Enset

How the US lost on iWork

2012-01-25T22:32:00.000-05:00

A fascinating look at how the US lost on iPhone work from the New York Times.

When Barack Obama joined Silicon Valley’s top luminaries for dinner in California last February, each guest was asked to come with a question for the president.

But as Steven P. Jobs of Apple spoke, President Obama interrupted with an inquiry of his own: what would it take to make iPhones in the United States?

Not long ago, Apple boasted that its products were made in America. Today, few are. Almost all of the 70 million iPhones, 30 million iPads and 59 million other products Apple sold last year were manufactured overseas.

Why can’t that work come home? Mr. Obama asked.

Mr. Jobs’s reply was unambiguous. “Those jobs aren’t coming back,” he said, according to another dinner guest.

...

Apple executives say that going overseas, at this point, is their only option. One former executive described how the company relied upon a Chinese factory to revamp iPhone manufacturing just weeks before the device was due on shelves. Apple had redesigned the iPhone’s screen at the last minute, forcing an assembly line overhaul. New screens began arriving at the plant near midnight.

A foreman immediately roused 8,000 workers inside the company’s dormitories, according to the executive. Each employee was given a biscuit and a cup of tea, guided to a workstation and within half an hour started a 12-hour shift fitting glass screens into beveled frames. Within 96 hours, the plant was producing over 10,000 iPhones a day.

“The speed and flexibility is breathtaking,” the executive said. “There’s no American plant that can match that.”

Student Protest in Hossana

2012-01-13T22:11:00.000-05:00

VOA reported students protested in Ethiopia over the last week. Muslim high school students in Addis Ababa protested the removal of their Imam and other perceived government interferences in their education. College students in Nekemte protested over poor cafeteria food conditions. Meanwhile, post-college students in Hossana also protested. But why?

It was reported that 429 recent college graduates in Hadiya zone got together in Hossana, the regional capital, to petition the regional administration for jobs. The students elected their representatives and went to the government office to discuss their petition. When the student representatives remained in the office for a long time, the students outside suspected foul play and started asking for their representative to come out. The police, however, responded by beating the students and shooting at them. That is when the petition turned into a protest.

These job-seeking college graduates should be given credit for being proactive in their job search, but I am baffled as to why they thought it was worth their time to petition the Hadiya zonal government for jobs. Don't they know that regional governments at the zonal level in Ethiopia have no authority to tax and, therefore, no real power to create jobs? Regardless, the fact that they had the temerity to organize themselves to petition at a time when such activities are not tolerated, as was clearly evidenced by the way they were treated, is in itself a pleasant surprise!

Santorum makes a lot of sense!

2012-01-09T22:01:00.000-05:00

The Left in the US has been trying to make a mountain out of a molehill on this issue (see the video) for quite sometime. If you ask me, this is just one more sign of a society that is fast loosing its priorities. A tyranny of the minority is not the antidote for a tyranny of the majority! In this case, the people who advocate for this issue are a minority and will always be a minority in this republic.

Europe at the Brink

2012-01-03T21:54:00.000-05:00

A WSJ Documentary - Wall Street Journal editors and reporters examine the origins of Europe's debt crisis and why it spread with such ferocity to engulf much of the continent and threaten the entire world.

"Of all people, why Aman?"

2011-12-29T11:12:00.000-05:00

This was a quote from a taxi driver by the Associated Press after the execution of Aman Andom and other officials of the Haile Selassie government in the last week of November 1974. I am glad I was not old enough to understand the barbarism that ravaged Ethiopia in the mid 70s. My heart cries out for Aman, the other officials who were executed with him in that fateful week and all the rest (both Ethiopian and Eritrean) whose lives were brutally cut short in the aftermath of that killing orgy.

Merry _________ !

2011-12-21T23:54:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas!

Durban Blues

2011-12-07T22:03:00.001-05:00

Two years ago in Copenhagen, Denmark these same beggars and climate change alarmists were almost successful in their attempt to extort a 100 billion dollars a year, to paraphrase Rep. Ron Paul, from the poor people in the rich nations and give it to the rich people in the poor nations. They failed then, but they did not give up. They kept trying at it in Cancun, Mexico last year and in Durban, South Africa again this year. It looks like they are now resigned to the fact that their extortion scheme will not work. Ah, the sweet smell of reality!

How Ethiopians felt in 2007

2011-11-27T20:07:00.000-05:00

The World Values Survey offers an interesting snapshot on how Ethiopians felt on various social and political issues in 2007. It confirms the view of many that the current government is deeply unpopular and that Ethiopia is a deeply conservative society in many ways. In 2007, Ethiopia was a place where about 7 in 10 of its citizens did not have confidence in the justice system. Less than 4 out of 10 people felt the same way in Ghana. The table below shows how confident Ethiopians felt about their government as compared to Ghanians:


Selected countries/samples: Ethiopía [2007], Ghana [2007]
		Country
Weight		Ghana	Ethiopia
Confidence: The Government	A great deal	29.70%	7.90%
	Quite a lot	41.60%	18.50%
	Not very much	22.50%	48.10%
	None at all	6.20%	25.50%
	Total	1522 (100%)	1360 (100%)

Source: Values Surveys Databank

It looks like the survey was done in Addis Ababa and, as such, it probably is not a representative sample for the whole country. Nevertheless, I found it to be very informative and I hope you do, too.

Kismaayo or bust!

2011-11-22T22:22:00.000-05:00

Kenya thinks it has learned from Ethiopia's Somalia mis-adventure of 2007-2009. Good luck!

Using game theory to predict Ethiopia's future government

2011-11-18T22:30:00.000-05:00

Using game theory, a mathematical approach used to studying strategic interactions, the guy in this video correctly predicted in 2008 that Iran will not develop weapons-grade nuclear capability in two years time. Have you wondered if game theory can be used to predict whether or not there will be a new government in Ethiopia, say, in two years time? Perhaps Ethiopians should consult with this guy to calculate the chances.

Europe and China

2011-11-07T21:10:00.000-05:00

The BBC has an insightful article by Ian Morris, a Stanford University historian, on the reversal of roles between Europe and China in the past century.

In October 1911, China rose up in revolution. Four months later the last emperor had fallen and European moneymen were flocking to Beijing, eager to finance the bankrupt new republic.

In October 2011, another European moneyman headed for Beijing. But Klaus Regling, head of the European Financial Stability Facility, did not go there to lend to China. He was there to borrow, asking China to save Europe from economic disaster.

Morris ends his article by suggesting that Europe should avoid the mistake the Chinese made a century ago by not taking loans from China to finance its debts. But the most revealing part of his article was a quote from Jin Liqun, the supervising chairman of China's sovereign wealth fund. He quotes Liqun as saying:

"If you look at the troubles which happened in European countries, this is purely because of the accumulated troubles of the worn out welfare society... The labour laws induce sloth, indolence, rather than hard working."

Now, if this is not a wake up call for Europe, I do not know what is. I just hope that America will learn from the mistakes of the Europeans and move quickly to downsize the welfare state!

Simply Sowell

2011-11-06T23:00:00.000-05:00

Thomas Sowell on the 2009 stimulus that was supposed to have created or "saved" 3 million jobs. We need a heavy dose of Thomas Sowell and economists like him in times like these.

Kiira EV

2011-11-04T20:27:00.000-04:00

It seems this electric vehicle is a covered up golf cart with some additions, but it is a good start nonetheless...

Quantum levitation

2011-10-28T20:30:00.000-04:00

Superconductivity. Quantum physics. Fascinating stuff, eh. Here is the physics behind this phenomenon.

