Greece needs the next tranche in its bailout in order to make a 14.5 billion Euro debt payment due on 20 March. In consequence, the meeting scheduled for Wednesday to finalise the current stage of the bailout was cancelled.
THE GREEK
L E H T I K U VA / L O U I S A GO U L I A M A K I
A man walks past the Bank of Greece headquarters with the plaque altered to read "Bank of Berlin" in Athens on 13 February. Eurozone head JeanClaude Juncker said that Greece did not find an additional 325 million Euro in savings, nor did the political parties promise, in writing, to follow the plan. Greek streets experienced some of the worst violence in months. These include a 22 per cent cut in the minimum wage, 15,000 public-sector job redundancies and yet more spending cuts. Finland had two major problems. The dire numbers surprised analysts. Meanwhile, other European nations ran into their own problems on Tuesday. "The government is making superhuman efforts and we have reached the limits of the social and economic system. Green Party support has also picked up by two per cent on the previous HS poll last December. The coalition government had over 50 MPs break ranks to vote against the legislation. Also, its unit labour costs grew 12.3 per cent over the past three years.
Moving needn't take heaven and earth Moving is often listed as one of the more stressful events in life and though it's certainly nowhere near on par with bereavement or divorce, it's certainly up there with exams or planning a wedding. Ireland, Greece, Portugal and Spain all had five or more imbalances. Under intense pressure from official lenders the EU, IMF and ECB Greek politicians passed yet more austerity measures. Protests greeted the additional austerity measures. The greatest increase is in support for the long-embattled Centre Party, which according to the sur-
vey now has the same level of support as the Finns Party. Its export market share over the past five years fell 26 per cent, the worst of any European nation. "Greece has made all the efforts that it needed to do, and the people cannot take any more," cabinet minister Christos Papoutsis said in a news conference. See page 19.
ACCORDING to a survey published in Tuesday's Helsingin Sanomat, support for the Finns Party has dropped markedly since the end of last year. Despite vicious street-battles, Greece took a big step toward a second bailout to avert banktruptcy on Monday after lawmakers approved radical budget cuts, with EU and Germany praising the vote.
This drew swift condemnation from Greece. Ten different criteria were examined, and every country had at least two deficiencies. C O R D HEL SINKI TIMES
Finns eager to travel despite economic uncertainties Despite natural disasters, economic problems and political uncertainties, Finns increased their worldwide travels in 2011. See page 9.
CULTURE
Worldly design Taking usability and wellbeing as its starting points, DesignWorld at Helsinki's Design Museum seeks to display objects that embrace ecological and sustainable design and safety and comfort. ISSUE 7 (2 38) · 16 2 2 FEBRUARY 2012 · 3 · W W W.HEL SINKITIMES.FI
BUSINESS
Greek crisis deepens as more EU nations experience difficulties
DAV I D J . More European nations are under scrutiny, as a number of states received credit downgrades and imbalances in the Finnish economy drew official notice. "Many still go by the rule of thumb that the effect of elections on party support can usually be seen for about half a year afterwards," Pernaa added. The event has become somewhat more light-hearted over the years and now the stunts include interrupting junior students' classes and conducting amusing lessons, singing songs about teachers and throwing sweets to junior students and children. But just what exactly is laskiaispulla. Greece and its lenders are under a tight deadline to complete a series of complicated legal manoeuvres. Despite the new measures, the European finance ministers were not satisfied. The ratings agency Moody's warned that it might cut the ratings of Austria, France and the UK. Whereas 20.5 per cent of voters would have voted for the party in November, the percentage is now down to 16.5. See page 12.
EAT & DRINK
HS poll: Finns Party support down, Centre up
HEL SINKI TIMES
School's out for some
HEL SINKI TIMES
TOWNS
The rise in support for the Centre may be attributed to Paavo Väyrynen's run in the presidential elections.
The Shrovetide cake This simple cake is considered so typically Finnish it was chosen to present the country at Café Europe, a celebration of sweets and cakes from each member state of the EU, in 2006. The tradition is over a hundred years old and stems from the time when students wishing to go to university sat their matriculation exams in Helsinki and left from their
home towns for the trip to the capital in a rather ceremonious manner. The party's popularity rating is now at 9.6 per cent, in the wake of Green candidate Pekka Haavisto's strong showing in the presidential election. The largest party is still the National Coalition Party, with 24.1 per cent support. "We were expecting the recession to get worse, but not at this pace," Nikos Magginas, senior economist at the National Bank of Greece told the Wall Street Journal. From now on, Europe has to take the responsibility." On Tuesday the Greek government statistics office announced that the economy had shrunk 7 per cent in the fourth quarter, accelL E H T I K U VA / J U S S I N U K A R I
erating from the 5 per cent decline in the third. In larger towns penkkarit culminates in a parade of slow-moving lorries through the town, with the final year students on the back of the lorries shouting slogans and throwing sweets to children along the way.
L E H T I K U VA / J A R N O M E L A
Today you can catch a candy thrown by students from the parade of slow-moving lorries in town with the final year students celebrating the last day in school.. The cause of the joviality is penkkarit the students' final day in school before their matriculation exams. The European Commission report studies all EU nations for economic imbalances. "The shifts in popularity between the parties are now bigger than normal, reflecting the impact of the presidential campaign and the election outcome," commented Senior Research Fellow Ville Pernaa of the Centre for Parliamentary Studies at the University of Turku. See page 17.
HOUSING
Parliament obeyed demands for further austerity, but worse-than-expected economic news has surprised analysts. It cut the ratings of Italy, Malta, Portugal, Slovakia and Slovenia by one notch and Spain by two notches.
A leaked version of the longawaited Alert Mechanism Report also appeared on Tuesday. The survey was carried out by TNS Gallup between 23 January and 10 February, and 2,891 people responded to it.
and cities all over Finland today will see crowds of happy students throwing sweets from the backs of lorries and playing pranks at their former schools. Helsinki Times looks into the do's and don'ts what come to moving flat. Finnish travel agents enjoyed an 11 per cent jump in sales from 2011
An economic race would make its return to Europe and disagreements about territories, borders or political minorities would be settled bilaterally when the multilateral framework currently provided by the EU institutions and law ceased to exist.
IN PARTICULAR, the opponents
Without strong rules, and supranational supervision and control, markets would not operate properly.
so distort the functioning of the market.
ANOTHER
market, however, cannot function without
THE INTERNAL
problem would emerge from subordinating markets to political goals, such as sustainable development or social justice. of the EU have suggested that a loose economic union such as the European economic area (EEA) could stand as an alternative to the current EU. What would happen if this materialized, and what would Europe without the EU look like. Nationalism and other state-centric political narratives would flourish and it is quite likely that the political atmosphere would not be favorable for a new pan-European cooperative construction after the severe blow the EU had suffered. Also, the UK, which is skeptical about political integration, recognizes the obvious value of the internal market.
the corresponding system of supervision and regulation it is currently connected with. She has published a lot on European integration and Finland's foreign and security policy.
Could the EU be replaced?
A breakdown of European integration would lead to a drastic realignment of the entire region, writes Teija Tiilikainen.
IN THE
increase tensions between them.
IF THE CURRENT EU didn't exist, its members would need to think about how to reorganize their mutual cooperation in security policy. It would represent a more far-reaching model of integration than the other regional blocs just on the basis of its security policy logic. This would provide its members with clear competitive advantages with respect to the other regional groups. EUROPE would thus become essentially a Europe of nations where key disagreements between states would deal with issues more severe than shares of the common budget or numbers of votes in the EU decision-making. Contacts between European parties would develop in the same direction without the direct European elections. Tightening economic competition would, however, be apt to
a disintegration of the EU would mean dramatic changes in its polit-
Helsinki Times iPad edition
Now you can read Helsinki Times on your iPad just as it was printed. A return to the old setting would increase distrust and economic costs. Without strong rules, and supranational supervision and control, markets would not operate properly. Previously she has functioned in various positions at the University of Helsinki. The member states would be weakly committed to the opening of their markets, in particular in policy-fields characterized by firm national interests. Like the other Nordic countries, Finland would participate in a European free trade area that would bring its foreign trade policy back to its bilateral agenda. European integration was once established in order to bind Germany to tight European cooperation and there is no willingness yet in Central Europe to return to national defence systems. Helsinki Times reserves the right to accept or reject submissions, as well as to edit or shorten the text. You can submit your articles to viewpoint@helsinkitimes.fi. 2
16 22 FEBRUARY 2012
VIEWPOINT
HELSINKI TIMES
Viewpoints are commentaries written by experts and authorities about specific topics. Articles should be at least 5,000 characters-with-spaces long (maximum length 10,000). The current daily contacts between the administrations of EU countries, linked with the preparation of EU level meetings and common legislation, would fade away and relations between European countries
would again be dominated by foreign ministries.
IN THIS world of intergovernmental relations, the currently active interaction between European civil societies would slow down, as the need to prepare for joint decisions at the EU level would no longer exist. In a system of cooperation dominated by an intergovernmental mode of governance, commitment to these principles would depend on economic and political conjunctures.
of these countries starting to protect their own markets would grow; they would probably go back to old practices concerning work permits and border controls, restricting the traffic of both goods and people. As an existing print subscriber you can get the iPad edition with an additional charge of only 10/year and access all the past archived issues of Helsinki Times published since April 2007.. This market, with its four freedoms (freedom of movement of goods, persons, services and capital), is seen to provide its member countries with an enormous advantage in the global economic competition. A number of smaller communities with some type of an internal market, such as the Nordic region, would be likely to emerge in Europe. What would the policy options for a single EU member state like Finland be in such a situation. Download our free app from the App Store today.
You can buy a single issue, or subscribe to the iPad edition of Helsinki Times and access every issue. The opinions expressed in this section are the writers' own and do not represent the official policy of the Helsinki Times.
Dr Teija Tiilikainen is the director of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs. One of the regional systems of cooperation replacing the EU would thus emerge around the original EC countries: Germany, France, Italy and the Benelux countries. In 2007-2008 she had the position of state secretary in the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The risk
ical and economic surroundings. The key security factors would most likely keep the historical core of the EU together, even in the case of a fatal political crisis facing the rest of the EU. In a tightened competition, it might be more willing to deepen the economic and security policy components of this cooperation.
A KEY question would be how interested Denmark and Norway in particular would be in building a Nordic union in such a new situation. The internal market forms the core of the EEA. Economic conjunctures would al-
IN CASE
one didn't want to continue with any supranational law or decision-making, one would have to return to an EFTA (European Free Trade Association) type of loose free trade arrangement. The same applies to its foreign and security policy, which would form the channel of conducting relations with other European countries, including Russia. Nordic cooperation would, in such a situation, form the key framework for Finland's international engagement. Nato membership meets the security policy requirements for them and their key economic interests are mainly protected through other means than Nordic cooperation. FOR FINLAND,
context of European economic and financial crises, a possible breakdown of European integration has been referred to. Returning to such an arrangement would bring borders back to the movement of goods, capitals and peoples between the current EU countries
The regional governments are currently working on a joint assessment of what their role in the national restructuring plan should be, and the report is due to be ready next month.
encouraged to cooperate amongst each other to implement the needed savings and other reforms. HT
Many voluntary local government mergers have taken place throughout the country over the last five years, and as a result the total number of local authorities in Finland has dropped by about a hundred to 336. The reforms have met with widespread opposition throughout the country, for several reasons. The governmental working group is taking an even longer-term view, of between twenty and thirty years. The ministers will also discuss Russia, the international arms trade agreement, and the upcoming North Atlantic Treaty Organisation summit. Assessing the benefits and drawbacks of the mergers is not easy, according to Arto Koski of the Association of Finnish Regional Authorities. In a press conference for Finnish media held afterwards, Wallin said the tone of the meeting was `very candid and open.' The main focus of the meeting, Wallin said, was the military restructuring that is taking place in both countries. Many critics of the reforms in North Ostrobothnia, for their part, believe that the existing local authorities in the region will be able to cooperate on the provision of social welfare and health services, and the regional government could take charge of the most expensive services. The vast disparity in the sizes of the two countries is reflected in the reforms: whereas Finland is now in the process of closing 6 of its 23 garrisons, over the past three years Russia has closed 23,000 garrisons, leaving about 3000. In
response to the resulting controversy, the Finnish Immigration Service stated three
Mervi Junkkonen's documentary revealed the Finnish Immigration Service's policy of sending torture victims back to their home countries.. According to the law on campaign financing, campaigning can begin no earlier than six months in advance of election day, and continues up until two weeks before it. The most intense phase was in 2009, after which the number of mergers has dropped considerably. According to the Minister, the purpose of the changes would be to protect children and teenagers. One fear is that many people's access to services will be jeopardised when there is a far greater distance from their local authority, which in some cases will be as high as 150 kilometres. HT
Local government reform process begins
Critics say little has been done to address the scathing criticisms that have been made of the plans for a radical reduction in the number of local authorities in the country.
L E H T I K U VA / K I M M O M Ä N T Y L Ä
Alcohol advertising ban under consideration
The Uutispäivä Demari, the official newspaper of the Social Democratic Party, reported on Tuesday that the Minister of Health and Social Services Maria Guzenina-Richardson (Social Democrats) has put forward plans to restrict alcohol advertising. Local governments have until 13 April to send a statement on their response to the reform package to the Ministry of Finance, which is coordinating the restructuring programme at national level. In his view, in place of large regional governments the reforms should be aiming at creating region-
al governments with around 150,000 residents each. Many local governments have stated that they are capable of providing essential services such as specialised healthcare and secondary education, making the amalgamation of these municipalities into large provincial governments unnecessary. The Finnish policy was first brought to public notice through a documentary by Mervi Junkkonen which was screened at the recent DocPoint Festival. The most recent intervention by the UN and ECHR took place a week ago, to prevent the deportation of a woman from the Democratic Republic of the Congo whose application for asylum was turned down by the Finnish authorities. HT
THE FIRST
Campaign budgets now transferable to future election campaigns
The Turun Sanomat reported on Monday that the Centre Party's presidential candidate had used funds left over from last year's parliamentary campaign, in which Väyrynen failed to win re-election, in the recent presidential election, in which he came third. He is critical of proposed way of going about the reforms, according to which the local authorities are overly reliant on the governmental working group for information. Neither is it a straightforward matter to predict the amount of savings, if any, that a merger will bring about. HT
Finland to intensify research cooperation with Brazil
Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen (National Coalition Party), who is currently on an official trip to Brazil, announced on Tuesday that he has made agreements with the Latin American country's president Dilma Rousseff for a significant increase in the amount of research cooperation between the two countries.
practical steps towards implementation of the controversial local government reforms began in Joensuu on Tuesday, with a visit by the governmental working group that has drawn up the reform plans. "It's not possible to mechanically count how much will be saved in ten years' time when five local governments have been merged into one," Koski says. "The provision of services could be improved through closer cooperation between local governments, with cooperative groups of varying numbers of local authorities if need be," Kietäväinen says. During his short trip to the US, Tuomioja will also attend conferences on European Union foreign policy, and Muslims in Europe. On receipt of the statements from all the authorities, the national government plans to have a more detailed definition of reform policy drawn up as soon as possible.
Regional responsibility The working group's proposal for large, centrally administered regions has drawn heavy criticism. According to the paper, the UN and ECHR have prevented four such deportations in a three-month period, on
the grounds that the asylum applicants were at serious risk of again being tortured if returned to their home countries. "A better plan is to reduce the existing burden on local governments by centralising the most expensive services only," says Matti Viialainen of the South Savo regional government. "I hope that when the governmental working group has done its rounds of the country and has listened to what the local authorities have to say that the planned reforms will come to a halt, and instead efforts will be made to solve the existing problems at local and regional level," says Centre Party Member of Parliament Mirja Vehkaperä. Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industry, naturally, is opposed to the restrictions. According to Jaakko Eskola of the National Audit Office, the state supervisory authority that oversees State finances and asset management and the spending of public funds, Väyrynen did not violate the campaign financing law by using parliamentary campaign funds in the presidential campaign. For example, information on the national government's restructuring plans for social welfare and health services will be provided to local governments only in May, as will the plans for high schools and vocational schools. "There should be a second round of statements from local authorities in the autumn, once the government's policies are out in the open."
Cooperation The Association of Finnish Regional Authorities thinks it is plain that instead of the national government's planned mandatory amalgamations, local authorities should be
Voluntary mergers Many voluntary local government mergers have taken place throughout the country over the last five years, and as a result the total number of local authorities in Finland has dropped by about a hundred to 336. The Centre has criticised the project as grandiose and lacking any foundation in researchbased evidence.
weeks ago that being the victim of torture is insufficient grounds for being granted a residence permit. The first priority, says the Association's deputy director Timo Kietäväinen, is to continue the existing PARAS project to restructure local governments and services, which is concentrated in particular on social welfare and health services. 4
16 22 FEBRUARY 2012
DOMESTIC NEWS
HELSINKI TIMES
COLUMN
The Brazilian president is `extremely interested in Finnish innovation', Katainen said. The reform plan also allows for mandatory amalgamations of local authorities. This is the first of 18 such visits throughout the country by the group, the purpose of which is to help local governments in implementing the government's plans for reforms to reduce the total number of local governments on mainland Finland from 336 to 70. One concrete outcome of the cooperation pact is expected to be an increase in the number of bilateral student and researcher exchanges. `Leftover funds are available to the candidate for use for similar purposes at a later stage,' Eskola said. Now the plan is to reduce the total number of local governments from 336 to 70.
PIRITTA RAUTAVUORI, TIMO SIPILÄ STT HT
Finnish and US foreign ministers meet today
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Erkki Tuomioja (Social Democratic Party) will meet his United States counterpart, Secretary of State Hilary Clinton today Thursday in Washington. Do you think the metropolitan area should be merged into one mega-municipality, combining Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Kauniainen and Sipoo?
HELSINGIN
Yes 54.6 % No 45.4 %
View details and this week's question at www.helsinkitimes.fi.
Sanomat reported on Monday that the United Nations Committee against Torture and the European Commission of Human Rights have intervened in several cases to prevent Finland from deporting asylum seekers who have been tortured in their home countries. According to the Service, care is given in making the decisions to determine whether conditions in the applicant's home country have improved.
HS: United Nations intervenes to prevent torture victim deportations
HEL SINKI TIMES
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
In the plan presented by the government, the number of municipalities in Finland would go from the current 336 to about 70. "At the moment [alcohol] advertising can't be avoided, it's everywhere," GuzeninaRichardson told the paper. HT
Finnish and Russian defence ministers discuss military reforms
Minister of Defence Stefan Wallin (Swedish People's Party) met with his Russian counterpart Anatoliy Serdyukov in Moscow on Tuesday. On the other hand, defenders of the reforms say that this is the only way to put an end to the endless debt and mismanagement in
which many of the country's local governments are mired. On the agenda for discussion are the crisis zones of North Africa, the Middle East, Afghanistan, and the continuing impasse with Iran. In some cases, the effects will not become clear for several years
A new patient group in the future could be peacekeepers injured in crisis management tasks.
According to Minister of Defence Stefan Wallin (SFP), it is important to maintain the know-how in the nursing homes. · A person in a state of stress is unusually sensitive to external stimulation, which if prolonged can lead to physical or mental illness.
Source: Professor Jyrki Korkeila, University of Turku
Plans to rehabilitate peacekeepers in nursing homes for veterans
New users are needed as the number of veterans decreases.
PIIA LEINO S T T HT
that the veterans will receive the rehabilitation they need. Successful rehabilitation can postpone the need for institutional care and in this way create significant savings.
and their optimism. He is well known as an implacable foe of the welfare state, telling the magazine Suomen Kuvalehti in 2010 that Finland should stop paying development aid because it's not a lucrative investment, just "money down the drain." Similarly, he told the Financial Times that poor and broken families should not receive state support, and most recently he told Helsingin Sanomat that the Finnish unemployment security system makes it too easy for young people to opt out of the labour market.. After a youth spent under the influence of communism, he made an ideological u-turn into a capitalist extraordinaire. · Trauma can also be caused by the inability to remove oneself from a situation that has become oppressive or even unbearable, such as a violent relationship or a job in which one is bullied but which one is reluctant to quit for economic reasons, for instance. They tend to tell themselves "I can get through this crisis too." When resilient people get sick, for example, they normally retain their ability to keep functioning, "In restorative rehabilitation, the target groups would be hip fracture patients and patients treated at hospital for TIAs, or mini-strokes. "They generally felt better later on than those who kept their traumatic experiences to themselves and tried to struggle through on their own." Contrary to popular belief, the majority of children who grow up in difficult circumstances get on very well later in life. He sits on the executive boards of the banks Sampo and Nordea and on the board of the Finnish paper manufacturer UPM. She sees no reason why peacekeepers could not also be rehabilitated in the nurs-
ing homes. "We have to be prepared for gradual, controlled change in order to keep the homes functional and active," Taipale says. HELSINKI TIMES
DOMESTIC NEWS
16 22 FEBRUARY 2012
5
L E H T I K U VA / M I K KO S T I G
Bad times, good times
According to psychologist Jyrki Korkeila, there are many personality traits that make it more likely that a person can be strengthened by a traumatic experience.
