Why Finnish Youth Are Abandoning the Green Party

As my esteemed readers know, Europe is undergoing a major shift as the once-fashionable value-liberal trend is coming to an end. The clearest sign of this development occurred across the Atlantic, where power shifted from the Democrats to Donald Trump’s Republicans.

In Finland, this change has been reflected in the declining support for the Green movement in recent years. Since its inception, the party has been particularly popular among the youth, which has made it difficult for its support to fully materialize in elections. Nevertheless, just six years ago, it managed to secure 11.5% of the vote in the parliamentary elections—about two percentage points less than what opinion polls had predicted.

Less than a month ago, polls indicated that the party's support was hovering just below 10%, marking a roughly 25% drop compared to six years ago. Even more intriguing, however, was the so-called "youth election," in which those not yet eligible to vote could choose their preferred party.

Contrary to everyone’s expectations, the Green party did not perform well; instead, its support remained at a modest 10.5%. In other words, the party is no longer more popular among young people than among the general population.

The phenomenon likely stems from Finnish youths’ concerns about their future. They see and experience firsthand that the Finnish education system no longer functions as it once did. Furthermore, the rapid accumulation of state and municipal debt—exacerbated by the previous red-green government—as well as the public sector’s increasing entanglement in identity politics, do nothing to advance Finland’s economy or secure a better future for young people.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Why Does the Political Green-Left Lie, and Why Does It Resonate with the People?
A Major Victory for the Freedom Party in Austria's Regional Elections
The Green Movement is Withering – And That’s Not a Bad Thing

Economic Decline Awaits Americans as Trump Imposes Tariffs

Economists are quite unanimous in their view that tariffs hinder economic growth and overall welfare. They also agree that free trade and the removal of trade barriers boost economic growth.

These views stem from the fact that free trade lowers the prices of goods and services for both producers and consumers. Moreover, tariffs partly translate into higher prices, which negatively affect importers, exporters, and consumers alike.

This holds true even when tariffs are intended to protect a specific industry, as they inevitably increase production input costs and trigger retaliatory tariffs. Import tariffs can also harm domestic exporters by disrupting supply chains and raising their input costs.

In the long run, an even more harmful effect of tariffs is that they reduce competition between companies. As a result, businesses operating in tariff-protected markets become inefficient and less innovative, ultimately leading to difficulties—especially if the tariff barriers are later removed.

All of this seems to be entirely unknown to U.S. President Donald Trump, who is set to announce import tariffs on "all" trade partners today. This is despite the fact that the tariffs he imposed during his first term had a negative impact on American employment, as noted by Jyrki Ali-Yrkkö, Director of the Research Institute of the Finnish Economy.

Unfortunately, potential U.S. tariffs would have equally negative effects on America's trade partners. As a result, it won’t be just Americans who "enjoy" economic decline, but almost all nations across the world.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
The Real Problem with American Cars: Poor Market Fit
Finland and the USA: Strong Allies with Shared Interests or a Trade Dispute?
Trump’s Tariff Weapon Worked, but Will Finland’s Development Aid Strategy Succeed?

Xi Jinping and Donald Trump Agree on Cooperation to Bring Peace to Ukraine

According to newly released information, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced last night (Finnish time) that he will assist Donald Trump in bringing peace to Ukraine. The agreement was reached yesterday in Mar-a-Lago, Florida.

In practice, the agreement means providing military aid to the forces fighting in Ukraine to suppress the resistance of the persistently defiant enemy. The primary objective of the Chinese troops is to liberate Kursk and then proceed to the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

To achieve this, Xi stated that he will send a well-equipped one-million-man contingent from the People's Liberation Army to Ukraine. The troops will be transported from Asia to Europe via continuous, non-stop rail convoys along the Trans-Siberian Railway, which will significantly disrupt Russia's domestic transportation for an extended period.

President Xi mentioned in Mar-a-Lago that he expects the first Chinese troops to reach the front within a week, at which point they will immediately commence the Kursk operation. From there, the Chinese army will advance into Ukraine, continuously reinforcing its ranks with the support of North Korean and Russian allies.

The ultimate goal is to replace the government led by Zelensky with a "peace administration," with which Putin can proceed with the arrangements necessary to incorporate Ukraine into Russia. As a token of gratitude for their assistance, the Chinese will be granted a 100-year exclusive right to the natural resources of southeastern Siberia, ensuring their self-sufficiency in raw materials for the foreseeable future.

At the press conference announcing this news, the U.S. president beamed like the sun as he declared that the agreement guarantees the achievement of peace. Additionally, he announced that he would soon travel to Norway to meet the king.

With this news, I wish you all, my esteemed readers, a delightful start to April!

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Anecdotes and Jokes About Vladimir Putin
Did You Know That 1952 Was a Turning Point in World Eras?
5.5 billion loan to establish an alcoholism foundation

Racial Bias in U.S. Traffic Policing

U.S. police issue traffic fines to racial or ethnic minority drivers more often than to white drivers. However, this does not necessarily mean that police officers are racist, as the disparity could also result from actual differences in driving speeds between demographic groups.

To investigate this issue, Pradhi Aggarwal and his colleagues objectively analyzed drivers' locations, speeds, and speed limits but found no significant differences in speeding behavior or traffic violations. Moreover, they discovered that when both white and minority drivers drove at identical speeds, police were still 33% more likely to issue speeding citations to minority drivers and imposed fines that were 34% higher.

In other words, U.S. police are not neutral regarding the country’s racial and ethnic groups but treat minorities more harshly than white drivers. Naturally, this is an issue that American law enforcement should address as soon as possible.

However, the researchers also noted that their study participants were not a random sample of the entire population but rather better-trained drivers working for a specific rideshare service. Thus, the possibility remains that minority drivers might, on average, follow traffic laws less strictly than white drivers, which could lead police to have a more negative attitude toward them.

