This morning's session at the hospital, to pick up Mma's monthly supply of meds, reminded me how fortunate I am, despite whatever difficulties I may have. I feel like I am wrapped up in priviledge, and whenever I go to the hospital, something happens to remind me how the majority of South Africans are struggling financially.
One such instance was a young woman, in her twenties, who couldn't pay the minimum fee of R20 (a bit more than $2). For this fee, she would get a consultation with a doctor, do whatever tests she needs and get all her prescribed medicines. Sounds like a good deal, doesn't it, considering how expensive medicines can be. Except, she couldn't afford this fee.
She kept telling the clerk that collects payment that she didn't have the money because she was unemployed and hadn't worked for months because she lost her job while she was hospitalised for three weeks. (and yes, you do have to broadcast your business in public because there is no privacy when dealing with the clerk).
I thought about how much it would bite if I couldn't even afford the R20 fee to access public healthcare, and whether she had any money to at least make a good meal that night. ( I later saw her walk away from the hospital. No car or public transport money, I guess).
Of course I couldn't wallow long in that situation, because an older woman who was sitting near me, waiting to see a doctor in the outpatient clinic keeled over and pissed on herself, and then her young companion started screaming for help. It took a while to get a nurse, so a couple of us (some of the people were outpatients waiting to get help too), picked her up and put her on the bed in one of the consulting rooms. And I hoped that they would admit her into the hospital and not send her back home still wet with her own piss. Apparently she's diabetic and had gone into sugar shock. I hope that never happens to my mother in public.
That kind morning gives you a good perspective on what's important, you know? It reminded me not to sweat the small stuff because overall, I have a very good life, with very little trauma. And most of the things I regard as basic necessities, like a diet that includes a variety of vegetables and meats, or being able to go see my GP whenever I need to or to buy whatever meds I need, is actually a luxury for some people.
And no, this is not a race issue/about how Black South Africans struggle because of apartheid/the state of the economy/socio-economic situation. We all struggle. And for the record, both parties from this morning's drama were White.
I hope that times will get better and paying the minimum fee to access healthcare services will get easier for everyone. And that the majority of South Africans will be able to afford to eat well enough... and will have some money for public transport.
Meanwhile, on the business front: I came home to find 3 emails bringing me new assignment briefs. And there is a potential for more work in the horizon, in addition to what I still need to finish. God bless long-term clients who consistently send work! They are who stands between me and the situations I observed this morning.
Showing posts with label Social Commentary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Social Commentary. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 09, 2013
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Safeguarding and nurturing our indigenous languages
By Pamela Moeng
One of my small luxuries is a subscription to the Sunday Times taken up mainly because it was accompanied by Monday through Friday delivery of The Times.
Often I only read my morning paper in the evening, lounging in bed after a trying eternity at the day job. Yesterday was no exception, and I read Megan Hall's piece on language - mother tongue (any African mother tongue) - with interest. Hall doesn't think any African language should die on this generation's watch.
As someone who studied Spanish throughout high school and varsity only to promptly go to a place where no one else spoke Spanish, I think I agree with Hall. She speaks eloquently about the legacy a language leaves with its speakers, citing poetry and novels along with letters and sms's as carriers of the beauty and utility of the words.
Hall highlights famed South African singer Simphiwe Dana's work around literacy. Dana believes that maintaining the most widely spoken South African language - isiZulu - might at least ensure all children get to learn one African language.
One of my small luxuries is a subscription to the Sunday Times taken up mainly because it was accompanied by Monday through Friday delivery of The Times.
Often I only read my morning paper in the evening, lounging in bed after a trying eternity at the day job. Yesterday was no exception, and I read Megan Hall's piece on language - mother tongue (any African mother tongue) - with interest. Hall doesn't think any African language should die on this generation's watch.
As someone who studied Spanish throughout high school and varsity only to promptly go to a place where no one else spoke Spanish, I think I agree with Hall. She speaks eloquently about the legacy a language leaves with its speakers, citing poetry and novels along with letters and sms's as carriers of the beauty and utility of the words.
Hall highlights famed South African singer Simphiwe Dana's work around literacy. Dana believes that maintaining the most widely spoken South African language - isiZulu - might at least ensure all children get to learn one African language.
Monday, September 05, 2011
National Book Week Starts Today
By Pamela Moeng
National Book Week will run from 05 to 10 September. According to the Sunday Independent, we can thank the South African Book Development Council (SABDC) and the Department of Arts and Culture for the joint initiative.
Yesterday's article claims that only 14% of the population read books and only 5% read to their children. For me that statistic is like saying only 14% of the population breathe. As a five-year-old child, I loved when my mother read my Little Golden Books to me and I couldn't wait to get big enough to decipher those magical black marks on paper to discover the stories beneath them. When I finally did learn to read - see Dick and Jane run, run, Dick and Jane, run - I read everything I could get my hands on, including cereal boxes, toothpaste tubes and the books and children's magazines my parents provided.
As a mother, I have read to all my children and, just like my parents before me, I made sure our home was full of books. I continue to be a voracious reader and if I have a book I don't mind the wait in doctors' rooms or any queue. This year's theme of SA Book Week is "The Book That Changed My Life". How could I possibly choose one out of so many "old friends" - from Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, the Five Little Peppers and How They Grew and the Bobbsey Twins to Wuthering Heights, the Red Badge of Courage, As I Lay Dying, the Colour Purple, the Old Man and the Sea and so many others?
Government has appointed Simphiwe Dana and Azania Ndoro as ambassadors for the week and activities will happen around the country with no entry free. Did I become a writer because I loved reading or did I love reading because I was born a writer is a question with no answer.
One thing I know for sure, reading was an escape from my narrow world and a highway to a wider world. Books helped me develop mentally, emotionally and spiritually and I see them as the key to a treasure trove of precious gems. Some say the book as we've known it - between two covers in traditional print form that you hold and turn pages - is dead or dying, I say books are merely the vessels that hold the stories. The vessel may change shape, form or material but the stories will be with us forever. They are how we make sense of ourselves and the world around us, they give meaning to our existence and help us create meaning.
I hope many more parents than the 14% who read books and the 5% who read to their children take advantage of National Book Week to begin a new habit of reading and a new family tradition of reading to their children. Viva books viva! Viva National Book Week viva!
National Book Week will run from 05 to 10 September. According to the Sunday Independent, we can thank the South African Book Development Council (SABDC) and the Department of Arts and Culture for the joint initiative.
Yesterday's article claims that only 14% of the population read books and only 5% read to their children. For me that statistic is like saying only 14% of the population breathe. As a five-year-old child, I loved when my mother read my Little Golden Books to me and I couldn't wait to get big enough to decipher those magical black marks on paper to discover the stories beneath them. When I finally did learn to read - see Dick and Jane run, run, Dick and Jane, run - I read everything I could get my hands on, including cereal boxes, toothpaste tubes and the books and children's magazines my parents provided.
As a mother, I have read to all my children and, just like my parents before me, I made sure our home was full of books. I continue to be a voracious reader and if I have a book I don't mind the wait in doctors' rooms or any queue. This year's theme of SA Book Week is "The Book That Changed My Life". How could I possibly choose one out of so many "old friends" - from Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, the Five Little Peppers and How They Grew and the Bobbsey Twins to Wuthering Heights, the Red Badge of Courage, As I Lay Dying, the Colour Purple, the Old Man and the Sea and so many others?
