The Copenhagen Post: September 30 - October 6

Teen drinking in spotlight again

Climate sceptic stands to lose millions

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10

Christiania turns 40

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Denmark’s only English-language newspaper | cphpost.dk

30 September - 6 October 2011 | Vol 14 Issue 39

JENNIFER BULEY

NEWS

Families torn apart by divorce are often told by the court to work out custody themselves

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Mayors: Congestion charge will lead to a better city Mayors of Copenhagen and Rødovre say proposed charge will cut down on pollution and traffic

OPINION | 8

CULTURE

“GET OUT!”

Paolo Russo plays the bandoneon, a spiritual instrument of great intrigue

Eight-year-old girl faces deportation to Bangladesh, although no-one there wants her.

Over 800 kids have been rejected by Denmark.

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Former bitter enemies now friendly neighbours Today Denmark vs Sweden is a match-up only seen in sports, but for centuries the two countries hated each other with a bloodlust

HISTORY | 19

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Fire destroys KB Hallen ahead of sex fair opening

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HE HISTORIC multi-purpose venue KB Hallen is likely to be completely destroyed after a fire broke out early on Wednesday morning.

It is thought that the fire was started by a halogen lamp heating up cardboard boxes near the entrance of the Frederiksberg venue.

Firemen thought they had brought the fire under control soon after it started at 5:30 on Wednesday morning, but it quickly regained strength and forced the firefighters to withdraw due to the threat of collapse.

Early reports indicated that the middle section of the arena’s roof had

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collapsed, but by Wednesday afternoon, officials indicated that the roof was no longer in danger of collapsing. A technical investigation was scheduled to get underway on Thursday.

During the morning hours of Wednesday, a dense blanket of smoke travelled westwards toward Nørrebro and could be seen from a distance of several kilometres.

Flames were seen shooting from the building and several explosions were heard, leading police to advise residents near the fire to stay indoors and close their windows to avoid exposing themselves to the toxic smoke.

Peter Bangs Vej, the street on which

the venue is located, was closed by police, though the fire department said that nearby buildings were are not at risk of catching fire.

KB Hallen was due to host a fiveday sex fair beginning on the day of the fire. Event organiser Kenneth Strandby told TV2 News that he is set to lose three million kroner’s worth of equipment as a result.

Twelve individuals preparing for the fair were sleeping inside the building when it caught fire. Three were admitted to hospital for smoke inhalation.

It was unclear at the time of publication whether the building would be saved or rebuilt, though the police’s ini-

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tial assessment was not optimistic.

“I can see directly into the building through the burnt-down entrance,” a police spokesperson told Berlingske newspaper. “It’s like a furnace. The fire is very violent.”

But because KB Hallen was granted listed status earlier this year due to its historic architecture, it may stand a chance of being rebuilt.

When it first opened in 1938 it was the largest indoor sports hall in Europe.

It has been used for a variety of purposes including as a music venue, with the Beatles, Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones among the international acts to grace its stage. (PS)

See more at copenhagencard.com

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Week in review

The Copenhagen Post cphpost.dk

30 September - 6 October 2011 Scanpix

Tick-tock

THE WEEK’S MOST READ STORIES AT CPHPOST.DK 8-year-old facing deportation Breastfeeding banned at popular café WHO concerned about Danish kids’ drinking habits Negotiating with Danes: How to catch the curveballs Race intelligence professor accused of dishonesty

FROM OUR ARCHIVES TEN YEARS AGO. ‘War against terrorism’ or ‘unjust war against Afghanistan’, or ‘state of emergency’: Danish experts fight over the correct legal term to use while preparing for military action.

FIVE YEARS AGO. The City Council passes a proposal to allow graffiti on selected walls. Critics, however, are not sure if this is the right approach to stop hardcore graffiti gangs.

As prime minister-designate Helle Thorning Schmidt continues three-party negotations at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, time is running out to put a government in place before Tuesday’s opening of parliament. Many political analysts predict it will happen on Friday.

THe election of Denmark’s first female prime minister was featured heavily in American magazine Newsweek’s analysis of the best and worst countries for women. While Helle Thorning-Schmidt’s victory helped the country score high marks for politics, it was the report’s other four categories

– justice, health, education, and economics – that landed Denmark as the fourth best country in the world for women. With an overall score of 95.3 out of 100, only Iceland, Sweden, and Canada placed higher. The four worst countries were Chad, Afghanistan, Yemen, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Denmark’s only English-language newspaper Since 1998, The Copenhagen Post has been Denmark’s leading source for news in English. As the voice of the international community, we provide coverage for the thousands of foreigners making their home in Denmark.

Additonally, our English language medium helps to bring Denmark’s top stories to a global audience.

In addition to publishing the only regularly printed English-language newspaper in the country, we provide up-to-date news on our website and deliver news to national and international organisations. The Copenhagen Post is also a leading provider of non-news services to the private and public sectors, offering writing, translation, editing, production and delivery services.

Visit us online at www.cphpost.dk

Air wars

Bloody insult

The price of flights between Copenhagen and Stockholm is set to nosedive after confirmation that Swedish airline company Skyways is introducing a service between Copenhagen and Stockholm-Bromma Airport at the end of October. Skyways has applied for take-off and landing slots for three daily flights at the

President and Publisher Ejvind Sandal Chief Executive Jesper Nymark Editor-in-Chief Kevin McGwin Managing Editor Ben Hamilton News Editor Justin Cremer Journalists Jennifer Buley & Peter Stanners

wikimedia/desk1

colourbox

Number four

ONE YEAR AGO. Hundreds of art and film lovers flock to see movie director David Lynch’s art exhibition, ‘The Air is on Fire’, at Gl Strand.

two airports, air travel news site Check-in.dk reports. Cimber Sterling Airlines is also expected to add the route early next year.

Until now, SAS and Norwegian Airlines have been the only airlines offering the popular route that flies 1.2 million passengers between Copenhagen and Stockholm-Arlanda every year.

Editorial offices: Slagtehusgade 4 – 6 DK 1715 Copenhagen V Telephone: 3336 3300 Fax: 3393 1313 www.cphpost.dk News Desk news@cphpost.dk 3336 4243 The CPH Post welcomes outside articles and letters to the editor.

Letters and comments can be left on our website or at: comments@cphpost.dk

The former British security minister, Lord West, last week complained in a press conference that the ongoing downgrading of his country’s military capacity would make it more like “a second-tier power” like “bloody Denmark or Belgium”. The slur was followed by an immediate in-jest apology

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from West’s Labour Party colleague to “our former friends”, and then condemnation from the in-power Conservatives, who said they were “appalled” at the “stupid and insensitive” comments. An official at the Danish Cultural Institute later said the remarks were “a bit disrespectful”.

Layout and design Justin Cremer Aviaja Bebe Nielsen Logo by Rasmus Koch The Copenhagen Post accepts no responsibility for the content of material submitted by advertisers.

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All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited by law.

News

The Copenhagen Post cphpost.dk

30 September - 6 October 2011

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Milestone for Christiania: 40, fresh, and free Emily McLean and Jessica Slicer

As famed freetown turns 40, residents and guests gathered for the first of many parties

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hough Christiania may now be over the hill, the freetown was decorated with t-shirts and posters sporting the motto ‘40, fresh and free’ on Monday morning in celebration of its 40th birthday.

Amidst Christiania’s signature red and yellow banners, guests were welcomed with bread, cake and plenty of free music as the Stig Møller Trio entertained enthusiastic guests over breakfast to kick off the week-long party.

Despite uncertainly still looming over the future of Christiania after an agreement with the state that requires residents to come up with 76.2 million kroner to purchase the land, Monday morning brought reason for guests to celebrate.

Peter Plett, a Christiania resident of 38 years, said the milestone comes at an interesting time.

“The birthday means a lot,” Plett told The Copenhagen Post. “It has been a struggle to keep Christiania going because we have lots of enemies who want to close it down, but we are glad to be here where we are now.”

For some, the birthday is a time to reflect upon 40 years of a judgementfree culture within the city. Guests Zack and Janni, who travelled from southern Zealand to partake in the festivities, said that they arrived early to spend the day listening to music and relaxing. And, according to Zack, the spirit of Christiania runs through his blood.

“My mother lived here when she was pregnant with me and now I like to come back and visit at least once a month,” he said.

Throughout the last 40 years, Christiania has undergone many political upheavals. But the heart of the place is still the same according to Zack.

“It’s a free haven for smoking and living. You have the breathing space to be who you want to be,” he said.

His partner Janni agreed with these

Monday morning saw the freetown decked out in its trademark red and yellow colours

It has been a struggle to keep Christiania going because we have lots of enemies who want to close it down sentiments and said she liked to visit Christiania to have the freedom to express herself, which she never had growing up.

In true Christiania spirit, the party goes on despite the ongoing political debates. Inspired by Copenhagen’s 800th birthday where guests could grab a slice of cake from any of the hundreds of coffee tables lining the whole of Strøget, on Monday cake was served to nearly 400 people in the chaotic centre of Christiania amidst birthday speeches toasting the neighbourhood’s past and continued existence.

A new graffiti exhibition is being shown to mark the big day as well. The old hippie-spiritual mural, which was

taken down some years ago, has also begun to be repainted. Like some people might consider botox on their 40th birthday, Christiania is getting a welldeserved updated look.

Kristoffer, who has been a resident for a year, said Christiania has undergone several significant changes over the years, but the grassroots of the place remain the same.

“It’s still a public space widely used, and unlike other places, it’s unique in that people can just walk through,” Kristoffer said. He said he looked forward to what the future holds for Christiania but hoped it would not be spoiled by the recent changes in property ownership.

Along the same lines, Plett hoped that residents would embrace the new situation and work with it and that “the community won’t stagnate,” and Christiania would continue to be an evolving space.

One proud guest who travelled all the way from Stockholm and planned to purchase one of the newly-announced ‘Christiania Shares’ (see story to right), said she was “so proud to be able to buy my own little piece of freedom here”.

Freetown sells ‘shares’ in its future

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hristiania held an initial public offering of sorts on Monday, allowing supporters to purchase ‘stock’ in the alternative enclave.

After striking an agreement with the state in June to purchase the land through the newly-established Christiania Fund, residents must now raise 76.2 million kroner to buy the majority of Christiania’s buildings, as well as an additional six million to rent adjoining green spaces. The first 43 million is due on 15 April 2012.

To raise the funds, Christianites have turned to selling ‘Christiania Shares’ in denominations ranging from as little as 20 kroner to as much as 10,000 kroner. According to the Christiania Folkeaktie website, the shares “are to be seen as donations supporting the buyout of the freetown and as such worth more than money”.

Share purchasers “will not have the rights of a shareholder in the traditional sense, but ... will be invited to the relevant festivities, starting with a blast of a ‘general assembly’ party in 2012”, the site continues.

“We are asking for help from the

many people out there that we know have sympathy for Christiania. They can help us secure the community and the economic solidarity we have always practised out here,” Risenga Manghezi, who handles Christiania’s financial affairs, told Politiken newspaper. “Even if the public shares only bring in 20 kroner, Christiania will fulfill its obligations to the state and pay the money.”

As of Tuesday evening, the sales had reportedly brought in more than 2 million korner. (JC)

Congestion charge’s negligible effect on pollution Court date set for ‘Amager Attacker’ Users of highly pollutive diesel vehicles less likely to be discouraged by charge

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ir pollution in Copenhagen won’t be significantly reduced by the introduction of a congestion charge, experts have warned.

Improving Copenhagen’s air quality was used as a key argument by the Socialist People’s Party (SF) for introducing the charge, with SF’s consumer spokesperson Pia Olsen Dyhr writing on her blog in August that “something should be done to reduce the number of cars and bring cleaner air to Copenhagen”.

But traffic and pollution expert Kåre Press-Kristensen, from the Ecological Council, told Politiken newspaper that the zone would have a negligible impact on fine particles air pollution, which can cause respiratory illnesses.

“Air pollution will fall but not by as much as the traffic,” Press-Kristensen said. “It is possible that we can get traffic to fall by up to 25 percent inside

the zone, but pollution won’t fall by as much.”

The majority of vehicles that are likely to be deterred from entering are thought to be private cars that mostly run on petrol and produce far less fine particulate pollution than diesel vehicles. Fine particles emitted from diesel engines also carry carcinogenic compounds with added health risks.

Far more business vehicles such as taxis, buses and trucks use diesel, however, and their owners are less likely to be put off by the congestion charge as they can find ways of offsetting the costs.

“If the goal of the congestion zone is to reduce pollution, then I’d have to say that as it stands it won’t have much effect. I would anticipate that pollution will drop by between seven and ten percent, with a five percent margin of error,” Press-Kristensen said.

Copenhagen already has some of the cleanest city air in Europe, and its efforts to reduce air pollution placed it second out of 17 major European cities

in a study by Soot Free Cities, published earlier this September.

Dyhr believes, however, that more can be done. “[The congestion charge] will reduce air pollution that’s become so bad that you can get smoker’s lung just from being in the city,” Dyhr wrote in an opinion column in Berlingske earlier in September. “Every year 500 Copenhageners die because of air pollution. We have to take that seriously.”

Electric car owners will be disappointed to learn, however, that while their vehicles produce no local emissions they will still have to pay the charge. Up until now, Copenhagen City Council has preferentially treated electric vehicles with tax incentives and free city centre parking.

Dyhr would not answer Politiken’s questions on this matter, however, due to the code of silence around governmental policy while PM-designate Helle Thorning-Schmidt negotiates a government after her election win. (PS)

45-year-old man’s trial will get underway in November

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he so-called ‘Amager Attacker’, who was arrested in November 2010 on suspicion of committing a series of murders and rapes, was indicted on seven charges last week on Thursday.

Among the charges levelled against the 45-year-old father of two were two murders, five rapes, sexual assault, and robbery. The alleged crimes date as far back as the 1987 murder of a 73-yearold woman.

The other murder charge relates to the killing of a 40-year-old schoolteacher in 1990 in which the ‘Amager attacker’ is accused of raping and strangling the victim.

The rape charges include attacks in 1995, 2005, 2007, and 2010, the latter of which resulted in police finding a used condom with DNA evidence that was tied to the other attacks. The 1995 case was particularly gruesome,

and captured the attention of the entire nation. In that instance, four young women were brutally raped in a house on Ingolfs Allé in the Amager district.

In that attack, two twin sisters aged 14, their 15-year-old friend and a 23-year-old were raped by a man armed with a knife. Over a period of two hours, the young women were raped one by one and then forced to wash themselves to remove any traces of DNA. The accused has been in police custody since last November and has refused to speak to investigators. His lawyer, Jacob Lund Poulsen, said that the man is innocent of all charges and will explain himself when the trial gets underway on November 2.

According to prosecutors, the man faces a normal prison sentence and will not be eligible for confinement in a psychiatric facility.

If the police evidence holds up in court, the ‘Amager Attacker’ will be confirmed as one of the worst serial offenders in Danish history. (JC)

4 news Forced co-operation in custody cases baffles foreigners The Copenhagen Post cphpost.dk

30 September - 6 October 2011

Photo illustration by marlene egerup

David Vranicar Danish custody laws are designed to foster co-operation between parents, but some foreigners say the system creates more problems than it solves

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here is an oft-repeated parable about Scandinavian culture that goes like this: Two Norwegians, two Swedes, and two Danes are stranded on an island. As the days pass, each pair has a different way of handling the situation. Coming from an industrious nation of Vikings, the Norwegians build a ship and sail away. The Swedes, known for being sombre and reserved, go about their business alone, unable to so much as introduce themselves to one another. And the Danes, being a benevolent, communal people, form a co-operative that benefits each person.

In other words, the Danes’ preferred method of overcoming hardship is to work together, to cooperate.

Abuse accusations don’t sway custody About 10 years ago, Sarah Larsen*, an American, married a Dane. They had two children, and in 2007 the four of them moved to Denmark.

The marriage went sour, and Larsen filed for divorce in 2010. She had a good job in Denmark and was content to stay in the country to accommodate the custody arrangement, which according to Larsen was five days a week with her, two with the father.

What followed, said Larsen, was a nightmare. She claimed that her exhusband abused the children – that they would come home crying and covered with bruises – that they feared spending time with their father.

While The Copenhagen Post was unable to find any hard evidence implicating the father – and while the father has not been convicted of any crimes in conjunction with these accusations – Larsen provided The Post hospital reports that confirm that her children had bruises. She also provided an email from a Danish family counselling centre that read: “I have no doubt that Sarah’s former husband has been violent to her, and that he still is to the children.”

Despite the dearth of hard evidence, Larsen’s lawyer, who spoke on a condition of anonymity because of an ongoing court case, said that she is sure that abuse has occurred.

