PRESENTATION
WHO I AM
I am a 50 year-old primary school teacher and mother of three. I have been in the city council for three full electoral terms and I have been an active Green Party member for over ten years. I have been a member of parliament ion 2011 -15, I am a substitute member of the municipal government and member of the Green Women of Oulu region. I like working with people and I have lived in several different countries. I also speak several European languages.
To me what good and beautiful means is that we have time for each other and do deeds that help other peoples lives. Because of us earth is threatened by climate change and growing inequality. Therefore, I find work that protects life and builds peace and justice between people extremely important. Everyone needs play their part in the creation of a better Finland and a better world for everyone.
THEMES
CLEAN NATURE- SO THAT OUR GRANDCHILDREN TOO WILL HAVE THE CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE BERRY PICKING.
Northern Finland needs new jobs from renewable energy and our nature needs to be treated sustainably. The “Clean Nature Theme” means a Northern Finland without nuclear power, the revitalizing of bogs and rivers, a free Viinivaara and Kollaaja and jobs created by diverse energy production. Emissions have to be controlled with public transport and by supervising building regulation as well as by putting an end to fur farming as fast as possible.
A CIVILIZED FINLAND-CULTURE AND EDUCATION TO BE VALUED
Education should be free for all and reflect the needs of different individuals. The right to be part of and enjoy culture should be the right of everyone. In an equal Finland everyone will be heard.
A FAIR WORLD- BECAUSE THE EARTH IS OUR HOME
Finland has to be a pioneer of politics that respects humanity. Our earth has limited resources and they have to be spread evenly. The common good is the good of everyone.
ON BEHALF OF THE NORTH OF FINLAND
Our life in the north is rich and challenging. The cold winters and light summers make our environment changeable and unique. The nature of the north must not be destroyed by short-term goals for generating profit. Our natural resources must be allowed to regenerate so that future generations can also enjoy and benefit from nature.
JOBS FROM RENEWABLE ENERGY
Energy efficient building, decentralized models of producing energy, wind, water, wood, geothermal and solar power are the future of creating jobs.
TACKLING POVERTY
Poverty will be eradicated once the minimum social security level has been raised high enough so that child benefits do not affect your income, and when people are encouraged to seek work and receive it without this effecting their right to unemployment protection, but rather by giving people real economic value in their lives.
ALWAYS ON THE SIDE OF THE LITTLE GUY
The hardest task of this generation is to build the children and youth a safe and balanced environment to grow up in. This will enable them to become adults that take responsibility of themselves and society. Therefore, we need to support different kinds of families in all possible ways. Poverty in families with children needs to be eradicated and the work of health centres and health care services need to be improved so that factors that may threaten a safe childhood can be identified at an early stage. Childrens’ and young peoples’ mental health needs to be looked after and they cannot be left to deal with their problems alone. A substance free environment to grow up in is the right of the child.
PEACE IN SCHOOLS
Classroom sizes are too big in order for every child’s needs to be taken into consideration. The learning process of the whole class will be disrupted, when the teacher’s time goes on helping children that demand more attention. This is why classrooms need assistants and full advantage needs to be taken from special needs experts. The salaries of teachers need to change to reflect how demanding the job they are doing is. In addition, the knowledge and expertise of teachers of the older generation needs to be used more in order to benefit the entire school community. An equal and supportive school, which also emphasizes practical skills will ensure that we will have multiple talents in the future.
YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT NEEDS TO BE ERADICATED
Employers, the business word, the municipalities, youth workers and decision makers need to work in cooperation with young people and come up with solutions that will make it easier for young people to make their move into the working world. Schools need to think about entrepreneurial teaching so that young people would feel from a young age that working is not only a necessity for their lives, but can also be enjoyable. Young people need to have a chance to work and be supported to move into the books of the employed.
SEEING AGING AS AN IMPORTANT RESOURCE
Old people need to be treated with dignity. The skills and knowledge of senior citizens in raising children and running businesses are needed. Their expertise is also needed after retirement. Senior citizens also need to be able to decide themselves on the substance of their lives and how they wish to live. Caring for sick and poorly old people must be top quality and must take their wishes into account. All full-time carers of their relatives at home must also be allowed a break from their demanding work.
A LIFE FREE OF OBSTRUCTIONS
A life free of obstructions is still not available for everyone when moving around and participating is difficult. All planning therefore, needs to take in to consideration disabled people. Everyone has the right to their own home and living support if need be. Carers’ other income cannot therefore, effect their benefits and the benefits need to be accessible for everyone who is taking care of an old person, a sick person or a disabled person at home.
