Handelsryk in Die Ooste: Deel 2: Die Wereld Van Die VOC, 1619-1688: Amazon.de: Karel Schoeman: Fremdsprachige Bücher
Handelsryk in Die Ooste: Deel 2: Die Wereld Van Die VOC, 1619-1688
Karel Schoeman (Autor)
Verlag: Protea Boekhuis (30. November 2009)
Amazon Bestseller-Rang: Nr. 3.931.678 in Fremdsprachige Bücher (Siehe Top 100 in Fremdsprachige Bücher) Die week na die jaarlikse Dorps- en Olyffees, het Ebrahim Ravat, die bekende handelaar en kenner van Oosterse matte die dorp besoek om ‘n uitstalling van Persiese matte aan te bied. Hy was vergesel van sy seun Ahmed en ander lede van sy uitgebreide familie wat met ‘n yslike Mercedes Benz trok sowat 500 voorbeelde van verskillende matte en tapyte vanaf Pretoria hierheen gebring het.
Dit was die begin van ‘n wonderlike driedaagse ervaring vir die inwoners van Prince Albert waartydens Ebrahim hul ingelei het in die historiese, estetiese en geestelike wonders van hierdie fabelagtige produk, een van die mensdom se mees antieke tuisnywerhede.
Die tapyte is op Vrydag 2 Mei uitgepak in die Kunsgallery, ‘n uiters geskikte ruimte en agtergrond. Die volgende aand het Ebrahim ‘n fassinerende praatjie gelewer aan ‘n waarderende gehoor, gevolg deur ‘n opwindende veiling waar heelparty gelukkige persone ongelooflike winskopies bekom het.
Hy het verduidelik dat Oosterse tapyte in ses kategorieë van uitnemendheid ingedeel word. Die eerste vlakke sluit in matte wat gemaak is in Marokko, Indië, Pakistan en Turkye, terwyl matte in die hoër kategorieë afkomstig is uit die gebied wat hy die Persiese stroom noem, deel van die antieke Persiese Ryk wat insluit die hedendaagse Iran, Afghanistan en die vorige Sowjet Republieke van Uzbekistan en Kazakhstan.
Die heel beste kwaliteit matte is tydens die Pahlavi dinastie gemaak, die tydperk wat in 1979 beïndig is met die afsetting van die Shah Reza Pahlavi, gevolg deur die wat gemaak is tydens die revolusionêre heerskappy van die Ayatollah Khomeni, wat as ietwat minder waardevol geag word.
Die gehoor is nie net betower deur die matte nie, maar ook deur Ebrahim homself.
Hy het nie alleenlik kundige inligting oorgedra nie, maar die gehoor bekoor met sy delikate sjarme en die stories agter die matte, die verskillende stamgebiede en tradisies van herkoms. ‘n Mooi voorstelling van die moeder wat vroeg opstaan, die kinders kosgee, gebede lei en die klein kinders aan die hand vergesel na die mat-raam om hulle die oneindige fyn kuns van matknoop te leer. Tydens so ‘n werksessie verduidelik sy dan die geestelike betekenis van elke motief.
Godsdienstige onderrig saamgeweef in die werk – ‘n proses wat Ebrahim glo ‘n spesiale kwaliteit aan die eindproduk verleen.
Die veiling was groot pret en die gehoor was verstom om te sien dat Ebrahim dit skynbaar geniet om matte ver onder die gewone handelsprys te laat gaan. Maar hy het verduidelik dat as gelowige weet hy dat wat jy saai sal jy maai en dat hy op hierdie manier meer welwillendheid verwerf as deur duur advertensies.
Die volgende dag het hy sy punt bewys – meer matte is van die vloer verkoop as tydens die veiling. Dit was dus ‘n wen-wen geleentheid. Die mense van Prince Albert het ‘n genotvolle aand en winskopies gekry, die Kunsgallery het op sy beste vertoon en goeie publisiteit gekry, Ebrahim het goeie bemarking gedoen en selfs ‘n bietjie profyt gemaak en ten slotte ontvang die Prince Albert Skills Trust ‘n mooi skenking as kommissie op die verkope.
Prince Albert sê “dankie Mnr Ravat, en kom gerus weer kuier!”
Labels: Persian Carpet, persian rugs
Hoe hanteer 'n mens enige konflik hetsy tussen mense, in die huis, by die skool, by die werk of elders? Daar is 'n magdom van verskillende konflikte wat maklik ontstaan maar min wat maklik bevredigend opgelos word. Ongelukkig is die geaardheid van die mens so dat ons vinnig opgewonde raak en moeilik toegee.
Die goue reël vir oplossing van sulke moeilike situasies is dat elkeen die ander persoon ernstig opneem en probeer verstaan wat agter dié persoon se standpunt lê. Dikwels verg dit 'n onpartydige bemiddelaar. En hoe doen 'n mens dit? Dit is makliker gesê as gedaan.
In sommige situasies is dit gerade om klein stappies in die regte rigting te probeer maak om versekering en vertroue stadig maar seker op te bou.
Met ander woorde om, soos die Bybel sê: “Alles wat julle dan wil hê dat die mense aan julle moet doen, net so moet julle aan hulle ook doen” (Matt 7:12). Dit is ook wat die Tora en die Koran vir ons sê.
Ons as Christene hoef nie vêr te soek vir ons bemiddelaar nie! Ons Here, Jesus Christus, het ons uitgenooi om Hom as ons bemiddelaar te laat optree.
Life in Karoo Country... or, The Unbearable Sadness of Baboons
Terrestrial wild-life on my former island home consists of three species of lizard, two tiny tree-frogs and an impressively outsized toad. I share my new Karoo farm with kudu, steenbok, duikers, springbok and the occasional zebra (fence-pushing poachers from a neighbor’s game reserve) all of which graze alongside the sheep.
Our vegetable garden and fruit orchards are feasted upon by porcupines, aardvark, dassies, hare and massive, ancient mountain tortoises. (So much so that I have named these areas “Lawson’s Luncheonette”!)
Dusk brings sightings of bat-eared foxes, black-backed jackal, lynx, otters, and one shy water mongoose. Sight-unseen, elusive wild African cats and vervet monkeys also keep us company. The avian population, both transitory and resident, is a wonderment to visiting birders. Our newly acquired bat-house is proudly perched on the side of the shed although, at the moment, filled only with hope and expectant hospitality. We live in a thriving eco-environment.
Almost all of these creatures benefit from the classic “cute factor” – being thought of as either harmless or satisfying to our human need to identify pleasantly and a little paternalistically with the organic world. I gently geographically re-locate numerous mice, beetles and even terrifyingly pre-historic looking koringkrieks who have wondered into our domestic domain and begrudge, much less than my very hard working farmer husband, the sharing of our garden largesse.
But heretofore unbeknownst to me, at the very bottom of the totem-pole, lacking not a single ascribed adorable characteristic in the opinion of almost every South African I have spoken with, is the truly un-loved baboon. I am regaled with tales of theft, destruction, dirt and danger. The anthropomorphistic descriptions of their behavior are without exception those normally used for delinquent youths, rowdy drunks and deranged sociopaths! Bio-bigotry against baboons is deeply engrained.
Until recently, all of my exposure to these extraordinary primates has come during drives within nature reserves, along mountain roads and forays into uninhabited veld expanses. Their propensity for foraging at the edges of super-highways fills me with the deepest fears for their survival and I cringe at the memory of so many killed whilst dashing across roads. Their fearful expressions connate an unbearable sadness and alienation.
A fortnight ago the house water began to taste, to me at least, suspiciously ‘off’ and my endlessly accommodating husband agreed to check the large storage tank. Without rain for many months, we anticipated all sorts of potential bacterial imbalances.
Our first surprise was to find the cover inappropriately askew; the second was to peer down into the water-logged face of a young baboon who in his frantic attempt to assuage an overwhelming thirst had fallen into water too deep to vault back from!
Round and round he had swum for, we knew not, how long. Innate intelligence and amazing dexterity had enabled him to lift the cover; lack of depth-perception his undoing. He was well and truly trapped. A near-drowned non-aquatic animal is a most pitiful sight.
Initially, the insertion of a long pole only added to his terror and distress but a pantomime of ‘walking’ our fingers up and along its length was all that was needed to demonstrate the path to rescue and release!
Being too clever by half is not always an evolutionary advantage. (We humans should, humbly, give more credence to this cliché.) Perhaps the smartest thing an animal can do is to live on a farm whose owners, even if you are ugly and unappreciated, will always give you a ‘helping hand’.
Posted by Prince Albert Friend at 9:19 PM 0 comments
Posted by Prince Albert Friend at 9:18 PM 0 comments
Dit was heerlik vir ons om tydens die Prince Albert Dorps-en Olyffees met `n paar nuwe sterrevriende die wonder van die sterrehemel (tussen die wolke deur ) te kon geniet.
Nou in Junie is dit al weer tyd vir die pragtige Winterkonstellasies soos die reusagtige Skerpioen, die ingewikkelde Boogskutter en Boötes met sy helder rooi reus bokant ons koppe.
Dit is deur en deur die moeite werd om in die koudste tyd van die jaar `n blik in die rigting van die middelpunt van ons galaksie te werp waar die Melkweg op sy breedste is en elke dowwe kol in die mooiste sterrehopie of - newel ontpop deur die lens van `n teleskoop.
Junie het vir my, soos seker vir baie sonskynliewende persone in die suidelike halfrond nog `n spesiale bekoring en dit is die sonstilstand op die 21ste waarna die dae weer begin langer word.
In Mei tot en met die eerste paar dae van Junie is Mercurius net na sononder in die Weste, maar relatief laag oor die horison sigbaar.
Venus bereik op die 9de Junie haar buitekonjunksie wat beteken dat sy dan agter die Son en die verste vanaf dieAarde is naamlik 260 mil. km ( = 1.74 AE ) en daarna na die oostekant van die Son beweeg sodat sy weer `n aandverskyning as aandster sal begin maak vir die res van die jaar.
Die Maan is in sy Nuwe Maan posisie op die 3de Junie en vanaf die 7de tot 9de sal hy saam met Mars, Regulus en Saturn `n aanskoulike groepering vorm wat ook die lyn van die Ekliptika sal aandui. Volmaan gebeur is op 18d Junie.
Mars kan nog vir `n paar uur in die aand gesien word in die sterrebeeld Kreef (daar waar geen helder sterre hierdie konstellasie aandui nie) tot die 10de Junie waarna hy na die Leeu toe oorgaan in rigting na Regulus toe.
