Monday, July 23, 2007

Hard facts on Sweden

Sweden today:

Language is Swedish, English. Currency is Swedish Krona.
Unemployment is currently 3.9%. Population is 9 131 425 people

Most popular boys name in 2006:
1 Lucas
2 Oscar
3 William
4 Elias
5 Filip

Most popular girls name in 2006
1 Emma
1 Maja
3 Agnes
4 Julia
5 Alva

Most popular women names
1 Maria
2 Anna
3 Margareta
4 Elisabeth
5 Eva

Most well known Swedish world contributions are:

Carl Linne (Carl von Linné, 1707-1778)
The Nobel Prize (Alfred Nobel, 1833–96)
Smörgåsbord
ABBA (1972-1982)
IKEA (1943- )


Some Swedish history:

Sometime during year 700-1100 AD Sweden experienced the
Viking Age. The Vikings liked gods such as Oden and Thor.
The word Thursday comes from the Swedish word Torsdag, Thors day.

In year 1812 Sweden as we know it now takes form. Since then
sweden has not been engaged in war. At least not as a fighting
nation. The border countries are Finland and Norway.

Now Sweden is a friendly part of Scandinavia and a leader in
environmental care. The general goal is to have an ecologically
sustainable Sweden by 2020. I really hope it works out but I
wonder if the government can meet the expectations...

Sweden has something called Allemansrätt, "The right of public
access" which gives everyone the possibility to go basically
anywhere in nature when considering the essence of the phrase,
"Do not disturb, do not destroy". This is one of the great
things in Sweden making people feel more equal.

More on Sweden to come later if you want..

Thank you (Tack)

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Lots of scouts in Sweden!

20.000 scouts from 40 countries have gathered in
jiingijamborii camp outside of Kristianstad in Sweden.

They say every other second one scout arrived during the
weekend. A whole small village will be built by the scouts,
banks, shops, drugstores and a lot of tents.

They will probably look forward to a stay with rain, moscitoes,
bugs and too little sleep.

2500 people are working full time to make all this happen, they
all do it voluntary.

The camp is a way to celebrate the scout movements 100 year
birthday and also a warm up practise for the next event. In
2011 there will be 30000 scouts coming to Sweden.