In his 9 May 2002 Acceptance speech of the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen for 2002,
Dr. Willem F. Duisenberg, President of the European Central Bank,
said that
“what Sir THOMAS MORE said of gold five hundred years ago – that it was MADE FOR MEN and that it had its VALUE BY THEM – applies very well to the euro.” (1)

“When THOMAS MORE, for example, endows the criminals in his utopia with golden chains and the ordinary citizens with gold and silver CHAMBER POTS, it is in something of the spirit that leads primitive mankind to wreak vengeance on lifeless images and symbols”,
says Ludwig von Mises in his “The Theory of Money and Credit”, (2)

Thomas More mentions the being-made-for-and-valued by men
and the chamber-pots
in the same Book 2, of his “Utopia”, (3)

Whose interpretation of Thomas More’s “Utopia” is correct?

That of Wim Duisenberg or that of Ludwig von Mises?

Ivo Cerckel
honestmoney@maktoob.com

NOTES

(1)
Acceptance speech of the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen for 2002
by Dr. Willem F.. Duisenberg, President of the European Central Bank,
Aachen, 9 May 2002
http://www.ecb.int/press/key/date/2002/html/sp020509.en.html
SNIP
A social contract
What is money? Economists know that money is defined by the functions it performs, as a means of exchange, a unit of account and a store of value. But, just as importantly, money is also defined by the community for whom it performs these functions. Because it is an economic instrument for each of its users, it is also a political and cultural bond between them. Consider this simple fact: we engage in an exchange of goods and services everyday by using money as the means of exchange; and we offer our labour in exchange for money, which, in itself, has no value. We only do this because we believe that we will, in turn, be able to exchange that money for more goods or services. This fact tells us much about the confidence that we place in money itself. And it tells us much more about the confidence that we place in each other. Hence, money is, in essence, a social contract.
The euro, probably more than any other currency, represents the mutual confidence at the heart of our community. It is the first currency that has not only severed its link to gold, but also its link to the nation-state. It is not backed by the durability of the metal or by the authority of the state. Indeed, what Sir THOMAS MORE said of gold five hundred years ago – that it was MADE FOR men and that it had its VALUE BY them – applies very well to the euro.
Every currency is a symbol of the community it serves. It is a symbol of the society as a whole, but also represents the political and cultural bonds between the members of that society. Surely this uniting power must have been felt – I am even tempted to say, physically – by those who have travelled from one euro area country to another this year.

(2)
Ludwig von Mises, “The Theory of Money and Credit”, translated in 1934 rom the German by H. E. Batson, Indianapolis, Liberty Classics, 1980. Part 1, Chapter 6, section 2, pp. 111- 112
http://mises..org/books/Theory_Money_Credit/Part1_Ch6.aspx
2 Money Cranks
Superficial critics of the capitalistic economic system are in the habit of directing their attacks principally against money. They are willing to permit the continuance of private ownership of the means of production and consequently, given the present stage of division of labor, of free exchange of goods also; and yet they want this exchange to be achieved without any medium, or at least without a common medium, or money. They obviously regard the use of money as harmful and hope to overcome all social evils by eliminating it. Their doctrine is derived from notions that have always been extraordinarily popular in lay circles during periods in which the use of money has been increasing.
All the processes of our economic life appear in a monetary guise; and those who do not see beneath the surface of things are only aware of monetary phenomena and remain unconscious of deeper relationships. Money is regarded as the cause of theft and murder, of deception and betrayal. Money is blamed when the prostitute sells her body and when the bribed judge perverts the law. It is money against which the moralist declaims when he wishes to oppose excessive materialism. Significantly enough avarice is called the love of money; and all evil is attributed to it.[1]
The confused and vague nature of such notions as these is obvious. It is not so clear whether it is thought that a return to direct exchange by itself will be able to overcome all the disadvantages of the use of money, or whether it is thought that other reforms will be necessary as well. The world makers and world improvers responsible for these notions feel no obligation to follow up their ideas inexorably to their final consequences. They prefer to call a halt at the point where the difficulties of the problem are just beginning. And this, incidentally, accounts for the longevity of their doctrines; so long as they remain nebulous, they offer nothing for criticism to seize upon.
Even less worthy of serious attention are those schemes of social reform which, while not condemning the use of money in general, object to the use of gold and silver In fact, such hostility to the precious metals has something very childish in it. When THOMAS MORE, for example, endows the criminals in his utopia with golden chains and the ordinary citizens with gold and silver CHAMBER POTS, [2] it is in something of the spirit that leads primitive mankind to wreak vengeance on lifeless images and symbols.

