Sunday, 25 April 2010
I spent the weekend hiking in Hogsback and it was just what the doctor ordered. We left in the very, very , very early hours of Saturday morning and almost died on one of the passes on the way to Hogsback, because the driver took a corner too fast and went off the road. Luckily there was a dirt ‘pavement’ at that particular place, unlike on the rest of the pass where there was just a metal barrier and very steep drops.
It was freezing when we got to Hogsback and started the Zingcuka Loop, the forest we were hiking in was very wet, slippery and the ground was steep. It became clear very quickly that the one girl was not in a fit state to be doing the hike. She failed to tell Mark, the leader or myself (co-leader) that her knee dislocates very easily and as a result she was walking really slowly, to prevent that from happening. Both mark and I knew that we would never be able to complete the 19.7km that we had to do to reach the hut, by sunset. Luckily Mark’s done that hike before and knew that we would eventually be crossing a road, which we could then take instead of the path, which would make it shorter and easier to get to the hiking hut.
We landed up doing that, and I think it turned out to be a blessing in disguise for me, because I am very unfit at the moment. It also meant that we got to the hut and had time to relax and get to know our fellow hikers before supper. There were eight of us doing the hike and five out of the eight were exchange students. Two American girls, a Dutch girl, an Australian girl and a German guy. The other two guys are South Africans whom I know from previous hikes. I got along so well with the exchange students, especially the Aussie girl. They all had a wonderful sense of humour and the jokes were flowing freely.
Apart from the good company, the hike itself was very beautiful. Even though we hiked mostly along the roads on the second day, we were still surrounded by forest and beautiful views. We also went to the stunning Madonna and Child waterfall, where we saw a really big snake. It was a bright orangey yellow colour, with black markings and looked suspiciously like a puff adder. Although I am really scared of snakes, I really like them and so I was in my element.
So all in all it was a very fulfilling and uplifting weekend and it was good for me to get back into nature, as I neglected that part of myself last term.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Sexual Violence = Silence
Sunday, 25 April 2010
Friday was the silent protest and one of my best friends (she’s my digs mate as well) partook by having her mouth taped closed for the whole day, in solidarity with rape survivors. The slogan for the day, which was printed across the front of the participants’ T-shirts was “Sexual Violence = Silence.” I was the first person my friend saw after the silence was broken by taking the tape was taken off, and she was extremely emotional. She cried for a long time before she could even start trying to explain the emotions that she experienced during the day as well as talking about what was said at the debriefing. She told me the stories about young women who stood up in a hall full of people and spoke about how they had been raped up to 10 times. Some were raped when they were as young as fourteen. One of the young women who stood up told them that she had also been raped and how this was the first time that she was telling anyone about it. The participants also spoke about how people treated them whilst their mouths were taped shut. Many of them received inappropriate comments from male students, such as “If I had to rape you now, you wouldn’t be able to scream.” It is shocking for me to think that an educated young man can say something this terrible and not realise what the implications are of his words. Some of the reactions towards the participants however, were very touching. One lady in town handed the 1 in 9 pamphlet back to the participant and wrote something along the lines of, “this has happened to me too, thank you for doing this” on the back of the piece of paper.
The rape statistics in South Africa are very scary. Only 1 in every 9 rapes are reported and 55 000 rapes are reported every year. That means that in actual fact approximately 495 000 rapes occur every year. Only four percent of the reported rapes are prosecuted. That means only 2200 prosecutions are made per year. The fact that 100 % of woman in South Africa will have been raped at least once by the time they are 55 year old is terrifying!
I think that the platform that was created for these students through the silent protest was something incredible. Although I was not part of it, it allowed woman to confide in one another and to be surrounded by the amazing empathy and love that women are capable of. It allowed students who had remained silent about being raped a chance to open up and talk about it, allowing the healing process to start for them. I think for everyone it was a highly emotional day and an experience that they are likely to never forget.
