God, AIDS, Africa & HOPE

Reflections / Gedanken

10/16/2025 • 7:37 am Comments Off on Der letzte Geburtstag

Der letzte Geburtstag

Every story, every way walked, needs a motivation. This video clip tells the story of such a motivation for the organisation HOPE Cape Town in South Africa.

www.hopecapetown.org

Filed under: Africa, HIV and AIDS, HIV Prevention, HIV Treatment, HOPE Cape Town Association, HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust, HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust, HOPE Cape Town Trust, HOPE Cape Town USA, HOPE Gala Dresden, Networking, Reflection, Society and living environment, South Africa, Uncategorized, , , , , , ,

07/01/2025 • 2:09 pm Comments Off on Drama, trauma and hope …

Drama, trauma and hope …

Much is written in our days about the cut down on foreign aid in the budgets of giver countries. There is a new sensitivity towards these cuts after USAID and PEPFAR were practically shut down in a moment’s time. Millions in developing countries will fall victim to those cuts, with deadly consequences. In a time when trillions of Euros and Dollars are spent on weaponry and tools to kill and destroy, the imbalance is visible and can’t even been covered and made invisible by the hardcore right-wing political tendencies the world experience.

But it would be very shortsighted to see only the drama and call for more aid without seeing the imbalances of money, skills, opportunities on the planet. It would be shortsighted to see all the drama without seeing the shortcomings of many developing countries ruled by single-handed power and greed. And it would be shortsighted without seeing the drama and trauma of social-political developments in the USA, where politics is turned into a cult-like mass phenomenon and similar tendencies rise in Europe and around the world. Real democracy has to pull up its sleeves to show what it is capable of and what values remain important.

But there is more: We have to see the current situation also as a chance to create better conditions for humanity and environment. The current situation is a wake-up call not to be missed in economical, but also political and social terms.

One of the calls is certainly for Europe to stand up and find its rightful place – and it will definitely fall short if it betrays its values or tries to negotiate the unnegotiable connected to it.

The wake-up call clearly also stipulates to have a deep reflection about our neighbours and the possibilities they pose. For Europe, the neighbouring continent of Africa has certainly all the ingredients of becoming in the future one of the most close ally. It holds the future in so many ways – notwithstanding all the problems and challenges it has to overcome. And instead of looking like the rabbit towards the snake in direction USA or China, we should start building up a much more beneficial win-win situation between the two continents. Creating value chains together, investing in the continent, share training and education and abolish the last colonialist tendencies still present in our days.

Looking at the USA, another conundrum is definitely the question of how to limit the influence of money on politics in the real sense of the word. Oligarchs and multi-billionaires should be limited in their ability to overrule democracy and its mechanism or to ignore/rewrite the rule of law due to undue influence. We need to reflect and to come up with rules and values serving more than just those who made it by luck, inheritance or using the system cleverly. The current “big beautiful bill” discussed in the US Senate is a showcase of how things can go wrong.

Once again: taking the current situation as a chance and the wake-up call will not take away the death and destructions we witness in our days. It will remain more than a scar in the skin of humanity and a clear defeat of its values and responsibilities. It is terrible! But in every situation there remains also the hope to learn out of it and to allow for progress and a dignified future. Democracy in different forms and shapes and a basic value system should be the framework for such a joined way

NGOs can be very flexible vehicles to support a way forward which balance the imbalance and to allow also Europe and Africa to grow. They are entrepreneurial in nature, and they have a lot to say and to contribute to politics, social questions and economy. They often consist of a pool of people from different walks of life and traditions – being able to show how a win-win situation is achieved. Alone for that very reason, the proposed cuts of development money in Europe remain short-sighted and plainly wrong!

Filed under: Africa, General, Politics and Society, Reflection, SA-German Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Society and living environment, South Africa, vocational training, , , , , , , , , , ,

02/07/2025 • 9:15 am Comments Off on We can’t deny…

We can’t deny…

We can’t deny that times has changed dramatically, looking at the USA. And those changes are impacting globally not only politics and economy but also the NGO world. The coup from above by wealthy people promoting a clear white fascistoid Christian ideology and voted in by a majority of those who went to cast their vote in the USA is a threat to all, NGOs are standing for in the world.

Ceasing the work of UNAIDS, threatening international courts, leaving what tries to keep countries together in health and human rights, spells also the end of a government by the people for the people. In a world so connected, the “America first” ideology becomes a synonym for a rule determined to ignore all developments in international law, shared values, human rights and human dignity. This is a coup which is not different to those in any African country – only this time not from those suppressed or marginalised. One can only hope that the legal structures of the USA hold tight.

Elon Musk, showing the typical signs of high intelligence and madness at the same time, is more than halfway already in a position through his Starlink to switch on / off the world as he pleases. This creates another danger of note.

Disruptions are good and necessary at times, but when the balance costs lives and threaten entire social contracts without a fair and feasible alternative, it becomes a very dangerous game. The prospect of trade wars, the cutting off of weaker states – with or without the threat of violence – enters then also the realm of NGOs trying often to fill the gaps left by governments. They are part of the social and political fabric of countries. There is a clear line between forging new and enhanced structures serving societies and humanity, or bullying people into submission under political power and wealth without end.

We can’t deny that when times change so dramatically, there are also opportunities. Disruption creates and partly forces new pathways of thinking and action. And this applies in the current situation, specially to Europe and Africa.

The times when we can rely on the USA are gone, and we don’t have to go into detail about China and its politics. The natural partners and neighbours are Europe and Africa. And even if we still have to continue looking into the past, there is the urgent need to look at a joined future. Africa will become a powerhouse of economy and consume in the future, and we have to prepare for it: Europeans have to understand that only importing workers into Europe will not be the solution. Africans have to understand that the role they will have to play means serious soul-searching and the ceasing of asking for hand-outs. The economic sector and NGOs together should drive development on all necessary levels, supported by those in political power.