Government has appointed Simphiwe Dana and Azania Ndoro as ambassadors for the week and activities will happen around the country with no entry free. Did I become a writer because I loved reading or did I love reading because I was born a writer is a question with no answer.
One thing I know for sure, reading was an escape from my narrow world and a highway to a wider world. Books helped me develop mentally, emotionally and spiritually and I see them as the key to a treasure trove of precious gems. Some say the book as we've known it - between two covers in traditional print form that you hold and turn pages - is dead or dying, I say books are merely the vessels that hold the stories. The vessel may change shape, form or material but the stories will be with us forever. They are how we make sense of ourselves and the world around us, they give meaning to our existence and help us create meaning.
I hope many more parents than the 14% who read books and the 5% who read to their children take advantage of National Book Week to begin a new habit of reading and a new family tradition of reading to their children. Viva books viva! Viva National Book Week viva!
Friday, February 11, 2011
Thursday, February 03, 2011
Photographing The New South Africa
There's an article on The New Stateman called "Photographing the new South Africa," which touches on Johannesburg, and specifically, my part of town.
It's interesting, in that it tells a whole lot of suburban history I didn't know about. It also mentions my suburb directly, though not accurately or in a complimentary manner. But what I found very interesting is that the visual representation was of old, decrepit buildings. That is not a representation of my suburb or even of the new South Africa.
It's irritating when a journalist picks portions of a story that fits his story agenda and leaves out some of the facts that could balance them out. I'm not saying those buildings don't exist, but they are certainly not all there is to the area he's depicting! Actually, they don't even make up 20% of the area. Gah!
Read the piece yourself and tell me what you think.
It's interesting, in that it tells a whole lot of suburban history I didn't know about. It also mentions my suburb directly, though not accurately or in a complimentary manner. But what I found very interesting is that the visual representation was of old, decrepit buildings. That is not a representation of my suburb or even of the new South Africa.
It's irritating when a journalist picks portions of a story that fits his story agenda and leaves out some of the facts that could balance them out. I'm not saying those buildings don't exist, but they are certainly not all there is to the area he's depicting! Actually, they don't even make up 20% of the area. Gah!
Read the piece yourself and tell me what you think.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Innocent Bystanders Are Just As Guilty
For the past couple of days I've been following the story of a Limpopo school where teachers are accused of making 57 girls in their school pregnant. The youngest pregnant girl is said to be 13.
And while the story has now come out and the education department is making noises about disciplinary action ( which I hope will involve charging these teachers with statutory rape), I can't help but wonder how it was possible that teachers could make 57 students pregnant. I don't mean the mechanics of it - obviously I know about the birds and the bees.
I mean, one teacher abusing one girl can possibly be kept a secret. Maybe two teachers abusing 3 girls could even be a secret. But how do the numbers grow so high that 57 girls fall pregnant before action is taken?
Who knew that the girls were being abused? Other students? Other teachers not directly involved in the abuse? Parents of the girls who knew something was not right with their children? Community-members who didn't want to interfere? Why didn't they tell someone with greater authority, expose this abuse?
For me, the most horrifying thing is that this abuse went on for so long, on such a large scale, without someone reporting the crime to the proper authorities.
And while the story has now come out and the education department is making noises about disciplinary action ( which I hope will involve charging these teachers with statutory rape), I can't help but wonder how it was possible that teachers could make 57 students pregnant. I don't mean the mechanics of it - obviously I know about the birds and the bees.
I mean, one teacher abusing one girl can possibly be kept a secret. Maybe two teachers abusing 3 girls could even be a secret. But how do the numbers grow so high that 57 girls fall pregnant before action is taken?
Who knew that the girls were being abused? Other students? Other teachers not directly involved in the abuse? Parents of the girls who knew something was not right with their children? Community-members who didn't want to interfere? Why didn't they tell someone with greater authority, expose this abuse?
For me, the most horrifying thing is that this abuse went on for so long, on such a large scale, without someone reporting the crime to the proper authorities.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Tell Your Story On "My First Time"
My First Time is running low on stories and may have to end in November. All we need are five stories a week to keep the project running. If you have a story, or know someone who does, please send it in.
It can be on any of the themes we’ve already written on, or any first time in your life that was significant for you. Your story can be long or short, and you can send in the pictures you like or I can put some up for you.
Your story has the power to make someone’s day, or make them realise someone else is feeling what they’re feeling. There are over 100 stories so far, and I’d love to receive yours and share it with everyone.
About My First Time
As women, we are told how to feel, how to look and how to act every day by a variety of sources, and when we don’t feel the ‘right’ way we place blame on ourselves rather than on the outside world. Every woman is taught to be self-critical – to wonder why she’s herself and not someone better, thinner, taller, brighter, sportier, healthier, more generous, more driven. This behaviour pattern can form a cycle where we look further and further inside of ourselves for the source of the problem, the reason that we can’t quite ‘make it’ and so we end up with our hearts and heads in crisis.
One of the most valuable things that we can do to get ourselves out of this deep hole of market-supported self-loathing is to spend time with a girl friend that has been there, can empathise and would do anything to make you feel better. Women, more than men, are given the space to truly let rip with their friends. We can reveal our darkest, dirtiest secrets, discuss our hopes, fears and dreams and share experiences that build us up in a way that the best diet or the most money can never do.
Learn more about My First Time
And if possible, please blog about this call for stories? Thanks.
It can be on any of the themes we’ve already written on, or any first time in your life that was significant for you. Your story can be long or short, and you can send in the pictures you like or I can put some up for you.
Your story has the power to make someone’s day, or make them realise someone else is feeling what they’re feeling. There are over 100 stories so far, and I’d love to receive yours and share it with everyone.
About My First Time
As women, we are told how to feel, how to look and how to act every day by a variety of sources, and when we don’t feel the ‘right’ way we place blame on ourselves rather than on the outside world. Every woman is taught to be self-critical – to wonder why she’s herself and not someone better, thinner, taller, brighter, sportier, healthier, more generous, more driven. This behaviour pattern can form a cycle where we look further and further inside of ourselves for the source of the problem, the reason that we can’t quite ‘make it’ and so we end up with our hearts and heads in crisis.
One of the most valuable things that we can do to get ourselves out of this deep hole of market-supported self-loathing is to spend time with a girl friend that has been there, can empathise and would do anything to make you feel better. Women, more than men, are given the space to truly let rip with their friends. We can reveal our darkest, dirtiest secrets, discuss our hopes, fears and dreams and share experiences that build us up in a way that the best diet or the most money can never do.
Learn more about My First Time
And if possible, please blog about this call for stories? Thanks.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Respecting People's Constitutional Rights
So I ended up with a rant for today's post. It was not intentional, and may offend some of you. But I don't want to self-censor.
Part of my work online involves taking part in discussions which relate to my clients' causes or issues. That can be a joy, when I chat with people who are happy to agree to disagree with me if we can't find common ground, and a bad disappointment when comments actually consist of name-calling or attempts to strip away people's constitutional rights. Online discussionss this morning made me feel like I was getting too much of the latter.
