Thursday, 7 June 2012
A remarkable project that teaches kids the value of recycling and conserving the environment for their own futures.
a Feature Article I wrote on Myself... Enjoy!
Through the youthful
looking glass
Feature...
It is a beautiful sunny afternoon and I.m
having coffee on the veranda of Zest
Restrobar in Port Elizabeth. I glance down to
my notes and see the piece of paper given
to me by the young mother on campus I
approached for the interview on teenage
pregnancy a week before. There is a name
and telephone number on the paper. As I
flip the page over, I note for the first time
since it.s been in my possession that on the
back is a Nelson Mandela Metropolitan
University.s Public Relations timetable for the
term.s classes. Little arrows and lines
indicate changes and cancellations of
modules and times. For a moment, I stop
and start to analyse the scribbles almost as if
to find the link between them and the
person who made them at the same time
imagining what emotion or thought went
through the owner of these scribbles as she
was jotting them down.
My train of thought is interrupted by the
sliding door opening to the restaurant and
out comes the person I have been waiting
for. She smiles politely and thanks the waiter
for showing her to my table. I get up to
shake the fair-skinned, redhead.s hand and
we sit down to start the interview for the
feature you are about to read.
“I know what you think,” she says as I signal
to the waiter for two more coffees. “And
what am I thinking?” I ask, focusing on the
face in front of me as she lights up a long
slim cigarette. She starts by telling me that
she was sixteen in 2008 when she had her
son, Jordan who turned four in January this
year. I notice a sparkle in her eyes while she
tells me his name and age. I have to
wonder though, how does a sixteen year
old even begin to conceptualize preparing
for motherhood when she has things like
final exams, peers and searching for her
own identity to worry about. “I never even
wanted children,” she says and continues,
“All my friends in high school used to go on
about how many kids they imagine they.d
have and with which rugby jock they.d get
married to someday, but the only thing on
my mind was to which countries I.d most like
to travel to and of the endless list of great
things I set out to achieve in the world; none
of which involved settling down and having
kids.”
“Imagine not only being „the new
girl. at school but adding the label
of „the one with a child. to that.”
She tells me of how she.s always noticed
being different from her peers in the ways
she thought and perceived things and even
of how she was treated by others as a child.
She pauses and then says “There.s a rhyme
written for each day of the week describing
a person born on that day. Mine, however,
couldn.t have been more wrong. I was born
on a Monday and according to this rhyme
Monday.s child is fair of face. I remember
being teased and taunted during my entire
time in primary school about my red hair,
pale skin and freckles. It is something I will
obviously never forget, not because of a
grudge or painful memories, but rather the
qualities and elements it instilled into my
character and the stronger person I am
today because of that.”
She used to be a ballerina and from a
young age she dreamt of becoming a
famous dancer like Margot Fonteyn. She
had to give up that dream when she fell
pregnant in 2007. Jordan was born in the
beginning of her matric year before she, her
single mother and two younger siblings
moved down to the Eastern Cape. “I kept
him a secret from everyone. I lied about
who he was to friends that came over to my
house and only told my best friend that he
was my son after about 2 months into the
year at my new high school.” She further
recalls that only after her final exams she
made it known to everyone what the real
situation was. “People were quite shocked,
but I was even more surprised that no one
rejected me as a friend because of that. I
remember how they all said to me that I
should.ve told them earlier because they
would all have supported me. However, I
know that realistically this might not have
been the case. People and especially
teenagers can be extremely prejudiced. I
wanted them get to know me for who I was.
Imagine not only being „the new girl. at
school but adding the label of „the one with
a child. to that. I didn.t want things to be
more difficult than what they already were
for us.”
Her mother and father were separated just
a year prior to when they moved in 2008.
She tells me how difficult it was telling her
parents of her pregnancy but that they
accepted it and immediately supported her
decision to keep her child. It became clear
that with the strong support system she had,
and still has, the situation of her and her
child could.ve been much more difficult
than what it was mainly thanks to the
commitment and love from her mother, her
father.s financial aid and the unconditional
love from her boyfriend, Alexander. “It was
because of all the help I received from
loved ones that I could carry on chasing my
dreams. I love being on stage.” Her life on
stage started at age 5 when she recited her
first poem at a regional eisteddfod. She
began singing and dancing around the
same age and took part in the local
Showtime production in 2009. She also
recently started performing at the
Boardwalk casino in her free time. Realizing
that her career as a performer would
possibly delay her financial independence,
she applied to study Public Relations and
was accepted to do so this year. She still
continues to do live performances with her
sister, Megan with every opportunity she
gets to do so. “I have finally found my
dream career apart from performing. It is
something I am passionate about. I was
elected onto the sub executive committee
for the PR society at varsity and it has been
somewhat of a personal achievement for
me since it means I am in fact able to juggle
time with my son, studies, a part time job
and a responsibility such as being on the
sub-executives. committee.”
