While I sympathise completely, extending my sincerest thoughts to those affected, I cannot find it in my heart to endure Norwegian media‘s one-tracked attention on the ten-week Anders Behring Breivik lawsuit commencing in

While I sympathise completely, extending my sincerest thoughts to those affected, I cannot find it in my heart to endure Norwegian media‘s one-tracked attention on the ten-week Anders Behring Breivik lawsuit commencing in Oslo today.

Furthermore, I simply can’t shake this feeling that the press serves as the culprit’s unwitting instrument, in offering exactly what motivated his evil deed; A deep-seated need for attention (for his cause), hereby granted by our all-too compliant press.

In continued respect for the injured, the deceased, their next of kin – and those otherwise inflicted, I shall remain focused on the news at hand (knowing full well that I’m throwing myself at the mercy of the foreign press), leaving legal procedures to the powers that be, as well as those insatiable souls out there.

Late edit: 23 Breivik stories on front of leading daily Dagbladet.no at noon (my apologies if I missed a story or two). Which is not at all unique, by the way.

Lovely (time-lapse – or just sped-up?) footage. Seems so small, looking at it from a distance. But a universe in its own right. God, do I feel homesick.
Kudos to the maker, Oslo photographer Eirik Evjen. Full-screen viewing highly recommended.

Sweet.

Not too encouraging with respect to rural and provincial development, though. But hey, it’s the way of the world.

Yesterday saw the release of the long-awaited Symbian Belle (I refuse to call it Nokia Belle – don’ let yourself be fooled, it is a Symbian, no matter how they brand it) OS for older versions of the last generation [...]]]>

Yesterday saw the release of the long-awaited Symbian Belle (I refuse to call it Nokia Belle – don’ let yourself be fooled, it is a Symbian, no matter how they brand it) OS for older versions of the last generation Symbian mobiles from Nokia. An update originally scheduled for late Q3 2011, postponed until late Q4 2011, then 8 February 2012. Surprisingly, though, the launch took place yesterday, Tuesday 7 February, providing us with the false impression of an expedited release (if that is what the 7 Feb 2012 launch of an intended Q3 2011 release is).

At any rate long awaited, as you may well understand (cont’d after video clip):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3REHGbxqn0

Granted my patience with Nokia had long-since run out, to such an extent that I swore never again to buy a Nokia product (well aware that I may some day have to take that back), but as rumours of an immediate release started to pick up momentum across the Internet yesterday morning, all was forgotten. Checking for availability every five minutes, I could hardly contain myself. Several hours later the official Nokia announcement was a fact.

However, it would appear that my network operator, Telenor Mobil (whose website appears to exist in Norwegian only) is withholding the release – as the only Norwegian carrier doing so (cont’d after table):

So I decided to take the matter in my own two hands, with the following tweet:

@nokia Before we srt the blaming game, who needs 2 make a move 2 make Belle update available 4 Norwegian Telenor customers? @telenor_service

In addition to responding to another:

@NokiaUpdate Not so fast. Some carriers, such as Norwegian Telenor, apparently have decided to withhold the Belle release. @telenor_service

Resulting in the following reply:

telenor_serviceTelenor Kundeservice

@J_Petterson Hello Jarle. Firmwares branded by us will usually be avaiable a couple of weeks later than the unbranded version. /Morten

Cursed be my damned politeness, but my response sounded something like:

@telenor_service thx a million 4 yr swift reply. I only wish U sorted out ths matters w/ @Nokia prior 2 their (long overdue) release.

Truth of the matter is, however, that I’m in no need of a Telenor – or any other – branding. I simply want the latest version of my mobile OS. How hard can that be? Clearly, as shown in above table, smaller Norwegian carriers have made it available to their users. How can it be that Norway’s – by far – largest mobile network operator employs fewer developers than that of their much smaller competitors? And what makes them think customers are willing to wait for their branding, in order for Telenor to distribute free marketing – at the expense of inpatient, unsubsidised, paying customers? Besides, branding (implementing a Telenor browser start page and including a few Telenor specific apps) shouldn’t require more than an hour or two – 20 minutes tops, if they put a small team of developers on the task. After all, it’s not as the OS update came unexpected. Do you hear me, Telenor?

I can tell you this much, though: I should have stuck to my four-year-old plan.

As for Belle, I’m (still) more partial to the one accompanied by Sebastian (the song’s title is for you, Telenor):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UeFaayyw3o

Late edit: Apparently, according to a Telenor spokesperson, this procedure applies to mobiles of all makes and models, which, contrary to his intention, makes the matter even graver than originally suspected (insofar that my problem isn’t caused by my choice of manufacturer, but the choice of carrier).

