Two Hundred Years without a War!

This is a a statue in the town square-- Stora (big) Torget (center/square).  Its the first thing you notice.  A friend of mine had told me that this was considered the ugliest statue in the country (Sweden). What ever it may be, it symbolizes a treaty  between Norway and Sweden, when both countries call an end to the use of arms.  It has been nearly 200 hundred years since the countries have gone to war.  While there is criticism about Sweden being engaged in selling arms to countries in conflict, overall there is an underlying peace in the country that you can feel.  

LIke all countries, it may not be perfect, but it is the only country that I have lived in so far, where they had made 'people' a priority over a generalized way of living.  Commercialization is at its low, there is only one 24 hr McDondald's in the entire country.  Not to mention that McDonald is not that popular.  The first Starbucks was opened this May (2014) at the airport. 

Yes, like all developed countries Sweden was a colonizer too, you can ask the Czech, Norwegians, Finns, Estonians and even some small colonies in Africa.  Yet, it is a country that has took a stance against war and has stood by it (ok, there is a massive arms industry).  But, I must say this is the only country where women are not afraid of having children, because that does not mean a break in their work, instead it means paid leave, while they can spend time with their children and later several years of parental leave and government supported child care.   Also, their being pregnant is not an obstruction to looking for jobs.  I known an Indian woman, raised in the UK who came to Sweden to work and lost sensation in one of her arms in a skating accident.  The company she worked for allowed her to continue with her job, 'we hired you for your brains' they said.  There is a cushioning around people here, that lets them feel human.  Two hundred years without a war and a focus on controlled individuality and collectivity, has allowed people a simplicity and sweetness that I have not seen anywhere else.  

Or, may be, may be I just got lucky and met the best people in the country, so I am always gushing about it.....

Blue Eyes

First Published on April 9th, 2013.  I am republishing the story.  Simply because I myself had the urge to look at his image today......

His eyes were so captivating!!

The flash from my camera makes his wrist glow.  At first it seemed to me that that it made the light bulb around his neck light up!! Cadiz, Spain. 

It was a very small exhibition at the Contemporary Art Museum.  Literally one large room.  I walked in, just out of curiosity.

The sounds from the outside city calmed down.  The security guard told me it was free.  

After the first two photographs that I looked it, this one caught my eye.  So much so that a deep-sigh left me, as if it had been stuck in my chest for a while.  I looked at a couple in the room and nodded my head towards the photograph.  

They thought I was crazy.  

They continued to the other end of the exhibition.  

I stared at it for five to ten minutes.  From several angles.

Then I went up close to read about it.  It was done by an artist called 'something' Edwards.  I apologize, but when I took the picture I was not thinking of putting it on the blog. I just wanted to keep it as a Souvenir, so I did not memorize the name of the artist.

Guess what?  The picture was taken in India.

I wonder if the blue eyes were a reflection of the lights around, or due to the camera's flash.  But the eyes must have been very light to have reflected back with that color.  Or may be he was really blue eyed.  I have seen many children with hazel, amber, or even blue eyes in India.  Those with tanned skin color, as opposed to lighter skin color, look more attractive.  

When I showed the picture to my friend on my camera's viewer, he asked, 'is his ready for boxing?"

"Nope--he is a poor boy, and is wearing and oversized underwear.  If you look closely it has a tear on its left side.  He might be the light boy, boys who set up lights in a market or a wedding before the evening.'

I remember a line from E. M. Forester's 'A Passage to India', when he refers to a very attractive servant in a King's court--'that is how sometimes nature rebels to show human beings that it cares little for its categories and classes.'

This boy was so beautiful, and looked so real that I felt he had started to breathe under my gaze.  It got a bit scary to stare into his 'jheel si nili aakhen' (deep like a blue lake--eyes) and I walked away.  

But I returned.  And saw the couple I had nodded to earlier-- staring it with the same intent as I had done.  I nodded again behind their backs!! 

We didn't speak the same language but our hearts acknowledged the intensity of the picture. 

Art -- a great unifier.  

Silence of the Silent Treatment

It is another’s fault if he be ungrateful, but is mine if I do not give. To find one thankful man I will oblige a great many that are not so.  --Seneca

A few weeks earlier, a student of mine was sharing something that had affected her deeply.  As most people know, my students often become quite close to me.  That has happened ever since I started teaching, formally at the age of twenty--although I have been teaching as early as ten years of age.  

This student was upset at a sudden cutting off of all contact by a friend who was quite close to her.  She did not know what she had done.  And her friend was not responding to any of her emails or texts or phone calls.

And Image from Navua Village in Fiji, 2006.  Silence, takes us to the vast ocean inside and is an opportunity to connect with our own self. Silence from others hurts as well, but can serve the same purpose.  Cutting off from the outside and going within. 