It seems as though she is driven and even
more motivated to succeed by the
realisation that she needs to provide the
best life possible for her son. As nature would
have it, her own aspirations have been
replaced and have become centred on her
son. “He has been a blessing and a real
miracle to my existence. I am not like any
other twenty-one year old; my priority and
responsibility is towards him. Everything I set
out to do in my life has become focused to
benefit both of us. I feel as if I might even be
ahead of my peers on a maturity level and
with life experience.” Things like going out
with friends and the normal behaviour of a
student her age has no relevance in her life
and she prefers it that way. The gift she has
been given in the form of her son has given
purpose and meaning to her life.
Without any regrets she is adamant in raising
him with high morals and values and she
believes that he will someday realise that
and be just as passionate and driven in life
as she is.
Whatever idea I had prior to this interview
about teenage parenthood and the
disillusion that it is an absolute disaster to all
those involved, has now disintegrated. In
front of me is a young woman, strong if not
stronger because of this challenge, wise if
not wiser because of motherhood and
pretty much just as fine or even better off
than others her age. It is apparent that the
stigma attached to young, single mothers in
South Africa has finally come to an end.
After speaking to this young mother for
merely half an hour, I realize that perhaps
we might be ready to witness a paradigm
shift in how young mothers are becoming
more fit and able to adapt in society.
The era of thinking that these young ladies
aren.t morally fit to raise children is over. The
acceptance of this reality can be left to
each person to debate for themselves. I am
convinced that the only difference
between the girl I am interviewing today
and a lady of thirty who both have children
is a university degree and eight years work
experience.
After having met Margot van Wyk, I am able
to connect a young mothering soul to the
scribbles I was analysing earlier. She
possesses a soul moulded and chiselled by
the challenges of young motherhood, but
definitely not broken.
Its a HOIDEN love story Feature - by Margot van Wyk
The idea that edgy
style could be combined with soft, flowing, feminine fabrics was completely
strange to me until I fell in love with Hoiden. Proof that anything is possible
in the world of fashion.
During the month of
December 2010, two young designers sat down to start creating a range of
controversially unique, but surprisingly complementing designing styles and
conceptualised the idea that is Hoiden Clothing. The minds behind this
pioneering clothing label are respectively known as fun, feminine Este van der
Merwe and daring rebel Marjorie Erasmus. I had been granted the privilege of
recently meeting up with these two aspiring young ladies to determine how
Hoiden was born and how they made it possible to combine such two contrasting
unique styles.
Based in the windy
city of Port Elizabeth, Marjorie and Este blew onto the fashion scene not long
after graduating from NMMU, which was also where the two met each other and
became friends. It wasn’t long after their graduation that the fashion industry
of South
Africa took notice
of Hoiden. It was in April last year that Marjorie and Este were invited to
share their brilliance on the runway of the Jo’burg Fashion Week in the Emerging Designers category.
Of the experience,
Este gushes: “It was like a new-born taking its first breath of life.” “And we
were the proud parents backstage waiting in anticipation to hear and see the
audience’s reaction to our creation”, Marjorie adds. They weren’t disappointed
either. Well-established fashion critics gave two thumbs up to the designers
and encouraged their forward thinking.
“We actually didn’t expect that so many people would show up”, says Este as she reflects on how the venue nearly burst at the seams when supporters and friends showed up to see the Charlie Chaplin-inspired couture range that made them local celebrities.
Midway through the
year, Hoiden was offered rail space in Plush, a high-end boutique that offers
clients exclusive clothing by local designers.
Finally it was time
for Hoiden to go casual. The beginning of August gave rise to the creation of a
range unlike any other seen before. Marjorie and Este worked day and night to
put together garments that reflected both of their distinctive styles. The end
result was a range that gave new meaning to soft layers of pastels, flowing
lace and asymmetric trimming with a sensual twist of French chic.
To celebrate their
new spring/ summer range and their launch at Plush Boutique, Hoiden together
with a group of first year Public Relations students under the company name,
Masquerade Productions put together a plush event titled ‘The New Romantics of
2012’. The launch drew a lot of media attention and ensured even more exposure
for Hoiden. Their new romantic range captured the hearts of all who attended
the event in October this year. The occasion confirmed that Hoiden is here to
stay. “We couldn’t have asked for a better way to follow up our initial launch
of Hoiden.
The New Romantics of 2012 summer range launch was the perfect way to show everyone that Hoiden is a versatile label. We proved that not only could we create Haute Couture, but also casual every day wear and we still stayed true to the standards of designing which were incorporated into both ranges”, Marjorie remarks proudly.
The creative duo hopes
to capture the hearts of all South African fashion lovers when they launch their
range nationally at the end of next year. It would be a dream come true for
Hoiden to set the trends in the international fashion industry someday. We can
have faith in these two young aspiring designers that they will accomplish
international recognition and so much more. Hoiden is the result of a chance
taken to fuse together styles that were previously unheard-of.
