AN ONLINE PUBLICATION STRUCTURED AROUND THE INTERESTS OF NELSON MANDELA METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS STUDYING JOURNALISM,MEDIA AND PHILOSOPHY
Last update: 3 October 2014
Human Interest
A broader look at what the rest of humanity is thinking and doing.
Smart Rivalry
Rivalry between smartphone companies has become such a fierce affair to the point where the minutest slip-ups are pounced upon by opposition companies. Could Apple’s recent slump make South African users perceive it as the ‘bad apple’ of the bunch?
Nicholas Gibbens. 3 October2014.
Cellphones have become an extension of the human body. While this statement would most likely receive a backlash from many people, it is fair to say that it is – for a large percentage of the human population – quite probable. Smartphones have ensured that the human anatomy has a semi-detachable body part. In South Africa alone, 92% of cellular phone users are making use of some form of smartphone compared to, the somewhat dying breed of ‘feature phones’.
Due to the high global demand for smartphones, smartphone companies such as Samsung and Apple have become involved in fierce competition vying for bigger market shares. Globally the Android operating system, which Samsung makes use of, is miles ahead of the pack with nearly 85% of the market with Apple’s IDevice Operating System (iOS) in a distant second place with nearly 12%. In South Africa, however, the margins are more closely contested and interestingly with neither Samsung nor Apple being the most used smartphone brand, for the time being at least.
To improve sales and the image of their products companies invest large sums of money in effective marketing strategies. Nevertheless, sometimes it is not only the strengths of a brand’s products that will increase market growth but also the weaknesses of a competing brand. Apple has recently gone through a bit of a rough patch in recent months as a result of various issues coming to light. Smartphone competitors did little to sympathise with the Californian based company but rather were quick to pounce on Apple’s faults by highlighting them in various marketing schemes. Every company on this planet obviously wants to avoid any form of negative publicity and Apple’s public relations department has been doing a fair amount of damage control to ‘save face’. Nonetheless, it is interesting to see whether Apple will be able to regain its customer-base after all the negative media attention they have received within the South African market.
Apple built its reputation by creating simple, stylish products that cause little to no hassles for customers. This reputation has led to many customers aligning their loyalties with the company and purchasing a repertoire of Apple products. Apple first ventured into the cellphone market in June 2007 with the first version of the iPhone and has released a number of relatively improved models since then. While each new model offered improvements from the previous model, the simplicity that iPhones provided customers never seemed to sway. Apple’s reputation often sees people, who swear by Apple smartphones, queuing outside Apple stores for the release of new models. South African Apple users don’t make as much effort to line-up outside the few stores dotted around the country because the hype generated by Apple for new product releases pales in comparison to America. According to smartphone users’ purchase intentions – as much as Apple smartphones currently account for 12.3% of cellphones used in South Africa – the usage of Apple smartphones could grow to 16.2% in the future. A report from May 2014 shows that there are 20 million smartphone users currently in the country which suggests that a substantial amount of Apple iPhones are in circulation.
According to reports - while Apple is far having a monopoly over the smartphone market in South Africa – they still have a respectable percentage of loyal users which is slowly but steadily growing. Apple’s intention will be to maintain their current customers while attracting new ones as well and to ensure this, they will need to rely on the reputation they have built over the last few years but, of course, avoid any negative attention that could harm the brand image. The glitches that Apple has been experiencing with their latest edition of operating software as well as the new iPhone 6 phones (which have received a few complaints about bending) are potentially obstacles that could slow down Apple’s growth in South Africa. The way in which Apple responds to some of these glitches is crucial for how current and potential customers perceive the company.
In August, Apple experienced possibly crippling media attention when hackers were able to go into the iCloud accounts of a substantial amount of celebrities, mostly women, and leak intimate material onto public domains. iCloud is a cloud storage and cloud computing service which allows users to store data on remote computer servers for download to multiple devices. The service is a convenient means for storing personal data but it took a bit of a knock as a result of the scandal and it somewhat dragged Apple’s name through the mud. Apple denied that the hackers breached its iCloud service and explained in detail that the celebrities’ accounts had been compromised in a targeted attack. “Ultimately, though, it doesn’t really matter if the hack is not Apple’s fault; the damage has been done,” said Ben Thompson, an independent analyst. People still hold Apple accountable for the scandal because it is their software which was targeted. Kirsten Dunst, one of the celebrities whose account was hacked, tweeted “Thank you iCloud” followed by a piece of pizza and poop emoticon. The large media attention this scandal received often headlined or tagged Apple and iCloud resulting in Apple inevitably receiving negative attention. Despite Apple upgrading the security of the service, many potential users of the cloud service are now wary of it.
Conversely, when it came to the glitches experienced with iOS 8 operating software, Apple could not shift the blame. Many users were unable to make or receive calls and the touch sensor functionality malfunctioned as a result of iOS 8. Apple reacted quickly to the numerous complaints by releasing iOS 8.0.1. but quickly withdrew it after the new version had numerous bugs of its own. Apple released an apology over the faulty software and has since released iOS 8.0.2. which appears to have sorted out all the problems that were experienced by users. Some analysts believe Apple did the right thing by acknowledging and apologizing for the problems experienced with the software because there have past incidents when they were slow to react. While Apple has been experiencing intense media attention their rivals, such as Samsung, have quietly been going about fixing their own glitches. Samsung updated its software that allows its smartphones to control and communicate with its smartwatches. However, the software update kept crashing leaving the watches unusable in some cases. The glitch was fixed in a couple of days but the incident received little, if any, media attention. The attention that Apple receives from the media is unprecedented due to its reputation. Rival companies benefit from this as they often tend to get away with the problems they experience while Apple remains in the spotlight.
Apple recently released the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus which Apple fans were eager to get their hands on. In the days that followed the release stories start surfacing that the aluminum shell of the iPhone 6 Plus was susceptible to bending. The iPhone 6 plus is slightly longer and thinner compared to all iPhone models. “With normal use, a bend in iPhone is extremely rare and through our first six days of sale, a total of nine customers have contracted Apple with a bent iPhone 6 Plus” Apple spokesperson Trudy Muller said. Nine such complaints is quite an insignificant number when you take into account that more than 10 million iPhone 6 series phones were sold in the first three days of release. On the other hand, it was enough for media to pay attention to the issue as well as for rivals to take a dig at Apple. The #bendgate tag has been trending on Twitter with Twitter users giving their various views and opinions on the matter. Rival smartphone companies have also seen this as an opportunity to market their devices as superior over Apple’s. LG USA Mobile tweeted “Our phone doesn’t bend, it flexes…on purpose. #bendgate”. Samsung also released an advert with an iPhone bending to a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 with the caption “Bend to those who are worthy.”
Every smartphone developer goes through its rough patches; with such an advanced bit of technology it’s understandable that glitches are going to occur. Apple is just unfortunate that it has experienced a number of incidents occurring in such quick succession. They have become the company the media loves to latch onto; granting some of the blame is Apple’s for the mass hype they generate around their product releases.
The iPhone 6 series is set to hit the South African market in October/ November of this year and undoubtedly there will be many people eager to get their hands on one. Some analysts believe Apple’s reputation has taken a bit of a knock over these recent months indicated by Apple’s stocks falling by $3.88. Other analysts don’t quite see it this way. “Honestly, in the long term it doesn’t matter at all,” said Patrick Moorhead, principal analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy. “Apple has rebounded every single time over the last decade.”
Smartphone users in South Africa will most likely have some sort of idea of Apple’s recent rough patch and may keep this in mind when deciding what phone to purchase or upgrade to. The reason that Apple sits on 12.3% of South Africa’s market is more because of their expensive prices rather than any glitches they’ve experienced. Numerous studies have shown that South Africans find iPhones to be quite expensive.
Samsung's cheeky advert response to the allegations of Apple's new iPhone bending in users' pockets.
"Blackface" strikes again: this time at Stellenbosch University when two male students dressed as the Williams sisters.
Blackface again- and the teaching continues
Matshepo Dibetso. 3 October2014.
Hardly a month and we are back discussing the same subject. This is telling an important story that we should not stop learning. Quite apt that these Blackface incidents take place in Institutions of learning, that way the teaching can never stop.
On September 24th a picture of two males dressed supposedly as the Williams sisters, also in Blackface went viral on the internet. The duo was dressed as the tennis playing siblings to a 21st birthday party at a residence at University of Stellenbosch. The picture was first seen on the social application instagram and was captioned “Hanging out with the Williams Sisters [sic] last night at the Boli’s 21st. Let’s hope they don’t get kicked out the varsity for this one!”
The picture almost like the previous one from the University of Pretoria a little over 3 weeks ago, caused quite a stir on social media.
It was met with outrage while some people expressed disinterest, calling it off as an incident of students “Just having fun”. A statement echoing the sentiment that in the name of fun, the actions of Blackface were benign. Yet given the history shared just last month in relation to Blackface, however funny one might find it to be, the implications thereof should always be treated with great consideration. And chief amongst those implications, is privilege of the wearer of Blackface also the perpetuation of stereotypes.
According to writer and feminist Bell Hooks in her book, Feminism is For Everybody, writes, “we all live in a white supremacist capitalist patriarchy”, a system Hooks argues that institutionally favours one race, class and group over another. Comparing this sentiment with the history of South Africa under Apartheid then would not be far-fetched.
