International Experiences through SIETAR in Vancouver

Although I'm not in Vancouver right now, here can be a chance to about people's experience abroad and understand more about experiences of three people from work or life in Hong Kong, Colombia and India. It's on September 14th hosted by a group called SIETAR BC.

Sharks at Ushaka Sea World, Durban

Sharks in Durban
Originally uploaded by make_change.

He's looking pretty hungry, doesn't he? After surfing in town (north-westerly, gail force wind) and eating alot of sand from the wind, decided to pop over next door to the beach to the local aquarium. Here is a photo of one of the many sharks and fish found at the great Ushaka Sea World right on the durban beach point. I'll try to post more of the wicked shots we got on the website, but it does not do it justice on the amazing diversity of tropical fish and predators in the sea. Yes, we did go see Africa and Zulu at the cheesy dolphin show and watch them do hula hoops and high jumps, but I've never seen so many colourful fish in one place. We spent over 5 hours at this place just bugging the hell out of the pompanos and named one fish, Gramps, the musselcracker fish. All thanks to a beer can that said two-for-one so we paid 87 Rand ($14.50 CAD, cheap! ) for two, otherwise i'm not sure if I would have come to this place. Unfortunately, the deal ends at the end of August. If I had a known what a spectacular fun place it was, I would have dumped my recycling there a long time ago and try the Whistler 2-for-1 ski-pass method to go there all the time all summer! The other great thing is how the aquarium tries to drill in the idea of conservation and taking care of the oceans in all areas of the park. This weekend, I'll be heading up to the midlands of South Africa to check out some kind of treetop thing (not sure what it is) and maybe go flyfishing. It's chilly in the midlands, so the toque is on for the first time in a long time!

Testing Out vlogs from Garvies!

First sheeting of custom surfboard

First sheeting of custom surfboard
Originally uploaded by make_change.

Here is the first viewing of the new surfboard. Very stoked. Still need to put on the baboon decal, fin plugs, leash end and some sanding before I get in the water with it. stoked.

Kiora, the silly dawg.

kiora & Kathleen
Originally uploaded by make_change.

Here is a photo of me sitting down pre-licked by the dog, Kiora. She's a silly dog who may have her sister as her mom and chases after another ratty little dog called tinkerbell in their yard. Click on the photo for other just as exciting weekend photos of life here in Durban.

Last Friday, I went surfing on a westerly day with downpour rain. Great day to test out the new wetsuit. High tide at around 4pm but great easy-going waves with a group of 5 or so at Snake Park. The next morning, 9am, went surfing again on a sunny warm day at South Beach but much more crowded and more curling waves that wipe you out at one dump. Lots of learners and groms.

I also went to check out that Jomba! dance festival... little did I know that it was "interpretative" and all kinds of strange one person or duo acts doing dialogue with what seemed to be "dance". Apparently it was a Swiss team but I'm not soo sure. I just you have to go to these things to know what type of dance one likes!

All weekend, working again on the proposal and send it in today for review. Crossing my fingers that it will be approved. I am now reading over a project for East Africa on Information and Technology and poverty reduction and possibly find myself applying for an internship with this project for a year. We'll see!!! Have a great week! Tommorow i'll try to post a foto of the new surfboard progress!

Burning the midnight oil

I have just met up with one of my supervisors, Gavin, to give me the thumbs up to hand in my research proposal. Just a few more revisions and should be ready to be submitted to our department's Program coordinator and then the University's Higher Degree group for approval to go to Mozambique. Apparently, I can also apply for money through the Ford Foundation on research outside of South Africa. Yes, I am getting on that train for sure! This week, our Poverty and Inequality classes were about different ways to look at poverty. Amartya Sen has presented approaches such as capabilities and entitlement - capabilities is the ability for humans to reacht their needs and entitlement is some enforced idea that one is deserving of certain needs and services. Interesting stuff. Tonight, I'm checking out some Swiss dance group performing at the university's dance festival, JOMBA! Fun times!

town surf

Light and variable day in Durban. It's about the least amount of wind that's come through town in a long time so it was worth at heading to town for a surf. It's been ages since I've been in the water because of dissertation prepping and coursework but now it's time to get back with it especially with the new surf board arriving soon! I saw the blank yesterday; pretty rad except that they messed up on the specs that I requested. Little choked. Basically it is now a 6'8 with a regular surf nose (not rounded somewhat similar to a mini-mal) but it's got less rocker. So either today or tomorrow, Greg is going to seal the board, then glass it and I guess some time in between add the fin plugs... can't wait. arms are tired of typing. surf arms are on its way!

