Nam

ib IndependentGreat news for the coast!

info@namibindependent.com.na Issue 101 - Thursday, 29 May 2014 to Wednesday, 04 June 2014

the coastal housekeeperwalvis software developers

02 04 15NaMport strikes Back a wraNGle of Jeeps

free!

Tel: 064 200497

08

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12.95

16.45 12.65

15.25 45.95

14.95ORANGES 2KG BAG (EAch) LETTUcE P/P (EAch)

SWEETcORN P/PTOMATOES 4’S P/P POTATOES 7KG BAG

BANANAS LOOSE P/KG

Coastal Dairy Shelves Empty ... Again

Siglinde de Villiers

With the ban on the import of dairy products also came

a shortage of the same on the shelves of shops at the coast. However, according to recent media reports, the milk ban has

craig deysel, country Manager for clover in Namibia, and explained: “the ban was lifted on a friday, and then appealed again on Monday. Business-wise, there was nothing much we could do over the course of a weekend. the ban lift was ineffective and everything stays as it is.”

thus, shop owners still have

If It Smells Like Fish . . .

been lifted on 16 May. How is it possible then that at the start of this week, there was yet again another shortage of dairy products on local retailers’ shelves?

the ban on dairy products was implemented in order to protect the Namibian dairy industry. the ban was meant to exist for only a short period of time, allowing Namibian companies to grow, expand and reach the point where they could compete with foreign companies without the risk of skyrocketing prices for

the consumer. however, as reported on previously by the Namib independent, foreign companies who employed Namibians had to retrench half of their workforce due to the limit imposed upon imported dairy products. has the lift of the restrictions changed anything for these companies?

“Nothing has changed,” said

The smell of fishmeal production is no longer the smell of money.

Tanya Calitz

The issue surrounding the revolting smell coming from a few fishing factories due to the fishmeal making process keeps on surfacing, especially around this time of the year when two major fishing companies in town process their product waste from the already processed fish.

over the past two years the Namib independent has been approached many a time by numerous residents expressing their discontent over the rancid smell they have to live with each year. accusing the factories of being cheapskate and inconsiderate, we were

implored to look into the matter as to why this issue has not been resolved. Not only are our guys here in walvis constantly under fire over the stench, but just over a week ago the cape times reported that hout Bay property owners were up in arms – again - over the fishmeal plant in their area, saying the factory is devaluing their assets. they logged their complaints with their local council, who investigated whether the complaints held any water, and whether the stinky fumes presented any health risks or dangers.

according to a spokesperson for the department of environmental affairs and

Thursday, 29 May 20142 | News

Tel (+264 64) 200 497 Email info@namibindependent.com.na

Sales Chanté Nell 081 667 4694 - chante@namibindependent.com.na

Hilda Swanopoel 081 617 5889 - hilda@namibindependent.com.na

Gareth Amos 081 128 2197 - gareth@namibindependent.com.na

Editorial Tanya Calitz tanya@namibindependent.com.na

Design Maggie's Attic Graphic Design - sonya4maggiesattic@gmail.com

Address 127 Theo Ben Gurirab Street (MVAOfficeComplex) POBox5085,WalvisBay,Namibia

DiSClAiMEr:

Namib independent is published by Halfround CommunicationsCC.Allrightsarereserved.Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information containedwithin, no liability can be accepted by the publishers or contributors for any errors,misstatements or omissions which may have occurred. The opinions expressed in thepublication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Also, the publishers accept nolegal liability regarding copyright ownership for material which was supplied directly to the publishersbyanyoftheadvertisersorcontributors.

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1629 May 30 May 31 May 1 June 2 June 3 June 4 June

CoNTACT uS1. Tenders are hereby invited for the RENDERING OF CLEANING SERVICES AT Esplanade Park

Bungalows for the period 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2016 for the Economic Development Section of the Department Community & Economic Development, Municipality of Walvis Bay.

2. Tender documents are obtainable from the Cashiers, Civic Centre, Walvis Bay, Telephone +264 – 64 – 201 3236. Tender documents shall be issued against the payment of N$34.50 (including VAT).

3. Tenders, sealed and accompanied by all required supporting documents as described in the documents, must be delivered to the Local Tender Board on or before 11:00 on Friday, 20 June 2014. For convenience, a Tender Box in the foyer of the Civic Centre should be used for the deposition of tenders. No late tenders for any reason whatsoever will be considered by the Local Tender Board.

4. Tenderers shall take note of the fact that the submission of the following documents with the completed tender will be to your advantage:

5. Certificate of Good Standing issued by the Social Security Commission.Business Registration Certificate (with your respective local authority).Certificate of Good Standing in respect of Value Added Tax (VAT), if applicable.

6. Tenders will be opened by a committee of the Local Tender Board directly after the closing of tenders in the presence of Tenderer’s representatives, who choose to attend, in the Dolphin Conference Room at the Civic Centre, Walvis Bay.

7. The lowest or any tender will not necessarily be accepted and the Council reserves the right to accept the whole or any part of the tender.

8. Further information can be obtained from the Supervisor: Resorts, at telephone 081 143 1291 during office hours.

9. Site inspection meeting on Wednesday afternoon, 30 May 2014 at 14:00 at Esplanade Park.

MUNICIPALITY OF WALVIS BAYTENDER NOTICE 43/2014

RENDERING OF CLEANING SERVICES AT ESPLANADE PARK BUNGALOWS FOR THE PERIOD 1 JULY 2014 TO 30 JUNE 2016

JAJ KRUGERSECRETARYLOCAL TENDER BOARD

First Retail Software for Namibia Developed by

Walvis BrothersTanya Calitz

Two local Walvis Bay brothers invented a business system to help companies better manage their staff’s payroll and attendance roster. This invention came after selling a similar but very basic product to clients, which failed but led to the inspiration for their own product, SmarTime.

co-founder and owner of Binary city, rayno Burger, explained, “i worked with the management team at arebbusch travel lodge in windhoek, who said that they needed a system to help manage their payroll and employees’ work schedule, because it took them an entire week just to work out everyone’s hours and pay. we installed an existing system for them, which completely failed. we felt very bad and really wanted to help them find a solution, so we asked for two weeks to come up with a new system for them.”

he started the company with his brother darius a few years back.

the two brothers put their heads together and wrote a new business system for the lodge, and that is how smartime, their best-selling product, was born. there are currently over a 120 businesses using their clock-in business system, stated rayno. Binary city is originally based in windhoek, but because they are walvis Bay boys, they decided to return to their hometown and open a branch over here.

“our product is perfect for the types of businesses you find here

at the coast,” explained rayno, and added that they would love to help the businesses to better run their operations by adding systems that eliminate man-made errors.

