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!
Amsterdam Implements ‘Self-Living’ Policy in 2022 3-11
Amsterdam is a disaster when it comes to housing prices. Investors buy up all the houses that are for sale and then rent it to others for insane prices. This makes it impossible for people to buy their own house. Amsterdam is finally doing something about it. From 2022 on, when you buy a house in Amsterdam, you have to live in it yourself for the first 4 years. Only in special circumstances you can rent it (when you’re on holiday yourself or sometimes to a direct family member). This is a great policy, since it is ridiculous for people to own more than one house. Everybody should be able to buy a house, instead of a few rich people owning all the houses and using it as an investment. Housing is a basic human right, not a way to make the rich people richer. I do think it’s a shame that this rule is only there for the first 4 years after you’ve bought the house, I think it should be as long as you own the house. But anyway, this is great news!
Personal practical tip: please, never invest in houses or apartments. There are amazing ways to invest your money while you actually do something good for society, instead of damaging it. One way is investing in solar panels through ZonnePanelenDelen for example.
Climate March Amsterdam 6-11
There was a massive climate march on November 6th in Amsterdam. More than 40.000 people showed up! Climate marches are both a good thing and a bad thing. It’s always very energizing and inspiring to see all those people demanding climate policies. However, it’s also very sad that this is necessary still. We need politicians to do their job too. Climate change is a problem we should all tackles, government, companies and individuals. Two days after the march politicians have responded, they said that they would stop funding fossil fuel projects in foreign countries. Amazing news! One little step is taken again. Off to the next climate march!
Personal practical tip: visit a climate march when you can. It’s a great thing to do for the climate. And no, you don’t have to live perfectly sustainable yourself to go to a climate march. When only individuals change we’re not there yet, we need the system to change too. And so, coming to a climate march is always good. It can also really give you fresh energy to be with so many like-minded people!
Shell Moves to United Kingdom 15-11
More great news, Shell is moving from the Netherlands to the United Kingdom. It’s only the headquarters which moves to the United Kingdom and so only major positions like the CEO and CFO will move. We will not lose many jobs. And even if we did lose jobs, I think this is still good news. We really don’t need companies which destroy the world in The Netherlands. We should built a sustainable and fair economy. Jobs which actually make people happy and make the world a better place. Working at Shell will do none of that. I also think electricity companies like Shell will disappear in the future. We can create our own networks and energy. Bye!
Personal practical tip: try to boycot Shell where you can. Ditch the car and travel by public transportation for example. Stop flying and go on a holiday by train, car or bike. Switch to a sustainable bank to prevent your saving to go to fossil fuels. Do not invest in fossil fuels, look into your portfolio if you invest.
France Bans Wild Animals in Circuses and as Pets 18-11
In the coming 7 years, France will slowly ban wild animals from circuses. This is great news, since France really lacked any policies to ban this terrible phenomenon. Within 2 years the breeding of wild animals in circuses will be banned. Slowly but surely, animals will be liberated. It is a tragedy for animals which are not considered ‘wild’, but that must be the next step. Also, France will set up a list of species which can not be held as a pet. More animals will be liberated! A big country making such policy will really change a lot of lives. This is a great win!
Personal practical tip: never, ever, visit a circus that uses animals. People choose to work in a circus, animals never do. They are forced. You can still enjoy the circus if you really want to, just go to a circus with only people doing the shows. I’ve personally been to Cirque du Soleil once and it was amazing!
Fish Stocks are Even Lower then Previously Thought 23-11
We’re fishing the oceans so heavily that soon they’ll be empty. The Global Fishing Index has announced new findings and they’re horrible. The fish stocks around the world are even lower than previously thought. 49% of all fish are overfished, having less than 40% of their original population left. One in ten fish species are at collapse. To add more on this terrible information is that fish stocks are extremely hard to monitor. There is a huge range of uncertainty and scientist predict that matters can likely be even worse.
Personal practical tip: there is only one tip I can give you to solve this problem: stop eating fish. It is not sustainable nor is it ethical. Need convincing still? Watch Seaspiracy.
Zilveren Kruis has a ‘Pro-Life’ Health Care Assurance 25-11
In The Netherlands it is mandatory to have a health care insurance, which is a great system. Zilveren Kruis is one very big insurance company. On the 25th of November the feminist platform Damn, Honey (shoutout!) has brought to light that Zilveren Kruis has a special ‘pro-life’ health insurance package. To mention some of the details: this insurance does not cover euthanasia, abortion, IVF, some genetic tests to find out whether a fetus has severe disabilities, some contraception, KID, hormonal treatment, sex-change surgeries, etc. Well, what should I say about this? This is obviously horrible. All progress we made as a society is disregarded. This is not a feminist insurance. For me, Zilveren Kruis has officially been cancelled. This is honestly so bad, I have little words for this.
Personal practical tip: if you are able to, please switch to another health care insurance company. Even if you don’t have the ‘pro-life’ (more like anti-self-determination) package at Zilveren Kruis and you have another package, this ‘pro-life’ insurance is still financially supported by you too. Zilveren Kruis is also not the most sustainable health insurance company. ASR is the most sustainable choice.
EU Wants to Accept Glyphosate Once Again 29-11
Glyphosate is currently a legal herbicide in the European Union. There is a license for the herbicide until December 2022. Therefore, it has to be re-accessed for the license to be extended. The EU has announced that for now, it regards glyphosate as safe. However, independent researchers are sounding the alarm because of this. The research that the EU has based this announcement on is done by Bayer. Bayer is one of the biggest companies in the world selling glyphosate, so they’re obviously biased. Independent researchers say that glyphosate has to be banned. Glyphosate causes severe health issues. Since 2019 Bayer has already paid a lot of money in settlements because they have been sued by people who got sick. Obviously, there is enough evidence that is done by glyphosate. The EU has to ban this substance. The decision is made next year.
Personal practical tip: you can vote for parties who want to ban herbicides, like the Party for the Animals in The Netherlands. But also, to stop supporting companies which create herbicides, you can start buying organic food. In organic food production no harmful herbicides are used.
Yours sincerely,
Romee