The issue arose out of SPUD ( the movie) and Judge Edwin Cameron's comment that a comment made by one of the main characters ( that rogering could set lesbians to rights) could contribute to homophobia in our society. (Luleki Sizwe, an advocacy organisation in Cape Town, can give you more details about how and why lesbians in South Africa are vulnerable to rape where the attacker claims to be trying to cure them)
The author of Spud wrote an open letter to apologise the judge and explain his character's position. However, it was all said in public ( in the media) so of course we all wanted to comment too.
Comments that I read ranged from:
1. It was artistic licence and stop being so sensitive.
I asked a couple of Black people in the list if they were now comfortable with their parents being called Kaffirs to their faces in the name of artistic licence. Would you watch a TV drama (period piece) where one of the major characters was called kaffir? Do you think any one of our stations would air it? And if not, why not, artistic licence being equal?
I believe that it's much too easy to dismiss derogatory words as meaningless unless they bite you personally. We South Africans still shrink when we hear the kaffir word - I wonder what makes us think that calling gay people names is less damaging and why one constitutional right is more important than another?
And in case you're wondering, a joke is funny when the subject of the joke is also laughing. If he/she isn't laughing with you, you are poking fun at them. And saying they're being too sensitive is no defence either.
2. Gay people are sinners/an abomination
Frankly, in my book, that is not the issue at hand. Our constitution is not based on any one paricular religion and it guarantees us all certain rights, including freedom of religion and sexual orientation. That means that by the law of this land, you can't pick on someone because they do something that's against your religion.
I also find it interesting that we Christians ( yes, I am among the believers) choose to elevate one sin over another. Being gay is an abomination worthy of condemning the subject whenever the opportunity arises. Being judgemental, lying, being proud, gluttony, laziness... nah, we gloss over those ones.
I also find it interesting that people who are saved by the Grace of God ( that means, none of us had to do anything to deserve God's mercy; Ephesians 2: 6, I think) are eager to condemn others of a sin Christ never ever mentioned in the New Testament. Ever!
If we are under a new covenant with God, which was sealed by the blood of Jesus Christ, why are we so eager to dig old testament rules to bludgeon other people with them?
3. Love the sinner, hate the sin
Sounds real conciliatory, doesn't it? Except for the fact that you are still sitting in judgement of others, and holding up one type of what is sin in your religion over another person.And if I remember well, Jesus Christ said Love you neighbour as you love yourself. Does the love the sinner, hate the sin phrase really qualify as the kind of love He was talking about?
4. Judge Edwin Cameron's life
Yeah, a few did comment on what they called his lifestyle ( because he's gay) and there was even a sly remark implying that he probably deserved to get HIV (as if HIV is a gay disease or affects only promiscuous people).
My first impulse was to ask who in their right mind would choose being gay as a lifestyle? Who would choose to be reviled, have whole church sermons be devoted to calling them abominations, have to hide even from family and friends and be in danger of being bashed. But the nature vs nurture argument is totally irrelevent in South Africa, because even if gay people were crazy enough to choose such a difficult path, the constitution still protects their right not to be discriminated against due to their sexual orientation.
So unless we change the constitution, it doesn't matter why they are gay.Just as some White South Africans do mind sharing the country with Black South Africans ( and some Black South Africans mind sharing with White people), we all have to get over ourselves and our aversion to other people's differentness and build a country.
Part of my work online involves taking part in discussions which relate to my clients' causes or issues. That can be a joy, when I chat with people who are happy to agree to disagree with me if we can't find common ground, and a bad disappointment when comments actually consist of name-calling or attempts to strip away people's constitutional rights. Online discussionss this morning made me feel like I was getting too much of the latter.
The issue arose out of SPUD ( the movie) and Judge Edwin Cameron's comment that a comment made by one of the main characters ( that rogering could set lesbians to rights) could contribute to homophobia in our society. (Luleki Sizwe, an advocacy organisation in Cape Town, can give you more details about how and why lesbians in South Africa are vulnerable to rape where the attacker claims to be trying to cure them)
The author of Spud wrote an open letter to apologise the judge and explain his character's position. However, it was all said in public ( in the media) so of course we all wanted to comment too.
Comments that I read ranged from:
1. It was artistic licence and stop being so sensitive.
I asked a couple of Black people in the list if they were now comfortable with their parents being called Kaffirs to their faces in the name of artistic licence. Would you watch a TV drama (period piece) where one of the major characters was called kaffir? Do you think any one of our stations would air it? And if not, why not, artistic licence being equal?
I believe that it's much too easy to dismiss derogatory words as meaningless unless they bite you personally. We South Africans still shrink when we hear the kaffir word - I wonder what makes us think that calling gay people names is less damaging and why one constitutional right is more important than another?
And in case you're wondering, a joke is funny when the subject of the joke is also laughing. If he/she isn't laughing with you, you are poking fun at them. And saying they're being too sensitive is no defence either.
2. Gay people are sinners/an abomination
Frankly, in my book, that is not the issue at hand. Our constitution is not based on any one paricular religion and it guarantees us all certain rights, including freedom of religion and sexual orientation. That means that by the law of this land, you can't pick on someone because they do something that's against your religion.
I also find it interesting that we Christians ( yes, I am among the believers) choose to elevate one sin over another. Being gay is an abomination worthy of condemning the subject whenever the opportunity arises. Being judgemental, lying, being proud, gluttony, laziness... nah, we gloss over those ones.
I also find it interesting that people who are saved by the Grace of God ( that means, none of us had to do anything to deserve God's mercy; Ephesians 2: 6, I think) are eager to condemn others of a sin Christ never ever mentioned in the New Testament. Ever!
If we are under a new covenant with God, which was sealed by the blood of Jesus Christ, why are we so eager to dig old testament rules to bludgeon other people with them?
3. Love the sinner, hate the sin
Sounds real conciliatory, doesn't it? Except for the fact that you are still sitting in judgement of others, and holding up one type of what is sin in your religion over another person.And if I remember well, Jesus Christ said Love you neighbour as you love yourself. Does the love the sinner, hate the sin phrase really qualify as the kind of love He was talking about?
4. Judge Edwin Cameron's life
Yeah, a few did comment on what they called his lifestyle ( because he's gay) and there was even a sly remark implying that he probably deserved to get HIV (as if HIV is a gay disease or affects only promiscuous people).
My first impulse was to ask who in their right mind would choose being gay as a lifestyle? Who would choose to be reviled, have whole church sermons be devoted to calling them abominations, have to hide even from family and friends and be in danger of being bashed. But the nature vs nurture argument is totally irrelevent in South Africa, because even if gay people were crazy enough to choose such a difficult path, the constitution still protects their right not to be discriminated against due to their sexual orientation.
So unless we change the constitution, it doesn't matter why they are gay.Just as some White South Africans do mind sharing the country with Black South Africans ( and some Black South Africans mind sharing with White people), we all have to get over ourselves and our aversion to other people's differentness and build a country.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Women's Day - what about a day for men? By Moira Richards
Women's Day - what about a day for men? That is the most common comment I hear about Women's Day. But I want to say that our menfolk really don't need to feel neglected because Women's Day actually is a Men's Day. It is a day for men to look back, and to celebrate how much their quality of life has improved over the last century:
Men no longer need to shoulder the burdens and responsibilities of government alone, now that their sisters also have the right to vote, and to hold public office.
Fathers can be assured that their daughters will achieve their full potential because they have better access to education and training than they ever did before.
Men enjoy a higher standard of living because their wives can now earn good wages.