The Research Proposal

What a harry weekend. I've been at the grind stone to get this dissertation proposal completed for the September Higher Degrees review date and it has been some heavy reading and brainstorming. After substantial help from my department, I think my topic had changed about 3 times over the course of the weekend. Inbetween this grind, I saw the provincial rugby team, the Sharks (Kwazulu-Natal) get pounced by the Lions (Pretoria) and then cruised over to Florida Road for some mexican food at Taco Zulu. Friends were all there for a laugh about harry eyebrows but the food was not so mexican with cabbage mix and cream instead of sour cream. No spice, no dice.

End of the Week

The month is flying by and I'm sure it is the same for those in the Northern hemisphere who are enjoying the great weather from the summer. I have been busy working on my research proposal which appears to be changing shape in all different ways as I receive feedback from my supervisor and reviewers. All I know is that I have a long weekend ahead working on this project as well as a literature review on the coursework I have been doing in my Poverty and Inequality class.

Poverty and Inequality class has been really functional in trying to understand what all the measurements mean on reports completed by the United Nations or others that try to compare countries. For example we learned about how to best estimate the Gini Coefficient this week with the Lorenz curve and some simple arithemetic of adding triangles and rectangles. Basically a 16 year old could do it. I just don't understand why economists need to make it seem so difficult and hard to figure out. Apparently there is a Journal for Economics Educators that try to demystify these economic equations for the normal person to understand.

Nothing to super exciting to report except that the surf is starting to shape up again at Garvies. I went for a run this morning and it is not looking as rough and windy as it has been for the last month. I can't wait to hit the water again with the new surfboard. This weekend, I'll also be checking out a Mexican restaurant called Taco Zulu on Florida Road. Go figure.

Poverty and Inequality

Today was the second day of my final course here for my Masters in Development Studies, the course being Poverty and Inequality with the Head of the School, Julian May. It's a bigger class with all co-students from first term, so it's great to see all the familiar faces and it looks like a great class to end the first 50% of the degree. Today we discussed how to measure poverty. We reviewed how poverty can be measure in many ways and should actually be viewed with a set of mirrors surrounding the whole issue to really understand the meaning of poverty. We looked at absolute poverty and how one uses a basket of consumption goods (rice, fish, etc) + non-food goods and total this for a person's consumption. Of course if you are calculating households one needs to consider the number of members in the household and decide whether a child's consumption is equal to a father's consumption and weight it accordingly. Back to the basket of goods, the goods are then taken and calculated according to the number of calories it provides one person and then the total caloric intake for the basket of goods is compared to the minimum one should have to be healthy. It changes depending on what region you are of course. Then you can start to calculate whether a person is "impoverished" or not. that's the start.

New surfboard on its way: Gotta love August!

I finally put in the order for my first personally custom made girl surfboard yesterday! I am very very hyped for this 6'10, X 18' 5/8th rounded tail board in 2 1/2 weeks time. I'm thinking of putting that photo of the baboon on the front of it since I get to choose decals and of course signing, "diga" on the bottom. I will start posting photos of the progress on the board as Greg starts to shape and glass the board. Very stoked.

WorkSpace: Innovative indy legroom in Vancity!

I just recently checked out my good friend, Bill's recent website entry on his adventure with business in Vancouver called WorkSpace. From my understanding, it's this fabulous location overlooking Vancouver harbour where an independent business goer (webspace designers, consultants, etc) can set up their laptop (seem to be a theme with apples) and work in an environment set up for networking with others and getting out of that makeshift office in the closet. Brilliant idea and look forward to see its success in coffee-licking Vancity. Most importantly, he's got some memberships to giveaway in a contest for the best ackward work area photo or something to that effect. Enter and win! Cheers, Bill, wish I was there for the party.

