Hola MaHigh School Volume 5, Issue 5 August 2016
It’s still career talk ... And Women’s Month of course --- And a lot more ---
Gauteng, home to Africa’s economic powerhouse, Johannesburg, boasts an exciting mix of urban lifestyle, diverse cultural and natural attractions, as well as advanced infrastructure. Call us and we’ll show you why Gauteng in South Africa is the perfect location to bring your big idea to vibrant, colourful life.
Cont 06 Editor’s letter 07 Poem 08 We need writers 10 Contributors 11 Holler at us 14 Careers 18 Masizziba: My own story 24 Celebrating women’s month: Fikile
tents 27 Nuclear energy 34 ‘Smart’ clothes 36 quotes 38 Study guide: presto 40 celebrating women’s month: masiziba 44 brazil 46 next issue
Editors Letter August! Hot and dusty. And back to school for the last stretch now. Not that long to go now. Twelve years later! So what have we in store for this month: More on careers. And the view of a professional HR person. That is as authorative as we can get it. August is Women’s Month. Both Fikile and Masiziba have written something interesting. Not just the usual anyone can read in the papers. Science is about clothing. Yes, clothes will be ‘smart’ in the future - which is now anyway. Masiziba is still on a roll on nuclear energy. This is rather fascinating stuff. And how could we not mention Brazil. It is all there! Good read!
Sybil
Time for poems:
Time and again How time is flying, how slowly time is progressing But isn’t time a linear experience? Except of course Time is impacted by gravity But gravity is really the heaviness of a body So time can be impacted by me and you and others So time is flying or time is going so slowly And time is more than a linear thing Time is a perception and maybe we can go back and forth as we cannot remember Time is here and now and is not moving Right now, at the right time Time is waiting for us to do the right thing Right now
Sybil
We need writers! Our writers are growing up and getting older That is og course good. BUT.... it means they are leaving us Therefore: would you like towrite for us? What is required? That is easy You have to be in grade 10-12 Impeccable in your preferred language-and that might not be English. We try to be more than just English Passionate about your topic of choice no dull articles here
Do you get anything out of it? Well, not money, sorrry. BUT if we publish your articles you will have: Your bio in a commercial magazine A photo of yourself You can put it all on your CV you can use us as a reference ... and it goes in your portfolio
Is it important? YES it is. Look what Rofhiwa said: My name is Rofhiwa and I love to write. I think I am rather decent writer too. I took my talent and have used it to express my thoughts on international dealings of the world which have been published in Hola MaHigh-School. It has paid off, not only is my work printed for young people in the country to read, but it also contributed to me gettng a bursary from CNBC-Africa to do my post-graduate studies. Would be a lot harder to get by if I didn’t have platform like Hola MaHigh-School.
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Meet our contributors My name is Masiziba, a 16 year old girl from a small rural town called Balfour in Mpumalanga. I am a matriculant in wait. My mother worked as a domestic worker and my father is a backyard Farmer. During my spare time I love reading, writing stories and watching TV. I am a confident girl who has big dreams and wants to prove that you can make it whatever your background is
Pinky Rapoo is a creative writer by nature and not yet by profession.She lives in Vosloorus and is currently in grade 12 at Vosloorus Comprehensive SecondarySchool. Listening to music is her hobby,writing is her passion. Her motto is “Think twice before speaking,think three times before acting and think thoroughly before writing�. My name is Fikile Unifire Zulu, I hail from Evaton West in the Vaal Triangle, Gauteng. I love art (writing included) and started doing so ever since I can remember. I am a go-getter, determined, ambitious and diligent young woman, I strongly believe in reading because it allows you to look at the world in a new perspective and writing .. well you get to express your thoughts and imagination without any fear. Besides writing, I am passionate about serving the community, currently I am a Provincial Secretary-General for Disabled Youth South Africa, Deputy Chairperson for Evaton West Local Drug Action Commitee, PR officer for Educate South Africa and part of Gauteng Youth Road Safety task team.
HOLLER AT US Hola MaHigh-School
The stuff we need to mention:
Editor & Publisher Sybil Otterstrom sybil@romele.co.za
Advertising sales Next level Management services cc 011 614 5046 076 360 1792 sybil@next-level.co.za Publlishing Romele Publications cc 32 Eleanor street Troyeville 2094 011 614 5046/076 360 1792
Website www.romele.co.za
Hola Ma High School When you post your comments here, it will go to the website
Enquiries Romele Publications cc 32 Eleanor Street Troyeville 2094 Production and Art Direction Ivan Otterstrom ivan@romele.co.za Distribution On-The-Dot Printing United Litho
follow us on Twitter @holamahigh When you post your comments here, it will go to the website
South WeSt GautenG technical
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APPLY NOW AND STAND A CHANCE T THE SECOND SEMESTER AND
“Sharpen your skills, Unleash your passion, Join the Economy and Shape up your Career at opportunity to all Grade 10-12 learners as well as youth seeking to further their education o Utility Studies.
