Tuberculosis

World Tuberculosis Day, and South Africa leads with the highest rate of infections. Care givers are at risk as well, with more cases of multi drug resistant TB occurring.  With our high incidence of HIV and Aids, infection is easier due to a compromised immune system and is often listed as the cause of death. We are all exposed to it, can be infected and can be carrying without our knowledge. On the positive side, SA is at the forefront of developing a vaccine, with a projected rollout in 2022.
Deon
Pic - Gaurdian

Its always about oil

Sometimes celebrities link to a cause for their own publicity, but this isn't one of them. Well done to George Clooney and friends on the lawns of the Sudan Embassy on Massachusettes Ave, Washington DC. After coming in by train on Wednesday, media were prepped for something to happen. His mission has been to keep the world aware of the continuing conflict in Sudan, helping establish the Satellite Sentinel Project ( satsentinel.org) the 'anti-genocide paparazzi'. Cameras in the sky that monitor daily military and civilian activity in the Nabu border region, where he's recently returned from. South Sudan has the oil and the Northern region has the refineries, a continuing point of conflict. Although convicted for various Darfur war crimes, ordering mass murder, torture and rape, Sudans president Omar el Bashir remains in power and continues unhindered with killing innocent civilians and preventing aid from reaching them. Clooney maintains that el Bashir is the greatest war criminal alive and something needs to be done. People need to know what is happening, which is why they protested on the grounds earlier today. The arrest is a formality, he was taken away in a Secret Service van and released on $100 bail. But the publicity will bring the crisis back into the spotlight.
Thanks George Clooney
Deon
pic: splashnewsonline

ISA World Stand Up Paddleboard Championship - Peru

The last members of the SA Team left from CT International airport earlier today, heading for Lima, Peru. The contest starts on the 19th Feb, with a parade of nations through the streets of Miraflores. We've got an incredible team representing us. While the discipline of SUPs is relatively new outside of Hawaii, our team is made up of SA Lifesavers and Surfers who have already experienced the intensity of international contests in their sports. The move across to Paddleboards was relatively easy, but our National competition was right up there with what they can expect from the USA, Hawaii and Australia.  They've got the vuvuzelas, flags, SA Colours and will be fantastic ambassadors for the sport. Sadly, there was no funding for them, but this is something many sports have become used to when promoting brand SA around the world. TV crews interview them, publications and websites report back and it is webcast live around the world - proud South Africans on a global stage promoting our country on numerous levels - and putting themselves in debt. The teams that leave aren't looking for money earmarked for housing, health or police - but there would be something available if the controls were in place to track the wasted millions.
Deon
(Thanks to the folk that supported the auction, helping to plug the gaps)

Splish Splash Trash

The tropical countries I've surfed in generally have poor quality tap water, so bottled water in plastic containers keeps the thirst away..and in that heat, you need litres a day. Everyone does, every day - do the math and its a mountain of waste bottles that get sluiced into the midocean plastic gyre that just keeps growing. I've taken responsibilty for the container I drink out of, so at least thats a few less going into circulation - you know the facts -you make the call.
Deon
pic Peri Pelaracio - Phillipines

November 3rd

This isn't a sponsored message, but something bigs coming out of Canon on November 3rd in Hollywood. The hypes been generated for 2 months, everywhere you read rumours about what it could be, local camera shops are guessing it might be a video camera building on the success of their 7D and 5D cameras.

But the gut feeling is a gamechanger is approaching - and I'm going to have to find some cash...And if it's all for naught, then I won't believe the press release they send out ever again - pressures on!

