Shaping one’s fate in owns motherland

Natural disasters, turmoils such as civil wars and other push factors force people allover the world to seek asylum in neighboring countries.

On the other end of the scale,attracted by push factors such as an imagined better lifestyle,which cloud their vision from opportunities under their eyes in own motherland, a large number of people flee their country and seek salvation elsewhere. Daring harrowing unfolding, some even cross deserts and seas to find their ways to destinations. Day dreaming about amassing fortune elsewhere, many,even those who are better of here, opt flee their motherland. It is not few that breathe their last under the hands of atavist brokers that smuggle people and blood-thirsty terrorists.

Though migration is unsavory by its nature, it becomes more grotesque when done in an illegal manner. Some become victims of trafficking which obligates forced labor in private companies. The 2012 report of the International Organization for Migrants (IOM )from 2002 to 2011 about 20.9 million people had become subjects of illegal human trafficking and its attendant ills like forced labor. Over 37 percent of this, seven million seven hundred of them, were subjected to forced labor and commercial sex work. Studies indicate that on the global arena one out of every hundred people is subject to illegal trafficking.

There is nothing as dehumanizing as fleeing one’s country and living in servitude elsewhere compromising one’s liberty as well as having one’s right trampled underfoot. Migrants that faced such a tragic handling suffer excruciating physical pain,psychological wound and mental crisis.

In our country too, Ethiopians that migrate to different countries specially to the middle east illegally are not immune from such a misfortune. On the average, 80 to 120 Ethiopians who leave their country on daily basis by illegal and risky means get entangled in such a problem. According to IOM 75 611 and 34000 Ethiopians had migrated to crossing Red sea have found their way to Yemen in 2011 and 2012 respectively.

It is to reverse this tragic scenario and root out the problem the government brought into play various corrective measures. One such measures is the rescue move the incumbent took two years ago to return back Ethiopian emigrants facing troubles in Saudi Arabia,Yemen and Libya outlaying a large sum. It as well had facilitated things to allow them find a niche here and stand on their feet giving them counseling and training as well as lending them start up capital and seed money.

Many repatriates have been receiving technical training and are organized in different enterprises. Chief among which are manufacturing,service,textile,farming and construction. The government has also provided shades, organized workshops as well as facilitated trade expos for expos so that they can manage to promote their products and services and develop market links.

Lately the government is seeing to the safe return of Ethiopians that illegally went to Saudi Arabia and faced with forced eviction. The government is constant in its stance of taking prudential measures to ensure the safety and well-being of citizens. Obviously, the government can not tackle this problem single alone without the all-out backing of the society. As we Ethiopians are famous known for tackling a common problem we must display a similar feat in arresting illegal migration. Citizens could play quite a role tipping police about illegal human trafficking and smuggling. They as well could take the lion’s share in convincing youngsters to shape their fate in owns country.

The Ethiopian government has promulgated a proclamation to prevent illegal human trafficking and smuggling. As the problem is trans-boundary acting in concert with neighboring countries and interlope is necessary.

If oversees employment service is necessary states are expected to give training and orientations to citizens who go to the middle east. A proclamation to this effect is promulgated and the translation of the law into action will kick start after the task of straightening knotty issues sees completion.///

Embracing the win-win approach

Shearing off the age-old monopolistic perceptions hanging over from the days of yore regarding the utilization of resources, thinking out of the box is very much helpful for mending wrong turns and becoming forward looking. Mongering to the archaic adage “Might is right!”, in so far as my interest is met and as long as I cream off the lion’s share of the boon ,my neighbours  with whom I share a common resource, say a river, could land in a soup no longer buys currency, for the catchphrase of the era has become a win-win deal. Alluding to the mind set of scramble for power relegated to the dustbin of history, dragging foot reluctant to all-embracing benefits and growth is an act frowned up on as it is not in concord with modern trends. For a sustainable and efficient utilization of such a resource, the mental bent of seeing the resource a common wealth pays off. Clicking with each other with considerateness is what should be made a point.

Ten upper riparian countries of the Nile River,as member states, have come aboard the Nile Basin Initiative launched in 1999, for the initiative eyes at development projects like the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam(GERD) that reinforces common growth and buttresses studies for sustainable and mutual utilization of resources. The initiative as well workout the Nile River Basin Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA). It is in cognizance of the aforementioned facts r downstream countries are nowadays voicing interest to follow suit.

