African Utility Week

 caption: The African Utility Week Banner- Delivering Beyond Tomorrow



The African Utility Week also known as AMU, has been going on for the last 12 years, where different sponsors, exhibitors and visitors take part in coming together to explore and learn more about the range of utilities that the industry has. These ranges from your power supplies, water, and waste managements. It is a great opportunity for the different exhibitors to come together and share business ideas and look further on where they should improve regarding their utilities.



caption: Private&Public Utilities in Urban settings presentations



The conference will be held at the Expo Centre, Nasrec, Johannesburg on the Monday, 21 May to the Thursday 24 May 2012. This year it is estimated that over 300 exhibitors from the international metering will be joining in, including renewable; water large industrial; investment; T&D; smart grid; generation and waste management industry occupying about 10 000m² exhibition space. African Utility Week will also be presenting a broad display of engineering technology for utilities and the large industrial and commercial sector. A unique insight into the entire African power, water and waste management sector will be presented which is one of the reasons why thousands of buyers from over 60 countries attend the AMU every year.http://www.african-utility-week.com/



caption: Plans for a multi-utility service company (MUSCo).



 African Utility Week features:

• 11,000m2 indoors and outdoors exhibition space, accommodating over 300 solution providers presenting their latest technologies

• Over 20 free to attend technical workshops and seminars, discussing solutions to your daily challenges

• Opening session, featuring international thought leaders and local industry experts

• ESI Awards of Excellence, a prestigious annual award ceremony

• Networking function, where utility professionals, solution providers and large industrial end users come together to share experiences and make new contacts

• Multi-track conference, including 8 conference break-out sessions and over 200 industry-elite speakers

• More than 4000 visitors from over 60 countries



caption: Transport utility



Conference break-out sessions include:

• Metering

• Renewable Energy

• Water

• Large Industry (energy/water efficiency)

• Infrastructure Investment

• Transmission and Distribution/Smart Grids

• Generation

• Waste Management http://www.sa-venues.com/events/gauteng/african-utility-week/ 



caption: Lets give life to the next generation



This event is one that will help educate people about the importance of saving energy; water; how to manage waste by recycling; knowing how to clean up after yourself; stop littering and the ability to help out in giving your input and ideas in coming up with solid, long-term solutions and strategies in improving the land we live on. We are faced with multiple problems caused by the ignorance of humans, we need to acknowledge the importance of our resources or else we will suffer a great deal in the long run. This expo aims to improve our economy, make us benefit, help us to network and have professional business relationships in different industries locally and internationally. Now that is what i call a good strategy plan and a well formed foundation for a growing and stable economy and a well developed country.

WALE it out in Style



caption: Wale 2012-celebrating 90 years of creativity at Wits.

 The 5th Arts and culture event will be taking place at The Witwatersrand University also known as Wits; this will be taking place at the main campus; 1 Jan Smuts Avenue; Braamfontein 2000; Johannesburg; South Africa; starting from the 9 May, which will be on a Wednesday till the Saturday,12 May 2012. It is an annual event that has been going on from the year 2008. It is also known as WALE, which stands for the 'Wits Arts and Literacy Experience', it has the best that Wits has to offer in dramatic arts, films, music, literature, theatre and much more. People are given a platform to show their artistic, creative, literacy and intellectual achievements of Wits graduates. This year marks the 90 years celebration of creativity at Wits, also the involvement in Social Activism. Wits is known to have produced influential leaders in the past , exceptionally artistic and relative intellectuals. Wale 2012 will offer just a sneak preview in how your tomorrows shining stars in everything will be reflected.



caption: stage play by the Wits drama students.



This programmes are sure to give different residents of Joburg and visitors to the city a chance to gain a cultural edge through art, drama, theatre, music, poetry, academic and creative writing. People can learn so much in engaging themselves in these variety of options and may even find their true passion in one of these activities. There will also be a parade taking place through Wits, a fashion show on the ramps, drama and dance on stage and live performances with a variety of Djs on the decks. This is just another lovely way to experience South African  and global culture. Join in the fun and lets see how creative you are and how you can grow your knowledge.



caption: An awesome parade through wits by the students.