My new Ethiopian flag

2011-10-23T20:54:00.000-04:00

The Ethiopian flag is boring and badly needs a remake. Not only the flag is boring, the color combination is hideous. That is why I do not adorn this blog with the green, yellow and red tricolors. I have a feeling there will be a new Ethiopian flag in the not too distant future. So, let me get a head start with my suggestion for a new Ethiopian flag. There is no concept behind the design. The color choices are simply based on the colors for the banner of this blog. The bull's eye in the middle (with the dreaded tricolor) is meant to signify a connection to the past. There you have it. Did I mention that the Ethiopian flag is boring?

Why is the US sending its troops to Uganda now?

2011-10-21T21:54:00.000-04:00

President Obama announced last week that he is sending "a small number of combat-equipped US forces to deploy to central Africa to provide assistance to regional forces that are working toward the removal of Joseph Kony from the battlefield." His statement said the decision to send troops will further US national security interests and has the blessing of Congress.

Well, fine. But why send the troops now? The law the President sited was passed by Congress on May 24, 2010, and it required that the President submit a strategy to deal with the so-called Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) to Congress "not later that 180 days after the enactment" of the law. The President took 508 days to inform Congress of his strategy. It is understood that the Executive branch of the US government usually wants to keep the Legislative branch at bay when it comes to foreign policy matters. But this dynamics doesn't seems to explain why it took so long, since this particular law was not controversial and had strong bipartisan support.

The LRA has been terrorizing villagers in northern Uganda and neighboring countries for more than two decades. Sure, LRA is a menace that must be confronted. But the current dictator of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, is just as much to blame for the rise and continued existence of the LRA as the LRA itself. Museveni, who came to power using the barrel of the gun, has been in power since 1986. He has used his guns liberally to stay in power and to also project his power in the central African region.

So, why did this conflict, ugly as it is, suddenly rise to to the level of affecting US national security interests after all these years of killings? Could it be because of Uganda's newly found oil wealth? That is my strong suspicion. If that is the case, then the Obama Administration should stop the pretense and clearly state the connection. Yes, indeed, securing oil fields is in the interest of US national security and that is not something the US should be shy about.

The humanitarian side of this conflict is a genuine one, and the US government and many NGOs have already been making an effort to solve the conflict. However, I don't think the humanitarian side of the conflict by itself warrants the involvement of US troops. A much better approach to protect US national security in the region would have been for the US to pressure the long standing dictator of Uganda to step down.

Write in C - A tribute to Dennis Ritchie

2011-10-13T11:20:00.002-04:00

A Nobel prize for economics worthy of your attention

2011-10-11T10:56:00.000-04:00

Ethiopia: The 4th Largest Slave Exporting Country

2011-10-08T10:55:00.000-04:00

Yes, you read it correctly. Ethiopia was the 4th largest exporter of slaves from Africa in the 500 years between 1400 and 1900, and that's considered a conservative estimate. According to a research paper titled "The Long-Term Effects of Africa's Slave Trades" written in 2008 by Nathan Nunn, a Harvard University professor, nearly one and a half million Ethiopians, 1,447,455 to be exact, were sold into slavery and exported. Only Angola, Nigeria and Ghana in Africa had exported more. Just about all Ethiopian slaves were taken to Egypt and areas under the control of the Ottoman Empire.

Nunn's paper explores whether or not there is a causal relationship between the level of economic performance by contemporary African countries and the level of slavery that took place in those countries. His study shows that there is, indeed, an adverse correlation (see the graph below). His data for the paper comes mainly from Ralph Austen's work which you can find here. I think Nunn is on to something important and his observations should be given due attention.

I ran into Nunn's paper while searching the internet for slavery in Ethiopia after reading the story of Bisho Jarsa (picture below) a few weeks ago on BBC online. In that story the BBC relates Bisho's journey which began in 1887 when she was sold into slavery for a pittance of grain. Lucky for her, she was rescued by the British navy on the waters of the Red Sea where she was being taken by Arab slave traders to Jeddah in the Arabian peninsula. The British took her to Aden in Yemen where they handed her over to be taken care of by missionaries of the Scottish Free Church. She eventually ended up and made a life for herself in South Africa.

Bisho could have been my great-grandmother. Maybe yours, too. Bisho was lucky. Millions of others weren't. The story of the one and a half million Ethiopians who were sold into slavery between the years 1400 and 1900 is just a small portion of that sad and ugly legacy of our ancestors. Some of our ancestors, mine for sure, owned slaves while others, like the Jabartis, specialized in the slave trade. They were not, however, alone in this ugly legacy. Slavery is hardly a unique phenomenon to Ethiopia or Africa. It is a curse on the whole of humanity.

My online search for slavery in Ethiopia suggests that it has not gotten the kind of attention that it deserves from scholars. For example, I can't find a single book which is dedicated to the topic of slavery in Ethiopia. It may be out there but I have not yet found it. There are plenty of references available though, Richard Pankhurst's works being a good example. Another scholar that I found who had attempted to give an in-depth look to the issue of slavery in Ethiopia is Teshale Tibebu, a professor at Temple University. In his book, "The Making of Modern Ethiopia: 1896-1974," Tibebu devotes a whole chapter to the topic which is worthwhile your reading time.

I am Eskinder Nega

2011-09-30T20:28:00.000-04:00

I am Eskinder Nega. I am not one person. I am eighty million strong. I will let one of my voices speak for me because today I am locked up in Makelawi prison. Those who are in power in Ethiopia have tried to silence my voice. They want to shut me up by locking me up. They don't want me to be heard. They are afraid of the truth I speak out. They think by putting me in solitary confinement they will destroy my hopes and dreams. As you can see, that is an impossible task. I am but a reflection of my people.

I am the echo of their voice. I am a proud father. I am a husband. I am a friend. I am a journalist. I am not now nor have I ever been a terrorist; but I am now and have on previous occasions been a victim of state terrorism and victim of a judicial system that works only for its creators.

I am Youcef Nadarkhani

2011-09-30T20:00:00.000-04:00

"I will be a hummingbird" - Wangari Maathai, RIP

2011-09-26T17:17:00.002-04:00

Informative Interview with Dima Negewo

2011-09-21T22:19:00.002-04:00

Obamanomics is almost dead

2011-09-17T22:03:00.006-04:00

Here are two short articles that succinctly explain why Obamanomics has not worked. Enjoy!

Solyndra, the logical endpoint of Obamanomics

The bankruptcy of solar-panel maker Solyndra neatly encapsulates the economic, political and intellectual bankruptcy of Barack Obama's Big Idea. It was the president’s intention back in 2009 to begin centrally reorganizing the U.S. economy around the supposed climate-change crisis.

To what end? Well, Obama claimed his election would mark "the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal." But that was just the cover story. At its core, Obamanomics is about the top-down redistribution of wealth and income. Government spending on various “green” subsidies and programs, along with a cap-and-trade system to limit carbon emissions, would enrich key Democrat constituencies: lawyers, public sector unions, academia and non-profits.

Oh, and Wall Street, too.

Kiss of Debt for the Flagging U.S. Economy

Why can't the economy grow? It's the debt, stupid.

That is the reminder from the Federal Reserve's quarterly data dump. Added up, household, business and government debt now amounts to some $36.5 trillion, a new nominal record. And that figure excludes the government's unfunded liabilities for Medicare and Social Security.

