Blog South Africa

Emerging coverage from Japan offers a moving example of ultimate dog loyalty, and clearly illustrates the challenges faced by animal victims of the earthquake and tsunami.

The dogs were picked up after the video was filmed, and are in the care of a local shelter. Updates and pics will be here in the coming days: http://www.facebook.com/lifewithdogs

Translation of conversation in video:

We are in Arahama area. Looks like there is a dog. There is a dog. He looks tired and dirty. He must have been caught in the tsunami. He looks very dirty.

He has a collar. He must be someone’s pet. He has a silver collar. He is shaking. He seems very afraid.

Oh, there is another dog. I wonder if he is dead.

Where?

Right there. There is another dog right next to the one sitting down. He is not moving. I wonder. I wonder if he is alright.

The dog is protecting him.

Yes. He is protecting the dog. That is why he did not want us to approach them. He was trying to keep us at bay.

I can’t watch this. This is a very difficult to watch.

Oh. Look. He is moving. He is alive. I am so happy to see that he is alive.

Yes! Yes! He is alive.

He looks to be weakened. We need to them to be rescued soon. We really want them rescued soon.

Oh good. He’s getting up.

It is amazing how they survived the tremendous earthquake and tsunami. It’s just amazing that they survived through this all.

Want to donate?

http://www.worldvets.org

Tags: Inspiration & Jokes by James
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(Cross posted from Weird World News)

The earthquake and tsunami that have recently taken place in Japan, along with the nuclear aftermath are a major event of this year. Such devastation will surely be one of the news events of the decade.

Why did the psychics not predict this happening? Or did they?

If you take a look at predictions for 2011 on the Strange News Daily Blog, not one of the psychics covered predicted in detail that such a devastating event would take place.

Looking at the Psychic Twins website, they claim that they had made the prediction in an article for Samuel Chong for Chinese Google on 6/15/10. No further details are provided, or links to the article.

Their predictions as rather hard to check as they only write down their claims after the event. If they wrote their predictions down before the event they would be rather more credible.

Psychic Nikki predicted in her 2011 predictions:

73) A huge earthquake in Japan.

there is no mention of the tsunami or any nuclear issues. Considering that Japan is hit by ‘huge’ earthquakes pretty often, I would not say that this one was specific.

Craig Hamilton-Parker only mentioned “This will be a year of earthquakes and volcanic activity” but was more specific in saying that most would take place in the US. No mention was made for Japan specifically.

Canadian psychic and medium, Blair Robertson, correctly predicted the Japanese earthquake and tsunami in quite a dramatic fashion.

On March 8, he sealed his prediction in an envelope, to be opened during a fundraiser to benefit Relay for Life – Canadian Cancer Society in Shawville, Quebec.

The envelope was sent ahead via courier to the local town hall and placed in the town safe.

Shawville Mayor Albert Armstrong opened the envelope on stage this weekend in front of nearly 200 people.
[Read more →]

Tags: Weird & Unexplained by James
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Today I received an update from an official from SAFMarine who has written to BSA to set the record straight:

Ncebo Sodo was an employee of Safmarine (Pty) Ltd until last year when his employment was terminated following an internal discplinary hearing. The other gentleman mentioned is not an employee of our
company.

Safmarine has been made aware of inflammatory statements made on the social networking site, Facebook. These statements in no way reflect the views and opinions of Safmarine, its parent company and/or its
associate companies. We are deeply disturbed by the statements made, which are contrary to the values of our organisation. We viewed the statements in a serious light and launched an internal enquiry into
the matter.

The enquiry resulted in disciplinary proceedings, and Mr Sodo’s employment was terminated effective 21 July 2010.

We reiterate the facts that the aforementioned statements in no way reflect the views and opinions of Safmarine, its parent company and/or its associate companies.

I must applaud SAFMarine for taking action against this individual and to thank them for contacting me to set the record straight on this matter.

