The factory of the world
The China phenomenon has been the main topic in economic discussion for years, and the effects of outsourcing have been covered on many occasions. However, not so much emphasis has been put on how factories actually move to China. Ordinary Finnish people move them, and Chinese workers work in them. What is difficult from their point of view? How do they feel about outsourcing? We also take a look at the latest news in the field of Chinese human rights. The Chinese Government has promised to improve the situation, but is anything really happening?
Mover
There are no immigrants in the Finnish Parliament yet, but the next general election will be held in March 2007. Zahra Abdulla, a 40-year-old Member of the Helsinki City Council, came close to getting in the Parliament last time. She was born in Somalia, and later moved to Russia to study. As the Soviet Union collapsed and the civil war broke out in Somalia, she had to flee to Finland. Today she vigorously speak for public healthcare, schools and other public services. She thinks Finnish political parties usually put immigrants up as candidates just to gather votes. They are not genuinely interested in pursuing immigrant aims.
Period pains
Students in the University of Helsinki are unsure whether or not they like the new degree structure, says a study made by Ylioppilaslehti. The degree structure changed last autumn, and at the same time teaching was divided into four periods instead of two terms. One thing is clear: for law students the reform has been a great disappointment. They say they cannot take exams because of the new system. Exams are too close to each other, and there aren’t enough of them during the year.
Edited by Reeta Holma and Ylioppilaslehti staff.