PÄIVI SEPPÄLÄ STT HT
FOR ALL their unpleasantness, traumatic experiences can also give a boost to personal development. "Positive changes are far more common than the development of psychiatric problems in the wake of traumatic experiences. Post-traumatic growth has been studies most intensively in the US. "Post-traumatic growth isn't possible without first going through a lot of suffering. Hip fracture patients need post-operative rehabilitation that is provided soon after the operation, she says. Post-traumatic growth, on the other hand, is a term used to describe the positive psychological developments
that a person experiences as the result of having come through such an unpleasant phase of life. Korkeila points out that excessive realism about oneself is not a great help in
times of trauma: many studies have shown that those who suffer from depression typically are more realistic than others. The tough experiences typically cause the survivor of trauma to change their values to some extent, and to feel strengthened: life becomes richer and more satisfying. "Resilient people know how to give themselves positive feedback, and this habit is a major benefit to them in times of dramatic change in their lives. Location: Kalliolan kansalaisopisto, Sturenkatu 11, 00510 Helsinki Time: 1 - 29.3.2012, Thursdays 17.00-20.00 Information and enrolling: By 27.2. Would you like to know more about housing possibilities, working life in Finland or welfare services. info@ne-ra.fi, tel. The course will be held in English and it is free of charge. Are you aware of your rights as tenant. "People with conflictual tendencies are most at risk of becoming embittered in the event of trauma," Korkeila says. · Whereas loss of a loved one tends to be the most traumatic situation that females experience, personal humiliation tends to be what men find hardest to deal with. 046 850 9282 Organised by Kalliola Adult Learning Centre and Counselling Centre Ne-Rå www.ne-ra.fi - www.kalliolankansalaisopisto.fi
Good news for veterans as well There are currently 23 nursing homes for veterans in Finland, with a total of 1,700 beds. The elderly are often prone to hip fractures which can be caused by falling over on an icy street. Preventive and restorative rehabilitation suit both elderly and younger people," says Marja-Liisa Taipale, service line director at the State Treasury. The reason is simple, Korkeila says: they learn to become tough. Trauma is characterised by a sustained increase in one's state of alertness, which is experienced by the sufferer as uncontrollable and highly negative. The average age of war veterans is approaching 90, which means that there will be a significant decrease in the number of veterans in the near future. If so, join the course at Kalliola and discuss and learn more about Finnish society and welfare system. Following the 2004 terrorist attacks in Madrid, for example, it was
Those who have hit a low point and go on to experience so-called post-traumatic growth typically learn to enjoy their lives more than they did previously.
found that the survivors who coped best were those who shared their traumatic experiences with others. According to a report by the State Treasury and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, nursing homes for veterans could provide preventive and restorative rehabilitation for people of different ages.
Who: Björn Wahlroos From: Helsinki Famous for: being one of the wealthiest, most outspoken people in Finland
The ABC of Finnish Bureaucracy for foreigners 1.- 29.3.2012
Do you want to get information about residence permits. "Efforts to consciously turn disaster into victory are more or less bound to fail."
Support necessary Being able to profit from traumatic experiences requires certain personality traits, according to Korkeila. The Finnish society can surprise even a resident of many years. "In future, one or two of these homes could, in addition to its main task, specialise in the rehabilitation of peacekeepers injured in crisis management operations," Wallin says.
He thinks that the homes could also offer rehabilitation for those injured in military service. Outgoing people and those who are good at developing new personal contacts typically have the best prospects for getting the support they need in times of crisis. Traumas are classified as exceptionally stressful or disturbing events or situations, such as divorce, serious illness, or being subjected to violence. According to Korkeila, the sort of positive developments in question are more commonly observed in those who have experienced trauma than in those who have avoided traumatic situations. The majority of patients are still war veterans but some of the homes also take other patients. "A certain amount of overoptimism is helpful for survival."
Men and women differ on what they find most traumatic · Trauma in men can trigger many forms of destructive behaviour, such as violence towards one's children, violence to others, sexual predation, and bullying. Lower levels of suffering are not sufficient to present the same intense challenge to a person's basic understandings of justice, reasonableness, and orderliness," Korkeila explains, emphasising that the process of posttraumatic growth is not a
conscious effort on the part of the sufferer. Last year the monthly business magazine Arvopaperi ranked him the twelfth-richest person in Finland, courtesy of his banking and investment activities. Those who are flexible, optimistic, and generally open to new experiences are best equipped for coping with trauma. If the oppressive situation becomes prolonged, the person's ability to function normally can become impaired, or seize up altogether. She says that keeping the homes open will also ensure
Björn Wahlroos, often called "Nalle" (which means "teddy bear" in Finnish and Swedish) on account of his first name meaning "bear" in Swedish, is loathed and lauded in more or less equal measure. Those who have hit a low point and go on to experience post-traumatic growth typically learn to enjoy their lives more than they did previously, and they usually report improvements in their interpersonal relations. But even among those who do display symptoms of post-traumatic stress, positive life changes are not uncommon," Korkeila says. Those who get through severe tribulations often find that their lives can be more fulfilling than they were before, according to professor of psychology Jyrki Korkeila of the University of Turku. In addition to personality traits, being able to benefit from trauma also requires support from others and the sufferer's own appreciation of possibility of learning from crisis. These are the most important tools for coping with the difficulties they're facing. The 59-year-old graduated from Hanken business school in Helsinki. The ability to control one's feelings in order to prevent a crisis leading to harming oneself or others is also extremely important. Rehabilitation for the working population is somewhat different from that for the elderly, she says, but the homes are ready for the change.
L E H T I K U VA / H E I K K I S A U K KO M A A
NURSING homes for the rehabilitation of war veterans are looking for new patients as the number of veterans grows smaller
According to Yle, planning for the facility must begin this year with building preparations commencing in 2013." a far smaller workforce than 25 years ago, when I started my banking career.' According to Wahlroos, there's no need to queue at the bank if you make an appointment beforehand. Comments can be sent by e-mail to: info@helsinkitimes.fi
Björn Wahlroos believes that Finland's current system of unemployment benefits contributes to people's marginalisation. `The problem is, of course, that there are still people who don't want to, or cannot, change at the same pace as the world around them. `In Sweden, no tripartite national income policy agreements would be acceptable. In Finland,
"ACCORDING
this has been common practice for a long time,' Korkman says in the Alma Media interview. Yet at 0.0000065 per cent, the chance of winning all this is small. Examples Korkman gives of organisations becoming
stuck in their ways are questions concerning the retirement age and job alteration leave. Helsinki Times reserves the right to accept or reject submissions, and to edit and shorten all submissions chosen for publication. Those who can afford spending an unlimited amount of money on trying to
win can be sure of succeeding by filling in 15,380937 lines, the total number of possible lines. Helsinki Times will not give the information to third parties. He thinks that politicians should take the lead because these unions and employers' federations aren't capable of making decisions."
"BANKER
READER'S LETTERS
Helsinki Times wants your views on current issues and comments on news articles as well as anything of interest from a multicultural perspective.
Comments should be no longer than 2,000 characters with spaces. In Korkman's opinion, the problem with the current system is that discussion easily becomes a form of bartering, leading to final packages containing `stupidities'. `As a result of technological advancement we can provide the same services with
L E H T I K U VA / J U S S I N U K A R I
Controversial banker Björn Wahlroos.
ILTA-SANOMAT 11 February
Sure-fire lottery win will cost you
"THE BIGGEST-EVER lottery jackpot, 10.3 million euros, was up for grabs on Saturday. Such an outcome is a consequence of hardened negotiating positions. `If we continuously develop society in such a way that it's easy to choose a route that leads to marginalisation, we'll have more marginalised people,' he says in an interview with Helsingin Sanomat. According to Wahlroos, the level of unemployment benefits is so high that young people, in particular, may not be motivated to work. The nuclear power company Rosatom plans to build a storage facility for low and medium active waste in Sosnovy Bor. In Korkman's opinion, people could go on leave but not at the expense of others, while the retirement age must be raised. In other words, it couldn't be accepted that trade unions and employers' federations make decisions that should be made by Parliament or the government. One line costs one euro so it's hardly worth the effort, as the winner of 10.3 or even 11 million euros would still make a loss. Plutonium must be stored in the facility, too.
High active spent fuel will be shipped to Siberia. The next biggest jackpots were 7.5 million euros, won by someone is Espoo, and three 5 million-euro jackpots, won by lottery players in Hamina, Helsinki and a small municipality in Lapland."
L E H T I K U VA / T I M O J A A KO N A H O
This week's jackpot rises to 11 million euros.. `This would be the first such facility in Russia, and of course we think this kind of development is a good thing,' Risto Paltemaa of Stuk told Yle.
The environmental organisation Green World thinks the storage facility would be too close to the coast. Pseudonyms will be accepted only in exceptional cases. According to Korkman, the stubborn attitudes of unions and employers' federations put a brake on Finland developing into a parliamentary Nordic democracy. For these people, these kinds of changes can be painful or at least disturbing."
Sixten Korkman, managing director of the Research Institute of the Finnish Economy.
KAUPPALEHTI 10 February
HELSINGIN SANOMAT 12 February
Trade unions and employers' Finnish society's federations hinder progress perverse incentives
to the managing director of the Research Institute of the Finnish Economy, Sixten Korkman, trade unions and employers' federations hinder progress. However, nobody chose the winning numbers, meaning that the jackpot will rise to 11 million euros next week. `It's obvious that a young person in the early stages of their working career must be strongly encouraged to find new work and educational possibilities. According to Yle, the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority Finland (Stuk) sees the matter in a positive light. Korkman, who was interviewed by Alma Media in Helsinki, says that politicians have delegated some of their powers to these unions and federations. The organisation objects, in particular, to the storage of plutonium in the area. Korkman doesn't understand why the retirement age has been turned into such a big bone of contention in the Social Democrats and the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions. One must also remember that somebody else might also have chosen the winning line.
For the time being, the biggest single win, which was also the biggest jackpot in 2011, was 8 million euros and was won by a Forssa resident. 6
16 22 FEBRUARY 2012
FROM THE FINNISH PRESS
T R A NSL AT IONS B Y A INO B A IN
HELSINKI TIMES
L E H T I K U VA / RO N I R E KO M A A
TURUN SANOMAT 11 February
Nuclear storage facility to be located on Gulf of Finland coast
"RUSSIA plans to dispose of nuclear waste next to the Sosnovy Bor nuclear plant on the coast of the Gulf of Finland, the Finnish Broadcasting Company (Yle) reported on Saturday. They should also be expected to accept less appealing work than a person who's turned 50.'
In the interview Wahlroos, who heads the Nordea board, also comments on the level of services provided by banks. Writers should include their name, address and possible daytime telephone number
In a blog for the magazine, Hastings reported that "officials familiar
the number of IEDs found and detonated and the number of US troops killed and wounded have all continued to mount since 2009, the last year before the addition of 30,000 US troops and 10,000 Nato troops.
True behind the scenes "If the public had access to the classified reports," Davis writes, "they would see the dramatic gulf between what is often said in public by our senior leaders and what is true behind the scenes."
Rank and file soldiers Davis notes that Petraeus and other senior officials of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), the US-Nato command in Afghanistan, have boasted of having killed and captured thousands of insurgent leaders and rank and file soldiers, cut insurgent supply routes and found large numbers of weapons caches as well as depriving the insurgents of their main bases of operation since spring 2010. The annual number of US dead and wounded increased from 1,764 in 2009 to 4,662 in 2011.
The Army dissenter calls on the House and Senate Armed Services Committees to "conduct a bi-partisan investigation into the various charges of deception or dishonesty in this report." He urges that such a hearing include testimony, not only from senior military officials but from mid- and senior-level intelligence analysts from the Defence Intelligence Agency and other intelligence agencies. The CCFD has joined forces with Amnesty International, Oxfam France and other groups to urge that there be no "watering down" of the proposed Arms Trade Treaty when government repre-
International standards That resolution was in favour of a "comprehensive, legally binding instrument establishing common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms (TCA)." France, the fourth-largest global seller of arms, says
Unregulated trade in arms Amnesty International points to the civil wars in Libya, Syria and Sudan as examples where the unregulated trade in arms has led to abuses. Campaigners stress that armed conflict is one of the main causes of under-development in many parts of the world, and they say that the absence of international controls helps to fuel such conflicts and also abets the perpetration of war crimes and gross violations of human rights.
PARIS, FRANCE
France and the UK both sold arms to the regime of Muammar Gaddafi and subsequently supplied arms to the rebel forces who overthrew it.
A D MCKENZIE IPS
"THERE IS
more control on the selling of bananas than there is on conventional arms," said Zobel Behalal, peace and conflicts advocacy officer for CCFD-Terre Solidare, a French-based Catholic NGO. The group says that despite a UN arms embargo on the wartorn region of Darfur since 2004, Sudan has bought arms from various countries that
knew the weapons would be used in Darfur. But he has given a classified version of the report, which cites and quotes from dozens of classified documents, to several members of the House and Senate, including both Democrats and Republicans. "It should conform to the most exacting standards." Oxfam says that the agreement should go beyond the "mere commercial interests of states and must effectively permit the saving of lives." According to figures from human rights group Amnesty International, more than 1,500 people die each day from violence involving arms, and some 300,000 are victims each year of conventional firearms, outside of armed conflicts. that it jointly sponsored and promoted the resolution and since then has "resolutely strived to support this draft treaty." But Oxfam stresses that such support cannot be taken for granted, especially as the country is holding presidential elections in April and May, and the candidates have not expressly declared their position on the issue. This follows the adoption of a resolution in December 2006 by the UN General Assembly. The organisation says that in the last 12 months, the region has seen a new wave of fighting, including "targeted and ethnically motivated attacks on civilian settlements, and indiscriminate and disproportionate aerial bombings." The fighting has contributed to the displacement of an
estimated 70,000 people from their homes and villages, Amnesty International says. Regarding the Arab Spring, Elluin said that many countries bore a responsibility for having sold arms to dictatorial regimes. The report, which Davis had submitted to the Army in January for clearance to make it public, was posted on the website of Rolling Stone magazine by journalist Michael Hastings last Friday. That passive role reflects what many political observers, including some members of Congress, see as cosy relationships among most committee members, military leaders, Pentagon officials and major military contractors.
`Arms easier to trade than bananas'
The lack of international regulation in the trade of conventional arms is a scandal that must be brought to an end, said a coalition of non-governmental organisations as they heightened their campaign this week for a comprehensive United Nations treaty.
sentatives meet in New York next week to discuss various elements. Writing that he is "no Wikileaks guy Part II", Davis reveals no classified information in the report. Davis notes that total attacks, total number of IEDs and total US casualties in 2011 were 82 per cent, 113 per cent and 164 per cent higher, respectively, than the figures for 2009, the last year before the surge of 30,000 troops. NGOs have been campaigning since 2003 for international controls, and a UN conference on the treaty will be held in July of this year. Contacted Friday, Davis would not comment on the publication of the report or its contents. In war zones, meanwhile, 80 percent of the victims are civilians, and armed clashes cause the displacement of about 26 million people. The report takes aim at the March 2011 Congressional testimony by General David Petraeus, then the top commander in Afghanistan, and the Defence Department's April 2011 Report to Congress as either "misleading, significantly skewed or completely inaccurate." Davis attacks the claim in both the Petraeus' testimony and the Defence Department's report that US and Nato forces had "arrested the insurgents' momentum" and "reversed it in a number of important areas." That claim is belied, Davis argues, by the fact that the number of insurgent attacks,
WASHINGTON, US
A Finnish ISAF soldier greets a young Afghan boy in Masar-i-Sharif.
GARE TH PORTER IPS
IN THE 84-PAGE unclassified report, Lt Col Daniel Davis, who returned last autumn after his second tour of duty in Afghanistan, attacks the credibility of claims by senior military leaders that the US-Nato war strategy has succeeded in weakening the Taliban insurgent forces and in building Afghan security forces capable of taking primary responsibility for security in the future. In fact, Davis writes, Taliban attacks "continued to rise at almost the same rate it had risen since 2005 all the way through the summer of 2011" and remained "well above 2009 levels in the second half of 2011" even though it levelled-off or dropped slightly in some places. "For us, this is a true scandal because states can do what they want without taking into account the impact on civilian populations," he told. The five permanent members of the Security Council China, the United States, France, Russia and the United Kingdom account for 88 percent of the global trade in arms, with the United States being the biggest exporter, campaigners say.. "France should work for the adoption of the strongest and most ambitious treaty possible," Nicolas Vercken, Oxfam's policy and advocacy officer, said. HELSINKI TIMES
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
16 22 FEBRUARY 2012
7
L E H T I K U VA / H E I K K I S A U K KO M A A
Army officer's leaked report kills Afghan War success story
An analysis by Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Davis, which the US Army has not approved for public release but has been leaked to Rolling Stone magazine, provides the most authoritative refutation thus far of the official military narrative of success in the Afghanistan War since the troop surge began in early 2010.
with the situation" had said the Pentagon was "refusing" to release the report, but that it had been making the rounds within the US government, including the White House. Some 20 states had sold weapons to Syria before the current uprising. "Countries such as Belarus, China and Russia that sold these arms to Sudan must have been aware that they were going to be used in Darfur to massacre the civilian population and they still sold them," Aymeric Elluin, Amnesty International France's arms campaigner claimed. Conventional arms (excluding nuclear, chemical and biological weapons) comprise the majority of arms in circulation, and the growing global trade exacerbates their proliferation and the risks to civilian populations, the groups said Thursday at a media briefing. As a staff officer of the Rapid Equipping Force, he travelled more than 9,000 miles to every area where US troop presence was significant and had conversations with more than 250 US soldiers, from privates to division commanders. France, for instance, sold arms to the regime of Muammar Gaddafi and later also armed the Libyan rebels. Davis is in a unique position to assess the real situation on the ground in Afghanistan. Both Senate and House Armed Services Committees have exhibited little or no interest in probing behind the official claims of success in Afghanistan. Hastings wrote that he had obtained it from a US government official. ´ If these claims were accurate measures of success, Davis writes, after the Taliban
L E H T I K U VA / A F P P H O T O / J O S E P H E I D
had been driven out of their strongholds, "there ought to have been a reduction in violence not a continual, unbroken string of increases
8
16 22 FEBRUARY 2012
BUSINESS
HELSINKI TIMES
L E H T I K U VA / M I K KO S T I G
David J. Right now, we are seeing signs of trouble in Finland. They lied about their financial situation, refused to reform their economy, fell into trouble, and now we have to bail them out. According to economist Timo Cantell, the study clearly demonstrates the decisive positive impact of urbanisation on national economic growth. They showed Finland what could happen. This is serious, and we need to take serious actions. In addition the Helsinki region, the study, which was carried out by economists Heikki A. Labour productivity among the largest regions is highest in Helsinki and Oulu. Labour productivity is highest in Helsinki and Oulu.
IT IS EASY
to point fingers at our troubled European neighbours. RIGHT now we can see storm clouds on the horizon. The project was launched in 2010 and has received much attention in the UK as well as international recognition.
To find out more, visit www.onnistamo2012.org
ing in there, by some measures. They got themselves into a mess, and we were forced to bail them out. Social entrepreneurships are half-way between a nonfor-profit organisation and a profit-oriented business, and are typically run by a small group of enthusiastic and motivated people, but can also be a one-person company. The Finnish economy is hang-
trouble in Finland
region, according to study published last week, is the entire country's economic motor. The best system, I think, would be one based upon life expectancy. If we don't fall back into recession, that is.
THERE are also some signs that the government is looking at more reforms. Maybe this is the difference between small businesses taking baby steps towards a brighter big picture and big multina-
shown markedly faster rise than the rest of the country. Cord david@helsinkitimes.fi The writer is a journalist and columnist for Helsinki Times. Once again, there are rumours of talks to increase our retirement age. Our unemployment rate is better than the European average. We
have demographic and competitiveness problems. We need to get this out of our heads and face reality. "Households in the Helsinki region were the only net payer of income transfers among the country's nine largest municipalities, accounting for 1.3 billion euros in 2008," Loikkanen explained. Tax revenue from the capital region is a major boon to the rest of the country. The labour market must be opened to make it easier for companies to hire and fire. tional companies donating millions for different causes. However, Helsinki is the only large region where the average per capita national product has
to make a change in society. In 2000, we had almost 13 billion in trade surplus. seeing signs of IT IS NOT likely to get better any time soon: our competitiveness indicator has plummeted since 2008. We were the good businessmen and good politicians who kept Finland in great shape. At Hub Helsinki a coworking space and community for like-minded people in downtown Helsinki Onnistamo 2012 will take place on 17-18 February. By 2005, our surplus was 5 billion. But, in truth, it is not that simple. This is our opportunity to do something before it is too late. It doesn't matter how big or small that change might be, it making a difference that counts. A MORE pressing issue is taking steps to make our econ-
Onnistamo an event for social entrepreneurs
R I TA M I K L Á N HEL SINKI TIMES
SOCIAL
entrepreneurship is a growing phenomenon, and Finland seems to be good soil for many diverse startups that, besides profitability, also keep in mind their impact
on society and the desire to make a change. Our government seems to be proactive in regards to our public finances, and Bank of Finland predictions say that our deficit should begin to moderate. They had seen the signs of trouble and pretended not to see anything. When it comes to trade, we are no longer in Germany's league and we have to stop pretending that we are. One of the key points about social change is that it has to be the desire of the entrepreneur. We know what happened to them, so now is our opportunity to help ourselves, before we are also forced to ask for bailouts in the years to come.
Cosy hotel in the heart of Helsinki
Annankatu, 00120 Helsinki tel. According to Loikkanen and Susiluoto, the economies of the nine largest regions are more service-oriented than the rest of the country, with the service sector's share of the produced appreciation level approaching eighty per cent. The discussion is still ongoing, and there are many varied interpretations. They recently announced that they will consider selling part of their stake in Finnair. Also, average per capita income levels in the region in 2008 were the highest of the country's nine largest regions. Our hourly labour costs have grown much faster than in the eurozone since 2003. people, Greece is a morality tale. He is also a private investor with over ten years of experience.
There, but for the grace of God
Helsinki, Tampere and Oulu are the country's major economic hubs. "We want to make sure that social entrepreneurs grab the opportunities that lay ahead," says Anttonen. This is the single-most important reform we can make, I believe.
WE ALSO need to reform our pension system. This event is designed for entrepreneurs who are interested in social enterprise, business people who are already working this wat and for everyone who would like to find out more about social entrepreneurships . BUT IT is not all bad news. +358-9-616 621, info@hotelanna.fi
www.hotelanna.fi. So did Greece. Because there, but for the grace of God, goes Finland.
FOR SOME
Economic growth concentrated in Helsinki region
According to a recent economic study of the long-term regional distribution of economic growth in Finland, urbanisation is the key factor in increasing economic productivity.
H E I K K I K A R K KO L A I N E N S T T HT
TO BEGIN, Finland is no longer a trade powerhouse. But instead of shaking our disapproving finger at Greece, we should be thanking them. Urbanisation brings with it greater opportunities for learning and innovation, which further propel economic productivity. Loikkanen and Susiluoto point out that this close correlation between urbanisation and increased economic productivity tends to have a self-reinforcing effect, given its enormous significance for investors. This year's theme, "Crisis An Opportunity for Change", also involves a one-day "unconference". Loikkanen and Susiluoto found that the capital region's contribution to the country's gross domestic product (GDP) grow from a
quarter in 1975 to one-third in 2008. This is an excellent idea. As Jenni Anttonen, the project manager of Onnistamo explains, the will to make a change and create a better future has to emerge from the inside, drawing on the passion for getting the best out of ourselves and in the meantime doing good. But what makes an enterprise social. This needs to be done, but with the Social Democrats in the ruling coalition I have my doubts. The other eight largest regions were all net recipients, gaining a combined total of over four billion euros in redistributed income.
