Sunday, September 4, 2011
Friday, August 5, 2011
The Paradox of Aid in Ethiopia
Whether Ethiopia has benefited from foreign aid in any virtuous way is a subject of ongoing debate. Of course somebody must be benefiting from those billion dollars poured by donors (Mind you Ethiopia receives more than $3 billion aid each year. The USA is being the largest bilateral donor and it gave $932m in aid in 2010). The question remains who might that invisible recipient be? Where do these billions end up? Where is that black hole?
Call it cynicism, but surely the lives of ordinary people of Ethiopians have been the same with or with out the aid. The aid instead nurtures our “lords”. Lords we can’t afford to feed but smart enough to feed themselves from the pie they secure on our behalf.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/9556288.stm
http://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/2011/08/04/eu-failed-to-act-on-ambassadors-reports-of-disappearances-and-election-intimidation/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/ethiopia/8681975/Britain-and-EU-increase-aid-to-Ethiopia-while-ignoring-human-rights-warnings.html
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Ethiopian fascination with the Arab Spring
Few weeks ago, a close friend of mine and myself were discussing this issue. I remember Ug voiced his concern on the naive move to replicate the Jasmine Revolution. Of course it is a legitimate concern. The socio-economic realm in current Ethiopia is different. Socially, we have some diverging interests and un-settlled arrearages. Besides Meles has given us a huge homework. I can keep on listing and listing. However, despite the gloomy look, there is a bright side of the reality. Wo wo I gotta stop my rhetoric here and invite you to read an impressive analysis by a great Ethiopian scholar. Dr. Aklog's article is a nice piece for thought, for us!
Part I- http://ethiomedia.com/andnen/2744.html
Part II- http://www.aljazeera.net/mritems/streams/2011/7/19/1_1074931_1_51.pdf
Part I- http://ethiomedia.com/andnen/2744.html
Part II- http://www.aljazeera.net/mritems/streams/2011/7/19/1_1074931_1_51.pdf
Thursday, July 28, 2011
A Daunting Task of re building the nation awaits the new Ethiopian Generation!
Well, It is not an easy job. But trust me it is not an impossible thing too. In fact we, the current generation, are lucky to be called for this task. To me it is an opportunity to prove that we are capable of rebuilding Ethiopia back to where "she" was and deserve to be. Hence allow me to quote Madiba,"sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great. You can be that great generation".
http://ecadforum.com/articles/2011/07/21/a-daunting-task-of-re-building-the-nation-awaits-the-new-ethiopian-generation/
Sunday, July 17, 2011
"We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately"?
Yes this is the kind of talk we need and we deserve. Come together, know each other and stand together!
http://www.ethiomedia.com/andnen/2685.html
http://www.ethiomedia.com/andnen/2685.html
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
Ogadens-my thoughts and prayers are with you!
It is utterly pathetic that those called themselves "champions of Human rights" remain deaf and blind on Ogaden. It is just a matter of time, Meles will definitively harvest for what he is sowing. Till then we will fight the evil together. Oromos, Somalis, Sidamas, Gambellas, Amharas. Tigrians... we are all victims of this brutal thug turn by turn. Time to stand together!
My thoughts and prayers are with you during this moment of tragedy! I am tearful.Thursday, June 23, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
The Betrayed, The Neglected
I believe the manacles of African people stem from two sources. First of all the continent is betrayed by its own elites (rulers and privileged ones) and then neglected by the western world. Like the legendary Ethiopian Christmas bread (Yegenna dabo) its unrelenting fire burns from above and below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JQYH5TgtMk&feature=share
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GXwt28Tkmc&feature=share
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JQYH5TgtMk&feature=share
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GXwt28Tkmc&feature=share
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Outsourcing won't be the craziest Idea
My close pal asked why and how dictators like Meles totally lost their sense for "SHAME"."SHAME”? The notion doesn't even exist in the world of woyane. Decency only applies to the average reasonable human beings with normal conscious. Dictators and thugs are far removed from that frame. Woyane and other gangs of Africa assumed power through direct or indirect blood-shed. The return path known to them is the same route they took to ascend to the power.
Sometimes I dare to ask myself if it is better to resource out the executive power, in the same manner as clubs bid for the best coach. I guess you guys remember Garziato, he did a wonderful job for our football. Why not? It won’t be the craziest idea. After all we are under “enemy rule” anyway as Aba Geda Guyo depicted in his tear-jerking letter. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ue1Kr2Bjko
Monday, June 13, 2011
Where are we?
The beef of Ayittey’s “law” of African dictatorship can be sum up as:
That African dictators manifest (he calls it common traits)
That African dictators manifest (he calls it common traits)
1) Denial of reality, 2) narcissism and 3) paranoia (fear)
That they can be either eliminated or purged through thoroughly organized revolt (they cannot be defeated through “rah-rah street demonstrations alone
That the GPS/blue print requires three things:
That they can be either eliminated or purged through thoroughly organized revolt (they cannot be defeated through “rah-rah street demonstrations alone
That the GPS/blue print requires three things:
- Establishment of a working coalition to organize and coordinate the activities of the various opposition groups
- Implimenting ruthless SWOT analysis i.e. getting the dictators, modus operandi right
- Getting the sequence of reform correct.
The One million$ question remains, Where are we?
For the full synopsis go to professor Almariam’s blog at http://open.salon.com/blog/almariam/2011/06/12/george_ayitteys_war_on_african_dictatorships
For the full synopsis go to professor Almariam’s blog at http://open.salon.com/blog/almariam/2011/06/12/george_ayitteys_war_on_african_dictatorships
George Ayittey’s War on African Dictatorships
He is so true..."Africans will tell you, we remove one cockroach and the next rat comes to do the same exact thing".
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Land deals in Africa: What is in the contracts? - IIED Publications Database
Of course every land "lease" can not equate land grabbing. I guess the "how" should be considered as a parameter, how much land and how much money?... you think i'm being sarcastic? i'm being honest in a sarcastic fashion.In any case read this insightful piece by Lorenzo Cotula.
The worst internet countries on Earth | memeburn
Well done, time to congratulate you Mr.Prime Minster!
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Cruel Ethiopia
A very insightful and critical piece by Helen Epstein, a bit lofty though. Still echoes the western media stereotype that portrays the nation that starves 24/7/365. As an Ethiopian you will be challenged with this stereotype. This happens a lot when you meet people in the west even in class room in my case. My response is usually bold, never down play the fact but share the other side of my country.
I believe the author rightly pinpointed the foremost issue. I believe one possible reason for Ethiopia’s aid dilemma is the disillusioned “we can fix it for you” approach by the donors and government. I believe the recipients have not been considered as partners yet.
Just to borrow the author's own description of this predicament “… both the Ethiopian Government and its donors see the people of this country not as individuals with distinct needs, talents, and rights but as an undifferentiated mass, to be mobilized, decentralized, vaccinated, given primary education and pit latrines…”
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Mobs of the millennium and the Renaissance Dam « Ethiopia: A voice for the voiceless
I am more troubled by the acts of the accomplices who aided the dictators steal from their own people. Mind you, almost all the money is channeled to western banks who brag themselves as champions of democratic values. For me such reports serve no purpose other than adding insults to the misery of the oppressed people. It is such a shame that those who courted the bad guys got the courage to tell us how deep we were hurt. I would rather be impressed if they show a bit of audacity to take responsibility for their own contribution. Only then would their rhetoric for good governance and rule of law be more than platitudes.
Mobs of the millennium and the Renaissance Dam « Ethiopia: A voice for the voiceless
Mobs of the millennium and the Renaissance Dam « Ethiopia: A voice for the voiceless
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