It is to be recalled that Egypt and Sudan did take part in launching the NBI and the CFA negotiations. Both countries suspended their NBI memberships after the CFA was opened for signature in 2010. But Sudan reactivated its membership in 2013. Egypt has never boycotted the Nile Council of Ministers (Nile-COM), comprised of ministers in charge of water affairs in each of the NBI member states and the highest decision and policy-making organ of the NBI, but it had been boycotting the technical level meetings.

In an exclusive interview with the Ethiopian Herald Egyptian Ambassador to Ethiopia Abou Bakar Henfy Mahmound ,regarding his country’s current take on the matter, hinted at his country’s interest to restore its position in the NBI. He noted Egypt could not distance itself from the cooperation for regional developmental thrust. He said “Encouraging efforts are underway to expedite the good relations.”He added Egypt doesn’t entertain the desire of domineering over countries in the basin as it abides by the no-harm, benefit-all and win-win ideals— governing principles of the era. As to him,revisiting its stance pertaining to the Entebe agreement, Egypt is warming up to join the Cooperation Framework Agreement (CFA) in the not distant future.

It is to be recalled that former Egyptian leaders were backpedaling from the common utilization of the Blue Nile river while their contemporary Ethiopian leaders were not committed to the utilization of the resource.

Contrariwise, currently Ethiopian leaders are proving forthcoming in tapping this resource for regional growth—bridging demand and supply imbalance of electricity much needed for industrialization and socioeconomic take off— while Egyptian leaders are strategizing relations with Ethiopia aiming at shared vision. “We have rich resources. And the resources include,of course, water and electricity.” The Ethio-Egypt relation had been at a deadlock for over six decades as a result of misconceptions and misunderstanding “through the ongoing fruitful popular diplomatic efforts,we will prove brotherhood to our respective citizens and the world.”diplomatic efforts added the Egyptian ambassador.

Up on arrival for a three-day state visit here on Wendensday, Sudanese President Al-Bashir commented that the GERD project would not harm downstream countries. Capitalizing On the benefit of projects like GERD, fine-tuned with the ideals of the framework of NBI, he said Ethiopia and Sudan are working to connect GERD with Khartoum”WE have agreed to buy 300MW of electricity the dam generates.”

There is no gainsaying that NBI aims at an efficient utilization of resources . Pertaining to this, experts note “The water that evaporates from Aswan dam is much greater than the one Egypt utilizes for irrigation. That is due to the vulnerability of the water of the Aswan Dam to a scorching sun. If this water is preserved in a gorge,having a lower surface area at the Ethiopian Highlands,the quantity of evaporation will be scaled down.”This ensures a sustained flow of the water downstream telling on the fact GERD is beneficial to all.

Egypt’s position as an arid country with little rainfall and total reliance on the Nile River is understandable. Ethiopia and member states of NBI respect Egypt water security concerns. When they think of development it is mindful of this fact. That is why they have mounted a remarkable public diplomacy to drive home their genuine intent of a win-win approach.

The bottom line is mindful of the fact signatories of the NBI have no hidden motive of inflicting harm on their brothers and sisters in downstream countries and cognizant that the upstream countries interest resides in sustainable and considerate use of resources, Egypt need reconsider NBI membership it disrupted in 2010.///

A Black Empress’s Legacy (Taytu Betul )

I . Taytu Betul as a leader

“ Ethiopia is famed for being
A peaceful,hospitable
And warrior nation
How come  then it failed
To come to your attention,
As bees whose hive is threatened,
Citizens are ever alert to
To foil provoked aggression!

The 1889 treacherous
Wuchale treaty
I will tear apart
A messenger,with a tail
Between your legs,
Before you depart.
The Italian version
That tries to put Ethiopia,
A sovereign state, a pawn
Under Italy’s protectorate
Is completely opposed to
What Ethiopia’s
Versions indicate.

Till we meet
Your colonizing troops
At a showdown,
As a punitive measure to
A cheater or a clown
I will be tempted to smack
Your face
To ram home,valorous,
For fear we have no place.

II  Taytu Betul a strategist

To deny the invading
Italian troops, advancing
from Eriteria,
Advantages of logistic
We could do
The following trick
Indeed, we could shift
The battlefield
From Adigrat to Adwa
Also we could cut them
From a key water point
Till for truce they plead.
To this end,
A battalion
I will personally lead.
What is more,
I will inspire
Women,combatants,too
To fire!
Parallel to that
Our injured soldiers
To nurse back
Wounded in the attack
Also dry foods
To prepare and pack.