Pole position The relative economic growth rate over the 19752008 period in Tampere and Oulu was even more impressive than in Helsinki. They also need to sell off most of their other stakes in businesses the government has no valid reason to own. In 2010 it was 1 billion, and last year we had a 3.6 billion trade Right now, we are deficit. Kate Bull is the co-founder of People's Supermarket, which is a new concept in bringing good quality and eco-friendly food to local communities at a cheap price. By definition, an enterprise is social if it has been founded in order
omy more competitive. Loikkanen and Ilkka SusiTHE CAPITAL
luoto, found that Tampere and Oulu are the country's other two major economic hubs. All three far outstrip the growth rates in the rest of the country. An unconference, the organiser explains, is a revised conference: there is no pre-set agenda, but the attendees can bring up any subjects they would like to discuss during the session, and they then form smaller groups designated to talk over the most urgent and intriguing questions. It would free up public resources and could force the airline to be more competitive. The keynote speaker for Onnistamo arrives from the UK. This is true, to an extent
"Mobility-related physical illnesses and mental health problems are the major reasons for taking early retirement in Finland. Employers should strive to ensure that all employees have equal opportunities to undergo the necessary train-
Worldly wisdom According to Hussi, a broad age distribution among the workforce is a valuable asset to any company, and even brings a competitive edge. The group says that sales increased in practically all categories: bus, train, and ferry packages, as well as air tickets and accommodation.
Buying online The results of Finland's national airline Finnair are broadly similar to what the travel agents are reporting. When purchasing package holidays, 61 per cent of peo-
ple used the internet, up from 58 per cent in 2010. For business travellers, only 38 per cent bought online. Also, by the end of the year increasing economic uncertainties lowered expectations for the future. They have had a 3 per cent jump in customers for their winter 2011/2012 tours. "Nowadays more jobs than ever before require an ability to piece together complex ideas and make intelligent decisions. "Due to overcapacity in the package tours markets, the operational result of our package tours subsidiary Aurinkomatkat exceptionally showed a loss," Finnair said in a statement. "The year 2011 began with very positive perspectives," says Heli Mäki-Fränti, Managing Director of the Association of Finnish Travel Agents (AFTA) in a release. Many other initiatives aimed at reducing work-related stress and anxiety are also in use. The internet is increasingly becoming the preferred method to purchase tickets. 010 5335 006 www.yamaha-center.fi/Vantaa Opening hours MonFri 1018, Sat 1014
Hyljetie 2, Espoo Boat Sales tel. C O R D HEL SINKI TIMES
THE FAMOUS Finnish wanderlust is still going strong. One proposal is for `"age holidays": employees who reach a certain age earn extra holiday days. The average fare per ticket was 376 euros, 15 euros less than in 2010. However, this is also increasing: in 2010 only 31 per cent of corporate customers purchased their tickets on the internet. 010 5335 047 www.yamaha-center.fi/Espoo Opening hours MonFri 1018, Sat 1014. TUI, the company that owns Finnmatkat, reports that sales in the Nordic region were flat during the last three months of the year. However, cost problems widened the airline's loss to 88 million euros. Over55s generally appreciate being able to act as a mentor to
L E H T I K U VA / V E S A M O I L A N E N
A broad age distribution among workforce can be a valuable asset to a company.
younger colleagues from whom they can also learn a great deal, for example when it comes to information technology skills." Finland has a relatively high proportion of working-age adults on disability pensions, with the average age of retirees in this category being only 52. HELSINKI TIMES
BUSINESS
16 22 FEBRUARY 2012
9
Finns' eagerness to travel boosts tourism industry
L E H T I K U VA / H E I K K I S A U K KO M A A
Passenger numbers went up last year while ticket prices went down, and the majority of people purchasing package holidays made use of the internet to do so.
DAV I D J . The widespread disdain towards older people in the workforce seems to be largely due to a perception that people have a sort of "best before" date and somehow spoil with age, Hussi believes. Travel agents sold 784 million euros worth of package holidays, an increase of 7 per cent from 2011. Greater appreciation of older workers and greater efforts to ensure that they can have an influence on how things are done in the workplace could have a real impact on the early retirement problem. Thomas Cook, which owns Tjäreborg, had turnover increase 14 per cent in their Northern Europe division, while profit climbed 16 per cent.
AFTA says that sales to corporate clients increased 5 per cent to 660 million euros. "Companies with staff from a broad social spectrum and from different generations are better equipped to spot societal changes faster and respond to them more effectively than companies with a homogenous staff structure. Given the widespread concerns in this country over relatively low retirement ages among the population as a whole, Hussi welcomes the various preemptive initiatives aimed at tackling the problem that have been implemented by employers. AFTA estimates that 30 per cent of gross sales for international tickets went to fuel surcharges, taxes and similar charges.
Fighting the age prejudice
HEL SINKI TIMES
Check out our aluminum hull range
at Helsinki International Boat Show
ing, so as to ensure that older workers also have up-to-date skills."
OLDER
employees are generally under-appreciated in the workplace, according to Tomi Hussi of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. Despite natural disasters, economic problems and political uncertainties, Finns increased their worldwide travels in 2011. Mäki-Fränti points out that the number of passengers increased more than the value of trips, meaning fares
were cheaper for passengers. Younger people have a greater tendency to question established ways of doing things, but it has been shown that workers below the age of 35 or thereabouts benefit greatly from the experience of older colleagues. According to AFTA, the total turnover of their member companies was 1.8 billion euros last year. Finnair also had a rare loss in its Aurinkomatkat division. Finnair had a 12 per cent jump in turnover to 2.3 billion euros. In his view, the fact that older workers may have less upto-date formal qualifications than younger colleagues is not a big problem, since a significant proportion of work tasks are learned on the job. Contrary to what is commonly believed, knowledge, skill, and decision-making ability improve with age, Hussi points out. "In the travel agency sector, as well as in the whole travel trade, the economic recession was considered to be in the past and hopes for a better year were high." She says that political trouble in North Africa and the catastrophe in Japan hurt travel. People's outlook on things varies significantly with age. More attention needs to be given to these issues at managerial level, even though they are not the entire solution to the problem of people retiring at a relatively young age."
Yamarin Cross with aluminum hull
stand 6e49
XO 270 RS Cabin
stand 7a29 stand 6c51
Buster Lx + Yamaha F60 CETL
Helsinki International Boat Show 10th19th February 2012
Tuupakantie 1, Ring III, Vantaa Boat Sales tel. This eases the physiological burden of working life. It's wrong that older employees are looked down on and undervalued, since they are precisely the ones who have had the time and experience needed to develop the most valuable cognitive skills," Hussi remarks. "Freshly graduated employees have the qualifications, but not the experience. Finnish travel agents enjoyed an 11 per
cent jump in sales from 2011. Also, a significant portion of a traveller's bill did not go to the actual trip. Thailand, a traditionally popular destination, was impacted by flooding in Bangkok.
Finns increased their worldwide travels in 2011, despite natural disasters, economic problems and political uncertainties.
However, travellers increased trips to alternate locales, such as the Canaries
This desire to assist the foreign population here, it seems, is born out of empathy. Aside from providing information about current cultural happenings around town, the centre also provides a variety of community-minded services and projects such as UngInfo, the only Swedishlanguage advice centre for youth in the Uusimaa region. "When a foreigner comes in there is a connection, being a minority," Luckan Helsinki's Centre Manager Sebastian Weckman explains. "Luckan is a free service for everybody," explains Head of Luckan Helsinki Karl Norrbom. This, it appears, is just the tip of Luckan's iceberg, with Norrbom and Weckman hinting at number of further ideas in the works. Such a relaxed environment leads up to the front desk, situated alongside a shop selling all manner of Finland-Swedish related items, where people can come and enquire about essentially everything pertaining to life in Finland, and also discover information about FinlandSwedish culture.
Behind the window
Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Luckan takes its name from its humble beginnings as an information window located inside the Swedish Theatre of Helsinki. With over 70 companies participating, having earned a Luckan Diploma for their Swedish-service provision, here their information can be readily found collected together in a small booklet for easy access. The service also makes time for those with deeper issues, offering private consultation, as well as staging social events that encourage interaction between foreigners and helping establish friendship groups. BRIDGE also provides private consultations for clients with deeper issues, and organises social events that encourage interaction between foreigners and help establish friendship groups. For foreigners it's important to know that there are lots of places where you are accepted and you get help and that this is one of them."
T E X T: JA M E S O ' SU L L I VA N PH O TO S: TO M A S W H I T E H O U S E
The many services and projects of Luckan
SVENSKFINLAND.FI
Luckan's website providing background information about all aspects of Finland-Swedish culture. Also, companies who offer at least some of their services in Swedish can also be a part of the Svenskspråkig service. Luckan also provides a platform for local artists and performers, with the centre's walls currently adorned with an exhibition of children's artwork. "We say that we speak three languages: Swedish, Finnish and English but we also try with Russian and French." Expanding beyond their initial goal of providing information to those in need, Luckan has grown to incorporate a number of socially conscious projects that aim to include everyone. Other projects are very much in keeping with the spirit of inclusion. But what exactly is Luckan. Aimed at all aspects of culture, information guidance, production workshops, seminars and other activities are on offer in order to promote entrepreneurship and cooperation within different sectors of society. One such performer who has appeared at Luckan on occasion is Mishka Luganski from dance troupe RockUrok. "It's here that we get ideas of what it actually is that the public wants and we can really work on this as a grassroots level," Weckman states. And, with its constant contact with the public at both the front desk and around the tables of its main room, it appears as if Luckan's growth will not be slowing down in the near future. Luckan's enthusiasm for supporting culture is personified with Produforum, an open network supporting the independent cultural field in Finland. Offering the chance to advertise
their services on a large online wall, www.kulturforum.fi sees artists, photographers, music production companies and educational institutions sitting side-by side. http://luckan.fi/fika-2/
Luckan Simonkatu 8, 00100 Helsinki www.luckan.fi
Building a BRIDGE
With the number of foreigners using Luckan comprising 20 per cent of their customer base, much of this can be attributed to the integration
Luckan is a free service with friendly and helpful staff.
Luckan provides a platform for local artistis and performers.
This page is provided by Luckan. This love of theatre continues with Saftslonger, offering extremely popular professional theatre in Swedish for youngsters. "I have staged educational performances and workshops there," he explains. At present, approximately 60 per cent of Luckan's clientele are Swedish-speaking. FIKA, whose acronym can be translated into English as Association Communication Activity and Integration, seeks to find new integration pathways for immigrants through the numerous organisations in Finland. Receiving 60 per cent of its funding from the state, EU and municipalities and 40 per cent from private Finland-Swedish organisations, Luckan's expansion has grown to incorporate altogether ten different centres in the Turku region and Ostrobothnia. "I have had only good experiences working with them. http://bridge.luckan.fi
FIKA
Its acronym translated into English as Association Communication Activity and Integration, FIKA seeks to find new integration pathways for immigrants through the numerous organisations in Finland. http://svenskfinland.fi
UNGINFO
The only Swedish-language advice centre for youth in the Uusimaa region. Magazine racks line the walls, a number of computers are available for use and scattered among the tables, chairs and sofas, staff members busily tap away on laptops as customers read the daily news next to them. www.produforum.fi
While many customer service points traditionally have a back room office where staff can cool their heels outside of the public limelight, and also get on with other important administrative day-to-day tasks, sometimes this is not always possible. http://helsinkifringe.luckan.fi/
BRIDGE
Offers advice for immigrants on all manner of issues related to their being here in Finland, such as looking for work and finding a place to live, as well as where to find Swedish-language lessons. "We get the problems and we try to solve them. In time, moving to larger premises at Lasipalatsi saw the service gradually expand,
before the shift to its current location in Forum resulted in staff numbers growing from 4 in 2003, to 20 today. Aimed towards those aged between 18-29, UngInfo offers advice on all manner of issues, offering guidance for those who are unsure of the life path they should take. Furthermore, recent years have seen Luckan establishing Helsinki Fringe, an English-language theatre group that has already staged two successful productions, and eventually seeks to create Finland's first Englishlanguage theatre house. Offering a walk-up window on Monday's and Wednesdays, here immigrants can drop in and receive assistance on all manner of issues relating to their being in Finland. "By finding mentors in different associations who are interested in taking in immigrants into their association, in the long term it would lead to work for someone," Norrbom states. www.unginfo.fi
From left: Luckan Helsinki's Centre Manager Sebastian Weckman, FIKA project manager Anna Litonius, Youth information officer Muluken Cederborg and Luckan Manager Karl Norrbom.
PRODUFORUM
An open network supporting the independent cultural field in Finland. "We have all these small projects just waiting to flower," Norrbom enthuses. "We're in a similar social space. At Finland-Swedish centre Luckan in Helsinki, enjoying considerable growth in recent years has seen the majority of their available space being utilised for their customers. They are open-minded and professional, very easy going."
Projecting integration
Given that Finland-Swedes are statistically the most organisationally active cultural group in the world, it comes as no surprise that Luckan seeks to tap into this vast resource. We always try to give the customer the first step forward. 10
16 22 FEBRUARY 2012
HELSINKI TIMES
An international living room
Finland-Swedish cultural centre Luckan offers space for everyone.
service BRIDGE. I myself did not know how to speak Finnish until I was 19 when I went to do military service and I grew up in Espoo. With the EU-funded project launching earlier this month, hopes are high for creating another path of integration for foreigners here. Intends to establish Finland's first English-language theatre house. With the EU-funded project launching earlier this month, hopes are high for creating another path of integration for foreigners here. It's a wonderful feeling to be able to help somebody."
HELSINKI FRINGE
English-language theatre group that has already staged two productions
But the discussion has to be based on respect for other people's dignity. Do we want such offensive language to become more general. HELSINKI TIMES
FINLAND IN THE WORLD PRESS
L E H T I K U VA / J U S S I N U K A R I
16 22 FEBRUARY 2012
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RUSBUSINESSNEWS. Euro-area finance ministers share a "very strong" common stance in their view on what Greece must do, namely act on its pledges of austerity before more aid can be released, she said..."
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Finnish Finance Minister Jutta Urpilainen and EU Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Olli Rehn.. Even children get called names and bullied and pushed in public, in broad daylight. The study, published in the Journal of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, tracked around 2,000 individuals from birth to the age of twenty-four. What is this. Without open, democratic discussion there won't be any advances in society. Kuosma is Phuket's own adventure action hero known around the world for his sky diving talents and, true to his daredevil lifestyle, will complete the jump and then get married to his Finnish fiancée. The kind of speech that whips up emotions in the talker or the listener is very unwise, as history shows us. Often, if you start asking the reasons for someone's prejudiced views, you get bad-mouthing and ridicule instead of objective arguments. The director of the Ekaterinburg representative office of the Finnish and Russian Chamber of Commerce, Lyudmila Safina, said that the impending crisis can hardly put a spoke in the wheel of cooperation - the neighbours have prepared a reliable "safety net" from joint projects..."
Susanna Huovinen is a Social Democrats MP from Jyväskylä.
Hate breeds hate
L AST AUTUMN, when I was browsing the internet for an article I had previously read and wanted to use for a speech, I came across a torrent of news, comments and discussions that were full of prejudice, hate and bitterness. often invoke the freedom of speech. Too many immigrants and others outside the mainstream have to experience fear in Finland. Nina and I have settled in Phuket as we think it's the perfect place to begin our married life,' he says..."
often disagree, which is good. `I met Nina seven years ago. Many prejudices could be removed by supplying accurate information. This is clear enough for most of us to understand what hate speech means. The case originated from an investigation initiated by the Finnish Border Guard in
December 2010, after the arrival at Helsinki Vantaa airport of two females with counterfeit Indian passports, accompanied by an Indian male..."
NASDAQ.COM 10 February
defines hate speech as any communication that disparages a person or a group on the basis of some characteristic such as race, colour, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, nationality, religion, or other characteristic. Those three plants' new task will be customising the phones, according to a company news release..."
of Phuket into the waiting arms of his betrothed on 25 February. Instead, prejudices are often generalised without us noticing it, and this way they strengthen negative ideas. And what about those who translate words into deeds. In the fourth quarter of 2010, earning grew 3.7 percent annually..."
Jari and Nina will marry in a private ceremony after the spectacular 4,110-metre jump.
ALL SOCIAL
ECOCHILDSPLAY.COM 12 February
THE MONITOR 12 February
PHUKET GAZETTE 13 February
Study: "Breastfed Babies are Less Likely to Become Angry and Irritable Adults"
"ANY BREASTFEEDING mother knows that breastfeeding positively affects her baby's temperament, but a new study finds these effects last into adulthood.
L E H T I K U VA / M A R J A A I R I O
Love on a Nokia wing and to shed a prayer 700 jobs daredevil Jari will hurin Reynosa `Birdman' Kuosmathe skies tle 4,000m from
"FINNISH "NOKIA SAYS
evils should and must be discussed. But not all of us, unfortunately. I knew she was the woman with whom I wanted to spend the rest of my life. This is not the Finland I want to live in.
HATE speech breeds more hate speech. WIKIPEDIA
THE SUNDAY TIMES (Sri Lanka) 12 February
Lankan people-smuggling ring busted in Europe
"A YEAR-LONG joint international operation came to an end last week when judicial authorities and officers from the Finnish Border Guard, French Police and Belgian
Federal Police bust a Sri Lankan criminal network suspected of human smuggling. A vote in parliament on Finland's participation in the bailout could follow
next week, she told reporters in Helsinki today. The Finland-based phone manufacturer announced Wednesday it would eliminate 4,000 jobs from three of its plants -- in Reynosa; Komarom, Hungary, and Salo, Finland -- amid a plan to shift assembly to Asia. I had to stop, and didn't find the article I was looking for. I just couldn't go on reading these stories. But don't get sidetracked.
PEOPLE
Breastfeeding has now been shown to affect behaviour far into adulthood.
A long term study conducted in Finland claims, "breastfeeding may have long-term effects on offspring hostility". That's why this issue concerns not just minorities but all of us. The amount of Suomi's investment in the Russian economy has totaled 8 billion euros, while the total trade between the countries has reached 17 billion euros. Why can't we just discuss issues and problems without judging entire groups of people on the basis of their religion, language or skin colour?
BLOOMBERG BUSINESSWEEK 15 February
Finland, Greece May Sign Collateral Deal in Next Few Days
"FINLAND
may sign a deal on securing collateral in exchange for its commitment to Greece's second bailout in the "next few days," Finance Minister Jutta Urpilainen said. We must question the connection here. For me, freedom of speech means the opportunity to make a difference in matters that are important to me.
Finnish Wage Growth Eases In Q4
"WAGES and salaries of Finnish employees increased at a slower pace in the fourth quarter, data released by Statistics Finland showed Monday.
THOSE who criticise the entire concept of hate speech
Employees' earnings increased 3.8 percent on an annual basis in the three months ended December, markedly slower than the
5.2 percent growth seen in the third quarter. We must never equate freedom of speech with insults, not today or ever. According to Dr Päivi Merjonen, of the University of Turku, "Those who were not breastfed in infancy had higher levels of adult hostility than those who were breastfed..."
L E H T I K U VA / A F P P H O T O / G E O R G E S GO B E T
the 700 workers it is laying off at its maquiladora in Reynosa, Mexico will receive severance packages `a little bit' bigger than what Mexican labour law mandates. I didn't want to know this side of Finland. COM 13 February
Finland and Russia pull together to defy the crisis
The investigation started after Finnish Border Guards spotted the counterfeit Indian passports.
"THE RELATIONS between Finland and Russia are thriving. But what a shame that we so often fail to stick to the subject at hand. Maligning, insulting and abusing other people becomes more common, and soon this spreads to target others. The headlines spoke volumes: "Teachers: hate speech shows up in language class assignments"; "Immigrant turned away from entrance exams"; "Racist shouts led to major sanctions for football club; Dog poo in pram"
Getting your stuff and you will be surprised how much of it you've accumulated over the years from A to B in one piece is the name of the game. The markets of London and New York broadly followed each other. Give yourself a few days before and a few days after to pack and unpack. C O R D HEL SINKI TIMES
AS THE SAYING goes, the key to all real estate is location. Though even the actual business of buying or selling a property or more often in Helsinki, renting one is not without its pitfalls, the actual physical move can be total chaos for the unprepared. You don't want to arrive at your new place with the last load and have five hungry friends who helped out on their day off not knowing where the eating utensils are. In the second quarter of 2011, prices were exactly the same as in the second quarter of 2010. Louis Fed
Boom 2008-2011: +18% 2008-2011: +19% 2009-2011: +23%
Bust 2011-?: -2% 2011-?: -4% 2011-?: -0% Moving house can be a nightmare and it is worth investing in renting plastic moving boxes, to save on cardboard boxes falling to pieces and breaking your valuables.. Helsinki was down 8.8 per cent during the last nine months of 2008, and Stockholm's prices fell 6.7 per cent during about the same time period. Moving flat or house should be run with military precision and, hopefully, without casualties.
DAV E DU N N E HEL SINKI TIMES
Svenska Mäklarhuset's real estate agency in northern Stockholm.
Housing prices compared: Helsinki, Stockholm, London and New York
In relation to other cities, Helsinki's real estate market didn't have much of a boom or a bust.
DAV I D J . At its worst, in mid-1992, prices were 55 per cent lower than their peak at the beginning of 1989. You will need the help of five or six friends, preferably with one or two cars, to help with the lifting. Construction has not kept pace with growth in demand, so housing prices will soon begin to rise again. There are a host of companies renting hard-wearing, easy-to-stack plastic boxes for moving home. I personally believe they will go down next summer." However, he doesn't think prices will fall for long. Rent a van and find a friend who can drive it. Both cities had a boom, followed by a bust, followed by a strong recovery. However, since that time home prices in Finland's capital have begun to fall. Stockholm's prices had barely a ripple, and the value of homes and flats started increasing at an even faster pace. Helsinki's prices increased 12.7 per cent from 2005 to 2008, while Stockholm had a 35.6 per cent increase.
