I would love to say that the all situation in South Africa is getting better, that violence against foreigners has stopped but this isn't the case, far from it.
Now the army has been sent to try to help in areas where violence doesn't seem to getting any better. Unfortunately this involves some parts of Johannesburg. And in addition violence against South Africans has started in other African countries in retaliation.
Where ever you go these days it is of course very much the subject of conversation but otherwise I have to say that in the areas where I am there is no evidence of anything happening . The one thing for me right now is that I want to go downtown Jo'burg to buy some African fabric but this is exactly where some of all this is taking place so I am waiting.
I want to be very clear: this is not violence against tourists. This is violence against foreign nationals, typically from other African countries, who work here or have businesses here and are perceived as stealing jobs.
Honestly South Africa always feels like it is at the edge of something. There is always that feeling that one incident one day will topple it over. Two weeks ago it was a statue on the university campus in Pretoria. There is always something.
Showing posts with label in the news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label in the news. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Two Not-So-Nice Things Happening in South Africa
There is a bit of a "thing" going on in South Africa right now. I don't know if it has hit international news.
The short version of it (my version) is as follow: As economic times are not great and jobs are even harder than usual to get yet another wave of they locally call "xenophobia" is hitting South Africa. This translate in frustrated poor South Africans attacking workers and business holders who are not South African because they are perceived as stealing their jobs and their opportunities. There was a riot in Durban a few days ago and they became violent as non-South African started to defend themselves.
One of the particularly weird thing happening right now is that apparently there is a wave of texts and messages on social medias warning (or is it threatening) that this Wednesday in Johannesburg they will start killing foreigners. I am pretty sure that they mean foreigners who they perceive as stealing their jobs, but nobody really knows what they mean and how it will go.
Things are apparently so bad that Malawi is saying that it will repatriate its nationals.
The other thing happening here, and this too is not new, is "Load shedding". South Africa cannot produce enough electrical power for its needs so its power company (Eskom, a state owned company) cuts the power to various areas at various times so less electricity is being used. About eight years ago load shedding was quite common and then it stopped. I haven't been in South Africa in nearly two years and now they are back. There is a schedule to warm people but it changes all the time and anyway means nothing really as it is not followed. This is not a temporary problem.
And just try to imagine what it is like to try to run a business (shop or restaurant) when you have no power. Or what it is like to drive around Jo'burg when traffic lights (called "robots" here) are not working.
The short version of it (my version) is as follow: As economic times are not great and jobs are even harder than usual to get yet another wave of they locally call "xenophobia" is hitting South Africa. This translate in frustrated poor South Africans attacking workers and business holders who are not South African because they are perceived as stealing their jobs and their opportunities. There was a riot in Durban a few days ago and they became violent as non-South African started to defend themselves.
One of the particularly weird thing happening right now is that apparently there is a wave of texts and messages on social medias warning (or is it threatening) that this Wednesday in Johannesburg they will start killing foreigners. I am pretty sure that they mean foreigners who they perceive as stealing their jobs, but nobody really knows what they mean and how it will go.
Things are apparently so bad that Malawi is saying that it will repatriate its nationals.
The other thing happening here, and this too is not new, is "Load shedding". South Africa cannot produce enough electrical power for its needs so its power company (Eskom, a state owned company) cuts the power to various areas at various times so less electricity is being used. About eight years ago load shedding was quite common and then it stopped. I haven't been in South Africa in nearly two years and now they are back. There is a schedule to warm people but it changes all the time and anyway means nothing really as it is not followed. This is not a temporary problem.
And just try to imagine what it is like to try to run a business (shop or restaurant) when you have no power. Or what it is like to drive around Jo'burg when traffic lights (called "robots" here) are not working.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
President Zuma's take on democracy
The best thing to do here to show president Zuma's point of view on democracy is just to directly quote him in his latest gaffe:
"You have more rights because you're a majority; you have less rights because you're a minority. That's how democracy works"
...... Seriously?!?!?!?
Here is an article to put it into context, but I promise you context in this case does not really help.
"You have more rights because you're a majority; you have less rights because you're a minority. That's how democracy works"
...... Seriously?!?!?!?
Here is an article to put it into context, but I promise you context in this case does not really help.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
South African billionaire gives half of his wealth
Unbeleivable! some good news about South Africa, about humans, in the news.
A South African billionaire, the only black South African billionaire, is giving half of his wealth to improve the lives of the poors.
I want to write his name, because this is the name of an amazing person who should not remain anonymous. His name is Patrice Motsepe
A South African billionaire, the only black South African billionaire, is giving half of his wealth to improve the lives of the poors.
I want to write his name, because this is the name of an amazing person who should not remain anonymous. His name is Patrice Motsepe
Friday, September 14, 2012
Of course South Africa is also making it to the news
In a situation not half as confusing but not as simple as it appears either, South Africa is making the news with miners strike going bad, police shooting and politicians using the situation to pay back other politicians for past actions.
It had potential for turning very bad when J. Malema went to the military and a state of emergency was declared before he managed to start a riot within the military....but then again on this continent, maybe more than anywhere else, anything has a potential to turn bad quickly.
