The Copenhagen Post, June 17-23

COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY

The force was with the younglings at the X-Wing System Open Series event over the weekend. They didn’t care who won, just as long as they had a lightsaber 16

Hamlet Live is in full swing at Kronborg Castle, offering visitors a unique chance to listen to the Bard’s immortal lines in the very rooms in which they are set 19 SIMON CASPERSEN

ISTOCK

DANISH NEWS IN ENGLISH VOL 19 ISSUE 23

CPHPOST.DK 17 - 23 June 2016

TICK-TOCK

NEWS Copenhageners continue to feel extremely safe

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NEWS

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The missing thousands More foreign criminals and asylum-seekers are unaccounted for

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Danes want referendum as Brexit fever intensifies A week ahead of the allimportant vote in the UK, many say they should have the same option

OME 42 PERCENT of Danes would like to hold a referendum on whether Denmark should continue to be a member of the European Union or not, reveals a new

poll conducted by Epinion for DR. The figure has increased by 5 percent since February when 37 percent of Danes favoured a national vote on the EU. Kristian Thulesen Dahl, the leader of Dansk Folkeparti, believes the forthcoming referendum in the UK on June 23 has encouraged the Danes to believe the same could be done in Denmark too.

Majority says yes to EU ACCORDING to the survey, the number of Danes who would prefer to remain in the EU has declined from 56 percent in November to 44 percent today, while the proportion of those who would vote ‘no’ has increased from 31 to 42 percent.

Although a majority would still prefer to remain in the EU, Peter Hummelgaard, a spokesperson for Socialdemokraterne,

finds the results “worrying”.

“It would be an extremely bad idea if Denmark left the EU,” he said.

“Opting out of the EU is not in Denmark’s best interests. Our main export markets are in the EU, our economy is dependent on it and if we are to tackle all the challenges – whether it’s the refugee crisis, climate crisis, inequality crisis or tax havens – we have to do it together.”

Second most peaceful

Lowering the flag

Another chance to pass

Deluge on the way

DENMARK is the second most peaceful country in the world, just behind Iceland – the same as in 2015. The Global Peace Index measures the state of peace in 162 countries according to their “absence of violence and absence of the fear of violence”.

The report provides an analysis of the data, identifying peace trends over time, as well as the key drivers of peace.

HERNING Municipality in Jutland, in a bid to make cuts, will be lowering the Dannebrog at the end of the working day, not as night falls – a move that will save 200,000 kroner per year. The move was described to DR as “whipped cream on the cake compared to the core areas”. It is forbidden to fly the national flag at night. The move will not affect official flag days.

ACCORDING to Politiken, the pass rate of the Danish citizenship test last week was around 33 percent, and the immigration minister, Inger Støjberg, is prepared to give the flunkers a lifeline. Questions included when was the composer Carl Nielsen born and when did the first Olsen Gang film premiere, and it has been criticised for its excessive level of difficulty.

FOLKEMØDET (June 1619) is often referred to as the Roskilde of politics, but it’s not normally known for its mudbaths. But this weekend threatens to be a washout – and no, we’re not talking about the political kind. Heavy rain is forecast for both Bornholm and east Zealand on Friday, with up to 40 mm expected on the island and 25 mm in the capital.

NEWS

LUCIE RYCHLA

Outrage as women continue to pay more than men for similar items

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ONLINE THIS WEEK WELCOME House, the country’s first welcome centre for refugees, opened in Valby last Thursday. Volunteers and voluntary organisations are now in place to help offer activities and services to both children and adults. The centre has been developed by City Hall with help from the Tuborg Foundation.

Plans for LGBT community PLANS to build a community for LGBT people over the age of 50 in Copenhagen’s Amager neighbourhood have been announced. The housing association 3B is behind the project and said that the community will have about 30 dwellings.

The new community would not exclude heterosexuals, but they must accept the rules of the neighbourhood.

New passport machines

Counterfeit item increase SKAT SEIZED 51,021 counterfeit items worth a total 172 million kroner during security checks at Copenhagen Airport last year. The fake products included everything from clothes and shoes to electronics and medicine. The total value was nearly five times higher than in 2012 and 2013 combined. In most cases, the importers were fined.

Two in three affected by increased journey times and uncertainty crossing the Øresund Bridge

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Commuter pain: one bane after another on the trains

Uni’s news service to close

No confidence SOME 70 percent of the commuters are particularly impacted by not being sure when they will arrive at their destination, 59 percent have started travelling at different times, while 23 percent are taking the car more often.

Many of the commuters are critical of how the border control is handled, while 81 percent are disappointed with the political decisions regarding the subject.

THE UNIVERSITY Post, the English-language online news service run at the University of Copenhagen, will close this summer. The website had a far wider readership and minimal costs compared to the Danishlanguage equivalent, Uniavisen. dk, which has a costly print edition. Its only full-time staff member was the editor, Mike Young.

Some 15,000 affected OVER 15,000 people commute across Øresund on a daily basis, of which around 9,000 commute by train – primarily from Scania to Zealand.

The number of train departures across Øresund has decreased by 12 percent since the ID controls were established, while car traffic across the bridge has increased.

City residents feel increasingly safer Outer Østerbro and Bispebjerg remain problem areas RAY WEAVER

T

HE VAST majority of the city’s residents feel they live in a safe neighbourhood, according to the 2016 Copenhagen Personal Safety Survey.

Only 6 percent felt unsafe – an improvement on last year.

The number of neighbourhoods where more than 10 percent of the residents felt unsafe has fallen, from nine in 2006 to just two (Outer Østerbro and Bispebjerg) this year.

Testament to effort “WE’RE SEEING the results of our efforts to change the situation in the neighbourhoods

Safer on the streets than ever before

where people felt unsafe,” said Copenhagen Mayor Frank

Jensen.

However, more residents feel

unsafe in Østerbro, Valby, Outer Nørrebro and Amager East.

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Inadequate vetting AN AUDIT by Deloitte claims that Copenhagen Municipality is not properly vetting new employees at schools and daycare institutions. By law, new employees are required to show a birth certificate, which should be examined and approved by the municipality.

CHRISTIAN WENANDE

OME 64 PERCENT of those commuting by train across the Øresund Bridge have experienced increased stress levels since the border ID controls were established in January, according to a survey by the Øresund Institute in co-operation with the KTH Royal Institute of T echnology.

The longer travel times – an increase from 35 to 75 minutes between Central Copenhagen and Central Malmö – unclear arrival times, poorer travel quality and fatigue are just some of the effects experienced by the commuters.

ONLINE THIS WEEK

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SELF-SCANNING passport stations were introduced at Kastrup Airport on Monday.

The machines, which will take between ten seconds and three minutes to scan a passport, will also check whether it is genuine. They come equipped with facial recognition software to compares the passenger’s face to the picture in their passport.

Commuters stressed by border controls ISTOCK

Refugees’ official welcome

17 - 23 June 2016

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17 - 23 June 2016

New property development rules ISTOCK

Changes promise fewer restrictions and increased flexibility LUCIE RYCHLA

A

BROAD majority in Parliament has adopted a new bill that sets the framework for property development in towns, the countryside and along the coasts.

According to the Business and Growth Ministry, the new Planning Act provides better development opportunities, fewer restrictions, more administrative concessions and increased flexibility for development within protected coastal zones.

Economic growth FOR INSTANCE, the agreement gives homeowners who live within the protected coastal zone the right to build a terrace or a shed without special permission.

The ministry estimates the new bill will help increase economic growth in Denmark by

ONLINE THIS WEEK

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Opal joins diamond

Not in my churchyard

ARCHITECT Dorte Mandrup has won a competition to design an extension of the HQ of the Danish Society of Engineers at the Kalvebod Brygge waterfront in the shape of an opal. Just like the gemstone, the glass walls of ‘Opalen’ will absorb and reflect every colour of the spectrum onto the waters of the city harbour. It will be less than a kilometre away from the library The Black Diamond.

THE CHURCH of Denmark has opposed a number of construction projects that threatened to obscure the views of churches, reports Kristeligt Dagblad. In the past four years, eight out of the church’s ten dioceses have tried to veto – sometimes repeatedly – the construction of high-rise buildings in the vicinity of a church. In one case, a building plan in Tjørring in Herning had to cut off a floor.

Costly building error

Bridge-walking success

LESS THAN a year after its opening, the 2 billion kroner Dokken culture centre in Aarhus has to be repaired. Some 6,400 sqm of magnesium oxide wind barrier plates need to be replaced to prevent the risk of rusting and rotting – an error that will cost around 13 million kroner. The municipal building was designed

by Schmidt Hammer Lassen and Kristine Jensen and constructed

by NCC.

A SIMILAR experience to the bridge-walking offered by Sydney Harbour Bridge has been a great success. Since launching Bridgewalking Lillebælt, the municipalities of Middelfart and Fredericia have reported that they had 32,000 guests in 2015 – 10,000 more than projected.

Crossing the strait between Funen and Jutland, the two-hour, 269 kr journey takes the walkers 60 metres above the water.

Brighter skies ahead for developers

2.5 billion kroner a year.

Venstre caved in THE GOVERNMENT had to drop a number of points from an original proposal aimed at liberalising the previous legislation.

Venstre caved in to demands from Socialdemokraterne, and the requirement for new municipal apartment-buildings to grant at least 25 percent of their capacity to cheaper, social housing will be maintained.

Coastal changes to wait THE GOVERNMENT also wanted to approve 15 major construction projects along the Danish coasts, but it was eventually decided to discuss this issue separately another time.

Over 100,000 Danes last year signed a petition against the government’s plans to reduce the 300-metre coastal protection zone.

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17 - 23 June 2016

Risk and repercussions as expats await Brexit in trepidation Short-term economic and personal status concerns outweighed by fears that a Leave vote could be the first step towards a divide between northern and southern Europe DAVID MCQUILLING

O

N JUNE 23, Britain will decide whether or not it wants to remain

a member of the European Union.

Euroscepticism has been growing in Britain for a number of years and, with recent opinion polls too close to call, this once in a lifetime referendum could go either way.

It’s certainly going to be close if you believe the bookies. With a month to go, the chances of a Remain victory were 2/7. Head-

ing into the final week they’re only 4/7.

41 years later THE REFERENDUM itself has been marred by controversy with both the Leave and Remain campaigns drawing criticism for their use of inaccurate figures, fearmongering and, in some cases, outright slander.

A referendum on Britain’s

membership of the European community was last held in 1975. As this is a once in a generation opportunity, a strong voter turnout is expected.

15 years is too late BUT WHAT about those who no longer live in Britain? Election rules state those who have registered to vote in a British election within the last 15 years

are eligible to vote in the upcoming referendum.

Registered expats can vote by either post, proxy or in person if they fancy taking a trip home to enjoy the typically flawless June weather.

The Copenhagen Post Weekly spoke to several British expats about their opinions on the Brexit.

“Britain’s departure could cause the EU to unravel ... If the cancer of nationalism were to metastasise, it could lead to the disintegration of the union. And that would only make the world a more unstable place”

JAMES CLASPER Nationality: UK (England) Profession: Freelance journalist

HAVE YOU REGISTERED TO VOTE IN THE REFERENDUM?

