We too, when required, it says in the last verse of Norway’s national anthem. On 17 May we sing along, but what if it gets serious? Fewer than before The organization People and Defense commissioned the survey. It shows that fewer people than before think they will say yes to the following question: “If Norway were to be attacked, would you yourself be willing to participate in the defence, by carrying out the tasks you are capable of?” In 2021, 76 percent answered yes. This year, 69 percent answer the same. 1,005 people were asked, distributed across the country. Nine out of ten therefore agree that Norway needs its own military defence. The survey says nothing about whether it is the images from Ukraine that are frightening. Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram is satisfied that seven out of ten believe they can contribute if Norway needs it. Photo: Jøte Toftaker / news Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram says it is very positive that support for the Armed Forces is increasing. When it comes to the question of participating himself, he thinks it may be unclear to many what is meant by participating. – It is not the case that in a war situation we want to call in people who have never had anything to do with the Armed Forces, he emphasizes. Soldiers must be trained and equipped before they can contribute. But there are other ways to contribute. Total defense is all of us Ingunn Moholt, Director of Total Defense at DSB, explains total defense as mutual support where you use all the country’s resources in a crisis. Ingunn Moholt is subject manager for total defense in the Directorate for Community Security and Emergency Preparedness. Photo: DSB It’s not just about war either. – It can also be about being critical of the information you receive, she says. Other crises such as floods, long-term power cuts and the like are also current situations for which we must be prepared. She will attend a conference in Tønsberg on Wednesday afternoon together with the Norwegian Civil Defense and the Norwegian Women’s Sanitary Association. – The most important thing that everyone can contribute is to have an emergency stockpile at home so that you can get by for at least three days, says Moholt. Gender and geography make a difference The survey is broken down by age, gender and geography. In Northern Norway, 63 per cent say yes that they will participate with what they can if necessary. In Western Norway, 73 percent say the same. People and Defense is an umbrella organization with 59 member organisations. Monica K. Mattsson Kämpe is general secretary. Monica Mattson Kämpe, Secretary General of People and Defence, is surprised by the differences. She believes that the changed threat picture in Europe is part of the explanation for fewer people agreeing to run for office now, compared to last year. – It is perhaps a little more difficult to say yes when it seems more realistic that it may become necessary, she says. There is also a clear difference between the sexes. Six out of ten women agree to contribute, while eight out of ten men say yes to the same. Kämpe believes that women may think that there is not much they can contribute.
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More than before say yes to a Norwegian defence, fewer say yes to contributing themselves – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
