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The Nordic Times

Polaris of Enlightenment

The Nordic Times

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https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/norway/norwegian-nurse-sued-municipality-case-now-headed-to-appeals-court/

Norway

Norwegian nurse sued municipality – case now headed to appeals court

Published October 20, 2023 – By Editorial staff
Iris Frohe wants to shed light on the municipality's actions - not just for its own sake.
2 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The Norwegian nurse, Iris Frohe, sued the municipality where she worked, claiming she was discriminated against for refusing to take the experimental covid vaccine.

However, when the case was brought to the Norwegian District Court, she lost against her employer. Now, it's being taken to the Court of Appeals, and Frohe believes that it's crucial to highlight the case - not just for her own sake.

During the coronavirus crisis, Iris Frohe declined the covid vaccine as she perceived it to be experimental and untested. Since she was the only employee who didn't get vaccinated, she was required to undergo regular covid tests. Moreover, she was the only one mandated to wear a face mask during working hours.

When such control measures are implemented, employers are obligated to discuss these with employee representatives to get an overview of the measure's effect, duration, and consequences, which should then be documented. Iris requested this from her employers on several occasions but never received it. Because she chose not to follow her employer's orders, she was dismissed.

– Hamar municipality introduced infection control measures without written protocol and necessary risk analyses or assessments in accordance with Section 9.2 of the AML (Working Environment Act). This wasn't even mentioned in the judgment, Iris told the Norwegian health site Hemali.

Following this, Iris, along with her lawyer Barbro Paulsen, decided to sue the Norwegian municipality of Hamar, where Iris was employed, claiming that the unequal treatment constituted discrimination. The case was brought to the District Court, where Iris lost against the municipality in February of this year.

"Many don't realize this happened in Norway"

Iris believes the judgment was "unbalanced" and that her demands for answers as to why she was discriminated against were deemed irrelevant. The nurse also had to pay the municipality's legal costs.

– Given that the judgment was so unbalanced, it felt like my side was barely heard in the courtroom. My demands for an answer on the basis for differentiated measures for me as an unvaccinated person were either not mentioned or seen as irrelevant, said the nurse.

However, Iris has received a lot of support from many people and even organizations. She describes herself as drawing strength from the fact that it's an important issue to raise, even for others.

– Many people don't realize that this happened in Norway and that it affected many people. I also draw strength from a fantastic network of good helpers, friends, and supporters who share the same conviction that this case is important, she said.

The case will be taken up in the Norwegian Court of Appeals on October 26 and 27.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/norway/norwegian-dairy-giant-pauses-bovaer-after-reports-of-sick-cows/

Norway

Norwegian dairy giant pauses Bovaer after reports of sick cows

Published yesterday 11:34 am – By Editorial staff
2 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The Norwegian dairy organization Norsk Melkeråvare has temporarily halted the use of the feed additive Bovaer. The decision comes following reports from Denmark about cows falling ill after receiving the additive, and Norwegian incidents have also been reported.

Arla's methane-reducing feed supplement began being introduced last year and today has been tested in countries including the United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. However, consumers have protested strongly against Bovaer, as the effects on animals and the final product remain unknown – many have therefore boycotted Arla or products from cows given Bovaer.

Recently, several dairy farmers in Denmark have raised alarms about their cows becoming sick after starting with Bovaer. Among them, farmer Huibert van Dorp recently reported that his cows became acutely ill, with one dying suddenly. He argues that the supplement violates animal welfare laws as it causes suffering to the animals.

"More knowledge"

Now the Norwegian dairy organization Norsk Melkeråvare has temporarily halted the use of the feed additive. This is partly due to the Danish farmers' warnings, but Norwegian milk producers have also reported incidents.

"We have decided to pause until we have more knowledge", writes Norsk Melkeråvare according to All About Feed, which emphasizes that the decision is based on the precautionary principle.

In November, a major British study concluded in which Arla tested the supplement on 30 dairy farms, but the results have not yet been evaluated.

A new meeting regarding the matter will be held in January between the milk producer and the contracting parties, according to the Norwegian government.

In Sweden, Bovaer is used by a number of farms, but many have chosen to forgo the supplement. On Mejerikollen, consumers can find a guide to which companies use the so-called climate-smart supplement.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/norway/norwegian-mayor-raises-alarm-over-refugee-policy/

Norway

Norwegian mayor raises alarm over refugee policy

Migration crisis in Europe

Published November 21, 2025 – By Editorial staff
2 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Four out of five kroner in social assistance goes to refugees in the Norwegian city of Sarpsborg. Now the municipality's mayor is criticizing Norway's integration policy and calling it a failure, citing a new municipal report.

In the Norwegian city of Sarpsborg, with approximately 60,000 inhabitants, a new municipal report has revealed figures sparking debate. A full 79.1 percent of the financial social assistance paid out during 2024 went to refugees.