Yes, of course.

WHICH WAY DO YOU THINK THE VOTE WILL GO?

It’s hard to say with any certainty – you can never rule out a ‘black swan’ event, can you?

HOW WOULD A BREXIT AFFECT YOU PERSONALLY?

I would be sad and disappointed and anxious about the future.

MORE GENERALLY, DO YOU BELIEVE BRITAIN WOULD BE BETTER OR WORSE OFF OUTSIDE THE EU?

I believe Britain would be worse off – although the truth is nobody knows. Predicting the effects of Brexit is difficult. We are in uncharted waters – and the wisest course of action is to

ROSEMARY BOHR Nationality: UK (England) Profession: Retired

ARE YOU ABLE TO VOTE IN THE REFERENDUM?

No.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT SOME EXPATS NOT BEING ALLOWED TO VOTE IN THE REFERENDUM?

Annoyed. Especially as I had a walk-on part in this question as I was running the Conservative

avoid rocking the boat. That’s certainly the rational argument.

And it’s buttressed by strong economic arguments in favour of remaining in the EU, with evidence indicating that Brexit would indeed harm the UK economy.

AND HOW ABOUT THE REST OF EUROPE?

Britain’s departure could cause the EU to unravel. Brexit would inflate the sails of every noxious little populist across the continent and stiffen the resolve of breakaway merchants from Athens to Vienna. If the cancer of nationalism were to metastasise, it could lead to the disintegration of the union. And that would only make the world a more unstable place.

TO THE EXTENT EUROPE COULD GO TO WAR AGAIN?

After centuries of warfare, culminating in half a century of slaughter, European integration ensured peace and prosperity. Disdain the Brussels bureaucrats all you like – but technocratic meddling is a hell of a lot better than firebombing each other’s cities. More to the point, the fragmentation of the EU would mean the disintegration of the union’s ability to respond effectively to global crises, to act as a bulwark

Party International Office when the party finally agreed to give expats the vote – at the urging of Conservatives working in the EEC.

permanent residence.

WHICH WAY DO YOU THINK THE VOTE WILL GO?

There are arguments both ways.

Anyone’s guess – it is more evenly matched than the PM ever imagined.

HOW WOULD A BREXIT AFFECT YOU PERSONALLY?

I haven’t found out yet. Hopefully not too much as I have

MORE GENERALLY, DO YOU BELIEVE BRITAIN WOULD BE BETTER OR WORSE OFF OUTSIDE THE EU?

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE ARGUMENT ‘THE EUROPEAN PROJECT HAS FAILED?’

Too soon for a death notice, but there is a definite need for reform: vested interests (CAP, fisheries, culture & the French, free trade); financial

against Russian aggression, to deal with the migrant crisis – one that’s only likely to get worse – and to tackle to climate change.

AS A JOURNALIST, DO YOU FEEL AN EXIT FROM EUROPE WOULD HINDER YOUR ABILITY TO DO YOUR JOB EFFECTIVELY?

It remains to be seen. Assuming, for one reason or another, that I’d continue to have the right to reside in Denmark, Brexit shouldn’t hinder my

(shenanigans, Eurozone, failure of annual audits, sky-high salaries and expenses, Brussels-Luxembourg commute); political vis-à-vis members (machinery for crises, e.g migrants); and internationally (Putin, terrorism).

IN OR OUT, WHERE DOES THE EU GO FROM HERE?

It has to reform or it will collapse under the tension.

ability to work as a journalist here. If British citizens lost the right to, say, visa-free travel in the EU, that might have an occasional impact.

COVER

17 - 23 June 2016

STUART LYNCH

BETTY CHATTERJEE

Nationality: UK/Australia Profession: Headteacher at Københavns Film & Teaterskole

ARE YOU VOTING IN THE REFERENDUM? Yes.

WHICH WAY DO YOU THINK THE VOTE WILL GO?

I think it will go the way of the 1975 referendum and we will remain in Europe, but I do not think it will be as conclusive as 40 years ago. I think it will be a closer call.

HOW WOULD A BREXIT AFFECT YOU PERSONALLY?

From a work and life perspective it would not affect me very much. On an emotional level I would be sad because I believe that the country would suffer and become more isolated.

MORE GENERALLY, DO YOU BELIEVE BRITAIN WOULD BE BETTER OR WORSE OFF OUTSIDE THE EU?

Definitely worse off. Whilst there might be some economic benefits,

VICTORIA STEFFENSEN Nationality: UK (Wales) Profession: Sales coordinator at Napatech

Nationality: UK (England) Profession: Retired I think it is important that Britain learns to play better with others and move forward with Europe in unity and aa dialogue. Also, I have better trust in the opinions of those who support the ‘Remain’ campaign than the Brexit voices of Murdoch, Trump and Johnson.

DO YOU FEEL A BREXIT COULD PUT YOUR JOB AND LIFE IN DENMARK AT RISK?

As the leader of the country’s biggest independent theatre school, it will not put my job at risk, but our one-year international course could be affected as far as British students coming to study with us. But whether it will be for the better (students wanting to study abroad) or the worse (students not being able to afford to study abroad), we will have to wait and see.

BE BETTER OR WORSE OFF OUTSIDE THE EU? I believe Britain would be worse off if it left the EU.

ARE YOUR CHILDREN DANISH CITIZENS?

WHICH WAY DO YOU THINK THE VOTE WILL GO?

Obviously we will get them Danish passports if the UK opts out of Europe. I think having a European passport is vital, and there should be no problem getting one as my husband (their dad) is Danish.

MORE GENERALLY, DO YOU BELIEVE BRITAIN WOULD

WHAT ARE YOUR TIES TO DENMARK?

WHAT IMPACT COULD A BREXIT HAVE ON EUROPE?

I think if Britain leaves the EU, perhaps Denmark will be the next country that will leave, and then the whole European project might fall apart.

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS IF THE UK DOES DECIDE TO LEAVE?

My daughter and I are sitting the Danish citizenship test on June 7. If we pass it

“I think if Britain leaves the EU, perhaps Denmark will be the next country that will leave”

we’re going to apply for Danish citizenship.

WHY HAVEN’T YOU APPLIED FOR DANISH CITIZENSHIP BEFORE?

I would not surrender my British citizenship, which is why I waited for a change in the law.

IAIN MCLEOD Nationality: UK (Scotland) Profession: Business unit director of 3Shape

ARE YOU VOTING IN THE REFERENDUM?

Yes

WHICH WAY DO YOU THINK THE VOTE WILL GO?

Stay in the EU, but close call

Make travelling back to the UK more of a hassle (I do this around four times a year), make the UK more ‘distant’ longterm for me and possibly mean northern EU countries like Denmark (which have similar attitudes to EU) follow, meaning a north/south break-up

No

I think there will be a narrow majority for staying in.

No. I’ve been away from Britain for many, many years, I have not got a chance to vote.

I’m worried about this. If a Brexit occurs I’m going to be alien in a country I’ve lived in for over half my life.

I’ve got my family here: a daughter and two grandchildren. My friends are also here.

HOW WOULD A BREXIT AFFECT YOU PERSONALLY?

ARE YOU ABLE TO VOTE IN THE REFERENDUM?

No, unfortunately.

ARE YOU ABLE TO VOTE IN THE REFERENDUM?

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HOW DO YOU FEEL A LEAVE VOTE WOULD AFFECT THEM?

DAN SAVILL Nationality: UK (England) Profession: Senior director at Carlsberg Business Services

HAVE YOU REGISTERED TO VOTE IN THE REFERENDUM?

Yes

WHICH WAY DO YOU THINK THE VOTE WILL GO?

Out

HOW WOULD A BREXIT AFFECT YOU PERSONALLY?

I think it will restrict my abil-

ity to work in Europe, but the impact on free movement is unclear.

MORE GENERALLY, DO YOU BELIEVE BRITAIN WOULD BE BETTER OR WORSE OFF OUTSIDE THE EU?

I think we are better off inside Europe, providing a different point of view. However the debate is wider in my opinion – it’s not just about money.

We should look to find common ground, to trade, to be tolerant.

MORE GENERALLY, DO YOU BELIEVE BRITAIN WOULD BE BETTER OR WORSE OFF OUTSIDE THE EU?

It would be worse off. I can understand the frustrations with the EU (the joke of the EU meeting in Strasbourg, Greece not abiding by the rules, French always striking at inopportune times etc) – but on the whole, it is a club that makes the UK stronger and problems can be overcome longterm. The events of 100 and 77 years ago would very likely never happen within an EU.

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NEWS

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

ONLINE THIS WEEK Costly Japanese visit GLADSAXE Municipality has spent nearly 300,000 kroner to send 27 students and four teachers from Skovbrynet Skole on a trip to Japan. The municipality has argued that the trip, which will cost each student only 73 kroner per day, will give the school a more international profile and attract new students.

The car’s safest ever year NEW STATISTICS from the Danish Road Directorate reveal it is safer to drive a car in Denmark than at any time during the last 80 years. Some 178 people were killed in accidents last year, while 3,156 were injured.

However, more people died in motorcycle accidents last year than ever before – eight people were killed and 114 were injured.

Failing on trafficking THE COUNCIL of Europe – an international organisation with a focus on promoting democracy, rule of law and human rights in Europe – has criticised Denmark for not doing enough to help people who have been trafficked to the country. Amnesty International claims the risk of being sent home prevents many victims from seeking help from the authorities.

Huge embezzlement case AN EMPLOYEE of SKAT, the Danish Customs and Tax Administration, has been charged in one of Denmark's largest fraud cases of dividend withholding tax, reports Weekendavisen. It has been estimated that more than 9.1 billion kroner was embezzled in the case, but the amount could well increase to 11.6 billion, according to the newspaper.

Prayer stance defended SOPU, an educational institution in Hillerød, has defended its decision to prohibit Muslim women and students of other faiths to pray and practise their religion while on school grounds. It argues that practising religion is not allowed in most workplaces and that its rules prohibiting prayer are similar to those banning smoking.

17 - 23 June 2016

Slipping through the cracks in society Rejected asylum-seekers and criminals on ‘tolerated stay’ visas among those disappearing from the authorities’ view

mation there could be “anything between 5,000 and 50,000” people living paperless in Denmark.

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Criminals on the loose ADDITIONALLY, every fourth person on a ‘tolerated stay’ visa living in Denmark has disappeared from official view, reports Politiken. The police are currently searching for 73 such people.

‘Tolerated stay’ visas are granted to foreign criminals in Denmark who cannot be deported back to their home country because their lives would be put in danger due to war or the threat of persecution.

“It is not very reassuring that we have convicted rapists and murderers and other criminals on the loose, and we have no idea where they are,” Peter Skaarup, the chairman of the

N INCREASING number of people who shouldn’t legally be in Denmark are evading the authorities, who have conceded this past week that they are unable to contact 49 asylum-seekers recently denied the opportunity to stay in Denmark.

The asylum-seekers were among a group of 84 at the Kærshovedgård deportation centre in Ikast in central Jutland. The authorities are trying to establish if they have returned to their home countries or simply disappeared.

Michala Clante Bendixen, the chairwoman of the organisation Refugees Welcome, told Infor-

Parliamentary Legal Committee, told Ekstra Bladet.

