Worldlog Week 46 – 2011

The dangers of microplastics, which were the subject of Parliamentary questions we submitted in early October, are now finally being recognized by State Secretary for the Environment Atsma! In responding to our questions, Atsma admits that microplastics do indeed contribute to the formation of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Atsma went on to promise that he would raise the matter with the European Commission to find out what can be done to reduce the discharge of microplastics.

The problem is as follows: many personal care products, such as scrubs and peelings, contain minuscule plastic particles. These plastic particles do not dissolve after use but are carried away with the water from your shower to the water treatment plants. Since the particles are too small to be filtered out of the water, they pass through the water treatment plants and eventually end up in the sea, where the plastic is eaten by fish and shellfish and where it poisons the sea. While natural alternatives to these plastic particles exist, these are not used as the use of plastics in personal care products has so far been permitted. We consider this a problem that must be tackled at the source and argue for a ban on the sale of cosmetics and personal care products that contain microplastics.

On Friday morning I woke up with a blush! Ninety-seven percent of our young members had given me an 8.2 report mark for my work in the Lower House. And with 91%, the performance of our parliamentary party also received a thumbs-up from our youth section. Dutch TV programme EenVandaag asked more than 1600 young people who are members of a political youth organization to assess the performance of their own parties and that of the current government led by Mark Rutte. Eighty percent of PINK! members think that, as an opposition party, the Party for the Animals offers clear alternatives to the government’s plans and 81% thinks the party should stay on its current course. Now that is something to be proud of!

Parliamentary elections will be held in Spain next Sunday. PACMA, the Spanish party for the animals, is also standing for election. I will be keeping my fingers crossed here in the Netherlands and hope they are able to secure several seats in the Spanish parliament. For the latest on the elections, go to http://www.pacma.es/.

Unfortunately, the ritual slaughter of animals without prior stunning is still going on in Australia. We are going to do all we can to convince the Upper House on 13 December of the need for a ban on the ritual slaughter of animals without stunning in the Netherlands. Religious freedom ends where animal or any other suffering begins

Do you also hate fur collars? Play this fun game from animal protection organization PETA and help raccoon Tanooki win back his fur. While a lot of fun, the game has a serious message: stop the killing of raccoon dogs for their furs. All over the world, including the Netherlands, people buy jackets with fur collars made of the fur of raccoon dogs. The Party for the Animals is striving for a fur-free Netherlands.

And good news from the US, where a bill has been submitted for a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses. The bill was submitted in the House of Representatives by Democrat Jim Moran. He wants to see an end to elephants balancing on stools and tigers jumping through hoops. We hope this bill is adopted.

Until next week!