Red Sea

By Kesete Ghebrehiwet

The Southern Red Sea region is a land of opportunities as well as a land riddled with challenges. The putting in place of service rendering institutions in such a hostile climatic area is indeed beyond compare opportunity to the inhabitants of the region. Much of the development undertakings that have been registered in this area of the country require not only huge material costs but resistance of the people who engage themselves towards the realization of a better tomorrow.

Situated in the south east of the port city of Assab, Abo is one of the villages in the Southern Red Sea region. One who travels through this route never hesitates to make a tour and observe the service rendering institutions of that respective locality. Grapping one’s attention, a healthcare center and a kindergarten that are giving services to the inhabitants of Abo, indeed, prompt one to learn the progress that have been registered in the health and education sectors.

Sister Eden Hailu, head of Abo healthcare center, describes the overall healthcare services that have been rendering and particularly the prenatal and postnatal services at nominal prices. She said that giving vaccines to children by visiting their respective locality and conducting health related awareness raising programs have been part of the routine activities of the healthcare center. As the inhabitants of the area have been aware of the benefits of the delivery services that have been rendering at healthcare institution, a number of pregnant women have been availing themselves of the services.

A few meters away but within the premises of the healthcare center one could see a kindergarten which is giving regular pre-school services to the children of Abo and its environs. What is really impressing about the kindergarten is that a pre-school teacher who is in her twenties has been working there for the last 3 years. In these three years, Sister Natsnet Kidane has become fluent speaker of the Afar language. Pointing out that it is really a blessing to teach in a place which enables you to acquire a much different cultural and linguistic knowledge; she expressed her satisfaction to teach the children at ease with their mother tongue and also with a great passion.

Agricultural undertakings of the Abo-Kiloma administrative area are also very encouraging. Taking into account the arid and semi-arid climatic condition of this respective area, it is very easy to understand that conducting such agricultural activities depending on rainy seasons is really a very demanding task. But, farmers around this administrative area are doing their best in cultivating varied types of crops and vegetables. In about 6 heaters, one could see date palm plantations and other crops, vegetables and fruits and other plantations such as watermelon, pepper, tomato, onion, sorghum, maize which are at good condition.

Despite being an arid place, the Abo-Kiloma administrative area is rich in underground water which just requires no more than 2 meters drilling to find fresh water that could be utilized both for agricultural and for household activities. Thus, if the farmers of this locality exert concerted efforts water deficit could not become a hindrance. The palm dates in particular just need watering only for about three months for they could absorb the underground waters by themselves. So, it is a timely issue for the Ministry of Agriculture and other concerned bodies to take part in utilizing the potentials at disposal and provide the farmers with necessary pesticides.

Any passer by who knew the Southern Red Sea region some years back is obliged to admire the distribution of educational and potable waters supply in such a wider areas of the region. Beylul administrative area which is situated a few km away from the main Assab-Idi route is part of the Southern Denakalia administrative area. Even though it still needs a fence, the healthcare institution of this area is also giving full medical services. What is really worth mentioning is, however, the solar energy powered water supply project. Besides securing its sustainability through judicious utilization, the inhabitants of Beylul have been giving due care in protecting the project from any sort of damage.

Generally, the service rendering institutions that have been put in place in different areas of the Southern Region are very appreciable. But, Berasole administrative area still needs to have such services. Some healthcare institutions that have been constructed in such area have not been equipped with medical instruments and there is also a deficit of medical professionals.

Traveling to the southern Red Seal region one could not miss the region’s potential of producing wind energy. Wind turbines that have been erected in Assab have, for instance, been generating almost 1/3 of the city’s total demand. Wind energy suppliers equipment that has been put in place in many of the villages of the Southern Red Sea is in fact vivid example of such potentials. But, its sustainability would be endangered for proper renovation and maintenance has not been made for long.

Shabait

/CE

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Asmara, 25 January 2012 – Eritrean nationals residing in Northern Germany have conducted meeting in Hamburg City. Following in-depth discussion regarding the objective situation in the Homeland and the role of every citizen in the nation-building process, the nationals called on the Security Council to play due role in compelling the TPLF regime to evacuate from occupied sovereign Eritrean territory in violation of international law and the EEBC ruling.

 They also called for the annulment of the illegal sanctions resolution against Eritrea. The nationals further voiced determination to reinforce endeavors for successful implementation of development programs, standing alongside their people and government.

The Eritrean Ambassador to Germany and Austria, Mr. Petros Tsegai, gave extensive briefings regarding the implementation of development programs. He also stressed the need to redouble endeavors to foil enemy conspiracy and reinforce national harmony.

 https://picasaweb.google.com/113281895464203930989/MeketeHamburg02?authkey=Gv1sRgCJvb_d7qzf27nAE#slideshow/5701575858038012514

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By: Berhane Woldu

The Bush administration in its eight years in power has ruined our economy and the American credibility around the world by declaring unwarranted war.

