(THIS ARTICLE IS MACHINE TRANSLATED by Google from Norwegian)
[summer camp] – Are you against self-determined abortion? Are you opposed to a common law of marriage? Are you in favor of cash benefits?
The questions hail against the Minister of Church and Culture as he is led down between the tents of Sør-Trøndelag's delegation on Utøya. He shakes his head and smiles unassumingly. Of course, he does not answer all the questions. The follow-up is ready:
- Why do you want to flirt with KrF?
The young politically engaged are at the forefront with the posters in front of them: “The cash support hinders equality. Remove it! "" The AUF in Sør-Trøndelag demands that the Labor Party keep its fingers away from the KrF! "And" We are kept out of the cash subsidy "speak its clear language: The youth is not at all as sure as Trond Giske that sitting in government with the KrF is so much better than sitting in opposition. Now they want the minister to play football, on Sør-Trøndelag's team.
Applause and bath
We are in the middle of AUF's annual summer camp on Utøya. Yesterday, Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre from the pulpit said "the world would not be the same without Utøya", today he is shamelessly paraphrased a number of times by Culture Minister and former AUF leader Trond Giske. Both receive great applause.
By the way, we can drop the surnames immediately. At the Labor Party school, people are called things like Jens, Jonas and Trond – regardless of whether you are 15 years old and a secondary school student or 40 and a minister. The pleasant use of the name fits perfectly into the atmosphere that is formed when the sun lets through the cloud cover and spreads heat on the small island in the Tyrifjord. After debate, lunch and local action, some of the many teenagers on the island walk down to one of the bathing spots. Others take new rounds in the music tent, where new bands rehearse for the concert they are to hold on Saturday. On the ground lies a group of five sunbathing. Most are on Utøya for the first time.
- It has been named Norway's best checkpoint, smiles 16-year-old Kristine Hallingstad from Aust-Agder, who is here with twin sister Toril for the second time.
Yesterday they were on speed dating. Now leader Tore Syvert Haga in Youth comes to the EU to recruit them.
development Basic
But now the scene is full of nearly 30 participants who have gathered in a big ring around the development program UNDP's two broadcasts. They talk about education and development, and the AUFs have a lot of questions. Several seem well-updated. Then Marte Torskenæs thinks it's time for a quiz.
- What proportion of children in developing countries go to school? How many adults in developing countries do you think you can read and write, she asks and asks the participants to raise their arm as they think the answer is below 20 percent, 20-40 percent, 40-60 percent and so on.
Most young people believe that 10-20 percent of children in developing countries go to school. The truth is 88 percent, and the course leaders get to emphasize their point: It is going better than we think.
- Most Norwegians assume that it will not move forward in the world. But it is useful, says Marte Torskenæs and says that since the year 2000, the proportion of children in developing countries who go to school has increased by 27 percent.
- There has been an enormous growth since the UN set its millennium goals.
More seriously than before
Nearly 700 young political sprouts are blooming on the island in the Tyrifjord this year. They play football, volleyball, guitar and drums – when they do not attend political workshops or listen to the unions and government envoys. Deputy Eskil Pedersen eagerly talks about all the healthy and constructive activities.
- And then it is alcohol-free here, so parents can trust that it is safe to send their children here.
The AUF management has introduced a baggage check of all camp participants on arrival. This has not always been the case.
- When the Prime Minister spent the summers on Utøya, it was different. Jens has told about how he smuggled beer over here, and how they had to sip bottles when Gro was coming to visit.
AUF has invested more heavily in politics in recent years, says Eskil.
- Since 2003, we have expanded the training at the camp, and have more political workshops than before. It is foolish not to use the opportunity to do so, when we have all the shop stewards gathered in one place.
