A few weeks ago I had an intresting discussion about Belgiums past. Especially about the policy the Belgium state implemented to 'adjust' the Flemish ethnic majority in the nation.
The policy, suggested by Charles Rogier in 1832, was to make all public and state run affairs French speaking/writing only. This included policeforce, civil services, hospitals, entertainement and education. The idea was that the Flemish, the dutch speaking majority of the population, should adept to the fact that they were now part of a Francophone country. (It changed the Flemish from a whealty well educated people to a poor illeterate people in just 70 years time.)
During the first world war orders to Belgium soldiers were shouted in French only, followed by: 'Et pour les Flamands la même chose'(And for the Flemish the same thing) .It is unknown how many Flemish soldiers died because of this.
Change occured during the period in between the 2 world wars, with some universities resuming lessons in Dutch.
However the Belgium state kept cracking down on the Flemish, with many pro-Flemish being arrested after the second world war and being executed for being collaborators.
In 1968 the Belgium goverment fell after 8 days of student protest, 'Leuven Vlaams', (Leuven Flemish), a call from Flemish students that the Catholic University of Leuven, the largest university should resume lessons in Dutch.
It was followed by the first Dutch translation of Belgiums constitution a year later.
Now the question is, has the Belgium state commited warcrimes or crimes against humanity by this policy.
maandag 19 maart 2012
vrijdag 2 maart 2012
EvE Online: The short lived giant that was DRF
About a year ago something odd happened in EvE Online, a new coalition was formed.
Nothing odd there, it was called the Drone Russian Federation/Forces.
It comprised of all the Russian alliances in the drone regions and in a ridiculous short time they became the power house in EvE.
Just a few months after its creation it invaded Northern Coalition territory and wiped out one of the oldest power blocks from the face of EvE.
By September of 2011,their power seemed so great that they took on non-Russian pets and confine them to small constellations doing grinding work for them.
Despite my warnings my corp mates left Providence and headed out to the Drone Lands, I have no idea what became of them as heated argument and misunderstandings let to bitter rows and insults, forcing me to leave all the com channels I still shared with them.
Off course the DRF was showing cracks already back then, and the entire concept fail cascaded soon afterwards.
So what are the biggest legacies of the DRF, well for instance the low mineral prices during 2011 the disappearance of the NC.
Other blocks will form in the future but this one for a moment felt like the Russians were going to win EvE.
Nothing odd there, it was called the Drone Russian Federation/Forces.
It comprised of all the Russian alliances in the drone regions and in a ridiculous short time they became the power house in EvE.
Just a few months after its creation it invaded Northern Coalition territory and wiped out one of the oldest power blocks from the face of EvE.
By September of 2011,their power seemed so great that they took on non-Russian pets and confine them to small constellations doing grinding work for them.
Despite my warnings my corp mates left Providence and headed out to the Drone Lands, I have no idea what became of them as heated argument and misunderstandings let to bitter rows and insults, forcing me to leave all the com channels I still shared with them.
Off course the DRF was showing cracks already back then, and the entire concept fail cascaded soon afterwards.
So what are the biggest legacies of the DRF, well for instance the low mineral prices during 2011 the disappearance of the NC.
Other blocks will form in the future but this one for a moment felt like the Russians were going to win EvE.
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