“I don’t doubt for a moment that the father has been violent,” the lawyer said. “I believe the children. They’re telling it to authorities and to their mother, and I don’t doubt it.”

Larsen was certain that these accusations would prompt changes in the custody arrangement or, at the very least, a swift and thorough investigation into the alleged crimes. But this, she claims, never happened.

“They simply told us to co-operate,” Larsen said. “This is the last thing I thought would happen. We were told to wait and give it a chance. But there is no way to cooperate with someone like that.”

Co-operation stressed above all else In 2007, Denmark passed the Danish Act on Parental Responsibility, which introduced new guidelines for determining custody rights. According to

Even in cases with alleged abuse, the women we spoke to for this story said that the courts insisted the parents find a way to work it out together

Vivian Jørgensen, a lawyer who has handled numerous custody cases, the biggest change was the emphasis placed on equal custody: judges can force the parents to work together even if, well, they can’t work together.

“In 2007 we got this new idea,” Jørgensen told The Copenhagen Post.

“Now what’s more important is not the environment or how you treat the child.

The idea now is that it’s always good for the child to have contact with both parents, and it’s always good to force the parents to co-operate.”

Jørgensen added that the law does not favour men or women. Instead, it simply says that parents “must agree on significant decisions regarding the child”.

This philosophy, according to Annette Kronborg, an associate professor of family law at the University of Copenhagen, is designed to promote, and indeed force, co-operation. She said that if there is conclusive evidence of wrongdoing towards children then it is indeed a factor in custody decisions. That said, the “starting point is co-operation”.

“The idea is to make the parents cooperate,” Kronborg said. “And the best solution is to stay out of the family and let the parents make their own solution.

So according to the family law idea, the best interest of the child is what the parents agree on.”

If, that is, the parents can agree.

Abuse claims can be detriment Like Larsen, Carrie Møller* is from the US and married a Dane. She moved to Denmark about nine years ago, and she and her husband had two children.

The marriage dissolved, though, amid what Møller claimed was physical abuse against her and her children.

There is no hard evidence to corrobo-

They simply told us to co-operate. This is the last thing I thought would happen. We were told to wait and give it a chance.

But there is no way to co-operate with someone like that. rate this claim, and Møller’s ex-husband denied the accusations in court.

The Danish authorities awarded them joint custody. Møller protested on the grounds that her ex was abusing the children, but the authorities weren’t persuaded.

“They said the biggest problem was that these parents couldn’t get along, not that the children were getting abused,” Møller said. “There was no doubt in my mind that my children were telling the truth, and still they said it was cooperation between parents that was the issue.”

Marianne Holdgaard, a law professor at Aalborg University, claimed that cases like this, in which the court forces parents to make an agreement, are not uncommon.

“Even if you don’t agree, even if you can’t speak to each other, even if you claim they have been violent, then you can still be forced to have joint custody,” Holdgaard said.

Holdgaard added that making abuse claims can be detrimental to the accuser.

“If you say something like that, they

can turn it around and say: ‘It’s your fault that the children don’t want to see the [other parent]. You’re putting it in their head.’ And in that sense, it can actually be a disadvantage to make claims against another parent because it can be used against you.”

Foreigners: systematic discrimination To foreigners like Larsen and Møller, the Danish custody system is an oddity: the forced co-operation, the unyielding emphasis on split custody, and what they see as a disregard for the safety of children.

But to them – as well as other foreigners involved in custody battles, including two men and three women who provided information for this story – these guidelines are not merely a way to foster co-operation, but to mask ethnic discrimination.

One foreigner, who is from Europe but had a child in Denmark with a Dane, said: “They try to make things fit the law. And that’s always to help the Dane. I’m sure about it. I’m very sure of that, that the Danish authorities, no matter which ones, try to help the Danes.”

As with accusations of violence, The Copenhagen Post was unable to corroborate charges of discrimination.

The Post contacted numerous authorities, including judges, social workers, and law enforcement personnel – the people who are at the heart of these discrimination claims. No-one agreed to comment.

But ethnic discrimination was a recurring grievance among each foreigner interviewed for this story.

“The impression I get is that all of this wouldn’t have happened if I were a Dane,” said Larsen. “So whether it’s cultural or something that’s embedded in the system, I think my children and

I are [seen as] lesser because we’re not Danish.”

Larsen’s lawyer does not agree with this assessment. Having defended foreign men and women, the lawyer conceded that custody cases are difficult for foreigners because of the language, the procedures, and so on. But not because of discrimination.

“I don’t see discrimination,” the lawyer said. “You cannot say that it’s because it’s discrimination – that’s impossible to say.”

To that end, the lawyer detailed a previous case involving two Danes: “The mother said [to the court]: ‘You have to help me. He’s abusing us, and I don’t want joint custody with him because we are very afraid.’ And they said to her: ‘Go home and co-operate.’

That is what’s going on now – the government and the authorities are forcing co-operation against all odds.”

Emotionally draining Even if these problems persist among Danes as well, the foreigners we spoke to for this story are convinced that discrimination is taking place. And whether it is or not, they nevertheless feel that they are in a nearly impossible situation, one that they say is emotionally draining.

“When I heard I wasn’t the only one, I wanted to cry tears of joy,” Møller said. “Because at some point you think you’re going crazy. I can’t help but sit here and wonder how many other mothers and fathers are going through the exact same experience.”

The experience, in other words, of being stranded on an island, where it seems no-one will co-operate. * These are pseudonyms. The two women named in the story asked to have their names changed due to legal concerns.

cover story

The Copenhagen Post cphpost.dk

30 September - 6 October 2011

5

Daddy lives here, but I’m too old to integrate Families torn apart by immigration rules are hoping for another chance from the new government

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he case of an eightyear-old girl threatened with deportation has turned the spotlight on Denmark’s unyielding family reunification rules once again.

Despite her parents’ urgent pleas and letters of support from her teachers, the Immigration Service decided that the eight-year-old Bangladeshi girl, Ripa, was incapable of integrating and could not stay with her family in Denmark.

Two weeks ago, police showed up at the family’s apartment in Vanløse to see her passport and enforce the deportation ruling.

“It was very unfair. Even in Bangladesh – a third-world country – the police do not come after little children. It is really shameful,” Ripa’s father, Jamal Ahmed, told The Copenhagen Post.

Ahmed has lived in Denmark since 1998 and has worked for the past eight years as a dishwasher at Copenhagen’s Hilton Hotel.

“The Danish people are really kind and nice people – I know, because I have lived here for 12 years. But the immigration rules are really ...” he trailed off, shaking his head.

Ahmed and Ripa’s mother divorced before Ripa was born. In Bangladeshi culture, when couples divorce, the children remain with their biological fathers.

“That’s how the culture is in our country. A man can keep his children from an earlier marriage in his new marriage, but the woman cannot.

The new husband simply won’t allow it,” Ahmed told public

broadcaster DR. When Ripa’s mother, who still lives in Bangladesh, remarried, she could therefore no longer keep Ripa. At first Ahmed’s mother took care of her, as she was still a toddler and Ahmed was working hard to establish himself in Denmark.

“The plan was that Ripa should come to live with me in Denmark before she began school, so that she could make Danish friends and get an education in Denmark,” he said.

Two years ago Ahmed brought his new wife, Rumana, and five-and-a-half-year-old Ripa to Denmark. The Immigration Service accepted Rumana’s application for family reunification, but rejected Ripa’s on the grounds that she was too old to integrate successfully.

Changes introduced in 2004 by the Liberal-Conservative government and the Danish People’s Party to the family reunification rules stipulate that children must be under 15, that their parents must apply to bring them to Denmark within two years of being granted residency, and that the child must be judged capable of integrating successfully.

The new rules were allegedly introduced to discourage foreign residents from leaving their children for long periods with relatives in their home country, where the children would acquire the other culture’s language and customs instead of Danish ones.

Teachers from Ripa’s school in Denmark have written to the Immigration Service on her behalf, vouching that she is integrating very well, despite their judgment that she could not.

“In the time I have known Ripa she has developed tremendously from being a quiet girl who could barely speak Danish to a girl with self-confidence and fluent Danish,” Ripa’s after-

Jennifer buley

Jennifer buley

Ripa’s father, Jamal Ahmed, said there is no-one in Bangladesh to care for his daughter

school teacher Henning Hansen wrote to the Immigration Service on her behalf. “She has playmates and goes to Danish school. She is decidedly capable of integrating.”

The principal of Ripa’s school confirmed in a second letter that she was thriving both socially and linguistically. Finally, Ripa’s biological mother also wrote a letter stating that she wanted Ripa to stay with her father in Denmark.

Ahmed and his immigration lawyer, Åge Kramp, have filed a new appeal, but Ripa’s fate remains uncertain. Ahmed is afraid of what will happen to Ripa if she gets deported.

“There isn’t anyone who will look after her in Bangladesh.

My ex-wife cannot take her because of the family structure. My mother is sick and old and is herself being taken care of by family in the US. I don’t know who will take care of my daughter if I can-

Even in Bangladesh – a third-world country – the police do not come after little children. It is really shameful. not keep her,” he told DR. Ripa’s is just the latest of approximately 800 cases of children – some as young as two and a half years old – denied residency permits since 2005, according to DR. In March, a 12-year-old Thai boy, Sirapat Kamminsen, was deported despite the objections of his mother and Danish stepfather. The Immigration Service judged that Sirapat was not suf-

ficiently capable of integrating.

The Immigration Service was informed that Sirapat had no close relatives who could care for him in Thailand, but he was deported anyway.

The Immigration Service assured The Copenhagen Post that children who are deported always have a parent or other close relative in the home country to care for them. Nevertheless, for the past six months, Sirapat has been living with an unrelated, elderly teacher in Thailand, metroXpress newspaper reports.

His family continues to fight to bring him back to Denmark.

Families like Sirapat’s and Ripa’s are hopeful that immigration rules will soften under the new left-of-centre government.

However, the prime minister-designate’s Social Democrats voted for the 2004 rule that led to so many children being refused residency. Moreover, the Social

Dems and their coalition partner, the Socialist People’s Party, have promised to maintain some of the most controversial family reunification rules introduced by the last government.

By contrast, the centrist Social Liberals and far-left RedGreen Alliance have both called for major reforms.

“It ought to be incomprehensible to every single person that a seven-year-old child does not have the potential to integrate,” Red-Green Alliance leader Johanne Schmidt-Nielsen told Berlingske newspaper, in connection with the case of a seven-year-old Chinese girl who was denied residency. “We cannot allow this policy to continue. Our job now is to clean up this mess of rules that is splitting families apart and punishing children,” she added.

The Red-Green Alliance has demanded that all cases of children denied family reunification during the Liberal-Conservative government’s ten year reign be reopened and reviewed. They have also called for new appointments to the Refugee Appeals Board, and the total elimination of the 2004 family reunification rule ammendmentss affecting children.

Kramp expects that some of the rules will change, but not all.

“The amount of rules in this area is like an iceberg. What the public and most of the politicians see is just the tip of the iceberg,” Kramp told The Copenhagen Post. “The top of the iceberg could change – things like the 24-year-rule – but then, when you remove the top, the rest of the iceberg begins to pop up.”

Nevertheless, Kramp hopes the rules regarding children will be among the first reconsidered.

“There might be some nonintegrable parents, but the children – they are all innocent,” he added.

Online this week Female breadwinners

British polar scientists say that the melting of Greenland’s ice has been exaggerated in the new Times Atlas of the World, which claims that 15 percent of Greenland’s ice has disappeared since 1999.

The revised version of the atlas – widely considered to be the world’s most authoritative – was released last week and shows ice free land along the southern and eastern coast of the island.

But according to scientists from the Scott Polar Research Institute and the National Snow and Ice Data Centre (NSIDC), the ice has not shrunk by as much as the atlas suggests. “[We have] never released a specific number for Greenland ice loss over the past decade. The loss of ice from Greenland is far less than the Times Atlas brochure indicates,” read a release from the NSIDC. The claim about Greenland’s

In the past ten years the proportion of Danish families in which women earn the higher salary has increased from one in every four to one in every three.

The salary statistics also reveal that the group of high-wage women is growing much faster than the group of high-wage men. According to Statistics Denmark, the number of women earning more than 500,000 kroner a year has quadrupled in the past ten years, with about 91,000 women now occupying the income bracket. In the same period the number of men earning over 500,000 kroner has doubled to about 270,000.

“These days women are overtaking men in all sorts of fields,” Helle Holt from the Danish National Centre for Social Research told Jyllands-Posten newspaper.

colourbox

Revered atlas exaggerates Greenland’s ice loss

shrinking ice coverage was written in a press release by publisher Harper Collins announcing the publication of the new atlas.

Last week the publisher released another statement apologising for not consulting the scientific community over the statistics, though it also defended the map.

Read the full stories at cphpost.dk

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News

The Copenhagen Post cphpost.dk

30 September - 6 October 2011

WHO concerned about Danish kids’ drinking habits

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World Health Organisation challenges new government to raise prices and age limits to reduce teenage drinking

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Helmuth Nyborg has also suggested that men are more intelligent than women and that white people are smarter than black people

Race intelligence professor accused of dishonesty Jennifer Buley Researcher accused of using pseudo-science to support anti-immigration politics

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ontroversial former Aarhus University psychologist and ‘intelligence researcher’ Helmuth Nyborg is once again being charged with scientific dishonesty. This time for claiming that immigrants are lowering Denmark’s IQ average.

The article, published in April in the British journal Personality and Individual Differences, presents a statistical model of how average IQ levels in Denmark will fall steadily over the years as a direct result of immigration from what Nyborg called “low IQ countries”.

For documentation Nyborg presented an annuity model based on data from the United Nations and Statistics Denmark on birth rates and immigration to Denmark.

But three researchers from Aarhus University and Aalborg University have argued that Nyborg’s annuity model is unscientific and twists the facts. They claim, moreover, that he plagiarised it from the work of an economist with connections to the nationalist, anti-immigration organisation Den Danske Forening, reports Information newspaper.

“It’s a model where you have a completely hypothetical idea that certain [immigrant] population groups have the same birth rates as people in the country they came from. But it doesn’t take into account what is known about demographic changes,” Jens Mammen, a professor emeritus from Aarhus University, one of the three researchers who

filed the complaint against Nyborg, told Information.

Besides sloppy science, Mammen and the others are accusing Nyborg of outright plagiarism.

They claim that the annuity model in Nyborg’s article was actually created

by Jørn Ebbe Vig, who they claim is an economist and statistician for Den Danske Forening.

Den Danske Forening does not publish the names of its members or leadership, but its website claims that its objective is “to safeguard Danish culture, language and traditional lifestyle” and “to warn against the dissolution of our cultural identity, which is now under threat of being swamped by an enormous influx of immigrants from countries plagued by overpopulation”.

Vig denied being the association’s economist and statistician, but admitted that he had done work for it.

At first Nyborg denied that he had used Vig’s annuity model. And both Vig and Nyborg rejected the plagiarism allegation; Vig even countered that he had borrowed Nyborg’s language and data for his research, not vice versa.

“I have talked with him about the method he uses and how he uses it, and in that way we have talked about things.

I think it is just fine if he copies everything I have said and vice versa. That’s what research collaboration is,” Nyborg told Information.

But when Information presented Nyborg and Vig with dated, comparative excerpts from their writing that appeared to prove that Nyborg copied Vig, Vig admitted that Nyborg had indeed paid him for “consulting work”.

“In terms of retrieving relevant data

from Statistics Denmark, and how they should be extrapolated to produce a broad-based weighted average for birth rates and IQ data, I advised Helmuth Nyborg in exchange for payment,” Vig told Information.

Mammen and two other colleagues from Aarhus University and Aalborg University have reported Nyborg to the Danish Committees on Scientific Dishonesty (UVVU). They claim that, at the very least, Vig should be named as a co-author on the paper.

This is not the first time that Nyborg has been reported for scientific misconduct.

In 2007, he retired from Aalborg University after failing to produce documentation for articles he published in 2002 and 2003 that men are more intelligent than women, reports Politiken newspaper.

In 1996, he published research claiming that white people are more intelligent than black people.

In connection with Nyborg’s latest publication, Mammen and his colleagues claim that he is not only damaging the international reputation of Danish research, he is also misleading the public at home.

For example, Nyborg’s conclusions have recently been cited in articles in the newspapers Jyllands-Posten and Weekendavisen in connection with the topic of immigration.

“It’s dishonest that the research or the researcher’s title and authority are being misused to promote political views. People are allowed to have political views, but it is dishonest if they are presented as though they are scientifically substantiated,” Mammen told Information.

enmark has been criticised for its dangerously high rates of teen drinking in a new World Health Organisation (WHO) report.

The report presents the drinking habits of Europeans on a nation-bynation basis and makes specific policy recommendations to countries – like Denmark – where high alcohol consumption is linked to high rates of disease and alcohol-related accidents.

