tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11334213636114950382024-03-22T00:28:01.204+02:00The EXPEDITION Project BloggerControversial and opinionated views from @expedition365 while on the road with The EXPEDITION Project 2012. Share your thoughts and ideas as we share ours...The EXPEDITION Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02996757637996672351noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1133421363611495038.post-83277800901693778472013-11-15T21:04:00.001+02:002013-11-15T21:04:18.390+02:00http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/ hosts The EXPEDITION Project (UK)<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102) !important; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px !important; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 15px !important;">
<strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">INTRODUCTION</strong></div>
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After four successful expeditions in Africa, The EXPEDITION Project is coming to the UK on a very similar mission.</div>
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But first we need to conduct the necessary background research, project identification and pre-filming.</div>
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Your funding will partner you up with this innovate project by assisting with our travel expenses for a foundation perimeter route around the UK visiting NGO,s businesses and individuals to define what is driving the youth of today, what the comparisons are there with the youth of other countries, and most importantly what does the future hold for this and our next generation.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">SYNOPSIS</strong><br style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" />Our story is an international one, and following four expeditions in South Africa, it is time for the UK to be involved.</div>
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In this globalised, fast growing world we will be posing several very real, pertinent questions:</div>
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<li style="border: 0px; list-style: decimal !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px 35px !important; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Are the issues and challenges faced by youth in UK similar to that of South Africans on our previous expeditions?</li>
<li style="border: 0px; list-style: decimal !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px 35px !important; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Are there collaborative solutions that can be learned from each other?</li>
<li style="border: 0px; list-style: decimal !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px 35px !important; outline: none; padding: 0px;">What examples are their to inspire the youth of the UK into a sustainable, creative, and ecomomically dynamic future?</li>
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<strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">DETAIL</strong><br style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" />Covering the challenging landscape apparent amongst climate change, consumerism, economic recessions and globalisation, the UK version of The EXPEDITION Project will be documenting communities, the challenges and solutions within them and the direction towards solutions via a 360-degree perspective.<br style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" />Subsequent follow-ups will make use of the awareness raised in series one to use audience participation by attracting the population to decide the route and solutions to challenges faced by the travelling teams.<br style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" /><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">BACKGROUND</strong></div>
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The allure of combining a project initiated in South Africa with the UK, a nation that has influenced so much across the African continent, will depict perspectives that have seldom been seen outside of a one dimensional context. This project enables the audience to be transported into the paradox of two nations - one known for the birth of humanity along with its scenic wonders however struggling with the complex inhumanity that modern day life has brought with it and the other the birth of colonialisation now suffering the effects of mass immigration, increasing unemployment and youth apathy.<br style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" />No greater character revolution of resilience can be seen than that of youth struggling to break free of a future seemingly pre-determined.</div>
The EXPEDITION Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02996757637996672351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1133421363611495038.post-39504671548682957942013-10-29T10:01:00.001+02:002013-10-29T10:01:27.724+02:00Eyes on @LandRoverZA again!<a href="http://twitpic.com/dj62j1#.Um9q5H5LBbA.blogger">The launch of your #NewRangeRoverSportSA has again set our eyes on @LandRoverZA (see our 2011 launch video) #CSR</a>:<br />
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Our first choice for a project vehicle back in 2011 was @LandRoverZA however that did not materialize. Now with the imminent departure of our 5th expedition in 2014, we again set our eyes on this defining brand. Will they join us this time?The EXPEDITION Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02996757637996672351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1133421363611495038.post-1938050838278492682013-10-08T16:32:00.001+02:002013-10-08T16:32:46.242+02:00Escape the City - Media Volunteers South Africa 2014<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'Open Sans', helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Join The EXPEDITION Project on a rare chance to capture an important moment in history. In 2014, South Africa will celebrate its 20th year of democracy and hold its fourth democratic presidential election – we want you to help us capture this and more.</span><br />
<a href="http://www.escapethecity.org/organisations/the-expedition-project/opportunities/5141-the-expedition-project-media-volunteers-south-africa-2014#.UlQXKBe27XA.blogger">Escape the City - Media Volunteers South Africa 2014</a>The EXPEDITION Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02996757637996672351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1133421363611495038.post-38434742166127780442013-02-23T20:31:00.002+02:002013-02-23T20:31:45.376+02:00Follow #TEP2013 in your own vehicle or join us for $39/day<br />
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<iframe _mce_src="https://maps.google.co.za/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=215529047539683540042.0004d2748b8745d6c5970&hl=en&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=-25.958045,24.257813&spn=23.578396,26.367188&z=4&output=embed" frameborder="0" height="300" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://maps.google.co.za/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=215529047539683540042.0004d2748b8745d6c5970&hl=en&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=-25.958045,24.257813&spn=23.578396,26.367188&z=4&output=embed" width="300"></iframe><br />
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<a name='more'></a><small>View<span style="font-size: 13px;"> </span><a _mce_href="https://maps.google.co.za/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=215529047539683540042.0004d2748b8745d6c5970&hl=en&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=-25.958045,24.257813&spn=23.578396,26.367188&z=4&source=embed" _mce_style="color: #0000ff; text-align: left;" href="https://maps.google.co.za/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=215529047539683540042.0004d2748b8745d6c5970&hl=en&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=-25.958045,24.257813&spn=23.578396,26.367188&z=4&source=embed" style="color: blue; font-size: 13px;">The EXPEDITION Project - Route 2013 1a-1b</a><span style="font-size: 13px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">in a larger map</span></small><br />
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ZAR 350 per day ($39 or 25GBP) covers comfortable shared accommodation (B&B’s, guest houses, hotels, lodge, tented camps and camping), a minimum of one local restaurant meal daily, project transport, airport transfers* and project co-ordination. Certain activities and reserve entrances will also be covered.</div>
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The fee excludes insurance cover and flight tickets. We recommend that you bring an additional ZAR 50 - 75 per day as spending money.</div>
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Both legs of the 2013 expedition will run for 60 days, but it is up to you to decide how many days you would like to join us for.</div>
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Sign up at http://www.theexpeditionproject.com/</div>
The EXPEDITION Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02996757637996672351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1133421363611495038.post-62228017629062484782013-02-09T12:57:00.000+02:002013-02-09T12:57:34.045+02:00Show Us Your South Africa<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8.5pt;">During my preparation for #TEP2013 there are of course many
challenges that come my way. The obvious one would be travelling a nation,
something that on its own is a tall order. Similarly with an under-taking like
this, a project with a small budget, it had to encapsulate the diverse nation
that the world thinks they understand. The fact being that only locals
understand South Africa, only South Africans have been a part of the nation’s
history, and will be a part of its future, a nation that is not comparable to
any other. Now I say this because non South Africans feel justified in
labelling the country and its people. It is more complicated than that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8.5pt;">With this complication in mind how could I possibly capture the
people over the course of 2012 and 2013 let alone the original task of 2012 on
its own? The answer is that I could but it would not be a true representation
of the heartbeat of a country that is my home and that of 51 million others.
All patriotism and arrogant expression of </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8.5pt;">South Africa</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8.5pt;"> aside, a population of that
size is best covered in time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8.5pt;">Now comes the quandary. Time is not on our side. With the
impending all critical date of 2014 looming, a date which will signify a
generation since the democratic re-launch of </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8.5pt;">South Africa</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8.5pt;">, time is clearly of the
essence. So what can I do? Well, the solution is bring </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8.5pt;">South Africa</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8.5pt;"> to me. I will cover what
I can, film what is possible and all the rest can come from you. This is your
chance to be a part of The EXPEDITION Project and tell your story, whatever it
may be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8.5pt;">So, as part of #TEP2013 I am calling out for South Africans from
all over the country to send me in a film clip of their view of the nation,
their life, their environment, their town, anything that sums up their world.
