Today, during an international joint action day in Italy and Germany, 160 people were arrested. More are expected to be apprehended. They are suspected of participation in a mafia-type (‘ndrangheta) organised criminal group, attempted murder, extortion, money laundering, firearms-related offences and other crimes. Today’s operation is the culmination of lengthy and complex investigations, initiated and conducted in Italy by the Reparto Operativo Speciale (ROS) under the leadership of the Procura della Repubblica – Direzione Distrettuale Antimafia (DDA) of Catanzaro.In Germany, the operation involved several Prosecutor General’s Offices and Prosecution Offices in four German Federal States (Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia), as well as numerous German police authorities, with the full and direct support of Eurojust.The investigation revealed that a local cell of the ‘ndrangheta (a so-called ‘locale’), based in Cirò (Crotone, Italy), owned and used several businesses in Italy, including companies producing wine, oil, bread and dairy products, as front companies to launder illicit profits obtained through a wide range of criminal activities. Telephone interceptions, together with other covert investigation measures, further revealed that a branch of the locale of Cirò was very active in Germany, where its members also intimidated owners of restaurants, pizza and ice cream parlours, forcing them to buy products from the companies controlled by the criminal group.Eurojust ensured a comprehensive coordination at EU level and provided full operational legal assistance to all national authorities involved. Today, 160 arrests and over 250 simultaneous searches and seizures took place all over Italy and Germany. Eurojust set up a coordination centre at its premises in The Hague with the participation of representatives of the Prosecution Office and ROS of Catanzaro. Via the coordination centre, Eurojust coordinated the simultaneous execution of 10 European Arrest Warrants and 13 European Investigation Orders in four Federal States in Germany and facilitated the real-time exchange of information among all judicial and law enforcement officials involved in the joint operations.Today’s joint operations were prepared during a coordination meeting that took place in December 2017 at Eurojust, during which representatives of the relevant judicial and law enforcement authorities of Germany and Italy discussed the best way forward in relation to mutual legal assistance and exchanged operational information resulting from the complex national investigations. They also agreed on a common operational strategy to dismantle the mafia criminal group, including deciding to organise today’s joint operation to arrest the group’s alleged members.
Nuno Brito – Picture by Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros (Portugal).
Lisboa, 3 January 2018: Portuguese Permanent Representative to the EU, Ambassador Nuno Brito, was honoured end of December in Lisbon with the “Francisco de Melo e Torres” award, annually granted by the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIP), and was delivered to him before his peers, members of the government and public administration, business people and representatives of civil society at the yearly diplomatic seminar
He was selected for his tireless work in managing Portugal’s exit from the category of countries not balancing out their budgets within the EU, but rather remarkably for skilfully pushing forward the candidature of Mário Centeno, Finance Minister, to take over the rains of the Eurogroup for all EURO countries from 13 January 2018.
He is Portugal’s Permanent Representative to the EU (Coreper I) since 2015, having previously served as his homeland’s top envoy to the USA.
The award is named after a Portuguese diplomat of the XVII century, and comes with a 25,000 EUR reward. It is given out annually to the head of mission who distinguishes him/herself in aiding to internationalise Portuguese companies, and thereby contributes to a healthy national economy.
For further information:
Permanent Representation of Portugal to the EU (Ambassador Nuno Brito):
https://www.ue.missaoportugal.mne.pt/en/permanent-representation/who-s-who
Mrs Midori Inomata, Dr Joop A Stam and spouse with His Excellency Ambassador Hiroshi Inomata.By Roy Lie A Tjam.
Japan – Nippon, the land where the sun rises. The Ambassador of Japan in the Netherlands H.E. Hiroshi Inomata hosted a Ceremony of Conferment at his Residence in honour of Dr Joop A. Stam, Professor Emeritus of Erasmus University Rotterdam and the University of Twente. After warmly welcoming his guests Ambassador Hiroshi Inomata proceeded with the ceremony of Conferment.
Dr Stam received the ‘the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon’ in recognition of his outstanding contribution in developing Japanese studies and promoting a better understanding of Japan in the Netherlands.
Dr Stam commenced his speech of acceptance by thanking His Majesty for elevating him to this high position. Dr Stam stated he wishes to thank all who have been instrumental in making all of this happen. Among them the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Japan, the Embassy in The Hague and the numerous others.
Stam went on with what he described as a Roots and Wings. His roots are in the northern Province of Friesland. He has a strong sense of right and wrong.
His academical formation at Leiden university gave him wings which enabled him to explore the world.
When Joop Stam arrived in Japan in 1969 he was unknown, however, everybody knew Anton Geesink.
His new understanding of Japan came through several business types of research. Japan will always be part of me, after all, its there where I met my wife he added.
A former student of the Erasmus University proposed a toast. He too studied in Japan but didn’t marry a Japanese. His wife is Italian. The crowd roared when they heard of Joop having acting skills and even acted in a Japanese drama.
The reception was a kind of Erasmus old boys reunion. Also present were Prof. Dr. Bert van der Knaap, Erasmus School of Economics and Prof. Dr. Ben Bakker.
Ambassador Hiroshi Inomata, proposed a toast and invited the guests to enjoy the light meal specially prepared for them.
