FIFA Admits It's A Balls Up

FIFA has finally acknowledged that there may be something wrong with the Jabulani World Cup ball, but won't act on the problem until after the tournament.
Many players have likened the Jabulani to a 'supermarket ball', saying it is too unpredictable and flies through the air too easily.
"We're not deaf," FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke said Saturday at a news conference. Valcke said that FIFA will discuss the matter with coaches and teams after the World Cup, then meet with manufacturer Adidas.
Denmark defender Daniel Agger said the ball made some outfielders look like 'drunken sailors'.

The Jabulani could create even more problems in the knockout phase beginning Saturday, since games could be decided by penalty shootouts.

"The balls have changed over the last couple of years, they have become a lot faster and in addition to that, in Johannesburg, we are playing at an altitude of 1700 metres, which makes the ball even faster," former Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn said.
"Thus the goalkeepers work even harder, but I don't think that we can take the ball or the altitude as excuses."

Moratorium To Stay

AGADIR, Morocco — As the 62nd annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission closed, Kitty Block, vice president of Humane Society International and head of the HSI delegation, released the following statement:
"We came to Agadir to defeat a proposal that would have undone the global commercial whaling moratorium, putting the world's whales at greater risk of the suffering and death from the harpoons of the whaling nations. We did not come to Agadir alone — we came representing millions of citizens from around the world who did not want to see the IWC once again approve the slaughter of whales for commercial gain. Their voices were heard, and they shifted the balance. We were successful, and our team returns home with the knowledge that the moratorium remains and that those countries that continue to kill whales do so with international condemnation and scorn."

Return to Commercial Whaling Option Rejected for Now at Annual Whaling Meeting

Humane Society International leaders expressed their satisfaction at Wednesday’s withdrawal of a 'compromise' package that would have legitimized commercial whaling, set aside by the delegates at the morning session of the 62nd annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission.
“The proposal was fatally flawed from the beginning, above all because it promised to validate commercial whaling without setting a true deadline for its extinction,” said Kitty Block, vice president of HSI and head of the HSI delegation at Agadir. “There were also significant defects in the alternative plans championed by several nations and non-governmental actors involved in the discussions at IWC 62, and we opposed those for similar reasons.”
But Block cautioned that the deal could resurface later this week in another form, and that HSI would remain vigilant in its efforts to protect the global moratorium on commercial whaling.
Block also noted the strong opening statement of the United States delegation at IWC, which affirmed that “The conservation of whales is paramount to the United States,” and underscored the point that the American government would “not support an agreement at any cost.”

Pierce Brosnan Gives His Support to IWC

Pierce Brosnan is also well-known as an advocate for oceans and marine life, especially whales.
Recognizing how high the stakes are for whales this year at the annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission, in Agadir, Morocco, Pierce and his wife, Keely Shaye Smith, television host and correspondent, decided to meet the challenge by producing a video advertisement. The video encourages President Barack Obama to honour his promise to uphold the commercial whaling moratorium, and to oppose an international deal that the majority of international environmental and animal protection organizations oppose.

Pierce and Keely teamed up with Humane Society International, The HSUS, the International Fund for Animal Welfare and the National Resources Defense Council to distribute the advertisement.

The IWC is meeting behind closed doors this week, so keep abreast of the latest news here.

WIN R2010 - World Cup Flags Competition

WIN R2010
World Cup Flags Competition

Identify the flags on the Beach House Living building at Hemel en Aarde Shopping Centre in Hermanus, buy something for at least R100 and fill out the entry form at Beach House Living and Time for Living - and you can WIN!!!
Pop in today and get your entry in before the 12th July 2010!

Whaling Moratorium Must Continue...

Pro- and anti-whaling nations face off this week in a battle over the 24-year-old ban on the commercial killing of whales.
Gathering in Morocco, the 88 countries of the International Whaling Commission will tussle over controversial changes to a moratorium which experts say has saved several whale species driven to near-extinction by more than 150 years of industrial hunting.
The changes aim to coax Japan, Norway and Iceland back into the IWC mainstream.
Australian environment protection minister Peter Garrett says the proposal would sanction the killing of whales in the IWC whale sanctuary in the Southern Ocean and also allow threatened species to be killed.
He says Australia won't be voting for a bad deal for whales and he'll try to convince countries opposed to the proposal to reject it.

Support Like Never Before

Now is the time to support our national soccer team, Bafana Bafana like never before.
Take your head out of the ground, the vuvuzela out the garage and your SA flags, mirror socks, jerseys and scarves out the kit bag. Bafana go up against a fiesty France in a group 'A' match number 34 at the recently upgraded Bloemfontein stadium. Kick off is at 16h00 on Tuesday 22nd June.