(3)
Thomas More, “Utopia”, Book 2.

[UTOPIAN VIEW OF RICHES, GOLD, AND JEWELS]

http://www.luminarium.org/renlit/utopiariches.htm

All things appear incredible to us, as they differ more or less from our own manners. Yet one who can judge aright will not wonder, that since their constitution differeth so materially from ours, their value of gold and silver also, should be measured by a very different standard. Having no use for money among themselves, but keeping it as a provision against events which seldom happen, and between which are generally long intervals, they value it no farther than it deserves, that is, in proportion to its use. Thus it is plain, they must prefer iron to either silver or gold. For we want iron nearly as much as fire and water, but nature hath marked out no use so essential for the other metals, that they may not easily be dispensed with. Man’s folly hath enhanced the value of gold and silver because of their scarcity; whereas nature, like a kind parent, hath freely given us the best things, such as air, earth, and water, but hath hidden from us those which are vain and useless.

Were these metals to be laid-up in a tower, it would give birth to that foolish mistrust into which the people are apt to fall, and create suspicion that the prince and senate designed to sacrifice the public interest to their own advantage. Should they work them into vessels or other articles, they fear that the people might grow too fond of plate, and be unwilling to melt it again, if a war made it necessary. To prevent all these inconveniencies, they have fallen upon a plan, which agrees with their other policy, but is very different from ours; and which will hardly gain belief among us who value gold so much and lay it up so carefully.

They eat and drink from earthen ware or glass, which make an agreeable appearance though they be of little value;

while their CHAMBER-POTS

and close-stools are made of gold and silver; and this not only in their public halls, but in their private houses. Of the same metals they also make chains and fetters for their slaves; on some of whom, as a badge of infamy, they hang an ear-ring of gold, and make others wear a chain or a coronet of the same metal. And thus they take care, by all possible means, to render gold and silver of no esteem. Hence it is, that while other countries part with these metals as though one tore-out their bowels, the Utopians would look upon giving-in all they had of them, when occasion required, as parting only with a trifle, or as we should esteem the loss of a penny.

They find pearls on their coast, and diamonds and carbuncles on their rocks. They seek them not, but if they find them by chance, they polish them and give them to their children for ornaments, who delight in them during their childhood. But when they come to years of discretion, and see that none but children use such baubles, they lay them aside of their own accord; and would be as much ashamed to use them afterward, as grown children among us would be of their toys.

I never saw a more remarkable instance of the opposite impressions which different manners make on people, than I observed in the Anemolian ambassadors, who came to Amaurot when I was there. Coming to treat of affairs of great consequence, the deputies from several cities met to await their coming. The ambassadors of countries lying near Utopia, knowing their manners,—that fine clothes are in no esteem with them, that silk is despised, and gold a badge of infamy,—came very modestly clothed. But the Anemolians, who lie at a greater distance, having had little intercourse with them, understanding they were coarsely clothed and all in one dress, took it for granted that they had none of that finery among them, of which they made no use. Being also themselves a vain-glorious rather than a wise people, they resolved on this occasion to assume their grandest appearance, and astonish the poor Utopians with their splendour..

Thus three ambassadors made their entry with 100 attendants, all clad in garments of different colours, and the greater part in silk. The ambassadors themselves, who were of the nobility of their country, were in clothes of gold, adorned with massy chains and rings of gold. Their caps were covered with bracelets, thickly set with pearls and other gems. In a word, they were decorated in those very things, which, among the Utopians, are either badges of slavery, marks of infamy, or play-things for children.

It was pleasant to behold, on one side, how big they looked in comparing their rich habits with the plain clothes of the Utopians, who came out in great numbers to see them make their entry; and on the other, how much they were mistaken in the impression which they expected this pomp would have made. The sight appeared so ridiculous to those who had not seen the customs of other countries, that, though they respected such as were meanly clad (as if they had been the ambassadors), when they saw the ambassadors themselves, covered with gold and chains, they looked upon them as slaves, and shewed them no respect. You might have heard children, who had thrown away their jewels, cry to their mothers, see that great fool, wearing pearls and gems as if he was yet a child; and the mothers as innocently replying, peace, this must be one of the ambassador’s fools.