Ancient history The Greater Helsinki area experienced a severe real estate bubble in the late 1980s. But this reporter managed to move from a studio apartment in Helsinki's Taka-Töölö to a two-bed in Munkkiniemi in one day. Just like the Dutch concept of Total Football any team member must be able to step into the role of another to keep things moving. Since then, the real estate market has recovered and it is now slightly above its pre-crisis peak. Pack as you plan to unpack you'll need your toiletries, a change of clothes and something to eat during the day, or morning after, you move. To paraphrase the old property cliché: logistics, logistics, logistics. They were down 1.3 per cent in the fourth quarter.
MOVING house is often listed as one of the more stressful events in life and though it's certainly nowhere near on par with bereavement or divorce, it's certainly up there with exams or planning a wedding. Don't over-pack boxes a box full of books makes log-
ical sense, but is likely to do your back damage. According to the most recent data available, the average new flat in Helsinki costs 3,358 euros per square metre, while in central Stockholm the price is the equivalent of 6,536 euros.
Smashing the dinnerware Preparation is everything. Forty boxes for seven days works out at just over 50 euros and you avoid the nightmare of the end falling out of flimsy, cardboard boxes halfway up a flight of stairs, smashing the expensive Arabia dinnerware. Now where did I put that pizza menu?
Real estate cycles
Boom Helsinki Stockholm London New York 2000-2008: +41% 2001-2008: +68% 2002-2009: +82% 1991-2006: +196% Bust 2008: -9% 2008: -7% 2008-2009: -17% 2006-?: -23%
Sources: Statistics Finland, Statistics Sweden, UK National Statistics, St. London's real estate market was barely down, but it had stagnated through much of 2010. One major difference was that Helsinki's boom was bigger, and its bust was worse. With the first full load in the van, get it moving with some people to unload at the far end (you may want to be at the new place to supervise where boxes go, so pick a good foreman for shifting stuff out of old place in your absence). During the mild recession of the early 2000s, the two Nordic cities diverged. Shop around for van rentals: there is no shortage of them. Afterwards, and until about mid2011, prices have increased. "If someone asks if housing is expensive in Finland, the answer is yes," said Kyhälä at a recent Nordea conference. Get boxes to your front door or yard door and use people in teams, one person at the van putting stuff in and a couple bringing the boxes to the van. Don't have people waiting around at either end of the process. In the Greater Helsinki area, prices barely changed for many months. And for God's sake, label the boxes according to the contents. Helsinki's housing market was similar to Stockholm's throughout much of the 1990s. New York's housing market peaked in 2006, well before the other cities. Companies like Niemi also offer to collect and deliver the full boxes on the day itself. In London, housing prices peaked in the beginning of 2008 and fell 17.5 per cent by mid-2009. The whole operation can be completed in two hours on a Saturday morning, with the help of a few willing friends (perhaps coaxed by the promise of beer and pizza) and a little forward planning.
Predictions Predicting where the housing market will go is a tricky endeavour. Helsinki and Stockholm had small blips. If done efficiently and smoothly, it should take two hours, and two to three van journeys. Helsinki's prices flat-lined and, when they resumed growth, were at a more
Busts of 2008 and 2011 Major differences appeared among the four cities during the most recent housing bust. These boxes are super cheap to rent and are well worth every cent. Risto Kyhälä of the residential and commercial real estate group Realia thinks they will fall. I don't see this as necessary. Prices in New York City are still falling, and are now down 21.2 per cent from their high point. Unpacking will take a day or two that's why you rented the boxes for a week. The real estate market in Helsinki shows some broad similarities to the market in other major Western cities, but there are also significant local differences.
modest pace. Whoever is driving should leave their car somewhere for the rest of the day and enjoy a few well-earned beers. Prices were stagnant throughout much of the 1990s, and then both cities had significant booms during the 2000s. Empty the storage room first if you have one get this in the first van-load and get it into the storage room at the far end to save on clutter in the new place. Residents of Helsinki can still be thankful they don't have to pay Stockholm prices. 12 1616 2222 FEBRUARY 2012 12 FEBRUARY 2012
HOUSING
L E H T I K U VA / TA P E L I M Ä N N I K KÖ
HELSINKI TIMES
Moving needn't take heaven and earth
Moving house can be a real battle. If you don't do this, and you don't label properly, you will open the box holding ice-skates at least four times whilst looking for the coffee mugs later that day. Distribute the work, so that when the van is on the road boxes are being made ready for its return and others are being placed logically in the new place. Starting in 2011, the prices of housing assets once again began to fall, or, in the case of New York, continued to fall. Pack towels or duvets to fill up heavy boxes without increasing the weight. "Housing prices are now starting to come down. Moving within the one city or town is easiest, longer distances may take extra transport.
Missing coffee mugs You should have everything packed in advance, bar the above-mentioned toiletries, clothes and food, on the morning of the move no point in having your friends stand around your bare apartment while you wrap delicate candleholders in newspapers. Stockholm peaked late
in 2011, and modestly fell the last three months of the year. The recession and devaluation played a major role in the price depreciation. This is where the great Finnish tradition talkoot (gathering of friends or neighbours to complete a task) shows its strengths. Lainalaatikko.fi do a 56 x 35 x 29 cm
box delivered to your current place and collected from the new place at a very competitive rate of 0,16 euros per box per day
"It fails to meet today's requirements. The delay, she says, is because changing the basis for the energy certificates requires amendments to legislation and thorough preparation. 0201 34 4312
Katja Grönroos, tel. The process of revising buildings' energy certificates will not be completed by then, though. Dwellings have their own yard, balcony and garage. HELSINKI TIMES
HOUSING
L E H T I K U VA / M A R T T I K A I N U L A I N E N
16 22 FEBRUARY 2012 2012 16 22 FEBRUARY
1313
L E H T I K U VA / H E I K K I S A U K KO M A A
New building regulations aimed at improving energy usage for the benefit of the environment will take effect at the beginning of July.
Developers encouraged to favour environmentally friendly energy sources
New building regulations to take effect in July.
E L I N A KO R K E E S T T HT
The energy certificate for buildings was introduced in Finland in 2008. The rating will be better if the building uses renewable fuels or district heating, while use of electric heating will adversely affect the rating. 4rm+k+s, 198 m2 3 280/month Merja Tallberg, tel. In other words, it measures the overall energy consumption. I hope the delay in revising it will be very short," says director Jukka Noponen from Sitra's Energy Programme. "If you want to have floor-toceiling windows in your living room, it's okay. 0201 34 4361
Kamppi
Lönnrotinkatu 32, 00180 Helsinki This old industrial building dates back more than 100 years and now boasts unique city homes. "This is just a start. The apartments' rooms are around five metres in height and contain a characterful loft floor and windows that cover the entire wall. Building insulation and ventilation will also be addressed. "And the regulation is just a minimum you can go beyond it, too."
Regulations on the way, certificates to follow The new building regulations will take effect at the begin-
ning of July. 2h+k, 75-83 m2 1 650-1 680/month Katja Grönroos, tel. It is not obligatory for housing companies of less than six dwellings or for detached, semi-detached or terraced houses built before 2008.
What is an energy rating?
· The energy rating calculation is based on all the energy that has to be purchased for a building. The energy certificate shows a building's classification on a scale from A, the most energy efficient, to G, the least energy efficient. "An enlightened developer will follow the new building regulations right way," he says.
He emphasises that energy efficiency will decrease living costs and increase the sale value of the property. The new regulations include the energy rating, which is based on the amount and origin of the energy used in a building. · Environmentally friendly forms of energy are favoured by using different coefficients for different forms of energy. According to Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund, the energy certificate in its current form can be somewhat misleading: ecologically sustainable heating methods and heating that produces emissions are on an equal footing. Besides the above-ground floors, there is a sauna suite and a room with a fireplace in the basement. He has been preparing the new building regulations, which will take effect at the beginning of July. 0201 34 4361
SATO Vuokraus Elielinaukio 2 F, 00100 Helsinki
Calls from fixed lines 8,28 cents/call + 7 cents/minute, from mobile phone 8,28 cents/call + 17 cents/minute.
sato.fi. You will just have to ensure that the rest of the house is built to incorporate even greater energy efficiency," says Kalliomäki. The current energy certificate states the amount of energy required but not its origin.
Misleading energy certificate. The new energy rating is a step in the right direction, towards avoiding forms of energy with adverse environmental effects and which add to greenhouse gases.
Individual rental living in five-star SATO QualityHomes
SATO QualityHome
Located in prestigious, valued areas Apartments with modern design High-quality fittings and appliances Annual condition inspections and -repairs Personal contact representative Handling of home insurance on behalf of customer if desired Also fully furnished apartments Electricity, internet, water and sauna payments can be included in rental agreement Suited for private lessees or companies looking for premium employee accommodation
Arabianranta
Posliinikatu 3, 00560 Helsinki Individual loft apartments in a ruggedly modern building. It has to be available when a dwelling is sold or rented. However, the regulations will give greater freedom than before in the choice of methods for achieving energy efficiency. The unit of measurement is kWh/ (m2a), or kilowatt-hours per square metre per year. The aim is that by the end of the
decade, all new buildings will be zero-energy," says Pekka Kalliomäki, senior technical adviser at the Ministry of the Environment. Maximum energy ratings have been determined for different buildings, and construction of a building with
poor energy efficiency will not be permitted. "The process only started last autumn," says senior technical adviser Maarit Haakana from the Ministry. Developers will be urged to favour environmentally friendly energy sources. The coefficient for fossil fuels is 1, district heating 0.7, renewable fuels 0.5 and electricity 1.7.
NEW BUILDING regulations will aim to make energy usage more ecologically sound. Spacious floor plans, solid concrete walls and huge industrialstyle windows lend an impressive loft feel.
2br+k+s, 123,5 m2 2 850/month 1br+k+s, 61-86,5 m2 1 643-2 332/month studio+s, 55,5-57 m2 1 380-1620/month
Etelä-Haaga
Korppaantie 8, 00300 Helsinki Spacious and sunny apartment in the row house group that was built in 1959. Though the energy certificate may be outdated, this should not be an overriding problem, he adds
More than half of the respondents would like to live in one during at least some period of their lives. The proportion is roughly the same as in 2004. It may be that increasing significance is put on a sense of community in cities: the media selects the best neighbourhoods, people join forces to build homes and, after a long break, public saunas are becoming more common," says Strandell. Of those who regularly use a car, a quarter said they have considered reducing their car use.
ternet, a bank is obviously no longer high on the list. Women are much more afraid than men. Respondents do consider driving less, however. According to the new survey, 8 per cent are now dissatisfied. "Corresponding surveys were made in 2004 and also in 1998. People living in detached houses talk with their neighbours more than people who live in blocks of flats. Above all else, people want peace, services, their own garden and to be close to nature. More than half of the respondents were satisfied with opportunities to take part in the planning of their residential area and 70 per cent said they have a good opportunity to take part in decision-making involving their home and outdoor areas. Helena Säteri, Director General of the Ministry of the Environment hopes that municipalities will. What is needed in the future is variety, different forms of housing in the same area," Säteri says.
The survey was commissioned by the Ministry of the Environment and conducted by the Finnish Environment Institute and Statistics Finland. City centres and the countryside are still the most desired areas to live in. This proportion had not changed from 2004. On the other hand, the internet is also the reason why people still want a post office. According to the Residents' Barometer 2010 survey, published last month, the number of respondents who want better public transport in their area has doubled from the previous survey conducted in 2004. Instead of covering all residential areas in Finland, the survey's respondents were selected from population centres of more than 10,000 inhabitants.
to the new Residents' Barometer survey, more than one in three Finns talk with their neighbours almost daily. According to the 2010 survey, commutes average at 13.7 km, which is 2 km more than according to the 2004 survey. Relationships between neighbours are closest among those living in semi-detached and terraced houses. · Do you have a suggestion for a topic that you would like to see featured in the upcoming housing issue?
Please send any feedback or suggestions you have to info@helsinkitimes.fi
Grocery stores, the most desired local service According to Strandell, the local services Finnish people want have also changed considerably over the course of the previous decade. In the oldest survey, the most desired services were a bank, grocery store and post office. Car ownership and car use have increased the most among the elderly: in 2004, 67 per cent of respondents over 64 in age had a car in their household. The greatest increase was in small population cen-
tres of 10,000-20,000 people and among families with children. 14 1616 2222 FEBRUARY 2012 14 FEBRUARY 2012
HOUSING
HELSINKI TIMES
`What is needed in the future is variety'
L E H T I K U VA / V E S A M O I L A N E N L E H T I K U VA / T I M O H E I K K A L A
A recently published survey shows that a detached home is still a part of the Finnish dream. make good use of the survey's results. "It's hard to say what transport factors contribute the most to the dissatisfaction. In 2010, the most desired local service was a grocery store, then other stores and shops and public transport." Strandell says that as banking services are now mostly available on the in-
Dreaming of a detached house The survey also shows that a detached home is still a part of the Finnish dream. "People do a lot of shopping on the internet and want to be able to pick up their purchases close by."
People want stronger sense of community in cities
ACCORDING
Have your say
· What did you think of the topics discussed in this housing themed issue. "Some of the peoples' ho pes that were discovered in the survey are contradictory. Commutes now take 22 minutes on average, but for people using public transport, the average is much higher: 36 minutes. "The number of people who name social contacts as a criterion for the most desired housing has doubled from the 2004 survey and is now over 10 per cent. The survey shows that car use has become more common
for commutes and shopping trips, whereas walking and use of public transport have declined. · Could we have done better. Just under 1,300 people answered the latest Residents' Barometer survey, which was conducted in October-December 2010. Indeed, public transport users were the most dissatisfied with the duration of their commute. More than half of the respondents would like to live in one during at least some period of their lives.
Commutes have become over two kilometres longer in six years.
Above all else, people want peace, services, their own garden and to be close to nature.
HANNA NISSINEN S T T HT
AS COMMUTES have become longer, Finns' dissatisfaction with transport in their neighbourhoods has increased. However, Anna Strandell, a researcher at the Finnish Environment Centre, says that people living in blocks of flats now value contact with
their neighbours more than before. Besides insufficient or poorly operated public transport, noise, pollution and lack of safety may also play a role," says Anna Strandell, researcher at the Finnish Environment Institute. In 2010, the figure was as high as 80 per cent. 15 per cent were afraid of being outside alone in their residential area at night
Also, industry has money to send experts to the standardising committees." A further issue is over a scientific dispute that seems interminable. Many of them remain on 24 hours a day. However, there is also a number of equally well qualified scientists who choose to question these safety limits and those who set them.
Who watches the watchmen. "There are commonly claims that ICNIRP is not independent. At low frequencies (eg, 50Hz powerlines) the dominating effect is stimulation of nerves which is a direct effect of the electric field." Toivonen does admit that more research is needed. HELSINKI TIMES
HOUSING
16 22 FEBRUARY 2012 2012 16 22 FEBRUARY
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L E H T I K U VA / M A R T T I K A I N U L A I N E N
The hazards around us
You may feel safe in your home but is there a modern, silent and invisible danger to worry about?
A L E X M AY H E W -S M I T H HEL SINKI TIMES
IN THE APARTMENT
building I live in, near the centre of Helsinki, my laptop regularly picks up over 15 WiFi networks in my child's bedroom. The technology is wonderfully convenient but is it safe. Part of his job, he says, is to tell worried callers about the science and let them decide whether to continue to worry or not. It is a project, he says, that will allow STUK to provide worried callers more accurate information about the levels of EMR that they may experience in their home. Most of the funding comes from national governments, particularly from Germany. In response Toivonen believes the technology is safe within the established limits and is concerned that overly worrying about it can mar people's lives. "You can buy this fabric which is made with silver and is meant to stop radiofrequencies. Ionising is the process of converting an atom or molecule into a charged particle, called an ion. At the moment the only EMR effect that is accepted by the whole scientific community is a heating effect. Leading Italian scientist Dr Livio Giuliani, who has been researching radioprotection for over 30 years, says: "Since the 1970s the non-thermal effects of electromagnetic fields on living organisms have been well known... The electromagnetic spectrum can be classified into non-ionising waves (such as low frequency waves, radio wave, microwave, infrared, visible light) and ionising waves (medium or far ultraviolet, x-ray and gamma ray). "The ICNIPR [International Commission on Non-ionising Radiation Protection] released guidelines in 1998 which were adopted by the EU in 1999 and later Finland set the limits as law," says Toivonen. Where there is a wireless signal there is also electromagnetic radiation (EMR). Research suggests the issue worries as many as 1.5 million people in Finland, says Toivonen. Its objectivity has been widely called into question. 09 689 67422 Read more about the Helsinki Times ready-to-use English lessons at www.helsinkitimes.fi/htep. So who are the ICNIPR. There are other solutions available which also
seem savagely costly and not a little strange, such as a "princess" curtain you can drape around your bed. · The radio-frequency radiation emitted by WiFi, mobile phones and other telecommunication devices is non-ionising, and operates at a very low intensity, far below the level at which there is any risk of burns or other direct tissue damage.
Doing it yourself So why should we believe one set of scientists over another, particularly when both have the appropriate credentials. This is about effects from EMR other than thermal. Yet Kari Jokela, a research professor at STUK and a member of the ICNIRP, disputes the accusations. In the meantime, some people have begun taking matters into their own hands. It had no effect," says Toivonen,
who is clearly angry over this particular story. Admittedly, ICNIRP could have been more open in the
past, now this is changing." He adds, somewhat less reassuringly: "Technical standardisation bodies may be closer to the industry simply due to the fact that a lot of technical expertise comes from industry. This is a gross misunderstanding. After taking readings in our apartment, he says that the strongest signals are clearly coming from mobile phone base stations, not from WiFi. These home networks are being broadcast from the flats around us. So who did set them. Tommi Toivonen, a senior scientist at Finland's Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) is currently amassing a wealth of data from homes across the city. Non-ionising radiation can cause burns at high intensity, the most familiar example being sunburn from ultraviolet radiation. In some cities, such as Salzburg, Austria, the advice is not to use WLAN or cordless phones in schools and kindergartens. Perhaps it is time for the ICNIRP to become part of a recognised public body which would go some way to clearing the airwaves.
Helsinki Times English Programme
Teach and learn English with Helsinki Times
Helsinki Times has created an English-language learning package, the Helsinki Times English Programme, to provide English teachers with inspirational teaching material for their lessons.
Gather a minimum of 8 Helsinki Times subscriptions with this special offer and you will get 8 ready-to-use English exercises during 2012 sent to you by email free of charge. In addition, you will also get a Gummerus Finnish-English-Finnish pocket dictionary! Contact us now and we will send you the first English learning package free of charge by email! Contact us for more information at opetus@helsinkitimes.fi or tel. · Ionising radiation can potentially break the bonds of DNA, cause damage to living tissue and result in mutation, radiation sickness, cancer and death. It is a self-appointed body and that is probably where the problem lies. I met an elderly couple who had paid 1,200 euros for one of these. Does it even work. Yet Jokela says in response: "It has very often been claimed that ICNIRP accepts only the thermal effects. Scientists appear polarised in a dispute about whether one of our most commonly used modern tools of communication is detrimental to our health. "There are suggestions - from unrepeated studies - of other effects that cannot be explained by a thermal effect," he says. A few schools around the world, often under pressure from parents, have removed their wireless networks. This is simply not true. A report to the European Parliament suggested that it may have "rather close links with the industries whose expansion is shaped by recommendations for maximum threshold values for the different frequencies of electromagnetic fields". The total EMR he measures is 0.0016 per cent of the safety limit.
For one section of the scientific community - the section which has successfully informed the establishment and set these safety limits that is the end of the story. The discounted price for the 8 subscriptions with the English exercise packages is only 336 euros for the school year. Indeed, a key criticism from objectors in the scientific community is that the ICNIRP refuses to acknowledge that there is evidence of effects other than thermal from exposure to EMR. At home attempting to completely seal a room from electromagnetic radiation is very difficult, not to say expensive. protection against
There is conflicting scientific opinion on the dangers of electromagnetic radiation from laptops.
non-ionising radiation, based on parameters adopted by international standards organisations, seems not to be adequate."
What is electromagnetic radiation?
· Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) is energy emitted in waves that travel at the speed of light
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HELSINKI TIMES
The admission ticket includes a half-hour bus tour that familiarises visitors with local KGB history, concentrating on the period that the organisation was active in the hotel. Does it improve the overall quality of a film. Viewers enter the exhibition physically, and can either sit down or walk around while listening.
The Murder of Crows Janet Cardiff & George Bures Miller 17 February 20 May KIASMA Mannerheiminaukio 2 Helsinki. Situated in the middle of the exhibition, a megaphone lies on its side on top of a desk, with Cardiff's voice sporadically projecting tales of dreams
from it. Part of that secret is now unveiled; anyone can visit the KGB museum and learn about the Cold War days. Witnessing contemporary design in a global context that emphasises diversity and an open-minded approach, visitors to the exhibition are privy to such displays as a rollable water carrier for use in developing countries, a stylish prosthetic limb suitable
for evening wear, a low-cost infant warmer and a backpack with an integral hood, to name a few. This centrepiece draws on Goya's Sleep of Reason Brings False Monsters for inspiration, with the sounds and music of the installation evoking the owls and bats that envelop the sleeping man depicted in Goya's etching. James Cameron and the size of his retirement nest egg may suggest otherwise, but somehow it seems that shelling out extra dosh for what amounts to wearing sunglasses indoors takes
Hugo (K10) Release Date: 17 February Director: Martin Scorsese Starring: Asa Butterfield, Chloe Grace Moretz Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (K11) Release Date: 17 February Director: Brad Peyton Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Josh Hutcherson Safe House (K16) Release Date: 17 February Director: Daniel Espinosa Starring: Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds Härmä (K16) Release Date: 17 February Director: JP Siili Starring: Lauri Tilkanen, Pamela Tola
away from the cinema experience. The tour leads to the top floor with amazing stories, the secret archives and even the red hotline telephone direct to the Powers that Were. The organisation was active in the hotel from 1972 to 1991, with secret agents mingling with foreign tourists who never suspected they were surrounded by Russian spies. Many of those gadgets and technology were futuristic ideas. In subsequent months it will be open every day.
