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Posted: 2/14/2006 11:40:57 PM EDT
Big it up for the Aland Islanders!
 ANdy Tiny island that's ready to stop Europe in its tracks By David Rennie in Mariehamn (Filed: 15/02/2006) In the decade since they voted to join the European Union the islanders of the Aland archipelago in the Baltic Sea have been outvoted and overruled by Brussels, time and again. Now Aland, a unique, autonomous region of Finland, is about to teach Brussels a lesson in democracy it may never forget. Shopkeeper Alf-Erik, in Aland, a revolt by islanders has been brewing for some time Thanks to a quirk of early 20th-century history, Aland's 26,000 people are essentially sovereign co-rulers of their home nation of Finland. As such, they can veto any international treaty that Finland wants to enter, including EU treaties. And the islanders are threatening to do just that when the European Commission attempts to revive the moribund EU constitution later this year. The constitution can only ever see the light of day if, eventually, it is ratified by all 25 EU nations. But last week the archipelago's head of EU affairs, Britt Lundberg, travelled to Brussels - a day-long trek - to deliver a warning that dismally low public opinion on Europe could mean Alanders prevent Finland from ratifying the constitution. The islanders' revolt has been brewing for some time. First, this community of Swedish-speaking Finns lost the right to fish at sea with traditional nets. Then Alanders saw their beloved spring duck hunting virtually abolished. To the Alanders' final outrage, local laws on consuming "snus" or Swedish chewing tobacco, are about to be quashed by the European Court of Justice. Finland, which takes over the rotating EU presidency later this year, is committed to reviving the constitution after No votes in France and Holland last year. Parliament in Helsinki is poised to adopt a positive "position" on the treaty, as part of a plan co-ordinated with powers that include Germany and Austria. So Mrs Lundberg's warning made the Commission take notice. Brussels is trapped in a "Catch 22" situation of the EU's own making. Snus, a form of chewing tobacco, has been outlawed by EU fiat in every nation except Sweden, which secured a -special opt-out as a condition of its joining the EU, and in every region - except Aland. The Commission recently took Finland to court to quash Aland's snus law. But Finland has no power to change that law. Finland does not control laws covering health in Aland; Aland does. Aland is not allowed to defend its law before the justices in Luxembourg because the court recognises only nations. So the court is set to convict and fine Aland, without allowing the island's government to plead its case. A ban on snus threatens serious financial harm to the capital, Mariehamn. Mrs Lundberg said: "Every Alander is very, very upset. It's the principle of the thing that we can be judged, made to pay a fine, but have no chance to tell the court in Luxembourg why we made our law, and that we have the sole right to make this law." The head of the Aland government, Roger Norlund, admitted that he did not even like snus. To him, the row is philosophical. "Aland finds small-scale solutions to its problems. But the EU model is one of large-scale solutions, and harmonisation." Tomas Grunér, a navigator on the big boats, uses snus "24 hours a day". "It keeps me relaxed," he said. "I thought the EU was a good idea, but now I think it sucks." 22 January 2006: Encore Delors! Former EC president back to revive the constitution http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/02/15/waland15.xml |
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Posted: 2/14/2006 11:45:18 PM EDT
[#1]
 Just when the EU gets a little momentum going, something always comes up to fuck things up. |
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Posted: 2/14/2006 11:45:58 PM EDT
[#2]
I think the EU sucks too... but not because of chewing tobacco.
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Posted: 2/14/2006 11:52:02 PM EDT
[#3]
And that 'something' was so small most people did not even know it existed!  
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Posted: 2/15/2006 1:58:25 AM EDT
[#4]
I was thinking, once, that Eu was a good idea.
The way is being implemented makes govt. strongers and citizens weaker. Furthermore, Bruxelles want to disarm civilians. Now I am strongly anti-EU. |
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Posted: 2/15/2006 3:02:02 AM EDT
[#5]
 First time that I heard of this little island. But I'm sure sooner or later the eurocrats will find a way around this inconvenience by introducing new rules about majority vote or something like that. |
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Posted: 2/15/2006 3:13:31 AM EDT
[#6]
Ditto, now I am strongly anti. Come on Åland, make it fall apart. And I like my snus, a General portion is under my lip as we speak. |
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Posted: 2/15/2006 3:19:47 AM EDT
[#7]
What makes this 'snus' so special that they are attempting to ban it? Chewing tobacco?
