Monday 11 July 2011

Hello, today is a lovely sunny day in Dordrecht, although heavy frost was encountered this morning, it will turn out to be a beautiful winter's day!
A reminder for all to keep filled up with fuel because of the strikes in SA. I was reading an article in the M&G today "SA unions have a "death wish" says economist". The strike is now entering it's 2nd week. So far the 3rd Quarter GDP growth preditions are being revised downwards. This is not good news for our economy. Why the government & unions don't pre-plan for every year's strike action & problems is a question I have for them as everytime we have the same problems & the normal person on the street suffers. Every member / worker of a union pays a monthly sub toward the unions. In other words they pay the unions to negotiate on their behalf. Why then, are the unions not negotiating in a peaceful diplomatic way with organisations on behalf of the members / workers? Surely this is the job of the unions? Why then are they making their members / workers go out on a limb to strike, destroying lives & property, going without pay while they strike, and harming the economy of South Africa at large, making employment less and causing more poverty? This does not make for logical sense in my opinion. Food, fuel, housing, electricity, water, etc are already so expensive - now we as ordinary South Africans are going to be made to pay even more - how can we afford this - all because of the unions?
Back to Dordrecht, there are many going through tough times. At this time we think of Rentia & Emil Pautz. Emil has pancreatitis. They are going to East London to the specialist tomorrow, and from there, they will be going to Groote Schuur hospital in Cape Town, where Emil will have an operation. Emil is very ill, and the doctors are not sure if he will make it. Both Rentia & Emil are still very young, and have two young boys. Please let us think of them, support them and help and assist them in any way we are able to. I read a FB comment by the Dalai Lama today which read "Wise people serve others sincerely, putting the needs of others above their own. Ultimately you will be happier. The kind of selfishness that provokes fighting, killing, stealing, using harsh words, forgetting people's welfare will only result in your own loss".