Last time I had the honour of writing a column in Helsinki Times I described the Nordic Energy Capital -  Vaasa - which is also my hometown. This was in the beginning of August 2017. Since that a lot has happened. One major investment now under physical construction is the 200 MEUR Wärtsilä Smart Technology Hub which lets people from around the globe take part in creating innovations that enable sustainable societies. Besides being a place for state-of-the-art production, the Hub is also a place for top-notch research, development and engineering.

I was relieved when in 2018 MPs in Finland rejected a draft bill to legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide by a vote of 128 to 60. Instead, the Parliament preferred to support the Social Affairs and Health Committee’s recommendation to create a working group to improve palliative care. The Christian Democrats have worked really hard to prevent the legalization of euthanasia, which for the doctor means a duty to kill the patient.

MIGRATION IS UNDENIABLY the most crucial issue in Europe. Recently, the political focus has been on the battle against COVID-19, but the long term challenge remains the same: migration in the 21^st century. 

Problems used to be pejoratively dismissed as prejudices, but are now discussed openly in the streets, parliaments and academia.

Migration is undeniably the most crucial issue in Europe. Recently, the political focus has been on the battle against COVID-19, but the long-term challenge remains the same: migration in the 21^st century.

Problems used to be pejoratively dismissed as prejudices, but are now discussed openly in the streets, parliaments, and academia. The only ones still clinging to the politically correct past are the so-called “anointed”, as Thomas Sowell calls them, whose dogmatic worldview is immune to all evidence.