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Sunday, July 27, 2025

Polaris of Enlightenment

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https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/swedish-mother-wanted-radiation-free-meters-vattenfall-responded-with-forced-installation/

Sweden

Swedish mother wanted radiation-free meters – Vattenfall responded with forced installation

  • Single mother Cilla and her son moved to the countryside in Dalarna to reduce exposure to radiation that makes them both very ill.
  • For the same reason, she has been in contact with Vattenfall over the summer to inform the company and try to keep her old electricity meter, or a new one that is not wireless.
  • Disturbing images show how the energy giant responds by hiring an eight-person team, including security guards and a locksmith, to forcibly install the wireless smart meter in the family's home.
Published 20 December 2024
– By Editorial Staff
Vattenfall sent out a team of eight people to force the “smart meter” on Cilla's home.
4 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Single mother Cilla and her son have moved to the countryside due to health issues caused by exposure to certain types of radiation. Despite her informing Vattenfall, a state-owned Swedish energy company, of this, the company decided, against her explicit wishes, to forcibly install a new wireless electricity meter on her property.

Disturbing footage shows the electricity company setting out with a team of eight people, including a locksmith, two security guards and the support of the Swedish Enforcement Authority, to force their way into Cilla’s home.

Cilla says that people are particularly sensitive to radiation from wireless technology and react with severe symptoms at levels that most people do not even notice. The symptoms she can suffer from exposure to such radiation emitted by cell towers, mobile phones, wireless networks and so-called smart meters include headaches, nosebleeds, rashes, eczema, heart arrhythmias, insomnia, vomiting, nausea, tinnitus and blood in the urine at higher levels. This is why Cilla chose to move from Stockholm to the countryside to Garpenberg in Dalarna, where she and her son have now lived for several years.

During the summer, she was informed by her electricity company, Vattenfall, that they wanted to replace the previous electricity meter with a new so-called “smart electricity meter”, which will transmit data on, among other things, electricity consumption using wireless communication via the 4G network. In conversations and letters to Vattenfall, Cilla has informed the company that she is not opposed to the replacement of the electricity meter, but she is opposed to the installation of a microwave transmitter because she and her son cannot tolerate this radiation. She has also clearly emphasized to Vattenfall that there are other technical solutions, such as transmitting information via the electricity grid or via fiber.

Vattenfall responded by sending security guards

Even in spite of the provisions of the Environmental Code, which states that the best possible technology should be used if there is reason to believe that there is a risk to human health, Vattenfall chose to force its way into Cilla’s home to install the wireless transmitter, along with a new electricity meter, one day in mid-August. To gain access to the family’s property, Vattenfall hired three people from the Swedish Enforcement Authority, a locksmith and two security guards to forcibly install the wireless transmitter. Two fitters from Vattenfall without name tags also showed up. In total, eight people entered Cilla’s property against her will.

She describes it as a shocking experience.

– I couldn’t even imagine in my wildest dreams that we wouldn’t be heard and put a stop to the madness, Cilla told The Nordic Times.

Can no longer live in the house

After the installation of the microwave transmitter, Cilla and her son have suffered from the very symptoms they were worried about: headaches, nosebleeds, difficulty sleeping, swallowing food and other acute symptoms. The family cannot now live in the house or be out in the yard without getting sick and she expresses great despair at what the electricity company, with the support of the authorities, has forced on them.

– To be subjected to this legal abuse that violates several laws including human rights, the land code, property law, the environmental code and face this cold-blooded ignorance, despite the threat to our lives, feels like something out of a horror movie and not out of our seemingly safe life in Sweden. The right to decide over our lives and avoid being forcibly irradiated applies, regardless of what a company like Vattenfall has on its agenda, says Cilla about the incident.

Vattenfall refers to the fact that it is “forced” to change its electricity meters due to the new regulation on functional requirements for electricity meters adopted by the government in 2018. However, there is no requirement in the regulation that electricity meters must transmit information using wireless technology.