Aamu Song, Johan Olin: Huppureppu bag.
JANNE SUHONEN
Unmasking the Committee
usability and wellbeing as its starting points, DesignWorld at Helsinki's Design Museum seeks to display objects that embrace ecological and sustainable design and safety and comfort, accompanied by a wide range of workshops and lectures. HELSINKI TIMES
CULTURE
16 22 FEBRUARY 2012
17
M A X TOM A SINELLI
Dim chance of success
J A M E S O ' S U L L I VA N HEL SINKI TIMES
WHAT is it about 3D. The strategically located Sokos-Viru Hotel was built in 1972, mainly to accommodate foreigners, but also to house the KGB, or Committee for State Security. Fingers crossed that this will change. While following in the footsteps of Brendan Fraser might have most actors looking for a new agent, we all can smell what The Rock is cookin' in Journey 2: colossal box office. With Luis Guzmán also joining the cast, you might just find yourself tempted to give this flick a go. But squinting through the dim to ascertain what's occurring onscreen as the bridge of your nose becomes increasingly irritated underneath your temporary goggles is it really worth the extra euros. Living behind the scenes at Gare du Nord in Paris, Hugo's search leads him to some of the most inspired filmmaking of Scorsese's career. Here Asa Butterfield earns props for not being the typically annoying onscreen youngster as he sets about uncovering the clues to the origins of the mechanical man that he and his father had been tinkering with before his father's death. Until April the museum is open only on weekends. One world, existing mostly on paper, contained the supposedly happy Soviet people, who enjoyed a life of plenty and friendship led by a single political par-
ty. Finally, set in the 1800s, local film Härmä sees Mikko Leppilampi growing his beard out in preparation for being number one at the local box office next week.
The Copenhagen Wheel, MIT Senseable City Lab, 2009.
Worldly design
J A M E S O ' S U L L I VA N HEL SINKI TIMES
TAKING
S U S A N F O U R TA N É HEL SINKI TIMES
ADVENTUROUS
films, books and TV series have given life to secret agents for decades. Stellar camerawork from Robert Richardson and charming performances by Chloë Grace Moretz and Ben Kingsley aside, my enjoyment of the film unfortunately was lost in the shadows. Likewise, having the secret headquarters' entrance in visible and crowded public places was a practice as real as the KGB's headquarters, located on the
top floor of the Viru Hotel in Tallinn, Estonia. In January 2011, Viru opened the KGB Museum. The glare is almost blinding! Unfortunately cinema's current fascination with 3D was just the experience that got in the way of my enjoyment of Martin Scorsese's latest, Hugo. The exhibition features work from such leading names as Tord Boontje from the Netherlands, the Campana brothers from Brazil, Anthony Dunne and Fiona Raby of England, Finn Yrjö Kukkapuro and Italy's Patricia Urquiola.
DesignWorld Designing the New World Until 6 May Design Museum Korkeavuorenkatu 23 Helsinki
Aviya Serfaty's Outfeet Prosthetic leg for women.
A murder of sound
J A M E S O ' S U L L I VA N HEL SINKI TIMES
"Collect call to KGB headquarters in Moscow, please."
IN LIGHT of the ongoing chilly conditions out of doors, a murder of crows is gathering in the warmth of the top floor of KIASMA from 17 February until 20 May. However, many others were taken from real intelligence agencies' equipment, as used by actual spies and counterspies. Exploring the effects of sound on our experiences and how they are created, The Murder of Crows is a sound installation by the Canadian artists Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller.
Utilising 98 speakers, the varied soundscapes provide an aural feast, as sound effects such as Tibetan chants, an orchestra, a Russian military choir and the cries of a murder of crows merge seamlessly into one another, seeking to mirror the assorted juxtapositions that one experiences when dreaming. Meanwhile, Safe House sees young CIA agent Ryan Reynolds tasked with keeping an eye on fugitive Denzel Washington in a safe house. But what to do when they are attacked and are soon on the run. Approaching these from varied perspectives, the exhibition also presents the significance of modern tech-
nologies and materials in contemporary design, showcasing the design process with Aalto University's 365 Wellbeing Design Exploration and Experimentation project. Whether in the 1960s or the 2000s, all the secret agents have used sophisticated weapons, encrypted codes and high-tech gadgets. All in all, an unforgettable journey back in time for those interested in secret agents' real stories, history and old technology.
KGB Museum Sokos Viru Hotel Viru väljak 4 Tallinn Estonia www.sokoshotels.ee It is advisable to book the tour beforehand as the English tour may not be available on the desired day or may be fully booked. From James Bond to The Man from U.N.C.L.E., spies placed their lives in jeopardy fighting against those who wanted to conquer the world. The other world had a much more complicated and diverse nature and was kept secret from the common comrade. But once again, the confounded 3D takes away from the spectacle: shots that should be overflowing with visual detail, popping and crackling with colour
and spectacle, are rendered flaccid by the sheer murkiness of the image. Cinema-lovers around the world have been falling over themselves to praise the film, beside themselves with excitement at the thought that one of the world's greatest auteurs is tipping his hat to the 3D format. At this stage it doesn't look like the film will be offered in 2D on its release in Finland. The museum preserves the rooms and equipment used by the KGB and presents the story of two different worlds sharing the same time and space. Here, following up Journey to the Center of the Earth from a couple of years ago, Josh Hutcherson teams up with the ex-wrestler on a mission to find his grandfather, Michael Caine. There were no accidents, no catastrophes, no choice of clothes sizes nor extra sugar for their cup of tea. Ever taken your glasses off midway through a film to check the difference
The friendly guides at Sea Life educate and entertain visitors with the mysteries of the jellyfish's life cycle. It is most often encountered in Finnish waters in the autumn. Jellyfish don't purposely attack humans, though. "The courses are targeted at different groups. How long have you lived there. But becoming paralysed with fear can be even more dangerous than panicking," Ruolanto says. The street was built in 1820, and was originally given the Swedish name St Annae Gatan. 6. There are 200 known species of jellyfish living in cold and warm ocean water, in deep water and along coastlines. "There's good demand in Finland for flight safety courses, especially among frequent flyers."
may be forgiven for thinking if their plane gets into difficulties mid-air, they are inevitably helpless victims. 1. Annankatu is named after the Order of Saint Anne, which was established in 1735 by Count Karl Fredrik von Holstein-Gottorp in memory of his wife Anna Petrovna, the daughter of Peter the Great. · Puotila is one of the oldest suburbs in Helsinki with the earliest modern developments built in the late 1950s, though there is evidence of human settlement more than 800 years ago. The new emergency course is pretty hair-raising, so it's not the first one I'd recommend for those with any fear of flying," Ruolanto says. What do you like about your neighbourhood. 7. What kind of neighbourhood is it. Other things you would like HT readers to know about your neighbourhood.
In the same building as Pikkulintu there is a puppet theatre called Sampo, where they also sell books and CDs. They have no brain, no heart, no blood, no complex nervous
system; yet they can taste, smell and balance themselves, which are fairly complex tasks. The prexfix, "Saint", was dropped in 1836, and the street received its official Finnish name in 1906.
By Marjo Matilainen
JELLYFISH
are some of the most stunningly beautiful and interesting creatures in the ocean. The Swedish naval hero Admiral Carl Olof Cronstedt was born there in 1756. I was living in Koskela before. · Puotila Mansion dates from the 17th century. Explore different areas of Helsinki with a local guide!
W I K I P E D I A / J O N I K
5. There is also a nice old stone church (Puotilan kappeli) which I think is from the 19th century. Jellyfish have tiny stinging cells in their tentacles to stun or paralyse their prey before they eat them. In Puotila, a small neighbourhood in eastern Helsinki (next to Itäkeskus).
2. Eight months now. The section that was lopped off the Kamppi end of the street when the business centre was built was renamed Antinkatu, in honour of the first mayor of Helsinki, Antti Tulenheimo. It's a really small place, but it has lots of beers and whiskies, and I know 5 or 6 years ago it was listed as one of the best whisky-restaurants in the world by Whisky Magazine. Additional information can
Behind the curtains The Kurkistus Kulissiin course provides an insight into cabin crew safety training exercises at the Finnair Flight Academy's safety training facility in Vantaa. "Most people are capable of taking sensible action in dan-
gerous situations also. Jellyfish are 95 per cent water. Fire and smoke simulators are used in the part of the course
dealing with fire training. And because crash landings may have to take place in the water, there are also exercises in water rescue. And for even more fun, there will be a Jelly Disco every last Sunday of each month starting from 26 February.
Jellyfish Discovery Until the end of 2012 Tivolitie 10 Helsinki Feeding times: 11:00 onwards on the hour www.sealife.fi
NIINA M ÄK INEN / SE A LIFE
A potted history of Helsinki's major streets
Street View
Jellyfish have existed for around 650 million years, making them much older than the dinosaurs.
S U S A N F O U R TA N É HEL SINKI TIMES
Annankatu
Annankatu now runs from Punavuori to the business centre in Kamppi, but originally extended to Eteläinen Rautatienkatu. I've been told that Puotila is one of the oldest neighbourhoods of Helsinki. Most stings occur when people accidentally touch a jellyfish. I like the occasional drink, so the first thing that comes to my mind is the Olutravintola Pikkulintu. On average only a few per cent of passengers go into a panic when trouble strikes. For the first time in Finland, flight safety courses are now being held for passengers. 3. Please recommend one shop or service in your neighbourhood that you would like to promote. Even for those who don't want to take a flight safety course, Ruolanto's most general rule of thumb is worth keeping in mind the next time you board a plane: "If the plane gets into difficulty in the air, flight attendants are trained to immediately take charge and act decisively and authoritatively." The message is clear: they know what they're doing, so do what they say! In addition to safety and emergency courses, Finnair Flight Academy also offers
courses on how to deal with fear of flying. This assumption is needlessly pessimistic, says flight safety instructor Minna Ruolanto: even in an emergency, there
AIRLINE PASSENGERS
are some things passengers can do. The Baltic Sea is home to one species of jel-
lyfish, Aurelia aurita or the moon jellyfish. The courses are provided by Ruolanto's employer, the Finnair Flight Academy, the main function of which is to train Finnair flight staff. Jellyfish have existed for 650 million years, drifting along on ocean currents even before dinosaurs lived on Earth. They are hypnotic, capable of leaving one in a state of serenity thinking only about the simplicity of these invertebrates. To celebrate its 10th anniversary, the Sea Life centre in Helsinki is presenting Jellyfish Discovery, a unique adventure into learning about the secret life of the moon jellyfish, compass jellyfish, lagoon jellyfish and mosaic jellyfish. Participants are familiarised with the theory behind safe and efficient evacuations. Unfortunately I discovered it only in autumn, so I'm looking forward to the summer season!
Puotila. Where do you live. I don't like living in the city centre and Puotila is far enough from there, but it's well connected (by metro for instance) and there is a really nice area where I like to bike, along the coast going towards Herttoniemi. These creatures propel themselves forward by squirting water from their mouths.
Safety courses for airline passengers
"Most people are capable of taking sensible action in dangerous situations," a Finnair Flight Academy instructor explains.
P E R T T I M AT T I L A S T T HT
help reduce the risk of panic and freezing up. The purpose of the course is to show prospective passengers what "sensible action" means in practice. What is special about your neighbourhood. The Vartiokylänlahti shore is really pleasant to see, especially in September in my opinion. They dine on fish, shrimp, crabs and tiny plants, and will even eat other species of jellyfish. It's a suburb.
4. Having experienced the crash simulator and how Ruolanto barked orders at the beleaguered course participants, one can only agree.
The price of the safety and emergency course is 349 euros, and can be partly or fully paid with Finnair Plus bonus points.
HEL SINK I T I M E S
In this fortnightly series, Helsinki Times has a chat with different people about the places they live in, and how they find life there. I've never been there, but I'd really like to go! Moreover Puotila is just one metro stop away from the Itäkeskus shopping centre, so if one gets bored it's easy to go and spend some time there.
Did you know. · Puotila Chapel was built in 1859 and is a popular wedding spot for couples.
Puotila is a small Helsinki suburb built in the late 1950s.
Elisa Piccinini
Urban suburban
ELISA PICCININI
is a 25-yearold PhD student of neurobiology who comes from Italy. 18
16 22 FEBRUARY 2012
LIFESTYLE
HELSINKI TIMES
The secret life of the jellyfish
Stings from some species of jellyfish can be painful to humans and sometimes even deadly
The warm milk and fridge-chilled almond mix and cream combined well and the milk brought out a little more of the cardamom flavour. HELSINKI TIMES
EAT & DRINK
16 22 FEBRUARY 2012
19
Have your cake this Shrovetide
DAV I D DU N N E HEL SINKI TIMES
FIRST VAPIANO IN HELSINKI IS NOW OPEN! COME AND ENJOY!
FRESH DELICIOUS HEALTHY
VAPIANO HELSINKI MIKONKATU 15 tel. KITCHEN 11-24 SAT 12-02 . Finnish Shrovetide is on Sunday 19 February.
Feast Day was strictly held on Tuesday, but the Protestant Reformation meant a relaxation of the fasting ritual and Sunday became the traditional day for the feast. cafe@flada13.fi Kalevankatu 13, Helsinki | www.flada13.fi
WESTON'S ORIGINAL 2,50
½ pint
SANTA ANA WINES
12 cl Eco Malbec or Eco torrontes Welcome!
2,50
Happy with Helsinki Times Eat&Drink topics. Originally sceptical about the idea, I was pleasantly surprised. Using strict scientific testing methods, the staff of Helsinki Times sampled these laskiaispulla to inform our readers of our professional opinions. In many countries, Finland included, it was originally a pagan festival to mark the start of the growing season and was a feast of meat and alcoholic beverages and much merriment.
Topped with whipped cream Laskiaispulla, or hetvägg to the Swedish-speaking population, is a cardamom-spiced wheat bun which has had its top cut off and insides scooped out, and the resulting space filled with a mix of the scooped-out bread
crumbs, milk and almond paste, topped with whipped cream. At the suggestion of our editor, this reporter tried `oldschool' laskiaispulla slight-
ly-warmed milk in a bowl and almond laskiaispulla left to float on the top. The tradition of Shrovetide, or Shrove Tuesday, was originally a Catholic tradition known for the eating of pancakes, or other sweet things before the start of Lent. 09 694 0750 Mon-Fri 11-23, Sat 12-23, Sun 12-22
www.ravintolatandoor.net. 010 832 2600 | email. We decided not to overdo the laskiaispulla at lunchtime however, bearing in the mind the cautionary tale of King Adolf Frederick of Sweden who in 1771, consumed a meal of lobster, caviar, sauerkraut, smoked herring and champagne, finished the meal with 14 helpings of hetvägg his favourite dessert and promptly died of digestive problems.
AFTER WORK
MON-FRI 16-19
FREE WIFI
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PILSNER URQUELL
2,50
HELSINKI STOCKHOLM BERLIN NEW YORK PARIS LONDON WIEN TALLINN
A NEW BAR & BISTRO IN TOWN!
Come and check it out!
MONTHU 1121 FRISAT 1124 SUN 1120 RESERVATIONS: tel. Send your suggestions to info@helsinkitimes.fi
Salomonkatu 19, Helsinki Tel. 09 6981225, helsinki1@vapiano.fi, www.vapiano.fi MON-THU 11-24 . Laskiaispulla is closely associated with Easter and particularly the beginning of Shrovetide or laskiainen. Our testers were split on which was the favourite between the two types, with perhaps slightly more preferring the traditional almond laskiaispulla though general consensus was that shop-bought was nowhere near as good as grandmother's recipe. KITCHEN 12-24 SUN 12-24 . Indeed such is the popularity of this cardamom-flavoured dessert bread that it still very popular in Michigan, USA, and Ontario in Canada, where large Finnish immigrant populations settled from the 1890s onwards. Another variety comes with jam replacing the almond mixture. KITCHEN 11-23 FRI 11-02 . KITCHEN 12-23
pulla is such an important part of the culture here that every feast day or bank holiday seems to come with its official pulla or other sweet treat. In Finland and the Scandinavian countries, along with Germany and Holland, the
FINNISH
L E H T I K U VA / S A R I GU S TA F S S O N
Shrove Tuesday is on 21 February this year. The idea was to use up perishable foods like sugar, fat, flour and eggs, whose consumption was traditionally restricted during the fasting associated with Lent, when Jesus Christ is said to have spent 40 days and 40 nights fasting in the desert. From korvapuusti to pitko, and voisilmäpulla to pikkupulla, Finns consume vast quantities of the stuff, washed down with copious amounts of coffee
Stepping indoors off chilly Kalevankatu, I'm immediately greeted by a reassuringly calm atmosphere, as the
tail end of the lunchtime rush enjoys conversation, a few laughs and the final mouthfuls of their meals. Book your table tel. +358 20 7424 210 www.cantinawest.net
Mon-Tue 11-23, Wed-Thu 11-24, Fri 11-01, Sat 12-01 & Sun 12-22
L MA A
Nepalese Cuisine
Since 1993
The Oldest Nepalese Restaurant in Finland
Open Mon-Fri 11-23, weekends 12-23, Lunch: Mon-Fri 11-15 Contact Ratakatu 1B, 00120 Helsinki. My table is swiftly cleared and reset with an empty wine glass. +358 9 611 077, +358 40 707 1140 www.satkar.fi
The curiously named Flada 13 has a relaxed atmosphere and cool decor.
Welcome to Europe's top TexMex Restaurant!
me for a moment to have a chat about Flada 13. Each of the sides is fresh and flavoursome. By now the rest of the lunch crowd has cleared out and I linger as the snow continues to fall outside. I am informed that the meat has been boiled and compressed before being seared on both sides. An array of mushroom, whitefish roe, salmon, diced red onion and pickle drizzled with honey, accompanies the light and crispy pancakes. Embarking on a Google search to try and discover just what a "flada" is, I am soon confronted with all manner of striking suggestions from the Urban Dictionary, such as "horrible temper", "snapping", even "hitting dogs." Just what am I getting myself into. 20
16 22 FEBRUARY 2012
EAT & DRINK
RESTAURANTS · PUBS · BARS
HELSINKI TIMES
Nepalese Restaurant
The biggest Nepalese Restaurant in Helsinki · Suitable for group parties · Fully licensed · Delicious food with tandoor
Welcome to Satkar
Fredrikinkatu 46 (Kamppi, Autotalo). As with many restaurants around town, the start of the year sees the ubiquitous blini filling up menus in a series of special weeks dedicated to them, and soon I am enjoying Flada 13's own interpretation of this Russian favourite (10-19.50). The bitterness of the chocolate entwines with the tartness of the berries to create an altogether satisfying experience nicely finished off with an espresso.
24,90 p e rs .
/
Y; CH ILDREN FR IENDL er fo r kids . And 13 is, quite obviously in hindsight, its street number. Opening in July last year, and having just recently changed the menu, the restaurant prides itself on offering good flavours and dishes with a twist. Soon I am sipping on Elcoto Crianza (7.50/45), whose spicy elements stir to life when I commence dining on a succulent breast of beef lying on a bed of cubed potato and shavings of carrot, radish and asparagus (27.50). Accompanying this is an Anchor Steam Beer (5.80), fresh from San Francisco and arriving with a rich amber colour and slightly bitter taste. The mushroom puree is creamy and delicious, complementing the sweetness of the red wine sauce. Send your suggestions to info@helsinkitimes.fi
HI
the sweetness of the honey ensuring that the salty tang of the pickles reveals itself only at varied intervals. The puzzle has been solved. But that can be ascertained another time. Tearing off a piece of bread reveals its soft interior. So, when confronted with the name Flada 13, one can't help but be intrigued. Soon both the glass of wine and my plate are empty and it's time for dessert. ow n play co rn
WE SE RVE LUNCH FROM MON-F RI
11.00-15.00
WELCOME AMIGOS!
Open
CANTINA WEST, Kasarmikatu 23, Helsinki Tel. It swiftly becomes apparent that my imagination has gotten the better of me. The culmination of all of the hard work gathering ideas and embracing culinary inspiration, the title acts as a beacon for customers, summarising the experience to be had. A glance at the restaurant's website reveals a modest introduction to a café/bar. A curl of butter dusted with a sprinkling of poppy seeds lies next to two slices of grain bread. (09) 647 551, mob 040 7347 638 www.himalaya.fi
YA
Ravintola Martta
"like my mother cooks" Lapinlahdenkatu 3, 00180 Helsinki
Finnish Cuisine. Glancing down as I pull out my chair, I am about to sit when I am pleasantly surprised to notice that the floor appears as if it is made out of planks from wine boxes: a nice change from the polished linoleum wooden panel design so common in Finland. A menu has been chalked onto the board above the generous bar area.
A taste of Flada A small basket of bread appears at my table, and I pause for a moment to admire the beauty of its simple arrangement. 00100 Helsinki, Finland Tel. The pickles are a pleasant surprise, with
Solving the riddle As I bask in the afterglow of an enjoyable lunch, shift manager Jussi Nenonen joins
Happy with Helsinki Times Eat&Drink topics. Flada comes from the Helsinki slang for Vladimirinkatu, the original name of Kalevankatu. No real clues there. A final sip of my espresso and soon I am reaching for my coat and stepping out from the warmth onto Flada.
Flada 13 Kalevankatu 13, Helsinki tel. Now, with the distinct lack of dogs and aggressive people around me, I simply must ask about the restaurant's moniker. With some trepidation, I find myself in downtown Helsinki on a January afternoon, weaving through foot traffic as the snow falls delicately all around me, signalling the belated arrival of winter. Furthermore, there is also talk of a new weekend brunch that is soon due to launch here onto the crowded Helsinki brunch scene, staking its claim as "The Best Goddamn Brunch in Town". Thankfully the butter is not too hard, and spreads easily over the delicious bread. 010 832 2600 www.flada13.fi Mon-Thu 11:00-21:00 Fri-Sat 11:00-24:00 Sun 11:00-20:00
What's in a name?
Flada 13 brings us some mystery with our lunch.
