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Q&A – Congressman Earl Pomeroy Congressman Earl Pomeroy is a founder and co-chairman of the Friends of Norway Caucus in the House of Representatives – a forum for dialogue and exchange of views between U.S. and Norwegian politicians on issues, interests, priorities, and policies, between Norway and the United States, and globally. What is the Friends of Norway Caucus I formed the Friends of Norway Caucus in 1999 with retired Rep. Martin Sabo (D-MN) to further enrich the relationship between the United States and Norway. According to the most recent U.S. census, there are more than 5 million Norwegian-Americans. North Dakota, the state which I represent, has the largest percentage of Norwegian-Americans, with over 30 percent of my state's population claiming Norwegian descent. My constituents have deep ties with Norway, and I wanted to create a congressional entity that could further connections between our two countries. What are the areas of concern to your constituents with regards to Norway In what ways do they wish to have links to Norway Norwegian-Americans in North Dakota care a great deal about our tourism, culture, and heritage connections with Norway. In fact, the largest Norwegian festival in the United States, Norsk Høstfest, is held in Minot, North Dakota each year. North Dakota also hosts the largest tour operator in the United States for taking Americans to Norway. North Dakota shares a strong connection with Norway through our university systems. For a decade or more, the University of North Dakota has hosted more students from Norway than any other university in North America. Moreover, the leaders of the university are working towards strong, reciprocal student and faculty exchanges in Norway in areas like law, medicine, entrepreneurship, and engineering. Interestingly enough, my state, like Norway, has a great potential to produce energy. People from my area look to Norway to see if its enhanced oil recovery technologies may be helpful to our efforts. In fact, a Norwegian company is currently working on putting together a strategic alliance to produce wind energy in North Dakota, using their expertise developed in northern Norway. How has the caucus been useful to you The U.S. has a strong bond with Norway. Our interests are strategic in nature as we both work to bring peace and stability to troubled 10 | news of norway | spring 2009 spots in the world. We appreciate our friendship with Norway, and have been able to use the caucus to build upon the bonds between us founded on our shared values of freedom, democracy, free markets, and human dignity. Our governments work well together diplomatically, militarily, and economically. But for me and my constituents in North Dakota, this connection is personal. The caucus provides an opportunity to foster those good friendships. What do you expect to achieve by being engaged in the caucus I want to foster understanding between our two nations. Norway is more modern and high-tech than many Americans understand, and Americans are more diverse, kind-hearted, and generous than many Norwegians understand from what they see on television. Some Norwegians come to New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, or Disney World and think they have experienced the United States. Instead, I invite folks to come to the Great Plains, where so many Norwegian descendents live, to fully understand what is in the hearts and minds of Americans. We have much to learn from each other, and much to gain through working together. Ideally, we hope to attract more Norwegian students to study in the United States at the undergraduate and graduate levels. So many of our wonderful relationships with the leaders in Norway started with Norwegians studying here in America. I wish we had thousands of Norwegian students studying in the United States, not just hundreds. PHOTO COURTESY OF CONGRESSMAN EARL POMEROY’S OFFICE In what areas do you think Norway and the U.S. should cooperate I can think of an area where we should not cooperate - perhaps you could send us a little less lutefisk, but keep the brown cheese and Jarlsberg cheese coming! In all seriousness, there are areas where we could cooperate more, such as areas of alternative energy, energy efficiency, global warming, rural medicine, and commercializing innovation from our research entities. How would you describe the nature of U.S.- Norwegian relations Just excellent. As good friends do, we sometimes disagree, but we know we are still best of friends. We work closely together around the world to bring peace and stability to troubled spots. We work closely together in NATO and the United Nations. We both are involved in humanitarian relief in many countries. Norway invests the most per capita in foreign aid, and the United States invests the most overall. We are both committed to making the world a better place. Who is your favorite Norwegian politician off all time Former Prime Minister and WHO Director General Gro Harlem Brundtland. Who is your favorite Norwegian artist Painter Edvard Munch. Why do your constituents/Americans of Norwegian ancestry care about Norway now that they live in America Norway is a very powerful brand in North Dakota because Norwegian-Americans are proud of Norway's accomplishments, culture, history, and people. You hear North Dakotans almost apologize for only being one-quarter or half Norwegian rather then 100 percent Norwegian. Norway has advanced from being one of the poorer nations of Europe more than a century ago, whose citizens had to leave to find opportunity, to a country today that is among the richest nations of the world. Norway is now an example for other nations because of its high standard of living, high levels of education, and great opportunities for its citizens. Folks in North Dakota recognize the great accomplishments of Norway and are proud of the educational, business, and deep personal connections between our two countries.