It had potential for turning very bad when J. Malema went to the military and a state of emergency was declared before he managed to start a riot within the military....but then again on this continent, maybe more than anywhere else, anything has a potential to turn bad quickly.
The world has gone crazy.....or is it: the world is staying crazy
Ok, this time I am seriously confused!
US, German and UK embassies!?!?!?! what do they have to do with anything?!?!
It is actually hard to figure who is manipulating and who is being manipulated in this all thing.
Sunday, September 09, 2012
Feel good piece of news
How often do you read the news and feel good about it. I tell you, it does not happen to me very often, but here is a bit of "feel good" news.
Wednesday, August 08, 2012
Snow in Johannesburg
Now that is not something you see very often but it snowed in Johannesburg yesterday.
In my neighborhood there is a large school and they let the children out to play in the snow. You could hear the kids play from far they were so exited.
I had an appointment at somebody's office and when the snow started everybody stopped work and went outside to take photos on their cell phones and generally stand out in the snow and experience it. Some people from other parts of Africa who were there too had never seen snow before.
Everybody came back in saying how pretty it was. As a Canadian I was totally underwhelmed by the few flakes and less than an inch of snow on the ground at the end but it was great to see how exited people got.
To put things into perspective, according to South African Weather Service records, it has only snowed in Johannesburg on 22 other days in the last 103 years and newspapers report that: " Snow is a rare occurrence in Gauteng (the tiny province of seven thousand square miles, which consists of Johannesburg, Pretoria and their "suburbs"), with snowfall having been experienced in May 1956, August 1962, June 1964, September 1981 and on June 27 2007. September 1981 has the greatest snowfall on record, with statistics showing snowfall accumulating up to 10 centimetres across the province."
As it happens the morning of June 27th I was landing in Johannesburg and a driver from work was meant to pick me up to take me to the office to work right away and he was very very late because he wasn't sure what to use to shovel the full one centimeter of snow in his driveway. As a Canadian I couldn't help but feel totally unsympathetic about it...not that I said anything at the time.
In my neighborhood there is a large school and they let the children out to play in the snow. You could hear the kids play from far they were so exited.
I had an appointment at somebody's office and when the snow started everybody stopped work and went outside to take photos on their cell phones and generally stand out in the snow and experience it. Some people from other parts of Africa who were there too had never seen snow before.
Everybody came back in saying how pretty it was. As a Canadian I was totally underwhelmed by the few flakes and less than an inch of snow on the ground at the end but it was great to see how exited people got.
To put things into perspective, according to South African Weather Service records, it has only snowed in Johannesburg on 22 other days in the last 103 years and newspapers report that: " Snow is a rare occurrence in Gauteng (the tiny province of seven thousand square miles, which consists of Johannesburg, Pretoria and their "suburbs"), with snowfall having been experienced in May 1956, August 1962, June 1964, September 1981 and on June 27 2007. September 1981 has the greatest snowfall on record, with statistics showing snowfall accumulating up to 10 centimetres across the province."
As it happens the morning of June 27th I was landing in Johannesburg and a driver from work was meant to pick me up to take me to the office to work right away and he was very very late because he wasn't sure what to use to shovel the full one centimeter of snow in his driveway. As a Canadian I couldn't help but feel totally unsympathetic about it...not that I said anything at the time.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Lonesome George the tortoise has died
I just read that Lonesome George the tortoise died.
I know there are many worse news out there but somehow it is sad to me.
I know there are many worse news out there but somehow it is sad to me.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
The problem with Artistic Freedom in South Africa
South Africa can be SO depressing !!!!
The big brouhaha in South Africa these days is about the painting of Zuma (the South African president) which shows him in a Russian political poster style but most of all, in addition, showing his genitals.
In all honesty it is a ridiculous painting which does not deserve any of the attention it is getting.
The painting was defaced at the art gallery where it was exhibited and today thousands protested against it.
I had forgotten about the protests organized by the ANC (the ruling party in South Africa) until I tried to go grocery shopping a block away from the art gallery who had the painting.
Here is what regular news pages have to say about it:
CNN, BBC World News, the Mail and Guardian, Updated News and City Press.
And just like everything else in South Africa it has turned into a racial issue !!!!!
These 3 photos (2 above and 1 below) are from News 24 and the sign in the one just above says "Draw your white father naked not our president".
Here the point of view of a blog from South Africa which deals with political and social issues. Be warned they do have a representation of the offending painting. If it offends do not open the link.
From a much simpler and possibly naive point of view I would like to point out that traditional African art is full of naked bodies with both men and women genitalia exposed, exaggerated in some cases, and nobody would comfortably admit to being offended.
The Goodman Gallery, I always thought, is always trying to have provocative art on, often it seems that shocking people is more important to them than showing art. They are sensationalists. To me they come across as poseurs who think themselves as oh-so-sophisticated. Well they should be happy now, they managed to shock!
The big brouhaha in South Africa these days is about the painting of Zuma (the South African president) which shows him in a Russian political poster style but most of all, in addition, showing his genitals.
In all honesty it is a ridiculous painting which does not deserve any of the attention it is getting.
