Monday, June 23, 2025

Polaris of Enlightenment

The World in 2030: Five questions for Mikael Jansson, former leader of the Sweden Democrats

Published 17 May 2023
– By Editorial Staff
Mikael Jansson was the former leader of the Sweden Democrats and is a veteran of Nordic opposition politics.
4 minute read

Washington Post recently stated what media outside of the West have been saying for quite some time the influence of the United States is declining, and the world is becoming increasingly multipolar. TNT reached out and asked Mikael Jansson, former leader of the Sweden Democrats, five questions about the future and development in the world.

What will the world look like in 2030?

– Everything indicates that the world will be multipolar in 2030. I think that the future of the BRICS countries is quite easy to predict, but it is more difficult to do for the Western world. We don’t know if the US will continue to strive for unipolarity. When you look at these different blocs, I believe more countries will join BRICS and that they will be quite successful with their collaboration and trade.

The dollar will lose its role as a reserve currency, that is quite clear.

Militarily, it seems that China will become as strong as the US, or maybe even stronger.

The US military has probably rested on its laurels and has not developed its potential. Their systems are quite old.

There will be a very large military buildup in many countries – not least among the great powers.

The war in Ukraine?

– This was not a war that Russia wanted. They did not want to see Ukraine in NATO. They defend Crimea and they defend the population in Donbass. I don’t think the US cares that much about Ukraine, the war is very much about wearing down Russia.

These sanctions against Russia have not worked as initially thought, that is to get Russia down on its knees. This outcome has probably surprised many.

Russia apparently prepared this together with China and it feels like things are going according to plan, for them.

It may be that China agreed that Russia could cross the border to Ukraine. Without China’s support, this would otherwise have been a huge risk.

There are international rules and sometimes they are broken: NATO’s bombing of Yugoslavia… the US military presence in Syria… Russia’s presence in Ukraine.

How serious is the threat from the Russian Federation against Sweden and the Nordic region?

– Most people seem to think that the most dangerous threat is for Russia to expand westward and take several countries in a western direction. This is based on a flawed analysis because they have no military power built to occupy countries.

In modern times, this does not work very well. Occupying a country with a hostile population is very expensive. Notwithstanding this, the risk for a Russian invasion do exist for militarily and strategically important spots and where there is a Russian population, such as in the Baltic states – where a situation similar to Ukraine could arise.

The threat that I see as much more dangerous, now that Sweden and Finland are joining NATO, is that there will be a very strong military buildup and that the members will become front states equipped with American systems. Putin has said that he does not see Sweden and Finland as a threat, not even when NATO members – as long as they do not allow the US and UK to set up military installations on their territories.

I can see the US bringing in installations into Sweden and Finland and the Russians responding to that, and then the debate in Sweden will [only] be that we need to respond to the Russian buildup – I see this as a very big risk, but also the risk of war by mistake.

Sweden’s and Finland’s membership in NATO?

– I’m only against Swedish and Finnish membership. NATO is the balance against Russia. I’m not against NATO. I’m not against Russia. We used to have a system which worked and where it was known that Finland and Sweden were non-aggressive.

The risk of a major war between Russia and the West?

– I assess that neither the US nor Russia wants a nuclear war, but the risk increase with these new faster weapon systems. Another risk is that Ukraine, for example, would use some kind of medium-range missile to hit an important target in Russia.

The use of tactical nuclear weapons can lead to escalation.

Some say it doesn’t matter which president the US chooses, but to me, Biden and Trump represent a very big difference.

The US has caused a lot of trouble in its pursuit of unipolarity…it always threatens other countries…it’s ongoing.

The West has a lot of problems. You see it in the US and France – there is blood on the streets.

It feels like this [US] administration is continuing in the same direction and trying even harder. There are political scientists in the US who believe that the US would thrive in a multipolar world. It is very expensive to keep the military relationships going. … They probably have no choice because I don’t think they will be able to counteract the multipolar world.

 

The Nordic Times

Mikael Jansson was the party leader of the Sweden Democrats between 1995-2005. He was later elected to the Swedish Parliament and was a member of the Defence Committee between 2010-2018. In April 2018, Jansson left the Sweden Democrats and joined the smaller breakaway party Alternative for Sweden.

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Birthing pools gain popularity among Swedish women

Published today 7:19
– By Editorial Staff
2 minute read

A growing number of women are choosing to give birth in so-called birthing pools. Water births are now offered in almost all regions of Sweden, something that was unusual just a few years ago.

Water birth means that the pregnant woman is in a pool and thus surrounded by water, and that the baby is then born underwater. The woman lifts the baby out of the water herself once it is born.

Since 2019, when only four of Sweden’s regions offered this option, more water births have been introduced at Swedish maternity hospitals, according to a survey by the tax-funded SVT. Today, only four do not offer water births: Region Kronoberg, Region Örebro County, Region Gävleborg and Region Blekinge.

In the 17 other regions, there is, or is about to be, some form of possibility to give birth in a birthing pool. One of the latest to acquire a birthing pool is the birthing clinic in Karlstad.

It feels absolutely fantastic, it’s a goal that we’ve been working towards for several years and haven’t had the conditions for until now, says Charlotte Stenström, head of the obstetrics department at Karlstad Central Hospital, to SVT.

Not everyone will have the opportunity, however, as there are certain criteria. In Karlstad, for example, there will be requirements that the pregnancy is within normal limits and that the baby in the womb is of normal size.

Giving birth in a birthing pool can shorten labor and give the woman a more positive experience of the process, as well as a sense of control over her birth. It can also be beneficial against pain.

There are many benefits of water births – pain relief is one, says midwife Araceli Carranza.

Finns ate more meat last year

Published 21 June 2025
– By Editorial Staff
1 minute read

Last year, people in Finland ate more meat and chicken than the year before. At the same time, oat consumption set a new record in the Finnish diet, according to a new study.

Last year, Finns ate 78.2 kilograms of meat per person, including game and offal. Most of the meat, 76.2 kilograms, was beef, pork, lamb and chicken.

The consumption of beef in particular has decreased for several years in a row, but last year it increased, according to a survey by the Finnish Natural Resources Institute. The amount of chicken on the plate also increased in Finnish homes. At the same time, less pork and mutton was eaten. The consumption of fish remained seemingly unchanged, with each Finn eating an average of 13.7 kilograms last year.

Cereal consumption increased last year, reaching 87.3 kg per person. The main increase was in the amount of oats consumed, which reached record levels last year. Wheat and barley consumption also increased, while rye decreased.

– Here we see something of a trend. This is because the food industry has created a lot of new oat products. Part of this trend is also that Finns are drinking more oat milk, says statistics expert Erja Mikkola, to Finnish state broadcaster Yle.

Regular milk drinking decreased by about two percent, but people ate about the same amount of butter and cheese as in the previous year. Furthermore, each Finn ate an average of 48 kilograms of fruit and 64 kilograms of vegetables last year.

Power shortages threaten southern Sweden this winter

The energy crisis in Europe

Published 17 June 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Residents in southern Sweden can expect sky-high electricity prices this winter.
2 minute read

Svenska kraftnät (the Swedish national grid operator) warns of a critical electricity shortage in southern Sweden this winter equivalent to the output of seven nuclear reactors. A new report shows that electricity area SE4, southern Götaland including Skåne, is particularly vulnerable.

The forecast points to a power shortage of 7,700 MWh/h during a normal winter in SE3 and SE4. The reason is insufficient plannable production in relation to consumption.

Malin Johansson, energy and climate manager at the industry organization IKEM, is calling for quick solutions:

This confirms that we need to quickly build new capacity in the form of gas turbines and batteries that can even out the peaks and cope with the power demand in southern Sweden, especially during cold, windless winter days.

Imports do not offer a reliable solution either, as the electricity systems of neighboring countries are often just as strained:

Analyses of import opportunities from neighboring countries show that most, like Sweden, are dependent on imports in strained situations. This indicates that import opportunities from our neighboring countries at these times may be limited if shortages occur simultaneously”, writes Svenska kraftnät.

– It’s no news that if there’s no wind in Denmark, there’s no wind in Skåne either. Every country must take responsibility for its own electricity system. We can’t rely on neighboring countries, says Malin Johansson.

“Must be able to produce around the clock”

Svenska kraftnät highlights consumer flexibility and storage as solutions, but Johansson is skeptical:

– Why should we create a market where industry is forced to be flexible? It’s not as if we have a high added value from selling electricity to other countries. Industry must be able to produce around the clock to promote growth and prosperity in Sweden.

The transmission capacity between SE3 and SE4 is insufficient during peak hours, which drives up electricity prices in SE4. The ERAA 2024 report confirms that margins are shrinking in southern Sweden, where demand is increasing while transmission from the north is limited. The situation requires urgent measures to secure the electricity supply.

