World Views

Oasis changing lives through football.

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Oasis Founder Clifford Martinus has a contagious passion for sport and community. This is evident in the work done at Oasis Place with his belief that the connection to a team, fair play and sport can support an individual in overcoming the odds, both personal and social. This South African non-profit creates positive personal development opportunities for youth from marginalised backgrounds.

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Latest Posts in World Views

Western Democracy Versus the “Chinese Model”: Does it Matter?

The bottom-line test for any government is procuring the “common good.”  China has excelled at it.  Our democracy has faltered.  What is to be done?  


Lessons From the Pandemic (of 1918)

We need to stop repeating old, costly, and deadly mistakes.  Will we ever learn? To borrow a line from America’s baseball-player philosopher, Yogi Berra, it’s déjà vu all over again. America has once again done it wrong (on the whole), with tragic consequences.  There are models in other countries for how to do it right. 


Kindness Against All Odds

Peter Wagenaar’s never-say-die attitude will stand him good stead for expanding his MiniMeltdown feeding scheme in the near future. Proof of this is his continued work of feeding the homeless despite his car being maliciously set on fire. The perpetrators are still at large. We look at the work done by Peter and are reminded that “even though the world is large, one person can still make a world of difference”


Beyond the Pandemic: An “Inflection Point”?

“Recovery” will not be enough; the status quo was not working for many of us.  We must turn in a new direction, with changed values, new policies, and revitalized institutions.  Or else. There must be a basic consensus about the duties and obligations that we have toward one another.  Such a consensus no longer exists in this country, and it is a very dangerous situation.  We must create a new political consensus around a set of shared values, with a social contract that aims to achieve fairness and a fair society.  Among other things, this must include a universal basic needs guarantee.   

 


The Coronavirus Cassandra: Are You Listening?

The Coronavirus Cassandra:  Are You Listening? A Pulitzer Prize winning public health journalist who predicted the coronavirus pandemic is warning us now about the “collective rage” yet to come.  So, how will we respond? The only way to avoid “collective rage” is with collective change.