Election Guide 2002 - Sweden.se

cold-blooded murder of thousands of people. They were
also an attack on democratic society, on the open society
we want to live in.
The world is now uniting in the struggle against global
terrorism. To us Social Democrats it is obvious in this
situation that we must side with the UN, international
law and the right of all countries to defend themselves.
Equally and naturally we are now increasing demands
for humanitarian measures to relieve suffering in
Afghanistan – demands which we make on ourselves just
as much as on others.
At the same time as the world is becoming one, it is
divided. It is divided by injustice. Development will
never become sustainable as long as millions of people
are denied a share of it. Poverty must be abolished. The
destruction of the environment must be halted. World
trade must be made fair. The North-South dialogue must
be renewed. Social Democracy must take the lead in an
offensive for global justice.
We are all dependent on each other. Developments
in other parts of the world affect us here in Sweden.
Today we are facing an international economic downturn,
but we are doing so on stable economic foundations.
We know today that it was because of, not in spite of,
our welfare model that we got through the crisis years
of the 90s more rapidly than expected. We have seen that
equality and solidarity do not impede development. On
the contrary, they strengthen it.
We want Sweden to be a country for everyone, a
country where we stick together and care about each
other. Where everyone can play their part. Where
everyone has a share in the proceeds of development.
But that is not the situation today.
Gaps between people and regions in Sweden are
widening. A few kilometres on the map can mean
tremendous differences in formative conditions and
future prospects for the children who are growing up
today. Climate change and mad cow disease are examples
showing that we are not living in equilibrium with
nature. Stress and the hectic pace of life are undermining
people’s health. Many older persons feel insecure. Young
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