 Tobacco = taxes = good? Think I need to get me some of that. |
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Posted: 2/15/2006 3:30:50 AM EDT
[#8]
I have no idea.
I think the sale of snus is banned in EU except here in Sweden, so you can order snus from here for yourself but your local 7-11 can't sell it. Something like that I think. And since Åland is finnish instead of swedish the EU says they can't sell any snus. |
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Posted: 2/15/2006 3:36:48 AM EDT
[#9]
So is it legal to ship to the states? How can I get some, would like to try it. Thanks TXL |
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Posted: 2/15/2006 3:37:47 AM EDT
[#10]
How in the HELL could anybody think that the EU would be about anything other than imposing bureaucratic rules to snuff out (a) behavior the blissninnies didn't like and (b) businesses that the big businesses don't like?
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Posted: 2/15/2006 3:41:10 AM EDT
[#11]
Could you please help keep Turkey out of the EU. You see, they are making better and better shotguns at dirt cheap prices. As soon as they go on the Euro, I fear the prices will double.
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Posted: 2/15/2006 3:43:25 AM EDT
[#12]
Try this one: www.snusworldwide.com/ |
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Posted: 2/15/2006 4:04:58 AM EDT
[#13]
So whats so special about Snus that they have to ban it?
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Posted: 2/15/2006 4:10:53 AM EDT
[#14]
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Posted: 2/15/2006 5:42:24 AM EDT
[#15]
"Hey, what do you think of being ruled by an unelected French-German-Belgian bureaucracy?"
"Ooo! Sounds great! Sign me up!" Seriously, who in their right mind (other than said unelected bureaucrats) wants anything to do with the EU? |
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Posted: 2/15/2006 6:42:07 AM EDT
[#16]
I guess the people learned a lesson in big government and don't like it. Good for them! Apparently there are still a few people who can think. AS with so many things, it's not tobacco (or guns, for that matter), it is what the issue illustrates about the attitude of the government. The EU is the ultimate big brother/nanny bureaucracy. I suspect in many nations it was approved (note the pluralities of some of the votes) because of business interests.
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Posted: 2/15/2006 6:50:21 AM EDT
[#17]
Too bad I cannot put a signature. Mine, on gun forum in Italy now is this:  I BUY DANISH |
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Posted: 2/15/2006 6:50:44 AM EDT
[#18]
"Anything not under government control is,by definition,out of control"
It's all about power and control.Doesn't matter who's in charge or what government it is,it all comes down to the same thing.Right,Kofi? |
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Posted: 2/15/2006 6:51:26 AM EDT
[#19]
+1 The "Union" is a bureaucrat's delusional dream, but a practical impossibility. |
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Posted: 2/15/2006 7:05:01 AM EDT
[#20]
GOOD FOR THEM!!! seriously, the beurocratic momentum rolled right over most of europe's people. time after time they've taken "votes" and the people in many countries have said "NO" to the EU. but the beurocrats just keep on going anyhow. i would love for this little island nation to throw the biggest monkey wrench into the EU gears possible. |
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Posted: 2/15/2006 7:10:50 AM EDT
[#21]
Snus:
 And BTW, fuck the EU. |
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Posted: 2/15/2006 7:12:55 AM EDT
[#22]
I hope they stick it to the EU. I can't stand the idea of it all.
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Posted: 2/15/2006 7:17:38 AM EDT
[#23]
Interesting. There are a lot of Norwegians around here, my wife is one. Whenever I'm hunting with my FIL and his good friend he always calls his snuff "Snus". I always wondered why he called it that. Now I know.
Good for Aland. It's good to see that at least some people in Europe don't have their heads up their asses. |
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Posted: 2/15/2006 7:28:58 AM EDT
[#24]
I've hated the EU ever since I heard about how the C.A.P. works. fuck that, I voted with my feet.
