prince Oscar of Sweden, Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel’s youngest child, celebrated his second birthday on March 2. As with every royal birthday, the Swedish Court published new pictures of the young prince in honor of his big day. The pictures were taken at the Haga Castle by Erika Gerdemark. In one of the photos, Prince Oscar, little brother of Princess Estelle, 6, can be seen blowing out two candles on his birthday cake. In the other picture Princess Estelle gives her little brother a pat on his cheek. Prince Oscar is third in the line of succession to the Swedish throne, after his mother and sister.

Fares’ Next Thriller Swedish-Lebanese actor Fares Fares has secured his next international role.

Espionage thriller television series Deep State premieres on April 23 on television channel FOX Sweden. The series, which involves politics, spying and revenge, features British actor Mark

Strong in the lead role as Max Easton – a former spy forced into the game once again to avenge the murder of his son. Fares plays Gabriel Cahill, an old friend of Easton. The series takes place in Britain, the United States, Iran, France and Lebanon and will be broadcast in 50 countries.

Fares Fares. Photo: Fredrik Etoall

A Remarkable Life

Kjerstin Dellert. Photo: Margareta Bloom Sandebäck/Aftonbladet

Swedish opera singer Kjerstin Dellert, 92, passed away peacefully in her home on March 5. Dellert debuted as a vocalist when she – with the American classic Someone to Watch Over Me – won a singing contest on Broadway, New York in 1948. Her

debut as an opera singer came in the operetta Sköna Helena at Stora Teatern in Gothenburg in 1951. Dellert has since performed over 100 roles and collaborated with fellow legendary opera singers like Jussi Björling and Elisabeth Söderström.

The beloved opera singer was employed by the Royal Opera in Stockholm from the 1950’s until the late 1970’s.

In 2008 she participated in the Swedish TV show Stjärnorna på slottet. Dellert is survived by her husband Nils-Åke Häggbom and son Thotte Dellert.

Rausing's Praise Swedish-British anthropologist and book publisher/ author Sigrid Rausing is the first Swedish author to be longlisted for this years’ Wellcome Book Prize for her memoir Mayhem. Qualifying works must involve medicine, health or illness. In Mayhem, Rausing explores the impact of drug addiction and gives a personal account on what happened to her brother’s wife Eva, who died from drug abuse.

Sigrid Rausing. Photo: J. Ekströmer

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[Landskapsnyheterna] SKÅNE Pannkakor har tagits bort från menyerna i Malmös skolmatsalar med hänsyn till de elever som är allergiska mot ägg och mjölk.

– Vi fick ta bort pannkakor, säger Emely Lindholm, enhetschef vid Malmö stads skolrestauranger till Sydsvenskan.

När leverantören som tillagat Malmö kommuns pannkakor slutade tillverka pannkakor utan ägg eller mjölk drog skolorna tillbaka beställningen av alla pannkakor på grund av rättviseskäl.

– Vi ville kunna erbjuda pannkakor till alla matgäster. Just nu saknas ett likvärdigt alternativ utan mjölk och ägg.

Skolorna har ännu inte hittat ett pannkaksrecept som passar mjölk- och ägg-allergiker, men försöker att hitta en lösning.

– Vi håller på att utveckla ett eget recept. Vi hade ett test i förra veckan. Receptet behöver finjusteras.

Pannkakor är jättepopulärt. Alla saknar pannkakan. Malmös skolor hoppas kunna börja servera pannkakor igen senare i vår.

VÄRMLAND Karlstads kyrkliga Stadsmission har öppnat ett tillfälligt nattcafé för Karlstads hemlösa i behov av värme och mat. Akutboendet tar emot upp till tio personer.

– Vi märker att de som kommer till oss far illa av kylan. Vi har behandlat flera köldskador och brännskador efter att ljus bränt ner tält. Vi märker det också genom att vi behöver ge de hemlösa mer mat och kläder, säger Marie Björklind, verksamhetschef på Karlstads Kyrkliga Stadsmission i ett pressmeddelande.

Nattcaféet öppnar klockan 21.00 varje kväll och är bemannat med volontärer under natten.

Akutboendets besökare kommer framförallt att kunna värma sig och äta sig mäta. Karlstads stadsmission

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försöker även att samla in kläder till stadens hemlösa.

– Gärna i större storlekar eftersom de hemlösa klär sig i många lager. När vi hjälper dem ta på den fjärde, femte, sjätte jackan inser man hur de kämpar, säger Marie Björklind.

LAPPLAND NORRBOTTEN

SÖDERMANLAND En ambulans på utryckning fick nyligen p-böter av ett nederländskt parkeringsföretag vid namn Q-park. Ambulanssjuksköterskan Klara Karlsson blev illa berörd och delade med sig av händelsen på Facebook. ”När vi kommer till patientens hem har vi inte tid att leta parkeringsplats och än mindre betala p-biljetter,” skriver Klara Karlsson på sin Facebook. ”Under tiden vi tog hand om en rädd och sjuk människa tog ni er tiden att fota vår bil samt skriva ut en p-bot på 750 kr för att vi ej betalt p-avgiften som krävs på denna parkering. Detta leder nu till att vi behöver betala denna bot samt lägga ner tid och ork på att överklaga denna p-bot.”

Klara Karlsson avrundade sitt inlägg med att påminna parkeringsföretaget om att det lika gärna kunde varit någon av dem som varit i behov av hjälp. ”Så nästa gång Q-park kanske ni kan ha överseende gällande ambulansernas parkering då nästa gång kanske vi är hemma hos dina föräldrar eller hos dig!”

Tusentals människor har läst och engagerat sig i Klara Karlssons inlägg.

JÄMTLAND Östersunds kommun har stängt gymnastikdelen i Östersund Arena på grund av att man hittat en spricka i limträbalken på insidan av taket.

– Av säkerhetsskäl har vi stängt av hallen tills vidare, säger Örjan Jervidal, chef för teknisk förvaltning på Östersunds kommun i ett pressmeddelande.

VÄSTERBOTTEN

JÄMTLAND

HÄRJEDALEN

ÅNGERMANLAND

MEDELPAD HÄLSINGLAND

DALARNA GÄSTRIKLAND VÄSTMANLAND VÄRMLAND

NÄRKE

UPPLAND

SÖDERMANLAND

DALSLAND ÖSTERGÖTLAND BOHUSLAND VÄSTERGöteborg GÖTLAND SMÅLAND HALLAND SKÅNE

Stockholm

GOTLAND ÖLAND

BLEKINGE

Malmö

Enligt Östersunds kommuns byggingenjörer beror sprickan förmodligen på den stora mängden snö på taket.

– Det är en allvarlig situation, men byggnaden är säkrad och efter kontrollerna kommer vi nu se till att skotta taket på hela arenabyggnaden, säger Örjan Jervidal.

Snömängden har inte registrerats som oroväckande djup.

– Den sista snön har kommit på väldigt kort tid. Inget har pekat på att det varit för mycket snö, och vi har prioriterat skottning på andra byggnader. Östersunds kommun hoppas nu kunna säkra taket så att man snart kan öppna gymnastikhallen igen.

– Det är svårt att säga hur lång tid det kommer att ta. Men det lutar också åt att man på sikt måste göra ett större renoveringsarbete. Just nu är det här ett försäkringsärende.

[Business] News From Rågsved to Wall Street Spotify, the Swedish music, podcast and video streaming service with over 200 million monthly adherents worldwide, is planning to seek fresh equity financing by going public through an Initial Public Offering (IPO). The purpose of the IPO is to “build up a better balance sheet and work on shifting its business model to improve its margins”. Market analysts were initially mystified by Spotify’s initiative, partly because the company, founded in 2008, is still loss-making – and who would buy shares in a loss-maker? – and partly because it has chosen the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)

unimpressed by Nasdaq’s shambolic handling of the Facebook IPO in 2012 which cost investors $500 million.

New mortgage amortization rules

rather than accepting Nasdaq’s offer of a double listing in Stockholm and New York. In actual fact, prospective shareholders are as seduced by a company’s growth potential as they are by its current profitability, and Spotify has grown massively during the past decade. As for the choice of NYSE, rumour has it that Spotify was

The Swedish government has introduced new regulations for the amortization of mortgages as of March 1, 2018. Before that date, mortgage loans had to be amortized at 1 or 2 percent per year, depending on the debt. The new rules add an extra 1 percent to the required amortization rate. The stated purpose was to lower the risk of households defaulting on their loans, but the recent slump in property prices points to an unintended side effect.

Borgströms Blogg: Uselt kostnadmedvetande att ge VD ännu fler miljoner

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agens bonussystem för direktör är ofta illa genomtänkta. Om valutor, räntor, konjunkturer går åt rätt håll – sådant som direktörerna inte kan påverka – så dränks toppskikten i företagen i ännu mer pengar, som egentligen är aktieägarnas.

LO föreslår en rad möjliga åtgärder för att stoppa eller bromsa direktörslönerna eftersom man anser det naivt att lita till själv-reglering och aktieägaraktivism.

Obligatorisk representation av anställda i beslutande organ (alltså in med fler fackpampar), skatteförändringar, lagstadgade tak, mm, tror LO-ledningen på. Alltså ökad byråkrati och regleringar för svenska företag som arbetar i internationell miljö. ”Inte fackets uppgift att sätta vd:s lön” är rubriken på Dagens Industris huvudledare. Den andas alltför stor förståelse för att de stora bolagen öser ut alltmer pengar varje år till egna direktörer med förklaringen ”Bolagen har blivit större och mer vinstrika de senaste decennierna, det motiverar ett lönelyft.”

Men det är inte alls bevisat att det är svårare att sköta ett företag med 100 miljarder i omsättning än 50 miljarder. Di har i sin journalistik liksom landets ledande direktörer en övertro på att det är VD:ns åtgärder som skapar framgångar och vinster.

I själva verket är det direktörerna som har ett gemensamt intresse av att ge varandra så höga löner som möjligt.

Jag var med på en bolagsstämma i Electrolux där nye VD:n från USA skulle få storleksordningen 80 miljoner kronor enbart för att börja. Den ilska, som småaktieägarna på sista raderna i Berwaldhallen då mumlade till varandra om ordföranden Marcus Wallenberg under debatten, nådde inte fram till första bänkarna där finansknuttarna fylkades.

