Jul 29, 2018

Sweden on fire

July 19. The CNN World Weather. Reporting about the wide spread wild fires in Sweden. Showing a picture. From Kårböle, Sweden. With the circle and the dots.

The Europe weather map ends to the north at the south tip of Sweden. I’ve never witnessed a forecast where Sweden is mentioned. But this day the map is sliding north and the choice for the temperature graf is Stockholm. “30°C and above ( in the nineties °F) with no relief in sight”.

My balcony door and windows are open as they have been 24-7 for three weeks now. Today is rare with an overcast sky, some rain and mild thunder some miles from here. About 22°C (70°F) and a humidity of 84°. It’s muggy in a way that’s very unusual on the 64th latitude.

But there is nothing “ususal” about this summer.  A normal summer on this latitude is temperatures at 15-20°C with one good high-pressure for up to a week giving us  lovely warmth 

Wow, the sky did just open, there was this white flash and the enormous thunder right on and above me, and the signal in my land line phone…! I am not normally afraid of thunder storms, but as I am at the end of the road and the last one on the power line, thunderstorms have a tendency of killing my technical devises. And this summer the flashes sets the dry grounds on fire everywhere. So yes, right now they make me a bit nervous.

So, where was I? Yes, a lovely warmth at a maximum of 25C/77F. If we are really lucky we might have two such weeks on a summer. 2017 was an exceptionally bad summer if you like it warm. Mostly 11°/52° and ONE DAY at 23/73. It was in August. 

 Summer 2018 will be historical. May, June and July have all been consistently warm and dry, peeking these last three weeks, being really hot. It’s been the warmest July in 260 years. And no rain. 

And where there is dry grass, grounds and forests, there is fires.

As for today 25 000 hektar are on fire in Sweden, spread over the country. That’s 11 000 more than the 14 000 hektar burning in one place in 2014, the by then largest forest fire in modern Swedish history. Villages have been/are evacuated for days and weeks. Public messages in English and German on Swedish National Radio brings a surrealistic feeling to the sun.

Swedish first responders and voluntaries have been working around the clock in the heat of the sun and the fires for weeks now fighting the fires not to spread. The most severe of them have been too aggressive to extinguish, what you can do is draw up the lines within where they must stay. 

And we are blessed with experts and first responders from all over Europe coming here helping us out. The special aeroplanes from Italy and France water bombing the fires for days and days. Helicopters from Norway. 139 Polish firefighters driving here with 44 fire trucks and terrain vehicles. 60 and 39 additional firefighters joined from French and Germany. 35 Finnish firefighters came over although fires are running in Finland as well. Even Greenland are sending 6 firefighters!

The forecast for Saturday made the crews even more on their toes. Record temperatures, hard winds and thunderstorms coming in. And yes, up to 10 000 thunderbolts across the country were registered as of this morning, and they have been continuing throughout the day and will for the next two as it looks.

But there has also been rain! And it’s been cooling off some and the humidity helps as well. So even though the night trains to Northern Sweden have been cancelled because of fires alongside the tracks not far from here, the situation on the whole looks more stable. People are allowed back home in some of the villages. What was 50 fires of which 15 were out of control a week ago today is 21 and not as bad. The Italian and French planes are off to Greece where they are more needed now. And, this far Sweden has not suffered any casualties.

My hope now is that every Swede who want’s to exit the European Union will be thinking twice. There is no way we could have done this without the water bombing planes from southern Europe. They came as life saviours for the poor people watching the fires approach their villages and homes. And the Polish firefighters were greeted all the way through Sweden. Some of the crews have been communicating in 6-7 languages and it’s amazing being touched with the hearts of all these people coming here helping us out in this crises.

Couldn’t this had happened without the EU? Maybe, but the operation would not had been as prompt and efficient. The organisation and infrastructure is right there, a decision is all it takes.

What I am saying here is: we need our friends. All of us. In good times and bad times. Sweden is not used to crises. We are usually the ones helping out. Now we know what it is like being on the other side.

So what about the firefighters from Greenland? Well it turns out Sweden was one out of several northern countries helping out when Greenland was hit by an unexpected tsunami last year. And now Greenland wanted to pay back in the way they could. That’s what friends are for!

PS. My doors and window are actually not open 24-7. For the first time ever I am taking on the regime from warm places, keeping the house closed during the day and open evening and over nights. Such a backward thing to do for a northern Swede!

Jul 22, 2018

Trump, falling ni love with power

With everything said about the Trump and Putin summit in Helsinki this week, I still feel the need to make a few notes.

