Last Week in Denmark (14.05 - 21.05) Episode 19 Year 3
Pragmatic idealism; New language in the Parliament; Driving ban
Editor HQ
Call for submissions: The topic of the week is “Born in Denmark”. I am interested mainly in three step-by-step guides that include real-life examples: Pregnancy, giving birth, and the first year of life in Denmark
To apply to be one of the writers, send an email to lastweekdk@gmail.com with a plan on how you intend to get the content and a sample published article. (paid)
We also accept opinion articles (up to 600 words), experience sharing articles (up to 1000 words), photography, and other types of content that are related to the topic of the week. You can send your submissions to lastweekdk@gmail.com. (unpaid)
Opportunity: If you dream of creating your own game and/or game studio, then I suggest you book 3 hours in your calendar on June 3(14:00), to join a webinar about starting your own game studio company in Denmark. The founder of Foxhound Studios, Martin Nejsum, will share from his experience trying to build a game studio with zero funding. Sign up here.
Danish Politics HQ
New Laws and Regulations
Denmark’s new approach to the world stage is based on “pragmatic idealism”: The foreign affairs minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, announced a “historical” shift in the foreign affairs and security policy from “value-based” to “pragmatic idealism”. What does it mean?
Support Ukraine in the war against Russia. Campaign for Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia to become members of the European Union.
Strengthen Denmark’s defense capabilities. Focus on defending NATO's Eastern and Northern border with Russia.
A stronger diplomatic presence in the Western Balkans, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Belarus. Priority on development aid for these countries. Fight Russian influence.
Maintain Denmark’s position as a global superpower in green and health tech - become a pioneering country in quantum tech
Counter the Chinese influence on the global stage.
Less focus on trying to promote Danish values abroad (the missionary approach it had so far, in areas like Africa for example). More willingness to work with countries that don’t necessarily follow the same sets of values.
Danish Citizenship, Integration and Immigration Laws
A new language in the Danish Parliament?: After the courageous act of Aki-Matilda Høegh-Dam (member of the Danish Parliament), where she decided to speak Greenlandic in the plenary, the presidium of the Parliament will decide (on 14 June) if they should hire translators for Greenlandic and Faroese, so that all the parliament meetings are provided in the three official languages of the Danish kingdom.
Do not cover the EU sticker on your car license plate: According to Motorstyrelsen (the Car Registration Authority), it is illegal to cover your EU sticker on the license plate. You can get a fine of 1000 DKK.
Law proposals and ideas
112 schools in Denmark are testing a new method for the graduation exams: It’s called “practice oriented test” and students will be able to work with a case or a product to create for example, a commercial, a blog or a podcast. If successful, the “practice oriented test” will replace the current “oral Danish” and “Mathematics” tests.
The minister of education, Mathias Tesfaye, calls the current graduation exam “boring and out of touch with today’s society”.
An automatic naming ban for suspects in criminal cases: The National Association of Defense Lawyers proposed an automatic naming ban for suspects in criminal cases. Today, only a judge can impose a name ban (earliest 24 hours after arrest). Two government parties (Venstre and Moderaterne) and several opposition parties (SF, Enhedslisten, Alternativet and Konservative) are open to changing the rules.
A naming ban means that the media cannot use the name of a suspect in their reporting.
The political arena
After the truck drivers' illegal protest from the 15th of May, several social-democrat and liberal mayors have written to the government to reconsider the “road tax for trucks”. The road tax will be 1.3 DKK per kilometer (or 0.2 DKK per kilometer if they use electric trucks) from 2025. The transport and tax ministers are not planning to change their mind.
The mayors are mainly from North Denmark and Western Jutland. They are concerned that the new tax will cost jobs in those two parts of Denmark as goods will become more expensive to produce and transport.
The socialist view on AI (artificial intelligence) and social media: SF (Socialists) announced their political platform regarding the use of AI and social media. Among the initiatives, they want to restrict access to social media channels for young people under 15 years old. How to control it? People would have to use MitID to connect to any social network websites (Facebook, TikTok, etc.)
Denmark will train Ukrainian F-16 pilots: The minister of defense announced that they are currently planning how to train Ukrainian pilots for F-16 fighter jets. It will be a joint effort with other NATO countries. Denmark is also open to donating F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.
52 people in Denmark are part of a network that spreads disinformation about the war in Ukraine: According to prime minister Mette Frederiksen, the number worries her, but she doesn’t see it as a danger to Denmark. To understand better how Russians operate in our region, watch this documentary on DR.
