Welcome FlowerChild

Net geners. This is a term used in the newest book “Grown up Digital” of Don Tapscott. Tapscott interviewed 8.000 people in 12 countries born between 1978 and 1994. The results of this research draw a portrait of the next generation that is very promising and positive. Just some statements from his book:

1.    Net geners are smarter, quicker and more tolerant

2.    They care strongly about justice and are actively trying to improve society

3.    They value freedom and choice in everything they do

4.    They love to customize and personalize

5.    They demand integrity and openness

6.    They want entertainment and play in their work and education

7.    They love to collaborate

8.    They expect constant innovation

9.    Facebook is their equivalent of the old-fashioned rolodex

10.  They are very positive about their family

The only dangers are the inadequacy of the education system and the lack of awareness for personal privacy. 

McSex

Yesterday I saw an interview on TV with a young beautiful journalist, Mirthe Hilkens, who published a book with the title Mcsex about the pornofication of our society. I was really impressed by the ease and selfconfidence she explained her cause. She is criticized and threatened even because apparently a lot of men feel that she will succeed in banning pornographic films and clips on TV before midnight. I agree with her that in videoclips, posters, on the Internet there is an abundance of images that give young people a false vision on love and sex. The sex industry, glossies, music artists and many more commercial initiatives prevent the next generation from discovering in a respectful way their own sexuality and that of others. I think and hope we will hear a lot more about Mirthe Hilkens. 

In the Netherlands 30% of the 10-11 eleven-year-old kids drink alcohol now and then. Between 12 and 18 alcohol abuse is starting to become a big problem for some children. It is a trend to be pretty drunk before you go out and then drink more until you get in a coma. In a lot of Northern European countries it works like this. I do not have the feeling there are similar problems in France. In France you drink wine, champagne or beer to enjoy the taste, enjoy the atmosphere and not to get drunk. At least the majority does. It is as if culture, history, lifestyle of a nation plays an important role in morals and habits of youth.

Farm visits school

City kids these days often do not know where our food comes from. So when you do not visit the farm, the farm will come to you. That is what happened yesterday at the school of our daughters. The playground was taken over by goats, sheep, pigs, chicken, turkeys and rabbits. All the classes were invited to clinics about milking goats, making cheese and butter and looking after the well-being of animals. Farmer Joy, is passionate about the combination of being a teacher and farmer at the same time. And the children had an unforgettable day at school. 

farm in school

Today, the 18th of November, it is the ‘Antibiotics Awareness Day’. We use too much antibiotics and the EU is warning that this is a dangerous development. Bacteria get resistant and simple diseases cannot be cured anymore. The use of Antibiotics is enormous in Greece, Italy and France. It is really weird that France is not participating in supporting this campaign with a seminar or press conference as is done in other European countries. Probably the profits in the pharma sector are more important than the health of the inhabitants.