American Festivals Project

My photographer friends Ross and Matt are starting their tour through the US by a Waste Vegetable Oil-powered truck. Partially funded by National Geographic, they will visit 'small, hidden and bizarre festivals' in 49 states.
For more support and more information visit: www.americanfestivalsproject.com


photography,USA,national geographic,art

Bastards! They Banned Kinder Eggs!

The original Schokoladespielzeugkombinationseier, who - in Europe - didn't grow up with them? What? ... You may better know them as Kinder Surprise, the chocolate eggs containing toy models for assembly. Children´s Commission of the German Parliament (appropriately called Kinder Commission), announced the ban because children might choke on the toys, even when the toys are contained in a plastic capsule.
According to Bild, a German newspaper/tabloid, the ban will be a 'shock to millions of children'. Even serious media such as Die Welt newspaper held a poll to the question whether you think the combination of sweets and toys is dangerous. 97% of the respondents though it was nonsense.

What do you think? Should there be a (Europe-wide) ban?

Kinder,chocolate,Germany,ban,toys

Alma Mater - Bologna

Bologna, city of Dante, city of the oldest university in Europe, city of the political left. Just strolling about in the city where I should have studied... The city is deserted now, as the 100000 students flee from the Bolognese summer heat.
I wonder, what is the oldest university in the world. Bologna claims to be the oldest, but what about Esfahan (Iran), Kairo (Egypt), Fes (Morocco), or the traveling academic concourses in Confucian China? Anyone knows?

universities,Bologna,travel,Italy

Coal Power and China

Voor Nederlands klik hier.
This article was published in Nederlands Dagblad (daily journal) on Monday 28 July 2008.

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Coal Power in China: West Should Set Example

In China every month five new coal powered electricity plants open. That is a worrisome development. Yet, according to Sander Chan the alarming reports in Western media are often motivated sinophobia (fear of China) rather than by a real concern over climate change. The West should give better a better example.

by Sander Chan

China depends for about seventy per cent of its energy supply on coal power, a relatively CO2 intensive energy source. Every month on average five new coal plants open in China. Meanwhile China has overtaken the US as the world's largest CO2 emittor. The developments are gloomy, but alarming reports in Western media often seem to be motivated by sinophobia (fear of China) rather than a genuine concern about climate change. What are China's energy options and how can the West act to limit climate change?

Four out of ten Americans hold China responsible for increasing CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere, in spite of the fact that the average American makes many more SUV miles than an average Chinese. Also in Europe, critical voices are heard about China's role in climate change. Yet, average per capitat energy consumption in China is still only a third of Europe's, and a seventh of the average energy consumptionin the US. Moreover, a large part of China's energy use increase is due to industrial production for Western consumers.
Reports that China opens another coal power plant and thereby threatens the future of our planet are exaggerated and tendentious. What is not reported is the fact that China also closes a large number of coal power plants to replace them with more efficient ones. This raises suspicion that news reports are often incomplete and motivated by sinophobia.

Wind Power
Climate and the environment have steadily become policy priorities in China. The State Environmental Protection Agency has recently been promoted to ministrial level. China is also the first developing country to devise a climate policy plan, while a commission of high officials (with prime minister Wen Jiabao) oversees its implementation. China's renewable energy ambitions are high, even compared to many Western industrialised countries. Meanwhile China has become the fourth largest wind energy producer. Beijing recently raised its midterm objectives for wind-generated electricity from five to ten GW in 2010, because the earlier objective had already been met in 2007.
However, there are still plenty of reasons to worry. In spite of China's renewable energy ambitions, it still remains heavily dependent on coal power. The possibilities to increase the share of renewable energy are limited. Wind energy generation fluctuates, while China's electricity grids are built for a constant coal generated power; only two thirds of wind energy reaches the grid. 'smart grid' that can cope with fluctuating electricity supplies, requires sky high investments. Moreover, water power plants have increasingly become (politically) controversial. The construction of the Three Gorges Dam, the world's largest, has raised criticism, both in China and abroad. Dams have devastated natural environment and caused massive evacuations. Since the Sichuan earthquake earlier this year, we know that dams are not as safe as the government claims. Hundreds of millions of Chinese live downstream of the Three Gorges Dam, so China risks unprecedented political disorder with so many stakeholders. For these reasons, it is very likely that coals remain the main electricity source for China on the mid and short terms. Moreover, coal is one of the very few natural sources that China is not short of (although China's production capacity is only slow catching up with its consumption, China has become a nett importer). Moreover millions of Chinese are employed in the coal and related industries. To avoid political unrest Beijing is bound to secure employment.
The high proportion of coal in China's energy mix is also the result of another policy priority: energy security. As China tries to ensure its future energy supplies, it does not only opt for sustainable, renewable options. For instance, China is extracting diesel fuel from coals, a CO2 and water intensive process. China's efforts to secure energy is also an international challenge. Human rights conditions do not hold China at investing vastly in energy rich countries like Sudan.

