Today, many a young American found a new spring in their step. It is the bouncy step of patriotism and sheer euphoria. Seventy-two hours before it was their president who strode with purpose on the White House red carpet to deliver a bombshell of an announcement — the death of Osama bin Laden. President Barack […]
2011
Posted inGeneral
Experience is key, coach!
In the modern day and age of immediate satisfaction we sometimes, as sports coaches, overlook our own job — to coach. To coach means to develop, to develop means to take a specific interest in a person who is also your player and build this person’s character and skills — this means caring as well. […]
Posted inLifestyle
Sustainable fishing
Global fish production has reached an all-time high, according to Nourishing the Planet’s latest research for the Worldwatch Institute’s Vital Signs Online publication. Aquaculture, or fish farming — once a minor contributor to total fish harvest — increased 50-fold between the 1950s and 2008 and now contributes nearly half of all fish produced worldwide.According to […]
Posted inBusiness
Africa in the aftermath of the recession
Many African scholars and politicians have repeatedly made the point that Africa remains behind other regions or continents as a result of the historical injustices it endured for centuries. Disturbingly, though, the injustices have taken a different form over the years, particularly by the so-called developed world. This is not to say that part of […]
Posted inMedia, News/Politics
Freedom of the African internet
Ahead of May 3 World Press Freedom Day, a new study of 37 countries gives the state of play for internet freedom in six African states. Here’s the pecking order: South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Zimbabwe … and Ethiopia. (Yes, there’s a place even more restrictive than Zimbabwe.) Although South Africa’s internet freedom leads, our […]
Posted inBusiness, News/Politics
SA needs more entrepreneurs
In South Africa, the phrase “no quick fix” is often associated with the black box phenomena we accept when mulling unemployment — labour market inflexibility, competitiveness and regulatory reform are but a few. Small business development is another such a cure for unemployment for which there is — you guessed it — no quick fix. […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Season finale — United States of Gullible
We open on a triumphant Saturday night White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Our hero, Barack Obama, trumps a toupee sitting in the audience with a birth certificate all the way from Hawaii. The toupee accused Obama of being non-American so we start the dinner with clips from Karate Kid and Hulk Hogan’s Real American song playing […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Foreigners beware, SA doesn’t want you
South Africa doesn’t exactly roll out the welcome mat. The Rainbow Nation, for all its colours, does not have a pot of gold for those not born here. I have learned this the hard way. My husband and I decided to move to South Africa one year ago after I was hired for a position […]
Posted inNews/Politics
No value for money in local government
The nett pay of councillors in Tshwane is apparently R18 000 a month, while their counterparts in Johannesburg and eKurhuleni earn between R13 000 and R14 000. If you live in Pretoria, Centurion, Mamelodi, Hammanskraal or surrounds, you put R36 000 a month into your ward and PR councillor’s pockets. Whether ANC or DA, in […]
Posted inGeneral
From Washington to Cape Town: Let them eat cake!
A lot of cake has been promised to ordinary citizens lately. Such have been the levels of desperation; the citizenry seem to have lost their usual sense of fear of those who lord it over them. Promises of cake when there is no bread will no longer suffice. How else do you explain the amazing […]
Posted inGeneral
Human health: On corporate (ir-)responsibility and manganese
Should the public tolerate instances of irresponsible behaviour on the part of corporations or companies where the handling of substances that are potentially harmful to human health is concerned? Most people would agree that the obvious answer is NO – especially judging by most of the responses to recent TL-articles on prospects of “fracking” for […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Freedom Day and Andries Tatane: Four countries, a killing and a wedding
As Andries Tatane was laid to rest by his Cope and other comrades, his neighbours, friends and family, the ruling party sent the MEC whose poor track record Tatane was demonstrating against, to speak at his funeral. This thoughtless act was a sign of our times. Symbols, whether relayed in the former of pictures, icons […]