What can we as bloggers do about the Xenophobia crisis?

I mean, look at me, I’m all the way down here in George. There is no problems down here! Yet, yesterday was hands down the most depressing Monday I’ve had in a long, LONG time. Although I’m not close to the atrocities happening, it affected me emotionally. Mainly due to my good friend Gregor’s post being the first one to read on a Monday morning.

So I just read Mike’s call for help. Mike is so damn right. We’re all sitting on our asses behind our computers and saying things like “shame, poor foreigners” [sic] while we do the sum total of zero. Great bloody help that is, hey?!

I’ve though of this idea for a long, LONG time now, but I do not have a clue how to instigate such a thing, nor do I have the know-how of how it works. My idea is to have like a trust fund, NGO or something to which bloggers/technology people can contribute to financially. I’m more than willing giving money to any organization, but it would be nice to do it collectively as an organization I believe in, like this blogosphere I belong to. I do know that this is a fairly touchy subject and might well be a shitload of work, but I’d like something like this to happen!

Every now and again, there is a call for help. Not only in South Africa, but the whole of Africa. Yes, we can spread the word, sure, but it feels a little empty and sounds hollow. The Xenophobia crisis, the Zimbabwe/Mugabe crisis, the violence after the Kenyan elections, it has all been covered pretty well by traditional media. I’ll do my bit in spreading the word, but would love to do more and more so doing something more substantial. A great example would be the million man march which was mentioned on SA Rocks! not long ago and took place on the 13th of March. I would much rather donate some money towards their financial needs than pay an airline and some accommodation establishment just to be able to attend it!

So Mike, I’m throwing the ball back at you. You’ve got way more business savvy in your little finger and you are much better connected, so see if you could organize something like this? Nic, Justin and Gregor, I know you guys feel passionate about current affairs, maybe you could come up with some ideas? Maybe the Quirkstars or the Ideaters or the Capitalist Punks or the Stormhoekers, etc… Instead of organizing SA blog awards to get some recognition for bloggers, why not do something substantial and worthy?

If sponsors could be so easily obtained for Wordcamps, Blog awards and 27dinners, surely this should be simple? How about it?

23 Comments to "What can we as bloggers do about the Xenophobia crisis?"

• blogger said: On 05/20/2008 at 7:17 pm

  Mmmm, dunno… At least at 27dinners and blog awards we get to sit around and make eachother feel important. I mean who wants to get their hands dirty and muck up their keyboard anyway? I See where you are coming from but it needs to be well planned. i.e. Where exactly will the money be directed, how would it be directed, and is it hordes of money that will solve this particular problem. Throwing money at a problem and hoping some of it sticks is not always the best way. What other resources could be appropriate here? I think this is a notion that needs to be brought to mind.

• Another Blogger says said: On 05/20/2008 at 8:50 pm

  Hi Stii

  Thanx for a great post, always good to see when the blogosphere takes action in their own way. It is so sad to see such unneeded loss of life.

  If I may correct you on one point - You are a tad wrong about “not being close to the atrocities”, from what I hear from friends locally things are heating up just down the road in Knysna/Plett townships.

  Sadly this is not the first time these things have happened. A few months back the exact same thing happened in Kwanakothula in Plett.

  The question I ask myself is if philanthropy is the answer. It’s a great idea, and I am happy to see the Blogosphere talking in this direction, but will this really solve any of the issues.

  No matter how much money we throw at this problem it will not eradicate the root cause of this xenophobic activity! The root cause needs to be eliminated.

  As an example of such eradication: Do you remember the Boputatswana incident a few years back? That is a example of how the government stopped an ugly racial issue “dead” (ignore the pun) in its tracks. The only way for the current problem to go away is if the government stomps out these xenophobic terrorists, before things get even worse.

