2. Purpose of this blog

Many people have been involved in the story of my exit from the Swedish Energy Agency, and many have asked for a more complete picture. I am the only one who can give a complete picture of what happened to me, and that is why I tried to write down the story here.

I know it is a lot of text, but all the parts are important for different processes and different contexts. The main reason why I am writing is that I wish it to become part of something positive, which can contribute to a stronger democracy in Sweden, and at the same time reduce reprisals for other people engaged to create a better society. I name three people in my blog, but it is because I think I have to. These are people who have already chosen themselves to go out in connection with this story.

There are many different parts of the story that need to be highlighted, and my case is not an isolated incident, but part of a development that I and many others find very frightening. I don’t take what happened to me particularly personally, but understand that I am just a pawn in a bigger game.

And I can also see that in some ways it was good that it happened, because then it can be lifted and used as an example to clarify what is happening in Sweden today. The hope is, of course, that the story can be used to strengthen our democracy. 

The right to engage democratically is, for example, laid down in international and national frameworks such as: 

* UN Declaration of Human Rights, article 20[1], 

* European Convention of Human Rights article 10 and 11 (freedom of expression and freedom of assembly respectively)[2], 

* in Sweden it is protected under i.a. Freedom of speech and demonstration[3] 

These rights are pillars of a democratic society and the mere fact that this drive could arise as an attack on peaceful engagement is a threat to these pillars and a failure in itself. We need to act to protect those who engage democratically, so that this does not deter others. My story needs to be understood in the context that the democratic space is shrinking around Europe[4] and that climate activists across the continent are experiencing more and more repressive measures[5]. 

The purpose of this web page is not intended to become another arena for discussion about what decisions were right or wrong, but just a way for me to communicate the story. If someone wants to communicate something special to me, I refer to my e-mail address which can be found under ‘Contact’. But good to know is that I am a person who appreciates a little politeness.

[1] https://www.ohchr.org/en/topic/freedom-assembly-and-association

[2] https://www.coe.int/en/web/impact-convention-human-rights#/

[3] https://www.regeringen.se/artiklar/2023/01/yttrande–och-demonstrationsfrihet-i-sverige/

[4] https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/eur01/8199/2024/en/

[5] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/oct/12/human-rights-experts-warn-against-european-crackdown-on-climate-protesters