A Little Bit of Everything
It is funny how people take things seriously. Seriously!??!
It starts with the death of PM Meles Zenawi. You know the funny thing about his death is that he died with Justifribilasis Fatilosis – Scientists discovered a new diseases in Belgium. I didn’t mean to say Scientists, but I guess many people might accept it when scientists say something. Continue reading ‘When the Ethiopian Social Media Lack the Humor’
Photo credit: When we stand together, facebook group
Media coverages on abuse of domestic workers elevate after the unfortunate news heard about Alem Dechasa who was publicly harassed by a lebanon guy. Recently, the guardian posts an interesting article about Alem’s family after her tragic death.
The lebanon’s daily star newsletter strongly criticizing the Lebanon government and its labour policy. In the latest article, Lebanon’s ways are sponsoring suicide, states Continue reading ‘Domestic Workers are Suffering in Middle East, and in Ethiopia’
By Frank Nyakairu
(This article is taken based on Create Common licence) – Thanks Endalk for sharing!
A colleague of mine from Kenya highlighted in highly contextualized fashion about SOPA’s impact on Africa.Enjoy reading it and join the struggle againstStop Online Piracy Act
It’s been said that example is the school of mankind, and they will learn at no other. Perhaps the truth of this saying is attested in the infamous Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and “The PROTECT IP Act” (PIPA) are proposed laws in the United States. But Uncle Sam’s bill meant to stop online copyright infringements is bitterly opposed in what is probably the most detested legislation process beyond the United States. Debate is rife. Its contenders argue that, SOPA/PIPA will protect trademarks, especially entertainment giants by stopping online piracy of content such as music books and movies. To stop that, it grants the US Attorney General the right to inflict penalty on websites accused of hosting copyright content. It is also intended to crack down on offending websites operating outside the US. But prescribing SOPA/PIPA as a remedy for online piracy is way too strong that it will kill the ‘patient’. Africa, the world’s poorest continent, stands to be affected most. Continue reading ‘Why SOPA will be a tragedy for Africa’
Photo credit: Quentin Leal (Vivian)
People usually like the end of December. Not that because they have accomplished a lot but New Year is coming with a message of Newness. We hear a lot of common expressions in these days that Time flies, getting old is scary, resolutions are insane but unavoidable, and what a year! ah!?
I love December. For me, the month which celebrates the end of the year is more important than the month which celebrates the beginning of the New Year. January makes me feel uncertain. It makes me feel I am challenging my principles on the power of now. I have all reasons to love January (even I was born in January 23rd). Though, I am not ready to let go 2011 yet. It’s not over. Because I am counting a day – not a year! Continue reading ‘Taking the Year 2012 for Granted: Lists’
It is my first time to write a movie review. I watched Teza last night and it blew me out. To start with, this movie came out to the cinema in 2008 . Don’t take it on me. I am quite frustrated by the quality of Ethiopian movies and this one came for the rescue. The cinematography of this movie is wonderful and beautifully Ethiopian. The casting is fantastic. It is another proves that Haile Gerima is a natural filmmaker.
What does Haile want to tell us? Continue reading ‘Haile Gerima’s Sons of Payton’
It is way dramatic.
In day to day life, there is some progress. Bad or good; High or low; Slow or rapid – But a progress.
The Chinese people say, “It doesn’t matter if you go slowly as long as you keep on going”. I can’t agree more. But the truth is I hate slow life. I hate it so much that I feel like choosing to stop instead. Continue reading ‘Just Buddies’
I remember the time when I went to the South Omo. I was fascinating by the beauty of the landscape. Dimeka is one of the famous tourist destinations in Ethiopia. The plants are greener than anywhere else I have ever traveled. You see the wild life as if they are created for you. I smelled awesomeness; I saw the beauty of nature being completely naked.
photo credit: Mario Di Bari. Taken from her facebook profile
Yesterday at Alize, Jörg and Munit were performing. As usual, Munit was an amazing entertainer. I am not here to write about last night’s acoustic soul, but about one of the songs which caught my attention. She wrote it for African liberty day that she was imagining having a highway which connects all African countries, without restricted boarders and visa bureaucracies.
When celebrating the African Union Day as Time to Let People and Goods Cross Borders. It seems that tragic stories follow up.
I have been thinking how African governments are failed on important cooperation to one another. The African boarders seem more open for non-African citizens than Africans themselves. In the matter of fact, the only African country, Kenya, is one of the two countries you can enter without a visa while having an Ethiopian passport (Yemen is the other country, and recently you can obtain on-arrival visa to Thailand. Ethiopians can enter to Somali-land without a visa – Thanks, Maike for the correction!).
