Monday 3 August 2020

CAITLIN ROOSKRANTZ - INSPIRATION DURING COVID-19 NOT ONLY FOR SOUTH AFRICANS BUT FOR HUMANITY


CAITLIN ROOSKRANTZ SOUTH AFRICAN OLYMPIAN 2020
AND BEYOND

Yesterday, Sunday 2 August 2020 at 10:00 Caitlin should have performed - but she didn't. Covid-19 stopped her from representing my country at the 2020 Olympic spectacle! But it didn't stop her form showing us what she could have done. You want to have a look? I bet you would like to - well, you can by clicking on this link and then watch it. Please follow the instructions to have a look at her performance. I also salute her coach Ilse Pelser who guided her to become an Olympian! Wow! Congratulations the two of you!

I also salute the photographer who took this stunning photo of Caitlin performing - this photographer obviously is also outstanding. 

All of you inspire me. My wife and I watched Caitlin's performance live yesterday from the comfort of our home. Now you can do that as well. No - we are not going to be conquered by covid-19! We are more than conquerors by the power of the Holy Spirit - that is why we are created in the image of God. 

I do hope you enjoy this performance. 



Tuesday 14 July 2020

THE BLUE MONSTER

THE BLUE MONSTER

If you want to have a look at this blue monster that I created, please click here.

Just a fun project with a milk carton and some others for the long ears. Then paint it as you will. In the background you can see my Tyrannosaurus Rex dinosaur I sculpted years ago. 

RESILIENCE THE POWER TO BOUNCE BACK; IT NEEDS A WHOLE NEW MIND

RESILIENCE: IT NEEDS A WHOLE NEW MIND

I was walking the other day in my garden and was shocked by the havoc the frost caused. Throughout the year I make new plants and look very carefully after it - well, those new plants are tender and need extra care and attention. Now - early morning it is obvious that something big went wrong during the night. Frost! O my word! Utter disaster! So it seemed to me at first glance. But then I looked carefully and found not everything was lost.
'
Not total disaster. There is life in the garden!

Now I had a look at my herbs. The marjoram and oregano were badly hit.You are right, I did not cover the plants before to protect it from frost. There were some strands that were still alive and I dug it up immediately to transferred it to my "maternity ward" - that is in common language my nursery in the front garden. These were transplanted in plastic pots and carefully covered with straw and now the waiting game started. Will it survive or won't it? 

New life: oregano busy sprouting new leaves!!!!

There you can see new life. I was successful. Is this what it means to be resilient? The Margaret Roberts Basil cuttings were also badly hit. And yet, it is recovering. 

Margaret Roberts Basil recovering from the frost

There you can see it: these plants are recovering.

I learnt a big lesson here in my garden. The powerful forces of nature are at work even in my garden. Be it the frost. Be it the regrowth. Have a look at the spekboom below - on the surface the plant was killed. But it stunned me when I discovered new growth at the bottom emerging from the soil. Deep down the plant was alive and well. 

Spekbook [portulacaria afra] on the rebound

A lesson about resilience. Covid-19 is like the black frost. What is our answer to this pandemic? Of course there are millions of words spoken and written about it and I don't pretend that my small contribution is the last word about it. It is a small contribution from my side. Resilience. 

You can write a thesis about this topic. But when the tire hits the road, that is a different story. Read all about it the Bible: Romans 12: 1 - 2 [click here to read it online] : 

A Living Sacrifice

12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Ask God to transform yourself and your thinking by the renewing of you mind - that is what I do constantly because it is a ongoing work in my life. 


Monday 22 June 2020

THE DIDACHE IN AFRIKAANS IN MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Philotheos Bryennios

This monk discovered the DIDACHE in 1873 in a library in Constantinople and disclosed it to the world in 1883 - it caused a academic furore. It might very well be pre-dating any of the New Testament writings. Can you imagine it to read a Christian document that is older than the New Testament? It is "magic." I translated it from the English version to Afrikaans, my mother tongue in South Africa and made 5 YouTube videos of it. Please visit my YouTube channel and have a look even if you don't understand Afrikaans. I am really excited about it and I hope that you will be excited as well. 

I am not aware of anything remotely the same in Afrikaans. My challenge is for people to interact with the Scriptures and ask the Holy Spirit to guide them. 

