Abu Obaida’s Death Brings Palestine One Step Closer to Peace

According to recent reports, Israel has once again taken the life of a senior Hamas member. The person in question is Abu Obaida, who was one of the key figures of the al-Qassam Brigades and served as its spokesperson.

Thus, peace in Palestine is once again one step closer. Unfortunately, especially from the Palestinian perspective, progress of this kind is unfolding painfully slowly.

This is why it would be important for Palestinian civilians themselves to report the whereabouts of Hamas terrorists to the Israeli army, so that obstacles to peace could be removed at a faster pace. Sadly, however, it seems unlikely that this will happen—at least not on a broad scale. Therefore, an end to the suffering of Palestinian civilians cannot be expected any time soon.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Will Gaza Get a Ceasefire, or Will Hamas Hold On to Its Terrorist Capabilities?
Hamas at a Crossroads: Are Weapons More Important Than Gaza Belonging to the Palestinians?
Hamas Continues the Suffering of Gaza's Civilians

Why is Somalia unwilling to meet Finland’s conditions for continuing development cooperation?

Finland suspended its development cooperation with Somalia last November. At that time, Finland’s Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, Ville Tavio (Finns Party), made it a condition that Somalia must begin taking back its citizens who are residing illegally in Finland and/or who have committed crimes. The minister did not specify in more detail what kind of change would be sufficient for cooperation to resume.

According to media reports, however, Tavio has suggested that one condition for development aid would be the return of one hundred Somalis to Somalia, although this has not been officially recorded. Last Monday, the minister reiterated that development aid to Somalia will remain suspended, since the repatriations of Somalis have not progressed as hoped.

Some progress has nevertheless been made, as Somalia had previously refused altogether to accept any of its citizens deported from Finland. Since the suspension of development cooperation, Finland has returned 11 Somali citizens, three of whom went back voluntarily.

* * *

In Somalia, the government has expressed a desire to refuse compliance with Finland’s demand to take back its citizens, showing irritation and describing Finland’s conditions as blackmail. The background is thought to lie in the fact that Somalis do not want to receive back citizens deported from abroad, some of whom have committed crimes.

This year, the Finnish Immigration Service has issued only 128 removal decisions for Somalis, meaning the number of people to be returned is not particularly large. Nevertheless, Somalia has accepted less than ten percent of the citizens who were intended to be sent back.

If the pace does not improve, it means that Finland will not spend the roughly nine million euros earmarked this year for cooperation with Somalia. That money was intended to support the improvement of the status of girls and women in difficult situations in Somalia.

That is why I, at least, cannot help but wonder whether Somali politicians’ reluctance stems more from the goals of the development cooperation itself than from the potential problems caused by Somalis who are to be returned. Hopefully, of course, I am wrong about this, and the Somali government does—in contrast to the suspicion that crossed my mind—have a genuine desire to improve the position of women in the country.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
A New Beginning: Economic Independence in the Hands of Developing Nations
Finland Suspends Development Cooperation with Somalia
Could Kenyans serve as a model for Somalis and Iraqis?

Ukraine’s Missiles and Russia’s Forced Recruitment Set to Topple Putin’s Regime

According to media reports, Ukrainians have developed a cruise missile, "Flamingo", with a warhead weighing as much as one thousand kilograms and the capability to strike targets up to 3,000 kilometers away. If the information is correct, this weapon could destroy key parts of Russia’s arms industry and/or critical facilities that bring money to the war chest, such as oil refineries.

Reports claim that these missiles are already in production, with one being manufactured per day. That is not enough to work wonders yet, but within a couple of months, according to Ukrainians, they will be able to produce dozens per week.

Ukraine has also had time to test these missiles in practice, though no details about the results have been released. However, it is clear that the most important question in this regard concerns how effectively Russian air defense can defend potential targets—meaning whether it can shoot the missiles down as they travel through Russian airspace toward their objectives.

Still, one can hope that at least some of the missiles will get through and significantly reduce Russia’s ability to replace the weaponry it is constantly losing in Ukraine. In that way, the frontline situation could finally shift clearly in Ukraine’s favor.

* * *

In addition to Ukraine’s new missile, Russia faces another problem: the continuous decline in volunteers willing to go fight in Ukraine.

As a result, Vladimir Putin’s regime has apparently resorted to illegal methods to obtain soldiers to fight on its behalf. One example is 18-year-old Said Murtazaliev, who lived in southern Russia and dreamed of becoming a doctor.

In January 2025, before his final year of high school, he traveled to Moscow to spend a relaxing winter holiday. Instead, Murtazaliev disappeared without his family being able to reach him.

A few days later, however, his mother received a call from the police. During the call, a young woman told her that the boy had been detained in Moscow for some kind of minor fraud.

According to the police, the boy had signed a contract with the army and left to fight in Ukraine. Later, Said told his mother that he had been subjected to brutal torture by police in Moscow, and that he was released only after agreeing to go to Ukraine.

* * *

This and many other similar cases show that Putin’s regime has run out of legal means to get men to die in Ukraine. For this reason, he has intensified the conscription of young men into military service.

To that end, an electronic draft system has been developed. A summons sent through it is valid regardless of whether the conscript has seen it. According to Russian law, however, conscripts may not be sent to fight in Ukraine, since the country is not officially at war there, but only conducting a “special military operation.”

For this reason, many conscripts also fall victim to the same kind of violent coercion in recruitment as that experienced by Said Murtazaliev. To escape it, they are forced to sign a contract agreeing to go to Ukraine.

All in all, it is clear that actions like those described above are gradually leading to growing dissatisfaction with Putin and his regime. It remains to be seen, however, whether this will ultimately lead to an uprising and for Moscow’s current ruler to share the fate of Tsar Nicholas II. In my opinion, that would be more than desirable. 

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
The War in Ukraine Came Close to Me
Oily Trap for Putin
AI Drones: Ukraine’s New Edge in the War?

Attempted Homicides in Finland Reach Highest Level of the 2000s

In January–June, Finnish authorities became aware of a total of 48 homicides, which is four more than during the same period last year. Last year as well, the number of homicides increased compared to previous years.

