Worldlog 17 October 2016 - Main contents
Every year, the Dutch daily newspaper Trouw draws up a Sustainable Top 100 list. For the fifth time in a row, the Party for the Animals’ entire Lower House party is in the Top 100. My colleague MP Esther Ouwehand is even the highest placed politician, ranked 10th on the list! I am very happy to have been awarded a 22th place. Only 5 members of the Lower House have been awarded a place on the list this year. As we are approaching the national elections on 15 March 2017, it is good to see it underlined that only one party has been consistently and unanimously committed to a green and future-proof society.
As if last week was not enough, the feminist magazine Opzij announced that I am one of the 10 most influential female politicians in the Netherlands. They pointed out that of the 15 parliamentary groups in the Netherlands, I am the only female party leader in the Lower House and almost certainly the only female party leader during the upcoming national elections of next March. It is quite extraordinary that they have listed me, since thus far the feminist magazine has not paid much attention to our Lower House party, which is entirely composed of women, or to the Party for the Animals as such. Extraordinary, since it is generally accepted that the animal rights movement is a result of the 19th century women’s movement. After the liberation of slaves and granting rights to women and children, giving rights to animals is the next logical step.
At the moment, Ewald Engelen and I are touring the country to give lectures on our book ‘The canary in the coal mine’. After each lecture, there is ample opportunity to ask questions. Thus far, all of our lectures have been sold out and the room has been packed with enthusiasts. The fourth edition of our book is now published.
For those of you who have not heard of the book: in ‘The canary in the coal mine’ we warn against the unsustainability of today’s political and financial choices. Like a canary in a coal mine, we identify the dangers that jeopardise our future. In the book and during our lectures, we call for a revolution. The time has come for Plan B!
‘The canary in the coal mine’ is now also available as an e-book in English. Click here for more information.
Lastly, I have some good news from our parliamentary party in the Upper Chamber. Saba, the extraordinary Dutch municipality in the Caribbean, has been nominated as Most Beautiful Natural Area. Our Upper Chamber party has voted for this green island with conviction, “because not only is it beautiful, it is also highly sensitive”, according to Party for the Animals’ senators Christine Teunissen and Niko Koffeman. I am very curious to see which natural area is going to win!
Kind regards,
Marianne