Archive for May, 2010
Meklit Hadero Performs at the “Center of Culture”
At the age of 12, the Ethiopian-born Meklit Hadero left Brooklyn and called several cities home before settling in San Francisco. Now, after the release of her debut album ‘On A Day Like This’ in April, Meklit will be taking center stage in New York for the first time.
This past Friday Meklit performed to a sold out crowd at Bernos’ 4th Anniversary Celebration in Washington D.C. and on Tuesday, June 1st, New Yorkers will get a chance to see what the buzz is all about. Meklit will be performing at (Le) Poisson Rouge, a state-of-the art performance venue located in Greenwich Village and she is “really, really excited” about the performance. She describes New York-one of her 12 hometowns-as the “Center of Culture.” In addition to touring the United States and Europe, for the remainder of the year, Meklit will also be performing in Ethiopia this December.
Live performances in one of Meklit’s hometowns are extra special for her because “it gives me an opportunity to meet up with old friends.”
Increasing your Brain Power-70 ways to better life
By Steve Gillman
70 Ways to Better Brainpower –
(In no particular order.)
1. Breath deep. More air in means more oxygen in the blood and therefore in the brain. Breath through your nose and you’ll notice that you use your diaphragm more, drawing air deeper into your lungs. Several deep breaths can also help to relax you, which is conducive to clearer thinking.
2. Meditate. A simple meditation you can do right now is just closing your eyes and paying attention to your breath. Tensing up your muscles and then relaxing them to start may help. When your mind wanders, just bring your attention back to your breath. Five or ten minutes of this will usually relax you, clear your mind, and leave you more ready for any mental task.
3. Sit up straight. Posture affects your thinking process. Prove it to yourself by doing math in your head while slouching, looking at the floor and letting your mouth hang open. Then do the mental math while sitting up straight, keeping your mouth closed and looking forward or slightly upwards. You’ll notice that it’s easier to think with the latter posture.
4. Phosphotidyl Serine (PS). This supplement has been shown in clinical studies to increase lucidity and rate of learning. It activates cell-to-cell communication, helps regulate cell growth, improves the functioning of the special receptors found on cells, and prepares cells for activity. In other words, it can help your brain power. It’s also thought to reverse memory decline. Phosphatidylserine has no known adverse side effects.
5.Vinpocetine. This extract, derived from an alkaloid found in the Periwinkle plant, is used as a cerebral vasodilator. It increases blood flow to the brain, which improves its oxygenation and thereby increases mental alertness and acuity. Research suggests it may also be the most powerful memory enhancer available to date.
6. Gingko Biloba. The leaves of this tree have been proven to increase blood flow to the brain. The trees are often planted in parks. My friends and I used to eat a few leaves when we wanted a brain boost. It is also inexpensive, if you buy the capsules or tea at any health food store.
7. Saint John’s Wort. This is a common weed that may be growing in your yard. Although it’s brain enhancing qualities are less documented (studies do show it’s usefulness for treating long-term depression), many people swear by it’s temporary mood-elevating effect, and our brains tend to function better when we are happy. It is inexpensive, but I used to just collect it in the yard and make tea of it. (Hyperacum Perforatum, if you want to look it up by it’s botanical name.)
8. Good thinking habits. Just use a problem solving technique for several weeks and it will become a habit. Redesign everything you see for a while, and that will become a habit. You can develop many good thinking habits with some effort, and then be more resourceful effortlessly from that point on. Use the power of habit.
9. Use dead time. This is time that is otherwise wasted or just under-utilized. Driving time, time spent in waiting rooms, or even time spent raking your yard can be included in this. With a tape player and a trip to a public library, you can start to use this time to listen to books-on-tape. You may spend 200 hours a year in your car. What could you learn in that time?
10. Learn a language. Learning a new language has been shown to halt the age-related decline in brain function. It also introduces your mind to new concepts and new ways of looking at things (in English we are afraid, whereas in Spanish we have fear). It is one of the best brain exercises.
11. Rosemary. This common herb may have an effect on the brain when the scent is inhaled. We are waiting for the research, but some people swear that just sniffing rosemary wakes up their brain. It seems safe, so if you have rosemary in your spice rack, give it a try.
12. Mindfulness exercises. Concentration and clear thinking are more or less automatic once you remove distractions. Learn to stop and watch your busy mind. As you notice things that are subtly bothering you, deal with them. This might mean making a phone call you need to make, or putting things on a list so you can forget them for now. With practice, this becomes easier, and your thinking becomes more powerful.
