BiblioPolit: 2010 World Cup

Showing posts with label 2010 World Cup. Show all posts

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Strikes in South Africa show the heart of a brutal nation

In a previous post on the strikes in South Africa I wrote:

Image courtesy of News24

"Striking in this country is never just a matter of downing tools. It inevitably leads to violence, intimidation, destruction and in several cases, death! This is a culture that the ANC bred under the previous government, and has lost control of since they took over the South African government."

These strikes show the heart of a nation that is brutal, a nation with demands that show no sympathy for those that are truly in need. It is a nation that truly shows no love for its fellow citizens that are in dire need and in some cases dying. This is a nation where the plight of the poor fall on deaf ears and promises of help are just that, promises! It is a nation where promises lead to votes, as in the case of the ANC, but where the promises lead nowhere!

This is a nation where a man in desperate need of an arm saving operation after his hand had been cut off, is turned away from 2 hospitals by strikers who have no sympathy for those in real need.

Back from world cup euphoria, South Africa returns to its old self!

South African flag at the #wc2010 fanpark in Centurion after ... on Twitpic

Euphoria as South Africa beat France 2-1

After the euphoria of the FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa, it seems that everything has returned to normal in the country. All over the country, right through the duration of the world cup, there were flags on cars and on the fences of many homes.

The world cup made us think that we could conquer the world, that nothing was too difficult for us. However, that feeling soon came to an end after all the world cup touring visitors had left.

South Africa is not just a multi-racial country, but also a country of many worlds. It has the world of the mega-rich, those from black and white communities. Then there is the world of the destitutely poor, from black and white communities.

ACSA blames others for soccer semi-final bungle at airport

In this day and age, it is truly difficult to find people, especially companies, that will do the honourable thing and take responsibility for their own bungling of situations. Such a situation happened this week when many fans could not get to the semi-final between Spain and Germany, which Spain won by beating Germany 1-0.

According to ACSA (Airports Company South Africa), the Central Airspace Management Unit system failed, private plane operators took parking spots not allocated to them (our local taxi drivers must've piloted these planes), more planes arrived at the King Shaka's Airport than usual and low clouds prevented planes from landing. The gods must have conspired against the airport on that day!

World Cup Soccer is marred by bad refereeing decisions

Anyone who has watched any of the 2010 FIFA World Cup soccer matches being played in South Africa can attest to multiple occasions where referees and/or referee assistants (linesmen) bungled decisions on goals and offside players. It definitely cost England a fighting chance to make it to the quarter-finals, and almost forced the U.S.A. out in the group stage.

Have a look again at Lampard's clear goal in the 39th minute (38'18"):

Being ridiculous about 2010 Soccer World Cup

This is probably the most stupid, ridiculous, pathetic thing I've seen. I hate crime in South Africa just like anyone living in South Africa, unlike the ANC and its leaders in government!

And don't think I do not hate crime. Here's my list:

2 Nieces' cars stolen from them at gun point in 2 separate instances.
1 Niece raped by a thug.
1 Uncle murdered in his home.
1 Cousin murdered.
1 Car stolen from our home.
1 Break-in into our house and goods stolen.

Believe me, I hate crime with a passion, but to try to get people to buy kevlar vests when coming to watch the 2010 soccer, is simply ridiculous and it is making South Africa look like a war zone! Millions of South Africans drive to work and back in peace with no incidents whatsoever, apart from the many morons driving on our roads!

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

HUMAN SLAVE TRADE FOR 2010 WORLD CUP

I received the following from the email distribution list of Christian Action.

HUMAN SLAVE TRADE FOR 2010 WORLD CUP

Doctors for Life International (DFL) is

appalled by the fact that South Africa would consider rolling out the welcome mat for organised crime syndicates who trade in human lives, exploiting the poor and desperate, and forcing them into the sex trade.

In an address to Parliament, the National Police Commissioner, Jackie Selebe, asked that prostitution and public drinking be legalised for the duration of the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

One wonders how the average policeman must keep his motivation if the Commander-in-Chief is capitulating simply because he is overwhelmed by the crime in the country. We also find it strange for the government to pass new legislation on smoking in private places (which is much more difficult to enforce) while wanting to give up policing intoxication in public places because of the lack of staff to enforce the law.

Approximately 40 000 women and children were trafficked into Germany to accommodate the demand for sex during the World Cup Games. The same can be expected for South Africa and as women and children are being used as merchandise to cash in on the event, they, however, will not be the ones to benefit. Pimps, syndicates and drug dealers will be lining their pockets and are not about to go away at the end of the games.

Prostitution is an act of violence, which is intrinsically harmful and traumatising to people in prostitution. Improving the circumstances under which the prostitute works does not reduce the harm done. In South Africa, the cry for help in this regard was echoed in a survey carried out among 475 sex workers. When asked, “What do you need?” 89% replied, “To leave prostitution”. 75% of the responders wanted job training that would enable them to get out of the trade.

On the other hand, as it is the vision of DFL to protect and enhance “life” in its broader context, we have been intensively involved in formulating strategies that prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. Prostitution is one of the major contributing factors to the spread of HIV/AIDS and therefore one of our biggest concerns. The likelihood of contracting HIV/AIDS or any other Sexually Transmitted Infection is proportional to the number of sexual partners a person has. The overall HIV prevalence amongst people in prostitution in South Africa has been reported to be as high as 56%, almost twice as high as the general population.

DFL is therefore calling on government to take immediate action against the sexual exploitation of women and children for the 2010 world cup, take precautionary measures to curb the further spread of HIV and AIDS and find other suitable ways to attract revenue.

The Sexual Offences Act 23 of 1957 criminalises the keeping of a brothel as well as sex for reward. In Jordan v The State (2002) the Constitutional Court confirmed the constitutionality of the crimes of prostitution and brothel keeping. (DFL provided expert evidence as to the health risks surrounding prostitution in this case). Prostitution is therefore completely illegal for all ages in South Africa. However, Parliament is also in the process of amending the Sexual Offences Act which, if passed, will specifically impose severe sentences for child prostitution. In the Jordan case the Constitutional Court also criminalised the paying for sex – making the prostitute and the client equally culpable.

Doctors for Life
Enquiries: Debbie Toughey*
Mobile: 076 600 6986

*Debbie Toughey has personally been involved in prostitution and has firsthand experience with regards to human trafficking. DFL is a non-profit organisation of more than 1300 doctors and professors and continually provides assistance, support and counselling to women and children wishing to escape prostitution. For more information visit: www.doctorsforlifeinternational.com