The British human rights decision led to unwarranted calls

In the UK, a bill has passed which would allow asylum seekers to be sent to Rwanda while awaiting a decision on their asylum application. However, this hasn't been put into practice just yet, as it requires approval from King Charles first, followed by what are known as human rights activists organizing a trial farce, and then there must be a court decision on the matter.

In the future, we will likely see mass deportations of asylum seekers from Europe to Africa. Additionally, according to the new British law, a potential asylum would only entitle the applicant to stay in Rwanda—not to unsettle British society.

What's particularly interesting about the case is that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has directly stated that the purpose of enacting the law was to create a deterrent effect on asylum seekers heading to Britain. On the other hand, there has been skepticism in the opposition about its impact on the numbers of people attempting to cross the Channel.

It remains to be seen how the law will impact the numbers of asylum seekers attempting to cross the English Channel. Will it achieve its goal of redirecting the flow of people, or will the previous trend continue, with the difference being that British taxpayer money is used for the nearly 6,500-kilometer flights of arrivals?

The question is pertinent, as according to Britain's own parliamentary institution, the Rwanda program costs nearly two million pounds per asylum seeker sent to Africa. If this estimate holds true, the bill for combating modern-day migration will be considerable.

On the other hand, if the flows of migrants seeking to exploit European social welfare were indeed effectively redirected elsewhere as a result of the decision, London's administration would save significantly more money. Moreover, the process of demographic change in Britain, sometimes referred to as population replacement, would slow down significantly from its current pace. Consequently, Britain's population would remain predominantly European well into the future.

* * *

Today I got to read an article where it was reported that the United Nations and the EU are urging the island nation to reject the bill.

According to the story, Michael O'Flaherty, the director of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), expressed that he is "concerned that the Rwanda bill enables the implementation of a policy of removing people to Rwanda without any prior assessment of their asylum claims by the UK authorities in the majority of cases.

The statement raises the question of whether there is a misunderstanding among influential figures in the UN and EU. The explicit intention of the British bill is that the assessment of the spontaneous asylum seekers' protection will be conducted in Rwanda, and thus there is no rational basis for conducting it first in the UK.

According to the same article, Rwanda has expressed satisfaction with Britain's decision and welcomes any potential entrants. This way, they can find a safe place to build their lives, which is ultimately what the international asylum system is about. It's not about the subjective right of all people in the world to settle in Europe and burden its inhabitants' economy or change its culture.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
A white family does not represent real Londoners
Finnish journalist called for British Prime Minister´s head to be placed on London bridge to dry
The arrival of caliphate citizens must be prevented

Cousin is a cultural delicacy

We Europeans are well aware that among many developing nations, it is common to marry relatives. So the idea is, "the cousinier, the juicier."

What remains unclear, however, is whether this has been the original behavior of humanity or a later cultural development, despite some indications suggesting an increase in consanguineous marriages among humans in recent times.

To get an answer, one must of course examine human groups that lived long ago. And it was precisely such a research report that I recently came across.

The study I read analyzed the last hunter-gatherers inhabiting Western Europe, who soon became displaced by the farming newcomers spreading from the southeast of the continent - or merged with them. The examined individuals had inhabited southern Brittany in France approximately seven or eight thousand years ago.

The analysis of ten individuals from three different locations revealed that spouses were not sought from within their own groups but from among different groups residing in different locations. As a result, consanguineous marriages were avoided, despite the very small population of each group - and consequently, also of the hunter-gatherers living in the area.

Somewhat surprisingly, researchers also found that the hunter-gatherers did not seek spouses from farming communities, even though such communities existed in the vicinity. Thus, the hunter-gatherer communities of the time remained quite separate for a long time, even though there was migration from them to the farming communities.

Returning to the question of cousin marriages that initiated this blogpost, based on the study I've discussed, it can be concluded that the original inhabitants of Europe did not practice such marriages.

In other words, they had an excellent understanding that marrying cousins was not sensible. This seems to be not clear to all contemporary human groups, those who, for one reason or another, have adopted consanguineous reproduction in their culture.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Violent demographic changes in Denmark
History of Finland I: How did Finland become culturally part of the West?
Long distance trade

Getting asylum in Finland becomes significantly more difficult

Finnish Minister of the Interior, Mari Rantanen (PS), announced good news yesterday. According to her, the government intends to extend the residency requirement for obtaining Finnish citizenship from the current five years to eight years, and the calculation of this period will start only after obtaining a residence permit. Additionally, the acceptable period of residence abroad will be shortened from the current standard, and the amount of reception allowance and allowance for asylum seekers will be reduced.

The government also plans to add passing a citizenship test, which will be established, as a requirement for obtaining citizenship. Moreover, asylum will always be intended as temporary and as short as EU legislation allows. And in the future, it will no longer be possible to transition from an asylum seeker to a labor-based immigrant.

Furthermore, the Minister of the Interior emphasized that refugee status or asylum could be denied or revoked in the future if the individual is considered a threat to society, has committed an especially heinous crime, is suspected of or has committed a crime against peace, a war crime, a crime against humanity, or an act contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

The asylum process is also planned to be expedited through border procedures, during which asylum seekers are not allowed to leave the vicinity of the reception center assigned to them. Additionally, a fast-track procedure is intended to be included in the Aliens Act, under which applicants who receive a negative decision can be deported more quickly than in the regular asylum process. It is intended to be applied to individuals deemed a threat to national security and to those who have submitted repeat applications.

