1. Everybody I have ever met agrees that Belgium needs one uniform nationwide voting ballot during national elections, allowing all Belgians to vote for all political parties, without any kind of regional or cultural restrictions. So why don't we have this yet?
2. Out of six train rides I took this week, six arrived late. Worst was about 30 minutes late, second worst about 12 minutes late. Why doesn't the train company create a real train schedule ? Why is management not fired for this?
3. Most working people have to get to work about 240 days per year. There are 365 days in a year and yet the majority of workers insist on commuting on the exact same time and the exact same days (Monday to Friday), thus creating huge traffic jams. Why not ditch this legacy Middle Aged system of weekdays land use all 365 days of the year in a sensible way?
4. Why the hell are we changing the time twice a year ? It has been proven multiple times that "daylight savings" is wasting energy!
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
2012-11-02
2011-03-23
nine provinces in Flanders ?
Radio 1 this morning discussed a proposal to split Flanders into nine provinces. Disregarding the fact that I oppose the eight layered governance of a random street(*) in my city, I would like to redraw the current map of Flanders.
One of the main issues that prevents this country from having a government resolves around (imho ridiculous) language problems in and around Brussels (the brown area). Brussels is surrounded by (officially) Dutch speaking communities, but is itself mainly French-speaking.
Bad governance between 1970 and 2010 resulted in discrepancies (for instance: French-speaking people in Dutch-speaking territory BHV can vote for French-speaking politicians, but Dutch-speaking inhabitants of the French-speaking part of Belgium cannot vote for Dutch-speaking politicians).
Also, Brussels is structurally way too small to make decisions that it should be capable of making (about its airport/highways/public transport/industry/...), since those are mainly in Dutch speaking parts outside Brussels (falling under another government).
The new map:
This new map enlarges Brussels so that it can manage the areas that currently surround Brussels but that economically and structurally belong to Brussels. Another advantage is that adding more Dutch-speaking people to Brussels makes it more balanced linguistically.
The red part is the new province of Leuven. Some municipalities from the former province of Vlaams Brabant migrated to neighboring provinces.
(*) Depending on what happens in a random Antwerp street, one or more of the following eight 'governments' is responsible:
- district (part of the city)
- gemeente (the city council)
- kanton (district, smaller than a province)
- provincie (province)
- gemeenschap (the Flemish Community)
- gewest (the Flemish Region)
- land (Belgium)
- Europese Unie (European Union)
What happened to the KISS strategy ?!
One of the main issues that prevents this country from having a government resolves around (imho ridiculous) language problems in and around Brussels (the brown area). Brussels is surrounded by (officially) Dutch speaking communities, but is itself mainly French-speaking.
Bad governance between 1970 and 2010 resulted in discrepancies (for instance: French-speaking people in Dutch-speaking territory BHV can vote for French-speaking politicians, but Dutch-speaking inhabitants of the French-speaking part of Belgium cannot vote for Dutch-speaking politicians).
Also, Brussels is structurally way too small to make decisions that it should be capable of making (about its airport/highways/public transport/industry/...), since those are mainly in Dutch speaking parts outside Brussels (falling under another government).
The new map:
This new map enlarges Brussels so that it can manage the areas that currently surround Brussels but that economically and structurally belong to Brussels. Another advantage is that adding more Dutch-speaking people to Brussels makes it more balanced linguistically.
The red part is the new province of Leuven. Some municipalities from the former province of Vlaams Brabant migrated to neighboring provinces.
(*) Depending on what happens in a random Antwerp street, one or more of the following eight 'governments' is responsible:
- district (part of the city)
- gemeente (the city council)
- kanton (district, smaller than a province)
- provincie (province)
- gemeenschap (the Flemish Community)
- gewest (the Flemish Region)
- land (Belgium)
- Europese Unie (European Union)
What happened to the KISS strategy ?!
2009-05-26
Politics in Belgium
There used to be three parties in Belgium : Catholics (orange), Liberals (blue) and Socialists (red). And even though they all split in a French-speaking and a Dutch-speaking part fifty to sixty years ago, these big three ruled Belgium for more than one hundred years.
