Queen Beatrix, Current Events 2 (August 2005 - June 2006)

[Beatrice]

Hello.Did you know that Queen Beatrix was a guest at the 2003 Bilderberg group meeting?It was held in Paris,15-18 May 2003.Other attendees were D.Rockefeller, U.S. vice president Cheney(wrong spelling?),D.Rumsfeld(spell. again?) and others.After reading this i have searched and i found out that she often attends the group's meetings.The group's main offices are in Leiden,Netherlands i think..It's impressive,because i have read many articles about the group's purposes and i thing she is the only royal who is accepted among those powerfull and really rich people.I can imagine her seating next to Bill and Melinda Gates or Jorma Ollila(Nokia) discussing world's future.I always believed that she has power,besides every year she's in the annual Forbe's list with world's billionaires but this detail with BG has absolutely rocked my world.What a powerfull and active lady..!!This isnt's exactly news but it is important IMO.Sorry if anyone has already reffered it!

[susan alicia]

at the end of the christmasspeech of beatrix there were some closing pictures of the palace and suddengly a cd and amnesty international were visible on the screen. It is also on their website, "part of the proceeds of the cd will be donated to amnesty international".

It is remarkable because it could be considered a bit political but in holland amnesty is highly respected by almost everyone.

......"Muziek bij kersttoespraak

1. Dank sei dir, Herr
Componist: Siegfried Ochs (1858-1929), toegeschreven aan G.F. Haendel
Uitvoerenden:
Renee Fleming – sopraan
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra o.l.v. Andreas Delfs
Van de cd “Sacred Songs” Decca 475 6925

2. Cordero de Dios (Agnus Dei) uit: Misa por la Paz y la Justicia
Componist : Ariel Ramirez (muziekstijl uit de pampas)
Uitvoerenden: Zamba Quipildor – zang
Koor o.l.v. Ariel Ramirez
CD SK60567.
Een gedeelte van de opbrengst van de cd komt ten goede aan Amnesty International"

[fanletizia]

Image from anp

[Juanita]

The Queen looks sad in the picture.... or that's just my impression???

Is there any video of the Queen's speech??

[Saragli]

She looks sad to me too. Does anybody have video or a translated text of the Christmas speech.

[Adry]

I noticed the same...sad Queen`s face

[purple_platinum]

from http://www.koninklijkhuis.nl/content.jsp?objectid=12210
translated by Henri.M on BRMB

Christmas Speech of HM the Queen, 25 December 2005


Christmas is the feast of the birth of the Child which gives hope and does shine light in a dark world. That light can chase away darkness in the hearts of mankind. What is special to the Child of Christmas is that it can touch and enjoy all of us. Together we experience feelings of gratitude in the celebration of Christmas. Then we understand what is réally valuable in our life.
I have experienced many good in this Jubilee Year. Everywhere I was welcomed with heartfelt cordiality and I feel strenghtened by the affection which was shown towards me by so many. In gratitude for all what was given to me I look back on a special era in retrospective.

In the last twenty-five years the kingship has learned me how essential the support is from others. The life of all of us, after all, is determined by surroundings in which fellow human beings have a place. I feel privileged by the people who surround me. Especially in difficult times their support was indispensable for me.

I would like to express what fulfills me with gratitude. In the first place I would say thanks to my husband. I'm deeply grateful for all what Claus could mean to the Netherlands and for everything he left us all; also thankful for the dedication of my close and extended family. Starting from a stable and strong home front, I could fulfill my duties.

All who have co-operated with me in these years, in numerous functions, have also co-beared the Office and created the space in which the kingship could be fulfilled.

I have always found inspiration in the encounters with people whose feelings I was allowed to share, sometimes in their grief for the fate which hit them, others in their joy for special occurences or achievements in sports, arts and sciences. Also touching was, always and again, the warmth given by so many who feel with our family in sadness and in joy. The celebration of this Silver Jubilee has made clear again to me how much I do owe to all these people and how privileged I am in all this.

But in this very same year horrible natural disasters have hit millions of people and caused unpronounceable harm and sorrow. The bewilderment about all this has struck all of us. Moreover all over the world the connexion in societies is threathened by tensions between various groups.

Drastic and far-reaching events can totally derail life, also in the personal life. Sometimes pain and sorrow do not allow people to feel grateful: the grief then blocks the ability to overcome bitterness. How hard and difficult it may seem, cousciously directing the viewpoint to something positive can sometimes offer a way out. Beloved ones can mean a lot in that, in friendship and in kinship.