A man might no longer worry that his grandchildren might starve, because there are laws in place to ensure that both parents feed and clothe all the children they produce.
A son need not look on as helplessly while his mother is beaten, kicked, or stabbed, because domestic violence has been acknowledged to be a punishable crime.
And real men can rejoice that society is at last speaking out against the rape of their girlfriends, and the sexual abuse of their baby sisters.
Women's Day is an internationally celebrated day. In South Africa, we celebrate our National Women's Day on 9 August every year and our men will have plenty of reason to celebrate it as a day especially for them.
* * *
Follow the campaign:
Day 1: http://www.redroom.com/author/moira-richards
Shukumisa: http://www.shukumisa.org.za/
Damaria Senne’s Blog Party: http://damariasenne.blogspot.com/
Day 15: http://damariasenne.blogspot.com/
Thursday, December 09, 2010
A Unique Experiment By Moira Richards
On the night of Friday 9 March 2001, the Colombian city, Bogota, tried a unique experiment. The mayor, Antanas Mockus asked all the men to stay at home for the evening, and he invited the women to enjoy a night out on the town.
When he first suggested the idea of banning the city's men from the streets for a night, there was much discussion about it. Not least on its legality - and of course on the extent that it might violate the constitutional rights of the men.
In the end the male curfew was not compulsory, but the men were asked to stay home voluntarily. Many, although of course not all, complied with Mockus' request and they minded the kids whilst their womenfolk went out.
News reports quote the following crime statistics for Bogota:
40% of the men do not 'allow' their wives to go out alone at night.
85% of alcohol-related traffic accidents are caused by men.
88% of violent deaths are committed by men.
90% of the people arrested, are men.
40% of the women admit to being a victim of domestic abuse.
The mayor had conceived the idea of the curfew as a way to highlight the above statistics, to draw attention to men's role in the perpetuation of domestic and community violence, and to prove that crime would be less on a night of male curfew. He hoped that the evening would be a time for serious reflection on the gendered nature of crime in the city.
And the crime rate was indeed significantly lower in Bogota on Friday night, the 9th of March, and the mayor declared the experiment a success.
I've read a few news reports on the 'net that covered the story. In them, mayor Antanas Mockus was described variously as 'eccentric', 'goofy', 'clowning idiot', 'crazy philosopher', and the story was also featured on a 'legal humour' website.
Men of Bogota were quoted as saying;
“We own the street”
“What about a female curfew?”
“The city can only take one night of this”
“We have high unemployment, we have social unrest”
“We have a lot more important problems to worry about here”
The mayor declared the night dedicated to educating 'men, who have much to learn about peaceful attitudes' a success. Me, I weep.
* * *
Follow the campaign:
Day 16: http://www.shukumisa.org.za/
Shukumisa: http://www.shukumisa.org.za/
Damaria Senne’s Blog Party: http://damariasenne.blogspot.com/
Day 14: http://moirarichards.book.co.za/blog/2010/12/08/day-14/
When he first suggested the idea of banning the city's men from the streets for a night, there was much discussion about it. Not least on its legality - and of course on the extent that it might violate the constitutional rights of the men.
In the end the male curfew was not compulsory, but the men were asked to stay home voluntarily. Many, although of course not all, complied with Mockus' request and they minded the kids whilst their womenfolk went out.
News reports quote the following crime statistics for Bogota:
40% of the men do not 'allow' their wives to go out alone at night.
85% of alcohol-related traffic accidents are caused by men.
88% of violent deaths are committed by men.
90% of the people arrested, are men.
40% of the women admit to being a victim of domestic abuse.
The mayor had conceived the idea of the curfew as a way to highlight the above statistics, to draw attention to men's role in the perpetuation of domestic and community violence, and to prove that crime would be less on a night of male curfew. He hoped that the evening would be a time for serious reflection on the gendered nature of crime in the city.
And the crime rate was indeed significantly lower in Bogota on Friday night, the 9th of March, and the mayor declared the experiment a success.
I've read a few news reports on the 'net that covered the story. In them, mayor Antanas Mockus was described variously as 'eccentric', 'goofy', 'clowning idiot', 'crazy philosopher', and the story was also featured on a 'legal humour' website.
Men of Bogota were quoted as saying;
“We own the street”
“What about a female curfew?”
“The city can only take one night of this”
“We have high unemployment, we have social unrest”
“We have a lot more important problems to worry about here”
The mayor declared the night dedicated to educating 'men, who have much to learn about peaceful attitudes' a success. Me, I weep.
* * *
Follow the campaign:
Day 16: http://www.shukumisa.org.za/
Shukumisa: http://www.shukumisa.org.za/
Damaria Senne’s Blog Party: http://damariasenne.blogspot.com/
Day 14: http://moirarichards.book.co.za/blog/2010/12/08/day-14/
Wednesday, December 08, 2010
Not My Problem!
Yesterday Moira Richards rocked me out of my comfort zone. I was reading her post on how witchcraft is used as a tool for women abuse and my first response when I saw the intro to her piece was, “surely that doesn’t happen in SA anymore?”
I grew up in rural South Africa, where accusations of witchcraft against a member of a community were very common. No, we didn’t burn the accused on the stake. At least, not physically. But word spread in the community, reputations were destroyed and some poor women were isolated/ shunned because they were believed to be witches.
In other parts of South Africa, most notably Limpopo and Mpumalanga, some women were not so lucky. Yes, we did go through our period similar to Salem. And it was not too long ago (less than 20 years). But, as time moved on, I convinced myself that we as a society have moved. We don’t burn witch-accused anymore, do we? Moira’s reminded me not to be complacent.
Question: Do you feel that sometimes it's easier to disconnect yourself from particular societal issues and to go"Thank God that's not my problem!" because as individuals, we also have our own life issues to deal with and that's more than enough? Are we getting numb to the damage people can do to each other?
P.S. Read Moira's series of posts on the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence.
Follow Shukumisa's blog party commemorating 16 Days of Activism Against gender violence
I grew up in rural South Africa, where accusations of witchcraft against a member of a community were very common. No, we didn’t burn the accused on the stake. At least, not physically. But word spread in the community, reputations were destroyed and some poor women were isolated/ shunned because they were believed to be witches.
In other parts of South Africa, most notably Limpopo and Mpumalanga, some women were not so lucky. Yes, we did go through our period similar to Salem. And it was not too long ago (less than 20 years). But, as time moved on, I convinced myself that we as a society have moved. We don’t burn witch-accused anymore, do we? Moira’s reminded me not to be complacent.
Question: Do you feel that sometimes it's easier to disconnect yourself from particular societal issues and to go"Thank God that's not my problem!" because as individuals, we also have our own life issues to deal with and that's more than enough? Are we getting numb to the damage people can do to each other?
P.S. Read Moira's series of posts on the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence.
Follow Shukumisa's blog party commemorating 16 Days of Activism Against gender violence
Monday, December 06, 2010
16 Days of Activism Posts
Here are today's posts for the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence:
1. Johannesburg Child Advocacy Forum says this year the 16 Days of Activism campaign has seen a resurgence of the child advocacy remniscent of 18 years ago.
2. Gaynor Paynter talks about why you should fight abuses in your life.
3. Moira Richards talks about a horrific massacre of 14 men which took place on this day, 21 years ago so as to strike a blow against the empowerment of women.