J A M E S O ' S U L L I VA N HEL SINKI TIMES
SUNDAY FIESTA
BUFFET 12.00 15.00
THE NAMING of a restaurant is typically the jewel in the crown of a business idea. Taking a deep breath, I glance down at a chocolate ganache and berry compote (9.80)
m a n h a t t a n s t e a k h o u s e . +358 9 4336 6330 omalleys.torni@sok.fi / www.omalleys.fi Opening hours: Mon-Thu 4pm-1am Fri-Sat 2pm-2am, Sun closed
LET'S
ROLL
TO
Newly opened Nepalese Restaurant
treats you like a royalty right in the heart of Helsinki City center.
Lunch A la carte Mon-Fri 10:30-15:00 15:00-23:00 Sat & Sun 12:00-23:00 www.basecampnepal.fi Find us in facebook: www.facebook.com/basecampnepal Yliopistonkatu 5, Helsinki, tel: 09 698 0995
Two more pints please!
Keskuskatu 6, Citykäytävä, Helsinki
oluthuone.com
Te n n i s p a l a t s i n a u k i o 4 - H e l s i n k i - o l u t h u o n e . Saturday 18th - Sports during the day, Filthy party at night!! Sunday 19th - NO SHOE SUNDAY! Come in, chill out, relax! Monday 20th - POKER! from 7pm, register in the bar! Wednesday 22nd - LIVE MUSIC with MR JUKEBOX from 10pm!
Come and have a Tooheys or two!
AUSSIE BAR Salomonkatu 5, Kamppi 00100 Helsinki, Finland
Tel. c o m
NUMBER ONE FOR FANS!
The world of beer in all its glory
BEER HOUSE KAISLA
Vilhonkatu 4
Mon-Thu 1302, Fri-Sat 1303, Sun 1302
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· KAIVOKATU 8, HELSINKI (OPPOSITE THE CENTRAL RAILWAY STATION) · TEL. Hesperiankatu 22 tel. (09) 611 217 Mon-Tue 10.30-23.00 Wed-Sat 10.30-24.00 Sun 12.00-23.00
H E L S I N K I · L A H T I
Forum Mannerheimintie 20 tel. (09) 694 4207 Mon-Fri 10.30-21.00 Sat 10.30-19.00 Sun 11.00-19.00
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THE LEADING NORDIC SPORTS RESTAURANT
Korkeavuorenkatu 27 Helsinki Tel. +358 (0)9 737 373 E-mail: aussiebar@aussiebar.net www.aussiebar.net
Et. HELSINKI TIMES
EAT & DRINK
RESTAURANTS · PUBS · BARS
16 22 FEBRUARY 2012
21
RESTAURANTS · PUBS · BARS
RESTAURANTS · PUBS · BARS
ITALIAN RESTAURANT
MON-THU 11-22 I FRI 11-24 I SAT 14-24 I SUNDAY CLOSED I ANNANKATU 4 I WWW.VAELSA.FI I +358 9 698 00 12 I
Yrjönkatu 26, Helsinki, tel. +358 9 635 732 www.juuri.fi
Transforming Finnish gifts of nature in an innovative manner to suit modern tastes.
Eteläesplanadi 24 tel. +358 9 6128 5200 mon-thu 11-24, fri 11-01, sat 13-01, sun 13-23 www.royalravintolat.com. f i
Open: 14-02 Sunday-Tuesday 12-03 Wednesday-Saturday
A
CLASSIC
SINCE
1932
WHAT'S ON AT THE AUSSIE BAR:
Thursday 16th - DJ SLEAZY from 9.30pm + cocktail specials 7-11pm. Friday 17th - ROCK OUT in the AB! DJ's from 9.30pm
Semifinal Urho Kekkosen katu 4-6 Tickets 5/6 www.semifinal.fi Thu 16 February Leatherface (UK) Punk rock. Finnish National Opera 19:00 Helsinginkatu 58 Tickets 22-99 www.opera.fi Fri 17 February Aino Venna, Suvi Isotalo Interesting female singer-songwriters. Design Museum Korkeavuorenkatu 23 Tue 11:00-20:00 Wed-Sun 11:00-18:00 Tickets 0/3/8 www.designmuseum.fi Until Sun 17 June Thank You for the Music How Music Moves Us Exhibition on how the experiences of listening to music, watching music videos or going to a concert can appear in the life and work of an artist, a music lover, a fan. As a live act, Dalindéo is energetic and the band's tight interplay fills the air. Venue Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 21 Tickets 19 www.clubvenue.fi Sat 18 February Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings (USA) Brilliant soul. Kuudes Linja, Hämeentie 13 Tickets 15 www.kuudeslinja.com
THEATRE & DANCE
Thu 16-Sun 19 February Snowblind & Mikko Viman And The Dead Pilot Contemporary dance and intense music come together. Stoa, Turunlinnantie 1 Tickets 12/18 www.stoa.fi Fri 17 February St. 22
16 22 FEBRUARY 2012
WHERE TO GO
HELSINKI TIMES
DALINDÉO
Tight Swings
Dalindéo, a brilliant Finnish jazz sextet led by composer/guitarist Valtteri Pöyhönen, will spice up the Souls Club at Korjaamo on Friday 17 February. The Finnish Museum of Photography The Cable Factory Tallberginkatu 1 Tue-Sun 11:00-18:00 Wed 11:00-20:00 Tickets 0/4/6 www.valokuvataiteenmuseo.fi Until Sun 6 May Designworld Exhibition looks at international contemporary design with broad strokes, giving an overall picture of today's design. The Circus Salomonkatu 1-3 Tickets 38-65 www.thecircus.fi Thu 16 February Candorloop Modern rock. International line-up includes artists such as Angela de Castro (BRA) and Nola Rae (UK). Helsinki Music Centre Sonore, 19:30 Mannerheimintie 13 Tickets 12.50/20/25 www.musiikkitalo.fi Fri 17 & Tue 21 February Giacomo Puccini: La Fanciulla del West Bold and colourful opera set in the Wild West. The Gallen-Kallela Museum Gallen-Kallelan tie 27 Tue-Sat 11:00-16:00 Sun 11:00-17:00 Tickets 0/4/8 www.gallen-kallela.fi Until Sun 25 March Muotoilijat 12 Finnish Designer Awards Exhibition highlights the diverse views of the design sector for society and the economy. Korjaamo Culture Factory Töölönkatu 51 B Free entry www.korjaamo.fi
Alexander Theatre Bulevardi 23-27 Tickets 33/38/43 www.aleksanterinteatteri.fi Sat 18 February Tanssiteatteri Vilya Sudenmorsian (The Wolf's Bride) Piece of dance theatre, based on Aino Kallas' novel and a tale from Hiiumaa, combines drama, modern ballet and the language of modern dance into a mythical saga. Virka Gallery Pohjoisesplanadi 11-13 Free entry Mon-Fri 9:00-19:00 Sat-Sun 10:00-16:00 www.virka.fi
The Finnish jazz sextet Dalindéo wil be playing the Souls Club at Korjaamo on Friday.
Until Sun 29 April Carl Larsson: In Search of the Good Life Exhibition of one of Sweden's most beloved artists includes over a hundred paintings- it also presents Carl and Karin Larsson as designers of furniture and art handicrafts. Stoa Gallery Turunlinnantie 1 Mon-Tue 9:00-20:00 Fri 9:00-18:00 Sat-Sun 10:00-16:00 Free entry www.stoa.fi Until Sun 18 March On Crusted Snow Exhibition presenting winter landscapes by Akseli Gallen-Kallela. Tavastia Urho Kekkosen katu 4-6 Tickets 32/35 www.tavastiaklubi.fi Sat 18 February Promise & The Monster (SWE) Rock/pop. Virgin Oil CO. Kiasma Mannerheiminaukio 2 Tue 10:00-17:00 Wed-Thu 10:00-20:30 Fri 10:00-22:00 Sat 10:00-18:00 Sun 10:00-17:00 Tickets 0/8/10 www.kiasma.fi
MUSIC
Thu 16 February 3 Doors Down (USA) Rock from Mississippi. Korjaamo Culture Factory Töölönkatu 51 B Tickets 12/14 www.korjaamo.fi Tue 21 February Heidi Tuikkanen Acoustic pop. Various venues Tickets 12/18/20 www.hurjaruuth.fi www.espoonteatteri.fi Wed 22 February Baby Cham (JAM) Dancehall/reggae/hip hop. Petersburg Male Ballet Unique male ballet group.
EXHIBITIONS
Until Sun 4 March Elina Merenmies: Secret Joy Light as feather, the drawings and paintings of Elina Merenmies move in a zone between dream and reality. Fri 17 February Korjaamo Culture Factory Töölönkatu 51 B Tickets 10/12 www.korjaamo.fi
Until Sun 11 March Stefan Bremer: Helsinki Photographer's declaration of love to his home city. Despite moving effortlessly from mood to mood, Dalindéo still stays true to the original jazz spirit with danceable rhythms, strong melodies and cinematic soundscapes. Zodiak Cable Factory Tallberginkatu 1 B Tickets 12/20 www.zodiak.fi Until Sun 19 February Punainen Helmi Naisklovnifestivaali (Red Pearl Female Clown Festival) Hilarious clownery by female clowns. Their most recent album, Soundtrack for the Sound Eye (2010), offers a remarkable collection of intensive moods while utilising a wide range of musical genres from afro beat to Balkan flavours and thus sets high expectations for the live performance. Drawing on the influence of jazz composers such as Henry Mancini, Lalo Schifrin and Duke Ellington, Valtteri Pöyhönen and his highly talented team of jazzmen (Petri Puolitaival, Jose Mäenpää, Pekka Lehti, Jaska Lukkarinen and Rasmus Pailos) create high-class orchestral cinematic jazz for the 21st century. Bassment Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 21 Tickets 6 www.bassment.fi Sat 18 February Talla 2XLC (GER) Trance. 2 DJs Jori Hulkkonen and Lil' Tony. Helsinki Ice Hall Nordenskiöldinkatu 11-13 Tickets 44 Thu 16 February LMFAO (USA) Electro hop sensation. Gloria Pieni Roobertinkatu 12 Tickets 35-62 www.helsinkiburlesque.com Sun 19 February Seurasaari Shrove Sunday Seurasaari Island has been traditional place to spend Shrovetide and enjoy horse rides, games, sleigh rides and other fun events for the entire family. Korjaamo Culture Factory Töölönkatu 51 B Tickets 12/14 www.korjaamo.fi Sat 18 February Freeman Electro pop. Tavastia Urho Kekkosen katu 4-6 Tickets 10/12 www.tavastiaklubi.fi Fri 17 February UMO Classic: The Big Band in the Movies Cinematic jazz from the 1950 to today. Ateneum, Kaivokatu 2 Tue-Fri 10:00-18:00 Wed, Thu 10:00-20:00 Sat-Sun 11:00-17:00 Tickets 0/10/12 www.ateneum.fi Until Sun 29 April Timo Kelaranta: Strange love As a photographer Kelaranta is a poet, a master of the abstract image and of minimalism, for whom the most important thing in a picture is its form. Finnish National Opera 19:00 Helsinginkatu 58 Tickets 14-77 www.opera.fi Fri 17 & Sat 18 February Finnish Metal Expo Bands such as Edguy, Turisas, Paradise Lost and Stam1na. Kuudes Linja Hämeentie 13 Tickets 12 www.kuudeslinja.com Thu 16-Wed 22 February Georg Friedrich Händel: Julius Caesar
Popular opera with brilliant music and dramatic storyline. Kuudes Linja Hämeentie 13 Tickets 6 www.kuudeslinja.com Sat 18 February This Is Acid Vol. Kunsthalle Helsinki Nervanderinkatu 3 Tue, Thu, Fri 11:00-18:00 Wed 11:00-20:00 Sat-Sun 11:00-17:00 Tickets 0/5.50/8 www.taidehalli.fi Until Sat 10 March Les Finlandais á table Finns at Table French photographer Stéphanie Lacombe's exhibition depicts the uniqueness of the everyday. Seurasaari Festival Ground 13:00-16:00 Sleigh rides 3/person
Want to know more?
Read our latest news update on your mobile at http://m.helsinkitimes.fi. Club Liberté, Kolmas Linja 34 Tickets 8 www.clubliberte.fi Tue 21 February Club Tarinankertojat (Storytellers) Mikko Alatalo and the houseband. The Cable Factory Tallberginkatu 1 Tickets 35-57 www.fme.fi
Sat 18 February Eric Prydz (SWE) House/techno dj/producer. Semifinal Urho Kekkosen katu 4-6 Tickets 5/6 www.semifinal.fi Wed 22 February Amon Amarth (SWE) Swedish metal. Vuotalo Gallery, Mosaiikkitori 2 Mon-Thu 9:00-20:00 Fri 9:00-18:00 Sat 10:00-16:00 www.vuotalo.fi
OTHERS
Fri 17 & Sat 18 February Helsinki Burlesque Festival 2012: Over the Rainbow International burlesque performances etc. Tavastia, Urho Kekkosen katu 4-6 Tickets 30/33 www.tavastiaklubi.fi Wed 22 February Club Folks: Mikko Joensuu + Puiset Heilat Interesting new solo projects. Johanna Iivanainen as soloist. Bar Loose Annankatu 21 Tickets 12/14 www.barloose.com Thu 16 February Niko Kumpuvaara Debut concert of a promising young accordionist. Helsinki Music Centre 19:30 Camerata, Mannerheimintie 13 Tickets 5/10/15 www.musiikkitalo.fi Thu 16 February Club Törstdag: DJs DXXXA and HZZZT Experimental combination of poetry, rap and lo-fi electro. Semifinal Urho Kekkosen katu 4-6 Tickets 6/7 www.semifinal.fi Fri 17 February The Funkiest 16 Years Party Finnish rap artists such as Eevil Stöö & Koksukoo. Kaivopiha Mannerheimintie 5 Tickets 12 www.virginoil.fi Sat 18 February Hang the DJ Indiedisko Best of the indie pop hits. Venue Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 21 Tickets 14 www.clubvenue.fi
Sat 18 February Kallio Block Party Club: The Soul Investigators Groovy sounds. Kanneltalo Klaneettitie 5 Tickets 10/16 www.kanneltalo.fi Sat 18-Wed 22 February Eliisa Erävalo & Kati Korosuo: Hyvä Ystävä A Good Friend + Anna Mustonen & Masi Tiitta: Thank you for your Love Can dance capture the essence of a close friendship, or love
Jules ja Jim DOC 18:00 Madame Chiang Kai-shek DOC Part 1/13. 15:00 Red Bull Cliptomaniacs 15:30 The Rachel Zoe Project 16:30 Marienhof In German. 17:00 Children's Programming In Finnish. 21:00 My Secret Inheritance DOC Young people don't usually think about getting old, but should they. 11:55 The Cup 12:25 Shooting SPORT European Championships. Ty's team comes to build the family an unobstructed home. Starring: Al Pacino, Steven Bauer, Michelle Pfeiffer, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Robert Loggia. 21:00 Criminal Minds (K16) 22:00 Gone in 60 Seconds (K16) FILM Memphis Raines is a former car thief who is forced to make a comeback with the help of a team of professional thieves. Directed by Brian DePalma. Luckily she has someone to protect her.
My Secret Inheritance YLE Teema 21:00 07:00 Children's Programming In Finnish. USA/1996 23:15 Navy NCIS 00:10 Depth Charge (K16) FILM Directed by Terrence O'Hara. 15:00 Red Bull Cliptomaniacs 15:30 The Rachel Zoe Project 16:30 Marienhof In German. The film is a remake of the 1974 film of the same name that was directed, produced and starred by H.B. Ruby Jean makes a surprise visit to Lafayette's house. 08:50 Flying Doctors 11:10 Die Schwarzwaldklinik In German. USA/2010 01:10 Born to Kill (K16) 02:00 Deadline (K16) 02:55 Relic Hunter
TV5
06:40 Grounded for Life 07:05 That 70's Show 07:30 That 70's Show 07:55 Airport 12:45 Küss mich, wenn es liebe ist FILM Directed by Anja Jacobs. USA/1999 22:50 Geordie Shore 23:45 Operation Endgame (K16) FILM Directed by Fouad Mikati. 22:55 Episodes Part 6/7. When Tim ends up in a hospital, Jim is persuaded to take on some of his responsibilities, including doing some work at the ladder factory. Raymond is threatening to kill Memphis' younger brother, Kip (Giovanni Ribisi), in his car compactor, after Kip and his associates did not deliver the stolen cars in time. From there begins a lifelong adventure, where loyalty toward the wrong people might kill her. Starring: Kenneth Branagh, Robert Downey Jr. 08:30 Eddie & Jeff 09:00 James Martin Digs Deep 09:30 A Baby Story 10:00 How to Look Good Naked Canada 13:00 A Baby Story 13:30 Gok's Fashion Fix SERIES RETURNS. Starring: Casey Affleck, Liv Tyler. 14:30 The King of Queens 15:00 Live to Dance 15:55 Airport 16:30 Hale and Pace 17:00 America's Funniest Home Videos 17:30 My Wife and Kids 18:00 That 70's Show 18:30 That 70's Show 19:00 The King of Queens 19:30 America's Funniest Home Videos 20:00 Breaking The Magician's Code: Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed 21:00 Multiplicity FILM Directed by Harold Ramis. After finding an apartment and a job she begins to look for her sister, from whom she hasn't heard for years. Starring: Jean Reno, Arly Jover. 17:00 Sturm der Liebe In German. USA/2008 02:05 Geordie Shore 03:00 Relic Hunter
JIM
11:50 Bondi Rescue 12:20 Anthony Bourdain: No Reservation 13:10 Border Security: Australia's Front Line 13:40 Monster Jam 2010 SERIES ENDS. Directed by Dominic Sena. 22:05 Game of Thrones (K16) Part 6/10. In German. 23:00 Devil's Mistress Part 2/2. 21:30 Journey to the Center of the Earth FILM Researcher Trevor Anderson searches for his brother with the help of his son and an Icelandic guide. Starring: Jason Gedrick, Eric Roberts. 14:30 James Martin Digs Deep 15:00 10 Years Younger: The Challenge 16:05 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Gene Westbrook was injured in Iraq and ended up in a wheel chair. Bev is certain that Sean has cheated on her, so she decides to leave Hollywood. 17:00 Sturm der Liebe In German. USA 1983.
friday
NELONEN TV1
10:00 11:05 12:35 16:00
17.2.
MTV3
10:05 Emmerdale 13:00 Doctors 14:05 North Sea 15:05 Rita Rocks 17:05 The Young and the Restless 18:00 Emmerdale 21:00 Forgotten 22:50 The Gingerbread Man FILM A young lawyer's one night stand turns into a nightmare. France/2005 02:15 13: Fear is Real 03:10 Melrose Place
SUB
08:00 Sturm der Liebe In German. 16:15 Heartland Ty's stepfather, Wade, comes to Heartland and is determined to get his mother back. Directed by Eric Brevig. Starring: Joe Anderson, Rob Corddry, Ellen Barkin. USA/1998 01:00 Sensing Murder
NELONEN
Wild at Heart YLE News in English Last of the Summer Wine Wild at Heart Danny's former teacher, Bash, arrives in Leopard's Den. Starring: Brendan Fraser, Josh Hutcherson, Anita Briem. 19:30 Junior Doctors Part 5/6. 20:20 Shooting SPORT European Championships. Directed by Darren Stein. 18:30 Will & Grace 19:00 American Idol 20:00 Friends 20:30 Simpsons 22:30 Sons of Anarchy (K16) 01:40 It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
TV2
06:50 Children's Programming In Finnish. In order to save his brother, Memphis reassembles his old crew including his mentor Otto (Robert Duvall), former girlfriend Sara `Sway' Wayland (Angelina Jolie), former colleagues and some of his brother's associates. She gets into her car, but accidentally bumps into someone she knows. Starring: Nicolas Cage, Giovanni Ribisi, Angelina Jolie, Delroy Lindo. 14:10 JIM D Biography: Charlie's Angels 15:10 Dragon's Den 16:05 Dinner Impossible 16:30 Bondi Rescue 17:00 Iron Chef UK 18:30 Bullrun SERIES BEGINS. Later his son got into a car accident and was paralysed from the waist down. Starring: Rose McGowan, Rebecca Gayheart, Julie Benz, Judy Evans Greer. USA/2000 00:35 Frasier 01:05 Married... Billie wants to help her. Starring: Michael Keaton, Andie MacDowell. with Children Kelly and Jefferson are expected to kiss each other in a coffee commercial, which is awkward for Al and Marcy. 01:30 Jack Osbourne: Adrenaline Junkie 02:25 Man Hunters: Fugitive Task Force 02:55 Naked and Funny (K16) 03:25 Naked and Funny (K16)
JIM
12:25 Anthony Bourdain: No Reservation 13:15 Border Security: Australia's Front Line 13:45 Monster Jam 2010 14:15 Extreme Fishing 15:10 Dragon's Den 16:05 Dinner Impossible 16:30 Bondi Rescue 17:00 Iron Chef UK 18:00 Dragon's Den 19:30 South Park 20:00 Border Security: Australia's Front Line 21:00 JIM D: Brad Meltzer's Decoded The documentary series explores the history of the ancient cities and secret societies of Europe. Angelica loses her loved one and the King's favour. 17:10 Married.. Halicki.
Lonesome Jim
Jim (Casey Affleck) is a chronically depressed aspiring novelist who moves back into his parent's home after failing to make in in New York City. Will Kier and Katherine's patient survive the surgery. His parents Don (Seymour Cassel) and Sally (Mary Kay Place), run a ladder factory, a family business Jim wants nothing to do with. Amy worries about a boy whose father doesn't seem to care about anything else but rodeo. Directed by Charles Ferguson.
