Ukubuka Okwezwe
Igebe Phakathi Kwabacebile Nabampofu Liyakhula
Igebe phakathi kwabacebile nabampofu liye laphindeka kabili eminyakeni engu-30 edlule, kusho iHuman Development Report 1992, eyanyatheliselwa iUnited Nations Development Programme. Ngokusekelwe ezilinganisweni zesizwe, ngo-1960 amaphesenti angu-20 abantu abacebe kakhulu enanini labantu lomhlaba ayecebe ngokuphindwe izikhathi ezingu-30 kunamaphesenti angu-20 abantu abampofu kakhulu. Ngo-1989 babecebe ngokungaphezulu cishe izikhathi ezingu-60. Ngokomuntu ngamunye, abantu abacebe kakhulu abayizigidi eziyinkulungwane bacebe kakhulu kunabampofu okungenani izikhathi ezingu-150 kunezigidi eziyinkulungwane zabampofu kakhulu.
Omama Abasebenzayo
Iyiphi ingxenye enkulu nekhula ngokushesha kakhulu yabantu besifazane abasebenzayo eUnited States? Abesifazane abanezingane ezingaphansi kweminyaka engu-18 ubudala, kusho iNational Association of Working Women. Omama abanezingane ekhaya bamelela izingxenye ezimbili kwezintathu zabesifazane abasebenzayo. Bafinyelela ezigidini ezingu-21, ukwanda okusuka ezigidini ezingu-6,6 ngo-1960. Abesifazane abanezingane ezingaphansi kweminyaka emibili ubudala bakha iqembu elincane elikhula ngokushesha kakhulu. Kusukela ngo-1970 baye banda ngamaphesenti angu-129, bafinyelela izigidi ezingu-3,1. Ikusasa liphetheni? Lenhlangano ilinganisela ukuthi cishe maphakathi nawo 1990, amaphesenti angu-65 abesifazane abanezingane ezisesenkulisa kanye namaphesenti angu-77 alabo abanezingane esezifunda isikole kuyoba omama abasebenzayo.
INigeria Ibala Abantu Bayo
NgoMarch 20, 1992, wonke amaphephandaba ayinhloko aseNigeria ayenesihloko esikhulu esibonisa inani elifanayo—izigidi ezingu-88,5. Lelinani, u-88 514-501 uma lishiwo ngokuqondile, laziswa isizwe njengenani eliyingqikithi labantu ababalwa ekubalweni kwesizwe kwaseNigeria ngoNovember 1991. Imiphumela yokubalwa kwabantu yayinezinto ezimbili ezimangazayo. Enye yayiwukuthi ngokungafani nenhlalayenza emazweni amaningi, amadoda ayengaphezudlwana kwabesifazane. Eyesibili yayiwukuthi inani eliyingqikithi labantu baseNigeria lalilincane kakhulu kunenani elalilinganiselwe elisukela ezigidini eziyikhulu kuya kwezingu-120 elalisekelwe ekubikezeleni okususelwa ekubalweni kwabantu kwangaphambili ngo-1963. Kodwa nakuba ingqikithi yaba ngaphansi kwesibalo esivamile esilinganiselwayo ngamaphesenti angu-20, iNigeria iselokhu iyisizwe esinabantu abaningi kakhulu ezwekazini laseAfrika.
Isixwayiso Ngemithi-mbumbulu
Unyaka ngamunye, abashushumbisi abangathembekile bazuza izigidi zezinkulungwane zamarandi ngemithi-mbumbulu. Kodwa ngokungafani neminye imikhiqizo-mbumbulu eminingi, “imilaliso-mbumbulu ingayilimaza ngokungathi sína impilo ize ngisho ibulale,” kuxwayisa iphephandaba elikhishwa iWorld Health Organization. Eminingi, ngenxa yokuthi inosizo oluncane olungokokwelapha noma ayinalo nhlobo, ayikwazi ukusiza umuntu ohlushwa isifo esingathi sína njengomalaleveva noma isifo sikashukela. Eminye yayo iqukethe nezithako ezingavunyelwe noma eziwushevu. Umbiko uthi: “Muva nje ukufa okwabikwa kwezingane zaseNigeria ngemva kokusebenzisa lokho okwakucatshangelwa ukuthi umlaliso wokulwa nokukhwehlela kuqinisekisa ngokudabukisayo ukungathi sína kwaloluhlobo lokushushumbisa.” Lenkinga ingengathi sína ikakhulu kubantu abampofu abasemazweni asathuthuka, abacabanga ukuthi bakuthenga ngomtitilizo lokho okubonakala kuwumuthi omuhle owenziwa inkampane ehloniphekayo. Ilebula noma iphakethe akuqinisekisi ukuthi umkhiqizo ungokoqobo. Kungase kukhohlise njengomuthi ngokwawo.