People like Ncebo Sodo must find out the hard way that society and their employers take these racist statements seriously.

Tags: Government & Politics, Society & Culture by James
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It has been one year since the brutal murder and dismemberment of 17 year old Anika Smit in her house, yet we still sit here waiting for answers!

Despite the police saying that they have put their best people on the case, we have seen suspects come and go, potential murder weapons discovered and then forgotten.

The sick individual who committed this crime HAS to be caught and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

“The chances are good that they made her suffer and watched her suffering,” said criminologist Anni Hesselink. “They must have enjoyed seeing her like that.”

According to Hesselink, the manner in which Anika was murdered and left is directly related to the murderer’s characteristics.

“The purpose of his/her/their visit was to hurt her,” said Hesselink.

“If it was one person, it is an extremely dangerous person. Because if one is capable of doing all those things (murdering her, presumably raping her and cutting off her hands), one has to be abnormal and psychopathic.

Hesselink went on to say that Anika must have known her murderer and let them in the house.

This is not the sort of person we want to have in our society!

Someone out there knows, or suspects they know who committed this disgusting crime.

I encourage that person to contact the police – even anonymously – and give Anika’s family and friends get some sort of peace, closure and answers.

Even if you are wrong, know that you have done the right thing!

UPDATE:

There is going to be a candlelight vigil outside Anika’s parents home.

Please bring a white, red or pink rose or lilly as well as a white candle to burn in memory of Anika.

Address:

40 Jakkals Street, Theresapark (North of Pretoria)

When:

TODAY (10th March) from 17h00.

Both Annika’s parents will be present.

Tags: Anika Smit Murder by James
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The phrase “Shoot the Boer” has been in the news for some months now and the battle of people to get this hate speech banned.

Nceba Sodo and Mfundo Dlungwane, two government officials coined the slogan “One Bullet One White Infant’ on their Facebook pages on May 25 2010. They went further to explain exactly what they wanted to take place:

Click to enlarge

Nceba Sodo is employed by SAFMarine in Port Elizabeth and STILL has his job nearly a year later.

Why are these two men who are promoting racism and hate still sitting in their government jobs? Why have they not been charged by police, or condemned by the ANC?

It is about time that the ANC put their cards on the table. Either they are for a united multicultural society, or they are for racism and hate!

Ever since the ANC became the government, they have never intervened to stop it nor to publicly condemn it as they should.

Tags: Government & Politics by James
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Ogilvy advertising agency has apologised “unreservedly” for a pamphlet and website offering money for body parts that was actually part of a campaign to advertise a South African horror movie.

Click to enlarge

Spokesman for Ogilvy and 1984, Rich Hlatshwayo, said in a statement that creative agency, 1984, a subsidiary of Ogilvy, produced the campaign on behalf of Indigenous Film Distribution to promote the movie “Night Drive”.

“While the motivation behind this campaign was honourable, 1984 acknowledges that this was in bad taste and apologises unreservedly. The intention was never to mislead the public or media,” he said.

MD for Ogilvy in Johannesburg, Julian Ribeiro, said the company 1984 consists of “three young talents who joined Ogilvy last year as 1984”.

“They had an existing relationship with Indigenous Film Distribution and the project for ‘Night Drive’ was ongoing.”

Ribeiro said Ogilvy was “very upset” about the campaign and disciplinary action would be taken “internally”.

“1984 did seek legal counsel before the campaign was launched and were told to make sure that the details on the pamphlet and the website were fictitious… that the phone number would not work and that no harm would be brought to anyone.”

He said the company aimed to create hype and reveal the link to the movie at a media screening on Friday night.

“Nobody ever expected this kind of response. Only 800 leaflets were handed out at robots and the project had a low budget.”

He said the movie is about the sale of animal parts and human body parts but did not know when it would go on circuit.

“I have heard that some people are threatening to boycott the movie.”

Tags: Inspiration & Jokes, Society & Culture by James
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