13. Write. Writing is good for your mind in a number of ways. It is a way to tell your memory what is important, so you’ll recall things more easily in the future. It is a way to clarify your thinking. It is a way to exercise your creativity and analytical ability. Diaries, idea-journals, poetry, note-taking and story-writing are all ways to use writing to boost your brain power.
14. Listen to Mozart. In a study at the University of California, researchers found that children who studied piano and sang daily in chorus, were much better at solving puzzles, and when tested, scored 80% higher in spatial intelligence than the non-musical group. In another study, 36 students were given three spatial reasoning tests on a standard IQ test. Just before the first test, they listened to Mozart’s sonata for Two Pianos in D Major, K. 448 for ten minutes. Before the second test, they listened to a relaxation tape. Before the third, they sat in silence. The average scores for all 36 students: 1st test: 119. 2nd test: 111. 3rd test: 110. A nine-point boost from Mozart!
15. Develop your intuition. Intuition can be an important part of brainpower. Einstein and others have relied heavily on their intuitive hunches. See Chapter 25 for tips on how to develop your intuition.
16. Avoid foods that cause subtle allergies. These can include wheat, corn, peanuts and dairy products. Watch yourself to see if you have a problem with any of these. They cause digestive problems and brain fog in some people.
17. Sleep better. As long as you get a certain amount of sleep – probably a minimum of five hours – the quality seems to be more important than the quantity. Also, short naps in the afternoon seem to work well to recharge the brain for some people.
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18. Caffeine. The research shows higher test scores for students who drink coffee before major exams. My chess game gets better. In other studies, it has been shown that too much caffeine leads to poorer quality decisions. Caffeine affects individuals differently, and has some nasty long-term side effects for some of us, but short-term – it works!
19. Avoid sugar. Any simple carbohydrates can give you “brain fog.” Sometimes called the “sugar blues” as well, this sluggish feeling makes it hard to think clearly. It results from the insulin rushing into the bloodstream to counteract the sugar rush. Avoid pasta, sugars, white bread and potato chips before any important mental tasks.
20. Hypnosis audios. The power of suggestion is real, and one way to use it is with hypnosis tapes, CD’s or downloads. This type of brain “programing” has more evidence for it than subliminals.
21. Speed reading. Contrary to what many believe, your comprehension of material often goes up when you learn to speed-read. You get to learn a lot more in less time, and it is definitely a good brain exercise.
22. Exercise. Long term exercise can boost brainpower, which isn’t surprising. Anything that affects physical health in a positive way probably helps the brain too. Recent research, though, shows that cognitive function is improved immediately after just ten minutes of aerobic exercise. If you need a brain recharge, you might want to walk up and down the stairs a few times.
23. Imaginary friends. Talking to and getting advice from characters in your mind can be a great way to access the information in your subconscious mind. Imagine a conversation with a person who has a lot of knowledge in the area you want advice in.
24. Develop your creativity. Creativity gives power to your thinking. Raw computation can be done by computers now, but humans provide the creative thought that shapes our world. See Chapter 24 for tips on developing your creativity.
25. Learn more efficiently. When you decide to learn something, take notes from the start. Leave each “learning session” with a question or two in mind, to create anticipation and curiosity. Take short breaks, so there will be more beginnings and endings to your studies (Things learned at the beginning or ending of a class or session are remembered better).
26. Use techniques for clear thinking. Cluttered rooms and offices can contribute to cluttered thinking. Organize a space for mental work. Sigh, stretch, and take a deep breath before you start on a tough mental job. Plan some distraction-free time for brainstorming.
27. Brain wave entrainment. The newest brain wave entrainment products are powerful tools for altering your brain function. Some will almost immediately relax you, while others will put your brain waves in a pattern that is most conducive to analytical thinking.
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28. Creatine. This is a compound found in meat, used by athletes to help build muscle. Now the evidence is here to show that it helps your brain as well. Proceedings B , a journal published by the Royal Society reports that the research showed improvement in working memory and general intelligence resulting from creatine supplementation. The dose used in the study was 5 grams per day. This is about the level used to boost sports performance, and is as much as you’d normally get in four pounds of meat, according to lead researcher Dr. Caroline Rae.
29. Talk. Talking is only good for the brain if you are actually exercising it, of course. Try explaining something that you don’t understand very well to a friend, though, and you’ll notice that the process of explaining will help you clarify your understanding.
30. Do something you enjoy. This is a way to both lower stress and rev up your brain. The key is to do something active. Watching TV doesn’t count. Whether it is playing Scrabble or building birdhouses, when you are actively engaged in an activity that you enjoy, you worry less about things and you start to think better.
31. Adjust your beliefs. Believe you are smarter, and you’ll become smarter. For this, affirmations may work, but even better is evidence. Make a note of your successes. Tell yourself, “Hey, that was really creative,” when you do something creative. When you have a good idea, make a note of it. Gather the evidence for your own intelligence and you’ll start to experience more of it.
32. Brain exercises. Do math in your mind while driving. Think of a new use for everything you see. Regular use of the brain has been shown to generate new neuronal growth, and even halt the decline of mental function that often comes with age.
33. Learn new things. This is another way to exercise the brain. It can also be done with little time investment if you use books-on-tapes while driving.
34. Walk. Exercise has been shown to benefit the brain, and walking is one of the best exercises for many. It is low impact, and the rhythmic nature of it seems to put you in a state that is very conducive to clear thinking. In fact, carry a tape recorder with you to take notes, and a twenty minute walk can be a great way to solve problems.
35. Model others. Find others that are creative, intelligent, or very productive. Do what they do, and think what they think. This is a key principle of neuro-linguistic programming. Be careful about taking their advice, though. Successful people often don’t really understand why they are successful. Do what they do, not what they say.
36. Eat fish. Eating fish actually speeds up brain waves, and improves concentration. Researchers have also found an almost perfect correlation between intake of fish and lowered levels of depression in the various countries of the world. The U.S. has 24 times the incidence of depression as Japan, for example, where fish intake is much higher.
37. Avoid unnecessary arguments. When you defend a position too vigorously, especially when it is just to “win” the argument, you invest our ego into it. This is not conducive to the easy acceptance and use of new information. In other words, you put your mind in a rut, and you dig it deeper with each argument. Debate can be a valuable thing, but when the ego takes over, the mind closes a little. This is not a recipe for better thinking.
38. Laugh. The release of endorphins caused by laughter lowers stress levels, which is good for long term brain health. Laughter also tends to leave you more open to new ideas and thoughts.
39. Play. Stimulating the brain causes measurable changes in the structure of the brain. New connections are made and new brain cells are grown. Intellectual play, as well as any playing that involves hand-eye coordination stimulates the brain.
40. Do puzzles. Crossword puzzles, lateral thinking puzzles, and even good riddles are a great way to get brain exercise. You can work on them while waiting for a dentist appointment, or on the bus, if you are short on time.
41. Sing. When you are alone in your car, try singing about something you are working on. This taps into and exercises your right brain. Have you ever noticed how it is easier to rhyme when you sing than when you just speak or write? This is because the right brain is better at pattern recognition. By doing this brain exercise regularly you can train yourself to tap into the power of the right brain. This will make you a more effective problem-solver. If you doubt the distinction between the hemispheres of the brain, look at how stutterers can stop stuttering as soon as they start singing. Try it.
42. Nuts. University students in Brazil and other South American countries often eat several Brazil nuts before an exam, believing they are good for their mental power. The evidence is starting to confirm this. Other nuts that have minerals and amino acids that are beneficial to the brain include almonds and walnuts.
43. Olive oil. High in mono-unsaturated fat, olive oil has been shown to improve memory. A cheaper alternative is canola oil, but this hasn’t been studied much yet.
44. Vitamin supplements. In studies, children scored higher on tests when on a regimen of daily vitamin supplements. “Experts” will tell you that if you eat a balanced diet, you don’t need supplements, which, given the culture here, is really just a sales pitch for vitamins, isn’t it? Who eats a perfectly balanced diet?
45. Fiber. It isn’t just what goes in, but what comes out that is important to brain function. Toxic build-up in the body and brain can cause “brain fog.” People often report clearer thinking as one of the benefits of curing their constipation.
46. Self awareness. This may not seem important to brain power, but it is. When you know yourself better, you can avoid the usual effects of ego and emotion in your seemingly “rational” thinking. Or you can at least take it into account. Watch yourself, especially as you explain things or argue.
47. Motivate yourself. Motivation is as important to mental tasks as it is to any other. Learn a few simple techniques for self motivation. You can start with those in Chapter 8.
48. Avoid too much stress. Neuropsychiastrist Richard Restak, M.D., form the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Services, sums up the research thus: “Stress causes brain damage.” Long term stress has repeated been shown to hurt the brain, not to mention the rest of the body. Learn a few stress reduction techniques if you get stressed out often.
49. Get educated. Scientists have known for a while that the less educated get alzheimer’s more frequently. Education in any area seems to make the brain stronger.
50. Avoid too much fat. In laboratory studies, animals consistently learn slower when they are on a diet high in fat. Type of fat may make a difference, so you may want to stick to using olive oil and other non-saturated fats. Saturated fats have been shown to actually stunt the growth of brain cells.
51. Eat less. Overeating has the immediate effect of redirecting more blood to the digestive process, leaving less for the brain. Long term, it can cause arterial obstructions that reduce blood flow to the brain permanently. In at least one study, rats on a restricted-calorie diet had more brainpower.
