Sydney Dances

Now Sydney has its own dance! It's called "The Sydney".

The theme for the Sydney Festival this year is Sydney Dances. At the Sydney Festival First Night the aim is to get 250,000 people to dance "The Sydney" en masse.

I'm gonna be there. With about 249,999 others.

So get out those dancing togs, watch and practice. Get to it!


THE SYDNEY from Sydney Festival on Vimeo.

NYE 2008 in Sydney

This image from a magnificent freeze on the vivacity website.

As New Years Eve approaches, there's a discernible buzz in Sydney. I might not have lived here for long, but I have a certain patriotic pride about the Fireworks (something to do with latent pyromaniac tendencies?). I haven't decided about, nor have I really explored, the ecological cost. The fireworks are just awesome. Period.

Imagine, just imagine my joy when I opened the mail this evening to find tickets to the Cahill Expressway vantage point for NYE. Now anyone who lives in Sydney will know that this is a damn fine thing to win! Tickets to see the fireworks up close and personal. To find out what the big orange blob in the middle of the bridge is. To be blown away by some thunder sound effects. I hear Mayor Clover Moore has been making some pretty dizzy noises about "lighting the giant sparkler". Well, who wouldn't.

I dived for google with the Cahill Expressway tickets in my sweaty little paws, and there I found some great websites - the NYE 2008 City of Sydney site with transport and planning information, but even more impressive, VivaCity. It's elegant, it's quirky, and it's very well organised. Do yourself a favour and pop in there.

Enjoy whatever you're planning for NYE. Just one tip from cruel previous experience - make sure that the place you choose for the night has enough loos. I'm already having the pre-NYE dreams about lack of sanitation, and it's not even mid-December!

Hamba Kahle, Mama Africa Miriam Makeba

Mama Africa, Miriam Makeba, has died at 76. To our family she was an icon. We learnt the Click song as children, struggling with the challenges of the clicks, and trying to imitate as closely as possible the complex sounds.

There was a picture of an African lady that hung facing our front door was, in my young eyes, Miriam Makeba. It wasn't her, but when I heard the Click Song I would imagine that picture singing. She now hangs in my older sister Yvonne's house. And next to my front door in Sydney is another wonderful oil painting of an African woman. Sometimes if I listen carefully, I think I can hear her sing too.

The introduction to the song is as potent to me as the extraoardinary clicks throughout the song. From memory, this is what it says:
"In my native village in Johannesburg there is a song we always sing when a young girl gets married. It's called the Click Song by the English because they cannot say QONGQOTHWANE".

Our wedding video opens with Miram Makeba singing the Click Song. The picture pans to Marjorie Mbokoma, a special friend who was our nanny when I was a child. Marjorie was my surrogate mother at our wedding as my parents had both passed away. It is almost as if Marjorie is singing in that DVD.

About ten years ago I watched Miriam Makeba perform. She seemed tired, her voice was scratchy and I think she was not very well. I was horrified that people hurled abuse at her - and even some tin cans. I have had this memory for some time, and I wish I could apologise to her on behalf of those hooligans.

My abiding memory is her dulcit tones and the way those catchy rhythms got us dancing in our lounge. For me she will continue to represent the mama's of Africa. Hamba Kahle, Mama Africa.

Buenos Aires, Sydney & Cape Town: all three are winners of the 2008 Conde Naste Best City on their continent award

Well, well, well. It's no wonder that Buenos Aires, Sydney and Cape Town have each been voted Best City on their continent in the 2008 Conde Naste's Best City ratings.

Three of my favourite things about each:

BUENOS AIRES:

1. The tango - specially in the outskirts of the city in small, local salons

2. The tango - OK, OK, it really is the best thing about BA, but my second vote goes to Sunday afternoon tango on the streets of San Telmo

3. The architecture (so there's more to BA than tango) - it's not called Little Paris for nothing.

SYDNEY

1. The Harbour Walks - and there are many. 100's of kilometers of coastline, most of which is public walkway. Mangroves, bobbing boats, blue water (though not all for swimming), ferries, rowers, tinnies, canoes, birds.

2. The Hawkesbury - just one hour north of Ashfield by train. The last Riverboat Postman and the huge jelly-fish.

3. The incredible diversity of people living (mostly) peacefully - and the ability to walk about safely, especially as a woman.

CAPE TOWN:

[It's only right to stick to three reasons why I love Cape Town, but I could wax lyrical on this one for 300, given the chance... ok, I miss Cape Town...]

1. Table Mountain

2. My family roots and my oldest friends (I mean tenure!)

3. The animals: The whales in False Bay, the whales just over an hour away in Hermanus, the penguins at Boulders Beach in Simons Town, my ex-dog in Stanford, and the African wildlife so possible to reach at Addo Elephant Park or further north in the Kruger, Pilanesburg and other places that are not in Cape Town, but that I associate with the most beautiful city on Earth.

