‘Connections’ goes Digital

It’s a Dog’s Life

So what happened to the Connections, I hear you ask?

After printing 38 issues, Connect International has decided to modernize and move with times. In the ecological interests of reducing paper waste, and the unnecessary felling of trees, we have decided to go digital. On the up side, the Connections will go from being a quarterly to a monthly publication, and, with the exception of the summer months, probably totalling 10 issues a year.

Yes, it’s still FREE, but from now on you will be able to download the latest issue and either read it online or print it out – you choose! In the case that you’ve missed (heaven forbid), or lost one, there is a possibility to locate back issues and print them out via a rather clever site: calameo.com – just search for Connections and the issue you’re missing!

New identification/registration law for dogs

Beginning 1 April 2013, all puppies born in the Netherlands and all dogs being imported into the Netherlands, must be tagged with a microchip. The pups must be implanted before turning 7 weeks old and must be registered in the government's Central Animal Database (initially) before 8 weeks of age. Tagged dogs that have been imported into the Netherlands must be registered in the database within two weeks of arrival.

The purpose of the new legislation is to crack down on the illegal and malicious dog trade. A secondary benefit is to help with the identification of lost or stolen dogs. Although it is not mandatory to make the information available for the recovery of missing dogs, dog owners can give their permission for this purpose.

Beginning 2 April, the Gemeente Groningen will work more with appointment times for its Public Affairs department on Kreupelstraat 1. From then on, times that you can walk into the gemeente for assistance without an appointment will be limited to 9 - 11:00, Tuesdays through Fridays.

For all other times, you must have an appointment. You can make an appointment at this link: http://gemeente.groningen.nl/loket-start/afspraak-maken

The Public Affairs building will be open at the following times: Monday, 13.00 to 17.00 hrs; Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 9.00 to 17.00 hrs; Thursday, 9.00 to 19.00 hrs. By utilizing appointments, waiting time for the customer will be reduced and the Gemeente can more efficiently deploy its personnel.

ConnectionsAPRIL ISSUE #39 2013 / www.connect-int.org

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2 / Connections

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INFORMATION

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EverythingYOU NEED toMAKE Yourselfat HOME in

THE NETHERLANDS

Connect International serves the international community in the provinces Groningen, Friesland, Drenthe, and Noord Holland.

Supported by an international staff and Board of Directors, We provide quality relocation services, and practical information to help familia- rize international residents with all aspects of living, working or studying in the Northern Netherlands, and organize events and activities to facilitate making further connections.

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CONNECT Coffee MorningDate: 5, 19 AprilTime: 10.30 - 12.30 hrs Place: La Place, V & D, GroningenCost: Whatever you choose to eat or drink.

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My name is Claire Regan and I am an Austra-lian veterinarian living in Heiloo. I graduated from the University of Queensland in 2001 and currently run my own mobile vet practice. My husband is Dutch (Jacco) and we have one little boy, Fabien, and another little monkey on the way.

When I was asked to write an article on Social Ecology I must admit I was a bit baffled by the term. Social ecology - what does that mean? Naturally, I Googled it and found the definition on Wikipedia, which I share with you now

Social Ecology is a philosophy founded by Green author and activist Murray Bookchin. Conceptualized as a critique of current social, political, and anti-ecological trends, it espouses a reconstructive, ecological, communitarian, and ethical approach to society.

Social ecology advocates a reconstructive and transformative outlook on social and environ-mental issues, and promotes a directly demo-cratic, confederal politics. As a body of ideas, social ecology envisions a moral economy that moves beyond scarcity and hierarchy, toward a world that re-harmonizes human communities with the natural world, while celebrating diversity, creativity and freedom.

So, what does this mean? An ethical approach to society. Moving beyond scarcity and hierar-chy, toward a world that re-harmonizes… celebrating diversity, creativity and freedom. That’s a lot of ideas in one philosophy! It’s what I strive for every day, but never had a name for it until now.

Obviously most of us do our best with recycling our rubbish, not using the car too much (easy in Holland with the cycling culture here!), being nice to your neighbour, accepting other cultures etc, but what does this mean when it comes to animals?

Our animals; our pets, our precious living, breathing companions that we spend so much time and love on. What is their role in social ecology? They certainly should add harmony, creativity and freedom but in reality give so much more to us: love, laughter, joy. They are our mirror. So when they are not in harmony with nature, it is often a reflection of something in our own lives that is not right.