Negativity in the news MEANWHILE, barely a day goes by without another story about a wrong-doing asylumseeker dominating the headlines in Denmark.

A 15-year-old asylum-seeker at the children’s asylum centre in Rovvig in western Jutland has been arrested for stabbing another asylum-seeker in the stomach with a pair of scissors.

And North Zealand Police claims that a Somali couple aged 29 and 30 “went crazy” at a centre in Frederikssund when they were told they had to move to Bornholm. They attacked two male Red Cross workers and threw cobblestones at them.

(CPHPOST)

LGBTs seeks Muslim assurances PM quickly sympathises with Orlando attack victims, but Islamic groups remain silent

L

PM quick to sympathise HOWEVER, the prime minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, was quick to voice his distress, offering his condolences to those caught up in attacks that were “pointless and useless”.

“It’s becoming clear we have been witness to a disgusting attack on the right to be who you are and the right to love the person you love,” said Rasmussen.

“Liberty and tolerance have been met with hatred.”

which would result in Venstre’s number of seats in Folketinget falling from 34 to 29.

“Being the only party that stands on the precipice and is attacked takes its toll,” party spokesperson Jakob EllemannJensen told Jyllands-Posten.

GBT DANES from minority backgrounds have called on Danish Muslim organisations for help in fighting homophobia in the wake of the mass shooting over the weekend that left 50 dead at a US nightclub in Orlando.

Falah Saeed, the founder of Sabaah, a Danish organisation for LGBT individuals with minority backgrounds, was heartened to note the swift response from Muslim community leaders in Florida.

“I want a stronger response here from the Muslim community and Muslim organisations – and, as of yet, I lack a clear signal of how they relate to the event,” DR quoted him as saying.

All time-low for Venstre DESPITE his wise words, the PM’s Venstre party are doing badly in the polls. A record-low number of Danes would vote for them if a general election took place today, according to a poll

by Wilke for Jyllands-Posten.

Just 16.5 percent of voters would choose them,

Fighter jet deal IN OTHER news, the government has confirmed it has the backing of Socialdemokraterne, Dansk Folkeparti, Radikale and Liberal Alliance to buy 27 new F-35 Joint Strike fighter jets for a total cost of 56.4 billion kroner.

Initially, Denmark will purchase 21 of the multi-role fighter jets, and then six more later, when it’s clear the state has enough money in the budget.

Some 139 MPs backed the deal.

(CPHPOST)

Shoes on seats opposition

Illegal smokes popular

Concerns over alco lolly

A FACEBOOK page 'S-tog Pendelers' is drawing attention to passengers on S-trains who put their dirty shoes on seats. Members take pictures and post them on the page, where commenters are calling for fines. Behavioural economist Thomas Christensen even suggested to DR that rail operator DSB should recruit vigilantes to tell off the offenders.

MORE SMUGGLED tobacco products are being smoked in Denmark. Of the 6 billion cigarettes smoked last year, 150 million (about 2.5 percent) were illegal – a significant increase on the 1.8 percent smoked in 2014. According to KPMG, the Danish treasury lost about 245 million kroner to the illegal trade last year.

N1CE, A POPSICLE with a 5 percent alcohol content, has been launched in Denmark amid fears kids will try them despite their 16 plus age limit. Launched in flavours such as mojito, sales have exceeded 1.5 million in Sweden so far. Concerned group Alcohol og Samfund has called it “a bad idea … as popsicles are something that usually only children eat”.

ONLINE THIS WEEK Violating Finnish airspace A DANISH helicopter was accused of violating Finnish airspace last week on Wednesday.

Finnish border guards said the craft “briefly entered” Finnish skies near the town of Hanko in southwestern Finland. The area was at the time hosting NATO’s international Baltops 2016 military exercises in which Denmark is not involved.

Prolific arsonist charged POLICE on Funen have charged a 41-year-old arsonist with setting a fire at a local scout meeting place on 31 August 2015, raising the number of fires in and around Odense he is accused of setting to 14. The scout building is located next to a restaurant that was torched on 20 June 2015, but that blaze has not yet been pinned on the accused arsonist.

Pant not returned DESPITE the success of pant, the non-profit recycling system, Danes lose roughly 100 million kroner every year due to the returnables ending up in the regular rubbish – often thrown there by tourists and people who don’t care. Overall, 93 percent of the containers are recycled. Danes pay an indirect cost of 17 øre for every returnable they 'purchase'.

Thais in the Faroes AN INCREASING number of women from Thailand are meeting men from the Faroe Islands and moving there to start a family. There were just 15 in 2000, but today there are more than 100, which makes them quite visible in such a small place. Respected as hard workers and generally well-liked and accepted, Thai massage and food is increasing in popularity.

Stabbing victim silent FUNEN Police are examining a possible link between the murder of a gang member from Vejle and a stabbing in the Vollsmose district in Odense. A stabbed 22-year-old man is not co-operating with the police looking for his assailant. The police believe he lives in Vejle and has links to the Black Army gang in Herning.

NEWS

17 - 23 June 2016

Women pay more for hygiene products ONLINE THIS WEEK ISTOCK

Despite having near identical components, men’s razors and deodorants are cheaper LUCIE RYCHLA

A

PRICE comparison of 15 similar products sold by a number of Danish retail chains and online shops has revealed that women tend to pay more than men for personal care products with near identical components, reports Metroxpress.

Sara Ferreira from the Danish Women’s Society described the situation as “simply not cool” and said women should not be charged more just because they are women, especially since they earn less than men to start with.

The Danish Consumer Council and Socialdemokraterne both agreed. However, Normal said comparing female and male products such as razors and deodorants is like “comparing organic whole milk and conventional low-fat milk”.

Pretty-looking razors cost more than the ugly ones

Tampon tax questioned IN RELATED news, Danish women rights’ organisations would like to see the removal of value-added tax (moms) on

menstrual hygiene products, such as tampons and sanitary pads – a proposal backed by Enhedslisten (EL) and SF. In the UK, France, Canada and Australia, recent campaigns have led to the local governments reducing moms on menstrual hygiene products that the av-

erage Danish woman spends 12,000 kroner on in a lifetime.

“We have already prepared a proposal to remove moms from organic and healthy products, so this idea is not foreign to us and we will look into that,” EL spokesperson Pernille Skipper told Metroxpress.

City cancels stream plans

Major Athens discovery

More male donors needed

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FULL STORIES AT CPHPOST.DK

Not seen since 1937

IT system at fault

THE WHITE-FACED darter insect has returned to Denmark after an 80-year absence. The little dragonfly was spotted over the weekend in Guldsted Plantage near Herning. Naturstyrelsen hopes to map sightings of the insect. It is forbidden to capture or kill it.

THE CHIEF doctor at Herlev Hospital claims the new, billionkroner IT system for hospitals in Region Zealand and Capital Region is causing problems and that some patients have received the wrong medication. Other doctors have also voiced concerns about patient safety.

App for happy campers

All hail the Martian

A NEW FREE app from Denmark’s biggest camping chain, DK-Camp, will help Danes and tourists access holiday camping experiences in 300 camping areas across the nation. The app reveals where the closest camping site is located and other useful information like reviews and videos.

AN AREA on Mars will be named after the well-known Danish physicist Jens Martin Knudsen, whose nickname was ‘Marsmanden’ (the Martian) for his work connected to the Red Planet in the 1970s. Knudsen Ridge is located near the Endeavour Crater, which is close to Mars’s equator.

Prestigious awards

Vietnam boost

FOUR DANISH researchers have been awarded the prestigious European Inventor Award for developing a method that can significantly help fight air pollution in cities. Their tech that can remove up to 99 percent of mono-nitrogen oxide emissions from diesel engine exhausts.

TWO NEW plants using Danish technology for sustainable fish and prawn farming have recently opened in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. The plants will ensure a foothold for Danish companies in a region that is transitioning from traditional earth dams to more modern plants.

War declared on bird

Mission to save toad

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ZEA HARBOUR PROJECT

KØBENHAVNS KOMMUNE

Idylllic walkways scrapped

A shipyard under the surface

Every three months a breeze

They like a salmon supper

“How did you tread on that?”

PLANS announced in 2013 to resurrect the old stream along Åboulevarden have been given the axe by Copenhagen Municipality because it has been deemed too expensive. An investigation into the potential cost of the project by the consultancy group COWI found that the price would be 10.5 billion kroner, a fee that was too tidy for the likes of Morten Kabell, the deputy mayor of technical and environmental issues. “Considering the financial restraints we have today, I have a difficult time envisioning that we’ll lay down a two-digit billion kroner amount,” he told Politiken. (CW)

THE UNDERWATER archaeologist Bjørn Lovén from the University of Copenhagen has helped uncover the remains of an ancient naval base in Athens. Now submerged beneath the Mounichia fishing and yacht harbour, it was one of Ancient Greece’s largest building works and played an essential role in the defence of the region. It mainly consisted of six ship houses (1.4 m x 8 m x 50 m) that protected the vessels from woodworm and drying out. Built between 520 and 480 BC, it is believed the ships helped fight off the Persian invasion forces at the Battle of Salamis in 480, a pivotal moment in history. (CW)

THE SIGHT of a needle and blood can make even the toughest guy feel squeamish, but donating the elixir of life can help save lives. So man up! In Denmark the vast majority of blood donors are women – only a third are men – and the capital region’s blood bank organisation GivBlod is hoping to change that trend.

Men are better suited to donating blood because they have a greater blood volume due to their generally larger size. All donors in Denmark must be able to read and speak Danish in order to ensure there are no misunderstandings between donors and the blood-collecting staff. (CW)

IN ORDER to limit the damage that cormorants cause to the fishing industry, the government has decided to become more active in its efforts to limit the population of the aquatic bird. There are 31,000 pairs in Denmark due to a sharp rise in recent years, and they devour a lot of salmon and trout. “It won’t do for the cormorant to use the Danish coasts and fjords as a lunchbox,” said the environment and food minister, Espen Lunde Larsen. From July 1 the hunting season will be extended beyond August 1-March 31, and the area expanded to include where the bird roosts. (CW)

COPENHAGEN Zoo is stepping up its conservation efforts in order to save the natterjack toad from extinction in Denmark. The zoo has released 30 of the toads into the Danish wild in Urehoved on the island of Ærø off the coast of Funen.

The toads were all raised in the zoo. “It’s the greatest thing one can do as a zoo keeper: helping to raise some animals in the city and then releasing them into the wild again,” Lene Rasmussen, a zoo keeper at Copenhagen Zoo, told DR. The toad was once common across most of Denmark, but the population has declined significantly in recent years. (CW)

READ THE REST OF THESE STORIES AT CPHPOST.DK

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NEWS

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

ONLINE THIS WEEK Cock of the walk MEN’S BADMINTON player Hans-Kristian Vittinghus won the biggest title of his career over the weekend: the Australian Open. Just weeks after helping Denmark clinch the Thomas Cup, the world number 12 beat South Korea’s Hyeok Jin Jeon in three sets to win the S event.

Borat to take on Klovn SASCHA Baron Cohen, the creator of Ali G and Borat, has acquired the rights to make a US version of ‘Klovn – The Movie’.