WHO researchers especially worried about how early Danes begin drinking and how much they drink.

The latest studies show that on average Danish youths drink nearly twice as much alcohol as other Europeans their age.

However, according to ESPAD, an ongoing research study on the drinking habits of young people in 35 countries, Danish teenagers today drink less than Danish teenagers did 15 years ago. In ESPAD’s 2011 survey some 39 percent of Danish kids between the ages of 1516 reported having been drunk at least once in the past month. In 2007, that number was 48 percent.

“There’s no doubt that the number is still too high, and that there is every possible reason to continue the effort” to combat heavy drinking among young people, Svend Sabroe, who leads the Danish part of the ESPAD study, told Politiken newspaper.

Denmark, England and Ireland are the three countries with the highest teenage alcohol intake, according to ESPAD. Interestingly, Danish girls drink

nearly as much alcohol as Danish boys.

In Mediterranean countries, ESPAD found, teenage girls drink and tolerate far less alcohol than boys do.

The WHO is therefore urging Denmark’s new Social Democrat-led government to raise duties on beer, wine and spirits, and to raise the legal age limit for purchasing all types of alcohol from 16 to 18 years.

Under the current laws, beer, wine and other beverages with an alcohol content of less than 16.5 percent can be sold to 16-year-olds.

The Social Liberals, who will be part of the new government, support the WHO’s recommendation. In their campaign platform they argued for doubling the duty on beer and wine – a move that would raise the price of a single beer by 0.77 kroner.

“Taxes and a higher age limit are some of the levers one must use to get young people to drink less,” Social Lib MP Manu Sareen told Berlingske newspaper.

The Social Dems and their main allies, the Socialist People’s Party (SF), campaigned on the promise of raising duties on junk food and cigarettes, but not on alcohol. That baffled the WHO researchers, who underscored that after smoking, excessive drinking is the Danes’ next largest health threat.

The SF supports raising the legal age limit for purchasing beer and wine to 18, but not raising the duties.

“It will only lead to massive crossborder shopping, and that doesn’t work for our tax policy,” said SF health spokesperson Jonas Dahl.

The Social Dems said they would look closely at the WHO’s recommendations. (JB)

Think-tank: appoint minority minister

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he independent centre-left think-tank Cevea has challenged Denmark’s first female prime minister-designate, Helle ThorningSchmidt, to make another first for Denmark: appoint an ethnic minority MP to a ministerial post.

“At a time when the parties have failed by nominating fewer candidates with minority backgrounds, they still have the opportunity to compensate by giving one of the distinguished MPs with a minority background a strong position in the new coalition government,” Cevea’s head of analysis, Jens Jonatan Steen, told Politiken newspaper.

Out of a total of 179 MPs elected to parliament this month, only four of them – or just over two percent – have non-Danish ethnic backgrounds.

Three politicians with immigrant backgrounds were elected to parliament for the first time – the Social Liberals’ Manu Sareen and Nadeem Farooq and

the Liberals’ Fatma Øktem.

The Conservatives’ Nasar Khadar, the Socialist People’s Party’s (SF) Kamal Qureshi, and the Social Dems’ Yildiz Akdogan all lost their seats in this year’s election.

A single MP with a minority background, SF’s Özlem Cekic, was re-elected for a second term.

“We managed by just a close shave to keep the status quo of four MPs with minority backgrounds,” Steen said. “So the arrows are pointing in the wrong direction.”

And although the prime ministerdesignate’s Social Dems are the country’s second largest party after the Liberals, not a single MP out of their 44 has an immigrant background. All the more reason, according to Cevea, why the new leaders should make a strong statement by appointing one of the four ethnic-minority MPs to a ministerial post. (JB)

Online this week Cycling championships cruise to success When Great Britain’s Mark Cavendish claimed gold in the final event of cycling’s UCI Road World Championships, it was in front of an estimated 250,000 spectators, making it the country’s largest ever sport event.

“This goes beyond my wildest expectations,” Jesper Worre, the president of the Danish Cycling

Federation (DCF), said. Police estimated that at least 500,000 people attended the week-long championships in the city centre and north of the city. Financially, it is still too early to tell whether the DCF will make a profit from the event, but as a whole the races are likely to have injected millions of kroner into the economy.

Vesterbro residents pay last respects to beloved tree

Nørrebro drug trade pushed out

A 114-year-old tree that has held centre court on Vesterbro’s Enghave Plads Square, serving as a meeting place and playground for five generations of Vesterbro residents, was cut down on Wednesday night to make way for a new subway station. But before the chainsaws were started, the neighbour-

Drug dealers have started to lose their grip on the trendy street Jægersborggade in Nørrebro. Its hash trade was the city’s second largest after Christiania, with dealers visibly operating around the clock throughout the year. But after a concerted effort by police this summer, the dealers have disappeared and resi-

hood held a wake for the tree.

When citizens learned that the city’s Metro Cityring subway plans called for the tree to be cut down, they rallied to save the old neighbourhood landmark.

But they lost the fight. The subway must be built – and besides, it was learned, the old tree was showing signs of rot.

dents have reclaimed the benches and tables that the dealers used as a base for their operations. “We have been placing pressure on [the drug dealers] since the start of the summer,” Mikkel K Brogaard from Copenhagen Police told Berlingske newspaper. “It’s about time the residents got the street back.”

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OPINION

THE COPENHAGEN POST CPHPOST.DK

30 September - 6 October 2011

JASPER CARLBERG

A kinder, gentler For a less polluted and better Copenhagen immigration policy

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IVEN the Social Democrats’ track record of supporting, to at least some extent, the previous government’s gettough immigration policy, we might be setting ourselves up for a disappointment, but we’ll say it anyway: we hope the new government will come up with an immigration policy that befits Denmark’s reputation as a tolerant, humane country.

We realise that’s no easy task. Partly because in many ways, the immigration laws of the past ten years have accomplished their stated goals: they have reduced forced marriages and have required those who are here to become a part of their new society.

But success has come at a cost. The heavy-handed methods used to achieve those results have damaged the nation’s image and they are increasingly dulling its competitive edge.

“Denmark needs the world more than the world needs Denmark,” Karsten Dybvad said this week. He ought to know. As managing director of the Confederation of Danish Industry, he’s aware more than anyone else of what exports mean to the nation’s economy and how reliant businesses are on foreign workers.

Dybvad is also aware that closed borders are bad for business. That’s why he called on the Social Dems to lower taxes, remove bureaucratic hurdles and generally work towards making the country an attractive place for foreigners to live or work.

Hopefully Helle Thorning-Schmidt was listening.

But a cold cost-benefit calculation of the impact that immigrants have on the nation’s bottom line is one thing. Another more serious concern is the damage strict immigration laws have had on the country’s reputation.

That’s a reputation that has been sullied by a constant stream of hard-luck cases of families spilt apart, forced to live in Malmö, or required to pay for the right to live here.

That those laws force couples to make a choice between not living in Denmark or not living together at all, is bad enough.

That they have also resulted in 800 children – some as young as two – being denied residence in Denmark and potentially separated them from their parents is nothing less than an outrage.

By some interpretations, it is even a violation of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Relaxed immigration laws and high levels of social welfare are a potentially expensive cocktail, and the Social Democrat-led government will have its work cut out for it to come up with a model that is both socially and economically responsible. The cost, however, of not taking the opportunity to right the wrongs of the past decade would be simply unbearable.

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ANY OF the people who work in Copenhagen have long commutes and spend hours on end stuck in traffic jams.

When they arrive at their destination, they are unable to find parking spaces. If we are to find a solution to this problem we must find a way to reduce the congestion that all Danish politicians agree is a problem. The good news is that the lesson learned from Stockholm and Oslo is that a congestion charge can eliminate many of the problems we currently face by allowing for noticeable improvements to public transport systems and deep cuts in fares.

Commuters waste approximately 130,000 hours each year stuck in traffic jams on their way to and from work. That adds up to a productivity loss of almost

8 billion kroner. This inhibits growth and weighs down the economy.

In the meantime, congestion and long queues of cars contribute to air pollution levels that lead to 3,400 deaths a year, primarily in Copenhagen. Recent statistics from the National Environmental Research Institute show that in 2015 air pollution along six of the most heavily travelled roads in Copenhagen will exceed the legal limits for nitrogen dioxide.

To our knowledge the previous government has done nothing to deal with this problem.

That’s why the congestion charge proposed by the Social Democrats and Socialist People’s Party is such welcome news.

Will a congestion charge interfere with the habits and daily routines of commuters? Will they

Far more people will benefit from the congestion charge through a reduction in the amount of time they spend on the road and in terms of a cleaner environment for the businesses of Greater Copenhagen.

A congestion charge is a way of financing major improvements in our transport infrastructure.

By improving public transport and lowering ticket prices, we hope that many commuters will transfer from privately owned vehicles to public transportation so that the Copenhagen air will be cleaner and the city will be more accessible for everyone.

Frank Jensen is the lord mayor of Copenhagen. Erik Nielsen is the mayor of Rødovre. They are both Social Democrats.

READER COMMENTS Social Dems “did it” God help Denmark with the reds in power! They’ll need as much divine intervention as they can get over the next few years.

Wilmot Brown By website Talked to my boss yesterday about getting terminated so that I can get me some welfare!!! Wahoo wa! Helle and Villy are here to save the day!!

Thorvaldsen By website I asked my female colleague why did she vote Helle? Because England had Maggie Thatcher, Gemany has Angela Merkel, so it was time for Denmark to have a female. So what about Helle´s programme? She couldn´t answer.Like Churchill said: “The best argument against democracy is five minutes conversation with average voters.”

Magic1964 By website If I recall correctly, Denmark had its largest economic and social gains of all types starting in 1924 under the Socialdemokraterne, yet the last 10 years has seen Denmark running at a deficit and a widening gap between rich and poor.

Sontaron By website An actor’s life: Communication Breakdown

www.cphpost.dk

ERIK NIELSEN

need to alter their daily routines?

Yes, they will. That’s unfortunate, of course, but we are thoroughly convinced that far more people will benefit from the congestion charge through a reduction in the amount of time they spend on the road and in terms of a cleaner environment. Major investments in infrastructure and public transport will alleviate some of these inconveniences, but it is paramount that we discuss where exactly the borders of the congestion charge zone should be drawn in order for it to have the greatest possible impact and fewest possible inconveniences for people living in the region.

The vast majority of Stockholm residents are in favour of the congestion charge in their city, even though most of them were set against the idea when it was first introduced. We are convinced that Copenhageners will have a favourable attitude, once the city’s residents have experienced the benefits of the congestion charge.

A congestion charge is not a ban against cars. We fully recognise that many of the city’s residents and many of those who commute to the city each day need a car. The same can be said

DF is like the bogeyman and the Big Bag Wolf rolled into one.

Funny thing is that DF has never held political power. But let’s blame DF anyway. It’s far easier to blame the bogeyman than to

look at the society that created the bogeyman in the first place.

Nebs By website World Championship a hit “I think it’s great that we have this event. I don’t care about the effect on the traffic.” Spoken like a true Dane. That’s not a compliment.

Shufflemoomin By website Most of the barriers were unnecessary. Only the mums and dads of the Danish riders turned up.

The rest went to work for the state as usual.

Npandjmclay By website Didn’t I read that it was estimated to bring 30,000 people to the city?

So in other words, “the world’s second most important bicycle road race” attracts as big a crowd in a week as your average weekend English PL (football) game does on a day. And what is it with Danes and their love of sport, yet total disinterest in actually physically following it? The handball attendances always make me laugh.

Games played in halls that look like school gyms with a handful of spectators, yet these are reported on by the Danish media as if they are world sporting events. Gotta love this place!

Nebs By website How long to form government Four days isn’t really very long in a European context - and it isn’t as if the country is without a government in the meantime.

It took nearly four months to form the current Dutch cabinet

(which is admittedly a little excessive), but the obsession with finalising coalition agreements with all possible haste seems to be uniquely Anglo-Saxon.

2830 By website Fatty food tax Ridiculous! The joke will be on society, of course, as the population continues to gorge on less expensive refined sugar and carbohydrates and piles on the extra weight.

MissFuzzy By website Here we bloody go! This ridiculous joke of a country will be rid of another tax payer very soon.

Not only because my cream buns are going up, I might add! I wonder when the two-week rubbish collection and wheelie bin Gestapo will start slapping fines on pensioners for not sorting their waste.

Binno By website Yet another artificial tax put on residents in DK. Criminals in Christiansborg - doesn’t matter if they’re red or blue - they’re plain criminals.

Thorvaldsen By website Economic stimulus plans could be harmful So, the plan is to sit and aggressively wait for consumers to start spending their savings. That assumes the economy’s capacity will remain unscathed, which is hard to believe. Put into other words: which businesses will be left by then?

Juliolema

By website

Seems likely that the Central Bank had more than a hand in shaping the Danish economy oh, yes, and the boss is unelected. (No surprise there then.) He obviously likes to keep the krone linked to the euro, ensuring that Danish export prices are uncompetitive and interest rates are determined by Frankfurt. If someone, anyone can get a moment in his presence, could they point out that Danish industry is going south and private sector jobs are disappearing fast? Cutting government spending on welfare makes sense, of course, but what about reducing the size of local government? Who needs so many councils and local tax offices? Take a look at conurbations in Europe with populations the same size as Denmark.

How much local government do they use? npandjmclay By website Rental problems Why don’t you write about the accommodation situation in Copenhagen? I’ve just read that last month there was a record high number of apartments for sale on the internet (75,000) while at the same time renting an apartment (even at inflated prices) at the moment is virtually impossible (for non-Danish non-couples). Quite a lot of my friends, be it students or working engineers, just cannot find any place to rent.

Michal Vilhelm Jørgensen

By Facebook

OPINION

THE COPENHAGEN POST CPHPOST.DK

30 September - 6 October 2011

9

Pernickety Dicky

BY RICHARD STEED English my nature – Danish at heart. Freelance journalist Richard Steed has lived in Copenhagen for nearly five years now. “I love this city and want Copenhagen to be a shining example to the rest of the world.”

Helping the drug addicts

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LIVE JUST off Istedgade, an infamous street near the centre of Copenhagen, which includes a peculiar mix of hookers, pimps, dealers, cool hip people, drug addicts and tourists! Every day I have the pleasure of cycling down this bustling street, and every time I do, I am constantly amazed at some of the things I get to witness.

As I whizz through Istedgade on my bike, I know that at any point of the day or night, I am guaranteed the wonderful opportunity of seeing a drug-user injecting themselves in some doorway or stairs.

I often wonder what the tourists must think when they leave their hotel and walk this diverse neighbourhood in Vesterbro and suddenly come face to face with a needle and a drug addict. I am sure for tourists, especially those with children, it is a shocking experience.

Even the current Lonely Planet Guide to Copenhagen has something to say about this rather sad spectacle: “Since the police clamped down on official drug facilities, the junkies have taken to the streets here, which makes for a fairly shaming spectacle in a city so supposedly advanced in its social provision.”

Now before I give you the wrong impression – this article is not a rant against drug addicts. Far from it, I have complete empathy for their nightmare cycle of addiction. Yet this public injecting in the street doesn’t make for a pretty sight. I’ve been told this has been going on for many years, yet finally there may now be a glimmer of hope with a new government in office.

If you look at the figures for drug-related deaths in Denmark they are pretty frightening. Each year about 300 drug addicts die from an overdose, which gives Denmark one of the highest mortality rates among addicts in Europe – surpassed only by Luxembourg and Estonia.

A daily dose of life on Istedgade: drug addicts injecting themselves in public

Many other enlightened European cities have already established injection rooms and the hard facts speak for themselves. They significantly reduce the death rates of drug addicts, while crime rates in these drug-ridden areas have decreased.

Across the world, there are already 92 different injection rooms operating in cities like Hamburg, Barcelona, Amsterdam and Vancouver – so why not in Copenhagen?

Earlier this year, a new initiative nearly got off the ground in Vesterbro, with the proposal of a private injection room for addicts. Though at the last moment, the project was deemed illegal

At any point of the day or night, I am guaranteed the wonderful opportunity of seeing a drug-user injecting themselves in some doorway and local residents breathed a collective sigh of relief. Obviously the idea was a good one, but being located in the basement of a residential building, it was al-

ways going to be controversial.

The old government made it illegal to set up registered injection rooms – hence the idea of a private dwelling.

Thankfully another new initiative was launched a couple of weeks ago that hoped to bypass this prehistoric ruling.

Two out-of-service ambulances were put back into service and are now being used as mobile injection rooms for drug addicts.

The vehicles, which were donated by the privately-owned emergency service company Falck and include a team of volunteer doctors and nurses, are finally offering a safe place for addicts to inject in the Vesterbro district.