Die helder Jupiter, sigbaar vir die hele nag in die sterrebeeld Boogskutter, is op sy terugwaartse beweging in die rigting van die Skerpioen tot September waarna hy weer met sy normale regsombeweging deur die Boogskutter voortgaan om volgende jaar in die sterrebeeld van die Steenbok te beland.
Dit is nou `n goeie geleentheid om hierdie bewegingsafwyking dop te hou omdat dit die relatiewe beweging tussen die planete duidelik demonstreer.
Saturnus het in Mei tot stilstand gekom naby Regulus en beweeg nou weer weg van die hoofster van die Leeu in die rigting van die Maagd en word in die proses al dowwer, maar die interessantheid omtrent Saturnus is dat ons sy ringe in Desember heeltemal van die kant af sal bekyk.
Junie en Julie is gunstige maande om meteoorreëns waar te neem en mens kan op die 5de Junie vanaf 21h00 begin kyk in die rigting van die Skerpioen wanneer min maanskyn die sig van "verskietende sterre" sal belemmer.
Die gereëlde kyk met `n verkyker na die Suide in die omgewing van die Suider-kruis en ander kruise waarborg `n ryk beloning omdat die kruise nou hoog staan en baie mooi voorwerpe huisves.
One of the highlights of the 2008 Town and Olive Festival was Patchwork Theatre’s Treasure Island. The opening night took place at the Jans Rautenbach Schouwburg where a large audience obviously enjoyed the show and joined in whole-heartedly with the sea shanty: ‘Fifteen men on a dead man’s chest ’.
The cast was made up of children aged nine to fifteen, apart from a young Sotho woman of 21, so it was only natural that several of them had an attack of nerves that night and forgot their words, but the audience were kind and accepted this as part of the entertainment.
The three first-time actors are to be congratulated and the crowd loved O’Brien. Christopher Mullins as “Hands” gave a memorable performance – in fact all the pirates played their parts to the full - and three died superbly.
The main character, Long John Silver, was played by Joshua Swanepoel, who put great expression into his role as both a cut-throat pirate and a lonely sailor, although he could have better portrayed his relationship with Jim and he should try to loosen up on stage. He knew how to captivate his audience and stir their emotions, without dominating other characters. Yet he was unfamiliar with the script and made the mistake of showing his frustration to the audience.
Melissa Haarhof as Squire Trelawney, was very good. The actress portrayed him as a rather haughty, inconsiderate man, but nonetheless brave when it came to the crunch. However she spoke too quickly, which was a bit of a let down because her part is one of the most important.
Caleb Swanepoel as Jim Hawkins performed well, because he knew his script, and could therefore act more freely. However he did not understand his character as well as Joshua did, struggling to convey feeling in his poems.
Scene changes were done smoothly. After hitches with the sound effects at the theatre, things improved at the hall. Congratulations to Matthew van Heerden whose lighting was very good, considering that it consisted of three bed lamps, one with a flood lamp globe attached.
A lantern, dimly illuminating the inn sign, added to the atmosphere. At most times the actor’s faces were clearly visible, except when shadows were needed for effect. Many thanks to Gudrun Toelstede and Alex Barnato for the wonderful costumes and highly appropriate props.
All agree that Patchwork Theatre has done us proud again!
Well done Tracy Swanepoel for another outstanding evening’s entertainment.
Albert College Foundation Level pupils
Posted by Prince Albert Friend at 9:17 PM 0 comments
Posted by Prince Albert Friend at 9:16 PM 0 comments
A spur-of-the-moment decision was taken to judge the street food on offer at the Town & Olive Festival. Bokkie Botha, Festival chair, capitalised on the visit by Hilary Biller, well-known food writer for the Sunday Times and The Star, to our town during the Festival and asked her to evaluate the fruits of the labours of all the food stalls. Two assistant judges, Philip Key and Jeremy Freemantle, were press-ganged into assisting Hilary and tasked with eating their way down Church Street.
Now it should be said that munching one’s way through an entire street festival is no mean feat and extreme concentration was needed in order to keep the taste buds impartial.
There was everything! – from koeksisters to calamari, kerrievetkoek to konfyt, mielies, boerewors rolls, kudu pregos and all the rest. And then like a beacon in the sea of cholesterol-loaded food appeared Prince Albert Soetlappies! Delicious, light, sweet and gentle on the palate. Original and traditional and reminiscent of Granny’s doilies. Linda, Joshua and Eloise Fodor were judged the winners for these unique treats, as well as their baklava, sour-dough bread and other delights using all local ingredients and inspiration. When asked whether we could expect to see their soetlappies at the Saturday market, Joshua replied that they were a once-a-year occurrence and their recipe, a jealously-guarded secret! We certainly hope that you will reconsider and allow Prince Alberters and visitors to enjoy these and your other delicacies more often.
Food is such an integral feature of our Festival and of our cultures and we should showcase it at any opportunity. The Festival Committee intends making the street food competition a regular feature in the future and would like to encourage everyone to be creative and delight our senses with their special, innovative food.
Posted by Prince Albert Friend at 9:15 PM 0 comments
The Olive Festival 2008 is now past and I would like to thank all who made it the cheerful, happy, fun event that it was. The guest houses, B&B’s, self-catering establishments, restaurants, and many houses were full of visitors. These visitors will, as in the past, take back anecdotes and stories of their stay and it is our hope that this will contribute to the steadily growing stream of people visiting our town.