Its stars, Casper Christensen and Frank Hvam, are said to be pleased with the deal struck with Four by Two Films.

Final howl for Wolves THE COPENHAGEN Wolves e-sports organisation has closed down. Founded in 2009 by Jakob Lund Kristensen, the owners are open to offers to buy the club’s brand.

17 - 23 June 2016

Golf matchplay event teeing up

G

RUNNING (M) FRI JUNE 17, 19:00 10,000 METRES ØSTERBRO STADION DANISH GOLF CHAMPS (M/W) SAT JUNE 18, 08:00 MATCHPLAY: ROUNDS 3 & 4 SKJOLDNÆSHOLM GOLFKLUB

OLF MAY not be considered the most exciting spectator sports around, but when it comes to matchplay, things can get interesting in a hurry. Just look at the last day of the Ryder Cup or the World Golf Championships.

This year, the Danish Matchplay Championships takes place from June 17-19 at the Skjoldenæsholm Golf Center located just south west of Roskilde.

The championships will see the best amateur golfers that Denmark has to offer take on the challenging Trent Jones Jr Course, a 6,094-metre par 72 course riddled

with lakes and over 50 bunkers.

Crocs are bad news

AC/DC fans disappointed

Mor of that please

CHARLOTTE Vestergaard, a foot therapist at the clinic Klinik For Fodterapi, has accused croc shoes of causing foot pain amongst their users. She told Ekstra Bladet that wearers “clutch their toes together and overload their tendons” in an effort to stop them slipping off.

AC/DC’S Aarhus gig on Sunday didn’t go down well the concert-goers, but it wasn’t lead singer Axel Rose’s fault.

Obscured views, hour-long queues, an overcrowded venue and inadequate security led to dozens of complaints.

DENMARK isn’t there, but there is still a bit of Danish flavour at Euro 2016. Brønshøjborn youngster Emre Mor came on as a sub for Turkey during their 0-1 defeat to Croatia on Sunday.

Men off first IT’LL BE early birds for the men who tee off at 07:00 on Friday morning, while the ladies will start pinging their first drives just after 11:00.

The third round and quarterfinals take place on Saturday, and then only the cream of the crop will return on Sunday for the semi-finals and final.

The clubhouse will be open on all three days from 06:00 in the morning, and food and drink will be available throughout the day. (CW)

CRICKET: DIVISION 1 (M) SUN JUNE 19, 10:00 AB VS ISHØJ SKOVDIGET, BAGSVÆRD BEACHVOLLEY: DENMARK TOUR SUN JUNE, 10:00 AALBORG OPEN UCN, NY KÆRVEJ, AALBORG

POSTCALENDERS.DK

THIS WEEK’S DATES 17 JUNE ICELAND’S NATIONAL DAY

THIS DAY marks the secession of Iceland from Denmark in 1944, when Iceland formally became an independent republic through a referendum that took place whilst Denmark was under German occupation. The relationship between the two counties has continued to be close, although these days, Danish is no longer taught as the country’s second language and only available to learn from the seventh grade.

21 JUNE GREENLAND’S NATIONAL DAY

TODAY is Greenland’s national day, and for the first time in history the country’s flag will this year be flown from all 534 of the official state flagpoles across Denmark. The date was purposely chosen to coincide with the longest day of the year, when the sun hardly sets in most of the country and festivities can last all day and night.

ACCESS ALL THE EVENTS – GET ALL THE NEWS – REACH ALL THE CLUBS – SEE MORE AT POSTCALENDERS.DK

DAS BÜRO FOR TEAM DANMARK

LOOKING FOR SPORTS TO WATCH OR PARTICIPATE IN? – GO TO THE SPORTS CALENDAR AND SEE WHAT´S GOING ON RIGHT NOW!

BUSINESS

17 - 23 June 2016

Passengers up, revenue down ONLINE THIS WEEK ISTOCK

SAS unveils bitter-sweet results ahead of crippling pilot strike RAY WEAVER

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HEAD OF a strike by SAS’s Swedish pilots that affected 1,000 flights and 100,000 passengers affected, the pan-Scandinavian airline had revealed a rise in passengers in May but a fall in its revenue per kilometre.

Some 2.5 million passengers flew with SAS last month – up 6.6 percent on May 2015 – but its overall yield fell by 6 percent, which was lower than expected.

Streamlining important “THE MARKET shows we need to continue streamlining SAS to maintain our competitiveness,” said SAS head Rickard Gustafson.

Traffic on its intercontinental routes to and from Asia and the US grew by 31 percent thanks to more frequent flights and new destinations such as LA, Boston and Hong Kong.

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FULL STORIES AT CPHPOST.DK

Venture capital drive

Dong’s IPO a rich one

Monetised data

IN AN EFFORT to urge more Danish companies to engage in investment projects in developing nations in Africa, Asia and Latin America, Denmark has set aside 50 million kroner in venture capital. The funds will be obtained through the Investment Fund for Developing Nations and will help fund the 17 new global goals that were top of the agenda at the 3GF summit in Copenhagen earlier this month.

DONG ENERGY went public last week on Friday, valuing its shares at 235 kroner per share – a market value of 98.2 billion kroner. The price came in at the high-end of the one in the prospectus, which estimated the value would land somewhere between 83.5 and 106.5 billion kroner. Some 36,000 new investors were allocated shares in the public offering of 17.4 percent of Dong’s share capital.

THE NEWLY-LAUNCHED City Data Exchange provides public and private data – anything from traffic patterns to citizens’ energy consumption – so companies can use it to develop solutions to create smarter cities. Built by Hitachi Consulting in partnership with Danish Capital Region (5 million kroner) and Copenhagen Municipality (4 million), the platform will charge for some of the data.

Aiding the belly-up

Jordanian trip a success

Daell and son not well

EARLY Warning, a voluntary network of 100 financial advisors that offer free services, will assist Cypriot companies and entrepreneurs in danger of bankruptcy – its first project abroad. The network is hopeful of securing 38 million kroner from the EU to spread out in Brazil, Poland, Spain and the UK. Early Warning was established by the Danish Business Authority in 2007.

A DANISH business delegation has enjoyed a fruitful trip to Jordan where its members learned more about delivering solutions to refugee camps. Organised by Dansk Industri, the delegation examined solutions within areas such as water, energy, sanitation, logistics and housing. Grundfos head Kim Skibsted called it a “great visit that offered insights to problems that need to be addressed”.

A REPORT in Jyllands-Posten has highlighted how 75-year-old billionaire Kurt Daell and his son have lost over a quarter of a billion kroner on their spring water and furniture businesses over the past eight years. Danish Bottling Company lost 13 million kroner last year and Daells Bolighus a record 23.6 million kroner. The pair also own the more successful Harald Nyborg and Jem & Fix.

Testing times for airline

Pilots finally end strike ON WEDNESDAY around 400 Swedish pilots returned to work after striking for nearly six days. The pilots finally agreed to a one-year deal and wage increase of 2.2 percent.

SAS struck a deal with its Norwegian pilots last week, but the same deal was turned down by the Swedes, who had been in talks since April. SAS signed a two-year agreement with its Danish pilots last year.

Move to DK

Your practical guide when moving to Denmark

COPENHAGEN TALENT BRIDGE is initiated by Copenhagen Capacity in collaboration with: Aalborg University, Copenhagen • Technical University of Denmark • IT University of Copenhagen • The Think Tank DEA • Frederiksberg Municipality • Copenhagen Business Centre, City of Copenhagen • Cph Volunteers • CPH International Service, City of Copenhagen • International Staff Mobility, University of Copenhagen • Center for Internationalisation and Parallel Language Use • WorkinDenmark East • Vaeksthus Copenhagen • SpouseCare • Danish Agency for Labour Retention and Internatinonal Recruitment • The Capital Region of Denmark

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BUSINESS OPINION THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

STEEN VIVE UNION VIEWS Steen is senior advisor at Djøf, the Danish Association of Lawyers and Economists. He is a blogger and manager of various projects aimed at generating jobs in the private sector. In this column he writes about trends and tendencies in the labour market. Follow him on Twitter @SteenVive

Personality tests A PERSONALITY test is tricky to prepare for. Your answers are guided by your preferences and motivations. My advice is to be intuitive and honest. Do not try to outsmart the test, thinking

Mariano A Davies is the president & CEO of both the language learning provider Oxford Institute (oxfordinstitute. biz) and the British Chamber of Commerce in Denmark (bccd. dk). BCCD, the Danish arm of a global network of British chambers, provides networking and facilitation through events and other professional services for the business community in Denmark.

Leave’s assumptions THE OFFICIAL Leave Campaign has focused on a number of assumptions.

Britain’s Contribution to the EU – the BREXIT campaigners claim Britain’s contribution to the EU has always been far too high. They remind the voters that the EU gave into this claim in 1984 (the Fontainebleau Rebate), when a rebate of 66 percent was negotiated by the prime minister, Margaret Thatcher. This rebate was finally phased out in 2011 and replaced by phenomenal and escalating contributions since then, according to the BREXIT campaigners.

The Freedom of Movement Policy – since this policy allows

NEXT ISSUE

MARIANO A DAVIES TRADING KINGDOMS

• I consulted my dictionary and considered connotations • I practised my grammar using online exercises • I did crosswords and word games to increase my vocabulary

NUMERICAL TESTS: “What do Maersk want me to say ... Go on then, I love sailing?”

you know the ‘right’ answers.

I found online tests helpful for practice. They challenged my self-perception and highlighted whether I needed to address some apparent contradictions in my personality.

Skill tests AGAIN, the best way to prepare is to find a similar online test. This gives you an idea of strengths and weaknesses, and what you need to practise to achieve a better result.

EU citizens to move freely within EU states and more or less to enjoy the same benefits as local citizens, this is considered a heavy financial drain on the British economy, when a holistic view is taken on all attainable benefits.

British Export Constraints – although official British exports to the EU are said to be 45 percent of GDP, BREXIT campaigners maintain that only 12 percent of the accounted costs are exports to the EU, while 88 percent of British exports are forced to adhere to the same EU over-regulatory measures. They claim that this strangles British export competitiveness.

Here is how I practiced my general skills (see factbox) Prepare through practice THERE is no need for test anxiety. Think of the test as an opportunity to gain valuable insights about yourself even if you do not land the job. Do not try to outsmart the test. Plan responses to questions about your personality and skill strengths and weaknesses.

And remember: practice and preparation make perfect.

• I revisited the basic rules of arithmetic, fractions and equations • I studied tables, charts and graphs and explained them in words • I played numerical games, such as sudoku

DIAGRAMMATICAL TESTS: • I worked with charts and graphs • I practised problem-solving involving graphs • I cracked logic puzzles

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EADING into the week that will finally answer the question Brexit or Bremain, here is an executive summary of the key campaign issues.

VERBAL TESTS:

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VERY JOB I have landed has involved a recruitment and selection test.

These tests, which may look at personality or skills, are often misunderstood. The idea of being assessed is confused with an exam, and this leads to sweaty palms and a raised heart rate. In fact, the uncertainty regarding such tests has become so widespread that Djøf, the organisation I work for, regularly hosts test events to help our members prepare.

