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4 Letters to the Editor 5 From the Editor’s Desk Swedish Headlines 6 Headline News 7 Swedes in the News 8 Landskapsnyheterna Business 9 Company File – BrainLit 10 Hans Rausing i Tetra Pak – en udda storföretagsledare och entrepenör
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CONTENTS ( October 2019 )
EDITOR Peter Berlin Peter@swedishpress.com
REPRESENTATIVES Calgary: Carin Pihl +1 403 931 0370 Thunder Bay: Elinor Barr +1 807 344 8355 Toronto: Gunilla Sjölin +1 905 751 5297 Winnipeg: Nancy Drews +1 204-668-7262 Los Angeles: Birgitta von Knipe +1 310 201 0079 New York: Timothy Lyons +1 732 685 3747 San Diego: Sue Eidson +1 858 541 0207
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Swedish Press
Tetra Classic® Aseptic carton packages. ©Tetra Pak
Feature 12 Svenska investeringar i startups ger hög avkastning
Interview 14 Professor Tomas Kåberger – We Are Moving in the Right Direction, But Not Fast Enough Global Swedes 16 Cecilia Malmström, Sweden’s European Commissioner for Trade Heritage 18 Fritiof Andersson i själva verket: En folkkär äventyrares biografi, del 3 Lifestyle 20 Top Sju 21 Fashion: New Challenges for the Swedish Fashion Industry
Hemma Hos 22 Design: People & Planet: IKEA to Radically Change the Way They Do Business 23 Treats à la John Duxbury
Product developer Mauricio Affonso with a prototype of the Gunrid air purifying curtain. © IKEA
Road to 2045 24 Energy Summit – Årlig konferens om svensk energipolitik och energiförsörjning 25 Sweden: Waiting for Climate Action Swedish Press Connects 26 SCA – Swedish Council of America In the Loop 27 Canada, US & Beyond 28 Calendar & Events 29 Ads and Info 30 Sista Ordet Thinking Outside the Box
Cover images: Various Swedish inventions: 1. The zipper. Photo: Amanda Westerbom/ 4 5 6 imagebank.sweden.se 2. The cardiac pacemaker. Photo: Lars 8 7 Lundberg/imagebank. sweden.se | 3. Hövding cycle helmet with airbag. Photo: Hövding | 4. Nils Bohlin invented the three-point seatbelt in 1959. Photo: Volvo | 5. The safety match was invented by Gustaf Erik Pasch and patented in Sweden in 1844. Photo: Amanda Westerbom/imagebank. sweden.se | 6. Adjustable wrench, the ‘Swedish Key’, is attributed to Swedish inventor Johan Petter Johansson. Photo: Amanda Westerbom/ imagebank.sweden.se | 7. Flexfold 3-blade shaft folding propeller. Photo: Flexfold | 8. The modern ball bearing was invented by Sven Wingqvist in 1907. Photo: Yuttana Udomdangaram
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Letters to the Editor 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. Hej Joan and Claes, I question your information about the Coke bottle. I am from Terre Haute, IN and have always been told the coke bottle was designed here. I enclose an excerpt from a news release about the upcoming coke bottle festival. What source did you use? Always enjoy reading the Swedish Press and sometimes even remember to send in our Vasa activities. Tack så mycket! Marty Bergman Terre Haute, Indiana Editor’s comment: Dear Marty, You are quite right that the Coke bottle was designed in Terre Haute, but there was a Swedish hand involved. Here is what it says on Swedish Wikipedia: Alexander Samuelson, born Jaunuary 4, 1862 in the Kareby community, Kungälv (Göteborg and Bohus County), deceased 1934 in Indiana, USA, was a Swedish-American glassmaking engineer. He worked at the Surte Glassworks before emigrating to the USA in 1883. While employed at a
glassworks in Terre Haute, IN, in 1915, Alexander Samuelson designed the famous [Coca-Cola] glass bottle which was launched in 1916 – or at least his name appears on the patent. Samuelson held a high management position within the Chapman Root Bottling Company, but some people say that it was in fact Earl R. Dean who designed the bottle. Neither Samuelson nor Dean made a fortune as a result; instead, it was Chapman J. Root, the owner of the company, who became a multi-millionaire. A response to Claes, Every time I read Swedish Press, I get fired up. The personal quality of the writing, the very timely topics in all fields, the fascinating vignettes and the easy to read (and classy) layout, are totally compelling. Your magazine always leads me into exciting larger spheres where the possible becomes realizable. It is a naturally attractive magazine … I have seen many people approach this issue with eagerness. I endorse your thoughts on Collective Resilience, Claes. These are daunting times and in order to keep the balance, we need to keep hope and forward thinking at the top of our lists. If there is still strength and certainty living in others’ hearts to continue
the journey, as it was unbelievably accomplished in the past, then my vote is “yes” to positive exchange and building for our renewal. Thank you all at Swedish Press! Laurel Anderson-McCallum Winnipeg, Manitoba Hi Joan, At our Swedish Heritage meeting yesterday I finally saw your article on our opening on June 9 [Swedish Press, July/August 2019, page 30] for which I sent you my pictures. The write-up by Dorothy is great!! Your layout is nice. But I was surprised and disappointed you did not credit me for the pictures. I am a photographer and would much appreciate acknowledgement for my work. Just a short byline at the bottom would have been nice. Thank you so much! Tuulikki Abrahamsson Vancouver, British Columbia www.rapidwinder.com Editor’s comment: Dear Tuulikki, Thank you for your email and subscription, and apologies for failing to mention the credits to your splendid photographs in the “Swedish Heritage of BC” article. We try to take great care to include credits and attributions, but sometimes we slip up.
airbags • seatbelts • steering wheels • autoliv.com Half Page Ad v4.indd 1
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from the Editor’s Desk
Driving Change Through Innovation We need your support!
Swedish Press strives to create a high quality magazine for you, but the costs are considerable and ever-increasing. Please consider making a generous donation to help keep your publication, and Swedish heritage, alive. You’ll find a form on page 29. Tack!
Whether your Swedish is fluent or rusty, we hone your language skills by publishing some articles in Swedish. But never despair: you will find English translations online thanks to our valiant team of volunteer translators. Simply go to http://biolson. atspace.cc/swemail/ and you will find translations of all Swedish articles going as far back as to August 2007.
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esearch turns money into knowledge. On the other hand, innovation turns knowledge into money. Sweden has a strong engineering tradition and the profession enjoys high social status, which may explain why the country has been – and remains – at the forefront of invention and innovation. Think propeller (1836), safety match (1844), dynamite (1865), steam turbine (1883), blow torch (1882), adjustable wrench (1892), zipper (1910), refrigerator without moving parts (1921), 3-point safety belt (1957), pacemaker (1958), artificial kidney (1965), Bluetooth (1998), Skype (2003), Spotify (2006) … and that just scratches the surface. These familiar inventions and innovations have shaped daily life not only in Sweden, but also worldwide. In some cases, other people in other countries have claimed to be the true originators of highly successful Swedish inventions. This is perhaps not surprising because – as the saying goes – success has many fathers (while failure is an orphan). “What is the difference between innovation and invention?” you may be asking yourself. Innovation involves the practical implementation of an invention. For example, solar cells are used variously in homes and gardens, on highways, and onboard spacecraft. This autumn’s plentiful sunshine in Sweden has helped to lift the spirits of the Swedes in preparation for the dark winter months ahead. The uplifting property of daylight is not just a myth; it is supported by science, as our readers will find out by reading the article about the Swedish company BrainLit and its innovative approach to influencing mood states in the workplace (page 9). The Business News section is devoted to the passing of the Swedish innovation icon Hans Rausing (page 10). Elsewhere in this issue we feature the Innovatum Science Park which serves as a catalyst for technical research and development in the Swedish economy (page 12). As always, we include exclusive interviews with prominent Swedes in politics, industry and academia – in this case EU Commissioner Cecilia Malmström (page 16) and Professor Tomas Kåberger (page 14). We report on two surprising yet perfectly feasible engineering projects conceived by students at the Kiruna-based Space Science Department of the Luleå University of Technology (page 30). Such projects serve to illustrate how young people make up for a lack of experience with limitless motivation, enthusiasm and ability to think outside the box. We at Swedish Press hope you enjoy reading the articles in this issue on politics, ecology, cuisine and the arts. As we draw up plans for next year’s content, we would like to hear from you with suggestions about topics that lie close to your heart and which you think will be of interest to our readership in general. Peter Berlin Editor Peter@Swedishpress.com October 2019
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Stepping Down and Melting Down
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Margot Wallström stepping down
n September 5, Sweden’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Margot Wallström, informed Prime Minister Löfven that she is stepping down from the post she has held since 2014. Her stated reason is to spend more time with her family. Even before assuming her present role, she helped put Sweden on the world map as EU Commissioner, Vice President of the EU Commission, and UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict. During her tenure as Minister of Foreign Affairs she has not hesitated to ruffle feathers in countries like Turkey, Israel and Saudi Arabia by publicly expressing her strong objection to some of their domestic policies. Her legacy includes having been instrumental in arranging peace talks held in Sweden in December 2018 between the warring factions in Yemen.
Left: Margot Wallström. Photo: Karl Nordlund/ Regeringskansliet. Right: Ann Linde. Photo: Kristian Pohl/Regeringskansliet
It is said that Wallström has repeatedly declined offers to become Prime Minister. When asked, Swedes tend to rank her tops in popularity among politicians. The government immediately began a search for Wallström’s replacement. According to the news media, one of the most eligible prospects was Hans Dahlgren, the current Minister for EU Affairs, who has previously held various high-level positions in the Swedish Foreign service. Another media favourite was Annika Söder,
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the present Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs. However, on September 10 the Prime Minister announced that the job had gone to Ann Linde, the current Minister of Foreign Trade and Nordic Affairs.
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Kebnekaise is shrinking
limate change is causing Kebnekaise, Sweden’s tallest mountain, to shrink. Recent measurements confirm that the increasingly warm summer temperatures in Swedish Lapland have caused the snow cap to melt faster than it regenerates in the winter. The mountain has lost 1 meter (3 feet) per year on average over the past two decades due to melting snow, and the trend is likely to continue. Mountains are not as static as one might think. Even the height of Mount Everest changes from time to time, albeit not due to climate change. When the GPS navigation satellite system was launched in the late 1970s, mountaineers equipped with GPS receivers discovered (to their dismay?) that the mountain was 8 meters taller than previously thought – whereas in 2015 it lost 1 inch due to a strong
earthquake. As a mountaineer, you gain some and you lose some.
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Greta Thunberg: what next?
n August 28, climate change activist Greta Thunberg arrived in New York after a 15-day bumpy cruise from the UK onboard a “carbon-neutral” 60-ft racing yacht equipped with solar panels and underwater turbines (see Swedish Press, September 2018 page 10). While in the US, she will be attending the UN Climate Action Summit in New York, to be followed by attendance at the COP 25 climate change conference in Santiago, Chile. Thunberg chose the sailing yacht over flying to prove that even transoceanic travel is possible without expending climate-changing greenhouse gases. It is estimated that a typical airliner expends nearly a ton of harmful CO2 gas when flying roundtrip between Europe and North America. The question remains how Thunberg plans to travel from New York to Santiago and back to Sweden without sacrificing her ecological principles in favour of the relative comfort of air travel.
