The Netherlands in brief

I try often, to look at my country as a foreigner. To see how many things do have changed. And it is even better to use an old guide of 1997 to reflect these times. Picked up in the local library.

I will start with some quotes, and afterwards my own opinion and remarks on this issue: "The Netherlands is that part of the "Kingdom of the Netherlands" that is situated in Europe. In the north and west it is flanked by the North Sea, to the east by Germany and to the south by Belgium. The furthest distance from north to south is 300 kilometers, and from west to east 200 kilometres. With an area of 41,526 square kilometers, the Netherlands is slightly larger than Belgium, while Germany is nearly nine times in size".

We rather forget that the Netherlands is more than the part in Europe. Because also the quarrel about the money, the Dutch Antilles do cost the Netherlands. Mostly generated by right-wing-politicians, who want to get rid of the Antilles, and see most of the citizens of this part of the Kingdom as criminals. They often loose all their senses in their rhetorical speeches.

"The landscape is mainly flat, with hilly areas in the south (where I live) and the east. The name "The Netherlands" refers to the lowest level of the country. The highest point is the Vaalserberg, in the south-east (where the Dutch, German and Belgian borders meet), which is 321 meters above sea-level (for the complete Kingdom of the Netherlands it is the Mount Scenery on the Island Saba (Dutch Antilles). Many areas of the country, are below sea-level. The lowest point (near Rotterdam) is about 6,7 meters below sea-level."

Dutch (which you can see/read on my other blog: http://reizigerinlimburg.blogspot.com/) is the language of more than 21 million Dutch and Flemish (and an unknown number of South-African) people. It is thus a middle-ranking language. About the 30th most-widely spoken in the world. Dutch is one of the eleven official languages of the European Union, and also spoken in the Dutch Antilles & Aruba and in the former Dutch colony of Suriname, where it is the language of the government and education. I don’t know, if this has already been changed…

Antillean, Aruban and Surinam literature has been written in Dutch. Historical links prove that Dutch is still used in Indonesia by lawyers, the army ánd historicians who need it to consult sources. 17th Century-Dutch provided the basis for the "Afrikaans", which is spoken in South-Africa (the most hated word in South-Africa is also a Dutch word: "apartheid").
The Dutch language is taught at almost 250 universities around the world.

Religion is not a big issue in our country, but still tells a lot about us! The Reformation of the Protestant Church in Europe (in the 16th century) splitted the Netherlands into a Katholic and Protestant part.
The influence of the several churches in the Netherlands, has been on the decline since the 50’s. The traditions of following the religion of one’s parents has been disappeared.
Though the majority of Dutch people are no longer members of a church, the various religions still exert a strong influence on society.

I think that the fear of the Islam is also part of our secularisation, which don’t tie the Dutch together. The number of Muslims and Hindus in the Netherlands has been increasing as the result of immigration from countries as Morocco, Turkey, Indonesia and Suriname.
Freedom of religion is guaranteed by the Constitution of 1848.

Many aspect of Dutch society are traditionally organised along religious or ideological lines. Trade-unions, schools, political parties and organisations of all kinds, belong to one or another major group (catholic, protestant, socialist and liberal). This "compartmentalisation" of society, has created many political and social organisations which have largely the same goals, but are different in their ideological approach.

Growing secularisation in the Netherlands has contributed towards increased open-minded attitudes, making mergers and coöperation between kindred organisations possible. But unfortunately there has been a change in the nineties. We forgot to pick up foreigners in this compartmentalisation.

The last part deals about our queen. According to the Constitution (1848), the sovereign is inviolable and should stand above the political parties. This means that the ministers are accountable to parliament and the Queen’s power within the government is therefore limited. A bill that has been passed by parliament has gain force of law, upon being signed by the Queen and the minister or ministers responsible.

And there is a lot more to tell. E.g.: about Dutch painters (Karel Appel, Rembrandt, Vincent van Gogh), Dutch music (Golden Earring, Tiesto (dance), Herman Brood), Dutch habits (cheese, the influences of conservative thinking in our country, coffee-culture, markets, trading-spirit, flowers), gay-capital Amsterdam, Dutch design, Dutch literature (Cees Nooteboom, Harry Mulisch, Gerard Reve, Jan Wolkers) and many other themes……

Another day in Paradise

I refer to this song of Phil Collins. In western Europe, we are richer than we can imagine. Often we don’t see it anymore. But in the meantime there is also poverty in our own society; sometime as part of addictions or mental diseases that we can’t handle. This is another world in our own paradise. People in the third world cannot imagine this world also excists in the “first world”. Actually I hate these terms, because there is only one world. And the suffering of the Third World is harsh; we often look too quickly away.

In the 80’s, U2 sang: “Nothing changes on New Year’s Day”. But New Year’s Day is a start to get more knowledge about this, and also for thinking and acting as a world-citizen.
Personally, I don’t have the answers; I only have many questions. But every change starts often with a question. Why are people dying? Because food-supplies will only last a day? And in another hemisphere someone dies because of the “final” shot of heroin.

