I am so glad we have political freedom in this country. I had friends and family from many shades of the political spectrum. I also see many people who are ambivalent with the political process or simply can’t see the point. I have been involved with campaigning this election, not because I like every single policy from the party I am voting for, but on the whole I believe their policies to be the better ones to govern our country.

Yes, I have hated the negativity from all sides. Yes, I hate the idea of a filtered internet. No, I don’t believe in offshore processing of Asylum Seekers. But I do believe in costed election promises, the abolition of the ABCC, increased funding for hospitals and schools and infrastructure projects that will provide jobs.

I know there are people who are undecided. I know there are people who have chosen not to be informed. I just hope the following helps:

On Saturday think about what matters to you. Think about what effects you. But also think about what effects others.

Finally, before you cast your vote in the senate, see where the party you wish to vote for is directing its preferences- for all the Liberal Party scaremongering that a vote for the ALP could elect a Greens senator, Liberal preferences are going to Family First- and that is scary! Go here for more information!

Here endeth the lesson!

We’d have sweet stalls at recess- lots of hard toffees that you would hide in your dress pocket to finish at lunchtime, or coin chains down the corridors, or free dress days- we loved free dress days.

In Year 12, our VCE English theme was ‘Justice.’ We looked at tolerance, understanding, peace and, naturally, injustice. We spent a good half of the year looking at South Africa. We discussed apartheid and we cheered when Mandela was released. We watched all the South African protest films (I still have images of the Steve Biko film in my head) and we were angry. I was angry. I wanted change. I could see how wrong it was to have a country ruled by people that segregated people by the colour of their skin.

I remember cheering when sanctions were lifted from South African sporting sides- standing ovations at Olympic and Commonwealth Games opening ceremonies, cricket tours and of course rugby.

And Mandela was elected president. I followed this and was proud as a human being. But then reports started coming out of South Africa- crime and poverty. And I ignored it- the fight to end apartheid had been won. This was the new South Africa- the Rainbow Nation. Rainbows conjured up happiness and an end to rain. Hope and sunshine.

And I met the gorgeous MIML™. This amazing man who came to my country as he could not find work in his own. A refugee if you like. And again I found out more and more about today’s South Africa.

We visited the country last December and saw poverty. I was sneered at by black people because of the colour of my skin. And I head horror stories- the murder of (white) farmers ( at least 3,500 in the last 15 years) let alone other murders. A massive crime wave. An immense HIV problem. And a government that distinguishes people by not only the colour of their skin, but also their gender.

MIML™s grandparents, both hard working people their who lives unable to access social security because of the colour of their skin. MIML™s sister unemployed after seeing some horrendous things in her time in the Police Force. MIML™s parents both working hard living in a modest house, not sure how they will cope with retirement. Friends whose house was invaded when we were there- they were not harmed, but all their possessions stolen.

We heard of other sickening events- the torture of some people before they are murdered- penises cut off and watching their wives gang raped. The torture of children. So much hate.

And now in the last couple of weeks we read about the murder of a white nationalist. Yes, he was a twat, but no one deserves to be tortured and murdered. And the talk is of the white nationalists whilst black nationalists like Julius Malema chant to kill the Boers.

I can understand the hatred of black people who were segregated and downtrodden for so many years, but did I fight for this? Did the western world in the 80s fight to see what South Africa is doing to itself today? What can be done now? Shall we continue the circle and turn our anger to action? What action is needed? What can I do? I ask myself if blogging helps. I have a small readership and hope that perhaps this post may cause others to think about the situation in South Africa- to go and read more. To find some South African bloggers and read first hand what others are experiencing, be they black, white, purple, green or blue! Racism has no colour. It is just hatred. The hate has to stop.

MIML™s family don’t want to leave their country, yet we are planning to help them escape if/when it is needed. Perhaps reading blogs is subjective. Perhaps these are people overplaying what is happening? It is sad to think some are hoping the Soccer World Cup brings a violent head to it all so the world takes notice.

I have deliberately not added links in this article. There are some good bloggers out there. Google and ye shall find! I want to break the circle. I want to be able to take my kids back to visit the most beautiful country. I want people to learn from what has happened in Zimbabwe. I want the violence to stop. Imagine.

Is it what I expected? Yes and no. It is so different to Australia, and yet so similar too that it is hard to put into words.

The drivers are crazy. Speed limits- what speed limits? Freeways/motorways are 120km/h and if there is roadwork and marked down to 80 or 60 it just means you don’t travel at 140 any more, perhaps 130 instead! We drove down past Durban last weekend and saw articulated trucks overtaking smaller trucks going uphill! We saw vans with 100km/h on the backs of them travelling at well over 140km/h. We saw plenty of trucks/utes filled with people sitting and standing in the back, again travelling at fast speeds.