Vattenfall: “Complies with EU health and safety requirements”

Vattenfall’s press service states to TNT that they do not want to comment on individual cases, but confirms via email that further back in time, about 15-20 years ago, a dialog was conducted with the Swedish Association of Electricity Hypersensitive People, where they have since had agreements with some customers regarding manual meter reading. However, this will cease completely after the turn of the year to 2025. This refers to “laws and regulations” on the website of the Energy Markets Inspectorate (a government agency for which Ebba Busch (KD) is currently the responsible minister), an agency that in turn falls under the Ministry of Climate and Business.

“From 2025, all of Sweden’s electricity meters must meet new statutory functional requirements and the new regulations no longer support this type of customer agreement that handles manual meter reading”, writes Sofia Quant, Head of Stakeholder and Impact Communication at Vattenfall.

The Environmental Code stipulates that the best possible technology should be used, especially if “there are reasons to assume nuisance” to human health. Do you offer alternatives to eliminate potential health impacts of wireless technology from your electricity meters?

“Our electricity meter, like other electrical products, must meet certain requirements and we follow the laws and regulations in place regarding safety and health. The electricity meter is CE marked, which means that the manufacturer certifies that the products meet EU health and safety requirements. The electricity meter is also within the reference values from the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority”, continues Sofia Quant, who adds that “no other assessments are made”.

“All electricity meters from Vattenfall Eldistribution are type-approved and properly installed to meet all regulatory requirements. We do not make any further assessments in our role as a power grid company. Customers can always contact us with questions related to meter replacements and their electrical installations”, says Quant.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/only-one-ambulance-on-duty-in-central-stockholm/

Sweden

Only one ambulance on duty in central Stockholm

Deteriorating safety

Published 24 July 2025
– By Editorial Staff
"I would say it has never been as bad as it is now, not even during the pandemic", according to the chief safety representative for ambulance services.
2 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

On Tuesday evening, only one ambulance was on duty in central Stockholm, Sweden. The cause is staff shortage. Now the opposition demands that the red-green regional council produce a crisis plan.

At the city station in Stockholm, there are normally four ambulances, but during the week only one of these was in service. According to Emil Skoglund, chief safety representative for ambulance services in Stockholm, the situation is the worst ever.

— We receive between 30 to 40 text messages daily about vacant shifts. We have parked vehicles everywhere. I would say it has never been as bad as it is now, not even during the pandemic, he tells the Schibsted-owned tabloid Aftonbladet.

Skoglund warns that the staff shortage poses a direct threat to Stockholm residents’ safety and that there is a risk that seriously injured or ill people will not receive ambulance service in time. He points to changed working conditions and drastically reduced starting salaries as the main causes.

Emil Skoglund is chief safety representative for ambulance services in Stockholm. Photo: private

Operations manager downplays the crisis

Jani Sundqvist, operations manager for AISAB which is responsible for ambulance services in Stockholm region, has a less dramatic view of the situation. He refers to the system of “borderless dispatch” which means that ambulances from other stations can provide coverage.

— It’s not the case that the area covered by the city station only has one vehicle, explains Sundqvist, who hopes that a new collective agreement this autumn will improve the situation.

Opposition demands crisis plan

The Moderate Party’s opposition regional councilor Kristoffer Tamsons is harshly critical.

— It is completely unacceptable that Sweden’s capital finds itself in a situation where one ambulance is supposed to serve hundreds of people. It is a threat to people’s lives and health, he says.

The Moderate Party demands that regional councilor Talla Alkurdi (Social Democrat) convene the regional board to produce a crisis plan. On Wednesday morning, Alkurdi held a crisis meeting with the Swedish Association of Health Professionals Stockholm.

Stockholm Region is governed by a coalition between the Social Democrats, Centre Party and Green Party, with support from the Left Party.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/environment/recycled-plastic-may-cause-hormonal-disruptions/

Environment

Recycled plastic may cause hormonal disruptions

Published 24 July 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Recycled plastic pellets from polyethylene can be used to manufacture products such as water bottles.
3 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Recycled plastic leaches chemicals that can affect hormones and metabolism in zebrafish larvae, according to research from Sweden and Germany. A single plastic pellet made from recycled plastic could contain more than 80 chemicals.

Plastic pollution worldwide poses a significant threat to both human health and the environment. Recycling plastic has been seen as part of the solution, but since plastic contains thousands of chemical additives and other substances that can be toxic, and these are almost never declared, dangerous chemicals can end up in recycled products.

