Sweden has for a long time been known for its equal rights for men and women. In a country where the freedom of right and speech is widespread, and women are looked on as independent human beings with their own independence, it has come as a shock to the country that the Greek attaché Vassilios Bakalis, based in Stockholm, has publicly, both in a letter addressed to a private individual and on national TV, slandered the whole Swedish female population by expressing "...you should be ashamed of the behaviour of Swedish women, both on holiday in all parts of the world and with foreign citizens in their own country!" It all started with the rape of a Swedish woman in Greece in 2009.
A holiday, which was supposed to be relaxing and bring happy memories, ended in 2009 in assault and rape for a woman after being drugged in Greece. The charges were dropped by authorities and the victim was instead accused of slandering the rapist in a goal to collect "rape insurance", an insurance that does not exist in Sweden but has been reported in newspapers in Greece as official and is no more than a lie. It makes you wonder of the integrity of the investigating reporters.
In recent days the situation of the victim has been reported in media and a private male individual wrote to the Greek embassy in Stockholm where he expressed his concern and views over her treatment, but also from a tourist point of view, who has visited Greece on many occasions. The written response he received from Vassilios Bakalis, attaché, was not what anyone would expect.
"To the opposite, my friend, it is you who should be ashamed of the behaviour of Swedish women, both on holiday in all parts of the world and with foreign citizens in their own country!"
Vassilios Bakalis continues writing of being warned by taxi drivers in Stockholm: "...has warned me of not taking home intoxicated Swedish women to my apartment because of the large likelihood of them accusing me of rape when they wake up in the morning and understand who you are."
Mr Bakalis views on women are very far away from the democratic society of Sweden. A woman has there the right to say no and own the right to her own body. Perhaps this is not something mr Bakalis, or the taxi drivers he has spoken to, are used to.
Mr Bakalis was called by TV4, one of the major national TV stations, with regards to his response to the private individual. He is asked the question of what he means, and responds arrogantly: "It is clear and precise English." During the interview he says he will tell a joke about Swedish women abroad, but he left noone laughing with the clear insult in the none existing joke.
It is not a matter of where you are from or what you look like. It is about the democratic right of you as a human being. Rape is serious. Assault is serious, Drugging someone is serious. Anything abusing anyone is serious and wrong on all accounts. By every breath I take I am more and more grateful that I live in a free society where women are seen and heard.
I will never give up on rights to freedom, truth and justice. I was born free and freedom of speech is my right.
Friday 15 April 2011
Thursday 3 March 2011
Goodbye to the pleaser - HALLO to loving MYSELF enough!
I often wonder about where the line between what is a strength and what is a weakness lie. Especially of late when my work situation has become very difficult, with staff leaving, global rebranding, etc etc etc. When do you admit you can't take on any more? And shall you admit to it?
My answer to the last question is a resounding YES. Admitting you need help is loving yourself enough to put yourself first. Because not doing so is allowing yourself to drown. I know because I have been allowing myself to drown for years. This surprises a lot of people because they see me as a strong, intelligent person who will defend and protect those dear to me until the end. Everyone except myself that is. I always let myself drown.
During my childhood I was badly bullied at school and have experienced challenges a plenty to now often ask God for a bit of a break. But these challenges have strengthen me, grown my wisdom but also made me doubt myself. And it is especially the last part that is my achilles heal. Yes, i will admit to not having loved myself enough to stop pleasing others in sacrifice of my own worth and wellbeing.
I have pleased, run around in circles, burned myself out several times AND STILL I continued. Often a line came into my mind "For those who give me nothing I give everything and for those who give me everything I give nothing". I always knew exactly what this meant but still I continued over and over again, for years and years. Because I wrongly thought that saying you can't do it and can't cope was a weakness. I could not have been more wrong. It is the ultimate strength.
So it was hesitantly and proudly I last night and this morning admitted to having completely flunked projects because I had too much on and asking for someone else to take them over. Was I afraid of the response? Yes, definately. Was the response what I thought it would be? No, but I still wonder what the feedback will be down the line and if it will affect my career. Will I care? I want to say a resounding NO here, but I hope that I will grow to fully feel it because this answer is deeply connected to loving myself completely.
An acquiantance of mine wrote to me that it is ME that matter. And that is the full honest truth. It is myself that matter the most because if I am not loving myself to the utmost of my ability, how can I then fully love another? It is like when you are sitting on the airplane and the stewardess says prior to departure for you to put your own mask on before you assist another. So identical, but why is one easier then the other? I guess it has to do with our society wrongly confusing loving yourself with being egoistic. The love I am talking about is loving yourself selflessly without materialistic or ulterior motives, and with a pure heart.
So I am to congratulate myself at this small step of strength. Feels good to have said "cant take on any more". Loving ourselves is difficult at times but we are all human and nothing is more important then your own wellbeing.
My answer to the last question is a resounding YES. Admitting you need help is loving yourself enough to put yourself first. Because not doing so is allowing yourself to drown. I know because I have been allowing myself to drown for years. This surprises a lot of people because they see me as a strong, intelligent person who will defend and protect those dear to me until the end. Everyone except myself that is. I always let myself drown.
During my childhood I was badly bullied at school and have experienced challenges a plenty to now often ask God for a bit of a break. But these challenges have strengthen me, grown my wisdom but also made me doubt myself. And it is especially the last part that is my achilles heal. Yes, i will admit to not having loved myself enough to stop pleasing others in sacrifice of my own worth and wellbeing.