The Festival has been established for 17 years now and is organised by The Prince Albert Tourism Association with willing assistance from a very large number of people who are not themselves necessarily members.
We should always be aware that not everyone in Prince Albert benefits from the influx of visitors and that some inhabitants are more inconvenienced than others. I thank these people for nevertheless showing warm hospitality, as well as the many in Prince Albert who enjoyed themselves too.
The Police, who made the town safe in a sensitive manner – residents will be pleased to hear that there were no untoward incidents,
The Municipality, who made a financial contribution, organised the Kaapse Klopse visit, provided electricity points, extra rubbish bins, transported gates for road closures, collected rubbish, and assisted whenever crises developed,
All those who made financial and in-kind contributions to the Festival kitty,
The stall holders, many of whom told me that they had experienced better returns than last year,
The farmers who lent us gates to close off the roads,
The parking attendants, who handled their difficult job of keeping cars out of Kerkstraat, with patience and tact,
Hoërskool Zwartberg, the Headmaster, teachers, parents, and scholars,
The Prince Albert Friend: thanks for meeting all deadlines, thanks for the informative and complementary content and thanks for a great programme,
Our website manager (over 20 000 hits in April, compared with just over 7000 in March),
The street cleaners, as well as many willing, young “spontaneous” cleaners,
Our visiting and local actors, artists, and musicians (unfortunately, Prince Alberters are so busy working they seldom have an opportunity to see the shows - pity!!),
The Steel Band, who ran a workshop and played in the streets,
The trainer of dancers, the dancers, and those who worked with fire,
Homeowners who again opened their houses and gardens for the public to see how Prince Alberters live,
All those who marketed the Fees (did you see the Weather Channel, have you read the latest Country Life?)
Our signwriter, maker of unique signs, and banner preparer,
The most photographed cyclists and bike-sculptors,
The organisers of the Fun Run,
The Museum and staff, including the town witblitz-stoker,
Our bilingual announcers,
The funfair, rides, and entertainment organisers,
The toilet cleaners and attendants, who again kept an essential part of the Festival hospitable,
The inhabitants of Mark and Kerk streets who kept their cool while being inconvenienced,
The owner of Seven Arches for again allowing us to use his balcony for announcements,
All those who played a part and whom I may have inadvertently not thanked,
Those who made their wonderful theatre spaces available for the use of productions, as well as those who found time to take tickets and money,
Those who included advertising for the ‘Fees’ on their own advertising material and delivered it to far places,
I would like to personally thank the Tourism Office staff, who were at the centre of ticket sales, complaints, compliments, stall allocations, printing, ticket production, minute taking, organising, last minute poster production, and a hundred other jobs: you two were truly great!
Lastly, a tremendous thank you to the Committee: you gave it your all, amidst organising programmes, school stalls, own stalls, shops and businesses, school finan-cing, children, families, and still managed to keep smiling in the streets. You set a great example of social commitment!
Chairman, Olive Festival Committee
The Committee: Imke Maeyer, Di Steyn, Elize Senekal, Lorna Verrans, Kallie Erasmus, Sally Arnold, Linda Fodor, Jeremy Freemantle, Bodo Toelstede, Riaan Coetzee, Lisa Smith, Zelia Mullins, Chantelle Freysen, Pam Wessels
Posted by Prince Albert Friend at 9:14 PM 0 comments
Posted by Prince Albert Friend at 9:13 PM 0 comments
Just before the Town and Olive Festival the village was visited by four direct descendants of Zacharias and Dina de Beer, the founding family, who established the farm Kweekvallei here in 1762.
Seventh generation Riel de Beer, Lydia, his wife; their daughters Anli de Beer and Alrina Visagie and granddaughter Jani Visagie spent a few days wandering through Prince Albert. They visited Gay’s Dairy, site of the original farm buildings, spent time in the Fransie Pienaar Museum and took a Ghost Walk. It was a great pleasure to spend time in their company. They were extremely enthusiastic about the town and their family history, so much so that during the evening little Jani told her oupa that she’d like to change her name to de Beer.
Riel is the grandson of Oom Zaag de Beer, one time Skriba at the NG Kerk, who lived in the house in Parsonage Street. Riel last visited the village for his oupa’s funeral. Helena Marincowitz recorded the tale of Oom Zaag’s almost running over his wife Tant Lienie in their garden in her book of Prince Albert Stories and Riel confirmed that the old man was a holy terror on the roads. Oupa Zaag would take him and his brother out to Scholtzkloof during the fruit season to pick fruit for the family. He would back out of the garage and turn so that he could leave the property bonnet first; he knew he had turned far enough when he hit the fig tree!
Riel had many stories to tell Jani and places to point out but couldn’t remember exactly where his Hofmeyer grandparents had lived. If anyone can supply this information please contact me at 023 5411 211 and I’ll pass it on.
The family thoroughly enjoyed their visit, as their note a week later conveyed: “We haven’t stopped talking about Prince Albert ever since we left. We really enjoyed the stay and are considering buying property there one day. We spent a lot of time in the Museum and even took turns to see if we could see the notorious Museum Ghost - no luck though. We hope to pay another visit to the town soon and wish yourself and all the residents well.
Greetings: Riel, Lydia, Anli de Beer, Alrina and Jani Visagie.”