• Shane said: On 05/20/2008 at 9:23 pm

  It is really tough to deal with the issues we face. As a nation there are still folks who barely make it on a daily basis. Their focus is on egging out an existence that most of us have never experienced. Without the real support of government (and the community in general) there is no immediate solution, but violence towards others is most certainly not the solution.
  Are we proud of where we find ourselves…Fuck no!
  But not everyone sees it that way. That unfortunately results in the aweful pic on the Cape Times. This country has everything going for it, yet there are people who do not benefit. Man, we have job to do. Life is more than a subsistence and bit by bit we have to eradicate the cock up we were left with.
  You are there man. Each one of us makes a difference. If you hate inequality - stand the fuck up and be counted.

• Stii said: On 05/20/2008 at 9:35 pm

  Yeah, guys, thanx. I just feel so helpless with a mouth full of empty words. I do hear what you’re saying about philanthropy not being the solution, but hell, I’m open to suggestions! What can be done other than just sitting around talking about it? Its enough that people higher up are already doing that with little effect, they sure as hell don’t need us to do that too!

  Okay, @AB, I wasn’t even aware of it starting in Plett too! Sheesh, this could really spin out of control!

• Stii said: On 05/20/2008 at 9:39 pm

  Thank you Shane. We must’ve submitted comments just about the same time. Yes, we’re going to have to do something, the big question is what can we do to make our actions count!

• Mike Stopforth » Another Opportunity To Assist Refugees said: On 05/21/2008 at 1:49 pm

  [...] than just write) about the xenophobia crisis in our country. I’ve had numerous responses, Stii came up with some suggestions and I also gather that a march has been [...]

• Global Voices Online » South Africa: What can bloggers do about the Xenophobia crisis? said: On 05/21/2008 at 5:29 pm

  [...] suggests what South African bloggers can do about the xenophobia crisis in South Africa: “My idea is to have like a trust fund, NGO or something to which bloggers/technology people [...]

• Xenophobia in South Africa - How we’re helping « Afrigator Blog said: On 05/21/2008 at 10:28 pm

  [...] The public outcry both in South Africa and the rest of Africa has been astounding and even we have blogged about these atrocities on our personal blogs over here, here and here. [...]

• CheekyBum said: On 05/22/2008 at 2:57 am

  I’ve been thinking along the same lines as you, to be honest. Not being in South Africa made everything alot clearer for me and I really wish I could help, in fact, I just wrote an entry about it myself. I am not aware of any such fund, but it’s really a great idea. I know it’s a long shot, but I’ll keep an eye on your blog in case you do find more information and I’m sure that many other bloggers feel the same way :o)

• When Me Hates Me « Ugandan Insomniac said: On 05/22/2008 at 5:05 am

  [...] Stii is of the opinion that only through spreading the word about xenophobia can people be alerted to the horrors of this new injustice.  Mike calls on the white South Africans not to turn an eye to a situation that may not directly affect them, but to use their social and political positions to call for an end to the violence. [...]

• What can you do right now to help foreigners? | SA Rocks said: On 05/22/2008 at 6:05 am

  [...] and Stii are also asking what we can do, maybe this list can [...]

• stii.za.net » Blog Archive » Afrigator Beta2.0 - Lets amplify the Xenophobia issue said: On 05/22/2008 at 7:02 am

  [...] been feeling pretty shitty these last couple of days about this issue. A feeling of great sadness and helplessness. All we [...]

• Global Voices amin´ny teny malagasy » Afrika Atsimo : Inona no azon’ny mpiblaogy atao mikasika izao krizy fankahalana vahiny izao ? said: On 05/22/2008 at 7:26 am

  [...] i Stii fa mahavita zavatra hanoherana izao krizy fankahalana vahiny any Afrika Atsimo izao ireo mpiblaogy raha manao : My idea is to have like a trust fund, NGO or something to which bloggers/technology [...]

• nomad-one said: On 05/22/2008 at 1:39 pm

  Stii ur so right, if u’ll be at wordpress meetup, there’s a little activity related to suggestions for NGO’s or causes which we can use to suggest some mass blog action on this issue.

  In fact printing the T-shirts for Wordpress Meetup gave me an idea to get T-shirts made with messages for SA society on them. Maybe we can get a mixed media campaign using guerilla style communications to start changing mindsets and get some action going.