This, in turn, might explain why minorities are more easily stopped and fined more harshly. However, this explanation remains—at least for now—pure speculation. Therefore, at this stage, scientific evidence supports the conclusion that traffic law enforcement exhibits racial bias. And this conclusion will not change unless further research specifically addresses the question.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Attitudes towards immigrants are not becoming more positive in Western countries
Racism or self-preservation instinct?
People with Middle Eastern and North African inheritance identify themselves as non-Whites

Millions Defy Erdoğan – The Battle for Atatürk's Legacy Continues

According to the Turkish opposition, up to 2.2 million people gathered in Istanbul on Saturday to protest against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his dictatorial actions. Meanwhile, the government has banned demonstrations and arrested thousands of protesters.

What is essential here is that Turkey still has millions of people who are willing to put their own future at risk to defend the legacy of the country’s first president, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk—namely, the modernization and democratization of the nation.

Erdoğan, on the other hand, has undermined this legacy by leaning on Islamist forces, which have helped him secure an almost dictatorial position. At the same time, Turkey has gradually drifted toward its ideological past, falling into instability after a long period of economic growth. 

It remains to be seen whether Erdoğan’s administration will collapse and, if it does, whether its successor will restore Turkey to the path laid out by Atatürk. If that happens, Turkey may regain a leading position among Islamic countries and set an example for a better future.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
The Need for Asylum Among Syrians Disappeared with the Regime Change
The Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs apologized to the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs for the words of the woman who criticized the man who exposed his penis
What seemed to be impossible just two years ago is going to happen in very near future

Understanding of Facts is Increasing in the Middle East

A couple of days ago, I wrote about how some Palestinians in Gaza have begun to realize that their problem is not Israel but Hamas. This lesson comes from the fact that Israel has started responding with a heavy hand to every rocket attack directed at it.

Today's news, in turn, reported that two rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israel. One was shot down, and the other fell on the Lebanese side.

Despite the minimal damage, Israel retaliated by striking the Dahieh suburb of Beirut. After that, Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that "if there is no quiet in Kiryat Shmona and the Galilean communities, there will be no quiet in Beirut either."

According to him, "the Lebanese government is directly responsible for all fire directed at Galilee." Lebanon’s Prime Minister, Nawaf Salam, seemed to understand this and immediately announced that the Lebanese armed forces would identify and promptly arrest those who had fired the rockets.

Hopefully, this means that the Lebanese are also beginning to realize that their problem is not Israel but the Islamists residing in their country, who seek to terrorize the Jewish state time and time again.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
In Finland, the Enemy Is Clear – and Now the Truth Is Emerging for the Palestinians Too
Western Countries Have Neither a Reason Nor a Need to Accept Asylum Seekers from Syria or Gaza
Iranian Missile Attack was Followed by Humorous Flowers

Finnish Branch of Extinction Rebellion Faces Possible Ban

Finnish Member of Parliament Kaisa Garedew (Finns Party) considers the citizens' initiative to ban Elokapina a very welcome proposal. She justified her view by stating that Elokapina - the Finnish branch of Extinction Rebellion - has caused all kinds of difficulties and costs to society in recent years: blocking Helsinki's main street, defacing the valuable pillars of the Parliament House, engaging in civil disobedience, and wasting the resources of the judiciary and the police. Additionally, a member of the movement has publicly fantasized about assassinating Minister of Finance Riikka Purra (Finns Party).

Last October, the National Police Board announced that it was considering filing a lawsuit to dissolve Elokapina and was currently gathering evidence for the case. Thus, the citizens' initiative can also be seen as supporting police actions.

MP Garedew also pointed out—at the very least, justifiably—that "if Elokapina were truly more interested in the environment than in spectacles involving illegal actions, it would leave innocent Finns alone and focus its efforts on countries that genuinely destroy nature and whose pollution levels are a real problem."

It remains to be seen whether Elokapina's activities will be banned in Finland. Nevertheless, I am glad that the operations of activist organizations that function by destroying private and public property and disrupting people's lives are now being questioned. Such organizations are unnecessary in a country with a functioning democracy, where all people already have freedom of speech and the right to peaceful protest.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Criminal Attack Against Finnish Democracy
Why Were Violent Protests Acceptable for George Floyd but Not for the UK Child Murders?
Challenges of democracy: Reflections on political violence and rhetoric in Finnish politics

In Finland, the Enemy Is Clear – and Now the Truth Is Emerging for the Palestinians Too

The Finnish government is proposing an extension to the so-called "pushback law." This law, which closes the border between Finland and Russia, came into effect last July with an almost unanimous decision in Parliament. Extending it once again requires a clear majority in Parliament.

That appears to be happening, as the parties still hold the same positions they did during the original vote that enacted the law. Only the Greens and the Left Alliance oppose the proposal, while the rest understand that Putin must not be given the opportunity to continue his hybrid warfare, which instrumentalizes migrants.

Meanwhile, the Social Democrats—also in opposition—have stated that "ensuring border security is just as relevant as it was a year ago," and they intend to support the government. The Centre Party, also in opposition, will do the same.

It seems that Finland’s eastern border will remain closed until Russia provides credible proof that it will no longer use asylum seekers against Finland. For everyone's sake, it would be best if this happened as soon as possible—the ball is now in Vladimir Putin’s court.

* * *

News has also emerged from the Holy Land. Frustration among Gaza’s residents appears to have reached new heights after Israel resumed bombings a week ago, following a two-month ceasefire.

As a result, Palestinians in Gaza staged a protest on Tuesday against Hamas, which governs the territory. The demonstrators called Hamas members terrorists and demanded an end to the war against Israel.

It appears that many Palestinians have come to realize that their biggest problem is not Israel but Hamas, which continues to wage endless terrorism. However, it remains to be seen whether the protests will grow large enough to force Hamas to surrender, release the hostages, and agree to lay down its arms permanently.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
The Complete Demilitarization of Gaza: What Would It Mean for the Palestinians?
Time for Hamas to Accept the Facts
Defending National Security: Finland's Response to Hybrid Warfare

Supercell’s Ban: The Sanction That Hit Russians the Hardest

During the war in Ukraine, there has been much discussion within the EU about boycotts directed against Russia. Unfortunately, the measures taken have not led to the paralysis of the aggressor or to citizen protests capable of toppling the government.

However, today, it was revealed which EU action has hit Russians the hardest. The chairman of the Russian Esports Federation, Dmitry Smith, stated that the "biggest blow of all" came from an announcement by Supercell, the company known for its numerous hit games.

