Nordic Horizons

Possible Orkney - Meeting Notes and Audio

This event was excellent and a packed audience, judging from Facebook and Twitter, enjoyed a lively debate of the ideas raised. Graham Hogg and Alex Hobday presented a vison of a 'Nordic Scotland' which was challenging and different. You can listen to the audio below and download a copy of their presentation as well. However, it is worth understanding the background to this presentation, which sounds more like a manifesto. Judge for yourself.

Slides and Audio of 'Excellent Elderly Care'

Following the presentation of Professor Marta Szebehey of Stockholm University, we have now posted both her slide presentation and audio recordings of the meeting. These material are all available for download here. Please feel free to pass this on to others who were notable to make this meeting.

Possible Orkney - the poster

Book now!

Change of venue - Possible Orkney

Mike Mackenzie MSP has kindly offered to host this meeting in the Scottish Parliament, Committee Room 3. The timing and date of this meeting are unchanged - 1 May 2013 at 6pm - it is simply the venue that has been altered. More details of how to book tickets will appear here and on our Facebook page.

Possible Orkney - Nordic Scotland - Up Coming Event !

Nordic Scotland - Graham Hogg and Alex Hobday

Hemma Bar  - 6pm May 1st 2013

Possible Orkney

Orkney sits at a strategic location within the Northern Periphery - a gateway for the Nordic region within a global context. Possible Orkney is a large group of projects at varying scales looking at how to integrate Scotland into this Nordic region through its exploitation of the shipping, renewable and tourist industries. The presentation will include the research and reasoning for Nordic Scotland's proposals on Orkney followed by the presentation of the architectural interventions planned and a manifesto for a future Orkney, and Scotland, and their integration into the Nordic region.

Next Meeting - 'Beyond NATO' - March 4

Norway is a member of NATO, Finland is not. Does that single fact produce radically different thinking about peace and security in the two nations? Or does more unite the Nordic neighbours who are both members of the Arctic Council and other alliances, both reject nuclear weapons in their waters, share outlooks on neutrality and the importance of non-military peaceful activity?

How did the experience of World War shape the outlook of these two countries in the sphere of international relations and what is the right size for their defence forces?

Defence policy in an independent Scotland was a controversial and divisive issue during 2012. Can the defence strategies of Nordic nations usefully inform both Scottish and UK debate?

And how does the international relations community regard the possibility of an independent Scotland in the context of security?

Anne Palm runs Finland’s Civil society conflict prevention network (KATU) and Iver Neuman is Professor of International Relations at London School of Economics and was senior adviser to the Norwegian Foreign Ministry. Chaired by Lesley Riddoch, writer and broadcaster.

Ticket details here.

Beyond NATO - March 4 - Now open for bookings

This event , co-hosted with the Europa Institute , Edinburgh University, will explore the two faces of Nordic Security. More details of speakers and free tickets are available here. Early booking is advised.

Stop Press - next event update - Great Green Danes - 16 Jan

1. No places left - if you have a place and now can't come or if you'd like to go on waiting list contact nordichorizons@hotmail.co.uk

2. Video conference link with UHI Exec Office in Inverness - they can connect with other UHI learning centres in H&I if there's demand or move to a larger room in Ness Bank in Sneckie. For all this contact Elaine Morrison  ( elaine.morrison@uhi.ac.uk )

3. Great Scottish speakers are coming -- Drew Ratter from Shetland Islands Council on its pretty enormous Viking wind project and Martin Mathers from Scottish Power Renewables (in personal capacity) who once studied Samsoe for a dissertation.

Nordic Welfare - a DIY Guide - A Short Audio Precis

Nordic Welfare Event Poster

After the meeting about Nordic Welfare with Profs Jon Kvist and Jochen Clasen, we have recorded a short summary podcast with Lesley Riddoch giving her report and initial thoughts.

You can download and listen to Nordic Welfare - A Short Guide with Lesley Riddoch

If you would like a copy of the presentation which is an excellent guide to the Danish Welfare perspective, we have posted a full copy of Prof Kvist slides here. The full audio recordings of the presentations and lively Q&A session are also available here.

The Copenhagen House of Food

 

Anya Hultberg

Anya Hultberg of the Copenhagen House of Food talks to Lesley Riddoch about the amazing conversion of Copenhagen's public kitchens to organic. It is an integral part of the 'Carbon Neutral by 2025 ' plan for Copenhagen. Organic food is embedded in the Eco-metropolis plans for 2015.

 ( Lesley also wrote about the Copenhagen House of Food in the Scotsman here. ) 

 

Download and listen to the interview with Anya Hultberg of the Copenhagen House of Food here.