Bram van Ojik
Encyclopedia
Abraham van Ojik (born September 22, 1954 in Veenendaal) is a Dutch
GreenLeft
and former Radical politician.
Van Ojik comes from the Political Party of Radicals, one of the four parties that merged to form GreenLeft in 1989. Van Ojik had been member of the PPR since 1973. Between 1972 and 1980 Van Ojik studied economics
at the Free University. He specialized in development economics. Between 1978 and 1981, he served on the board for radical education. As a conscientious objector
, Van Ojik did his alternative service
at the development organization NIO. After that he worked for the scientific bureau of the PPR until 1983. Here he wrote a book on basic income
. In 1986 he co-authored the PPR's election program. Between 1985 and 1988, he was editor-in-chief of the PPR party paper. Between 1988 and 1990 he was party chair
of the PPR. As chair of the PPR, he was involved in the negotiations over the formation of GreenLeft, a new political party formed by the merger of the Pacifist Socialist Party
, Communist Party of Netherlands, and Evangelical People's Party. Van Ojik had always favoured cooperation between the four parties, but the PPR party board soon wanted to abandon negotiations. Van Ojik had to defend this, although he did not support it. The formal PPR delegation was replaced by an informal delegation by former party chair Wim de Boer. In 1989 the talks led to the formation of a new party. Van Ojik became a member of the first party board. In addition to these activities, Van Ojik freelance journalist and advisor on the subject of development cooperation. Between 1990 and 1993 Van Ojik worked for Oxfam NOVIB
.
Between 1993 and 1994 ,Van Ojik was member of the House of Representatives for GreenLeft
. He replaced PPR member Ria Beckers
. He spoke on agriculture, development cooperation and science. He prepared an initiative to limit the use of wood from the tropics. It was finally proposed in 1994 by Marijke Vos
. At the 1994 election
Van Ojik was put on the seventh place of the GreenLeft list, the same place he had in 1989. GreenLeft only won five seats. He also co-authored the GreenLeft election program.
After not being re-elected Van Ojik worked for the environmental organization MilieuDefensie
between 1994 and 1997. In 1995 he co-authored a book on coral
s together with Labour Party politician Max van den Berg. In 1997 Van Ojik again co-authored GreenLeft's election program for the 1998 election
. In 1997 Van Ojik switched to the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs
, where he became director of public communication on development cooperation. In 1998 he again co-authored a book with Van der Berg, now on development cooperation. In 2001 Van Ojik became ambassador
in general service. He organized external contacts for the Dutch Minister for Development Cooperation. In 2003 Van Ojik became the Dutch ambassador to Benin
. In 2006 he returned to the Netherlands to became director of the inspection for evaluation of development cooperation policy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He also helped the government prepare policy to meet the millennium goals for the fourth Balkenende cabinet
.
For GreenLeft, Van Ojik chaired a committee which evaluated the provincial
(2007), parliamentary
(2006) and municipal elections
(2006), all of which GreenLeft had lost. Then he became chair of the committee which oversaw a debate within GreenLeft on the party's principles, strategy and organizations. This led to a new manifesto of principles in 2008 of which Van Ojik is one of the co-authors.
Politics of the Netherlands
The politics of the Netherlands take place within the framework of a parliamentary representative democracy, a constitutional monarchy and a decentralised unitary state. The Netherlands is described as a consociational state...
GreenLeft
GreenLeft
GreenLeft is a green political party operating in the Netherlands.GreenLeft was formed on 1 March 1989 as a merger of four left-wing political parties: the Communist Party of the Netherlands, Pacifist Socialist Party, the Political Party of Radicals and the Evangelical People's Party...
and former Radical politician.
Van Ojik comes from the Political Party of Radicals, one of the four parties that merged to form GreenLeft in 1989. Van Ojik had been member of the PPR since 1973. Between 1972 and 1980 Van Ojik studied economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
at the Free University. He specialized in development economics. Between 1978 and 1981, he served on the board for radical education. As a conscientious objector
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
, Van Ojik did his alternative service
Alternative service
Alternative service is a form of national service performed in lieu of conscription for various reasons, such as conscientious objection, inadequate health, or political reasons. See "labour battalion" for examples of the latter case...
at the development organization NIO. After that he worked for the scientific bureau of the PPR until 1983. Here he wrote a book on basic income
Basic income
A basic income guarantee is a proposed system of social security, that regularly provides each citizen with a sum of money. In contrast to income redistribution between nations themselves, the phrase basic income defines payments to individuals rather than households, groups, or nations, in order...
. In 1986 he co-authored the PPR's election program. Between 1985 and 1988, he was editor-in-chief of the PPR party paper. Between 1988 and 1990 he was party chair
Party Chair
In politics, a party chair is the presiding officer of a political party....
of the PPR. As chair of the PPR, he was involved in the negotiations over the formation of GreenLeft, a new political party formed by the merger of the Pacifist Socialist Party
Pacifist Socialist Party
The Pacifist Socialist Party was a Dutch left-socialist political party. The PSP played a small role in Dutch politics. It is a predecessor of the GreenLeft.-Before 1957:...
