ISSUE 19 (149) • 14 – 19 MAY 2010 • €3 • WWW.HELSINKITIMES.FI

HE IDI E K DA HL – S T TA L E K SIS T ORO – H T

P E T R A N Y M A NHEL SINK I T IME S

Immigrants handed the dirty work

AN ETHNIC divide between native and immigrant fi elds of employ-ment is threatening to form in Fin-land, according to a study by the Finnish Work Environment Fund. “In the interest of competitiveness the labour market has been made more fl exible. Contractual terms and conditions have weakened. Im-migrants are in a particularly vul-nerable position,” says the director of the research project Sirpa Wrede of the University of Helsinki.

Short-term contracts, poor ori-entation practices and employ-ees’ unawareness of their rights are common in many workplac-es. Immigrants are most intensely confronted with this uncertainty, according to an expert working for the City of Helsinki. “A person can be ready to do anything to hold on to their job. In some cases the welfare of the entire extended family de-pends on them,” says planner Olga Silfver of the Immigration Division.

In the greater Helsinki area clean-ers and kitchen staff are more and more often people from immigrant backgrounds. Many of them are asy-lum seekers. “This is not a problem as such,” says Silfver, herself of an im-migrant background. “What’s cen-tral is whether the employee has the chance to advance in his or her ca-reer and whether they receive the

FINNS are often labelled as a nation particularly sensitive to mental health problems such as depression. Defects of the mind are not, howev-er, something exclusive to us north-ern dwellers, but anyone regardless of their nationality can require the professional care of a psychiatrist.

Moving to another culture can be especially challenging and immi-grants may not always be supplied with adequate care when it comes to matters of the mind. Language plays a vital part in psychiatry, as it is es-sential for a patient and the doctor to understand each other correctly. If faced with diffi culty in fi nding care in one’s own language a person may delay seeking help unnecessarily.

Helsinki Times talked to Dr Han-nu Mononen of Terveystalo about the importance of providing psychi-atric services in English here in Hel-sinki. “A psychiatrist cannot treat a patient without sharing a common language; it’s as simple as that. The treatment consists predominantly of discussions between the doctor and the patient, and even the slight-est misunderstanding can cause a decline in recovery.” Mononen, who has extensive experience in psychi-atric work in English language de-cided to tackle the problem of lack of high quality care in English and be-gun to offer his services to the Eng-lish speaking community in Finland.

Read the full story on page 4.

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The recent study highlights that it is central for all workers to have the same conditions of employment and chances to advance their career.

same wages for their work as a na-tive Finn would.”

Occupational protection should be more active and work conditions should be better monitored, the re-port states. When an immigrant per-son’s residence permit depends on an employment contract, the employ-er in practice grants the residence permit. This leads to a reluctance to question the practices of the work-place, Wrede notes. “The occupation-al protection districts are important agents. The occupational protection delegates should clarify to employ-ees in detail the legal conditions that apply to the terms and the execution of work,” she says.

The report does not take a stance on whether immigrants should be welcomed in Finland to make up for the labour shortage. The group of researchers moves ahead of the current political debate.

“Finnish working life has changed,” Wrede says. “The situation of immigrants in today’s working life has to be understood. Immigrants’ need to improve working life is often the same as that of any other person entering the labour market.”

“The public discussion benefi ts Finns, for example young employees, as well. The enhancement of com-munication and the improvement of orientation practices are in the best interest of everyone in Finnish work-ing life.”

See related article on page 5.

Foreigners are reluctant to find fault in work condi-tions because residence permits require an employ-ment contract.

Mental care seeks to cross language barriers

EAT & DRINK

Ethnic shopsEthnic shopsyet unknownyet unknownto Finnsto Finnspages 16pages 16

LIFESTYLE

Improving Improving your life your life by coachingby coachingpage 14page 14

BUSINESS

New career New career through through networkingnetworkingpage 8page 8

FESTIVAL GUIDE

Special issue:Special issue:Summer Summer festival guidefestival guidepage 12page 12

DOMESTIC

New lawsNew lawsto banto banbeggingbeggingpage 3page 3

Immigrants get a raw deal on the job

A young Turkish kebab restaurant owner:

“There is no other work. You can’t just be idle all the time. You have to do something.”An East Asian restaurant owner:

“We have no days off, if we have a “day off” we go to the store to buy gro-ceries and clean up here. Only during the midsummer celebration did we have three days off. Also during Christmas we had two days off.”A cleaner from Estonia:

“I’ve been taken advantage of a lot in terms of working conditions, wages. Often long workdays are demanded. Last year I didn’t get a vacation.”A Turkish entrepreneur:

“Yes, I’ve made some friends. Of course they regard self-employed peo-ple more positively than unemployed foreigners. Entrepreneurship gives a kind of advantage.”

Quotations from the report published by the Finnish Work Environment Fund and writ-ten by Wrede & Nordberg (Palmenia), entitled Vieraita työssä. Työelämän etnistyvä eriarvoisuus (Aliens at work: The ethnifying inequality of working life).

ANOTHER festival-packed season is just around the corner full of fun, music and occasionally, unforgetta-ble adventures. Summer festivals in Finland remain among the year’s highlights for many with anticipa-tion building up months in advance.

FORMER minister and MP for the Swedish People’s Party Eva Biaudet was appointed Finland’s new Ombuds-man for Minorities on Thursday 6 May. The government assigned Biaudet to the position for a fi ve year term.

Biaudet’s appointment spurred some public debate due to her being granted a special exemption from the postgraduate university degree normally required of the holder of the offi ce. Biaudet’s erstwhile law studies were left unfi nished. None-theless Biaudet was considered to

ROBIN DE WA NHEL SINK I T IME S

S T TA L E K SIS T ORO – H T

Let the festivals roll! Eva Biaudet appointed Ombudsman by special exemption

Here is Helsinki Times’ round-up to help you navigate what’s on offer.

The 45th Pori Jazz will take place at the end of July with an ex-ceptionally diverse and star-stud-ded programme. Included among the performers will be Jeff Beck, Tori Amos, Gil Scott-Heron, Gotan Project, and even such a stretch as Massive Attack. Bonafi de jazz lover’s need not worry that their festival has been taken over – there will be plenty of great jazz to be heard over the week-long event.

The big three rock festivals are setting up as follows: Provinssi-rock is bringing dance metal band Rammstein, vintage rockers Wolf-mother, soul diva Paloma Faith and punk icon Jello Biafra and the Guan-tanamo School of Medicine, among its highlights. Faith No More, DJ Shadow and electronic rock outfi t UNKLE will be hitting the stages at

have familiarised herself with the fi eld relevant to the offi ce during her appointments as the OSCE’s Special Representative for Combating the Traffi c of Human Beings, as Minis-ter of Health and Social Services and Minister of Gender Equality and as a long-term Member of Parliament.

Five applicants were interviewed for the offi ce. Among Biaudet’s mer-its were considered her broad and diverse career and, in relation to the other applicants, far more ex-tensive experience in international affairs. She was also able to present “exceptionally clear” views on the fundamentals of the ombudsman’s activities and their advancement.

The Ombudsman for Minorities is in charge of advancing the status and legal protection of ethnic minorities and foreigners and of promoting non-discrimination, equality and good eth-nic relations in Finland. The current holder of the offi ce Johanna Suurpää will assume the post of director of the Democracy and Language Affairs Unit of the Ministry of Justice.

Ilosaarirock. And for the 40th anni-versary of Ruisrock the blizzard of Oz, Ozzy Osbourne is blowing into the country along with The Specials and Canned Heat.

Although there is already an in-credible amount of talent lined-up across the festival spectrum, one fes-tival stands out as especially innova-tive. Happening 13-15 August right in the heart of Helsinki, Flow festi-val offers a genre-diverse and inno-vative programme. The line-up for this year includes French electron-ic duo AIR, complete with an audio-visual spectacle, Icelandic vocalist Jónsi from Sigur Rós, LCD Soundsys-tem, Nigerian afrobeat legend Tony Allen, British indie sensation The xx, and many more alternative acts. With lots of cozy zones, sauna/dip-pool, chill-out spaces and funky dec-orations, the Flow crew truly go the distance to make the festival experi-ence a summer highlight.

Check out the Helsinki Times festival calendar on page 12-13.

2 14 – 19 MAY 2010 HELSINKI TIMESVIEWPOINT

Darkening days

MY TIME as a British police of-fi cer in the 1980s and 1990s saw a society characterised by racism, rioting and the rot of social exclusion under the free-market “self-interest” policies of a Tory government. I can still feel the catharsis and euphoria fl ooding the streets upon landslide election of a New Labour Government in 1997. I recall Tony Blair’s fi rst public announcement as prime minister: “A new day has dawned, has it not?” That day inevitably darkened and has now formally ended with the 6 May 2010 elections.

THE FRIDAY morning of 7 May found me as a seminar dis-cussant at the Finnish Insti-tute of International Affairs responding to Toby Archer’s timely briefi ng paper, No real Winner? It discusses the im-plications for Europe of a hung parliament in consequence of the elections just gone. I was drawn to the regressive Euro-scepticism of the Tory vote that seems to have pre-vailed: in particular the brief-ing’s reminder of Cameron’s 2005 leadership election com-mitment to siding with an EU network of fringe sceptics, described by the Liberal Dem-ocrat leader as “anti-Semites”, “homophobes” and “climate deniers”. What hope of a pro-

gressive European unity driv-en by common values of social justice now?

MY THOUGHTS slid to a dis-tant speech by Winston Churchill in Zurich, 19 Sep-tember 1946. It is known as the “something that will as-tonish you” speech. It was an infl uential post-war plea for European Unity and Church-ill’s ‘astonishing’ proposal was simply to end the nationalis-tic antagonisms that had led to war and was a call to build, in his words, “a kind of Unit-ed States of Europe”. France led in this on 9 May 1950, of course, but the statesman’s words that I found myself dwelling upon in light of the paper’s question as to the election implications for Eu-rope were these:

The League of Nations did not fail because of its principles or conceptions. It failed because these principles were desert-ed by those states who had brought it into being.

Time passes and we forget. The principles and concep-tions of the 1992 formation of the European Union are framed as ‘a single area of freedom, security and jus-tice’ inside of which the cit-izen of any member state

has ‘the right to travel, work and reside anywhere with-out restriction’. Democratic government and rule of law based on the European Con-vention on Human Rights are the very principles upon which membership to the Un-ion is built. It makes for a ra-cially, culturally and morally integrated citizenship with no place for narrow-minded nationalisms in politics, ad-ministration or society.

BUT A PREVAILING nationalis-tic rhetoric and scapegoating of immigrant “others” char-acterises the Euro-sceptic and the populist vote that it attempts to capture. The now all-too-dominant language of ‘security’ has unjust but readily exploitable Islamo-phobic undertones that seem to pass with little critical re-fl ection around Europe. In the all-trumping name of ‘se-curity’ we have seen Belgium act shamefully as the fi rst European country to outlaw the wearing of face-covering clothing in public. Other Eu-ropean member states wait in the wings to trample basic rights to freedom of religious expression. Is Europe to be-come a collection of fright-ened peoples distrustful of each other on the street? Will an elected Euro-scepticism see governments desert the very principles upon which the EU was brought into be-ing? On the astonishing post-war note of European unity and the civic principles up-on which it has since been brought into being, the To-ry leader might try looking

his forbearer in the eye from time to time. FOR WHAT should be remem-bered is that in the 21st cen-tury the basic rights and freedoms enshrined in the European Convention Human Rights represent not only the minimum common values of the EU’s member states at constitutional level but are derived precisely from the shared European experience of modernity within their collective 19th and 20th cen-tury political developments as nation-states.

THAT IS: the experience of na-ked capitalism and its alien-ating condition of poverty; individual liberalism and its facilitation of popular prej-udices; nationalist fascism and the horrors of its racisms; communism and its debili-tating condition of state de-pendency. Alongside these lie fears of tyranny by monar-chy, popular majority or pow-erful minority, as well as fears of dictatorship by either self-appointed leaders or, most profoundly, any future demo-cratically elected parliament. This has been the shared so-cial and political history of Europe and represents the very ills, of the worst possi-ble kind, that a common so-cial-justice agenda within a unifi ed Europe under a Hu-man Rights frame is intended to protect us from. Otherwise we have secured little worth saving at all.

WISHING to dispel the self-delusion that the danger of

the EU regressing into the all-too-familiar power games of national governments has been at all banished by the EU project, the long-standing critical social theorist Jürgen Habermas talks of Europe as a ‘faltering project’ and writes in the preface to his 2007 book of the same name:

The course of European uni-fi cation has been determined until now by governments. But they now seem to be at their wits’ end. Perhaps it is time for them to hand over responsi-bility for the future of Europe to their peoples.

IN RESPONSE to the brief-ing paper and context of Churchill’s ‘astonishing’ words, I found myself won-dering if Europe’s ‘League of Members’ will again fail so-ciety, just as the League of Nations failed the Europe of the 1930s? Will Euro-scepti-cism lead to somewhat sim-ilar consequences for much the same reason – the deser-tion of principles?

THE 2010 UK elections com-peted with media coverage of rioting protesters in Ath-ens. Chiming with Habermas’ recent words and echoing a pragmatic twist on Marx’s most famous of manifesto statements, a draped banner over the re-claimed Acrop-olis read ‘Peoples of Europe Unite’. But who stands to be 21st century Europe’s scape-goated “other” should the eco-nomic contagion from Greece spread: the banks? I doubt it. Neo-Marxist thinking sug-

The balance of the UK’s hung parliament resonates as much with Europe’s dark-er past as the potential of a fairer future, writes Jonathan Hadley.

gests a ‘global multitude’ of workers uniting in their world poverty and sense of injustic-es against a ‘global empire’ of networked state powers and capital. Yet history has shown us that, faced with the spec-tre, Europe favours fascism to communism. Could it ever be so again? No country in Eu-rope (including Britain) was untouched by the fascisms of the 1920s and 1930s. It sits buried deep in our political pasts, but is it dead? It is a sop to think so: A disillusionment with the liberal left? Eco-nomic crisis? A failure of pol-itics? Anger, insecurity and a scapegoated “other”? The phi-losophers who experienced fi rst-hand as surviving vic-tims the worst horrors of that dark time have a simple mes-sage for us in the present: “It happened before, therefore it can happen again.”

BETWEEN the lines of the 2010 UK elections a potential green-light has been fl ashed across Europe for a harden-ing Euro-scepticism. My feel-ings at this time is that the social ills of the 1980s and 1990s that I witnessed as a police offi cer would pale against the deeper social ills of an abandoned European project of civil unity. I am hoping that Labour and the Liberal Democrat’s fi nd their common agenda of social-justice and progressive de-velopment of the EU and use it to wrest the negative infl u-ence of Euro-scepticism from the UK right. If not, I fear that we face a darker decade ahead.

Jonathan Hadley is an Academy of Finland funded postdoctoral researcher at the Uni-versity of Helsinki (Sociology). He specialises in policing and racism in Europe and teaches contemporary European social theory to international postgraduate students. A former British police officer, he moved to Helsinki in 2002 to study, working as a re-searcher at the Police College of Finland until 2008 and contributes to an EU-wide con-sortium of police authorities on major event security research. His current studies con-cern the social role of private security guards in Helsinki.

3314 – 19 MAY 2010HELSINKI TIMES

S T T

S T TM AT T HE W PA RRY – H T

P II A L E INO – S T TM AT T HE W PA RRY – H T

ACCORDING to a 2009 study, sexual abuse of children re-ceives an average sentence of six months’ probational imprisonment.

Aggravated abuse is pun-ished with an average three years and four months’ un-conditional imprisonment.

The punishments can vary signifi cantly between

FINLAND’S Ministry of the Interior is studying the case for an outright ban on beg-ging. Interior Minister Anne Holmlund feels that it is cru-cial that the need for legisla-tive change be evaluated as quickly as possible, so that offi cials can intervene more effectively in what is a fast-growing problem.

Begging has become more aggressive in nature, and more closely linked to crimi-nal phenomena. For example, Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation has uncovered traces of international hu-man traffi cking among the

SEXUAL crimes are more likely to result in imprison-ment if reforms under con-sideration by the Ministry of Justice are carried out. On 4 May a Ministry work-ing group proposed a series of reforms that would tough-en punishments for sexual crimes against children.

According to Minister of Justice Tuija Brax (Greens), the changes are both sub-stantial and necessary.

The toughest measure would make sexual inter-course with a person under the age of 16 uniformly equivalent to aggravated sexual abuse of children. The act would also be deemed aggravated if the same child has repeatedly fall-en victim to abuse, or if there are several victims.

As it stands, intercourse with a minor is regarded as simple abuse, punishable by

different courts, even if the crimes are comparable.

Under study were sen-tences on sexual abuse of children issued during the period 2004-2009. The cases could be deemed aggravat-ed if proposals by a Minis-try of Justice working group make their way through parliament.– A District Court sentenced a 65-year-old man to ten months of probational im-

Romanian beggars arriving in Finland. Investigation in-to the case is ongoing, but according to the Ministry of Interior, prosecutions in Ro-mania may result.

Speaking at a 4 May con-ference for the Helsinki Po-lice Offi cers Union in Siuntio, Holmlund commented:

“Begging isn’t banned un-der current Finnish legisla-tion. But the rules do allow us to intervene if it consti-tutes a disturbance. Begging may be associated with child exploitation or aspects of human traffi cking, for exam-ple, when people are forced into it. In those cases we’re looking at a more serious issue.“

a maximum four years and a minimum 14 days in prison. Ag-gravated cases entail a much higher scale: between one and ten years’ imprisonment.

Under the new proposals, the 14-day minimum for non-aggravated abuse would rise to four months.

Change of definitionThe proposals would also add new offences to the stat-ute books. One would be the luring of children for sexual purposes, which could entail fi nes or a maximum one-year prison sentence. The section would outlaw the practice of going online to entice under-age sexual partners.

Brax regards as signifi cant the proposed change to the def-inition of a sexual act. Offi cials would no longer need to con-sider whether the defendant sought sexual arousal or sat-isfaction. It would suffi ce that the act be sexual in nature to the perpetrator and the victim.

Support for a banNumerous MPs have come out in favour of a ban, and Helsinki is among the cities that fear that the begging situation will get out of hand. Many bodies have called for swift legislative changes.

According to a propos-al by Chief Superintendent

All sexual crimes against children would automatical-ly entail prosecution, so the victims themselves would not need to issue a complaint. Moreover, the acts would still be punishable in Finland even if they were legal in the country in which they were committed.

Criminal record requirements to be expandedMonitoring of people work-ing with children would be tightened so that fi nes for sexual crimes or possession of child pornography would be included on a job appli-cant’s criminal record.

And in addition to paid em-ployees, volunteers at non-profi t organisations such as sports societies would also be required to submit a criminal record.

“We are waiting for propos-als from associations as to how this would work in practice.

Average sentence for abuse is six months’ probational imprisonment

Begging may be banned outright

Law on child abuse to be tightened

Proponents of legislative change want to send the message that foreign beggars are unwelcome in Finland.

Proposals by a Ministry of Justice working group would see sexual abuse of children result in longer prison sentences.

Large cities in Finland, such as Helsinki, estimates the number of Romanian beggars in the hundreds.

and National Coalition MP Juha Hakola, for example, the Public Order Act should be changed to make begging in several locations punish-able with a fi ne. Proponents of the change hope that beg-gars arriving from abroad will get the message that it’s not worth coming to Finland.

One thing to consider is the method and cost of submitting a record, and who would foot the bill,” Brax added.

Change with a priceThe reforms would cost sev-eral million euros in total. Brax is convinced that the price will not be an issue. At-titudes towards child abuse have become tougher in re-cent years as awareness has grown of the crimes’ psycho-logical impact.

“Here, if anywhere, the funds are heading in the right direction. We’re talk-ing about childhoods that will never be repeated, and which abuse can ruin for a long time, or even complete-ly,” Brax said.

The Justice Minister stressed that legal changes alone would not be enough to deter such crimes. It’s impor-tant that children and young people be taught to recog-nise dangerous situations on the internet and to report any strange contacts they receive.

Submissions have now been invited on the propos-al. The aim is to have it before parliament by autumn.

K RIS TA SIH VONEN

DOMESTIC NEWS

Begging is most visible on the streets of large cities. In Helsinki alone, some estimates place the number of Romanian beggars at as high as a couple of hundred. The number is expected to rise as summer approaches.

An outright ban on beg-ging was already considered a couple of years ago. A work-

ing group at the time decided against proposing a change to the law, however. The group concluded that a ban would not prevent poor EU nationals from arriving in Finland.

No working group has been set up this time. Instead, the police have been charged with looking into the matter.

prisonment for the sexu-al abuse of three children. The man had touched and groped the girls’ breasts. The victims were aged be-tween 7 and 12.– A District Court sentenced fi ve men to probational im-prisonment for the sexual abuse of a child. The men had sex with two girls under the age of 15.– Two men who were step-fathers in the same family

were sentenced to just un-der a year’s probational im-prisonment for sexual abuse. A District Court found both men guilty of abusing their spouse’s daughter over a pe-riod of several years.– A relationship with a 14-year-old girl saw one 27-year-old man sentenced to seven months’ probational imprisonment. The man and the girl had been together for a few months and engaged in regular sexual intercourse.

