The Ninja Diet #13: More "mir" (peace) please!

While Russia was celebrating the Peace day with a great parade yesterday, I was reflecting over Sweden and World War II.

We officially  never took side during the war but did let the Germans use our railways traveling to and from invaded Norway, transporting soldiers and war material.

Sweden covered about half of Germany's iron ore needs during the war.

American and British soldiers emergency landed in Sweden and where smuggled back to Britain with Swedish help.

Sweden spend more money on the Winter war in Finland than in it's own defence budget 1939-40.

1200 Swedes were fighting the Russians in Finland.

 Sweden was neutral... Well, at least the country was kept out of war.

It's 201 years since we last was involved in a conflict. Of course this is forming the Swedes.
We are not patriots. We are peace lovers. We don't have generations of people destroyed from wars: mentally and physically.

When Europe was in ruins, we build up a well fare country with benefits for all people.

There are no problems with corruption in Sweden. And if something occur, journalists are investigating the businessmen, politicians, and even the king.

During a seminar yesterday arranged by the Russian community here, I took part of stories from Russian people born in German prison camps in Norway. Returning home they where secluded from society. The man and the women telling their parents stories where more than 70 years old.

If Sweden would have been involved in the World War II, my dad, born 1926, would have been a fighting soldier. How glad I am he wasn't.

In Luleå almost 25 000 Russian soldiers and civilians passed by on their way home 1945. Some waited in camps outside Luleå for the return trip. A memory stone was raised the other day and I paid it a visit.

While we are celebrating 70 years since WWII ended, there are more people escaping from wars in the world than in many years. I hope they reach our countries safe and get welcomed. Everyone has a right for protection. Every human being has the right to peace. More "mir"!

The Ninja Diet:
1. Meal plan: More planning. Food has to be ready after a long day. I am bringing as much as I can on the go. When the Russians of Luleå invited me for a chocolate cake, I ate two hard boiled eggs instead.
But too much to do today made shopping and dinner late. Cranky...
2. Inspirational reading: not much...But inspired of what I heard about the children of war.
3. Meditation: No
4. Exercise: 10 kilometer on the bike in rain...
5. Life changing:Volunteer work for Save the children