Remember: tests are not exams. They are a basis for dialogue with your potential employer that seeks to identify whether you are a good fit for the job.

I hope my tips help you excel.

17 - 23 June 2016

An uncomfortable union for the UK?

Remain focus THE OFFICIAL Remain Campaign has likewise chosen to focus on a few select issues.

BREXIT: Economic Decline – Remain campaign economists have calculated that a BREXIT

result will annually cost each British household £4,200 until 2020 and that Britain will experience a GDP decline of approximately 6 percent by 2030.

The assumption here is that export costs to the EU would increase and not be compensated by lucrative WTO agreements.

London: Global Finance Capital – the main argument here is that London outside the EU would not have the same level of attraction for EU invest-

ment, which would be a heavy loss for the British economy.

Remain and Reform – the Remain campaign would argue that Britain’s long-term economic interests would not be served through geographical, political and economic isolation.

IN 2 ISSUES

IN 3 ISSUES

IN 4 ISSUES

IN 5 ISSUES

Startup Community

Why Innovation?

Mind over Managing

Living in an Expat World

From Struggle to Success

CPH Career

Danish Capital in 2016

Business needs Talent

The Valley of Life

Give Yourself a Chance

The upshot WHATEVER the result, this referendum is likely to be a wake-up call for both Britain and the EU.

CAREERS

17 - 23 June 2016

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DAVID PARKINS 21ST CENTURY ALCHEMY 21st Century Alchemy is a weekly Q&A column for career-minded professionals, entrepreneurs and small businesses written by David Parkins, a business (re)development specialist, company culture strategist, career coach, and IMCSA speaker (ep3.dk).

“The good news is now you can add desk clearance and shelf-stacking to your CV”

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HAVE YOU RUN OUT OF IDEAS? STRUGGLING FOR INSPIRATION? NEED SOME MOTIVATION? PLEASE SEND YOUR CAREER OR COMPANY QUESTIONS TO CONTACT@ EP3.DK OR @EP3DK.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS INTERVIEW QUESTION

What do you know about the company?

Why they’re asking – Any applicant can and should read and rephrase the company’s ‘About’ page. But when the interviewer asks this question, they prob-

T MOST companies, employers end up firing people for lots of different reasons, often pointing out that they ‘used to be great’, but now suck. But the assessment of their performance is rarely accurate.

“If you talk about someone for more than 10 minutes, they turn into a piece of crap,” the corporate HR director of an American chain of family-restaurants once said.

“It doesn’t matter who – our best or our worst employee – the longer you talk about them, the worse you start to view them.

This happens because it’s in our nature to focus on weaknesses not strengths [theirs or ours].

So the longer you talk, the more you talk about what they can’t do; not what they can.”

So it’s a simple fact that at some point most of us will be fired (or whatever euphemism they use). Might be our fault, might not; either way it’s not uncommon. But here’s what happens to most people when it does happen.

Shock and denial – You’re

stunned as confusion, fear, denial and numbness each take their turn on your fragile psyche.

Even if you knew it was coming, somehow the absolute and complete finality and certainty of it all still surprises you.

Anger – You’re pissed (even if you knew it was coming). “How could they do this to me?!” or perhaps “I’ll show them!” repeat over and over as waves of frustration, irritability (ask your friends and family if you’re irritated), embarrassment, shame and anxiety wash over you.

Dialogue and bargaining – Sometimes this only goes on in your head, but there are times when you reach out to others – either to tell your story or get support. You struggle to make sense or find meaning in what happened.

Depression and detachment – Sadness in various forms and intensity hits you as you wrestle with the question “What am I going to do now?!” You’re overwhelmed by the enormity of the shift; and you lack the energy to perform even the smallest daily

tasks. You avoid friends and family and break from the routines you used to do. Everything becomes blah or meh, and at times you feel pathetically helpless.

Acceptance – With time, you begin to move on and start thinking about possibilities again. You begin exploring your options, both professionally and personally. If done right, this is the point when a healthy assessment about what matters to you should be done. That way, when the time is right, you’re applying for jobs that will be fulfilling.

Return to normal – Although this can easily belong to acceptance, the difference is that a return to normal is about functioning and not just accepting the situation. You begin to breathe again as your feelings of security, self-esteem and personal and professional meaning start to form outside of the job that you had.

ably aren’t assessing whether you understand their mission and values, but whether you care about them.

How do you answer – Start with one line that shows you understand the company’s goals, using a couple of key words and phrases from their website, but then make it personal. Say “I’m personally drawn to this mission because …” or “I really believe in

this approach because …” Share a personal example or two and let your brilliant storytelling gift shine!

the coffee, and everyone does a little throughout the day to keep it clean. I personally buy the things that are written on a whiteboard shopping list. But the problem is that some staff don’t clean up after themselves.

They’re adults so I don’t want to scold them.

WORKPLACE QUESTION

We have a very small kitchen in our office with unwritten rules on how to use it. The ‘last staff out’ tidies and runs the dishwasher, the ‘first ones in’ put everything away and make

Good news: you’re wanted!

HOWEVER, once the full cycle of grief and loss has had its effect, it’s most likely you’ll become a highly sought-after asset.

Have a brief meeting about the condition and brainstorm

You’ll be the employee every company wants on the payroll – the one who brings that extra chutzpah, an x-factor the already employed (the ones who don’t really need your job) and untested applicants don’t have.

What is it? It’s a deep-down unquenchable fire to prove to

“If you talk about someone for more than 10 minutes, they turn into a piece of crap,” everyone (themselves, others, their employer past and future) that it was a mistake to fire them.

These people ‘WANT TO…’ more than anyone else. They’re chomping at the bit to be better than everyone else and to defy their critics’ low expectations, and this edge (i.e carrying a chip and a little pissed off) can lift them to be your best performers.

So, there you have it. Your best hires might be those crap, fired employees! solutions and get some commitments. If the behaviour persists then a ‘Why we can’t have nice things’ talk needs to take place. If you’re supplying a kitchen that’s not taken care of, then you have the right to take it away, and noone wants to be the reason for that. It’s a crystal clear message that leaves no room for discussion or blame-shifting.

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OPINION

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

17 - 23 June 2016

Dexit – a way out or no way

L

ESS THAN a week before the UK goes to the polls and decides to remain or leave the EU, there are already Danes airing the possibility of following their lead and asking for a referendum next year.

Straight, No Chaser

what the coming negotiations bring. However, having the same legal standards and integrated police co-operation is an important tool in the fight against terror and crime at large.

We will get on with it – we just won’t sit at the table when the rules are formed.

Unlikely to follow IF WE ARE to consider a Dexit – a Danish exit from the EU – we will first see what happens in the UK. Back in the day we did not enter the EFTA because the UK did not cross the channel and our exports were tied to the UK: the trusty bacon and butter.

We entered the EU because the UK did and benefited lavishly from it. It was good business.

If Brexit is the result in the UK, then Dansk Folkeparti and Enhedslisten will ask if we should follow suit. Only a referendum can decide that. Before any serious debate is started, it is however relevant to note that the basics have changed in the meantime. Not only are the opt-outs without practical importance, but over the years the importance of the UK to the Danish economy has been reduced while Germany has grown to be our largest market.

The Danes do not love the EU, but they fear uncertainty more, so Dexit is not a likely option. (ES)

Join the chat WWW.CPHPOST.DK WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/COPENHAGENPOST WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM/CPHPOST WWW.TWITTER.COM/CPHPOST

An Englishman abroad, Stephen has lived and worked in Denmark since 1978. His interests include music, art, cooking, real ale, politics and cats.

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Opting out, clearly in WE RECENTLY saw how the Danish opt-outs have still not been replaced with full participation, which is troublesome given that they have lost their relevance since their agreement in 1992.

The monetary union opt-out is still there, but the Danish currency is no more than just a euro clone. It has the same value, most Danes have euros in their wallet, and companies have been publishing their accounts in euros for years. A formal integration will probably have to wait a bit until the ECB has convinced us it is stable.

Defence is still opted out and will remain so until the ‘Fort Europe’ border control issue is solved, but Denmark is so active in Syria (and all over really) that an active foreign policy makes sense – for no better reason than reducing the migrant and refugee build-up.

Finally, the legal co-operation did not end up in an opt-in solution and certainly not in full integration. We will have to see

STEPHEN GADD

Somebody has superimposed the face of ‘The Apprentice’ presenter onto the body of a presidential candidate

A

LL OVER the Western World, people are increasingly discontented with the political system or simply turning their backs on it. Extremism and isolationism is on the rise. And who can ignore the elephant in the room: ‘The Donald’?

If anyone had told me two years ago that Donald Trump would almost certainly be the Republican presidential candidate, I would have thought them completely mad. Next they’ll be telling me that Leicester City will win the English Premier League.

Now, there is a real chance that he might become president of the United States, with his finger on the nuclear button.

Why is this happening? Today’s politicians seem more out of touch than ever with the ‘man (or woman) in the street’. We are governed by a professional political elite rather than people who reflect ourselves. Trump’s main shtick is his ‘one-of-us’ anti-establishment credential, which sounds pretty rich coming from a billionaire who inherited wealth.

Mobility and Child Poverty Commission showed that 33 percent of UK MPs were educated at private schools and 24 percent of them went to Oxbridge.

Regarding the population as a whole that compares to 7 and just under 1 percent respectively.

Also, only 23 percent of MPs are women, although women make up 51 percent of the population.

So not much like us there, then.

In Denmark, there is an increasing number of ‘career politicians’ who’ve risen through the ranks of their party’s youth organisations. They may (or may not) have completed an academic education, but most have not had any experience of the ‘real world’ (i.e real work).

We often see Danish MPs or local politicians changing parties once elected. This shows an arrogant attitude towards the electorate and comes across as a cynical career move. Added to that is the unedifying sight of MPs awarding themselves superlative salary and pension packages whilst preaching austerity and imposing cuts on everyone else.

Old school ties A RECENT study conducted by the UK government’s Social

Lies, damned lies, statistics THEN THERE is spin and lies.

The EU referendum campaign

in the UK has become increasingly acrimonious and dirty.

Both sides are being ‘economical with the truth’. A good example is Boris Johnson’s claim that the EU costs the UK £350 million per week, which is also emblazoned on his campaign bus. In fact, due to the rebate negotiated by Margaret Thatcher, this amount is only £248 million per week. Factor in money returned in various grants and subsidies and a figure of £136 million per week emerges.

An item on the Politicus USA website states that 91 percent of Donald Trump’s claims have been examined and found to be false. In 2015 he won a Politifact Award for the ‘Lie of the Year’.

Out of 77 statements that were checked, 76 were mostly false or downright lies.

This kind of behaviour alienates ordinary voters, who just want good government and to make their views heard through the democratic process. If they also feel that elected politicians no longer represent them and are ignoring them once in power, they will stay home instead of voting. That leaves the field clear for extremists, and then we will really be in trouble.

OPINION

17 - 23 June 2016

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NEXT ISSUE

STEPHANIE BRICKMAN

Brick by Brick Stephanie Brickman made the hop across the North Sea from Scotland to live in Denmark with her distinctly un-Danish family. This 40-something mother, wife and superstar is delighted to share her learning curve, rich as it is with laughs, blunders and expert witnesses.