Sources: The National Re-search Institute of Legal Pol-icy, the Finnish New Agency’s (STT) archive

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4 14 – 19 MAY 2010 HELSINKI TIMESDOMESTIC NEWS

P E T R A N Y M A NHEL SINK I T IME S

P E T R A N Y M A NHEL SINK I T IME S

FINDING PROFESSIONAL help for mental or emotion-al problems in one’s own lan-guage is not always easy for immigrants. This is a diffi -culty also in Finland. People in need of help may not share a language with their doc-tor and may not be able to re-ceive adequate care. Patients can also feel unsure about speaking to someone who may not understand them correctly or fear that they cannot express themselves clearly enough. This may lead to a decision of not seeking help.

Language is the keyDr Hannu Mononen of Terveystalo Kamppi explains that language is of utmost importance to psychiatric treatment. “A psychiatrist depends on a shared common language in gaining under-standing on how his patient experiences himself and his life. Establishing a trust-ing relationship is the fi rst step in offering professional help, followed by a joint ap-

praisal of the situation based on information that only the patient can provide. With-out mutual understanding, these fi rst steps become dif-fi cult if not impossible, as therapeutic success will de-cisively depend on co-oper-ation between the parties. As humans, our most effec-tive communication takes place in face-to-face person-al contact, with verbal ex-pressiveness playing a key role in conveying ideas and emotions.”

Mononen is a specialist in psychiatry and offers private psychiatric services to Eng-lish-speaking patients. He has lived and worked in the Unit-ed Kingdom on three differ-ent occasions, altogether for over four years. On his return to Finland, Mononen decided to focus on providing psychi-atric services in English here in Helsinki. “I understand through my own experience that adapting to a new culture can be taxing and I believe it’s very important that there are high quality fl uent psychiat-ric services on offer for the English speaking community in Finland.”

SEEING a psychiatrist is not the only way to receive help for problems of the mind. There are a variety of thera-pies that have gained popu-larity around the world, but one in particular that has proved to produce a great amount of positive results is psychoanalytic therapy.

The concept behind this form of therapy lies in un-derstanding oneself. Psy-choanalytic therapy aims to increase an individual’s abil-ity to understand his own mind through self-knowl-edge. The therapy sessions are built upon talking and sharing thoughts with the therapist or a group. Through psychotherapy, a person can learn to comprehend their mind and with it gain a sense of harmony within themselves. The role of the therapist in psychoanalyti-cal therapy is to lead the pa-tient towards fi nding that understanding.

Psychotherapist Iiris Kos-kinen runs individual Eng-lish language sessions of psychoanalytical therapy in Espoo. The city only offers these sessions for individu-als and couples living within the Espoo region because it does not have the resources to carry out sessions for peo-

In the UK Mononen has worked as a locum consult-ant psychiatrist for vari-ous mental health teams of the National Health Serv-ice in Surrey and Leicester, as a locum civilian consult-ant psychiatrist of the Brit-ish Army, and as the sole consultant psychiatrist on Shetland Isles. With such experience of working in English, Mononen has fair confi dence in his linguistic profi ciency. “Certainly, Eng-lish is rich in local dialects and accents that may be hard to follow, and sometimes I have wished everyone could speak like a BBC announc-er. There are of course times when I have to ask a patient to explain something in a dif-ferent way to be sure I get what he or she means, but that happens with a Finnish speaking patient just as well. It’s more of an issue of work-ing out a way to understand the true meaning of what a patient is trying to convey than a language problem.”

Cultural differencesLanguage may not be the on-ly problem between a doc-

ple outside the municipali-ty. For this reason, Koskinen has attempted to organise an English language psycho-therapy group that would be open for anyone in the great-er Helsinki area. So far, how-ever, there has not been a suffi cient number of partici-pants to get the group up and running.

“There is defi nitely a need for more English language sessions and groups in the Greater Helsinki area, but the hard part is to fi nd a time that suits everyone,” Koskin-en explains. “There is also the problem with the expat soci-ety being rather small in the Helsinki area, and we cannot take people in the group who already know each other.”

Koskinen says that psy-choanalytical therapy is an effective form of treat-ing mental health problems. Although joining a group session may be a daunt-ing thought, Koskinen is ad-amant that sharing one’s experiences in a group can sometimes be more helpful than individual sessions with a therapist.

tor and patient, as different cultures often also view psy-chological problems in a dif-ferent manner. In the United States, seeing a psychiatrist is just about trendy with all the celebrities openly talk-ing about their sessions, whereas in Finland people may consider such issues in-tensely private and be more inclined to hide the fact of seeing a psychiatrist, even from their closest friends. “There are different types of individuals in every culture, and one should not general-ise too much about certain nationalities’ reactions to-wards psychiatry, but I could say that mental health issues are not discussed with such great openness in Finland,” Mononen comments.

What about reasons for seeking psychiatric help? Finns are often labelled as a nation with a tendency to-wards depression, especially during the dark autumn and winter months. Is this merely a generalisation or an actual fact? Mononen explains that different reasons lead people to seek help from a psychia-trist. One can feel the need for support in acute crisis sit-uations, anxiety or stress. Alternatively, help may be required due to more long-standing vulnerabilities of the mind. Mononen confi rms that kaamosmasennus, Seasonal

Affective Disorder, or depres-sion caused by lack of daylight during the winter months on Northern latitudes is an es-tablished term and a true form of depression. “The period of very little sunlight is hard on anyone, and it can trigger de-pression. However, SAD only represents one subtype of de-pression. Depression is one of the most common reasons to seek help from a private psy-chiatrist. Again, I would not say that Finns are somehow more sensitive to depression than people from another cul-tural or genetic heritage, as there is insuffi cient epidemio-logic evidence to support such a claim.”

Language plays an important role in receiving adequate psychiatric treatment, as it is essential for a patient and the doctor to under-stand each other correctly.

Psychoanalytical therapy works to improve the ability to understand one’s own mind through self-knowledge.

Regardless of what cul-ture one comes from and where one lives, active seek-ing of professional help for mental problems at an ear-ly stage is advisable if a seri-ous problem occurs. “It is like with any other illness, when detected early it is much eas-ier to treat and the progno-sis for recovery is that much more favourable,” Mononen explains.

Dr Hannu Mononen specialises in mental healthcare for English speakers.

When the mind requires care

Group therapy in Greater Helsinki

Dr Hannu Mononen

Terveystalo KamppiTel. 030 633 9505www.terveystalo.fi

Espoo

Psychoanalytical group

Iiris KoskinenTel. 050 511 0343

(During office hours)

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Departures from the Market Square in May daily at 11, 13 and 15.

020 7418210

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Your guide to Finnish life, culture and customs

INFORMATION ABOUT FINLAND

TOPICS INCLUDE: WORK, ACCOMMODATION, FINNISH AND

SWEDISH LANGUAGE, EDUCATION, PERMITS, HEALTH AND SERVICES PROVIDED BY SOCIETY

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5514 – 19 MAY 2010HELSINKI TIMES DOMESTIC NEWS

COLUMNCOLUMN

Ministers accuse Social Democrats of populismPrime Minister Matti Van-hanen (Centre) and Finance Minister Jyrki Katainen (Cons) accused the Social Democratic Party of pop-ulism, opportunism and irresponsibility over their rejection of the Greek bail-out plan on Tuesday 11 May.

The strong reaction from the cabinet was pro-voked by the Social Demo-cratic parliamentary fl oor group’s announcement ear-lier on Tuesday that they would oppose the cabinet’s proposal for a 1.6 billion eu-ro supplementary budget to cover Finland’s share in the Greek bailout loans.

Katainen comment-ed that the Social Demo-crats no longer were the same party they used to be after having moved on-to the same populist track as the True Finns and the Left Alliance. For his part Vanhanen urged Social Democrats to talk with their more experienced MPs who know how inter-national negotiations are conducted. STT

Court slaps Porvoo arsonist with 4.3 mln euros in damagesThe Länsi-Uusimaa district court on Monday 10 May sentenced the Finnish man who torched the Porvoo ca-thedral in 2006 to pay al-most 4.3 million euros in compensations. The com-pensations were demand-ed by insurance company If. The then 18-year-old man set fi re to the cathedral in May 2006, causing serious damage to the medieval building. The Helsinki court of appeals sentenced him to six and a half years in prison for arson in 2007, but he has already been released. STT

Finns support university entrance exams -HS pollOver 70 per cent of Finns oppose scrapping entrance exams to higher education

IN BRIEF

F R A N W E AV E R HEL SINK I T IME S

THOUGH it sounds like an apocalyptic encounter from a fantasy epic, the Battle of the Towers is a light-heart-ed annual event involving over 300 teams of keen bird-

IN FINLAND recently, a heat-ed discussion has raged over immigration. One of the questions is whether Finns want more immigrants here. But as Mina Zandkarimi points out, under discussion are nothing less than real people with real feelings.

“Immigrants may feel that they are not welcome in Finland, no matter how ac-tive a role they play in socie-ty,” Zandkarimi argues.

All in all, there are few im-migrants living in Finland in comparison to many oth-er countries. The total fi gure varies depending on wheth-

Birders battle for glory

Polemic debate risks alienating foreign Finns

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Poverty in Finland threatens to take on an ethnic character.

The Battle of the Towers commenced across Finland at dawn last Saturday, after cam-ouflaged squads took up strategic positions around the country.

FINLAND’S Family Feder-ation is warning that the country should take steps to prevent poverty from falling along ethnic lines. Studies show that nearly 60 per cent of children speaking a for-eign language live in families situated in the two lowest in-come brackets. By compari-son, only one in fi ve children speaking Finnish or Swedish as their mother tongue fall into these brackets.

“The children of immi-grants are in a key position when it comes to stopping pov-erty from developing an eth-nic character. The important question is how they gain ac-cess to education,” says Minna Säävälä, a special researcher at the Federation’s Population Research Institute.

She notes that, in compar-ison to the rest of the coun-try, the Helsinki region is in another league altogether in terms of integrating immi-grant children. “Here, for-

eign-language pupils make up 12 per cent of primary school rolls, but that is pre-dicted to rise to 22.5 per cent in 15 years’ time,” she says.

Differences in educa-tion levels between immi-grant youths and the rest of the population are apparent in the post-primary school situation. Whereas 85 per cent of speakers of Finnish or Swedish continue their studies in upper-secondary schools or vocational colleg-es, little more than half of foreign-language speakers do the same. The difference is starkest when one looks at upper-secondary schools alone.

“Immigrant youths’ fail-ure to complete second-ary-level studies is a result of inadequate preparation or Finnish-language skills, for example. Beyond that, the same factors prevent-ing non-immigrant pupils from going further also play a role,” Säävälä notes.

When it comes to second-ary-level education, Minna

NGO: Immigrants face higher risk of poverty

Säävälä would draw greater attention to immigrant girls, in particular – especially those from outside the EU. Their education prospects may be cut short by early marriage, for example.

“A mother’s education lev-el is a good guide to how ed-ucated her children will be. That’s why the education of girls is so important with regard to the second gen-eration of immigrants,” she argues.

Project co-ordinator Mina Zandkarimi emphasises co-operation between schools and immigrant homes. Writ-ten messages and letters to parents are not always the best means to this end be-cause not all parents under-stand enough Finnish.

“Immigrant parents are interested in how the edu-cation of their children will work in this new country and culture. They also want their children to succeed in the future. Their own mother tongue is also important to them,” Zandkarimi says.

Mina Zandkarimi is work-ing on a Family Federation project aimed at organising peer support for refugees in the initial stage of integration.

er one takes into account na-tionality, mother tongue or country of birth, or a combi-nation thereof.

At the end of last year, more than 155,000 foreign nationals lived in Finland, which amounts to three per cent of the population. In terms of language, last year Finland was home to 207,000 people with a mother tongue other than Finnish or Swed-ish. The largest foreign-lan-guage groups were Russian, Estonian and English. Rus-sian and Estonian speakers made up almost 40 per cent of this group.

Some 233,000 people liv-ing in Finland last year were born abroad. However, some of them were Finnish nation-als at birth.

Refugees and recipients of asylum in Finland, togeth-er with their children, made up 30,000 Finnish residents.

Eagle-eyed birdwatchers spotted 98 bird species from their tow-er at Viikki in Helsinki during a nationwide event.

Who’s who?

Immigrant:

– A foreign national who has moved to Finland and who in-tends to live here long term.

– A person born in Finland whose parent – one or both – immi-grated here.

Returnee:

– An individual returning to his or her country of origin.– A former or current Finnish national and his or her family

members and offspring.– Often a former Finn moving from Sweden back to Finland, or

an Ingrian Finn from the former Soviet territory bordering Fin-land.

New Finn:

– A naturalised Finn who has taken on Finnish citizenship. Migrant worker:

– Someone who moves to another country temporarily for work.

Asylum seeker:

– Someone who faces persecution in his or her home country and requests international protection and right of residence in another country.

Refugee:

– Someone who, according the UN Convention on the Status of Refugees, has grounds to fear persecution in his or her homeland.

– In Finland, the word refugee also refers to individuals who have been granted residency here because of their need for protection, or on humanitarian grounds.

– A quota refugee is someone with Refugee Status as granted by the UN, and who is accepted as part of a country’s refugee quota.

watchers competing to fi nd out who can spot the most bird species in eight hours.

A team from the event or-ganisers BirdLife Finland start-ed clocking up birds at 05:00 from a viewing tower overlook-ing wetlands, woodlands and meadows at Viikki in Helsinki.

“This is the best place to watch birds in Helsin-ki. It’s unique to have such a great nature reserve so near the centre of the capi-tal where you can see many rare and beautiful birds,” said BirdLife Finland chair-man Aki Arkiomaa. “With luck you might spot 100 spe-cies here in a day.”

Tweets and twittersThe Battle of the Towers is largely contested by fanat-ical birders able to instant-ly identify species even from a fl utter of feathers or a dis-tant twitter. But the public are also encouraged to come along, learn about conserva-

tion, and pick up tips from the experts.

“In spring people enjoy seeing the returning birds as a sure sign that summer’s on the way. May is when the largest numbers can be seen, including arctic mi-grants still heading north, and the latest summer visi-tors just arriving,” explained Arkiomaa.

By lunchtime the team at Viikki managed to spot a total of 98 species, with highlights including little terns, green-shanks and a great white egret. The winning team from Kristiinakaupunki on the west coast identifi ed an im-pressive 107 species.

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altogether, indicates a poll published by national daily Helsingin Sanomat on Tues-day 11 May. Only one quar-ter of respondents favoured entrance to universities and higher education based sole-ly on matriculation exam results. For 54 per cent of re-spondents, entrance exams should be given more weight than matriculation exams in the applications process, whereas one quarter said the opposite. Around one fi fth of respondents rated both as equally important.

Polling company Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) inter-viewed around 1,000 Finns during the fi rst week of May. STT

One in three participated in Earth Hour 2010

According to fi gures pub-lished on Tuesday 11 May by WWF, around one third of Finns took part in Earth Hour 2010 at the end of March. Finland was one of the 126 countries to take part in the global campaign for turn-ing off electrical lights for an hour to make a stand against climate change. WWF pre-sented the results of the 2010 Earth Hour campaign to Min-ister of the Environment Paula Lehtomäki (Centre) on Tuesday. STT

Renovation complaints up 30 per cent

The number of offi cial com-plaints received over ren-ovations has signifi cantly increased from the previous year, according to a state-ment by the Finnish Con-sumer Agency on Monday 10 May. By the end of April, over 1,300 complaints were received by the Consum-er Agency, a 30 per cent in-crease compared to the same time last year. The ma-jority of complaints received were in relation to contrac-tors breaking agreements by charging signifi cantly more than initial estimates. Another complaint related to projects taking notably longer to complete than was agreed upon at the time of signing the contract. STT

6 14 – 19 MAY 2010 HELSINKI TIMES FROM THE FINNISH PRESS TRANSLATIONS BY MICHAEL NAGLER

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Attempts made to acquire WMD technology from Finland

Immigrants needed to combat brain drain

IT expert does not use anti-virus software

Finns want to keep the euro

HELSINGIN SANOMAT 9 May. MINNA PASSI

TALOUSSANOMAT 8 May

ILTALEHTI 8 May

There are approximately ten institutes of higher learning and research facilities in Finland that contain know-how for WMDs, the national daily Helsingin Sanomat reports.

Measures should be taken to improve edu-cated immigrants’ employment prospects, the online financial newspaper Taloussano-mat reports.

Social media may pose a bigger risk for com-puter users than malware, the Tampere-based daily Aamulehti reports.

Finns support the euro, according to a survey by the tabloid Iltalehti.

“THERE have been attempts to use Finnish technology for the development of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). According to the Finnish Se-curity Police (Supo), a few cases surface every year in which there have been at-tempts to acquire so-called dual-purpose products for WMDs.

In addition to convention-al use, dual-purpose prod-ucts can also be used to make WMDs.

‘A business has to acquire a permit in order to export dual-purpose products out-side the EU. About 300 per-

“AKAVA, the Confederation of Unions for Profession-al and Managerial Staff in Finland, is concerned about

“RENOWNED computer ex-pert Petteri Järvinen reveals a surprise: he has never had anti-virus software in his own computer.

‘If the fi rewall and up-dates are ok and you under-stand what they’re asking you on the screen, you can go quite far with that,’ he says.

According to Järvinen, the reporting about the dangers of the internet often puts an emphasis on malware due to commercial reasons because it promotes the sale of securi-ty programs.

‘The risks are different from what one might imagine. For example, many children

“ABOUT 65 per cent of re-spondents in Iltalehti’s sur-vey think that Finland should not abandon the euro.

The study also asked peo-ple if they thought that Greece should leave the eurozone. About 60 per cent support-ed the idea that Greece should abandon the euro as a currency.

The Greek crisis has not af-fected Finns’ spending. Only

So-called dual-purpose products, also used in production of WMDs, have attracted unknown buyers.

IT expert Petteri Järvinen.

Akava’s president Matti Viljanen.

mit applications are made annually, with fewer than ten being denied.’

‘I can’t remember a single case in which a Finnish busi-ness knowingly tried to de-ceive the authorities,’ says Eero Aho, the head of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland’s Unit for Export Control.

According to Supo at-tempts are made to deceive Finnish businesses with the use of subterfuge. A compa-ny may be notifi ed that the product is headed for Swit-zerland, for example, but it is actually sent outside Europe.

Finnish experts emigrat-ing abroad. The organisation suggests improving the situ-ation by making it easier for

use the internet too much,’ Järvinen says.

Anti-virus software is not necessarily useful if the us-er goes to the wrong site. The malware that hit Finnish on-line banks at the beginning of the year functioned more in-telligently than previous ver-sions, for example.

One way to protect your computer is to keep its up-grades up to date. According to Järvinen, malware is ef-fi ciently distributed on the internet through adult-enter-tainment sites, for example.

Windows users can al-so protect themselves by re-stricting the user rights to an

In addition, products may be rotated through subsidi-aries outside Europe.

According to Supo there have also been several cas-es through the years in which researchers or postgraduates have been denied a Finnish vi-sa or residence permit specif-ically to prevent the spread of WMD-related know-how.

As an example, Chief In-spector Martin Westerlund of Supo says that there has been an attempt to come to Finland from a research fa-cility that, according to inter-national intelligence sources, is developing WMDs.”

www.sakaco.fi

All kinds of Motor Boats. Best quality and service.Also TAX FREE

13 per cent of respondents say that they have prepared them-selves for a worsening economy due to the situation in Greece.

The survey was conducted on 4-7 May, with 5,645 people responding to it.

At the beginning of May the nations of the eurozone and the IMF granted 110 bil-lion euros’ worth of loans to Greece.”

AAMULEHTI 4 May

ordinary user level. This way you can install various pro-grams only by logging on sep-arately as an administrator.

Järvinen estimates that the biggest risks lie in social media.

‘From the point of view of a home user, excessive reve-lations of one’s personal in-formation may be a bigger problem than malware. Pic-tures or texts are put onto the internet, which the user later regrets doing,’ he confi rms.”

those highly educated immi-grants already living in Fin-land to gain employment.

Akava’s president Mat-ti Viljanen reminds people that more highly educated people are still moving out of Finland than there are moving in from abroad. To rectify matters he calls for uniform terms and condi-tions of employment, com-bating racism and making the integration system more effi cient.

‘At the moment, many highly educated immi-grants are unemployed or are working in jobs that don’t correspond to their ed-ucation,’ Viljanen says in his statement.

According to him, for-eigners’ input would be signifi cant for Finland’s com-petitive ability, provided they could give said input in jobs that correspond to their education.

According to Akava’s president, the immigration of foreign labour to Finland is justifi ed. Akava supports the government’s goal of pro-moting the immigration of foreign labour to Finland.

‘It’s particularly futile to complain about EU citizens coming to Finland for work because labour has the free-dom of movement in the EU area,’ Viljanen says.”

7714 – 19 MAY 2010HELSINKI TIMES INTERNATIONAL NEWS

WASHINGTON, D.C.

LISBON

E L I C L IF T ON, M AT HHE W BE RGE RIP S

M A RIO DE QUE IROZIP S

Changing face of US cities a harbinger of the future

Portugal looking more like Greece

THE 168-PAGE report from the Washington-based Brook-ings Institution details what it calls the “new realities” of who the US is and who it is becoming.

The majority of youth in US cities are no longer white, but there is also a growing disparity in the educational background and incomes of those cities’ populations.

Among those realities, the US – as had long been an-ticipated – crossed a major threshold at some point pri-or to 2008 when the under-18 population of its major met-

PORTUGAL is caught in the crossfi re between credit rat-ing agencies and internation-al fi nancial speculators who see this country as offering an excellent opportunity to turn a quick profi t.

