Looking back: this was 2019 at DWARS Amsterdam!
31 December 2019We are about to enter a new decade, so time to look back at our last year in the 10s of the 21st century! Therefore, in this blog, we have immortalised some of our finest moments in 2019. For all our very nicest members, these moments will soon be pure nostalgia, for those interested, this blog gives a nice insight into what the Amsterdam chapter of DWARS is actually all about...
We start this fairy tale at the beginning of the new DWARSe year, namely when a new board was elected at the General Branch Meeting in June. Soon after, the summer recess started, but even then you could join your DWARSe friends at DWARS Amsterdam for a PICKNICK and GAMES NIGHT. DWARS Amsterdam was also present at the PRIDE WALK in July.
In August, it was time again for the SUMMER TOUR, where DWARSers go down student introductory markets to promote DWARS. There, we not only got to tell new students how super cool and amazing DWARS is, we also had a great time with political youth from other parties.
By then the recess was over and it was celebrated with a delicious VEGAN DINNER. Everyone was able to catch up on the summer and then we all enjoyed watching an interesting documentary on the political situation in Brazil.
On Prince's Day, we played the MEGA PRINCE'S DAY QUIZ XXL to see how much trivial knowledge of the royal family, Dutch politics and Budget Day DWARSers actually have. It was neck and neck, but in the end only one could be the best! Fortunately, there was another way to win: DWARS Amsterdam presented a prize to the person with the most beautiful, craziest or funniest headgear. They could learn a thing or two from that in The Hague...
On 27 September, a delegation from DWARS Amsterdam travelled to The Hague for the CLIMATE STRIKE. Armed with protest signs we had painted during a fun craft evening, we took the train to the political heart of the country. Wow, what a hugely successful day it was! There were so many of us, they hadn't counted on that. The Koeveld, where the march was to start and end, turned out to be far too small for the 35,000 climate strikers...!
In October, Extinction Rebellion would block the Stadhouderskade near the Rijksmuseum. Through civil disobedience, this action group wants to wake up the government. We are in a climate crisis! Of course, DWARS Amsterdam supports this necessary effort by Extinction Rebellion and always encourages its members to show their activist side whenever possible. That is why we invited ‘XR’, as the acronym sounds, to a WORKSHOP CLIMATE ACTIVISM. We learnt an awful lot and can be proud once again that the Amsterdam section is known as the most activist DWARS section. We gladly live up to that name!
After Extinction Rebellion's blockade, outrage erupted among our members. DWARSers disagreed with the way Mayor Halsema of Amsterdam had handled the blockade of Extinction Rebellion. We therefore decided to write an opinion piece on the right to demonstrate. This was published in Het Parool. Did you miss it? You can read it back here: https://www.parool.nl/columns-opinie/burgemeester-halsema-beperkt-de-vrijheden-van-burgers~bdc75a1f/
Together with the young people of the Labour Party, the Young Socialists, we had a cool brainstorming evening for the CAMPAIGN FOR14 from FNV. This campaign aims to achieve more socio-economic justice by raising the minimum wage to 14 euros per hour. When we heard that FNV was going to roll out this campaign in Amsterdam, we were only too eager to join in. The result of the evening was an action at the HvA (Hogeschool van Amsterdam). We interacted with students about a fair minimum wage and handed out unequal pieces of cake, because the cake in the Netherlands is not distributed fairly....
So around Amsterdam Dance Event, we and the Young Democrats (youngsters D66) wondered what the real situation is with sustainability at the many events that take place throughout the year in Amsterdam and its surroundings. Could it be more sustainable? A great speaker from GREEN EVENTS came to tell us more about this. We were pleasantly surprised to hear that Green Events is not only committed to making events more sustainable, but also to issues such as diversity and inclusiveness! Afterwards, we also did a small House of Commons debate based on a number of propositions. What emerged: opinions were divided, but that went criss-cross between the parties....
Besides campaigning, doing politics and eating vegan snacks, many DWARSers also like fun, dancing and dressing up. That's why, together with the DWARS Utrecht and DWARS Rotterdam-Rijnmond departments, we have organised a hearty HALLOWEEN PARTY given. The DWARSer with the best, most terrifying costume could count on a prize and eternal glory! We didn't have to think long about the winner. Just look at how creepy...
