Posts Tagged ‘South Africa’

Bastille Day around the World

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010 by

While Bastille Day is a decidedly French holiday, it is celebrated in many parts of the world.  According to Wikipedia, Belgium, Hungary, South Africa and the UK all have events scheduled.

Here in the United States, over 50 cities participate, and one can even see them listed on an interactive Bastille Day map.  My favorite, not to be too parochial, is the Eastern State Penitentiary Bastille Day Festival which took place last weekend.  A reenactment of the storming of the Bastille takes place with “dozens of French revolutionaries” playing their roles to the tee including dragging Marie Antoinette to the guillotine.  Of course, no one said it was historically accurate – for those of you a little short on your French history, the storming of the Bastille took place in 1789.  Louis XVI lost his head in January of 1793, but Marie kept it all together until October.

Eastern State Penitentiary and the Fairmount area of Philadelphia make a great backdrop for the celebration which ends with special French meals in the many local restaurants and bars.

Do you have any Bastille Day stories for us or unique, local ways it is celebrated in your neck of the woods?  We would love to hear about it, and, of course, stay safe and healthy while you are out “storming” – avoid too much cake and let the professionals handle the fireworks.

Photo by Ammar Abd Rabbo.

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Rift Valley Fever Outbreak in South Africa: An Unwelcome Visitor to the World Cup?

Tuesday, May 18th, 2010 by

Last month, the South African National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) reported an outbreak of Rift Valley Fever (RVF), a viral illness that generally produces relatively mild symptoms of fever, headache, and muscle pains but on rare occasions can lead to internal bleeding, inflammation of the brain and eyes, and even death.  This news raises some eyebrows, coming on the eve of South Africa’s final preparations for a tidal wave of soccer enthusiasts for the FIFA World Cup, scheduled for a month-long run in numerous urban venues throughout South Africa beginning June 11th.

RVF is transmitted to humans primarily by contact with the blood of infected animals, especially cattle, sheep, donkeys and goats.  Because mosquitoes are the primary means of transmission, RVF outbreaks usually occur during heavy, prolonged rains. Fortunately, June and July are among the driest months in South Africa, and most RVF cases in this recent outbreak have been confined to rural areas.  South African health officials are quick to point out that victims to date have been in close proximity to domestic animals, and that mosquito-to-human transmission has not been documented so far.  In addition, the cooler winter weather is expected to encourage heavier clothing and reduce mosquito bites.

What’s the worst case? Kenya and Somalia experienced outbreaks in the summer of 2007, with dozens of reported deaths.  The worst outbreak on record was in Egypt (1977-78) when millions were infected and thousands died.  Fortunately, the vast majority of those who contract the illness recover within 2-7 days.  Less than 2% of cases progress to hemorrhagic fever which carries a 50% mortality rate.

Despite this grim history, the threat of RVF should not deter anyone from traveling to South Africa next month for the World Cup.  However, if a sojourn into rural areas of South Africa is on your itinerary, take precautions such as avoiding livestock and using insect repellent, protective clothing and mosquito netting.  Soccer fans need to rein in their passions long enough to focus on avoiding a rendezvous with the RVF virus, which is also in attendance.

Photo info: http://www.flickr.com/photos/25444043@N02/ / CC BY 2.0
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Tolerance and Health: Breakthrough in South Africa?

Monday, May 17th, 2010 by

In previous posts we’ve tracked the links between tolerance, happiness and health and asked whether a wide gender gap may be a barometer of a society’s reluctance to commit to tending to basic human needs. Now recent reports strike a hopeful chord, indicating that tolerance is a precondition for combating the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

First, based on twenty years of data from the U.S., researchers at Emory University are reporting findings of an inverse relationship between tolerance and HIV/AIDS infection rates. In other words, the more open and tolerant a community, the more successful education efforts are. It’s no surprise that HIV/AIDS thrives in the shadows of ignorance, prejudice and fear. If it is true in a society as open as America’s, it’s no doubt doubly true in many other countries of the world. Country-level data on the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases is spotty, but experienced travelers know that the highest infection rates are reported in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia.

So it seemed like a breakthrough last week when the President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, broke with years of silence and denial to openly discuss his personal history with multiple female partners and his commitment to testing and promoting circumcision to help slow the spread of HIV/AIDS. His openness is a dramatic effort to erase a stigma and set very high standard for tolerance for his people to follow. In office for a year, Mr. Zuma is putting his government’s resources behind what the United Nations has called the largest and fastest increase in AIDS testing and treatment ever.

Perhaps South Africa’s entrance onto the world stage—hosting soccer’s World Cup beginning next month—has helped to enlighten its leadership. If we want tolerance to lay the foundation for a healthier planet, let’s put all world leaders on notice: the whole world is watching.

Photo info: http://www.flickr.com/photos/worldbank/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
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