Face masks are mandatory or highly recommended in over 130 countries in the world, and over a hundred prominent academics, (including two Nobel prize winners) have signed a letter calling for masks to be required in public to slow the COVID-19 pandemic. Several studies suggest face coverings - when properly worn - help in limiting the spread of the coronavirus.

Generous social benefits aren’t enough to change the life prospects of kids from low-income families.

Nordic nations are proud of their social policies—justifiably so. As we know, high taxes fund social security, education, disability, housing and unemployment benefits that reduce inequality and increase social mobility.

Workers unload a container from a plane of Aeromexico airline carrying the second shipment of the Sputnik V vaccines against COVID-19 from Russian Gamalei laboratory, upon arrival at Benito Juarez International Airport in Mexico City on March 10, 2021. - Mexico received a shipment of 200,000 doses. LEHTIKUVA / AFP

As the number of laboratory-confirmed Covid-19 infections peek in Finland, the country is going into another shutdown. Over 400k people have already received the first shot of a two-shot vaccine, but the rate of vaccination has altogether been disappointing. Finland, with 12.38 administered doses per 100 people is in 23rd place globally, after countries like Lithuania and Slovenia.

Democracy, equality, the rule of law and human rights; these are the common fundamental values of the European Union. In order to be able to speak credibly for these values in the future, the Union must also commit to defend and uphold them as part of its own policies. Promoting these values will strengthen the unity, acceptability and credibility of the Union and the trust between Member States.

Lehtikuva

Nowadays free speech is enshrined in international declarations and national constitution. It is the right of those who live in democratic societies and the aspiration of those who do not have this privilege. In a free society, everyone should have the courage and freedom to share their deeply held beliefs without fear of censorship or suppression. The rise of “cancel culture”, the idea of publicly defaming and thrusting a person who holds certain beliefs out of social media or professional circles, is a threat to a free society that claims to be tolerant and equal.

Lehtikuva

How much outwards can you move your walls before your roof collapses? Should the driving force of a party be an ideal, a shared group of values, or is it primarily a tool for executing power, whatever the cost?

No, there has to be a shared view of society, of humanity. There has to be a shared set of values. 

It is pretty common for The Centre Party to be the target of malicious comments in “Etelän media”, the media in southern Finland. The party is antediluvian, an anomaly, a special interest party that always betrays, and a treacherous negotiator that introduces last-minute proposal that favor them, to force the other’s hand. Already twenty years ago, it was said that The Centre Party was past its prime, but the party still managed to hold the fort.

Finland is quickly approaching municipality elections. As we know, these elections will be very different from previous ones, because of the Covid19 epidemic. This means that the traditional ways of campaigning in market squares and meeting voters face to face is limited. Politicians need to find other ways of reaching potential voters. The Finns Party is the most active party in both traditional campaigning and in social media.

Lehtikuva

Home care services are wrestling with deep problems. The population is aging, and the number of home care customers is increasing.  Approximately 200 000 individuals received home care in Finland in 2019.  The condition of elderly people in home care is getting worse and many are not able to manage their daily chores without outside help. Due to COVID-19, seniors have been asked to isolate themselves in their homes without being able to get as much help from their close ones as they would in a world without the pandemic.

Once again, the structures and the principles of the European Union are being forcefully reshaped. Like in the previous times, also this time the reshaping is a consequence of a major crisis. Just in a period of less than 15 years we have faced global financial crisis, European debt crisis and now a crisis caused by Covid-19. It is therefore not a surprise that also this time deeper integration between the member states is presented as a cure.