tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9673192949934974692024-03-19T04:19:26.731-07:00Captivation“We write to discover what we think.” - Joan DidionAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11475410308097288761noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967319294993497469.post-25243823887619482062016-04-20T06:17:00.000-07:002016-06-29T05:25:40.726-07:00#WhenIWas tweets show us how often (and early) women experience sexual violence<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">As a feminist and particularly, as a former Rhodes student that took part in the <a href="http://faimallick.blogspot.co.za/2012/07/the-silencing-of-gross-injustices-that.html">#RUSilent campaign</a>, the #WhenIWas hashtag really caught my attention following the #RUReferenceList trend.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">What was particularly disturbing was the age of so many of the women and men that experienced sexual harassment and violence globally, because I am well aware that sexual violence and gender-based violence has reached epidemic proportions in South Africa. If you actually need facts to back this up, t<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.6px;">he total sexual offences reported to the South African Police Service (SAPS) for the year 2010-2011 reflects 13% of the population. A</span></span><span style="line-height: 19.6px;">s they reflect reported cases, police statistics understate the problem enormously. Participating in this hashtag was a no-brainer for me because it's imperative that South Africans are constantly reminded that rape culture exists; that the high rate of gender-based violence and sexual violence is a reality. It's a reality everywhere in South Africa. At our campuses, in our homes, at shopping malls. Everywhere. These tweets stood out to me as they </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.6px;">show just us how often (and early) women experience sexual violence.</span></span></span></div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
We're using <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WhenIWas?src=hash">#WhenIWas</a> to raise awareness of early experiences of sexism, harassment & assault. 12000 people have shared their stories so far</div>
— EverydaySexism (@EverydaySexism) <a href="https://twitter.com/EverydaySexism/status/722428355518275588">April 19, 2016</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WhenIWas?src=hash">#WhenIWas</a> 12 my best friend at the time told me that it is a compliment if a boy rapes me because it means I am attractive <a href="https://twitter.com/EverydaySexism">@EverydaySexism</a></div>
— Alicia (@DiddlyDonger) <a href="https://twitter.com/DiddlyDonger/status/722421382571696131">April 19, 2016</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
What’s upsetting about <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/wheniwas?src=hash">#wheniwas</a> is how normalised & often public sexual harassment is when you’re a young woman. It was normal for me.</div>
— Van Badham (@vanbadham) <a href="https://twitter.com/vanbadham/status/722413994267402240">April 19, 2016</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WhenIWas?src=hash">#WhenIWas</a> 19 I was raped by a member of staff at my university. I was told I should "try not to think about it"&"avoid the area he works in"</div>
— Tavia. (@OctaviaMalkz) <a href="https://twitter.com/OctaviaMalkz/status/722420079464484866">April 19, 2016</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WhenIWas?src=hash">#WhenIWas</a> 16 a man crossed the street & proposed to me. I was in my school uniform. I walked for 30 mins so he wouldn't know my address.</div>
— FaTeama (@FaTeama13) <a href="https://twitter.com/FaTeama13/status/722410737466019840">April 19, 2016</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
My first meet with sexual harassment happened <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WhenIWas?src=hash">#WhenIWas</a> barely 6. A man waving his tool towards me in public. <a href="https://twitter.com/EverydaySexism">@EverydaySexism</a></div>
— Bespectacled Indian (@BespectacledInd) <a href="https://twitter.com/BespectacledInd/status/722390650696519680">April 19, 2016</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WhenIWas?src=hash">#WhenIWas</a> 17, I was raped by my first boyfriend. My school found out and tried to expel me.</div>
— Ana Mardoll (@AnaMardoll) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnaMardoll/status/722398001176715264">April 19, 2016</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
The problem with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/whenIwas?src=hash">#whenIwas</a> is that for so many of us it's been a constant throughout our entire lives. We got used to it at around 12.</div>
— ♀Hildur Lilliendahl♀ (@hillldur) <a href="https://twitter.com/hillldur/status/722392920700166144">April 19, 2016</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/whenIwas?src=hash">#whenIwas</a> in 14 a teaching priest told us in class that rape is impossible as "a letter can't be posted if the letterbox isn't open".</div>
— Sadhbh (@Sadhbhzilla) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sadhbhzilla/status/722373820221247488">April 19, 2016</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WhenIWas?src=hash">#WhenIWas</a> 22 my girlfriend got wolf whistled at by some blokes in a car. I said 'Thanks, boys, but I'm taken.' Homophobic panic ensued.</div>
— Andy Mannion (@andymannion77) <a href="https://twitter.com/andymannion77/status/722395808302252032">April 19, 2016</a></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Days after #WhenIWas, the naked protest took place at Rhodes University. It has seen a lot of support on social media but it has received a lot of backlash too. Particularly for the image below. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtFq4v-c-MeX6Vn6Ihr3EwVpHalul3zd8GLEq-g8gNH53tcZnD9XM2S5A8H9jpFEAP4p7AerVTZeDDC4A-hPKR-77F1UKE3p3y8fze_OihgxHT4CU1pMn22MQ6ZJd-q1edqf_Z4qWdBdQi/s1600/ru.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtFq4v-c-MeX6Vn6Ihr3EwVpHalul3zd8GLEq-g8gNH53tcZnD9XM2S5A8H9jpFEAP4p7AerVTZeDDC4A-hPKR-77F1UKE3p3y8fze_OihgxHT4CU1pMn22MQ6ZJd-q1edqf_Z4qWdBdQi/s400/ru.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">What outrages me, based on the commentary seen on Twitter, is how many people were perturbed by the nudity in the image above, yet they don't reflect on the fact that this is a protest to raise awareness about how women do not have a choice about being violated and harassed by sick perpetrators. As a society, we have a long way to go in terms of rape culture and victim blaming: feminism still receives judgement, sexual comments and body-shaming is a response to the image above and their chosen nudity is a problem. This that makes me even more passionate about achieving equality, about eradicating sexism, gender-based violence, rape culture, and basically patriarchy in its entirety. I haven't blogged in months and I don't particularly like my writing, but there's something more important than my insecurities, it's the <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.6px; text-align: justify;">achievement of equality, development and peace. South Africa has much to address in the structuring of violent masculinities that is to the detriment of countless women, men and children.</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11475410308097288761noreply@blogger.com0South Africa-30.559482 22.937505999999985-56.801406 -18.371088000000015 -4.3175579999999982 64.246099999999984tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967319294993497469.post-76212187902295774042015-06-10T00:00:00.000-07:002016-06-29T05:25:27.881-07:00Why a job interview is just like a first date<span style="font-size: large;">I’ve always maintained that interviews are a lot like first dates. So maybe I’ve interviewed far too often and gone on one too many dates but I have learnt that the similarities of preparing for them are undeniable.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">As you would prior to a first date, you need to <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/interview-question-can-seal-deal-suzy-welch">stalk the company online</a>; something I've always done. Trust me, you don’t want to be working at a place with ugly skeletons lurking that you struggle to shake off later. And go a little further than a mere Google stalk, check out the social media profiles of the people at the organisation that will interview you. I read once that a guy ruined all chances at his interview before he even arrived because he flipped the guy about to interview him whilst at the subway station.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Here it is, Matthew Buckland, Head of HR for Forward Partners in the UK, tweeted:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglERfea2w2cnJSzKxnzr12zQqVsf8WSE1g2_YdGgW9cBCyF9LEIOBHjf7YLaUF3K5HkzDOGlbPSMZWpZiVlMUHPBfRGykvWcIMgEWxdCUmq6lZ5O17dNkpjb8jhUU4OA_vFoFYuRVEQdWA/s1600/job.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglERfea2w2cnJSzKxnzr12zQqVsf8WSE1g2_YdGgW9cBCyF9LEIOBHjf7YLaUF3K5HkzDOGlbPSMZWpZiVlMUHPBfRGykvWcIMgEWxdCUmq6lZ5O17dNkpjb8jhUU4OA_vFoFYuRVEQdWA/s400/job.png" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">While being a prick is by no means acceptable, knowing beforehand who to be nice to, can help a LOT!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Okay so you’ve stalked everyone but that initial communication via your CV and email communication is a lot like what you would put forward on a dating site and what you would be careful to mention via initial texts. Spell checks, accentuating your positive traits and maintaining the eagerness necessary whilst not seeming desperate are all essential when you’re applying for your dream job, as they are when you’ve found your dream date online.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Moving on to the interview. Your CV and your grades got you here but it’s not going to get you the job. It’s sort of like your Tinder profile being a lure ‘cause you’re good looking. Great stuff! But what else do you have to offer?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">While interviewing, nobody wants you to reiterate how smart you are, which courses you did, or the grades you got. That’s all evident on the piece of paper you submitted. It’s time to lean in, smile, to speak authentically about why you’re the perfect fit for the company and how you can add value. Again, this lends itself to the dating game where flirting and being genuinely interested gets you ahead. You’ll be surprised how quickly people can pick up that you’re just there for the bucks or as a strategic career move. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But this position is not just about the company recruiting the right candidate. You need the perfect fit too. So ask specific questions that can lead to you making the best decisions for you.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And let’s not forget, body language. As you would use your body language to indicate interest on a date, you also would during an interview. An upright posture (heels help), a broad smile, leaning in, maintaining eye contact and a firm handshake all leave positive impressions. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">When dressing for an interview, you want to look professional, but not predictable. For me, going with a classic black formal jacket pair is always a win, but pairing it up with something a little more unlikely like a spot of colour adds something extra. You do want to be memorable, because if the company you’re interviewing at has invited many candidates, then it’s a lot like speed dating. Making that first impression all the more vital.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And remember, the environment you find yourself in for most of your day will have an effect on your overall mood, so pick well!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2cEkgzLIeuzw1IdPI4HFy6GemmemVPnWCxHl5IC9TsrI4eMxmp4ElDo61eY9hBF7HBVIwgbRnxvJB8RBxSP2-1i5ZBud2YtiSHqU1CnRxPrsTpGYkFy9aZ6AJrYPl1rVeyaHzsSQuJwr/s1600/1610897_744169865690658_1122723128463999058_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2cEkgzLIeuzw1IdPI4HFy6GemmemVPnWCxHl5IC9TsrI4eMxmp4ElDo61eY9hBF7HBVIwgbRnxvJB8RBxSP2-1i5ZBud2YtiSHqU1CnRxPrsTpGYkFy9aZ6AJrYPl1rVeyaHzsSQuJwr/s400/1610897_744169865690658_1122723128463999058_n.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11475410308097288761noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967319294993497469.post-19521364723318132742015-03-26T18:00:00.000-07:002016-06-29T05:33:47.388-07:00The honeymoon phase will end.<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It’s been two months since I married the person I consider to be my dream partner. While I acknowledge that I am currently still in the honeymoon phase, and realistically, perhaps it will fade with time, the romantic in me would like to think that we’ll always have pockets of happiness in-between the monotony that is life. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUGqAkhbV7tg5FS-tdhq6TfHhGjEk30-jWVvyNasqIfedRaVCuMZ1-K2YbmDnGoVc2yqwJwCp0L4FDsOo3LXwGTih2R5vaSa5zrfX09lX_cLjLky2Xjno3o82bV1Ls-HQsYMZzfzMtNei/s1600/10933691_10153040207482402_9170705309614486160_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUGqAkhbV7tg5FS-tdhq6TfHhGjEk30-jWVvyNasqIfedRaVCuMZ1-K2YbmDnGoVc2yqwJwCp0L4FDsOo3LXwGTih2R5vaSa5zrfX09lX_cLjLky2Xjno3o82bV1Ls-HQsYMZzfzMtNei/s400/10933691_10153040207482402_9170705309614486160_n.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I guess it also helps that I’m not just a romantic; I am also an eternal optimist and I like to emit positivity and good vibes to everyone. I’m not a naive twenty-something that seems to think marriage, life or relationships are a bed of roses. But throwing people down amid their blissful moments is downright unnecessary.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Surprisingly, I haven’t been asked all too often, ‘When are you having kids?’. Instead I’ve been faced with people that are married or have been married for a long time giving me negative feedback about marriage. While I do acknowledge the years of wisdom behind your sentiments, my marriage, my life, my husband, is not the same as yours and I’d much prefer to look at the rare exception I find, of couples that are still in love and its visible after many, many years. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7P58E2US3NnrsAYq8SyQlOQXobXyCDnwMtKOdPOD2ZtN11S8QC_hhyphenhyphen9kR5z2TWegbSrWhsWt8wrH3oqQq4VCtJp-ucCZrJcpjV_-B1DG58f0lRlG0xqFNpUALOcUb40tS-AaIqap0kW2/s1600/Untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7P58E2US3NnrsAYq8SyQlOQXobXyCDnwMtKOdPOD2ZtN11S8QC_hhyphenhyphen9kR5z2TWegbSrWhsWt8wrH3oqQq4VCtJp-ucCZrJcpjV_-B1DG58f0lRlG0xqFNpUALOcUb40tS-AaIqap0kW2/s400/Untitled.png" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Negative feedback, uncalled-for comments and people with more problems than solutions are not welcome in my life.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was married for a week when someone told me, “Wait till you’re married for a year then he’s gonna say, ‘Bitch, where’s my supper?’’. Just yesterday, I overheard a man ask a woman, “How long have you been married for?”. Beaming, she responded, “Ten years”. And his response? “Come back to me after 15 years, it all goes downhill from there.” I’ve also had my fair share of bitter divorcees telling me off about marriage. How does the deflection help me or anyone else? </span></span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11475410308097288761noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967319294993497469.post-31482038516502737292015-01-14T18:21:00.000-08:002016-06-29T05:35:44.926-07:00I confess, I am beautiful...<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Does that seem profound to you? That I would openly say that I consider myself beautiful?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgij9bTIb4yfFv5eoVe5rv_e1KfrnLoJzym4IizPbFOQnlVWncAC9LTLzqsnmb6EX24nueJmRBWoSHTx3r-bIyItFRGR6Ns7HgglqmT2sYSfsL8RDFqsVIozOPnEFl6EDOjA5Bun6ly86ka/s1600/IMG-20150110-WA0049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgij9bTIb4yfFv5eoVe5rv_e1KfrnLoJzym4IizPbFOQnlVWncAC9LTLzqsnmb6EX24nueJmRBWoSHTx3r-bIyItFRGR6Ns7HgglqmT2sYSfsL8RDFqsVIozOPnEFl6EDOjA5Bun6ly86ka/s400/IMG-20150110-WA0049.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Well… I figure, if I am really going to celebrate my beauty and believe that I am beautiful, then I will need to utter the words aloud, or in this case, put it to a blog for the world to see.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So often, we allow our beauty to be determined through the eyes of others. We are guilty of constantly seeking approval through compliments, mutual crushes, a glance from a handsome stranger across the room or a nod of approval from our mother or aunt.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Why is our definition of our outer beauty so dependent on the varied perceptions of others? Isn’t it more realistic and reliable to focus on the parts we like most and to compliment ourselves on a daily basis? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Perhaps the most important reason for the approval of others and the self-effacing attitude we have stems from our inability to love our outer selves in the sheer avoidance of seeming vane or narcissistic.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">With a culture that breeds self-criticism and wholly dismisses self-approval and self-appraisal it is even more vital for us to encourage one another to love ourselves. And that love should extend beyond inner reflection toward the love of one’s physical self.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Because the constant need for approval and appraisal from others is one that cannot be continually fed; in fact, when this notorious appeal for acceptance by others for approval of our beauty is so dependent on our own perceptions of our beauty we are bound to crash and burn without it. Or worse yet, seek it in places where it should never be found; through seeking compliments and one night stands to reaffirm our beauty, to reaffirm our status as beautiful women capable of luring men or women our way.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Self-love is the way to happiness. Perhaps it’s too profound at this point for many to conjure, but seeking love and attention and affirmation is a false attachment with a delivery that can never be promised. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11475410308097288761noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967319294993497469.post-8271720907229359492013-10-09T00:26:00.000-07:002016-06-29T05:34:10.375-07:00What does your brew say about you?<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Do you like it strong, sweet or milky? Do you experiment with various blends and drinks or do you stick to the same order every time you head out for a cuppa?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1EC4qKfgClNf2kzrUatKzOjltek1ob62UxvCS_-zvpeyiAaz8Las48AjUIi1tLp00VTSmX-NLS12lHDNisKbTL1em7Q9A3RAooSxPAJuF1_ePreYjqdDlDe0bTr8Vk1EDyk1EKAGjn7p/s1600/coffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1EC4qKfgClNf2kzrUatKzOjltek1ob62UxvCS_-zvpeyiAaz8Las48AjUIi1tLp00VTSmX-NLS12lHDNisKbTL1em7Q9A3RAooSxPAJuF1_ePreYjqdDlDe0bTr8Vk1EDyk1EKAGjn7p/s320/coffee.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Well, your taste in coffee could also give you a taste for the type of person that you are, so – what does your coffee say about you – are you the life of a party or laid-back?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">1. Cappuccino </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You’ve got a big heart, but you can be oblivious at times. That’s probably why one of your many friends might be tasked with gently reminding you to wipe the foam off your upper lip!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">2. Latte</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You’re reflective, yet indecisive. Lattes are a safe pick for you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">3. Espresso</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You’re friendly and adaptive. You truly like the taste of coffee. People perceive that you are clever and successful, or annoying, or both. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">4. Double Espresso</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You’re practical and you’re a hard worker: One shot just won’t cut it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">5. Triple Espresso</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You’re overly enthusiastic and a bit obsessive! You’ve been awake since the early 90’s! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">6. Mocha</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You’re creative. You hate the taste of coffee, but... like other coffee drinkers, you need the caffeine boost... so you improvise because you’re creative!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">7. Macchiato</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You’re traditional and reserved. You don’t have time for the foam layer. Some people consider you arrogant.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">8. Americano</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You’re calm and conscientious. You enjoy the simple things in life, that’s why you love a simple espresso and water.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">9. Frappuccino</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You’re happy and energetic. You may say you love coffee, but you really just love the ice cream!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">10. Iced Coffee</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You’re assertive and outspoken. You don’t let seasons dictate your life, so you’ll grab the iced coffee in the heart of winter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">11. Coffee-to-go</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You don’t waste time! You’re serious and focused; so – when the going gets tough, the gets cardboard sleeves ‘cos the cup is too hot!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Sources</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">news.com.au, theluxuryspot.com</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11475410308097288761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967319294993497469.post-58258658910649682572013-08-14T03:07:00.000-07:002016-06-29T05:31:08.553-07:00Stepping out of the friend zone <span style="font-size: large;">The infamous friend zone. By now we have all heard about it, heard other’s complain about it, or heaven-forbid, been in that dreaded zone ourselves. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgct1G5MtvyaRM2Pk9QR43Wd2dCrpwzV_roJtumjQ9GeqWcp4998IpLAF0Ef3WRkK9VxYUX9KeImov5ZgxNaMCTWoSjW7_zi7DPsrtSH7jkbVHS_KH8jSQ1r6a6ZgJemr2r3lMYYrv5m7xI/s1600/550px-Escape-the-Friend-Zone-Step-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgct1G5MtvyaRM2Pk9QR43Wd2dCrpwzV_roJtumjQ9GeqWcp4998IpLAF0Ef3WRkK9VxYUX9KeImov5ZgxNaMCTWoSjW7_zi7DPsrtSH7jkbVHS_KH8jSQ1r6a6ZgJemr2r3lMYYrv5m7xI/s400/550px-Escape-the-Friend-Zone-Step-1.