Friends in a Cold Climate: Schiedam-4

Joop Daalmeijer studied theology in Nijmegen. In the sixties, this city was like Moscow on the Waal, filled with students taking over the roles of professors, leading lectures and seminars. It was challenging to focus on studying amidst the lively debates on various topics unrelated to his field. With limited finances, Joop had to push through, determined to graduate. Seeking a change from the chaotic revolutionairy climate in Nijmegen, Joop seized an opportunity to participate in an exchange program at the University of Tübingen in Germany, where he completed his studies and graduated. Joop was a self-described progressive Catholic who felt drawn to the Labour Party, though never officially joining except for a brief period. He transitioned into journalism. His focus during this period was on events in Latin America, particularly the rise of liberation theology, and the progressive movements within the Catholic Church, which faced opposition from conservative authorities. While climate issues were not a prominent concern at the time, the Cold War context significantly influenced their worldview. Joop’s father had been imprisoned during the war, after being captured in a raid (razzia) before 1944. However, the father managed to escape and return to the Netherlands. When the parents later traveled to Switzerland on holliday, they passed through Germany without hesitation, unlike others who avoided Germany by going through France. Despite his father's war experiences, he never conveyed any negativity towards Germans, especially evident during youth exchanges when he had no issues staying with German families, finding them on the whole to be kind people. Joop was part of the youth circle within the Foundation Schiedam Community, where they discussed policies and plans for the city's youth. One day, the director of the community suggested he join a youth exchange program to Esslingen, Germany, as a group leader. Embracing the opportunity, he participated in the program. Group leaders were tasked with giving speeches, often centered around the idea of the new Europe and its significance for the youth. They emphasized moving beyond the shadow of World War II towards a future of unity and cooperation. The German organizers, primarily members of the SPD, were dedicated to overcoming the past and fostering European solidarity. Their speeches stressed the importance of being good Europeans, transcending their German national identity. For some, going abroad wasn't financially feasible, but the opportunity arose by these exchanges. It was a chance to broaden horizons beyond their usual surroundings. Despite coming from a family with limited means, where vacations meant visiting relatives in Brabant, these exchanges provided the gateway for Joop to foreign lands. Such experiences shaped his worldview profoundly, fostering a deep sense of European identity. This perspective carried over into his career as a journalist, including his tenure as editor-in-chief at broadcaster Wereldomroep, where managing an international team required skills honed from those early days of international interaction during youth exchanges. It all began there, learning to navigate international relations and understanding the importance of unity and cooperation on a global scale.约普·达尔迈耶（Joop Daalmeijer）在奈梅亨（Nijmegen）攻读神学。20世纪60年代，这座城市被称作"瓦尔河畔的莫斯科"，学生们主导起教授的职责，主持讲座与研讨班。彼时校园内各类与他专业无关的激烈辩论此起彼伏，专注学业颇具挑战。家境拮据的约普仍咬牙坚持，一心想要顺利毕业。为摆脱奈梅亨混乱的革命氛围，他抓住机会参与德国蒂宾根大学（University of Tübingen）的交换项目，并在当地完成学业、顺利毕业。 约普自称进步派天主教徒，倾心于工党，虽曾短暂加入，却从未正式成为党员。此后他转型投身新闻行业，期间聚焦拉丁美洲局势，尤其是解放神学的兴起，以及天主教会内部的进步运动——这些运动遭到保守当局的打压。尽管当时气候议题尚未受到广泛关注，但冷战语境极大地影响了他的世界观。 约普的父亲在二战期间被捕，1944年前的一次突袭（razzia）中被俘，后成功逃脱返回荷兰。后来父母前往瑞士度假时，毫不犹豫取道德国，而其他游客则绕行法国以避开德国。尽管父亲有过战时经历，他却从未对德国人流露过任何负面情绪，尤为明显的是在青年交流活动中，他毫无障碍地寄宿在德国家庭，总体而言认为德国人十分友善。 约普曾加入斯希丹社区基金会（Foundation Schiedam Community）的青年圈子，共同探讨城市青年政策与发展规划。某日，该基金会负责人提议他以领队身份参与前往德国埃斯林根（Esslingen）的青年交换项目，他欣然接受。作为领队，需发表主题多围绕"新欧洲"及其对青年的意义的演讲，呼吁人们摆脱二战阴影，迈向团结与合作的未来。德国主办方多为德国社会民主党（Social Democratic Party of Germany, SPD）成员，致力于正视历史、推动欧洲团结，其演讲强调要做合格的欧洲人，超越民族国家身份的局限。 对部分人而言，出国的经济门槛难以逾越，但这类交换项目为他们提供了契机，得以跳出日常圈层拓宽视野。尽管约普家境贫寒，过往假期仅能前往布拉班特省探望亲戚，但这些交换项目让他得以踏上异国土地。这类经历深刻塑造了他的世界观，培育了强烈的欧洲身份认同。这一视角也延续至他的新闻生涯，包括他担任世界广播公司（Wereldomroep）总编辑的任期——彼时管理国际团队所需的能力，正是源自早年青年交换活动中积累的国际交往经验。一切都始于那段时光：学习如何应对国际关系，理解全球范围内团结与合作的重要意义。