MoonDancer
Clansman
"Voices are calling from somewhere below"
Posts: 384
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Post by MoonDancer on Sept 28, 2006 23:38:30 GMT 2
Thanks for all the comments. Still there are about 1000 people protesting in frint of the bulding of the Hungarian Parliament. And I think in a way they are right. It's OK, that EU wants reforms, but the main problem with the PM's (Gyurcsány, the spelling was correct, Lionheart)program, that it mainly distresses lower middle class and middle class people. And we already pay back cc.70 % of our salary to the state in different forms of taxes and fees. And since there are protest in the main cities and towns, too, I think Government should think of resigning, though they declared that they won't do it. On the other hand the protesters don't really agree on their claims. THe only point they agree on is that Gyurcsany should resign and people want a new government. In a way it is funny, that different gruops of protesters hand in their petiton, so it's like a petition race. And people protesting there act like they were in a camping-site. They have tents, they cook on open fires, some farmers send food for them, and so on. Now it's more of a cultural festival, speeches are broken by bands playing on the stage (or vice versa). So I don't really think that this will become a revolution as we had in 1956 or 1848. So, people protesting here are also not enough to make a difference.
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Arkhis
Wolfcub
Pirates are forever!
Posts: 17
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Post by Arkhis on Oct 1, 2006 22:25:15 GMT 2
I do hope the porblems in hungary get solved soon, MoonDancer. Though I'm surprised by the PM's admittance to lying, I don't really have much faith in politics anyway.
If you want to know the political situation in Belgium: Tensions are high in the government because of many escapes from prisons (27 prisoners escaped here not long ago). For the rest, this tension also brings more media attention to another problem: the future of Belgium - Unitarian, or divided? As I read more and more, it seems that more and more Flemish (Dutch speakers in BE) want to abdicate the royal family (amongs the problems with them is their shabble knowledge of Dutch) and somehow I feel Belgium is going to end. I see more and more separatism brewing in Flanders, and a longing for a separate independant Flemish state. Somehow, I think most Belgians underestimate what's going on here, though I might be wrong.
Also, free concerts for tolerance, VB (Vlaams Belang, nationalist party) complains it is directed against them (somehow again stating neo-fascist ideals and extremism).
So while there are no protests in Belgium atm, there is trouble brewing. Anyone has some insights to share? As I'm from Belgium, I'd like to hear more opinions from people from other countries. This situation is quite unnerving...
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Post by Humppaporo on Oct 1, 2006 22:46:26 GMT 2
I am not really aware about what is going on nowadays in Belgium, of course the rough outlines you scetched are known. I think there is more to it, Flanders was always the rich part of the country and Wallon the poor. I remember when being a kid in Belgium that even in cities like Bruxelles there was much struggle about the language, no-one wanted to give in. I remember f.i my aunt sending me to a bakery for a bread (I was 7 years old and living in the netherlands, so didn't speak French) The woman in the store acted like she didn't understand waht i said, though it was clear what i meant (pointing). My aunt went there (she was bilingual) and got mad at the woman. I have seen these things more often, and the fact that even the king abstaines from speaking Dutch is odd. I mean, when you are king of a country, you should be able to speak every official language that is spoken in your country. Imo the main problem is a financial one, and of course a historical one (a matter of pride too). It is very sad that neofascist organisations bloom so well in Belgium, but also on other places of the world. Most people tend to follow everyone who makes a strong impression and promises a better life... blaming others (i.c. foreigners etc) is an easy way of gaining sympathy (of people who don't think for themselves). I don't think Belgium will end so soon. But the still existing gap between both parts of the country is ' food ' for revolutional things, those neonazi parties fit in there too. future: why not an alliance, some sort of LAT relation...
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Arkhis
Wolfcub
Pirates are forever!
Posts: 17
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Post by Arkhis on Oct 1, 2006 23:00:50 GMT 2
future: why not an alliance, some sort of LAT relation... Well, thats the way it is now. The fact that both Wallonia and Flanders has their own nearly autonomous government doesn't make it much easier. An when you mentionned "pride", I drop off my chair. Thats so true I didn't even think of it . Then again, as an author once wrote in an open letter to the king: "Your Majesty, the Belgian does not exist." It still feels like this country exists out of 2 different peoples, who have no love for eachother at all. Somehow, this cannot continue. But no one can stop the world from turning the way it has to, what shall be, shall be.
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Post by Lionheart on Oct 2, 2006 10:09:13 GMT 2
The power of the neofascism, which also is the danger of it is the fact that they, as humppaporo said, point to a minority in the country and blame situations on them. These minorities get ticked off about that, start counterattacts and the next thing you know is the neofascist movement pointing at them telling everyone: see that's what they're like there is imho the big danger in such movements...
As for Belgium... it's 2 diff. cultures clashing I think... where the french people are feelling more... familiar with the southern european french culture, the flemish are more connected to the northern european dutch and german culture... which ofcourse gives tension. That the representative of the country, the king, doesn't speak any dutch or hardly any ofcourse doesn't add to that...