Or in fact it can be anything you want to share with us about </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8.5pt;">South Africa</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8.5pt;">. This will form part of
our 2014 documentary. Let this be your chance to share your opinions, voice,
impression and artistic skill.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8.5pt;">Call it<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><strong>My South Africa</strong>. Film ‘a day in
your life’ on your phone or anything you can, try and keep it to an edited or
un-edited 5 minute format if you can, then mail me your details or pop me a
comment below and I will give you instructions on how to send it to us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8.5pt;">Need some inspiration? Watch the movie<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaFVr_cJJIY&wide=1" target="_blank" title="Life in a Day"><span style="color: #bd3538;">Life in a Day</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8.5pt;">Good luck and thank you for being a part of this journey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8.5pt;">@RogerWynneDyke<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8.5pt;">{jcomments on}<o:p></o:p></span></div>
The EXPEDITION Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02996757637996672351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1133421363611495038.post-18728842152747536592012-11-19T17:32:00.004+02:002012-11-19T17:35:51.950+02:00The Essence of the Traveller's Tale<div class="entry-body" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #3d3a3a; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; line-height: 1.5; overflow: hidden;">
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<strong>The Evolution of The EXPEDITION Project</strong></div>
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<em>"But to look back from the stony plain along the road which led one to that place is not at all the same thing as walking along the road; the perspective, to say the least, changes only with the journey; only when the road has, all abruptly and treacherously, and with the absoluteness that permits no argument, turned or dropped or risen is one able to see all that one could not have seen from any other place."</em></div>
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<em><a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.biography.com/people/james-baldwin-9196635" rel="biographycom" style="color: #bf103e;" target="_blank" title="James Baldwin">James Baldwin</a>, </em><em>Go Tell it on the Mountains</em></div>
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<strong>The Long Road Ahead<em> </em></strong></div>
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<em>“Success is not a place at which one arrives but rather the spirit with which one undertakes and continues the journey.” </em>Alex Noble</div>
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They say hindsight is 20:20 vision. What they forget to mention is that you earn that vision by having the courage to go somewhere. As I packed my 4x4 on the 31<sup>st</sup> December 2011, I had no idea what the next several months would entail. As with any journey, there were uncertainties. That was a given. Understood. Accepted. The only thing you can bank on as a traveller is that the journey will find you. But only if you hit the road.</div>
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The road to your destination is littered with intersections, potholes and hitchhikers. Sometimes you wonder if you will ever get there and you suddenly remember why, as a child, you always asked “Are we there yet?!” Is this detour just a scenic delay or a risky departure? It might even end up being a path of least resistance with surprises along the way. Sometimes you find yourself on a lonely road less travelled and sometimes on a highway swarming with the journeys of others. Some follow their GPS; some follow their instincts; and some just drive, not knowing where they might end up.</div>
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<strong>“Some follow their GPS; some follow their instincts; and others just drive, not knowing where they might end up.”</strong></div>
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Before our departure on New Years Day 2012, I had met as many anxious cynics as enthusiastic supporters. But no one could have known the fierce battle those two extremes were waging inside of me. To succeed with The EXPEDITION Project, I had to succeed as a person.</div>
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Eleven months later, it is time to evaluate The EXPEDITION Project 2012 in the cold light of dawn. Illusions and misconceptions must be cleared out. It is time to consider what has changed and what has remained the same. What was achieved and what was not. Who The EXPEDITION Project is, who I am, and where I am headed.</div>
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<strong>Is there anyone in your back seat?</strong></div>
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<em>"Being mistaken is the essence of the traveller's tale." </em><em><a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Theroux" rel="wikipedia" style="color: #bf103e;" target="_blank" title="Paul Theroux">Paul Theroux</a>,</em> <em><a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riding_the_Iron_Rooster" rel="wikipedia" style="color: #bf103e;" target="_blank" title="Riding the Iron Rooster">Riding the Iron Rooster</a></em></div>
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From the word go, “we” were creating this project. “Our” journey would take us to 200 towns in one year. Without discounting all the indispensable media backing and practical help, the truth is that The EXPEDITION Project has been a one-man undertaking all along. The strands of the support network have all been intermittent, temporary, or simply external. The only person who has been 100% invested is me.</div>
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In speaking of this project as a collective endeavour, I tried to make it sound more established, more remarkable. I used a well-known and cheap marketing trick. I promised to be honest with my supporters and followers, but fell short before I even hit the road. I was so anxious to get the support I needed, that I lost sight of the essential struggle I was going through. This journey was always personal. It was always going to be hard. In hindsight, I needed to be confidently upfront about it.</div>
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<strong>“This journey was always personal. It was always going to be hard. In hindsight, I needed to be confidently upfront about it.”</strong></div>
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<strong>What are you driving at?</strong></div>
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<em>“A journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you</em><em>control it.” </em><em><a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.biography.com/people/john-steinbeck-9493358" rel="biographycom" style="color: #bf103e;" target="_blank" title="John Steinbeck">John Steinbeck</a>,</em> <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.amazon.com/Travels-Charley-Search-America-Steinbeck/dp/0140053204%3FSubscriptionId%3D0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82%26tag%3Dzemanta-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D0140053204" rel="amazon" style="color: #bf103e;" target="_blank" title="Travels with Charley in Search of America">Travels with Charley: In Search of America</a></div>
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Human nature tries to understand new things by categorising them with something that is known. This has led to a stock of standard interpretations of what exactly The EXPEDITION Project is. To some, it was a documentary film project. To others, it was a holiday in disguise. For some, it conjured images of <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingsley_Holgate" rel="wikipedia" style="color: #bf103e;" target="_blank" title="Kingsley Holgate">Kingsley Holgate</a>’s overland journey from the Cape to Cairo. Others were only perplexed by the question of profitability.</div>
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Perhaps the name was always going to obstruct vision or obscure explanation. Not many modern expeditions are true to the dictionary definition of the word:</div>
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A journey by a team on a mission of purpose.</div>
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I added “project” to it, which is defined as:</div>
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A project in business and science is typically defined as a collaborative enterprise, frequently involving research that is carefully planned to achieve a particular aim.</div>
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I did not want to create the association with “terra incognita”. The borders ofSouth Africa, my homeland, would confine the EXPEDITION Project. I was not heading into unknown physical terrain. I wanted to create a template that could be replicated in any other country… by locals, not benevolent and idealistic foreigners.</div>
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I underestimated the cost and structural requirements of filming. I also did not realise how important it would be to the project’s future. What started as a grand dream of a sweeping documentary has now been whittled down to hyper-realistic snippet inserts. Think Twitter for TV and you won’t be far off the mark.</div>
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This is where we are with that concept:</div>
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<em>The world is moving faster</em></div>
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<em>We are moving faster to keep up</em></div>
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<em>We don’t have time for all the fuss</em></div>
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<em>So let’s cut to the chase</em></div>
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<em>The heart of the matter</em></div>
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<em>The heart of the people</em></div>
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<em>And the heart of our country</em></div>
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<em>In 36 five-minute episodes, we will condense our country into bite size chunks</em></div>
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<em>Each will be a story within a story</em></div>
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<em>It will show our successes</em></div>
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<em>Our fears</em></div>
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<em>Our failures</em></div>
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<em>Our culture</em></div>
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<em>Our lives</em></div>
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<em>Sometimes funny</em></div>
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<em>Sometimes sad</em></div>
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<em>Always informative</em></div>
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<em>And definitely entertaining</em></div>
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<em>Join our very own soap opera - reality show - documentary</em></div>
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<em>It is everything you always knew and never spoke about</em></div>
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<em>And many things you didn’t know and wanted to learn</em></div>
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<em>Join ‘The EXPEDITION Project’</em></div>
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<strong>Travel Log</strong></div>
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<em>"Most travel, and certainly the rewarding kind, involves depending on the kindness of strangers, putting yourself into the hands of people you don't know and trusting them with your life." </em><em>Paul Theroux,</em> <em><a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Train-Eastern-Star-Railway/dp/0618418873%3FSubscriptionId%3D0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82%26tag%3Dzemanta-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D0618418873" rel="amazon" style="color: #bf103e;" target="_blank" title="Ghost Train to the Eastern Star: On the Tracks of the Great Railway Bazaar">Ghost Train to the Eastern Star</a></em></div>
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After getting underway with the project in January 2012, I soon realised the critical importance of tourism. The EXPEDITION Project was not well funded by any stretch of the imagination. We had the support of some big names, a few respectful pats on the backs and even a last minute injection of financial support from two well-meaning corporate businesses. But when I left Stellenbosch on New Year’s Day, the figures still didn’t add up. I had set myself an impossible task. It was too late to cancel or postpone. I had to just go for it and hope that ‘something’ would happen along the way. If I could just get going for a few months, I thought, it would all work out… somehow.</div>
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In all fairness, tourism was that “something”. It solved the crises of food and accommodation, both traded for marketing exposure and the longer-term benefit of being part of the network for future expeditions. But it also added to the daily workload. For the most part, Internet access was even more fleeting than the brief overnight stops. As a result, blog posts and social media updates soon focused almost exclusively on promoting the project’s hospitality partners. The upside was that this encouraged more people to feed me and put me up for the night. The downside was that our audience got the impression that The EXPEDITION Project had degenerated into a holiday road trip. It meant I could keep going, but not keep everyone happy.</div>