52. Avoid suspect foods. There is evidence that the following foods can be bad for your brain: Artificial food colorings, artificial sweeteners, colas, corn syrup, frostings, high-sugar drinks, hydrogenated fats, sugars, white bread, and any white-flour products.
53. Eat breakfast. When kids who didn’t eat breakfast started to eat it, researchers found that their math scores went up a whole grade on average.
54. Avoid diabetes. The development of diabetes coincides with a dropping of IQ scores. In other words, if you want to maintain your brain power, follow your doctors dietary recommendations for preventing or treating diabetes.
55. Eat foods high in antioxidants. Antioxidants protect all your cells, including brain cells. Some of the foods highest in antioxidants include: prunes, raisins, blueberries, blackberries, garlic, kale, cranberries, strawberries, spinach, and raspberries. In one test, rats had age-related mental decline reversed by eating the equivalent of a 1/2 cup of blueberries per day.
56. Drink wine. In moderation, red wine can be good for the brain, it seems. It is rich in antioxidants, which protect brain cells. One glass per day for women and two for men is usually considered a safe and moderate amount.
57. Use alcohol in moderation. In a study at the University of Indiana School of Medicine, elderly light drinkers (fewer than 4 drinks per week) scored higher on tests of thinking abilities than non-drinkers. Those who drank 10 or more drinks per week scored lower. It is known that alcohol can kill brain cells, so moderation seems to be the key.
58. Folic acid. According to one study, 200 micrograms of folic acid, the amount found in 3/4 cup of cooked spinach, alleviates depression and reverses memory loss.
59. Potential brain foods. Other foods that may be good for your brain include: Avocados, bananas, lean beef, brewer’s yeast. broccoli, brown rice, brussel sprouts, cantaloupe, cheese, chicken, collard greens, eggs, flaxseed oil, legumes, oatmeal, oranges, peanut butter, peas, potatoes, romaine lettuce, salmon, soybeans, spinach, tuna, turkey, wheat germ, and yogurt.
60. Vitamin E. Jean Carper, in researching her book, “Your Miracle Brain,” found that many brain researchers are taking 400 I.U.s of vitamin E daily. It is an antioxidant, and reduces the clogging of blood vessels, including those going in the brain.
61. Vitamin C. Taken in the form of orange juice in a study at the Texas Women’s University, vitamin C increased the IQ scores of children.
62. Selenium. 100 micrograms of selenium has been shown to be a mood-elevator. Your brain almost certainly functions better when you are in a better mood. Foods rich in selenium include Brazil nuts and garlic.
63. Alpha-lipoic acid. Alpha-lipoic acid (10 to 50 milligrams daily) improves memory and protects nerve cells.
64. Inositol. This is a safe and natural substance that is often grouped with the B-vitamins. It reduces stress and promotes clear thinking. It contributes to energy production, and so can “wake you up.” Animal studies show a measurable increase in physical activity for up to five hours after taking it.
65. Huperzine A. This is a compound extracted from the Chinese club moss. Researchers both in Israel and the U.S. have used it to treat alzheimer’s. It improves memory and learning an seems to be very safe.
66. Ask questions. This is a great way to keep your brain in shape. Just get in the habit of asking questions often, even if it is only in your own mind. Why are taller buildings better? what is the purpose of curbs? Ask anything that comes to mind, and ponder the possible answers.
67. Sniff basil. This another of the herbs that may be good for your brain. No studies yet, but many report a brain boost from smelling basil.
68. Temperature. Many people have noted that they think better at certain temperatures. In general, it seems that being slightly cool, but not uncomfortable, is most conducive to good thinking. Try experimenting on yourself to see what temperature works best for you.
69. Use systems. From the time I was ten years old, 12 x 49 was always (12 x 50) – 12. It’s easier to figure in your head this way (588, by the way). I didn’t get any credit for my personal algorithms then, but they are selling these shortcuts on late-night TV now, because they work. You can find your own easier ways to do mental math or other mental tasks, or read a good book on them.
70. Make a brainpower plan. It takes about twenty to thirty days of repetition to establish new habits, many psychologists will tell you. This means that when you create your plan for better brainpower, be sure you plan to use that new problem solving technique, or eat those new brain foods for at least three weeks. You can use many of the brain boosters here and get immediate results, but it is creating new habits that will give you the most brainpower.
By Steve Gillman. Excerpt from Chapter 5 of A Book of Secrets
Humanity’s groundbreaking ancestor didn’t live in the forest after all
Ardipithecus ramidus, a four million year old ancestor of humans, was so important that it was declared the biggest scientific breakthrough of 2009. That might still be true – but we might also be totally wrong about where it lived.