Life is not fair! But we do have the power to make a difference! Think global, act local. Support NGO’s. Fix tools for solidarity. In many countries, people repair tools and send them to the Third World. In Dutch we call this: “Gered Gereedschap”.

But also the buying of biological food and the eating of less meat contributes to the reducing of Global Warming. It also can be fun to find out which entertainment is nearby, instead of looking for this in other cities. Support your local acts! And be yourself!!! No matter what other people say…..


Happy New Year!

M.M.

Human Rights and Justified Sustainable Entrepeneurship China

Debate on this topic: 26 February 8 PM Auditorium, Minderbroedersberg 4-6 in Maastricht
Introduction by: Willem Offenberg, NRC Handelsblad and FEM Business Chairman: Stafford Wadsworth, Meuse-Rhine Journal, Maastricht.

Offenberg points out the position of China in the human rights discussion. In June of last year, the United Nations established a new Human Right Council, in which China is participating and the US is not! Due to the fight against terror, the traditional point of reference is slowly shifting from individual human rights to collective human rights. Is it time for a new moral leadership? Is China in the race? Since its reforms in 1978, China has succeeded in helping 200 million people to achieve a reasonable income. The realisation of the primary "right to development" seems to have been exemplary. Are socio-economic rights superior to individual rights? The introduction will be followed by a debate in which the relationship between the human rights and the booming economy in China will be discussed.

Nice theses, of which many things can be told. Also the relationship between China and Africa is interesting. They do only trade from oil to weapons. Without moral standards; just trade. Also interesting to see the Chinese influence in Sudan. Oil financed war in Darfur. But it is also true that many of the Chinese people do have an better life than many years ago. Many things can be said, but the Chinese have to decide. We can ask and demand more democracy, but China must make the change. We can ask them to respect the human rights of individuals. Like the journalist Shi Tao. I asked before, to get informed about him, by Amnesty International and other human rights groups.

China is in charge. I think you can make a compliment and in the same sentence also some regrets. In my way of thinking it is possible; Chinese people are intelligent. India is also a large democracy, especially by the number of inhabitants.

Recently, India and China have been characterised as the "rising Asian giant". But poverty and a class-system live in the same country as "Bollywood" and the Indian "Silicon Valley".
Western Europe and America are losing their grip on the world. And maybe it isn’t that bad. Because we have been selfish for many years.

The new world-powers will show a capitalistic neo-liberal way of living. And this way of life has also much problems from that we already suffer. But there are also large chances: a sort of welfare-state in these countries. Because people see how many is gained in trade, and also want their share. They want social security when they are ill or aged.

M.M.

Three poems of Shi Tao

From: For the Mothers of Tian’anmen Square
Here I will stand, as here I will be
the ambassador of a new spring
here I will guard in my intimate heart
the breath of all those children
and wherever you’ll look wild flowers
will bloom again in autumn’s white
and never my mother will stop to wait
in loneliness for him to come back
2 June 2004


June
My whole life
Will never get past "June"
June, when my heart died
When my poetry died
When my lover
Died in an abandoned pool of blood
June, the scorching sun burns open my skin
Revealing the true nature of my wound
June, the fish swims out of the blood-red sea
Toward another place to hibernate
June, the earth changes shape, the river falls silent
Piled up letters unable to be delivered to the dead
9 June, 2004


Pain
The portrait on the wall has lost its powers of reflection,
yet the wind at my window cannot stem this violence.
I torment you through one long night of passion
till we're both completely spent - two kites left in the rain.
Once, long ago, I was the star of a children's play.
Once, long ago, I used both my hands to teach children to sing.
Once, long ago, I heard two crows conversing, lit by the moon.
But the brute fact of cruelty
struck me down. Pain lacks the tenderness of moonlight.
Struggling, trapped in an iron box full of lies, I try to be a model patient,
to swallow a spoonful of spite down the throat of the motherland.
Taiyuan, 6 January 2004

These poems I did publish on this blog for the occasion of December, 10th (International Human Rights Day).

Devotion

Devotion

24 hours and 7 days a week
Someone prays for another one
God listens without a break
Reflection’s of live in a Mosque or Church
There is not many things which divides us from each other
But we are still learning to find the peace within...

M.M.

Yellow angel

Trains are leaving the platforms

Trains bring people to their work or holiday
Coming back with stories or depressions
Songs or monotony
Filled with people with their own stories
Stories they share with each other or which they try to forget
Together or alone
Or together but still alone
Train tell me your story, about our country
Yellow angel, which story did you heard lately
Tell to be not forgotten
Everyone is valuable in this world

M.M.

P.S.: This picture is made by my girlfriend Sally (freelance photographer).

If you're interested in this picture then send a mail to: powergirlxl@gmail.com

Beautiful rose...

Freedom

Stormy weather is outside my door
But the flower of purity blossoms freely
Freedom and Equality is been torn in the hearth
To often and to much
But like a flower can grow on a graveyard or on filthy soil, so it will also be with the truth.

M.M.

P.S.: This beautiful picture is made by my girlfriend Sally (freelance photographer)
If you're interested in this picture then send a mail to: powergirlxl@gmail.com