(Though I am told this is now in the courts to see if mobile injection rooms are technically legal!)

Following the change of government, this issue could finally be resolved and some dignity given to everyone concerned. Both the Social Democrats and Socialist People’s Party have promised to legalise injection rooms, so it’s fingers crossed they will keep to their word.

And before we all dismiss drug addicts as just a waste of space, take a moment to think about your own addictions. Maybe your addiction is sugar, salt, cigarettes, alcohol, extreme sports, the gym, internet porn or whatever. We’re all addicted to something. I just count myself lucky that I don’t have to satisfy mine in a doorway of a busy street.

CPH POST VOICES

‘STILL ADJUSTING’

‘TO BE PERFECTLY FRANK’

‘MACCARTHY’S WORLD’

‘SO SAYS CELIA’

A proud native of the American state of Iowa, Justin Cremer has been living in Copenhagen since June 2010. In addition to working at the CPH Post, he balances fatherhood, the Danish language and the ever-changing immigration rules. Follow him at twitter.com/justincph

Born in 1942 on the Isle of Wight, Englishman Frank Theakston has been in Copenhagen 32 years and is on his second marriage to a Dane. Frank comes from a different time and a different culture – which values are the right ones today?

Clare MacCarthy is Nordic correspondent for The Economist and a frequent contributor to The Financial Times and The Irish Times. She’ll go anywhere from the Gobi Desert to the Arctic in search of a story. The most fascinating thing about Denmark, she says, is its contradictions.

Celia Thaysen is a British love refugee who landed on these shores six years ago. With below-par Danish, a tendency to tardiness, and a fondness for Marmite, she spends her time fumbling her way through unfamiliar territory as a working mother-of-two with a house in the ‘burbs.

10 News

The Copenhagen Post cphpost.dk

30 September - 6 October 2011

Climate commissioner calls out ‘anti-science’ US Climate sceptic Lomborg Connie Hedegaard says America’s “anti-science” Republicans are delaying effective climate solutions

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U climate commissioner Connie Hedegaard had strong words for the US – especially the country’s political opposition and conservative presidential candidates – for refusing to take responsibility for climate change.

“I’m shocked that the political debate in the US is so far away from the scientific facts,” Connie Hedegaard, a member of Denmark’s Conservative party, told Politiken newspaper last weekend. “It’s difficult to see the bright side” in the American climate debate, she added. ”When more than 90 percent of researchers in the field are saying that we have to take [climate change] seriously, it is incredibly irresponsible to ignore it. It’s hard for a European to understand how it has become so fashionable to be antiscience in the US,” Hedegaard told Politiken. “And when you hear American presidential candidates denying climate change, it’s difficult to take.”

Hedegaard was in the US last week to meet with world leaders gathered for the UN General

Assembly in New York and to formulate plans for COP17, the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference to be held in Durban, South Africa, at the end of November.

The climate took a back seat to war, recession, and economic growth in US president Barack Obama’s speech to the UN General Assembly, although he did acknowledge that the major economies must “follow through on the commitments that were made” regarding carbon dioxide emission reductions.

In a private meeting with Hedegaard, the US special envoy for cimate, Todd Stern, said he was “hoping for success” at COP17. But Stern stopped short of specifying how the US would support climate solutions.

If there is any light at the end of the tunnel in terms of US support for climate initiatives, Hedegaard said it is at a state level and among businesses.

“There are governors in the individual states who can see that there are opportunities to create green-energy jobs. You also see a new attitude in industry. Before the economic crisis lots of people thought changes were unnecessary. But now lots of them are irritated that more isn’t happening,” she said. “The next few years will determine who will be the world’s strategic leaders for the 21st century.

New government plans to remove special funding to conservative commentators to save 100 million kroner

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Hedegaard said many US governors and businesses understand the climate crisis even if Republican presidential candidates do not

I think it is very, very crucial that science continues to be the basis for the decisions the US makes.”

She predicted that COP17 will end – like COP16 in Cancún, and COP15 in Copenhagen – without binding agreements. As the then Danish climate and energy minister, Hedegaard was the official host of COP15.

“We can read the political situation in the US. The fact is that the US is not going to move to that side at the Durban meetings,” she said.

Nevertheless, Hedegaard is hopeful that the 27 EU member

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states and other western countries will continue their efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and may manage to lay the groundwork for a globally binding agreement.

“The EU together with the developing countries is trying to push things a little further,” Hedegaard said, adding that the big hurdle would be getting China and the US to commit to making carbon reductions.

“In Durban we will attempt to lay out a plan with deadlines for when we will arrive at a legally binding agreement that includes both the US and China,” she added.

he economist and climate change sceptic Bjørn Lomborg will lose the nine million kroner he receives every year to run the Copenhagen Consensus Center under the new government.

“We will prioritise differently than the previous government has done,” Ida Auken from the Socialist People’s Party said, according to state broadcaster DR. “We won’t be doing favours for our friends and running our fiscal policy according to ideological causes. We won’t be making special allowances for researchers,” she continued. “They will have to find their funding elsewhere.”

Lomborg’s organisation receives funding through a special concession in the previous government’s budget. It is these special funding concessions – to groups favoured by the previous government – that Auken wishes to abolish.

“Researchers should get their money through the systems that we already have in place. It’s been very strange that particular researchers have received special

We won’t be doing favours for our friends and running our fiscal policy according to ideological causes treatment due to ideology. We’re going to run fiscal policy differently,” Auken said. “We’re not persecuting anyone. We just want to use the money differently.”

The decision to cut governmental funding to conservative commentators to save 100 million kroner was presented this spring by the Social Democrats and the Socialist People’s Party in their joint economic proposal.

The Social Democrats would not comment on whether they will cut the funding due to the ongoing government negotiations.

“We’re negotiating the government, which includes the budget,” Social Democrat environmental spokesperson Mette Gjerskov said, according to DR. “Our starting point is that money which is given to people who do not agree that there are climate change problems should be chucked out.” (PS)

Popular café bans breastfeeding Indiscreet mums force Spisebaren to implement no-nursing policy but Illum caves to criticism

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Jennifer buley

O

ne of the city’s most popular meet-up places for new mothers is going boob-free.

After redesigning its in-store café, the management of Spisebaren at Illum department store in Copenhagen’s bustling Strøget retail district has expressly asked new mothers not to nurse on the premises.

“It’s just not something everyone wants to see, and we understand how they feel,” Mikkel Shafi, Spisebaren’s manager, told tabloid B.T. Shafi, himself a father of four, explained that the total ban came after the indiscreet breastfeeding of a handful of new mothers.

“Some are able to do it discreetly, but there are others that just plop out their breast and do it in front of everyone. It’s just not attractive.”

He added that the café preferred not to ban nursing entirely, but decided that it was too difficult to make a subjective decision about what was discreet and what wasn’t.

Shafi underscored that the ban was purely a business decision. In addition to scaring customers off, he said the mothers’ groups spent comparatively less than other customers.

“With all due respect, they come here for a few hours with

The cafe owner’s decision set off a heated debate online

Some are able to do it discreetly, but there are others that just plop out their breast their kids and their average purchase isn’t that great.”

Illum is currently in the midst of setting up a nursing room for its customers, but until then the store is asking customers to respect the no nursing policy.

Nursing mothers either need to give their child a bottle or leave the store to breastfeed.

Spisebaren’s decision has sparked off a storm of online comments on Berlingske’s website and on Facebook, where the

general opinion appears to be split between those praising the restaurant for standing up to the nursing mothers and mothers claiming discrimination.

In response to the debate, Illum’s general manager Søren Vadmand told Berlingske that the department store would expedite the opening of a new bar dedicated solely to nursing mothers.

“To promptly highlight the fact that breastfeeding women are welcome in Ilum, we will now open Mælkebaren [the milk bar],” Vadmand said.

Spisebaren is not alone in its decision to ban breastfeeding mothers. Several other city cafés and restaurants have either banned nursing outright or asked nursing mothers to respect the wishes of other customers. (KM)

community

The Copenhagen Post cphpost.dk

30 September - 6 October 2011

11

Theatre Circle raises the curtains on this season’s fairy tale-inspired line-up Photos: Clive Thain and Words: Ben Hamilton

As is traditional, the Copenhagen Theatre Circle have started their 2011-12 season with a bang, celebrating the occasion with a fairy tale-themed party at the bar attached to Krudttønden theatre in Osterbrø. The Copenhagen Post’s Clive Thain was there to ensure everything ended happy ever after. Showing off more than her mimicry in this photo is the CTC’s Tina Juul. “Once upon a time,”Clive was heard to mutter This year’s most authentic fairy tale line-up were (left-right) Simon Neubert-Luckner (possibly Badger from ‘Wind in the Willows’ – not sure how the bag fits in), Andrew Blackwell as he steadied his camera and clicked away.

(Robin Hood, the Errol Flynn version), Lise Hannibal (‘Puss in Boots’ or Robin Hood the Disney version), and Gaby Neubert-Luckner (‘Princess and the Pea’ – easy peasy that one).

They’re never short of entertainment at the CTC, which on this occasion included Steven Karwoski’s one-man show, ‘Are Ya Working?’ The American lives in Malmø and is the creative director of Other Fish to Fry Productions.

Maria Lundbye and Iven Gilmore might look like they’re preparing some sort of saucy suggestions game, or even auditioning to be the mice in the CTC’s Christmas production of ‘Cinderella’, but in actual fact this was a performance of ‘Post-Its’ by Paul Dooley and Winnie Holzman, a play about a couple who never speak and instead communicate through written messages.

Relaxation is the key to good acting: (from left-right) Julian Penketh, Maria Lundbye, Nathalie Bessonnet, Thomas Lundbye and Vibeke Nielsen.

Among the other guests enjoying proceedings were Maureen Egerup and John Shennan …

Patrick Stack and wife Eva …

The incredulous look on Iven’s face suggests Maria has written something that wasn’t in the script.

Also sedately enjoying proceedings are (clockwise from the left): Birgitte Månson, Syvain Verdier, Maureen Egerup, Ulla Kirstein, Frank Theakston and Arne Egerup.

Tina Juul and Shawn Pearlman …

and the positively elfish Eva Kristensen.

12

COMMUNITY

THE COPENHAGEN POST CPHPOST.DK

30 September - 6 October 2011

ABOUT TOWN PHOTOS BY HASSE FERROLD UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED

A Bulgarian Culture Day event at the Jewish House on Sunday included the display of an exhibition, ‘The Power of Civil Society: the Fate of Jews in Bulgaria,’ which describes how 50,000 Bulgarian Jews were rescued during the Second World War. Pictured here (left-right) are Israeli ambassador Artur Avnon, Bulgarian ambassador Ivan Dimitrov, Lyudmila Dimitrova, the director of the State Institute for Culture at the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Dr Albena Taneva and Rabbi Bent Lexner, the chief collaborators behind the exhibition.

The ‘Gaugin & Polynesia: An Elusive Paradis’ exhibition opened at Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek on Saturday, drawing a large crowd interested in learning more about the artist’s relationship to cultures outside of Europe. Pictured here are two of his Danish descendants, Maria Gauguin (centre) and her daughter, with Maria’s husband, Michel Yieng Kow, who is curiously actually from Tahiti, the island her ancestor is most often associated with.

British cyclist Mark Cavendish, who won the UCI Road Race World Championship on Sunday (or at least it was him and seven other fellas, but he’s the one who gets the medal and the fancy jacket), laps up both the media and public attention.

British conceptual artist Damien Hirst (centre) was in town last week on Wednesday to visit a display of eight of his artworks at Arken. Pictured here with Hirst are (left-right) Arken chief executive Christian Gether, two cows in formaldehyde, and Jytte Dresing, a private collector who bought and then donated the works to the Merla Art Foundation.

There was no way out of the media crush for Kevin Costner who was in town last week on Friday to perform with his band Modern West. The guy on the right is the bodyguard, while Kevin appears to be writing a quick postcard for the postman.

‘The human comedy’ is a new exhibition at Statens Museum for Kunst that looks at the life and work of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, the French Post-Impressionist artist most usually associated with Montmatre and Moulin Rouge. Pictured here is museum director Karsten Ohrt.

Living in an Expat world Life is never dull at the national networking platform, Expat in Denmark. From questions regarding complicated tax issues to ones about the Danish psyche, Craig Till has heard it all. Here he shares his insights about the issues that mean most to our community.

I

Saudi Arabia has celebrated its national day last week on Thursday with a gathering at Park Hotel Hellerup. Pictured here are (left-right) Dr Asmat Mojaddedi, the chairman of the Muslim Council of Denmark, Saudi ambassador Mohammed Ibrahim Al-Hejilan and US ambassador Laurie S Fulton.

Venezuela’s charge d’affaire Roger Corbacho Moreno was among the speakers at an event at the Royal Hotel Copenhagen to mark the International Day of Peace last week on Wednesday.

REMEMBERED recently that is it the first that has left me scratching some 19 years ago I decided to my head in bemusement. campaign for a political party in the Where is the sense that the gods UK. No tub-thumping: just a rosy- have conspired to present a candicheeked, hirsute 18-year-old handing date upon the people? Where is the out flyers for a political party. icon, the symbol, the ‘something’ that I remembered because the party you can put on a bumper sticker that leader for whom I door-knocked, Neil tells you who <candidate X> is. (And Kinnock, is the now please: ‘12 minutes’ realfather-in-law of the new ly, really doesn’t count.)

Danish PM. In particuYet why should I lar I recall the two most miss it? Is this is a misscommon responses to ing ingredient in Danish the ‘Vote Labour’ flyers Does she actually elections, or an indicator I handed out being: “I’m know the Wall came that the electoral discusnot voting for a bloody sions can rise above the Welshman,” and “I’m down in ‘89? superfluous? Exceptions not voting for that ginare aplenty, but for me ger <insert rude name of it’s the latter. Voter choice>.” It is possible a combination turnout, which isn’t compulsory, is of the two were used on occasion. incredibly high and always has been.

This abrupt awakening to political Their knowledge of the key issues discourse on (northern) English door- is - to my mind - remarkably strong, steps played no small role in me leav- notwithstanding the best attempts of ing the UK and eventually ending up politicians of all hues to hoodwink the here in Denmark. And so, as Denmark voter with twisted statistics and tales of went to the polls, it gave me a chance “yesterday I met a …” One struggles to to reflect on Danish political culture. identify ignorance among the electorThis is not the first Danish election ate to the same degree one struggles to that I have followed closely, yet neither identify major (comparative to other

countries) ideological differences between the parties: the Danish political middle-ground stretches as far as the eye can see.

But … it’s their middle ground. I could live here for a thousand years, yet I’d still be throwing fruit at the screen. A thousand expats, a thousand examples: from “I don’t ‘get’ efterløn,” to “Don’t the rich pay enough as it is?” to “What percentage of the state is on income transfer?”, and possibly to “Does she actually know the Wall came down in ‘89?”

I’d love to vote in Denmark. One day I probably will. But before that point I wonder how much I lack the Danish values-set, and how expats passing through these shores can hope to strike a balance between the values they bring with them and the values Danes hold dear.

The average Jørgen and Bente on Denmark’s hovedgade didn’t have a word to say about the candidates’ appearance, regional ethnicity, hair colour, religion, youthful transgressions or gender.

Take a bow, Denmark. You did very, very well.

COMMUNITY

THE COPENHAGEN POST CPHPOST.DK

30 September - 6 October 2011

13

Nine-course Indian banquet to celebrate the return of the king JOHN THOPPIL Danish-based Keralites, from a state in the South of India, observe the festival of Onam, a holiday that marks the return of the region’s greatest ever ruler

C

OMPARABLE to Denmark in size and human development, the southern Indian state of Kerala is renowned for its yoga and ayurveda health resorts, tranquil backwaters and tropical rainforests.

Keralites celebrate a unique festival called Onam. The ten-day festival heralds the homecoming of the legendary king Maveli, during whose reign the land was blessed with abundance and people were free from want and inequality - much to the envy of the gods.

Dressed in traditional attire, his people welcome their beloved king with flower carpets in front of their houses.

The flower arrangement signifies unity in diversity - flowers of various kinds arranged to form a unique design when seen as a whole.

The highlight of the day is a sumptuous nine-course vegetarian meal with eleven essential dishes, served on a banana leaf. Community events such as snake-boat racing and cultural processions with decorated elephants, folk music and dance make Onam a gala event. The essence of the festival is a human yearning for peace and prosperity.

“Onam is a community festival that celebrates values like honesty, compassion and love towards one another,”

The diners included Father Vattaparambil (second left) and Professor Rajan Ambat (third left)

explains Father Eldhose George Vattaparambil, the vicar at the St Mary’s Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church on Bernstorffsvej in Hellerup. “These values transcend region, religion and culture.”