As only a limited number of spaces are available in certain programmes, prospective studen
We are therefore inviting all eligible and interested prospective students to apply for any of
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Offered at Technisa Campus only Programme Offered
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DHET BURSARIES THOUGH THEY AR TO THE STUDENT THROUGH THE M MAKE THE WISE PLY NOW!
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For further enquiries on applications, please contact any of our Campuses on 086Â headoffice@swgc.co.za or visit us on www.swgc.co.z Head Office Contact Centre Dobsonville Campus 1822A Molele Street, Klip Valley/Union Street, Kliptown 5604 Van Onselen Road, Dobsonville c/o Koma Road, Molapo Roodepoort Campus Roodepoort West Campus Technisa Campus 1 Lawson Street, Roodepoort West Cnr Main and Huguenot, Blairgow 1 Webber Avenue, Horizon
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TO BE INVITED TO ENROLL FOR D THIRD TRIMESTER 2016!
t South West Gauteng TVET College.” The College is offering an or advance their careers in the fields of Engineering, Business and
nts are advised to apply for enrolment at the College, NOW!
the following courses/programmes provided that they meet the set requirements:
Utility Studies Report 191/Nated Programme Offered
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N4
George Tabor
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George Tabor
Educare
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S ARE AVAILABLE, EVEN RE NOT GARANTEED, EVEN TS THAT ARE DEEMED NEEDY MEANS TEST CHOICE, KHETHA AND AP-
eriod! Enough Said!
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1. Manual Application forms can be obtained at any of the College Sites/Campuses and, or on the College Website; www.swgc.co.za 2. Online Applications can be found on the College’s Website: www.swgc.co.za and maybe completed electronically, please ensure to follow the system rules. 3. Returning of the Application Forms: - Semester Application Forms • Completed application forms to be sent to any of the College Sites, by hand, fax, email or post using the details or addresses given below, but must reach the College no later than 10 June 2016 • Applicants will be notified of their acceptance / non-acceptance no later than 24 June 2016 - Third Trimester Application Forms • Completed application forms to be sent to any of the College Sites, by hand, fax, email or post using the details or addresses given below. Completed Forms may be submitted from the 1 June 2016 and must reach the College no later than 1 August 2016 • Applicants will be notified of their acceptance / non-acceptance no later than 24 August 2016 - Distance Learning • Applications are opened throughout the year. 4. Completed Application forms must be accompanied by the following documents: - Certified copy of Identity document. - Certified copy of latest results/qualification
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Careers - T is waiting Let us look more into a career. We have again interviewed three interesting persons, each with a different job and career. In many instances we tend to look at those ‘high-flying jobs’ i.e. a pilot, a banker, a millionaire and so on. But we cannot all be Kardashians, so we need to focus on what the majority of us would like to do. The other aspect is the entrepreneur vs the employee. What is the best? Is it ‘safe’ to be employed? Do I run the risk of going out of business if I am an entrepreneur? Let there be no mistake: As an employee in any company (big, small international, etc.) there is no job security. I think the statistics say that on average any employee will get fired 1,85 times in their lives (never mind the ‘comma something’ -> it is an average). What about an entrepreneur? The glorified self-starter. The person with an ‘idea’ and energy to conquer the world? Well, it is simple to register a company. But now comes the challenge: Funding! Who will put money into your idea? And remember, an entrepreneur has no infra-structure. An entrepreneur has to do it all him or herself. Bookkeeping, sales, SARS, and so on. A million things.
The world g for you Let us look at an entrepreneur: BTW, according to world statistics, the most successful entrepreneur (and the one who will survive) is a 50+ year old male coming from a major company from a mid-to higher-level management position! WOW! It might make sense but even so. Has anybody watched ‘Dragons Den’ on TV? This is what any entrepreneur is up against: Sell your idea to people with money (the banks as well) or government funding agencies. Thereafter it is a matter of getting it started. Premises, stock, buying and selling, books, etc. etc. etc. Is it then easier to get a job? That can also be tricky! Do we then just give up? Is it doom and gloom? Not at all! It might just take some perseverance and sacrifice and loads of patience. But remember one thing: people are still getting employed. Companies are still getting started. So, when one opportunity does not come through, on to the next one. Never ever give up.
Careers: Entrepreneur We spoke to our own Sybil Otterstrom – the publisher of Hola MaHigh-School. It is after all a new company and she is a fully-fledged entrepreneur in her own right. I started in the bank as a teller after high-school. Being a business woman running a company was never in my mind at all. I had different jobs and got into advertising sales at a newspaper some many years back. Slowly, very slowly, an idea formed. Somehow, could I be able to help young people getting a job? Could I not do something on my own? It was actually recent. We had the idea and we had some expertise in advertising sales. We convinced one of the funding agencies about the idea. That was after some years of emailing our business plan and financial forecasts to all and sundry. Forget all about the well-dressed business woman who is sitting and having lunch with friends while the company is humming along in the back-ground. It is hard grinding work seven days a week. The books must be kept up to date. And if you cannot hire an accountant (and money will be scarce to begin with. Cost-cutting is important) you have to do it yourself. VAT reconciliation and SARS are things to be on top of. And that is typically Sunday afternoon jobs. All of that said: It is very very satisfying to be your own boss after all. It is the feeling of achieving. And as an entrepreneur I am just as good as any other company owner, be it Motsepe or Bill Gates or whatever. I walk proudly and I do risk a lot, but it is worth it all!