In addition to these changes, a proposal has been prepared at the Ministry of Justice, led by Leena Meri (PS), to amend the Penal Code regarding the criminalization of female genital mutilation and its preparation. This law is significant not only on the basis of human rights but also because it reduces Finland's attractiveness among asylum seekers who intend to mutilate their daughters' genitals, a practice that constitutes a significant portion of economic migrants arriving in Finland.

Overall, the government parties intend to implement exactly the policies that a large portion of their current voters supported in the last parliamentary elections. When combined with the billion-euro cut in development aid funding, voters finally have reason to be satisfied—provided, of course, that the intentions I've outlined above are realized.

Previous thought on the same topic:
The EU's 7.4 billion euro aid package is intellectual dishonesty
The Finnish forest is life-threatening to asylum-seekers
In Germany, immigration policy changes are being planned

Religious authority and the Iran strike on Israel

Ancient Persia was a powerful empire of its time, stretching from Macedonia and Libya all the way to the borders of India. In contrast, modern-day Iran is a backward theocracy led by religious fanatics, where the people - especially women - are subjected to the yoke of medieval religion.

In recent years, the country has witnessed an incomprehensible drama by Western standards, where women have refused to comply with the demands of the morality police, despite being raped, tortured, and killed in large numbers.

Undoubtedly, all of this has affected every Iranian in one way or another, polarizing society. For example, many Iranian opposition figures in exile have stated that the recent airstrikes by the ayatollahs on Israel do not have the support of the entire nation, even though they were in response to an Israeli operation in Syria that resulted in the deaths of three Iranian generals.

The Iranian strike itself had little military impact, as Israel's air defense successfully intercepted the hundreds of drones and ballistic missiles sent by Iranian and Yemeni Houthi forces. Reports do not mention any casualties from the strike, but they do note that some people were wounded - including one child victim.

It remains to be seen how Israel will respond to Iran's attack. At this stage, the only certainty is that the consequences are significantly more serious for the Persians than what was seen in Israel last night.

All of this could have been predicted well before Iran's attack. And so, it begs the question: why was the attack launched last night, even though the outcome was known to be dismal for the aggressor?

One possible explanation could be that, as a result of the violence faced by women, an increasingly large portion of Iran's population is fed up with the clerical regime. Consequently, the country's religious authorities have decided to exploit Israel's strike in Syria to foster national unity and sweep the discontent raised by human rights issues under the rug.

Using military action to overcome political difficulties is an old and tested method. The most famous example is, of course, Margaret Thatcher's initiation of the Falklands War, which boosted her political approval rating from 25 percent at the start of the war to 59 percent within a couple of months.

And let's not forget the unity of the Finns who had just fought a civil war only two decades earlier when the Winter War began with the Soviet Union's attack. Nor the Ukrainians coming together to resist the Russians after they violated the young state's independence.

If indeed the strengthening of leaders´ domestic political position is behind Iran's attack, it is a bold gamble. Even though the people will undoubtedly rally behind their leaders after Israel retaliates, the mullahs will find themselves in a precarious position after a losing war when searching for those responsible for the defeat.

And that - in the best-case scenario - may even lead to a revolution, resulting in Iran's transition from a theocratic regime to secular power. And Iranian female students may look quite different from what they do now.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
The demands of the vandals
Ayatollahs in Iran demonstrated their ridiculousness
Independence day of Finland now and 83 years ago

Even a brutal murder didn't stir the Swedes

The Finnish Broadcasting Company Yle reported on the tragedy that occurred in Stockholm, where 39-year-old Mikael, cycling with his 12-year-old son, was shot in an underpass. The murder began when young gang members first shouted something inappropriate at the duo.

As a result, Mikael returned to confront the hecklers, to which a gang member responded by brutally shooting him in front of his son. However, according to the news, no one has been arrested.

* * *

We Finns - at least the most clear-headed among us - have long been aware of the slide of Swedish society into an immigrant hell. Yet the descendants of the Vikings have resigned themselves to the current state of the former Nordic powerhouse.

This was starkly demonstrated by the victim's sister's comment, in which she remarked, "Couldn't they have shot him in the leg at least? Who shoots someone in the face like this?" As if the act of shooting itself were somehow natural or even acceptable!?!

In the article, a Swedish criminologist also stated, "The incident leads to even greater uncertainty in intervening in disturbances in residential areas," because people no longer dare to intervene in the despicable actions of immigrant youth as much as before.

In a video captured by Yle, an agitated woman says, "We should be able to walk outside without fear of death. People are afraid to go out." But she doesn't make a concrete suggestion about what should be done about it.

Only the victim's nephew had even a somewhat constructive suggestion for fixing the situation. He demanded, "Bring the army and the police to the streets and take away the guns from the youth. It's just talk here and there, but nothing is being done. The situation is only getting worse."

Yet still, no one demanded addressing the root causes of the violence plaguing Swedish society - at least not according to the Yle article - such as removing the population causing problems from Sweden. Or even halting the continuous influx of migrants from developing countries that has led to these problems.

* * *

It's certainly convenient for Finland to shout across the Gulf of Bothnia, as we are about ten years behind Sweden in the "progress" of our society. But it would be even better if the Finnish government and parliament found consensus on the fact that by repeating the mistakes of our neighboring country, we will also inherit their consequences.

And no, the often-mentioned differences in housing policy between Finland and Sweden are not enough to prevent the societal development of our western neighbor from recurring on this side of the Baltic Sea. What is needed is a controlled immigration policy that ensures Finland does not create too large of an ethnically and culturally problematic population.