According to him, competitions in the game Clash Royale had been organized in Russia for several years. However, after the invasion of Ukraine, Supercell banned Russians from using their game.

The company had also immediately condemned Russia’s invasion in the spring of 2022. Additionally, it removed its games from Russian and Belarusian app stores and, in the spring of 2023, blocked Russian and Belarusian players from accessing its games.

As a result of Supercell’s ban, the representatives of Russian players have launched assessment processes, as, according to the Russian constitution, every athlete "has the right to engage in sports that should be publicly available." They have also held discussions with the Duma (Russian parliament) and the relevant committee, which believe that major esports titles should be publicly accessible rather than entirely under corporate control.

Nevertheless, Supercell has reaffirmed that the restrictions on Russians and Belarusians remain in place as long as the war continues. One can only hope that this gaming ban will eventually lead to such an uprising among game-hungry Russians that Putin’s administration will be forced to withdraw from Ukraine to appease them.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
A Finnish Deputy Mayor Wanted to Ban an Old Board Game from Children
Anecdotes and Jokes About Vladimir Putin
Which one should be excluded from the Olympics?

Russia’s Economy Set to Slow, Says Bank of Finland

The Bank of Finland has predicted that Russia's economic growth will slow from last year's four percent to about two percent this year and then further decline to around one percent.

However, Russia's economy is not currently undergoing a crisis, but there are extremely high risks associated with its development as long as the country continues its war of aggression against Ukraine.

Russia's economic growth has been based on pumping money into the market—that is, increasing government spending and expanding military-industrial production. However, this approach is reaching its limits, as labor shortages are emerging, prices are rising rapidly, and sanctions are hampering Russia's foreign trade. Additionally, the country's production capacity is nearing full utilization, making further expansion difficult.

Russia's public finances are also in deficit, and inflation has accelerated to the point where consumer prices had already risen by ten percent at the beginning of this year compared to the previous year. However, it remains to be seen how the Russian people—who have historically been accustomed to hardship—will react to this.

From the perspective of world peace, it would of course be beneficial if they became frustrated with their government and ultimately brought it down. However, Vladimir Putin is a dictator who does not shy away from violence, making this scenario unfortunately unlikely.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
The Price of Xi´s and Putin's Game Is Paid by Ordinary Russians
Europe Needs More Money—and More Will—to Defend Itself
Russia to Triple Its Military Presence on Finland’s Border

Keir Starmer’s Message to Ireland, Spain, and Portugal: This Is About All of Europe

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, warned Europeans that Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, aims to disarm Ukraine in peace negotiations. If that were to happen, it would be significantly easier for Russia to launch a new attack on Ukraine and bring it under its control.

For this reason, he wants both Britain and the rest of Europe to act swiftly to ensure there is a counterforce against Russia, should a Trump-led USA concede to Putin’s demands. On this matter, Starmer is not only right but also highlighting an essential condition for all of Europe and its citizens to breathe freely once again.

Therefore, Europeans—including the Irish, Spanish, and Portuguese—must understand that this is not just an issue for Russia’s border states but a matter of the future of free Europe as a whole. That is why even the westernmost nations of the continent must participate in assembling military power against Russia, just as others do—because only in this way can Putin’s imperialist dreams be crushed.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Anyone Who Hired Steve Witkoff Should Be Fired for Incompetence
Ukraine's Struggle Is Also Our Struggle
Putin's Threat Bolsters European Border States' Defense Against Russia

Anyone Who Hired Steve Witkoff Should Be Fired for Incompetence

What should one think about the fact that Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, couldn't remember in Tucker Carlson's podcast episode which regions Russia has occupied from Ukraine? And that he claimed the residents of the occupied areas want to be part of Russia.

And I'm not talking about Steve Witkoff—an idiot is an idiot—but rather the person who recruited him for the job. The one who entrusted him with a task that will impact global security for years to come.

That being said, if I had hired someone as intelligent and knowledgeable as Witkoff apparently is, I would have been fired by my employer long ago. Unfortunately, it seems that those in leadership positions in the United States are not held to the same level of accountability for their actions.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Trump's Indecision Benefits Putin – Deadly Consequences for Ukraine
Donald Trump’s Reliability as an Ally Has Proven to Be Questionable
Donald Trump Has Unleashed a Dangerous Development

The Increasing Criminality Among Swedish Students Stems from Their Values

Sweden has for decades been a "superpower in humanitarian immigration", which has significantly altered its demographic structure. At the same time, the country's security situation has deteriorated year by year, and there are fears that criminal immigrant gangs will spread to Finland – a concern that the Swedish police have also warned their neighbors, including us Finns, about.

Against this background, it was interesting to note that the Swedish government is planning a law that would allow schools to search students' bags if they are suspected of carrying a weapon. Additionally, Swedes are prepared to invest approximately 27 million euros in school security and locking systems, as well as other similar safety measures.

Furthermore, the government is planning to impose an obligation on schools to report suspicious incidents and threats to the police. This would prevent the tendency to overlook or downplay unpleasant issues that have taken root in society.

Even more striking was the finding in a report published by the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (Brå) at the end of 2024. According to the report, 38.7% of ninth-grade boys and 23.3% of girls consider it completely or fairly acceptable to hit someone who has said something offensive. Moreover, as many as half of ninth-grade students—approximately fifteen-year-olds—have, according to their own reports, committed a crime within the past 12 months. The proportion is the same for both boys and girls.

As a consequence of these attitudes, violence has increased by more than 150% over the most recent measured ten-year period (2013–2023). According to criminology professor Olof Wikström, these crimes are not committed "despite knowing that they are wrong, but rather because they perceive them as right from the perspective of their own values and morals."

These facts should be acknowledged across the entire European Union. At the same time, it is essential to understand that Sweden serves as a cautionary example of failed policies, and its experiences should be heeded throughout the Union.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Sweden is Soon Set to Surpass the One Million Mark for Illiterate People
Sweden's Rapid Demographic Shift Causes Challenges
100 percent of the violence is related to migration

Western Countries Have Neither a Reason Nor a Need to Accept Asylum Seekers from Syria or Gaza

After the Syrian revolution, many believed that a new and better era was dawning for the country. This was despite the fact that the HTS alliance, which came to power in December, has an Islamist background.

