From Zeeland to Friesland, the most beautiful apples are currently falling from the trees. Fruit growers are concerned, however. Because storing these 300 million kilos of apples is so expensive due to the high energy prices that harvesting hardly pays off. They would prefer to sell the apples as quickly as possible, so that they can leave the cold stores and the growers can earn something.
Despite this, supermarkets buy their apples thousands of miles away, from Brazil to New Zealand. We have the most beautiful and best apples in the Netherlands. We can buy and sell them at a competitive price, and the apple travels a maximum of 50 kilometers.
The Netherlands is great in complexity and we seem to be proud of it too. But, aren’t we happier with a simple food chain? Dear supermarkets, it can really be different.
Stijn MarkusseBreda
190 euros
It is great that the government will support us in the coming months with a contribution of 190 euros due to the high energy prices. I also understand that it is very difficult to find out in the short term who needs it and who doesn’t.
Personally I don’t need a bonus. I have a permanent contract, also solar panels and pay 84 euros per month. And I can miss that. In short, are there more people who want to support other people who desperately need it with their bonus of 190 euros? Maybe someone in the street, maybe children who are having a hard time, or any other ideas? We don’t need to set up a huge support organization, but think about helping someone around you.
Huub RommersSneek
winter games
Saudi Arabia has megalomaniacal intentions to host the Asian Winter Games in 2029. To this end, a resort with associated ski facilities has to be built in the local sandbox. Cost 500 billion euros.
I don’t wonder what is wrong with regimes that think they have to invest this kind of money in absurd projects. But it will be when the international community and umbrella sports organizations refuse to be put under the decadent carts of the aforementioned regimes. Football in Qatar at temperatures above 40 degrees and winter sports under the same conditions in Saudi Arabia. How many deaths will there be this time due to inhumane working conditions?
Henk WimmenhoveNail area
killer robots
Daan Kayser and Jip van Dort of PAX argue for an ethical protocol for killer robots so as not to undermine human dignity. A noble pursuit.
I am very curious how they are going to get Putin to sign this treaty. If not everyone participates it is a pointless option, then the balance of the battlefield will be with the party that is not exalted and the ethically responsible will be slaughtered. This dilemma also applies to nuclear weapons.
Incidentally, Putin is also very adept at degrading human dignity without killer robots, but this aside.
Erwin NormanAnnen
vigilance
The analyzes of the corona and flu expert in the Netherlands, Maarten Keulemans, are advancing in the newspaper. Yesterday the first analysis about a possible extreme flu winter, already on page 3. That can only mean one thing: vigilance is advised. Nothing can happen to the ever vigilant Keulemans watchers.
Roeland LoosenNijmegen
Rabbit
The Animal Day article states that pets in particular benefit from respect for animals, such as ‘a fresh bed of straw for the rabbit’. As for the rabbit, unfortunately this shows the opposite of respect; rabbits are group animals that in fact cannot do without a congener. Rabbits with a solitary life (an estimated 70 percent) often die after a year or two from loneliness, stress and boredom, while they can easily live to 12 or 13 years.
Ineke SmitsUtrecht
Majorca
The suspects of the kicking to death in Mallorca have ‘no active memory’ of that kicking. Well, if you can get away with it in politics.
Pierre DaanenAmsterdam
fine
Article 42 – of the Archives Act states: ‘Anyone who does not comply with the prescribed obligation will be punished with a fine of the second category.’ That is, a fine of (maximum) 4,500 euros. Mark Rutte’s Nokia is probably not able to transfer that amount. But can de Volkskrant already submit a WOB request to check whether Rutte is actually paying his fine?
Klaas BishopHorn
utility company
The cabinet has decided on a price ceiling with which Dutch citizens can pay their energy bills, provided they are sufficiently economical. Taking care of this basic need is an important task of the government.
This measure will reportedly cost the government 23 billion euros and, given the high costs, will last for a year. This makes it clear what the consequences are of market forces.
These billions are used to compensate for the lost income of the energy companies, after which these energy companies still charge the high market prices to citizens who use more gas and electricity than the annual consumption of 1,200 cubic meters of gas and 2,900 kWh of electricity determined by the government.
These revenues would benefit the government if the government regained ownership of energy purchases and sales in the form of a utility company. As the owner of a utility company, the government could also permanently compensate the high energy bill for citizens in the event of a high gas price with, if necessary, long-term maintenance of the price ceiling and energy ceiling.
Thijs FranssenDe Bilt