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Culture and Psychological Responses to Environmental Shocks: Cultural Ecology of Sidama Impulsivity and Niche Construction in SW Ethiopia

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Abstract Sidama people occupy a subsistence niche partitioned between traditional enset agropastoralism and transitional maize farming. Enset production is low-risk and requires multiple years for cultivation and processing. Maize farming is high-risk, high-yield requiring only one growing season from planting to harvest. Contrasting enset and maize farming we examine effects of crop loss and social shocks on Sidama impulsivity. We argue that impulsivity is a psychological process that is differentially activated by environmental shocks in the stable, traditional enset regime and unstable, transitional maize regime. Using a robust psychometric model derived from Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS) items we demonstrate two dimensions of Sidama impulsivity: Careful-Control [CC] and Acts Without Thinking [AWT]. Both dimensions are associated with environmental shocks, but the associations are moderated by social ecological regimes. In the enset regime, effects of shocks on impulsivity ar

The FAO honoured achievements of Ethiopia

The FAO honoured achievements of Brazil, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Gabon, the Gambia, Iran, Kiribati, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, the Philippines and Uruguay. Brazil, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Gabon, the Gambia, Iran, Kiribati, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, the Philippines and Uruguay according to the FAO are the latest in a growing list of countries to make great strides in combating undernourishment. During a ceremony at FAO headquarters, the Organization’s Director-General, José Graziano da Silva, awarded diplomas to government representatives of the 13 countries. “You have overcome major challenges in difficult global economic conditions and policy environments. You have demonstrated the will and mobilized the means,” Graziano da Silva said addressing the award recipients. The FAO Director –General urged countries to accelerate progress stating that “Progress in eradicating worldwide hunger over the next ten years “is gaining momentum”, but much more needs to

Ethiopia Tests Thousands for HIV in Record Attempt

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More than 3,300 people were tested for HIV Sunday in the Ethiopian region of Gambella, a massive turnout that exceeded expectations among AIDS campaigners who had hoped to test 2,000 people, according to local officials. Rahel Gettu, an official with the U.N. Aids agency in  Ethiopia , said they believe they broke the world record for the number of HIV tests carried out in one day. She said their claim was yet to be verified and confirmed by Guinness World Records. She said 3,383 people were tested for HIV within eight hours in a single event ahead of World Aids Day. Eighty-two of them received positive results. About 6.5 percent of Gambella residents have HIV or AIDS, a rate higher than the national average of 1.5 percent. Officials hope that voluntary AIDS testing in this region that borders South Sudan can lead to a reduction in the number of new infections. "It will help to bring together communities. It helps people to know their status in order to make informed c

ጥቂት ማየት ስለተሳናቸው ኢትዮጵያውያን

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Theresa, sordomuda, teje fulares y bufandas. /  LOLA HIERRO Seis céntimos de euro no se puede calificar ni de calderilla. Pero esta minúscula suma fue lo que costó el billete que sacó de la pobreza extrema a los más parias de Addis Abeba, la capital de Etiopía. Sin familia, educación o empleo, pero todos ciegos, sordos, paralíticos o amputados, con la calle como único hogar y la mendicidad como única ocupación, 60 hombres y mujeres del barrio de Mekanisa, uno de los más degradados de la ciudad, un día decidieron cambiar su suerte. Yoseph Adane, de 40 años, recuerda cómo prendió la mecha del cambio. Ciego de nacimiento y sin familia, ya deambulaba por los suburbios de Addis en 1996. Una mañana cualquiera, su colega Molla Mengeste, también invidente y en la calle, llegó con una idea: asociarse con otros sin techo para fabricar objetos y venderlos. Los dos amigos difundieron el plan por el barrio y, en poco tiempo, eran 60 personas dispuestas a buscarse la oportunidad que nadie le

ስለ ሲዴ ቡና ምን ይወራል...

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ABOUT SIDAMA ARDI Sidama is one of the most recognised and celebrated regions for high quality naturally processed coffees in Ethiopia. About 60 miles south of the famous small town of Yirgacheffe there is a town called Hagere Maryam. All of the Ardi coffee comes from one mill in this town. This is a natural processed coffee, which helps to yield the super typical berry and floral characteristics that are found in the cup. In order to control the drying process of this coffee it is first dried for two weeks on raised beds in the sun. The coffee is sorted by hand as it dries. Any under-ripe cherry (green in colour) stands in stark contrast to all the red cherries on the bed. All the under-ripe cherries are removed, and after two weeks, the coffee is set to dry on a concrete patio. This meticulous effort over the course of 3 weeks ensures a clean, well structured, dry processed coffee. The coffees are kept separate from mill to mill providing the opportunity to choose this specific

THIRTEEN COUNTRIES MOVE CLOSER TO ERADICATING HUNGER

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A woman selling vegetables in the Gambia, one of the countries honored by FAO for progress in fighting hunger. 30 November 2014, Rome  - Thirteen countries today won recognition from FAO for outstanding progress in fighting hunger, an achievement which includes reaching international targets ahead of the end-of-2015 deadline. Brazil, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Gabon, the Gambia, Iran, Kiribati, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, the Philippines and Uruguay are the latest in a growing list of countries to make great strides in combating undernourishment. This includes the early achievement of the  Millennium Development Goal 1 (MDG-1)  hunger target - to halve the proportion of hungry people by 2015 - or the more stringent 1996 World Food Summit (WFS) target of halving the absolute number of hungry people by 2015. During a ceremony at FAO headquarters, the Organization's Director-General, José Graziano da Silva, awarded diplomas to government representatives of the 13 co

