President Obama to Nominate Ambassador Donald E. Booth to be Next U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia

President Barack Obama announced on Wednesday his intent to nominate Donald E. Booth to be the next U.S. Ambassador to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. 
 
In announcing his intention to nominate Ambassador Booth and other key U.S. Administration officials, President Obama said, “The depth of experience these individuals bring to their roles will be valuable to my administration as we work to bring about real change for the American people.  I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead.”
 
Donald E. Booth is currently the United States Ambassador to the Republic of Zambia.  Prior to that, Ambassador Booth served three years as Ambassador to the Republic of Liberia.  Ambassador Booth previously served as Director of the Office of Technical and Specialized Agencies at the State Department’s Bureau of International Organization Affairs.  Prior to this position, he served as Director of the Office of West African Affairs.
 
During his career in the State Department, Ambassador Booth has also served as the Deputy Director of the Office of Southern African Affairs, the Economic Counselor in Athens, and the Division Chief for Bilateral Trade Affairs; desk officer in the Office of Egyptian Affairs and the Office of East African Affairs; and various roles while stationed at embassies in Bucharest, Brussels and Libreville.
 
Ambassador Booth earned a B.A. from Georgetown University, an M.A. from Boston University, and an M.A. in National Security Studies from the National War College.

Ethiopia: AFC hosts art auction fundraising for AIDS orphans (Press Release)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Artists for Charity (AFC) is hosting its 3rd -annual holiday benefit during World AIDS week. The auction will be held on Saturday, December 5th, at the WVSA Gallery in Washington, D.C., located at 1100 16th Street, NW. Doors open at 7:00 p.m.

Artists for Charity is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization devoted to raising awareness and securing funds for humanitarian causes. 100% of the proceeds will go towards supporting the AFC Children Home in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The children who reside in the ACF Children’s Home are HIV-positive double-orphans. By giving these children a safe place to stay, clothing, meals and complete medical care, including ARV therapy, education, mental health services and an outlet through the wonders of art, AFC seeks to fulfill its mission of putting a smile on an orphan living with HIV/AIDS.

This year’s theme for the holiday benefit is “A Taste of Ethiopia,” offering silent and live art auctions of artwork from painters and photographers including artwork by the AFC Children, live performances, authentic Ethiopian cuisine, and cocktails, showcasing the rich culture and beauty of Ethiopia.

In addition to raising funds to support the Children’s Home in Ethiopia, AFC’s 3rd-annual benefit will seek to raise awareness on the HIV/AIDS crisis here at home, in the D.C. area. Washington, D.C., has one of the highest infection rates, per capita, in the United States.

For further information on Artists for Charity, please visit www.artistsforcharity.org

For further information about the holiday benefit, contact Abezash Tamerat at (404) 543-8627 or abezash@artistsforcharity.org

Help Meseret - Victim of Irresponsible Driving

Press Release - On November 26, 2007, Meseret G. Mekonnen, a Laboratory Technician student at the Alkan Medical College in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, was on a bus trip back to school, up on completion of her internship and final year project program. On this trip, Meseret faced a horrific accident that changed her life completely. The bus she was traveling on crashed; the crash was so severe that most passengers died instantly. Meseret was among the few lucky survivors.

When this accident occurred, Meseret was eagerly awaiting the completion of her studies as a medical professional, to finally be able to help her family that was desperately waiting on her. It is at this crucial moment that she faced the awful accident. Meseret says “…all my goals became shattered glasses…” when the accident occurred. (She was not able to graduate.)

The horror continued for Meseret and her family, as her brother was killed by gangsters at the Ethiopia-Djibouti border a few months after her accident. Her mother, who hadn’t recovered from her daughter’s accident, got a heart attack and passed away after she heard the death of her only son.

The Doctors at the Tikur Anbessa General Hospital in Addis Ababa told her that she needed a medical treatment in the west – get prosthetic hands. She then was able to come to the United States. Since she obviously is unable to perform the most basic things, her sister was assigned as a guardian for her during her stay in the United States.