A central argument that spun out of the discovery in Ethiopia of Ardipithecus ramidus was that it lived in a dense, wooded canopy with a cooler, less humid climate than what now exists there now. This meant that the fossil potentially overturned the longstanding savanna hypothesis, which holds human ancestors were forced by encroaching grasslands to leave the trees and forage for food on the ground.
Now, a paper cowritten by four anthropologists and four geologists have challenged this assertion, noting that analysis of ancient soil and animal fossils found in the same region actually shows Ardipithecus lived in an area that was only 5 to 25 percent wooded, which is far, far below the minimum 60% forestation for something to be considered woodland. The researchers admit there’s a slight possibility that this particular specimen lived in a tiny wooded strip along a river, but that river was still very much situated in a savanna, not a forest.
The two main writers of the paper are Thure Cerling and Frank Brown, both of the University of Utah. They summarize what their findings mean for the forest argument put forth by Ardipithecus discoverer Tim White and his team:
Brown: ”The idea that savannas were important in human ancestors starting to walk on two legs means they spent less energy getting from one food source to another than they would have if they were still moving around on all fours. One of the big, newsworthy items that White and coworkers put forward is that Ardipithecus walked upright on two legs, yet lived in a forested environment. They then say the savanna hypothesis – which holds that the reduction in forest cover in Africa is one of the reasons for early man becoming bipedal – must be incorrect.”
Cerling: “Our conclusion is that much of the evidence that they present should be interpreted as a savanna environment, therefore their rejection of the savanna hypothesis is incorrect.”
Brown and Cerling stress they’re not actually advocating for the savanna hypothesis. Rather, they’re simply pointing out that if other researchers do want to challenge that idea and argue Ardipithecus lived in the woods, the data that exists currently is not a good place to start.
Congratulations Prime Minster Meles Zenawi
By Wang Guangun
ADDIS ABABA, May 25 (Xinhua) — The Ethiopian ruling party has gained 499 seats in the 547-member parliament, media reported on Tuesday.
The report quoted the Ethiopian National Electoral Board as saying the outcome emerged when 536 results were announced.
Earlier on Tuesday, the National Electoral Board has announced that the ruling party, the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), is leading the fourth national elections by winning 477 of the 547 federal parliamentary seats.
Public Relations Head with the Board, Mohammed Abdurahman, said in a statement on Tuesday that the EPRDF won 38 seats in Tigray, 137 in Amhara, 160 in Oromia and eight seats in Afar states, according to the provisional election results.
Hundreds of thousands of members and supporters of the EPRDF on Tuesday celebrated party’s victory after announcement of provisional election results by the National Electoral Board.
Meles Zenawi, Ethiopia’s current Prime Minister and Chairperson of EPRDF, accompanied by senior government officials, joined the huge crowd at Maskal Square, the grand one in Addis Ababa, capital of the nation.
What Makes a True Leader?
True Leader
Have you ever really taken the time to notice popular people! You know the ones, they have so much charisma and they seem so comfortable in their own skin. These are the kind of people that know exactly who they are. They don’t need anyone to validate them.
So how do people really show true leadership! Here is a little secret. Make others feel comfortable and tell them that everything is going to be alright. Most people are really just scared. Scared of what the future will bring and scared of just not knowing. If you reassure people, it brings calmness about them and you will be someone they feel comfortable with and safe around.
When speaking to others, look them in the face. Don’t show disinterest in what they are saying but really just listen to them. True leaders don’t interrupt conversations and they wait until others are finished speaking before they speak themselves.
Here are five traits of true leadership:
1) Don’t ever gossip:
Have you ever heard a leader put down another person! Like the president of a company gossiping about another person. You know why they don’t? It’s not important and they are more secure with who they are then to worry about what others are doing or saying.
2) Stop Complaining:
The only people that complain are the ones that are insecure with their own lives. They need validation that everything will be fine or that they will get the job they want. True leaders don’t need validation.
3) Speak Increase into Others:
People who are leaders have their entire focus on you. They aren’t waiting for you to tell them how great they are. Their entire focus is on how you are, what they can do for you and how they can help.
4) Be a good Listener:
Great leaders are great listeners. People want to be heard so be a good listener.
5) Make People Feel Safe:
They do not lean on others. Anxiety, worry and struggle are not in their vocabulary.
