Google Earth’s 3D rendering of World Cup Stadia

Looks like Google Earth also has World Cup Fever. It’s integrated an awesome 3D look at every single World Cup Stadium in South Africa into its mapping system. Brilliant mix of Football Fanatic and Tech Junkie. I like it.

World Cup Thoughts

The World Cup Concert last night was disappointing to me. Don’t get me wrong, I love my country but that Shakira’s Waka Waka song is absolutely KAK for a World Cup song held in South Africa.

Firstly, there’s not a single Zulu/Xhosa word in the song, which should definitely have been included… but they do use words from west africa. I can understand the whole “Africa” tie-in and everything… but not a single word? Come on. Besides it is a shit song, people only watch it for Shakira.

Reviving Dr.Alban’s “Hello Africa” would’ve been a much better song. And whose brilliant Idea was it to have Alicia Keys? “New York” is a nice city and the song is brilliant, but wrong bloody context don’t you think? and throwing in “Joburg” at the end of the song was just cheap.

Did anyone even notice Freshly Ground? showing up for three seconds at the end. Come on man…

But Enough of that… SA Drew against Mexico in the first match and their First goal was AWESOME! Bloody Hell. What a rush. The boys played well, they did not disappoint.

All the naysayers about SA hosting the World Cup can have a nice supper of their words right about now.

Go SA! ===<() *PAAARP!*

So What’s the Big Deal With Drawing the Prophet?

I can’t understand why the media, the west and everyone else who engaged in the “Let’s Draw Muhammad” contest recently couldn’t, in all their secular intelligence, attempt to first UNDERSTAND and then to act instead of the other way round.  I am also extremely disappointed with Zapiro for simply “jumping on the bandwagon” which is very unlike him.  The Zapiro I’m used to has deep insight, sharp wit and gets to the heart of the issue at hand.  Zapiro’s cartoon depicting the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) shows only deep ignorance… but I’ll analyse that later.

First, let’s get to the heart of the matter.  Why are Muslims going crazy when this happens?  Well, at the essence, we do not draw the Prophet Muhammad or represent him in any way or form even though we do have detailed, verified and ratified descriptions of him because it is mentioned in the Quraan not to fall into the trap of our Christian Brethren and end up worshipping the Prophet instead of God.  Secondly, Muslims believe in ALL of the prophet’s of God – Moses, Jesus, Noah, Jonah, Adam, etc. (peace be upon them all) and we don’t DRAW any of them.

But still… why is there so much passion in this issue? well look at the content.  The depictions are ignorant and horrible. There is no mistaking the intent behind them.  It more represents some Hard-line Iranian ‘Terrorist’ Mullah than have any insight into the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).  Muslims LOVE the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), I mean truly love. For Muslims he is the ultimate example of what a human being is supposed to be.  We actually implement the idea that whenever we’re faced with any situation in life the question is automatically… “Well, what did the Prophet (pbuh) do?” You can’t underestimate this point, it leads to the next point in this issue.

Let’s make it personal.  Take someone you truly love and would do anything for… say it’s your mother.  Now, if someone was talking badly (or drawing nasty pictures) of your mother but did it amongst themselves and, obviously, they have a right to say what they want. It’s all absolutely fine.  But when someone comes up to you and waves it about in your face and swears your mother to your face, what would you do?  Yes, it is the ultimate example we need to follow to hold our peace and deal with it in an intelligent and civilised manner (in fact this is what the Prophet (pbuh) himself would have done. But being realistic…  Your first move would be a punch in the gut of the offending perpetrator.  This is the line between having the freedom  to say what you want, but respecting the people around you.

Personally, this is the first time I’m writing about this because I can’t believe people’s stupidity and ignorance. In this day and age! For God’s sake (no pun intended) is everyone getting Stupider?  Why can’t anyone else see this?  Regarding the drawings themselves, I refuse to join any action AGAINST them on Facebook and shout out slogans, etc. because that only fuels the fire of the same idiots who created the group in the first place.  I’ve IGNORED them from the beginning and I implore all other Muslims to do the same, or even better, start telling these people who the Prophet (pbuh) was, his example and what he means to them.  This is the perfect opportunity.

Finally, I pray… that intelligence dawns on both sides of this conflict.  It’s a shame on humanity that BOTH sides are acting like this.  Let’s grow up.

Link to original Photo of Zapiro at launch of his book ‘Pirates of Polokwane’

The Tale of How…

Here’s an awesome short Film done by a group of very creative South African’s calling themselves the Blackheart Gang.  It’s a very cool story about an island of Kiwi’s who keep getting eaten by a huge octopus that doesn’t allow them to live in peace or leave the island until one of them gets an idea to put messages in a  bottle and throw them into the ocean…

The Tale of How from Shy the Sun on Vimeo.

