Post by finland on Feb 7, 2011 21:59:08 GMT -5
Tino Väinämöinen
"Moi Moi~ Merry Christmas!"
"Moi Moi~ Merry Christmas!"
Music wakes me up every morning, Skylight seem to bring on the sun
Bluebirds chase my blues with the dawning,
I don't mind the work to be done
Bluebirds chase my blues with the dawning,
I don't mind the work to be done
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Country: Suomen Tasavalta / Republic of Finland / Republiken Finland
Human name: Tino Väinämöinen
Apparent age: 14 on the return, 20 from future
Gender: Male
Appearance:
Tino is a lean but very strong Country. He's the shortest of all the Nordics standing at only 170 cm (5' 6 1/2"), and has short boyishly cut blonde hair. His eyes are an odd shade of purple (very close to Canada's but more of a washed out blue). He may seem to be weak or possibly feminine (somehow Berwald keeps calling him his wife), though he doesn't see why. He has had a rough time with the other Nordics, but is stronger for it, though you'd have to see him shirtless to see the muscles gained.
Your smile makes my life worth the living
and tells me how lucky I am
To share in the love you are giving
every day, in every way
and tells me how lucky I am
To share in the love you are giving
every day, in every way
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Strengths: What are they good at? Also give a little explanation, if you will.
- Determined: Tino won't give up on any goal, unless it is risking those he loves. He keeps fighting on with a positive outlook (the comic where Finland stops once he sees Sweden is done for).
- Optimistic: No matter what is happening, he always looks on the sunny side. Even when he's losing or under someone's control that he'd rather not be under... which unfortunately happened a bit...
- Motherly-Mature: He is very adult and able to take care of himself... He's had to do it for so long, but also help care-serve his neighbors. Living with some... rather exuberant and sometimes overly-childish Nations helped make him one of the level-headed ones in the house. He does care for his friends (even though sometimes they can be jerks -cough-Denmark-cough-). He loves children and dogs and helping take care of them.
- Honest: He doesn't worry about lying, since that will hurt you in the end... plus he works with Santa so he can't exactly lie. Honesty is the best policy, but that doesn't mean you should be cruel or rude.
- Able to tap into his inner-child: Tino is definitely able to play with the kids and enjoy himself without feeling foolish. He is innocent in a manner and able to let himself believe in the possible (though believing in England totally about his... "friends" is a no-no. He does believe Norge has a troll...). He believes and is friends with Moomins and knows Santa Clause personally.
Weaknesses: Everybody must have weaknesses, what are your character's?
- Kindness: sometimes being too kind can set you up to be stuck in a bad place or stop from saying something you want to. And somehow it had him taking care of Sealand.... not that he doesn't like the kid...
- Simple: He doesn't exactly think in too complicated terms... Things are good and bad, in a sense he can be a bit too much in tune with his inner-child.
- Salmiakki: It's delicious, don't you throw it out or toss it on the floor-It's still good!
- His battle-lust: He was a viking after all, and his determination kinda doesn't help him in quitting the fight...
- Being called "wife"/Berwald: He... he... heloveshim, but he gets a bit weak in the knees when he's called a wife... or anything feminine... and he'll never admit how he doesn't really mind it...
- Love: In most circumstances, love strengthens you and helps you do the impossible. Tino will let himself be hurt for those he loves, love can ensnare and enslave him (he loves his people, his children the most of all like any country and if he needed to die for them he would).
Fears: What do they fear?
- Losing his independence: History has not been kind when he was young and he's rather fond of not being stuck under someone or tossed about like a pack of salmiakki, or worse getting dragged into battles for no good reason.
- Being unloved: He has a big heart and doesn't want it to be taken advantage of or find out someone who loves him really doesn't.
- Failing his people or those he loves: It is his worst nightmare to ever let them down or maybe do something that would hurt or get them killed. What if he somehow, he was a reason someone would hurt Hanatamago? Well he'd go berserk of course, but Hanatamago getting hurt because of him?! And what if he didn't make his full trip to give out presents? He also regrets not demanding Estonia and his brother come with him, when he left Denmark with Sweden.
- Being or becoming an accomplice or perpetrator of crimes against humanity: He is not proud of decisions he and his government decided in the past... He knows he won't ever have a time where every decision is alright, but he tries his hardest. He didn't take part in Germany's extermination of Jews, but he did send 8 German refugees back to German control... It may not be a lot but those 8 could have lived... Maybe he could have done more to protect others?