Aktiespararnas riksförbund Sarf har under många år på stämmorna förtjänstfullt nagelfarit ersättningar till företagsledarna i börsbolag. LO-rapporten visar att det inte har räckt på långa vägar.

I motsats till LO som vill ha mer regleringar och högre skatter, tror jag på en bredare aktieägaraktivism från våra AP-fonder, LO- och TCO-förbundens stridskassor, samt bankernas aktiefonder (alla som hittills i stor utsträckning hukat).

Om de samfällt går till attack på vårens bolagsstämmor med stridsropet att VD-lönerna inte behöver öka alls är det möjligt att en del huvudägare avstår. Värt att försöka!

Henric Borgström är mångårig medarbetare i svensk press, radio och TV. Artikeln publiceras i finlandssvenska Forum för Ekonomi och Teknik i Helsingfors. Blogg: henricborgstrom. wordpress.com | Twitter: @henricborgstrom

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Swedish Press | April 2018 9

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Company File

A Swedish Armadillo Saving Our Planet

By Peter Berlin

E

lectric bikes have become all the rage, as have electric cars, and for all the familiar eco-friendly reasons – but what about the vehicles in between? In Asia, many rickshaws and tuk-tuks still use muscle power. In the industrial world, urban deliveries of light goods are carried out using vans and motorbikes propelled by polluting gasoline or diesel.

Enter the Armadillo, an electric vehicle (“pedelec”) for last-mile delivery of goods from cargo depots to their final destinations. Somebody called it a “mix of gokart, bike and van”, which pretty much nails it. The vehicle weighs 60 kg empty and can carry a load weighing 150 – 200 kg in the basic configuration.

In a nutshell, the Armadillo is a four-wheel pedalled vehicle which does rely on the driver’s muscle power, but not nearly so much as the rickshaw because the pedalling is assisted by an electric motor, like an electric bike. The motor, in turn, draws its energy from a battery. An experimental version has also been built which uses a fuel cell instead

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Swedish Press | April 2018 10

of the battery, the advantage being that the range can be extended to an impressive 300 km. A fuel cell takes advantage of the electric energy that is released when hydrogen and oxygen atoms are ionized and combined to form water (H2O).

The fuel-cell Armadillo carries a 20-litre tank containing hydrogen, while the oxygen is taken from the air free of charge. If this sounds complicated, just remember that fuel cells are used routinely on nuclear submarines, orbiting space stations and space shuttles. It’s rocket science, plain and simple.

So much for propelling the Armadillo. A more compelling reason for acquiring one – or several – is that it can carry as much load as one can fit inside a container measuring 1 cubic metre (35 cubic feet) or, optionally, 2 cubic metres by attaching a trailer. The driver sits in the open in front of the container, working the pedals and steering the thing using levers on either side of the seat. Not only is the Armadillo eco-friendly, but it also offers the driver an opportunity to get some physical exercise.

A two-seater passenger version is in development which comes equipped with a canopy to protect the passengers from inclement weather. Another version for

mobility transport of disabled people is in the pipeline.

The Armadillo has been developed by Velove Bikes AB (www. velove.se) in Västra Frölunda near Gothenburg. The company is currently seeking further investment in order to finalize the development of new models. Johan Erlandsson, the CEO of Velove Bikes AB, was – and still is – passionate about cars in general and Formula 1 racing in particular. But he learned that the reliance on polluting vehicles in the industrialised world is seriously threatening the ecology of our planet. He did extensive research on ultra-efficient cargo bikes and velomobiles. Eventually, in 2011, he decided to combine his passion for cars and knowledge about their limitations in order to develop a new type of bike intended for private use at the time. An intense, open, online discussion and an open workshop laid the theoretical foundation for the first prototypes.

Et voilà, the Armadillo!

The people at Velove are currently investigating the possibilities of shipping to the USA and Canada.

The regulation concerning fourwheel pedelecs is unclear in North America, but there is hope that the matter will be clarified soon. www.velove.se

Armadillo cargo bikes. Photos © Velove AB

H E RI TAG E

Sales start at 12:30 pm on April 12...

Saluting Beda Hallberg and her Mayflower Pin

By Sofie Kinefors

T

he Mayflower (Majblomman) is, to most Swedes, a sure sign of spring. The traditional Swedish charity flower pin, sold by approximately 80,000 schoolchildren per year, helps other children in need of financial aid. Sales start at 12.30 pm on April 12 and last for two weeks.

Beda Hallberg founded “Förstamajblommans Riksförbund,” along with the Mayflower, in Gothenburg in 1907. The dedicated philanthropist hoped to combat poverty and disease, such as tuberculosis, especially amongst the lower classes of society.

Beda, born on February 11, 1869 in Onsala, Halland, grew up with a single mother, who – even though she worked hard – managed to make time for sick neighbors and friends. Beda was inspired and often helped.

At 19, Beda married Johan Edvard Hallberg, who was 35 years old. The couple settled in Gothenburg.

Beda soon became involved in help organizations and church congregations, where she made house visits.

At a time when tuberculosis was common and accounted for

approximately 25 percent of all deaths in Gothenburg, financial aid was of importance. However, attempts to gather money to support the sick didn’t add up and Beda knew that something had to be done.

She came up with the idea of selling a small artificial flower pin, which could be worn by men as well as women – old and young – on coats, jackets, scarves and shawls.

Businessmen wore them, as did officials, workers, tram drivers, the police, coachmen – everyone.

The flower pin was relatively cheap at 10 öre (approximately 1 cent) apiece. That way everyone could afford one.

People were skeptical at first, questioning if something so cheap could amount to enough money to help the sick and the poor. However, after the first Mayflower sold in Gothenburg on May 1, 1907 Beda managed, with the help of schoolchildren and scouts, to sell 139,000 flower pins.

Through the successful sale of the Mayflower, Förstamajblommans Riksförbund could offer support to sick children and their recovery.

The organization also used donations to send affected children to fun activities like summer camp.

This might also help increase the children’s resistance to diseases like tuberculosis.

The Mayflower soon spread to the US, India and Cuba, but disappeared over there after the tuberculosis cures became available around the world.

Nevertheless, Majblomman is one of the world’s oldest and Sweden’s largest child support organizations.

In 2016, 79.8 million SEK was collected, of which 66 million SEK came from selling Mayflowers. The traditional flower is also sold in Norway, Finland and Estonia.

The Mayflower was initially made of fabric, but is nowadays made of plastic. It comes in a new color every year and always in four different sizes. A Mayflower costs between 20-60 SEK. This year’s Mayflower is black and gold. It was designed by Elina Hall, 12, from Gothenburg and inspired by bumblebees. Watercolor artist Maxi Svensson, age 13, made the poster.

The remarkable Mrs. Beda Hallberg has been widely recognized for her efforts to eradicate poverty and disease. She was, for example, one of the very first women to receive a pension from the Swedish Government.

To support Majblomman, visit www.majblomman.se Photo: Majblommans Riksförbund

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Swedish Press | April 2018 11

Saharamaraton till stöd för nationell frihet

På Västsaharas nationaldag, den 27 februari 2018, meddelade EU-domstolen att EU bryter mot lagen när de tar upp fisk i vatten längs den västsahariska kusten, och att Marocko inte har rätt att sälja fiskerättigheter som inte tillhör det egna landet. Domen firades som ett viktigt steg i kampen för att det västsahariska folket själva ska få bestämma över sina naturresurser. Foto: Lisa Söderlindh (Lisa.soderlindh@gmail.com)

S

Av Lisa Söderlindh

tartskottet går. ”Spring!”

Wahid, en av dryga 100 deltagare från Algeriet, föser in mig mot klungan av löpare. Framför oss väntar 21 kilometer genom öknen. I årets Saharamaraton, som går mellan tre av flyktinglägren för västsaharier en bit utanför orten Tindouf i västra Algeriet, deltar människor från 23 länder. Även 60 västsaharier som bor i lägren har slutit upp i loppet som genomförs för 17:e gången under parollen ”det största solidaritetsloppet i världen”.

Bland deltagarna finns de som traskar den kortaste delsträckan på fem kilometer såväl som de mer rutinerade löparna som spurtar alla 42 kilometer.

Från 1-åriga Ebbe fastspänd i bärsele vid mamma Anna-Maria Marklund till f.d. spanska basketproffset Inma Zanoguera. Vad som förenar är insatsen för att visa solidaritet med det västsahariska folkets frihetskamp för en egen stat. Och i år bär maratonkilometrarna en särskild symbolisk mening: i 42 år har Marocko

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Swedish Press | April 2018 12

Lisa Söderlindh. Foto: Valentina Ángela & Pablo García.

ockuperat stora delar av Västsahara, området utmed Afrikas atlantkust kallat Spanska Sahara under Spaniens kolonisering. I samma antal år har mellan 90 000 och 165 000 västsaharier, bland vilka majoriteten är kvinnor och barn, bott i flyktingläger på algerisk mark och väntat på att få återvända till sitt hemland.

Den nyss så täta klungan av löpare börjar skingras. Ryggtavlorna framför mig blir mindre och avståndet till löparna bakom mig växer. Ett tiotal västsaharier hejar på deltagarna och vajar den nedvända flaggan vars gröna del ska trona överst den dagen självständigheten är vunnen.

Med blicken följer jag barnen som rusar fram med ena handens pekfinger och långfinger formade till ett V: motståndstecknet symboliserande ”inget alternativ annat än ett självständigt Västsahara”. Samma budskap som låter sig avkodas i kvinnornas drillande tjut som snart byter plats med öknens vidsträckta tystnad. Också den tonar snart ut för mitt öra. I mitt inre dominerar den kompakta tystnaden som omger en av världens längsta konflikter. Omvärldens tystnad.

Redan 1963 kom ett beslut från FN som fastslog västsahariernas rätt till självständighet och självbestämmande. Tolv år senare, 1975, avvisade Internationella Domstolen i Haag såväl Marockos som Mauretaniens anspråk på området som Spanien koloniserade 1884. År 1991 utlovade FN en folkomröstning om Västsaharas självständighet med vilket den västsahariska befrielserörelsen Polisario lade ner sina vapen. Någon folkomröstning eller avkoloniseringsprocess har dock aldrig ägt rum.