A friend of mine, she was requesting a tourist visa to Djibouti – the closest county from all. The Djibouti embassy in Ethiopia told her the most shocking news. They don’t issue a tourist visa for Ethiopian women. This is serious, and extremely discriminative. What kind of a failed foreign relationship Ethiopia has with Djibouti that men can get visa and women do not? Take my word, this is official.
African boarders are closed for Africans. The economic advantage of developed countries makes these foreign affair concerns easier for them. But this is fairly political. It is easier for Filipinos to request a visa to Ethiopia than the Malawian passport holders.
No question, Africans need better relationship among themselves. And opening the boarder is the first step.
With the immense economical boost which has been recording recently in Africa, it is wise to appreciate free movements throughout the continent – which will motivate African tourists, business owners, experts and artists to focus on Africa itself rather than crowding other continents’ embassies.
It is even late, but “Time to Let People and Goods Cross African Borders”
Not a while ago the government set the price of certain commodities. Those prices were decided by government and some of the items were in short supply. A lot of people were suspicious about the measures where the government is heading to. Instead of creating a competitive environment, it will fractures small businesses. In the same time, some products, like beverages were included and it questioned the ideology behind it.
I personally believe, in the country where the market is highly influenced by few individuals these kind of measures are important. I believe the intentions behind this market regulation is not political or to benefit certain businesses. It is important that the government regulates market flows but increasing production and competitiveness.
Minibus Taxi
Recently, the same kind of measure was taken with Minibus taxi’s route. Today, most of the minibuses were not on the road. They are protesting the decision by the government. People were standing in the side of road for hours waiting for transportation. Normally taxi prices were fixed by the government. The city administration regulates the price depends on the petroleum price. Now with the new rules, the minibus taxis should have label which indicates a fixed source and destination. Minibuses can’t decide where to go anywhere except the single destinations which they are assigned to.
What are the advantages?
Minibuses usually cheat the passengers without going the full distance. (i.e instead of going from point A to B, they only take people half way and ask for more money for the second half).For example, they usually take people from 4kilo to Shoa Dabo instead of Bole directly. The price from 4kilo to Bole is 3.80ETB. But from 4 kilo to Shoa Dabo is 2.60 ETB, the same is true from Shoa Dabo to Bole.
This decision also boosts the traffic control. Usually, it is hard to track accidents. Now with this rule, the traffic police can easily locate a specific minibus.
What are the disadvantages?
Like what many people suspect, these kinds of measures questions how far the government wants to involve in private businesses. Ethiopia is capitalist. It seems that it is not true anymore. With more social oriented decisions, it indicates that the government is heading to Socialism. A single person represent the opposition parties also confirm the ideology. It is a one man playing game.
In this specific decision, it will cause shortage of transportation. I noticed that in area like from Meskel flower to Agona cinema, there are about 20 minibuses standing almost the whole day for nothing. Usually, these minibuses were only working at the pick time (evenings and early mornings), and work other places in the day times. This is not possible anymore.
The label is written in Amharic. Addis Ababa is an international city with a lot of foreigners. Many tourists use minibus taxis and they can’t understand the destinations anymore.
What’s next?
I expect few changes soon, or at least must happen. The first thing is, I expect the minibus owners will be boycotted the decisions. So it is interesting to see how the government will handle the situation. It is true that the transportation in Ethiopia is just a mess – big crazy mess. This area should be addressed soon, otherwise everyone is officially denied from moving from one place to the other.
The minibuses working hours need to be revised. So far it is not allowed for them to work (or as a customary) after 10:00p.m in the evening. I have no idea what is the problem behind this, but the minibuses should be on the road in the night too. It helps people work in the night and motivates many things to be available 24/7.
I was talking with a friend about the killing of Osama Bin Laden and how the world was cheering on the idea of justice finally served.
Shooting a man in the head doesn’t serve justice no matter how the person can be a top terrorist. This doesn’t necessary imply justice as long as the person stands in front of a court, just like other criminals.
The reason behind shooting Bin Laden in the head can be anything from his connection with Bush family to CIA or to satisfy the angry people in US or somewhere else.
But what does it mean for us, for ordinary people like you and me? What does it mean for unarmed person? On the other hand, what does it mean for world leaders who are fantasising shooting people in the head without condemn?
This single event done by the government which is regarded as the most fair and justice let anyone of us unsafe.
It can happen to anyone. American government did it in the name of counter terrorism, why not other governments?
