Bart Kemp News Today

The right to demonstrate is under pressure in the Netherlands, activists warned the Tweede Kamer. The local government regularly changes the rules during the game and often uses too much violence, said climate activist Jelle de Graaf of Extinction Rebellion, anti-racism activist Jerry Afriyie of Kick Out Zwarte Piet, and Bart Kemp of farmers’ movement Argactie in a discussion with parliamentarians about the right to demonstrate.

In the coming years, nitrogen standards will become stricter than they are now, reports the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature, and Food Quality after research by the Wageningen University & Research (WUR). The critical disposition value (CDV) that is currently used, which determines the maximum amount of nitrogen an area can take before damage occurs, is not strict enough to protect nature.

Most municipalities consider it unnecessary to specifically ask people to hang the Dutch flag the right way up for May 4 and 5. There are hardly any upside-down flags left, they say. But a few dozen municipalities are calling on protesters to hang the flag so that the red stripe is on top for both Remembrance Day on Thursday and Liberation Day on Friday.

The surprise victory is widely seen as a protest vote against Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s government and some of his policies, including a goal to slash nitrogen emissions, which many say will imperil farming operations.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — An independent expert appointed to mediate in the bitter dispute between the Dutch government and the nation's farmers over plans to drastically slash emissions of nitrogen and ammonia presented a report Wednesday that included a suggestion that the government buy out hundreds of the heaviest polluters.

An independent expert appointed to mediate in the bitter dispute between the Dutch government and the nation’s farmers over plans to drastically slash emissions of nitrogen and ammonia has presented a report that includes a suggestion that the government buy out hundreds of the heaviest polluters

Nitrogen Minister Johan Remkes’ advice to forcibly buy out companies that emit a lot of nitrogen near vulnerable nature areas is unacceptable to farmers’ action groups. “Forced purchase of peak emitters is an absolute no-go for us,” said Mark van den Oever of Farmers Defense Force (FDF) in response to leaked advice from Remkes. The mediator between the Cabinet and farmers will present his advice later on Wednesday.

Livestock farming accounts for 40% of emissions in the country. The policy could see up to a third of livestock farmers out of business.

The Dutch agriculture minister has unexpectedly resigned following a tumultuous summer of protests by farmers over pollution regulations

The Dutch agriculture minister has unexpectedly resigned following a tumultuous summer of protests by farmers over pollution regulations