This debt overhang remains a key problem for the U.S. economy because it limits growth drivers like consumer spending. Consumers who still face big mortgage payments and credit-card bills have less flexibility to increase spending on goods and services, which in turn keeps a lid on job growth.

These people deverve to be supported

2011-09-15T21:40:00.001-04:00

9-11-2011

2011-09-11T21:36:00.005-04:00

God Bless America!

The "Make Addis Ababa like Baghdad" Plot

2011-08-16T21:05:00.000-04:00

This voluminous report by the UN Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea dated July 18, 2001 is a must-read. A portion of the 417 page report deals with the alleged plot by the Eritrean regime to "make Addis Ababa like Baghdad" during the African Union summit in January of 2011. Here is the report's conclusion on the failed plot.

Only one detainee interviewed by the Monitoring Group, team leader Omar Idriss Mohamed, appears to have been in regular contact with the OLF leadership in Asmara. All other team members were isolated from OLF structures from the moment of recruitment and received all training and orders directly from Eritrean officers. According to Omar, only Dawud Ibsa, Chairman of OLF, was aware of the existence of this special operation and its objectives, and he does not appear to have exercised any command or control over its actions. The Monitoring Group therefore concludes that this operation was effectively an Eritrean intelligence activity, falsely flagged as an OLF initiative.

We must help the famine victims...

2011-08-11T21:09:00.004-04:00

...in Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia and other Horn of Africa countries. There is enough blame to go around why there is a recurring famine in that part of the world. We can have that discussion at a different time. The time now is to help in whatever ways we can.

This NY Times photographer paints a grim picture of the famine condition in Somalia.

The are may ways you can help. Here are the emergency fundraising links to some of the reputable relief agencies I know. There are many more. Just google...

Catholic Relief Services

World Vision

The never-ending famine

2011-08-05T12:22:00.002-04:00

The BBC and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism have teamed up to expose how the Ethiopian government systematically uses aid from donor nations to punish areas that support its political opponents. The current drought in the Horn of Africa is creating famine conditions that are exacerbated by government and rebel activities. This never-ending cycle of war and famine in that part of the world is demoralizing to put it mildly.

Read all the details here: Ethiopia Aid Exposed

The accompanying BBC video report can be found here: Ethiopia 'using aid as weapon of oppression'

A BBC radio interview with Angus Strickler, the investigative journalist, who went to Ethiopia undercover can be listened to here.

Before and after satellite images of burned villages in the Ogaden region from 2007.

Probability of pregnancy for healthy women

2011-08-02T22:23:00.001-04:00

Gene Expression is one of my favorite blogs to read. The blogger recently posted an article on the probability of healthy women getting pregnant by age. A prospective couple who want to have a healthy child should especially take note of the second graph.

Pure Menzie, Mootchoor Hadiya

2011-07-19T23:49:00.006-04:00

I heard of these repugnant phrases recently. They were used to describe an Ethiopian ethnic identity. I heard the first one on the internet and the second one in a personal conversation. Both mean the same thing -- mootchoor means 'pure' in the Hadiyissa language.

What does it mean when a person says I am a 'pure' this or that ethnic group? I suppose it means that all of one's known ancestors belong to the same ethnic group.

What then does an ethnic purity constitute? Let's suppose that all of my eight great-grandparents are Menzie. Does that make me a pure (netsooh) Menzie? Or, let's say that all of my 16 great-great-grandparents are Hadiya. Would this be good enough to make me a pure (mootchoor) Hadiya? Why stop at 16? Why not push the ancestor count further out to 32 or 64 or even 128 of my ancestors?

As you can see, sooner or later, this exercise will turn out to be a futile exercise. In fact, it is a foolish exercise, and it is farcical to think of one's ethnicity as pure for there is no such thing. If you go back enough in historical time, it is clear that an overwhelming majority of Ethiopians (for that matter East and Northeast Africans) share the same ancestors. In fact, all humans on the face of the Earth share the same ancestors if you push the time period beyond 60 thousand years.

It is true that Ethiopia's ethnic problems did not start with the current regime. But it is an incontrovertible fact that this regime has used ethnic differences as the linchpin of its divide-and-rule policy over the past 20 years. The results of this policy (economic disintegration, social immobility, etc...) are out there for everyone to see. Isn't it time that Ethiopians put an end to this absurdity once and for all?

Being Birtukan

2011-07-05T21:19:00.002-04:00

It is good to see Birtukan in good spirit. Hopefully, there are more exciting and uplifting chapters to her story in the years to come. Stay well.

All come to look for America

2011-07-04T22:33:00.004-04:00

Josh Groban did a lame version of this classic Simon and Garfunkel song at the 4th of July concert at the Capitol today and I had to get over my disappointment by listening to the original. Enjoy!

Dictatorship of relativism (Liberalism in overdrive)

2011-06-28T23:06:00.004-04:00

Regardless of where you stand on the debate over marriage, I think you will find this National Review article by George Weigel to be a thought-provoking one. Here is a passage from the article:

New York State notwithstanding, the argument over marriage will and must continue, because it touches first principles of democratic governance -- and because resistance to the agenda of the gay-marriage lobby is a necessary act of resistance against the dictatorship of relativism, in which coercive state power is used to impose on all of society a relativistic ethic of personal willfulness. In conducting that argument in the months and years ahead, it would be helpful if the proponents of marriage rightly understood would challenge the usurpation by the proponents of gay marriage of the civil-rights trump card.

This Music is Really Good for You - VII

2011-06-25T14:51:00.003-04:00

I am sure you have listened to music from Mali (they are world famous, you know), but I bet you have not heard of Habib Koite and Bamada before. Malian music is similar to Ethiopian music in that they both are rich in melody. But I have to say that Malian music sounds a lot better than Ethiopian music, to me at least. I suspect the reason may be because Malian musicians make a far better use of stringed instruments and their drum beats are much more sophisticated. When will Ethiopian musicians abandon the dreaded keyboard for a real instrument as their main musical instrument? Wasn't this used to be the case just a short two decades ago? Pardon me for the rant, but please enjoy these three great works of music from Habib and his super band mates.

I am for doing good to the poor, but...

2011-05-27T21:51:00.002-04:00

Benjamin Franklin, the sage of an amazing group of people who founded America, wrote the following in 1766 which is still relevant today for everyone everwhere. This is from an article he wrote for a London newspaper regarding the price of corn and the management of the poor.

I am for doing good to the poor, but I differ in opinion of the means. I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. In my youth I travelled much, and I observed in different countries, that the more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer. And, on the contrary, the less was done for them, the more they did for themselves, and became richer.

Netanyahu lectures O'bama

2011-05-24T22:24:00.001-04:00

"The Solution is in Tehran"

2011-05-13T18:03:00.000-04:00

Peter Robinson of Uncommon Knowledge interviews Michael Totten, a foreign correspondent and author of The Road to Fatima Gate: The Beirut Spring, the Rise of Hezbollah and the Iranian War against Israel.

Paul Simon - "The Afterlife"

2011-04-28T18:50:00.002-04:00

Still creating quality music at age 69!

Does Foreign Aid Work? No, It Does Not!

2011-04-21T20:10:00.005-04:00

Andrew Mwenda (a Ugandan) at the TED conference in Arusha Tanzania. Please take a note of Andrew's brief interaction with Bono (of U2 fame). I think all would agree that Bono has a good heart and is a man of action. But I would have to say Bono's answer to Andrew's simple question demonstrates how the aid industry has failed Africa.

Dambisa Moyo (a Zambian) author of Dead Aid: Why Aid is Not Working and How There is a Better Way For Africa

Andrew Mwenda and Karol Boudreaux (an American) of Mercatus Center at George Mason University discussing foreign aid on Stossel at FBN.