Here are the links to my 5 videos:

Number 1: an introduction; 8 minutes duration
Number 2: There are two ways of Life: a way of Life and a Way of Death. 9 minutes duration
Number 3: Don't be grumpy. Duration 9 minutes
Number 4: A church manual: baptism, fasting and prayers and Eucharist: 6 minutes duration.
Number 5: A Church manual: apostles, prophets and eschatology. 7 minutes duration.

Ek hoop jy het dit geniet. Stuur asseblief die skakel aan na jou vriende.

Monday 11 May 2020

REACTION TO MY SUBMISSIONS TO THE RSA GOVERNMENT ABOUT COVID-19


I've had a response from a friend, who wants to remain anonomous, to my submissions to the RSA government about the mass international hysteria surrounding the so-called covid-19.

I publish it verbatim except of course with his real name. I shall call him Mr. X:

Dear Neels,
Your submission to the government regarding the COVID19 lockdown has given me some thought.
My response is not intended to be a thesis on the lockdown.  I simply share my perspective. It is perhaps necessary to formulate the core issue (as I understand your submission) at the outset: is the lockdown not more damaging to the South African economy than the Corona virus would be? Put differently, would the damage caused by the lockdown to the South African economy, and families’ ability to earn a living, not ultimately outweigh the damage caused by deaths due to the virus?

When we spoke, I told you that I did not entirely agree with your approach. You argue that the mortality rate of the virus is statistically so low that lockdown measures here and around the world borders on hysteria, and that it is preferable to open up the economy. 
I don’t take issue with the statistics. I have also not checked your calculations.  Your point of departure is simply that the COVID19 virus is fatal to a very small percentage of those that become infected.  One’s natural reaction in response to the relatively low mortality rate is to ask whether it is necessary to paralyze the entire South African economy.  Is it necessary to curb our freedom so drastically?  Is it not more important to allow citizens the freedom to generate an income and to keep the economy alive?

My view is that the general public probably does not have all the necessary information.  The general consensus may consequently be that most may agree with you: save the economy at all cost!  Let the Corona virus run its course!  A herd-immunity might develop.  At least the economy will survive and with it the average wage earner’s ability to provide for his or her family.  This is the approach adopted by Sweden (see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCOSlfbOfm4).
There are however indications that other countries that also adopted a lockdown strategy are not doing well. Consider for example Lebanon (see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qqq_ZxGilxQ).  Italy and Spain (where a decision to implement a lockdown was apparently delayed) turned into a nightmare. An ice rink in Madrid was used to store the bodies of the deceased when Spain’s morgues were overwhelmed (see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hltEqK0O2ds).  Italy has been described as a catastrophe (see:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9MhoVpHAeg ).  New York, a first world city has also been overwhelmed (see:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJOtfXXVvMw).  The situation in a third world country like Ecuador is too terrible to contemplate.  Families have apparently resorted to abandoning the corpses of family members on the street. Cemeteries cannot cope (see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0f9cQinbvrc).  The different outcomes can be ascribed to numerous factors including how soon a country implemented a lockdown.
My own perspective is that the lockdown in South Africa is necessary.  I believe it should be maintained, notwithstanding the damage to the economy.  I am very conscious of my privileged station in society and the fact that I am financially better placed to weather the storm than a domestic worker, living in a township such as Zandspruit, on the outskirts of Johannesburg.  I would like to believe that this does not influence my view.
My perspective is in part however influenced by what I learnt in a course on corporate strategy during 2005 at the business school of the University of Pretoria.  The name of our lecturer unfortunately escapes me.  He had the ability to analyse complex issues and to develop strategies to the relevant scenarios in clear and simple terms.  Although I have forgotten his name, I remember one of the underlying techniques he taught us, and which I share with you. 
I do not intend embarking on an exhaustive discussion of the application of the technique.  The basic concept is easy to grasp.   A business owner should bear in mind certain macro-economic factors when considering whether to open a new business or branch in a new territory, or whether to launch a new product or service.  Micro-economic principles and financial concepts should also be considered.
The ability to see “the big picture” is the starting point, however.  We were taught that business leaders should always be aware of, and consider, four themes in formulating their decisions.    We were also advised to consider these four themes when reading a newspaper.  The technique does not promise a complete solution.  The technique however aides in seeing the bigger picture. The four themes are:
1.    Energy (e.g. oil, electricity, nuclear power);
2.    Democracy;
3.    Poverty;
4.    Pandemic (e.g. AIDS, or recently COVID19).
To provide a simplistic illustration: if I contemplate opening a new business in Syria I will quickly conclude not to.  There is an absence of reliable energy with which to power my business.  There is also an absence of democracy. The local community will probably be unable to afford my goods or services.   The infrastructure which has been destroyed by prolonged war may have resulted in the outbreak of disease and famine. The example may be absurd, but it illustrates the point.  I will reach a different conclusion if I consider opening a new business, or branch of my business for example in New Zealand.   It starts getting a bit more interesting when you consider countries that are not on the opposite ends of the scale.

