O S M A F Frankenhaeuser

Since Trump came to power I have been following a closed group on FB, dedicated to resistance and action in the US. Through this group I can follow all the protest marches around the country, it gives advice how to keep contact with senators and MPs, it publishes practical guides on how to resist the Trump agenda, and, most importantly, one of the members keeps a list of what has changed. Her motivation: “Experts in authoritarianism advise to keep a list of things subtly changing around you, so you’ll remember.”
The lists are detailed and long and are published weekly. I find them invaluable, since they will absolutely help us all remember. Adjusting to change is one of the most valuable traits in us as humans, but it is not always a blessing.

From many other points of view the group has become increasingly diffcult to follow from a European perspective. It has turned inwards, and as it is very detailed when it comes to what is happening in the US. Although I feel that much the same is happening here in Europe, as well as in other parts of the world, it is difficult to see how our reality would be relevant to anyone in the US right now. And yet I understand and fully support how important it is to resist, in great detail, and how important it is to remember what has changed.

However, I think I now have found something that does unite us. A piece of advice we can all benefit from.

The two recent terrorist attacks, first in the Petersburg underground and then in Stockholm, came as a shock to all of us in the Nordic countries. Since then loads has been written about what this might mean to us all. 

One comment seems to me to be really important. The journalist and author Elisabeth Åsbrink argues in the Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter that we can all become activists. That resisting terror is easy, free of charge and does not carry any particular risc. Everyone can do it, she says, it takes very little time and effort. And the method is so simple that any child, any adult or elderly person can do it.

Her advice is simply: Look each other in the eyes. Engage in small talk. Talk to your neighbour, the busdriver, the lady in the supermarket. Say hello. Look at the persons you pass in town or at work, don not just pass them.Start a conversation in the train. By looking someone in the eyes we acknowledge each other. For a few moments we are here, sharing our common space, supporting an open society. This kind of simple humanity is what the terrorists hate most, this is what they want us to stop doing. Instead, they want us to be afraid. Of each other, of them, of everything. But humanity is what keeps societies together. Our ability to trust each other is what makes us human. And without trust, there is no democracy.

For those who do not live in or come from one of the Nordic societies this advice might seem strange. In France for example, simply being polite aqcuires people to talk to each other. But in the Nordics this is not an everyday activity. And, what Elisabeth Åsbrink means with her text is not that we should simply be polite. What she is after is something more profound.

Today societies everywhere are being painted in black and white, and little attention is given to the many shades of grey in between. People are constantly divided into those who are with me and those who are against me. This is what the terrorists want. This is also, unfortunately, what many politicians and governments today preach. Therefore it is more important than ever to resist.

So become an active antiterrorist. Look each other in the eyes. Talk to people, talk with people. Build trust, openness, communication. Simply – be human.

This is a very tranquil corner of the world. Life is simple and enjoyable, the weather plays an important role and is a daily topic, as are weather forecasts for the coming days. Then there is of course food, restaurants worth visiting and hints and tips about where one can by fresh produce. Not to mention wine. That can also get a long discussion going.

For Africa the main excitement of the past week has been the pheasant family that has chosen the area around our house as the new home. It is hard to be a hunting dog, a bird hunting dog, and not be allowed to go after those wonderful birds. In fact I think she finds it totally incomprehensible that we do not want her to bring home these juicy steaks? Why not? Would be great, and so good, she seems to say. She’d be happy to oblige.

However, the upcoming French elections are obviously also here, in full force. Everywhere one can hear people discussing the candidates, the latest debate etc. Filip has studied voting in the previous presidential elections 2012 here in Vaucluse, and just as everyone has said, FN dominates. Except for one little village, Lourmarin. Anyone seen Asterix and Obelix around? But, having said that, one must also remember that Marine le Pen does not have support over 30% anywhere. Even here it is around 25%. And that is not enough to govern, nor to take the presidency – I hope.

Spring cares little about world politics, and although we do not have leaves on all trees yet, when temperatures rise well above 20 in the afternoons, it feels more like early summer than spring. The oaks are starting to get green, not all of them however, they are remarkably different, and the first yellow flowers are appearing around the house. Soon it will be a cascade.

While all this is happening protests are mounting in Finland against the asylum policy of the government, thank God, Xi Jinping has visited Finland on his way to the US, Trump is his usual self and, good news, Bannon is out of the security council. Articles in the press suggest that the economy is slowly getting better in Europe, bringing with it more hope and positive news for the EU, in spite of Brexit. And atleast at the moment it does not seem linely we will get a Frexit.

From Thailand back to Finland for a day, and off we went again to France.

First to Tignes for a week of skiing. We had very variable weather, to say the least. The first day was sunny and nice, so we had a chance to get acquainted with the area, but the next two days were so stormy and snowy that we concentrated on the local restaurants instead. Good lunches!

Fortunately the storm subsided and we could get out on the slopes again. With, obviously, a lot of sof and lovely snow. And an avalanche warning of 4 out of 5, which meant that very few lifts were running. One reason being that an avalanche came down right over a piste in Tignes la Claret, where we were staying, on the second stormy day. Even in spite of the storm there were people out skiing, and the avalanche hit 43 of them. Fortunately nobody was hurt. But since pistes should at all times be secured, I can understand everyone was a little on edge the following day and that not many lifts opened. However, there was more than enough of snow to ski where the lifts did open, so no worries.

And then the weather turned warm and sunny, and we could truly enjoy the magnificient landscape and the enormous skiing area.