In Finland, as many as 48 homicides were committed in the first half of this year. This is the highest number recorded for the first half of a year since 2014.

The change in the number of homicides has been rapid, as in 2023 the total was only 57. Last year, the number rose to 89, and this year—if the pace of the first half continues—it could approach one hundred.

Whether one hundred homicides is a lot or a little is not a straightforward question. One only needs to look back one generation, to the 1990s, when an average of about 140 homicides were committed annually—nearly half more than in the first half of this year.

On the other hand, there has also been an increase in attempted homicides in the first half of the year, with as many as 209 cases reported to the police during the first six months. This means that the number of attempted homicides in Finland was the highest in the entire 2000s.

Naturally, one might wonder whether something unusual lies behind the rise in homicides. So, I ran a Google search with the word “murhasi” (meaning “murdered”) to find a few random cases to examine.

In the first case, a 60-year-old man—apparently of Roma background based on his name—was reported to have been convicted in court of murdering his partner with a knife. In the second case, a 30-year-old man is suspected of murdering his mother, also with a bladed weapon. In the third case, a man in his thirties killed his parents, both over 70, with a pocketknife when they came to his apartment.

Based on these examples, the use of knives continues to be a recurring feature in Finnish homicides, meaning that in this sense nothing particularly unusual has occurred. Thus, at least for now, the share of immigrants in Finnish homicides is not emphasized in the same way as, for example, in Sweden, where by 2017 their share had already risen to 72 percent.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
A Sudanese Man Killed His Wife – So What?
The Finnish Stabber Has a Long Track Record of Violence
The root causes of racist violence

Attitudes Toward Immigrants Are a Problem in Schools

In recent decades, it has long been known that humanitarian immigration has had harmful effects on Western societies. For example, the link between immigration and increased gang, drug, and sexual crime is quite clear (example, another).

Less has been said about other impacts of people from developing countries on Western nations. In Finland’s case, however, this is one of the reasons why, according to PISA tests, the country’s school system is no longer anywhere near the best in the world.

The matter was written about by a local Helsinki newspaper, which interviewed Ulla Talvensaari, who has worked as a primary school teacher for 25 years. To understand her views, my esteemed reader must know that in many Helsinki schools, the proportion of pupils with an immigrant background can exceed half of the student body.

According to the experienced teacher, insufficient Finnish language instruction for pupils with an immigrant background threatens to weaken the entire education system, from primary school to vocational studies. This is reflected in the fact that “today only the sharpest quarter of pupils can manage tasks that, at the start of my career around the turn of the millennium, were routine for the majority.”

This has led to a situation where “secondary school teachers wonder why children with such weak skills have been allowed to pass through primary school to higher levels. In vocational studies, people then question secondary school assessments. Eventually, in vocational schools, standards are lowered and incompetence becomes a burden for working life.”

Schools also do not take immigrant pupils’ lack of competence seriously, but instead “it is now difficult for a teacher to hold anyone back a grade or to give conditional passes. Many teachers end up lowering standards just to get everyone through the system.” In this way, they avoid being branded as racists for prolonging immigrant pupils’ time at school.

Thus, the teacher raises the question: “Is it really equality if there are huge gaps in skill levels within classrooms? We used to talk about the Gaussian curve. Most pupils were average, with only a small number being particularly weak or highly gifted. Now the middle group has almost disappeared, and classrooms consist mostly of extremes—either capable pupils or those with major learning challenges.”

As one way to improve the situation, the teacher also calls for more parental responsibility. In her view, “we [Finns] should demand that immigrant parents also practice Finnish regularly at home with their children.”

One can only hope that this teacher will be listened to both in Finland and elsewhere in Europe, and that society will abandon woke dogmas and instead uphold children’s right to learn at school—including those with immigrant backgrounds. This should remain the case even if their learning takes longer than that of the native population’s children.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Unintended Consequences of Modern Value Shifts
Finland Denies Blanket Asylum for Gazans, Confirms Tighter Immigration Policies
Has Modern Education Strayed Too Far — and Is It Time to Change Course?

An Economist’s Fact-Based Response to Polarizing Tax Claims

A social democratic think tank recently sought to fuel polarization between low- and high-income earners by claiming that the government’s decision to slightly ease tax progression would only benefit the very highest earners. To support this argument, the think tank used euro-denominated comparisons, which naturally make the differences appear large—especially between the very top earners and the rest of the population.

This narrative was swallowed whole by Finland’s two biggest media outlets—namely the publicly owned Yleisradio and the privately owned Helsingin Sanomat. Both repeated the claims without any critical scrutiny, effectively acting as a loudspeaker for a politically aligned left-wing think tank. Their coverage was soon challenged by Sami Pakarinen, Chief Economist of the Confederation of Finnish Industries, who presented a series of facts on social media.

* * *

According to Pakarinen, “Finland will lower its top marginal tax rate at the beginning of next year from 58% to 52%. This has been recommended for years, as Finland’s top rates are among the very highest in the world.”

He elaborated by noting: “In 2017, the IMF recommended that the top marginal rate should be capped at 44%. The OECD average is around 35%. Even after the reform, Finland remains well above this ceiling.”

Pakarinen also reminded readers that “the top 14% of earners pay 49% of all income taxes. When it comes to net public transfers, the top decile shoulders the lion’s share.” In fact, he emphasized that “Finland redistributes income through taxation more than any other OECD country.”

Furthermore, contrary to the social democratic think tank’s claims, he argued that “the self-financing ratio of the tax cut is very likely above 100%. In other words, by lowering taxes, the state will actually collect more revenue. Recent research points in this direction, and there is finally a growing consensus among economists.”

* * *

For international readers, it is worth noting that research shows the majority of journalism students in Finland lean toward the green-left. Perhaps this helps to explain why Finland’s otherwise exceptionally free press—at least in international comparison—can nevertheless appear remarkably one-sided. In practice, it often leans toward planned-economy thinking and value liberalism, as this very case illustrates.