If you apply the same technique (I am not dealing with the timing of a lockdown, and only address whether a lockdown is necessary and desirable) in considering the current COVID19 lockdown, the argument for maintaining the lockdown is overwhelming:
Sweden (see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweden) is in a unique position.  Compared to South Africa, Sweden has a relatively low population of 10.3 million people.  South Africa’s population stands at roughly 58 million.  Sweden is ranked sixteenth-richest country in the world in terms of GDP (gross domestic product) per capita.  It is the fourth-most competitive economy in the world.  A third of its workforce completed tertiary education. 
Of importance in the current discussion however is Sweden’s population pyramid.  It reflects that Sweden’s population is evenly spread between the genders.  The population tapers off from the age of 75 and higher (see: https://en. wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweden#/media/File:Swedenpop.svg). The population is not skewed in favour of a particular age group.  If you compare Sweden’s position on these aspects with those of the other countries I mention above, you will quickly see where the differences lie. 
These differences are important considerations on not only the decision to implement a lockdown, but also its effectiveness.  The difference in Italy’s population pyramid,  compared to Sweden is striking
(see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italy#/media/File:Italypop.svg): it shows a “fat middle” i.e. the majority of its population lies between the ages of 45 and 60 years of age.  It has emerged that infection with the Corona virus is more dangerous for older people.  A country where the general population tends to be older would consequently be more at risk than a nation with a younger population.
A consideration of South Africa’s statistics quickly reveals the marked differences with a country such as Sweden.  If you consider South Africa’s population pyramid (see: https://www.populationpyramid.net/southern-africa/2020/ ) you will see that South Africa has a very young population, compared to Sweden.
One need not look far for an explanation: “According to the 2015 UNAIDS Report, South Africa has an estimated seven million people living with HIV – more than any other country in the world. In 2018, HIV prevalence—the percentage of people living with HIV—among adults (15–49 years) was 20.4% and in the same year 71000 people died from an AIDS-related illness.” (see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Africa ).  Moreover, “…South Africa is still burdened by a relatively high rate of poverty and unemployment, and is also ranked in the top ten countries in the world for income inequality, measured by the Gini coefficient. Unlike most of the world's poor countries, South Africa does not have a thriving informal economy. Only 15% of South African jobs are in the informal sector, compared with around half in Brazil and India and nearly three-quarters in Indonesia.” (see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Africa).

Keeping the four themes I refer to above in mind the following picture emerges. South Africa currently struggles with an unreliable supply of electricity.  Consider the impact not only on industry, but also the healthcare system.
South Africa’s democracy is vibrant, and jealously guarded by an independent press and justice system.  This makes it possible for you to criticise the government, without fear of being dragged into the town square by a gestapo.  The free exchange of ideas and debate no doubt strengthens a society. 
Our Achilles heel is poverty. South Africa is faced with a large population, the majority of which is young, not formally educated, many suffering from ill health, and they are poor. 
The latter factor is perhaps as prominent as pandemic factor, if not more.  Aside from AIDS widespread tuberculosis and diabetes have also been flagged as areas of concern amongst our poor.  Income inequality has been a major concern for some time.
A cumulative consideration of these four factors, in considering whether a lockdown is necessary, and should be maintained, must lead you to be in favour of a lockdown, despite the damage to the economy.  Can you imagine the panic that would ensue if the virus spreads uncontrolled through the nation?  When the young, poor and hungry start seeing bodies piling up around them, as is happening in Ecuador? As I said at the start, what you saw in Lebanon will seem like a picnic. Do you remember the recent xenophobic attacks om foreign businesses in Johannesburg? Can you imagine desperate mobs overwhelming hospitals, clinics, and the suburbs where the middle-class and well-heeled members of society reside?
The point is that a country such as Sweden probably has the wherewithal to survive the pandemic without a lockdown, and without the possible anarchy that will follow when the Corona virus spreads.  We don’t.
I am not surprised that the government has deployed our entire defence force of 73000 to help maintain law and order.  This step speaks volumes.  No wonder our State President seemed so anxious and grave (dare I say afraid?) when he announced the lockdown on 23 March.  I imagine that knowledgeable people presented him and his cabinet with scenarios involving a lockdown approach, and one without it.  I imagine they would have used a similar method or methods to the one I outlined above, in sketching scenarios with and without a lockdown.