“we believe in helping people with software to make their lives easier,” mentioned leana Burger, rayno’s sister, who is also part of the team. rayno also pointed out that one of the most common issues businesses have and complain about is having a proper system in place to track processes, especially sales.

another example of what they do is to write programs for websites, which allow the client to do and receive online quotes, but then also to link it to the company’s in-house accounting system. the possibilities are endless when using Binary city’s services.

rayno explained that their aim is to go see as many companies on the coast as possible and to sit and discuss their challenges, and work out a system that specifically addresses their unique issues.

“we also want to invite the business community of walvis Bay to come have a sit-down with us at our lovely office here at the Waterfront, have a cup of coffee and discuss issues they are experiencing with their current computer systems,” rayno encouraged. “we are very excited about working with the business community of walvis Bay and the rest of the coast, and eager about our latest development, which will prove to be a great system for the fishing industry of the town.”

Thursday, 29 May 2014 | 3 News

Continued from Page 1

Continued from Page 1

to contend with maintaining the fine balance between import quotas and local availability of dairy products.

“following the high court ruling on 18 May, in which the quantitative support measures were set aside, the Ministry of trade and industry appealed the decision. this means that the quantitative support measures are still in effect,” detailed peter Gruttemeyer, acting Managing director of Namibia dairies.

Nevertheless, following the first dairy shortage, all went well until this week. what happened?

a manager of a local general retailer answered,

“the demand for dairy products is simply too great than what Namibia dairies can cater for. it is very frustrating, because usually we stock up before a long weekend, but this is not possible anymore.”

“we are aware that two of our coastal clients unfortunately experienced stock-out on Monday,” Namibia dairies responded upon enquiry. “we have been

informed that in one instance, stock, which had been imported from south africa apparently did not arrive on time, meaning that the Namibia dairies order, which had been placed for them, was insufficient.”

the public holidays in Namibia might have been a large contributing factor for imported dairy stock not arriving on time.

Namibia dairies also said that in the case of the second customer, stock unfortunately ran out when the long weekend demand exceeded the anticipated demand. “This has however been rectified, and we apologise to our customers and consumers for the inconvenience,” Gruttemeyer said.

according to Gruttemeyer, Namibia dairies produces in accordance with demand, taking into consideration historical sales volumes and trends. with the ban restrictions still in place, many figures are still in the making, and past errors not likely to be repeated, promising coastal residents that the lack of dairy products will soon be a problem of the past.

Coastal Dairy Shelves Empty ... Again

development planning in south africa, Mushfeeqah croeser, the fumes emanating from the factory are harmless to the health of residents. the very same statement has been made by local health inspectors when questioned about the very same issue on the coast. one industry role player described it as the same kind of emission you get from cooking food or making stock at home.

speaking to the various industry role players, it is clear that the fishmeal industry is not what it used to be, and slowly but surely diminishing. But despite the previously mentioned fact, the complainants the paper

If It Smells Like Fish . . .

has spoken to all feel that these companies can surely do something about minimising the smell emitted from the factories during the fishmeal processing period. However, according to several industry insiders it is not just simply a case of installing scrubbers and filters, and a few thousand dollars later you have a system in place which eliminates the rotting fishy odour.

“It is not just a case of buying scrubbers and filters and installing them. It will cost millions,” stated richard ahrens, General Manager at united fishing enterprises (UFE), who currently produce fishmeal from their waste for about three to four months a year.

ahrens explained that if a company decided to make the investment, they would have to reconstruct the entire factory. it is an entire plant that needs to be replaced, and not just a section of it.

“a company will look at anything from N$20 to N$30 million, depending on the amount of the waste to be processed, to establish a plant that is both environmentally friendly and energy efficient.

“even if you do have a state of the art plant, you will not be able to completely eliminate the smell,” he said.

But all that aside, ahrens said that the fundamental point to understand is that the pelagic industry is not concentrated on producing fishmeal any longer, but rather on producing value added products.

“i think it is important to understand that the focus of the pelagic industry has altered and we are not in the business of making fishmeal anymore,” clarified ahrens, “we are in the business of value adding, and feel extremely passionate about utilising every piece of fish caught as a food resource, rather than converting the same to fishmeal.”

an ideal example is that of the recently launched canned horse mackerel products from both operators, which is testament that the industry’s top priority is value adding.

“the pelagic (pilchard) industry went through a period when the pilchard biomass was under severe pressure with no or very little pilchard tac (total allowable catch) being allocated to the pelagic sector. the fisheries Ministry did however allocate the historic industrial fish (horse mackerel) quota of 15 000 tons to the pelagic fishing association, which could be utilised to sustain the pelagic factories and secure employment,” ahrens explained.

“it needs to be reiterated that the majority of this traditional industrial fish quota is now being utilised for human consumption as opposed to being converted to fishmeal. It must be borne in mind that the pelagic industry has not yet received an industrial fish quota for 2014, thus minimising the total fishmeal production for the season considerably, due to less waste generated after value adding has been accounted for,” he continued.

united fishing are very passionate about value adding and providing food security, so much so that they developed four new products last year, and in the process minimised their fish meal production.

“It is just not financially viable to produce fishmeal as it requires five tons of fish to make one ton of fishmeal,” Ahrens said.

another industry insider (who wishes to remain anonymous) said that the ideal situation would be to have one mutual fishmeal plant, where all the fishing factories could send their waste, but to find investors for such an operation, considering where the industry is heading, proves to be a challenge. he also said that if authorities had to force these companies to do something about the smell by spending these millions, they would all close up shop overnight, leaving hundreds of people counting on these factories at the hands of mercy.

“It is just not worth it. There is no return on such a big investment,” he said.

despite the challenges, there seems to be some solutions, too. this comes after a visit to exigrade’s modern odourless fishmeal plant. According to Sarel du toit, Managing director for exigrade, all the bigger players in the industry are fully aware of the situation and the need for a smaller combined facility to process all the product waste to fishmeal in an odourless manner and with new technology.

It is, however, difficult for the two bigger operations to prevent the smell to the same extent for the following reasons: their facilities were built many years ago in the golden days when quotas allowed them to run more continuously and cost effective, current supply of material is a problem, small quotas do not allow them to start and stop facilities as always, older technology needs to be replaced but the economy does not allow it currently, and both factories as well as their management are well and professionally managed, but under pressure.