In despair many of us also seek for comfort with God. In the band with the Creator of life, they find a source of inspiration. In all Faiths gratitude and praise are directed to the Highest. Words as 'Thanks to the Lord! but also 'Praise be Allah!' do refer to a trust in God which expresses an old feeling of respect and security.
Between and under people the showing of gratitude is not always easy to do. The expression of appreciation can even make someone vulnerable, because with that is acknowledged that someone owes something to another one. Also in the acceptance of appreciation, often feelings of diffidence have to be overcome. Relations can become distorted; after all the fundament of balanced relations lies in reciprocity.

But for a society it is of the greatest importance that gratitude is expressed, no matter in which form. Often we can not find words but even a look or a sign can be enough. More than ever signs of warmth between people are of essential meaning.

We do live in an era in which more and more is stressed what is missed. But gratitude begins with the recognition that there is a lot of good, that hope is always renewing and that in that lies the reason to count our blessings. Who has an eye for it, can even experience happiness in unhappines. Gladness for what went well despite all, softens the setback. With what is achieved by the own and other's efforts, people can feel pure joy. All around us there is, beside all what can depress us, also so many beautiful things to discover. In the encounter with fellow human beings and in being open for culture and nature always and ever forces come to the surface which do inspire and lifts us above allday life's banality.

Christmas asks for reflection on what is really valuable: an eye for beauty, recognition of the good in mankind and take the opportunities to fight for peace and justice. It is the feast of gratitude for the birth of Jesus and the hope He donated to the world. His light casts away the darkness and enlightens our heart.
I wish you all a blessed Christmas.

[Juanita]

Originally Posted by Adry

I noticed the same...sad Queen`s face

She looks like have been crying.... (or not??) :(

[Adry]

Originally Posted by ...JuAnItA...

She looks like have been crying.... (or not??) :(

Yes Juanita..you are right...actually is an impressive and touching picture of the Queen..she looks really concerned about something

[Marengo]

Originally Posted by Beatrice

Hello.Did you know that Queen Beatrix was a guest at the 2003 Bilderberg group meeting?It was held in Paris,15-18 May 2003.Other attendees were D.Rockefeller, U.S. vice president Cheney(wrong spelling?),D.Rumsfeld(spell. again?) and others.After reading this i have searched and i found out that she often attends the group's meetings.The group's main offices are in Leiden,Netherlands i think..It's impressive,because i have read many articles about the group's purposes and i thing she is the only royal who is accepted among those powerfull and really rich people.I can imagine her seating next to Bill and Melinda Gates or Jorma Ollila(Nokia) discussing world's future.I always believed that she has power,besides every year she's in the annual Forbe's list with world's billionaires but this detail with BG has absolutely rocked my world.What a powerfull and active lady..!!This isnt's exactly news but it is important IMO.Sorry if anyone has already reffered it!

As her father was one of the men who started the Bilderberg conferences, it is only logical that his daughter attends as well from time to time (most of the time actually). A few years ago Queen Sophia of Spain also attended a Bilderberg conference.

[Adry]

Maybe is an impression, but I love to see the Queen`s smile..she is soo sweet and lovely:)

[BeatrixFan]

Is there a video file of the Queen giving her Christmas message?

[pollyemma]

Originally Posted by BeatrixFan

Is there a video file of the Queen giving her Christmas message?

here it is

scroll down until you see "mediatheek" in the right hand column.there's video and audio.

http://www.nos.nl/nosjournaal/artike...k_beatrix.html

[BeatrixFan]

Thanks PollyEmma. Beatrix looks far more comfortable in front of a camera than Elizabeth - I noticed in the Queen's Speech this year (Elizabeth) that she does indeed fiddle with her hands and looks as if she really doesn't like making the broadcast. Beatrix looks a bit more relaxed.

[Beatrice]

Originally Posted by Marengo

As her father was one of the men who started the Bilderberg conferences, it is only logical that his daughter attends as well from time to time (most of the time actually). A few years ago Queen Sophia of Spain also attended a Bilderberg conference.

Many Thanks for the info!!

[Emily]

When is the Queen going into the hospital for her knee replacement? I was thinking it was today but it must not be since I haven't seen any news reports. Any ideas?