This time it was Moody’s turn. The ratings agen-cy warned Thursday 6 May that the debt crisis in Greece could spread to banking sys-tems especially in Portugal, but also in Spain, Ireland and to a lesser extent Britain and Italy.

The report says these banking systems “have weakened from within, of-ten due to excessive loan growth” and the “bursting of the real estate bubble.”

Moody’s, which like the other agencies sells its fi -nancial analyses and ratings of companies and govern-

Three people were killed in Greece Wednesday 5 May when protesters set fi re to a bank in downtown Athens during a nationwide strike against stringent austerity measures imposed as part of a massive 142 billion dollar bailout by the EU and the IMF. The deaths, the fi rst to occur during protests in nearly 20 years, were the harshest re-fl ection of the depth of the country’s collapse.

At the end of a meeting of European central bank governors in Lisbon Thurs-day, Jean-Claude Trichet, the president of the Europe-an Central Bank (ECB), said “Greece and Portugal are not in the same boat…. This is ob-vious when you look at the facts and fi gures.”

He also announced that the ECB decided in Lisbon, for the 13th month in a row, to hold eurozone interest rates at the record low of one per cent.

All of this occurred just a week after Standard & Poor’s cut Portugal’s credit rating.

The fact that the credit ratings agencies are not ac-tually international, but are from the US, has made Euro-pean politicians, economists and analysts wary that the

A recent report claims a significant growth in diversity among US cities, but reveals a growing difference in educational background and incomes of those cities populations.

Ratings agency Moody warned that the debt crisis in Greece could spread to Portugal, and eventually to the rest of the so-called PIIGS countries.

ropolitan areas became ma-jority non-white. Brookings’ analysis predicts the major-ity of the general US popula-tion will be non-white a little over 30 years from now.

But that growth in diver-sity – non-white groups ac-counted for 83 per cent of population growth from 2000 to 2008 – was concur-rent with a growing gap in ed-ucation and incomes among groups of city inhabitants.

While the number of US adults with a post-second-ary degree had increased by 2008, African-Americans and Hispanics now lag be-hind whites and Asian-Amer-icans in attaining bachelor’s degrees by more than 20 per-centage points.

The report also points out that by 2008, high-wage work-ers in cities were out-earning low-wage workers by more than fi ve-to-one. While high-wage workers’ earnings went up, the number of residents living in poverty rose by 15 per cent from 2000 to 2008.

ments, adds that the “con-tagion could potentially also spread to these banking sys-tems where sovereign credit worthiness has been impact-ed by developments within the banking system.”

Moody’s Investor Services also warned it may downgrade Portugal’s AA2 debt rating in the next three months, just a week after its main rival, Standard & Poor’s, did so.

Citing a weakening in Por-tugal’s public fi nances and its long-term growth prospects, senior Moody’s analyst An-thony Thomas said, “in the context of a small and slow-growing economy, Portugal’s debt metrics may no long-er be consistent with an Aa2 rating”.

Warning shakes marketsStocks on the Lisbon stock exchange plunged to lows not seen since July 2009, while the cost of insuring Portuguese government debt against default soared to the highest level since the euro was introduced in 2002.

Meanwhile, a statement by the International Mone-tary Fund (IMF) denied ru-mours that Spain or Portugal were seeking huge emergen-cy loans.

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The US has endured a population increase of about 28 million people in the past ten years. Non-white groups account for about 83 per cent.

ratings might favour specu-lation by US- based transna-tional banks.

In the view of two econ-omists who were ministers during conservative govern-ments in Portugal, Antonio Bagão Félix (2002-2005) and Luís Mira Amaral (1985-1995), the warnings from the credit agencies should be taken as “a serious notice” because “they bring Portugal to bay” in the international markets.

Supposed PIIGSNouriel Roubini, professor of economics and internation-al business at New York Uni-

versity, recently wrote, “the Greek fi nancial saga is the tip of an iceberg of problems of public-debt sustainability for many advanced economies, and not only the so-called PI-IGS (Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece, and Spain).”

The acronym was coined in the 1990s to refer to the poor-est countries in the EU, but it also now refers to nations with high government debt levels and slow growth rates.

In a mid-April oped post-ed by Project Syndicate, an international not-for-prof-it newspaper syndicate and association of newspapers,

Roubini wrote, “within the PIIGS, the problems are not just excessive public defi cits and debt ratios…They are al-so problems of external defi -cits, loss of competitiveness, and thus of anemic growth.”

Greece’s GDP shrank two per cent in 2009. “Short of a miracle, Greece looks close to insolvency,” Roubini wrot.

But “Greece is currently too interconnected to be al-lowed to collapse,” he wrote three weeks ago, noting that three-quarters of the coun-try’s 400 billion dollars in public debt is held abroad, mainly by European fi nancial institutions, which means “a disorderly default would lead to massive losses and risk a systemic crisis.”

President of the European Central Bank, Jean-Claude Trichet of France after a eurozone leaders summit.

Community to country“What we’re proposing in this report is that the trends we’re seeing at the nation-al level are further along in the metropolitan areas than elsewhere. These areas are bellwethers,” said Alan Berube, a co-author on the report and a senior fellow and research director with Brookings’ Metropolitan Pol-icy Programme.

Berube pointed to the speed and volatility of pop-ulation shifts in the US, a country of over 300 million people.

“Across a number of dif-ferent dimensions this is a country undergoing a dra-matic population transforma-tion. Over the last decade our population has grown by 28 million – that’s half the popu-lation of the United Kingdom. Our Western European peers would be astounded with our size and growth,” he told IPS in an interview.

The report also says that large metro areas are gener-

ally aging faster than the rest of the country, but that this is a complex phenomenon that does not necessarily mean an older US population.

“The difference between the US and Japan and Ger-many is that they’re aging but they aren’t replenish-ing their younger ranks. We are, thanks to immigration and past immigration which is now creating new families with children in the US,” said Berube.

A recession-caused retrenchment The data for the report comes mainly from US Census Bu-reau survey data between

2000 and 2008. Its authors describe their results as pre-viewing “what we will learn from the results of the 2010 Census”.

“But most of these things are locked in. Aging is struc-tural. Increased diversity and educational attainment is largely structural. These aren’t affected by the pre-vailing economic winds,” notes Berube.

“The highest educat-ed places in the US have re-bounded more quickly and have been affected less by the recession,” said Beru-be. “The less educated areas coincide with these Sunbelt cities which built economies

around housing. They’ve been hit by reduced migra-tion, some of them are los-ing residents to other parts of the country and it’s a slow transition and recovery for them as they don’t have the same highly skilled workers as in other parts of the US.”

The report concludes, “the pace of change and complexity of US socie-ty only seems to multiply with each passing decade… Understanding – from the ground up – who Americans are, and who they are be-coming, is a critical step to-ward building constructive bridges before they become impassable divides.”

8 14 – 19 MAY 2010 HELSINKI TIMES

David J. Cord is a writer and columnist for the Helsinki Times. He is also a private investor with over ten years of international experience.

david@helsinkitimes.fi

BUSINESS

COLUMN

EUROPEAN politicians have moved into overdrive. Nor-mally they move at approximately the rate of continen-tal drift, but now they have been shocked into activity. The cause of their sudden celerity is, of course, the sov-ereign debt crisis.

LAST week the situation started to become more than a little worrisome. While the EU had long hours of dis-cussions regarding the wording of non-binding joint resolutions, market participants took matters into their own hands. Since Europe was showing no signs of any leadership or action to stop the crisis, investors lost faith and began to look for safer pastures. Austral-ia, Canada, Japan and the United States (reportedly four times) called EU leaders to suggest that they actu-ally do something besides call more meetings and issue meaningless statements to the press.

TO THE astonishment of everyone (including them-selves, probably), European politicians actually did something. They are establishing a massive fund of up to 750 billion euros to handle contagion. Some 500 billion could come from member states while another 250 could be provided by the IMF. The ECB entered into agreements with the Fed to provide US dollars to skit-tish markets, and they also announced their intentions to intervene in debt markets. And, once again, they promised to be fi scally responsible in the future.

OVERALL the Finnish Government seems willing to work with other European states. Out of the main po-litical parties only the Social Democrats have dragged their feet. Of course, this is their job in a parliamentary democracy: the opposition is the crazy person yelling nonsense on the street corner while the ruling coali-

tion pretends that they have sense and knows what they are doing.

HOWEVER, the SDP ap-parently got the idea that if nonsense was good, creepiness was better. Some of the statements drifting out of the SDP camp

are reminiscent of a class warfare pamphlet handed out by stoned hippies at a 1968 music festival. Lucki-ly the President has declined to tow the party line: she is still wearing her sensible Presidential hat and hasn’t swapped it for one made of tin foil.

FINNS have a right to be annoyed. We have been fi scally responsible, and now we have to contribute enormous sums of money to protect our free-spending neigh-bours. Since we don’t have enormous sums of money, we will have to borrow it. A very likely result of all this is that our borrowing costs will increase, and it will therefore cost more to fund our normal domestic budg-et. To bring down borrowing costs in other nations ours will have to increase. This is necessary, though. We have to do it.

WHERE does this leave investors? Politicians are al-ready annoyed with us because we refused to lend some countries money at cheap rates. They have learned that if they are a credit risk, then they have to pay just like anyone else. Contrary to all the talking points, this isn’t speculation. They can’t force us to lend to them – if they want our money they have to tax us, so we can expect more taxes in the future.

Crisis response

To the astonishment of everyone (includ-ing themselves, probably), European politicians actually did something.

DAV ID J . CORDHEL SINK I T IME S

Googled by Google

SOCIAL networking websites have surged in popularity dur-ing recent years. While many people use them solely to keep in touch with friends, some enterprising individuals use them to further their careers.

The world of social net-working websites is some-what fragmented. Habbo, IRC-Galleria and MySpace tend to cater to youth. Mux-lim is for Muslims, while Facebook is more gener-al. LinkedIn attracts pro-fessionals and allows them to network with colleagues or business partners. It was through LinkedIn that Ar-to Käyhkö received a life-changing contact.

‘Mail fromunknown sender’“I was on a business trip in China and opened a mail from an unknown sender,” Käyh-kö relates. “It stated that the person was from Google Hu-man Resources and they had seen my profi le in LinkedIn. It said that it was interesting for them and that they would like to talk to me about an opening in their organisation. At fi rst I thought this must be ‘phish-ing’ or some sort of joke and disregarded the mail. Then

they contacted me again and I was surprised that this was actually the world famous Google being interested in plain and ordinary me!”

Google was more than in-terested. After the initial con-tact Käyhkö went through a long and detailed interview process. He says it involved many emails, telephone calls and personal interviews both in Finland and in Ire-land. “I was named a person-al Google HR contact person that helped me with the proc-ess and all questions relat-ed to that,” he says. “He was great and it was good to have a ‘one stop service’ for all the matters that puzzled me. In-teresting enough, he was a Swede and we had good jokes about ice hockey in the Van-couver Olympics. Finland beat Sweden, but he still hired me.”

Now Käyhkö will be leav-ing his current job at Greater Helsinki Promotion and join-ing Google as a Manager for Online Sales and Operations for Scandinavia. He will be based in Dublin, Ireland, the location of Google’s Europe-an headquarters.

This great opportunity for Käyhkö began with his on-line profi le at LinkedIn. So what was so special about it? “Actually, I don’t know,” he laughs. “I have my guess-

an interesting position open they will contact candidates.”

Käyhkö goes on to give some advice on how to build a professional virtual pres-ence. “I always say: don’t lie, don’t be something that you are not in your profi les be-cause it can do a lot more damage to your reputation than good. Companies can easily fi nd out if you present false information there.”

However, he also suggests that people advertise their talents. “Don’t be too mod-est or lame,” Käyhkö says. “If you have skills and achieve-ments, present them. If you have worked for companies like Nokia or IBM in challeng-ing positions or projects, put them down on your profi le. If you have graduated from a top university with good grades put that there. It’s not bragging, even though for a Finn it might feel that way sometimes. Also, collect a network of people. It shows that you are social, able to network, and the people you know also tells about your character!”

One Finn has discovered that a judicious use of social networking has yielded a great step forward in his career.

es that my education, work history and connections suit-ed their needs. Also, I have led a similar kind of virtu-al account management or-ganisation for the Nordic area in my previous job at TeliaSonera.”

Advice for a virtual profileThe whole experience has changed Käyhkö’s feelings regarding social networking. “I have been a bit of a scep-tic with social media. I don’t have a Facebook profi le at all because I have felt that I have enough friends in real life and don’t have the time or effort to hook up so much,” he says. “A few years back I opened a LinkedIn account because it seemed interest-ing and professional enough to met people and business partners in telecom sur-roundings. I usually use it so that when I’m meeting a per-son that I don’t know I can look up his background and connections in LinkedIn.”

Now he recommends that all professionals or young tal-ents create a virtual profes-sional profi le. “I would say that based on my experience and from what I have learned, the big multinational corpo-rations place more and more effort on virtual head-hunt-ing and social media search,” Käyhkö explains. “Compa-nies like Google and Micro-soft might trace interesting persons for years to see how their professional compe-tences and networks devel-op, and then when they have

Some social networking websites are known to lure potential employers.

Know more. Read our latest news on your mobile at http://m.helsinkitimes.fi

Arto Käyhkö was headhunted by Google.

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9914 – 19 MAY 2010HELSINKI TIMES BUSINESS

E L IS A KOP ONE N – S T TM AT T HE W PA RRY – H T

T E E MU HE NRIK SSON – H TS T T

Finns are cautious investors

Forests are a stable investment

Vanhanen and Katainen laud EU stability deal

FINNS are not risk-takers in the world of investment, but instead rate security most highly when choosing where to invest their money.

Two out of three Finns prefer to settle for less gen-erous returns than chase a higher yield at the risk of losing some of their equity, reveals a study by the Fed-eration of Finnish Financial Services (FK).

Consumers want to channel their money into risk-free and trouble-free investments. A considera-tion of the anticipated re-turns is secondary to these requirements.

The study also shows that savings and investment ac-counts are by far the most popular form of investment, even though currently low

FORESTS are an increasing-ly interesting form of invest-ment among major investors. Some insurance companies, for example, have acquired major forest holdings for their portfolios.

“As an investment tar-get, forest is a sound addition to a share portfolio, since it provides a stable, even yield.

PRIME MINISTER Matti Van-hanen and Finance Minis-ter Jyrki Katainen brimmed with satisfaction on Mon-day 10 May due to the euro-zone stabilisation package approved the night before. The deal consists of a 750 bil-lion euro package which could be used in case another euro-zone country needs support in avoiding the kind of economic turmoil Greece is now in. Fin-land’s share in the package is more than 8 billion euros.

Vanhanen stated at a news conference held at Kesäranta, the prime min-ister’s summer residence, that the decision was a show of EU strength. “The posi-tive developments are al-ready starting,” Vanhanen affi rmed.

According to Katainen, it is very improbable that any crisis loans from the package are needed as the decision made on the stabilisation

interest rates make for mea-gre returns. Moreover, it is not uncommon for savers to just let their funds sit in a current account.

But the FK adds that Finns are more interested than be-fore in investing in shares and funds. Investment prop-erties have grown more pop-ular since last year.

Property is along-term investmentAround fi ve per cent of Finns own an investment proper-ty. The number of property investors has doubled over the last 20 years. According to Timo Metsola, CEO of re-al estate agency Vuokratur-va, much of that growth has occurred over the last 18 months.

Jittery share markets and low interest yields have made properties look promising in comparison, Metsola notes,

Karvonen notes. But many buyers of forest are moti-vated by more than fi nancial logic.

“You might buy up some of the neighbouring land to ensure nobody can move too close by. Some buyers want to participate in a hunting so-ciety, and it may be easier to gain access if they own their own forest,” Karvonen says.

Around one in fi ve Finns are members of a forest-owning family.

on a week after the decision to provide Greece with a 110 billion euro loan package by the eurozone countries and The International Monetary Fund.

Due to the loan package, Greece is obliged to take up a stark savings regime. As part of it, the Greek government approved on Monday a pen-sion reform bill that will cut pensions up to 20 per cent.

The Greek parliament will vote on the bill before it will be enacted. According to a representative of the Greek Ministry of Labour, the re-form will be introduced in parliament later this week at the earliest and the MPs will vote on it at the end of May.

Investment properties have grown more popular in recent years.

Finnish politicians are divided over the newly deviced stability pack-age while Greece starts taking measures to cut down deficit.

which has drawn funds into the property market.

A number of investors have entered the property market who make hasty in-vestment decisions. Metso-la stresses the importance of studying an investment be-fore opening one’s purse, and of basing decisions on arith-metic rather than feelings.

“It doesn’t pay to buy a pig in a poke. There’s a per-ception that any old studio

Matti Vanhanen and Jyrki Katainen expressed their satisfaction for the stabilisation package at Kesäranta on Monday.

Unstable share markets make property investment more attractive.

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Finns prioritise ecological housing Over 40 per cent of Finns prioritise environmental-ly friendly housing when searching for new prop-erty, according to a study published by real estate agent Kiinteistömaailma on Tuesday 11 May.

Energy effi ciency and a location with conven-ient public transport links were considered important by Finnish house buyers. However, ecological build-ing materials and meeting the latest environmental standards were rated as less important.

In addition to the pos-itive environmental im-pacts, savings on living costs and the higher resale value of ecological proper-ty were stated as reasons to buy environmentally friendly housing.

Around 670 property buyers across Finland an-swered the survey con-ducted this spring. STT

Metla to cut 115 jobs

The Finnish Forest Re-search Institute (Metla) said in a statement on Mon-day 10 May that they have started talks to cut around 115 jobs.

The statutory co-oper-ation procedure talks in-volve 350 employees from all units of the institute, excluding the 300 Metla re-searchers. According to the proposal, no individual re-search units will be closed.

Metla is a research in-stitute that operates under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. It employs a

total of around 800 people, of whom almost 200 have fi xed-term contracts. STT

Industry output up 1.7 pct yr/yr in March

Finnish industry output rose by 1.7 per cent in March from the year-ago period, Statistics Finland said in a statement Monday 10 May. The growth was most rapid in the forest industry reach-ing an increase of over 8 per cent in production.

Metal industry produc-tion grew for the fi rst time in nearly a year and a half whereas the electrical and electronic industry faced a decrease in output from the previous year. STT

Finns work during their summer holidays

Over half of Finns work during their summer holi-days, according to a poll re-leased by advertising and communications group So-prano on Monday 10 May.

Of the Finns polled, 73 per cent of men and 49 per cent of women work during their holidays. The survey al-so found that over half of re-spondents read their emails at least once a week during their summer vacations.

These fi gures are in part explained by the fact that in only eight per cent of cases, a replacement worker is hired to cover the holidays.

Just over 6,000 workers from Finnish companies responded to the survey, which was conducted at the beginning of May. STT

IN BRIEF

or two-room fl at is a good investment. People may not take into account that the building is old and due for renovation. Now that mort-gage rates are low, they may also forget that the present interest rate is temporary.”

A property investment can provide a steady yield. Hous-ing prices rise over the long term, and in addition to the rising value investors receive a monthly rental income.

There are around 800,000 rented dwellings in Finland, of which more than half are state-subsidised and just un-der half are purely private. Individual consumers own two thirds of all fully private dwellings.

Moreover, its price isn’t pure-ly determined by the mar-ket – natural growth in the tree stock also adds value,” explains Juhani Karvonen, executive director of the Finnish Forest Association.

Karvonen says that the forest is a more profi table investment than a savings account, but yields a low-

package would suffi ce to sta-bilise the markets. However, Katainen cautioned that it would take weeks or months for the situation to stabilise, despite the welcome recep-tion given to the package by the markets.

In Spain and Portugal, where investors feared the crisis would move to next, stock prices rose after the stabilisation package was decided on. In Spain the in-crease was over 14 per cent and in Portugal almost 11 per cent.

While the government lauded the EU’s rescue deal, the opposition’s Eero Heinäluoma, chair of the So-cial Democrats’ parliamenta-ry group, saw the measures as simply underlining the need to reform the entire fi -nancial system.

“We cannot continue handing the taxpayer the bill every time,” Heinäluoma said on Monday.

He added that the Finn-ish government had com-

er long-term return than shares. The return on forests averages 3-4 per cent. The return varies depending on how actively the owner man-ages his forests.

Forest prices are high at the moment because demand exceeds supply. In many cas-es, forest prices have exceed-ed their anticipated return,

pletely reversed its position from opposing an EU level response to the Greek crisis one week ago to lauding Sun-day night’s massive emer-gency measures.

The 750 billion euro emer-gency package was decided

10 14 – 19 MAY 2010 HELSINKI TIMESSPORT

MIK A OK S A NE NHEL SINK I T IME S

TOMI OR AVA INE NS T T

Strikeouts, stats and sawn-off bats

Finns go for individual sports

“BASEBALL in Finland? Sure-ly you mean the Finnish var-iant, pesäpallo?” No siree, Bob. The US national pastime has found a permanent foot-ing on our shores, and there has been a baseball season in Finland every summer since the early 1980s. With-out a blip on my radar screen, many point out. Indeed, countless are the victims of stealth, the quintessen-tial sneakiness in the fake throws, base-running dekes, checked swings and feinted tags. Conversely, a transpar-ent fact is that in 2010, a total of 45 top-level games will be played in the Finnish regular

INDIVIDUAL sports have rap-idly increased in popularity in Finland. In addition to gyms, running trails have attracted tens of thousands of new run-ners in just four years.

