Worldlog Week 34 - 2011 - Main contents
I’m back! After recharging our batteries during a great couple weeks’ holiday, we are all ready to get back to work. In this Worldlog we look back at events of the past few weeks.
Over the summer, the ongoing financial crisis and another bailout package to Greece remained hanging over the Netherlands like a dark cloud. In two debates held in mid-August, we stated that while we considered the current economic crisis in Greece to be a serious problem, we oppose the Dutch government approving another bailout package for Greece. Unfortunately, a parliamentary majority went along with the government, which caused considerable consternation in Dutch political circles as Finland, unlike the Netherlands, had negotiated a collateral agreement with Greece. It is unbelievable that this smallest of the crises we face has already rendered our politicians impotent and irresolute.
The Party for the Animals believes it is now the turn of the Dutch and European banks to contribute to any new bailout package for the Greeks. Moreover, we do not believe that increasing central EU dominance in shaping economic policy and the tendency towards political union with centralized authority to be the right solution for the current crisis. The solution to this financial crisis needs precisely to be sought in combination with other crises facing us, such as the world food crisis, the fresh water crisis, the energy crisis, the biodiversity crisis, the climate crisis and the animal disease crisis. After all, all of these crises are the result of short-term thinking. In tackling these crises, we must not seek the restoration of the old situations but strive to attain new and sustainable goals!
Important news over the summer was the report that Dutch livestock hauler Keus & Mollink are to cease long-distance non-stop transports. The company will introduce a stop-over in Romania for cattle transports to Turkey. This decision followed criticism from animal welfare organization Eyes on Animals and parliamentary question from our party on abuses that occurred during a recent transport to Turkey. Although we would like to see the transport of livestock restricted to a maximum of two hours and consider the transport of live animals to Turkey, even with a stop-over, reprehensible, we are still pleased with the decision made by Keus & Mollink. It is a step in the right direction toward preventing animal suffering.
State Secretary for Agriculture Bleker had given permission to the Dutch dolphinarium to move the orca Morgen, who was discovered in Dutch waters in a sickened and weakened state, to amusement park Loro Parque in Tenerife. Fortunately, the Amsterdam district court has ruled against Morgan’s relocation. The Party for the Animals would now like clarity regarding this animal’s future as soon as possible and my colleague Esther Ouwehand has put parliamentary questions to Mr Bleker about his granting of permission and how he now expects to act in the light of the court ruling.
The temporary injunction on Morgan’s future was brought by the Orca Coalition, which is dedicated to Morgan being returned to the sea. As the Party for the Animals has always argued for her well-being, we also now argue for her being returned her natural environment. And we will keep on doing so!
On 1 September, the new Dolphin Killing Season starts in Japan. The internationally renowned documentary The Cove focuses in on this gruesome annual slaughter of dolphins. Despite worldwide outrage about this slaughter, it still continues. As a protest against this heinous event, Japan Dolphins Day is held on 1 September, on which day events are organized all over the world to raise people’s awareness of these bizarre annual bloodbaths. In the Netherlands, demonstrations are held in front of the Japanese embassy. See http://savejapandolphins.org/blog/post/celebrate-japan-dolphins-day for more information.
Until next week!