By Barend ter Haar.
In the autumn of 1688, a relative of mine, William of Orange, assembled in Holland a fleet of almost 500 ships with 40.000 men aboard to invade England. In November he disembarked in Devon and in December Dutch forces entered London. For the next thirteen years William III was not only Stadtholder of Holland and Zealand, but also King of England, Scotland and Ireland.
The contrast between the arrival of William III in London and the way Queen Máxima and I are received on our State Visit is enormous. I am happy to say that in the meantime British hospitality has greatly improved (and so have, I admit, Dutch manners). However, the similarities between 1688 and 2018 are much larger that they may seem to be at first sight, because the future of democracy was at stake then and is at stake now.
In 1688 England stood before the choice between parliamentary democracy and absolute monarchy and between freedom of speech and the right of the government to decide what its subjects were allowed to say. The Glorious Revolution did not yet establish liberal democracy as we now know it, but it made big steps in that direction by recognizing the crucial importance of the rule of law and freedom of speech.
The Glorious Revolution and its Bill of Rights set an important example, first for the countries of Western Europe and North America and subsequently for the rest of the world. Nowadays, 330 years later, most countries pay at least lip service to democracy, although several of them, even in Europe, still have difficulty in accepting that the rule of law and freedom of speech are essential parts of it.
Now again the world is fascinated by what is happening in England.
During my lifetime the United Kingdom was a shining example of a country that managed to combine a strong commitment to human rights, democracy and international cooperation with a crucial role in the development of European cooperation.
I do not have to tell you that the great challenges that confront humanity, from environmental pollution and climate change to dual-use technology (that can both be used for the benefit of mankind and for its destruction), can only be addressed successfully if we cooperate regionally and globally with a determination and commitment that the world has not seen before, at least not in peacetime.
However, such international cooperation is tiresome and frustrating. Countries put their own interests first. That is perfectly understandable, but it does not mean that it is wise to ignore the interests of others. It took Europe two world wars to learn that lesson and to recognize that everybody is better of when countries take the interests of other countries into account and put common interests above individual interests.
It is no exaggeration to say that everywhere in the world the European experiment is followed with great interest. Will it succeed? Or will the temptation to deceive voters with nostalgic dreams of national independence be too strong? Will the European project break down when countries withdraw behind their borders, hoping that, at least for some time, disasters will hit others but not them? Or will the Western democracies prove able to address their problems together?
How will, in that context, the world look at the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from Europe? What does it mean for the future of democracy? Does democracy mean that a single referendum can force a government to break down the trust and solidarity that was build during half a century of cooperation? Does democracy mean that a government should blindly follow the whims of its electorate? If this is democracy, is democracy compatible with the close international cooperation that is needed to address the challenges of our time?
When the United Kingdom applied for membership of the European Communities and France vetoed it, the Netherlands did not give up. For more than ten years, the Netherlands remained the strongest advocate for British membership, because we were convinced that the United Kingdom is a crucial part of Europe and an indispensable ally in the defence of human rights, rule of law and democracy.
That is why we are so amazed and dismayed by your decision to withdraw from the European Union. Like in 1688, the future of democracy is at stake. We need you at the table in Brussels to defend freedom and democracy both within Europe and abroad.
Like fifty years ago, we will not give up until you are back were you belong, in the heart of Europe.
On the picture, chefs and students of Hong Kong’s Chinese Culinary Institute turned the gastronomic fancies of Jin Yong’s novel “The Legend of the Eagle-Shooting Heroes” into reality. The ham used to make “Twenty-four Bridges of Moonlight” can be seen in the centre of the picture. Any kind of food, it would seem, can be found in culinary paradise Hong Kong, from Michelin-starred restaurants to tasty and authentic street food.
The 2017 guide references 49 different cuisines and 61 starred-restaurants, including six awarded three stars, a rich offering indeed for a territory 30 times smaller than Belgium. Only a selected few food fanatics would be zealous and bold enough to attempt recreating in real life the fanciful and extravagant dishes that existed only in fiction, and this has never been done outside Hong Kong.
When the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (HKETO, Brussels) decided to crown its 2017 celebrations to mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region with a martial arts-themed gala dinner, with dishes inspired by Jin Yong’s classic, The Legend of the Eagle-Shooting Heroes, Hong Kong’s Chinese Culinary Institute (CCI) was quick to accept the challenge.
Founded in the year 2000, the CCI is the biggest educational institution in Hong Kong, offering programmes for both beginners and for professionals wishing to upgrade their skills. They can learn the main Chinese regional styles of cooking, each with its dedicated kitchen and served in the institute’s own restaurant. Particular emphasis, of course, is placed on Hong Kong’s own Cantonese cuisine, renowned for its delicious and endlessly varied dim sum dumplings. Such is the institute’s reputation for excellence that once they graduate, students are quickly snapped up by restaurants and hotels in Hong Kong and the region – the CCI boasts a 96% employment rate.
With its practice of encouraging a creative approach and a modern interpretation of classic dishes, the CCI was excited rather than daunted by the challenge of turning the gastronomic fantasies of Jin Yong’s masterpiece into reality. CCI chefs, assisted by their students, used their skills and talent to create and cook an eight-course feast of aromatic dishes with poetic references, served at two gala dinners hosted by HKETO, Brussels, one in Paris on 19 October and the other in Brussels on 24 October 2017.
