Opinion and debate

The average listener hardly understands what it is really about. Nevertheless, Dutch audiences flock to performances of the St Matthew Passion each year on Good Friday, which makes perfect sense, according to Bach expert and University of Groningen theologian Dr Jan Bakker. ‘It is such an indescribably good piece of music – you constantly discover new aspects to it. Even a mediocre performance will leave a great impression.’ Luth will be giving a public lecture on the famous Bach piece on 11 March 2010.

Empty towns, young people looking for success elsewhere, buildings in disrepair, boarded up homes and shops – this is the negative image associated with population decline. But it is an image that is seldom seen in reality in the Netherlands. The consequences of population decline need not be that dramatic, according to Professor of Economic Demography Leo van Wissen. ‘It is pointless to combat population decline, but dealing with its consequences is worthwhile’, he says.

Behaviour is contagious. If you see someone yawning or smiling, it’s often a matter of seconds before you are doing the same yourself. This copying behaviour also turns out to work on the football field. ‘The more convincingly someone celebrates his success with his teammates, the greater the chances are that that team will win’, according to Gert-Jan Pepping, university lecturer in Movement Sciences at the University of Groningen.

Care for adolescents with behavioural problems could be improved.Care providers and sources of financing could work much more closely together and academic standards should be followed more, is the opinion of University of Groningen professor of Social Medicine Menno Reijneveld. C4Youth, the Collaborative Centre for Children and Youth with behavioural and emotional problems that will open in Groningen on 15 February, intends to investigate the possibilities.

‘More than half of five year olds have more than two cavities. I find that quite shocking’, says Nynke Blanksma, child dental surgery and cariology lecturer at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG). What’s more, many cavities are not treated. ‘Dutch children’s teeth are in poor condition.’ So it is about time something was done to increase parents’ awareness.

The conclusions in the Davids report have been called "vehemently critical", but that’s a bit over the top, thinks the Groningen professor of Contemporary History Prof. Doeko Bosscher. So will there be a cabinet crisis after all? ‘In that case the PvdA and the VVD are going to have to swallow a lot of hypocrisy.’

The public broadcasting service is often the subject of criticism. People complain that the quality of programmes needs improving, but improvement costs money. Now that the new broadcasting companies WNL and PowNed have been added to the service, this money will be stretched even further. Neither politicians or the general public seem to be very supportive of the idea of investing more money in public broadcasting. ‘This is odd’, says Huub Wijfjes, ‘because it goes against the general opinion that public broadcasting channels must distinguish themselves in quality from all the other channels’.

Neelie Kroes could prove to be an important EU commissioner, with her Digital Agenda portfolio giving her an influence on the lives of all EU citizens. However, she should then take on board the limitations of existing legislation and the opportunities new technologies have to offer, says University of Groningen lawyer Dr Kees de Vey Mestdagh. ‘Kroes should change now her tune. If she simply continues to enforce existing legislation, as she did in her previous post, she will be fighting a rearguard action.’

2010 is the year in which the decline of biodiversity will end. So say the agreements reached by European leaders in Gothenburg in 2001 and by world leaders at the UN summit in Johannesburg in 2002. However, the loss of species has continued at an alarming rate. The UN has now declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity – a good decision, according to University of Groningen ecologist Professor Han Olff. ‘It is now time to remind world leaders of their solemn promises. This definitely includes Prime Minister Balkenende, who is trying to avoid fulfilling certain agreements’.

Now the decade has drawn to a close, we can label the years gone by. If the nineties were the age of individualism, the noughties will go down in history as the age of globalization, according to René Boomkens, professor of Cultural Philosophy at the University of Groningen.

A very happy New Year

PVV politician Geert Wilders is scheduled to appear in court in Amsterdam on 20 January 2010, charged with wilfully insulting Muslims and hatemongering. ‘A body blow for freedom of speech’, according to Wilders. Not at all, says Fokko Oldenhuis, professor of Religion and Law at the University of Groningen. ‘Wilders is clearly transgressing the boundaries of the law.’

Not only dictatorial regimes try to ‘rewrite’ history – in democratic countries, too, historians are hindered in their work, day in, day out. This is why historians should be much more aware of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This document provides them with a basis for a responsible approach to their subject, is the opinion of University of Groningen historian Dr Antoon De Baets, published on the occasion of Human Rights Day, 10 December. 

The introduction of kilometre charging has come a step closer since Minister Eurlings recently submitted a Kilometre Charging Bill to the Dutch House of Representatives. It led to hot debates, but only a few are concerned with the communication with car drivers.  That’s not very wise, professor of Environmental Psychology Linda Steg and professor of Telematics George Huitema feel. It’s good communication with the users and feedback via the invoice that will have the most effect on how successful the regulation will be.

The EU has introduced a new instrument in its battle against climate change – the capture of CO2 so as to store it permanently underground. The recent European Guideline on CO2 capture and storage has not removed all legal barriers and uncertainties, thus investment in this environmental technology is still only sporadic.

The debate about religion and HIV/AIDS has been narrowed down to bickering about the use of and ban on condoms. That’s counterproductive, thinks Brenda Bartelink, a theologian at the University of Groningen. ‘This discussion has led to various fallacies about the crucial and positive role of religion in the fight against HIV and AIDS. It’s extremely important to take a good look at what is actually going on.’

In the very early stages, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other experts sounded the alarm about H1N1 flu. Not very sensible, is the opinion of Tom Postmes, professor of Social Psychology. All you then achieve is fear and confusion. ‘So many experts have been rolled out since then that it’s becoming more and more difficult to make yourself heard. Repeating the same panic message again and again just puts people’s backs up.’

Een kleine overheid die op afstand de maatschappelijke verhoudingen aanstuurt. In de afgelopen decennia is dat het ideaalbeeld geweest in de discussie over de manier waarop Nederland moet worden bestuurd. In het kielzog van dit besturingsmodel zijn de publieke en de private sfeer steeds meer vervlochten geraakt. Moet deze vervlechting worden beschouwd als een historische noodzaak of moeten de verantwoordelijkheden weer uit elkaar worden getrokken zodat partijen beter weten wie op wat kan worden aangesproken? En wat betekent dat voor het recht? Deze vragen staan centraal op de oprichtingsonferentie van het Netherlands Institute for Law and Governance die op 16 november 2009 in Groningen wordt gehouden.

A study involving mayors and municipal secretaries has shown that deregulation is still a popular notion, including in municipalities. ‘It’s remarkable that deregulation in municipalities mainly leads to improved service’, according to Heinrich Winter of the University of Groningen. He conducted research amongst mayors and municipal secretaries – the leading civil servants – into what deregulation at a local level entails. ‘It’s clear that neither less regulations nor relinquishing responsibilities to private enterprise are being considered.’ The research was conducted with an eye to the founding of the Netherlands Institute for Law and Governance (NILG), a new institute that will concern itself with legal research into the relationship between public and private interests.

America’s leadership position is weakening, the country is technically bankrupt and the economic focus is shifting more quickly than expected to Asia. The crisis is precipitating major relationship changes in the world. And what’s the Netherlands doing?Waiting and watching, says Rien T. Segers in his most recent book, Nederland na de crisis [The Netherlands after the crisis].‘We’re in danger of becoming a second-string country.’

Market forces are being discussed everywhere. Although many academics, columnists and politicians are extremely critical, most of the general public has a much more nuanced opinion about market forces.

‘It’s important in the social debate about market forces to listen not only to the highfalutin ideological stories of columnists and politicians but also to the down-to-earth opinion of the general public’, thinks Marc Hertogh of the University of Groningen. He bases his view on the results of a questionnaire sent to over 300 members of the Dutch public. The research was conducted within the framework of the founding of the Netherlands Institute for Law and Governance (NILG), a new institute that will concern itself with legal research into the relationship between public and private interests.

In order to stimulate European unification, Western European countries must show more interest in the cultural values of Central and Eastern European countries. In their turn, these countries should take on the role of victim less often and act more responsibly. This is the opinion of University of Groningen historian Dr Stefan van der Poel. On 9 November he will be giving a lecture on the course of European history since the fall of the Wall for Studium Generale.

Entrepreneurs and private individuals experience all kinds of impediments to accessing lawyers and the services provided by lawyers are not properly controllable either. This results in uncertainty about the quality of the service provision. ‘It’s up to the Netherlands Bar Association to take suitable measures to improve access to lawyers. When doing so, the Association would be well advised to take the differences in perception between private individuals and entrepreneurs into account’, is the opinion of Heinrich Winter of the University of Groningen. His views are based on the results of research conducted by a team of researchers from the Faculty of Law and research bureau Pro Facto and commissioned by the Bar Association.

Only about seven percent of the houses currently for sale in the Netherlands have an energy label. That’s not good, thinks professor of Natural Resources Henk Moll of the University of Groningen. After years of wishy-washy policy, it’s high time the Cabinet made the introduction of the regulation compulsory as energy labels are not only good for the environment but also for our pockets.

In a time of crisis it’s important to act decisively and suggest solutions that will support the economy.That’s why a legislative proposal has been submitted – the Crisis and Recovery Bill.By significantly simplifying the decision-making process, projects could be realised much faster.At least, that’s the intention.According to Jan Jans, Professor of Administrative Law, this bill may actually have the opposite effect.

Failing hospital boards in Emmen and Twente and a bungling government in the case of the detention centre fire at Schiphol-Oost – these are just a few recent examples where the finger of blame has been swiftly pointed at administrators with regard to responsibility and liability in the event of damage or accidents caused by the actions of organizations. Generally speaking, it is still possible to take the directors of companies to court and punish them for fraud or mismanagement, a recent example is Ahold. However, it appears to be impossible to prosecute central government (the State) and its managerial officials, let alone convict them of serious breaches or errors that others are the victims of, because immunity from prosecution has been accepted by the courts. To a lesser extent this also applies to local authorities (municipalities, provinces). University lecturer in Labour Law Simone de Valk feels that from the point of view of legal equality and to provide more redress for victims that immunity must be waived. Trust in the government would then also be increased.

Many participants in the Groningen 4-Mile Run can be expected to get off to too slow a start. They will never make up the ground that they lose as a result. Whoever wants to perform as well as possible, will do well to get off to a relatively quick start in the running event on 11 October, according to human movement scientist Dr Floor Hettinga of the UMCG. An important part of preparation is getting enough rest.

The Cabinet’s decision to raise the AOW retirement age (AOW = Algemene Ouderdomswet; General Old Age Pensions Act) to 67 has touched a nerve. As a result, for the past few months the SER (Sociaal-Economische Raad; Social and Economic Council) has been pondering the alternatives. On Sunday it was announced that the outlines of a SER agreement were now known. The unions would after all agree to a gradual increase in the retirement age to 67.

 The Netherlands Bankers’ Association (NVB) has recently announced a ‘Banking Code’. In it, the sector promises to keep to the principles of ‘prudent and sustainable banking in the future’. This ethical declaration from the financial sector is unlikely to lead to revised behaviour among bankers, according to social psychologist Jennifer Jordan. This self-regulation may even encompass the danger of further moral decline.

Whether or not the contents of the Dutch Budget are leaked before Prinsjesdag is barely relevant, in the opinion of Elmer Sterken. ‘What’s actually important is the question whether the cabinet has finally dared to be decisive. No more patches, but long-term investment’, according to the professor of Monetary Economics. ‘Only then will the Dutch economy be able to play a meaningful role internationally.’

With his new book "The Open Secret. A new Vision for Natural Theology", the world-famous British theologian Alister McGrath does neither religion nor science a service. That’s the opinion of University of Groningen philosopher of religion Prof. Andy Sanders. In his view, McGrath is presenting his Christian theology as a kind of super science. ‘All he’s doing is creating confusion in the debate between religion and science. I’m expecting a lot of criticism when McGrath comes to Groningen soon to present his book.’

People have a fundamental ability to multitask and can usually do more things at the same time than they think, states professor of Cognitive Modelling Niels Taatgen. ‘We have an innate tendency to search for stimulation, to stretch our mental bandwidth. That tendency cannot be suppressed. Forbidding the use of a TomTom in a car, which the police recently suggested, is thus not productive. Instead we should conduct better research into which tasks can be combined and how we can make multitasking safer and more efficient.’