I witnessed the most intense racism towards black people I have ever seen. We went to a motorbike shop to get a battery for MIML™s bike. One biker dude- a middle aged gent basically told a black worker to get him a proper cup of coffee and called him a kaffer. To his face. He spoke in Afrikaans, but I understood most of what he said. Then he turned to me and asked me where I was from (in English!). I told him Australia and he asked me if we “have kaffers in Australia?” I told him we had black people, yes and he replied that “Kaffers would be ok if they weren’t black.” I was pretty disgusted and just didn’t say anything. MIML™ told me it was a typical example of old school Afrikaaners, a Boer.

We have driven past ‘informal settlements’ aka squats or shanty towns. It is hard to look at. Next week we will visit Soweto.

Everywhere we go people are friendly. And smiling- always smiling. There is so much poverty evident from rubbish in the streets and by the road to people selling all manner of goods from flowers and fruit to mag wheels and sunglasses on every street corner.

We have not experienced violence, but have heard stories from others who have. All houses have high fences, most with either razor wire, barbed wire of spikes on them. The windows are barred. Car park attendants at the shopping centres guard your car for you for a few rand- about 50¢.

Plastic shopping bags cost money- they have bar codes on them which are scanned! Clothing comes in all manner of sizes and is cheap compared to Australia. Eating out is relatively inexpensive too.

But something doesn’t sit right. MIML™ is in Australia because he can’t get a job in his home country. His parents get a gun out at night to protect themselves, even though they have never had to use it. The policy of affirmative action means that there are lots of black women working (it goes jobs to black women, then black men, then white women then white men) and the white minority do feel wronged.

But it is so not as simple as righting wrongs. The political past in this country is something that I cannot really understand. Many believe the country has narrowly avoided civil war in recent times, but that after the Football (Soccer) World Cup things may change again. There is a them and us mentality from many sides. As someone said to me get 3 South Africans in a room and you will have 5 religions and 7 political parties!

As a union organiser I cringe when I hear of people working long hours with no overtime and being paid cash under the table. When I hear of what retail workers are paid per week I think of how fortunate Australian workers are to have minimum wages set.

But today we saw Invictus. It is the story of the Rugby World Cup in South Africa in 1995. It showed Mandela the wise statesman. The shrewd politician who strived for a rainbow nation- people of all races living together as one.Interestingly, it does not open in Australia until late January.

It is an emotion charged film that I saw gave some hope seeing people like Mandela and Pienaar looking past colour trying to unite a country through sport. But again this unity has not necessarily been my experience here talking with various people who are wary about the future of South Africa. The past can’t be made right in a few years. It will take several generations and it is my hope that it will not be too late for what I have found to be a beautiful and welcoming country.

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

- William Ernest Henley

I have no problems with my kids being online. They know what is acceptable and what is not. They know that the router restricts their use and they can’t access the net after 8pm. They know that if they watch too much youtube we get shaped and that makes Mummy very very very very very angry!

They also know to be honest and careful about divulging information.

Immy would love facebook, twitter and youtube accounts. Then some of her friends found twitter and thought it was dumb. I suspect they thought Miley Cyrus would actually talk to them… So she has decided she can wait for twitter. Facebook and YouTube require you to be over 13 to register an account. Immy is 11. Going on 17 mind you…

So we talked about what would happen if she lied about her age. And we talked about why Facebook and YouTube have age restrictions. And we talked about internet pollution! And she still wanted to make and upload videos.

Thus a compromise was reached. I created a new YouTube account for both kids (she is not happy about this!) and before they upload something it is run by me.

This went up yesterday: (yes, come over from your feed readers to look at it!)

I actually think she is a little clever and who knows- one day she might be the new Spielberg. Oh and if you can, please wander over to YouTube and leave a comment- that would make her day!

Lots of things have been angering me- a woman standing trial over an abortion, ongoing racism in South Africa (from both blacks and whites), footy club members being denied tickets to Grand Finals over corporate sponsors… Well maybe the last one isn’t that important in the scheme of things, but still…

But the thing that has been angering me the most is how people are getting away with what I term IQism, or perceived intellectual superiority. People think nothing of leaving facebook comments (for instance!) saying ‘dumb people shouldn’t be allowed to breed’ or ‘dumb people piss me off.’ But replace the dumb with black or white or Christian or Muslim or Athiest…

There has been some research on intelligence and genetics. Not every child will have the intelligence level of their parents. I know! Hard to believe, isn’t it! And it goes both ways.

Some people do make dumb decisions. And they need to have these decisions pointed out to them. But they don’t need to be ridiculed. They don’t need their children to be tarred with the same brush. They don’t need to be told they should be sterilised.

Interesting isn’t it that a woman can be charged with aborting an unwanted embryo or foetus because she made a decision that she was not ready to become a parent and is now facing trial, yet if she had not made that decision and brought an unwanted child into the world and not coped as a parent she would have been told she shouldn’t have bred.