Putting the TV on the morning after the 2016 election, watching CNN anchors Chris Cuomo and Alisyn Camerota's smile-less faces announcing the outcome, I felt like looking at the planes crashing into World Trade Center 2001. Yet, I had no idea…

Nor had anyone. The House of Cards / Game of Thrones or whatever you would like to call the 1,5 years passing has been as frightening as it has been fascinating. And the astonished question always coming up is What is he doing and why? What does Donald Trump want? That question is highly relevant this Mid-July week.

I am reading two Swedish analysts and watching one American. More frightening than fascinating.

Frida Stranne, researcher at an university branch in Halmstad, Sweden, focusing at the US, sums the events of the last months up. The fact that Trump is pulling out of international agreements and criticising Nato and the EU is his way of undermining the credibility and future for fundamental institutions he doesn’t believe in. And Stranne means the quarrel with Trump’s G7 colleagues and the support for Brexit are examples of the same stance.

She goes far, suggesting Donald Trump wants to create a different world order. From that perspective it makes sense meeting Putin making him feel big and downplaying Crimea and the meddling in the US election. In the world Trump wants, Stranne says, countries manage by themselves and accepts regional super powers.

Mike Winnerstig, security analyst at FOI, the Swedish defense research institute, agrees that Donald Trump is pursuing a world order where the one who is strong is also right, rather than collaborations between countries and organisations on equal grounds.

As long as the Congress and Senate feel the need to hold on to what we know as the fundaments for governing, we will recognise the political landscape. But, if congressmen/women and senators starts getting exchanged for people aiming Trump’s world order, researcher Frida Stranne’s scenario might be real. 

It has actually already started, as the National Security Adviser HR McMaster was replaced with John Bolton, an open UN critic. And if the Secretary of Defense James Mattis who underscores the avail of alliances would be fired and replaced with an isolationist, that would be a big step towards a Trump world order, according to Mike Winnerstig, FOI.

To me this is worrying information. But what made me really scared was listening to Tony Schwartz interviewed on CNN the other day. Tony Schwartz is a journalist and writer, co-writer of Donald Trump’s book The Art of the Deal. Basically Tony Schwartz knows Donald Trump’s brain in and out. 

Schwartz predicted Donald Trump wouldn't be long at the job as the President. That he was in it for the win but would be bored with the slow pace of democracy. But I was wrong he says. “What I didn’t predict was that he would fall in love with the power”.

And that’s where we are at now. Donald Trump, the boy brought up by a father who used the expression “a killer” for the personality he wanted from his son and who in addition was taught to never admit any kind of wrong doings, is the President of the USA. A man obsessed by week or strong. Who has fallen in love with power. 

No wonder he also falls in love with similar men. Like Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin. And wants to be chums with them. He understands them. There is no way he can relate to Justin Trudeau and Emanuel Macron. Not to mention women.

So, what we saw in Helsinki was a little boy in a huge man’s body wanting to be one in the gang of killers, creating a new world order. A world were the strong is right. Something to reflect upon on a Sunday in July.

Jul 15, 2018

My poison

There, suddenly, rain! I sat down at the front porch watching it. Smelling it. Listening to it. A warm rain sensed by my sun-warm body. Just sitting there, enjoying the sensation.

It’s a very unusual summer in Sweden. The forecast maps looks like California. All suns! Day after day. And has so been since May. It’s extremely dry and wild fires are occurring all over the country. In fact, historically we’ve never seen this kind of drought in Sweden before. There is a scale 1-5, but we’ve been off the chart since early summer. 

The temperatures now are Seattle-like. In fact, today we are on the spot: 28°C/83°F. That’s really warm for the 64th latitude. To warm for many. Personally I like it, as long as I can keep a cross draft through my house. And drink loads of water. And now and then an Arnold Palmer. 

Then there is the sun. I am worshipping the summer light, as you might know by now. And I am a junkie for the sun.

My body needs the sun and the warmth as a dead car battery needs power. I can literally feel how my body is tanking energy, saving up for the dark and cold ahead. Therefore, I spend as much time as possible in those much appreciated rays.

My weather app has predicting this summer with high accuracy. Pretty much every day spot on. And according to it’s guidance this following week will stay at the same soaring temperatures as this week 26-29°C. The week after some degree cooler (which is still remarkable) and sun. August  18-22° (which a normal summer is quiet satisfying) and some showers coming in.  

Now, this is interesting. I look at the forecasts and I trust them. Intellectually. But my body doesn’t. My body is used to catching every sunbeam possible during a normal summer, because it might be the only one. What if this is the one day/week and I spent it inside! That can’t happen!

So although it’s actually not very comfortable in the hot sun on my west wall in the afternoon I am there when I can. And although I probably shouldn’t. I have removed some basaliom over the years, a couple this week actually. They are not dangerous per say, still, you don’t want them. 