Refugee dies after SA hospital denies treatment, citing health act

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Home  »  Features  »  Refugee dies after SA hospital denies treatment, citing health act Refugee dies after SA hospital denies treatment, citing health act in  Features   3 days ago Ethiopian refugee Badesa Fokora has died in a Johannesburg hospital after suffering double kidney failure and being refused treatment for it, despite the fact that he had been lying in a hospital bed for a month. Although doctors at Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg were aware of his life-threatening condition, they refused him treatment on the basis that he was not a South Africa citizen. Fokora was told that as a non-South African, he did not qualify for a place on the hospital’s chronic renal treatment programme, which involves dialysis and an organ transplant. The hospital refused to treat him even after Fokora’s family said that they would contribute to the costs of the treatment. The National Health Act states that only citizens and permanent residents of South Africa may receive

Medrek, UDJ relationship ends in divorce

The two parties, Unity for Democracy and Justice Party (UDJ) and Forum for Democratic Dialogue in Ethiopia (Medrek), which used to work together in the opposition block of the country, has ended their relationship and have officially separated as of November 20 due to the differences between the parties. These two parties were working together for the past six years and their relationship was at odds after a speech, which was delivered by former president of UDJ Gizachew Shiferaw (Eng.), advocated for a merger than continuing with the party in the form of a front or a coalition. In this regard, Medrek demanded a correction of that speech and suspended the party temporarily on its ninth general assembly which was held last year. However, UDJ declined to do so and argued that the speech was delivered by the president as a personal opinion which does not represent the party. The disagreement between these two parties continued till the tenth general assembly which was held on N

Story of Adopted Sidama Child in USA

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Members on Mission: Our Adoption Story by Heather Postma (with Scott, Tyler, Kebede and Megan)   “‘ For I know the plans I have for you,’declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” Jeremiah 29:11   A recurring theme in our family when we don’t quite understand why things happen is to trust that, through it all, we know that God has a plan for us. Little did we know that when we kept reassuring Kebede that there is a reason he is in our family and that God has a plan for him, he also had in the works a plan for us too.   Adoption was on my heart even as a young child. Seeing pictures of starving children during the devastating Ethiopian famine, I would ask my mom, “Why would God let children be born in a country with no food?” My desire to adopt continued to grow.  There seemed to be sign after sign of God telling us not to wait any longer. It could have been a radio ad about adoption as I was thinking about it,

INFANT MORTALITY IN THE RURAL SIDAMA ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA: EXAMINING THE CONTRIBUTION OF KEY PREGNANCY AND POSTNATAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES

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Summary Objectives: This study is aimed at examining the contribution of selected pregnancy and postnatal health care services to Infant Mortality (IM) in Southern Ethiopia. Method: Data were collected from 10 rural villages of the Sidama Zone, Southern Ethiopia, using a structured interview schedule. The 1,094 eligible women respondents were selected using a combination of simple random and multi-stage sampling techniques. The main outcome variable of the study (IM) was measured by reported infant deaths during the twelve months preceding the survey, and was estimated at 9.6% or 96 infant deaths per 1,000 births. Pregnancy and health care variables were used as the main explanatory variables along with other household and individual characteristics. Results: The predicted probabilities, using three models of logistic regression analysis, have shown that four pregnancy and postnatal health care variables (antenatal care, immunisation, exclusive breast feeding and wantedness

Sidama Bunna - Kedus Giorgis betting prediction, free betting tips

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30 November 2014 07:00 Yirgalem Stadium Premier League

Sidama Ardi

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Sidama is one of the most recognised and celebrated regions for high quality naturally processed coffees in Ethiopia. About 60 miles south of the famous small town of Yirgacheffe there is a town called Hagere Maryam. All of the Ardi coffee comes from one mill in this town. This is a natural processed coffee, which helps to yield the super typical berry and floral characteristics that are found in the cup. In order to control the drying process of this coffee it is first dried for two weeks on raised beds in the sun. The coffee is sorted by hand as it dries. Any under-ripe cherry (green in colour) stands in stark contrast to all the red cherries on the bed. All the under-ripe cherries are removed, and after two weeks, the coffee is set to dry on a concrete patio. Read more @ http://www.ozonecoffee.com/shop/ethiopia-sidama-ardi/

Sidama Coffee Comparison Cupping :: Sidama vs. Sidamo

What does it take to be an Ethiopian ambassador?

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By Mikias Sebsibe Five months after the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) announced the result of the fourth general elections; former President Girma Woldegiorgis appointed 36 ambassadors and special envoys to various diplomatic missions on October 2010. Nominated by the late Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, the list included former ministers, state ministers and speakers of the House of Peoples’ Representatives.  Veteran politicians like Seyoum Mesfin and Girma Birru, who were appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to China and the US, respectively, were among them. Prior to their foreign service missions, Seyoum served as the country’s Foreign Minister while Girma was Minister of Trade and Industry. The pair only had to wait for a month to secure ambassadorial appointments after leaving their ministerial posts in favour of their party comrades, when the then leader of the Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) established its