The democratic challenge!

Democracy needs to be defended on a daily basis. My two ex students that organized the Irandoost demonstration made me extra proud! They managed on a short notice to gather some 100 people. Their action resulted on radio interview and articles on both local papers. By taking an active roll on the defense of human rights and democracy they also engaged many people on the struggle for the principles at all levels. This demonstration will also be an awakening for the need of intervention for several of those participating. The Irandoost campaign is smart, not agressive, it describes that iranians all over the world like an Iran that does nor exist but that it is worth struggling for. It also means that people all over the world take a stand for the iranians that living in Iran deserve a better life in freedom and democracy! Like Sanaz says - we take for granted the rights Iranians lack today!By organising protests in Iran and around the world the wheels of change did indeed start moving!

Demokrati behöves försvaras dagligen! Mina två f.d. elever som ordnade Irandoost demonstrationen gjorde mig extra stolt! De lyckades på kort tid samla ett hundratal personer, och gav en radiointerview, samt fick båda lokala tidningar att skriva om situationen i Iran. Genom att aktivt engagera sig i försvar av de mänskliga rättigheterna och demokrati bidrog dem också till att få betydligt flera att ansluta sig till dessa principer på olika nivåer. En sådan demonstration kan också bli uppvakningen för flera att ta ett aktivt ställningstagande. Irandoost kampanjen är smart, upplevs inte som agressiv, och berättar att iranier världen över längtar efter ett Iran, som idag inte finns, men som är värd att kämpa för. Det betyder också att människor världen över tar ställning för att iranierna i Iran förtjännar ett bättre liv i frihet och demokrati! Som Sanaz säger- Vi tar för givet de rättigheterna som iranierna saknar idag! Genom att organisera protester i Iran och runt om i världen har förändringens hjul börjat rulla!

Irandoost!

Today at 5 o'clock I will be participating in a demonstration for the support of the many that are fighting for democracy in Iran! The initiative comes from my ex pupil Sanaz. I have been asked to say a few words at the main square, which I am honoured to do!
I will concentate my speech in 4 topics. 1-The importance of democratic values wherever you are. 2- The meaning of the campaign Irandoost ( I like Iran) 3- A brief history of the last 30 years of the Islamic republic and 4- The importance of acting and participating as a means to strenghten the people fighting for change and weakening those who cling to power!
I will publish here parts of my speech next time I blog!


Idag Kl. 17 ska jag delta i en demonstration till stöd för dem många som slåss för demokrati i Iran! Initiativet kommer från min fd elev Sanaz. Jag har blivit tillfrågad att säga några ord på torget, vilket jag ser som ett hedersuppdrag.
Jag kommer att trycka på 4 tema. 1. Betydelsen av demokratins grundpelare och värden oavsett var man befinner sig. 2- Betydelsen av kampanjen Irandoost ( Jag gillar Iran). 3- En kort beskrivning av 30 åren med den islamiska republiken och 4- Betydelsen av att agera och delta som ett led att stärka dem människorna som kämpar för demokartin i Iran och försvaga de som håller sig fast vid makten utan legitimitet!
Nästa gång tänker jag i min blogg publicera delar av mitt tal!

The value of getting personal votes!

We have just had an election for the European Parliament (EP)! This election is particularly important when it concerns personal votes! The number of people using this possibility to influence the outcome of the elections is increasing! This is something that my party never seems to have bothered much about. But according to some signals from the press and some comments from my colleagues after the last election perhaps a change in attitude is on the making! I was a candidate for the EP in 1999 and 2004! In 1999 when I was supposed to campaign I gathered in our district alone 6152 votes which corresponded to 27.43% of the votes given to my party in my district! In 2004 I gathered 5695 votes in the country which corresponded to 0.92% of the total of votes the party got! In 2004 I was not given the means to make a personal campaign! These positive results were ignored by the party!

Vi har just haft val till Europa Parlamentet (EP). Det här valet är särskilt viktigt när det gäller personröster! Antal väljare som utnyttjar möjligheten att påverka utgången ökar! Detta är något som mitt pati hittills inte har fäst särskild uppmärksamhet på. Men om vi tittar på vissa tecken från massmedia och kommentar från partivänner efter valet kanske är en förändrad attityd på gång. Jag var kandidat till EP 1999 och 2004! 1999 när jag uppmanades att göra kampanj fick jag ihop 6152 röster enbart i Västernorrland. Det motsvarade 27.43% av röster som socilademokraterna fick i länet! 2004 fick jag 5695 röster i landet vilket motsvarar 0.92% av totalen som mitt parti fick vid det valet! 2004 fick jag inte tillfälle att bedriva ett personligt kampanje! Dessa positiva resultat ignorerades av partiet!

A bicycle tour

Midsummer is now over! We spent a nice day out in our summer house in Östloning, Indal. Unfortunetly "a moped kid" had been using our lawn to exercise his abilities. The consequences being that the lawn was badly damaged and that Patricia's latin blood started to boil...even mine!
I felt as I generally do, when we suffer damaging to our house, that it is sorrowfull that these young mopedists have such a low opinion of themselves that they cannot feel the harm they do to others! We try under my political responsability to create programmes for these presumably unemployed youngsters. These programmes are designed at improving the self confidence which will also improve their empathy! The difficult bit is getting them into these programmes!
Today we are planning a bicycle tour with the kids. I have found out where I can get a map showing the bicycle roads but cannot find them on the internet! Something to improve!

To blog or not to blog...

Ok, I have decided to blog! The idea is to keep interested friends in touch with Sundsvall and what is going on here. I decided to write in english as many of my friends and family do not speak or understand swedish. In this space I will mix things that concern me and for that reason might be subjective! Hope you find it interesting and will like to comment on what you read!
Today is midsummer's eve! It means everybody is just a bit crazier than usual. Nobody can really explain what midsummer is all about, but I have come to the conclusion that on midsummer you don't need to do anything and that you should spend time comtemplating and relating to nature!
An important event today is that our flat is now on the market and that it can be seen on the internet.
Hopefully we will have a buyer after the 29th of june and that we find a suitable house to move into.
Wishing everyone a "glad midsommar"!