Following my dreams

What are you most proud of in your life?

First time answering one of these prompts. What I’m most proud of in my life is that I’ve been doing exactly what I dreamed, imagined, wanted do. The most recent example is sailing across an ocean (check svtropicaldawn.blog for more on that), which has been a dream since I was a teenager.

Sailing from Cape Town to Brazil has been the culmination of a process of imagination started about ten years ago when I decided to first visit and then move to South Africa. And that was set in motion by the imagination of living somewhere else then Belgium where I was born and grew up.

I know I have been extremely privileged to be able to realise these dreams, I definitely do not want to suggest that it’s easy to just follow your dreams. But I know a lot of people actually could do it, if they let go of the fear, if that voice (inside or outside your head) telling you it’s not possible.

Message of support for Palestine from Beursschouwburg

We stand in solidarity with the Palestinian
people

In these grim times of grief, we come together to find strategies for coping, for uniting, and for raising our voices in enduring struggles towards liberation.

It’s hard to find words these days. Still, we try.

An art organization does not exist in isolation, but is intricately connected to the world it inhabits. In recent days, we have been deeply troubled as we’ve witnessed the specter of death, the shattering of lives, and the devastation affecting Israeli and Palestinian lives.  

The unfolding violence in and around Gaza represents a clear violation of international law, a stark affront to our shared humanity. Countless civilians, including children, are being displaced and subjected to relentless bombardment. In this solemn moment, we stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people, who are being ignored on the international stage. 

As an art organization we serve as a hub for reflection, engagement, and the sharing of knowledge and stories. That’s why we wish to share these links with you, so you can join us in making a gesture of solidarity. 

In these grim times of grief, we come together to find strategies for coping, for uniting, and for raising our voices in enduring struggles towards liberation.

Join us at the manifestation on Sunday 22 October leaving from Schuman (Brussels, Belgium) at 14:00.

LINKS

Unprovoked Narratives by Palestine Film Institute

Reading list by Verso Books

‘Learning Palestine_Until Liberation’ mixtape via Radio Alhara

‘Electrical Gaza’ (2015) by Rosalind Nashashibi on Lux Moving Image

Statement of solidarity by artists and cultural workers in Belgium

List of trusted organizations to donate to Palestine

Open-source designs ‘Stop Genocide’ by Atelier Brenda

Performance ‘Language: no broblem’ by Marah Haj Hussein on 27.10 in Beursschouwburg


(Add to this list by writing to hello@beursschouwburg.be)

Hello Fediverse!

The blog finally has the ActivityPub plugin installed, so we are part of the Fediverse now! Yay!

I guess that means an introduction is in order? Geek, techie, web developer, traveler, into commons, free/libre/opensource, traveling, sailing, sustainability, off-grid, renewable energy, writing/blogging, too much to mention really.

I’ve got a bunch of Mastodon profiles, but will try to post here more often again!

We bought another boat

I just noticed the last post on this blog was announcing the buying of our Van de Stadt 34 sailboat Hoerikwaggo. Since we have sailed said boat on quite few day sails on said boat and figured out what exactly we want form a live aboard / full time, long distance cruiser. So we bought another boat: a Morgan 31 named Tropical Dawn. For photos and videos check out our Tropical Dawn Instagram account. We will try keep you updated both here and on our social media such as the Tropical Dawn Twitter account and our Tropical Dawn Facebook page.

Declassified: Apartheid Profits – André Vlerick, Banker and Bigot

To explain Vlerick’s willingness to lobby in favour of apartheid, one needs to understand that both profit and ideology were important motivators.

Read the full article here:

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2017-08-28-declassified-apartheid-profits-andr-vlerick-banker-and-bigot/#.W0T_3tgzbVp

House(boat) goals

Super inspiring! Especially because it is self built and 100% off grid, taking care of fresh water, electricity, waste water, heating, everything. Not sure if I would be able to build one myself, but definitely a dream/goal for the future.

Wouldn’t really be an option here in Cape Town as this wouldn’t be safe on the ocean, but in Knysna, in the Garden Route, about five hours driving from Cape Town, there is a lagoon. It connects to the ocean but is sheltered and quite close to the town center. I could totally see us (my wife and I) retire there on a house float like this.