“I have been running and attending running events just for fun for almost ten years. Now I have a seven-month-old daughter at home, so these are my fi rst runs in a while,” says Paula Kujan-sivu, who is enjoying a run in the Central Park of Helsinki.

According to the Nation-al Sports Survey, more than half of 19 to 65-year-old Finns exercise at least four times a week. Around one in fi ve de-scribe their exercise habits as intensive and strenuous.

Kujansivu has a back-ground in sport but now she exercises to stay healthy. “I had a six-month break after giving birth, but before that I ran four or fi ve times a week, often in the morning.”

Around 5,500 working-age Finns and some 1,000 people aged 66-79 were interviewed for the National Sports Survey.

Active exercisers doing even moreA tenth of the respondents said they exercised at most once a week, whereas 90 per cent stated that they man-aged to exercise at least twice a week. According to Jorma Savola, secretary-general of the Finnish Sport for All Asso-ciation, it is diffi cult to tell how well the results actually refl ect reality. However, he supposes that the question of exercise also divides Finland: “Those who have exercised in the past exercise even more now.”

A more distinct change has taken place in the pop-ularity of different sports. Individual sports have rap-idly increased in popularity, whereas many team sports, such as rink bandy, fl oorball and football, have been los-ing players. Walking is still the top sport, even though its popularity has slowly dwin-dled in the past decade.

“The biggest change of all is the increasing use of pri-vate company services. The market share of private com-panies has surpassed that of sports clubs for the fi rst time.

Baseball is one of the world’s most popular team games, but it marches on as a fringe sport in Finland.

As Finns work out more, companies have overtaken sports clubs as service providers.

Despite lack of a genuine playing field, Finland is ranked 61st among the worlds baseball nations, and is still expected to improve.

season, stretching from ear-ly May until mid-August, fol-lowed by the play-offs where the championship team will emerge by the onset of September.

Whether the Espoo Expos, winners of seven straight Finnish championships, can be knocked down from their throne remains to be seen. And seeing is believing, con-sidering their apparent dedi-cation and strong work ethic. As reigning champions, the Expos will see international action in June at the Europe-an-level qualifi ers in Croatia. But the challengers will nev-er fold up the tent until the camping season subsides. The Icebreakers, the peren-nial runner-ups, fi eld an ex-

The gym boom is behind this shift.”

In the 21st century, the share of the adult population using company sports serv-ices has tripled, climbing to 15 per cent, whereas sports clubs only attract 14 per cent.

Marathon challengesAccording to Savola, sports that are easy to practice reg-ularly, several times a week, are popular now.

“This is the easiest sport there is, and people have start-ed taking better care of them-selves nowadays,” Cedric Oueslati, another runner in the Central Park, who ponders the popularity of his sport.

Oueslati, who drives a taxi, used to play football and fl oorball, but switched to run-ning because it was easier to fi t into his daily schedules.

Both Oueslati and Kujan-sivu mention marathons as great challenges to running. Oueslati has run three mar-athons, while Kujansivu has run in seven.

“I enjoy it and have fun in-stead of forcing it. Running should always make you feel good, so that you can toast at the fi nish line. It’s better to take it slow and run the whole distance. I run with my sister, and we talk through the whole marathon,” Kujansivu de-scribes her marathon strategy.

Oueslati will run his next marathon this summer.

“I won’t run this summer, but maybe next summer. My sister and I are going to run the New York City Marathon one day,” Kujansivu says.

citing mix of Latin fl air and home-grown fortitude to go all the way in the best-case scenario.

Victims of circumstances but grinders all the sameBaseball in Finland has al-ways suffered from a lack of a genuine playing fi eld with a grass surface, a dirt dia-mond and a proper pitch-er’s mound. Having to pitch from a chipboard stand and to fi eld on hard and uneven sand obviously takes away something from the game. Advocates of the sport have long lobbied with the City of Helsinki for confi nes ex-clusive to baseball, so far for nought. For the off-sea-son, however, there are good practise facilities available at the new ‘Pallomylly’ hall in Myllypuro, Helsinki.

sudoku SOLUTION ON PAGE 18

Even with the circum-stantial shortcomings, the Finnish league is the real deal. The rules are the same as in North America, barring minor local adaptations with respect to roster depths and the said fi eld constraints. In-ternationally, Finland cur-rently ranks 61st among the world’s baseball nations and you can earnestly expect this to improve. Many play-ers have good skills and most teams are well versed in the game’s strategic subtleties. Moreover, the standard of offi ciating is high. Many Fin-land umpires have a good in-ternational track record and, impressively, one has donned blue in a stateside Triple-A game, the highest minor-league level.

The Finnish circuit is a cosmopolitan one: you hear players speak American Eng-lish, Latin American Spanish and contemporary Helsin-ki slang in sweet disharmo-ny; this summer coupled with Estonian, in the courte-sy of the Tallinn-based Kiilin Pantterit. They will compete with the fi ve Finnish top-level teams, fi rst ramming the Icebreakers at Ruskeas-uo (street address Ratsast-ie 10) in Helsinki on 16 May, the coming Sunday. Volcan-ic ash clouds will seem like puff pastries compared with the high-charged electric arcs sparked by the budding cross-Gulf rivalries. Come climb the Jacob’s ladder at the ballgame.

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Visit the Finnish Baseball and Softball Federation website at www.baseball.fi for season schedules, game results and links to club websites.

Quick, brisk exercise

– Walking, cycling, working out at the gym, skiing and running are the most pop-ular sports.

– 62% of the respondents describe their exercise as brisk, and a fifth describe it as strenuous.

– 38% exercise to stay fit, a fifth exercise at a more athletic level and 5% con-sider themselves competi-tive athletes.

– The majority of respond-ents estimate that they spend around €200 a year on their sport, the average being €570.

– Men spend more money on their sport than women.

Cedric Oueslati dreams of running the New York City Marathon one day.

111114 – 19 MAY 2010HELSINKI TIMES FINLAND IN THE WORLD PRESS

READERS' LETTERS

TV licence fee shouldonly apply to Finnish channel viewers

I have been living in Finland for sometime, and I know that anyone who watches television must pay a licence fee of around 230 euros per year. However, I thought the law only applied to the Finnish channel viewers. Later I realised that the law applies to anyone with a television at home, even if your television’s only use is a stand for your fl ower vase. I learned this when the television fee inspector visited and left a note for us, declaring that we were considered illegal television viewers and that we would receive regular bills as well as a punishment fi ne.

I called customer service and explained that we on-ly watched foreign channels, but the only answer that we were given was “sorry sir, this is the law.”

If it’s an “entertainment fee”, why should I pay it? I am the one who has bought all components of the en-tertainment set myself: the satellite dish, receiver, the television and I’m paying for the electricity bill. Why does the fee go to the Finnish National Broadcasting company YLE in particular? The fee would seem logical if I was to watch Finnish YLE, but I’m not watching any Finnish channels. Why should I be treated the same as the one who enjoys YLE’s daily programmes?

Every time I watch a native channel, I look through the window and imagine how the process occurs; the signals originate from the broadcasting unit in the Middle East, they are sent to Hotbird from which they travel through the air to my satellite dish outside the window, to my receiver and then onto the television screen. What role did Finnish YLE play in this proc-ess? Apparently none. Abiding to the law is not a good enough answer to pay the fee in our case.

Ahmed Salem, Helsinki

Finland second most competitive EU economy

BLOOMBERG BUSINESSWEEK 10 May. JONES HAYDEN

Nokia launches patent suit over iPad

Exposure to smoke in womb risks psychiatric problems

How the Finns got it so right

FINANCIAL TIMES 8 May. JOSEPH MENN, ANDREW WARD AND MAIJA PALMER

THE VANCOUVER SUN 5 May. TRACY SHERLOCK

IRISHTIMES.COM 11 May. SEÁN FLYNN

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“THE BURGEONING legal chal-lenges to Apple over its rapid advances in mobile computing mounted yesterday when Fin-land’s Nokia launched a patent infringement suit over the iPad.

Nokia accused Apple in a US federal court in Wisconsin of infringing fi ve patents in the iPad, which has sold one mil-lion units since its US debut in

“SMOKING during pregnan-cy can increase the need for medication in childhood and young adulthood, according to a study in Vancouver at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting at the Van-couver Convention Centre.

Researchers found that adolescents who had been ex-posed to prenatal smoking were at increased risk for use of all psychiatric drugs, par-ticularly those used to treat depression, attention-defi cit/hyperactivity disorder (AD-HD) and addiction, compared to non-exposed youths.

“FINNISH schools – like those in Ireland – complain about a lack of resources and about class size. The provi-

March. Nokia’s suit cites tech-nology used to enhance speech and data transmission and an-tenna innovations that allow for more compact devices.

‘These patented innova-tions are important to Nokia’s success as they allow improved product performance and de-sign,’ the Finnish company said in a statement. Apple had

‘Recent studies show that maternal smoking dur-ing pregnancy may interfere with brain development of the growing foetus,’ said Mi-kael Ekblad, 23, lead author of the study and a paediat-ric researcher at Turku Uni-versity Hospital in Finland. ‘By avoiding smoking during pregnancy, all the later psy-chiatric problems caused by smoking exposure could be prevented.’

Results of Ekblad’s study show 12.3 per cent of the young adults studied had used psychiatric drugs. Of

sion of information technol-ogy in schools is still patchy. Schools are functional, sen-sible places. Finland spends

Maternal smoking during pregnancy may interfere with brain devel-opment of the growing foetus.

Professional teachers are the heart of Finnish education.

L EH T IK U VA / M A R JA A IRIO

“SWEDEN remained the most competitive economy in the European Union, followed by Finland and Denmark, ac-cording to the World Eco-nomic Forum study.

Those three Nordic na-tions ranked above the Neth-erlands, Luxembourg and Germany in the analysis,

which is based on indicators such as economic and pro-ductivity growth, research and development spending, and unemployment.

Europe’s economies are struggling to recover from the worst worldwide recession since World War II. While re-viving global growth has boost-

no immediate response. The Finnish company, the world’s biggest mobile phone maker, is already in dispute with Apple over alleged patent infringe-ment in the iPhone.

The latest patent dispute, as well as the earlier cases, will aim to establish whether the intellectual property that powers Apple’s mobile devices owes more to the world of mo-bile telephony or mainstream computing. Apple has also sued Nokia and HTC, the Taiwanese smartphone maker, which is al-so gaining market share...”

ed exports, consumer spending within the region remains weak and Greece’s spreading debt crisis is clouding the outlook.

The Nordic countries ‘are the strongest European per-formers in the area of inno-vation, attributable to their companies’ aggressiveness in adopting new technologies and their level of spending on R&D,’ according to the study. It also cited ‘the high degree of collaboration between universities and the private-sector in research’ in these nations...”

no more than the OECD aver-age on education. But there is nothing average about its performance.

Finland is top of the class. In science, Finnish 15 year-olds were ranked fi rst among 56 countries in the latest 2006 OECD survey. In reading lit-eracy, the Finns were second to South Korea (they came fi rst in 2003). In maths they came second to Taiwan. Bet-ter still, Finland had one of the smallest discrepancies be-tween the best and worst per-formers. Overall, the OECD concluded that the Finnish ed-ucation system was the best in the world… It is built on a sense of trust and confi dence in teachers. Essentially, Finn-ish children learn well be-cause they’re taught well. All

those, 19.2 per cent had been exposed to prenatal smoking.

Ekblad’s study was done using information from the Finnish Medical Birth Reg-ister for all children born in

Finland from 1987 to 1989. The researchers analysed records on mothers’ psychi-atric in-patient care from 1969-1989 and children’s use of psychiatric drugs…”

teachers are required to have a masters degree; most will spend a minimum of fi ve-and-a-half years acquiring expert knowledge and learning how to teach it.

Good teaching – and pub-lic confi dence that an excep-tional cohort of teachers will deliver exceptional results – is at the heart of Finnish ed-ucation. Refl ecting on their success, one senior OECD fi g-ure, Andreas Schleicher com-mented, ‘In most countries, education feels like a car fac-tory. In Finland, the teachers are the entrepreneurs’…”

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12 14 – 19 MAY 2010 HELSINKI TIMESSUMMER FESTIVALS

PipefestWhen: 29-31 JulyWhere: Vuokatti, SotkamoWho’s there: Redrama, Prop Dylan,Ritarikunta, Paleface, Petri Nygård,Koivuniemenherrat, Pyhimys&Mediumwww.pipefest.net

Kuopio RockcockWhen: 30-31 JulyWhere: Väinölänniemi, KuopioWho’s there: Hardcore Superstar (SWE), Metsätöll (EST),The Baseballs (DE), Turmion Kätilöt, SotajumalaTickets: €36-42/55www.kuopiorock.fi

QstockWhen: 30-31 JulyWhere: Kuusisaari, OuluWho’s there: Europe (SWE), Chisu, Husky Rescue, Gösta Berlings Saga (SWE), Raised Fist (SWE),Meshuggah (SWE), TuomoTickets: €39-43/69www.qstock.org

TyykibluesWhen: 30-31 JulyWhere: ForssaWho’s there: Doug MacLeod (US), Wentus Blues BandTickets: tbawww.tyykiblues.fi

AUGUST

Sonisphere FestivalWhen: 7-8 AugustWhere: Kirjurinluoto, PoriWho’s there: Slayer (US),HIM, The Cult (GB),Iron Maiden (GB), Iggy & The Stooges (US), Alice Cooper (US), Mötley Crue (US),Heaven & Hell (GB),Anthrax (US), Serj Tankian (US),Alice In Chains (US)Tickets: €69-89/125fi.sonispherefestival.net

Jurassic Rock When: 13-14 AugustWhere: Visulahti, MikkeliWho’s there: The Sounds (SWE), Lapko, No Shame, Jaakko & Jay, EläkeläisetTickets: €55www.jurassicrock.fi

Jalometalli Metal Music FestivalWhen: 13-14 AugustWhere: Club Teatria, OuluWho’s there: Triptykon (SUI),Gorgoroth (NOR), Carcass (GB), Suffocation (US), Macabre (US) Tickets: €60

Flow Festival When: 13-15 AugustWhere: Suvilahti, HelsinkiWho’s there: Air (FRA),Jónsi (ISL), LCD Soundsystem (US), M.I.A. (GB), Ulver (NOR),The xx (GB), Tickets: €102www.flowfestival.com

AnkkarockWhen: 14-15 AugustWhere: Korso, VantaaWho’s there: Against Me! (US), The Baseballs (DE),The Sounds (SWE),The Ark (SWE),Scandinavian Music Group,Children Of BodomTickets: €45/80www.ankkarock.fi

Helsinki Festival(Helsingin juhlaviikot)When: 20 August-5 SeptemberWhere: HelsinkiWho’s there: Amparo Sánchez (SPA), Lisa Nilsson (SWE),Chucho Valdés & The Afro-Cuban Messengers (CUB),Staff Benda Bilili (CON),Mayra Andrade (CAP)Tickets: several priceswww.helsinginjuhlaviikot.fi

‘10s

ummer

JUNE

Turku Soundcheck When: 4-6 JuneWhere: TurkuWho’s there: Devin The Dude (US), Joey Fever (SWE), Ritarikunta,Kapteeni Ä-ni,Joku Roti Mafia feat.Hannibal, Stepa,Edorf & TykopaattiTickets: €16-20/30www.turkusoundcheck.com

Helsinki Live When: 5 JuneWhere: Käpylä, HelsinkiWho’s there: Guns N’ Roses (US), Skunk Anansie (GB), Danko Jones (CAN), White Lies (GB),Michael MonroeTickets: €89www.helsinkilivefestival.fi

Naantalin MusiikkijuhlatChamber/ClassicalWhen: 8-20 JuneWhere: NaantaliWho’s There: Rajaton, Felicity Lott (DE), Korean ChamberOrchestra (KOR)Tickets: €0-50www.naantalinmusiikkijuhlat.fi

Lumo JazzWhen: 10-13 JuneWhere: Restaurant Wanha Satama,KuopioWho’s there: Emma SalokoskiEnsemble, Marzi Nymanin Iso Orkes-teri, Tuomo, Jukka Perkon NelitahtiTickets: €15-20/50www.lumojazz.fi

Sauna Open Air FestivalWhen: 10-12 JuneWhere: Eteläpuisto, TampereWho’s there: Kiss (USA),Death Angel (US), Danzig (US),69 Eyes, Amorphis,Anvil (CAN)Tickets: €45-65/100www.sauna-open-air.fi

Kivenlahti Rock When: 11-13 JuneWhere: Kivenlahti, EspooWho’s there: Metsätöll (EST), Spar-zanza (SWE), Jukkapoika & Sound Explosion Band, Sonata ArcticaTickets: €34-39/55/75www.kivenlahtirock.com

Provinssirock When: 18-20 JuneWhere: Törnävä, SeinäjokiWho’s there: Rammstein (DE), Thirty Seconds To Mars (US),Between The Buried And Me (US), Wolfmother (AUS),Cypress Hill (US),Mew (DK)Tickets: €65-70/85-88/110www.provinssirock.fi

NummirockWhen: 24-26 JuneWhere: Nummijärvi, KauhajokiWho’s there: Sepultura (BRA),Six Feet Under (US), Venom (GB), Dark Tranquility (SWE)Tickets: €50/€85www.nummirock.fi

PuistobluesWhen: 24 June-4 JulyWhere: JärvenpääWho’s there: ZZ Top (US), John Lee Hooker Jr. (US), Eddie Cotton Band (US), The BallsTickets: Main event €62www.puistoblues.fi

JULY

Haapavesi Folk Music FestivalWhen: 1-4 JulyWhere: HaapavesiWho’s there: Trio Khoury (JOR), Daimh (SCO), David Grier (US), Luna Nova, Wentus Blues Band, Samuli PutroTickets: €35/60/70www.haapavesifolk.com

Tuska Open Air Metal FestivalWhen: 2-4 JulyWhere: Kaisaniemi, HelsinkiWho’s there: Mastodon (US),Devin Townsend (US),Megadeth (US), Satyricon (NOR), RytmihäiriöTickets: €50-54/98www.tuska-festival.fi

ÄmyrockWhen: 3 JulyWhere: Kaupunginpuisto,Hämeenlinna

Who’s there: Masshysteri (SWE),I Was A Teenage Satan Worshipper,Radiopuhelimet, Manna, KariPeitsamoTickets: €0www.amyrock.org

Tangomarkkinat(Finnish) Tango, SchlagerWhen: 7-11 JulyWhere: SeinäjokiWho’s there: Finalists of the Tango Singing ContestTickets: tbawww.tangomarkkinat.fi

Lumous Gothic FestivalGothicWhen: 8-11 JulyWhere: TampereWho’s there: XP8 (ITA),Nosferatu (GB),Leaether Strip (DK),The Cemetary Girlz (FRA),Grooving In Green (GB),Kuroshio,Deutsch Nepal (SWE)Tickets: tbawww.lumous.net

Summer UpWhen: 9-10 JulyWhere: Mukkulan ranta, LahtiWho’s there: Jätkäjätkät,Raappana, Paleface, JukkaPoika, Redrama, Uniikki,Cheek with Live BandTickets: €22/38www.summerup.fi

Kihaus Folk Music FestivalClassical/ChamberWhen: 9-11 JulyWhere: RääkkyläWho’s there: GangZi (CHN), L.R. Phoenix (GB), Rat CatsTickets: €20-25

Baltic JazzWhen: 9-11 JulyWhere: Taalintehdas,(near Turku)Who’s there: Wentus Blues Band, Emma Salokoski & IlmiliekkiQuartet, Lil’ Linn & The Lookout Boys (SWE)Tickets: €0-90www.balticjazz.com

Ruisrock When: 9-11 JulyWhere: Ruissalo, TurkuWho’s there: Belle & Sebastian (GB), Ozzy Osbourne (GB),NOFX (US), Baroness (US),The Specials (GB),Porcupine Tree (GB),Flogging Molly (US),The Sonics (US)Tickets: €65-70/95/110www.ruisrock.fi

Kaustinen Folk MusicFestivalWhen: 12-18 JulyWhere: KaustinenWho’s there: Ainslie & Henderson (IRL), Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole (US), Ivo Papasov Wedding Band (BGR), Klapp (EST),Maria José Franco FlamencoEnsemble (ESP)Tickets: €25-32www.kaustinen.net

Jyväskylän KesäClassicalWhen: 13-18 JulyWhere: JyväskyläWho’s there: Linda Tilleryand the Cultural HeritageChoir (US), J. KarjalainenPolkabilly Rebels,Belle Who,Anna Puu, Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole (US), Jasmin Levy (ISR),Farmers Market (NOR),TokyoPhilharmonicChorus (JPN)Tickets: €3-93www.jyvaskylankesa.fi

TammerfestWhen: 14-17 JulyWhere: Various locations in TampereWho’s there: Lapko, Matti Nykänen & Samurai, Disco Ensemble,Klamydia, Freak Kitchen (SWE),I Walk The LineTickets: €0-30www.tammerfest.fi

Rauma BluesWhen: 16-17 JulyWhere: RaumaWho’s there: Candi Stanton (US), James ”Super Chikan” Johnson (US), LeRoi Brothers (US), J.Karjalainen Polkabilly RebelsTickets: €49www.raumablues.com

Real RockperryWhen: 16-17 JulyWhere: VaasaWho’s there: The Valkyrians,Lapko, Irina, Stalingrad Cowgirls,Eppu Normaali, Vesterinen YhtyeineenTickets: €35www.rockperry.fi