Hoiden has also
proven that they are a design duo to be reckoned with.
That is, of course, if
their designs don’t leave you weak in the knees.□
Feature Article: "No Nukes, No Problem" - by Margot van Wyk
When ESKOM announced its plans to construct a nuclear power
station in Thyspunt, Oysterbay just outside of Jeffreys Bay, the
majority of the community, environmentalist groups and even
pro-surfers protested and warned against it. But what is all the fuss
really about? Are there life- and health-threatening risks involved?And what can be done about similar electricity issues when they hit close to home?
“No Nuke at Thyspunt” – the
phrase on bumper stickers on nearly every car in the Kouga district in the
Eastern Cape, South Africa. The ‘No
Nuke’ movement was founded by the Thyspunt Alliance after ESKOM announced its
plans to build a nuclear power plant four times the size of the plant in
Koeberg, near Cape Town. However, the size of the plant is not the issue that
created the uproar in the South African surf capital’s community, but rather
the irreversible impact the construction would cause to the environment.
One of the biggest impacts will be on the marine
environment. During construction, 6.3
million cubic meters of sand will be pumped into the ocean. The plan also allows for the construction of
several tunnels for the inlet and outlet pipes respectively. The digging of the trenches for these tunnels
will cause irreparable damage to an area of up to 54 000m2.
The wetlands that will be
affected by construction of such a nuclear plant are considered as a very
unique and extremely rare wetland system.
It comprises of an exceptional interaction between the wind, sand dunes
and water table. It is the last active
headland bypass dune system in the country. The site is also an historical
landmark still being discovered and studied by archaeologists. It is not only home to the first nation of
South Africa, the Khoisan community, but is also a very rare area where a
timeline of 1.5 million years can be followed.
Studies also revealed that the construction of various
tunnels for the inlet and outlet structures of the plant will damage 54 000
square meters of ocean floor. Furthermore, 28% to 37% of squid caught in the squid sector occurs
within ten nautical miles east and west of the proposed Nuclear-1 location. Pumping
6.3 million cubes of sand into the ocean will most likely suffocate marine life
and kill the squid industry in the area, which could result in the local chokka
industry’s relocation and the losses of hundreds of jobs in the fishery
industry alone.
Besides the environmental and
economic concerns, social safety issues have also surfaced concerning people
living in and around the community. Local residents face countless health risks
as Eskom has failed to give proper safety guarantees to citizens in the
surrounding areas. Estimates revealed that accidental radioactive fallout at
Thyspunt could be potentially five times that of Chernobyl, resulting in tens
of thousands of deaths, long term cancers and birth deformities. It’s no wonder
that international pro-surfers are backing the Thyspunt Alliance to protest
against the construction of the nuclear plant.
The full spectrum of risks
needs to be carefully analysed and understood before plans for nuclear power
plants are proposed in any populated area of the world. Evidence shows that through
nuclear power plants, no carbon dioxide is emitted into the atmosphere and the
nuclear industry even claims that nuclear power could aid by reducing the
causes of pollution causing global warming. However, the factors of nuclear
waste and production raise questions about whether nuclear power can fulfil
this claim and what the price of trying might be. As voices in our communities,
we need to be asking these questions. Should we be satisfied with the biased
information that electricity and energy corporations are soon feeding us, or
should we be doing our own homework on matters concerning our health and safety
and the impacts of nuclear operations on our environment?
In the event of the Chernobyl tragedy
of 1986 in northern Ukraine, about 168 000 out of the 3.2 million victims
died over the period of ten years following the nuclear disaster. The remainder
of the total victims affected still suffer from disease and genetic disorders
as a direct result of radiation toxicity caused by the Chernobyl nuclear plant
disaster. A total area of 50 000 square kilometres covering 12 regions was
contaminated in the tragedy. As a result, radio-active pollution spread through
the air via clouds capturing radio-active particles, emitting toxic rain over
exposed areas and inevitably also spread through water systems, leaving citizens
in those areas completely vulnerable to toxicity caused by the radiation. Even
today, the final effects of the Chernobyl disaster have still not been
confirmed.
We need to weigh up the
benefits of nuclear energy versus safer alternatives of generating electricity.
Imagine for once, a world where we feel safe in our own homes, knowing that we
won’t be blasted with rays of radio-active pollution when watching television
powered by the solar panels on our roofs. Driving in our electric powered cars,
past the wind plantations that power the metropolitans we work in. Picture our
children playing safely on the playgrounds at school, knowing they are safe
from genetic deformities and cancer caused by nuclear plant explosions and
waste. How comforting would a green world be where the lives and safety of
people prevail in the war of money and irresponsible electricity businesses
practices by our governments and business tycoons? Imagine, a nuke-free,
problem-free world philosophy. □
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