Soccer fans world-round are already excited at the upcoming World Cup South Africa 2010. The qualifying games are already happening – to tremendous crowds – and we’re over a year away from the opening kick-off of the actual event. But when we’re talking about the single most popular sporting event in the world, you can bet that there are a lot of people paying attention.

And one of the things that we’re paying attention to this year is the host country, South Africa. A tumultuous country with a remarkable history, South Africa is just as much a beautiful paradise of rabid football fans as it is a troubled country on a continent that’s found the challenge of moving into the 21st century almost insurmountable.

Which leads to the quite reasonable question: is South Africa going to be ready for the World Cup when the first kick-off occurs?

A quick peek at a site like SouthAfrica.info and you’ll see they address it directly, saying “The Rugby World Cup, Cricket World Cup, World Cup of Motorsport, Women’s World Cup of Golf, African Nations Cup … If you think South Africa will have any trouble pulling off the 2010 Fifa World Cup, look at the country’s track record for hosting major sporting events – and think again.”

But are they really getting closer to being ready?

Well, it looks like they are. Earlier this month they had a grand lighting ceremony at Durban’s Moses Mabhida stadium to celebrate the completion of the 105-metre high arch that towers over the 2010 semi-final venue. The last few weeks also marked the beginning of ticket sales for the FIFA World Cup 2010, which is a definite sign of optimism, if nothing else.

We’ll keep a close eye on preparations, of course, but here’s hoping that June 11 will be the beginning of a wonderful series of matches and the simultaneous start of a new chapter for the South African nation and its peoples.

Posted under 2010 World Cup

Carl Jung, a Swiss psychiatrist and the founder of analytical psychology, described archetypes as the psychological and emotional energy patterns that are in the collective unconscious. These can manifest individually, in forms of physical symptoms, complexes, dreams, and patterns of behavior, or culturally in popular trends, music, and current economical and social events.

In South Africa,  we have seen a tremendous rise in the AIDS epidemic over the last few years, which has contributed to the current health and social welfare concerns.  An estimated 6 million out of the 45 million people in South Africa are living with HIV/AIDS, the highest officially recognized total of people in the world (South African Department of Health). But underneath this crisis may be a larger social injustice at play that needs attention: sexual violence and gender inequality.

Sexual violence is not a new phenomenon. Dating back to antiquity, women have always played a lesser role in society. Most myths and fairytales depict the feminine as a weak victim in need of rescue. Rape has been used as a medium of torture and humiliation in war, whether between countries or tribes. Sexual abuse is one of the most annihilating forms of enforcing power, one that strips away personal choice. It is most damaging in the context of a trusting relationship, such as in the case of child sexual abuse and spousal rape. Read More…

Posted under Gender equality

To host or not to host – that is not the question any longer. It is less than 500 days until the 2010 World Cup starts.

There were many reasons for and against the World Cup in South Africa.

• The FIFA acknowledged the huge soccer enthusiasm in Africa.
• Many of the great players in the top leagues in Europe are from Africa.
• The World Cup was traditionally hosted in Europe and South America. Now North America and Asia have hosted the event as well. Quite simply: It is Africa’s turn.
• South Africa seemed to be best able to organize the event and build the necessary infrastructure.

Read More…

Posted under 2010 World Cup