Latest news with #Wiersma
IOL News
4 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
All Roads Lead to KZN as Comrades Marathon Returns
Piet Wiersma of the Netherlands crosses the finish line at the 2024 Comrades Marathon – an up run. Photo: BackpagePix Image: Backpagepix The popular cliché 'all roads lead to...' is often misused. For once, though, there will be some truth to it this week, as KwaZulu-Natal's (KZN) Pietermaritzburg and Durban become the destination of many. So here it goes: 'All roads will lead down the N3 south this week' as runners make their way to the 98th running of the world-famous Comrades Marathon. It is an annual pilgrimage that brings together people from all walks of life to tackle arguably the most gruelling road race in the world – the approximately 90km run between KZN's two biggest cities. This year's race will be run from the capital city, Pietermaritzburg, down to the commercial hub of Durban, with the biggest question on Comrades enthusiasts' minds no doubt being whether the flying Dutchman, Piet Wiersma, will unseat Tete Dijana as champion. Two years ago, Wiersma announced himself at Comrades with a compelling debut run that saw him finish a close second to defending champion Dijana – both runners dipping under David Gatebe's previous Down Run best time of 5:18:19. Dijana clocked 5:13:58, with Wiersma flying in just three seconds later. It was one of the closest finishes in Comrades Marathon history, with Dijana cheered on by the crowd as he sprinted towards the tape, Wiersma looming large behind him. The Dutchman, though a member of the Nedbank Running Club to which Dijana is also affiliated, had come from left field and stunned both Dijana and his training partner Edward Mothibi by sticking with them throughout – the duo having expected to replicate their one-two finish from the previous year (regardless of the order). Tete Dijana. Photo: SIBONELO NGCOBO Independent Newspapers Image: SIBONELO NGCOBO Independent Newspapers
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Court's decision sparks ire among farmers and construction workers: 'We can't ask the impossible'
Thanks to a recent court ruling, folks in the Netherlands will likely be breathing in much cleaner air in the very near future. However, the decision has sparked ire among the farming community as well as construction workers. On January 22, a court in The Hague ruled that the Netherlands was falling behind in its efforts to reduce high levels of nitrogen oxide emissions that have been deemed as "illegal," according to Reuters. In a case brought by Greenpeace, the organization argued that the pollution has been caused by substantial farming and its reliance on harmful fertilizers. Greenpeace also pointed to increased traffic and construction in the Netherlands. Do you worry about air pollution in your town? All the time Often Only sometimes Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. In its ruling, the court ordered the Dutch government to meet its target of reducing the pollution to the legal levels in half of all affected nature reserves by 2030. If the country fails to meet the newly ordered requirement, it will be fined €10 million, or $10.4 million. According to the court, only 28% of the nature reserves in the Netherlands have reached the legal levels of recorded pollution. The benefits of greatly diminished nitrogen oxide emissions could prove to be invaluable for vulnerable ecosystems. The EPA notes that one of the biggest dangers of nitrogen oxide emissions is the formation of acid rain. In a statement posted to X, Agriculture Minister Femke Wiersma appeared to be frustrated with the court ruling and will gauge whether or not the country will appeal the decision. "We take the nitrogen problem very seriously," wrote Wiersma. "But we can't ask the impossible of people and companies." In addition to Wiersma's pushback on the court's ruling, the Farmer-Citizen Movement, known primarily as the BBB, is fighting to "loosen nitrogen rules and targets" that it calls too strict, according to Reuters. The right-wing political party has risen in popularity since being founded in 2019. With many plans to reduce pollution proposing to cut down the number of farms in the Netherlands, the BBB has strongly opposed any further restrictions. As of 2024, about 2% of the country's population is employed in the agriculture sector. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