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Posted: 2/15/2006 7:31:52 AM EDT
[#25]
So what are the implications of this? Force a rewrite of the constitution or disbanding the EU and subsequently the elimination of hte Euro?
Huge implications here. |
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Posted: 2/15/2006 7:42:05 AM EDT
[#26]
The UK needs to leave the EU and join Nafta. I mean our three countries (US, UK, Canada) have more in common than the UK and France.
I hope this is a nail in the coffin of the EU. |
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Posted: 2/15/2006 7:46:19 AM EDT
[#27]
I could not agree more, the BS our politicians spout to the sheeple is we need to be in Europe or they won't trade with us... oh yeah? We got the oil! ANdy |
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Posted: 2/15/2006 7:50:58 AM EDT
[#28]
And Denmark needs to revive the Kalmar Union with Sweden and Norway as an econmic and military bloc. That would be sweet. Finland and Iceland (anc the Baltic States) can join too, if they bring beer. |
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Posted: 2/15/2006 8:02:41 AM EDT
[#29]
That is totally awesome. What makes it even better is that the new "president" of the EU is from Finland and he is trying to get the constitution passed, and a region in his own country may be its undoing.
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Posted: 2/15/2006 3:01:38 PM EDT
[#30]
For me, the first sign of real trouble with the EU was when they started making rules governing the specifications of swing sets in playgrounds.
www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1568/is_1_35/ai_99933021 I mean seriously, WTF? |
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Posted: 2/15/2006 3:10:46 PM EDT
[#31]
So when does Slovakia take over the EU presidency?
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Posted: 2/15/2006 3:17:31 PM EDT
[#32]
How'a about this for a WTF!!!! 'Bendy bananas' win UK reprieve Many EU rules on fruit and veg have no legal standing EU regulations on the curves of cucumbers and bends of bananas are unenforceable in England and Wales, the High Court has ruled. Judge Christopher Rose said an array of EU food quality standards had not been given proper legal standing and were thus "unknown to law". 'Bananas' EU rules Bananas must not bend abnormally Bananas should be at least 5.5in long and 1.05in round Peaches below 2.2in diameter must not be sold between July and October Carrots must be 0.75in wide, apart from baby carrots He said the standards could therefore not be used to prosecute a branch of supermarket chain Asda. The EU's rules, frequently pilloried in the UK media, are aimed at upholding food standards across member states. The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) took Asda to Portsmouth magistrates court last November over 14 alleged breaches of EU rules. The case was thrown out by the judge, who said British domestic law had not been changed to keep up with the EU regulations. Defra appealed to the High Court, where the judges upheld the earlier ruling. The 14 charges against Asda's store in Fareham, Hampshire, included claims that some Iceberg lettuces were damaged, some aubergines were not fresh or clean and oranges, plums and lemons carried no country of origin or quality class. Confusing cucumbers Defra also said some clementines had no class information and cooking apples were not marked with their variety. Asda denied the charges. The supermarket chain had a run-in over the rules in 2000, when it urged the EU to reconsider applying its "confusing" regulations on cucumbers. Had we been found guilty, we would have been fined up to £70,000 and one of our employees could have been imprisoned Asda Rule 1677/88 said a cucumber could only be given a premium Class 1 label if it curved less than 10mm every 10cm - so in 1998 Asda had to relabel its curvy organic cucumbers class 2. The judge said that this time Asda had been charged under the 1964 Agriculture and Horticulture Act, as amended in 1972. But the charges related to alleged breaches of European regulations made between 1981 and 1999, which therefore post-dated the Act. Lord Justice Rose agreed only those grading rules which were in force in 1972 could be the subject of any criminal sanction under the 1964 Act. The alleged offences with which Asda was charged were therefore "unknown to law", he decided. Law change due Defra can appeal to the House of Lords, but if that fails, the government will have to change the law to give legal effect to the rules. "There was no crusade by Asda," said a spokesman for the chain. "We simply had our doubts about whether criminal charges could be brought." A spokesman for Defra said urgent moves would be considered to ensure that the EU regulations were properly brought into force. He said: "We are looking to remedy the law as quickly as possible. "This case has revolved around a fairly narrow point of law." http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2066730.stm |
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Posted: 2/15/2006 3:22:03 PM EDT
[#33]
 |
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Posted: 2/15/2006 3:38:47 PM EDT
[#34]
This book (and, maybe, movie) should be updated somewhat:
 Has anybody here (besides me) ever read the novel? |
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Posted: 2/15/2006 3:39:40 PM EDT
[#35]
I always remember the stuffed teddy bear with the CE certification sticker on sale at Heathrow....
