woensdag 23 april 2025
Paus naar Sint-Pieter
Pope to St. Peter's
> Nederlands - Duits
It is June 1963. Pope John XXIII is dead. The pope who opened the windows of the church to the world to air out the old building. Aggiornamento: to bring up to date, to modernize. We have only just got television. Borrowed. We all watched the impressive white funeral of Queen Wilhelmina in December 1962 at the neighbors, but in November 1963 President Kennedy is murdered in our own living room and the television has become indispensable. Modernization. The television is on in the corner of the room and we watch with half an eye. Traditional images. The image of modernization carried to the grave. Pope John XXIII is carried in full regalia on a public bier into St. Peter's in public. We don't really know what to think of this as sober Calvinists. But my three-year-old brother Johan jumps up when he recognizes the man on the bier and enthusiastically calls out: "Sinterklaas!!!"
Papst zum Petersdom
> Nederlands - English
Es ist Juni 1963. Papst Johannes XXIII. ist tot. Der Papst, der die Fenster der Kirche für die Welt öffnete, um das alte Gebäude zu lüften. Aggiornamento: zum heutigen Tag bringen, modernisieren. Fernsehen gibt es erst seit Kurzem. Geliehen. Wir alle haben die beeindruckende weiße Beerdigung von Königin Wilhelmina im Dezember 1962 bei den Nachbarn gesehen, doch im November 1963 wird Präsident Kennedy in unserem eigenen Wohnzimmer ermordet, und der Fernseher ist unverzichtbar geworden. Modernisierung. Der Fernseher läuft in der Zimmerecke, und wir schauen mit halbem Auge zu. Traditionelle Bilder. Das Bild der Modernisierung, mit ins Grab genommen. Papst Johannes XXIII. wird in voller Montur auf einer öffentlichen Bahre in den Petersdom getragen. Wir wissen nicht so recht, was wir als nüchterne Calvinisten davon halten sollen. Doch mein dreijähriger Bruder Johan springt auf, als er den Mann auf der Bahre erkennt, und ruft begeistert: „Sinterklaas!!!“
dinsdag 18 maart 2025
Kush in Sierra Leone
Kush Crisis Unveiled
A groundbreaking report by the Clingendael Institute and the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime has exposed the devastating impact of “kush,” a synthetic drug that has plunged #SierraLeone and its neighbours into a public health and security crisis. Emerging in the late 2010s, #kush has rapidly spread across West Africa, leaving a trail of fatalities, overwhelmed healthcare systems, and national emergencies in its wake.
The report, titled West Africa’s Growing Synthetic Drugs Challenge, reveals that kush represents a dangerous new chapter in the region’s drug epidemic. Its lethal chemical composition, decentralized production, and rapid proliferation have outstripped previous drug threats, prompting Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio and Liberian President Joseph Boakai to declare national emergencies in April 2024.
Kush is not just another illicit substance; it is a harbinger of a broader synthetic drug crisis sweeping across West Africa. The drug’s market scale, rapid expansion, and catastrophic health impacts have overwhelmed communities and governments alike. In Freetown, the crisis has grown so severe that mortuaries have been pushed to their limits. In 2022, authorities resorted to group cremations to manage the surge in kush-related deaths. Today, the bodies of users are often found abandoned on the streets, collected by authorities at dawn—a grim testament to the drug’s deadly grip.
For years, myths about kush’s composition—ranging from human bones to fentanyl—have hindered efforts to combat its spread. However, recent chemical testing conducted in #Freetown and #Bissau has finally unmasked its deadly formula: a potent cocktail of nitazenes, synthetic opioids up to 25 times stronger than fentanyl, and synthetic cannabinoids like MDMB-4en-PINACA, a compound prevalent in European drug markets.
Nitazenes, which accounted for 48% of drug deaths in Estonia and 28% in Latvia in 2023, are now driving a surge in fatalities in Sierra Leone. The report warns that kush’s chemical consistency across West Africa points to a regional synthetic drug epidemic, with local production replacing imported supplies and fueling its rapid spread.
The human toll of kush is staggering. Overdose-related deaths have skyrocketed, overwhelming Sierra Leone’s fragile healthcare system. The drug’s potency has left users vulnerable to fatal overdoses, while the lack of adequate treatment options has exacerbated the crisis. “Kush kills, and deaths are on the increase,” warned a Freetown medical examiner. The government is already struggling to cope, has been unable to stem the tide of addiction. Meanwhile, law enforcement efforts have faltered in the face of a rapidly evolving and decentralized drug trade.
Initially controlled by a handful of organized crime syndicates, the kush market has since fragmented into a sprawling network of producers, distributors, and users. While pre-processed kush was imported until 2022, local synthesis has now taken over, making the drug more accessible and affordable. This shift has allowed new criminal players to enter the market, further complicating efforts to combat its spread.
