The South African Civil Society Information Service
A nonprofit news agency promoting social justice. Seeking answers to the question:
How do we make democracy work for the poor?
A nonprofit news agency promoting social justice. Seeking answers to the question:
How do we make democracy work for the poor?
Kwei Quartey -
Ghana held its general elections on December 7 and 8, 2012, reelecting incumbent President John Dramani Mahama. However, Nana Akufo-Addo, flag-bearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party, is challenging Mahama’s narrow win and intends to contest the result in court, a legal process that is sure to be prolonged. The verdict could potentially challenge Ghana’s generally stable and peaceful political environment. What will not change are the country’s close economic ties to...
Jeremy Adam Smith -
Last year’s most surprising, provocative, and inspiring findings on the science of living a meaningful life.
The science we cover here on Greater Good—aka, “the science of a meaningful life” — has exploded over the past 10 years, with many more studies published each year on gratitude, mindfulness, and our other core themes than we saw a decade ago.
2012 was no exception. In fact, in the year just past, new findings added nuance, depth, and even some...
There are 10 million Xhosa people in South Africa amongst whom many tribal customs remain strong. Every year thousands of teenage boys from the Xhosa tribe undergo a ritual circumcision, which according to ancient custom, will make them men. But there are growing concerns about circumcision ceremonies. In the past 10 years, more than 500 boys have lost their lives, while hundreds more have been mutilated. Despite its dangers, the practice shows no sign of abating due to peer and family...
Mandisi Majavu -
For a man who spent ten years on Robben Island fighting against a white supremacist apartheid regime, President Jacob Zuma comes across as seriously ill equipped when talking about issues related to race and culture. Generally speaking, his views on race and culture are primitive.
Recently he’s been quoted in the media as having said, “Spending money on buying a dog, taking it to the vet and for walks belonged to white culture and was not the African way.”
Granted he...
In recent years, the radical online community known as Anonymous has used its net activism to target corporations such as Sony and the Church of Scientology. Anonymous demonstrated its strength when it took down the websites of Mastercard, Visa and Paypal when these companies froze financial transactions to WikiLeaks.
Along with other hacktivist groups like Telecomix, they’ve launched cyber attacks against foreign governments in support of the Arab Spring. Who is Anonymous?...
Five men have been formally charged in India with the kidnapping, gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old student on a moving bus. India erupted in protest after the violent attack. The case has shone a light on other instances of sexual violence in India, where one woman is raped every 20 minutes. Meanwhile the attitude of Indian authorities towards violence against women is extremely negligent. Conviction rates in rape cases in India have decreased from 46% in 1971 to 26% in 2012....