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So what exactly defines this elusive zone that so many find uncomfortable?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Well, to me, it’s that comfortable space where you take someone from the opposite sex and remove any inkling of a possibility of ever allowing anything more to develop. A space so safe that ghastly things like burping or farting could be socially appropriate. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicAEz4QiQUW3rl6aYxQIpgioBCYHZ_Am8_spkEQuie9E10X7LtamkpfNx8aF_foEKZIUPyj4_wiwtDz7jc0HRj2sG4iju2MwcBeFYvmVXB8_vy4tMnO8dR0u1csNLo-4kzuON3VhKQ_AvB/s1600/550px-Escape-the-Friend-Zone-Step-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicAEz4QiQUW3rl6aYxQIpgioBCYHZ_Am8_spkEQuie9E10X7LtamkpfNx8aF_foEKZIUPyj4_wiwtDz7jc0HRj2sG4iju2MwcBeFYvmVXB8_vy4tMnO8dR0u1csNLo-4kzuON3VhKQ_AvB/s400/550px-Escape-the-Friend-Zone-Step-5.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Nonetheless, it is a space where anything goes, or a space where, as many men would say ‘Having a girlfriend with none of the benefits’. I have found that it is the perfect best friend (of the opposite sex or the sex you are attracted to) that hops along for all your errands. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But that ‘perfect’ bestie might, well, want something, a little more. The day when this familiar space becomes a bit hazy and confusing and the walls to the territory that is marked ‘The FriendZone’ falls down bit by bit, and instead of dropping all defences (because you were always comfy with this BFF of yours), rather, the walls begin to shape into something completely new, into a space that is both comfortable and familiar but new and exciting.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvno29KoRp3d94Lur1bkq25QWjiwjg2pNiMxTmDziUVvW_5J_UTa5QLencu2V75TuwGSPAL26M8t_2hMHhOtxuy_P73PdjnqiOjiDUeO_gU_cLRMpuZ5kS_TXh8pDrc84318ZTP_B8ZpdQ/s1600/550px-Escape-the-Friend-Zone-Step-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvno29KoRp3d94Lur1bkq25QWjiwjg2pNiMxTmDziUVvW_5J_UTa5QLencu2V75TuwGSPAL26M8t_2hMHhOtxuy_P73PdjnqiOjiDUeO_gU_cLRMpuZ5kS_TXh8pDrc84318ZTP_B8ZpdQ/s400/550px-Escape-the-Friend-Zone-Step-3.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">A space where exploration is the name of the game and discovery and thrill invades. Yet fear and familiarity makes it just a tiny bit weird, yet not so weird. And at the same time as you embrace this new space you finally find yourself in (After years in fact - because the friend zone, while it often happens overnight, is more typified by the kind of familial relationship where you dismiss any possibility of ever taking anything farther).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Have you ever taken a leap out of this zone to find comfort in a new territory or do you think that the friend zone is a safe space that cannot be broken in pursuit of something more, in pursuit of something bliss in a way that friendship never really was? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQvpEw4F3vpjaVge84llSEVyiB-FjA2_ybpzd4Qsie63R_m7u-jTApp82AXAf43fRwMEDyF9Ruv3LUqFMfpfFG_AqbDXbDgUuUzlpyd13LbfGOF7_N-LdIAfuX8iVuh71aXpf16w2mkOp/s1600/550px-Escape-the-Friend-Zone-Step-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQvpEw4F3vpjaVge84llSEVyiB-FjA2_ybpzd4Qsie63R_m7u-jTApp82AXAf43fRwMEDyF9Ruv3LUqFMfpfFG_AqbDXbDgUuUzlpyd13LbfGOF7_N-LdIAfuX8iVuh71aXpf16w2mkOp/s400/550px-Escape-the-Friend-Zone-Step-2.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Or, have you ever accidentally friend-zoned a potential suitor? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Once out of the friend zone though, is there any going back?</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11475410308097288761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967319294993497469.post-24826025313180122013-06-12T02:13:00.001-07:002016-06-29T05:32:51.922-07:00My top 10 Tata Madiba quotes<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Nelson Mandela has been battling a recurring lung infection. My thoughts are with him at this time. Here are some reminders as to why I love this wise man that has shaped and changed our nation forever. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaalKR3_qn7P2_evz1mvzdY99f4brVuKOyHSefAA9CftQ3Ad8mQqSKOcDHvleP19nU6OaWtJm3N0AXBJIUHLwXCdEJRVxrLlfAE0NpdPcbr7Y1cygqLx4PG9-bLopa8EwRjX0ddz8ZK9Rt/s1600/Madiba.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaalKR3_qn7P2_evz1mvzdY99f4brVuKOyHSefAA9CftQ3Ad8mQqSKOcDHvleP19nU6OaWtJm3N0AXBJIUHLwXCdEJRVxrLlfAE0NpdPcbr7Y1cygqLx4PG9-bLopa8EwRjX0ddz8ZK9Rt/s320/Madiba.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I am fundamentally an optimist. Whether that comes from nature or nurture, I cannot say. Part of being optimistic is keeping one's head pointed toward the sun, one's feet moving forward. There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to despair. That way lays defeat and death.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">A good head and good heart are always a formidable combination. But when you add to that a literate tongue or pen, then you have something very special. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I am not a saint, unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Our children are our greatest treasure. They are our future. Those who abuse them tear at the fabric of our society and weaken our nation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity; it is an act of justice. Like Slavery and Apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings. Sometimes it falls on a generation to be great. YOU can be that great generation. Let your greatness blossom.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can only rest for a moment, for with freedom come responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not ended.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11475410308097288761noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967319294993497469.post-39464495293226846962013-06-12T00:54:00.001-07:002016-06-29T05:34:37.499-07:0010 Steps to the perfect ‘selfie’<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Selfies are the big craze. My Facebook news feed, my instagram, heck even my Twitter updates are filled with them! Personally, I am not a fan but since I have to see them pop up everywhere, I'd prefer if they were, well - less tacky, and at least flattering. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So *cringe* here are some handy tips so you can be ready for your photo op.</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi45jKVBcn_q49YqyKItZ-BgrRIjLdXADe-eIkABRHqtEABd64T5L-73afpeOJSWF8-IRZ0rnJTKAM8mZVHNX5-ve18Mf35JCGl3ANlgyMM0OwtLbXSlQeg37OIWNz2-3fwc4r9rnfSJvnP/s1600/ariana_grande_instagram_picture_aMj1tg7.sized_1-300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi45jKVBcn_q49YqyKItZ-BgrRIjLdXADe-eIkABRHqtEABd64T5L-73afpeOJSWF8-IRZ0rnJTKAM8mZVHNX5-ve18Mf35JCGl3ANlgyMM0OwtLbXSlQeg37OIWNz2-3fwc4r9rnfSJvnP/s200/ariana_grande_instagram_picture_aMj1tg7.sized_1-300x300.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">1. Put your best pout forward. Soft, smooth lips are your friend. There’s nothing worse than cracked, worse-for-wear lips, than cracked lips up close and personal!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">2. Don’t include the bathroom mirror. In fact, don’t do it in the bathroom. It’s overdone and tacky. Nobody wants to see your dirty toilet in the background.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">3. If you’re going to get all experimental using PhotoShop, do it properly. We’re PhotoShop Nazis these days. We can see if you botch it up!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">4. Pic perfection is key, since you’re so close to the camera and every flaw is highlighted. So foundation, base, primer and concealer are your friends.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">5. Filter. Filter. Filter. They exist for a reason. Think you got a great shot? Now insert a filter. Voila! You’ve instantly made it better.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOi771nbrUf-ohWXnsiJkw7JvmaDdT_FZf5SgJOPEsrm1FpJwMvPUDUbo8uRPhEDHZAFkaBwuRPsk1zr7O6O4HB8Bx3gU52TI6mZ_eQsrga9mEeXGyuBmrkroNMx9cNuHXi9fUbZabiOho/s1600/gaga+not+so+gaga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOi771nbrUf-ohWXnsiJkw7JvmaDdT_FZf5SgJOPEsrm1FpJwMvPUDUbo8uRPhEDHZAFkaBwuRPsk1zr7O6O4HB8Bx3gU52TI6mZ_eQsrga9mEeXGyuBmrkroNMx9cNuHXi9fUbZabiOho/s200/gaga+not+so+gaga.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">6. Light is your friend. Step outside before you take that snap. Nothing works better than some natural lighting.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">7. Add volume to your hair. Images are flat, so photos tend to flatten the way you look. Not only will an up-do instantly transforms your face, it’ll make you look more appealing on camera.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">8. Why diet, when the camera can trim you down? Simply hold your phone high above your head – you’ll look slimmer from this angle. (This also helps when you wanna take a selfie with many friends!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">9. Hold steady. You don’t want to look perfect only for the selfie to be a blurry mess because you moved. Breathe, pout and hold steady . . . and there you go! Perfect selfie.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">10. Have fun! This is all about the fun. Do serious selfies even exist? The whole point is to look good, feel good and have fun. So go ahead – strike a pose.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11475410308097288761noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967319294993497469.post-88055488920034262502013-03-21T04:04:00.000-07:002013-03-21T04:04:04.835-07:00S.E.C.R.E.T by L.Marie Adeline - A book reviewThe latest mainstream erotic novel has just hit the shelves and I'm here to let you know what I think... not that I am a pro at these things of course ;)<br />
<br />
<b>So, what is it about?</b> <br />
Cassie, a young widowed woman with no dating prospects and the day-to-day monotony of waitressing, encounters a mysterious notebook which alters her life completely. This notebook leads her to S.E.C.R.E.T, an underground society that seeks to assist women to rediscover themselves and get back into touch with their sexual side.<br />
<b><br />
Does it offer anything different?</b> <br />
Much better written than its predecessor, fifty shades of grey, this novel offers a protagonist that is offered the opportunity to be liberated through self-exploration and sexual experience. Whilst overcoming fears and anxieties, will Cassie gain the courage through S.E.C.R.E.T to recognise and fulfil her wildest sexual fantasies?<br />
<b><br />
Why should YOU read it?</b> <br />
S.E.C.R.E.T exists to liberate women through complete submission to their sexual fantasies so they may exist in the world, fully and sexually alive. They offer a ten step programme to fulfil sexual fantasies. Each has a goal; for instance: trust, fearlessness, courage and so forth.<br />
<br />
So...can Cassie gain complete sexual emancipation through S.E.C.R.E.T’s ten step programme? <br />
<br />
Well, you're gonna have to read it to see!<br />
<b><br />
Last words:</b><br />
This novel doesn’t offer a cheap attempt to write about sex, desire and fairy tale endings. It offers a feminist approach in recognising and attaining complete sexual emancipation and autonomy. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11475410308097288761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967319294993497469.post-61957862158575563032013-03-05T00:11:00.000-08:002013-06-12T02:17:07.002-07:00The Silver Linings Playbook: Book ReviewBehind every cloud there’s a silver lining. This is certainly the philosophy ardently held by Pat People’s, the mentally unstable protagonist in Matthew Quick’s debut novel, ‘The Silver Linings Playbook’ which has already been adapted into a major film which recently hit cinemas. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7YKA3mmnLmj4vMw8B0DcrASehHYdGJWHbPeMfAWwvlY1934CpWUbXRHWm2IQo6W_vbxjs45EHwq2DSQPufuy9GSf_rzZuCt7OZnXVPivokainfX1lUc9EF_QHl5rdze5seMFieKSSlt8q/s1600/silver+linings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7YKA3mmnLmj4vMw8B0DcrASehHYdGJWHbPeMfAWwvlY1934CpWUbXRHWm2IQo6W_vbxjs45EHwq2DSQPufuy9GSf_rzZuCt7OZnXVPivokainfX1lUc9EF_QHl5rdze5seMFieKSSlt8q/s400/silver+linings.jpg" /></a></div>After a stint in a psychiatric hospital, Pat is on a mission to become physically fit and to practice being kind so as to reconcile with his estranged wife Nikki. He imagines his life as a movie produced by God.<br />
<br />
As secrets unravel and a friendship emerges with recovering sex addict, Tiffany, readers are taken on a narrative journey which explores a riveting path about life, love, insanity and the blind optimism sometimes necessary for the happy ending we seek so far out in the distance that we are not yet able to see.<br />
<br />
As we see Pat endeavour through his life’s obstacles with a positive mind set, readers will be taken on a journey brimming with an optimistic spin on less than ideal circumstances. A book guaranteed to give you hope. <br />
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11475410308097288761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967319294993497469.post-31347161174805902382013-02-15T05:08:00.000-08:002015-03-20T03:29:00.359-07:00Things they should teach at schoolWe learn many valuable things at school, many of which are not all too useful like 'finding X', but hey, perhaps one day I'll need to so let's leave it at that. However, in terms of practical skills that make navigating the real world better, I think public schools are really lacking. I've identified what I feel public schools in South Africa should provide as part of the life orientation programme. Perhaps they offer it now but they didn't back when I was at school... and I can tell you, these things would have been pretty useful for me to know!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLi0w1Y9776tGS8T2HCndLJ8goHIW6K712_XA2LEMZ6BOWyTeeNoUuUAfifDhnntF5PlTxcDQwV1ftqtN9GzbTVYnfJ0JYKNVCia_vDhNPtmDw73h-M_RDrOH3JIX7BBqNfX9zsIYZyH4b/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLi0w1Y9776tGS8T2HCndLJ8goHIW6K712_XA2LEMZ6BOWyTeeNoUuUAfifDhnntF5PlTxcDQwV1ftqtN9GzbTVYnfJ0JYKNVCia_vDhNPtmDw73h-M_RDrOH3JIX7BBqNfX9zsIYZyH4b/s400/download.jpg" /></a></div><br />
1. First-Aid. Because a degree won't help me when I need to save someone's life.<br />
<br />
2. Basic self-defence. Unfortunately this doesn't tackle the issue of crime in the country but it does set you up with the skills to help yourself in a tricky situation. Also, you build muscle. And that's never a bad thing.<br />
<br />
3. How to fix a tyre. Really. There might be that time you road trip and you need to change your tyre out in the woods. I'm 25 and I still can't do this. Okay, I've never tried.<br />
<br />
4. How to make a fire. We’re so spoilt with luxuries, but if push came to shove, would you be able to turn those sticks into a blazing fire for a lekker braai?<br />
<br />
5. How to write a cheque. Imagine you’re all accomplished and what not and you can’t fill a simple cheque out.<br />
<br />
6. How to fill out forms. Apparently many people struggle with this one.<br />
<br />
7. How to do your tax returns yourself. We cannot always afford to pay someone else to do it, and even if we can, we should know what they’re doing right? And apparently its quite simple, yet my dad still does mine for me.<br />
<br />
8. What to do and not do after being raped. It shouldn’t happen, and it’s heart-breaking that we need to teach kids what to do after such a horrifying incident. But if a rape does occur, the victim should know that they should not have washed and so forth.<br />
<br />
9. How to build up your CV. CV-writing and interview skills are essential!<br />
<br />
10. How to fix a light bulb, a blocked drain and so forth. You may forget you need to know these things till you’re living alone and you’re broke.<br />
<br />
11. How to send a letter via snail mail. Now that we’ve progressed so much in the forms of communication, the less common means of communicating becomes so foreign that perhaps only the grandparents can assist. <br />
<br />
12. The length of a kilometre. It should be shown literally. Irks me how some people don't know this.<br />
<br />
13. What a healthy diet entails. Not to be skinny. Not to lose weight. But to be healthy.<br />
<br />
14. Career options, and not the typical, doctor, lawyer, journalist. Let’s get more specific… <br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11475410308097288761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967319294993497469.post-32615524941559297562013-02-13T02:40:00.002-08:002013-08-15T07:30:04.964-07:00My top ‘done with love’ songsYou know you get those break-up tunes, or the love-loss tunes, or the ones that address unrequited love. Or simply the ones that speak to feeling fed up and done with love. So here are some of my faves in no particular order; because to consider how I rate them, well that would require more effort now wouldn’t it?<br />
<br />
Katy Perry – The one that got away<br />
Leona Lewis – Broken<br />
Katy Perry – Thinking of you<br />
Taylor Swift – Cold as you<br />
Kelly Clarkson – Cry<br />
<br />
Taylor Swift – I almost do<br />
Paramore – We are broken<br />
Kelly Clarkson – Behind these hazel eyes<br />
Rihanna feat Eminem – Love The Way You Lie<br />
The Pretty Reckless – Make me wanna die<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-uV0niHSglLfPmGeqBTESMJ2hbEBQuu-rykdTsw_VQZl9-fxwW0Hz_m0FfoSvrvRDD86p3jmBffGUONuUIenM4jg7Wa_iD6lZy-zkou5mDxp7HYwlpLLTvbwRHa99SbZRxfLqLSQ1DvT/s1600/heart+break.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-uV0niHSglLfPmGeqBTESMJ2hbEBQuu-rykdTsw_VQZl9-fxwW0Hz_m0FfoSvrvRDD86p3jmBffGUONuUIenM4jg7Wa_iD6lZy-zkou5mDxp7HYwlpLLTvbwRHa99SbZRxfLqLSQ1DvT/s400/heart+break.jpg" /></a></div>Adele – Don’t you remember<br />
Leona Lewis - Lovebird<br />
Kelly Clarkson – Where Is Your Heart?<br />
Avril Lavigne – My happy Ending<br />
Colbie Caillat – I Never Told You<br />
<br />
Duffy – Warwick Avenue<br />
James Morrison – The Pieces Don’t Fit Anymore<br />
Rihanna – Complicated<br />
Mariah Carey – Don’t Forget About Us<br />
Paramore – When It Rains<br />
<br />
Shontelle - Impossible<br />
Leona Lewis - Bleeding Love<br />
Katy Perry – Wide Awake<br />
<br />
Okay, enough heartbreak, there's only so much one person can handle, on the flip side, we can never get enough love now can we? So...here's some feel-good breakup tunes before we hit life as a happy singleton...<br />
<br />
<b>Empowering break-up tunes</b><br />
Kelly Clarkson – Stronger, Never Again, Already Gone, Walk Away, Since U Been Gone. <br />
Cher – Believe <br />
Leona Lewis – Lovebird and Better In Time <br />
Beyonce – Irreplaceable <br />
Taylor Swift – We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together <br />
Pink – So what<br />
Christina Aguilera – Fighter <br />
Destiny’s Child – Survivor <br />
Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive <br />
<br />
We often wonder where these lyrics come from, are they made up from pain imagined or did someone inspire the songwriter to express these heartfelt emotions? So here is some examples of inspiration drawn from celeb relationships after all the love got kicked to the curb. <br />
<br />
<b>Inspiration drawn from ended relationships </b><br />
Justin Timberlake’s Cry Me a River was inspired by his breakup with Britney Spears. <br />
In response to Justin’s break-up tune, Britney reportedly wrote ‘Everytime’ about Justin Timberlake.<br />
<br />
Many of Taylor Swift’s songs are about a famous ex-beau but John Mayer seems to have inspired two! ‘Dear John’ and ‘I Knew You Were Trouble’ <br />
<br />
Meanwhile, the rumour mill is buzzing around John Mayer’s new track, ‘Paper Doll’ which sounds like it can be about TayTay! “You're like 22 girls in one,” he sings... mmm! <br />
<br />
Pink released ‘So What’ shortly after her divorce in 2008 from Carey Hart. If that doesn’t make the inspiration obvious, how about these lyrics? “I guess I just lost my husband, I don't know where he went.” <br />
In 2009, Eminem wrote ‘Bagpipes From Baghdad’ about Mariah Carey about their fling dating back to 2001. <br />
<br />
The smooth rapper says, "Mariah, whatever happened to us? Why did we have to break up?” Mariah followed up with her tune ‘Obsessed’ and Eminem came with yet another comeback: ‘The Warning’. Whoa! Calm down! <br />
<br />
Rihanna confirmed in 2010 that her song ‘Cold Case Love’ was a response to her breakup and attack by Chris Brown in 2009. <br />
<br />
Selena Gomez’s latest track ‘Love Will Remember’ features what seems to be a voicemail from Justin Bieber. Now we’re just waiting on Justin’s comeback track! <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11475410308097288761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967319294993497469.post-82223618843899915572012-10-02T04:44:00.002-07:002015-03-20T07:03:52.305-07:00Islam in GrahamstownThis piece was inspired by a request from a lecturer to cover the topic of Religion in Grahamstown. As I was the only Muslim student among the 12 postgrad students in my class, I decided it was rather pertinent that I cover it as there are so many intricacies of the religion that make the task harder for someone outside of the faith to fathom so quickly. And as a Muslim, I had it easier as I was already connected to the community as I served as an executive member on the Muslim Students Association covering the portfolio of Media and Communications.<br />
<br />
I already knew that there was no mosque in Grahamstown and that a Jamat Khana was used by the students and community alike. After endeavouring further into the topic of Islam in Grahamstown I quickly found out the following:<br />
<br />
That not having a mosque to worship in has not stopped Grahamstown's Muslim community from joining the rest of the Islamic world in fasting during daylight hours and offering special prayers for the holy month of Ramadan. They continue to gather at one of two Jamat Khanas in town. <br />
<br />
The Jamat Khana on Rhodes University campus, located in the passage between 52 and 54 Bathurst Street, is only for men. Fahád Saleh said that about 100 men perform their weekly Friday prayers there as it is small and there is no section for the women to pray. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEBv3UNv-zl4PUuvOUUUyOKxBxoFZeG9WlEbdjyYYzv7_WPP5ZcRfuvD5NL6G7Qfhm_usk04Uhx2djvXzNudyiYoc0vzYR_8tY7TfdLq5_OQYtc3g4Sy0aNW0rakrknGYImY3KAVZP9Y6s/s1600/DSC_0454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="134" width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEBv3UNv-zl4PUuvOUUUyOKxBxoFZeG9WlEbdjyYYzv7_WPP5ZcRfuvD5NL6G7Qfhm_usk04Uhx2djvXzNudyiYoc0vzYR_8tY7TfdLq5_OQYtc3g4Sy0aNW0rakrknGYImY3KAVZP9Y6s/s200/DSC_0454.JPG" /></a></div>But Grahamstown resident Shakur Norris said he prefers to pray at the Rhodes Jamat Khana as it has more to offer. “Prayer is taking place five times a day <there> as well as the Friday lecture,” he said. <br />
