Shareholders’ meetings and debates in universities are increasingly confronted with the demonstration of climate activists. A group of people who, according to macroeconomist Arnoud Boot, pursue an “extremely legitimate goal”, but are not sufficiently aware of how others abuse their protests. ‘We must continue to talk to all parties.’
Looking back on Dutch history, “tolerance and a mix of people and ideas made us strong,” says Boot. “It goes back to the Portuguese who came to the Netherlands in the Golden Age.”
But a combination of cancel culture, climate protests and threats, according to Boot, means that conversations about legitimate concerns like the climate issue are no longer happening. ‘ING cannot keep a story because he is stopped by protesters. The same goes for Rabobank. Worse still, some people are no longer invited to universities, the primary source of debate in a public debate.’
Shell
Boot refers to a planned conversation with Jeroen van der Veer, the former CEO of Shell, at the University of Amsterdam. Which was canceled due to threats. But according to Boot, all parties should continue to talk to each other, instead of freezing cooperation with the fossil industry.
Pensioenfonds ABP, one of the largest pension funds in the Netherlands, has done something similar. ‘Pensions belong to all of us, millions of people are affiliated with them. But this national institution has decided to shut out part of the economy by no longer investing in the fossil fuel industry. Let’s be very clear about a part of the economy that falls under the law.’
‘Then you have a kind of canal belt who knows what’s good for humanity, without getting into an argument, that’s not democracy’
Signal, no advice
As far as Boot is concerned, a pension fund like ABP is in fact authorized to send a signal to companies engaged in polluting activities. However, when the fund says what can and can’t be invested in, then ABP is on the wrong track. “Then you’re on the verge of cancel culture.”
If even the University of Amsterdam claims that cooperation with a part of society is impossible due to hostage-taking by climate activists, then we are wrong. ‘Then you have a kind of canal belt who knows what’s good for humanity, without getting into an argument about it. This is not democracy.’
Source: BNR
Andrew Dwight is an author and economy journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. He has a deep understanding of financial markets and a passion for analyzing economic trends and news. With a talent for breaking down complex economic concepts into easily understandable terms, Andrew has become a respected voice in the field of economics journalism.