I should avoid the sun. But it’s my poison. I probably need rehab.

PS. I just now feel the smell of smoke through my open windows. It's the first time for me. That makes me worried.


Jul 8, 2018

"L'arte di non fare niente “

A week into July it’s vacation time in Sweden. Swedes have 5-7 weeks of vacation a year, depending on work place/employer and age. Due to our seasons most people take the big chunk of their vacation in the summer, and July is the favourite month.

I have decided to treat July as my vacation month as well. Basically that means to not worry about job or assignments and to not chase crafts people. The latter is actually not a problem since they are all on vacation. So as long as things don’t break in my house  (knock on wood!) I should be fine when it comes to that.

The last two years I made lists for my vacation. How I wanted to spend them. Simple things doable in spite of my physical restrictions. Like sit in the sun. Listen to music. Listen to Public Radio. Wear nice clothes. Drink my special liquorice blend of Arnold Palmer. Yes, reminders as inspiration for a beautiful life on a small scale by myself.

There have also been points for socials. Invite so and so. Even a couple of party-like gatherings. And the list for “in case of rain” where the main point for years (and in any season) has been “cleaning out my closets”. Literally. Since 2017 was an extremely crappy summer weather wise that actually happened last July, hurray!

So, the vacation list has been both enjoy- and goal oriented. To be honest, goal orientation comes very easy to me. Too easy. Enjoy orientation, not so much…

This year though, starting last summer, the choice of enjoyment or goal hasn’t really been on the agenda. Life has put the agenda for me, mostly containing taking care of my health and my place. No catastrophes, for which I am intensely grateful, but a constant shovelling of acute body and house happenings.

So, although I know health issues (besides my dear old back) will not take vacation although it’s summer and there is actually some renovation going on here at the end of the road, I will still really try to enjoy July as leisure time. 

Did you here that? Leisure. It will be a challenge to me, but that’s what I need. 

Yesterday I picked my most beautiful summer clothes from my wardrobe and hang them on the closet doors. I will dress up for the sun and the flowers in my garden and for myself. I will be walking on the green run way of summer light. Feeling like I am dancing although it’s only in my mind. I will be sitting in my sun chair every minute possible. I will be randomly listening to public radio and get to learn things I wasn’t aiming for. I will be watching my cherry trees grow and the summer plants blossom. And I will not make a list for summer achievements to check.

Italians have an expression for what I want to experience this summer. "L'arte di non fare niente “. The art of doing nothing. This far that art is not on my CV.  I want to add that. I need to add that. Wait, did I just make that a goal…?

Jul 1, 2018

"Temporary Disruption"

When I grew up it happened all the time. The TV broadcast was temporary disrupted. Suddenly the TV just dying and there was that sign you weren’t to fond of. Temporary Disruption. And you just sat there. Because the broadcast could come on in a minute or it could take forever. And since the only TV broadcast back then was the Swedish National Television, at first only one and later two channels, there was no other entertainment to turn to. Radio? Uhh…

Anyway, I can’t even remember when I last saw that sign. It must have been ages ago. Until the other day during the 6 a’clock News.

There was some technical problems. Stories wouldn’t start, name signs didn’t show, something in the picture quality was odd, the news anchor apologised over and over again, and suddenly the broadcast died. Just like that. Temporary Disruption.

I looked at the sign. And felt like I was 10 again. Just watched. And waited. It must come on any second. Any minute. But it didn’t. A blue screen. No sound. Temporary Disruption.

The news was broadcasted at SVT1 (Swedish Television channel 1). After a while I switched over to SVT 2, and to my relief everything seemed normal over there. Back at SVT 1 there was finally a voice announcing the news room having technical problems and the news cast actually was cancelled.

So what was so disturbing? Why was I uncomfortable? Well, when it was clear SVT 2 was okay I felt a bit better. At least the entire Swedish National Television (which is the Swedish Public Service Television) wasn’t down. Which should give you a lead to my reaction.

A public service news show suddenly just dies. And is dead for minutes before a voice is even announcing why. And it doesn’t come on again.

In this time and age I reacted with fear. Was the show hacked? Had someone who shouldn’t be there cut the wires? Was the news room hijacked?

It makes me sad and scared that I reacted with fear. I’m looking out through my balcony door to the west. The forest, the fields, the greenery in the evening light. To the north the sun preparing for setting, 20 minutes earlier than a week ago - yes, that’s how quickly the light is backing off! The blackbird is still singing it’s evening song though. It’s quite and peaceful here at the end of the road. Yet, a disrupted public service news show can be a a reasonable reason for red alert in 2018. That’s sad and scary.