Others censured the fashion of their chains, and observed, they were of no use. For their slaves could easily break them; and they hung so loosely, that they thought it easy to throw them away. But when the ambassadors had been a day among them, and had seen the vast quantity of gold in their houses, as much despised by them as esteemed by others; when they beheld more gold and silver in the chains and fetters of one slave, than in all their ornaments; their crests fell, they were ashamed of their glory, and laid it aside; a resolution which they took, in consequence of engaging in free conversation with the Utopians, and discovering their sense of these things, and their other customs.

The Utopians wonder that any man should be so enamoured of the lustre of a jewel, when he can behold a star or the sun; or that he should value himself upon his cloth being made of a finer thread. For, however fine this thread, it was once the fleece of a sheep, which remained a sheep notwithstanding it wore it.

They marvel much to hear, that gold, in itself so useless, should be everywhere so much sought,
that even MEN,

FOR WHOM IT WAS MADE, and by them HATH ITS VALUE,

should be less esteemed. That a stupid fellow, with no more sense than a log, and as base as he is foolish, should have many wise and good men to serve him because he possesseth a heap of it. And that, should an accident, or a law-quirk (which sometimes produceth as great changes as chance herself), pass this wealth from the master to his meanest slave, he would soon become the servant of the other, as if he was an appendage of his wealth, and bound to follow it.

But they much more wonder at and detest the folly of those, who, when they see a rich man, though they owe him nothing, and are not in the least dependent on his bounty, are ready to pay him divine honours because he is rich; even though they know him at the same time to be so covetous and mean-spirited, that notwithstanding all his wealth, he will not part with one farthing of it to them as long as he liveth.

Introducing the Gulf Single Currency immediately,
without waiting for the Gulf Central Bank,
and notwithstanding the legitimate fear of the International Monetary Fraud (IMF) to be relegated to the dustbin of history,
will display in the open that euro is not endangered
and will further elucidate the idea of a “single entity”
which was launched last week by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia,
at the opening of the Annual Meeting of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) in Riyadh.

In September 2009, Gulf finance ministers said that a single central bank for the Gulf could make the region a formidable international force. With the Gulf’s immense oil wealth backing up the bank, the region could be home to one of the world’s largest central banks in terms of assets, analysts said. (1)

Now we are told that last week’s Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) Summit in Riyadh failed to give the green light for immediately
pooling the GCC gold and oil reserves,
making this pool the reserves of the GCC Single Currency,
and periodically marking these reserves to market (-price)
BECAUSE
calls for a unified currency are not popular nowadays partly reflecting Eurozone’s experience. (2)

It is true that the guv’mints established on the eurozone are experiencing problems.
The euro is however not experiencing problems on foreign-exchange markets.

The problems faced by these eurozone guv’mints are budgetary problems.

The participation by EU member states in the euro was made dependent upon participation in European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). This meant that a European Union country could only adopt the euro as legal tender if it met the criteria set by the Maastricht treaty for EMU, one of these criteria being a budget deficit under a certain limit.

The Gulf’s immense oil wealth means that budget deficits are inexistent in the Gulf.
These countries have fiscal surpluses with which they can stimulate the economy. (3)

Enter the International Monetary Fraud (IMF)

Whereas before 15 August 1971, when USA president Richard Nixon broke the Bretton Woods system, the USA dollar was a gold derivative, current IMF rules (article IV, section 2, (b), of the IMF Articles of Agreement) prohibit members from linking their currencies to gold.
Since that date, the IMF has no more reason of existence.

If the IMF continues to exist, this is in order to support the bankrupt dollar regime, thereby making of gold a dollar derivative.

