Jan van Campen Knihy

Silk Thread uses objects from the Rijksmuseum collection to explore the shared history of China and the Netherlands from 1600 to the present. This book pays lavish attention both to the intensive efforts of Dutch traders to reach China and establish a trading post, and to the Dutch people’s fascination with Chinese goods. The products of the encounter – the silk, porcelain and lacquerware, the travelogues and atlases – defined perceptions of China in the Netherlands and far beyond. In the same period, the Netherlands gained a small but significant place in Chinese consciousness. The often-turbulent relationship between China and the West forms an intriguing contrast to the enduring Dutch interest in China and the magnificent objects emanating from it.

'How old are you?' 'Forty-four.' 'Were you in Rwanda in 1994?' 'Yes.' 'Were you a member of Interahamwe?' 'It was a long time ago.' 'I will ask again, ' I hissed near his ear. 'Were you a member of Interahamwe?' He looked up to me. His breath smelled terrible. I almost felt nauseous. 'Yes, I was there and I was killing Tutsi cockroaches. They deserved to die.' This is a story about a Geneva-based Coltan trader being drawn into the Congolese conflict fought over natural resources. Four million dead and counting. Without Coltan, our mobile phones won't work. Why is this mineral so important to the Military Industrial Complex? It all started right after the Rwanda Genocide of 1994 ""May I call you the Dutch John le Carr?"" in an interview with Alphonse Muambi, Congolese Expert on Africa and Strategic Resources, Globalisation and Development. ""I have to say, this is an exciting book,"" in an interview with Pim van Galen, Journalist at Dutch Public Television (NOS). ""The plot is really great!"" remark by Cecile Dehopre, Doctors Without Borders.""Van Campen not only tells an enrapturing tale, he also uses Coltan Congo's Curse as a storytelling mechanism to raise awareness and confront some major issues like child labour, working conditions and conflict minerals in Congo's mining industry today."" - Bas van Abel, CEO and Founder Fairphone.

Energy Crisis? Renewable? Electric? Net Zero? Climate Change? Not any longer! Hydrogen Solar Plasma is limitless energy. The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) in France is being built to mimic the Sun in order to produce hydrogen fusion energy in a so-called Tokamak. However they can't. Unexpectedly a French start-up succeeds to fuse hydrogen, water and solar heat into a sustainable fuel named 'Hysoplasm' or 'HSP', which can energise our planet for ever. Will such a discovery be welcomed or attacked? "Which interests stand in the way of real climate solutions? This eco-thriller tells a story of the fight of a start-up against the fossil industry. It introduces HSP, Hydrogen Solar Plasma as an abundant, renewable energy for a cleaner future." Pim van Galen, Journalist at Dutch Public Television. "A fascinating and well-timed story." Ton van Uffel, Energy and Chemistry Expert "This book convinces with the sincerity of the plot and the richness of the details. It deserves a wider audience than just environmental geeks. Captive reading!" Jochem Visser, International Lawyer

Children in Congo are digging rare earth minerals and ore for weapons, mobile phones and electric cars held at gunpoint by child soldiers. Millions of people have been killed in Congo because they live in resource-rich areas. 'Rape is a weapon of war' says Congolese Dr Denis Mukwege, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. Erik Luyts, a commodities trader based in Geneva, travels to Congo because the Chinese are becoming too competitive. His wife Pauline at Doctors Without Borders warns him against it. Erik decides to do something about the terrible abuses, but can't prevent that his hidden past is catching up with him. PRAISE FOR VAN CAMPEN: 'May I call you the Dutch John le Carré' Alphonse Muambi, Congolese Journalist. 'I must say, this is an exciting book.' Pim van Galen, Journalist at Dutch Public Television (NOS). 'We may be able to stop the bleeding, but not the bullets.' Cecile Dehopre, Doctors without Borders, Amsterdam. 'Van Campen makes people aware and confronts them with child labour, working conditions and conflict minerals in Congo's current mining industry.' Bas van Abel, founder of Fairphone. 'This book is a revelation, after you read it, you will never mindlessly make use of a mobile phone!' Charles den Tex, thriller writer.