I spent ages trying to work out how I wanted to contribute to the day, because I do, but at the same time wonder how much of a binary we create when singling out days. Yes, it is important to acknowledge women in a predominantly male world (I work in one of those now too after all, but I don’t want a female union official day!) and until we see it as being normal and to be expected I suppose a day like this really is called for!

Through online communities like twitter, plurk, facebook etc I have met many women in technology- coders, bloggers, podcasters (actually there are probably more male podcasters now I come to think of it!) and general techy types. And I got to thinking about all the very capable females I know who I have met through my online networks. And I got to thinking about my online networks and how I got to be involved. And I thought of the wonderful Jo McLeay. It was this blogpost that introduced me to twitter and the community of friends I have found here is amazing.

Which got me thinking! The reason I was reading Jo’s blog was because of her wonderful use of technology in the classroom. The writing she gets out of her students through blog posts is amazing. The higher order thinking that comes through astounds me at times and makes me wish she was my teacher! Well at least my kids’ teacher!

Which in turn got me thinking! To a very dear friend of mine. Mrs Mc! She communicats so well with parents, friends and colleagues through her wonderful class blog. This wonderful use of technology brings what is happening in her classroom to a much wider audience and gives her students a voice.

I have met many other educators through twitter who are promoting learning through technology. People like Lauren,  the Interactive Whiteboard Queen! Lauren spends her days teaching teachers about how to integrate the IWB in their classrooms. And is passionate about it too!

I don’t know if any of these three women would see themselves as women excelling in technology, but I do. They are out there just doing and making sure our kids are able to do. Their positive example gives our kids wonderful role models. In previous research I looked at the way kids view scientists- you know, white lab coats, scruffy hair etc! Then we explored what doing science actually is and the types of people that do science every day. These women are just doing technology every day. They may not be ‘roaring’ but I am as I chear them on!

Now the pollies are tight lipped about what is going to be filtered. Perhaps it won’t be as bad as one government department that looks at all incoming photos and if there is ‘too much skin’ an email is sent to the recipient as to why they need to see that photo. Happened when I sent someone holiday photos of our kids together at the beach. And they were wearing sunshirts.

Yes, children need to be protected, but by making something taboo you really are just encouraging people to explore what it is. Rate a movie M and you have an army of 7-15 year olds dying to see it. Good marketing really.

What are we going to do? Put plastic bags over web sites? Dictate what words are appropriate and what are inappropriate? And what will it achieve? I suspect that the areas with the greatest level of violence and crime are lower socio-economic areas where there is limited access to the Internet.

These are just my random ramblings. Mark Newton is a lot better with words than me! See this. So is Stilgherrian. What is left is for us to contact our local members. Go on, do it now!

(Yes, the original pre-Monty Python and yes, it is Tim Brooke-Taylor from The Goodies!)

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but it can also be distorted. I grew up in a typically middle class family. We had enough, but perhaps not excess. We certainly didn’t live in a rolled up newspaper! Times are tough at present, however we are not ‘extremely poor’ as in the definition of poverty. Yes, I live from pay day to pay day and usually have to make arrangements to pay off bills over time. When unexpected bills arrive, I stress, but then I find a way of getting by.

I am fortunate to have the support of family who help out with the kids’ expenses. Whilst I can’t give them everything they want, I hope they will grow up thinking of what they had, rather than what they didn’t have.

I am always telling the kids we are rich in so many ways, and for fears of turning into a Yorkshireman, I can focus on what can be done for others to help ease their impoverishment.

For all my enmeshment in new media occasionally I like to get my hand on something analogue. My choice is often The Big Issue, partially because it is not sold up here and when I do get it I have time to sit and read it, but also because it is a micro-business designed to help people get back on their feet. Not only do I get a great read, but I am helping the vendor from whom I purchased the magazine.

The other way to help stop the spread of poverty is a topic very close to my heart- breastfeeding. If only people accepted that breastfeeding is the natural and normal way to feed a baby then so many issues could be addressed. Breastfeeding has a positive impact on the baby, the mother and the environment. It is the source of food designed for the baby. It changes to meet the needs of the baby and it is always sterile. It helps protect the mother against breast cancer and osteoporosis and saves her time and money. This is not only the money for purchasing artificial formula, equipment and paraphernalia, but also the health costs- breastfed babies have fewer illnesses and are less likely to develop chronic illnesses such as asthma and juvenile diabetes which cost the taxpayers money. And also for the environment- processing costs, packaging and fuel costs in production and preparation.

And the good news is that with education and support the majority of women can breastfeed, even those in malnourished parts of the world. By upholding the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes (WHO Code) we can help promote that breastfeeding is the normal way to feed infants and the implications of not breastfeeding can lead to hardship. If you are pregnant, or know someone who is, tell them to attend a Breastfeeding Education Class in their area. If you are having troubles breastfeeding, ask for help. The simple act of breastfeeding your child can have an immense economic benefit. Just do it!