Category Archives: Sweets & Scissors

Sex, music, racism, inequality etc. – so beautiful, so absurd. Mike Hampton has something to say about it. Maybe the odd diary entry too…

Wounded to Death (Stopping Violence Against Women)

Mike Hampton Posted on by

“Men you beat up to death; women you rape first and then you let them die. It’s the way things have been since the dawn of time and these stories no longer make the news.” [watch the video above] That’s an extract from the speech by Serena Dandini and Maura Misiti that Amanda Palmer, one of my favourite performers, delivered to the United Nations for the International Day to End Violence against Women last month. Amanda, some of you may recall, was in one of the videos i insisted you … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Death, Life and You…

Mike Hampton Posted on by

Feeling melancholic and didn’t know where to put this…so i put it here… In the swig of a beer and beyond the lagoon-that-is-really-an-estuary, further than the incoming tide, grey (white-flushed), 4-foot waves, and below a cold orgasm of sun, the world i’ve never experienced was witnessed by me without me seeing the world i knew, the world behind me. Despite being directionless, i knew that i’d be robbed of the sight of certain people if i turned around because Knysna had recently lost 4 little girls in 2 incidents off … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Powerful Video: Remembering Marikana

Mike Hampton Posted on by

“We agree, as you see us standing in front of you here, that blood was shed at this place. We agree that it was not something to our liking and, as a representative of the government, I apologise…I am begging, I beg and I apologise, may you find forgiveness in your hearts.” – Defense Minister Nosiviwe Noluthando Mapisa-Nqakula. 44 dead and 78 injured – that was one result of the Marikana mine strike. Most of that figure belongs to August 16 which has come to be known world-wide as the … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Racial Profiling (Black Guy/White Guy/White Girl)

Mike Hampton Posted on by

Thanks to Mike Wood for pointing out this video on racial profiling to me. It’s obviously a major part of our life in Knysna and begs a full article but, for now, i’m swamped so will leave you to ponder your own thoughts regards crime  and racism…

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The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Why I Blog

Mike Hampton Posted on by

Small towns are suffering more than most of South Africa during this economic return to reality. Party politics in Plettenberg Bay, Oudtshoorn and my beloved Knysna ensure our ruin. Unfortunately, despite all the ‘gory’ action, the Garden Route has been mostly forsaken by national media. I blog in the hope that more people start questioning our irresponsible leaders so that they no longer run, unchecked, away from us. I blog out of love for Knysna, the prettiest town in South Africa!

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The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Media Crisis: How to Deliver the News?

Mike Hampton Posted on by

This century has witnessed a continued erosion of the power of print media. There are exceptions in emerging countries but they are few. There has been a strong move to compensate with online versions but even the few that gain large audiences return little revenue. If the public are offered a paid, online version they will probably opt for a rival’s free version thus forcing the paid version to follow suit. Consequently, despite the glaring trend to go digital, few major news sources are solely online. Unable to fathom good … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Contact Knysna Municipality

Mike Hampton Posted on by

View Democratic Alliance Corruption Document Do you need to contact Knysna Municipality? USEFUL NUMBERS Emergency Services: +27 (0)44 302 8911 All Municipal Departments Switchboard: +27 (0)44 302 6300 Customer Services: SMS to 44453 / customercare@knysna.gov.za MUNICIPAL MANAGER The Municipal Manager heads the Administration arm of the Knysna Municipality and is therefore responsible and accountable for tasks and functions as provided for in section 55 of the Municipal Systems Act, other functions and tasks as provided for in legislation as well as functions delegated to him by the Executive Mayor and … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Contact Knysna Politicians

Mike Hampton Posted on by

Contact Knysna’s politicians for assistance. Remember, they’re elected to serve us! Download ‘Same Shit, Different Government’ CONSTITUENCY REPRESENTATIVE The DA’s political leader for the Knysna Constituency is Dion George whose also the DA’s Federal Finance Chair: 082 459 9342 diontgeorge@gmail.com GENERAL COMMUNICATIONS Manager of Communications, Chris Bezuidenhout 044 302 6479 cbezuidenhoudt@knysna.gov.za Executive Assistants to the Mayoral Committee (MAYCO) Kirsty Hofhuis – 044 302 6355 / khofhuis@knysna.gov.za * * * * * * * * * * * MAYOR Mayor Elrick van Aswegen (COPE) 084 311 1182 evanaswegen@knysna.gov.za * * * * … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!