DWARS for Europe: interview with Kim from Sparrentak

Interview with young European Parliament candidate Kim van Sparrentak

Ahead of the European elections on 23 May, DWARS Leiden-Haaglanden interviewed young European Parliament candidate Kim van Sparrentak (no.7, GroenLinks) about her path into politics, her plans for Europe and how best to activate young people to vote!

About Kim: Kim van Sparrentak (29) was born and raised in Middelburg and studied Political Science and Future Planet Studies at the University of Amsterdam and Urban Environmental Management at Wageningen University. She has been active at DWARS for many years and was co-spokesperson at FYEG. She also conducted research in the Netherlands and New Zealand on the impact of sustainability on social policy. Now she works for WISE Netherlands and is an activist on energy and climate issues, among others.

Interview by: Myrthe Bovendeaard, General Board member DWARS Leiden-Haaglanden

How does it feel to be a candidate for the EP?

How does that feel? It is a lot of fun because I have a lot of ideas about Europe, and I have already met a lot of people all over Europe. And, I now know very well what young people care about and I can tell that story a lot now but also make it better because I speak to more and more young people. It is incredibly inspiring to see that many young people are concerned about Europe and what is important to them.

When did your interest in politics actually start?

When I was in secondary school I didn't find politics very interesting actually, but we had a very nice history and social studies teacher who started every lesson with: "Boys and girls I don't want to influence you, but..." and he would always talk about what was going on in politics and I found that very interesting. At one point there were school strikes - not yet for the climate at the time - but for better education. That went wrong at my school, because two secondary schools from Middelburg met in front of our school, and then the mayor said: "You can sweep the streets". And so then the police went in on 12-year-olds with batons... that's quite a moment which was defining for all of us. Who are you as an adult to beat up a 12-year-old? When young people stand up for themselves, older people don't always react positively to that, so that made a big impression.

A year later, they wanted to build a nuclear power plant in Middelburg, and then only old people talked about it at meetings, and I found that so unfair! A nuclear power plant is such a big decision, it's not something you just build. It takes 12 years to finish, it creates very bad waste for the environment and for your health, which remains dangerous for thousands of years. So in my mind, people decided on that who would already be dead, so to speak, if that nuclear power plant were running.

How old were you when this occurred? And is that how you got into your interest in nuclear power and power plants?

19, so I was already active in DWARS Amsterdam, and when this was going on, we organised a manifestation in Middelburg with DWARS about nuclear energy with young people, with supporters and opponents, also to inform them. And especially because this was very important for future generations.

So after DWARS, you became active at FYEG, how did that go?

Before DWARS, I had done a lot of things, and then at FYEG they were looking for people to do the new campaign in Europe against nuclear power plants. And then I thought: eyyyy, that's fun! Really something for me. Then I applied, but in the end the campaign didn't go ahead because they couldn't get the subsidy, but by then I had already been to a General Assembly (a kind of ALV) and then I was hooked.

So what did you like about FYEG?

Well that you see a lot of young people from Europe coming together and actually wanting the same thing, and also running into the exact same problems. We all have a different background and a different way of looking at things, but we do have the same ideas and common problems. It gives so much strength and it is so special... it sounds very cliché but together we are strong.

So how long have you been active?

Um, that will have been in 2012 so 7 years.

Wow fat long already!

In 2014, I was elected to the campaign team for the European elections, and then I spent a year and a half in New Zealand for my studies, and then I got a job there. So then FYEG was on the back burner for a while. One of the first things I did when I was back in Europe was to go to the climate summit in Paris, and then I immediately joined FYEG again. A year later, I ran for president of FYEG. And so then I became co-spokesperson.

- Ah, they don't call that chairman so. So do you also have two co-spokespersons?

Yes, and back then it was true that it always had to be a man and a woman.

- And now?

Also two women.

- Yesss! Has that happened before, two women?

So yes, last General Assembly it was only allowed, and immediately two women!

*hard laughter*

- Basically, though, it could also be two males?

No, 50%+ women, so always one woman or other marginalised gender.

Why are you an activist anywaye become?

Well, so because of what happened in high school, but it was always a bit in me too I guess. When I was little, we had a ditch with lots of baby ducks, but sometimes one died while crossing between the two ditches. And so then I started putting up signs telling people to drive slowly there because of the ducklings. When I was 11, our swimming pool would merge with one in Flushing, so our outdoor pool would disappear. And then the children would have no place to swim outside in the summer, so I set up a petition.

Haha nice, WE WANT AN OUTDOOR SWIMMING POOL! So?

Yes literally that! With Word-Art you know, stuck everywhere. And then we also went door-to-door, something I'll never forget, then I rang the doorbell somewhere and someone opened the door and said: "Sorry girl, but I'm on the municipal council and it's really already been decided, so there's nothing more I can do for you". And then I thought ow...okay.

Pretty special really that at that age you were already thinking: Hey, if things aren't the way I want them to be, let's do something about it and get something done! I do like the fact that this just carried over into your adult life.