[Marengo]

The Queen was actually present at the first Bilderberg meeting, opened by Prince Bernhard in 1954. Here an interesting article about Bilderberg, especially if we like conspiracy theories (apparently King Juan-Carlos attends every now and then as well):

http://globalfire.tv/nj/03en/politics/bilderberg.htm

The guestlists are usually public, to take away accusaions that it is all to secret, plotting etc etc. I was unable to find recent ones on the internet but this oe is from 1997 (in german, from www.sdnl.nl):

Giovanni Agnelli, Italien (Ehrenvorsitzender der Fiat-Werke) -
Lord Peter Carrington. GB (früherer Generalsekretär der NATO)
Carl Bildt, Schweden (früherer Premierminister)
Uffe Ellemann-Jensen, DK (früherer Außenmister)
Richard C. Hollbrooke, USA (Vermittler im Bosnien-Konflikt)
Henry Kissinger, USA (fruherer US-Außenminister)
Peter Mitterbauer, Österreich (Konzernchef, Miba AG)
Thiery de Montbrial, Frankreich (Wirtschaftsprofessor)
Matthias Nass, Deutschland (Chefredakteur, DIE ZEIT)
Beatrix, Königin der Niederlande
Sam Nunn, USA (Senator)
David Rockefeller, USA (Vorsitzender der Chase Manhattan Bank)
Jürgen Schrempp. Deutschland (Vorsitzender, Daimler-Benz)
Klaus Schwab, Deutschland (Präsident des World Economic Forum)
Paul A. Volcker, USA (früherer Präsident der Federal Reserve)
Franz Vranitzky, Osterreich (früherer Bundeskanzler)
Marcus Wallenberg, Schweden (Konzernchef, Investor AB)
James D. Wolfensohn, USA (Präsident der Weltbank)
Otto Wolff von Amerongen, Deutschland (ehem. Konzernchef, Staal,
Hillary Clinton, USA (Gattin des US-Präsidenten)

[Emily]

I, too, have been curious about this Bilderberg Group and researched it some after the first posting. I must say that I don't know many of the foreigners on the list above, but several of the Americans are generally thought to be people of integrity and that is heartening.

[Marengo]

Hi Emily, I found a better link than the one I provided, actually the homepage of the group: www.bilderberg.org

On it I found the guestlist for 2005, but many more can be found. Clearly they want to get rid of the secretive image they have and they even invited reporters of the economist (though I missed the report about the conference in the magazine) Here is the guestlist for 2005, which is very impressive and includes Queen Beatrix, Queen Sophia and Crownprince Phillipe of Belgium and many other politicians, industrials etc:

BILDERBERG MEETINGS
Rottach-Egern, Germany
5-8 May 2005


On the 2005 agenda: Iran, Iraq, The Middle East, Non-Proliferation, Asia, Economic Problems, Russia, European-American relations.


LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

Honorary Chairman


B, Davignon, Etienne, Vice Chairman, Suez-Tractebel Honorary Secretary General


GB, Taylor, J. Martin, International Advisor, Goldman Sachs International

NL, Aartsen, Jozias J. van, Parliamentary Leader, Liberal Party (VVD)
PNA, Abu-Amr, Ziad, Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council; President of the Palestinian Council on Foreign Relations; Professor of Political Science, Birzeit University
D, Ackermann, Josef, Chairman, Group Executive Committee. Deutsche Bank AG
INT, Almunia Amann, Joaquin, Commissioner, European Commission
GR, Alogoskoufis, George, Minister of Economy and Finance
TR, Babacan, Ali, Minister of Economic Affairs
P, Balsemão, Francisco Pinto, Chairman and CEO, IMPRESA, S.G.P.S.; Former Prime Minister
INT, Barroso. José M. Durão, President, European Commission
S, Belfrage, Erik, Senior Vice President, SEB
I, Bernabè, Franco, Vice Chairman, Rothschild Europe
F, Beytout, Nicolas, Editor-in-Chief, Le Figaro
A, Bronner, Oscar, Publisher and Editor, Der Standard
GB, Browne, John, Group Chief Executive, BP plc
D, Burda, Hubert, Chairman of the Board of Management, Hubert Burda Media
IRL, Byrne, David, WHO Special Envoy on Global Cornmunicable Diseases; Former Commissioner, European Commission
F, Camus, Philippe, CEO, EADS
F, Castries, Henri de Chairman of the Board, AXA
E, Cebrián. Juan Luis, CEO, PRISA
USA, Collins, Timothy C., Senior Managing Director and CEO, Ripplewood Holdings, LLC
F, Collomb, Bertrand, Chairman, Lafarge
CH, Couchepin, Pascal, Head, Department of Home Affairs
GR, David, George A., Chairman, Coca-Cola H.B.C. S.A.
F, Delpech, Thérèse, Director for Strategic Affairs, Atomic Energy Commission
GR, Diamantopoulou, Anna, Member of Parliament
NL, Docters van Leeuwen, Arthur W.H., Chairman of the Executive Board, Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets
USA, Donilon, Thomas E., Partner, O’Melveny & Myers
D, Döpfner, Mathias, CEO, Axel Springer AG
DK, Eldrup, Anders, President, DONG A/S
I, Elkann, John, Vice Chairman, Fiat S.p.A.
USA, Feldstein, Martin S, President and CEO, National Bureau of Economic Research
USA, Ford, Jr., William C., Chairman and CEO, Ford Motor Company
USA, Geithner, Timothy F., President, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
TR, Gencer, Imregul, Member of the Board, Global Investment Holding
ISR, Gilady, Eival, Strategic Advisor to Prime Minister Sharon
IRL, Gleeson, Dermot, Chairman, AIB Group
USA, Graham, Donald E., Chairman and CEO, The Washington Post Company
N, Grydeland, Bjørn T., Ambassador to the EU
P, Guterres, António, Former Prime Minister; President, Socialist International
USA, Haass, Richard N., President, Council on Foreign Relations
NL, Halberstadt, Victor, Professor of Economics, Leiden University
B, Hansen, Jean-Pierre, CEO, Suez-Tractebel S.A.
A, Haselsteiner, Hans Peter, CEO, Bauholding Strabag SE (Societas Europea)
DK, Hedegaard, Connie, Minister for the Environment
USA, Holbrooke, Richard C., Vice Chairman, Perseus
INT, Hoop Scheffer, Jaap G. de Secretary General, NATO
USA, Hubbard, Allan B., Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and Director of the National Economic Council
B, Huyghebaert, Jan, Chairman of the Board of Directors, KBC Group
USA, Johnson, James A., Vice Chairman, Perseus LLC
INT, Jones, James L., Supreme Allied Commander Euope, SHAPE
USA, Jordan, Jr.,Vernon E., Senior Managing Director, Lazard Frères & Co. LLC
USA, Keane, John M., President, GSI, LLC; General, US Army, Retired
GB, Kerr, John, Director, Shell, Rio Tinto, Scottish Americal Investment Trust
USA, Kissinger, Henry A., Chairman, Kissinger Associates, Inc.
D, Kleinfeld, Klaus, President and CEO, Siemens AG
TR, Koç, Mustafa V., Chairman, Koç Holding A.S.
D, Kopper, Hilmar, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, DaimlerChrysler AG
F, Kouchner, Bernard, Director, "Santé et développement", CNAM
USA, Kravis, Henry R., Founding Partner, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.
USA, Kravis, Marie-Josée, Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute, Inc.
INT, Kroes, Neelie, Commissioner, European Commission
CH, Kudelski, André, Chairman of the Board and CEO, Kudelski Group
F, Lamy, Pascal, President, Notre Europe; Former Commissioner, European Commission
USA, Ledeen, Michael A., American Enterprise Institute
FIN, Liikanen, Erkki, Govemor and Chairman of the Board, Bank of Finland
N, Lundestad, Geir, Director, Norwegian Nobel Institute; Secretary, Norwegian Nobel Committee