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Swedes in the News
Political Promotions and Musical Festivities Malmström for Sweden Swedish liberal politician and European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström has been awarded the honorary title of “Swede of the Year” by Swedes Worldwide (Svenskar i Världen). Malmström, who has previously worked as European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Minister for Union Affairs and researcher in political science, was praised for her “strong international leadership”, which has contributed to growth as well as more jobs. Malmström joins the list of Swedes appointed “Swede of the Year” since 1988, including musicians Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, diplomat and politician Hans Blix, and soccer player Zlatan Ibrahimović.
Ann Linde. Photo: Kristian Pohl/ The Government Offices of Sweden
worked as Minister for Foreign Trade, Minister for Nordic Cooperation and Minister for European Union Affairs and Trade in the Swedish Prime Minister’s Cabinet. Linde said she felt proud and honored to take on the role as Minister for Foreign Affairs. She also stated that she strives to continue Wallström’s policy which includes fighting for women’s rights. “We will continue our feminist foreign policy. I recently introduced a feminist trade policy and I care deeply about these issues,” she said.
Henriksson is known for having participated in the Swedish music TV show Så mycket bättre, as well as in several acclaimed albums. David Sundin recently cohosted the Swedish Television award show Kristallen with Swedish comedienne Babben Larsson. Melodifestivalen kicks off in Linköping on February 2, 2020.
David Sundin, Lina Hedlund and Linnea Henriksson. Photo: SVT/TT
Bowling for Gold
Trio Takes Melodifestivalen
Cecilia Malmström. Photo: EU Commission
Linde replaces Wallström Swedish Social Democratic politician Ann Linde was appointed new Minister for Foreign Affairs (utrikesminister) on September 10. The Helsingborg native, who replaces Swedish politician Margot Wallström, has
Swedish singers Lina Hedlund and Linnea Henriksson, along with comedian/ television presenter David Sundin, will host Melodifestivalen (The Melody Festival) in 2020. Hedlund, who has competed in Melodifestivalen six times, said it’s an honor to host the show. “It has been a dream of mine for many years”, she said in a press release from SVT. Fellow cohost Linnea
Jenny Wegner and Josefin Hermansson. Photo: Swebowl.se
Swedish bowlers Jenny Wegner and Josefin Hermansson recently brought home a “Doubles Gold” from the World Cup in Las Vegas. After a very close match against Korea, the Swedish duo managed to defeat the team by 436
to 431. Wegner and Hermansson took the lead from the start, but the Koreans stepped up their game and were in the lead towards the end. Wegner and Hermansson did, however, manage to secure the Swedish gold when Wegner brought down the five pins needed for the win. Go Sweden! Matilda, Peter and Bruno
Peter Johansson, Bruno Mitsogiannis and Matilda Grün
Swedish singers/musical artists Peter Johansson, Bruno Mitsogiannis and Matilda Grün’s show Peter, Bruno & Matilda – (nästan) Unplugged premieres on October 4 at KalmarSalen in Kalmar, Sweden. The humorous two-act musical show features beautiful vocals, ballads and riveting rock songs, as well as instruments such as guitar, piano, ukulele and drums. The trio, whose members have all had major roles in musicals, TV shows, and successful careers abroad, will end their tour on November 23 at the “Louis De Geer Konsert & Kongress” event in Norrköping.
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[Landskapsnyheterna] SKÅNE Nästa år ska man eventuellt kunna köpa livsmedel innehållande insekter i svenska butiker. Det är forskare på Högskolan Kristianstad i Skåne som experimenterar med maträtter innehållande till exempel mjölmaskar och syrsor. – De innehåller bra proteiner, bra fetter och smakar bra, sa Karin Wendin, professor på HKR. Insekterna ska även vara bra för klimatet. – Uppfödning av insekter kräver betydligt mindre vatten, energi och utrymme. Det har också mindre utsläpp av koldioxid jämfört med andra typer av animalisk föda, sa entreprenören och insektsodlaren Fredrik Davidsson. För tillfället är det olagligt att sälja livsmedel innehållande insekter i Sverige, men EU:s livsmedelsorgan EFSA undersöker nu ansökningar gällande möjligheter till att sälja mat med insekter. – Vi ser att det med stor sannolikhet kommer att godkännas nästa år och förbereder branschen för det, sa Nils Österström, ordförande för organisationen Insektsföretagen.
Foto: Hakuna Mat/ Livsmedelsföretagen
SÖDERMANLAND På ”Polisens dag” den sista torsdagen i augusti hyllades Sveriges poliser med tusentals munkar. Syftet med dagen, som etablerades av Polisförbundet 2018, är enligt dem själva att ”lyfta det fantastiska arbete våra medlemmar gör och den betydelse Sveriges poliser har för människors trygghet och för ett fungerande demokratiskt och rättssäkert samhälle.” Förbundet skickade ut
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hela 3600 smaskiga munkar till polisstationer runt om i landet. I Eskilstuna publicerade polisen ett inlägg till sina följare på Facebook. ”Varje dag, varje timme och varje minut, hela året finns poliser i tjänst för att göra hela Sverige tryggt och säkert. Killar och tjejer som valt en större uppgift – att arbeta engagerat och effektivt med det brottsbekämpande arbetet tillsammans med och så nära medborgarna som möjligt.” VÄRMLAND På Bodaskolan i Högboda, Kil plockar eleverna lingon varje fredag. Tanken med aktiviteten är att eleverna ska få ta del av lingonets resa från den värmländska skogen till färdig matprodukt. På ett besök i skogen, där ett 70-tal elever deltar, letar eleverna lingon på ett hygge norr om Högboda. En av dem är sjätteklassaren Julia Ljunggren. Hon tycker om att plocka bär. – Det är roligt att göra någonting för skolan. Vi plockar ju lingonen, och vi som går i sexan kokar lingonsylt som vi har till blodpudding och sånt, så vi gör ju någonting för skolan, säger hon. Även skolans lärare hjälper till att plocka bär. En av dem är Christer Karlsson som förklarar syftet med skogsbesöken. – Dels ska vi få en gemensam upplevelse som hela skolan delar, dels är det en tradition som vi haft i cirka 30 år. Sedan använder vi det i undervisningen. Årskurs sex kokar lingonsylt som vi har i skolbespisningen, och vi använder lingonen i undervisningen för att mäta och väga. VÄSTERBOTTEN På Umeå Smakfestival i centrala Umeå satsar man på hållbarhet. Under årets smakfestival den 5–8 september inspirerade Vakin (Vatten- och Avfallskompetens i Norr AB) till minskat matsvinn. Så här berättar en av Vakins kommunikatörer,
LAPPLAND NORRBOTTEN
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
Johan Sjödin, som deltog på festivalen. – Matsvinnet hos framför allt hushåll är stort. Var femte inköpt matkasse slängs. Under festivalen bjöd även Restauranghögskolan i Umeå i samarbete med Vakin på goda rätter gjorda på råvaror som ofta blir över i kylen och hamnar i hushållssoporna. – Vi går alldeles för mycket på lust för dagen, istället för att planera vår matsedel så att vi kan ta till vara mer. Förra generationen var bättre på det, så på något vis måste vi tillbaka till det som är grunden, sa Sjödin. Summary in English: News from some Swedish provinces. Skåne: Plans to include insects in foods. Södermanland: The importance of the police force. Värmland: Schoolchildren picking lingonberries for educational purposes. Västerbotten: Campaign to reduce food waste.
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Company File
Lifting the Mood by Flicking a Switch By Peter Berlin
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n the opening credits of his 1968 movie Vargtimmen (The Hour of the Wolf ), Swedish movie maker Ingmar Bergman wrote: “The hour of the wolf is the hour between night and dawn. It is the hour when most people die, when sleep is the deepest, when nightmares feel most real. It is the hour when the demons are most powerful.” Do the symptoms of vargtimmen seem familiar? Many of us regularly wake up around 4 a.m., staring into the dark. The previous day’s problems appear magnified and the next day’s challenges seem daunting, making it difficult to go back to sleep. Those of us who manage to put vargtimmen behind us may still feel downcast when it is time to get out of bed. The feeling stays with us even if we switch on the bedside lamp or the ceiling light; it evaporates for good only when we open the curtains and let in the daylight. Although we may not be aware of it, the quality of the ambient light – whether artificial or natural – also affects our daytime mood and efficiency at home, at school or in the workplace. Light is the most important time cue for the circadian rhythm, the internal biological process that regulates the sleepwake cycle. Light stimulates the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) via melanopsin-containing ganglion cells through the retinohypothalamic pathway. The SCN in the
hypothalamus is the master clock in the human brain and controls the circadian rhythm. (That’s quite a mouthful!) The Swedish company BrainLit AB has developed technology to shift and reset the circadian rhythm using artificial illumination known as BioCentric Lighting (BCL). The light is generated by special electric lamps for individual as well as communal indoor uses. The illumination quality in terms of intensity and spectrum (i.e. colour) is changed manually or automatically to simulate outdoor daylight during different times of the day. It can be programmed to maximize people’s mood, comfort and cognitive effectiveness as the day progresses. Taking the method one step further, it can also be adapted to achieve the
same benefits for shift workers. An interesting example is hospitals, where nurses and doctors have to remain alert during the night. Speaking of healthcare, ailments such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease show a connection to a lack of daylight. Tiredness and moodaffecting seasonal affective disorders are mitigated during the darker seasons when using the company’s BCL technology. BrainLit AB was founded in 2012 by Tord Wingren who was fascinated by the impact that light conditions can have on human health. The idea was further developed by a team of researchers, including Klas Sjöberg, head physician and chairman of BrainLit’s scientific advisory board. The first patent was submitted in 2012, and the company now holds five patent portfolios. Today, BrainLit focuses on well-being and making the light individually adapted to sustain the natural rhythm of life. The underlying science behind BrainLit’s solutions may seem complex, based as they are on two Nobel Prizes: “Creating white light with blue LED” in 2014 and “Circadian rhythm” in 2017. However, installing and operating the BioCentric Lighting is straightforward. The current rate of expansion is rapid; the company’s light environments are found throughout Sweden, with a global roll-out expected imminently. BrainLit is looking for professional partners to promote the benefits of BioCentric Lighting, and is about to enter the US market. See also www.brainlit.se. All photos courtesy: Brainlit.se
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Hans Rausing gjorde Tetra Pak till en jätte ... Hans Rausing i Tetra Pak – en udda storföretagsledare och entrepenör Av Henric Borgström, Ekonomijournalist
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n av de mest kända svenska företagsledarna, Hans Rausing i Tetra Pak, avled i slutet av augusti 93 år gammal. Han skapade Tetra Paks världsomspännande nät av utländska fabriker i ett 40-tal länder och försäljning i långt över hundra länder. Men det var pappan Ruben Rausing (1895-1983 ) som grundade företaget och drev det med förlust i närmare 20 år med pengar från förpackningsföretaget Åkerlund & Rausing (Å&R) i Lund. Ruben hade vid ett studiebesök 1919 på bilfabrikerna i Detroit fascinerats av det löpande bandet i produktionen. Efter anställning på det som blev Esselte startade han tillsammans med förläggaren av veckotidningar Erik Åkerlund förpackningsföretaget Åkerlund & Rausing.
