Almedalen Week in Political Suit
Even though the sky is blue and the sun scorching hot, tonight, I am leaving my paradise by the sea to go to town. Why?
Today the traditional one-week event for politicians, journalists, lobbyists and other politically interested start in Visby. It is called “Almedalen Week” as the epicenter of the many meetings is the Almedalen park, where party leaders from the seven major parties give a speech each day of the week. Starting with the current prime minister, Fredrik Reinfeldt, tonight.
I thought of working this week, writing some articles for alternative newspaper ETC or the online Swedish news site in English, the Local, but after dropping them an email I never really pursued it further. And maybe for the best.
Now I can attend the seminars, debates and meet-ups I want. As well as my brother Hampus Hallberg’s play, Valet, (see photo) which runs four times: Wednesday and Thursday 1 and 5 pm in Metodistkyrkan on Adelsgatan.
And in between take of the political suit and put on the bathing suit…
Program for the week here.
After World Cup What Is There for Ghana?
I got this very poignant comment on my last post from fellow blogger AntiRhythm:
And that, Kajsa, is all there really is about it. The only prize in participation is not to win. When the best in the world turned up, Africa was there. And for a long time, we competed well. We were in the final 8. We were 1 kick from the final 4. Being number 1 in the football world would have had only limited (emotional) benefits. Now, let us compete favourably with the rest of the world in:
Ending poverty;
Growing our economies;
Deepening democratic values;
Restructuring education to ensure real social development;
Fighting health scourges, especially Malaria, HIV/AIDS and TB;
Eradicating neo-geopolitics (ethnocentricism)
Harnessing the powers Information Technology to accelerate development, etc.
I could not have said it better myself. All in all, there is a lot to do also after the World Cup in South Africa is over.
Good Losers – Ghana Exits the World Cup
After the devastating last minutes of the game and penalty series, Facebook and Twitter explodes. So many messages, surprisingly to me, messages of unity and good will. Here are some examples:
“Please, tonight is not a night for tears. GhAfrica’s Black Stars bowed out GRACEFULLY!”
“Oh! asamoah…but welldone guys!”
“My head is still up! Proudly Ghanaian! Well done Black STARS!”
“THAT WAS A GREAT RIDE! THANK YOU SOUTH AFRICA, THANK YOU AFRICA.”
“If there is anything like team of the tournament (like there is man of the match), I think it should go to the Blackstars”
“I stand proud. Whatever happens”
Also, for the first time ever, Ghana is a trending topic on Twitter along with Asamoah Gyan…
Say what you want on Ghana and the Black Stars, but sore losers we are not!
Ghana World Cup Winning Videos
While I wait for the World Cup game tonight, Ghana-Uruguay, I have found these two videos to get into the (winning) mood.
1. Y? da mo ase
Ghana Black Stars! • y? da mo ase (Thank you) from MVMT on Vimeo.
2. Black Stars Dancing
I never saw myself as a fotball fan, but I suprised myself by adding a Twibbon, a little Ghanaian flag, to my Twitter icon in support.
Go, black stars, GO!
Swedish Summer
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Comic Strip on Blogging No 2
Why Blogging is Good for Your Career
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Had lunch with an old friend today and we came to talk about blogging.
My friend feels it could benefit her career to start a personal blog and, not very surprisingly for you my dear readers, I agreed. We had a very inspiring talk and I hope to send you to her blog in a few months time when she has gotten started properly. Of course this is no new topic, Fast Company wrote an article on how a blog can launch a new career a few years a go, for example. But my friend and I talked more about how a blog can improve the career path you are already on.
From our discussion: The seven top aspects of blogging that could benefit your career are:
- Your blog becomes a log of your ideas for yourself. Keeping a blog means constant writing and having a log of what you have accomplished is inspirational. In addition, a blog is a record where you can keep track of your past events, thoughts, reads, projects and so on. (Inspiration and record keeping)
- Your blog is like an extended business card. When you promote yourself in person or on social media, you often so not have much space or time to expand on everything you do, but a blog is an almost limitless depository and can serve as an extension of you. I link to my blog on social media and tell people I am a blogger. (Personal branding)
- Looking for materials for posts makes listening and reading more active. I feel that I experience the world differently as a blogger: I must have the agenda of any meeting and I pay attention to details such as where all speakers work or what order they get to speak. When something annoying happens to me, I try to take it all in as well, all is content for the blog! (Focus)
- Researching for posts is educative. When I write a blog post I almost always have to look up additional details, spellings, websites, organizations, historical facts to make my post complete. This education that comes out of exploring topics both teach me about what is available online and expand my horizons. (Life long learning)
- Posts can be used to claim intellectual property rights. When I have written about something, I have logged my own idea online. While some people worry about ideas being stolen, I feel more protected as my ideas are out there with my name attached to them, with a (Intellectual property protection)
- Interaction with idols, readers and others. Writing about a personality, a book, a play, an event almost certainly will get someone close to the epicenter reading your words. I have had interactions with people I would never otherwise have come close to because of my blog. Readers input in my work has also made a major addition to my life. (Networking)
- A blog makes you visible online. When someone makes a search for me online, my blog and interactions around my blog makes search results that come up mostly be penned by myself. This means a blogger controls his or her web presence much more efficiently than many others, you should too! (Controlling web presence)
What aspect of blogging for your career would you add?