Coincidently, the description of Maveli’s land befits today’s Denmark.

Its people are the happiest on Earth and live in a society that is devoid of corruption and inequality. The Keralite community in Copenhagen celebrated Onam on September 10 at the summer house of Visagha and Max Lawsen.

“I’m not sure if Maveli would come this far to visit our house,” said Visagha, who works as a pedagogue in Copenhagen. “Nevertheless, my husband Max Lawsen loves Indian people and their festivals. We have been hosting this event for several years now, as an occasion for Keralites to meet.

Moreover, our Danish neighbours also enjoy it.”

COMING UP SOON The Bishops Arms, Ny Oestergade 14, Cph K; Thu 6 Oct, 19:00

Swaying a bit from their usual style, CTC is introducing an added twist. Deemed ‘poetry and pints’, the night welcomes anyone to come along and perform a piece of work that could be poetry, a short skit, a reading or anything of the like. Although there is no pressure to perform, anyone and everyone is encourage to participate and fill the evening with surprises and fun. Come for conversation and to hear about the latest Copenhagen Theatre Circle news, upcoming events and meet the committee. New and future members welcome!

Two-part workshop: Achieving success through goal setting

Books & Company, Sofievej 1, Hellerup; Wed 5 Oct & 12 Oct, 19:0021:30; Adm 600kr, includes drinks and snacks; sign up by sending an email to signup@booksandcompany.dk

This two-part workshop will teach you everything you ever want to know about goal setting and its link to success. The international speaker, executive coach and educator Jeneva Patterson, will teach you how to set goals for success that will lead you to achieving what you want. You will also get to explore the latest goal setting and goal achievement research

by Heidi Halvorson, a regu-

lar contributor to the Harvard Business Review and the Huffington Post. TK World Wide Photowalk 2011

Copenhagen’s Hovedbanegård, Vesterbrogade, Cph V; Sat 1 Oct, 14:00; sign up at www.meetup.com/photocph and worldwidephotowalk.com

Hosted by Photo Cph, Scandinavia’s biggest photography meet-up group, the world-wide photowalk will take place in Copenhagen this week as one of the group’s biggest events of the year. With a new route taking members right through Copenhagen city centre, the walk will feature exciting locations that many may have not wandered past before. Along the walk, participants will take photos of anything that inspires them to be submitted in the final competition. The winner with the most original and eye-catching photo of the Copenhagen walk will have his or her photo submitted to the final competition to win prizes including the complete Adobe creative suite, camera equipment and much more. The walk will set participants up with chances to capture busy daily life, street artists, secluded cafes and the busy market of the newly-opened Torvedhallerne. Come to compete, to expand your portfolio or to simply make memorable keepsakes. Afterwards, everyone is welcomed to relax and reflect on the day over a drink or coffee.

From Financial to Debt Crisis Lecture

The eleven dishes that made up the banquet

Denmark in 2004. Father Thomas Pulickiyil, a Catholic priest serving Jesu Hjerte Kirke in Vesterbro, summed it up: “The harvest festival of Onam is an occasion to thank God for the gifts he gave and consume it together.” That was done to the heart’s content.

The song of Onam “When Maveli, our King, rules the land, All the people form one casteless race.

And people live joyful and merry; They are free from all harm.

There is neither theft nor deceit, And no one is false in speech either.

Measures and weights are right; No one cheats or wrongs the neighbor. when Maveli, our King, rules the land, All the people form one casteless race.”

Disappointing start for Gaelic side

Skt. Petri Hotel, Krystalgade 22, Cph C; Wed Oct 5, 17:45-21:30; tickets 150kr members, 200kr guests, www. billetto.dk

JCI Copenhagen International invites you to their monthly meeting that will centre on the topic of global financial and debt crises, their causes and the consequences. The evening will include discussions on what the global debt crisis may mean and how it will progress in the future if there is no foreseeable end to it. Las Olsen, a household economist from Danske Bank, will be the speaker of the night. Dinner will be provided along with plentiful chances to network.

Chess for Kids and Teenagers Skakforeningen AS04, Frejasgade 14, Cph N; every Thu, 18:00-19:00; www.as04.dk

Every Thursday the chess club in Nørrebro offers lessons for kids and teenagers (6-16 years), including practical as well as theoretical instruction. Learn more about opening variations, combination-techniques, basic chess principles and how to make notes on a chess game.

Experienced chess instructors will show you the way to success. The first three lessons are free - after that membership at the chess club is 200kr for six months.

JESSICA SLICER

Priya and a flower carpet fit for a king

SCANPIX

Copenhagen Theatre Circle’s Monthly Meet-up

Visitors were welcomed by a welllaid flower carpet that inspired many a photograph. In the true spirit of community involvement, the eleven essential dishes were prepared by different families. It was delightful to see the meal served on a banana leaf, though the wait for dishes to be served one by one, had stomachs growling. And true to tradition, the meal was eaten with fingers, even by Danes.

The feast brought nostalgic memories of home to many, like Priya Jose, a nurse who works at Gentofte Hospital.

But for others like Dr Julie Royce, who is based in Frederiksberg, it did not.

Because, not even in Kerala, did she have such a good time during Onam.

“For a small community living far away from home, Onam is a reason and an opportunity to bond,” said Professor Rajan Ambat, an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the DTU, who came to

There were some new faces in the new line-up in Brussels

SEAN COOGAN

D

ESPITE high hopes, Copenhagen GAA had to acknowledge the importance of taking your chances – and having fresh legs on the bench – after a disappointing result at the Brussels seasonopener. The squad only had eleven players – two of which had been recruited hours before take-off to make their debut for the defending European champions.

Against Lifre in the first game, GAA were short of players – even veteran John Kelleher got called into the action – and nervous, making simple mistakes and missing soft chances. The physical French team quickly took the lead. Behind by four points

at half time, a stern team talk from commander-in-chief John Lambert rallied GAA into action. And with just minutes to go, they were within a point, thanks to a well-placed penalty by half-back Ger Harnett. But Lifre clung on, leaving GAA to regret missed chances.

And then Lyon in the second game had a lethal number 11 who scored point after point for his team, despite some brave efforts from Kenny Grogan and Lambert to stop the one-man-army. But then a debut-goal for Emil Boye and a brave fisted effort by Ger Harnett followed by an almost impossible point from the corner flag by Jakob Ostenfeld, saw Copenhagen lead by two points with only minutes to go. Alas Lady Luck was not on Copen-

hagen’s side as they conceded a last minute goal after an awkward bounce of the ball on the defensive line. This put GAA in the loser’s group with the losing teams from the two other groups, where they promptly demolished Amsterdam’s B team - thanks to goals from Sean Coogan, Grogan, and from debutant Jacob Ostenfeld – to set up a 7th/8th place playoff against Luxembourg.

While GAA dominated, they paid the price for missing two close-range efforts and entered the dying minutes just a point ahead. Luxembourg, sniffing an unlikely victory, launched a final raid towards the Copenhagen box, trying desperately to get the ball within striking-distance for a equalising point or even a goal to outright win the game.

And everything looked lost when a blocked pass landed at the feet of an unmarked Luxembourg player on the edge of the box. He pounced on the loose ball and took his shot, only to have it blocked by an airborne Kenny Grogan in a memorably heroic last second block.

The rebound then fell to Boye, who held on to the ball long enough to pick out the rapidly-advancing Coogan, who duly outsprinted all before him to convert – confirming that GAA on the day were at least the best of the rest.

14

sport

The Copenhagen Post cphpost.dk

30 September - 6 October 2011

Vikings rule at Aussie rules in Scandinavia, but are soundly beaten at worlds Danes punch two places above their seeding to finish a creditable eighth at the AFL International Cup

W

hile Denmark’s national football team is on the cusp of qualifying for another European Championship, the country’s Australian rules football side recently returned home after competing in the sport’s international showpiece.

The fourth edition of the Australian Football League (AFL) International Cup wrapped up in Australia when Ireland beat Papua New Guinea in the grand final at the world-famous MCG. Denmark was seeded tenth and finished eighth in the 18-team tournament.

As is often the case at such events, very few of the games were close. A midtable team like Denmark will invariably be thrashed or hand out a thrashing, and this was true in five of its six games. Only its first game - against a South African side that ended up coming fifth – went into the final period with the result still in doubt. Denmark lost 9-26, but then responded well by trouncing China 686, and winning the all-important battle of Scandinavia against Sweden 77-38.

Despite a 72-9 defeat to eventual winners Ireland in the next game, Denmark were still in contention to make the semis, but then a resounding 94-7 loss to sixth-placed Nauru (the Pacific’s nation’s national sport is Aussie rules) ended any hopes of bettering its 2002 finishing position of fourth. In their final game, the 7th/8th place play-off, Denmark were once again routed, this time 60-21 by Britain, although they did lead briefly in the second quarter before six third-quarter goals ended their bid.

While disappointed with the out-

Six third-quarter British goals ended Danish hopes in play-off

However, Denmark will be happy with eighth – two places above their seeding

come, there was some joy for the Vikings. Farum star Mathias Biron, 19, made the ‘world team’ - comprised of the competition’s best players. And the side’s coach Jim Campion was given an AFL Merit award for his service to Australian rules football with the national team and Farum.

The International Cup, which this year featured five women’s teams for the first time, is gaining credibility both in Australia and around the world. What started as somewhat of an experiment is now a key event on the AFL’s agenda.

“The competing countries have probably raised in the order of $4 million to get here and compete over two and a half weeks,” David Matthews, AFL’s general manager of national and international development, said.

“The AFL underpins a lot of the hosting costs and competition costs, which could extend to about $500,000, but to us it’s a cultural and sporting festival.”

globe with his family, more often than not marvelling at how the game had taken off in far-flung places.

“At the moment it’s grown [globally] purely from people’s love - they’ve found it on the TV, or the internet, or via a Playstation game, or travelled to Australia,” Kirk said.

“At the moment there hasn’t been a huge push, but I think slowly we’re starting to realise it’s everywhere.”

The story of Australian rules football in Denmark dates back to 24 May 1989 when Australian expat Mick Sitch placed an advertisement in a newspaper to see if anyone fancied a ‘kick’ at Faelledparken.

Only one Dane and one New Zealander showed up, but it was the first step of a journey that would later see the Danish Australian Football League (DAFL) become the largest Australian rules football league in the non-English speaking world.

From its modest beginnings, when there were just three Copenhagen-based

Decision follows board’s dismissal of his assistant for criticising majority shareholder’s meddling in the media

M

ichael Laudrup has resigned as coach of Real Mallorca, blaming a row with the Spanish Primera Liga club’s vice-president and majority shareholder, Lorenzo Serra Ferrer, over the club’s transfer policy.

Laudrup was publicly critical of Ferrer’s interference in late August, which led to several key players leaving the club and not being adequately replaced, and the final straw on Monday night when Laudrup’s assistant Erik Larsen was dismissed for “gross misconduct” following a five-hour meeting of the club’s board.

Larsen had over the weekend, in an interview with Danish sports website

Sporten.dk, described Ferrer as a “bad person for how he treats everyone at the club” who “wants to control everything in the club, but doesn’t know how to do it”, adding: “I will pay for your dinner if you find someone who can say something good about him.”

Laudrup then called a press conference on Tuesday morning at which he announced his resignation. “One of the important things in football is the climate in which you work,” he said. “You can win or lose but you need to enjoy it.

It cannot be that every day I go home frustrated and angry. Mallorca will be whatever Serra Ferrer wants it to be.”

Laudrup in early September described Ferrer’s transfer strategy as “improvisation”, his last-minute attempt to sign Nigerian striker Marvin Ogunjimi (a bid that was abandoned after the relevant paperwork arrived at FIFA headquarters seven minutes too late) as “playing with fire”, and Ferrer’s au-

Ultimately it’s not so much about results and winners. Sides are comprised of amateurs and Australian expats are strictly forbidden from competing. The Peace Team - a side made up of Israelis and Palestinians - finished 15th but won no shortage of admirers. The AFL views the event as a good chance to grow their domestic game globally.

The AFL has flirted with international development in the past. There’s been a handful of pre-season and exhibition fixtures in China, the United Arab Emirates, England and the United States.

For the most part though, international development is run by volunteers: homesick Australian expat football fanciers who believe there is a place everywhere in the world for Australia’s indigenous sporting code.

Brett Kirk, a former AFL player with Sydney, was the International Cup’s ambassador in 2011. He spent six months prior to the tournament traversing the thorisation of the transfers of Jonathan de Guzmán to Villarreal for €8m and Cameroon’s Pierre Webó to Turkish outfit Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyespor as “costing the team 48 goals”.

Furthermore, the addition of Argentine midfielder Fernando Tissone from Sampdoria and forward Marvin Ogunjimi from Racing Genk – both signed on the transfer deadline day – were both reportedly Ferrer’s choices, not Laudrup’s.

“What I cannot do is lie,” Laudrup told media at the time. “I can’t give the impression that nothing matters.”

Nevertheless, Mallorca have made a decent enough start to the Spanish season and are currently eleventh on six points after five games.

Laudrup, 47, who recently broke many Danish football fans’ hearts by ruling himself out of the running to replace Morten Olsen as national team coach next year, had been in charge at the club since July 2010, and last season Mallorca avoided relegation on the final day.

social teams, the league now has senior and junior clubs as far away as Jutland and Scandia in southern Sweden.

It’s reasonably impressive for a foreign sport, but where to next?

It’s quite difficult to imagine Australian rules football becoming part of Denmark’s mainstream sporting culture.

However the fact that there is genuine local interest in the sport - many teams are made up predominantly of Danes suggests it’s relevant and will not be entrenched on the sidelines forever.

Ultimately there will always be curiosity, given it’s such a unique game. Just recently the Trolls of Norway defeated Iceland’s Ravens by five goals in the first ever game played in Reykjavik.

And was the case with Stitch 20 years ago, Australian expats will generally be interested in having a kick.

The ultimate success of any international aspirations the AFL harbour may lie in just how many development dollars they can pour in. scanpix

Laudrup quits Real Mallorca Ben Hamilton

Michael Christiansen

Michael Christiansen

Rob Forsaith

Resignation will not affect Laudrup’s net worth, say pundits

Likewise Ferrer has been at the club for just over a year, during which time the club has been in administration after seeking bankruptcy protection and carrying out an austerity policy.

Laudrup was believed to have the backing of president Jaume Cladera, along with director Pedro Terrasa, but still decided to leave.

While former Athletic Bilbao coach Joaquín Caparrós has emerged as a

possible replacement for Laudrup, the Dane has been linked with a possible move to Bundesliga club Hamburg SV where he would link up with its Danish sporting director, Frank Arnesen.

Several football pundits, including the Spanish-based Viasat journalist Luna Christofi, had said before his departure that they believed Laudrup would have no problem finding another coaching job should he leave Mallorca.

Online this week Bronze beauty Christina Siggaard took home Denmark’s third and final medal of the 2011 World Road Championships last week on Thursday when the 17-yearold won bronze in the women’s junior race. Siggard was close to winning silver, but was edged out by Belgium’s Jesse Druyts in the final metres of the race.

Na says Ta-ta Denmark’s other two medals had come earlier in the week in the individual time trial discipline, in which Rasmus Quaade earned a silver in the men’s under-23 division, while 17-yearold Mads Würtz Schmidt captured the gold in the men’s junior division.

Chinese tennis player Li Na has parted company with Michael Mortensen, the Danish coach she appointed in April one month before winning her breakthrough grand slam title, the French Open. Na told media she did not like his “mild and gentle” way of coaching and that “he respected my

choice.” Since winning in Paris, her form had been disappointing: she lost at Wimbledon in the second round, and the US Open in the first. Mortensen, meanwhile, is believed to be the ‘mystery new coach’ of Caroline Wozniacki, a player he has previously worked for as a technical coach.

Unlucky 13

Unlucky 15

Danish golfer Thomas Norret blew a two-shot lead going into the final round of the Austrian Open on Sunday. The 37-year-old world number 173, whose only tournament win was in 2002, carded a 72 to finish fourth, three shots behind the eventual winner, after carding a double bogey on the par five 13th.

Nicklas Bendtner’s failure to score in Sunderland’s 2-1 defeat at Norwich City on Monday extended his goalless Premier League streak to 15 games – a run that includes the whole of 2011.

Most of his PL starts for Arsenal during that period were as a sub, and he has scored six in 15 games in 2001 in other competitions.

business

The Copenhagen Post cphpost.dk

30 September - 6 October 2011 scanpix

Employees to bear brunt of banking turmoil Battered Danish banks turning to job cuts to bring costs under control

Families foot the bill for corporate loans Private banking customers are paying the price for corporate customers’ loans, say analysts. In recent weeks, several banks, including Danske Bank and Jyske Bank, have informed private customers of interest rate hikes due to higher borrowing costs for the banks themselves.