Den första Tetra Pak-modellen byggdes 1946. Foto: Tetra Laval Group
Eftersom distributionen av mjölk då skedde lokalt kring bondgårdar och små mejerier, fick Ruben idén att hälla mjölk i pappkartong istället för tunga glasflaskor.
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Hans Rausing 1926 – 2019
Sonen Hans (1926-2019) fick ta över en liten avdelning inom Å&R som sysslade med att försöka förbättra mjölkförpackningen så att den inte läckte. 1954 flyttade sju man ut till nybildade bolaget Tetra Pak med 28-årige Hans som VD. Efter många försök kom en anställd ingenjör på att man kunde vika ett enda långt kartongpapper till en pyramidliknande tetraed som höll absolut tätt. När unge Hans blivit chef lanserades också den rektangulära mjölkkartongen Brik som spreds över världen. Den för världshälsan verkligt stora insatsen var framtagandet av den aseptiska förpackningen som gjorde att mjölken kunde hålla sig i pappkartong i flera veckor utan att surna. Den fick genomslag särskilt i utvecklingsländer med stark värme och dåligt utvecklade transporter. Hans Rausing hade vidare intressen än bara företaget. Tetradagarna i Lund skapades med intressanta fria diskussioner om ett bättre samhälle med deltagande stats-, finansoch jordbruksministrar samt forskare utan inskränkt partipolitik. Familjen Rausing drabbades av flera uppmärksammade motgångar och tragedier. Hans Rausing hade inga barn som var villiga eller kunde
ta över. De två döttrarna hade andra intressen: Lisbet blev doktor i vetenskapshistoria, medan Sigrid blev förläggare med brittiska bokförlaget och tidskriften Granta. Ende sonen Hans Kristian blev missbrukare av narkotika och oförmögen att arbeta i företaget. När han gömde sin döda amerikanska hustru hemma i Londonlägenheten blev det en internationellt omskriven skandal. Efter avgiftning och liv med ny hustru har han kommit tillbaka till sällskapslivet i London och ägnar sig åt filantropisk verksamhet med stora donationer till kultur. Hotet från de socialdemokratiska löntagarfonderna med särskild beskattning av de mest lönsamma företagen gjorde att familjen Rausing i mitten på 1980-talet förvandlade moderbolaget i Lund till dotterbolag till ett holländskt lågbeskattat Tetrabolag samtidigt som huvudkontoret flyttade till Schweiz. Ikea är ett annat exempel på den då omfattade utflyttningen från Sverige. Men Tetra Paks tekniska utveckling stannade i Lund.
Familjen Rausing gjorde Tetra Pak till världens största förpackningsföretag. Här ses Hans Rausing (t.h.) med sin bror, Gad Rausing (t.v.), och sin far, Ruben Rausing (nr. två från vänster). (arkivfoto) – Foto: Scanpix / Ritzau Scanpix
Hans Rausing beslutade att 1995 sälja sin hälft av koncernen till brodern Gad för den då gigantiska summan av ca 70 miljarder svenska kronor. Gad var arkeolog med doktorsavhandling
[Business] News om pilbågar. Dennes två söner Jörn och Finn leder nu företagsgruppen, där också den dominerande aktieposten i börsbolaget Alfa Laval ingår, känt över världen för sina mjölkseparatorer. Gad vara bara perifert engagerad i Tetra Pak. På sin ålderdom blev han omskriven för att ha donerat till utgrävningar i en av de första stora medeltidsbyarna i Sverige, Uppåkra i Lund, som 20 år senare är långt ifrån kartlagd. Hans Rausing utsågs 2007 till Årets svensk i världen av föreningen Svenskar i världen. Priset delades ut av kronprinsessan Victoria. Foto: Jonas Ekströmer/TT
100 ml Tetra Classic kartong. Foto: Tetra Laval Group
Sonen Jörn Rausing var nära att i yngre dagar (1984) bli kidnappad av den palestinska terrororganisationen PFLP. Avsikten var att familjen skulle betala en stor lösensumma. Men ett samarbete mellan danska och svenska polisen avslöjade planen i sista stund. Sonen Finn är liksom brodern aktiv ägare i koncernbolaget Tetra Laval som efter köpet av Alfa Laval kom att syssla med båda delarna i mjölkproduktionen – separatorer i ladugårdar, och nästa steg förpackningarna. Systern Kirsten är delägare i Tetra Laval och hästuppfödare med två stuterier i England och Irland.
Hans Rausing ägnade sitt sista kvartssekel åt att bygga upp flera fabriker i Ryssland efter Sovjetunionens sammanbrott. Vidare gick han in i förpackningsföretaget Ecolean i Helsingborg som alltmer kom att närma sig Tetra Pak med aseptiska förpackningar för flytande livsmedel. I Ukraina blev han kompanjon med två unga svenska entrepenörer som byggde upp en mönsterodling för tomater och en intilliggande ketchupfabrik. Visserligen var Hans Rausing med sin stora förmögenhet en av de främsta donatorerna till forskning. Men den bestående insatsen är att hans uthållighet ledde till att miljontals människor tidigt kunde konsumera bättre mjölk och livsmedel.
Henric Borgström var vid sidan om sina ekonomistudier i Lund lastbilschaufför på Terra Pak sommaren 1966. Vid ett tillfälle fick han i uppdrag att under tysthetslöfte hämta ett stort antal backar med pilsnerflaskor på det lokala bryggeriet och köra dem till en bakdörr på Tetras fabrik. Där stod Ruben Rausing, och tillsammans bar de in ölbackarna. I varje flaska låg en plastremsa. Under några månader testades om ölen börjat fräta på plasten. Så skedde inte och Tetra Pak började producera ölflaskan Rigello. Men det visade sig snabbt att konsumenterna inte gillade att halsa öl ur plastflaskor. Produkten drogs in. Henric Borgström deltog sedan som utsänd reporter vid många Tetradagar.
Summary in English: This is the story about the Rausing family, and specifically about Hans Rausing, the Swedish multi-billonaire who died in August 2019. Rausing inherited the world’s largest food packaging company Tetra Pak, perhaps best known for its aseptic packaging technology which allows storage of liquids such as milk and juices over long periods of time.
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Swedish Press | October 2019 11
Svenska investeringar i startups ger hög avkastning Av Janni Umeland Varje år investeras svenska skattemedel i insatser för att hjälpa startups att växa. Satsningar som ger hög avkastning. Det visar färska siffror från den västsvenska inkubatorn Innovatum Startup. Bolagen som utvecklat sina affärsidéer hos dem har de senaste tretton åren bidragit med 889 miljoner kronor till samhället.
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Sverige finns ett 40-tal offentligt finansierade inkubatorer som stöttar personer med innovativa affärsidéer. Företagen får intensivt kompetensstöd under de första avgörande faserna av resan, som ofta är förknippade med stora utmaningar och höga risker. – Inkubatorernas roll är att stötta innovation och tillväxt i de första stegen av företagens utveckling, säger Jesper Strömqvist, verksamhetschef på den västsvenska inkubatorn Innovatum Startup. Nya beräkningar visar att varje skattekrona som investerats i Innovatum Startups verksamhet har gett tretton kronor tillbaka till samhället genom startupbolagens tillväxt. Det innebär skatteintäkter till samhället på drygt 889 miljoner under tretton år. – Det är glädjande siffror! Vi pratar ofta om de många positiva värden som inkubation för startupföretag innebär. Men inspiration, innovation, utveckling och transformation är svårare att mäta i siffror. Därför är det väldigt spännande att nu ha konkreta siffror på långsiktiga effekter också, säger Jesper Strömqvist.
Flera viktiga innovationer från Västsverige
På Innovatum Startup i Trollhättan har över 140 startups fått hjälp sedan starten. Bland bolagen återfinns bland annat Equilab som utvecklat en träningsapp för ryttare världen över; Swedspot som driver utvecklingen framåt inom tjänster för uppkopplade
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Faktaruta: Så räknades siffrorna ut
Siffrorna har sammanställts utifrån de offentliga uppgifter som bolagen kopplade till Innovatum Startup har lämnat i form av årsredovisning och rapportering. Mätperioden är 2005– 2017. Företagen som mäts är de som varit i inkubation och fortsätter, samt företag som inkuberas för tillfället. Uträkning för skatt avser bolagsskatt, sociala avgifter på lön och de anställdas inkomstskatt. Beloppet har sedan satts i relation till den offentliga finansiering som Innovatum Startup har erhållit under perioden.
Ta hjälp av en inkubator – så fungerar det Upplägg och antagningskrav skiljer sig åt mellan Sveriges inkubatorer. Vi frågade Innovatum Startup hur det fungerar i Trollhättan.
Swedish Press | October 2019 12
bilar; och FlyPulse som skapar autonoma drönarsystem. – Blandningen av företag, entreprenörer och innovationer är väldigt spännande. Det skapar en otrolig energi och kraft från Västsverige i världen, avslutar Jesper. Innovatum Startup är en del av Innovatum Science Park och erbjuder ett inkubatorprogram som löper upp till tre år. Tillsammans med Arctic Business Incubator i Luleå och Uppsala Innovation Centre driver de också den nationella rymdinkubatorn ESA-BIC. Rymdinkubatorn riktar sig specifikt till bolag som nyttjar befintlig teknik från rymdindustrin och/eller utvecklar ny teknik och lösningar till rymdindustrin.
En inkubator hjälper entreprenörer att ta nästa steg – men hur fungerar det? Vilka är antagningskraven och vilken typ av hjälp får du? Upplägget skiljer sig åt mellan Sveriges olika inkubatorer. Så här fungerar det hos Innovatum Startup i Trollhättan.
Vem kan söka?
Alla med nytänkande affärsidéer som är redo att satsa. Vissa har nyligen startat sitt bolag när de söker till oss, medan andra enbart har en eller flera idéer på plats.
Så har vi fått hjälp
Vi träffar fyra entreprenörer som alla tagit hjälp av Innovatum Startup. På vilket sätt har ni fått stöttning längs vägen?
Robert Schmitt, Vultus Vilka är bedömningskriterierna?
Idéerna bedöms utifrån kriterier som hållbarhet, innovationshöjd, skalbarhet, internationalisering, team och marknad. Ansökan sker genom ett formulär på webben. Därefter tar vi ett första möte där personen eller teamet bakom idén får presentera och berätta mer.
Med hjälp av satellitbilder och AI ska Vultus hjälpa världens lantbrukare att gödsla effektivare. Lösningen kan minska användningen av konstgödsel med 30 procent – och samtidigt öka lantbrukens produktivitet. ”För oss har Innovatum Startup varit väldigt användbart när det kommer till hur vi har byggt vår internstruktur, hur vi kommersialiserar och tar in kapital.”
Vad får jag som antagen?