As a vet I am often confronted with the sad situation where a person has an animal (usually a dog) that is either a social and domestic nuisance, or has too many of them and can’t afford to treat them when they become ill (usually cats and old ladies, make that old cats and old ladies!). I see the young fellow who has spent 1000 euros on a Dogue de Bordeaux but then can’t afford a course of antibiotic treatment to tackle the latest bout of skin infection. I see the houses crammed with birds, dogs and cats that have little to no quality of life and as a direct consequence sap happiness from their owners lives thereby becoming a nuisance. I see the Paris Hiltons with their Chihuahua’s in their handbags and I see a lot of fantastic homes for pets too. So, I see a lot.

I guess when I think about social ecology and animals I think of us living here in Holland, where even the most unfortunate animal living in domesticity is still far better off than its counterpart in countries like Spain or Greece. If we are talking about social ecology on a political l level then I would love to see the governments of every country in Europe making laws that protect animals from humans who regard them as disposable items. The shelters in these other poorer European countries are literally brimming with unwanted critters; it’s an outrage and a crime as far as I’m concerned to take no responsibility whatso-ever for the welfare of an animal (ie vaccinating, neutering, feeding them etc).

To not even try to care for a pet wanted or not whether due to cultural, fiscal or domestic reasons is just terrible in my opinion. People must be fed first of course but to starve a dog

then dump it in a plastic bag at the gate of the local shelter should be in my opinion a punish-able crime. The very least the Government should be implicating in ALL European countries are mandatory neutering laws for all owners of dogs and cats in the EU. Vets could start with the registering of every animal they see, and, if it’s not neutered by 1 year of age then they should surrender it until it is neutered. Very difficult to achieve but we must start some-where I feel. There will always be too many dogs and cats breeding in the wild, even if everyone got their pets neutered!

Breeders of too common breeds such as the pit bull and Staffordshire bull terrier should be made to stop or be limited to one breeding bitch for example, before more of these poor animals end up in police holding cages in England.

Here in Holland, it is astounding just how many of my clients have spent hundreds of euros on a puppy, and have no clue about the misery living behind bars in some open shelter in Crete (for example)… poor things! We are spoilt living here, and actually so are the animals.

So, what I guess I am saying is that its up to all of us to think very carefully about this problem and our responsibility to our feathered and furry friends and lobby governments in not only the EU but the whole world. To have some type of legal protection from people who have no business taking these animals on in the first place. Strong words but really, what’s happen-ing in this world? What can we do? Lots! So get cracking everyone and let us know some of your suggestions, firstly for the Dutch govern-ment and then who knows, Spain? Greece? Will these governments do anything? Maybe not, but we have to try a little don’t we? What do you think?

Claire Regan

4 / Connections

Social Ecology

socialecology.uci.edu

Connections / 5

Its early morning, the November air is cool and fresh and the first beams of sunlight wrestle with the night sky. There is a soft whistle of leaves, a twig snaps. For the rest, the park lies quiet.

Like the previous days, Truus and Sil and the rest of the brigade of workers are ready to report for duty. Hired by the municipality, they maintain the city park of Winschoten. It’s a toughened and hardworking crowd. Taciturn by nature, they shuffle their feet in the cold morn-ing air. Their breath is visible, rising in the air like little columns of smoke.

Finally, in the distance, they hear the long awaited rumble of an engine. It’s the engine that carries Roy, their boss, as well as Sky and Moss, his sidekicks. Roy gets out of his car briskly. His two border collies follow suit and stretch their legs. They are anxious to get started - as is the sheep squad.

Pleased, Roy notices that they have done a good job and everywhere the grass is cut nicely. Today ends their assignment in the park, and today they will hit the road again. It is only a short walk to the next village of Blauwestad. No big feat, as sheep can easily cover 15 km a day, but today’s journey involves walking on the street and amidst the traffic; a chance for Pieter and Silvia Kunst, the owners of the flock, to prove themselves as true masters of the flock.

The fence that had surrounded the sheep is taken in and finally the dogs can show their prowess. Nimbly, they circle the sheep, making sure none stray. With one eye on their master, they follow whatever command is whistled. Pieter and his border collie, Jipp, take the lead and Roy concludes the parade with Sky and Moss. But the sheep don’t need much guidance, from experience they know that going on a journey means going to new feeding grounds; eagerly, they march on.

