Human Rights Day, but don't forget the animals

Today is Human Rights Day in South Africa.  A day for us to remember all the wrongs of the past and to celebrate setting it on the right course into the future.  Note how I'm not just saying setting it right as this country still has a very long way to go before it will be right.  At least we are heading in the right direction. 

But as we celebrate Human Rights Day we also shouldn't forget the animals.  I'm not going to go into abused pets and where not to buy them, but rather touch on wild animals.  The rhinos in this country are being slaughtered at a rate of dozens for their horns which are in high demand in the Far East because the people there think that the rhino horn in powder form will amongst others help them with their "horns".  Just the other day I saw an article saying that the rhino may be no more by 2015 if things go the way they are at the moment. 

The African penguin is also in serious trouble.  Not because they are being hunted, but due to global warming, pollution and the over fishing of our oceans the African Penguin may also be extinct withing 5 years.  Luckily we have places like the South African Marine Rehabilitation and Education Centre (SAMREC) right here in Port Elizabeth fighting hard for them.

Frieze around the Campanile

One of the new art pieces that has been installed on Route 67 is a freeze by artist Mpumzeni Ezra Gwazela.  The freeze represents the proud history of creativity in Nelson Mandela Bay and the Eastern Cape and is located just outside the entrance of the Campanile which is also the start of Route 67.

The Campanile commemoration inscription

The Campanile was built (and completed in 1923) to commemorate the centenary of the arrival in 1820 of the British Settlers

St Mary's Cemetery gate

The entrance into the historic St Mary's Cemetery at the bottom of Valley Road.  I love wandering through St Mary's and discovering all the old graves, some belonging to original 1820 British Settlers.

Take aways in the township

In the township it isn't necessary for a eatery to have menus to hand out to patron.  This take away joint has their menu painted on the outside wall to attract clients.  Orders are put through the window in the middle and I assume the lady hanging on the gate will then prepare your meal for you to take away.  Or eat just there leaning on the window sill like the guy in the middle of the pic.

Blue skies over the Donkin Reserve

A beautiful blue sky day (not taken today though looking out the window at the overcast Friday sky) on the Donkin Reserve with the Donkin Lighthouse and Pyramid on the right and the highest flagpole in South Africa on the left.

Campanile and harbour

Looking towards the Port Elizabeth harbour from the top a building in the city centre the Campanile is visible in the foreground.  The little half moon window just above the clock is the viewing deck which is reached by climbing the tower's 204 steps.  Above that just behind the pillars are the Campanile's carillon of 23 bells, largest carillon in South Africa.

Beachfront from a boeing

Do you ever wish you could fly through the air like Superman (or any of the other superheroes from your favourite movie or comic book - or graphic novel like some of the purists would call it.  I may be afraid of heights, but I often do.  Whenever I get the chance to fly somewhere (by plane that is) and look down on Port Elizabeth either leaving or returning, I wish I could get the opportunity to fly along the metro's coastline and over its landmarks at a slightly lower level to take pictures of it.

Supporting the Warriors

I received tickets to go and watch the Warriors, our local cricket franchise, play the Knights in a Pro20 game on Friday night.  I've only taken the family along to a cricket match once before a couple of years ago and decided to do so again.  We sat on the grass banks below the Duckpond Pavilion and Chaos Boy pulled his chair right up to the barriers flying his Warriors flag.

Stained glass photographer

A couple of us at work have started to pop out once a week to visit some of the tourist and historic (which is also tourist) attractions around town to familiarise and keep ourselves up to date with the places tourists would go to.  The places we selected for last week's visit presented us with a lot of stained glass both historic as well as much more recent.  Here I caught one of my colleagues photographing a stained glass window in the historic Public Library.