Friday, June 13, 2025

Polaris of Enlightenment

Viking festival in Gudahagen

Reporter Mikael Rasmussen alias Artist Razz visited the Viking Market at Gudahagen sacred site in Näsum, Skåne, which celebrated its 15th anniversary last weekend. In true Viking spirit, the market offered quality handicrafts, food, culture and, of course, the occasional Viking roar.

Published 5 October 2024
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4 minute read

During the weekend of September 14th and 15th, the Viking Days became more of a Viking festival with jesters, musicians, merchants, lecturers and ordinary people, a crowd-pleasing, family-friendly market offering quality crafts, food and culture.

Here you could find honey, herbal ointments, pungent spices, and solid wood and blacksmithing crafts. The range of handmade clothing, leather bags and headdresses added to the atmosphere. All the senses were stimulated by the occasional clash of swords, the beautiful sounds of instruments such as drums, fiddles, cranks, and strong, clear male and female voices.

In an enclosure, the audience could participate in Strong Man and Strong Woman. For example, it was a show of strength to lift a cannonball, place it on a meter-high standing log, and immediately drop it back to the ground. The competition was to see how many times they could lift the ball. Another element was to lift a heavy log, hold it with outstretched arms, wait for a signal from the judge, and then repeat the lift with the addition of taking one step backward.

In another enclosure, the audience could see and hear Vikings fighting energetically, wielding swords with fervor and charming presence in period armor. The Viking warriors offered Viking roars, mighty blows and fragrant energy, so that it felt as if we were back in the hard, cruel and final 1000s of the Viking Age.

Other elements offered during these days were lectures on the chosen theme: funerals and the funeral procession. How did it happen? Was it like in the Hollywood movies? What does a Viking grave look like? Yes, there were many questions, but the answers were also explained by archaeologist and lecturer Andreas Forsgren, who vividly described the various scenarios that it is unlikely that the body was placed on something like a ship, then set on fire and finally sent out to sea. No, I don’t think any of the neighbors wanted to see burnt bones floating to a neighboring beach.

Instead, the Viking bodies were buried in the ground and then they made some kind of stone structure. In modern times, we can see this in certain places, like this sacred site, where the Viking festival took place, the archaeologist said.

After the lecture, more powerful experiences were offered, such as beautiful, majestic horses like the Shire horse. This allowed Viking visitors to meet the largest horse breed in the world, weighing around 900 kilograms. They demonstrated incredible riding and carriage pulling skills.

The carefully chosen location for this Viking market was the setting for respect, friendliness and the thinking process. The stalls were also uniformly presented and the next act on the program was a juggler juggling knives, axes and apples.

The show continued and the performance ended with a fire show where the juggler extinguished the torches in his pants. The torches are extinguished and the juggler bows to an enthusiastic audience.

As the day progresses, it’s time for some good food. Visitors can choose from modern grilled and boiled sausages, kebabs, game and even chili con carne, which is also available in vegetarian versions.

Yes, the day contains many stimulating delights. Handicrafts include fine drinking glasses, beautiful glass jewelry, woodwork, fine lambskins, and in total there were about 120 vendors with high quality cultural handicrafts. There was also plenty of music, with many strong voices in solo singing, choirs, and choral singing with Viking harmonies by, among others, a Viking and medieval interpreter with the artist name Medvind. With a slight headwind, the audience was treated to good theatrical and dramatic performances, with the band members dressed in historical costumes, mastering the medieval instruments, the voices complementing each other, and surprised with dramatic acting that really transported the audience from the present to the Viking Age.

What makes it even more interesting to really listen and watch Medvind is that they write most of the lyrics and music that they perform. They touch on many topics that the Vikings of the Viking Age and the Middle Ages were concerned with, such as beer, brandy, the church, gods, warriors, millers and bakers. The really beautiful compositions, both delicate and beautiful in their melody, are Bittra Droppar and Vädjan. The repertoire also includes Brandagall, Pastor Rynkles Skål, Beer and Drinkjom. The music is poetic, entertaining and authentic.

The day draws to a close and the Viking celebrants, dressed in medieval costumes, have given their grateful visitors and audience an unforgettable, powerful experience. The jesters, musicians and craftsmen of the night will probably want to move on to their own more private Viking celebrations in the evening, with mead, Amanita muscaria and all sorts of erotic experiences, which the rest of us will then hear about in the songs that will be performed, and perhaps tempt us to become Viking celebrants ourselves.

See you next year in Gudahagen and thank you for a well organized Viking Festival 2024!

 

Mikael Rasmussen alias Artist Razz

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Thriller master Frederick Forsyth has passed away

Published 11 June 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Frederick Forsyth was 86 years old.
2 minute read

Frederick Forsyth, the author behind timeless classics such as The Day of the Jackal and The Dogs of War, has passed away at the age of 86 after a short illness. He died on June 9 at his home in Jordans, Buckinghamshire, surrounded by his family.

Frederick Forsyth began his professional career as a pilot in the Royal Air Force, then became a foreign correspondent for Reuters and the BBC, and during the Cold War was an informal asset to MI6 during conflicts such as the Biafran War.

