Nieuws van de afdeling

18 March 2006

Demonstration in Amsterdam: Break with Bush!

On and around Museumplein, one of Amsterdam's main squares, around 2,000 people gathered today to demand that the Netherlands break with the aggressive war policy of US President George W. Bush. An end must be put to the occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan, to the human rights abuses which characterise the so-called 'war on terror' and to any question of a 'preventive' or 'pre-emptive' attack on Iran, the demonstrators urged. Many members of the SP were amongst those present, including Member of Parliament and foreign affairs spokesman Harry van Bommel, who called on the government to change course.

17 March 2006

Van Velzen calls for abolition of export credits for arms trade

The SP is demanding that exporters of military goods no longer be eligible for export credits. As a result of such credits, the Dutch state renders itself responsible for the risks involved in exporting weaponry to unstable or poor countries. SP Member of Parliament Krista van Velzen describes this as “unacceptable”.

16 March 2006

Van Velzen hands over 100,000 appeals to Canadians to end slaughter of seals

SP Member of Parliament and Environment spokeswoman Krista van Velzen yesterday went to the Canadian embassy to present a petition containing 100,000 signatures calling for an end to the hunting of seals,. The signatures were collected by the seal crèche in Pieterburen and the anti-fur organisation “Bont voor Dieren” (Fur is for animals). A group of activists from both organisations gathered in front of the embassy in order to voice their opinion loud and clear, an opinion shared by the vast majority of the Dutch population: the hunting of seals must stop.

15 March 2006

Van Velzen: Netherlands should take responsibility for costs of Halabja medical project

The SP has asked Minister for Development Cooperation Agnes van Ardenne to take over the financing of a medical project for Kurdish poison gas victims from the small town of Halabja. An initiative of the regional administration, the University of Liverpool and several aid organisations, the project is threatened with closure through lack of funds. Commenting on the situation, SP Member of Parliament Krista van Velzen said “The Netherlands has a special responsibility in relation to these poison gas victims, as the ingredients for the gas came from a Dutch source. With a fairly modest contribution we could keep the project going and demonstrate our commitment.”

15 March 2006

Europe puts Balkans on back burner

After the initial euphoria surrounding the accession of ten new member states in 2004, the European Union is now drawing back from plans for further enlargement. "Romania and Bulgaria could well be the last new member states for a long time,” says SP Euro-MP Erik Meijer.

13 March 2006

Environment Secretary follows SP advice: Asbestos reporting facility opened

Secretary of State for the Environment Pieter van Geel has promised that during the spring a central reporting point for asbestos will be opened, as recommended by the SP, which has been actively involved in asbestos-related issues since the beginning of the 1970s and has long experience of the problems involved when it comes to communication of its presence and dangers.

International