Labels: De Beer Family
Undisciplined children killed two huge mountain tortoises in the Weltevrede Valley in a devastating display of human cruelty. The animals’ bodies were discovered by Pieter Koorts, of the Weltevrede Fig and Guest Farm, while on a routine check of the fig orchards at the end of April. “These tortoises were at least 50-years-old each,” he said, “that they should die like this is unforgivable.”
Mountain or leopard tortoises are the biggest of South Africa’s 12 species of land tortoise. Younger animals have brightly marked shells while the older creatures, like those killed, are uniformly brown. The name “mountain” tortoise is more to do with their size than where they live. Fully grown they usually average about 20kg but can be much bigger – the tortoises killed weighed an estimated 40kg.
Suzelle, Pieter’s wife, called Prince Albert police and the suspects, all under ten, were identified. The Weltevrede school bus was stopped by police and the children escorted to the scene of the crime with their parents. Under police supervision they were made to dig graves for the animals and, in the presence of several members of the Weltevrede community, prayed for forgiveness for what they had done. Suzelle praised the Prince Albert police for their sensitive but firm handling of the young culprits. “The policemen explained to the children the consequences of what they had done firmly but with respect for their age.” Willene, Pieter and Suzelle’s daughter, then made each child write a letter to the tortoise apologising for his or her brutality. “There were a lot of tears and a lot of regrets but we drove the message home very firmly,” said Suzelle.
The incident was reported to Cape Nature where Oudtshoorn-based conservation services manager Theresa van der Westhuizen said their names would be entered on the Biodiversity Crime Unit’s database. Environmental crimes entered on the database assist Cape Nature to strengthen its case against repeat offenders. “So often the public don’t report incidents like this because they think it’s a waste of time. This is not the case. If these names come to our attention again when they are older there will be serious consequences for them,” she said.
Suzelle said the Weltevrede children knew the farm rules: that no creature, no matter what, may be hurt or killed. Two of the children involved were in the valley visiting a neighbouring farm worker and live in town.
Cape Nature conservator Theresa van der Westhuizen has appealed to the Prince Albert community to be on the look out for children trading in wild animals. “This is a growing problem in Prince Albert with youngsters selling baby porcupines, meerkats and tortoises.” She said that under no circumstances were children to be paid for the animals but, where possible, they were to be removed and immediately brought to the authorities’ attention. Van der Westhuizen can be reached on:
082 569 6480 or 044 203 6315.
Posted by Prince Albert Friend at 9:11 PM 0 comments
- Ellen Nicol -
The Council has just given the go ahead for the proposed recycling project. It has been confirmed that an enclosure is soon to be constructed by the Municipality at the solid waste disposal site. Once completed, Prince Albert will be on the road to going greener.
The Municipality says that residents will be advised of the commencement date of the project, whilst a team of volunteers will visit as many households as possible to inform residents of the items that can be recycled and to encourage householders to take part in the project.
The Municipality will give each householder a sturdy bag in which to put all recyclable material. This recycle refuse bag is to be put out for collection together with the usual black refuse bags on collection days and will be picked up by the Municipal refuse workers. When a refuse bag is taken away to be emptied, the municipality workers will replace it with another for the householder to fill for next collection.
The recycle bags will be emptied in the special enclosure at the Municipal solid waste site. Once the enclosure is almost full, the recyclable material will be sorted and the Municipality will be able to determine the volume and value of the material that will then be removed and sold to defray expenses.
Because a crisis is staring us in the eyes!
Statistics show that there is a 7% annual growth in waste generation in South Africa. In the Western Cape there is on average less than five years’ worth of available space left to dump rubbish. Prince Albert is no exception. Our solid waste disposal site is nearly full and the Municipality has had to apply for permission to raise the site by two metres in the immediate future and a further two metres after that. The next step would be to open a new site. This is a costly process and locks up land unnecessarily. Astonishing as it sounds, by recycling and composting organic material, a household can reduce the waste sent to landfill by between 60 and 80%.
A lot that we bring into our homes ends up as rubbish. A waste characterization study performed for the Western Cape shows that 65% of waste generated by households is packaging, like plastic shopping bags, cardboard and paper covering for postal packages or plastic film put around perishables.
Although these have almost no use to us, they do have some value. Firstly, it costs to make these materials – energy and natural resources have to be used in their manufacture. And if we recycle and sell the material, it has value again. Not only does it have monetary value; it also saves the energy and resources that would have been used to produce it.
Some examples of what can be recycled
Magazines, newspaper, packaging, boxes
Clean, dry, unbroken glass:
Empty food jars, beverage bottles such as wine bottles, or other non-returnable bottles. No broken glass, light bulbs or fluorescent lights.
Cans and scrap metal:
Scrap metal, beverage cans, food tins, aerosol cans, oil cans and paint tins. All beverage, oil and paint tins must be empty and food tins rinsed out and dried.
Plastic containers used previously for cooldrink, water, food, cleaning agents etc., plastic bags, plastic film used for packaging of food. All need to be clean and dry.
It is generally accepted that recycling has very significant benefits:
It reduces the need for natural resources for manufacture of new items;
The environmental impact of landfill sites is reduced as these sites need not be so large and only contain non-recyclable refuse.
It helps with job creation – Prince Albert Municipality will initially employ two additional workers to help with the project. Once the project proves feasible, an entrepreneur may be able to take it forward, employing even more people.
