Some of the highlights of my experiences include visits to schools throughout the country and the chance to talk with students and teachers, hearing the Kantele played so beautifully in Ilomantsi, walking in nature during all the seasons and whatever the weather, coming to a deeper understanding of what the Kalevala means, and eating delicious Finnish specialities. I can say that visiting Inari in February took my breath away in the most positive sense – I loved it! Most of all, I think of the many friends I have made during the past three years and our wonderful times together. I will miss you more than you can imagine.

As I have told some people, my husband and son loved being here as much as I did. They, too, think of the wonderful friends they have made and very fond/fun memories. You can count on us to be very strong Finland boosters – promoting your beautiful country and very fine people to all we meet. Plus, I will look for every opportunity to return!

Celebrating the 4th of July is an all-day event where people get together with their family, friends and neighbors.  My fondest memories are of celebrations with my family and millions of other Americans in Washington, D.C. on the National Mall.  But, whether you’re celebrating in a small town in Middle America or in the nation’s capital, the day usually starts with a parade, complete with student marching bands, military troops, dancers, costumes and floats.  People are enthusiastically patriotic, often dressed from head to toe in red, white and blue and waving small American flags.  Along with parades, there may be carnivals or fairs.

You can’t have a party without food, and the 4th of July is no exception.  Traditional American-style barbeques or picnics are the norm, with hotdogs and hamburgers and all of the toppings served as the main course.  Then, there are numerous varieties of potato, pasta, and fruit salads.  Side dishes could also include baked beans, corn on the cob, and multiple servings of potato chips and dip.   Since it’s usually hot and humid on the 4th (especially in the nation’s capital), there are lots of cold drinks to cool you down: sodas, lemonade, iced tea, or perhaps an ice cold can of American beer for the adults.  Desserts are always my favorite part of any meal, and on the 4th, ice cream, popsicles, cakes, and big slices of fresh watermelon are abundant.  For some, the 4th of July isn’t complete without the all-American apple pie. 

Between the parades, eating and waiting for the fireworks show, there are lots of fun activities.  Whether it’s playing catch, throwing a football or Frisbee, a backyard game of volleyball, or a card game, there’s a sense of community and camaraderie that abounds. 

After the sun goes down, the moment that everyone has been waiting for finally arrives: fireworks!  You hear the distinct pop of the firecracker, and then the sky is filled with beautiful red, orange, green, blue, and white bursts of color.  The fireworks show is often accompanied by the national anthem and many other patriotic songs.  At the end of a long day of celebration, you finally head home: tired, full, perhaps a bit sunburnt from spending the day outside, looking up at the smoke-filled sky from the night’s fireworks and feeling proud to be an American.

Fourth of July celebrations in Finland were kicked off early this year with an Embassy party on June 23.  Though there were no fireworks, guests enjoyed crayfish from Louisiana and special demonstrations from the renowned Chef John Folse and Company to commemorate the 234th anniversary of the independence of the United States. 

Bon Appetit! Crayfish from Louisiana

Movie director Renny Harlin with Ambassadog Deckard

Kaivopuisto's Lady Liberty

Chef Folse with guests and Louisiana crayfish

The U.S. Environment Agency is kicking off the anniversary on April 24th with a two-day event in Washington which showcases EPA’s many achievements in protecting America’s environmental heritage. One of the event’s major features is the National Sustainable Design Expo, which will present the best new green technologies and alternative energy designs from more than 40 college teams.

The U.S. Air Force is also no stranger to environmental stewardship. For Earth Day’s 40th anniversary, the U.S. Air Force has recommitted to protecting more than eight million acres of land and water areas including over 234 acres of wetland, 570,000 acres of forest land, 200 miles of preserved  coastline and 70 endangered and threatened species. In addition, the U.S. Air Force continues to lead research efforts on alternative and renewable energy sources.

Yet Washington is only one of many actors on this important stage. Grassroots, citizen-initiated action is vital in achieving a cleaner, greener world. In his April 13th address, President Obama urged Americans to take local action and make a difference in their communities – and from coast-to-coast they are doing just that.

In Massachusetts, Salem State College has organized April 12-22 an environmental series entitled “Growing a Greener Economy for a Healthier Planet”. The series features lectures on wind power and food sustainability, environmentally-conscious art work, and multiple environment-networking opportunities for students and the local community.

On April 17th at North Hampton State Beach in New Hampshire, local divers took to the ocean depths to remove debris from the sea floor, while non-divers cleaned-up the surrounding beach areas. Maryland-based vendor and growers gathered for lectures on how to increase sustainability within their organizations, while volunteers from a Georgia middle school helped with trail beautification in nearby forests.