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The fact that Maddy and I had become romantically involved along the way only fuelled this fire. Making our relationship public was deliberate. We envisioned it giving the expedition’s story more soul and more realism. This sub plot was a breath of fresh air and became integral to the unfolding of the journey and the way we recorded it. Unfortunately – despite our consistent professionalism – our audience then began to interpret The EXPEDITION Project as a honeymoon road trip.</div>
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<strong>Hitchhikers and Pit Stops</strong></div>
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<em>"Travel, its very motion, ought to suggest hope. Despair is the armchair; it is indifference and glazed, incurious eyes" </em><em>Paul Theroux,</em> <em>Fresh Air Fiend</em></div>
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I would not trade my 2012 experiences for anything. The journey re-ignited my passion for South Africa in so many ways. It also highlighted just how much work needs to be done and how widespread that work is. Many people thought The EXPEDITION Project was too diverse. They saw a diffuse, unfocused attempt instead of a holistic approach. A Department of Health representative recently summed it up perfectly:</div>
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“It is about a whole person and for this reason you can’t restrict yourself to one aspect.”</div>
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South Africa is at a crossroads. One path leads to a bright future and the other lies in the shadow of a dark cloud of animosity that refuses to let go of the past. The aim of The EXPEDITION Project is to find out exactly what we need to do as a nation to move into the sunlight of a promising future. Where are the necessary pit stops that will make that journey possible? How can we build and support them? What do they need? This project is not after cosmetic changes and warm, fuzzy feelings that disappear the moment that a taxi cuts you off on the highway. It is about making a real and lasting impact. This is why it needs to continue connecting with the people of South Africaand find out what they feel, think and want.</div>
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Our nation is filled with so many positive stories and yet the negative ones make much better news. Communities of all sizes are making inspirational efforts to remain above the poverty line. Even the smallest communities have some sort of community centre, orphanage or NGO crèche – created by the community itself, to answer an overwhelming need.</div>
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Tired of poor service delivery, Graskop in Mpumalanga became the first town in the region to vote for the opposition party and see its municipality re-structured. Piet Retief, closer to KZN, was the centre of the first uprising in 2007 when the government and local municipalities weren’t keeping their promises. Of the towns surveyed this year, 78% don’t care who is running the country as long as the people’s best interests are looked after.</div>
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Hard-pressed and fed-up South Africans are coming up with ingenious survival tactics and enduring so much more than the average westerner could manage or even imagine. Best of all, they do this with a smile on their face – a truly African smile from ear to ear. This creativity and tenacity make South Africa the small business blueprint for the world.</div>
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But of course, it is not all moonshine and roses. The EXPEDITION Project aimed for an accurate assessment and noted the negatives too. The Department of Social Development spent R3.8 million on a community development project in Hondeklipbaai, Northern Cape, only for it to be vandalised and abandoned. The thought was there but the follow-through failed. The Department of Health set up a LoveLife Centre (HIV awareness) in Bray in the North West, only for the staff to sit around with minimal facilities to execute their assignments.</div>
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The majority still see big families as a security blanket for the future rather than a burden in the present. Condoms are still generally rejected in favour of a religious philosophy that “If God wants you to have kids you will have kids” – 67% of South Africans surveyed agreed with this statement.</div>
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82% of the small towns we visited believe that substance abuse (drugs and alcohol) is the number one problem within their community. That is followed by education, health service and job creation. But as one interviewee in Jozini said, “<em>There are plenty of jobs out there people just like saying there are no jobs. People think the jobs will come looking for them but they need to look for the jobs.”</em></div>
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In every instance, the force for positive change from within the communities far outweighs any negatives. Positive people are helping their own communities and in the process, they are transforming this country. That is what The EXPEDITION Project wants to publicise and replicate.</div>
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<strong>“There are plenty of jobs out there people just like saying there are no jobs. People think the jobs will come looking for them but they need to look for the jobs.”</strong></div>
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<strong>The Off-Ramp</strong></div>
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<em>“Most journeys have a clear beginning, but on some the ending is less well-defined. The question is, at what point do you bite your lip and head for home?” </em><em>Tahir Shah,</em> In Search of King Solomon's Mines</div>
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Full speed ahead to August 2012. The situation I was dreading in January had materialised. No more financial sponsorship had surfaced and my petrol money was running out fast. I was only seven months into the project and it looked like I might make it for a few more weeks if I spend money only on fuel. This would only bring me to September; four months shy of the 365-day target and a few towns short of the 200-mark.</div>
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I decided to speed things up while still driving slowly (to save fuel) and covered two provinces and approximately fifty towns in one month. Once I was within shooting distance of Cape Town, I reasoned, I could cover the more condensed Western Cape until my petrol tank ran dry.</div>
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That day arrived, a little ironically, on the 24<sup>th</sup> of September: Heritage Day. The EXPEDITION Project for 2012 covered 192 towns and all that remained was to process photographs and start planning for 2013.</div>
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Not long after that, the Isuzu Trooper that served me so well gave up the ghost. The 1991 import was old, but it looked the part and it did the job. And it still was my backup plan for 2013. But the repairs would have cost half the vehicle’s value, so I had no choice but to sell it for a pittance. The driver has become the hitchhiker.</div>
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<strong>“The driver has become the hitch-hiker.”</strong></div>
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<strong>The Road Ahead</strong></div>
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<em>“If all difficulties were known at the outset of a long journey, most of us would never start out at all.” </em>Dan Rather</div>
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A month later, after collating and processing all the information gathered in 2012, I find myself in a position similar to the one I faced a year ago - uncertain of what the New Year will bring. It is a position that is so common to causes, initiatives, NPOs and NGOs the world over. Even as I resolutely continue planning for 2013, I can’t help but feel slightly panicky at the thought that this “annual expedition” might only last one year.</div>
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The EXPEDITION Project was always going to be treated like a business, or more like ‘a business with a heart’. Sustainability was always one of its most important core values. Every decision I made on this journey was aimed at that goal. If my future decisions need to be more commercial, I just hope that the ethos of the project isn’t lost along the way. One way to ensure sustainability is to increase the filming presence, but this requires commissioning or funding. The second route is to further explore the tourism avenues of business.</div>
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The EXPEDITION Project may have to be put on hold temporarily. In other words, the 2013 expedition may not launch in January, but rather in March or even later in the year. I will have to wait until the project is sustainable or well funded. 2012 was executed on a shoestring and while it yielded fantastic data and solid experience for future journeys, it also left sponsors and supporters feeling confused and disappointed. I simply did not have the resources to keep everyone happy and still do the groundwork that is the reason for this project’s very existence.</div>
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My whole mission is to find the good & the bad, the happy & the sad in SA... to cheer the feel-good stories and find meaningful solutions to the tragic ones. That has not changed. And the only way to find the real stories is by hitting the road. Again and again and again.</div>
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<strong>“The only way to really find the real stories is by hitting the road and hitting the road. Again and again and again.”</strong></div>
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<em>By Roger Wynne-Dyke </em></div>
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The EXPEDITION Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02996757637996672351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1133421363611495038.post-36320971829077172152012-06-23T16:59:00.000+02:002012-06-23T16:59:00.166+02:00Generalizations<br />
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I am white, and I am South African, so it would be easy to make a sweeping generalisation that because of the colour of my skin and my nationality, I am probably a racist. And because I am a white racist I am anti the ANC, have loads of money, a university degree, and not an ‘African’, simply a ‘South African’. Conversely, if I was black I would be pro ANC, the criminal element or a corrupt official, I would probably have AIDS, and I would be an ‘African’ through and through. It is therefore predetermined that generalisations will be made, no matter how ridiculous they are and so where better to generalise than a country with such a history as South Africa?</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">The fact is that I am African because of my location not my appearance, no matter how many generations my family dates back to settling in South Africa, and just because I am white should I really be classified otherwise. It is not only the Native American Indians that are called Americans and it is not only the Aborigines and Maoris that are called Australian or New Zealanders and an Asian in England or a black man in France are still called English and French respectively. So why can’t I call myself not just South African but African. The fact is that South Africa is no different from any other country; the only difference is that South Africa managed to elect a ‘Xhosa’ as its first native African president, before America elected a Native America president or Australia elected an Aborigine Prime Minister. And yes, some of you will say that is not the point, it is down to majority rule but America and Australia relocated their Native Indians and Aborigines into reserve and eventually exterminated them, almost to extinction. Which country has therefore been more </span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">colonized</span><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"> and oppressed?</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></span>The EXPEDITION Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02996757637996672351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1133421363611495038.post-64703087589253721422012-06-22T16:53:00.000+02:002012-06-22T16:53:00.157+02:00Racism<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">There are examples all over the world and the fact is every country has had and still has racial and culture conflict and this will probably always be the case. Where there are differences, be it in colour, religion, culture, there will be conflict in something as simple as a bar altercation right through to a civil war. In light of this South Africa has managed a transition in a proud and peaceful way, something to be satisfied with, and the country can indeed hold its head high. But right now it is time to get on with it. Move on. Move forward. What has happened has happened, we can all learn from it and the beauty of that is that we can grow even better because of it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">The question really is whether South Africa as a nation is strong enough to admit mistakes not just 50 years ago, but 10 years ago. Admit that it hasn’t been all a ‘bed of roses’. Service delivery has been slacking off. Health care for the poor is so bad and for the rich so expensive. Jobs have not met the demand. Education is becoming a joke and crime, although not nearly as bad as the world makes it out to be, is still a problem. This is something the government has to accept and I for one would have a lot more respect for the current administration if they admitted their short-comings, gave the people real results and figures and from there provided realistic forecasts rather than blaming their in-efficiencies on the 1980’s. The generation right now, the children being born today and the ones that were born 20 years ago have the fabulous opportunity to be immersed in a nation of positively not a nation full of blame and carried on shoulders full of chips. I think racism does still exist in South Africa and of course it will but I also think racism is automatically thought of as white on black thing, however right now it is quite clear that the government also needs to let go of the past and with that, let go of its attitudes as well as the previous government’s faults.</span><br />