"They gave it to us, and we took it!"

2011-04-10T21:31:00.003-04:00

Why not? Wouldn't you?

Why Aren't The Rich [in America] Paying 50% in Taxes?

2011-04-09T11:37:00.001-04:00

Three Cool Engineering Videos

2011-02-27T22:20:00.004-05:00

A walking dog from a project funded by DARPA, the folks who gave us the internet...

The last launch of the space shuttle Discovery as seen from a flying aircraft...

Germans doing what they do best...build cars.

Regime Change

2011-02-13T19:47:00.000-05:00

There has been a consensus among Ethiopians for while now that there needs to be a regime change in Ethiopia, but not so much on how to bring about that change. The abrupt changes we have witnessed in Tunisia and Egypt in recent days seem to have given hope for Ethiopians that a similar change may be possible in Ethiopia in the near future.

It would be nice to have a relatively peaceful regime change in Ethiopia as have happened in Tunisia and Egypt. I doubt that will be the case though in Ethiopia as recent history of Ethiopian opposition groups is replete with disorganization and mistrust. I also question the wisdom of bringing about changes in a sudden way since that usually invites chaos and power vacuum.

Regardless, some kind of forced regime change in Ethiopia seems inevitable. If the Ethiopian people decide they had enough like their Tunisian and Egyptian counterparts, there is nothing the Woyane regime can do to prevent its own demise. The only question is whether or not the regime that will take over from the Woyane will be more accountable to the people.

Chaotic change not in the interest of the people of Egypt...

2011-01-31T21:26:00.003-05:00

...neither is dictatorship.

This Music is Really Good for You - VI

2011-01-27T21:41:00.002-05:00

The David Crowder*Band is a very entertaining Christian group out of Texas. They are loaded with talent and fun to listen to and watch. I think of them as a fusion between the sounds of U2 and Michael W. Smith. I can't wait to see them perform live. Enjoy!

Poverty and Affluence in Ethiopia

2011-01-17T13:09:00.004-05:00

Ethiopia today is a study in contrast between two extremes, more so than at any time in its modern history. The picture below is a composite of two pictures: a mother begging on a street side in Bahr Dar and a family celebrating a birthday in a private room at a hotel in Addis Ababa.

Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior

2011-01-10T23:15:00.007-05:00

This WSJ article with the same title should be of high interest to most readers of this blog who, I believe, are either parents of young ones or prospective parents. The author, Amy Chua, is a parent and a professor at Yale Law School. Her Chinese approach to strict parenting was an extremely refreshing reading for my wife and I; stereotypes aside, we agree with most of her parenting philosophy. I hope you will find it useful. Here are a couple of quotes from the article:

"Chinese parents can order their kids to get straight As. Western parents can only ask their kids to try their best."

"...studies indicate that compared to Western parents, Chinese parents spend approximately 10 times as long every day drilling academic activities with their children. By contrast, Western kids are more likely to participate in sports teams."

The Tiger Mother Talks Back

Amy Chua responds to readers' questions about happiness, relationships and tips for teaching toddlers.

Have a Happy New (Zealand) Year!

2011-01-01T12:00:00.002-05:00

Poi-E is a song in Maori language by Patea Maori Club of New Zealand. The harmony and rhythms they display is infectious. Enjoy!

Here is the original version.

Christmas Concert

2010-12-22T21:26:00.008-05:00

The Creative Arts Ministry at McLean Bible Church in McLean, VA, presented a spectacular Christmas concert this past Friday, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The show was extremely well presented and captivating. It was simply the best Christmas concert I have ever witnessed! The concert will be re-broadcast on the internet on Christmas Day, Saturday at 6:30 PM Eastern Time, and I highly recommend that you watch it.

Here is the instruction to watch, go to www.mbclive.org and wait for the countdown timer in the top right to reach zero. Streaming will begin 15 minutes before the show. The show runs about 1:45 minutes and is composed of two Acts with a 10 minutes intermission. Merry Christmas!

Here are a couple of teasers for you from the concert. This one is an original music titled "Proclamation."

And this one is probably the best version of "Rejoice" you will ever hear.

Beat for Peace in Sudan

2010-12-18T21:22:00.004-05:00

This Music is Really Good for You - V

2010-11-21T21:50:00.005-05:00

I love to listen to both secular and Christian music. In my opinion, the quality and creativity in today's Christian music scene is better than what I see in the secular music scene. Here are a couple of my favorites Christian songs of late. The first one is a reflective song by a soloist named Bebo Norman and the second one is an upbeat song from is a group called Casting Crowns. Enjoy!

Haile to the Chief!

2010-11-07T23:48:00.008-05:00

Haile Gebrselassie ~~retires! "It is better to stop here."~~ Maybe not yet.

Thanks for the memories and best wishes on your next adventure(s)!

Eskinder Nega takes Haile to task for his recent flirtation with Meles. He also takes a critical look at Haile's rash announcement of his retirement and his political aspiration. Read here.

A shellacking for Obama's agenda

2010-11-07T23:08:00.001-05:00

I was expecting the American electorate would rebuke President Obama's leftist agenda in last Tuesday's US midterm election. Instead, what they actually delivered was a strong repudiation of that agenda. When I voted for Obama in 2008 I did so with the hope that he would govern from the political center and that he would offer a more pragmatic foreign policy. What the country got from him and the Democratic party, unfortunately, was an unbridled expansion of government in a time of high economic distress and an apology tour by Obama that sent the wrong signals to enemies of the US. Now that the Democrats have been given a shellacking, one would expect that they will moderate and tack to the center. But judging from their early reactions to the elections, I highly doubt that that will happen. As for me, I will do what I can to defeat their redistribution of wealth and social engineering agenda here in the US and elsewhere.

Obama's loss Africa's gain?

2010-10-30T14:53:00.006-04:00

I read an opinion piece by G. Pascal Zachary yesterday titled "Midterm elections could give a boost to Africa – if the Democrats lose." The article suggests that the expected rebuke for President Obama and his party at the polls next Tuesday will force Obama to intervene more vigorously in African affairs than he would otherwise prefer.

I think this is wishful thinking. I do not expect to see a significant policy shift on Afican issues by the Obama Administration whcih will result from the outcome of the election. Obama has been pursuing essentially the same policies of his predecessor, with only minor tweaks, when it comes to US policy towards African issues. If Obama was inclined to make his mark on Africa, we would have seen him get engaged personally at least a year ago.

Now that Obama is more likely to be viewed as a lame duck president after the election, I doubt that he will be any more proactive in African affairs. Besides, his more intimate knowledge of Africa, which he acquired by virtue of his African heritage, will likely inform him that Africa is not the place where he should expend his limitted polical capital. The more likely scenario for Obama's Africa policy in the next two years is an ad hoc policy dictated by crises.

The True Size of Africa

2010-10-20T16:35:00.002-04:00

Click on the image for a much larger image.

Witnessing the Birth of a New Nation

2010-10-14T23:38:00.003-04:00

The referendum that is to take place early next year in Southern Sudan is sure to give birth to Africa's newest nation, though there are still plenty of obstacles to overcome before this becomes a reality. But are Ethiopians ready to welcome a new nation-state to their west and all that it entails, both good and bad? Here is a fascinating music and dance to help you ponder this thought. Enjoy!

How is a job created?

2010-10-09T21:23:00.004-04:00

Government does not create a job.

