Wednesday, March 15, 2023

PETITE BOURGEOIS REACTIONARIES

Dutch farmers protest government's agricultural policy

Thousands gather in Hague to protest decision to reduce nitrogen emissions

THE FOUNDATION FOR FASCISM

Abdullah Aşıran | 13.03.2023


HAGUE, Netherlands

Thousands of farmers in the Netherlands gathered Saturday in the Hague to protest the government's agricultural policy.

Protestors participated in the demonstration that was organized with the support of various institutions.

Farmers gathered in Zuiderpark to protest the government's decision to reduce nitrogen emissions.

The municipality of the Hague banned tractors from entering the city to maintain public order.

It allowed only two tractors to enter, citing an "emergency order."

Far-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders and the leader of the far-right Forum for Democracy party, Thierry Baudet, addressed the demonstration.


*Writing by Zehra Nur Duz.

Dutch farmers, climate activists protest policies

Protesters, many carrying the upside-down Dutch flag synonymous with farmers' demos, have rallied. Photo: AAP

Mar 12,2023

More than 10,000 Dutch farmers have protested in The Hague against government plans to limit nitrogen emissions, a policy they say will spell the end of many farms and hit food production.

Many symbolically held the country’s flag upside down during the demonstration, which took place ahead of March 15 regional elections and followed similar protests by farmers in Belgium this month over nitrogen emission rules.

Elsewhere in the city, thousands of environmentalists blocked a major thoroughfare in an unauthorised protest against tax rules they say encourage the use of fossil fuels.

Police used water cannon to disperse a group of about 100 of the activists late in the afternoon.


FARMERS NOT ATTACKED BY POLICE


The pro-farm protesters carried banners reading “No farmers, no food,” and “There is no nitrogen ‘problem'” during the peaceful demonstration organised by the Farmers’ Defence Force group.

Relatively large numbers of livestock and heavy use of fertilisers have led to levels of nitrogen oxides in the soil and water in the Netherlands and Belgium that are higher than European Union regulations allow.

Farm groups say the problem has been exaggerated and that the proposed solutions are unfair and ineffective.

Next week’s regional elections are significant because they will determine the make-up of the Dutch Senate, and because regional governments are responsible for translating national government goals – such as nitrogen caps – into concrete plans.

Environmentalists led by the climate activist group Extinction Rebellion scaled a wall next to the road they had blocked to hang a banner reading “Stop fossil subsidies”.


Protesters are demanding an end to fuel tax exemptions for oil refineries and coal plants, introduced to avoid double taxation, as well as exemptions for the aviation and shipping industries that were agreed at the EU level.

— AAP

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