A TRUE STORY BY PETER HARRIS July 27, 2008
Posted by frostygirl in History.Tags: harris, MK, peter, siswe, umkonto
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“In A Different Time: The Inside Story of the Delmas Four” is the name of the book written by South African lawyer Peter Harris and is the true story about the “Delmas Four” and it a must read for South Africans and foreigners alike.
The book is a true account of events in the 1970s and ’80s: it tells the story of four young men who left the country to undergo training as members of umKhonto we Sizwe, the ANC’s armed wing, after the Soweto riots of June 1976.
Harris said the following at the launch of this book: “When I was writing this book I was fortunate to have access to this story. The so-called ‘Delmas Four’ came back to South Africa as hardened soldiers, but were soon incarcerated and facing the death sentence. Their trial was a sinister conspiracy against them. This is a fascinating story and a sad story. Whether I wrote it well enough I will leave that to you,” he said. “This book documents recent, although forgotten times - and it gives a tribute to those who died during the struggle.”
Written with the compulsion of a thriller, this extraordinary, true story of an MK hit squad fighting a guerrilla war in the 1980s will have readers turning the pages through to the unexpected gut-wrenching twist at the end.
Find this book through this link:
http://book.co.za/bookfinder/ean/9781415200490
Popularity: 62% [?]
WHITE POVERTY IN SOUTH AFRICA July 24, 2008
Posted by frostygirl in News.Tags: poor, whites
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In July 2004 the following was reported “Today 430 000 whites, of a total white population of 4,5-million, are “too poor to live in traditional white areas” and 90 000 “are in a survival struggle”, says Lawrence Schlemmer, director of the Helen Suzman Foundation. Of these, 305 000 are Afrikaans-speaking and 215 000 speak English.”
Since then it has become worse! Jacob Zuma has recently started visiting white “squatter-like” areas in Pretoria and Bethlehem and said: “I am shocked and surprised by what I have seen here. The vast number of black poverty does not mean that we must ignore white poverty, which is increasingly becoming an embarrassment to talk about.”
He said he had seen the same problems facing white residents of the township as he had seen in black squatter camps.
“This is not about politics, it’s about people who are poor, who are in need and want to be helped by government,” he said, quoted by the AFP news agency.
Solidarity deputy secretary general Dirk Herman said the face of poverty in South Africa was changing. “All wealthy South Africans are no longer white and all poor South Africans are no longer black.
“(But) white poverty is silent poverty. It is not politically correct to talk about it, making it probably the only poverty in the world that is politically incorrect,” he claimed.
Many of these white people have skills that can be used in the country, especially the government departments where there are thousands of vacant posts, which cannot be filled by blacks as there is a skills shortage amongst blacks in this field.
I would suggest to Mr Zuma that he asks them to fill in a form listing their skills and previous employment details and I am sure that many of these white people will be employable!
The whites do not need handouts they need jobs, use this source of skills that is left out in the cold and forget the black/white issue, we are now 14 years into the “new” South African, is it not time now?
Popularity: 63% [?]
ROBBEN ISLAND GOOD NEWS! July 20, 2008
Posted by frostygirl in News.Tags: derman, robben island, searl
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Apparently Searl Derman has obtained approval to capture and move the fallow deer on the Island and he will also capture and sterilise the rabbits with the help of vet Douw Grobbelaar.
Read more about this at: http://allafrica.com/stories/200806090801.html
I promised “Joe” from Durban to find out more about Searl Derman so that if anyone else wishes to pledge funds for this project they can contact Searl Derman direct. Go to:
http://www.whoswhosa.co.za/Pages/profilefull.aspx?IndID=6497
Popularity: 60% [?]
NELSON MANDELA - 90TH BIRTHDAY July 17, 2008
Posted by frostygirl in News.Tags: birthday, mandela, nelson
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Nelson Mandela is celebrating his 90th birthday on 18 July 2008 and when you look at the man you cannot help thinking about his life.
The world is lifting him up and making him into an idol, which is not right, but he remains a humble man and it seems that his main concern is to help children through his children’s fund.
They say that you can only know what a persons life is like after you have walked a mile in their shoes.
As a white female I tried to visualize what it must have been like for Nelson Mandela in his beloved country, South Africa, being oppressed by racism, but I failed horribly because I just cannot know what it was like because we as whites just take too much for granted.
I heard him say the following when he was addressing a crowd of people: “I do not believe in blacks being dominated by whites…..(lots of cheering) ….I do not believe in whites being dominated by blacks…..(less cheering)….. I believe in democracy!”
As a young man he had ideals and was prepared to fight and die for them, apparently he first tried the passive, peaceful route and when that was not successful his organisation decided to fight for the right to be equal. Many men go to war and kill for what they believe in and if it is such a moral issue it is difficult to condemn them because they believe in their hearts that they are right. Innocent people always die in a war and a lot of innocent people died on both sides during this struggle for equality. I do not believe in war, but it is a fact of life in this world!
It is amazing how things turned out! When Nelson Mandela was found guilty by the State he was supposed to get the death sentence (by hanging), but apparently at the time Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd changed it to a life sentence! At the time he did not know that Nelson Mandela was destined for something great in the future and could not die then!
