Home Blog Page 708

Dutch court will hear case of relatives of Dutch colonial victims

Ailish Lalor
-
0
Dutch court will hear case of relatives of Dutch colonial victims

The relatives of Dutch colonial victims will have a day in court for their compensation claims to be heard. The five men and one woman are represented by Liesbeth Zegveld.

The relatives of five men, who were summarily executed in Indonesia as Dutch colonial rule there ended, will have their case heard in court, after a groundbreaking decision to lift the statute of limitations.

What is the statute of limitations?

The statute of limitations is a legal document that puts a limit on the amount of time after an event that claims can be made. In the Netherlands, this is five years- so usually, offences committed during colonial times would not be eligible for reparations now. The Dutch state had previously attempted to evade responsibility for these 1947 executions due to the time that had passed. Following this ruling, the government has stated that it is going to consider its options before deciding what to do next. Legally, it could further appeal the ruling to a higher court.

Relatives could be eligible for compensation

However, the Court of Appeal in The Hague found that there was enough evidence of language differences and social disadvantages stopping claims from being made against the Dutch state for the statute of limitations to be ignored. According to the judge, “The court of appeal is of the opinion that especially the extraordinary seriousness and the high degree of culpability of the violence used stand in the way of limitation.” If the claimants are able to prove that they are relatives of the victims of Dutch colonial violence, they will be eligible for compensation- enough to reimburse their cost of living.

The Dutch fought Indonesian nationalists for four years after WWII. Image: C.J. (Cees) Taillie/Wikimedia Commons

Why did these executions take place?

The executions in question took place in 1947, during so-called “cleansing actions” on South Celebes, now called Sulawesi, which is an island east of Borneo. During the second world war, Indonesia (then known as the Dutch East Indies) was invaded by Japan. After the war ended, Indonesian nationalist leaders Sukarno and Hatta proclaimed the Republic of Indonesia on 17 August 1945. The Dutch fought Indonesian nationalists to continue their 350-year-long colonial rule for four years after that.

Feature Image: John Pinkerton/Wikimedia Commons

The Ocean Cleanup’s plastic catcher has just collected its first plastic at sea!

Ailish Lalor
-
0
The Ocean Cleanup’s plastic catcher has just collected its first plastic at sea!

The Ocean Cleanup, a Dutch initiative, has successfully fished waste out of the sea with its newest prototype of the plastic catcher. The trial took place between the American island group Hawaii and the state of California, about 2000 kilometers off the coast.

Previous iterations of the plastic catcher had failed to hold the plastic it caught properly- waves had flushed the plastic back into the ocean after a few hours. “The problem was that we couldn’t control the speed difference between plastic and the system,” said spokesman Joost Dubois. “You need a serious speed difference to hold the plastic.”

Happily, the newest prototype has overcome this problem, and successfully fished plastic out of the ocean!

New prototype solves two earlier problems

The Ocean Cleanup solved their earlier speed difference problem by creating a sea anchor in the form of a parachute. This slows the plastic catcher down enough for it to be able to hold the plastic. Small plastic, and even microplastics which are about a millimetre in size, are caught in the plastic catcher.

The new prototype has solved another problem: before, plastic would tip over the edges of the catcher. Now, The Ocean Cleanup has made the edges ten times higher, and uses larger floats for the device.

The plastic catcher has higher edges to prevent plastic spilling over. Image: The Ocean Cleanup.

A second plastic catcher next year

Dubois notes that this prototype is still in the experimental phase- it was put together rather quickly to check how a number of options were working. It needs to be trialed in the ocean for a longer period of time, and a second plastic catcher is due to be implemented next year.

The idea of the company is to try to halve the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, the enormous plastic soup that floats between California and Hawaii.

Feature Image: The Ocean Cleanup 

Badly wounded boa constrictor found in Amsterdam container

Ailish Lalor
-
0
Badly wounded boa constrictor found in Amsterdam container

It’s not often you feel bad for a snake, but this is one of those times. A badly wounded boa constrictor was found in an underground container in Amsterdam on Tuesday. It was found by a garbage collector, according to Dierenhulpdienst Nederland. 

The snake had a complicated double fracture in its lower jaw, and several broken and bruised ribs. It has been cleaned and has received antibiotics. However, it is too injured to recover and will be put to sleep this Thursday, NU.nl reports.

