Work Ethics vs Vavi

Work ethics are a set of rules which direct the actions of the employees/participants within the work place or within any organization. Therefore, by faulty human logic, failure to adhere to the instruction stipulated by – what the work ethics in that company or organisation are – would result in a disciplinary hearing in which the fate of the employee will be decided.

The above statement is closely related to the COSATU general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi. Who recently had recently been accused of rape by a colleague, whom later withdrew the charges? Whether or not the rape accusation was espionage, solely depends on which side the pendulum swings – for the observer. However, there is no question about the moral decadence exuding from the fact that Vavi took part in extra marital sex. In relation to work, was he wrong? In hopes to unfold Vavi’s innocence - or guilt thereof, 3 examples of good work ethics will be employed.

1. 1.    Reliability.

This refers to the person’s ability to be punctual and creating a friendly environment around themselves therefore giving other employees a sense of unity. Furthermore somebody that they can turn to

1. 2.    Dedication

This is how much the individual is actually focused on work and not easily distracted by obstruction that do no remotely relate work. Furthermore it emphasizes on whether or not tasks in the work place are completed or not.

1. 3.    Personal relationships

“Where a personal relationship exists or develops between members of staff who are in a line management or supervisory relationship at work, they must not be involved in recruitment, selection, appraisal, promotion or in any other management activity or process involving the other party. Additionally, staff in a personal relationship should not work together in any circumstance whereby a conflict of interest, breach of confidentiality or unfair advantage may be perceived to be gained from the overlap of a personal and professional relationship.” (UCL, 2013)

Number 3 most certainly hit the spot. So, no matter what justification is provided for the events that occurred. It was wrong for the general secretary to engage in, what is said to be consensual sex with junior member within the organization. Because it can then be seen as exchanging sex for favours because it seems the young lady was hired on the premise that she has sex with Vavi which is an act which defies Good work ethics. Especially when it is a personal relationship that evolved inside or outside the work place.

Vavi is guilty on two ethical counts 1 cheating on his wife and 2 bad work ethics for having sex with a colleague.

Refractive Beauty (Blood Diamonds)

Raw beauty can cost you an arm and a leg but you battle to save your wealth while we lose our limbs so you can gloat (Keeble, 2013).

Blood diamonds are my topic of choice, mainly because they hit close to home. Over the years diamonds have been seen to bring happiness to women who are to be married or even lovers of jewelry  However, diamonds bear a dark side, apart from their refractive beauty, that has caused the death of many Africa.

A diamond is one of the toughest substances known to man. Diamonds consist of 99.95% pure carbon atoms (Excel Diamonds, 2013). Due to their isometric structural arrangement Diamonds are different compared to the rest of the crystal family. The refractive properties of a diamonds are a reason they are loved so much. The Word “diamond” was derived from the Greek word “Adamus” which means indestructible. According to (Savage, 2008) diamonds have always been vehemently revered throughout the ages and they stood to represent supreme strength. Plato on the other hand held the notion that diamonds were living spirits (savage, 2008).

A diamonds is forever (De beers, 1948). Diamonds have attracted many and have also been called “A girl’s best friend”. However, the brutal story behind how diamonds are acquired is a ignored by people every single day. The reality protrudes especially after one watches movies such as blood diamond. Reality being: people are dehumanized, in order to attain the gem that is to be sold – in return for arms. A prime example is Sierra Leone. In its inception the RUF followed the words “No More Slaves, No More Masters. Power and wealth to the People“. However the RUF became the masters and enslaved its own people by forcing Men and children to mine diamonds under the guard of armed men. They were notorious for mutilating people amputating hands and legs – that of women and also children to reinforce the message that civilians should remove their hands from the war (civil) and also politics. Furthermore, Children were abducted from their families and trained to be soldiers for the RUF. The diamonds that were mined by these men were then used to buy arms that would aid in the war.

This brutality is overlooked and over priced diamonds is sold to unsuspecting customers who have little care for the process behind getting the diamonds. So, as a subjective view, when a man is down on one knee, about to propose, it is all done in vein if the diamonds encrusted into that ring has not been mined by the man himself. He then becomes implicated in the funding of a war. Because of western imperialism the notion that: “Poverty makes people do reckless things but rich people do worse to protect their bling” (Immortal Technique, 2008.) is true. The insanity in the ignorance about diamonds is in the fact that very few people realize that the companies from which they buy their diamonds “American-Swiss” for example hold a paradox in their name considering the fact that Switzerland has absolutely no natural resources. Yet some people think that diamonds come from Antwerp.

An opinionated statement from one would be that – Resources are worthless however humans put a price to everything. The downfall, with diamonds being that, on resale, they are worth far less than the initial exorbitant cost of the stones. Diamonds could be perceived as tears from the Gods or the bearers of happiness. However when you are the one mining them, money can only buy you misery because your soul is auctioned for a gun. No matter where is the world you find it, whether or not it has been through the Kimberly process. The diamond. Is a BLOOD DIAMOND.  Uhuru. Sasa...

