More Attention for Traffic Laws, Black Exhaust

Dear Editors,
 

I noticed your news story headlined, “New Traffic Laws for Addis” [Volume 10, Number 496, November 1, 2009]. I think the news deserved more prominent space than you gave it on the corner of Page 34.
 

Better regulation of Addis Abeba’s traffic is long overdue. I remember that the city administration, during the time of Arkebe Oqubay, had issued a regulation to manage the chaotic traffic of Addis Abeba; it did not come into effect. Most people agree with me that Addis has the worst drivers in the world. The traffic accident and fatality rates could be much higher if it were not for divine intervention, perhaps.
 

If we have to change the way we drive, I think the new traffic regulations should go beyond banning mobile telephone use while driving and introducing mandatory seatbelts. It has to address the issues of driving discipline, aggressive driving and much more. The traffic police officers should also be well trained in order for them to know what requires good driving, road rules and discipline. I would like to see their role broadened beyond simply checking expired driving licenses or charging people for parking in the wrong place.

The other very important issue that the regulation should address is car exhaust. The amount of pollution from car exhaust is tremendous. It does not need much sophisticated research to establish that Addis Abeba has perhaps the most polluted air in the world. This can be observed everyday on our roads - most of the vehicles emit ugly dark smoke.

Check for brownish grey smoke on the skyline every morning while walking or driving to work. We can also observe the dark soot on vegetation along every road. If we cannot buy these facts, we just need to check our sputum [mucous or phlegm] every morning and we will find out what it looks like: dark soot. Reducing this pollution is not that difficult. It only needs a regulation requiring that every vehicle needs to go through a regular servicing. The city has to ban vehicles with black exhaust or smoke from using the roads of Addis Abeba. 

Wonde G. Selassie
Addis Abeba

Yes, Look East But Look First Within

Dear Editors,

I read with great interest Ken Ohashi’s, World Bank’s country director for Ethiopian and Sudan, commentary, headlined, “Time for Ethiopia to Look East Again” [Volume 10, Number 491, September 27, 2009].

He was right to mention that high inflation and an acute shortage of foreign exchange have been the two most obvious problems to Ethiopia’s current macroeconomic management.

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Sceptical of the Opposition

Dear Editors,

I read your timely and focused editorial headlined, “The Opposition’s Quest of Role and Place in the Electorate” [Volume 10, Number 489, September 13, 2009].

I do agree with you that the opposition bloc is divided and turned into many different single tones, rather than making one great tone by accommodating differences of its various voices. Sometimes, these fractured parties do not have differences which are worthwhile. They are nonetheless engaged in allegations and counter allegations, which by far was supposed to be the main duty of the incumbent. In doing so, they further erode their already fragile crediblity.

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I Can’t Believe I’m Writing This

Dear Editors,
 

I once heard about an incident that had driven Oprah Winfrey mad when she came to visit Addis Abeba. The alleged story had it that she was infuriated by customs officers at the airport, who apparently did not recognize who she was, for they ignored her while giving priority to other arrivals who happened to be whites; little did they know that they were her security personnel.

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Bole Customs Frustrates Customers

Dear Editors,

I arrived at Bole International Airport on an international flight early on the morning of September 4, 2009. I had to seek Customs clearance for an exercise equipment which I had brought with me.

The clerk on duty in the ‘assessment’ booth did not seem to know how to locate the described items on the computer. This process took a long time. Altogether the process took almost 90 minutes due to the inefficiency of the Customs officers there.

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Cultures: Adapt the Best, Omit the Worst 

 

Dear Editors,

I read the views of Getachew T. Alemu headlined “Ethiopia Should Brace for Disciplinary Revolution” [Volume 10, Number 488, September 6, 2009].

I agree with him on several aspects: The equality of women and men; the need for a tolerant society which accommodates different views; the importance of time consciousness; respect for customers and the flawed frame of mind of assuming children as retirement assets.

However, I strongly disagree with him when it comes to recognition of homosexuality as a legal right. I do not think that Ethiopians need any revolution to recognize such an evil act as a legal right. It is against nature, our culture and religion. It creates social confusion and disorder. Such a wicked act undermines the sacred institution called ‘marriage’ and human reproduction.

It is also a cause of several transmittable diseases. Even animals never commit such an evil act. Please let us be responsible when we propose something for our country. Let us copy the positive culture of the west but not the worst  traits.

Abdulmena Mohammed Hamza

Indians are Not Stranger to Ethiopia

Dear Editors,
 

We would like to draw your kind attention towards the news story published in your newspaper headlined, “Stranger Comes to Town” [Volume 10 Number 486, August 23, 2009], and further a letter from a reader headlined, “India, International Standards Differ” [Volume 10, Number 487, August 30, 2009].