The Seventies and Eighties saw the rise of extremist parties like VU-Volksunie and Agalev. Both joined the federal government briefly, but dissolved right after that. The Nineties saw the rise of Vlaams Blok.
Look at the total percent of votes that went to the big three :
The Naughties already made clear that many new and/or extremist parties (LDD, Ecolo, Vlaams Belang, Groen) might rival the election results of the big three (who are six now).
Too many parties will get around ten percent of all Belgian votes (including the six from the big three). Forming a government will become very difficult.
The upcoming elections of June 7th are European and regional (not federal!), but they will have an impact on the federal government. Many people expect federal elections in October 2009.
So what's the choice for the upcoming elections ?
My European vote might go to Bart Staes, the only politician in Europe to have a clue about open standards, and who also votes accordingly.
On the Flemish front:
- LDD wants smoking back in restaurants ?! No!
- Groen wants to halt nuclear energy ! No!
- CD&V the good old catholics, with this miserable failure?! No!
- Vlaams Belang is excluded by all other parties (except LDD?), this gives them some sympathy. But they lack a real program, and get lots of votes from racists. No!
- N-VA has Peter Dedecker, but they are too Flemish extremist. No!
This leaves only OpenVLD (the good old liberals) and SP.a (the good old socialists). One could vote for blue integrity and experience ? Or one could follow Pieter and vote for red charm and beauty ;-)
The Seventies and Eighties saw the rise of extremist parties like VU-Volksunie and Agalev. Both joined the federal government briefly, but dissolved right after that. The Nineties saw the rise of Vlaams Blok.
Look at the total percent of votes that went to the big three :
1985: 79%Some of these kartels are history today.
1987: 79%
1991: 71%
1995: 72%
1999: 64%
2003: 73% (including the Dutch-speaking socialist kartel)
2007: 70% (including several kartels)
The Naughties already made clear that many new and/or extremist parties (LDD, Ecolo, Vlaams Belang, Groen) might rival the election results of the big three (who are six now).
Too many parties will get around ten percent of all Belgian votes (including the six from the big three). Forming a government will become very difficult.
The upcoming elections of June 7th are European and regional (not federal!), but they will have an impact on the federal government. Many people expect federal elections in October 2009.
So what's the choice for the upcoming elections ?
My European vote might go to Bart Staes, the only politician in Europe to have a clue about open standards, and who also votes accordingly.
On the Flemish front:
- LDD wants smoking back in restaurants ?! No!
- Groen wants to halt nuclear energy ! No!
- CD&V the good old catholics, with this miserable failure?! No!
- Vlaams Belang is excluded by all other parties (except LDD?), this gives them some sympathy. But they lack a real program, and get lots of votes from racists. No!
- N-VA has Peter Dedecker, but they are too Flemish extremist. No!
This leaves only OpenVLD (the good old liberals) and SP.a (the good old socialists). One could vote for blue integrity and experience ? Or one could follow Pieter and vote for red charm and beauty ;-)
2008-09-21
Shenzhou 7
In a couple of days China will launch its third manned space mission. The Shenzhou 7 spacecraft will carry three astronauts, one of them will make China's first spacewalk.Part of the Shenzhou spacecraft (the 8m3 orbital module) will stay in orbit around planet Earth. The Chinese have plans to send two unmanned spacecrafts (Shenzhou 8 and Shenzhou 9) up there to dock with the Shenzhou 7 orbital module. This would give them a basic space station. They don't give an exact date, but if all goes well i think that within a year (or two) we will see three Chinese astronauts docking the Shenzhou 10 to their space station.
When talking about this, people always react "Why don't they join the International efforts of the ISS?" The answer is simple, the USA does not allow China to be part of the 'International Space Station'.
Anyway, my advice is to watch them! The Chinese have realistic and exciting plans. They already have a spacecraft orbiting the moon, and the Shenzhou spacecraft are designed for trips to the moon. All they need now is a bigger rocket.
You can find some pictures of Shenzhou 7 being transported to the launch site here at xinhua.
