Waking up to poverty

When was the first time that you became aware of poverty? Hernando de Soto says he first became aware of poverty at the age of 18. The story he relates on Aljazeera makes reference to awakening to poverty in Peru when he came face to face with people from other countries. Until that time he believed others were less fortunate than himself. In Peru he had wide open spaces, could go horse riding and viewed Europe as being less privileged. Is the realisation of the existence of poverty only rooted in comparison? Do you realise your own privilege only through viewing your neighbours, seeing squallor on the highway flashing by, watching it on television? At what point do you reflect on what makes you happy and what do you need to make yourself happy? Do possessions or experiences constitute your happiness? And what role do you play (once you've reached your own enlightenment) in making others realise their own happiness?

Queuing for an aquarium

I was fortunate recently to be standing in line with several hundred others waiting for a new bulk shopping centre to open in Pretoria. The opening had been marketed well with newspaper adverts detailing massive specials and road-signs from close to the city centre pointing the way many kilometers out to the east. I was there to buy a luxury goods item, a satellite decoder.
My compatriots were competing for the same item and we joked about how far we were from the entrance, the amount of stock involved and would we be able to lay our hands on the prized item. In the half hour that I stood there the queue snaked back onto itself almost six times.
Besides the bonding so early in the morning, my thoughts drifted to old images of people queuing for far more basic necessities, such as bread or milk or fuel. The images that flit through my mind was of the old Eastern European countries and the stories we heard of the lack of basic goods. Is this a relic of history, the present reality or a foreboding future?

Coming closer to home the absence of basic goods is felt across the continent. In the last decade I've seen 7-hour fuel queues in one of the most oil-rich country on the continent. Today we hear of more recent queues even closer to home where even just getting a passport is as important as getting fuel or loaf of bread. Bribing the right people becomes an option many would rather not confront. Queuing for luxury goods in the early hours of the morning seems a far cry from queuing for basic groceries to feed your family.
David Lipton, reviewing economic shifts in Eastern Europe, wrote:

"One Russian pundit, commenting on the communist legacy, explained that anyone can turn an aquarium into fish stew, but it is much harder to turn fish stew into an aquarium."

I was standing in line in order to get a massive saving off this decoder, while others were paying far more dearly for a basic loaf of bread. Without basic services such as electricity my decoder will not even function. We have recently been suffering from load shedding in South Africa. Power cuts have caused great consternation amongst businesses and citizens. Everyone laments the inconvenience and thanks their gods that they don't live in another country. "Thank God we had enough power to watch the Rugby World Cup" was often heard over the last heady weekend. At least this load shedding can be classified as an inconvenience rather than a way of life (at present).

While we are moving into the 21st century at a rapid pace, we are also still sitting with massive poverty and an accompanying flare-up in corruption around the world. I enjoy the luxuries of new technology, but I wonder how we are going to provide everyone with consistent lights, clean water, sufficient food and adequate safety. How can we be putting all the benefits we enjoy of this new century to good use to benefit more people? How are we/am I making a difference? Is there an aquarium or fish stew in the future? Am I building a wall between me and my neighbour so I can keep my aquarium safe? Will I be queing for fish stew within the next few decades?

They've landed!

The 2007 Springbok rugby team have arrived from France, bring the Rugby World Cup trophy proudly to the South Africa. Jake White and his class of 2007 could not have been as proud as the many thousands of fans who were awaiting them at the international and domestic passenger lounges of OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. The South African anthem was sung a few times, amidst renditions of "Shosholozosa" and toyi-toying as the crowds were jubilant. The big count-down clock (for the Soccer World Cup in 2010) in the domestic arrivals lounge was ignored by all, as one fan even claimed that this win "made us hate soccer"!

The players appeared quite shell-shocked by the reception which would've overwhelmed anyone. Highveld Stereo was quick to comment on the lovely reception tourists and domestic travelers were getting as they battled their way through the crowds trying to catch their flights. Today was not a day to be rushing anywhere by plane. It was estimated that there were about 10,000 fans at the airport. All missing out on work and school. All of them wearing green and gold in their hearts. It was well worth getting up early and navigating the traffic to the airport. Well done guys! Thanks for inspiring us!

Riding the wave

Doesn't something like the Rugby World Cup just bring out the best in some people? Like this Wilkinson Sword advert!

There's a massive atmosphere of elation around the country with the reality of having won the Rugby World Cup dawning slowly on all South Africans. Watching the match on Saturday evening threw up all kinds of mixed feelings. Very clear in my mind was the undertones of racism that was floating around as this country still grapples with its own history and the history of this sport locally. Carlos Amato wrote in the Sunday Times summing it up well:

"Rugby is a crucible of SA's cultural history: a musty refuge for racism and a potentially powerful weapon against it. By ruling the world the Boks have the chance to change this country.
And they’re far more likely to do that if millions of youngsters – not just a couple of hundred thousand — believe they can become a Springbok and are given a real chance to do so."

Whilst Klippies and Coke is slowly giving way to a greater variety of drinks, I hope that one form of discrimination isn't just being replaced with another. Bryan Habana claims to have been inspired by South Africa's win in 1995 (when he was 12). How many other young South Africans, across all race groups, will be inspired by what the class of 2007 have achieved? If the politiking is anything to go by black players aren't going to feel too proud about earning this new green jersey. What's the balance going to be between imposing quotas and developing good players of all races? Is there another Jake White ready to coach young South Africans (in the junior teams) to the first team level? Or will we see South African rugby disintegrate in the next four years as the administrators and politicians tear it apart?

You beauties

They did! South Africa has won the Rugby World Cup for 2007! A hard slog over 4 years for the coach who did it "his way". This is a triumph of persistence and sticking to a plan over bureaucracy and mediocrity. There's much to be learnt from this but for now....Allez Bokke allez! Argentina, Fiji, Tonga and all the other teams who lost to South Africa can at least feel they have been beaten by the world champions. Well done to the boys who have toiled over 4 years and 8 undefeated crucial games to become the world champions.

Fun application

Those of you who travel a lot and use IM often should try Fring. My brother found it (bless his soul). Using 3G or any of the mobile broadband network, you can Skype or GoogleTalk or use many of your favourite IM systems to chat or call. If your smartphone has WLAN you can even call for free without your using your SIM. Way cool!!!!

Everything must change

It is trite to say that everything must change. However to be feeling it happen to you is pretty weird. I've been going through a process of change over the past few years. But it has never been more sincerely felt than this year. With its quite dramatic ups and downs it makes me very aware of subtle things happening. With lots of introspection at present I wonder where it will all transform to...what will be the product that will be in stasis for a while before new things happen. Definitely feels like parts of me are being re-programmed!

Thanks

Thanks G for the swift kick in the pants!

Thought for the Day

What have you done today that has changed the world? Your's? Your Friend's? A stranger's? No one's? What are you waiting for? Do something!