Birtukan is "pardoned" and released (again)

2010-10-06T08:36:00.002-04:00

Glad her imprisonment is over. But is she really free? I doubt it.

The practice of pardoning Birtukan Mideksa

2010-09-28T06:54:00.004-04:00

"...given her past practice, I wouldn't be surprised if she asked for pardon again, and given the practice of the government, I wouldn't be surprised if the government were to pardon her again..."

Video starts at the 46:36 minute mark. The quote is found at the 52:00 minute mark.

Reaganomics vs. Obamanomics

2010-09-22T21:53:00.001-04:00

A Tale of Two Recoveries: The state of the economy after a year of 'rebound.' (WSJ, 9/22/2010)

Recession May Be Over, but Joblessness Remains (New York Times, 9/20/2010)

The verdict is clear: most of Obama's economic policies have proven to be ineffective in stimulating a recovery and job creation. It's no wonder that most of the architects of his economic policies have left the administration or are planning to leave soon.

Ethiopia's trends compared with some selected countries

2010-09-17T22:32:00.017-04:00

The graphs below are made using Google's public data explorer. What's neat about this tool is that it allows you to quickly visualize data and spot trends. I wanted to see how Ethiopia's trends compared with some selected countries. The results speak for themselves, but I think you should take them with a grain of salt since the data comes from the World Bank which, in turn, gets a lot of its data directly from member countries.

"Radical Islam is world's greatest threat"

2010-09-03T22:43:00.006-04:00

Tony Blair believes so and I agree.

Here is another example of radical Islam asserting its political muscle in the streets of France.

A quote from Tony Blair's new book "A Journey: My Political Life" makes this point crystal clear:

Here is where the root of the problem lies. The extremists are small in number, but their narrative—which sees Islam as the victim of a scornful West externally, and an insufficiently religious leadership internally—has a far bigger hold. Indeed, such is the hold that much of the current political leadership feels impelled to go along with this narrative for fear of losing
support...

...Defeating the visible and terrifying manifestations of religious extremism is not enough. Indeed I would go further: This extremism won't be defeated simply by focusing on the extremists alone. It is the narrative that has to be assailed. It has to be avowed, acknowledged; then taken on, inside and outside Islam. It should not be respected. It should be confronted, disagreed with, argued against on grounds of politics, security and religion.

Dreams Dashed

2010-09-03T18:56:00.006-04:00

Musings on the Rule of Law (and funny stories from China)

2010-08-30T22:55:00.002-04:00

Katrina Retrospective: 5 Years After the Storm

2010-08-26T23:30:00.002-04:00

The more humans try to control nature, the more they will be surprised by the force that is behind nature. Katrina is a great example of this.

February Sea - George Winston

2010-08-07T17:16:00.001-04:00

George Winston is one of my favorite musicians. This song is my favorite of all his compositions, so much so that I used it as one of the song choices for my wedding. This kid does a great job playing the song. Enjoy!

Opposition candidate wins presidential vote in Somaliland

2010-07-04T15:31:00.009-04:00

Somalilanders went to the polls on 26th of June and elected an opposition party candidate, Ahmed Mohamud Silanyo of the Kulmiye party, to be their next president. The incumbent president, Dahir Riyale Kahin, which came in a distant second, has promised to honor the result.

If this comes to fruition and Mr. Kahin hands the reigns of power to Mr. Silanyo, then we are at the cusp of witnessing history being made in the Horn of Africa, namely the first peaceful transfer of power from a ruling party to an opposition party. What a tremendous accomplishment for Somaliland this could turn out to be!

This golden opportunity to put Somaliland in the spotlight could be a waisted opportunity if Mr. Silanyo fails to deliver. I hope he will listen to voices such as Soyan Guled's and other moderate voices, and I wish him best of luck -- he needs all the luck he can get in that dangerous corner of the world.

On a sour note, the Woyane regime that did all it can under the sun to prevent the Ethiopian people from freely expressing their hopes and wishes in the election held just six weeks ago has sent its praise for the outgoing president, Mr. Kahin, for "his high sense of obligation to the people of Somaliland." Strange, isn't it?

Proud of Team USA

2010-06-23T22:01:00.004-04:00

Update: I was disappointed with the US team's performance yesterday against Ghana, but I am still proud of the team's performance as a whole in the 2010 World Cup. I want Bob Bradley to continue in his head coaching job, but only if he is going to give younger and promising players more chances to prove themselves in meaningful games.

USA 1 : England 1

2010-06-12T16:57:00.004-04:00

Can I have that one back? No, thank you very much!!!

Advice to the opposition

2010-06-07T11:02:00.004-04:00

I hope the Ethiopian opposition leaders will heed and act on these sound advices.

Eskinder Nega

Addressing the immediate challenges:

Now is the time for the legal opposition to address the challenges it faces, exploit the political opportunities, and isolate the hazards that need to be shunned. Sadly, so far, avoiding the hazards seems to loom larger than addressing the challenges and exploiting the opportunities. And perhaps the role of the Shimagles (elders) -- who are shuttling between Meles and opposition leaders -- is influencing the course of events. But this may be a fatal error for an opposition facing an existential threat. Certainly, imprisonment must not be avoided at the expense of relegation to permanent irrelevance.

Ayal-Sew Dessye

The ball once again is in the opposition's court:

As egregious as the conduct of the elections and as unacceptable as the results are, this undeclared calculated risk by the Meles regime could be, I believe, an opportunity for the opposition. Election 2010 has disrobed this regime's leaders and shown their naked self to the whole world. They can no longer continue to pretend to be, as they say, "building democracy" or claim that the country is an "emerging democracy", etc. The results announced by the regime have clearly shown to what illegitimate and shameful extent EPRDF leaders could go to stay in power. Only under totalitarian regimes of the bygone era could there be such an outrageous and indefensible outcome in any election.

Nonetheless, I believe that there is no better environment and a better time than now for the opposition to reinvent itself and make a badly needed paradigm shift. But this is not a time to rush things through and engage in self-serving and short-sighted endeavors. It would be prudent to take enough time to reflect on the whole, self examine, reassess the situation, regroup and reorganize as a national (country-wide) force, chart a new course with comprehensive and clear strategy, and embark on a united and decisive struggle to do away with tyranny once and for all. Priority should be given to encourage and help those inside the country. They need to be assisted to stay afloat and function as much as they could.

Alemayehu G. Mariam

Give Young People a Chance to Lead:

The older generation in the opposition needs to learn to get out of the way. Let's give the younger generation a chance to lead. After all, it is their future. We can be most useful if we help them learn from our mistakes and guide them to greater heights. Zenawi thinks he can mold the young people in his image so that he can establish a Reich that will last a thousand years. He will never succeed. If there is one thing universally true about young people, it is that they love freedom more than anything else. Let the older generation be water carriers for the young people who will be building the "future country of Ethiopia," as Birtukan would say.

Think Like Winners, Not Victims:

Victory is not what it seems for the victors, and defeat is not what it feels for the vanquished. There is defeat in victory and victory in defeat. Both victory and defeat are first and foremost states of mind. Those who won the election by a margin of 99.6 percent project an image of being victorious. But we know they have an empty victory secured by force and fraud. The real question is whether the opposition sees itself as winners or losers. Winners think and act as winners, likewise for losers.

Best wishes to US MNT

2010-05-28T07:46:00.004-04:00

Cheering for the US men's national team at the World Cup in South Africa is one of the few things I agree with Obama. Just two weeks to go before the World Cup. Go USA!

We know who we voted for!