It is Sunday and luckily the streets are fairly quiet. Pieter, who is still rather new in this field, says “My motto is learning by doing” and unflinchingly, he walks onto the street and neatly stops all oncoming traffic. Quickly the sheep fill the street, walking right and left of the cars. Smiling faces all around follow the

unusual procession; it is as if the circus had come to town.

“That’s a job I love doing,” says Pieter Kunst energetically. As a facility manager of a bank, he was used to working long hours away from home. He made a good living but his true passion lay elsewhere: Sheep. A few years ago, he followed his dream, bought a farmhouse, some land and his first little flock of some ten sheep. “It was nothing serious then,” he insists. “It was just a hobby while I continued working at the bank.”

His wife Silvia could have done without sheep or land or farmhouse. “But I realized very quickly that without sheep there would be no Pieter,” she says laughing. “And once it started, there was no more stopping him.”Urban farming is an important component of rendering cities more ecologically sound and when Pieter got in touch with the municipality in Winschoten, they didn’t need much convincing.

Sheep are powered by the grass they eat and their clippings convert into a natural fertilizer. There are no gas tanks to refill, no blades to sharpen, no discharge of cuttings, nor is there gas or noise pollution. Sheep are very efficient on terrain that is too rough for machines. Not only do they mow grass, but by plucking out young seedlings, they prevent heaths from turning into woods and keep the landscape varied. Sheep are so gentle; they walk between flowers rather than flattening the whole area as a machine would. Furthermore, on the little tufts of grass they leave untouched, insects canflourish.

The time was ripe for a drastic change towards ecology and Pieter and Silvia got the green light. After the city of Groningen, also Winschoten would follow the latest trend and go green by using sheep instead of machines to mow the grass.

To be able to handle the extensive responsibili-ties of shepherding a flock of 250 sheep, Pieter Kunst contracted Roy Terpstra, a young but experienced shepherd who learned this line of work from his father. He is the master of his sheep and solely responsible. He spends his day tending to his subjects. “Vet visits are

expensive. With my own medical equipment I can attend to most problems,” he says confidently. “Stitching up a lag after a serious dog attack? No problem.”

Now that the sheep are grazing on the greens in Winschoten, Silvia is happy with the positive reactions. “Many people are intrigued. They stop by and ask questions. And they bring their children who love the sheep. “One of the regular comments is that the municipality is finally doing something fun,” Silvia recalls.

The overall positive response to the sheep is the result of a careful strategy. Together with the municipality, Pieter and Silvia met with the locals of Winschoten to present their plans of letting the sheep into the city park. “In the beginning people were confused and particu-larly the dog walkers weren’t too happy with the prospect of restrictions,” Silvia remembers. “But we particularly wanted to get the dog walkers on our side.” After all, it’s the dogs that are the biggest threat to the flock. While the sheep are in the park, dogs have to be kept on a leash or under control so they won’t jump the fence and harm the sheep.

During the summer the all-girls-flock enjoyed the company of four sturdy and dashing young men, and this temporary alliance had been tremendously successful, too. In February and March a group of vets-to-be, together with Pieter and Roy transformed into midwives, assisting the many little lambs to arrive safely into this world. It was a busy, round-the-clock job but the result was ample reward for the lack of sleep. Now the air is filled with the lamb’s soft bleating and their mother’s reassuring responses.

Only a few weeks old, they are now out in the pastures; full of life, they are happily jumping and bouncing about, enchanting all passers-by with their funny antics. Now, it is truly the beginning of spring…

www.stadskudde-oldambt.nl

www.facebook.com/stadskudde.oldambt?ref=ts&fref=ts

Andrea Kullek

New Landscapers for Groningen

www.stadskudde-oldambt.nl

www.alkmaar.nl

www.amstelveen.nl

www.bergen-nh.nl

www.beverwijk.nlBeverwijk and Wijk aan Zee

www.castricum.nlAkersloot, Bakkum, Castricum

Limmen, de Woude

www.denhelder.nl

Den Helder, Julianadorp

www.heemskerk.nl

Heemskerk

www.heerhugowaard.nlHeerhugowaard

www.heiloo.nl

Heilo www.hollandskroon.nl

6 / Connections

Exceptions to this requirement include people who:

1. are citizens of an EU member state2. are younger than 18 or older than 65 years of age3. have passed a Dutch language test or have completed an education program in Dutch (and have the certificates or diplomas to prove it)

4. have come temporarily to the Netherlands to study or work.