2008-09-17
Belgian Prime Minister on linkedin ;-)
The linkedin website is becoming more and more popular in Belgium. Even our Prime Minister Yves Leterme is using it ;-)
2008-08-12
2008-08-04
Belgium:Keep it simple (part 2)
First... i'm going to mitigate my blogging on politics. I read all the replies to part one. I saw Dag and Ploum reacting with more follow-ups... Sorry to all of you for not replying in depth... but the subject is...erm... well exhausting.
I will however try to list current issues...and my simple solution to them. But don't expect any lengthy replies!
Brussels
Economic and structural Brussels is currently larger than political Brussels. Brussels must be bigger! Please expand Brussels to include its ring and airport. The Halle-Vilvoorde region (arrondissement) and Tervuren should be part of the big European Capital named Brussels.
Languages
The goal is COMMUNICATION, and language is just a tool. Hence it should not be an issue. I would propose that we allow any language anywhere! Anyone is allowed to use any language to COMMUNICATE (free as in speech).
Even in Flanders, it should be allowed for citizens to use French or German, providing that both parties are willing to speak French or German. I think it is silly to outlaw certain languages in certain places!
I believe that knowing more than one language is an advantage. I see this in many companies : people speaking only one language are missing out on promotions.
When two people (and i don't care where) are too hardheaded to both speak the same language...then the law should mandate English as the only official Belgian language. Yes English, not French, not Dutch. I'm pretty sure that most people in the "Big Brussels Area" are able to COMMUNICATE. If they are too hardheaded to make an effort, then force English onto them.
Too many Governments
We should all aim for a Flemish and Walloon culture in a unified political and economical Europe. And give some room to Brussels to be the European Capital.
Too many parties
Have all elections on one day. People can be on only one list. Actually...i have no solution for this...
Cultural Differences
Hey, we all live on this planet! Enjoy the different cultures.
Money
Bruno (and others) claimed that money is a problem in Belgium. Please compare your wealth to the rest of this planet and start sharing!
@Matt: Yes i would probably keep on supporting my family.
Language Border(s)
You know my opinion about borders. I don't say we have to remove all borders today, but we have to at least realize *why* these borders exist. Borders exist because we don't want to lose our wealth.
@Dag: You still make some valid points though!
Conclusion
Well at least my fourth sentence "nothing will happen in the near future" was correct ;-)
Like i said in the beginning. I will blog less about politics!
I will however try to list current issues...and my simple solution to them. But don't expect any lengthy replies!
Brussels
Economic and structural Brussels is currently larger than political Brussels. Brussels must be bigger! Please expand Brussels to include its ring and airport. The Halle-Vilvoorde region (arrondissement) and Tervuren should be part of the big European Capital named Brussels.
Languages
The goal is COMMUNICATION, and language is just a tool. Hence it should not be an issue. I would propose that we allow any language anywhere! Anyone is allowed to use any language to COMMUNICATE (free as in speech).
Even in Flanders, it should be allowed for citizens to use French or German, providing that both parties are willing to speak French or German. I think it is silly to outlaw certain languages in certain places!
I believe that knowing more than one language is an advantage. I see this in many companies : people speaking only one language are missing out on promotions.
When two people (and i don't care where) are too hardheaded to both speak the same language...then the law should mandate English as the only official Belgian language. Yes English, not French, not Dutch. I'm pretty sure that most people in the "Big Brussels Area" are able to COMMUNICATE. If they are too hardheaded to make an effort, then force English onto them.
Too many Governments
We should all aim for a Flemish and Walloon culture in a unified political and economical Europe. And give some room to Brussels to be the European Capital.
Too many parties
Have all elections on one day. People can be on only one list. Actually...i have no solution for this...
Cultural Differences
Hey, we all live on this planet! Enjoy the different cultures.
Money
Bruno (and others) claimed that money is a problem in Belgium. Please compare your wealth to the rest of this planet and start sharing!
@Matt: Yes i would probably keep on supporting my family.
Language Border(s)
You know my opinion about borders. I don't say we have to remove all borders today, but we have to at least realize *why* these borders exist. Borders exist because we don't want to lose our wealth.
@Dag: You still make some valid points though!
Conclusion
Well at least my fourth sentence "nothing will happen in the near future" was correct ;-)
Like i said in the beginning. I will blog less about politics!