As a result of all this, one is entitled to ask: what exactly are Yleisradio and Helsingin Sanomat aiming at by repeating the left’s polarizing and misleading claims as if they were facts? A society divided along American lines—or even outright revolution?

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Jesuit Morality in Crime Reporting on Immigrants
Citizen Journalism, Free Speech, and EU Challenges
Why Were Violent Protests Acceptable for George Floyd but Not for the UK Child Murders?

Deep Roots of Violence and Disregard for Human Dignity in History

As we all know, wars and battles have always been an essential part of human communities. Today, examples can easily be found in Ukraine, Palestine, and Sudan.

That is why it was particularly interesting to come across a French study analyzing skeletons from northeastern France dating to around 4300–4150 BCE—that is, the remains of people who lived more than 6,000 years ago.

Many of the skeletons showed unhealed injuries as well as skeletal segments of severed left upper limbs. They were therefore most likely the result of excessive violence, mutilation, and/or trophy-taking associated with ancient warfare.

In their work, the researchers reported a multi-isotope reconstruction, based on the bones, of the life histories of individuals defined as “victims” and of other deceased individuals from the same region who had received customary funerary treatment. In total, 82 humans were analyzed, together with 53 animals and 35 modern plants to establish regional isotope baselines.

The results revealed statistically significant isotopic differences between the victims and the nonvictims, which were interpreted as showing that the victims had belonged to invading groups or tribes that were defeated in battles against the local population. They were then brutally killed and deposited in pits—together with trophies in the form of severed upper limbs.

The study thus demonstrated that, more than 6,000 years ago, after a battle had been decided, the victors celebrated their triumph with acts of violence and disregard for human dignity. And this practice has not disappeared even today, as examples of Russian war crimes in Ukraine and the atrocities of fighting groups in Sudan sadly show—not to mention the events of October 7, 2023 in Israel.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Dark Brown Ancestors
Football-Associated Violence Is a Personality Problem
Russian army not comparable to western military services

The War in Ukraine Came Close to Me

The war between Ukraine and Russia came unusually close to me last night, as I observed strange light phenomena in the southeastern sky—things I had never seen before in my life.

In the morning, I checked the news feed and noticed that Ukraine had carried out a strike on Russia’s Luga Bay, not far from Finland, where its drones—according to Russian officials—ignited Novatek’s terminal specializing in natural gas production. It seems clear that the light phenomena I saw in Finland were connected to that very event.

* * *

During the night, the Ukrainian armed forces had also struck an oil refinery in Syzran, in the Samara region—further continuation of the attacks against Russia’s energy infrastructure in recent weeks. Best of all, these strikes appear to be having consequences for Russia and the Russian people.

Namely, wholesale gasoline prices have risen on the St. Petersburg exchange by nearly ten percent just this month—and over the course of this year, the price has increased by as much as fifty percent. This price surge is also being felt in the wallets of Russian consumers and worsens the already high inflation, meaning the general rise in the cost of living.

And that’s not all: production disruptions at oil refineries have also affected the availability of gasoline in Russia. This too has an impact on ordinary Russians’ daily lives—which, I hope, will lead them to realize the harmfulness of Vladimir Putin’s war policy for themselves and for the Russian people as a whole. And to rise up against his government and its imperialist policies.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Oily Trap for Putin
AI Drones: Ukraine’s New Edge in the War?
Suicide and Sudden Death in Russia – What's Really Going On?

Palestine Action Suomi - a Bona Fide Actor or False Flag Organization?

In Finland, there is an activist group called Palestine Action Suomi. Previously, it has terrorized, at least, the buildings of Finland’s Ministry of Defence, Allianz Trade Suomi and the Nammo company by defacing their entrances with red paint. Now the group has also targeted the entrance of the Patria company with paint.

Frankly, I find myself puzzled by the motives behind this group’s activities. Most clearly, they seem to amount to supporting the terrorism practiced by Hamas, since the group’s own actions are criminal and— as I noted at the outset— amount to terrorizing Finnish companies.

In a sense, this is logical, because the Palestinians’ own plight is largely due to terrorism as well. I am thinking in particular of the fact that after the long-time Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat rejected in 2000 an already-agreed treaty on establishing a Palestinian state comprising the West Bank and Gaza, rocket and other terrorist attacks resumed from Palestinian territories into Israel— culminating in the October 7, 2023 attack that ignited the current war.

* * *

Palestine Action Suomi claims to be advocating for the Palestinian cause, but I really wonder how they think their actions could increase support for that cause among Finns. Wouldn’t their vandalistic attacks on Finnish companies rather decrease it?

Of course, it could be a so-called false flag group, whose real purpose is not to promote Palestinian support but instead to work on behalf of Israel. In that case, Palestine Action Finland would only pretend to champion the Palestinian cause, while in reality seeking to damage the public image of the Palestinians and their supporters.

If that were the case, however, one would expect ordinary people who are positively inclined toward the Palestinians to expose such a false flag operation. Since I have not noticed that happening, I suppose I must also conclude that this is simply a pro-Palestinian group resorting to senseless methods.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
When Demands Become Damage
Organized Vandalism in Helsinki, Finland
Gambling Addiction and the Shadowy Instigator

How Extremist Activists Endanger Hunters in Finland

Finland has a very large population of cervids, such as moose and deer. Due to their large numbers, they cause significant damage by destroying young forest plantations and causing traffic accidents. On the other hand, they provide hunters with both a hobby and food.

The balance of this whole system is overseen by the Finnish Wildlife Agency, which grants hunting permits for cervid species in such a way that each population remains viable and healthy. At the same time, attention is also paid to ensuring that predator populations—especially wolves—remain strong and safe for people, so that they do not need to hunt humans moving in nature due to lack of food. Wolves have not generally been hunted in Finland in this millennium, except for individuals that have threatened humans or specialized in attacking livestock.

This equation seems to be too difficult to grasp for those belonging to the Animal Liberation Front. That is why they have made hunting towers used by hunters dangerously unsafe by sawing them.