society & policy PHOTO BY SIRI WOLLAND/MINISTRY OF CHILDREN AND EQUALITY “ Promoting Women by Involving Men by siv helén strømland Men benefit from gender equality,” said Norwegian Minister of Equality Anniken Huitfeldt. In March, 2009, she presented the first white paper about men and gender equality for the United Nations. She brought the World Economic Report stating that Norway is the No. 1 country in the world when it comes to closing the gender gap. Norway has taken an active part in the annual U.N. Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), where important issues concerning gender equality are discussed. And Norway has made an impact: “We have made valuable contributions to the U.N. about the role of women in peace processes. National Norwegian policies on gender equality also attract international attention, especially because of the increased birth rate,” Huitfeldt said. The theme of CSW this year is the sharing of responsibilities between men and women. Huitfeldt pointed out that in Norwegian politics, care-giving responsibility of men is an important issue. “In the last 10 to 15 years the male gender role has undergone tremendous change, nobody takes as much care of their own children as Norwegian men – they work less and have more responsibilities at home,” the minister said. She has met several foreign colleagues who raise their eyebrows when she tells stories about men leaving meetings at work to pick up their children from daycare. “It is important to note that men themselves also have gained much in this process. For instance, now more men report that they have close friends,” Huitfeldt explained. Being in the lead of global gender equality is an achievement, but Huitfeldt warned against Norwegians becoming too self-righteous. Even though the country has come a long way in dealing with gender inequality, the finish line has not yet been crossed. “We still have a gender-biased professional scene, and women are overrepresented in lowincome, care-giving professions,” she said. Also when promoting gender equality as a global norm, she recognizes the importance of an adaptable perspective. “There are big differences between Norway and developing countries.” She pointed out that things that are high on the agenda in Norway, such as paternity leave, may seem very alien in a country with no maternity leave to speak of. “But it is important everywhere to recognize the interrelation between men’s care-giving responsibilities and women’s professional participation,” said Huitfeldt. “For instance in industrialized countries where female participation in Anniken Huitfeldt met with fathers and their children after announcing that paternity leave will increase from six to ten weeks. professional life has been advocated without also addressing the male care-giving responsibilities, it has proved difficult to maintain birth rates,” she added. Huitfeldt highlighted that it is important to maintain a global perspective in Norwegian politics because understanding the challenges of other countries is essential for international participation. She’s often asked why Norway takes such an interest in global development. “It’s not because we are so much nicer than anyone else, but because we are so small,” she pointed out. “It is in our self interest, as a nation, to maintain a global perspective in our policy-making, and that we behave in a manner of solidarity towards other countries.” U.N. COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN – Annual commission about gender equality and the advancement of women – Held March 2-23, 2009 – Established by the United Nations Economic and Social Council in 1946 – Priority theme 2009: The equal sharing of responsibilities between women and men, including care-giving in the context of HIV/AIDS GENDER EQUALITY IN NORWAY – World Economic Forum's Gender Gap Report (2008) ranked Norway first on gender equality – 70 percent of women in Norway are employed – The fertility rate (1.9 children per woman) is among top six in Europe (2007) NORWEGIAN GENDER EQUALITY LEGISLATION – 40 percent board representation of both genders in big companies – Gender Equality Act (1978) - prohibits all discrimination on grounds of gender – Parental leave for 54 weeks that can be divided between the parents, 10 weeks reserved for the father (from July 2009) – Flexible working hours for parents with small children www.norway.org | 11
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