<br />
But land has been purchased in town to build a mosque, Norris said. “By God's will, construction will commence soon.” <br />
<br />
The Jamat Khana at Rhodes has been serving the purpose of a mosque for the student and local community since it was established a decade ago. In addition to daily prayers, they have added special prayers there at night during the month of Ramadan. They also offer Islamic lessons in things such as Fiqh; Islamic jurisprudence, understanding the holy book, the Koran, through translation, explanation and interpretation, as well as special programmes for women. <br />
<br />
Young Muslims aged six and above can receive their Islamic education at the Jamat Khana every weekday. Besides this formal school, many children learn about Islam informally at home from their parents. <br />
<br />
Walking into the Friday lecture a while ago, I immediately felt the familiar tranquillity of a mosque. The smell of freshly cleaned carpets permeated the air. Muslim women in long, loose black prayer garments and scarves that cover everything but their hands, feet and faces, sat along different rows on the carpet. <br />
<br />
Embracing you into the Islamic way of life, some of the women offered a warm soft smile. Like the men, who are in a separate room, the women sat side-by-side, typically next to family members or friends that have accompanied them. Whispers occasionally went around the room, but it was mostly quiet as everyone listened intently to the weekly lecture delivered by the spiritual leader, or Moulana, Huzaifa Cassim. <br />
<br />
A little boy and girl sat silently beside their mother and occasionally stared at some of the women. They rolled around on the carpet and looked through the blinds but they, too, were silent in this place of worship. <br />
<br />
The lecture on this particular day highlighted the values and principles, such as purity and honesty, that are core to the Islamic way of life. After the lecture, the Moulana led the prayers. The congregation followed, standing side-by-side with shoulders rubbing against each other and their feet neatly aligned along a line facing toward Kiblah. <br />
<br />
When the prayers ended, women kissed and wished each other good health. After the prayers, men congregated outside for a quick chat. On this warm Friday afternoon, the crowd outside the Jamat Khana consisted mostly of male students and some older men from the town, as well as about six women students. <br />
<br />
Though a small community, the Muslim population in Grahamstown is gradually growing. Consisting of mostly foreigners and students, Moulana Amir Sherman estimated that there are about 160 Muslims in the community. At Rhodes, there are about 40 young men and 60-70 young women, while another 20 families and about 35 other individuals live in Grahamstown. <br />
<br />
Some Bathurst Street business owners and their families gather each night at the Jamat Khana to break their fast and pray together. <br />
<br />
Muhammed Rizwan, a Pakistani who now lives in Grahamstown, said he appreciates that sense of community. “It’s nice,” he said. “Everyone is fasting in the Ramadan. We have a committee. There is food for about 70 people. We make our own food and give to everyone. We spend the whole month breaking fast together.” <br />
<br />
One of the cooks, Bilal Bami, said he prepares food for Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Indian and Egyptian Muslims, all of whom break their fast together. Sajad Mohmood, another Pakistani who has relocated to Grahamstown, said that the Ramadan spirit is well and alive here. <br />
<br />
“We go to the Jamat Khana in Bathurst Street,” he said. “The only arrangement for the women is at the Rhodes JK.” Another local, Jameela Yasini, said despite the active Jamaat Khana at Rhodes, she performs her prayers at home. <br />
<br />
During Ramadan students gather at the Rhodes prayer room to break their fast with dates, water, samosas and chilli bites before praying. Later, everyone meets at the Reading Room next to the Oppidan Dining Hall to eat supper together before going back to the Jamat Khana for the special evening prayers, called taraweeh. Leftover food from supper is distributed to the poor each night. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUkozHnKpEoi9TeO8ShayF8vAttEPVnKvK68SCRv4n65j7h1CIG5BoNblXYC7erHjEWl9_ylc2h2pSMOeyPtW7F1mj7DcYPNuUnUgX1K33NM1gGg4Wx6L0czrDRy9Hc3KVAp9NhY3SL5uq/s1600/DSC_4073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="213" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUkozHnKpEoi9TeO8ShayF8vAttEPVnKvK68SCRv4n65j7h1CIG5BoNblXYC7erHjEWl9_ylc2h2pSMOeyPtW7F1mj7DcYPNuUnUgX1K33NM1gGg4Wx6L0czrDRy9Hc3KVAp9NhY3SL5uq/s320/DSC_4073.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Yousuf said that residents cook and celebrate the day with family and friends. Rhodes students celebrate Eid ul-Fitr at campus. The Muslim Students' Association (MSA) organises a celebratory Eid lunch or supper on campus. Sarfraz Mahomed, of the MSA, said that all the Muslims in Grahamstown gather to perform the morning Eid salaah on Kings Field. Afterwards, “we all dress up and spend the rest of the day at various friends’ homes,” Mahomed said. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotcamlt8s4U8JqjpelkSFJ5uQrvcTxOrbGUIfzVQL9fmHDQXr9sYb44TKVCAvedeWjfpzJ2wWp5RUFHKtdUoyXutH2iRiuXyox3rSmmvzjg02_4uRC6x7QPRkJrcNiKQO_d8goMRCCzwb/s1600/DSC_4590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="213" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotcamlt8s4U8JqjpelkSFJ5uQrvcTxOrbGUIfzVQL9fmHDQXr9sYb44TKVCAvedeWjfpzJ2wWp5RUFHKtdUoyXutH2iRiuXyox3rSmmvzjg02_4uRC6x7QPRkJrcNiKQO_d8goMRCCzwb/s320/DSC_4590.JPG" /></a></div><br />
But preparing feasts for Muslims isn't always easy. Although Rhodes does offer Halaal food to students in residence, the dietary guidelines that stipulate what may be consumed and what may not have only recently become available. <br />
<br />
“We had to buy from Port Elizabeth or slaughter ourselves,” Norris said. “Now, thank God, Fruit and Veg just started recently to sell Halaal meat.” <br />
<br />
As the possibility to follow their religion grows in Grahamstown, so does the Muslim community. A Da’wa centre is being established to encourage people to learn more about Islam. “This is the major problem in Grahamstown. People don’t know,” Norris said. “The Da’wa project for now is being run from two shops in New Street: Crazy Corner and Muscle Worx.” These stores give Islamic literature and English Koran's free to anybody who wants to know about Islam. <br />
<br />
As the month of Ramadan concludes, Muslims in Grahamstown can look forward to a brighter future and an Eid Mubarak.<br />
<br />
For more: <a href="http://www.grocotts.co.za/blogs/kneeling-down-islam-g%E2%80%99town">Islam in Grahamstown</a><br />
<br />
Follow me on <a href="https://twitter.com/MsFaiza">Twitter</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11475410308097288761noreply@blogger.com0Grahamstown, South Africa-33.30566 26.52453-33.358742500000005 26.445566 -33.2525775 26.603493999999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967319294993497469.post-35026603268725383922012-07-25T11:44:00.003-07:002015-03-20T03:20:33.208-07:00Spit or Swallow?GRAHAMSTOWN, South Africa -- With water gushing out of the tap, why are locals collecting natural spring water and buying bottled water? <br />
<br />
According to the Department of Water Affairs website, the Makana Municipality in Grahamstown scores 55.1%. This is below the microbiological and chemical health requirements of 95% and 80% respectively, and shows the need for intervention by the Municipality. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh724UVVXvi5pAXVvijkLg97tlu5f4fRiQ7pj7rQKdAmuQ1iexyJmhibnlKOWua1DqNHwjkQXJ0mfYEwZQFzqVFj5pyo8pC5h6LW-tLEriJbkEaB4vnrEovctPRJ72R9pmagYt6quIagAIJ/s1600/getty_rf_photo_african_american_woman_drinking_water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh724UVVXvi5pAXVvijkLg97tlu5f4fRiQ7pj7rQKdAmuQ1iexyJmhibnlKOWua1DqNHwjkQXJ0mfYEwZQFzqVFj5pyo8pC5h6LW-tLEriJbkEaB4vnrEovctPRJ72R9pmagYt6quIagAIJ/s400/getty_rf_photo_african_american_woman_drinking_water.jpg" /></a></div><br />
But whether the water is safe for drinking remains questionable.<br />
<br />
There are concerns that the water contains high levels of aluminium and arsenic. The presence of these chemicals can cause long-term health effects such as degenerative neurological disorders. Bacteria such as e-coli are also questionable. <br />
<br />
According to Professor Denis Hughes, Director of the Institute for Water Research, chemical analyses need to be drawn from water samples each week, and proof needs to be provided.<br />
<br />
When asked about Grahamstown’s water, Nikki Kӧhly, the Safety, Health and Environmental Officer for Rhodes University, said, “I think to be able to give an informed answer its essential to have access to regularly updated water quality test results – which I don’t have at the moment. I’m always inclined to say go back to scientific data.” <br />
<br />
Kӧhly went on to say, “I don’t know what the current status is. My only word of advice: If you have doubts, get spring water in a re-usable bottle--avoid unnecessary plastic waste--or use filtered rainwater but make sure you put it through a filter system which adds back essential minerals.” <br />
<br />
Assistant Director for Water at Makana Local Municipality, Luthando Mashiya said that the water is okay as it complies with the 2011 South African regulations. <br />
<br />
But the quality of Grahamstown’s water remains a hot topic.<br />
<br />
So is the water safe for drinking?<br />
<br />
After all, even at the Institute for Water Research there are 5-litre bottles of water next to every kettle.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11475410308097288761noreply@blogger.com0Grahamstown, South Africa-33.30566 26.52453-33.358742500000005 26.445566 -33.2525775 26.603493999999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967319294993497469.post-30494805815413574412012-07-21T13:55:00.000-07:002012-07-21T13:56:19.717-07:00The silencing of gross injustices that women faceYou’re always thinking, what if this didn’t happen?”<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdjGzmnlYsPTNEe64Lz-9znQZE4FihJxUPVvuvH8ePeSwks3005KXXjElQ-CX26fL71fTheW_rW_rhs5H0MBhSE2va9ucaUcQWrQkRnFLYM7n0nzayCOGHjFDJ4SKjBZ_OoKbsxWXn8az0/s1600/DSCN0155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdjGzmnlYsPTNEe64Lz-9znQZE4FihJxUPVvuvH8ePeSwks3005KXXjElQ-CX26fL71fTheW_rW_rhs5H0MBhSE2va9ucaUcQWrQkRnFLYM7n0nzayCOGHjFDJ4SKjBZ_OoKbsxWXn8az0/s320/DSCN0155.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
Kgomotso* (22), a postgraduate student at Rhodes University, Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape of South Africa tells of how her experience of rape affects her on a daily basis.<br />
<br />
Like many women, her outlook on life has been affected by this human injustice. <br />
<br />
“I have no conception of what an alternative worldview would be” relates Thandi* (24), a South African-born rape survivor from Mpumalanga.<br />
<br />
When talking about the repeated incidents of child rape/molestation that spanned over five years of her life, she relates that “as a people, we are facing a social and moral crisis.” <br />
<br />
The most pervasive yet least recognized human rights abuse in the world, gender-based violence (GBV) is a violation of human rights, and includes various forms of aggression and abuse toward girls and women.<br />
<br />
In South Africa, violence against women has reached epidemic proportions.<br />
<br />
The total sexual offences reported to the South African Police Service (SAPS) for the year 2010-2011 reflects 13% of the population. <br />
<br />
As they reflect reported cases, police statistics often understate the problem. <br />
<br />
All forms of GBV, such as physical abuse, psychological abuse, deprivation of resources needed for physical and psychological well-being, as well as the treatment of women as commodities is not covered in SAPS data. <br />
<br />
<b>South Africa’s startling statistics</b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbmcoPdzxTT2uHaD82kX7T8LoiKelZj9Y1xc9MVfof_kAlKqRvZtjLL-5Tg_DUvJoMGfm30eSKNiGP9TgP9C1psNoyMlV7jK16jEQzTEggU3blkSDIgnf7DV5i0EXv-cQfu5MzVWxRwSJ/s1600/DSCN0213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbmcoPdzxTT2uHaD82kX7T8LoiKelZj9Y1xc9MVfof_kAlKqRvZtjLL-5Tg_DUvJoMGfm30eSKNiGP9TgP9C1psNoyMlV7jK16jEQzTEggU3blkSDIgnf7DV5i0EXv-cQfu5MzVWxRwSJ/s320/DSCN0213.JPG" /></a></div><br />
• The Medical Research Council (MRC) has revealed: 1 in 4 women in South Africa has experienced physical violence.<br />
• Another study by the MRC shows that over 40% of men reported that they have been physically violent to a partner.<br />
• According to People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA): 1 in 2 women have a chance of being raped during her lifetime.<br />
• The Gauteng Gender Violence Indicators Pilot Project in 2010 found that over half the women of Gauteng (51.2%) have experienced some form of violence in their lifetime and 78.3% of men in this South African province admit to perpetrating some form of violence against women.<br />
<br />
But this is not just a South African issue. The Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women has found that globally, at least one in every three women has been abused by a man in her lifetime. <br />
<br />
Lieutenant Colonel Vanessa Nel from Grahamstown’s Crime Intelligence Unit says that, “The majority of the cases, the perpetrator is known to the victim, and in 60% of recent cases, liquor played a major role in the commission of sexual and assault related crimes.” <br />
<br />
<b>Current efforts to alleviate GBV in South Africa</b><br />
The Gender Forum headed by the National Prosecutions Authority (NPA) and the Department of Justice has recently been revised.<br />
<br />
Advocate and Director of Social Crime Prevention, Anthea Michaels reports, “Recently, the Minister of Social Development and the Minister of Safety have identified high risk areas in the province where gender-based violence needs to be addressed. The purpose of this forum is to go into these areas and come up with interventions to address GBV with community-based organisations.” <br />
<br />
<b>A response</b><br />
Psychology lecturer at Rhodes University, Mr Werner Bohmke suggests that GBV intervention in South Africa should focus on challenging traditional ways of thinking about men and masculinities.<br />
<br />
“Traditional masculinities that men try to reassert are often argued as the traditional or cultural way of doing things, and it might be useful to start challenging the notion that culture and tradition is fixed so we can think of new ways of being men rather than just reasserting these old kinds of hegemonic notions of masculinities”. <br />
<br />
Romi Sigsworth, editor at the African Security Review for the Institute for Security Studies in South Africa says that, "South Africa does have a GBV problem that surpasses many other countries and the reasons for this are so many and so complex – suffice to say, the intersection of the country's violent past, deeply entrenched patriarchy compounded by masculinities in crisis, cultural mores that condone inequality between men and women, and the normalisation of violence within relationships and society, all contribute to the problem."<br />
<br />
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) states that GBV is sustained by silence. As women's voices need to be heard, initiatives like the One in Nine Campaign in South Africa which encourages rape survivors to speak out against this silenced issue is one way in which the issue of GBV can be publicly addressed and challenged. <br />
<br />
GBV is an obstacle to the achievement of equality, development and peace. South Africa has much to address in the structuring of violent masculinities that is to the detriment of countless women and girls.<br />
<br />
It is hoped then that the new interventions by the Gender Forum and campaigns like One in Nine will do much to alleviate this social epidemic. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlk1e9eKoyXiKwON2WyXFlGiHqb64LYORxsQB-CotdjHfRms4m3mCSZ-ELrr8pmIuMKzYuTzFoyOuLLZrJ6z59IgrZhkjW1k7NJ31NFspbtaoullzyFvnkuRTVOdkqWM0NJRCzuhThaiz7/s1600/DSCN0189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlk1e9eKoyXiKwON2WyXFlGiHqb64LYORxsQB-CotdjHfRms4m3mCSZ-ELrr8pmIuMKzYuTzFoyOuLLZrJ6z59IgrZhkjW1k7NJ31NFspbtaoullzyFvnkuRTVOdkqWM0NJRCzuhThaiz7/s320/DSCN0189.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Only once this issue is successfully reduced, can we move toward achieving equality. <br />
*Rape survivors’ names have been changed<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11475410308097288761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967319294993497469.post-73174881729740879582012-07-16T05:35:00.001-07:002012-07-16T05:37:36.449-07:00What's stopping people from donating their kidneys? And a marketing strategy to increase public participation...Over 110,000 people are currently waiting for an organ transplant, and approximately 18 people die every day because they did not receive a needed organ donation (Donate Life, 2011).<br />
<br />
With this in mind, the central theme of perceived risk will be addressed in conjunction with sound consumer behaviour theory relating to motivation, personality, perception, learning and attitude toward kidney donation in South Africa.<br />
<br />
Consumer behaviour can be defined as the behaviour that consumers display in searching for, purchasing, using, evaluating, and disposing of products and services that they expect will satisfy their needs (Schiffman & Kanuk, 2010). There are three parties involved with the donation process, i.e. donors (living), relatives of people pronounced dead, and medical professionals (trauma doctors, kidney specialists, and General Practitioners) and institutions.<br />
<br />
Using consumer behavioural theory, an analysis of living donors will be made so as to devise a marketing strategy for the Organ Donation Foundation of South Africa to increase public donations of kidneys. Opinion leaders will be employed as strategic targets so as to motivate the general public toward thinking beyond the self, in consideration of saving the lives’ of others. It is hoped that this will attain higher living donor participation from the South African public. <br />
<br />
Many people who need organ transplants cannot get them due to shortages. As a result, some of these people die while waiting for that "Gift of Life" (National Kidney Foundation, 2011). In South Africa, there are currently 3 500 people waiting for a life-saving organ transplant (Organ Donor Foundation, 2011). With a weighted world average of 299.6 kidney transplants, South Africa’s conduction of 276 kidney transplants thus far is impressive (Nation Master, 2011).<br />
<br />
While this is a good contribution compared to global statistics, there are thousands more who could benefit from increased kidney donor participation. Due to a critical shortage, less than 1 000 people in South Africa will receive the transplants they so desperately need within the next year (Human, 2011). Potential kidney transplant recipients are only those people who are identified as having end-stage or irreversible kidney disease or failure (eMedicine Health, 2011).<br />
<br />
Therefore, a donor would be saving a life as the other option, haemodialysis is more expensive, less effective and debilitating (NIDDK, 2010). Kidney transplanting is a relatively routine, generally successful, and relatively non-invasive technique (Encyclopedia of Surgery, 2011). Furthermore, medical research has shown that humans can live a relatively normal and healthy life with just one kidney (Health Theater TV, 2007).<br />
<br />
Recent medical developments have shown a new operation with the potential to alleviate the kidney donor shortage in South Africa (MatieLand, 2008). Therefore, due to budgetary allowances, the strategic focus of this paper will be toward living kidney donor participants’ abilities to make a life-changing difference in the lives of people in need of kidney transplantation and devising a marketing strategy for this identified group of people.<br />
<br />
The socio-cultural environment impacts significantly on the learning as well as the formation of perceptions and attitudes of people (Schiffman & Kanuk, 2010). South Africa is exceptionally diverse in terms of heritage, culture, race, and religion. Kidney donation has been illustrated as a cultural and religious barrier for many South Africans and thus, these groups will not be the core focus for the marketing strategy proposed for the Organ Donation Foundation of South Africa. <br />
<br />
Motivation is the driving force – produced by a state of tension as a result of an unsatisfied need within individuals – that impels them to act (Schiffman & Kanuk, 2010). Maslow’s hierarchy outlines human needs (Schiffman & Kanuk, 2010) as the motivating force behind behaviour. The model is centred on the self, thus insinuating that need motivations are primarily for the self. As a result, public motivation toward kidney donor participation will take place through the use of a long-term and public marketing strategy to be outlined later. <br />
<br />
Personality refers to the psychological characteristics inherent in an individual that determine and reflect how she/he responds to their environment (Schiffman & Kanuk, 2010). As individual personalities differ it is essential to carefully utilise the correct personality type as an opinion leader. Consumers who are open-minded and generally perceive less risk than others in trying new things are likely to be consumer innovators. That is, they are more likely to try new ideas and technologies (Schiffman & Kanuk, 2010).<br />
<br />
If personality tests also discover that innovators tend to score higher on exhibition, then the promotion of kidney donation at this group should encourage the innovators to initiate positive word of mouth through informing others about the operation. This is highly likely to occur as innovators are typically successful, take-charge people, with high self-esteem and thus change leaders (Schiffman & Kanuk, 2010). Employing consumer innovators as opinion leaders into the marketing strategy designed for the Organ Donation Foundation of South Africa, should help as a promotional strategy, by encouraging willingness from further members of the public. As personality affects ones receptivity toward something, it would be easiest to begin claiming ambassadors from people most receptive toward kidney donation. <br />
<br />
Perception is the process by which an individual selects, organizes, and interprets stimuli’s into a meaningful and coherent picture of the world (Schiffman & Kanuk, 2010). Consumer realities are subjectively based on the consumers’ perception of their world. Hence, their learning is subjective to the messages that they have been exposed to. Perception is important for marketers because consumers base decisions on perceptions rather than reality.<br />
