Tammi Helmi Maalis Huhti Touko Kesä Heinä Elo Syys Loka Marras Joulu
I was asked to answer some questions for couple of English and French Internet portals. I thought it might be interesting to put them here as well!
1. Could you explain to our readers when you decided to become a politician?
I have never decided to become a politician, and still after 9 years as a MP I have some difficulties to think of myself as one. I just always have felt a strong need to discuss and influence on things. When I was younger I never could say no if somebody asked me to be active and take part in something.
2. Did you have strong political beliefs during your youth?
Yes. It is really funny to read for example a libretto for a ballet that I wrote at the age of 12, because it's a strong green manifesto. Since then I have learned that the world isn't as black and white as I thought then. But hopefully that little passionate girl who wanted to save the world will keep on living inside of me forever.
3. Was the choice of becoming a "full time politician" difficult to make? Why?
I was 19 when the greens asked me to enter as a candidate in general election, and it was the first time in my life I was allowed to vote. I said immediately yes, and since then the green family has played a major role in my life. I felt like coming home when I learned to know the greens. Now when I have two sons it is much harder to be a "full-time politician" than it was as a student and not yet a MP. I got my first son at the same time as I was elected to the parliament at the age of 24, and the change to become a mother was much bigger than the change to become a MP.
4. If you had to describe your political convictions with 5 words.
Every child has the right to be loved.
5. How could you present the green party to our readers who don´t know it?
The main interest group that we are working for is the generation that is yet not born or is still very young. We should live on this planet as if we had borrowed it from our children. The Green Party tries to come up with solutions for our modern society that could give everybody a better opportunity to live a peaceful life with their loved ones. Human rights, justice, fairness, equality and sustainable development are the values the growing Green League is working for.
6. As a member of the parliament, what will be your priorities for the near future?
Budget, financial aid to students (student grant), public transport, more money to local governments for basic services such as education/schools, health care, taking care of the aged etc. In my opinion there is no need to take more national debt but instead the possible additional expenses should be compensated by raising environmental taxes.
7. What are the positive and negative aspects of being a politician?
I have marvellous friends in the green parliamentary group, also my assistant, and I really enjoy learning new things and meeting new people all the time. Sometimes I get too upset with the political game, but it's for a big help to be able to share my feelings with the other greens. I would like to have a shorter way to my work. Now I have to sit on a train 2h+2h, every day.
8. Do you consider it as a profession or is it more than that?
It feels more like a mission, but not a Mission Impossible.
9. If you had the possibility to totally change your profession, what would you choose?
It would be interesting also to work as a journalist and to try to change the world with power of the media.
10. Why do you think that in Europe people become less and less interested in politics?
We are living in a world that runs faster all the time and the feeling of competition and selfishness has grown. Politics needs people to take time to think, discuss and care.
11. What should be done to change this situation?
We should follow the example of France and shorten the working hours. The society should show that winning and competition in economic growth is of no use if we feel depressed and stressed. We should rather do the measuring by how happy and loved the children and our elderly people feel.
12. What images do you have of France and French people?
When I was about 12-15 years old I was totally sure that I was going to move to Paris some years later. I loved the romantic French language and the elegant French people. As in everything else, I also learned that the world isn't that black and white. I still love the French culture but I'm not so sure about the politics, especially the energy politics of the French government.
13. Is there a French town or region that you particularly appreciate? Why?
I fell in love with Sacre Coeur, and Montmartre as a hole, at Christmas in 1984, when I visited my father who worked then as a guest professor in Paris. The Summer 1988 I lived in a family in Menton and the dark beautiful nights stay always in my memory. My husband and I will never forget Villefranche-Sur-Mer were we parents to two boys had the chance to warm up our romance, when my mother looked after the boys.
14. If you had to choose one French person that could, to your point of view, well represent the image you have of France and French people.who would it be?
Before it would have been Juliette Binoche, but now Gérard Depardieu as Obelix.
15. What are your professional or personal projects for the future?
My project of saving the Baltic Sea for the future generations is still going on.
Syksy tuntuu taas vilahtaneen ohi niin nopeasti, etten oikein ole edes huomannut! Olen ollut muutamilla pitkillä valiokuntamatkoilla ulkomailla, ja nyt eri valiokunnissa on kovasti työtä ja kiirettä budjettiin liittyvien asioiden kanssa.
Laitan tähän linkin vihreiden vaihtoehtobudjettiin, josta näkee selvemmin mitä eri asioita me vihreät yritämme saada omissa valiokunnissamme muutettua verrattuna valtion talousarvioesitykseen! http://www2.eduskunta.fi/fakta/ekryhma/vihr/
Tänään meillä oli täysistunnossa ajankohtaiskeskustelu koulutuksesta ja tutkimuksesta. Laitan oman puheenvuoroni oheen. Oli todella suuri ilo huomata, että moni edustaja viittasi omassa puheenvuorossaan talousarvioaloitteeseemme vuokrakaton korottamisesta.
Janina Andersson /vihr (vastauspuheenvuoro):
Arvoisa puhemies! Voisin vielä yksityiskohtaa tarkemmin kysyä. Elikkä opiskelijajärjestöt ovat yksimielisesti sanoneet, että ykköstavoite on asumislisän vuokrakaton korottaminen. Kun itse opiskelin kymmenen vuotta sitten, se oli samalla tasolla kuin nyt, ja me tiedämme, että vuokrataso on aika erilainen nyt kuin kymmenen vuotta sitten.
Toinen asia: Jos halutaan, että nopeasti valmistutaan, miten on yliopistojen rahoitus ylipäätään? Elikkä löytyykö tenttikirjoja ylipäätään, että saa luettua tentteihin? Onko professoreilla ja assistenteilla aikaa opiskelijoille, kun koko ajan tulee lisää ja lisää opiskelijoita eikä opettajia tule samassa määrässä lisää? Elikkä on tämmöinen massaluennointi ilman tenttikirjoja; eihän siinä voi valmistuakaan
Olimme eilisiltana eduskuntaryhmämme (edustajat ja ryhmäkanslia) kanssa presidentti Halosen vieraina Mäntyniemessä.
Ilta oli todella mukava ja rento, keskustelimme paljon globalisaatiosta ja Kiinan tilanteesta. Kuulimme myös, että tänäkin vuonna Linnan juhlissa tarjotaan luomua ja Reilun kaupan tuotteita, ja Reilua kauppaa presidentti sanoi suosivansa muutenkin! Lisäksi hauskana yksityiskohtana hän mainitsi, että juhlissa tarjottava kivennäisvesi on tuulivoimalla tuotettua Laitilan Vichyä!
Olin tänään Equal Opportunities -seminaarissa, jossa pohdittiin maahanmuuttajien työllistymisasioita. Tilaisuuden teema keskittyy monikulttuurisuuden lisäämiseen työpaikoilla (RIA eli Raising Intercultural Awareness). Tarkoituksena oli luoda keskusteluyhteys Turun seudun työnanta-jien ja maahanmuuttajatyöntekijöiden tai -hakijoiden välille. Teemasta keskusteltiin usealta eri näkökulmalta ja pohdittiin maahanmuuttajien työllistämisen vaikutuksia yritysten toimin-taan.