(Bloomberg) — Ethiopia’s annual inflation rate climbed to 19.4 percent in January as food costs jumped, the Central Statistical Agency said.
Inflation accelerated from 18.4 percent in December, the Addis Ababa-based agency said in a statement today. Food prices surged an annual 28 percent in the month, compared with 25.7 percent in December, it said.
To contact the reporter on this story: Jason McLure in Addis Ababa via Johannesburg at [email protected].
(EA) – The Ethiopian experience in America is no different than all Americans. Most Ethiopians immigrated to America searching for the American dream — a dream for a better life and a new opportunity. Most arrived in America with the determination to fulfill the promise that America embodies; destined to realize this dream armed with little more than hope on their side. Ethiopians—like all Americans–embrace the message of Barack Obama, a message that our lives are intertwined with our infinite commonalities.
It was for this reason that Mike Endale, Theodore Fikre, and Jima Tufa set out to volunteer for the Barack Obama campaign. They embarked on a trip from Washington, DC. to Columbus Ohio eager to contribute their part to deliver a profound change to America and a victory in Ohio. For these three, the 420 mile journey was a deeply gratifying experience. They shared a common desire to transform a political discourse that far too often divides communities to one that embraces our differences as a source of national strength. Driving through the great state of Maryland and crossing through the mountains of West Virginia , they arrived in Ohio with a sense of purpose and optimism.
The three days in Ohio was a memorable experience; Mike, Theo and Jima volunteered in the Pipe Fitters Union Hall and the Barack Obama headquarters. They canvassed with fellow supporters, knocking on doors and being greeted overwhelmingly with enthusiastic supporters of Barack Obama. On Sunday, they reached out to the Ethiopian community in Columbus. They embarked on outreach efforts to the local Ethiopian churches and the various Ethiopian markets. They were greeted with effusive support from every Ethiopian they met; most enthusiastically stating their intention of voting for Barack Obama and cheerfully putting on Obama pins to display their support. Ethiopians of all ages–men and women–were eager to vote for Obama because they identified with Obama’s optimism for the future and the hope that set him on his impr obable journey.
Mike, Theo, and Jima came to Ohio to inspire the Ethiopian community to believe in the change that Barack Obama exemplifies, instead they went away inspired by the same Ethiopian community’s wholehearted embrace in a change they already believed in. Along the way, they met and befriended fellow volunteers who made the same journey to Columbus from far away places such as Boston , Minnesota, Chicago and South Carolina. They drove back to Washington armed with the optimism that the Ethiopian community will deliver a resounding victory to Barack Obama on March 4th.
JERUSALEM, March 3 (UPI) — Despite official bans on the practice, Israeli education officials say many teachers are asking Ethiopian immigrants to change their names to Jewish names.
Many Ethiopian students say their teachers are persuading them to change their first names from things like Habtam, which means “wealth,” to Hannah and another student from Natab to Sarah.
Ethiopian heritage places great significance on first names and members of the community say they see the practice as an effort to detach them from their heritage, Ynetnews reported Monday.
Education officials in Israel said the wishes of the parents should be honored and stressed immigrant students shouldn’t be asked to change their names.
COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS
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New York, March 3, 2008—Government soldiers raided three radio stations in Somalia on Sunday and detained the director of one of the stations, according to journalists who witnessed the events. The raids occurred after heavy fighting and looting over the weekend in the central area of the capital, Mogadishu.
Journalists from Horn Afrik, Radio Shabelle, and Radio Simba told CPJ that government troops took key radio equipment, including computers, mixers, and microphones in order to shutter them. All three stations were off the air on Sunday but Radio Shabelle and Horn Afrik managed to renew broadcasting today.
On Sunday, government forces raided the central Howl-Wadaag district, including Bakara market, a day after at least 14 people were killed and 30 wounded in heavy fighting between soldiers and insurgents. Local journalists suspect key equipment was confiscated from the three radio stations in order to censor reporting of Sunday’s mass looting.
The minister of information, Ahmed Abdisalam, said the central government did not order the raids on the stations and that the prime minister called an emergency meeting on Sunday to investigate the incident, according to local journalists and a VOA report.
“Security forces must be reined in by the Somali government so they do not carry out their own personal agendas against journalists,” said CPJ’s executive director, Joel Simon. “We call on the authorities to ensure all the equipment is returned undamaged to the three radio stations.”
An estimated 20 soldiers in two armored vehicles raided Radio Simba, looting equipment and beating reporter Abdiaziz Hussein Hassan, local journalists said. Soldiers then proceeded to knock down the doors of Radio Shabelle, taking radio equipment and arresting Director Muktar Mohamed Hirabe. Hirabe was released the same day.