Unfortunately, there is not a single sign of this. Nor will there be in the future, as we have just accepted that in the future, such ethnically and culturally diverse individuals will be dispersed throughout the EU. Essentially, we have transferred decision-making authority on this matter from Helsinki to Brussels.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
The Rwanda Law of Britain paves the way for the future of Western Europe
100 percent of the violence is related to migration
Sweden already in trouble - Finland following

Duck emphasizing the urgency of the new border law

In Finland, there is fear of a hybrid operation organized by Russia, which could result in an influx of asylum seekers from developing countries as spring arrives. Among them, there may also be activists or operatives playing into Putin's hands.

For this reason, the government has prepared a proposal to enhance our country's ability to defend against Russian aggression. During the preparatory consultation process, the draft legislation in question received some critical comments - as expected - so the potential enactment of the law is still ahead.

However, there is hope that this so-called "pushback law" - or the new border law - could be finalized and enacted as soon as possible, and that it would also be effective in practice. This has also been emphasized by both the former and current leaders of the country's foreign policy.

* * *

Relating to the text above, MTV3 published news yesterday stating that if something "looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it is probably a duck." The discussion was about a series of mischief in the Baltic countries, suspected to be a hybrid operation organized by Russia.

Related to these incidents, Janis Sarts, the Director of NATO's Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence, assessed that if Russia sees the method working in the Baltics, similar hybrid influence operations could also be seen in Finland in the future. This could include, for example, Molotov cocktail attacks or threats against daycare centers - something hardly any Finn would want.

It is evident that the suspicion of the hybrid nature of the crimes witnessed is correct, and therefore Sarts' assessment should also be taken seriously in Finland. Steps should be taken to ensure that Russia is not given leeway on our own soil.

Understanding this issue in all parliamentary groups - including those on the political left - is essential right now. And especially when the government's new proposal for the so-called "pushback law" is next up for discussion: in that context, I certainly wouldn't like to see a single useful idiot for Putin.

This is because the law will need to be enacted as a so-called emergency law, which requires a five-sixths majority in parliament. If such a majority cannot be found, there is a risk that we will soon find ourselves even more at the mercy of Russia's bloody dictator.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Desperate cry of Russians
The Finnish forest is life-threatening to asylum-seekers
Political rats and useful idiots

5.5 billion loan to establish an alcoholism foundation

In Finland, alcoholism is a massive problem, and recently, drugs have also emerged as an issue alongside it. This is because substance abuse problems often lead to financial difficulties, prompting the parliament to narrowly approve a citizen initiative proposing the establishment and funding of a special foundation for those struggling with substance abuse issues.

The foundation's one-time basic capital is envisaged to be one thousand euros per capita in Finland. Due to Finland's challenging economic situation, the total amount accrued—approximately 5.5 billion euros—will have to be covered through government borrowing. However, this was not seen as a problem, as the public debt is already so large that it's just a drop in the ocean.

According to the preliminary plan, the foundation's funds would be invested profitably in electricity transmission fees, supplemented by a statutory additional fee, which would go towards the foundation's financing without reduction. As the foundation's assets accumulate, individuals struggling with substance abuse could apply to the foundation for financial support. Additional support could also be obtained by presenting receipts from Alko (the Finnish state-owned alcohol retail monopoly) or drug dealers.

For the aforementioned alcohol policy change, the government has established a working group, which includes a representative from the Centre Party and the Finns Party bringing the perspectives of alcoholics, as well as one Green Party and one Left Alliance member serving as experts in various other substances. The working group is chaired by a representative from the Swedish People's Party specializing in foundation financing, assisted by an expert with a background in the National Coalition Party.

The working group is known as "Huhtikuu ensin" in Finnish, although due to increasing internationalization, it is usually referred to by its English translation, "April first".

Immigration is an asset in the USA, but in Europe, it's just a burden

People criticize immigration, but it is a source of economic growth, said Michael C. Burda, an economics professor at Humboldt University in Berlin.

So, does this mean that we should accept all immigrants trying to come to Finland? And at least keep the eastern border open to grow our economy?

No, because the professor continued his thought by noting that people coming to the United States do not receive welfare benefits, it is not possible. It is very difficult to get money for free in the United States.

In other words, immigration alone will not save Europe's economy; in addition, newcomers should be integrated into a productive economy by preventing them from having an alternative lifestyle offered by European social democracy.

And this, precisely this, is the reason why humanitarian immigration is only a burden for Europe and not the asset one would hope for.

* * *

Yesterday's terrorist attack on the Moscow concert hall was exceptionally bloody, claiming 60 lives and injuring a staggering 145. The perpetrator has identified itself as the Islamic ISIS organization, though its motives remain unclear.

It is also unknown whether the perpetrators were born in Russia, had migrated there, or had simply entered the country for the purpose of carrying out the attack. However, US intelligence had prior knowledge that a terrorist attack was imminent in Russia.

In this context, it is important to emphasize that terrorist attacks are never acceptable, and there is no reason to rejoice even when they target the dictatorship led by Putin. Instead, it is concerning to note the resurgence of the ISIS organization, the consequences of which will undoubtedly be felt sooner or later in Western democracies due to the human rights and immigration policies pursued therein.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
The EU's 7.4 billion euro aid package is intellectual dishonesty
The Rwanda Law of Britain paves the way for the future of Western Europe
Are we going to allow ISIS women to ride on their children?

The EU's 7.4 billion euro aid package is intellectual dishonesty

Intellectual dishonesty, according to Wikipedia, is dishonesty in thought or communication. This includes advocating for a viewpoint that one knows to be false or misleading, or advocating for something whose veracity one has not bothered to ascertain, or omitting relevant facts that one knows to be essential.

