Happenings

Since the implementation of the new health insurance system in Jan of 2006 there are more people who cannot make their monthly payments.

According to the figures 300,000 people have not made payment for six months and a third have never made payments for basic insurance.

Not only are the insurance companies short on these payments but also missing the moneys for the health services that are being given to those not paying. Those paying their premiums are in fact paying for those that are not.

A spokesman for Achmea estimates that some 20,000 to 30,000 clients are unable to get money together to pay for basic health insurance premiums. He also said 70,000 clients have had extended coverage cancelled due to non payment.

The agreement the government made with insurance companies was that they would not terminate peoples basic insurance till July 1st of 2007. (nu)

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For an idea of prices of health insurance check out this post about our situation.

On Jan 8th I sent my aunt in Apeldoorn a card with some pictures that I made while I was in Canada. I never heard from her saying she recieved them but figured they arrived safe and sound. I actually thought it was kind of funny as she usually phones me to thank me when I have done this in the past.

Around Feb 19th I sent the same aunt a three page letter telling her what is going on with my life. She called me on Feb 23rd telling me she recieved my letter and two day before it came she got the card I sent her on Jan 8th. When she opened it she thougth I had ‘lost my marbles’ as I wished her an early happy birthday in the card. Her birthday was on Jan 16th. She then checked the date on the envelope and realized what had happened.

The same week of Jan 8th I sent my mom who lives in Canada a book. The girl at the post office sent it priority, which I never do because it costs way more money than standard. Once she had the sticker on I figured what the heck. Only problem is the book never made it over the ocean to my mom. There was not much we could do and no way it could be traced so we just waited assuming it would make it there some time. Well it did…yesterday. I got a call from my dad and it did finally make it. Feb 27th..so about 7 weeks…

I know the postal system has changed from PTT to TNT and I am sure it has something to do with that. I think it has been privatized. What a mess!! Our postal service used to be just excellent and it looks, just like everything else in this country such as health care, home care, public transportation and disability — this too has seen its better days.

De Geus goochelt met gegevens
WAO Plein

The new criteria for the WAO (disability) re-evaluations were implemented by (ex) minister De Geus, creating much trauma for those on disability. De Geus states the following:

One out of three (32%) of the persons re-evacuated, who did not work have a job within one and half years.

De Geus gets his figures out of a report that shows something entirely different. Ulenbelt, SP member of parliament, comes to a whole other conclusion.

68% have not found jobs and are now sitting at home without a job and less income. From the remaining who have found jobs, 15% have a solid contract. 85% of those working have a temporary contract, is being outsourced, or has a 0 hour contract. Easy mathematics shows that from all the re-evaluations who had no job, 5% have now got a full time contract.

Ulenbelt states further that incomes after the re-evaluations decreased. 55% of them have to survive on 1100 euros a month.

These are not figures to be proud of. The policy of De Geus and Balkenede III failed, but we have know that for some time. De Geus wanted to sweep the street clean before leaving parliament with some dream figures. While he wants to do that, the figures are nightmares for the people that this is all about.

Dutch government proposes knee lock to keep prisoners from escaping
Published: Tuesday, February 20, 2007 | 3:17 PM ET
Canadian Press

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) – The Dutch Justice Ministry is planning to test a new system to ensure prisoners do not slip away from their guards while on supervised parole – a knee brace that locks legs in a bend when they try to get away.

Justice Ministry spokesman Wim van der Weegen said the system could be compared with wheel clamps put on illegally parked cars. “But this is different because it’s a flexible system,” he said. “If the prisoner sticks to the rules, he won’t notice it. But if he disobeys, then he can’t run away.”

Criminals who have escaped while on supervised parole and then committed serious crimes – including murder – have plagued Dutch justice system for years.

Under public pressure, parliament ordered the ministry to examine ways of keeping such prisoners under control.

Other ideas studied included injecting prisoners with sedatives or using electric shocks to stop them from getting away. But the options were rejected as too intrusive, van der Weegen said.

The system under development works by sending an electric impulse that cramps a prisoner’s leg muscles automatically if the prisoner gets too far away from the guard.

Testing of the new system is expected to begin later this year after parliamentary approval. (CBC)

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An excellent idea as we (in Holland) keep having people escape who are on supervised parole. While loose they commit severe crimes such as killing before they are caught again. Something has to be done to ensure the publics safety from these convicted persons.

Major step forward in tackling fur trade
February 15th, 2007
SP International

Minister of Agriculture Cees Veerman today promised the SP that the ban on the import of furs from seals would be strengthened. In a motion from SP Member of Parliament Krista van Velzen which won broad support, the Minister was called upon to keep pelts from the South African fur seal, hunted en masse in the cruellest manner in Namibia, off the Dutch market.

In the same debate Mr Veerman agreed to the SP’s request to launch an investigation into the possibility of introducing a ban on the import of furs from foxes and chinchillas. A ban on farming these animals in the Netherlands will be introduced next year as a consequence of serious concerns over animal welfare. “Fur that comes from cruel methods of hunting or farming should not be traded in our country,” said Ms Van Velzen. “It is good to see that support for this standpoint is growing and that this has not been without results.”