När du utvecklar din affärsidé hos Innovatum Startup får du bland annat: • Kontinuerliga möten med en affärs coach som fungerar som rådgivare under hela programtiden. • En tydlig process där vi tillsammans säkerställer såväl affärsidé och team som prototyp, finansiering, skalning och realisering av inter nationell expansion. Programmet anpassas beroende på var ni befinner er från start. • Tillgång till extern kompetens inom tex. juridik, ekonomi, immateriella rättigheter. • Generös tillgång till våra nationella och internationella nätverk av investerare, potentiella kunder, samarbetspartners och andra viktiga kontakter. • Du blir del av ett community med andra startups.
Investerar ni i bolagen?
Nej. Vi går inte in som delägare i bolagen. Vi hjälper däremot till att hitta investerare och knyta rätt kontakter när det är dags att resa kapital. De startups som antas till ESA-BIC får en halv miljon kronor för produktutveckling. Vill du veta mer? www.innovatum.se/ startup.
Pia Källqvist, Hencol
Hencol digitaliserar lantbruket. Bolaget är först i världen med ett digitalt system som gör det möjligt att följa djurets utveckling i realtid via automatisk datainsamling.
”Innovatum Startup har varit en fantastisk tillgång. Vi har fått stöd, bollplank, affärsrådgivning, och många dörrar har öppnats. Från första mötet med Innovatum Startup har det känts som att vårt bolag bestått av ett stort team med många kompetenser”
Per Ericsson, Equilab Claes Fredriksson, Liquid Wind
Liquid Wind ska bygga anläggningar som gör förnybart bränsle. Målet är att minska koldioxidutsläppen med 50 miljoner ton, vilket motsvarar hela Sveriges utsläpp på ett år. ”Vi har fått hjälp med finansiella, legala och praktiska frågor. Det har varit väldigt bra att ha någon utomstående att diskutera frågor med som dyker upp nu och då. Sedan tycker jag att Innovatum Startup fungerar som en kvalitetsstämpel när jag är ute och träffar folk, då vi har en stark organisation i ryggen som tror på vår affärsidé och stöttar.”
Equilab är ridsportappen som automatiskt mäter hästens rörelser under ridpasset och ger tillbaka data som värdefull information till ryttaren efter träningen. ”Min bakgrund var inom tekniken, så jag kunde få fram att det tekniskt fungerade. Men det är ju bara en bråkdel av vad som krävs för att driva ett företag. Innovatum Startup öppnade upp ögonen och gjorde att vi tänkte på allt det andra också.”
Equilab är ett av de bolag som fått hjälp av Innovatum Startup genom åren. English summary: Every year, Swedish tax revenues are invested in initiatives to make start-up companies thrive. These investments offer a significant return according to recent statistics from the Innovatum Startup incubator organisation located in the West of Sweden.
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Swedish Press | October 2019 13
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We Are Moving in the Right Direction, But Not Fast Enough Interview with Professor Tomas Kåberger, Chairman and Board Member of Multiple International Environmental Organisations
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omas Kåberger was born in Gothenburg. He then moved to Västerås where he spent most of his school years. He was strongly influenced by ASEA and its nuclear activities at the time, as well as by the nuclear development and the energy debate in the 1970s. He spent two years at the United World College in Wales before entering Chalmers University of Technology in 1979, where he continued to take an interest in energy issues. He received his Ph.D. from the Department of Physical Resource Theory, which included thermodymanics and economics. Energy was the focal point of his research. He knew from thermodynamics that there were many technical opportunities to make the energy generation system more efficient, more benign, less hostile to society at large. His Ph.D. thesis was in the field of economic policy and technology development.
Naturskyddsforeningen (Swedish Society for Nature Conservation) valaffischer 2018.
Tomas Kåberger. Photo: ETC.se
Meet Tomas Kåberger and learn from his deep insights into the sometimes painful but surely inevitable transition from energy generation using nuclear and fossil fuels to renewable alternatives.
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Swedish Press | October 2019 14
Kåberger: “Around that time I also spent some years working for the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (Naturskyddsföreningen) in order to learn about political decision-making processes in large energy companies. When studying the background in thermodynamics and technology, and gaining an understanding in the economics theory, it felt very frustrating that what was technologically possible and economically profitable was still not being implemented.”
K Å B E R G E R
After the 1990s, when he served on several government commissions and worked directly with industry, he found that while he could not defend the current inefficiencies, at least he could explain them. As Director General of the Swedish Energy Agency he saw Sweden reaching the renewable energy target set for 2020, almost a decade early. “Since 2011 I have been working more internationally, in particular in China and Japan, while serving on the board of Vattenfall when in Sweden.”
Horns Rev 3 wind farm in the North Sea. Photo: Vattenfall
We asked Kåberger if it is realistic to think that the targets of the 2016 Paris Agreement on greenhouse gas reduction will be met. His reply: “It is not something that will happen by itself, but with the industrial development that has taken place since 2016, the cost – especially of solar and wind electricity production, but also some auxiliary technologies like batteries – has fallen so far that the transition is more profitable than it was in 2015. It is now obvious that the transition from fossil fuels to renewables does not pose technological difficulties; it is not even an economic
Energy storage. Photo: Maksym Yemelyanov
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problem. However, it is a problem of financial structures, because with a rapid transition within the energy system, a lot of incumbent companies will lose enormous asset values, and they are therefore actively resisting the development. They may succeed in slowing down the progress, but it is no longer possible for them to stop the evolution, because the economic benefits of increasing their share of the renewables is now so obvious that the direction of the development is unstoppable.”
Solar energy production plant. Photo: Wang Song
It is encouraging that we are moving in the right direction, but it is frustrating that we are not moving fast enough. To accelerate the transition, greater awareness is needed about the opportunities. The industrial development and the reduction in cost have happened so fast that only a few people have understood how dramatic the improvement in competitiveness of renewables has become. Too many people still rely on old rules of thumb, believing that things are not profitable when in fact the oppositeis true; they just have not realized it yet.
Germany’s renewable energy. Photo: Spiegel
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A coal power plant. Photo: Shutterstock
“One should also be aware that, even if the transition goes very well, there will be problems created for society at large in the form of environmental liability in the fossil-fuel and electricity industry – liabilities that these old companies will not be able to cover. We have seen early examples of this already when the German government a couple of years ago had to take over the economic liability for long-term nuclear waste management, because the electric power generation companies were unable to generate enough profits to cover the significant costs for long-term nuclear waste management.
The Deepwater Horizon rig exploded in 2010. Photo: U.S. Coast Guard, EPA
We will see the same development in the offshore oil industry where governments, such as the one in Norway, have to pay for the decommissioning of old oil platforms which will need to be removed, and oil wells that must be securely plugged in a way that oil will not leak out into the sea in the future.” As Kåberger points out, this is not a trivial exercise, as it will cost trillions of dollars globally. All the oil companies dealing with offshore oil have this liability and will most likely try to get
K Å B E R G E R
out of it in different ways. There are similar problems in the onshore fossil fuel industry and old mines, such as coal mines, oil shale mines and tar sands. The nuclear liabilities become even more catastrophic if we have more nuclear accidents, because decommissioning of nuclear reactors that have had accidents of different kinds is extremely costly, like at Fukushima, Chernobyl, and so on. Such costs are well beyond what the electricity companies are able to afford.
Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Image by Minaus on Devian Art
Towards the end of our interview, Kåberger reflected on his professional and personal plans for the future. “I will continue to seize opportunities as they appear, with focus on supporting the rapid development of sustainable energy strategies globally. I will also continue to work with emerging companies in Sweden and Europe which can contribute in a significant way to this development, because we cannot rely exclusively on existing companies. I also find it very important to support the transition of existing companies, because forcing them out of business is not the most efficient way of enabling the process.” Interviewed by Peter Berlin
Photo: Yarruta
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Swedish Press | October 2019 15
‘Migrants and asylum-seekers are not ...’
Global S
Cecilia Malmström, Sweden’s European Commissioner for Trade
Cecilia Malmström is a Swedish politician who looks after Sweden’s interests in the European Union. In the following she reflects on her career path and on matters of international policy regarding immigration and trade.
view of Europe at an early stage: The notion that the atrocities Europe had suffered must never be repeated. After this I went on to study and work in Europe, notably France, Spain and Germany. I later pursued an academic career and achieved a PhD in Political Science. Perhaps it comes as no surprise that the topic of my dissertation was regional European political parties and movements. Having been very active in the campaign leading up to the Swedish referendum on whether to join the EU, I became a Member of the European Parliament in 1999. Between the years 2006 and 2009 I was the Swedish Minister of European Affairs. And for the past ten years I’ve been a European Commissioner – first for Migration and Home Affairs, and currently for Trade.
Please tell us about your background and your career path. I was brought up in Sweden and France. The part of my childhood spent in France was particularly formative. I remember having friends in school whose grandparents were lost in the Second World War. I recall field trips to endless war cemeteries with simple but worthy graves in memory of the people who sacrificed their lives in these gruesome wars. I think these experiences shaped my
How do you see the future trade relationship between the US and the EU evolving? It was a hard blow to the EU when the US introduced its steel and aluminium tariffs last year. Not least, the supposed motive behind these tariffs was unpleasant for us – that they were imposed on grounds of national security. Twenty-two out of 28 EU member states are NATO members. To have their exports of steel and aluminium to the US declared as a security threat
Cecilia Malmström. Photo: Etienne Ansotte/EU
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Swedish Press | October 2019 16
was rather surreal and also offensive, as we consider the transatlantic partnership very important. Even for countries like Sweden, which is not a member of NATO, this was all very strange. I am sure this was also the case for other US partners affected, such as Japan, Canada, Mexico, Norway and South Korea. Not to mention the idea that our car exports are also under consideration as a potential threat to US national security. That is just absurd. Last summer, the Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and I went over to the White House and met President Trump and my counterpart, the United States Trade Representative Robert E. Lighthizer. The two Presidents agreed on a joint statement which set out a positive trade agenda. Specifically, we agreed to explore regulatory cooperation and a limited industrial-goods-only trade agreement. On the regulatory cooperation we are making progress. But the negotiations to eliminate tariffs on industrial goods have not started yet. My hope is that we can get back to working together on global challenges, like we have done rather successfully ever since the Second World War. I become very concerned by some of the things the US President is tweeting about the
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Putting Sweden on the Map Abroad
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EU – that “the EU was created to take advantage of the US”. If anything, the US helped rebuild Europe after World War II and helped build institutions like the EU, because it was in US interest to have a strong and democratic Europe. Immigration has been an important subject in your work. Is Sweden making progress in assimilating the asylum-seekers and reducing the crime rate allegedly committed by them? I am proud of the fact that Sweden honoured its international obligations during the migrant crisis in 2015. Sweden provided shelter for hundreds of thousands of people in need, mainly fleeing the atrocities and humanitarian catastrophe in Syria. There is no evidence that these asylum-seekers of 2015 are committing crimes to a larger extent than the average population. At the same time, it is clear that Sweden has a problem of segregation. We also see an increase in gang-related crimes and radicalization in extremist religious and political camps. But it is important to be precise when you speak about these issues. Migrants and asylum-seekers are not in any way a homogenous group of people. Unfortunately, it
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‘.... a homogenous group of people.’ all too often sounds like that were the case in the public debate. Some groups are extremely well integrated, while others are less integrated. A good predictor is often to look at the situation in the countries they are fleeing. In places like Somalia, there has been conflict and unrest for such a long time. That erodes the institutions that build a society. It robs civilians of possibilities such as education and formal employment. Compare that to Bosnia and former Yugoslavia, which was in no way a perfect democracy before the civil war, but was not chaos either. I think it is clear which group will have a harder time to integrate on average. As in almost all Western European countries, the issue of integration has been at the top of the political agenda for a long time. But are we making progress? I think we are, but one always needs to try to do it better. It is also difficult to work constructively on this in a time of such political polarization and xenophobia. Considering your vast experience in international politics, in which areas do you feel Sweden contributes most globally? Sweden contributes with best practices in many global challenges. Environment, gender equality, poverty eradication and good governance just to name a few. In my current policy area – international trade – Swedes are seen as keen defenders (too keen, according to some) of free trade.