The garbage collector found the snake on Tuesday when he was attempting to dump some new trash, and saw something move in the container. The snake had probably been dumped in the container and been there for some time before it was discovered.

Sadly, boa constrictors are quite regularly abandoned like this: they are often bought when they are young and small, and then grow too large to manage. They often live for 25 to 30 years.

What would you do if you stumbled across a boa constrictor while putting your trash out? Are you scared of snakes? Let us know in the comments below!

Feature Image: Esteban Alzate/Wikimedia Commons. 

Had enough of the rain? Sorry, Hurricane Lorenzo is on its way.

Ailish Lalor
-
0
Had enough of the rain? Sorry, Hurricane Lorenzo is on its way.

After a week of pretty much solid rain, you would hope that the Netherlands’ changeable weather would, you know, actually change. And it will- but not in the way we were hoping for. Hurricane Lorenzo is on its way, and should arrive as a very mild storm on Friday morning. 

Today and tomorrow will be chilly, windy, and wildly variable: there will be some sunny periods and plenty of rain. Because of the wind, the temperature of 13-14 degrees will feel a lot colder, so enjoy deciding between a warm jacket and a rain jacket every time you leave the house. You can expect heavy showers around rush hour this evening in most of the country, so that’s fun, and slightly less wind tomorrow- though if you’re in a coastal area like The Hague you could still experience gusts of 80km/h.

Hurricane Lorenzo on its way: tie down your feathers

Hurricane Lorenzo will arrive on Friday, and like all of us, it will have lost its will to live by then. According to weeronline.nl, it most likely won’t even be a storm by the time it hits the Netherlands, but it will cause clouds and (surprise, surprise) rain across the country.

The Netherlands will experience Hurricane Lorenzo as rain. Photo: Flickr/Chris Goldberg

The weekend: get your sandals out, it might reach 15 degrees!

Saturday and Sunday will be pretty chilly, between 11 and 15 degrees. Saturday should be cloudy and sunny (and maybe rain free) while Sunday will be cloudy and at least somewhat rainy- how much so is yet to be determined. Exciting!

Rain_Traffic_Jam_Holger Schué_Pixabay
The weekend should also be rainy! Yay! Image: Holger Schué/Pixabay

Next week: daily dose of rain to continue

The following week will continue in the same exciting, tropical manner, with showers every day and more clouds than sun. Maximum temperatures are expected to be around 15 degrees, in line with the normal yearly averages.

Feature Image: Floris Oosterveld/Flickr. 

Police are using smart traffic cams to catch phone users from today

Ailish Lalor
-
0
Police are using smart traffic cams to catch phone users from today

New smart cameras, optimised to catch people using electronic devices while driving, will be used by police from today onwards.

Texting drivers will have a greater chance of getting caught, as the police are now using special cameras, optimised to recognise the shape of a mobile device in someone’s hand, to catch them.

The cameras will record the person’s face and the licence plate of the car. A police officer will then assess the image to make sure the camera is correct, before sending a fine to the owner.

If the owner of the car was not the one driving, they can pass the fine onto the offender by identifying them to the police (like a snitch). Last year, 80,000 fines were given out for calling while driving.

At the beginning of this year, the police had announced a trial of these smart cameras.”It is a very new device, specially developed to look through the windshield,” the National Police then told RTL News.“With smart software you can see if someone is holding a phone or another electronic device.”

Getting caught holding an electronic device, such as a phone, tablet, or navigating device, is enough to receive a 240 euro fine. Currently, the smart cameras are only  being used by the national police unit and the Central Netherlands police unit. The police will also be continuing to check that motorists are obeying the rules of the road in the usual way.

“Too many deaths and injuries still occur in traffic in general and by distraction in particular,” says project leader Egbert-Jan van Hasselt.

Are you in favour of smart cameras to catch people using electronic devices while driving? Let us know in the comments below.

Feature Image: StockSnap/Pixabay

Raid on aldermen in The Hague on suspicion of bribery and corruption

Ailish Lalor
-
0
Raid on aldermen in The Hague on suspicion of bribery and corruption

The National Criminal Investigation Department searched the offices of two aldermen and the workplaces of a number of civil servants in the City Hall of The Hague. They are under investigation for official corruption, bribery and violation of official secrecy.

