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Opening Statement made by Mr. Tesfai Gebreselassie, Minister of Land, Water and Environment to the Gathering Held to Mark World Environment Day, Asmara, 03 June 2022

https://shabait.com/2022/06/03/opening- ... june-2022/

LOCAL NEWS



Honorable Mr. Fesehaye Haile, Governor of Zoba Maekel

Honorable Madame Amakobe Sande, UN Resident Coordinator

Honorable Mr. James Wakiaga, UNDP Resident Representative

Honorable participants, Ladies, and gentlemen

I welcome and thank you all, for coming to take part in the gathering. It has been organized jointly by the MLWE and UNDP-Eritrea Office to mark the upcoming World Environment Day, 5 June.

Before going into making brief and general introductory remarks, I would like, on behalf of the ministry, to express my acknowledgment to the organizers for their effort to prepare the event and UNDP-Eritrea Office for their sponsorship.

Dear participants,

This year’s World Environment Day will be celebrated under the slogan Only One Earth. Millions of people across the world will celebrate the Day by engaging in different environment-related activities and pledging commitment and solidarity to contribute, within their means, towards achieving the goals of the ever-expanding global peoples’ movement aimed at making the Earth a better place to live in for now and generations to come.

In response to the global call of the Day, on our part, we are holding this awareness promotion gathering. Here short presentations will be made on some major environmental challenges facing our country and on what response is expected from every citizen individually and the Eritrean society collectively to address the challenges.



Early this week, as part of the event, a knowledge competition program on general environmental issues was conducted among young employees of different government institutions through Eritrean Television media. On 5 June, municipal residents will undertake neighborhood cleaning activities to show their solidarity with the international community in the fight against the causes of global environmental problems.

Dear participants,

Since our early childhood school days, we all knew in the universe there are billions of planets and other heavenly bodies. To the best of human knowledge, amongst the innumerable planets, it is only our blue planet Earth that is endowed with unique natural conditions favorable to life. Although it might be a bit late, people have come to realize the condition exclusive to our Earth is not something to be taken for granted. It is fragile and requires care. I believe that every one of us here has lived enough to witness how human tampering with the natural environmental balance can cause dismal misery in the lives of millions of people and other contemporary creatures. Now it is also clear that the main drivers of the environmental crisis of our time are built into the foundations of the global economy and the modern human way of life.



Since modern times, human activities and reckless interaction with nature have been disturbing the natural balance by excessive extraction of natural resources and production of toxic wastes that harm the Earth. Air pollution, global warming, and consequent climate change witnessed in our time, (and manifested by irregular rainfall pattern, freshwater scarcity, flooding, and land erosion, soil fertility degradation, desertification, wildfires, heat waves, pollution of fresh water and sea, loss of bio-diversity etc), to a larger extent, are consequences of human activities.

As these major challenges of our time are global, it is also clear that they need global solutions. And effective solutions to the challenges are known and well within reach of modern technology and financial capacity of the developed countries. Nonetheless, despite the available possibilities, ghg emissions, and global temperature have been on the rise and global environmental degradation has been becoming dire, In the face of these challenges, it is sad to not human reluctance to act accordingly. Particularly, the reluctance to act shown by the countries that have the means and major responsibility is unacceptable by all measures.

Dear participants,

The fact that Only One Earth, an adage that encompasses simple and common knowledge, is selected again after 50 years to be the slogan for this year’s World Environment Day speaks a lot. It is meant, among other things, to remind the peoples and governments of developed and developing nations alike, that:

• Many of the things we do not want to act on fast enough will cause more damage on us.
• We need to realize that planet earth is not only where we can survive, but it is also meant to be a shared home for us to live in harmony with other species.
• Further failure to give due respect to nature will invite unbearable human sufferings like never before, if not our extinction.
• Geological history of the earth is rich in examples of the extinction of species that in their turn had alternately dominated planet earth in various geological times. If the environmental conditions change for the worse, humanity cannot be an exception.
• While it is appropriate to focus on the consequences of human negligence towards nature; it is also important to underscore that there is a great possibility to save our planet from the dire environmental crisis it has been dragged into, if only humanity acts before things go astray and before a point of no return is reached.
• For the common good, every one of us has the legal and moral responsibility to care for the environment and protect it from damage.



Dear participants,

As people of a country victimized by causes that are not of our making, it will be within our right to strongly urge and demand the major global emission contributors greatly cut their emissions in order to meet the global temperature reduction target. At the same time, we should realize our responsibility in addressing our domestic environmental challenges. Meeting this responsibility will be an important contribution that, we as a country, can make toward the achievement of global environmental goals.

In closing my remark, I urge everyone in this gathering to be vigilant advocates of the environment by example.

I thank you all for your attention.


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Statement delivered by the Delegation of Eritrea at the International Meeting, “Stockholm+ 50: a Healthy Planet for the Prosperity of All – Our responsibility, Our opportunity” 2-3 June, 2022

https://shabait.com/2022/06/03/statemen ... eaPrevails

GENERAL

Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen

It is my honor to address you this afternoon, on behalf of the Government of the State of Eritrea.

It heightens our concerns to think that we are losing the fight of protecting our one and only planet, but this is the reality of the situation. No Glasgow pact nor renewed commitments can undo the harm done to our planet, unless we fulfill our past commitments and promises.

While we are celebrating the Stockholm+50 International meeting and commemorating the 1972 UN Conference on the Human Environment we should ask ourselves: What is our world looking like today, compared to 50 years ago? Notwithstanding the many meetings and conferences held, what actual advancement have we made to secure a healthy planet for all?

The Government of the State of Eritrea enacted a national ban on plastic bags in early 2005, today, Eritreans use cloth, nylon, or straw bags, many of which are locally manufactured. Eritrea as one of the countries in the developing world whose GHG emission footprint is close to none is committed to embarking on a carbon-neutral sustainable development pathway, within the decade of action.

Realizing the critical importance of biodiversity and ecosystems services in supporting economic growth, sustainable development, livelihood, and human well-being and its contribution to achieving the 2030 agenda, the Government of the State of Eritrea has developed and mainstreamed a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) that encompass 18 ecosystem-based targets, mainly on marine, agriculture and terrestrial setting.

Eritrea is committed to undertaking effective measures to stop the loss of and protect, biodiversity and ecosystem services, which is fundamental to achieving the sustainable development goals and rebuilding a resilient post-pandemic world.

Eritrea, like most other countries in our region, has a very vulnerable ecosystem. It is among the countries hardest hit by the effects of climate change, due to its geographic location and low adaptive capability. Recurrent drought, unpredictable patterns of rainfall, spatial and temporal variability and subsequent water scarcity and depletion, crop failure and livestock death, genetic erosion, loss of endemic species, and the list goes on. All these difficulties, unless skillfully addressed, will erode the resilience of communities and add up to the embedment of poverty, and challenge development progress.

As climate change is borderless, no country, regardless of its emission contribution and coping capabilities, can escape from its impacts. Comparable to its scale and magnitude, mitigation of climate change impacts requires concerted global efforts and can only be achieved, if the international community, based on the principles of the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), makes an ambitious contribution toward Greenhouse Gas emission reduction on the bases of equity and in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDRRC).

Eritrea acknowledges the need for a clear strategic framework, so as to contribute to averting global biodiversity loss. This indeed will contribute to the sustainable development goals and pave the way for the attainment of the vision,

living in harmony with nature.

Excellencies,
Ladies and gentleman

The reference to political will is often made in various fora but the political will is determined by all of us, the International Community. On this occasion, let us renew our commitments and show solidarity with the countries most affected by climate change and let us ensure that another 50 years won’t pass-by without having secured a safer planet for generations to come.

Eritrea with all its challenges, past and present, is fully committed to adhere to the commitments it made under the UNFCCC convention and is guided by the principles therein.

I thank you for your kind attention.




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Four Eritrean athletes - Merhawi Kesete & Tesfay Berhane- direct from Asmara- Samuel Tsegay & Samuel Russom- Eritreans residing in Sweden- will participate tomorrow 4/6-2022, @StockholmMarathon. The race will start at 12.00, Stockholm time.