 In fact, why did you choose to run for Europe and not another tier of government?

Because I had been working with Europe for a long time, but Europe is also super interesting because you can achieve so much at European level, especially in the field of climate, in Europe the broad outlines are really set. So you can achieve a lot there if you do your best. And I just really like working with people from different countries. I have a very intersectional view on things, so it helps if you get input from outside your Dutch bubble.

So you always kind of wanted to get into politics and this was kind of your ideal...

Well I didn't actually want to go into politics at all! Hahaha

Did that come much later?

Never! Haha, no it's really only since the last two years or so that I considered maybe going into politics. I always thought: let me just be an activist and do campaigns and encourage and train other people to do it, and that's my role. And I never saw people like me in politics, I always thought: those are not my kind of people. But you do see that changing, that people like me do enter politics, and that many more women no longer conform to the "male" kind of politics, and who just dare to open their mouths and say what they stand for. And I also heard it a lot around me, because for 10 years I felt I had encouraged mostly young women to enter politics, and as chairman of FYEG I noticed that I could achieve a lot by doing my best. And yes then people start asking you; why don't you go into politics? And at some point I thought: yes why not? I can do this, and could do this quite well I think. Then if I always encourage other young women, I should do it myself.

Perhaps a little cliché question this, but I'm going to ask it anyway: what distinguishes you from the other candidates on GroenLinks's list?

 Anyway, I know the NGO/activist side very well, and as I said, I have a very intersectional view of things. So during my studies and also my work, I have always also sought, and found, the intersection between sustainability and social issues. For example, my master's thesis was about the effect of sustainability projects on deprived neighbourhoods, I then worked for the New-Zealand Cenre for Sustainable Cities, and researched the effect of sustainable traffic on public health, and then really not only on particulate matter but also more exercise, general happiness due to less air pollution or noise pollution. At Milieudefensie, we also looked at how to make people happier by adapting the mobility system, so yes always that intersection between social and green.

Look, that climate transition, it's coming, it's happening now. But whether it will be fair? That's what I want Europe for. To make sure it is really fair. Macron, for instance, has done something for the climate, he thinks, but what he has done has made people really worse off, and those yellow jackets are just a counter-reaction to the fact that it was an unfair climate policy, not because there was any climate policy at all. The people who did not have access to public transport had to start paying more for their diesel. And all the money they would pay would go to Paris to get more sustainable transport there. That ís also just not fair, and you just get that reaction to it. Whereas, you can make it so much fairer, if you just democratise the energy system, then the money doesn't go to your shareholders, it just stays within your community. The purpose of an energy cooperative or energy company is also very different. An energy company wants to make a profit and a cooperative wants to supply energy.

So how do you see cooperation with Dutch politicians? Because of course there is a lot ofel decides on environment in Europe, but the bill is simply placed with the member states, and the Netherlands then decides whether it is fairly placed with the taxpayer or not. Dus then how do you see national politics working together to ensure that those with the strongest shoulders also bear the heaviest burden?

In Europe, of course, you set the big picture, and then you make sure the big polluters are going to pay. You can do that at European level, and that is then passed on to national politics. And you can also make sure there are stricter rules for energy companies. But it's just other things, for instance that energy cooperatives get priority on the grid. For example, the EU recently decided that renewable energy gets priority on the grid. That means that, for example, if the wind farm Borssele is going to be very windy soon, it will get priority and they have to turn off the coal-fired power plants, for example. These are things that you can achieve in Europe and which just have super much influence. And if a country then has a right-wing government, there's nothing they can do about it!

I think that is a very good example actually, that Europe can push national governments to do things that are really necessary for the climate for example.

Now comes a very long question: Compared to 2014, the prediction is that in 2019 there will be many more Eurosceptic parties with many seats in the EP, think of the Brexit for example Party of Nigel Farage, or to Salvini who has created a new Eurosceptic Euro party, how do you think we should best counter these parties at can go in the EP?

 Yes, you know what I find interesting is that parties like PVV are calling for a Nexit. But Europe has absolutely nothing to say about that. That's weird, of course, so we could speak out about that a bit more often.

That, of course, is voter fraud.

 Yes because if you vote for the PVV now, they can't change anything at all. That first, but I think we just need to make sure policies are really fairer. Populism is a reaction to the fact that so many people just can't participate. And that they notice that there is actually a lot of prosperity but that they don't notice anything about it. And at some point you can then literally find yourself in a situation where your job is taken by a Pole. And in my view, that is simply because of poor, or lack of regulation. How can it be that a Pole is allowed to be exploited in the Netherlands, for a lower wage, and therefore take someone's job in the Netherlands? You just have to make sure that the minimum wage is the same for everyone in Europe. We really need to make this Europe for people. The EPP has ruled for so long now and it's really a Europe for companies now. We need to make it something of value for people too. You may know that cliché story: a can of cola travels easier than a human being in Europe. That's ridiculous! How can it be that a political layer is there more for companies than for people? It just can't be.