2008-07-18
Belgium:Keep it Simple!! (part 1)
Belgium is in trouble. It's been more than a year since the last elections, and still there is no government, no agreement between parties and communities. There is only uncertainty about the future, nobody knows what will happen next. My guess is the same as most people : nothing will happen in the (near) future.
So let's keep it simple and take a look at the problems that exist (please add missing problems, a follow-up post with simple solutions will follow).
Problem: What to do with Brussels ?!
Many people talk about splitting Belgium in two or more parts. Independence will solve all problems (yeah right). But nobody has a good solution on where our capital fits in such a scenario.
Brussels is an island in Flanders, completely surrounded by (officially) Flemish communities. But Brussels has only a small minority of native Dutch (aka Flemish) speaking inhabitants.
In the present situation, Brussels is suffocated by artificial boundaries. One example is Strombeek-bever. Strombeek-bever is a community that is part of Brussels in a structural/economical/regional/physical sense, but it belongs to Flanders in a legal/official/bureaucratical sense.
Problem: Languages ?!
Most Belgians are native Dutch speaking (65%) or native French speaking (35%). Some native Flemish regions contain French minorities and vice versa. These minorities are annoyed, teased, even pestered with irrational language demands. Some people are not allowed to use their native language in their own country ?! Add to this minor annoyances like road signs (Liege/Luik/Luttich, Antwerpen/Anvers, Geldenaken/Jodoigne...) that are confusing for everyone!
Problem: Too many governments ?!
Belgium has a King, a federal government, some regional (Flanders, Brussels, Wallonia) governments, some community (French, Flemish, German) governments, a bunch of provincial (ten provinces since the Brabant split) governments. This besides hundreds of municipalities. So who is responsible for what ? The paperwork to get anything done is too much, and most people complain about getting the right documents from the right organization (think Kafka or Task 8).
Problem: Too many political parties ?!
About a gazillion little parties participated in the last elections, resulting in none of them getting more than about ten percent of votes. Add to this that those getting the most votes are cartels (temporary alliances between different parties). A minimum of five to eight parties need to agree before any government can be formed.
Problem: Cultural differences ?!
Not a big problem in itself (cultural differences enrich a country!), but it occupies the minds of many Belgians. Expressions like "Walloons are lazy!" or "Too much money is transferred from Flanders to Wallonia!" are common. People always blame someone and Belgians tend to blame the other (language) side of being irrational or being the cause of problems.
Hint: The same would happen in an independent Flanders, so let's quickly get rid of the "Westhoek" and "de Limburgers"...and so on...until you stand all alone in the world and can only blame yourself!
Problem: What to do with Europe ?!
Europe poses some problems for Belgium. First, it adds another layer to the government (oh no). Second, people tend to forget great European achievements (like the euro!). Instead they complain about politicians going to Europe (like it is their pension and they do nothing there but relax) and they complain about the European rules.
Europe is also a threat to Belgium as a state. In the (far?) future, Europe will have one European government and many cultural regions. We can keep the countries for the World Cup and the Olympics, but any real responsibility should go to Europe and only cultural/recreational/tourist stuff should belong to a regional level.
Anything else in Belgium that poses a big problem, or that causes the current situation ?
So let's keep it simple and take a look at the problems that exist (please add missing problems, a follow-up post with simple solutions will follow).
Problem: What to do with Brussels ?!
Many people talk about splitting Belgium in two or more parts. Independence will solve all problems (yeah right). But nobody has a good solution on where our capital fits in such a scenario.
Brussels is an island in Flanders, completely surrounded by (officially) Flemish communities. But Brussels has only a small minority of native Dutch (aka Flemish) speaking inhabitants.
In the present situation, Brussels is suffocated by artificial boundaries. One example is Strombeek-bever. Strombeek-bever is a community that is part of Brussels in a structural/economical/regional/physical sense, but it belongs to Flanders in a legal/official/bureaucratical sense.
Problem: Languages ?!