Groep de Mos aldermen under investigation

The two aldermen in question are Richard de Mos (alderman for Economy, Sport and Outdoor Space and 1st deputy mayor) and Rachid Guernaoui (alderman for Finance, Integration and Districts). They are suspected of arranging permits in return for payment, among other things. Both aldermen are members of the political party Groep de Mos / Hart for The Hague.

Homes of aldermen searched

As well as their workplaces, the homes of the two aldermen and the addresses of three entrepreneurs in The Hague who are suspected of bribery were searched. The investigation is being overseen by an examining magistrate from the Rotterdam District Court. Dozens of government investigators and two prosecutors are also involved.

Several entrepreneurs under investigation

One of the entrepreneurs under suspicion is also a candidate for the De Mos group. He is under suspicion for have supported the party financially in exchange for, among other things, confidential information from the city council.

The mayor of The Hague has announced that he will release a statement later today.

Feature Image: Groep de Mos/Wikimedia Commons

Should you pay for your unhealthy lifestyle? Many Dutch people think you should

Freya Sawbridge
-
0
Should you pay for your unhealthy lifestyle? Many Dutch people think you should

A recent survey by the Central Bureau of Statistics has concluded that many Dutch people think health insurance premiums should increase for those who have unhealthy lifestyles. 

Just over half of those who completed the survey believe lifestyle should not affect insurance premiums – we should all pay the same. But over 40 percent think if you live an unhealthy lifestyle then you should pay a higher premium.

Is the Dutch healthcare system fair?

The Dutch healthcare is based on the principle of solidarity which means everyone must make insurance payments to cover healthcare costs for both themselves and others.

As it currently stands, the premium each Dutch resident must pay is the same, irrespective of personal choices which knowingly lead to health problems.

Should people be persecuted against for lifestyle choices?

What if we are actively harming yourself? What if we choose to smoke, knowing that it causes great harm?

What if we choose not to exercise? And get health complications from not doing so?

What if we frequently chug alcohol knowing it is bad?

To what extent should we pay for our own undoing? 

Source: jarmoluk/Pixabay

Opinions are split

CBS asked the aforementioned questions to the Dutch public to better understand solidarity with the Dutch healthcare system and opinions on the matter were divided.

52 percent of people who completed the survey think that the premium for smokers should be increased and 20 percent of smokers actually think so as well.

41 percent of the respondents think higher premiums should be imposed for heavy drinkers and a fifth believe the premiums of people who do not exercise should be increased.

Only 3 percent believe people with a genetic condition should pay more for insurance.

What do you think about this survey? Do you think insurance premiums should be awarded on merit? Let us know in the comments below 

Feature image: Free-photos/Pixabay 

Gas stations will sell more environmentally friendly fuel from today onwards

Ailish Lalor
-
0
Gas stations will sell more environmentally friendly fuel from today onwards

From today onwards, gas stations in the Netherlands will be legally obliged to sell E10 rather than Euro 95 fuel. 

The E10 variant contains up to 10 percent sustainable bioethanol. As a result, cars that run on E10 emit 2 percent less CO2 on average, which is better for the environment. This is a Europe-wide measure. The European Union has decided that gasoline must be mixed with bioethanol, in order to decrease our dependence on fossil fuels. Bioethanol comes from sugar cane and corn.

Old cars are not compatible with the new fuel

The new fuel is not suitable for all cars, complains Bert de Boer of the Federation of Historical Automobile and Motorcycle Clubs. Around 300,000 old timers and ten thousand old motorbikes will not be able to run on the new fuel, and there are also some cars produced after 2000 which are not compatible. Bovag, an industry association, estimates that 700,000 cars will have problems with the new fuel. If drivers are unsure whether their car can run on E10, they can check on e10check.nl.

De Boer lists the main problems old timers could face if they use E10. “Rubbers and pipes can become porous. Leaks can occur as a result.” And according to him, the shelf life of E10 is also limited. “Old-timers are usually in the garage in the winter. If E10 has been in the tank for a while, a chemical reaction results in a kind of thick mess. The tank can therefore start to rust and you will therefore no longer be able to drive.”