Fakta i målet är egentligen rätt enkla – västsaharierna har rätt till sitt eget land, men i praktiken är det inte så lätt, som Fredrik Laurin och Lars Schmidt skriver i sin bok ”Tyst Territorium” om Västsahara. Under 2000-talet har nya dödlägen fortsatt avlösa varandra och lösningen på den utdragna dragkampen om Västsahara är lika frånvarande som ökenhettan innan solen glidit upp ur dynorna.

En mindre sandstorm försöker tvinga mina steg i dess riktning. Jag håller kurs bakom slutna ögonlock och tänker på den innerliga värmen med vilken människorna jag bor hos har välkomnat mig i sitt hem byggt på sand. Som maratondeltagare bor du med en västsaharisk familj och deltar i olika aktiviteter för att få större insyn i historien och livet i flyktinglägret. ”Det är bra att folk får se med egna ögon hur vi har det här”, går resonemanget under en av alla glädjefyllda eller sockerberusande teceremonier på den röda mattan i familjens tält. Maratonarrangemanget nämns som ett välkommet inslag i den bekanta vardagen.

Redan första dagen av min tid i flyktinglägret vet jag att jag skall återvända, men till det outtalade hör den ofrånkomliga bisatsen: att när vi maratondeltagare återvänt till våra hemländer och vardag i frihet kommer livet i flyktinglägren att fortgå – precis som innan. ”Better than running, stand to take a fight”, skanderar Mando Diao i öronsnäckorna. Intäkterna från maratoneventet går bland annat till olika lokala projekt i lägren, såsom idrottsaktiviteter för att motverka den utbredda sysslolösheten och införandet av elektricitet i skolor. Ett betydelsefullt bidrag, om än inte svaret på det västsahariska folkets dröm. Men vilken är den kamp som kan bana väg för en seger?

För första gången gick segern till Västsahara – på tiden 2.59.47. Den västsahariska löparen Lehsen S. Ahmed kammade hem vinnarmedaljongen i 42-kilometer. Foto: SaharaMarathon

”Vi som tillhör den äldre generationen äger tålamodet att fortsätta vänta på den fredliga vägen, men jag ser hur frustrationen växer bland mina barn och den yngre generationen”, säger Zorgan Laroussi som varit aktiv i Polisario i 25 år. Jag träffar honom några dagar senare i Rabouni som är den administrativa delen av flyktinglägren. Vid internationella besök bistår Zorgan som guide på Nationalmuseet för det västsahariska folkets motstånd. ”Allt fler unga ser enda alternativet att plocka upp vapnen igen”, fortsätter han och får något uppgivet i blicken.

Just denna lägesbeskrivning, eller förebud, har dock figurerat i parlören i minst tio år. Men allmänt bekant är även förtryckets följder: att förr eller senare riskerar det väcka ett hat som antingen vänds inåt eller utåt. Vad gör ett hat som vänds inåt och som riskerar slå rot allt djupare för varje dag i ett ingenmansland där en tillfällig lösning blivit permanent? Vad gör detta hat till en människa? Vad gör ett hat som pyr hos en generation till ett folk? Och vart kommer detta frustrerade hat – ett hat utan tålamod – till sist att bära vägen?

Mellan sandkornen som piskar

mot solglasögonen höjer sig siluetten av en ensamt vandrande dromedar i utkanten av det steniga dynhavet.

Solen vilar som ett eldklot mot huden och inombords bränner det ofattbara: vad som har skapats ur intet. Hur en befolkning har lyckats förvandla denna karga, ogästvänliga och ofruktbara ökenplatå till ett samhälle att leva och bo i. Vad som har uthärdats i 42 år och vad som fortsätter att uthärdas.

Med en av världens största fosfatfyndigheter och ett vatten utanför sin kust – räknat till en av världens fiskrikaste – är det Marockokontrollerade Västsahara, på andra sidan den cirka 220 mil långa, minerade sandmuren som delar upp området, ett ökenland med stora naturtillgångar. Att ett folk som har rätt till en mindre skattkammare är beroende av bistånd för sin överlevnad är lika förvridet som det är förstummande att gång på gång påminnas om de inhumana livsvillkoren som inte kommer i vägen för gästvänligheten och skrattet som är återkommande i mötet med västsaharierna.

Under de sista språngstegen mot mållinjen noterar jag med viss lättnad att till skillnad från starten är det tunt med påhejande västsaharier. En handgjord medalj i keramik, fäst vid ett grönt sidenband, tillverkad av den västsahariska konstnären Mohamed Sulaiman Labat, träs runt min hals.

Jag andas ut och känner leendet växa samtidigt som tanken pockar i bakhuvudet: är det verkligen maratondeltagarnas insats som ska hyllas? Är det inte vi som lever ett liv i frihet som med full kraft borde sluta upp bakom det västsahariska folkets fredliga frihetskamp och bortom springstegen även höja rösten för västsahariernas rätt att själva få välja sin framtid och gå sin egen väg framåt? www.saharamarathon.org

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Swedish Press | April 2018 13

E X C L U S I V E

I N T E R V I E W

Interview with Evert Andersson, a Swedish-American with Deep Roots

Evert R. Andersson and his wife Patricia Marguerite Andersson who passed away in 2012.

Swedish Press was contacted recently by Evert Andersson, 92, who had read the letter from Triple Olympic Medalist Elaine Tanner (Swimming, Mexico 1968) published in our February 2018 issue. He thought she might have met his cousin, Thomas Johansson, who also competed as a swimmer at the same games. During the ensuing interview, he told us his life story which is bound to resonate with many of our readers.

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Swedish Press | April 2018 14

W I T H

E V E R T

Please tell me about your background and upbringing.

I was born in 1925 in Skövde, which is situated between the two lakes Vänern and Vättern. My father Oskar initially came to America in 1911 and found a job up in North Dakota on a wheat farm where the wagons were pulled by horses – this is towards the end of the industrial revolution, when it went from horse and carriage to combustion engines. So that is when tractors appeared as well. Then he came down to Iowa and worked on a cattle ranch.

One day the foreman came over to him, because my dad had received a letter, and he couldn’t read it in English, so the foreman said “Yeah, you’d better go.” It was from the Draft Office during the First World War. He went up to Camp Grant, which is up by Rockford, and he found himself in the Army for the rest of the war, probably around 1918. He was in trench warfare in France.

In 1916 my uncle Karl and Oskar’s sister Frida, aged 18, left Sweden to seek opportunities in America. She worked as a much loved nanny and housekeeper in Moline, Illinois for an affluent local family, the Hosfords.

After the war, Oskar settled down in Moline. So he came over and started working in a factory, because by that time John Deere settled with his factory by the Mississippi River and

Skövde Town Square. 1000-year-old church built towards the end of the Viking age.

A N D E R S S O N

Evert Andersson’s parents Augusta Sophia Andersson and Oskar Johan Andersson.

started manufacturing agricultural implements.

Then my dad had a yearning to go back to Sweden. Maybe he was homesick. He went back and found his little girlfriend who became my mom. They knew each other from childhood. We have a picture of them standing in front of the Varnhems kyrka. That’s a church that is over a thousand years old near Skövde. They are standing there on the front steps in the confirmation picture when they were 13 years old.

My brother was two years younger than me. We all travelled to Göteborg and boarded the MS Gripsholm and sailed for New York. That was in 1928.

I don’t know how long it took us on the voyage, but I remember having my 3rd birthday onboard the ship. When we disembarked on Ellis Island they inspected us to make sure we didn’t have any disease that we were bringing into the United States.

We waited for the train at the central train station in New York. Well, evidently I strayed, and I got lost. I was 3 years old at this time. My dad looked all around for me frantically, knowing that we had to be on time for the train. I found myself in front of these big iron gates, and I was mesmerized by all the steam coming at me. It was a big locomotive I was watching. My parents were relieved to find me. We travelled to Chicago,

E X C L U S I V E

I N T E R V I E W

and from there we continued south to Moline, where I was raised. I stayed there until I was 18. I spent one year at Augustana College in Rock Island, IL, which is a college founded by the Swedes. Then I transferred to Bradley University in Peoria, IL, and received my degree in Sales and Advertising in 1949 when I was 24 years old.

After that I went into sales, working for WearEver Aluminum Cookware, the first aluminium cookware company in the world. My territory was out of Spokane, WA, and I travelled the North-West through five states for two years. From there I transferred down to Emeryville near Oakland, CA. There I met my wife-to-be. We had three children. The oldest is now 61.

In 1960 we transferred to Los Angeles where I took over another territory for four years. In 1964 we moved back to the Bay Area in Oakland, CA. I retired in 1983.

I am still very much of a pro-Swede.

I have collections of things I knew of Sweden, mainly in the form of blackand-white photographs. Whenever I came back for business meetings, I always made a detour to Moline to visit my parents. They would tell me so many things about Sweden that I wasn’t aware of, so that’s where I got all of my knowledge. I feel like I almost have two citizenships, but I am so fortunate that we settled in this country.

Sweden today is a very prosperous country, as you know – very hi-tech and a very comfortable place to live.

I have many cousins and relatives in Sweden. I figured out the other day that I probably have around 40 between Stockholm, Skövde and Göteborg.

Your Swedish pronunciation of these cities is flawless. Do you still speak Swedish?

W I T H

E V E R T

The Andersson family from left to right: Evert’s brother Bengt Hubert Andersson, Evert Rolf Andersson, Dad Oskar Johan Andersson and Mom Augusta Sophia Andersson.

Ja, jag kan prata svenska. När jag var tre, när jag kom över här, jag var ute och lekte med de andra kamrater. Jag visste ingen engelska. Min mor sa att jag kom in och jag skrek, för jag trodde att mina landsmän de var fula mot mig. Det var de inte, men jag kunde inte förstå dem.

Jag lärde mig engelska när jag var ute och lekte med de andra barn.