Another issue you are fighting so fervently for: now only 36% of EP woman-

More than in the Netherlands! Haha

-Yes, in the Netherlands the situation is even sadder in that area, and that is far too little of course. But how will you ensure that with campaigning, it tén least to the 50%?

 Well Vote for a Woman has now changed its name to Vote for a Women, which is very good because then they can campaign across Europe, but it's also very important-I mean I saw myself for a very long time as someone who shouldn't go into politics because I just didn't recognise myself in the few women who were there. So it's important that we have a diverse group of women, that you can recognise yourself in, and that they actually show themselves. And I think that's also kind of cool about Vote for a Woman, they also look at women who are a bit lower on the list and maybe don't fall into the typical straitjacket. And of course there are plenty of capable women, but then you also have to want to throw yourself into the whole European thing. Just look at the slogan: Be Brave, Green Europe- from FYEG, and at first I thought: what do they mean? But of course, it's pretty cool to stand as a woman candidate, because you could get quite a lot of buzz about you. There is a young woman in FYEG who is a candidate and has already had a whole army of trolls thrown at her, and she was really dejected by that for a few days.

Are you also someone who just therefore doesn't read comments? When you get a lot of trolls on your page, for example?

Yes, I do notice that when I start typing back violently, I have to take a breath and often delete it again. I get a lot of trolls at work, I'm in the energy sector, and they often say: "You little girl doesn't understand energy, do you? How could you possibly know anything about energy, it's far too complicated, isn't it?" So yes that. Or, "You'll put up with your boss because you agree with him". But on a political level, thankfully, I haven't had it much.

Yes I also think women should be much stronger than some of the men who have stood as candidates, because as a woman you just get a lot more shit thrown at you. But I also often hear in my circles- when it comes to equal representation- of men and women: "Yes but you should also vote on content, not just because she is a woman". That's then the criticism you get for actually getting more women at the top.

What is your reaction there then on?

Yes, I really have a typical example: Last Monday was the Maastricht Debate and it was about gender balance in the European Commission. And everyone was like: "Yes, we are really going for a 50/50 balance in the Commission". But then when it came to women, it was said every time: "Qualified women". And then I think: Yes...can we please assume that if a woman is put forward-as well as a man-that they are then "qualified" if they can just become Eurocommissioner? It's also such a cliché (but nice): If there are finally mediocree women are put forward who then get a position, if there are then female Stef Bloks, we are there! *hard laughter*

Turning now to the campaign, as we are in the middle of it with 2 weeks to go, which way of campaigning will you focus on?

I go door-to-door a lot, also because I really enjoy it, and because you learn an awful lot from it, talking to people. And I try very hard on Instagram to do a lot of things. Kind of funny because most of my friends are not on Social Media. I also really like to explain what the hell the EP does, because not very many people know.

And you are also invited to speak at meetings a lot, right?

 Yes, many debates. (see end of article for an overview)

You are in position 7, but GroenLinks is now at 4 seats in the polls so you are not really in an electable position. How many preferential votes do you need to get into the EP anyway?

20.000...

And which place would you come in? Or does that again depend on the other candidates?

Yes, that depends on how many preferential votes other candidates have indeed. But 20,000 is of course ridiculously high. But I also chose to stand in a position that is not directly electable, because I just want to get a lot more young people to the ballot box. And that young people feel more represented during the campaign, and also to make my own voice heard and points that I think are important.

So basically the seat in the EP is an afterthought 😉

Haha no definitely not! But if I look realistically at what place I'm at, that's the most important thing for the campaign right now.

Then my last question already: do you have any tips for young people reading this To maximise other get young people to the polls this campaign? Because last election, only 18% of young people went to vote, which is obviously far too few.

Well in my opinion we as young people should also go past the doors as much as possible to encourage other young people to go and vote, I've already been past a few student complexes myself and that does help. Because when you have a young person at the door saying, "Yes you are going to vote right? It's about us!" That's already better than an old person telling you the same thing. We should also tell people that it's not a bad thing if you don't know anything about politics, because it's really not that complicated. Even Europe is just about things happening in front of you on the street. I also recommend people who find politics complicated to watch the Podcast "Polititia" which explains what these elections are actually about. Another tip is also to give concrete examples that people understand, because if you start talking about how the EP works, you will lose people.

Ik hope that when young people read this that they really still try their best go do the next two weeks To get as many young people to the polls as possible! Kim thank you for your inspiring words and this interview.

 Following Kim on Social?

Insta: kimvsparrentak
Twitter: @kimvsparrentak

Upcoming debates where you can watch Kim live: 

Tuesday, 14 May: Debate at 19:30 @ Wageningen University (Forum building), room c222
Wednesday 15 May: Debate Vote for a Woman at 20:00 @ OBA Amsterdam, theatre hall
Thursday, 16 May: Machiavelli and Amsterdam PJOs Debate at 21:00 @ CREA, Amsterdam
Saturday, May 18: Europa Café from 16:30-19:00 @ Grand Café Heel Europa, Purmerend

AND DON'T FORGET: VOTE 23 MAY!