These life experiences laid the foundation for his journalistic and fact-based narrative style. He went on to become one of the greatest thriller writers of modern times.

His debut novel, The Day of the Jackal (1971), was written in just 35 days when Forsyth was under financial pressure. The book was a huge success thanks to its realistic portrayal of a professional assassin hired to kill the then French president Charles De Gaulle.

The point was not whodunit, but how, and how close would he get?[to de Gaulle].

Among his most notable works are The Odessa File (1972), The Dogs of War (1974), and The Fourth Protocol (1984).

Frederick Forsyth’s writing was characterized by a fact-based and documentary style, where the complexity of reality always took center stage.

Successful films and a title of nobility

During his career spanning more than fifty years, Forsyth wrote over 25 books, which together sold over 75 million copies worldwide.

Many of these were successful film adaptations – from The Day of the Jackal (1973) and The Dogs of War (1981) to later productions such as The Fourth Protocol (1987).

For his life’s work, he was awarded the title Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1997 and the Diamond Dagger Award, the Crime Writers’ Association’s highest honor, in 2012.

Despite his success, Forsyth remained a low-key, research-driven writer who often emphasized how his own background – from military service to investigative journalism – gave his stories a distinct credibility.

Now the world mourns a true master storyteller – but his stories, as captivating as they are incisive, will live on and inspire generations to come.

Fact box: Frederick Forsyth

Name: Frederick McCarthy Forsyth
Born: August 25, 1938, Ashford, Kent, England
Death: June 9, 2025, Jordans, Buckinghamshire
Occupations: RAF pilot, foreign correspondent, author
Debut novel: The Day of the Jackal (1971)

Other known works:

  • The Odessa File (1972) - Untitled Odessa
  • The Dogs of War (1974) - The Dogs of War
  • The Devil's Alternative (1979) - The Devil's Alternative
  • The Fourth Protocol (1984) - The Fourth Protocol
  • The Fist of God (1994) - The Fist of God
  • The Afghan (2006) - The Afghan
  • The Cobra (2010) - The Cobra
  • The Kill List (2013) - The Kill List
  • The Fox (2018) - The Fox

Awards:
- Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), 1997
- Diamond Dagger, Crime Writers' Association, 2012

Style: Documentary, research-driven and fact-based thriller
Books sold: Over 75 million copies worldwide
Film adaptations: The Day of the Jackal (1973), The Odessa File (1974), The Dogs of War (1981), The Fourth Protocol (1987) – and more

Swedish government seeks expanded powers during emergencies

Totalitarianism

Published 11 June 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Gunnar Strömmer (M) promises that "in practice, Parliament always has the last word".
3 minute read

The Swedish government wants to have more power to act quickly in serious crises during peacetime – without having to wait for approval from parliament.

The proposal has been met with strong criticism from several sides, with people warning that it paves the way for abuse of power and risks undermining democratic principles.

A new bill proposes constitutional amendments that would allow decisions on temporary measures in situations such as cyberattacks, natural disasters, or terrorist attacks.

The proposed changes to the constitution are said to be aimed at enabling the government to act more quickly in crises, even in peacetime.

By delegating special powers from the Riksdag, the government will be able to issue temporary regulations that are valid for up to three months. However, these may not change or repeal the constitution.

The government needs the right tools to govern the country, Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer (M) states.

Spread of infection and cyber attacks

In particularly urgent cases, the government will be able to take a so-called activation decision – a form of state of emergency – to take immediate action without the prior approval of the Riksdag. This is said to be relevant in events such as:

• Nuclear accidents

• Natural disasters

• Extensive spread of infectious diseases

• Terrorist attacks

• Major financial crises

• Extensive IT disruptions or cyberattacks

The government itself claims that the reform is necessary to protect society and safeguard democratic governance in emergency situations where crucial decisions must be made very quickly.

“Ensures separation of powers”

However, several organizations, including LO, the Swedish Union of Journalists, and the Stockholm District Court, have sharply criticized the proposal. The Swedish Union of Journalists warns that a future authoritarian government could use these powers to implement changes without the support of the Riksdag, which in practice risks undermining democracy.

To limit the risks, the government claims that it will only be able to use these powers if it is clear that the Riksdag’s decision cannot be delayed.

An activation decision must also be approved retrospectively by a three-quarters majority in the Riksdag. If regulations are not submitted to parliament within a week or approved within a month, they cease to apply immediately, it is stated.

– This ensures the separation of powers and reduces the scope for a government with more despotic ambitions to take liberties, argues Gunnar Strömmer.

In practice, the Riksdag always has the final say, he assures us.

Concerns about abuse

The bill also contains proposals to allow the Riksdag to meet in locations other than Stockholm in the event of serious crises. In addition, digital meetings will be made possible to ensure that the Riksdag can function even under extreme conditions.

The legislative changes, which are proposed to come into force on January 1, 2027, are based on a report supported by seven of the eight parties in parliament.

Despite broad political support, the proposal has raised concerns among critics. On social media, many warn that the changes could reduce the influence of the people even more than today and lead to abuse of power, as well as being misused to introduce various totalitarian and repressive measures.