USA, Luti, William J., Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs
DK, Lykketoft, Mogens, Chairman, Social Democratic Party
CDN, Manji, Irshad, Author/Founder of "Project Ijtihad”
USA, Mathews, Jessica T., President, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
CDN, Mau, Bruce, Bruce Mau Design
CDN, McKenna, Frank, Ambasssador to the US
USA, Medish, Mark C., Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
USA, Mehlman, Kenneth B., Chairman, Republican National Committee
D, Merkel, Angela, Chairman, CDU; Chairman CDU/CSU-Fraction
SVK, Miklos, Ivan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
F, Montbrial, Thierry de, President, French Institute of International Relations (IFRI)
INT, Monti, Mario, President, Bocconi University; Former Commissioner for Competition, European Commission
CDN, Munroe-Blum, Heather, Principal and Vice Chancellor, McGill University
N, Myklebust, Egil, Chairman of the Board of Directors, SAS
D, Nass, Matthias, Deputy Editor, Die Zeit
RUS, Nemirovskaya, Elena, Founder and Director, Moscow School of Political Studies
NL, Netherlands, H.M. tihe Queen of The
PL, Olechowski, Andrzej, Leader Civic Platform
FIN, Ollila, Jorma, Chairman of the Board and CEO, Nokia Corporation
INT, Padoa-Schioppa, Tommaso, Member of the Executive Board, European Central Bank
E, Palacio, Loyola de, President, Council on Foreign Relations, Partido Popular
GR, Papandreou, George A., President, Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK)
USA, Pearl, Frank H., Chairman and CEO, Perseus, LLC
USA, Pearlstine, Norman, Editor-in-Chief, Time Inc.
FIN, Pentikäinen, Mikael, President, Sanoma Corporation
USA, Perle, Richard N., Resident Fellow, American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research
D, Pflüger, Friedbert, Member of Parliament, CDU/CSU Fraktion
B, Philippe, H.R.H. Prince
CDN, Prichard, J. Robert S., President. Torstar Media Group and CEO, Torstar Corporation
IN'T, Rato y Figaredo, Rodrigo de, Managing Director, IMF
CDN, Reisman, Heather, President and CEO, Indigo Books & Music Inc.
USA, Rockefeller, David, Member, JP Morgan International Council
USA, Rodin, Judith, President, The Rockefeller Foundation
E, Rodriguez Inciarte, Matias, Executive Vice Chairman, Grupo Santander
USA, Ross, Dennis B., Director, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy
F, Roy, Olivier, Senior Researcher, CNRS
P, Sarmento, Nuno Morais, Former Minister of State and of Presidency; Member of Parliament
I, Scaroni, Paolo, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Enel S.p.A.
D, Schily, Otto, Minister of the Interior
A, Scholten, Rudolf, Member of the Board of Executive Directors, Oesterreichische Kontrollbank AG
D, Schrempp , Jürgen E., Chairman of the Board of Management, DaimlerChrysler AG
D, Schulz, Ekkehard D., Chairman of the Executive Board, ThyssenKrupp AG
E, Sebastián Gascón, Miguel, Chief Economic Adviser to Prime Minister
ISR, Sharansky, Natan, Former Minister for Jerusalem & Diaspora Affairs
I, Siniscalco, Domenico, Minister for Economy and Finance
GB, Skidelsky, Robert, Professor of Political Economy, Warwick University
E, Spain, H.M. the Queen of
IRL, Sutherland, Peter D., Chairman, Goldman Sachs International; Chairman, BP p.l.c.
PL, Szwajcowski, Jacek, CEO, Polska Grupa Farmaceutyczna
FIN, Tiilikainen, Teija H., Director, University of Helsinki, Network for European Studies
NL, Tilmant, Michel, Chairman, ING N.V.
INT, Trichet, Jean-Claude, Governor, European Central Bank
TR, Ülsever, Cüneyt, Columnist, Hürriyet
CH, Vasella, Daniel L., Chairman and CEO, Novartis AG
NL, Veer, Jeroen van der, Chairman Committee of.Managing Directors, Royal Dutch Shell Group
USA, Vinocur, John, Senior Correspondent, International Herald Tribune
S, Wallenberg, Jacob, Chairman of the Board, Investor AB; Vice-Chairman, SEB
USA, Warner, Mark R., Governor of Virginia
GB, Weinberg, Peter, CEO, Goldman Sachs International
D, Wissmann, Matthias, Member of Parliament, CDU/CSU Fraktion
GB, Wolf, Martin H., Asscociate Editor and Economics Commentator, The Financial Times
INT/USA, Wolfensohn, James D., President, The World Bank
USA, Wolfowitz, Paul, President designate, The World Bank
USA, Zakaria, Fareed, Editor, Newsweek International
D, Zumwinkel, Klaus, Chairman of the Board of Management, Deutsche Post AG Rapporteurs


GB, Micklethwait, R., John, United States Editor, The Economist GB, Wooldridge, Adrian D., Foreign Correspondent, The Economist

[Beatrice]

Thank you very much it seems you are very well-informed!!