(Yes, I can speak Swedish. When I was 3, when I arrived here, I played with other children. I didn’t know any English. My mother told me that I used to come home crying, because I thought my playmates were being mean to me. In fact they were not, but I couldn’t understand them. I then learned English while playing outside with the other children.)

Du sa att du har cirka 40 släktingar i Sverige. Reser du tillbaka ibland och hälsar på släktingarna?

Några av dem har jag inte mött, för de är små barn. På bägge sidor av min familj jag är den äldste, jag är 92 nu.

Vi har varit där sedan 1985. Vi har gått där fem eller sex gånger.

Jag ska också säga att min wife Patricia Marguerite gick hem till Gud 2012. Jag bor nu i San Pablo, CA, rätt över från San Francisco.

(You said that you have around 40 relatives in Sweden. Do you ever go back and visit your relatives?

A N D E R S S O N

Some of them I have never met, because they are small children. I am the oldest on both sides of my family, I am now 92.

We have been back to Sweden five or six times since 1985.

I should also mention that my wife Patricia Marguerite went home to God in 2012. I now live in San Pablo, CA, right across from San Francisco.)

What does your Swedish background mean to you? You said that you feel almost as if you have two nationalities.

Jag ångrar mig för [saknar?] Sverige, för där var jag född, och det betyder mycket för mig. Jag tror att Sverige är skönt med mig. Jag är komfortabel.

Det är fint där, snälla folk, de försöker to make a living, och they take care of their families, och jag kan se det på mina släktingar. Jag känner väldigt bra om där, secure, och jag är väldigt proud of my Swedish heritage. Jag känner detsamma här, så jag har det på bägge sidorna.

(I miss Sweden, because that is where I was born, and that means a lot to me.

Sweden makes me feel at home and comfortable. Life is good, people are friendly, they try to make a living, and they take care of their families. I notice that among my relatives. I feel very good and secure there, and I am proud of my Swedish heritage. I feel the same way here, so I am lucky on both counts.)

Interviewed by Peter Berlin

MS Gripsholm, Swedish ocean liner.

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Swedish Press | April 2018 15

‘Swedes know a lot about the U.S. but...’

Global S

Dag Blanck, Professor of North American Studies and Director of the Swedish Institute for North American Studies (SINAS), Department of English, Uppsala University

Dag Blanck. Photo: Mikael Wallerstedt

When Sweden’s Television (SVT) or Swedish Radio (SR) have a question about Swedish-American relations, they turn to international relations expert Dag Blanck for answers. Swedish Press recently spoke to him about American society, Swedish migration and the special ice cream he can’t live without.

Blanck is a Professor of North American Studies and director of the Swedish Institute for North American Studies (SINAS) at Uppsala University.

Interviewed by Sofie Kinnefors

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Swedish Press | April 2018 16

Tell us about yourself.

I grew up in Sollentuna, north of Stockholm. After graduating from a Swedish high school, I received a scholarship to study at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois (through the Sweden-America Foundation in Stockholm). In typical American fashion, my one year was extended and I ended up graduating from Augustana with a degree in history in 1978. Since then, I have maintained different kinds of contacts with the college, for example as director of the Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center since 1985 or co-director of the college’s summer program in Sweden 19832008. In Sweden my base has since the mid 1980’s been Uppsala University, from where I have my Ph.D. in history and where I currently serve as Professor of North American Studies and direct the Swedish Institute for North American Studies.

Where does your interest in the U.S. come from?

Ever since I was quite young, I have been fascinated by American society and American politics. The U.S. is, of course, very present in Swedish society in many ways, which no doubt helps explain this. I also remember following the events surrounding the Watergate scandal very closely. Getting the opportunity to study at an American college

further solidified my American interests. It was also at Augustana that I developed my fascination for Swedish immigration to the U.S, as the college had (and still has) extensive source materials for that topic.

Describe your role at Uppsala University.

As Professor of North American Studies, I teach courses in American history, politics, and race and ethnicity. I also conduct research in American studies in my areas of specialty. We are the only unit in a Swedish university to focus on American studies. I also supervise students who are working on senior theses and on master’s and doctoral dissertations, usually dealing with Swedish-American topics.

My academic interests are in trans-Atlantic and specifically Swedish-American relationships.

My first area concerns the Swedish migration to the U.S. from various perspectives. Some questions that have interested me include what it has meant to be Swedish in the U.S. and how that has changed over time. I am also interested in how Swedish immigrants have interacted with other ethnic groups in the U.S. and how they have found a place in the larger American ethnic and racial hierarchies.

[

Putting Sweden on the Map Abroad

l Swedes

]

‘...has a selective understanding of it.’

Which areas of North American studies are you most passionate about?

One area is my original field of study, the many dimensions of the history of the migration of Swedes to North America. I am also interested in the larger trans-national relations between the countries. Another exciting question deals with the U.S. in a comparative perspective: how “different” is it and why/not?

A second field of interest has been how the two countries have affected and interacted with each other on a larger scale. For example, what can we say about American influences in Sweden? Is Sweden “Americanized”? And, if so, what does that mean? And conversely, how has Sweden been seen and discussed in the U.S.? Have any influences gone the other way?

What’s the most common misconception about the U.S. amongst Swedes?

Swedes know a lot about the U.S. but have a selective understanding of the country. We see and relate to the U.S. that we recognize, admire, and appreciate (viz. Swedish fascination with New York or California). In some ways, it is as if this part of the U.S. confirms or validates us. The “unknown” or “strange” America is less known and fewer people are interested in learning about

it. This could be geographical (the Midwest, for example), religious (the relatively stronger position for religion in the U.S. than in Sweden) or political (the stronger conservative wing in the U.S.).

How do you think the image of Sweden is changing and developing internationally, and particularly in North America?

The image in North America has been shaped by two factors, migration and modernity. The migration is of course the mass migration of Swedes in the 19th and early 20th century, and the long term cultural consequences that it has had. We can see the Swedish-American community plays an important role for the American image of Sweden in areas all over the U.S. with strong Swedish-American populations, such as Minnesota, Chicago, smaller communities in the Midwest and on the East Coast, or in the Pacific Northwest.

The view of modern Sweden – a country that has advanced social and political solutions to different problems – goes back to the very influential 1936 book Sweden – The Middle Way by Marquis Childs which gave Sweden an international reputation in this area. It has attracted both positive (if you favor these kinds of solutions) and negative (if you don’t) attention to Sweden.

You also serve as a commentator on the U.S. in Swedish media. Which areas do you comment on? For

which Swedish media have you served as a commentator?

There is an intense interest in American politics here, especially in the recent presidential election and the new administration. Many questions I get deal with that.

Another area concerns the migration and the Swedish Americans. I appear regularly on TV and radio (mostly Sveriges television and Sveriges radio) and in many newspapers.

Do you think that the Swedish media’s reporting on the U.S. is correct and balanced?

The reporting that is done by correspondents who live in the U.S. and who know the U.S. well is solid and nuanced (such as Sveriges television /radio and Svenska Dagbladet and Dagens Nyheter). For other media, the “selective” view of the U.S. that Swedes have can at times influence the reporting. In general, the move towards fast and 24-hour journalism has meant that quick news flashes are increasingly important, leaving less room for the more analytical and reflective reporting.

Because you share your time between both countries what do you miss about Illinois when at home in Uppsala – and vice versa?

In Sweden, I miss the relative ease, informality, and friendliness of American society. And Whitey’s ice cream of course! In Rock Island, I miss well-functioning public transportation.

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Swedish Press | April 2018 17

[Lifestyle]

Top Sju

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Restaurant Frantzén on Klara norra kyrkogata in Stockholm has been awarded a third star in the Michelin Guide. It thereby becomes the first Swedish restaurant/pub to receive an honorary three stars – joining Norway and Denmark, who each have a three-star restaurant. “Björn Frantzén has created a unique vision of Nordic cuisine, combining sublime ingredients with astounding culinary techniques. Björn Frantzén’s gastronomic expression is truly worth the journey, and is a gustatory experience like no other,” said Michael Ellis, International Director of the Michelin Guide in a press release.

A survey conducted by Nordic beauty retailer KICKS revealed that the beauty product that Swedes use the most, regardless of age, is facial cleanser. When 2491 people were asked whether they use more products today than a year ago, younger people aged 16 – 25 reported an increase.

When all were asked, 78 percent of the participants revealed that they use a facial cleanser every day.

Also, 70 percent of participants use a day cream with SPF and 62 percent use a night cream.

10 Whiskey is hugely popular among Swedes. According to Systembolaget’s sales statistics, whiskey accounts for nearly half of the top 20 liquors. The most popular whiskeys sold at Systembolaget in 2017 were: 1. Lord Calvert, 2. The Famous Grouse, 3. Black Velvet, 4. Tullamore Dew, 5. Bell’s, 6. High Commissioner, 7.

Grant’s, 8. The Latitude 55°, 9. The Dundee, 10. Jameson.

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Swedish Press | April 2018 18

Photo © Restaurant Frantzén

1859 April 20 marks “Polkagrisdagen” in Sweden – a day when it’s perfectly fine to devour the traditional peppermint flavored redand-white stick candy without any guilt. Polkagrisar were invented by Amalia Eriksson, an enterprising woman who created funeral and wedding confections for a living in Gränna, Småland in 1859. A traditional polkagris is made of sugar, water, vinegar, and real peppermint oil. To this day the polkagris tradition remains strong in the little town of Gränna.

15 Celebrate Easter at Sweden’s oldest open-air museum Skansen on March 29 – April 8. Experience what the holiday was like in the old days by visiting one of Skansen’s many houses or farms, learn more about

Easter traditions, or take part in Easter games and crafts such as broom bonding. Visitors may also enjoy traditional Easter music in Seglora Church or wander along the impressive Easter market filled with crafts, delicatessen and sweets. On Maundy Thursday, Easter witches (påskkärringar) under the age of 15 get in for free.