Those are the traits of a true leader. When you really think about it, it doesn’t take much to acquire the same character traits. By learning from others, you can then go and apply what you have learned which will bring about more confidence within yourself. Everything takes time so you just need to take that first step. Follow a true leader around for awhile and you will soon be walking in his/her footsteps.
| Adrienne Smith is an internet marketing consultant and work at home business owner. She enjoys helping others succeed in all areas of their life. To read more about her, please visit her website at adriennesmith.net |
Five more years
Ethiopian Prime Minster
The results are not in doubt, only the prospects of millions of impoverished and hungry Ethiopians
MELES ZENAWI, Ethiopia’s prime minister, and his ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) expect a landslide victory in the general election due on May 23rd, and are likely to get one. The bigger question is whether another five years of EPRDF rule will help ordinary Ethiopians, who are among the poorest and hungriest people in the world.
The austere and cerebral Mr Zenawi has ruled the country since 1991, when he led his Marxist guerrillas to overthrow a brutish dictator, Mengistu Haile Mariam. Mr Zenawi remains wedded to what he calls “revolutionary democracy”, which emphasises collective will over individual ambition. He contends that a strong hand and development in the villages—rather than liberalising markets—is the way forward. And after a worryingly good show by the opposition in the last election in 2005, after which about 200 civilian protesters were gunned down by the police, it is the strong hand that has been much in evidence in the run-up to these elections. Press freedom, as well as the activities of some opposition parties and human-rights NGOs, have been curtailed to ensure a smoother ride for Mr Zenawi.
The EPRDF made much in the election campaign of the country’s high levels of economic growth, averaging 8% or so a year. But that hides the puniness of the economy. Exports of $1.4 billion in the past financial year compare to $5 billion in neighbouring Kenya, which has half of Ethiopia’s population. Construction has boomed, but manufacturing continues to falter. Ethiopia has a cheap and disciplined workforce, but not the mulch of managers, accountants and commercial lawyers that investors want to see, and which they can find plentifully elsewhere in Africa.
The government’s instinct for centralised control continues to inhibit enterprise and depress growth. Ethiopia’s state-run banks are dwarfed by private-sector banks elsewhere in Africa. Mr Zenawi claims that communications are paramount, but his government has stymied the mobile-phone revolution for its own political ends. Elsewhere in Africa, the debate is about the relative merits of Blackberries and iPhones. In Ethiopia, it is simply about getting a phone. Equally devastating is state control of the internet. Connection is costly and slow. The official in charge of the internet at the state telecoms outfit appears to be a high-ranking secret-service officer. That is to combat hackers, say flustered EPRDF officials. More likely, he is employed to spy on citizens and block websites the government does not like—which include most produced by the Ethiopian diaspora.
The EPRDF counters criticism by saying it has held the country together against subversives. “Separatist attitudes are waning,” insists the information minister, Bereket Simon, referring to the rebellious Ogaden and Oromo regions. He adds that much of the opposition has “links to the Shabab [the Somali al-Qaeda group] and Eritrea”, but that is delusional. In fact, the opposition is more nationalistic than the EPRDF, and some, particularly from the important Amhara region, would like to drive Eritrea into the sea.
More reasonably, the government can point to road building and rural electrification initiatives. The massive increase in schools and clinics in villages is impressive. Regional governments have more autonomy and mobilise more money and support than ever before. Some progress has been made in diversifying the economy. Coffee growers earn more thanks to better branding and smarter co-operatives and a flower industry has opened up.
Yet party and state interests are too often muddled, with benefits denied to citizens who question the EPRDF. Many of those with the skills and creative thinking needed to help Ethiopia face up to its considerable problems are excluded from the political process. That includes journalists. Take Eskinder Nega. At the last election in 2005, he ran three Amharic language newspapers with his wife. Following the election violence, in which the EPRDF was implicated, Mr Nega and his wife were arrested on treason charges. Their son was born in prison. They have been pardoned, but continue to be harassed. A court has ruled out a relaunch of Mr Nega’s papers. “I am living proof this election is not free and fair,” he says, “if it was I would still be publishing”.
Ethiopia will probably remain one of the biggest recipients of Western aid over the next five years. The EPRDF may be authoritarian, but many think it is the best bet for cutting poverty at home and checking jihadists in Somalia. That may be ill-judged, and not just on moral grounds. Western money does not buy the leverage it used to. China is lending Ethiopia billions of dollars; $460m alone to build a controversial dam on the Omo river. Faced with the prospect of more nagging from the West about human rights and opening up the economy, Mr Zenawi can just choose the Chinese way.
Source: The Economist print edition
Ethiopian opposition fears rout in parliament vote
By Peter Heinlein
Early reports suggest Ethiopia’s ruling party has won a massive victory in Sunday’s parliament elections. Almost every major opposition leader appears to have been defeated.
