International

ManiFiesta, the festival of solidarity, was organised for the 11th time this year by PVDA, the SP's Belgian sister party. The SP was also present, to raise awareness about the fight against nuclear weapons, among other things.

As of next year, new American nuclear weapons will be placed in Volkel. At the Volkel airbase, Dutch pilots are now ready to use the B-61-11 with their F-16s. The F-16s and its bombs are being replaced. Those bombs are for the F-35, which are equipped with the new B-61-12.

Despite the closure of Kabul airport, thousands of people are left in Afghanistan who are eligible for evacuation. The chances of them still getting to the Netherlands is small, especially after the horrific attacks that resulted in more than 85 deaths.

In 2007, the Dutch army was deployed at the battle of the Afghan Chora. 'The image we have of this military action is not sustainable,' say Jasper van Dijk and Jip van Dort.

It took many debates and proposals, but now the government has finally been convinced. Approximately 10,000 so-called 'amnesty recipients' will finally receive a passport after a 14-year wait. The people who were granted amnesty are the group of refugees who fell under the general amnesty in 2007. Due to bureaucracy, they did not receive a passport, which hindered their existence. They had a residence permit but no passport.

For decades, thousands of people at Defense had to work unprotected with hazardous substances. Many have become seriously ill or have passed away. Defence announced compensation, but for many victims that compensation is no more than 'a tip'. They shared their story at an emotional meeting preceding the debate in the House of Representatives. SP Member of Parliament Jasper van Dijk was present and brought their stories to the House. Van Dijk: 'It is heartbreaking to hear stories about people who are not believed by Defence. Or when you hear how much suffering they go through, but hardly get any recognition for it. These people have been plunged into misery by Defence and deserve generous compensation.”

Denouncing President Erdoğan’s onslaught on the democratic opposition in Turkey, The Left in the European Parliament, together with the Unified European Left at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe - chaired by SP-senator Tiny Kox - urge the EU to speak out against authoritarian repression in the country as leaders gather for this week’s summit in Brussels.

Last week, the parliament supported a proposal by the SP to place solar panels on as many roofs as possible. Earlier, the SP presented a plan for 'sun on all roofs' ('zon op alle daken'). SP MP Renske Leijten: 'It is imperative that we fight the climate crisis. With this adopted proposal, we do this in a way that includes people instead of forcing them to bear the costs. Moreover, with this plan, the energy bill can also be reduced.'

Every year 40 million baby roosters are killed in the Netherlands, often on the same day they are born. The young roosters are gassed because they have no 'economic use'. Cruel and unnecessary, because there are alternatives.