Under the Raydar RAY WEAVER

Crazier than Christmas VIVIENNE MCKEE

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IN 2 ISSUES

An Actor’s Life IAN BURNS

You’re Still Here KELLY DRAPER IN 3 ISSUES

Fashion Jam JENNY EGSTEN-ERICSON Fatbot Wars: every step you take, I’ll be matching you

L

ATELY when I google ailments I keep getting the words “Common among overweight, middle-aged women”. I like being a woman, but find the rest unacceptable.

Hikes in black plastic THE MIDDLE-AGED part I can deal with by disputing when that phase of life begins. It’s always ten years off. But there’s the f-a-t thing (I prefer to spell it out). You can try fiddling with the pointer on the scales or weighing in kilos (metric weight means nothing to me), but there’s still the mirror and waistband, and denial is ineffective.

And so (drumroll), I who shunned sport at school in favour of smoking in the bushes, I who for years refused to own trainers because they had been known to lead to sporting activity, bought myself a fitbit, known in our family as a ‘fatbot’.

This less than elegant piece of black plastic is now strapped to my wrist. It links to an app on my phone that counts steps and more.

The gauntlet is thrown IT RAPIDLY became clear that if you live a non car-based lifestyle, getting to the 10,000 recommended steps is no problem, so I needed to up the stakes.

That was when I discovered that you can be fatbot friends with others.

A heartbeat later, I am locked into a Weekend Warrior competition with a friend from work, who we will just call C, because he is shy. We are competing to see who does the most steps from midnight on Friday to midnight on Sunday.

In my mind’s eye the challenge is handed to us by a kind of fatbot warlord in strange headgear, but actually it’s just the app sending me countdown messages.

Gloat like a butterfly FRIDAY afternoon at work and the clock is ticking. I decide it’s all about mental attitude and try to unsettle C to gain an advantage, Muhammad Ali style. I jog ostentatiously past the window of his office, springing high on each step to make sure he notices me.

Five minutes later he jogs past my workstation. It’s game on.

The next morning I get 5,000 steps in before breakfast. I briefly feel sorry for C who has apparently done nothing so I send him a chirpy message. “Don’t go all collaborative on me,” is the reply. This will be a fight to the last limp.

Numerous taunts to and from C and it’s 23:50. I’m pacing the living room in order to be sure of winning the first day with my 25,000 steps. At 23:58 I’m waving my phone at the fatbot snarling: “Synch, synch damn you …”

Stepping groans THE FOLLOWING evening I’m at 48,000 steps for the weekend and 32 flights of stairs thanks to the escalators in Field’s Shopping Centre, which cheat the fatbot. I’ve considered asking a passing neighbour to wear it while jogging. I’ve considered strapping it to one of our cats.

I’m aware I’ve hit fatbot rock bottom. C is way ahead. I can no longer move and think I might need a hip replacement.

I google my symptoms and find … they’re common among overweight, middle-aged women.

Straight Up ZACH KHADUDU IN 4 ISSUES

Prospects of the City PER SMIDL

A Dane Abroad KIRSTEN LOUISE PEDERSEN IN 5 ISSUES

‘Mere te’ Vicar?

DARREN MCCALLIG

The Director’s Cut DAVID NOEL BOURKE

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COMMUNITY

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

17 - 23 June 2016

ABOUT TOWN

PHOTOS BY HASSE FERROLD

The historic exhibition ‘The people, the book, the country’ opened at City Hall on June 6. Jointly organised by UNESCO and the Simon Wiesenthal Centre, it tells the history of the Jewish people, dating back over 3,500 years. Israeli ambassador Barukh Binah (left) was a proud attendee of an exhibition that has already visited the UN in New York, the Knesset in Jerusalem, the US Congress in Washington DC and the Vatican. Among those present were (centre: left-right) the culture minister, Bertel Haarder, Shimon Samuels from the Simon Wiesenthal Centre Europe, exhibition organiser Yvette Espersen, Rabbi Abraham Cooper from the Simon Wiesenthal Centre USA, Binah, Copenhagen Rabbi Melchior Jair, and Ninna Thomsen, the deputy mayor for health; and (right) Serbian ambassador Dragana Ivanovic (third right) and Argentine charge d’affaires Marcelo Pujo (fourth right)

The Thai ambassador Vimon Kidchob (centre: left) was the proud host of an ASEAN garden party at her residence in Hellerup on June1 where guests enjoyed performances and a mix of Asian cuisines. Also lending a hand in the organization were Indonesian ambassador Muhammad Ibnu Said (centre: centre) and Vietnamese ambassador Trough Thanh Nguyen (centre: right)

Finnish ambassador Ann-Marie Nyroos (left in yellow, centre left and right) was the host of a reception promoting her country’s fashion brands on June 7. The event was co-organised by Teemu Kassila (left behind Nyroos, centre left and right), the Finnish actor and artist

Swiss ambassador Benedikt Wechsler (left) was the host of the exhibition ‘3 Days of Design’ at his residence in Hellerup. Wechsler is sitting on one of the exhibits, a sofa by one of the featured designers, Alfredo Häberli

Irish ambassador Cliona Manahan (right) gave an address at the reception following the premiere of ‘Human Chain’ at Roskilde Cathedral on May 26, a performance that commits to song the verses of the late, great Irish poet Seamus Heaney

Polish ambassador Henryka Moscicka-Dendys (centre, in purple) was among those in attendance as Polish President Andrzej Duda (to her left) made an official visit to Denmark on June 9

MARKETPLACE

17 - 23 June 2016

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Lecture by John Adams, CSB New York, USA Saturday April 9th 2016 3:00 p.m. in English and 4:30 p.m. in Danish (free entrance) Hotel Imperial – Vester Farimagsgade 9, 1606 CPH V John Adams is an international lecturer, teacher andpractitioner of Christian Science. He was healed of serious drug abuse by studying Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. This started his healing mission.

THE LECTURE IS SPONSORED BY THE CHURCH OF CHRIST SCIENTIST IN COPENHAGEN - KRISTENVIDENSKAB.DK

Join the American Club in Copenhagen, and take part in our exciting and interesting events and excellent networking opportunities!

This is a great way to meet others from the international community in Copenhagen!

For further information: www.americanclub.dk or contact Vibeke Henrichsen at 3961 7375

Living Church is an international church family – a visionary congregation with a genuine passion for God. Our worship is joyful and vibrant. You will find a church family and a home with us.

Sunday Service 12:00 with Children’s Church (ages 2-14); Home Groups Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday Femagervej 39, 2650 Hvidovre (Close to Hvidovre Station) For more information see: www.levendekirke.com; facebook.com/levendekirke

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MEDITATION

May 25 - June 9 meditation course with

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THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

T

T

HE POLISH Cultural Fest presented the country’s culture through a wide variety of aesthetic and artistic events, ranging from serious informative activities such as storytelling, poem

A stormtrooper and a Jedi decided to call a truce and welcomed the visitors together at the gate.

But we all know the ceasefire is temporary. Hurry to the armory on the first floor and build yourself a lightsaber! En-

sure it is not heavier than what you can bear though.

The war just broke out!

Lucas (centre right: left) and Marcus (right) had their weapons ready. Great! If not, try to get a stormtrooper’s gun.

After fierce battles, you may

enjoy sitting down peacefully and have some games.

Some 152 competitors took part in the X-Wing System Open Series, flying their miniature starships into battle. There were six rounds each day, with each round lasting one and a

half hours, which isn’t far off the length of one of the movies.

The Copenhagen victor will compete with the winners from the other seven tournaments this July at the Star Wars Celebration in London.

JUNYI QI

recitals and lectures to more relaxing ones like face-painting, quizzes and live performances.

“People were happy and also surprised to find out there was a celebration of Polish culture,” said the organiser Barrett Clemmensen

Powell (centre left in red).

“I have a special bond with Poles. When I moved from the US to study here years ago, it was always Poles who gave me hygge.”

The opening ceremony on June 11 was attended by Olga

Zawadzka-Kucharska (centre left, left), the cultural attaché at the Polish Embassy. In her address, she showed gratitude towards Barrett for her efforts building bridges for Poles in Denmark.

“Poles here are separated nowa-

days,” concurred Samanta Maria Clausten (right: right). “But this event is amazing, bringing the Polish community together.”

There are 30,000 Polish expats in Denmark.

JUNYI QI

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Don’t miss the presentation of the boardgame ‘Ticket to Ride’. Although elegantly simple, this game will require players to take sharp strategic and tactical decisions at every turn (June 22, 19:00; Bastard Café, Rådhusstræde 13,Cph K; bastardcafe.dk)

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The Aloha Pacific Music Festival is a full immersion into Polynesian culture, food, music and dance!

Enjoy art exhibitions, games and performances, and don’t miss the disco party in the evening (June 18, 13:00; VerdernsKulturCentret, Nørre Allé 7, Cph N; 150 kr; billetto.dk)

Salsa Libre Copenhagen & Team are presenting open-air salsa in Fælledparken! Starting with some tuition for beginners, the night will continue with bachata, merengue, regaeton and rueda de casino (June 19, 17:00; Dansepladsen in Fælledparken, Edel Sauntes Allé, Cph Ø; free adm; salsalibre.dk)

Copenhagen Downtown Hostel is inviting all the internationals in Copenhagen to a big party. Just quote this in the bar #DowntownExpatfriends# and get your bracelet to receive discounts on beers and cocktails (June 18, 21:00; CPH Downtown Hostel, Vandkunsten 5, Cph K; copenhagendowntown.com)

Celebrate the Summer Solstice while connecting with others in a ‘Talking Circle’ on the sand. Food will be served according to dietary restrictions (June 20, 19:00; Amager Beach, Cph S; participation donation; sign up at wisdomcrafts.com)

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COMING UP SOON

JUNYI QI

HIS IS not the droid we are looking for ...”

Last weekend, the National Museum turned into a paradise for all Star Wars fans, whether they were kids, adults, professional game players and amateurs.

17 - 23 June 2016

OUT AND ABOUT

JUNYI QI

16

COMMUNITY

Take a time machine to the 1940s at Cinemateket and watch the Jacques Tourneur movies.‘Cat People’ and ‘I Walked with a Zombie’. They’re on the creen to make you scream! (June 16, 19:00; Cinemateket, Gothersgade 55, Cph K; 70kr) ALESSANDRA PALMITESTA

SCHOOLS

17 - 23 June 2016

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Upper Secondary: IGCSE Physics, History, Global Perspectives The teacher(s) employed to cover the following subjects will be temporary, to cover maternity leave: Science, IGCSE Physics.

The successful candidate(s) will: • Have qualified teacher status • Have permission to work in Denmark • Be committed to maximizing the achievement of all students • Have sound subject knowledge • Have a sound understanding of the theory and practice of roviding

effectively for the individual needs of all students • Be able to actively engage students in their own learning • Be able to support students in becoming independent and reflective learners.

• Know how assessment is used to support learning • Be able to plan collaboratively and supportively within the Secondary team • Be open to new challenges Applicants should send a cover letter and current CV for the attention of Head of School Karen Bøttger nggi@ngg.dk We are looking to make an appointment as soon as possible.