President Obama was elected by promising “CHANGE” and had not made any significant changes neither to help the economic recovery nor to regain America’s good name and its world leadership. Americas economic and political might have come to be questioned. Our leaders have succumbed to “special interest” groups and gone to war for highly questionable reasons.

According to S&P 500 index and Bureau of Labor Statistics the U.S., stock market has fallen 40% and the U.S. economy has lost 4.1 million jobs in 2009.

All of the news that are broadcasted by the primordial news media this day has nothing good to say but remind us how bad our economy has become and that our lifestyle has changed for the worst. The “classless” recession has touched every social stratum. The poverty rate has increased and 46 million Americans are now poor. The recession has created the most job losses in the history of modern America. Those who did not lose their job have had pay cuts, every American household have been affected by depressed home values, shrunk stock portfolios, much decreased retirement saving and bank withdrawal that has eroded families saving nest. Young Americans and college graduates have had hard time locating meaning full employment, those with no skill or did not complete high school mostly minorities 50% are unemployed. Professionals who were not impinged-on in previous recessions have now become victims. The unemployment rate has stayed above 9% for over two years. Every social class has been affected by job looses, small and big businesses have gone bankrupt. The recession, though ruthless to everyone, was most disruptive and dishearten to those who previously were the most privileged. One of the legacies of the recession is that insecurity and uncertainty has affected the white color highly paid professionals and has stranglehold on the American psyche.

While regular Americans are in economic hardship, Wall Street has become one of the wealthiest industry in the history of the American economy and the most powerful political force in the world. Investment bankers and their allies assumed top positions in the White House and the Treasury Department. “What is good for Wall Street is good for America”. Wall Street gained the wealth and prestige necessary to enter the halls of power and sway the opinions of the political establishment in their favor. Free from the threat of regulation they created finical instruments such as; high yield debt, Securitization, arbitrage trading and derivatives that made them wealthy.

According to Bureau of Economic Analysis, the four major investment banks in the USA were responsible for 47% of the GDP. The failure to regulate the Finical Innovations of Modern Finance, created the housing bubble, when the bubble burst the collapse in the value of securities based on the housing market triggered the financial crisis. The US economy contracted by 4 %, financial institution took large amount of losses bringing the US economy to freeze. The US government bailed out Wall Street with rescue package worth trillions of taxpayer’s dollars. The Banks were too big to fail. Alan Greenspan the world-distinguished economist on October 15, 2009 suggested that the mega banks be broken up into small parts.

In the late 19th Century there were big industries that dominated the US economy these trust companies had become powerful as the Wall Street Bankers. President Theodore Roosevelt understanding the danger to the economy used the antitrust laws to break them up. However, Wall Street has the political influence and the powers to be under its captivity. Today Wall Street is bigger, more profitable and these profits are transformed into political power through campaign contribution. The “special interest” groups in Washington put pressure on the political system to get what they want. These over 100,000 “special interest” groups’ lobbyists have power. Presidents, congress and senators might come and go but Wall Street and their lobbyists’ remain.

Gorge W Bush preached about Iraqis having Weapons of Mass Distraction went to war and got over 4,500 Young Americans killed and millions if not trillion of tax payers money wasted for war waged for highly questionable reasons. In the Age of Obama for his part has intensified the Afghanistan war spending trillions of dollars and thousands of young American’s dear life. President Kennedy chose to preserve peace with the Soviet Union rather than risk a war that would have destroyed both nations; in doing so, he changed the course of world history. President Regan resisted using force against America’s enemies. He refused to send U.S. troops into Nicaragua, El Salvador, or Panama. President Regan did not retaliate for the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut instead; he withdrew American troops from Lebanon. Regan knew that battling terrorist in a civil war wasn’t in the U.S. best interest.

America needs a corrective action both in Domestic policy and foreign relations to regain our world leadership. We need a leader who is wise, just, omniscient, dependable effective, an achiever a president who cares about getting stuff done and not rhetoric. The greatest danger posed by Iran, North Korea, China and Russia is not military it’s economic. We need to change course, spend less on military adventures and rebuild our economy. As Americans, we need to go back to our puritan ethics and democratic values.

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Perplexed in sadness
Hurt by violation, rape of innocence
Incensed by injustices
Violations of bliss,
Violations of hope, ambitions
Angered by brutes, the calloused
The soulless

Beset by history in history
By bigotry
Bigots, zealots and banditry
Surrounded by misery

Yet, seized in the moment by the moment
For the moment
For one,
For all
In unity
In strength
Confidently,
Proudly, with pride
With joy
With knowledge and trust
Trust in God/Allah
Trust on each other
In purpose one purpose
In honor and for honor…
Successfully,
In the island of peace
Molded in their honor
For their honor

Eritrea will prevail, always
Awet N-Hafash

Amanuel Biedemariam

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Eritrea

Amanuel Biedemariam

The “Disinformation” campaign that the enemies waged against Eritrea would simply have given the world a wrong impression of what Eritrea is or is not. In September of 2011, the US led by Ambassador Susan Rice, Johnny Carson of The State Department and other US officials echoed lies that there is famine in Eritrea.