How do you think the image of Sweden is changing and developing internationally, and particularly in North America? Sweden is punching well above our weight in terms of cultural, political and economic exports. We have many world-renowned fashion brands, car brands, diplomats, artists and writers. I certainly think that helps to keep a good image of Sweden not only in North America, but also globally. In your view, how has Sweden achieved its socio-economic successes by international standards? One could write several books on that topic, and many already have. There are of course many reasons behind this. I think in part Sweden has done well because of good institutions and good governance. Corruption is very low. Trust between citizens, and from citizens towards government, is very high. This creates a strong democracy based on the rule of law, which is in turn very important for a wellfunctioning market economy with fair outcomes. It is also a country where active policies have created opportunities for marginalized groups. Free universities make tertiary education available for most people, also those who are less well off. Affordable day care and individual taxation creates incentives and opportunities for women to take part in the labour force. Interviewed by Peter Berlin (Please read the full interview online at www.SwedishPress.com)
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Swedish Press | October 2019 17
H ERITAG E
“Kärleken är beständig, men föremålen växlar ...” Fritiof Andersson i själva verket – En folkkär äventyrares biografi, del 3 Av Frank Orton
Carmencita 1932 och flera år senare i Nizza
En afton i april år 1932 kommer så Fritiof på sin häst Marron ridande till byn Samborombon. Det är en så liten by, att den inte har någon riktig gata. Den ligger nästan vid Atlantkusten, inte så långt från Rio de la Plata med Pampas miltals bakom sig inåt landet. Han har varit där förr och beger sig nu till bykrogen, där värdinnan tar emot honom och tar hand om hans ridspö, hans pistol och hans poncho. Han bjuder upp Carmencita, den sjuttonåriga dottern i huset, till en tango och undrar om hon fortfarande håller av honom. Han till och med friar, men får korgen. Carmencita tror inte att han klarar av att stå i en butik. Dessutom har hennes pappa sagt henne att en rik och dansant friare är på gång, en som har en stor estancía och tjugotusen kor. Fritiof ger upp och återvänder till Göteborg, medan hon, som det senare visar sig, gråter i fjorton dagar.19 När de nämligen flera år senare återser varandra i Nizza, påminner hon honom om hans frieri och om att han stal en kyss i Samborombon den gången i april 1932. Han undrar hur hon kommit till Nizza och vad det blivit av hennes rike friare. Hon svarar att hon flugit från Paris enbart för att få träffa honom och att den rike friaren bara var ett ungdomligt skämt från hennes sida. Det får Fritiof att bedyra att hon är den enda flicka, som han håller kär.
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Swedish Press | October 2019 18
Evert Taubes tryck, “Tango i Dolores”.
I ett litet ensamt hus vid brus av Medelhavet umgås de med varandra över rött vin och druvor vid två tända ljus och blommor i ett krus. Kanske är det under samma vistelse i Nizza, som Fritiof passar på att ta igen sig på Colla Bellas höjd.20 Därifrån ser man i siktigt väder ända till Korsika och till de blånande provencalska bergen. Under arkadiska former träffar han där tre flickor, varav åtminstone en är från San Francisco. Hon och han ses på nytt om aftonen på promenaden nere i staden, där de vandrar romantiskt under palmerna på stranden.
Av och till i Stockholm
Mellan sina färder utomlands vistas Fritiof Andersson förstås också av och till i Sverige, inte minst i Stockholm. Om sina erfarenheter som tatuerare i Antwerpen berättar han för en danspartner, som han träffar samma dag som han kommit hem
från Bahia till Saltsjökvarn i Nacka. Han kan, säger han, tatuera drakar, ormar, solar och stjärnor och så förstås tro, hopp och kärlek. I Antwerpen tatuerade han en tre, fyra kunder varje dag och han förklarar trosvisst att man kan försörja sig som tatuerare i land – ”tatuerar man en, så blir det nog flera sen!”. Hans danspartner får komplimanger för sin söta nya hatt och för att hon klär så bra i sin klänning. På dansbanan är det rätt mycket folk och musiken är enligt Fritiof trevlig och bra om än en smula gammaldags. Han jämför med Bahia, där det förstås mest var skräll och skrik. Vid ett annat tillfälle har Fritiof återvänt till Stockholm från värmen i Rio. Det är den 3 februari och vintern håller Stockholm i sitt grepp. Han bor i en lya med utsikt över den isbetäckta Riddarfjärden. Himlen är mulen och snön yr. Inga färjor eller båtar går men i en vak vid Slussen
H E RI TAG E
simmar några frusna änder. Vattnet i kranen har frusit till is och Fritiof vantrivs ”som själva fan” tillsammans med två tomma pilsnerflaskor … Han säger sig ha återvänt från söderns värme för sin lilla svenska frökens skull. Vid just det här tillfället handlar det om Brita vid Roslagstull. När han knackar på hennes dörr, öppnar emellertid en karl och förklarar sig vara förlovad med Brita. Fritiof blir naturligt nog upprörd och säger till sig själv att han skall elda upp de brev och vykort från Brita, som han fick i Rio. Sedan skall han ta hyra till det fjärran Ecuadór för att där plantera bananer, bli ”stor exportadór” och konsul och gifta sig med en fet och skön kreolska. Det är kanhända därför, som han är ute och vandrar en vinternatt på Söder i Stockholm. Det snöar och snön knarrar under klackarna. Emellertid går han med spel och sång i sinnet, drömmandes om att bege sig till Spanien och Bordeaux, till Arabien ”vid Röda flodens krök”, till Egypten och Sahara och till Cadiz, Madrid och Kastilien, dock för att så småningom ändå återvända till Söder.
Stockholmsvår med vals och tango Helt annorlunda ter sig huvudstaden och dess väderlek för honom en kväll fram på våren. Hela Uppland tycks stå i lågor i kvällssolen bortom Solna skog. Han är ute och flanerar och nya syner och gamla minnen kommer för honom – herrar i crême-lackblanka tvåsitsbilar och unga damer i ”nätta
flockar som buketter av syrener, rosor och tulpan”. Vakten halar flaggan på Slottet, fönstren blänker på Södermalm och toner som ur Bellmans luta hörs från en närbelägen park. Man märker tydligt, säger Författaren, Fritiofs allmänbildning och hans så typiskt svenskt poesifyllda sinne. Fritiof är emellertid inte bara poetisk och allmänbildad. Han är också dansant. Under dansens former kommer han ibland i kontakt med damer ur medelklassen. Som i en tavla av en berömd djurmålare skildras21 hur han efter att ha iakttagit en havsörn under en utflykt i det svenska havsbandet inleder en pikant konversation med en fröken Karlsson. Han får henne att känna sig som en and i hans havsörnsklor. Folk pratar om deras flirt, men det bekymrar inte fröken Karlsson – ”Fritiof dansar ju så härligt vals”. Men Fritiof dansar också tango. Det gör han bl a med fröken Rosa Rosenkvist. Han förebrår henne under dansen för att hon förlovat sig efter deras senaste träff. Då
kallade hon honom charmör med ett spännande liv som sjöman, cowboy, musiker och artist. Han svarade att han älskade henne och att han skulle dikta en visa till henne med början i moll och slutet i dur. Hon förnekar emellertid nu att hon förlovat sig, men vill dock hålla relationen på det vänskapliga planet trots hans påstående att hon är den enda för honom och trots hans bön att hon inte skall vara så grym, när hon ju vet att han älskar henne...
Slutord
Sammanfattningsvis kan man konstatera att Fritiof Andersson är såväl ovanligt berest som ett levande bevis för satsen att kärleken är beständig men föremålen växlar. Sålunda har han åtminstone besökt – i bokstavsordning – Antwerpen, Bahia, Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Camarin på Malabárkusten, Cap Verde, Cardiff, Genua, Goda Hoppsudden, Gula floden, Hamburg, London, Messina, Nizza, Rio de Janeiro, Samborombon, San Pedro, Shanghai, Siam, Singapore och Tabalquén. Utan minsta tvekan är han kvalificerad för ett medlemskap i Travellers’ Club. Summary in English: Fritiof Andersson enjoys the company of pretty young women, except when they play practical jokes on him. His motto: “Love is eternal, even if the objects change.”
I Den svenska sångboken av Anders Palm och Johan Stenström berättas att Evert Taube ”på estancian San Martín i byn El Cerro de la Gloria 1912 mötte Cecilia de Cortejarena och hennes mor Carmen. Dottern gjorde han till sin fantasis och sina visors Carmencita. – När Taube återsåg henne 1945 var hon gift sedan många år och hade 12 barn.” – Det kan tilläggas att verklighetens Samborombón är namnet på dels den vidsträckta argentinska bukten utanför La Plata-flodens mynning, dels en flod som rinner ut i denna bukt, dels en stad vid denna flod, dock ingalunda utan någon gata eller belägen ända nere vid atlantkusten. 20 Visan i fråga heter ju Fritiof i Arkadien men ”Colla Bella ligger inte i Arkadien, utan i provinsen Imperia i Ligurien i Italien nära den franska gränsen.” 21 Taube var god vän med Bruno Liljefors. 19
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Swedish Press | October 2019 19
[Lifestyle]
Top Sju
4 October 4 marks “Kanelbullens dag” (The day of the cinnamon bun) in Sweden. Introduced in 1999 by Hembakningsrådet, Kanelbullens dag was created to honor Sweden’s cinnamon bun tradition and increase sales of yeast, flour, sugar and margarine. Enjoy a cinnamon bun at your local Swedish café (sold all year around) or bake your very own, flavoring the dough with cardamom to make it taste just like the real thing. Finish by sprinkling cinnamon, cardamom or vanilla over your rolled-out dough.
Cinnamon buns. Photo: Tina Stafrén
5 Fall has arrived, and so have the delicious rönnbär (rowan berries). Swedish food site “Mitt Kök” recently listed five good reasons to consume the Swedish superberry every day. Rowan berries strengthen the
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Swedish Press | October 2019 20
body’s immune system and can both prevent and treat urinary tract infections. Rowan berries are also rich in vitamin C and can relieve pain; they are said to be good remedies e.g. for rheumatism and constipation. They are also perfect for cooking: make juice, jelly, jam, wine or add them to dough when baking bread or homemade muesli.