4. On Thought Leader, Jennifer Thorpe talks about Child Brides, HIV and Cultural Rights.
1. Johannesburg Child Advocacy Forum says this year the 16 Days of Activism campaign has seen a resurgence of the child advocacy remniscent of 18 years ago.
2. Gaynor Paynter talks about why you should fight abuses in your life.
3. Moira Richards talks about a horrific massacre of 14 men which took place on this day, 21 years ago so as to strike a blow against the empowerment of women.
4. On Thought Leader, Jennifer Thorpe talks about Child Brides, HIV and Cultural Rights.
Thursday, December 02, 2010
Let's Talk About Domestic Violence By Moira Richards
Domestic Violence has become a nice 'safe' term to use when we talk about this kind of women abuse. It rolls too easily off the tongue and no-one stops to wonder at the irony that two such disparate concepts - 'Violence' and 'Domestic' - can slip so comfortably into the same phrase. It is a sanitized term that protects us from having to think too deeply about all the ugly deeds that hide behind it. Let me tell you some of the things that you are being told about, the next time you encounter the term ‘Domestic Violence’.
In physical abuse a man may punch his wife with his fists, or kick her if she has fallen to the ground. If she is pregnant, he might kick her in the abdomen. Weapons are also used in physical abuse - sometimes he will beat her with a stick, or stab her with a broken bottle, or shoot her with a gun. Or else he might just threatened her with these weapons.
A woman might even have none of those things done to her, but she might instead, find herself pushed or chased out of her home and locked outdoors in the middle of the night. Perhaps it will be raining or cold or unsafe outside, perhaps her young children will be locked out with her, by their father, or perhaps they will be shut inside with him and unable to reach her.
If a woman has to have sex with her man, whether she feels like it or not. If he makes her sleep with his mates. If he comes home late at night, drunk and disgusting and forces himself inside her. If he commits any of these all too common crimes, he is guilty of a form of Domestic Violence known as sexual abuse.
Domestic Violence also includes emotional, verbal and psychological abuse. In this kind of abuse, a man may always be insulting his wife in public, or humiliating her or rudely ignoring her. Perhaps he acts overly jealous or with rudeness when she talks to other people, and in this way, exerts his control over her social contact with others. He may bruise her face or lock her in the house to prevent her from getting to work, and to try to make her lose her job. He may even 'love' her so much that he will threaten to kill himself whenever she tries to leave him and make herself a new life without him.
And there is economic abuse. A man may take control of all the family finances, and refuse to let his wife know anything about their financial situation, or allow her to help to manage it. He might keep all their joint income to himself and just give her a small allowance. He may take her wages from her and spend her money on alcohol or drugs for himself, or sell her possessions so he can get money.
Domestic Violence can also include a pattern of 'innocent' behaviour that is intended to bother or terrorize a woman. Her ex-boyfriend may just lurk all the time near her office or home. Perhaps he or his mates pester her with anonymous telephone calls or clog her mail with repeated nuisance email messages.
I’ve just tipped the ice-berg here. The men who abuse the women whom supposedly they love, hide more atrocities behind Domestic Violence than I could bear to know.
* * *
Follow the campaign:
Day 9: http://www.redroom.com/author/moira-richards
Shukumisa: http://www.shukumisa.org.za/
Damaria Senne’s Blog Party: http://damariasenne.blogspot.com/
Day 7: http://damariasenne.blogspot.com/
In physical abuse a man may punch his wife with his fists, or kick her if she has fallen to the ground. If she is pregnant, he might kick her in the abdomen. Weapons are also used in physical abuse - sometimes he will beat her with a stick, or stab her with a broken bottle, or shoot her with a gun. Or else he might just threatened her with these weapons.
A woman might even have none of those things done to her, but she might instead, find herself pushed or chased out of her home and locked outdoors in the middle of the night. Perhaps it will be raining or cold or unsafe outside, perhaps her young children will be locked out with her, by their father, or perhaps they will be shut inside with him and unable to reach her.
If a woman has to have sex with her man, whether she feels like it or not. If he makes her sleep with his mates. If he comes home late at night, drunk and disgusting and forces himself inside her. If he commits any of these all too common crimes, he is guilty of a form of Domestic Violence known as sexual abuse.
Domestic Violence also includes emotional, verbal and psychological abuse. In this kind of abuse, a man may always be insulting his wife in public, or humiliating her or rudely ignoring her. Perhaps he acts overly jealous or with rudeness when she talks to other people, and in this way, exerts his control over her social contact with others. He may bruise her face or lock her in the house to prevent her from getting to work, and to try to make her lose her job. He may even 'love' her so much that he will threaten to kill himself whenever she tries to leave him and make herself a new life without him.
And there is economic abuse. A man may take control of all the family finances, and refuse to let his wife know anything about their financial situation, or allow her to help to manage it. He might keep all their joint income to himself and just give her a small allowance. He may take her wages from her and spend her money on alcohol or drugs for himself, or sell her possessions so he can get money.
Domestic Violence can also include a pattern of 'innocent' behaviour that is intended to bother or terrorize a woman. Her ex-boyfriend may just lurk all the time near her office or home. Perhaps he or his mates pester her with anonymous telephone calls or clog her mail with repeated nuisance email messages.
I’ve just tipped the ice-berg here. The men who abuse the women whom supposedly they love, hide more atrocities behind Domestic Violence than I could bear to know.
* * *
Follow the campaign:
Day 9: http://www.redroom.com/author/moira-richards
Shukumisa: http://www.shukumisa.org.za/
Damaria Senne’s Blog Party: http://damariasenne.blogspot.com/
Day 7: http://damariasenne.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
10 Reasons Why It's Easier For A Man To Pass HIV To A Woman By Moira Richards
This guest post is part of the blog party we're hosting to commemorate the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign. It's the 7th post in a series of 16 posts by Moira Richards, published in the Red Room, Book SA and the Shukumisa web site.
It is easier for an HIV positive man to pass the virus onto a woman during sexual intercourse than it is for an infected woman to pass it onto a man. This is due to various biological factors that I won't discuss here. Besides this biological susceptibility, there are a number of social and cultural factors that make it even more difficult for women to escape the deadly virus. I've counted ten factors that I've listed below, but maybe you'll come up with more...
1 MALE POWER - Usually it is the man who initiates sexual encounters in a relationship. The woman might get to say Yes or No, but rarely does she feel empowered to negotiate safe sexual practice. Not many a woman is able to sit her prospective lover down and negotiate with him the use of condoms, a monogamous relationship, or HIV screening before they first slide into bed together.
2. PROTECTIVE DEVICES - A female condom is one that a woman can wear to protect herself from sexually transmitted diseases. Unfortunately, they are neither as cheap nor as readily available as male condoms. There is also relatively little information disseminated to women to publicise the existence and the life-saving capabilities of female condoms, or of the other protective measures that might reduce their risks of infection.
3. PARENTAL POWER - Many cultures expect unmarried girls to be ignorant of sexual matters, and often allow a girl's parents to decide whom she must marry. This means that these young girls don't know about the HIV/AIDS risks that their husbands may bring to them. They are also unable to choose for themselves, a mate that they can trust not to infect them.
4. SLAVERY - Sometimes girls are sold by their families into sexual slavery. They must then have sex with whoever their 'owner' orders them to have sex with. No chance here for them to insist on safe sexual practice.