III Taytu Betul  as a wife

Though independent,
With lots of love to
Emperor Menelik II,
My king and beloved husband
I will lend a cooperative hand.

IV. A beacon of independence & standard bearer

True to my name  Taytu
— A sunshine—
I will flicker
A ray of light
The oppressed for
Freedom to fight!

Women
For a military prowess,
Leadership and intelligence
Have acumen! ////

Battle of Adwa took place1-2 March 1896.Black and women’s supremacy. See

Taytu Betul: the Great Ethiopian Empress who Said ‘NO’ to Colonization

What do I care?

Ravishingly beautiful
On top of that
God-fearing and cool!
What do I care
Electrified and petrified
Unable to resist her pull
At a loss how
My senses to pool
Up on catching her sight,
A wind-beaten leaf,
Shaking all over
I prove a fool?

Sight love with

#love   #life

The gear changer

Running out of
Oxygen, burning out
When contenders feel like
Dropping dead,
In an unexampled manner
Summoning a vestige
Of energy
Bringing into play
A new strategy,
Miruts Yifter Ethiopia’s
Olympic legend
Used to surge ahead
Demonstrating a race
Is a sport of foot,lung
And head.
That is why
A commentator
Christened him
“Mirutse Yifter
The gear changer!”
“I dare say
Catching up with him
There is no way
Once, he broke away!”

Two golds in 5 thousand
And 10 thousand meter race
In Moscow Olympic
With a gear-changing tactic
What a trick, what a trick!
What a story to children
And grandchildren to tell
Recalling minutest
Detail well!”

In our childhood,
With people
In the neighborhood
Our eyes
To TV screens glued
We used to relishThe gear changer
Miruts’ sprinted finish
Forcing rivals
Winning dreams
To relinquish!

After the medal
Putting on ceremony,
Heading to
Our football pitch
We used to run round,
Round,round and round
Till exhausted ourselves
We found!

It is adopting
Mirutse’s footprint
Haile,Derartu,Kenenisa,
Tirunesh,Selershi and
Meseret sprint!
This formula grand
Gradually has found
Its way to Kenya
And England
May be tomorrow
To sire lanka or America!

A genius taken for a dummy!

In musical  notes composing
Ethiopia’s giant
Saint Yared , irate, once
Opted to run away
From an ecclesiastical school
Dubbed by his priest teacher
An idiot and a fool
Worse still
Looked down and ridiculed
By class mates, not cool.

Desirous to to burn his boat
He Trekked past a forest
And a pool
Determined never
To see those
Who cherish to pull
Over his eyes the wool.

Tired,he took a rest
By a tree shade
“I am good for nothing!”
Resonating in his head.

He continued
To lament his fate
Unaware God
Has a plan
To make him great.

While battling
To forget his pain
He saw a God-sent worm
Trying to climb a tree
Again,again,again,again
Again and again in vain!

To his surprise
The undaunted worm
Didn’t fight shy
In its seventh trial it
Managed to climb
The tree high
To enjoy the fruits laden
On the boughs
Outstretched to the sky!

Drawing a lesson
Saint Yared
Returned back to school
To out smart all
Who took him for
An dummy and a fool!

At long last he
Pioneered in composing
Ten path breaking
Musical notes that
Have no match
By any of, to date,
Succeeded batch!

Strange as it may appear,
Oblivious to
The unintentional
Piercing of his foot
By a king’s spear,
Fine-tuning
His ear
To angels’ orchestra to God
Engrossed, he was seen
With a similar passion
Praising the Lord!

Based on a true story! Google and read .Saint Yared,musical composer from Ethiopia.

#saintcomposeryaredethiopia

You break anew to make

 

A boy asked God

“Could you please
give me patience? ”

God to the boy

“I will send to you challenge! ”

The boy to God

“I think we are not
On the same page
When I asked
You for patience
It is not for  a change! ”

God to the boy

“Patience presupposes hassle,
In the remoulding
Process to render you
Tolerant and gentle!

