“The Big Picture” is a news-in-photos section of the Boston Globe’s website, and this week’s feature is “Soccer in South Africa” with some awesome pics about the football fever that’s hitting this country. Most shots are amazing - and of course, the comments are rife with cries of portraying only the poorer, seedier side of life in South Africa (many of the shots are of little boys playing soccer without shoes and in tatty clothes). The pics are definitely worth a look at. And check out some of the wacky (and worthwhile!!) comments while you’re there:
Boston Globe: The Big Picture

At least it’s creating a stir, loads of comments, and lots of free publicity about South Africa’s hosting of the FIFA ™ 2010 World Cup next year.

I love the ones of Soccer City in Jo’burg:

South Africa’s new Soccer City Stadium is seen, under construction with the Johannesburg skyline in the background, on the outskirts of Soweto, South Africa on June 13, 2009. FIFA is concerned that some of the stadiums being built in South Africa for next year’s World Cup will remain idle afterward unless organizers take steps to guarantee future use. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell, files) #

An interior view of construction work at the Soccer City Stadium, on the outskirts Soweto, South Africa, Monday, June 15, 2009. (AP Photo/David Azia) #

But this one’s my favourite:

Children enjoy their soccer game the street near the Seisa Ramabodu Stadium on June 16, 2009 in Bloemfontein, South Africa. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) #

Just look at the joy on those faces!!!

Dunno who the photographer is - just received this by email - but what a stunning pic of Cape Town! So crisp & clear and awesome. For those who aren’t yet lucky enough to have visited this beautiful city, this photo clearly shows the Cape Flats to the left with the Durbanville hills in the background; in the foreground left: the Victoria & Albert (V&A) Waterfront, foreground centre: the magnificent new 2010 Green Point Stadium, with a view of the city centre just above it - and of course, the majestic Table Mountain in the background.

Thank you, photographer!! If you let me have your name, I’ll gladly acknowledge your details & links!

It’s a story that’s certainly hit the global headlines. As it’s sure to do when there’s a natural phenomenon that seems so brutal and so pointless. So tragic and so inexplicable.

Why on earth would 55 pilot whales beach themselves? It’s like something out of a Moony mass-suicide attempt? At least when humans behave like this, there’s usually a way to kind of understand it - like fanaticism or religious/cultural zealousness. But what of these beautiful, silent creatures of the deep? How can we possibly understand what drove them to do such a thing?

Photo courtesy of News24 reader: Lee Slabbert

And it’s quite amazing at how humans behave at such times. The caring volunteers who rushed out to help, spending hours in chilly waters (some even in their pyjamas) doing what they could to try and save the whales, even though their efforts were foiled again and again, with the whales just swimming outwards to beach themselves further up the coast.

And what of the poor authorities who had to take the grisly and unpopular decision to euthanase these whales with shotguns, being abused by crying and grief-stricken bystanders who couldn’t process this final act.

Word is that the autopsies should provide a hint of why these whales behaved like this. It’s not the first time whales have beached themselves in large numbers. It probably won’t be the last, for whatever reason and no matter how disturbing and puzzling it is.

But it will be an event long remembered by anyone who bore witness or was in involved in any way.

May they rest in peace.