What price would you pay for these diamonds?  What price? - Maxwell Keeble

Bibliography

Excell diamonds. (2013). What exactly is a Diamond? http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/the-big-question-what-makes-diamonds-valuable-and-why-do-we-revere-them-so-much-938879.html  [Accessed 16 June 2013]

Keeble, M. (2013). Interview. Interviewed by C.Ncube. Interminable exegesis. Carlos.Blogspot.com

Pike, J. (2003). Revolutionary United Front (RUF). http://www.fas.org/irp/world/para/ruf.htm [Accessed 16 June 2013]

Savage, M. (2008). The Big Question: What makes diamonds valuable, and why do we revere them so much? http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/the-big-question-what-makes-diamonds-valuable-and-why-do-we-revere-them-so-much-938879.html [Accessed 16 June 2013]

Technique, I. 2008. Wax42Freestyle.

  

Lyricism Part 1.

This is one topic every MC finds them self inexorably debating about, so I thought I should cover it and share what I have observed.

Lyricist Lounge.

There are MC's who claim to "keep it real" and for them it means rapping about topics of daily struggles and hardships and this is what they coin as REALITY since the content is based on what everyone can see. Which is great but unfortunately, done to death plus it lacks insight and never engages the listener, MC’s who rap about space are also keeping it 'real' in their own whimsical way, just because someone used the word SPACE in his line does not mean that he is talking about it, he/she could be using a metaphor using space as a direct comparison to something, so even dungeon rappers aren't always talking hogwash. Besides, reality can be relative so let us please avoid using the term "keeping it real".

A key to good criticism in hip hop is listening and doing it well, I've heard people say "Big words don't make an MC tight", I agree with this statement but most of the time these people are unable to decode the message because they more than likely have no frame of reference for the word(s). I say, at least listen to HOW it used, what they are trying to communicate and whether or not that word was selected to sound intelligent and if you still fail to comprehend LOOK IT UP!!!. There are many aspects to this particular point but one thing I've learned is that people dislike being perplexed and so they are quick to say something is whack... Some even say it’s tight because it sounded so (a classic case of applauding at what you don't understand). Comprehension is, ergo, key before you can say some things are tight or not. So read listeners, have a good general knowledge and then analyse before you crush or applaud, besides, I thought hip hop heads were supposed to be the most informed listeners of music.

Right, now we come to the manner in which one can express a message. Good lyricists express themselves in the most unorthodox of ways with the use of picture painting vocabulary and/or puns or similes metaphors. Small tweaks to deliverance and vocab make a monumental difference here in other words, you can say you ''hurriedly went to the shop'' or alternatively say that you ''teleported to the shop'', it all depends on skill. Most MC's are too lazy to put effort to such tweaks as it requires a deeper understanding of language and description, that's why Proverb said MC's are teachers...get it?

My aim is to avoid making this long winded and endless, I shall end it here and continue once you have fully digested this...please feel free to share your opinions :-)....to be continued......part 2 coming soon!!

by: Donald Neosapien Mokgale 

Politics and Power

The aim of this essay is to elucidate the impact of the digital divide on the democracy and government of south. Furthermore, all concepts subordinate to the discourse – digital divide, e-democracy and e-government – will be delineated.

The New Digital Divide _Dana Blankenhorn 

The digital divide is not a concept endemic to one particular region. The implications of a digital divide further expand into politics, imprinting its influence on governments as well as the political system within a region. Furthermore, the digital divide can be seen a global network barrier that divides societies technological – societies being rural and urban.

The digital divide refers to a fissure in the spread of technology. Therefore the world can be seen as having two kinds of occupants: those who have access to information technology, such as the people in urban areas and those who do not have access to information technology. The latter is disadvantaged because they do not have 1: the ability to use modern information technology, and 2: They do not have means of acquiring new information almost spontaneously like people with access to IT in urban areas. “For example, a 1999 study showed that 86% of Internet delivery was to the 20 largest cities” (Margret. 2005). With the rise, and density of information technology, two new concepts we’re birthed: e-government and e-democracy.