To Set an Example
What can we do in the West? It is impossible to require that China's quits the construction of coal power plants. Moreover, China's environment problems demand for radical political changes: more democracy and a better implementation of laws - which are matters that are certainly considered home affairs. However, international organisations, such as the European Union and the United Nations, can make the choice for renewable energy more attractive. Also bilateral collaboration can be useful for technological transfer and the dispersion of knowlegde. For instance, the US stimulates the use of captured methane in Chinese coalmines.
It is important to consider that a part of China's energy consumptio is ours. A large part of China's industrial production is for the Western consumer. It is therefore our responsibility to cricically reflect on our own production systems and consumption patterns. It is difficult to argue why China should not enjoy the comforts of an energy intensive society that the western world enjoys. The greatest challenge for western countries is the give a good example and switch over to renewable energy and energy saving. Current ambitions, however, are barely higher than China's. Moreover, countries like the UK and the Netherlands are giving the wrong examples by the construction of more coal power plants.

Sander Chan is a PhD Candidate at the Institute for Environmental Studies iN Amsterdam. He is also board member of the ChristenUnie party in Amsterdam.

China,environment,energy,coal,renewable

Infidel, Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Ayaan Hirsi Ali's biography is a page turner. Through the eyes of a little girl, we see a Somalian family's wanderings that brings them to Somalia, Kenya, and Saudi Arabia. Later on her experiences substantiate in a renouncement of Islam and a one-issue political program in Dutch politics The purpose of 'infidel' is more than a biography, it is a feminist statement against Islam as it is today.

After reading the book, I'm left with more sympathy for Ayaan's case, but questions remain. It is not clear what Hirsi Ali blames on religious Islam and what on culture. Indeed, it is difficult to separate the culture from the religion. The cruel practice of female excision, for instance, seems to me more a cultural trait rather than a practice informed by Islam.

As an immigrant, Hirsi Ali knows what to appreciate about the Netherlands, the country she fled to after an arranged marriage. To her the Netherlands represent a beacon of freedom and even morality, which she ascribes to the Dutch enlightenment.
Her move from the labor party to the liberal party is thus motivated by an increasing understanding of Dutch enlightenment as discovery of the value of the individual. This contrasts starkly with the honour based societies, such as the Somalian, where the individual submits to the family, the clan, the people...
So I wonder whether Islam denounces individuality when it requires submission. Is submission the link between many cultures and religion in muslim countries? Hirsi Ali seems to think so, she consistently describes muslim female-male relationships and Allah-follower relationships as one between slave and master.

When translated into the Dutch context, I maybe start to understand the rift and the unease at the level of the Dutch political elite, when Hirsi became a MP to the liberal party. Traditionally, the position of (muslim) immigrants has been viewed as a social issue. Muslim immigrants' bad statistical record (employment, income, education, crime) was understood as a problem that needs social mending, social policy. This fits very well with the more traditional historical materialist idea of social stratification.
Hirsi Ali, however, argues against this historical materialism and rather points at the problems as on of incompatible values, something much more difficult to solve than mere social mending.
This rift between views of society and values runs right through the Dutch left-right spectrum. Some political parties found it easier to adapt to the opened value box of pandora than others. For instance, the Christian democrats already were partly value and religious based. However, the social democrats, and I believe also the liberal party had a much harder time. The social democrats were there to protect the weak, but also a whole strata of weaker groups, not defined by its individual members. The liberals have too long seen themselves as market-making, pro-corporate agents and now all of a sudden they had to decide on issues moral positions (the morality of market-making and entrepreneurship went unchallenged).
This rift through the Dutch political landscape has led to increasing fragmentation, not coincidentally the liberals and social democrats suffered most of emerging populism.

In all of this Hirsi Ali only represented an early push of what was to come anyway; a indepth reflection of what a society stands for, its implied and explicit values. The issue of abused muslim women can well be a breaking iron to this debate. However, it is sad to see the debate being hi-jacked by populist figures like Geert Wilders. Who basically redraw the debate into a left-right debate.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali,feminism,islam,Netherlands,politics

Kolencentrales en China

Click here for English.
Het volgende artikel is verschenen in het Nederlands Dagblad van maandag 28 juli.

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Westen kan China beter goed voorbeeld geven

In China worden elke maand vijf nieuwe kolencentrales geopend. Dat is zorgwekkend, maar de alarmerende berichtgeving in veel westerse media wordt volgens Sander Chan meer ingegeven door sinofobie (angst voor China) dan door zorg om klimaatverandering. Het westen kan beter het goede voorbeeld geven.

