IMO-WMO Centenary FDC 6.8.1973

My dear friend Ella sent me this FDC which commemorates the Centenary of the International Meteorological Organisation, which in 1947 transformed itself into the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The Brussels Conference also planted the seeds of the First International Meteorological Congress, which was held in Vienna in 1873. The Congress resulted in a major breakthrough in the history of meteorology-- the creation of the International Meteorological Organization (IMO) to coordinate the collection and international exchange of meteorological data and information. Although a non-governmental organisation, IMO provided the framework for international cooperation in meteorological data collection, research and service provision until the end of World War II.
On 11 October 1947, representatives of 31 countries attending the Eighth Conference of Directors of IMO in Washington D. C. endorsed the transformation of IMO into a new inter-governmental World Meteorological Organization (WMO). After a long debate, the Convention was voted unanimously. Nevertheless it did not actually come into force until 23 March 1950, that being the thirtieth day after the date of the deposit of the thirtieth Member's instrument of ratification and accession. This birthday, 23 March, is celebrated every year by all WMO Member countries, as World Meteorological Day.

Åland sceneries 16.9.2009

Aland Post issued two news stamps featuring different sceneries in Aland. The stamps are based on magnificent photographs by Erkki Santamala and Andy Horner and feature a scene of Eckerö and a scene of Sund. These are additional stamps to the scenery stamps that have been issued annually by Aland.
Eckerö is the westernmost municipality of both Åland and Finland. From here, the Eckerö Line ferries depart for Grisslehamn on the Swedish side. Eckerö is well-known to all philatelists seeing that this is also where the traditional Postal Boat Race either departs or finishes. In Eckerö lies the fine old Post and Customs House from 1828 by the architects Carl Ludvig Engel and Carlo Bassi. The building is now a popular sight with a café, an art exhibition and a postal mail route museum. The Signhildskär island just off the coast of Eckerö is where, in the beginning of the 1800s, the Swedish army fought the final battle on ice, consequently losing Finland to the Russian Empire. The population of Eckerö is approximately 900 and tourism is an important source of income. Some twenty camping sites and holiday villages and almost as many cafés and restaurants are located here. Eckerö stamp motif is from Degersand: The Degersand beach in the village of Torp in southern Eckerö is a popular outing spot for Ålanders as well as tourists. Degersand, where Andy Horner took the photo, is the only landscape in Åland with sand dunes. The Eckerö FDC features shells. The Eckerö postmark is a feather.
Sund lies on the eastern side of main Åland, approximately 20 kilometers from Mariehamn, This municipality is rich in culture-historical surroundings with both the Kastelholm Castle and the ruins of the Bomarsund fortress (which I mentioned in an earlier post). Close to the Kastelmolm Castle lies the Jan Karlsgården open air museum, presenting a typical Åland farmstead at the end of the 19^th century. Recurrent Midsummer celebrations and well-attended market on the first Saturday in Advent are popular arrangements. In the proximity of Jan Karlsgården and the castle, we find the prison museum Vita björn. There has been prisoners and warders in Kastelholm since the castle was built. Prisoners were first kept in the castle, the crown prison Vita björn was built in 1784 and used until 1975. Sund stamp motif Rock plateau: Erkki Santamala’s stamp photo is taken at the Lillnäsberget in Sund, the scenery of which is characterized by its diversity. At the top of this rock plateau standing some 60 meters above the sea, we find flat rock forests dominated by old pine trees. Below the steep and vertical descent of the rock lie a hazel grove and a small natural meadow, which is mowed every year. A picture from Skålberget adorns the FDC with the Sund stamp, and two ravens appear on the Sund postmark. My dear friend Ella sent me these two beautiful FDCs.

1996 Christmas Stamps by Mauri Kunnas 1.11.1996

The three stamps on the cover are a Snowman, Santa, and gnome playing musical instruments. The stamp in the centre depicts Santa Claus reading letters, and the last stamp shows a depiction of a rabbit and reindeer watching the northern lights.
The topic of the pretty 1996 Christmas stamps were images from the beloved “Santa and the Magic drum” children’s book (and movie) by Mauri Kunnas. The 1996 Christmas stamps introduced a set of three different designs to promote the movie’s premiere. Unlike in many countries, in Finland Christmas eve is what children (and all alike) await anxiously as Santa (Joulupukki) visits homes during the evening and early night to bring greetings and gifts. After that he continues his journey to other countries of the world. A very common way to relax the prevailing tension is to play games, read books and watch family movies (like Santa and the magic Drum). My dear friend Pia sent this lovely cover to me.

Treaty of Friendship, Co-operation and Mutual Assistance between Finland and the USSR

The Agreement of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance concluded between Finland and the Soviet Union in 1948, was one of the basic documents of the post-war foreign policy in Finland. The Agreement of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance, also known as the YYA Treaty from the Finnish Ystävyys-, yhteistyö- ja avunantosopimus (YYA-sopimus), was the basis for Finno–Soviet relations from 1948 to 1992. Under the treaty, which was signed on April 6, 1948, the Soviets sought to deter Western or Allied Powers from attacking the Soviet Union through Finnish territory, and the Finns sought to increase Finland's political independence from the Soviet Union. It thus ensured Finland's survival as a liberal democracy in close proximity to strategic Soviet regions, such as the Kola Peninsula and the old capital Leningrad.

