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important matters

Good to see you on this page. A website is fun, favourite bands, some pictures, bits about myself. But there's more than weblife's usual irony. There are a numbers of issues which mean a lot to me, and I would like to make some room for them here.

I don't expect you to memorize this page from A to Z, but who knows, there might be something that you can relate to. I'll try to add some practical tips or possible action, in case you get inspired.

Amnesty International

When I was about 16, 17 years old, I often saw announcements for Amnesty International writing evenings in our local library. It took some time before I worked up the courage to go. When really it is quite simple: you write a letter (if needed with the help of a sample letter) to a national or regional leader, or high-ranking officials in the police force or judiciary, requesting they review a certain case.

AI works for a world in which every person enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards. Through activities to further all human rights, and by fighting specific abuses of rights. Many writing actions are connected with the abuse of rights of prisoners. To secure the rights of a fair trial and treatment of all prisoners, regardless of who they are and what they have done. And for unconditional release of those who are imprisoned without a legitimate charge or held for their political beliefs.

Unfortunately not all actions have a result, but quite a few do. Because authorities don't like it when they know that people are aware what's going on. I try to write regularly. Because I hope that if something like this would ever happen to me, someone else might do the same for me. If you would like to get involved with the work of AI, use the top link on the main Amnesty website to find the section in the country where you live. Or consider a donation, because for AI's work investigating and campaigning against human rights violations, the organisation depends on the support of individuals to maintain her independent position.

The website of Amnesty International

HIV / AIDS

Although there are many charities linked to health, there is only one that I support on a regular basis and that is the Dutch organisation Aidsfonds (Aidsfund). My motivation is that HIV and AIDS have an impact which is so much bigger than being 'just' a mortal disease. Because it spreads through sexual contact of blood contact, fighting this disease is hindered by taboo, and therefore it has been able to spread so frightfully fast. As a result, not only very many people are faced with infection and illness, but in particular those in fertile age ranges, leading to the real danger of the disruption of whole societies.

That's why I also support Stop Aids Now, a coalition of Aidsfonds with four development aid organisations. Because there is much work to do to prevent that countries lose large parts of the working population and are faced with great numbers of orphans.

Below is a link to the English information on the Stop Aids Now website. If you want to find a similar organisation near you, you may find it on the Aidsmap website. And please: have safe sex.

The English page at the website of Stop Aids Now
Find Aids organisations worldwide on aidsmap

Oxfam

Things aren´t divided very equally in this world. I try to donate some 5 percent of my income to charity, and about half of that goes to one of the programs of Novib, the Dutch branch of Oxfam. Because they work through local organisations. With very practical goals. Making me not a ´benefactor´, but rather someone who uses their good financial position to support others in reaching that as well.

The website of Oxfam International

Sustainable banking

Money is a strange phenomenon. A piece of paper or metal, which has value because we said so. Economics is not my strong point, I have to admit. But when I read about all the reeling and dealing with money just to make a profit, which very likely only exists on paper anyway, it makes me feel uncomfortable.

I like to put some money aside, in case I might need it urgently, or for larger things one cannot afford just like that. And I think it's important that my money does not support enterprises I do not support at all. Which is why I do business with a bank which has guidelines for investment of the money they collect. Guidelines about the social and environmental policy of companies. Quite frankly, I didn't chose the most idealistic bank available, because it had a lower rate of interest. Ah, money does funny things with your principles.

You might find a similar bank near you at the website of INAISE.

Animal testing

Mankind is pretty advanced, and makes technological and scientific progress every day, but nevertheless cannot abolish animal testing? I feel there is simply no excuse to use animals for testing cosmetics. For medical research I see things less black and white, but I still think every possible effort must be made to reduce the use of animals wherever possible.

Regarding the first: use your consumer power. For the USA, you can find a list of companies which do not use animals to test their products, on the AAVS website. This site also provides more information about research and testing on animals, and provides links to similar organisations in other countries.

The website of the AAVS.

Vegetarian food

Since I was fifteen, to be exact from the week before Christmas 1985, I have been a vegetarian. I made my decision when I saw a documentary about meat production in the Netherlands. My brothers were both vegetarians then and my mum as good as, so the step wasn't very big. Still, I hadn't been quite aware of all that I was 'giving up' and it took a number of years before I really never ate meat anymore. Fish we rarely ate anyway, so that wasn't as hard.

These days there are a number of reasons for me to choose not to eat meat and as little fish as possible. Let me start with this: I do not feel that it's morally wrong to kill animals, the meat is murder argument. I respect people who hold that opinion. But it bothers me when meat-eaters dismiss vegetarianism completely because of this one aspect.

An important reason I have already mentioned: the method of production of animal products. Especially in a small country like the Netherlands, with its lack of space and intensive farming, this is an important aspect. When during the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in 2001 I heard that animals were slaughtered preventively 'to restore consumer faith in the Dutch beef product', it made me feel pretty nauseous. This argument goes for fish as well, to a certain extent, with overfishing, and fishing with large trawlers in areas further and further away, where the local population is left with the crumbs.

But the following may be an even more important reason. In a world of 6.4 billion people, with a prognosed 9 billion in the year 2050, it is simply not realistic to cling to our current level of meat consumption. It takes up considerably less surface to generate comparable nutritional value with vegetable products. If we want to be able to feed everyone in this world, than we have to lower meat consumption drastically. And as I know a number of people to don't seem very inclined to do so, I choose to eat as little fish and meat as possible. Added to that is the absurd situation that cattle-fodder for Dutch meat production is produced in areas of former tropical rainforest in countries like Brazil.

In our polluted world the higher an organism is in the food chain the more harmful waste has collected in the body. This doesn't make meat consumption the most healthy choice either. Not to mention the idea that people thought they could defy the natural way of life (cows eat vegetable food) by feeding cows fodder mixed with animal bone meal. Somehow, it didn't surprise me that this lead to an outbreak of BSE.

All in all, enough reason for me to be a vegetarian. When that isn't possible, I will sooner choose fish than meat, because I feel there are somewhat less objections. Admittedly things can be said against the production of milk (products) and eggs as well. I always try to buy so-called biological milk and free-range eggs, but I have to admit I don't always follow my principles and often buy cheaper regular products, when it comes to cheese and other dairy products. Maybe someday I will read a section like this on the website of someone who eats vegan food (i.e. no products produced by animals at all), and will be inspired to take that step.

If you want to know more, there are quite a few organisations for vegetarians, and many of those can be found through the site of the International Vegetarian Union.