David Barnard's blog

Friday, 7 October 2011

Friday 7 October, 2011 - 0:00

Greetings from Camp 6 ("Petanque") at the end of stage 5 ("Tethis Ocean March") of the 2011 Sahara Race.

What started at 07h00 on Thursday morning ended this morning at 07h00 - 24 hours later - when I crossed the finishing line after running 86.4km.

With only a 2km "celebratory run" left for Saturday morning, I have officially completed the Sahara Race. What an amazing experience. Words can't describe the toughness of the race, the extreme conditions but also the beauty of this unique landscape.

Tuesday, 4 October 2011

Wednesday 5 October, 2011 - 9:41

Welcome to Camp 4 at the end of the third leg (official name Sea of Sand)..

Before commenting on today's run I just want to say happy birthday to my fantastc wife Dalene. I am thinking of you and the boys every step of the way. Miss you lots!

Today's leg covered 42.k km and it took me 8h00 to finish it.

Monday, 3 October 2011 (16h00 local time)

Monday 3 October, 2011 - 0:00

Greetings from Camp 3 ("Sea of Sand") at the end of the second leg of the 2011 Sahara Race.

I completed today's distance of 41.6 km in 7h08, 26th position overall for the day.

There is just one way to describe today's course (official name - "Through the Sand Valley") - brutal - in terms of loose sand and the heat (at least 40 degrees, but to be officially confirmed later today).

Greetings from Camp 2 in the Sahara Desert

Sunday 2 October, 2011 - 0:00

The big day finally arrived this morning. At 07h00 we set off on the 37km first leg of the 2011 Sahara Race.

I am very pleased to report that I finished today's leg in 5h15 in 28th position overall. But it was tough, very tough. The heat and soft sand were much tougher than I ever expected. And the landscape is just amazing, oftern there is nothing, really nothing other than kms of flat sandy areas, then a few beautiful sand dunes spiced up the landsacape, before returning to flat, soft sandy areas.

Southern African Internet Governance Forum - Call for Expression of Interest

Monday 25 July, 2011 - 13:34

The Association for Progressive Communications (APC), NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NEPAD Agency) and Southern African NGO Network (SANGONeT) will convene a Southern African Internet Governance Forum (SAIGF) from 1-3 September 2011 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Stop the Secrecy Bill - Support the Right2Know Campaign

Tuesday 7 June, 2011 - 18:33

The Right2Know Campaign (R2K) is a nation-wide coalition of people and organisations opposed to the Protection of Information Bill - also known as the Secrecy Bill - currently before the South African parliament. The Bill will threaten hard-won constitutional rights including access to information and freedom of expression.  

R2K believes a responsive and accountable democracy able to meet the basic needs of our people is built on transparency and the free flow of information.

SANGONeT ICT4RD Conference 2011 - “Rural Realities, Real Solutions”

Wednesday 27 April, 2011 - 19:32

Over three quarters of the world's poor live in rural areas. They often lack economic opportunities, have difficulty accessing basic services, have limited voice in governance and remain extremely vulnerable to shocks.

How can development practice and approaches address these issues within the current financial constraints facing national budgets and donor funding? What are the new, innovative - and more cost effective - solutions and applications available to respond to rural development challenges in Africa and other parts of the developing world in a meaningful manner?

SANGONeT Development Calendar 2011 - Collect or Order Your Copy

Tuesday 1 March, 2011 - 17:09

The Southern African NGO Network (SANGONeT) has once again produced an annual Development Calendar in the form of a year planner.

The 2011 SANGONeT Development Calendar covers a comprehensive list of international, African and South African dates of significance to people and organisations involved in development and civil society issues in Southern Africa.

Copies of the calendar are available for collection from the SANGONeT office in Braamfontein, free of charge.

SANGONeT's physical address is as follows:

National Budget 2011/2 - Special Edition of NGO Pulse

Thursday 17 February, 2011 - 1:52

(View comments by various South African NGOs in response to 2011/12 National Budget - http://www.ngopulse.org/group/budget2011)

State of the Nation Address 2011: What are your Expectations?

Monday 31 January, 2011 - 12:34

President Jacob Zuma will deliver the 2011 State of the Nation Address to a joint sitting of Parliament (the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces) on Thursday, 10 February 2011 (19h00) in Cape Town.

The State of the Nation Address serves as the official opening of Parliament for 2011.

Members of Parliament with debate the State of the Nation Address on 15 & 16 February 2011, followed by the President's official reply on 17 February 2011.