Careers: Health Practitioner ‘Sis Popi’ that is what we call her. She is a role model to many of us young girls in my community. She does health promotion work— where she openly discusses issues surrounding HIV/AIDS, personal hygiene and teenage pregnancy amongst many other issues. If you think you have met an upstanding person —wait till you meet her! She believes that her job builds young people, specifically young women, to be future leaders, and make their future shine a little bit brighter. A strong woman, she says, is someone who stands up for herself, who is brave in facing challenges head on and do not run away from situations that may distract her making a significant contribution in other people’s lives. She even made a practical example of herself. “There are some serious challenges we face at work” she says. The government doesn’t give them enough resources to do their jobs effectively. She says that with mobile clinics, some people are not reachable but if they had a horn or hailer, for example, then the message that these talks will be hosted will surely reach the target audience. “And even tents could be useful, enabling a bit of privacy” she said because then more people will feel comfortable talking about the issues they might be facing regarding their health. However, despite all these challenges, she keeps on pushing, doing house to house intervention, and going from one school to another, being brutally honest about some of the issues we face as high school learners. She has been my role model, and experience can beat any level of education. She is one proof of that. She has been able to provide us excellent information regarding lifestyle choices, even better than any life orientation session could. She is an inspirational woman! By Masiziba Hadebe.
Masiziba: M My stairway Talent without skill is simply nothing, I believe. And yes, Hola MA high school has, in fact, developed my talent and now I too can say I have a ‘skill’. The minute I got the opportunity to write for Hola MA high school, at age 16, I felt something good was happening for me. It has given me a platform to speak because writing is not only one way to speak but another to make a difference in many people’s lives without being there, physically, in their geographical area. I remember I couldn’t use some of the parts of speech (i.e. comma) very well, and I never knew that I had that weakness —all I wanted to do was write, write and write! And, just like most people my age, I didn’t acknowledge the importance of planning before writing. My first article, 16 days of activism against women and children abuse, was by far one of the interesting articles I have ever wrote. It was the first time I knew how it felt to be a ‘journo’. I spoke to my community leader, conducted my first ever interview with her, and spoke to my peers as the bigger person that I have always dreamt of being. To top that off, I was so excited that my work was going to be published and I was, finally, going be a writer. Those were the emotions at that time. On the other hand, I was supposed to do the planning(the first ever to be taken seriously), and I came up with approximately 8 points, then I was told that out of the 8, I had to only use 2 of those points, those points being those that I felt strongly about. . . Well, eventually I did although it was very
My own story y to stardom hard because here I was thinking I got it all under control. Allowing myself to learn, I did what I was told to. The end product was top of the notch—the layout was wonderful, it all looked professional. I had, from that point, understood that planning was important, it should not be done for the mere fact that it’s compulsory but because it actually helps you literally in your writing. If you had, a few months back, asked me what nuclear energy was, I would have completely ran away. This is because I would have been clueless about nuclear power. Since writing for Hola, I got the opportunity to write a series of articles that have cool, vibrant and enriching topics like “Uniform or not?” “Racism and social Media, no place to hide!” “Aargh the Summary!” “Nuclear energy and its systems.” “June 16!” “Coal is not green!” Those are some of the articles which I am very proud of. Do you also have a burning passion for writing? Are you willing to take your passion for writing a little further? I do through writing for Hola MA high school. The Hola team has also treated me very well by offering all their expertise and time to help me be a writer of standard at my age hence I have honestly learnt a lot, and trust me I am still learning.
By Masiziba Hadebe.
CALENDAR 2016
MAR Construction Focus Week – Grade 9 - 12 Launch My Career – Grade 11
Food for Life Holiday Program
Bloodhound Rocketry Course Electronics Club – (Intro) – Grade 10 & 11 Fame Lab Speak2aScientist
APR Launch My Career – Grade 11
Bloodhound Rocketry Course Electronics Club – (Intro) – Grade 10 & 11 Mathematics Week – Grade Subject Choice – Grade 9
FOCUS WEEK
ENQUIRING MINDS PROGRAMME
Speak2aScientist
1 - 29 FEBRUARY
JANUARY Life after school – Grade 12
25 Jan. - 12 Feb.
FEBRUARY Life After School – Grade 12
25 Jan. - 12 Feb.
Enquiring Minds Programme – Grade 12 - 3
1 - 29
Finance, Banking & Investment Industry Focus Days– Grade 9 - 12
24 - 25
Finding my Way– Grade 7
15 - 19
Electronics Club - (Intro) – Grade 10 & 11
Feb. - Sep.
Speak2aScientist
25
Spea
Scie
RCH 8 - 11 7 - 11
mme
19 Mar. - 4 Apr.
e
29 Mar. - 2 Apr. Feb. - Sep. 22 31
RIL 11 - 15
e
29 Mar. - 2 Apr. Feb. - Sep.
4 - 12
18 - 22 18 - 29 28
ak 2a
MAY Electronics Club – (Intro) – Grade 10 & 11
Feb. - Sep.
