When human beings are organized in large and formal institutions, hence artificially insulated from individually prompted emotions and anxiety, the tendency is to semi-consciously distort things, particularly past events. This is because when individuals cease to be singularly accountable, responsibility is always watered down and remains at its original and elevated level only amongst those with high level of integrity. Even though authority was first initiated to sustain integrity at the community level, in modern times it has degenerated as a taskmaster of systemic manipulation. That is why weak souls across the planet continue to crave for the power of authority. In centuries past when the role of the individual was visible and significant, be it at the level of the family or beyond, history had to be transmitted honestly and perforce, as the distilled experience was essential for the survival of the collective!
On the other hand modernity, which always had a built-in bias towards systemic manipulation at all levels (family, market, state, international, etc.) keeps on distorting the past to fit the present, so that the gullible sheeple will be goaded to intended (by dominant interests) future destinations, not excluding the usual slaughterhouses. Even here where manipulation is comfortably settled and appears to have been managed well, gross distortion of history can often times forcefully bring issues to the fore via major global disasters. The distortion of events that led to WWI and WWII are cases in point! Today we will not go through the various reasons or pretexts that led the global sheeple to engage in these criminal wars of the banksters (remember the old saying; all wars are bankers wars), rather we will look at distortions that are piled sky high during and after the culmination of the most costly war in human history, WWII!
Immediately after WWII, the global sheeple was very grateful and felt indebted to those who convincingly fought fascism. Appreciation was proportional to sacrifices paid. In Europe, it was the ‘Red Army’ of the USSR that was the undisputed hero of the war. The USA, UK and others members of the Allied Forces came at a distant second. The USSR lost over 20 million people. The US and the UK collectively lost about 2 million. This is history, whether we like it or not. Eighty years later, after the usual indoctrination and manipulation by empire’s relentless propaganda, newer generations were led to believe in a grossly distorted history. The current history of the war (at least in the
West) insinuates; it was the western powers of the Allied Forces that brought down the Hitler fighting machine to its knees and liberated Europe. It is such misleading propaganda supported by the likes of the Hollywood movies that makes history fail in its important mission of teaching and forewarning. No wonder the famous poet once remarked; ‘ the only thing humans learn from history is that they don’t learn from history.’ Wolfgang Goethe!
The current dangerous and very distorted impression of the Russian nation by the sheeple as well as the majority of elites in the dominant Western countries need to be deconstructed for the benefit of all humanity, before some psychopathic idiots make blunders whose consequences they cannot even imagine let alone fully grasp. Russia has always been a power to reckon with and a great one at that with colorful and highly integrative culture encompassing many of the near abroad countries of the former USSR. Comparatively speaking, the US is not only a young nation of mostly European immigrants without much searing experience, save the civil war. Unlike Russia, its neighborhood is not necessarily brimming with diverse cultures, though it can still claim to be a ‘melting pot’ to most of the émigrés. As a young nation, un-tempered and unburdened by history it still radiates an aura of simplicity that is taken by many a diplomat, to be refreshingly naïve. So far all major interactions of violent nature involving the US have taken place outside of its soil. In a way, this is a very serious shortcoming, as it tends to undermine the subtly engrained nationalism of other nations that were internalized, almost invariably, through blood and sweat. The US’s lack of appreciation, when it comes to the variegated history of others, tends to make it a reckless nation with massive destructive power. Only those who have had the agonizing experience of real and punishing wars can appreciate the kind of determination people like the Russians have formed in their psyche. Unfortunately and unlike the delusional armchair warriors of today, this is what the real American heroes had to say about the most brutal war ever conducted by the human animal.
HISTORY CANNOT BE NEGELCTED
Price of Corrorima spice drops sharply
The price of the popular spice on Ethiopian cuisine, Corrorima, which is also known as Ethiopian Aframomum, or false cardamom, has massively dropped due to the aftermath effect of COVID-19 and initiative for mass production besides the traditional wild harvest.
Experts in the spice industry said that Corrorima that was sold about 380 birr per kilogram about three years ago has lost its value significantly in the latest market.
As per the market observation Capital conducts at Addis Ababa on average the price of the popular spice that is mainly used for berbere, hot spice blend that is an integral ingredient in Ethiopian cuisine, and nit’ir qibe, clarified butter with different species, is now about 80 birr per KG.
Capital observed that besides the price reduction the product is also easily seen everywhere even street vendors are selling it, which is highly uncommon in the past.
According to Addisu Alemayehu founder and board secretary of the Ethiopian Spices, Aromatic and Herbs Growers and Processors Association (ESAHGPA) and owner of Dabase Business Group Plc, the price reduction is related with the initiative and incidents happened in the past three years.
“There are different initiatives conducted by NGOs to modernize the production and harvest Corrorima. In the past the spice was cultivated wildly, where women who harvested the product have been vulnerable for rape and attack by wild animals and besides that it is also related to deforestation issue that attracts NGOs to change the circumstance to cultivate the plant in their backyards,” he said.
Through the cultivation practice change scheme, NGOs have been aggressively producing the seedling and distributed it for farmers in the past couple of years, “now the plant is giving its production, which increases the output of Corrorima.”
Moges Ashenafi, Spice Extension and Production Team Leader at Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority (ECTA), said that despite the initiative to release new Corrorima verities breeds at this stage is very limited but the output is growing due to coffee farmers who are mainly producing Corrorima aligned with their coffee bush are expanding their production, “farmers are diversifying their production to expand their income when the price of coffee shows reduction.”
“Expanding and starting producing through farmlands besides the traditional wild cultivation of Corrorima will be stated as the expansion of the product,” Moges told Capital.