6 Swedish singer/songwriters Andreas Weise and Sonja Aldén are going on tour with their brandnew show Love Songs which premieres on April 6. Aldén is well-known for her moving ballads and Weise for his entertaining jazz and soul sound. The audience can expect a powerful concert featuring some of the biggest Swedish and international love songs of all time. For more information: www. showtic.se

30 Worried about finding parking spaces or being fined while parked in the city? Don’t sweat it! EasyPark, a leading provider of Digital Parking, has developed an app called “Find & Park” which helps drivers find free parking spots. Streets marked in green are likely to have free parking spots, whereas streets marked with yellow or orange are less likely to have free spaces. The app is available in Stockholm, but EasyPark is planning on expanding to another 30 European cities.

[Lifestyle] Music Looking at the Atoms – An Interview with Bonefish

By Robert Silverstein

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ed by singer-songwriter Bie Karlsson, Bonefish returned in 2017 with an album of all new material called Atoms. The eleven cut CD was produced by Max Lorentz and features a wealth of pop-rock and harder edged mainstream rock packed with memorable, melodic arrangements. Speaking about teaming with Max Lorentz, Bie explains: “We have been working with Max Lorentz since 2012 when we met him at a club in Stockholm where we were support act to a band he played with. I invited him to play keyboards on our debut and later he joined us on tour. We had agreed to use a different producer for Atoms other than myself, mainly for me to be able to focus on musical performance, and we saw no reason to ask anyone else. And overall Max has done a fantastic job modeling each song to reach its potential.”

This line-up of Bonefish is the best one yet, with Bie Karlsson’s lead vocals and guitars getting support from Matte Norberg (lead guitar, backing vocals), Rasmus Rasmusson (drums, percussion, backing vocals) and Anders Nylle Thoor (bass, lead vocals). Speaking about the band he has led over these past few years, Bie Karlsson adds: “Bonefish is a musical project, and my lyrics are a good part of it since I always write music and lyrics together. I never present a song to

the band if I’m not satisfied with the lyrics.”

Speaking about the prog Americana and wide-screen Phil Spector sound of the title track, Bie says: “Atoms is a song about living in this world between the atoms and the stars. It almost didn’t make it to the recording sessions, yet strangely it comes out as one of the strongest and also provided the album title. It was Matte’s favorite, and when Max wanted to scrap it he objected. Then

Max went and rearranged it totally, creating the Spector-esque crescendo in the later part of the song.”

Stockholm is home base for Bonefish, and Bie adds: “We still all live in Stockholm and have just recently ended a short tour in Sweden. Next we will make a couple of videos, and for spring 2018 we hope to visit Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands for gigs. In the summer we will do as many festivals as possible since we love playing music festivals!” With one catchy, upbeat track after the next, Atoms is a solid rock album that brings out Bie Karlsson’s finest singer-songwriter proclivities. Bonefish creates sheer rock energy on the kinetic sounding, 21st century sonic groove of Atoms. www.bonefishswe.com For more information on Bonefish contact: Robert Silverstein / mwe3.com mwe3nyc@gmail.com

From left to right: Matte Norberg, Bie Karlsson, Rasmus Rasmusson and Anders Nylle Thoor.

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Swedish Press | April 2018 19

[Lifestyle] Travel Gemla Möbler: The Art of Bending Wood

By Tatty Maclay

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ave you ever wondered how furniture-makers get the wood on bentwood chairs to bend?

While bending wood into curved shapes is extremely useful for making tools, boats, weapons and furniture, wood is not a material that bends easily. It likes to stay nice and straight, and generally snaps and breaks if you bend it too far. Using steam to bend wood is an ancient technique that has been used for centuries and is still used by the skilled craftspeople at Gemla Möbler, the only furniture manufacturer in Sweden still to work in this way.

If you visit their factory on the banks of the Helge river in Diö, Småland, you can see this process in action. The brutal force and skill needed to form-coax solid ash and beech into elegant curves is evident.

Vast steam tanks on the factory floor contain piping hot wood, which is then forced into heavy metal casts

All photos © Tina Stafrén/Visit Sweden

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Swedish Press | April 2018 20

and left to cool and form over days, sometimes weeks.

It’s a time-consuming process, with every part of the journey from piece of wood to timeless household object carried out by hand by Gemla’s craftsmen, some of whom have worked for the company their entire working lives. Though it was originally founded as a toy manufacturer in 1861, since the turn of the last century Gemla has specialised in making bent wood furniture, in particular bistro-style chairs inspired

by German-Austrian designer Michel Thonet’s iconic Nr. 14 chair.

Over the years, the company has worked with renowned designers, including Yngve Ekström, Carl Malmsten and Gunnar Fernlund.

These days they collaborate with contemporary names such as Front, Lisa Hilland, Mats Theselius and Jonas Bohlin. Vilda, one of the chairs Jonas Bohlin has designed for Gemla, has become a true design classic. This, and many of their other collaborations can be seen in design-conscious establishments like Hotel Clara in Stockholm and the Artipelag art space in Nacka.

If you travel just down the road to Älmhult, you could of course buy a chair from IKEA for around

one-tenth of the price of a Gemla chair. But a handcrafted chair is an heirloom, passed down through the generations, and as such is a far more sustainable choice. Sustainability is one of Gemla’s main selling points. All the wood they use comes from certified forestry, and natural materials are used in upholstery.

The beautiful leather that’s a feature of many of their chairs, including Vilda, comes from Tärnsjö tannery who use natural vegetable tanners on their hides, rather than the more cost-efficient but environmentally damaging chrome excel method.

Another way they ensure their furniture lasts several lifetimes, rather than becoming part of ‘slit och släng’ (throwaway) consumerism, is by offering a renovation service for their old chairs. Chairs are given a new lease of life, either by being fully updated and given a new look, freshened up to look as good as new, or refreshed while retaining their vintage, patinated look.

After visiting the craftsmen at Gemla and witnessing the time and skill that goes into creating each one of their everyday works of art, I have a new appreciation for the simple, sustainable beauty of a bentwood chair.

[Lifestyle] Culture From History to Holmes

By Anna Larsson

Vikings at the Swedish History Museum If you missed the two Viking exhibitions that toured North America, the Swedish History Museum (Historiska muséet) in Stockholm – from which those exhibits were on loan – has one of the world’s largest permanent exhibits from the Viking age. Here you can view the large treasure found at Vårby, a model of the city Birka, jewelry, tools and items related to religion and mythology.

The Swedish History Museum covers Swedish archaeology and cultural history from ancient prehistoric times to the Viking period and the Middle Ages. The collection contains over 10 million items. The oldest Swedish artifacts are from 12,000 BC, as the Ice Age, which earlier covered the country, erased prior human traces. The oldest item in the collection is a flint hand axe from St. Acheul in France which dates back 250,000 years. The museum is located in a courtyard building, and beneath the courtyard is a vault holding the Gold Room. For more information, see www.historiska.se.

Silver jewelry from Gotland. Photo: Katarina Nimmervoll, The National Historical Museums

Mattias Boström. Photo: Anna-Lena Ahlström

From Holmes to Sherlock Author Mattias Boström has been nominated to both the Edgar Award for best critical/biographical work and the Agatha Award for best nonfiction. His book “From Holmes to Sherlock: The Story of the Men and Women Who Created an Icon” chronicles the history from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s 1887 creation of the Victorian detective Sherlock Holmes to the 2010 television series “Sherlock” set in present-day London.

The Edgar Awards are named after Edgar Allan Poe and are presented annually by the Mystery Writers of America. Sweden has won only once, in 1971, with Maj Sjöwall & Per Wahlöö’s “The Laughing Policeman.” The Agatha Awards are named after Agatha Christie and are presented annually to mystery writers in the cozy mystery genre.

Nordic Light at the Nordic Museum The Nordic Museum (Nordiska muséet) in Stockholm is another museum focused on Nordic history.

The museum is beautifully located on the island of Djurgården, with the open-air museum Skansen and the Vasa Museum nearby. It has over 1.5 million artifacts in its collections from 1520 to the present, including entire buildings, photographs and books. One of the current exhibits, “Nordic Light,” focuses on the unique qualities of the light in the north, from the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) to Nordic light fixture design. On display until May 31, 2019.

Among the permanent displays is “Traditions,” an exhibit which explains Swedish traditions from Midsummer to Christmas, baptisms and funerals. Another permanent exhibit, “Swedish Folk Art,” showcases folk art from the 18th and 19th centuries and includes tapestries,

Swedish folk art. Photo: Mats Landin, The Nordic Museum

embroideries, ceramics, paintings and wood carvings. The “Sápmi” exhibit focuses on the life of the Sami people in Sweden. The Sami are an indigenous people of about 80,000 living in Sweden, Norway, Finland and Russia. Sápmi is the name of their land. There are currently around 20,000 Sami in Sweden. For more information, see www.nordiskamuseet.se.

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Swedish Press | April 2018 21

Hemma hos

Warm Lights and Colorful Sights at the Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair 2018

[Design]

By Kristi Robinson

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018 was a record-breaking year for the Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair.

Almost one-third of visitors came from abroad, representing 100 countries. Visitors from the US, China, and Japan also attended in numbers previously unseen, a sure sign that interest in Scandinavian design is growing, with Sweden becoming even more of an influencer on the world stage.

‘Tham ma da’ by ‘Guest of Honour’ Paola Navone.

Photo © Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair.

Trends this year could be found in a warm palette of colors, while textures and patterns took center stage. On that note, the 2018 Guest of Honour, Italian design Icon Paola Navone, made an adventurous statement in her design of the fair’s entry foyer.

Navone treated guests to a peek inside her imagination with her eclectic installation ‘Tham ma da’ – meaning ‘everyday’ in Thai. Navone took the idea of Tham ma da and made it into something fun and whimsical by mixing everyday objects such as dishware, furniture, and utilitarian items to create a space bursting with colour, patterns, and textures.

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Swedish Press | April 2018 22

‘Flipper’ sofa by Ola Giertz. Photo © Ola Giertz & Designboom.

Swedish designer Ola Giertz was high on the radar with ‘Flipper’, a sofa created in collaboration with Swedish furniture producer Inoff.

The smart concept behind this modular sofa system came from the digital numbers on a clock, and the idea that one basic shape can create numerous formations. Designed as one seat with four different backs, the Flipper sofas can be arranged together to create endless configurations for public spaces.