Health Science Week – Grade 4 - 12
16 - 20
Engineering Focus Week – Grade 9 - 12
23 - 27
Subject Choice – Grade 9
3-6
Minquiz (Provincial)
19
Exploring Careers – Grade 10
9 - 13
Speak2aScientist
26
JUNE
entist
Electronics Club – (Intro) – Grade 10 & 11
Feb. - Sep.
Subject Choice – Grade 9
1 - 10
Astonishing Anatomy Holiday Programme
25 Jun. - 17 Jul.
Bloodhound Rocketry Course
27 Jun. - 1 Jul.
Speak2aScientist
30
JULY Electronics Club – (Intro) – Grade 10 & 11
Feb. - Sep.
Subject Choice – Grade 9
18 - 28
Astonishing Anatomy Holiday Programme
25 Jun. - 17 Jul.
Bloodhound Rocketry Course
27 Jun. - 1 Jul.
Bloodhound Rocketry Course
4 - 8 Jul.
Minquiz (National )
13 - 14
Astronomy Quiz
Jul.
Speak2aScientist
28
Exciting Careers For Girls
SEPTEM
AUGUST Electronics Club – (Intro) – Grade 10 & 11
Feb. - Sep.
Electronics Club – (Intro) – Grade 10 & 11
National Science Week – Grade 4 - 12
1-5
Sustainable Energy Week – Grade 4 & 12
Media Week (Mnet) – Grade 9 - 12
15 - 19
Entrepreneurship Development & Support Bootc
ICT Focus Week – Grade 9 - 12
22 - 26
Subject Choice – Grade 9 Speak2aScientist
Girl Power: Exciting Careers for Girls 5 - 6 – Grade 9 - 12 Speak2aScientist
25
OCTOB Maritime Focus Week – Grade 9 - 12
Transport Week (special focus on Maritime We – Grade 4 - 12 Subject Choice – Grade 9 Space Explorers Holiday Programme Bloodhound Rocketry Course Mental Maths Speak2aScientist
NOVEMBER Early Explorers Month – Grade R
1 - 30
Subject Choice – Grade 9
1-4
Speak2aScientist
24
DECEMBER December Holiday Programme
10 - 31
MBER
camp
Feb. - Sep. 5-9 22 - 23 1 - 30 29
BER
eek)
24 - 28 (during Transport Week) 24 - 28
EARLY EXPLORERS MONTH 1 - 30 NOVEMBER
10 - 21 1-9 3-7 Oct. 27
ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT BOOTCAMP 22 - 23 SEPTEMBER
The struggle by women isn’t 9th August of every year since 1956 marks a national celebration when 20 000 brave women marched to the Union Building in Pretoria to protest against carrying of passes, fast forward to 2016, where are women now? For disabled women who form part of the minority group seems as if the struggles grows each day and it’s a hard struggle. Although there are a few disabled women in executive or top positions (African at 4.0%, followed closely by Coloured at 2.4%, Indian at 2.4% and lastly White at 12.1%) and for women with disabilities in the workforce in senior management (African at 5.3%, Coloured at 2.4%, Indian at 2.9% and White at 17.6%) compared to men and judging from those numbers one can see that a lot still needs to be done. There seem to a dynamic shift between women of now and women of the 50s, disabled or not. I know the struggle back then was for freedom and we did get it, through the tears, blood and sweat. For someone with a disability, the struggle to get a permanent job, to have access to education, run a profitable business, to get a decent house is a constant battles not for me but for other women with a disability out there and in 2016 that should be questioned. The National Development Plan (NDP): Vision 2030 says “persons with disabilities must have enhanced access to quality education and employment. Efforts to ensure relevant and accessible skills development programmes for people with disabilities, coupled with equal opportunities for their productive and gainful employment, must prioritised.” Key proposals outlined in the NDP: 1) Increasing exports: Ensuring that people with disabilities benefit from infrastructure projects that contribute to growth and job creation. There is a need for inclusive planning that guarantees equal business opportunities and access to key services such as commercial transport, energy, telecommunications and water, while ensuring their long-term affordability and sustainability. 2) Persons with disabilities are part of all strategies to reduce the cost of living for low-income and working-class households. Such strategies should take into account the diversified needs of different segments within the population of persons with disabilities.