According to new figures from Denmark’s central bank, private customers have deposited nearly 262 billion kroner more than they have loaned from the nation’s banks.

In contrast, businesses have loaned almost 208 billion more than they have deposited. But while business customers pay 2.7 percent interest on average, private customers pay 6.4 percent on average.

“When corporations fail, private customers pay the banks’ losses. It would be nice if the banking sector would just admit it,” Morten Westergaard, a partner in the banking analysis firm Mybanker, told Politiken newspaper. (JB)

it planned to acquire the leasing company Finans Nord from the Spar Nord savings bank and keep all 50 Finans Nord employees. Dam defended the decision as part of an “overall plan” of working towards reducing costs, while at the same time seeking to generate revenue.

Finans Nord has been a successful business unit for Spar Nord, but at a time when borrowing money was more expensive for banks, it chose to focus on its banking operations.

Jyske Bank is just the latest of the nation’s largest banks to announce that it was seeking to reduce the size of its workforce in order to deal with the rising costs of borrowing money and its falling income.

Danske Bank, the nation’s largest bank, said it does not have immediate plans to eliminate

employees, but it said it could reduce its workforce by as many as 1,500 over the next seven years through attrition.

On Wednesday last week, Danske Bank announced an interest rate hike as a way to generate more revenue.

Nordea Bank Denmark announced at the end of August that it would be cutting 2,000 jobs, including 650 in Denmark.

Here too, bank officials said that layoffs would be just one of a number of measures the bank takes to get costs under control.

“We’re gearing up to deal with the new situation in the market so our customers don’t wind up bearing the full burden of the bank’s increased requirements for borrowing and funding,” Michael Rasmussen, the head of Nordea Bank Denmark, told Jyllands-Posten. (KM)

J

DSB would neither confirm or deny the layoff rumours

Union: rail operator to lay off hundreds jacob wheler The redundancies of up to 1,000 DSB employees could lead to the termination of half its services

S

tate rail operator DSB is preparing a layoff round in order to deal with a revenue shortfall, the railway workers union has informed the media.

“I can confirm that hundreds of employees may be fired,” union chairman Ulrik Salmonsen said.

DSB would neither confirm nor deny that layoffs were pending, but chairman Peter Schütze said external consultants, working together with the Transport Ministry, have reviewed DSB in order to recommend how it can be streamlined.

Salmonsen told public broadcaster DR that he predicts that as many as 1,000 employees will lose their jobs. On the chopping block are between 234 and 544 locomotive drivers and between 70 and 500 con-

ductors and station employees.

He said that the cuts are a result of the approximately 800 million kroner shortfall following problems with DSB’s privatelyowned rail operator DSBFirst.

According to Salmonsen many conductors and drivers are already working overtime and the layoffs, he said, would leave DSB with only half the train personnel required by the current timetable.

Christian Roslev, DSB’s managing director, wants both a better financial outlook and more passengers. But that’s a tall order, according to Niels Lunde, a journalist and columnist for financial daily Børsen.

He said Roslev is stuck between a rock and a hard place.

“With the current government ownership structure and its political interference, it’s impossible to make a profitable business out of DSB,” he wrote.

“The railway workers union has decided to break the news of the layoffs right at the moment when the new government is being formed in the hope that

politicians will listen to them.”

DSB’s challenge is to put more trains on the tracks, even though the company faces deeper financial problems than Roslev foresaw when he took the job on August 1.

“I knew there were major financial challenges, but yes, it’s worse than I had imagined,” he said during a press conference last week on Wednesday at Copenhagen’s Central Station.

He emphasised that the company needs a workable financial situation.

“Customers are our most important assets: our customers ensure our survival,” said Roslev. “We shouldn’t run fewer trains, we should run more trains. That’s our goal, and we should work toward fulfilling the government’s goal of doubling ridership between now and 2030.”

“I cannot say that layoffs won’t happen. On the contrary, I can guarantee that we will do everything we can so that this doesn’t mean that we run fewer trains.”

Business lobby urges political truce on economy

T

he nation’s largest business interest group is calling on members of parliament to work together to pull the nation out of its economic quagmire.

Holding its annual meeting on Tuesday, the Confederation of Danish Industry (DI) warned both the incoming centre-left government and the outgoing centre-right coalition that their plans for salvaging the economy were insufficient.

“We can’t afford to let politi-

graph by marlene egerup

15

cians just argue with each other.

Our problems are too serious for that,” Karsten Dybvad, DI’s managing director, told 1,000 executives and lawmakers.

He called on lawmakers to seek a “national compromise” that could recreate the 175,000 private-sector jobs Denmark has shed since 2009.

According to a survey DI’s members carried out in advance of the meeting, one in three companies expects to lay off employees during the fourth

quarter. DI forecasts that will amount to an additional 7,000 people in the jobless queue.

Dybvad said job creation was hindered by the perception abroad that Denmark was not an attractive place to do business or for foreigners to work.

“Denmark is seen by many as a closed country. That means we as a society have the most basic of tasks: to open Denmark.

We must seriously consider the signals we send abroad,” he said. (KM)

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BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN DENMARK

Lunch with Prince Michael of Kent, and The Genesis Initiative 3 October 2011 “The Genesis Initiative - Supporting SMEs in the UK and Europe” HRH Prince Michael of Kent and a delegation from The Genesis Initiative are in Denmark at the invitation of BCCD-BIU. During their visit, they will be sharing information on the focus areas and successes they have had in a UK context, discussing the impact of Europe on the success of SMEs, and seeking common areas of interest with Denmark.

The aims of The Genesis Initiative include promoting a more business friendly environment for SMEs, reducing regulation and simplifying taxation for small business owners.

Programme 12:30 – 14:45 including: 13:05

HRH Prince Michael of Kent, Founding Patron of The Genesis Initiative

13:10

Presentations from the Genesis delegation Alan Cleverly, OBE, CEO of the Genesis Initiative: "Genesis, Structured to deliver" Moonpal Singh Grewal, Chairman of the Genesis Entrepreneur Group: "Entrepreneurial perspective" Dr David Doyle, European Advisor to the Genesis Initiative: "European aspect and involvement"

13:30

3 course served lunch and opportunity for discussion

Lunch with Susan Haird, Deputy Chief Executive, UKTI 6 October 2011 How Trade & Investment will assist UK economic recovery Susan has been Deputy Chief Executive of UKTI since April 2004. She is in charge of Strategy, human resources, the international network and the economics function. Come & hear about:

Euro EUR

Japan Yen JPY

Russia Rubles RUB

Sweden Kronor SEK

Switzerland Francs CHF

UK Pounds GBP

United States Dollars USD

5.21

7.34

0.06

0.16

0.78

5.97

8.43

5.37

5.63

7.57

0.07

0.18

0.82

6.17

8.74

5.63

Price in kroner for one unit of foreign currency

yske Bank has announced that it is seeking to reduce the size of its workforce by 6.5 percent as part of an effort to save 400 million kroner annually.

Some 150 employees lost their jobs effective immediately last week on Thursday, when the bank also announced it was closing six of its branches in the Jutland area. Another 100 positions will be eliminated, but the bank said it hoped most of those job losses would occur through natural attrition.

Jyske Bank, the country’s third largest bank, reported profits of 318 million kroner for the first six months of 2011 and has been criticised for eliminating jobs before it was necessary. But according to managing director Anders Dam, the layoffs come after the bank’s growth predictions for the coming year proved to be “over-optimistic”.

“We didn’t expect to have to pay for other banks’ problems,” Dam told Jyllands-Posten.

He added that although Jyske Bank was seeing an influx of new customers, just as many of the bank’s borrowers were paying off their debts.

As part of its savings package, Jyske Bank will also increase its interest rates.

But even as it was announcing layoffs, Jyske Bank also said

· UKTI’s new strategy · The importance of entrepreneurship and born global companies and the assistance UKTI can provide, · UKs positioning to stay on top as first European FDI destination · Ways forward to regain a sound economy · Time for questions Full details including location, cost and sign up information, can be found at www.bccd.dk

Date: 28 September 2011

• official media partner Denmark’s only English-language newspaper

THE COPENHAGEN POST SPOUSE EMPLOYMENT PAGE SPOUSE: Deepak Kumar Koneri FROM: India SEEKING WORK IN: Copenhagen QUALIFICATION: M.Sc in Electrical Engineering specialization in Embedded Systems (Jönköping, Sweden), B.Tech in Electrical and Electronics Engineering (Hyderabad, India).

EXPERIENCE: Worked as Electrical Distribution Design Engineer in Electrical Consultant company for more than 2 years. I was responsible from the start of design definition phase till the implementation phase of individual project.

LOOKING FOR: Full and part time job opportunity in Energy, Robust Electronics design, PCB Design, Thermal Analyst, Design & Modelling of power systems, power optimization, simulation and also in constructional, architectural consulting organization.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: English (Fluent), Hindi (Mother Tongue), Swedish (Basic) and Danish(Basic, Currently learning).

IT EXPERIENCE: MS-Office (word, Excel, Power point, Visio), CFD (Mentor Graphics FloTHERM, FloVENT, Noesis OPTIMUS, Electrical CAD, Assembly Programming (PIC 16f77, 8086,8051), WireMOM, Telelogic SDL-99, C and VHDL. CONTACT: konerideepak@gmail.com, 71561151 SPOUSE: Lena Schulz zur Wiesch FROM: Berlin, Germany SEEKING WORK IN: Copenhagen and Capital Region.

QUALIFICATION: Cand. scient. pol. from the Humboldt-University Berlin and London School of Economics.

EXPERIENCE: Seven years work experience from the German Parliament (EU-consultant) and as distinguished research associate at the Humboldt-University (urban planning). Strong analytical and inter-cultural skills. Team-worker.

LOOKING FOR: Jobs in consulting, public administration, politics, NGOs, international institutions or companies.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: German (mother tongue), English, Spanish, French, Danish (all fluently).

IT EXPERIENCE: Microsoft Office, CMS. CONTACT: lenaszw@web.de SPOUSE: Vadim Fedulov FROM: USA SEEKING WORK IN: Pre-clinical or clinical/ biotech or academia/ Copenhagen region (100km radius).

QUALIFICATION: Ph.D., Biological Sciences (2008).

EXPERIENCE: 5 years research experience in biotech and 6 years in academic settings. For full experience summary, please visit: http://dk.linkedin.com/in/drvadim.

LOOKING FOR: Position in research, project management, writing, editing, teaching, or new challenging career opportunities.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: English (native), Russian (native), Danish (completed Module1 at Studieskolen).

IT EXPERIENCE: Proficient in both Mac and PC OS, MS Office (Excel, Word, Powerpoint etc.), StatView, Adobe (Photoshop, Illustrator).

CONTACT: fedulov@gmail.com and mobile tel: +45 41 83 36 60 SPOUSE: Suheir Sharkas FROM: Syria SEEKING WORK IN: Copenhagen, Odense, Aarhus and the nearby areas of the mentioned cities.

QUALIFICATION: MBA–International Management, Bachelor in English Literature.

LOOKING FOR: Positions in Organizations/Companies in the fields of: Administration and organization, Event & Project Management, and Assistance Management.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Arabic: Native speaker, English: Fluent (understanding, speaking and writing), German: Fluent (understanding, speaking and writing), Danish: Basic 3.3 (understanding, speaking and writing).

IT EXPERIENCE: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Access, Power Point) and web publishing.

CONTACT: ssouheir@gmail.com, Tel: 533 721 20 SPOUSE: Chia-Pei CHEN FROM: Taiwan SEEKING WORK IN: Business Chinese/ Tutorial Chinese teaching in corporations, institutions or International schools.

QUALIFICATION: A certified teacher of teaching Chinese as a second language. A degree in Social Science discipline. Continuously participation in training program (organized by Beijing Hanban of CHINA and CBS) to teach Chinese to foreigners in western context. Enrolment to distance Chinese teaching education system that keeps professional Chinese teachers resourceful.

EXPERIENCE: I am a certified teacher of teaching Chinese as a second language to foreigners.

And I have started teaching Chinese with English in my class for 2 years. I design suitable materials to teach Chinese with different phonetic systems (PinYin for China and HongKong, and Mandarin Phonetic Symbols for Taiwan) as well as to interpret differences between simplified and traditional Chinese characters. My past positions were Chinese language-related, such as: reporter, translator and social science researcher. Students who I taught before regard me as a sincere, discreet teacher who helps learners to progress in short time.

LOOKING FOR: Business Chinese/ Tutorial Chinese teaching.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Chinese (mother tongue), English (Fluent), French (basic), Danish (beginner).

IT EXPERIENCE: Word Office, SPSS statistic software, Basic Video and Audio editing, Blog writing.

CONTACT: teacherchen@live.com, Tel: 25 81 65 18 SPOUSE: Francesco Grandesso FROM: Italy SEEKING WORK IN: Copenhagen QUALIFICATION: Constructing architect .

EXPERIENCE: 4 years at TFF Engineering 2005-2009, 3 years at ADproject 2002-2005.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: English, Italian & Danish.

IT EXPERIENCE: AutoCAD 2011.

CONTACT: grandessodk@gmail.com Mobile: 50110653 SPOUSE: Chiara Stevanato FROM: Italy SEEKING WORK IN: København or nearby areas QUALIFICATION: Bachelor degree in Physics.

EXPERIENCE: Now completing the Master’s degree in Physics at Københavns Universitet.

LOOKING FOR: Research in Physics. Research projects related to scientific areas.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Written and spoken Italian, written and spoken English, written and Spoken French, very basic written and spoken Danish (still attending a second level course).

IT EXPERIENCE: Operating systems: Windows, Linux. Programming languages: basic C, C++; Python.

CONTACT: chiarasteva@gmail.com. Tel: 41681741 SPOUSE: Katarzyna Szkaradek FROM: Poland SEEKING WORK IN: Mental hospitals, voluntary(Ngo) organisations, kindergartens, nurseries, babysitting QUALIFICATION: Ma in Psychology (2008), post graduate studies in psychotherapy (4th year/ 5 year).

EXPERIENCE: I am a highly motivated and creative individual with excellent communication skills.

From January 2010 till August 2010 I worked independly in private practice. For the last 2 years (January ,2009 -October, 2010) I worked with children (also with special needs -Autism, Asperger, Down syndrome etc) and their families as a psychologist. My duties included organizing games, monitoring children’s development , consulting teachers and parents where appropriate and providing individual therapy. For the last 10 years I was member of NGO organisation and I was a volunteer in Israel, Italy, Portugal and Romania.

LOOKING FOR: internship in mental hospitals, part –time or full time jobs in kindergartens, nurseries, job as a babysitter , voluntary job in hospitals.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: English–advance level (C1), Danish – (module 3 /module 5), Polish-native speaker IT EXPERIENCE: MS Windows, basic MS Office, Internet.

CONTACT: szkasienka@gmail.com tlf. 50828802

PARTNERS:

SPOUSE: Megan Rothrock FROM: California-USA,Via SEEKING WORK IN: Toy Design, Games Design, or Photography (Syd Denmark Jutland).

QUALIFICATION: Associate Arts Degree: Corporate Communication, Design, and Commercial Illustration, with a background in animation.

EXPERIENCE: Former LEGO Product Designer, LEGO Universe: Level Designer, European Bureau Editor Brick Journal Magazine. I have a strong knowledge of Toy and Gaming Markets. I am driven, enjoy solving daily challenges and I’m a strong communicator wanting to join a creative team of colleagues.

LOOKING FOR: Part/Full time work in an innovative and creative .

LANGUAGE SKILLS: English: native- Dutch: Excellent- Danish (currently in): Danskuddannelse 3, modul 3.

IT EXPERIENCE: PC and Mac- Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Flash, Dream Weaver, Director, Maya, 3D Studio Max, ML Cad, LD. CONTACT: megzter1@yahoo.com +4535140779 SPOUSE: Heike Mehlhase FROM: Berlin, Tyskland SEEKING WORK IN: A job opportunity in Copenhagen (administrative position, research assistant or psychosocial care).

QUALIFICATION: MPH, Master degree in Psychology, Lerntherapeutin.

EXPERIENCE: Five years experience in psychological research andchild psychology.

LOOKING FOR: Looking for: a position to expand my experience where I can use my excellent organisational, social and communication skills.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: German (mother tongue), English (fluent), Danish (Module 2).

IT EXPERIENCE: I am proficient in software such as word processing, spreadsheet, presentation software and basicgraphic editing programs (Microsoft Office, Open Office) plus statistical software (SPSS).

CONTACT: heike@mehlhase.info SPOUSE: Hugo Ludbrook FROM: New Zealand SEEKING WORK IN: Copenhagen.