Nothing Like Reliable Stats To Perk You Up

South Africa saw a 34% increase in inbound tourism spending during the first quarter of 2010 and anticipates additional growth opportunities around the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
This is according to an annual report released by Visa, which analyses Visa cardholder spending for the past two years.

The report showed that the top contributors to South Africa’s inbound tourism spending in 2009 included:

United Kingdom: 26%
United States: 15%
Mozambique: 5%
Germany: 4%

France: 4%

While travellers from Western Europe and the US continue to be the strongest contributors to South African tourism, significant increases in spending by cardholders from emerging markets are indicative of South Africa’s growing stature as a tourism destination.

As host of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, South Africa is uniquely positioned to further enhance its visibility globally.

Hermanus Leads The Way Ahead Of 2010

EThekwini Municipality's Durban Tourism Unit launched the 2010 Fan Centre last week, writes SA Tourism Update.

The centre, which is situated at the beachfront, boasts an impressive array of services which include the Tourist Information Centre, a Police Station, an Internet café, a lost and found facility and a Consul Office where international visitors can have assistance with problems such as lost travel documents. It will be operational 24 hours a day. There is a traders’ market where one can buy arts and crafts. A marquee is set up with chairs and tables to serve as a hang-out spot and eatery. Tour operators have also set up at the precinct to make their services readily available.

The Fan Centre's purpose is to be a one-stop shop for tourists to experience the warmth of the city.

Sounds to me like they have taken a peek at our new Info Kiosk in Hermanus.

Beach House Beats The Best

The front facade of Beach House Interiors is complete and is causing quite a stir in Hermanus.

South Africa Rocks and Shocks

Word is out that this will be the most successful FIFA World Cup ever.
The world was taken by storm on Friday when tens of thousands of Bafana fans flocked into the streets of Johannesburg to show their support for the 'boys'.
Germany only saw a surge of interest after their national team went into the middle games.
South Africa has once again shocked the world. When all the doomsayers were predicting doom and gloom after Madiba was released from prison, our country once again stands proud with head and shoulders erect.

One Flag Of Chips To Take Away

The grandmother of England's fast foods, the chippy, was first mentioned by Charles Dickens in his classic novel 'Oliver Twist' in 1838.
My first recollections of this culinery delight, are watching a Portuguese shop owner tipping out a basket of steaming 'slap' chips onto a page of yesteryears newspaper.
Lekker man.

Food Flag Fun

In the spirit of the World Cup, here is an Italian flag made from authentic Italian ingredients.
Let's see who can make up a food flag for South Africa. Possible ingredients could be: Pap (White), Chakalaka (Red), Squid Ink (Black), Marog (Green), Mielies (Yellow) and Bloem's Bleu Cheese (Blue).
Watch this space as we will post Britain's finest tomorrow.

Parkies Placed In Pause Mode?

Would it not be a fantastic gesture if Hermanus' parking attendants (Parkies) waivered the parking fees for the duration of the World Cup?

Best Dressed 2010 Business in CWC : Challenge Hotting Up

We challenged the businesses in the Cape Whale Coast to find the Best Dressed World Cup 2010 Company and we have had a fantastic response - Well Done to everyone who is making a great effort in showing the world that we are a colourful, FUN nation!

Pick 'n Pay Hermanus are even decorating doughnuts in the colours /designs of the participating countries' flags.

And what is happening at Beach House Living at Hemel en Aarde? Sally and Sjaak have definitely embraced this challenge and are determined to be the 'talk of the town'.

Eyjafjallajoekull! Bless You.

So much for the volcanovation that this puff of smoke brought with it. The numbers of tourists has dwindled to an insignificant plume of smoke compared to when the violent eruptions saw hundreds of eager 'happy snappers' heading for a foggy Iceland.
If you want sustainable eco-tourism look no further than Hermanus.

Eyjafjallajoekull?

No thank you, we prefer Hermanussuccessful.

Beach Villa Brags With Verve

Charl from Hermanus Beach Villa sent in this photos to enter our competition.

Bookies Back Bullfighters

If bookmakers are to be believed, the current European champions, Spain have the best chance of winning the World Cup.

The odds are 4-1 for Spain, Brazil is at 5-1 and England at 6-1, Brent Graham, told News24. "Although sports betting is not an exact science with perception and demand deciding the odds, bookmakers were generally speaking, good at setting the odds, although ‘big upsets’ are possible." South Africa is between 150 and 200-1 to win and have a 2 in 1 chance of proceeding to the second level.

Let's give Bafana our support and prove the bookies wrong...