Publications
Partners
Whether this is a fact or rumour but when the tsunami hit Japan it took a couple of months to repair the cities.
We have had 22 years to right the wrongs and we still have people living in shacks, who are too scared to get sick, get soaking wet when it rains, whether they are at home or using public transport, have a below average education system and generally take their lives into their own hands every time they leave the sanctuary of their homes.
Where is the dignity in that? And that is one of the points I am trying to make. Countries like Finland, Norway and Sweden are focused entirely on the dignity of their citizens. They want them to be productive and upstanding members of the community.
Convicted criminals are treated with a rehabilitation rather than revenge policy. Workers in Italy are given a 2 hour lunch to have enough time to go home and spend some more time with the family.
A student in Denmark was asked about the amount of student loans she had to cover and she was surprised by the question. They don't owe a single cent.
Children don't get homework in Finland because they need to go home and be kids. These are progressive countries and as soon as we realise this the sooner we can get some of it.
So, to my second point, are we not entitled to that? Of course we are but we don't want to demand it, we don't want to ask for it and we most certainly don't want to work for it, or work at it.
We just talk about it and in South Africa at the moment, talk is cheap! We don't have to destroy everything to achieve something. I was always of the opinion that the US is great because they broke down and rebuilt the country since the burning 70's but times have changed.
I look forward to the time when 1000's and 1000's of people stand together and demand to be heard. Demand change, demand respect and demand dignity.