WALE 2012 will feature a rich programme that includes:

• The ever popular WALE Carnival Parade
• An art exhibition titled WAM! Seeing Stars which will be the inaugural exhibition at the Launch of the WITS Art Museum at University corner
• Spectacular musical performances and concerts, including a special focus on Jazz
• The celebration of 10 years of Journalism and Media Studies
• An Inaugural Lecture
• Film screenings and discussions
• An extravagant book fair with launches and book displays by leading authors, publishers and book stores
• Drama, performance, theatre and much, much more…

WALE 2012 offers a stimulating and exciting programme for all arts and literature lovers, whatever their tastes and interest.http://www.sa-venues.com/events/gauteng/wits-arts-and-literary-experience/

The Wine Extravaganza

caption: The Joburg Wine Show, taking place on the 4-6 May 2012.



The three Day weekend of the 4 to the 6 May 2012 at the Coca-Cola Dome in Randburg will be hosting yet another wine tasting event. In 2011 about 9000 visitors attended the event, sales volumes exceeded R2,7 million and wine education and promotion saw more than 90% of visitors buying wines at the show. From then on this show has grown to be a success and has received a positive reaction from the entire industry following this years achievements. There has been a phenomenal response from the exhibitors and 80% have committed to the 2012 event and have paid their deposits, the exhibitors enjoy the Joburg wine show and prefer the interactive and personalise format of the show. Bookings are doing well it clearly indicates the fact that exhibitors are convinced that the show delivers a great return on investment and allows them to access a highly rewarding audience of wine drinkers. This show helps organisations showcase and promote their product publicly in order to get a response from the public, whether positive or negative it does help them a great deal and from then on businesses have shown an encouraging sign as exhibitors returned in large numbers and indicated that they would like to increase their exhibition space for the next show. This has resulted in major deals being signed with the big companies in the local wine industry such as  KWV, DGB, Meridian who have also confirmed their participation as a exhibition component of the next show.

  

 caption: A glass of wine poured at the wine and tasting events



There's about 130 wine estates to taste and to buy from; also people can get to learn more about the art of wine making or food and wine pairing in the friends for dinner theatre. It is a fun and relaxing way of enjoying the rich culture in South Africa with plenty to do.http://www.sa-venues.com/events/gauteng/johannesburg-wine-show/

 

caption: A big plate of food

 

caption: The Soweto wine festival 2012



The University of Johannesburg students can relate to such and event as it happens annually at the Soweto  Campus. This year it is taking place later on this year in Spring, September 6-8, also a three nights event from 6pm to 10pm and only on the 8, which will be a Saturday will take place from 5pm-9pm. This event brings its visitors activities such as: tasting up to 950 wine styles; getting a free wine tasting glass and buyers guide; R100, 000 in prises to be won; dine at your favourite Soweto restaurants; join the Nederburg Wine and Food Theatre and learn how to pair wine and food; find out how to start a career in wine and hospitality; and being able to interact with lifestyle brands in wine lounges and a meal in revamped food court showcasing Sowetan restaurants.http://www.sowetowinefestival.co.za/

In New York City such event are done as a fundraiser for the Children in Bellevue's 16th Annual Toast to the Children hosted by Tom Colicchio, in order to raise money for children's literacy.http://www.childrenofbellevue.org/ If we could also have such in South Africa it would make a difference to our societies. I believe this is a great way for organisations to get together, mingle and showcase their products to the public. This event is sort of a playground for different organisations, it is a fun way of benefiting from; profit wise and customer/consumer wise; yet a way to help them improve were their efforts seem to be lacking from and is a great strategy to get the public involved, aware and more educated about wine and food. It will also help you learn a great deal about wine and food, so why not try it out? because you got nothing to lose but so much to gain.

Be Free To Fly Your Wings

On the 27th Of April Freedom day is coming up soon and its a holiday celebrated annually by all South Africans as a reminder of the struggle for a free and just South Africa, it is a very important day to all South Africans. This year will mark the 18th years of democracy in South Africa and the achievement the people have made as a nation. This day is honoured, it is a day on which our first post-apartheid elections were held in 1994, it is a day when South Africans felt free and knew that greater opportunities yet to come,

this day has grown from that day onwards to have much deeper meaning to all of us. This day provides a revolutionary for all South Africans to collectively participate in the commemoration of pain, struggle to a non-racial, democratic and free South Africa in which we all have the freedom to prosper. Now it also celebrates the freedom of choice, the freedom of religion, sexuality and freedom of speech.

