Arne Fjørtoft
| Dr. Arne Fjørtoft | |
|---|---|
| Born | Arne Johansson Fjørtoft 28 March 1937 Sauda, Norway. |
| Nationality | Norwegian |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Spouse(s) | Ragnhild Sælthun |
| Awards |
|
Contents
Personal life
Dr. Arne Johansson Fjortoft DBA was born on 28 March 1937 in Sauda. He is a son of Karl Johan Fjørtoft and Thea Lillehammer. He married the well-known channel host Ragnhild Sælthun in 1971, daughter of politician Ambjørg Sælthun.
Career
Dr. Arne Johansson Fjørtoft DBA is a Norwegian politician, journalist, author, organizational leader, communication specialist and social business inventor. He successfully served as reporter and news anchorman in Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation’s radio and television networks from 1964 to 1985. As a reporter on international issues he focused on Human rights and Sustainable development. In between he initiated several development projects, among them the first Norwegian Youth based international project in 1967, Cey-Nor Development Foundation serving disadvantaged fishing communities in Sri Lanka.
Dr. Fjørtoft was elected Chairman of Venstre, the Green-Liberal Party of Norway (the country’s eldest party) in 1986. He served till 1990. During this period, Venstre became Norway’s first party with a clear target for reduction of climate gases in the lead for a global campaign to reduce the danger of Global warming. Other parties did not follow and an historic chance was lost.
Also he initiated the first national television network in Nepal and several community radio networks. In 1992 he initiated Radio Democratic Voice of Burma in cooperation with Burmese opposition leaders. This short wave radio network played a significant role in the process for democracy in Burma.
Worldview International Foundation - Contribution in social change, environment and leadership
In 1979, at the dawn of the communication revolution, he initiated Worldview International Foundation together with the then Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka (4 February 1978–1989), Dr. A.C.S. Hameed, in the use of new media for public education on sustainable development.
Worldview has served 26 developing countries with 620 completed projects in various issues: communication, health, agriculture and food security, environment, education, democracy and human rights. Worldview has worked in close cooperation with UN Agencies and other international and national partners. The largest grass root project in Bangladesh created 2 million home gardens during 8 years and substantially reduced child blindness and child malnutrition.
Worldview’s major project Young Asia Television was launched in 1995 at the 50th anniversary of the United Nations, in support of human rights and sustainable development and has trained 2,600 communication professionals and 12,000 grass root communicators from 42 countries. In 2003 WorldView and Fjortoft were accused of fraud, bribery and misuse of received Norwegian Government funds and ordered to reimburse the funds. [1] The scandal was largely published in the Norwegian and Sri Lanka media due to the involvement of many local politicians. [2]
Other Initiatives
In the field of social responsible business, Fjørtoft has initiated Paradise Farm for promotion of organic agriculture and specialization on healthy products, Pure Nature for value addition to fruit producers, Worldview Impact for tree planting and mitigation of Green House Gases, Worldview Myanmar Royal Orchid to rescue endangered orchids and promote bio diversity, Nypa Nectar to create livelihood among disadvantaged communities in coastal areas by utilizing Nypa palm sap as healthy sweetener to the market instead of harmful refined sugar. In 2012, Dr. Fjortoft initiated a national research project on restoration of mangrove forests in Myanmar, in cooperation with Pathein University and Myeik University as a result of which Thor Heyerdahl Climate Park was founded. A new project on Adaptation to Climate Change is at the starting point.
Awards
He has been awarded the Elephant Order by the King of Thailand for contribution to development in tribal areas and drug reduction campaigns, the Gagarin Medal for brave initiatives and sustained efforts on achievements, Venstre’s Environment Prize, NGU’s Youth Prize and others.
Bibliography
Dr. Fjørtoft has written several books, numerous articles and speeches on international development and environment. Some of them are :
- Spelet om Bangladesh, Stavanger 1972.
- Alarm 1974. Rapport frå Afrika, Asia og Latin-Amerika, 1974.
- Befolkningsbomben. Overbefolkning, krig og fred (Jahn Otto Johansen og Thor Heyerdahl), 1985.
- Afrikas barn. Katastrofeåret 1985, 1985.
- Selvbiografien Rapport frå paradis : ein idé om fred og utvikling med forord av EUs visepresident Margot Wallström og etterord av Jørn-Kr. Jørgensen (Commentum Forlag). 2007.