IlosaarirockWhen: 16-18 JulyWhere: Laulurinne, JoensuuWho’s there: Faith No More (US), DJ Shadow (US), Katatonia (SWE), Bad Religion (US), I Walk The Line, Imogen Heap (GB)Tickets: €75www.ilosaarirock.fi

SimerockWhen: 16-18 JulyWhere: Ounaspaviljonki,RovaniemiWho’s there: Michael Monroe, Uniklubi, Egotrippi, Turmion Kätilöt, Negative, DingoTickets: €70www.simerock.fi

Pori Jazz When: 17-25 JulyWhere: PoriWho’s there: Tori Amos (US),Jeff Beck (US), N.E.R.D. (US),Massive Attack (GB),Melody Gardot (US)Tickets: €0-68www.porijazz.fi

SuomipopfestivaaliWhen: 22-24 JulyWhere: Vanha Veturitalli, JyväskyläWho’s there: Martti Servo & Na-pander, Poets Of The Fall, Ismo Alanko & Teho-osasto, PMMP, YöTickets: €35/55/65popfestivaali.fi

Wanaja FestivalWhen: 23-24 JulyWhere: HämeenlinnaWho’s there: Kent (SWE), Eppu Normaali, Stratovarius, JenniVartiainen, Mokoma, MaijaVilkkumaa, The WinylsTickets: €35-40/55www.wanajafestival.fi

Sunset Beach PartyWhen: 23-24 JulyWhere: Pyhäjärven uimaranta, KarkkilaWho’s there: Agents,Jenni Vartiainen, Happoradio,Maija VilkkumaaTickets: €20-26/43www.sunsetbeachparty.net

Faces EtnofestivalWhen: 23-25 JulyWhere: Gumnäs, RaaseporiWho’s there: Pelle Miljoona,Pappas Eget Band, Markcheider Kunst (RUS), KaikuaistiTickets: €5-30/45/50www.faces.fi

Down By The Laituri (DBTL)When: 27 July-1 AugustWhere: TurkuWho’s there:Eläkeläiset, EppuNormaali, Tommi Läntinen, Yö,Matti & Teppo, DingoTickets: €30-www.dbtl.fi

Seinäjoki • Helsinki • Pori • Imatra • Turku • Savonlinna • Joensuu • Turku • Kaustinen • Karjaa

Key:

metal indie/alternativepop/rock hip-hop/R’n’B ethno/folk jazz/blueselectronic

Ticket prices are advance prices,where available.

www.faces.

faces®etnofestival23–25/7/2010 gumnäs/raseborg

131314 – 19 MAY 2010HELSINKI TIMES SUMMER FESTIVALS

tickets 58–102 , available at www.tiket t i .fi

11.8. Opening Concert: lcd Soundsystem (us) and more / 13.– 15.8. m.i.a. (sri/uk), The xx (uk), Air (fra), Jónsi from Sigur Rós (isl),

Robyn (swe), Junip feat. José Gonzales (swe), Marina And The Diamonds (uk), Jimi Tenor & Tony Allen: Inspiration Information &

(fi/ngr), Mulatu Astatke (eth), Wovenhand (us), Ulver (nor), The Drums (us), Beach House (us), Timo Lassy Orchestra w/ José James

(fi/us), Omar Souleyman (syr), Miike Snow (swe), Ricardo Villalobos (chi), Major Lazer (us), dj Harvey (us), Aeroplane (bel), Four

Tet (uk), Joker (uk), Vladislav Delay (fi), Jori Hulkkonen (fi), Villa Nah (fi), Husky Rescue (fi), Ricky-Tick Big Band (fi) and more

14 14 – 19 MAY 2010 HELSINKI TIMES

WE HAVE probably all heard of life coaching, but what does it involve? Seated in her light and airy consultation room in Lauttasaari, experienced life coach Satu Jääsalo explains what her work is all about.

“I assist people to see themselves more fully, to see a bigger world of possi-bilities. This is not about do-ing the impossible, but about taking small steps to be closer to what is possible,” Jääsalo says.

LOUIS A G A IRNHEL SINK I T IME S

LOUIS A G A IRNHEL SINK I T IME S

Life coaching: The facts

Stuck in a rut? Perhaps you need a life coach

found themselves at a cross-road, whether in their career or in personal relationships, and need support in deciding which path to take.”

The emphasis of life coaching, says Jääsalo, is on positive emotions and posi-tive thinking, and should not be confused with therapy.

“Life coaching is total-ly different from therapy. It may sometimes feel like it, because we listen close-ly to the client, but we don’t dwell on negative experi-ences. We try to help cli-ents become aware of where they have been successful in the past, where their cur-rent strengths lie and how they can accomplish their future goals. When you go to a coach, you need to have

LIFESTYLE

Laventeli

Lavender Wellness RoomsLife coaching services

offered in English, Finnish, Swedish and French.

www.hyvanolonlaventeli.fi

After experiencing the positive effects of life coaching, Anitta Koskinen decided to become a life coach herself.

Satu Jääsalo uses different methods in helping her clients improve their lives. With the help of life coaching cards, they are able to identify their strengths that are needed to solve a particular problematic situation.

“Everyone is their own best expert on their own life. Peo-ple sometimes think that life coaches give advice, but what we actually do is help clients ask the right questions, fi nd their own answers and their own inner strength to change their lives for the better.”

“We help them to analyse what they like and dislike about their lives, and to get a clearer idea of what it is that they want to accomplish, and how that can be achieved,” she explains.

“Very often, the client just needs the right kind of boost

to make that fi rst step. That’s where life coaching comes in; they feel empowered to change and that they are not alone in the journey.”

Clients come to Jääsalo with a variety of concerns: being a good parent, im-proving their personal rela-tionships, fi nding a partner, changing careers or accom-plishing other long-term goals.

“Many people want to fi nd a deeper sense of mean-ing in their lives, to get to know themselves bet-ter. Most of my clients have

enough strength to look for-ward – and the will and com-mitment to move on.”

Unlocking the potentialAs a mother of three, who spent over 15 years work-ing in the travel industry be-fore changing to her present career, Jääsalo has personal experience of the challeng-es and opportunities many of her clients face.

“I feel my main task in life is to help people become con-nected with themselves bet-ter, and to better understand their motivations and to help them realise their underlying potential. In the millennium, I started to notice that people were unhappy, stressed out, tired and unmotivated. I want-ed to do something about it but I didn’t have the right tools at the time,” she says.

Taking a career break to study shiatsu massage was her fi rst step, which was soon followed by a formal qualifi -cation in life coaching, which enabled her to establish her own coaching business.

“It’s very inspiring work. I couldn’t imagine doing an-ything else. I think that life coaching is for everybody – me included,” she adds. “Whatever problematic sit-uation I encounter, I call my colleague and ask for help. When you say things aloud you bring the problem out in-to the open, and you can be-gin to take the right steps towards solving it.”

Depending on the client’s needs and wishes, Jääsalo meets them a few times over

a three-month period, usual-ly face to face, or sometimes by telephone or online using Skype. She also works with groups, both informally and in workplace settings.

Ultimately, working with a life coach is about fi nding your own path she explains. “There is so much pressure to be suc-cessful these days, but perhaps society’s criteria are not your own ideas of success. There is a danger of living someone else’s life. We all need to identify our own values and dreams, and be proud of them. If we don’t allow our lives to refl ect our own core values, then we lose ourselves.”

“I want to bring an aware-ness to every client that they do have choices and oppor-tunities at all times. The question is whether you act on them, or ignore them. If something isn’t working, why keep hitting your head against the wall? Maybe it’s time to think about the issue in a different way.”

“It may feel like it’s im-possible to change, but that’s just a belief,” she assures. “It doesn’t have to be true. If you can’t change the situation, you can change your attitude and the way you deal with it. It often just takes a few small steps to change life for the better.”

More people turn to life coaching to help them change their lives for the better.

Professional life coach Anitta Koskinen gives the low-down on life coaching in Finland.

K RIS TA SIH VONEN

KR

ISTA

SIH

VO

NE

N

KR

ISTA

SIH

VO

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N

A: All kinds of people. My clients vary in age from 21-60, are both men and wom-en and come from different types of work and social backgrounds. Recently many people have come to me with work-related concerns, but I’ve also had several clients going through transition is-sues, not only non-Finnish

people moving to Finland but also Finnish people mov-ing back after several years abroad.

I have personally gained so much when being life coached and now working as one I can highly recommend it to anyone. And it doesn’t mean you need to have big problems in your life. We can

all do with a person who is always in our corner, guid-ing and supporting us no matter what.

Q: What is life coaching?A: Life coaching is a future-focused practice with the aim of helping clients deter-mine and achieve personal goals. The profession has its roots in executive coaching, which itself drew on tech-niques developed in man-agement consulting and leadership training.

Life coaches help clients reach goals through mentor-ing, values assessment, be-haviour modifi cation and modelling, goal setting and other techniques. Coaches are not therapists or consult-ants; psychological interven-tion and business analysis are outside the scope of their work.

Q: What’s the Finnish approach?A: Life coaching is still quite a young profession in Fin-land in comparison to oth-er European countries, but it has grown in popularity over the last few years due to the increasing number of full-time profession-al coaches. Life coaches are used by private clients and also increasingly by Finn-ish employers, who recog-nise that the wellbeing and job satisfaction of their staff is important for business success. Many coaches in Finland are becoming spe-cialised in a particular area, for example career develop-ment, and I think this will make it easier for clients to choose the right life coach for them.

In Finland all life coach-es have to go through at least one year’s academic train-ing and plenty of coaching practice to get a profession-al diploma, unlike other countries, where you can be-come a life coach after on-ly a weekend course. I’m a member of the Internation-al Coach Federation Finland, and to be professionally cer-tifi ed by them you have to renew your qualifi cations every three years. This helps the coaches stay up to date and also means clients can be confi dent about their coach’s abilities.

Q: How much does it usual-ly cost?A: This depends greatly on the type of life coaching we are talking about and if it is only a couple of visits or over sever-al months. Generally the price per hour is 50-150 euros.

Q: What sorts of people use a life coach?

Corecoach

Service in Finnish, Englishor Italian.

www.corecoach.fi

151514 – 19 MAY 2010HELSINKI TIMES CULTURE

THE INTERNATIONAL Culture Centre Caisa, which is part of the City of Helsinki Cultur-al offi ce, is a supporter of di-verse performing arts. After three successful years of Cai-sa’s Ourvision Song contest, the centre has now produced a spin-off for dance lovers in the form of the Ourvision Goes Dancing contest. This year six fi nalists in the youth and adult classes will make it to semi-fi -nals on Friday 14 May. Tryouts began in April and the contest endured a successful turnout of about 92 applicants.

Kitari Mayele, Ourvision Goes Dancing contest organ-iser, says that about 70 per cent of the applicants were groups, with nearly 200 peo-ple entering in total.

“This contest brings an electric atmosphere,” Mayele says. “It’s the fi rst time that we’ve had this, and I am happy and the audience is happy.”

L IIS A S A H A MIE SHEL SINK I T IME S

With music comes dancing

Viljo Revell

Until 16 MayThe Didrichsen Art Museum

Kuusilahdenkuja 1Tickets €0/2/6/8

www.didrichsenmuseum.fi

Ourvision Goes Dancing

14 May 19:00.Savoy Theatre

Kasarminkatu 46Tickets: €8/12www.caisa.fi

THIS WEEK sees a number of diverse musical performanc-es at the Savoy Theatre, with three evenings in particular offering audiences a memo-rable taste of different cul-tures and musical styles.

Charismatic Russian group Drago will perform their world-renowned gyp-sy music, playing in Finland for the fi rst time on 15 May. Taking their name from dra-go, which means “dear” or “beloved person” in both the Romani and Romani-an languages, their concert intertwines Russian gyp-sy romanticism and colour-ful dance performances, with romantic love songs and skilled instrumentalism.

The group is accompanied by a performance by Mervi Myllyoja, a rising violinist from Helsinki who is estab-lishing a name for herself with her charismatic style.

Grammy Award winning Beninese singer Angélique Kidjo brings her unique song-writing skills and diverse music to Finland yet again on 17 May. Showcasing her most recent release Õÿö, the Savoy Theatre stage will be ablaze with beats and rhythms guaranteed to get the audi-ence on its feet.

Having previously made an impact covering an array of musical styles including Afrobeat, Congolese rumba, jazz and funk, Kidjo’s new al-bum further showcases her diverse musical interests – even incorporating a Bolly-wood cover. With a sizeable worldwide following, Kid-jo has previously performed with artists as varied as Pe-

JA ME S O ’ SUL L I VA NHEL SINK I T IME S

ter Gabriel, Alicia Keyes and Josh Stone.

A UNICEF Goodwill Am-bassador since 2002, Kid-jo is a committed activist; having founded The Baton-ga Foundation across fi ve Af-rican nations, which seeks to change the future of young African girls by offering them secondary and higher education.

Showcasing a distin-guished career that has spanned nearly four decades British singer, songwriter and guitarist Joan Armat-rading performs on 18 May. Recently embarking on a

Drago & Mervi Myllyoja

15 May, 19:00. €20/25

Angélique Kidjo

17 May, 19:00. €36/38

Joan Armatrading

18 May, 21:00. €48

All performancesat the Savoy TheatreKasarmikatu 46-48

Helsinki

Robin Hood

Release Date: 12 MayDirector: Ridley ScottStarring: Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett

Crazy Heart

Release Date: 15 MayDirector: Scott CooperStarring: Jeff Bridges,Maggie Gyllenhaal

Caisa was established in 1996 as a centre for interna-tional culture located in the heart of Helsinki. Its goal was to support the city’s multi-culturalism by promoting the relationship between people from different countries.

The Ourvision Goes Danc-ing contest is designed to live up to these goals. “Society needs to diversify its culture, and dancing is a good way of doing it,” Mayele explains. “Immigrants are still going to come here, society has to fi nd a way to live together.”

The contest’s categories consist of African, Asian, Ar-abic, European, American and Pacifi c Islands and Aus-tralian dances. Dance fans can expect the Grande Finale on Friday 24 September.

Led by Marco Bjurström, the contest’s judging table is made up of international dance professionals.

It is still undetermined whether or not the contest will return next year. However, it still provides a present opportu-nity for anyone who is interest-ed in seeing the multicultural talent in Helsinki of the dancers on stage 14 May at 19:00.

world tour, her most recent release This Charming Life sees a return to her trade-mark pop-rock sound.

The triple Grammy-nomi-nated British songwriter and guitarist is the fi rst female UK artist to have debuted at number 1 in the Billboards Blues charts. With a reper-toire that includes the songs Love and Affection, Drop the Pilot and Lovers Speak she has a back catalogue of 20 albums from which to select her set list.

After a recent change of venue from Kulttuuritalo, all tickets already purchased for

Memorable music at the Savoy

Grammy Award winning Beninise singer Angélique Kidjo hits Helsinki’s stage again on 17 May.

THERE was a time when men’s buttocks ruled the Hol-lywood screen. Turn any cor-ner, and one was confronted by the buffed buns of eve-ry major star. Seen as very much the thing for an actor to do, much the same as at-tempting a challenging role in theatre, this fad reached its nadir when Michael Doug-las added an extra million dollars to his paycheck in Ba-sic Instinct strutting around post-coitus in the buff.

Now, around about this time along came Kevin Cost-ner’s contribution to this awk-ward sub-genre in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. Rather than concerning himself with con-cealing his American accent for the movie, he channelled his energy towards dropping his Nottingham tights in an effort to get punters through the turnstiles. Seeming to take Brian Adams’ theme song Eve-rything I Do (I Do It for You) lit-erally, Costner’s dedication to his female audience was admi-rable, at best.

THIS year marks 100 years since the birth of Viljo Rev-ell, one of Finland’s many great architects. The Did-richsen Art Museum, built by Revell, pays tribute to his architectural works with an exhibition arranged by none other than his daughter and architect Tuula Revell.

First designed as a house in 1958, this museum is qui-etly perched on the bank of Kuusisaari Island, in north-western Helsinki. Today the atmosphere on Kuusisaari Is-land still maintains the con-temporary renaissance the house was fi rst built in mind with. It is a refl ection of what Revell strived for as an archi-tect; modernism and “a never to be forgotten impression”.

The exhibition por-trays his efforts as an ar-chitect through a series of photographs, scale mod-els, a documentary, sketches and biographical informa-tion such as books and news articles. These all reveal the thought process that Revell

JA ME S O ’ SUL L I VA NHEL SINK I T IME S

L IIS A S A H A MIE SHEL SINK I T IME S

Potential revelation Architectural memoriesSo, as Robin Hood hits the

screen for yet another out-ing this week, should we an-ticipate a little extra fl esh on show from Russell Crowe? Hmm, probably not. But you never know: all of those good deeds, robbing from the rich can really work up a man’s need for a wash.

With Ridley Scott at the helm for their fi fth collabora-tion together after Gladiator, A Good Year, American Gang-ster and Body of Lies, here the duo promise a reinvigorated look at the Robin Hood legend.

On hand is Cate Blanchett as a swashbuckling Maid Mar-ian, with a further touch of class coming in the shape of re-spected actors William Hurt and Danny Huston. On the back of the fi lm opening this year’s Cannes Film Festival, regardless of what you may think, the Good Samaritan is here to stay – a sequel is al-ready in the planning stages.

Less inclined to bear his rear end for the camera this week is Jeff Bridges in his Os-car-winning performance in Crazy Heart. Here the fading star of country music singer-

had as modernist architect – his use of clean lines, po-sitions of light and shadows and surrounding foliage and buildings. It is apparent that Revell was meticulous down to the last birch tree.

Apart from the Didrich-sen Art Museum, Revell is al-so known for his work on the Glass Palace, the Palace Hotel and the Makkaratalo shop-ping centre in Helsinki just to name a few. But what Revell is best known for is his inter-national work of the City Hall of Toronto in Canada.

After 531 entries were submitted in the Interna-tional Design Competition in 1958 for the chance to de-sign the City Hall of Toronto, Revell’s idea was the chosen winner. Revell died a year before it offi cially opened in 1965, at the age of 54. Gen-eral Governer, Georges Vani-er, at the time described the building as Revell’s “great triumph” as a “world famous architect”.

To coincide with the exhi-bition, the museum has pub-lished two books. Available in Finnish, Swedish and English,

S AVOY-T E AT T ERI

Armatrading’s show are valid for this week’s performance at the Savoy Theatre.

songwriter Otis “Bad” Blake sees his autumn years strug-gling with alcoholism and past regrets. Triggered by the arriv-al into his life of journalist Mag-gie Gyllenhaal, the fi lm charts his journey as he attempts to repair the damage done after a string of failed marriages and squandered opportunities.

With a superb soundtrack featuring songs sung by Bridg-es himself along with the wel-come hand of producer T Bone Burnett, critics and audiences alike have warmed by the fi re of this tale of redemption.

Viljo Revell: “It was teamwork, you see”, which includes more than 200 photographs of his work, and attributes those he worked with. Also available in Finnish is Glimpses from Viljo Revell’s life.

Viljo Revell in Toronto.

16 14 – 19 MAY 2010 HELSINKI TIMES EAT & DRINK

RESTAURANTS

Salomonkatu 19, HelsinkiTel. 09 694 0750

Mon-Fri 11-23, Sat 12-23, Sun 12-22www.ravintolatandoor.net

Finns a minority group among ethnic food shoppers

THE AROMAS of different spices fl oat in the air from shelves covered by colour-ful packets, jars and pots. Unusual fruits bring the feeling of being somewhere far from Finland. I’ve just entered an ethnic food shop in the Helsinki district of Kallio, which has products

that you can’t fi nd in the Si-was and Alepas so familiar to many of us. If you want to fi nd bigger sacks of rice, a larger variation of noo-dles or some specifi c Asian, African or Indian products, you’re likely to fi nd them fol-lowing Hämeentie and its side streets from Hakanie-mi to Sörnäinen. Most Finns still haven’t found these shops, however.

K RIS TA SIH VONE NHEL SINK I T IME S

Some markets are so crowded that it might be diffi cult to fi nd something in particular without help. Stores specialising in certain parts of the world seem to of-fer anything one could possi-bly think of from the region in question. “Our customers call us their own Stockmann, they can fi nd everything from here,” laughs Saima Shaukat from Taj Mehal,

Ethnic food markets have become a permanent fixture in Helsinki. But despite their well-established presence and significant number, they remain relatively alien to native Finnish consumers.

which specialises in African products.

These specialised food stores are not only good for the immigrant customers, but they also have an impor-tant role in employing many of them. According to Statis-tics Finland, immigrant en-trepreneurship fi gures are rising constantly. The com-panies are mainly small and employ only a few workers, most of the time some peo-ple who know the language of the customers.

Helsinki Times decided to have look into some of these shops and fi nd out what is it that people actually buy in the ethnic food markets.

According to Tauqeer Qureshi plantain-bananas are the most purchased food product of Taj Mehal Afro-Asian Market.

Yee King Ling says shrimp and fish from Aasialainen kauppa swim often on customers’ plates.

Shifeng Liu shows the noodles that are readily available at Orien-tal Supermarket.

“Every day someone buys plantain-bananas,” says Tau-qeer Qureshi, originally from Pakistan at the Taj Mehal Afro Asian Market. “Those people know how to cook them, for example by boiling or baking. Our customers are normally from Ghana, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Con-go. Only about fi ve per cent are Finns.”

Aasialainen Kauppa has been in Kallio for seven years. “We started the busi-ness already in 1994 by hav-ing a warehouse in Espoo,” says shopkeeper Yee King Ling from Malaysia. Custom-ers are mainly Vietnamese, Thai, Filipino, Burmese and Chinese. “If the clients are willing to try out something new, we give advice based on our own extensive cooking experience,” Ling promises.