The drug’s ingredients are believed to originate from #China, with additional exports linked to the #UnitedKingdom and the #Netherlands. Maritime and postal courier services serve as key supply chains, highlighting the international dimensions of Sierra Leone’s crisis.
Sierra Leone’s gangs, once embroiled in violent turf wars, have pivoted to kush distribution and retail. Ironically, the drug’s market stability has led to a temporary decline in gang violence, as competition now centers on product quality rather than territory. However, this fragile peace belies the broader security threat posed by organized crime’s deepening involvement in the trade.
Corruption within law enforcement and allegations of political protection for key players have further complicated government responses. While high-level political ties remain unproven, the report identifies two major kush distributors with family connections to politicians, underscoring the need for greater accountability and transparency.
The report urges a coordinated, three-pronged response to the crisis. There should be enhanced monitoring and regional cooperation, strengthen data-sharing on synthetic drug compounds and equip West African nations to detect and seize illicit substances, improved scrutiny of imports from Europe and China, while updating laws to target synthetic drugs. In addition, it calls for expanded access to treatment and harm reduction. More must be done to distribute naloxone to reverse overdoses, reform drug laws to protect users, and train healthcare workers to address addiction.
The kush epidemic is a stark reminder of the evolving nature of the drug trade in West Africa. With synthetic drugs becoming more accessible and lethal, Sierra Leone and its neighbors must act swiftly to contain the crisis before it spirals further out of control.
As the government grapples with this unprecedented challenge, the question remains: Will the response be swift and effective enough to stem the tide, or will kush continue to wreak havoc on the country’s youth and public health system?
For now, Sierra Leone stands at a crossroads, facing one of its gravest drug crises in history.
For more details, visit the Clingendael Institute’s website to read the full report:
Kush in Sierra Leone (PDF 60p)
A groundbreaking report by the Clingendael Institute and the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime has exposed the devastating impact of “kush,” a synthetic drug that has plunged #SierraLeone and its neighbours into a public health and security crisis. Emerging in the late 2010s, #kush has rapidly spread across West Africa, leaving a trail of fatalities, overwhelmed healthcare systems, and national emergencies in its wake.
The report, titled West Africa’s Growing Synthetic Drugs Challenge, reveals that kush represents a dangerous new chapter in the region’s drug epidemic. Its lethal chemical composition, decentralized production, and rapid proliferation have outstripped previous drug threats, prompting Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio and Liberian President Joseph Boakai to declare national emergencies in April 2024.
Kush is not just another illicit substance; it is a harbinger of a broader synthetic drug crisis sweeping across West Africa. The drug’s market scale, rapid expansion, and catastrophic health impacts have overwhelmed communities and governments alike. In Freetown, the crisis has grown so severe that mortuaries have been pushed to their limits. In 2022, authorities resorted to group cremations to manage the surge in kush-related deaths. Today, the bodies of users are often found abandoned on the streets, collected by authorities at dawn—a grim testament to the drug’s deadly grip.
For years, myths about kush’s composition—ranging from human bones to fentanyl—have hindered efforts to combat its spread. However, recent chemical testing conducted in #Freetown and #Bissau has finally unmasked its deadly formula: a potent cocktail of nitazenes, synthetic opioids up to 25 times stronger than fentanyl, and synthetic cannabinoids like MDMB-4en-PINACA, a compound prevalent in European drug markets.
Nitazenes, which accounted for 48% of drug deaths in Estonia and 28% in Latvia in 2023, are now driving a surge in fatalities in Sierra Leone. The report warns that kush’s chemical consistency across West Africa points to a regional synthetic drug epidemic, with local production replacing imported supplies and fueling its rapid spread.
The human toll of kush is staggering. Overdose-related deaths have skyrocketed, overwhelming Sierra Leone’s fragile healthcare system. The drug’s potency has left users vulnerable to fatal overdoses, while the lack of adequate treatment options has exacerbated the crisis. “Kush kills, and deaths are on the increase,” warned a Freetown medical examiner. The government is already struggling to cope, has been unable to stem the tide of addiction. Meanwhile, law enforcement efforts have faltered in the face of a rapidly evolving and decentralized drug trade.
Initially controlled by a handful of organized crime syndicates, the kush market has since fragmented into a sprawling network of producers, distributors, and users. While pre-processed kush was imported until 2022, local synthesis has now taken over, making the drug more accessible and affordable. This shift has allowed new criminal players to enter the market, further complicating efforts to combat its spread.
The drug’s ingredients are believed to originate from #China, with additional exports linked to the #UnitedKingdom and the #Netherlands. Maritime and postal courier services serve as key supply chains, highlighting the international dimensions of Sierra Leone’s crisis.