The police are currently investigating these crimes and searching for the perpetrators. According to Member of Parliament Sanna Antikainen (Finns Party), it would be important that the police and prosecutors treat these acts as endangerment of life rather than mere vandalism. This wish is worth supporting, so that various political activist groups, which are resorting to increasingly harsh measures, would be made to comply with the law and avoid endangering other people.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Demonstration Demonstrated the Selfishness of the Demonstrators
Organized Vandalism in Helsinki, Finland
Greta Thunberg in Search of a Greater Thrill

Unintended Consequences of Modern Value Shifts

The world has changed significantly in this millennium. What used to be considered normal, even self-evident, is today not always even acceptable.

A startling example of this change appeared in Finland when two schoolboys got into a fierce fight, throwing punches and kicks at each other. A teacher tried to break it up by ordering them to stop, but to no avail.

So the teacher finally grabbed one of the boys and lifted him out of the situation. The hitting and kicking stopped, and no one was seriously injured.

But then something completely unexpected happened. One of the parents filed charges against the teacher, claiming that milder methods could have been used. What those methods might have been—given that the teacher had already ordered the boys verbally to stop—has never been explained publicly.

In any case, at the parents’ initiative, a legal process began that lasted a full year and a half before the prosecutor decided that the teacher’s actions would not be taken to court. It is clear that this time was extremely difficult for the teacher.

We can only guess how such a case will affect teachers’ willingness to intervene in schoolyard fights—not in a positive direction, surely. And for that reason it must be said that, as a consequence of the case I have described, school life likely became a little less safe than it once was.

For my part, I see this case as yet another indication that the value shifts of the 21st century—BLM, DEI, Woke culture, intersectional feminism, and so forth—do not make the world a better place. Instead, they seem to be leading to a decline in care for one another, double standards, less openness, and increasing social polarization in all kinds of ways, despite the fact that the stated aim was the exact opposite.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Has Modern Education Strayed Too Far — and Is It Time to Change Course?
Library Scrubs Queer Creator’s Character from Moomin Exhibit
Why Finnish Youth Are Abandoning the Green Party

Will Gaza Get a Ceasefire, or Will Hamas Hold On to Its Terrorist Capabilities?

Hamas had already announced earlier that it was ready for a ceasefire in the Gaza war. According to the Islamic Jihad organization, it would be prepared to release ten Israeli hostages alive, as well as the bodies of deceased individuals.

Israel took longer to respond to the ceasefire proposal. According to today’s report, it too is ready for a ceasefire in Gaza, but only on the condition that Hamas releases all the remaining 49 hostages.

In other words, Israel shifted the decision on the ceasefire back to Hamas, which in turn must consider its own position regarding the demand of the Jewish state. The central question is whether the terrorist organization will agree to relinquish its only effective means of pressure against Israel in order to initiate the peace process in Gaza.

For Hamas and the residents of Gaza, the situation is extremely difficult, as the latter are suffering disproportionately from the terrorists’ determination to preserve their armed forces—which, though militarily insignificant, are sufficient for the purposes of terrorism—in this situation. Hamas’s leadership is also under pressure from Israel, which more than a week ago declared that it was preparing for a new ground offensive aimed at destroying the remainder of Hamas’s underground facilities.

For these reasons, I greatly fear that the residents of Gaza will still not be able to enjoy peace, as Hamas’s leadership will once again put its own survival ahead of an ordinary, livable life for the people. But since nothing has yet been decided, we can still hope that reason will prevail, that peace will finally come to Gaza, and that Hamas will either be dismantled or at least lose its significance as a major player in the Middle East.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Finland Denies Blanket Asylum for Gazans, Confirms Tighter Immigration Policies
New Framework for Post-Hamas Gaza
Hamas at a Crossroads: Are Weapons More Important Than Gaza Belonging to the Palestinians?

Love and a Regurgitated Gift

In the world of fruit flies, romance can take surprising forms. The species Drosophila subobscura has a peculiar courtship ritual: before mating, a male must win over the female by giving her a gift. But instead of flowers or chocolates, he offers her a tiny mouth-to-mouth meal of regurgitated food. Interestingly, their close cousin Drosophila melanogaster—the fruit fly most often used in laboratories—doesn’t do this at all.

So what makes one species a generous suitor while the other skips the gift exchange? Japanese researchers discovered that the difference comes down to a single gene, called FruitlessM (FruM), which helps wire male brains for courtship behavior. In D. subobscura, this gene switches on in a group of brain cells that regulate feeding. When FruM is missing, the cells don’t grow the connections they need, and the males fail to present their nuptial gift.

Even more intriguing, when scientists turned on FruM in the same brain cells of D. melanogaster, something remarkable happened: the cells sprouted new connections, and the males began regurgitating food more often—hinting at a hidden potential for gift-giving buried in their biology.

This research shows how a small genetic change can spark big differences in behavior between species. What looks like a simple act of food sharing is, in fact, the product of evolutionary history written deep in the wiring of the brain.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Climate Warning Signs Were There 130 Years Ago – If Only We Had Noticed
Preventing future fires in Hawaii is possible, but the question remains: Are animal activists and politicians prepared for the necessary measures?
Seeing sex developed novel cultures

Appeasement in Alaska?

Vladimir Putin’s visit as Donald Trump’s guest in the U.S. state of Alaska did not, according to the first assessments (Yle, MTV3, HS, Uutissuomalainen), bring an end to the war in Ukraine. Instead, it postponed the U.S. tariff increases on countries buying oil from Russia by at least a couple of weeks. In other words, the meeting certainly did not make the aggressor’s war effort more difficult.

In practice, the main outcome of the meeting was to demonstrate that European states are not capable of being a significant party even in a war being fought on their own continent. And of course, the continuation of Ukraine’s tragedy and the suffering of its people.

After the negotiations, Pekka Kallioniemi, who comments on the war in Ukraine, drew an illustration showing the dynamics of the relationship between Putin and Trump.

According to it, Trump sets a deadline for Russia to continue the war → that deadline is crossed → Putin proposes pointless negotiations → the negotiations lead nowhere, since Russia’s demands are impossible. And then the cycle begins again. In this way, the war can continue for as long as Russia’s dictator wishes.