These are a few of my favourite things 34 degrees South. Perhaps you could let me know yours.

Mr Obama, you rock!

He's young.
He's Black.
He's a democrat.

And man! He's a dancer!!!

Congratulations, Mr President of the USA.

Now please bring the boys home so they can wash the dishes.

Barack Obama, the Kitchen Sink and Peace

This morning I was in Barack Obama's home. I was there with him and his whole family and Francis and I had eaten breakfast with them. It was a bit chaotic, what with the elections today n'all, but it was cornflakes all round and a lot of excited calling to one another.

In the kitchen Barack Obama was washing up in a huge sink of warm soapy water. He turned to me, announcing that it was really important to wash up, and to be seen to be washing up. No, he didn't want his wife to do it. Nor did he want Francis or me to do it. He was doing what he should do before going out to face the world on the day of the Presidential Election.

I quipped: "Mr Obama, you should bring the boys home from Iraq so that they can also wash up in their homes". He stopped what he was doing, dried his hands, fixed me with his twinkly eyes and said: "Hey, that's good. Really good. I think perhaps you should come and work for me".

Well, that's how I spent the last few minutes of sleep this morning. Dreaming I was influencing world peace and gender politics. It was just a dream, but I wonder whether today perhaps might hold the key to some great global shifts. I sure hope so.

Reclaim the Night - tonight at 6.30pm

Tonight is the Reclaim the Night March in Sydney. 6.30pm at Town Hall.

After a week of contact with Peace movements (the Ministry for Peace, the Elders programme) it seems like a great time to take to the streets once again. I remember the first Take Back the Night marches I went on in South Africa. I remember the Rape Crisis Cape Town women wearing "Strong Women in Africa" t-shirts. I loved that T-shirt, and wore it proudly for years.

The stats quoted on the Reclaim the Night website, from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, show that the pressure for solutions and action remains essential. My personal dedication this week is to the four youngsters scared out of their minds by a horrific attack by a crazed sexual attacker in Waterloo in Sydney. Congratulations to those who participated in arresting the alleged perpetrator, and all strength to the survivors and to the family of the young woman who died.My thoughts are with you, and as we say where I come from "I wish you long life".

Peace and The Elders

[Left: Stella Cornelius and Faith Bandler receive awards at the Sydney Peace Foundation from Nelson Mandela]

There are some stunning ideas out there. And the more simple, the more extraordinary.

The idea of a Ministry for Peace, for instance. It's a complete no-brainer. We have Ministries of Defence and wonder why we're always at war. As my friend Claire Jankelson says, it would be fabulous if people had to, or even better chose to, consult the Ministry for Peace before taking action. Imagine the discussions about Other Ways of Doing Things that could take place.

Dr Stella Cornelius, OBE, is the living, breathing embodiment of peace and peace options. It was her idea in the beginning - nearly 28 years ago - that this was an option. She's still doggedely working for it and with the chair of the Ministry for Peace campaign, Biannca Pace (yes, her surname really is Pace!) the intiative is picking up pace.

Because of meeting Stella (and what a pleasure that was) yesterday, I have done some research. When she sent me an email with the closing "blessings from the Elders" I just had to snoop about and see if there was some special reason for this. First found Stella Cornelius being awarded a peace prize in Sydney by Nelson Mandela. And then I found this website: a profound initiative called The Elders. Led by Nelson Mandela, Graca Machel and Desmond Tutu, amongst others (Richard Branson and many more), it is to draw on the wisdom of the Elders for their power and skill to make Peace a reality.

Ministry for Peace

It's such a great idea: each government should have a Ministry for Peace. Simple as that.

Stella Cornelius believes this to be so. The Ministry for Peace website says of Stella:

Founder and Director of the Conflict Resolution Network (CRN) she is a peacemaker and a peace builder, a mother, grandmother and octogenarian.

Well known and highly respected on a global level for her work in the CRN and for providing this vital public service which is now used on a global scale to people of all classes and economic status. Dr Cornelius has initiated the following campaigns and programs.

In 1982 she launched an Australian campaign for a Ministry for peace established at Federal Government level which would “professionalise peace” and equalise opportunity between military and non-confrontational approaches. A book was published: ISBN 09499653024.

There's an event on the 29th October 2008 at the NSW Parliament House. Macquarie Street, Sydney 2000. It's open to interested people.

9am – 12.30pm, 29th October 2008
NSW Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney 2000

The inaugural Ministry For Peace’s Corporate Ecology Forum will be the opportunity to share views on the role that corporations have in bringing and maintaining peace to our world.

The Forum aims to provide new insights and indicate a way forward for corporations, should they plan to exist in the fast emerging culture of peace.

