Lecturers & Topics:
‘Denmark’s Green Agenda’ – Friday January 25th:
12:10pm Lunch & Keynote – Viscount Suites Hotel, Tucson $20/person REGISTER NOW
2pm – “Denmark’s Global Initiative” James E. Rogers College of Law, Ares Auditorium (room 164) 1201 E. Speedway, Tucson
6pm – “Meet the Danes” Reception at Copenhagen Furnishings 3660 E. Fort Lowell Rd, Tucson
Peter Taksøe-Jensen is the Danish Ambassador to the United States. Prior to commencing his position in Washington, Taksøe-Jensen was the Assistant Secretary-General for Legal Affairs at the United Nations. The Ambassador visit Tucson January 25-26 and will give an address on the topic of Denmark’s Green Agenda and sustainable energy goals. A public reception and opportunity to meet the Ambassador will be held Friday January 25th 6:00pm at Copenhagen Furnishings in Tucson.
Before joining the United Nations in 2008, the Ambassador served for more than two decades in the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs working in different areas in the Ministry primarily within the areas of foreign policy, security policy, arms control, and international law. He also served on various government commissions.
Ambassador Taksøe-Jensen has been posted to the Danish Embassy in Vienna and to Brussels as a member of Denmark’s representation to the European Union. Well known in international legal circles, Ambassador Taksøe-Jensen has been the driving force behind a number of Danish policies and initiatives to strengthen and develop international law.Taksøe-Jensen holds a degree in law from the University of Copenhagen. He has lectured at numerous courses on EU Law and EU Policies and negotiations.
Maersk Line – Danish shipping giant – Sunday January 27th 12:45pm Copenhagen Furnishings Tucson
Curt Pedersen, Consultant/Founding member of Southern Arizona Logistics Education Organization, discusses Maersk, the largest shipping company in the world transporting 20% of all the world containers annually. Maersk has 30 Triple E Class container ships on order and being built in South Korea. The first one of these giant ships will be sailing in early 2014. These ships are 4.5 football fields long 194 feet wide. Pedersen, educated as a Maritime engineer, got his start on a Danish tugboat at age 19. Curt worked for Mack Trucks for 30 years. Pedersen is leading efforts to promote a deep water port in Guaymas, Sonora, just 130 miles south of Tucson, which could have a major economic impact on Tucson as a port of entry.
Danish design – Sunday January 27th 12pm – Copenhagen Furnishings Tucson
Mark Mussari, Ph.D., will be giving a talk on Danish Design. From furniture to modern architecture, Danish design is world-renowned for its clean lines, organic forms, quality craftsmanship and functionality. In his talk and slide presentation, Mussari will explore the major figures of Danish modernist design. Mussari is a writer, translator, academic, educator, and scholar of Scandinavian culture. His articles have appeared in such journals as Scandinavian Studies and Edda, and he has given academic talks on Danish art, design and literature. He is currently teaching a class at the University of Arizona on design history.
Odense marcipan – 100 years of sweet inspiration – Friday January 25th 6pm Meet the Danes Reception at Copenhagen Furnishings Tucson
Charlotte Wetche, U.S. distributor of Odense Marcipan shares how she, the great-great-grandaughter of the company founder, has set out on a mission to educated Americans about the tasty Danish almond-paste and launched an online business to share the delicious confection. Charlotte has a masters degree in Commerce and Social Studies from the University of Odense, and has worked in branding and marketing for L’Oreal and Sony. Come learn about and taste delicious Odense marcipan, Purveyor to the Royal Danish Court.
Danish pastries – Sampling Friday January 25th 6pm – Copenhagen Furnishings Meet the Danes Reception & Saturday February 2nd – Danish Smorgasbord
Steve Hashemi, Master Baker & owner, Mona’s Danish Bakery Tucson, will demonstrate the art of Danish pastry sharing recipes and samples. The son of Iranian immigrants to Denmark, Hashemi grew up in Denmark and became one master baker before marrying his wife Sherry, a Persian-Danish-American and immigrating to Tucson. Naming his business after their daughter Mona, his delicious pastries are known far and wide.
Honorary Danish Consul John Larsen
John Larsen is the Honorary Danish Consul for Arizona and New Mexico. Larsen is a Financial Advisor, CFP, for Edward Jones in Scottsdale. Larsen has served the investment needs of his clients with Edward Jones since 1997 and has earned the Edward Jones Jim McKenzie Award for outstanding sales and service efforts for the past two years. He has also received the Spirit of Caring Award which recognizes financial advisors who exemplify the values, culture and spirit of giving back.
When he accepted the position of Consul six years ago at age 39, he held the distinction of being the youngest of all the consuls in Arizona, the youngest ever named in the United States for Denmark, and one of Denmark’s youngest consuls ever.
Larsen was selected for this unique ‘job for life’ through a nomination by the previous consul and an interview process. His duties as consul include assisting Danish residents and visitors in Arizona with passport issues, absentee voting for Danish elections, drivers license issues. He also has diplomatic responsibilities including facilitating commerce and business between the two countries and cultural exchanges. Larsen may be reached at Edward Jones Scottsdale/Office of the Danish Consulate, 9280 E. Raintree Drive, Suite 101, Scottsdale, Arizona 85260. Phone: (480) 922-4582, email: DanishConsulAZ@gmail.com
Exhibits
Exhibits will be on loan from Danish Immigrant Museum from January 22 – February 8
Please contact Tova Brandt, Albert Ravenholt Curator of Danish-American Culture, for more details on any of the displays listed below. (712-764-7001 or dkcur@metc.net)
Victor Borge: A Smile is the Shortest Distance
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of Victor Borge’s birth, The Danish Immigrant Museum worked in conjunction with the Borge family to develop a display that travels across the country and shares a brief synopsis of Borge’s private and professional life. Video elements share clips of his performances and panels contain numerous photographs.
Danish Gymnastics in America
Presenting the history of Danish gymnastics in Denmark, in Danish-American communities, and around the globe. This display accompanies the U.S. tour of the National Danish Performance Team who will be giving workshops and performances throughout the week.