Personality:
Tino is a very mature Nation, mainly due to having to live as an underling to Russia and the other Nordics. He takes his responsibilities and duties seriously and is determined to always give his best, regardless of how worn out he is or damaged. His casualties compared to Russia's in the Winter War show his sturdiness and inner strength. He is not one you really want to take on, more so because he is like a terrier and unlikely to quit resisting-fighting you.
He has a very maternal nature that often is described as an innate kindness. He enjoys taking care of others, but not in a way that is detrimental towards himself. If he is to care for you, then you should at the least respect and want the assistance and care. He adores animals and children. He has a high level of compassion and along with his love of animals and children, this has caused him to find his canine companion Hanatamago. He has a odd habit of naming animals though, as seen in the pup's name...
Santa Clause resides in Finland's area (Lapland) and Tino reflects a bit of the Christmas Saint in himself. He enjoys the holidays and easily connects with the children and people who have the Christmas spirit. He is generally cheerful and optimistic. He sometimes can view the world more in a black and white view when it comes to some actions. His morals are quite clear lined, but he's willing to listen to any explanations... He is a compassionate individual, which helps influence whether something is right or wrong to him. He wants to be responsible and a good role model for Sealand.
He is a very loving person and wants the best for those he cares for. His feelings toward Sweden are... well it's embarrassing to be called a wife since he's a man!
Every city sound has a rhythm, rhythm with the beat of my heart
Begging me to sing along with him
Telling me to give love a start
Begging me to sing along with him
Telling me to give love a start
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Family: Nordics (Denmark, Iceland, Sweden- stop calling him a wife...), Sealand (sorta adopted him), Hanatamago
Friends: Moomins, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, America, France, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Croatia, Canada, generally on good relations with most countries
Frenemies: Denmark to an extent (though it is a bit better now), Russia (they aren't at each other's throats, but are civil... even though when he was a soviet he was an ASSHOLE), at some point he could also consider Sweden thanks to the Middle Age tensions brought between then Novgrod (Russia) and Sweden's king....
History:
After 2010, Finland was faced with the continuing low birth rate, harsher weather, and trouble in the oil resources... as in they seemed to be running out and those that did have them were starting to hoard or demand higher prices. His government tried rationing the important resources and it seemed to work for awhile, but eventually the world news of famines, plagues, and starting violence created a major riot in his capitol forcing the country to go under martial law. People started to try and guard the borders and any resources fiercely and to an extent did decently, but became overly mistrusting of their neighbors and any efforts to assist. The growing worry that others would sell their country out to the former Soviet next door kept growing and a faction of extremists began to grow in influence. There was a great rift between the populace wanting to cooperate with at least Sweden and a few other neighboring Nations and the other the group wary of any other country, especially Russia.
Violence between the two were becoming more of an issue and Finland found himself fighting thoughts of... violence toward himself and his neighbors. He always seemed to be able to calm himself before anything major happened, but he and his government were getting scared. He sent Hanatamago to Sweden for her safekeeping, but tried to hide it by saying he was getting so busy he wanted to make sure Berwald wasn't lonely... which was another concern of his. He was ready to send out requests for aid to his neighbors, finally deciding he couldn't handle himself any longer when a new bacterial strain seemed to infect water sources starting to kill off the ill and weaker of constitutions along with one of his best resources the trees, which also worried him for the upcoming winter. The summer had already been a difficult drought and with the contaminated water which luckily didn't seem to affect the animal population much (only already ill animals were affected slightly) this winter would probably be starting with either a violently suppressed riot or a violently overturned government.
Luckily the grains and non arboreal plants seemed unaffected, but the wood and oil running out would have many dead in the winter if they couldn't figure something out. Finland was walking with one of his first female president's female descendants, Lyyli who was now following in her ancestor's footsteps and earning a spot as the first lesbian president (something they both joked about her ancestor doing as well), when he felt the rage rising. He grabbed Lyyli and began to run with her. The more violent extremists were targeting the woman and while she did have bodyguards Tino did not want to risk her or any of his other children. After they got a few feet into Mäntyniemi, Tino heared a loud bang and it became grey. He knew the feeling, it was something he had felt before often fighting against the Soviets. He had been shot in the head.