Under the pact, Finland was obliged to resist armed attacks by "Germany or its allies" (in reality interpreted as the United States and allies) against Finland, or against the Soviet Union through Finland. If necessary, Finland was to ask for Soviet military aid to do so. The agreement also recognized Finland's desire to remain outside great-power conflicts, allowing the country to adopt a policy of neutrality in the Cold War. Due to the uncertain status of Finno–Soviet relations in the years after the Continuation War, and the precise interpretation of the treaty's wording, Finland followed the Warsaw Pact countries' decision and did not participate in the Marshall Plan. As a result, Finland's post-war period of economic hardship was prolonged, compared to other European capitalist countries, and it thus became considerably more economically dependent on the Soviet Union. In general, Finland kept its relations towards western military powers officially distant (including the proposed Scandinavian Defence Union) and NATO in particular. By avoiding supporting the West, it attempted to fend off Soviet pressure for affiliation with the Warsaw Pact.

This treaty according to me was completely USSRcentric, probably dictated by the Soviets, and gulped down under duress by the Finns. It was a case of “Like it, or Lump it” for Finland. Unfortunately, this blog can only attempt to introduce the nuances of a topic. The search and interpretation of the rest of history is upto the reader. My dear friend Ella gave me this FDC.

Beach Volleyball in Aland 16.8.2011

On 16 August 2011, a Beach volleyball stamp by artist Catharina Nygård was issued in Aland.

The stamp appears in the form of a minisheet of eight identical stamps. The frame of the My Stamps issue is also the 2011 frame for all the Post's My Stamps products, the web shop service that allows you to create stamps with a motif of your own choice. At the same time, the stamp promotes Paf Open, a tournament for men and women on the international world tour of beach volleyball (Swatch FIVB World Tour), arranged in Aland in August.

Paf Open was first arranged in August 2007, but the organizers refrained from arranging the event in 2008 as it collided with the Olympic Games in Beijing. Since then, Paf Open has become a recurrent event in Aland each summer. My dear friend Ella sent me this nice FDC and the maxicard.

50th Anniversary – The RAN – Fleet Air Arm

The Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Australian Navy came into existence with the commissioning of the Air Base at Nowra, NSW, HMAS Albabtross, on 31^st August 1948. The FAA flew its first combat missions on 5^th October 1951 in Korea, and has since been involved in Vietnam, the Gulf War conflicts, and United Nations peace-keeping duties. The Fleet Air Arm has also been prominent in coastal surveillance and civil disaster relief operations, with helicopters regularly assisting in flood relief, bushfire control and sea rescue operations. In 1998 the RAN operated Seahawk, Sea King, Squirrel and Kiowa helicopters from frigates, survey and supply ships. The jubilee of HMAS Albatross and the Fleet Air Arm was being celebrated with an international reunion at the Australian Naval Aviation Museum between 28^th October and 2^nd November 1998. . In 2000, following the removal from service of the land-based Hawker Siddeley HS 748 aircraft, the FAA became an all-helicopter force, operating in the anti-submarine warfare and maritime support roles. As of 2011, the FAA consists of three active squadrons, operating four helicopter types.
The stamp shows a Sea Hawk helicopter landing on a guided missile frigate. The cover photograph shows a Firefly aircraft on the aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney being loaded before takeoff. Maria gave me this nice FDC.

National Museum of Finland 7.4.1973

The National Museum of Finland The National Museum of Finland illustrates Finnish history from prehistoric times to the present day. Major archaeological finds, the historical, numismatic and ethnological collections have been put together for over 170 years. Workshop Vintti on the third floor is an interactive exhibition especially designed for children, where visitors can study the history of Finland and its culture using their hands and heads. VINTTI is suited to everyone over the age of seven.

You would have noticed The Bear on the cover.The statue of the bear is in front of the museum. The bear is Finland's national animal.

It is located in central Helsinki. The basic installation of the National Museum is divided into six different parts. The treasury presents the collections of money, medals, awards, silver, and weapons. The Finnish prehistory part is the largest archeological basic installation in Finland. The state part tells of the development of Finnish society and culture from the Middle Ages to the early 20th century. The "land and people" part presents life at the countryside before industrialisation. The 20th century part presents independent Finland and its united and internationalised culture. The museum's entrance hall ceiling has ceiling frescoes about the Kalevala, painted by Akseli Gallén-Kallela, which can be seen without an entrance fee. The frescoes, painted in 1928, are based on the frescoes painted by Gallén-Kallela at the Finnish installation of the Paris World Fair in 1900.
The building of the National Museum was designed by architects Herman Gesellius, Armas Lindgren, and Eliel Saarinen. The appearance of the building mimics Finland's medieval churches and castles. The architecture belongs to national romanticism and the interior mainly to jugend. The museum was built from 1905 to 1910 and opened to the public in 1916. The museum was named the Finnish National Museum after Finland's independence in 1917. After the last fundamental repairing, the museum was opened in 2000. My dear friend Ella sent this cover to me.