Most Belgians are native Dutch speaking (65%) or native French speaking (35%). Some native Flemish regions contain French minorities and vice versa. These minorities are annoyed, teased, even pestered with irrational language demands. Some people are not allowed to use their native language in their own country ?! Add to this minor annoyances like road signs (Liege/Luik/Luttich, Antwerpen/Anvers, Geldenaken/Jodoigne...) that are confusing for everyone!
Problem: Too many governments ?!
Belgium has a King, a federal government, some regional (Flanders, Brussels, Wallonia) governments, some community (French, Flemish, German) governments, a bunch of provincial (ten provinces since the Brabant split) governments. This besides hundreds of municipalities. So who is responsible for what ? The paperwork to get anything done is too much, and most people complain about getting the right documents from the right organization (think Kafka or Task 8).
Problem: Too many political parties ?!
About a gazillion little parties participated in the last elections, resulting in none of them getting more than about ten percent of votes. Add to this that those getting the most votes are cartels (temporary alliances between different parties). A minimum of five to eight parties need to agree before any government can be formed.
Problem: Cultural differences ?!
Not a big problem in itself (cultural differences enrich a country!), but it occupies the minds of many Belgians. Expressions like "Walloons are lazy!" or "Too much money is transferred from Flanders to Wallonia!" are common. People always blame someone and Belgians tend to blame the other (language) side of being irrational or being the cause of problems.
Hint: The same would happen in an independent Flanders, so let's quickly get rid of the "Westhoek" and "de Limburgers"...and so on...until you stand all alone in the world and can only blame yourself!
Problem: What to do with Europe ?!
Europe poses some problems for Belgium. First, it adds another layer to the government (oh no). Second, people tend to forget great European achievements (like the euro!). Instead they complain about politicians going to Europe (like it is their pension and they do nothing there but relax) and they complain about the European rules.
Europe is also a threat to Belgium as a state. In the (far?) future, Europe will have one European government and many cultural regions. We can keep the countries for the World Cup and the Olympics, but any real responsibility should go to Europe and only cultural/recreational/tourist stuff should belong to a regional level.
Anything else in Belgium that poses a big problem, or that causes the current situation ?
2008-06-18
boerenprotest
De boeren zijn niet gelukkig, hun eisen lijken gegrond.
Zonet reed ik van Leuven naar Antwerpen, en wat zag ik (gelukkig aan de overkant) op de E40 ? Een rij traktors in de buurt van Bertem die alle verkeer blokkeerden. Mijn kant van de snelweg was vrij, en ik kon tegen 120km/u doorrijden tot in Antwerpen. 'k zag wel de miserie van Bertem tot op de Brusselse ring in Zaventem.
Is dat nu echt nodig om zoveel mensen te pesten ? Is het niet efficienter om gewoon de uitgang van de parlementen te blokkeren ?
Zonet reed ik van Leuven naar Antwerpen, en wat zag ik (gelukkig aan de overkant) op de E40 ? Een rij traktors in de buurt van Bertem die alle verkeer blokkeerden. Mijn kant van de snelweg was vrij, en ik kon tegen 120km/u doorrijden tot in Antwerpen. 'k zag wel de miserie van Bertem tot op de Brusselse ring in Zaventem.
Is dat nu echt nodig om zoveel mensen te pesten ? Is het niet efficienter om gewoon de uitgang van de parlementen te blokkeren ?
2008-03-16
echte snelheidsduivels gaan vrijuit!
Ik rij regelmatig op de Sint-truidensesteenweg in Hakendover richting Sint-Truiden. De maximum snelheid daar is 70km/u, de gemiddelde snelheid van het verkeer ligt er eerder rond de 100km/u.
Op zich laat de baan toe dat je 80 rijdt, dus heel wat mensen doen dat ook. Een van de redenen om geen 70 te rijden is dat de auto achter je behoorlijk zenuwachtig wordt als je 70 rijdt. Ja kan namelijk niet overal inhalen.
Af en toe staat er een 'anonieme' wagen te flitsen! Als die wagen daar staat, dan rijden al die dikke BMW's en Mercedessen braafjes 70, want je ziet de wagen zeker 800 meter op voorhand staan. Toch zag ik vorige week weer iemand geflitst worden, geen 'dikken bak' neen, wel een klein autootje met een onschuldig dametje erin, zo overstuur van de flits dat ze prompt naar 60 zakte en ik ze dus kon inhalen.