I do think however that many students, mainly non-participants do not realise the significance and symbolism involved in the silent protest and the short skirt protest. I think that the University fails in properly informing the Rhodes community about why exactly this is being done, what the tape and short skirts symbolise as well as looking at other gender issues. I’m not sure what the solution for this is. There is a general sense of apathy on campus and although there are debates and lectures presented during Anti-sex crimes week, they are not well attended. Maybe more should be written on studentzone, with a link to a forum where people can start an online discussion or debate. A compulsory course for all University students on gender and sex-related issues would also help.
Friday was the silent protest and one of my best friends (she’s my digs mate as well) partook by having her mouth taped closed for the whole day, in solidarity with rape survivors. The slogan for the day, which was printed across the front of the participants’ T-shirts was “Sexual Violence = Silence.” I was the first person my friend saw after the silence was broken by taking the tape was taken off, and she was extremely emotional. She cried for a long time before she could even start trying to explain the emotions that she experienced during the day as well as talking about what was said at the debriefing. She told me the stories about young women who stood up in a hall full of people and spoke about how they had been raped up to 10 times. Some were raped when they were as young as fourteen. One of the young women who stood up told them that she had also been raped and how this was the first time that she was telling anyone about it. The participants also spoke about how people treated them whilst their mouths were taped shut. Many of them received inappropriate comments from male students, such as “If I had to rape you now, you wouldn’t be able to scream.” It is shocking for me to think that an educated young man can say something this terrible and not realise what the implications are of his words. Some of the reactions towards the participants however, were very touching. One lady in town handed the 1 in 9 pamphlet back to the participant and wrote something along the lines of, “this has happened to me too, thank you for doing this” on the back of the piece of paper.
The rape statistics in South Africa are very scary. Only 1 in every 9 rapes are reported and 55 000 rapes are reported every year. That means that in actual fact approximately 495 000 rapes occur every year. Only four percent of the reported rapes are prosecuted. That means only 2200 prosecutions are made per year. The fact that 100 % of woman in South Africa will have been raped at least once by the time they are 55 year old is terrifying!
I think that the platform that was created for these students through the silent protest was something incredible. Although I was not part of it, it allowed woman to confide in one another and to be surrounded by the amazing empathy and love that women are capable of. It allowed students who had remained silent about being raped a chance to open up and talk about it, allowing the healing process to start for them. I think for everyone it was a highly emotional day and an experience that they are likely to never forget.
I do think however that many students, mainly non-participants do not realise the significance and symbolism involved in the silent protest and the short skirt protest. I think that the University fails in properly informing the Rhodes community about why exactly this is being done, what the tape and short skirts symbolise as well as looking at other gender issues. I’m not sure what the solution for this is. There is a general sense of apathy on campus and although there are debates and lectures presented during Anti-sex crimes week, they are not well attended. Maybe more should be written on studentzone, with a link to a forum where people can start an online discussion or debate. A compulsory course for all University students on gender and sex-related issues would also help.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
I may be freezing, but NO, you’re not invited
There’s an icy wind blowing in Grahamstown today, but I braved the cold and left my house in my short skirt and marched off to the library quad to get my “My short skirt is not an invitation” sign stapled to my skirt.
This week is anti sex crimes week at Rhodes University, and today’s event is the short skirt protest. The point of this protest is to show that by wearing a short skirt, women are not ‘looking’ for trouble or to be raped. No matter how much or how little a woman is wearing, there is no excuse for rape, and using what a woman is wearing as an excuse is in itself a pretty weak one.
So let’s unite and protest against these atrocious crimes. Let’s hope that the message is reaching the people who it needs to reach and that somehow they are softened and are able to realise their misconceptions.
This week is anti sex crimes week at Rhodes University, and today’s event is the short skirt protest. The point of this protest is to show that by wearing a short skirt, women are not ‘looking’ for trouble or to be raped. No matter how much or how little a woman is wearing, there is no excuse for rape, and using what a woman is wearing as an excuse is in itself a pretty weak one.
So let’s unite and protest against these atrocious crimes. Let’s hope that the message is reaching the people who it needs to reach and that somehow they are softened and are able to realise their misconceptions.