However, the persecution of Syria’s minorities recently made headlines, after which President Ahmed al-Sharaa promised to end the violence and arbitrary executions. Now, however, it has emerged that Alawites who fled to Lebanon have a different view.

According to one of them, “Bashar al-Assad is a murderer, but al-Sharaa is even worse. Words cannot describe the horrors.” 

A Christian, on the other hand, claimed that government forces had shot his father. According to him, “The troops entered our house, and my father was the only one home. Otherwise, we would all be dead.”

At this stage, it is difficult to assess the accuracy of these accounts, as there is no precise information available on the violence that has occurred. Allegations suggest that, in response to uprisings against the new government’s fighters, Islamists have retaliated ISIS-style with arbitrary executions and by kidnapping women as sex slaves.

If this has indeed happened, it is, of course, an extremely serious matter. On the other hand, it is clear that people who have fled Syria are not necessarily reliable sources.

Therefore, it would be important for the intelligence agencies of other countries to obtain more reliable information about what is currently happening in Syria. And if the allegations of crimes described above are confirmed—or especially if they appear to be becoming the new norm—the rest of the world must take action.

Or alternatively, acknowledge the situation and let people live in the reality of their own society without even trying to change it. While at the same time declaring that all cultures are equally good. And to understand that for this very reason, Western countries have neither a reason nor a need to accept asylum seekers from Syria.

* * *

Israel attacked Gaza again some time ago, stating that the reason was that Hamas had been preparing attacks on Israeli territory. This justification became very clear today, when Hamas' military wing announced that it had fired rockets into Israel.

One of the rockets was intercepted, and two fell in uninhabited areas within Israel. The almost certain consequence of this will be an Israeli counterstrike, which will cause even greater suffering for the people of Gaza, who are already experiencing hard times.

Also in this case, Western people should acknowledge that all cultures are equally good. And understand that therefore they have no reason to accept even a single Palestinian asylum seeker.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Uncertain Horizons: Syria's Post-Assad Era
The Need for Asylum Among Syrians Disappeared with the Regime Change
On the Consequences of Russian Inability in Syria

Ukraine's Struggle Is Also Our Struggle

As I write this, President Volodymyr Zelenskyi is having a phone conversation with the U.S.'s Donald Trump. Hopefully, the two men will this time find common ground on how to achieve a just peace in Ukraine—one that does not encourage Vladimir Putin, who mocked Trump yesterday, to continue his military campaigns in Ukraine or elsewhere in Europe.

With this in mind, it was promising to hear from Finland's President Alexander Stubb that the situation on the Ukrainian front is much stronger than one might assume from the news flow. At the same time, he stated that he trusts Zelenskyi more than Putin.

Zelenskyi also just announced on social media that: "We are grateful that the voice of Finnish parliamentarians in support of Ukraine within the European institutions and in the international arena is pro-Ukrainian and loud." This was nice to hear, as the vast majority of Finns, due to our own history, can relate to the situation of the Ukrainian people—and understand that Ukraine's struggle is also our struggle as Finns.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Putin's Threat Bolsters European Border States' Defense Against Russia
Questionable Achievements of Donald Trump's Foreign Policy
Finnish weapons are being tested against the Russians in Ukraine

Putin's Threat Bolsters European Border States' Defense Against Russia

The defense ministers of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland have recommended in a joint statement to withdraw from the Ottawa Treaty, which bans anti-personnel mines. The reason cited is the increasing security threat posed by Russia.

Finland is also expected to join this group soon, as discussions have been ongoing about reintroducing anti-personnel mines. According to Jukka Kopra (National Coalition Party), chairman of the Defense Committee, Finland could withdraw from the Ottawa Treaty within the next few months.

This would enable the eastern border states of Russia, from Lapland to the Belarusian border, to defend themselves better against potential Russian aggression. And considering Belarus as a puppet state of Russia, this extends further down to Ukraine’s border.

Finland and Poland, in particular, have strong and well-equipped armies, which are undoubtedly capable of independent defense long enough for other NATO countries to come to their aid. If necessary, they can also help counter an attack against the Baltic states.

Since this text may be read in Putin’s dictatorship, it is important to state that none of the aforementioned NATO countries—let alone NATO as a whole—are planning any military operation on Russian soil. Any claims by Putin’s administration suggesting otherwise, now or in the future, are nothing but attempts to mislead ordinary Russians, much like Stalin’s administration did in 1939–40 when it ordered its army to occupy Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and eastern Poland, as well as launch an unsuccessful invasion to occupy Finland, which resulted in approximately 350,000 casualties for the Red Army in just three months.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Finland Boosts Military Self-Sufficiency and Support for Ukraine
Are We on the Brink of World War III?
Will Finland Withdraw from the Ottawa Treaty?

Stupid and Fruitless Blustering by South Africa's Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool

The United States has ordered South Africa's ambassador to Washington, Ebrahim Rasool, to leave the country by Tuesday. This decision stems from Rasool's statement characterizing the MAGA movement supporting President Donald Trump as a product of white supremacy. According to him, the MAGA movement emerged as a response to the multiculturalization of the U.S. population.

This blustering was of course stupid and fruitless. On the other hand, if you have given with a spoon, you cannot demand with a ladle. In other words, if a person is stupid, you cannot expect him to act reasonably. 

Of course, Rasool's behavior may have been related to his religion. Muslims around the world are known for blustering about anything and everything - and suffering severe consequences, as demonstrated by the terrorist attack carried out by Hamas on October 7th 2023 and the resulting destruction of the Gaza Strip.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, being more pragmatic, has announced that the ambassador will return to his home country and expressed his desire to repair relations with the United States. After all, the U.S. is South Africa's second-largest trading partner, and losing that relationship would mean hard times, especially for the country's poor Black majority.

It remains to be seen how relations between the countries will evolve. Will good relations and trade ties be restored, or will South Africa drift into a state similar to other Sub-Saharan African nations?