This is my take on our situation.  I believe the lockdown is necessary and must be maintained.  I don’t deny that the government is making mistakes and that some of their decisions are open to criticism.  They are confronted with a novel situation and feeling their way through this pandemic, guided by results in other countries, but limited by a shortage of resources. 
Time will tell whether the lockdown will be successful.  I hope, for all our sakes, that it will be and that we will prevail.
In the meantime, I agree with you about where I find solace.
Stay safe,

Mr. X

There you have it - I read it, considered his submissions. I still stand by my own conclusions: it is an unwarranted international mass hysteria.

Saturday 2 May 2020

MY SUBMISSIONS TO THE RSA GOVERNMENT RE: COVID-19 AND THE INTERNATIONAL PANIC ABOUT IT



I would like to hear from you. I was informed that there is indeed one country in the entire world that did not succumb to the international panic and that is Sweden [?] 

My RSA Government called on the citizens of SA to submit their views on the lockdown and I submitted this. There is a lot of other things that I did not mention for instance the carnage on our roads every Easter Holiday and Christmas holidays. Did the government shut the entire country down for that? Absolutely not. What about the unacceptable high incidence of murder and rape and domestic violence in the RSA? Did it shut the entire country down for that? You guessed it: definitely not! 


Dear Minister or whoever is in Charge
Herewith a short resume of my reactions and thought processes regarding the worldwide pandemic called covid-19.

  1. Loss of life is always permanent, regrettable and  tragic. We have to look into ways and means to curtail it. And I hasten to add our scientists and other knowledgeable people are constantly doing exactly that and I laud them for it. Having said that, I do not for one moment relinquish my right to look at their findings and methods and to pass comments on it – most of it are common sense. Death is in final analysis absolutely inevitable and every single one of us will die sometime in the future – and the comfort is to be found in Jesus Christ alone.
  2. I am of the view that there is a massive and unprecedented overreaction and hysteria to the worldwide pandemic called covid-19. The entire world is in a lockdown state – see the WHO map of the prevalence of the pandemic. In light of the prevalence and the statistics provided by the WHO of the pandemic it forces one to take a long hard look at the statistics and to draw the necessary inferences from that august body’s figures. I hasten to add that each and every argument advanced for the present state of worldwide affairs, were present with the previous scares such as the ebola virus, SARS virus aids virus. There are no new arguments that are advanced for the lockdown. Most of the arguments are emotional for instance simple hygiene such as washing your hands. That is how I grew up. But unfortunately that is not how a big percentage of the world’s populace grew up.
  3. Before I engage with the information provided by the WHO I want to bring to your attention the following incongruencies in the enforcement of the lockdown in SA:
    1. The sale of baby clothes were forbidden! I think that you are forced to agree with me that it was totally and utterly devoid of any rationality.
    2. My wife informed me that some of her make-up materials were running low but the shops were forbidden to sell it. Is there any rationality in that prohibition? I think you are similarly forced to agree that it is totally and utterly devoid of any rationality.
    3. I was informed that just a week prior to my submissions, people could still purchase children’s colouring books. All of a sudden that was also forbidden. There is also to my mind no rationality to that at all.
  4. It brings me to my next point: The statistics and the maps provided by the WHO forces me to engage with it on an intellectual basis and I will set it out briefly, flawed as it is.
    1. I do recommend you to listen/look at the youtube video clip of Lord Sumption in the UK and his views on the overreaction of his government to this pandemic – please click on this link. I am not going to paraphrase what the Law Lord said – he is capable to do that himself.
    2. The Africa Union released a covid-19 situation report by region – I attach a photo of that hereto.
    3. Prof Shabir Madhi, the previous head of NICD statements as are set out in his write up in Businesslive. Please click on the link provided. Similarly I am not going to set out what the learned professor himself stated except to highlight his concerns about the flawed models used by the Government of SA.
    4. The WHO statistics for SA are attached hereto.
  5. My argument is that having regard to the statistics in SA:
    1. We have 4361 infected cases in SA. What is the percentage of that in relation to our population of roughly 59 million people? The answer is negligibly small namely 0.007%.
    2. We have 86 confirmed deaths, lamentable as it is,  but in relation to the population figures? Even much, much smaller: 0.00014%
  6. If we take the worldwide figures into account it is also a cause for concern: There are about 300 000 deaths, lamentable as it is, in relation to 7.7 billion people. Percentage: 0.0038%
  7. My conclusion: I submit that not only our Government but the entire world’s overreaction is inexplicable. We have however this unfortunate situation and I submit you should take it into account when you make your regulations – I recommend a massive re-think and re-evaluation of the situation.

