BBC News
Alix Kroeger
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6198676.stm
It has been a busy few weeks for Marianne Thieme. Ten days ago, she made history as one of two animal-rights candidates to win election to the Dutch parliament.
They are the first animal-rights MPs anywhere in the world.
On Thursday 30 November, she and her fellow MP, Esther Ouwehand, were sworn in as MPs. Now their real work begins: to persuade the next government (which has yet to be formed) to adopt animal-friendly policies.
Thieme was quoted as saying,"I miss compassion in our society. When I look at animals, they are innocent. We are treating them like they are things, like they are bicycles. That's not what we have to be as human beings. We have common sense and moral awareness, so we have to use that as well."
In its manifesto the Party for the Animals (PvdD) says protection for animals should not be defined by the market.
It wants to abolish the biotechnology industry and promote organic agriculture instead. It calls for an end to industrial farming practices such as castration and tougher penalties for those who abuse animals, as well as an end to ritual slaughter without anaesthesia.
The story says that Ms Thieme, 34, a lawyer by training, was one of the founders of the Party for the Animals in November 2002. The party only narrowly missed winning a parliamentary seat in January 2003. Now it has made the breakthrough.
The Netherlands, famously liberal, has turned to the right in recent years on questions of immigration and integration. But the PvdD's success shows that in other areas it is upholding its reputation as one of the most progressive countries in Europe.
Alix Kroeger
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6198676.stm
It has been a busy few weeks for Marianne Thieme. Ten days ago, she made history as one of two animal-rights candidates to win election to the Dutch parliament.
They are the first animal-rights MPs anywhere in the world.
On Thursday 30 November, she and her fellow MP, Esther Ouwehand, were sworn in as MPs. Now their real work begins: to persuade the next government (which has yet to be formed) to adopt animal-friendly policies.
Thieme was quoted as saying,"I miss compassion in our society. When I look at animals, they are innocent. We are treating them like they are things, like they are bicycles. That's not what we have to be as human beings. We have common sense and moral awareness, so we have to use that as well."
In its manifesto the Party for the Animals (PvdD) says protection for animals should not be defined by the market.
It wants to abolish the biotechnology industry and promote organic agriculture instead. It calls for an end to industrial farming practices such as castration and tougher penalties for those who abuse animals, as well as an end to ritual slaughter without anaesthesia.
The story says that Ms Thieme, 34, a lawyer by training, was one of the founders of the Party for the Animals in November 2002. The party only narrowly missed winning a parliamentary seat in January 2003. Now it has made the breakthrough.
The Netherlands, famously liberal, has turned to the right in recent years on questions of immigration and integration. But the PvdD's success shows that in other areas it is upholding its reputation as one of the most progressive countries in Europe.
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