According to the same source, rhetoric is intellectual dishonesty when it is used to reinforce one's own agenda or important beliefs despite evidence to the contrary. This comes to mind repeatedly when I read news related to humanitarian immigration.

Today, it happened when I came across a headline stating, "EU will soon pay Egypt to contain the migration flood – concern over two borders." These borders are the borders with Sudan and Libya, through which people travel through Egypt towards Europe.

Behind this are the human rights treaties signed by European countries, according to which all people in the world have the right to seek asylum if they manage to reach the border. If and when this happens, asylum must be granted whenever there is no evidence of its undesirability.

And that's not all, because after granting asylum, the receiving country must provide various services to the arrivals, from maintenance to healthcare. Instead, they are not obligated to undertake specific duties themselves, such as financing their own lives through work or adopting the language and culture of the receiving country.

In other words, through the international agreements they have signed and their practical measures towards asylum seekers, EU countries have done everything they can to make themselves as attractive as possible to developing country migrants seeking a better standard of living. And at the same time, they intellectually dishonestly spend money to ensure that these people could not present their asylum applications.

Otherwise, this wouldn't matter much, but bribery of transit countries to keep borders closed is costly (in Egypt's case, €7.4 billion by the end of 2027), there are still plenty of arrivals despite the bribery, and they cause exorbitant costs in their destination countries. And most importantly, the intellectually dishonest Union could change its immigration policy by its own decision, so that it would not attract economically motivated migrants who are unable to adapt to society.

Key points here could be 1) transferring the burden of proving the need for asylum to the applicant, 2) limiting positive decisions to those who have personally experienced persecution (and not, for example, due to general chaos in the country of origin), and 3) making maintenance contingent on work, learning the language and culture of the receiving country, and giving up harmful aspects of previous lifestyles. Additionally, it should be ensured that applicants with rejected decisions are either returned to their home country or isolated from the receiving society in other ways.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Strong statement or intellectual dishonesty in COP27?
Most useless organisations of our time
Should forbidden questions be answered or not?

The demands of the vandals

I noticed a small piece of news today stating that activists supporting Palestinians vandalized a historical painting in England, at the University of Cambridge. The painting, dating back to 1914, depicted former British Prime Minister Lord Arthur Balfour, best remembered for the 1917 Balfour Declaration, in which Britain announced support for the establishment of a "national home" for Jews in Palestine.

Of course, Lord Balfour is no longer alive, and therefore, he holds no significance in today's politics. Thus, the vandalism by activists has no bearing on the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

However, the destruction of the painting resulted in the loss of an irreplaceable piece of artwork and was therefore a culturally hostile act. Additionally, it demonstrated that the perpetrators were fanatical individuals whose behavior is guided by primitive instincts, similar to that of a toddler throwing a tantrum if they don't get their way.

The analogy is apt in the sense that a rational person does not heed the demands of their child throwing a tantrum on the ground. Similarly, a rational person does not cater to the potential political desires of these fanatical activists but rather dismisses them as childish whims.

The same thought in Finnish: 
Vandaalien vaatimukset

Previous thoughts on the same topic: 
A white family does not represent real Londoners
Finnish journalist called for British Prime Minister´s head to be placed on London bridge to dry
The activists sought excitement and a boost to their self-esteem in the Stockholm Diamond League

The procrastination of Western countries is paid for with the blood of soldiers

Russia has recently achieved success in the ammunition-starved Ukraine. News reports indicating the increasing success of Putin's army day by day suggest that even the rapid collapse of Ukrainian defense is possible.

Three factors have enabled this development. One is the procrastination of the Trumpian House of Representatives in sending new aid packages. Second is the irresponsible defense policy of most EU countries in recent years, resulting in depleted weapon and ammunition stocks. And - as we know - it's hard to make something out of nothing. Additionally, behind it all is the Ukrainian government's inability to mobilize enough men to the front lines.

* * *

Apparently, French President Emmanuel Macron has understood that the situation in Ukraine is currently completely untenable, as he even raised the issue of sending Western troops to assist Zelensky's army. This would undoubtedly mean facing Western casualties and Russian counter-reactions in one way or another.

Western populations are by no means prepared for returning filled coffins. And their home fronts will not withstand large-scale losses. Therefore, Macron's proposal did not receive immediate support from Finland or other Western countries either.

The future commander of the Estonian Defense Forces, on the other hand, suggested granting Ukraine permission to use Western weapons also on Russian soil. This is because Estonians have learned from their history that "when Russia attacks, the war must be taken to its territory. Otherwise, we will lose it. This rule still applies."

Behind both proposals likely lies the idea of not only direct military impact but also of undermining the Russian home front. In other words, the clearer the war is visible to Russians, the more resistance is likely to arise against Putin's administration's war policies. And the more difficult position the country's dictator finds himself in domestically.

* * *

It's quite clear in this situation that Ukraine's army will collapse for sure unless it receives swift material aid from the West. Loss is also certain in the longer term if a vast number of capable Ukrainian men or women are not urgently called up and trained into Zelensky's army.

In this context, it's also worth noting that every recapture of a village surrendered to the aggressor seems to demand a massive human sacrifice in Ukraine, with fallen soldiers. Therefore, the Western countries' incapacity for effective aid to Ukraine will, in the best-case scenario, demand the lives of tens of thousands, or - if the situation persists - even hundreds of thousands of soldiers.

It's justified to say, therefore, that the delay of Western countries will be paid for with the blood of soldiers. First in Ukraine and - if Putin ultimately wins the war - later most likely also in the militarily weaker Russian border states. And eventually, possibly even in Finland.