Because manufacturing processes for new materials are reduced, so carbon dioxide (green house gas) and other types of air pollution are similarly decreased
Energy use is reduced – less energy is needed to recycle than to make something completely new;
It reduces litter because it gives waste a value.
How to immediately reduce the impact of waste on the environment
Try to buy items with less packaging, or leave the packaging material at the check out counter and only take the items.
Put all recyclable items aside and keep them for when the recycling project is up and running. If you are able to, take your recyclable items to the recycling depot in Oudtshoorn (Retain, Reuse, Recycle next to Olea Olives in the Oudtshoorn industrial area);
Think carefully before you put something in your ordinary refuse – can you reduce its size to save space in the landfill? You can for instance flatten the boxes in which fruit juice or long life milk is bought. You can start a compost heap to deal with organic waste;
If you have electronic or toxic waste such as old computers or used batteries keep them until the recycling project is able to deliver them to specialist recyclers in Cape Town where they can be dealt with responsibly.
Posted by Prince Albert Friend at 9:08 PM 0 comments
- Chrisna Smit -
Dit is met hartseer dat die gemeenskap van Prins Albert afskeid neem van Fanus Smit, wat Maandag 12 Mei 2008 in die ouderdom van 56 jaar oorlede is.
Fanus het as 5-jarige saam met sy ouers, Stephanus en Hester Smit, op Prins Albert kom woon. Sy ouers het onder meer die bakery besit en sy pa was ‘n bekende bouer en sakeman op die dorp.
Fanus het sy skoolloopbaan aan Hoërskool Zwartberg voltooi, onder die bekwame leiding van onderwysers soos Alta Rossouw en Tiekie Steyn.
Hy het ‘n groot deel van sy lewe as boer op die plaas deurgebring en het in 1985 ‘n winkel op die dorp oopgemaak. Vandaar het sy smousery met groente en vrugte begin, wat hom welbekend in Leeu-Gamka, Klaarstroom en selfs Willowmore gemaak het.
Sy klein bakkie, volgelaai met groente en vrugte, was ‘n welbekende gesig in die strate van Prins Albert. Daar is baie Prins Alberters wat die lekker appels uit die Langkloof gaan mis.
Ons innige meegevoel met Ouma Hester, Lizzie, Stephan, Johann en Lizél met hul verlies. Ons bid dat die Here hulle sal vertroos en die krag sal gee om elke dag aan te gaan.
Totsiens Fanus, mag jy sag rus in God se hand.
Posted by Prince Albert Friend at 9:07 PM 0 comments
- Géraldine Woerner and Yan Sanchez -
You have probably seen us at the market on Saturday mornings and must have recognised our accent when you were buying vegetables. You have probably also asked yourselves who these two French folk are that are passing through Prince Albert. We are WWOOFers staying at Rosselvlei for five weeks.
Behind this weird name stands an organisation that coordinates an interesting concept of cooperation in the field of organic farming. The WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) is an international network of organic farms that offers bed and board to members in exchange for the opportunity of working on organic farms elsewhere.
There are 18 members in South Africa. The main idea is to promote organic farming and to spread such farming methods as widely as possible. Make no mistake: for the host farms, the aim is not to get free labour but rather to receive some help on the farm and meet people from other part of the world. For the WWOOFers, this is not a means of providing free holidays in a nice place. The idea is to discover another part of the world in a different way and to learn more about organic farming techniques.
We got to know WWOOF through Echoway, a French organization that encourages sustainable and responsible tourism. As we were travelling through Africa during the last few months, we have seen how necessary it has become to get back to local production of food and to return to methods that respect the environment.
WWOOF was ideal for our purposes so that we could learn from the beginning by working with soil that has neither fertilizers, pesticides nor herbicides. Because we have always lived in the city, we were really starting from scratch but we are beginning to understand the essential elements of organic farming (good preparation of the soil, juxtaposition of various plants, etc). When we get back to France we hope to use everything that this practical apprenticeship has taught us.
Posted by Prince Albert Friend at 9:04 PM 0 comments
Nuwe Personeel Aanstellings
Die volgende personeellede het in Mei 2008 diens aanvaar by Prins Albert Munisipaliteit:
Audrey van der Ross
Biblioteek Asst. Aflos / Skoonmaker: Jeanetta Jacobs
Vaardigheid by die Werksplek
Die Munisipaliteit van Prins Albert het vanaf 10 – 14 Maart 2008 Vaardigheidsontwikkeling (Skills Development) Opleiding te Beaufort-Wes bygewoon.
Personeel en Raadslede van Sentraal Karoo Distriksmunisipaliteit, Beaufort-Wes Munisipaliteit en Laingsburg Munisipaliteit het ook die opleiding voltooi.
Die Opleiding is aangebied deur die Firma Africa Competency Development en die Lektrise was Me. Carolyn Ryan van Kaapstad.
Prins Albert Munisipaliteit is verteenwoordig deur die Wnde. Burgemeester (Raadslid Magdalena Benjamin, twee Vakbonde, IMATU (Eslein Kammies) en SAMWU (Attieen Arendse en Merlyn Deelman) en die Sekretaresse (Mej Karin van der Mescht).
Mej van der Mescht tree tans op as Skills Development Facilitator vir die Munisipaliteit.