VRIJPLAATS

door Sander Chan

Voor de energievoorziening is China voor zeventig procent afhankelijk van kolen, een CO2 intensieve energiebron. Elke maand openen gemiddeld vijf nieuwe kolencentrales in China. Inmiddels is China de VS voorbijgestreefd als grootste CO2 uitstoter. De ontwikkelingen zijn zorgwekkend, maar de alarmerende berichtgeving in veel Westerse media lijkt meer ingegeven te zijn door sinofobie (angst voor China) dan door zorg om klimaatverandering. Hoe staat het met de energievoorziening in China en hoe kan Nederland hiermee omgaan om klimaatverandering te beperken?
Gevraagd naar wie verantwoordelijk is voor de toenemende CO2-concentraties in de atmosfeer, blijkt dat vier op de tien Amerikanen China als de grote boosdoener zien. Ondanks het feit dat Amerikanen duidelijk meer SUV-kilometers maken dan Chinezen. Ook in Nederland bestaat veel kritiek op China. De gemiddelde energieconsumptie per hoofd van de bevolking in China is echter maar een derde van die in Europa, of een zevende van die in de VS. Bovendien is een groot deel van de toenemende energieconsumptie in China te wijten aan industriële productie voor Westerse consumenten.
Berichtgeving dat China weer eens kolencentrales opent en daarmee het voortbestaan van onze planeet bedreigt, is dan ook tendentieus. Er wordt bijvoorbeeld niet gemeld dat China ook een groot aantal kolencentrales sluit om ze te vervangen door efficiëntere centrales. Berichtgeving is vaak onvolledig en ingegeven door sinofobie.

Windenergie
Klimaat en milieu stijgen gestaag op de lijst van beleidsprioriteiten in China. Het Staatsagentschap voor Milieubescherming is onlangs bevordert tot Ministerie. China heeft als eerste ontwikkelingsland een klimaatbeleidsprogramma en een commissie van hoge functionarissen (met Premier Wen Jiabao) ziet toe op de uitvoering. China zet groots in op duurzame energie, met - ook naar Nederlandse maatstaven - ambitieuze doelstellingen. Inmiddels is China 's werelds vierde windenergieproducent. In maart verhoogde Peking de tussentijdse doelstellingen voor windgegenereerde elektriciteit van vijf naar tien GW in 2010 omdat de eerdere doelstelling al in 2007 was gehaald.
Toch is er reden tot zorg. Ondanks alle ambities blijft China voor haar elektriciteitsvoorziening afhankelijk is van kolen. De mogelijkheden van duurzamere energieopwekking zijn beperkt. Windenergieproductie fluctueert en daar is China's elektriciteitsnet niet op gebouwd; maar twee derde van de energie bereikt het net. Een 'slim elektriciteitsnet', dat fluctuaties aan kan, vereist enorme investeringen. Waterkrachtcentrales zijn bovendien steeds controversiëler geworden. De bouw van de Drieklovendam, 's werelds grootste, heeft geleid tot kritiek in binnen- en buitenland over milieuschade en massale evacuaties. Sinds de aardbevingen in Sichuan blijken dammen bovendien niet zo veilig als de overheid beweert. Met honderdmiljoenen Chinezen stroomafwaarts van de Drieklovendam, riskeert China ongekende politieke onrust. Kolen blijven daarom op de middellange termijn de voornaamste elektriciteitsbron voor China. Het is een van weinige natuurlijke bronnen waarvan China er genoeg heeft (al loopt de productiecapaciteit achter en is China netto-importeur geworden). Bovendien zijn miljoenen Chinezen werkzaam in de kolenindustrie. Peking zal politieke onrust willen vermijden door werkgelegenheid veilig te stellen.
Het behoud van kolen in energiemix van China heeft ook te maken met een andere, nog grotere prioriteit dan duurzaamheid: 'energy security', het zeker stellen van China's toekomstige energievoorziening. Daarom wordt niet alleen ingezet op duurzame oplossingen. China probeert bijvoorbeeld diesel uit kolen te winnen, een proces dat ten koste gaat van klimaat en schaarse watervoorraden. Ook internationaal zorgt China's 'energy security' beleid voor problemen. Zo weerhoudt de mensenrechtensituatie China niet van omvangrijke investeringen in bijvoorbeeld het grondstofrijke Sudan.

Voorbeeld
Wat kan Nederland doen? Wij kunnen moeilijk eisen dat China stopt met de bouw van kolencentrales. China's milieuproblemen vragen bovendien om radicale politieke veranderingen: meer democratie en betere uitvoering van wetten - zaken waarin Nederland zich moeilijk kan mengen. Nederland kan echter wel in het verband van de Europese Unie en de Verenigde Naties de keuze voor duurzame energieopties aantrekkelijker maken. Door bilaterale samenwerking stimuleren de VS bijvoorbeeld het gebruik van afgevangen methaan in Chinese kolenmijnen als alternatieve energiebron.
Het is in deze discussie goed te bedenken dat een deel van de energieconsumptie in China in feite de onze is. Immers, een groot deel van China's industriële productie is bedoeld voor het Westen. Het is daarom onze verantwoordelijkheid onze eigen productiesystemen en consumptiepatronen kritisch tegen het licht te houden. Het is moeilijk uit te leggen waarom China niet het comfort van een energie-intensieve samenleving mag genieten en het Westen wel. De grootste uitdaging voor westerse landen is het goede voorbeeld te geven en over te schakelen op duurzame energie en zuinige technieken. De huidige ambities reiken echter vaak niet zo ver als die van China. Nederland geeft bovendien niet het goede voorbeeld met de bouw van nog meer kolencentrales.

Sander Chan is promovendus aan het Instituut voor Milieuvraagstukken van de Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. Hij is bestuurslid van de Amsterdamse afdeling van de ChristenUnie.

