Tadias Magazine

NY Daily News
Photo: NYT

BY NANCY DILLON
DAILY NEWS WEST COAST BUREAU CHIEF

Updated Sunday, August 31st 2008, 2:27 AM

WASILLA, Alaska - Sarah Palin’s hometown rallied around her as mayor - now Republicans wonder if the rest of America will warm up to the surprise pick from cold country.

Though her mother-in-law has doubts.

Faye Palin admitted she enjoys hearing Barack Obama speak, and still hasn’t decided which way she’ll vote.

“We don’t agree on everything. But I respect her passion,” she said. “Being pro-life is who Sarah is.”

Faye Palin said the governor never considered ending her recent pregnancy when genetic testing showed her son Trig, born in April, would have Down syndrome.

Faye Palin, Gov. Palin’s mother-in-law
(Schumann for News)

“There was no question,” she said. “She was going to have that baby.”

With a population of just 6,715, Wasilla is a fast-growing railroad town that got its start as a mail and supply hub linking the coastal towns of Seward and Knik to Alaska’s interior mining camps along the Iditarod dog sled trail. Read More.

Photo: Feleke Tibebu, former Editor-in-Chief of defunct Hadar
newspaper, an Ethiopian journalist in exile, was recently featured
on the CPJ blog (CPJ)

CPJ
By Mohamed Keita/Africa Research Associate

August 29, 2008

New York - Reliable sources in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa have informed CPJ this week that our site was inaccessible on the servers of the Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation, the country’s official Internet service provider. A handful of separate Internet users in the country have independently confirmed seeing “The page cannot be displayed” messages when attempting to access our site. The same sources have reported that e-mails they have tried to send to CPJ have not gone through.

Web sites, particularly foreign-based independent sites and blogs discussing political reform and human rights, have been blocked on a recurring basis in Ethiopia since the government cracked down on free media following disputed elections in 2005. In 2007, OpenNet said it has gathered “overwhelming evidence” that Ethiopia was among the nations worldwide restricting the Internet access of its citizens.

This time, the reports emerged over the weekend as CPJ was investigating the detention of newspaper editor Amare Aregawi in northern Ethiopia. Last year, sources in the country disclosed that the CPJ site was blocked on World Press Freedom Day, when CPJ named Ethiopia the world’s worst backslider on press freedom. The moves are part of the Ethiopian government’s pattern of restricting coverage of issues deemed sensitive such as the political activities of the foreign-based opposition, the high-profile trial of Ethiopian pop singer Teddy Afro, food shortage conditions, or the insurgency in the western Ogaden region.

Authorities have repeatedly denied blocking Web sites, even casting doubt “if the problem really exists,” to quote Information Ministry Spokesman Zemedkun Tekle.

This week, in a telephone interview with CPJ, Bereket Simon, a top senior advisor to Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, echoed the same position. “The government has no policy of blocking Web sites. Accessibility to any Web site is open,” he told me. He said he had not received any complaints from Ethiopians about blocked sites, and questioned whether such reports were credible. The government has no control over foreign-based sites, he said.

In July, Simon asserted that the mushrooming of private electronic media in Ethiopia was a sign that political dissent and free speech were not “shrinking.” Still, many foreign-based news and human rights sites besides ours–including the popular U.S.-based Nazret–remain inaccessible.

The Washington Post
Photo: AP

DENVER – John McCain has selected Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his vice presidential running mate, according to the McCain campaign, a surprise pick sure to shake up the race and reinforce the idea of the Arizona senator as a reformer.

The news that Palin, the mayor of a small town in Alaska just two years ago, was the pick came after CNN reported that a private plane had traveled from the Last Frontier to Dayton, Ohio where McCain is set to unveil his vice presidential pick later today. The Palin news came after the two supposed frontrunners — Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney — each confirmed he would not be traveling to Dayton today.

In picking Palin, McCain is taking a calculated risk. She is totally unknown and untested on the national stage but also has impressive credentials in her short time in public life. Read More.

Palin Pleased with Obama’s Energy Plan
Includes Alaska’s Natural Gas Reserves

Photo: Wikipedia

Below is Google’s cache of http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=1384.
It is a snapshot of the page as it appeared on Aug 23, 2008 16:56:14 GMT. According to NBC’s Domenico Montanaro, “the link to the press release was not working as of 12:30 p.m. ET.”

August 4, 2008, Fairbanks, Alaska - Governor Sarah Palin today responded to the energy plan put forward by the presumptive Democratic nominee for President, Illinois Senator Barack Obama.