“the other smaller ones have no excuse,” du toit added.

exigrade on the other hand do not stink up the town due to the fact that both their plants here and in luderitz are combinations of new technology based on

“

“Even if you do have a state of the art plant, you will not be able to completely eliminate the smell.

steam drying and hot air drying processes, which is the main reason for odourless or lessening of bad smell, and secondary to that is the continuous processing of fresh material all the time combined with good and proper hygiene, du toit explained.

asking du toit what he thinks of the viewpoint that the fishmeal industry is dying, he said, “we must remember that the government want the fish caught for human consumption and not processed for animal feed, therefore the lack of dedicated quota for fishmeal. we all agree that food should be first priority; however, millions were invested in the fishmeal operations as well as their labour force. the fact that a substantial portion of all fish caught ends up as offal and the only value adding is fishmeal, i think factories will stay a reality.”

on the way forward, du toit said, “there is some good news for the town in regards to the smell and that is the fact that some preliminary discussions have already taken place and i foresee that the bigger players will find a solution shortly. I predict a positive outcome for all in the industry as well as for the people in town.”

“

“We must remember that the government want the fish caught for human consumption and not to be processed for animal feed and therefore the lack of dedicated quota for fishmeal.

Thursday, 29 May 20144 | News

NOTICE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENTPROCESS (EIA) OF THE PROPOSED NAMIBIA INTERNATIONAL

CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE: DESERT ROSEMixed Use Exclusive Development: The project will consist of residential,

recreational, institutional, commercial and public zonings in order to create a multi-layered network of activities supporting each other

CALL FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATIONSand Rose Investments (Pty) Ltd plans to develop an iconic structure for Namibia to contribute towards international architecture by developing the Desert Rose International Convention and Exhibition Centre, between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay.

Sand Rose Investments (Pty) Ltd has appointed National Environmental Health Consultants to conduct the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for above mentioned project.

The aim of the EIA is to identify key environmental issues associated with the construction, operation and occupation of the Proposed Namibia International Convention and Exhibition Centre: “Desert Rose”. In accordance with the Environmental Management Act (Act No. 7 of 2007), the 2012 Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations and within the framework of the Terms of Reference of this project all interested and affected parties need to be consulted to ensure that their concerns are taken into account for the following activity:

Description of proposed activity: Establishment of the Namibia International Convention and Exhibition Centre: Desert Rose. Mixed Use Exclusive Development: The project will consist of residential, recreational, institutional, commercial and public zonings in order to create a multi-layered network of activities supporting each other.

5. LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES:5.1 The rezoning of land from – (d) use for nature conservation or zoned open space to any other land use.

10. INFRASTRUCTURE:10.1 The construction of - (e) any structure below the high water mark of the sea; (g) communication networks including towers, telecommunication and marine telecommunication lines and cables;

Location: Erongo Region, Coastline between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay

Name of Proponent: Sand Rose Investments (Pty) Ltd

Name of Consultant: National Environmental Health Consultants P O Box 8416, SWAKOPMUND

Contact Person: Johan CornelissenTel: 064 404 146Fax No.: 064 404 179E-mail: info@nehc.co.za

Date of First Placement of Notice: 20th of May 2014.In order to be identified as an interested and / or affected party, please submit your name, interest in the project and contact information to the consultants above within 14 days of placement of this notice in writing.

Namport Strikes Back at Negligence Accusations

CEO Bisey Uirab (Left) and Thomas Jonas at Namport

Lavrenty Repin

Following what one journalist described as “media frenzy,” Namport held a press meeting to clear the air after allegations by storage company Native Holdings last week, claiming that the port stores dangerous goods in “non-compliant locations” and is unable to efficiently handle the demand.

Namport ceo Bisey uirab insisted that Namport vigorously follows both the international Maritime dangerous Goods code and Namibia’s laws in all instances. the process of landing or loading dangerous goods is first requested via a written submission, which is followed by an assessment by Namport. when risk is determined and requirements are met, approval is granted. class 7 (radioactive material), class 1 (explosives) and class 6.2 (infectious substances) may not be stored at the port.

“this means the cargo must be removed from our ports the same day that it is landed,” Mr uirab explained. the material must be escorted by police to its final destination.

Namport also denied any nuclear waste entering the port.

“as per our records, and since the inception of Namport in 1994, no nuclear waste or any other forms of radioactive goods have been landed at Namibian ports. the only exception is the export uranium oxide (yellow cake from the Namibian uranium Mines). due to the low radiation levels, this cargo is allowed a maximum of three days storage in the port before shipment.”

he emphasised that radiation readings are taken prior and post shipment and that in addition outside relevant Namibian authorities assess the goods. one weak point may be that ships need to physically declare their imports.

Mr uirab admitted: “obviously, if someone has mischievous agendas we cannot be held responsible.” he again maintained that all appropriate action is taken by the port and authorities to counter-fight contraband. “We scrutinise each shipment.”

Native holdings Managing Member Mr thomas Jonas denied accusing Namport of storing dangerous goods in non-

complaint locations, only a week after the allegations were first professed at a public meeting held by envirosolutions, coastal based environmentalists, and Native holdings, the storage company with high ambitions to build a storage facility for dangerous goods near Naraville.

“it doesn’t make sense for me to point fingers at a business partner,” Mr Jonas said. when confronted about the picture evidence (containers near Namport with “radioactive” stickers and a claim of dangerous goods storage in the desert) that were produced during last week’s presentation, Mr Jonas denied the account and said that the reporters were misinformed. he claimed to have no knowledge of the pictures.

“i did not present anything, the environmentalist did.”

while alan Jenneker, ceo of envirosolutions, said he did not want to be pulled into a “back-and-forth battle,” he explained that the pictures were sent to him by the company and that the presentation was compiled together with the company. The pictures, their significance and the contents of the containers depicted are yet to be clarified. Namport maintained that the allegations are false.

“Namport does not store any goods outside of the port. we follow the rules by the book,” were the firm words of Mr uirab. although offering support for the initiative once the company maintains approval from authorities and Ministries, Namport ceo stated that, “there are no business relations between Namport and Native holdings.”

despite the shift in attitude with regards to the walvis Bay port, Native holdings maintains that Namibia is still facing a problem of surplus of dangerous material, which includes other less regulated import, and the agriculture and mining business, according to the Namibian companies Managing Member.

alan Jenneker of envirosolutions agrees.

“if you look at the statistics, there are many dangerous goods in circulation in Namibia.”

however, all three parties ruled out nuclear waste as a potential problem in the country.