South Africa’s political history under Apartheid asserted the dichotomy between black and white people. Granted that there have been great strides made by the country and its people, 20 years after Democracy, there is still a long way to go in order learn how to reconcile the differences especially with regards to the held perceptions both races have of each other. Blackface is a good starting point. Albeit offensive to many, there is an important conversation here about history and its significance, about privilege and who has it and also how to handle it. When we learn from the point of view of those oppressed, as were the people who were first represented by Blackface, we are able to understand the dynamics of privilege at play. That the people Blackface historically represented, were marginalized and oppressed, they did not have an opportunity to represent themselves. A subjective gaze was thrust on them for entertainment purposes.
With regards to the incident at the University of Pretoria, the two women were going to a costume party, dressed up as what looked like black women, these two girls wore in their Blackface, a representation of Black women that they had no right to. In that representation they subjected a privileged and myopic gaze of black women; Privileged in the sense that they wore without consideration of the implications and myopic in that the representations were stereotypical. And here if the question is, should they have represented every black woman? Or that should they have consulted before they did? The answer to both questions is no. They should not have to wear anyone’s face. Black or White, Indian and Coloured.
The question perhaps is where do all these sentiments meet to legitimize the reaction against Blackface. And the answer is that, we cannot ignore the history, because it has set precedence. Therefore even when reporting on Blackface as media students we must be careful not to focus on the intention of the wearer, rather always focus on the implications of the representation of Blackface. The person wearing Blackface has privilege of representation especially because they are representing a member of a historically marginalized group. Therefore, the reporting on our part as media should move away from the intention of the representation because it is deflection from the history which eventually might desensitize people from the history of Blackface, a history that should never be forgotten or diluted to be considered just as jest.
Eric Lott, author of In Love and In theft:Blackface Minstrelsy and the American Working Class writes, “Blackface generated meaning that could not be controlled by black subjects, given that they did not have the means to provide competing representations of blackness”. The representation behind Blackface was meant as a demeaning mechanism against black people and thus far, there haven’t been ways in which black people themselves have been able to subvert the representation. Therefore however funny one considers Blackface to be, it should never happen.
T.O Molefe, columnist for City Press, writes in reaction to the recent Blackface incident, “Like other performed stereotypes, Blackface replaces individual identities with a singular identity of all within the group”. Molefe laments the gaze that is subjected to the people represented by those wearing the Blackface. That they have now usurped the power of representation and while wearing their face they are at will to represent the person however they see fit. Which is problematic as it advances privilege. Privilege of representation is mimicked as was, when white people caricatured black people stereotypically in plays during the slave era, this being done to amuse a white audience. The one wearing the Blackface can decide at will to portray themselves how they see the Blackface.
The story will probably die down and as the investigations by both the University Of Pretoria and the University of Stellenbosch continue, the conversation though should continue, until we all understand the complexities of representations and the implications thereof.
REDUCE.REUSE.RETHINK
Julia Holmes. 3 October 2014.
The concept and process of recycling has undergone a creative leap from religiously throwing rubbish into allocated bins, reusing grocery packetsor for the more quirky portion of society, picking a flower and placing it in an empty glass Coca-Cola bottle. Although the above mentioned practices are essential in decreasing our ecological footprint, fresh initiatives- that work alongside basic recycling principles- have been introduced to create a fun home- and community uplifting twist on saving the planet. We explored various projects that Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) students are involved in.
The Eco-Brick Exchange
Formed in early 2013, The Eco-Brick Exchange is a non-profit organization that aims to not only uplift, but educate local communities on recycling and waste management. Led by Ian Dommisse, the project is centered on the concept of an eco-brick, which consists of a 2l plastic bottle filled with compacted plastic waste. The eco-brick, combined with concrete, is then used to construct various structures including buildings, indoor- and outdoor furniture.
Dommisse intends on presenting the project to NMMU students in the near future, with the hope that if more students were aware of the organization and its projects, the more they’d be willing to help. NMMU Media, Communication and Culture graduate/ foreign exchange student, Sebastian Kuan, is one of the founders of the organization and handles the organizing and documentation of events.
The Eco-Brick Exchanges’ focal project is Penguin Learn and Play Centre, an educational aftercare centre in Walmer Township. When construction of the center is complete, the organization hopes to make history by becoming the world’s first two story eco-brick building! The building process and demolition of the current centre is set to take place in September and the new eco-brick center is set to be completed by March 2015. The Eco-Brick Exchange proposes the ideal solution for those who are eager to get involved in charity developments, as it requires little time and money. Simply fill a 2lplastic bottle with waste and hand it in to various drop-off stations around Port Elizabeth. These include: MUMS Fabrics, Hill Paint and Hardware, Head Candy,Anantam Yoga, Bay Language Institute, The Friendly Stranger, Green Cycle, The Emporium and Floradale Nurseries. August 2014 proved to be an exciting month for The Eco-Brick Exchange, as they were given the opportunity to showcase the phenomenal eco-brick at the Open Design Festival in Cape Town.
A 3rd year NMMU Media, Communication and Culture student, TaylaFoong, has caught the eco-brick bug and finds the endeavor “different and intriguing”. Involved in the NMMU “Beyond the Classroom” leadership programme, the Eco-Brick Exchange forms part of Foong’s 20 hours of community service for thisprogramme. When joining the project, Kuan invited Foong to volunteer at one of the organization’s monthly Swop Shop, whereby second hand clothing is exchanged for eco-bricks amongst the women in the Walmer Township and the parents of learners at Penguin Learn and Play Centre. Foong believes that the Eco-Brick Exchange “is really effective because anyone can take part regardless of age or education. It is teaching people even from the poorest areas that waste is in fact worth”. Foong has encouraged fellow students to join the initiative, and credits her mother, Nina Foong, for the ‘go green’ motto and waste-conscious nature in her household. Foong says: “I now think twice when throwing a chocolate wrapper, bottles, cans or even cling wrap away. Students would love working with the eco-brick family as the people in charge are young and full of trendy and creative ideas”.
Swop Shops
As with the Eco-Brick Exchange, Edge of Africa and 7 Keys are hoping to empower communities through recycling. According to their website, EDGE of AFRICA is “combining a visit to breathtaking countries in Africa with a life-changing volunteer experience”. Attracting volunteers globally, the organization has a variety of community and conservation projects in Africa, including two Swop Shops inKnysna and in other parts of the Western Cape region. Local children, aged between 8 and 18 years, exchange plastic, paper, tins and glass for points that allocate them credit to buy a variety of necessities from the Swop Shop. A large portion of these necessities are donated to the project by local Knysna residents. Points are based on the weight of the recycled waste and by 2013 the initiative had collected over 7000 kg of waste and attracted 433 children to participate in the project. Volunteers have noticed that whilst children are browsing for items, the mothers gather, creating a social experience for them too.
NMMU BA English and Philosophy student, Kim Whitehead, was introduced to the project when seeking to do good on Mandela Day. Whitehead says: “I think it is amazing how excited the children get about recycling.” She noticed, with regards to recycling, that the project is extremely strict and therefore ensures that the children are not only recycling correctly, but that they feel a sense of accomplishment when doing so. In terms of the items the children choose in exchange for their efforts, Whitehead commented: “What amazed me the most was that they didn’t buy toys but rather chose stationery, books, toilet paper and other toiletries”. Whitehead definitely recommends that other students get involved in the project as seeing the pride in the children’s faces knowing that they have earned the items themselves is a touching, unforgettable experience.
Neo-couture and Upcycling
Breathing new life into waste extends from the community and into clothing shelves and homemade, household décor.
In a recent interview with Jessica Steyn, designer at Strategy Advertising, Emma Wissink, NMMU Btech Fashion Design student, discussed recycling and sustainability in terms of the fashion industry. Wissinkbelieves that “all art serves a purpose or fits into a greater reasoning”. Her current project involves neo-couture, a self-created term which “reworks and repurposes discarded goods, as a commentary on consumerism and social awareness as well as on the construction of a unique identity. The process of neo-couture therefore starts where mass production ends”. With regards to the topic of sustainability in fashion, Wissink says: “As a clothing designer for a large, mass produced brand, you have limited input and you are just one cog in a damaging system. Often your attempts at sustainable reform are overridden in the pursuit of profit and speed.Your best effort towards sustainability as a designer is to attempt to create a new system instead of trying to reform the old ones”. Wissink assigns the theoretical and intellectual approach of her idea to Maison Martin Margiela, the master of recycling and is currently urging Facebook friends to assist her with the collection of denim materials for her neo-couture project where discarded denim materials will be deconstructed and used to design new, detailed garments. Students interested in viewing Wissink’s neo-couture designs can visit the exhibition on 15 October 2014 at the North Campus Arts Department orattend the show on 31 October 2014 at Goldfields on North Campus.
York High School pupil, Duncan Mather, has fallen in love with the trend of upcycling, whereby waste materials are used to create new and improved items.Using empty wooden crates and a couple of nails, Mather has created a variety of aesthetically pleasing and practical items, including benches, shelves and wall displays. The pictures provided demonstrate how effective such items can be within your household!
So students, why not make GREEN the new black this spring? Don’t be afraid to gather the troops and build an eco-brick, volunteer at a Swop Shop, support fellow students in recycling projects and channel creative energy into waste products. As the Cree Indian Proverb goes: “Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realise we cannot eat money”. For more information on how to assist in the projects mentioned in this article visit Facebook- The Eco-Brick Exchange or www.edgeofafrica.com or contact Emma Wissinkon emma.wissink.nmmu@gmail.com / 0832847365.
Inovative thinking allows new creations to be created through recycling old materials.