Of course, on 08 December 2011, The National newspaper in Abu Dhabi reported that the IMF is against the Gulf currency bid, (4)

HOWEVER,

In an explicit reference to the gold trail (5)

- Whoever stands still will end up at will end up at the back of the caravan [GOLD] trail and will be lost. (6) –

the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia,
called yesterday, Monday, at the opening of the Annual Meeting of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) in Riyadh for

“moving from a phase of co-operation to a phase of union within a single entity”. (7)

On 22 December 2011, ArabNews.com quoted Sadaka Fadel, professor of political science and Shoura Council member, as saying that there is a huge difference between “unity” and a “single entity”. (8)

The world awaits further elucidation of the idea of a “single entity” in March 2012 as the present situation is a trifle paradoxical. Despite great strides since its inception, the GCC’s economic integration is still a work in progress. In other models such as the EU, a higher degree of economic harmonisation preceded political unification. The Riyadh declaration may, therefore, seem somewhat premature to outside observers. Viewed in a political perspective, however, the project is a timely response to a fast changing strategic landscape.
says Tanvir Ahmad Khan, former ambassador and foreign secretary of Pakistan, this Monday morning in Gulf News.. (9)

If this call by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah is a far-sighted move, as Shoura Council described it yesterday Sunday (10),

nothing prevents the the GCC to immediately

- pool the GCC gold and oil reserves,
- make this pool the reserves of the GCC Single Currency.
- and periodically mark these reserves to market (-price).

Central bank? – we’ll see later.

Ivo Cerckel
honestmoney@maktoob.com

NOTES

(1)
Gulf dinar to be backed by gold hiding in oil
Posted by Ivo Cerckel on September 9th, 2009
http://bphouse.com/honest_money/2009/09/09/gulf-dinar-to-be-backed-by-gold-hiding-in-oil/

(2)
Major breakthrough at Riyadh summit
The 32nd summit of GCC held in the Saudi capital city of Riyadh has made notable breakthroughs at least on two economic integration
Dr Jasim Ali, Special to Gulf NewsPublished: 00:00 December 25, 2011
http://gulfnews.com/business/opinion/major-breakthrough-at-riyadh-summit-1.956404
SMIP
Possible reasons for this include experience of delayed implementation of the customs union on the one hand and absence of support from all members to the proposal. Only Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain are parties to the move.
The final goals include unifying monetary and fiscal policies including introduction of a SINGLE CURRENCY for all member countries.
Unified currency
Nevertheless, calls for a UNIFIED CURRENCY are not popular nowadays partly reflecting Eurozone’s experience. Still, judged by the main theme of the 32nd summit, chances are the GCC grouping turning from the status of cooperation to that of union at least on the political front. [capitalisation mine]

(3)
Gulf Arab economies to slow in 2012, analysts say
By Reuters
Thursday, 22 December 2011 8:15 AM
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/gulf-arab-economies-slow-in-2012-analysts-say-436443.html
SNIPS
Economic growth is likely to slow in most of the Gulf’s wealthy oil exporters next year but governments will remain able to spend to counter the impact of any global slump, a Reuters poll of analysts showed on Wednesday.
+
In contrast to much of the rest of the world, however, the Gulf states still have ample fiscal reserves which they can use to stimulate their economies. They ramped up government spending early this year to protect social stability during the Arab Spring uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa, and are now expected to keep spending high to maintain growth.

(4)
IMF against Gulf currency bid
http://www.thenational.ae/business/economy/imf-against-gulf-currency-bid
Dec 8, 2011

(5)
The Gold Trail: The Message of an Evolving Market
http://www.usagold.com/goldtrail/archives/goldtrailone.html

(6)
UPDATE 1-Saudi says its security targeted, urges Gulf unity
Mon Dec 19, 2011 8:00pm GMT
http://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFL6E7NJ48520111219
SNIP
“Whoever does that will end up at the back of the caravan trail and will be lost… That is something we will not accept for the sake of our countries, our people, our stability and our security. That is why I ask of you today to move beyond the stage of cooperation and into the stage of unity in a single entity,” he added.

(7)
Saudi king calls for Gulf union
AFP, Reuters
19 December 2011
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle09.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2011/December/middleeast_December527.xml§ion=middleeast
SNIP
RIYADH – The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia, called for the formation of a Gulf union in response to growing threats, as rulers of the Arab GCC met on Monday.
“I ask today that we move from a phase of cooperation to a phase of union within a single entity,” said the Saudi king, addressing his counterparts at the opening of the annual Gulf Cooperation Council summit in Riyadh.
He did not elaborate on what form such a union might take, or any proposed steps to create it.

