Active Citizen Podcast

Its spring, there is more sun and we are all out enjoying in this amazing world we live in at the tip of Africa. Unfortunately for us there are other inhabitants, our beautiful snakes, who enjoy this same sunshine. It's inevitable that our paths will cross on the mountain trails around our beautiful city. And when this happens tragedy is often only a few seconds away. Fortunately we have guys like Steve the Venom Man coming to the rescue. In this episode we meet Lexi the boa constrictor and Steve who gives us essential information about encounters with snakes. Having the information that will save lives and limbs is critical when walking along the paths and trails of our beautiful peninsula and beyond. So sit down, learn and enjoy and journey this episode entitled Snakes in the Suburbs.

What happens when a crime is committed? Who do we call? Who do we blame? What should our response be as active citizens in our communities? These are all questions people are asking across social media, in forums and other areas of community engagement. In this episode we answer these questions and discuss viable solutions to the everyday crime we experience across our communities. To answer some of the questions around roles, responsibilities and action that needs to be taken we invited Captain Knapp of SAPS, Principle Inspector Dyason from COCT Law Enforcement, Henrik Daugberg of Muizenberg Community Watch and JP Smith COCT Mayco member for Community Safety to give their input. Through this show we want to take a positive stance on what is currently being done and what we as citizens can do to lobby, support or join public safety initiatives in order to make our community a safer place.

This show is a follow up on last week's episode about the violence across our city and its effects on the people of Cape Town. Johan, Karen and Wayne chat with Anna Els, trauma counsellor, as she talks us through the devastating effects that trauma has on us as individuals, our families and nation at large. We look at how unresolved trauma has a life long impact and how shame around issues of mental health actually leads some to take their own lives. This is also a nod to those who brave the most dangerous situations to help others: emergency service workers, SAPS members, Law Enforcement and people like Anna who walk us through these dark times.

"Stop killing our children!", is the anguished cry from mothers across many of the Cape Flats communities plagued by gangsterism. In this week's episode we examine the reasons behind the SANDF's deployment to the Cape Flats. The army is acting as support to SAPS, moving in to combat the ever-increasing gang violence suffered in these communities. We gave the mic to Minister Albert Fritz, Cape Provincial Minister of Community Safety; retired DA chief whip Mark Wiley and JP Smith: Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security of the City of Cape Town. To better understand the situation on the ground, we asked Mitchells Plain cluster Community Policing Forum (CPF) chairperson Lucinda Evans and Luke Koeries of Kids are Kids in Ocean View to outline what life - lived in these affected communities - is like. Their lives are filled with horror, gunshots.. and hope. With sincere thanks to everyone who added their voice, insight and experience. We have learned a great deal.

We are in a plastics crisis that has gone beyond the tipping point and yet many are ignorant of the true nature of the disaster. If the size of the crisis is not evident by looking around us, then take a look at what lies below the surface and it will horrify you. In this show we reveal the shocking truth of a disaster that is currently taking place right under our noses. Mike Ryder, an industrial chemist and water activist, gives us insight into his view that "plastics are nasty" and are already killing us at a micro level. Kevin Rack and Georgia McTaggart join Mike and our team in sharing personal experiences in their fight against the plastics nightmare and what action they are taking and what we can do to help. There are solutions to the crisis, however, as Johan’s interview with Prof. Peter Ryan highlights, plastics form a small part of the greater crisis that is global warming. As such, a totally integrated approach is needed to avert the total destruction of our planet. Not only do we need campaigns showing the dangers of plastic but an inclusive strategy that will assist in the greater crisis of global warming. To avert this crisis it will require activism at all levels of society with humans taking personal, corporate and national responsibility for their OWN actions. We must act now; our house is already on fire.

