ANNEMIEKE AND CYNTHIA, TWO WOMEN WITH GUTS AND DETERMINATION!

Do I yet again have to write a blog about the Dutch 'wilderness' project Oostvaardersplassen, after my two previous Dutch blogs about the same subject? Yes, I think so, more than 3000 animals starved to death, or shot during the process of starvation, during this winter, is horrendous and completely unacceptable. This after years of overpopulation through cruel management of a few ecologists who, under supervision of ecologist Frans Vera, dreamed up a plan to recreate ‘wilderness’ on 56 squared kilometers of wet polderland, which failed its purpose for agriculture.

Do I always agree with how everyone wants to solve it? No, but I am allowed my own opinion.

Do I find Annemieke and Cynthia two cool women with a lot of guts and determination? Yes, absolutely.

Do I think that wild ponies should be petted? No, they are wild and should remain so.

Do I think that the charity and Facebook page ‘Annemieke and Cynthia’ have achieved a lot? Yes, respect.

COMMITMENT AND GRIT

I think that through their Facebook page 'Cynthia and Annemieke', and through their efforts and endless commitment, the Netherlands, including the people who have other hobbies than horse riding, has finally woken up. Nobody is anymore able to ignore the drama of the Oostvaardersplassen. Annemieke and Cynthia really have gone ‘the whole hog’ to get national, even international attention.

I see it on my timeline from all kinds of countries. Germany, England, America and Italy, just to name a few.

SILENT MARCH AND CROSSES

Yet another demonstration with slow-moving and honking cars and a 'silent march' at the local council with even a man on his knees begging for change. A minute of silence with flowers and crosses at the Oostvaardersplassen. Extreme? Yes. Tasteless? To be honest, those crosses and a minute's silence belong to something completely different for me, but that probably has to do with my age. Effective? Yes.

It is also an extreme and more than tasteless situation, there in the Oostvaarderplassen. So, you can expect that kind of an emotional reaction, even if it is not your type of reaction.

123,000 SIGNATURES TO THE DUTCH GOVERNMENT

This is also the opinion of Dutch biologist Patrick van Veen, who today offers his petition for a policy change in this so-called 'wilderness' with no fewer than 123,000 signatures to the Dutch government in The Hague. He would not participate in those demonstrations himself, he says in a local newspaper, but he does understand the reaction of the protesters. The fact that he actually mentions them, perhaps not their names but certainly their actions, says enough about how broad the range of the charity ‘Annemieke and Cynthia’ has become.

Because of this biologist with his ‘quiet diplomacy’, 123,000 signatures have now arrived in The Hague. Not someone from the horse world - very important, because the non-horse-loving people sometimes see us as a weird breed- but someone who understands people like Annemieke, Cynthia and their 50,000 followers, and that is what it's all about. It is really on the move, this protest. It is finally starting to become an unstoppable and a growing wave, which is what is so badly needed to halt this gruesome project.

Maybe our Dutch Minister Carola Schouten, who has done absolutely nothing, will finally stop looking the other way.

THE GRASS IS GETTING GREENER, THE URGENCY EVEN GREATER

And Annemieke and Cynthia are right. Especially now, now that the green on the Oostvaardersplassen is breaking through again and the urgency seems to be less, we have got to continue. Because with this management it will happen again, and again, and again...

Meanwhile, and with perfect timing, the media campaign has begun, and all followers and generous donors can now actually see the results of their pennies.

An advertisement in one of the bigger national newspapers and soon a commercial on TV.

THE LAST SHOT

The last shot is probably not yet fired, but there is movement. And much of that due to the huge amount of work from Annemieke and Cynthia.  So, hats off and keep up the good work!

Oh, and by the way, the more followers, the better, even though we may not always agree together, together we are a lot stronger and that is what it's all about right now.

So, join the Facebook page ‘Annemieke en Cynthia’. Sign the petition of Patrick van Veen which is on my timeline and help the Netherlands to soon be able to face the rest of the world without feeling deeply ashamed of themselves. Thanks to all who care.

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Top picture: the start of the media campaign in one of the dutch national newspapers.

Bottom: Annemieke and Cynthia at the fence where the animals wait in desperation for some food.