If one of these exceptions does not apply to you, then you must take and pass either the civic integration exam or the Dutch NT2 language test within three years after arrival. The short exemption test (Korte Vrijstellingstoets) is no longer offered.

As of 1 January 2013, the actual inbur-gering exams have also changed in format. The previous requirement included a series of four exams:

1. Knowledge of Dutch Society (Kennis Nederlandse Samenleving)2. Spoken Dutch Test(Toets Gesproken Ned- erlands) 3. Electronic Practical Exam (Elektronisch prakrijkexamen) 4. Practical Test (Praktijkexamen)

The new requirement uses a series of five exams:

1. Knowledge of Dutch society (Kennis Nederlandse Samenleving)2. Speaking Skills (Spreekvaardigheid)

3. Reading Skills (Leesvaardigheid)4. Listening Skills (Luistervaardigheid)5. Writing Skills (Schrijfvaardigheid)

You can choose which series of exams you wish to take, either the old or the new, up to 1 January 2015. After this date, only the new exam set will be available.

If you received a residence permit before 1 January 2013, then the previous law still applies (see http://en.inburgeren.nl/inburg- eraar/default.asp for details).

If you received a residence permit after 1 January 2013, then the new law applies to you (see http://en.inburgeren.nl/nw/inburgeraar/ default.asp for details). DUO, not the gemeente, will inform you if you are required to complete inburgering. If so, you must find a course yourself and pay for both the course and the test yourself. If necessary, you may borrow the funds (€ 250) from DUO (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs, Dutch Education Service), and eventually pay the principle plus interest back to DUO.

Karen Prowse

Changes in Civic Integrations Laws in Effect 1 January 2013

Ministerie van Onderwijs,Cultuur en Wetenschap

The laws regarding compulsory civic integration training (inburgering) for certain non-Dutch people changed on 1 Janu-ary 2013. If you have come to live in the Netherlands, you may be required to undergo a civic integration program.

Gemeente Website Connect Members Gemeente Website Connect Members

Alkmaar Town: 1. Zuid, 2. Oudorp 3. Overdie, 4. West, 5. Huiswaard/ Vroonermeer, 6.De Mare, 7.Daalmeer/Koedijk, 8.Centrum

Aagtdorp, Bergen, Bergen aan Zee Bregtdorp, Camperduin, Catrijp Egmond-Binnen, Egmond aan den Hoef, Egmond aan Zee, Groet Hargen, Rinnegom, Schoorldam Schoorl, Wimmenum

Sarah, Anna P, Anna S, Martine, Federica, BasiaCaroline, Emma, ImogenIona, Jo, Renate, Thora

VUMC Contacts

Anne, Shelley

Jo, Louise, Isabel, Amy

Lori, Laurie, Begoña,Michelle

Caroline, Rozelle, Claire,Maura, Nancy

JayneAnna Paulowna, Barsingerhorn Breezand, Van Ewijcksluis, Haringhuizen Hippolytushoef, Kolhorn, Kreileroord Lutjewinkel, Middenmeer, Nieuwe Niedorp, Nieuwesluis, Oude NiedorpDen Oever, Oosterland, Slootdorp ’t Veld, Westerland, Wieringerwaard Wieringerwerf, Winkel, Zijdewind

Marie

Annette, Marleen

Anne, Narelle, Erika, Elaine, Raquel

Jyoti

Rachel, Alex, Jackie

Robyn, Bobbi Jo

Majella

Jane

Julia, Corinne

www.hoorn.nlHoorn, Zwaag, Blokker

www.koggenland.nl

www.gemeentelangedijk.nl

www.medemblik.nl

www.schagen.nl

www.schermer.nl

www.uitgeest.nl

www.velsen.nl

www.waterland.nl

www.zaanstad.nl

Avenhorn, Berkhout, De Goorn Grosthuizen, Hensbroek, Obdam Oudendijk, Scharwoude Spierdijk, Ursem

Gemeentes: Noord Holland

Broek op Langedijk, KoedijkNoord-Scharwoude, Oudkarspel Sint Pancras, Zuid-Scharwoude