Danish Economy HQ
Startup meeting in Aarhus (1st June in English): You will learn all the basics on how to start a lean business, get an insight into different kinds of business plans, taxes, and many more important aspects of a startup. Last, but definitely not least, you will have an outstanding opportunity to meet and network with other entrepreneurs and hear about other startup environments in Aarhus. Sign up here.
Startup meeting in Horsens (12th June in English): We will walk you through the basics of starting a business to make it easier for you to succeed as an entrepreneur. Sign up here.
Daily Life in Denmark HQ
33% of people didn’t get the siren test alarm on 3th May: Every year, on 3th of May, there is the annual test of the warning sirens. This year has been special, as the sirens have also been ringing on our phones. Well, most of our phones. Why? Only newer mobile phones (4G or 5G) with updated operating systems could receive the test warning message.
S!RENEN is a new digital warning system that supplements physical sirens and emergency notifications.
The end of non-essential driving at night in certain areas of Copenhagen: The Copenhagen police decided to introduce a ban on non-essential driving from the 1st of June on the area from Studiestræde to Vester Voldgade, from there to Vestergade, from Vestergade to Gammeltorv, and from there most of Nørregade.
If you live in that area, you can still drive at night. However, you must have a purpose for it.
The driving ban is from midnight to 05:00 AM.
How to protect yourself from apps that collect your data: Apps make your life easier and more fun, but at the same time, they collect information about you and sell it. Recently, TV2 showed how mobile games and apps collect illegal data on children in Denmark.
Location data, text messages, e-mail, pictures, contacts and calendar appointments are just some of the information that companies get access to when you download a game to your phone.
In general, try to limit the access of apps to your phone data. Check permissions and see what access you have given to your current apps - see if they really need them to function. Do not take the easy way and login with your Facebook account to various websites and apps. Update your apps to the latest version to reduce their chance of being hacked. Delete old apps.
When you uninstall an app/game or delete a profile on a website, the company will not delete the data they already have. GDPR actually gives you the power to ask the company to delete your data. How? Complete this template and send it to the company.
Healthcare with Punitha Kumar
Claiming that hospital births aren’t safe sets a dangerous precedent, the Danish Society for Patient Safety warns Moderhuset Maia, a private midwifery company advocating home births. Society director Inge Kristensen says, “It is a dangerous trend. Because the maternity services that are available must complement and support each other. They should not oppose each other. Everyone must contribute to the (public healthcare) system, including the private midwives.” Inge’s comments come in the wake of parents who have used Moderhuset Maia’s services and claimed that the company badmouths hospital births, the public healthcare system in Denmark and instills fear into parents, forcing the latter to opt for home births.
“Rainy” days ahead for Aalborg University Hospital. Soaking wet internal wall insulation, damp bricks with moss growing on them, foul-smelling water dripping from walls and poorly executed brickwork were among the issues that has resulted in massive water damage at the Aalborg University Hospital. Although news about the damage was reported in March, new information found by DR has shown that these problems have been existing since 2019. The Aalborg University Construction, Urban and Environment Department associate professor Lene Faber Ussing said smelly water within the walls indicate that the water has accumulated over time. She also stressed that the construction company, developers and inspection authorities should work together to fix the growing problem before it worsens.
Should free abortion be allowed up to a woman’s 22nd week of pregnancy? Rosa Lund (Enhedslisten) believes so, saying that this provides women with more time to receive all the information and womb scans needed before she has to decide on whether she wants an abortion. Denmark currently allows free abortion up until a woman’s 12th week of pregnancy. If you have crossed the time limit and want an abortion, you must seek approval from an abortion council. Here are abortion limits in several neighboring countries:
Netherlands - 24 weeks
Iceland - 22 weeks
Sweden - 18 weeks
Germany - 14 weeks
Norway - 12 weeks
Meanwhile, Minister of Health Sophie Løhde has made it clear that the government will only take a stand once the Council of Ethics has completed its recommendations into the matter. The report is expected to be ready by autumn.
Education
25% of 4th grade students in Denmark cannot interpret, read between the lines or critically comprehend a text: Among the 60 countries that participate in the international PIRLS reading test, Denmark and Norway ranked the lowest in terms of “4th graders that enjoy reading”. The ability to read and understand among 4th graders in Denmark has declined to a historical low. Why?
The percentage of students with weak comprehension has increased (they have have difficulty recalling what they've read).
The parent’s reading habits (if there are no books around the house, then that is a bad example for children).
More 4th graders feel too tired to read or too hungry (a sign that poverty has increased in Denmark).
Culture, Religion and Royals with Cicek Eris
The Ministry of Culture has released the first comprehensive cultural policy statement since 1997, providing an overview of cultural, association, and sports life. Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt, highlighted the economic importance of culture in Denmark, noting that the cultural industries in 2021 contributed 109 billion DKK to the economy, employing around 160,000 people. The statement underlines the value of art and culture in a democratic society as well as the necessity to remove obstacles that cultural workers and artists face.