2010-05-26T22:23:00.009-04:00

Don't mess with our Dear Leader! He is the one who will get us [not Ethiopia] out of poverty.

The US Spate Department is clearly acquiescing to Woyane's "overwhelming victory" as its tepid statement on the "elections" indicates. They've also said, with a straight face, that they are not surprised by the results. Message to opposition supporters: Get over it! Strange as it may seem, I agree because the opposition camp, from A to Z, was complicit in giving legitimacy to the election.

US criticizes Ethiopian Election

2010-05-25T13:54:00.008-04:00

U.S. says Ethiopa vote not up to international standards

"While the elections were calm and peaceful and largely without any kind of violence, we note with some degree of remorse that the elections there were not up to international standards," Assistant Secretary of State Johnnie Carson told a House of Representatives panel.

Some degree of remorse...really?

"It is important that Ethiopia move forward in strengthening its democratic institutions and when elections are held that it level the playing field to give everyone a free opportunity to participate without fear or favor," Carson said.

Blah, blah, blah...

Mr. Carson: I do not think even yourself expect Ethiopians to take your comments seriously. Do you? After reading your writings in Global Trends 2025: A Transformed World, I had predicted that this kind of low key reaction is what Ethiopians should be expecting from the US after an election that the US knows to be not free and fair. Be honest and tell Ethiopians to stop looking to Washington for any kind of help in their quest for freedom.

Ethiopians: Let's be honest to ourselves: this election should have been boycotted. But this is now a mute point. Let's put this election debacle behind us as quickly as possible. Let's invest in a younger generation of leaders, like Birtukan, while taking advantage of the wisdom and experience of some of the older generation leaders. Let's be realists and not given to simple emotions.

It's a landslide, make that super landslide!

2010-05-25T12:22:00.001-04:00

Prayer for Birtukan

2010-05-24T07:41:00.004-04:00

As we were preparing to say grace before eating breakfast this morning, I asked our five year old son if there is anything that he wants me to pray about. Without the slightest of hesitation, he said: "let's pray for Birtukan". And, so, I prayed to God to protect Birtukan from harm while she is in jail. May He sustain her spirit and also give her the strength to endure her separation from her daughter, Hale Mideksa. Amen.

ESAT interview with Beyene Petros

2010-05-23T21:55:00.006-04:00

The brand new Ethiopian Satellite Television (ESAT) had a phone interview with Beyene Petros, the current chairman of Medrek, on today's "election". The crux of the interview is found at the 5:49 minute mark. That is where Beyene states that the election needs to be rerun based on a set of rules that all parties can agree to. He referred to Medrek's rejection of the Election Code of Conduct back in October to make this point. Duh, why bother to repeat that point now? Didn't Medrek participate in the "election" while fully knowing that it was going to be a total sham? Boycotting the election would have been the correct course of action for Medrek to take. Wasn't it? I am sure Beyene won't admit to this.

There is a funny bit at the end of this interview when the reporter attempts to reach Bereket Simon, the Woyane honcho. Bereket informs the reporter that he is hard at work.

Election quote #2

2010-05-23T18:24:00.009-04:00

I thought I had already heard the best quote of the 2010 "election" courtesy of an old Oromo man last week. I was wrong. I think this gem from Hailu $hawel beats that one by a mile. He was quoted by VOA, just after participating in an election he absolutely knew would turn out to be a sham election, as saying:

"I am not participating in a ridiculous election. Never again."

Isn't it a bit too late to say this, Mr. $hawel? A job well done, Mr $hawel! You and Meles have really come to an understanding! You are a disgrace! I hope you will remain true to your word and quit politics.

Update (June 8): $hawel claims he was fooled (wink wink) by Woyane.

I'm Woyane, we all should be Woyane

2010-05-22T17:34:00.004-04:00

I know what you are thinking. Now that I've got your attention, please allow me to explain what I meant by "I'm Woyane".

As you may be aware, the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI), a dialogue forum among the nine Nile riparian states (Burundi, DR Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Sudan and Uganda) for a fair and mutually beneficial use of the Nile river has been going on since 1999. Other similar initiatives have preceded the NBI, but the NBI is the most sustained of these dialogues. It is mainly funded by the World Bank and other external donors.

After 11 years of hard negotiations, five of the nine states have agreed to a draft agreement called the Cooperative Framework Agreement. This agreement is the first major step before the establishment of a permanent Nile River Basin agreement. Two more countries, the DR Congo and Brundi, are expected to sign on to the agreement soon. The remaining two, Egypt and Sudan, are not happy with the draft agreement and have voiced their opposition.

Egypt, however, does not only object to the agreement, she is working very hard to derail the agreement in a last ditch attempt to maintain its obscene monopoly over the use of Nile's water. Here is Egypt's reaction to the signing of the draft agreement:

Responsibility for the Nile issue had been taken from the Irrigation and Foreign ministries and handed over to the National Security Authority headed by Intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman when Egyptian diplomatic efforts against the new Nile basin treaty failed, news portal Masrawy reported Wednesday.

The reason for the handover is the inauguration of the Tana Beles hydropower station and dam in Ethiopia last Friday, the day a new treaty was signed by four Nile basin countries. Egypt insists that projects such as Tana Beles station need to be approved by it first....

Egypt has decided to freeze all forms of bilateral cooperation with the Nile basin countries that signed the agreement regarding river rights, Al-Shorouk newspaper reported Wednesday.

But all talk from the Egyptian side is not jingoistic. There are some realist Egyptians who recognize that clinging to an unjust 1959 colonial treaty which gives Egypt 87% of the Nile water is plain foolish:

Yet Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies researcher Nabil Abdel-Fatah had criticized the official approach, saying that the Egyptian response to Nile issue has been "slow and lacking in dynamism."

He added: "The Egyptian political and diplomatic structure still perceives Africa from a position of superiority; they still see it as the old Africa just after colonialism."

"Egypt must stop perceiving Africa in such a regressive way," he said, "And our dealings with Africa should be revised on a more equitable and developmental level."

When it comes to the equitable use of the waters of the Nile river basin, I believe all Ethiopians should support whatever regime is in charge of Ethiopia so long as that regime jealously guards Ethiopia's national interest. On this particular score, I am of the opinion that the Woyane regime is pursuing Ethiopia's national interest and I, as an avowed opponent of the regime, declare myself to be a Woyane.

Election quote

2010-05-19T17:54:00.000-04:00

A question from a Reuters reporter prompted an old Oromo man to give the best quote of the 2010 Ethiopian "election":

They [Woyane] can build roads to the moon but I won't vote for them until we're equal.

Samantar v. Yousuf

2010-05-14T08:21:00.010-04:00

Continuing on the theme of prisons from the last post, I read about a very interesting legal case, referred to as Samantar v. Yousuf, that is pending at the US Supreme Court that has to do with human rights abuses. The case was argued in early March and a decision is expected within the next few weeks.

The case was brought to court by Somali victims (the "respondents") of torture during the Barre regime from the 1980s. The respondents are attempting to bring to justice a former defence and prime minister of Somalia by the name of Mohamed Ali Samantar (the "petitioner") who now lives in the US. What the US Supreme Court is deciding now is whether or not the petitioner has immunity from suit under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA). If the Supreme Court decides in favor of the respondents, then Mr. Samantar can be taken to court to face justice.

From what I've read about the case, it was not convincingly argued by either side. But, to its credit, the Obama Administration has sided with the respondents, and that may help sway the court's opinion towards a loose interpretation of the FSIA. If this comes to fruition, then that will send a strong message to all human right abusers, like officials of the Woyane regime, that they may be held accountable to what they are doing to political prisoners as officials of the Ethiopian state. I am sure there are also some officials of the Derg regime who are nervously watching the Supreme Court's decision on this case.