QUALIFICATION: BA (1st Class Honours) in International Relations + BA in History and Religious Studies.

EXPERIENCE: Have worked in a wide variety of organisations with focus ranging from the organics sector, to international development, to company directors, to work with the United Nations.

LOOKING FOR: Research, writing, editing and/or communication work.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: English (Fluent), French (Good), Danish (Basic).

IT EXPERIENCE: Strong MS Office, Outlook and Excel Skills.

CONTACT: hugo.ludbrook@hotmail.com SPOUSE: Barbara Liengaard FROM: Germany SEEKING WORK IN: (Greater) Copenhagen and surroundings.

QUALIFICATION: Bachelor degree in Business Administration (Germany/France).

EXPERIENCE: Profound 10-years’ working experience in strategic and operational marketing, product/brand and project management from different big globally acting companies (automotive supplier, white goods and medical industry), working/cultural experience from different countries (Germany, France, Spain, U.S.A., U.K., China, Denmark), first working experience in Denmark.

LOOKING FOR: A challenging job opportunity in e.g. marketing, product/brand and/ or project management, import/export; preferably in an international-minded working environment or with particular need for German.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: German (mother tongue), English (fluent), French (fluent), Danish (PD3 Prøvebevis), Spanish (good).

IT EXPERIENCE: MS Office (Outlook, Power Point, Excel, Word), SAP (CMD-AP).

CONTACT: babolz@yahoo.com SPOUSE: Miss Marta Guerrero FROM: Spain SEEKING WORK IN: Great Copenhagen QUALIFICATION: Bachelor of English teacher for Primary Education. Bachelor of Psychologist for Education.

EXPERIENCE: Over the past five years I have worked in a Primary School in Barcelona as English teacher for children from 6 to 11 years old. Moreover, last year I gained experience teaching Spanish, as a foreign language, in the UK. I also have some experience teaching adults.

LOOKING FOR: Full time position as Spanish or English teacher in a Kindergarden, a Primary School or in a High School.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Spanish and Catalan (mother tongue). English (fluent speaking and writing).

IT EXPERIENCE: A good user of all the basic computer knowledge (Word, Excel, Power Point,...) as well as blog and web publication and maintenance.

CONTACT: martaguerrero13@gmail.com SPOUSE: Lillian Liu FROM: Taiwan SEEKING WORK IN: Marketing/Public Relations.

QUALIFICATION: Bachelor of Foreign Language and Literature (Major in English, and minor in French) EXPERIENCE: 5+ years of professional experiences in Marketing and PR. I am a dynamic and creative marketing communications talent with substantial international working experience in large corporation and in agencies, possessing Integrated Marketing Communication ability.

Proficient in analyzing market trends to provide critical inputs for decision-making and formulating marketing communication strategies. Familiar with brand image build-up, channel marketing, media communication, issue management, etc. Possess in-depth understanding/knowledge of APAC market and Chinese culture.

LOOKING FOR: Marketing jobs in Jylland.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Mandarin Chinese, English, Danish, French.

IT EXPERIENCE: Familiar with Windows O/S and MS Office.

CONTACT: sugarex@hotmail.com SPOUSE: Andrea Heilmann FROM: Germany (Marburg) SEEKING WORK IN: Greater Copenhagen QUALIFICATION: Communications Manager & PR Consultant.

EXPERIENCE: I successfully work as Communications Consultant for a global company and have more than 10 years of experience with company communication and public relations as well as event management, executive assistance and project coordination. I also have a strong crosscultural understanding since I always worked with different cultures from all over the world.

LOOKING FOR: Communications, Public Relations or Event Management job.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: English (fluent), German (native).

IT EXPERIENCE: Microsoft Word, Power Point, Excel, Outlook; Lotus Notes; CMS; Acrobat Writer; PaintShop Pro. CONTACT: andrea_heilmann@web.de, cell phone +49 160 3534209 SPOUSE: Isabel Douglass FROM: San Francisco-USA SEEKING WORK IN: Music Education QUALIFICATION: BA in Music.

EXPERIENCE: 10 years of internationally touring performances and 7 years of accordion teaching experience.

LOOKING FOR: I offer piano accordion lessons to individuals and small groups. In the courses students will learn a repertoire of songs ranging in styles including French musette, Argentine Tango, and Klezmer while strengthening there technique and understanding of music theory.

Please visit www.myspace.com/isabeldouglass to learn more about me.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Native English Speaker.

CONTACT: isabeldouglass@gmail.com Phone: 60653401

SPOUSE: Pooja Nirwal FROM: New Delhi, India SEEKING WORK IN: Copenhagen and Capital region.

QUALIFICATION: Masters (M. Sc) in Environmental Science, +2 yrs of Exp. as Env. Consultant in the field of Environmental Impact Assessment.

LOOKING FOR: Positions in Consultancies/Organizations/NGOs working in the field of Environmental Science (Climate Change, EIA, Env. Compliance Audits, Solid Waste Management etc.).

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Fluent in English, Hindi and Sanskrit, Started learning Danish.

IT EXPERIENCE: MS Office (PowerPoint, Word, Excel).

CONTACT: poojadahiya1@gmail.com, +45 503 904 60 SPOUSE: Stephanie Bergeron Kinch FROM: USA SEEKING WORK IN: The Copenhagen area.

QUALIFICATION: Several years of experience writing for newspapers, magazines, and Web sites.

M.S. in Media and Communications with focus on social media.

LOOKING FOR: Full-time or freelance writing and communication jobs (copywriting / journalism).

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Native English, Conversational Danish and Spanish.

IT EXPERIENCE: Professional use of on-line social media, Microsoft Excel, PhotoShop, InDesign, Mac and PC operating systems.

CONTACT: www.stephaniekinch.com or http://dk.linkedin.com/in/stephaniekinch SPOUSE: Cindy Chu FROM: Hong Kong SEEKING WORK IN: Anywhere in Denmark.

QUALIFICATION: MSc in Marketing from Brunel University (West London), B.A. in English for Professional Communication from City University of Hong Kong.

EXPERIENCE: 4 years experience on strategy planning in marketing, project management and consumer research. I have 3 years experience working in global research agency as a project manager and a research executive for multinational marketing projects. I worked closely with marketing team for data analysis and delivering actionable insights. I am familiar with working with staffs and clients form different countries. I have also as a PR officer in a NGO for 1 year.

LOOKING FOR: Jobs in project management, marketing and PR field.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Cantonese (Mother tongue), Mandarin (Native speaker), English (Professional), Danish (Beginner).

IT EXPERIENCE: MS Office, SPSS, Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator.

CONTACT: chocolate3407@gmail.com, +45 22 89 34 07 SPOUSE: Magda Bińczycka FROM: Poland SEEKING WORK IN: Sjælland QUALIFICATION: M.A. in philosophy, pedagogy ( postgraduated diploma) ,5th year of history of art ( Master Program).

EXPERIENCE: Independent curator 2009- present, art catalogues editor (English&Polish versions) 2009-present, art critic 2005-2010, art and English teacher for children 2005-2010, English tourist guide 2010, gallery assistant 2004/5 and 2009.

LOOKING FOR: Job as a curator, coordinator, gallery assistant, event organizer, English tourist guide, art history teacher.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: English (proficiency), Danish (intermediate), Polish (mother tongue), German(basic), French (basic), Latin (basic).

IT EXPERIENCE: MS Office (Word advanced user).

CONTACT: Tel: +45 41 44 94 52, magda.binczycka@gmail.com SPOUSE: Simon Rigby FROM: United Kingdom (originally Scotland) SEEKING WORK IN: Jylland, Fyn or Sjælland (anywhere in Denmark).

QUALIFICATION: Secondary High School - 8 ‘Ordinary’ levels & 3 ‘Advanced’ levels achieved.

EXPERIENCE: Business Development, Sales & Marketing and Client Relationship Management specialist. 15+ years experience in securing ‘insurance and lifestyle benefits’ contracts with high volume and high consumer numbers within the Affinity Group Marketing sector from a wide variety of distribution channels including banks, financial institutions, large membership affinity groups and employers, credit card issuers and insurers. Highly accomplished and skilled at ‘low cost, high perceived value’ large scale marketing to B2B and B2C target audiences through both on-line and other direct marketing channels. Entire career spent in the banking, finance and insurance sectors the latter of which I have spent in the UK employment of 3 of the top 4 global insurance brokers.

A team player and a ‘people person’ with the skills and abilities to easily and comfortably interact with individuals at all levels. Natural problem solver who sees opportunities rather than obstacles.

Simplistic and structured approach to finding straightforward and practical solutions to problems.

LOOKING FOR: A job within an organisation (financial services or otherwise) where my Sales & Marketing and Key Account managerial skills and experience are fully utilised and where I can provide a sustainable and tangible long term contribution to my new employer as well as to my new country within which I have chosen to permanently live.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: English (mother tongue) ; German (very good) ; French (good) ; Danish (basic, but currently enrolled on a ‘Danskuddannelse 3’ language course).

IT EXPERIENCE: Word - Advanced user. Powerpoint - Proficient user. Excel - Basic.

CONTACT: simon040561@hotmail.co.uk or mobile +45 60 16 80 40.

SPOUSE: Attila Simon FROM: Romania SEEKING WORK IN: Greater Copenhagen QUALIFICATION: International Welding Engineer (IWE/EWE), MSc in Welding Engineering, MSc in Flexible Manufacturing Systems, MSc in Quality Assurance of Metallic Structures.

EXPERIENCE: 10+ years experience in designing and manufacturing railway wagons, buses, trolleybuses and their subsystems. More than 7 years international project management experience in these areas. More than 2 years experience in industrial trading and investments.

LOOKING FOR: Transport, railway or welding related engineering job, also project management positions.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: English (fluent speaking and writing), Danish (intermediate), Hungarian (mother tongue), Romanian (native speaker).

IT EXPERIENCE: Several years experience working with SolidWorks, AutoCAD, ProgeCAD and VariCAD. User level of Microsoft Office.

CONTACT: attilon2@gmail.com; tel.: 28316752

Denmark’s only English-language newspaper THE COPENHAGEN POST SPOUSE EMPLOYMENT PAGE WHY: The Copenhagen Post wishes to help spouses looking for jobs in Denmark. We have on our own initiative started a weekly spouse job page in The Copenhagen Post, with the aim to show that there are already within Denmark many highly educated international candidates looking for jobs.

If you are a spouse to an international employee in Denmark looking for new career opportunities, you are welcome to send a profile to The Copenhagen Post at aviaja@cphpost.dk and we will post your profile on the spouse job page when possible.

EMPLOYMENT

THE COPENHAGEN POST CPHPOST.DK

30 September - 6 October 2011 SPOUSE: Francis Farias FROM: Venezuela (CPR number) SEEKING WORK IN: Greater København QUALIFICATION: Master in Spanish Studies from Universidad de Cadiz, Spain, as a Spanish Teacher and BA in Teaching English as a Second Language. Diplomas in Digital Photography (from Venezuela and Spain).

EXPERIENCE: 7 years experience as a teacher of English and Spanish at JMV University. Academic translator (Spanish-English/English-Spanish) and freelance photographer.

LOOKING FOR: Spanish language teacher, translator, interpreter, photographer.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: English, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish (native). Basic Danish.

IT EXPERIENCE: Office tools, Photoshop.

CONTACT: carolina1928@gmail.com, +45 50814073 SPOUSE: TEJA PRIYANKA FROM: India SEEKING WORK IN: Copenhagen QUALIFICATION: MBA in Finance and marketing , bachelor in Biotechnology.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Telugu(mother tounge), Hindi, English, Danish(biggnier).

IT EXPERIENCE: Familier with Microsoft office(word, excel,powerpoint,access, ), photoshop.

CONTACT: teja.priyanka.n@gmail.com SPOUSE: Vidya Singh FROM: India SEEKING WORK IN: Copenhagen, Odense, Arhus, Aalborg or nearby areas.

QUALIFICATION: Master in Computer Management, Bachelor of Science, Certified Novell Engineer, Microsoft Certified Professional.

EXPERIENCE: Total 8 years (4 year in telecommunication as customer care + 4 year as HR recruiter consultant).

LOOKING FOR: HR (Trainee/Assistant/Recruiter/consultant), Customer service, office work, IT LANGUAGE SKILLS: English, Hindi and Danish (currently learning).

IT EXPERIENCE: MS-office, Hardware, Networking, Intranet and Internet.

CONTACT: vidya.singh37@gmail.com, Mobile: +45 71443554 SPOUSE: Debasmita Ghosh FROM: India SEEKING WORK IN: Copenhagen QUALIFICATION: Master of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Pharmachemistry specialization) EXPERIENCE: 4 years in Clinical Research (Pharmacovigilance/Safety and Medical Coding) in a leading CRO (Quintiles) and 6 months experience as a lecturer for bachelor degree students in Pharmacy College.

LOOKING FOR: Job in pharmaceutical industry, CRO or any vocation suitable per qualification and experience.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: English (fluent written and spoken), enrolled for Danish language classes, Indian Languages (Hindi, Bengali, Kannada).

IT EXPERIENCE: MS Office Applications i:e Microsoft office word, excel, outlook, power point and tools, lotus notes, medical and drug softwares like micromedex and ISIS draw. CDM systems like ds Navigator-Medical coding tool and AERS database.

CONTACT: ghoshdebasmita@gmail.com, Mobile No. +4571488438 SPOUSE: Jennifer Bouma FROM: The Netherlands SEEKING WORK IN: Egedal Kommune, Copenhagen 30 km.

QUALIFICATION: Managers Secretary, hands on, reliable, structured, self reliant, social, teamplayer).

LOOKING FOR: Secretary job.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Dutch, Danish, English, German, French, Italian.

IT EXPERIENCE: MS Office ( Word, Excel), Outlook, SAP. CONTACT: jenniferbouma@ hotmail.com

SPOUSE: Ying Yuan FROM: China SEEKING WORK IN: Great Copenhagen QUALIFICATION: Medical Degree & Master in Human Nutrition EXPERIENCE: Practiced medicine for 2 years China 2000-200. Conducted a clinical trial for ½ year England 2008. Work in nutrition, pharmaceutical industry, food industry and health secto IT EXPERIENCE: I am experienced in Statistical software SPSS and MINITAB, Nutritional software NetWISP/WISP LANGUAGE SKILLS: Chinese, English and Danish CONTACT: yuanying118@hotmail.com +45 31 36 92 58 SPOUSE: Chao Wen FROM: China SEEKING WORK IN: Great Copenhagen QUALIFICATION: Language teacher (German, Chinese) EXPERIENCE: Teaching Chinese as a foreign language by offering company-course for 2 years, in Germany; teaching Chinese to native speaker in private school for 4 years, in Germany; teaching German as a foreign language by offering private course; exhibition interpreter; translator.

LOOKING FOR: Part time or full time in Aarhus, Language teacher, translator or interpreter LANGUAGE SKILLS: Chinese, English, German, Danish IT EXPERIENCE: Windows, Open office, Powerpoint CONTACT: wenlily80@googlemail.com tel.: 48417526 SPOUSE: Sadra Tabassi FROM: Iran SEEKING WORK IN: Copenhagen QUALIFICATION: Master of Business Administration (MBA) LOOKING FOR: Any full time job related to my qualification field LANGUAGE SKILLS: Languages Fluent in English; Native in Farsi (Persian) and elementary level of Arabic.

IT EXPERIENCE: Basic knowledge about computer (Windows), Office 2010 (Word, Excel, Power Point),Statistical software (SPSS) CONTACT: sadra.tabassi@gmail.com , Tel:+4550337753 SPOUSE: Mohammad Ahli- Gharamaleki FROM: Iran SEEKING WORK IN: Copenhagen QUALIFICATION: Master degree in chemical engineering.

EXPERIENCE: 5+ years as a chemical engineer in R&D oil/gas projects as a team leader or member in Iran.

LOOKING FOR: A position in an Intrnational company to expand my experience and expertise.

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IT EXPERIENCE: Professional (MATLAB, Hysys, Aspen plus, Auto Cad, others (Office, Minitab).

CONTACT: mohammad_ahli@yahoo.com, (+45) 71 63 12 85 SPOUSE: Christina Koch FROM: Australia SEEKING WORK IN: Copenhagen QUALIFICATION: Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and Drama, 1997 University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. Experienced actor and voice coach for speakers, with parallel high level experience in written communications.

LOOKING FOR: Voice coaching for corporate presenters and speakers, Writing and Communications work, work in theatre organisations.

IT EXPERIENCE:Microsoft Office, Office for Mac. LANGUAGE SKILLS: English - Native speaker, excellent written and oral expression. German – good reading and listening skills. Spanish – fluent oral communication, good reading and listening skills. Danish – beginners level speaking and writing skills.