21 American news giant CNN recently included Kalmar Castle in a list of the most beautiful castles in the world. Among 21 magnificent castles, Kalmar Castle, founded in the 1100s, was praised for being well preserved and filled with activity. According to CNN: “In addition to exhibitions, children’s activities and guided tours, Scandinavia’s best-preserved Renaissance castle also features special events like the Van Gogh multimedia show, which is open until November 2019.”
31 Celebrate Halloween, October 31, at Liseberg in Gothenburg this year! The impressive amusement park features five horror houses, including Liseberg’s
11 Halloween at Liseberg. © Liseberg
new Halloween edition “Skogen.” Said to be the scariest of them all, Skogen is set outdoors in Liseberg’s “Lustgård” (approximately Garden of Eden), inviting visitors on a tour in the dark featuring evil scenery and nasty creatures. Liseberg’s Halloween celebration kicks off on October 11 and stays open Friday to Sunday until November 3.
27 On October 27 Swedes convert to winter time. For summer time, at the end of March, the clock is moved forward one hour and at the end of October the clock is moved back one hour. The dates for winter/ summer time vary each year. If you have trouble remembering whether to move the clock forward or backward, mutter to yourself “Spring forward, Fall backward” – a popular saying in English-speaking countries.
The movie drama En komikers uppväxt, written by Swedish novelist and comedian Jonas Gardell and based on his 1992 novel with the same name, premieres on October 11. The movie, which tells the story of twelve-year-old Juha Lindström and targets subjects such as bullying and life in Sweden in the 1970s, was directed by Rojda Sekersöz and features actors such as Elisabet Xie, Jakob Eklund, Johan Rheborg and Ulla Skoog.
3 Time to decorate for fall! Swedish design site “LEVA&BO” (www. expressen.se/leva-och-bo) has listed three hot interior design trends for the fall of 2019. They aim for soft and round/bulky shapes. This year, lamps and sofas have soft rounded shapes and vases are round and bulky. Natural materials are in fashion; woods such as oak, ash and birch (ek, ask, björk) are just right. Colorful and cozy colors of the 1990s are also making a comeback this year – so don’t be afraid to combine several colors, for example yellow and green.
[Lifestyle] Fashion New Challenges for the Swedish Fashion Industry By Åke Ryhagen, June 10, 2019
S
weden’s textile industry was established in the early 1800s and continued growing until the early 1950s. The industry was concentrated in and around the city of Borås and included well-known brand names such as Algots, Eiser and Borås Wäfveri. The city of Norrköping was also a leader in the textile industry. In the mid-1900s, Sweden was 85 percent self-sufficient in textile production, and the sector employed 70,000 workers. In the following years, competition from countries with lower salaries affected the Swedish textile sector, forcing it to undertake radical reorganization and closures. However, the textile industry left behind the fashion segment, which has grown many times over. This is the sector that designs and markets garments which are often produced in low-cost countries. In the sports area one finds Peak Performance, founded in Åre in 1986, as well as Fjällräven and Haglöfs established in Örnsköldsvik. Pioneers in the leisure segment include Marc O’Polo, followed by Boomerang and Björn Borg, among others. At the start of the new century, several Swedish brands were acclaimed for their Scandinavian touch, such as Acne, Filippa K, Hansen & Jacob, Hope, House of Dagmar, J Lindeberg, Odd Molly,
Editor’s note: Åke Ryhagen passed away shortly after submitting the typescript to Swedish Press. We feel privileged to have the opportunity to publish his article. Oscar Jacobson, Tiger of Sweden, and Topeco, to name a few. The Swedish fashion segment grew by 15 percent in 2015 compared to the previous year, and the annual turnover was SEK 305 million ($32m). Exports increased by close to 20 percent, greatly helped by H&M (Hennes & Mauritz) with its almost global dominance. The Swedish fashion industry is doing extremely well, particularly those companies that have found qualified agents and representations abroad. Borås remains to this day a centre for the industry, including a Fashion School and a Museum of Fashion. Today the Swedish fashion industry finds itself at a crossroads. All the brands are having to adapt to today’s situation, with digitalization, boutique closures, e-commerce, and new consumer behavior
patterns. For example, the Indiska chain of boutiques is experiencing profitability problems, and new owners have stepped in. Marc O’Polo recently closed its last store in Sweden, but its fashion inventory continues to be available online. Even so, things are looking up for the Swedish fashion industry, at least for those companies which adapt to the new market realities. For example, sporting brands Aim’n and NA-KD sell globally via Instagram instead of participating in traditional fairs and exhibitions. Even if manufacturing moves to low-cost countries, the design and marketing remain in Sweden. 56,000 workers are currently employed in the Swedish fashion indutry, which is close to the figure in the mid-1900s. One-third of all Managing Directors are women. H&M today ranks as the world’s seventh biggest fashion company and represents 57 percent of the Swedish fashion industry. The Association of Swedish Fashion Brands, ASFB, has conducted interviews to find out which areas the sector will focus on in the future. The keywords are “internationalization”, “e-commerce”, and “sustainability”. A merger between the Swedish Fashion Council and ASFB is under way, with the aim of strengthening Swedish fashion domestically and internationally. Swedish Fashion Council 2016 for best graduation dress – Matilda Forssblad’s collection “Fuck your feeds – a room of my own”. Photo: Peter Håkansson
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Swedish Press | October 2019 21
Hemma hos
People & Planet: IKEA to Radically Change the Way They Do Business
[Design]
By Kristi Robinson
I
KEA: It’s a name that everyone knows, because they’re the largest furniture manufacturer in the world with 423 stores in 53 countries. In spite of their success, Ikea isn’t content to sit back and enjoy the status quo; instead they’re taking their commitment to environmental and social well-being seriously by making huge changes to how the company operates. Their goal is to become a circular and climate-positive business by 2030. This means they will completely eliminate waste from their operations, including sourcing, production, and usage. All their products will be designed and manufactured for reuse, or to be recycled into something new. These changes are already becoming apparent, since IKEA has unveiled some very innovative approaches to products and services. IKEA in Hyderabad, the first in India, opened its doors last year. To combat traffic congestion and reduce air pollution caused by delivery vehicles, IKEA uses three-wheeled electric rickshaws painted in the iconic blue and yellow colors to make up 20 percent of their delivery fleet. By 2023 they want to completely phase out fuel-driven vehicles and use only electric. The Hyderabad store have even set themselves up to power their entire electric fleet by installing about 4,000 solar panels on the building’s roof. The energy collected from the panels is used to charge the rickshaws, and also to power the
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Swedish Press | October 2019 22
IKEA’s electric rickshaws used to deliver products in Hyderabad, India. Photo © The Climate Group
LED lighting for the 400,000 square ft (37,160 m2) store. While Ikea is looking at how they can eliminate urban air pollution by using electric vehicles, they are also considering how they can improve indoor air quality by creating products that support healthy homes and indoor environments. Recognizing that there is no single solution to solve air pollution, Lena Pripp-Kovac, Head of Sustainability at IKEA, says “we work long term for positive change, to enable people to live healthier and more sustainable lives.” One small solution that could have a big impact is IKEA’s Gunrid air purifying curtain, set to hit the market next year. Product developer Mauricio Affonso, along with a team of engineers, designers and specialists, designed the curtain with a specialty textile that breaks down indoor air pollutants. A mineral-
based photo catalyst is applied, and when it reacts with indoor light (much like the process of photosynthesis) it breaks down air pollutants like formaldehyde and other impurities. Being climate positive also means looking at natural resources differently, and that is exactly what they’ve done with their Förändring collection of home accessories which will be available this autumn. As part of their ‘Better Air Now’ initiative launched last year, IKEA began working with farmers in India to reuse their rice straw, a byproduct of rice crops that are normally burned as waste, thereby contributing to the critical levels of smog and air pollution in the country. Together with suppliers, IKEA product designer Akanksha Deo created a line of homeware made with a combination of rice straw and cotton fabric waste. Förändring (Swedish for ‘change’) is living up to its name by leading a positive change on a global scale. IKEA has joined forces with the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to work on creating a model to reduce pollution in other crop-burning areas of the world. IKEA’s Förändring collection is made of rice straw and cotton pulp. Photo © IKEA
Hemma hos
Brösarps äppelkaka (Brösarp’s Apple Pudding)
[Treats]
à la John Duxbury
By Peter Berlin
B
rösarp is a village in northeast Skåne, a region in the south of Sweden. It is the gateway to the beautiful Österlen coast, a destination popular for walking and cycling and well known for growing some of the best apples in Sweden. This recipe was originally created by Malin Jönsson, the chef at
Photo: Susanne Walström/imagebank.sweden.se
Brösarps äppelkaka (Brösarp’s Apple Pudding) Tips: Any good quality eating apple can be used for this recipe. Don’t be tempted to reduce the amount of cinnamon as it works really well and the result isn’t too cinnamony. If you have one, use an osthyvel (cheese planer/cutter) to slice the butter as thinly as possible. If you have an oven with top heat (sometimes called CircoRoasting), use it for the last 5 minutes to brown the top. Serve the pudding with vaniljsås (vanilla sauce) using Malin’s recipe shown below. The pudding is also nice baked in individual ramekins and topped with a scoop of ice cream or a little clotted cream.
Äppelkaka ingredients:* • 1 kg (2½ lb) eating apples • 100 g (½ cup) caster (superfine) sugar • 1 tbsp ground cinnamon • 60 g (¾ cup) breadcrumbs • 60 g (¼ cup) cold butter, approximate amount * Don’t mix ingredients Preparation: • Preheat the oven to 190°C (390°F, gas 6, fan 175°C). • Core, peel and slice the apples. • Toss the apples, sugar, cinnamon and breadcrumbs in a large bowl. • Transfer the apples to a large baking dish and spread any leftover mixture over the top. • Slice the butter as thinly as possible and lay it on top of the apples in one layer. (You may not need all the butter.) • Bake for 20 -25 minutes until the top is a nice toffee brown colour.
Brösarps Gästgifveri, a popular inn established in 1684. It is an exceptionally easy recipe, yet John Duxbury. the flavour is © SwedishFood.com superb, much better than it looks! The preparation time is 10 minutes, and the cooking time is 25 minutes. Serves 4 – 6. You will find John Duxbury’s biography on page 23 of the September 2019 issue of Swedish Press. For more recipes, visit his website www.SwedishFood.com.
Vaniljsås ingredients: • 300 ml (1¼ cups) whipping cream • 100 g (7 Tbsp) caster (superfine) sugar • 1 vanilla pod, split lengthwise • 3 egg yolks Preparation: • Mix just 250 ml (1 cup) of the cream with the sugar and vanilla pod and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. • Whisk the egg yolks with a little of the vanilla cream mixture and pour into the rest of the vanilla cream mixture. Bring back to a gentle simmer. • Remove from the heat and leave to cool. • Whisk the remaining cream until soft peaks are formed. • Fold into the vanilla sauce.
