My firstborn daughter Agnes was born 28 july 2010. She is as you can see very beautiful.

Agnes 6 weeks old

Photo taken by Daniel Korol

Agnes 10 days old

Photo taken by; Rose Korol

A few months back I wrote about the difference between the american Justice system and how we think and act here in Europe.

Both the above video and the Time article below proves my point in that blogpost.

My point was; The Justice system in Europe seeks to rehabilitate more than punish.

While in the states , revenge or true justice in relation to crime is the goal.

Time magazine ran a story of a new prison facitlity close to my home in Norway.  Its goal is to give prisoners a humane and good experiance even in a place regarded as the last resort and a place where no one should want to end up.

A couple quotes that give an idea of what the place is all about:

“Many of the prisoners come from bad homes, so we wanted to create a sense of family,”

“Our goal is to give all the prisoners — we call them our pupils — a meaningful life inside these walls.”

Imagine a world where every prison was like this one, and every prisoner was treated the way they are in this one.

Should prison only be used to punish in accordance to ones crime or can it also be a place of rehabilitating and giving respect and dignity back to those of us who get the least of it. Statistics from Norway prove that treating the outcast, hated and fellon with dignity and love actually gives us à much safer and healthy society!

Creativity expert Sir Ken Robinson challenges the way we’ re educating our child

ren. He champions a radical rethink of our school systems, to cultivate creativity and acknowledge multiple types of intelligence.

Watch the whole thing, its good!

A beautiful little movie from Amnesty!

First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a communist;

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist;

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew;

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak out for me.

This poem is attributed to Martin Niemöller .

Fremmskrittspartiets Siv Jensen wants to forbid medical aid to refugees and other foreigners without legal documents. Once again she proves what much of her world-view is founded on:the creation of “fear of  the other” and borderline fascism. Shame on you and the 30 prosent of Nowegians who support you!

Martin Rowson in the Gaurdian says it all.

The $100m ‘loan’ from the World Bank to Haiti could be paid off like that by a fraction of the banking bonuses paid out on top of enormous salaries. Sickening.

I hope for a happier new year to you all, despite the horror the above reminds us all of. (thanks to Kester Brewin for posting this on his blog)