Sweden
Isak Gerson, founder of kopimist church: 'File-sharing' is not 'stealing'
‘We don’t believe in god at all,’ says Isak Gerson. However, this was no obstacle for the 20-year-old Swedish philosophy student to establish the missionary church of kopimism (from ‘copy + me’) – a church without hierarchy, whose 6000 followers actively encourage internet users to share all kinds of files
Director Roozbeh Behtaji: 'Young Europeans live in an existential no-mans land'
The 30-year-old filmmaker and screenwriter from Gothenburg stands out, not only because he doesn't look like your average Swede, but because he dons a different hat everyday. He played a cap-wearing tourist who becomes a terror suspect because of his looks in his own debut film London Transfer. Time to find out what's under his hat
sweden, european identity, identity, cinema, roozbeh behtaji, brunch, film
Why a Norwegian fashion brand calls itself ‘Anti Sweden’
The rebellion is turning Swedish flags upside down and burning Swedish jeans, in a warped recognition of their elevated status in the fashion industry. Creative director Kjetil Wold, 37, co-founded the black jean collection in April 2009 with Kenneth Pedersen, 36 – making sure everyone on the Scandinavian continent knew they were there from the get-go. Interview
Sweden elections 2010: rise of European right
Prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt's centre-right coalition won Sweden's elections on 19 September with just under 50%. The success is due to the lack of debate over integration and could cripple the country politically, write the Swedish, Danish and Italian press. Clippings
sweden, fredrik reinfeldt, euweek, right wing extremism, populism, politics, elections
Swedish royal wedding: boosting neither tourism nor young spirits
Victoria Bernadotte, the 32-year-old heiress to the throne, will wed commoner Daniel Westling, 36, in the capital's cathedral on 19 June. Despite the smorgasbord of fun on display in Stockholm, the widespread feeling amongst Swedes and expats is that the merriment is wasteful and annoying
sweden, money, monarchy, taxation, wedding, tourism, society
Scandinavia, new top erasmus destination?
In 2008, almost 13, 700 students on the 'erasmus' student exchange programme were drawn to countries in northern Europe. Finland, Sweden and even Norway aren't yet threatening Spain in its pole position as Europe's most popular destination, but they're generating an enormous amount of debate, between cliches and untruths. From student salaries in Denmark to Finnish e-courses, we tackle the young man or woman's Nordic myth
- Read the special edition Scandinavia, new top erasmus destination?
- Why Scandinavians do life better
- Sauna, an A-level in drinking beer: my erasmus semester in Tampere, Finland
- Young Europeans would like to be Scandinavian
- Fever Ray, Peter Bjorn and John: Swedish music right now
- University in Denmark is free for EU citizens, plus other fantasy-realities
- Flexicurity is Scandinavian example for European model
100 years of Europe's nature parks
In 2009 the first nature parks protected by the European Union will be 100 years old. Cafebabel has spoken with six people linked to these spaces in different European countries. Conservation or development? The debate lives on
sweden, tourism, park, environment, nature, ecology, development
Music duo Kim Ki O: ‘the danger of being Turkish’ for Europe
The Swedish pop elite love them, but EU bureaucracy is preventing Ekin Sanac and Berna Göl from breaking Europe. In Istanbul, music is an unstable bridge between east and west. Part two of a special feature
sweden, visa, education, bands, joy division, music, brussels
Why Turkish band Kim Ki O can't break Europe
The Swedish pop elite love them, but EU bureaucracy is preventing Ekin Sanac and Berna Göl from breaking Europe. In Istanbul, music is an unstable bridge between east and west. Part one of a special feature
sweden, visa, education, music, education system, women, europop
Study in Sweden: an American on Swedish and alcohol for the cold
Living in what some of my fellow Americans view as a ‘socialist country’ of moral looseness and liberal idiocy, I can’t begin to stress where they are dead wrong. Sure, everything from the average American viewpoint is going to seem loose and liberal, but it’s not entirely the case. Testimony and tips
sweden, identité culturelle, testimony, travel, culture, america, uppsala
Nostalgia: Sweden's top of the pops in the nineties
Swedish hits had the whole world bopping around from 1989 to 1999 thanks to artists such as Neneh Cherry, her brother Eagle Eye, Ace of Base and The Cardigans: a selection of the best Swedish music videos from the end of the 20th century
sweden, bands, music, vídeo clip, pop music, youtube, cultural agenda
Sweden straddle EU
Sweden's somewhere up there. But at the moment Europe's northern lights are somewhere kind of everywhere: take the eternal sandy or shock blonde ex-pat stereotype, the Swedish pirate political party which snatched a seat in the brand new European parliament in June, and the fact that the country is running the EU until the end of the year! Their political focus is on the crisis and the environment. Skål captain!
- Read the special edition Sweden straddle EU
- Why Swedes go next door to Denmark to buy alcohol
- Sweden's Cecilia Malmström: 'I'm a politician. It’s not my task to impose an identity on people'
- Swedish Pirate Party MEP Christian Engström: ‘Europe is stronger than the US’
- Swedish women, the ideal woman?
Expressions: why the Spanish ask you not to act like a Swede
The weekly overview of linguistic expressions is devoted to Sweden, who are holding the rotating six-month presidency of the EU, before the baton is handed over to Spain in 2010
Pierre Schellekens: ‘EU is partnership of member states, not rule of the strongest'
At 2 metres 09, the 37-year-old cuts an imposing figure. Politically active whilst a student in Gothenburg in the early nineties, he was appointed head of the Swedish EU delegation in February. At home in his apartment in the leafy, quiet area around Stockolm's Odengatan, he talks Sweden’s presidency of the EU, which runs from July to December
sweden, eu presidency, future of europe, europe, european council, politicians, climate change
Brief guide to gay marriage laws across 'conservative' EU
Fewer than half (44%) of Europeans are in favour of gay marriage. In April, Sweden enacted a law authorizing same-sex unions. It was only the fifth European country to take steps toward equality between heterosexual and homosexual couples. Despite appearances, when it comes to gay rights Europe is still rather conservative...
sweden, gay rights, wedding, sex, homosexuality, sexuality, society
Run-up to Swedish EU presidency: Turkey-EU blame game
Sweden, one of the most pro-Turkey member states, takes over the EU presidency in July 2009. But this may not be enough to kick-start negotiations for Turkey to enter the EU, which began in October 2005. Is there a common interest? Analysis
sweden, european identity, angela merkel, copenhagen, enlargement, anders fogh rasmussen, euenlargement
Cinema: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo lacks Swedish suspense
Swedish author Stieg Larsson’s ‘Millennium’ trilogy was a huge international success; to date, 8 million copies of the novels have been sold worldwide. Now the first volume, ‘The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo’, has been given the big screen treatment. The film, which is due to be screened at Cannes on 13 May, disappointingly relies too much upon characters from Astrid Lindgren’s novels
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