Scandinavian American. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1945-1958, 1950-01-16
Continued from Page u

periods before and at
ter Christmas.
A practice of . long standing
which has resulted in close cooper
alton between the Norden nations T
in many fields is that of frequent
meetings between the members or
the various governments. Some
times these meetings are but in
formal get-togethers of high state
officials. at other times they take
the form of official conferences
between the ministers of the var
ious governmental departments.
Mutual Pension Agreement
A recent example of the latter
was a conference of the Ministers
of Social Welfare held in August,
1919. At this gathering conven-
ton was agreed upon which will
mean a great deal to the old peo-
Pile of Scandinavia living out their
declining years in a Norden coun-
try other than their own. Under
the terms of the agreement, ma
tionals of any of the five nations
can draw an old age pension from
the country within which they re-
side just as if they were citizen
of that country. The only stipula-
ton is that they must have lived
in their foster land at least five
years.
This system of cooperation in
the field of social welfare is not
something new. Since the 1920's a
destitute citizen of any of the
countries living in any of the 9TH
ers has been entitled to draw poor
relief" from the country within
which he lives. The new principle
embodied in the more recent con-
vention is to eliminate the neces-
sity of proving need as was
formerly the case. Now the old
people will automatically be en-
titled to a pension when they
reach a specified age, usually
around sixty-five.
Jointly Operated Coop Enterpris es
In the realm of business enter
prise one of the best examples of
Scandinavian cooperation is the
Luna Lamp Company. Owned
jointly by the consumer co-ops of
Finland, Sweden and Denmark, the
company's manufacturing plants,
which are located in Sweden, pro-
duce light bulbs for all three
countries
AS a matter of fact, the consul
mer cooperatives are one of the
more potent forces pushing the
cause of greater, Scandinavian un-
ity. They have done so not only
through such business arrange
ments as that mentioned above,
but also through their support of
non-profit organizations whose on
~ purpose is fostering greater un-
Outstanding and cooperation be-
tween the five Norden nations.
These are the Norden Societies
which Were organized in each of
the five Norden countries soon af-
ter World War l.
The societies are all independ-
ent of each other as far as in
ternal management is concerned,
but they work together towards a
common goal - i'm the short run
to foster mutual understanding be-
tween their countries, i'm the long
run to effect some kind of politi-
cal union in a sort of United
Scandinavia. Supported by organ
lied groups such as the cO-Ops,
the labor unions, and business con-
Germs, their respective govern
ments, and individuals, the Norden
Societies have initiated gOOdly
number of programs designed TO
speed their countries towards
these goals.
Friendship Towns
One of the Societies pet projects
has been the establishment of
Friendship Towns. The idea was
to form a circle of four cities, one
each in Denmark, Finland, Norway