I thank you and “sterkte” with you massive task ahead.

Neels Coertse


Prokureur & Notaris / Attorney & Notary
48 Middle Road, Morningside 26, Sandton 2196
P.O Box 782063, Sandton 2146
Tel: 011 783 2248
Fax: 086 645 9618
Cell: 084 456 1030
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Monday 10 February 2020

Why be invisible? Start writing.


Prof Jordan Peterson

How dare I write on such a subject? There are more people better qualified to do this than I – or are there? I don’t think so – because if some else writes this, then it is not me that did it and it will be that other person’s voice and definitely not mine. So, I have to write this – and I am sure that Prof. Dr. Jordan Petersen [click on this link] will whole heartedly agree with me. He might not agree with me about the contents, but he will sure agree with me that it was imperative for me to have done it and not somebody else. Not even Jordan. Not so?


My short video of the Tugela River, Kwa Zula Natal
Northern Drakensberg, South Africa

And so it hits at my photography as well. Look at my short video of the Tugela River in Kwa-Zula Natal Northern Drakensberg that I took the other day. That is a scene not to be seen again because the river "flowed away" so to speak. And the clouds are no longer there. Enjoy it. 

Looking at my statistics I am satisfied that I have reached some people across the world – people that I could not reach in person. What is more they have read my blog write ups and probably gave it a thought. I recall a specific law professor of mine, was heavily criticised by the South African Supreme Court of Appeal for an article that he published in an esteemed law journal. I visited my professor in chambers and discussed this criticism – and I asked him how does he feel about such a stringent critique? Since then, his reply is somewhat of a guideline for me writing articles and even writing up this blog. He told me: “Neels, the wonderful thing about this is that there were a number of highly successful senior advocates and attorneys and a fair number of judges who read my article, thought about it and had to make up their minds about what to say about it. Isn’t that worthwhile?”

I do agree with my law professor. And Prof Jordan Peterson is also spot on.

Look what does my Statistics have to say about my blog as of 10 February 2020:

Pageviews by Countries
1199
Entry
Pageviews
United States
9
South Africa
3
Netherlands
2
Ukraine
2
India
1
Mexico
1
Philippines
1
Portugal
1
Russia
1
Timor-Leste
1
Pageviews by Browsers
Entry
Pageviews
Chrome
19 (82%)
Firefox
2 (8%)
CriOS
1 (4%)
Safari
1 (4%)
82.6%Firefox8.7%CriOS4.3%Safari4.3%Chrome82.6%
Chrome
19
Firefox
2
CriOS
1
Safari
1
Pageviews by Operating Systems
Entry
Pageviews
Windows
18 (78%)
iPhone
2 (8%)
Android
1 (4%)
Macintosh
1 (4%)
Unix
1 (4%)
78.3%iPhone8.7%Macintosh4.3%Unix4.3%Windows78.3%
Windows
18
iPhone
2
Android
1
Macintosh
1
Unix
1

There was even someone in East Timor [here's a link to that far off country [here's is a link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Timor] that had a look. I want to thank that person in East Timor and Russia and Portugal who had a look at my blog. Well, I ask you also to look at my gallery of photographs. I love photography. I hope that you enjoy my images.

I just learnt that Prof Jordan is in Russia for medical treatment. I pray that he will recover and that he and his family will be happily reunited while they support him to recover fully. To read about it and to listen to his very courageous daughter on YouTube click here.

May God bless you and heal Jordan Peterson completely.