By Gerda Minkjan

Despite the warnings of economists, researchers and other independent authorities in the travel- and aerospace industry five members of the Partij van de Arbeid (PvdA) believed the adjusted and extra information about the amount of passengers and net employment the Province fed the Provincial Parliament just a week ago. The four other members of the PvdA were still not convinced that 1,2 million passengers and 2150 new jobs in 2030 are realistic and voted against the airport plan, just like they did half a year ago.

Soap Opera
A journalist and a camera team from ZEMBLA, a Dutch current affairs documentary programme, were present to capture the climax of this governmental disaster. This controversial airport plan is yet another example of vulgar abuse of public means.

Wet dream
Now the tax payer will suffer so the politicians who are in favour of the airport can realize their wet dreams. After all one of them stated last year: “It is very sexy to have your own airport as a region.”

Violation
The Dutch and German opponents against Enschede Airport Twente were shocked. On this memorable evening the consequences for the neighbours of the airport were totally ignored. The last moths we did all we could to convince the PvdA not to vote for the airport plan.
But who doesn’t want to listen will not hear…

To be continued…
After a big party to celebrate our small winnings (for example no big attraction parks but leisure on a small scale instead) and our commitment to the good cause and to each other new strategies will be built and new actions will be prepared.

On the 7th of August, the Norwegian environmentalist movement will gather for a party against oil drilling in the unique and precious Lofoten / Vesterålen-region, which also happens to be one of Norway’s major tourist attractions. Of course, the Norwegian Green Party – Miljøpartiet Dei Grøne -will also be there, and we would be happy to welcome green friends from other parts of Europe.

In connection with the event of 7. August, MDG will also arrange a green summer camp in Lofoten. If you would like more information on the battle against allowing the oil industry or on the events taking place in August, feel free to contact organisers Knut Qvigstad (knut.qvigstad@mdg.no) and Sindre Buchanan (sindre.buchanan@mdg.no), the international secretary of the Norwegian Green Party, Øyvind Strømmen (oyvind.strommen@mdg.no) or member of MDG’s executive commitee and Lofoten resident Seija N. Klaveness (seija.klaveness@mdg.no). A common bus trip will be arranged from Oslo, costing 950 NOK (about 120 EUR), including accommodation, if you’re lucky, there might still be places left.

Good news from the Greens in the Low Countries: the Flemish, Walloon and Dutch Green parties all did well in the elections.

Dutch GroenLinks was rewarded with three extra seats in Parliament (out of 150). Party leader Femke Halsema presented her and the party as “ready to govern.” GroenLinks has been in opposition since its institution. Flemish Groen! won 1 extra seat, while it opposed separatist sentiments in Flanders. Ecolo was also very pleased with its results. It was able to maintain its seats and it will become third party in the Senate.

In the Dutch as well as the Flemish elections new rightwing parties won. In the Netherlands the Partij van de Vrijheid is known for his extreme anti-Islam standpoints. Its leader Geert Wilders suggested in Parliament that women with headscarfs should pay extra taxes. He got 1.5 million votes, 25 seats in Parliament (out of 150).

While in the Netherlands Geert Wilders got rewarded for his fight against the tsunami of “Islamisation,” Flanders had its own political tsunami. N-VA, as a partner with CD&V, won 13% in the elections of 2009. Last Sunday no less than 29% of the electorate rewarded them with their vote. N-VA campaigned for a confederal Belgium. Currently Belgium is a federation. N-VA is part of the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament as member of EFA.

Anarchists from all over Europe gathered in the Dutch province Friesland from Friday 21 to Monday, May 24^th.

By Gerda Minkjan

Since 1933 The Pinksterlanddagen take place every year in the Whitsun weekend on the camping site tot Vrijheidsbezinning. Anti-militarism has always been an important topic. Other themes are anti fascism, squatting and the climate crisis. Visitors are not allowed to drink alcohol or use drugs.

Shades of Green

On Saturday I visited the camp for the first time, not knowing what to expect. As a “freshwoman” in the Dutch Green Party I was pleasantly surprised by the green calibre of the participants. The food is organic, nothing is thrown away. The principle is: give what you can, take what you need. These beautiful people care deeply about our beautiful planet. And they will do whatever it takes to take good care of it. Their shade of green may be a bit darker than the Green Party’s bright green. Where politicians fail they take over, risking arrests, fines and even imprisonment.