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Posted: 2/15/2006 3:40:15 PM EDT
[#36]
Read the book & seen the movie.
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Posted: 2/15/2006 3:44:39 PM EDT
[#37]
Scene: A jail cell.
Prisoner 1: I'm in for rape. Prisoner 2: I'm in for murder. Prisoner 3: I'm in for raping a horse. Prisoner 4: I'm in for selling cucumbers that curved too much. Prisoners 1,2 and 3 move way over to the other side of the cell... |
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Posted: 2/17/2006 4:02:25 AM EDT
[#38]
At Bruxelles they Eu deputates have really nothing better to do that naking regulations about bendy bananas and NOT how to make our economy competitive... Such a WASTE OF EU TAXPAYERS MONEY!!! |
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Posted: 2/17/2006 4:18:00 AM EDT
[#39]
+1 and raise you a 
un-frigging-believable!!! and doesn't the eu presidency rotate like every 6 months or something??? wtf can you do in six months??? i can't even balance my checkbook in that time let alone manage 30 different countries or whatever it is. the eu is kind of a good idea (for europe) horribly horribly executed!!! man, who knew we had so many furriners here! it's like a gun-totin', hell-raisin' un!
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Posted: 2/17/2006 4:25:08 AM EDT
[#40]
Hey, it's what happens when you get run by the frogs.
If they can't agree on the constitution, what will happen to the Euro? Won't the nations become somewhat disgruntled, and the currency treaties begin to unwind? Or, will the return to franc/deutschmark(ueber alles)/lira/ etc. have been made so cumbersome and expensive that the Euro will roll on because of resignation to it? |
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Posted: 2/17/2006 4:41:26 AM EDT
[#41]
Wasn't there a British guy a few years ago who got tossed in the slammer for selling fruit at a roadside stand with a certified scale denominated in ounces instead of kilograms? |
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Posted: 2/17/2006 5:06:47 AM EDT
[#42]
What can you do in 6 months? why Pass laws on bendy bananas of course!  ANdy |
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Posted: 2/17/2006 5:42:48 AM EDT
[#43]
"snus"
...and I thought that it was spelled "snoose." Wanders off scratching his head & mumbling... |
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Posted: 2/17/2006 6:11:46 AM EDT
[#44]
I have heard it used and always thought it was just a bastardization of Snuff. The people I know that say it are not of Scandinavian extract. |
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Posted: 2/17/2006 8:48:12 AM EDT
[#45]
The EU also influences US business through the ISO, another dream organization for bureaucrats. |
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Posted: 2/17/2006 8:53:56 AM EDT
[#46]
That was my original idea for NAFTA...Canada, US, UK, Australia, NZ, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland. Then any other nation with a similar history of economic and political development. That was free trade zone that works.
To the credit of the British, they proposed something along these lines in the 60's and LBJ nixed it. Did anything good come from that that particular buffoons presidency? |
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Posted: 2/17/2006 9:30:55 AM EDT
[#47]
EU = Hitler's wet dream come true.
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Posted: 2/17/2006 9:47:16 AM EDT
[#48]
yeah, freedom and liberty have a way of throwing the monkey wrench into the works like that.
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Posted: 2/17/2006 3:05:04 PM EDT
[#49]
They did better than that, Britain actually did tentatively ask about becoming part of the USA in the 60's, strange but true! ANdy |
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Posted: 2/17/2006 3:08:06 PM EDT
[#50]
The truth is always stranger than fiction - you can't make it up! |
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