Marijke Vos
Encyclopedia
Maria Bernadina Vos (born May 4, 1957 in Leidschendam
) is a Dutch
politician
.
After finishing gymnasium-b
in 's-Hertogenbosch in 1975, Vos went on to study biology
at the University of Wageningen
, graduating in 1983. During her study she was active in the students movement, the peace movement
and the campaign against nuclear energy
. In 1984 she worked as teacher and campaigner for an environmental organisation, 'Milieudefensie' ('Defense of the Environment'). In 1990 she began to teach ecology
at the Centre of Ecology of the University of Leiden until 1992. In 1989 she became a member of the GreenLeft
and almost immediately entered its temporary board, that would oversee the merger of the four parties that would form the GreenLeft. She was elected party chairperson in 1990. In 1992 this office became a paid function and she left the university.
gave birth to twins. Between 2001 and 2003 she was chairperson of the parliamentary commission on fraud in the building sector. In 2003 she became member of the board of advice of the refugee
-assistance organisation 'Steunpunt Vluchteling' ('Supportpillar for Refugees'). In 2004 she announced that she would not enter in the next general election
, instead she would become alderwoman in Amsterdam, if the GreenLeft enter local government there.
As member of parliament
, Vos has shown particular interest in the environment
, animal rights
, spatial planning
and civil liberties
.
Since 2004 Vos is co-owner of vineyard in southern France
, the vineyard produces organic wine, sunflowers and grain.
. In the March 2006 local elections
Marijke Vos had a lijstduwer
's position on the GreenLeft list for the city council
of Amsterdam
, she was elected by a large number of preference votes. In April 2006 she was appointed alderwoman in Amsterdam in a PvdA/GreenLeft coalition. On May 23, 2006 she left parliament to devote herself to her alderman's work, she was succeeded by former GreenLeft vice-chair, Nevin Özütok.
Leidschendam
Leidschendam is a town and former municipality in the province of South Holland of the Netherlands. Along with Voorburg and Stompwijk, it is part of the municipality Leidschendam-Voorburg.- History :...
) is a Dutch
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...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
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.After finishing gymnasium-b
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
in 's-Hertogenbosch in 1975, Vos went on to study biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
at the University of Wageningen
Wageningen University
Wageningen University and Research Centre is a Dutch public university in Wageningen, The Netherlands. It consists of Wageningen University, the Van Hall-Larenstein School of Higher Professional Education, and the former agricultural research institutes of the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture...
, graduating in 1983. During her study she was active in the students movement, the peace movement
Peace movement
A peace movement is a social movement that seeks to achieve ideals such as the ending of a particular war , minimize inter-human violence in a particular place or type of situation, often linked to the goal of achieving world peace...
and the campaign against nuclear energy
Nuclear power
Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity. Nuclear power plants provide about 6% of the world's energy and 13–14% of the world's electricity, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for about 50% of nuclear generated electricity...
. In 1984 she worked as teacher and campaigner for an environmental organisation, 'Milieudefensie' ('Defense of the Environment'). In 1990 she began to teach ecology
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
at the Centre of Ecology of the University of Leiden until 1992. In 1989 she became a member of the 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 almost immediately entered its temporary board, that would oversee the merger of the four parties that would form the GreenLeft. She was elected party chairperson in 1990. In 1992 this office became a paid function and she left the university.
Political career
In 1994 she stood for the GreenLeft in 1994 general elections. She was elected into the House of Representatives. Between 1995 and 1996 Vos was chairperson of the parliamentary commission on climate change. In 1997 she was elected animal rights protector of the year. Since 1998 Vos has been deputy party leader. In 2003 she was interim party leader, when Femke HalsemaFemke Halsema
is a former Dutch politician. She was a member of the House of Representatives from 1998 till 2011. She was also the leader of the GreenLeft parliamentary party in the House of Representatives from 2002 till 2010.-Pre-political career:...
gave birth to twins. Between 2001 and 2003 she was chairperson of the parliamentary commission on fraud in the building sector. In 2003 she became member of the board of advice of the refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
-assistance organisation 'Steunpunt Vluchteling' ('Supportpillar for Refugees'). In 2004 she announced that she would not enter in the next general election
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....
, instead she would become alderwoman in Amsterdam, if the GreenLeft enter local government there.
As member of parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
, Vos has shown particular interest in the environment
Environment (biophysical)
The biophysical environment is the combined modeling of the physical environment and the biological life forms within the environment, and includes all variables, parameters as well as conditions and modes inside the Earth's biosphere. The biophysical environment can be divided into two categories:...
, animal rights
Animal rights
Animal rights, also known as animal liberation, is the idea that the most basic interests of non-human animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings...
, spatial planning
Spatial planning
Spatial planning refers to the methods used by the public sector to influence the distribution of people and activities in spaces of various scales. Discrete professional disciplines which involve spatial planning include land use planning, urban planning, regional planning, transport planning and...
and civil liberties
Civil liberties
Civil liberties are rights and freedoms that provide an individual specific rights such as the freedom from slavery and forced labour, freedom from torture and death, the right to liberty and security, right to a fair trial, the right to defend one's self, the right to own and bear arms, the right...
.
Since 2004 Vos is co-owner of vineyard in southern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, the vineyard produces organic wine, sunflowers and grain.
Local Politics
While still in parliament, Vos played an important role in the election campaign and government formation in AmsterdamAmsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
. In the March 2006 local 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...
Marijke Vos had a lijstduwer
Lijstduwer
Lijstduwer is a Dutch term for the last candidate on a party list.In Suriname, the Netherlands and Belgium, this position is often taken by well-known non-politicians such as artists and sportspeople. They are officially a candidate, but they are put at the end of the party list in a bid to...
's position on the GreenLeft list for the city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
of Amsterdam
Amsterdam (municipality)
The Government of Amsterdam is the government of the municipality and city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Most of the inhabitants live in the city of Amsterdam, but the municipality also covers a number of small villages, and other parts of the local government, such as the Waterschap or the...
, she was elected by a large number of preference votes. In April 2006 she was appointed alderwoman in Amsterdam in a PvdA/GreenLeft coalition. On May 23, 2006 she left parliament to devote herself to her alderman's work, she was succeeded by former GreenLeft vice-chair, Nevin Özütok.