Ansættelse sker i henhold til organisationsaftale af fællesoverenskomst mellem finansministeriet og Lærerne Centralorganisation. Skolen bestyrelse har besluttet, at ansættelse sker under forudsætning af ren straffeattest.

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SCHOOLS

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

Dyslexia network a success

A

YEAR AFTER its launch, the networking program for young people with dyslexia, which is offered by a number of Danish libraries, has been a great success, reports DR. In some cities, interest has been so high that organisers have needed to put applicants on a waiting list.

Disorders common ACCORDING to Nota, the national library for people with reading difficulties, some 120,000 Danes aged 15-35 have been diagnosed with a reading disorder.

About 80 percent of them are students, and a survey has shown that many of them have no-one to talk to about their challenges.

In six cities THE NETWORKING pro-

Spaceman’s flying visit Cross-border initiative Self-harm on the rise

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YGAARDS School in Hellerup has opened its new Learning Resource Centre on the top floor of the school’s main building.

The bright, glass-covered room aims to provide the school’s students with new and improved material for their studies and research.

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LUCIE RYCHLA

17 - 23 June 2016

Reading made easier

gram was launched last year at libraries in six major Danish citiesDyslexic students can attend regular meetings where they can meet peers with the same problems and get advice on job-hunting and other relevant issues.

Knowledge appreciation ANDREAS Mogensen, the first Dane in space who attended Rygaards in the early 1990s, was a guest speaker.

He also hosted a 20-minute presentation of his space expedition, which was part of the IRSS program launched in September 2015.

“Thanks to this new resource centre, students will get an appreciation for knowledge like the one I got here at Rygaards” said Mogensen during his address. (GD)

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Great perspectives “THERE are great perspectives for growth and new jobs in the border region,” said Ulla Tørnæs, the education and research minister.

“But a lack of qualified labour can be a hindrance to the border area reaching its full potential.”

Tørnæs contended that the initiative will also help strengthen Denmark’s exports to Germany. (LR)

A common trend THE NATIONAL Association for eating disorders and self-harm confirms this practice has become a new trend for dealing with uncomfortable feelings among the youth.

Girls, young people from broken homes or those living in families with financial problems are more likely to self-harm, according to the study.

Self-harm can take different physical forms, including cutting, burning, bruising, scratching and hair-pulling. (LR)

NEW PROJECT that steps up co-operation between education institutions on both sides of the Danish/German border aims to further growth and development in the region.

The move is expected to give young people in the region better career opportunities and make it easier for companies to attract the workers they require.

ORE TEENS in Denmark are harming themselves, reports Metroxpress.

A study from Børnerådet, the national council for children, reveals that one in five ninth graders (ages 14-15) have intentionally hurt themselves.

At the end of May, Copenhagen International School sent off 66 IB Diploma students from 30 different countries to celebrate their graduation the Danish way – wearing typical sailor hats and driving around the capital city on two decorated trucks. (LR)

On June 12, students from Esbjerg International School (EIS) set a new record as 90 of them decided to take part in the annual West Coast Run (Vestkystløbet).

While the younger ones opted for the shorter, 4.8 km-long circuit, older students ran 9.2 km. (LR)

17 - 23 June 2016

COMMUNITY

Hamlet on the hop at the castle that spawned Shakespeare’s masterpiece

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PHOTOS BY HASSE FERROLD

Shakespearean actors, sumptuous costumes and stunning backdrops provide the three key components of Hamlet Live, which will continue at Kronborg Castle until the end of August.

Two casts of players (no play within a play though) will ensure no visit is completed without a scene or two of the masterpiece in the very rooms in which it was set

Among those enjoying the premiere were (left-right) distinguished actor Tom McEwan, Crazy Christmas Cabaret founder Vivienne McKee, Canadian ambassador André François Giroux and Pakistani ambassador Masroor A Junejo with family

Director Barry McKenna caught up with Actor Ian Burns meanwhile surprised The two governors, Barry and castle Spot the diplomat with the Poloniuses Vivienne McKee outside – that’s why fellow thespian Sue Hansen Styles on supremo Erik Als, are one tenor short (Andrew Jeffers, Ian Burns) and Austrian they call it a courtyard the battlements. Put away the mace, Sue! of the Royal Albert Hall ambassador Ernst-Peter Brezovsky

Down in the dungeons Hamlet’s father’s ghost is plotting a coup – if that coup is a theatrical Just in case Polonius wasn’t buffoonish enough, Yorick (Bennet Thorpe) has been regenerated to entertain Ophelia (Antonia Pipaluk Stahnke) and Hamlet extravaganza that will blow away all the tourists, the kids (and everyone else who finds the Bard boring) (Benjamin Stender) discussing country matters? then he’s a bit late

20 Pizza in the sun, happily flushed like a big red tomato RESTAURANT

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

17 - 23 June 2016

ROSSOPOMODORO

Østergade 52, Cph K; open Mon-Sat 10:00-22:00, Sun 10:00-18:00; 3318 2661; mains from 100kr; rossopomodoro.dk PIA MARSH

E

VERYONE loves a rooftop – especially when flowing wine and summer sun is involved. In Denmark, the latter may be something of a rarity, but you’ll be hard-pressed finding that stopping anyone.

When Rossopomodoro first opened smack bang on the top of Illum’s illustrious rooftop, Instagram hysteria hit a whole new high. The gastronomic newcomer took Copenhagen’s social media feeds by storm, with every blogger and her dog seemingly paying it a visit.

Neapolitan roots FRESH out of Naples in southern Italy, Rossopomodoro champions its Neapolitan roots right down to the very core. The menu is undeniably authentic, with fresh, seasonal ingredients and an unending selection of cheeses I’m unable to pronounce. It has all the regulars (pizza, pasta, a long list of wines worth guzzling) with that little hint of authenticity that only comes from a mother’s own kitchen.

I love pizza. Whether it’s from my favourite gourmet Italian joint or a naughty late night carbsnack from the greasy kebab shop on the corner, a good old pizza never goes astray. After growing a little bored of hearing about Rossopomodoro, I decided to see what all the fuss was about. Was this really as good as Instagram was having us believe, or was this just another one of Copenhagen’s elaborate marketing ploys?

A favourite on Instagram WE CHOSE a sunny midweek afternoon to visit and, as a consequence, waited dutifully in line with the rest of Copenhagen. Perhaps this is because Instagram has convinced us that Rossopomodoro takes summer vibes beyond all conceivable expectations, despite the fact that it is, above all else, just an eatery on top of one of the city’s busiest department stores.

We started with a glass of icy white wine and La Bufala –

“Fresh out of Naples in southern Italy, Rossopomodoro champions its Neapolitan roots right down to the very core. The menu is undeniably authentic, with fresh, seasonal ingredients and an unending selection of cheeses I’m unable to pronounce”

Unless stated otherwise, the meals in these reviews are paid for by the venue.

fresh buffalo mozzarella flown in directly from Naples – served with cherry tomato bruschetta.

It was light and refreshing and prepped our stomachs amply.

For our main course, we shared the Cornucopia – a pizza that sells itself on having a little bit of everything. Creamy buffalo ricotta, mozzarella, ham, Neapolitan salami, crispy pancetta and fresh spinach all grace the pizza in elegant sufficiency.

Fresh, flavoursome produce THE PIZZA dough deserves a special mention. A faultless soft, doughy mixture, with just the right amount of lightly crispy crust, it oozes over with melted cheeses and a delicious tomato base.

We also tucked into the Verduretta, a pizza just about spilling over with fresh, flavoursome produce: Italian cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, aubergine,

squash and capsicum. Personally, I preferred the Cornucopia, but a little vegetarian side meal never goes astray.

For dessert, we had the Ricotta e Cioccolato, a chocolate and creamy buffalo ricotta mousse, hazelnuts and fresh berries.

Chocolate is one of my greatest loves, and although this was enjoyable, it could have done with a little more indulgence.

Whilst I couldn’t quite shake

that food-court feeling, the pizza was undoubtedly one of the best I’ve had in Copenhagen, and the sheer volume of exotic cheeses was a welcome surprise. Rossopomodoro captures the essence of Naples and the genuine Neapolitan pizza in a way that no other restaurant in Copenhagen has. It’s worth a visit – even if it’s just for a quick Aperol Spritz in the sun to break up a shopping spree.

INOUT: WHAT’S ON

17 - 23 June 2016

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

June 13-19; Kajakvej 21, Kastrup; free adm; hawilaproject.org JUNYI QI

JUMP ON the deck! The 91-year-old sailing ship Hawila is throwing a mega festival, rolling continuously until Sunday with an intense program of participatory workshops and music dance performances, all under the themes of sailing energies and sustained abilities.

On Hawila, you have the chance to turn your long-forgotten clothes into pieces of artwork by printing your very own design on them, learn to make a sailor’s rigging bag applying various knots and rope techniques, take a close look at the harbour sailing on the water and more.

As well as the daily workshops that, the

CITY AND MOVEMENT June 23-Sep 18; Danish Architecture Centre, Strandgade 27B, Cph K; 40-60 kr, free adm Wed 17:00-21:00; dac.dk THE EXHIBITION City & Movement seeks to tell the story of the informal and non-organised movement in the city. Accordingly, the Danish Architecture Centre and the plaza in front of the building will

line-up includes live music, dancing and performances.

Juan Pino – drum player, singer and poet – is turning Hawila’s cargo into a concert hall on Thursday night, starting at 7:30. Following at 9, the Iranian musician and composer Alireza Mortazavi, who has dedicated his entire life to the santur (a hammered dulcimer of Iranian origin), will show off his talents commanding the instrument’s 72 strings. You don’t want to miss it!

Don’t be alarmed if you see people dancing and/or singing on a rope or mast on Friday night. The Sailing City crew – a group of dancers, musicians, performers and activists – connect art with activism to communicate present-day climate issues via movement and sound.

All the activities are free of charge and for all ages. Hawila can be found close to Den Blå Planet. turn into a ‘movement destination’.

While the temporary outdoor arena hosts anyone who wishes to experience new forms of movement, a major exhibition will open inside aimed at exploring the subject of movement in the city.

Through several specialist events, participants will discuss what is the next step to take regarding new urban forms of movement as natural and integral parts of the city. (AP)

SINCE 2004, the biennial Copenhagen Puppet Festival has been bringing puppeteers, enthusiasts and newcomers together to participate to a full program of performances, seminars and work-

ACTIVITY

GIN TASTING

June 22; Nørre Farimagsgade 61, Cph K; 300kr With gin very much back in vogue, explore just how different this drink can be. All the drinks are served neat, but feel free to turn each one into a classic G&T or mixed drink of your choice. The event is part of the Smagførst Festival. (AJ)

PARTY

SANKT HANS AFTEN

June 23; various venues nationwide Across the nation the Danes will gather on Sankt Hans Aften (Midsummer’s Eve) to observe old traditions that include placing a witch on a bonfire and singing nationalistic songs as she burns. One of the best nights of the year!