5. ECONOMIC - Many, many women have to turn to prostitution so that they can earn money to eat. Their poverty is so dire that they are hardly in a position to insist that their clients use a condom. If they do, they are likely to lose the client to a competitor. Sometimes a client will offer to pay a prostitute more for unprotected sex and so the women are enticed by money to take life-threatening risks.
6. RAPE - Our world's atrociously high incidence of female rape exposes women more and more to HIV infection, as well as to the trauma of rape.
7. CHILD ABUSE - As HIV/AIDS becomes more and more of a risk to sexually active
men so does their demand for virginal young women and girls who present no risk to them, increase. This means that very young girls are targeted as the victims of men who travel on sex holidays.
Little girls, toddlers and babies even, are often raped by HIV positive men in some countries because the myth abounds that they can cleanse themselves of the virus if they have sex with a virgin.
8. INSTITUTIONAL POWER - Various sites on the internet store articles that deal with the sexual abuse of nuns by the Catholic priests. Relevant to this article is the argument of some of these guilty priests. They say they need to obtain sexual favours from the nuns because otherwise they will be obliged to have sex with the local village girls and risk contracting HIV/AIDS from them. Therefore, it is much safer for the priests to use the nuns to satisfy their sexual needs.
9 FGM - Female Genital Mutilation has its own story of tragic repercussions, and not least among them is the increased risk of contracting HIV/AIDS that its victims suffer. These operations are often performed under primitive surgical conditions and a whole groups of teenage girls are circumcised together. Rarely is the piece of metal or glass used, sterile. Great are the chances that the bloodied knife that cuts one HIV positive lass, will be used again immediately, on the one lying next to her, and on the one next to her too...
Often, the genital mutilation is of such a nature that the girls bruise and bleed every time they have sex thereafter. These types of open wounds in the genital area will increase significantly their chances of contracting the HIV virus from an infected partner.
10. SPOUSAL PROMISCUITY - In many cultures, women are expected to be virginal before marriage and to have no other lover than their husband after they have married. In these same cultures, it is also usually acceptable for men, both single and married, to be sexually promiscuous. Therefore, even a woman who lives a sheltered and monogamous life, will be at risk of infection from her husband. Perhaps she can only pray that he practices safe sex outside the marriage, or perhaps she is just blissfully unaware of his infidelity.
* * *
Follow the campaign:
Day 8: http://www.shukumisa.org.za/
Shukumisa: http://www.shukumisa.org.za/
Damaria Senne’s Blog Party: http://damariasenne.blogspot.com/
Day 6: http://moirarichards.book.co.za/blog/2010/11/30/day-6/
It is easier for an HIV positive man to pass the virus onto a woman during sexual intercourse than it is for an infected woman to pass it onto a man. This is due to various biological factors that I won't discuss here. Besides this biological susceptibility, there are a number of social and cultural factors that make it even more difficult for women to escape the deadly virus. I've counted ten factors that I've listed below, but maybe you'll come up with more...
1 MALE POWER - Usually it is the man who initiates sexual encounters in a relationship. The woman might get to say Yes or No, but rarely does she feel empowered to negotiate safe sexual practice. Not many a woman is able to sit her prospective lover down and negotiate with him the use of condoms, a monogamous relationship, or HIV screening before they first slide into bed together.
2. PROTECTIVE DEVICES - A female condom is one that a woman can wear to protect herself from sexually transmitted diseases. Unfortunately, they are neither as cheap nor as readily available as male condoms. There is also relatively little information disseminated to women to publicise the existence and the life-saving capabilities of female condoms, or of the other protective measures that might reduce their risks of infection.
3. PARENTAL POWER - Many cultures expect unmarried girls to be ignorant of sexual matters, and often allow a girl's parents to decide whom she must marry. This means that these young girls don't know about the HIV/AIDS risks that their husbands may bring to them. They are also unable to choose for themselves, a mate that they can trust not to infect them.
4. SLAVERY - Sometimes girls are sold by their families into sexual slavery. They must then have sex with whoever their 'owner' orders them to have sex with. No chance here for them to insist on safe sexual practice.
5. ECONOMIC - Many, many women have to turn to prostitution so that they can earn money to eat. Their poverty is so dire that they are hardly in a position to insist that their clients use a condom. If they do, they are likely to lose the client to a competitor. Sometimes a client will offer to pay a prostitute more for unprotected sex and so the women are enticed by money to take life-threatening risks.
6. RAPE - Our world's atrociously high incidence of female rape exposes women more and more to HIV infection, as well as to the trauma of rape.
7. CHILD ABUSE - As HIV/AIDS becomes more and more of a risk to sexually active
men so does their demand for virginal young women and girls who present no risk to them, increase. This means that very young girls are targeted as the victims of men who travel on sex holidays.
Little girls, toddlers and babies even, are often raped by HIV positive men in some countries because the myth abounds that they can cleanse themselves of the virus if they have sex with a virgin.
8. INSTITUTIONAL POWER - Various sites on the internet store articles that deal with the sexual abuse of nuns by the Catholic priests. Relevant to this article is the argument of some of these guilty priests. They say they need to obtain sexual favours from the nuns because otherwise they will be obliged to have sex with the local village girls and risk contracting HIV/AIDS from them. Therefore, it is much safer for the priests to use the nuns to satisfy their sexual needs.
9 FGM - Female Genital Mutilation has its own story of tragic repercussions, and not least among them is the increased risk of contracting HIV/AIDS that its victims suffer. These operations are often performed under primitive surgical conditions and a whole groups of teenage girls are circumcised together. Rarely is the piece of metal or glass used, sterile. Great are the chances that the bloodied knife that cuts one HIV positive lass, will be used again immediately, on the one lying next to her, and on the one next to her too...
Often, the genital mutilation is of such a nature that the girls bruise and bleed every time they have sex thereafter. These types of open wounds in the genital area will increase significantly their chances of contracting the HIV virus from an infected partner.
10. SPOUSAL PROMISCUITY - In many cultures, women are expected to be virginal before marriage and to have no other lover than their husband after they have married. In these same cultures, it is also usually acceptable for men, both single and married, to be sexually promiscuous. Therefore, even a woman who lives a sheltered and monogamous life, will be at risk of infection from her husband. Perhaps she can only pray that he practices safe sex outside the marriage, or perhaps she is just blissfully unaware of his infidelity.
* * *
Follow the campaign:
Day 8: http://www.shukumisa.org.za/
Shukumisa: http://www.shukumisa.org.za/
Damaria Senne’s Blog Party: http://damariasenne.blogspot.com/
Day 6: http://moirarichards.book.co.za/blog/2010/11/30/day-6/
Monday, November 29, 2010
Admin Issues & 16 Days Posts
Spent most of the day doing admin related tasks, which I don't like so much. The business banking consultant at the First National Bank branch near me was very efficient, patient and friendly. Sorted out most of the banking issues I had and the only outstanding problem is something that is outside her province.
It was nice to feel that a bank, which I normally see it as a disinterested bureacracy, is making an effort to treat its customers as individuals. Or least, thing consultant did. My only complaint, and it is a big one, is that the online banking service centre makes you wait for ages if you call then. Even if the call is being made by a banking employee. Having to hold for close to 20 minutes is not good use of one's time.
