Dutch Energy Supplies Partly Derived from Columbian Blood Coals
Coal imported into the Netherlands which provide a substantial part of the energy of the country, is partly ‘blood coal’ from Columbia. The Volkskrant daily visited the Cesar region of Columbia, from which more than half of its coal exports to the Netherlands. The coal industry there makes agriculture impossible and causes lung disease among the population. Child prostitution and venereal disease have increased greatly since the opening of the mines.
Already in 2010, the Columbian Ministry of Environment decided that three villages have to be moved in view of the huge air pollution. The mining companies have still not provided adequate housing for the population to be moved. Critics of the coal mines receive death threats. Dutch Minister of Foreign Trade Lilianne Ploumen (Labor Party) said that efforts to deal with the problem have so far been unsuccessful.
BNFTN via Volkskrant.nl
Dutch power plants are still running on “blood coal”
The coal that Dutch households with energy, continue to cause major social and environmental problems in Colombia, where a large part of the coal comes from. Critics of the coal mines are threatened with death. More here in Dutch.
Stephen Lawrence murder investigation: inquiry into alleged police corruption to be published
Theresa May, the Home Secretary, publishes a report into allegations of police corruption in the original investigation into the murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence
By Christopher Hope, Senior Political Correspondent
8:16PM GMT 05 Mar 2014
Scotland Yard faces embarrassment on Thursday when Theresa May, the Home Secretary, publishes a report into allegations of police corruption in the original investigation into the murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence.
The report by Mark Ellison QC will also examine claims made last year that police officers investigating Mr Lawrence’s murder tried to smear people close to the teenager.
Last year Mrs May said she would support a new public inquiry into the new smear claims if that was a recommendation in Mr Ellison’s report.
The report – which is said to be lengthy – is being published by Mrs May in Parliament, a move which will ensure that its contents can be reported without serious libel risk by news outlets.
Mr Lawrence, 18, was killed in April 1993 near bus stop in a south-east London. He was stabbed to death by a gang of five white youths who shouted racist abuse.
Every fifth child in Germany is sick
Cause of the health problems of children is often the family climate. Many families are suffering due to the employment of parents under stress, according to the new AOK study. From Günther Lachmann
Photo: Infographics World
Every fifth child in Germany has health problems. This is the result of an AOK study entitled “Healthy Children – Healthy Future” to the 1503 mothers and fathers were interviewed last fall. The study found that children with difficulty falling asleep, irritability, abdominal pain, headaches and back pain, malaise, dizziness, or drowsiness and nervousness suffer.