The Embassy of India would like to express its disagreement regarding both the printed items, as they have incorporated wrong facts, baseless allegations, and a biased story. 

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Is Fortune's Case Really Historic?

Dear Editors,
 

Your news story headlined, "Fortune Wins Landmark Case against Ayat" [Volume 10, No. 476, June 14, 2009] gives extensive coverage to the court battle your publisher has fought against Ayat Share Company.

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Pankhurst Family Distances Itself from Memorial Institute

Dear Editors,

My attention has been drawn to an advertisement by the Sylvia Pankhurst Education and Training Institute entitled Sylvia Pankhurst Memorial Institute, on page 11 of your issue of June 7, 2009 [Volume 10 Number 475].
 

Though I have given my approval to naming a school after my mother, I have not been asked, and have not agreed to the use of my mother's name for the said Sylvia Pankhurst Education and Training Institute. Neither I, nor members of my family, hold any position or have any affiliation with the Institute share company.

Thank you

Richard Pankhurst (Professor)

A Case for Telecom Privatization

Dear Editors,
 

I read the news headlined, “Amharic Office Word Application Software Almost Complete” [Volume 10, Number 473, May 24, 2009]. It was great to know that the age old language of Ethiopia is entering the information age. My appreciation to the three organizations: Microsoft Inc., the Ethiopian Information Communications Technology Development Agency (EICTDA) and the Addis Abeba University (AAU).
 

However, all this effort is of no use as long as a single monopoly operator owns the generation and transmission of information and networks without the involvement of the private sector. As a result of such a policy, Ethiopia, with telecommunications services for over a century, is now known as a prime example of least developed countries (LDCs) in the information communications technology sector.
 

The private sector is excluded from owning a network, and small and medium enterprises, which could provide local language based content services, are absent from the scene. Perhaps Microsoft Inc. and the other influential organizations should clearly take a stand against the disabling policy on telecom and ICT monopoly in Ethiopia.

Only then can we talk and expect innovative and sustainable development through ICT.   

Asteway  Abebe
Nairobia

Is AU's Priority Cash or Development?

Dear Editors,

When I was covering the 4th African Health Ministers Conference for my government earlier this month, I was delighted to meet African officials in large numbers for the first time. I felt blessed for being assigned to Addis Abeba, as my first African posting. In naivety, I used to think Africa was as homogenous as are most European countries. I was fortunate to learn that the diversity is immense, and incredible.

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Ethiopian Journalists Must Support Each Other

Dear Editor
 

I read the commentary by Lulit Amdemariam headlined, “Ethiopian Journalism” [Volume10, Number 473, May 24, 2009]. It was a timely and fascinating piece.

Most media houses usually ignore such indispensable issues. Journalists in our country are seen complaining about their profession only when they are imprisoned, charges are pressed or when a new media law is imposed on them.

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Textile Labour Union Needs Reality Check

Dear Editor
 

I was amazed to read a story headlined, "Local Textile Labour Case May Go International" [Volume 10, Number 470, May 3, 2009]. This story says a local employer and union's case may go international because the case was not getting resolved here in Ethiopia.
 

I cannot believe the union chose this particular time to take it that far. Its leaders are thinking about getting in touch with the employer's clients through the International Conference of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) in order to urge them not to buy the product from the local factory.
 

What are they thinking? Where have they come from? Do they live in the same world we live in? Do they follow the news on what is going on around the world, that countries are doing all they could to make it through this turbulent times? Have they heard stories of employees losing their jobs, in millions, and companies getting bankrupt? Do they know that employers and employees are working together to avoid bankruptcy of their companies so employees have job security (even on a concession basis) during these trying times?
 

Besides, when they say they will contact the exporter's clients and ask them not to buy the product, have they not heard about the foreign exchange crunch this country is facing?
 

Maybe they were not aware that the products exported by individual companies do bring back the hard currency we all (as a country) depend on. I suggest they should get a reality check; they should also be thankful that their members do have jobs during these tough times while millions are desperately looking for one.
 

Their timing is so bad that instead of taking their case to international level, they should rather focus on increasing productivity. Our work attitude should change too. Working together with management, we should find a way we could be more a productive workforce.
 

Our industrial production output is too low, even when compared to other Third World countries.

We should keep in mind that our industries, all imported machineries purchased with foreign exchange, are established after consuming huge investment capital. If the exported products were not competitive enough, those industries could get bankrupt and close their doors with loss of jobs as avoidable consequences. It is in all our interest to see the success of these companies.

We should also be careful not to send the wrong signal to prospective investors, both domestic and foreign.

Ayenew Awole