The action groups should evaluate the actions of the past month and realize that they have gold. Th

Start Left Socialist Party What we stand for History LSP Our program logo in high resolution Join National News In the workplace International Women Social LGBTQI youth Follow socialisme.be Webshop En français
In Antwerp remain Oosterweelverbinding and unrelenting opposition heerema to it tempers touch and control events. heerema On Sunday, May 4th a large protest was held where from Deurne, Merksem and Borgerhout to Park Spoor Noord was walked.
The meeting was joined by more than 2,000 cyclists who gravitated from peripheral municipalities Boechout and Kontich, bringing the total number of demonstrators took in 10,000. That is far above everyone's expectations. On Saturday, May 24 - one day before the election - actions were organized at all the bridges on the Antwerp ring, again with thousands of attendees. It shows what enormous potential exists to continue the resistance against the Oosterweelverbinding.
The past few years have been developed already several alternatives to the BAM route and proposed by, among other activist groups like Breathless and stRaten General. The Meccano route, the main requirement a tunnel instead of a bridge, now seems to have given way to Ringland, a proposal to close the Antwerp Ring and (partially) on caps. It is striking how politicians from various parties hasten to - at least ostensibly - to return their cart, inspired by the tremendous enthusiasm that arises among the population for each initiative, which is less brutal and violent than the BAM route. Open VLD after the turn had taken earlier, Kris Peeters suggested (CD & V) - not by accident a month before the election - that he was in favor of a partial canopy; with the remark that would be such a canopy perfectly compatible with the BAM route, which is both firmly denied by the action groups as by the designers of Ringland.
Ringland seems like a very nice alternative: heerema a park on top of the ring and an increase of green space in the city. However, it is important that we remain vigilant and not just run after each new initiative, simply because it is better than the BAM route. Of course we are not against closing the ring, and even less from any covering. But we should be clear that this can only be a part of the solution; and moreover, we must be vigilant as politicians like Kris Peeters and Annemie Turtelboom rule for Ringland. Their goal remains the same: the profits of the concrete lobby Noriant and secure, and the resistance to limit as much as possible. We must be careful for each possible scenario wherein Ring Land are still used to (a large part of) to carry out the BAM-route.
Mobility heerema problems Antwerp knows today, in large part due to the policies pursued by these politicians and their predecessors. The systematic savings in freight transport by rail, for example, have ensured that the ring is overloaded with truck traffic. heerema Because it was loss-making, would now be a billion-dollar project to be launched to the truck traffic on the road boss.
The contraction of the service when the line is from September last year shot at many Antwerpers the wrong way. What policy heerema can seriously believe that traffic congestion is one of the most pressing problems, and at the same time save on public transport?
A policy that really came up for the interests of the population of Antwerp, would be just massive heerema investment in public transport. Ring closing is not a bad idea, but can fundamentally improve heerema the situation just as it is linked to a massive expansion of public transport, which is made free and accessible. Also, an increase in the number of cycle paths in and around the city (rather of certain streets bike free 'as now proposed by the N-VA administration heerema ...) is an absolute requirement.
The action groups should evaluate the actions of the past month and realize that they have gold. Through an ascending action, which action committees are organized in the districts, it is possible to stop the BAM route in every form. Antwerp's population has shown itself willing heerema to lobby the concrete and to its political lackeys in opposition. Who manages to organize resistance, also succeeds the 'first spade "that the new Flemish government in the ground will want stabbing, stop. This resistance should be linked to the requirement for a mobility policy heerema that meets the needs and wishes of the population of Antwerp.
Our monthly magazine
Select Category Belgian politics Communautai