GOOD Statement by Brett Herron, GOOD Secretary-General:
The capture and deportation of climate activist Greta Thunberg and those aboard the aid yacht “Madleen” may have unintentionally done more to draw global attention to the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza than if they had been allowed to enter.
Thunberg’s act of solidarity is a powerful reminder that the blockade of Gaza is not just a regional issue, but a moral and legal stain on the conscience of the international community. Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, has reportedly instructed that the flotilla passengers be shown footage of the October 7 massacre, as if the horror of one day can justify the unrelenting horror that has followed.
The use of starvation as a weapon, the targeting of aid workers, the destruction of infrastructure, and the ongoing slaughter of tens of thousands, most of them women and children, cannot be justified by any standard of law or humanity. The inhumane blockade that Thunberg sought to challenge is a crime against the people of Gaza and an indictment of the international community’s failure to act. National leaders around the world have been silent in the face of systematic state violence. Their lack of response exposes a dangerous double standard in the application of human rights and international law.
South Africa’s firm stand, including its application to the International Court of Justice, is consistent with our history, our values, and our responsibility to speak out against crimes against humanity. The GOOD Party reaffirms its support for that application and joins those across the globe who reject occupation, oppression, and the deliberate targeting of civilians.
This is not about religion or identity. It is about humanity, justice, and the enforcement of international law.
GOOD Cultural Events: The party organizes cultural events to celebrate South African diversity.
Toy Town
Van is getting married, but he and his fiancee have never done the deed – in fact he\’s never been with any woman before. He\’s getting more and more nervous as the big day approaches, so he confides in his friend. His friend says \’No worries man. I\’ll come by the honeymoon suite before you guys get there, and I\’ll hide behind the curtain, and I\’ll whisper instructions to you.\’
\’You\’d do that for me?\’
\’Sure thing man!\’
So the wedding day arrives, it was a lovely service (so I was told, I wasn\’t there myself) and Van\’s friend sneaks into the honeymoon suite as promised and hides behind the curtain.
Van and his new wife arrive in the room, get settled on the bed, and things are getting steamy.
But Van is still super nervous and his tummy is bubbling, so he murmers to his wife, \’Listen babe, I\’m just gonna go to the bathroom quick. I think it\’s that wors roll from earlier.\’
\’Sure thing babe.\’
So Van goes into the bathroom, and he\’s taking quite a long time. And his wife is starting to feel the nerves herself. And it\’s getting worse. She can\’t hold it in. But she doesn\’t want to go after he\’s gone and totally ruin the mood. So she looks around and finally finds a shoebox. Quickly, she does her business in the shoebox, and she shoves it under the bed just as Van comes back from the loo.
Van gets back on the bed and they go at it again. But after a minute or so Van smells something not so lekker.
\’What\’s that smell?\’
\’Nothing babe,\’ he wife tries to assure him.
\’No man there\’s definitely something not so lekker in this room!\’VSo Van starts looking around the room, in the corners, in the cupboard, and finally he looks under the bed, and sees the shoebox.
He pull it out, and opens it up, and in horror he shouts \’Sies! Daar\’s kak in hierdie doos!\’
And from behind the curtain his friend yells, \’NEE MAN, DRAAI HAAR OM!\”
Grave Digger
Boerewors — spicy South African sausage [boor-uh-vors] Meaning ‘farmer’s sausage’, this term describes a savory sausage that was developed by the Afrikaners approximately 200 years ago. Boerewors is usually ‘braaied’ and eaten on a hot dog roll with tomato sauce and mustard. Make sure you roll the ‘r’ when pronouncing this word.