E-government is the provision of government information and service by means of the internet and other computer sources (dictionary.com. 2009). This definition extends to, interface involving denizens and the government, in which, the Government would communicate with citizens in order to know their grievances or satisfaction with the governance. In South Africa it is common practice for the government to display statements based on government spending, in order to insure that no money is being over spent (however, corruption is an issue). Furthermore, the government provides information on how to obtain services such as child grant, citizenship and how to deal with the law. The disadvantage, however, is that people in the rural areas cannot access this information wirelessly. They have to wait to be informed Therefore, making eGovernment another element that contributes to the digital divide.

eDemocracy exists as a concept to raise the partaking of citizens in social, economic and political debates and decision making through electronic communication mediums – social networks particularly. eDemocracy reflects on Democracy which seeks to fulfil the idea of “peoples rule” in which Government policies are based on the needs of the people . The disadvantage of eDemocracy is the over-saturation of opinions – especially when they are opposing. Furthermore, (Nkosi. 2013) a general apathy to participate contributes to the disadvantages. As, some people think that there is not much to gain from engaging in discussion about government or with interaction with the government, and those without the means to communicate electronically are left bellowing in the ignorance about the occurrences in the country and their voices are not heard.

eGovernment and eDemocracy are both , in a sense practical. However the implications are not as far reaching as they should be because they both contribute to the digital divide here in South Africa. On the one hand, urban areas have access to communication mediums which allow for participation of the civil society in government. With freedom of speech being the back bone eDemocracy has a firm foundation in that people are free to voice their discontent with the system at any given time as long as it is relevant to South Africa. However, the problem begins with the lack of access to the internet in rural areas. This hinders the platform for debate as they will not be able to participate in discussions. For example, the debate about the secrecy bill has faced much opposition on the internet and those with the utensils to communicate their frustration with the possible implementation do so... However, people in the rural areas will not be able to engage in the debate because the digital divide has disadvantaged them.

The digital divide has polarized South Africa, just as it implicates. Therefore excluding people from important issues in and around the country, especially in places where the technology is not present

Bibliography

Dictionary.com. 2013. E-government. available http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/E-Government. [ Accessed 19 April 2013]

Mphidi, Hamilton. Digital divide and e-governance

In South Africa.  http://www.ais.up.ac.za/digi/docs/mphidi_present.pdf.  [ Accessed 19 April 2013]

Rousse, Margret. 2005. Digital divide. Available http://searchcio-midmarket.techtarget.com/definition/digital-divide.  [ Accessed 19 April 2013]

South African Government services.. 2013.  South African Government services.  availabe http://www.services.gov.za/services/content/Home/en_ZA. [Accessed 19 April 2013]

Tshabalala, N. 2013. Interview. Interviewed by C. Ncube. Interminable exegesis. CarlosNcube.blogspot.com

Network Society

T

he network society is a product of the rapid expansion of information technology which now controls how social political and economic activities are performed through networks previously or recently established. Information, too, has become easy to obtain, with methods of obtaining information have become easier through the use of mobile and wireless technology such as: cell phones. Cell phones. Cell phones are capable of working in rural areas. Therefore one agrees with the statement “Mobile and wireless technology will spread the network society to the most remote places and deepest pores of the world”. (VanDijk, 2006:59).

Network society. By Daniel.

A network society is a collection of networks unified through different nodes. it is by the person, that the structural integrity of the network society is strengthened . Network societies, further, allow for the deconstruction of the space barrier in which, people far apart, geographically – one in Cape Town and the other in Cairo – they can communicate without time or space delaying their flow of information. “In the Network Society, there is increased interaction between individuals, using various media” (Loucks, D. 2010). This media can range from Skype to Facebook as well as twitter. Passed the point of the Individual exists the mass society.

Mass society may be described as a “real virtuality” (Castells, M. 2005:4-20).  In that, the shared information online by various people possessed elements of what goes on in the physical society. Such elements being: symbols or even ideas. If a group of people are hosting an online protest and they use the peace symbol as the object of the protest it would be the use of what they identify with, in reality as well as in real virtuality. However, there are elements such as alienation linked to the mass society and an irrational interest in popular culture over high culture. Thus a network society, through the use of social networks (new media being the main theme) promotes advancements to how the people interact.

Mobile technology is advancing our ability to connect and share information in ways that were not possible even a couple of years ago (Lyon, E. 2010). It is now easy for people to gain information about events as they happen, where ever they are due to the rise of mobile technology. Furthermore, modes of the transportation of information such as the Email is accessible on hand-held devices along with social networks which ultimately means that people can interact on the go and share information almost instantly. The lives of people are not idle it is therefore, more convenient, for them to use mobile technology “most of the world actually prefers using the internet on their mobile devices than seated at a computer” (Souza, J. 2012).

The establishment of networks paved the way for a network society and mobile technology simplified the access to internet and people through more flexible means of communication such as microelectronics. These micro electronics are not bound by geography, therefore it is not the question on how wireless technology will spread into the remote areas of the world, and rather it is when. Because networks themselves still need to be established in these remote areas. Already, rural areas can communicate via cell phones and telephones. Soon, the internet will find its way to rural areas.

The advent of networks and mobile technology increase the reach of network societies throughout the globe. It is by this logic that one concludes; “Mobile and wireless technology will spread the network society to the most remote places and deepest pores of the world”. (Van Dijk, 2006:59).

