Arash Badie-Modiri
Regional and municipal election candidate for the Left Alliance in Espoo and western Uusimaa. Read about my themes
Regional and municipal election candidate for the Left Alliance in Espoo and western Uusimaa. Read about my themes
The decision to cut funding for basic and vocational education amid an unprecedented skills shortage and rising unemployment is so profoundly misguided that cannot be fully explained by pure incompetence. Local governance must make sure the damage to the future of Espoo and the country is mitigated and contained.
The transition to a climate-friendly city does not have to mean living in discomfort. With a data-driven design apprach to the city-wide transport system we can create a more comfortable and a more sustainable city.
The living situation and economic status of the parents should not dictate the future of a child. We need to invest in early childhood education to ensure that every child has an equal opportunity.
Healthcare is a basic human right. An essential part of this is the right of the elderly to live with dignity. We need to invest in care for the elderly, for example in terms of communal and flexible living solutions and 24-hour care. Self-determination and promotion of independence is paramount.
Healthcare workers frequently suffer burnouts and unreasonable working hours. Resolving these makes the public healthcare a more attractive employer. This skill shortage is the driving factor for the waiting times and a long-term threat to public health.
Mental health is an important part of our overall well-being. Modern medicine no longer treat mental and physical health as distinct; instead, both are recognized as interconnected aspects of overall well-being. It is about time we treat mental health and substance abuse as first class citizens in healthcare.
“Randy, […] what is the highest and best purpose to which we can devote our allotted lifespans?”
“Uh… enhancing shareholder value?”
“Very funny.”
⸺ Cryptonomicon, Neal Stephenson
According to the Trade Union of Education (OAJ), privatisation of early childhood education turns children into commodities. The introduction of the voucher system has made this problem worse. We are already seeing the involvement of large chain companies, and a similar practice being promoted for healthcare.
Public healthcare and education systems are like stained glass windows: it takes years to gather the resources and the talent to build it up, but a moment of weakness to break it down. Now that the government is deliberately throwing stones at our institutions, municipal and regional government must step in to protect our future.
Instead, we should be investing in healthcare and education. The solution is not Americanisation of healthcare and education but to invest in them. By making Espoo and Western Uusimaa the best employers we can, we attract new workforce and make education and healthcare an enticing career choice.
I am a university researcher with a PhD in complex systems—systems with many interconnected parts exhibiting rich and complex behaviour. I completed my master's degree at Aalto University on the accessibility and robustness of public transport networks, comparing the Helsinki metropolitan area public transport system with those of 19 other major cities. My findings showed that some traditional and commonly used methods of assessing network resilience often perform no better than pure guesswork, emphasising the need for modern, data-driven solutions in decision-making.
During my doctoral studies, also at Aalto University, I investigated how diseases and information spread. I have published research articles on epidemic modeling, the effectiveness of contact tracing, and quarantines. I analysed the mathematics and physics underpinning disease transmission.
I'm passionate about bringing evidence-based thinking to local governance. My background provides valuable tools for addressing municipal and well-being challenges—from ensuring robust transport networks to planning effective health interventions.
In my free time, I enjoy tinkering with electronics, playing board games, and reading science fiction. I also dedicate some of my free time to maintaining and contributing to open-source software.
We can only change the status quo together. Join me in this movement for a more equal and sustainable Espoo!
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