Imidwebo Yanamuhla Iyahluleka Ekuvivinyweni
Umkhakha wezokudweba usenkingeni ngenxa yosongo olumangalisayo olubhekene nemidwebo eminingi eyenziwe abadwebi bangesikhathi esifanayo—iyawohloka. Imidwebo yabadwebi abanjengoDavid Hockney, uJackson Pollock, noMark Rothko iphuma imibala noma iyaklayeka, kuyilapho umsebenzi wemidwebo wabanye uyaxebuka futhi usuke endwangini odwetshwe kuyo, kubika iSunday Times yaseLondon. Kusolwa upende weacrylic owawusetshenziswa ngawo-1960 njengoyimbangela eyinhloko. Nakuba izinto ezenziwe ngamakhemikhali zanamuhla zazihalaliselwa lapho ziqala ukudayiswa ngo-1962, uCarol Stringari, umlondolozi wemvelo obambisene nabanye eMuseum of Modern Art eDolobheni laseNew York, wathi: “Ngokokuqala lapho othile ezama ukususa ukungcola okuthile emdwebeni weacrylic, kwaqashelwa ukuthi kwakungeke kusuke. Simane nje asikazi ukuthi sikwenze kanjani.”
Ukuzamazama Komhlaba ERhine
NgoApril odlule indawo eyisigodi yaseLower Rhine eJalimane yabhekana nokuzamazama kwayo komhlaba okukhulu kakhulu kusukela ngo-1756. Ukuzamazama, okwafinyelela ku-5,5 kuya ku-5,8 esikalini sikaRichter, kwalimaza abantu futhi kwabangela umonakalo olinganiselwa ezigidini zamarandi. Ukundindizela kwaze kwaphumela ngisho nasekubeni iatomic reactor eseduzane ingasebenzi okwesikhashana. Esikhungweni sokuhlola ukuzamazama komhlaba esiseduze naseCologne, amathuluzi “asangana noma ashwibeka kangangokuba izinkomba zawo zagobeka futhi uyinki wachithekela emaceleni ephepha,” kubika umagazini wesayensi yemvelo iGEO. Amandla okuzamazama amangaza ososayensi, abangakakwazi ukubikezela ngokunemba ukuzamazama.
Ukungabaza KwamaKatolika AngamaFulentshi
Nakuba amaphesenti angu-84 amaFulentshi ethi angamaRoma Katolika, ukucwaninga kubonisa ukuthi inani elincane nje kuphela elibulandela ngenkuthalo ubuKatolika. Amaphesenti angu-12 nje kuphela athi aya njalo eMiseni, kuyilapho amaphesenti angu-24 ethi ngezikhathi ezithile ayaya eMiseni ngamaholide. Umagazini wesiFulentshi iL’Express muva nje wenza ukuhlola ukuze uthole ngokuqondile ukuthi leyongcosana elandela ubuKatolika yini eyikholelwayo ngokuphathelene nezinye izimfundiso eziyisisekelo zesonto. Imiphumela yayiveza lokhu obala: amaphesenti angu-25 awakholelwa ovukweni lukaJesu Kristu, amaphesenti angu-30 ayawungabaza umlando weBhayibheli wezimangaliso ezenziwa uJesu, futhi amaphesenti angu-38 awakholelwa kuZiqu-zintathu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, amaphesenti angu-59 awazamukeli izimfundiso zesonto eziphathelene nesihlanzo, amaphesenti angu-60 awakholelwa esihogweni somlilo, futhi amaphesenti angu-62 ayakungabaza ukuba khona kukaSathane.
Amasonto Aba Izisulu
“Izigelekeqe Ziphendukela Ezisulwini ‘Ezingcwele’,” kuxwayisa isihloko esikhulu sephephandaba laseGoli, eNingizimu Afrika, iStar. Imibiko yamuva ibonisa ukuthi amasonto kanye nezinhlangano zezenhlala-kahle ziyizisulu ezilula zezigebengu eziswele. Ngemva kokuphanga ngezikhali ezindaweni ezimbili zokukhulekela ngesonto elilodwa, amasonto axwayiswa “ukuba athathe izinyathelo ezengeziwe zokulondeka.” Kokunye ukuphanga, isamba esikhulu semali sathathwa esontweni bekhonjwe ngesibhamu lapho iqembu labantu abagugile lalamukela imali yalo yomhlala-phansi. Iziphathimandla zithi lokhu kubangelwa ukuwohloka kokuziphatha okuqhubekayo komphakathi. Omunye umkhulumeli wamaphoyisa wathi: “Iqiniso lokuthi abantu sebeqala ukuphanga amasonto libonisa ukuthi bangenza noma yini ukuze bathole imali.”