The report reveals that 71% of Danes engage in cultural activities outside their homes, with library, cinema or museum visits being popular choices.
The debate on the report will take place on the 23 of May.
A painting by Danish artist Vilhelm Hammershøi has set a new record for the most expensive Danish painting ever sold. The painting, titled “Interior. The music room, Strandgade 30” was auctioned at Sotheby’s in New York and fetched a whopping 62.8 million DKK. The buyer of the artwork is an American museum.
The previous record was held by another Hammershøi painting, “Interior with woman with piano, Strandgade 30” which sold for 39.5 million DKK in 2017.
The painting sold at the auction had been hanging in the actual apartment depicted in the artwork since the mid-1900s and had not been offered for auction since 1944.
Science and Technology
A math formula developed by three Danish scientists will tell us if there are more universes: That is, if it is ever solved. After six years of research, a study has been published in “Journal for General Philosophy of Science”, which contains a formula which can calculate if there can be more universes aka multiverse. The scientists expect that it will take a couple hundred of years and thousands of billions before the formula will be solved.
Pay for your TV set with your data: A worrying development is coming from the USA. A company called Telly TV is giving out free flat screens in exchange to allow them to monitor the usage of the tv and collect data. You might think that it is a bargain, but in fact, the data you supply them is more valuable than you believe.
Internationals in Danish media with Jessica Malvido
A record number of internationals have moved to Denmark in the first three months of 2023: 22,000 people moved to Denmark in the first quarter of the year from Germany, Poland, USA, India, Ukraine and other countries. The publication Berlingske notes that this is “a super positive development”, while SMV Denmark (the association of small and medium businesses) says “internationals are a pure gain from an economic point of view. You don’t have to be afraid that they will take the Danes’ jobs, because there is an incredible number of available jobs. 30% of the positions advertised last year have not been occupied.”
Dansk Erhverv shows that internationals contributed 210 billion DKK to Denmark’s GDP (wealth) in 2021. That is the equivalent of paying 250,000 full-time nurses. The presence of the internationals in Denmark strengthens the public finances.
SMV Denmark points out that every international that arrives in Denmark at working age is a gain for the society because Denmark didn’t have to pay for their upbringing and education.
SMV Denmark also requests that immigration rules should be more flexible to attract an even higher number of internationals as we are far away from reaching the needed number.
Why are we doing something positive for Denmark? Our presence keeps inflation in check; it strengthens public finances during a period of demographic challenges and it allows companies to capitalize on economic momentum and address labor shortages.
European Union HQ
The Danish minority party in Germany wins the elections in Flensburg: For the first time in history, SSV (the Danish minority party) becomes the largest party in Flensburg city council, after it received 25% of the votes. Why? Germans want the Danish model of welfare.
SSV was founded in 1948 to represent the interests of the Danish and Frisian minorities in Germany.
Among their victories over the years you can find: German state subsidies for Danish schools; Promotion of the North Frisian language and other ideas based on laws already existing in Denmark.
The battle for Turkey, round two: In the first round, Erdogan (49.5%) and Kilicdaroglu (44.9%) obtained the majority of the votes and qualified for the second round of voting on 28th May.
The main themes of the campaign have been: the economy (inflation rate of over 50% - imagine the magnitude of that, when we struggle with inflation rates of 5%) and the response to the earthquake in February (50,000 people died). Most analysts predicted that Erdogan would lose due to these issues.
The entire opposition in Turkey has rallied behind Kilicdaroglu, hoping to end Erdogan’s regime of terror. There have been attacks from Erdogan’s supporters on several opposition politicians.
Announcement Board
This section is curated by Cicek Eris. If you have events you want us to include here please send an e-mail to denmarkhappenings@gmail.com. You can check out her newsletter about cultural events in Denmark here.
Copenhagen, 23rd May, 17:00-19:30: Are you familiar with the (un)written rules at your workplace? Do you know your rights and obligations as an employee in Denmark? Have you wondered how to handle conflicts within your team? This event will provide you with an understanding of the unique Danish workplace culture.
Odense, 23rd May, 17:45-20:00: For more than 140 years the river boats from Odense Åfart have been bringing the people of Odense from the city center to the picturesque forest “Fruens Bøge”. You can now join International Community Odense to go up the river, enjoy the blooming spring and get a glimpse of an animal from the zoo.
International media about Denmark HQ
Denmark aims for closer Nordic security ties in the Arctic and Baltic Sea region. (Reuters)
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