(8)
GCC confederation ideal choice: Political analyst
byy WALAA HAWARI | ARAB NEWS
Published: Dec 22, 2011 02:01 Updated: Dec 22, 2011 02:01
http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article551710.ece
SNIP
RIYADH: Following Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah’s call for the GCC to transform into a single entity, a leading political analyst said fulfilling the king’s vision would depend on certain criteria being met.
Sadaka Fadel, professor of political science and Shoura Council member, said there is a huge difference between “unity” and a “single entity.” “To be able to understand the difference we need to understand what drives countries to form unity and cooperation,” said Fadel.

(9)
GCC union will keep region stable
Political unification preceded by economic integration will create an entity capable of handling strategic issues
By Tanvir Ahmad Khan, Special to Gulf News
Published: 00:00 December 26, 2011
http://gulfnews.com/opinions/columnists/gcc-union-will-keep-region-stable-1.956809

(10)
Call for Gulf union far-sighted: Shoura
By MD RASOOLDEEN | ARAB NEWS
Published: Dec 26, 2011 02:14 Updated: Dec 26, 2011 02:14
http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article553618.ece
SNIP
RIYADH: The Shoura Council on Sunday described the call by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for a union of Gulf states as a historic step in the progress march of the Gulf Cooperation Council. King Abdullah made the call at the 32nd summit of GCC leaders in Riyadh last week.

In an explicit reference to the gold trail (1)
- ” Whoever stands still will end up at will end up at the back of the caravan [GOLD] trail and will be lost. (2) –
the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia,
called yesterday, Monday, at the opening of the Annual Meeting of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) in Riyadh for
“moving from a phase of co-operation to a phase of union within a single entity”.

King Abdullah did not elaborate on what form such a union might take, nor any proposed steps to create it. (3)

Etihad Airways, the Abu Dhabi flag carrier, has therefore thrown down the gauntlet to European and Middle Eastern rivals by snatching a 29 per cent stake of Air Berlin, says The Times. (4)
Etihad Airways, the fast-growing Gulf airline, underlined its ambition to expand in Europe via industry alliances by unveiling plans to become the largest shareholder in Air Berlin, the struggling German carrier. says The Financial Times. (5).

The GCC Annual Meeting continues today, Tuesday.

And you thought the euro would break up?

Ivo Cerckel
honestmoney@maktoob.com

NOTES

(1)
The Gold Trail: The Message of an Evolving Market
http://www.usagold.com/goldtrail/archives/goldtrailone.html

(2)
UPDATE 1-Saudi says its security targeted, urges Gulf unity
Mon Dec 19, 2011 8:00pm GMT
* Saudi king’s warning alludes to regional rival Iran
* Calls for GCC states to mull idea of “single entity”
* GCC “confederacy” would require greater political will (Adds background, detail, analyst quotes)
By Asma Alsharif and Angus McDowall
http://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFL6E7NJ48520111219

(3)
RIYADH – The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia, called for the formation of a Gulf union in response to growing threats, as rulers of the Arab GCC met on Monday.
“I ask today that we move from a phase of cooperation to a phase of union within a single entity,” said the Saudi king, addressing his counterparts at the opening of the annual Gulf Cooperation Council summit in Riyadh.
He did not elaborate on what form such a union might take, or any proposed steps to create it.
(Saudi king calls for Gulf union
AFP, Reuters
19 December 2011
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle09.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2011/December/middleeast_December527.xml§ion=middleeast

(4)
Gulf airline steps up competition on two fronts with arrival in Berlin
Robert Lea Industrial Editor
Last updated December 20 2011 12:01AM
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/business/industries/transport/article3263491.ece

(5)
December 19, 2011 10:38 am
Etihad takes 29% stake in Air Berlin
By Andrew Parker in London Camilla Hall in Abu Dhabi
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/2a6945f0-2a24-11e1-8f04-00144feabdc0.html

Austrian Economics Summit/
ISIL Asia Regional Conference

organized by http://www.isil.org

at the Shanghai Hilton DoubleTree Hotel,

running from evening Friday July 20th through Sunday the 22nd, with checkout on the 23rd, plus post-conference tour options.

The goal of the 2012 Shanghai conference is to expound on free-market ideas to a Chinese audience and to learn what free-marke economists are doing in China. There will be three groups in attendance: 1) international attendees who are interested in both free markets and China; 2) Chinese academic and research economists who are interested in free-market ideas; and 3) university students who want to learn about free-market principles that are not taught in China.

