Asbestos Found in Oven of Largest Dutch Bakery

It has now become known that the largest Dutch bakery group, Bakkersland recalled its bread last year because asbestos from an oven had fallen on it. The bread had already been delivered to the distribution center of a supermarket. This was reported by the TV program Zembla. In past years, there was asbestos in the oven already. According to the previous chairman of the worker’s council of the company, there was no money to replace the cancer-causing asbestos. www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2686/Binnenland/article/detail/3574364/2014/01/09/Asbest-in-oven-van-broodfabriek-Bakkersland.dhtml

No Alcohol Sales to Minors: Trade Union Afraid of Violence

Since the beginning of this year, no alcohol can be sold to youths under the age of 18. On the basis of research, the trade union CNV Dienstenbond said that 55% of supermarket personnel expects increased aggression as a result of this law. Verbal and physical violence are the result of requests from cashiers for identification from clients. According to the research, 16% of supermarket employees face problems at least once a week with the sale of alcohol. The trade union has opened a monitoring service to get a better handle on this situation. www.binnenlandsbestuur.nl/sociaal/nieuws/bond-vreest-meer-geweld-in-supermarkten.9185078.lynkx

Dutch Soldiers Sent to Mali with Substandard Uniforms

Jean Debie, Chairman of the Union for Civil and Military Defense Personnel, confirmed that the uniforms of the Dutch contingent which is being sent to Mali are substandard. He said that cheap clothing made in China has been chosen over more expensive material from the Dutch textile maker Ten Cate. Debie concluded that the Dutch government usually chooses European tenders for the cheapest, but not the best. He added that one of the problems is fire safety if a bomb explodes near a soldier. The Ministry of Defense disagrees. www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2686/Binnenland/article/detail/3571863/2014/01/04/Uniform-Mali-gangers-is-ondermaats.dhtml

Politicians Criticize Soccer Club which Supported Arab Boycott

The Dutch top league soccer club Vitesse from Arnhem left its Israeli player Dan Mori at home when they went to train in the United Arab Emirates. The club stated that initially they had been given assurances that he would get a visa. However, it turned out that the UAE would not let the Israeli in. The spokesperson of Vitesse said that they were surprised, but did not consider canceling the trip to show solidarity with the player. Parliamentarian Omtzigt (Christian Democrat) called Vitesse “a club without a backbone” by accepting this decision and going to Abu Dhabi. They should have remained home out of protest. He added that they accepted the Jew-hatred of the Emirates. Freedom Party leader Geert Wilders also criticized Vitesse. www.gelderlander.nl/algemeen/sport/vitesse-geen-moment-overwogen-thuis-te-blijven-1.4164223

Seven Hundred People Arrived at Emergency Rooms after Firework Injuries

On 31 December and 1 January, a total of seven hundred victims of firework injuries arrived at emergency wards of Dutch hospitals. Twenty-eight percent had injuries on their fingers, 23% had eye injuries, 23% had facial injuries and 10% had hand injuries. All in all, 70 people had to be seen by surgeons, of which most will have to undergo surgery. Surgeons have already amputated 8 hands in total and 3 partial hands, all resulting from illegal fireworks. http://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1012/Nederland/article/detail/3571984/2014/01/04/Meer-slachtoffers-vuurwerk-onder-het-mes.dhtml

80,000 Complaints Already About Fireworks

The monitoring site Vuurwerkoverlast.nl has already received 80,000 complaints about firework nuisance. The complaints are about damages from fireworks, nuisance from leftover fireworks, noise and firework stress on animals. Additional complaints can be brought until 4 January. Afterwards, a report will be prepared which will be presented to Parliament. http://www.spitsnieuws.nl/archives/binnenland/2014/01/al-80000-klachten-over-vuurwerk

Eight People Blinded by Fireworks

The eye hospital in Rotterdam has reported that during the night of New Year’s Eve, 8 people in the Netherlands lost sight in one eye due to fireworks. For one of the victims, the eye has already been removed. So far, 46 cases of people with damaged eyes have been reported, but this may increase further in the coming days. About 50% of the victims were blinded by fireworks that they themselves lit, the other 50% were bystanders. www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2686/Binnenland/article/detail/3570287/2014/01/01/46-oogletsels-door-vuurwerk.dhtml