Title. Double click me.
Kickstart Your Life
How Crowdfunding sites have changed the loan landscape for good
Andre Fryer. 3 October 2014.
Everyone knows what it feels like to have that good idea, that “light bulb” moment when you think of something that could possibly change your life. At most times that idea may gather momentum, and if you believe in it enough, can even snowball into an entrepreneurial opportunity. For students, moments like these can often end up being the beginning of a career, or a project that can support one for the length of a lifetime.
In our current digital era, being able to take advantage of the endless possibilities that human creativity presents has never been easier, and where monetary support is concerned, “Crowdfunding” websites have often been catalysts for facilitating success.To be able to isolate and address an unfulfilled need, to produce something entirely original, to allow ideas to realise their physical manifestations, that is the purpose of Crowdfunding sites. Since the global economic depression in 2008 forced usual lenders of money such as banks to tighten their loan policies,Crowdfunding has picked up considerable momentum. The climate that left high risk endeavours such as small businesses and prospective entrepreneurs without the support they require to succeed in their ventures is now experiencing an interventionwhich is manifesting itself in what the City Press calls “the power of the crowd”.
So then, how do they work?
Crowdfunding sites work by way of putting your ideas out onto a site of your choice and by doing so, appealing to essentially the entire internet’s worth of potential contributors. You put your projects onto the sites by creating accounts and then creating a page for your prospective project. When setting up a page for your project or idea, you open an account for people to contribute money towards, but the unique thing about this process is that the contributors don’t necessarily do so with the promise of any return on their investment, although you are able to offer smaller incentives or rewards to potential contributors who pledge a certain amount of money. Additionally, with regard to the acquiring of funds, you must assign an objective as to how much money you hope to raiseas well as a physical deadline for when this objective is to be reached. The deadline is used to determine a date for the withdrawal of the funds that have been donated to that point, which means that if the project doesn’t meet its monetary objective by the set deadline, theperson behind the project doesn’t get any of it. If the objective is reached, however, the money goes through and the project is funded.
In addition to all this loveliness, the sites also offers the opportunity to make connections as well as gauge the commercial viability of any idea or project you need funding for. If the idea does not do well, or does not generate the money you need at the speed you were hoping, then it is most likely due to the fact that the market interest you had hoped for does not exist.
Some notable success stories that were achieved through Kickstarter funding were Oculus Rift, the virtual reality gaming experience that Facebook recently purchased for $2 billion as well as the film Inocente,which was nominated for “Best documentary short subject” at the 2013 academy awards and brought back the television series Veronica Mars.
How is this relevant to South Africans?
For South Africans, locally basedCrowdfunding sights are becoming more and more popular, although we are not quite attracting the same amount of attention and don’t generate the same amount of money as overseas websites similar to kickstarter.com. Kickstarter, since its launch in 2009, has generated $1.2 Billion pledged from 6.9 million different people, which resulted in a phenomenal 19 911 successfully funded projects in 2013 alone. While South Africans without access to bank accounts in countries in either the U.S, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, or Ireland cannot start their own projects, Kickstarter is open to anyone to pledge money. Therefore contributing to a cause you believe in on the planet’s most successful Crowdfunding site is still entirely possible. South Africans with international contacts, however, are still putting the site to good use. Projects such as “Voices of Yabonga”, was created by four American studentsand according to its Kickstarter page, is a collaborative CD using the vocals of “25 [incredibly talented] South African youths” to create something that is expressive of Xhosa culture and contributes towards the world’s experience of African Music. This specific project only set an objective of $500 which it reached easily with the aid of 22 backers. Examples such as these are scattered all over Kickstarter and due to the exchange rate and the amount of exposure that goes with being on a site so popular, other South African projects are enjoying similar success.
Locally, however, there are other reasons to be positive about the prospect of Crowdfunding success, as sites such as Fundfind.com and Thundafund.com have enjoyed successful launches. These sites are South African based and are therefore available exclusively to South Africans, creating a communal atmosphere involved in charitable backing for people who need financial assistance to proceed with their dream projects.
Thundafund.com, who according to their site are “South Africa’s leading Crowdfunding café for creative and innovative projects”, at the time of writing, has successfully funded over R2.5 million and had 79 projects successfully funded, with over 3311 people who have contributed. The site operates using the same basic model as Kickstarter, but offers “Micro-Mentors” for each project in the forms of “Thundavetters” and “Thunda-champions” (I know), who curate the project submission. In this way the site offers a support and advice structure to protect its own interest, that being between 5-7% of all money contributed to successfully funded projects. This income model- one that is shared by Kickstarter making their income over the past 5 years a quite impressiveapproximately $60 million- is one that serves as highly viable. The use of this structure, in the case of Thundafund.com, makes one assume that your success on their site contributes to their success a great deal. This in mind, the Micro-Mentor function offers a unique and helpful option for aspiring entrepreneurs and “creatives” looking to fulfil their ambitions using the site.
Fundfind.com has its own attributes that separate it from other Crowdfunding sites. Firstly,as a prerequisite for you placing your project on the site, you HAVE to offer potential investors rewards for their contributions, which are helpfully suggested as a copy of the product, tickets to the show, credits on the film, or whatever it is that is applicable for the type of project involved. Secondly, the site offers two options when creating a project; the first is the “all-or-nothing” option which states that if you don’t make your funding target, the money is refunded. The second option, “keep what you raise”, states that regardless of whether your goal is reached or not, you must fulfil the promises you initially made to the people who contribute. This site, however, hasn’t published any success rate or results of any kind thus far. Make of that what you will.
The existence of these Crowdfunding sites shows that as ambitious people who are entering the job market, many are realising that the difficulty of chasing their dreams or pursuing passion-projects is becoming too difficult and demanding to do without the financial backing that is now so difficult to obtain through traditional means. Entrepreneurial endeavour, whether it be with regard to creative expression or a business venture, is more and more becoming a viable way for young graduates to take advantage of their talents without having to work under the scrutiny of a company’s ideology. These sites don’t appear to have much of an investment themselves, besides having to provide an online platform and maybe the height of their success is purely testament to the effectiveness of the idea in the first place. One thing is for sure though and that is that if you have an idea and all you need are the means to make that idea a reality, then maybe Crowdfunding sites could be the answer you’ve been looking for.
Chaos in the House of the Lord
115 lose their lives as church comes falling down
Sanele Manikivana. 3 October 2014.
Relief workers carry away a woman who was injured in the collapse of the church.
He is known for his powerful sermons, his ‘healing’ abilities and his prophecies but not even he could have foreseen the tragic events that occurred on September 12 of this year. On that fateful day, Pastor TB Joshua’s mega church the Synagogue, Church of All Nations located in the Ikotun area of Lagos, Nigeria collapsed, killing 115 of his members and seriously injuring many more.
At first the initial death toll was 67 but as rescue missions continued it the number climbed to 115. Most of the fatalities of the collapse come from South Africa with the number standing at 84.The cause of the collapse has been shrouded in controversy with talks of conspiracy theories. The Pastor claims that the church was the target of a planned attack and that someone was trying to kill him. He backs up the claim with a video released on the church’s website showing a mysterious aircraft circling the building several times before it collapsed. However,Nigerian authorities say that infrastructural failure is the main cause of the collapse and cite the building of two additional storeys on the guesthouse on the church without the strengthening of foundation as a contributing factor.
This is not the first tragedy that has occurred in Joshua’s church. In May 2013, a stampede broke out at a church branch in Ghana killing 4 people and injuring 30. The stampede was caused when church members scrambled to get access to the Pastor’s ‘anointed’ water which is claimed to have healing properties. Despite the incidences many still come from afar to Joshua’s many churches seeking help.The church boasts a popular following with a single sermonattracting nearly 1500 people at a time.
The Nigerian born pastor has several branches of his church, the Synagogue Church of All Nations (Scoan), in Nigeria, Ghana and even the UK. He is the third richest pastor in Nigeria with a net worth of $10-15 million and has been named as one of the 50 most influential people in Africa. The pastor claims that he can heal any disease and illness (including HIV/AIDS) and is also known as a prophet and claims to have foreseen the Malaysian airlines flight MH17 disaster. He is also known to exorcise demons during his sermons and provides his parishioners with anointed water which he claims can heal almost anything.
Since the collapse stories of chaos and survival have come to light. Rescue workers at the scene claim that more lives would have been saved had church members not prevented them from helping at the disaster area. Some say that they were attacked and prevented by members from entering the collapsed church. Meanwhile South African survivors recounted their tales of survival in the church. A four year old girl was found alive after several days trapped in the rubble and another South African, Lindiwe Ndwandwe was rescued after being trapped for five days. Ndwandwe says she survived by drinking her own urine and by praying to God until she was rescued. Another survivor blamed Satan for the collapse.
As the investigation continues opinions have been divided about the events that took place and about the Pastor himself. Many have called the pastor a fraud but despite the criticisms it seems the church has grown stronger. One of the injured has already gone back to the synagogue and the church has already posted a message on their website saying:”Good morning church and viewers all over the world. I want to thank you for your prayer and your love for the victims and relations of all those involved in the incident.The battle is for the Lord. I really want to thank God. God has been doing so much. We need to know a thousand victories, all the way long. Glory and honor to God Almighty”. It seems as if there is nothing that can keep the Pastor and followers down, not even a tragedy this big.
Raymond Rice and Janay Palmer at a Ravens press conference
A History of Rage
The spate of violent incidents involving NFL players is a cause for worry
Sanele Manikivana. 26 September 2014.