This is how one of these culinary delights, so delicious that it earned its name from a line of a Tang poem – “Twenty-four Bridges of Moonlight”, is made. Twenty-four holes are scooped out of a Jinhua ham, which are then artfully filled with 24 little spheres skillfully carved from a piece of tofu. Bound and steamed, the ham produces a wonderful, savoury taste, absorbed by the tofu. Having served its purpose, the ham is then discarded, and the 24 white moon-like spheres can be served.
This was just one of the dishes cooked by the book’s heroine, Huang Rong, for renowned martial arts master Hong Qiqong. Knowing he was a gourmet in constant pursuit of sensual enjoyment, she used her remarkable cooking talents to tempt him to agree to teach her lover Guo Jing the 18 powerful kung fu moves known as “The Art of Taming Dragons”. The story is as familiar to Hong Kong and other Chinese people, growing up reading Jin Yong’s books and watching the many television series and films derived from them, as the tales of King Arthur and the Round Table are to people in the West.
The enjoyment of guests at the gala dinners was further enhanced by the expert performances of martial arts athletes from the Hong Kong Wushu Union, all gold medallists in various competitions.
Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union, Ms Shirley Lam, introduced some of Hong Kong’s achievements over the past 20 years. She told guests, who included members of the diplomatic corps, the European institutions, the Belgian government, business people, academics and the media, that Hong Kong enjoys a unique advantage under “one country, two systems”. “We benefit greatly from strong links with the Mainland of China and, at the same time, we retain our separate legal, financial and economic systems. We have used our experience and skills in doing business with the outside world for over half a century. Our international outlook and connectivity and the high degree of autonomy we enjoy has given us an edge”.
Ms Lam said that the best is yet to come for Hong Kong, as the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government continues to strive to make the city even more competitive and connected.
“Our Chief Executive Mrs Carrie Lam, in her first Policy Address delivered on 11 October, outlined a full range of proposals to promote and facilitate Hong Kong to be an ideal place for companies to expand their business, and also a more liveable and smarter city for our people and visitors.”
Ms Lam also spoke about the new measures to make the tax system even more business friendly, the Government’s strategy to boost innovation and technology development, mega infrastructural projects that are underway and the unique opportunities Hong Kong will enjoy under the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area development.
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More information at www.hongkong-eu.org
By H.E. Hiroshi Inomata, Ambassador of Japan to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
When I assumed my post as Ambassador of Japan in the Netherlands about two years ago, I was of course familiar with the shared history of our countries which has been over 400 years relationship, but living here has truly made me realise how deeply entwined the connection between Japan and the Netherlands is.
In February 2017, I had a chance to visit the place that was the key to the beginnings of this relationship: Dejima, a once fan-shaped artificial island, which as a served trading post from 17th to 19th century, in the bay of Nagasaki in the south of Japan.
The island Dejima has changed the geological shape and function with city expansion. In 1922, Dejima was registered as a national historic site and full-fledged restoration projects started in 1996.
On 24 November 2017, the restoration process reached a significant milestone for the Japan-Netherlands relationship. The Omotemon (Main gate) Bridge, which had formed the sole connection between mainland Nagasaki and the island of Dejima, was restored at the exact location where the original bridge had been until around 1890. It was unveiled in the presence of Her Royal Highness Princess Laurentien from the Netherlands and Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Akishino.
The Omotemon (Main gate) Bridge.
As Princess Laurentien aptly phrased it in her speech: “The completion of the Omotemon Bridge has made the bond between Nagasaki and the Netherlands even stronger.” As a matter of fact, on that very same day, the city of Nagasaki and the city of Leiden had a sister-city affiliation ceremony.
In a period where Japan was all but closed off to the outside world, the Netherlands was the only ‘Western’ country that was allowed to conduct trade with Japan. For over two hundred years, from 1641 to 1859, the Dutch were granted a permanent presence on Dejima that measured no more than 120 by 75 meters (390 by 250 feet). This trading post was de facto one of the only windows Japan had on the rest of the world, and as such, it was paramount to the Japanese in terms of ‘Western’ science, knowledge, culture and lifestyle.
Over several decades, the Dutch introduced a great variety of scientific knowledge to Japan: ‘Western’ medicine, chemistry, electricity, microscopes, hot air balloons and clocks, to name a few, which ushered in a new era of science. In addition, Japanese artists freely experimented with the styles of perspective that were common in the art that the Dutch imported. Indeed, for the Japanese, the interaction with the Dutch offered new views on the world, which were instrumental to the rise of Japan as a modern nation.
Her Royal Highness Princess Laurentien from the Netherlands and Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Akishino.
In turn, the Dutch greatly benefited from the trading relationship as well. They imported Imari ware, famous Japanese porcelain, which became one of the major influences on the famous Dutch Delftware ceramics. The German-born doctor Von Siebold was posted on Dejima from 1823 to 1829 as the trading post’s physician and when he returned to the Netherlands and settled in Leiden, he brought back many cultural objects from Japan, as well as samples of Japanese flora and fauna. As a result, many of the plant species he collected in Japan adorn Dutch and European gardens nowadays, among which varieties of Japanese maple trees, hostas, and various species of hydrangeas and azaleas.
