By Dr Prinitha Pillay and Nonkosi Khumalo When the Group of 20 (G20) nations, including South Africa, meet in France from November 3-4, one of the key items on the agenda will be a proposal for a financial transaction tax that would generate revenue to address the debt crisis stemming from the global recession. News […]
2011
Posted inBusiness, General, Media
Here’s to South African creativity
So the announcement has finally been made: Cape Town is World Design Capital for 2014, ahead of Dublin and Bilbao. This is great news for creativity in South Africa. Cape Town has long focused on positioning itself as a creative hub — film, advertising, design — and this is paying off. It’s the kind of […]
Posted inLifestyle
Supermodels are normal too…aren’t they?
Marie Claire SA had an interesting idea for their November issue. They decided to call it the “Love Your Body” issue and invite six major South African ad agencies to come up with campaigns to encourage ordinary women to love the bodies they’ve got. I have yet to see the images they produced, but by […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Our sexual expression is our choice
As the Slutwalk movement has spread internationally, it has increasingly come under fire from a broad range of communities. What started as a simple idea has been criticised for being exclusive, “white supremacist” and an insult to the victims and survivors of sexual assault. The movement started in Toronto after a law-enforcement officer told a […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Gaddafi: Rough justice
On July 13 1793 the assassin Marie-Anne Charlotte De Corday d’Armont entered the private rooms of Paris-dwelling Jean-Paul Marat, “L’Ami du peuple[1]“, revolutionary, Jacobin and soon: dead. The much-feared one greeted her from his reclining position in the bath, the treated water soothing his blistered, itchy skin no other place offering suitable respite from the […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Zuma eyeing Manguang?
In the last few days and weeks President Jacob Zuma has released advocate Michael Donen’s report on the Oilgate inquiry, sacked Public Works Minister Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde and Cooperative Governance Minister Sicelo Shiceka, suspended National Police Commissioner Bheki Cele, pending the outcome of a Section 9 Inquiry, and appointed a commission of inquiry in terms of […]
Posted inGeneral, Lifestyle, Media
Germany — on being disconnected in a connected world
It’s so easy to take connection for granted. Sure, there are places, like the bush, where you expect to feel isolated from technology. But finding yourself in a foreign country where you don’t speak the language and everyone else is connected — now that makes for the kind of cognitive dissonance that triggers panic attacks. […]
Posted inBusiness, Equality, Lifestyle, Media
Why I’m boycotting the Foschini Group
T-shirts that are offensive towards women, ignorant of the HIV/Aids pandemic in South Africa, or are simply offensive are a reflection of a culture that says we shouldn’t care about these things, because misogyny, HIV/Aids and women’s rights are not something to be taken seriously. When a major brand like Foschini chooses to produce shirts […]
Posted inGeneral, Lifestyle
Gareth Cliff on everything you’ve already heard
Let me start with the mandatory “I don’t like Gareth Cliff and I don’t listen to his show” disclaimer. But despite this, I was secretly looking forward to reading his first book Gareth Cliff on Everything. In a fragmented, siloed society such as ours, books are a small mirror into sections of society you only […]
Posted inGeneral
Balotelli fireworks set Old Trafford on fire
Sir Alex Ferguson called it his worst result ever and, considering the fact that two more Manchester City goals would have been enough to win the 2011 Rugby World Cup, it’s not hard to understand where he is coming from. On Sunday, City laid siege to Old Trafford like men possessed while United were given […]
Posted inGeneral
Rugby World Cup obsession needs to end
The Rugby World Cup has finally come to an end, with New Zealand emerging as winners after a tight and enthralling final. France won’t care that their performance has been praised — as American comedian Jerry Seinfeld once said, second is the number one loser. While the French were the better team on the night […]
Posted inGeneral
The sad state of SA sport
I have been watching very closely the ability of sports “managers” getting worse and worse. To my mind pops Boxing SA, Athletics SA, rugby at most times has had some question hanging over it although not in the last eight or so years, SA football and now we have what I believe to be the […]