Let’s put an end to human suffering and racism by treating each other with respect and dignity. UBUNTU: I am because we are. No individualism. Let history be our teacher. When countries and leaders are fighting over natural resources, when they want to overpower another country, this has a huge effect on the ordinary people on the ground. There is a proverb that explains this very well. “When two bulls are fighting, what suffers the most is the grass.”

In the Christian religion, when Jesus insisted that the kingdom of God is within he was affirming that which is common amongst all people. We are identical within and there is unity in diversity. Why racism, discrimination and killing of people for their natural resources?

The beauty of a country is in the people, not what they have or do not have.  Oil, gold, diamonds, etc. will come to an end some day because their value is relative. It is ever-changing. On the other hand, the intrinsic value of  a human being will always be there. It’s absolute and it never changes. Only now, it sometimes gets overshadowed by the relative and illusionary world of wealth. What is happening in Darfur, Lebanon, India, South Korea, Zimbabwe India, Iraq, Iran or in the United States of America? It affects everyone, even those who turn a blind eye, because we are all connected.

Professor Earl Fluker from Morehouse College says that today’s leaders are caught up into the intersection where two worlds collide — the systems world and the life world. The life worlds refers to the commonplace, everyday traffic of life, where people meet and greet one another and where common values and presuppositions about order and the world are held. The systems world refers to the vast, often impersonal systems dominated by economics and politics (money and power), which are frequently at odds with the pedestrian traffic of the life world.

Most of Our leaders are not awake at the intersection; they are fast asleep. But we cannot afford to fold our hands and keep quite. Take a stand. Make a difference where you can. As Mahatma Gandhi said, “be the change that you want to see in the world.”

Photo credit: babasteve.

Since South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994, the country has fruitfully hosted major sporting events. For example…

• the 1995 Rugby World Cup,
• the 1996 African cup of nations
• the 2003 Cricket World Cup,
• the Women’s World Cup of Golf in 2005 and 2006
• the only street race in the opening A1 GP World Cup of Motorsport in January 2006

The Football World Cup is the world’s largest, most exciting sporting event after the Olympic Games. In terms of television audience, it’s bigger than the Olympics. It is in a class of its own. For four weeks in 2010, South Africa will be the centre of the world. The 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan was the most covered and viewed event in television history. South Africa 2010, is sure to draw even bigger audiences. The eyes of billions of television viewers, an estimated three million international visitors, and the cream of the world’s sporting media will be focused on the southern tip of Africa.In order for South Africa to bring the World Cup to Africa for the first time ever in history, FIFA was looking at what the country already offers: world-class transport, telecommunications, tourism, sporting infrastructure, and people renowned for their hospitality and passion for the beautiful game. South Africa is a very divers’ country with eleven official languages and different cultures with their various delicious meals that will make you want more to take home.

In 2010, football admirers will enjoy the benefits of a host of multibillion-rand infrastructure projects recently announced by the government. (Currently, 1 rand = 0.129 US dollars.) South Africa will spend in the region of R5-billion on building and renovating 10 World Cup stadiums, R5.2-billion on upgrades to the country’s airports, and R3.5-billion on improvements to the country’s road and rail network.

South Africa is also preparing to make tight deadlines to ensure that the Gautrain, a high-speed rail link between Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Johannesburg International Airport, is up and running in time.

What a boost for South African economy!

According to consulting firm Grant Thornton, the World Cup will pump around R21.3-billion into South Africa’s economy, generating an estimated R12.7-billion in direct spending and creating an estimated 159,000 new jobs. The country’s tourism industry will benefit from the estimated three million visitors expected for the tournament, while construction and engineering companies will look to a slice of the billions to be spent on infrastructure in the lead-up to the event. Another good thing about this sporting event is that small business and ordinary people will benefit.

South Africa is alive with possibility, so get ready for this exciting event in history. The beat of drums, the blowing of vuvuzela horns in the fields, the singing, the dancing, and the beautiful people.

Related links:

FIFA World Cup 2010 South Africa | AA Travel Guides
Soccer City | Mybroadband Forums

Photo source:

Soccer City | Boogertman and Partners, via World Architecture News

The problems we are faced with today are the results of unethical leadership. Our business and political leaders have had the best education, yet many would sacrifice human wellbeing end the environment for the love of money.

Growing up in Soweto, near Johannesburg, South Africa has taught me to value “ubuntu,” or “I am because we are.”

Ethical problems can only be solved if the leaders are humanistically centered, have a love of nature, and agree not to enrich themselves unethically. This is the call to all leaders in the world to understand the purpose of life, which has been outshone by the illusionary world of money.

Who would hurt others for personal gain?

• Political leaders who caused or are still causing human suffering.
• Businesses and business people who promote harmful products that are of danger to human health for the love of money.
• People who oppressed my ancestors by making them to feel inferior because of their pigmentation.

Now, almost everyone in the list above had an opportunity to go school to acquire education. So, is our educational system really working to promote positive progress?

I am lectured by highly educated people who can’t even manage their own lives. Medical Doctors who preach that smoking is harmful and yet they smoke like there’s no tomorrow. Problems like global warming are the result of an education system where people studied how to manipulate nature irresponsibly.

Such severe problems as global warming and poverty are ultimately the result of our ignorance of our own essential nature, which is universal and the source of infinite energy and intelligence. The ignorance of one’s own self is the basis of all the problems, shortcomings in life.

Scientists have provided some obvious technical answers. Global warming is caused by greenhouse gas emissions and the solution to the dilemma of global warming is to reduce emissions via improved technologies, policies, and regulations where necessary. (One of the most recent ideas in the U.S. along these lines is a change in the federal tax code to encourage the use and development of alternate energy sources by corporations).

The solution to all the challenges is to have a system of education that gives completeness to the curriculum so that students coming out of the educational institutions will be fully developed and completely responsible citizens. Students must be brought up in the values of life, which is developed in higher awareness and understanding.

I learned to value ubuntu growing up helping my grandmother in her garden. Our education system fills our brain with knowledge, but not our hearts with compassion or love. Ubuntu is the pillar of all morality, peace and development. Our education system must develop the mind, spirit, and body of a student.

Photo: Flickr

This university has a special program, called the Nelson Mandela extranet. In this program, Students go back to their communities and teach them about HIV/AIDS , bio-intensive farming, and money management. Remembering your ancestors and going back to the community to raise the consciousness level of the society is a fundamental principle of ethical leadership.

The bio-intensive team consists of more than ten students who are planning to start their own projects in their communities. These projects will give people skills in bio-intensive farming so that communities will be able to feed themselves.

The program will also benefit orphans who lost their parents through HIV/AIDS. Nutritious food organically grown will help the HIV people to boost their immune system. The immune system becomes vulnerable to diseases because of lack of proper diet. “You are what you eat.”