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The Art of Cycling: A brief History!

https://shabait.com/2016/10/22/the-art- ... f-history/

GENERAL

Oct 22, 2016

They couldn’t stop cycling, because the people felt it. Even as people were dying, cycling continued, it was the dream of the people.’

Giovanni Mazzola.

Asmara, 7:30 pm. People are returning home; on foot, on a bicycle and by car. You are also homeward bound. Some streets are quite dark. But you have gotten accustomed to the situation. One more crossing of the street and you will be right home with your family. Whoosh! What was that? An unidentified flying object? A ghost? The spirit of God carrying a message of doom? NO. That was a bicycle. You didn’t have time to get even a shadowy glimpse of it. Phew! It was a close one.

Arebia Sheitan (devils carriage) was the name initially given to these two wheeled contraptions by our people, about a hundred years ago. The impact of this superstition can still be seen across our border, where the priests are loath to ride on bicycles.

How can a thing stand and move, on two wheels only?

Mused our priests, who were ready to excommunicate it the first time they saw it used by the Italian soldiers. The same question could have been asked, about themselves. How can a thing stand and move, on two feet only? No wonder, in the quadruple animal world, human beings are considered the incarnation of the devil for choosing to walk on two feet only.

Gradually, people began to use the bicycle. It was sleek, fast and cheaper than the car. It moved in narrow streets, was easily steered and maneuvered and needed neither fuel to make it move nor battery to start it.

In the 1950’s, many Eritreans owned bicycles. From those that went clickety-click, without light and mudguards to those who shone in the sun and were fitted with all kinds of industrial and traditional accessories, such as front light, reflector, pump, bell, carrying rack for one’s belongings, a rear-view mirror, an ear of corn or a flower for decorations, a mud flap with the countries flag,etc.

Have you seen Girmay zooming past with his shinning bicycle, Astier?

Seen him? I am dreaming of one day, marrying him.

Which reminds me of a hilarious story, my Dad once told me of his own father.

My Granddad used to bike to work every morning and afternoon, but on one unfortunate morning as he was getting ready to go to work, to his own dismay, he found his bicycle’s front tire flat.

Why don’t you take mine,

suggests my dad trying to be helpful.

My granddad who always wore immaculate suits to work would hilariously go on to say;

Son, your bike looks like a Barista!

indicating to the many colorful decorations his son’s bike had,

I rather walk, thank you very much.

But Bahsai Haile, is not very fortunate. He is past seventy and had problems steering his bicycle properly, especially downhill.

Well, Bashai Haile, I think now you have mastered the art of cycling?

Praised be, the Lord. Now I can at least wave my fly whisk with one hand, as I steer with the other.

One day, one of his sons, Gebre, took the bicycle for a joyride and broke the brake cable. He did not inform his father, about the incident.

When the next morning, Bashai Haile rode his bicycle to go to work, he was as usual brandishing his flywhisk and was feeling happy and elated. The road that Bashai Haile followed was a nit bumpy and with steep slopes and with prickly pear bushes, here and there.

Going down the steep slope along the bumpy road, Bashai Haile had to turn left before taking the straight road to his work. But he had to brake before turning left, for straight before him stood the prickly pears ready to welcome him with outstretched spiky arms. He pulled on the brake lever, with all his might. Nothing! He tried again. No effect! As he flew headlong right into the prickly pear, he shouted:

I know it is Gebre, that naughty child of mine! Wait till I come back home, I will skin him alive.

Eritreans are very fond of bicycles. The young and the old, boys and girls all love to ride to work or home. In some ways, the bicycle is also a wagon of the poor. If it were not for the bicycle, the manuale (Cheap labor force from the country side) wouldn’t have arrived on time to please Signore Rossi, who had the power to hire and fire them as he pleased.

How come everybody here knows how to steer a bicycle?

asked a Derg soldier to a doctor one day, after a little accident.

What do you mean?

asks the doctor.

You see, I tried it many times and look what happened to me.

He showed the doctor a grazed knee, a wrist with contusion and a wounded chin that needed stitching.

Why don’t you simply walk, like the rest of your friends?

He suggested.

What was he trying to prove? After all, the trench warfare of the First World War when soldiers went to battlefield on bicycle, was over.