The Japanese prints, including Ukiyoe, and decorative art objects that found their way to Europe would later inspire painters like Van Gogh and the cultural phenomenon of Japonism that existed in the European arts.
When in 1854 Japan signed the Treaty of Peace and Amity with the United States, Japan’s policy of national seclusion came to an end, and with it the unique position of the Dutch on Dejima.
The historical Dutch trading post of Dejima might be a thing of the past, but the Netherlands remains a top-ranking investment partner for Japan within Europe and even on a global scale.
This year we were also proud to introduce two new Honorary Consul-Generals: Mr. Ter Avest for Amsterdam and Mr. Briët for Rotterdam. With their assistance, and the enthusiasm of the various Japan-related organisations located here, I am confident that the Netherlands and Japan will further deepen their relationship in the future.
The reconstruction of Dejima is scheduled to be completed in 2050. Meanwhile, in the botanical gardens in Leiden, several plants can still be found that Von Siebold planted himself and that, just like the friendship between Japan and the Netherlands, have continued to flourish to this day.
By Abir Ali – Chargé d’Affaires a.i., Embassy of Lebanon in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. (February 2013 – January 2018).
As I prepare to leave the Netherlands, I reflect on the five years I spent in this beautiful country with joy and satisfaction. Working in The Hague has been a gratifying experience for me, at times challenging yet always enjoyable.
Lebanon and the Netherlands enjoy excellent relations. During my stay in Holland, our relations witnessed a remarkable boost. For the past years, Lebanon has been facing an unprecedented challenge represented by the Syrian refugee crisis. The impact on our security, economy, infrastructure and services has been massive. In these difficult circumstances, the Netherlands proved to be a committed partner of Lebanon. The Dutch stood by the Lebanese to help them cope with the spillovers of the Syrian refugee crisis. The current Dutch government confirmed this commitment by making Lebanon a focus country in the Coalition Agreement. The cooperation between our countries is growing and becoming stronger in several fields.
During my stay in The Hague, several visits took place on both sides. His Excellency the Prime Minister Mr. Mark Rutte along with former Minister Her Excellency Ms. Lillian Ploumen visited Lebanon in May 2016. A visit that consolidated the Dutch commitment to the stability of Lebanon. The number of Dutch officials and delegations visiting Lebanon is rising constantly. On the Lebanese side, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants His Excellency Mr. Gebran Bassil visited the Netherlands in September 2014, and not only, in 2016, he also visited Curaçao where there is a sizable Lebanese community, and many prominent figures in the Curaçao public life are of Lebanese origins.
Abir Ali.
During the past years, Lebanon has been linked with the refugee crisis in the Dutch media. As a representative of my country, I never missed an opportunity to shed the light on the alarming consequences that this crisis has inflicted on Lebanon; however, my focus extended beyond the refugee crisis and its spillovers.
I made every effort to highlight the values of tolerance, openness, coexistence, and pluralism which are the essence of Lebanon. I wanted to introduce the Dutch to the history, culture, art, and cuisine of Lebanon which give Lebanon its unique place in the Middle East and the world.
Despite the limited means at my disposal, I tried to showcase the best of what my country has to offer. I organized regular business events to underscore the investment opportunities in Lebanon, art exhibitions to show the thriving Lebanese art scene, wine tasting to introduce the Dutch to the exquisite Lebanese wines, and various other events where Lebanese food always took centre stage.
On the multilateral level, it is an unforgettable experience for me to be in The Hague when the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013. Lebanon is an active and committed member of the OPCW, and Lebanon and the Embassy in The Hague were instrumental for the OPCW to carry out its mission smoothly.
As for the Tribunals, it was instructive for me to see first-hand how international justice is being served in The Hague, the city of Peace of Justice.
The Lebanese community in the Netherlands may not be as large as in other EU countries, but its contribution and loyalty to the Dutch society is praiseworthy. I was pleasantly surprised to learn the high number of marriages between Lebanese and Dutch, and I was happy to meet many of these couples who are the living example of how two cultures seemingly different can get along very well.
The marking event of my stay remains the investiture of His Majesty King Willem Alexander which I had the great honour to attend. It was a privilege for me to work in the Netherlands. I enjoyed working with and getting to know the Dutch who are easy to deal with, straightforward and obliging. I find Holland a fascinating country where innovation never stops, where freedom and equality are the staples of all aspects of life, where the beautiful colours of spring blend with those of Van Gogh, and the colours of autumn with those of Rembrandt, and where no matter how gloomy the skies are, the sun graces each day with a ray of sunlight.
After five years, the most precious thing I take with me from Holland is that when I talk about the people I met, or I worked with, I do not refer to them as contacts, but as good friends of mine, and for that, Dankuwel Nederland!
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About the author: Abir Ali is an experienced Lebanese diplomat who before coming to The Hague served her country in Washington D.C., Rome and Bahrain. She holds a BA in Economics and a degree in Law, and during her stay in the Netherlands, she earned a Master degree in International Relations Cum Laude from Leiden University. She also learned Dutch. Besides Arabic, Ms. Ali speaks French, English, Spanish, Italian, and little German.She managed to assimilate with many of the Dutch customs and habits including the Dutch ritual of New Year’s dive in the North Sea, but not riding the bike.