Photo: SwedishFood.com
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Swedish Press | October 2019 23
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Road to 2045
Road to 2045
Energy Summit – Årlig konferens om svensk energipolitik och energiförsörjning Av Bengt Palmgren Entreprenör inom solenergi
Å
rets energikonferens avhölls i Stockholm den 4 september med viktiga och intressanta ämnen om Sveriges ambitioner att både följa Parisavtalets mål om utsläpp av koldioxid (CO2) och att bli klimatneutralt och självförsörjande på energi till 2045. Arrangör var Svenska Dagbladet (SvD), och konferensen ägde rum på Grand Hotel. Klimatpolitiska rådets vice ordförande professor Johan Kuylenstierna redogjorde för de ambitioner och mål som Sverige siktar mot för att bli klimatneutralt och vilka energiformer och lösningar som kan bli aktuella att tillämpa för att nå målet 2045. Detta ligger i linje med EUs mål att bli klimatneutralt till 2050. Energiminister Anders Ygeman redogjorde för regeringens ambitioner med omställning av transportsektorn till elbilar, klimatåtgärder för stålproduktionsindustrin och omställning
av jordbruket från stora till mindre och självförsörjande enheter. Planerna att säkra försörjningen av el när kärnkraftsreaktorena Ringhals 1 och 2 stängs 2018 – 2020 var dock mindre övertygande, trots att 70 miljarder satsats på vindenergi. Nackdelen med vindenergi är att det måste blåsa, så reservkraft kalla vinterdagar måste sannolikt importeras. Sverige satsar även på solenergi både för villahushåll och industriellt. Statsägda Vattenfalls CEO Magnus Hall redogjorde för elnätens betydelse för Sveriges energisystem, bl.a för att kunna ta emot energi från små lokala producenter, inklusive solenergi. Sveriges långsmala geografi med vattenkraften lokaliserad långt norrut och de stora förbrukarna i de södra delarna gör att det ställs krav på effektiva stamnät. Professor Lars Nilsson från Lunds Universitet påpekade vikten av att begränsa den globala uppvärmningen till 1,5 centigrader och att vi redan nått över 1 centigrad. Effekterna av den globala uppvärmningen sätter spår i naturen som är svåra att reparera, och CO2 utsläppen måste begränsas. Viktigt är att skapa en ny politik för hållbar industriell utveckling som respekterar
nollutsläpp och hushållande av naturresurserna. Per Wassén, CEO från Powercell, redogjorde för hur betydelsfull vätgas kommer att bli för drift av bränsleceller för kraftgenerering, transporter, eloch värmenergi för fastigheter och industrier, och som råvara. Säker och beprövad teknik, låg vikt, räckvidd och snabb tankning av vätgas vid bl.a. persontransporter gör denna teknik till ett hållbart alternativ till nuvarande oljeberoende. Vätgas kan även användas t.ex för lokal elproduktion med lagring av vätgasen i containers och drift av generatorer. Vätgas-konceptet bygger på en beprövad teknik och kräver minmalt underhåll. Eftersom vätgasen framställs av vatten och det vid förbränningen bildas vatten, är källan outsinlig. Två vätgasmackar finns nu i Sverige. Pilotprojekt med ny energiteknik genomförs i Sverige. Skellefteå Kraft redogjorde för hur vätgas kan användas för fullständig självförsörjning av energi i ett hus genom att producera energi med solpaneler som sedan kan tillvaratas med vätgasdrift och batteriteknik. Kungsbacka Kommun testar hur fordonsflottan kan bli miljösmart med vätgasteknik och biogasteknik. Konferensens sammanfattades av moderatorerna och SvD, och deltagarna var efter kringfrågor mycket nöjda. Summary in English: The annual Swedish Energy Summit took place in Stockholm on September 4. Representatives from government, industry and academia offered updates on Sweden’s endeavors to meet the greenhouse gas reduction targets agreed at the Paris Conference in 2016. The measures include innovative approaches to energy generation for industry and households, as well as to road transport.
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Road to 2045
Road to 2045 Sweden: Waiting for Climate Action
Mattias Goldmann and Mette Kahlin McVeigh, Fores
A
utumn will be intense for Sweden in the climate area, with four main points of departure:
1. The budget
On September 18th, the Government presented the budget bill, which will then go through Parliamentary scrutiny during the autumn. In terms of climate investments, this will be an all-time-high; 2.9 billion SEK is more than ever before. Some of the main ingredients are: • The Industry step, a long-term funding for emissions reductions in heavy industries such as steel and cement • The climate step, co-funding for emission reductions at local level, where the biggest reduction per krona spent wins. • Electric Vehicle infrastructure, financing charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in parts of Sweden where this will not happen on a market economy basis. • Bonus-malus, where vehicles with low emissions are given a bonus, paid by vehicles with high emissions, in a self-financed system. However, a rapid increase in the sales of electric vehicles means that money is added to the system.
2. Climate Action Plan
Every four years, the Government is to present its climate action plan, with the first such report due in October. The plan will show how the government’s overall policy contributes to achieving the long-term climate target – the
intermediary goals for 2030 and 2040 as well as the four-year mandate period. A 5 – 8 percent reduction per year is needed to meet the targets, while the actual emission reductions for three consecutive years have been below 1 percent. The plan is part of the climate policy framework and should provide an outline setting out how this government will meet the climate targets. It would be logical if this plan was based on the Climate Policy Council’s 16 recommendations, which were presented this spring. One of these recommendations is for the climate target to be clarified from “net zero” in 2045 to simply “zero”, but this is not likely to happen. Instead, we expect a number of proposals for how society can become less transport-intense and every transport greener, including a changed travel allowance and tax advantages for increased cycling, reduced VAT and other incentives for vehicle sharing, a kilometer tax for heavy transport, and demands for a gradually increasing proportion of biofuels in both ground transport and aviation.
4. Sweden in the UN
Late September, the UN Climate Action Week in New York, where Sweden’s climate leader Greta Thunberg arrived in August, will be a stage for Sweden to showcase its ambitions. Expect more funding for the global Green Climate Fund and the Adaptation Fund, but also more specific initiatives in the style of “coalition of the willing”. The UN’s international climate negotiations, COP25, will be held on December 2 – 12 in Santiago, Chile. It is envisaged that the final parts of the Paris Agreement will be adopted, with mechanisms for financing emission reductions in countries other than one’s own. This is particularly relevant for Sweden, which through the Swedish Energy Agency and private actors such as Tricorona have long invested in this. More informally, the COP meeting is also a great time for Sweden to showcase climate ambitions and – hopefully – successful emissions reductions.
3. Sweden in EU
With the new EU Commission soon to be sworn in, a new climate pact with stricter climate targets and climateadjusting tariffs against the outside world is expected. This will mean that industry in the EU does not suffer if the cost of climate-impact emissions increases, and it may very well mean that frontrunner countries like Sweden will be given increased room to maneuver without being hampered by EU legislation. One such example is Sweden’s wish to set a sharp deadline for the sale of fossil fuels, currently not compatible with EU’s free movement of goods.
Editor’s note: After almost six years as Managing Director of Fores, Mattias Goldmann is leaving in order to become Chief Sustainability Officer at Sweco, a European engineering consultancy company, active in the fields of construction, architecture, and environmental engineering. We at Swedish Press thank him for providing us with so many informative articles over the years, and wish him well in his new role. Fores (which includes the 2030-secretariat) 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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Swedish Press | October 2019 25
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Swedish Press Connects
Swedish Council of America
Swedish-American Art Across North America By Brian Kays, SCA Communications Intern
T
he four large museums named in the sidebar are well-known across the Swedish-American community. However, several smaller galleries also have a large impact within the community. Each of these galleries is worth a special visit by anyone interested in historic and contemporary Swedish-American art. Plan your visit soon to see the exhibits below. Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery, Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kansas Established in 1957 to honor the late Birger Sandzén, the Sandzén Gallery displays the painter’s extensive collection of works, in addition to exhibits of past and active artists. Currently on display Pierrot by Raymond Jonson, 1914, is Art for All: The Swedish oil on canvas. Courtesy: Sandzén Experience in Mid-America Gallery, Lindsborg, Kansas. – an exhibit telling “the story of a flourishing arts culture in the mountain-plains region of the American Midwest” with works by internationally recognized painters and sculptors, including Sandzén himself. This exhibit is on display through October 20, 2019. Web: sandzen.org Hillstrom Museum of Art, Gustavus Adolphus College, Saint Peter, Minnesota Named for passionate art collector Rev. Richard Hillstrom, the galleries of the Hillstrom Museum of Art display works from Rev. Hillstrom’s private collection which he bequeathed to Gustavus, along with an interesting variety of temporary exhibitions. The gallery is currently displaying Industry, Work, Society, and Travails in the Depression Era: American Paintings and Photographs from the Shogren-Meyer Collection through November 10, 2019. This exhibition includes 96 pieces from the 1930s depicting a cautionary message by drawing a parallel between Depression-era and current American society. Web: gustavus.edu/finearts/hillstrom/
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Swedish Press | October 2019 26
Augustana College Teaching Museum of Art, Rock Island, Illinois With the mission of “utilizing the visual arts as a catalyst to explore contemporary issues and to foster interdisciplinary inquiry,” the Augustana College Teaching Museum of Art strives to provide a “space for a multiplicity of voices and perspectives, and a site of dynamic community engagement.” The museum’s permanent collection always includes several pieces of Swedish-American art. Recent special exhibitions included The World Is Small and A Different Way of Seeing: Works from the Sam and Ann Charters Collection of Swedish Art. The latter comprised nearly the entire collection of Swedish art collected by the Charters family while living in Sweden in the twentieth century. Web: www.augustana. edu/locations/augustanateaching-museum-art
Behind Trees by Gudrun Westerlund, 2008, tempura on canvas. Courtesy: Hillstrom Museum of Art, Gustavus Adolphus College, Saint Peter, Minnesota.
Well-known museums with a national reputation that often display Swedish-American art include: American Swedish Historical Museum, Philadelphia, PA American Swedish Institute, Minneapolis, MN Nordic Museum, Seattle, WA Swedish American Museum, Chicago, IL Swedish Council of America is proud to have provided multiple grants in support of each of the galleries and museums mentioned in this article. SCA is Swedish America’s community foundation. Our mission is to promote knowledge and appreciation of Swedish heritage and culture in North American life and to strengthen contemporary cultural and educational ties between North America and Sweden. We achieve this by providing grants to organizations, scholarships to youth, recognition to leaders and communications to the community – all focused on furthering our mission. www.swedishcouncil.org
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Swedish Events around the World
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Chicago
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Genealogical Society lists programs – The Swedish American Genealogical Society has announced an informative fall schedule of programs at 10 a.m. Saturdays in the Swedish American Museum, 5211 N. Clark St., Chicago. Reservations for the following events may be made by calling 773-728-8111. Oct 28 – Presentation on “Swedish Nobility” by Bengt Sjögren, past Chair of the Swedish American Museum and the American Chambers of Commerce in Sweden and New York. Nov 23 – Review of Swedish American church records by Kathy Meade of ArkivDigital. Since its founding, the Museum has made genealogy an essential initiative for scholars, historians and families seeking information about Scandinavian ancestors and the places where they lived. Individuals may reserve research sessions on Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings.
