@pietervanpelt.bsky.social
My thought for today. The European Union is a colourfull assembly of many independent states, each with its own history, culture and often language. In the past they were not always on friendly terms but after WW2 we decided to cooperate and learn from the past. United we stand and divided we fall.
August 24, 2026 at 12:13 PM
My thought for today. The European Union is a colourfull assembly of many independent states, each with its own history, culture and often language. In the past they were not always on friendly terms but after WW2 we decided to cooperate and learn from the past. United we stand and divided we fall.
Democracy is a word from the old Greeks. It means " people power" and that is what we see happening in Ukraine right now. We give the power to lead the country to people that we trust to listen to the people in their decisions. If the leader makes a decision that a majority of the people finds
July 18, 2026 at 4:13 PM
Democracy is a word from the old Greeks. It means " people power" and that is what we see happening in Ukraine right now. We give the power to lead the country to people that we trust to listen to the people in their decisions. If the leader makes a decision that a majority of the people finds
But maybe amazingly, more is not better in this case. While the human drive to prosper has not diminished, we seem to have never enough for ourselves and still envy other people if they have more then us. While we all are of the same breed, we have managed to divide ourselves up in us and they.
July 6, 2026 at 2:24 PM
But maybe amazingly, more is not better in this case. While the human drive to prosper has not diminished, we seem to have never enough for ourselves and still envy other people if they have more then us. While we all are of the same breed, we have managed to divide ourselves up in us and they.
With some 8 Billion people on Earth, one would guess that there are a whole lot of sensible people who had a good education and a lot of information about are habitat that we as a race would know how to govern our nations in a way that everyone would prosper.
July 6, 2026 at 2:19 PM
With some 8 Billion people on Earth, one would guess that there are a whole lot of sensible people who had a good education and a lot of information about are habitat that we as a race would know how to govern our nations in a way that everyone would prosper.
I was born on 25 October 1942 in Rotterdam. That city was heavily bombed in 1940 by the Germans and my mother lost her house and everything in it just as many other inhabitants of that city. She later told me about that difficult time and that story stayed with me all my life. So I understand how
June 24, 2026 at 9:25 AM
I was born on 25 October 1942 in Rotterdam. That city was heavily bombed in 1940 by the Germans and my mother lost her house and everything in it just as many other inhabitants of that city. She later told me about that difficult time and that story stayed with me all my life. So I understand how
Now that Trump had his war with Iran, we in Europa can be assured that if ever Russia gets the appetite to attack an EU country the US of A will be conspicuously absent. NATO is a farce, the USA under Trump is a disaster and we must be prepared for the worst and hope of the best.
June 15, 2026 at 5:19 PM
Now that Trump had his war with Iran, we in Europa can be assured that if ever Russia gets the appetite to attack an EU country the US of A will be conspicuously absent. NATO is a farce, the USA under Trump is a disaster and we must be prepared for the worst and hope of the best.
Following the war between USA and Iran. A war without reason. Throwing the UNO guard for Uranian enrichment out in his first term. Trump signaled that he was not interested in any supervision by the world nuclear police on Iran. In a way he told Iran: go ahead, do whatever you want to do.
April 25, 2026 at 8:26 PM
Following the war between USA and Iran. A war without reason. Throwing the UNO guard for Uranian enrichment out in his first term. Trump signaled that he was not interested in any supervision by the world nuclear police on Iran. In a way he told Iran: go ahead, do whatever you want to do.
I have only a small advise to my American friends. Next time there are Presidential elections in the US of A. Find 5 American friends, neighbours, family members that can vote. Ask each of them to vote on a reasonable candidate that seems honest, familiar with politics and intelligent.
April 4, 2026 at 1:55 PM
I have only a small advise to my American friends. Next time there are Presidential elections in the US of A. Find 5 American friends, neighbours, family members that can vote. Ask each of them to vote on a reasonable candidate that seems honest, familiar with politics and intelligent.
Some books like Brave new world by Aldous Huxly (1932) and The shape of things to come (1933) by H.G. Wells. Looking in the world of today I am astonished by the look these writers offered so long ago about our present world. Amazing.
March 1, 2026 at 12:39 PM
Some books like Brave new world by Aldous Huxly (1932) and The shape of things to come (1933) by H.G. Wells. Looking in the world of today I am astonished by the look these writers offered so long ago about our present world. Amazing.
In my younger years I read a lot of English science fiction books, to improve my English (I am Dutch by birth). These books opened new worlds for me and allowed me to enjoy fantasy worlds while improving my English. Now that I am much older and look at the world I browsed my library to re-read..
March 1, 2026 at 12:35 PM
In my younger years I read a lot of English science fiction books, to improve my English (I am Dutch by birth). These books opened new worlds for me and allowed me to enjoy fantasy worlds while improving my English. Now that I am much older and look at the world I browsed my library to re-read..
While the war of conquest persists in Ukraine and Russia small "victories" claims it is more and more clear that Russia shall not get their goals. No Ukraines land shall be given away, not a shred of land. Peace can not be traded with land, not an inch. What might be arranged is Crimea.
August 29, 2025 at 4:20 PM
While the war of conquest persists in Ukraine and Russia small "victories" claims it is more and more clear that Russia shall not get their goals. No Ukraines land shall be given away, not a shred of land. Peace can not be traded with land, not an inch. What might be arranged is Crimea.
I am following the efforts of Pres. Trump to bring peace to Ukraine. It is so nice of him to offer the Donbass to Russia, even though the Donbass is not his territory and full of rare earths that he so covets. Why does he not donate a piece of the USA to Putin ? Say, Florida or New York?
