Showing posts with label Education. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Education. Show all posts

Thursday, 29 August 2013

Day 41 - The Children of our Future


My agreement partner and I have been looking at having a child soon and I have come to realise a few points in terms of taking on the responsibility of a child. From my perspective the responsibility of a child is in principle the same as the responsibility of taking care of animals. What I mean is that the core principles remain and what I see as the core principles is that we have to be willing to dedicate our time to train the child how to live in a world full of abuse but, never let go of his principles and that we have to be able to accept the financial responsibility that comes with their upbringing.

I see a lot of people go into fear about having children. For me the fear is that I will pass on “bad” physical genes and that the points that the child has to overcome from my DNA will be more than necessary. I realise that the child will have points both physical and personal that are passed on through our DNA that the child must work through no matter how much I want them to be ‘invulnerable’.

The main point - from my perspective – that is different to the responsibility of raising an animal or raising a child, is that the animal does not have my DNA within themselves and that the child does. Within this, the perception is easily created that it is like fixing someone else’s fuckup instead of my own. From my mind’s perspective, it enables me to place the responsibility for a lot of the animal’s base character designs within something other than myself, whereas with a child the responsibility for his base character design comes undeniably from me and my partner.

I am not saying that the act of raising a child and an animal is the same; I am only trying to say the principles of how to raise them are. I will teach them how to live within common sense and show them how to consider what is best for all in every decision they make. I show my animals this point as much as possible, but there is a communication ‘barrier’ that makes it more difficult. I am confident in the fact that I will be able to bring the message of “do unto another as you would like to be done unto” either as clearly or more clearly to my children.

I ask my animals to treat me with the same respect I show to them and that is all I would ask of my child, taking into account the unfortunate difficulties of this world that the child would have to be shown – how to work with and how to survive in a world of greed. I will have to teach them about the world even though I did not enjoy it when I was young. I will ensure that the child is able to stand no matter how hard the shit hits the fan – which would mean that it will not be easy but it will be necessary for them to learn about the how and the why the world works the way it does now.

I would’ve preferred to bring my child into a world that I can be proud of and that the child would be safe but, children that are taught that they must stand together to change the world are necessary to assist in the change that will come. (Note: I am not saying that everyone should have kids now, I am rather placing my current process into understanding and due to the fact that I have had an upbringing mainly based on support within the principle of what is best for all – as my father was standing this example throughout my life – I am clear on the fact that at this stage in my process and my life, I can support a child effectively. The decision to have a child will be made by each one according to their own process and of course the ability to support a child financially.)

I ask now for the forgiveness of my child or children for the amount of responsibility I am laying on their shoulders.

I ask that they realise that there is no other way to ensure that the world will change sooner rather than them having to pass it on to their children.

I realise that my children will have the best life that I can provide for them, but they will not be able to live free until all can stand together, equal as one, for what is best for all.


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Wednesday, 22 May 2013

Day 25 - Outrageous Demands for Human Rights

Source article:
http://www.fin24.com/Companies/Industrial/Eskom-gears-up-for-pay-talks-20130521

Johannesburg - Three trade unions for Eskom employees have submitted their demands ahead of this year's salary negotiations, the power utility said on Tuesday.

Spokesperson Hilary Joffe said the negotiation process would begin next week.

Lists of demands were received from the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa), the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), and Solidarity.

Numsa wants more for medical aid

Numsa demanded entry level workers be paid R12 500 as part of a one-year wage agreement and that minimum wage workers be moved to the maximum in their pay scales from July.

In relation to medical aid contributions, it wanted Eskom to pay 80%, with employees contributing the balance.

Numsa wanted the monthly housing allowance increased by R3 000 to R5 000 and a transport subsidy of R300 per month, and for the standby allowance to be increased.

The union sought six months' maternity leave on full pay, and an increase on the 10 days' paternity leave now offered.

Other demands included extending death benefits to workers' families, an essential service agreement allowance of R1 000, and free solar geysers for staff.

In addition, Numsa demanded that Eskom stop using the services of labour brokers from the beginning of July.

NUM seeks more leave days 

The NUM wanted average monthly increases ranging from R3 000 to R3 500, depending on workers' job grades, extended to all employees covered in the bargaining unit.

It echoed Numsa's demands on housing allowances and also wanted staff personal housing loans upped from R75 000 to R120 000 in a one-year wage agreement.

The NUM demanded the essential service allowance to be increased to R1 500.

For maternity leave the union wanted five months on full pay and the sixth month leave at 30% of basic salary.

It also wanted annual leave increased to 25 calendar days, an additional two days for each month of completed service on a pro rata basis, and 21 days of contingency leave per cycle.

The NUM demanded 50 days of trade union leave each year per business unit and another 20 days for each part-time shop steward to attend training courses.

It further wanted Eskom's disciplinary code and procedures, as well as grievance procedures and recognition agreements, reviewed according to best practice.

Solidarity wants phone benefits

Solidarity demanded a 12% wage increase across the board, and also a one-year agreement.

It wanted a R3 500 housing benefit per employee and a fixed daily subsistence allowance of R550 per day.

The union demanded an R85 standby allowance and subsidised telephone allowance, but where an employee wanted to use a private cellphone Eskom should pay R800 per month.

For workers acting in higher positions, Solidarity wanted workers to receive a 10% increase in basic salary after 14 days in an acting role. After six months of acting, the worker should be appointed to the position.

Other demands included that the weekly rest period be extended to at least 48 consecutive hours and a R1 000 electricity allowance for each worker.

Looking at these demands the first thing that comes to my mind is that these demands are entirely insane, but the fact is that these “demands” are entirely reasonable as these people are asking for their basic human right to be able to survive in this world. Let me expand: they are asking for housing, they are means of transportation, they are asking for enough money to support their families, they are asking for clean free energy, they are asking for means of communication, they are asking for enough time to prepare themselves for bringing a child into this world and they are asking for time to live their lives. Aren’t these things that everyone would like to have and should have and should be given as these things are basic human rights?

In the current system these demands are extremely unrealistic and if accommodated the company would likely have to hire more people to cover the work and would have to raise prices to be able to cover their costs so as to make the profit that they see as more important than their workers well being. In turn, with rising electricity prices, pressure would be placed upon the production costs of all other goods which would reduce the real income of individuals throughout the economy and cause the workers to ask for wage increases again so as to maintain their living standard, creating a vicious cycle.

So, no in the current system these demands cannot be met, but this means basically that the current system is falling short of providing everyone with their basic human rights, which makes you consider if this system is worth continuing and if this is the system that we want to leave to our children.

Please join us in this discussion at:

http://www.facebook.com/groups/134734879873165/?ref=ts&fref=ts
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