In this context, it is interesting to observe the population trends of the country's white minority over the years. In short, the population decreased from 5.2 million in 1995 to 4.5 million by 2022. However, the trend has not been linear, but includes some periods of growth, although the past decade has shown a decline again. This does not bode well for the country's future.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Resisting Putin’s Foolish Dreams
South Africa: life without a culture of maintenance
Should forbidden questions be answered or not?

Hope For a Better Life Is Not an Acceptable Basis for Asylum

Nigerian Mary told Finnish media that she left Nigeria for Italy at the age of 18 in hopes of a better life. She was promised a good job, but upon arrival, she was forced into street prostitution. Behind this were Nigerian criminal organizations that profit from human trafficking.

In Italy, Mary married a Nigerian man who, according to her, was extremely violent. To escape this situation, she traveled to Finland with her two children a little over a year ago.

However, her asylum application was rejected because Mary had already been granted a residence permit based on asylum in Italy and had not disclosed in her initial application that she was a victim of human trafficking. After the rejection, Mary then revealed her story of forced prostitution.

This did not help, as a month ago, the Finnish Administrative Court decided that Mary could be deported. Following this decision, the immigration police took her and her children from the reception center and transported them to another part of Finland.

Hopefully, Mary's story reaches as many people from developing countries as possible, so they understand that coming to the EU solely in search of a "better life" is not advisable, nor is it wise to leave the country that granted asylum to seek new opportunities in another member state. Instead, in the country that granted asylum – in Mary's case, Italy – victims of crime should contact the local police, whose duty is to apprehend criminals.

Acting as Mary did will only lead to marginalization, where one is at best labeled an asylum shopper, whom no EU country wishes to accept. In Mary’s case, Italy, for some reason, made an exception, even though it is clear that the hope for a better life is not an acceptable basis for asylum.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Finland to Tighten Citizenship Requirements Further
Statistics on Sexual Crimes Committed by Immigrants in Finland
Immigration-Specific Violent Crime Increases as Humanitarian Immigration Continues

Dark Brown Ancestors

Mammals can be colorful, but generally speaking, their brilliance is somewhat more subdued than that of birds. However, fur coloration affects their behavior, physiology, and habitat.

In a recent study conducted by an international research team, the coloration of ancient mammalian ancestors that lived 252–66 million years ago was investigated, as little is known about their coloration despite their coexistence with dinosaurs. The researchers analyzed the shape of pigment-containing organelles and compared them to the fur color of 116 modern mammals.

Through this analysis, they were able to reliably deduce the fur color of six ancient mammal-like creatures. It turned out that, unlike feathered dinosaurs, the melanosome structure of these ancient mammals was quite uniform and likely dark brown. This dark coloration probably helped them blend into their nocturnal environment, as they were primarily active at night.

The study suggests that the more diverse color palette of modern mammals only emerged after the mass extinction of dinosaurs, when mammals began to rapidly evolve and diversify. This is likely due to some mammals adapting to daytime activity, as they were no longer prey for predatory dinosaurs.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Why Mothers Naturally Embrace the Challenges of Newborn Care
Shower Taking and Interfering Elephants
The Historical Merging of Human Groups

Questionable Achievements of Donald Trump's Foreign Policy

Donald Trump's foreign policy has led to questionable achievements. One of them relates to Finland: according to a survey conducted by the country's largest newspaper, nearly half of Finns do not believe that the U.S. would defend Finland in the event of a Russian attack.

This is despite the fact that Finland is a member of NATO and has a bilateral Defense Cooperation Agreement with the U.S., both of which obligate Trump to act in a real-life situation. Additionally, Finland has met NATO's requirement of allocating more than two percent of its GDP to defense spending.

Moreover, American troops have actively trained in winter warfare in Finland. For instance, during the recently concluded Arctic Forge exercise, Lieutenant Colonel Dan Ludwig, who led the American soldiers, stated that the exercise had improved his troops' Arctic combat readiness to such an extent that it would be great to continue training in Finnish Lapland in the future.

* * *

Given that NATO allies' faith in the U.S.'s adherence to agreements in a crisis situation has weakened in this manner, one can only hope that Trump's foreign policy regarding Ukraine proves effective. In other words, that the war would end with a peace that Ukrainians can genuinely accept, and that the Russians would not be left with the impression that they could gain any advantages through aggression against neighboring countries.

At this very moment, it is clear that Putin is not yielding to Trump's will. Therefore, the U.S. president should make the Russian counterpart an offer he cannot refuse.

After all, he previously made such an offer to Ukraine, which understood the situation and complied with Trump's conditions. It would be truly strange if the U.S. demanded greater submission from a friendly nation like Ukraine than from an openly hostile and imperialistic Russia.

* * *

Just a while ago, President Trump wrote on social media: "We had very good and productive discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia yesterday, and there is a very good chance that this horrible, bloody war can finally come to an end — BUT, AT THIS VERY MOMENT, THOUSANDS OF UKRAINIAN TROOPS ARE COMPLETELY SURROUNDED BY THE RUSSIAN MILITARY, AND IN A VERY BAD AND VULNERABLE POSITION. I have strongly requested to President Putin that their lives be spared. This would be a horrible massacre, one not seen since World War II. God bless them all!!!"

This does not sound very promising to me. Therefore, I regret to point out that failure in dealing with Russia would fuel suspicions that President Putin somehow possesses the means to force his American counterpart to prioritize Russia's interests in all actions. This is a message no one would want to hear — at least not outside Russia and its satellite states.

Postscript: "The White House has just announced that Trump did not speak with Putin yesterday."

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Finland's Stance on NATO Defense Spending Is Linked to the Geopolitical Threat from Russia
Now It's Putin's Turn to Show His Hand
Trump's Indecision Benefits Putin – Deadly Consequences for Ukraine

Finland's Stance on NATO Defense Spending Is Linked to the Geopolitical Threat from Russia

Finnish Minister of Finance Riikka Purra (Finns Party) suggested today that the defense spending target for the military alliance NATO will be raised to three or even 3.5 percent of the member countries' gross domestic product. Such an increase would be quite high, as many European NATO countries have not previously reached the current two percent target.

However, Finland appears to be ready for such an increase, provided that the decisions are made in a way that the allocated funds are specifically directed towards enhancing the country’s military capability and addressing threats against Finland, as well as fulfilling identified defensive needs.