Known around the world as throw-away-children, street-kids are subject to abuse, neglect and exploitation. They arrive on the streets of towns and cities from dire circumstances to live or to escape the cycles of abuse and neglect. Yet many view them as an irritation or at the worst pests that need to be removed from society. In this episode we interview Social Worker Marion Thomas, chat in studio to Paul Hooper; Director of The Homestead Projects for Children and visit a number of local Outreach Projects working with kids in Muizenberg to get their perspectives. We look at some of the problems resulting from a life on the streets and how it impacts both the street children, residents and visitors in our communities. What should our responses be to them and how do we help solve the problems arising. There are two sides to every story, and we try to understand both.

If you were assaulted, abused or had your car damaged because you requested an able-bodied driver to move from a disabled bay so you could park and get into your wheelchair, how would you feel? I am sure a range of emotions goes through you mind. In this show we try to understand what it feels like to be disabled and in need of a parking space, a ramp to enter a public toilet or just a lowered kerb to get onto a sidewalk. Our guest is Megan Cross a champion for people who have severe challenges with the ordinary things we take for granted. She shares with us some of her journey with a brother who has a disability, or diffability, a different ability as he calls it, and the challenges they face on a daily basis. We encourage you as active citizens to join the battle against ignorance and plain stupidity when it comes to equal and inclusive access for those with disabilities. We are one community so lets work together to make this happen.

Recent sewage spills are not the major issue in the Zandvlei estuary. They have just highlighted the impact of an ecological disaster taking place at the moment under our noses. Two of the incidents highlighted in this show reveal aspects of the disaster. One as a result of the sewage spill leaving a man fighting for his foot in hospital and the second the poisoning of dogs through what is suspected as a chemical spill. Even if these incidents cannot be proven beyond doubt as a direct result of specific spillages, they do bring the spotlight on the ecological disaster taking place. The volumes of plastic, general pollution, chemical and sewage spillages are turning our beloved vlei into a time bomb waiting. Can we change this? Yes but at a great cost to us and our communities

Imagine a 4 week old flea infested puppy, full of worms and desperately hungry carried around the whole day in the middle of summer by a puppy seller trying to make a few hundred rands. This image spurred one woman into action that has made a difference in the lives of scores of little puppies by removing this criminal activity from our streets and communities. Helping us with information on how we can actively participate in ending this cruelty is Jo Orr-Bosman an activist with Anti Animal Trafficking. Johan and Karen chat with her about how she started, what she is doing about it and how active citizens can participate in stopping this abuse.

Fake news, trolls and keyboard warriors do not bring action to our communities. It's up to us to bring change through social media, radio and TV. How we use them to our advantage is vital to active citizenship. We can make change happen through influence and education. In this podcast we discuss a positive way of using the media to build our communities and environment.

In this episode we look at some of the issues around crime and public safety and what our responsibilities are and what the authorities should be doing with their limited resources. How do we deal with keyboard warriors who create fake news through their ignorance of the initiatives created by active citizens. How can you become an active citizen when you are concerned about crime? Many are doing their best to be more constructive and proactive. So, become more positive in your community and help those that are working hard to fight crime on all levels.

In this edition we have a panel discussion on how to become active citizens in our community. Karen Kotze, Johan Lotter and Megan Cross form part of a panel discussion on Talk at 6 with Wayne on Radio CCFm 107.5 about active citizenship. Although barely scratching the surface, we try to dig deeper into the subject and find out how others have become more active as citizens. A lively discussion around aspects of getting involved. What we could be doing and perhaps what we shouldn't be doing. A strong theme of awareness, thoughtfulness and education comes through from this discussion.

The reality of our homeless situation is that the homeless have faces. They have real issues, real problems and crises that have driven them to the streets. They are not pests that need to be removed or eradicated. Society has created a perception that these people are what creates a blot on our beautiful suburbs. They are the reason for increases in crime and why our suburbs are declining. In this episode we look at some real issues and try to give our homeless faces and give them back their humanity. Yes there are real issues and crime does play a part, but, we have to take responsibility for assisting people to rise above their problems and insurmountable challenges.

In this show we introduce the concept of active citizenship, what it is and how we can be active citizens. We talk to two people on how they view active citizenship and discuss how we can engage in our communities and understand that rights bring responsibilities.