A couple of weeks ago The Economist sent me an email where they invited me to be a participant in their Thinking Space project, a sort of social meme. It is an honour to be considered worthy of this project and of course I want to contribute. The only requirement for me to participate was that I wrote my blogpost in English. Their wish is my command.
The Economist: Thinking Space
The projects evolves around the theme “thinking space” and The Economist wants to get in touch with people they consider to be “opinion leaders around Europe” (sic!).
We are currently helping The Economist get in touch with opinion leaders around Europe to ask them where they get their ideas (their ‘thinking space’) and we felt you fitted their criteria perfectly.
The Economist, or rather the people working for them, had found me through this blog and thought I fit their project perfectly(!). I am of course flattered.
In their email they asked me to answer some questions and publish some images to illustrate my thinking space. I have therefore spent some time trying to figure out what I want to show the world. I finally decided that it would be nice to present some pictures from a couple of organic farms since I am a big supporter of organic farming. Last week I spent some time taking pictures on a couple of these farms ( … and trying to figure out how to use my SLR camera in a way that would not make me look like a complete idiot.). You can see the result of my cluttering with a camera below. The farms are located about one and a half hours drive North of Oslo, Norway.
I have also published this blogpost in my main blog: Undreverset – The Economist: My Thinking Space
My contribution to My Thinking Space
A field of organic rye in the Eastern part of Norway. Oppland county in the background.
The Norwegian Ministry of agriculture and food have stated that they want 15 % of all farming in Norway to be organic by 2015. They also want 15 % of the food consumption to be organic by the end of this year.
A field of organic rye in the foreground and a field of organic oat in the background
: They say there is no place on Earth where the sun lights the sky and the ground like where I was born and raised. This special kind of bright light that floods the sky and every year nourishes the great big fields. My ancestors have lived here for centuries. I have lived here all my life. I don’t think I will ever leave. I would lose a piece of my soul if I had to.
Young oxen on organic farm.
By the end of 2007 only 4.7 % of farming in Norway was organic. Only 3.9 % of the total of area used for agriculture had achieved the status of being organic. 0.8 % was still developing into organic agriculture. (Source: Økologisk matproduksjon – Norwegian only)
Road on an organic farm in the Eastern part of Norway.
: I must admit I have never traveled much. It has never been in me. I do my travels in my mind.
This May the Ministry of agriculture and food announced that there was an increase in the number of farms that wanted to go organic. 104 farms has signed up for organic agriculture during January till March 2009. 80 farms have left the organic agricultural program during the same period. (Source: Økologisk: Flere økobønder – Norwegian only)
Ladybird on organic oat
: They say I think too much. I say “That’s just me”.
***
[The questions The Economist wants me to answer:]
What is your current profession and how did you choose your career path (where did you study, learn, become inspired)?
I am currently a student of literature, languages, culture and communication. I have always loved to read and write so the subjects suits me very well and I look forward to complete my bachelor’s degree in the near future.
What I actually will be doing for a living when I have completed my degree is still a bit of a mystery to me. Hopefully I will be able to work with text in a variety of ways.
Where did you grow up? How did it influence who you are today?
I was born in a small city in the East of Norway. I have lived in the nearby areas all my life - because I just never could bother to move anywhere else. The wide open spaces, the blue sky and experiencing the changes of season that is so important for this area as it has lots of farms depending on a good climate has made me very conscious about the environment.
What are you passionate about, outside of work?
Well, if you by work mean studies I am passionate about my cats, my friends, music, my guitars, politics, the environment, organic agriculture and of course blogging.
As I am writing this something very exciting and interesting is going on in my blog. Through my Twitteraccount (@Undreverset) I sent a notice to the leader of one of the major political parties in Norway, Høyre (The Conservatives). I asked the leader, Erna Solberg, if she would like to read a blogpost I had written about their recent announcement regarding what their politics on health is because I disagreed with quite a lot with their proposal (Norwegian only). Instantly she replied that she had read my blogpost and was replying as well. Not only did she take the time to read and reply she also took the time to get into the debate. I think it was a very valuable experience.