In practice, the Finnish military currently has the greatest needs in the development of ground forces, so investments will initially focus on that area. This is because Finland has recently or is currently investing heavily in both naval and air forces.

However, the extent of the military threat against Finland remains unknown, as it depends on the outcome of the war in Ukraine. If the outcome is such that Russia can interpret its aggression as having achieved any form of victory, the risk to Finland increases in proportion to the certainty of Russian military achievements.

For this reason, it is not in Finland's interest to support a resolution that would, for example, limit Ukraine's sovereignty, involve territorial concessions, or restrict its military capabilities. Unfortunately, it seems that such elements are included in President Donald Trump's plan for a ceasefire and permanent peace. Even more clearly, these elements are present in the demands that Vladimir Putin has set as conditions for his involvement.

Unfortunately, at the moment, it seems that Trump does not understand — or care — about the consequences of such peace for Russia’s neighboring states. Nor do European countries, due to their previous neglect of defense, possess the military strength to offer Ukraine an alternative or to pressure Russia to withdraw from Ukraine.

Therefore, the current phase of the peace process in Ukraine appears outright threatening to both Finland and other neighboring states of Russia. On the other hand, it ensures that the citizens of these countries have a strong will to enhance and strengthen their military defense capability.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Now It's Putin's Turn to Show His Hand
Shifting U.S. Foreign Policy Sparks Concerns in Estonia
Trump's Indecision Benefits Putin – Deadly Consequences for Ukraine

Now It's Putin's Turn to Show His Hand

Ukraine accepted Donald Trump's ceasefire proposal and regained U.S. support in its fight against Russia. At the same time, Trump's attention shifts to Russia, where President Vladimir Putin may be facing a similar predicament to what Volodymyr Zelenskyy experienced earlier.

According to Putin's spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, Russia's leadership will not take a stance on the proposal until they have been in direct contact with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. The Kremlin is waiting for them to provide details of the agreement.

The Kremlin also stated that a phone call between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump is possible. According to Peskov, this call could be arranged very quickly.

According to Finnish analyst Arkady Moshes, it is more unlikely than likely that Russia will accept the ceasefire proposal. This is because if the front line is frozen now, part of Russia will remain under Ukrainian control, which Putin would not accept, as Kursk would become a daily topic of discussion.

On the other hand, the Russian army has recently performed well in Kursk, so for Ukraine, it is crucial at this moment to stabilize the front line. If successful, Putin would not— to borrow Trump's phrasing— be left holding a hand of empty cards.

Aiempia ajatuksia samasta aihepiiristä:
Trump's Indecision Benefits Putin – Deadly Consequences for Ukraine
Nuclear Debate in Sweden and Lithuania’s Treaty Withdrawal
Donald Trump’s Reliability as an Ally Has Proven to Be Questionable

A Couple of Exceptionally Important Matters

Good morning, dear readers. I have two extremely important things to share with you today.

The first important matter is an announcement. As you know, I have been writing a Finnish-language parallel blog, with content highly similar to this English-language one, although the posts have mostly been separate.

However, I have now decided that, moving forward, I will primarily write about topics related to Finland in Finnish and international topics in English. Of course, for good reason, I may still publish the same articles in both languages or, for example, write about domestic politics in English if I find it appropriate. However, as a general rule, I will follow the approach I just described.

* * *

My second important matter concerns the recently uncovered cheating by Norwegian ski jumpers. This is significant because Norway has long been both a true superpower in winter sports and a nation with an unblemished reputation. This was especially true after the Finnish cross-country team was caught using doping a couple of decades ago.

However, the recently exposed ski jumping suit fraud demonstrates that Norwegians are not inherently any cleaner than anyone else. It also reinforces my belief that their cross-country skiers used banned substances to enhance their performance in the early 2000s, just like many others did.

That being said, this does not mean that the Norwegian athletes did not deserve the flood of medals their male skiers claimed at the World Championships in Trondheim, which concluded yesterday. Nor does it diminish the achievements of Johannes Klæbo, the dominant skier of this era.

Of course, one can always speculate that the winner of the interval-start race in the classic technique would most likely have been Iivo Niskanen—had he been able to compete in the World Championships. Unfortunately for us Finns, medals at major competitions are awarded among those who participate, and in that field, Klæbo was superior to everyone else every single time. That was truly amazing!

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Preview of the Trondheim World Ski Championships
The Relationship Between the Professor and Teemu Selänne

Shifting U.S. Foreign Policy Sparks Concerns in Estonia

Changes in U.S. foreign policy have raised concerns about the future in Estonia. One indication of this is that former Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces, Martin Herem, has noted that, much like before World War II, "agreements are once again being made over our heads. In Estonia, we are like small change, as the Americans might concede to Russian demands. For instance, Russia could demand that Estonia no longer hold military exercises with more than 5,000 troops."

Additionally, he pointed out the fact that "we are unable to defend ourselves alone, which is why we have needed U.S. support. We have grown accustomed to it. But as U.S. capabilities are currently diminishing, we Europeans must take matters into our own hands."

* * *

Finnish military expert Emil Kastehelmi reinforced Herem’s perspective, noting that the Baltic states would not be able to defend themselves for long without strong external support—especially if Russia decided to exert significant military force in the region.

However, according to Kastehelmi, "small border skirmishes could likely be repelled, as long as they are merely attempts to test NATO’s eastern flank rather than a full-scale war. But if the U.S. truly withdraws from the defense of European nations more broadly, then military capabilities must be found elsewhere in the Baltics. The responsibility for defending the region would increasingly fall on European nations."

* * *

Estonians have also turned their gaze northward to Finland, which is militarily far stronger than Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The local newspaper "Postimees" even published an article discussing the possibility of Estonia and Finland forming a federation, in which defense cooperation would be a key element. The idea itself is not new, as similar discussions took place already over 80 years ago.

However, Postimees’s vision is unlikely to materialize anytime soon, as Estonia’s current military capabilities would contribute little to Finland’s defense. Instead, it would significantly increase the risk of Finland being drawn into a conflict should Russia choose to direct military aggression south of the Gulf of Finland.

