10/01/2012, Author: zakiya, Leave a comment

I Spy Double Standards (Again)

Categories: MediaBuzz

Not a long time ago, in a free, independent country not very far away, a citizen was arrested, suspected of being a spy, detained and was put on trial.
Not a long time ago either, in another country not very far away, that is said to be free and independent, a citizen was arrested, taken to a detention facility and was never heard of or from again.

One country is in the west, and the other is in the east. No prizes for guessing which of the above countries is where.

Randomness done. Let me fill in the blanks.

(more…winking

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30/12/2011, Author: zakiya, Leave a comment

I’m still here…

Categories: MyLife

I’ve been having trouble writing for this site for most of the year… You’ve noticed… some of you.

Part of the reason is that I haven’t yet decided if I want to personalise this space or keep it for substantial/meaningful thoughts and analyses. That’s not to say that my personal thoughts aren’t meaningful – they are to me – even if they may be completely ridiculous at times.

So this past week I’ve been mulling over the year that has passed and how it has impacted me and I’ve been wanting to put it down “in black and white”, which would mainly help me clarify my conclusions but also share the experiences and lessons [and madness] with those of you who visit this space.

I have also – at the same time – been re-united with my internal political analyst who was on hiatus while I’ve been further developing social me. There has been plenty going on in the world that I have an opinion on and I would love to share said opinions [which is my favourite thing as most of you know of me].

Now I hear some of you say that this can’t possibly be a dilemma – “just post both personal and analytical stuff and we’ll do with it what we please”.  But here’s the other part of the reason I’m quiet… I’ve been trying to get the words in my head out through the keyboard and it just wasn’t happening. I’ve stayed awake some nights trying and I type up paragraphs and then just lose interest or say to myself that this just isn’t appropriate for a public space, and then I shut down and go to sleep. I’ve also been revelling in doing nothing – especially over the past two weeks.

Well, the New Year is almost upon us and I’ve decided that I’m not going to sweat it… I’m writing now and hopefully when 2012 hits, I’d have posted at least this particular ramble and hopefully another one. If I don’t get that far – it’s ok… we’ll all survive.

So Happy New Year y’all. Go ahead and make a resolution for 2012 – its good to have a goal – and if you don’t keep to it, it’s ok… we’ll all survive…

Unless, of course, the Mayan predictions turn out to be accurate!  

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29/08/2011, Author: zakiya, Leave a comment

Be a hero! C’mon!

Categories: General

Just dropping by to say it has certainly been a busy few weeks but I’ll be posting regularly again soon. There’s just something I want you all to take note of: You can be a hero!

The launch of the Enviro-Heroes project for WEF (Wildlife Education Foundation) went very well and I started a new romance – this time with a cheetah called Romeo who is also handled by Tigerman John Wagenaar and lives at Ramela Ranch.

By the way, John is absolutely amazing with these creatures and they love him so… A more amazing human being I have yet to meet.

I believe that they have many more wonderful little critter that will steal my heart so a trip to Ramela Ranch is on the cards for me as soon as possible.

The big point to this post though is that I want everyone to get involved with environmental improvement in whatever way you can wherever you are. Contact the WEF if you want educational programmes presented to your schools or at your companies (South Africa for now only) and for more information about the Enviro-Hero project.

The whole aim is to make individuals realise that they can be heroes by doing their little bit to help the Earth.

(more…winking

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14/08/2011, Author: zakiya, 5 Comments

Apologies… All is well again! Right?

Categories: MediaBuzz
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This post is prompted by a Twitter chat with @ClaysonMonyela about “apologies” yesterday. I jested about it being a “communicator’s nightmare” and we’ve agreed that we’ll write the script to the epic “Communications Saga” seeing as we have so much material to draw from!

I know he’s a little more serious about his question as to when apologies can be used as pre-emptive measures because of the position he holds…

Yup we’re talking about Julius Malema and his comments about Botswana, for which he issued a half-a**ed apology and “withdrew” his [ANCYL] statement.

In his attempt to avoid being “countar-rrevolushunary”, Juju and the young’uns got revolutionary about international relations… and poked a stick at Botswana. I completely understand what kind of pain this must have caused @ClaysonMonyela and his colleagues at Dirco.

(more…winking

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13/08/2011, Author: zakiya, Leave a comment

Freedom and Rights: An export commodity only?

Categories: General, MediaBuzz
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It looks like the world has really turned up on its head. I know it’s been tilted since before those guys who didn’t know how to land planes, took flight. Frankly I can’t remember a time when there was no “us and them” scenario in world politics.

When I began understanding that there was a great big interlinked world out there, we were in the middle of the Cold War and the Soviets were the bad guys and the turbaned desert-dwellers were the puppets on the strings.

With the fall of the Soviets, the line now seems to be drawn right down the middle of a flat map [with Africa its centre of course] and the prison island and its neighbouring double island being exceptions in the east-west divide. Africa, with its own complexities, is one huge dotted line for now [those confused northern states are still considering themselves Arab instead of African].

The Cold War puppet strings got cut and the said puppets suddenly found movement and voices of their own and so began another “us and them” helped conveniently along by the lack of proper flight training [and I don't want to even get started on the WMD comedy]! In the process of this current “Hot War” [deserts - hot - get it?] so many things have changed and become acceptable in the world, especially in the governing of the West.

Big Brother announced himself as a full fledged adult with bulging muscles that shamed the Terminator into becoming the Governator… and people were fine with it because they were told it was for their protection. Freedom of movement, association, expression, thought and going to the bathroom was snatched away and the citizens didn’t hardly blink at it!

I’m starting to wonder who the “them” are in this “us and them” game?

Why am I alluding to control and subjugation of the good citizens of the great western democracies?

(more…winking

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12/08/2011, Author: zakiya, 1 Comment

100 posts… whoda thunk it?

Categories: MyLife

According to my admin dashboard, this is my 100th post!

I mulled over what it should be about… should it be funny, profound, inspirational…blah blah blah…

And this morning I woke to an amazing post on Facebook by a wonderful friend (Santie Quanjer thank you, you superstar!).

For those close to me, you understand why the following words are so appropriate… I know I forgot… I hope I don’t ever forget again.

So I’m posting this as a reminder to myself and dedicating it to EVERY SINGLE ONE of you! [Yes, yes - even those of you I don't know! ]

I might not be someone’s first choice, but I am a great choice. ♥
I may not be rich but I am valuable. ♥
I don’t pretend to be someone I’m not, because I’m good at being me. ♥
I might not be proud of some of the things I’ve done in the past, but I am proud of who I am today. ♥
I may not be perfect but I don’t need to be. ♥
Take me as I am, or watch me as I walk away!!!

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10/08/2011, Author: zakiya, 3 Comments

National Women’s Day – just another public holiday?

Categories: General

One would think so considering the frivolity on the day…

National Women’s Day in South Africa was declared to honour the women who marched on the Union Buildings in 1956 to protest against the pass laws. A little more detail about the day SA women confronted Apartheid era President JG Strijdom can be found here.

I did not celebrate Women’s Day yesterday… I reflected on the meaning of the day and why it did not apply to me.

Trying to imagine the atmosphere in Pretoria 55 years ago when women were taking a stand and demanding freedom from oppression for the whole nation, my mind wandered to the image of the old lady who sells vegetables door-to-door in our suburb.

(more…winking

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