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<br /></div>The EXPEDITION Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02996757637996672351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1133421363611495038.post-1609139471053017732012-06-21T16:52:00.000+02:002012-06-21T16:52:00.293+02:00New South Africa<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">It has been a generation now since South Africa’s new democracy; in 1965 the holocaust survivors were not still blaming their lives, be it negative or positive, on the Nazis twenty years previous. The US may have abolished slavery back in the time of Lincoln, but the fight for equal rights still went on into the 60’s and 70’s, and then 20 years from then the blame for that did not still occupy the minds of Americans as an excuse for their daily lives.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">The LA riots proved that tensions still existed in the 80’s and although they were clearly a forerunner in cultural drowning much like the English colonialism, they still made it clear that they would still strive on becoming a world leaders.</span>The EXPEDITION Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02996757637996672351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1133421363611495038.post-7367239334984278562012-06-20T16:51:00.000+02:002012-06-20T16:51:00.339+02:00Jobs vs. Careers<br />
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So, to the present day, let us take this positive out of the darkness of Apartheid and turn it into what defines the country. South Africa needs jobs and so the country should be providing these and be building the supply and demand of local industry slowly up from there. It may not be as cheap as China initially but eventually South Africa will be able to cater in both price and quality. China didn’t get to the point it is now over night, it had a long term plan and so must we.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">We all know that South Africa, as the wealthiest African nation, can provide quality in everything they do, and we all know that South Africans are world renown for their ingenuity to do it, so what is stopping them? But taking it a step further, it’s not just jobs we need but careers, and there is a big difference. Careers for me are long term, sustainable and channelled towards the individual’s interests and skills rather than just a monthly or weekly wait until pay day.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></span>The EXPEDITION Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02996757637996672351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1133421363611495038.post-16789869130314889112012-06-19T16:50:00.000+02:002012-06-19T16:50:00.040+02:00Apartheid<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">Apartheid brought South Africa two advantages; firstly, it proved that the nation could be self-sufficient. If the world didn’t want to deal with South Africa then South Africa would provide what it needed on its own and so it did. Secondly, this left South Africa’s economic grading as far superior to most of Western Europe and the world due to this and the lack of lending that went on when the rest of the world borrowed from the World Bank and now find themselves in massive debt. </span><br />
<a name='more'></a>South Africa’s ‘A’ grading puts itself on stable ground.The EXPEDITION Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02996757637996672351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1133421363611495038.post-85212692457653467182012-06-18T16:49:00.000+02:002012-06-18T16:49:00.115+02:00Constitution<br />
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The problem I have is the government and the people equally need to get their act together. South Africa’s constitution, although progressive and inspiring is providing a platform from which to make your protest about anything and everything known. Now this is not necessarily a positive in my eyes, and it really needs to be channelled to the pertinent otherwise it will quickly get lost into a sea of negativity. So for one, the people of South Africa need to realise that you can complain about everything now and for ever more or you can start in your own home and business and help to provide the answers. </div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11px;">If the people aren’t happy with something then sure you must do something about it, but the nation will have to realise what the immediate problems are and what the things are that they as individuals can solve themselves. The government then needs to realise that everyone will not always be pleased and impressed and they need to stop and re-evaluate the nation and work on one thing at a time and start to be selfish for the sake of the people, not the sake of their own pockets.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></span>The EXPEDITION Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02996757637996672351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1133421363611495038.post-10698711710902777722012-06-16T16:47:00.000+02:002012-06-16T16:47:00.313+02:00Public Transport<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">If you haven’t driven through a South African taxi rank, and in this case one of a Friday afternoon, then do yourself a favour and try it just for the experience. Organised chaos, like so much of</span><st1:place style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">Africa</st1:place><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"> I guess. </span><st1:country-region style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">South Africa</st1:country-region><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">’s public transport, even after a 2010 World Cup attempt to develop to more sustainable and enviro-friendly options, is based around millions of white mini bus taxis through out </span><st1:country-region style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">South Africa</st1:country-region><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">. A large proportion of these are government subsidised and promoted as a truly South </span><st1:place style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">Africa</st1:place><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"> transport system. Any deviations from this as the main means of public transport are passionately protested by Taxi Association. </span><br />
<a name='more'></a>The job as a taxi driver is sought after and the driving styles are very unique. Aggressive driving is an understatement and courtesy often forgotten. The EXPEDITION Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02996757637996672351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1133421363611495038.post-62156989292085310012012-06-15T16:43:00.000+02:002012-06-12T16:49:59.899+02:00Listening to Africa<br />
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<strong>“Ex </strong><strong>Africa</strong><strong> simper aliquid novi”</strong></div>
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<strong>(Always something new out of </strong><strong>Africa</strong><strong>)</strong></div>
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We often get asked what our impact has been so far this year and what have we done. Some people even say that it looks like ‘a fun holiday’ we have been on or as far as it looks like ‘a journal of a couples honeymoon in Africa’.</div>
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Someone once said “in order to understand Africa, you need to live in Africa” and someone else went on to say that “in order to help Africa you need to listen to Africa”, both clearly very wise individuals.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">The EXPEDITION Project isn’t trying to re-invent the wheel, it isn’t trying to re-design constitutions, and it isn’t trying to take over the world with its ideas and opinions. What The EXPEDITION Project is trying to do is take a step back and try to understand the wheel, the constitution and the world, and from there move forward in the best possible direction.</span><br />
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For centuries tourists, travellers and the most of the western world have brought ideas to Africa of what works elsewhere in the world, but as the quotes imply above, Africa is a very different place to the rest of the world. And with Africa we need African solutions to African problems.</div>
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I remember when I was involved in some community development projects a few years ago and I couldn’t understand why my efforts would go both unaccepted and unsuccessful. One in particular was sports coaching for kids that didn’t have any resources or accessibility to training and coaching of this vital youth tool for team work and exercise. Another was self sufficient food gardens, in particular for HIV and TB patients to enable them to get the vital vegetables needed to maintain as strong an immune system as possible. When I asked some local community members why the sport clinics, for example, didn’t work I got told that they held no incentive for the kids. No incentive I thought, was the chance to train and learn skills not incentive enough? My point is that, what you think may work might not infact be enough or effective and so sometimes you need to take a step back to fully understand why and ultimately how projects can work in future.</div>
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During our 2012 assessment of South Africa so far we have visited many projects along our route in order to understand exactly what is being done, how it is being done and what maybe The EXPEDITION Project could do to help and work with these individuals and initiatives. Some projects we came across are government run, and some are private, some are internationally funded and some are community funded but one consistency ran clear throughout. All these projects, very much like South Africa at this stage, are being run in a very much dog-eat-dog fashion. Now this may sound weird considering that these may be community development or conservation projects but the problem we feel is that the communication is missing and the supervision is miss-managed. NPO’s and similar organisations worldwide are fighting over a small pool of funding and sponsorship and so it is seen as risky to partner or share ideas with similar minded projects in fear of limiting the much needed sponsorships and donations. This is the battle we want to work with. Is it possible to create a network amongst all currently competing organisations in South Africa in order to not only share thoughts and ideas but create revenue possibilities and increase possible funding?</div>
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The final commonality within these styles of projects is that it is frowned upon to try and create your own income by creating revenue streams. After all an NPO is understood to not be a profit seeking venture and so should be receiving its income from donors and sponsorships not sustainable revenue streams. This is another area we would like to open up. Doing this would create more jobs and more sustainable, self sufficient initiatives that would then be able to not just rely on hand-outs for survival.</div>
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In Doringbaai we met Peter of the Fishermen’s Co-operative and learnt about how the previously dog-eat-dog fisherman philosophy is being turned around into a more effective formula for the good of this small west coast community. This format will them be carried to other west coast towns in order change the very much cutthroat views. <a_href> Find out more here.</a_href></div>
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In Strandfrontein we chatted with Sue about eco initiatives and wind energy in the area only to find out that there is actually a big call for sustainable energy unlike Paternoster, further south, who seem to be generally anti the visual pollution a wind farm would create and possibly affect tourism. <a _mce_href="http://www.theexpeditionproject.com/Project-Reviews/" href="http://www.theexpeditionproject.com/Project-Reviews/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #bd3538;" target="_blank">Find out more here.</a></div>
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In Garies we met the determined Percy from the Youth Development Centre run by Dept of Social Development who is battling with minimal funding and low skills training and supervision to turn the large unemployment in the area to an active community full of ideas and possibilities. <a _mce_href="http://www.theexpeditionproject.com/Project-Reviews/" href="http://www.theexpeditionproject.com/Project-Reviews/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #bd3538;" target="_blank">Find out more here</a></div>
