So what's your story

[River Rat]

So you’re driving down the R21, the year is 2032, with the magnificent UNISA building towering over the gateway to our country’s capital. Your Grandson looking to his left at the derelict shacks ruining the vista as desperate people are trying to eke out a living in an area with no infrastructure, no water and refuse lying everywhere, you have to keep the windows shut or else the smell of raw sewerage will overcome your senses.  “Grandpa, why are these people living in such a bad place”?  “Actually, my boy this was not always a bad place this used to be a nature reserve called Groenkloof and if look on the other side of the road you will see what used to be another old nature reserve called Klapperkop”. “What’s a nature reserve Grandpa?” “My boy many years ago we used to set aside areas in our busy city where we allowed nature to flourish in harmony with the people of the city. In fact we used to enjoy weekends and public holidays there as we used hike, run and mountain bike amongst Giraffes, wildebeest, Ostriches and Sable it was a magical place, your dad used to train here for his first Sani2c race, while your mom hiked with her sister, you were but twinkle in their eye!” “Grandpa, I’d like to walk amongst the animals”. “I’m sorry my boy but there are no more animals there and it is not a safe place” you say as you activate your cars central locking glancing nervously over your shoulder. “Grandpa, what happened, where are the animals”? “My boy they’re all gone we were forced out of the area by criminals and they killed all the animals”. “Grandpa, I like giraffes could you not stop the criminals from killing them” you can see the tears of disappointment welling up in his eyes.  “My boy, we tried, we signed a petition to get the mayor to do something about the safety in the area but very few attended the meeting with the city council, and they did not think it that important”. “Grandpa, did you attend the meeting”? You take your time to respond as you feel the tears welling up in your own eyes. “I’m sorry my boy but I was too busy that day…..”

Or

“Grandpa, Grandpa! me and my dad are going to ride our bikes next to the giraffes and zebras”. “That’s great my boy and if you’re lucky you might see the Sable and beware of the Ostriches they are quite aggressive this time of the year because they’re protecting their newly hatched chicks”. “Grandpa, how do you know when an Ostrich is cross?” “My boy look at their shins they are red and they flap their wings a lot”. “Grandpa, I’m scared of the Ostriches” “Don’t worry my boy your dad has ridden here for years and he knows the Ostriches of this reserve well, you just listen to your dad and you’ll be fine. Now off you go and enjoy your ride”. You watch your grandson jump on his bike in pursuit of his father as you contemplate what could have been, had you not signed that petition, had you not attended that meeting and had the council not heard the persistent cry of the community. That was the day you know you took your city back from the criminals. That was the day good strong people said we will claim what is ours and what belongs to our children. That was the day the elected officials of the council joined hands with the community and drew a line in the sand……

 

So what will be your story? Can you say I signed the petition? Can you say I was at the meeting? The choice is yours.

 

The Petition:

https://www.change.org/p/the-mayor-of-tshwane-metropolitan-council-make-groenkloof-nature-reserve-safe-now/

 

The meeting:

Date: Tuesday, 10 May 2016
Time: 18h30
Venue: NG CHRUCH, GROENKLOOF, RECEPTION HALL, VAN WOUW STREET NR 75, GROENKLOOF

[BrandonF_]

http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/4920/Degeneration.htm

[BigDL]

http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/4920/Degeneration.htm

Thought this was a review of the new fortuner, but apparently not

[River Rat]

Some good news and it appears that they were caught by the staff of the reserve, at least we have something to work with.

 

http://rekordeast.co.za/91689/groenkloof-two-nabbed-after-attack-on-women/

 

 

[ZakAttak]

At River Rat, I take my hat off to you good sir for the first post and really trying to make a difference...

 

I will surely one day pay it forward in this manner....

[Tubehunter]

If I lived up North I would be there, purely as a result of this post! Nice one RR!!!!

[River Rat]

At River Rat, I take my hat off to you good sir for the first post and really trying to make a difference...

 

I will surely one day pay it forward in this manner....

Thanks, at the end of the day when we all do what we can we will make a difference.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/4920/Degeneration.htm

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Yeah, right. Let's not make this an argument about religion and the fallacy that all moral virtues "originate from god", shall we?

 

It has been thoroughly and completely de-bunked. Yet another tool for the fervently religious to feign superiority over the "unclean" 

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

At River Rat, I take my hat off to you good sir for the first post and really trying to make a difference...

 

I will surely one day pay it forward in this manner....

Absolutely. It's something that needs to be attended to very seriously. 

 

RR - I salute you. 

