Dialogue and Disagreement

One of the hot topics at the moment in South Africa is the energy crisis we are facing. Last year, I had the opportunity to attend a conference hosted by SAWomEng and the focus was on whether we should resort to hydraulic fracturing (or ‘fracking’ as it commonly referred to) as a means to solve our energy crisis.

For those who do not know, South Africa relies mainly on coal for its energy needs. However, coal is a non-renewable resource and our reserves are depleting at an alarming rate, and so we have to explore other energy sources. In the Karoo, there is a large region with a substantial reserve of shale gas, which is a potential energy source, and this resource has to be extracted by the process of fracking.

Simply put, shafts are dug into the earth and a mixture of water, sand and chemicals are horizontally pumped at a high pressure, thereby fracturing the rocks to release the gas.

I had heard the term ‘fracking’ before, but did not know what it was, what it was used for and its consequences. As a non-science person, it was extremely educational for me to learn about it and to watch people debate about the pros and cons of us exploring this option.

I also had the privilege of meeting some really interesting people – one in particular, Johnathan Deal, an environmental crusader of sorts who heads up Treasure the Karoo Action Group. TKAG is committed to ensuring that the shale-rich area of the Karoo is protected against fracking and also for South Africa to more aggressively explore renewable energy sources.

I spent a few minutes chatting to him and discovered that he is completely off the Eskom grid, and relies entirely on solar power.

As impressive as I find that, the thing that stuck with me was his comment on how wasteful we have become with regards to energy usage. Is it necessary to switch every light on in your home? Do you have switch the kettle, stove, oven and microwave on at the same time? And I thought to myself – this man has a point. We are frantically looking for alternative sources of energy but no one has attempted to answer this question: What are we doing to become more energy efficient?

The debate between the pro and anti-fracking communities are heating up – and in some cases, people have resorted to some disgusting tactics (here I refer to mud-slinging on Twitter and slanderous blog posts) which brings me to my point:

We are all different, and have different views and opinions. We’re not going to all agree on things. And it’s okay to dialogue and to have disagreements.

It is NOT okay to degrade or personally attack people in the name of your cause. It is NOT okay to equate someone to a dictator because he/she actively promotes his/her opinion (which contradicts yours).

Bad behaviour is NEVER OKAY. 

stress-fractured heart

Something I've realized over the past few days-the people whom you love the most are the ones who have the potential to hurt you the worst...
That's been my life for the last week...I've been around a person who's negativity is so overwhelming that it rendered me unable to eat and has robbed me of sleep. This person has hurt me so badly, I've cried during my prayers...
With friends it is easy...you simply get rid of the ones who take you for granted. Something I've had to do a lot the last few years.
But what do you do when it is someone you cannot rid yourself of? Someone who will be in your life till death takes either of you...?

“After a certain point, a heart with so many stress fractures can never be anything but broken” - Jodi Picoult.

My heart is broken. And some days it feels like I'm bleeding internally...

Good-bye 2013

One thing I will say for the past 12 months - they definitely were not boring.
I've lived more in the last year than I did in the thirty that preceded it...and have experienced many things, felt many emotions, learnt new skills, made new friends.
I've also experienced more heartache. And for those single-minded people reading this, No. It wasn't because of a guy.

I happily lay 2013 to rest (while trying to get some myself).
And hope that 2014 will be a calmer year for me.

Nelson Mandela

This year, I was asked to assist two of my colleagues with their teaching load, and hence ended up teaching Social Science (History and Geography) to a Grade 4 and Grade 5 class.
Having hated both of those subjects at school, my knowledge was pretty limited, but I took it as an opportunity for me to learn (as I would have to research every single chapter I had to teach).

One of the Chapters in Grade 4 History was famous leaders through time, and the two we studied were Ghandi and Nelson Mandela.

Now, I was a baby during the twilight years of Apartheid, and so I was sheltered from the indignities that non-whites had to endure during that vile time. And me being the poor History student that I am, I had to do some homework on Madiba, so that I could dialogue with my students.

As proud as I am for his efforts to affect much needed change in South Africa, I am prouder of two things in particular that I learnt about him during lesson prep: 1. That despite losing his father at an early age and going to live with another family, he still maintained a respectful manner toward all elders... 2. Prison did not stop him from furthering his education - he managed to complete post-graduate studies while he was incarcerated.

What we should take from these two aspects (and from his entire life) is that adversity is never an excuse for you to become a burden or danger to society. You can rise above your circumstance to be an exemplary human being.

Thank you, Tata, for being such an example to us. I hope that all you have striven for will not be laid to rest with you...

Example

It is not difficult to be Muslim.
But when you live in a country where Muslims are a minority of the population, the temptations and influences does make it more challenging for a person to be the best Muslim they can be.
I did not always wear my scarf, I did not always pray as I should have, I did not always dress properly. But I reached a point in my life where I realised that I was neglecting important things and that I needed to change.

A few days ago, a parent came to school and while I was helping her she said to me, "My son wrote about you...an essay for Madrasah entitled, 'Hijab with a modern twist' and you were one of the subjects". Madrasah, by the way, is like Sunday school for Muslim children (except that it happens 5 days a week).
I was blown away. We are taught, as Muslims, that the best way to propagate Islam is through the correct practice and application of it. YOU must be the living example of its teachings. And in a world where there is so much temptation for the youth to go completely astray, I'm happy to be an example to one child at least. 