Also giving fair visitors and design bloggers something to talk about was Sweden’s Johan Kauppi and his ‘GreenFrame’, with lighting designed by Glimakra. GreenFrame was conceived to create happier and more peaceful work environments,

‘GreenFrame’ by Johan Kauppi.

Photo © Johan Kauppi.

while improving the indoor air quality. In-frame lighting allows for plants that might not be able to grow without sun to flourish.

Each year the Editors’ Choice awards are handed out to three deserving designers showing innovation or ingenuity. The ‘Best Stand’ award was given to Note Design Studio of Stockholm for their display for Tarkett flooring company. The judges were impressed by the way they were able to make a threedimensional architectural space using two-dimensional flooring.

‘Jin’ by Jin Kuramoto.

Photo © Jin Kuramoto.

Winning the award for ‘Best Product’ was Japan’s Jin Kuramoto, who worked closely with Swedish furniture producer OFFECT to create ‘Jin’, a sustainable chair made using flax layers. Layers of the fibres were shaped on top of each other to form a shell around a core of air, making the chair incredibly lightweight. The final award, ‘Rising Star’, went to young designer Anton Karlsson of the Netherlands for his out-of-thebox approach to bathroom furnishings and fittings. The judges commented that Karlsson showed “a unique worldview and a refreshingly non-conformist attitude.”

Hemma hos

Celebrating Swedish by Marriage in Astoria, Oregon

[Treats]

à la Swenson

By Janet Bowler

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he lack of Swedish ancestry never stopped Gerry Swenson or her daughterin-law Marci Swenson from actively promoting their husbands’ and children’s Swedish heritage in the Scandinavian community of Astoria, Oregon. Gerry’s husband Bob Swenson’s uncle Ragnar emigrated from Sweden (Örsjö in Småland) in 1910.

Marci with Ben and Audrey in Swedish costume

Bob and Gerry are members of Astor Lodge #215 of VASA, and in 1987 their daughter Julie Ann represented the lodge as Miss Sweden in the annual Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival. Participating in the festival made the Swedish heritage come alive. Gerry studied Swedish at the local community college where she taught math, and all of the family helped with the Swedish meatball dinner at the lodge.

Marci Graves met Gerry and Bob’s son Vance Swenson in 1998,

Marci, Vance and kids.

and Vance took her to her first Midsummer Festival while the couple was still courting. Marci was immediately impressed with the food, the dancing, the variety of Scandinavian costumes being worn, the Court with princesses representing the Scandinavian countries, and the Scandinavian-themed vendors. Soon after her marriage, Marci joined the Astor Lodge herself and started helping with the annual meatball dinner. By the time son Ben and daughter Audrey were in second grade they were both seasoned festival-goers, ready to perform in authentic costume as members of the Nordic Viking Dancers of Astoria.

Gingersnap Cookies Ingredients: • 1 cup sugar • 1/4 cup molasses • 1 egg • 3/4 cup Crisco shortening • 2 cups flour • 2 tsp baking soda • ½ tsp cloves • ½ tsp ginger • 1 tsp cinnamon • ½ tsp salt

In 2012 Audrey was Junior Miss Sweden, Ben served as court crown bearer, and Marci served as Junior Court Chaperone. That year’s festival was intense and personal.

Ben has already been inducted into VASA Lodge. He and his sister attend Trollbacken Swedish Language and Culture Camp in Corbett, Oregon, every August.

The Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival has been declared an Oregon Heritage Tradition. The 51st annual festival will take place on June 15 – 17, 2018. Detailed information is available at www.astoriascanfest.org. Look for the Swensons if you attend!

2012 Astoria Scan Fest Court with Marci at left, Ben and Audrey center front 2nd and 3rd from right.

Preparation: (Bernice Pearson’s Recipe) Mix dry ingredients together in a separate bowl and set aside. Mix sugar, egg and molasses together in a large bowl. Melt the shortening in the microwave (watch carefully so that it doesn’t get too hot). Add to the egg, etc., mixture, blending thoroughly. Add dry ingredients, mix and chill overnight (see suggestion below).

Prepare for chilling and ease in baking as follows: Lay out a long sheet of plastic wrap (a good 2 feet). Place dough from the bowl in the center and flatten it into a 10-inch square. Fold up the short 1-inch edges, making the edges straight. Fold one of the long sides of the wrap over the top, making the edge straight and smoothing the top of the dough to a uniform thickness. Fold the other long side over, making the remaining edge straight. Chill this 10-inch “tile” overnight or for several hours in the refrigerator. When time to bake, cut the square into 10 strips in both directions to make 100 cubes of dough. Fold in the corners and roll in sugar (there is no need to roll into balls as the dough will flatten while baking). Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees F for 8 to 10 minutes. Makes 100 cookies.

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Swedish Press | April 2018 23

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Swedish Press Connects

Swedish Council of America

Studying Swedish at the Collegiate Level

By Brian Kays, SCA Intern

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earning a language is a personal journey that creates opportunity for cultural enrichment and understanding, develops new perspectives, and stretches comfort zones – all accumulating into tremendous personal growth. Collegiate Swedish language programs exist throughout North America. It might surprise you that students are learning Swedish for a variety of reasons besides their family heritage.

Lena Norrman is a Senior Lecturer in Swedish at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. She has noticed a shift in the make up of her students. Ten years ago, most students learned Swedish as a heritage language. She now finds that her current students are interested in Swedish business, contemporary music, innovation and design, as well as their ancestry. Others are former exchange students to Sweden who are eager to maintain connections with their friends and host families.

Emma Johnson is a senior double majoring in Global Studies and Scandinavian Studies with a minor in Swedish at North Park University in Chicago, Illinois. Her motivation to learn Swedish originates from her strong Swedish heritage. Learning Swedish is a path to better understanding her roots.

Emma loves the crosscultural environment of Swedish courses and has Emma Johnson. Photo: Emma developed a passion for Johnson, North Park University cultural exchange. Emma credits her teacher, Anne Marie Andreasson-Hogg, as an instructor who motivated her Swedish language journey and encouraged studying abroad and language immersion.

Her newly acquired language skills allow her to establish deeper connections with her Swedish friends whom she met while studying at Södra Vätterbygdens Folkhögskola in Jönköping. Her long-term goals include living in Sweden while working in International Education and sharing her passion for cultural exchange.

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Swedish Press | April 2018 24

Katie Laschansky represents the wave of students studying Swedish for contemporary reasons. Katie is a student at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, double majoring in Biology and Scandinavian Studies with a minor in Biochemistry. She explains that she needed a language to fulfill Augustana’s one-year language requirement and chose Swedish out of curiosity and awareness of Rock Island’s Swedish history. Katie describes her Katie Laschansky. Photo: Tori courses as conversational Charnetzki, Augustana College and effective at learning culture alongside the language. She credits instructor Paul Peterson as instrumental in motivating her to pursue Swedish further. As part of her undergraduate career, Katie has studied at Uppsala University, and she hopes to return as a master’s student studying Biology with a focus in Microbiology. After graduation, Katie’s goals include possibly Ph.D. work and living in Sweden but will certainly include working within a science-related field.

These Swedish language programs have enormous impact on the lives and futures of their students. As more and more students study Swedish for contemporary purposes the ties between Sweden and North America are being strengthened.

The following list features a sampling of schools offering Swedish language courses in the United States: *Augustana College Rock Island, Illinois | *North Park University Chicago | Illinois University of Illinois Urbana, Illinois | University of California – Berkeley Berkeley, California | University of California – Los Angeles Los Angeles, California | Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts | University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan *Gustavus Adolphus College Saint Peter, Minnesota | University of Minnesota – Twin Cities Minneapolis, Minnesota | Columbia University New York, New York | University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon Portland State University Portland, Oregon | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Brigham Young University Provo, Utah | University of Washington Seattle, Washington | University of Wisconsin – Madison Madison, Wisconsin | University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee Milwaukee, Wisconsin *Indicates SCA Swedish Heritage College Visit our website to learn more. www.swedishcouncil.org/scholarships

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Swedish Press Connects

Svenskar i Världen

Hemvändandet – en bakåtvänd kulturkrock och kulturchock

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är man flyttar utomlands brukar man vara inställd på att man kommer att uppleva en ny kultur och därmed någon typ av kulturkrock, eftersom det nya hemlandet troligtvis skiljer sig från den svenska kulturen på många sätt. Det man inte brukar vara beredd på är att man även kan komma att uppleva en bakvänd kulturkrock när man flyttar tillbaka till Sverige.

Med ”kulturkrock” menas olika former av missförstånd som beror på olika kulturella faktorer. Ju längre man har bott borta från Sverige och den svenska kulturen desto svårare kan det vara att komma tillbaka till den svenska vardagen, eftersom man under den längre tiden i utlandet har lärt sig att leva i den kultur och vardag som finns där.

Om man är medveten om att livet hemma i Sverige har förändrats under tiden som man har varit utomlands och att man själv har utvecklats och förändrats till viss del, då är sannolikheten större att den bakåtvända kulturkrocken blir mindre när man väl har kommit tillbaka till Sverige.

Likväl kan man ändå uppleva någon typ av kulturchock när man vänder tillbaka till Sverige. En ”kulturchock” är när man lider av olika känslotillstånd då mycket är annorlunda än man är van vid. Kulturchock kan leda till en djupare gående kris med ångest, depression och psykosomatisk sjukdom. Den bakåtvända kulturkrocken, som man inte hade räknat med när man flyttar tillbaka till Sverige, kan ibland leda till en omedveten kulturchock.

När du kommer tillbaka till Sverige bör du rådfråga Svenskar i Världens tips att försöka förstå hur Sverige och svenskarna kan ha förändrats under tiden som du varit borta, och därmed sätta dig in i hur stor eller liten din bakåtvända kulturkrock kan komma att bli. Detta kommer i sin tur att underlätta för dig hur du kan komma att uppleva och hantera den omedvetna kulturchocken som kan uppstå när du kommer tillbaka till Sverige.

