South Africa the Great!

Lynne Thackeray's "Adderley Street" during the FIFA World Cup in in South Africa, 2010

It has been the wierdest thing being in Sydney while South Africa shows off her true colours. I just love what people have seen - I love what has happened there. Far from the predicted massacres of international tourists, thousands upon thousands of people have been bouyed by the joyousness of a country with a miraculous history and, more importantly, a wonderful future. And the World Cup has been an integral part of the South African story, showing that it is indeed possible for South Africa to take a break from the daily grind of  constant and violent crime. Well, as far as we hear. 

John Carlin, writing in Yes, South Africa can, says:

The society is great, and it is the reason why (never mind the safari parks and the fairest Cape) so many of us foreigners who've spent time here find this country more beguiling than any other on Earth. Ordinary people have so much more wisdom, grit, resilience, invention, courage and generosity than you find in most countries.

Shame on the television stations in Australia prior to the games - shame on their coverage of South Africa. Shame on the journalists who showed us only the back streets of brothel-laden areas, the police who were unable to deal with crime, the drug-dealing on the street. Shame on them for casting fear into the hearts of anyone who would have thought of visiting South Africa. Shame on them for not showing people dancing and singing and living the way South Africans do - with great angst, but with even greater joy. Shame on them for not showing the incredible diversity of life in South Africa - including the incredible highs of being in such a vibrant society - and expressing at least some optimism.

Yes, South African has some deep traumas, not least the poverty and high levels of HIV AIDS. And gender violence. But it is a country with grit and guts and resilience, as John Carlin says. And long may that continue.

Pictures below: 
At the Stadium, by Bev Cohen. 
The Oranje Bus, by Nicky Thompson. Staff at Dementia South Africa, by Lynne Thackeray.  

Jacque Marais' amazing Vuvusela photo, from Facebook. For great World Cup pictures, go to Jacque Marais's photos here

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.

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.