Subject Matter

The Hague trip #2

Last Friday we took a school trip to the Hague and were forced to gussy up, or "not wear jeans". Our first stop was the International Criminal Court where the Special Court on Sierra Leone is being held, it was empty at the time, but this week Charles Taylor is testifying on his own behalf. We're going to try to make a trip next week to see some testimony, the world press has the viewing area packed this week. The reason the special court is in the Hague and not Freetown (Sierra Leone) is because of the influence many of the defendants still have in the area, their presence could actually destabilize the city. So essentially, this is a mix of Sierra Leone criminal prosecution and some international help, as opposed to an international court proceeding like Nuremburg, Rwanda, or Yugoslavia. Here is a picture of me in the empty court room, spectators sit behind bullet proof glass - the purpose of which I imagine is to protect the defendant;) The black chair closest to me is where the defendant sits and a screen shows his face to the audience.

Here is a link to Taylor's touching story: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Taylor_(Liberia) Here is a link to the ICC, I believe they have streaming video if you're really interested: http://www.icc-cpi.int/Menus/ICC?lan=en-GB Next we visited the International Criminal Tribunal on the Former Yugoslavia, here is a picture from the outside. They then confiscated all liquids and electronics. However, on a positive note, there was a Lavazza coffee machine on the inside where one could obtain a machine made delicious cappuccino for .50. We were able to sit in on Vlastimir Djordjevic's trial, who I've dubbed "Phil Hartman": http://www.icty.org/x/cases/djordjevic/cis/en/cis_djordjevic_en.pdf After lunch we visited the International Court of Justice where international civil disputes are handled (although the nation-states must petition to this court to get in.) It is also known as the Peace Palace and it is incredibly beautiful on the inside, marble and handmade tile as far as the eye can see. Many countries have donated some insane "decoration" pieces, like France's 3 ton vase. Here is the outside:

Did I mention I got some sweet trendy Euro glasses? On Saturday, my friend Stella and I hit the Boerenmarkt. It has everything you never knew you wanted. Cheap clothes, toiletries, organic vegetables, delicious nuts and dried fruit, cheese, antiques, and flowers. Here are some food highlights:

Please note those berries were 3 baskets for £2.98 - even with the exchange, that's a great deal.

I bought some flowers for my room:

Eating my kill:

One last event: the awesomeness that is...Bibliotek (library). 7 floors of modern bliss. I have made it a habit to have a snooze in some white pod chairs on the fifth floor, then I commence studying in a kooshy desk shaped chair that overlooks the entire city, and it swivels. There is a theatre on the 7th floor. One can also buy some produce if one so desires. The bottom floor has a delicious Italian restaurant where we drink coffee and eat delicious pizza. Here is a slide show for your viewing pleasure: