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Biography
of Jegnaw Lt. General Jagama Kello - as written by Ato Fikre Markos Desta
- is published in Ethiopia by Shama. The book entitled 'Yebegaw Mebreq'
documents the extraordinary life of this hero who - at one point - led
as many as 2500 freedom fighters during the Italian invasion. At the young
age of only 18, he led the Ethiopian patriot forces who liberated the
town of Woliso from the Italians.
  
The
three 'qnewoch' are taken from Negadras Tessema Eshete's classic book
'Semna Worku' (authored by Yidnekachew Tessema). Composed more than 50
years ago, these pieces seem to have a remarkable relevance in today's
Ethiopia. What are their meanings? Answers to Spotlight.
 Unlike
its thriving neighboring city in the north, Gondar - the seat of 44 churches
and a capital of illustrious kings like Fasiledes and Bakaffa - this town
further south seems to have been forgotten by History. However, it was
once the capital of the legendary Emperor Theodros who shunned Gondar
for most of his rule. The town has also seen more than its share of battles
such as between Ras Ali II and Dejach Wube, Birru Aligaz and Dejach Wube
as well as the recent civil war between the Dergue and EPRDF. What
is the name of this town 50 kilometers from the shores of Lake Tana?
Answers
to Spotlight.
 Perhaps,
one of the most ambitious developmental plans in Ethiopia's History, the
original Tana Beles project was launched in 1987. Salini Construction
company and Studio Pietrangeli who had worked on projects such as the
Legedadi dam and now Gilgel Gibe I, II and III were tasked to build an
agro-industrial complex complete with a new airport, hospital, and residential
units to as many as 45,000 settlers. The original project was abandoned
when EPRP kidnapped some of the Italian engineers in 1987. Now re-launched
as part of the Tana Beles dam project, the integrated project is planned
to provide irrigation water for thousands of hectares of land. Which specific
part of Ethiopia is this project located and what is the name of the indigenous
people who inhabit this area? Answers
to Spotlight.
 Born
in 1926 in Ankober-Shoa, he is, perhaps, among the most seasoned and consummate
professionals in the Ethiopian civil service with most of his career spent
in the banking sector. Imprisoned by the brutal Dergue between 1976-1981,
he recently wrote two outstanding books; one a prison diary and the other
a treatise on the tumultuous years of 20th century Ethiopia. An entry
on his book "A Tripping Stone" reads "...I was allowed
to see my family members at the office for a brief moment today, in the
presence of the prison staff. Mother, my cousins Woinshet Habte Michael,
and Assegedetch Mamo and Maaza came. For a moment we were speechless taking
in our physical appearance to see how much we had all changed." Who
is this extraordinary person, the country and its people are yet to honor
with the distinction he and his family deserve? Answers
to Spotlight.
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|
 Ethiopian
engineers release an exhaustive report on the continued structural problem
with the Gilgel Gibe II tunnel and suggest engineering as well as project
management fixes to get the project moving. The report outlines what the
engineers called "key fundamental and consequential flaws that have
resulted in repeated failures". Complete
report. March 2010.
 ELECTION
2010 - MediaETHIOPIA's
Guide.
 'Therefore,
in the absence of input from these trained economists, one is left to
wonder whether it is the influx
of Chinese capital and labor, or remittance from the Diaspora, or money
that PM Meles brings from World Bank, EU, the US, and IMF, or investment
from groups ranging from the Saudi king to the Nigeran former dictator
Obasanjo that drive this economy', muses MediaETHIOPIA's photoessay team.
Read our latest photo essay on the
Chinese and Indian presence in Ethiopia.
 T
o see how ordinary Ethiopians are coping with the recent devaluation of
the Birr and the continued inflation, we talked to a number of people
in Addis Ababa varying from university students to company managers. In
their own words, here is what they said. Photo
Essay here. September 21, 09.
 W
hat do people in Addis Ababa say about the continuing power rationing?
We recently hit the road and talked to a number of ordinary Addis Ababans
to gauge the feeling on the street. Their answers (in their own words)
follow. Photo
Essay here. September 12, 09.
'The country is deprived of a rare inspiring and empowering young female leader. Thus, it is not only the three generations of the Birtukan family that areimprisoned; but Ethiopia as a whole is also held as a hostage by the fiendish Meles/TPLF regime. By any measure, this is a crime against humanity. And, where is the outrage by humanity?' asks Professor Negussay Ayele writing on the continued solitary confinement of Ethiopia's leading prisoner of conscience, Judge Birtukan Mideksa. Article here. June 7, 2009. In a timely article, Professor Negussay discusses how Ethiopia came to being occupied by Meles' TPLF and Issayas' EPLF in the past 17 years. Professor Negussay Ayele, a long time contributor to Ethiopians.com, traces the roots of these two groups and their continued undermining of the Ethiopian state. He further investiagtes the role of the Ethiopian military implosion under Col. Mengistu as a major contributor towards the military occupation of Ethiopia by these two entities. Article here. August 12, 2008. 
"Maybe,
it is the realization of this fact by the current government and its race
against time or else the confluence of multitude of dramatic historical
forces arrayed to have a say in the country's future, that the most significant
and least understood event in the country today is the expansion of higher
education." write our Photo Essay Team as we prepare for the Ethiopian
Millenium. Photo
Essay here. September 2, 07.
 "How
would Nelson Mandela have dealt with the Shimagles? asks Professor Solomon
Terfa challenging the Shimagles who negotiated with Meles for the release
of the Kinijit leadership. Article
here. August 8, 2007.
Response to Ato Ephrem Madebo - August 07. Pofessor Solomon writes about the issues of sovereignty and democracy (November 2007).  "...We
all know that Meles takes a personal interest in Internet. For example,
broadband is down after 10:00 PM as the Prime Minister surfs the Internet,
posting articles (with weird pen names like Kebede, Mengew, etc), doing
his doctoral research, and chatting with Jeffrey Sachs at Columbia on
Google Talk. The bald man is not happy that the Tech Park will gobble
up boardband 24/7,"
comments a member of our Photo Essay team in an uncensored piece explaining
why the long rumored Technology Park still remains illusive. Photo
Essay here. May 10, 07. More Photoessay Click here. |