Environmental rights, right?
Human Rights Day serves to commemorate atrocities committed during the apartheid era and remind South Africans where we came from and what we have achieved as a nation since the start of our relatively new democracy.
Our constitution now has a bill of rights which includes things such as the rights to equality, freedom of expression and freedom of movement and residence. All of these rights are in place to help prevent another Sharpeville type massacre and similar discriminatory violence from occurring again.
Whilst all of the rights should be equally upheld, I feel that they are not and some rights are given preference to others. One of the rights that I feel very strongly about is number 24 in the South African constitution’s bill of rights: Environment. This right states that everyone has the right
a. to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being; and
b. to have the environment protected, for the benefit of present and future generations, through reasonable legislative and other measures that
i. prevent pollution and ecological degradation;
ii. promote conservation; and
iii.secure ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources while promoting justifiable economic and social development.
This right is not being suitably enforced by our government and by not doing so it automatically infringes on some of the other rights. Very little is being done to prevent pollution and ecological degradation or to promote conservation in our country. Previously protected areas are being plundered for the sake of mining and the people living in these very remote, rural areas are being forced to move. This infringes on the freedom of movement and residence right. Mines are also being set up next to important National heritage sites such as at Mapongupwe, with very little or even no regard to the environmental damage that it will cause the area, let alone the heritage site.
Although housing, health care and similar issues take (or are hopefully taking) priority in the government’s agenda, these should be dealt with in a manner which secures sustainable development, encourages environmental education (education is also one of the rights) and start to see the environment as something which without we are unable to live (life also being a constitutional right). Once our environment and natural resources has been destroyed it will undoubtedly lead to warfare and violence, infringing even further on a variety of other human rights. So, it is obvious that the environment section in the bill of rights is one which should be fiercely protected in order to protect the other rights which it has an effect on.
Our constitution now has a bill of rights which includes things such as the rights to equality, freedom of expression and freedom of movement and residence. All of these rights are in place to help prevent another Sharpeville type massacre and similar discriminatory violence from occurring again.
Whilst all of the rights should be equally upheld, I feel that they are not and some rights are given preference to others. One of the rights that I feel very strongly about is number 24 in the South African constitution’s bill of rights: Environment. This right states that everyone has the right
a. to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being; and
b. to have the environment protected, for the benefit of present and future generations, through reasonable legislative and other measures that
i. prevent pollution and ecological degradation;
ii. promote conservation; and
iii.secure ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources while promoting justifiable economic and social development.
This right is not being suitably enforced by our government and by not doing so it automatically infringes on some of the other rights. Very little is being done to prevent pollution and ecological degradation or to promote conservation in our country. Previously protected areas are being plundered for the sake of mining and the people living in these very remote, rural areas are being forced to move. This infringes on the freedom of movement and residence right. Mines are also being set up next to important National heritage sites such as at Mapongupwe, with very little or even no regard to the environmental damage that it will cause the area, let alone the heritage site.
Although housing, health care and similar issues take (or are hopefully taking) priority in the government’s agenda, these should be dealt with in a manner which secures sustainable development, encourages environmental education (education is also one of the rights) and start to see the environment as something which without we are unable to live (life also being a constitutional right). Once our environment and natural resources has been destroyed it will undoubtedly lead to warfare and violence, infringing even further on a variety of other human rights. So, it is obvious that the environment section in the bill of rights is one which should be fiercely protected in order to protect the other rights which it has an effect on.
Terre'Blanche the Terrible
Eugene Terre’Blanche was and in his death continues to be a man of contradictions. Contradictions within himself as well as surrounded by contradictory views of him. Denis Beckett’s article, “Eugene, the arch-ogre” highlights only too well these contradictions, despite being written 30 years prior to Terre’Blanche’s death. According to Beckett, Terre’Blanche was a man who, although he appeared to have the best interests of his “volk” and family at heart as well as deeply entrenched Christian morals, still believed in fighting and the use of violence and racism, even though he vehemently denied this.