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In Hondeklipbaai we visited a Community Development Centre initiated by the Dept of Tourism and Environmental Affairs to empower this west coast community, however three years after millions was spent on the centre it lies vandalised and derelict. <a _mce_href="http://www.theexpeditionproject.com/Project-Reviews/" href="http://www.theexpeditionproject.com/Project-Reviews/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #bd3538;" target="_blank">Find out more here.</a></div>
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In Zeerust we got introduced to the North West Design and Craft Institute, a showcase of the areas talent in doing so marketing it nationally and internationally. <a _mce_href="http://www.theexpeditionproject.com/Project-Reviews/" href="http://www.theexpeditionproject.com/Project-Reviews/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #bd3538;" target="_blank">Find out more here.</a></div>
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In Alldays we had coffee with Wendy from the Roadkill Initiative, who is working as part of the Endangered Wildlife Trust to identify why so many animals are lying on or along side our roads each day and how we can go about limiting these fatalities. <a _mce_href="http://www.theexpeditionproject.com/Project-Reviews/" href="http://www.theexpeditionproject.com/Project-Reviews/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #bd3538;" target="_blank">Find out more here.</a></div>
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In Timbavati we learnt what is being done for the elephant population in South Africa from Michelle of Save the Elephants and how expensive tracking just one elephant in fact is. <a _mce_href="http://www.theexpeditionproject.com/Project-Reviews/" href="http://www.theexpeditionproject.com/Project-Reviews/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #bd3538;" target="_blank">Find out more here.</a></div>
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In Hoedspruit we had a private tour of the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre, the leading cheetah centre in South Africa and learnt the difference between a conservation project and a money making project disguised through conservation. <a _mce_href="http://www.theexpeditionproject.com/Project-Reviews/" href="http://www.theexpeditionproject.com/Project-Reviews/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #bd3538;" target="_blank">Find out more here.</a></div>
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In Mtubatuba we met a few international volunteers working with AIDS patients and found out how far behind the Dept. of Health is in providing quality, accessible and affordable health care in the country and in particular the most affected part of South Africa, the area between Kwa-Zulu Natal and Lesotho, Mozambique. <a _mce_href="http://www.theexpeditionproject.com/Project-Reviews/" href="http://www.theexpeditionproject.com/Project-Reviews/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #bd3538;" target="_blank">Find out more here.</a></div>
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In Hluhluwe we spent a day with Martijn of Eco Label as he explained how he is so passionately trying to achieve community self sufficiency and what he is doing about it.<a _mce_href="http://www.theexpeditionproject.com/Project-Reviews/" href="http://www.theexpeditionproject.com/Project-Reviews/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #bd3538;" target="_blank"> Find out more here.</a></div>
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This is only a taste of what we have achieved so far, but this is only the beginning. Still to we will be meeting with the Cape Leopard Trust in the Western Cape, more EWT projects and of course many more as we move down the east coast back to Cape Town.</div>
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Finally, towards the end of 2012 we will bringing it all together by spending two weeks accessing how different Cape Town is after visiting 200 smaller areas before we then head into year two – 2013.</div>
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In 2013 we will be assisting the above mentioned examples by sourcing CSI match ups, providing local and international volunteers, creating a nationwide network for growth and of course giving our own time, man-power and resources annually in the form of skills development and sustainability.</div>
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A project of this scope means that you have to understand Africa time and in doing so we have to make sure we lay the right foundations. 2012 is all about doing just that, but don’t be surprised if you start seeing progress very soon because it is all part of our plan.</div>
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<em>“What you leave behind is not what is engraved into stone monuments but what is woven into the lives of others” Pericles</em></div>
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<b>{jcomments on}</b></div>The EXPEDITION Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02996757637996672351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1133421363611495038.post-28162269165905216262012-06-14T16:41:00.000+02:002012-06-14T16:41:00.208+02:00The Pride in Lion Breeding<br />
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<i>Before you visit a wildlife center or volunteer on an animal project, question the motives of the organization. The following article was sent to us by concerned citizen:</i></div>
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I have always felt uneasy visiting facilities such as zoos, De Wildt Cheetah Project, the Rhino and Lion Park and other such places, but could not express why I felt this way. Despite watching tv revelations on the canned lion industry and being totally outraged by such a callous practice, I still did not put two and two together for many years. Then when visiting Zebula in the Waterberg some years ago and watching people streaming into the cub enclosures, the puzzle pieces began to fall into place. Suddenly, I needed to know what exactly became of these cubs when they became too big to safely interact with humans? The realization dawned that I had fundamentally known the answer but had not been ready to accept the dire truth of the matter. Ultimately, most of these cubs would end their lives in the rifle sights of some foreign trophy hunter! This was no more than canned lion hunting, only in another guise…</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">Since that day of realization, I’ve used any and every opportunity to ask questions, especially at such facilities and in front of other visitors. The responses have been varied and sometimes the answer has not been forthcoming. Many facilities use the excuse that their breeding programs are for conservation purposes, which is utter nonsense. As for breeding white lion in the name of conservation is an absolute sham, as there is no conservation benefit to breeding white lions as the colour is from a recessive gene that can only be maintained through close inbreeding. They are bred for monetary enrichment of man, as a trophy hunter will pay a premium to shoot a rare white lion!</span><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 20px; padding: 0px;">
In the last year I happened to learn about a Walking with Lions facility in the Brits area. I also learnt that there were many many lions in enclosures and so I decided to find out more about the facility. With the help of a lion expert, I started corresponding with Mr. Jacobs at Ukutula, where the Walking with Lions facility is situated. According to Mr Jacobs, Ukutula and the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory at Onderstepoort have embarked on a research project pertaining to the genetics of the white lion. To facilitate this research project, the lab requires genetic material from a large group of related animals that spans several generations (five generations, if my memory does not fail me). Apart from the genetic research, Ukutula has also provided material for TB and LIV research. Mr. Jacobs also stated Ukutula is involved with the release of lions in conservation areas and the walk with lions has become a very important feature of this program. On further questioning, Mr Jacobs responded that they have been involved in the release of 4 lions this year (2011), though he will not answer where and how these lions were released.</div>
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In response to Mr. Jacob’s answers, my lion expert advised me on the following and I now quote:</div>
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<li style="background-image: url(http://theexpeditionproject.com/templates/ja_purity/images/bullet.gif); background-position: 18px 8px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 30px;"><em>“Whilst there may be some scientific benefit to identifying the genetic markers responsible for white lions this is in no way a reason to either breed lions nor walk them, both activities must be considered separate from this one element of research…”</em></li>
<li style="background-image: url(http://theexpeditionproject.com/templates/ja_purity/images/bullet.gif); background-position: 18px 8px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 30px;"><em>“When they say they provided material for TB and I assume they mean FIV, and not LIV, research have they simply had their lions disease tested as part of the standard veterinary practices involved in having captive lions or have these samples been provided to an active study into these diseases…”</em></li>
<li style="background-image: url(http://theexpeditionproject.com/templates/ja_purity/images/bullet.gif); background-position: 18px 8px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 30px;"><em>“I have never heard of LIV as a disease in lions. The specific FIV for lions is called FIVple. I wonder if its maybe something to do with leukemia in lions, although to my knowledge this has never been found in wild lions, just very few captive ones…”</em></li>
<li style="background-image: url(http://theexpeditionproject.com/templates/ja_purity/images/bullet.gif); background-position: 18px 8px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 30px;"><em>“If what he says is the true reason for the research into white lions then the only possible purpose for it is to be able to breed tawny lions with the recessive gene to create more white lions; this process likely requiring less inbreeding to achieve the result. Some could argue that this is a reasonable effort and may (unlikely) have an impact on how white lions are bred, mostly in canned hunting operations; the most common place to find these animals. But that still does not get around the fact that there is no conservation purpose to breeding white lions; they are a naturally occurring phenomenon in one lion population, but they are not a separate sub-species, it is simply a mutation in the gene sequence. Their cultural importance could be another reason to breed white lions. Mainly it is likely to increase tourism revenues as people may pay more to visit a reserve that has white lions…”</em></li>
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After much beating about the bush and not responding to my questions satisfactorily, Mr. Jacobs finally suggested he’d gladly spend some time discussing what they do with me face to face. I declined his offer…</div>
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I then contacted Campaign Against Canned Hunting (CACH) in the hopes they would be able to take the matter further. I was informed that there had been queries from other people and my concern was very well grounded. There should be no breeding of predators in captivity because when they get bigger there is no market for them other than hunters. Many breeders try to hide their hunting involvement by claiming, mostly spuriously, that they are engaged in scientific research.</div>
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It appears there is very little one can do to stop these unscrupulous breeders from continuing this disgusting practice.</div>
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I have since approached The Lion and Rhino Park and asked what happens to their cubs once they become too big to be handled and have not had a response.</div>
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After seeing Dave from Idols petting a lion cub at Zebula, I tried to contact him via the Idols SA Facebook profile (my comment was deleted) and via his personal Facebook profile to no avail.</div>
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I’ve also asked the same questions at Seaview Lion Park and I now quote from their response “We are a privately owned Lion Park…”</div>
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<em>“We also have a breeding program for Lions and Siberian Tigers.</em></div>
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<em>The aim with all the animals they breed is to create good looking, healthy animals with a stronger immune system thank to a well planned and controlled breeding program in hopes that one day they- or their offspring’s- can be returned back to the wild…</em></div>
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<em>Each animal that leaves the park gets signed for and an affidavit is signed insuring the animal will not ever find its way into the hunting industry…”</em></div>
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Once again I took this matter up with CACH and was informed that they had been told by a professional hunter that he had bought lions from Seaview…</div>
