Category: Rants

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Secrecy Bill Black Tuesday

The much criticized “Secrecy Bill”  was approved yesterday (Tuesday 22 November 2011) by the South African National Assembly by a majority vote.

The ruling ANC party used it’s huge majority to push this legislation through. It must still be sent to the National Council of Provinces before being signed into law.

From my understanding, one of the most contentious issues, is the exclusion of a “public interest” defense.

Under Apartheid the National Party passed similar legislation – also abusing it’s majority in Parliament. Is this truly what the people of South Africa deserve? I believe not.

This bill must be scrapped – it hinders a young democracy, freedom of expression, freedom of the press and access to information.

Shame on you ANC!

More here:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/southafrica/8907057/South-Africa-passes-secrecy-bill.html

http://mg.co.za/article/2011-11-22-black-tuesday-secrecy-bill-passed-by-parliament

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No to Fracking in the Karoo

What’s the Issue?

Three oil companies, Royal Dutch Shell, Falcon Oil & Gas, and Bundu Oil & Gas are eyeing the exploration of natural gas trapped in the underground shale formations in the Karoo. Shell recently applied for exploration licences for an area of 90,000 square kilometres – roughly three times the size of Lesotho.

For the full lowdown go here.

I vote NO! Our planet, our home (and let’s be clear it’s the only one we and our children have) is already under extreme threat. Let’s not pump poison and other chemicals into sensitive areas where fresh water supplies are harmed and the environment is left even more scarred.

Surely by now we should have learnt something from our past mistakes? My parents lives through 1 world war – I don’t want to have to do the same, especially over something like fresh water (something we should have in sufficient quantities if only we would look after it properly!)

Royal Dutch Shell, Falcon Oil & Gas and Bundu Oil & Gas – forget profit for a while and consider the fate of others, and it “others” is too vague a term, think about yourselves and the fate of your own children!

PLEASE don’t go FRACKING in the Karoo! (Or anywhere else for that matter!!!)

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Medical Aid Increases

OMG! I just received an email from my Medical Aid telling me about the latest increases to the 2011 tariff.Rising costs of Medical Aid

Let’s be honest, I’m grateful that I am fortunate enough to be able to have a Medical Aid (many don’t and have to rely on well below-par Government services)… but yikes!

Over R 2500 per month for a single person! That’s kinda excessive if you ask me… and it always feels like you pay more and get less. Less benefits, more paperwork and more declined claims.

Ho hum… gonna start having to think about alternatives soon… and no, Governments mooted National Health Insurance is NOT the answer.

Medical Aid costs just keep rising