<br />
When deciding on the value of service, consumers typically have a mental trade-off between the product’s perceived benefits, and the perceived sacrifice. Perceived risk can be defined as the uncertainty that consumers face when they cannot foresee the consequences of decisions (Schiffman & Kanuk, 2010). Many individuals are wary of kidney donation due to the perceived risk it holds (Shilling et al, 2006). It could therefore be inferred that this is due to their existing knowledge.<br />
<br />
This is an important issue to tackle as medical professionals and hospitals can play a vital role in reshaping public perception and attitudes toward kidney donation through the provision of information and expert guidance. They hold much credibility in this regard given their status and recognition as medical experts. In this way, public trust regarding the transplantation process can be fostered. <br />
<br />
The actual quality of services can vary despite efforts to provide consistency with regard to services, and consumers typically perceive service decisions as riskier than product decisions (Schiffman & Kanuk, 2010). In terms of an operation, one can never guarantee the outcome with undeniable confidence. However, one can speak with higher certainty of risk reduction with regard to the new operation, laparoscopic nephrectomy. <br />
<br />
However, despite certainty, as services are consumed as they are produced, there is little opportunity to correct a service error (Schiffman & Kanuk, 2010). Thus, an operating mishap could leave a donor with lifelong consequences. More recently, there has been the risk of kidney exportation. Netcare have infused negative publicity around the issue of kidney donation due to a publicised scandal revolving around transplanting kidneys into foreigners as a way to procure more money (Barnard, 2011). <br />
<br />
Existing public perception would therefore be influenced by the knowledge of this scandal. How a consumer perceives the price they have to pay for something (pain, inconvenience, possible health risk, risk of kidney exportation) has a strong influence on intentions (Schiffman & Kanuk, 2010). Therefore, through the use of learning, the perception around the sacrifices versus the gains of kidney donation can be changed. <br />
<br />
Donors face a physical risk, which is, the risk to self through the donation process. Consumers typically lessen the likelihood of perceived risk through information searching and searching reassurance (Schiffman & Kanuk, 2010). This is where ambassador donors and medical professionals play a fundamental role in educating the general public and working toward changing perceptions and attitudes toward kidney donations.<br />
<br />
Consumer perception of risk varies, depending on the person, the service, the situation, and the culture (Schiffman & Kanuk, 2010). Therefore, by attracting donors through cognitive learning, and then using those donors as opinion leaders, the perceived risk to the rest of the public is likely to lessen as consumers perceive much less risk on the basis of word of mouth (Schiffman & Kanuk, 2010). <br />
<br />
<br />
Consumer learning is a process by which individuals acquire the purchase and consumption knowledge and experience that they apply to future related behaviour (Schiffman & Kanuk, 2010). Cognitive theorists view learning as a function of mental processing, and the consumer involvement model suggests that high-involvement purchases require extensive information processing and persuasive and high quality arguments to convince them (Schiffman & Kanuk, 2010).<br />
<br />
It is thus assumed that for the donation of kidneys, which are of high involvement, much information will be needed for cognitive processing and decision making. Thus far, the public has learnt that this is typically risky in South Africa due to the Netcare scandal that has been widely publicised. Therefore, given the depth of the requirement expected from a donor, a potential donor would naturally require much information for them to make a confident and informed decision to willingly act upon learning. The major reasons for understanding how consumers learn are to teach them so as to change learning or attitudes, or to create attitudes where they do not exist (Schiffman & Kanuk, 2010).<br />
<br />
In marketing for the Organ Donation Foundation of South Africa to increase public donations of kidneys, the public needs to be taught to ensure re-learning that will change perceptions around the issue of donating a kidney. By teaching the public that, by donating a kidney, you’re still left with two to three times the amount of kidney function that you need to live a healthy and normal life (Health Theater TV, 2007) much can be changed in terms of perceptions and attitudes as learning can change attitudes or behaviour (Schiffman & Kanuk, 2010). Public awareness needs to be heightened so as to gain empathetic understanding of kidney donation and transplantation so that people are aware of the possible impact they can have on another’s life (Rainsberry, 2009).<br />
<br />
It is essential that accurate information is presented so as to combat existing misconceptions and myths about organ and kidney donation (Rainsberry, 2009). Additionally, the public needs to be educated that scandals such as the Netcare scandal will not be tolerated, nor will it be a future occurrence. Without adequate information for cognitive learning, it is likely that the public will form their own opinions based on skewed perceptions. It is thus critical that wide publicity takes place with regard to laparoscopic nephrectomy. Furthermore, through an analysis of all the attributes that people use to evaluate their decision to donate, a marketing strategy that addresses these attributes to counter existing perceptions will work well at changing perceptions. <br />
<br />
The revolutionary new kidney transplantation operation, called laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy (Refer to Appendix: A) is a non-invasive procedure to harvest a kidney from a live patient through a tiny incision in the donor’s stomach (Fokazi, 2011). Laparoscopic nephrectomy could significantly reduce post-operatic pain, hospitalisation, and recuperation times (Fokazi, 2011). According to Dr Steyn (Fokazi, 2011), this will revolutionise kidney transplant surgery in South Africa. It is critically important that this information becomes widely available to the general public so as to tackle existing perceptions and attitudes, and so as to create new attitudes with regard to this medical revolution.<br />
<br />
Attitudes are learned predispositions, formed as a result of direct experience, word of mouth information, or advertising exposure (Schiffman & Kanuk, 2010). As these form the basis for attitude formation, past donors can promote word of mouth information with regard to their experiences.<br />
<br />
In this way, members of the public can be encouraged to contribute towards saving a life as well. Advertising exposure employing trusted professionals advice, that is, doctors, would be further effective in instilling more trust and confidence in people contemplating the option of organ or kidney donation. Marketers need to change people’s motivations from the self to consideration of other’s through marketing. As learned predispositions, attitudes have a motivational quality; they might propel a consumer toward a particular behaviour, or repel the consumer away from a particular behaviour (Schiffman & Kanuk, 2010).<br />
<br />
With regard to addressing attitudes, marketers typically work at creating an attitude where one does not exist, reinforce and existing attitude, or change existing attitudes (Schiffman & Kanuk, 2010). With regard to kidney donor participation, marketers will have to focus on creating attitudes for people that have never considered donating, as well as changing attitudes of those that have decided not to donate due to perceived risk, or any other reasons based on existing attitudes. <br />
<br />
A particular problem with attitudes is that one may have a positive disposition toward donating one’s kidney but yet still refrain from actually donating. That is because attitudes may result in behaviour, but are not synonymous with behaviour (Schiffman & Kanuk, 2010). To get people to act upon changed attitudes, an intensive and effective marketing strategy needs to be employed as attitudes cannot be relied upon to always predict behaviour. Therefore, through the use of motivation, new learning, changing perceptions and attitudes, coupled with an intensive marketing campaign strategy to get public participation, behavioural change can occur, which is, people actually donating kidneys. <br />
<br />
The strategy that will be employed for the Organ Donation Foundation of South Africa would be that of associating kidney donation with a specific group of people, that is, people who care enough about others to make the difference they hope to see in the world by saving lives of people they know, and strangers. Medical professionals will all attend a medical seminar aimed toward actively and consistently promoting laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy to members of the public as a recourse to haemodialysis.<br />
<br />
To identify public ambassadors, personality tests will take place to identify people receptive toward kidney donation, and who are also innovators who score high on exhibition. These people will be addressed by medical professionals at the seminar to consider the new laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy. Furthermore, past donors will be contacted personally to encourage their participation in this public marketing strategy. <br />
<br />
This strategy, as mentioned earlier will be specifically implemented through extensive provision of information to the public that will lead to knowledgeable, informed, and rational decisions. To further entrench learning, expertise will be provided by medical professionals to instil trust and further confidence in the decision-making process toward donating a kidney to a donor match. Thereafter, to further penetrate the South African public, ambassadors will be employed so as to encourage participation in this life-saving and selfless transplantation. <br />
<br />
The process leading from willingness to actual donation is the biggest issue as many people indicate their willingness to donate a kidney to someone, whilst only a select few show this through actively registering as a donor (Rainsberry, 2009). Therefore, kidney transplantations will be marketed through success stories of people that have saved lives which could be marketed as a public aspiration. Informal sources and word-of-mouth information from friends, relatives and so forth, are highly credible and has a strong influence on behaviour as they are perceived as having nothing to gain from recommendations (Schiffman & Kanuk, 2010).<br />
<br />
Therefore, the above-mentioned strategy had been chosen so as to appeal to emotions and to tackle perceptions of risk and acts of selflessness through the promotion of people that have done this already, people that will go through the operation shortly, and through knowledge experts. It is thus critical that the medical community supports this initiative fully as they are key participants and change agents in influencing the public. <br />
<br />
As the consequences are always somewhat uncertain with regard to operations, the theme of risk has been consistently discussed as affecting consumer behaviour. Marketers can only do their best in attempting to attain the largest possible donor participation through the use of understanding key consumer behaviour reasoning behind the lack of existing donor participation. Therefore, a market strategy for the Organ Donation Foundation of South Africa to increase public donations of kidneys would make use of informative advertising and publicity through opinion leaders such as past donors, trauma doctors, kidney specialists, and general practitioners. This will be essential in combating existing attitudes and behaviours with regard to kidney transplantation.<br />
<br />
Key participation and influence from the medical community and the public will be influential in fostering public trust, intrigue and action toward making a life-changing difference in the lives of the 3500 South African currently in need of a life-saving organ transplant. Finally, laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy hopes to revolutionise kidney transplant surgery in South Africa and will assist in creating new attitudes if it becomes public knowledge.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11475410308097288761noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967319294993497469.post-772132086236573992012-04-20T15:21:00.001-07:002015-03-20T06:59:45.419-07:00Rupert Murdoch's empireThis blog will look at network television and how it represents hegemony. Fox News will be considered particularly as it exhibits extreme propaganda and goes against the fundamentals of journalism that are in place for democratic reasons. When considering network television and aspects regarding ownership and the functioning of a democracy I will consider the world-renowned linguist, intellectual and political activist Noam Chomsky’s propaganda model and how this model reflects how the media controls ideologies. The concept of agenda-setting will be brought to light and a brief outline of the transformation of media will be highlighted so as to show the effect it has on a democracy and the practice of journalism. Lastly, but most importantly, the threat and consequences that a hegemonic model has for society will be shown. <br />
<br />
Hegemony refers to the ‘process of moral, philosophical and political leadership that a social group attains only with the active consent of other important social groups’ (Artz, 2003: 10). Although hegemony is not a communication process per se, cultural and political discourses must reflect, organise, and interact with other social practices. Hegemony must be constructed using some of the ideas and concerns of all groups (Artz, 2003: 16). If it does not, it clearly goes against hegemonic and democratic practices. Democracy refers to a government that is ruled by the people, in other words it is a system of government that allows citizens to rule in the sense that they hold the power to vote; they have the right to take part in decision-making processes (Encarta, 2008). <br />
<br />
The film Outfoxed examines how media empires led by Rupert Murdoch’s Fox News, have been operating and highlights the dangers of ever-enlarging corporations taking control of the public’s right to know. Rupert Murdoch’s Total Audience is 4, 7 billion people (Greenwald, 2004). That is three-quarters of the population, so his corporation alone has a virtual monopoly. Fox News pushes the envelope to the extreme in favouritism of right-wing politics and conservatism (Greenwald, 2004). Not allowing the public to know exactly what is going on in an objective way goes against people’s right to freedom of information and goes against democratic principles. Propaganda is to a democracy what violence is to a dictatorship (Chomsky, 1992). <br />
<br />
In South Africa we have the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and ETV. The SABC is a public service broadcaster owned by the government, while ETV is a commercial broadcaster. While one may assume that the SABC is biased toward the government and that ETV favours the views of advertisers it is clearly not the case. The Media Monitoring Project (MMP) a non-governmental organisation found in a six day monitoring period of SABC 3, that 94% of the coverage was fair (Pretorius, 2006). <br />
<br />
However, the size of the SABC provides it with an uncompetitive advantage. With four television channels and twenty-one radio stations, they are able to offer advertising packages, which other broadcasters cannot match (Golding, 2003). They also have the ability to monopolise their audience by using multiple channels to promote their services whereas ETV only has one channel. It is the only broadcaster in South Africa which operates national commercial radio services, and this provides them with a sizeable advantage over their private sector competitors (Golding, 2003). <br />
<br />
Fox deliberately instils fear in the American public so they can begin to hate ‘terrorists’ particularly (Greenwald, 2004). This is only one example, but there are many monopolies controlling the media and they have the power to indoctrinate the minds of citizens who believe that they are living in a democratic society. Chomsky notes that the media can marginalise and control the public (Chomsky, 1992) and Outfoxed shows how Fox News does this. While the SABC also holds a virtual monopoly they are not a propaganda model and are certainly not as biased as Fox News who would be considered to be on the extreme end of the scale. <br />
<br />
The media plays a major part in the development of often serious misperceptions. Misperceptions can distort public opinions and may produce policies contrary to the public’s wishes. Generally, Fox News viewers have the most misperceptions (Kull, Ramsay & Lewis, 2003: 115) Perhaps one could say that the NPR/PBS audience are more educated. It is important to note that with saying this, we have to acknowledge that this ‘intelligent’ audience is choosing not to be educated by Fox News. This is a question that requires an answer. One of which could be that they realise how biased and opinionated the Fox News network is.<br />
Another question that can be raised is whether there is evidence that Fox News viewers are less informed than NPR/PBS viewers. An answer could be that they are less informed and are being misled, but do not know any better and on the other hand the question can be answered by saying that they are no less smart, but merely choose to watch Fox News because they represent the views held by them, the viewers. <br />
<br />
There is the saying ‘You are what you eat’. The same could be said in this sense ‘You are what you read’. Importantly though, people have a choice as to what they read and often read what they like, just as they eat what they enjoy. So perhaps, audiences want to be pleased by hearing assumptions and views they hold. Therefore, it could be said that they choose to be misled in the direction in which they are opinionated anyway. Perhaps, some people do not want objective news but only news that supports their opinions and beliefs. Fox news as an example could be seen as fair and balanced in the eyes of many conservatives. <br />
<br />
Art is at its most dangerous when it is disguised as truth (Rosen, 1992: 7). This is the problem with journalism that fails to be objective. Propaganda becomes ideology which in turn becomes common sense (Artz, 2003: 11). Common sense based on bias is extremely dangerous as it can have life-long consequences on a society that has been indoctrinated by inaccurate or biased media. Numerous questions have been raised about the long-term damage that flows from the distortion and concealment of information (Hachten & Hachten, unknown: 317). <br />
<br />
Often with the media, the public does not really get to participate. They only receive information. Fox News is not only a news organisation, but also a proponent of a point of view and uses the news as a political device (Greenwald, 2004). That is not a news organisation. News is supposed to be in essence factual and should not have a point of view. Having a point of view means having an opinion and having one means one is biased and that is not in favour of the broader public but only in favour of those whose interests need to be served, those who hold power. <br />
<br />
The power that Murdoch holds is dangerous. He has a political background and now uses the media as his power to portray his ideologies. Corporate control over the media is a major political issue. It needs to be stopped or it will continue to serve the interests and present the views of corporate shareholders, the elite and advertisers only (Greenwald, 2004). <br />
<br />
Jeff Cohen a former Fox News contributor says that the media is imperative for the economy to function. What people learn is only what the media decides to show or tell them. He refers to the media as the nervous system of a democracy (Greenwald, 2004) and yes, journalism is imperative for the functioning of a democracy because in order for the people to rule they should know exactly what is going on in the world and especially in their country. However, with the radical change of the media towards corporate interests as opposed to journalistic interests like objectivity and truthfulness, democracy is not being practiced as the people are not learning all they should and in the way they should. Not having a media system goes against the idea of a democracy, but media that does not serve all is not a democratic media either. <br />
<br />
A propaganda model looks at the inequality of wealth and power and the numerous effects it has on the mass media’s interests and choices. It looks at the routes by which power and money are able to sort out the news to be printed, marginalise dispute, and give the government and dominant private investors the power to get their messages across to the public (Chomsky, 1988: 2).<br />
<br />
Agenda setting controls the kinds of information we hear, in other words, what information becomes available (Chomsky, 1992). Now Murdoch orders propaganda and tells his journalists what stories to cover. Reporters just have to execute the plan; they have no choice, unless they want to sacrifice their job of course (Greenwald, 2004). Fox News claims to have fine and balanced journalism: ‘We report. You decide’. Fox News has a point of view. They are a conservative news network. Murdoch controls what they say and how reporters present the news. Reporters clearly have a point of view and do not leave conflicting point of views open to discussion (Greenwald, 2004).<br />
<br />
Chomsky notes that we live entangled in a web of endless deceit and that we live in a highly indoctrinated society. We are indoctrinated by the media through dominant ideologies portrayed that often has the aim of discouraging independent thinking and opinions. Indoctrination is now the essence of a democracy because it is the only way to control how people think without using force as with a Totalitarian state for example. So what people think can only be controlled by controlling what people know and what information is made available. So because of this, the media may resort to propaganda, the manufacture of consent, the creation of necessary illusions according to Chomsky (Chomsky, 1992).<br />
<br />