Nelson Mandela could have become a bitter and vengeful man after spending so many years of his life in prison, under bad circumstances for most of the time, but he came out with a smile and a hand of peace held out to all South Africans. He is a humble man, but a strong man who is not afraid to stand up for what he believes in.
I would like to know what he is thinking now when he sees what has become of South Africa! His dream of having all South Africans equal has not been realized as the black ANC government now dominates the other race groups in the country with Black Empowerment and Affirmative Action causing inequality! What a shame, it could have been so different. Democracy does not work!
What a pity he did not have age on his side so that he could have had a second term in the office as President, I believe it would have made a huge difference to this country.
Happy birthday Madiba, may you still have many years left to enjoy the freedom and peace you strove for, for so many years!
Popularity: 61% [?]
GET ONE MILLION VISITORS TO YOUR BLOG July 15, 2008
Posted by frostygirl in Uncategorized.Tags: free, visitors
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Any new blogger would love to get one million visitors to visit their blog and I have found a FREE way of doing it and you do not have to be an expert at HTML to do so.
Go to: http://www.t2000ultra.com/?rid=52214
It is so easy to join! Try it!
Popularity: 55% [?]
A NEW PRAYER July 15, 2008
Posted by frostygirl in Faith.Tags: new, prayer
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This prayer was written by a 15 year old school kid in Geelong, Victoria, Australia and it is probably echoed by many school children all over the world:
Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.
If Scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a Federal matter now.
Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That’s no offence - it’s a freedom scene.
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.
For praying in a public hall
Might offend someone with no faith at all.
In silence alone we must meditate,
God’s name is prohibited by the state.
We’re allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.
They’ve outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.
We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd.
It’s scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school’s a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take!!!
Amen
Popularity: 52% [?]
SPRINGBOKS HISTORIC WIN OVER ALL BLACKS July 13, 2008
Posted by frostygirl in Sport.add a comment
What a game! When these two rugby greats meet it is always a thrill to watch because both teams have an intense desire to beat their rivals.
The “House of Pain” has been just that for the Springbok rugby team for the past 87 years, that was when last they were able to beat the All Blacks in Dunedin!
It was a cliffhanger right to the end and the whole of South Africa was sitting on the edge of their seats during the last few minutes of the game, we were ahead 30-28 and HAD to hold on to win! Our boys did not disappoint us and at long last we had a win at this venue.
Sometimes a team does need an individual spark from one its players and Ricky Januarie (scrumhalf) reminded us of the great Joost van der Westhuizen when his touch of brilliance resulted in the winning try being scored by him in the 75th minute of the gaime.
We have now ended the All Blacks world record run of 30 home test victories in a row. The world champs showed their true grit and that is how we know them.
Well done Boks we are so proud of you, now keep up the winning streak again when you meet the Wallabies!
Popularity: 60% [?]
ROBBEN ISLAND UPATE July 8, 2008
Posted by frostygirl in News.Tags: deer, fallow, robben
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I am happy to report that some progress has been made on Robben Islands problem. A South African businessman has come forward and offered to pay for the capture and relocation of the Fallow Deer on the Island to more suitable sanctuaries. His proposal still has to be approved by the authorities, but there is some hope for these animals now.
Unfortunately the same cannot be said about the feral rabbits on the Island, it looks like they may be culled, but the verdict is not out yet.
It is always wonderful when someone who has the money to help steps up to the plate and not only offers to pay but has a “hands on” strategy too. Well done Searl Derman for offering your help and money!
Popularity: 61% [?]
FLAMINGO COLONY UNDER THREAT July 4, 2008
Posted by frostygirl in News.1 comment so far
Kimberley in South Africa is best known for the “Big Hole” where thousands of miners dug a huge hole whilst mining for diamonds. This town was also where the American singer the late Jim Reeves starred in a movie called Kimberley Jim.
What many people do not know is that there is a wonderful new attraction just on the outskirts of Kimberley on Kamfers Dam i.e. flamingos.
Two brothers who owns a mining company called Ekapa Mining heard about the plight of the Lesser Flamingo. They used their own finance and resources to build an island in the middle of Kamfers Dam in an S-shape to attract the flamingos in order to establish a safe breeding place for them. This venture worked wonderfully and the flamingos loved the pristine environment and up to 60000 came to breed there and 9000 chicks where born.
Now due to GREED this habitat is in peril and we need every-ones help to save it from being destroyed. The mismanagement of the municipality of Kimberley has allowed raw sewage to overflow into the Kamfers Dam causing some of the flamingos legs to have sores on them.
Secondly, although this site is declared a National Heritage site, the mayor of Kimberley and his team have agreed to re-zone part of the area to allow a huge development by Group One to be built. This permission was granted without an impact study being done about the effect it will have on the flamingos or input being asked for from the conservationists or the people of Kimberley.
Please go to the following website and sign the petition so that we can stop the development and force the municipality to sort out the sewage problem:
http://www.savetheflamingo.co.za/index.php
Please share this story with as many people as you can and I ask all my entrecard readers to help us by carrying a link of this on their blogs!
Thanks to each and everyone who responds to this call for help.
Popularity: 57% [?]
