Mainstream news in The Netherlands is depressing. It has to be shocking, sensational and topical. This way news gets negative and people feel like the world around them is changing for the worse. They lose trust and feel powerless. Yet, sciences proves it over and over again: the world is getting better every day for humans. And so, I share 7 news-article once a month in these posts. A mix of positive and bad news, but mostly positive, to make sure that positive news has the upper-hand. Along, I share a practical tip on what you can do to change that news. This could be a lifestyle change, a petition to sign or a campaign to support, anything. To make you feel in power, because we are! This way you’ll know about the positive news, how to keep it that way, the negative news and how to change that!
Swimming Cap for Black Hair Approved for Olympics | 2-9
Some black people who compete in swimming at the olympics need a special cap for their thick, curly or braided hair. That cap is called the Soul Cap. Previously, these caps were banned at the olympics. The International Swimming Federation (FINA) thought the caps were not necessary and so they were banned. This ban was yet another barrier to people of color competing in the olympics. Today, FINA has finally recognized the importance of the soul caps, saying ‘all swimmers should have access to appropriate swimwear’. The ban is not longer in place and this is great news.
Personal practical tip:
Inclusiveness within professional sports in general are an important topic. One thing I know is that there is quite a bit of misunderstanding when it comes to transgender athletes. Want to learn more about this topic and learn how we should do better? Watch The Gender Games by VPRO.
Haarlem first city in the world to ban meat advertisements | 2-9
A local department of GreenLeft proposed to ban the advertisements of meat products in the the public space. Last year that proposal has passed the city council. No more MacDonalds or Albert Heijn advertisements in the street, promoting the consumption of dead animals! The advertisements are banned as soon as the current contracts with advertisement companies end. I could not be happier with this news! It’s time to stop normalizing slaughter.
Personal practical tip:
Of course we as individuals have a duty too, it’s not only up to the government. It’s time for us to go vegan, because eating meat is unethical in so many ways.
New Climate Law in Australia | 8-9
The past decades, Australia has not been a front-runner in climate policies. They did little to nothing. Today that has changed a bit. Australia has accepted a law that forces the country to cut their emissions by 43 percent in 2030 and aims for net zero emissions in 2050. Now that the Labor party is in charge (the Conservatives were in power the past 9 years), things are going into the right direction. This is honestly great news! Now it’s time to start implementing the adjustments and to actually meet the targets.
Personal practical tip:
Like I just said, it’s not only up to the government to change things. We all have a share in this battle against climate change. Want to make a big difference? Stop buying new stuff, stop eating animal products and stop flying.
Protests in Iran after Death of kurdish Women | 16-9
On September 16th a Kurdish women died after the religious police in Iran had arrested her. Her name is Mahsa Amini. There are multiple stories, but most people claim she was arrested for not wearing her hijab correctly. The religious police in Iran was founded to make sure that women wear the hijab correctly and do not wear tight clothing either. After the death of Mahsa Amini, protests broke out all around the country. This terrible thing might turn into something good, as people are now fighting for more progressive laws.
Personal practical tip:
I think it’s important to share more about these protests in Iran so that people there know that we’re watching and really are with them. These protests must continue for things to change. Share what you can. However, I also see people abusing this news for their racists or xenophobic point of view. Please beware and correct these people. It’s not about wearing a hijab or not, it’s about freedom.
Hole in Ozone Layer is Getting Smaller | 16-9
I think we already knew this, but I saw a news article about this fact recently and I think this is nice to share. The hole in the ozone layer has been stable since 2000 and has been getting smaller the last couple of years. That is great news. The hole in the ozone layer was created by humans, by CFK’s (used mostly in refrigerators and airconditioners). A hole in the ozone layer causes people to suffer from skin cancer, because the uv-radiation is not blocked by the ozone anymore. CFK’s were banned and so the hole is not getting bigger anymore, it is slowly getting smaller. Great news!
Personal practical tip:
CFK’s were banned and then replaced by HFK’s. HFK’s are friendly to the ozone layer, but they emit a whole bunch of CO2. As they are mostly used in refrigerators and airconditioners, it’s good to use those as little as possible. The Groundfridge is a great alternative to fridges. And if you want to get rid of your airconditioner: plant trees in your garden! Flowers, plants and more green helps too!
Women Sports Channel in Belgium | 22-9
A telecom company has done something remarkable in Belgium. They launched a sports channel with only women’s sports*. In most countries, men’s sports dominate the sport channels. Men’s sports get paid better, are visited more and are seen much more on television. That’s simply not fair. To decrease the gap there is between women’s and men’s sports, Telenet in Belgium is starting a channel for women’s sports only. It’s a great opportunity for women’s sports to grow and get more attention. Now, we need to watch it!
Personal practical tip:
To decrease the gap, I try to only watch women’s sports, until the playing field (literally, haha) is equal. It’s time for women’s sport to get the recognition they deserve. If we all watch more women’s sports, things would change.
Discussing about upcoming Dutch law for transgender people | 25-9
In The Netherlands, if you’re transgender, you have to officially prove this and get a doctors approval. Then you can change the ‘male’ or ‘female’ sign in your passport. It’s an expensive and time-consuming barrier, of which experts themselves say that it’s unnecessary. The second chamber was about to pass a law that makes sure you don’t need this doctors approval anymore, you can just change your gender in your passport if you want to. It’s a simple administrative task, really. However, right-wing parties have turned this simple adjustment of the law into a whole broader discussion about being transgender. This discussion has nothing to do with the upcoming law change, but they do so to stop this progressive law. The second chamber is yet to vote about the law, but it is really sad news that politicians are allowing themselves to be deceived.
Personal practical tip:
Right now, right-wing parties are spreading a lot of fake news concerning transgender people. I am not going to repeat those things, since I don’t want to spread them. Damn Honey, a podcast show by two feminists, Marie Lotte Hagen and Nydia van Voorthuizen, made a podcast episode to debunk all these claims. Listen to that episode here. I hope the law that was proposed, will still pass.
*I realize that my language is very binary here, but the news article I am discussing does not really allow me to be very inclusive. I recognize that there are more than two genders.
Yours sincerely,
Romee