I samband med att du flyttade utomlands fick du kanske mycket socialt stöd kring ditt beslut, men räkna med att du kommer tvingas stå på helt egna ben efter att du har flyttat hem igen. Det finns normativa bilder av hur det är att flytta utomlands men ingen tydlig bild av hur det är att återvända

hem. De flesta som har bott utomlands menar att utlandsvistelsen har förändrat dem, och att de ser det som positivt och vill använda sig av de nya rollerna hemma i Sverige igen. Men som sagt, ju längre tid utanför Sverige desto svårare kan det vara att komma tillbaka till ”ankdammen”, eftersom man vid hemkomsten förväntar sig att landet ska vara som när man lämnade det. Den bilden stämmer sällan. Samhällen förändras och utvecklas i en rasande fart. Fastän Sverige nu blivit alltmer mångkulturellt är det ändå så att man tycker att det svenska sättet är det bästa.

Att det kanske inte alltid är så är något som svenskarna som bott kvar i Sverige inte gärna accepterar. Utomlands kan svenskar verka äventyrligare på ett annat sätt. När de flyttar hem igen blir de plötsligt pressade in i en ram som inte riktigt passar längre. Uppfattningen om svenskar som tråkiga verkar som en generell åsikt bland hemvändare och de vill inte återanpassa sig till rollerna de hade innan de flyttade utomlands. Man vill få fortsätta vara sitt nya jag som utlandssvensk. För att få spela ut sina nya roller söker sig många hemvändare till nya inramningar med nya människor.

Några hemvändarröster: – Jag tror man automatiskt går in i olika roller, är på ett visst sätt med vissa personer. Med gamla vänner har man samtalsämnen som man alltid haft, med nya går man in i nyare roller. Att pendla mellan roller kan vara ett sätt att framhäva den kulturella roll man helst vill spela.

– De tyckte att man var övertrevlig när man kom hem, men det var ju för att man var så inne i det och mer öppen för nya saker.

– Så härligt att få återupptäcka min gamla hembygd igen.

Fakta om Svenskar i Världen: Svenskar i Världen är en ideell, oberoende organisation som sedan 1938 verkar för utlandssvenskarnas bästa genom att bevaka, informera och påverka. Vi har en unik roll som representant för de drygt 660 000 svenskarna som arbetar, studerar eller av andra skäl bor utomlands, samt de ytterligare hundratusentals som har bott eller kommer att bo utomlands. Svenskar i Världen bedriver opinionsbildning och lobbying, ger rådgivning i frågor av intresse för utlandssvenskar samt utvecklar nätverk både i Sverige och utomlands. För att underlätta för hemvändande svenskar att komma in på den svenska arbetsmarknaden och att deras erfarenheter och kompetens ska tas tillvara har vi en hemvändargrupp som verkar särskilt för att lyfta dessa frågor. www.sviv.se

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Swedish Press | April 2018 25

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Road to 2045

In the Road to 2045 series, Swedish Press explores climate change issues in Sweden and how the country deals with this major challenge. Swedish Press has entered into a collaboration with Forum for Reforms, Entrepreneurship and Sustainability (Fores) who are experts in this area. In the coming months you will see updates on activities and regulations in Sweden, case studies on interesting companies, and interviews with leading climate profiles.

California and Sweden: A Coalition of the Willing

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By Jakob Lagercrantz alifornia and Sweden are held up as examples of clean development, with a sustained rapid industrial development. In this third article from the Swedish 2030-secretariat we look at some of the differences, as well as some common denominators.

Growth and environmental development In the aftermath of the Second World War, the Californian economy grew rapidly. Already in 1947 Los Angeles was one of the most polluted cities in the USA, and a few years later the scientific evidence indicated that cars were the main culprit. The Californian Air Resource Board was founded, with the specific task to clear the air in California.

On the other side of the Atlantic, Sweden was entering the world stage as an economic example. The Keynesian policies of the 1940’s and 50’s helped transform Sweden from one of the poorest countries in Europe to an industrial power. In the 1960’s the acute acidification of Swedish lakes triggered campaigns to decrease air pollution drifting in primarily from abroad.

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Swedish Press | April 2018 26

Road to 2045

Tesla Model 3.

California and Sweden have chosen some different paths to promote green development in the transport sector, with long term political visions remaining a common denominator.

Long term political policy The Californian Air Resources Board (CARB) was founded in 1967, under the then Governor, Ronald Reagan.

CARB reports directly to the Governor, and was tasked to improve air quality in Californian cities. This led to the most stringent car emission standards in the US. Since then, California has seen a series of innovative and mostly market driven approaches to promote clean technologies. The Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, introduced in the 1990’s, forced car manufacturers to either produce a certain share of zero emission vehicles for the Californian market, or buy credits from other successful companies. Tesla and Nissan have benefited by selling their surplus ZEV credits, giving these two companies a well-deserved financial boost.

In the early 2000’s the Low Carbon Fuels Standard (LCFS) was introduced by the then Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, mandating that all fuels must be certified for its fossil carbon content. This allows for a trade where the most efficient companies, with a large renewable share, get to sell credits to fossil fuel companies with little development. CARB sets up

the playing field, but the companies negotiate the price.

Sweden entered the global environmental scene by hosting the first UN Conference on Environment and Development in 1972. The preparatory work for the conference had a strong impact on authorities, and helped create a long term foundation for continued green technology development.

Acidification of the lakes created a bottom up approach to environmental development. Then came the energy crisis. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) decided in 1974 to increase the price of oil drastically. Sweden was at the time totally dependent on imported oil, and certainly the most dependent per capita. A decision was made by both businesses and politicians to promote an alternative, fossil free development. In just thirty years the dependency on fossil fuels in industry and housing has almost disappeared.

Sweden is now doing the same for transport, with legislation passed in June 2017 setting a target of 70 % CO2 reduction by 2030.

California and Sweden can boost strong political leadership, but it would have come to nothing without a large number of committed companies taking advantage of a budding clean technology market.

The 2030-secretariat and its partners in California, China and Germany are building coalitions of willing parties who believe that there are opportunities in green visions.

This Coalition of the Willing is spearheaded by Californian and Swedish developments.

Fores is a Swedish think tank devoted to questions related to climate and environment, migration and integration, entrepreneurship and economic reforms, as well as the digital society.

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Canada, US & beyond

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Swedish Events around the World

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Thunder Bay

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Ljud Från Sverige Concert Review – Concert goers in Thunder Bay, Ontario Canada were delighted to hear an evening of Scandinavian Art Song on February 6/18, sung by tenor Michael Dodge of Baltimore, Maryland. A repertoire of almost entirely Swedish Art Song and one opera Aria were stunningly brought to life by this gifted and expressive tenor. Selections by Sigurd von Koch, Gustaf Nordqvist, Carl Leopold Sjoberg and Ivar Hallström, to name a few, were performed to artistic perfection.

Of particular significance was Dodge’s upper register which sang out as if it were “liquid silk”. With these lyrical melodies, listeners were easily transported, as it were, to the Sweden of a century ago.

Dodge presented each selection with an informative introduction and then stunned the audience with his expansive range, lyrical interpretation and vocal dexterity.

Also showing artistic excellence was Janelle Hutton on the piano.

A sensitive and responsive musician, Hutton transformed the lyrical and moving accompaniments from the written score to life in its most vivid form. This dynamic performance duo made “Ljud Från Sverige” a very magical winter evening.

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A Square Oscar Party – On a picture-perfect day, the 90th Oscar Awards laid out its red carpet. The Swedish Film Institute and Film i Väst hosted an Oscar party in honor of the nominated film The Square at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel,

tute, Producer Erik Hemmendorff, actors Annica Liljeblad, Claes Bang and Terry Notary, Kristina Bünger from the Consulate General of Sweden in San Francisco, Nathalie Söderqvist, Alexia Melocchi – Little Studio Films, Ludwig Göransson – composer, Cornelia Gibrand – President SWEA Los Angeles, and celebrity photographer Maria Tornberg etc…

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From left to right: Writer/Director of The Square Ruben Östlund, actor Claes Bang and actor Terry Notary.

From left to right: Communications Manager at Film i Väst Ulrika Grönerus, CEO of the Swedish Film Institute Anna Serner, CEO of Film i Väst Mikael Fellenius, Head of Press Jan Göransson and Festival Manager Theo Tsappos of the Swedish Film Institute. Photo: Helena Gytare/SACC-LA

sponsored by SACC-LA, Magnolia Pictures, Teaterförbundet, Plattform, and the Consulate General of San Francisco. The excitement was high for The Square to win.

The Academy’s choice was a disappointment. Attending were Gudrun Giddings, Mikael Fellenius – CEO of Film i Väst, Anna Serner – CEO of the Swedish Film Insti18

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Newport Beach Film Festival to showcase an exclusive screening of Swedish Cinema – On Tuesday, May 1st, 2018 the 19th annual Newport Beach Film Festival presented

by Pacific Sales, will present its Swedish Spotlight, an evening celebration of Swedish cinema and culture. The event will feature the premiere of a highly-acclaimed Swedish film, followed by a festive post-screening gala.

The evening will include several of Orange County’s top restaurants serving signature tastings, multiple DJs, live entertainment, a special performance

by Orange County Aerial Arts, hosted bar by Tito’s Handmade Vodka.

The Swedish Spotlight is supported by The Consulate of Sweden – San Diego, The Swedish American Chamber of Commerce San Diego, Swedish Press, VASA, and SWEA-LA. Tickets on-sale April 1st at www.NewportBeachFilmFest.com.

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Calendar & Events

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A guide to fun and interesting Swedish events outside Sweden

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CHICAGO Swedish American Museum 5211 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60640 Tel: 773-728 8111 | info@samac.org www.swedishamericanmuseum.org ONGOING exhibits: “Outside the Lines: A History of Swedish Comics,” based on “Swedish Comics History” by Fredrik Strömberg, in the Main Gallery through Jun 24; also, “Tribute to Astrid Lindgren,” in the Wallenberg Gallery through Sunday, Apr 22.

Apr 7-8 – Sat-Sun, 11 am to 4 pm: Tantalizing Treasures Sale, a Museum benefit rummage event.

Apr 10 – Tue 6 pm: Volunteer Appreciation program and dinner in recognition of countless hours of dedication.

Apr 15 – Sun 5 pm: Annual Meeting and Celebration of Museum accomplishments during the past year.

Apr 27 – Fri 6 pm: Opening of the exhibit, “Dreams of a Swedish Summer,” in the Wallenberg Gallery.