China,milieu,energie,kolen,duurzaamheid

Breath (Kim Ki-Duk, Kor'07)

Kim Ki-Duk is al een tijdje een van mijn favoriete regiseurs. Zijn films zitten vol Boeddhistische en Christelijke verwijzingen (waaronder het levenswiel, bloed en vergeving). Zijn films zijn niet zonder geweld. In tegendeel, zijn films gaan vaak over de zelfkant van de samenleving; zoals prostitutie en moord (Bad Guy [2001], Samaritan Girl [2004]). Maar het kader is vergeving en nieuw leven, waardoor Ki-Duk er altijd weer in slaagt meer mee te geven dan destructie en een naar gevoel na het zien van zijn films. Een karakteristiek van zijn werk is dat er nauwelijks wordt gesproken. Kim Ki-Duk laat liever de beelden spreken. Ook in Breath wordt geen woord te veel gesproken.

In Breath komt een vrouw er achter dat haar man vreemd gaat. Uit wraak zwijgt zij tegenover haar man. Tegelijkertijd raakt zij steeds meer gefascineerd door een tot de dood veroordeelde gedetineerde. Ze besluit zich voor te doen als zijn ex-vriendin en bezoekt hem. Hij kan haar niet antwoorden, omdat zijn stembanden kapot zijn gegaan bij een zelfmoordpoging.
Hoewel hij de gevangene is, is het duidelijk dat zij zich ook een gevangene voelt. Angst voor de dood, haar falende huwelijk, zijn haar gevangenschap. In volgende bezoeken ensceneert zij zorgvuldig elke jaargetijde, compleet met behang in lente-, zomer- en herfstkleuren. Zij brengt als het ware de buitenwereld in zijn gevangenschap. Zo verdwijnt het verschil tussen de gevangenis en de buitenwereld, terwijl de liefde - die nooit lang kan duren - bloeit.

Breath is het absoluut waard om te zien als je al eerder van Kim Ki-Duk's films genoten hebt. En als je een beetje van beeldtaal houdt, is Breath ook een aanrader.

Kim Ki-Duk,movie,Korea,Breath

Critiques of Christianity 1: The Irrelevant Church

I haven't been visiting a church congregation for over half a year now and I have to say that I don't miss it. In my view a larger part of the Church has become utterly irrelevant or even counterproductive to the good of this world. My statement may come as a shock to many of my Christian friends, that is why I will explicate more on my position in the following.

A larger part of the Church(1) has been hijacked by narrow fundamentalism, either rooted in tradition or in a literal reading of the Bible. All discussion is killed and all dynamism is stillborn in the average church. Windows of opportunities have been closed too quickly to let some fresh air in. Science is done away with as 'only theory', or as an alternative false religion; principles too easily take precedence over practical living; and most of religious life seems to be about drawing borders: who is in, who is out.

I will give you three examples in a random order that lie close to my heart.

1.The Church cares little about creation
The very first assignment by the Jewish God to people was to take care of the earth and God's creation. One needs not to be a Jew, a Christian, or a believer to understand that we are dependent on creation/nature. We live off it, we eat and drink off it... Even selfish reasoning would bring us to the conclusion that we need to care about the earth and all that lives on it.
But what has the Church actually done? Logical reasoning has been wasted with people being told to be preoccupied with other worlds than their own. According to even the most mainstream theologies the earth with disappear in an apocalypse, so why worry about the earth? I regret these theologies and even more the behaviour they induce.
By the same Bible, I could argue that man was made for earth in the very beginning, and his destiny is on earth at the very end. Why the one theological perspective has won over the other one is a mystery to me, but I think it is selfishness and perhaps a typically Western historical inclination to separate body and mind, spirit and matter; "it is spiritual redemption that counts, not bodily redemption."

2.The Church fails to care for its neighbours
The balance of the Christian contribution to the world's development is unclear. Even if the balance may be slightly positive, this does not compare with Jesus' devotion to the poor. I personally regard most actions as incidences of occasional charity as a short-term guilt relief. (I do not acquit myself.) For example, we are ready to give after hearing another heart-breaking story, but we rarely get to the point where we give even when we are not at the height of emotional stress; when we just need to press on because real help is not confined to financial help.
To give a simple example. Most Christians, when they vote, they vote for their own pride and wallet. We – en masse – fall in the trap of talk about so-called economic growth. We worry about a per cent more or less on our pay check. Moreover, we are citizens of such and such nation, so we vote for the glory of the nation we happen to belong to. So we have Christians supportive on each side of the lines of fire of many warring nations, because nationalism has become an idol. This has become even more of a problem with the world's most outspoken and powerful 'Christian' nation's imperial campaigns in Iraq, Afghanistan and many other places.

It is important also to link the first point with the second point: caring for creation is inseparable of caring for your neighbour. A glaring example is the recent move to biofuels 'to save the climate'. Filling up your car has become an ethical question: drive and increase hunger? How will the Christian in the industrial West deal with this question? I don't know, but given the lack of discussion in churches, I am pessimistic.