Additionally, Finland's standard of living is significantly higher than that of Estonia, which only gained independence from Soviet rule 35 years ago. A federation would likely lead to a costly situation for Estonians as raising prices, while Finnish taxpayers would end up financing economic transfers to the southern part of the union. This would pose practical economic challenges for both nations.

In the longer term, however, such a federation might become feasible if both Estonians and Finns support the idea. After all, Estonia’s standard of living was slightly higher than Finland’s before World War II, and there is no reason why this situation could not be restored—provided that peace prevails. And if the federation could also provide military benefits for Finland.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Europe Needs More Money—and More Will—to Defend Itself
Elections in Georgia and Japan: The Future of Democracy on Different Paths
Estonia is Arming its Military, but Does the Nation Have the Will to Defend Itself?

Trump's Indecision Benefits Putin – Deadly Consequences for Ukraine

U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to halt the sharing of intelligence with Ukraine has helped the Russians advance on the front lines. As a result, Putin's army has killed many Ukrainian soldiers in recent days and is close to encircling the Ukrainian army in Kursk.

For the same reason, Ukraine has also lost its ability to detect Russian bombers and other military aircraft when they take off from Russia. This has given Ukraine less time to warn civilians and military personnel about the danger of airstrikes or missile attacks, leading to an increase in civilian deaths.

Probably as a result of this, Donald Trump has become indecisive—at times threatening Russia with new sanctions, while at other times complaining that negotiations with Ukraine have become more difficult. In this situation, there is only one winner: Vladimir Putin, whose army has managed to turn its previously struggling war effort around.

One can only hope that Trump regains his balance and realizes that supporting Putin and undermining the Western alliance backing Ukraine is simply foolish. He should return to the previous U.S. policy of seeking ways to help Ukraine expel the illegal invaders from its land. Even the Ukrainians are not asking for more than that—let alone the Europeans.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Donald Trump’s Reliability as an Ally Has Proven to Be Questionable
Too Many Finns Share Trump’s Inability to Comprehend
Europe Needs Leadership and Urgent Defense Actions

Nuclear Debate in Sweden and Lithuania’s Treaty Withdrawal

Donald Trump's foreign policy as the President of the United States is leading to an increase in Europe's defense capabilities. Two interesting news stories emerged on this topic yesterday.

The potentially more significant of the two was the report that Swedes are considering developing their own nuclear weapon—meaning a withdrawal from the international nuclear arms treaty. While the country's political leadership has denied such intentions, the discussion on the matter remains heated.

What adds credibility to this possibility is the fact that Sweden was developing its own nuclear weapon until the 1970s. This gives the country a significant scientific and technological advantage over many other nations. Therefore, it would not take long to produce the weapon necessary to secure peace in the Nordic region.

The other news concerned Lithuania, which today withdrew from the Convention on Cluster Munitions. As a result, Lithuania became the first country to exit the treaty, which has over a hundred signatories, and, more broadly, the first nation to withdraw from any so-called humanitarian disarmament agreement.

This, of course, is driven solely by the security threat posed by Russia, combined with uncertainty about U.S. support in the event of an attack. The same reasoning naturally applies to Sweden's nuclear debate as well.

All of this demonstrates that the grand political landscape in Europe, which had remained relatively stable since 1945, has been completely transformed by Russia’s war against Ukraine and Trump’s election. And the consequences are certainly not in line with the hopes of peace activists.

However, it remains to be seen whether, for example, France’s President Emmanuel Macron's promise of a nuclear umbrella will be enough for Sweden. A major issue with this, however, is the limited number of such weapons, meaning that the resulting destruction on enemy soil would still be relatively contained. And that could tempt a reckless dictator, in the vein of Joseph Stalin, into pursuing adventurist policies.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Finland Boosts Military Self-Sufficiency and Support for Ukraine
Will Finland Withdraw from the Ottawa Treaty?
Will Russia Test NATO's Article Five?

Non-Discrimination Ombudsman Attempted to Prohibit the Use of Statistics in Quota Refugee Selection

Finland's Non-Discrimination Ombudsman issued a statement on Thursday, stating that discriminatory guidelines were given in the preparation of the refugee quota led by Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen (Finns Party). According to the Ombudsman, the political leadership has sought to favor Christian refugees at the expense of those coming from Muslim-majority countries.

Additionally, the Ombudsman’s statement mentioned the objectives of the Finns Party and used the words "open Islamophobia." She argued that the actions of the minister and her special advisor appear consistent with those objectives.

* * *

Official guidelines for Finnish civil servants explicitly state that "since a civil servant exercises public authority in their work, they must strictly follow the law and act impartially, independently, and fairly." Furthermore, they state—again verbatim—that "a civil servant must not abuse their power."

Thus, Minister of Finance and Finns Party leader Riikka Purra did not simply shrug off the statement from the Non-Discrimination Ombudsman, which is a state authority. Instead, she acknowledged that the statement was a serious matter, as "discrimination is a criminal offense." As a result, the Minister of the Interior and her ministry will examine the statement, and the Chancellor of Justice is also expected to provide an opinion on the matter.

However, according to Purra, the decision-making process regarding the refugee quota was conducted normally. She also found it "procedurally quite unusual that the Non-Discrimination Ombudsman is reading political party programs and drawing conclusions for its official processes based on them."

Additionally, she pointed out that "just a few days ago, the Non-Discrimination Ombudsman also commented more broadly on the effects of the government's immigration policy changes, so this is not the first time."

* * *

Many other Finns Party members also weighed in on the matter. Jani Mäkelä, the leader of the party’s parliamentary group, stated that "particularly the term Islamophobia and the fact that the Ombudsman openly attacks the Finns Party as a party in the statement and analyzes our policies—this, in my opinion, is not part of the Ombudsman’s duties at all."

Party secretary Harri Vuorenpää, in turn, remarked that it is "shocking that an authority whose role is specifically to ensure equality is attacking a single political party in such an openly hostile and generalized manner. We find this to be highly inappropriate and something that only deepens divisions in society."