The headquarters of Ethiopia’s main opposition party was like a funeral parlor as observers reported in from around the country, opposition leaders were dumbstruck at the possibility of a nearly complete rout.
High-profile leaders such as former president Negasso Gidada, senior figures in the parliamentary opposition Merera Gudina and Beyene Petros, all appear headed for defeat.
Other prominent political leaders, including Hailu Shewal and Lidetu Ayalew were also said to have conceded.
In Addis Ababa, opposition parties won all 23 seats in parliament five years ago, but this time it looks as if they have been wiped out.
Sitting in a quiet back office of jailed opposition leader Birtukan Mideksa’s Unity for Justice and Democracy party headquarters, parliamentary leader Temesgen Zewdie was devastated by the early results.
“It is a total surprise, a total shock, and we are sure investigating as to what went wrong for us to perform this poorly,” said Temesgen Zewdie.
Temesgen said an opposition divided into many blocs made it easy for Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front in ‘first past the post’ contests.
“Medrek in Addis and the regions, in the preliminary showing, is second to EPRDF, and had this been proportional representation, we probably would have shared some seats with the ruling party, but since this is winner take all system, we are at a disadvantage,” said Temesgen.
In the yard outside party headquarters, scores of young opposition supporters milled around, obviously upset. Nineteen-year-old Achame Lazarus, who had served as a Medrek poll watcher Sunday, said the election had been stolen.
“We are practicing false democracy in Ethiopia, the principles are being told by our government officials, but as you can see from the ground level, things are going not on the right track,” said Achame Lazarus.
Medrek senior leader and former Ethiopian president Negasso Gidada said the job of party elders is to cool down their disenchanted supporters to avoid a repeat of the violence that followed the disputed 2005 election.
“Maybe some of them are angry, but we will cool them, we will register the facts, what happened in the process, tell them what happened, and after telling them, we will tell them, be cool, we are a peaceful party, and when there are cases that have to go to the election board, and if it is not solved there we will go to the court,” said Negasso Gidada.
The first word from election officials is the elections had gone smoothly and peacefully. National Electoral Board spokesman Mohamed Abdurahman said there had been no reports of cheating.
“The board has received no single complaint formally, including the opposition parties, the public, the ruling party, they all said it was peaceful, calm and free,” said Mohamed Abdurahman.
Ruling party officials were cautious in declaring victory. Government Communications Minister Bereket Simon would only say it appeared as if the EPRDF had won comfortably. Party spokesman Hailemariam Dessalegn said he was standing by earlier predictions of turnout possibly exceeding 90 percent.
The European Union and African Union deployed a total of nearly 250 observers spread out across the country to monitor activities at 43,000 precincts. EU Chief Observer Thijs Berman has scheduled a news conference Tuesday to deliver a preliminary verdict on the fairness of the vote.
Source: Voice of America
Egypt’s Nile monopoly is starving Ethiopia
By NELSON MARANS
Egypt continues its egregiously selfish actions as it refuses to allow the nations that are at the headwaters of the Nile to obtain their fair share of that river’s supply of precious water (“Cairo keeps water rights to Nile River,” Geopolitics, Thursday).
The result is particularly severe in Ethiopia, where chronic lack of water for crops has placed nearly 60 percent of the population at the starvation level. Despite this, and based on an outmoded 1929 treaty between Egypt and England, Egypt has insisted on taking the majority of the Nile flow, satisfying 90 percent of its total water needs from this single source.
Ethiopia has little choice in the matter. The armies of both Egypt and Sudan enforce this unjust distribution, which gives Ethiopia only 5 percent of the Nile River supply.
This has been the pattern of an autocratic Egyptian government, which we subsidize to the extent of over $2 billion per year with nothing in return except votes against us in the United Nations and other world bodies, as well as continuing persecution of the Coptic Christian population.
Source: Washington Times
Critics stifled in Ethiopia
By SARAH CHILDRESS
NAIROBI, Kenya—Elections in Ethiopia on Sunday are expected to return to power a 19-year-old regime that offers the U.S. a bulwark of stability in a strife-torn region, but has drawn fire for alleged abuses to silence its domestic opponents.
Supporters of Ethiopia’s opposition coalition have been beaten and jailed, and one of the country’s last independent newspaper closed in December after its senior staff fled the country for fear of arrest.
Yet in recent years, Ethiopia has remained stable while its neighbor to the west, Sudan, has been mired in civil conflict, and to the east, Somalia has become a haven for al Qaeda-linked insurgents and high-seas pirates.
Agence France-Press/Getty ImagesSupporters of Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi rally on Thursday ahead of Sunday’s elections.