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I recently read Kirsten’s story about her horrendous experience at a lion and tiger breeding facility that she volunteered to work at. Though she did not name the facility, it is now believed the facility is trying to sue her! Thankfully, her story has had good coverage overseas and serves as a warning to other volunteers to ensure they volunteer at reputable facilities, if there are any such facilities…</div>
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Now note from a preview of an upcoming episode of the TV series The Wild, there are two white lion cubs. Wonder how these cubs’ story is going to be portrayed?</div>
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We not only have to stop the exploitation of our lions for the canned lion trophy hunting but now have the added worry of our lions being farmed for their bones. If I’m not mistaken, there is motion in SA to have the farming of lions for their bones legalized. Not too dissimilar to the push to legalize the trade in rhino horn. We cannot, and must not, allow this to happen…</div>
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<em>Source: Anonymous</em></div>
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<strong>Final point - if you are looking to volunteer with an organization in South Africa and are unsure about their policies and motives then feel free to contact us for advice, and what to look out for. Hunting, if done correctly, is an integral part of conservation in Africa, however in a lot of cases it is done without any conservation benefits. Learning the difference is vital.</strong></div>The EXPEDITION Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02996757637996672351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1133421363611495038.post-63268400432912826242012-06-13T16:39:00.000+02:002012-06-13T16:39:00.706+02:00Freedom of Expression<br />
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<strong><a _mce_href="http://southafrican-ing.blogspot.com/2012/06/im-sure-some-of-you-have-heard-of-spear.html" href="http://southafrican-ing.blogspot.com/2012/06/im-sure-some-of-you-have-heard-of-spear.html" style="color: #bd3538;">'The Spear'</a> and Freedom of Expression</strong></div>
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I’m sure some of you have heard of ‘The Spear’ painting, the painting that has become the talk of the town (or I should say, talk of the country) in recent weeks here in South Africa. Brett Murray has just exhibited a new collection of his work, one in particular that has sparked a huge amount of controversy across the country. <a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: 11px;">In ‘The Spear’ President Jacob Zuma has been depicted partially naked with his, erm, gentleman’s bits, on full show. Of course Murray didn’t actually paint Zuma from life but regardless, it is all people are talking about. Murray has been deemed a ‘racist’ for his work and is believed to have painted Zuma in a negative, derogative and destructive light. In some people’s eyes, Murray is discriminating against black people, perhaps against the Zulus by exposing the president this way. People are claiming that the reason behind the work is the artist’s way of highlighting Zuma as the egotistic, sexually dominant man that he believes him to be.</span></div>
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If you want my opinion, I think it’s all a load of bollocks. I mean come on, do people not have anything better to talk about and worry about? Personally, I think what Murray did was undeniably controversial and perhaps slightly precarious, but in my mind he should not be receiving the treatment that he is. Fine, take the wretched picture down but why bother wasting time, money and effort in court, all over what, at the end of the day is really simply a little artistic license gone wrong?</div>
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Who knows what Murray was thinking when he painted the picture; yes maybe he does dislike Zuma (as we know a lot of people do), but hey, the president is not exactly giving people a reason to think otherwise at times. It’s not exactly hot news that the president has been known to visit prostitutes, despite having 8 wives and 20 something children. It’s this the man who said that it was OK that he slept with a HIV positive prostitute because he could simply ‘take a shower’ afterwards to prevent him catching the disease? It’s no secret that the ANC are doing quite a botch job of running a country that could be magnificent.</div>
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Let’s face it, it’s not because Zuma is black and the painter is white. It is not racism. It is a controversial painting from a man who perhaps was undertaking protest art in some form. Why are people allowed verbally express their opinions on Zuma and criticise him in articles but when someone depicts these faults through art, it is suddenly a crime. What is more, if it was the other way around, believe me, there would not be such media coverage of the story; a black man or woman can say whatever the hell they want about white people in this country because the whites have ‘oppressed’ them for so long. I don’t mean to sound negative, but I feel that if the same level of attention was given to the real problems this country faces (crime, education, poverty springs to mind), then South Africa would be coming along far better than it is.</div>
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Despite these negatives, 2 clear positives have come out of this whole debacle. Murray has received a huge amount of publicity which will ultimately boost his career (quite clever if you ask me) and Zuma’s willy looks big. It blatantly isn't that size in real life is it?</div>
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Maddy Savitt, The EXPEDITION Project volunteer 2012</div>
</div>The EXPEDITION Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02996757637996672351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1133421363611495038.post-73209549041923793342012-06-12T16:35:00.000+02:002012-06-12T16:37:42.703+02:00Are we all racist?<br />
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I am white, and I am South African, so it would be easy to make a sweeping generalisation that because of the colour of my skin and my nationality, I am probably a racist. And because I am a white racist I am anti the ANC, have loads of money, a university degree, and not an ‘African’, simply a ‘South African’. Conversely, if I was black I would be pro ANC, the criminal element or a corrupt official, I would probably have AIDS, and I would be an ‘African’ through and through. It is therefore predetermined that generalisations will be made, no matter how ridiculous they are and so where better to generalise than a country with such a history as South Africa?</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">The fact is that I am African because of my location not my appearance, no matter how many generations my family dates back to settling in South Africa, and just because I am white should I really be classified otherwise. It is not only the Native American Indians that are called Americans and it is not only the Aborigines and Maoris that are called Australian or New Zealanders and an Asian in England or a black man in France are still called English and French respectively. So why can’t I call myself not just South African but African. The fact is that South Africa is no different from any other country; the only difference is that South Africa managed to elect a ‘Xhosa’ as its first native African president, before America elected a Native America president or Australia elected an Aborigine Prime Minister. And yes, some of you will say that is not the point, it is down to majority rule but America and Australia relocated their Native Indians and Aborigines into reserve and eventually exterminated them, almost to extinction. Which country has therefore been more colonised and oppressed?</span><br />
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I am not going to try and be a pseudo-intellectual or throw in a whole lot of fancy words and quotes in an attempt to make my writing seem more intelligent than it is, nor will I try and preach to know too much on the subject at hand. What I am going to try and achieve with this article is put to paper, or in this day and age, to computer, what I feel about the country of South Africa, its people and its situation, and in doing so voice my opinions like so many others these days. If you dis-agree with me then say so, I am not set in my ways I am just speaking from how I see things and this may be different to you.</div>
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<strong>BACKGROUND:</strong></div>
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I have been travelling the country for the past six months on a new charity venture (if those two words can in fact go next to each other), and prior to that I travelled the world for eight years, so I am speaking from a slight tower of informed perception and a legitimate viewpoint I feel. For the first half of 2012 I have been exposed to an excess of opinions, newspapers, billboards, interviews and of course a diverse range of people. In this I have attempted to remain the journalist in the situation in order to give the project with which I am working, a valuable viewpoint.</div>
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<i>“The EXPEDITION Project has set out on a mammoth task to visit 200 towns/communities/villages in 365 days in order to gain some sort of grasp on the situation the nation is facing, and more importantly what the people in the lesser know areas think at this moment in time. I should mention that the 200 areas we will be visiting in 2012 will be the smaller, more unknown parts of South Africa. This will be the beginning of a series of expeditions to further survey the country following our 2012 national census, however it will aim to provide more pertinent questions about not only what is being done but what can be done. The reason? To find out exactly what South Africans and all its inhabitants think and feel about their country right now and ultimately where they think it is going.”</i></div>
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<strong>IN THE PRESS:</strong></div>
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Lately, there has been much talk about ‘The Spear’ painting, government corruption, miss-management of municipal funds, and lack of service delivery, and there is no doubt that this is going on and probably will continue to go on but what I wish to focus on is another angle to the argument.</div>
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In the early 90’s South Africa had an ideal opportunity to re-invent itself, re-design a nation and prove to the world that out of despair could come power and success. Now don’t get me wrong, the nation has done so well, come so far and continues to provide examples to the world on industry leaders, a progressive constitution and scientific advances, and not to mention sporting greatness. South Africa is doing a lot right, but what the country is not doing is directing this opportunity for greatness in the right areas and moving forward rather than looking back over its shoulders all the time.</div>
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Let us think of a few examples:</div>
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<strong>HISTORY:</strong></div>
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For me history is there to learn from, to teach us what has worked and what has not, and why certain things have been tried and tested and eventually abandoned and failed, it is also available to establish just how our world has evolved both environmentally and socially. Unfortunately, propaganda, as in the WW2 era as well as in the lead up and around 9/11 and beyond is still very much alive and it lives in South Africa. I have read several articles lately from former ANC supporters and freedom fighters who now say that they are disillusioned by the direction in which the party has and is going. Ideals have been lost and primitive ‘dog-eat-dog’ tactics are raising their heads again. I feel that any government has to have a learning curve process, time to figure out how things are to be done in respect to the country it is managing and how the people are to be looked after in a way that suits the majority. Based on history, why certain individuals in the ANC Youth League think that Nationalisation and Communism will work when it hasn’t throughout Eastern Europe, then I don’t know. A great example of something that is great in theory but a failure in practice. The funny thing is that these same individuals want South Africa back to the native people and ‘shoot the Boer’ but at the same time want to keep all the industry that colonialism brought in compensation for past atrocities. No one is arguing with the wrong doings of South Africa’s past and yes, in an ideal world all nations of the world would have been left in peace and harmony and exploration and greed would not exist, but it did and still does. And now that greed has resided in the top drawer of government’s desk.</div>
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<strong>CONSITUTION:</strong></div>
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The problem I have is the government and the people equally need to get their act together. South Africa’s constitution, although progressive and inspiring is providing a platform from which to make your protest about anything and everything known. Now this is not necessarily a positive in my eyes, and it really needs to be channelled to the pertinent otherwise it will quickly get lost into a sea of negativity. So for one, the people of South Africa need to realise that you can complain about everything now and for ever more or you can start in your own home and business and help to provide the answers. If the people aren’t happy with something then sure you must do something about it, but the nation will have to realise what the immediate problems are and what the things are that they as individuals can solve themselves. The government then needs to realise that everyone will not always be pleased and impressed and they need to stop and re-evaluate the nation and work on one thing at a time and start to be selfish for the sake of the people, not the sake of their own pockets.</div>