The current drama holds the opportunity for Europe to revisit with whom it really wants to walk into the future socially and economically on the long term run. It does not mean to abandon relationships with the USA and China, but it means to balance it much more and to realise, that Africa offers 54 countries to partner with. And there are all different in so many ways, as is European countries’ history with them.

Africa has without doubt its own challenges – and there are many. Climate change will add complications to those, and hard and structured work is needed to counter them all. The way forward will not be easy, because it will mean to change the mindset of many on both continents. We have to start working on it now. We owe it to the next generations in Africa and Europe.

Filed under: Africa, Networking, Politics and Society, Reflection, Society and living environment, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , ,

12/01/2024 • 12:40 pm Comments Off on Europe has no future without Africa

Europe has no future without Africa

Economic refugees, asylum seekers, skilled workers, war refugees: anyone listening to European politicians in debates or on social media today can lose track of realities. Anyone who gets caught in Germany between the fronts of the populist debate with the right-wing party called AfD often completely loses touch with reality and has no chance of really understanding the intricacies of the issue of asylum and immigration. And this will only increase in the course of the German federal elections in 2025 and the campaign to fish on the fringes of the political extreme right.

Another victim of this situation is the view that many people have of Africa and the role that this large continent will and must play in a few decades if Europe wants to have a future. Refugee issues as well as poverty and hunger scenarios on the continent of Africa obscure many facts, for example:

Africa will account for more than half of the world’s young working population in 25 years’ time. Consumption and value creation will take place on this continent.
Africa possesses a large proportion of the mineral resources that are required for the further development of technology.
Particularly in the field of communication technology and renewable energy, Africa is leapfrogging many of the stages in which Europe is still caught up.

But Africa will only be able to play this role if it is prepared. This includes an exchange of information and skills on an equal footing. It also requires Europeans to realise that many environmental and status issues cannot continue in this way, with the corresponding practical consequences. It also includes a real end to colonial thinking and a corresponding development policy.

This also includes an end to the unspeakable refugee policy of European countries, which, instead of genuinely tackling the causes on an equal footing, repeatedly fall back into the old patterns: building walls, pushing refugees onto each other and often ignoring the historical causes and future realities. It is precisely here that the lack of imagination and foresight in politics and the limits of a European spirit of joint political action become very clear.

Of course, Africa and many of the 54 states must also do their homework. This certainly includes the issue of co-operation, but also honesty in looking at their own history and the relations between African countries. Corruption remains an important issue, as does democracy in African culture.

Ultimately, this includes, above all, providing young people in Africa with an education and training that is geared towards this future. Really looking at what the jobs of the future will be. Realising how climate change will change the conditions for human life and work, especially on this continent.

The challenges are complex – and only together will there be a future for the people of both continents. If the ‘America first’ policy in President-elect Trump’s version becomes reality, then it is high time for Europe to wake up and look to its neighbour Africa.

And this is where the many non-governmental organisations come into play. They can become a bridge of communication, learning and engagement at eye level for politics and business. For a good future to become a reality, business and NGOs in particular must give up their normal dance for a little charity and donations and develop joint synergies to enable life, health and a good education on both continents.

The issue is complex and certainly sometimes difficult to communicate to people who have lost confidence in politics. Here too, the NGO level can often assist with the credibility of arguments.

See the original German text under the headline: “Texte in Deutsch“

Filed under: Africa, General, HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust, HOPE Cape Town Trust, Networking, Politics and Society, Reflection, SA-German Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Society and living environment, South Africa, The Nex - Indawo Yethu, vocational training, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

11/13/2024 • 9:10 am Comments Off on Opportunities Amid Global Challenges

Opportunities Amid Global Challenges

The world is changing rapidly; not only in technology, but those who say world developments follow a sinus curve will notice that after years embracing a global world we suddenly are confronted with narrow-minded political leaders, partly drifting into the right-wing fascistic corner. USA, Israel, Hungary are certainly frontrunner in this game. This adds another layer to the anyhow complicated world where more and more people seemingly are marred by anxiety and fear in terms of their future. Fearful people love easy answers where the circle closes and populists win and start doing damage.

This sounds pretty negative but looking at the situation and giving up would defy the purpose of this blog entry. It’s the opposite: Times of transformation and hardship, times of challenges and outright human craziness, are times for opportunities.

The opportunity to see the situation and the world as is in reality – not as I wish for. The opportunity to see where systems are not coping any more and structures crumble under the new challenges. It is also the time when people rise to the occasion one would have never imagined they would do.

And it is the time for NGO’s to close ranks and to create synergies, carrying those who normally are loser in such transitions through those times.
NGO’s can keep humanity and common sense alive while politics spins out of control. They are the pointing finger that at the end, it’s about people and humanity, and not about power for some either connected or rich wannabe leaders.

NGO’s working globally together will keep the vision of human rights and human dignity alive. And those supporting the work done are contributing to this important work – especially in times like ours. And here we are at another important truth: NGO work needs support – needs the support of people but also from the economic sector. Another important synergy between the non-profit world and companies will be essential. It will be their cooperation on many levels which will at the end also shape the world.

So no, there is no time for giving up nor letting some self-absorbed and self-styled populists or the current anxiety of people and societies overcome the efforts of remaining open to life, open to dignity and humanity for all. Including the care for the environment, which can only be done as a global effort.

Filed under: Africa, HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust, HOPE Cape Town Trust, HOPE Cape Town USA, Networking, Politics and Society, Reflection, Society and living environment, South Africa, The Nex - Indawo Yethu, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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