Current affairs

“We can be proud of Sibelius but we cannot own him. In Finland, the impact of Sibelius has been huge – what did we do to earn that?” asks world-renowned conductor Osmo Vänskä. Vänskä joins the London Philharmonic Orchestra for four concerts exploring the music of Sibelius.

Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb delivered a speech on the relationship between the European Union and the United States at Chatham House in London on 27 January. Chatham House is among the world’s most prestigious fora for research and debate on international affairs.

The Baltic Sea Action Summit, scheduled for February 2010 in Helsinki, focuses on a single issue: If we wish to save the Baltic Sea, then there is no time to lose. The event brings together top politicians, business figures, scientists and civil society representatives.

In August last year, Colonel Esa Salminen, former Commander of Signal Regiment in Riihimäki, became the new Defence Attaché in London. We interviewed the Colonel to learn more about his colourful background and the mysterious job of a Defence Attaché.

Last year Molly Tawney, 12, and her family travelled to Lapland for Christmas. An exhilarating and fun experience of deep snow, sledging, skiing and reindeer inspired Molly to write a poem for the John Betjeman poetry competition – which she won, out of some 2,000 entries.

In a decision announced on November 25, Helsinki becomes the World Design Capital for 2012, making Finland’s northern winter suddenly seem a lot brighter.

Helsinki has been elected the World Design Capital of the year for 2012 by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid) at its recent world congress in Singapore.

The new joint-Nordic music export project JA JA JA was launched in London in mid November. The event seeks to support aspiring Nordic artists in their journey to international fame.

On 5 November 2009 the Finnish Government granted consent for Nord Stream AG to construct an offshore natural gas pipeline system that will traverse the Baltic Sea. Nord Stream will act as the operator of the natural gas pipeline system, which involves two parallel pipelines.

It isn't quite the same adrenaline rush as when Finnish