What better way to remind people how important their environment is, than to get them actively using it! On April 17th and 18th, Cloudland Canyon State Park invited visitors to an Outdoor Adventure Weekend of caving, climbing, rappelling and fishing at rock-bottom prices ($3-$5 an event).

And the celebrations continue. On April 22nd, the community of Carbondale, Illinois is hosting an “Off the Grid” Solar Music Festival. Residents of Boise, Idaho will be planting trees along the city’s main streets on April 24th.  In Portland, Oregon, Audubon Society volunteers will gather on April 24th to rebuild a bridge over a local waterway.

Here at US Embassy Helsinki, we are also making a difference. We have just added two Chevrolet flexi-fuel vehicles to the Embassy fleet. We have also installed more motion-sensor lights in Embassy corridors.

In June 2010, Ambassador and Mrs. Oreck will host a bee colony in their backyard to promote the importance of local beekeeping. Expert beekeeper Corwin Bell is visiting Finland this month to connect with the local Finnish beekeeping community, and share information on new, advanced bee hive equipment that is effective and easy to use for first-time beekeepers.

Ambassador and Mrs. Oreck also have plans to create an Embassy vegetable garden at their residence this summer, to support the use of organically-grown, sustainable produce. 

Perhaps our most ambitious green project is the rehabilitation the 109-year old Chancery Annex. Ambassador Oreck is working hard to incorporate green elements into the renovation plans. Use of advanced insulation and state-of-the-art lighting are just a few of the elements that will improve the building’s energy-efficiency and reduce the Embassy’s carbon footprint.

So whether from north-to-south, coast-to-coast, or even beyond in our overseas Embassies, Americans are actively working to make the world a little greener for many more Earth Days to come.

**  More information on local U.S Earth Day celebrations can be obtain from the EPA website at http://www.epa.gov/earthday/events.htm.

View from summer cottage (Photo Credit: Wikimedia)

To say that the Finns have a certain reverence for their summer season is no understatement. From May to August, nearly every Finn heads outdoors to take advantage of the twelve-plus hours of sunlight before the long, dark winter creeps back in. Government and other activity slows down, prompting many to travel to forest cottages where on Midsummer’s Eve they build bonfires and revel in the longest day of the year. So enticing is the Finnish summer that many Finns stay at their cottages for the entire month of July.  

In Finland, the summer season is a fleeting miracle – a mere four months of life-giving growth after months of sub-arctic temperatures. And the Finns do not take it for granted. With such an appreciation for their world around them, it is not surprising then that Finns have such an active interest in reducing their carbon footprint.

Since 2001, the Finnish government has produced a series of action plans, known as the National Climate Strategy, detailing concrete steps the nation must take to reduce their share of emissions. In its latest Strategy published in November 2008, the Finnish government set ambitious goals to ensure that 38% of energy and 10% of transport fuel is produced from renewable sources. By 2020, Finland hopes to produce 14.2 terawatt hours (TWh) of hydroelectric energy, 1.0 TWh of wind power and 34.9 TWh of nuclear energy – a big leap from their 2006 levels of 11.3 TWh, .1 TWh and 22 TWh respectively.

Finland’s efforts are starting to pay off. According to the latest United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s report, Finland’s total emissions declined slightly in 2007 from 79.9 teragrams of carbon dioxide equivalent (Tg CO2) to 78.3 Tg CO2. Just this month the OECD’s Environment Directorate Director Lorents Lorensten called Finland a pioneer of environmental policy.

Such environmental awareness coupled with a “can-do” attitude make the Finns excellent partners in the fight against global warming. In June 2008, Embassy Science Fellow – US Forest Service Senior Researcher Dr. Alan Rudie – spent several weeks with top Finnish scientists to advance work on the production of biofuel from forest trimmings. Building on this successful collaboration, the US Embassy Helsinki hopes to sponsor another US Forest Service Science Fellow in 2010.

In 2008, Finland joined the Methane-to-Markets program – a public/private partnership in conjunction with the US Environmental Protection Agency that reduces greenhouse gas emissions by promoting the cost-effective, near-term recovery and use of methane, while providing clean energy to markets around the world.

In June 2009, the first of three American National Science Foundation (NSF) research fellows will arrive in Finland via the newly established Nordic Research Opportunity Grant. Funded by NSF and the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation (TEKES), the new program will foster closer research ties between US and Finnish scientists.

From left: Chancellor of the University of Helsinki Ilkka Niiniluoto, President Tarja Halonen, Chargé d’Affaires Michael A. Butler and Ambassador Derek Shearer

We were especially honored to have President Tarja Halonen speak at the opening session of the seminar.  We were proud to have U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Michael Butler read to the symposium audience a special message of congratulations by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.  Former American Ambassador Derek Shearer (1994-1997) came to share his personal narrative of his years in Helsinki and of the contacts he made with Finns over a decade ago and since that time, which remain active and warm.