Igazi Lelungu Lomkhaya Lingabulala
IRed Cross Society yaseJapane “inxusa odokotela ukuba benze konke okusemandleni abo ukuze bagweme ukumpompela igazi elinikelwe amalungu omkhaya, ikakhulukazi lapho lowo onikelayo ewumzali noma ingane yalowo elizofakwa kuye,” kusho iAsahi Shimbun. Ukusebenzisa igazi elinikelwe amalungu omkhaya, kusho umbiko weRed Cross, kungabangela iGVHD (Graft-Versus-Host Disease [Isifo Sokuhlasela Kwamangqamuzana Esitho Esifakelwe Elwa Nawalowo Esifakwe Kuye]), isifo esenzeka lapho amalymphocyte asegazini elimpontshelwe ehlasela umnkantsha wethambo, isibindi, kanye nesikhumba sompontshelwe. Isimiso sokuzivikela somzimba siyathinteka, futhi isilinganiso sokufa sikhulu. Ngokungaphezulu, isixwayiso esinamandla sokungasebenzisi igazi elisanda kunikelwa naso sihlanganisiwe embikweni ngenxa yalokho okutholiwe ukuthi igazi elisetshenziswa engakadluli amahora angu-72 linikelwe lingabangela iGVHD. Lombiko usekelwe ekuhlolweni ngokucophelela okuthathe iminyaka emibili kweziguli ezingamakhulukhulu ezatholwa zineGVHD nasekuhloleni kodokotela abangu-14 083. Cishe ingxenye yodokotela yayikholelwa ukuthi iGVHD yenzeka kuphela lapho isimiso sokuzivikela somzimba siye sawohloka nanokuthi lesifo asihlobene nokumpontshelwa kwegazi—kodwa babenephutha.
Amabhola Egalofu Angasetshenziswa Izinto Eziphilayo
Igalofu, umdlalo odlalelwa ebaleni, ngokuvamile awubhekwa njengowusongo ezintweni eziphila emanzini. Kodwa ukudlala igalofu kuye kwaba into yokuchitha isikhathi ethandwayo emikhunjini entweza isikhathi eside. “Kuze kube ngo-1989 abadlali begalofu ngenyanga bebeshaya amabhola egalofu ayingxenye yesigidi phezu kwemikhumbi entwezayo,” kusho umagazini iNew Scientist, “futhi amaningi awo agcina eseziswini zezimfudu, imikhomo kanye nezinhlengethwa.” Ngakho lapho iMARPOL, inhlangano eqondisa ukuhamba kwemikhumbi, ngo-1989 ikunqabela ukulahlelwa olwandle kodoti wepulasitiki, yahlanganisa namabhola egalofu. Kusukela ngalesosikhathi abadlali begalofu basemkhunjini kwadingeka basebenzise inetha, belinganisela ibanga lokushaya kwabo amabhola. Manje umsunguli waseSan Diego, eCalifornia usungule ibhola legalofu elingasetshenziswa ngokuphelele izinto eziphilayo elinokubukeka futhi elishayeka ngendlela efanayo nalelo elivamile. Kodwa esikhundleni sokufaka ipulasitiki phezu kwenjoloba, isikhumba salo sakhiwe ngepulp yephepha, igelatin, noma iseaweed kanye nesakhi esibalulekile sesodium bicarbonate nesodium citrate—izithako zeAlka-Seltzer.
Ukuntuleka Kokusanhlamvu
Ngonyaka ozayo kuzodingeka kuthunyelwe cishe amathani ommbila ayizigidi eziyishumi eAfrika eseningizimu, kubika iSouthern African Development Co-ordination Conference, inhlangano yesifunda enikeza isixwayiso kusengaphambili. Umagazini wayo ophuma njalo uthi: “Kunokukhathazeka okukhulu ngokuphathelene nekhono lamatheku akhona, izitimela, izimoto kanye nezinqolobane ezikhona kulesifunda ukuze zibhekane nokuthuthwa kokusanhlamvu ngesilinganiso esilindelekile.” Nakuba umkhiqizo wonyaka odlule wawungaphansi kwesilinganiso, ukukhiqizwa kommbila kulonyaka kulindekele ukuba kube ngaphansi ngamaphesenti angu-40 kunokwangonyaka odlule. Isomiso ngokunokwenzeka sizoba isici esibi kakhulu esizothinta iAfrika eseningizimu kulelikhulu leminyaka.
Isifo Sofuba Siyabuya
IWHO (World Health Organization [INhlangano Yezwe Yezempilo]) ibika ukuthi isifo esidala esiwumqedazwe sofuba manje sibulala abantu abayizigidi ezintathu ngonyaka. IGlobe and Mail yaseToronto, eCanada, iyaqhubeka ichaza ukuthi amaphesenti angu-96 ezigidi eziyisishiyagalombili zezehlakalo ezintsha unyaka ngamunye zenzeka emazweni asathuthuka ngenxa yokuswelakala kwemithi yezokwelapha nezinye izinto. “Isifo sofuba siba isifo esihlobene nezenhlalo kanye nezomnotho esigadla kakhulu ebantwini abaswele,” kuchaza uHiroshi Nakajima, umqondisi-jikelele weWHO. Emazweni acebe kakhulu, sigadla kakhulu kwasebegugile, abantu abambalwa bohlanga oluthile, kanye nabantu abavela kwamanye amazwe. Ngokwesibonelo, eUnited States, isikhulu sezokwelapha seWHO sathi izehlakalo eziningi zihilela iziguli ezizimiso zazo zokuzivikela zomzimba ziye zenziwa zaba buthakathaka ngokusebenzisa kabi imilaliso noma ingculaza.