I think all of us can relate to it. At some point or the other we have been through the same silence, silence as a form of violence.  Hopefully, we do not return that silence to others.  Because if we did, then it would mean that we are going through what our perpetrators are going through as well.

Pain.

People who inflict physical or emotional violence on others have to be in pain.  Those who are happy (not simply positive, that is a shallow word, without depth--joy and happiness has to show in every act of ours ) and joyful will not do that to others.

There are certain characteristics of joyful people.  They are happy, yes, but they actually glow.  Their presence uplifts others.  They do not take offence easily (a big one).  Are not short tempered.  Do not engage in gossip, have little need to put others down.

And most importantly recognise themselves in others.  And if there is a need for separation or breaking up friendships or bonds, then they will at least have an engaging talk---regardless of the result, explain ....

Cutting off communication is form of violence applied.  It is the oldest trick in the book, let no one in town speak to the one who is a sinner, or committed a crime and that cold shoulder treatment will teach them something.

While we can be in pain while it is going on, the wise thing...the wise thing, the wise thing to do is to obtain distance, if after your urging the person does not seem to respond.

Go within, find a way to connect with self.  Recognize the beauty of life! But more importantly to connect with the life giving aspects of nature, of a community, of our own soul.  From that space to step away, and yet be open if and when the person wants to talk.  But to know that we are taken care of.  There are seven billion people in this world and possibilities for connection are many.

While we hurt at the moment, we must know that the person is not in a happy place either.  Even if they think they do.  

All we can and should do is take care of ourselves.  Yes, it may be a lonely process at the time, but it does bring us to one of the most important things in life.  Remembering our own divinity.

We are such stuff that stars are made of.

If you or anyone you know is going through this, be kind enough to spend time and listen ....but don't forget to leave them with an empowering feeling.  

That all the love and affection and understanding that we seek is within ourselves.  

Material for Paper in the Paper Province

The Paper Province (directly from Wiki)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Paper Province is a business cluster for the pulp and paper industry in Värmland, northern Dalsland and the county of Örebroin central Sweden. It is focussed on encouraging collaboration on marketing, skills development, procurement, project development and regional growth. The cluster organization is owned and operated by its 90 member companies, from global giants to local suppliers, representing the entire value chain.

History[edit]

Business history in Värmland and the surrounding area is strongly influenced by the region's natural wealth. Successful exploitation of the forest started early, and already in the mid-19th century there were more than 50 pulp and paper mills in the region. This attracted both skills and suppliers to the region. Much the technology used and installed in pulp and paper mills throughout the world still originates here.^[1]

At the end of the 1990s the pulp and paper industry was facing severe structural challenges. To meet these needs, seven companies, together with Karlstad’s county and other public bodies, formed the cluster organization 'The Paper Province'. The number of member companies has grown to 90 with over 9,000 employees and annual sales of approximately SEK 17 billion, of which 13.5 billion contributes to Sweden’s net exports. In this, the member companies represent a significant part of the region's economy, with effects on both the regional and national economy.^[2]

Milestones[edit]

• In 1999 the cluster organization The Paper Province was established.
• In 2004 The Paper Province established The Packaging Greenhouse, an independent and commercial R&D centre featuring a pilot machine and laboratories. Companies from across the world apply to the centre to test new products and services within the packaging industry. The research resources within the region is strengthened by Karlstad University and seven businesses operated R&D centres focusing on pulp and paper.^[3]

Paper is made of trees, we all know that. But when you live in a town where paper is the biggest industry (second to coffee) then you get to see just how much it takes to create books and posters and pictures, and note pads, and even those small yellow stickies.  

When you see whole trains filled with logs in this town,and  you know where they are going (to be mulched and pulped and then turn into paper)--you instantly connect with Shel Siverstiein's, 'The Giving Tree'. Man/woman (but we need to put a higher blame on men because they were the ones who, being the dominant gender, created a world order that affects us today) are always the takers and nature always the giver. Yet, in the last centuries there has been a serious decline people who live in connection with nature, rituals that honour nature, and a belief that we are one with nature.  

The following few paragraphs were taken directly from the net.  

KARLSTAD, SWEDEN, Sept. 16, 2009 (RISI) - The pulp and paper industry has long and proud traditions in the Swedish region centered on the province of Värmland. By the middle of the 19th century there were already over 50 mills here within an area that now takes less than two hours to navigate by car. But by the end of the 1990s the industry was facing severe challenges. In 1999 the region's pulp and paper businesses formed a cluster organisation called The Paper Province - today ranked as one of Europe's most innovative clusters. In September 2009 The Paper Province celebrated 10 successful years of co-operation.
The Paper Province supports the development of innovative forms of collaboration that improve competitive strength and increase growth within the pulp and paper industry. This is one of the busiest pulp and paper regions in Sweden and the world, with over 230 companies active in the industry. 