Thursday, 29 May 2014 | 5 News

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Forbidden Topic: Exploring the Influence of Religion in Domestic Violence

Lavrenty Repin

Throughout my personal research into the growing pandemic of domestic violence in Namibia, a topic I chose to approach after a surge in gender-based violence in our generally peaceful country, the themes that were most prominent were culture, belief and a lack of sense of responsibility.

it also became clear that generalising on the issue does significantly more harm than good, as each culture or community may have entirely opposite perceptions and attitudes towards this truly internationally criminal offence; according to the World health organisation 30% of women worldwide suffer from domestic abuse.

in Namibia, we have a complex diversity of people, who differ not only in their beliefs and practises but history, social backgrounds and heredities. however one aspect that ties most Namibian

people together, for better or for worse, is religion. it is in this context that a study titled “in God’s shadow: unveiling the hidden world of domestic violence victims in religious communities” aims to shed light on domestic violence victims of closely knit and conservative religious communities. it was published by Michal Gilad, a doctoral candidate at the university of pennsylvania law school, who holds a Masters in criminology, and a law degree.

it is imperative to outline that the intention of this article is not to criticise, denounce or belittle any belief, but rather to approach a grave and widespread problem with the attention it deserves. as the studies preface expresses: “…although many traditional religious practices may present particular challenges for women seeking to escape abuse, many victims draw great and invaluable strength from their faith and from individuals within their communities.”

according to the in-depth report, this particular group, facing a distinct set of barriers that affect their ability and willingness to report, escape the abuse and cooperate with law enforcement and prosecution agents.

the study found that, “…in families of strong faith, many of the patterns that are observed within mainstream culture are intensified: the fear, the vulnerability, the isolation. this trend stems from the fact that for religious women, these patterns are commonly and strongly reinforced by religious ideologies, cultural traditions, and conservative community norms – an element that modern law is yet to catch up with.”

an opening remark draws on the widespread postulation that “scriptures of most religions have been interpreted (or, many argue, misinterpreted) to justify spousal abuse and to support male authority and female submission, both in familial structures and in society,” which serves as evidence of centuries of individuals who misused sacred texts and religious beliefs to justify their actions. This form of “spiritual abuse” is the root of many domestic problems in religious households, the study argues. Misusing scriptures, beliefs and traditions to oppress or victimise “may deter reporting and cooperation with law enforcement and convince the victim to remain in the abusive relationship” and in some cases this kind of repressive attitude creates “a dynamic that blames the victims for their suffering.”

thus an atmosphere encouraging misogyny may be interpreted.

“scholars have found that many religious systems reserve leadership roles to males, have unequal membership status for males and females, limit female involvement in rituals, and hold beliefs that women are less connected to God.” this not only discourages an abused woman from reporting, but also emboldens

the man to continue unabated. Gender roles or role-divisions are

generally conservative in Namibia; in many cases a woman is still encouraged by many communities to stay home, take care of children, etc.

“this arrangement leaves women in roles that promote their economic dependence and often makes them subject to poverty on leaving the relationship, unlike their male partner. as a result, the ability to leave an abusive partner is significantly impeded for victims in these communities.” this is a contributing fact that has been documented in depth in Namibia (although often blamed on the broad state of poverty of our country rather than the core of gender discrimination). it was also found that abused women who hold more traditional beliefs about relationships are “more likely to justify their abuse, remain in the relationship, and allow their partner to control them.” More subtle religious and traditional customs may also play a role, because “…customary modest dress-codes are very effective in concealing the bruising and physical signs of violence and abuse.”

the promise to stay together permanently is a common discourse in most religious traditions.

“the sanctity of marriage conceptualises dissolution of the relationship or divorce, even in abusive situations, as an impossible or unacceptable option. a belief that she is unable to end her marriage if she wishes to maintain her faith can trap the victim in an abusive relationship.”

what is more, “…[through] absent awareness and sensitivity to these unique circumstances, law enforcement agents, prosecutors, and service providers may be extremely confused and misled by such reaction of a victim. the victim’s attitude could raise doubts regarding the truthfulness of the

complaint of abuse and adversely affect the assessment of the victim’s credibility.”

although “a close-knit religious community can become an oppressive agent and a monumental inhibiting barrier for victims of domestic abuse in such communities,” the very opposite is as true, whereas such communities provide immense support, encouragement and spiritual, if you will, healing.

“The confines of women-only networks within religious communities were found to be a particularly valuable source of informal social support for battered women and their children. the ability of the community to play a positive role highly depends on the level of awareness and sensitisation to the issue of domestic violence, and the approach of clergy and community leaders towards the issue.”

religious communities try to portray an atmosphere of peacefulness, thus clergies or community leaders may sweep issues such as domestic violence under the rug for the betterment of a community or belief; further distancing the victim from help. it may go as far as “communities, who attempt to suppress information regarding incidences of domestic violence, silence victims, deter reporting to secular authorities and law enforcement, and avoid referrals to secular expert service providers outside the community.”

this raises a greater concern since a number of studies have found religious leaders to be among the first persons to whom women report marital abuse.

due to the stigma attached to divorce, and the importance placed on marriage “till death do us part,” there is a common assumption that any marriage is better than no marriage at all and, therefore, should be maintained at any cost.

“some christian victims of domestic violence even believe that breaking their marriage vows is a greater sin than the abuse they receive.”

a great deal of research is needed to battle the gender-based violence in Namibia; some of it may seem uncomfortable to speak about, some of it is; but none of it is nearly as uncomfortable as allowing domestic violence to continue raging through our homes while ignoring obvious signs and neglecting the social barriers that create an environment where domestic violence can be rampant. we have to come to an understanding, which will lead to a more preventative solution.

Thursday, 29 May 20146 | News

Tenders are hereby invited for the Supply and delivery of one new skip loader truck to be used by the Section: Solid Waste within the Department Water, Waste & Environmental Management of the Municipality of Walvis Bay.

Tender documents are obtainable from the Cashiers at Civic Centre, Walvis Bay. Telephone +264 – 64 201 3236. Tender documents shall be issued against payment of N$287.50 (VAT included).

Tenders, completed and accompanied by all required supporting documents as described in the documents, must be delivered to the Tender Board on or before 11:00 on Friday 13 June 2014. For convenience, a Tender Box in the foyer of the Civic Centre should be used for the deposition of tenders.

Tenders will be opened by a committee of the Local Tender Board directly after closing of the tenders in the presence of tenderers’ representatives, who choose to attend, in the Oasis Conference Room at the Civic Centre, Walvis Bay.

Tenderers shall take note of the fact that the submission of the following documents with the completed tender will be to your advantage:(a) Certificate of Good standing issued by the Social Security Commission;(b) Business Registration Certificate;(c) Certificate of Good standing issued by the Receiver of Revenue in respect of Value Added Tax (VAT).

Further information can be obtained from the Forman: Solid Waste, Mr Peter Etsebeth at telephone 064 201 3375 during office hours.

MUNICIPALITY OF WALVIS BAYTENDER NOTICE 37/2014.

SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF ONE NEW SKIP LOADER TRUCK.