Five speakers from diverse disciplines will present cutting edge perspectives on why peace will
be the new brand on company’s balance sheets and why corporations cannot ignore it.
Forum Speakers:
Dr Claire Jankelson, Educator, Consultant and Facilitator
Sharon Ryan, Business Transformation Executive, Fujitsu Australia Limited
Bronwyn Edwards, OD Consultant and Executive Coach
Robert C. Hinkley, Corporate Lawyer
Chris Collingwood, Managing Director, Inspiritive Pty Ltd

I'll be there. I want to be part of getting this peace process on the road.

Tango in Buenos Aires, 2004

Malplaas orange

MALPLAAS. Near Botrivier, Western Cape... Now THIS is what I call an inviting establishment. I've not been there, I've just seen it for the first time on the internet today. I intend to make it a priority to get there the next time I am back in Cape Town.

There's something about the innovation of people in South Africa, the resourcefulness, the love of life that I love. My experience of South Africa, and I suppose that would mostly be Cape Town, is one of Can Do. If it needs to be done, it will be done. If it can be whacky and fun, all the better. If it can involve some major passion or passions (in this case Orange, Animals and the Great Outdoors), then it scores top marks.

I don't know who runs Malplaas (funny farm). Or why they started it. But it looks wonderful, complete with a carbon offset project. What a zest for life. And their website is wonderful, to boot.

If you go there, please let me know what it's like.

And to all of you at Malplaas - Go For It! You put a big orange smile on my dial.

Aussie women earn less than men

I am astounded how often I come across the idea that women in Australia (or perhaps I should say in Sydney) are merely earning to add some extra pocket money to their husband's huge wages. It is not uncommon for someone to say to me when I suggest that a particular position does not have the salary that I would expect on offer "but you're not exactly running out of money are you"? Now I fail to see how running out of money would be the reason for earning fairly. My understanding is that people should be paid fairly for the work they put in and the hours they put in.

In Australia women consistently earn less than men. A quick google search will show a good deal of evidence to back this. My belief is that women I have met in Australia are frequently prepared to offer volunteer services, pro bono work, and a variety of work-for-no pay. Voluneerism is good, and should be encouraged, as should pro bono work. But that has to be in addition to paid work. Why should women offer services free when similar services are not routinely offered by men free.

Granted, my impressions could be to do with working in the non-profit and service sector, where is seems that this idea is most prevalent. But experience in other countries is that the Third Sector is well thought of and remunerated relatively well.

I have heard, not infrequently, people saying: "but people don't do that kind of work for the money - you do it for the love of it" ?!? What's that about? Surely enjoying your work is not in place of being fairly remunerated. Take that argument a bit further and we'd have to believe that people should EITHER love their work OR be paid for it.

Balderdash.

Progress has been made in this regard - the gap is apparently getting smaller (in one article it said by 0.3% in 2007) but I think that this needs to be on the agenda of all HR decisions, and women should not be frightened to ask for their worth in remuneration. Go for it!

Shana Tova

Xenophobic attacks on foreigners in South Africa

I feel sick to my stomach. Not since the deepest, darkest days of Apartheid have I felt the churning I now feel in my belly. Foreigners from other African nations have been hacked to death and burnt by ordinary South Africans in a xenophobic frenzy. Thousands of people are fleeing for their lives. They are displaced, terrified, and like so many who watch, are horrified. Families are being torn apart. Even employers of foreigners (alleged or real) are not safe.

South Africa has boiled over. The seething difficulties fuelled by recent price hikes and the worsening situation in Zimbabwe and hence increased numbers of foreigners entering South Africa are the final blows to an already tense-to-breaking-point nation. Disappointed, frustrated and unheard, thousands of South Africans have sunk to new levels of venting and violence.

I can write no sense on this one. I expect few people can. The blame game is too easy, the sadness too immense. Instead I laud those who are assisting, those who migh be able to mediate, those who can assist with money, food, shelter. And most of all I laud those leaders in the community who can, and I am sure will, find a way of talking people down and restoring the balance. I hope that they are helped by measured intervention from the army, and I implore the government of the day to declare a state of emergency and to act, fast and decisively.

Harmony and Human Rights? The Olympic Torch

I write this as the Olympic flame, the symbol of harmony, makes it way through Canberra. The television is on in the other room. The place is swarming with police and most of the media is focusing on whether the torch is interrupted or not. Some careful, reserved commentators are speaking about the flame and the pro-Tibetan protesters.

It strikes me that the level of debate does not do justice to the Tibetan cause, nor does it show an understanding of protest methods. One commentator has recommended other forms of protest. Sure, people could boycott Chinese products (unlikely), or write to the CEO's of companies in China (also unlikely, and possibly not effective) or let their local member know their dissatisfaction. People could. But would they? I include myself in that. Would I?