Every year different events, functions and festivals are organised in order to celebrate our development. This year in Pretoria (Auchtermuchty Plot 76 Doornrandtjies Tshwane), an annual festival is taking place of arts and culture, anyone is invited, from all belief systems in celebration of their diversity and similarity. There will be different activities that one can engage in such as hand-made, home grown and hand crafted wares with each other and the community, it may look old-fashioned but the aim is to bring the people together and get in touch with their spirit. The festival will also present fire dancing, drumming, music, a sweat lodge, assorted artists, stalls, a sangoma speaker, talks on a variety of topics and much much more, imagine how everyone will be feeling by being able to be in touch with their roots, culture and Africanism, it sure doesn't get any better than this. This is what i call ubuntu, (Togetherness).E:\Freedom Day Celebrations & Weekend Market.mht 

We all have a responsibility to ensure that our democracy and freedom is maintained and strengthened for future generation. Via South Africa Viva.E:\Events - Freedom Day.mht

Prices are as follows: stalls R150, weekend camping R50 per tent and safe parking at R10 per car, No entrance fee (mahala/Free). Pets on leashes and children are welcome.

Another annual event taking place on this day is the Back to the City: Youth freedom day festival, taking place at the Ritual Stores, Corner Bree and Henry Nxumalo streets, Newtown, Johannesburg, from 10am till 11 pm and the cover charge is R60. It is yet again another annual hip hop festival which features: 40 Mc's; 12 Djs; 12 Graffiti Crews; BBoys; 6 Dance Crews; Skaters; Bmxers; Beatboxers; 2 stages; a Beer Garden; a Game Zone and a Chill Zone. So where are you going to be celebrating your Freedom Day?  http://www.backtothecityfestival.com/p/press-release.html

In a nutshell let us all have an idea and the knowledge of why we are celebrating this wonderful day called Freedom Day that has brought change to us as humans and to our land. Let us not be ignorant and celebrate this day with respect knowing how valuable it is to those who fought for change. We are the youth of the present let the change start with us so that we set an example for the next generation to better themselves as well an prove that this day will not be abused but honoured for what it stands for to the fellow South Africans.

A Film Festival with a Twist To it

The biggest film festival is taking place yet again at the Nu Metro in Hyde Park on 23 March 2012 till 01 April 2012. This festival is known to be 'Out in Africa Gay & Lesbian Film Festival Johannesburg' where they show case the best made movies, nominees and awards are then given out to those who have earned them. Three international guests will be hosted at the Festival; Dreya Weber, who is a Lead actress and producer; Josefine Tengblad, who is a Swedish actor and producer and Belgian director Bavo Defurne; also not forgetting the the writer and director of The Secret (Imfhilo), Soweto-born Fanney Tsimong who is also a guest at the festival. The following films will be presented by the guests; 'A Marine Story', which has won 16 major awards, 'The Gymnast', 'Kyss Mig' (Kiss Me), 'North Sea Texas' which was named Best Feature Début at the Montreal World Film Festival and won the Fipresci International Press Award and 'The Secret' which will play with two South African short films: 'Anders' by Werner Coetzee and Mthokozisi Lembethe’s 'Paving Forward'.

Other festival highlights include:

• The award-winning, wickedly funny British film 9 Dead Gay Guys - the queer flick Guy Ritchie should have made…
• Christopher and His Kind, a lush drama and the real story of Christopher Isherwood’s Berlin, fabric of the cult classic Cabaret
• The award-winning Chilean My Last Round, an exquisite South American sleeper in the fashion of the runaway hit Undertow
• German must see Romeos, a trendy, unconventional and very contemporary take on the issues facing queer teens.http://www.sa-venues.com/events/gauteng/out-in-africa-gay-and-lesbian-film-festival-johannesburg/

Albert Nobbs will première at this film festival and Glenn Close received her sixth Oscar nomination for her role as a woman passing as a man in order to work and survive in 19th Century Ireland. Janet McTeer, nominated as Best Supporting Actress, also has a cross-dressing role, and the film is up for Best Makeup. Rising star Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland, Jane Eyre) is the love interest. The director Rodrigo Garcia, son of the Nobel Price winning novelist Gabriel Garcia Marquez, is an Emmy-nominee.

This Film Festival was launched back then in 1994 to celebrate the inclusion in the South Africa Constitution, of the clause in prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. In our societies, cultures and communities we have different views, opinions and beliefs and in most cases gays and lesbians are taken as a sensitive topic to most families. It is not an open topic and generally it is seen as 'wrong, not normal and not christian' to be in love with the same sex, these people are judged, hated on and are called nasty names when walking down the streets. The scary thing with such attitudes we hear stories about the rape, murders that occur all the time because its some sort of message being sent out to gays and lesbians in order for them to change their lifestyle. Funny enough the constitution ways back from 1994, but still I have not seen change in peoples attitudes about the lifestyles of gays and lesbians yet I thought we are all humans and have the Right and Freedom to believe in what we want to and be what we want to be. Then I ask Who are we to tell them how to live their lives? Always keep in mind that Love has no Gender.