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<strong>APARTHEID:</strong></div>
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Apartheid brought South Africa two advantages; firstly, it proved that the nation could be self-sufficient. If the world didn’t want to deal with South Africa then South Africa would provide what it needed on its own and so it did. Secondly, this left South Africa’s economic grading as far superior to most of Western Europe and the world due to this and the lack of lending that went on when the rest of the world borrowed from the World Bank and now find themselves in massive debt. South Africa’s ‘A’ grading puts itself on stable ground.</div>
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<strong>JOBS:</strong></div>
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So, to the present day, let us take this positive out of the darkness of Apartheid and turn it into what defines the country. South Africa needs jobs and so the country should be providing these and be building the supply and demand of local industry slowly up from there. It may not be as cheap as China initially but eventually South Africa will be able to cater in both price and quality. China didn’t get to the point it is now over night, it had a long term plan and so must we. We all know that South Africa, as the wealthiest African nation, can provide quality in everything they do, and we all know that South Africans are world renown for their ingenuity to do it, so what is stopping them? But taking it a step further, it’s not just jobs we need but careers, and there is a big difference. Careers for me are long term, sustainable and channelled towards the individual’s interests and skills rather than just a monthly or weekly wait until pay day.</div>
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<strong>NEW SOUTH AFRICA:</strong></div>
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It has been a generation now since South Africa’s new democracy; in 1965 the holocaust survivors were not still blaming their lives, be it negative or positive, on the Nazis twenty years previous. The US may have abolished slavery back in the time of Lincoln, but the fight for equal rights still went on into the 60’s and 70’s, and then 20 years from then the blame for that did not still occupy the minds of Americans as an excuse for their daily lives. The LA riots proved that tensions still existed in the 80’s and although they were clearly a forerunner in cultural drowning much like the English colonialism, they still made it clear that they would still strive on becoming a world leaders.</div>
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<strong>RACISM:</strong></div>
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There are examples all over the world and the fact is every country has had and still has racial and culture conflict and this will probably always be the case. Where there are differences, be it in colour, religion, culture, there will be conflict in something as simple as a bar altercation right through to a civil war. In light of this South Africa has managed a transition in a proud and peaceful way, something to be satisfied with, and the country can indeed hold its head high. But right now it is time to get on with it. Move on. Move forward. What has happened has happened, we can all learn from it and the beauty of that is that we can grow even better because of it. The question really is whether South Africa as a nation is strong enough to admit mistakes not just 50 years ago, but 10 years ago. Admit that it hasn’t been all a ‘bed of roses’. Service delivery has been slacking off. Health care for the poor is so bad and for the rich so expensive. Jobs have not met the demand. Education is becoming a joke and crime, although not nearly as bad as the world makes it out to be, is still a problem. This is something the government has to accept and I for one would have a lot more respect for the current administration if they admitted their short-comings, gave the people real results and figures and from there provided realistic forecasts rather than blaming their in-efficiencies on the 1980’s. The generation right now, the children being born today and the ones that were born 20 years ago have the fabulous opportunity to be immersed in a nation of positively not a nation full of blame and carried on shoulders full of chips. I think racism does still exist in South Africa and of course it will but I also think racism is automatically thought of as white on black thing, however right now it is quite clear that the government also needs to let go of the past and with that, let go of its attitudes as well as the previous government’s faults.</div>
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<strong>MOVING FORWARD:</strong></div>
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What do you want to do? Do you want to complain and be negative, it is so much easier isn’t it, after all who doesn’t love to complain and talk about how crap Jacob Zuma is as a president (this has been made very obvious in the press recently; it seems to be the people of South Africa’s constitutional right) or what Julius Malema has said recently? But lets all try collectively as a nation to move forward for our own good and for that of our children. Take a lesson from the Germans or the Japanese, when faced with a troublesome passed or a crisis, they dust them selves off and work out a practical way forward in a way that benefits not just the nation financially but the nations morale.</div>
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I for one an doing just that, and if you would like to join me then participate on The EXPEDITION Project – a series of annual expeditions set on finding out where South Africa is, where it is going and what we can do to make that direction a positive and beneficial one.</div>
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<strong>I am African, I am subject to racism just like you wherever you live and whatever you are, but I will not let my country’s past define me, I will define my country’s future.</strong></div>
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<em>Taken from News24 </em></div>The EXPEDITION Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02996757637996672351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1133421363611495038.post-17401791010763944192011-12-03T17:20:00.006+02:002011-12-03T17:31:57.171+02:00Just a thought #20:Green Washing<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">We will be rating a number of corporate brands under the following criteria:</span></span><br />
<br />
<ol><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">Environmental Presence</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">Action</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">Information Dissemination</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">Valid Partners</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">CSR</span></li>
</ol><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">Let us know what you think please...</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><a name='more'></a></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span class="" style="background-color: white;"><img alt="" class="photo_img img" src="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/392193_298657463500496_207794285920148_947399_1813428991_n.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 493px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;"></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span class="" style="background-color: white;"><img alt="" class="photo_img img" src="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/381506_298657890167120_207794285920148_947400_900425766_n.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; 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font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span class="" style="background-color: white;"><img alt="" class="photo_img img" src="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/s720x720/166949_298661016833474_207794285920148_947404_1743744224_n.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 493px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span class="" style="background-color: white;"><img alt="" class="photo_img img" src="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/378650_298661863500056_207794285920148_947405_728332380_n.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 493px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span class="" style="background-color: white;"><img alt="" class="photo_img img" src="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/379865_298662943499948_207794285920148_947409_1540831643_n.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 493px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><em><span class="" style="background-color: white;"><img alt="" class="photo_img img" src="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/386077_298665376833038_207794285920148_947415_715989329_n.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 493px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span></em></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><em><span class="" style="background-color: white;"><img alt="" class="photo_img img" src="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/379816_298668030166106_207794285920148_947424_1527872152_n.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 493px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span></em></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span class="" style="background-color: white;"><img alt="" class="photo_img img" src="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/380058_298668806832695_207794285920148_947426_512034599_n.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 493px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span class="" style="background-color: white;"><img alt="" class="photo_img img" src="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/378647_298669683499274_207794285920148_947427_36296998_n.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 493px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><span class="caption"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;">Source: www.fm.co.za</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;">What do YOU think?...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;">...just a thought....</span><br />
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</i></div>The EXPEDITION Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02996757637996672351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1133421363611495038.post-83121347594203900052011-11-12T15:47:00.006+02:002011-11-14T17:42:50.729+02:00Just a thought #19: Choice Fatigue<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;">In the fast paced, small world we live in filled with choice fatigue, high stress levels and increasing competitiveness, we face growing challenges each day.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;">First world stress levels are usually geared around too much choice and third world stress levels mostly too little choice.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;">Social media has become an integral part of both our business and personal lives. It is becoming increasingly hard to keep things fresh, unique and exciting for your audience. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;">Our social media strategy for 2011 was to set the scene for our inaugural expedition in 2012. From there we aim to integrate business and personal social media interweaving a tale that is informative, interesting, intriguing, humorous and of course exciting.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;">In order to create a worthy following we need a captive audience and in order to create a captive audience we need you.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;">Our target for 2011, and hence 31 December 2011, is 1000 online Blogspot followers.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;">What you can do to help is pass our page on to 10 friends and ask them to do the same and so on. Pay to forward.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;">Just a thought...</span></div>The EXPEDITION Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02996757637996672351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1133421363611495038.post-68206213675853255152011-11-08T00:24:00.007+02:002011-11-08T00:30:38.236+02:00Just a thought #18: Are we always travelling?<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">What is it that makes one love to travel so much? Could it be the thought of something new? The tastes, sounds and sights? Or is it the people and animals you may encounter. We watch travel shows; enjoy movies of exotic places, and most of the time we dream of where and when our next holiday or adventure might be?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">Could it be that we are instinctively nomads at heart. Wanderers? Is it because we are mammals looking for the greener fields or the fresher waters or maybe the warmer sun or less harsh winters?</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">Prior to World War 1 you were considered wealthy, elite and well mannered if you had pale, white skin and a mild complexion. If you were tanned, you were of course classified as a worker and hence less affluent. Since then and even more so in the last 20 years, the more tanned you are the wealthier you must be, as this means you can afford holidays in the sun, or even more so you can afford the time to take these holidays. Short of that, money will be spent under artificial light and tanning machines in order to create that all year round glowing, healthy look.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">Times have definitely changed.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">Serious exploration may have begun 500 years ago, but man began wandering 5000 years ago, and since then everything has been discovered and explored.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">We now look for luxury in our destinations or simplicity in our surroundings in order to contrast our daily lives.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">The world is now a much smaller place than it once was, and yet we so seldom appreciate the beauty and magnificence of our closest beach, nearest mountain or lake we drive passed daily.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">We are dreamers and we always will be.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">So, in closing I wish to say this:</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">Let us re-discover our land we so take for granted. Instead of choosing a far flung destination next holiday time, re-visit a childhood location or even better, a part of South Africa we have yet to discover. I promise you that you will find it, not only more affordable but, far more rewarding.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">Let this be the decade of re-discovery and re-appreciation.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">Re-discover South Africa...or wherever you might be.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">Just a thought....</span></span><br />