These falsities were-then propagated by the mouthpiece media outlets and distributed globally. The question is why Ambassador Rice would wage a disinformation campaign against Eritrea to the world while at the same time trying to sanction Eritrea’s mining and other sectors and deny the people the fruits of their labor.

The idea behind the disinformation campaign is to undermine any Eritrean achievement in order to hide their failures in countries like Ethiopia that have made famine a way of life, to protect the tyrants on their payroll from criticism for failing their people and to justify illegally conceived punitive measures against the people of Eritrea.

The reality remains however, regardless of their attempts Eritrea keeps shining. The negative campaigns are overwhelmed by Eritrean achievements in every field. Eritrea is progressing in agriculture, mining, education, medicine and in all areas faster than any other country in the region. In athletics, Eritrea resuscitated once killed sports programs to life and into world-class athletics that is turning heads around the globe.

In cycling, Eritrea’s achievements prompted Biciciclismo a cycling magazine to do a piece about Daniel Teklehaimanot, calling it, “The great Black Hope” after he won the 7th African Cycling championship in Eritrea. Eritrean cyclists on individual and team competitions dominated the African Cycling Tournament. The story takes the reader back to 1936 when Eritrean cycling started and how it died during the Ethiopian colonial period and concludes, “But Daniel Teklehaimanot is just the tip of the iceberg Eritrean cyclist behind him comes a generation of riders born in 1990 and 1991, led by the newly proclaimed ‘Champion Berhane Nantnael’, which aims to place the Eritrean in cycling map the coming years.” This did not happen by accident and raises an interesting question; how is it possible for a nation under so much duress to rise in a continent that fails in every category to be considered the “Great Black Hope”?

The answer is Eritrea is the outlier! Eritreans are dogged in all fields. Since independence in 1991, in the agricultural sector Eritreans in every corner of the country from the time they are old enough to do the national service onwards they work the land. They clear shrubs, level the lands, terrace mountainous areas, assist farmers etc… Hard work is a way of life in Eritrea. There is no place in Africa, other than Eritrea, where an entire nation is required, encouraged, motivated and incentivized to participate in all the nation building endeavors like in Eritrea. And it worked. As a result, dams are up with more on the way, people are producing agricultural products to put to shame those that lie and shamelessly state, “There is famine in Eritrean.” A wide variety of agricultural products exists everywhere in Eritrea to the point of export. Above all, there is a mentality in Eritrea that defies the norm; Eritreans know they do not have to beg for food, they know how to feed their kids and families!

In the field of medicine, Eritrea has developed ingenious ways to overcome brain drain and is developing capacities that ensure future generations capable to treat each other at the highest levels. This came to life by nurturing sustainable medical educational programs that is bearing fruit by graduating new batches of doctors capable to expand future programs. The government is doing its part by collaborating with friends and allies to infuse expertise in various areas of medicine. Eritreans in the Diaspora are doing their part to promote it. As a result, Eritreans are able to provide medical services throughout the country. These are templates for success to emulate. In fact, in the near future Eritrea will be a medical destination. Favorable climate, prevailing security and hospitable people make Eritrea an attractive destination.

This is true in every sector. Eritrea will hand the world many surprises for decades to come. Not many have inkling that shortly after independence Eritrea developed the capacity to manufacture high-grade boats of all sizes for export and local consumption. Coupled by expansive coastal area of the Red Sea, Marine Science and Technology College and strategic location will ensure a diverse array of industries including ecotourism.

To ensure mobility, quietly, Eritrea built impressive roads and feeders in one of the world’s most difficult terrains connecting Eritrea from coast to coast, east to west and south to north including roads that link Eritrea to Sudan to facilitate trade and tourism. This is accomplished with indigenous engineering and muscle. Eritrea at this stage is capable to build its own transportation infrastructures and if opportunity arises to export the expertise. After independence, when foreigners were asked to rebuild the rail system of Eritrea, they asked for astronomical sums of money forcing Eritrea to summon retired rail workers to revive the rail system. That is bearing major fruit now by playing a role in the revival of tourism. These monumental achievements are true in every sector of the country. Again, why did Eritrea succeed in many areas in such a short time relative to others?