 

The Pink Girlfest.

Its on again the annual Pink Girlfest Festival taking place from the Thursday, 22 March 2012 to Sunday, 25 March 2012, at the Malonjeni Guest Farm situated between the Vereeniging and Heidelberg in the Vaal Triangle. It is a three day festival for ladies who come from all walks of life, who gather together to share the different variety of cultures, activities and music going to take place at the event. Ladies who would want to be all glam this season will go to then fabulous fashion show, going to take place at the event in giving ladies tips on how to look and feel like a million dollar without them saying a word. The fashion show will be hosting a competition at the grand finale with the PGF Ms Girly and Ms Boi, a first ever Ms Gay SA. Now that is pretty awesome staff, it shows the growth of South Africa and its people in terms of accepting and not discriminating.

Different workshops will be taking place, with well known South African personalities going to address their topics in a more diverse and realistic manner. If you are interested in Gardening or would like to start your own, you'll be attending the Gardening workshop, which is going to be addressed by Tanya Visser an editor of The Gardener magazine, will be involving ladies to enjoy their greens and Sharon Tattersol from Supa Quick will teach the ladies a easy 10 step program in the Car Maintenance DIY workshop. There is also a Self Defence workshop, in which ladies who are interested could attend, to learn a thing or two on how to protect themselves. If your interests lie else where and you are more of the adventurous and outdoor type of person, Caryn Louw will help you with a Golf Clinic and Shred Betty's will offer a Mountain Biking and Paddle Boarding clinic.                   

There will be well known South African bands such as Karen Zoid; Toya Delazy, Margaret’s Daughter; Naledi King, Chix with Stix, Holly and the Woods, Attack of the Strawberries, Aneva and Splinter Town, now who would want to miss out on that? Now put on your dancing shoes and let the music take you places with the rocking line up of Djz going to make you dance until you ask for mercy... the line up is as follows: top DJ such as, DJ Lindi Lush who will be sharing her Electro Funk Fidget Trans tunes, joining her will be DJ’s Sky, Blend, Infinity, Lady Sultry and Cheecky Cherry to name a few. Other entertainment include Comedian Kellyn Coetzee and Drag Kings Androgeny. This is going to be one funky event so ladies clip your pink wings on and get ready for lift off in:.... 3..... 2...... 1....... its the Pink GirlFest! http://www.sa-venues.com/events/gauteng/pink-girlfest-gauteng/

A Fancy way to make Reading Fun

The Autumn harvest Faire taking place from the 17 March 2012 through to the 9 April 2012  at the Garden world, which is situated in the rural surroundings of Mulderdrift north west of Johannesburg in Gauteng. This event will be packed with a variety of activities for the whole family, the one I find most interesting is the reader days programme that's going to take place. This years reader day will be held by Linda Galvald, she'll be discussing heirloom seeds, organic and food security, from this one will gain the information of vegetable seeds, the importance to our health and about food security. The second speaker will be Jan Griffths who is a television producer, writer artist and traveller who will be giving a talk on 'A delicious herb and vegetable garden grown organically, with Caxton Westrand and Talborne organics.' .http://www.sa-venues.com/events/gauteng/autumn-harvest-faire/  

This talk will really help a great deal for anyone thinking of starting their own vegetable garden using organic seeds, since there is an emphasise on living a healthy lifestyle by going all organic, because organic seeds are those harvested from plants grown without the use of any chemical pesticides, herbicides, fertilisers or any other chemical treatments that are generally used by commercial seed companies to protect their seeds against diseases, increase germination rates or the shelf life.www.organicseeds.co.za/content/6-hierloom+info

The reader day programme will be looking in on those topics and a healthy lifestyle for all generations, with tips such as increasing access to nutritious, sustainably grown foods as nutrition is key to good health and good health for all can be achieved by improving the environment in which people live. In this generation today reading seems to be such a difficult activity to do as we are too busy with our lives that we do not take time or make an effort in our busy schedules to pick up a book and read, so such events help and enhances the interests of people to read about relevant topics that would sustain, also grab people's attention and maybe change their view on opening up a book and exploring another world at the same time improving your reading skills and knowledge. A good healthy body = A healthy mind, which helps you grow in knowledge and sustain a better living, wouldn't you agree?