Finland
Laura Birn: 'It took me a few years to get the courage to be an actress'
We throw a few questions to the Finnish actor whose latest film is 'Purge', Finland's nomination for best foreign oscar award, which is based on the book Finnish-Estonian author Sofi Oksanen. The 31-year old also won the best actress ‘Jussi award’ in Helsinki for her performance and a Satellite award nomination
finland, cinema, berlin, shooting stars, scandinavia, culture, berlinale
Promoting Finnish music in Europe
The music industry makes resolutions too. In 2013 the Eurosonic music festival in Groeningen surprisingly devoted itself to covering the Finnish music scene, looking set to finally shed light on a country and music industry that we know very little about
finland, netherlands, culture calendar, culture, music, economy, rock
Lithuanian, Finnish and German media on lack of free elections in Belarus
The opposition failed to win a single one of the 110 seats in parliamentary elections in Belarus on 23 September. OSCE observers say the elections were neither free nor fair. The poorly organised opposition and the international community can pose no threat to president Alexander Lukashenko, as Europe's last dictator tightens his grip on power
finland, germany, opposition, freedom, press review, dictator, belarus
Super 8 'The Detour': shared memory of northern Europe
When Tallinn in Estonia and Turku in Finland were nominated to be 'European capitals of culture' in 2011, two young French directors and former architects captured the opportunity to make a unique story about a region extending beyond frontiers
finland, cinema, culture calendar, tallinn, documentary, belarus, history
Finland's Sami minority: new cultural centre but no land rights
Finland's Sami people are slowly gaining legal recognition, with a new cultural centre in Inari being launched in 2012. However, the minority continues to suffer injustice with respect to land-law. Tanja Joona from the northern institute for environmental and minority law explains a problem which doesn't look set to disappear
finland, helsinki, human rights, sami people, ethnic minorities, society
Identikit of a pure, indigenous European
The True Finns are the third largest political party in Finland. Are these nationalists and eurosceptics an exception to the rule in their Nordic region? Alongside the new leader of the National Front party in France, Marine Le Pen, the collection of ‘Indigenous Britons’ in the UK and Italy's Northern League, Europe has never been more inhabited by so-called ‘pure’ Europeans. There are fewer than they would have us believe; at the risk of scaring those who wish it to stay that way
finland, tower of babel, poland, racism, identity, nationalism, immigration
Reindeerspotting director Joonas Neuvonen: story of a Finnish junkie
Reindeerspotting - Escape from Santaland, a Finnish documentary about drug addicts, is a film that you will probably never see at the cinema. Widely criticised in Finland, where it is accused of promoting the use of hard drugs, it’s been a viral hit. Could this be the birth of the internet version 2.0 of Trainspotting?
finland, cinema, helsinki, documentary, brunch, europe, culture
Nokia, suicide and murder: Finland world's top country?
A 27-year-old Finnish social sciences and economics postgraduate takes our challenge to skim the surface and paint a portrait of the country she was born in, and which US magazine Newsweek has voted the 'world's best country'. The pros outweigh the cons, she assures us
finland, world affairs, tampere, technology, suicide, society
Becoming an atheist? Renounce your religion online
The internet transformed our relationship with organised religion; it could now become its downfall. In 2009, Irish website Countmeout.ie caused an international stir by offering a quick, simple way to leave the catholic church. Panorama on how Europe's muslims, christians and jews exchange faith for freedom of speech
finland, germany, internet, jews, web 2.0, ireland, religion
Gallery
Why Scandinavians do life better
Public spirit, political life, way of life, welfare state...short analysis on why people from Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland might be happier with life than the rest of us Europeans
finland, work, norway, northern eu, public health, job seekers, scandinavia
Sauna, an A-level in drinking beer: my erasmus semester in Tampere, Finland
Scandinavia is continuously highly rated in the Pisa classifications, and in between reindeers and Santa Claus, I recommend you all spend an erasmus semester in Tampere
finland, university, tampere, student life, scandinavia, erasmus, tallinn
Le Corps Mince de Francoise: 'fuck off saying we’re trendy. We sing about what we are'
The trio hail from Helsinki, record in Berlin and are managed in the UK. We meet in Paris to dissect their pan-European wanderings and find out why exactly they diss boys and Finland so much in their screamy surface pop-experimental sound
finland, industry, feminism, berlin, london, blogs, culture calendar
One day at the European parliament in Strasbourg
For one week in each month the European parliament travels to Strasbourg to make decisions. The EP microcosmos runs in full speed in its Louise Weiss building. But how does it all really work?
finland, european parliament, wine, mep, vote, brussels, politicians
Europe has voted: so what's the trend?
From 4 - 7 June 2009 the citizens of the 27 EU member states cast their votes for a new European parliament. The voter turnout was relatively low, but the trends are clear to see. In many countries right-wing parties gained a larger share of the vote while national governments were punished. The press in Holland, Poland, Italy, Finland, Austria and Hungary speak
finland, netherlands, hungary, poland, austria, press review, italy