The report points out that Europe’s electricity system is at risk of becoming increasingly vulnerable to power shortages. Despite extensive investments in wind and solar power, there is no realistic plan to replace fossil fuel-based electricity production that is being phased out for economic reasons. As a result, new capacity may not be built in time, which threatens security of supply.

Widding’s new party wants to put Swedes first

Published 13 June 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Elsa Widding's party wants to focus on “the important issues that none of the current parties in parliament dare to pursue with sufficient vigor".
4 minute read

A new political party, Sverige Först (Sweden first), was launched yesterday with the stated vision of restoring Sweden’s prosperity, security, and independence.

The founder is the outspoken and popular member of parliament Elsa Widding, who has long been a vocal critic of climate alarmism, supranationalism, and experimental mass vaccination programs.

The party uses the slogan “Make Sweden rich again!” and compares Sweden to Switzerland, noting that Swedes have fallen far behind in recent years.

In the 1970s, Swedes were one of the richest people in the world; we were then on the same level of prosperity as Switzerland. Today, an experienced Swedish high school teacher earns about 40,000 kronor per month, while a Swiss teacher earns the equivalent of 150,000 kronor”, they write. The party’s solution? Lower taxes and a freer market economy.

In the area of security, Sverige Först wants to see a return to non-alignment. They criticize NATO membership as provocative and risky and want to focus on invasion defense and diplomacy, especially to reduce tensions with Russia.

Given the uncertainties surrounding NATO, Sweden’s goal should be to pursue an independent security policy aimed at becoming an alliance-free country again. Our ambition should be to stay out of armed conflicts and instead work for détente in our immediate neighborhood”, they argue further. The party is also strongly critical of the DCA agreement, which they see as a direct provocation against Russia, and emphasizes that Sweden should avoid becoming a target in a potential conflict scenario.

More independence

Sverige Först is also opposed to supranationalism and globalism and sees the EU and the World Economic Forum (WEF) as threats to Sweden’s sovereignty and independence.

Swedish citizens should govern Sweden, not the globalists in Davos or the EU bureaucrats in Brussels”, they declare, arguing that Sweden may need to leave the EU if the union no longer serves the interests of Sweden and the Swedish people.

They also warn that global institutions such as the WHO and the IMF are actively depriving nations of their self-determination and pushing for digital control systems that threaten individual freedom.

The further away political decisions are made, the more difficult it is for individuals to make their voices heard, and the less self-government and freedom the nation has left. For globalists, the individual is a source of tax revenue and soldier material, but otherwise mostly a nuisance”, they write.

No to climate alarmism and experimental vaccines

Climate policy is another contentious issue. Sverige Först dismisses the climate crisis as greatly exaggerated and wants to base decisions on science, not “alarmism”.

They refer to the IPCC and claim that disaster scenarios have been toned down, while prioritizing agriculture and self-sufficiency over wind power, which they want to phase out in favor of more stable nuclear power. The party emphasizes that nuclear power is the key to cheap and reliable energy, while wind power is seen as unreliable and harmful to nature.

On the vaccine issue, the party expresses skepticism toward mRNA vaccines and condemns the handling of COVID-19. It emphasizes that the individual’s right to choose must be respected according to the Nuremberg Code and criticizes the coercive and surveillance measures introduced during the pandemic.

Self-evident rights such as gathering, demonstrating, visiting elderly relatives, and attending funerals were abolished. In some countries, it was more or less mandatory to be vaccinated with COVID vaccines, even though the preparations are still in the experimental stage”, it continues.

The party expresses strong concern that the vaccines have not been sufficiently tested and have caused a number of serious vaccine injuries, and calls for an independent review of the pandemic measures:

Positive change always begins with an acknowledgment of the mistakes that have been made. This process must begin immediately, before more lives are lost in a careless and unnecessary manner”.

Want to highlight what others ignore

When it comes to migration, the party wants to limit it with income requirements – but does not advocate any comprehensive repatriation programs. However, it wants to “stop immigration in order to be able to take care of those who are here” and “create good conditions for the families and individuals who have come to Sweden over the past 25 years with the desire to integrate into Swedish society”.

According to Elsa Widding, the party’s focus is “on the important issues that none of the current parties in parliament dare to pursue with sufficient vigor”, and each policy area will be represented by three people until the 2026 election.

All with documented experience and relevant expertise to be able to show the way forward”, it says.

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