It is important to note that Outfoxed tries to ‘outfox’ Fox News. They do this by giving Fox a taste of their own medicine by resorting to the same tactics. This doesn’t work because Outfoxed is meant to be a documentary. Documentary is seen as part of the process of examination described by Foucault as ‘a procedure of objectification and subjection’ (Price, 1997: 96). The documentary gaze should be anchored in facts and should validate particular kinds of enquiry (Price, 1997: 91). Now by only placing the ways in which Fox News is biased is in itself bias because Outfoxed does not consider Fox News objectively. In this way, they are doing the same thing that Fox News is doing by only bringing out the bad of the opposing side. So, while Fox News goes against journalistic principles, Outfoxed is going against documentary principles. When one critiques documentaries it is not about whether the work adequately reveals or reflects a pre-existing reality, but whether the way the chosen signifying systems imposed order and create particular sets of meaning (Price, 1997: 95). <br />
<br />
Media’s primary news source has shifted significantly over the years from newspapers to television and now online media. People are particularly interested in watching the news on television so as to actually see what is happening all over the world. In South Africa we have a fairly democratic media system and are not in as much danger as Americans who get brainwashed by propaganda. During the Gulf war people were glued to their television sets to keep updated, and naturally the governments of Iraq and America tried to control and manipulate the media with propaganda intended to mislead the enemy and not to inform the public (Hachten & Hachten, unknown: 318). <br />
<br />
In many cases the national media sets a general agenda, the elite media are the agenda-setting media (Chomsky, 1992). Thereafter, local media adapts because it is more cost-efficient and because they lack the resources or funds to follow stories themselves. The problem with a general agenda is that it is already decided and does not allow for fair and balanced output of information via the media. It also caters to interest groups only and not to the broad public (Haupt, 2008). <br />
<br />
Sourcing mass-media news occurs often as syndicated news, which is the circulation of narrow news perspectives like Associated Press (AP), and Reuters (Haupt, 2008). The reason why this occurs is often because of budgetary allowances, but it is a problem as the public receives the same news perspectives from various sources. This impinges upon their right to know all that is going on because they are only getting the viewpoint of one source and who is to say that this one source can be trusted as reliable if nobody else has anything else to say. Various media outlets are essential for healthy competition and the promotion of objective news. <br />
<br />
Journalists are meant to inform and educate citizens so that they may engage in rational and critical debate about the common good – therefore the public’s expectation is objectivity and balance (Haupt, 2008). Clearly, one needs to note that there are people who own the country because they are affluent and have access to large sums of money, and they are not going to let the country get out of control (Chomsky, 1992). This includes the government who will not allow their image to be tarnished. The government has the capacity to manipulate the news, impose its own agenda and can deliberately divert attention away from material which they wish to (Chomsky, 1988: 2). Privatisation has made the media more bias; it has allowed media companies to get so large that they lose sight of the original goal, that being honest journalism. They are blinded by new goals, which are naturally money as we are living in a capitalist economy (Haupt, 2008). <br />
<br />
If a country does not have an independent and objective media, then it is not democratic. Consumers primarily do not keep the media functioning, but rather the advertisers and shareholders, so in essence their concerns will be prioritised higher than those of consumers (Greenwald, 2004). This is undemocratic as it does not serve the needs of all equally, but foremost the needs of elite interest groups. Only the rich can afford to start a newspaper or television network for instance because of the large investment this kind of business requires (Chomsky, 1988: 4). Everybody has a point of view or an agenda. Money allows one the power to make that view explicit. If one has access to large sums of money like Murdoch, it opens doors to a wide array of media outlets and can lead to a virtual monopoly and thus affects media hegemony dramatically (Chomsky, 1988: 5). <br />
<br />
The media system requires an equal playing field with more competitors so an array of ideas can be portrayed rather than just the ideas of an elite few who have access to money and power. There should be limitations to the amount of amalgamations in the media as the more one group controls the media, the more dangerous it is in terms of a citizen’s right to a democracy because it can indoctrinate people’s views. The dominant media firms are large businesses controlled by very wealthy people who are subjected to many restraints by owners and other profit-orientated forces, and who also have common interests with other major corporations, banks, and government (Chomsky, 1998: 14). <br />
<br />
The media has the power to ensure that we do not act on our responsibilities by not informing us, the general public. They are capable of diluting and manipulating the system as well as the minds of the broader public. As said before, if a country does not have an independent and objective media, then it is not democratic. Leaving control in the hands of so few people is thus not only undemocratic, but unhealthy and dangerous too because people are being indoctrinated and are often not even aware of it. They do not have the capacity to make sound decisions and to have their own opinions as they just don’t know what is going on in the world, they only know what is portrayed to them and so often assume that what is portrayed is true.<br />
<br />
Follow me on twitter at: <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/MsFaiza">https://twitter.com/#!/MsFaiza</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11475410308097288761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967319294993497469.post-87666193279877253232012-04-20T01:51:00.001-07:002012-04-20T01:57:08.337-07:00Using mobile media in Angola to gain an engaged citizenryInternet bandwidth within Africa is continually on the rise, alongside the availability of online and mobile media.Through emphasising Angola as a case study, I will address this technological and social revolution. <br />
<br />
New media platforms are changing how people communicate with each other around the world. However, there is great variation in both the kind of communication platforms people make use of, as well as in how they access these platforms (Sarrazin, 2011). The media in Africa is expanding rapidly due to advances in telecommunications, especially mobile phones and the internet (WorldTravelAfrica, 2011). <br />
<br />
Sadly, computer ownership and internet access are still the prerogative of the wealthy few in wide swathes of the African continent. Nevertheless, mobile internet access is on the rise, and if current growth rates continue, African mobile phone penetration will reach 100 per cent by 2014 (Sarrazin, 2011). In mid-2011, mobile users constituted around 90% of all African telephone subscribers (Paul Budde Communication, 2011).<br />
<br />
International submarine fibre optic cables have reached several African countries for the first time in 2009 and 2010, or they have brought competition in this sector to an incumbent monopoly provider, with more cables expected to go online in 2011 and 2012. This has started to revolutionise the market by radically improving the supply of international bandwidth and lowering its cost (Paul Budde Communication, 2011).<br />
<br />
Another development worth mentioning is the rise of mobile reporting in Africa. Journalists across the continent are increasingly using the mobile phone as their primary reporting tool needed to collect text, photos and videos. This content is often distributed via the internet and is an early example of convergence in the internet and mobile medium (Paul Budde Communication, 2011). This assists in tackling the digital divide that has left Africa in what has been termed the ‘black hole’ in the past. <br />
<br />
Currently, Angola is one of the world’s poorest countries (BBC News AFRICA, 2011). It is striving to tackle the physical, political, and social legacy of the 27-year civil war that ravaged the country after independence (BBC News AFRICA, 2011). Angola has, and continues to face the daunting tasks of rebuilding its infrastructure, retrieving weapons from its heavily-armed civilian population and resettling tens of thousands of refugees who fled the fighting during the civil war that ended in 2002 (African Rainbow Consulting, 2009). Landmines and impassable roads have cut off large parts of the country. Many Angolans rely on food aid (BBC News AFRICA, 2011). After the civil war, foreign investment in Angola has multiplied, and the mobile market has soared despite a continued duopoly between Unitel and Angola Telecom’s Movicel (Paul Budde Communication, 2011). <br />
<br />
With regard to telecommunications, compared to global internet penetration, Africa only accounts for 5.7% of all Internet Users in the World. Angola has a 4.6% penetration with 233, 280 Facebook Subscribers: Refer to Appendix: A & B (Miniwatts Marketing Group, 2011). In Angola in 2009, 20% of the population had mobile phones (African Rainbow Consulting, 2009). This is likely to have increased as it’s important to note that often people who do not own mobile phones still have access to mobile phones that belong to family members or neighbours.<br />
<br />
According to BBC News (2011) the state controls all media with nationwide reach, including radio, which is the most influential medium outside of the capital of Luanda. Television, the private press, and internet access are very limited outside Luanda. Angola's only daily newspaper, Jornal de Angola, and the terrestrial TV service TPA are state-owned and rarely criticise the government. The constitution affords for freedom of expression, but the government does not always respect this.<br />
<br />
As a result, private media outlets have often been liable to harassment. Anti-defamation statutes protect officials from reporting deemed "offensive". Nevertheless, several private newspapers and radio stations have carried criticism of the government (BBC News, 2011). <br />
<br />
Free speech and the availability of unbiased news information is not provided in Angola; it is highly likely that the availability of alternative media provided through platforms such as social networks, blogs and independent websites would be popular as they tend to provide information that attempts to criticise the government and redress issues. Even if the information provided by citizens is not professional journalism or unbiased, it does open the platform for rational, critical debate which lies at the core of free speech and democratic ideals. Twitter, as an example, allows for popular content to ‘trend’. Therefore, people across the globe become aware of issues or concerns that are widely ‘tweeted’ about.<br />
<br />
Furthermore, the increasing availability of bandwidth, mobile usage and the rise of online media will allow for citizens to provide alternative information to people located outside Angola so as to provide increasing knowledge about local happenings. These, have been, social uprisings, strikes, or human injustices as noted in the past such as sex trafficking, forced labour, and subjections to domestic servitude (CIA, 2011). Mobile media has shown to be very successful in organising large groups of people within Africa and in publicising local injustices. <br />
<br />
In the past, peaceful demonstrations were banned in Angola, or participants were arrested (Norwegian Council for Africa, 2011). With the end of the civil war, the continuous fight for peace and justice could be addressed through modern media such as mobile phones which offer the most promise in terms of internet availability in Angola. The availability of online media offers the ability to provide informative, critical and balanced information through free speech by all citizenry.<br />
<br />
In the case of Angola, the availability of mobile technology and internet could help to facilitate freedom of speech, and to bring about awareness to issues around justice, freedom, equality, and free speech. However, due to tight government restrictions, many journalists’ have been arrested and there have been cases of media harassment (Afrol News, 2011). Angolan journalists are facing growing problems through experiencing mistrust and hostility that the authorities are showing towards some media (Afrol News, 2011). In terms of citizen interest in various subject matters, citizens may find outside media sources to be more engaging and rational as it offers a diversity of voices and opinions as opposed to traditional local media that offers opinions that are always state-approved. <br />
<br />
While currently, online media has not been widely adopted, it promises much for the country given the ways that are being paved ahead for the future as addressed below. The median age of all Angolans is 18 years old (CIA, 2011). Therefore, the literacy levels of the youth and their adoption of new technology will be integral in their attempts to address and redress the issues plaguing contemporary Angola. According to the CIA (2011), generally, Angolan’s over the age of 15 can read and write. <br />
<br />
Mobile phone penetration rates, in particular, have resulted in an abundance of ideas for new media platforms aimed at bridging the information divide between the well-connected and the disconnected (Sarrazin, 2011). Seventeen people, including several journalists, were arrested at the start of a demonstration, heavily monitored by police, in the Angolan capital, Luanda. The protest began as an internet campaign arranged by an anonymous group of individuals, announcing ‘a new revolution of the Angolan people,’ set up a website calling for an end to the 32-year rule of President José Eduardo dos Santos (Jacobs, 2011).<br />
<br />
Public is defined by accessibility for everyone; by the excludability of control over access (Luhmann, 2000). Extrapolating from Habermas’s work, the public sphere can be defined as “a neutral zone where access to relevant information affecting the public good is widely available, where there is free discussion (without state domination) and where all participants are equal in public debate” (Curran & Gurevitch, 1991: 83). Hence, it is a place where critical, rational debate occurs among citizens of a populace. Currently, this space does not exist within Angola. Online and mobile portals offer the most promise to this country in terms of a free and engaged Angolan populace. Attempts have been made by the public; in early 2011, there were reports of a social media campaign calling for protests to end President Dos Santos' 32-year rule (BBC News AFRICA, 2011). <br />
<br />
Both mobile phones and the internet provide exciting new opportunities for one-to-one as well as one-to-many communication. Newly empowered citizen journalists now report on issues and events relevant to their own communities. Political activists take to the web to gather support and organise rallies (Sarrazin, 2011).<br />
<br />
International development agencies can become active in a number of ways in order to support the recent development in new media platforms. Promoting media literacy, lobbying for affordable mobile phone and broadband tariffs, and increasing the audiences of alternative citizen media are just some of the possible fields of activity (Sarrazin, 2011). SADC executive secretary, Tomaz Salomao said there was peace and called for more solutions to fully unite the region. He said their attention will be on their strategic plan to boost infrastructure (Norwegian Council for Africa, 2011). <br />
<br />
Thus far, the Angolan mobile network operators have launched 3G services and are shaking up the broadband market where fixed-wireless operators and ISPs with CDMA and WiMAX-based networks have been competing with Angola Telecom’s ADSL and cable modem services. However, prices are still beyond the reach of most Angolans, due to the high cost of international bandwidth as a result of Angola Telecom’s monopolisation of the SAT-3/WASC international fibre optic submarine cable. This can be addressed by the landing of new international fibre systems in the country, which is expected to change this from 2011 onwards, coupled with a US$500 million national fibre backbone network rollout (Paul Budde Communication, 2011). <br />
<br />
Journalism can be a driving force of change, building confidence in society and opening the door to new and dynamic forms of democratic exchange. The digitalisation of media has a fundamental role in contemporary society as it breaks down traditional media business models. Information technology has developed dramatically and is now a part of everyday discourse. The consolidation of peer groups around shared values and codes of meaning for the members of the group leads to the emergence of a collective identity. <br />
<br />
Social network sites allow publics to gather and this could consist of all people across all space and time. Using mobile phones, citizenry could be kept abreast of latest developments and unity toward boosting infrastructure could be effectively achieved. <br />
<br />
It is well known that conflict often arises through lack of communication. This has been a major problem for Angola and Africa generally. Mobile communication could thus be instrumental in addressing citizens, and in gaining informed, rational and critical debate through engaged citizenry. <br />
<br />
Given the great difficulty that Angolan citizens and journalists face in producing media, online media seems to be the space to tackle the issues at hand. Noting the struggle in producing even online content, a current recourse could be Angolans blogging, tweeting and uploading news content from outside Angola. However, there are the brave few that are risking their lives by bracing the injustices from within. Angola has experienced turmoil and conflict for decades; mobile and online media possesses immense potential to tackle the shackles of injustice.<br />
<br />
The technological and social revolution of the Internet and social and mobile media is yet to revolutionise Angola’s ability to become a democratic nation in terms of free speech and engaged citizenry. The cables expected to go online in 2011 and 2012 offer this potential to Angola. The currently increasing levels of penetration and the current attempts at addressing injustices through social media is at the forefront of making a positive change for the future of Angola.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11475410308097288761noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967319294993497469.post-67898689483005463282012-04-19T14:18:00.004-07:002015-03-20T07:45:14.219-07:00Why I write...I am a very expressive person. All forms of communication interest me. As I love to talk; I love to write. I am not shy to have an opinion on things or to make my point of view known. I have often been told that I am a positive influence and a good communicator. Writing is a brilliant means of using these strengths to make a difference in the little world that surrounds me. <br />
<br />
Surprisingly, while the words flow with ease whilst speaking, putting pen to paper makes me exceptionally anxious. Writing... it's really like drawing blood and having it drip on paper. There's a quote about that. But. I. Try...<br />
<br />
I write to let go of the emotions I feel, to embrace how I feel, to retell what I feel, and to later analyse how I feel. I often don’t know exactly what I feel or how until I verbalise it or write it. Words are very important to me. Words are powerful and can be used in so many ways. If I can use it to influence, empower or motivate others then I feel that that would be my gift to humanity; whilst living, and after my passing. Writing is immortal; it lasts forever. And what writers have to say, are there forever.<br />
<br />
In a sense, I would like to live on in my words. Actions can be remembered, but words are literally always there. No person can craft a sentence or a story exactly like anyone else. Words that have been thread together are like peoples ‘fingerprints’ on the world. And I’d like to use my fingerprint positively to combat social norms that are crippling to the voiceless; particularly, women and children. I’d like to address dominant societal views that perpetuate patriarchal norms and values that in many ways stifle women from living a full life. <br />
<br />
Inspired by Enid Blyton as a little girl, I always felt I could escape into the fantasy world of adventures that her books took me to. Growing up, I often felt odd or out of place. I soon found that books, never shut you out. Many fairy tales insinuate patriarchal notions of women as the dependents and men as the saviours. This is why I would love to write books that challenge this hegemony. I would like to write the type of books that I would read or that I would love my future child to read; books that celebrate diversity and differences, books that recognise beauty in various facets. A book that will make children and people feel accepted, empowered, enlightened, enthralled and motivated. <br />
<br />
I write to hold onto memories, experiences and thoughts. I write to preserve them for later perusal. I write to understand myself and my feelings better. I write to people I care about because somehow I can never find the words to say. I write to carefully craft just exactly what I mean. I can only really write passionately when I am inspired. I write for me. I write to others. I write, simply because, it is a part of me.<br />
<br />
Follow me on twitter at: <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/MsFaiza">https://twitter.com/#!/MsFaiza</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11475410308097288761noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967319294993497469.post-79788363909825817002012-02-26T14:32:00.000-08:002012-02-26T14:32:13.716-08:00Is the SA 2012 national budget gender blind?On the 22nd of February the South African Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan delivered his second national budget speech. Most experts show positive attributions to the South African 2012 budget speech. Despite positive progressions made with regard to the largest categories of expenditure allocations being directed toward education, health and social assistance, there remains a gender blind focus to the direct allocation of funds. The national budget speech delivered does not directly recognise and address women and men’s experiences, needs and financial issues as fundamentally different. Therefore, the budget does little to economically empower South African women and to achieve gender equality. An analysis by Gender Links notes that if gender is not made explicit in policies, the differential impact on women and men and conversely the policies required to correct this, will be lost. <br />
