Finnland-Forum

Leading Laestadian figure arrested on suspicion of abuse

Wednesday, 29 September 2010 11:17

According to reports in national daily Helsingin Sanomat on Wednesday, a man who holds a position of trust in the Conservative Laestadian movement has been arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing a child.

The paper told that the man has been detained in prison for some nine weeks already, but the case has not been publicised earlier.

The suspect holds a position of trust at Finland's Central Committee of Conservative Laestadian Congregations (SRK).

The SRK is a leading body of the Conservative Laestadians.

Helsingin Sanomat added that three of the man's relatives were also held on suspicion of the crime, but that two of them have been released.

During the spring, the Conservative Laestadian movement was surrounded by scandals as several abuse cases were made public. Tens of individuals reported that they had been victims of abuse.

STT

New way to lighten up in winter
A Finnish company has a new machine that sends light into the ears as a way of lessening the blues association with seasonal affective disorder.
Published: 04.10.2010 14:16
Finnish inventors have created a new method for warding off the winter blues this season—by shining bright light into the ear, YLE reports.

An Oulu-based company’s bright light headset increases light exposure by bringing light close to the brain via the ear canal.

The company Valkee Oy argues that the eyes are not the most effective route to deliver light to the brain, but the ear canal is since this is where the skull is thinnest.

So far, the company has tested the headsets on 50 people who suffer from seasonal affective disorder, or winter depression. These test subjects are said to have experienced relief in terms of their symptoms.

However, further tests are needed, as it’s still somewhat of a mystery as to how light therapy through the ear actually works.

“A generally held assumption is that bright light can only affect mood through the eyes. But very little scientific proof of this exists,” said Valkee’s CEO Juuso Nissilä.

The conventional bright light lamp, often attributed to boosting mood and energy, has been popular in Finland for years.

The headset delivers an amount of light equal to what a person living in the Mediterranean would normally soak up. Valkee recommends a dose of between six and 12 minutes a day several times a week.

Thousands of Valkee's headsets, reminiscent of an iPod, are being sold in the EU. In Finland, the University Pharmacy chain has already introduced the bright light headset to its product range.

Hard Rock Cafe Debuts in Finland
published today 11:53 AM, updated today 11:58 AM
Hard Rock Cafe is planning to bring the franchise to Finland.

Image: EPA / Jörg Carstensen
The American rock-n-roll themed restaurant chain is planning to open a restaurant in Helsinki’s Jätkäsaari district, reports the newspaper Helsingin Sanomat. The chain has set its sights on a new shopping centre planned in the area.

The Hard Rock Cafe franchise has meanwhile already set up shop in Stockholm, Sweden, which has also been the cafe in closest geographical proximity to Finland.

The new Jätkäsaari shopping centre, owned by verkkokauppa.com, has an undeniably American pop culture feel. Two other American icons, the hamburger giant Burger King and T.G.I Friday's, with its vintage Americana decor, are also planning to move into the new mall.

The first Hard Rock Cafe opened in 1971, in London, England. The chain has since expanded to some 170 casinos, restaurants and hotels around the world.

Today Florida’s Seminole Tribe owns the Hard Rock business.

Finland keeps shared top place in press freedom table10/20/2010 at 14:33

Finland kept its shared first place in the latest press freedom index released by Paris-headquartered NGO Reporters without Borders on Wednesday.

The other countries ranked first are Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.

Reporters without Borders saluted the top six countries as "engines of press freedom" but added it was alarmed to see a number of EU member states continuing their fall in the index.

Italy was ranked 49th and Romania 52nd with Bulgaria and Greece tied at 70th.

"If it does not pull itself together, the European Union risks losing its position as world leader in respect for human rights," the NGO said in a statement.

The statement added that Rwanda, Yemen and Syria had joined the likes of Burma and North Korea as the world's most repressive places for journalists.