Many experts shared their research on various aspects of the bilateral relations with enthusiastic audiences.  Presenters discussed the history, the present day and the future of the Finnish-American relationship.  Virtually all speakers underlined the fact that the excellent official relations rest on the bedrock of warm, close people-to-people relations between Finns and Americans.

Paratiisin pojat

One presentation, however, was in a very special class of its own.  Two top Finnish musicians – “Paratiisin pojat “  J. Karjalainen and Veli-Matti Järvenpää  – played songs of Finnish immigrants who  migrated to the U.S. in the early 20th century.  The two artists were talented and charismatic and gracefully did an encore following a standing ovation.

Their performance underlined – once again – the importance of culture – something that makes all our lives more fun and more interesting.  Culture helps build bridges and it helps us understand “the others.”  A special thanks to Paratiisin pojat.

Another cultural treat were two performances provided by students from the Helsinki Pop and Jazz Conservatory – at the beginning and to conclude the two-day seminar.   At the final concert, they were joined by Saxophonist Greg Badalato, who is also Vice President of the Berklee College of Music.  In jazz vernacular – they were “hot.”

I am pleased to note that as we continue to celebrate the 90th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two countries, my section at the U.S. Embassy (the office of press and cultural affairs) will be hosting in Finland representatives of the multifaceted cultural scene of the United States. This June, the great grandson of Sitting Bull will tour in Finland to tell about his native culture.  Mr. Ernie LaPointe is a Sun Dancer who lives in the traditional lifestyle of the Lakota people.  I hope you will have an opportunity to hear him speak.  Later in the year, we will welcome a hip hop group from the Berklee College of Music – to share their special cultural expression with Finnish audiences.

Earth Day was founded in 1970 by US Senator Gaylord Nelson. His call for cleaner air and water in the US was heeded from coast to coast. Earth Day had a special appeal among American youth who called on the US government and fellow Americans to support a healthier, more sustainable world. 

Earth Day flag (Photo Credit: Wikimedia)

So thirty-nine years later has anything in America really changed?  Absolutely.     

Earth Day spurred the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Clean Air Act and the Endangered Species Act.  In the US, leaded fuel and gas guzzling cars have been replaced by unleaded gas and stricter fuel efficiency standards.  Since the 1980s the EPA’s Superfund has cleaned up hazardous waste sites, protecting local rivers from chemical contamination. In 2007, sulfur dioxide emissions fell below its long term emission cap of 8.95 million tons — three years before the 2010 statutory deadline – thanks to a USG cap-and-trade program.   

Today over 140 countries around the world celebrate Earth Day. Great progress has been made, but there is plenty left to do. America is ready to do her part. Recent stimulus funds are funding projects to put plug-in vehicles on the road by 2015 and improve energy efficiency so that 10 percent of our electricity comes from renewable sources by 2012, and 25 percent by 2025.  The US Congress is currently drafting legislation to implement an economy-wide cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050.

On April 22, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced a new program to implement Department-wide environmentally responsible policies.  She also renewed her support for the Green League of Embassies – an effort started by our colleagues at US Embassy Stockholm to encourage US embassies around the world to apply “green practices”. Here at US Embassy Helsinki we have already implemented a comprehensive recycling program that covers everything from old cell phones to bio waste.  The Embassy has also saved energy by installing motion sensor light switches, and using  high-efficiency compact light bulbs at all  US Embassy residences.

Climate warming is progressing rapidly, and every positive change we make no matter how small makes a difference. So, Happy Earth Day Mother Earth – and here’s to another forty years of good environmental stewardship for moms, dads and groundhogs everywhere.

I am Wendy Kahler, Environment, Science and Technology Officer at the American Embassy in Helsinki. I arrived in Finland in August 2008 and will be working here for three years to promote cooperation between the US and Finland on environment, climate and technology issues. This is my first time living in Europe, having spent the last six years or so in Africa. As you can imagine, the weather here is a bit different than I am used to. Thanks in part to the generous spirit of the Finns, though, I have survived my first Nordic winter unscathed.  

I will be contributing to this blog as a way to discuss the Embassy’s work on environment, science and technology (we say EST for short!) issues, and generate discussion on these topics with the wider community. I must admit that I never blogged before coming to Finland. In most of Africa, internet connection can be spotty and full-scale blogging is not so popular. However, Finland is one of the most-wired countries in the world, so it seems only fitting to put that technology to its best use.

I welcome your insights and feedback on all my entries. If you have a specific question, I encourage you to post it on the blog. At the moment, I anticipate posting one new entry a month, and responding to any remarks within a week.  

Finland’s EST advancements matter to America, and I hope my entries will shed some light on how Finland and the US are working together to positively impact the global environment.

Happy Blogging!