The soldiers also confiscated radio equipment at Horn Afrik and ordered the station to be closed, Chairman Saeed Tahlil told CPJ. Journalists at Radio Shabelle and Radio Simba said they were told they would be able to collect their confiscated equipment Tuesday, while Horn Afrik already has its equipment back.
Journalists told CPJ that they suspect the order came independently from a top commander and relative of President Abdullahi Yusuf. Journalists at two of the stations recognized individuals who took part in the raids as security personnel based at the presidential palace.
The violence in Somalia has taken a heavy toll on journalists: Seven Somali journalists were killed because of their work in 2007—the world’s second-highest count behind Iraq. More than 50 others have fled Mogadishu, according to CPJ research.
CPJ is a New York-based, independent, nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide. For more information, visit www.cpj.org.
By Darrell Waller, Navy Facilities Engineering Command Public Affairs
PORT HUENEME, Calif. (NNS) — Three Ethiopian geologists were hosted recently by the Naval Facilities (NAVFAC) Engineering Service Center (ESC) as they sought assistance to discover new water sources for drought ravaged areas in the Horn of Africa.
The three engineers — Dagnachew Legesse, Zenaw Tessma and Tesfaye Tadasse — received a tour of the ESC facility and collaborated with ESC engineers on future water resources capacity building projects.
“We are happy to receive these gentlemen and help them in their efforts to build much needed water resources throughout the Horn of Africa,” said NAVFAC ESC Commanding Officer, Capt. Gregory J. Zielinski. “The horn has been devastated by conflict, as well as drought, famine and other natural disasters. The Combined Joint Task Force and NAVFAC are diligently working with the people there to build an infrastructure that will improve their quality of life and bring some semblance of order out of chaos. This is important, gratifying work and we’re glad to lend a hand.”
During their visit to California, the Ethiopian scientists toured water management organizations and spent many days learning surface water computer modeling at the U.S. Army Corps Hydrologic Engineering Center (HEC) in Davis, Calif. The tours and modeling lessons provided them with essential tools to make better use of limited water supplies throughout the area and plan for disasters such as floods.
For nearly two years NAVFAC ESC has managed water resources capacity building projects in Ethiopia for the Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) located in Djibouti. The U.S. Navy partners on projects with other DOD and federal agencies such as U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Geological Survey.
The government of Ethiopia, in December 2007, signed a five year memorandum of understanding with the CJTF-HOA, cementing a long term relationship between the two countries. U.S. government civilian engineers, geologists and hydrologists will work side by side with the Ethiopians on projects that enhance the ability of Ethiopia to manage its ground and surface water.
Ethiopians in Ohio and Texas will have a chance to deliver a resounding victory on Tuesday, March 4th. We encourage all Ethiopians to make a phone call to a family or a friend in either Texas or Ohio and strongly encourage them to vote this coming Tuesday for Barack Obama.
Additionally, in the state of Ohio, all Ethiopians who became citizens in the past 5 years are automatically registered to vote. This is very important because the democratic primary in Ohio states that you have to be registered at least 30 days before the primaries in order to be eligible to vote. However, those who have become naturalized in the past 5 years are automatically registered.
All Ethiopians are invited to the Renaissance Hotel in Washington DC to celebrate Barack Obama’s decisive Tuesday on his way to the White House.
For Ethiopians, this is a special day; Barack Obama has garnered overwhelming support from the Ethiopian community. Ethiopians for Obama embarked on a journey to Columbus Ohio this past weekend, and the enthusiasm and the level of dedication that Barack Obama has in the vast Ethiopian community in Columbus was amazing. At every stop, whether in Ethiopian churches, the Ethiopian markets, or the Ethiopian restaurants, men and women of all ages were effusive in stating their intention to vote for Barack Obama.
For those of us in the Washington, DC area, we will have a chance to celebrate on March 4th at the Renaissance Hotel’s Presidents Sports Bar. We encourage all Ethiopians in the Washington DC area to come out and support Obama, there are hundreds of Ethiopians who volunteer and work for the Barack Obama campaign. This is a chance for everyone to come together and watch the results of the March 4th Primaries.
The Presidents Bar has 9 flat screen HD televisions located throughout the bar. Audio will be piped in throughout the bar with the Presidents Bar premium sound system. Everyone will be able to view and hear the results of the primaries as they come in.
Although there are plenty of seats available through the expansive bar, turnout for this event is expected to be high, so please RSVP to ensure entry. Pease RSVP at: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4rbbb