It’s been 15 years today since the Norwegian public turned down an EU membership in the 1994 referendum, held on Monday 28 November. After a long and heated debate the nay-sayers drew the longest straw, winning 52.2 percent of the votes, on an 88.6 percent turnout.

As an (extremely) active member of the European [...]]]>

It’s been 15 years today since the Norwegian public turned down an EU membership in the 1994 referendum, held on Monday 28 November. After a long and heated debate the nay-sayers drew the longest straw, winning 52.2 percent of the votes, on an 88.6 percent turnout.

As an (extremely) active member of the European Movement at the time, I would be lying if I declared myself unaffected by the outcome, like the rest of the remaining 47,8 percent yes voters. The European Movement held a party in central Oslo that night that I attended, alongside other EU activists. Spurred by the Swedes’, the Finns’ and the Austrians’ loud and clear yes during their respective referendums that autumn, we expected nothing short of a landslide in favour of an EU membership.

The Norwegian EU polls at some point during Monday 28 November 1994.

Which made our defeat all the harder to accept, of course. I saw hardened politicians crying in corridors and hallways – or sitting face-in-hands on steps. Personally I found no comfort in the whopping 76 percent victory (the exact figure has escaped me over the years) in my own township, Oslo’s Nordstrand, at the time, where I personally set up a local European Movement chapter. For weeks on end I spent my days in silent apathy, until, being father of two little boys, Christmas brutally jerked me out of it.

So you see, today I just want to remain silent, even though I’m not entirely convinced that we deserve being accepted into the EU.

See also: A bitter-sweet celebration

Both Sweden’s minister of foreign affairs Carl Bildt and his Norwegian counterpart Jonas Gahr Støre confirm a joint effort to defend Iceland’s air space as of 2011, expected to be joined by Denmark and Finland as the Nordic foreign minister ajourn in Iceland’s capital Reykjavik on Tuesday.

The arrangement is considered controversial, as Denmark, [...]]]>

Both Sweden’s minister of foreign affairs Carl Bildt and his Norwegian counterpart Jonas Gahr Støre confirm a joint effort to defend Iceland’s air space as of 2011, expected to be joined by Denmark and Finland as the Nordic foreign minister ajourn in Iceland’s capital Reykjavik on Tuesday.

The arrangement is considered controversial, as Denmark, Norway and Iceland herself are NATO members, as opposed to non-NATO countries Finland and Sweden.

Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas G. Støre.

In an interview on Norwegian national TV news Sunday evening, however, Norway’s minister of foreign affairs expressed no concern over this.

The joint Nordic force is expected to take over the derelict U.S. Naval Air Station Keflavik, once established.

The American military command The Iceland Defense Force (IDF) was responsible for Iceland’s defence between 1951 and 2006, at which point the last U.S. airmen left Icelandic territory. The country has been left without a dedicated military defence since.

Top photo: Norwegian F-16 on the ground (Wikimedia Commons)

British Holocaust revisionist and pseudo-historian David Irving, originally invited to the Lillehammer literature festival, arrived in Oslo on Monday, in spite of the festival’s cancellation last autumn, according to Norwegian news site ABC Nyheter (in Norwegian).

The initial festival programme contained an Irving [...]]]>

British Holocaust revisionist and pseudo-historian David Irving, originally invited to the Lillehammer literature festival, arrived in Oslo on Monday, in spite of the festival’s cancellation last autumn, according to Norwegian news site ABC Nyheter (in Norwegian).

The initial festival programme contained an Irving lecture on the concept of truth, later to be withdrawn on account of massive protests.

It’s been rumoured later that Mr. Irving intended to attend regardless. He is currently confirmed present in Oslo, on his way to Lillehammer.

“Yes, I’m in Oslo, saying ‘tusen takk’ [thank you] wherever I go,” he says, trying to keep a low profile for security reasons.

His presence during the literature festival has been uncertain for some time, as none of the Lillehammer hotels have been willing to accommodate him, but he now claims having friends in the area who are prepared to house him.

David Irving is scheduled to hold a speech alongside the official festival programme.

A brief update on Tuesday 26 May: Up until now there’s been precious little mentioning of Mr. Irving’s visit in Norwegian news, save for these two nationals yesterday (both in Norwegian):

• Irving er i Oslo – ABC Nyheter
• – David Irving er i Oslo – ap.no

Granted several regional and local newspapers picked up on the news, too, but the above two remained alone on the national arena.