Old cars should use premium fuels

To prevent these problems, owners of old cars can still refuel using so-called premium fuels such as Esso Synergy Supreme +, Shell V-Power, BP Ultimate and Total Excellium. These will cost more than E10, about 6 or 7 cents per liter- but because oldtimer cars rarely drive more than a few thousand kilometers each year, the financial impact on the owners of these cars is not likely to be very noticeable.

The new regulation to replace Euro 95 with E10 will only apply to gas stations with more than one pump- it does not apply to the ‘pump in the village’, for example.

Will this new regulation affect you? Do you think it is a solution to the environmental crisis? Let us know in the comments below!

Feature Image: geralt/Pixabay. 

 

Chaos around The Hague as farmers strike and cause biggest traffic jam ever

Ailish Lalor
-
3
Chaos around The Hague as farmers strike and cause biggest traffic jam ever

Hundreds of tractors from all over the country are on their way to The Hague, where the farmers will demonstrate in the afternoon. 

With hundreds of tractors in columns, resulting accidents, and rainy weather, huge traffic jams are occurring in many places. Tractors are making their way into The Hague for the protest at Malieveld this afternoon, while others around the country are driving slowly on main roads to show their discontent. According to ANWB, this is the busiest morning rush hour ever.

What is the protest about?

They no longer want to be painted as environmental polluters who must change as a result of the nitrogen crisis, while other polluting industries such as aviation are left untouched. The Remkes commission has recommended for farms near nature reserves to be bought out, or otherwise changed to be more environmentally friendly. The commission has also suggested lowering the speed limit on regional and national roads. The farmers protesting in The Hague today are also demanding a clear, long-term agricultural policy in the long term.

10,000 farmers and 2200 tractors expected

The organisers are expecting about 10,000 farmers at the “agriactie” this afternoon in The Hague, along with 2200 tractors. The municipality of The Hague will allow only 75 tractors onto the Malieveld. The rest of the farmers will be transported to the site of the protest by shuttle transport.  Carola Schouten, the Minister for Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, will attend the protest. Some other members of parliament, including D66 member Tjeerd de Groot, will also be there.

Tensions are high

Tensions are high according to NOS, which reports that a farmer has driven their tractor into a fence to enter the Malieveld in The Hague, where the protest will be held. Farmers who could not go to The Hague are still protesting, by driving slowly along the A28 from Hoogeveen to Zwolle. At 8:30 this morning, there were still 1100 kilometers of traffic jams in the Netherlands.

However, according to a survey by Hart van Nederland, 90% of the public does support the protest.

Were you caught in a traffic jam this morning? What do you think about the farmers’ protest? Let us know in the comments below.

Feature Image: Danielle van Leeuwen. 

Major traffic jams predicted this morning as farmers across the nation storm the Hague

Samantha Dixon 🇦🇺
-
1
Major traffic jams predicted this morning as farmers across the nation storm the Hague

Hold your horses if you’re planning on travelling by car this morning. Thousands of farmers are expected to jam the roads with tractors and farm vehicles as they make their way to The Hague for a massive protest, RTL Nieuws reports. 

The farmers are hitting the road to the political capital as part of the #Agractie protest against D66’s plan to halve the amount of cows in the Netherlands in order to reduce nitrogen emissions and free up room for housing.

Understandably, the farmers aren’t crazy about the limits to their livestock and therefore livelihood, and formed the protest in response to a post from sheep farmer Bart Kemps.

“Who is going to The Hague tomorrow? Enough is enough!” Kemps wrote on Twitter. The response? Thousands of farmers will pick up their pitchforks in protest.

More than 10,000 farmers are predicted to make their way to The Hague tomorrow, with 2200 vehicles traversing the road on the way.

 However, only 75 of the vehicles will actually be allowed on the Malieveld in the center of Hague where the protest will take place. The Dutch and their protests, right?

Those travelling the A28 in the direction of Zwolle tomorrow are particularly warned in advance, with farmers planning to block the highway at Hoogeveen. Both lanes and the emergency lane will be blocked by tractors.

Not only will the farmers be storming the city, but heavy rain will cause additional delays.

Tuesday morning traffic, plus farmers protests multiplied by heavy rain is going to make a hectic road recipe. Our vote? Let’s all just stay home.

Have you been affected by the road blockages? What do you think of the protests? Let us know in the comments below!

Feature Image: Holger Schué/Pixabay

1...707708709...733Page 708 of 733