Finland Wants Its Troops To Stop Smoking

Wait, Finland has an army? I kid, I kid.

(Via - Copyranter)

Michael Cassette - Ghost In The Machine

FINLAND: Three Men Arrested In Pepper Spray Attack On Helsinki Pride

Three men have been arrested and charged with a hate crime for unleashing pepper spray and smoke bombs during Helsinki's pride parade last weekend.

Officers are also looking for three other individuals suspected of participating in the assault. Over 30 people were hit by the spray. No one was seriously injured, however, some of the victims were children. Helsinki police officer Kari Aaltio said that the attack seemed to be meticulously planned. “First the perpetrators released smoke over the parade. Then they went around the block and attacked parade participants with the spray. At least two types of gases were used. The perpetrators were dressed in black.” Police are still looking for several other perpetrators. The suspects come from outside of Helsinki and are Finns. Police are trying to determine if they belong to a larger group.

Finland's President Tarja Halonen denounced the attack.

“This is a very unfortunate situation for those participating in the parade and for Finns. We are accustomed to respecting people's differences, both morally and of course under the law.” “Many countries put on a Pride festival. Finland had a good reputation in the past. Now it’s been delivered a harsh blow. This incident could result in the kind of brand we don't want,” she added. Halonen also expressed concern for the parade’s participants. ”It has taken decades of work for them to believe that we are on the side of human rights, and we value individuals' rights to choose their sexual orientation,” she said.

The assailants were caught on camera by a local television crew as they fled the scene.

(Tipped by JMG reader Roosa)

FINLAND: Broadband Access Is A Right

Finland has become the first country in the world to make broadband internet access a legal right.

From 1 July every Finn will have the right to access to a 1Mbps (megabit per second) broadband connection. Finland has vowed to connect everyone to a 100Mbps connection by 2015. In the UK the government has promised a minimum connection of at least 2Mbps to all homes by 2012 but has stopped short of enshrining this as a right in law. The Finnish deal means that from 1 July all telecommunications companies will be obliged to provide all residents with broadband lines that can run at a minimum 1Mbps speed.

About 96% of Finnish households already have internet access.

Eurovision 2010: Finland's Työlki Ellää

Now this is the Eurovision kitsch I love. Folk music, accordions, blonds, and bare feet. And not a pale American pop imitation.