Salima's Visit to Durban

Here's a photo when Salima came visited me last month. She just came back from completing a project with CARE International in Zambia.

Kruger Baboon's sombre pose

Kruger Baboon's sombre pose
Originally uploaded by make_change.

Did I tell you I have a Zulu name? Nqobile. Apparently it means “the conquered”.

I never understood why I was given a Zulu name; it’s not like when I meet a person who speaks a language other than English, I would immediately associate them with the name, “Bob” or “Sally”.

But as I read on for my research paper on the concept of ‘ubuntu’, a theory for the Zulu name is to make sure I feel included within the culture and be part of the community. 'Ubuntu' is about the characteristics that make us human like kindness, compassion, respect and charity and the idea that we exist because of our contributions back to the community. The best definition is through isiXhosa proverb, “umuntu ngummuntu ngabantu” or, “I am because we are” (Marx, 2002: 52; Venter, 2004: 152; Mbigi, 1995: 15). Under traditional context, such a proverb would deliver the importance of performing one’s duties for the good of the community especially when those duties are carried out for his or her small traditional villages where one lives for survival.

Kruger Leopard stares back at tourist prey

Kruger Leopard stares back at tourist prey
Originally uploaded by make_change.

Ever since I came back to southern Africa, I promised myself to visit the ever-famous Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga province, South Africa. I think the guilt set in when I came home to Vancouver realizing that I had lived an hour away from one of the best place to see the Big 5 in the world. So last week, I flew in to Nelspruit and arrived at the Paul Kruger entrance of the park. Sean’s brother worked at the park as a manager so we were warmly invited to stay at his pad where he shared with two other staff members. It is fantastic knowing people working within the park because you get to do things that the ordinary visitor would not get the chance to experience. The night that we arrived, we went on a game drive. Usually cars are not allowed on the road past 5:30pm unless you had a permit or were on a night-drive tour. Of course, staff have their privileges as well and we drove around for an hour before we spotted three lions on a side road. One of them came right up to the car, gave a sniff near my passenger door and then gave a small little growl. Small growl sounds like a terrifying rip-your-head-apart message when the lion is centimeters from your head and the only divide is the steel of the car side door. Then followed the spotting of a leopard! Absolutely ridiculous to see this cat walk past the car, large furry paws and all. Never got as close to the cats as that evening during the rest of the trip, amazing. We were able to spot all 5: buffalo, lion, leopard, elephant and rhino. One crazy part of our trip was the rhino capture where we jumped into an open high-seated 4X4 and we followed a helicopter to where rhinos were spotted. The first rhino was shot by a tranquilizer dart from the air and then whobbled its way towards the dirt track. He was then maneuvered into the truck to be transported to a local game farm who had purchased him by tender. Apparently it is possible to buy a rhino for the going rate of around R120,000. Of course the conservation officers would have to ensure that you have all the proper facilities to hold such an animal. Another fact that I learned is that the park has an abundance of elephants and the packs are growing quite large. In terms of selling such an elephant, it is very difficult because elephants tend to follow the same routine for the rest of their life and adaptation to new places is hard for the animal. It could possibly lead to much damaged fence and all. The best part of the rhino capture was a ride on the helicopter and follow the animals by air! So stoked because I have not been on a helicopter before! Another great thing of knowing people within the park is that we get to stay at the ranger’s guest house and hear about the ups and downs of living in the park from their perspective. The ranger has to consider the perception of not only the animals but the public and how to get visitors to understand the environment of this ecosystem that they see. Seemingly small problems like one animal having TB could have devastating effects on the somewhat balanced equilibrium of the animal life and park life. Lastly, our final night consisted of a farewell party for Sean’s brother and a feast of delicious venison and meats from the main chef of the camps topped off with a sweet peppermint dessert. Unbelievable treatment at the park and can’t wait to visit again.