Ethiopia invaded Somalia in 2006, occupying it for two years, after the Islamic regime declared holy war on its neighbor. As a new U.S.-backed Somali government took over, Ethiopia has tried to smooth the transition, facilitating political talks and training troops—steps in line with U.S. security interests in the region.
Ethiopian elections Sunday are likely to favor Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, who has held the post for nearly 15 years. Voters will cast ballots for 547 members of parliament, who will elect the prime minister. Results are expected early in the week.
Mr. Zenawi’s ruling party, the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front, or EPRDF, is the largest party. Its main challenger is Medrek, a coalition of eight opposition parties that have campaigned as the party for change. The coalition has gained popularity as an alternative to the EPRDF, though much of its energy has been focused on coalition-building.
“We want to liberalize the country,” said Negasso Gidada, a Medrek party leader. The ruling party “dominates everything. We want to change that.”
Mr. Zenawi’s government can claim some major successes. Ethiopia’s economy grew 9.9% last year, according to the International Monetary Fund, and is expected to grow nearly 7% this year. But the country remains poor: One in four of Ethiopia’s 80 million people lives on less than $1 per day, according to USAID, the aid arm of the U.S. government.
The U.S. gave more than $575 million to Ethiopia last year in extensive food, health and military support—about 70% of the total aid the country received.
Yet access to food aid, college admissions and job opportunities is restricted to those who support the ruling party, say opposition leaders and Human Rights Watch.
An Ethiopian journalist, who declined to give his name for fear of retribution, said many Ethiopians expected the U.S. to do more than send food. “People are starving for freedom,” he said, “not just for food.”
Washington has chosen quiet diplomacy, a senior U.S. official said, raising these issues in discussions with Ethiopian officials behind closed doors. “Our goal is to be effective, and I’m not sure that anything other than pursuing this dialogue … would be,” said a senior U.S. official. “It is a process.”
The nonadversarial approach to Ethiopia echoes Washington’s strategy with other regimes in regions where security is a priority, but contrasts with Kenya, where Ambassador Michael Ranneberger has publicly excoriated the transitional government for not implementing reforms.
Yelibu Lijalem Belew, a spokesman at the Ethiopian Embassy in Nairobi, said Ethiopia and the U.S. maintain a “very cordial” relationship, rooted in part in their commitment to fighting terrorism.
In the 2005 parliamentary election, nearly 200 people were killed by security forces and tens of thousands arrested during protests over claims of electoral fraud that favored Mr. Zenawi’s party.
This time, opposition leaders say their supporters have been beaten and harassed. In March, an opposition parliamentary candidate was stabbed to death. The government said his killing was part of a personal dispute.
On Sunday, a candidate was arrested while campaigning and sentenced to six months in prison on a contempt charge. The government said the arrest was a mistake and pledged to release her. Human Rights Watch said that four opposition parties have reported that over 450 members or supporters had been jailed for political reasons as of November.
The State Department’s 2009 human-rights report on Ethiopia said reported abuses included “unlawful killings, torture, beating, abuse and mistreatment of detainees and opposition supporters by security forces, often acting with evident impunity.”
But the U.S. official said Ethiopia rejects the U.S. views of the political situation. “Documented incidents of human-rights abuses—we see those as facts on the ground,” said the U.S. official. “The government of Ethiopia would disagree.”
Mr. Belew said allegations of human-rights abuses documented by Human Rights Watch and the U.S. State Department weren’t accurate. “There are no deliberate human-rights abuses in our country,” he said, adding that he believed the allegations were planted by opposition parties to undermine the government.
Criticism isn’t likely to alter Ethiopia’s relationship with the U.S., he added. “They can say whatever they feel—that’s the normal thing,” said Mr. Belew, referring to government critics. “Our relationship is beyond that.”
Source: Wall Street Journal
Bran Reduces Heart Disease Deaths
WebMD Health News
People with diabetes who eat plenty of bran-rich whole grains appear to have a reduced risk of death from heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular causes, a new study shows.
Researchers from Harvard University followed almost 8,000 nurses with type 2 diabetes for almost three decades.
They found that women who ate the most bran had a 35% lower risk of death from heart disease and a 28% lower risk of death from all causes than women who ate the least.
Compared to people without diabetes, diabetic people have two to three times the risk of heart disease and early death.
The new research suggests eating a balanced diet that includes complex carbohydrates in the form of whole grains can help lower this risk, American Heart Association spokesman Robert Eckel, MD, tells WebMD.
Eckel is a professor of medicine at the University of Colorado in Denver.
“Many diabetics still believe they should limit carbohydrates, including complex carbohydrates,” he says. “Certainly refined grains and simple sugars raise blood sugar and should be limited. But it looks like eating whole grains is not only safe, but beneficial.”