En dat is het probleem!! Door de psychologisch druk van bumperrijders en grote-flikkerlichten-aggressievelingen op dat stukje steenweg hebben onschuldige mensen die zich aan de snelheidslimiet willen houden de gewoonte gekweekt om 80 of zelfs meer te rijden. En dat soort onschuldige mensen kijkt niet uit naar flitscontroles en wordt dus gepakt.
Beste politiemensen, gelieve u deftig te verstoppen, want u pakt de verkeerde chauffeurs. De 'echte' hardrijders gaan vrijuit.
Op zich laat de baan toe dat je 80 rijdt, dus heel wat mensen doen dat ook. Een van de redenen om geen 70 te rijden is dat de auto achter je behoorlijk zenuwachtig wordt als je 70 rijdt. Ja kan namelijk niet overal inhalen.
Af en toe staat er een 'anonieme' wagen te flitsen! Als die wagen daar staat, dan rijden al die dikke BMW's en Mercedessen braafjes 70, want je ziet de wagen zeker 800 meter op voorhand staan. Toch zag ik vorige week weer iemand geflitst worden, geen 'dikken bak' neen, wel een klein autootje met een onschuldig dametje erin, zo overstuur van de flits dat ze prompt naar 60 zakte en ik ze dus kon inhalen.
En dat is het probleem!! Door de psychologisch druk van bumperrijders en grote-flikkerlichten-aggressievelingen op dat stukje steenweg hebben onschuldige mensen die zich aan de snelheidslimiet willen houden de gewoonte gekweekt om 80 of zelfs meer te rijden. En dat soort onschuldige mensen kijkt niet uit naar flitscontroles en wordt dus gepakt.
Beste politiemensen, gelieve u deftig te verstoppen, want u pakt de verkeerde chauffeurs. De 'echte' hardrijders gaan vrijuit.
2008-01-01
Interview with a Time traveler
This morning i had the privilege to briefly interview a time traveler.
me: "Sir, thank you for this opportunity. Can you explain how you travel in time ?"
Time Traveler: "Well in about 60 years from now, the world ends. The universe seizes to exist, everything ends. Except me, i get sent back to 1975."
me: "So you don't really have a choice ? You live your lifetime over and over again ?"
Time Traveler: "Yes I have no choice, and i seem the only one on this planet to remember anything."
me: "How does the world end ?"
Time Traveler: "Highly advanced technology. We as humans become so advanced that we create artificial life that is even more advanced. And then the artificial life creates even more advanced artificial life. This continues for about two years, and then the universe just implodes and everything is destroyed."
me: "Sounds bad, how many times have you seen the world end ?"
Time Traveler: "Seven times, but i hope to prevent it this time."
me: "You want to stop the world from ending ? That would be nice. How do you do that ?"
Time Traveler: "Easy. This time in 1975 i started a company with only one goal: stop innovation! I want to halt as much as possible all technological development. Today my company has a strong influence on almost every household and every business. The world can be saved! My company is succeeding in its mission and effectively slowing down technology and innovation!"
me: "Okay, keep up the good work, and thank you for this interview mister Bill Gates."
me: "Sir, thank you for this opportunity. Can you explain how you travel in time ?"
Time Traveler: "Well in about 60 years from now, the world ends. The universe seizes to exist, everything ends. Except me, i get sent back to 1975."
me: "So you don't really have a choice ? You live your lifetime over and over again ?"
Time Traveler: "Yes I have no choice, and i seem the only one on this planet to remember anything."
me: "How does the world end ?"
Time Traveler: "Highly advanced technology. We as humans become so advanced that we create artificial life that is even more advanced. And then the artificial life creates even more advanced artificial life. This continues for about two years, and then the universe just implodes and everything is destroyed."
me: "Sounds bad, how many times have you seen the world end ?"
Time Traveler: "Seven times, but i hope to prevent it this time."
me: "You want to stop the world from ending ? That would be nice. How do you do that ?"