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Photography by Hester Dijkstra.
On the picture the Ambassadors of Bosnia – H.E. Mirsada Colakovic, Canada – H.E. Sabine Nölke, Tanzania – H.E. Ms. Irene Florence M. Kasyanju, Ambassador Marriët Schuurman, Austria – H.E. Dr Heidemaria Gürer, Pakistan – H.E. Mrs. Iffat Imran Gardezi, Kosovo – H.E. Vjosa Dobruna, Estonia – H.E. Ms Kaili Terras, Portugal – H.E. Mrs. Rosa Batoréu, Albania – H.E. Adia Sakiqi, Chile – H.E. Maria Teresa de Jesus Infante Caffi, Palestine – H.E. Rawan Sulaiman, Lebanon – Ms. Abir Ali, Romania – H.E. Brandusa Predescu, Brazil – H.E. Ms. Regina Maria Cordeiro Dunlop, Cameroon – H.E. Odette Melono, New Zealand – H.E. Ms. Lyndal Elizabeth Walker, Vietnam – H.E. Ngo Thi Hoa, Croatia – H.E. Andrea Gustovic Ercegovac, Germany to the OPCW – H.E. Christine Weil, Burundi – H.E. Vestine Nahimana.By Diplomat Magazine.The Ladies Ambassador group of The Hague composed by 34 ambassadors credited to the Netherlands met for a lunch hosted by H.E. Ambassador Heidemaria Guerer of Austria. The Guest of Honour was Ambassador Marriët Schuurman, Head of UN Security Council Task Force from The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The host offered a traditional Austrian menu at the great salon of the official residence of the Austrian Ambassador. The wine served during the lunch came from Ambassador Guerer private vineyards in Austria. Table conversation commenced with Ambassador Schuurman answering questions about the actions taken by the Netherlands in the Caribbean after hurricane Irma recently affected St Marteen. Further, she talked about the focus of the Netherlands in countries including Venezuela, Myanmar, Somalia and South Sudan. Additionally, she spoke about the Dutch peace keeping experience in Mali. As Ambassador Schuurman explained, more than 90% of Dutch agenda focuses on the prevention and solving of situations involving the most suffering. This manifests as protection and peacekeeping among civilians. To further elaborate, she exposed that the new security challenges of contemporary society are extremism, migration and climate change, particularly in water conflicts. According to Ambassador Schuurman, going forward the Netherlands will continue to lead the way in preventing extremism, combatting climate change, and aiding hurricane victims. Next year the Netherlands will be able to continue this leadership, as they will chair the UN Security Council in March 2018. Ambassador Schuurman foresees the Netherlands will …’will look for larger coalitions, inclusion and making the accent in an agenda for equal participation working with all members with transparency’.
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Photography by Hester Djikstra for Diplomat Magazine.
Pino I TELL NO LIES short version.By Dario Poli.“To see what is in front of your nose needs a constant struggle.” George Orwell
As young child raised in the tough industrial centre of Scotland, amidst a culture that prided itself on its home grown achievements, past traditions of clan unity, honour, truthful expression, rebelliousness, heroism both socially and on the many glorified battlefields of wars, was not an easy experience to say the least.
The first hearing of the name Pinocchio by an Italian author and Freemason Carlo Lorenzini (known by his pen name Carlo Collodi, (1826-1890) being mentioned in local schools, was quite a shock to me, as I am of Italian origins, not the best national badge to carry around, after more than five years of war involving Italians fighting against British imperial power that included the brave Scots.
Carlo Collodi’s Pinocchio–Diane Goode, Illustr.
Pinocchio was a Walt Disney film first launched in 1940 during World War Two, which I saw many years later as a 5 year old impressionable boy and it was quite an experience for me.
Amazed to see how a carved wooden doll could come alive, be lifelike and to learn that if he the doll, did not tell the absolute truth, his nose size would increase dramatically within seconds. I was fascinated by this idea, with its funny scenes and shocked by what I saw in the film, which also contained darker uncomfortable moments.
Because of my natural curiosity, I became fascinated by nose sizes thereafter and would watch if any of my school pals told an untruth, to see if there was any increase in size of this important facial feature, or in its colour, such as a blush pink colour.
It was to no avail, as lies came and went, without any visible changes much to my disappointment, especially as I recalled that I had often been cautioned by my parents, not to be nosy and not to put my nose into others people’s affairs.
To see Pinocchio’s many strange adventures and to learn that even then in the 1800’s that very young children were being lured by gifts, then abducted by ruthless criminals and sold as chattels to persons unknown…I found this part of the story rather scary, I do recall.
Nevertheless despite the dark side of the Pinocchio fable, its nose growing seed was planted in my young, susceptible, subconscious mind and I remained interested in this fascinating idea from Collodi’s imaginative pen.