He slowly drags her lifeless body, calmly, out of the elevator and dumps it on the floor, not a single worry on his face. He shakes her but she is still lying on the floor, motionless. No, this is not the plot of a horror film but disturbing visuals from a video released by TMZ showing NFL player, Ray Rice, a running back for the Baltimore Ravens, punching his then fiancé and now wife Janay Rice out cold after an altercation in a casino elevator. The video which was posted by TMZ on September 8th drew outrage and disgust nation-wide and all over social media and once again put the spotlight back on the violent tendencies of NFL players off the field.
The Rice incident is however not a first but one in a long list of violent incidences involving players in America’s most treasured sport. Rice now becomes a member of the NFL’s Hall of Shame along with a list of other sports stars embroiled in domestic disputes. In a damning report compiled by USA Today, it was found that of the 713 NFL player arrests made since 2000, 85 of them were for domestic violence and domestic disputes. Which begs the question, what is the league doing to curb this unflattering trend which is marring the reputation of the beloved sport?
While the league ponders on ways to punish players, the list of athletes defaming the NFL’s reputation seems to be growing ever longer. In August 2012, then Miami Dolphins player Chad Ochocinco was arrested and charged with simple battery and domestic violence after he head-butted then wife Evelyn Lozada during a heated argument. The couple had only been married for a month when the incident occurred and Ochocinco was dropped by the Dolphins and had his reality show which he starred in with his ‘wife’ pulled off the air. Ochocinco then struck a plea deal which entailed him doing community service and to attend counselling but was slapped with a 30 day jail sentence after slapping his lawyer’s butt during sentencing.
Soon after the Ochocinco incident another player was involved in a domestic dispute. In November 2013, Minnesota Vikings cornerback A.J. Jefferson was arrested on a felony count of domestic assault by strangulation after he yelled and grabbed his 23 year old girlfriend by the neck. Jefferson was subsequently cut by the Vikings and pleaded guilty to a charge of domestic assault and was given a 90 days jail sentence, suspended to three days times served.
The trend continued when Greg Hardy, defensive end for the Carolina Panthers was convicted of assaulting and threatening to kill his former girlfriend. The former girlfriend, in court papers, accused Hardy of throwing her on a pile of guns and bragging that the assault rifles were loaded. The woman said Hardy picked her up, threw her into the bathroom, dragged her into the bedroom, choked her, picked her up again and threw her onto a couch covered in assault rifles and shotguns. She then says that Hardy threatened to shoot her if she went to the media or reported the assault.
Some may seem to think that NFL players are cursed with an aggressive nature with the spate of violent tendencies stretching as far as the infamous murder trial of one of the sport’s greats, OJ Simpson. Simpson was found not guilty of the 1994 murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ronald Goldman in October 1995. The trial which drew worldwide attention due to the car chase which ensued between Simpson and the police as well as the iconic images of Simpson wearing the infamous black gloves used by the murderer, divided a nation and seemed to be the catalyst in a run of violent off field behaviors among NFL players.
After the Rice incident, the NFL’s disciplinary system for its players came under intense scrutiny. In the past the League simply banned players for two matches and ordered them to pay a fine and to undergo several therapy or counselling sessions, which many felt was too lenient. Recently, NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell has amended the policy and has imposed a six game ban for players found guilty of domestic violence. "Violations of the Personal Conduct Policy regarding assault, battery, domestic violence or sexual assault that involve physical force will be subject to a suspension without pay of six games for a first offense, with consideration given to mitigating factors, as well as a longer suspension when circumstances warrant,” Goodell was quoted saying. Players who commit a second offence would then be banned from the NFL for life with the opportunity to appeal their life-time bans in a year. The policy was set to take effect immediately.
Meanwhile, as the world continued to react to the now infamous elevator video, Rice’s wife, Janay, the victim at the center of the storm responded and hit back at the media and social media backlash. Rice posted a message on her Instagram account defending her husband’s actions and standing by him. The message read: "I woke up this morning feeling like I had a horrible nightmare, feeling like I'm mourning the death of my closest friend, but to have to accept the fact that its reality is a nightmare in itself. No one knows the pain that the media & unwanted opinions from the public has caused my family. To make us relive a moment in our lives that we regret every day is a horrible thing. To take something away from the man I love that he has worked his ass off for all his life just to gain ratings is horrific.
"THIS IS OUR LIFE! What don't you all get? If your intentions were to hurt us, embarrass us, make us feel alone, take all happiness away, you've succeeded on so many levels. Just know we will continue to grow & show the world what real love is! Ravensnation we love you!"
Time to act as Anti-retrovirals find their way into mainstream drug abuse.
Marochelle Geldenhuys. 26 September 2014.
Users call it Nyaope. It's like crack, with a sickening twist - addicts across the country are crushing up and devouring the life-saving, antiretroviral drugs designed to fight AIDS. Addicts crush up the drug and smoke it which gives them an incredible and hallucinogenic high. The drug gets mixed with rat poison, third grade heroin and cleaning detergents like VIM, and marijuana. According to Channel4.com, street gangs in South Africa steal these precious anti-retrovirals in order to produce and sell this new found drug.
Nyaope, also known as Whoonga, first appeared in the townships around Durban in 2010, but is reportedly spreading to impoverished areas around South Africa and has recently become very popular. Hivsa.mobi reports that Nyaope is relatively cheap - about R20 for one hit - and an individual can become highly addicted after using the drug only once.
During or after experimenting with this drug, users experience symptoms which include: a dry mouth, cramps, edginess and mood swings. The above mentioned is all signs of withdrawal. According to an article in the Mail & Guardian, “It is the withdrawal – the cramps, nausea, mood swings and aggression – that makes Nyaope so addictive. A user is terrified of having to deal with the feelings of anxiety and physical pain, so the only possible cure available is another hit, and then another one, and another one after that.” Users believe that they cannot live without the drug because as soon as they get their next “fix”, all the withdrawal symptoms fades away leaving them feeling ecstatic and “healed”. “I can feel it. I’m getting high now. It feels like I’m getting healed … I’m healing,” says Neo*, in an article in the Mail & Gaurdian.
According to the article, Neo’s* life has been defined by his need to smoke Nyaope. He steals to pay for his habit. “It has changed me a lot. Even my own mother is scared of me. She can’t stand me […] I’m going to stop now-now … any day now. Any day I’m going to stop smoking Nyaope. I just wish there was something to make the pain go away,” says Neo*. Users experience extremely dark and negative feelings when they are not on a so-called “high” and within these moments realize that what they are doing is wrong and very dangerous, but addicted individuals have very little hope of getting rid of their addictions and almost no hope for a better future – getting high is their only happiness; for the moment that is. “Users are generally glassy-eyed, reclusive and cliquey. Smoking it gives them ‘power’, they say, to take on the day’s challenges of finding enough money to afford the next hit.”
According to the City Press, Mahlangu (33), […] [a]n addict for eight years, […] says he dreads rehabilitation because of the agony of withdrawal. “The minute you wake up in the morning, your body only wants Nyaope and when you are out, you will do almost anything to get it. Your stomach hurts so bad it’s as if one person is holding your intestines pulling from the front, while another is pulling from the back, and they are both slicing tiny pieces of your insides, and pulling again and again,” he says, his words accompanied by wild gestures.
According to the City Press, Gauteng Social Development MEC Nandi Mayathula-Khoza has said that the non-classification of Nyaope as an illegal drug is undermining efforts to fight the war against crime and that the classification of Nyaope as an illegal drug would inevitably result in the dismantling of the crimes associated with the substance. “Last year, in Gauteng alone, 25 949 drug-related crimes were recorded and Nyaope users are typically between the ages of 13 and 19,” says the MEC.
Substance abuse among young adults and students is hardly new, but behavioural experts believe the progression of prescription drug overdoses, edges on alarming for today’s college-age students. Among adults ages 18-25, abuse of prescription drugs is second only to abuse of marijuana, according to the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Students who abuse drugs are more likely to experiment with unprotected sex, drive under the influence, sustain injuries, and experience abuse and sexual assault. The aforementioned has a definite effect on the social and personal lives of students. Drug abuse can destroy an individual’s academic career (missing class, falling behind, doing poorly on exams or papers, receiving lower grades and/or failing) as well as their chances to get a decent job and make a proper life for themselves. Drug abuse may not only cause minor problems, but it can also result in death. According to the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, more than 11% of individuals ages 12 to 25 reported using prescription drugs for non-medical reasons within the past year, and full-time college students ages 18 to 22 were twice as likely to abuse prescription drugs as those of the same age not in college.
Nyaope may be cheap to buy, but it is not cheap to treat the addiction. If you know of anyone suffering from any kind of drug addiction, encourage them to seek help. The buck stops with you.
To Be Fit or Skinny
Jade Botha. 26 September 2014.
Instant gratification is most definitely a large part of who we are in 21st century society. People want what they want and they usually want it whenever they want it. Unfortunately, the lengths young people go to in order to have their dream bodies, is definitely no joke.
Let’s face it, there are very fewpeople on this planet who can say that they are completely satisfied with the body they have. People always take a look in the mirror and wish for some aspect of their bodies to be slightly (or drastically) different. It is evident that society is manipulated and controlled by certain opinions of what is acceptable, necessary and ‘cool’. If we do not stick to the status quo, we feel like outcasts. One of the most manipulated perceptions within our society is that of the “perfect” body type. Over the years this has changed, and what once was thought to be undesirable has now become the desire of men and women all over the globe. However, the real question that we must ask ourselves is whether or not we are accepting how the media dictates how people‘should’ look. Most people quickly say that they are against the way in which we have been moulded by superficial standards, yet all people fall prey to the opinion of the media in some way or another.
