South Africa is a passion of mine, in case you hadn’t noticed. And I have been very fortunate that people want to feel passionate about South Africa and like to help me spread the word. I’ve had some great experiences with thanks to this website.
I was contacted by Men’s Health a few weeks back and told that I have been nominated in the Game Changers category in this years Men’s Health Best Man event.
This is the write-up on the website:
NIC HARALAMBOUS – Blogger
Our online national praise singer, he’s the blogger behind the proudly South African SA Rocks website. It’s altering the way the world sees South Africa and even more importantly it’s altering the way South Africans see South Africa. Instead of joining the chorus of ex-pats who’re knocking SA, he’s finding something positive to say about our nation… every single day.
There is some strong competition for me in the Game Changer category and there are some incredible people who have been nominated in the whole event so be sure to check out the other categories and vote for your favourites there too!
If you want to download and skip right to the SA Rocks/zasucks debate, it’s around the 25-30 minute mark that it starts. But don’t be fooled, the rest is just as riveting and occasionally soap-opera-esque.
Google maps recently launched in South Africa (recently as in yesterday). So I had an idea that we should try to plot a map group of the most rocking things to do, places to go, see and visit in South Africa for tourists and locals alike to check out.
So my request is simple. If you want to assist me in building the South Africa Rocks Google Map then leave a comment below and I’ll drop you a collaboration invite and you can tell the world about your favourite spots in SA!
Some thoughts about what to tag:
Restaurants
Live music venues
Shopping centres
Running routes
Parks
Kid-friendly spots
Hotels
Lodges
Bnb’s
Backpackers
Resorts
Golfing venues
Hiking areas
Swimming areas
Beaches
I’m also calling out some good folk to help out and list 10 of their favourite locations!
I am not sure what the origin of the below passage is, however it is interesting to consider. This is not the reality for many, many South Africans, I know. And I am also quite sure I am going to be blasted for posting this but I think it’s an interesting way to look at things:
We have spoken on many an occasion of the fact that violent crime in South Africa (or certainly a very high percentage of it), occurs between people who know each other. Rowing spouses, drunken siblings, jilted lovers, angry teenagers, disgruntled staff, unhappy colleagues. Murders between people who know each other account for 82% of all our countries murders. 18% of our nation’s murders happen as a result of hijacking, or broadly speaking, ‘robbery’.
So, here’s the good news. If we live in peace, good-will, charity, fairness, generosity and in a way that resolves conflict speedily and satisfactorily with our staff, family and those we know, we have roughly a 0.007% chance of being murdered in a ‘random’ attack by a stranger.
Let’s put this in context so we can appreciate comparatively how small our chances are of being murdered:
– You are 300 times more likely to die in a car accident
– You are 15000 times more likely to die of smoking related disorders (if you smoke)
But get this….you are over twice as likely to commit suicide.
So much rather stop smoking than emigrate – we are safer living here than puffing in Perth – if we live right.
If you do know where this came from, please let me know so I can add in the correct references.
Tonight at 19:30 I will be on SA FM talking about SA Rocks. I’m not too sure of the details surrounding the interview but I was contacted by SA FM yesterday to be on the show with Eric Miyeni.
I have been on Classic FM to talk about SA Rocks which went well as far as radio interviews go but yielded very little response on the blog. Let’s hope that this will be different!
A Proudly South African Meme, inspired by EXMI and tracked by Spacebook:
I thought that it was a great idea for SA Rocks to contribute to the meme that is apparently flying around. I strongly suggest you take part in this simply as an experiment.
Here are reasons that I have written before on SA Rocks about why I love being South African and love my country:
1. Ubuntu – not the operating system, the concept. The tie that binds us all whether you know it yet or not. 2. Johannesburg late afternoon thunder storms. 3. Power Cuts that unify the nation – because we all know we can be unified when there is a common cause. 4. Hindsight – is a wonderful tool that South Africans are mindful of. 5. Our groundbreaking Constitution. 6. Our Wildlife. 7. Our coastline. 8. Braai’s.
I am not going to tag anyone but suggest that everyone who reads this writes down their reasons. You can publish them if you have a twitter, blog, tumblr or any other platform. But my main thought here is just do it, even if it’s on a piece of paper remind yourself why you love this country.
Zoopy have played out of their boots to (very efficiently) record and upload the video of my TV debut this morning at 6:57am (they were ten minutes late tsk tsk!).
Thanks to all my family, friends and online buddies for the kind wishes and warm words. Now listen, change and let the positive action start with you!
Mark had a great point and I can’t believe I overlooked it!! Here is the link to the site for the entire project, It Starts With You!!!
I have decided to shut down (stop being active) on the SA Rocks Facebook Group and move over to a facebook page.
South Africa Rocks! will hopefully form a more interactive and active platform for people who love this blog and South Africa to share more, more of the time.
So do me and yourself a favour and join the South Africa Rocks! Fan Page.
If you are interested in messing about with Facebook and their page feature drop me an email and let me know, I’m keen to have something different and interesting so I’ll gladly give you some free reign to mess about with the page and make it look like a rocking SA should!