When he woke he was in what had to be Karjala. He wasn't quite sure how he had gotten there and why it suddenly looked.... well like it did when he was under Sweden's rule... After a bit of thinking he decided perhaps Santa had given him another chance? It was one he definitely wasn't going to waste and hopefully he could help change certain events? Maybe if he and Berwald could work together amicably and still Finland be independent then things could be better and they could start and prepare for certain events or get rid of them... His main goal is to watch out for his family... and maybe get to have a kid a bit earlier... Tino hasn't really coped with what has happened yet, it makes him nervous to think that he could really start going insane, but he tries to suppress it and move forward; hopefully it won't cause any problems...
Rewriting the past history aka the who has Finland now game? And what land is Russia taking now?
----------
~Paleolithic, Mesolithic~
Paleolithic Era has the oldest "known" Neanderthal "dwellings" in Wolf Cave in Kristinestad, Ostrobothnia (120000-130000 years ago). The Mesolithic period around 8500 BCE people grouped together as hunter-gatherers and performed net fishing as early as 8300 BCE.
~Neolithic~
People were still subsistence hunter-fishers, but pottery begins to show and evidence of trade across Northeastern Europe starts (Baltics, rest of Scandinavia, throughout Finland). Shamanistic and Totemistic belief start to appear in Eastern Finland. 3200 BCE Battle Axe/Cord Ceramic culture influences/appears as does the beginning of plant and animal selective breeding. After 2500 BCE people began to live by agriculture.
~Bronze~
Bronze use came in about 1500 BCE and coastal areas were influenced by the Nordic Bronze Age, while the inland areas were more influenced by the Baltic and Russian cultures. There is evidence of four different cultural languages having part in Finland by this time: Finno-Ugric, Finnic, Indo-European, Old Norse and proto-Germanic which were influenced outwardly by other Nordic countries (especially Norway and Sweden), Baltic.
~Iron Age~
Started 500 BCE and ended around 1150 BCE when Sweden completely finished conquering Finland. They traded furs for weapons and ornaments with the Baltics and the Scandinavians as well as along the eastern trade route traveller-merchants.
Finish history starts being written at the end of the Iron Age more than likely brought by the Swedes. Urbanization may start during or toward the beginning of the Middle Ages. Hillforts spread during this period and 2 seperate mentions in written history of a foreign nation mention Finland: Swedish runes (finlont, finlandi- land of the Finns), Germania (Fenni- scholars are unsure if this truly is noting about Finland).
~The Middle Ages~
Swedish/Viking settlements are more prevalent and many begin to Christianize Finland (Sweden, Denmark, the Republic of Novgorod in Northwestern Russia and probably the German crusading orders). In early 13th century Finland has it's first Bishop (Bishop Thomas). 11/12th-13th century the Finnic tribes and Novgorod are having conflicts. Technically Finland only pertained to "Finland Proper", while Österland (Easterland) was referring to what in modern days is the Eastern lands of Finland-which had belonged to Sweden at that time. The concept of Finland (country) begins to develop from here on to the 18th century. Finland kept getting in trouble with Sweden due to their christianization... They would "convert" to Christianity, but once they were left alone they would revert to their "heathenish" ways.
Birger Jarl established Swedish rule (through the Second Swedish Crusade c. 1249) because the Tavastians had stopped being Christian (this was not the first time they played that game...). Karelia was split between settlements dividing the region into a Swedish (western 1293 Third FinnishCrusade) and Novgorod (eastern). The people of Karelia are often because of this division considered to be their own though they are very closely related to the Finns. In 1323 Finland's eastern border is the northern border between Catholic and Orthodox Christendom (Treaty of Nöteborg/Treaty of Oreshek- border dispute settlement between Sweden and Novgorod Republic).
Dominican order arrived in Finland around 1249 helping Finland intergrate into European society. Around the beginning of the 14th century the first documents of Finnish students at Sorbonne (Paris) appear. Urban settlement in Turku evolves with German merchants and craftsmen making it one of the biggest towns in the Kingdom of Sweden (other urbanization didn't really take off in other cities/remained low). Finnish and Karelian tax collectors start exploiting southern coastal farming parishes, castellanies, and Sami-hunters, and fishermen. The southern and north-western coasts of Finland, to the Åland Islands and to the archipelago between Turku and the Åland Islands began to have a significant increase in Swedish settlers helping to make the Swedish language a upper-class language.
