Finland - Erkka

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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.