In addition to the dogged nature, “Can do” attitude, determination to succeed, Eritrea is blessed with a cohesive government that works together with the people regardless of the ministry. This was demonstrated during the 7th African Cycling championship in Eritrea. The manager of Team South Africa Mr. Barry Austin was ecstatic when describing Eritrea. He said, “When we arrived in Asmara, Eritrea, we were pleasantly surprised by the hospitality and friendliness of the people.” And further expressed satisfaction, “Here in Eritrea the entire government was supporting the championship from the Ministry of Tourism to the police and the Defense Forces making sure that we were safeguarded and looked after every step of the way collectively. And you have people in the government at all levels working that way nothing can go wrong.” His love and adoration for Eritrea and his satisfaction with the experience was evident. Cyclist Cherise Taylor said coming to Eritrea, she was concerned about her safety because Eritrea is in an unstable violent region. And elaborated by saying, “Perfect Harmony …for National Dignity is definitely a motto the Eritreans live by.” The stories they heard about Asmara being the safest capital in Africa, and after what they witnessed, they believe it. Most of the cyclist attested about the safety of the country, the prevailing peace and public participation to be better that what they experienced around the world including Europe.

Hence, regardless of the lies told about the nation, the people, the government or life in Eritrea the reality is Eritrea has a good grip into the foundation of life. And it is unshakable because at the core, the fabric of the foundation is the people. In his recent visit to New York City, His Excellency President Isaias Afwerki said, “When I was in China in military school I was taught three people to one. And I use to say why not one for three. I wonder alone sometimes and think about Eritreans and Eritrean population numbers provided by the UN and others and, wonder whatever number they give what number I can multiply it by considering the achievements of Eritreans. Three times…ten times… During our struggle for liberation, we were fighting one to ten. This is not exaggeration it is a historic fact. However, today, Eritreans have expanded the capacity and are making incredible achievements.”

This reality is governing Eritreans and nothing can change that,

Awetnayu@hotmail.com

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Shigei

By Shigei Gebremedhin

“Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome.” – Arthur Robert Ashe, Jr.

20 hours and 5 in-flight movies later, I finally arrived in Nairobi, Kenya.  I stood at the baggage claim, praying that my checked-in duffle bag would roll down the conveyor belt, as my experience has taught me that this is not a guarantee when it comes to international flights.

As I stood there, I saw a tall man donned with brand new hiking boots and an overstuffed backpack, and my intuition told me we were here for the same reason.

I turned around and asked if he had plans on climbing a mountain.  His eyes lit up and I immediately knew my intuition had served me well.  He too was a member of the 2011 Accenture-Voluntary Service Overseas Mount Kilimanjaro Corporate Challenge, and had been on my final connecting flight. As we sat in a cab from the airport to the hotel, I tried to balance my attention between my new friend and the view from the window.  It was almost as if I had an internal chant in my head…

We are in Nairobi, Kenya.  Nairobi…Kenya.  To climb Mount Kilimanjaro.  Mount…Kilimanjaro.  We are here.  I am here.  This is happening.

Day 1 primarily consisted of getting checked into the hotel and having dinner with the trek group.  As we got to know each other, it was clear that we were quite a diverse bunch, as we represented different cities from around the world, spoke different languages, fell in different age brackets, and held different positions within the firm.  Even with all these variances, I felt a sense of harmony around the table, of compassion, competitiveness, and excitement.

The morning of day 2, we regrouped and headed out to visit one of the projects, the Kenya Association of the Intellectually Handicapped (http://kaihid.org/) that benefited from the Mount Kilimanjaro Corporate Challenge trek.  We spent the day understanding the goals of the organization and had the opportunity to get to know some of the volunteers and beneficiaries.  The day reinforced the reasons why we were there and brought the real goal home.

Day 3, we crossed countries from Nairobi, Kenya to Marangu, Tanzania.  Between mini-naps, I noticed that the 10-hour drive exposed us to attractive forestry and plains.  We mentally prepared ourselves for the next morning where we planned to embark on our trek, beginning at the Rongai National Park gate.

Day 4 – 8, we saw both extremes of vegetation, from beautiful, lush rainforests to dry, barren desert land.  Days would begin with warm temperatures that required only t-shirts, shorts, and layers of sunscreen and would end with brutally cold nights that required at least 4 wool layers of clothes to survive in our frost coated tents.  We were left with only the most meager of resources, where the luxury of a warm shower was only a dream and nourishment was only enough to sustain us for our grueling journey.

Day 9 was the day that we would finally achieve our goal of reaching the Summit, which would have to be earned in one of the most exhausting physical and mental challenges that I have ever faced.  We left camp at 12-midnight to commence the trek up the steep scree slopes to Gillman’s Point, continuing around the rim, passed Stella Point and onto the highest point of Africa – Uhuru Point.  We experienced a snow-ice-rain storm that continued on for 36-hours.  We climbed for 8-hours in -10C degree weather and heavy snow, and quickly learned that the only way to get through it was to keep our heads down and let the light from our head torch guide the way.  Summit night included nausea, darkness, extreme cold, and a throbbing headache due to the altitude.  We focused on matching the stride of our leg to the swing of our arm with our walking pole.  All of us were pressed to our limits, and in spite of their valiant efforts, we succumbed to mountain sickness, exhaustion, and some of the many perils of our journey.  Nevertheless, the majority of us were able to reach the Summit of Kilimanjaro with the help of supportive guides and amazing porters, most of whom climbed the mountain at least 10 times.  Ridiculous.