Deon

Same old story

The teams are there, spread out across the 11 Regions, crowds are pulling in and they're only going to be about $33 Million short...but it'll be justified with the tourism exposure and a longer term return. Aussies will do the weekend commute to the games cos local prices have increased too much. Do we see a trend emerging? Same old Same old - but upside is the games are going to be fantastic, Springboks are peaking and we don't have to pick up the tab for the shortfall this time. Blow that whistle ref!
Deon
The Herald Pic

Schweet Lanka

7 a.m.  and it's already 25 degrees with 40 people out at the Aragum Bay point. The girls are in town for their 6* event and the World Longboard Champs is taking place at the same time. Grabbed 2 tuk tuks yesterday and headed North to find a freakish wave with just our crew out - memorable session with a fun crowd. Great people, good food, waves, vibe - couple of grazes amongst the guys, but nothing a squeeze of lime won't sort out. Mumbai still hasn't loaded the surfboards after Jozi airport didn't load them the first day - need our boards for the contest - tense times!
Deon

A load of Scrap!!

I put this video together at UCT the other day - amazing! Look, it's been working in the East for years, but the set up at the Varsity residence canteen is a first  - and it works. What they don't eat, gets put into the biodigester. gas is created and heats the next days breakfast - a perfect loop.
Go Green bruddahs!!
Deon

Phone Tapped

How was I to know? After all these years, I thought it was just my paranoia - voices in the background, the sounds of running water - and the surf report was on Twitter before I'd even put it out. Beware folks - there are subtle, but tell tale signs that you're being monitored - someones listening...
Deon

Ballito Barrels

Another Ballito barrel at the Pro Contest, with John John Florence deciding his Pipeline boards work best whenever he comes to South Africa - I mean - hows that for an endorsement of the quality and power of the waves that we've got on offer? Some bruised and battered contestants, but images that will go around the world promoting us to millions as a destination on every surfers radar. The Municipality must be kicking themselves that the contest isn't in Durban any more - it was an option, but the hassle factor became insurmountable, so they found waves up the coast - good move!
Deon
Pic: Cestari

Final Day for Team SA in Panama

When its all over - these are the memories that'll go home with Team SA - the camaraderie, the highs of wins, the lows of a narrow loss, and your buddies pulling you through so you're back out there screaming for them in the next round. The guys and girls trained,surfed, focused, competed and gave it their all, every second of the day at the World Games in Panama. Proud of every one of you who represented South African Surfing on a World stage - maybe next time you'll get funded to represent us at the Olympics of surfing - but what you got back is worth the cash you had to raise to get there and market South Africa.. Thanks to the Lotto for helping towards the trip.

Deon

Team SA Surfing in Panama

Justin Bing on two Vuvuzelas at Playa Vanao in Panama. It's been a tough week for the guys and girls, fighting through each round, getting another'life'. The team spirit has been incredible and they were back in shouting distance of a podium finish at the end of Day 5.
30 degree water, max humidity, the teams' coming back fit, lean and mean. Some are continuing to different contests around the World, and the rest back into a winter reality. SA has been represented at the highest level and have mixed it up with the worlds best - just a pity they each had to cough R 12 500 to get there to promote brand SA to a global audience of millions - thanks to Lotto for contributing the balance of funds.
Deon

Board Games

3 spaces where the boards used to be...the best damn longboards that have been tweaked over the years into perfect foils for speed and style, trim and flow - from our trusty rusty boardrack in Noordhoek - on their way to Panama for the World Games. The teams on the bus down to Playa Vanao after 2 days travelling...and the best damn boards just haven't arrived! But guys who travel to comps like these know - you spread your boards amongst each others boardbags, and one of them arrives - so at least you've got something to ride - and where the others are...? Watch this space...
Deon

SASSI

Another pic from our World Ocean Day shoot. SASSI protects and conserves fish that are overexploited. Instead of creating more laws to stop people catching endangered species, we can contribute by being aware of what we are eating. By reducing demand for rare seafood, we reduce the marketability of the catch, and force the industry to become more responsible. If its on the menu - what is it, where is it from and how was it caught? It's our problem - help make the difference!
wwfsassi.mobi or text the fish name to 079 499 8795 to check its status.
Deon

Executive Mayor Patricia de Lille

Ja - so I put some larney clothes on yesterday (relatively speaking) and squeezed through security at the Council chambers...amazing what goes down there. Lekker warm inside and good snacks - this is the video I shot...she seems nice.
Deon