The original thought in Finnish:
Länsimaiden viivyttely maksetaan sotilaiden verellä

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Polish Minister for Foreign Affairs reminded Russians about their nightmare
Desperate cry of Russians
Finnish general praised the Ukrainian air strike

Polish Minister for Foreign Affairs reminded Russians about their nightmare

Radosław Sikorski, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Poland, gave an excellent speech at the UN Security Council. In his speech, he pointed out that Ukraine is fighting to be independent of anybody – not only Russia – and has a democratically elected government, including a Jewish president and a Muslim defense minister, and no political prisoners.

He also reminded us that Russia tried to exterminate Ukraine in the 19th century, again under the Bolsheviks, and during the last ten years. He explained that people in Western countries are being threatened almost every day by Putin's propagandists with nuclear annihilation, and therefore causes Russophobia in western countries.

Then he said that we are not denying Russia's security interests, but we only started rearming ourselves when Russia started to invade her neighbors. He reminded us that the Soviet Union attacked Poland together with Nazi Germany and even held a joint Victory Parade in September 1939.

Then he advised Putin's regime to withdraw his troops from Ukraine to the international border and reminded us that there was no coup in Ukraine in 2014. Instead, the former president, Yanukovych, was removed from office by a democratically elected Ukrainian Parliament, including his own party.

He also pointed out that Russia didn't win the Crimean War, the Russo-Japanese War, World War I, the Battle of Warsaw, in Afghanistan, or the Cold War. Fortunately, however, there were reforms in Russia after each failure.

Mr. Sikorski's view is historically correct and should be carefully dispersed, taught and learned in Russia. If that happened, it might finally encourage Russians – with the greatest natural resources in the world as well as relatively well educated and talented people – to change their political attitude now directed towards the rest of the world and become a superpower with economic, spiritual, and civilized culture instead of the nightmare they have lived for at least half a millennium since the Tsardom of Moscow was established.

Previous thoughts on the same topic: Desperate cry of Russians Victims of Russian leaders Should Putin´s regime be overthrown by supporting Russian opposition?

Finns are backing the government making difficult decisions

The problem commonly associated with democracies is that when the government has to make unpleasant decisions for public finances, voters tend to shift their support to the opposing parties. Thus, there is a temptation for leaders not to make economically sound decisions while in power.

In this sense, the situation in Finland is interesting. The right-wing government that came to power last summer has planned labor market reforms, cuts to public services, and reductions in income taxes to balance the state budget, which was heavily indebted during the previous government's term, and to revitalize economy.

These plans have resulted in widespread and ongoing political strikes opposing the reforms. Both trade unions and green-leftist parties are behind these strikes, and even according to citizen surveys, the protests have public support.

However, what makes the situation interesting is that in polls measuring party support, the government's popularity has not declined; instead, it is clearly on the rise. Based on this, it seems that Finns understand that their country's public finances are indeed in need of correction. Therefore, rather than abandoning the parties in power, they are actually shifting towards supporting them.

This bodes well for Finland's future, but of course, only if the ongoing changes by the government lead to results and the public remains supportive for long enough for the economy to turn back towards growth.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Correct minister, ridiculous facts
The people long for strict economic policy
Reducing taxes, enhancing export and paying the governmental debt

Fear drove Putin, a follower of Josif, to murder Alexei Navalny

The Russian dictator Vladimir Putin killed his only politically significant challenger - Alexei Navalny - far away in Siberia. In doing so, he demonstrated his faithful adherence to the path paved by his role model, Josif Stalin: it's better to eliminate those who threaten the leader's power before they become a real danger - or preferably at the first suspicion in the sick mind of the dictator.

Navalny's murder was, of course, no surprise considering Russia's previous events involving falling out of windows and various poisonings. It will also not be surprising that Putin commissions a report on Navalny's death, which has no connection to the truth, despite claims to the contrary - это правда.

There have been various reactions to Navalny's case, most notably the statement from U.S. President Joe Biden, who bluntly stated, "Russian authorities tell their own story. But make no mistake, Putin is responsible for Navalny's death."

Biden's Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on the other hand, stated that "His death in a Russian prison and the fixation and fear of one man only underscores the weakness and rot at the heart of the system that Putin has built." And he hit the nail on the head - Vladimir, like his Josif, is also similar in his neurotic fear, so it is not difficult to predict that he will continue to kill people with an even lighter hand in the future.

* * *

It remains to be seen whether Putin's latest operation will be met with any more than previous ones. That is, whether there will be a lot of critical talk directed at him, but only minimal real actions - and even those only temporarily.

However, it is hopeful that Navalny's murder would at least lead to a military awakening in Western countries and such extensive assistance to Ukraine, victimized by Putin, that Russian forces are forced to withdraw from the country.

Of course, it's difficult to extract much from the empty weapon arsenals of European states that have wasted their military capabilities until defense budgets are rectified. But if even the importance of the matter were understood in the U.S. House of Representatives before Ukrainians are forced to retreat from places other than Avdiivka?

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Desperate cry of Russians
Victims of Russian leaders
Should Putin´s regime be overthrown by supporting Russian opposition?

Biden's dementia and Trump's speeches may improve European security

The world is in a dire situation, as the upcoming president of the United States appears to be either Donald Trump or Joe Biden. The latter's signs of dementia have become increasingly apparent and have become a hot potato in the politics of the Western superpower, particularly with the so-called Hur report bluntly stating the matter.

Of course, Biden's supporters have launched a counterattack, assuring that the president's memory functions flawlessly and attempting to demonstrate that the report is politically motivated. However, it is clear that the doubt it brings will linger in people's minds, and any minor public slip-up by Biden will significantly affect the less fanatical part of his voters in the future.