Technorati Tags: Cool, South African, The Tale of How, Creative, Kiwis, Octopus

Review: “Behind the Rainbow” Documentary by Jihan El-Tahri

Coming from the World Premiere of “Behind the Rainbow“, which was held last night at Maponya Mall in Soweto, one can’t shake the feeling of how the media has actually shaped the perceptions of the man on the street with regards to South African politics and especially with regard to the personalities behind the politics.

Behind the Rainbow, directed by the seminal Jihan El-Tahri, covers South Africa’s political history focusing on the internal struggles and challenges faced by the ruling party, the ANC.  One can’t help being moved by the understanding of the conflicts within the party as we see very different personalities coming up against each other; each with their own way of working and their own visions of the future of their organisation and their country, even though they subscribe to the same Charter.

Of particular interest to me was the focus on the very recent events in which Thabo Mbeki (ex-President of South Africa) went up against his life-long friend and fellow comrade in the struggle for th ANC, Jacob Zuma.  Two very different personalities by all accounts and the events which lead up to these two going up against each other at the Polokwane conference in 2007 and the recent “re-calling” of Thabo Mbeki by the ANC.  Everything is covered… Corruption, The arms deal, Jacob Zuma’s Rape Accusation, the un-wielding support of Jacob Zuma by ANC members, the mindset behind the ANC Supporters and the Youth of the ANC in general, Black Economic Empowerment, etc. All of which give you a holistic understanding of what the ANC faced as they were put into power.

Many members of the ANC were present at the premiere itself… Mac Maharaj, Andrew Feinstein and some others who were featured in the documentary as well.  The personal interviews with both Mbeki and Zuma, as well as personal perspectives of Members within the ANC make the documentary more personable than any other recent documentary done on the ANC and its internal workings.  The fact that the documentary covers aspects right up until the recent appointment of current President Kgalema Motlanthe (who is also featured prominently in the documentary), shows its relevance to the here and now.

Overall, it was a very well researched documentary on the current state of South African Politics and the direction was nothing short of brilliant.  It doesn’t slow and make you lose interest in any way and keeps you hooked onto pertinent topics without straying or becoming boring.  The points hit home hard, everything we’ve read in newspapers, seen on tV and analysed among friends is covered and criticised by the ANC members themselves.

A definite must-see for any South African interested in the past, present and future of the country they live in.

Directed by: Jihan El-Tahri

Produced by: Steven Markovitz

Behind the Rainbow – Trailer

Technorati Tags:
Jihan el-Tahri, Behind the Rainbow, Documentary, South Africa, Politics, Jacob Zuma, Thabo Mbeki, Nelson Mandela, Chris Hani, Andrew Feinstein, Mac Maharaj, ANC, African National Congress, Polokwane, Steve Markovitz

Blog Action Day: Conquering Poverty in South Africa

Today is Blog Action Day: The Conversation on Poverty

With regards to the current context in South Africa, poverty is ,and always has been, a very big problem.  Most people even point this out as the source of all the other problems which South Africans face on a day-to-day basis.  Things like violent crime, lack of education, corruption, etc. are all rampant in South Africa at the moment.

But let’s not all this deter us from one simple fact: WE ARE DOING NOTHING! except, ofcourse, COMPLAINING.  Right, get off your asses and high horses and do something concrete to uplift your communities.  There are NGO’s and other institutions available and you also have your own God-given brain to figure something out to help out people who really do need helping out.

So if you never gave a 5cent piece to the guy at the traffic light begging for change, make a change and start with that. however, I do urge you to aim a little higher ;)

Here’s some South African Welfare organisations which are pretty active in helping out the indigent…

• Gift of the Givers Foundation – The Waqful Waqifin (Gift of the Givers) Foundation is a humanitarian relief organisation supporting the impoverished worldwide.

• Al Imdaad Foundation – The Al Imdaad Foundation is a non-profit humanitarian aid organisation, registered in South Africa.

• Muslim Hands (South Africa) – Muslim Hands is an international relief organisation. Website features reports from projects. Online donation system available.

• Islamic Relief – Islamic Relief provides you with an opportunity to support the poor locally and internationally, by assisting widows, orphans, disabled and the illiterate.

These are the Muslim organisations I could find off hand which are doing really good work in South Africa to alleviate poverty, not only from helping people out, but also from upgrading their skills and education to help them help themselves.  Please send me links so I can add to this list of other organisations in South Africa so that we can get moving with uplifting communities out of Poverty!

