dinsdag 28 april 2009

Nederland Opnieuw

www.nederlandopnieuw.nl

Nederland Opnieuw” is een platform van de VVD om aandacht te vragen voor onze oplossingen voor diverse problemen in Nederland. Nederland is vastgelopen. Problemen blijven onopgelost. Nederland moet terug in de rails. Dat vraagt om een nieuwe visie hoe je deze problemen aanpakt. De VVD heeft een frisse blik op hoe het beter en eerlijker kan: Nederland Opnieuw.

“Nederland Opnieuw” geeft de richting aan die de VVD op wil met Nederland.

In Nederland zijn veel mensen teleurgesteld in de politiek. Voor de democratie in het land is het van groot belang dat de bevolking vertrouwen heeft in de goede bedoelingen en oprechtheid van degenen die namens hen het land besturen.

De VVD wil een eerlijke partij zijn. We hebben er vertrouwen in dat onze oplossingen goed zijn voor Nederland en willen daarover graag in debat. We willen ook laten zien dat politiek ánders kan. Geen nietszeggende slogans waarmee een politieke partij kiezers kan lokken alsof het over een wasmiddelenreclame gaat.

“Nederland Opnieuw” wil de discussie over echte problemen en eerlijke oplossingen in Nederland opgang brengen. We brengen onze standpunten tussen mensen, op straat. Duidelijk, prikkelend en bereid tot discussie. Geen loze kreten, maar inhoudelijke standpunten over problemen die we willen oplossen door er met een frisse blik naar te kijken. Dát is Nederland Opnieuw. De VVD wil met ondernemerschap en vastberadenheid ons land opnieuw sterk, veilig en vrij maken.

maandag 20 april 2009

new war ahead of us?

So the last few days I am reading more and more blogs/newspaper-sites a new georgian war might be ahead of us. For example from the pro-russia bloggers Stanislav Mishin and Rick Docksai; ofcourse claiming it will be Saakashvili who will instigate it, since South Ossetia and Abkhazia still need to be under Georgian ruling and this time he might get help from NATO, as NATO is having excercises in Georgia. Also from friends of mine I understood the gossip in tbilisi tells Misha (saakashvili) is planning a new war: 1. because he wants SO and Abkazia back and 2. to gain more support. Ofcourse this gossip comes from friends who are pro-opposition, claiming that if Misha will not resign a new war will happen.
As you can understand, I am wondering who does what. As we all know, the relationship between Russia and Georgia hasn't been that good lately. A demonstration would be a perfect moment for Russia to destabalize the country and invade it, blaiming Misha for it; the reason I am saying this because I find it quite disturbing Nashi youth were discovered without visa on georgian territory allegedly to start some violant incidents at the demonstration and provoke forcible action by the police/military against opposition. Furthermore, because Russia has increased it's military in South Ossetia and Abkhazia in the past few days.
I am starting to get a bit worried by it all, let's hope it's just political macho behaviour from both sides and nothing serious will happen.

woensdag 15 april 2009

Georgia&Democracy; a discussion

Sort of discussion with my friend Nino on democracy, georgia and the protest. It sure is a way more complicated issue then assumed by western media.

Nino
Dear Inge, please, don't disappoint me, don't tell me that you like Misha

Inge
i am happy not to dissappoint you, I do not like misha :). I'm just afraid that the strategy of the opposition does not work. since 1. I have the feeling they only want misha out, but don't have political programs to make a change, 2. are too devided and 3. do not have one leader, furhtermore 4. blocking roads everywhere does not build sympathy with the ones not already joining your protest and 5. i'm afraid changing leaders in a democratic country only by revolutions/protest does no good. oh and 6. the one political party with a political program (the republicans) do not have a seat in the parliament, so i'm just wondering how this all will develop in a somewhat democratic way which will benefit the georgians the most....

Nino
Oh, I am relieved that you don't like Misha :)).I fully agree with you about opposition being weak, poorly organised and not prepared well but Misha is simply distroying my country - He is killing all sectors on which country should be based - economy, energy, health, education, agriculture, environment. He is killing independent court and independent media. He is killing civil society, he is killing science, art, sport... And finally, he is losing territories. What can be worse than all abovementioned???You say that "changing leaders in a democratic country only by revolutions/protest is not good". I agree with you but cheating in the elections in democratic countries is also not good. And who has said that opposition is going to have a revolution? As far as I know opposition only wants to have an out of turn presidential ellections.

Inge
:)good points; especially those on his economical en environmental policies. Could not agree more with you on that! Though I still would like to stress that, altough I do believe some fraud has been conducted in the presidential elections, I was observer in Zugdidi with the parliamentary elections, and yeah, that didn't go smoothly, but fraud would be a big word (I mean, the chair of the poling station I was at, did try to pull it of, the fraud I mean, but fortunately the local obervers were very fierce and saw every, clumsy, attempt on time - which was sort of the overall conclusion of all observers in that region: clumsy onorganised fraud). But ofcourse I was not at the central counting in tbilisi, so that could have been extremely frauduleus. If so, then I think it will be best to have re-elections either. (leaving OSCE reports besides)On the other hand I think, eventhough I am not a fan of Misha's (corrupt) policies, we should not underestimate the fan's he still has...

Nino
Mostly he cheated at the presidential ellections. I can give you few examples. I. First of all I can tell you that whole governmental sector (including MoE) was involved in the pre-ellection company which is severe violation of the georgian legislatoin.II. In Marneuli and other remoted districts the results of participation was 100% . Everyone knows that in those regions lots of people work in Armenia or Azerbaijan. And even in theory it is not possible for 100% to participate.III. There was enormpus pressure on the people. In my neighborhood (saburtalo) national party representatives were threatenning people "If you don't vote for Misha, we will spoil your business etc" or "If you vote for Misha, we will release your prisoners...". And still, Misha lost in Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi and many other cities.It's awkard to talk about Misha's funs. Most of them simply have their own interests...

Nino
Dear Inge, few years ago I was standing in Rustaveli actively participating in the "Rose Revolution" hoping that we would create the real democratic country with strong civil society, independent Court, independent media and strategicly thinking and motivated government but unfortunatelly I was deeply wrong..... :(((Sorry and thanks for your sympathy and love for Georgia... <

Inge
that is ugly indeed, I read some reports of the Human Rights ngo I was an intern, so I already heard some violations during presidential elections
guess you're no longer working for the gov then, huh?
To be honest, do you really believe/hope the opposition will be better then misha? For sure I think he is corrupt and should go, but who of the opposition is fit for the job? The only sane english seaking person i met was usupashvili and i'm afraid he wont get any votes.As for Burjanadze, she's known to come from a corrupt family and although i did like her when she was speaker of parliament (the way she treated nov 7, very calm and reasonable) i am not sure how she will handle the pressure.And about alasania, he just seems to me like a populist, like misha used to be, how can there be change? It is so sad, you know how much i care about georgia and want it to have a democracy, truly working. Just wonder when and how. (with the western media being pro-misha etc)

Nino
I am still working for the government and I know very well the problems existing there. I also know the lack of the desire for solving them.Yes I know how you care for georgia and I appreciate that a lot...:))

Inge
wow! That is remarkable i think, but very good! Are there more people like you? Hope there are! :)

dinsdag 7 april 2009

Khinkali

so i decided to make some khinkali, because I was craving for it, you can't imagine. But as you might understand, I was a bit afraid, since it was the first time I made it totally on my own, without supervision of the mothers of georgia.
To be honest, I think I didn't do such a bad job: