Overview of Opinions

Despite strong criticism from the Council of State (Raad van State, RvS), the Cabinet is going to continue to introduce mandatory minimum sentences for serious offences. Dr Nico Kwakman, criminal justice expert at the University of Groningen, is critical of the bill, but can also understand the reasoning behind it. ‘The effectiveness of the bill is doubtful, but the symbolic impact is large. The cabinet is sending out a strong signal – and it has every right to do so.’

Countries presently suffering from food shortages – especially those in Africa – need to start producing more food themselves. And they have the capability to do so. Modern agricultural techniques can increase production, but only if the governments of the affected countries are prepared to lend their full support. This is the opinion of Dr Dirk Bezemer, Associate Professor of Development Economics at the University of Groningen. ‘The role of the West will diminish in the long term, but in the meantime Western countries can help by curbing food speculation. This could make a huge difference as the current high food prices are partly to blame for the growing number of starving people in the world.’

Criminals who have been mistakenly acquitted of a homicide should be able to be tried again for their crime. A majority in the Dutch House of Representatives decided this on Tuesday 24 January. According to law lecturer Wiene van Hattum of the University of Groningen, Cabinet and House are raising false expectations. ‘This law will not protect society from serious criminals, as is being suggested. It will result in unrest, infringe privacy and encourage careless detection and prosecution.’ Van Hattum will be awarded a PhD by the University of Groningen on 26 January for research on the history of ‘Non bis in idem’ [double jeopardy], the rule that forbids a second trial.

A society that wants to come to terms with acts of violence in its past must do more than just punish the offenders. Historical research can help this confrontation with the past. Many historians, however, are not properly equipped to participate in a social debate about how the past is currently being dealt with. This is the opinion of University of Groningen historian Barbara Henkes in the run-up to the symposium ‘Historici en de confrontatie met een gewelddadig verleden’ [Historians and the confrontation with a violent past], which will take place in Groningen next week.

In 2005 a British psychologist came up with Blue Monday, the idea behind his theory being that the third Monday of January is the most depressing day of the year. Although there is no scientific basis for this idea, the media have a field day every year. This is unfortunate, according to clinical psychologist Claudi Bockting of the University of Groningen. ‘It causes inflation of the concept of depression.’

The liberal smoking policy of the government is as good as abandoning smokers to their fate. Once investment in smokers who want to stop decreases, the numbers will rise again. Although there is no immediate public interest, it is definitely up to the government to help this group of addicts break free from the cigarette. This is the opinion of health scientist Prof. Arie Dijkstra of the University of Groningen. He is specialized in addiction. ‘As far as I’m concerned, no-one has to quit smoking, but something extra needs to be done in order to reach smokers. After all, in most cases it’s an addiction.’

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