Day 5: 16 Days of Activism
Meanwhile, here are today's posts for the blog party for 16 Days of Activism Against Gender violence:
1. School Sexual Bullying - Where do we begin by Jennifer Thorpe
2. Revenge Attacks by Moira Richards
3. The Female Role in Violence against Females & Children by Corinna Turner
Take part in a chat event
Also note that Gaynor Paynter and Alison Fourie, founders of TAVASA will host a chat event on their blog at on the 01 December, at 15:00 - 16:00. The aim of the chat event is to talk to women who may be in abusive relationships, or maybe just women who want financial independence, about how to start a virtual assistant/transcription business. Nope, they're not going to try to sell anyone anything:-)
They just want to help, offer women who feel trapped by circumstance an option they can use to fight for their financial independence, which may contribute towards freedom from an abusive relationship.
Register for the chat event.
And please keep the posts coming. The more ordinary men and women have a say on this issue, the better.
It was nice to feel that a bank, which I normally see it as a disinterested bureacracy, is making an effort to treat its customers as individuals. Or least, thing consultant did. My only complaint, and it is a big one, is that the online banking service centre makes you wait for ages if you call then. Even if the call is being made by a banking employee. Having to hold for close to 20 minutes is not good use of one's time.
Day 5: 16 Days of Activism
Meanwhile, here are today's posts for the blog party for 16 Days of Activism Against Gender violence:
1. School Sexual Bullying - Where do we begin by Jennifer Thorpe
2. Revenge Attacks by Moira Richards
3. The Female Role in Violence against Females & Children by Corinna Turner
Take part in a chat event
Also note that Gaynor Paynter and Alison Fourie, founders of TAVASA will host a chat event on their blog at on the 01 December, at 15:00 - 16:00. The aim of the chat event is to talk to women who may be in abusive relationships, or maybe just women who want financial independence, about how to start a virtual assistant/transcription business. Nope, they're not going to try to sell anyone anything:-)
They just want to help, offer women who feel trapped by circumstance an option they can use to fight for their financial independence, which may contribute towards freedom from an abusive relationship.
Register for the chat event.
And please keep the posts coming. The more ordinary men and women have a say on this issue, the better.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Blog Party: 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence
Many thanks to all the contributors who made this online dialogue a success. I’ve stopped counting the number of organisations and individual contributors, but on average, I expect to publish at least 5 new posts for the duration of the blog party. And yes, there is still time for you to participate. Email the link to your post to damariasenne@gmail.com
What is the 16 Days campaign about?
I like the way writer Moira Richards takes us back to the history of the campaign. She says: “In 1981, November 25 was marked as International Day against Violence against Women. The world adopted the White Ribbon as symbol that violence against women is just not acceptable and since 1991, the commemoration has been extended into the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence – to draw the world's attention to the fact that women's rights are basic human rights. Read the full post.
Sounds nice, but who needs another campaign?
Anonymous tells a very heartbreaking story of how the South African criminal justice system and the 16 Days campaign have failed her.
She says: “The slogans seem the same, the new songs that you hear only once off, the promises, it’s all the same but it’s all in vain. Men still beat their partners, there is still a large number of violence, rape cases, and statutory rapes that go unreported or are reported but the perpetrators are free.” The the full post.
Lisa Vetten, director of Tshwaranang Legal Advocacy Centre, acknowledges the bitter truth of Anonymous’s story. She says: “Particular thresholds have been established to create a hierarchy of horror, with only the most brutal of acts attracting attention and rendering the less savage ordinary in comparison. Focusing on the all-too common failures of the criminal justice system also leaves people helpless and thinking there is nothing they can do about abuse.” Lisa also offers practical advice on what we can all do to make a difference, so that 16 Days lives up to our communities’ expectations and needs. Read her article here.
Making a difference
WomensNet also highlights the fact that ‘Abused Women need more protection.” Find out why and how.
Talk about it
As I've previously mentioned, I’m currently working with Shukumisa, a national campaign which aims to get South Africans talking about violence against women and children, and specifically, about rape. Shukumisa is run by more than 26 NGOs. Here are some of their activities during the 16 Days campaign:
The Thinking Forum: The Mail & Guardian hosted a panel discussion yesterday, asking “Gender Violence: Is The Media Part Of The Problem Or Part Of The Solution?” What do you think?
In her article entitled ‘Who To Blame,” Sarah Haken, a researcher at the Tshwaranang Legal Advocacy Centre, uses the example of the media’s handling of the Jules High School alleged rape incident to show that the media is part of the problem.
Do you agree with her? Who do you think is to blame for our children being more sexually active too early, for incidents such as happened at Jules High School?
The association for Transcriptionists and Virtual Assistants of South Africa (TAVASA) is also planning an online chat on the 1 December, from 15h00 - 16h00. Basically, members are going to talk about the challenges that women face when they are involved in an abusive relationship ( especially when they rely on their partner to support them and their children) and how starting a business online can be an important step in getting out of the abusive relationship.
Take action
 |
| Stop the bus campaign in 2009 |
For example, Rape Crisis Cape Town is sending two busses to travel through the Western Cape, carrying volunteer trainers, community activists and counselors, who will conduct workshops, hold networking meetings, do door to door visits, train and counsel community members. This is part of the organisation's annual Stop the bus campaign.
The Women on Farms Project is also sending field officers to visit communities it serves to distribute educational materials and hold workshops as part of their 16 Days plan of action.
And don't forget - you too can make a difference.
More posts coming in the coming days. Check out the Shukumisa web site for our comprehensive, up-to-date coverage of the 16 Days campaign.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Do Our Media Reflect The World As It Is?
Do you sometimes read newspapers/watch the news and then wonder if the world is as bleak as the news featured would lead you to think? Do our media really reflect the world as it is?
I had to wonder this morning, because somehow the headlines seemed more sinister this morning. It was like there was no good thing that happened that was worth reporting.
I think part of my issue arose from coverage in Sowetan. On the cover page is a story of a woman who tells of her date with a serial rapist (man facing 21 charges of rape and still counting). Main story on page 2 was about a security guard who killed his girlfriend and bystander at a high school and then himself. "She[the woman] tripped and fell and the gunman shot her severalk times while she lay on the floor. He kicked her on the ribs to make sure she was dead before shooting himself in the head," the paper quotes one of the witnesses.
Main stories on page 4 were about:
1. Woman who dated serial rapist continued
2. Main story on serial rapist
3. How chief's wife was raped, killed
4. Men who raped a doctor at the hospital denied bail
5. Trial of alleged Lenasia serial killer and rapist starts today
By the time I got through page 4, I was feeling a bit down.
I also want to remind you of the blog party we're having during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence. The campaign takes place on the 24 November to 10 December. Please diarise the dates if you're planning to blog about gender violence during that period, and don't forget to let me know ( and to send me the link), so I can highlight your post on Storypot, Shukumisa web site and several related web sites and blogs.
I had to wonder this morning, because somehow the headlines seemed more sinister this morning. It was like there was no good thing that happened that was worth reporting.
I think part of my issue arose from coverage in Sowetan. On the cover page is a story of a woman who tells of her date with a serial rapist (man facing 21 charges of rape and still counting). Main story on page 2 was about a security guard who killed his girlfriend and bystander at a high school and then himself. "She[the woman] tripped and fell and the gunman shot her severalk times while she lay on the floor. He kicked her on the ribs to make sure she was dead before shooting himself in the head," the paper quotes one of the witnesses.
