APPEAL TO INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

Like many, we have huge and never fading respect and honor to Athlete Haile G/Selassie. As we all know very well, Ethiopia has been associated with two scenarios. Firstly, the positive side of Ethiopia has always been raised due to its heroic athletes Excellency of whom Haile G/Selassie has been the pioneer of Ethiopian athletics at national and international levels. It is due to his tireless and extra ordinary effort that the world have cherished and honored him and through him all Ethiopians. He is the most exceptional and a precious person for all Ethiopians. Secondly, we are leveled as famine stricken people where the Oxford English Dictionary referred Ethiopia as an example of famine ravaged country in the world. Probably Haile may feel more pain than many Ethiopian do due his athletics Excellency at international arena. It is heart-breaking and downing to be leveled that way. Environmentalists, researchers, donors and humanitarian organization have researched as why Ethiopian is always affected by recurrent drought and famine. Both the international community and the Ethiopian governments agree that one of the most pressing root causes for Ethiopias drought and concurrent famine is environmental degradation due to deforestation. It is haunting memory that hundred thousands of our fellow Ethiopians perished in Tigrai and Wello as a result of deforestation induced drought and famine in1973/74 and 1984/85. It is the responsibility of the Ethiopian governments and the people of Ethiopia to drag out the country from such a negative image for which we have been ashamed of for decade. The roles of celebrities, such as Haile G/Selassie are always vital to change the image for better. Meanwhile many Ethiopians, donors, environmentalists, humanitarian organization and researchers are not clear as why the Ethiopian government is passionate for coffee and tea plantation investment on meager lingering forested lands. The justification behind the investment on forested land, for a country like Ethiopia whose population of more than five million needs emergency relief from western governments annually is always questioned, contentious, resented and resisted. The saddest and disheartening is to see when international figures and celebrities, such as Athlete Haile G/Selassie to get involved on such project that has catastrophic outcomes on the ever deteriorating food security problems in the country. Haile has leased and has been handed-over 1500ha of forested land for coffee, tea and species plantation in Yapo Kebele, Sheka Zone, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional State. Sheka zone is one of few areas that escaped the

catastrophe of extinction of tropical forests for centuries. During his meeting with the community members at the project site Haile was told in a clear and precise language that they do not need the project. The community refuted the economic benefit of the planned 14 kilometer road and two bridges proposed in the investment project and kindly request Athlete Haile to withdraw the project. Based on the existing reality in Ethiopia-grave food security problems together with the resentments and resistance of the local community, we have respectfully asked Athlete Haile to withdraw the project as this gives him more grace and Excellency in addition to what he has achieved in the arena of athletics. Haile does not seem responsive to the requests of the community and to ours as well. Our respect and honor is massive and yet not vanishing, however; we have found out that this is high time once again to request an international figure and celebrity-Haile G/Selassie to stand back and create an environment of comfort and easiness to this disadvantaged community by withdrawing the project that is pushing the indigenous people to be added up to already existing 5million population. Finally, we call for all concerned Ethiopians, environmentalists, researchers, donors and the international community to join us in our campaigning to pressurize celebrities and international figures, such as Haile G/Selassie to refrain from engaging on projects that contribute for the destruction of our ecosystem creating misery and despair on the indigenous people by sending messages to Athlete Haile G/Selassie not to engage on such projects now and in the future. We thank you in advance for reading and taking action, Respectfully, On behalf of four: Ayele Angelo Ago July, 28, 2012 E-mail:angelo_ayele@yahoo.com