Mainstream news in The Netherlands is depressing. It has to be shocking, sensational and topical. Because of this news gets negative and people who only follow this news feel like the world around them is changing in a bad way. They lose trust in people and companies and they lose hope. Besides that, it makes people feel powerless. Yet, it has been scientifically proved that the world gets better every single 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 social media 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!
The Dutch Brain Foundation Supports Animal Testing 1-2
In the first week of Februari The Dutch Brain Foundation was doing a funding week, they were asking for money. And so, maybe this is a bit of a late update but I think it’s good to know. The Dutch Brain Foundation profiles itself as a charity which wants to help people. However, in order to reach that goal they use animal testing. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen video’s or pictures of animal testing, if you don’t, please look it up. It’s important to know that this is going on because we need to stop it. So please, don’t support the Dutch Brain Foundation.
Personal practical tip: Animal Rights has a list of all foundations that support animal testing and foundations that don’t. Please take a look at that list and choose to give only to foundations that don’t support animal testing. Why? It’s horrific and maybe even more important: it’s not necessary for research. There are other ways which aren’t so horrific.
Google Settles in a Discrimination Case 2-2
Google has been accused of discriminating female employees and female and/or Asian applicants. Woman working at Google earn less money than men and female/Asian applicants applying for an engineering job were discriminated. The case has been going on for about 4 years now and Google chose to settle. They’re paying 3,8 million dollars. 2,6 million will go to the people affected by this discrimination and the rest of the money will be used to make salary adjustment in the coming years and work on Google’s diversity. Google claims to be all sorts of things but this just proves that the company has discriminating policies.
Personal practical tip: I am not a fan of Google. Why? Because they’re too big, too powerful, have discriminating policies and they don’t care about our privacy. I try to use it as little as I can but that’s nearly impossible. An eco-friendly alternative search engine is Ecosia, but I have to say very honestly that I haven’t looked into their diversity.
A Deposit on Cans in The Netherlands 3-2
After years and years and years the Dutch government has finally made the right decision: there will come a deposit on cans. It will implemented in 2023, so there is still a long time to go. But in the end it’s good news! You’ll receive 15 eurocents as a deposit when you return a can. Every year, 150 million cans end up in the environment. If there’s a deposit on them, this number will go down drastically. That’s because you get money! The deposit tactic has shown before that it works (with big plastic bottles and soon also small plastic bottles). It’s a great step forwards.
Personal practical bottle: recycle those cans! However, recycling in not the right place to start. If we want a waste free society we should follow the 5R’s of zero waste. Read more about how to implement those into your lifestyle here.
Argentina Legalizes Abortion 30-12-2020
Yes, this is an old news flash. But when I read about it this month I didn’t want to keep it from you. Argentina has legalized abortion! It’s a huge win for the intersectional feminist movement. Woman should have control over their own bodies. That’s it. No but or anything. Woman should have control over their own bodies.
Personal practical tip: abortion is not legal everywhere. However, that doesn’t mean that people who can get pregnant don’t want to have abortions. When abortion is illegal, people seek to other countries to have an abortion. There are organizations which we can support, organizations which then again support these people who want to have an abortion. Good Dutch organizations are Woman on Waves and Abortion Network Amsterdam.
Student Compensation in The Netherlands 17-2
The past year has been rough for most people. The COVID-19 pandemic is still very much here in The Netherlands. Research has shown that students suffer severely under this ongoing lockdown. 1/3 of the students rates their life below a 5/10. The pandemic makes school hard for most students, students fail more tests and so get a study delay because of it. Schooling in the Netherlands is already quite expensive, about 2000 euros a year for classes only (so no book or anything else is included in that number). Since a delay occurs for more and more students, the costs are rising. The longer you study, the more money it costs. And so, the government has decided to help financially. Student who graduate later duo to COVID-19 will be compensated by 500 euros (which is not enough, but it’s something). Also, the costs of studying in 2021/2022 will be halved. And last but not least, some students can travel for free a year longer than they now can.
Personal practical tip: of course none of this is the student’s fault. And so, the only tip I can give is to make use of these compensations, even if it’s very little. I think every bit of money can help make things a little easier. Look around online to see what’s available for you or call DUO.
Free Menstruation Products in New Zealand at Schools 18-2
In New Zealand period products will be free at schools for the coming three years. They’re the second country to do this, after Scotland did in November. It’s a great step in fighting inequality. It’s not fair that people who menstruate have to pay for these products while people who don’t menstruate don’t. Having to pay for period products creates financial inequality, period products are expensive and period poverty is a real problem. Free access to period products at schools is a great step forward, but New Zealand is not here yet. Period products need to be free everywhere, not just in schools. It’s a basic human need.
Personal practical tip: vote for progressive parties who want period products to be covered by insurance. And if you work or go to school create it yourself! Contact your boss or teacher and discuss the idea of realizing it at your own workplace or school (or any place really). Making a small cabinet with free period products at your work/school/etc. can make a huge difference!
Free Anti-conception in The Netherlands 25-2
Another great win for the Netherlands! I post mostly about The Netherlands because it’s my home country haha. The government has passed a resolution making anti-conception part of the basic insurance in The Netherlands. It’s mandatory to have a basic insurance if you live in The Netherlands. This is amazing news! However, there is a small but. In the Netherlands you pay the first 385 euros of your medical bills yourself each year, even with a basic insurance, from that 385 euros on the government will pay. It’s still uncertain if the anti-conception will also be included in that 385 euros you have to pay. It’s still pending. But either way it’s a great step forwards. Anti conception should be available for free for anyone who wants it.
Personal practical tip: it’s hard to say anything about this on a personal level. This all comes down to our government, they make laws regarding anti-conception. The best thing we can do is vote for a progressive party.
Yours sincerely,
Romee