The Speakers
http://www..facebook.com/pages/2012-Shanghai-Austrian-Economics-Summit/288113521219690?v=info#info_edit_sections
Doug Bandow (USA)
Richard Ebeling (USA)
Xingyuan Feng (China)
Jose Fernandez (Costa Rica)
Fred Foldvary (USA)
Rainer Heufers (Germany)
Peter Klein (USA)
Cris Lingle (USA/Guatemala)
Christian Michel (UK)
Barun Mitra (India)
Ken Schoolland (USA)
Josef Sima (Czech Republic)
Robert Sirico (USA)
Mark Skousen (USA)
Lobo Tiggre (USA)
David Veksler (USA/Ukraine)
Haijiu Zhu (China)

With Chinese FreeGold from a reserve currency to a world standard
Posted by Ivo Cerckel on September 11th, 2009
http://bphouse.com/honest_money/2009/09/11/with-chinese-freegold-from-a-reserve-currency-to-a-world-standard/
SNIP
Nothing prevents the rest of the planet from copying what the Chinese are doing and keep gold (the Mona Lisa) in the strong rooms (the Louvres) of its central banks and mark it to market (MTM) price
(not to the model of 44 dollar an ounce or so like the Fed, the US central bank)
on a regular basis.
Every individual of the planet would then be free to copy the concept of FreeGold.
In that case, every increase in the price of gold, would lead to an increase in the value (of the reserves) of the central bank and/or the individual.
Just like it would never enter the mind [of the] owner of the Mona Lisa daily to organise a “test-auction” to establish what today’s value of his wealth is, neither do the Chinese organise test auctions. Once FreeGold will have arisen, gold will continuously be auctioned … freely and on a global basis.

Ivo Cerckel
honestmoney@maktoob.com

Dames,

Jullie zijn thans respectievelijk minister van justitie en minister van sociale zaken en volksgezondheid van Zijne Majesteit de Koning der Belgen.

Laurette was reeds in die functie voor de verkiezingen en heeft beloofd iets te doen voor softenonmonsters.

In mei 1962 erkende één van de voorgangers van Laurette, ene Jef Custers, dat de Belgische Staat totaal onbekwaam was omdat hij/zij softenon, handelsnaam van thalidomide in België, nog achttien maanden liet verhandelen na de openbaring van de effecten van softenon op een neurologisch congres op 30 april en 1 mei 1960 te Düsseldorf.

Maar Custers legde hier dan de schuld op het Belgisch gepeupel en hij stelde dat gepeupel, en dus niet de Belgische bureaucraten noch de andere belastingsparasieten (zoals kinderbijslagtrekkers), België diende te verlaten. (1)

In 2009, erkende Laurette dat genoemde bureaucraten nog eens gefaald hebben inzake softenon en zij wil dan ook haar excuses aanbieden aan de overlevende softenonmonsters. (2)

Het softenonalarm werd gerezen op 30 april – 1 mei 1960 te Düsselborf op een neurologisch congres door neuroloog Dr Ralf Voss. Voss meldde dat softenon het zenuwstelsel van de moeder aantast. (3)
(Het zenuwstelsel van mijn moeder werd zodanig aangetast dat dit tot DEPRESSIE en in 1977 zelfs tot ZELFMOORD leidde.)

De over-heid die dat spul op de markt had toegelaten heeft niks gedaan en het is de fabrikant van softenon, Chemie Grünenthal in Stolberg, Aken, die dat spul achttien maand later, op 27 november 1961, zelf van de markt heeft moeten halen. (3, opnieuw)

Bij deze deel ik aan Laurette mee dat ik mij niet zal verzetten tegen de storting van
gestolen (de dief komt periodisch terug noch beweert in het algemeen belang te stelen)
belastingsgeld op mijn bankrekening
doch dat ik onder geen enkel beding met haar een minnelijke schikking zal treffen
indien Annemie mij niet eerst meedeelt of de Belgische (welvaarts-) staat, vertegenwoordigd door de procureur des konings en/of de onderzoeksrechter, bij (wat in 2011 heet) de rechtbank van eerste aanleg zetelend te Dendermonde (voor 1973 zetelde de correctionele rechtbank misschien ook in Aalst?), bij mijn geboorte op 15 februari 1962 te Aalst, een strafonderzoek heeft ingesteld lastens mijn vader, geneesheer.
(Mijn vader heet Henri Léon Adrien Paul Cerckel, geboren te Diest op 04 juni 1932.
Sinds ik, op de hoogte ben van het alarm van mei 1960 heet hij blijkbaar “Hendrik” Cerckel in de telefoongids op infobel.be (4))
Elders (vrijspreker.nl) heb ik de namen Ludovic Moyersoen en Jacques Cerckel laten vallen. (Aalst en Diest, niewaar)

Zo ja, welk gevolg werd aan dat onderzoek verleend?