Laura Dekker’s plan to sail solo around the world brought down a hail of criticism on the thirteen-year-old from Wijk bij Duurstede. Many think the solo trip is irresponsible. The Dutch Council for Child Protection announced an investigation and the Minister of Education ordered the municipality to enforce her compulsory school attendance. Henk Sol, a keen yachtsman and professor of Business and ICT, as well as former Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business, is particularly surprised by the degree of emotion involved.

Internet facilities in developing countries often leave much to be desired. That is a major handicap for higher education and is one of the reasons why Dr Robert Janz, of the Center for Information Technology of the University of Groningen, is working to improve IT facilities in developing countries. Dr R.F. Janz was recently made a Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau in recognition of this work. According to him, the democratic level of developing countries can be improved by stimulating internet use. ‘Take a look at Iran. The perfect illustration of the power of the internet.’

In het EO-programma ‘Dit is de Dag’ zette Fokko Oldenhuis, hoogleraar Religie en Recht aan de Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, zich onlangs af tegen de ophef die in Nederland ontstond over het in de pers verspreide bericht dat er in Engeland naast de vijf ‘sharia’-rechtbanken die vallen onder de zogeheten Arbitration Act, zeer veel illegale islamitische sharia-rechtbanken (85) functioneren.

Last week the Dalai Lama paid a visit to the Netherlands. The visit was pounced on by some media as an opportunity to publish critical pieces about the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism. For example, Freek de Jonge in the Volkskrant called the Dalai Lama a ‘dubious figure’ who terrorized the supporters of other movements. Dr Kees Kuiken, religious historian & Chinese teacher, thinks this criticism is unjust.

In a crisis, we cling for dear life to a great leader – a statesman or a director who knows which way things should go. At least, that’s what’s often thought. However, research by University of Groningen business experts Prof. Janka Stoker and Dr Floor Rink has shown that people with a university education actually need leaders who empathize, listen and are not authoritarian. Typical male power struggles and grabbing behaviour are what caused the current economic crisis in the first place. What we now want is more women in control.

The holiday period is approaching. That means that once again packed aeroplanes will be flying off to all kinds of distant destinations. The question is, how long can we keep flying on this scale. Henk Moll, Associate Professor of Natural Resources at the University of Groningen, thinks that flying is going to get a lot more expensive. The airlines are going to have to get used to the fact that all good things must come to an end.

Holes in our teeth are a consequence of prosperity – we are eating too much sugar. Humanity has been battling gum disease since antiquity, however. This disease is not only a danger for our teeth, but also for our general health. A risk taken too lightly, think Frank Abbas and Arie Jan van Winkelhoff, professors at the University of Groningen/UMCG. ‘Brushing your teeth is not enough.’

The European Parliamentary elections are being held on 4 June. It is the seventh time that these elections will take place. Gerrit Voerman, Director of the Documentation Centre for Dutch Political Parties, recently published (with Nelleke van de Walle) Met het oog op Europa [With an eye to Europe], a book about the posters used by the parties in their election campaigns. According to Voerman, there’s actually something to choose this year, more than was the case in the past. This is partly due to populist and Euro-sceptic parties like the PVV and the SP

The awareness of history needs to be strengthened in the Netherlands. That’s the idea behind the ‘National Historical Museum’. But we shouldn’t create problems with a concept like ‘national’ which suggests more than it is intended to, i.e. a ‘nationalist’ approach. Whoops, that’s something to avoid – ‘Dutch’ would have been a better idea. But the intentions of Wim van der Weiden, the museum veteran (Museon, Naturalis) who was the first to put down ideas about where to take the idea, were pure.Otherwise he would not have chosen a motto that runs ‘nationalism is the result of a lack of knowledge about one’s own culture’ .

Brussels is much more successful and efficient than many voters think. Nevertheless, persistent Euro-scepticism also has its positive side, thinks Jan van der Harst, professor of History and Theory of European Integration at the University of Groningen. ‘These elections will be the first with a real choice.’

Thanks to the unremitting work of a small army of developmental psychologists and educationalists, our knowledge of children’s behaviour is now greater than ever. However, this knowledge has simultaneously ensured that children are now more puzzling than ever. This is the conclusion that Gerrit Breeuwsma, developmental psychologist at the University of Groningen, presents in his recently published book entitled Het vreemde kind (The Strange Child). On the basis of a kind of imposed anxiety about everything that can go wrong, we scrutinize our children ever more closely, so that we end up only increasing the alienation.