Quite recently, due to all the conundrum, media hysteria and non-stop declarations of fake news and the huge outbreak of lies and exposure of this and that scandal, involving famous individuals, along with their vehement denials of various allegations before resigning their offices, as well as the numerous past historical lies at present being exposed, by the new internet media forums that abound today, Pinocchio was reawakened from his slumbers.
I began to visualize a world, where this nose job increase due to lying, would become a reality of our times, led by ambitious people determined to nose ahead ….
I first looked to our past history and to our political leaders, working in our time-honoured, dignified, parliamentary institutions, making their weekly speeches to the people and to the truthful media personages, who conscientiously write, each and every word the politicians declared. The lies of this political world seemed ocean like in scale…Lies eternal.
Surely there could only be persons with short stubby truthful noses, in those hallowed halls of legal authority and power?
If Pinocchio were true? Then our politicians, their political controllers and their immediate servants, would have noses so long, that they would have to acquire paid attendants walking in front of them, holding up their extended noses above their heads, to allow them to move freely and keep the stench of their snotty sickness away from human sensitivities.
I imagined rows and rows of serious looking, hugely long nosed men and women, attending international conferences, in prestigious capital cities like Washington, London, Rome, Paris and the Hague, espousing their important views on this and that subject, including some blatant propagandistic untruths and promises they know cannot be delivered.
The best liars, needing motorised handlers, as their outstretched noses can be supported and moved around more easily, as they receive the applause of the shorter length noses of the cheering populations, who accept and generally believe in them and their governance, being led by the collective nose.
Governments and the press would first create then establish, a deception of the people by the use of misinformation, alleging, with the support of all the international medical associations that the increase of nose growing, was entirely due to a new vicious virus from the East named as Nositus Extendum.
Avoiding the fact, that this nose outbreak of Nositus Extendum, had simply to do with lying and was easily curable by intense doses of the truth, by those afflicted by this false virus narrative.
Enrico Mazzanti’s Pinocchio.
International truth whistle-blowers with their short stubby noses, dumping huge amounts of truthful data via the internet, would be hunted down, arrested and put on public trial, accused of lying and deceiving the people.
The Police with their generally shorter noses, could now easily capture criminals, simply by asking the right questions, as if they lied, it would be visible immediately, saving so much time, effort, cost and manpower.
The established churches and various religious creeds and denominations, would also have some embarrassing problems, containing and hiding their nose extensions, as their scrupulous, undeviating versions of historical facts, are being placed in dispute as to their authenticity by learned scientific scholars, who I discovered, have shorter noses. I wonder why?
I was taught that God created us in his likeness and was the illumination of Truth. So I concluded he must have a small nose. But his arch rival, Lucifer the fallen angel, due to his myriad of lies and deceptions, must have a gigantic nose, wider and longer than any motorway known to man and big enough to cruise along to eternity. Some religious souls actually accusing Lucifer of creating the Nositus Extendum virus, to once again deceive the world by pushing his unwelcome nose into the affairs of mankind.
Medical establishments, would have serious problems with their doctors and nurses if they fail tell their patient’s, unpalatable truth about their conditions, as their noses would increase rapidly and due to Nositus Extendum, hospitals would be overwhelmed by people demanding operations to try and reduce nose sizes permanently.
Hospitals and clinics with facial health practitioners, would boom financially from desperate people demanding nose jobs, to reduce their size to something manageable and permanent, whilst the pharmaceutical companies, are busily engaged inventing new types of medical applications and pills, to combat Nositus Extendum the nose phenomena.
International financial institutions such as banks and stock exchanges, would ….performing their commercial transactions and money operations, on the computer screens as the false numbers being sent and received, would cause almighty anger and confusion, as the extended noses would be inadvertently hitting the wrong digits, causing mayhem in the markets.
The military’s of the world would be unable to operate efficiently, as with such long noses how could the tank crews, manage their killing machines with long noses and the infantry would need their noses strapped to their rifles so they can be fired. The snipers would be clearly ineffective. Perhaps only by the use of drones could they perform their national duties and earn their pay.
One could watch, enjoy and laugh at slick TV interviews, where both interviewer and interviewed, rest their differing nose sizes, on specially designed desks, that can be adjusted to the individual’s size and shape…
I recently watched the fascinating interview, with the charming Baron de Nosebury, who clearly considered himself a nose above everyone else.
Charle Folkard’s illustr. of Carlo Collodi’s Pinocchio.
I had quite a chuckle, watching him having difficulty sipping from his glass of water as his extensive nose, got in the way and could not stop sneezing, as he tried to deliver his exaggerations and falsehoods, to his TV audience.
Lovers, proclaiming their love to their amours, would have to be completely sincere with their partners, as any variation and expanding movements of the nose, could lead to an emotionally negative response and possibly a breakup of the relationship, especially after being asked “how was it for you darling?’ and told “Ooooh yes it was wonderful.” OUCH!
However, some more intrepid lovers could go to any lengths, to turn this increased nose size, into a functional attraction and sexual addition to their loving repertoire.
It would become a world devoid of any racial, cultural conflict, but only resentments and jealousies as regards nose sizes, as in this case, bigger would not be better.
I suddenly shook my head vigorously and came out of my fanciful reverie. I touched my nose to check its size …Thank god it was only a dream, as my nose was normal, but strangely a bit warmer than normal and a little itchy I felt…I need a mirror… better check?