over, it’s an ongoing battle! 3) Reduced cost of regulatory compliance should be extended to businesses that are managed and owned by persons with disabilities and their families. 4) A larger more effective innovation system should ensure skills development and businesses owned by persons with disabilities are included and supported. 5) Support for small businesses that are owned and managed by persons with disabilities. 6) An expanded skills base that achieves the current target of 4% set in the National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS) and progressively increase this to 15% by 2030 in line with the increasing number of persons with disabilities. 7) Strengthen financial services to bring down their cost and improve access for small-and medium sized businesses. Such services should be available to persons with disabilities and their business enterprises on an equitable basis. 8) There must be a commitment to public and private procurement that fosters for growth of disability-empowered business and business owned/managed by persons with disabilities. 9) A higher rate of investment should create employment and business opportunities for persons with disabilities. 10) A labour market that is more responsive to economic opportunity should take into account the need to ensure that persons with disabilities are included without basis of disability, race, geographical location and gender. Labour market strategies should embed disability at each level of the value chain, particularly with regards ensuring that persons with disabilities benefit from reviewed regulations and standards for small and medium enterprises; addressing public sector relations; strengthening the application of minimum standards on the employment of persons with disabilities among employers; ensuring that innovative recruiting processes target persons with disabilities; and strengthening the compliance with disability components of active labour market policies. 11) Enhanced commercial diplomatic services should position disability as an integral component of investment and foreign policy.
The Struggle continues Women’s Month Women and girls with discriminated while those an easy target of sexual who are lucky enough to internship there is always education background educated due to certain Vision is set for 2030 come, what about now?
disabilities are still with mental illnesses are abuse and rape. For those get a learnership or an a question of age, and for those who aren’t circumstances. The NDP which is in 14 years to
Nqobile Mazibuko, a Customer Relations and Internal Communications Specialist at the office of the Premier in Gauteng and is also a founder of a whatsapp group called Power of Ability that offers people with disabilities work and study opportunities by patnering with recruiters from different agencies. “I started this group because I believed that persons with disabilities have more advantages now in South Africa than ever before and unfortunately not many people are aware of the information that I have and thinking that as soon as getting a specific number of people. It will be better for me if I can get 100 people cause I know one person is more likely to tell three people about the opportunities. By the end of the year I can have more than 300 people know about the group.” When asked about some of the challenges that women with disabilities face at the workplace she said, “we have to work a 100 times more than a normal person can because we are so much underestimated, so under evaluated and under validated because for instance if there’s something wrong with my eyes therefore i’m not perceived as clever as the other person. The 1956 march has in women in general with disabilities are to stand up for themions without fear and rights. Since1994 in disabilities, the South had a lot of impact on ties. But discrimination girls with disabilities as they are exposed have a long way to go.
had a major impact and not just women that now they are able selves voice their opinexercise their human regards to women with African constitution women with disabiliagainst women and is a serious problem as vulnerable and we
The Dangers of Nuclear Where will nuclear waste be disposed? Why is the Koeberg nuclear power plant built very far from the community? And lastly, will the Nuclear-Energy suppliers be able to ever guarantee the safety of using Nuclear? Whether those questions were to be answered or not, the track record of ‘nuclear power’ shows nuclear energy as not only with serious dangers but also with potential long term negative effects. The effects are mostly in terms of leakage (radiation) and safe handling of waste material. There are advancements in Nuclear-Technology, but can it guarantee safety? Nuclear Waste According to reports, a TRADITIONAL nuclear power plant produces some 25-30 tons of nuclear waste each year, and some of this waste is extremely dangerous. The newer types of reactors (see my previous articles) produces far less high-radioactive waste. The dangerous waste is referred to as high-level waste but there is also low-level waste which contains very little radioactivity. These types are typically simple materials such as workers clothing and old equipment. That said, it is still too radioactive to just discard. High-level radioactive wastes include highly radioactive materials produced as byproducts of the reactions that occur inside nuclear reactors. Types of such materials are Flourine, Calcium, Cobalt, Strontium, Iodine, Xenon, Thorium etc. They are isotopes of what is otherwise found in nature and by and large can be absorbed in animals and humans as the body cannot distinguish between the ‘natural’ one and the isotope. Dangers mutations, aged DNA scenarios we They are
to health are cancer, radiation sickness, damand all the other horror otherwise read about. REALITY, though.
Dangers of nucl Spent nuclear fuel is used fuel that is no longer efficient in creating electricity, as its fission process has slowed. However, it is still thermally hot, highly radioactive, and potentially harmful. Nuclear waste has to be moved from one place to another as a plant typically does not have a permanent storage facility. Wherever possible, it is moved through areas where not many people live (e.g. Koeberg nuclear power Plant). But what about terrorist hi-jackings? Hollywood has plenty of those types of movies. Storage facilities are only now being created according to safety standards. The half-life of some of the waste products are short (like 30 years) to millions of years (lower-level radioactive). But it does not remove the fact that all of it represents a danger if let loose. Suggestions rage from dumping it in the oceans close to undersea volcanoes to be sucked into the Earth’s mantle. Deep-sea deposit, buried in mud (which will encapsulate it), deep in a mountain (away from disaster zones i.e. earth quakes, etc). If viewed over a time span of 24,000 years, it still does not look safe. It might be very seldom that something goes wrong in the transportation of nuclear waste but when it does, the consequences are far more dramatic than any other type of industrial accident. Nuclear Accidents Nuclear accidents have happened before. And On 26 April 1986, the worst nuclear accident happened at Chernobyl , in the Ukraine A huge fire broke out and a massive explosion lifted the reactor’s 1,000-tonne lid, scattering tons of radioactive fuel. But Chernobyl could have been avoided. It was negligence and bad management. The disaster began during a systems ‘test’ that day in the Chernobyl plant. Then the Fukushima nuclear disaster, which happened on 11 March 2011 was initiated primarily by the tsunami following the Tōhoku earthquake. Immediately after the earthquake, the active reactors automatically shut down their sustained fission reactions. However, the tsunami destroyed the emergency generators cooling the reactors, causing
lear - continued reactor 4 to overheat from the decay heat from the fuel rods. The insufficient cooling led to three nuclear meltdowns and the release of radioactive material beginning on 12 March. Several hydrogen-air chemical explosions occurred between 12 March and 15 March. On 12 October 2012, the first time that it had failed for fear of inviting lawnuclear plants. Nobody imcome their way; hence the account. And that is then never happen’ scenarios
operator admitted for the to take necessary measures suits or protests against its agined that a tsunami could design never took it into the question: what ‘can have we forgotten?