I have pleased, run around in circles, burned myself out several times AND STILL I continued. Often a line came into my mind "For those who give me nothing I give everything and for those who give me everything I give nothing". I always knew exactly what this meant but still I continued over and over again, for years and years. Because I wrongly thought that saying you can't do it and can't cope was a weakness. I could not have been more wrong. It is the ultimate strength.
So it was hesitantly and proudly I last night and this morning admitted to having completely flunked projects because I had too much on and asking for someone else to take them over. Was I afraid of the response? Yes, definately. Was the response what I thought it would be? No, but I still wonder what the feedback will be down the line and if it will affect my career. Will I care? I want to say a resounding NO here, but I hope that I will grow to fully feel it because this answer is deeply connected to loving myself completely.
An acquiantance of mine wrote to me that it is ME that matter. And that is the full honest truth. It is myself that matter the most because if I am not loving myself to the utmost of my ability, how can I then fully love another? It is like when you are sitting on the airplane and the stewardess says prior to departure for you to put your own mask on before you assist another. So identical, but why is one easier then the other? I guess it has to do with our society wrongly confusing loving yourself with being egoistic. The love I am talking about is loving yourself selflessly without materialistic or ulterior motives, and with a pure heart.
So I am to congratulate myself at this small step of strength. Feels good to have said "cant take on any more". Loving ourselves is difficult at times but we are all human and nothing is more important then your own wellbeing.
Sunday 9 January 2011
No one gives a shit about Mexico
Since 1993 several hundred women have been raped, tortured and murdered, and almost a thousand are reported missing along Mexico bordering USA. These are the “official” numbers; in reality the numbers are estimated to exceed 5000. The screams from the women in Juarez are deemed silent because no one will listen.
The North American Free Trade Agreement, NAFTA, allows corporations from all over the world to build factories in Mexico along the USA border and thereby taking advantage of cheap labor and no tariffs. The goods are manufactured at low prices and include TV’s and computers, which are then sold to the USA. In Juarez there are over 1000 factories producing a television every three seconds and a computer every seven seconds.
The factories are called “maquiladoras” and employ mainly women as they are seemed to complain less about the long hours and harsh working conditions. They are also cheaper salary wise. Most “maquiladoras” operate 24 hours a day making the women travel to work in an unsafe environment at late hours and early morning. The companies employing the women provide no security for their workers.
All evidence point to more than one killer. In a culture of murder and violence, denying or covering it up worsens the situation, but you see, covering it up is less expensive than protecting the women. So it is the fathers and mothers of the lost women whom themselves often search passionately for their children, and in some cases have to dig them up from their hiding places of dirt, sand and stone.
Silence is in tune with a line from the movie Borderline, which is based upon real events in Juarez, where Jennifer Lopez’s character says: “No one gives a shit about Mexico.” And Martin Sheen’s responds: “If you give a shit they will.”
The movie Borderline is based on several unsolved murders in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. The movie was initially planned to bring the lawless situation of the Juarez area to the attention of the world and to pressure the Mexican government into acting in bringing those responsible to justice. During filming in Mexico the crew received threats, in some cases from the police, and equipment was stolen to intimidate and stop the filming. The director Nava have been quotes saying: “(When) there are powerful forces involved, you’re going to be attacked. I expect the Mexican government to get very upset about it.” With the Mexican and US government being highly blamed in the movie one cannot stop wondering why such a movie with a powerful and highlighting message was released directly to DVD in the US and not in theatres despite receiving critical acclaim.
So, with this blog I hope that you will give a shit about Mexico, hear and respond to the screams of pain, hurt and courage from the women of Juarez, and in other parts of the world. Please listen. Please respond. Please give truth its freedom.
Next time you switch on your TV will you now acknowledge the silent screams?
The North American Free Trade Agreement, NAFTA, allows corporations from all over the world to build factories in Mexico along the USA border and thereby taking advantage of cheap labor and no tariffs. The goods are manufactured at low prices and include TV’s and computers, which are then sold to the USA. In Juarez there are over 1000 factories producing a television every three seconds and a computer every seven seconds.
The factories are called “maquiladoras” and employ mainly women as they are seemed to complain less about the long hours and harsh working conditions. They are also cheaper salary wise. Most “maquiladoras” operate 24 hours a day making the women travel to work in an unsafe environment at late hours and early morning. The companies employing the women provide no security for their workers.
All evidence point to more than one killer. In a culture of murder and violence, denying or covering it up worsens the situation, but you see, covering it up is less expensive than protecting the women. So it is the fathers and mothers of the lost women whom themselves often search passionately for their children, and in some cases have to dig them up from their hiding places of dirt, sand and stone.
Silence is in tune with a line from the movie Borderline, which is based upon real events in Juarez, where Jennifer Lopez’s character says: “No one gives a shit about Mexico.” And Martin Sheen’s responds: “If you give a shit they will.”
The movie Borderline is based on several unsolved murders in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. The movie was initially planned to bring the lawless situation of the Juarez area to the attention of the world and to pressure the Mexican government into acting in bringing those responsible to justice. During filming in Mexico the crew received threats, in some cases from the police, and equipment was stolen to intimidate and stop the filming. The director Nava have been quotes saying: “(When) there are powerful forces involved, you’re going to be attacked. I expect the Mexican government to get very upset about it.” With the Mexican and US government being highly blamed in the movie one cannot stop wondering why such a movie with a powerful and highlighting message was released directly to DVD in the US and not in theatres despite receiving critical acclaim.
So, with this blog I hope that you will give a shit about Mexico, hear and respond to the screams of pain, hurt and courage from the women of Juarez, and in other parts of the world. Please listen. Please respond. Please give truth its freedom.
Next time you switch on your TV will you now acknowledge the silent screams?
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