En waarom dat gevolg?

Zoals ik tijdens de verkiezingscampagne aan de huidige minister van economie, bankencontrole en consumentenzaken schreef:
EU advocaat-generaal Van Gerven onderwijst dat
vooraleer de staat welvaartsstaat kan spelen,
vooraleer de staat zich met ondefinieerbare (14) “sociale gerechtigheid” kan onledig houden,
de staat eerst zijn/haar schuld moet betalen,
t.t.z. eerst de gevolgen van zijn/haar eigen actieve discriminatie in het verleden dient te vergoeden (”remove the consequences of past discrimination”),
eerst de schade tengevolge van het opzettelijk op de markt laten van softenon dient vergoeden
(om dan nog maar te zwijgen van de strafrechtelijke (en, ja, staatsrechtelijke) implicaties van deze opzettelijke doodslag). (5)

Heeft de procureur des konings en/of de onderzoeksrechter, bij (wat in 2011 heet) de rechtbank van eerste aanleg zetelend te Dendermonde (voor 1973 zetelde de correctionele rechtbank misschien ook in Aalst?), bij mijn geboorte op 15 februari 1962 te Aalst, een strafonderzoek ingesteld lastens mijn vader, Henri Léon Adrien Paul Cerckel, geneesheer, geboren te Diest op 04 juni 1932?

Ivo Cerckel
honestmoney@maktoob.com

(1)
[En mai 1962] J. Custers, le ministre [belge] de la santé [publique], [écrivait] “le peuple a failli à ses devoirs LES PLUS ÉLÉMENTAIRES. Il n’a plus qu’à s’en aller”. Les sujets belges se demandèrent pourquoi les [irresponsables}, [les “responsables” voor Janicki], de la santé en Belgique n’avertirent pas aussitôt la population, par tous les moyens de diffusion, presse, radio, télévision, affiches.
(Jérôme Janicki, ″Le drame de la thalidomide – Un médicament sans frontières – 1956-2009″, Paris, L’Harmattan, 2009, p. 166)

(2)
Laurette Onkelinx sur Matin Première : “Yves Leterme a changé”
jeudi 26 novembre 2009, à 06:14
http://fr-fr.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=334785775164&comments
UITREKSEL
Les victimes du Softenon
Un petit mot également sur les victimes du Softenon que la ministre de la Santé publique rencontrait aujourd’hui. Ce médicament prescrit à l’époque aux femmes enceintes a fait scandale dans les années 60′ car il provoquait des malformations chez les enfants. Aujourd’hui, ces victimes réclament des excuses publiques de l’Etat.
Laurette Onkelinx s’est montrée bien consciente du problème et affirme vouloir les rencontrer pour “voir comment on peut continuer à s’EXCUSER des erreurs du passé, mais aussi voir comment on peut mieux les aider”.

(3)
Chronik des Conterganfalls
Tragödie – Katastrophe – Skandal?
http://www1.wdr.de/themen/archiv/sp_contergan/contergan176.html
[deze URL verandert nogal dikwijls. best dan u dan googelt naar de titel]
UITREKSEL
30. April/1. Mai 1960:
Auf einem Neurologen-Kongress in Düsseldorf berichtet der Neurologe Ralf Voss über die Nervenschädigungen, die seinen
Beobachtungen zufolge durch Thalidomid verursacht werden. Die Forschungsabteilung von Grünenthal versucht daraufhin, die Nervenschädigungen an Ratten zu reproduzieren – ohne Erfolg. Grünenthal-Forschungsleiter Mückter schließt daraus, dass es sich um besondere Situationen handelt, für die Contergan nur selten als Ursache infrage kommt.

