The Real Face of Trouble

As it turns out there is a completely different reason for all the fuzz on the amount of demonstrators being arrested in Copenhagen during the climate summit (COP15). Although there has been coming a lot of trouble makers coming to town both from abroad and from outside the country they are not the main reason for the many arrests. Neither are the police on the streets that to my knowledge are just as surprised and even ashamed that there has been so many arrests. The real reason for the many arrests lies on the top political level. As just before the climate summit a bill was passed called “Lømmelpakken” (the lout package – directly translated). This bill makes it possible for the police to arrest anyone they choose to just on suspicion. That was what Copenhagen was witness to this saturday and that is what makes the issue of violent demonstrators seem bigger than it really is. In fact out of the 1.000 arrested demonstrators just three were charged… I cannot come up with a case that resembles this. Normally it is hard to find someone to pin something like this on, but in Denmark the main responsible is the current minister of justice. A guy who has fucked up a similar position in the cultural ministry. So here so go the real reason that the focus on the climate summit has taken a negative turn, Brian Mikkelsen.

Perfect Demonstration – Ruined…

Saturday afternoon Copenhagen was marked by one of the biggest demonstration the city has ever seen. About 100.000 people gathered in front of the Danish parliament, Christiansborg. I, too, was among the crowd and looked forward to the march to demonstrate the peoples desire for a climate deal that would have real purpose and impact. From the beginning of the demonstration I was amazed by the shear magnitude of the people present. 100.000 people takes up a lot of space. The beginning of the demonstrations were marked by speeches from different stakeholders on the climate issues. At this point the speeches were not really essential to me as they were overruled by the joy and excitement of the growing crowd.

A finally the moment came when everybody started moving and clearly this would be a peaceful demonstration with fun and the cause on everybody’s mind. The first sign of trouble came at Knippelsbro when some thundering firecrackers went off, but what can you expect? To me that’s apart of the show. At that point that was the only thing that had pointed in the direction of a confrontation. Other than that the streets were filled with music, smiles and banners.

But fifteen minutes later the look of the demonstration changed at least for one fraction. Pretty much out of the blue a group of people dressed in black started emerging. They had brought sticks, bottles and stones that soon came flying down the street. The presences of this group was not expected by me and I believe that they had no purpose there – as this was to be a completely peaceful demonstration and they were clearly looking for a confrontation. That group was arrested and rightfully so… But the manor of how that happened is completely unjust. The relatively small group was pinched between the police, but with them hundreds of others. In total one thousand people was arrested… That meant that random people that had just been within the proximity of the confrontational group were arrested too. These people had to spend five hours on the ground in a cold danish december afternoon. I cannot see the justice in this and I cannot believe I live in a country were this is legal, but it is…

A direct result of this police action is that the national and international press coverage has taken a negative approach to the coverage of the event. An event that was perfect from the start and actually also at the end at the Bella Center. But the way that the police chose to handle the fraction of confrontational demonstrators and the press’ angle on the event have resulted in people around the world seeing the demonstration in a negative light. That is unjust and please let us focus on what went well during this event – in stead of focusing on the one thing that went wrong… The Saturday Demonstration was organized very well and the people there played a beautiful part in creating awareness towards the importance of climate solution.

Ladies and Gentlemen; Mr. Leonard Cohen

Stumbled upon this movie about a great man, Leonard Cohen. Watch the movie and take your time it’s pretty great – he’s even funny… And movies from that period are just cool. Anyway enjoy.

http://pitchfork.com/tv/#/episode/2049-ladies-and-gentlemen-mr-leonard-cohen/1

Hopenhagen – Flash Mob

Last friday I was a proud participant in an event in the danish Capital of Copenhagen. The event was quite simple. Make 50 people sunbathe in the cold of october at the exact same time. And by doing so creating a Flash Mob event for the world to see. I was apart of the team that organized the event and we had decided to engage in the project as the purpose was to create attention on the massive climate changes that are occurring globally. We work alongside the municipality of Copenhagen and the campaign Hopenhagen. A campaign with a dual purpose, create awareness on the climate changes and set the right frames for the world leaders in December so that they will sign a new global climate policy. So check out the video and please forward it if you find it fun, interesting or anything in that region.

Less Trash

I while back two friends of mine came up with an alternative and great solution for how to dispose of trash. Good Job Bois!