People across the globe are trying to stop the development of nuclear energy because of the belief that it will never be a safe source of energy. Germany is switching off their nuclear plants as there is a groundswell of resistance to nuclear power. In Denmark, the government decided not to build nuclear power stations after a huge number of ‘normal’ people wore badges saying ‘Nuclear Power ? No thanks!’ Another fact is that there are many other nuclear accidents and the consequences have been dire when it goes wrong! Nuclear proliferation Whether we like it or not, nuclear energy production is ultimately linked to nuclear weapons – the bomb! Is it fair? Maybe not, but perception is reality. And that is what we need to look at next time. By Masiziba Hadebe
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Careers: What In a few months, our grade 12’s will be let loose on society. Some will apply for jobs and some will be looking at TVET’s or universities. All fair and good. But how does it look applying for a job with a nearly blank CV? How much experience and years in the industry can you have when you have just finished matric? Exactly! So what to do? CV, cover letter, interview, how to impress when – honestly – we have no experience when just finished school and there cannot physically be too much on the CV either. We spoke to a professional: Mr. Deon Loots, Group Human Resources Manager at Karan Beef. Karan Beef is huge, employing some 2,600 people. It is professional and it is well-run. As they employ a lot of people in a variety of jobs (drivers, vets, sales, IT and a lot more) we have come to the right place. What is important to Mr. Loots is ATTITUDE. Skills can be learnt and experience can be gained, but attitude is the starting point. Without an attitude matching the Karan Beef’s standards, it simply cannot work. But how can a new matric student get to the interview? The CV is of course a part of it, but it is also to show initiative. If you should apply for a job (in any company really), have you looked it up? What do they do? What are the possibilities for a job ? read up on it all. Study the subject – i.e. the company and let it show in the communication. After all, a CV will require a cover letter, so get on with putting it together. Experience? Be honest about it. But have you not done something after school? Chairing the discussion club in matric? Volunteer worker at the zoo?
t does HR say? Having a job after school and during holidays? ANYTHING will count. It shows one thing: willingness to work (hard) and showing initiative. And that is what a Mr Loots will be looking for. But is it all based on gut-feel in a professional company? Not at all. Karan Beef is using an evaluation tool (Thomas International’s Profile Analysis – look it up). So, suddenly it is more scientific and it assists HR in getting through tons of applications. Attention to detail is key. If a CV and a cover letter are full of typos, well, it does not show any attention to detail. It will detract. And let us face it: if we do not even care enough to get the first impression right, how will any prospective employer look at that? The perception will indeed be that such a person will not attend to details within the company and then what? Willingness to learn is key. There is no way that we can know it all but if we can show that we are able and willing to learn, we can be taken serious. … and honesty will always shine through any application. Don’t present yourself as ‘greater’ than what is the case. But there must be more to it? Obviously there is. At the end of the day, some will be asked to come for an interview. And that is the chance to make the impression for life.
Clothing --- What to wear This is something new: Wearable Technology. It is not really new, the concept that is. We have all seen the movies where the ‘heroes’ have plenty of things literally up their sleeve. But here we are talking about clothes we will be buying in Mr Price etc in the future – a future that is now close to reality. I have found a lot of this from an article on Fashionista.com (5 Things Your Clothes Will Be Able to Do in the Future by Rachel Arthur). There are plenty of new companies out there, dabbling in merging technology with clothes. The breakthrough is probably Ralph Lauren selling their ‘Smart Shirt’. A veritable computer, sensing body temperature, heart rate, calories burning, and tons of other bio data. Download it to your cell phone via the app. Easy. It was introduced in the tennis US Open in 2014. The ball-boys were wearing this invention. But does it mean the cotton the past? Hardly, although account for some $53bn in ful technology with fashion changer.