Lark Rise to Candleford T V1 19:00 07:00 Children's Programming In Finnish. Rosie hears the family's old secrets. 22:30 Rude Tube (K16) 23:00 South Park 23:30 Naked and Funny (K16) 00:00 Modern Marvels: Proving Grounds
YLE TEEMA
17:00 Il était une fois... 08:55 Marienhof In German. 18:30 Will & Grace 19:00 Friends 19:30 American Idol 20:30 Simpsons 21:00 US Kitchen Nightmares 22:30 C.S.I. 08:50 Flying Doctors 11:10 Die Schwarzwaldklinik In German. 01:30 Miami Vice 02:30 Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles 03:25 X Files
TV2
06:50 Children's Programming In Finnish. with Children 01:35 Cleaner (K16)
SUB
08:00 Sturm der Liebe In German. 19:30 South Park 21:00 JIM D Autopsy: Most Shocking Stories 22:00 Cowboy Builders 00:30 Fifth Gear 01:00 Ultimate Tourist Scams SERIES ENDS. 17:10 Wild at Heart 19:00 Lark Rise to Candleford A man who has lost his family and living arrives in the neighbourhood planning on revenge. 08:30 Eddie & Jeff 09:00 James Martin Digs Deep 09:30 A Baby Story 10:00 Gok's Fashion Fix Mandy is a 36-year-old woman who dresses like a 13-year old boy. Ruth Slater gets out of prison after serving a 15-year sentence. 13:00 A Baby Story 13:30 Gok's Fashion Fix 14:30 James Martin Digs Deep 15:00 Gary Unmarried 15:30 Everybody Hates Chris 16:00 Pink Panther 16:10 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 17:15 Accidentally on Purpose Billie's sister wishes for a baby, but her husband disagrees. 23:40 Inside Job DOC An Oscar-winning documentary about the systematic corruption that drove the US and the rest of the world into a financial crisis. Will Dorcas' help and the friendliness of the people make him change his mind. How will Adam manage his first night shift. 19:00 As Time Goes By When Jean and Lionel return to London, they encounter a quest they weren't hoping to see. His older brother, Tim (Kevin Corrigan), is also living at home, and has problems of his own after his marriage ended in divorce and his business went broke. USA/2005 23:00 Pearl Jam 20 DOC
Programmes on Yle Teema may be viewed in the original language(s) by changing the digital receiver's settings.
Multiplicity T V5 21:00
Gone in 60 Seconds
Randall `Memphis' Raines (Nicolas Cage) is a retired master car-thief, who is forced to return to his former trade to steal 50 cars in 72 hours for British crime boss Raymond `The Carpenter' Calitri (Christopher Eccleston). In the hospital Jim is reintroduced to Anika (Liv Tyler), who had a one-night fling with Jim a while ago and tries to encourage him to be optimistic in his gloomy world.
Nelonen 22:00
YLE Teema 21:30. Jason decides to protect Crystal.
Wild at Heart YLE News in English Last of the Summer Wine Arctic with Bruce Parry Part 3/5. 16:15 Heartland 17:00 Children's Programming In Finnish. 22:55 Unforgiven Part 1/3. Directed by Robert Altman. 00:30 Knight Rider SERIES ENDS. 19:00 Bleak House Part 6/8. Germany/2007. 08:55 Marienhof In German. 14:04 Junior Doctors Part 5/6. 18:30 Shooting SPORT 20:30 Shooting SPORT 22:05 Law & Order: Criminal
TV5
07:00 Grounded for Life 07:25 That 70's Show 07:50 That 70's Show 08:15 Airport 13:10 Superstars of Dance 14:05 Jon & Kate Plus 8 14:30 The King of Queens 15:00 Relic Hunter 15:55 Airport 16:30 Hale and Pace 17:00 America's Funniest Home Videos 17:30 My Wife and Kids 18:00 That 70's Show 18:30 That 70's Show 19:00 The King of Queens 19:30 America's Funniest Home Videos 20:30 Smack the Pony 21:00 Jawbreaker (K16) FILM Reagan High School's popular girls' practical joke goes terribly wrong. Maybe accepting the inevitable death would actually enrich life.
YLE TEEMA
21:30 Lonesome Jim FILM A young man who returns to his home town doesn't really cope on his own, or with his parents. Directed by Steve Buscemi. HELSINKI TIMES
TV GUIDE
Helsinki Times T V Guide offers a selection of English and other language broadcasting on Finnish television.
16 22 FEBRUARY 2012
23
thursday
TV1
10:00 11:05 12:35 17:10
16.2.
MTV3
10:05 Emmerdale 13:00 Doctors 14:00 Jamie's Ministry of Food 15:05 Kath & Kim 17:05 The Young and the Restless 18:00 Emmerdale 21:00 Mentalist 22:35 Modern Family 23:05 Scarface FILM Tony Montana is a determined Cuban immigrant who makes his way to the top of the criminal world in Florida. Starring: Rike Schmid. Will Gok manage to make her give up the hoodies. 23:55 True Blood Sookie wonders, if she and Bill have a future together. USA/2008 23:45 L'empire des loups FILM Directed by Chris Nahon
USA/2004 23:20 Raising the Bar 00:20 Cleaner (K16)
SUB
10:00 Friends Five episodes. Lauren Adrian (Jennifer Lopez) is an American correspondent from a Chicago newspaper, who longs to cover the US occupation of Iraq. 19:00 David Fray: Sing, Swing & Think DOC 20:00 Mozart's Gran Partita
JIM
09:25 JIM D Biography: Michael J. Is there a traitor in the team. Directed by James Mangold. A psychiatrist, who is soon to be retired, comes to his rescue. 18:00 Man Hunt FILM A British hunter who is on a vacation in Bavaria has Hitler in his gunsight. Starring: Glen Meadows, Beverly Lynne, Evan Kennsington. 18:45 Life Force DOC Part 1/6. 24
16 22 FEBRUARY 2012
TV GUIDE
HELSINKI TIMES
saturday
TV1
18.2.
MTV3
07:50 Children's Programming In Finnish. Jack thinks it's no problem, but soon after settling in, the family is trapped in the hotel by a snowstorm, and Jack gradually becomes influenced by a supernatural presence.
TV2 22:05
Sub 21:00. 10:25 Downhill Skating SPORT 11:55 Snowboarding SPORT 13:50 Snowboarding SPORT 15:35 Shooting SPORT European Championships. USA/1994 21:00 Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (K16) FILM A new and improved terminator arrives from the future and tries to kill John Connor, who is now a grown up. 13:40 Mozart's Gran Partita 14:40 Madame Chiang Kai-shek DOC Part 1/13. Starring: Michael Keaton. Directed by Gregory Nava. USA/2004 21:00 Identity (K16) FILM Ten people who don't know each other end up in a motel in Nevada during a storm. What kinds of birds live on New Zealand's islands. 12:30 Two and a Half Men Three episodes. Fox 10:50 Rescue 1 11:20 JIM D Biography: Tom Cruise 12:20 JIM D History: Ancient Discoveries 13:15 JIM D: Life After People 15:05 Shark Tank 16:00 Customs 16:30 Food Club 21:00 JIM D: Child Warriors 22:00 World's Toughest Fixes 23:00 Trigger Happy TV 23:30 Penn & Teller (K16) 00:05 Free for All 01:05 Big Trouble in Thailand SERIES ENDS. 15:10 Speed Skating SPORT 16:30 Snowboarding SPORT 18:00 Shooting SPORT European Championships. In Bruno Monsaingeon's documentary he ponders on his options. Directed by Peter Winther. Starring: Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall. Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Nick Stahl, Kristanna Loken. Starring: James Denton. USA/Germany/UK/2003 01:35 Call Me Fitz 02:05 Hale and Pace
JIM
09:15 Fifth Gear 11:15 JIM D Biography: Vladimir Putin 12:15 Extreme Fishing 13:10 JIM D Biography: Tom Cruise Tom Cruise is one of the best known film stars of our time. Starring: Walter Pidgeon, Joan Bennett, George Sanders. Starring: Elizabeth Banks, Union Gabrielle, Eddie Murphy. 16:15 Speed Skating SPORT 16:40 Shooting SPORT European Championships. Directed by Jonathan Mostow. 18:05 Bleak House Part 6/8. 12:00 Last of the Summer Wine 12:30 Miracle Cure DOC 13:50 Gilmore Girls 15:05 Seizing Justice DOC 16:00 Casebook of Sherlock Holmes 19:15 Waterlife 22:10 Law & Order: UK 23:35 Free Agents Part 3/6.
The Island YLE Teema 22:00 07:00 Wipeout UK 07:55 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 10:15 Animal Planet 11:15 Animal Rescue 12:15 Frasier Four episodes. Directed by Robert Altman. 18:00 American Idol 19:00 American Idol 23:00 Sons of Anarchy 00:10 Knight Rider SERIES ENDS. Directed by Brian Robbins. USA/1994 19:30 Airport 20:00 Navy NCIS 21:00 Meet Dave FILM A spaceship that looks like a person is operated by little aliens who try to save their home planet. Cate tries to figure out how to tell Ryan about Baze. Don Juan shares his life story with him Directed by Jeremy Leven. Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger. 11:20 At the End of My Leash 13:25 Drei Sterne DOC 15:15 Custody FILM Directed by Nadia Tass. 16:00 Casebook of Sherlock Holmes The wife of a millionaire is found shot near their mansion. 11:15 L'Instit Part 1/2. Starring: John Cusack, Ray Liotta, Amanda Peet, Alfred Molina. 14:10 Shark Tank 16:00 JIM D: 3 Shot That Changed America Part 3/3. There her life intersects with those of Lauren and Lauren's former boyfriend, the reporter Alfonso Diaz (Antonio Banderas).
The Shining
The 1980 psychological horror film is produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick, and cowritten with novelist Diane Johnson. USA/2003 23:15 Battlestar Galactica 00:15 Avenging Angelo FILM Directed by Martyn Burke. 17:15 Track and Field SPORT 21:00 Boardwalk Empire 22:15 Episodes Part 7/7. Soon they find out there is a murderer among them. Directed by Brett Ratner. 14:55 Secret Life on American Teenager 15:50 Popeye FILM The film recounts how Popeye met the other characters of the comic for the first time. The documentary follows his rise from a difficult childhood to Hollywood. USA/Germany/UK/2003 23:05 Sexcetera (K18) 00:10 Dangerous Invitation (K18) FILM Directed by Edward Holzman. Only Sherlock Holmes can find out who did it. 17:00 JIM D: Brad Meltzer's Decoded 18:00 Dinner Impossible 19:00 Man v. Directed by Ron Howard. Starring: Benjamin Eroen, Anthony Simmons. 11:15 L'Instit In French. Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Salma Hayek, Woody Harrelson, Don Cheadle. Baze and Ryan compete each other in a competition organised by the radio station. USA/2006 23:55 Speed Skating SPORT 00:40 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (K16)
YLE TEEMA
11:20 Cuéntame cómo pasó In Spanish. 15:30 My Breasts Could Kill Me DOC 17:10 Une village Français In French. Now 13:45 Gilmore Girls How will April affect Luke and Lorelai's relationship. He moves there with his wife Wendy (Shelley Duvall) and son Danny (Danny Lloyd), who has psychic abilities. One of the victims, Eva, manages to escape her captors and instead of the corrupt police, she flees to the local newspaper. In French. Lorelai manages to set off an argument at her parents' house. Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Madeleine Stowe, Anthony Quinn. 18:35 Trot SPORT 19:20 Snowboarding SPORT 20:00 Track and Field SPORT 22:05 Bordertown FILM A journalist begins to investigate a serial murder in a Mexican city. It is inspired by the true story of the numerous female homicides in Ciudad Juárez. Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Antonio Banderas. 14:00 Friday Night Lights 15:00 Howie Do It 16:00 Supersize vs Superskinny 17:00 Big Bang Theory 17:30 2 Broke Girls 19:55 Mythbusters 21:00 The Shining (K16) Directed by Stanley Kubrick. It is based on the 1977 novel of the same name by Stephen King. 02:55 Naked and Funny (K16) 03:25 Naked and Funny (K16)
David Fray: Sing, Swing & Think YLE Teema 19:00
JIM D Biography: Ben and Jerry JIM 21:00
Bordertown
The 2006 American drama film is written and directed by Oscar-nominated Gregory Nava. 22:45 Speed Skating SPORT 23:35 YLE Live 2012: Apocalyptica 01:30 Law and Order: Special Victims Unit
SUB
14:00 Red Bull Cliptomaniacs 14:30 Will & Grace Five episodes. FBI agent Stan refuses to believe he is retired for good. Directed by Fritz Lang. Starring: Noah Wyle, Sonya Walger, Bob Newhart, Kyle MacLachlan. Food 20:00 Anthony Bourdain: The Layover 21:00 JIM D Biography: Ben and Jerry Ben & Jerry's ice cream is known all around the world. USA/1980 23:20 Our Lives: The Man Who Shared His Liver DOC 00:20 The Impressions Show With Culshaw & Stephenson 00:55 The Impressions Show With Culshaw & Stephenson 01:30 Sober House 02:20 Red Bull Cliptomaniacs
TV2
08:00 Children's Programming In Finnish. 14:15 Everybody Hates Chris 14:45 Accidentally on Purpose 15:15 Life Unexpected Lux wants Natasha to move in with her. 12:40 David Fray: Sing, Swing & Think DOC In 2008 David Fray decided to focus on Bach's music in order to do something new and personal with it. 22:00 The Island FILM 22:35 The Empire State Building Murders
TV5
06:40 Superstars of Dance 11:45 The Hottest Home Baker 12:40 Multiplicity FILM Directed by Harold Ramis. USA/1941 21:00 Genius of Photography DOC Part 5/6. Starring: Russell Crowe, Ed Harris, Jennifer Connelly, Paul Bettany. 14:20 Shooting SPORT European Championships. Instead, Lauren's mentor at the paper, George Morgan (Martin Sheen) reassigns her to investigate a series of brutal murders in Juarez, a Mexican bordertown. The founders Ben and Jerry recollect how a small ice cream bar was turned into a large company with a social conscience. 11:45 Rallying SPORT 17:30 Top Gear USA 21:00 Terra Nova 22:35 A Beautiful Mind FILM Mathematician John Forbes Nash Jr's mind darkens in the middle of his brilliant career. Writer Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) takes a job as an off-season caretaker at an isolated hotel so that he can write in peace. Starring: Marlon Brando, Johnny Depp, Faye Dunaway. USA/France/ Switzerland/2002 02:15 13: Fear is Real
08:05 Life Force DOC Part 1/6. Starring: Robin Williams, Shelley Duvall, Ray Walston. USA/2002 02:00 Navy NCIS 02:50 Hale and Pace
TV2
07:45 Children's Programming In Finnish. 01:05 Rock of Love
TV5
06:50 That 70's Show 07:15 That 70's Show 07:40 Airport 13:30 Packed to the Rafters In order to move ahead on his career Ben has to get as many people as possible to come to the Boat Club on Tuesday. USA/1996 14:45 Live to Dance 15:35 The King of Queens 16:00 Relic Hunter 17:00 Breaking The Magician's Code: Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed 17:55 Sherlock Undercover Dog FILM Directed by Richard Harding Gardner. USA/2001 01:15 Saving Grace
sunday
NELONEN TV1
19.2.
MTV3
07:45 Children's Programming In Finnish. 13:35 Real Life. The animal and plant species of the country are unique, because the islands were isolated for 80 million years. She hopes that if she does well she'll be assigned to Iraq. 14:30 Croatia's Undersea World Part 7/10. 19:40 Midsomer Murders 22:00 The Big C 22:30 Waking the Dead (K16) Someone breaks into Boyd's laboratory and steals the evidence of an old murder case. USA/2007 17:00 Parenthood 22:40 Rubicon 23:40 Without a Trace
NELONEN
08:05 Arctic with Bruce Parry Part 3/5. 16:15 Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition 21:00 After the Sunset FILM Max is a former diamond thief who now lives in Bahamas with his beautiful girlfriend. 14:20 DC Cupcakes 14:50 Breakthrough with Tony Robbins 17:05 Don Juan De Marco FILM Don Juan De Marco has decided to end his life after losing his true love. USA/1980 19:00 The Librarian: Quest for the Spear FILM Librarian Flynn Carsen faces the toughest challenge of his life when a part of a legendary spear is stolen. 22:00 American Chopper 23:00 Cowboy Builders 23:55 World's Toughest Fixes 00:55 JIM D Autopsy: Most Shocking Stories
YLE TEEMA
16:15 My Secret Inheritance DOC 17:05 Into the Deep: America, Whaling and the World DOC Part 1/2. USA/2008 22:50 Navy NCIS 23:45 Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (K16) FILM Directed by Jonathan Mostow. Who is hiding what?
Saving Grace MT V3 01:15 13:25 Waverly Place Wizards 13:55 Rules of Engagement 14:25 Rules of Engagement Russell tries to impress his father, but he seems to be more interested in Adam. When the family arrives in the hotel, the manager (Barry Nelson) informs Jack that a previous caretaker went crazy and killed his family
The rest of it consisted of some admittedly photogenic children farting around with some nominal `adults'. Lou tries to find her mother's instinct when Marnie leaves her with someone to look over. would be more appropriate than nine o'clock, surely. 14:10 Madhouse 15:05 Anthony Bourdain: The Layover 16:05 Dinner Impossible 17:00 Man v. How is it possible that she survived?
SUB
08:00 Sturm der Liebe In German. 08:50 Flying Doctors 09:40 Globe Trekker: Kenya Estelle Bingham begins her journey in Kenya by cycling through Hell's Gate National Park. Food 18:00 Dragon's Den 19:30 South Park The boys are forced to attend a child choir's tour in Costa Rica because of their bad behaviour. 17:00 Children's Programming In Finnish. The Dudes are the Finnish spiritual heirs to the irredeemably childish and oft-pathetic Jackass, beloved of students and layabouts from 2000-2002. It's all idiocy though; at the end of their stay they always leave some nice gifts for the family, the old softies. with Children 20:00 America's Next Top Model 21:00 Good Wife 22:00 Nurse Jackie 22:35 Californication (K16) 23:25 Frasier Frasier travels to Boston for a conference. What does the film reveal about the time of its making, the year 1972. They all troop up to a house and proceed to spend a few days with the family, larking about a bit. Directed by Joel Gallen. The police investigate, whether it was an accident or an intentional act. Miami 22:35 In Plain Sight 23:35 Freaks and Geeks
tuesday
NELONEN TV1
10:00 11:05 12:30 14:20 17:10 19:00
21.2.
MTV3
10:05 Emmerdale 12:55 Doctors 14:00 Grand Designs 15:05 Two and a Half Men 17:05 The Young and the Restless 18:00 Emmerdale 22:35 C.S.I. 20:00 The Crocodile Hunter 21:00 JIM D: Cold Case Files: Good Samaritan In New York State a man hurries to save his neighbour, but he happens to enter the building at a bad time. 18:00 World Palooza 18:30 Will & Grace 19:00 Friends 19:30 Two and a Half Men 20:00 New Girl 20:30 Simpsons 21:00 Love Actually FILM A romantic comedy about eight very different couples whose stories interrelate loosely in London during Christmas time. 23:05 South Park 23:35 Naked and Funny (K16) 00:05 JIM D Biography: Ben and Jerry
TV5
08:00 The Little Couple 08:30 The Hottest Home Baker 09:45 Big Spender 14:05 Jon & Kate Plus 8 14:30 DC Cupcakes 15:00 Relic Hunter 15:55 Airport 16:30 Hale and Pace 17:00 America's Funniest Home Videos 17:30 My Wife and Kids 18:00 That 70's Show 18:30 That 70's Show 19:00 The King of Queens 19:30 America's Funniest Home Videos 20:30 Smack the Pony 21:00 Not Another Teen Movie (K16) FILM The most popular guy in high school takes a bet that he can transform the most unpopular girl into a prom queen. A documentary about the events that took place after a plane crash in the Andes. USA/2001 01:30 Navy NCIS 02:20 Sexcetera (K18) 04:10 Relic Hunter
YLE TEEMA
17:00 More Than Skin Deep DOC Suntan was made popular by fashion designer Coco Chanel. If it's children, as seems logical, then it's not being shown at the right time. But even a few skinburns in childhood may trigger a skin cancer. In California a shotgun goes off in a family's home with serious consequences. 17:00 Sturm der Liebe In German. 19:00 Back from the Dead DOC Norwegian Anna Bågenholm fell through ice during her skiing trip. 15:00 10 Years Younger: The Challenge 16:05 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Marynoel Kilgallon is a single mother whose house has been destroyed by termites. Starring: Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Liam Neeson. I'm entirely unsure as to who the audience for this show is supposed to be. 17:00 Sturm der Liebe In German. 21:00 When Amy Came to Dingle 21:50 Le temps des secrets, le temps des amours Part 1/2. 22:00 4D: Hoarders SERIES ENDS. 16:15 Heartland 17:00 Children's Programming In Finnish. Never ones to mercifully euthanise a telly success, however, Sub T V have entered some kind of unholy alliance with the Duudsonit twits, apparently aimed at keeping them onscreen for the foreseeable future or until the extinction of the human race, whichever comes sooner. When the most exciting thing that happens in an hour is some foam machine gets out of control, leading to a minor falling out with the matriarch followed by the inevitable making-up, it's not a good sign. Miami 23:35 Nip/Tuck 00:35 30 Rock
NELONEN
09:30 Waterlife 10:00 Wild at Heart 11:05 YLE News in English 12:30 Last of the Summer Wine 17:10 Wild at Heart Sarah's ex-husband's arrival in Leopard's Den causes tensions between Sarah and Danny. 08:20 Pink Panther 08:30 Eddie & Jeff 09:00 James Martin Digs Deep 09:30 A Baby Story 10:00 Gok's Fashion Fix 13:00 A Baby Story 13:30 Gok's Fashion Fix 14:30 James Martin Digs Deep Gardening expert Charlie Dimmock visits James' garden and gives him advice. He is joined by his ex-wife's other ex-husband. Instead of going to a fancy restaurant, Frasier, Niles, Daphne and Martin end up in Cliff's retiring party. The only other people who might be interested are idiots and drunkards, and to be honest there are plenty of shows on that cater for those audience groups, especially on Sub. 18:00 Il était une fois... In the last episode they distracted a guard dog by serving it some Finnish näkki, a surprising highlight of the show which occurred in the fourth minute. 01:35 No Signal
Nurse Jackie Nelonen 22:00 07:00 Children's Programming In Finnish. Some of the passengers survived in extreme conditions by eating their dead co-passengers. 00:25 NCIS Los Angeles
Wild at Heart YLE News in English Last of the Summer Wine Nature Wonders Wild at Heart Arctic with Bruce Parry Part 4/5. The kids in the families are, perhaps unsurprisingly, the ones who get on best with the adults-behaving-like-chil-
dren that are the show's hosts. 07:50 That 70's Show 08:15 Airport 09:40 The Little Couple 13:10 Breakthrough with Tony Robbins 14:05 Jon & Kate Plus 8 14:30 The King of Queens 15:00 Relic Hunter 15:55 Airport 16:30 Hale and Pace 17:00 America's Funniest Home Videos 17:30 My Wife and Kids 18:00 That 70's Show 18:30 That 70's Show 19:00 The King of Queens 19:30 America's Funniest Home Videos 20:30 Smack the Pony 21:00 Glass House (K16) FILM Ruby and Rhett are two orphans who move to their parents' friend's home. with Children 21:00 NCIS Gibbs' ex-wife's new husband goes missing and she asks him to investigate the case. Will they be able to get over it and appreciate what they have. Positively speaking, however, everyone ultimately has a good time, and the editing of the show is actually some of the best I've ever seen in Finland. 23:20 Frasier 23:50 Married... USA/2003 23:40 C.S.I. New York 00:35 In Search of Pippa Middleton Pippa Middleton came to fame in in her big sister's wedding to Prince William in April 2011, when she stunned people worlwide in her curve-hugging bridesmaid's dress. At the airport he runs into his old friend, Cliff from the Cheers pub. 15:00 Red Bull Cliptomaniacs 15:30 The Rachel Zoe Project 16:30 Marienhof In German. What kinds of treatments have been developed to cure the disease. The writer knows the art of channel surfing.