Donald Trump’s actions closely resemble those of British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and the Western European powers before the Second World War, when Adolf Hitler annexed one territory after another into the Third Reich. The result was the strengthening of Nazi Germany militarily, the growing arrogance of the Führer, and ultimately the outbreak of World War II.

The silver lining in the current situation is that Russia does not have the capacity to rise into a true great power threatening the rest of the world. Instead, after the end of the war in Ukraine, it will retain the ability to militarily threaten its small neighboring states, such as Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

Their security depends above all on how NATO’s Article 5 is interpreted in the alliance’s major member states. In other words, whether it is seen as obligating them to provide full-scale support to the victim of aggression, or whether even in such a case the logic of Kallioniemi’s illustration would be followed.

If the latter proves to be the case, Russia also becomes a threat to Finland, and possibly even to Poland. At the same time, our NATO membership would lose its meaning just as effectively as the support promised by Western powers to Poland—and also to Finland against Stalin’s Soviet Union—lost its meaning at the beginning of the Second World War.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Donald Trump’s Meeting With Vladimir Putin: The Advice He Needs
Border Residents Concerned Over NATO’s Article 5 Interpretation
Oily Trap for Putin

High Rewards in Humanitarian Immigration Attract People to Illegal Businesses

The attempt by people from developing countries to enter the EU by lying about their situation is in itself illegal and thus condemnable. However, the biggest beneficiaries of this activity are the networks of smugglers, who profit large sums from those seeking a better life.

An example of this was provided by a news report stating that the German federal police arrested five Syrian nationals, aged 26–37, who, according to the prosecutor, were involved in at least 40 human smuggling operations, transporting up to 480 people in a single day via the so-called Balkan route.

For these journeys, the criminals charged an average of €2,500–€4,500 per person, depending on the route and risks, and earned at least €1.4 million between 2022 and 2025. According to the prosecutor, the total could even exceed €10 million.

It’s no wonder, then, that so-called humanitarian immigration attracts people to illegal business. After all, the risk of getting caught appears to be quite low, while the rewards are astronomical compared to, for example, the average salary for honest work in Syria.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Eviction of Inhabitants for Incoming Immigrants Sparks Controversy
Finland to Cut Off Taxpayer Money for Immigration
Western Countries Have Neither a Reason Nor a Need to Accept Asylum Seekers from Syria or Gaza

Finland Denies Blanket Asylum for Gazans, Confirms Tighter Immigration Policies

A Finnish afternoon newspaper reported yesterday that the Finnish Immigration Service had allegedly decided that all Gazans would be entitled to asylum in Finland. The claim sparked considerable surprise, and among others, the minister responsible, Mari Rantanen (Finns Party), immediately posted on social media that she had not seen any such decision. She also stated that there are “enormous risks related to Gazans because of Hamas terrorists.”

Member of Parliament Pia Kauma (National Coalition Party) likewise said, “I do not accept that we would blindly take anyone from Gaza into Finland. The residents of the area have extensive ties to the terrorist organization Hamas, as Hamas holds significant power in Gaza.”

Today, the Immigration Service corrected the afternoon newspaper’s report, stating that it was a misinterpretation by the journalist who wrote about the matter. In reality, all asylum seekers’ ties to terrorism are investigated before they are granted asylum in Finland. This also applies to residents of Gaza.

It should also be noted that Finland has in fact recently tightened its asylum policy. As a result, both the reception allowance for refugees and the duration of international protection have been reduced to a minimum, and additional grounds have been added for denying asylum. Furthermore, switching one’s residence permit basis from asylum to work-based immigration has been prohibited, family reunification to Finland has been restricted, and the requirements for obtaining citizenship have been tightened.

In this context, it is also worth noting that, in addition to the government, the largest opposition party — the Social Democrats — is also moving toward supporting a ban on wearing face-covering veils in schools. This means that Finnish legislation and practices will in the future be shaped in such a way that immigrants will be required to abandon customs that conflict with the Western way of life and instead integrate more fully into Finnish society and its social norms.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Precedent from France Opens EU Pathway for Gaza Palestinians
NATO Sounds the Alarm on Illegal Immigration
EU Citizens Don’t Want More Migrants – But How Can the Flow of Asylum Seekers Be Slowed?

Donald Trump’s Meeting With Vladimir Putin: The Advice He Needs

The presidents of the USA and Russia, Donald Trump and Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, will meet on Friday in Alaska. Initially, it was said that the meeting would seek a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, but later the U.S. president’s office announced that it was merely about Trump’s desire to listen to Putin.

In reality, no one can know what will happen in Alaska. In Europe, there are fears that Trump might agree to support Putin in annexing part of Ukraine to Russia. That is, of course, one possibility, but not necessarily what will happen in Alaska—unless Trump is, in one way or another, in Putin’s pocket.

Assuming what I just wrote isn’t the case, it could well be that Trump realizes Putin is merely toying with him and is in fact only trying to weaken U.S. and other Western support for the Ukrainians—thus turning the battlefield situation to Russia’s advantage.

That is why it was unpleasant to learn that, right during the Alaska talks, Russia has achieved success east of the city of Dobropillia, where its forces have managed to advance along a strip over ten kilometers long but quite narrow. The risk is that Putin will succeed in convincing Trump that this breakthrough shows Ukrainian resistance is collapsing.

On the other hand, I think Russia’s narrow attack wedge will remind all Finns familiar with World War II of our own country’s successful motti battles, in which much larger Soviet units were destroyed by encircling them and cutting off their supply and relief. Unfortunately, it may be that Ukraine’s terrain is not as favorable for such a solution as Finland’s was.

After Trump and Putin agreed to meet, European leaders decided to influence the situation. This will take place later today in a telephone conference attended not only by representatives of Germany, France, Britain, Italy, and Poland, but also by the presidents of the European Commission and the European Council, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.

It remains to be seen whether this distinguished group will be able to influence Donald Trump, or whether he will simply listen politely and then, in discussions with Putin, do whatever he wants—in the worst case trying to sell Ukraine’s independence cheaply, and then leading the USA out of the community supporting Ukraine.

