Aukje de Vries' Diary Day 30

Crisis. The Central Planning Office is publishing the latest figures about the economy. It sounds like a disaster. Until recently our government said that our economy was in rather good shape, so they thought that the economy in The Netherlands would not be affected as badly as in some other countries, but the reality is different. Since we are an open economy with a lot of trade the effects of the global crisis hit us hard and fast.

All day long we hear different people giving their opinion on radio and television. All options to meet the crisis are open, even some unorthodox ones. Immediately the various political parties begin by saying what they do not want to be done. The coalition parties seem to disagree, but the government will first discuss internally what to do . It becomes clear that the pact between the three political parties in the government will have to be renegotiated, because the circumstances are completely different than when the pact was concluded. The present situation is compared with the depression of the thirties.

I spend a lot of time in my study and get some of the work done for one of the two secretariats. In the meantime I receive a telephone call about developments in the other organisation which will give me more work to do for that secretariat. I have made it clear that I want to stand down at the next General Assembly of this organisation. I am more or less –as a volunteer - replacing a paid staff member. After more than a year I feel this has been enough for me.

Mea Vita is now regularly in the news. The Junior Minister of Health has announced that she will make sure that the personnel of Mea Vita will keep their jobs and that the clients will keep their help - a new organisation has been established for that purpose--but if Mea Vita will go bankrupt, so be it. She has no confidence in the Mea Vita management.