#hyhpolitics

[hyhpolitics]

Washington No Skins

Observation: The washing Redskins have announced that they will be changing their name. After years of pressure from campaigners, in the end it took money for them to make the change as its major sponsors, FedEx, Nike, Pepsi and Bank of America recently threatened to pull funding from the team unless it considered renaming itself. Last week, Amazon, Walmart and Target, Nike and and other retail stores removed team merchandise from their websites. ESPN also said it would stop using the team logo, which depicts a Native American man.

Why: The political landscape is untenable for anyone or any brand to hold fast regarding questionable social justice related iconography, statues and street names are the beginning but these big brands that have utilised or fetishised peoples identities are no longer going to be able to  do so with pressure from, as is always the case, money.

Future: There are numerous teams within the USA that have names related to First Nations peoples, campaigners have been pushing for years for these changes. Brands like the Kansas City Chiefs are likely to be next, and many others will follow. - BR

[hyhreligion]

Snapshot of how the Middle East is rapidly evolving

Observations:

In September 2019 Saudi Arabia opened its doors to international tourists from 49 countries for the first time ever and female visitors are permitted to  travel without a male companion. KSA expects to attract 100 million foreign and domestic visitors by 2030 and create 1 million new jobs in the tourism sector.

Since mid 2018, the abaya (full black dress robe) has no longer been a legal requirement and women can drive cars and attend sporting events

All VOIP is banned in most Gulf countries; however talk of Dubai lifting WhatsApp calls and Zoom was opened during lockdown

Mobile payment usage in the Middle East is almost double the rate than in Western markets. Middle East experienced biggest growth in mobile payment at 45% (lead by KSA and UAE). This is a long way from a few years back when KSA consumers preferred cash on delivery payment and reported the lowest percentage of payment via credit cards.

Buying behaviour is heavily influenced by social media compared to anywhere else in the world. Fashion purchases drive this at 60%, followed by Technology.

Why: The changes have been hailed as proof of a new progressive modernisation in KSA by the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman as well as increasing revenue and employment from tourism. 

-CS

[hyhsocialmedia]

Minister Memes ‘going viral’ to keep South Africans laughing and dancing

Observation: Max Hurrell’s ZOL track has reached almost 10 million views on social media, including the ZOL Challenge and various remixes. It’s based on Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma address when she stated “When people zol, they put saliva on the paper, and then they share that zol…”

Max Hurrell follow up track includes Bheki Cele’s address that said police can question “where [you] got the cigarette” and “when did [you] get the cigarette”, because “buying the cigarette is illegal.”

Why: Another example of how people look to laughter, connection and distractions in a time of a crises when they feel anxious, stressed and isolated.

Coronavirus memes/songs/dances are evolving over time to highlight our state and culture:

Stay safe: wash hands, sanitiser, social distancing (Toto’s Africa)

Supply shortages, panic buying (toilet paper)

Rebelling hygiene and social distancing (US licking toilet seats)

Influencer/celebrity backlash (stuck in lavish houses)

Hardship of no earnings and reality in townships

Surviving quarantine (indoor dances, singing on balconies in Italy)

Depicting apocalypse vs. everything is fine

President and Ministers addresses (alcohol and cigarette bans)

-CS

[hyhpolitics]

Increase of Gender Based violence during lockdown

Observation: During the first week of the lockdown, Police commissioner Bheki Cele reported that crime has decreased significantly because of the lockdown however GBV is still a concern as there have been over 87000 case reported. 

Why: In order to combat the spread Coronavirus, President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered the be a lockdown in South Africa. South Africans were urged to stay at home  and restricted only to the shops for essential resources. The South African Police and Defence were called to monitor the streets and people, to see if they were following the lockdown rules. With heavy deployment of law enforcement there has been a decrease in crimes such as Hijacking and murder. 

Economic and financial problems are big factors that contribute to Gender-Based violence. The Corona virus pandemic has impacted peoples lives drastically and contributed to GBV. The virus has caused damage to an already weak South African economy. Most companies will have retrenchments or salary reductions, therefore a lot people are frustrated and concerned about their livelihoods. The lockdown has seen has people spend more time with loved ones and family members, therefore tensions are bound to occur, especially adding a health crisis into the mix. 

