My name is Erkka Kulmala and
I'm a semi-active
member of the Finnish chapter.
I am part of the local chapter in Turku.
I joined about a year ago
when I saw the Zeitgeist documentaries
At that time there were Zeitgeist:Movie and Zeitgeist:Addendum
For a long time I have been concerned of society and the state of the world
and these documentaries
- even if I didn't agree with everything -
in any case, they were the best I had seen so far
and I wanted to take action. This gave me an avenue for just that.
I support the movement because it's outside
of party politics and other decision making
and it includes good self-criticism or at least a chance for it
of course it doesn't always come true
I think that in whatever we do
we should always take into account the underlying humanity.
We don't always know what affects us
certain things that we are not always aware of
and I think in Zeitgeist it is taken into account
and the knowledge is even disseminated
about the underlying human behavior
mechanisms that have such a big effect.
I also support the fact that at least in principle
the movement is based on the scientific method
that prevents a lot of that
emotion-based action that causes so many problems today.
In my opinion the biggest achievement in Turku
- as far as I know -
is the screening of Moving Forward
in a movie theater in the very center of the city
and hundreds of people took part.
We got support
without having to give anything in exchange
- it was a private gift -
and managed to have a great space and nice equipment
- equipment in par with such a great documentary.
As for problems, we've had too few people involved
Of course it's a problem everywhere
I'd also say that the fact that there are only guys is a problem
- for whatever the reason there are too few women -
and we definitely need women to go along.
Also a certain group dynamics is called for.
We are dealing with quite dire issues
and it would be nice to keep it positive
because we already have too much negativity in this world.
I believe we could involve more people with
positively oriented action.
Politically we have had big chances
for instance in the past elections the right wing party got a lot of support
Personally I'm not very interested in politics
because when you follow their decision making process
- it's aired in the public radio
and accessible for anyone -
it sounds so appalling, the way they
try to make decisions.
It's everything but constructive:
It's pointing fingers
and I think it's manipulation,
and power struggle.
I remember one session that dealt with unemployment.
For the first 15 minutes they only talked
about personal schisms.
When we are dealing with something
as serious as unemployment,
who in their right mind only aims to enhance their own ego?
It sounds absurd.
Socially, as much as I've followed,
it seems that inequality is in rise
the gap between rich and the poor is widening
and unemployment is rising.
Socially, in Finland, we are getting worse and worse
all the time, as far as I'm concerned.
Economically... well, the economic situation
is the same here as it is elsewhere.
The public debt goes up,
we commit more and more to support
the path led by the central banks
and to support the
countries that are in crisis.
The support seems to go to banks, not to people.
I am not satisfied.
In my mind, we are going to a worse direction on every area
which doesn't diminish at all my concern for the future.
I see the change happens in baby steps.
We can already see that the sense of community is in the rise
and we have Non-governmental organizations that
drive forward a more democratic money system
that wouldn't be controlled by the select few.
I can't agree 100% with what is now
discussed about resource-based economy
but the direction is more than correct,
one of the best I've heard of so far.
I hope it is still being developed
and that we could be open to new ideas,
even if they didn't come from us
and that we would openly discuss and cooperate
with other organizations and movements.
One thing that lacks a lot
especially in my home country Finland
is courage:
courage to follow your own feelings and
continue pushing for what one holds dear,
courage to be unselfish and not to fear
because it's fear that directs us...
It's a means to control us.
Openness, courage and
pushing to the same direction.
Let's listen to our hearts and follow through until the end.
Remember to be courageous,
fret not,
fear stops our development.
Be courageous
Don't be afraid
because it stops our development.