Sierra Leone’s gangs, once embroiled in violent turf wars, have pivoted to kush distribution and retail. Ironically, the drug’s market stability has led to a temporary decline in gang violence, as competition now centers on product quality rather than territory. However, this fragile peace belies the broader security threat posed by organized crime’s deepening involvement in the trade.
Corruption within law enforcement and allegations of political protection for key players have further complicated government responses. While high-level political ties remain unproven, the report identifies two major kush distributors with family connections to politicians, underscoring the need for greater accountability and transparency.
The report urges a coordinated, three-pronged response to the crisis. There should be enhanced monitoring and regional cooperation, strengthen data-sharing on synthetic drug compounds and equip West African nations to detect and seize illicit substances, improved scrutiny of imports from Europe and China, while updating laws to target synthetic drugs. In addition, it calls for expanded access to treatment and harm reduction. More must be done to distribute naloxone to reverse overdoses, reform drug laws to protect users, and train healthcare workers to address addiction.
The kush epidemic is a stark reminder of the evolving nature of the drug trade in West Africa. With synthetic drugs becoming more accessible and lethal, Sierra Leone and its neighbors must act swiftly to contain the crisis before it spirals further out of control.
As the government grapples with this unprecedented challenge, the question remains: Will the response be swift and effective enough to stem the tide, or will kush continue to wreak havoc on the country’s youth and public health system?
For now, Sierra Leone stands at a crossroads, facing one of its gravest drug crises in history.
Kush in Sierra Leone (PDF 60p)
vrijdag 21 februari 2025
Terinzagelegging Herijking Regionale Energiestrategie
De provincie Utrecht, zestien gemeenten (U16) en vier waterschappen in de regio Utrecht namen in 2021 een besluit over de Regionale Energiestrategie (RES 1.0). Daarin staat hoe en hoeveel de regio Utrecht bijdraagt aan de overgang van fossiele energie naar duurzame elektriciteit en warmtebronnen om onze woningen te verwarmen. Deze afspraken worden nu geactualiseerd in de RES Herijking. De concept RES Herijking van de regio Utrecht en het daarbij horende milieurapport MER ligt van 13 februari tot 27 maart digitaal ter inzage, waar belangstellenden op kunnen reageren.
De betrokken gemeenten maken zoals gebruikelijk de terinzagelegging bekend via de officiële bekendmakingen in het Gemeenteblad. Op 14 februari zag ik de officiële aankondigingen van de provincie, de regio U10/U16 en onder andere de gemeenten Nieuwegein, Bunnik, Wijk bij Duurstede en Utrechtse Heuvelrug. Maar die van Houten ontbrak. Ik heb de gemeente Houten hiernaar gevraagd.
De aankondiging van Houten verscheen maandag 17 februari op de gemeentelijke website en woensdag 19 februari in het Gemeentenieuws (in de digitale nieuwsbrief en in het huis-aan-huisblad 't Groentje Houtens Nieuws), maar nog niet bij de officiële bekendmakingen. Wel is hierover eerder al een raadsinformatiebrief (7/2/25 nr 859990) aan de raad gestuurd.
Is het belangrijk dat er een formele aankondiging in het Gemeenteblad verschijnt, vroeg ik mij af, of maakt het niet zoveel uit. Officiële bekendmakingen zijn landelijk door iedereen te vinden via https://officielebekendmakingen.nl/ . Voor formele besluitvorming over bijvoorbeeld een bestemmingsplan(omgevingsplan) is zo'n bekendmaking essentieel, omdat dan bij beroepsprocedures aangetoond kan worden dat plannen rechtsgeldig terinzage hebben gelegen. Maar hier gaat het om regionale afspraken die worden geactualiseerd. Misschien is publicatie in dit geval facultatief. Ik vroeg het na bij U10/U16 (U10 is oorspronkelijk een samenwerkingsverband van tien gemeenten, uiteindelijk van zestien).
Een woordvoerder van U10/U16 liet mij weten dat het voor de herijking van de Regionale Energiestrategie wel wenselijk is dat de gemeente de terinzagelegging formeel aankondigt, maar niet verplicht. Bij de herijking hoort echter ook een PlanMER, een milieueffectrapportage van het plan, en daarvoor is formele bekendmaking in het Gemeenteblad juridisch wel noodzakelijk.
De gemeente Houten zal de terinzagelegging van de RES Herijking maandag 24 februari formeel bekendmaken in het Gemeenteblad, zo verzekerde de woordvoerder van U10/U16 mij.
Bronnen:
- Raadsinformatiebrief 7-2-25 kenmerk 859990
- Gemeentelijke website Houten 17-2-25
- Gemeentenieuws Houten 19-2-25
- via Provincie Utrecht * via U16 Energieregio
- dossier go.stylo.nl/wind > U10/U16
- Zoeken in Gemeenteblad naar RES
- algemeen: https://officielebekendmakingen.nl/
- Nieuw 25-02-25 Bekendmaking Gemeenteblad Houten
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