The Dorchester Hotel

I see the Alain Ducasse restaurant at the Dorchester is booked out completely for the whole of next weekend, when the Swazi King, his  wives and various others pull in for a chow and a wedding. Bugs me a little that the food looks so great - 3 Michelin Stars - and that I'd have to sell a lot of stuff to comfortably afford a meal, but its on my list of things to do. However, when Mswati III decides it's the place to be on Friday, and can't decide between the Scottish Langoustine with sage and caviar, or the foie gras ravioli and duck consomme' - thats what really bugs me. Three quarters of Swazis don't earn more than R 1500 a month, but he's worth $ 100M. Hmm... the roasted scallop and Jerusalem artichokes, ... but its not like he has to check his wallet to see if he can cover the mignardises and gourmandises as well - AA Gill " As I looked around, I realised that nobody in this room was actually paying for their food: it was all on expenses. And, ultimately, all expense accounts are paid for by people who use goods and services. I hope it's scant joy for you to know that, although you will never eat, nor be able to afford to eat, at Alain Ducasse, you are still able to pay for those who do." So King, as you catch your reflection while placing a forkfull of sea bass and endives in your mouth, refocus on the street outside to the million Swazis looking in, and consider if you're still going to be around for the coffee and liqueurs...

Deon

Yao Lu

OK - I'll admit I'm not so sharp on the arts, but thats what getting on the road is all about, checking out new things - just when you think you've seen it all, theres so much more the next day. I'm never in a gallery, but a promo for the Istanbul Modern had me hooked. A walk across the bridge past the hot chestnuts, fish on a roll and mussels with a squeeze of lemon got me to the museum on the Bosphourus. Yao Lu is a Chinese photographer, whose used the traditional way of Chinese painting to inspire his reworked photography. It first looks like those temples and landscapes shrouded in mist, until you see the green is netting covering up rotting mounds of rubbish, dogs are scratching around, rubble is everywhere and factories pollute the air. Chinas rapid urbanisation is endangering their environment - Yao's photography sends a powerful message...I should get out more often.

Deon

Headstand

The only time I get into a cistern, is when that little orange ball floats off the metal bar, and the flush water won't stop running. So now the hustlers around the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul want to charge me for it - what - 50 bucks to check out the bog??? Hmm  - cultural slothhead...decide maybe it'll be fun, also he said theres a sea nympho down there...cheap at the price! What I found out - the Basilica Cistern was built in 532 - feels like a number missing there - but then you realise how sussed they were back then. The Palace needed water, so they channeled it from the Belgrade forest 20 kms away - one thousand five hundred years ago! And thats the hottest of the 3 sea nymphs,Medusa, on her head at the bottom of one of the 300 columns that holds it up - apparently she got adventurous with Poseidon at Athenas place and got her head taken off. That'll teach her for getting busted...upside down in a cistern for a few millenia...
I put their orange ball back on, so its working again.
Deon
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Wall of Water

Brunhilde gets around.......the classic longboard was the Guest (Maid?) of Honour at the launch of the massive water mural on the side of the Dutch Consulate General in Cape Town - and I got to tag along! Go check it out - fantastic. Holland has an ongoing leak problem with the North Sea, for some reason, it likes the Dutch, who, in turn, put up bigger dams - so they know from water and rising damp. Perfect candidates to launch water awareness - conserve it, save it, keep it clean - its not an infinite resource. Great bunch of people, and a big turn out from local Kapenaars! Couldn't get their hands off Brunhilde though...
THANKS BRUCE SUTHERLAND FOR THE PIC!

Universal Soldier

He's five foot-two, and he's six feet-four,
He fights with missiles and with spears.
He's all of thirty-one, and he's only seventeen,
Been a soldier for a thousand years.

He's the Universal Soldier and he really is to blame,
His orders come from far away no more,
They come from here and there and you and me,
And brothers can't you see,
This is not the way we put the end to war.


Buffy Sainte-Marie 1964


Written in the basement of the Purple Onion Coffee House in Toronto. "It's about individual responsibility for war and how the old feudal thinking kills us all"