Terre’Blanche was murdered on 3 April 2010 and the public and government’s reactions to his murder are distinctly mixed. Terre’Blanche was seen by the Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweeging (AWB) supporters and his other supporters as a hero. He was regarded by them as some kind of god, who would fight for their plight, and according to Beckett, Terre’Blanche clearly thought this about himself too. But there are those who are rejoicing in the death of Terre’Blanche, calling him a murderer, a racist and questioning his ‘Christian’ motives.
It is ironic that Terre’Blanche was killed by two black farm workers, at a time when ANC youth League president, Julius Malema, has been singing and encouraging ‘freedom songs’ such as “Kill the Boer, kill the farmer.”
We will never know now whether Terre’Blanche’s ideas and motives were based on a truly moralistic and wish for a better country as a whole, or on racist and separatist ideals that would ultimately benefit only the white Afrikaner “volk.”
Terre’Blanche was murdered on 3 April 2010 and the public and government’s reactions to his murder are distinctly mixed. Terre’Blanche was seen by the Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweeging (AWB) supporters and his other supporters as a hero. He was regarded by them as some kind of god, who would fight for their plight, and according to Beckett, Terre’Blanche clearly thought this about himself too. But there are those who are rejoicing in the death of Terre’Blanche, calling him a murderer, a racist and questioning his ‘Christian’ motives.
It is ironic that Terre’Blanche was killed by two black farm workers, at a time when ANC youth League president, Julius Malema, has been singing and encouraging ‘freedom songs’ such as “Kill the Boer, kill the farmer.”
We will never know now whether Terre’Blanche’s ideas and motives were based on a truly moralistic and wish for a better country as a whole, or on racist and separatist ideals that would ultimately benefit only the white Afrikaner “volk.”
Monday, April 19, 2010
Donkey Talk
Thursday, 15 April 2010
For the past week there have been three donkeys hanging around in Market Street (where I live). At first I wasn’t too worried as we often see cows or donkeys in our street. But after a few days I started to get worried because the donkeys were in a bad condition and were eating all the rubbish that people had either left out or that had been strewn about by the municipal workers. This afternoon, on my way home, I saw one of these donkeys lying on the pavement in Donkin Street. Donkey’s to me are irresistible. I don’t know if it is because I have always had a soft spot for horses and I sort of see donkeys as an extension of horses, or because of that particular look they always seem to have on their faces. So I approached this donkey and he looked absolutely petrified of me. I made slow movements and eventually managed to sit down next to him, near his head. I gave up on trying to touch him because he just looked to scared. But I spent about 20 minutes talking to him. He looked dreadful, he was thin, his coat was all matted and holey and he had big sores on his back. My heart was breaking and I sat and talked to him about his life and about food and told him how incredibly beautiful he is and how awesome his super long ears are. I think everyone who drove or walked past thought I was an absolute nut case, and I’m not sure if the donkey understood what I was saying. He was definitely listening and moving his ears, and he moved his head closer to me, but still seemed scared. I get so upset at the neglect and cruel treatment of the donkey’s in Grahamstown. I was going to phone the donkey shelter (I needed to come back to campus though to find their number online) and by the time I got back to our neighbourhood the donkey’s were nowhere to be seen. I don’t know what has happened to them, but I hope that they have someone looking after them and feeding them, especially with the cold weather approaching.