There were 25 of us that were part of the Corporate Challenge, many of whom met their threshold on that mountain.  6 of the 25 capitulated before reaching Uhuru Point due to exhaustion or altitude sickness.  I never heard and saw so many people regurgitate.  Throughout our climb, we took 2-minute breaks to fuel our bodies with protein bars and water droplets from our frozen bottles.

As I reflect back on how I was able to reach the summit of 5,895m, I have come up with 4 reasons:

1. Charity:  I kept thinking of the volunteers and beneficiaries that we met our first full day in Nairobi

2. Friends/Family:  The generous fundraising supporters

3. Trek Group:  We looked out for each other on that mountain

4.  Personal drive:  There is no way I flew all this way, and for the last 5-consecutive days, slept on rocky slopes and stuffed myself with porridge and energy bars without reaching the top.

We spent only 15-minutes at Uhuru Peak.  We stood on the roof of Africa, and took pictures, tried to hug each other over down jackets, and just breathed – with the little oxygen that we could!  Although everyone’s hair and clothes were weighed down with ice, and our muscles screamed at us, we all felt so alive!  We were infected with excitement and a sense of achievement.  We made it.  Shortly after, we started our descent at record speed, where we were able to literally ski down the loose volcanic scree trail.  The day was a total of 11-hours of trekking.

Day 10, we set off early to trek to Marangu Gate.  It was a mixture of happiness and relief that got our exhausted bodies moving forward for our last walk.  After 5-hours of trekking, we reached the gates at Marangu, where our bus waited to take us to the hotel for a well-appreciated shower and celebratory dinner.

Day 11, we were on a bus for 10-hours, returning to Nairobi.  We spent the day recounting what we had seen and how we felt.  We looked at each other’s pictures and agreed that the entire trek was lined with panoramic views that we did our best to capture on memory cards.  As trying as the adventure was, we all felt a sense of connection to the mountain, to each other, and to the charity.  I remember the drive back being very peaceful.

It was a rewarding experience that will never be forgotten.  This epic journey reminded me that life is a marathon, not a sprint.  And, I could not have asked for a better group of people to share this journey with.  As a group, we raised almost $150K and still counting!  This certainly could not have been done without the thoughtfulness and generosity of so many friends and family members.

I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to climb the world’s largest free standing mountain with such amazing people in support of an incredible charity.  It still feels surreal.

Shigei Gebremedhin, 30 October 2011

Go Eritrea

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And here we go again…, Wedi Tikabo’s song came alive in New York during the Presidential gathering as it did in Asmara Stadium in May 24, 2011 independence day. The song Tsim-b-la-lie (Butterfly) by Yohannes Tikabo, due to its strong lyrical and musical appeal shined in Manhattan center New York City. Even though I was not personally there, the experience seemed fun, joyful, exciting and felt the love of my people in one place for one purpose.

As H.E. President Isaias Afwerki and delegates entered the Manhattan Center they were received with standing ovation and cheerful roar a show of pleasure and satisfaction. The President gathering must have been gratifying and satisfying for the leaders and participants as they cheered the moment-away accompanied by great songs that included Butterfly.

What is it that makes most his song unique?

I will start with some: — Catchy melody (hooks)

— Lyric with strong Eritrean appeal

— The character (of the song) has a strong desirable personality

— Strength (very clear and powerful message)

For me, a great song has to resonate in some way in my memory, either lyrically or musically, long after I’ve heard it. Great songs come back year after year and evoke old emotions anew and sometime find something new, or rediscover the original. It is the harmonic blending of the sound, the story and the rhythm that evoke emotions and arouse my imagination. Wedi Tikabo’s lyrics have a vivid metamorphosis and images that transcend time and place. Not only does it rhyme; it has a strong rhythmic feel to its verses.

It is eight minutes long, complex and pleasant. When I first heard it was after H.E. President Isaias Afewerki concluded his speech during the 20Th anniversary of Eritrean independence. It was a dramatic finish to a lively program that brought the audience to their feet. As he was performing, the lighting was adequate; the set design was simple but effective; and the pixilated life images used in place of back projector — great idea.

Ultimately, the music and lyric was accessible; oddly familiar yet refreshing; playful but serious; and appealing to Eritreans. And

despite the meaningful contradictions and complex mishmash of lyrical styles, he kept the crowd captivated by a sensation that they were witnessing something entirely new. The lighting was beautifully matching the sound, creating a sensory texture that jabbed straight in the spinal cord. Definitely, a warm rush of blood to the head, causing neck hair to stand up along the way…

It was a brilliant show on beautiful winter. Sometimes it is all timing-a song hits you at a time of change, attaches itself readily and becomes associated with that experience of changing time. Wedi Tekabo comes along and resuscitates us with a refreshingly positive, yet solid, dose of a new metamorphosis that define our strength and unity under one Allah(Mesgid) and God(Debre).