<br />
During Gordhan’s all-inclusive budget speech, only once, when discussing financial sector development were women noted, where Gordhan confidently states that financial institutions should recognise the important role of women in the economy through clear reportage. He fails to do this much in his very own budget address to the public. He goes further to state that this progress needs to be more transparently reported. This very clearly illustrates a lack of focus on issues facing women in South Africa with regard to economic empowerment. <br />
<br />
According to the budget speech, total public spending will reach R1.1 trillion in 2012/13, representing some 32 per cent of GDP. However, Gordhan does not directly address how issues affect men and women differently, or how the budget will appropriate funds to address the triple threat of unemployment, inequality, and poverty that affects South African women much more greatly than it does men. Women often bear the brunt and burden of AIDS and health-related circumstances, therefore appropriations should be made in the budget that recognises this. Budgeting in a democracy means that social and economic needs must be balanced according to the definitive needs of the populace based on the unique issues they address. Infrastructure and job creation commitments are not what is needed; rather, insight into the South African populace and the gender-based inequities we face as a nation needs to be ascertained and addressed. According to Johanna Kehler, “women's realities in South Africa are still determined by race, class, and gender-based access to resources and opportunities”.<br />
<br />
All infrastructure is not equal, and getting the balance right between hospitals, schools, and the like is essential. Sufficient support is required to ensure that effective participation in infrastructural bidding processes is equitably distributed across provinces and people. In terms of job creation, the minister does not detail how women who are currently underrepresented in the employment sector will benefit. If care work and informal trade are formalised, they will create jobs and many women who currently dominate this sector will benefit. The implementation of systematic policies and remuneration packages for care work activities would empower women who largely dominate this sector; and thus society as a whole. As Gender Links quite pertinently points out, women are being placed in a poverty trap through their denial to economic empowerment. This further marginalises women economically and will also further perpetrate violence against women who are unable to exit unhealthy relationships due to economic dependency on men. This is contrary to the 2015 goals set-forth in the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development which South Africa is signatory to. <br />
<br />
The 2012 national budget shows a familiar emphasis on tackling issues related to education, unemployment, income growth and poverty reduction, economic growth, health expenditure and social assistance, yet it implicitly assumes a gender-blind focus. No clear targets are given, and it remains unclear as to how budgetary allocations will improve the particularly economic vulnerability of women in the country. Only once it is recognised that women’s economic empowerment is integral to the general empowerment of the South African economy, will the triple threat of inequality, poverty and unemployment be sufficiently tackled. We have much room for progress in a nation where women, who amount to half of the population, are only mentioned once in a national budget speech. The important role of women in the economy can only be recognised once women are recognised as the ones often carrying the financial burden in South African households. Gender disaggregated data on the beneficiaries of the budget need to be clearly outlined. The Southern Africa Gender Protocol Alliance wisely finds that budgets have the potential to transform gender inequality by acting as a tool to promote women's social and economic rights in order to break the vicious circle of poverty. So the budget speech has seen rave reviews for covering all aspects of governmental allocations… but how does this affect women?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11475410308097288761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967319294993497469.post-43560023575135684072012-02-13T10:49:00.000-08:002012-02-13T10:49:18.033-08:00Is ethical journalism possible?Well... it is possible, yet challenging, to demand high ethical standards in the field of journalism. It is imperative that these standards are continually imposed and reiterated so as to provide a benchmark for journalists, as ethics are fundamental to the practice of responsible journalism and to uphold the good reputation and credibility of the news organisation. As journalists are bound to come across ethical issues like the public’s right to know and blasphemous publications that could be seen as offensive to a particular group of people, they require journalistic ethics and codes as a guideline. <br />
<br />
The focus of this blog revolves around the cartoon controversy of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) with regards to freedom of expression and blasphemy. The Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten was condemned by Muslims for publishing cartoons featuring the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). On September 30, 2005 the paper published 12 cartoons of the Prophet. Thereafter, the newspaper was formally investigated to determine whether the cartoons constituted prohibited racist or blasphemous speech (Saleh, 2008). I argue from a relativist point of view, that freedom of expression should be balanced out with other human rights. <br />
<br />
This particular incident is particularly sensitive as Muslims are often framed negatively by mass media. The editorial of The Hindu stated on February 9: “At a time when Muslims across the world feel deeply offended by prejudiced stereotypes of Islam post-9/11, the cartoons have not just been insensitive, they have been downright provocative” (Saleh, 2008: 186). Therefore it can sufficiently be argued that this publication, especially in light of its context is highly unethical. This is a sterling example of why ethical guidelines need to be in place. However, some journalists have completely defended the publication of cartoons in the name of freedom of expression and were explicit in their disapproval of the Muslim world’s reactions (Saleh, 2008). These journalists take on an absolutist view, in seeing freedom of expression as an absolute right. <br />
<br />
Black, 1999 in (Claassen, 2005) argues that for many years, journalism has unfortunately neglected the significance of the link between excellent journalism and ethical journalism. Journalists tend to see their work as a profession, but their faith in that calling has been badly shaken in recent years (White, 2010). Justice William O. Douglas wrote in 1972, "The press has a preferred position in our constitutional scheme, not to enable it to make money, not to set newsmen apart as a favoured class, but to bring to fulfilment the public's right to know." (Powe Jr., 1992). In this particular case, it can be argued that there was no legitimate reason for the publication of these caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). <br />
<br />
Ethics deals with the philosophical foundations of decision-making, or choosing among the good and bad options that one faces (Claassen, 2005); while media ethics more specifically, is meant to help media people develop principles and maxims to follow in ethical practice (Froneman & de Beer, 1998). Meta-ethics provides the broad foundation for making ethical decisions without being involved in the decision-making itself. In the journalistic sense, therefore, meta-ethics studies the paradigms that underlie the ethical choices made by journalists (Retief, 2002). So responsible journalists are conscious of, or care about, the ethical problems that arise between them and news sources, as well as the general public. Therefore, a reporter who reports responsibly is one who cares about the effects of the news on society (Nel, 1999).<br />
<br />
Four of the key ethics of journalism as identified by (White, 2010) are accountability, truth-telling, independence and responsibility. Fairness, accuracy, objectivity and impartiality are also vital objectives of ethical journalism. Gouldner (1976: 102) in Glasser and Ettema (2008) states that, ‘‘To be ‘accountable’ means that one can be constrained to reveal what one has done and why one has done it; thus, the action and the reasons for it are open to a critique by strangers who have few inhibitions about demanding justification and reasonable grounds’’. A good journalist should always take the interests of readers into account. <br />
<br />
American journalistic ethics have become extremely influential in the practice of journalism. It is argued to capture the essence of a Western attitude to journalism. Therefore, there have been significant voices arguing that these principles are culturally specific and are therefore incapable of being universally applied. In South Africa there have been vociferous calls for journalists to adjust their ethics in line with African cultural realities and the new political order. In the wake of its controversial enquiry into racism in the media, the South African Human Rights Commission for instance has suggested that the current codes of conduct and the various declarations that exist be reviewed to ensure that they are consistent with the current constitutional requirements and that they adequately reflect the role of the media in a democratic society (Krüger, 2005).<br />
<br />
However, basic principles like independence (keeping a distance from the various players, to be able to report honestly), truth-telling, accuracy, and fairness are generally valid across contexts. Whatever the ethical approach in journalistic reporting, the topic reported needs to be addressed within its context (Krüger, 2005). Black, Steele & Barney (1995) in (Krüger, 2005) argue that, guiding principles for ethical journalism include treating sources, subjects, and colleagues as human beings and not merely as a means to an end. White (2010) argues that media accountability is shaped according to national conditions, traditions and customs. In this case, the Jyllands-Posten should have acted differently, in accordance to Islamic jurisprudence as it dealt with a specifically Islamic area of interest. Furthermore, journalism is effectively for the public good and in the public interest. This particular case was not necessary or ethically appropriate. Unethical journalism therefore is not in the public good as it brings about mistrust from the public in journalists and news organisations (Ndlovu, 2010).<br />
<br />
There are many challenges in making demands for ethical journalism. Firstly, the truth should be objective; but everyone’s truth is subject to their beliefs, value system and ideologies. To be a good media practitioner, media ethics always need to be applied; you have a responsibility to be ethical (Ndlovu, 2010). Journalists face two pressures, working to keep their newspaper in business, and but also maintaining professional standards based on the idea of virtuous conduct and serving the public interest (Greer, 2008: 20).<br />
<br />
According to Muslims, any image of Muhammad (SAW) is blasphemous, while some Westerners perceive its publication as a core right of free speech. Many media professionals in the West believe that religion should not set any barriers on freedom of expression on one hand, while also arguing that Muslims should not be insulted (Saleh, 2008). This great cartoon debate led to two cartoonists fearing for their lives when the Pakistani Jamaaat-e-Islami party offered more than $US1000 to anyone who killed the cartoonists. Most newspapers have been intolerant of the violent protests that erupted after the publication, condemning these acts as an over-reaction to an aggravation that should have been regarded as an insignificant insult (Saleh, 2008). <br />
<br />
As we can see with the above controversy with freedom of speech/expression versus blasphemy as offensive to religious beliefs, it is important to have ethical guidelines in place so as to prevent the incitement of violence and dispute. <br />
<br />
From a utopian perspective of upholding journalistic ethics, one would not publish the cartoons at all as it goes against Islamic beliefs. However, from a more pragmatic viewpoint, this decision would be balanced out with the public’s right to know and to be informed. This would depend on which is more important, the public’s right to be informed verse blasphemy against Muslims in general. <br />
<br />
As we have seen in this case study, the media can cause significant harm by publishing information that is highly offensive, and not of legitimate public concern. Established ethics call for harm to be minimised, yet not avoided completely, since some kinds are unavoidable or even justifiable; therefore established ethics would be vital in this case with regards to decision-making on whether to publish blasphemous cartoons of a religious figure.<br />
<br />
In considering many situations, we ask whether reported information outweighs the harm that may be caused. Neither the public’s right to know nor the harm to individuals have an automatic priority, and deciding which weighs more heavily is often very difficult (Krüger, 2005). Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers” (Karam, 2001). However, this right to freedom of expression and imparting information should be balanced out with other ethical issues like causing or inciting harm by publishing blasphemous content, because freedom of expression should not include the right to cause harm. As Haffajee (2006) also notes, balancing the public’s right to know against the duty not to injure people’s religions, racial or ethnic sensibilities is often a difficult and delicate matter. <br />
<br />
There are various reasons as to why these demands need to be in place. As Xolela Mangcu argues in (Isaacson, 2009: 16), “whatever we put out there has an impact on the other side of the railway lines. We need to be responsible for what we put out there”. White (2010) argues that the failure of media to be open and accountable is one of the fundamental reasons why public trust in media and journalism has been lost.<br />
<br />
Accuracy, truth and fairness is part and parcel of ethical and responsible journalism, therefore these ethical demands need to be made in journalism. If they are not, inaccurate information could be made public which could cause irreparable personal harm or offensive publications could cause a public outcry as seen in the case of the blasphemous cartoons. This goes further to affect the media’s credibility and integrity (Ndlovu, 2010). In protecting the media’s credibility and their right to report freely, they also have to accept that they bear a responsibility to respect the views of others (Karaan, 2006). <br />
<br />
Contemporary technology allows for almost anyone to take on the role of ‘journalist’. The widespread use of the internet has allowed citizens to blog, circulate emails, and write stories in an online environment. White (2010) argues that beyond the need for public trust, there is a new debate about the need for greater professionalism in journalism. He argues that in the age when the term “Citizen Journalist” has come to represent an overflow of untrained, uninformed and ill-equipped amateurs into the world of real journalism there is a need to identify exactly who we are talking about when we use the term “journalist”. <br />
<br />
Journalists see themselves as ’licensed truth-tellers’; societies give them unique freedoms so that they can inform the public about matters of importance. In this way, journalists are essential to democracy (Krüger, 2005). With that said, journalists need to distinguish themselves from others through their ethical behaviour and professionalism; their accountability and transparency. This is about ensuring that the people who practice journalism for a living are competent, trained, informed and aware of their responsibilities (White, 2010). With that in mind, the journalists who published these caricatures should have been wary that freedom of speech is not an absolute, but should rather negotiate between the dividing lines (Haffajee, 2006). <br />
<br />
Journalism can be a driving force of change, building confidence in society and opening the door to new and dynamic forms of democratic exchange. “Freedom of speech is a universally-accepted right, but we must carefully realize the fine line of distinction between free speech and hate speech. The cartoons can be seen as a form of hate speech, by stigmatizing all Muslims” (Saleh, 2008: 190). However, Unterhalter (2004) argues that at the heart of free speech is the right to say things that may offend others. This emphasises the great challenge in not having ethical standards of journalism as ethics varies from one person to the next. So to expect any kind of standardised ethics to be implemented, specific guidelines need to be in place. However, this will naturally vary across contexts. <br />
<br />
Though these ethical demands may not always be met completely, the high standard of ethics needs to be reinforced so as to encourage responsible journalism in order to promote the value of journalism. Without ethical demands, journalists would be free to be biased, partial, unaccountable, inaccurate and insensitive to the beliefs and values of others as seen in the case study presented. This would naturally erode the credibility and integrity of journalists and news organisations which would effectively lead to distrust of the news media by the public. If the general public should lose trust in news media in general then news organisations will cease to exist because their entire existence is dependent on the public as consumers. If these demands are not made and met it will lead to the death of professional journalism which will leave us with citizen journalism that have no public responsibility or standards or ethics to which they need to adhere to, leaving us with unfiltered and possibly inaccurate news content.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11475410308097288761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967319294993497469.post-191009681084633852011-09-16T12:12:00.001-07:002011-09-16T12:20:15.293-07:00So today I dressed less conservatively...Beautiful summer’s day and I decided to wear a little less than I usually do. Got out of my car feeling rather confident and pretty. Just a few steps and I receive a compliment. My first thought? Flip, I really should put in more effort, more often... I can be pretty if I try?<br />
<br />
I walked around all day feeling good and I’ll honestly say that I was noticed. Did I like it? Yes, I loved it. I loved the eye-contact; I loved the looks from guys at campus...<br />
<br />
Then I ran into someone unexpectedly, a good old friend and I suddenly became shy... and then I ran into someone that I am crushing on (just a bit), and he didn’t look at what I was wearing. Rather, he looked right at me and spoke to me.<br />
<br />
Walking around thereafter, I came to realise that I was the same person walking around... my clothes was just a bit tighter, shorter, and more appealing... but it was still me... yet, suddenly – I was getting all this attention.<br />
<br />
Then it bothered me. I like looking good. Feeling good. Being looked at. Being complimented. But that this happens just because I look physically attractive was rather bothering me a bit. I’ve always been the girl that tried, a bit, to look half-decent. But never, was I the girl to spend all my time in front of a mirror so as to be the object of desire (if that’s possible). I want to be taken seriously for who I am. Not the way I look. Not to say I look good, but I am young. Chances are, my beauty will only regress with time... and would I then be less appreciated? I wouldn’t if my appreciation was in essence for who I was, rather than for what I wore. <br />
<br />
I suddenly realised that I don’t want this. I became shy, because, well, I was getting all this attention from strangers that were merely appreciating my body as it looked then... would they bother to look otherwise? Do they even care what I am about?<br />
<br />
I decided to revert back to my old modest ways. This is better for me. But I am glad I learnt this lesson today.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11475410308097288761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967319294993497469.post-12347131380843260672011-09-08T13:32:00.000-07:002011-09-08T13:32:06.786-07:00The wider societal implications of the production process of tea in KenyaDevelopment on a global scale is affected by Southern producers in a global production chain. An analysis of the tea industry in Kenya will be used as a case in point, as it is one of the main sources of black tea exports (Talbot, 2002: 723). Tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world after water (Black Tea, The Most Consumed Tea, 2009). Therefore, the production process of tea is vital in understanding more about <b>tea</b> and the wider <b>implications</b> its production has on <b>development, equality/inequality, poverty and the lives of people globally.</b> Growing and producing tea provides a livelihood for millions of people around the world (Ethical Tea Partnership, 2009) <br />
<br />
Globalisation has produced opportunities for enormous wealth for many (Giddens, 2006: 386). However, globalisation has been accompanied by more unemployment, poverty, social disintegration, oppressive working conditions and often resides in isolation, marginalisation and violence (Cohen & Kennedy, 2000: 137).<br />
<br />
Global economic inequality is expanding; this is made clear by the following statistic derived from the UN Development Report (UNDP 1999): In 1997, twenty percent of the people in rich countries had seventy-four times the income of the poorest twenty percent (Giddens, 2006: 392).<br />
<br />
The global division of labour is made possible through globalisation and is the splitting of the production process into specialised stages across the globe. Many stages in the life cycles of many products occur in different countries, and sometimes in many different countries. This interdependence has different consequences. One consequence is that changes in production and consumption of a product in one country may have environmental as well as other impacts in other countries. Another consequence is that the means of any one national government to realize the objectives of product policy are limited when a large number of market actors are outside the jurisdiction of that particular government (Von Moltke, 1998: 4).<br />
<br />