However, this does not mean that Donald Trump is returning to the White House. Firstly, he needs support from the U.S. Supreme Court, and secondly, he must somehow convince his voter base throughout the entire election campaign that the undoubtedly fierce accusations of inciting rebellion during the previous elections by his opponent are untrue.

From the perspective of us Europeans, the problem lies in the difficulty of determining which option is better for us - the inherently unpredictable Trump or Biden, who seems physically elderly and appears to be suffering from dementia. And the situation is not improved by Trump's advance mention of his reluctance to unconditionally support Europe if Russia were to invade Ukraine and then shift its focus to another bordering country.

Regarding the latter, I was pleased to note that our future president, Alexander Stubb, understood Donald Trump to be "essentially right" in suggesting that Europe needs to take more responsibility for its own security. While Finland's defense capability is in order, Russia's brutal aggressiveness ultimately cannot be restrained without significant support either from the United States or through a much greater investment in military capability by the major Western European countries - Germany, France, and the United Kingdom.

In that sense, the competition between the two elderly men in the United States for leadership of the country may ultimately awaken decision-makers on our continent and thereby enhance Europe's security. And in the best-case scenario, Biden may have to withdraw his candidacy and be replaced by a younger and hopefully capable alternative who can defeat Trump in the election and, while in office, even reduce the extreme internal division within the Western superpower.

The result could be a militarily strong Europe, supported by a security-conscious United States.

The original thought in Finnish:
Bidenin dementia ja Trumpin puheet saattavat parantaa Euroopan turvallisuutta

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Risk of dementia in the U.S. presidential elections
Military confrontation between China and USA highly probable in near future
Erdogan wants fighter jets, and uses Finland and Sweden to get them

Women full of testosterone

Sometimes it feels like the world has gone crazy. This morning, I felt that way when I noticed a headline in a Finnish afternoon newspaper stating that transgender women were dominating a volleyball game in Canada.

According to the article, there were five transgender women playing in the women's game, all of whom "are said to be playing in the women's league without having undergone any hormone treatment or gender reassignment surgery." In other words, in Canadian women's volleyball, there are men with testosterone playing with all their male anatomy.

These men also have strength. So much so that their spikes cause concussions and other health damages when they hit the heads of the opposing women.

* * *

I have nothing against people's diversity. Everyone can be in a free country - such as Canada or Finland - exactly as they wish. Even if that means a man dressed as a woman or a transgender woman who has undergone hormone therapy and gender reassignment surgery.

This freedom extends exactly so far as not to cause undue harm to others. In women's sports, this means that men dressed as women or even trans women who have undergone testosterone-boosting treatments during adolescence should not be allowed to compete.

World sports leaders should take this matter seriously. If not for the sake of women's equality - which is violated by individuals who compete against them with the strength of male muscles - then at least for the sake of the interest in their sports, and thus their viability.

It's clear that volleyball players like those I described in the beginning wouldn't inspire girls to take up the sport, nor would they inspire spectators to watch. And I doubt that such competitions, at least in the case of women's sports, would even draw an audience.

But of course, national and international sports organizations make their own decisions. Both in Finland and Canada. And also at the international level.

The original though in Finnish:
Testosteronia pullistelevat naiset

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
"Woke" pushes American science academies to favor women in their membership selections
Discrimination against women?
The activists sought excitement and a boost to their self-esteem in the Stockholm Diamond League

The area of Arctic sea ice was exceptionally large in January

According to climate models, the world is warming frighteningly fast. And even faster in the Arctic sea ice area, which, according to a fairly recent study, entered a state in 2007 from which its surface area cannot recover through normal climate variability.

Recently, it has also been reported that the temperature of the Earth's oceans during the past El Niño year has been the highest in recorded history. As well as the average global climate temperature.

Based on these premises, one could assume that the current January area of Arctic sea ice would be exceptionally small, and its maximum size this winter would be smaller than ever before in recorded history. Or actually, this assumption could be considered a hypothesis derived from the prevailing climate theory nowadays.

So, I went to check the statistics maintained by the National Snow & Ice Data Center on January sea ice areas. Looking at this data series that started in 1979, I was amazed and decided to list the information it contains in the table below.

From the table, it can be seen that the January sea ice area in the Arctic was the 21st largest in its 46-year (the table only includes 45 years due to missing data for the year 1988) observational history. This is clearly larger than the median value of the dataset. Additionally, we notice that the situation was very similar two years ago in 2022, when the ice extent was even larger than this past January.

Therefore, it is interesting to follow how the northern sea ice will develop by the end of this year's autumn. By then, its area should reach its minimum size and perhaps even melt to a smaller area than in 2012, when it was historically at its lowest. 

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Does Arctic sea ice melt as atmospheric greenhouse gases increase?

The increase in carbon dioxide concentration warms more than anticipated
The record-breaking warming of the oceans is not visible in the Arctic

Risk of dementia in the U.S. presidential elections

In Finland and the USA, presidential elections are taking place. We have two middle-aged men facing each other, both in good health, with no significant decline in mental and physical condition expected in the upcoming term. In this sense, things in Finland are quite exemplary.

It's a different story in the world's leading superpower. The Democratic candidate and the incumbent president, Joe Biden, was born in the midst of World War II in 1942, making him 82 this year and, if he were to serve another term, he would be 86 at its end. At times, there have been signs of both mental and physical deterioration in him.

Biden's likely opponent in the presidential election is the former president of the USA, Republican Donald Trump. He is slightly younger than Biden, also an older man. Thus, it is clear that the onset of old age symptoms is likely for him during a potential upcoming presidential term.

