Issue Today

One of the ongoing discussion in the Dutch media the last couple of weeks was about the e-cigarette. It is a sigaret which can be charged via a socket and which does not contain any Nicotine. The companies that sell these cigarettes claim that there is nothing wrong with them. The government on the other hand says that the e-cigarette is very addictive and harmfull for your health. The PvdA (Workers Party) therefore wants to abolish the e-cigarette under the age of 18. The e-cigarette was brought into the world as a very positive and healthy innovation. The cigarette companies emitted ads which told the viewers that the e-cigarette was meant to "Save Humanity"! This is of course a very smart slogan that makes the customer think of the e-cigarette as something promising.  On another website from e-smoking.com , a company that distributes electronic cigarettes, they claim that the cigarette is a healthy alternitive for the regular smoker and that it saves you from creating...

What to believe and what to ignore? That is the question I am asking myself all of the time. News changes. The way of receiving the news, the way it is presented, and the form in which it is brougth to you. Luckily there is infotainment, a news form which brings you the news in a entertaining way. That’s a relief! Yesterday I was watching a video from Jon Stewart’s Daily Show (An entertaining news show from America presented by Jon Stewart) about Syria . While I was watching the episode it came to me that there are many different news sites and channels to choose from. Besides that, they nowadays do not only spread facts, but mainly arguments and opinions.  I guess many people will not see through these arguments and opinions and will just believe what is told to them. People who want to form a true image about the news, will have to watch multiple news channels. On the other hand The Daily Show  is entertaining but gives different opinions from different news channels. ...

Nowadays the law claims that blasphemy is punishable has been abolished. When one insulted religion a few days ago he or she could still be punished for that. From now on people are allowed to talk about religion and God in any way they want unless it does not provoke or spread hate. I looked at what the pros and cons of this law are and what consequences it will have now that law is gone. Furthermore I think that there is something to say for the advocates of the law as well as the opponents. The law was inherited in 1932 when a communistic magazine published articles and drawings which made God ridiculous. Due to this magazine the law was introduced. After 1960 not so many people where prosecuted when they profaned God or religion. However after the murder on Theo van Gogh, the former minister of Justice Piet Hein Donner claimed that the law should be taken serious again. The law was not abolished because the last political formations did govern with the CDA or the CU, which are...