3.The Church fails to stand up for the weak
I already – shortly – addressed the issue of poverty. But the poor are not the only who are weak, and most of the times the poor are also weak in different ways. They are single mothers, illegal immigrants, gypsies, blacks,... Some may not even be poor, yet judged and treated as outcasts non-believers, followers of other religions, atheists, gays,...
I do not speak out against churches with a clear target group. But honestly, why are most of churches filled with either rich or poor, either black or white? Why does it seem like most Churches have no gay people among them? How does that translate to Jesus example of inclusiveness?
In some cases the Church even actively weakens the weak. Without a closer consideration of a pregnant young woman's personal circumstances; abortion is out of the question(2). Women who underwent abortion are instilled with feelings of eternal guilt and fear of hell fire.
Or consider the discussions about gay people (rarely with gay people). No wonder so many gay, lesbians, transsexuals and bisexuals turn against the Church! In many churches, being gay is considered incompatible with being Christian. Consequently, gay people are being held up to unachievable standards (change your sexual orientation!); excommunicated and labeled 'pseudo-christian'.

Why is the Church so moderately or not concerned with the environment (creation), the poor and needy (its neighbours), and the outcasts? In my view, much of the capacity of the Church is spilled over irrelevant issues and damaging discussions. The Church seems to be preoccupied with (for example),

1. unconditionally supporting Israel and its allies, even if that means more conflicts, higher death tolls and possibly a (nuclear) attack on Iran.

2. denying people's sexuality. Portraying sexuality as something dirty, something external to a person's identity. Instead of accepting the reality and the glory of sex, many churches preach abstination and ignore teaching on contraceptives and safe sex. This 'principle' attitude has led to incredible suffering, in our own Western churches, as well as in developing communities.

3. arguing over who is and is not Christian. Not only churches are bickering over which is the true church, and regularly condemn other churches. The judging has become internalized. Even with the simplest actions Christians are fear-motivated, is it Christian to do so and so; am I still Christian? In the end, these questions may be very interesting from a theological perspective. But really, is it not another form of egoism, sheer self-centeredness to get things right (or at least better than the others).

I understand that my wording is blunt. I acknowledge that I do not have a clean sleet and I do not meet up to much of my own criticism. However, I'm addressing the relevance of the Church here. I my opinion, the Church – if not perfect – should at least encourage and help me to care for creation, the poor and the outcasts. The church should feed and encourage my identity, rather than deny it. If the Church loses is beneficial and loving capacity, the very reason of existence of the Church should be disputed. In many ways, this is already the case: how many people still take the Church seriously; how well filled are Sunday's Church benches? Few churchgoers, empty benches? – Perhaps better so, for now.

(1) I simply refer to the Church, while I also acknowledge there are considerable differences between congregations. Yet to make my point clear, rather than to offer a genealogy of the Church, I refer to general trends that I see in a larger part of the Church. I also hold an inclusive view of the Church; which includes denominations such as Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and the many protestant denominations. I admit that my knowledge of each of these denominations is limited and perhaps I know relatively better some moderately charismatic evangelical church congregations.

(2) In principle, I am also against abortion, but I am also willing to weigh the motivations and the life of the mother. And in the end it is not my decision!

Church,Christianity,environment,development,gay,Bible,tradition

McCain

Conservative presidential candidate McCain is concerned about “a couple of steps that the Russian government took in the last several days,” including “reducing the energy supplies to Czechoslovakia.”

Dear Mr. McCain,

Czechoslovakia dissolved on 1 January 1993. Although Slovak populist Meciar has often been blamed, in fact it was Vaclav Klaus who rushed Czechoslovak disintegration. Mr. Klaus is now president of the Czech Republic and perhaps your closest ally in Europe. He is conservative, anti-European, neoliberal in the most narrow sense of neoliberalism, and he wrote a book on the myth of climate change. Sounds like you could be real friends once you are President, but don't forget he's president of the Czech Republic.

...

Not a supporter

...

McCain did learn some topography. Perhaps he used the following material:


Czechoslovakia,McCain,politics,geography,cold war mentality

Suckers leven langer - reacties op het rookverbod

Click here for English

Als één van de laatste landen in West Europa heeft Nederland het roken in cafes, restaurants en clubs verboden. Persoonlijk ben ik niet een groot roker, zo nu en dan stak ik er een op met vrienden, maar ik verdien nauwelijks de kwalificatie „roker“. Toch besliste ik een week geleden ook mijn sociale peuk vaarwel te zeggen.

Hier wat andere reacties op het Nederlandse het rookverbod:

* Chupa Chups (lollies) lanceerde een reclamecampagne om rokers te verleiden hun rookverslaving in te ruilen voor een Chupa Chup verslaving. Chupa Chups zijn nu verpakt in iets dat op een pakje sigaretten lijkt. In plaats van een waarschuwing, sieren op Chupa Chup pakjes slogans als: „suckers leven langer“ en „sucken verbetert ernstig het genot van mensen om u heen“.

* om het verbod te ontwijken, zijn enkele verstokte rokers een heuse kerk begonnen: „de Enige en Universele Rokerskerk van God." Aangesloten horecagelegenheden zullen het roken blijven toestaan om daarmee een gerechtelijke uitspraak uit te lokken ten aanzien van „religieus roken“.

* Andere horecagelegenheden proberen als privégilden onder het verbod uit te komen. De federatie van pijprokers introduceerde een kampioenschap roken: roken is nu een „culturele activiteit“!