The bishopric of Turku springs up and flourishes in the 13th century due to the Cult of St. Henry and the bishops (Finns surprisingly often) had most of the ecclesiastical power in most the land. Scandinavian or German noblemen often had castle rule. 1362, representatives from Finland signifying the incorporation of Finland into the kingdom of Sweden. 1348 the Swedish king Magnus Eriksson staged a failed crusade which basically broke the Treaty of Nöteborg/Treaty of Oreshek. This is a main cause for the continuing disputes between Novgorod and the Swedes (unfortunately Finland was in the middle...). Vyborg guarded the Eastern border of Finland (mainly due to the uneasy "peace" which was sprinkled with raids to and from Novgorod).
Unrest sprouted up in the 1380's which was actually a a civil war in the Scandinavian part of Sweden that ended in 1389 resulting in the Kalmar Union. Sweden kept trying to break free for 130 years, but Finland wasn't always involved in that. The 15th century was prosperous for Finland with population growth and economic development. With the Principality of Moscow conquering Novgorod, Sweden got worried and tensions between the two rose till there was war between Sweden and a (almost) Unified Russia. 1495-1497 the two fought and a siege against Vyborg failed due to a "miracle" keeping Finland still in Sweden's hands.
~16th Century~
1521 the Kalmar Union collapsed and Gustav Vasa became King of Sweden; he reformed the Church giving it more power over citizens' daily life (most often shown in tax collection, publication of New Testament in Finnish). 1550 the king founded what would later be called Helsinki which was first a small fishing village for over two centuries. Ten years later he was dead and his three sons each got a turn at the kingship. King Erik XIV started an era of expansion. In 1561 the Estonian city of Tallinn was taken into Swedish protection. 1558-1583 the Livonian War took place, which was Sweden trying to get lordship over Estonia and Lithuania from Danmark, Poland, and Russia. Due to treatment of common people (drafts, high taxes, and abuse by military personnel) the Cudgel War occured (1596-97). It was a peasant revolt that Sweden suppressed brutally and bloodily. In 1595, Sweden ceded land in the Treaty of Teusina with Russia (closer to the modern border of Finland). The King encouraged agricultural growth and settlement (farmers from the province of Savonia to settle regions in Middle Finland). The original Sami population was displaced by the settlers and some land had traditionally been Karelian hunting-fishing grounds, which resulted in the 1580s' guerrilla warfare.
~17th Century~
1611-1632 Sweden's King Gustav Adolfus had the military reformed (including Finns) into what may have been the best in Europe. Land was gained in the ended conquest of Livonia (Treaty of Stolbova- Russia internally divided-again). 1630, Sweden decided to help out in the Thirty Years' War (Finland got to come help as troops-Finnish light cavalry Hakkapeliitat). 1648 the Swedish Empire was one of the most powerful in Europe (Peace of Westphalia). Thanks to the war reforms occurred in Finland: 1637–1640 and 1648–1654 Count Per Brahe functioned as general governor of Finland. Many important reforms were made and many towns were founded. His period of administration is generally considered very beneficial to the development of Finland; 1640 Finland's first university, the Academy of Åbo, was founded in Turku at the proposal of Count Per Brahe by Queen Christina of Sweden; 1642 The whole Bible was published in Finnish. High taxation, continuing wars, and the Little Ice Age took it's toll on Finnish peasants. 1655–1660, the Northern Wars were fought (Livonia, Poland and Denmark). In 1676, the political system of Sweden was transformed into an absolute monarchy.
Production of tar (for navy ship coating) shows beginning spirit of Capitalism, but when plans fall through they have a witch-hunt (from the Lutheran belief system from Germany). 1638-1655 many Finns (at least half of the colonists) went to a New World colony (modern-day Delaware-Pennsylvania). Lutheran orthodoxy had strict control through the century: 1608, the law of Moses was declared the law of the land (the ten commandments and possibly the entire book of Deuteronomy- though interpretation was up to the church); confessing of the Lutheran faith and church attendance; individual study of Bible (promoted education). The population either memorized the texts or had at least a minimal level of proficiency in literacy. 1697-1699, a famine due to weather killed 30% of Finns. This was soon followed by The Great Northern War.