We should stop imposing our Dutch identity on newcomers, is the opinion of Karen van Oudenhoven-van der Zee, director of the Institute for Integration and Social Resilience. That does not promote integration at all. ‘Integration will only work if new identities with which both Dutch nationals and ethnic minorities can identify are created in a dynamic process. That usually works if the identities are linked to goals that are important for both groups and not, as is often the case at the moment, to problems.’

The concept charisma is being used all over the place and is thus losing its meaning, thinks University of Groningen anthropologist and theologian Prof. Yme Kuiper. And that’s a real shame, because when used well the concept can provide an insight into political culture. The insight that someone like Obama in the Netherlands would have had less chance of becoming great than in the United States, for example.
Barack Obama apparently has it, and even Silvio Berlusconi is said to have it. A whole load of pop stars, sport heroes and businessmen are also credited with it. But what is charisma actually? Too little time is spent pondering that, thinks Prof. Yme Kuiper of the University of Groningen. ‘The concept is used too often and too readily, in my view. It won’t be long before every well-known Dutch person is called charismatic. As a result the word is losing its edge, and that’s a shame.’ When it is used properly, thinks Kuiper, the concept can provide an insight into modern-day political culture. The insight, for example, that there is much less room for charismatic leadership in the Netherlands, and that Obama would never have thrived in the polder.

Within 25 years, the energy supply in the North of the Netherlands could be 50% sustainable. At least, if the right measures are taken. These are the words of Henk Moll, associate professor of Natural Resources at the University of Groningen. According to him, we have to move towards a wide range of alternative energy sources, such as heat exchangers, wind energy and biomass. This should happen as soon as possible. ‘It’s like a supertanker – if you want to enter the port of Rotterdam, you have to begin changing direction in the Channel.’

In its approach to the economic crisis, the Cabinet is relying to a significant extent on false certainties, thinks University of Groningen economist Elmer Sterken. Instead of taking emergency measures, in his opinion the Cabinet should be concentrating on developing the Dutch knowledge economy. ‘A course we should have been following before the crisis, too’.

The world’s population is living beyond its means. If we continue to burden the earth as we are doing, we will put our food, water and energy supplies in serious jeopardy. Amendments to environmental legislation could help us to reduce our ecological footprint. One solution could be to set international restrictions on environmental usage; a sort of quota on the use of natural resources. This is the gist of the arguments being put forward today by Prof. G.A. Biezeveld in his inaugural lecture as Professor of Environmental Law by special appointment at the University of Groningen.

Next week, half the Dutch population will feel tired and under the weather. Moreover, around five percent more heart attacks will occur than in an average week. The cause: the transition from winter time to summer time. The biological clock has an immense effect on our health, and not just during changes from winter time to summer time. Everyone knows this from personal experience and there is increasing scientific evidence in support. However, this knowledge is rarely put to good use. That is a shame, says chronobiologist Prof. Domien Beersma.

The Turkish Airlines Boeing had barely hit the ground before American personal injury experts descended on Amsterdam to file claims on behalf of the victims.According to University of Groningen legal scholar Prof. Fokko Oldenhuis, this is a prime example of the ‘commercialization of grief’ that is also on the rise in the Netherlands.‘We must ask ourselves if we want to abolish all risks.When does the liability system become uncontrollable and prohibitively expensive?Perhaps the current economic crisis will provide a good opportunity for a social debate about this issue’.

De schietpartij in het Duitse Winnenden waarbij een 17-jarige scholier in korte tijd 15 mensen doodschoot, past in het patroon dat we kennen uit het onderzoek naar oorzaken en achtergronden dit type geweld. Het grote aantal slachtoffers, de schijnbaar willekeurige wijze waarop zij worden gedood of verwond en het feit dat veel van deze schietpartijen plaatsvinden op scholen in relatief welvarende gemeenschappen, was in 2001 voor het U.S. Congress aanleiding om de National Research Council van de Academy of Sciences te vragen dit fenomeen te onderzoeken.