* Coffeeshops in Amsterdam negeren het verbod. Aangezien de marihuana en hasj officieel verboden zijn, lijkt het rookverbod niet van toepassing te zijn. Nochtans is het mengen met tabak een probleem! Sommige coffeeshops draaien daarom zuivere hasj en marihuana, of hasj en marihuana worden vermengd met andere rookwaren dan tabak. Wie zegt dat een rookverbod goed is voor de volksgezondheid?

* Ondertussen adverteert Stivoro, een organisatie die zich inzet voor een rookvrije toekomst, met de slogan „in iedere roker zit een stopper“. Stivoro zal vast gelukkig zijn met de meer dan 400.000 Nederlanders die hebben voorgenomen te stoppen naar aanleiding van het rookverbod.

Hoe zit het met jou? - Rook jij? - Zo ja, ben je van plan te stoppen?
Netherlands,smoking ban,Amsterdam

Suckers Live Longer - (Re)actions to Dutch Ban on Smoking

The Netherlands was one of the last countries in Western Europe to ban smoking inside bars, restaurants and clubs. However, since yesterday, the Dutch are also under the ban. Personally, I'm not much of a smoker, occasionally I'd light a fag with friends, otherwise I really don't deserve the qualification 'smoker'. Yet, I decided a week ago to mentally dissociate smoking from friends, alcohol and good times, so I quit my occasional social smoke.

Here are other reactions to the the Dutch smoking ban.

• Chupa Chups, the lollipop company, launched an advertising campaign to seduce smokers to change their smoking addiction for a Chupa Chup addiction. Chupa Chups now come in something that looks like a cigarette box. Instead of a warning sign, the Chupa Chup boxes carry such slogans as: 'suckers live longer' and 'sucking seriously enhances pleasure for people around you'.
• In order to avoid the ban, some have actually started an new religious movement called: 'The One and Universal Smokers' Church of God'. Member restaurants and bars will continue to allow for smoking. This way, the 'church' wants to provoke a court decision on 'religious smoking'.
• Other bars and cafes are trying to register as private guilds, to circumvent the smoking ban. The pipe smokers' federation actually introduced a smoking championship to get around the ban, smoking is now a ' cultural event'.
• Coffeeshops in Amsterdam, not your regular coffee place but the marijuana and hash bars, are ignoring the ban. Since marijuana and hash are legally prohibited, the smoking ban doesn't seem to apply on them. However, the mixing with tobacco seems to be a problem! So some coffeeshops may sell joints with pure hash and marijuana, or mix with non-tobacco smokables to avoid the ban. Who says a ban on smoking is good for public health?
  
• Meanwhile Stivoro, a non-profit for a smoke free future, entices smokers to quit with the slogan 'in every smoker is a quitter'. Stivoro must be happy to learn that more than 400.000 Dutch smokers consider quiting with the new ban on smoking.
  

Netherlands,smoking ban,Amsterdam

Back in Europe

After almost two months in the States, I'm finally in Europe. I got to spend two nights in Amsterdam before I left for a conference in Geneva. While struggling through a jet lag I'm having a hard time concentrating on the speeches at this conference.
I've been playing with my new gadget, the EeePC 900, a 1kg PC, mine runs on Linux. I'll write a review soon.

San Francisco -> LA

San Francisco is the best city I've visited in the States. The feel about the city is freer, more liberal and artistic than most other places I've been to. SF attracts the most interesting people, some of whom I met at the hostel I was staying at (Hostelling International City Center - highly recommended).

San Francisco Rocks

'been walking around and soaked up San Francisco. I hope I'll be able to concentrate on my work today though. Tomorrow I'm off to Yosemite National Park.

San Francisco Update: Cruising the Castro

I joined a guided tour of the Castro District this morning, to learn more about the gay history and culture of San Francisco. I also got invited to a party in a park here, that was fun. Now I'm chilling in my hostel.

If you ever go to San Francisco, I recommend "Cruisin' the Castro - Historical Walking Tours", by Kathy Amendola: (415) 255.1821, www.cruisinthecastro.com
San Francisco,California,gay,Castro,travel

A Day in Venice Beach and I Got Pierced

L.A., USA 086
Originally uploaded by Man-san

Yesterday I went to Venice Beach with my friend JR, we both got pierced. (And I get pimples from eating meat.

Amsterdam 2028? A bid for the "Sustainability Olympics"

The Netherlands is considering a bid for the 2028 Olympics, themed: water and sustainability. The location is not yet decided upon. The definitive decision should be taken by 2011 to finish the legal procedures in time.

Amsterdam (with its suburban twin town Almere) seems to be the most likely candidate. Some arguments why Amsterdam is the likely candidate: (1.) 'Amsterdam' is a strong brand, and (2.) Amsterdam already hosted the Olympic Games of 2028 and other big sports events, and (3.) Amsterdam already attempted to host the 1992 Olympics but lost to Barcelona.
The venues and the Olympic village may be built on artificial islands in the Markermeer, a former branch of the North Sea. Amsterdam prepares for the bid by sending a lobby to the Beijing Olympics.