~18th Century~
1700-1721 was the time of the Great Northern War (Sweden and Finland against Denmark-Norway, Saxe-Poland-Lithuania and Russia. Sweden lost the absolute monarchy and it's status as a Great Power. This age was known as the Age of Liberty/Age of Enlightenment. After the war Finland lost more of the south-east and was ruled by Parliament. It was divided between 2 parties the Hats (wanting revenge against Russia) and the Caps (wanting peaceful relations with Russia). There was a third group the parliamentarians (with connections to the royals), but due to the Hats and Caps it had little influence. Population records of this time were low-not counting Karelia (470,000), but there was growth so much that population at least doubled. 90% were peasants and the remaining were divided into clergy, nobility, and burghers. Political influence of Finns grew during this time (45% of the male population were enfranchised with full political representation in the legislature).
1741-1742 (Lesser Wrath) The Hat political party botched an attempt to recover lost provinces and Russia received Finland for that time period. At this time Russia was letting out propaganda of a Finnish Kingdom. 1771 parliament was abolished (started getting overly corrupt with bribes) in a coup d'etat by the king Gustav III. 1778 he restarted a war with Russia, which just disturbed the economic life in Finland and didn't really earn anything for the Kingdom of Sweden. A group of officers made the Anjala declaration demanding peace negotiations and calling of Riksdag (Parliament) and tried to create an independent Finnish state with Russian support, which the king quickly destroyed. 1789 the king increased his power, but also improved peasant status though Swedes still labeled him a tyrant.
New agricultural and scientific information was changing Finland. They began farming potatoes, the first hot air balloon in Finland (and the whole Swedish kingdom) was made in Oulu in 1784, only a year after it was invented in France. Trade increased and the peasantry were more self-aware and had more affluence. Debate in the society on issues of politics, religion and morals rose and spread eventually noting how most Finns spoke and only Finnish but everything was written in Swedish if not in French. 1792 Gustav III was assassinated. After Gustav IV Adolf was old enough to take his throne, he was rated as a lackluster leader (Napoleonic Wars and French Revolution occurred during this time).
"Old Finland" was the land given to Russia during the last two treaties and at first was governed by old Swedish laws.... but after a time the Russians gave large estates/land to non-Finnish favorites ignoring landownership and peasant freedom laws of Old Finland. Some noblemen punished peasants corporally (flogging, etc). The economy and morale decreased even further in 1797 as the Finns were forced to send men to the Imperial Army. Military installments had many Non-Finns move into the area and land ownership remained an issue to the 1870s (even though Old Finland later was rejoined with Finland in 1812).
~Russian Grand Duchy~
The Finnish War (February 1808- September 1809) was fought between Sweden and Russia, creating a Grand Duchy of Finland. March 29, 1809 the occupied states of Finland were forced to pledge allegiance to Alexander I of Russia. After the signing of the Treaty of Fredrikshamn (September 17, 1809), Finland remained an autonomous Grand Duchy in the Russian Empire until the end of 1917, with Karelia ("Old Finland") handed back to Finland in 1812. Finland's autonomy varied and most Old Swedish Laws were kept active, the Finnish peasants were allowed their freedom unlike Russian peasants. Censorship and political prosecution occurred during the last two decades. Industrialization began during the 19th century from forestry to industry, mining and machinery (mainly what Finland is still supported economically on).
Finnish Nationalism was encouraged by the Russians to try and keep Finland loyal, by spreading use of Finnish. The publication in 1835 of the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala (collection of traditional myths and legends which is the folklore of the Karelian people) helped to unite the Finnish elite and peasantry (which would help them later break off from Russia). 1863 Finnish was starting to be used in Administration and in 1892 it became an equally official language as to Swedish. The "Eduskunta" (unicameral Parliament of Finland) replaced the four-chamber Diet system. For the first time in Europe, universal suffrage (right to vote) and eligibility was implemented to include women: Finnish women were the first in Europe to gain full eligibility to vote; and have membership in an estate; land ownership or inherited titles were no longer required (municipal elections the number of votes was tied to amount of tax paid). 1917 it changed to universal suffrage.