The general election (stortingsvalget) in Norway is coming up in September and most of the running parties and their candidates have discovered the power of participating actively on the Internet. Four years have passed since the last general election and it is very exciting to be a participant in the social media revolution that is taking place around us right now. Never before have the politicians been this close to their potential voters. Never before have we as citizens of Norway had this kind of opportunity to voice our opinions and engage in dialogue with our politicians.
The dialogue that was established in the comment field under my blogpost was very interesting and useful. It really showed the importance of creating a space where we can share the nuances of our opinions, something the mainstream media seems to be unable or unwilling to do. This is one of the really great things about the new social media, that it gives both the public and the politicians an unedited space where spontanious dialogues can happen and where the politicians can show the nuances and depth of their politics (… or lack of it). The Twittersphere and the blogosphere and what happens when these universes connect is very valuable. I must admit I experienced quite the Web 2.0-euphoria.
I am also one of two entrepreneurs behind a larger Norwegian web project that will be launched online in January 2010. We already have some really talented people on our team and are looking forward to fill what we see as a void in the Norwegian blogosphere and hopefully become one of the largest blog-services in the country. The process we have engaged in is also quite unique seeing that none of the people participating in it have ever met in person. We have made contact solely through blogs, Twitter and Facebook. All of the people involved are connected to Norway in some way, but we are spread all over the Western hemisphere. The Internet once again proves that there really are no borders. Through free services like Google documents and Google groups it is easy for us to communicate, share information and give updates on the current status of the project.
What was the last thing that made you laugh?
My cats (which as I am writing are walking all over my desk). They are a true blessing.
Your Thinking Space
I have found that I get my most brilliant ideas, if I may say so, when I am riding my bike. Or during that moment right before I fall asleep. Though that just might be due to bad jugdement on my part as I rarely remember those ideas after I wake up, just the notion of them … I also like to share thoughts with friends because I value their opinions and knowledge and together we usually improve each other’s ideas.
Why have you chosen this as your thinking space? (Reference to the image you took of your Thinking Space i.e. your own workspace)
So this is my desk (though I must admit I have organized it just for this picture).
Can you tell us about the different objects featured in your Thinking Space: what is the story behind each object? Is it of unique significance to you? What does it tell us about you? How would you feel if it went missing?
A good workspace should have good lighting. The walls surrounding my workspace are white, and I’ve got three different lamps. You can see the foot of one of them in this picture. There are also windows that give me good lighting though not a very interesting view. The newspaper, “Ren mat” (“Clean food”), that is issued by Oikos and the magazine, “Folkevett” (“Common sense”) by Framtiden i våre hender (see links below for more details) often inspires my blogging. Nina Simone is one of my favourite artists and I always have one of her CDs nearby. A cup of quality organic tea is usually some where around me too. I also like to have a notebook close by. Two of them are included in this picture. (I also keep a notebook by the bed.) Then I’m all set to get started!
Your favourite blogs, websites. Do you have any favourite blogs or other websites that you check out regularly?
I read a lot of blogs. Mainly Norwegian blogs. And I use Wikipedia a LOT, still I have never participated in the Wiki project. And I like to keep up to date on news regarding organic farming, environmental issues and things like that, so I subscribe to a lot of newsletters on the subject in addition to the newspapers and magazines I suscribe to (see above).
This is a small number of all the blogs I follow. I have chosen them because these are the bloggers that inspire me the most right now:
- Ars ethica (in Norwegian only) – This is a blog that I have read for several years now. The title of the blog comes from Latin and means (roughly) “The art of ethics”. In his blog the blogger discusses subjects on ethics and religion, himself not being a theist. (Please update more often!)
- Avil – Avil aka Kristine Tofte became a published fantacy author this spring. I have always envied Avil’s way of writing and have very much looked forward to her novel. I have started to read her novel and I love what I have read so far. Avil has a true gift, she can touch her reader’s heart with her words.