Over the next ten years, the traditional fishing of seed mussel in the Wadden Sea will come to an end. This was decided in October 2008, when fishermen, environmental organizations and the Dutch agriculture minister Verburg agreed to a covenant. Last week, the details of the covenant, the so-called ‘Implementation Plan’, were announced. According to the plan, a big environmental recovery programme for the Wadden Sea will start this year. However, Han Olff, Professor of Community and Conservation Ecology at the University of Groningen, fears that the ecological recovery of the Wadden Sea will prove to be difficult. ‘There is a chance that even if we discontinue seed mussel fishing and other seabed-disturbing activities, the Wadden Sea will not return to its former glory.’

On 10 July, it will be 500 years since the birth of John Calvin. This is why 2009 has been designated Calvin year. The French reformer is being commemorated with an exhibition, song and debating evenings and even a glossy magazine, among other things. Mirjam de Baar, lecturer in the history of Christianity at the University of Groningen, hopes that a number of persistent myths concerning Calvin will be exploded in Calvin year.

Events such as the murder of Theo van Gogh and the attacks of 11 September do not sufficiently explain the sharp tone of the Dutch integration debate. The importance of sociopsychological processes for the occurrence of major social change is underestimated. That’s what Prof. Tom Postmes said in his inaugural lecture on Friday 27 January 2009 for the chair of Social Psychology at the Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences of the University of Groningen.

Recently, Andries Knevel, a lion of the Dutch evangelical broadcasting company EO, announced that he no longer took the story of creation literally. Even Knevel is now convinced of evolution. The fuss that resulted made clear once again that science and religion still do not lie easily together. René Fransen, science correspondent of the University Newspaper (UK) of the University of Groningen, has written a book about evolution and religion. In ‘Gevormd uit sterrenstof’ [Fashioned from stardust] he wants to make clear that religion and science can go well together.

Thanks to the football card campaign, Albert Heijn’s turnover has increased in the short term. The image of the chain has also been given a boost. However, the long-term effects of the campaign are unclear, is the opinion of University of Groningen professor of Marketing Tammo Bijmolt.

As a result of climate change, there’s 40 per cent less ice at the North Pole than 30 years ago.  The accessibility of this area has therefore increased and the countries around the Arctic Ocean are busy setting out their territorial claims so that they can exploit the expected huge oil and gas fields there. This is why Louwrens Hacquebord, Director of the Arctic Centre of the University of Groningen, thinks that an international treaty must be signed as soon as possible to ensure that this unique ecosystem is protected.

There is no reason at all to be cynical about humanitarian aid in crisis areas. That’s the opinion of University of Groningen researcher Dr Joost Herman. Policymakers, politicians and researchers are making progress in the world of humanitarian aid, he thinks. The crucial thing is to critically reflect on one's own thoughts and actions. An international conference on this matter will be held at the University of Groningen from 4 to 8 February 2009.

The West has fallen into an unbelievably deep economic crisis after years of steady growth. In Asia, on the other hand, various countries, including China, India, Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea, have been growing phenomenally. Even now, during the credit crisis, China is still showing five percent growth. According to Rien T. Segers, professor-director of the Center for Japanese Studies at the University of Groningen, it is clear that Asia is going to play an important role in this century.

The government is discussing scrapping the ban on blasphemy. Hirsch Ballin is making the right choice, but the level of the debate is disappointing, is the opinion of Prof. Fokko Oldenhuis, Professor by special appointment for Law, Religion and Society at the University of Groningen.

‘The intentions are good, but it’s not thought through’, is how University of Groningen professor of Regional Labour Market Analysis Jouke van Dijk typifies the proposal by VVD MP Hans van Baalen to return the idea of a Zuiderzee Line to the political agenda as a way of solving the credit crisis. Van Baalen made his proposal during a New Year’s gathering organized by Stichting Bedrijfsbelangen Eemshaven.He wants to use the financial crisis to make the Netherlands stronger.Building the Zuiderzee Line would help this, according to Van Baalen.

Recently, Minister Ter Horst announced that the cabinet was working on a ‘catalogue of values’. The catalogue will describe what good citizenship is. Martin van Hees, professor of ethics and political theory at the University of Groningen, is sceptical. In his view, the cabinet must first produce some good arguments in favour of such a catalogue. ‘You have to do a thorough problem analysis, something that goes further than “ambulance personnel are being threatened”.’