He also questioned why those who speak about issues related to Islam are now being labeled as Islamophobes. He continued by saying that "such methods of silencing opinions are common on social media, but surely an authority responsible for equality should restrain itself... One has to wonder why the Non-Discrimination Ombudsman interprets the Finns Party’s policies so negatively. Is the Ombudsman suffering from Finns Party-phobia?"

* * *

The political left and the Greens naturally held a completely opposite view and demanded a statement from Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (National Coalition Party). It remains to be seen what will follow—if anything at all. However, at this stage, the only certainty is that the final decision on the legality of the government's refugee quota policies will be made by the Chancellor of Justice.

As for my own stance, I firmly support selecting quota refugees in a way that ensures those coming to Finland have the best possible conditions for integrating into Western society. Accordingly, I support the government’s policy of considering Christianity as a positive criterion when selecting refugees to be admitted to Finland. 

However, my reasoning is not based—illegally—on religion itself but rather on observed differences over the years in crime statistics and employment rates between different immigrant groups in Finnish society. Ignoring these differences would simply be stupid.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Finnish, Japanese, and Dutch Adults Lead in Literacy, Numeracy, and Problem-Solving Skills
Important Changes Ahead: What You Need to Know About Finland’s Quota Refugee Selection
The Non-Discrimination Ombudsman violates the law on openness

Donald Trump’s Reliability as an Ally Has Proven to Be Questionable

According to Financial Times, the U.S. will stop providing Ukraine with intelligence support. This comes at a time when the Ukrainian Army is once again gaining the upper hand in the war against Russia. Meanwhile, Ukraine has just expressed gratitude to Trump and announced that it will sign a mineral agreement.

This strongly supports the idea that the Russian government has some means of blackmailing Trump. Whether it’s compromising erotic video material or something else—I don’t know—but either way, Trump's position as Vladimir Putin’s pocket rat seems increasingly obvious.

That’s why Ukrainians and Europeans must now, at the very latest, ask whether there is any motivation behind Trump’s actions other than attempting to influence the war in a way that allows Putin to get what he wants—ultimately leading to Ukraine losing its independence. Or at the very least, turning into a Russian puppet state like Belarus.

* * *

Many Finns would prefer that we refrain from criticizing Trump’s actions, while many others would like us to return to the era of Finlandization, when Finns did everything they could to avoid provoking the eastern superpower.

However, the Finnish government has taken a clear stance: we aim to support Ukraine in its war. The reasons for this are both the moral obligation to stand by a country that has been subjected to an illegal invasion and the fear that a Russian victory in Ukraine could lead to an attack on other neighboring states—including Finland.

Of course, Finland’s NATO membership alleviates some of this fear, as it ensures U.S. and other allies’ support in the event of an attack. But if the U.S. government is in Putin’s pocket, the situation looks entirely different. In that case, can Finland truly rely on U.S. assistance when it matters most?

In this regard, there is one crucial point that not all Finns have grasped: Russia is not actually competing with the U.S. for global dominance—China is. It may be that Trump wants to get the Ukraine issue off his hands as quickly as possible to focus on China, even if he isn’t directly controlled by Putin.

For Finland, this means that the only even somewhat reliable support against Russia will come from Europe—especially the Nordic countries—whose military capabilities, however, have been allowed to deteriorate almost completely. That is why Finland must be highly proactive in pushing for European rearmament. And fortunately, the Finnish government has recently been doing exactly that.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:

Donald Trump Has Unleashed a Dangerous Development
Too Many Finns Share Trump’s Inability to Comprehend
Europe Needs Leadership and Urgent Defense Actions

Donald Trump Has Unleashed a Dangerous Development

The Finnish Member of the European Parliament and General Pekka Toveri stated on social media that "it seems quite clear that the USA will no longer receive intelligence from the West except in a limited manner. It is not worth revealing one’s own sources to Putin’s henchman."

So, this is where we have arrived in just over a month of President Donald Trump’s presidency. There are still nearly three years and eleven months to go, so one must watch with considerable dread what will happen during that time to the unity of Western countries and their ability to resist Russian and Chinese efforts to expand their own power.

This was also noted by Swedish Lieutenant Colonel Joakim Paasikivi, who stated that "it is becoming increasingly clear that the United States cannot be trusted, and the less interest the U.S. has in supporting other countries, the more its influence diminishes... This means that we have returned to the era of imperialism, where large, powerful nations believe they can divide the world among themselves. This is a dangerous development."

It remains to be seen what will happen in global politics in the coming years. At this point, the only certainty seems to be that the world will look very different a few years from now than it did just a month ago—and certainly not for the better, even if Europe manages to unite its efforts. Not to mention what happens if the continent's leaders fail to do so.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Too Many Finns Share Trump’s Inability to Comprehend
Europe Needs Leadership and Urgent Defense Actions
Political Rhetoric Like Trump-Zelenskyi’s Has Deep Historical Roots

Too Many Finns Share Trump’s Inability to Comprehend

Today, in Germany, some idiot has once again decided to drive a car into a crowd. As a result, at least two people have died, and at least 25 others have been injured.

This case once again demonstrates that Germany – and Europe in general – is facing massive problems due to its immigration policies. That is why a complete reversal of course is necessary.

The U.S. President, Donald Trump, is an obvious fool in his approach to Russia and Vladimir Putin. Nevertheless, the latter part of his statement published by Visegrád, "We should spend less time worrying about Putin, and more time worrying about migrant rape gangs, drug lords, murderers, and people from mental institutions entering our Country – So that we don’t end up like Europe," makes a great deal of sense.

However, if he truly wanted to act in the best interest of ordinary people—both Americans and Europeans—he should address both of the issues he mentioned. In this regard, he could take inspiration from the Finnish government, which aims to tackle both the immigration problem and Russia’s imperialist ambitions simultaneously.

Unfortunately, it seems that too many Finns share Trump's inability to comprehend more than one problem at a time. This is evident from the fact that support for the left, which promotes the cause of criminal immigrants, is surging—even though nearly all Finns understand that Putin cannot be allowed to emerge victorious from his adventure in Ukraine.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Europe Needs Leadership and Urgent Defense Actions
Political Rhetoric Like Trump-Zelenskyi’s Has Deep Historical Roots
What will post-migration Europe look like in the future?