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10 Questions: Helena Ranta Forensic dentist (Finland)

posted by Yudhvir Ranchod at 10h26 GMT on Oct 18
helenaRanta.jpg

Who would you vote for as the president of the world?
I don’t think it’s realistic to think about. I can't imagine there would be a global president, but if I would have to choose, if I had to vote, it might be the United Nations High Commission of the human rights reservoir, the former chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

We asked all sorts of people -- authors, athletes, movie stars, politicians, thinkers, workers, dreamers -- ten tough questions about democracy. We will publish many of the answers on this page, with new ones every day. Be sure to tell us what you think in the forums.

See today also:
10 Questions: Mário Soares - Former President of the Portugese Republic 1986-1996
10 Questions: Adil Tiscatti - Santa Teresa Cinema Founder (Brazil)
10 Questions: Jaakko Jakkila - Unemployed (Finland)

Are dictators ever good?
The history shows that…dictators, even though they think they are good, so at one stage all they, move into undemocratic, well they are undemocratic anyway, so I don’t think they can.

Can terrorism destroy democracy?
In my view, yes it can…and it should also.


What is wrong with democracy?

There are so many different types of democracies…some democracies call themselves democracies and they are far from the ideal of democracy. I believe that…there are countries where people, ordinary people feel that even though they have democracy, something called democracy, they don’t feel that they can actually have any influence on political decision makers. Today’s world… I’m thinking of globalisation and strong international enterprises and international organizations, the World Bank, international monetary fund and so on. So I believe that this globalisation might be something which threatens democracy.

Why bother to vote?
I think it’s natural that in democracy…so you vote. It’s one of the ways of influencing the decision making processes in the society. I think it’s one of the rights of individual.

Are women more democratic than men?

I wish we were all democratic. I can’t say that there would be any difference between men and women in relation to democracy. It depends on heritage, the society where we live. I don’t think there is any gender specific democracy.

Is God democratic?

I’m afraid I’m atheist so I don’t answer this question.


Is democracy fair for everyone?

At its best it is but unfortunately we have examples all around the world that it’s not fair.


What would make you to start a revolution?

I’m afraid I’m too old and too lazy to initiate any revolutionary action. I believe in other types of influencing.

Can democracy solve the climate change?
This global process which is going on… so I think it’s the only way it can be solved is that countries, democratic countries, really agree what to do about the global warming.

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