GET IN TOUCH
Satu Haapanen
TEL. +358 40 554 3514
satu.haapanen@ouka.fi
Frequently asked questions:
1. What do think about free higher education? If you do support it, are you prepared to defend it during the next electoral term? Who should have a right to free higher education?
I am ready to support a free higher education. I have extensively written about the subject and it is of the utmost importance to me. A free education should be for everyone including those coming from outside the EU.
2. What do you think or know about the everyday life of students with families? Are you interested in supporting the cause of students with families?
Yes I am interested. I have been a teacher trainer for ten years and observed the studies and the lives of student with families. This was also something that I experienced first hand when my first child was born. Quite often students with families are able to separate what is necessary in their studies better and concentrate on this. Their studies are often completed faster because their time is limited due to having a family. Students with families need to be guaranteed the peace to study by raising their study grants. Childcare should still be available for everyone and also children of students.
3. What do you think about gay marriage and about adoption rights for these families?
Gay and lesbian couples have the right to get married and have the same rights as straight couples. I do think however, that a Christian marriage should be between a man and a woman. I support both internal and external adoption rights for gay couples. Internal adoption gives added security to the child both in terms of inheritance and custody if the biological parent dies. The well-being of the child is not dependent on whether the child has been raised in a so-called “traditional family” or a rainbow family.
4. Why, in your opinion, do child benefits need to be paid to all families regardless of the parents’ income. What do you think about getting rid of child benefits being included in your income when you apply for income support?
I do think child benefits could be staggered based on your income or even taken away from those households that have considerable incomes eg. Over 10 000€ per month after tax.
5. What do you think about tax cuts for mortgages only applying to first time buyers in the future?
I agree with this. We need to find money to control the budget deficit and this could, to an extent, be got from mortgage interests, but this should not apply to first time buyers.
6. Does a stop need to be made to national debt? If so, how should it be done? Where would you be willing to make cuts?
Yes, cuts are needed in the next 4-8 years. Here are some solutions: Cuts in government administration and getting rid of overlaps in it, higher income tax and share taxes, more jobs which would boost income tax revenue, reduce the pressure on the welfare system and reduce the amount used on unemployment benefits. Other solutions could also be: Taxing uranium, windfall tax, peat tax and congestion charges and toll fees in big cities. Welfare at the workplace is also very important as it increases productivity. We also need to concentrate on getting people with health problems, disabilities and immigrants into the job market. I also think that money being spent on national defence could be cut to some extent.
7. What do you think about raising taxes on alcohol, cigarettes and sweets? Do xylitol products belong in the same category as sweets?
I think they could be raised. I think taxing sweets needs to be considered unless illegal imports start to be a problem. I think xylitol products could be exempt from the sweets tax category.
8. Which educational thinkers inspire you in your work as a teacher?
The Swiss thinker Pestalozzi (who was a follower of Rousseau in his “back in to the nature” thinking) and Mother Teresa inspired me already as a child and still does. Professors of Education Räsänen and Sunnari have had a strong influence on me becoming the teacher I am.
9. What do you think about the arguments that not supporting some EU-countries threatens the entire Euro area? Have you familiarized yourself with economic policy?
I think that it is enough to take part in the current stability fund and think long and hard about raising the amount. I have always been interested in EU affairs and international politics in general.
10. What do you think of this argument: In order for people from immigrant backgrounds to truly be integrated into Finnish society, Finnish people need to be adapted into a multicultural immigrant society first.
This is my favourite topic. As a teacher trainer my specialty was multicultural education. Multiculturalism is about interaction and the desire to get to know someone else; their way of thinking and the way they view the world. If there is no interest you cannot get to know the other. Fear of the unknown is often caused by ignorance. One can be educated to be multicultural with knowledge, learning different skills (mainly communication and interaction) and with different kinds of experiences. I think that it would benefit everyone to live in a country where they do not speak the language and things cannot be taken for granted. I think Finnish people who are internationally minded need to be more active and invite immigrants to different events , clubs and societies. Jobs and internships need to be offered where immigrants can learn the Finnish language in a practical setting. Language is the key to any culture. Finnish schools should also teach students about other cultures and customs. Training should also be provided to key figures such as teachers, nurses, doctors and the police which could be called ‘ learning to interact and understand different cultures’ for example.
11. The attitude of the Greens on separation of church and state?
The Greens manifesto says nothing about separating the church and the state. I myself defend my position on this with the fact that the church carries a lot of weight in terms of social responsibility in society. If the church was not responsible for this, the responsibility would be on the state and become very expensive.
12. Your views on nuclear power?
I am very much against it.