The total cost of implanting prosthetic hands, as estimated by Hanger Prosthetic and Orthopedics in San Jose, CA is $134,461.38. She has nothing close to this amount. So, you are kind... [Read More]

To:High Commissioner for Refugees, Geneva – Switzerland
Human Rights Watch – Washington DC - US
Amnesty International – London, UK
International Communities – globally
UNHCR branch offices in Yemen

Ethiopian (Oromo) refugees Al-kharaz Refugee Camp Re Yemen.

Your Excellencies

We would like to write to you this urgent appeal letter to inform you that we are going to set up again a sit-in, as refugees in front of UNHCR office in the Al-kharz Refugee Camp

The reason concerns the high discrimination against us with lasting solution, by UNHCR in Yemen although, we suffer under very appalling securities and political persecutions emanating from the Ethiopian authorities in cooperating with the Yemeni securities.

To Specify

We were frankly and precisely applying for protection with UNHCR offices in Yemen seeking a durable solution, since we are deprived completely of any protection and the rights that any refugees must get in a country of asylum, even the right to humanitarian claims. We suffer very bad securities, threats and attempts with forcibly deportation. So, we live escaping from both the Ethiopian authority and the Yemeni securities all the last 14 years, just like a rat escapes from the cat. Why? It is as clear as the daylight that there is a political relationship between Yemen and Ethiopia which seems as political integration, regarding to the atrocious treatments we facing in Yemen. Lots of the Oromo refugees were deported forcibly to Ethiopia, having arrested from the Camp and serious attempts to forcibly deportation of the Oromo refugees with UNHCR mandates, the securities said they are wanted by the Ethiopian authority.

Many have been threatened and pursued with forcibly deportation by the securities in Al-kharaz refugee Camp due to fighting for our rights as refugees that the securities blamed them being as political agitators as if they involved in spoiling the Yemeni relationship ... [Read More]

ADDISTUNES.COM REVOLUTIONIZES AFRICAN MUSIC AND FILM

• Press Release

July 20, 2009 (New York, NY) – AddisTunes.com (www.AddisTunes.com) – the world’s fist site dedicated to Ethiopian music and movie downloads – today announced its official launch, with an impressive array of indie musicians and directors from Ethiopia and the Diaspora. AddisTunes.com’s mission is to showcase the talent of Ethiopian musicians and directors, and to give them an online presence through legally authorized digital downloads of their music and film. Ethiopians represent the fastest growing African population in the United States; and they are passionately committed to staying connected to their culture and traditions. AddisTunes.com believes that music and movies are the linchpins.

AddisTunes.com is currently working with artists such as Ethio Jazz legends Moges Habte and Elias Negash, pop sensation Jossy Gebre, reggae powerhouse Sydney Salmon, and rising director Nikodimos Fikru. Ethiopian musicians and directors have large followings, and typically witness sold out performances. However, fans were often unable to find their music or films available for download. And too often African music and films are sold as bootlegs. AddisTunes.com has changed that by creating a space where musicians/directors and their fans can connect. Downloads are competitively priced at $0.90 per song and $9.99 per movie.

AddisTunes.com president, Diallo Hall, says, “We like to think of ourselves as the iTunes for Africa. There are so many independent musicians and directors from Africa that have been largely ignored by mainstream distribution channels. If you go to iTunes or CDBaby, Ethiopian music is relegated to a sub-category of World Music. At AddisTunes.com, we actually promote and celebrate the creative works of African artists.”

With an estimated 1.2 million Ethiopians living outside of Ethiopia, AddisTunes.com’s Hall also sees consider... [Read More]

UNPO: Oromo Demo against Ethiopia rights abuses and environmental degradation

UNPO PRESS RELEASE: OROMO DEMONSTRATION TO URGE FOR GREATER ACTION AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION IN ETHIOPIA


Brussels, 20 May 2009 – In two days Oromos who have fled Ethiopia will bring to the heart of Europe an appeal for the United State, United Kingdom, and European Union to present a united front and urge the Ethiopian government to protect the country’s environment and the human rights of its citizens from irresponsible corporate activity.

The appeal comes as Ethiopia’s land and water face more and more stress from a growing economy and cities that are swelling with new workers.  The economy is expanding as investment in the flower, leather, and agricultural sectors draws, arguably unsustainably, on Ethiopia’s valuable human and natural resources.