If the scenario unfolds in the U.S. elections where these two candidates are pitted against each other, there is a significant risk that the grip of the world's leading superpower on realpolitik weakens. In the worst-case scenario, power transfers to the vice president, but a president turning senile may hold onto power for an extended period.

This, in turn, implies that undemocratic forces gain more weight in global politics. This is especially true for the strongest among them, China, but Russia will undoubtedly seek to exploit such a situation as well, potentially even militarily.

Therefore, it would be excellent if Americans across party lines understood that their country needs a younger leader, one likely to remain functional throughout his term. This is particularly crucial now, as European leaders believed that world history ended with the dissolution of the Soviet Union and allowed their crisis response capabilities to deteriorate – capabilities they certainly won't be able to fix over the next four years.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Military confrontation between China and USA highly probable in near future
Will China ally with Russia against Ukraine?
Leaders infected by a parasite

Competence of the political left

Finland is in a process to choose a new president for itself. The contenders are Alexander Stubb (National Coalition Party) and Pekka Haavisto (Greens). 

Therefore, I thought of writing about the general competence of the political left, using the example of the Red Vihti in 1918. As a source for my writing, I will be referring to Seppo Myllyniemi's work "Vihdin historia 1800-1918," which is available for potential fact-checkers from various antiquarian bookstores.

* * *

Vihti is a medium-sized municipality located in Uusimaa, where, before the Red Rebellion, around 10,000 people lived, of whom over three-quarters supported the Social Democratic Party of Finland. This refers to the overall entity that initiated the rebellion, whose descendants include today's Social Democratic Party and the Left Alliance, as well as the Greens to the extent that the party was founded in the 1970s by former communists.

In fact, the Greens have also shifted increasingly to the left over the years, becoming more and more a typical socialist party, aiming to strengthen central authority at the expense of the ordinary person's economic and ideological freedom. Therefore, it is clear that in the ongoing election, Pekka Haavisto can be considered a political heir of Vihti's Red Guards.

* * *

Vihti's Red Guards took control of the municipality's administration on January 28, 1918, by intervening in a meeting of the investigative committee handling tax complaints. They instructed the committee to recalculate the tax decisions based on the red municipal tax law published in the People's Delegation's newspaper. However, the outcome did not satisfy the workers because the calculation method used would have resulted in an increase in their taxes.

To rectify the situation, workers were then granted a substantial one-third deduction from their incomes, and new taxes were calculated. However, this revised outcome was not acceptable to dwellers of rented farms, as their taxes would have increased in relation to bourgeois Finnish tax laws.

Afterward, there was one more attempt to find a model that would be acceptable to everyone, but such a model couldn't be constructed. Consequently, the new leadership of Red Vihti eventually decided it was best to revert to the old model, namely the taxation system of White Finland, which was then implemented.

* * *

Red Guard of Vihti varied in size during the rebellion, ranging between four and six hundred men. Thus, it was relatively strong compared to its surroundings.

This strength provided the Red residents of Vihti with the opportunity to conduct raids into neighboring municipalities. They did not pass up this opportunity; the Red Guards not only operated in their own municipality but also imposed levies on the inhabitants of outlying areas in neighboring municipalities. They showed little concern for whether the seized food would be of use to the local revolutionaries.

The military strength of Vihti's Red Guards was well-known in neighboring municipalities, preventing similar raids from being carried out in their direction. Thus, the socialist principle of might makes right was realized even in Red Finland.

* * *

Actual terrorism can, of course, be discussed in connection with the bloodshed committed against known right-wing individuals in the territory of the Reds. Already at the end of January, a steward was shot in Olkkala Manor, and a person with a master´s degree in Kourla Manor. Additionally, over a dozen young men heading north were killed because they were suspected of joining the White forces.

Prisoners were also taken and subjected to abuse. When the "Flying Squad" of the Red Guard arrived from Hyvinkää, prisoners were shot, including a local police. In total, eighteen civilians were killed in a short period in Vihti.

However, the acts of bloodshed did not end there. In February, one farmer and one technician were murdered. After a brief pause in the killings, more murders occurred in April, as the looming defeat approached. The victims included the son of the parish priest, a railway clerk, the chairman of the food board, and a farmer.

Interestingly, in addition to their raids, the Reds of Vihti extended their acts of violence beyond their own municipality, also committing murders. They went as far as taking the lives of some residents of their own municipality who lived elsewhere.

* * *

The above has revealed that the Vihti Red Guard was not only a terrorist organization but also a significant power factor in its own territory. One might imagine that it would have posed a formidable challenge to the White Guard led by Jägers (Finnish soldiers trained in Germany).

The Guard, a battalion consisting of four companies, was sent for this purpose via Tampere to Kuhmalahti - approximately 160 km towards north - where it fought for a couple of weeks and eventually came close to being encircled. As a result, the Guard withdrew to Hämeenlinna, from where it was ordered to return to the front.

However, this did not happen. Instead, the group devised a creative solution and hijacked a train, speeding back to their home region. This, of course, did not sit well with the Red Headquarters, which ordered the Vihti Red Guard to send its forces back.

The order was immediately attempted to be carried out, but it became apparent that hardly any of the former Red warriors were willing to fight anymore. Thus, the Vihti rebel leaders had no other option but to gather a new guard. Once ready, they sent it to the front in Vesilahti - also around 150 km towards north - where fighting resumed for a few weeks.

However, the fighting ceased when the Vihti rebels learned that the Germans were advancing from Hanko towards their home municipality. At that point, despite orders, the guardsmen set out for home once again.