A commodity chain is the linked sequences of processing stages that transform raw agricultural products into forms ready for final consumption (Talbot, 2002: 702). The amount of value added to the product at each stage of the chain, and who appropriates the profit from that stage is determined by the rules governing these transactions, and by their relations to transactions at the other stages. The commodity chain approach focuses on the global organisation of production, processing, and distribution of a commodity (Talbot, 2002: 703). <br />
<br />
When studying product chains, the focus of Global Commodity Chain Analysis (GCCA) is on the actors who are directly or indirectly involved with the product in the various stages of its life cycle (Von Moltke, 1998: 4). The actors can be producers, consumers, traders, or government agencies to name but a few. The decisions that these actors make regarding the product are interdependent. The market where buyers and sellers meet is the central institution that connects the actors in a product chain. The structure of the market affects the outcomes of market processes to all actors operating on this market (Von Moltke, 1998: 5). <br />
<br />
A product chain can be seen as a series of market processes. All actors in the product chain have an interest in the outcome of market processes. The outcome of market processes is dependent upon the structure of the market; hence, actors will be interested to bend the structure of the market in such a way that its outcome is maximized in terms of the actor’s personal objectives (Von Moltke, 1998: 5). In other words, actors struggle for market power. Market power and the strategies that different actors within the product chain use to acquire this power are central to the GCCA. Knowledge of the power relations within the chain is crucial in understanding the distribution of wealth along the chain and its governance structure (Von Moltke, 1998: 5). Global commodity chain analysis can tell us what the best options are to change the chain in a way that supports sustainable development (Von Moltke, 1998: 3).<br />
<br />
<b>The production chain for tea:<br />
</b><br />
Plucked (Harvested) Tea Leaf -- Wither -- Crush -- Ferment -- Dry -- ‘Made’ Tea: 1) Packet Tea; 2) Tea Bags; 3) Instant Tea.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>The four dimensions of commodity chains</b><br />
<br />
<b>1) Input-Output Structure</b><br />
The Input-Output structure is a sequence of interrelated value-adding activities including product design and engineering, manufacturing, logistics, marketing and sales (ILO, 2009).<br />
<br />
Tea is a large evergreen shrub. The part of the bush that is plucked is the tip of a new shoot that ideally consists of two leaves and a bud (Talbot, 2002: 712). After plucking, green tea (unfermented) is heated by steaming or roasting, and is then rolled or twisted, and then dried. Black tea on the other hand is first withered or partially dried after being harvested. Thereafter, it is cut or rolled to break up the leaf and expose more surfaces to air. The fermentation stage is an oxidation of the exposed surfaces of the leaf pieces, which helps to develop the colour and flavour of the tea (Talbot, 2002: 713). <br />
<br />
The next stage is the drying of the tea to stop oxidation. Lastly, the particles are sorted by size. At this point, the ‘made’ tea is ready for consumption. Additional processing stages include packing the tea into tea bags, the production of instant tea, and the bottling of brewed tea. The production of black tea rather than that of green tea will be considered, as the majority of internationally traded tea is black fermented tea (Talbot, 2002: 713). <br />
<br />
Tea must be processed shortly after plucking, right up to the point where it is ready to be consumed. Therefore, processing up to the point of ‘made’ tea is typically done near to the place where the tea is extracted (Ethical Tea Partnership, 2009). The cutting, tearing, and curling (CTC) processes are capital-intensive and require a large and continuous supply of freshly plucked tea to be done efficiently. This is why, until recently, tea has been mainly a plantation crop, and Transnational Corporations (TNCs) (Talbot, 2002: 713) have traditionally controlled the entire tea chain.<br />
<br />
This ‘made’ tea has been the predominant form in international trade, whereas processing into tea bags or instant tea has been done mostly in consuming countries. Tea produced on an estate is given a ‘selling mark’, which identifies the estate and country where the tea was produced. Sacks or chests of tea that leave the estate will carry the selling mark. Thereafter, the tea is sold either to the tea packing company directly, or through an auction, or via an agent or broker. The tea packing company produces brands of tea that are sold to the retailer and to the consumer (Ethical Tea Partnership, 2009).<br />
<br />
<b>2) Chain geography </b><br />
This refers to the spatial distribution or concentration of activities within and across locations. The geographical composition of global production networks results from a combination of local, regional, and transnational dynamics (ILO, 2009). In Kenya, tea is a major foreign exchange earner, and the main source for 17 to 20 percent of Kenya's total export revenue. Small-scale farmers grow more than 80 per cent of it, while the rest is grown by large-scale producers. Unlike small-scale farmers, large-scale growers are responsible for processing and marketing of their own crop. In Kenya alone, 314,875 farmers depend on tea growing as a livelihood (Global Tea – Kenya, 2009).<br />
<br />
Since tea is an agricultural commodity, it can only be profitably grown in tropical or sub-tropical climates. Therefore, it is produced almost exclusively in peripheral or semi-peripheral areas of the world. While the commodities are ‘rooted’ in the tropics, most of their consumers are located outside the tropics. This determines the distinctive south-to-north trading pattern of this commodity and explains its persistence over time (Talbot, 2002: 705). Their commodity chains are a vital link between the north and the south.<br />
<br />
The structures of these chains are important determinants of the tropical countries’ chances for development. A development strategy commonly used by southern countries is forward integration. They attempt to escape from their roles as suppliers of raw or semi-processed commodities, and to move into the more advanced processing stages of the chains. However, northern actors and the structures of these chains have prevented southern countries from succeeding at this strategy (Talbot, 2002: 702).<br />
<br />
Control over the major consuming markets by transnational corporations (TNC’s) is a major reason why even the most successful attempts at forward integration have returned only limited benefits to the producing regions (Talbot, 2002: 702). One of the most important characteristics of tropical commodity chains is the central role of the ecology and the processing requirements of the specific crops in the determination of their structures (Talbot, 2002: 706). <br />
<b><br />
3) Internal governance</b><br />
Internal governance is a governance structure, or power relations that determine how economic surplus is distributed within the chain. The governance structure plays a key role not only in the distribution of value, but also, more particularly in the coordination of global production networks (ILO, 2009). To understand the ways that an international product chain can be changed in a way that reduces its impacts on the environment, it is essential to understand what the governance structure of the chain is like (Von Moltke, 1998: 4).<br />
<br />
Development strategies can be viewed as efforts to reorganize the commodity chains, or to change their governance structures. Restructuring can involve the restructuring of production within one or more stages of the chain, changes in the geographic location of the stages, or changes in the ways in which the stages are linked to one another. Changes in the governance structures involve changing the rules governing the flows between stages, or changing the division of income and profit along the chain. All of these changes are the results of strategies pursued by the wide variety of actors located at the various stages along the chain, who use whatever political or economic means they have at their disposal in order to improve their positions (Talbot, 2002: 707).<br />
<br />
In Kenya, state action was used to assert local control over the growing and initial processing of tea. The Kenyan state placed limits on the expansion of foreign owned plantations and promoted the growth of smallholder production. However, beyond gaining some local control over tea growing, the state took no further actions. It established an auction centre but did not actively pressure tea growers to use it. Most of Kenya’s tea continued to be sold through London until the closing of the London auction. The Kenyan state did not promote local processing beyond the ‘made’ tea stage, therefore there is no success in forward integration, which could result in increased prices for local producers in a global market (Talbot, 2002: 724).<br />
<br />
Therefore, the initial focus of state development strategies was to gain local control over tea growing and over the tea auctions (Talbot, 2002: 726). The market alone will not deliver economic or social justice, substantive change requires concerted action by states and global institutions pushed by organised civil society to re-regulate trade and economic activity. Approximately sixty years ago, Polanyi stated that only the powerful institutions of the state could protect society against the perils inherent in a self-regulating market system (Jaffee, 2007: 35). <br />
<br />
<b>4) Institutional conditions</b><br />
These are formed by the norms, values, and regulatory frameworks of the various communities within which firms operate. Specialised productive activities tend to be clustered in particular locations within countries that participate in global production networks (ILO, 2009). Long hours experienced in the agricultural sector often leads to backaches, and joint problems. On farms, handling of chemicals may also lead to skin allergies, headaches, and fainting (Jenkins, 2005: 609).<br />
<br />
<b>An assessment of the development implications of the production of tea in the South </b><br />
Development at the level of social groups entails an increasing capacity to regulate both internal and external relationships (Walter, 1974). Poverty reduction, improved living standards, democracy, and greater access to services are some indicators of development. <br />
<br />
The Kenyan labour force comprises of predominantly young females, with 60% of farm workers being women (Jenkins, 2005: 607). Through the ‘global assembly line’, many Third World women have become part of the international working class (Mittelman, 1995: 278). While this may seem positive at first as incomes and standards of living may be increased, this also affects the household and gender relations as women now have to balance two roles, that of reproductive labour, and now, productive labour.<br />
<br />
It also poses a challenge to existing relations under patriarchy, which typically sees the man’s role as productive labourer. This may threaten familial relations and may in some cases lead to violence. Another negative factor of employment in the tea industry in Kenya is that there is instability in employment and fluctuations in earnings. Casual and seasonal workers particularly suffer a lack of income security (Jenkins, 2005: 608). Empirical studies show that the employment of women and undocumented workers are often used as strategies to segment the agricultural workforce and enhance employer control (Collins, 1993: 60).<br />
<br />
Global integration provides a win-lose outcome on many dimensions (Kaplinsky, 2005: 235). With deepening globalisation, distribution has become more unequal, and living standards have declined. In many cases, morbidity has grown, while life expectancy has fallen dramatically.<br />
<br />
Developed countries have had an uneven and continual decline in their global share of employment, production output and trade (Hassler, 2003: 513). The intensity of global competition prevents low-income, predominantly agricultural economies in sub-Saharan Africa from entering global markets (Kaplinsky, 2005: 239). With the proliferation of enterprises producing similar crops in the same region, firms must frequently struggle to maintain their position in global markets (Collins, 1993: 59).<br />
<br />
Falling prices have become a systemic feature of modern globalised production systems (Kaplinsky, 2005: 232). Global production networks are making growing use of low-income production platforms, concentration is growing in the buying of global products, and price pressures are becoming intense. Effective production is only one part of the story of global production networks; the other is the role played by global buyers, and this too was analysed as a factor determining the distribution of rewards in the current era of globalisation (Kaplinsky, 2005: 234). There has been an increasing tendency for the prices of all manufactures to fall in recent years, but this fall has been more dramatic for low-income economies.<br />
<br />
Farmers who depend on export commodities for their livelihood have long been at the mercy of price fluctuations beyond their control (Jaffee, 2007: 41). For most of the past century, real prices for all primary commodities have been falling steadily. Observers describe this phenomenon as a global commodity price crisis (Jaffee, 2007: 48). While falling prices affects growers of all sizes, small producers are hit the hardest because they cannot make up for lower incomes by increasing production. This deepening poverty may heighten pre-existing social tensions and inequalities in the countryside, and may lead to social upheaval in several regions (Jaffee, 2007: 52). <br />
<br />
Global sourcing is at a cost to the environment, directly through global transport, and indirectly, through the link between increased energy consumption and global warming. Increased carbon emissions also results in global warming which has a disproportionately negative impact on poor people and low-income economies (Kaplinsky, 2005: 252).<br />
<br />
Increasingly, policy agendas are being formed in low-income countries as a consequence of external influences. In some cases, the policy agenda is directly dictated by international financial institutions like the World Bank, IMF and the WTO, often backed by pressure from large donor countries such as the USA. The Washington Consensus strips governments of the responsibility for and capability of influencing either the allocation of resources to promote and influence growth or the distribution of income (Kaplinsky, 2005: 240)<br />
<br />
There are dangers of disengaging from the global economy and turning inwards into a single economy. Few low-income countries have an adequately large market to allow for the capturing of the economies of scope and scale that characterise modern production systems (Kaplinsky, 2005: 248). Neo-liberal policies partially imposed by the IMF obliges Third World countries to reduce the role of the state in regulating the economy and encourages countries to let market forces of demand and supply control the economy (Jaffee, 2007: 51).<br />
<br />
Fair trade can be defined as ‘a system of trade that allows marginalised producers in developing regions to gain access to developed markets’. Markets in the rich countries have been closed to Southern Producers because of rigged rules and double standards (Jaffee, 2007: 27). Thus, the fair trade market was created so that the conventional market would become more equitable (Jaffee, 2007: 30). <br />
<br />
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has called on all governments to implement proactive policy initiatives and negotiate trade agreements to enhance the growth of the Fair Trade system (Jaffee, 2007: 32). Fair Trade principles include a fair price, fair labour conditions, direct trade, democratic and transparent organisations, community development, and environmental sustainability. Fair trade provides various social benefits, and the fair trade label guarantees fair price, quality products, care for the environment, and community impact (Fair Trade Certified, 2009). Fair trade has the potential to shield producers against the worst economic effects of price crises (Jaffee, 2007: 56). <br />
<br />
Developments in environmental awareness in the North can lead to opportunities and challenges for Southern producers. The opportunities are caused by the increased demand for environmentally superior products. Southern producers might be able to benefit from these opportunities. The challenges are caused by the increasing incidence of environmental measures that affect markets into which Southern producers are currently selling. An environmentally superior product is not only defined by the characteristics of the product itself, but more and more also by the way it is produced (Von Moltke, 1998: 24).<br />
<br />
The growth of horticulture exports has generated employment and income opportunities in Kenya and that a significant share of these have benefited poor households. The <b>overall outcomes of globalisation for workers in Kenya appear to be negative with declining earnings for unskilled workers, increased inequality, and greater use of flexible employment practices.</b> As we have seen, the impacts of globalisation as well as the development impacts for a Southern producer are highly dependent on the context. <b>One cannot state that Southern producers always gain or lose from the global division of labour. </b>However, it can be stated that farm workers are usually exposed to long hours of work, and poor working conditions.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11475410308097288761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967319294993497469.post-87349183973011626692011-09-03T02:13:00.000-07:002011-09-03T02:13:11.333-07:00The technological and social revolution's potential impact on AngolaInternet bandwidth within Africa is continually on the rise, alongside the availability of online and mobile media. This essay will address this technological and social revolution through emphasising Angola as a case study. The revolution’s impact on the Angola’s media landscape through social media will be discussed. The media landscape change will be considered from the perspective of bandwidth improvement, mobile usage, and the rise of online media and how this affects the consumption of traditional news media. Furthermore, there will be a focus on the concept of free speech and the availability to citizenry to participate through online and mobile media, as well as how well these platforms have been adopted by Angolans. Gaps for digital and mobile agencies will be identified, and further suggestions to manipulate this area will be provided. <br />
<br />
New media platforms are changing how people communicate with each other around the world. However, there is great variation in both the kind of communication platforms people make use of, as well as in how they access these platforms (Sarrazin, 2011). The media in Africa is expanding rapidly due to advances in telecommunications, especially mobile phones and the internet (WorldTravelAfrica, 2011). Computer ownership and internet access are still the prerogative of the wealthy few in wide swathes of the African continent. Nevertheless, mobile internet access is on the rise, and if current growth rates continue, African mobile phone penetration will reach 100 per cent by 2014 (Sarrazin, 2011). In mid-2011, mobile users constituted around 90% of all African telephone subscribers (Paul Budde Communication, 2011).<br />
<br />
International submarine fibre optic cables have reached several African countries for the first time in 2009 and 2010, or they have brought competition in this sector to an incumbent monopoly provider, with more cables expected to go online in 2011 and 2012. This has started to revolutionise the market by radically improving the supply of international bandwidth and lowering its cost (Paul Budde Communication, 2011). Another development worth mentioning is the rise of mobile reporting in Africa. Journalists across the continent are increasingly using the mobile phone as their primary reporting tool needed to collect text, photos and videos. This content is often distributed via the internet and is an early example of convergence in the internet and mobile medium (Paul Budde Communication, 2011). This assists in tackling the digital divide that has left Africa in what has been termed the ‘black hole’ in the past. <br />
<br />
Currently, Angola is one of the world’s poorest countries (BBC News AFRICA, 2011). It is striving to tackle the physical, political, and social legacy of the 27-year civil war that ravaged the country after independence (BBC News AFRICA, 2011). Angola has, and continues to face the daunting tasks of rebuilding its infrastructure, retrieving weapons from its heavily-armed civilian population and resettling tens of thousands of refugees who fled the fighting during the civil war that ended in 2002 (African Rainbow Consulting, 2009). Landmines and impassable roads have cut off large parts of the country. Many Angolans rely on food aid (BBC News AFRICA, 2011). After the civil war, foreign investment in Angola has multiplied, and the mobile market has soared despite a continued duopoly between Unitel and Angola Telecom’s Movicel (Paul Budde Communication, 2011). <br />
<br />
With regard to telecommunications, compared to global internet penetration, Africa only accounts for 5.7% of all Internet Users in the World. Angola has a 4.6% penetration with 233, 280 Facebook Subscribers: Refer to Appendix: A & B (Miniwatts Marketing Group, 2011). In Angola in 2009, 20% of the population had mobile phones (African Rainbow Consulting, 2009). This is likely to have increased as it’s important to note that often people who do not own mobile phones still have access to mobile phones that belong to family members or neighbours.<br />
<br />
According to BBC News (2011) the state controls all media with nationwide reach, including radio, which is the most influential medium outside of the capital of Luanda. Television, the private press, and internet access are very limited outside Luanda. Angola's only daily newspaper, Jornal de Angola, and the terrestrial TV service TPA are state-owned and rarely criticise the government. The constitution affords for freedom of expression, but the government does not always respect this. As a result, private media outlets have often been liable to harassment. Anti-defamation statutes protect officials from reporting deemed "offensive". Nevertheless, several private newspapers and radio stations have carried criticism of the government (BBC News, 2011). <br />
<br />
