Week 49 Euthanasia and other Fake News

Euthanasia

Unusual topic to start off with... I watched some 2012 footage of a potential Presidential candidate (2nd in the run-offs to challenge Obama). He said that the Netherlands has "Compulsory Euthanasia" and that 10% of the population has had it and half of those were against the wishes of the people concerned. Further, many old people wear bracelets saying "please don't kill me if I end up in hospital". He also said that some elderly people were too afraid to even go to the hospital...

I missed this story at the time and had to watch the footage again just make sure that it wasn't somebody else saying that this is what was said (like I'm doing now).

Needless to say, his statements were simply not true. But, euthanasia is a thing that I have been touched by - in 2004, a very good friend of ours opted for the "drink" after having set up all his affairs and wishes before the event. Janny & I even went to the island where he lived in order to "walk one last time amongst the dunes".

In more recent times, my boat motor mechanic told me that his mother opted for the "drink" - after suffering for about 12 months with pain. At least she was in her 80's - our friend was only 46.

Not sure what the status is in Australia, now?

In other fake news about the Netherlands - the story about "the Muslim kid beating up a poor Dutch kid on crutches" wasn't true, either. This one made Global News no doubt so I won't dwell on it here.

On a brighter note...

0815hrs on the way to pick up Lucas. I often stop here to take a photo at the same time each day - just to brighten my spirits - such a welcome change from the wet and gray!

More Solar Panels...

Just behind Lucas' place, a field of solar panels is being built by a company from Heerenveen. 

20,000 Solar Panels

(Lucas' assisted living housing on the left).

Our 22-year-old is leaving...

Sanny, pronounced Sunny, is leaving home (and us) to go into assisted living housing. We had a party and a meal for her with the other kids. Can't help feeling sorry that she is leaving, but this is just another fine example of how the system works.

"Our" twins turned 16 during the week - won't be long before their future takes another turn.

(A granddaughter also turned 16 this week - just to make me think about how lucky we are!).

From the newspaper...

Language Work Experience

Leeuwarden is introducing a new project for refugees who have achieved "status". i.e permission to remain in the Netherlands.
They can work in a business or the local govt itself purely with a view to learning the language. The idea being that they will have a better chance of getting a job if they first get over the language barrier. This almost goes without saying, of course, so undoubtedly a good initiative.
The proposal is for 3 days a week for 6 months - just being at the workplace purely to learn the language. - at the same time observing the work culture.
Other Learning Objectives are to be coupled with the work experience. i.e extra to the language.

November is Traffic Jam month (apparently)...

The reasons given:-

Bad weather.
Everyone at work..(used their free days already or saving them for xmas)
Growing economy so everyone is busier.
Later light and earlier dark.

Tha association Incident Management Nederland is responsible for dealing with traffic accidents or other incidents such as breakdowns, since 1999. Approximately 25,000 per year.. 200 regions provide good coverage.
The average response time (for a tow truck) is 13 minutes. The aim is to clear a traffic lane within 30 to 45 minutes. This will be longer if injuries are involved. 

Police Numbers

Too many say the govt. Not enough says the police.
North Nederland has about 4400, but the money from the federal govt. is meant to be for 4103.
Some figures.
Nederland 59,725
Ages 55-69 >9661
Over 60 >6210
Expecting to lose 14000 policemen over the next 7 years.
So the reductiion in numbers can occur naturally, but the police representives question if they can continue at the same level of service or are they in fact now expected to do less.
There is an agreement (for Friesland) from 2012 that is now in doubt with the advent of the new government.
943 in Friesland
1006 in Groningen (the province)
649 in Drenthe
The rest are in related work including detectives.
6 basic teams in Friesland. 174 policemen in Leeuwarden. East Friesland the smallest with 90. (That includes us!).

Fireworks

A Nederlander was stopped in Germany with 2.6 tons of fireworks in a van. Without permit for transport. He bought them in Poland and was on the way back to the Netherlands.. It's a big deal here for New Years Eve.... I can never get used to the idea... The waste of money, apart from anything else.

Firecrackers and rockets should be banned during the New Year’s Eve celebrations in order to cut back on injuries and damage to property, the Dutch safety board OVV said on Friday. Some 500 people end up at accidents and emergency departments with serious injuries during the New Year’s Eve firework frenzy, making it the most dangerous time of the year in many places, the board said.

While the board is not recommending a ban on ‘decorative’ fireworks, it is urging the government to continue to monitor the connection between the kinds of fireworks on sale and the injuries reported. The board also recommends that mayors of towns and cities organise an official New Year’s Eve party and bring in professionals to mount a fireworks display. Earlier this month, broadcaster NOS reported that just eight Dutch councils are organising communal fireworks shows at New Year.

DNA from 2003

A violent robbery in Zwolle in 2003, was solved using an English DNA database. This led to a 39 year old Englishman getting a 6 year gaol sentence.

Church Owls

Ben did a project on owls way back in primary school. We learnt quite a lot as it turned out!

The Church Owl has been on the protected list for 40 years... - under the watchful eye of biologist Mr. De Jong. From only a couple of breeding pairs in the 70's to now more than 500 occupied nests, in Friesland alone. (De Jong has just published a new book, hence the story in the newspaper).

Under the heading of "One Can Only Ask - Can Such Things be?"

Wij doen een les yoga in de geitenstal. De geiten kijken naar ons terwijl we asana’s (yogahoudingen) doen. Bij de les hoort een knuffelsessie van een kwartier met jouw liefste geit. Bij mooi weer doen we de les in het weiland bij de kudde. Yoga zorgt voor een lenig, gezond en gebalanceerd lijf. Het geiten knuffelen maakt Oxytocine aan, een gelukshormoon. Je gaat in balans en gelukkig naar huis.

We do a yoga lesson in the Goat Pen. The goats watch us as we do our yoga positions. Part of the lesson includes a 15 minute cuddle with your favourite goat. In good weather we will do it outside. Yoga helps to create a lean, healthy and balanced body. Cuddling the goats creates Oxytocine, a happiness hormone. You will go home balanced and happy.