Hello, and welcome to the second edition of Ukwazi Life. The launch edition was heartily received — thank you for your support!
This edition came together as the US voted in climate change denialist Donald Trump and countries haggled over global warming at the COP meeting in Azerbaijan, which Greta Thunberg labelled a greenwashing conference.
I was on assignment in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park as these global events unfolded. I had two life-changing experiences there: petting baby rhinos orphaned by poachers and doing a walking tour through the park. I saw lazy lions and locked eyes with a big bull elephant. The experience was spiritual.
My guide, Sbonelo Shabalala, communed with nature. We are one organism, he told me — you, me, the rhinos, butterflies, birds, bees and trees. (I couldn’t recommend Sbonelo and the incredible community tourism offering at Isibindi’s Rhino Ridge more highly.)
The experience strengthened my resolve to direct as much of Ukwazi Life as possible toward raising awareness about saving the planet. Hence our cover story. Alas, COP didn’t deliver a deal to put the squeeze on plastic pollution.
A story in The Economist in November smartly summed up debates about the cost of transitioning away from fossil fuels, which is often exaggerated: “This is no coincidence: climate sceptics and climate activists both have reason to talk up the expense. The sceptics can use alarming numbers as a reason not to bother; the activists can deploy them to demand more spending. In fact, climate change is neither the end of the world nor an expensive hoax. It is a real and difficult problem, but one that can be curbed affordably.”
We have to stop rhino poachers and stop poisoning the planet. The most meaningful way to do that is through education — hence the feature celebrating teachers.
I despair that in Durban, household waste separation just isn’t a thing. Our foray into orange bags failed because of thieving politicians. I often wonder why the eThekwini Municipality — or any municipality — doesn’t give residents clear bags to collect clean plastic, paper and tins. Maybe Cyril Xaba, Durban’s dapper new mayor, can lead that charge.
The simple mindfulness of waste separation is a giant step toward curbing crass consumerism. The two biggest threats to humanity are global warming and artificial intelligence. By some miracle, might the latter be harnessed to fix the former? Who knows. The kind and curious must live in hope.
This edition is packed with inspirational stories, from Ntswaki Ditlhale’s green graft to Peter Armitage’s incredible business growth. GG Alcock’s take on the informal economy is thought-provoking. Artist Anjo is uplifting, as are the features on books and education.
I wrote a LinkedIn post about a month ago fessing up to the fact that I can be a jaded hack. It was after I walked into a packed church in Kloof for a Viva Durban gig. I wrestled the Grinch into submission. I’d have a fortune if I had a buck for every hopeful gathering like this in our Cinderella province.
But the meeting in Kloof was different. Billed as an event to change the city narrative, the lineup included city officials and business representatives, including Cindy Norcott, whom I mention specifically because of her bullseye comments about life in the kingdom of “kwasilience”.
We must change the narrative. Some do it with flag-waving cheer, others with revivalist zeal. As Cindy says, it can be “ridiculously annoying optimism”. But it’s more than battling on a wing and a prayer. Action is the antidote to despair.
Covid, riots, floods and bad politics have caused much suffering. But where to now? If you are invested in KZN, double down and “mind your mind”, because victimhood robs us of the action we need to create change.
Before Cindy handed over to city stalwart Russell Curtis and others, who offered solid perspectives on KZN’s growth, she quoted Barack Obama and George Bernard Shaw. Both messages were stirring.
Obama said focusing your life solely on making a buck shows poverty of ambition. Everyone, said Cindy, has something in their head, heart or hands to build our home. Cindy’s incredible Robin Hood Foundation is a testament to that. We are ennobled by service to humanity.
And galvanising goodwill doesn’t mean the government can relinquish its responsibilities. On the contrary, it makes us more aware of what we must do to fix things and entrench accountability. As Cindy says: you are either part of the problem or the solution.
Now for the quote from George Bernard Shaw:
“This is the true joy in life, being used for a purpose recognised by yourself as a mighty one. Being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy… My life belongs to the whole community. As long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it what I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live.”
I hope you get to have a holiday and some happiness.
Shot!
Greg