- Bharfot (in Norwegian only) – Bharfot is one of the best bloggers on culture. It is always a thrill to read what she has to say about artists and their works, exhibitions, shows and concerts she has been to, films she has watched and books she has read. I hope someone will pay her to write someday very soon (like yesterday even!).
- Håkon (in Norwegian only) – Håkon does not publish blogposts very often but when he does he always has something interesting to say. He has got both brains and heart.
- Hjartesmil (partly in English) – one of the most interesting new Norwegian blogs. The name of the blog means “heartsmile(-s)”. And her blog makes my heart smile. She writes amusing and peculiar little texts about her life, about friends, about vintage clothes and the lists goes on – and she takes lovely pictures. Go visit that blog!
- HvaHunSa (in Norwegian only – but she was also invited to participate in this project so you can read one blogpost in English at least) – HvaHunSa (WhatSheSaid) is a smart and kind woman. She has many well supported views and a big heart to guide her. It is always interesting to hear what she has to say.
- Iskwew (in Norwegian only – but she has got an English site as well: http://iskwew.com/) – Iskwew amazes me with her insight and her kind spirit. In her blog she shares her thoughts, opinions and comments on news, politics, current issues and much more and she shares heartwarming stories about her son, “Tiger cub”, and her cats.
- Kaffebønnen (in Norwegian ony) – Elisabeth is one of the persons who inspires me the most when it comes to finding great music. She recently become a published author too. There are lots of bright things in her future.
- Kamikaze (in Norwegian ony) – Kamikaze is an intelligent and compassionate person. She always has an interesting spin on her view of things.
- Kvinnekongen (in Norwegian only) – Kvinnekongen is a superb feminist blogger. In her blog she hails “the female king”. Women who are outstanding and do not let anyone put them down.
- Mad Mulla Hastur (in Norwegian only)- this guy writes blogposts that are hilariously funny. Simple as that.
- Minnea (in Norwegian only) – Norwegian girl residing in Minneapolis, MN, USA. Minnea looks on Norway from the outside. It is always interesting to read how Norwegians look upon Norway from abroad. Minnea has interesting analysis of life in general and always support her views thoroughly.
- Virrvarr (in Norwegian only) – Virrvarr aka Ida Jackson is one of the most notable Norwegian bloggers. Last year she became a published author and surprised Norwegian media by writing critics on their interviews and articles about her and her book and publishing them in her blog. In her blog Virrvarr also shares stories from her personal life. She has been a ground breaking blogger in Norway when it comes to blogging about mental health issues, sexuality and sexual abuse. This girl is a female king.
I also want to share these web sites that gives me interesting and useful news and updates on environmental, organic and Fair Trade issues:
- Oikos.no (information in English available here) – Oikos is a national movement of organic producers and consumers in Norway. I am a member of this organization.
- Framtiden.no (information in English available here) – Framtiden i våre hender, “The Future in Our Hands”, is the largest movement for comprehensive social change in Norway. I am also a member of this organization.
- Miljoeogsundhed.dk (information in English available here) – A Danish information centre for issues concerning the environment and health. They provide me with international news and information days before it reaches any Norwegian site with the same type of content.
Do you have your own Spotify playlist or any other playlist? Who are your favourite artists, soundtracks?
I am so glad you asked! I love sharing music with people! And I am always excited when I can match a person with a new song, band or artist. I have been using Spotify since last year and I have found lots of excellent music there. This summer I started to make playlists that I’ve published in both of my blogs and on Twitter.
You can find the playlists if you follow this (English) or this (Norwegian only) link.
I also have also recently started a Sharemyplaylists blog:
http://musicwhilewebreathe.sharemyplaylists.com/
As you can see on the picture of my desk I included a CD by Nina Simone. I do love her voice. But there are really too many artists and bands that I like to count. Mainly I enjoy indie music but I am not stuck to one genre. I like to explore different types of music. (Yes, and Spotify is my new BFF.)
(All images are by me. Thank you very much, Minnea, for doing magic to them on your computer! The occasional spots on the pictures are my mistakes. There was something on my lens.)
