Topic: South Africa
South Africa/EU: Take Steps Together to Improve Human Rights
(Johannesburg) - The European Union and South Africa should take steps to enhance cooperation on international human rights issues when they meet this week, Human Rights Watch said today in letters to South Africa's minister of international cooperation and the prime minister of Sweden, which currently holds the EU presidency. The second EU-South Africa summit meeting is scheduled for September 11, 2009, in Kleinmond, South Africa.
The summit aims to strengthen the partnership between the EU and South Africa in several areas, from economic development in Africa to conflict resolution. In the letters, to Maite Nkoana-Mashabane of South Africa and Fredrik Reinfeldt of Sweden, Human Rights Watch called on both parties to make significant joint commitments on human rights. South Africa has one of the world's strongest rights-protecting constitutions, and the EU has a long record of respecting individual rights. European Union and South African support was key to the establishment of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
"Sometimes the EU and South Africa have worked at cross purposes, but when they work together, they have a good track record," said Lotte Leicht, EU director at Human Rights Watch. "Their combined efforts can make a real difference."
In particular, Human Rights Watch said, the EU and South Africa should agree to provide leadership in the UN Human Rights Council on justice for the victims of serious crimes in Darfur, Sri Lanka, and Israel and the Occupied Territories, and on mobilizing concerted international action against brutal national governments, such as Burma's.
The EU and South Africa joined forces at the UN in 2008 on key resolutions that outlawed sexual violence in conflict and called for better protection of civilians. In its letters, Human Rights Watch urged them to support the creation of a new senior UN post dedicated to eliminating rape as a weapon of war and to support a formal UN Commission of Inquiry into serious human rights violations in Somalia.
"The longstanding conflicts in Congo and Somalia continue to cause massive suffering for millions of civilians," said Georgette Gagnon, Africa director at Human Rights Watch. "For too long, Western and African countries have favored band-aid approaches. Long-term stability in both countries starts with investigating and prosecuting those who have carried out or condoned atrocities."
The Kleinmond summit is scheduled shortly before the release of the Goldstone Commission report on violations of international human rights and humanitarian law committed in the Gaza conflict last December and January. In its letters, Human Rights Watch urged the EU and South Africa to insist on accountability for abuses committed by all parties to the conflict. Human Rights Watch also urged the EU and South Africa to express their commitment to consider impartially the Gold
Zimbabwe has long been a point of difference between the EU and South Africa. Kleinmond offers an opportunity to build a common approach, centered on human rights, Human Rights Watch said. South Africa invested significant effort in securing a power-sharing agreement there. One party to the agreement - Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF - has persistently failed to honor its commitments. The EU has imposed targeted sanctions on members and supporters of ZANU-PF in response to their persistent violation of basic human rights. Several African states have demanded that the sanctions be lifted.
"The sanctions debate is a red herring since none of them prevent the country from moving forward," Gagnon said. "Power sharing will only work when repressive laws are repealed and human rights irreversibly improved. Sanctions must not be lifted until then."
Crossing the Lesotho Border from South Africa
Last year we took that long road trip around South Africa, we were heading for the Drakensberg (or so we thought) when we drove accross the border of Lesotho. We just drove right over the border and no one even tried to stop us.
Upon learning we crossed the border we also realised that we did not have any passports to really cross the border and started to panic, I then reversed right accross the border from Lesotho to South Africa, taxis hooting like crazy and people sweaing at us. Considering we were the only white people in the area I didnt take the time to hear what they had to say, I dont think it could of been any good though.
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Shipwreck at Dassen Island, South Africa
Here is a shipwreck under the water off the Island off Dassen Island in South Africa, Dassen Island is a small island close to Yzerfontein
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25 People died of swine flu in South Africa
The number of people that has died of swine flu in South Africa has risen to 25, 10 of these were pregnant woman.
Alive in Joburg made by Neill Blomkamp
I think this is brilliant in 2005 Neill Blomkamp made this short film based on District 9. The thing that makes this so extraordinary is the fact that the people in the short film being interviewed doesn't know about the science fiction film about aliens. They are giving their honest thoughts on illegal immigrants in South Africa. Not just illegal immigrants but all foreigners in our country. As you can see they did not sound very positive or friendly but mostly they sound scared.
District 9 - Movie Trailer
District 9 is a movie sort of based on the apartheid era in South Africa where blacks was segregated from whites.
The movies plot is where a ship of refugee aliens land in Johannesburg South Africa. The 'world' decides that they are a threat to humanity and needs to be separated from the rest of the population by making this place called District 9. If you know South African history there was a place with the name District 6 where the non whites lived. Any case the main company who 'cares' for the aliens wants to have them moved and sends in this guy to help to get them moved. He learns of how they are being mistreated and snaps. Goes in trying to help the aliens making him a wanted man.
Right click on poster, view image to see full size.