There, they had to defend themselves against the Germans in well-prepared positions built in southern part of the municipality and succeeded in achieving victory. Or at least, after a brief battle, the Germans decided to bypass the entirety of Vihti, instead capturing Helsinki and advancing through there towards Hyvinkää, intending to challenge the main forces of the Reds from there.

At that point, the Red Guard was once again ordered to the front outside its home municipality, specifically to Riihimäki, just 50 km away. The group was mobilized, but after advancing only about ten kilometers in the neighboring municipality of Pusula, they decided to return home and lay down their arms.

This did not spare the Vihti residents from the white terror that followed the war. Over two hundred Reds from the area were unlawfully executed in field courts-martial, placing Vihti among the ten largest execution sites in the entire country.

Moreover, the lives of nearly fifty Vihti residents, one of whom was a woman, were lost in legal internment camps. Consequently, the rebels of the municipality ultimately paid an exceptionally high price for their revolutionary attempt.

* * *

The small piece of local history above, in my opinion, is a highly interesting and instructive tale. The fervor for the Red ideology led people to seize power, but the new socialist authority immediately proved incapable of planning rational governance. It swiftly became corrupted, transforming from a herald of egalitarian humanity into an unscrupulous band of robbers that looted from its own ideological comrades and killed the innocent. In the end, it didn't even want to defend its "achievements."

All of this aligns perfectly with everything we have seen worldwide in states where Red power has gained a dominant position. Examples are easy to list, from the Soviet Union to Nicaragua, Cambodia to Venezuela.

Therefore, this story was worth publishing now as we Finns prepare to choose a new leader for our country and the top decision-maker in foreign policy for the next six years. The options, as I mentioned at the beginning, include a successor of the Vihti Red Guards and another candidate.

This blogpost is a slightly modified version of an earlier thought in Finnish:
Presidentinvaalit ja punainen hallinto

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Is the Finnish left-wing radicalizing?
Finnish women have enjoyed a privileged position since medieval times
History of Finland XII: Bloody civil war

United Nations, corruption and terrorism

In Finland, a new president will be elected tomorrow, Sunday. One of the candidates, Sari Essayah of the Christian Democrats, stated in the final election debate that UN organizations are corrupt.

This statement shouldn't have caused much attention, as the corruption within the UN is considered a public secret – known to anyone who follows international affairs even remotely. However, addressing it more forcefully would lead to a crisis for the entire organization, so it is allowed to persist.

The presidential candidate's perspective emerged in the context of discussing development cooperation through the UN and the influence it provides in the third world. Finland is reducing the financial flows it contributes to this, which has sparked opposition, especially among those whose income and lifestyle depend on this activity.

In this regard, it was unpleasant to discover that deep-seated corruption is not the UN's only significant problem. This realization comes as it has been revealed that some of the organization's employees have even participated in terrorist activities and subsequently been dismissed from their positions.

I am referring, of course, to the news that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is horrified by the accusations, and there is now an urgent and comprehensive independent audit of UNRWA to verify its credibility. Having followed the actions of the UN for decades, I am not surprised by this development, and I have no doubt about the validity of the accusations.

However, it is good that the issue has now come to light, as it provides hope for change within the organization. Such change, though, requires the major funding states – namely the USA and other Western countries – to act decisively in this matter. If this happens, there may be renewed hope that the UN will one day become a useful organization.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Christmas gift to the Holy Land
Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto aligned Indonesia on the wrong side of world history
Most useless organisations of our time

Violent demographic changes in Denmark

People are well aware that after Europeans discovered America, they displaced indigenous populations, especially in North America, within a few centuries. A similar development was seen in Australia and New Zealand.

These facts are sometimes referenced in discussions about the migration of people from developing countries to Europe, with claims that it will alter the entire demographic structure of the region.

On the other hand, this view is vehemently denied, especially within political leftist circles, and dismissed as a product of imagination. However, the fact remains that, for instance, in Sweden, the number of people arriving from developing countries has grown to such an extent that the government faces challenges in maintaining order in many residential areas.

In connection with this, it was interesting to read a study that investigated prehistoric changes in the population structure of Denmark. The study describes a genetic analysis conducted on ancient human remains spanning 7 300 years, including the Mesolithic, Neolithic, and Early Bronze Age.

The researchers used shotgun-sequenced genomes from 100 skeletons and integrated the genetic data with information on diet, mobility, and vegetation cover. As a result, they showed that Mesolithic individuals in Denmark formed a distinct genetic cluster related to other Western European hunter-gatherers and exhibited genetic homogeneity from around 10 500 to 5 900 years ago.

The arrival of Neolithic farmers with Anatolian-derived ancestry occurred around 5 900 years ago, causing a significant population turnover. This transition was abrupt, with limited genetic contribution from local hunter-gatherers, and therefore probably violent.

The Neolithic population associated with the Funnel Beaker culture persisted for approximately 1 000 years until immigrants with eastern Steppe-derived ancestry arrived, causing another rapid population replacement. This gave rise to the Single Grave culture, whose ancestry profile was more similar to present-day Danes.

Therefore, it is clear that population replacements in North America, Australia, or New Zealand are not unique in history. Rather, it seems that the influx of people to a particular region easily leads to the destruction of entire population groups. Hence, this alternative should not be dismissed with a mere shrug but rather taken into account when planning and implementing European immigration policies.

Previous thoughts on the same topic: Finnish women have enjoyed a privileged position since medieval times Attitudes towards immigrants are not becoming more positive in Western countries People with Middle Eastern and North African inheritance identify themselves as non-Whites