To warn about bad weather can become illegal

If the ruling party in South Africa will get its way; then predictions about the weather in Africa / that are not approved by the state-run South African Weather Service - will become illegal. Meaning that if you warn somebody about an approaching storm that can sentence you to prison.

The proposal states that "it will be classified as a serious offense to issue warnings about bad weather or air pollution without written permission" from the South African Weather Service, the equivalent of SMHI. TV channel e-TV protest that they can not quickly warn about the storms. For example, if a city is hit by a tornado, the survivors will not be able to warn the neighboring town without committing a crime.

This law doesn't make it illegal for meteorologists to issue bad forecasts. It makes it illegal for meteorologists who doesn't work for the South African Weather Service to issue severe weather warnings.

If you want to read more;
http://dailymaverick.co.za/opinionis...ather-warnings
http://thedailywh.at/tag/south-africa/
http://jonathanturley.org/2012/01/21...casts-illegal/
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/0...ng-Not-so-fast

Link (swedish): http://www.svd.se/nyheter/utrikes/va...ig_6798031.svd


* Thoughts about this?

What I think about this? Well, my first thougth was:

 

http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/...png?1306264975

Now I want to read more about this. Anybody that have heard any updates?


---------- Post added at 07:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:32 PM ----------

Thinking about it; the title on this thread is misleading. Lol, please forgive me again. ~

So, disinformation from a single monopole is now mandatory.
On another story, I hear it's illegal here to load your trash in your car to throw it elsewhere; you get charged with running an illegal trash collecting service.

Don't be a criminal, the govt hates competition.

people should just get out of south africa i say. with all them lions and zebras and cheetas. buck all that shtuff.

Well, if this ever makes it out of Africa, the entire United Kingdom is screwed, what with our national love of complaining about the weather.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sataned

people should just get out of south africa i say. with all them lions and zebras and cheetas. buck all that shtuff.

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Nooooo way.... All of those diseases can stay there ;___; Far, far away..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ranshiin

Well, if this ever makes it out of Africa, the entire United Kingdom is screwed, what with our national love of complaining about the weather.

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Just imagine the horror and the panic in the streets... o__o

Africa isnt the only place with dumb laws. Infact, check out http://www.dumblaws.com/ and be prepared to :laugh:. Just click on a state or whatever to see the dumb laws that pertain.

SuXrys, havent watched it in a while but I used to get a kick out of Futurama. The professor rules lol. Dig the clone wars too :happy:

I always said South Africa fails and I stick by it.

You too, Australia! You're no different!

My guess is they're going for a North Korean policy with that law, making only good news go through.
That'd be the only logical reason I could see for that.

D:< Viva Freedom of speech! D:<

This is why my fiancé isn't the brightest. His South African-ness is too strong.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ranshiin

Well, if this ever makes it out of Africa, the entire United Kingdom is screwed, what with our national love of complaining about the weather.

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Agreed, and in regard to that quote, I thought it might appropriate to add this:

If any of you Brits are planning to go on holiday to South Africa:

Do NOT

under any circumstances

talk about the (crappy) WEATHER

at home!

Or you might just be mistaken for giving an illegal forcast.

Considering that South Africa is the most developed/advanced country on the African continent, I guess Africa will forever stay an uninhabitable place to me, (a fact about which I'm actually not complaining.)

http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/...ns/ihihihi.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sataned

people should just get out of south africa i say. with all them lions and zebras and cheetas. buck all that shtuff.

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Wait. How are zebras even dangerous?

OP: This is just ridiculous.

Interesting.... Trying to deter from false information by making it illegal for any to report any information. I understand they're supposed goal (4th link provided), and I agree that having multiple folks issuing their own warnings can be a bit too chaotic, thus is why only the Nation Weather Service does that in the U.S. (though others will report what the NWS as issued). But the idea of a blanketing law that's so vague as to be interpreted to anything is wrong. And you can always expect folks to utilize the full extent of the law to their own advantage.

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...LUa0OOsW8VILdN But I love trolling weather (wo)men...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ribbon

Wait. How are zebras even dangerous?

OP: This is just ridiculous.

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are you telling me if an angry zebra was coming at you all zebra crazy like you wouldnt be scared!? O_!

Well, right it's cool outside tonight, mildly cloudy with a nice north by northeast wind blowing at about 15 mph...no indication of rain for the rest of the week.
Attachment 58406
Uh-oh...I've done it now....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sataned

are you telling me if an angry zebra was coming at you all zebra crazy like you wouldnt be scared!? O_!

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I'm sure the zebra is more likely to run away at the sight of humans, then go into a rage and attack. Then again, I've never actually seen a wild zebra. xD