Recent news however has it that Mr. Irving was met by a number of protesters in Oslo today, which is always of a certain interest for a sensation-driven press. I’ll try to keep the list as up to date as possible (all still in Norwegian):

• David Irving møtt av demonstranter i Oslo – db.no
• Her kommer David Irving til TV 2 – tv2nyhetene.no
• – Vi skal fotfølge Irwing [sic] uansett – VG Nett
• Minst én person pågrepet under Irving-demonstrasjon – db.no
• TV 2 betaler Irvings norgesreise – db.no
• TV 2 betalte Irvings Norges-reise – VG Nett/NTB
• David Irving: – Hitler utpekte meg til sin biograf – tv2nyhetene.no
• TV2 [sic] betalte for Irvings Norges-reise – vl.no/NTB
• Irving måtte ta sidedøren til TV2 [sic] – vl.no/NTB
• – Jeg var ikke invitert som løgner – vl.no
• Men hva er usant? – vl.no
• Irving på vei hjem til London nå – db.no
• Irving har forlatt landet – VG Nett
• Holocaustsenteret trakk seg fra TV2-debatt [sic] – VG Nett
• David Irving til VG Nett: – Prøv å motbevis meg – VG Nett
• Irving: Jeg reiser hjem nå – vl.no
• Overlevde Auscwhitz – fortvilt over TV2 [sic] – vl.no
• Irving på vei tilbake til Storbritannia – tv2nyhetene.no
• Norsk professor: – Irving er en amatørhistoriker – tv2nyhetene.no
• David Irving: Nordmenn samarbeidet med tyskerne i stort omfang – tv2nyhetene.no
• Lønnsomt Norges-besøk for David Irving – VG Nett
• – Undercover i min egen by – db.no

It’s been argued that Irving’s cause gains less by a silent press, with which I have to agree. Personally I’m more curious as to whom his Norwegian cohorts might be, which is something that further press coverage may indeed unearth.

For a peek into David Irving’s repulsive, however irrelevant, mindset, please have a look at this, recorded last summer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhCbHZPwEEQ

17 May bears special meaning to all Norwegians. Of course, why shouldn’t it? It is, after all, our Constitution Day, which we tend to celebrate perhaps a little more than what is considered normal in most countries. Which again is to do with the mere fact that we’re convinced we have so much more [...]]]>

17 May bears special meaning to all Norwegians. Of course, why shouldn’t it? It is, after all, our Constitution Day, which we tend to celebrate perhaps a little more than what is considered normal in most countries. Which again is to do with the mere fact that we’re convinced we have so much more to be proud of than anywhere else on the planet – a conviction we set out to reinforce every 17 May, by way of much pomp and elaborate circumstance, even in the smallest communities, such as our own.

Our daughter (centre in pink and white) and friends rehearsing for 17 May. Photo by Malin P.

The above picture shows our local school band, leading the kindergarten’s 17 May rehearsal Friday afternoon. On the very day itself they’ll join forces with the other schools, kindergartens, clubs and associations in the local community, in joint commemoration of the 17 May 1814, at which date our constitution was signed by a selection of the country’s prominent and upstanding men.

In line with our usual self-perception, we like to think that most countries envy us our particular brand of Constitution Day patriotism, heavily focused on the country’s future: Sound, healthy, happy and Nordic children, a not too subtle representation of our future force, endeavours and untarnished proliferation – as opposed to some other countries’ all-too obvious display of splendour already achieved.

Georgian soldiers on a military parade during the Indepedence Day celebration, 26 May 2008. Photographer: Kober/Wikimedia Commons

You will of course appreciate that “untarnished proliferation” entails certain challenges, already demonstrated through intense and recurring discussions over the last decade or so: Whether or not children of foreign lineage should be allowed to carry their ancestral flags. Even Sàmi families have met massive resistance in their attempts at using one of the country’s official flags, namely the Sàmi flag.

How can we not regard foreign flags – any foreign flag – a greeting to our “great nation” from admiring countries, near and far? And wouldn’t it signify an acknowledgement of our place in the world, rather than glorifying ourselves – and everything that is us?

You could of course argue that, being a European federalist, I take our smug patriotism up in its worst meaning, and you could be right, for all I know. But I do know that, as father of a child partaking in tomorrow’s local procession, I’m probably expected to join in. Unfortunately, though, I do not have a European flag at hand.

I’ll be carrying one – in spirit.

Oh by the way, there’s a distinct possibility that I may have misinformed you in claiming that our Constitution Day is all about the children. Here are His Majesty the King’s Guards, on 17 May last year:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=481qZA0CdtU

One can only hope that tonight’s European Song Contest finals produce a victor from anywhere but Norway, or tomorrow we’ll be downright insufferable. As usual, though, we have every confidence in Norwegian victory – or else we just wouldn’t be our usual infallible selves.

Top photo: Our local school band rehearsing for 17 May. Photo taken by Malin P. (the blogger’s wife).