When high fashion models first came onto the scene, the world was taken aback by the way these women looked. All of them looked like clones of one another as they all had a similar body type, which was necessary (and still is) for the adorning of designer clothes. Models such as Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell are tall, skinny, flat chested and do not have curvature to their shape. This could be desirable because this body type puts emphasis more on what the women are wearing rather than the female body itself. These women have been gracing the pages of almost all magazines for many years, and the public have been so exposed to this type of figure, that it has become the ideal shape. This has been true up until now. When celebrities like Kim Kardashian-West and Jennifer Lopez were introduced to the public, society began to change its perception of what it is to be beautiful. Suddenly curves were thought to be far more attractive than very thin figures, and the average woman decided to now change her bodily appearance to suit this new found realisation. However, society has once again had a mind-set change and has now gone from embracing curves to longing for a physique that is neither runway ready noroverly curvaceous. “Today’s ideal body shape is a bizarre combination of male desire and waifish androgyny” (www.diet-blog.com, 2014).Having a strong and athletic physique has become the new version of skinny.
People do not actually realise how much the pressure from the media actually impacts the way they live their lives. The media is omnipresent, whether it is in the form of social media, newspapers, magazines, talk shows or documentaries; the public is constantly being presented with various different opinions about every aspect of our existence. It is incredibly difficult not to get too absorbed into this. With regard to celebrities, there are various media sources that report on – for example – their weight loss or weight gain, but whatever the comment may be, it gets us thinking about our weight because we are constantly presented with such information and sources. Regardless of whether you are a man or woman, this does affect how you see your body. When men read or hear of women saying a man with a certain type of body is attractive, more often than not he will change his workout routine to obtain these results. If women are constantly hearing that being fit is attractive and being overweight is looked down upon, it is quite possible that women will try and live up to the standards set by society.
Whether someone is trying to become skinny or more muscular, it is astonishing how far some people will go to achieve these results. This is particularly seen in teens up until their late twenties. That would be the time in a students’ lives when they are not totally comfortable in their skin, and perhaps they are still discovering who they are as an individual. Some people take drastic measures such as developing eating disorders, plastic surgery and overexertion in the gym. People who wish to have a more athletic build might even resort to spending for hours on end training but hardly giving their bodies enough nutrition, hoping to see results at a faster rate. Perhaps the thought process is that the less fats and sugars the body takes in, the less there is to burn off before building muscle. This is unhealthy because the body does actually need fats and sugars to function properly.This year, the Body and Soul Reconnection website reported that the risks of overexertion include, “muscle injuries and extreme fatigue, headaches, insomnia and heart palpitations” which are each serious in their own right.
Plastic surgery has always been something that is generally linked to women rather than men, but it seems as though men have also been bitten by the ‘surgery-bug’. Men are able to havesub pectoral implants, calf Implants, bicep implants, and gluteal implants – all for the sake of enhancing their fitness appearance. Plastic surgery, no matter for which gender, should be a decision made by the individual based on his\her own feelings, and it should never be done purely to keep up with the latest trends. Plastic surgery, like any operation, is risky and could result in permanent disfigurement. There have been cases where implants have been inserted incorrectly and wounds have become infected. These complications are life threatening, and we need to ask ourselves whether that is worth it just to look the way magazines say we should look.
There is, however, something positive about the new idea that fit is more beautiful than being skinny, and that is the fact that people are less likely to starve themselves in order to look overly thin. Being fit means that one’s body will have a healthy percentage of fat, and that your muscles will be strong and lean – and this cannot be achieved through starvation. Perhaps this is easier said than done, but people need to realise that no two bodies are the same and therefore we need to be grateful and happy with the bodies we do have. There is no short-cut to the perfect body, firstly because there is no such thing, but also because at times our goals are unrealistic.
If the media can change their perception of what is desirable so quickly, then society can also choose to change its perception. Society is able to take a step back and see that any progress we make is progress none the less, even if we are not near to achieving the skinny or the fit look. If one can become truly happy and satisfied with the effort and results, then it does not matter whether you fit the mould or not. Taking some drastic measures to alleviate the pressure caused by the media is not worth the aftermath of regret. Stay positive and work toward the body you have always wanted, not the physique that society expects you to want.
Diarized Activism
What you need to know about the 16 Days of Activism campaign and what you can do to contribute to its success.
Matshepo Dibetso. 26 September 2014.
November is fast approaching, marking the end of the year but also the beginning of an important month in the South African government calendar. From the 25th of November until the 10th of December the spotlight will be on the social issue of women and child abuse. The desire is to make people conscious about the rampant scourge of abuse and to encourage activism in fighting against women and child abuse.
The 25th marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, while the 10th is the day we celebrate International Human Rights Day. The 16 day period also includes World AIDS day as well as Universal Children’s Day.
Presenting an interestingly apt combination of diverse issues, all of which affect women and children, this will be the 15th year that South Africa is taking part in the global campaign.
In South Africa a woman is killed every eight hours, this is according to a study published and co-authored by Professor Rachel Jewkes of the South African Medical Research Council. Released in 2013, the study also revealed that that although the murders of females has gone down between 1999 and 2009, as have all homicides, the percentage killed by intimate partners has increased – from 50 percent to 57 percent. A shocking statistic considering that no perpetrator is identified in 20 percent of these reported killings. What then of those that go unreported?
As if that is not shocking enough, on August 20th Times Live reported that more than 45000 South African women had already been raped that month. A statistic that was acquired from the NGO Blow The Whistle’s website. According to the NGO and reported statistics, every 36 seconds someone is raped in South Africa. That works out to 100 people every hour and 2,400 women every day.
Their home page also features a counter that ticks over every 36 seconds to show a rape as having occurred.
16 Days of activism albeit not enough can help us interrogate the dynamics leading to the scourge of women and child abuse. During this period we are encouraged to wear a white ribbon to show solidarity with victims and survivors of abuse. The ribbon is said to symbolize peace and is a sign of commitment of the wearer to never commit or condone violence against women and children. The South African government has made a committed effort to encourage citizens’ participation as these 16days in November form part of their calendar. On the Government news website, citizens are encouraged to speak out during this campaign, this is stressed as the support for victims and survivors is heightened during that period.
Organisations such as People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA), Family and Marriage Society Of South Africa (FAMSA), South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) as well as Childline are listed as part of the supporting organisations that will be able to assist those who need help. These organisations are equipped with the necessary resources to help and support victims.
More than wearing white ribbons, South African citizens can also start the conversation about abuse to raise awareness, through social media platforms. Doing Voluntary work at NGOs and Community Support Groups can also help to curb the problem whilst also spreading awareness. These groups normally offer skill-training to students in counselling and peer-helping. One can also help through donating money to various organisations that help victims and survivors.
There is something that everyone can do to help!
We May Have Missed A Teaching Moment about ‘Blackface’
Matshepo Dibetso. 5 September 2014.
Three weeks ago, a picture of two girls from the University of Pretoria (UP)wearing blackface, dressed as domestic workers went viral on the internet. An outrage ensued from many South Africans about the inappropriateness of the costumes while some South Africans had a “shut up and move on” attitude about it.
Action was taken against the girls by the University as this picture played into the question of racial politics. There was a question raised about the legitimacy of people’s anger. In contrast, some questioned whether it was right to have the girls so exposed and punished by the University.
The two female students from TUKS who donned the "Blackface" which casued a backlash in South Africa.
The South African Human Rights Commission(SAHRC) launched a probe into the incident the following day on 7August. "While the commission has still not received a complaint in this regard, the commission decided to launch their own investigation," spokesman Isaac Mangena told media outlets. The Commission was said to be interested in the measures that would be taken by the University to address this matter.
What is Blackface?
In the 1800’s, white minstrel show performers began painting their faces black in order to interpret black people’s lives. Many of the audiences performed for were largely white and by choice had decided to stay away from black people. Black lives were enacted on stage by white people who were considered to have little if any knowledge of what it meant to be black. This unfortunately only helped to increase black stereotypes.
It is said that before black people were allowed to perform they were to first declare themselves as “real coons”. To meet the expectations of the audience, black performers were expected to blacken their already dark skin to perform comedy routines using the traditional caricatures and racist stereotypes. “Most often blackface was used as a comic device to play into the stereotypes of black laziness, ignorance and crazy behaviour”, writes Blari Kelly for TheGrio. Originating from these minstrel shows, there a few characters that were considered to be stereotypical versions of black plantation workers and as a result, most black people were expected to conform to one or more of these stereotypes.
‘Zip Croon’ – first performed by George Dixon in 1834 made a mockery of ‘free’ blacks. An arrogant, ostentatious figure dressed in high style and spoke in a series of malaprops and puns that undermined any of his attempts to appear dignified.
“Mammy-Mammy” has been a source of earthy wisdom, fiercely independent and tolerates no backtalk. Although her image has changed a little over the years, she was always a favourite of advertisers.“Uncle Tom-Toms” typically good, gentle, religious and sober were another favourite of advertisers and “Uncle Ben” is still being used to sell rice. “The Buck” is a large Black man, proud, sometimes menacing, and always interested in White women. “Wench-Jezebel”, the temptress.