August 17, 2025 at 4:19 PM
I am following the efforts of Pres. Trump to bring peace to Ukraine. It is so nice of him to offer the Donbass to Russia, even though the Donbass is not his territory and full of rare earths that he so covets. Why does he not donate a piece of the USA to Putin ? Say, Florida or New York?
So, if the rumours are true, Russia end USA are fixing an end to the war in Ukraine. Russia gets Crimea (that was already clear since 2014) and the eastern oblasts of Ukraine. There is still some debate about the exact boundaries but the mighty world powers will fix it.
August 8, 2025 at 8:15 PM
So, if the rumours are true, Russia end USA are fixing an end to the war in Ukraine. Russia gets Crimea (that was already clear since 2014) and the eastern oblasts of Ukraine. There is still some debate about the exact boundaries but the mighty world powers will fix it.
Just another picture from the past... Paparoa Pancake Parc, New Zealand
May 17, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Just another picture from the past... Paparoa Pancake Parc, New Zealand
The United States is in severe trouble. It is rapidly transforming from a rule-based state where decisions are made after, often fierce, debates in the government and congress to a dictatorship where a small group of people in power are sending the country towards a dark future.
April 21, 2025 at 9:26 AM
The United States is in severe trouble. It is rapidly transforming from a rule-based state where decisions are made after, often fierce, debates in the government and congress to a dictatorship where a small group of people in power are sending the country towards a dark future.
It seems that Trump is doing the groundwork for a truly dictatorship. Bending the rule of law into the rule of Trump. Governing according to his own rules sidestepping existing legislation and punishing any opposition. Instead of building he is on a destructive rampage to demolish democracy itself.
April 14, 2025 at 3:19 PM
It seems that Trump is doing the groundwork for a truly dictatorship. Bending the rule of law into the rule of Trump. Governing according to his own rules sidestepping existing legislation and punishing any opposition. Instead of building he is on a destructive rampage to demolish democracy itself.
Reposted
Folks seem to generally not understand the tariff situ - it's a stealth tax where Trump collects the tariff while US consumers pay that amount more on their purchases.
Trump is destroying the US alliance network to take money from #American consumers so he can fund tax cuts for his oligarch bros.
Trump is destroying the US alliance network to take money from #American consumers so he can fund tax cuts for his oligarch bros.
March 27, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Folks seem to generally not understand the tariff situ - it's a stealth tax where Trump collects the tariff while US consumers pay that amount more on their purchases.
Trump is destroying the US alliance network to take money from #American consumers so he can fund tax cuts for his oligarch bros.
Trump is destroying the US alliance network to take money from #American consumers so he can fund tax cuts for his oligarch bros.
So, what can be done about trade tariffs? Simply ignore them? Levy our own European tariffs? There is a better method. Let's use "The Boycott". If all European consumers refuse to buy American and boycott retail companies owned by Americans, the problem will be solved in 3 months, maybe faster.
March 24, 2025 at 9:34 PM
So, what can be done about trade tariffs? Simply ignore them? Levy our own European tariffs? There is a better method. Let's use "The Boycott". If all European consumers refuse to buy American and boycott retail companies owned by Americans, the problem will be solved in 3 months, maybe faster.
What we see in the USA we have seen before. An elected president forms a government of mostly non-elected helpers to start the dismantling of government. Federal departments are dismantled or replaced by non-elected helpers with the only goal of doing away with any federal government.
March 20, 2025 at 9:34 PM
What we see in the USA we have seen before. An elected president forms a government of mostly non-elected helpers to start the dismantling of government. Federal departments are dismantled or replaced by non-elected helpers with the only goal of doing away with any federal government.
For people who follow the war in Ukraine. Know your history. In the last century, from 1932 to 1938, Stalin and Hitler combined their forces to divide large parts of East Europa among themselves. Timothy Snyder, an American historian, wrote "Blood Lands" to describe what happened in those years.
March 19, 2025 at 10:22 AM
For people who follow the war in Ukraine. Know your history. In the last century, from 1932 to 1938, Stalin and Hitler combined their forces to divide large parts of East Europa among themselves. Timothy Snyder, an American historian, wrote "Blood Lands" to describe what happened in those years.
Now that Musk threatens to disconnect Ukraine from starlink, unless they surrender themselves to Russia, a new low is reached in the "peace" negotiations. When a private citizen of the USA can force a country to stop defending itself against a brutal attacker one must ask how low can you go.
February 22, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Now that Musk threatens to disconnect Ukraine from starlink, unless they surrender themselves to Russia, a new low is reached in the "peace" negotiations. When a private citizen of the USA can force a country to stop defending itself against a brutal attacker one must ask how low can you go.
The conflict between the Israel and the Palestinians is now some 80 years old if we take 1948 as the starting point (the formation of Israel by a UNO resolution backed by a small majority of states). Ever since that year Palestinians, backed by a most of Islamic states, refused to recognise Israel.
January 30, 2025 at 6:32 PM
The conflict between the Israel and the Palestinians is now some 80 years old if we take 1948 as the starting point (the formation of Israel by a UNO resolution backed by a small majority of states). Ever since that year Palestinians, backed by a most of Islamic states, refused to recognise Israel.
One thing is sure, in my opinion. The war will stop somewhere in 2025 and diplomacy will take over. Enough is enough, the bloodshed must stop and both parties are exhausted and ready to compromise. Under Trump, the USA will focus on matters in their own house and loosen their bonds with the EU.
January 4, 2025 at 10:17 PM
One thing is sure, in my opinion. The war will stop somewhere in 2025 and diplomacy will take over. Enough is enough, the bloodshed must stop and both parties are exhausted and ready to compromise. Under Trump, the USA will focus on matters in their own house and loosen their bonds with the EU.