Free speech and the availability of unbiased news information is not provided in Angola; it is highly likely that the availability of alternative media provided through platforms such as social networks, blogs and independent websites would be popular as they tend to provide information that attempts to criticise the government and redress issues. Even if the information provided by citizens is not professional journalism or unbiased, it does open the platform for rational, critical debate which lies at the core of free speech and democratic ideals. Twitter, as an example, allows for popular content to ‘trend’. Therefore, people across the globe become aware of issues or concerns that are widely ‘tweeted’ about. Furthermore, the increasing availability of bandwidth, mobile usage and the rise of online media will allow for citizens to provide alternative information to people located outside Angola so as to provide increasing knowledge about local happenings. These, have been, social uprisings, strikes, or human injustices as noted in the past such as sex trafficking, forced labour, and subjections to domestic servitude (CIA, 2011). Mobile media has shown to be very successful in organising large groups of people within Africa and in publicising local injustices. <br />
<br />
In the past, peaceful demonstrations were banned in Angola, or participants were arrested (Norwegian Council for Africa, 2011). With the end of the civil war, the continuous fight for peace and justice could be addressed through modern media such as mobile phones which offer the most promise in terms of internet availability in Angola. The availability of online media offers the ability to provide informative, critical and balanced information through free speech by all citizenry. In the case of Angola, the availability of mobile technology and internet could help to facilitate freedom of speech, and to bring about awareness to issues around justice, freedom, equality, and free speech. However, due to tight government restrictions, many journalists’ have been arrested and there have been cases of media harassment (Afrol News, 2011). Angolan journalists are facing growing problems through experiencing mistrust and hostility that the authorities are showing towards some media (Afrol News, 2011). In terms of citizen interest in various subject matters, citizens may find outside media sources to be more engaging and rational as it offers a diversity of voices and opinions as opposed to traditional local media that offers opinions that are always state-approved. <br />
<br />
While currently, online media has not been widely adopted, it promises much for the country given the ways that are being paved ahead for the future as addressed below. The median age of all Angolans is 18 years old (CIA, 2011). Therefore, the literacy levels of the youth and their adoption of new technology will be integral in their attempts to address and redress the issues plaguing contemporary Angola. According to the CIA (2011), generally, Angolan’s over the age of 15 can read and write. <br />
<br />
Mobile phone penetration rates, in particular, have resulted in an abundance of ideas for new media platforms aimed at bridging the information divide between the well-connected and the disconnected (Sarrazin, 2011). Seventeen people, including several journalists, were arrested at the start of a demonstration, heavily monitored by police, in the Angolan capital, Luanda. The protest began as an internet campaign arranged by an anonymous group of individuals, announcing ‘a new revolution of the Angolan people,’ set up a website calling for an end to the 32-year rule of President José Eduardo dos Santos (Jacobs, 2011).<br />
<br />
Public is defined by accessibility for everyone; by the excludability of control over access (Luhmann, 2000). Extrapolating from Habermas’s work, the public sphere can be defined as “a neutral zone where access to relevant information affecting the public good is widely available, where there is free discussion (without state domination) and where all participants are equal in public debate” (Curran & Gurevitch, 1991: 83). Hence, it is a place where critical, rational debate occurs among citizens of a populace. Currently, this space does not exist within Angola. Online and mobile portals offer the most promise to this country in terms of a free and engaged Angolan populace. Attempts have been made by the public; in early 2011, there were reports of a social media campaign calling for protests to end President Dos Santos' 32-year rule (BBC News AFRICA, 2011). <br />
<br />
Both mobile phones and the internet provide exciting new opportunities for one-to-one as well as one-to-many communication. Newly empowered citizen journalists now report on issues and events relevant to their own communities. Political activists take to the web to gather support and organise rallies (Sarrazin, 2011). International development agencies can become active in a number of ways in order to support the recent development in new media platforms. Promoting media literacy, lobbying for affordable mobile phone and broadband tariffs, and increasing the audiences of alternative citizen media are just some of the possible fields of activity (Sarrazin, 2011). SADC executive secretary, Tomaz Salomao said there was peace and called for more solutions to fully unite the region. He said their attention will be on their strategic plan to boost infrastructure (Norwegian Council for Africa, 2011). <br />
<br />
Thus far, the Angolan mobile network operators have launched 3G services and are shaking up the broadband market where fixed-wireless operators and ISPs with CDMA and WiMAX-based networks have been competing with Angola Telecom’s ADSL and cable modem services. However, prices are still beyond the reach of most Angolans, due to the high cost of international bandwidth as a result of Angola Telecom’s monopolisation of the SAT-3/WASC international fibre optic submarine cable. This can be addressed by the landing of new international fibre systems in the country, which is expected to change this from 2011 onwards, coupled with a US$500 million national fibre backbone network rollout (Paul Budde Communication, 2011). <br />
<br />
Journalism can be a driving force of change, building confidence in society and opening the door to new and dynamic forms of democratic exchange. The digitalisation of media has a fundamental role in contemporary society as it breaks down traditional media business models. Information technology has developed dramatically and is now a part of everyday discourse. The consolidation of peer groups around shared values and codes of meaning for the members of the group leads to the emergence of a collective identity. Social network sites allow publics to gather and this could consist of all people across all space and time. Using mobile phones, citizenry could be kept abreast of latest developments and unity toward boosting infrastructure could be effectively achieved. <br />
<br />
It is well known that conflict often arises through lack of communication. This has been a major problem for Angola and Africa generally. Mobile communication could thus be instrumental in addressing citizens, and in gaining informed, rational and critical debate through engaged citizenry. Given the great difficulty that Angolan citizens and journalists face in producing media, online media seems to be the space to tackle the issues at hand. Noting the struggle in producing even online content, a current recourse could be Angolans blogging, tweeting and uploading news content from outside Angola. However, there are the brave few that are risking their lives by bracing the injustices from within. Angola has experienced turmoil and conflict for decades; mobile and online media possesses immense potential to tackle the shackles of injustice. The technological and social revolution of the Internet and social and mobile media is yet to revolutionise Angola’s ability to become a democratic nation in terms of free speech and engaged citizenry. The cables expected to go online in 2011 and 2012 offer this potential to Angola. The currently increasing levels of penetration and the current attempts at addressing injustices through social media is at the forefront of making a positive change for the future of Angola. <br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11475410308097288761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-967319294993497469.post-39161427475745395822011-08-26T12:05:00.000-07:002012-10-17T07:03:40.117-07:00The Dancing Women’s Movement of 1925 and the Nigerian Women’s War of 1929The historical context which shaped the nature as well as the content of the political actions undertaken at the time of the Dancing Women’s Movement (Nwaobiala) of 1925 and the Women’s War of 1929 that took place in Nigeria will be considered in determining whether this was a Feminist action.<br />
<br />
The British colonial administrative system conducted a census in 1926 which was followed by, and resulted in the taxing system. It was a time of economic instability as a result of a change in the pricing methods, lower prices for palm oil, a rise in the prices of imported goods, bribes being stopped, and the introduction of the inspection of produce. (Mba, 1982: 74). The women’s war was primarily a movement by women to protect their political and economic interests which was endangered by the economic crisis, taxation, and the actions by the warrant chiefs (Mba, 1982: 90).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD1XZXOvwrkqFwjUnB_CKEyDEck4vUa4_GdXet3TvjyELN-7gXLsx7QYv0z-1EL7ILHvgRj8HiEU2buG8tGk2gBM722IJrp4570r6-RTAkmsHbajo-RYPb2slMwLX_KR98Akk6Cw8FUDrF/s1600/Igbo_Women.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="238" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD1XZXOvwrkqFwjUnB_CKEyDEck4vUa4_GdXet3TvjyELN-7gXLsx7QYv0z-1EL7ILHvgRj8HiEU2buG8tGk2gBM722IJrp4570r6-RTAkmsHbajo-RYPb2slMwLX_KR98Akk6Cw8FUDrF/s320/Igbo_Women.jpg" /></a></div>The Nwaobiala showed a rejection of the new social system by women. The political, economic, and social innovations of colonialism was seen as a threat to their social and moral order (Mba, 1982: 70). Following the Nwaobiala, whose protests seemed to have been largely directed toward south-eastern Nigerian male elites, a number of events appear to have convinced Igbo women that the colonial administration was the new power. These events included the implementation of the household census, taxation of men, the extension of government roads and lines of rail, the development of modern marketplaces, unchecked colonial monetization, and the rising price of imported commodities and bride wealth, coupled with the falling value of produce (Allman, Geiger & Musisi, 2002: 264).<br />
<br />
In October 1929, counting of women, men, and livestock by an assistant District Officer, Mark Emeruwa, triggered the women’s war in Oloko. The people assumed that this counting was proof of the intention to tax women, and this was reinforced by the actions of the warrant chiefs in the area, who had misunderstood their instructions and also believed that women were to be taxed (Mba, 1982: 76). Nwanyeruwa of Oloko was credited with beginning the Women’s War, on or around the 23 November 1929 (Allman, Geiger & Musisi, 2002: 262) when she had an argument and a physical fight with Emeruwa. However, the movement eventually became a revolt against all forms of established authority and control (Mba, 1982: 79).<br />
<br />
A continuousness exists between Igbo and other southern women’s demands in the 1925 Nwaobiala (Dancing Women‘s Movement), which can be seen as a women’s purification movement, and the demands made in 1929 in the women’s war (Allman, Geiger & Musisi, 2002: 264). Similar methods of protest was used but for different reasons and to portray different messages. <br />
<br />
During the Nwaobiala, the women demanded a return to the pre-colonial social system, and for the currency not to be changed from brass rods and cowrie shells to coins and notes. They opposed inter-marriage, fixed prices of cassava and fowls, and the levy on water. They did not want cassava to continue to be grown, and demanded the restoration of old bush paths as opposed to the tarred roads. In some areas, women’s prostitution was opposed. While women in other areas stated that women should not charge too much for prostitution services, and married women should be allowed to commit adultery without the fear of being taken to the native court. They also demanded that unmarried girls be allowed to be naked (Mba, 1982: 70-71).<br />
<br />
During the women’s war, the women objected the system of having chiefs imposed and objected warrant chiefs. They demanded that chiefs rather be elected for a fixed period of time, and that women have a say in the selection of chiefs (Mba, 1982: 87-88). They rejected the native courts, and the taxation system for women, as well as tax disks for men who paid taxes. What makes the Women’s War different to the Nwaobiala, is that there is not much evidence of any cultural or religious protest in the women’s war, with the exception of their opposition to interference by the warrant chiefs in the case of marriage (Mba, 1982: 89). Also, during the Nwaobiala, the women’s livelihood was not being threatened, while the women’s war was dominated by thoughts, and directed by actions about livelihoods (Mba, 1982: 90). <br />
<br />
The political action undertaken by the women during the women’s war was directed against government policies or actions which had threatened women’s interests (Mba, 1982: 68). Afigbo argues that the women’s war was essentially anti-government; in fighting for the old political and moral order, the women were asking for the ending of British colonial rule (Mba, 1982: 78). Van Allen also states a similar belief; she says that the women’s war was mainly a political war in which they used their traditional means of protest, such as ‘sitting on a man’, on a larger scale to regain the political participatory power that they had had under pre-colonial society (Mba, 1982: 78).<br />
<br />
The Western influence by the British when colonising Nigeria weakened the women’s traditional autonomy and bases of strength without providing them with any modern forms of autonomy and power in exchange (Van Allen, 1972: 165). The British attempted at creating specialised political institutions which demanded monopolised force and authority, as opposed to the traditional Igbo political system of fluid and informal leadership, and shared rights of enforcement (Van Allen, 1972: 166). <br />
<br />
Women undertook collective action against the forces and symbols of colonial rule (Allman, Geiger & Musisi, 2002: 9). The women united to defend their economic interests which they thought to be at risk, and they used bodily insult to demonstrate their pride in themselves as women (Ifeka-Moller, 1975: 143). Women’s use of their bodies as a disciplinary technique affirms the stability of sexual ideologies throughout the early 20th century, and the reality of male domination (Ifeka-Moller, 1975: 144).<br />
<br />
During the movement of 1925, the women requested that small sums of cash and other fines be given to them for their song and dance labours, but by 1929 they had progressed to more substantial requirements. Throughout the war, they demanded material tokens of their mastery over men. They took caps from warrant chiefs, then tore down the colonised men’s houses, even going so far as to take up chiefs’ yams and roast them over fires built of the mats that primarily roofed yam barns (Allman, Geiger & Musisi, 2002: 265). <br />
<br />
The women also engaged in actions directed against the hated government roads, cars and trucks, railroad stations, fences surrounding public areas, mercantile buildings like the “factories” (warehouses) that housed the palm oil and foreign commodities trade, and the most obvious sites of colonial work, including native court buildings, colonial administrative headquarters, and jails (Allman, Geiger & Musisi, 2002: 261). <br />
<br />
The women assembled in large crowds with varied clothing, such as green creepers in their hair, wreaths of grass around their necks, heads and knees, or as a tail (vultures), and they carried sticks as if they were possessed by evil spirits. These public protests were lead by old nude woman, and accompanied by obscene gestures. Some women carried machetes, but most women were unarmed while effectively destroying buildings, looting factories, and assaulting chiefs and administrative officials (Ifeka-Moller, 1975: 129). <br />
<br />
There were strong levels of solidarity between the Igbo women, as they regularly worked together in protests. They took part in actions such as ‘sitting on men’, burning courts, releasing prisoners from jail, and confiscating the caps of Districts Officer’s. They also use their bodies and clothing as symbols of group solidarity (Van Allen, 1972: 174). According to Judith van Allen, “’Sitting on a man’, and boycotts and strikes were the women’s main weapons. Briefly, to ‘sit on’ or ‘make war on’ a man involved gathering at his compound, dancing, and singing songs which detailed the women’s grievances against him. This would continue until he repented and promised to change his ways. In the Igbo society, this was considered legitimate and no man would consider intervening” (Van Allen, 1972:170). <br />
<br />
Caroline Ifeka-Moller’s (1973: 143) view of ‘sitting on men’ is different to that of Van Allen. She says it was not used as a tactic in the war. She states that the practice is rather an informal restriction which takes place within a local community and is very different from the inter-community mobilisation of women that occurred during the riots. Not only does she say that the scale of the movement was far removed from that of ‘sitting on a man’, but she also states that women destroyed property, raided factories, dressed in typically of war-like clothing, sang of death and blood, made obscene gestures, and even became possessed by spirits on certain occasions. <br />
<br />
This is similar to the traditional action of ‘sitting of men’, but in a more extreme manner and on a larger scale. During the war, the women placed roadblocks on the British-constructed roadways and clogged the major thoroughfares between colonial towns with their bodies. The women also made it clear that they were not pleased with the continued intrusion of men into trade and the marketplace (Allman, Geiger & Musisi, 2002: 266).<br />
<br />
Feminism is the struggle by women against patriarchal control and exclusion (McFadden, SARIPS). Patricia McFadden also sees feminism as a resistance against injustice in the human narrative, although it has to be known or recognised. She sees it as a struggle against the appropriation of one’s integrity and personhood (SARIPS). <br />
<br />
During the war, the women desired equitable and culturally appropriate social and economic order. (Allman, Geiger & Musisi, 2002: 267). A common theme of liberal feminism are rights, rationality, self-development, and self-fulfilment. Liberal theory sees a need for a division of human endeavours into public and private spheres. In summary, the liberal views liberation for women as the freedom to determine our own social role and to compete with men on terms that are as equal and possible (Kensinger, 1997: 184). <br />
<br />
Southeastern Nigerian women saw themselves as active participants in their own societies (Allman, Geiger & Musisi, 2002: 269). This is evident in the testimonies given by women before the commission. They consistently demanded that women be represented in the new institutions which had been set up by the colonial government (Ejikeme, 2009). The main argument provided by liberal feminists is that an individual woman should be able to determine her social role with as much freedom as a man can (Kensinger, 1997: 184). <br />
<br />
There had been no leadership roles prior to 1929. When the leaders did come to existence however, there was a leader for each village group. There were a few women in each village as spokeswomen for the crisis, and this was based on selection. Most of these leadership positions were filled by middle-aged women who had had children already. While these women tended to be illiterate, they did have courage to face colonial commissions (Mba, 1982: 83). Clearly, age and experience still played a factor in the selection of leaders, while education did not. This is typically factors that are in play in patriarchy in the selection of leaders, like strength and bravery. <br />
<br />
The women’s war could be seen as a contest of gender categories, with each side attempting to situate and stabilise local concepts of femininity and masculinity in the rapidly transforming context of high colonialism (Allman, Geiger & Musisi, 2002: 270). Nina Mba views the women’s war as a feminist movement because of the conscious role the women played as women, the importance they placed on women in society, as well as the way they ensured their rights as women (1982: 91). What is not feminist about their actions however, is that they did not demand equal political participation with men (Mba, 1982: 91). <br />
<br />
McFadden states that societies become deeply patriarchal once they are colonised (SARIPS). Colonisation almost always implies a relation of structural domination, and a broad or political suppression of the heterogeneity of the subject or subjects in question (Mohanty, 1988: 61). Since the colonisation of Nigeria is patriarchal, the women who were fighting against colonialism in the were inherently fighting the system of patriarchy. While we cannot conclude that they were feminists (only they can define their identities as such), we can conclude, based on the above definition by Patricia McFadden that the actions undertaken by the women during the war like using female leadership to subvert the hierarchy in place, and struggling against social injustices, were feminist. <br />
<br />
It is difficult simply name these female activists as feminist since it is problematic to categorise and identify someone as feminist without them consenting and claiming this identity. It is also difficult to name these women as feminists as they could not possibly oppose something that they were unaware of. Given the fact that these women were illiterate and the war took place in Nigeria in the 1920’s, it is highly unlikely that they were unaware of the discourses revolving around patriarchy and feminism.<br />
<br />
We can surely conclude that the women’s war was a social movement. According to Shamillah Wilson, the feminist movement is a social movement that is engaged in the fight for equality and justice. While, Sunila Abeysekera views social movements as conscious, collective activities that aim to promote social change, and sees it as representing a protest against the established power structure and dominant norms and values (Wilson, 2005: 233). As mentioned above, the women’s social movement was one against the British colonial power structure, hence making their social movement a feminist movement. <br />
<br />
Follow me on <a href="https://twitter.com/MsFaiza">Twitter</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11475410308097288761noreply@blogger.com1