Boy to God

“Yes hassle
To change
The peevish
To gentle
I shouldn’t forget
Your omniscience mantle!
You break
Anew to make! ”

Sometimes we need shock treatment to understand things

Secret of the mountains

It seems quite a conundrum to hear that the chain of majestic mountains found in Lalibela Lasta Wereda of the Amhara state have for ages clutched sacred and inaccessible the seals of wise men and artisans in their bosoms.

Following the activities carried out by the Ethiopian Tourism Sustainable Development Project specially in Axum and Lalibela mysterious mountains and caves,which surfed the tide of time proving impregnable to invaders, concealing secrets as well as evading probing eyes,13 churches built in caves are found.

For long, they were indiscernible to the naked eyes and not subject to scrutiny. But now as a result of the destination development work brought to the center stage, such touristic spots are coming to the limelight. Introducing the historic heritages the churches boast of as well as the state of nature they are in, the Culture and Tourism Bureau of the Lasta &Lalibela Wereda is calling for support in a bid to carry out a preservation and restoration works.

During the reign of King Gebre Meskele ,the son of King Kaleb, the three Monks that came had built a church called Eme kina Ledeta Mariam. After a 31 kilometer car ride, one will run into a Keble called Geter Meda (a vast land).Then after climbing an up hill road for two or three hours visitors get the church,built inside a cave. The church built from small rocks, mud and the like in a peculiar way portrays manifold designs. It houses many heritages.

The Eme Kina Medhaniel cave church was built in 532 , during the reign of Atse Gebre Meskele of the Axum , imitating the design of Noah’s ship. According to forefathers, it is built by the three monks after the Eme Kina Ledeta Mariam Church. Inside a huge cave Eme kina Medhaniel is a church well built in such a way that exhibits architectural beauty. Its spot for holy water is found in a darker natural cave, narrow at the mouth and wide inside. Since using hand torches is not that much help in illumining the interior of the cave, using twigs and splinters of woods making torches and adding twigs, when the need arises, visitors return back after observing the cave.

There are sayings circulating by word of mouth about the presence of people who failed to trace their way back and got lost in their desire to check the end of the vast cave. On Megabit 27 an annual festival is held in the church.

Utilizing the conducive situation created by sustainable tourism development project there is a call for making these heritages allurements of tourists. But such a move presupposes visiting, discovering and understanding such places promoting local tourism. As the saying goes “Seeing is believing!” paying homage to these must-sees is a worthwhile venture. The heritages serve students cases of research. They as well allow journalists do introspection into history and explain facts.

To nip things in the bud,before the heritages, subject to the wear and tear of time, suffer dilapidation they deserve restoration work. In this regard, a gigantic task awaits citizens and stakeholders. That is what the heritages speak out loud.

The bottom line is let us visit such tourist attractions,understand history with a sentiment of nationalism and a sense of responsibility. Let us protect ,develop and preserve them and pass them down to posterity.//

Translated From Culture and Tourism Amharic Publication,the original article is written by Zemedkun Abebe.

The acid test of love’s intensity

“Even for a fraction of a second
You, I don’t want  to miss!
In dancing attendance on you
I will never be remiss!”
This was your pledge
When in an eye-opener
Romance we were on
The same page.

Also it was your
Wont uttering
“Allow me please,
Now and then,
On your dainty lips
To plant a kiss!”

Putting at risk my health
Passing through
The valley of death
I gave you an offspring
Which we found
A miraculous
And strange thing!

When fantasies
To responsibility
Ceded place
You made a habit
Driving me
To the end of
My patience!
You drop to a pub
For quick once
With  your bachelor friends,
Who affectation-packed affection
On you dance!

I don’t think
You will lack
“Quick you have
To get back on track!”

Standing firm
And close by a  lactating spouse
In the teeth of responsibility
Also adversity
Is the acid test of
Love’s intensity!

You must not jump ship
The cream of the cake
After you did sip!

The feeling of a woman irritated by her husband a year latter from her marriage

#love   #weak

Fresh 2 decades later

Although fate,
Distance and time
Cruelly put asunder
You an indifferent girl
And I a self concious
Boy lover
Two decades later,
Lately ,I saw you
A mesmeric lady
With a son
And a daughter,
Full of life
And laughter.

Once again
Your voice
In my cloud
Shrouded heart
Rang a bell
To a paradise
That could
Change a hell.

Your sunrise
“I know you exist!” smile
Still has power
Me the cantankerous
To beguile!

Alighting from
Ultra-modern car,
Transfixed, I saw you
Recede far!//

Timeless sight love