Even though I am quite certain that Trump will not read this blog, I cannot resist offering him one piece of advice. It goes like this: Vladimir Vladimirovich is a tough and ruthless dictator who, like others of his kind, listens only to someone similar. That is why Trump should not try to appease him, but instead show — without hesitation — his place as the leader of a state far weaker than the United States, and tell him to end the war here and now by promptly moving the “special operation’s” soldiers back behind Ukraine’s eastern border as it stood before 2014.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Border Residents Concerned Over NATO’s Article 5 Interpretation
It’s Time to Teach Putin: The Age of Empire Is Over
When the War Comes Home to Moscow

Eviction of Inhabitants for Incoming Immigrants Sparks Controversy

In Finland, there was news today about a case in which the city of Mikkeli is renting out eighteen terraced houses for use as a reception centre. At the same time, it is evicting the current tenants from their homes. In other words, the Finnish residents of these homes are being replaced by immigrants – something many might associate with the idea — controversial as it is — that some kind of “population replacement” is taking place in Europe.

Right now, it appears that this decision is sparking considerable backlash among Finns. For example, Member of Parliament Jocka Träsbeck (National Coalition Party) commented that “In Mikkeli, the city’s priorities were set using the Tuppurainen method.” By this he was referring to a recent opinion of Tytti Tuppurainen – a Social Democratic politician and chair of her party’s parliamentary group – according to which “putting one’s own people first is harmful".

MP Tere Sammallahti (National Coalition Party) also weighed in on the matter, posing a rhetorical question: “What do you think – will this decision increase or decrease people’s willingness to pay taxes? Or racism?”

It is also worth noting that, in the minds of Finns, Mikkeli carries strong symbolic significance in connection with this change of residents. During the Second World War, the city served as the headquarters of the Finnish army.

It remains to be seen how the situation in Mikkeli will develop in the coming days. Will the social debate flare up into full blaze, or will it remain only a minor episode in the ongoing flow of Finland’s immigration discussion? And if it does flare up, will it lead to any political decisions – especially now, when the country’s leading anti-immigration party, the Finns Party, is part of the government.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Finland to Cut Off Taxpayer Money for Immigration
Can Europe Learn from Finland´s and Spain’s Contrasting Immigration Policies?
EU Citizens Don’t Want More Migrants – But How Can the Flow of Asylum Seekers Be Slowed?

Has Modern Education Strayed Too Far — and Is It Time to Change Course?

Finnish basic education was once the best in the world — at least if measured by PISA success. Unfortunately, Finnish children’s results in these tests have been declining for nearly 20 years.

The reasons for this trend have been debated in Finland, but the general view is that the root cause lies in changes to the principles of teaching, in such a way that students are required to have less and less precise knowledge. At the same time, teaching methods have shifted toward giving students significantly more freedom during lessons, and instruction has proceeded at the pace of the weakest pupils.

In addition, it appears that students have been moved up from one grade to the next even in cases where they have not mastered the objectives set for that level. Meanwhile, the most gifted pupils have been left without sufficient instruction. In this process, integrating children from developing countries into teaching has also led to classroom disruptions.

* * *

This issue was brought up today by Member of Parliament Jorma Piisinen (Finns Party), who stated: “We must acknowledge the facts. Not everyone is the same, and neither are learning needs identical. Talent is not elitism but a national resource that must be nurtured just as much as supporting the weakest.”

He further demanded that “gifted young people be allowed to grow to their full potential.” If that were to happen, “Finland would gain future makers who would move our country forward.”

According to Piisinen, paying attention to gifted youth “is not only in the interest of the individual, but of society as a whole. A fair school forgets no one. Not even the best.”

In my view, it would be important for Finland’s future that the MP’s proposal be taken into account when deciding on Finnish education policy — despite the fact that the minister responsible, Anders Adlercreutz (Swedish People’s Party), represents the most value-liberal wing of the government, for whom a return to the old teaching methods and principles — which produced good results — is likely to be unappealing from the outset.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Police to Finnish Graduates: Leave Fireworks, Blades, and Booze at Home
Marx in the Classroom: How Ideological Education Shaped Careers and Values

A Fair Game or Unfair Judgment?

Finland to Cut Off Taxpayer Money for Immigration

Under the leadership of Finland’s Minister of Finance, Riikka Purra (Finns Party), a budget proposal has been drawn up which would allocate no state-collected tax money next year to the integration of immigrants or the reception of quota refugees. This would be a major change from the current situation, in which a significant share of tax revenue is used precisely for these purposes.

According to Minister Purra, “The integration structures within the public sector, and the ‘private’ integration industry that has grown around them, form one branch of the welfare state that has become enormous. The taxpayer foots the bill. If immigration broadly worked, such structures wouldn’t be needed at all. The government has previously cut integration spending, and in my opinion, it could easily cut more.”

Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen (Finns Party) commented on the proposed change, stating that “Integration should not be measured by the amount of money spent, and society should have an incentive to push those granted permission straight into work. That would also put an end to all sorts of busywork back home, such as collecting droppings in matchboxes.”

It remains to be seen, however, how the other government parties and Parliament will respond to the Finance Minister’s proposal. It is expected that the ending of support for companies making their living from immigration would face opposition within the government, at least from the Swedish People’s Party, and in Parliament from the entire green-left bloc.

The taxpayer, on the other hand, would welcome it—since once Finland’s chronically deficit-ridden state budget is brought into balance, they might one day have a say over the use of a larger share of their own paycheck.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
A New Beginning: Economic Independence in the Hands of Developing Nations
Finnish Branch of Extinction Rebellion Faces Possible Ban
Finland's Stance on NATO Defense Spending Is Linked to the Geopolitical Threat from Russia

Border Residents Concerned Over NATO’s Article 5 Interpretation

According to a Polish news site, U.S. President Donald Trump intends to make a six-point proposal to Russian leader Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine. Under this plan, the first step would be to agree on a ceasefire, after which Russia would be allowed to keep the territories it has seized from Ukraine for at least the next 49 years.