Comic strip made by myself with the help of Toonlet. Updated: Nov 11, 2016.
My Africa: Swedes in Africa
Yesterday, as a part of the South Africa World Cup report, Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter featured five interviews with Swedes living in Africa under the heading “Mitt Afrika” or “My Africa” after Karen Blixen‘s novel with the same name ( in English it was called “Out of Africa”).
I must say I enjoyed reading the interviews by DN’s Africa correspondant Anna Koblanck, (with people like me!). I especially liked the interview with the newly wed Swedish woman in Soweto, Maria Westlund Malepa. Still, I found that some clichés were repeated about life in Africa: “I have learned how to wait”, “Sure I am scared sometimes.. is it soldiers who had too much to drink and shoot, thieves or a new war happening somewhere?” and “the weather, the people, the colors”. But to be fair, other images were shared as well, such as Botswana/Africa being a good place to raise children and Tanzania a place to further your career.
The cap article stated that there are fewer Swedes in Africa today than earlier due to that aid agencies these days post less Swedes in Africa and make more local hires. But I wonder if this is really making the number of Swedes in Africa smaller? Is there a way to find out?
I think Swedes in Africa are more than ever before. I was recently surprised by how many Swedes actually do live in Ghana for example. The globalization is opening up for many more opportunities. Also, people in my generation seem to to a larger extent value “experience from abroad”and then particularly from developing countries. I have the feeling we rather seek the opportunity than expect to be heavily compensated if it arises.
The mystique and lure of “My Africa” might be bigger than some think.
Also, I should stop saying I have learned how to wait in Ghana and blame Africa when I am running late to meetings!
Ghana Scores Serbia
An hour ago the news reached me in Sweden that Ghana scored favorites (?) Serbia in the opening game for the Ghanaian Black Stars in the South Africa FIFA World Cup. Wohoo! Go Ghana!
In my room in Sweden I imagined the celebrations going on all over the crazy fotball nation that is Ghana and was lucky enough to stumble across the lovely and vivid pics on fellow Ghanablogging blogger Nana Kofi’s photo blog.
Pic of teary eyed Black Stars fan borrowed from Nana Kofi Acquah’s post on the Ghana vs Serbia celebrations in Accra.
Have You Heard of Nigeria’s Oil Leakages?
While the eyes of the world are fixed on the BP oil leakage in the Gulf of Mexico outside of Louisiana, US, another much less publicized leak has been ongoing for decades in the oil rich Niger delta in Nigeria, reports the Guardian (and today Swedish newspaper DN).
The Guardian article states:
In fact, more oil is spilled from the delta’s network of terminals, pipes, pumping stations and oil platforms every year than has been lost in the Gulf of Mexico…With 606 oilfields, the Niger delta supplies 40% of all the crude the United States imports and is the world capital of oil pollution. Life expectancy in its rural communities, half of which have no access to clean water, has fallen to little more than 40 years over the past two generations. Locals blame the oil that pollutes their land and can scarcely believe the contrast with the steps taken by BP and the US government to try to stop the Gulf oil leak and to protect the Louisiana shoreline from pollution.
What can Ghana and our emerging oil industry learn from this mess?
Pic borrowed from Veronique de Viguerie / Getty Images at Pikele.
Enjoying Malmö Library
Spent some time in the Malmö library (site in English courtesy of Google Translate) and was quite impressed.
The space is light, beautiful and functional. You can borrow books in all languages, DVD:s and music CDs. You can read newspapers and magazines from the whole world. You can learn about the Swedish and EU political systems and even have a cup of coffee.
Clockwise from top: Exterior, Newspaper room, reading chairs and books. Collage made with Picnik.