Time Traveler: "Easy. This time in 1975 i started a company with only one goal: stop innovation! I want to halt as much as possible all technological development. Today my company has a strong influence on almost every household and every business. The world can be saved! My company is succeeding in its mission and effectively slowing down technology and innovation!"
me: "Okay, keep up the good work, and thank you for this interview mister Bill Gates."
2007-11-12
knuffelen voor de eenheid van ons land
Als je wil knuffelen voor de eenheid van ons land, zak dan op 21 november af naar de Grote Markt (dit is niet de Oude Markt) in Leuven.
In Veto kan je lezen: "Op woensdag 21 november willen we aantonen dat Vlaamse en Waalse studenten nog steeds samen een pintje kunnen drinken en dat we dat in de toekomst willen blijven doen"
In Veto kan je lezen: "Op woensdag 21 november willen we aantonen dat Vlaamse en Waalse studenten nog steeds samen een pintje kunnen drinken en dat we dat in de toekomst willen blijven doen"
2007-10-21
dierenleed
Raymond blogt over de schande genaamd stierengevechten in Spanje.
Awel Raymond, ik hoop dat je dan ook in Belgie geen eurocent opdoet; De "jacht" op fazanten is weer begonnen. Ken je dat fazanten ? Dat zijn van die lieve (neen niet uitgezet hoor!) beestjes die uit mijn hand komen eten als ik met de hond ga wandelen. Met "jagen" als werkwoord heeft dat al lang niets meer te maken.
"Jamaar Paul, er zijn toch teveel everzwijnen, die mag je dan toch afschieten ?" Ja, er zijn ook teveel politiekers. Ik ken trouwens niemand die al ooit een levend wild everzwijn heeft gezien.
"Jamaar Paul, jagers zorgen toch voor een evenwicht in de natuur ?" Neen, de natuur heeft miljoenen jaren lang voor een evenwicht gezorgd, zonder het bestaan van jagers.
Awel Raymond, ik hoop dat je dan ook in Belgie geen eurocent opdoet; De "jacht" op fazanten is weer begonnen. Ken je dat fazanten ? Dat zijn van die lieve (neen niet uitgezet hoor!) beestjes die uit mijn hand komen eten als ik met de hond ga wandelen. Met "jagen" als werkwoord heeft dat al lang niets meer te maken.
"Jamaar Paul, er zijn toch teveel everzwijnen, die mag je dan toch afschieten ?" Ja, er zijn ook teveel politiekers. Ik ken trouwens niemand die al ooit een levend wild everzwijn heeft gezien.
"Jamaar Paul, jagers zorgen toch voor een evenwicht in de natuur ?" Neen, de natuur heeft miljoenen jaren lang voor een evenwicht gezorgd, zonder het bestaan van jagers.
2006-04-17
Nuclear weapons and Iran
In the news again today, the "leaders of the world" want to talk to president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran about its nuclear program. What's to talk about ? Iran just wants to be able to defend itself in case someone is attacking them. Don't misunderstand me, i'm against nuclear weapons, but Iran has as much right to have them as Great Britain, France or the USA.
But what about our safety ? Yes it is true, when the whole islamic region has atomic weapons, the world will be less safe for us Europeans. But how do the people in the Middle East feel ? You think they feel safe, knowing that the USA can attack whenever they feel like it ? If i was living in Iran, i would prefer this country to have nuclear weapons, just to make sure the terrorrists from the Whitehouse stay at a proper safe distance.
The most aggressive country has nuclear weapons, and it is the only country to have used them to kill hundreds of thousands of civilians. So i say, stop all these efforts and let Iran have their defense, because they might need it in the near future.
But what about our safety ? Yes it is true, when the whole islamic region has atomic weapons, the world will be less safe for us Europeans. But how do the people in the Middle East feel ? You think they feel safe, knowing that the USA can attack whenever they feel like it ? If i was living in Iran, i would prefer this country to have nuclear weapons, just to make sure the terrorrists from the Whitehouse stay at a proper safe distance.
The most aggressive country has nuclear weapons, and it is the only country to have used them to kill hundreds of thousands of civilians. So i say, stop all these efforts and let Iran have their defense, because they might need it in the near future.
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