Norwegian studio set to launch new Moomin game

Published 10 June 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Winter's Warmth will be released for PC and consoles in 2026.
2 minute read

Eighty years after the Moomins first saw the light of day, Tove Jansson’s book is being given a new lease of life in the gaming world. Winter’s Warmth is based on Troll’s Winter – a story about loneliness, maturity, and liberation, both for the Moomins and their creator.

Troll’s Winter, the sixth book about the Moomins, is often considered one of Tove Jansson’s most personal works. It revolves around Moomintroll, who wakes up during winter hibernation and sets out alone into the winter landscape. There he discovers himself and matures on a personal level. The author wrote the book during a turbulent time in her life, when she decided to go against her family’s values and move in with her female partner.

For the first time, she took the plunge and started living with another woman. She freed herself from her family and became an adult. After this, her stories became deeper and more philosophical, dealing more with existential questions, her niece Sophia, who manages her aunt’s artistic legacy, told Norwegian state broadcaster NRK.

Winter’s Warmth is being developed by Norwegian game developer Hyper Games. Like the book, the game is characterized by strong emotions and loneliness.

The book isn’t afraid to tackle themes such as loneliness, death, and isolation, and neither should the game, says CEO Are Sundnes.

“Continuing the traumatization”

Furthermore, they want to incorporate the more frightening elements that Jansson also includes in her books. Sundnes points to The Groke (Swedish: Mårran, Finnish: Mörkö), for example, who he believes has “traumatized four or five generations of Scandinavians”.

And we are continuing that traumatization through the games, he says, continuing:

I think it’s nice if we can stir up some emotions. I don’t think you should be afraid of people getting sad or scared. It’s part of the gaming medium to cover emotions.

The game will be released next year and will initially be available for PC. It will also be released on consoles, but it is unclear which ones. The game developer also released a Moomin game in 2024 called Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley, which is available on PC and Switch.

Despite promises – Sweden grants second-highest EU citizenships per capita

Population replacement in the West

Published 10 June 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Stock image - Syrian migrants.
3 minute read

Sweden continues to stand out as one of Europe’s most borderless and generous countries when it comes to granting citizenship to migrants.

According to recent Eurostat statistics, Sweden grants the most citizenships per capita in the EU, apart from tiny Luxembourg. This is despite the ruling coalition parties (Tidö) promising a “paradigm shift” in immigration policy.

In 2023, Spain granted the most citizenships in absolute terms, with over 240,000 new passports, followed by Italy (214,000) and Germany (200,000). But when the numbers are put in relation to the size of the population, the picture changes dramatically.

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, with a population of just 680 000, tops the list with 8.8 citizenships per thousand inhabitants, followed by Sweden in second place with 6.4. Spain comes third with 5.0, and Italy drops to fifth place with 3.6.

Sweden also stands out in naturalization rates – the percentage of foreign nationals living in the country who are granted citizenship. At 7.9%, Sweden topped the EU in 2023, meaning that almost eight out of every hundred foreign nationals in the country became Swedish citizens. Romania followed with 5.9% and Italy with 4.1%. The EU average, by comparison, was 2.6%.

It is worth noting that the Tidö parties campaigned on a tougher immigration policy and have promised to tighten citizenship rules, including extending the period of residence from the current five years to at least eight years, as well as introducing requirements for Swedish language skills and a declaration of loyalty. Despite this, 66,000 citizenships were granted in 2024, according to the Migration Agency, only a marginal decrease from 68,000 the year before.

Internal frustration

The lack of concrete measures to stop mass migration has led many Sweden Democrats to react with frustration – even high-ranking ones.

Last November, for example, Member of Parliament Josef Fransson called for a moratorium on citizenship in a written question to the government, stating that “despite the mandate we received from the voters, Sweden continues to hand out citizenship generously to foreigners who do not meet the requirements stipulated in the Tidö Agreement“.

He pointed out that the number of new citizenships granted during the Moderate-led government’s rule in 2023 corresponded to the entire population of Skövde.

Questions about the Moderates’ intentions

In January 2025, the report “Stricter requirements for Swedish citizenship” was presented, proposing a longer period of residence and requirements for self-sufficiency. However, the reforms are not expected to enter into force until June 1, 2026, which means that Sweden will continue to follow the current more generous rules until then.

However, many observers question what effect the proposed changes will actually have in practice. Critics stress that Sweden continues to experience large-scale mass migration, and that the government should rather focus on ambitious re-immigration programs to tackle immigration-related problems.

Several observers have also questioned whether the Moderates and the other liberal parties in government have any genuine desire to change Sweden’s migration policy course. Critics say it is largely a matter of rhetoric and symbolic gestures – in order to retain power, not lose voters and maintain cooperation with the Sweden Democrats, on whose support the government depends.

Most new citizenships per capita in the EU (2023)

1. Luxembourg – 8.8 (per 1000 inhabitants)

2. Sweden – 6.4

3. Spain – 5.0

4. Belgium – 4.7

5. Italy – 3.6

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