From Wendy Landau:

I realised recently that I have a librarian archetype and that I have a need and passion for sharing information on the web mainly through Facebook and Twitter. I share a lot on these sites and get mainly positive feedback from people to my shares. I have decided to formalise the activity through a daily blog focussing on news and fascinating issues.

I am still working out the structure of these posts so please regard this as a work in progress or being still in “Beta”.

I have to thank my brilliant Facebook friends and equally scintillating Twitter follows for most of these links – thank you for being so fascinated by the news and the world around you and for sharing, sharing. Some are from wonderful Facebook pages like Patheos. Topics and links are however what I find interesting.

SA NEWS

Eskom‘s secret deal dossier revealed
http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=5438435

This one’s a few days old but I missed it: Goldstone cleared for grandson’s barmitzvah in SA
http://www.businessday.co.za/Articles/Content.aspx?id=106477

SAMWU’s municipal strike is over – this means the bins will be emptied today
http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/article413649.ece/Municipal-strike-is-over

AFRICAN NEWS

Charities targeting Africans have questionable motives with particular reference to Clitoraid
http://bit.ly/cBpWKv

Proudly African and Transgender – an exhibition at Amnesty International in Amsterdam
http://www.afrikadag.nl/workshops/ochtend/amnesty_transgender

Rwanda opposition chief held for ‘genocide denial‘
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iVrNFl32gefPf6AUc3CkpUb7Y9sA
And more on this topic: Memory and denial: The Rwandan genocide fifteen years on
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/55324

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Ultra Orthodox Jews protest against Israel’s independence day
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/ultraorthodox-jews-protest-against-holiday-1949627.html

OPINIONS

Zackie Achmat on what and who Malema represents and what we need to do about it
http://www.timeslive.co.za/opinion/article412958.ece/Malemas-labour-pains

Stephen Covey on the crisis in education:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephen-r-covey/our-children-and-the-cris_b_545034.htm

GOOD NEWS SA STORY

The South African wine industry has become a world leader with the launch of its new sustainability seal, which assures wine-lovers that the product was made using green techniques at every step.
http://bit.ly/cSVquw

HUMOUR

Vatican blames sex abuse scandal on Eugene Terre’blanche
http://www.hayibo.com/articles/view/1275

and I loved the response of friend, Conor Walsh (www.facebook.com/Concubhor ): “I am surprised the AWB lot have not yet tried to blame the sordid circumstances of Terreblanche’s death on the Pope, yet!”

“The Afrikaans for Oy Vey is Ag Vok” – Juan Coetzee

ACTIVISM

1 GOAL Action Week this week – for Education for All

50,000 school children in South Africa will participated in the ‘World’s Largest Lesson’ on Tuesday along with hundreds of thousands of others across the continent – and millions more around the world. They were backed by teachers, politicians and influential figures from the worlds of music, film and football – all demanding Education for All.  Hlubi Mboya (Nandipa from Isidingo) and Mark Haskins (Wits soccer star) took part in the special 1GOAL lesson in Johannesburg at the Isu’lihle Primary School in Soweto.

“Education is a basic right and yet millions of children are still unable to go to school,”  said Lucas Radebe, former captain of South Africa and 1GOAL Ambassador. “Millions of children around the world are taking this lesson and showing their support for 1GOAL. By joining them we can send a powerful message to world leaders – it’s time every child had the chance to attend class.”

Along with Aaron Mokoena, Matthew Booth and other members of the current Bafana Bafana squad and South African greats such as Quinton Fortune and Mark Fish, the World’s Largest Lesson is backed by some of the biggest names in world football, who are supporting what promises to be the greatest legacy of the FIFA World Cup – education for all.

With Africa’s first World Cup just over 50 days away, the campaign is seeking to secure US$16 billion in funding from world leaders to ensure that the 72 million children who are currently unable to go to school can receive an education. 1GOAL says this new funding should come from both increased aid commitments from rich countries as well as budget commitments from developing countries.

As President Jacob Zuma – who is a committed supporter of 1GOAL and the aim of education for all – said last week, the South African government will be hosting a high level summit during the FIFA World Cup that will set out a road map to achieve this.

1GOAL is calling on people to add their name to the campaign during this week by either signing up through the website (www.join1goal.org) or through twitter (@join1goal) or through Facebook.