JAJ KRUGERSECRETARYLOCAL TENDER BOARD

Walvis Bay Above Sea Level?Siglinde de Villiers

Geologists have discovered that the earth's African plate is tilting, causing the west side of Africa to rise above sea level. Since Walvis Bay lies below sea level, the question arises as to whether it will rise fast enough so as to counteract the rise in sea level due to global warming.

according to recent media reports, the unrestrainable collapse of the west-

antarctic ice sheet will account for a sea water level rise of 4.6m worldwide. it is estimated that this complete breakdown of the antarctic ice sheet will take place in the next two hundred to a thousand years.

On the other hand, recent scientific studies have shown how the african plate is busy rolling over, allowing the west side of africa to rise in height. in addition, seismic activity on the sea floor along the Mid-atlantic ridge is widening the atlantic ocean.

along the northern crest of the Mid-atlantic ridge two tectonic plates are moving away from each other. as the plates separate, molten rock from the earth’s interior wells up and hardens as it comes into contact with the sea, forming new oceanic crust at the bottom of the ocean. according to geologists, this rift occurs at an average rate of 2.5cm per year.

the effects of the african plate rising on the west side will have phenomenal effects on its eastern boundary. contrary to popular opinion that the east side of africa will sink, it will actually tear apart.

“the pressure generated by the rise and widening of the atlantic

plate will cause cracks to appear in weak fault lines along earth’s crust,”said Nortin titus, chief Geophysicist at the Geological survey of Namibia.

according to titus, rivers and lakes are an indication of weak points in the earth’s crust.

“water always follows the path of least resistance,” titus said. “thus when looking at the Nile, we can follow its path all the way through to Zimbabwe. this is also how we know where the earth’s weak fault line runs. however, from Zimbabwe we are not sure if the fault line will continue straight through to port elizabeth in south africa or whether it will run westwards, through Botswana and Namibia,”

titus explained. in a few million years to come, this is where the african plate will tear apart to from two different continents.

“in terms of the earth's structure, its crust can be compared to the shell of an egg, and the tear will result in a massive earthquake,” titus elaborated.

“like water, the energy below the earth’s crust that shifts the plates around will follow the path of least resistance. if the energy finds it difficult to break through south africa but easier in Botswana and Namibia, then that’s where it will go,” titus mentioned. he further added that the Geological survey of Namibia plans on obtaining more seismic monitors in order to study any activity below the earth.

“the results can give us an indication as to where the earth's crust is more likely to tear,” he said.

the tilting of the african plate will be very slow, too slow for any humans to notice. the sea level rise is much faster, thus walvis Bay will remain below sea level in the next century to come.

Western Province and Bulls to play in Windhoek

on 28 May 2014 Namibia Breweries limited, fNB Namibia and the National rugby union announced that the dhl western province and vodacom Bulls would be playing in windhoek against Namibia on 14 June and 21 June 2014 at 14h00 and 16h00, respectively. this announcement was made at a media conference in windhoek this morning.

sybrand de Beer, ceo of the Nru said that these games would prepare the Namibian national team for the tour to Madagascar where they in turn would prepare for the Rugby World Cup 2015. Main sponsor NBL’s Ian stevenson, Manager sponsorships & events and Brand said the support of windhoek draught was threefold.

“firstly, windhoek draught brings friends together and this happens when rugby is played – both to the players and spectators. secondly, we salute the resurrection of Namibian rugby and hope that they will continue the great job as this is vitally important to Namibia and rugby in this country.” thirdly, stevenson added that a sports team could only perform and better itself when it was faced with a great opposition and this

was what western province and Blue Bulls would present.

dixon Norval, head of strategic Marketing and communications at fNB, said: “fNB Namibia is a great supporter of sport and sport development with a long term view. hence, while fNB sponsors premier league football, cricket and rugby clubs as part of our brand strategy, we also take a long term view and are, therefore, the funding partners for international development programs in the codes of tennis, cricket and rugby, including the very successful irB ‘Get-into-rugby’ program. let us also not forget the very popular fNB classic clashes that involves 42 senior secondary schools in the codes of football, rugby and netball and fNB’s support towards the Namibia rugby referee society (Nrrs).”

Norval added that fNB Namibia believed that the Nru had successfully rescued the code at national level after it went through a tough administrative period and that it is well on its way to full recovery.

“although fNB, as part of its policy, do not sponsor national teams, we acknowledge the value of national teams representing the country at world events, such as the rugby world cup.”

tickets are available from computicket at checkers and shoprite and online (also from Computicket) for N$50 for the open stands and N$150 on the main stand for the WP game and N$200 on the main stand for the Bulls game. the Nru thanked all partners involved and invited Namibians to join them on 14 and 21 June for unforgettable, family fun and sports days.

Thursday, 29 May 2014 | 7 News

Paying to Pee, A Pain in the A…?

Lavrenty Repin

Everyone’s willing to add their two cent’s worth when it comes to the “toilet payment” discussion, although many, it seems, are stingier when it comes to the actual facilities. And while toilet humour is detested by all, the opposing views that Namibians have towards this matter are no joke. We’ve spoken to local residents to see their take on payable toilets at most service station across the Erongo.

Number 1one side of the door claims that toilets are part of the attraction of the service

station. “Namibians have the tendency to try to

get the dollar where there is a buck to be made,” a walvis Bay resident explains. “it’s always been a highly competitive market, you’ve got shell, engine, the lot and what they’ve done in order to attract customers is; you used to just get petrol, then came convenient stores, then cafés, and throughout they’ve offered toilet facilities. they’ve set them up to attract the customer, none of the service had to be paid for besides what you purchased, and obviously the toilet was maintained.

“But now they have their clientele in place, and are set up in favourable locations; so customers, who’ve payed

N$700 to fill up, bought some food and drinks are now forced to pay so that they can get rid of the coffee they just bought!”

He argued that job creation, too, is a disputed fact.

“Yes, I believe it’s a full time job (janitor) as it always has been, I just think it’s not right for the station owner to fob it off onto the customers. and even at that she doesn’t know what she’ll get paid (the attendant in this hypothetical case is female). By electing to have these people sit there, the owner doesn’t even have to provide the most basic benefits…And that’s why I’m peed off.”

a swakopmund resident, who is an avid traveller, agrees with the sentiment.

“in Namibia we take after Big Brother, we set standards according to progressive countries – and being restricted from peeing is not progressive,” she claims. “the argument is that locals use the toilets and vandalise them, even if that is the fact in some towns, why should we pay for their negligence? don’t we spend enough on fuel as it is? a person who travels for, say, three hours in a car obviously needs to pee, he stops at a petrol station, which uses this opportunity to their advantage – basically, its extortion. restaurants and bars don’t charge because the customers are likely to use the bathroom, but the same goes for service stations, even if it isn’t as obvious.”

she even took a philosophical approach: “it is such a basic human condition that if you try to disturb or unbalance it, it will always be of a disadvantage.” she further believes this brings the status of Namibia down the drain.

the opposite door couldn’t disagree more, even if their bowel movement was riding on it.

