Worldlog Week 19 – 2011

This week the social discussion started between the government and the Dutch population about mega stalls. I am very surprised to note the very narrow approach that the Social Dialogue about Mega Stalls is seeming to develop. The Nuclear Energy Social Dialogue received two years to exchange ideas with the population, the Mega Stall Dialogue must be completed in six weeks, while it is still unclear how the population will be involved.

Animal protection organisations will have to wait five months to explain their vision regarding mega stalls with State Secretary Henk Bleker of Agriculture, despite their repeated requests. Under no circumstances can it become the Mega stall Monologues of the State secretary, where he again appears on countless talk shows about the many so-called advantages of mega stalls for animals, nature and the environment. The social dialogue must revolve around the question of how much room there is for mega stalls and if the need for animal proteins justifies the “megamorphosis” of the countryside.

The interests of the agricultural industry are becoming so important that taking photographs of farms in some states in the United States can now lead to imprisonment.

Last week I wrote about the advice given by eight Dutch nature and hunting organizations to cull more than 100.000 geese in Holland, even the Society for the Protection of Birds – Holland (Vogelbescherming Nederland) agrees with this mass cull. Geese are still welcome in Germany, they even have strict protection orders in certain areas to protect the birds. We are still waiting for the answers to the Parliamentary questions that I asked about the mass cull of geese.

Next week will be a busy week. The recess is then over and there are a number of important discussions and debates on the agenda, such as an AO (General Discussion) Biotechnology, an AO Nuclear Energy and an AO Nature-2000. It is Accountability Day on May 18th, an important moment for the control function of the Lower House. On Accountability Day, the third Wednesday in May, the Minister of Finance presents the Annual Financial Report of the State to the Lower House. The Annual Report shows what the government has achieved in the past year, how they have achieved this and what the cost was. The Lower House held a debate with the government on May 19th. I hope to tell you more about this next week.

Until next week!

Marianne