Jugend in Riga

I spent the weekend in Riga, capital of Latvia, on a conference with my job. I really like the people I work with and we have now settled how we will work with the new layout we will present during the Social Democratic Party’s congress in a few weeks time. Riga was an interesting city well worth a visit; did you know that around 40 percent of the buildings in city center are modeled on the famous jugend architecture? And if you happens to go there, don’t miss the amazing resort Jurmala.

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And guess what: The Reverend Al Sharpton, prominent civil rights activist, is descended from a slave owned by relatives of the late senator and one-time segregationist Strom Thurmond. More about this historical irony here.

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They don’t write about us all that often, but this week The Economist has a long article about Sweden and our ”growing worries about Russia fuel a love-in with Norway”.

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There is nothing left to be said about the Oscars: I am glad Scorsese and Gore won, “The life of others” is great, but Babel could have won something more.

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If you are in doubt: a pan-European movement exists, and it is called the Party of European Socialists (PES). Latest campaign, about shutting the gender pay gap, here.

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And the most difficult article I have ever been involved in writing can be read here.