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Some good news and it appears that they were caught by the staff of the reserve, at least we have something to work with.

 

http://rekordeast.co.za/91689/groenkloof-two-nabbed-after-attack-on-women/

Great! 

[ZakAttak]

Thanks, at the end of the day when we all do what we can we will make a difference.

 

 

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Yeah, right. Let's not make this an argument about religion and the fallacy that all moral virtues "originate from god", shall we?

 

It has been thoroughly and completely de-bunked. Yet another tool for the fervently religious to feign superiority over the "unclean" 

 

I have actually been thinking about this country and what's happening here for a long while and yes we keep saying that it won't change and we have to just accept the powers that be.

 

However, that's actually wrong, change starts with the individual, you and I, if we start a change in our own household, then onto your neighbourhood and further afield and get everyone involved then change will certainly come.

 

I admire the NGO's like "Friends of the Liesbeeck" and the Soup Kitchens of this City and others... They are individuals that want change that are trying to make an effort to that change. There is a soup kitchen in the City that I never knew about until I was informed of them, they charge R1 for a decent meal for the homeless and another R1 for that same homeless person to use the laundry and wash their clothes. A R1 is not unreachable and it teaches them responsibility and gives them a sort of hope...

 

Really admirable, here I think, what do I do and it's nothing compared to these people who devote their lives to this change and stops complaining of the way this country is heading...

 

Sorry... Just had to let it out...

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

I have actually been thinking about this country and what's happening here for a long while and yes we keep saying that it won't change and we have to just accept the powers that be.

 

However, that's actually wrong, change starts with the individual, you and I, if we start a change in our own household, then onto your neighbourhood and further afield and get everyone involved then change will certainly come.

 

Absolutely. It just takes one stand / voice to make a difference. Case in point, is the Obz waitress debacle that was turned into an overwhelming show of companionship by ONE person deciding "No - enough is enough" and taking a stand against blatant racism and hatred. 

 

It extends to all walks of life - traffic offences, queue jumpers, littering etc etc. ONE person standing up makes all the difference. For some reason, a lot of people won't be that "one person" and will wait until someone else does something before reacting. Bandwagoning, essentially. Yes, in some cases it's profoundly necessary to enforce change or keep things the way they should be, but it speaks to an immense lack of leadership and / or willingness to "walk the line" - essentially wanting something to change, but having an attitude of "someone else will do it" or "it's not my problem"

 

It IS your problem, and if you don't do something, that little indiscretion carries on for that little bit longer. Just how many "not my problem" people will walk by, doing nothing, before someone says "Not on my watch"? 

 

Rat is one of the few people that say "not on my watch" - and for that, he deserves all the respect in the world. There's too many "not my problem" people. 

 

Oh - and moral decay starts at home. It also stops there. But only if you act accordingly. 

[ZakAttak]

Absolutely. It just takes one stand / voice to make a difference. Case in point, is the Obz waitress debacle that was turned into an overwhelming show of companionship by ONE person deciding "No - enough is enough" and taking a stand against blatant racism and hatred. 

 

It extends to all walks of life - traffic offences, queue jumpers, littering etc etc. ONE person standing up makes all the difference. For some reason, a lot of people won't be that "one person" and will wait until someone else does something before reacting. Bandwagoning, essentially. Yes, in some cases it's profoundly necessary to enforce change or keep things the way they should be, but it speaks to an immense lack of leadership and / or willingness to "walk the line" - essentially wanting something to change, but having an attitude of "someone else will do it" or "it's not my problem"

 

It IS your problem, and if you don't do something, that little indiscretion carries on for that little bit longer. Just how many "not my problem" people will walk by, doing nothing, before someone says "Not on my watch"? 

 

Rat is one of the few people that say "not on my watch" - and for that, he deserves all the respect in the world. There's too many "not my problem" people. 

 

Oh - and moral decay starts at home. It also stops there. But only if you act accordingly. 

Nail right on head...

[MTBeer]

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Yeah, right. Let's not make this an argument about religion and the fallacy that all moral virtues "originate from god", shall we?

 

It has been thoroughly and completely de-bunked. Yet another tool for the fervently religious to feign superiority over the "unclean" 

I started type a response to that load of sh!te that he posted, but just deleted without posting. It hardly seems worth the effort to argue with people stuck in the dark ages.

[Meerkat82]

well done.    

I go on all the groups and tell everyone to sign even the stables at Klapperkop, everyone signed as this is a gem in the city and we need to be the guardians.

 

Thanks River Rat

 

Anna

[gummibear]