Would anyone have even thought about the Tibet crisis if the protesters in Greece, Paris, San Francisco, London, Jakarta and other sites around the world hadn't focused the world media on the issue? What better opportunity could there be for a silenced people to finally have a voice?

If I were to write in the mood of the commentators here in Australia I would now down-play what I have just written. I would say something like: "of course people have the right to protest and to voice their opinions, as long as they don't disrupt the route of the Olympic torch, and as long as they are not violent". If I had a dollar for every time I have heard that comment in the last few days, I'd be able to retire. Violence is so often as a result of the police response to the protest (rather than a method in itself), and is so often due to the fear set up in the media. Being wary of "violent protesters" is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Expect violence, and the chance of violence is high.

And back to my original point. I don't think the media has done justice to the Tibet issues, or the human rights issues in China. I would like to see more information about China and Tibet, about the people of China and Tibet and about the protesters - hearing their voices rather than just seeing them being dragged away in so many corners of the earth. This is a peace torch. Let it bring peace.

I hope the powers that be in Canberra, Australia rise to the challenge: no police violence, and a commitment to explore the Tibetan issues objectively in our media. A focus, once again, on the symbolism of the torch. On harmony, and with that, on human rights.

And one more challenge for all of us: we can't let this be a start of anti-Chinese sentiment. It needs to be a time when we dis the policies of the Chinese government, not start fist fights with Chinese people (as happened in Paris). It's up to us.

Height Tax

Today I paid Height Tax.

Every time I buy a pair of pants I have to add $10 to the cost. I was not blessed with height, so I have to scoot down to the patient Chinese tailor on my route home from Ashfield station. I try on each pair, and he kneels next to my big feet squashed into the slip-on shoes kindly left out (one with high heels, one with low heels) for measurement. They are not intended for Caucasion feet, and I feel somewhat silly balanced on a size 5 shoe with this man at my feet. He deftly pins one leg with just one pin, and the next day the pants are magically ready. But I do resent Height tax each time I pay it!

Shema = Listen

Some in Sydney bridge the divide between Jews and Palestinians. Donna Jacobs Sife is one such person. Here she writes of a small peace march in Parramatta. If we were all to listen to others' stories there may, indeed, be more peace and understanding. All round.

World Wide Web - the impact of Diasporas (a la Michael Fullilove)

Today I was privileged to be at the launch of the paper-turned-book of Dr Michael Fullilove, the director of the global issues programme at the Lowy Institute for International Policy here in Sydney. As a new emmigrant his book "World Wide Webs: The Diaspora and International Systems" covered issues close to my heart while providing a fresh new take and some excellent mind-food. For those who don't know, the Lowy Institute's has long been known to be a major think-tank of international policy in Australia.

Today's event was particular pertinent to my journey as I start to figure out where I fit and why, and what impact my history has had on my present and future. Small and personal as these debates sometimes are, Dr Fullilove was able to assist in opening my mind to the wider discussion about the impact of emigration and immigration, governments and policy, local and national pride and allegiances.

In his book Dr Fullilove notes that a diaspora is derived from the Greek word "diaspeirein" meaning to sow or scatter. He says it was used to describe Jews living outside of Israel, but has come to be used much more broadly and has now come to be used to describe transnational communities.

It was only recently that I returned from South Africa, at once inspired by the energy and dynamism of individuals, groups and extraordinary projects there and horrified by some of the stories I was hearing. After some 20 years in the non-governmental community, as an activist and advocate there, I came back to Sydney with a dual heart: at once elated and heavy.

My question was how to relate back to this world and offer something of service. Had I deserted by moving in with the love of my life in the comfortable and safe city of Sydney? Was I a deserter to this new land if I wanted to do work and offer support back to South Africa? Where is my allegiance? Who do I owe what to, if anything?

Of course this is all the more poignant at a time of my application for permanent residency in Australia and a time of increased horror stories back home. Following my brother's political cartoons keeps me in touch with South African issues, remaining involved with projects in South Africa makes me believe that I have something to offer, but the niggling question is always "is this enough?"

The lecture this morning at the Lowy Institute shed new light on the topic. It opened this personal debate to the wider political debate. It emphasised the importance of remittances (money sent back by peoples rather than governments, a particular interest of mine). It highlighted the importance of the "thickening and strengthening" of what Dr Fullilove calls the World Wide Web (a description he believes better describes those living away from their original communities - in his days of international studies the Billiard Board analogy was more often used, but he argues that various nations cannot be impenetrable Billiard Balls rolling around unaffected by the countries they brush up against or have contact with). His paper covering the impact of Diasporas on Homelands and Home Countries is at once fascinating and challenging.

You can find it yourself at http://www.lowyinstitute.org/