“I am pleased to see Senator Obama acknowledge the huge potential Alaska’s natural gas reserves represent in terms of clean energy and sound jobs,” Governor Palin said. “The steps taken by the Alaska State Legislature this past week demonstrate that we are ready, willing and able to supply the energy our nation needs.”

In a speech given in Lansing, Michigan, Senator Obama called for the completion of the Alaska natural gas pipeline, stating, “Over the next five years, we should also lease more of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska for oil and gas production. And we should also tap more of our substantial natural gas reserves and work with the Canadian government to finally build the Alaska natural gas pipeline, delivering clean natural gas and creating good jobs in the process.”

Governor Palin also acknowledged the Senator’s proposal to offer $1,000 rebates to those struggling with the high cost of energy.

“We in Alaska feel that crunch and are taking steps to address it right here at home,” Governor Palin said. “This is a tool that must be on the table to buy us time until our long-term energy plans can be put into place. We have already enjoyed the support of Alaska Senator Ted Stevens, and it is gratifying to see Senator Obama get on board.”

The Governor did question the means to pay for Obama’s proposed rebate — a windfall profits tax on oil companies. In Alaska, the state’s resource valuation system, ACES, provides strong incentives for companies to re-invest their profits in new production.

“Windfall profits taxes alone prevent additional investment in domestic production. Without new supplies from American reserves, our dependency and addiction to foreign sources of oil will continue,” Governor Palin said.

BBC

Wednesday, 27 August 2008

Thousands of cheering Ethiopians have lined the streets of the capital, Addis Ababa, to welcome home the country’s Olympic gold-medal winning athletes.

Ethiopian PM Meles Zenawi was at the airport to greet the team, led by Kenenisa Bekele and Tirunesh Dibaba, both of whom won two golds at Beijing.

The team was led from the airport in open-topped cars past ecstatic crowds.

Ethiopia traditionally excels at long-distance running and finished 18th overall in the Olympic medal table.

The country’s athletes brought home from Beijing four gold, one silver and two bronze medals, dramatically improving on their haul at Athens four years ago, when they finished 28th.

Beijing 2008 Olympic gold medallist
Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia (L) is
welcomed by an unknown official
at the stadium in Addis Ababa
August 27, 2008.
REUTERS/Irada Humbatova (ETHIOPIA)

The airport reception for the athletes was followed by a larger ceremony at Addis Ababa’s 30,000-seater National Stadium.

The crowd there braved the threat of rain as it waited for the athletes, whose aircraft was delayed by more than six hours.

The BBC’s Elizabeth Blunt says the stadium greeted the athletes’ appearance by shouting and jumping up and down, waving Ethiopian flags.

Ethiopia has a deep well of distance running talent

“Our athletes have placed the country among the elite of countries that excel in athletics,” Ethiopia’s Minister of Youth and Sport, Aster Mamo, said at the event.

“We, as a country and government, are very proud of the achievements,” she added.

Kenenisa Bekele described the ceremony as “a special moment”.

The victorious team were given a
heroes’ welcome in Addis Ababa

“The fans have repaid our success with their enthusiastic welcome,” he said.

Bekele won gold in the 5,000m and 10,000m at Beijing while his compatriot, Tirunesh Dibaba, won gold in the women’s 5,000m and 10,000m.

Legendary Ethiopian long-distance runner Haile Gebrselassie also drew loud applause from the audience, though he did not win any medals at this year’s games.

CNN

DENVER, Colorado (CNN) — Sen. Hillary Clinton introduced herself as a “proud supporter of Barack Obama” at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday as she called on her party to rally behind her former rival.

“Whether you voted for me, or voted for Barack, the time is now to unite as a single party with a single purpose. We are on the same team, and none of us can sit on the sidelines. This is a fight for the future. And it’s a fight we must win together,” she said.

Clinton’s speech was expected to be one of the key elements of the four-day convention. The New York senator competed against Obama in the longest primary season in modern history.

She suspended her campaign in early June and endorsed Obama, but some of her supporters have been hesitant to move into Obama’s camp, saying they are going to not vote at all or vote for John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee.

“No way. No how. No McCain. Barack Obama is my candidate. And he must be our president,” Clinton said. Her speech, which was the last of the night, followed a line up of other Democrats who used their time at the podium to attack President Bush’s record and McCain’s policies.

Clinton thanked her voters for supporting her historic campaign as a female candidate and reached out to those wary of Obama by telling them they weren’t in this for her, but for her cause. That cause, she said, is the same thing that Obama and the rest of the Democratic Party are fighting for.