As additional reason Addisu said that in relation with the dropdown of the hospitality and tourism industry because of COVID 19 the interest to buy the spices drops down.
He said that most of Corrorima users are hotels and restaurants, while the sector is affected by the pandemic. “Four percent of berbere is Corrorima, which means four KG of Corrorima spice is used to prepare a quintal of the spicy red pepper powder and similarly the spice is the major source to prepare nit’ir qibe (clarified butter), and other Ethiopian cuisine ingredients, “while the pandemic and the conflict affects major users at the hospitality industry that gradually affects the price of the spice.”
Moges on the other hand said that it is the harvest season so that may not reflect the real market rate “in the harvest season the price may reduce but it does not mean that it shows real price of the spice.”
Head of ESAHGPA estimated that at the current stage the output of Corrorima is about 250,000 quintal, which was about 16,000 quintal about a decade ago, and 150,000 quintal in the 2018/19 harvest season.
He said that since the formation of ECTA, which is also responsible to regulate the production and marketing of spices, data collection has increased that may the reason to show massive multiplication for the spice production.
Corrorima is mainly cultivated in the southwestern and southern part of Ethiopia, while miner production is harvested around Jawi in Gojam.
The export market is mainly aligned with the Diaspora, even if some portion the spice exported for Saudi Arabia market.
Violations against civilians committed by all parties to the conflict: EHRC
Human rights violation that can be stated as war crimes and crimes against humanity has been committed by the parties of the conflict stated Ethiopia Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in its latest report Violations of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law in Afar and Amhara Regions conducted between September and December 2021. The commission also stressed strong commitment of all actors indispensable to obtain justice for victims and rehabilitation of areas affected by the conflict.
The report released on Friday March 11, 2022 provides a detailed account of widespread human rights violations against civilians committed by parties to the conflict including its gender dimensions and calls on all actors and institutions to support justice and redress initiatives for victims and the rehabilitation of conflict affected areas.
According to the Commission’s main findings ‘without including the extrajudicial killings, at least 403 civilians have died and 309 have suffered minor to serious physical injuries as a result of acts of violence in the context of the conflict’.
On August 4, 2021 Tigray forces killed 107 civilians and injured 35 civilians in an offensive in the Afar region, the report states.
In parts of Afar and Amhara Regions covered by this investigation, at least 346 civilians have been subjected to unlawful and extra-judicial killing by parties to the conflict – mainly by Tigray Forces, according to the report.
Between August 18 to September 4, 2021, 6 civilians died in Adigagra, Abreham and Adagat kebeles in Amhara region due to the result of Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) heavy artillery. And in Woldiya city on December 18, 2021 due to attack by the ENDF 6 civilians were killed and 4 other were injured.
Between August 30 to September 4, 2021 and on December 2, 2021 Tigray forces committed 47 unlawful killing and other 40 civilians were killed by shooting who were attending a funeral in Amhara region.
In December 2021 ENDF executed 39 individual accusing them as members of the OLF in Amhara region Oromia special zone.
Tigray forces are also accused of committing acts of torture and other forms of cruel inhuman treatments against civilians.
Parties in the conflict are also accused of engaging in arbitrary detentions, abductions, and forced disappearances in violation of human rights and humanitarian laws.
Tigray forces also committed widespread and systematic sexual and gender based violence including gang rape against women of different ages-girls and elderly women in parts of Afar and Amhara regions under their control.
Tigray forces further caused damage and distraction to civilian homes, education, health and public administration facilities.
In Afar and Amhara regions, a total of 2,409 health facilities including hospitals and health posts have ceased operation as a result of the destruction, damage and pillage they sustained. In addition a total of 1,090 schools were fully destroyed while 3,220 sustained partial damage in both regions.
Financial institutions, in particular 18 commercial banks, sustained billions of birr worth loss due to looting and destruction on 346 branches.
In areas which were under their control, OLF-Shane also committed targeted killings of government officials and their family members and civilians they accused of supporting the government.
ENDF, Amhara Special Forces, Fano and other militias also committed unlawful and extrajudicial killing and caused physical injuries to civilians they suspected of supporting Tigray Forces or OLF-Shane.
EHRC’s 29-member team of investigators conducted investigations in many parts of Afar and Amhara regions affected by the conflict, covering over 50 locations in both regions and limited investigation of air raids took place in some parts of Tigray region.
The investigation team conducted 427 confidential interviews and held 136 meetings with various government offices and authorities; it also conducted 12 focus group discussions with religious leaders, community elders and internally displaced persons.
The main objectives of the investigation are to provide a faithful account of the human rights violations against civilians committed by all parties to the conflict, including its gender dimensions; to contribute to the process of holding perpetrators to account; to advocate for justice and redress for victims and survivors; as well as to prevent recurrence of similar violations.
Therefore the commission called for an impartial and credible criminal investigation consistent with applicable international human rights standards to ensure accountability. EHRC has reiterated that ensuring accountability for all violations committed by all parties to the conflict lies primarily with the Government.
The Network of Ethiopia Women Association
The Network of Ethiopia Women Association (NEWA) gathered women from various walks of life, institutions and inclinations at the Alliance Ethio-Française in commemoration of International Woman’s Day on March 8th. The venue, known for its wide range of arts activities did not fail, with walls filled by the contemporary art of eight Ethiopian women and signage with bold messaging including “AMPLIFY WOMEN’S VOICE FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE”. Several spoke on the history and development of the women’s movement, combined with accounts of current efforts, sponsored by the Embassy of France, to strengthen civil society.