Green Smurfs

I was glad to see my GroenFront! friends there. A very nice guy who also deals with the media a lot told me that he did a workshop once about debating and to simplify things the subject was: how do you define a Smurf. A Smurf is blue, he has a white cap and is chased by Gargamel. They should ad a Green Smurf to the list of characters.

We proudly present

In the tent on the big field two GroenFront! people were supposed to present their campaign against Enschede Airport Twente, but one of them couldn’t make it that afternoon. So it was a good thing I was there and I helped out and provided the attentive audience with the latest facts from Twente. June 16^th the Provincial Parliament in Zwolle (Overijssel) will vote about the airport plan. When the majority will vote Yes the GroenFront! campaign will continue. Let’s hope it won’t come to that.

Barricades

After the GroenFront! presentation a workshop about barricades took place on the big field. It was very impressive and sometimes even scary. You could imagine very well what it would be like in a real situation, like at a demonstration or at a road block. All kinds of possibilities were practised. If I hadn’t been interviewed about Enschede Airport Twente at that time I would have participated.

Cross Border

When I was sitting on the toilet thinking about weather or not I could write a piece about the “Pinksterlanddagen” for the Cross Border page of the European Greens website I heard two women speaking speedy Spanish in front of my door. Outside again I heard Flamish, English and German. So yes, Cross Border it is! It was a shame I had to leave, it would have been so nice to get to know more of these friendly and colourful people. Maybe I’ll bring my tent next year and stay for the weekend.

By Gerda Minkjan

Acrobats

Not only invited farmers came to take a look at this famous bunch of tree savers. Dutch and German politicians, members from pressure groups and nature protection organisations also turned up to get acquainted with the green acrobats.

It’s amazing what these people can do with a few ropes and some climbing gear. They are up in the trees before you know it! Some of us also tried to climb a tree. Only one fit politician succeeded. As I am very clumsy I passed. I’d only hurt myself or other people.

The GroenFront! people that stayed on the ground informed their guests about the GroenFront! activities and their motivations. Most people know GroenFront! from their actions in Schinveld where the activists tried to save the woods close to the Awacs base in Germany.

Big Brother

The friendly atmosphere wasn’t spoiled at all by a police car with a camera on its roof that turned up twice that afternoon. We kind of expected the police. The last few weeks one of us had already been called three times by the regional police. They asked if our organisation was sympathizing with GroenFront!. The answer was: “Not as an organisation, but as individuals we might now that you have brought GroenFront! to our attention!”

Both Dutch and German guests were given the opportunity to speech and inform the gathering about the latest developments in the Netherlands and Germany. Though I can’t climb trees, a speech I could give. I told everybody about the visit of the two Green Members of the European Parliament the Friday before. Sadly the police officers were gone by then. They could have learned something valuable listening to us.

Now that I come to think of it the funny thing is that when FC Twente supporters wanted to congratulate their heroes after winning the football championship thousands of people were allowed to celebrate on the A1, causing a ten mile traffic jam. But when people of GroenFront! and their following try to block a road to save a forest or another precious piece of our earth they are arrested immediately.

Bermuda Triangle

GroenFront! will continue to support us when the politicians of the provincial parliament in Zwolle vote for the latest airport plan in their June 16^th meeting in their own way. Until then we’ll all cooperate to prevent the arousal of the still dormant Enschede Airport Twente.

The area between Enschede, Oldenzaal and Hengelo where the big commercial airport is planned is still an area of outstanding natural beauty, but already a financial Bermuda Triangle.

Earth Mothers and Mother Earth

It was great that a lot of people came this day because it was Mother’s Day and it was very cold. The German guests didn’t use their cars to come over here but they took their bikes instead and followed the scenic route from Bad Bentheim to Enschede Airport Twente via Losser and Lonneker. They were almost frozen when they arrived but the coffee and tea and vegan soup warmed them so they made it back home all right.

It was great to see how the GroenFront! people cooperated clearing the picnic area. They formed a line from the kitchen tent to the van and left without a trace. They didn’t damage the trees either. Everything was secured with ropes, not nails. Their mothers must be proud!

Tree Hugging Hippie

I can wholly support the GroenFront! actions to save our woods. If they have to occupy the woods North of the runway to protect the trees I’ll be in their camp as often as I can to bring them hot coffee and tea an help them in any way that I can.

I had so much fun on my best Mother’s Day ever that I forgot to hug a tree…