During the minstrel era, wenches were typically a male in female garb. In film, wenches were usually female mulattos.Picaninnies have bulging eyes, unkempt hair, red lips and wide mouths into which they stuff huge slices of watermelon.The above is a list compiled by The Blackface website depicting some of the stereotypical caricatures of blackface that were used in the minstrel shows.
There is a history that goes back to racial stereotyping that is tied with the idea of blackface and this concept thus makes it offensive. Being that the girls were wearing big skirts to emphasise large bums, this was considered largely to represent domestic workers in South Africa. Some interpreted as a mockery of a group of people who were historically marginalised. The irony is that the story came out during what South Africans consider to be woman’s month, 9 August, the commemoration of women who marched to Pretoria in 1956, most of whom were domestic workers.
In South Africa especially where racial division is a great part of history, perhaps we missed a teaching moment on the blackface issue because the story of those depicted by the UP girls needed to be given value. Much like the story of Sara Baartman, there perhaps needed to be a remembrance for black womenthat suffered under oppression, in order to teach the youth of South Africa.
City Press held a talking point on their site to gauge the reaction to the incident and one member on the site wrote “This blackface thing is blown out of proportion. Do we know the context? Comedians do this all the time and we laugh about it”. There were different views regarding the issue. Mondli, a young man from Durban, said “I think we racialise everything. Sometimes people are just joking”.
Granted that there we opposing views on the matter, what lacked from the conversation was the history of blackface.
There is a place where history will always intersect, there will be a different story for each racial groupespecially in South Africawhere racial division is a huge part of the history. Perhaps we missed a teaching moment on this blackface issue, the story of those depicted by the UP girls needed to be given value.
For more information, watch this video on Sara Baartman.
Many Twitter users shared their views on the day, even artists such as Simphiwe Dana tweeted about the incident saying, “In the year 2014, South Africa seriously debating if #blackface is racist and offensive or not. I'm defeated”. ShakaSisulu, grandson of struggle hero, Walter Sisulu, shared, “It's ok to think black face is funny. That's your choice. But allow other blacks to not think it's funny. And understand where that comes from”. He fiercely echoed the sentiment that people need to learn the history so that they could perhaps understand the context from which the girls acted.
In The Firing Line
In the wake of James Foley’s brutal execution, the question begs: How safe are journalists in the line of duty?
Sanele Manikivana. 5 September 2014.
American photo journalist James Foley, moments before being murdered by the terror group known as ISIS.
On August 19th 2014, a video documenting the barbaric and brutal beheading of American photojournalist James Foley was published by Islamic terror group ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria). The terror group was sending a message to the US and the world as a whole: they are willing to go to extreme lengths to get what they want including spilling the blood of the innocent.
As the world reacted with shock and condemnation, many tried to find a scapegoat for the horrific and publicized murder. Anger seemed to point toward the US government and their failure to quickly react and save Foley’s life,while many raised questions about the consequences of the US governments’ policy when dealing with terrorists and hostage situations. The US government however have adamantly refused to negotiate with them. Meanwhile Foley’s family believes that the government could have done more to save him. Foley’s brother, Michael, in an interview with Yahoo Global News, was quoted saying: “The United States could have done more on behalf of the Western and American hostages over there and still have dealt with the broader world issues”. Michael further reiterated the need for the US government to change their policy by saying: “I really hope in some way Jim’s death pushes us to take another look at our approach, our policy to terrorist and hostage negotiations and rethink that”.
However violent Foley’s death was, it seems to put the spotlight back on the safety of journalists on the field, especially those reporting from volatile war torn countries. The brutal and publicized nature of his death also highlighted the dangers faced by journalists in search of the truth and the great lengths they go through to do their jobs, with most of them, like James, getting caught in the crossfire and eventually paying with their lives. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists at least 69 journalists have been killed and over 80 kidnapped in Syria alone since the Arab Spring in 2011.
This statistic is not only limited to Syria alone, an assortment of journalists the world over are continually being killed in a number of countries whilst reporting. It has now become common newsfor journalists to be captured or kidnapped and used as bargain deals between terrorist organizations and Western nations. Usually the life of a journalist is used as a bargaining tool for terror groups to put pressure on nations to withdraw military operations or to cease to intervene in war torn countries. Most times the promise of release from captivity is waivered but in most cases prisoners are made examples of, as in the case of Foley, if terrorist organizations feel their demands are not being met or if the negotiation period has lapsed.
Foley now joins a long list of slain journalists whose deaths have gained international attention. Included in that list is David Pearl, an American-Israel journalist who was kidnapped and killed by Pakistani militants in 2002. Just like Foley, Pearl was decapitated and the video of his gruesome murder was released to the public. His murderers were captured and jailed, including Khalid Sheik Mohammed who personally took credit for the beheading. Another notable journalist is Steven Vincent who, along with his translator, was kidnapped, beaten, and tortured in Iraq in 2005. Vincent was found dead by police (shot at close range) while the others were found alive. Another mention is that of local photojournalist Anton Hammerl who was shot and killed by Libyan troops in 2011. Hammerl was with the now slain James Foley at the time and was the only fatality. His remains have not been recovered.
As the list continues to grow, the danger of reporting on the field has accelerated. The journalistic game has changed as the spate of violence throughout the world continues; journalists are expected to be at the center of the latest conflict, providing the ‘exclusive’ news, footage to induce a shock value for the public. It seems as if society has forgotten that journalists are humans just like us, they are not superhuman or bulletproof. Just because they wake up every day and put their lives on the line to get news to us does not mean that they are impervious to tragedy, which is what the James Foley case has reminded us of.
Alas, each and every day, a journalist will wake up and dice with death all just to get the latest scoop and stand in the firing line.
The E word
Entrepreneurship - The silenced option in South African vocations.
Asanda Mzayidume. 5 September 2014.
When the doors of the University Of Free State closed in 1980 due to political unrest, young Herman made a decision not to return again. This caused a lot frustration for his parents who barely made enough to make ends meet. To add fuel to fire, he made the announcement that he would be a clerical worker at the local Spar instead of pursuing his educational inspirations.
In the year 2014 this scenario is not uncommon, many students do not return to Universities and return to their communities, to be ridiculed for wasting the hard earned money of their parents and other financial support structures. However, the Herman in this scenario went on to become one of the country’s leading entrepreneurs. Today, Herman Mashaba is the owner of Black like Me (Pty) Ltd. The success stories of the likes of Mashaba are not the type of stories to be told at family gatherings for the simple reason that entrepreneurship is not a widely accepted choice by many in our country. The encouraged path is that of pursuing a qualification, getting a suitable job and the climb up the ladder of success. Although Mashaba has received industrial recognition for his business ventures, as recipient of the Honorary Award by UNISA for Outstanding Entrepreneur and Leader in the Business Environment in 2005 and the SABC/Tribute Achievers Award in 2001, it is evident that not many people in his home country have been successfully familiarised with the path he chose to pursue.
The efforts to promote entrepreneurship as a trade in South Africa are doubtful, when people are asked the question: ”Why don’t you start your own business?” it is usually coupled with a long list of rehearsed answers such as the current economic trends, lack of financial support and the risk of digging your own personal hole of debt. It seems that entrepreneurship is a feared prospect as it is preferred to cheer for the successful rather than developing and pursuing one’s own personal interests.
This poses the question regarding the number of people who have wonderful business ideas, but do not pursue them because for the fear of being unsuccessful. The unemployment rate in South Africa as is should be motivation for many to tap into the prospect of starting their own businesses, but perhaps even our government is not doing enough to motivate old and young to unleash their own business potential and contribute to trade practises.
What Is Government Doing Wrong?
It seems that even the institutions developed by government to promote and boost entrepreneurship in the country are marred by scandals and do not deliver what is expected. The former leader of the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), Andile Lungisa, himself was recently investigated for money laundering. This amongst many cases leads to many people hesitating to even consider entrepreneurship as the very structures that are put in place to help the youth realise their dreams, seem to have their own agendas that are often the cause of decay in youth development. In a recent debate in parliament on the effectiveness of the NYDA, National Freedom Party MP, Sibusiso Mncwabe had the following to say with concerns to the institution: "This is the structure that was formed to help the youth of South Africa. It is unknown to youth of rural areas and townships," Mncwabe said: "We only learn about this structure if there's some corruption going on."
Entrepreneurship is not unheard of in South Africa at all; many struggling youths do take it upon themselves to be independent and self-sufficient. However most of these ideas fall face flat simply because there is not a significant amount of mentoring structures put in place in order to mentor these youths and provide guidelines in developing their ideas and business strategies. Founder and CEO of Virgin Empire, Richard Branson says: “Building a new business takes more than technological skills and creative genius – it needs people, and if you’re going to create a great culture as well as a great product, those people need tending to in a plethora of different ways.”
With regards to Mncwabe’s statement, a cause for concern is brought to the table, with regards to growing and promoting entrepreneurship in the country. There seem to be a few success stories that are spoken of and thus one has to question how much government is invested in this arena. A lot of youth who do venture in to entrepreneurship are faced with a lot of challenges; this is as a result of not receiving sufficient guidance in the practice of starting a business, also the accessibility of such institutions to a number of unemployed youths in the country should also be reviewed. A number of business incubators simply open their doors to those who are willing to part with some money in their pockets and although we cannot question the motivation behind this, it simply shuts the door in the face for those who wish to venture this path and do not have the required resources within reach. This further accentuates Mncwabe’s argument that these institutions that are developed by our government remain unknown to the very people they are targeting simply because they are not doing enough to market their services in places where they are needed most.
