George Orwell 1984 ... and far beyond

Has George Orwell's fiction depicted in his literary classic "1984" become reality?

The past months have shown clearly that citizens around the world do not know what really happens to their data, nor do they know any measurements the states take to surveil them. What long seemed to be unrealistic is now more than a threat.

   All of the advances in technology have helped us - as consumers worldwide -  tremendously, but the misuse of it all - in other words when put in the wrong hands of power -   also works towards the unveiling of our privacy, liberty, and the freedoms we supposedly enjoy in democracy.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/nsa-surveillance/ (general information about the NSA)

Latest revelations by whistleblower Edward Snowden make clear that Orwell's fictious ideas might have even been surpassed ... Therefore, read this article ...
http://venturebeat.com/2014/06/01/facial-recognition-software-is-the-future-of-mass-surveillance/

South Africa - Post Apartheid

Dear students,

  as we have dealt with different aspects of South Africa in the last weeks it's time to give you some videoclips at hand that will give you a better understanding of the happenings.

Link 1 will lead you directly to the documentary about the young free South African generation we watched in class: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elrWczhTZBk

Link 2 will lead you to a great short summary of South Africa's current challenges: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bva847mR4TQ

Link 3: Soweto revisited - very recommendable!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gJf0kOgYG0