Mayor Magnus Arnesen from the Conservative Party (Høyre) is now taking a strong stance against the Norwegian state's integration policy.

— The municipal director presents figures that I believe show that integration policy in Norway is not working. It is inadequate, the mayor tells Norwegian state broadcaster NRK.

The report also shows that half of the immigrants in the municipality have a refugee background, compared to one-third at the national level. Over the past 15 years, the number of immigrants in Sarpsborg has increased by 132 percent, from 6,115 to 15,140 people.

According to Arnesen, the problems are partly due to how the Norwegian refugee reception system is designed. Refugees granted residence permits are initially settled in a municipality but are free to move after five years without losing their introduction benefits.

Many then choose to move to larger cities like Sarpsborg, Fredrikstad, or Drammen – so-called secondary settlement. The problem is that they arrive without work and without the state funding that municipalities receive for primary settlement.

Disagrees

This week, Labor and Integration Minister Kjersti Stenseng from the Labor Party (Arbeiderpartiet) met with the mayors of Sarpsborg and Fredrikstad to discuss the problems.

But she disagrees with Arnesen that integration policy has failed.

— No, I don't agree with that. We have many good examples of people who come to this country, learn the language, and find work, says Stenseng.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/norway/norwegian-experts-sound-alarm-over-weight-loss-medication/

Norway

Norwegian experts sound alarm over weight-loss medication

Published November 18, 2025 – By Editorial staff
2 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

More and more people are using weight-loss medications to lose weight. Now Norwegian experts are sounding the alarm that these drugs may trigger a new form of eating disorder – a so-called "dieting disorder" where patients become trapped in destructive behavior.

The use of various weight-loss medications has increased in many countries recently, with drugs like Wegovy and the type 2 diabetes medication Ozempic increasingly being used for weight loss. These drugs have gained traction because they contain semaglutide, which increases the feeling of satiety.

Danish experts have previously warned that this type of medication can worsen and even trigger various types of eating disorders, with a larger proportion of patients taking the medication in a destructive manner. Now Norwegian experts in the field are also stepping forward, noting that there is an entirely new patient group – those who cannot stop taking weight-loss medications.

— We're getting quite a few people coming to us after having taken weight-loss medication for a while who say they can no longer control it themselves, but they don't dare stop taking the medication because they will then gain weight, says psychologist Bente Sommerfeldt to Norwegian state broadcaster NRK.

"Dieting disorder"

Sommerfeldt specializes in eating disorders and says that more and more people in the field are talking about how the growing market for obesity medications has triggered what may become a new diagnosis.

— We are on the verge of getting yet another eating disorder, which we might call dieting disorder.

General practitioners also see risks with the use of weight-loss medication and believe that there is currently no good method for actually stopping it once you've started.

— At present, we have no good method for stopping this medication. The most important thing is therefore that we speak clearly with patients, says Torgeir Hoff Skavøy, who is chairman of the Norwegian Association of General Practitioners.

Cathrine M Lofthu, who heads the Norwegian Directorate of Health, says they take the experts' warnings very seriously and that we must recognize this is a social problem.

— We have created a society where it is difficult to make good choices, she says.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/norway/norway-fails-to-eradicate-wild-boar/

Norway

Norway fails to eradicate wild boar

Published November 18, 2025 – By Editorial staff
2 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Despite Norwegian authorities wanting to eliminate all wild boar in the country, the population remains stable. According to new figures from the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), between 450 and 700 wild boar live in the border areas with Sweden – and migration from Swedish forests makes it nearly impossible to reach zero.

The figures come from NINA's latest monitoring of the wild boar population during the 2024/2025 hunting season. Norway has been trying to reduce the population for some time, primarily due to the damage that wild boar can cause. But the population remains stable at the same level each year.

— Wild boar can damage crops and spread diseases to domestic pigs, which can harm the industry. That's why Norway wants to eradicate the species, says Inger Maren Rivrud, researcher at NINA, to Norwegian state broadcaster NRK.

Behind Norway's difficulties in eliminating the wild boar is primarily the large population on the other side of the border. In Sweden, there are over 300,000 wild boar, and nearly 120,000 animals are shot each year without the population decreasing significantly.

Swedish biologist Marcus Öhman has previously proposed that wild boar meat should be served in public institutions as part of the solution. For Norway, the Swedish population means that animals constantly migrate across the border.

— Even if we eliminate all of them in Norway, wild boar will still come from Sweden. Keeping the population at zero will be nearly impossible, says Rivrud.

The Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the Environment Agency have previously proposed that a fence should be built along the border in areas where most wild boar migrate. But according to Rivrud, extensive hunting efforts are also required for the population to decrease.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com