The great divide in technology also plays a fundamental role in deteriorating the growth of entrepreneurship, further distancing institutions that can help the youth and those who seek to venture into business. The internet and social media are a great platform for the liaison of potential business owners and government agencies but the sad truth is that millions in South Africa do not have internet access and live in communities where electricity is a bonus.
What are the benefits of entrepreneurship?
Payday is often the least favourite day to many who sit behind office desks, this is because by the time it arrives employees are already faced with a long list of financial obligations that they need to meet. Often what worsens the situation is the fact that many employees have salary disputes which they are unable to voice because of policies and regulations put into place by companies. Now entrepreneurship in its entirety does not guarantee that one will be basking in wealth from the get go, however it does provide one with the relief of not dealing with a long chain of hierarchal structures when it comes to salary disputes, also when the decision is made to start a small business it is usually a means for aligning one with their passion and that motivation which gets them out of bed. A significant number of people are stuck in jobs that they loathe simply because they are living paycheque to paycheque.
Small businesses also have an added advantage to the economic growth of the country. As mentioned before, South Africa is faced with an electricity output crisis. The industrial sector contributes largely to the status quo and thus the added advantage of small businesses is that they operate in more electrical considerate environments.
Another great advantage of entrepreneurship is that it provides the ability to tap into new markets; this does wonders for a developing country like South Africa as it unleashes the potential to be able to open new doors of trade with international markets.
It is evident that the craft of entrepreneurship needs to be grown in our country; it is back to the drawing board for our government and leadership institutions in order to ignite a flame of independence in South African masses. In order for entrepreneurship to grow, it needs to become a wide and acceptable culture in which people feel the need to plough into, the success stories need to be told frequently, the strategies employed by institutions need to be revisited and made effective, leadership employed to nurture the culture need to be credible and true to the call and most importantly good ideas need pats on the back.
Shut Up and Drive
Julia Holmes. 29 August 2014.
In an age where digital technology, such as cellphones, are prioritized next to bread and butter, it is no surprise that phrases such as “driving while ‘intexticated”’ have cruised their way into our modern day vocabularies. Although the phrase has an innocent ring to it, extensive research and an array of eye-opening advertising campaigns have proved that texting while driving has serious, life threatening consequences.
The truth about texting
Whether you are sending a quick “on my way” text, liking your best friend’s selfie on Facebook or sneaking in a game of Candy Crush in traffic, making use of your cellular device whilst behind the wheel hinders your driving ability. When a driver is distracted by a text,their average amount of time, according to www.stoptextsstopwrecks.org, spent with their eyes off the road is five seconds, the equivalent to driving blind.
To place that into a football fansperspective, www.stoptextsstopwrecks.com elaborates that if the driver is travelling at a speed of 88km/h, five seconds is enough time to cover the length of a football field! Alongside texting and dialing, other actions associated with cellphones, such as searching for your cellphone in your handbag while driving, increase your chance of being involved in a motor vehicle accident. ArriveAlive provides some interesting “distracted while driving” statistics on their website, including that of a study conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), which discovered that your chance of being in an accident or near accident is 23 times higher while driving distracted.
Slowing down
A variety of solutions have been provided to decrease the amount of distracted, “intexticated “drivers on the road. For the strong willed, it can be suggested to simply silence your phone, place it out of reach and forget about the potential missed calls and messages that you could be receiving or sending. However, this approach is very idealistic, as devices such as cellphones are what many working class citizens use to conduct business and therefore missing a call could result in the passing of a client, offer or major financial opportunity. If privacy is not a problem, www.stoptextsstopwrecks.org proposes the idea of a designated texter, a person who sacrifices their thumbs and patience to text while you safely drive them to their next destination. For the technically familiar, specific cellphone applications have been tailored for the road. Examples such as AT&T DriveMode, Textecution and Safely are discussed by Amy Burke on mashable.com. The features of the applications range from silencing all calls, texts and messages, blocking your phone to prevent dialing or typing, sending pre-set messages to those that are attempting to contact you, reading your text messages out load or even using GPS to track your driving speed and if the speed is less than 16km/h, you are granted permission to unlock messages. Future technological developments include that of voice-activated systems, whereby text messages can be sent and received verbally (arrrivealive.co.za).
Legally speaking, arrivealive.co.za writes that an estimate of 12 states have passed laws with regards to texting and driving in the United States of America, and in the United Kingdom the Department for Transport has increased the fine charge of using a mobile while driving, alongside increasing penalty points and potential jail time to five years for those who causeseriousaccidents as a result of mobile distractions.
Texting and driving has steered advertising and awareness focus from drinking and driving, with the majority of “intexticated” drivers comprisingthe teen, 20’smarket.With regards to reaction time research of “intexticated” drivers, “ …the texting driver deteriorated by 35 per cent, much worse than those who drank alcohol at the legal limit, who were 12 per cent slower, or those who had taken cannibas, who were 21 per cent slower” ( arrivealive.co.za).
Included in texting and driving awareness campaignsis that of “It Can Wait”, a pledge against texting and driving that has had the ability to attract over 5 million pledges, including celebrities such as Demi Lovato. The pledge encourages drivers to make use of the “#x” hashtag to indicate to friends, on all social networks, that they are not available to chat as a result of driving. In June this year, Volkswagen joined the anti-distracted while driving movement and filmed a video that has since gained viral status on YouTube. The car manufacturer obtained the cellphone numbers of those entering a movie theatre and delivered them with the frightening, “intexticated”message that mobile use is now the leading cause of death on the roads. The “Eyes on the Road” video of this message operates alongside a range of print media adverts that make use of predicted text to emphasize the dangers of distracted driving.
The video and print media adverts can be viewed below:
Is Vaping Better Than Smoking?
Marochelle Geldenhuys. 29 August 2014.
E-Cigarettes have been around since 2003 and were invented in China but only in 2007 became very popular. According to the Huffington Post, “E-cigarettes are battery-powered cartridges filled with a nicotine liquid that, when heated, creates an inhalable mist. Little is known about the long-term health effects of the products, which were developed in China and moved into the U.S. market in 2007.”
An article was published on the 26th of August by the Daily Mail stating that the use of E-cigarettes should be banned from smoking indoors. The World Health Organizations claims that E-cigarettes pose a risk to bystanders of ‘toxicant’ emissions and warns there is limited evidence that E-cigarettes actually help smokers quit.According to the Daily Mail, “The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency decided they must be regulated as medicines to make them ‘safer and more effective’, but this is not due until 2016. Some experts have expressed concerns about chemicals in the liquid.”
Studies of e-cigarettes found they caused less harm than smoking, but as studies are on-going new results may show differently. The Daily Mail wrote that “Smokers who switch to using e-cigarettes … are likely to substantially reduce their health risks … and research suggests that they are already helping smokers to quit.” Even non-smokers have bought e-cigarettes and are now using it as a method to relax or be social.
Professor Ann McNeill, Professor of Tobacco Addiction, National Addiction Centre, King’s College London’s Institute of Psychiatry, said: “The e-cigarette market is rapidly evolving and research on the huge variety of products on the market, what they emit and what their health impacts are, lags behind. What we do know is that e-cigarettes do not emit the thousands of constituents delivered in tobacco smoke, 70 of which are known carcinogens. Instead e-cigarettes emit a vapourised solution principally of propylene glycol or glycerine, water and flavours, usually with nicotine.”
Smokers who are trying to give up cigarette smoking by the use of an e-cigarette stands the chance of trading one addiction for another as it is completely possible for someone to get addicted to an e-cigarette. How does the saying go? Rather a devil you know…
Image:
The E-cigarette device in use.
ALS Bucket Challenge: Get Soaked For A Good Cause!
How pouring a bucket of iced water has become a phenomenon that could save lives.
Sanele Manikivana. 29 August 2014.
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The former United States of America president, George Bush, accepting the ALS challenge.
From A-list celebrities, famous sports stars and heads of state, a lot of people seem to be pouring buckets of iced water this good cause. The ‘ALS Bucket challenge’is the latest social media phenomenon that has taken Hollywood, and the rest of the world, by storm. People seem not to be afraid to get soaking wet and post their funny reactions to ice-cold water for the benefit of charity. So what exactly is ALS and how does this ‘ALS Bucket Challenge’have people queuing up to take the cold plunge?
What is ALS?
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a neurodegenerative disease that affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS sufferers is fatal. When motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control voluntary muscle movement is lost. Thus, with muscle-action progressively being affected, patients in thelater stages of the disease may becompletely paralyzed. ALS is classified into three categories, namely: sporadic (affecting anyone), familial (inherited) and Guamanian. ALS can affect anyone and its development is usually between ages 40 –70. At the time of diagnosis, the average age is 55.
Symptoms of ALS include:
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Muscle weakness in the hands, arms, legs or muscles of speech, swallowing and breathing
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Twitching and cramping of muscles; and
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Thick speech and difficulty in projecting voice.
These symptoms develop over time and can easily be overlooked because they are sometimes associated with other common illnesses. Consequently, the importance for ALS research has been emphasized through the Bucket Challenge.
Facts about ALS
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It is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease – named after New York Yankees baseball legend Lou Gehrig (1903-1941) who was the first person to cause awareness, and pass from the disease.
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It affects anyone; it has no ethnic, racial or socio-economic boundaries
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It is not contagious
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Life expectancy for an ALS patient averages between two to five years from the time of diagnosis, but can vary as some patients have lived quality lives for five years or more
What is the Bucket Challenge and how did it become popular?
