I live in the Netherlands and we have a problem with farmers. Government wants half of them gone due to nitrogen emissions. Farmers are protesting and rebelling, and blocking important places of food distribution.
Guess for my county who is responsible for giving the farmers permission to expand their farms. Our department of roughly 20 people. Only thing i’m doing is checking if the farmers applied for permission and if they did it in the right way. But i am not able to give any grants. Frustrated farmers call me daily and i just have to tell them that i’m not allowed to give any advice.
A few groups of farmers came together to rebel. It’s getting worse. My sympathy for the livid farmers is declining because they are so damn stubborn. But the problem is complex and they have a point. They are also the victim of wrong political decisions.
I am just so unmotivated to do anything at work because it’s probably all for nothing. Today i worked at home and i did some work for a few hours and just fell asleep. I feel guilty but also indifferent about not making enough hours.
I guess i just needed to vent.
Oh the police was shooting at a 16 year old farmer today at a blockage. This is very unusual in the Netherlands.