Main stories on page 4 were about:
1. Woman who dated serial rapist continued
2. Main story on serial rapist
3. How chief's wife was raped, killed
4. Men who raped a doctor at the hospital denied bail
5. Trial of alleged Lenasia serial killer and rapist starts today
By the time I got through page 4, I was feeling a bit down.
I also want to remind you of the blog party we're having during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence. The campaign takes place on the 24 November to 10 December. Please diarise the dates if you're planning to blog about gender violence during that period, and don't forget to let me know ( and to send me the link), so I can highlight your post on Storypot, Shukumisa web site and several related web sites and blogs.
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
How Do You Feel About....
Sex work/sex workers?
Do you see them as:
1. People who've had bad breaks in life and need your support
2. A segment of society you don't really want to deal with, as long as they don't bug you.
3. People who made bad life choices and should do something positive to fix it.
4. Completely disgusting/immoral/dirty.
5. Indifferent. Sex work is a job like any other.
6. Don't want to talk about it.
The reason I ask is that Sally-Jean Shackleton from SWEAT, an organisation that lobbies and advocates for the decriminalisation of adult sex work in South Africa sent me a message on Facebook, asking me to ask my online friends to join their group as members. And I got curious about what you think about sex work and sex workers. So tell me....
Do you see them as:
1. People who've had bad breaks in life and need your support
2. A segment of society you don't really want to deal with, as long as they don't bug you.
3. People who made bad life choices and should do something positive to fix it.
4. Completely disgusting/immoral/dirty.
5. Indifferent. Sex work is a job like any other.
6. Don't want to talk about it.
The reason I ask is that Sally-Jean Shackleton from SWEAT, an organisation that lobbies and advocates for the decriminalisation of adult sex work in South Africa sent me a message on Facebook, asking me to ask my online friends to join their group as members. And I got curious about what you think about sex work and sex workers. So tell me....
Monday, November 01, 2010
What Would You Do
If you realised that a friend of yours was self-destructing? Maybe drinking too much ( enough to get alcohol poisoning one of these days) or meeting shady characters in dives you tend to drive a little faster when you go past or using drugs or having unprotected sex with anything that has a pulse without condoms or staying in an abusive relationship.
You've already tried talking to him/ and giving unsolicited advice and he nodded his head, told you how wise you are and continued with the self-destructive behaviour.
Would you:
1. Initiate an intervention with his family
2. Do nothing ( this person is an adult and interfering always gets messy. And who needs the trouble, when your own life has its own challenges anyway?)
3. Tell your friend's family what he's up to, so they can decide what to do ( or not do) to help
4. Do something else I didn't think of when giving the above choices - Please explain what that omething else would be
You've already tried talking to him/ and giving unsolicited advice and he nodded his head, told you how wise you are and continued with the self-destructive behaviour.
Would you:
1. Initiate an intervention with his family
2. Do nothing ( this person is an adult and interfering always gets messy. And who needs the trouble, when your own life has its own challenges anyway?)
3. Tell your friend's family what he's up to, so they can decide what to do ( or not do) to help
4. Do something else I didn't think of when giving the above choices - Please explain what that omething else would be
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Invitation To Join A Blog Party
Huh! I’m finding out that my body does not recover from travel as it used to. The road trip over the weekend covered around 950km in total. Enough distance to get me to get me to Cape Town, I think. And it was all done on one day (Sunday).
So, for the past couple of days, I've been feeling rather sluggish. I'm going to have to be kinder to my body next time - travel shorter distances, take more rest stops. Anyhoo, I have a few things I want to highlight today.
I've joined Place For People
I've joined the team of PlaceforPeople, an Internet start-up which offers a web advocacy platform which non-profits and civic leaders can use to promote their cause and promote leadership and collective action for a specific cause. The company' head office is in Nice, France, and they have a branch office in Chicago in the US.
My job, as a grassroots team member is to interview NGO leaders and elected officials and leaders of civic associations in Johannesburg. The interviews will be published on the platform. Sound like the kind of project that fits with the campaign work I already do, no? So. If you're a head of a non-profit, or an elected official, or know someone who you think fits my criteria, email me? I'm kind like offering you free publicity:-)
We're going to have a blog party
I'm busy making preparations for the online leg of the 16 Days of Activim Against Gender Violence for clients I work with, and their partners. The annual campaign runs from the 25 November - 10 December and during this period, I would like to ask you to blog about violence against women and what we, as individuals, can do to stop/prevent it. Talk about what you can do, what impact you can have a a blogger/photographer/writer/mother, sister/friend/man/woman/brother/health professional/housewife or whatever role you can think of. Talk about why we shouldn't just stand by and "not interfere in people's private business" when someone is being abused. You can also just share your own story.
Email me a link to your post, and I'll highlight it on the following web sites as part of the blog party:
1. Shukumisa
2. OneLove
3. Kwanda
4. Tshwaranang Women's Legal Advocacy Centre
5. WomensNet
6. GirlsNet
Links to your posts will also be published on Facebook pages of Shukumisa and the Imagine A World Without Violence Against Women & Girls group.
If you don't have a blog, I'm happy to publish your guest-post on the Shukumisa web site. I'm would also like to do guest posts for those bloggers who occassionally use guest-bloggers. Please let me know what you'd like me to talk about, and I'll send the post to you ASAP, so you can schedule it.
So, for the past couple of days, I've been feeling rather sluggish. I'm going to have to be kinder to my body next time - travel shorter distances, take more rest stops. Anyhoo, I have a few things I want to highlight today.
I've joined Place For People
I've joined the team of PlaceforPeople, an Internet start-up which offers a web advocacy platform which non-profits and civic leaders can use to promote their cause and promote leadership and collective action for a specific cause. The company' head office is in Nice, France, and they have a branch office in Chicago in the US.
My job, as a grassroots team member is to interview NGO leaders and elected officials and leaders of civic associations in Johannesburg. The interviews will be published on the platform. Sound like the kind of project that fits with the campaign work I already do, no? So. If you're a head of a non-profit, or an elected official, or know someone who you think fits my criteria, email me? I'm kind like offering you free publicity:-)
We're going to have a blog party
I'm busy making preparations for the online leg of the 16 Days of Activim Against Gender Violence for clients I work with, and their partners. The annual campaign runs from the 25 November - 10 December and during this period, I would like to ask you to blog about violence against women and what we, as individuals, can do to stop/prevent it. Talk about what you can do, what impact you can have a a blogger/photographer/writer/mother, sister/friend/man/woman/brother/health professional/housewife or whatever role you can think of. Talk about why we shouldn't just stand by and "not interfere in people's private business" when someone is being abused. You can also just share your own story.
Email me a link to your post, and I'll highlight it on the following web sites as part of the blog party:
1. Shukumisa
2. OneLove
3. Kwanda
4. Tshwaranang Women's Legal Advocacy Centre
5. WomensNet
6. GirlsNet
Links to your posts will also be published on Facebook pages of Shukumisa and the Imagine A World Without Violence Against Women & Girls group.
If you don't have a blog, I'm happy to publish your guest-post on the Shukumisa web site. I'm would also like to do guest posts for those bloggers who occassionally use guest-bloggers. Please let me know what you'd like me to talk about, and I'll send the post to you ASAP, so you can schedule it.
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