Majority of Dutchmen Don’t Want Change

Only 42% of Dutchmen want to change their lives in any way in 2009. At the beginning of 2008, it was 51%. Sixty percent of those who do want to change their lives, want to have more enjoyment.www.trouw.nl/nieuws/nederland/article1935409.ece/Ruim_helft_bevolking_doet_niet_aan_goede_voornemens.html

Former Minister: I Should have Hit Journalist

Former Dutch Minister of Housing and Integration Ella Vogelaar (Labor) has said that she should have hit journalist Rutger Castricum, from the GeenStijl blog, with her bag. When he approached her he kept asking her the same questions over and over. Before she was forced to resign, Vogelaar was often criticized for her poor relations with the media.www.trouw.nl/nieuws/nederland/article1934858.ece/Vogelaar__ik_had_GeenStijl-reporter_moeten_slaan.html

Almost Daily Incidents with Air Travelers

During the year 2007 the Inspectorate for Transport and Waterways received about 300 complaints from Dutch airlines about air travelers who had caused problems on flights. These were mostly people who were drunk and were aggressive with plane staff or hindered the work of the female cabin crew. Since last year all Dutch airlines must report such incidents.
www.trouw.nl/nieuws/nederland/article1935139.ece/Bijna_dagelijks_problemen_met_vliegtuigpassagiers.html

Physicians Against Fireworks

The Dutch Association of Ophthalmologists (NOG) says that last New Year’s Eve about 1,100 people needed emergency treatment after being hurt by fireworks. A third of them suffered damages to their eyes. NOG chairman Tjeerd de Faber said that, at his hospital in Rotterdam, out of 40 victims, 11 lost their vision and one had to have an eye removed. The organization opposes all personal use of fireworks.
www.parool.nl/parool/nl/225/Buitenland/article/detail/97662/2008/12/30/Minister-Taliban-krachtig-door-VS.dhtml

Minister of Defense: Current Problems of Troops in Afghanistan Due to American Policies in 2001-2

Minister of Defense Eimert van Middelkoop (Christian Union) has said that the problems incurred by NATO troops with the Taliban in the Afghanistan countryside are to the result of decisions taken by the US in 2001-2. He said that he is convinced that the Dutch troops there will face more unrest in the year 2009.www.parool.nl/parool/nl/225/Buitenland/article/detail/97662/2008/12/30/Minister-Taliban-krachtig-door-VS.dhtml

Barkeepers Complain about Tolerance for Smoking

About 1,500 café and bar employees have complained that there is still smoking in their places of work, even though it has been banned. Many owners of such locations are allowing people to smoke. This was announced by the Monitor of Clean Air Nederland.
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/2896924/__Barpersoneel_klaagt_over_gedoogroken__.html

Special Protection for Mayor’s Residence

The police in the town of Den Helder have installed special protection in Mayor Stefan Hulman’s residence . This was done after there were graffiti and damages on the municipality building. There is anger in the town about the fact that the mayor receives a subsidy for his house in Rotterdam.
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/2896059/__Politietoezicht_woning_burgemeester__.html