Norway has never been “blessed” with an auto industry, save for its role as provider of parts to car makers throughout Europe, not exactly in demand these days. With an international auto industry threatening to file for bankruptcy, drastic measures have been made to keep it afloat, both in terms of governmental bailouts and [...]]]>

Norway has never been “blessed” with an auto industry, save for its role as provider of parts to car makers throughout Europe, not exactly in demand these days. With an international auto industry threatening to file for bankruptcy, drastic measures have been made to keep it afloat, both in terms of governmental bailouts and a massive reorientation towards environment-friendly cars.

One would think that electric vehicle producers have a field day, all things considered. In Norway not so. In spite of the country’s apparent financial success amid global recession (I suggest you read this NYT article on the matter), electric vehicle manufacturer Think, on the outskirts of the capital, lacks funding to uphold its production. With order books brimming, the company finds itself unable to meet the demand – at all. Not a single car leaves the factory, while Norwegian authorities have turned down a popular plea for financial support, unlike what we’ve seen in other countries.

I was appalled to learn this from the TV news the other day, but decided against acting on it, blogging, that is, until I’d had time to give it some thought, but have landed on the same conclusion again:

While our government eagerly advocates a viable and environmental friendly economy, there’s no getting around the fact that it also profits immensely on continued exploitation of the country’s oil and gas resources, thereby eliminating any trace of credibility in environmental matters (continues under picture).

Norway's PM Jens Stoltenberg (Labour). Photographer: Guri Dahl/PM's office.

Has it occurred to them that EV manufacturing could become a great source of income, too? A viable one at that.

Shame on you, Mister Stoltenberg.

See also Norwegian car making: Contradiction in terms (15 December 2008).

Photo: The Think Ox

Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Jonas Gahr Støre (as depicted) is, unlike officials from many Western countries, attending the UN Durban review conference in Geneva, but warns that any attempt, by Iran’s president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, to cross the line with regards to Israel, will be met [...]]]>

Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Jonas Gahr Støre (as depicted) is, unlike officials from many Western countries, attending the UN Durban review conference in Geneva, but warns that any attempt, by Iran’s president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, to cross the line with regards to Israel, will be met with sharp protests, according to a newswire report brought by Norwegian dailies VG Nett and Dagbladet.no (both sources in Norwegian).

He may soon find that he’d be held to his words, as:

Diplomats have walked out of a speech by the Iranian president at a UN anti-racism conference after he described Israel as a “racist government”.

– BBC News

Also, from CNN.com:

[...] Dozens of delegates walked out of the chamber as Ahmadinejad accused Israel and the West of making “an entire nation homeless under the pretext of Jewish suffering … in order to establish a totally racist government.”

He said Zionism, the Jewish national movement, “personifies racism,” and accused Zionists of wielding economic and political resources to silence opponents. He also blasted the United States-led invasion of Afghanistan.

A brief glimpse of the session in question (the blog post continues underneath YouTube clip):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGHlsMrluu0

More on the incidence in Norwegian. And, for the full Washington Post treatment…

Also, in other Scandinavian news:

• Delegater lämnar FN-konferens – svd.se
• FN-konferensen om rasism urartade i praktskandal – dn.se
• Kaos ved racisme-konference – politiken.dk
• Forlot FNs antirasismekonferanse i protest – tv2nyhetene.no
• Klovn til kamp mot Ahmadinejad – vg.no
• Per Stig truer med boykot efter kaos – politiken.dk
• – Fortjener ikke å avspore konferansen – db.no
• Støre: – Grensen gikk ved Holocaust-fornektelse – vg.no
• Per Stig: Danmark udvandrede som aftalt – politiken.dk
• Svensk opposisjon skeptisk til boikott av FN-konferanse – db.no
• Kastet klovnenese etter Irans president – tv2nyhetene.no
• Støre irettesatte Ahmadinejad – tv2nyhetene.no
• Refser Støres oppførsel i FN – tv2nyhetene.no
• Ahmadinejad angrepet med klovnenese – db.no
• Bildt: Ahmadinejad gick över gränsen – svd.se
• Asmaa Abdol-Hamid langer ud efter Pia Kjærsgaard – politiken.dk
• – Forkastelig av Støre – nettavisen.no
• Støre i strupen på Iran – nettavisen.no
• – Som å invitere Hitler til å snakke om menneskerettigheter – db.no
• Støre roses av jødiske ledere – db.no
• Støre roses av jødiske ledere – tv2nyhetene.no

Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

So far there’s little news of Mr. Støre’s eagerly awaited reaction, but I expect it to be a sharp one. There are no reports as of yet that he’s left the conference chamber along with EU colleagues, but in an earlier statement said:

“Leaving the conference chamber would only deepen and reinforce the differences,” while emphasising that even for Norway there’s a limit to what’s acceptable, continuing

“But I cannot define, word by word, where to draw that line.”