Die Noodsaaklikheid van opleiding vir die werkers is baie sterk beklemtoon tydens die Opleiding. Goed opgeleide en gekwalifiseerde werkers verbeter dienslewering by Organisasies en die Werknemer se produktiwiteit en selfbeeld word ook in die proses verbeter.
Werkgewers moet hul Werknemers motiveer om hulself te bemagtig deur opleiding om sodoende bevorderingsmoontlikhede in die werksplek te bewerkstellig.
Posted by Prince Albert Friend at 9:02 PM 0 comments
Prince Albert is ‘n werkende dorp met ‘n lewendige plaaslike gemeenskap en het genadiglik nie net ‘n speelplek vir stedelinge geword nie.
Daar word binnekort begin met ‘n beoogde inisiatief deur Prince Albert Fruits (Edms) Bpk in samewerking met die Prins Albert Gholfklub, en volgens die ontwikkelaars beloof dit om waarde op alle vlakke tot die dorp toe te voeg.
Die projek beoog om die bestaande gholfbaan te verskuif na Volstruisvlei onderkant Burnettstraat (duskant die Dorpsrivier tussen die dorp en Waterkop waar ID Vorster bly) en om dan albei terreine te gebruik om die historiese verdeling tussen die Bruin en Wit dele van die gemeenskap te oorbrug.
Die verskuifde gholfbaan sal steeds ‘n eiesoortige Karoo-baan wees met die verskil dat rioolwater gebruik kan word om ten minste die bowwe en setperke maar ook hopelik landingsareas op elk van die 9 putjies te vergroen. ‘n Behoorlike klubhuis en sportgeriewe sal by die nuwe baan opgerig word.
Die bestaande boerderyaktiwiteite op die eiendom sal voortgesit word en wingerde is reeds aangeplant om ook Port te maak. Die gedagte is om ‘n boetiek Portkelder te vestig wat saam met die ander wynmakerye in die omgewing, van Prince Albert ook ‘n wynbestemming te kan help maak.
Aansoek sal gedoen word om ‘n nuwe woonbuurt tussen die wingerde en om die gholfbaan te vestig om behuisingsopsies te bied sonder dat die historiese kern van die dorp aan verdere verdigtingsdruk blootgestel hoef te word. Ongeveer 150 erwe (waarskynlik verdeel in drie groepe en moontlik oor fases vrygestel) word voorgestel.
Hoewel die ontwikkeling nie vanaf die dorpskern sigbaar sal wees nie word groot moeite gedoen om te verseker dat dit inpas by die karakter van die dorp. Kurt Buss, ‘n bekende argitek met nou bande met Prince Albert is aangestel om ‘n reeks ontwerpe te ontwikkel en voornemende kopers sal ‘n erf saam met die huis wat daarop gebou moet word koop.
Die ou gholfbaanterrein sal dan gebruik kan word om ‘n koppelwoonbuurt te vestig wat ons woonbuurte ruimtelik met mekaar verbind en wat die verdeling van die dorp in twee helftes sal beëindig.
Die projek moet eers aan ‘n volledige omgewingsimpakstudie onderwerp word om te verseker dat dit haalbaar is. Hierdie proses behels openbare deelname in elke fase en inligting sal deurlopend beskikbaar gestel word om te verseker dat almal heeltyd weet wat voorgestel word. Sharples Environmental van George is aangestel om hierdie proses te onderneem en hulle behoort eersdaag die eerste kennisgewings hieroor te kan uitreik.
Kallie Erasmus, ‘n plaaslike omgewingsregskundige, is aangestel om die projek te help koördineer en sal op Dinsdag 10 Junie 2008 ‘n inligtingsvergadering hou – die tyd en plek sal nader aan die datum aangekondig word.
Posted by Prince Albert Friend at 9:01 PM 0 comments
Labels: Gholfbaan, ontwikkeling
The first two weeks of the second term brought four past pupils back to Hoërskool Zwartberg to complete a practical component of their teacher’s training.
The South Cape College of Technology students spent their days observing classes and then teaching children from Grade 0 to 7. Karen Cordier and Deolan van Schalkwyk were 2006 matriculants, Mariann Cordier and Yvonne Freysen from the Class of 2007 and Annemarie Cordier came all the way from Cape Town to work here with her cousins and spend some time with Ouma Baby Cordier.
Hier is wat die studente gesê het:
My proeftydperk by die skool was baie lekker. Die onderwysers het uit hulle pad gegaan om my te ondersteun en my vrae te beantwoord. Dankie aan almal.
Hoërskool Zwartberg, julle is TOPS! Die proeftydperk was so kort, maar tog het ek so baie geleer. Baie dankie aan al die onderwysers en kinders wat hierdie ervaring so lekker gemaak het.
My eerste ervaring as proefstudent by Hoërskool Zwartberg was wonderlik. Ek moet sê dit voel baie lekkerder om aan die anderkant van die klas te staan. Baie dankie vir die hulp en ondersteuning.
Dit was die begin van ‘n nuwe tydperk in my lewe. Dit is momente en ervarings soos dié wat jou altyd by bly. Ek het dit geniet om soveel respek te kry vanaf leerders. Ek bedank almal by Hoërskool Zwartberg wat hierdie ondervinding vir my moontlik gemaak het.
Die onderwysers is baie beïndruk met die harde werk en toewyding van hierdie span en wens vir hulle net die beste in hulle toekoms as studente en onderwysers.