The Conversation Agent site gives 3 things we can do to alleviate poverty in one way or another:
1) Volunteering
2) Mentoring
3) Giving

Let’s try and do at least one of these things on an individual level to help those less fortunate than us.

Peace.
: Activism, South Africa, Blog Action Day, Volunteering, Giving, Mentoring

South Africa’s Government disbands, WTF?

“What the Hell?!?” is almost every South Africans response right now as the news is coming thick and fast right now with news of 11 Ministers in Government resigning today, including Trevor Manuel (No! Don’t Go!) including 3 Deputy Ministers. This after The Deputy President, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, resigned yesterday citing that she wants to allow the “new president” to choose their own deputies and “personal reasons” (Yeah, right.)

The Ministers who have left are…

Deputy President, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka;
Minister of Finance Trevor Manuel;
Minister of Defence Mosiuoa Lekota;
Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad;
Minister of Intelligence Ronnie Kasrils;
Minister of Correctional Services Ngconde Balfour;
Minister of Public Enterprises Alec Erwin;
Minister of Science and Technology Mosibudi Mangena;
Minister of Public Works Thoko Didiza;
Minister of Provincial and Local Government Sydney Mufamadi; and
Minister of Public Service and Administration Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi.

…and that’s not including the three deputy ministers: Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Aziz Pahad; Deputy Minister of Finance Jabu Moleketi; and Deputy Minister of Correctional Services Loretta Jacobus.

Following the President’s resignation, which was a blow enough to the country in terms of stability, etc. and now this… This is DEVASTATING. With no doubt, this is the biggest Political upset in South African history. No doubt, the ANC National Executive Committee is probably shitting itself after coming to the decision to chuck Mbeki out of the presidency, citing the recent case against Jacob Zuma in which the case was thrown out of court due to “political interference” (which they blamed on Mbeki)… I bet they didn’t see this coming, or maybe they did, maybe this is what they wanted.

Kgalemo Motlanthe, Zuma’s ally has already been chosen as the care-taker president since the other Deputy President had resigned, os now they have the opportunity to replace EVERYONE.

I don’t know what’s going to happen now, this cannot be good for investor confidence in the country , the Rand is most probably going to get shot to hell and there goes the 2010 Dream. Negative, I know, otherwise I’m hoping for a miracle.

Zapiro’s Double-whammy on Zuma

Zapiro’s at it again today with this absolute gem, given the current fight launched against him by the protagonists in his first cartoon. Well, here they are again with another satirical Zapiro-style hit.

: Zuma, Zapiro, Cartoon, ANCYL, SACP, COSATU, ANC, Justince System, Rape

Zapiro Gives it to Zuma…

This has got to be one of the baddest cartoons I’ve ever seen and I am sure that Zapiro’s going to get in trouble with the protagonists in the cartoon, if he hasn’t already. The thing is, even though I sort of cringe at the story unfolding in the cartoon, it rings true. The thought ( or the concept) has crossed my mind a few times about Zuma and I know the same thought has crossed the minds of many others. Zapiro, utilising his creative licence just put those thoughts into pictures.

Another reason why I’m one of Zapiro’s biggest fans.

: Zuma, Zapiro, Cartoon, ANCYL, SACP, COSATU, ANC, Justince System, Rape

Open up an Ice Cold Ramadaan Coke…

Coke’s new initiative to get at its consumers involves tailoring its product to hit the Muslim community in Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Indonesia, Morocco, Tunisia, and other countries with a great many Muslims.

Check the image above which shows Coke’s Official Ramadan Packaging. Well I guess some Muslims would definitely agree that it is pretty good to break ones fast with an Ice Cold Coke. Interesting concept. Coke’s also targeting the 21010 World cup here in SA and also Christmas, etc. Some of these activities Coke’s been doing for ages, but this is the first time I’ve heard them targeting Muslims in Ramadan.

There’s no doubting that the opportunity is there, I just wonder how many Muslims would wise up and actually say… “WTF? I am NOT a Target Market!” Same tactics, different market. I would say that it does war m me up to the brand knowing they’re making something specifically for a Muslim kid like me, but there is definitely a piece of me that’s a bit uncomfortable being so blatantly targeted.

In all likelihood I don’t think we’ll see the Ramadaan Coke in South Africa. The Muslim population is too small to justify the change I would guess, although there is an opportunity if they target Muslim wholesalers and retailers, we got tons of those here.

Peace!
: Coke, Marketing, Ramadan, Ramadaan, Muslims, Advertising

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