CONTACT: Tel: +45 52 77 30 93 Christina@hermionesvoice.com, www.hermionesvoice.com.

17

SPOUSE: Weihua Xiao FROM: China SEEKING WORK IN: Great Copenhagen QUALIFICATION: Master in American Studies from University of Southern Denmark. Master in Education and B.A. In English. Diploma of Secretary. Certificate of Teaching Chinese as a Second Language from East China Normal University.

EXPERIENCE: Work in the fields of education, training, translation, interpretation, administration, Chinese (business) culture consulting. 8 years of full-time English language teacher in China. Work for a global company in Shanghai and Copenhagen as Personal Assistant to General Manager/ Secretary for about 2 years from 2009 to 2010.

LOOKING FOR: Chinese Language teacher, translator, interpreter, administrative position.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Chinese, English, basic Danish.

IT EXPERIENCE: A good user of Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel...).

CONTACT: weihua06@gmail.com +45 5048 9667 SPOUSE: Ieuan Jones FROM: United Kingdom SEEKING WORK IN: Copenhagen (Will travel if needed) QUALIFICATION: BA Hons and Professional Diploma, Town & Country Planning (Urban Design & 3rd World Development).

EXPERIENCE: Over 7 years experience working as a Development Manager for one of the UK’s leading health and socialcare infrastructure companies, developing new health and community buildings.

LOOKING FOR: Opportunities to transfer and develop my skills and knowledge in Denmark. Ideally a full time position but I remain realistic and my options are open. I am more than happy to take on a part time role or work placement while I continue with my Danish course.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: English (Mother Tongue), learning Danish at Studieskolen, Borgergade.

IT EXPERIENCE: MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint), Promap.

CONTACT: ieuandhjones@gmail.com Tel: +45 52 40 07 85 SPOUSE: Dolon Roy FROM: India SEEKING WORK IN: Sjælland QUALIFICATION: Masters in Science(Chemistry), BEd.(Teacher training course).

EXPERIENCE: St. John Diocessan School February-May 2005, Kolkata, India. The Assembly of God Church School April-May 2006, Kolkata, India. Disari Public School June 2006-October 2007, India.

Research project work Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Copenhagen University, March-July 2009.

LOOKING FOR: Part time or full time work teaching in primary,secondary or higher school level (Chemistry, Mathematics, Science).

LANGUAGE SKILLS: English, Hindi, Bengali, Danish (modul 3/modul 5).

IT EXPERIENCE: Microsoft office.

CONTACT: dolonroy2005@yahoo.com. Mob: +45 60668239 SPOUSE: S.M. Ariful Islam FROM: Bangladesh SEEKING WORK IN: Copenhagen QUALIFICATION: PhD student (2nd year) in Language Policy and Practice in Aalborg University, MA in Bilingualism, MA in English Linguistics, BA in English.

EXPERIENCE: 18 months as a University lecturer in English in Bangladesh. Taught advanced grammar, four skills (listening, speaking, reading & writing), ELT courses, Second Language theories, Psycholinguistics, Sociolinguistics.

LOOKING FOR: A position of English teacher/lecturer in English Medium Schools, Colleges and Universities.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Bengali (mother tongue), English (second language), Danish (fluent), Hindi and Urdu (Spoken) and Swedish (basic).

IT EXPERIENCE: MS Office.

CONTACT: Mail: ariful@id.aau.dk, arif401@yahoo.com, mobile: +45 42778296

Biotech Job Vacancies Denmark’s only English-language newspaper

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InOut

The CPH Post Entertainment Guide August 19 - 25

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page

G6

Restaurant

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Hvad tilbyder vi: · Et spændende sælgerjob i et internationalt miljø på en engelsksproget avis · Et udviklende job hvor du selv bestemmer hvor langt du vil nå · En god fast løn + en attraktiv provision · Fleksibel arbejdstid Send ansøgning og CV til hans@cphpost.dk mærk emne linje: Opsøgende salgskonsulent For mere information kontakt venligst Hans Hermansen, hans@cphpost.dk, tel.: 3336 3300

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18

culture

The Copenhagen Post cphpost.dk

30 September - 6 October 2011

How his mastery of the illogical instrument can restore our faith in humanity He’s an Italian living in Denmark who plays the bandoneon, an Argentine tango instrument that originated in German churches - a bizarre yet winning combination that has seen Paolo Russo become one of the country’s most acclaimed jazz performers

W

Listen to Paolo Russo play the bandoneon, and he might just help you see the light

sician. So we must respect them and give them a form of communication that goes beyond words and explanation.”

Russo is a man who lives in the moment and his music is a reflection of that. In the future he yearns for a simple life, where he prioritises and combines his

two great loves: travel and music. Even the bandoneon is a reflection of his simplistic ideology. “I’m playing an instrument that, even if the lights go off, I can keep playing. All you need is wind; it makes sounds that gives you emotions.”

In a country where con-

Who is ... Master Fatman? victoria steffensen He’s a DJ, TV presenter, director and singer.

Ulla Voigt

hen people come to see me they have to go home with a new perspective of life, where they feel more faith in human beings. You have to go home saying if this guy can move me with this music, then I can do my job better or I should find another job.”

It’s not often you come across someone with this much passion in their music, let alone this much confidence in their ability to move their audience.

But for rising star Paolo Russo, music has never just been notes on a page.

Russo is now stamping his own mark on the Danish jazz scene. His first album, ‘Alchemy’, was shortlisted as one of the best five Danish jazz releases of 2004. He’s collaborated with some of the biggest names from the country’s jazz scene and is highly renowned as one of the best bandoneon players in Denmark.

Born in the Italian city of Pescara in 1969 into a strictly non-musical family, Russo studied classical piano from the age of nine. Despite his age he wanted to do things his way - a trait that’s served him well in his musical career. “When studying piano I wanted to play pop songs along to the radio instead of the classical tunes we were taught,” Russo said.

After finishing school, Russo went down the pre-empted route and studied architecture.

Much like the piano lessons, though, he took his own road and despite his parents’ dismay, switched study routes to music.

He hasn’t looked back since.

It was a “dark December day in 1993 when I first set foot in this city [Copenhagen] and I loved it”, recalled Russo. He’s now spent a third of his life here, married a Dane and has no plans to leave. “The rational answer to why I moved here was due to the good schools I wanted to try. The irrational answer is that I had recurring dreams for many years in which I saw blonde children running around small strawroofed houses, while a voice kept saying: ‘Go to Copenhagen, you must go to Copenhagen.’”

In 1996 Russo was one of 34 out of 350 applicants who gained entrance to Copenhagen’s Rhythmic Music Conservatory where he took a stern attitude towards his studies. “Somebody pays for the students to study there - the tax payer - and therefore I was very serious and thought I better do things well.”

Studying at the prestigious school gave Russo a smooth integration into Danish society and therefore the music industry. “That was a wonderful hook for me because you have to have some kind of status here, and through the school I was able to gain that.”

Gaining ‘status’ in a country with such a high quality of musicianship is perhaps the biggest challenge any foreign musician in Denmark faces. Years later, and in spite of a strong piano background, Russo is now gaining further grandeur as one of the country’s best bandoneon players.

Commonly known as a tango instrument, the bandoneon originated in Germany in the mid 1800s to serve as a portable organ in churches. Through European emigration it ended up in Argentina and formed the backbone of tango music. It’s renowned as one of the hardest instruments to master due to the illogical nature of where the note buttons are placed.

Russo’s now pushing boundaries with the instrument, most recently performing a sell-out jazz concert with it. Unlike in Argentina, with its strong bandoneon tradition, Russo feels Denmark has a lot more room to experiment with the instrument.

This is “the natural path for the bandoneon”, he said. “This is a religious instrument that was turned into a tango one - that’s the antipode, the opposite - so why not add another turn. It’s the story of the instrument.”

Like his Copenhagen calling, the desire to pick up the bandoneon came in the form of a dream. “I got a shock when I saw it being played in Argentina, and on my return I dreamt about playing it in front of an audience for four nights straight without having even picked one up.”

It was during this period that Russo’s wife was diagnosed with lymphoid cancer. Russo figured if he could crack the illogical instrument it would also cure her illogical disease. Perhaps not surprisingly then, he mastered the badoneon and she made a recovery.

Russo performs almost exclusively his own projects now.

He understands when he plays live it’s about getting three key elements right. “I play the music, and the person at the same time starts vibrating with the music, so what happens is not me, and it’s not the music - it’s the interaction between the player, the performer and the audience.”

Russo feels that the humanity one gains through live performance can’t be found anywhere else. It’s the universal yearning for ‘live experience’ that he feels will never die despite how far technology takes us. “If people go out of their house on a cold night, there must be a reason: it’s the experience they get from the musical gesture that comes out of a mu-

Katrine Bach Hansen

Emily McLean

What was wrong with that name?

As a DJ, I guess he was looking for a name that the young people on the dance floors could relate to.

Looking at the picture, I’d say he appears too old to be trying to identify with young people.

Yes, he changed it a long time ago. Perhaps it’s time to change it back, Morten.

So, how old is he?

He decided in his 20s to never get older. Didn’t Joan Rivers and Zsa Zsa Gabor decide the same? Problem is, it doesn’t work. He was actually born in September 1965. Without the use of a calculator, I’d say he passed his disco-dancing days more than a few years ago

and languages and go straight to the heart of a person.” Russo will showcase his talent at Konservatoriets koncertsal in Frederiksberg this Friday in a show called ‘Jazz, Tango, and a taste of Italy’. Playing the bandoneon and piano, he’ll perform both solo and as part of a trio. See G6 for more details.

text 28 The Copenhagen Post Quick Crossword No 365 No 365

How would I recognise him?

He is, as his name suggests, well-rounded. He also sports a look that men with receding hairlines should avoid at all costs - growing what’s left of their hair really long and putting it in a ponytail.

Is Master Fatman his real name?

Funnily enough, no. His real name is Morten Lindberg.

formity is key, Russo’s proving that success can be found when one pushes the borders. He knows he’s unique, and he also knows that despite diversity and difference, music can sever any man-made prejudices. “Music is just frequencies - vibrations that cut through cultural differences

Isn’t he also a bit ‘large’ to be disco dancing anyway?

Possibly, but he doesn’t want to be any thinner. He says in his biography: “I don’t think it looks good being thin when you’re a man.” I’m not sure he’d find many women agreeing with him on that point.

Didn’t you say something about him directing?

Yes, I did. He directed a short film in 1992 called ‘Gayniggers from Outer Space’. I haven’t seen it, and can’t say I particularly want to.

Has he got children?

After his marriage in 2010, he was asked by Ekstra Bladet whether he intended to have children. “Yes, are you mad?!” he said. “It’s important that we put loads of children into the world.” And he was true to his word, recently having a baby fatgirl to add to a fatboy by a previous relationship.

Across

Down

3.

Plenty (9) 1.

Compile (9) 8.

Unctuous (4) 2.

Wakeful (9) 9.

Right side of ship (9) 4.

The two (4) 10.

Oration (6) 5.

Cool courage (5) 11.

Listened to (5) 6.

On ship (6) 14.

Sovereign (5) 7.

Remedy (4) 15.

Beloved (4) 9.

Twenty (5) 16.

Heather (5) 11.

Lift (5) 18.

Lawsuit (4) 12.

Respectful compliance (9) 20.

Clothe (5) 13.

Becoming louder (9) 21.

Spruce (5) 17.

Farewell (5) 24.

Calm (6) 19.

Appear (6) 25.

Extempore (9) 22.

Romulus’s brother (5) 26.

Sour (4) 23.

Portent (4) 27.

Ceaseless (9) 24.

Daze (4) Post Quick Crossword No 364 Across: 1 Cure; 3 Tomatoes; 8 Nips; 9 Sanction; 11 Looking glass; 13 Drench; 14 Proper; 17 Reservations; 20 Criminal; 21 Keen; 22 Extended; 23 Stir.

Down: 1 Conclude; 2 Reprove; 4 Orange; 5 Accelerate; 6 Omits; 7 Send; 10 Discretion; 12 Prisoner; 15 Protect; 16 Aviate; 18 Edict; 19 Ache.

30 September - 6 October 2011

Denmark through the looking glass The Copenhagen Post cphpost.dk

19

Scandinavian grudge match: a rivalry that has cooled but still continues Today Sweden vs Denmark is chiefly a sporting fixture, not dissimilar to siblings striving to better one another, but for many centuries the countries hated each other, endlessly fighting wars and disputing territories

A

Nobody in Denmark was expecting an attack by sea – the waters had been frozen for months!

Russia exerted greater influence on the Baltic, both Denmark and Sweden were forced to accept their marginalised places in a new Europe. Instead of looking at each other with jealousy and mistrust as they had done for centuries, leaders in both Denmark and Sweden began to look for shared interests and values, leading to renewed interest in Scandinavia as a political and cultural entity.

While it’s certainly true that a rivalry still exists between Denmark and Sweden, it’s now more the kind experienced by siblings. Sweden might remain the country the Danes love to hate, but it’s all pretty amiable now, even though some may have longer memories than others.

www.starch.dk

with both Britain and France an act of aggression. The subsequent shelling of Copenhagen by the British Navy pushed Denmark closer to Napoleon - a decision that would have dire ramifications.

Following Napoleon’s defeat in 1815, Denmark was forced to sign the Treaty of Kiel, yielding Norway to the Swedes.

Although the Norwegians soon claimed their independence, the loss of Norway was a bitter pill to swallow, more than halving the territory established by Queen Margarethe nearly half a millennium before.

Although there were minor border disputes throughout the 19th century, relations between Sweden and Denmark improved. As Germany unified and

wikipedia

sk any Dane what they think of Sweden and you’re likely to be met with a pause. Depending on who you speak to, this can be followed by a smile, a laugh, the rolling of eyes or even a curse. Similar to the relationship between Canada and America, or Australia and New Zealand, Denmark and Sweden share a special rivalry that manifests itself in a host of ways, most notably on the sports field. Unlike these other countries, however, Denmark and Sweden’s rivalry is seeded in a time when the countries were vying for supremacy, leading to centuries of war.

Formed by the ruthless political wrangling of Queen Margrethe, Denmark in 1397 pretty much was Scandinavia. With borders stretching from Greenland to the tips of Swedish Finland, Denmark was at the peak of its power. While the Union of Kalmar - which united the kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden - was initially agreed under the guise of mutual protection, bickering soon began and by the 1430s Sweden began to want greater autonomy. In 1523, under the leadership of Gustavus I, Sweden became independent, setting the stage for the problems that would follow.

The impact of the Reformation would be felt heavily in both Denmark and Sweden, and in 1536, King Christian III became king of Denmark, moving quickly to depose the Catholic bishops in Copenhagen. By 1559, Lutheranism was firmly established in Denmark and Norway, leading to close ties

between the Protestant kingdoms that lined the Baltic. In the Thirty Years War that engulfed most of Europe (1618-48), Sweden was to play a key role, leading to two short wars with Denmark that was to claim the provinces of Jemtland, Herjedalen, Idre and Serna, and the strategically located Danish islands of Gotland and Øsel in the Baltic Sea. With the balance of power shifting, there followed more than a century of unrest, with both Denmark and Sweden competing for influence over the Baltic.

By the middle of the 17th century it was clear that Denmark was losing the struggle. During the Second Northern War in 1658, King Carl Gustav earned his place in legend by successfully marching thousands of troops over the frozen seas separating Denmark from Sweden.

This famous ‘crossing of the belts’ took the Danes completely unaware, leading to the humiliating treaty of Roskilde in 1658. Following this, Sweden’s status as a European power was confirmed and they went on to establish trade domination over the Baltic as well as quasi colonies in modern day Estonia and Latvia, as well as parts of Germany.

Not content to see their one-time brothers in the ascendancy, the Danes leapt at a chance to attack Sweden again in 1700 in what would become known as the Great Northern War (1700-1721).

Prompted by the crowning of Sweden’s inexperienced King Karl XII, the Danes sided with Russia and Poland-Lithuania, and they together successfully forced Sweden to abandon her overseas conquests. Although Denmark pushed for the reclamation of her lost territories, this was unsuccessful. However, Denmark was able to begin its claim in the area now known as Schleswig Holstein.

During the Napoleonic Wars a century or so later, Denmark and Sweden were once again on opposite sides.

Denmark’s attempt at staying neutral backfired spectacularly when the British considered their attempt at trading

www.cozy-corner.com

Andy Rugg

www.klub37.d

Danish troops rally behind their flag – a familiar sight to the Swedes in the 17th and 18th centuries

WINE EVENT PAGE G3

TONY BENNETT PAGE G6

REPTILE AND TERRARIUM FAIR PAGE

MUSEUMS GO FRENCH PAGE G8

G9

BOARDWALK EMPIRE PAGE G20