There is much more to the movie than what I wrote but I really would not want is spoil it for someone. But if you watch all the trailers you would get a bigger picture. This is one movie I am looking forward to and cannot wait for it to be released.
Go behind the scenes of District 9 with Peter Jackson
South Africans are not properly informed about swine flu - H1N1 virus
August 6, 2009 by Daizy
At the beginning of the whole swine flu thing I said that South Africa would be hit hard I just had no idea that people would be so stupid about it. I don't want to sound mean or insult people it's just a fact. I understand it is just like flu but the mortality rate is much higher than normal flu and it is easy transferable. That is why the quarantine whole families in other countries. After two deaths I would think people would take it more seriously but they have not.
I met one mother of a little girl in my daughters kindergarten class this morning outside the school, where she casually informs me she has swine flu. This is after she took her 4 year old little girl to a class full of 4 - 3 year old children. She informed she has been released from her job until the doctor gave the all clear, she is an English teacher at an primary school. My daughter is in recovery from normal flu so she would be more susceptible to the H1N1 virus. To say I was horrified put it lightly. This woman was walking around not realizing the virus spreads through air and she just exposed the whole school to the virus.
It is the Doctors job to inform authorities and then explain to the woman how highly contagious swine flu is. They just tell the people to get a lot of bed rest. Unfortunately the government is trying so hard not to let the population panic they are down playing the virus so much people are treating it just as if it's just another cold. People would be more scared they would get laryngitis than swine flu to me it's the same thing, if not worse. They don't even give them masks to wear so that they cannot contaminate other people. To me this is negligent and dangerous.
ANC's proposed national health insurance (NHI) scheme
August 4, 2009 by Kaapstad
What I think of the ANC's proposed national health insurance (NHI) scheme is that it is a really bad idea. We do not have medical aid and are of those who would benefit from such scheme but then again I know what happens when something opens up to the public for free use. My dad pays an extraordinary large amount on medical aid so that he and my mother can have the best of care, if they had to charge even more on top of what he is already paying I am sure he would not be able to cope. Is it not bad enough that 40% of most hard working South African citizens salary goes to the tax man? Just because our government has misspent it's funds and have let the hospitals run into the ground they want to bleed those with money for more cash? Do they honestly think it would work?
I believe hospital cost are way to expensive but to take money from tax payers to fix that problem is not the solution. It will cost a person R5 000 to stay in the hospital for one day, not sleeping over just to use the operation ward and a recovery bed that's without doctors costs. When I had my baby 2 years ago the hospital bill came up to R14 000. I still had to pay the anesthetist, the gynecologist and the pediatrician each raging from R2 000 to R 5 000. Then I still had medical aid in the end I only had to pay in R6 000. I know this is a serious rip off just to have a baby.
But even knowing that and have experience the injustice of having to pay so much or go to a public hospital (which honestly I rather just not go at all and suffer, those places terrify me) I would not want the already over burdened people who are able to pay to pay more. They screwed up a perfectly good public health system now they want to mess up the private sector. That's just not right, if they want something why don't they just work for it? I can remember ten years ago our local hospital started showing how it's deteriorating, now no one wants to go there they would rather go all the way to Cape Town or struggle on their own. The local Medi-Clinic though has become like a five star hotel and charge the prices of one too.
I have no idea what the solution is to this but I do not think forcing people who are already paying major money for health care to pay more. The root must be found as to why it is so expensive and the public hospitals must be sorted out. I feel like the poor black people of South Africa has become like a swarm of locust who strip the wealth from one place and when it is in ruins move on to the next 'green place'.
Loin 'Whisperer' Kevin Richardson taken into lion family
This has to be the most amazing thing I have ever seen. How this man can get wild animals to take him in. I have found three videos one of sky news the other of him swimming with the lioness and lastly one with the Hyenas.
Trade Unions will be the end of South African economy
The unions have become ridiculous in their demands. Full well knowing that the companies can hardly pay the employees all over the country people are going on strikes. The most recent 'victim' is Eskom. Personally I really don't care what happens to Eskom but I know for a fact they cannot afford to give anyone pay rises. They have put up on the table a rise of 8% not much but better than nothing. But no this is not good enough for the Unions the one group wants 12% and the other wants 14%. Do they not realize by striking they loose money for the company meaning that it is even less likely that they would be able to afford to give a raise.
I understand the predicament because things we need are getting more expensive day by day while the money coming in stays the same. I understand that fully but the fact remains each time someone strikes it cost money and time.
I do not think the country can afford the amount of strikes we do. Why can't the issues be resolved in a less costly way? Everyday I hear of a new strike and there are some that does not include such large numbers we never even hear about. This one union Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers Union (Ceppwawu) started out by demanding a increase of 10% but that has increased to 13%, they say they are willing to take 10% but no less than that. The employers are offering 8% neither is willing to back both believing that they cannot afford to. And in the meantime everything is in stand still. Who is benefiting from this way of reasoning? The only people I see benefiting this way of doing thins, are the Unions.