For the past week there have been three donkeys hanging around in Market Street (where I live). At first I wasn’t too worried as we often see cows or donkeys in our street. But after a few days I started to get worried because the donkeys were in a bad condition and were eating all the rubbish that people had either left out or that had been strewn about by the municipal workers. This afternoon, on my way home, I saw one of these donkeys lying on the pavement in Donkin Street. Donkey’s to me are irresistible. I don’t know if it is because I have always had a soft spot for horses and I sort of see donkeys as an extension of horses, or because of that particular look they always seem to have on their faces. So I approached this donkey and he looked absolutely petrified of me. I made slow movements and eventually managed to sit down next to him, near his head. I gave up on trying to touch him because he just looked to scared. But I spent about 20 minutes talking to him. He looked dreadful, he was thin, his coat was all matted and holey and he had big sores on his back. My heart was breaking and I sat and talked to him about his life and about food and told him how incredibly beautiful he is and how awesome his super long ears are. I think everyone who drove or walked past thought I was an absolute nut case, and I’m not sure if the donkey understood what I was saying. He was definitely listening and moving his ears, and he moved his head closer to me, but still seemed scared. I get so upset at the neglect and cruel treatment of the donkey’s in Grahamstown. I was going to phone the donkey shelter (I needed to come back to campus though to find their number online) and by the time I got back to our neighbourhood the donkey’s were nowhere to be seen. I don’t know what has happened to them, but I hope that they have someone looking after them and feeding them, especially with the cold weather approaching.
Scooter troubles
Tuesday, 13 April 2010
So today I decided that I was going to be very hard core and overtake a snazzy red car driving way too slowly for my liking, up prince Alfred Street (this on my small bright yellow, uber cool vuka scooter.) So I overtook and was happily driving along in front of the offending red car, when my scooter cut out totally, just before the stop street in front of the journ department. Feeling like an absolute idiot, I was stuck in the middle of the road, with about 3 cars behind me, and nothing I did would make my scooter start again. I couldn’t push it to a safer place because it is too heavy for me to push uphill. Eventually one of the Steers delivery guys, who was driving down the hill on his scooter saw that I was stuck and at my beckoning, did a U-turn and came to help me. He pushed my scooter around the corner for me and then tried to kick start it (this to the hilarity and giggles from the growing group of onlookers on the pavement, and to my increasing embarrassment.) I eventually decided that there was nothing I could do, because I had a lecture to go to. But I called my boyfriend (whom I was actually on my way to) and he came down the hill and whilst I was walking with him, I picked up a stick and stuck it into my petrol tank and it was BONE DRY! So luckily all that had happened was that my petrol had run out (despite the fact that my petrol gauge said that my tank was full) and my star of a boyfriend offered to walk into town and buy petrol for me while I went to my lecture. So all turned out well in the end. Apart from the embarrassment, I think it’s hilarious and at least now I know not to trust the fuel gauge!
So today I decided that I was going to be very hard core and overtake a snazzy red car driving way too slowly for my liking, up prince Alfred Street (this on my small bright yellow, uber cool vuka scooter.) So I overtook and was happily driving along in front of the offending red car, when my scooter cut out totally, just before the stop street in front of the journ department. Feeling like an absolute idiot, I was stuck in the middle of the road, with about 3 cars behind me, and nothing I did would make my scooter start again. I couldn’t push it to a safer place because it is too heavy for me to push uphill. Eventually one of the Steers delivery guys, who was driving down the hill on his scooter saw that I was stuck and at my beckoning, did a U-turn and came to help me. He pushed my scooter around the corner for me and then tried to kick start it (this to the hilarity and giggles from the growing group of onlookers on the pavement, and to my increasing embarrassment.) I eventually decided that there was nothing I could do, because I had a lecture to go to. But I called my boyfriend (whom I was actually on my way to) and he came down the hill and whilst I was walking with him, I picked up a stick and stuck it into my petrol tank and it was BONE DRY! So luckily all that had happened was that my petrol had run out (despite the fact that my petrol gauge said that my tank was full) and my star of a boyfriend offered to walk into town and buy petrol for me while I went to my lecture. So all turned out well in the end. Apart from the embarrassment, I think it’s hilarious and at least now I know not to trust the fuel gauge!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Worms...
So the big question running through my mind at the moment is what to make for supper tonight. call me boring, but after having only eaten an apple, half a crunchie and some juice the entire day, my worms are clapping hands!
Feeling a little low on inspriation though... Thought of wandering around Pick 'n pay until something catches my eye, but otherwise, any ideas journ class in your wisdom and boredom???
Feeling a little low on inspriation though... Thought of wandering around Pick 'n pay until something catches my eye, but otherwise, any ideas journ class in your wisdom and boredom???
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