Worldlog – 7 November 2016

On Sunday the 30th of October last, I was given the opportunity to present our draft election programme (for the elections of the Lower House on the 15th of March 2017) in the presence of more than a hundred members! People could also watch the presentation via Facebook through a live connection. Our programme is a Plan B. We need a Plan B because there is no Planet B. Our planet broad programme contains more than 550 measures for a radically different policy. Plan B is not only necessary, but it is also a very pleasant plan! 😉 Soon there will be an English version available.

At our election congress of the 27th of November 2017, the draft election programme will be presented to the party members, who will later at the congress make it definitive. The Dutch version has been viewed at our Facebook page ten thousand times already. We have the largest number of followers at Facebook of all political parties in the Netherlands: the counter currently shows more than 65,000 likes. That is significant, because more and more people are turning their backs on politics.

Last Monday, our draft candidate list was also announced. I have put myself forward as leading candidate and it seems likely that I will be the only female leading candidate of the political parties in power at the following elections. Our list contains 19 women and 10 men, which shows that we, as a broad emancipation movement, attach great value to a more proportional representation of women in parliament.

My colleague MP Esther Ouwehand is again No. 2 in the list. The Party for the Animals has, according to research, a voter’s potential of 19%, which is equivalent to 27 parliamentary seats of the total of 150 seats that are to be distributed in the Netherlands!

On the 28th of October, it was exactly 14 years ago when I went to the Electoral Council to register the Party for the Animals to participate in the elections! We have proved to be a growing party. Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has – Margaret Mead.

I had a very busy week in the Lower House with full attention for animals. I have again indicated that the sale of animals on the internet must be stopped to tackle puppy mills, that the tails of piglets should no longer me burnt off, and that the many fires in stables in the Netherlands can be prevented by introducing mandatory fire prevention.

Unfortunately, we have no good news about the bee. Seven types of bees are on the verge of extinction. I can’t repeat it enough: Time for Plan B! 😉

At the end of this Worldlog I don’t want to withhold this wonderful statement from you:

Wishing you a good week and see you soon! Marianne