and the silk are things of Wearable Technology might 2019. It is the merging of usewhich will be the major game
Colour changing clothes Via an app you can change the colour and shades and so on of your clothes. Walking into a brightly lit room, well, grab your smartphone, change the colour to screaming yellow and you are fine again. And the shape as well (length and so on). What will the material be? something new! And this is reality already
r? Maybe my smartphone? Known apps as part of the clothes. Google is busy weaving conductive fibres into clothing. In essence, as we ‘swipe’ on a screen, we should be able to swipe on our clothes, make a call, google, selfies, and access to all other apps we know – inclusive of the colour changing one’s. Temperature controls Your clothes will keep you warm or cold or whatever you have set the temperature at. And it will communicate with your home and ensure that the tem is right when you get home. Smart and easy. And here already Shape-shifting The big thing is shape shifting. It will require a totally new form of fabric. As matter of fact, not really fabric as we know it. It changes the molecular structures of the fabric according to .. an app. 3D printing of clothes Reality already. Although the clothes printed is a bit hard and stiff and so on. But that will change. Future? We will see a future where fashion is still fashion. There will be trends and new materials and new usage of known materials. BUT the clothes will have will need in some few years. functionality, not the handfact, I would like to see the So we will require all these I will buy better have it built-
built-in technology which we I need my smart-phone set itself. As a matter of functionality ‘on my sleeve’. technologies and the clothes in.
PS: how do I wash it? But that is for another time. Staff
Quotes You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take. —Wayne Gretzky
The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. – Amelia Earhart
Eighty percent of success is showing up. –Woody Allen
There are no traffic jams along the extra mile. –Roger Staubach
... All of this from various websites
HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR CAREER Knowing yourself and your capabilities
Choo se Subj your ects
Care Plan er ning
eer Car ice o ch
For you to pursue your career choice.
You need to pass your Nationa l Senior Certi ficate!
The Eastern Ca pe Department of Education enco urages learners to choose suitable career path, by collecting inform ation that will he lp them pursue their career / field of study.
“it is in your hands “ - Nelson Rolihl
ahla Mandela
Sondlo & Knopp Advertising
Presto Academy launc Guides in unique student This is not what we usually do here. But this initiative is rather unique and must be seen as a part of our quest to provide information. The initiative is not endorsed by us, but we believe it is something everybody should know. Good Luck in perusing this! Johannesburg, 28 July 2016: Student-empowerment company Presto Academy today announces the launch of four new Matric Study Guides on Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Accounting, which can be accessed on its website www.prestoacademy.co.za.
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Presto Academy is a student-run educational resource provider that produces study guides written by top South African students for fellow students. Co-founders Shivad Singh and Fuaad Coovadia, both current students of the University of Cape Town, use fellow students to develop the content that is tailored around understanding the issues that students face when learning certain topics. Its student-authors are selected only from among an elite group achieving matric pass rates of 90-100%. Alongside these top students, Presto Academy commissions top young designers, editors and teachers who all equally understand the issues students face, in order to create content that adds value to students.
“We empower the best students in the country to share their knowledge with others. Our model is about students empowering other students. Presto is not a company that merely provides high-quality study guides: Presto is like one of your friends at your elbow while you’re studying, but one who’s passed these exams with top honours,” say Coovadia and Singh. They started with this model when they realised they could provide unique insights into the University courses that they had completed, and therefore began writing guides for these subjects. “We spent our holidays
ches four Matric Study t empowerment project writing the guides. After studying the publishing industry we decided to self-publish through Presto Academy. Our guides were a huge success - we sold out our economics guides in just three days at the University of Cape Town.”
each ght we dobook to a need.
After this initial success, they won a Pitching Competition and received capital funding from the University The founding fathers: Mr of Stellenbosch. Then they began thinking even bigger, Singh and Mr Coovadia by taking their successful university model and applying it to the much larger high schools market. To reach as many students as possible, they put all the content online.
It is at heart a social entrepreneurship initiative. For this reason, Realogile High School was selected for the launch of the new study guides. “We set up the business, firstly to empower other students, and secondly that for each book bought we donate one book to a school in need. Today’s launch therefore sees Realogile High School added to our list of beneficiary schools. This will entail the school receiving Presto Academy’s premium matric study guides for Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Accounting for free,” say Coovadia and Singh.
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A tyre? No Goodyear unve Unique spherical shaped concept tyre highlights ultimate manoeuvrability, safety and connectivity
Geneva, Switzerland, March, 2016- After 117 years of making tyres, Goodyear presented a vision of a fut Goodyear unveiled its latest concept tyre, Eagle-360, at the Geneva International Motor Show. The spher for the long-term future when autonomous driving is expected to be more mainstream.
According to a recent study from Navigant Research, 85 million autonomous-capable vehicles are expec Tech Choice Study, consumers are most concerned with ensuring safety through technology in autonom “By steadily reducing the driver interaction and intervention in self-driving vehicles, tyres will play an ev president and chief technical officer. “Goodyear’s concept tyres the boundaries of conventional thinking and as testbeds for Spherical shape for ultimate manoeuvrability and safety The unique shape of the Goodyear Eagle-360 could contribautonomous mobility.The spherical shape of the tyre is key to move in all directions, contributing to passenger safety. Active from potential hazards, such as black ice or sudden obstacles, so In addition, the spherical shape of the Goodyear Eagle-360 This helps the car to overtake an obstacle without changing its Finally, because 360 degree turns are possible with this tyre, it less space will be needed for cars fitted with spherical tyres to same role, this could significantly increase the capacity of public
Connected via magnetic levitation To connect with the body of the car, the Goodyear Eagle-360 from the car by magnetic fields, similar to magnetic levitation “Though this is purely a concept tyre, it showcases some of drivers can be addressed. Based on our own recent research[3], able cars to be part of future mobility and that reliability and could deliver a safe and sustainable solutionfor our end consumer who is likely to drive or ride in autono as inspiration for the automotive industry as we continue to find solutions for the future, together.”