Will our present world, nose dive into oblivion? Can the truth in its purity, save us from this fate? Is a world of falsehoods, deceptions, downright lies and a plethora of fake news, permanently survivable?
Do we as a species, need to reflect once again on the Pinocchio Fable?
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Copywrite: Dario Poli December 2017
By Anton Lutter.
After the longest period of negotiating in Dutch political history – 208 days – a cabinet has been formed by the VVD, CDA, D’66 and CU political parties under the slogan “Trust in the future”, with Mark Rutte as third time Prime Minister, thus starts cabinet Rutte III. In part I and II, we will introduce the 24 Ministers and State Secretaries who were initiated by H.M. King Willem-Alexander at palace Noordeinde the 26th of October.
Mr. Mark Rutte Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs, is the party leader of the largest coalition party in government the VVD. Rutte born in The Hague 1967 is Prime Minister of the Netherlands since 2010 and the first liberal Prime Minister for 92 years. Since 2006 he’s also the leader of the Peoples Party for Freedom and Democracy. He earned his master’s degree in history from Leiden University, after which he worked for Unilever and Calvé. He entered public office as state secretary for Social Affairs and Employment in 2002 until 2004 and Higher Education and Science from 2004 until 2006 after which he entered parliament until being initiated as Prime Minister in 2010. As a politician, he still manages teaching class for two hours a week at Johan de Witt high school in The Hague.
Deputy-Prime Ministers
The leaders of the other coalition parties – unusually in Dutch political tradition – did not enter the cabinet but prefer to stay in the Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal (parliament). CDA, D’66 and CU put forward as their Deputy-Prime Ministers Mr. Hugo de Jonge, Mrs. Kajsa Ollongren and Mrs. Carola Schouten.
Mr. Hugo de Jonge, born in 1977 is Deputy-Prime Minister for the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) and Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport. Before entering the cabinet, he was Deputy-Mayor of Rotterdam since 2010, for Education, Youth and Family and later of Welfare. Mr. de Jonge is a teacher by education later serving in various positions within the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. He’s married with two children. The second Deputy-Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations is Mrs. Kajsa Ollongren, representing Democrats 66 (D’66) party. Mrs. Ollongren, who’s also of Swedish nationality, studied history at University of Amsterdam earning a master’s degree and subsequently studied public administration at École nationale d’administration in Paris. Her career has been in the civil service starting at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, lastly becoming the Secretary-General of the Ministry of General Affairs under Prime Minister Rutte in 2011.
In 2014 she entered politics by becoming the Deputy-Mayor of Amsterdam, her portfolio including such topics as economics, sea-and airports, local media and monuments. For a shortwhile she was acting Mayor of Amsterdam, after the sudden death of Mayor Eberhard van der Laan on the 5th october 2017. Ollongren is married with two children and is the first minister since 1981 who belongs to the Dutch nobility.
The third and last Deputy-Prime Minister also Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food quality Ms. Carola Schouten, who enters the cabinet as one of the 10 female Ministers and State Secretaries, is also the youngest minister in Rutte III. She represents the Christian Union (CU) who for the second time enter a government coalition. Before entering the cabinet she was a member of parliament 2011-2017 and earlier a civil servant at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment. Mrs. Schouten studied business at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
Cabinet Ministers and Ministers without Portfolio
A surprise appoint is Halbe Zijlstra who will lead Dutch foreign policy as Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr. Halbe Zijlstra (VVD), born in 1969 studied sociology at the University of Groningen earning a master’s degree in 1996. Working for Royal Dutch Shell he visited countries like Greece, Italy, Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela and Nigeria. From 1998 to 2001 he was a member of city council of Utrecht and again from 2003 to 2006 when he was elected to parliament. In october 2010 until 2012 he was chosen to be the State Secretary for Education, Culture and Science in the Rutte Cabinet I. In that he was known for initiating budget cuts in the cultural sector, which bolstered his image as person who’s not afraid to take unpopular measures.
As Mr. Mark Rutte became Prime Minister for the second time, Zijlstra became the chair of the VVD parliamentary group until his appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs. He’s married, having one son. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also houses the office of the Minister without Portfolio for Development Cooperation. For this position D’66 member Mrs. Sigrid Kaag has been chosen. A career diplomat Mrs. Kaag, born 1961, held the post of United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL) since january 2015. She has been working in a variety of positions both for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Royal Dutch Shell and the United Nations. She has earned a master’s of philosophy degree in international relations from the University of Exeter and a master’s degree in international relations from the University of Oxford. Mrs. Kaag is married with Mr. Anis al Aq former Palestinian representative to Switzerland, having 4 children.
Known to be rising star in the CDA, 42 year old Wopke Hoekstra is the Minister of Finance. He studied law at Leiden University and was praeses (president) of the Minerva student society. In 2005 he earned an MBA from ENSEAD at Fontainbleau. His start in public politics is as member of the Eerste Kamer der Staten-Generaal (senate) since 2011 until his recent appointment. He worked for Royal Dutch Shell and lastly as partner at McKinsey. His State Secretary of Fiscal Affairs, Lower Governmental Finances is Menno Snel (CU). Amongst others Mr. Snel was acting-director-general of Fiscal Affairs at said ministry, executive director of IMF and lastly chairman of the executive board of the Nederlandse Waterschapsbank. He studied economy at Groningen University.
