Newsletter by International Barents Secretariat, 2/2015
Dear Readers,
In the old time, October was the month for moving in Sweden. It was the time when the peasants were allowed to renegotiate their employment contracts and were thus free to move. For some reason, the tradition of moving during this month remains, even though there is no longer any practical reason for it. October is also a month of change for us this year. On the 14-15 October, the Finnish national chairmanship was handed over to Russia and the regional chairmanship was changing from Arkhangelsk to Kainuu in Finland.
At the IBS office we are also facing some changes. Our Environmental Adviser, Tuuli Ojala, is leaving and we are currently finishing the recruitment of her replacement. We thank Tuuli for a very good effort during her two years with us and we wish her all the best in her new position.
As you may already have noticed, we also have a new layout on our website and we hope that this will make it easier for you to find what you are looking for. We are more than happy to receive your feedback on the content and the structure of the new website.
In this edition of the Barents Saga you have quite a ‘smorgasbord’ to choose from. You can read a report from the Barents Summer Games or meet young entrepreneurs inspiring the audience at the Barents Reunion in Torneå/Haparanda. Two of our working groups, the Culture JWG and the working group on Education and Research, will also provide updates on their current issues. If you feel like a brief escape from the autumn darkness, you can also follow our new intern, Rebecka Snefuglli Sondell, on her cycling trip from Sweden to Kirkenes.
Have a nice time reading.
Tomas Hallberg
Head of the International Barents Secretariat