(4)
Om financiële redenen ben ik elf jaar geleden (juni 2000) uw welvaartsstaat, waar ik nog geen frank, euro nu denk ik, softenonvergoeding heb getrokken, moeten ontvluchten naar de derde wereld waar het leven een stuk goedkoper is. Had ik dat niet gedaan, was ik al lang dood. In een welvaartsstaat kan men zonder geld niet overleven.
Daarom dat ik op het internet (infobel.be) ben aangewezen om weten wat in uw land gebeurt.

(5)
Open Brief aan Johan Vande Lanotte
Posted by Ivo Cerckel on April 30th, 2010
http://bphouse.com/honest_money/2010/04/30/open-brief-aan-johan-vande-lanotte/
UITREKSEL
U hebt de mond vol van “gelijkheid”. Ik besef wel dat U gelijkheid wil bekomen via herverdeling, maar als ik dat mag interpreteren als, of althans in het licht van, het “gelijkheidsbeginsel”, dan stel ik vast:

Rechtsbegrippen en –beginselen vormen het ferment waaruit positief recht ontstaat; hoe vager en onpreciezer ze zijn, hoe grilliger en vruchtbaarder het gistingsproces dat erdoor veroorzaakt wordt, zo stelde Professor Walter Van Gerven in 1994. (11)

In 2005 stelde EU advocaat-generaal Van Gerven, da’s dezelfde, in zijn boek “The European Union – A Polity of States and Peoples”, dan betreffende het gelijkheidsbeginsel:
Good governance, as we understand it here, is not only about procedures but also about aims and results. An important aim is equal concern for citizens in helping them to achieve their personal goals. It requires public authorities to treat citizens –and residents- alike before the law, to eliminate discrimination and, where appropriate, to take “affirmative action”, as it is called in the United States –, “positive action”, as it is also called in the EU – to remove consequences of past discrimination. [...]. In the EU, equal concern is understood to IMPLY ALSO [ik heb behoofdletterd] that public authorities should regard human dignity and the pursuit of social justice as an aim of the welfare state [...]. (12)

Andrew H. Bachhuber, S.J., stelt:
An implication is anything that is implied. Now in logic, “to imply” means “to involve the truth or presence of”. If two propositions are so related that if the first is true the second must also be true, the first is said to IMPLY the second. [ik heb behoofdletterd] (13)

Dit betekent dat Van Gerven onderwijst dat
vooraleer de staat welvaartsstaat kan spelen,
vooraleer de staat zich met ondefinieerbare (14) “sociale gerechtigheid” kan onledig houden,
de staat eerst zijn/haar schuld moet betalen,
t.t.z. eerst de gevolgen van zijn/haar eigen actieve discriminatie in het verleden dient te vergoeden (”remove the consequences of past discrimination”),
eerst de schade tengevolge van het opzettelijk op de markt laten van softenon dient vergoeden
(om dan nog maar te zwijgen van de strafrechtelijke (en, ja, staatsrechtelijke) implicaties van deze opzettelijke doodslag).

Maar ja, zoals ik hoger stelde, de vergoeding van softenonmonsters wordt aanzien als een materie van de welvaartsstaat, niet van overheidsaansprakelijkheid wegens het niet van de markt halen van het spul.

De federale Belgische staat heeft geen begrip van “gerechtigheid”, enkel van “sociale gerechtigheid” en dat laatste kan niet gedefinieerd worden, zo stelt Nobelprijswinnaar Friedrich August von Hayek. (14 opnieuw)

(11)
Walter Van Gerven, “Levend(ig)e rechtsbeginselen” in: “Publiek recht, ruim bekeken – Opstellen aangeboden aan Prof. J. Gijssels”, Maklu, 1994, 289, p. 302

(12)
Walter Van Gerven, “The European Union – A Polity of States and Peoples”, Stanford University Press, 2005, p. 171

(13)
Andrew H. Bachhuber, S.J., “Logic”, New York, Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1957, p. 2, noot 3

(14)
Social Justice as viewed by Leuven – first exploration
Posted by Ivo Cerckel on May 25th, 2009
http://bphouse.com/honest_money/2009/05/25/social-justice-as-viewed-by-leuven-%e2%80%93-first-exploration/
UITREKSEL
The law department at Leuven University deprives man of his right to exist for his own sake.