Appearing strong and energized — and at times jovial — Clinton seemed to end speculation that she has not fully embraced Obama as her party’s candidate.

Clinton mentioned Obama by name more than twice as many times as she mentioned the party as a whole.

“I thought she was a class act,” said political analyst David Gergen, who worked in the Clinton administration. “I think it could well be said that nothing has so become her campaign as the way she has ended it here tonight.” Read More.

CPJ
Photo: Feleke Tibebu, former Editor-in-Chief of defunct Hadar
newspaper. (CPJ)

August 26, 2008

New York - Feleke Tibebu, deputy editor of private Ethiopian newspaper Hadar, was arrested in a 2005 government-led crackdown on dissidents and the private media. Tibebu and 13 other journalists were charged with “outrages against the constitution or constitutional order,” “impairment of the defensive power of the state,” and “attempted genocide,” after the publication of editorials critical of the government’s conduct surrounding the May 2005 parliamentary elections. According to international news reports at the time, more than 190 people were killed when the government crushed post-election protests after the opposition contested the victory of the ruling party.

After nearly 17 months in prison, Tibebu and seven other journalists were acquitted and released in April 2007. Facing more harassment, he fled to Kenya later that year where he waited for more than a year for approval of his resettlement petition and visa to travel to the U.S. On August 16, Tibebu arrived in Virginia, where he has extended family.

He is one of more than 340 journalists forced into in exile whose cases CPJ has documented since 2001.

Tibebu was interviewed in Amharic last week by Voice of America Amharic service reporter Henok Fente, who is based in Washington:

Henok Fente: What are your feelings, observations, and impressions upon arriving in the U.S.?

Feleke Tibebu: I have mixed feelings about coming to America. I am sad because I was forced to flee my country, and it is not easy for someone to leave family, friends, and one’s career to build a new one in new country. I was forced by the Ethiopian government to flee. However, I am glad to be in America. I am glad I am not in prison or in a refugee camp. I am alive, and that is what matters.

HF: When is the last time you were in Ethiopia and what drove you out?

FT: I was in Ethiopia until the 2005 elections. I covered the election and the dispute in the aftermath. The government accused me, along with other colleagues, of genocide and crimes against humanity. What we did was report extrajudicial killings by government security forces and that is why we were sent to prison. I was acquitted by the high court and was released. But government security forces kept harassing me and my family. Eventually, I decided to flee to Kenya.

HF: What were some of the conditions you faced in prison?

FT: I was in jail for 17 months. The conditions were terrible. I was in the Meakelawi interrogation center for two months. A colleague and myself were locked in a dark room. Then we were transferred to a Kaliti correction facility. There were 430 inmates in one room. The cell had four latrines, two showers. It was hot and dirty.

CPJ gave me hope and support. I knew organizations like CPJ were fighting for our rights when they visited us. When the authorities heard that CPJ and others were coming, they built a new cell and they moved us there. That cut the suffering by half. CPJ also helped my family–giving cash–and helped me in Kenya, where I was a refugee. This encourages journalists. It helps the cause of free press in Ethiopia.

HF: What would have to change in Ethiopia for you to consider returning?

FT: Ethiopians should have the right to fully and freely express their thoughts and opinions. People should be free to write, say, or use whatever means they want to express themselves. Such rights have to be exercised fully–there is no middle ground here–it has to be fully free. Electoral processes and other institutions have to function independently. Unfortunately that is not the case in Ethiopia. The role of the free press has been significantly undermined by arrests and abuses and now [the government has] come up with a new press law that is even more suppressive. Honestly, the situation in Ethiopia is gloomy.

MSNBC

By AP

DENVER - Republicans on Tuesday invoked Hillary Rodham Clinton’s past criticism that Barack Obama wasn’t ready to lead as Democrats began two days at their national convention to be dominated by the old Clinton regime.

It came as Democrats disagreed among themselves on whether they have been hard enough so far on GOP rival John McCain.

Clinton, Obama’s former rival for the nomination, was expected to urge her disappointed supporters to line up in unity behind Obama in a prime-time speech Tuesday night. Her husband, former President Clinton, speaks to the convention on Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, McCain’s latest TV ad Tuesday played off her primary campaign spot featuring sleeping children and a 3 a.m. phone call portending a crisis. In the McCain ad Clinton is shown saying: “I know Sen. McCain has a lifetime of experience that he will bring to the White House. And, Sen. Obama has a speech he gave in 2002.” Read More.