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Leif Eriksson Day in Cleveland – October 9 is Leif Eriksson Day as declared by the President in 1964 and for every year since. A proclamation is made on that date. Here is part of it: “To honor Leif Eriksson and celebrate our Nordic-American heritage, the Congress, by joint resolution (Public Law 88-566) approved on September 2, 1964, has authorized 8
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Bust of Nordic Viking explorer Leif Eriksson in Cleveland Ohio
the President of the United States to proclaim October 9 of each year as ‘Leif Eriksson Day.’” The three Nordic groups in Cleveland met prior to 2000 (to celebrate the 1000th year of Leif’s arrival) and raised money for a Leif Eriksson bronze bust that is located at Shooter’s Restaurant in the Flats where celebration takes place on October 9 every year.
Winnipeg Folklorama/Scandinavain Pavilion Celebrates 50 Years – Folklorama celebrated its 50th Anniversary this year. The multicultural festival kicked off on August 4th in Winnipeg. Folklorama was first held in 1970 as a celebration of Manitoba’s centennial. As part of the festival’s opening year, the Scandinavian pavilion was established. This was the same year that Lodge Strindberg at Vasa Lund Park represented the Swedish culture at a separate pavilion at Folklorama. Gunvor Larsson, who is now 96 years young, was the first organizer of the Swedish Pavilion at Vasa Lund back in 1970. In subsequent years the Swedish culture was later 18
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represented under the umbrella of the Scandinavian Pavilion. Gunvor is the longest living Swede representing Sweden at Folklorama, and to this day continues to volunteer at the Scandinavian Pavilion during this wonderful cultural event. To further celebrate this milestone year, Sonja Lundström, Swedish Cultural Association of Manitoba President, was asked by the Scandinavian Pavilion to represent them as a guest speaker on the CBC Information Radio morning show, hosted by Marcy Markusa. Marcy interviewed representatives from the four original pavilions (Scandinavian, German, Ukraine-Kyiv and Greek) that have participated in Folklorama for the full 50 years. Gunvor was invited to accompany Sonja to the CBC station to share in the experience. What a thrill for Gunvor to be live on air as she relived the days of the past at Folklorama. Over the past 50 years there have been many volunteers who have contributed to the success of the Scandinavian Pavilion.
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From left to right: Marcy Markusa, Gunvor Larsson and Sonja Lundström at CBC Information Radio studio. 28
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Calendar & Events
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A guide to fun and interesting Swedish events outside Sweden
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AGOURA HILLS Vasa Park Association 2854 Triunfo Canyon Road, Agoura Hills, CA info@vasapark.org | www.vasapark.org Oct 20 – Sun 9 am to 6 pm: Scandinavian Höstmarknad/Fall Market & Swedish Meatball Competition. Live music, games, family fun and more. CHICAGO Swedish American Museum 5211 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60640 Tel: 773-728 8111 | info@samac.org www.swedishamericanmuseum.org Oct 1 – Tue 6 pm: Concert by Uppsala folksinger Johan Johansson of his songs about Swedish immigration to America. Oct 5 – Sat 11 am: Opening of the exhibit, “Lost Houses of Lyndale,” in the Wallenberg Room through Jan 5. Oct 11 – Fri 6 pm: Concert by the Sunset Serenaders of prohibition-era songs about immigrants. Oct 14 – Mon 6 pm: Book Talk by Swedish newspaper columnist Ola Larsmo, author of “Swede Hollow” and nine novels. Oct 20 – Sun 12 noon: Presentation on the book, “The Boy and the Tree,” and Swedish hotdog lunch. Oct 26 – Sat 10 am: Swedish American Genealogical Society discussion of Swedish nobility by Bengt Sjogren. CLEVELAND Nobel-Monitor Lodge #130 VOA 3740 Mayfield Rd, Cleveland Heights OH Marty.bergman@sbcglobal.net Tel: 216-371 5141 Oct 9 – Wed 11:30 am: Leif Eriksson Day celebration – Shooter’s Restaurant, 1148 Main St. Cleveland, OH. A ‘toast’ at Leif’s bust at 11:30, then inside for lunch on your own. Oct 13 – Sun 2 pm: Vasa meeting at Peace Lutheran Church, 3740 Mayfield Road, Cleveland Hts. DETROIT Swedish Club of Southeast Michigan 22398 Ruth St, Farmington Hills, MI 48336 Info: 734-459 0596 www.swedishclub.net Oct 6 – Sun 1 to 2:30 pm: Annual Fishboil & Buffet 8
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MINNEAPOLIS American Swedish Institute 2600 Park Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55407 Tel: 612-871 4907 | www.asimn.org Ongoing through Oct 27 – Exhibition: The Vikings Begin – This extraordinary exhibition features dozens of early Viking artifacts from boat graves, organized by Uppsala University in Sweden and its museum, Gustavianum, which is home to one of the world’s finest collections of Viking and pre-Viking objects. PHILADEPHIA American Swedish Historical Museum 1900 Pattison Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19145 | Tel: 215-389 1776 | info@americanswedish.org | www.americanswedish.org Ongoing through Jan 31, 2020 – Photo Exhibition: The Finnish Cause is Ours: Finnish War Children in Sweden 1939-1945. Oct 24 – Thurs 5:30 Reception, 6:30 to 8 pm: Fall Concert: Jenny Lind's America – Soprano and Harpist Zoe Vandermeer and New York pianist/conductor Richard Nechamkin present their delightful program 'Jenny Lind's America', a potpourri of songs and arias sung by Miss Lind on her American Tour 1850-1852. PORTLAND Nordic Northwest Nordia House, 8800 SW Oleson Rd., Portland, OR 97223 | Tel: 503-977 0275 www.nordicnorthwest.org Oct 5 – Sat from 5 pm: Nordic Nights – Nordic Northwest's 28th Annual Auction & Gala – Enjoy an elegant night at Nordia House full of delicious food and drink, exciting bidding and more! SEATTLE Swedish Cultural Center 1920 Dexter Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98109 Tel: 206-283 1090 | www.swedishclubnw.org info@swedishculturalcenter.org Oct 4 – Fri, two seatings for dinner: 5:30 or 7:30 pm: Viking Feast & Viking Disco. Oct 8 – Tues from 6 pm: Kvinnor Kan! (Women Can!) Dinner. Every year the Swedish Club honors a woman in the community. This year, we honor Dean Azita Emami of the UW School of Nursing. 18
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Nordic Museum 2655 NW Market Street, Seattle, WA 98107 Tel: 206-789 5707 | nordic@nordicmuseum.org www.nordicmuseum.org Oct 6 – Sun 1 to 4 pm: Nordic Knit Café – Bring your projects and meet kindred spirits at this informal drop-in knitting circle. Sponsored by Seattle-Reykjavik Sister Cities.
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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 Oct 19 – Sat 4 to 7:30 pm: Köttbullsmiddag. VANCOUVER Scandinavian Community Centre 6540 Thomas Street, Burnaby, BC V5B 4P9 Tel: 604-294 2777 | info@scancentre.org | www.scancentre.org Oct 5 – Sat noon to 9 pm: Leif Eriksson Day Festival – Focus on Denamrk – To honour Leif Eriksson; to praise the contributions to Canada of people of Nordic descent; to promote the spirit of discovery. Contact Carolyn 778-228-2334 cthauber@gmail.com Oct 25 – Fri 7:30 pm: Fall Concert with Swedish Musicians Per-Thomas Eriksson, fiddle and Pasi Pasanen, accordion. WINNIPEG Swedish Cultural Assn of Manitoba 764 Erin Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3G 2W4 | Tel: 204-774 8047 | Reservations at: svenskclub17@gmail.com Oct 6 – Sun 10:30 am to 1:30 pm: Swedish Sunday Brunch. Spend a Sunday morning with your family and friends while enjoying an assortment of breakfast/lunch delights, desserts and beverage. Please reserve at sccreservations@shaw.ca Oct 18-19 – Fri to Sat: Svensk Hyllningsfest, Lindsborg, Kansas Trip – Join us on this journey to experience “Little Sweden” during this biennial heritage celebration. Information at svenskclub17@gmail.com. Oct 19 – Sat 7pm to 12 pm: Step back in time with your fellow Vikings for an evening of authentic costumes, music, delicious roast pig dinner, Viking competitions and a whole lot fun! More details on www.scandinaviancentre.ca. 28
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[Ads] and Info Swedish Press Classified Alberta Organizations Svenska Skolan i Calgary bedriver undervisning 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 Scandinavian Community Centre Beautiful setting for weddings, parties, birthdays, meetings and seminars. 6540 Thomas Street, Burnaby, BC info@scancentre.org 604-294-2777 www.scancentre.org Svenska Kulturföreningen Ordförande Ellen Petersson 604-970-8708. Kassör är Linda
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Swedish Press | October 2019 30
Thinking Outside the Box By Peter Berlin
Y
ears ago I taught a course in project management at the Kiruna campus of the Luleå University of Technology. My students came up with an idea to provide advertising from space. The project involved launching 120 small, relatively inexpensive satellites into sun-synchronous orbits. The satellites were to travel as a constellation from pole to pole. As the Earth turned underneath the orbits, the formation could be observed from every point on the ground for five minutes once every two weeks. The pass would occur at 10 o’clock in the evening local time when the sky is dark but the satellites would still be illuminated by the sun. Each satellite was to be equipped with a fairly large, steerable mirror which could be made to reflect the sunlight to the ground – or not. Using remote control to turn the mirrors, letters could be formed to spell short trade-marks as seen from the ground, e.g. COKE or NIKE (see pictures). So much for technology, but what about selling the concept to potential investors? Well, consider the fact that big companies pay upwards of $300,000 for a thirty-second commercial slot on prime-time TV in America – plus the cost of preparing the commercial itself. What would Coca Cola and Nike and thousands of other corporations be willing to pay to advertise their brands for five minutes once every two weeks to the entire population of our planet? The students made the sums and persuaded the simulated investors to part with the
$150 million it would cost to build, launch and operate the satellite constellation for seven years in orbit. (The 150-million dollar investment was also simulated!) In another course, the students developed the idea of launching a drum-shaped satellite that would cartwheel its way along a low, inclined orbit. The satellite would carry some thirty 20-lb cartridges containing the ashes of deceased millionaires. On an evening when the nocturnal sky was guaranteed to be clear (e.g. in Arizona), the relatives, friends and colleagues of one of the millionaires would gather. When the satellite passed overhead, it would jettison the designated cartridge so that it re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere and burned up. Recall that a shooting star is only a speck of space dust, so imagine the fiery spectacle a 20-lb cartridge would provide, allowing the people on the ground to take a final farewell. The students gave the project the name Funix, a contraction of Funeral and Phoenix. The re-entry spectacle would be repeated over the course of a few months until all the good-byes had been said. The price for a ride on the satellite? One million dollars – a bargain for an unforgettable final journey! Neither of these projects have so far been implemented, but they are nevertheless technically feasible and commercially viable. One start-up space company has showed interest in Funix. The ability of young minds to think outside the box is a prerequisite for driving change through innovation in society. While the two projects above were hatched by students in Sweden, such ingenuity can be found among young people anywhere. It just needs to be tapped.
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