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My Story, My Journey
Honesty was one of the first principles I was taught as a child. My parents and especially my aunt tried to instil in me from a very young age that it was of the utmost importance for me to be honest at all times, especially with them. As I grew up and discovered more about right and wrong, new challenges faced me every day concerning honesty. My Catholic parents taught me from infancy the reality of the Creator God and confession. The Eucharist and the Rosary are still important in my life today, as is the literal importance of His Word and the Mass, and the necessity of all people…
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Secrets below the soil — Earth detectives search deep for clues to the future
How can we use the past to better navigate our future? What hidden indicators lie beneath the surface of lakes across the globe? And how can understanding these mysteries help society make smarter decisions about ecosystem conservation? Palaeoecologists — or as they sometimes like to call themselves, “earth detectives” — believe many of the answers are buried deep within ancient data, locked in the sediment beneath the Earth’s surface. As Ke Zhang, a professor at the Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, explains: “Globally, lakes are facing similar challenges. Understanding how lake ecosystems have changed over time — and the underlying causes — can help inform future management strategies.” Professor…
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BOTus relives the BOTha apartheid days
Or: the Orange Monster becomes the Kroot Krokodil Martin Challenor To make sense of the words that follow, you have to know who the Kroot Krokodil was. He was state president PW Botha of South Africa in the 1980s. He defied all reason and common sense in upholding apartheid and so delayed democracy and decency in South Africa. Everybody else was wrong about the future of the land in the eyes of the Kroot Krokodil – which means the great crocodile and so named for his tough, if mindless, political stance. I tried to tell PW often at the time that no matter how odious he was, how threatening, how…
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De Hoop – a paradise for hiking – and a reserve worth fighting for
Last year an article in Daily Maverick caught my eye and had me riveted: the Bredasdorp regional court convicted and fined a rogue fishing company for illegal fishing within a Marine Protected Area. What was fascinating about this case was that the State, for the first time, ruled that if large-scale businesses fished inside a Marine Protected Area, they were not just liable for fishing illegally, but also for having a detrimental impact on the environment. The company was the Gqeberha-based Unathi-Wena Fishing. The vessel had the misleadingly innocent name of White Rose. The fine – for both the illegal fishing, and for causing environmental damage – was R1 million.…
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Where I Found Him and Myself
I had never fully grasped the importance or the necessity of community until I packed my bags and flew to China. I spent years living in the country yearning for something I hadn’t fully understood but needed or had taken for granted because it was such a norm in my previous life. Even if that’s the case, the community I have now is completely different. Firstly, these are people from different cultures and countries from me, so it’s actually phenomenal to feel this deep connection to them. It’s one thing to sing the same tribal songs, speak the same language eat the same food and feel love, compassion, respect and…
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Celebrating 70 Years of Record-Breaking: South Africa’s Place in Guinness World Records History
Guinness World Records (GWR) marks its platinum anniversary in 2025, celebrating 70 years of documenting human achievements, natural wonders, and record-breaking feats. Since its first publication in 1955, GWR has become the ultimate authority on records, inspiring millions across the globe. South Africa, with its rich history of sporting excellence, endurance feats, and unique contributions, continues to make its mark in this prestigious compendium. South Africa’s Record-Breaking Moments Springboks: A Legacy of ExcellenceSouth Africa’s passion for rugby reached new heights when the Springboks secured their record-breaking fourth Rugby World Cup victory in 2023 at the Stade de France, surpassing New Zealand. This historic win adds to their previous triumphs in…
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