Update (June 1st): US Supreme Court unanimously ruled that "the respondents" can sue the ex-Somali prime minister. Here is the decision.

Those Secret Prisons

2010-05-11T22:28:00.008-04:00

This story from the BBC today about a US secret jail in Afghanistan reminded me of a similar story from April of 2007, which was reported by the late Anthony Mitchel, about secret jails in Ethiopia visited by CIA agents.

I was wondering if any of those jails are still operational and, if so, whether or not the CIA is still engaged in a similar scheme with the Ethiopian government. To be clear, I am strongly in favor of the CIA or any other US intelligence agency using all legal means at its disposal in the hunt for terrorists while, at the same time, I am also strongly against any branch of the US government coddling up with dictators anywhere in the world who terrorize their population, just like what the Ethiopian government does everyday.

In the context of the upcoming "election" in Ethiopia, it will be interesting to watch how the US government will react to an "election" that it knows is taking place in an atmosphere of intimidation and a severely restricted political space for the opposition.

Will the US turn a blind eye, once again, to the aspirations of Ethiopians to freely elect their leaders in exchange for the opportunity to interview a few third-rate terrorist wannabes? If it does, then Ethiopians' view of the role of the US government in their country's affairs will fundamentally change for the worse. This, in my humble opinion, will neither serve the interests of the US nor that of Ethiopia.

National Day of Prayer

2010-05-06T10:04:00.002-04:00

Hunger Strike for Birtukan Mideksa

2010-05-05T23:25:00.002-04:00

Thank you guys for what you are doing to publicize Birtukan's case. But will anyone in the Obama Administration listen?

A Defiant Beyene Petros?

2010-05-01T19:56:00.003-04:00

A few days ago the Woyane regime accused Prof. Beyene Petros, the current leader of the Medrek political grouping, of planning to change the government "through street fighting" referring to a campaign speech recently given by him. I have not heard the speech where Beyene was purported to have said this, but it is obvious that this cheap swipe at Beyene is a part of Woyane's overall intimidation strategy it has adopted since the 2005 stolen election.

Beyene, to his credit, has come out swinging and challenged the Woyane to substantiate its charge (please listen to this VOA interview with Beyene from yesterday). The last time I heard Beyene this combative and animated was during the 2000 election when he led the Southern Coalition to victory over Woyane in Hadiya, Kembata and Tembaro regions. Is this the new Beyene? I doubt it. But it is good to see him on the side of the people again.

Ethiopian Academy of Sciences

2010-05-01T12:33:00.006-04:00

There is not much good news coming out of Ethiopia these days, but the news about the establishment of the Ethiopian Academy of Sciences early last month is a rare exception. The science magazine Nature has an in-depth and balanced article on this story and it is well worth your time to read it. The academy has elected a veteran medical professor by the name of Demissie Habte (pictured above), who has a lot of research papers to his credit, as its president. I hope the government will grant the academy the independence it needs to grow and inspire young scientists to flourish in Ethiopia, just like the Haileselassie and subsequent Ethiopian governemnts did for Ethiopian Airlines.

Meles out, preferably peacefully...

2010-04-23T17:02:00.005-04:00

A widely disseminated statement of declaration from the group that conducted a "Conference on Good Governance, Peace, Security, Sustainable Development in the Horn of Africa" about a week ago had the following paragraph:

[We] have agreed that the quagmires that Ethiopia finds itself are by and large a result of the 19 years of poor political leadership of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and his TPLF/EPRDF party. We strongly believe that neither peace nor development can be achieved and sustained while Ato Meles Zenawi is in power. Hence, he must immediately exit the Ethiopian political scene, preferably peacefully.

Less than a week after the declaration statement was put out, the paragraph above was replaced with this one:

[We] strongly believe that Ato Meles Zenawi does not enjoy the popular support of the majority of the Ethiopian people and would lose a free and fair popular vote. We are concerned that Ato Meles Zenawi will use force to stay in power. We call on Meles Zenawi to peacefully adher to the will of the Ethiopian people.

This raises some serious questions, least among which is a question about the competency of the individuals who approved the original statement. The first sentence of the first paragraph is only partially true and a bit unfair. Obviously, the last sentence of the first paragraph is a poorly veiled reference to an overthrow of the regime in power. It is beyond me why any group that includes many reputable and experienced individuals would approve such a reckless statement for press release. At least, it is good to know that this group recognized the mistake and corrected it quickly. Sanity has prevailed, it seems.

Siye's Election

2010-04-21T20:53:00.006-04:00

I had previously argued, albeit breifly, that taking part in the election scheduled for next month is a pointless exercise which could harm the cause of democracy in Ethiopia and had suggested that boycotting the election might be a better alternative. I have not learned any new set of facts in the last three months which would persuade me to change this point of view, a view which I believe is also shared by many. Of course, there is a possibility, though remote, that something big happening between now and the election which could dramatically change the playing field in favor of the opposition. If that comes to pass, I would be more than happy to be proven wrong on my prognostication.
Having said that, there could be something to be gained by the opposition in the upcoming election. If handled right, the participation of former top officials of the Woyane regime in the election on the side of the opposition could prove very useful in showing Ethiopians what's on the horizon beyond Woyane era. The former Woyane official who best represents this transitional period is none other than Siye Abraha, the former defence minister, thus the label "Siye's Election". I wish Birtukan was leading the opposition in this election, but that was not to be at this time [I hope her suffering is a blessing in disguise]. For now, Siye is the next best thing the opposition has got. I just watched Siye address some tough questions on this video and I have to say I was very impressed with the maturity level he displayed in addressing them.

This Music is Really Good for You - IV

2010-04-18T21:12:00.005-04:00

The tremendous impact that this relatively small Icelandic volcano has had reminded me of the songs "God of Wonders" and "Awesome God", probably the two most popular Christian songs of the last quarter century. Great music, beautiful visuals. Enjoy!

Airport Status Map - Iceland Volcano

2010-04-17T10:14:00.012-04:00

Image courtesy of the New York Times. Click on the image for latest info on airports. Check this web site to see how the volcanic plume has spead over time.

Suspend Gibe III Dam Project

2010-04-13T20:03:00.007-04:00

I had been following the controversy surrounding the Gibe III hydroelectric dam project with passing interest until a couple of months ago. That changed when the recently completed Gibe II dam tunnel collapsed just two weeks after its inauguration. I am for the development of Ethiopia's infrastructure regardless of whatever regime is in charge. But development that is done without transparency and full consultation with all the stakeholders is bound to fail or bring about unnecessary conflicts or both.

Unfortunately, this is going to be case with the Gibe II and III projects. That is why I signed the Stop Gibe 3 Dam petition last night. The Woyane regime is well advised to take into consideration the complaints of the tribal communities of the lower Omo river basin, in both Ethiopia and Kenya, as well as the concerns of those critics who are making a legitimate case for tranparency and accountability. This would be the right thing to do.

Mr. Paster Prison

2010-04-09T08:13:00.000-04:00

Hey, my name is Daniel. Make that Paster Daniel. I like my job. It brings me fame and provides me with a very well paying job. I was making my prison rounds the other day and I ran into Birtukan. She is doing very well. Trust me. See you after the election.