Tom Hiddleston

The very first time I watched Thor, I thought, "Why am I the only one that likes the villain?"
The thought crossed my mind again, watching Avengers...and then yet again, watching Thor: The Dark World.

Hi. My name is Cherryblossom and I am an addict. What is my addiction? British male celebs it seems...and most recently, Tom Hiddleston. The man who can turn the feistiest of women into mush with just a gaze and the sound of his voice.

Smoking Hot Villain who reads...I am ready to combust

okay, now I have combusted

Hello Darling

I have no words for that gaze...

Loki... I am in love

Regression

I was born during the last decade of the Apartheid era. I don't remember much of the hectic conflict, as I was a baby, but I have many older siblings who were very active in the struggle as students. Two of my sisters delayed their Matric exams in protest against having to write at an army base (like criminals). My eldest sister was beat up by police for peaceful protest action. My mother looked after kids who's parents were in prison for speaking out against the government.
So my family carries with them painful memories of that time. And yet, they are unhappy with the state of our country today.
Why? Because we have regressed as people. This past week, Cape Town CBD was a war zone because of protestors against the local government. Am I saying don't speak up if you are unhappy about something? Of course not. You have the right to say what's on your mind. You have the right to expose your leaders when they are mismanaging your country. It is your duty as a citizen.
It is NOT okay to destroy the property of your fellow citizens to make your point. It is NOT okay to loot these people, who are, like all of us, trying to make an honest living in an extremely difficult economic environment.
We have seriously regressed as a country and as a people.

Teacher's Day

On Saturday, 5 October, South Africa celebrated Teacher's Day.
The headmaster of the school I work for always arranges a workshop of some kind for his educators on the day. This year, however, we had to bring it forward two days.
In addition to the motivational speaker he obtained, each educator was presented with a gift bag, filled with gifts from himself as well as gifts from the learners of the school.
Naturally, some educators received more than others, and as I only teach two classes, I did not expect anything from my students.

I was surprised to discover two handmade letters: one from a current student and one from a former student. My heart melted...and nearly combusted when I read the end of one of the letters: "You are my inspiration"
Those four words made all my tribulation with them worth it. It is after all why I entered this profession - I wanted to be to someone what my educators were to me.

Innovative Africa

innovation

[ in-uh-vey-shuhn]

noun

1. something new or different introduced.

2. the act of innovating – introduction of new things or methods.                                    (Dictionary.com)

The second definition is quite appropriate for engineers. It is, after all, what they do – constantly try to discover new ways to improve the world.

But does it follow that every new thing or method will work for every single person and place on our planet? History has shown that it does not.

Can every country on earth afford to implement the same kind of innovation? Once again, no, they cannot.

And does every innovation succeed in its purpose to improve on something? Not always.

On Wednesday, 3 June 2013, SAWomEng held its fourth annual @Network Cocktail Evening. Yes, one of its purposes is to be an exercise in networking – professionals from different sectors coming together.

What distinguished this event was that its theme was not intended to dictate your dress code; rather to steer your way of thinking towards a particular vision – Innovation in Africa.

On the panel for the evening: Carlos de Figueiredo, an IBM executive; Dr Elizabeth Rasekoala, chemical engineer with 20 years’ experience in the Oil and Gas industry; Rashiq Fataar, founder and managing director of Future Cape Town; and Sarah O’ Carroll, industry analyst for Frost and Sullivan. After a welcome by co-founder, Naadiya Moosajee, the floor was handed over to Mabohlale Addae, fellow co-founder of SAWomEng, to chair the panel discussion.

Each of the panelists gave valid opening remarks, however, it was the statements from the ladies on the panel that particularly resonated with me...firstly, that innovation on Africa should be contextualised for its unique people, circumstances and needs, and should not be ‘cut and paste from the Eurocentric paradigm’; and secondly, that innovation should start on a small scale, by ordinary people improving the mundane things in their lives.

To see anything fulfill its intended purpose is immensely satisfying and once the audience members joined the discussion, @Network was at work.

It was great to see and hear from people from seemingly unrelated industries share their unique perspectives on the topic and simultaneously impart some unspoken truths – innovation is not owned by government or corporate bodies, nor does one need a diploma or degree to be innovative; we are all interdependent for the growth and advancement of our country and continent, and need to learn to share and collaborate; and as long as we remain consumers of Western innovation, we will never be able to innovate for our own country.

Our continent faces some extreme challenges. We continue to take advice from people who do not live here, nor face the same challenges we do, when we have an abundance of educated and energetic young people who are better equipped to face and overcome those challenges.

I found myself, in spite of myself, thinking about ways in which I could be innovative...things I could do in my home and in my work place. I found myself no longer content to just live in the present, to amble on in the comfortable little world that I’ve built for myself and remain blissfully oblivious to what is happening on my doorstep. I was forced to look to tomorrow...and how I could play a role in making it better than today.

The lessons I came away with that evening are encapsulated in the following:

“Learning and innovation go hand in hand. The arrogance of success is to think that what you did yesterday will be sufficient for tomorrow.” – William Pollard

“The practice of R and D involves making mistakes, realizations, corrections and more mistakes. Trial and error is a fundamental part of the process. Too many managers in corporate America learn to avoid invention and new thinking because they have been convinced that their careers depend upon not making mistakes.” – Tom Huff

In light of this particular evening and the above two quotes, I’d like to put forth my new definition for ‘innovation’: Observe. Learn. Realize. Correct...And repeat.

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PS: If you're reading this now and would like to see the amazing work this organisation does or if you'd like to get involved, pop over to www.womeng.org.za