The Netherlands is preparing for a large protest by farmers and citizens on Saturday. Tens of thousands of people want to protest in The Hague against planned environmental rules for agriculture, among other things. The radical farmers’ organization “Farmers Defense Force” called for the “biggest demonstration of all time”.
This time it should not only be about protests against environmental rules. Right-wing populist parties, especially the right-wing Geert Wilders, want to use the stage to call for resistance against the government. In addition, the movement of the former Corona opponents “Together for the Netherlands” mobilized their supporters.
Concerns about violence are high
In return, the radical climate protectionists of Extinction Rebellion also announced a protest in The Hague. They want to block an exit. The measures to protect the climate do not go far enough for them. The authorities are concerned about violence. Farmers across the country protested for weeks last year. They blocked highways with tractors, started fires or dumped waste, manure and asbestos on roads. They also threatened politicians in front of their private homes.
The reason for the farmers’ protests are the announced conditions for the protection of nature areas. Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s centre-right coalition wants to drastically reduce nitrogen emissions by 2030. The reason for this decision was a ruling by the highest court in 2019. The cabinet estimates that the measures could spell the end for about 30 percent of agricultural companies.
Farmers can be expropriated
The owners of some 3,000 farms, which pollute the soil the most near endangered natural areas, must be persuaded to sell them or at least drastically reduce their livestock. But expropriations are also possible. “We have no choice,” says minister Christianne van der Wal, responsible for nitrogen policy. “Nature can’t wait.”
Drinking water must be purified at high cost
Groundwater and soil in the Netherlands are highly polluted. Excess nitrogen from agricultural sources ends up in the groundwater and surface water as nitrate and in the air as ammonia and nitrous oxide. As a highly effective greenhouse gas, the latter contributes to global warming. When excess nitrogen is washed out of the soil by rain, it ends up in the groundwater as nitrate. The result: to extract drinking water from it, the water has to be purified at great expense. Livestock farms are the biggest culprits in the Netherlands. And the agricultural sector is huge, one of the largest exporters in the world.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