~Independence/Civil War~
Issues with the Parliament after the February Revolution in Russia cause a dissolving and reassigning of powers in the new Senate with Socialists as the minority. This caused politically motivated terror assaults and murders. The October Revolution had the Bolsheviks in power and this allowed for the right of secession. Finnish Parliament issued a declaration by which it assumed, pro tempore, all powers of the Sovereign in Finland and then on December 6th was agreed to secede. Soviet government issued a Decree, recognizing Finland's independence, and on December 22 it was approved (January 4th independence recognized).
From January to May 1918, Finland experience a short civil war (Finnish Civil War) that was two sided: White(who fought for the anti-Socialists) and Red (consisted of workers and tenant farmers- created a Finnish Socialist Workers' Republic). Imperial Germany supported the Whites and assisted in ending the war, while Sweden did not take any side or part embittering Finns toward Sweden for it. During the Civil War, the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed (basically Russia get out and take your stuff too).
~Inter-War Era~
The Kingdom of Finland was established. Frederick Charles of Hesse, a German prince, was elected King, putatively with the name Väinö I of Finland, with Pehr Evind Svinhufvud and General Mannerheim serving as Regents, but with Germany's WWI defeat they instead became a republic, with Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg elected as its first President in 1919. League of Nations had to settle a dispute over the Alands, which wanted to join Sweden (they spoke Swedish) and Finland didn't want to let them go and offered they become an autonomous state (they declined it). The LoN decided they should be under Finland as an autonomous province. Finland had to ensure Aland's culture and Swedish language as well as ensure it remained neutral and not place any military personnel, equipment, or buildings on the lands.
There were many skirmishes between Soviet Russia and Finland. The Treaty of Tartu in 1920 gained Petsamo, but gave up claims on East Karelia. Under Russia's rule, the Tsar had tried to impose prohibition, but independent Finland enacted prohibition on June 1, 1919. It lasted until April 5, 1932 because of negative repercussions to crime rates and drinking. Nationalist sentiment remaining from the Civil War developed into the proto-Fascist Lapua Movement in 1929. Initially the movement gained widespread support among anti-Communist Finns, but following a failed coup attempt in 1932 it was banned and its leaders imprisoned. Soviet Union tightened its policy against Finland in 1930s, limiting the navigation of Finnish merchant ships then blocking totally in 1937.
~WWII~
August 1939 Nazi-Germany and the Soviet Union signed the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, after the Soviet Union sent a "request" to place military bases on Finnish soil (they had done the same to the Baltics who shortly lost independence). The Finns refused and the 30th November 1939 the Soviets began a military invasion of Finland (Winter War). The Soviets thought it would be a quick and easy win, as they outnumbered and had better machinery. The Finns defended about 3.5 months and still avoid invasion successfully. The Winter War was a big loss of prestige for Soviet Union, and it was expelled from the League of Nations because of the illegal attack and Finland got a lot of goodwill and material support from other Nations.
Finland tried to get British assistance after the Winter War as they were weakened, but the British were not interested, so when Nazi Germany offered aid they accepted (Never became an Axis). 1940-1941 Finland received and aid from Germany making others less sympathetic to Finland's cause (aka the I don't wanna become one). Finland's Continuation War led to a Finnish invasion of the Soviet Union to recover lost territory, and to hopefully regain East Karelia. This had UK declaring war on Finland December 6th, 1941. Finland managed to sustain little losses casualty-wise and sustain it's democracy, but was punished harsher that other co-belligerents and allies (major reparations, the loss of Viipuri, and an eighth of it's land was given to the Soviets. Finland didn't participate in the "Jewish Solution," but did hand over 8 German Jewish refugees. Finland sent 80,000 children to Norway, Denmark, and Sweden during the war. The Tehran Conference of 1942 had the Nations agreeing Finland was fighting a separate war against the Soviet Union. The commander of Finnish armed forces during the Winter War and the Continuation War, Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, became the President of Finland after the war. Finland made a separate peace contract with the Soviet Union on 19 September 1944. It also was the only country bordering the USSR that kept it's independence after the war.