Bibliography

Castells, M and Cardoso, G. 2005. The Network Society, from Knowledge to Policy. http://www.umass.edu/digitalcenter/research/pdfs/JF_NetworkSociety.pdf. [Accessed 28 March 2013]

 Loucks, D. 2010. The Network Society: I could be connected to the President! (or an Eskimo!).  http://learn.bowdoin.edu/courses/soc022-danica-loucks/tag/network-society/. [Accessed 28 March 2013]

Lyon, E. 2010.  Mobile Tech’s Influence in a Network Society.   http://sparxoo.com/2010/04/27/mobile-techs-influence-in-a-network-society/. [Accessed 28 March 2013]

Souza, J. 2013 The Impact of Mobile Technology on Social Media Platforms: What’s Coming? http://socialmediamarketinguniversity.com/impact-mobile-technology-social-media-platforms-whats-coming/. [Accessed 28 March 2013]

UNDP. 2011. Mobile Technologies and Empowerment: Enhancing human development through participation and innovation. http://www.undpegov.org/mgov-primer.html. [Accessed 28 March 2013]

The Hand Of Social Media

World war: Social Media and the work place

The aim and scope of this essay is to delineate whether or not employees should be held liable for their individual activity on social media. Thus it will be clarified why one is impartial to the subject at hand because it is open ended and requires effort from both the employer and employee.

Work Ethics Vs Social Life

The advent of social networking has simplified the communication of individuals on a global scale. Furthermore, businesses have caught up with the trend of social networking to; promote products and receive feedback from consumers as well as grievances about products and services. However individual accounts of employees should not be the responsibility of the company therefore an employee should be held responsible for his or her own action separate from the work environment.

“As Facebook and Twitter become as central to workplace conversation as the company cafeteria, federal regulators are ordering employers to scale back policies that limit what workers can say online.” (Associated Press, 2013). The purpose is for a company to retain its untainted image in the public eye. However, Social media policy should be implemented to give workers an overview on what they can and cannot converse or grieve about on social networks. According to Kashmir Hill (2011) if employees have discussed and issue with the manager of that particular company, there should be no consequences presented to what the employee will have to say about the situation. The nature of this logic by Ms. Kashmir Hill, compels one to think that issues driven by personal vendettas aroused in the work environment have repercussions. An example to disambiguate the idea is as follows: Imagine that one is an anchor and the news company one works for, has recently assigned one a new co-anchor and is upstaged by the co-anchor. Later that evening, one tweets “that new anchor has an ego that exceeds the size of the galaxy”.

A rant of jealousy would be considered in excusable Furthermore in responding to a comment or tweet from another individual, an employee can be reprimanded by the claws of a “Vocational paradigm shift” an individual who was subjected to this is meteorologist Rhonda Lee who was fired from KTBS-TV for “defending her ethnic hair” (Knox, 2012) Rhonda had apparently violated the media policy repeatedly which led, ultimately to her termination in KTBS-TV.

Already, it is evident that companies will go to great lengths to maintain their immaculate image especially if the tarnishing is caused by an agent within the company, subsequently leading to the termination of that individuals contract with the company. Therefore, employees should be held responsible for their social activity to a certain extent. Employees should know their “they should not violate the companies media policy and what they speak about does not reflect negatively on the company” (Zandamela, 2013). Both the company and the employee should know where the employee should draw the line where social media is involved.

Therefore, it is the responsibility of both the company (putting its policy in action) and the employee to know when not to cross the line while they social network, in order to avoid the repercussions that could be. An innocent comment could be the reason an individual loses their life within the professional realm.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Phillstar.com. Reinstatement ordered for employees fired from posting on social networks. http://www.philstar.com/2013/01/22/899864/reinstatement-ordered-employees-fired-posting-social-networks.[Accessed 24 February 2013].

Hdtrailerszz. Employee fired over Facebook comments, beware of Employers monitoring your Internet Usage.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCH33TgK8Mw&list=PL19CEC5E12963FC63&index=3.[Accessed 24 February 2013].

Hill, Kashmir. When You Can and Can't Fire Employees For Social Media Misbehavior. http://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2011/08/25/when-you-can-and-cant-fire-employees-for-social-media-misbehavior/.[ Accessed 24 February 2013].

Zandamela, N. 2013. Interview. Interviewed by C.Ncube. The Hand of Social Media. CarlosNcube.blogspot.com.

Rosenberg, Sonya. A Tough Balancing Act for Employers. http://www.hreonline.com/HRE/view/story.jhtml?id=534354953.[Accessed 24 February 2013].

Sutyak, Kara. Meteorologist Fired For Responding To Facebook Comment. http://fox8.com/2012/12/12/meteorologist-fired-over-facebook-comments/.[Accessed 24 February 2013].

freedom for all or for none

antagonist in the nightmares of the oppressor. speak out even if you do not have a voice