“Entrepreneurs help and give cookery tips,” says Chinese shop assistant Wenxuan Yu from the Oriental Supermar-

Taj Mehal

Afro-Asian Market

Hämeentie 5 a, HelsinkiBestselling products:Plantain-bananas, boiling fowl, basmati rice Aasialainen kauppa

Kolmas Linja 3, HelsinkiBestselling products:Frozen shrimp, prawn and fish, rice

Oriental Supermarket

Sörnäisten Rantatie 3,HelsinkiBestselling products:Noodles, seaweed and oth-er sushi ingredients, shrimp

ket. She sees a big difference between Chinese and Finnish customers. “Chinese come here to do some bigger shopping, when Finns and some other na-tionalities come to have look and just take a couple of things like snacks and rice.”

TRADITIONAL meals remain fi rmly popular with the Finns. Culinary favourites are sur-veyed at regular intervals of a few years, and there is little change from one year to the next. The results refl ect Finns’ everyday eating choices, but not whether the meals are eaten at home or elsewhere, or whether the food is cooked from scratch or ready-made.

In 2009, Finns’favourite dishes were:Meat balls, Steak / cutlet, Fried fi sh, Pizza, Macaro-

The nation’s dietni casserole, Mince sauce, Baked fi sh, Hot sandwiches, Lasagne, Omelette.

Finns’ mealtime prefer-ences were studied by giving respondents a list of 50 dish-es. They were asked to iden-tify the dishes they preferred eating, as well as those they liked the least.

Mincemeatsauce still topsIn addition to determining favourites, the study looks into how common or typical these dishes actually are on Finnish tables. Respondents were asked how often they typically ate the food in ques-

tion either at home or else-where. Dishes eaten several times a month were deemed “common”.

There is only one dish that every other Finn eats more often than once a month: mincemeat sauce. The next most common is fried fi sh, roast chicken or turkey sauce or stew, meat balls, and steak / cutlet, all of which were eat-en by at least 40 per cent of respondents several times a month.

The latest study was car-ried out May 2009 by Suomen Gallup on behalf of Finfood.

Source: Finfood ( Suomen Ruokatieto ry)

K RIS TA SIH VONEN K RIS TA SIH VONEN

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SIH

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171714 – 19 MAY 2010HELSINKI TIMES

Two more pints

please!

Keskuskatu 6, Citykäytävä, Helsinki

oluthuone.com

Opening Hours: Mon–Fri 11:30–24, Sat 13–24 (excl. 5.9.), Sun 15–23. Kitchen closes an hour earlier.

The hottest grill in Helsinki.

Fresh flavours and inspirations from Italy.

In the heart of Helsinki.

Mikonkatu 23, www.paakonttori.fiRestaurant Opening Hours: Mon–Fri 11:30–23,

Sat 16–23, Sun 18–22. Kitchen closes half an hour earlier.Bar Opening Hours: Mon–Sat 17–24, Sun 18–24.

Get Real!Pub Angleterre serves the best REAL ALE IN TOWN.

Fredrikinkatu 47,00100 Helsinki

EAT & DRINK

RESTAURANTSRESTAURANTS

Nepalese Restaurant

Welcome to SatkarFredrikinkatu 46 (Kamppi, Autotalo). 00100 Helsinki, Finland

Tel. +358 9 611 077, +358 40 707 1140 www.satkar.fi

The biggest Nepalese Restaurant in Helsinki• Suitable for group parties

• Fully licensed• Delicious food with tandoor

RESTAURANTS

Transforming Finnish

gifts of nature in an

innovative manner to

suit modern tastes.

Korkeavuorenkatu 27 Helsinki Tel. +358 9 635 732www.juuri.fi

Et. Hesperiankatu 22 tel. +358 9 6128 5200mon-tue 11-24, wed-fri 11-01, sat 14-01, sun 14-23

www.royalravintolat.com

A C L A S S I C S I N C E 1 9 3 2

AUSSIE BAR Salomonkatu 5, Kamppi00100 Helsinki, Finland

Come and havea Tooheysor two!

Tel. +358 (0)9 737 373E-mail: aussiebar@aussiebar.net www.aussiebar.net

WHAT'S ON AT THE AUSSIE BAR:Friday 14th- World Cup Cricket Semi Final @ 6pm DJ spinning from 9:30pm. Saturday 15th DJs from 9:30pm + Football on the big screen. Sunday 16th

20/20 WC Final @ 6pm. Monday 17th- Free Poker Tournament, win your way to the Euro Poker Tour @ 6pm 27 places only. Wednesday 19th- Live Music at

9:30pm Mr Bryn Jones- (Wales)AUSSIE BAR HELSINKI - THIS IS NOT A YACHT CLUB!!

Proudly sponsored by:

Open: Mon-Thu 10.30-22, Fri 10.30-23,Sat 12-23, Sun 12-22

Lunch: Mon-Fri 10.30-15Hietalahdenkatu 8, tel. +358 9 621 4490

www.aangan.fi

"We care your health"

AanganWelcome!

Nepalese cuisine

Open: 14-02 Sunday-Tuesday 12-03 Wednesday-Saturday

Mon-Fri 11-22 |

Sat 14-22 | Sun 14-21 |

Annankatu 4 |

www.vaelsa.fi |

+ 358 9 698 00 12 |

Italian Restaurant

The Oldest NepaleseRestaurant in Finland

OpenMon-Fri 11-23, weekends 12-23,

Lunch: Mon-Fri 11-15Contact

Ratakatu 1B, 00120 Helsinki.Book your table

tel. (09) 647 551, fax. (09) 647 552www.himalaya.fi

R A V I N T O L AR A V I N T O L A

VESPA RISTORANTEETELÄESPLANADI 22

00130 HELSINKITel 020 7701 460

www.ravintolavespa.fi

COSY ITALIAN RESTAURANTIN THE HEART OF HELSINKI

Your advertcould be here

18 14 – 19 MAY 2010 HELSINKI TIMESWHERE TO GOCOMPILED BY VEERA NURMENNIEMI

Accordionist Kimmo Pohjonen and his experimental musical engagement are known widely through Pohjonen’s involvement in numerous ambitious projects, like KTU and Kluster. Once again he is taking his experiments to a new level.Accordion Wrestling is an ingenious idea of combining accordion music with wres-tling. These two have in fact a history together. For many, it may come as a surprise that Finnish wrestling was accompanied by accordionists from the early to mid-1900s. The performers consist of ten Finnish wrestlers and Pohjonen who, despite having his own history with sports, focuses on the playing part. Pohjonen improvising along the wrestlers’ sweaty battle, is a fun concept that breaks the conventional barriers be-tween art and sport.

Until Sun 16 May

Cable Factory, 19:00Tallberginkatu 1Tickets €24 www.kaapelitehdas.fi

Kimmo Pohjonen

Accordion Wrestling / Haitari Painia

solution sudoku

MUSIC

OTHERS

FOR CHILDREN

Wed-Fri 10:00-20:30Sat-Sun 10:00-18:00Tickets €0/6/8www.kiasma.fi

Until Sun 12 SeptemberKuutti Lavonen & Osmo RauhalaSketches for Works in the Church of Saint Olaf in TyrvääStudies and sketches by Kuutti Lavonen and Osmo Rauhala for the Church of Saint Olaf in Tyrvää.National Museum of FinlandMannerheimintie 34Tue 11:00-20:00Wed-Sun 11:00-18:00Tickets €0/5/7www.nba.fi

Until Sun 21 NovemberWanted – ArmfeltOver one hundred items personally owned by G. M. Armfelt.National Museum of FinlandMannerheimintie 34Tue 11:00-20:00Wed-Sun 11:00-18:00Tickets €0/5/7www.nba.fi

Until Sat 15 MayPappa BachAn opera for school children. The Performance is in Finnish.Finnish National OperaThu 15:00, Fri 17:30Sat 15:00 & 18:30Helsinginkatu 58Tickets €8/15www.operafin.fi

Fri 14 MayInteractive theatre for children. Performance is in Finnish.Circus WarvasDance Theater Raatikko, 9:00, 18:30Viertolankuja 4 B, Vantaa

Sat 15 MayImprovisation Group VinkkeliImprovised theatre for three to eight year old children.Performance is in Finnish.Studio Krunikka, 15:00-15:30Meritullinkatu 33 ATickets €5

Thu 13 to Sun 16 MayVantaa Urban FestivalFlea markets, theatre and dance performances, music and otheractivities.www.kaupunkijuhla.fi

Fri 14 to Sun 23 MayKallio kukkii 2010The very own festival of the Kallio city district. Over one hundreddifferent events.Several different venues among others Dallapé Park and Bear Park.

Sat 15 MayInternational CD and Records FairTavastia, 11:00-16:00Urho Kekkosen katu 4-6Tickets €2www.tavastiaklubi.fi

Sun 16 May AIDS RunA charity event to support AIDS prevention and to break downprejudices.Park Hesperia, 14:00Mannerheimintie 42Tickets €5www.fimsic.org

Tue 18 MayEye to eye – All about German Film, 2008, 107 min.A German documentary film from directors Michael Althen and Hans Helmut Prinzler. English subtitles.Goethe Institute, 18:00Mannerheimintie 20 ATickets €3www.goethe.de

Wed 19 MayUltralyd, Pymathon Experimental alternative rock.Semifinal, 20:00Urho Kekkosen katu 6Tickets €8www.semifinal.fi

Fri 14 MayOurvision Goes DancingThe Ourvision Dance ContestSemifinals.Savoy Theatre, 19:00Kasarmikatu 46-48Tickets €8/12www.savoyteatteri.fi

Sat 15 MayThe Sleeping BeautyFairy tale ballet for the whole family.Finnish National OperaThu 15:00Sat 14:00Helsinginkatu 58Tickets €14-62www.operafin.fi

Sun 16 MayV.I.D. – The CatchA theatrical street danceperformance. Speech in Finnish.Kulttuuritalo Sandels, 15:00 & 18:00Topeliuksenkatu 2Tickets €10

Mon 17 MayTap-stepA tap-dance show.Espa Stage, 18:30Esplanade ParkFree entrance

Mon 17 & Wed 19 MayBeneath the Dancing SkyThe number one dance event of the spring.Finnish National Opera, 19:00Helsinginkatu 58Tickets €18-42www.operafin.fi

Wed 19 & Thu 20 MayDrum the Ballet, Momentum,PaquitaThe pupils of the Finnish National Opera Ballet School perform Minna Tervamäki’s and Sorella Englund’s choreographies.Finnish National Opera, 18:30Helsinginkatu 58Tickets €6/12www.operafin.fi

Until Sun 16 MayPhotographer Caj BremerA retrospective exhibition of a Finnish photographer.Ateneum Art MuseumKaivokatu 2Tue, Fri 10:00-18:00Wed-Thu 10:00-20:00Sat-Sun 11:00-17:00Tickets €0-8www.ateneum.fi

Until Sun 16 MayViljo Revell (1910-1964)An exhibition celebrating thecentenary of architect ViljoRevell’s birth.The Didrichsen Art MuseumKuusilahdenkuja 1Tue 11:00-18:00Wed 11:00-20:00

Thu-Sun 11:00-18:00Tickets €2/6/8www.didrichsenmuseum.fi

Until Wed 19 MayCrossing & Caring — Women’s BankArt sales exhibition for supporting women in developing countries.Gallery FerinYrjönkatu 11Mon-Fri 11:00-18:00Sat-Sun 12:00-16:00www.galleriaferin.fi

Until Sun 23 MayHelsinki SchoolPhotographs, videos andinstalla-tions by the young generation of the Helsinki School.Meilahti Art MuseumTamminiementie 6Tue-Sun 11:00-18:30Tickets €0/6/8www.hel.fi/taidemuseo

Until Sun 23 MaySusanna MajuriThe Water Researcher’s DaughterA mystic and surreal soloexhibition of a successful Finnish photographer.Finnish Museum of PhotographyTallberginkatu 1Tue-Sun 11:00-18:00Tickets €0/4/6www.valokuvataiteenmuseo.fi

Until Sun 23 MayVenice – The Feast of MaskAn exhibition introducing Venetian carnival tradition.Sinebrychoff Art MuseumBulevardi 40Tue, Fri 10:00-18:00Wed-Thu 10:00-20:00Sat-Sun 11:00-17:00Tickets €0/6/7.5www.sinebrychoffintaidemuseo.fi

Until Mon 24 MayTake Care – Politics ofEmancipationEstonian and Finnish contemporary art.Amos Anderson Art MuseumYrjönkatu 27Mon, Thu, Fri 10:00-18:00Wed 10:00-20:00Sat-Sun 11:00-17:00Tickets €0/6/8/10www.amosanderson.fi

Until Sun 30 MayWooden Churches in theRussian NorthEnglish photographer RichardDavies travelled to northernRussia in 2002 to findout what was left of thewooden churches.Museum of Finnish ArchitectureKasarmikatu 24Tue & Thu-Fri 10:00-16:00Wed 10:00-20:00Sat-Sun 11:00-16:00Tickets €1.70/3.50www.mfa.fi

Until Mon 31 MayM.C. EscherImpossible WorldsA comprehensive overview of the world renowned artist’s work.Amos Anderson Art MuseumYrjönkatu 27Mon, Thu, Fri 10:00-18:00Wed 10:00-20:00Sat-Sun 11:00-17:00Tickets €0/4/6/8www.amosanderson.fi

Tue 18 May to Sun 13 JuneKari HuhtamoVariatio Arctica SculpturaIn addition to elegant steelsculptures, the exhibition also includes photographs and art prints.TaidehalliNervanderinkatu 3Tue, Thu, Fri 11:00-18:00Wed 11:00-20:00Sat-Sun 11:00-17:00Tickets €0/5.50/8www.taidehalli.fi

Until Sun 6 JuneCandice Breitzs Video WorksFour key video works by a SouthAfrican photographer and video artist now living in Berlin.Espoo Museum of Modern ArtAhertajantie 5Tue 11:00-18:00Wed-Thu 11:00-20:00Fri-Sun 11:00-18:00Tickets €0/8/10www.emma.museum

Until Sun 6 JuneThe Power of Africa – ThreePerspectivesAfrican sculpture, early 20thcentury European Modernism and Finnish contemporary art.Espoo Museum of Modern ArtAhertajantie 5Tue 11:00-18:00Wed-Thu 11:00-20:00Fri-Sun 11:00-18:00Tickets €0/8/10www.emma.museum

Until 6 June Kuvan kevät The Degree Show of the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts. Several locations.Free entrance.www.kuvankevat.fi

Until Sun 1 AugustRemix – Georg Baselitzspaintings and sculpturesWorks by one of the brightest stars of German contemporary art.Tennis Palace Art MuseumSalomonkatu 15Tue-Sun 11:00-19:00Tickets €0/7/9www.taidemuseo.fi

Until Sun 29 AugustNightThe exhibition takes a look at night from a variety of perspectives.Sederholm HouseAleksanterinkatu 16-18Wed, Fri-Sun 11:00-17:00Thu 11:00-19:00Free entrancewww.helsinginkaupunginmuseo.fi

Until Sat 4 SeptemberInternational Photography and Video Art Works by Danica Dakic, Loretta Lux and Anu Pennanen.Vantaa Art MuseumMyyrmäkitalo, Kilterinraitti 6Tue-Fri 11:00-18:00Sat 10:00-16:00Free entrance

Until Sun 12 SeptemberContemporary Art from Finland and SwedenExaminations and comments on contemporary phenomena.KiasmaMannerheiminaukio 2Tue 10:00-17:00

Fri 14 MayGiuseppe Verdi’s Un ballo in mascheraHigh emotion in the world of high politics.Finnish National Opera, 19:00Helsinginkatu 58Tickets €14-84www.operafin.fi

Fri 14 MayDoc Houlind InternationalNew Orleans Jazz Band,Strong Hold & Neil BarrymenStoryville, 20:30Museokatu 8Tickets €10www.storyville.fi

Fri 14 MayCosmobile, Lady Escape, BalletDanceable rock at ClubBras&Undies.Korjaamo 21:00Töölönkatu 51Tickets €7/9www.korjaamo.fi

Sat 15 MayDj Orkidea and guestsDance therapy at Club Jack.Redrum, 22:00Vuorikatu 2 www.redrum.fi

Sat 15 MayDrago and Mervi MyllyojaRussian gypsy music.Savoy Theatre, 19:00Kasarmikatu 46-48www.savoyteatteri.fi

Sun 16 May Damon & Naomi (USA)A surrealistic folk pop duo.Kuudes Linja, 21:00Hämeentie 13Tickets €12www.kuudeslinja.com

Mon 17 MayAngelique Kidjo (Benin)Beat of Afro funk andsteaming hot tropical rhythms.Savoy Theatre, 19:00Kasarmikatu 46-48Tickets €36/38www.savoyteatteri.fi

Tue 18 MayJoan ArmatradingA triple Grammy-nominatedBritish songwriter and guitarist.Savoy Theatre, 21:00Kasarmikatu 46-48Tickets €42/48www.savoyteatteri.fi

Tue 18 MayClub KlasariThe alto violin group from theHelsinki Philharmonic Orchestra.Belly, 21:00Uudenmaankatu 16-20 www.belly.fi

Wed 19 MayFinnish Radio SymphonyOrchestraJohannes Brahms’ Piano ConcertoNo. 2 in B-flat major. Conductor Sakari Oramo.Finlandia Hall, 19:00Mannerheimintie 13 ETickets €6.50-20

M O R E T I P S F R O M

www.visithelsinki.fi

Helsinki Travel Tip

Take a fresh look at Helsinki from thewater by going on a sightseeing cruise!

K A L L E B JÖRK L ID

THEATRE AND DANCE

EXHIBITIONSWith a guided cruise departing from the city’s historic Market Square, get a glimpse of Helsinki’s gorgeous archipelago land-scape with its idyllic summer residences, and listen to entertaining tales about Helsinki and Finnishness. Sunlines’ Beautiful Canal Tour takes you to the archipelago of eastern Helsinki and along the stunning Degerö Canal. See timeta-bles and prices at www.sunlines.fi . IHA-Lines is ideal for the green traveller. The cruise line con-forms with the principles of sustainable tourism in everything that it does. Find out more at www.ihalines.fi . On Royal Line’s ships, you’ll enjoy not only a gorgeous land-scape, but also the culinary delights of the archipelago at the ships’ buffet lunches and dinners. Timetables and prices are available at www.sunlines.fi .

191914 – 19 MAY 2010HELSINKI TIMES TV GUIDE

friday 14.5.Helsinki Times T V Guide offers a selection of English and other language broadcasting on Finnish television.

Be CoolAfter Barry Sonnenfeld’s Gold-en Globe award winning 1995 production of Get Short, F. Gary Gray directed this 2005 sequel to the mobster comedy. Sly and successful movie producer Chili Palmer (John Travolta) returns, tired of the film industry. Chili and a recently widowed music producer Edie Athens (Uma Thurman) team up and set their sights on the music business. But the business shows Chili that not everyone in this indus-try plays by the rules. With the discovery of up-and-coming singer Linda Moon (Christina Milian), Chili is determined to “rescue” her from her sleazy manager Raji (Vince Vaughn) and make her into a star. This film includes a range of musical guest appearances from Gene Simmons, Black Eyed Peas, The Pussycat Dolls and Aerosmith.

MTV3 23:05

11:05 YLE News in English11:10 Road to Avonlea

Holmes investigates a secret in a bat cave.

15:05 Coronation StreetKelly returns to work.

17:07 Memoirs of Sherlock HolmesHolmes encounters a notorious Spanishbeauty who stalks ayoung duke.

21:30 Manny & Lo FILMTeenage sisters run away from foster homes and kidnap a woman who they believe can help them in this comedy-drama.Directed by Lisa Krueger. Starring Scarlett Johanson, Aleksa Palladino.USA 1996

06:50 Pikku KakkonenChildren’s programming.In Finnish.

10:40 McLeod’s Daughters11:25 Food Safari

Maeve O’Meara looks into the secrets of Hungarian cuisine.

11:55 GlobetrekkerMegan McCormick visits traditional marketplaces in Cairo and the Giza pyramids.

14:20 Stories of Elton JohnThe megastar speaks candidly about the ups and downs in his life and aided by technology returns to the past.

16:00 Don MatteoIn Italian.

17:23 Pikku KakkonenChildren’s programming.In Finnish.

17:58 Ice Hockey SPORTWorld Cup. Matches 2A-3D and 2B-3C from the qualification round.In Finnish.

21:00 Ice Hockey SPORTWorld Cup. Matches1D-3A and 1C-3B from the qualification round.In Finnish.

16:25 Fish! A Japanese Obsession DOCBritish journalist Charles Rangeley-Wilson tours around Japan for six weeks and marvels at the country’s passionate relationship with fish.

21:55 Constantin si Elena DOCA touching documentary about the enduring and growing love of Constantin and Elena, married for 54 years.Directed by Andrei Dascalescu.Romania 2008.In Romanian.

13:20 Hell’s Kitchen USA14:15 Sons & Daughters

After 35 years, Cameron and Sharon’s father suddenly shows up.

14:45 DoctorsExtreme makeovers.

17:05 The Bold and the Beautiful18:00 Emmerdale20:00 The Biggest Loser22:35 Formula 1: Free Practice

SPORTMonaco. A roundup from the free practice session.In Finnish.