~Cold War~
Industrialization grew in Finland, but thanks to the baby boom many emmigrated to Sweden. Finland retained a democratic constitution and free economy. Finland developed closer co-operation with the other Nordic countries and declared itself neutral politically. 1952 joined a passport union with the other Nordics so people could freely travel, which many Finns used to get jobs in Sweden. Finland could not join the Nordic Council until 1955 because of Soviet fears that Finland might become too close to the West. Finland joined the United Nations, though it had already been associated with a number of UN specialized organizations the same year. In 1955, the Soviet Union decided to return the Porkkala peninsula to Finland, which had been rented to the Soviet Union in 1948 for 50 years as a military base. Finland became an associate member of the European Free Trade Association in 1961 and a full member in 1986. Finland began to send students abroad to gain skills. Savings rate hovered among the world's highest, at around 8% until the 80s. In the beginning of the 1970s, Finland's GDP per capita reached the level of Japan and the UK. Finland's number of bureaucrats and overall taxation were doubled between 1970 and 1990 (corruption). In 1991 Finland fell into a Great Depression-magnitude depression caused by a combination of economic overheating, fixed currency, depressed Western, Soviet, and local markets (growth in the 1980s was based on debt. The depression bottomed out in 1993).
~Up to 2010~
The GDP growth rate has since been one of the highest of OECD countries and Finland has topped many indicators of national performance. It consistently ranks in the top for education in the Global testing for math, science, and english. January 1, 1995, Finland joined the European Union. During Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen's two successive governments 1995–2003, several large state companies were privatized fully or partially. Finland remains one of the last non-NATO members in Europe and there seems to be not enough support for full membership unless Sweden joins first. Finland is one of the oldest countries and half of voters are estimated to be over 50 years old. Like most European countries, without further reforms or much higher immigration Finland is expected to struggle with demographics, even though macroeconomic projections are healthier than in most other developed countries.
- www.localhistories.org/finland.html
- peacecountry0.tripod.com/earlyfin.htm
- www.world66.com/europe/finland/history
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Finland#Independence
RP Sample:
It was snowing. White unique crystals twirled and danced their way to a thick ivory blanket already covering his land. Low grunts and snorts clouded in the cold air, making him smile and shiver with the warmth flooding inside. The wind was light and didn't bother his exposed skin and the soft plush velvet gently caressed him. His hair was a bit mussed from the activity thus far and the sweat lightly kept a bit hugging his neck. He was warm, hot almost. Sore, but happily so.
He had already gone a few rounds and was back to start once again. Sweden-Berwald didn't seem tired yet. A slightly worn but happy smile crawled across his face. He loved this. Berwald had almost fit it all inside and soon it would all be pushing full to the brim. It was something he loved feeling and the slow emptying. It would be the last time he was sure. And the rewarding warmth at the results...
It was perfect. He couldn't wait for the coming morning when he could watch Hanatamago and Sealand's reaction to his and Berwald's work. Hanatamago would love anything she got, but he was sure she'd like the bone five times her size. Peter would probably be a bit better behaved... well he hoped. Looking back to the overstuffed bag almost ready to spill the wrapped presents, he nodded to he Christmas... "elf" and grabbed the red velvet bag and slung it over his shoulder.
He loved Christmas. He loved this night. His and Santa's night. This night he got to share with everyone. With Berwald. Tonight he didn't feel the normal nervous fear from his... "husband's" face. And he didn't really mind letting him call him... wi-that word... after all... it was kind of an early present? Giggling he shook his head and gave a wave goodbye as he got in the sleigh. The deer were ready and if he was quick he could finish with the Nation gifts and be back in time for a hot drink, whatever the taller Swede decided- hopefully a cider or hot chocolate... and salmiakki. With a final parting smile he snapped the leather reigns and braced for the slight push from momentum. First stop on the final run... the Baltics!
All day long, the hurry and scurry tangled is the web that we weave
Let the others whisper and worry
as for me, my heart's on my sleeve
Let the others whisper and worry
as for me, my heart's on my sleeve
[ OOC ]
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Name: Nordette
Age: over 16
Experience: I am your Canada... and I have done many other rps on other sites. Pern, Hetalia, HP, etc
Contact: see Canada app please
Anything else?: Jens Bonoboes
Nightingales all welcome the nighttime soothing me to sleep with their song; your love came along at the right time
Love that keeps me singing along;
It's love that keeps me singing along
Love that keeps me singing along;
It's love that keeps me singing along
This template was created by Ophelia for Hetalia: Distorted Destiny. Lyrics are from "Tom Tom Tom" by Marion Rung Eurovision English performance