Peace One Day

For visitors of my blog who are unfamiliar with the concept and documentary called Peace One Day I would love to point you in that direction! Peace One Day was established by Jeremy Gilley. Gilley is a former actor and he got the idea to make a documentary on his pursuits to establish an international day of peace. Needless to say the documentary is now done an available. It’s called “The Day After Peace” and is one of the most inspiring documentaries that I have ever seen. It’s a picture perfect example of what is actually possible as long as you believe in your idea and keep working on it.

Apart from the movie Peace One Day is now an organization that works to further the concept of global seize fire and nonviolence on 21st September every year. To visit their website click here.

Cormac McCarthy – The Road

A while back I, along with a lot of other moviegoers, saw the great movie “No Country for Old Men”. I was impressed with the intense atmosphere that runs through the entire length of the movie. I later learned that the movie was adapted from a book by the same name by the author Cormac McCarhty. I have not read “No Country for Old Men”, but I came across another one of his books called “The Road”. Apparently the book has received many praises both from critics but also in the form of the pulitzer price. I believe the praise is justified, as it is a great and alternative read.

In short the book is about a father and son who travels the streets of an America, somewhere in the future. In this future America is covered by grey clouds and the sun is nowhere to be seen. Most of the people have died as a result of this and the catastrophe that caused it. So far it could have been like any other book on natural disasters, but it’s no way. Actually you are never told what has happened.

The book follows the two travelers as they make their way towards the sea and their efforts to stay alive, which is hard as food is hard to find and they have to stay away from hostile travelers.

I can highly recommend the book as it is a alternative take on a thriller and even horror type book. It is a quick, but great read and I can’t wait for the movie to premiere sometime soon – apparently with Viggo Mortensen in the lead role.

God Damn You, Denmark!

Through recent years I have grown less and less proud of my home country – the reasons are numerous; the radical normalization of Denmark (The closure of the Youth House and the promised invasion of Christiania) and the invasion of Iraq as a ever-faithful of former president Bush… There are more, oh so many more, examples, but those are grim…

And when things were low and we thought that we could not get lower – we did… To give you the full picture I have to bring you up to date on the current political mess that is the danish government. Some years back a party was formed it was called Danish Folk Party. They have through the recent years turned Denmark into the least acceptant country when it comes to refugees. Denmark are now among the countries that accepts least refugees and the one who actually get here we treat like shit and throw them out – into an existence in a “home country” that will mistreat them…

As a result of this the danish government decided to kick out a group of Iraqis, who then sought refugees in a church, where they were welcomed by the priest – needless to say I am a big fan of the guy. They stayed there during the summer, but then out of the blue the police jumped in… And to that there is nothing out of the ordinary… What happened on the other hand is, for me, unacceptable. Before the police entered the church the dressed up… Helmets, stick, the works – full battle gear! And for what? To bring a small group of Iraqis from a church – and at night even?

I am not a religious guy, but to my understanding the church is a sanctuary for all – regardless of color and creed. The church should, and in this case was, a protector of all that is in danger. I respect that – the Danish government do not.

Recently both the government and the police has tried to deny their actions and it has all is a big mess. Cause now they are denying their responsibility and they will not stand up ant that admit what they have done… Sad and right now typically danish..

politikken

Politikken Weekly Article; here

Pictures from Way Back…

When looking at my old myspace profile – the first time in a year and half – I found some old pictures that I really don’t want to loose… So here they are for me to find and if you want to have a look you are more than welcome. They are of friends, Paris and my old boat.

Lost in Adaptation

Having read Chuck Palahniuk’s Choke some years back I was anticipating the release of the adaptation of the book. And this year I sat down to watch what I believed would be an amazing movie, as I had enjoyed the book immensely! I felt that the characters and the different plot where quite easy to translate to the big picture.

In short the book is about Victor and Denny, two sex addicts and their relationship to sex, women, choking for love and money and their jobs at an amusement park that depicts colonial times in the U.S. That is some of the themes for the book all of which makes it an amusing read and to me the best book Palahniuk has ever written – he is also the author of Fight Club…

But in spite of having great material for a movie, first time Director Clark Gregg did not manage to adapt the essence of the book. Although I must admit that some of the scenes has some charm to them. What I think goes wrong is the fact that the director tries to involve the viewer in to many things and he should rather have gone to depth with some of the characters and themes.

So I guess in essence what I have to say is if you kind of like the movie I believe you will love the book. And if you like Choke, the book, or some of Palahniuk’s other works go see Choke, the movie, but don’t get your hopes up too high…