The painting was defaced at the art gallery where it was exhibited and today thousands protested against it.
I had forgotten about the protests organized by the ANC (the ruling party in South Africa) until I tried to go grocery shopping a block away from the art gallery who had the painting.
Here is what regular news pages have to say about it:
CNN, BBC World News, the Mail and Guardian, Updated News and City Press.
And just like everything else in South Africa it has turned into a racial issue !!!!!
Here the point of view of a blog from South Africa which deals with political and social issues. Be warned they do have a representation of the offending painting. If it offends do not open the link.
From a much simpler and possibly naive point of view I would like to point out that traditional African art is full of naked bodies with both men and women genitalia exposed, exaggerated in some cases, and nobody would comfortably admit to being offended.
The Goodman Gallery, I always thought, is always trying to have provocative art on, often it seems that shocking people is more important to them than showing art. They are sensationalists. To me they come across as poseurs who think themselves as oh-so-sophisticated. Well they should be happy now, they managed to shock!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Go out and watch the Northern (Southern?) Lights
Just in case you have not heard, there should be some fantastic northern (or southern) lights right now.
Apparently the sun is having huge solar storms.
This is what CBC News says about it.
Apparently the sun is having huge solar storms.
This is what CBC News says about it.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Exhibition of African Photography in Bamako, Mali
You just have to go to BBC World coverage of this exhibit. How I which I could be there to see it "live".
Here is an example of the photos they show. This one is by Akintunde Akinyele.
Here is an example of the photos they show. This one is by Akintunde Akinyele.
Tuesday, November 08, 2011
Plastic Bottlle House
I am always interested in different cheap and practical ways to build small houses. In fact even though I have never built a house in addition to my collection of bread cookbooks and other cookbooks I also have a quite a collection of building books. My favourite is one which is more theoretical than practical (but I also have very practical books such as a book about electrical wiring and about plumbing) which is called something like "build like you care" or maybe "design like you care". I can't remember its title and I am trying to find it on the internet to give you the real title but so far I have not found it.
Added later::
I found it at amazon.com it is:
"Design like you give a damn: Architectural Responses to Humanitarian Crises";
Author: Architecture for Humanity; (come on go check them out!)
Editors: Kate Stohr and Cameron Sinclair.
All this to say that I found an interesting article about a house built with plastic bottles filled with sand. The technique is not entirely new. I remember clearly that the book I mentioned as my favourite had at least one building built with bags full of dirt, but just the same I thought it was interesting.
My one concern about it would be that the base of the bottles exposed to the outside and so exposed to the sun will become brittle and break. This of course would release the sand they contain which in turn would mean that they loose their structural strength. I would worry about the life span a house like this. In any of those container-packed-with-dirt/sand techniques the life span of the container (bag or bottles or anything else) pretty much defines the life span of the house. Or at least this is the way I see it. However the article mentions that not only is a house like this a third of the price a house built with bricks and mortar but it is more "more durable". I just can't beleive it.
You can see how the bottles are exposed to the elements.
This is an article in BBC World News (which yo must know by now is my preferred source of internet news when traveling. You can find it here.
Of course another interesting thing about this is the fact that this project should make it to international news.
I found it at amazon.com it is:
"Design like you give a damn: Architectural Responses to Humanitarian Crises";
Author: Architecture for Humanity; (come on go check them out!)
Editors: Kate Stohr and Cameron Sinclair.
All this to say that I found an interesting article about a house built with plastic bottles filled with sand. The technique is not entirely new. I remember clearly that the book I mentioned as my favourite had at least one building built with bags full of dirt, but just the same I thought it was interesting.
My one concern about it would be that the base of the bottles exposed to the outside and so exposed to the sun will become brittle and break. This of course would release the sand they contain which in turn would mean that they loose their structural strength. I would worry about the life span a house like this. In any of those container-packed-with-dirt/sand techniques the life span of the container (bag or bottles or anything else) pretty much defines the life span of the house. Or at least this is the way I see it. However the article mentions that not only is a house like this a third of the price a house built with bricks and mortar but it is more "more durable". I just can't beleive it.
 |
| Photo from the BBC World News article, link below |
This is an article in BBC World News (which yo must know by now is my preferred source of internet news when traveling. You can find it here.
Of course another interesting thing about this is the fact that this project should make it to international news.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Biofuels, the other side
Biofuels are probably not a bad idea, though personally I think that research should go towards completely different fuel sources instead of mimicking petroleums, but here is for you the other side of the equations as BBC World News presents it in one of its articles about a biofuel plant in Kenya.
The question the locals ask is basically: why feed a car when we are still hungry?
The question the locals ask is basically: why feed a car when we are still hungry?
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Sudan
No, I haven't been to Sudan and no I am not planning to go there. (I am not planning to never go there, it is just not in the plans right now).
Look at this interesting series of maps of Sudan from BBC World News with the new boundary between north and South Sudan. This is obviously critical now since South Sudan just voted today to secede from Sudan by 99%.
Look at this interesting series of maps of Sudan from BBC World News with the new boundary between north and South Sudan. This is obviously critical now since South Sudan just voted today to secede from Sudan by 99%.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)