Butterfly: in short can be defined as Emerging. Even though I am not able to sort his lyrical message without knowing what was going on through his mind; allow me to express my personal assessment of his Lyrics.

Simply, Wadi Tekabo, as a singer, song writer and performer has managed to convey his message by symbolizing chronological transitions (metamorphosis) of a butterfly and, how it deals with its formation, growth and development phases. Those stages represent how Eritrea survived through challenging period and emerged a sovereign state because of the patience, integrity, responsibility, religious harmony, synchronization of national development and national Defense and sacrifices of Warsai and Yekealo. Wedi Tekabo managed to direct us to be vigilant and that our umbrella should be impenetrable from any kind of acidic rain, temporary flashing lightning, roaring thunder that simply fades-out even if Eritrea, the Butterfly, was encircled and entrapped by traitors from within and outside by evil thoughts and deeds.

Finally, what makes our Independence Day anniversaries, national holiday celebrations, organizing committee, like the Manhatan Center, Eid Al Fitir and Kudus Yohannes unique is a combination of many factors. It is not just the obvious ones such as a great dance, music, performance, attentive audience etc… But it is also an opportunity to highlight the importance of event organizers, music writers and lyricists, instrument players, dancers and security officers and the like that contribute mightily to the success of these events but go on unrecognized.

TV ERI, thank you and congratulation on the success for putting on an inspiring events, anniversaries and educational programs to our homes inside and outside the country. And also my thanks go to every singers and musicians who always contribute patriotic national songs and participated in various occasions from within and all the talented singers and musicians from abroad.

Long live Eritrea!

Tesfai Abraham (Asbu)

Click here to view the embedded video.

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Hannah Pool

The writer Hannah Pool shares the story of her upbringing and life on CNN’s African Voices .

Born in Eritrea she is equally at home at the fashion shows of New York as she is in the remote African villages where her family still lives. Her far from conventional upbringing, which saw her living in numerous countries in Africa and Europe, became even more confusing when, at the age of 19, she discovered that her father, who she had always thought was dead, was alive and well and living in Eritrea. In this programme she tells Atika Shubert her remarkable story.

Hannah Pool was adopted from an orphanage in Eritrea and grew up in England, via Sudan and Norway, with her white adoptive father. Then a brother she never knew she had wrote to her from Eritrea, which led to a journey to trace her unknown family.

Showtimes:

•Saturdays: 09:30, 15:30
•Sundays: 09:00, 22:00
•Mondays: 10:30, 18:30
(all times GMT)

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5. The Spiegel Magazine: An Eritrean in Frankfurt

There is a Facebook group, which I belong to, called:” We Are All Isaias Afwerki”. From the start, there were discussions about why we are all Isaias Afwerki and the answers were all the same worded differently. We are because he is the embodiment of what Eritrea is all about. We are because he is and has been the face of Eritrea past, present and has set a precedent for the future. We are because he is what Eritrea is all about; grit, determination, perseverance, commitment and he is a finisher. We are because he is like every one of us; humble and determined to leave within his means while focusing on the future sacrificing a great deal. We are because of his commitment to honor the martyrs by building a nation worthy of their sacrifices and, the list could go on…

One of the most important foundations to life is thankfulness to God/Allah for the small blessing of the world. It is only then that the blessings multiply and multiply. To recognize those small blessings is a blessing in itself. In fact, relatively speaking, many of the disadvantages Eritrea was dealt-with turned out to be a blessing. The fact that Eritrea was denied independence when all African countries were handed their “freedom” turned out to be a major blessing. It gave Eritrea the time to see the entrapments laid out in plain day light to learn from. There is a saying in Tigrigniya that means “let Him give you example and not make you one.” Eritrea was lucky to have-had examples of how not to be. However, Eritrea needed direction of how-to-be and how to chart directions away from the failing of the others that regressed precipitously due to corruption with few on the top echelon sucking the foundations-away from the people to ruins everywhere in Africa without exception.

The struggle for the independence of Eritrea was a blessing in a sense because it became a struggle for freedom not only from the chains of colonialism but also from the mental slavery that the west placed upon Africans. It gave Eritrea a space to deal with the political upheavals that Eritrea faced during the first half of the struggle that could have undone the revolution. The ethnic, religious and regional divisions the Eritrean revolution inherited was paralyzing. All these divisions and differences led to a civil war that lasted for years frustrating many that just wanted to see Eritrea focus on the enemies. This also triggered massive exodus.

Eritrea also had nothing in terms of organizational structures, resources and support to start the revolution. There was no standing organized army. The tasks at hand seemed impossible or insurmountable, and the odds were stacked against Eritrea. The possibilities that Eritrea could eject Ethiopia, a country that was backed by US, Israel and the USSR was almost unthinkable to the world. Ethiopia received then as now military, political, financial, diplomatic, and all kinds of assistances while Eritrea had none.   

