Mitten in Zentralamerika liegt Costa Rica – eingerahmt von der Karibik im Osten, dem Pazifik im Westen, Nicaragua im Norden und Panama im Süden. Das Land ist international bekannt für seine beeindruckende Biodiversität, einen stark geförderten Ökotourismus sowie seinen hohen Anteil erneuerbarer Energien an der Energieversorgung. Darüber hinaus gilt Costa Rica oft als sicherer Hafen in einer von Krisen geprägten Region – unter anderem aufgrund einer langen demokratischen Tradition, der Abschaffung des Militärs im Jahr 1949 und des Beitritts zur OECD im Jahr 2021.

The Kruger National Park is one of Africa's largest and most renowned game reserves, spanning nearly 20,000 square kilometers in northeastern South Africa. Established in 1926, it is home to an extraordinary variety of wildlife, including hundreas of bird species, as well as the Big Five: lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffalo. The park plays a critical role in protecting endangered species, while supporting vital ecosystems. At the same time, wildlife conservation in South Africa faces significant challenges, including habitat loss, poaching, and climate change.

In this episode, together with John Dyer we delve into his insights on wildlife conservation from a local, continental, and global perspective. Dyer is the founder and patron of the Ajubatus Foundation, a leading organization dedicated to wildlife conservation and the protection of endangered species. With a career spanning decades, he also spent 11 years as Chairman of Ulusaba Game Reserve, championing the preservation of Africa’s unique natural heritage.

Related sources and contacts (last accessed November 2024)

Ajubatus Foundation
https://www.ajubatus.co.za
Sean@ajubatus.com

Conservation in South Africa
https://www.britannica.com/place/South-Africa/Conservation

Kruger National Park
https://www.sahistory.org.za/place/kruger-national-park

With a youth unemployment rate reaching more than 45% in the first quarter of 2024, South Africa faces a significant challenge: young people are disproportionately affected compared to the national average of 30-35%. Despite the Department of Employment and Labour’s recent establishment of a National Minimum Wage of R27.58 per hour effective from March 2024, many workers remain in precarious jobs, often without social security or stable working conditions.

In this episode, we explore the complex landscape of workers' rights in South Africa with Dr. Mosa Phadi, an expert on state formation, Blackness, and class dynamics. Dr. Phadi, a researcher at the Public Affairs Research Institute and accomplished author of numerous articles and book chapters, shares her insights into the lived experiences of South African workers, unpacking the intersection of labor rights, socioeconomic instability, and the fight for fair treatment in the workplace.

Related statistics and sources (last accessed November 2024)

Unemployment rates
https://www.statssa.gov.za/?p=17266

Minimum wage
https://www.ccma.org.za/labourlaws/new-minimum-wage-and-maximum-threshold/#:~:text=The%20Department%20of%20Employment%20and,with%20effect%201%20March%202024.

History of migrant labor in South Africa
https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/history-migrant-labour-south-africa

Timeline of the Marikana Massacre
https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/timeline-marikana-massacre-2012-2013

Labor relations and trade unions in South Africa
https://www.gov.za/links/labour-relations-0

Precious working conditions in South Africa
https://marxistsociology.org/2022/09/reorganizing-the-core-precarity-organizing-and-the-labour-process-in-south-african-manufacturing/