Rising political stars reject NATO membership and expanding nuclear energy
Helsingin Sanomat surveyed views of 50 young political activists
|
|
|
Most of a selected group representing the rising generation of political activists in Finland do not support NATO membership, and are opposed to expanding the nuclear energy programme. A majority of 50 young party activists surveyed were in favour of allowing homosexuals to adopt children.
Early in the summer Helsingin Sanomat asked political parties to name a few of their rising figures for the future, who were then sent a questionnaire: 32 of the respondents were in the non-socialist camp, and 18 were affiliated with parties of the left. For the purposes of the survey, the Greens were put in the non-socialist category.
Finnish membership in NATO was rejected outright by 35 respondents. Only nine were in favour of joining the alliance.
Many of the upcoming political generation saw the powerful influence that the United States has within NATO as a reason not to join. Defence cooperation within the European Union was seen as a better alternative.
Turku City Council member Ville Niinistö of the Green League was with the majority on this matter.
"Finland should continue as a cooperative partner with NATO. However, actual membership would give the wrong signal in a situation in which NATO is used in world politics as a tool of unilateral military power politics."
A different point of view came from Aleksi Randell, Chairman of the Turku City Board, and member of the right-of-centre National Coalition Party.
"I think that membership would strengthen Finnish security and its ability to operate in the present altered security environment during a time of new types of crises", Randell said.
The young political figures were even more united in their support for adoption rights for homosexuals.
Only the Christian Democrats in the survey were unanimous in their opposition to such a move. Negative opinions from other groups were scattered. The main argument for opponents was the view that children have a right to both a father and a mother.
"A child’s development into a balanced individual would be distorted in a gay family", said Vesa-Matti Saarakkala, second chairman of the True Finns party.
The vast majority - 35 respondents - were outspokenly in favour of the right of gays to adopt. The main arguments included equality and the prevention of discrimination.
One supporter of gay adoption rights was Riikka Pakarinen of the Centre Party. "I would be far more concerned about children who are born into families where there is violence or alcoholism", she said.
Increasing the use of nuclear energy did not enthral the young political figures, although there was more division than in other questions. Of the respondents, 28 were against further construction of nuclear facilities, while 17 were in favour of it. There was a larger number of unsure responses than in other questions.
Tapio Laakso, chairman of the Greens’ youth organisation, does not believe in the additional construction of nuclear energy, and he feels that Finland should give up its existing reactors when they become obsolete.
"The greatest environmental hazard posed by nuclear power is that nuclear energy is being marketed as a magical solution to climate change, so that we would not really have to change anything", Laakso noted.
Many supporters of additional nuclear power felt that there are no realistic alternatives. Many also linked their views with a demand for the development of renewable energy sources.
Social Democrat Riku Pirinen said that building more nuclear energy is better than importing energy from Russia, or using coal power and other sources that cause more pollution.
Nearly all respondents felt that the further development of renewable energy sources and greater energy efficiency are important.
Helsingin Sanomat
|
| 9.8.2006 - TODAY |
 Rising political stars reject NATO membership and expanding nuclear energy
|
|