Number 2a local resident believes in clean toilets over cheap toilers.

“By paying to pee, you keep the people that sleep there out, or those that take a dump on the sidewalk. Basically, you pay to keep it clean. if you go to a service station where people don’t pay for it, things are always broken, the leavers aren’t working – it is dirty and it always smells.

“it’s not like they’re asking ten bucks and at least you know that if

you pay two dollars you won’t pick up herpes off the seat. actually, you can sit on the toilet, you don’t have to hang over it!” she declares, clearly feeling pooped about the prospect of dirty toilets.

owner of engine service station in walvis Bay, Jannie theron, speaking to Namib independent, elicited to flush out the facts.

he explains that there is, “absolutely no legislation in terms of public facilities at petrol stations, it’s a facility made for customers and whether to allow public in is as much a management decision as whether to charge for it or not. But it becomes a hygiene nightmare in terms of control.”

he starts listing, “seats taken out, taps removed, sinks broken,” as just some of the problems that an unsupervised facility experiences.

“they’ve privatised the toilet facilities, it is not a profit thing, and they put people in that are making their earnings of the one or two dollars from the customers. i personally have not outsourced it, that concept works a lot better on stations that are on travel routes.”

he admits that there is a fair argument in terms of unfairness towards customers but in his view, “it does not necessarily attract your customers, but attracts the public, unfairly. paying two dollars is a guarantee that the place will be kept at standard. i can go pee in the bush, but what about my wife? it’s a service like any other.”

so what do you think? on the one hand, two dollars is a high price to pay when urine troubles but on the other, if the toilets are stolen, the police won’t have anything to go on… and neither will you.

Thursday, 29 May 20148 | News

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The Coastal Housekeepers’ Plight

Siglinde de Villiers

Recent complaints featured in the media underscore the daily battles of employers with their domestic workers in the intimate confinements of their own home. Alternatively, domestic workers have to endure injustice and low pay, forming part of the low graded workforce group.

the biggest issue raised in the media

regarding domestic workers is that of petty theft.

“I am constantly finding things missing. since i have three people working for me, i never know who it might be and the most frustrating part is that there is nothing much i can do about it,” a local resident in walvis Bay said despondently. the same sentiment was shared by many other employers at the coast. coastal residents also told of

cases where domestic workers were taking advantage of their employers as well as poor work performance on their part.

“if i want my money, i have to work,” a domestic worker at the coast lamented. “if i get sick, or even want some time off, i do not get paid.” “at work, i am being treated as if i am stupid, simply because i did not have the money to finish my school,” another housekeeper grieved. “it is a life sentence of struggling, injustice and no benefits,” she added sadly.

since many housekeepers come from a poor and dysfunctional background, they are completely overwhelmed when they find themselves in their employer’s homes.

“compared to what they know, our homes are like luxurious castles, and they do not have any idea where to begin or what to do,” Gillian van lingen, Manager of the haven, a training facility for housekeepers, explained. with limited resources to further their education, the cleft between rich and poor is deepened and many domestic workers use poverty to excuse for their actions. Needless to say, all these issues give rise to a clash between the rights of employers versus the rights of employees.

“education is the key,” van lingen said. “however, one has to train both employers and employees.”

Granted that a lot of complaints arise from unjust treatment, van lingen said that the haven aims at training employers to have a heart and understand how to deal with their housekeepers better.

“we want employers to know that the person is disadvantaged and vulnerable. they have to ask themselves, what is my role toward the less privileged and not act like a dictator,” van Lingen clarified. “Many of these women are quite intelligent, but never had access to the financial resources to pursue tertiary education,” she added.

according to van lingen, their idea is not to empower domestic workers to disrespect their employers but to communicate properly with them.

“we want it to be a mentor and worker relationship, where housekeepers realise that they not only have rights but also responsibilities, and in order for their rights to be heard, they need to become submissively assertive and fulfil their duties,” van Lingen explained.

another headache is that of theft. “we are working on a program

to prevent petty thieving where

we will involve the police to train housekeepers,” van lingen said.

domestic work as a source of income is shrinking, not only as a result of the financial strain on employers’ wallets, but also due to new regulations that will be implemented soon.

“once the government announces the minimum wage to be paid, many housekeepers will have less work because people simply cannot afford to employ them full time anymore,” van lingen explained. in the light of these changes, the haven is seeking innovative ways of alleviating poverty. “we teach our housekeepers skills, which they can use at home to generate an income, maybe even build up a small business for themselves,” van lingen said.

the haven encourages all employers to join the Employers of domestic workers of Namibia organisation (edwoNo), so that they can have a platform on which to voice their thoughts.

“instead of moaning about housekeepers, this is where employers who are not happy can list their complaints. edwoNo will take the complaints further and attempt to resolve the issues through positive action,” van lingen concluded.

Swakopmund Brace Yourself, A Storm Is Coming

Lavrenty Repin

Weather cannot be predicted; but that does not mean that we do not try. And boy, the predictions were all over the place this week in anticipation of today’s big storm, and although exaggeration is one of human’s most universal characteristics, some of the outlandish predictions might hold water, pun intended.

it is that time of the year again when the spring tide hits the oblivious tourist town and catches its local authorities, restaurants and sea-view houses unawares – but this year the excitement is two-fold. today between 11am and 4pm Mother atlantic is expected to fashion waves that average four metres in height. accompanied by brisk wind speeds of around 35km/h, individual waves can be expected to rise as much six or seven metres! what really sets this

year apart is the period between the individual waves (the amount of time it takes before the next arrives), which is high: between 16 and 19 seconds.

powerful swells are generated by distant storms and often travel the breadth of the largest oceans to reach the beach. they can refract considerably as they approach shallower water focusing their energy on the beach. to put into perspective the variance this makes, on wednesday, according to surf-forcest.com, each wave created, on average, 932 kilo joules (kJ) of energy. today however, at the same time, it is anticipated that 9219 kJ will be credited to each wave!

on tuesday, as i was researching the weather predictions, i was informed that a 5.1 magnitude earthquake was detected 30 000km outside Namibia, the largest in at least five years. Although this fuelled intriguing speculations,

especially following the “what if a tsunami hits walvis” simulation article last week, the earthquake and its ripple effect will fortunately have no significant effect on the storm, being just too far away from the coastline.

however, local residents predict that the storm will destroy the new waterfront jetty before it is even complete, while a prominent businessman believes that the Jetty restaurant will be swept away by the waves. watch for the la Mer development, too, and of course the spectacular wave show behind the Mole. please keep a safe distance and approach with caution. and let us see whose prediction comes out on top!

