"Bury the chains" - Adam Hochschild

Yes, the chains was buried - but no. They aren`t. Even if England got this law against slavery in 1833, the slavery still exists. I have been reading this remarkable book about how a prosess amongst few men became a national and international movement for essential human rights, - the fight against slavery.

Through this wonderful book Hochschild describes how these men worked to create an awareness about the reality of slavery. People like Thomas Clarkson, Olaudah Equianos, Granville Sharp and William Wilberforce were some of the main persons in this fight.

The slavery at that time is similar to the slavery we see today. In many ways! It is so interesting to see how the history repeat it self. The mask fall down (at the face of the slave) and we cannot see the true story behind and the life of the slaves. Even the newspapers photo of a trafficked women could be something which hide the true story about how it really is TO BE HER! We just see a mask, and because it is so difficult to understand - some really think that she is ok. Despite of what they read and see.

But the heroes (named above), didn`t stop telling the world, what slavery was. They didn`t stop telling true stories and creating awarenss and attention of the situation. Fundamental human rights was something to fight for.

And it is today.

I met one girl in Nigeria... She told me her story. She was one of the poor girls working in the street of Benin City. One day a woman came to her and gave her this fantastic possibility of having an education and a job. Even maybe also in Europe! She had no idea about the world outside Benin City. She didn`t know that it would take her months to come to the north of Africa. And then months of waiting in Marocco...
She told me, visible traumatized and with tears in her eyes, that she saw women who died of hunger on her way. They were dumped in the desert. And then (i was not prepared), she told about the women who became raped and killed. I didn`t really understood what she said. It was too awful. But i saw her eyes and wrote down what she told me.

And then, in a conversation with one of the nigerian back home in Stavanger and Norway. She asked me about how it was for me to be in Nigeria. I told her about all the the meetings, conversations and impressions i got. I told her about this special girl who told me about her way to Europe.

And the woman said seriously: "oh, the same story. I didn`t know if i ever would come to Europe. But i did. And now i am a slave".

And the debat of criminalize the buyer of sexual services is going on in Norway. As a social worker i see which kind of consequences prostitution have for the women. I also see that the open and not illegal market of sex-workers in Norway suits the traffickers. The money flows, and it surely increase.

I will not stop describing the "slaves of today"! And Adam Hochschild has done a great job, in letting us know how to "bury the chains".

Talk about it!

With canoe to the Gloppedalsura

What a trip! This sunday we (my wife and our children) had a trip with canoe to the Gloppedalsura. The biggest scree in the north of Europe. We paddled into the end of the water, close to the scree, and made a fire there. We grilled and had a good bath. What a overwhelming nature. Big mountains, forrest and waters! THIS IS SOMETHING for the soul! 





And then, in the evening we had to go home...

Thriatlon and a trip to Birkeland!

Found this photo in the local newspaper, Gjesdalbuen.

Yes i have participated in my first thriatlon at Ålgård, my homeplace! I did 300 m swimming in Edlandsvatnet, 15 km cycling around the Limavatnet and then 3 km running in the centrum of Ålgård. It took me 48 minutes and some seconds, and i am satisfied. I have never ever done this, and with not too much of training - it was perfect. I will definetely train more for my thriatlon.

Well, yesterday we went to Henriks mothers cabin at Birkeland. A place up in the mountains from here (Ålgård). We enjoyed the day together with good friends, bathing, meals, berries and peace! Some photo under to describe what it was like.

This was our first trip to this place after Vigdis and i spend our honeymoon there, 11 years ago. So it was so nice to be back!

Blueberry at Ivesdal

Yes, yesderday was a historic moment for me. I have been married to Ivesdal (eh, i mean my wife Vigdis, who comes from this beautiful place), but has never ever picked blueberries there. I don`t know why, because they are there, just twenty minutes up in the mountain.
My sister in law, Margrete, and i had a trip yesterday. We picked these tastefully berries for to hours and got almost 15 liters altogether. I think it was a good result! And yes, i have understood that the berries are healty. I read about it in The Guardian.

Each time i go to Ivesdal, i am overwhelmed of the nature and scenery. The silence and the fresh air gives me the break and recover i need. It gives me new strength for working in the city and live the daily life at Ålgård.



... and for eleven years i have been taking pictures of the chapel at Ivesdal. It is funny, because the church and the environment around doesn`t change. But i just love that chapel. It is so nice, and the memories of our wedding in that chapel are fantastic!!! Vigdis and i married there in 1995.

English players - a loss at Arsenal

Arsenal do have a lot of magnificent players. But they don`t have so many english left. The players at Arsenal are from France, Spain, Germany, Ivory Coast, Togo, Switzerland, Netherland and so on...

These days it seems as we are loosing Sol Campbell and Ashley Cole. They played for England in the world cup, and are the only English players left at Arsenal.

Yes, there are some promising english talents left in the club, - Walcott, Hoyte, Connoly... But i don`t expect them to play regulary.

So, this season will maybe be without english players. Our stadium will be empty of english players, just foreigners.

The boss for England doesn`t need to watch Arsenal. There is no players he can use!

10 - 15 years ago we won the league with a lot of English players. Some of them were really PLAYERS and the supporters loved them. Everybody knows about Tony Adams, Ian Wright and Paul Merson.

But David Rocastle was maybe the player with the best technique and individual skills. Unusal for players those days. He grew up in the Arsenal academy an got the opportunity to play regulary in the team. Also when he was young. It ended up with victory and gold. He became an English international together with David Seaman, Tony Adams, Paul Merson, Ian Wright...

He was the best player, and i had the opportunity to see him at his best - live. Highbury was full of plastic-bananas, and everybody shouted: "Rocky, Rocky..."! They loved their player, and after watching this video, you will know why!