Stay away from my house
I was just sitting down to write this column about the latest Duudsonit when I said to myself, "Nick, this is so ten years ago!" And I was right. 20:00 Big Bang Theory 20:30 Simpsons 22:30 Numb3rs 23:30 Heroes 00:25 C.S.I. with Children Al and Griff win tickets to the Atlanta Olympics, and they argue over which one of them gets to carry the Olympic flame. 16:15 Heartland Amy isn't pleased when Ty leaves with Scott to take care of an injured horse. USA/2001 00:00 Not Another Teen Movie (K16) FILM Directed by Joel Gallen. Admittedly, very occasionally they do something genuinely amusing. 23:55 Married... 19:00 Une village Français In French. A mini-series based on a writer's autobiography about his childhood and youth.
JIM
11:40 Bondi Rescue 12:10 Anthony Bourdain: No Reservation 13:05 Border Security: Australia's Front Line 13:35 Sliced 14:05 Iron Chef UK 15:05 Dragon's Den 16:00 Dinner Impossible 16:30 Bondi Rescue 17:00 Iron Chef UK 18:00 Dragon's Den 19:30 South Park 20:00 Customs 21:00 JIM D: I Am Alive: Surviving the Andes Plane Crash Part 1/2. After getting enough of photographing the streets, the photographers turned their cameras toward their families and themselves. HELSINKI TIMES
TV GUIDE
16 22 FEBRUARY 2012
25
monday
TV1
20.2.
MTV3
10:05 Emmerdale 13:30 At the End of My Leash 17:05 The Young and the Restless 18:00 Emmerdale 21:00 C.S.I. 20:00 Genius of Photography DOC Part 5/6. 15:00 Red Bull Cliptomaniacs 15:30 The Rachel Zoe Project 16:30 Marienhof In German. Rhett is doing fine, but Ruby gets suspicious. 21:00 Into the Deep: America, Whaling and the World DOC Part 2/2.
JIM
13:10 Border Security: Australia's Front Line 13:40 Sliced SERIES BEGINS. Their latest wheeze is Duudsonit tuli taloon (which translates rather curiously as "The Dudesons Came to the House") a weird reality type show which sees the Dudes invade normal Finnish homes with the aim of...well, I'm not really sure what the aim is beyond making a mess and annoying the parents by acting like 5-year-olds. New York 01:20 No Signal
TV2
06:50 Children's Programming In Finnish. Ty also makes one of Marynoel's other dreams come true. USA/2001 23:10 High Chaparall (K18) 02:10 Flashpoint
YLE TEEMA
18:00 Baroque! From St Peter's to St Paul's DOC Part 1/3. Directed by Daniel Sackheim. Also like Jackass, the Dudes have been trying to find a proper raison d'être ever since most people realised that making total pillocks of yourselves on T V is an idea with a severely limited lifespan one which thankfully expired sometime in the mid-noughties. 19:50 Encyklopedia 21:00 Downton Abbey 23:05 Back from the Dead DOC
Glass House T V5 21:00 07:00 Children's Programming In Finnish. In French. Next she heads to meet a Mau Mau freedom fighter, and then she tracks lions in Laikipia. Ty's team builds the family the mother's dream house. This is noteworthy because Finnish TV editing is notoriously rubbish, so to have a show that is actually filmed professionally is something of a novelty. 18:13 Garfield 20:30 18 to Life 21:35 Football Champions League SPORT 00:20 Football Champions League SPORT
TV5
07:25 That 70's Show Eric gets a sudden chance to change the events of his life, when an angel shows him what could have been differently. The Last Tango in Paris DOC The documentary discovers how Bertolucci's film affected the director and the stars of the movie. Starring: Diane Lane, Leelee Sobieski, Stellan Skarsgård, Trevor Morgan. The tribe has hunted migrating caribou in the Arctic wilderness for thousands of years, but this tradition is now under threat from oil exploration. with Children 00:50 Body of Proof 01:50 Good Wife
SUB
08:00 Sturm der Liebe In German. They get to know the joys of the local rainforests. There used to be only two Dudes but now there're four of them. 08:49 Flying Doctors 11:10 Die Schwarzwaldklinik In German. Starring: Mia Kirshner, Jaime Pressley, Randy Quaid. 08:20 Pink Panther 08:30 Eddie & Jeff 09:00 James Martin Digs Deep 09:30 A Baby Story 10:00 Gok's Fashion Fix 13:00 A Baby Story 13:30 Gok's Fashion Fix 14:30 James Martin Digs Deep 16:00 Life Unexpected 17:10 Married.. 08:55 Marienhof In German. Art critic Waldemar Januszczak explores the paintings, sculpture and architecture of the Baroque period. Starring: Mia Kirshner, Jaime Pressley, Randy Quaid. 22:30 Trigger Happy TV 23:00 South Park 23:30 Naked and Funny (K16) 00:00 JIM D: Cold Case Files Good Samaritan
In Plain Sight MT V3 22:35
30 Rock MT V3 00:35
Nick Barlow nick@helsinkitimes.fi. Their indoor golf antics are hilarious if you're under 15 but anyone older might feel a severe sense of déja vu didn't Steve-O do something similar once in 2001. 18:30 Will & Grace 19:00 Friends 19:30 Two and a Half Men For once Charlie is actually interested in a woman, but it turns out she is just using him. Four p.m. 22:05 Winners and Losers 22:50 Boxing SPORT 23:45 Game of Thrones Part 6/10.
TV2
06:50 Children's Programming In Finnish. 11:10 Die Schwarzwaldklinik In German. 19:00 Cuéntame cómo pasó In Spanish. 08:55 Marienhof In German. 17:10 Married... When she was brought to the hospital, her heart had stopped beating and her body temperature was 13 Celsius. Bruce Parry travels to the far north of Canada to live with the Caribou people and witness their annual spring hunt. Directed by Richard Curtis. In all other respects, though, Duudsonit tuli taloon is occasionally entertaining but ultimately pointless.
J A A K KO K U I VA M Ä K I
King Adolf Frederick of Sweden died in 1771 after eating how many helpings of his favourite dessert. 08:55 Marienhof In German. A) To break wind B) Vladimirinkatu C) A rude waiter 5. The women of the farm decide to take it easy, but then strange things start happening. A) Underwear B) Candy C) Their books.
See answers on the next page.
SOLUTION ON NEXT PAGE.
The latest SixDegrees is out!
Get your copy from your nearest distribution point. Will Jimmy manage to get in terms with Al Capone?
TV5
07:25 That 70's Show 07:50 That 70's Show 08:15 Airport 09:40 Hello Goodbye 13:10 Packed to the Rafters 14:05 Jon & Kate Plus 8 14:30 The King of Queens 15:00 Relic Hunter 15:55 Airport 16:30 Hale and Pace 17:00 America's Funniest Home Videos 17:30 My Wife and Kids 18:00 That 70's Show 18:30 That 70's Show 19:00 The King of Queens 19:30 America's Funniest Home Videos 20:30 Blackadder II SERIES BEGINS. 15:00 10 Years Younger: The Challenge 16:05 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 17:10 Married... Andy meets an important person from his past. 10:00 Wild at Heart 11:05 YLE News in English 12:30 Last of the Summer Wine 16:00 Life Force DOC Part 1/6. 22:35 Mythbusters 23:40 Andromeda Strain 00:40 30 Rock
NELONEN
09:30 Croatia's Undersea World Part 7/10. with Children 00:15 Three Rivers Sophie's patient is the wife of a billionaire who is willing to do anything to save his wife's life. Gene can't help interfering with his plans. They are joiden by Tim and Peter. USA/2001 01:35 Men Behaving Badly Tony's brother and his girlfriend are sleeping over. 02:05 Navy NCIS 02:55 High Chaparall 03:45 Relic Hunter
JIM
11:45 Bondi Rescue 12:15 Anthony Bourdain: No Reservation 13:10 Border Security: Australia's Front Line 13:40 Sliced 14:10 Dinner Impossible 15:05 Dragon's Den 16:00 Dinner Impossible 16:30 Bondi Rescue 17:00 Iron Chef UK 18:00 Dragon's Den 19:30 South Park 20:00 Bullrun 21:00 Modern Marvels: Maginot-line 22:30 Gene Simmons Family Jewels Nick asks Doc to be his manager and begins to look for a record company. 19:55 Last of the Summer Wine 22:00 Single Father Part 2/4.
Sun 2/19 Mon 2/20 Tue 2/21 Wed 2/22
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+6 +7 +35 +13 0 +3 +8 -2 +14 +5 +18 +26 +4 +5 +4 +18 0 +12 +10 +21 +15 +9 +10 +31 +23 +2 -10 +1 +9 +1 +8 -5 +28 +10 0 +31 -1 -10 -9 +5 +3 +9 +2
+7 +10 +31 +14 +3 +5 +8 +4 +13 +4 +19 +27 +4 +6 +5 +18 +2 +14 +10 +16 +16 +11 +12 +28 +23 -1 -10 +3 +8 0 +9 -9 +28 +11 0 +33 +2 -8 -6 +7 +2 +6 +7
+3 +12 +34 +12 +6 +4 +4 +2 +14 +3 +20 +26 +4 +1 +2 +17 +3 +14 +5 +16 +16 +11 +12 +29 +21 -4 -10 0 +7 -3 +7 0 +30 +10 +3 +30 +2 -7 0 +4 0 +6 +4
+5 +13 +34 +13 +7 +4 +6 +2 +17 +4 +22 +22 +2 +3 +3 +17 +8 +15 +7 +17 +16 +10 +13 +30 +22 -4 -9 -2 +4 -1 +6 +3 +30 +11 +7 +33 -2 +3 0 +2 +2 +5 +3
+5 +14 +35 +14 -2 +3 +6 +3 +18 0 +24 +20 +4 +6 0 +18 +8 +14 +6 +17 +16 +12 +12 +30 +22 +2 -4 +3 +6 -5 +7 +4 +31 +11 +8 +31 -3 -2 +1 -1 +5 +8 +5
+7 +11 +36 +15 +9 +3 +9 +3 +15 +4 +27 +21 +3 +2 +3 +18 +4 +15 +8 +19 +17 +8 +12 +30 +22 +2 -1 +4 +9 -1 +9 +3 +33 +11 +6 +31 +2 -4 -4 0 +3 +7 +5
-8 -8 -6 -3 -5 -2 -6 Sat 2/18 -6 -5 -6 -4 -5 -1 Sun 2/19 -8 -7 -8 -5 -5 -2 -2 Mon 2/20 -7 -7 -3 -2 -1 +1 -1 Tue 2/21 -10 -8 -6 -7 -2 -4 Wed 2/22 -13 -12 -8 -7 -3 -7 -7 -7 Thursday 2/16 -7 -6 -3 -7 -5 -8
+1 +1 +7 0 +17 +1 +19 +22 +4 +2 +3 +20 -9 +4 +12 +6 +20 +15 +10 +12 +30 +22 +3 -7 -1 +6 -1 +9 -1 +29 +13 +1 +31 -3 -11 -9 +6 +1 +6 +2
SUB
08:00 Sturm der Liebe In German. 21:00 Defendor FILM Directed by Peter Stebbings. 15:30 Yle Live: Kaizers Orchestra 16:15 Heartland Ty hasn't recovered from the horrors he experienced. www.6d.fi. This annoys Gary, before he hears that as a return he gets a free holiday trip. 15:00 Red Bull Cliptomaniacs 15:30 The Rachel Zoe Project 16:30 Marienhof In German. According to the French-based NGO CCFD-Terre Solidare, arms are easier to trade than... Starring: Woody Harrelson, Kat Dennings. Niles tries to figure out how to get Daphne's mother to return to England. 23:15 Frasier Frasier makes a big mistake concerning Roz and goes after her. Soon it turns out it wasn't an accident. Starring: Michel Aumont, Gaëlle Bonna. 23:45 Married... 22:40 Boardwalk Empire Margaret has had enough of Lucy's bullying and asks Nucky for a better life. 26
16 22 FEBRUARY 2012
TV GUIDE
Thu 2/16 -13 -14 -8 -7 -5 -2 -5 Fri 2/17
How I Met Your Mother MT V3 15:05 07:00 Children's Programming 08:30 Eddie & Jeff 09:00 James Martin Digs Deep 09:30 A Baby Story 10:00 Gok's Fashion Fix 13:00 A Baby Story 13:30 Gok's Fashion Fix 14:30 James Martin Digs Deep In this episode James cooks outdoors and visits the Winchester farmer's market. 17:00 Children's Programming In Finnish. USA/Canada/UK/2009 23:05 Call Me Fitz 23:45 Glass House (K16) FILM Directed by Daniel Sackheim. Russia/2007
7:57 am 5:12 pm 8:09 am 5:22 pm 8:07 am 5:12 pm
8:15 am 4:49 pm 8:23 am 4:40 pm 8:40 am 4:14 pm
Defendor T V5 21:00
sudoku
How well did you read your HT?
1. What is the nickname of the banker Björn Wahlroos. During the annual penkkarit celebrations students throw what from the backs of lorries... with Children 21:00 Body of Proof A car is found crashed nearby an idyllic neighbourhood. Jack suggests a fishing trip. Starring: Diane Lane, Leelee Sobieski, Stellan Skarsgård, Trevor Morgan. The driver's neighbours are under suspicion. 17:10 Wild at Heart 19:00 Baader Life of a Public Enemy DOC Andreas Baader was the founder of the terror organization Red Army Faction and one of Germany's most wanted criminals in the beginning of the 1970s. Kuol gets good news. Helsinki restaurant Flada 13 gets its name from Helsinki slang. A) Bananas B) Pharmaceuticals C) Automobiles 4. 01:15 Raising the Bar 02:10 NCIS Los Angeles
Thu 2/16 Fri 2/17 Sat 2/18
HELSINKI TIMES
wednesday
TV1
22.2.
MTV3
10:05 Emmerdale 10:35 Emmerdale 13:00 Doctors 14:05 Parenthood 15:05 How I Met Your Mother 17:05 The Young and the Restless 18:00 Emmerdale 21:00 C.S.I. France/2009 21:45 Gljanets (K16) FILM Directed by Andrei Kontshalovski. The documentary takes a look at the private Baader. A) Karhu B) Kettu C) Nalle 3. 17:00 Sturm der Liebe In German. A comedy series starred by Rowan Atkinson set in the 16th century. 08:35 Garfield 08:49 Flying Doctors 11:10 Die Schwarzwaldklinik In German. 23:00 South Park 23:30 Naked and Funny (K16) 00:00 JIM D: I Am Alive: Surviving the Andes Plane Crash
YLE TEEMA
17:00 The Empire State Building Murders France/2008 18:40 La Reine Morte FILM A drama based on a play by Henry de Montherlant. Directed by Pierre Boutron. What does Flada mean . 20:30 Outnumbered A partly improvised British comedy series about a married couple with three children. A) 10 B) 14 C) 20 2. 18:30 Will & Grace 19:00 Friends 19:30 Two and a Half Men 20:00 2 Broke Girls 20:30 Simpsons 22:30 Bones 23:30 Cops With Cameras 00:30 X Files 01:25 Numb3rs
TV2
06:50 Children's Programming In Finnish
Helsinki Times will have an Ecological living theme. B 5. We welcome You to experience the beneficial effects of our treatments on your health and well-being and to breathe new life into the spring together!
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Helsinki Times has created an English-language learning package, the Helsinki Times English Programme, to provide English teachers with inspirational teaching material for their lessons.
Gather a minimum of 8 Helsinki Times subscriptions with this special offer and you will get 8 ready-to-use English exercises during 2012 sent to you by email free of charge. Restaurants in the Helsinki area can be found from the internet service www.eat.fi, which provides information on restaurants, their menus, opening hours and some user rating etc. The currency exchange counter at the harbour in Katajanokka, Helsinki is open every day (Mon-Sat 10-11:30, 1617:30 and 19:30-21:15, Sun 10-11:30, 16-17:30 and 6:30-8). A 4. I had been pining for an escape from the grime and chewinggum streets and the hassle of negotiating Glasgow. One is also immediately struck by the extent of social strife and, to paraphrase the novelist Iris Murdoch, those areas that are either "necessary" or "contingent." There are things that bother me about living in Helsinki. Market halls. Internet. Most hotels as well as the Helsinki Tourist Office and Helsinki's General Post Office have a computer terminal. I left the UK for a common and prosaic thirtysomething reason I needed to experience something fresh and new. Read about eco-villages and the comparison of different organic cosmetic products. After 12 years of living in Glasgow I was more than happy to up sticks in April 1998. Contact us at info@helsinkitimes.fi
In this series expatriates write about their lives in Finland.. Banks are usually open Mon-Fri 9:15-16:15 except for the bank at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, which is open 6-22 daily. Waiting: I have often entered half-empty restaurants and sat twiddling my thumbs for what seemed like an eternity before being clocked by a member of staff. I live in the world of travel cards, orange Metros, Marimekko, Fazer and functionalism. I want-
ed to be part of something found elsewhere, but not just anywhere. I have, finally, binned my tourist map and I feel that I am very much on form.
Next week... He moved to Helsinki via Glasgow in 2008 to work as an academic. My true neighbours are scattered across different postal districts. What would you like to read about on those themed pages. Wanha Kauppahalli ("Old Market Hall") at the Market Square and Hakaniemen Kauppahalli ("Hakaniemi Market Hall") are the most popular. Restaurants. Once I even got up and walked out and
ate elsewhere. See www.posti.fi Emergency Numbers. Grocery stores in the Helsinki Central Railway Station tunnel are open Mon-Sat 7-22 and Sun 10-22. Download the as it was printed store today!
W Working Working Life theme in March Helsinki Times will have a Working Life-themed issue again on 15 March. The prices of international magazines are extortionate here. He is also a freelance writer, dedicated reader of fairly serious magazines and an avid fan of the late JG Ballard, Iain Sinclair and Jonathan Raban.
answers
1. And I have rediscovered my appreciation of the sea, something that was a constant in my childhood back in Northern Ireland. Helsinki summoned me. Both are open Mon-Fri 8-18 and Sat 8-16 but are closed on Sundays. Prices: Whilst I am in favour of supporting the local economy, I refuse to pay through the nose when I can order exactly the same product online, if I am prepared to wait a couple of days. HELSINKI TIMES
CLASSIFIEDS & SERVICES
WELLBEING
16 22 FEBRUARY 2012
27
EDUCATION
Finland info
Banks and Bureaux de Change. Helsinki largely defines me now and has restored my faith in the belief that my better days are in front of me. Grocery stores. In a number of Finnish towns public internet posts are quite rare due to extensive per-person internet use at home. 09 689 67422 Read more about the Helsinki Times ready-to-use English lessons at www.helsinkitimes.fi/htep
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EXPAT VIEW
solution sudoku Gareth Rice is from Belfast. I don't know my immediate neighbours. My answer is not a definitive account of why one should move to Helsinki, nor was my moving here inevitable; the last city where I called home had run its course. I came to Helsinki in search of a new life of my own making, looking to meet interesting people. I still listen. Also, when people stand and casually chat in doorways they are oblivious that I am in a hurry. In addition, you will also get a Gummerus Finnish-English-Finnish pocket dictionary!
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Contact us now and we will send you the first English learning package free of charge by email! Contact us for more information at opetus@helsinkitimes.fi or tel. Dial 112. I was just about done with ambling and picking my way through the last scraps of Jack McConnell's Scotland, a puppet of Tony Blair's New Labour. F or non-urgent ambulance services, dial 09 394 600, and non-urgent police matters, dial 09 1891. At these public terminals internet use is usually free of charge. Post Offices. SERVICES & REPAIRS
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Two years ago we began offering our services in Helsinki our second year of working together for health and well-being!
Our broad selection of regenerating, stress-removing and revitalizing treatments has been very well received in Finland. I lent it my ear. C 3. Check out also the next installment of the Exploring Finnish cities series with Tampere in focus!
available on iP ad Helsinki Times is on your iPad just d Helsinki Times p Now you can rea free app from Ap . Helsinki's General Post Office is also open at the weekend 10-18. In bars I have learned to be more obvious about my queue position since staff will often serve someone who just pushes their way to the front. Initially, Helsinki was a faint bleep on my radar of possible places to move to, but after a visit in January 2008 (and yes, it was
extremely dark and cold), I became smitten and immediately felt a sense of selfrenewal in the more relaxed atmosphere of Helsinki. The Forex desk at Helsinki Central Railway Station is open Mon-Sun 8-21. I intend to make it up as I go along, and shape things to my own habits and fancies as long as this city allows me. A 2. B
Why am I still in Helsinki?
I HAVE been asking myself this question for about a year now. Post offices are usually open Mon-Fri 10-18. The discounted price for the 8 subscriptions with the English exercise packages is only 336 euros for the school year. Most grocery stores are open Mon-Fri 7-21, Sat 7-18 and Sun 12-21. There is more of a tension in the Glasgow air and enough treatments to the rough ends of impudent tongues to fill the thickest of notebooks. See www.forex.fi for more information