Gender Based violence is huge concern in South Africa making into a crisis. The Covid pandemic and Lockdown has heightened gender based violence cases. Alcohol has always played a role in Gender Based violence incidents, with the laws prohibiting the selling of alcohol during the lockdown government thought it decrease crime, which it has however it has not shown any impact on decreasing GBV.

[hyhpolitics]

Covid-19 Fake News = Jailtime

Observation: The new Disaster Management Act means South Africans could face a prison sentence of six months for spreading fake news about the coronavirus, intentionally infecting others and refusing quarantine. Why: These regulations were introduced to curb the spread of the pandemic. The regulation applies to both the creators of fake Covid-19 news and those who spread the news through social media and other channels. Future: This measure has been attempted in Hungary by their president but it included Journalists, but was quashed as the state has a questionable history of journalistic imprisonment. 

- BR

[hyhpolitics]

Cyril Ramaphosa’s 21- day Lockdown could be a game-changer address.

Observation: President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation for the second pertaining to the Corona Virus. In his second address, Ramaphosa stated that the country will be in a 21-day lockdown, with only essential services operating. 

Over recent months many people have been frustrated with the reactive nature of the president when faced with an emergency or national crisis. Ramaphoria has not really lived up to hype expect with these two addresses has been a change in perception about his leadership.

Why: Leaders and their legacy have truly been defined on what actions they implemented when their country has been faced with a national crisis. The words and compassion they display to their countrymen are just as important as implementation and in actual fact has shaped their legacy. If we think of leaders such as Winston Churchill and George W Bush we think of the speeches they made to their country during a crisis. 

Winston Churchill is viewed as one of the greatest statesmen in the United Kingdom, but he’s speech during World War Two particularly the finest hour speech encourage the British and evidently shaped his legacy.  Contrary to Churchill, George W Bush’s speech during 9/11 really made him even more unpopular and the American citizens question his leadership abilities and his legacy. Thabo Mbeki’s address during the Xenophobic attacks during 2007 not seen as genuine and boosted the reason to dismiss him as leader of the ANC and president of South Africa the following year. 

Future: This is an opportunity for Ramaphosa to prove himself as a leader, is the person who can lead us out of this dark time or even comfort us. This is could be his make or break moment.

- BT

[hyhpolitics]

Joe Biden claims to have been arrested in South Africa

Observation: Joe Biden claims to be arrested in Soweto while trying to visit Nelson Mandela in Robben Island. 

Why: During his presidential campaign, former Vice President Joe Biden told the story of how he was arrested in Soweto on his way to visit political leader Nelson Mandela at Robben Island. Joe Biden was against Apartheid and one of the congressmen who voted for sanctions to be placed against South Africa. Many people are skeptical of Joe Biden’s story because this is the first time he ever mentioned that he got arrested in South Africa, he never mentioned this incident in his memoir or his 2007 trip to South Africa. 

During the late1970s, a lot of media attention was on South African. The Soweto Uprising and the assassination of Steve Biko were all over the international news, therefore if a US congressman like Joe Biden were to be arrested in South Africa that would have made international headlines.  The distance between Robben Island and Soweto is 1400km which also makes the recent claims by former vice president skeptical. 

-BT

[hyhpolitics]

GBV used as a tool to settle scores

Observation:  ANC MP Boy Mamabolo accused EFF Leader Julius Malema of abusing his wife. Malema denied the allegations and accused President Cyril Ramaposa of abusing his former wife. 

Why: Anc MP Boy Mamabolo had risen on a point of order while EFF leader Julius Malema delivered his response to President Cyril Ramapsa’s SONA. Mamabolo accused Malema of abusing his wife, Malema who never shy from acting petty denied all allegations and in fact accused Cyril Ramaphosa. 

We all aware that South Africa has a serious issue when it comes to Gender-based violence. We look to our leaders to take the matter seriously. It comes with great concern when gender-based violence is used to settle scores. Besides whether the allegations are true or not, a serious conversation such as gender-based violence should not be taken as a matter to settle a score and it shows how the government and parliament view gender-based violence.

-BT