Apr 28 – Sat 3:30 pm: Mulle Day events for children based on the Swedish character, “Skogsmulle,” craft projects and a nature walk.

DETROIT Swedish Club of Southeast Michigan 22398 Ruth St, Farmington Hills, MI 48336 Info: 734-459 0596 www.swedishclub.net Apr 8 – Sun 1 to 2:30 pm: Buffet and program hosted by Jenny Lind Club of MI. Apr 29 – Sun 3 pm: Valborgsmassofton Celebration : Bon fire, food & singing.

MINNEAPOLIS American Swedish Institute 2600 Park Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55407 Tel: 612-871 4907 | www.asimn.org Ongoing through Apr 8: CraftBOWL – an exhibition project that explores vessel design and craft traditions represented through varied mediums of handcraft.

Apr 21 through Jul 15: Exhibition – The Fantastical Worlds of Kim Simonsson – Sculptor Kim Simonsson of Fiskars, Finland, crafts innocent, yet beguiling life-sized figures of child and animals in “mosscovered” ceramics that lead the viewer into an imaginative, fairytale-like world inspired by the forests of Finland.

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PHILADEPHIA American Swedish Historical Museum 1900 Pattison Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19145 | Tel: 215-389 1776 | info@americanswedish.org | www.americanswedish.org Apr 28 – Sun 6 pm: Spring Ting Dinner & Auction 2018 – a special fundraiser, featuring a silent auction, three course dinner and Outstanding Achievement Award recipient, Swedish journalist Carina Bergfeldt.

Tickets start at $95, RSVP by April 16th.

PORTLAND New Sweden Cultural Heritage Society PO Box 80141 Portland, OR 97280 www.newsweden.org Apr 30 – Mon 7 pm: Valborgsmässoafton (Walpurgis Night). We will return to the same location as the last two years, the beautiful residence of Connie and Morgan Pope. 503-807 9808 for more info.

Scandinavian Heritage Foundation at Nordia House 8800 SW Oleson Road, Portland, OR 97223 Tel: 503-977 0275 | shf@mindspring.com www.scanheritage.org Apr 4 – Wed 7:30 pm: Spring Concert – Edvard Greig: The Norwegian Soul – featuring Laure Loge & Knut Erik Jensen at Nordia House.

SEATTLE Swedish Cultural Center 1920 Dexter Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98109 Tel: 206-283 1090 | www.swedishclubnw.org info@swedishculturalcenter.org Apr 6 – Friday, 8 pm to 12 midnight: ABBA Night returns. Food, ABBA music by the ABBAgraphs, plus DJ Jonasson and Haffi Haf. Come to dance or just listen and watch the fab clothes from the 70s on our dancers! Costume contest too. Tickets available through brownpapertickets.com or the Club office for members.

WASHINGTON, DC Embassy of Sweden 2900 K Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20007 Tel: 202-467 2600 | www.swedenabroad.com ambassaden.washington@gov.se Apr 12 – Seminar: Swedish American Life Science Summit goes to Washington.

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CALGARY Swedish Society of Calgary 739 20 Ave. N.W. Calgary, AB T2M 1E2 Tel: 403-284 2610 | www.swedishsociety.ca Apr 29 – Sun 4 pm: Valborgsmässoafton (Valpurgis Night) in Edworthy Park. Bring your own food and chairs. More info, please contact Ros-Marie 403-275-3551.

TORONTO Svenska kyrkan i Toronto 25 Old York Mills Road, Toronto ON M2P 1B5 Tel: 416-486 0466 | toronto@svenskakyrkan.se www.svenskakyrkan.se/toronto Apr 1 – Sön: Påskdagen Påskbuffé efter gudstjänsten Apr 7 – Lör 15.30 - 19.30: The Nordic Viking Event för unga och gamla, Danska Lutherska Kyrkan i Toronto, 72 Finch Ave. W. För biljetter och information, kontakta Eva Terp terpeva@bell.net VANCOUVER Scandinavian Community Centre 6540 Thomas Street, Burnaby, BC V5B 4P9 Tel: 604-294 2777 | info@scandinaviancentre.org | www.swedishculturalsociety.ca Apr 10 and Apr 14 – Tues and Sat: The Reel 2 Real International Film Festival for Youth (R2R) will be screening the Swedish film Cloudboy, by director Meikeminne Clinckspoor at the Vancity Theatre.

Apr 20 – The SWEA Vancouver-University of British Columbia Scholarship for undergraduate studies in Sweden. Find out more on www.vancouver.swea.org. Value: $3,000 CDN. Deadline April 30th, 2018.

WINNIPEG Swedish Cultural Assn of Manitoba 764 Erin Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3G 2W4 | Tel: 204-774 8047 | Reservations at: svenskclub17@gmail.com Apr 6 – Fri 11:30 am: Svensk Lunch at the Scandinavian Centre. A lovely homemade lunch and good company. $8.00. Reserve please, by email.

Apr 8 – Sun 1 to 4 pm: Rosemaling led

by Selma Parsons. Brushes and paints provided. Members, $15.00; non-members $20.00 Reserve please.

Apr 19 – Thurs 7 pm: Swedish Cultural Association Annual General Meeting.

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[Ads] and Info Swedish Press Classified Alberta Organizations Svenska Skolan i Calgary bedriverundervisning för barn 3-15 år gamla på lördagar kl 9:30-12. Alla barn är välkomna. Undervisningen sker på svenska. Kontakta Svenska Skolan genom Scandinavian center 403-284-2610 eller skicka epost till contact@swedishschool.com.

Läs mer om vår skola på www.swedishschool.com BC Organizations Scandinavian Business Club Monthly meetings feature business speakers. Guests and new members welcome. Call SBC: 604-484-8238.

Visit us at www.sbc-bc.ca Scandinavian Community Centre Beautiful setting for weddings, parties, birthdays, meetings and seminars. 6540 Thomas Street, Burnaby, BC info@scandinaviancentre.org 604-294-2777 www.scandinaviancentre.org Svenska Kulturföreningen Ordförande Ellen Petersson 604-970-8708. Kassör är Linda Olofsson, 604-418-7703 www.

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Email: swedishculturalsociety.ca @gmail.com Sweden House Society President Carina Spencer Email: swedenhousechair@gmail.com, Vice president Rebecca Keckman, Treasurer Ron Spence Swedish Canadian Village Beautiful Assisted Living Residence & Senior Subsidized Apartment Buildings Located in Burnaby, British Columbia. Ph# 604-420-1124 Fax# 604-420-1175 www.swedishcanadian.ca

Swedish Club 1920 Dexter Ave. N, Seattle, WA 98109; Tel: 206-283-1090. Open Wednesday evenings for supper and games, Friday for lunch and dinner. Pancake breakfasts on first Sundays of the month. Rental venue for meeting, parties, etc. www.swedishclubnw.org

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Swedish Club of Victoria Dinners, Events and Meetings, for information contact Annabelle Beresford @ 250-656-9586 or Swedish Club of Victoria Facebook.

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Augustana College Rock Island, IL 61201-2296 Phone 309-794 7204 sag@augustana.edu www.augustana.edu/sag

Washington Organizations Nordic Museum has moved to a beautiful, brand-new building!

In Seattle, 2655 N.W. Market St., Ballard; 206-789-5707; Grand Opening ceremony and activities begin at 12pm Saturday, May 5.

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Swedish Press | April 2018 29

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Sista ordet

“My ambition was to make a book with simple images...”

Meet Ulla the Baker!

By Anders Suneson

M

Anders Suneson

ULLA’S BAKERY ULLA I BAGERIET

y name is Anders Suneson, I am an artist who lives and works in the northern part of Sweden.

I use a wide range of techniques in my work. In particular, I illustrate books and create wooden sculptures with children as the main target group.

During 2018 I will have an exhibition in the Family Gallery at the American Swedish Institute (ASI) in Minneapolis. The exhibition is built around my children’s books about Ulla the Baker. In the gallery, there is a small version of Ulla’s Bakery for the kids to play in. I also had the opportunity to spend two weeks in November in Minneapolis to build wooden sculptures for the exhibition.

Ulla’s Bakery is a picture book I produced when our children were small, in transition to the age of reading books. My ambition was to make a book with simple and clean images.

I wanted to keep the text short, with a visual narrative (for example: “She puts on her apron and baker’s hat”).

The story moves forward at a modest tempo and with a coincidence (I won’t spoil the story by revealing it here) that leads Ulla to take a problem-solving action. The story has a surprising happy ending.

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Swedish Press | April 2018 30

Tecknade Bilder Förlag

1

I am based in the Swedish province of Jämtland, more precisely on an island called Frösön. Only 100 km away is one of Sweden’s major ski resorts, Åre, which is also one of my biggest outlets for wooden sculptures.

I have built several scenes with small houses and wooden animals for the children’s ski areas. The sculptures are formed by cutting logs with a chainsaw, and they are then painted using oil and pigment. This technique makes the sculptures sturdy enough to be played with. It was all the skiers in Åre who inspired me to write and illustrate the book Ulla the Baker Goes Skiing.

When I got the invitation from ASI, I considered seizing the opportunity to make versions of the books in both Swedish and English. In the process of translation, I wanted to give both languages the same value.

It is not meant to be a word by word translation, but a story narrated in two different languages.

The books have been very well received in the USA, and I have been happy to see how they have crossed generational boundaries. A grandma or a grandpa who knows some Swedish can read the books together with their grandchildren. I have also been pleased with the fact that the bilingual version of the books has been well received back home in Sweden. For example, they have been appreciated by schools for use during English classes, and by English-speaking tourists.

I had the books printed in Minnesota, and I store them at ASI in Minneapolis. ASI helps me with the distribution within the USA, and I send invoices for the books via Paypal.

The books cost US $16 plus postage.

To place an order, just send me an e-mail at anders@tecknadebilder.se Anders

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ULLA TH neson E GOES SKBAKER IING BAGA REN U LLA ÅKER SKIDO R

Tecknade

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ag 1

All illustrations © Anders Suneson.

Meet Ulla the Baker at the Family Gallery of the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis.

Exhibition ongoing through October 7.

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