(NØ)

SPECTACLE

RED BULL DIVING

June 18, 13:00; Operaen, Ekvipagemestervej 10, Cph K; free adm Usually the drama takes place inside the Opera House, but not on this occasion! Some 14 of the best male cliff divers in the world will take turns to jump 27 metres into the river in what should be an unusual but thrilling spectacle. (AJ)

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COPENHAGEN CLASSICO

June 19, 11:00-13:00; Onkel Dannys Plads, Halmtorvet, Cph V; 250kr, under-18s:150kr; copenhagenclassico.dk A bike journey like no other, the group will leisurely cycle 22 km together, stopping off for two breaks – for coffee at Dronning Louises Bro and for champagne at Kastellet! (AJ)

June 18, 15:00; Kødbyens Mad & Marked, Flæsketorvet 100, Cph V; free adm, puppetfestival.dk

shops held by leading professionals.

This year the square around Kødbyens Food & Market will host The Horsemen, three entertaining mad Frenchmen on horseback, after which two uniquely decorated turntables will be auctioned off.

All the proceeds of the Copenhagen Puppet Festival go towards supporting the shelter Istedgade 100 and the social enterprise Street Voices. (AP) OFFICIAL FCEBOOK PAGE

ACTIVITY

CPH PUPPET FESTIVAL

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JETTE BANG & KIRSTEN KLEIM

June 18-Aug 21, 10:0017:00; Nordatlantens Brygge, Strandgade 91, Cph K; 40kr; nordatlantens.dk Two photographers from different generations point their lenses at Greenland. How do their works resemble or differ from one another? The exhibition shows a new side of Greenland. (JQ)

NORDATLANTENS.DK

ART

ALEXIS FAGNONI

HAWILA FESTIVAL

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INOUT:FILM

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

Doc’s tale of duality further secures his legacy

MAPPLETHORPE: LOOK AT THE PICTURES

Dir: Randy Barbato & Fenton Bailey; US biodoc, 2016, 108 mins; featuring Debbie Harry, Fran Lebowitz, Brooke Shields PREMIERED JUNE 16 PLAYING VESTER VOV VOV, GLORIA & VALBY KINO

T

HE GREATEST triumph of Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures is that it delivers a layered portrait which, in accordance with the documentarists’ repeated assertion of duality running throughout photographer Robert Mapplethorpe’s life and work, describes a man who was a ruthless force of nature in regards to his career and yet capable of great vulnerability in his relationships.

This becomes considerably more complex territory when one considers that these two areas were not in competition with each other but rather inseparably blurred for Mapplethorpe.

Artist and provocateur MAPPLETHORPE was a no-

AT CINEMAS

’VE BEEN a film critic at the Copenhagen Post for some years now. I’ve seen many films of varying quality in the course of that time – but there are few films which, during the screening, I felt my life energy leaving my body so acutely as while I was trapped in a screening of Now You See Me. Mercifully I remember very little, mostly a curious mix of fear and incredulity at how this amorphous excretion ever made it into cinemas so, as you can imagine, that same reaction was doubled at the prospect of Now You See Me 2. Obviously the team behind the film missed a trick in not naming the sequel Now You Don’t – and I’ll wager that’s

torious figure in modern art throughout the 1980s and especially in the early ‘90s following his death from an AIDS-related illness. His photography was a combustible topic throughout America and beyond, with many major media outlets dubbing his work as sick and depraved.

The images still have the power to shock today, but few would dispute their significance. As an art form, Mapplethorpe elevated photography to the same level as painting and started a lasting debate about censorship, ultimately progressing the dialogue between porn and art.

Lover and user IF A DRAMATISATION were made of Mapplethorpe’s life (one is apparently pending, starring Dr Who’s Matt Smith), it would inevitably simplify his approach to work, preferring to focus firstly on his relationship with singer-songwriter Patti Smith and ultimately African-American model Milton Moore, whose penis gained notoriety in one of Mapplethorpe’s most iconic images, ‘Man in Polyester Suit’.

Mapplethorpe was apparently devastated by his split with Milton, becoming inconsolable for weeks. In a fiction film, this point might be laboured over, but here it is felt quickly and sharply; the event is afforded a context by the cumulative effect of many firsthand accounts from and about the least of the tricks they missed. See it at your peril – you won’t see me there.

Barbershop: The Next Cut is the surprise comedy threequel in a series that started in 2002 with Tim Story’s Barbershop. Following the exploits of a community centred around a barber’s in south-side Chicago, Ice Cube etc return for more of the same. The reviews have been fairly positive.

Also on release is the comedy drama A Perfect Day in which a group of aid workers try to resolve a crisis concerning a body stuck in a well during an armed conflict.

An impressive cast seem unable to raise the middling reception the film has thus far attracted.

Lastly, a new documentary on bad boy photographer

ROBERT MAPPLETHORPE

MARK WALKER FILM EDITOR

I

17 - 23 June 2016

The documentary expertly emphasises the dual nature of the man’s art and life

Mapplethorpe’s litany of lovers and collaborators.

We learn it was rare for Mapplethorpe to love altruistically – often his choice of lover was motivated by money. On the curator Sam Wagstaff, who bankrolled much of Mapplethorpe’s early career, the artist himself is quoted as saying that were it not for Wagstaff’s money, they might never have been together.

Enigmas and ironies TO FURTHER credit to the filmmakers, they don’t allow these findings to give us easy conclusions on Mapplethorpe’s character. Instead we’re given a Robert Mapplethorpe is showing at selected cinemas.

Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures is reviewed this issue.

At Cinemateket (dfi.dk/ filmhuset), there’s plenty going on, including a series on Polish master Krzystof Kieslowski, Iranian cinema, Iran 1960-90, and Fik Du Set Det, Du Ville? – a second chance to see the year’s best films. This Friday you can catch Paul Feig’s comedy Spy at 19:00.

On Sunday at 14:15, there’s the Danish on a Sunday series where, this week, they’re showing the documentary The Visit that examines Earth’s preparations for first contact with an alien race. Tickets are 45-70 kroner and an extra 40 kroner will get you coffee and a pastry. (MW)

fully-rounded sense of the human being, so that we feel we’ve grasped something more profound than a handful of details – we’re allowed to neither love nor hate the man, we simply get to know him in a way that stays with us beyond the credit roll.

Bookending this comprehensive chronology of the artist’s life, directors Bailey and Barbato have used the curatorial preparations for an upcoming pair of exhibitions curated by the Getty Museum and LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Modern Art) functioning as one show over two venues. This won’t be the first time Mapplethorpe’s

work has been split in such a way, as Sam Wagstaff originally had great success with the same approach in New York.

Not only does this further support the dual nature of the man’s art and life, but these bookends come in stark, almost comedic contrast when juxtaposed against Mapplethorpe’s untamed life of sexual and artistic excess: the besuited curators stand in vast, sterile, white storage rooms, clustering around these wild images, all the time gushing their vapid analyses – quite unaware of the ironic distance between their world and Robert Mapplethorpe’s.

Second Run – Second Chance. In case you missed them, experience 12 of best films of 2015 on the big screen in June and August: ‘The Hateful Eight’, ‘Amy’, ’45 years’, ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ and many more...

We present some 50 films with English dialogue or subtitles every month. See what’s on at cinemateket.dk CINEMATEKET / GOTHERSGADE 55 / CINEMATEKET.DK

INOUT:TV

17 - 23 June 2016

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

MARY AND MARTHA SVT1, MON 21:00

PICK OF THE WEEK

R Mary and Martha: weren’t they the sisters of Lazarus? A few of his skills would be handy here

SOME EVENTS have been altered for dramatic purposes, we’re told at the start of the first episode of American Genius, which pitches Bill Gates against Steve Jobs in a ‘showdown’ to establish ... well, it isn’t that clear.

Really? Documentaries are rewriting history so they don’t ruin the flow of their story. Were Gates and Jobs really so boring that we have to reimagine their lives to make them more appealing to American Dumbass?

Future episodes include the Wright Brothers, Randolph Hearst and Samuel Colt.

No need for a rundown on what the episodes of Richard E Grant’s 7 Deadly Sins (DR3, Thu 20:45) are called. The British actor, who grew up in Swaziland, demonstrates his ease in the animal kingdom as he explains how wildlife has benefited from being sinful, from the slothful bear to the lustful baboon.

Elsewhere, we’ve got S4 of

1800s crime drama Ripper Street (DR3, Sun 20:00), S2 of Forbryldsen rip-off Hinterland (DR1, Sun 21:50), and the best of NorthSide Festival (DR3, Mon 20:45); armed with a cast including Ciarán Hinds, the British procedural drama series Above Suspicion: Silent Scream (DR1, Fri 23:35) is not as ludicrous as the name suggests; while the 2015 Xmas special of Call the Midwife (SVT1, Wed 21:00) includes a birth, but no stable. (BH)

ICHARD Curtis’s featurelength drama – co-produced by the BBC and HBO – is a valiant effort (directed by Phillip Noyce) to bring attention to the dangers of malaria, a disease that the WHO estimates killed 438,000 people in 2015 alone.

Through the tragic stories of two women (Hilary Swank and Brenda Blethyn), who both lose their only sons to the scourge – one whilst working in an or-

The Juice eventually got his just desserts

SVT1, Sun 18:15 American Genius

ACCLAIMED with a 100 percent approval rating by the New York Times and Washington Post, OJ: Made in America is a 2016 American five-part documentary miniseries that promises to blow your mind.

Premiered at Sundance Festival 2016 and aired on ABC, this film draws a portrait of the

LEMANS.ORG

SPORT OF THE WEEK DR1, Sat 20:30 Euro 2016: Portugal vs Austria

3+, Sun 13:30 F1: European GP

TV2, Sat 12:10 Le Mans

FILM OF THE WEEK

DRK, Fri 21:00 The Whistleblower

fallen superstar starting from his emerging football career until his incarceration in 2007 for robbery.

Beyond the world-renowned trial and Simpson biography, the doc “is also a social history of race, fame, sports and Los Angeles over the past half-century”, praised the New York Times.

ALESSANDRA PALMITESTA

FORMULA1.COM

UEFA.COM

WHO WOULD have thought the goal drought in the first hour of Euro 2016 would have produced the highest score-line?

Among the picks are Belgium vs Ireland (DR1, Sat 14:50), Portugal vs Austria, Croatia vs Spain (DR1, Sat 20:30), Italy vs Ireland (DR3, Wed 20:50) and Slovakia vs England (TV2, Mon 20:50). Elsewhere, we’ve got the European Grand Prix and Le Mans. (BH)

Took more than a while though

phanage in Mozambique and the other on a holiday in South Africa – a narrative of insufferable familial grief is woven.

Disappointingly though, the drama’s creators chose the stories of two Western women to act as the mouthpiece for this universal affliction – a condescending and easy choice.

Like the two female protagonists who through the course of the drama learn that their stories are atypical, hopefully too did Curtis and Noyce.

ANNA CLARKE

ALSO NEW

OJ: Made in America

COMING SOON

23

Tv3, Sun 21:00 Runner Runner

SVT2, Fri 21:45

Frances Ha

NOT REALLY sure you can make up a good whistleblower.

Runner Runner proves that point with its weak character motivations and posing. Justin Timberlake cried the Nile when he read the reviews. The Whistleblower, a true story starring Rachel Weisz, shows it’s never simple and that’s why it works. As does Frances Ha, mumblecore at its best. (BH)

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