At the Ministry of Justice and Security Mr. Ferdinand Grapperhaus (CDA) is at the helm. The son of a former state secretary of Finance, he was a law professor at Maastricht University and chairman of Allen & Overy Law firm. Born 1959 in Amsterdam Mr. Grapperhaus earned a master of law and doctor of philosophy at University of Amsterdam.
Minister of Legal Protection (minister without portfolio) is 42 years old Mr. Sander Dekker (VVD). In Rutte II cabinet he was State Secretary at the Ministry of Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, dealing with higher education, science and knowledge, teachers and culture. From 2006 until 2012 he served as Deputy-Mayor in The Hague where he started his political career as city councillor and was known as a strong debater. He studied public administration at Leiden University.
State Secretary of Immigration, Integration and Asylum Affairs at the Justice and Security Ministry is Mr. Mark Harbers (VVD). Born in 1969 he was a member of parliament since 2009 until this appointment. 2007-2009 he served as deputy-mayor in Rotterdam, at which city he also studied economy.
Stam went on with what he described as a Roots and Wings. His roots are in the northern Province of Friesland. He has a strong sense of right and wrong.
His academical formation at Leiden university gave him wings which enabled him to explore the world.
When Joop Stam arrived in Japan in 1969 he was unknown, however, everybody knew Anton Geesink.
His new understanding of Japan came through several business types of research. Japan will always be part of me, after all, its there where I met my wife he added.
A former student of the Erasmus University proposed a toast. He too studied in Japan but didn’t marry a Japanese. His wife is Italian. The crowd roared when they heard of Joop having acting skills and even acted in a Japanese drama.
The reception was a kind of Erasmus old boys reunion. Also present were Prof. Dr. Bert van der Knaap, Erasmus School of Economics and Prof. Dr. Ben Bakker.
Ambassador Hiroshi Inomata, proposed a toast and invited the guests to enjoy the light meal specially prepared for them.
Stam went on with what he described as a Roots and Wings. His roots are in the northern Province of Friesland. He has a strong sense of right and wrong.
His academical formation at Leiden university gave him wings which enabled him to explore the world.
When Joop Stam arrived in Japan in 1969 he was unknown, however, everybody knew Anton Geesink.
His new understanding of Japan came through several business types of research. Japan will always be part of me, after all, its there where I met my wife he added.
A former student of the Erasmus University proposed a toast. He too studied in Japan but didn’t marry a Japanese. His wife is Italian. The crowd roared when they heard of Joop having acting skills and even acted in a Japanese drama.
The reception was a kind of Erasmus old boys reunion. Also present were Prof. Dr. Bert van der Knaap, Erasmus School of Economics and Prof. Dr. Ben Bakker.
Ambassador Hiroshi Inomata, proposed a toast and invited the guests to enjoy the light meal specially prepared for them.
If Pinocchio were true? Then our politicians, their political controllers and their immediate servants, would have noses so long, that they would have to acquire paid attendants walking in front of them, holding up their extended noses above their heads, to allow them to move freely and keep the stench of their snotty sickness away from human sensitivities.
I imagined rows and rows of serious looking, hugely long nosed men and women, attending international conferences, in prestigious capital cities like Washington, London, Rome, Paris and the Hague, espousing their important views on this and that subject, including some blatant propagandistic untruths and promises they know cannot be delivered.
The best liars, needing motorised handlers, as their outstretched noses can be supported and moved around more easily, as they receive the applause of the shorter length noses of the cheering populations, who accept and generally believe in them and their governance, being led by the collective nose.
Governments and the press would first create then establish, a deception of the people by the use of misinformation, alleging, with the support of all the international medical associations that the increase of nose growing, was entirely due to a new vicious virus from the East named as Nositus Extendum.
Avoiding the fact, that this nose outbreak of Nositus Extendum, had simply to do with lying and was easily curable by intense doses of the truth, by those afflicted by this false virus narrative.
If Pinocchio were true? Then our politicians, their political controllers and their immediate servants, would have noses so long, that they would have to acquire paid attendants walking in front of them, holding up their extended noses above their heads, to allow them to move freely and keep the stench of their snotty sickness away from human sensitivities.
I imagined rows and rows of serious looking, hugely long nosed men and women, attending international conferences, in prestigious capital cities like Washington, London, Rome, Paris and the Hague, espousing their important views on this and that subject, including some blatant propagandistic untruths and promises they know cannot be delivered.
The best liars, needing motorised handlers, as their outstretched noses can be supported and moved around more easily, as they receive the applause of the shorter length noses of the cheering populations, who accept and generally believe in them and their governance, being led by the collective nose.
Governments and the press would first create then establish, a deception of the people by the use of misinformation, alleging, with the support of all the international medical associations that the increase of nose growing, was entirely due to a new vicious virus from the East named as Nositus Extendum.
Avoiding the fact, that this nose outbreak of Nositus Extendum, had simply to do with lying and was easily curable by intense doses of the truth, by those afflicted by this false virus narrative.
