Week 45 An election coming up
Elections November 22
Rather frighteningly, one of the more popular politicians (according to some) at the moment is talking about making a coalition of all the right wing parties. As far as I can understand it, there are 25 parties, 16 having at least some representation. I have always thought that this gives a broader representation, as they have to make compromises in order to form a government. This usually means a long period of seeming inaction while they go about their machinations - last time, it was nearly a year before they resolved everything.
A coaltion of all the right wing and/or looney parties would give 75 seats - 76 are needed for an overall majority.
With Rutte going, Janny and I have been at a loss as to who to consider as a natural successor.
So, I did the "Stemwijzer" to try to understand who stands for what. Stem = voice (and vote) Wijzer = indicator, so stemwijzer is a "voting indicator". It consists of 30 topical questions for which you can enter for or against (or undecided).(Janny tells me that in this case wijzer might be related to "wise" - i.e. making us wiser if we do the questionaire. or more likely, as I think about it, "Voting Informer").
I have a weekly newsletter called Vaarwijzer - which would be Boating Informer, I guess :)
Just to confuse things (me) a car has a "richting aanwijzer" - direction indicator.
and a "wijsfinger" is the pointing or index finger...
This is just one example of the 30 initial questions. (Translate to English). Knowing more reveals information about why it is important, relevant or topical. This one has to do with reducing the nitrogen output (and ammonia, etc.) from cows.
What the parties think - reveals the position of the various parties on this issue.
Mine came out as I suspected with left leanings toward Green and Labour (The Workers' Party) who have formed a coalition of their own. Another option would be the CDA (Christian Democratic Appeal).
All very difficult, but the questions were indeed thought-provoking. I did a second run-through with Janny and we actually agreed on just about everything - must be something in that...
About 6 months ago, the Government resigned over a controversy and all the Ministers have been in an "Acting" capacity. One of the rules of government in this situation is that "no major (controversial) decisions will be made...
Farmers, forest rangers and construction are trying to make the best of it. But they all hope that a new cabinet will quickly resolve the nitrogen crisis.
They also notice this in construction, a sector that is also suffering from the nitrogen crisis. Small housing projects can continue, but the "really big problems" are in the construction of infrastructure, says Eline Maarse, spokesperson for Bouwend Nederland. "Many billions of euros worth of work is at a standstill indefinitely."
Many plants and animals have already disappeared.
These are questions that nature organizations also ask. Due to an excess of nitrogen, nature has been in bad shape for years and since the nitrogen crisis became known (May 2019), little has actually happened.
"I see the quality of nature deteriorating rapidly. Many plants and animals have already disappeared," says Ruben Vermeer, ranger at Natuurmonumenten.
Natuurmonumenten director Pim van der Feltz says that "nature has been on hold for years. Action must be taken now."
My favourite for Prime Minister is Frans Timmermans (Labour Party - not from CDA) - they are in coalition with the Greens, but it may be a bit shaky, according to some. Timmermans suggested that the deadline for lowering the Nitrogen levels could well slip to 2035 - the Greens have been hanging out for 2030. The Citizen Farmers Movement won the last senate elections on the back of a well-organised farmer protest - so the reality is that it will probably be 2035.
Mobile Phones
Mobile phones will also be banned in primary schools and special education from the new school year. Tablets and smartwatches are also no longer allowed to be taken into the classroom. The outgoing education minister Mariëlle Paul has agreed this with several educational organizations.
Mobile phones distract students from their school work, causing them to perform less well, the minister says. According to her, the agreement provides clarity in the classroom. "We have noticed in secondary education that it quickly gets used to and gives peace of mind to both students and teachers."
Primary schools and schools in specialized education thus join the agreement that was already made with secondary schools before the summer. Students there will no longer be allowed to take their mobile phones to class from January 2024. In primary schools and special education, the agreement takes effect when the new school year starts.
Meanwhile, back at the farm demolition site...
My "dompelpomp" (submersible pump) of 26 years finally gave up - one too many times lent out to someone else - it came back not working :-(
So, we bought a new one - much needed around these parts!!
We pumped out the basement which houses the main water pipe into the house - and pipes with 12 taps (!) leading to the rest. We found a second water meter which I presume was used to measure the water useage in the dairy - probably for business/tax calculations - dairying seems to me to be a heavy water user.
This is my preparation from 2016. I thought we might be able to use this room for a new bathroom, but it is now going to be a downstairs bedroom for the old fellow.
It has turned out to be very well-placed for the new kitchen - there is also a 125mm drainpipe - all only 4 metres from where it will be used.
Everything has to be planned before the concrete is poured - of course. But it feels so early to be making these decisions...
This also had to be dug out to 60cm. Full of mostly dirt...
This was a base supporting a pillar - in a winter barn for the cows - the low brick wall on the right is the side of a drain that the rear end of the cows stood over (for collecting and draining off the manure). Unfortunately, it was filled with rubble - bricks, stones, rocks and dirt. I can just imagine how happy they were 60 years ago - to be able to get rid of their rubble :)
At the time, this "barn" backed directly onto the house - I imagine it was "normal" for the times - including the smell.
On Friday, the builder delivered more "rij platen" - mats to make it possible to drive over the grass without churning it into mud...
So, Janny and I were able to get rid of the dirt and rubble... (to make room for more on Monday)
I was going to write something about the rain we have had for the last 3 weeks - you'd think I'd be used to it by now, but this seems to be extreme...maybe because we are having to work in it for a change...this is just the existing water level at the moment. (Why we need a dompelpomp).
The good dirt is ending up here - to make a new garden bed at one of the driveways...
We did have some help during the week - but only for a couple of days...
...the young worker ended up in a ditch in Drachten. He was a passenger in the car and all were unhurt. But he was in no mood to come back to work...
...the young worker ended up in a ditch in Drachten. He was a passenger in the car and all were unhurt. But he was in no mood to come back to work...
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