Responsible citizenship = activism.
That’s what I believe.
If you think that signing petitions and sending emails is a waste of time, think again. Some people may have moped for days when Trump was re-elected, but won’t lift a finger to even click ONE button to help counter the destruction that people like Trump bring about. That’s not me. I try to take responsibility. Always have, always will. I try to act, in whatever small way that I can. It’s not about me. It’s about the cumulative effects of the seemingly insignificant actions and choices of many individuals.
Below are bits of text from or about emails I’ve received that informed me about various campaigns’ successes.
But first, try to remember this, please. Thanks.
Nothing in IT is real. It’s blips of electricity or light, intricate meshes of zeroes and ones or on and off switches that in themselves have no meaning. By contrast, an arm in a typewriter really stands for a specific letter. That’s what most people don’t get, that nothing in IT is set in stone. Nothing about it is tangible or real.
That lies at the basis of the horrific Post Office Horizon mess in the UK and also of the equally horrific child care tax benefit disaster in the Netherlands although the latter was fed by povertyism, racism and xenophobia, which makes it much more shocking.
In the course of 2025, I started receiving fewer and fewer petitions etc. At a non-gmail address, I started receiving very small petitions related to villages in England, mostly slightly to the north of Portsmouth, but that fizzled out again. After that, I got some strange stuff to do with Portsmouth MP Stephen Morgan, but that had also happened a few times in Portsmouth. Most of that didn’t seem to have much to do with that MP. (By that I mean: It was fake.)
26 November 2025: We’ve erased the biggest cause of childhood poverty in Britain!
3 November 2025, an email from change.org:
28 October 2025, an email from the Renters Reform Coalition (nothing to do with Nigel Farage):
The Renters’ Rights Bill has become the Renters’ Rights Act. It’s been in the works for so many years. It’s not known yet when it will come into force, but among other things, it will finally put a stop to Section 21 Notices, the so-called “no fault eviction” notices that some landlords hand out as if it’s candy. The concept is inconceivable in the Netherlands. For years, a Dutch friend of mine with a PhD from Delft University of Technology and her English musician and computer tech partner (plus baby, later) had to keep moving in spite of being on very good terms with their landlords, for example. Because of Section 21 Notices.
25 September 2025, The Guardian (followed by Amnesty International on 1 October):
25 September 2025, from Anti-Slavery International:
We did it! Last month, over 1,600 of us came together to demand that UK supermarkets act to restore water supplies to farm workers in Spain.
Since we launched the petition with Ethical Consumer, we’ve been in intense discussion with the supermarkets.
And now, several supermarkets – including Tesco, Sainsburys, Morrisons, M&S, Aldi, Waitrose, Asda and Co-op have formally supported a letter sent to the Mayor of Nijar by the Ethical Trading Initiative. In it, they’ve reiterated concerns over the water access issues there and called for action to resolve them.
This is people power in action. For years, we’ve been engaging with supermarkets to tackle the exploitation of workers in Nijar who pick the fruit & veg sold in UK stores.
But once supporters like you got involved, supermarkets could no longer ignore it.
19 September 2025, from 38 Degrees:
“Incredible news. The government has announced it’s introducing the Hillsborough Law. This is a huge victory for the families who have fought for justice for 36 years, and for everyone who has demanded accountability.
Thousands of us, including you, signed the petition demanding that this promise was kept. Together, we helped win a new law that will force public officials to tell the truth and create a legal “duty of candour”. It will help end the culture of cover-ups that caused so much pain, not just for the Hillsborough families but for victims of other tragedies like Grenfell and the infected blood scandal. “
15 August 2025, from AllOut:
MY COMMENT on AllOut’s wish to expand the EU’s protections against discrimination
We need something similar for povertyism. Being poor makes you three times more likely to be discriminated against than being gay or being black. Did you know that? I learned this from Olivier de Schutter.
How do we go about getting this – fighting povertyism – squeezed in at the EU as well? It is so important. I’m seeing horrifyingly Orwellian developments in the Netherlands in this area and I am also learning that poverty and homelessness, just like household debt, are a business model. They generate billions and billions of income, for all the consultants, government departments and organizations who claim to specialize in these areas, not for the people this is about. An example? The household debt counselling industry in the Netherlands generates a turnover of 17 billion euro per year whereas the total amount of household debt per year is only 3.5 billion.
Different is that deep poverty needs to be addressed, of course, whereas there is nothing wrong with for example being gay or being black. So this requires a slightly different approach.
Any ideas?
I’m also seeing positive developments in the area of poverty in the Netherlands, with the city of Arnhem setting great examples, for example with how it is starting to tackle household debt. I don’t know how it intends to fight off the household debt industry if it continues along this positive path, however. It’s not likely to give up that 17 billion euro turnover easily, after all. Ironically, the Dutch government is the biggest household debt creditor (according to the Nationale Ombudsman in his report about “vroegsignalering” which I consider an Orwellian and povertyist monstrosity). The government too makes money off household debts, according to Humanitas.
How do we resolve this? We have to offer these industries different ways to make money if we want them to stop behaving like wolves on Wall Street. Can we somehow apply their knowledge and attitude in a more positive way? Can we let them fight doorstep scammers and email and phone call criminals instead? Or would they seize that as an opportunity to go into or at least encourage that racket?
I think we will have to make household debt counselling and collection agencies illegal when it concerns ordinary citizens. Only that would create a real incentive for change. It is currently even considered normal to tack on thousands of fictitious debt in eviction proceedings for rent arrears, for example. That is one of the ways in which this industry operates.
If you are Dutch and don’t believe me, then take a look at this, for inspiration: https://nos.nl/artikel/2579153-meer-bureautjes-voor-screening-sollicitanten
Commercially operating entities in the Netherlands are allowed to issue certificates that “prove” someone’s training and experience to be able to work in (health, youth etc) care facilities. That was the start of that industry. (The goose.) The result? Hundreds and hundreds of fake certificates have already been sold at several thousands of euros a pop. (Golden eggs.) It already concerns 800 to 1200 certificates.
Other commercially operating entities in the Netherlands are now increasingly getting hired to check the validity of such credentials. (More golden eggs.)
https://nos.nl/artikel/2543324-politie-waarschuwt-criminelen-zijn-op-grote-schaal-actief-in-de-zorg
This industry is starting to balloon and profits from rising crime levels in this particular area. Would you have anticipated the development of this type of crime on such a massive scale? I sure did not. I expected the Dutch care sector to have ample safeguards in place.
Possible solution? Stop businesses from issuing these certificates and create a NUFFIC for non-academic roles (with vetted staff) or better yet, create one especially for the care sector.
It is the story of the goose that lays golden eggs.
Wikipedia tells me that the phrase “killing the goose that lays the golden eggs” “refers to the short-sighted destruction of a valuable resource, or to an unprofitable action motivated by greed.” You can also see it as referring to there being no incentive to kill a “bad” goose (severely ill and infecting other birds, so to speak) if not killing the goose means that you’ll continue to have golden eggs. In this case, the geese are issues like household debt, involuntary homelessness and poverty in general.
27 June 2025: From the Good Law Project
27 June 2025: From 38 Degrees (have to see what this will mean in real life)
5 June 2025: An announcement from the Food Foundation (UK)
We’re delighted the government has committed to extending Free School Meals to all families in England receiving Universal Credit. Today’s announcement is a major victory for the Feed the Future campaign, which we and a coalition of other charities have been working on for up to seven years!
(Personally, I would like to see this extended to all families, not just all families on benefits, to avoid stigmatization. This separates kids at school into those who get free meals and those who don’t?)
18 April 2025: an email from AllOut (of which I am not a member, and I’m not even gay, but I did sign the petition)
“As we witness some of the most heartbreaking setbacks for LGBT+ rights globally, every victory matters more than ever. I am Omar from Namibia, and today, I’d like to share a powerful update from Namibia that All Out members – like you! – helped make a reality.
In July 2023, Namibia’s Parliament passed a deeply harmful anti-LGBT+ bill. If signed into law, it would have criminalised queer activism and targeted LGBT+ human rights organisations. But just last month, outgoing President Nangolo Mbumba refused to sign the bill, citing constitutional concerns.
Over 12,000 All Out members (including you, Angelina) brought about this crucial victory. Every signature was a loud show of global solidarity that fuelled our relentless organising. The support we received affirmed that love and dignity should never be criminalised.”
4 March 2025: an email from Amnesty International
“Just over a year ago you showed your support for the case of Rocky Myers, a Black man with an intellectual disability who has been on death row in Alabama since 1994, despite flawed legal proceedings and no evidence directly linking him to the crime for which he was convicted.
I’m pleased to let you know that last week Alabama Governor Kay Ivey reduced Rocky’s death penalty sentence to life in prison.
This is only the second time a death penalty case in Alabama has been changed since 1976, and while Rocky is still facing life in prison without parole, this is an important step in the flight for justice in his case.
You joined over 22,000 Amnesty International UK supporters, and thousands more across the world, in calling against the death penalty, and for justice for Rocky and it mattered. Your voices, and your commitment to justice sent a clear message: the death penalty is cruel, inhumane, and must end. Thank you.”
1 March 2025: An email from 38 Degrees
“A win for dentistry – but we can’t stop now!
A month after we handed in our 250,000-strong petition with the British Dental Association, calling for NHS dentistry to be saved, the Government has announced plans for 700,000 new urgent dental appointments.
After years of neglect, there is still a lot more to be done to make NHS dentistry fit for purpose. But this shows the impact we can have when we come together and demand better. Together, we’ll use this momentum to carry on pushing for more changes to help make sure all of us can see a dentist and get the treatment we need, whenever we need it.”
18 February 2025:
17 January 2025:
14 January 2025:
18 December 2024: big updates from Animal Equality and from Reprieve
“Mexico has just achieved a groundbreaking victory for animals – and it’s all thanks to compassionate people like you!“
18 November 2024: two updates from the UK’s National Autistic Society
30 October 2024: Good news from PETA
13 September 2024: “Today the High Court quashed the Conservative Government’s 2022 approval of a new coal mine. West Cumbria Mining Ltd wanted to mine 2.78 million tonnes of coking coal every year until 2049. The majority was expected to be exported, as the last UK blast furnaces are ending coal use this year. The Judge, Mr Justice Holgate ruled, “The assumption that the proposed mine would not produce a net increase in GHG emissions, or would be a net zero mine, is legally flawed.” He found in favour of 4 out of 5 grounds brought by South Lakes Action on Climate Change and Friends of the Earth.”
24 July 2024:
26 June 2024: “Iranian rapper and hip-hop artist Toomaj Salehi’s death sentence has been overturned.”
18 June 2024:
18 June 2024: “Less than two weeks ago, Mexico elected its new president – and All Out members took action across the world to make sure LGBT+ rights are a priority for the newly elected government.
Starting a family remains a big challenge for LGBT+ people in Mexico, where procedures like adoption or registering a newborn represent daunting obstacles for same-sex couples, who must endure long waiting times and start legal battles just for wanting to start a family – which is an universal human right.
To help change this, more than 16,000 people from around the world signed a petition asking the presidential candidates to commit to ending discrimination against every LGBT+ person wishing to start a family.
And to ensure this message was heard, we:
- Shared testimonials of rainbow families from all over Mexico
- Spoke out on national television
- Pressured candidates on social media
- Partnered with content creators so they could help spread the word
- And brought together LGBT+ families to celebrate Mother’s Day in Mexico City
7 June 2024: Update from Riedel and Campina. Riedel let me know that the use of plastic spouts lowers the risk of contamination. Although I don’t think that the risk is high, when I picture how these drinks packages are being filled and closed at the plant, I can see that. Riedel also informed me that Campina had attempted to eliminate the spouts from their organic product range and advised me to ask them what happened. So I did. I was very disappointed but not surprised to hear that when Campina started using packages without plastic pouring spouts on its organic products, they received so many complaints from members of the public that they saw themselves forced to reverse the decision.
Why am I not surprised? Riedel and Campina are Dutch companies. My impression is that the Dutch, in general, are into hypocritical consumerism and green-washing. What’s surprising is that the Dutch public is actually worse than the big business many people – including me – love pointing fingers at. I find it thoroughly disappointing that this may even particularly include consumers who buy organic. Why are they buying organic?
https://www.tetrapak.com/en-gb/campaigns/water-in-carton/rethink-the-water-bottle
In the UK, Tetra Pak wants to see its cartons included in deposit return schemes: https://www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2022/02/07/Call-for-cartons-to-be-added-to-deposit-return-scheme
In the Netherlands, Tetra Pak cartons go into the PMD recycling containers. PMD = plastic, metals, drinks cartons
I’ve also recently (May 2024) contacted CoolBest (part of Riedel) about those plastic pouring spouts that are part of many drinks’ and juice’s packaging.
After I did that, I discovered that Riedel says that it has been working actively on reducing the environmental footprint of its packaging and replacing traditional plastics by plant-based plastics (which break down) is part of Riedel’s strategy. I also noticed that Mars has started using recyclable, paper-based wrappers in Australia and New Zealand and is piloting a recyclable paper wrappers in the UK (BBC article: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-65712151) as well as that Bermuda-based Bacardi began removing plastic pourers from its bottles a few years ago. But what does “recyclable” mean in practice? Among other things, it means that in New Zealand, these paper-based wrappers by Mars must be placed in the rubbish bin and cannot be recycled. British supermarket chain Asda introduced plant-based packaging for its own-brand tea bags. They are now made from polylactic acid, derived from corn starch. However, the use of plant-based plastics may impact the food supply of people who rely on staples such as corn if crops are grown for the sole purpose of creating packaging. (Crop-based biofuels have many drawbacks too, whereas biofuels made from used cooking oils are obviously a different story.) In 2006, the Smithsonian had an interesting article on this type of PLA-based packaging: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/corn-plastic-to-the-rescue-126404720/ In 2020, Treehugger had an article that seems to indicate that the use of PLA still suffers from many of those issues: https://www.treehugger.com/pros-cons-corn-based-plastic-pla-1203953 In 2017, Columbia University published the following item about bioplastics: https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2017/12/13/the-truth-about-bioplastics/
So, read all that and then ask yourself what you can make of this: https://northamerica.novamont.com/public/Documentation/Bioplastics_crops.pdf
Next, go read this abstract of a 2023 scientific article about how these biodegradable plastics impact basil plants growing in soils that contain them: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969722062623
In addition, I’ve written to Aldi in the Netherlands about their single-use pepper mills (and I later discovered empirically that the pepper mill by La Drogheria, by contrast, can be reused even though it may look like it’s sealed shut too). Aldi wasn’t interested (and seemed surprised or didn’t understand).
14 May 2024:
“I am utterly overjoyed to be writing this email to share with you the news that after more than 50 years of unwavering dedication and relentless campaigning from supporters like you, the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill has just passed its final stage in Parliament and will soon be enshrined into law.” (UK)
19 April 2024:
7 March 2024:
“After years of campaigning and pressure from War on Want supporters like you, the UK announced last month that it will be exiting the climate-wrecking Energy Charter Treaty (ECT).”
“The ECT allows fossil fuel companies to sue governments for billions of pounds in secretive corporate courts, in response to climate policies that affect their projected profits – even if those policies are essential to tackle climate breakdown.”
14 February 2024:
23 January 2024:
19 January 2024:
12 January 2024:
9 January 2024:
Guatemala, Amnesty International: Anti-corruption lawyer Virginia Laparra released! On 3 January.
20 September 2023:
Oh, and those springs in New Zealand are now officially protected. See below.
13 September 2023:
31 July 2023: The recommended Water Conservation Order (WCO) for Te Waikoropupū Springs in New Zealand has just been sent to the Government by the Environment Court. This is a big step forward in the campaign to protect the Springs.
This report explains how the Court came up with its draft. You will find the Water Conservation Order itself in Annexure 1, on page 74.
31 July 2023: Zaniar – a young protestor who was blinded by the security forces in Iran – and his family have been granted asylum in Germany.
That said, growing corn as a source of biofuel or woods so that we can burn wood chips is not the solution to our problems either. Oil, gas and coal are condensed plant matter, remember?
Hunting for lithium and aluminum and mining them so that we can run the electrical cars that enable us to stop digging up coal and extracting oil and gas is also merely more of the same.
One of the problems we have is that recycling materials is still often more expensive than extracting them from the earth; this is why governments need to subsidise recycling and fund related research.
- https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jun/14/electric-cost-lithium-mining-decarbonasation-salt-flats-chile
- See also https://www.geoethics.org/
I don’t have all the answers either. Like everyone else, I too still pollute a lot and create a lot of waste.
That the kind of activities I talk about on this page tend to get you noticed by the UK’s counter-terrorism police as such activities are seen as potentially related to domestic terrorism – ya can’t make it up – is sadly so undemocratic that it can only be seen as reasonable from within extreme capitalism and shameless cronyism.
I also submit responses to public consultations from time to time, both in the UK and in the US.
Here is an example of how other people’s alertness and activism are benefiting the environment in the UK: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jun/20/government-retracts-unlawful-pollution-guidance-for-englands-farms
Note, however, that I do not automatically see “change” as a reason to step in an carry out “conservation”. Nature is dynamic; change is part of it.
You can see real nonsense at work sometimes when the same birds that used to be seen as a pest in one country have gained endangered species status or species of concern status while they become targeted in other countries in which their numbers are increasing.
Many of the “pests” actually only became a “pest” because of our own constant interference with other species without ever considering if other species perhaps also have rights, for starters because they’ve often been around on the planet far longer than the human species.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_evolutionary_history_of_life
55 million years ago, modern birds such as parrots, woodpeckers and swifts appeared on the planet. 38 million years ago, the first bears started populating the planet, 25 million years ago, the first deer, 20 million years ago, the first giraffes. Elephants have been around for 5 million years.
Modern humans? 250 thousand years.
Also, I will always try to remain very vocal about the destructiveness of hackers, though there aren’t any petitions etc related to that yet. I consider hackers the biggest threat to the planet and to humanity. And, no, there is no such thing as an “ethical” hacker. Some hacking activities are non-destructive, mutually agreed upon, and usually paid for. That is all. The problem with hackers is that they’re omnipotent and that they think that it makes them omniscient, but their focus and experience are extremely narrow. They see one spot of light and think that that is all there is but the rest is in the shadows for them. What is in the dot at the center is all they can see, but they don’t know it.
