This is more a question for me than you. You probably don’t care why I don’t write on Thought Leader anymore. But if you do, or you’re bored, here is why. I am looking at an open word doc. Blank. Over the last few months I have done this many times. Always with the intention […]
2011
Posted inGeneral
Charity is not our culture, giving is our way of life
Contrary to marketers’ beliefs, the black middle-class is not a new phenomenon born in 2003 with the birth of the Black Economic Empowerment Act. There has always been a “big-house” in the middle of the township with its usual four-room houses. There were always a few lonely Cressidas, packed like a tin of Sardine, heading […]
Posted inGeneral
The global power of local acts of courage
To fight against what is wrong while accepting the likely insignificance of one’s efforts – that’s an elegantly simple philosophy for life. And dauntingly courageous.
Posted inGeneral
Coming home to a rather normal country
I arrived in Cape Town last Friday after spending 14 years abroad. Setting aside larger socio-economic matters (without minimising any of them) I have been pleasantly surprised over the past few days by some of the minor infrastructural changes and improvements in this majestic city. I have been especially impressed by the efficacy of banking, […]
Posted inGeneral
Why I love Google+
Google Plus (G+) is a major foray by Google into the world of social media. The platform takes the best of Facebook and Twitter and slaps it into one. I affectionately call it TwitFace. And while a small group of techy South Africans have gotten really excited about Google Plus (G+), a training session I […]
Posted inLifestyle
‘Land grabs’ in agriculture: Who benefits?
The trend of international land grabbing — when governments and private firms invest in or purchase large tracts of land in other countries for the purpose of agricultural production and export — can have serious environmental and social consequences, according to researchers at the Worldwatch Institute. Deals that focus solely on financial profit can leave […]
Posted inGeneral
Nokia E7 — getting dirty.
Ok, I’ll admit it. I’m biased against the current crop of Nokia smartphones. I just think they’re crap — and maybe that’s because I’m a “power user” (although sometimes I think my levels of frustration exceed the everyday consumer). Or maybe it’s just because I’m getting grumpy in my old age. Symbian has simply ceased […]
Posted inEquality
Gay love is here to stay – hooray
This weekend in New York hundreds of couples got married. For the first time in their (sometimes very long) relationships, they were able to commit to one another in public and be legally married. If you need any more convincing of what a wonderful, happiness-inducing state of affairs this was, then check out these 60 incredible […]
Posted inNews/Politics
The Echo Chamber
The new monsters are different. Like Frankenstein’s creature, they are composed of the philosophical offal of the past century, with all its intellectual hurts and grievances. They have been reanimated, sewn together with the black thread bought in bulk by the far right. Intelligent, eloquent, urbane, they plow their considerable energies into forging new identities […]
Posted inNews/Politics
‘Events are not on strike anymore’ – Part 1
It is interesting, frightening even, to receive news of a terror attack while you’re sitting in an airport lounge, about to board an intercontinental flight. Invariably, while you watch the horrific images on Sky News or CNN, your mind connects them with aeroplanes and crashes. Such is the legacy of 9/11. On Friday last I started a journey from […]
Posted inGeneral
Justice is not relative, neither is child abuse
By Gcobani Qambela The Children’s Act tasks the government with ensuring that children’s constitutional rights to family care and alternative care, social services and protection from all abuse, neglect and exploitation are realised. The government has to realise these rights by making provision for substantial and comprehensive social welfare service interventions. These interventions range from […]
Posted inNews/Politics
How to lose goodwill and anger a republic
I attended President Bingu wa Mutharika’s second-term inauguration at a packed Chichiri Stadium in Malawi’s commercial capital, Blantyre in May 2009. His party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) had led one of the most successful election campaigns in the political history of Malawi, amassing an unprecedented parliamentary majority. Mutharika’s first term was nothing like that, however. […]