People protest against racism in the Kensington community of Calgary, Alberta. Photographer: Robert Thivierge/Wikimedia Commons

Update:

According to newswire NTB, Mr. Støre entered the podium immediately after president Ahmadinejad, defending his right to express himself, while stressing that he rejected his allegations:

“I strongly reject the last speaker’s views,” pointing out that Ahmadinejad has placed himself “beside the rest”, contrary to the spirit of the conference, as “the odd man out”.

“Norway will not accept that the odd man out hijacks the efforts of the many,” Støre said (translated via Norwegian).

Top photo: Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Jonas Gahr Støre (Labour). Photographer: Bjørn Sigurdsøn/Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

We all wonder, from time to time, why the Germans allowed themselves to be seduced by Adolf Hitler and his National Socialist party, and how they persuaded the better of an entire nation to consider the Jews criminal, greedy, self-absorbed and prepared to poison German culture with Judaism.

These questions have been asked over [...]]]>

We all wonder, from time to time, why the Germans allowed themselves to be seduced by Adolf Hitler and his National Socialist party, and how they persuaded the better of an entire nation to consider the Jews criminal, greedy, self-absorbed and prepared to poison German culture with Judaism.

These questions have been asked over and over again, leaving us completely dumbfounded, even though we’re full aware of the effects of mass psychosis and an efficient propaganda machinery, and yet, we’re just as receptive of it as the pre-WW2 Germans.

Third Reich Führer and dictator Adolf Hitler.

They had the Jews, while the average 21st century Norwegian suscpects the Muslims of pretty much the same. In fact, it’s turned into a bit of a frenzy, leading yours truly to conclude we’re only a handful left prepared to offer the Muslims a chance to be fully integrated into society.

You’d think that massive slamming of Islam was restricted to the unemployed, the uneducated and the prejudiced, but recent developments show that leading politicians, as well as intellectuals, have joined the collective outcry, demanding severe restrictions on immigration and limitations in the Muslims’ right to exercise their religion in everyday life.

The far right Progress party, advocating stricter immigration policies and warning of a subtle islamification, have obtained a whopping 29.6 percent in recent polls, positioning itself for a landslide in the upcoming autumnal election, while people calling for our renowned tolerance are told to emigrate – to Afghanistan or Saudi Arabia.

The average racist is reluctant to see himself as such; marching about in uniforms, yelling heil this and heil that, blinded by the fact that those were mere cosmetics. Championing the core of nazism; hatred, scepticism and fear of the “unknown”, remains racism to me, if you don’t mind my saying so.

If we’re unable to recognise the very obvious resemblance to attitudes demonstrated some 70 years ago, we may as well give up on humanity altogether.

Previous posts on the matter

• Norwegian racism on the rice – 26 March 2009
• Freedom of speech – within “reason” – 12 March 2009
• Political turmoil over uniforms – 24 February 2009

In the news (in Norwegian):

• Mener norsk kultur er truet av muslimer – db.no
• – Norsk kultur blir styrket med muslimsk innvandring – db.no
• – Vi tar ikke over landet – db.no
• – Mellom 4 og 11 prosent muslimer i 2060 – db.no
• – Vi vil få et samfunn som bygger på hellige skrifter fra 600-tallet – db.no
• – Innvandrere bak alle anmeldte overfallsvoldtekter i Oslo – VG Nett
• – Norge er verdens frieste samfunn – db.no

As for propaganda machineries; here’s P Machinery, from, while we’re at it, a German 1980′s group, very appropriately called Propaganda:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0cFzZt4mc4

P.S. I’ve noticed lately, how, on declaring my Norwegian nationality, an urge to add “But with Swedish ancestry”, even though my Swedish blood’s been severely diluted over generations.

That can’t be good.

Top photo: Adolf Hitler attending a Nazi rally.

Following Norway’s inability to mediate a Sri Lankan/LTTE truce, Tamil refugees in the country have demonstrated for the better of the last fortnight, urging the Norwegian government to take action. The government’s assurances that it already does what it can, within limits, is unacceptable to the approximately 1000 Tamil protesters occupying Oslo streets – [...]]]>

Following Norway’s inability to mediate a Sri Lankan/LTTE truce, Tamil refugees in the country have demonstrated for the better of the last fortnight, urging the Norwegian government to take action. The government’s assurances that it already does what it can, within limits, is unacceptable to the approximately 1000 Tamil protesters occupying Oslo streets – and the square in front of the Norwegian parliament, Stortinget – as seen in above photograph.

The still ongoing protests took a new turn on Sunday, as some 100 protesters made their way into the Sri Lankan embassy in order to demolish its interior, while the police were engaged elsewhere.