Once the ceasefire had taken effect, the U.S. government would remove most of the sanctions imposed on Russia and, after some time, once again permit the export of Russian oil and gas. In return for these concessions, Trump is also expected to present demands to Putin.

The first of these would require Russia to accept the further enlargement of NATO beyond its current membership. In addition, military aid to Ukraine would continue.

The claims made by the Polish news site have not been confirmed by other sources, but neither have they been denied. Therefore, for the time being, they should be taken seriously.

* * *

As a citizen of a country bordering Russia, Trump’s plan concerns me, as it would result in Vladimir Putin being rewarded for his aggression against Ukraine. In other words, it would support his policy that any geographical areas once under Russian control should belong forever to Moscow’s sphere of influence.

In Europe, this particularly concerns Finland and the Baltic states, all of which have at some point in their history been part of Russia (or the Soviet Union). In Finland’s case, this was from 1809 to 1917, when my homeland formed an autonomous grand duchy ruled by the Russian tsar.

The fear, then, is that once Russia has recovered from the war in Ukraine, Putin or his successor might decide to see whether the West — and especially the U.S. — would also be willing to accept possible conquests from a future military campaign against a NATO country. That is, for example, the subjugation of Finland, Estonia, Latvia, or Lithuania to Moscow’s power, either partially or entirely.

In this matter, the key question becomes NATO’s commitment to defending the sovereignty of its northeastern members. The central issue here is how to interpret Article 5 of the treaty, which states that "The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence recognized by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area."

What especially concerns me here is the interpretation of the above-emphasized word “necessary.” Does it mean that the amount of assistance is to be calibrated so that the aggressor is certain to be defeated? Or can it also be interpreted — as the Polish news site claims is now happening in Ukraine (which is not a NATO member) — to mean that, as a war drags on, hostilities could be ended in such a way that the conqueror gets to keep the territories it has occupied?

For this reason, I believe it would be good for NATO and its member states — especially the United States — to clarify this interpretation and reassure those of us who live next to Russia that aggression against NATO member states would under no circumstances be allowed to result in rewarding the aggressor — as in the case of the war in Ukraine — but that NATO would, in every case, use sufficient force until the situation between Russia and the victim of its attack had been restored to what it was before the war, and the Muscovite army had returned behind its own borders.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Oily Trap for Putin
A Growing Sino-Russian Threat to the West
AI Drones: Ukraine’s New Edge in the War?

New Framework for Post-Hamas Gaza

Israel’s Security Cabinet has announced that it will take control of Gaza and destroy the terrorist organization Hamas, which previously ruled the area. Additionally, it has outlined five principles to be applied in the region.

These principles include the disarmament of Hamas, the release of hostages, the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip, Israeli security oversight in Gaza, and the establishment of an entirely new Arab civil administration. The final decision on implementing these principles will be made by Prime Minister Netanyahu’s full cabinet, which is set to convene no earlier than Sunday.

To carry out this plan, Israel has repositioned its troops near the Gaza border in formations suggesting the beginning of a new large-scale ground offensive. It remains to be seen whether the war, sparked by Hamas’s terrorist attack on October 7, 2023, is now moving into a phase that could lead to a peaceful resolution.

* * *

At first glance, the plan raises many questions. It is certain that Hamas fighters will do everything they can to avoid capture—potentially even by using human shields. At the same time, they will undoubtedly seek to prevent the release of hostages.

I also approach with great skepticism the idea that an entirely new Arab administration could be established in Gaza without any involvement from previous powerholders. And even if such an administration were created, could it build enough military strength to prevent Hamas from resurging? One problem could be that such a government would likely be seen as an Israeli puppet regime, making it difficult to gain the trust of the local population—many of whom have traditionally supported Hamas.

On the other hand, any attempt to end the war in Gaza—and to achieve long-term, sustainable peace—is undoubtedly welcome from both the Palestinian Arab and Jewish perspectives. That is why I hope the proposed plan can materialize into an authority that wields real power in the region and succeeds in suppressing the terrorism that has taken root there for decades.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Hamas Continues the Suffering of Gaza's Civilians
A Night at the Opera
When Demands Become Damage

Exceptionally Warm July Falls Short of Records

This past July was the third warmest on record globally. According to the Copernicus Climate Service, the global average temperature in July was 16.68 degrees Celsius. That is 0.45 degrees higher than the July average for the years 1991–2020, and 1.25 degrees higher than during the pre-industrial period.

In Europe, July was the fourth warmest on record, with an average temperature of 21.12 degrees—1.3 degrees above the reference period.

In Finland, however, no temperature records were approached, as for example, Helsinki’s warmest July on record still remains clearly in 2010, with a 1.2-degree margin. In Northern Finland, Sodankylä experienced its warmest July in 2018.

Finland, however, saw the second longest heatwave in recorded history, with temperatures exceeding 25 degrees Celsius for 26 consecutive days at several weather stations. However, the record remains unbroken: in 2021, a station in Southeastern Finland recorded a heatwave lasting 31 days.

According to these statistics, the average July area of Arctic sea ice was also relatively small—the sixth smallest since records began in 1979. This fits the broader pattern observed since around 2007, where the area of Arctic sea ice collapsed and has since settled into a new, lower range of variability.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
The Northern Sea Ice Area in 2024 Was Not the Smallest on Record
Northern Sea Ice Area Has Not Responded to Exceptionally High Temperatures
Reevaluating Arctic Sea Ice Melt: A Closer Look at Trends and Predictions

678 Bomb Attacks in Six Months: Netherlands Faces Alarming Trend

Sweden’s problems with integrating immigrants have, years ago, already led to the transformation of the former “people’s home” into a society plagued by bombings and sexual crimes committed by criminal gangs. Now, however, it seems that Sweden may have found itself a “competitor” in this regard.

This is because, according to a recent news report, the Netherlands recorded no fewer than 678 bomb attacks in the first half of this year, while the corresponding figure for Sweden was “only” 104. In the country’s second-largest city, Rotterdam, alone, there were 150 bomb attacks.

