Male pastors refuse to work with females
Three male pastors in Linköping have been called to a meeting to discuss their reluctance to working with female pastors. The three men refuse to celebrate mass with their female colleagues and have failed to show up at meetings with them, according to the Östgöta Correspondenten newspaper. The cathedral chapter states that it is part of a pastor’s duty to cooperate with everybody. “If you can’t do that, then perhaps you are not suited to be a pastor,” says Ronald Jacobsson, a member of the chapter.

No monopoly on alcohol would cause 770 more deaths yearly
If the state monopoly on selling alcohol would be abolished, the alcohol consumption would rise with 17%. 770 more people would die each year and there would be 4.5 million more sick days per year. All according to a study done at Stockholm University. The study has, however, been criticized for using data that’s considered old, emerging from an attempt to sell strong beer in ordinary shops during the 1960’s.

Fewer Swedish moms choose to breastfeed
According to Amningshjälpen (The Swedish Nursing Mother’s Support group) overloaded maternity wards may be the reason fewer Swedish moms choose to nurse their babies. The last years' decline in the number of nursing mothers is continuing. In 2008, only 85% of all 1-week old babies were exclusively breastfed, a 4.3% decline compared to the year 2004. At six months of age, only 66.5% are breastfed. It’s the National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen) that’s behind the study. Amningshjälpen believes there are several reasons behind the decline, says spokesperson Anna Herting: “There are great people in our health care system, but we’re also experiencing a baby boom so many of the routines have been tampered with, since the maternity wards are overloaded.” Other reasons may be that it’s easy to use the bottle when it is difficult to find peace and quiet for breastfeeding or that dads want to be more involved in baby’s life. “It would be interesting if Socialstyrelsen went a bit deeper and tried to find out what’s behind the decline,” says Herting. Breastfeeding gives the baby a better immune system, and Socialstyrelsen recommends that a baby be breastfed exclusively during the first year of its life.

Illegal wolf hunting increased
During the first half of 2010, 37 cases of illegal hunting of predators have been reported to the Swedish police, according to figures from the National Crime Prevention Council. 13 cases relate to wolves. This is a higher figure than for the all of last year, when 31 reports of illegal hunting, nine involving wolves, were made. The licensed hunting of wolves that were introduced early this year has thus not curbed the illegal hunting, as many believed it would do.

Wow Victoria!
Who was that glamorous woman in the metallic dress at the recent Polar Prize Ceremony? Why, Crown Princess Victoria of course! Rarely has the Swedish princess looked as great as she did the other night at the extravagant ceremony that took place at Stockholm’s Konserthus. Italian composer Ennio Morricone and Icelandic singer Björk were awarded the 2010 Polar Prize, and Crown Princess Victoria and her Prince Daniel were of course there as well. The Polar Prize was founded by Stig “Stikkan” Anderson in 1989, and is today one of the most prestigious and unique music prizes in the world. Laureates from a wide range of countries, cultures and continents have received the prize in Stockholm from the hand of His Majesty Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.