In an op-ed today the Sri Lankan newspaper The Island writes:

Sunday’s dastardly terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka Embassy in Oslo has demonstrated the ghastly extent of infiltration by LTTE terrorists of the so-called advanced democracies sheltering a gallimaufry of criminal outfits from the four corners of the world. What is really shocking is not so much the terror strike concerned as such but the inexcusable failure on the part of the Norwegian government to apprehend the perpetrators of that inexpiable criminal act, in spite of the availability of damning evidence. Equally baffling and intriguing is the deafening silence the international community is so nonchalantly maintaining on the apathetic and impervious conduct of Norway while frantically campaigning for restoring the rule of law elsewhere.

A news story brought by Norwegian daily Aftenposten.no today (in Norwegian), reports that Sri Lankas’ ambassador Esala Ruwan Weerakoon warns the Norwegian public of the eventuality that LTTE terrorist attacks may well be carried out on Norwegian soil, as a means to put further pressure on the country’s government. The Island’s op-ed continues:

[…] Those who sleep with dogs, it is popularly said in this country, have to get up with ticks. The same goes for those who sleep with Tigers. The price Norway has had to pay for sharing bed with the murderous Tigers is enormous. It has been reduced to a eunuch nation incapable of taking any action against the terrorists responsible for attacking a foreign mission on her soil. What a shame!

No amount of terrorism against Sir [Sic!] Lankan missions abroad will help Prabhakaran and his fellow terrorists escape. However, Sunday’s attack portends trouble for the so-called five star democracies which have become havens for terrorists. Terrorism is slowly but surely eating into their vitals. What Norway is experiencing at present are only symptoms. The worst is yet to come.

However, if ravaging the Sri Lankan embassy is the extent of the announced terrorist attacks, Norway’s public has little to fear, even if such conduct indeed is unacceptable.

Here’s my guess: The Aftenposten journalist was overcome with a desire to make headlines.

Apparently, so am I – with a compulsion to put yesterday’s mobile snapshot to good use, that is.

More on recent developments here (in Norwegian):

• Demonstrasjoner mot Norge på Sri Lanka – tv2nyhetene.no
• Demonstrasjoner mot Norge på Sri Lanka – VG Nett
• Hard FN-kritikk av LTTE – db.no
• – Norge sponser terrorister – VG Nett
• – Vi vil ha våpenhvile. Norge, hjelp oss – db.no
• Erik Solheim: – Mange jeg kjenner er blitt drept – VG Nett
• Tusenvis av tamiler i ny demonstrasjon – tv2nyhetene.no
• Venter 7000 i ny kjempedemonstrasjon – Nettavisen

By the way, I’ve managed to track down some footage of (and probably by) the alleged terrorists:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKxxv_7YQKY

Photo: Tamil protesters in front of the Norwegian parliament (barely seen on left side) Wednesday 14 April 2009. Photograph by blog owner.

Norwegian Minister of trade and industry Sylvia Brustad (Labour) finds herself in a bit of a pickle following the partly government-owned company Aker Solutions‘  NOK 1.39 billion acquisition of other companies in the Aker system, controlled by industrialist

Norwegian Minister of trade and industry Sylvia Brustad (Labour) finds herself in a bit of a pickle following the partly government-owned company Aker Solutions‘  NOK 1.39 billion acquisition of other companies in the Aker system, controlled by industrialist Kjell Inge Røkke. Acquisitions resulting in the Aker Solutions shares’ substantial drop on the stock exhanges.

These highly disputed transactions led Ms Brustad to carry out a speedy inquiry concluding that the transactions were a matter for the general assembly.

The deal is also seen as an embarrassment to the government, which came to Aker Solutions’ aid in 2007 with a capital injection to ensure the company remained in Norwegian hands and to secure jobs in Norway. Trade and Industry Minister Sylvia Brustad has called for an independent investigation.

— Reuters

In a press conference Wednesday afternoon Trade and industry minister Brustad informed the media of her intentions to nullify the deal, which in all likelihood is not about to take place.

The government’s financial loss is however not what makes the entire affair so interesting. These transactions, mere peanuts, really, have made more waves than the Pension fund’s NOK 633 billion loss, mainly because of PM Jens Stoltenberg‘s (Labour) close ties to Aker’s Kjell Inge Røkke, as well as DnB NOR bank’s CEO Rune Bjerke, whose bank incidentally carried out the companies’ valuation. These relations have raised speculations whether or not it’s all a matter of near-corruption, allowing the Aker system to load its losses onto the government – via its Aker Solutions ownership.

The opposition demands the Trade and industry minister’s resignation, but the question remains: How involved is the PM himself, known to create scapegoats and pushing his ministers up front in turbulent times, the latest example being the Minister of justice and the police Knut Storberget, committed to hospital following harsh criticism for mistakes made by the government collectively (in other words; by the prime minister)?