The bucket challenge is an activity whereby willing participants dump a bucket of iced water over their heads or donate money to ALS research or do both. The participants video tape themselves while doing the Bucket Challenge and can further nominate others to do the same. The nominated participants then have 24 hours to complete the challenge or make a donation.
The challenge emerged in the United States, when members of the programme Morning Drive televised and performed and on air bucket challenge. The idea thenreachedmainstream media through anchor, Matt Lauer, who did the Bucket Challenge on the Today Show on 15 July 2014. Moreover, the challengereached social media platforms, firstly via Twitter when former Boston baseball player and ALS sufferer, Pete Frates, posted his challenge. And so began the hashtag ALSbucketchallenge, with over dozens of A-list film and television stars as well as sports personalities from around the globe partaking in the challenge. They then began posting their videos on their Facebook pages and Instagram accounts, nominating others to do the same. Most notable participants include: Former US President George W Bush, pop star Justin Bieber (who completed the challenge twice) Leonardo DiCaprio, Cristiano Ronaldo, Rihanna and many other celebrities.
So far, as of August 24, 2014, the ALS foundation has received over approximately R70 200 000 ($70.2 million) in donations, which is a huge increase compared to the R25 000 000 ($2.5 million) that they received the previous year. And as far as more nominations are being made, the number of donations set to increase on a daily basis.
However, even as positive the initiative seems to be, there have been several criticisms against the challenge. The challenge has been seen as trivializing the real cause at hand (which is bringing awareness to ALS and making donations to ALS research) with participants merely engaging in the challenge for fun and self-fulfillment instead of actually donating money to the ALS foundation. Others have claimed that the many ‘A-list’ stars who have participated have forgotten to give out donation information to the public and have rather focused on completing the challenge itself. Recently, Pamela Anderson had declined to partake in the challenge due ethical reasons pertaining to animal testing which is used during ALS research. The actress who is a long-standing animal rights activist and PETA ambassadorreleased a statement on her Facebook page saying: “Sorry I can’t bring myself to do the ice bucket challenge. I enjoy a good dare – It’s always good to bring awareness – in fun and creative ways. So I thought instead I’d challenge ALS to stop animal testing”. Others have simply called the initiative “slacktivism” (portmanteau of the words ‘slacker’ and ‘activism’) and a waste of water.
There have also been several reports which have emerged of participants who have been injured whilst taking part in the challenge. Recently, four firefighters in Campbellsville Kentucky were electrocuted when the ladder they were using for the challenge came into contact with the main power line. Although there were no fatalities, the firemen were however hospitalized and remain in a stable condition. To add to the list of challenges gone wrong; DC Comics Editor-In-Chief, Bob Harris received minor treatment when the bucket he was using for his challenge lodged in his head. The public also receive word of the shocking and unexpected death of ice bucket co-founder, Corey Griffith. The 27 year old drowned after jumping from the roof of a two-storey building on August 16.
As is expected the worldwide spread of the bucket challenge has also reached South Africa with countless local celebrities embracing the chilly challenge and nominating their own participants. Joost van der Westhuizen (SA rugby legend who suffers from Motor Neuron Disease, similar to ALS) completed the ALS challenge and happily nominated the Springbok Rugby and Wallabies rugby teams who have since completed their challenges. Other celebrities who have participated include radio personalities,Poppy Ntshongwana and Gareth Cliff as well as television personalities Jeanie D and Katlego Maboe.
The challenge is gaining momentum with more and more people taking part and urging others to take part as well. The question is are you willing to dump a bucket of ice water on your head for a good cause?
The Silent Killer
Many people think that depression is an instant death sentence, but if diagnosed early and properly, depression can be managed.
Rekoele Matshepo Dibetso. 29 August 2014.
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Robin Williams's recent suicide has once again put the spot-light on depression.
You need to know that depression is not a death sentence. You are not alone. Everyone should know this because a loved one might need you to understand what they are going through when they feel like the world is no longer a safe place to live in and that their pain is far too much to handle. You need to know this and perhaps you can save a life the next time someone tells you: “I have had enough”, “I am tired” or “It is too hard”. These are usual cries for help from depression sufferers that go unnoticed because it is sometimes thought that people are being silly, dramatic or too emotional. While in the everyday sense of looking at things, the theory that people are being dramatic and baby-like could fit the situation, but it could also be that the person saying those words is indeed depressed and feels trapped by their own misery.
According to The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), approximately 23 South Africans commit suicide daily. They also report that over 230 attempted suicides are reported on a daily basis. All of these are caused by depression. *Jessica Smith (23), a 4th year Media student, is not surprised by these statistics. She was diagnosed with depression while in her 2nd year at NMMU. Now in her Honours year, she tells the tale of her triumph over this mostly misunderstood condition.
"I began feeling a sense of numbness, as though I could not locate my emotions and just felt empty,” says Jessica. “It became a challenge to perform my daily tasks. Washing the dishes and doing the laundry suddenly felt impossible to do. Getting out of bed in the morning was the most difficult,” she adds. “My second year at varsity was relatively easier than my first, so I could not relate my sudden withdrawal from social activities to a heavy workload. The day when I couldn’t muster enough strength to get out of the bath, I knew that I needed to get help.”
The Doctor diagnosed her with depression. “It came as such a shock! I couldn’t stop crying on my way to the pharmacist for my anti-anxiety medication. I felt worthless and awful”, she shares. Jessica’s symptoms included constant fatigue, feelings of despondency, constant anxiety and panic. She also had a constant need for sleep. “Sleep became an escape from the world and these feelings I could not understand”, she says.
It is said that stress is usually one of the most prominent triggers that lead to depression. It unfortunately ends up being an uncontrollable cycle for the sufferer. Inadvertently one ends up feeling alone and finding it difficult to reach out. Jessica began to feel frustrated because she couldn’t describe her feelings and emotions accurately. “This caused me to become even more stressed and lead to episodes of intense anger. It put a strain on my relationship with my family and friends,” Jessica says.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) describes depression as a complex interaction of social, psychological and biological factors. It is said that depression can in turn lead to more dysfunction, where a person feels debilitated and judged for being unable to explain in exact terms, how they feel. This could likely worsen the sufferer’s quality of life as they might feel rejected.
Equal to the frustration there is a sense of shame from depression sufferers. Poet, writer and mental health advocate, Andrea Gibson, has a piece called “The madness vase” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtZp7MQE2ZM. This poetry piece poignantly explores the emotions of guilt and shame that most sufferers feel. Gibson also points out how difficult it is for sufferers to admit that they suffer from depression. Unfortunately like most, she also talks about the suicidal thoughts that sufferers wrestle with from time to time.
“Sharing my thoughts and feelings was a difficult thing for me. I became ashamed of how I was feeling. Everything seemed dark and gloomy”, says Jessica.
There is help for sufferers though, even if you are a student. Jessica sought counselling from the University student counselling services. The Student Counselling and Development services are available for free to any registered student at NMMU. Jessica recommends this as private healthcare is expensive. Moreover the convenience of the services makes it easier for students to attend. “Appointments are made according to the student’s schedule,” she says.
Jessica did what is advised on the SADAG site (www.sadag.org) and went to her General Practitioner first for a diagnosis. If the Doctor is unable to deal with the weight of one’s case, they are referred to a specialist, in this case, a psychiatrist.
Listed on the SADAG site are all the symptoms of depression. There is also a quiz aimed at categorising the kind of depression one might have. Lebogang Selahle, a clinical psychologist, says that often people with depression do not recognise their own symptoms because they are often related to the symptoms of having a bad day. However, if such feelings are prolonged then, she advises that it is best for the person to consult their GP in order to get a proper diagnosis, reiterating sentiments shared by Jessica.
Since there are still a lot of people questioning whether or not depression can be regarded as a legitimate illness, a Stanford University lecturer and biologist, Robert Sapolsky, delivered a lecture on the biological make up of depression: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOAgplgTxfc). He aptly breaks it down to biology and he argues for the existence of depression in relation to biology. This lecture not only validates depression sufferers like Jessica, but it also gives evidence to the existence of depression without only relating it to emotions. In this lecture Sapolsky educates people by separating the emotional premise on which depression is generally viewed, from the biological make-up, and gives the illness context. He argues that depression is one of the major killers in modern day society.
Sopalky’s argument does not seem all that far- fetched when we remember that on the 11th of August veteran actor, Robin Williams, passed away as a result of an alleged suicide. The actor is also reported to have been suffering from depression. Unfortunately the narrative that still persists is one that questions the kind of people who suffer from depression. Apparently rich, wealthy, famous people cannot get it and neither can happy or funny people. This of course, is not true.
Jessica feels that depression should be seen as an illness and not something only related to emotions. “My doctor described it to me as a chemical imbalance in the brain”, she says. This is also Sapolsky’s argument in his lecture.
Jessica says that she has found alternative ways to balance her life. She now jogs every morning. “I am doing much better now. After two long, hard years, I am finally at that point where my medication has been reduced,” she says. Jessica is able to share a success story because of the help and support she received and is now leading a healthier life.
For those who are still suffering from depression, there is help available:
On twitter, Dr Sindi van Zyl (@sindivanzyl), a medical doctor who also suffers from depression, gives advice on how to get a proper diagnosis should one suspect that they have the condition. There is also information on the WHO and SADAG sites about depression.
“Silence should not be the answer,” famous author and poet Audre Lorde, says. “Silence does not protect us”. Go out and seek help. Depression should not be the end for you.