23:05 Be Cool (K15) FILMAn ex loan shark Chili Palmer adventures in the world of music business in this hard-boiled comedy based on Elmore Leonard’s story.Directed by F. Gary Gray. Starring: John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Harvey Keitel. USA 2005

01:20 Fringe

07:00 Children’s ProgrammingIn Finnish.

14:10 E! Entertainment: Denise RichardsDenise visits her childhood neighbourhood.

15:35 E! Entertainment: E! News Weekend

16:30 The Hills18:05 Sturm der Liebe

In German.19:00 Little Britain19:30 The Simpsons: Mischief

and MayhemA special episode with several guests.

20:00 Friends20:30 The Simpsons22:00 Numb3rs

Megan returns from a covert operation.

23:00 C.S.I. MiamiC.S.I. investigates a jewel dealer’s murder, and a law abiding witness is found.

01:00 It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

01:30 Mad TV

18:00 That 70s ShowThe doctor has told Red to change his diet.

18:30 Grounded for Life19:00 America’s Funniest Home

Videos19:30 My Wife and Kids20:00 Breaking The Magician’s

CodeHow to go through glass without leaving any marks.

21:00 Happy, Texas FILMIn this comedy, two escaped prisoners are mistaken for a couple in a small Texan town. Directed by Mark Illsley. Starring: Jeremy Northam, William H. Macy. USA 1999

23:30 Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

07:00 Children’s ProgrammingIn Finnish.

08:00 10 Items or Less12:50 Take My Kids, Please

Patty and Scot are parents for quintuplets.

13:20 Coleen’s Real Women14:20 Fresh with Anna Olson14:50 Room for Improvement

DJ gets a band rehearsal space.15:20 Britain’s Next Top Model16:20 Days of Our Lives17:15 Everybody Hates Chris

Chris’s father wants to avoid Christmas altogether.

17:40 Dr. Phil19:00 Wipeout20:00 Funny Home Videos

In Finnish.21:00 Cake FILM

A comedy about Pippa McGee who meets a completely new world when running her father’s wedding magazine. Directed by Nisha Ganatra. Starring: Heather Graham. Canada/USA 2005

23:15 Battlestar Galactica00:15 Kill Bill (K18) FILM

A woman with an iron will wakes up from a coma and embarks on a journey of revenge in this gloriously bloody action film. Directed by Quentin Tarantino. Starring: Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Lucy Liu. USA 2003

11:20 Man CavesA basement with a taste of the 50s.

11:45 Don’t Sweat it13:05 Carter Can

The Cross family needs a multipurpose room.

13:35 Superscapes14:05 Chopper Challenge17:00 Takeshi’s Castle18:00 Steve Schirripa’s Hungry18:30 Tyler’s Ultimate19:00 Anthony Bourdain20:00 James May’s Toy Stories

James plans to build a garden out of modelling clay.

21:00 Gangland: Circle of Death (K15) DOCThe ruthless gang Aryan Circle was started in prisons in Texas.

22:00 Los Angeles Ink23:00 Police Interceptors23:55 Disorder in the Court (K15)00:50 Crisis Point

Tupac Shakur.

TV2

MTV3

YLE TEEMA

NELONEN

SUB

TV1

JIM

TV VIISI

CakeNelonen 21:00

EXECUTIVE EDUCATION

Eiran Aikuislukio – Eira High School for Adultstel: 09 4542 270, Laivurinkatu 3, Helsinki

www.eiraedu.com

A planned curriculum leadingto the Matriculation Examination / YLIOPPILASTUTKINTOKaksikielinen lukio-ohjelma on suunniteltu aikuisille maahan-

muuttajille, jotka voivat opiskella lukion kursseja englanniksi sa-

malla kun he vielä opiskelevat suomea.

Register for entrance tests 1 June & 10 August 2010

Option for University of CambridgeExaminations AS and A levels in the AICE DIPLOMA

Recognised university qualifi cation for Helsinki University, Finnish Univer-sities of Applied Science and abroad.Who is the programme for? The 3-4 year program is for adults without a high school qualifi cation, or one not recognized in Finland, or Finnish citizens returning to Finland who need a bilingual education.

HIGH SCHOOL STUDIESIN ENGLISH WHILE LEARNING FINNISH

E-mail enquiries: high.school@eiraedu.com

20 14 – 19 MAY 2010 HELSINKI TIMESTV GUIDE

SELECTION OF ENGLISH PROGRAMMES ON FINNISH TELEVISIONsaturday 6.3. sunday 7.3.

BabeThis children’s adventure-drama was crafted in 1995. Using spe-cial effects the film dubs human voices over real-life farm ani-mals. The director Chris Noonan based this film off of British writer Dick King-Smith’s The Sheep-Pig, published in 1983, which explores the life of a little pig with big dreams. The story begins when an old famer, Arthur H. Hoggett (James Cromwell) wins the little pig, named Babe (voice of Christine Cavanaugh), at a carnival. When Arthur brings Babe home, his collie Fly (voice of Miriam Margoyles) welcomes Babe in her family as her own, and teaches him about life on the farm. Babe aspires to become the best sheepdog there ever was, and with the support of his new farm friends, he proves to himself and Arthur that a pig can be quite valuable.

MTV3 15:40

Lethal Weapon 2Director Richard Donner presents the second installment in the four-part series of Lethal Weapon films. The film begins with the return of Los Angeles P.D. officers Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) and Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson). Involved in yet another drug related case, they are assigned to keep an eye on Leo Getz (Joe Pesci), who is scheduled to testify in court. But of course a group of malicious drug smugglers do not want him to testify. This group is led by Arjen Rudd (Joss Ackland), who happens to be the man the duo were after before assigned this protective custody case. This adventure film involves a plummet from a window, an underwater escape, and even a booby-trapped toilet among other twists that explain occur-rences from the first film, and set up for the next one.

Sub 21:00

10:00 Animal Rescue13:15 Kyle XY16:45 Gladiators17:45 Ripley’s Believe It or Not19:00 Crocodile Dundee FILM

In this classic comedy, a female reporter takes Crocodile Dundee from the outback of Australia to see the big city life of New York. Directed by Peter Faiman. Starring: Paul Hogan. Australia 1986

21:00 Kate & Leopold FILMDue to a series of incredible events, Duke Leopold travels in time from the 1800s to contemporary New York, where he falls in love with busy career woman Kate. Directed by James Mangold. Starring: Meg Ryan, Hugh Jackman. USA 2001

23:30 American Chopper00:30 Saw (K18) FILM

This smash hit thriller starts with two men waking up chained in a dark room. Their fate depends somehow on a mysterious psychopath. Directed by James Wan. Starring: Leigh Whannell, Cary Elwes, Danny Glover. USA 2004

10:15 Any Given Latitude10:40 True Stories

Indiana Jones has real-life counterparts.

11:35 Chopper Challenge12:25 Expedition: Africa

SERIES ENDS.13:20 Biography: Bruce

SpringsteenFriends and colleagues share the story of The Boss’s working class childhood and road to superstardom.

14:15 Heliloggers15:10 Bizarre Foods with Andrew

ZimmernAndrew tries Japanese delights.

16:05 Hooked on Fishing18:00 House Hunters

International18:30 Kitchen Impossible21:00 Mystery Quest DOC

Investigating the identity of Jack the Ripper.

22:00 Roast (K15)Joan Rivers. This series, where celebrities are given tribute by insults, continues.

00:25 Untamed & Uncut01:20 Banged Up Abroad02:15 Gumball-rally

12:15 Ahead of the Class FILMA new headmistress tries to improve the chaotic environment in a London school. Directed by Adrian Shergold. Starring Julie Walters. UK 2005

13:55 Grow Your Own VegBritish gardening guru Carol Klein instructs in planning and tending of a garden. Part 1/6.

14:25 Vicar of DibleyPart 18/18.

15:55 Holby City17:08 The Amazing Mrs

PritchardPart 3/6.

18:15 Outnumbered19:40 Midsomer Murders

A murder follows two photographers’ argument.

22:00 Benidorm22:25 Cracker23:15 Un monde en révolte DOC

1968 saw a plethora of protests around the world. In English, French and Finnish.

07:45 Pikku KakkonenChildren’s programming.In Finnish.

16:45 V75 TrotIn Finnish.

18:00 GlobetrekkerLondon.

20:25 Eurovision Countdown 2010Ian Wright takes us behind the scenes of the song competition.

21:00 Ice Hockey SPORTWorld Cup. Matches 1A-2D and 1B-2C from the qualification round. In Finnish.

00:20 Live: V Festival 2009

18:30 DekalogPart 2/10. In Polish.

21:00 Bikini Revolution DOCThis documentary connects the histories of the liberated female body and of the maltreated Bikini Island.In several languages.

21:52 Bikini Beach FILMA millionaire tries to prove that his chimpanzee is more intelligent than an average American teen in this comedy featuring pop music, sandy beaches and bikinis. Directed by William Asher. Starring: Annette Funicello, Frankie Avalon. USA 1964

07:45 Children’s ProgrammingIn Finnish.

15:40 Babe FILMAn original family film about a piglet who mistakes himself for a dog.Directed by Chris Noonan. Starring: James Cromwell. Australia 1995

17:30 Star Wars: The Clone Wars18:00 Formula 1: Qualifying

SPORTA roundup from the qualifying session in Monaco. In Finnish.

21:00 HustleSean suspects Mickey is interested in Emma.

22:30 Michael Clayton FILMA law firm “fixer” questions his former sense of morale in this dense thriller set in the scheming corporate world. Directed by Tony Gilroy. Starring: George Clooney, Tilda Swinton.USA 2007

01:20 Unit

14:40 E! Entertainment: Dress My NestLaala is attracted to the colour orange.

15:10 E! Entertainment: Whose wedding is it anyway?

16:10 Mad TV18:00 Supersize vs. Superskinny

Two brides want to look dazzling when walking down the aisle.

19:00 American Idol20:00 Spain... On the Road Again21:00 Cold Feet

Love is eternal, but its objects can change.

22:05 HeroesThe outlaw heroes escape for their lives from a crashed airplane.

23:00 Miami Vice00:00 The Ultimate Fighter (K15)02:00 The Riches

18:00 The Little CoupleJen joins a self-defence course and Bill visits a shooting range.

18:30 X-Weighted19:30 How’d You Get So Rich?

Croatian-born Robert Herjavek made over 200 million dollars with firewalls.

21:00 Knock Out (K15) FILMIn this comedy, two aging boxers get a chance to get in the limelight by fighting each other as a warm-up match for Mike Tyson’s fight in Las Vegas.Directed by Ron Shelton. Starring: Antonio Banderas, Woody Harrelson.USA 2004

23:25 Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

12:15 Jeeves and Wooster14:15 Inspector Morse: The

Wench Is Dead FILMMorse gets so into an old murder story that he begins to investigate the case. What does the archived evidence reveal?

19:45 Born to Be DifferentThis programme follows the lives of two families who have children with disabilities. Part 1/2.

21:10 S&M: Short and Male DOCThe world sees a man’s height as something that reflects power, intellect and authority. Short men go unnoticed, claim the interviewed.

22:05 Silent Witness (K15)

08:00 Pikku KakkonenChildren’s programming.In Finnish.

12:00 Emily of New Moon12:50 Up Close and Dangerous13:10 Heartland13:53 Bania DOC

This documentary explores Russian public saunas from prisons to monasteries.

15:30 Cross Country Running SPORTFinnish Championships.In Finnish.

17:00 Ice Hockey SPORTWorld Cup. Matches 3D-1A and 3B-3C from the qualification round.In Finnish.

21:00 Ice Hockey SPORTWorld Cup. Matches 2D-3A and 1C-2B from the qualification round.In Finnish.

11:40 The Forsyte Saga16:35 Walks with an Architect –

ShanghaiDesigner Martin Robain explores the city of 2010 World Expo.

18:00 Kakushi toride no san akunin FILMTwo peasants join a fleeing princess and a general in this classic adventure film. Directed by Akira Kurosawa. Starring: Toshiro Mifune. Japan 1958. In Japanese.

20:20 Live: Radio Symphony OrchestraPerformances of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 4 and Nielsen’s Symphony No. 4 “The Inextinguishable”.

08:00 Children’s ProgrammingIn Finnish.

15:05 Thunderbirds FILMThunderbirds’ secret station is under attack in this action adventure film. Directed by Jonathan Frakes. Starring: Brady Corbet. USA 2004

18:00 Formula 1: Grand Prix SPORTMonaco. In Finnish.

23:05 C.S.I. MiamiDelko’s therapist is murdered.

00:00 StripTwo attacks in which military equipment was used take place.

10:00 Batman: The Animated Series10:30 Futurama11:00 Wildlife Nannies

Taking care of an orphan kangaroo and a lively raccoon dog.

11:30 Animal ParkOtter cubs are afraid of water.

12:05 E! Entertainment: Whose wedding is it anyway?

14:00 The Mask14:30 King of the Hill15:00 Baywatch

Matt catches the new lifeguard drinking while on duty.

16:00 Project Runway19:00 American Idol20:00 Daisy of Love

The men have to style Daisy for the cover of her new single.

21:00 Lethal Weapon 2 (K15) FILMThe detectives protect a main witness of a money laundering case in this comedic action film sequel. Directed by Richard Donner. Starring: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Joe Pesci. USA 1989

23:20 Shoplifters Caught On CameraWhat are the ten most shoplifted items?

00:20 Crossing JordanA psychopath leaves clues on Nigel’s blog.

01:15 Stargate SG1Sixth season starts.

18:00 Relic HunterSearching for the secret of making gold in Peru’s jungles.

19:00 Flubber FILMIn this family film, scatterbrain professor Philip Brainard invents a rubber-like substance that has special powers – and a will of its own. Directed by Les Mayfield. Voices: Robin Williams, Marcia Gay Harden. USA 1997

21:00 ScrubsThe reason for Turk’s powerlessness is revealed.

00:20 Leverage

10:30 Animal Planet: Ms. AdventureAre human and animal fights sparked off for similar reasons?

11:30 Most ExtremeSome animals have moved into cities, where they have to learn new tricks to survive in the urban environment.

15:20 Greek16:15 Samantha Who?

While Todd is in London, Winston continues to court Samantha.

16:45 Funny Home VideosIn Finnish.

21:00 Failure to Launch FILMA romantic comedy about 35-year-old Tripp who still lives at home. The frustrated parents hire a professional seductress to push him into moving out. Directed by Tom Dey. Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Sarah Jessica Parker, Zooey Deschanel. USA 2006

09:30 The Amazing Adventures of a NobodyGoing to Barcelona proves complicated.

10:00 Grill it!Google techies have come up with a peculiar grill party.

10:30 My Country, My KitchenWisconsin.

11:00 Tricked Out11:30 Fifth Gear

SERIES ENDS.12:00 Super Factories13:05 Anthony Bourdain: No

ReservationsDespite the unrest in Thailand, Anthony finds delicious snacks there.

14:00 Build it BiggerExploring the railway tunnel built in Istanbul.

16:00 UFO Files DOCThis episode investigates cases of Unidentified Submerged Objects, underwater alien crafts.

18:00 VolcanoSERIES BEGINS. Volcanologist John Seach and photographer Geoff Mackley investigate and shoot volcanoes.

19:00 Man vs. Food19:30 Dinner: Impossible20:00 Cowboy Builders21:00 Biography: Al Pacino DOC22:00 Contender

SELECTION OF ENGLISH PROGRAMMES ON FINNISH TELEVISIONsaturday 15.5. sunday 16.5.TV1

TV2

MTV3

YLE TEEMA

NELONEN TV1

TV2

MTV3 NELONEN

YLE TEEMA

SUB

SUB

JIM

JIM

TV VIISI

TV VIISI

Michael ClaytonMTV3 22:30 Failure to Launch

Nelonen 21:00

Bikini BeachYle Teema 21:52

FlubberTV Viisi 19:00

212114 – 19 MAY 2010HELSINKI TIMES TV GUIDE

SELECTION OF ENGLISH PROGRAMMES ON FINNISH TELEVISIONmonday 8.3. tuesday 9.3.

Quentin Tarantino and his mov-ies are the cinematic equivalent of Marmite, mämmi or salmiakki, i.e. people either love them or hate them. The lovers love them because of Tarantino’s smart, ca-sual and witty dialogue, his habit of making has-been actors shine on the silver screen again, and the un-hurried stylistic violence that per-meates his movies. The haters hate him because of his annoying, over-the-top and unrealistic dialogue, his habit of using actors past their sell-by date, and the ridiculously brutal violence which permeates his movies. It’s a tough call. Still, love him or hate him, there’s no denying that since Res-ervoir Dogs (1992) Tarantino has

developed, via several outstand-ing movies and some more uni-formly panned efforts, into one of the most recognisable and bank-able movie makers alive today, which is certainly one reason that we get fairly regular broadcasts of his flicks on the box. Pulp Fic-tion (1994), From Dusk Till Dawn (1996), Jackie Brown (1997) and Kill Bill (2004) in particular seem to be shown annually. The Kill Bill double-bill (pun in-tended) is on Nelonen again on 14 and 22 May, which is why Quen-tin is on my mind. Since Reservoir Dogs – gritty, darkly funny and stupidly violent – announced the arrival of a major talent in Holly-wood, his oeuvre has been patchy at best. In my humble and un-shakeable opinion, after Pulp Fic-tion the only movies of his worth seeing are in fact the Kill Bill duo. These films have showed the genius spark of old, combining possibly Uma Thurman’s best

performance as a kick-ass ninja assassin out for revenge on her old boss with impressive turns from stalwarts Daryl Hanna, Da-vid Carradine, Michael Madsen, and so on, though Tarantino’s gratuitous indulgence in blood-spattered carnage is present and correct. Other films have been out-and-out rubbish – a category which I reckon includes all his films since 2004, including the pathetic Death Proof and the un-believably childish, dyslexic and nonsensical Inglourious Basterds, most notable for providing Brad Pitt with the chance to give an even worse performance than he did in Troy. With the invention of record-able digiboxes, watching movies on telly is more like having your own personal video rental store these days, except (YLE except-ed) you don’t need to pay for the actual movies. If you’re like me this means that you end up with

200 hours of movies on your di-gibox that you’ve seen before and will probably never watch again, but just in case they stay on your hard drive for several years. Posi-tively, it also means that you don’t have to stay awake until 1 a.m. to catch that Japanese artcore mov-ie you’ve always wanted to see. It must be wondered how broadcasters choose the films they’re going to show. Naturally, a wide enough variety must be offered to provide every demo-graphic with the possibility of sit-ting down with a bowl of popcorn in front of the old goggle-box every once in a while. But since everything is supposed to be so interactive these days, how about giving viewers the occasional chance to choose the month’s films? Suggest a list of 200 films and we get to choose via some in-ternet referendum. Democracy in action. Everyone’s happy. Except Bill, obviously.

Movie mämmiNICK BARLOW

11:05 YLE News in English11:10 Road to Avonlea15:05 Coronation Street

Amber doesn’t want to move to his stepfather’s home in Finland.

17:07 Memoirs of Sherlock HolmesA young man says his last words and dies with his murderer’s spectacles in his hand.

21:00 John AdamsAfter seeing too much cruelty in battles, Adams travels to Philadelphia in 1774. The discussion about the US becoming independent rages on, and Adam takes part in drawing up the Declaration of Independence.Part 2/7.

22:30 Little Britain USA (K15)Part 3/6.

06:50 Pikku KakkonenChildren’s programming.In Finnish.

10:35 McLeod’s Daughters11:20 Food Safari

Brazil. Part 9/10.11:45 Big, Bigger, Biggest

London’s Heathrow is the busiest airport in the world. Part 2/4.

16:23 Pikku KakkonenChildren’s programming.In Finnish.

17:00 Ice Hockey SPORTWorld Cup. Matches 2A-2D and 2B-2C from the qualification round.In Finnish.

21:00 Ice Hockey SPORTWorld Cup. Matches 1A-1D and 1B-1C from the qualification round.In Finnish.

00:20 The IT CrowdSERIES ENDS. Jen is promoted as her boss’s assistant.

16:00 Brain DoctorsPart 4/6.

17:00 The Undersea World of Jacques CousteauNarrated in Finnish.

18:00 Sahara Marathon DOCAbdula wants to do well in a marathon to cheer up the people in refugee camps in Algeria. In Spanish.

20:00 Au siècle de de Maupassant: contes et nouvelles du XIXeme siècleIn French.

21:00 Children of the War DOCWWII was a shocking experience for millions of children.Part 1/2.In German and Finnish.

13:20 Private PracticePregnancy afflicts the heart of Addison’s patient.

14:15 AlfAlf is convinced that their new neighbour is Elvis Presley.

14:45 She’s Got the Look15:40 E! Entertainment: True

Hollywood StoryHeidi Klum.

17:05 The Bold and the Beautiful18:00 Emmerdale20:00 Brothers & Sisters

Nora is disappointed as the children have other plans for Thanksgiving.

21:00 Cold CaseA skater boy disappeared in weird circumstances in the 90s.

22:30 C.S.I.23:30 The L Word00:30 3rd Rock from the Sun

07:00 Children’s ProgrammingIn Finnish.

15:30 E! Entertainment: Whose wedding is it anyway?Organising an intercontinental wedding via a video link.

16:30 The Hills18:05 Sturm der Liebe

In German.19:00 Little Britain

This programme follows Little Britain’s tour in Australia.

20:00 Friends20:30 The Simpsons

Treehouse of Horror XIX.22:00 Sons of Anarchy (K15)

One of the gang members is prosecuted for murder. Jax has to choose between the club and his friend.