To investigate this further, researchers from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, purchased plastic pellets recycled from polyethylene plastic from different parts of the world. Polyethylene, abbreviated as PE, is a type of plastic used in numerous products such as plastic bags, bottle caps, pipes, ropes, toys, and household items. These types of plastic pellets are used to manufacture products like plastic bags or hard plastic water bottles.

Altered hormones

The researchers let the plastic pellets sit in water for 48 hours. After this, they exposed zebrafish larvae to the water for five days. There, the researchers discovered that gene expression in the larvae changed in genes linked to fat metabolism and hormone regulation.

— These short leaching and exposure times are yet another indicator of the risks that chemicals in plastic pose to living organisms. The effects we recorded show that plastic in nature has the potential to alter fish physiology and health, says Azora König Kardgar, lead author and researcher in ecotoxicology at the University of Gothenburg, in a press release.

Furthermore, researchers conducted a chemical analysis of the chemicals that leached from the plastic pellets into water. They discovered a variety of different chemical compounds, but these differed between different pellet samples. However, a single pellet could contain over 80 different chemicals.

— We identified common plastic chemicals, including UV stabilizers and plasticizers, as well as chemicals not used in plastic manufacturing, including pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and biocides. These may have contaminated the plastic during its first use phase, before it becomes waste to be recycled. This is further evidence of the complexity of plastic waste flows and the toxic chemicals that contaminate recycled plastic, says Eric Carmona, researcher at the Department of Exposure Science, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research in Leipzig, Germany.

Recycled plastic not safe

Previous research has also shown that exposure to toxic chemicals in plastic has similar effects on humans as on zebrafish larvae. Certain chemicals used in plastic are known to disrupt hormones, which in turn can have negative effects on fertility and children’s development, as well as having links to certain forms of cancer and metabolic disorders, including obesity and diabetes. The researchers therefore point out that this is among the biggest obstacles with recycled plastic – that you simply never know for certain which chemicals will end up in an object manufactured from this plastic.

Finally, the researchers conclude that plastic is not recycled in a safe and sustainable way unless dangerous chemicals are addressed.

— Our study clearly shows the need to address toxic chemicals in plastic materials and plastic products throughout their entire lifecycle. We cannot produce and use recycled plastic safely if we cannot trace chemicals through the entire production, use, and waste phase, says Professor Bethanie Carney Almroth.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/sweden-democrats-sweden-house-proposal-now-under-government-review/

Sweden

Sweden Democrats’ “Sweden House” proposal now under government review

Published 23 July 2025
– By Editorial Staff
According to Mikael Eskilandersson, the Sweden Democrats' housing policy spokesperson, at least one of the type-approved house models will be designed in "traditional Swedish building style".
2 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The Swedish government is tasking the National Board of Housing (Boverket) with developing proposals for type-approved small houses that can be built without building permits. The idea is based on the Sweden Democrats’ original 2022 proposal for a red wooden house in traditional Swedish style.

On Monday, the government announced that Boverket (Sweden’s National Board of Housing) will be tasked with investigating how type approval of small houses can be implemented. This involves realizing the Sweden Democrats’ idea of the “Sweden House” – a house model that should be able to be built anywhere in the country without requiring building permits.

— We know that many people want to live in small houses but far too few are being built. With a type-approved Sweden House that can be erected anywhere in the country, building processes can become significantly shorter and more efficient, says Infrastructure and Housing Minister Andreas Carlson from the Christian Democrats (KD).

Red house with white corners

When the Sweden Democrats presented their original proposal before the 2022 election, it was visualized as a classic red house with white corners. The party then proposed a nationally type-approved wooden small house of 150 square meters of living space, designed as a 1.5-story villa in traditional Swedish architectural style.

According to the Sweden Democrats’ housing policy spokesperson, Mikael Eskilandersson, at least one of the type-approved house models will be designed in “traditional Swedish building style”.

— A red cottage with white corners is perceived as safe and pleasant, says Eskilandersson.

He emphasizes that the cultural element in the houses’ design will be considered in the investigation.

— We see this as our proposal now becoming reality, even regarding the cultural aspect of how the building will look, he says.