Sensors ensure connectivity with car and increase sa Goodyear imagined another feature, connectivity, to cles, which is brought to life in three features. First, s the road conditions, including weather and road surf to the car as well as to other vehicles to enhance safe and pressure monitoring technology, sensors in the E tyre to extend mileage. Finally, because the tread is p based on the region where the driver lives is a new p
Biomimicry - inspired by nature Elements of the Eagle-360 design showcase biomimi Goodyear often uses in its designs. The tread mimics blocks and grooves help to secure a safe contact patch. The groove bottom has the same elements as a n and aquaplaning resistance. This texture also absorbs water on the road and ejects water from the tyre f
o, Science eils Eagle-360
ture tyre that looks radically different from tyres today -it’s a sphere. rical, 3-D printed tyre highlights Goodyear’s vision for the future and presents an inspiring solution
cted to be sold annually around the world by 2035[1], for example. According to the J.D. Power 2015 U.S. mous cars. ven more important role as the primary link to the road,” said Joseph Zekoski, Goodyear’s senior vice play a dual role in the future both as creative platforms to push next-generation technologies.” ute to safety and maneuverability to match the demands of delivering ultimate manoeuvrability. The multi-orientation tyres technology allows the tyre to move as needed to reduce sliding it contributes to staying on a safe path. provides a smooth ride by creating a fluid, lateral movement. driving direction. could tackle anticipated parking constrictions of the future, as pull into parking spots. Assuming public parking areas play the parking areas without increasing their size.
concept tyre relies on magnetic levitation. The tyre is suspended trains, which increases passenger comfort and reduces noise. Goodyear’s best innovative thinking and how the needs of future we know that young drivers are looking for smart and sustainsafety are key for them.4 We believe the Eagle-360 concept tyre omous cars in the future,” said Jean-Claude Kihn, President of Goodyear EMEA. “We also hope it serves
afety o optimize driving conditions in autonomous vehisensors inside the Eagle-360 concept tyre register face conditions, and communicate this information ety. Secondly, leveraging Goodyear’s tread wear Eagle-360 register and regulate the wear of the produced by a 3-D printer, customizing the tyre possibility.
icry, which is the imitation of nature, a principle s the pattern of brain coral, and its multidirectional natural sponge, which stiffens when dry yet softens when wet to deliver adequate driving performance footprint through centrifugal force to reduce the risk of aquaplaning.
Brazil. Obviously because of the Olympics. But why Brazil? What do we really know about Brazil? And why is Brazil interesting – if it is interesting. Good questions. As I also grabble with this. OK, here goes. Brazil equals soccer, the last VW Beatle, the beaches, The allure of South America. Let us admit it. South America has a very exotic ring to it. Amazonas, and a lot. But is that enough? Economy: the 9th largest economy. Major manufacturing hub of all things, like cars and a million things. GDP $1,5 Tr (SA $326 bn), Per capita $8,800 (SA $5,859). So their economy is bigger and their citizens (on average) are wealthier than us. But is it the thing? Portuguese-speaking, independent from 1822, major military power in the world, democracy but having had several military juntas. Ok, but that cannot be it. Here is my opinion: democracy. With all the on them. The president political parties are at But it is working. Here dictator-ship which Show me a democracy (hardly any). In essence: to self-adjust and get (for the people that is, not for the dictator).
Brazil is now a functioning challenges it is imposing is being impeached and odds with each other. is the thing: Show me a is successful (you can’t). which is NOT successful a democracy has an ability to find the best solution
What does it mean? Brazil is among the fastest-growing economies world-wide. Their support for new businesses means that they are combatting unemployment and other social ills (which they have a legacy of). Science and technology are important factors in the development. AHA! So we see a country on the rise? Yes, but not without problems. But the big thing is: they are doing something about it. Corruption is really really bad, but again, they are
addressing the problem. It is a long haul. It is only now that this giant is really awakening. Brazil will start to be a moderating influence in the world economy. With its new-found democratic governments and the economy to back it, we will see more initiatives on the world stage. This might be involvement in Middle East, global warming and as a partner in space exploration (the last thing must be seen as an enabling factor in the industrialisation of Brazil). The key word in the world some years from now will be: Energy! Where will it come from? The one with energy in abundance can grow its economy (and influence). Brazil has got it all: oil and gas, wind, solar and thermal (and nuclear as well). So Brazil is a net producer of energy and that will dictate the world soon. ‌ so we wait for Brazil to decide HOW they are going to go about it. As a coming super power. Staff
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