23:00 Stargate SG100:00 That Mitchell and Webb

Look00:30 Peep Show01:00 Génesis (K15)

In Spanish.

18:00 That 70s Show18:30 Grounded for Life

Lily fails her driving test for the second time.

19:00 America’s Funniest Home Videos

19:30 My Wife and KidsMichael’s sister Kelly comes for a visit.

20:00 Lisa Williams Live21:00 Foolproof FILM

Three friends amuse themselves by scheming heist plans, but everything changes when the plans fall into the hands of a gangster. Directed by William Philips. Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Kristin Booth, Joris Jarsky. USA 2003

23:30 Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

SELECTION OF ENGLISH PROGRAMMES ON FINNISH TELEVISIONmonday 17.5. tuesday 18.5.TV1

TV2

MTV3

YLE TEEMA

NELONEN

SUB

TV VIISI

11:05 YLE News in English11:10 Road to Avonlea

A merchant arrives in Avonlea and finds the woman of his dreams there.

15:05 Coronation Street17:07 Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes19:00 Superswarms DOC

This documentary examines animal swarms that have grown frighteningly large. Part 1/2. In Finnish and English.

06:50 Pikku KakkonenChildren’s programming.In Finnish.

10:40 McLeod’s Daughters11:25 Supernanny

Three boys think of their family’s restaurant as their playground.

13:00 Ein Fall Für ZweiIn German.

14:30 Northern Lights16:21 Pikku Kakkonen

Children’s programming.In Finnish.

17:00 Ice Hockey SPORTWorld Cup. Matches 1D – 2A and 3C – 1B from the qualification round.In Finnish.

21:00 Ice Hockey SPORTWorld Cup. Matches 3A-3D and 2C-3B from the qualification round.In Finnish.

16:00 James May’s 20th CenturyJames May investigates some of the attack and defence strategies that warfare has induced to invent. Part 4/6.

18:00 Ballet GirlsPart 3/3.

18:55 Cuéntame Cómo PasóIn Spanish.

21:00 Jools Holland ShowGuests: Kaiser Chiefs, Mike Skinner (The Streets), Seasick Steve, TV on the Radio, Little Jackie, and Boy George.

22:30 Kabuli Kid FILMTaxi driver Khaled sees a woman leaving her baby on the back seat of a car. The search for the mother becomes a metaphor for the war-torn Kabul. Directed by Barmak Akram. Starring: Hadji Gul. France/Afganistan 2008.In Persian.

13:15 Lipstick JungleDifferent cultures and backgrounds meet when Victory presents Joe to her parents.

14:10 Grand DesignsPensioners in Maidstone, Kent, need a new home.

17:05 The Bold and the Beautiful18:00 Emmerdale22:30 Mentalist

A wealthy speculator is found dead in the safe room of his home. The investigations reveal that he seemed to lead a double life.

23:30 Corleone – Il capo dei capi (K15)In Italian.

07:00 Children’s ProgrammingIn Finnish.

15:30 E! Entertainment: Wildest TV Show Moments

16:00 E! Entertainment: Giuliana & Bill

16:30 The HillsHeidi wonders about Spencer’s relationship with Stacie.

18:05 Sturm der LiebeIn German.

19:00 Little Britain19:30 The Simpsons: Access All

AreasSpecial episode with several guests.

20:00 My Name Is EarlA mysterious person moves next-door to Earl.

20:30 The Simpsons21:00 Miami Vice (K15) FILM

Detectives Sonny Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs infiltrate into the world of drug suppliers in this police film based on the classic 80s series.Directed by Michael Mann. Starring: Colin Farrell,Jamie Foxx.USA 2006

02:05 Girls of the Playboy Mansion

18:00 That 70s ShowEric turns 18 but his mood is low.

18:30 Grounded for Life19:00 America’s Funniest Home

Videos19:30 My Wife and Kids

The parents think of a genuine way to stop their children from fighting.

20:00 Leverage21:00 Secret Lives of Women

(K15) DOC22:00 Before and After FILM

A family’s life turns upside down when their son runs away after being suspected of murdering his girlfriend. Directed by Barbet Schoeder. Starring: Edward Furlong, Liam Neeson, Meryl Streep. USA 1996.

00:10 Sex Tips for Girls

TV1

TV2

MTV3 NELONEN

SUB

TV VIISI

YLE TEEMA

07:00 Children’s ProgrammingIn Finnish.

08.00 10 Items or LessIngrid believes she has found her true love.

12:50 Take My Kids, PleaseRichard and Lea, parents of four, ask their friend Daka to look after their children for the weekend.

13:20 Fashion ABC 13:50 Property Virgins

A newlywed couple wants to move out from their basement flat.

14:20 Fresh with Anna OlsonAn Italian evening.

14:50 Room for ImprovementBrothers have their boat’s interior refurbished.

15:20 Britain’s Next Top ModelThe contestants get to try out acting.

16:20 Days of Our Lives17:15 Everybody Hates Chris

Chris loses his bus fare in a card game.

17:40 Dr. Phil21:00 Desperate Housewives

Looking for answers for questions left open.

22:00 DamagesThe FBI is afraid that Patty knows she is under observation.

23:25 Frasier23:55 Army Wives

12:20 Man CavesA Sinarta-style meeting space.

12:45 Don’t Sweat itSERIES ENDS.

13:10 Carter Can13:40 Superscapes

Michael and Lisa’s dream garden is inspired by the Colosseum.

14:10 American Gladiators 198918:00 Medical Emergency18:30 Surf Patrol19:00 Fifth Gear21:00 American Gangster:

Muhammad & Mavo (K15) DOCA year after 9/11, Washington DC was terrorised by a sniper who began shooting people randomly. The murder wave claimed ten victims.

22:00 Untamed & Uncut (K15)An elephant goes berserk.

23:00 Naked & Funny (K15)23:30 That News Show (K15)01:00 American Hot Rod01:55 Police Patrol

JIM

Miami Vice (K15)Sub 21:00

07:00 Children’s ProgrammingIn Finnish.

08.00 Marriage under ConstructionVanessa and Derek have decided to move to Toronto.

12:50 Take My Kids, PleaseRobin has promised to take care of Johnny and Malia’s four small kids.

13:20 Fashion ABC13:50 Property Virgins14:20 Fresh with Anna Olson

Anna prepares Spanish tapas.

14:50 Room for ImprovementA radio station’s reception gets a more cheerful look.

15:20 Britain’s Next Top Model16:20 Days of Our Lives17:15 Everybody Hates Chris

Chris wonders how to make his friend Tasha interested in him.

17:40 Dr. PhilGetting fit for the beach.

21:00 NCISVance investigates the murder of his old friend but doesn’t let Gibb’s in on it.

23:25 FrasierFrasier realises he and his old friend Woody don’t have anything in common.

00:55 Shield (K15)

11:15 Finished in 48Travis wants to surprise his wife by renovating their porch.

11:45 Save My BathBarbara and Ken don’t need a bathtub in their bathroom.

13:05 Carter CanRacquel and Dean can’t find common ground for their kitchen overhaul.

13:35 Superscapes14:05 Deadliest Catch

SERIES ENDS.17:00 Takeshi’s Castle18:00 Medical Emergency18:30 Surf Patrol19:00 Fifth Gear

Visiting the film set of Casino Royale.

20:00 Bait Car21:00 Life after People DOC

This episode looks into the destruction caused by hurricane Katrina.

22:00 Gene Simmons: Family JewelsTracy goes to Hawaii with her new boyfriend.

22:30 Sexy Ads (K15)SERIES ENDS.

23:00 Naked & Funny (K15)23:30 That News Show(K15)01:00 American Hot Rod

FoolproofTV Viisi 21:00

JIM

Before and AfterTV Viisi 22:00

22 14 – 19 MAY 2010 HELSINKI TIMES

Thursday 5/13

4:46 am 9:47 pm

4:55 am 10:00 pm

4:41 am 10:02 pm

4:01 am 10:28 pm

3:41 am 10:47 pm

2:30 am 11:50 pm

Thu 5/13

Fri 5/14

Sat 5/15

Sun 5/16

Mon 5/17

Tue 5/18

Wed 5/19

+13+18 +22

+17+20

+17

+15

+11

+18+22

+23+22

+23+23

+20

+14

+24+24

+21+22

+24+23

+24

+19

+21+20 +21

+21

+23+21

+22+19

+21+19 +20

+19

+22+21

+22

+19

+22+21 +19

+18

+20+19

+21

+20

+26+25 +24

+20

+21+20

+22

+19

Thu 5/13

+10

+28

+19

+11

+8

+20

+12

+11

+12

+10

+29

+16

+11

+16

+12

+21

+26

+10

+7

+10

+10

+20

+13

+21

+20

+16

Fri 5/14

+11

+30

+15

+11

+10

+19

+12

+11

+8

+12

+24

+16

+12

+17

+13

+23

+23

+10

+12

+11

+10

+17

+12

+22

+21

+14

Sat 5/15

+13

+25

+19

+11

+12

+16

+8

+12

+10

+10

+26

+19

+13

+18

+15

+20

+23

+9

+11

+13

+11

+14

+17

+21

+22

+15

Sun 5/16

+12

+26

+20

+14

+12

+9

+16

+14

+12

+12

+25

+21

+14

+18

+18

+21

+22

+12

+9

+10

+11

+18

+13

+20

+17

+11

Mon 5/17

+15

+25

+21

+14

+13

+10

+13

+14

+12

+12

+21

+24

+15

+18

+22

+22

+25

+12

+14

+14

+10

+22

+18

+22

+19

+15

Tue 5/18

+15

+25

+22

+16

+13

+12

+16

+14

+14

+15

+21

+26

+16

+21

+24

+21

+28

+13

+17

+14

+13

+23

+14

+22

+23

+16

Wed 5/19

+15

+23

+24

+16

+12

+17

+16

+16

+16

+15

+22

+30

+16

+24

+24

+22

+25

+13

+17

+14

+15

+21

+14

+24

+22

+17

+17 +15 +15 +19 +20 +22 +22

+36

+25

+40

+40

+26

+36

+23

+31

+25

+36

+27

+39

+40

+27

+37

+21

+31

+25

+36

+29

+39

+40

+29

+36

+22

+32

+24

+35

+27

+40

+38

+30

+38

+18

+32

+22

+36

+26

+41

+38

+30

+38

+25

+30

+21

+38

+26

+41

+38

+30

+38

+27

+34

+26

+35

+31

+41

+39

+30

+38

+19

+32

+29

+31 +37 +36 +41 +31 +28 +28

+24

+16

+16

+26

+22

+15

+12

+26

+23

+17

+20

+26

+22

+21

+21

+26

+23

+23

+22

+25

+24

+24

+20

+25

+26

+26

+18

+25

+21

+20

+21

+19

+21

+19

+22

+21

+20

+22

+19

+14

+26

+16

saturday 6.3.

The average TV viewer in 2009In 2009, the average Finnish TV viewer watched television for 2 hours 56 minutes a day, which is one minute less than in 2008. Statistics from 2008 show that he is a slightly more avid television watcher than his counterparts in the other Nordic countries, with the Swedish viewer watch-ing it the least, 2 hours 40 min-utes a day. Italians are the most TV-hungry Europeans, watching the television for almost an hour longer a day than the Finns, with Spain and the UK close behind.

From the Finnish channels, YLE TV1 was the most watched in 2009 with the average viewer tuning in for 43 minutes a day, while MTV3 was watched for 40 and YLE TV2 for 30 minutes. Nelonen was watched for 18 min-utes a day by the average viewer and Sub for 11 minutes.

07:00 Children’s ProgrammingIn Finnish.

08:00 Marriage under ConstructionDerek and Nessa begin purchasing houseware for their new home.

12:50 Take My Kids, Please13:20 Fashion ABC13:50 Property Virgins

A couple from Toronto proceeds cautiously in house-hunting.

14:20 Fresh with Anna Olson14:50 Room for Improvement15:20 Britain’s Next Top Model

The girls are interviewed by a journalist, and some secrets from the past surface.

16:20 Days of Our Lives17:15 Everybody Hates Chris

Chris’s plan to receive his first kiss from Tasha turns sour.

17:40 Dr. Phil20:00 The Bachelor

Many of the ladies have to renounce their dreams.

21.00 CastleA politician is found dead in a dumpster, and a scandal is revealed during the investigation.

23:25 Frasier23:55 Mad Men

Don and Betty have a holiday in Rome.

11:15 Finished in 48Jeff and Diana bought an old warehouse as their home.

11:45 Save My Bath13:05 Carter Can

One room becomes two.13:35 Superscapes

Bruce and Angelina want their back garden to be an urban paradise.

14:05 London Ink17:00 Takeshi’s Castle18:00 Medical Emergency18:30 Surf Patrol

A child vanishes on the crowded beach.

19:00 Fifth Gear20:00 Top Trumps21:00 Modern Marvels: Mega

Meals DOCHow do you feed 70,000 hungry football fans?

22:00 BullrunThe journey continues from Las Vegas towards Lake Powell

23:00 Naked & Funny (K15)23:30 That News Show (K15)01:00 American Hot Rod

11:05 YLE News in English11:10 Road to Avonlea

Rachel is upset by Marilla’s passing.

15:05 Coronation Street17:07 Casebook of Sherlock

Holmes19:00 The True Story of John

Dillinger DOC20:00 Ladies of Letters

SERIES BEGINS. Two widowers meet, realising they have many things in common, begin exchanging letters. Part 1/10.

22:30 Animated Soviet PropagandaRemarkable animated films of Soviet propaganda were discovered when the firm Soyuzmult sold its archives to the West. Part 1/2.

23:30 L’embrasement FILMA TV film about the riots in France that took place in October 2005. In French.

06:50 Pikku KakkonenChildren’s programming.In Finnish.

10:35 McLeod’s Daughters11:20 Food Safari

Korea. Part 10/10.16:05 Flying Doctors17:24 Pikku Kakkonen

Children’s programming.In Finnish.

20:00 Secret Millionaire22:05 Law & Order: Special

Victims Unit (K15)An enthusiastic clairvoyant offers to help the police.

00:05 Torchwood

17:00 The Virus Empire DOCHow are viruses fought against around the world? Part 1/2. In Finnish, Italian, English and German.

19:00 Young and Innocent FILMThis thriller features Hitchcock’s favourite setup: an innocent man who escapes the police while searching for the real killer. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Starring: Derrick De Marney, Nova Pilbeam. UK 1937

21:00 Music behind the scenesHumour. Part 4/6.

22:00 Six Feet Under (K15)Nate has a seizure in Maggie’s home.

23:20 V kruge pervomPart 2/10. In Russian.

14:15 Alf14:45 At the End of My Leash15:10 New Scandinavian

Cooking with Tina NordströmTina goes diving on Sweden’s west coast.

17:05 The Bold and the Beautiful18:00 Emmerdale20:00 Prince William & Harry:

Into the Future DOCThis programme looks into the British royalties, their circle of friends and their romances in the public spotlight.

21:00 C.S.I. New YorkThe mayor falls through a glass roof during a charity gala.

22:30 Ax Men23:30 Mythbusters

Everything’s big in this one-hour special episode.

00:35 3rd Rock from the Sun

07:00 Children’s ProgrammingIn Finnish.

14:35 Pussycat Dolls Presents: The Search For The Next DollReruns of the American reality series start.

15:30 E! Entertainment: Maxim’s Hottest MomentsThe hottest gossip and stories of 2009.

16:30 The HillsSpencer asks Heidi’s father for his blessing.

18:05 Sturm der LiebeIn German.

22:00 DollhouseTwo consecutive episodes.

00:00 C.S.I.Catherine and Warrick search for the killer of a basketball star’s son.

01:55 Temptation Island

18:00 That 70s ShowThe immigration officials show interest in Fez and Laurie’s marriage.

18:30 Grounded for LifeJimmy and Henry question their father’s manliness.

19:00 America’s Funniest Home Videos

19:30 My Wife and Kids20:00 Beat It: Superstore

Addiction DOCAmanda Smith was assaulted at the age of 17. Her shopping addiction is a result of the past trauma.

21:00 Sharp Shooter (K15) FILMExperienced sniper Dillon is talked into taking up one last mission, which turns out complicated and dangerous. Directed by Armand Mastroianni. Starring: James Remar, Mario Van Peebles. USA 2007

23:20 Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

wednesday 19.5.TV1

TV2

MTV3

YLE TEEMA

NELONEN

SUB

JIM

TV VIISI

Young and InnocentYle Teema 19:00

Ladies of LettersTV1 20:00

Italy Spain UK Germany France Holland Finland Denmark Norway Sweden Austria

Time used to watch TV in Europe 2008

Source: Finnpanel, Mediametrie / One Television Year in the World 2009

3:54 3:47 3:45 3:27 3:24 3:04 2:57 2:47 2:45 2:40 2:28

232314 – 19 MAY 2010HELSINKI TIMES

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My conspiracy theo-ry builds on a basic truism: Stockmann is a shop for rich folk. Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t afford to shop in Stockmann, just like the vast majority of Greater Helsin-ki’s inhabitants. Stockmann’s whole raison d’être is to make its customers feel better than the rest of us. The staff even parade their ability to speak eight foreign languages on their nametag just to rein-force the message! I’ll admit to buying something from its supermarket on occasion as well as making use of its hygi-enic, yet strangely nightclub-esque, bathroom facilities, but that’s all. Honest!

So the fi rst piece of the puzzle has been laid: having the Stockmann Clock as the meeting place in Helsinki pri-mary benefi ts patrons of that fi ne establishment. Howev-er, there’s more. For users of the metro, trains and a large

number of buses, the Central Railway Station would make far more sense as a meet-ing point. Therefore, why the Stockmann Clock? For tram users, that’s why!

Trams serve the most exclusive/trendy/wealthy areas of Helsinki: Eira, Katajanokka, Töölö, Vallila, Munkkiniemi, Kallio, Käpylä, Arabia... In fact, it’s diffi -cult to think of one undesir-able area on any of the tram routes. Itä-Pasila is a con-tender but only in relation to other areas served by trams. Yet, most Greater Helsinki residents don’t live in these areas – they live in places like Kontula, Tikkurila and Konala as I do. So, I ask you, why should we be forced to accommodate lazy stadilaiset who can’t be bothered mak-ing the fi ve-minute walk from their favourite shop to the train station when the rest of us have just made

something like a 40-minute journey to meet them?

Unfortunately, many for-eigners and those Finns who grew up elsewhere in Finland, despite having the opportuni-ty to objectively assess this tra-dition, choose to perpetuate this injustice rather than ques-tion it.

Like the best conspiracy theories, mine includes some contentious claims and is slightly problematic in places – where do the bus users ar-riving in Kamppi fi t into all of this? What about the trams that go past the main en-trance of the Central Railway Station (admittedly, I have a response to this one)? But fol-lowing in the grand tradition of conspiracy theorising, I’ll choose to ignore these diffi -culties in favour of believing a nice story of good and evil: I’m good while Stockmann’s clien-tele, tram users and city cen-tre dwellers who force others to meet under the Stockmann Clock are evil.

EXPAT VIEW

In this series expatriates tell about their lives in Finland.

The Stockmann Clock conspiracyONE OF THE benefi ts of being a foreigner in another country is that you are able to notice the peculiarities and eccentrici-ties of the natives in a way they cannot. One example of such behaviour is a phenomenon I’ve always had diffi culty ac-cepting: meeting under the fa-mous Stockmann Clock.

I was introduced to this strange ritual while taking my fi rst Finnish language course when a few of my classmates chose to rendezvous there be-fore heading off wherever they were planning on going. I pre-sumed that these poor souls, in an effort to imitate the locals, had simply latched onto an ob-scure feature of Helsinki life. Little did I know how integral this custom is to becoming, in the eyes of certain people, a fully accepted member of Fin-land’s capital. Yet, it’s only re-cently that I’ve discovered the conspiracy that lies at the heart of the whole issue.

Allan Bain is just about to graduate from the University of Helsinki. He’s lived in Finland for almost four years with his Finnish wife with whom he has a daughter.

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Switzerland supporters kiss before the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship match Switzerland vs. Latvia in the southern Ger-man city of Mannheim on 8 May. The 2010 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships are taking place in Germany from 7 to 23 May.

the week in pictures

L EH T IK U VA / A F P P HOTO / MIC H A L C IZ EK

A Russian Air Force Beriev A-50 aircraft flies in formation with fighter jets over Red Square and the Kremlin during a military pa-rade dress rehearsal in Moscow on 6 May. Russia marked the 65th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in 1945 with a mili-tary parade in Moscow’s Red Square on 9 May.

Two fishing vessels drag an oil boom after trapped oil is set ablaze in the Gulf of Mexico on 7 May. The US Coast Guard work-ing in partnership with BP PLC, local residents, and other feder-al agencies are conducting “in situ burning” to aid in preventing the spread of oil following the 20 April explosion on mobile off-shore drilling unit Deepwater Horizon.

A policeman falls after being hit with molotov cocktail near the Greek parliament in Athens during a nationwide strike in Greece, on 5 May.

Municipality workers and policemen trying to catch female moose after the animal entered the suburbs of Lublin on 4 May. The moose was later released back into the forest.

Nine-day-old gorilla rests in the hand of its mother Kijivu at the Prague Zoo on 3 May.

L EH T IK U VA / REU T ER S / R A FA L MIC H A L KOW SK

L EH T IK U VA / REU T ER S / V L A DIMIR NIKOL SK Y

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Athletes run past a refreshment station with the ground seen strewn with paper cups and sponges during the Prague International Marathon on 9 May.