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Post by Humppaporo on Nov 20, 2006 11:00:33 GMT 2
Again not from my country, but still: www.yle.fi/news/id47578.htmlNot nice, If this happens, it would have a bad influence on the Korpiklaani songs ;D *A sixpack costs in Finland already around € 8,-
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Post by HerraHirwi on Nov 20, 2006 16:50:14 GMT 2
Again not from my country, but still: www.yle.fi/news/id47578.htmlNot nice, If this happens, it would have a bad influence on the Korpiklaani songs ;D *A sixpack costs in Finland already around € 8,- The problem of alcohol taxation here in Finland is the fact that namely beer and wine are kept in big taxes, not the strong liquor. It has lead to a situation where people will pay more to get namely strong liquor --> alcohol problems and "Finnish bad drinking habits" - attitude are raising their head. And thus politicians will increase beer and wine prices, because of the liquor problems, which is absurd. It seems a little punishment for a beer and wine friend such as I. It would be much better if liquor prices would be high and beer and wine prices low, thus there would be much less problems to everybody. But personally Finnish alcohol politics doesn't bother that much anymore, as I've brewed my own beer since the summer - with good results! Even right now there's comin 20 liter of good dark ale for a christmas beer. This will come even more cheaper than going to Estonia to buy own beverages. I counted one day that my own brewed and bottled beer will cost me something 0,3 €uros per bottle. I think it's a fine situation, when always there's a few bottles in the fridge and I can drink my beers ie. as a food drink and such. Since I first succeeded with my own home-made beer, the beer hasn't never finished from my fridge!
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Post by jarmo on Nov 20, 2006 18:03:48 GMT 2
Well, increasing beer prices will only affect the people who don't have that much money... Students, workless, etc. And I think these people are the ones who drink the most.
On one side it might be good, for there was an article in dutch newspapers some time ago, about alcohol being the NUMBER ONE casue of death in Finland... But well, the measure won't affect people like Virva, who brew their own beer... Luckily... Maybe I should also start making beer... My father used to do that, and we still got the stuff to make it...
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Post by DaveTheRake on Nov 20, 2006 18:47:39 GMT 2
@virva & Jarmo: At risk of going offtopic, but could I ask how beer is done? I mean, what's the process and what do you need to elaborate it. Is there any web page or something?
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Post by HerraHirwi on Nov 20, 2006 23:45:50 GMT 2
@virva & Jarmo: At risk of going offtopic, but could I ask how beer is done? I mean, what's the process and what do you need to elaborate it. Is there any web page or something? I've used Coopers and Finlandia homebrew kits, which one can buy from the local discount house. There's yeast and recipe inside the package. You only need to buy some sugar (I use syrup in dark ale and honey in light ale) in it. Of course you have to had a barrel, fermenting lock, empty bottles, crown caps (and the crown cap closer) and syphon in this beer making process, but these are the things that have to buy only once. Peace of cake! ;D
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Arkhis
Wolfcub
Pirates are forever!
Posts: 17
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Post by Arkhis on Nov 21, 2006 3:14:40 GMT 2
It seems I should be happy to live in Belgium then! Beer prices never get very high here, also due to the fact that we pride ourselves on the many beers we brew in Belgium. There are taverns that sell more then 500 different regional beers here . I guess the government can't really increase taxes on that, it wouldn't hurt their image a little, it would hurt them ALOT. After all, it's national pride . But it seems many people go around the problem by making their own beer. If you can't buy it, make it yourself! It's extremely quiet in Belgian politics as of late... peace, at last!
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Post by DaveTheRake on Nov 22, 2006 10:33:58 GMT 2
@virva: thanks a lot for the info! I will take a look at the link... maybe my future is to create a beer firm
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Post by Lionheart on Nov 22, 2006 20:25:32 GMT 2
Quite big news here, national elections for a new parliament are taking place today. Everyone gets to vote for a dutch parliament for the next 4 years. Quite curious what it'll be, up to now campaigns have focused on 2 persons. But there's so a couple more parties getting close to them.
We'll see the results tonight let's hope a new wind starts to blow here :S Cause the past 4 years have been... shite.
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Post by Olli The Drunk Bear on Nov 23, 2006 10:43:57 GMT 2
In England they are thinking about legalising heroin and cocain. Another wild idea is to set up places where the drug users can go and receive their drugs for free and reduce crime related to drugs. But the didnt think about if the drug user threatens them for the drugs or commit a crime related to the people handing out the drugs.They always want to buy a horse loud of Heroin and cocain from Afganistan because its cheaper than good ole columbia. I think the drug issue is a very difficlt situation because IMO no matter what you do there will always be drugs. Also there is a bit of controversy between the muslims and Labour because Jack Straw wants to ban the muslim veil because it is quite intimidating and other reasons. But of course the muslims are fighting back and obviously winning or else... but another argument is that if the veil is banned then breast feeding should be banned... says the leader of the muslim group jarmo: Is it true that Muslim veils are banned in Holland? i Dont understand why England can't ban them if other countries are *A sixpack costs in Finland already around € 8,- It costs about £4/5 for 6. depends what is on offer. I get grolsch(forgot how to spell it) Becase they do alot of offers with that brand
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Post by jarmo on Nov 23, 2006 14:39:18 GMT 2
@olli, I don't really know if the veils are banned, I don't think so actually. Maybe only for the veils that just cover everything, including the face. There is at least one political party that wants all the veils banned, but well, that party wants just to ban muslims... It's a kindof one-issue party. And some people in some arab country (I think it was Iran) said: In Holland you can walk almost naked without being fined, but they don't want women to cover themselfs completely. While it is there the other way round.
And you drink Dutch beer, do you know that? Of the common beers here, Grolsch is one of the better ones.
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