Conferences, demonstrations and chanterelles

There is a big EU SUMMIT in Helsinki, and of course there have been demonstrations in the center of Helsinki. The police are dumbfounded, they have surrounded some 100 youngsters at a square in front of Museum of Contemporary Art, Kiasma, and the main Post office.

Our President, Ms. Tarja Halonen, was interviewed today on TV and she said demonstrations (and the state "allowing" them) is a sign of normal, democratic society. I second that, but I'd like to add they are also a sign of people wanting to change things.

Please, do demonstrate! Go on! Show them! Ask for... No, do not ask but DEMAND world peace and human rights. There is so much to do, in order to make things better, or to stop them from getting worse.

But Mr. HP and I went to pick some chanterelles. Or any eatable kinds of mushrooms, but chanterelles were the only mushrooms we came by. REALLY.

In the meantime miss Funnybunny was at her granny's and now she is a bit sick. She has a cold a keeps sneezing and looks very tired. I feel so guilty for not having been with her the whole day.



But following the world leaders and telling them how to behave is excellent and even necessary. I'll join you soon when Miss F is better.

Please see the beginning of the ASEM SUMMIT press release. Seems pretty important happening, doesn't it? I just hope it has some (good) impact on anything. Or perhaps the poor buggers have to stage the show so people will think global politics and policies are taken care of by politicians, instead of market forces.

The older I get, the more cynical I am becoming.

**** The EU and Asian Heads of State or Government to attend the ASEM Summit in Helsinki

On 10 and 11 September, Finland, the current holder of the EU Presidency, will host the ASEM Summit, bringing together European and Asian Heads of State or Government in Helsinki. The parties involved in ASEM cooperation process are: the Member States of the European Union, the European Commission, the 10 ASIAN countries (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), China, Japan and Republic of Korea.

The Summit in Helsinki will mark the tenth anniversary of the cooperation process. It will be chaired by the Prime Minister of Finland, Matti Vanhanen. The ASEM 6 Summit will be the largest ever meeting of Heads of State or Government hosted by Finland, bringing together some two thousand participants. It is also estimated that around a thousand media representatives will come to Finland to cover the summit.

The summit will focus on ways to respond to the challenges of globalisation. The issues on the agenda include global security threats, energy security, climate change, WTO negotiations, ways to strengthen cultural dialogue, competitiveness and the structural changes in global economy. The meeting will also consider the future prospects for ASEM cooperation on the basis of a joint research project by Finland and Japan, entitled "ASEM in its tenth year: Looking back, looking forward", published in March 2006." *****