Rotterdam, the Netherlands' second largest city is also considered a candidate. A stadium for 75,000 spectators is already proposed for the 2016 Dutch-Belgian World Cup (Soccer) bid, which can also be used for the 2028 Olympics.
Meanwhile, Eindhoven - the 5th city in the Netherlands and home of multinational electronics corporation Philips - is also petitioning to host the 2028 Olympics.

The Netherlands Architecture Institute (NAI) organizes "NL 2028 - Olympic Fire", an exposition on what it would mean should the Netherlands organize the 2028 Olympic Games.

Other cities that have expressed interest in hosting the 2028 Olympics are Melbourne (AU), Vancouver-Seattle (CAN & USA), and, Belgrade (Serbia).

Do you think the Netherlands/Amsterdam is capable to host the 2028 Olympics? Do you like the idea of a Dutch Olympics?
Do you like the theme: sustainability and water? - Aren't sustainability and the Olympic Games a little bit of a contradiction? To host the expected 6 million visitors, new roads have to be built, more water has to be drained... and what about the millions of passenger air miles, accompanied by megatonnes of CO2 emissions...

Pictures: NL 2028 logo - Netherlands Architecture Insitute (NAI); Rendering renovated Amsterdam Olympic Stadium - Na-ma Architecture and Tom Bergevoet Architecture, Het Parool; Markermeer Venue Map - T. Balder, Het Parool.
Olympics,2028,Amsterdam,Netherlands,Olympic bid

LA Impressions 1

My creation
Originally uploaded by Man-san

Some impressions from my stay in LA, posted on my Flickr account.

Ebook Readers: The Big Test

In the past weeks I had the chance to use three of the most popular ebook readers: the Sony PRS 505, Amazon's Kindle and iRex's iLiad.

Earlier, I reviewed the Sony Reader PRS 505, which I use now. For the review click here. This time I'll compare the three most popular ebook reader devices.

The criteria I use are: connectivity, availability of contents, usability, and price.

Sony's PRS 505 ('Sony Reader')

Connectivity
In contrast to the other readers, the PRS 505 does not have a wireless connection. Contents are first downloaded on your computer. A USB connection connects your computer with the reader.
In my opinion, this is not too much of a disadvantage, unless you want to read daily or weekly publications. That would require you to connect your computer to the internet and your reader every time you want to read.
The reader's battery is also charging while being connected to your computer.

Contents
Probably the biggest drawback to the PRS 505 is the fact that Sony's bookstore has relatively few titles. Sony introduced its own ebook format '.bbeb' , which can only be read through Sony's software. Although, Sony has a contract with some publishers, for instance Routledge, and, Penguin, the quantity does not compare with Amazon's Kindle.
The PRS 505 is compatible with more document formats than Amazon's Kindle (i.e. .txt/.rtf/.pdf), however, it does not read the popular 'mobipocket' format. Up until now, Sony does not have a contract with news publishers. Online newspapers are not available on the PRS 505.
Personally, I would like to see Sony introducing a news feature. However, without wireless connectivity, it will be annoying to have to log on to your computer first every time you want to read the news. (You might as well read it on your computer)

Usability
The Sony Reader looks great. The device is very easy to use. Bookmarking pages is just a simple click. Some PDF renderings are too small, but the landscape function allows you too read most PDFs. For most documents three letter sizes are available, for PDFs two. Documents are automatically adjusted to fit the screen.

Price
The Sony PRS 505 is not yet available in Europe. Sony plans to introduce its reader this year. The US price for Sony's reader is $ 299. Sony recently released a dark blue version, and a James Patterson Special Edition at the same price.
Order at: Sonystyle.com

iRex iLiad
Connectivity
The iLiad comes in two versions. The book version does not have wireless connectivity. Connection to the internet is similar as with Sony's reader. The more popular (and expensive) standard edition of Iliad has wireless connection. This wireless connectivity allows for quick (news) downloads.

Contents
iLiad, in contrast to the other two devices, does not have its own online bookstore. The systems runs on Linux and therefore much content is independently created. Content availability will thus depend on user activity and popularity of the device. Of the featured ebook readers, the iLiad reads most formats, including the popular mobipocket format. Therefore, iLiad already has quite an impressive content availability. iLead also has a contract with the Dutch daily 'NRC Handelsblad' and the French 'Les Echos'. More news feeds are in the making.
iLead is produced by the Dutch iRex corporation, and seems to focus on Europe as its main market, while the other devices are mainly focusing on the US. Much of the content available for Sony and Amazon's Kindle are therefore not accessible for the European audience. iLead is therefore - contents wise - still the best choice for European consumers.
Content supply is likely to take a flight, now that iRex Technologies reached an agreement with UK bookstore 'Borders' to sell the device in its stores.

Usability
iLiad has, by far, the most features of all ebook readers. However, the complexity of the many features, does not make the iLead more usable. For instance, the many letter sizes available can be handy, but since the size is not automatically adapted to the screen size, it will often require to a lot of scrolling.
iLiad also has the unique note making feature. The touch screen allows writing on the device. This is a very promising technology. However, at this point making notes is not possible in every document. Moreover, the notes are not easily exported to other devices, such as your computer. Notes are stored in a separate document from the document you make the notes for.
The iLead is the largest of the three devices. This is certainly not a drawback, since it makes the device the most readable. Moreover, the 16 color grey scale allows for the best contrast of all ebook readers.
Technologically, the iLiad is by far the most advanced of the three most popular ebook readers. However, the usability suffers from a unnecessarily complex and not so intuitive menu.

