Worldlog Semana 12 – 2012


19 Março 2012

Este Worldlog foi escrito por empregados de Marianne Thieme devido à licença de maternidade.

Marianne deu à luz a uma menina segunda-feira 12 de março, mãe e filha estão bem. Marianne e seu marido Jaap Korteweg deram o nome de Amelie a sua filha. Marianne em breve retomará a seu Worldlog.

Enquanto isso, o trabalho na Câmara continua e há uma série de êxitos importantes. Assim, a Câmara aprovou uma moção nossa, na qual o governo não dará mais apoio aos mega estábulos no exterior. A razão para o movimento foi uma pesquisa do bem-estar animal feito pela organização Wakker Dier onde ficou claro o uso de dinheiro dos contribuintes holandeses, sob o pretexto do desenvolvimento, em construções de mega estábulos em países como a Roménia e Bósnia. Estudos comprovam que a Holanda investiu dezenas de milhões de euros e o dinheiro financiou a construção e expansão de mega-estábulos no exterior.

Houve um grande apoio à nossa proposta de reforma verde em parques e escolas na Holanda. Esther Ouwehand mostrou ao ministro da Previdência, Saúde e Desporto, que um ambiente verde é de grande importância para a saúde e o desenvolvimento das crianças. O ministro está agora discutindo com as prefeituras sobre colocar mais verde nos pátios escolares e a criação de mais parques naturais.

Enquanto a natureza faz um papel não negligenciável na saúde das pessoas, a política do Gabinete Rutte coloca a natureza sob pressão. Este desenvolvimento é prejudicial para a saúde pública. A pesquisa mostra mais uma que um ambiente verde é crucial e que as pessoas são muito mais saudáveis quando vivem em contato diário com a natureza (urbano). Especialmente para as crianças em crescimento é de grande importância: as crianças ficam com mais freqüência brincando fora quando há playgrounds verdes e naturais nas proximidades.

Divertido ler e assistir ao filme: A brilhante e poderosa coluna de Mark Bittman, colunista do New York Times, sobre comida vegetariana. Os produtos do açougueiro vegetariano de Haia (o marido de Marianne) também são mencionados.

But in October I visited a place in The Hague called The Vegetarian Butcher, where the “butcher” said to me, “We slaughter soy” — ha-ha. The plant-based products were actually pretty good — the chicken would have fooled me if I hadn’t known what it was — and I began to consider that it might be better to eat fake meat that harms no animals and causes less environmental damage than meat raised industrially.

O devastador terremoto e subsequente tsunami no Japão em março do ano passado levou muitos cães e gatos de rua. As pessoas às vezes sairam apressadamente fugindo do desastre nuclear que se seguiu e deixaram seus animais de estimação para trás. Japão Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support (jears) procura e recolhe cães e gatos abandonados e dá-lhes o cuidado necessário que eles precisam. Graças aos esforços dos voluntários do jears desde o desastre mais de 600 animais foram resgatados. Respeito por essa organização. Para mais informações (e doações) em http://jears.net/

Até a próxima semana!

Marianne

This week’s Worldlog was written by colleagues of Marianne Thieme who is currently on maternity leave.

Marianne was delivered of a baby girl on Monday 12 March. Mother and baby are doing well. Marianne and her husband Jaap Korteweg have named their daughter Amélie. Marianne will resume writing her Worldlog just as soon as she can.

In the mean time it’s business as usual in the Lower House and a number of important successes have been notched up. For example, the Lower House has passed our motion in which we call on the government not to cooperate in any way in the construction of mega-sties abroad. The motion was submitted following an investigation by Dutch animal welfare organization Wakker Dier which revealed mega-sties are being built in countries such as Romania and Bosnia with Dutch taxpayer's money that is acquired under the guise of "development assistance". The investigation reveals that the Netherlands is allocating tens of millions of euros to finance the construction and expansion of mega-sties abroad.

There was also broad parliamentary support for our proposal for a green makeover of playgrounds and schoolyards in the Netherlands. Esther Ouwehand had already pointed out to the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport that a green living environment is hugely important for the health and development of children. The minister will be discussing with municipalities the possibilities for greening schoolyards and creating more natural playgrounds.

While the beneficial role nature plays in people’s health is undeniable, the policy of our current government under prime minister Rutte is placing ever more strain on nature in the Netherlands. This development is disastrous for public health. Research has demonstrated time and time again that a green living environment is crucial and that people are healthier when they see nature around them, including nature in urban areas. This is of particular importance for children as they grow up: children have been shown to play outside much more often and longer when they have access to green and natural playgrounds.

Fun to read and with a nice video clip: the clear, robust column of Mark Bittman, columnist of the New York Times on vegetarian food. The products of the Vegetarian Butcher from The Hague (Marianne’s husband) also gets a mention.

But in October I visited a place in The Hague called The Vegetarian Butcher, where the “butcher” said to me, “We slaughter soy” — ha-ha. The plant-based products were actually pretty good — the chicken would have fooled me if I hadn’t known what it was — and I began to consider that it might be better to eat fake meat that harms no animals and causes less environmental damage than meat raised industrially.

The destructive earthquake and the subsequent tsunami that hit Japan in March of last year resulted untold numbers of stray dogs and cats. In the rush to escape the nuclear disaster that followed, people sometimes left their pets behind. Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support (JEARS) is searching for the abandoned dogs and cats and providing them with the care they so desperately need. Thanks to the efforts of the volunteers of JEARS, more than 600 animals have been saved since the disaster struck. Bravo to this organization. Check for more information (and to make a donation): http://jears.net/

Until next week!