I am taking part in a study group about Laudato Si, the encyclical of pope Francis. We use a study guide from CAFOD, a catholic aid agency. I find the meetings very inspiring. Here is a short video clip: The movie is a call for action, but this has a spiritual basis. The big theme of …
To be human
Not much has happened on this blog recently, because I have been tired a lot. Last week it turned out that I have a vitamin B12 deficiency, which may explain the tiredness. I had this deficiency before and have been taking vitamin B12 supplements since then, but apparently I didn’t take enough. My energy levels …
Ever closer union?
For me, the European Union has always been a fact of life. At primary school in The Netherlands we got a Euro-passport to prepare us for the introduction of the euro. It contained a quiz to find out if you were Dutch, European or a world citizen. I can not remember exactly what my outcome …
Farm animals in the Global Goals
The Global Goals were launched in September last year. These successors of the Millennium Development Goals try to give a complete picture of how we can improve our world. The goals are based on extensive consultation of stakeholders. The most important outcome is the realization that poverty reduction and a sustainable society are two sides …
Charity or honesty
Two articles in the Dutch newspaper Trouw caught my eye this week. The first was titled “Bill Gates and the British tackle malaria with mega-fund”, about the fact that governments do not have enough budget for international development and are increasingly looking for private money. I have noticed that too in my own work; more …
Monday in January
It is a sunny morning. It is also Monday, but despite the blue sky it is definitely not a Blue Monday. This morning I finally put on my running shoes again, after weeks of laziness. It was great to do my usual run in the park. And as a perfect reward there was the full moon, …