When I first arrived in the US, I could not believe how much paper was being thrown away in computer rooms everyday.  I was a poor student and a notebook of nearly three dollars was way too expensive. On our university printer an extra sheet was printed out to mark every print job, so that they were easy to identity for the users.   I started to collect those papers --and staple them into notebooks.  An american friend had asked me why i did that. It took me a while to make her understand that paper was sacred, and to be used for Knowledge (an indian concept).  I finally resorted to protecting the environment.  I was too embarrassed to share the second reason, that notebooks were too expensive.  I still have some of those notes and they bring me to that simple time, when I went out of my way to save trees through saving paper.  

This picture is taken just to illustrate how beautiful the benign autumn sun can be, even in late evenings.  Seriously scandinavia is not as cold and dark as they would have you believe....

On Bike to School

The pictures were taken more than a year ago. Numerous parked bikes in one area, are a common sight all of the country, but the little bikes make for a sight that gives you something to smile about.  There is no doubt about which bike belongs to a girl.  There are several little bikes parked outside the school that is about five minutes walk from my place.  

When I asked a friend if children this young are allowed to bike to school, she told me that usually parents are either walking or biking alongside.  There are no school buses and children are dropped off and picked up by the parents.  Bike use is very common in Europe and children are initiated into it quite early.  Low crime rate, safe neighbourhoods, and bike friendly roads make it all possible.  It creates a culture that is children friendly, family friendly, community friendly---in short culture friendly. 

Speed-dating with Politicians: A Structure placed to Support Democracy

For five minutes, you could talk to members of political parties to inform yourself of their agendas and goals.  Sweden, 2014

First published on March 3, 2014, I am republishing it, because in less than two weeks' time Sweden goes to poll.  No place else, among all the places I have lived, the elections have so calm and almost devoid of drama. May be that is what democracy is supposed to be.....

There are a few things that are very special about Sweden.  Especially with regards to democracy and transparency.  In the beginning they are odd but then you get used to them, and realize the larger purpose around them.

For example, almost all the doors in the university except a select few that keep expensive equipment, and official documents, have the same key.  All our offices and classrooms have the same key.   To get to the offices of the profs you need a special entry code, which only the staff has, so the students cannot access those areas. In the beginning that was quite odd for me.  Slowly, not only did I get used to it, I realized that people do not abuse this privilege.  No one ever comes and snoops in your office.  If they ever need to, to leave a document or to pick up a book, they email you to let you know.  This way the university space is as 'transparent' as it can be.

Then, as in all universities, all the emails that come through the University server are not private.  Neither is our mail that arrives at the University.  Everything must be checked.  Our personal numbers, the social security number--must be used for every activity, official, governmental, or personal.

And then with regards to politics and elections, I was amazed to find in 2010, their election year, that the manifesto was printed in 11 different languages to accommodate immigrants.  If I remember English was not one of the languages.

There is not that much focus on giving up your own language as it is in the US.  Instead, there is a tradition of 'hemspråk' meaning 'home language or mother tongue.  So, Chinese children take special Chinese lessons at school, and Indian children take special Indian languages at school.  Unlike the US where only after the first generation children have been alienated from their mother tongue or worse I met people in India and met many in Fiji, who would say, "i do not speak hindi/fijian very well, we spoke only english at home', children in Swedish often end up knowing three languages pretty well--Swedish, English and their mother tongue.  I have met young Indian girls, who speak four languages, Swedish, English, Punjabi, and Hindi.

So, this year is election year. And as a part of Women's international day, which was celebrated,among many places, in the Library--women from various political parties had established their 'centers'.  Citizens could come and talk to the representatives for five minutes or so, to better understand their stance.

As simple as it sounds, this is how structures are brought into place to help citizens understand what politics is about. To help citizens make informed choices.  The Habermasian idea of 'public places' for open discussion and forums definitely include libraries, places free of advertisements and commercial interests.  Even though in countries like Fiji and India there are fewer libraries than there are 'malls' and 'markets', if there was an intent to inform such ideas could be put in place.  Rather than constantly mediating these messages through television, radio, print media or large rallies which could hardly provide a personal communication.

It is important that the citizens understand and reflect on what the politicians are intending, without which democracy can never function.

So, once again, the simple, utopian, idealistic ways of Sweden win over.  There is no negative advertising or a big hue and cry like in the US.  Your public space is not taken over by mindless posters of various candidates.  Instead, for all those willing to delve deeper, forums are provided to discuss.  And after all, it is these people who really matter in a democracy, because they are active participants.

Democracy requires just as much thinking and reflecting on the part of the citizens as on the part of the politicians. Without that a coherent voice cannot reach the decision makers and democracy is always left hanging…..short of its true potential

For we all know well, that democracy does not end at voting.  

It is not a spectator sport!!