Aims to simplify and shorten the building process

The assignment to Boverket means that the agency will map current regulations and propose models for type-approved small houses that do not require building permits. Boverket will also investigate the conditions for exempting such houses from other requirements that complicate or make construction more expensive.

In Sweden today, there is no possibility to get a small house type-approved for construction throughout the entire country. This means that every new small house needs to be specifically reviewed by the municipal building committee.

According to the Sweden Democrats’ original proposal, a type-approved house could save the builder between €2,200 and €4,400 in fees, while significantly shortening processing time.

Criticism from the Center Party

However, the proposal met sharp criticism from opposition parties. The Center Party in Stockholm calls the initiative “a mockery of all young adults” and argues that it is unrealistic as a solution to the housing shortage.

— That this is the government’s only answer to the housing shortage is a mockery of all young adults, single parents and essential workers who today are forced to live in sublet housing, says Jonas Naddebo from the Center Party (C), group leader in Stockholm city.

Boverket is to report on its assignment by June 2026 at the latest.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/sweden-discovers-strategic-metals-crucial-for-future-technologies/

Sweden

Sweden discovers strategic metals crucial for future technologies

The energy crisis in Europe

Published 22 July 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Swedish mining company LKAB hopes that with the new discovery, Sweden will become less dependent on foreign actors regarding rare earth metals. NOTE: Archive image.
3 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Sweden could play a key role in Europe’s efforts to reduce its dependence on China for strategically important metals. Swedish mining company LKAB’s major discovery of rare earth metals in Kiruna, northern Sweden, is now being highlighted as a potential solution to the EU’s growing raw materials problem.

The European Commission has recently granted the LKAB project “strategic” status under the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act, which means simplified permit processes and priority handling, reports Dagens Industri (Swedish business daily).

After in-depth investigations, the mineral resources in what is called the Per Geijer deposit are now estimated at approximately 1.2 billion tons, with up to 2.2 million tons of rare earth metals and high levels of iron and phosphorus – making the deposit the largest of its kind within the EU.

Rare earth metals are crucial in the manufacturing of electric vehicles, wind turbines and advanced electronics, among other things. Today, China dominates production, which has created concerns about supply chains as demand increases globally.

The EU’s new raw materials law aims to ensure that at least 10 percent of needs can be met within the union by 2030.

Significant step – but long road to extraction

Despite the large resources, extensive assessments remain before extraction can begin. LKAB has started environmental assessments, technical investigations and economic analyses, but both the company and Swedish authorities emphasize that the process is expected to take several years.

– The next major energy issue will be rare earth metals where China has positioned itself over the past 30-40 years. Without them, we cannot manufacture electric cars, fighter jets or iPhones. Then the question is whether we want to let Xi Jinping decide that or not, says Jan Moström, CEO of LKAB.

The extraction of rare earth metals could take place in parallel with iron ore mining, which increases the project’s profitability and reduces dependence on global monopoly-like structures.

– What we did for many years in Sweden was to export our environmental, climate and landscape impact to other countries and didn’t care about it when we imported these materials. That worked as long as we had free trade. Then the question is whether we should go back to using wood and stone or secure the materials and resolve these conflicting goals, Moström argues.

Political and industrial support

Both the Swedish government and the European Commission are now highlighting the Kiruna discovery as an important step toward a more self-sufficient Europe.

The project is expected to contribute to the “green transition” that requires large quantities of strategic metals, while also creating new jobs and strengthening Swedish mining industry.

At the same time, questions remain about environmental impact, coexistence with reindeer herding and local opinion – factors that have already delayed previous mining projects in Sweden.

How quickly LKAB can move from prospecting to production will determine whether Europe has the opportunity to reduce dependence on non-European suppliers in time for the next technological leap.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The Per Geijer deposit

According to LKAB (Swedish state-owned mining company), the deposit contains mineral resources of 734 million tons of iron ore with high iron content as well as phosphorus and more than 1.3 million tons of rare earth metals.

The concentrations of rare earth metals in the Per Geijer deposit are ten times higher than in the Kiruna ore where LKAB currently operates mines.

The Per Geijer area is intended to become LKAB's next mining site. Previously, it has been estimated that it could take 10–15 years before mining could become viable. This is primarily due to obtaining the necessary permits.

Source: LKAB via Dagens Industri

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