For information and interviews please call: Richard Lee, Media Manager – 082 820 7637 or Richard@join1goal.org

Photo (c) Betony Lloyd:

Mark Haskins of Wits soccer club at the World's Largest Lesson at a primary schoolin Soweto

and Desmond Tutu chimed in for the cause:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/desmond-tutu/facing-the-future-global_b_544449.html

RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY

What is the future of Islam?
http://www.patheos.com/Resources/Additional-Resources/What-Is-the-Future-of-Islam.html

Video: U22 interview with Tenzin Palmo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbDid0fF7jE

Four Secrets of Sacred Sex (Or, Why Catholics Do It… Infallibly)
http://www.patheos.com/Resources/Additional-Resources/Four-Secrets-of-Sacred-Sex.html

Interview with green preacher, Matthew Sleeth
http://www.readthespirit.com/explore/667-interview-with-green-preacher-matthew-sleeth.html

TECH
A third of teens with cell phones text over 100 messages per day
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/21/teens-text-more-than-they_n_545735.html

Google Inc. has set up new tool to show where it’s facing the most government pressure to censor material and turn over personal information about its users.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/20/google-government-search-_n_545318.html

Facebook fairytales come true
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/emily-liebert/facebook-fairytales-come_b_545981.html

MEDIA AND MARKETING

The advert for DSTV everyone is sharing

http://www.bizcommunity.com/OrnicoAd.aspx?l=196&c=11&ai=772

ENVIRONMENT

Earth Day turns 40: An animated tribute
http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/videos/earth-day-turns-40-an-animated-tribute

ARTS

The 2010 Pulitzer Prizes have been announced:
www.pulitzer.org
And here is background on what exactly the Pulitzer prizes are:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulitzer_Prize

PARLIAMENT

This week: Parliament is completing the consideration of the various budget votes.

Tomorrow, Thurs 22 April In the National Assembly the following votes (budgets) will be considered and debated in Extended Public Committees:
Mineral Resources
Sport and Recreation
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
International Relations and Cooperation

Tomorrow, Thurs 22 April in the the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), there are policy debates on:

Economic DevelopmentEnergy
Transport

Next week is a constituency period for parliamentarians – how can one check that they are in their constitutencies? Got any ideas?

GAUTENG PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE

Coming up in the Gauteng Legislature in a sitting on Friday 23 April:
Debate and Adoption of the Standing Committee on Public Affairs reports on:
Department of Economic Development (2007/08)
Gauteng Tourism Authority (2007/08)
Gauteng Gambling Board (2007/08)
Cradle of Humankind (2007/08)
Gauteng Film Commission (2007/08)
Gauteng Economic Development Agency (2007/08)
Gauteng Film Commission (2006/07)
Gauteng Enterprise Propeller (2007/08)
Gauteng Tourism Authority (2006/07)
Gauteng Liquor Board (2006/07)
Gauteng Economic Development Agency (2006/07)
Impophoma Infrastructure Support Entity
Gauteng Provincial Government Precinct 2007/2008

KNOW OUR CONSTITUTION

This is the preamble to the Constitution of South Africa, 1996:

Preamble

We, the people of South Africa,
Recognise the injustices of our past;

Honour those who suffered for justice and freedom in our land;
Respect those who have worked to build and develop our country; and
Believe that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity.

We therefore, through our freely elected representatives, adopt this Constitution as the
supreme law of the Republic so as to-

Heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values,
social justice and fundamental human rights;

Lay the foundations for a democratic and open society in which government ibased on the will of the people and every citizen is equally protected by law;
Improve the quality of life of all citizens and free the potential of each person;

and

Build a united and democratic South Africa able to take its rightful place as a sovereign state in the family of nations.

May God protect our people.Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika. Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso.
God seën Suid-Afrika. God bless South Africa.
Mudzimu fhatutshedza Afurika. Hosi katekisa Afrika.

WEBSITE FINDS OF THE DAY –

www.readthespirit.com, ReadTheSpirit is an online magazine for readers who believe that spiritual diversity builds stronger communities. We bring you the best in books, films and inspiring voices from a wide range of faiths. (USA)

www.mnn.com – Mother Nature Network (USA)

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Reverence the highest, have patience with the lowest. Let this day’s performance of the meanest duty be thy religion. Are the stars too distant, pick up the pebble that lies at thy feet, and from it learn the all.”  – Margaret Fuller
http://www.gratefulness.org/word/index.htm – this changes daily