• Tim Shier said: On 05/23/2008 at 8:44 am

  Hi Stii,

  I have been meaning to comment here a little while back but the timelines have been tight.

  We have pooled our resources and connections and will be launching a Consumer Generated Media and Google Maps mash-up (off the ushahidi.com backbone). Its a truly global collaboration with contributors with all collaborators originating from Africa). There is still a great deal which needs to be done so if anybody can help please ping me on twitter (@magictim) or email tim [/at\] quirk . biz . I really hope we can take this to the next level and effect change.

  Cheers for now,

  Tim

• William Hardy said: On 05/23/2008 at 2:15 pm

  Give me something to do!

  We always look at these terrible event in other parts of the world and ask ourself, what happened to all the people who should have stood up to prevent the tradgidy. We look judgementally at nazi germany or rwanda and claim that those “ordinary people” in those countries must in some way have been to blame for the evils perpetrated under there nose.

  It’s hapening here, maybe on a smaller scale, but since when does scale determine right and wrong?

  Please give me something to do. I want to help. I dont have money but that shouldn’t stop me. If there was somewhere we could meet, In every city where the violence has begun, and if we as citizen of this ranbow nation stood together to protect the innocent lives of those being victimised we could stop this traversty and send a message to the devils doing this:

  Human life is important! We will act to protect it!

  If there is some action taking place in Durban, please email me. I will circulate the details at the university next week when I get back.

• Tim Shier said: On 05/23/2008 at 2:30 pm

  Working on some site problems - will be going live ASAP. Have a teams in 4 different locations trying to get it up and running.

• nomad-one said: On 05/24/2008 at 10:14 am

  There’s an organisation called Mustadafin which operates in a number of locations providing relief servics in Cape Town. They are currently feeding and supporting those affected by these attacks.

  The lady who works for our family had to rush to her home as shacks were being burnt. My sister also knows a mozambiqan man who was told by his wife not to come home as a gang was waiting outside his shack for him. His wife and children are still in the shack.

  There are hundreds/thousands of people who are suffering the same fate right now.

  - YOU CAN ASSIST BY CONTACTING MUSTADAFIN FOUNDATION ON 021 633 0010 OR 082 7742611

  They are looking for volunteers and donations to assist them in this effort.

• Stii said: On 05/27/2008 at 7:13 am

  @Tim a fantastic initiative guys! I’ll be in touch.

  @Nomad-one Thanx dude! I’ve come to learn the value of awareness these last few days.

  @William mate, where are you? There are plenty of organizations in the hotspots (see http://unitedforafrica.co.za) that is in desperate need of volunteers.

• Global Voices Online » South Africa: Bloggers need to do more than just write said: On 05/31/2008 at 9:17 pm

  [...] positive steps to take with regard to the current xenophobia crisis in South Africa. Stii asks, “What can we as bloggers do about the Xenophobia crisis?” and Mike Stopforth calls on South African bloggers to do something. Meanwhile, Afrigator has [...]

• Global Voices in Italiano » Sud Africa: i blogger devono fare qualcosa di più che scrivere soltanto said: On 06/02/2008 at 9:08 pm

  [...] quali azioni positive intraprendere a seguito della crisi di xenofobia in Sud Africa. Stii chiede: “Che cosa possiamo fare noi blogger sulla questione della xenofobia?” mentre Mike Stopforth propone ai blogger sudafricani di intervenire concretamente. Al contempo [...]

• Puntopanto, to make the point » Blog Archive » [GlobalVoices] Sud Africa: i blogger devono fare qualcosa di più che limitarsi a scrivere said: On 06/13/2008 at 7:04 pm

  [...] quali azioni positive intraprendere a seguito della crisi di xenofobia in Sud Africa. Stii chiede: “Che cosa possiamo fare noi blogger sulla questione della xenofobia?” mentre Mike Stopforth propone ai blogger sudafricani di intervenire concretamente. Al contempo [...]

• Accounting Homework said: On 06/28/2009 at 7:12 am

  I am very great full for all their hard work and would recommend them to anybody.

  Thanks

Spit it out!

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