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</div></div>The EXPEDITION Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02996757637996672351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1133421363611495038.post-49805768969993722402011-10-23T15:26:00.000+02:002011-10-29T23:29:31.996+02:00Just a thought #17: We need your help one last time...for now...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #1c1c1c;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">As we compile to 20 questions we will be asking 2012 people in 2012 - that's just over 10 people per town in our 200 towns we will visit next year - we call out to you dear supporters to help us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">So we have divided our proposed questions up in our project categories for you to then choose your top 20.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Lend us your thoughts with our final (4 of 4) question search category...<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Part 4:</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">The BUSINESS Project - </span></span></div>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">What day of the week do you think you are most productive?</span></span></li>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">What time of the day do you think you are most productive?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">Is the increase in technology a positive or negative?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">What is the biggest musical event in SA?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">What is the biggest sporting event in SA?<a name='more'></a></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">What type of events would you like to see more of?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">Do you think we should import products from China?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">What would you like to see become more available?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">What is the biggest tourist attraction in SA?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">What is your favourite SA town or city?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">Do you consider the tourism in SA to be sustainable?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">What would you like from Government?</span></li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Please add your suggestions...</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Just a thought...</span></span></div>
</div>The EXPEDITION Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02996757637996672351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1133421363611495038.post-25236804193570730652011-10-22T15:07:00.000+02:002011-10-29T23:29:50.339+02:00Just a thought #16: We need your help some more and more...<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">As we compile to 20 questions we will be asking 2012 people in 2012 - that's just over 10 people per town in our 200 towns we will visit next year - we call out to you dear supporters to help us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">So we have divided our proposed questions up in our project categories for you to then choose your top 20.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Lend us your thoughts with our three of our four part question search...<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Part 3:</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">The CULTURE Project - </span></span></div>
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<li><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">What is art?</span></span></li>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">What is SA's most recognized piece of art?</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Who is SA's most famous artist?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">What does a career mean to you?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Is it more important to enjoy your career or earn a high salary?<a name='more'></a></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">What would be your ideal career?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">What do you consider a perfect career for your children?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">What is the best South African film you have seen?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">What genre of films are your favorite?</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Is the success of senior sports teams due to sport youth development?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Is the 10 000 hour principle relevant to all sports?</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">What do you think the biggest social concern is on the world today?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">What is the human race's greatest achievement?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">What is the human race's greatest failure?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">SA rape stats are 1 child every 3 mins - what is the solution?</span></li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Just a thought.</span></span></div>
</div>The EXPEDITION Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02996757637996672351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1133421363611495038.post-30545886109391305812011-10-18T18:55:00.000+02:002011-10-29T23:30:06.624+02:00Just a thought # 15: We need your help some more...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">As we compile to 20 questions we will be asking 2012 people in 2012 - that's just over 10 people per town in our 200 towns we will visit next year - we call out to you dear supporters to help us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">So we have divided our proposed questions up in our project categories for you to then choose your top 20.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Lend us your thoughts with our second of our four part question search...<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">The LIFE Project - </span></span></div>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">What is the most important subject to learn in school?</span></span></li>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">What age do you think children should start junior school?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">What age do you think children should finish high school?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Are sports important to a child's education and time in school?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Where do you think children should be headed after leaving school?<a name='more'></a></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">What is the solution to malnutrition and world hunger?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">What is your favorite food?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Do you think you have a balanced diet?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">How can you get AIDS?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">How do you get TB?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Do you think hand-washing is important?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Do you think children are educated well enough on such health issues/sexual health</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Do you have access to fresh water?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Do you drink at least 1 litre of water a day?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">What is the meaning of life?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">How do you sum up your life?</span></li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Please add your suggestions...</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Just a thought.</span></span></div>
</div>The EXPEDITION Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02996757637996672351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1133421363611495038.post-60145724126441768272011-10-17T22:36:00.000+02:002011-10-29T23:30:22.745+02:00Just a thought # 14: We need your helpAs we compile to 20 questions we will be asking 2012 people in 2012 - that's just over 10 people per town in our 200 towns we will visit next year - we call out to you dear supporters to help us.<br />
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So we have divided our proposed questions up in our project categories for you to then choose your top 20.<br />
Lend us your thoughts with our first of our four part question search...<br />
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Part 1:<br />
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The ENVIRONMENT Project -<br />
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<li>Will Climate Change effect SA's coast? </li>
<li>Will sea levels rise and change SA's coastline by 2050? </li>
<li>What is Climate Change? </li>
<li>Do you believe that humans are responsible for the changing weather patterns? </li>
<li>Has the weather changed in your town over the last 10 years? <a name='more'></a></li>
<li>If temperature increase on average 3 degrees worldwide, would you mind? </li>
<li>What is renewable energy? </li>
<li>Can you name any renewable energy sources? </li>
<li>What are you feelings about nuclear energy? </li>
<li>Do you recycle? </li>
<li>Do you think oil will run out by 2020? </li>
<li>What is the solution to Rhino poaching? </li>
<li>Have you ever been hunting? </li>
<li>Do you agree with hunting? </li>
<li>What is the biggest threat to SA's wildlife? </li>
<li>What are you doing to be sustainable? </li>
<li>What do you think the biggest environmental concern is on the world today? </li>
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Just a thought...</div>The EXPEDITION Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02996757637996672351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1133421363611495038.post-48871661575273192242011-09-29T00:27:00.000+02:002011-10-29T23:30:44.336+02:00Just a thought #13: The ENVIRONMENT vs JOBS<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In a head to head, battle to the death, fight club match up between the ENVIRONMENT and JOBS who would win? </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So...in the green corner at 96 million years old and weighing in at 6,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 kilograms at radius of 6,400,000 meters and supporting the lives of 6 billion human beings, the lifeblood of planet Earth, please give a big galaxy way welcome for thhhhheeeeeeeee ENVIRONMENT!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And in the less green corner at only 3000 years old, its all about the mula, money rules the world is its motto, lets give a big galaxy way arena cheer for JOBS!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Which is more important - preserving the environment or creating jobs for South Africans?</span><br />
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Environment. If we keep this up, we won't have a planet.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Environment. There's always green jobs we could create.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Jobs. We need to prevent poverty and other unemployment problems.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Jobs. Once everyone is employed, they could spend more money on green products.</span></li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Whats your vote?...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Source: http://www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/background-fracking</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Just a thought...</span>The EXPEDITION Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02996757637996672351noreply@blogger.com0