Revisiting Size of Ethiopian Population in the US

2010-03-31T22:26:00.006-04:00

The decennial US census is currently underway and tomorrow, April 1st, is the National Census Day, meaning that this is the day when we are supposed to return our filled out census forms. So, it is fitting that we revisit the post on the size of the Ethiopian born US population at this time.

The 2000 U.S. Census had stated that the number of people in the US who were born in Ethiopia was 69,530. Of course, this figure does not include children born to Ethiopian parents in the US. I thought this figure seemed a bit low for Ethiopian population in the US at that time, but I thought it was closer to the true figure than the figures that most Ethiopians seem to bandy about. What will the 2010 census reveal when it is released in 2011? It is anybody's guess, but one can make an educated guess. Why not?

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security website, where the Citizenship and Immigration Seervice resides, gives a detailed information for Ethiopians who became US residents from 2003 to 2008. The total for Ethiopians who became US residents for this six year period is 67,305, which averages to 11,218 per year. If you extrapolate this average to the other years which are not mentioned (2001, 2002, 2009 and 2010) and assume that the same number of Ethiopians had gotten US residency in those years, then the total Ethiopian immigration for the past decade would be about 112,175.

If you add this figure to the above 2000 US Census Bureau figure, the total for Ethiopian born population in the US in 2010 would be 181,705. I know I have to take motality rate into account, but I will assume that Ethiopian mortality is very low compared with native born Americans and also that there are probably more Ethiopians in the US living illegally and not counted by the census than those who have passed away after immigrating to the US. So, there you have it: 181,705.

Reforesting Ethiopia

2010-03-22T21:07:00.003-04:00

All Ethiopians, regardless of political persuasion (on climate change and other issues), should be able to agree on the need to reforest Ethiopia and preserve what little virgin forests that remain, which was estimated to be about 4% of land area in 2000 according to Earthtrends. Here below is "one" person who is doing something to reforest Ethiopia. Another group which is engaged in a similar effort is the Ethiopian Tree Fund Foundation, an organization created for the "singular task of reclaiming the land of Ethiopia" according it its web site. These efforts and others like them should be applauded.

I am a fan of Gadaa.com

2010-03-15T00:00:00.004-04:00

I have been reading Gadaa.com for over four years now. I understand that Gadaa does not bill itself as an Ethiopian web site (they prefer to be known as an independent online media outlet that serves the Horn of African region and its Diaspora), but I think they are one of the best Ethiopia news portals, if not the best, out there. Instead of taking my words, why not read a couple of their recent posts and make your own judgement.

In a post titled "There is No Ethiopia Without Oromia – Minnesota OACC Panelists", Gadaa reports on a human rights conference organized by the Oromo-American Citizens’ Council (OACC) this past weekend. I thought a quote from one of the participants was of particular importance:

“Justice for Oromo people is a question of access to state power and the exercise of equitable power,” said Rev. Dr. Gemechis Buba, president of the Worldwide Union of Oromo Evangelical Churches.

The Reverend pleaded with Oromo political groups about the dire need for a shift in paradigm in the Oromo national movement. He said because tens of ethnic groups shared long-stretching borders with Oromia, an independent Oromia would be infeasible as that would lead to the demise of Ethiopia as we know it, hampering the security and economic development of future Oromia.

A few weeks ago Gadaa had carried a well done article titled: "Zenawi’s Revolutionary Democracy Enriches the Few and Impoverishes the Majority". This article debunks Woyane's much touted GDP growth rate figures with facts and figures. It is well worth your time to read these articles and others posted on Gadaa.

PS: I do not personally know of any one who is associated with Gadaa.com. My observation is based totally from what I read on the web site.

Hale Mideksa's Wish

2010-03-11T21:49:00.000-05:00

A former aid worker says the truth lies somewhere in between

2010-03-10T08:58:00.003-05:00

Nicholas Winer, former director of Oxfam in Sudan and Ethiopia writes that the truth in the controversy about the BBC report of the diversion of food aid to buy arms in the 80s lies somewhere between the assertions of Geldof/current-TPLF and BBC/ex-TPLF:

The recent angry response to the BBC by aging colleagues that every effort was made to build checks and balances into the purchase and distribution process speaks volumes about their real anxiety that many things could've gone wrong. They wanted to be sure that if food or money did go astray, it wouldn't be because they'd been negligent. On that basis -- and the detailed explanations of Paul Vallely -- the more extreme claims made by the BBC must be discounted. But for the very same reason, so too must any outright denial that anything did go astray.

He also suggests that the Eritrean rebels may have benefited the most from the diversion of aid money:

It was always evident that greater access, and thus greater accountability, was more possible with the structures established by the Tigrayeans than with those of the Eritreans. That this was so is still reflected in the different political realities of the two countries. So, I ask myself if the story even has the right focus. What happened to aid to the Eritrean rebels, where accountability was much harder to establish? What of the tales of an underground TPLF political prison in Gondar, to which no aid worker was ever granted access? No surprise there. This wasn't just famine, but a nasty and brutal war zone. To suggest that the TPLF never pulled a fast one and took their share would be a very foolish and naive assertion.

I think the integrity of current and future aid requires that all concerned people should demand a full accounting of all the aid money that has gone to Ethiopia in the last 25 years.

The BBC stands by Martin Plaut's reporting

2010-03-07T12:10:00.000-05:00

Bob Geldof and others who were involved in the Ethiopian famine relief effort of the 80s are vociferously denying that aid money was diverted by Woyane to buy arms. The BBC is standing by its reporter:

The documentary did not say that most famine relief money was used to buy weapons - it did not suggest that any relief agencies were complicit in the diversion of funds - it explicitly stated that "whatever the levels of deception, much aid did reach the starving".

But there is a clear public interest in determining whether some money given as famine relief ended up buying guns and bullets.

And that's what the evidence suggests.

Why are Mr. Geldof and some of the aid agencies so adamant in denying the diversion of aid money? Smells fishy. They should, instead, collaborate with the BBC and call for a thorough investigation.

Paul Ryan: the Man Who Should be President of the US

2010-03-06T18:32:00.000-05:00

Woyane Blood Money

2010-03-03T08:47:00.006-05:00

The story of how the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), commonly known as Woyane, stole famine aid money in the 80's has been an open secret among Ethiopians for quite sometime. Only now it is getting the attention it deserves by the international press (see yesterday's BBC expose on the subject titled "Ethiopia famine aid 'spent on weapons'").

The picture above shows two Woyane representatives receiving the money channelled to them through an "aid worker" named Max Peberdy. Mr. Peberdy wants us to believe that the money he helped to transfer went to the starving. Mr. Peberdy's profile on his employer's web site states that "his specific area of expertise is evaluation of development and emergency programmes and the management of projects." What a job description!

The BBC wanted to interview the current Woyane honcho, Meles, to clarify the story, but he refused to be interviewed. Surprise, surprise! Obviously, they did not really need to get his side of the story because they had already gotten plenty of first hand witness accounts and other supporting documents to the theft of the aid money to corroborate the story. Sadly, the diversion of food aid money still goes on unabated with full knowledge of the donors!

Martin Plaut, the BBC reporter who broke this story, has additional reporting: On the trail of Ethiopia aid and guns. Here is a portion:

For years the rains had failed and by 1984 millions were starving.

Thanks in no small part to the help of Bob Geldof and Live Aid, people responded as never before.

Millions of dollars were raised. Food was brought in. Many died, but the worst was averted - or so I thought.

But a year ago, I began hearing a different take.

I was contacted by Ethiopians who said we had all missed the real story of how money given with such worthy objectives had ended up being used to buy weapons.

I began making enquiries.