While accusations wave back and forth some have even dubbed Aker Solutions the Aker group’s dustbin.

The thriller, possibly resulting in a minister — if not a government’s — resignation, is expected to resound throughout Easter.

More on Aker:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00bRWOIuxgE

Recent news coverage (in Norwegian):

• – Frykter ikke rettssak med staten
• Røkkes Aker vil stille statens representant til veggs
• Wallenberg-gransking støtter Brustad i Aker-saken
• Aker skylder på Berit Kjøll
• - Jeg og hele styret er ført bak lyset av Aker
• Denne mailen kan felle Sylvia Brustad
• Brustad får full støtte i Røkke-krigen
• Opposisjonen: – Brustad kan være ferdig som statsråd
• – Aldri blitt informert om milliardsalget
• – Jeg er ført bak lyset
• – Røkke har brutt alle spilleregler
• – Kyniske politikere utsetter Aker for stor fare
• Mener Røkke skader Aker-selskapene
• – Røkke har lurt staten
• – De kaller oss for søppelselskap, det provoserer meg voldsomt
• – Kjøll har misforstått
• Røkke ber Stoltenberg om unnskyldning
• Jens gikk god for Røkke-transaksjonene
• Røkke ber Stoltenberg om unnskyldning
• Mener staten snakker ned aksjekursen
• – Stoltenberg har mer grunn til å være irritert på Røkke nå
• Stoltenberg ikke fornøyd med Røkkes unnskyldning

Photo: Norway’s Minister of trade and industry Sylvia Brustad (Labour). Photograph from the ministry/Scanpix

A bill proposed by the Norwegian government today suggests that the marine and land-based environment be treated differently, with nature at sea entitled to less protection than on land.

Undoubtedly, this will have a huge impact on marine life, not least the vast corral reefs discovered on the [...]]]>

Undoubtedly, this will have a huge impact on marine life, not least the vast corral reefs discovered on the Lofoten coast two years ago:

[...] The world’s largest cold water coral reef was found off Lofoten, the scenic archipelago that stretches into the Norwegian Sea west of Narvik. It lies at a depth of 300-400 meters about 110 kilometers west of Røst. The reef itself is about 35 kilometers long and three kilometers wide.

Environmental groups are also keen to preserve the coral reefs, with more than 1,000 of them lying outside Træna. WWF Norge claims they’re endangered even though they’re large, and is demanding better monitoring and protection for them.

The proposed bill has had locals and environmentalists seriously worried, as it ignores such considerations. Even the coalition government, made up by Labour, the Centre party and the Socialist Left part, is divided here, with the latter two dead set against it.

Norway's PM Jens Stoltenberg (Labour). Photographer: Guri Dahl/PM's office

However, the bill proposal has been forced through (link in Norwegian) by the PM’s office and the Ministry og petroleum and energy (incidentally lead by a Centre party minister), leaving Socialist Left party voters frustrated over the party’s continued acceptance of Labour party override.

“[This is] the most important bill on nature ever proposed in Norway,” minister of the environment Erik Solheim stated in a press release issued on Wednesday.

The bill will be presented in a press conference in Oslo at 12:30 PM (local time) today.

The government’s blatant lack of consideration for marine life in Lofoten, for instance, is easily explained by existing plans to explore Lofoten oil reserves, having large segments of the population infuriated that commercial considerations weigh heavier than that of the environment.

If passed, the bill will have a huge impact on the vast Lofoten fish population, among which we find enormous amounts of cod. Scenes such as these will be highly unlikely in the future:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uoke5G4j1Mw

On the surface (or above the ocean surface, as it were) the Norwegian government may appear to be environment conscious, but like beauty, it only seems to be skin-deep. At least when financial considerations come into the picture.

Late addition: The Ministry of the environment issued an extensive press release on the matter Friday afternoon, portraying the proposed bill as a step forward. As can be expected.

Top photo: Reine, Lofoten, seen from top of Reinebringen. Photographer: Michael Haferkamp/Wikipedia

Dare I hope? I dare say I do! April’s first day saw spring finally breaking through in our neighbourhood, just outside the Oslo city limit, with no more than approximately 30 centimetres of snow left in our garden, as you will see from our driveway (above).

Sun’s been shining all around and receding snow’s [...]]]>

Dare I hope? I dare say I do! April’s first day saw spring finally breaking through in our neighbourhood, just outside the Oslo city limit, with no more than approximately 30 centimetres of snow left in our garden, as you will see from our driveway (above).

Sun’s been shining all around and receding snow’s seen all over the place, which is quite a relief, I can tell you, after a full winter of something close to one-metre deep snow since January.

The last remnants of winter in our backyard.