Price
'The world's most complete e-book reader' comes at a hefty price. The standard edition (ed. 2) costs $ 699. The book edition (without wireless connectivity) costs $ 599. European prices: €599/€ 499. Order at: iRex Technologies.

Amazon's Kindle
Connectivity
Amazon's Kindle comes with wireless connectivity, comparable to the iLiad's standard edition. Probably, Amazon will introduce faster connectivity soon. Wireless connectivity allows quick downloads of the many news titles available with Amazon.

Contents
Amazon, being the biggest online book seller, uses (or abuses) its position to introduce its own format that can only be read by the Kindle. This allows for a huge library that is only accessible to the US consumer. However, Kindle also reads PDF now. The popular mobipocket format (also by Amazon) is also supported.
There is a bulk of newspapers and magazines available for the Kindle, among them: The International Herald Tribune, Le Monde and The New York Times.
At this point Amazon's Kindle is the absolute winner if it comes down to the availability of content. (That is, when you're living in the States.)

Usability
Although not being as slick as Sony's reader, the Kindle is actually not as ugly as is sometimes suggested. Its menu is clear and the instructions are very intuitive. The contrast of the screen is high. Highlighting and note making is easy through the side bar and the keyboard.

Price
The Kindle is not yet available in Europe. Amazon has not yet announced the introduction in Europe. The US price is $ 359.
Order at: amazon.com

Conclusion

Although I use Sony's PRS 505, I have to say that Kindle is probably the best choice for US consumers, and iRex's iLiad seems to be the best choice for Europeans. The iLiad reader is technologically the most advanced, however the usability suffers from technological complexity. Moreover, the iLead comes at a hefty price (although the book edition is $ 100 cheaper). Amazon's Kindle is the winner when it comes to contents, although for the European consumer much of the contents is not available (due to rights issues).

Finally, I sum up the advantages and disadvantages of the three devices:

• Sony PRS 505: Connectivity -- / Contents --*** / Usability ++ / Price ++
• iRex iLiad: Connectivity ++* / Contents -+** / Usability -- / Price --
• Amazon's Kindle: Connectivity ++ / Contents ++*** / Usability ++ / Price +-

---
* iLiad standard edition
** for the European market iRex definitely has most to offer
*** Amazon's and Sony's online titles are only available in the US.

iLiad,Sony Reader,Kindle,iRex,ebook readers, comparison

Twittert...

I'm also on Twitter find me at: http://twitter.com/sanderchan.
twitter,internet

What Connects Leiden and Los Angeles?

Another masterpiece in the Getty Center is Gerard Dou's 'Astronomer by Candlelight' (1655). Gerard Dou (1613-1675) is perhaps the most famous of the Leyden 'Fijnschilders' (fine painters). Ever since, no other school has approached the photographic realism of the Leyden fine painting school. One of the school's most famous pupils is Rembrandt H. van Rijn (often mistaken for being an Amsterdammer, but really a Leydener). In Rembrandt's early work the realism is clearly inspired by Leyden fine painting.

'Astronomer by Candlelight' is a beautiful example of how Dou played with light. The flickering of the flame almost make your eyes tear. Then there is the minute reflection of the different textures of different objects. In spite of Dou's realism, the canvas is not stiff and formal, rather it is warm and inviting.

Of course, Leiden (old spelling: Leyden) being my home town, I am not really neutral about many of (historical) Leydeners' achievements. Nonetheless, there are pretty good reasons to admire Leiden's artistic heritage. (And there's many places to admire Gerard Dou... St. Petersburg, Paris, London, The Hague, Amsterdam, Tokio,...)

At the Getty Center

At the Getty Center
Originally uploaded by Man-san

Yesterday I took the chance to see more of LA. I went the the Getty Center. Housing the art collection of oil magnate Jean Paul Getty, the museum was founded by Director of the J. Paul Getty trust Harold Williams.

The introduction film at the museum will tell you how eager Getty was to bring art to the attention of all people. However, the museum was also built to get rid of millions of spare dollars to keep the trust's tax exemption status.

The museum covers pretty much every art from and every period, focusing on European art. The collection does not quite measure up with other great museums of the world, since the Getty Museum is really a latecomer. Nevertheless, the trust's war chest, valued at more than 4 billion USD, made some nice purchases. Among them 'The Entry of Christ in Brussels' by James Ensor and Vincent van Gogh's 'Irises'. I was excited to see the Entry of Christ, the work is so critical of Ensor's contemporary (Belgian) society and at the same time the composition is so movie-like, with different frames telling the disconnectedness of different people to truth/Christ/religion/themselves... (fill it out).

The other impressive piece of art must be the museum premises itself. Perched on a mountain, the buildings by American top architect Richard Meier overlook the LA area. The blinding white architecture hurts the eye under the Californian sun. Take some time to adjust to the lights when inside the buildings to see the collections.