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TrENDS, TrENDS, TrENDS

FUrNITUrE! Five Fresh Trends

Page 9

BATHrOOMS Five Hot Trends

Page 11

Page 12

Continued on Page 10

Five Interesting INTErIOr DESIGN

Trends

29 M

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TrENDS, TrENDS, TrENDS

This month we look at the latest worldwide interior design trends

that are quickly becoming the mainstay trends of 2014

Five Fresh Furniture Trends for 2014Furniture is one of those things in the house that gains a lot of attention from guests. They are talking points, topics of communication, and as good communication is probably one of the most important skills in life, it’s good form to nurture it through the little things, like furniture talking points. Communication aside, the furniture which you choose will represent your personality, taste and even values.

1. Outdoor Furniture Indoorslug those deck chairs in from your garden and plonk them in your living room. i wouldn’t go this far but it’s pretty much the heart and essence of the trend. try to remain classy and do everything with a dash of sophistication so it looks like the chairs or tables are there purposefully, rather than the possibility that you’ve lost your mind or are using them as a temporary replacement. aged metals, glass, wicker and natural wood are popular options.

2. Glamourwe all appreciate a bit of over the top showiness every now and then, and it’s likely we’ll be seeing it more and more over the next few years as ‘glamour’ is in, big time. opt for opulent furniture that oozes with excess lavishness. try to create that ‘wow’ feeling in a guest's mind and let you’re extravagant side free. Glamour has been around for a long time, but it’s made the 2014 list as it’s one of the stronger growth trends in the furniture market.

3. Metallic Leatherlet your furniture bring a sparkle to your rooms in 2014 with metallic styled materials. while many furniture pieces can blend into the background of a room, by using striking silver and gold finishes your furniture will simply be calling out for attention to all who enter the room and will not be happy to be left unnoticed!

if the room is decorated in an under-stated manner then it is such confident chairs and sofas that will bring life and vibrancy to the room and are sure to leave a lasting impression on your guests.

Thursday, 29 May 201410 | INSIDE OU

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Five Fresh Furniture Trends4. Statement Dining TablesEnjoying a meal with friends and family is fine dining but why not make a statement to your family and friends at the same time with a unique dining room table. embellishing your dining room with a standout furniture piece is a trend we have seen in recent exhibitions.

this striking wooden dining table feels like it could be straight from a knight’s banqueting hall yet the light wood tones and contrasting white chairs make this a modern day statement of style and class that also shows your guests the importance of environmental natural furnishings.

5. Light Toned Woodsif you’ve read some of our other trend articles, you’ll have seen that light toned woods are popular all around the house in 2014, therefore it’s no surprise that they’re making a triumphant statement in the furniture market. we’re seeing high quality and durable light woods such as oak making a strong statement in the market. the great thing about this trend is that it’s difficult to go wrong, as natural is beautiful and light toned woods can be used to craft any type of furniture.

Thursday, 29 May 2014 | 11 Thursday, 29 May 2014 INSIDE OU

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Five Hot Bathroom TrendsSpa Like Escapesday spas and spa hotels are classic examples of escaping and recharging, a trend which has pierced the home improvement market. designers and architects are adding those places of escape within the home, including steam shower rooms, saunas, whirlpool baths and hot tubs into their designs in response to this need. take the gorgeous example below, which sports a sauna and steam shower combination unit; a perfect addition to an at home spa retreat.

custom Built open walk-in showersthe ultimate lapse of luxury, an open, custom built walk-in shower with a huge, plush monsoon-like overhead shower. where personal identity and individuality is a growing trend, so are its effects, which

can be seen across different vertical markets, not least the bathroom industry. where cash is not a problem, people are opting for custom solutions, spa inspired and often ostentatious walk-in showers. it’s a trend which has been around for a long time, and it’s one that’ll continue to grow in 2014.

Natural Materialsusing natural materials is a trend which you’ll see in every other sphere of the design world in 2014. Natural materials are generally timeless and will stand the test of time. if it’s a renovation, look to see if there are natural aged beams in the ceiling which have the potential to be uncovered and reconditioned with stain or a lovely beeswax.Natural isn’t wood exclusive, either. Natural

stone, slate and other earthy materials are all viable options, which means there is usually a natural option which’ll work for most designs. worn, rugged and spalted are the preferred choices, however as long as it’s natural, it’s likely to be in.

wet roomthis one has been around for a long time, but it has reached our list because even though it’s aged, it continues, year on year to be popular. it’s an expensive option, which means it has a limited reach, but with those with the capital to invest it’s a staple champion. the wet room designs themselves are obviously adapting to current trends, as can be seen through the somewhat monochrome example below.

slabs of Marble & onyxLarge natural slabs of marble & onyx; every slab unique, making no two bathrooms exactly the same. venetian marble wall prints are popular elsewhere in the house, as are these colourful slabs in the bathroom. the bigger the better, single pieces preferred, an entire wall claimed by natural beauty, which has been concealed for millions of years.

Thursday, 29 May 201412 | INSIDE OU

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Five Interesting Interior Design Trends1. A New Relationship Between Men and Interior Designsociety is changing and its “movements” have collateral effects on all aspects of life as we know it. in developed countries, men are known to spend a lot more time at home than in the past, helping out with children and housework, as a result of the proclaimed men-women equality. in 2013, interior design will thus begin to mirror male preferences like never before.

sober furniture details, less flashy

colours and functionality over “cuteness” are just some of the features expected in a home with male dominance.

2. Texture and Touchif people did not pay much attention in the past to how a furniture object feels when touching its surface, this is probably due to the fact that functionality used to be the main sought after characteristic in a household item. Now things are much different. people are in search for “touchable” textures, which inspire warmth and comfort as a way to engage and experience a proper home atmosphere. suede

and wood are two of the materials which will define the interior design world in 2014.

3. Stripes, stripes, stripesin 2014 social spaces will likely turn to design dynamics, in order to inspire vibrant living and energy. one of the simplest ways to achieve this effect is by employing stripes in an elegant manner. carpets, wallpapers, upholstery, graphic art- each of these elements can wear the distinct feature of movement as long as they are defined by… stripes.

Bold red and black & white patterns are the highlight of the design themes again, only this time associated with minimalist decor complements. the idea is to make things stand out, without compromising elegance or visual harmony.