, Communist Party of Netherlands, and Evangelical People's Party. Van Ojik had always favoured cooperation between the four parties, but the PPR party board soon wanted to abandon negotiations. Van Ojik had to defend this, although he did not support it. The formal PPR delegation was replaced by an informal delegation by former party chair Wim de Boer. In 1989 the talks led to the formation of a new party. Van Ojik became a member of the first party board. In addition to these activities, Van Ojik freelance journalist and advisor on the subject of development cooperation. Between 1990 and 1993 Van Ojik worked for Oxfam NOVIB
Oxfam Novib
Oxfam Novib is the Dutch affiliate of the international Oxfam organization. It is an association dedicated to establishing a fair world with no poverty in it. The organization is based in The Hague.Oxfam Novib was founded under the name Novib in 1956...
.
Between 1993 and 1994 ,Van Ojik was member of the House of Representatives for GreenLeft
GreenLeft
GreenLeft is a green political party operating in the Netherlands.GreenLeft was formed on 1 March 1989 as a merger of four left-wing political parties: the Communist Party of the Netherlands, Pacifist Socialist Party, the Political Party of Radicals and the Evangelical People's Party...
. He replaced PPR member Ria Beckers
Ria Beckers
Maria Brigitta Catherina Beckers-de Bruijn was a Dutch Green politician. She was the political leader of the progressive Christian party PPR and its successor GreenLeft....
. He spoke on agriculture, development cooperation and science. He prepared an initiative to limit the use of wood from the tropics. It was finally proposed in 1994 by Marijke Vos
Marijke Vos
Maria Bernadina Vos is a Dutch politician.-Pre-political career:Vos's father was a judge in 's-Hertogenbosch. Her grandfather, A.H.J. Engels was member of parliament for the Roman-Catholic RKSP....
. At the 1994 election
Dutch general election, 1994
The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on May 3, 1994.-Results:...
Van Ojik was put on the seventh place of the GreenLeft list, the same place he had in 1989. GreenLeft only won five seats. He also co-authored the GreenLeft election program.
After not being re-elected Van Ojik worked for the environmental organization MilieuDefensie
Milieudefensie
Milieudefensie is a Dutch environmental organization, founded on January 6, 1971, by a group of scientists in response to a report by the Club of Rome...
between 1994 and 1997. In 1995 he co-authored a book on coral
Coral
Corals are marine animals in class Anthozoa of phylum Cnidaria typically living in compact colonies of many identical individual "polyps". The group includes the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans and secrete calcium carbonate to form a hard skeleton.A coral "head" is a colony of...
s together with Labour Party politician Max van den Berg. In 1997 Van Ojik again co-authored GreenLeft's election program for the 1998 election
Dutch general election, 1998
The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on 6 May 1998.-Result:...
. In 1997 Van Ojik switched to the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Netherlands)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the Dutch ministry of foreign affairs: it is occupied with the external relations of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, including European cooperation and International development...
, where he became director of public communication on development cooperation. In 1998 he again co-authored a book with Van der Berg, now on development cooperation. In 2001 Van Ojik became ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
in general service. He organized external contacts for the Dutch Minister for Development Cooperation. In 2003 Van Ojik became the Dutch ambassador to Benin
Benin
Benin , officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It borders Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. Its small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin is where a majority of the population is located...
. In 2006 he returned to the Netherlands to became director of the inspection for evaluation of development cooperation policy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He also helped the government prepare policy to meet the millennium goals for the fourth Balkenende cabinet
Fourth Balkenende cabinet
The fourth Balkenende cabinet or Balkenende IV is the previous Dutch coalition cabinet formed by the political parties Christian Democratic Appeal , Labour Party , and ChristianUnion . The cabinet succeeded the third Balkenende cabinet following the 2006 election, and was installed by Queen Beatrix...
.
For GreenLeft, Van Ojik chaired a committee which evaluated the provincial
Dutch provincial elections, 2007
Provincial elections were held in the Netherlands, on March 7, 2007. The election also determined the members of the Senate, since the 564 members of the twelve States-Provincial elect its 75 members...
(2007), parliamentary
Dutch general election, 2006
The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on November 22, 2006. And followed the call for new elections after the fall of the Second Balkenende cabinet....
(2006) and municipal elections
Dutch municipal elections, 2006
The Dutch municipal elections of 2006 were held on March 7, 2006. About 11.8 million people could vote in 419 municipalities. Due to local redistricting, 15 municipalities have already held elections in January 2006 and 24 municipalities will hold elections in November 2006...
(2006), all of which GreenLeft had lost. Then he became chair of the committee which oversaw a debate within GreenLeft on the party's principles, strategy and organizations. This led to a new manifesto of principles in 2008 of which Van Ojik is one of the co-authors.