Selected Events 2011

Ben Franklin Transatlantic Fellows visit Finnish Parliament

Eight European Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellows (FBFT) alumni between the ages of 17 and 19 visited the House of Parliament in Helsinki on Monday, Dec. 19, as part of their reunion program here.
Tough Love (Dec 8, 2011)

Pekka Mykkänen, former U.S. correspondent of Finland’s leading daily, Helsingin Sanomat, talked about his love of the U.S. and about his newly published book (in Finnish) where he analyzes the U.S. after 9/11.
Digital Diplomacy Workshop (Dec 2, 2011)

The U.S. Embassy Helsinki organized a social media workshop on Friday, December 2nd. The seminar was led by Breton Boudreaux, the Social Media Coordinator at the State Department’s European Bureau.
Native American lecture series comes to its conclusion (Nov. 29, 2011)

Since the beginning of October the American Resource Center has run a lecture series about the Native American Indians at the National Library. The topics have varied from major battles to education and from the history of medicine bundles to the legal confrontations in the 20th century. The eight lectures were all inspirational and attracted wide, enthusiastic crowds. The last two lectures were held on November 22nd and 29th.
The U.S. Embassy Congratulates Fulbright Bicentennial Professor, Dr. Earl H. Fry (Nov 29, 2011)

Today, Ambassador Oreck offered opening remarks on behalf of the US Embassy at the Inaugural Lecture by Dr. Earl H. Fry, Fulbright-Bicentennial Chair in American Studies 2011-2012.
Future Economists from Aalto University Visited the Embassy (Nov. 28, 2011)

Ambassador Oreck met with 30 members of the association of economics students from Aalto University (KY Economics ry) to discuss the current economic and employment situation in the U.S. and Europe.
Marjut Robinson Talks about Cultural Diversity in the U.S. (Nov. 21, 2011)

Marjut Robinson, Counselor for Press and Cultural Affairs, hosted a briefing and round-table discussion on cultural diversity in the U.S. for visitors from the Ingå Adult Education Centre.
U.S. Embassy Press Officer David McGuire Talks Politics with Espoo Students (Nov 18, 2011)

U.S. Embassy Helsinki celebrated the last day of the International Education Week with a group of sixteen students from the Tapiola Upper Secondary School.
Studying in the USA -Education Exposé Brings Students and Educators to the American Resource Center (Nov 16, 2011)

U.S. Embassy Helsinki celebrated the International Education Week by organizing the first Studying in the USA -Education Exposé at the American Resource Center.
The EU, Canada and the US - Transatlantic Partners in Time of Crisis (Nov 15, 2011)

DCM Danny Hall spoke in a seminar on ”The EU, Canada and the US - Transatlantic Partners in Time of Crisis” to an audience of Young European Federalists, academics, diplomats and government officials.
Lectures on Native Americans Continues at the American Resource Center (Nov 8, 2011)

The fifth lecture in the Native American lecture series was held by Dr. Rani Anderson and discussed connections between American national parks and Native Americans. On the sixth lecture, PhD student Saara Kekki gave an overview on the U.S. assimilation policies toward Native Americans and Japanese Americans through 1940’s-1950’s.
Ambassador Oreck hosted a press conference on the Innovation Center (Nov 7, 2011)

Ambassador Oreck hosted a press conference on November 7th to outline the ongoing construction project at Embassy Helsinki.
Helsinki Chapter of the World's Largest Independent Law Students' Association Visits the Embassy (Nov 3, 2011)

Yesterday, 30 aspiring lawyers from the Helsinki Board of the European Law Students’ Association (ELSA) met with Ambassador Oreck, Press Officer David McGuire and Political Officer Dan Daley to discuss the upcoming elections and economic situation in the U.S.
State Department Alumni Members and Public Affairs Officer Marjut Robinson Welcome Ms. Nimco Ahmed at Kanava Youth Organization (Oct 27, 2011)

Mr. Abdirahim Hussein Mohamed from Kanava Youth Organization and Ms. Saido Mohamed, Advisor from Finnish League for Human Rights, invited Ms. Nimco Ahmed to meet and speak with 50 members of Finnish Somali community at an event organized at the Kanava Youth Organization
Movie Director Sean Branney at the American Resource Center (Oct 27, 2011)

The director, co-producer, and co-screenwriter Sean Branney discussed his movies “The Call of Cthulhu” (2005) and “The Whisperer in Darkness” (2011) at the American Resource Center on October 27.
Ms. Nimco Ahmed Leads a Round-table Discussion on Somali Diaspora at the University of Helsinki (Oct 26, 2011)

Ms. Nimco Ahmed engaged scholars and researchers in a lively discussion on Somali Diaspora during a round-table discussion hosted by Dr. Marja Tiilikainen, Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Helsinki and Executive Director of Finnish Somalia-Network.
Minnesota "Woman to Watch" Charms Audience at the CAISA, International Cultural Centre (Oct 26, 2011)

U.S. Embassy Helsinki had the pleasure of hosting Ms. Nimco Ahmed, political activist and community organizer who was recognized as a “Woman to Watch” by the Minnesota Women’s Political Caucus (MWPC).
Lecture series on Native Americans Continues at the American Resource Center (October 25 & November 1)

The third lecture in the Native American lecture series discussed the war medicine of the Plains Indians. Dr. Riku Hämäläinen first explained the essence of Native American spirituality. The fourth lecture on the education among the Lakota during 1868-1889 was presented by Dr. Rainer Smedman
Ambassador's Visit to the Nordic Simulators Offices (Oct 21, 2011)

Ambassador Oreck and a team from Embassy Helsinki were in Lahti on October 21 to visit the Finnish Military Training facility and the offices of Nordic Simulators, who represent Miami based company Gaumard in Finland.
U.S. Embassy Helsinki Welcomes American Speakers to International Conference on the Somali Language, October 20-22, 2011

U.S. Embassy Helsinki is pleased to cooperate with the Finnish National Board of Education, the Education Department of Helsinki, Espoo Educational Services, and Vantaa Cultural and Educational Services, in bringing three American guest speakers to Helsinki for an International Conference on the Somali Language.
Ambassador Oreck Celebrates the Eisenhower Day of Fellowship (Oct 20, 2011)

Ambassador Bruce Oreck and Ms. Cody Douglas Oreck participated in the 4th worldwide Eisenhower Day celebration and dinner in Helsinki on October 20. The event was hosted and organized by the Eisenhower Fellows.
Embassy Helsinki Welcomes HTI/Neste Collaboration (Oct 20, 2011)

Ambassador Oreck hosted a reception to highlight the licensing agreement between Utah based HTI and Neste Oil. Through the agreement, HTI has licensed its innovative technology, which allows the Neste refinery in Porvoo to extract greater yield from heavy residual oil.
Ambassador Oreck Met with the International Women's Club of Helsinki (Oct 20, 2011)

Ambassador Oreck spoke at a meeting of the International Women Club of Helsinki on October 20. He covered energy savings issues – advocating LED lighting over incandescent lights as one of the easiest ways at home to focus on energy efficiency.
Lecture series on Native Americans Begins at the American Resource Center (Oct 11 & 18)

The American Resource Center is organizing in cooperation with The Finnish Association for American Indian Cultures a lecture series on the history and culture of Native Americans.
19th American Voices Seminar Organized in Turku during October 14-15, 2011

American Voices Seminar Chair Dr. Keith Battarbee, received special thanks from the U.S. Embassy Helsinki Counselor for Press and Cultural Affairs Marjut Robinson and Fulbright Center Executive Director Terhi Mölsä at the 19th American Voices Seminar organized at the University of Turku from October 14-15.