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Money, Modernization and Ambivalence Among the Sidama of Northeastern Africa

Abstract: This article attempts to show how the historic exchange and market system along with an entrenched social ambivalence of an African people impacts the use of multi-purpose money and modernization. I focus on how individuals have responded to the latter in the middle to late twentieth century. The reaction is then compared with that of people in three other African societies. The conclusion considers how traditional subsistence values have led to an emphasis on social identity rather than mere quantitative value of things and money. Read here

On Sidama folk identification, naming, and classification of cultivated enset ( Ensete ventricosum ) varieties

Abstract An ethnobotanical study was carried out in Sidama to document and analyze the local system of naming, identification and classification of the cultivated varieties of enset used by farmers. The results revealed much information of biological and cultural value which can aid the botanical and genetic study and improvement of enset. Farmers recognized a total of 119 different infra-specific units of enset. The locally perceived biotas are partitioned into three well-recognized groups, namely sub-variety, variety, and supra-variety. Taxa assigned to the three groups have nomenclatural and ethnobotanical features that mark them as members of a separate group. A description and analysis of the nomenclatural and ethnobotanical features of taxa assigned to each of the three groups is presented with emphasis on the nature of the characters used for identification and grouping. A folk biological classification system of enset consisting of four taxonomic levels is proposed. The st

In Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s Region (SNNPR), increasing admissions to Outpatient Therapeutic Programs (OTPs) and Stabilization Centers (SCs) continued to be reported in 27 woredas (districts). Areas of particular concern include the major root crop dependent zones of Wolayita, Kembata Tembaro, Gamo Gofa, and Hadiya, Sidama ...

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WFP Ethiopia Biweekly Report, 3 August 2012 Report — World Food Programme Download PDF (604.2 KB) Highlights: • A minimum of US$12 million is required in order to continue food distributions for refugees through the end of 2012. • The release of the Humanitarian Requirements Document (HRD) for July-December has been postponed until further notice. The allocations for the sixth round of relief distributions will be determined once the HRD is released. • WFP-Ethiopia will start delivering food by barge, airdrop and airlift to South Sudan in the coming week. Food Security Summary According to Ethiopia's Food Security Outlook (July-December), produced by Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSNET), WFP and USAID, the onset of the 2012 June to September Kiremt rains was largely on time. However, the rains have been erratic and below normal so far. A

The Awassa Children’s Project (ACP) and Faye Foundation (FF) have recently teamed up

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August 5, 2012 Chicago; Los Angeles, August 6, 2012: The Awassa Children’s Project (ACP) and Faye Foundation (FF) have recently teamed up to work together in addressing the orphan and vulnerable children (OVC) crisis in southern Ethiopia! “With the prevalence of HIV/AIDS currently rising and the urgent need for life-saving anti-retroviral medication, organizations need to unify around finding sustainable solutions.” said Jamie Lynne Grumet, Founder, Chief Executive Officer of the Faye Foundation. Members of FF and ACP will visit the Children’s Center and other parts of southern Ethiopia in late August to examine areas where they can work together. “This partnership is exciting for several reasons,” said Paul Chadha, President of the Awassa Children’s Project, “together we can bring change to so many kids that need simple things like food and medicine.” The Fayye Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to addressing the orphan crisis in the Sidama region of Ethiopia

Assessing the Effect of Land Use Change on the Hydraulic Regime of Lake Awassa

Abstract For the past years increases in population pressure, government policy and external influences have caused a consistent change in the land cover of the Lake Awassa catchment. The change has come about mainly due to deforestation as is the case in many other areas of Ethiopia. The effects of land cover changes have had an impact on the water balance of the catchment by changing the magnitude and pattern of runoff, peak flow and ground water levels. This study is mainly focused on the assessment of the hydrological response of the catchment in relation to the land cover data of 1965 and 1998 using a Geographic information system (GIS) integrated with the hydrologic modeling. The result of the remote sensing assessment on the land cover of the catchment indicated that natural vegetation decreased by 11,768 ha or 9.06 % between years 1995-1998. This was mainly due to the expansion of agriculture and urban area. Plantation expansion was 20,661 ha or 13.56 % and also urbanizati