Abbekerk, Andijk, Benningbroek Onderdijk, Opperdoes, Hauwert Medemblik, Twisk

Burger(vlot)brug, Callantsoog, Dirkshorn Eenigenburg, Groenveld, Groote Keeten, Kalverdijk Kerkbuurt, Krabbendam, Oudesluis, Petten ’t Rijpje Schagen, Schagerbrug, Schoorldam, Sint Maarten Sint Maartensbrug, Sint MaartensvlotbrugSint Maartenszee, Stroet, Tuitjenhorn, Valkkoog Waarland, Warmenhuizen, 't Zand

Driehuizen, Grootschermer, Oterleek Schermerhorn, Stompetoren Zuidschermer

Uitgeest

Assendelft, Koog aan de Zaan Krommenie, Wormerveer, Westzaan Zaandijk, Zaandam

Broek in Waterland, Ilpendam, Katwoude, Marken, Monnickendam, Overleek, Purmer, Uitdam, Watergang Zuiderwoude

Driehuis, Ijmuiden, Santpoort-Noord, Santpoort-Zuid, Spaarndammerpolder Velsen-Noord, Velsen-Zuid, Velserbroek

Connections / 7

The Modern Migration Policy Act (Wet modern migratiebeleid) will be introduced on 1 June 2013, and applies to stays of residence of 3 months or longer for foreign nationals from outside the EU/EEA.

A major advantage of this act is that the application procedure in order to be allowed entry into the Netherlands (the regular provisional residence permit, MVV) and the application procedure for being allowed to stay in the Netherlands for a longer period of time (the residence permit) are combined into a single procedure, the Admission and Residence Procedure (TEV). The TEV application can be submitted while the employee is still abroad. If approved, the MVV can be collected and the IND will automatically grant the residence permit. The residence card can be collected after the migrant arrives in the Netherlands. Foreign nationals who are not obliged to apply for an MVV are subject to the regular residence permit sponsor procedure, and once approved, can collect their residence card after arrival in the Netherlands.

Once the act has been introduced, most migrants will need to have a sponsor in the Netherlands. Sponsors fulfill an important role in the migration policy. The sponsor is the

person or organization (for example a company or education institution) with an interest in the relocation of a foreign national. In addition, the employer (the sponsor) has to fulfill a number of legal obligations including the obligation to provide the government with correct informa-tion, to keep records, and to ensure careful recruitment and selection of migrants. Apart from obligations, the act also provides that, from now on, sponsors can submit an application for a residence permit for migrants.

On the basis of the Modern Migration Policy, the employers of highly skilled migrants and scientific researchers are legally the sponsor. The employers have to be authorized as sponsors. A company without an authorization can therefore not be a sponsor for a foreign national who needs a residence permit for this purpose of stay.

Employers that are registered as users of the highly skilled migrant scheme or that have a covenant will automatically become authorized sponsors when the Modern Migration Policy Act comes into effect, if they have submitted at least one residency application that has been granted in the previous year. Companies that are not registered as users of the highly skilled migrants scheme but do want to become

authorized sponsors, can contact the IND.

In the case of recognized sponsors, the IND applies a target deadline of two weeks to assess the application for a residence permit by the sponsor on behalf of the foreign national. The employer issues a declaration that the highly skilled migrant fulfills the conditions for granting the residence permit applied for. The underlying documents which the institution has acquired from the highly skilled migrant do not have to be sent to the IND

With the introduction of the Modern Migration Policy Act, regular residence permits such as permits for work, study and family reunification can be granted for a longer period of time, so that migrants or their sponsors will have to renew these less frequently. With the introduc-tion of the Modern Migration Policy Act, it is also possible to change employers or educa-tional institutions more easily without a new permit being required for this.

Source: http://english.ind.nl/themas/momi/Frequently_asked_questions

Karen Prowse

The Modern Migration Policy Act

writers call upenjoy writing?The Connections has room for volunteer writers who enjoy: writing to theme, researching, or have an

opinion to voice! Interested?Contact: publications@connect-int.org...

did you know… That a Dutch monarch is not crowned but is inaugurated with a swearing in ceremony? A coronation involves a church ceremony whereas an inauguration is purely a secular affair of state.

On 30 April this year, Queen Beatrix will sign an abdication document and then Willem-Alexander will automatically become king. The new king will be sworn in in the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam, with both houses of Parliament as witnesses, and in the presence of the Kingdom's crown, sceptre, orb, sword and a copy of the Constitution. The crown, however, has no role in the ceremony and is never worn.

From next year onwards, King's Day will be celebrated on 27 April, Willem-Alexander's birthday, and Queen's Day, 30 April, will be no more!