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Culture News in Brief: Rufus Gifford makes fast start on road to Congress

Ben Hamilton
January 11th, 2018


This article is more than 6 years old.

The former US ambassador isn’t the only one attracting the big names, as the BBC World Service has recruited some of Denmark’s biggest names to take part in its Copenhagen radio show

True to his word: Rufus Gifford was talking about the possibility of running for office in his outgoing speech as US ambassador (photo: Hasse Ferrold)

Reality TV star Rufus Gifford, the former US ambassador to Denmark, has enjoyed a productive start to his first 45 days running for Congress.

He has already raised half a million US dollars, attracting a total of 1,100 contributions, to support his election bid in Massachusetts Third Congressional District.

Some experienced faces onboard
Gifford has enlisted several Barack Obama election veterans, using contacts he established as the former US president’s national finance director working on his 2012 re-election.

“I’m thrilled by this level of support and the amazing number of people who are coming together around our campaign,” said Gifford.

“We exceeded every goal we set, which will allow us to run the type of grassroots operation we want to run, connecting with diverse voters across the district.”


BBC World Service to record episode in Copenhagen
BBC World Service presumably asked for the crème de la crème for the Danish episode of its monthly radio program ‘The Arts Hour on Tour’, which will be recorded in Copenhagen on January 17 at Republique theatre in Østerbro. The line-up includes film director Lone Scherfig, crime author Jussi Adler-Olsen, comedian Omar Marzouk and actress Birgitte Hjort Sørensen. The program will air at 16:00 on January 28 and again a day later at 10:00. Free tickets are available to the public to watch it being made – click here and here for more details.

Zentropa off the hook but still on Arbejdstilsynet’s radar
The Danish working environment authority, Arbejdstilsynet, is not finished with Zentropa despite finding no occupational health problems after investigating nine allegations of sexual harassment at the film producer. Zentropa has launched a number of initiatives aimed at installing new norms and values at its workplace, and Arbejdstilsynet will offer future counselling. Meanwhile, its co-founder Peter Aalbæk will be returning to work in around two weeks after an self-imposed exile following the allegations.

Cartoon nominated for best Danish film award
A Danish cartoon, ’Den utrolige historie om den kæmpestore pære’, has been nominated for a Robert Best Film award – the first time a work of animation has been included for 11 years. The other four films in contention are ‘En frygtelig kvinde’, ‘Mens vi lever’, ‘Underverden’ and ‘Vinterbrødre’ – the favourite if the number of total noms is anything to go by. Elsewhere, though, there were few changes, as Trine Dyrholm and Nikolaj Lie Kaas have once again received acting nominations. The winners will be announced on February 4.

Von Trier wins prestigious European award
Lars von Trier, 61, has won the Sonning Prize – an annual honour bestowed by the University of Copenhagen to an individual who has proven to be an asset to European culture. “He has created great artistic significance in many different genres – so masterfully that he juggles with all sorts of cinematic possibilities,” said Milena Bonifacini, the chair of Akademirådet, a state culture body that put Von Trier forward for the award.


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A survey carried out by Megafon for TV2 has found that 71 percent of parents have handed over children to daycare in spite of them being sick.

Moreover, 21 percent of those surveyed admitted to medicating their kids with paracetamol, such as Panodil, before sending them to school.

The FOLA parents’ organisation is shocked by the findings.

“I think it is absolutely crazy. It simply cannot be that a child goes to school sick and plays with lots of other children. Then we are faced with the fact that they will infect the whole institution,” said FOLA chair Signe Nielsen.

Pill pushers
At the Børnehuset daycare institution in Silkeborg a meeting was called where parents were implored not to bring their sick children to school.

At Børnehuset there are fears that parents prefer to pack their kids off with a pill without informing teachers.

“We occasionally have children who that they have had a pill for breakfast,” said headteacher Susanne Bødker. “You might think that it is a Panodil more than a vitamin pill, if it is a child who has just been sick, for example.”

Parents sick and tired
Parents, when confronted, often cite pressure at work as a reason for not being able to stay at home with their children.

Many declare that they simply cannot take another day off, as they are afraid of being fired.

Allan Randrup Thomsen, a professor of virology at KU, has heavily criticised the parents’ actions, describing the current situation as a “vicious circle”.

“It promotes the spread of viruses, and it adds momentum to a cycle where parents are pressured by high levels of sick-leave. If they then choose to send the children to daycare while they are still recovering, they keep the epidemic going in daycares, and this in turn puts a greater burden on the parents.”