Posted by Prince Albert Friend at 8:59 PM 0 comments
Posted by Prince Albert Friend at 8:58 PM 0 comments
The Prince Albert business women’s forum decided unanimously at its April meeting held at De Bergkant Lodge to adopt the name, Women in Action.
The name is particularly apt as, in the year that the informally-organised group has been in existence, it has successfully lobbied for high-speed Internet access for Prince Albert and produced an A-Z directory of services that are available in the town.
Just before the Town and Olive Festival, it initiated the “Proudly Prince Albert” campaign – look out for “Proudly Prince Albert” stickers on local products. Bumper and decal stickers are on sale at the Prince Albert Tourism office.
The guest speaker at Women in Action’s 17 April meeting was Eric Ahrens, who has had a long and interesting career in Human Resources in the corporate world. His presentation, “Humanising the Employment Relationship”, resulted in a lively discussion. A summary of Eric’s talk is published below.
The next meeting of Women in Action is on 12 June 2008 at 17h30 at a venue to be announced
I come from a middle class home with three domestic helpers who were considered to be adult members of our household and not 'servants'. My sister and I made our own beds and if we behaved as if the staff were there for our convenience or didn't say please, and thank you, we were reminded in no uncertain terms, at times with a 'warm klap'. Against this background, I will say a few words on humanising the employment relationship.
I don't like 'Meneer' and ask employees to call me by my first name if they are comfortable doing so. Otherwise I encourage them to say 'Meneer Ahrens'. Female employers may be uncomfortable with male staff addressing them by their first names, but a lot will depend on the type of relationship you have with your staff. The longer the tenure of employment, the greater the level of mutual trust and respect.
Why such formality when there has been an employment relationship for a good few years? Besides, it is not all about work and money. Try to understand more about their difficulties, important family celebrations and share your world with them.
For instance, if lending money is out of the question, make this clear from the outset. Many employment relationships turn sour because of this issue. Showing empathy and discussing alternatives to loans will really help.
Employment relationships are about duties and responsibilities. Your staff should know exactly what you expect of them, and at times need help in scheduling their tasks. Help prioritise and schedule responsibilities, particularly if something is critical to you. Encourage them to make their own contribution, no matter how small this may be.
Create diversity and variation in responsibilities by allowing their input on the way tasks are carried out. Expand levels of responsibility where possible, and enhance your staff’s life skills in any way that you can. Honest, tactful feedback on how they are doing is vital. Ensure that they have the appropriate clothes and equipment, and transport where you can. Pay your staff what you think they are worth to you, according to their performance, age and experience not just the 'going rate'. The law insists that you pay your staff double when they work on a public holiday and if they take the holiday they should still be paid their normal wages. If you tell a staff member not to report for work on a particular day, it is unfair not to pay them.
Above all, make your staff WANT you more than they NEED you.
Posted by Prince Albert Friend at 8:56 PM 0 comments
On Friday, 6 June 2008 the grades 1 to 6 children of Hoërskool Zwartberg and the grade 3 learners of Prince Albert Primêr will move through areas of our town where litter is a problem. They will clean up and sort the rubbish in support of the recycling project which will be up and running very soon.
The project is a collaborative effort between the two schools and the Prince Albert Solid Waste Management Forum and is the start of a campaign to raise awareness about issues of waste management. The schools would like to do similar and ongoing projects of this nature if the campaign is successful.
The project has a number of aims:
· Cleaning our town and making it a better place for all to live.
· Increasing awareness of our success in the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism’s Cleanest Town competition – in 2007 we won the prize for most improved town!
· Raising awareness of school children and adults about littering and recycling.
The rubbish pick up will be preceded by a poster competition and a play by the Patchwork Theatre about pollution and waste. The play will be performed for all the classes from grade 1 to 6 in both schools. The Matric science learners will give a talk to the older children about global warming.
The children in the pick-up campaign will receive a healthy, filling snack to motivate them and give them strength on their mission. To encourage participation, there will be prizes for the biggest collectors, most enthusiastic collectors, etc.
Teachers will accompany the children. As 250 children will participate on the day, if anybody would like to join us to collect litter or assist in supervising the children, or in any other way, we would be MOST grateful and who knows, there might be a prize in store for you too!
If you have any advice, or if you feel you can assist in any small or even big way, please contact Imke Maeyer at 023 5411 184 or Ellen Nicol at 023 5411953 for further information.
Posted by Prince Albert Friend at 8:50 PM 0 comments
Labels: Litter, Recycle, School
Early in July, The Merry Scholar will visit Prince Albert to share the excitement of his educational science theatre. David Muller sharpened his acting skills in classical theatre and now travels the land with productions of which past titles include Whale Nation, Tata ma genes, Imagining Einstein and Travelling Tales of Ibn Battuta.
Patchwork Theatre has invited David to conduct an acting workshop and while he is here he will entertain Prince Alberters at an evening show at the Lazy Lizard, a free outdoors event for children and a performance at the Jans Rautenbach Schouwburg. You don’t have to be young to enjoy The Merry Scholar’s productions – just young at heart!
Watch the June edition of the Friend for more details or telephone Tracy Swanepoel on 083 266 8729.
Posted by Prince Albert Friend at 8:41 PM 0 comments
Labels: Merry scholar