What Eritrea had were determined people that want independence, peace and life based on a higher standard. Eritrea had people willing to work hard, to sacrifice and pay all that they have in life that is necessary for freedom; people that are willing to endure the rigors, hardships and pain for victory. They wanted to chart their own course in uncharted territories. They carried a stick to fight tanks and, stones to fight war planes. Because that was all they had. They used their ingenuity and illusiveness to elude the enemy and fought with rifles against organized armies. In the process they learned to scavenge effectively. For the first time in the history of Africa, Eritreans fought a well trained and armed army with armaments they took away from Ethiopian soldiers they killed and captured in battle and used it to build a national army.

Eritreans fought Ethiopia and the superpowers with everything they had. They fought Ethiopian soldiers and intelligence from within Ethiopian-held cities and territories risking their lives. They fought the fight for freedom from every corner around the globe. They were resourceful, brilliant and dedicated. That again became another blessing that benefited independent Eritrea. It created a network of organized Eritreans in every corner of the world. The traditions and values that were established then are serving Eritrea in this challenging world in ways unseen anywhere. It is saving Eritrea from many threats that are threatening to wipe clean the blood of the martyrs and to undo the hard won independence.

Central in these struggles was a group of Eritrean women and men that are farsighted, brilliant, dedicated, imaginative and fearless. They were humble, down-to-earth and cognizant on the fact that Eritrea’s number one asset is her people. They lead the struggle with a realistic approach to life grounded around established ethical, religious and cultural values. They exploited those values and harnessed a work ethic that became a way of life in Eritrea. That work ethic was designed to empower the people by relying on freedom from handouts. They taught them that only collective effort can yield desired outcomes and supported that with a slogan, “Victory to the Masses” and trekked believing, “ Our struggle is long and VICTORY certain.” They trekked unfazed by distractions meant to derail the struggle. They ignored it then as now saying,” let the DOGS bark as the camel strides.” And they arrived. They arrived into a new nation victorious led by Bitsay, Tegadalay, His Excellency President Isaias Afwerki amongst other leaders.                     

As a new nation, Eritrea required her leaders to meet certain requirements. The leader needed to be strong, visionary, committed, selfless and experienced. It required a strong character with unshakeable faith on the people of Eritrea. It required incorruptible character that will not sell the people as they do all over Africa. It required someone with a military like discipline, with a work ethic, unfazed by the glitziest and glamour. It required someone that knows the people of Eritrea and to have a certain personal attachments, understanding, compassion and genuine affection. It required understanding of the anguishes, hardship and painful struggles they went through to get her. They needed someone who knows their homes and families; someone who is like them. Above all, they wanted someone that will honor their sons, daughters, mothers and fathers that perished. They needed someone that can carry the mantle in their honor everywhere.

Eritrea did not need a ruler. Eritrea needed someone that can be a captain of the Eritrean submarine in uncharted waters. Because every Eritrean is capable to play his or her part as they have for decades. Eritreans assumed roles to successes. Every Eritrean is a leader. That is what Eritrea requires from all her children without exception. The tasks at hand for all Eritreans are so varied and numerous it required Eritreans to roam free representing their nation in every aspect of life everywhere. It required filling all the gaps needed, however they can and as directed and they did a million times over. 

That makes for a great partnership between a country and leadership; all works in harmony as it is and has been with His Excellency President Isaias Afwerki. Eritrea is a blessed nation with a leader that the world has ever seen without exaggeration. President Isaias is one of the greatest of gifts Eritrea is blessed with. It is often not commonly practiced in Eritrea to praise a leader; some are culturally squeamish since all have contributed mightily for Eritrea in many ways. That is understandable because there are those that have given entire families, limbs and paid in many ways near and dear. However, this special occasion warrants the greatest of praises to one of Eritrea’s greatest heroes.

President Isaias met all the requirements that Eritrea required and more. He is the source of strength, unity, the voice, the parental figure, the brother and warrior in trenches. He is the guide that points Eritrea in the right direction. He led the mother in a distant field toward the water that can quench the thirst of child. He is a farmer; member of huge farmland called Eritrea; and he is roaming throughout the entire country greening the land wherever he goes. He is the teacher that believes all the kids must have the same opportunities to learn not to get out of poverty as the main objective but to thrive in life and in the process; lift the nation to the highest of standards. He is the friend of the doctor that saw a nation’s health as a national imperative and built medical facilities throughout Eritrea. He is a man that knows military strategy, intelligence, security and geopolitics. He is the man that co-founded one of the strongest armies in the world and created a national service program to ensure perpetuity.