4. Hand sketching and wall writinglately people have been coming up with some ideas on how to bring letters into your home. hand sketching and wall writing will be more and more popular this year, as graphic artists will start collaborating with interior designers in creating original wall imprints. imagine your favourite message elegantly written in the hallway or various letters adorning the ceiling. here is a nice example below:

5. Green walls, garden rooftopsGreen living will be a key factor in design and architecture this year. from mobile plant panels to framed plant screens with lighting effects, this idea can bring a fresh touch to any apartment or public space. this approach is not only healthy, but also original and elegant. the advantages of having such a green wall? Air cleaning, humidification, evaporation of the air and appreciations from visitors.

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Extraterrestrial Advertising

Largest Ever Dinosaur Bones Found in Patagonia

Prepare for a Pocari Sweat Advert on the lunar surface.

Japanese beverage maker Otsuka is sending a 1 kilogram titanium can filled with powdered sports drink and children's dreams to the moon. The specially designed canister, which contains a shipment of Otsuka's Pocari Sweat powder, will mark a disturbing new frontier for humanity: the first commercial product delivered to another world for marketing purposes.

the canister will be carried to the lunar surface aboard the first planned private moon-landing mission, set to take place in October 2015. Otsuka says it hopes that the stunt will inspire young people to become astronauts, so they can travel the 380,000 kilometres (236,121 miles) to our closest celestial neighbour, crack open the can, and consume the powder inside.

the capsule will be conveyed to the moon by the falcon 9 rocket. the falcon 9, designed to be a potentially reusable means of space travel by elon Musk's spaceX, has already made three successful supply runs to the international space station, but the planned mission in October 2015 would be the first time one of its rockets has successfully provided propulsion to the moon. after the falcon 9 rocket has ignited its second-stage boosters and completed a four-and-a-half day journey to the moon, the pocari sweat-branded canister will be deposited on the surface by private company Astrobotic Technology's "Griffin" lander.

pittsburgh-based astrobotic technology has more important reasons to be up on the moon than to leave a beverage can on its face. the company is angling to win Google's lunar X prize, a $20-million bounty for the first company to land a device on the moon that can both travel 500 meters on the surface and transmit high-definition pictures back to earth. astrobotic's deal with otsuka will provide them with funds to achieve this goal — the company reportedly charges upwards of half a million dollars for lunar delivery — but the mission to drop a can is somewhat ironic: astrobotic is a company that develops technologies for clearing space trash.

in addition to pocari sweat, the titanium capsule will contain the wishes of children from across asia, obtained from letters sent to the company and etched onto silver disks. The company says that when the project succeeds, pocari sweat, with its ambiguous citrus taste, will become the first beverage to reach the surface of the moon. the american makers of another powdered beverage, orange-flavoured breakfast drink Tang, may take issue with that claim. Nasa chose Tang to fly with its astronauts on a number of missions, but it's unclear if the powder ever actually made its way onto the lunar surface during the apollo missions.

Source: http://www.theverge.com/

The biggest dinosaurs known to man were terrifyingly huge, yet it seems they were mere bestial bagatelles compared with the behemoth whose remains were uncovered in Patagonia last Wednesday.

as yet unnamed, one of its thigh-bones is longer than most humans, leaving the NBa out of it. extrapolation from said thigh bone indicates that it was some 40-plus meters long. the as-yet unnamed behemoth evidently stood seven stories tall and weighed as much as 77 tons.

put otherwise, the thigh bone uncovered in argentina last week is the biggest bone ever found. Based on its size, this is the largest known animal to walk on the planet, the scientists behind the discovery, dr. Jose luis carballido and dr. diego pol told the BBc.

Just the week before, palaeontologists had unearthed a relatively titchy cousin of this towering titan, leinkupal laticauda, which was a mere nine meters in length (lie down on the floor, think of yourself multiplied by say six times and that's how long the midget was, head to tail tip). this smallest of the known diplodocids was also found in

argentina – as was the so-called "pinocchio-nosed" dinosaur found mere days before.

Based on interpretation of the size, and comparison with other diplodocids, scientists suspect the latest-found animal weighed about 77,000 kilos, or 77 tons. the t-rex, for comparison, is believed to have averaged some seven tons.

if we say the average human weight is (say) 70 kilos, this newly-found dino weighed as much as 1,100 people. with its neck (and rather small head) upright, say the scientists, it was around seven stories tall.

like the other diplodocids, though, it was a herbivore, the scientists say.

as said, the unnamed giant may well have been the biggest animal ever to walk the earth. the previous record had been held by another diplodocus-type dinosaur, the argentinosaurus, yes, also found in argentina. it is believed to have weighed some 7,000 kilos less.

enough about weight. the bone was spotted in 2011 by a local farmer. digging it out commenced in 2013, and uncovered several skeletons, thought to belong to seven dinosaurs. Beyond the leg

bits, the palaeontologists also uncovered vertebrae from torso and tail, and parts of the neck.

the diplodocids lived during the Jurassic period, about 90 million years ago. while misunderstandings about their anatomy led to assumptions that they had to live in swampy environments to support their terrific weight, later analysis of their possible standing positions put them back onto dry land. some believe they used their very long tails as whips to fend off predators.

By the way, the name "diplodocus," which applies to a whole family of dinosaurs, comes from the Greek for "double beam" and is based on their double-beamed chevron bones located on the underside of the tail. unhappily, other dinosaur families were later discovered to share that tail characteristic, but the name stuck.

No dinosaur remains as such have been discovered in israel, so far - with the exception of tracks found by the community of Beit Zayit, near Jerusalem.

Source: http://www.haaretz.com/life/science-medicine

Thursday, 29 May 2014 | 15

MoToRINGMotoring

A Wrangle of JeepsGareth Amos

Jeep drivers on the coast were treated to what would be an extreme off-road dune belt adventure for many a Jeep owner, courtesy of M&Z Motors (Coastal) and Namib Offroad.

the two coastal companies, it seems, set out to achieve two goals, namely to help Jeep owners to better understand the incredible capabilities of the vehicle in this terrain and to frighten the wits out of those that have not yet been privy to an all-out, all-fours assault on the immovable sand

giants that are our dune belt. as a novice to attempting the impossible in this area, i confess that after a few minutes, i was left wondering if the guys from Namib four by four had themselves not undergone one or two modifications, resulting in the loosing of a screw or two in their engine or at the very least having damaged something pretty serious in the on-board console.

Nevertheless, after half an hour or so into the madness, two things became self-evident. one, that these guys knew what they were doing and had definitely done much worse, and two, that i knew very

little about my Jeep wrangler other than the undisputable fact that it was white. with little encouragement and a lot of guidance, the nature of the beast under the bonnet became all too evident. after transcending impossibly steep dunes, leaving terra-frima on more than once occasion (only to come crashing down again), and facing certain annihilation as I hurtled down a crazy 85 degree decent I am left with one lasting impression from the weekend. My specific Jeep will die an unhappy death if it cannot play like this at least once a month.

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