Resistance to Privatization in South Africa

I just came back from a packed house of activists from around the world and a presentation by three master's students on their continuous work in Soweto and Jo-berg on the struggles against privatization of water and electricity (Anti-Privatization Forum) for the poor communities of the area. Interesting work by Prishani Naidoo, Trevor Ngwane and Ahmed Veriava on the idea of prepaid water and electricity meters in communities and the impact on behaviour, resistance, rights, and acceptance. Should there be a limit to the consumption of water or should it be a human right for all people? The assumption is that the poor will pay and 'learn' to not waste water and be good citizens by paying. Prepaid became a way to get people to pay when the parastatals could not stop the people who were not paying their bills. However, when does reducing the consumption of water start to affect how people behave in fighting over the use of water and finding ways to steal water because they simply cannot afford to pay the rates set. It is a never ending struggle to connect the working class together and organize to resist and fight for their constitutional right to water. We have not even covered how wastage is not 'learned' by the ruling class who fill their swimming pools, wash their driveways and cars. So 'who is the real thief' was the question arised by Trevor and where is the justice when the resources are controlled by the elite few? Trevor also eloquently puts an image of government by applying apartheid in an example of an individual on life support removed from the machines. However, now apartheid re-appears as commodification of resources like water and electricity as to how the body parts can be used for other purposes. Morbid example, but well put.

World Cup 2010 in South Africa!

Well, now that Germany is over and the Italians have finished celebrating around their country with pride, South Africa gets their chance to shine by hosting the 2010 World Cup. All I hear about in the news is about the preparations for the World Cup and whether South Africa will be able to compare in standards to the well-organized event that took place in Germany. Well, yesterday, there was the city of Cape Town stating the price of their 2 billion rand new stadium and negotiating on who will be responsible for the hefty sum, FIFA, national government or the city? In my class there will be one guy doing his research on the socio-economic effects of the World Cup which could be interesting.

South African Fact: 11 official languages: Afrikaans, English, Zulu, Xhosa, Swazi, Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Northern Sotho, Tsonga, Tswana and Venda

This will probably be my last blog for this month as I head up to Kruger National Park next week to see the Big 5 in the game reserve. All I want to see is a lion.

World Social Forum (Nairobi 2007) Preparations here in South Africa!

UKZN Centre for Civil Society is preparing for the World Social Forum in Narobi, Kenya January 20-25th 2007. The World Social Forum is an opportunity for activists around the world to collaborate on social and economic justice, and environmental sustainability. Starting today there will be seminars on social movements taking place across Africa particularly here in Soweto and Johannesburg. On Saturday, the day is called "African and International Critical Perspectives" and will see the likes of some prolific people who have fought the struggles of apartheid South Africa as well as the fight for rights to water, housing and life. Other exciting CCS events will be happening next week.

The photo is a book I am currently reading called the Liberal Virus by Samir Amin. I just started it but it looks like it is comparing Europe and The United States in their ideologies about capital accumulation and how the US model is much more dangerous in exploitation and increases of poverty around the world.

Why our lives veer as they do.

Meth also makes us look back into our lives and try to see what different events and ideas led us down this certain path in life. We are somewhat directed on our own and somewhat veered by the constraints of policy in our daily lives. If Canada didn’t have universal education or health care, how would citizens develop as a nation? If they didn’t attempt to provide loans and scholarships, could I (or you) be where you are today? Why does Canada have strong campaigns of multiculturalism? Is our government leading us down a path promoting individual freedom through markets which are benefiting a more elite group, increasing the rich-poor gap and slowing diminishing the size of the middle class as seen in some parts of the United States? Canada is no different in its issues and politics as it is here in South Africa. The government that they choose must make important decisions such as whether education should be a universal right even though resources allocation is inadequate and unequal and teaching can be so poor in some parts of the country. Can some young people actually be worst off going to school?

South African National Anthem

Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika
Maluphakanyisw’ uphondo Iwayo
Yizwa imithandazo yethu
Nkosi sikelela, thina lusapho lwayo.

Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso,
O fedise dintwa la matshwenyeho,
O se boloke, O se boloke setjhaba sa heso,
Setjhaba sa South Afrika – South Afrika.

Uit die blou van onse hemel,
Uit die diepte van ons see,
Oor ons ewige gebergtes,
Waar die kranse antwoord gee.

Sounds the call to come together,
And unite we shall stand,
Let us live and strive for freedom,
In South Africa our land.