To say what transpired in Eritrea over the last half century is a miracle is to truly undermine the brilliance of Eritrea’s leaders and a leader. When the history of the world looks back at this era and particularly relative to African nations, Eritrean leaders led by His Excellency President Isaias will be looked at as the greatest leaders of our time and models to be emulated simply because of their commitment to freedom and build a nation by relying on itself. What is even mind-boggling is the simplicity of the formulas they employed. It is a formula that just focused on the masses to be aware, organize and get armed for life.

In life, the average person is limited to certain accomplishments mainly personal. What His Excellency President Isaias Afwerki has done with his life is admirable. Eritrea is blessed to have leaders that function at high levels. However, President Isaias epitomizes the best of them. He is selfless, focused, brilliant and a true Eritrean who made Eritrea, his life’s work. He lived Eritrea. Eritrea is his mission, his way of life and life. He gave his life for Eritrea. That commitment is the reason why he was able to oversee Eritrea transform through critical stages that propelled Eritrea into the world stage that we are witnessing today. He saw the beginning and lived the transformation. He experienced all the ups and downs of the Eritrean revolution from atop. He lived through the hardships to see the independence of Eritrea by defeating enemies. He oversaw the unthinkable; the yanking of the Derg regime; facilitated a regime change and produced the signature that engraved Eritrea as a member nation of the UN. He ushered Eritrea into a new Era of independence through the referendum.

Soon after independence, Eritrea was challenged as a nation militarily, politically, economically and in every conceivable way by enemies that wanted to reverse a hard won independence. His Excellency President Isaias again guided the nation with strength, and showed Eritrea the way-out into the new platform of freedom that is in the process of placing Eritrea in par with the rest the developed world in unprecedented speed shocking detractors and naysayers. The only way to describe it will be to liken it to a nuclear submarine navigating through the darkest and most hostile of deep waters under extreme pressures. The President has guided it through the deep waters into an oasis. To say we are living in the most hostile part of the world is understatement. All one has to do is think of Djibouti, Yemen, Somalia, Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia and think about the internal strife in these nations. Think about the geopolitical interests of the superpowers that want to destroy any semblance of nationalistic attitudes anywhere in the region. Think about the greedy that want to exploit our riches at the expense of the people. Yet, only Eritreans are truly enjoying their nation in its truest of forms communally in unison with President Isaias in observance. 

As Wedi Tkabo sings, “Eritrea’s umbrella is untouchable by the raging fire because you are our cover, Butterfly.” The raging fire and destitution plaguing the region is distant from Eritrea because of leaders that bought Eritrea time and anchored the people in united purposes. That is the hard truth that the enemies are finding hard to swallow.

I am and we are Isaias Afwerki because we all stand for one common purpose, Eritrea. In an effort to subjugate Eritrea and make the people of Eritrea kneel and bow; with the idea, if you cut the head the body will fall; the enemies of Eritrea waged major demonizing campaigns against His Excellency President Isaias Afwerki. They want to extricate the president from the people. In a sense they said the President Isaias is Eritrea. The reality however, where Eritrea is today is the cumulative result of the hard work of the people. If President Isaias is capable to achieve all these Eritrean successes individually; then he is GOD.

Hence, His Excellency President Isaias is not Eritrea but he is Eritrean representing Eritrea; his people. And the people are saying yes! Eritreans are flocking to New York from Europe, Canada, and West coast and all over US to show him support. They are flocking in busses, planes and cars spending thousands to say “We are All Isaias Afwerki. He is us, we are him and we are Eritrea and, nothing can change that”!

Eternal Glory to Our Martyrs

Awet N-Hafash

Awetnayu@hotmail.com

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University of Roehampton

Eritrean cuisine is to be featured prominently in a study by doctoral researcher Holly Giesman from the Department of Media, Culture and Language at the University of Roehampton in London.

Her research—which is rooted in visual anthropology and cross-cultural documentary filmmaking—explores the presentation of foreign national cuisines in London restaurants and will result in a 90-minute documentary film on the subject.

The project utilizes the audiovisual to communicate the multi-sensory restaurant experience, as well as to examine what is involved in transporting a bit of foreign culinary tradition to a restaurant in London.

The project will focus particularly on the strategies and techniques used in presenting authentic Eritrean food in the restaurant setting to a multicultural London audience. Emphasis is placed on communicating the experiential and communal nature of Eritrean dining and the sharing of culture and national identity through food. The work will examine customer and staff experiences of eating and working in the restaurants, how ‘authentic’ is understood, and how space and interaction are arranged.

Ms. Giesman is seeking London-based volunteers from Eritrean backgrounds to participate in the project as cultural advisors and interpreters, providing further insight into Eritrean cuisine and culture.

Contact Ms. Giesman at the following email address for more details on the Eritrea project or to get involved (holly.giesman@roehampton.ac.uk).

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3. Eritrea: Hannah on the Science of Making Injera in UK Video
4. COMESA Establishes Regional Laboratory Centres for Food, Animal and Plant Health
5. One of Eritrea’s Ambassadors to The World