Easter’s just around the corner, too, a season for skiing and cottage life, but we’re staying put, planning to make the most of the occasion at home, doing things we rarely get to do in our everyday lives.

In light of a recent post I think it’s only appropriate to wish one and all a very Happy Pesach – in due course. We may not be so different, after all.

Top photo: From our driveway.

Jerusalem Post’s web edition published an article last Monday, accusing Norway’s minister of finance Kristin Halvorsen of shouting “Death to the Jews” during an Oslo protest against Israel’s Gaza war in January.

The article has been “depublished” and altered twice since, resulting in a slightly more balanced [...]]]>

The article has been “depublished” and altered twice since, resulting in a slightly more balanced version – although not much. The original text has been preserved in this (otherwisely highly dubious) blog, whence I’ve extracted a few excerpts:

[...] During the war, Olso [Sic!] was fraught with violent anti-Israel demonstrations. Numerous government officials decried Israel’s actions in Gaza – including Minister of Finance Kristin Halvorsen, who led a march shouting, “Death to the Jews!” Norwegian doctor Mads Gilbert, who worked in Gaza and disseminated stories about Israel’s brutality, became a national hero in the Norwegian media. Even before the war began, local Jews were tense because of anti-Semitic cartoons, recent boycotts of Israeli merchandise, and the highly publicized affair of Norwegian comic Otto Jespersen, who made anti-Semitic remarks on national television.

[…]

Rabbi Yoav Melchior, considered the leading rabbi of Norway, said he had been “very scared during the war.”

“Hatred spread in a fast, dangerous way. This was blind emotionalism against Israel and against Jews. It gets deep at the heart of Norway’s emotional anti-Semitism. The current wave of anti-Semitism shows what people have been holding inside them,” he said.

Norwegian minister of finance and Socialist left party leader Kristin Halvorsen. Photographer: Rune Kongsro/Socialist left party

I was more than just a little surprised to learn that any member of our cabinet partook in such demonstrations, let alone a central figure, such as our minister of finance. Since other protesters participated for a number of various reasons, let’s face it; some were Muslim extremists with ulterior motives, such as the Jews’ and Judaism’s demise, Ms Halvorsen must have known it could come to this.

Granted we were all deeply shocked and appalled by Israel’s conduct during its Gaza campaign, including this blogger:

• Israel: A call for intervention – 4 January 2009
• Is Sameh still alive? – 6 January 2009
• Israeli Endlösung to succeed? – 7 January 2009
• Terrorism not terrorism when institutionalised? – 8 January 2009

Which may well, alongside the torrents of other Norwegian reactions, have contributed to the Jerusalem Post’s impression, but let’s be clear on one point: It’s nothing to do with anti-Semitism. Or, as I put it in a later post:

[...] we’d be ill advised to draw civilian Israelis or Jews into this. Let’s put the blame where it belongs: On Israeli authorities.

That’s not anti-Semitism, is it?

The Norwegian media and public see the Jerusalem Post’s articles as an attempt at waging some sort of propaganda war on Norway, but I suspect it’s all to do with something far more simple, less dramatic: An editor’s urge to boost reader/traffic figures. We see it happen up here, too, on a daily basis. Which is not to say that the Israeli’s disappointment is hard to understand.

It could easily be explained by Norway’s pro Israel traditions. Sudden criticism from a long-time friend may be hard to take. It certainly explains most Norwegians’ disappointment in, and reactions to, Israel’s warfare methods.

I do however regret to inform that widespread Norwegian antagonism has flourished over the last couple of months, but it has been directed at Muslims and Islam, not Israelis, Judaism or Jews.

A press release issued by the Socialist Left party yesteday, states that:

Kristin Halvorsen participated in a demonstration for peace in Gaza on January 8th this year. There were no anti-Jewish slogans during the event what so ever, as The Jerusalem Post alleges.

There were appeals for inter-religious coexistence and peace, calling on Israel to stop the war on Gaza. The demonstration lasted for about an hour, and was a dignified and peaceful event.

A splinter-group continued a march towards the Israeli embassy afterwards. This was not a part of the official demonstration, and Kristin Halvorsen did not join this rally. She publicly denounced the violent outbreak that occurred in the aftermath of the peace demonstration.

Anyway, here are a few scenes from one of the demonstrations in question:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ajki0HNeQBY

Read more about it all in Dagbladet.no and VG Nett (both in Norwegian).

Also see Mondoweiss’ take on the story.

Photo: Screendump of original Jerusalem Post article accusing Norway’s minister of finance of hatred towards Israel and the Jews.

Norway has seen a fierce debate over female Muslim police officers’ right to wear hijabs over the last couple of months, which in turn has lead to harsh allegations of racism and high treason, depending on what side of the fence you’re on.