Freedom day

Hughes argues that the harmony for which Mandela desired is not yet collectively visible. "There is still a lot of anger on both sides." There are strains and crime. We hope that the brutality and horrors of the apartheid years will be healed after this emotionally painful period of public confession and reconciliation. Today if you go around you will see blacks and whites sharing tables and networking. Isn't that wonderful?

One of the reasons we are so inventive is that we are a diverse nation, and our diversity is a source of creativity. This creativity has allowed us to produce so many national idols, including four Nobel Peace Prize winners Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. There are countless others like Miriam Makeba, the first South African to win a Grammy award and more famous internationally, and Oscar- and Golden Globe-winning actress Charlize Theron. Another was Mahatma Gandhi, who said that although he was born in India, he was made in South Africa. To read more, click below

http://www.southafrica.co.za/the_good_news_72.html

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0817/p09s03-coop.html

 South African Economic development

South Africa is the receiver of a flow of emigration from economically injured countries like Zimbabwe, as well as from others. The citizens of less wealthy African countries flock to South Africa as a centre of attraction and richness. Our economy has experienced the longest sustained period of growth, which has only just started to downturn.

In a Gallup International survey on attitudes about the future, South Africans were the 8th most optimistic people in the world at the end of 2005.

Furthermore, talking about optimistic, we are living in a country which is vibrant, challenging, frustrating, beautiful and above all hopeful. There are negative things about South Africa, like crime and identity crisis. These are challenges that we are facing like any other country. Converting negativity into hopefulness can be very powerful. If people have a positive view of the future, they will deal with the present with confidence and willpower. Positive thinking is productive thinking.

If you look, you will find convincing reasons to be positive about the future of this extraordinary country. The groundwork has been skilfully laid and the development of South Africa is steadily on track.

There are important factors that will ensure that we can be expecting some great successes from our economy over the next few years. Some of these are:

  • South African wines win international awards every year and we have the longest wine route in the world.
  • Nelson Mandela, an international icon of forgiveness, tolerance, and humanity.
  • The Kruger Park has the most innovative management of a national park anywhere in the world - and is the world's most profitable game park.
  • South African Breweries is the 4th largest brewer in the world and produces over 50% of China's beer!
  • Mercedes Benz C Class, BMW 3 Series and VW Golf/Jetta: All their right-hand drive vehicles are produced in South Africa.
  • Didata grew from a local IT service provider into a huge, global networking company with branches in 36 countries.
  • The Cape Peninsula has more species of plants per hectare than any other area of the world.
  • Magnificent highways.
  • Warm, friendly, vibrant rainbow people.
  • The world's most progressive Constitution.
  • South African inventions: Kreepy Kraulies, Mrs Ball's chutney and biltong.
  • The world's best looking population.

For more information on this, click here http://www.diannesweb.com/sa/positive.html

We need to focus less on the negative things in our country and more on the positive things that surround us. Celebrate South Africa with us!

Lundy (2008) adds that frequently criticizing our country can only do harm for you personally, your happiness and well-being and for the country that you know from the bottom of your heart that you love.

To learn more about positive thinking, click here:
http://www.sagoodnews.co.za/newsletter_archive/the_power_of_positive_thinking.html