Politics must save the world

Pilvi Torsti

SDP’s candidate in the EU elections

“My generation grew up in the 1990s. When we finished school the cold war was over and Finland was just coming out of recession. An agreement had been reached between Israel and the Palestinians. Politics seemed to be a tool of the past. We devoted our energy to organisations, business and projects. I myself have directed my energy especially at the peace process in the former Yugoslavia. For the past few years I have been involved in founding the first college in Bosnia where teenagers from all three groups of people are in the same classroom for the first time since the war.

For some years now I have felt that this foundation of my adulthood has changed. The war on terror, environmental problems and, the latest, the crash in the world of finance show that the world is not ready. Finland has become wealthier fast but equality is shaking and Finland does not seem to be ready to face the globalising world.

I believe that the big questions of our time – the financial crisis, climate change, globalisation, energy issues, poverty of the developing countries – demand wide-ranging cooperation from you, me, us. From politics, that is. And as we need extensive international solutions, we need the European Union.

To save the world we must also save politics from apathy and the lack of alternatives. Politics is everybody’s concern – the issues are mine, yours and ours.

I want to influence the solution to the big questions of our time. That is why I have, at this point of my life, decided to strive for politics and to stand as a candidate to represent the Finnish people in the European Parliament.”

Pilvi Torsti
You and I are needed. Take part in Pilvi’s programme for saving politics: www.pilvitorsti.fi

Biographical brief

Pilvi Torsti (born 1976)

Doctor of Political Science (2004)

• Researcher and teacher at the University of Helsinki, areas of research: uses of history, history policy and the former Yugoslavia region
• Founder and project coordinator of the Mostar United World College in Bosnia and Herzegovina (2002-2006)
• Volunteer work in Finland (2001-2004), Croatia and Slovenia (1993-95), Germany (1993-1994) and Nepal (1998)
• Journalist and travel writer Ylioppilaslehti, Helsingin Sanomat, Nelosen Uutiset, TV1 A-Studio, the Sankarimatkailija guide books for Like Publishing (1997)
• Award for exceptional work for world peace awarded by Queen Noor (2007)

Married, two children, a god-family in Nepal since 1998 Born in Imatra, lived in Italy, Nepal, Bosnia and Finland. Lives in Helsinki, also at home in Sarajevo and Lammi.

“The researcher Pilvi Torsti is a super talented idealist. The winner of the Young Achiever Award founded a college in Bosnia that unites the ethnic groups… She is a name of the future and one answer to the question of who will continue the work of Martti Ahtisaari and others in building Finland’s international brand.” (Tuomo Björksten. Newspaper Aamulehti 27.5.2007)