Legislation exists to protect the Ethiopian environment but it is frequently unenforced or circumvented, to the detriment of workers’ lives and those of their dependents.  The demonstration will therefore call on the United States, United Kingdom, and European Union to ensure that their companies observe international standards in their Ethiopian operations and that the Ethiopian government enforces its legislative obligations.

The demonstration will be held on Friday 22 May 2009 and will begin at the Schuman metro station from 10.00am before moving to the European Commission (Berlaymont Building), Place Jean Rey, British Embassy and the American Embassy where activists will stay until 1.00pm.
 
Note: There will be media opportunities during the demonstration and activists with first-hand experience of the situation in Ethiopia will be available for comment.
 

Event Summary   22 May 2009   10.00am   1.00pm  
Rond-point Schuman Brussels   A... [Read More]

Groundbreaking DKT/TOTAL Ethiopia initiative to promote condoms to housemaids launched (Press release)

14 May 2009: DKT Ethiopia and TOTAL Ethiopia have formed a groundbreaking partnership to run a pilot project to promote condoms to housemaids and other low-income women.

Housemaids are particularly vulnerable to HIV because of their gender and age as well as isolating employment conditions.  Anecdotal evidence also suggests that many housemaids turn to sex work upon quitting domestic work, at which point they can be highly vulnerable to HIV. One of the few locations to reach housemaids is at kerosene sales points.

The pilot, called Condoms and Kerosene, will raise the awareness of housemaids and other kerosene buyers about condoms.  It will include daily condom demonstrations and distribution at the Sidist Kilo (“Lions”) Total Station. 

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The opening ceremony for the pilot took place on Saturday 9 May 2009 at Sidist Kilo (“Lions”) TOTAL station, Addis Ababa. Speeches were made by the TOTAL Ethiopia MD, Bernard Lacaze, DKT Co-ordinator Ken Divelbess, Ethiopian Business Coalition Against HIV/AIDS Executive Director, Tadesse Tekallign and TOTAL Ethiopia Marketing Manager, Hervé Huclin.  Invited guests included representatives from the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and the Ministry of Education.  

The pilot will run for 60 days. 

“As with all TOTAL’s Sustainable Development Responsible Programs, this project targeting low-income vulnerable women, is addressing the needs of the communities we serve and we are proud to be partnering with DKT Ethiopia on this ground-breaking activity"  --Bernard Lacaze, MD, TOTAL Ethiopia

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“DKT strives to reach all sectors of society with condom messaging and promotion – this pilot between DKT and TOTAL has the potential to reach an as-yet unserved group.” -- [Read More]

A coalition of Sub-Saharan HIV/TB activists demand that African governments and international funders close the gap on health financing. The right to treatment and health is non-negotiable.

(Cape Town - Nairobi - Port Louis, 6 May) On the occasion of the Conference of African Ministers of Health in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, a coalition of health advocates from Sub-Saharan Africa warn that the lives of millions of people in Sub-Saharan Africa are in jeopardy because of the lack of political will and investment to realise the right of access to life-saving treatment.

Only one third of HIV-positive people in need of antiretroviral therapy (ART) to survive have access to treatment in the African region. The coalition fears that national and donor governments are betraying their health commitments, particularly promises to support the universal roll-out of ART by 2010.

"The broken promises and skewed priorities of governments and donors have reduced the right to health and access to treatment to unattainable rhetoric. In the last few months, we have seen trillions of dollars spent on financial ‘bailouts’ to stimulate economic recovery”, said Nonkosi Kumalo of the Treatment Action Campaign. "A tiny portion of this sum could have bought quality, sustainable healthcare for millions of people."

Dr Bactrin Killingo of the HIV Collaborative Fund warned that “if the current cost constraints faced by HIV treatment programs are not addressed, while the demand for expensive second-line treatment increases, we will find ourselves in a situation similar to the ’90s, where millions of lives were lost unnecessarily because people could not afford the treatment they needed to stay alive”.

The region of sub-Saharan Africa bears the greatest burden of disease, and has 68% of the world’s HIV-positive people but only 1% of the global expenditure on health, and 2% of the global health workforce. A recent African Union report states that sub-Saharan Africa faces... [Read More]