According to Dutch police spokesperson Jasmijn de Vries, “the current trend is extremely worrying, especially considering the negative impact it has on citizens’ everyday lives.” This concern is, of course, well-founded, but it should also be noted that the situations in Sweden and the Netherlands differ significantly.

In Sweden, the violence is often linked to gang violence and drug trafficking, whereas in the Netherlands it is a broader security phenomenon in which the use of homemade explosives has been “normalized” as part of criminal activity. The motives vary, and often the incidents are acts of harassment or intimidation, rather than the kind of organized gang warfare seen in Sweden. What the two countries do have in common, however, is the use of children and young boys to carry out the attacks.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Getting Populists to Govern Responsibly: What the Netherlands and Finland Can Teach Us 
Should the Dutch Do Something About the Fact That Immigrants Don't Tolerate Visiting Jews?
A woman's logic, Putin's test, and the Netherlands' change

Oily Trap for Putin

Eight oil-producing countries have decided to increase their oil production by a total of 547,000 barrels per day. This amount is a significant addition to the market and is expected to lower the price Russia receives for its own oil.

If and when this happens, the change will have a crucial impact on the combat capability of Vladimir Putin’s army in Ukraine. This alone may influence the outcome of the war, but if U.S. President Donald Trump imposes the 100% tariffs he has threatened on countries that mediate Russian oil, the Russian dictator will face an extremely difficult situation as export revenues collapse.

Therefore, it is likely that in the near future, Putin will seek both a breakthrough on the Ukrainian front lines and a way to maintain his war chest. And of course, he cannot ignore the need to look after the standard of living of nearly 150 million Russians, since its collapse would increase the risk of revolution.

It remains to be seen whether significant changes will occur in the war between Russia and Ukraine during the current year, or whether its resolution will shift to next year or even further into the future. What is clear at this point is that the democratic world cannot accept a Russian victory in the war; it must end in a just peace—one that does not embolden Putin, or Moscow’s future rulers, to continue power politics against neighboring countries.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
A Growing Sino-Russian Threat to the West
AI Drones: Ukraine’s New Edge in the War?
Ukraine Risks Losing Western Trust by Muzzling Corruption Watchdog

A Growing Sino-Russian Threat to the West

The war in Ukraine is increasingly dividing the industrialized world into two opposing camps. One consists of the Western nations, and the other of China and Russia. The latest sign of this division is the fact that the Chinese and Russian navies have begun joint exercises in the Sea of Japan.

The exercise, named Joint Sea 2025, began off the coast of the city of Vladivostok in Russia’s Far East. The drills include submarine rescue, anti-submarine warfare, air defense, and missile defense exercises. While China and Russia have conducted joint military drills before, there have also been significant disagreements between them in the past.

However, as Russia has become increasingly dependent on Chinese support due to the war in Ukraine, the cooperation has deepened. According to China's Ministry of Defense, the purpose of the newly launched exercises is to "further deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership."

This is something the West should take seriously. Although Russia has proven to be a paper tiger in conventional warfare in Ukraine, it remains the world’s second most powerful nuclear state. Furthermore, it's important to remember that China's actual military capability has not truly been tested since the Korean War—making it a significant unknown.

In solving this unknown, it's crucial to recognize that China has made giant leaps forward both technologically and economically. It would not be a major surprise if China’s military capability turned out to be strong enough to challenge even the United States.

All of this is one reason why the West must continue to develop its own military capabilities and technical proficiency. After all, it would be a major humanitarian catastrophe if the current, even partially free, world were to become subordinate to superpowers based on dictatorial authoritarianism.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Trump Jeopardizes NATO Progress
Warnings from Jussi Halla-aho and Igor Girkin About Europe's Near Future
The Free World Needs America’s Leadership Now

Library Scrubs Queer Creator’s Character from Moomin Exhibit

"Wokeism" does not appear to have ended in the United States yet, according to a news report from Hufvudstadsbladet relayed by MTV3. A picture of the character Stinky was removed from an exhibition dedicated to the inhabitants of Moominvalley and their creator Tove Jansson, held at the Brooklyn Public Library in New York, due to allegations of racism. According to a spokesperson for the library, the aim was to create an environment where everyone feels welcome.

In reality, Stinky has nothing to do with racism. He is simply a somewhat annoying character from the stories, created at a time when there was no discussion of racism in Finland—Tove Jansson’s homeland—because the population was racially homogeneous. Stinky’s black color does not allude to any skin tone; it was simply a color the artist felt suited the character.

Well, what can one say to that? Perhaps that the Brooklyn library doesn’t seem to be showing much respect for the artistic work of Tove Jansson — the creator of Stinky, and herself a member of both a sexual and linguistic minority. But surely they couldn’t actually be homophobic... could they?

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Finnish Trans Woman Speaks Out on Transgender Rights in Sports
An African and an Iranian Immigrant Educated a Woke-Blinded Deputy Mayor
A Finnish Deputy Mayor Wanted to Ban an Old Board Game from Children

Demonstration Demonstrated the Selfishness of the Demonstrators

A World Rally Championship event is currently taking place in Jyväskylä, Finland. In connection with this, the Finnish branch of Extinction Rebellion, known as Elokapina, organized a protest without prior notice—in other words, an illegal demonstration—intended to disrupt the event. While the incident caused little actual disturbance to the rally itself, it demonstrated how little these identity politics-driven activists care about the law or other people.

This phenomenon is far from new. In fact, it has become an almost permanent feature of major sporting events (example). And it’s likely only a matter of time before the situation escalates to the point where the highlight of someone’s career—perhaps even the culmination of a lifetime dedicated to sport—is ruined.

That’s why it’s important that the activists who protested in Jyväskylä are brought to court, and that the full extent of penalties allowed by law be applied, to make clear that their actions are not acceptable. At the same time, lawmakers in Finland and elsewhere should revise legislation so that the threshold for disrupting major sporting events is raised as high as possible.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Finnish Branch of Extinction Rebellion Faces Possible Ban
Eco-Fascist Blackmail: Threats of Sabotage Loom Over the World Ski Championships
Criminal Attack Against Finnish Democracy