South African newspapers this week revealed worsening poverty statistics (more than half the population is under the poverty line). Parliamentary reporter Marianne Merten calls it "the slow but certain resurgence of stark poverty". I have seen it. I have spent nights in the middle of it. Emaciated adults walk slowly up dusty streets in silence. Emaciated dogs sniff everywhere. Malnourished children stand and stare. I spoke to an activist in one such township. She said people attended community meetings, but they were apathetic, and silent -- they were beyond participation. OBSERVATION: I don't see photos of what I see, on the Internet. Why not? Next time, I shall see if I can take some.
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