In November, we organised a discussion evening on YOUTH HOUSING in Amsterdam. We don't need to elaborate here on what a drama the housing market can be for young people! Yvo Greijdanus, treasurer at the federation board of GroenLinks Amsterdam and active in the GroenLinks housing working group, came to tell us all about it. We then discussed with each other on the basis of a number of propositions. You can have very interesting discussions among DWARSers, especially on a subject that concerns everyone...
Also in November, the WINTERCONGRES of DWARS take place! The Winter Congress is one of DWARS's two semi-annual General Membership Meetings. And this year it took place at the Amsterdam branch, namely in Zaandam! It was a super cool weekend with speakers like Tjeerd de Groot, Zita Pels and Sebastiaan Wolswinkel. A new board member Campaigns & Communications was also elected, we got to vote on motions and the budget, and ask critical questions to the board. Volunteers from DWARS Amsterdam also worked hard to make the weekend a roaring success! Besides a lot of serious and not so serious things, we also had a great time with DWARSers from other departments and, of course, there was the always legendary congress party.
Our own Diversity Committee is on a roll and put on a super interesting activity in November: a theme night on #NIETGAY ENOUGH, which focused on asylum seekers from the LGBT community and their experiences with asylum applications in the Netherlands. A speaker on behalf of LGBT Asylum Support and experts by experience made it a very informative evening.
In December, it was time for the last substantive activity of the year. With a number of interesting speakers, we discussed the topic of SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE CITY. An expert from Rutgers (knowledge centre for sexuality) taught us more about the situation in Amsterdam and the cool campaigns they are running around this issue, activists Una Jongenelis from the comic ‘Don't look so angry’ and Ambrien Moeniralam from Cat Calls of Amsterdam were interviewed in a Q&A, and Imane Nadif told us about what she does and can do from her position as a GroenLinks councillor in Amsterdam to combat sexual harassment in the city. Not only did we gain many new insights, it was also fun to see how expert, activist and politician can reinforce each other.
Together, we ended 2019 with a great WINTERDINER prepared by Veganora, a platform for feminism and veganism. We feasted in awe! Besides eating our tummies, we engaged in a conversation led by Veganora on the topic of holidays, loneliness and chosen family. While holidays in December are hearty and fun for many people, it doesn't always have to be that way. Some DWARSers appeared to recognise themselves in that too. We find it very special that people feel safe enough at DWARS Amsterdam to share their stories so openly with everyone. After all, DWARS is not only a place for young people to develop politically and socially and socialise with others with shared ideals, but also a place where everyone feels free to be who they are.
In short, the past few months have been jam-packed. And that's not even all... We also organised INTRODUCTORY EVENINGS for old and new members and those interested in learning more about the department. We also organised cosy BORRELS, where all beer lovers, wine sippers, cola fanatics, and teetotalers chatted about political and not-so-political things over drinks and the occasional vegan bitterball. We attended the #WIJWILLENWONEN protest and we organised a small action at the eviction of a squat by refugee collective WE ARE HERE. Chairman Sabine wrote an opinion piece on the subject on Joop.co.uk: https://joop.bnnvara.nl/opinies/geef-ongedocumenteerden-een-menswaardig-bestaan
On the WINTERAAV (General Department Meeting), led by our former president Adine, we adopted our own By-Laws and elected a new board member Activities: Zessiah! With his enthusiasm, the coming months can only get better at DWARS Amsterdam. Unfortunately, we also said goodbye to our board member External Communications, Eline. We will miss her very much! Thanks for everything, Eline!
In short, it was a hectic but super awesome DWARS 2019 at DWARS Amsterdam! We are incredibly looking forward to 2020 and already have a lot of cool activities planned... Are you curious what we have already announced? Check the agenda!
From January, we will post a blog every month with an update of what we have been up to. So keep an eye on this website...!
We wish everyone a sparkling New Year and a fantastic new year! We look forward to seeing you again in 2020!