Well, frankly speaking, I have Tiblets in mind. I have a crush on her and I simply wanted to impress her by maneuvering a bicycle in front of her,

he confessed.

Good old days!!!

He grew up in Addis Ababa, where bicycles were rarities and where people hardly used bicycles. In the past, during the Ethiopia occupation of Eritrea, one of the ways adopted to find out whether one was an Eritrean (rather Asmarino) or an Ethiopian was to see how one steered a bicycle. Only Eritrean rode bicycles gracefully, would tell me my Grandad.

When the freedom fighters began to use bicycles to liquidate the enemies of the people, the Derg soldiers wish came true. Hating bicycles for ‘unhorsing’ them all the time, they now decided to stop them from circulating once and for all. They are the wembede’s (The Bandit’s) carriage, they said. Well, that’s more or less exactly what they called it in their country when their fathers first saw it: Yeshitan Seregella.

No wonder, Eritreans have been and are still winning in cycling competition all over the world. And cycling has become, Eritrea’s national sport.

But, the way the people (mostly youngsters) are riding bicycles at present leaves much to be desired. The problem is that bicycle culture in this country, as in most third world countries, has become a subject to be studied closely. People tend to consider the bike as a vehicle ‘of the masses’ and therefore ‘exploited’ by the rich car owners. So all traffic rules are ‘bourgeois’ rules and cyclists can steer their vehicles any way they like, with impunity.

Two weeks ago, I happened to be in Mai-Temenai visiting a friend. On my way back home, I had to cross a street to board a bus on the opposite side of the street. I had hardly walked about a meter into the street than a boy of 12 riding a bike came hurtling down the street, unable to brake on time. You know, when cyclist ride in a crowd they prefer to steer out of obstacles than using the brakes. So this boy simply bumped into me and was hurled forward, leaving me sprawling near the pavement with my wrist almost broke.

A crowed formed, on the spot. A crowed with distorted view, about good and bad guys. As I tried to take stoke of what happened and moved my hand for any sign of sprain or contusion, I couldn’t help noticing that the crowd were sympathetic to the poor boy who knocked me over.

Is that the guy who knocked you over?

they asked, the frightened boy.

They thought instinctively, that I was the owner of the bike and that the poor boy was a victim of my careless steering.

When the little boy told them the truth, they all moved towards me.

Are you okay?

The bus driver waited for me to get in, but I waved him to continue.

Among the crowd were doctors, good Samaritans, philosophers, showbiz fans, the curious, the kind, the prejudiced, etc.

You need to take an x-ray.

No, you simply put ice cubes on the sprained part.

Children of this generation. They never stay put in one place.

And in the end, one do-gooder approached and pulled my finger and wrists for checking.

It is okay, no broken bones,

he affirmed.

I went into the next bar and asked for ice cubes. A man who was drinking beer with friends approached me and after examining the bruise, took out a piece of paper from his pocket and scribbled medical prescription for me.

Just rub it on the spot where it hurts,

he ordered and left.

The very next day though as I was telling my friend of the little accident, which led to us talking about bicycle’s in general, he told me Eritrean cycling lost one of its very own this week, a legend in the name Giovanni Mazzola.

Giovanni Mazzola, who was born in 1938 in Asmara from his Father Mazzola Salvatore and mother Demekesh Gebremeskel, was one of Eritrea’s early cyclists.

After a bit of digging around to learn about the man, I found out that he was one of Eritrea’s first ever cyclist’s. Here is a bit about the man;

Olympian cyclist Giovani Mazzola who in 1957 bought a bicycle for 150 birr that was assembled by signor Dicagno, started to race. In that year, he championed from his group. In 1958, he was promoted to the middle group and won the championship.

In 1960, Giovanni Mazzola participated in world Olympics held in Rome. In 1961, he won the annual championship held in Eritrea. In 1962 cycling competition held in Asmara-Keren-Asmara line, Giovani became the winner. In the annual championship of Eritrea 1964, he stood 6th and this was his last competition and officially resigned from the saddle. In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, he became the chairman of the junior club. In 1980’s, he served as member of the cycling Federation in Eritrea. After independence, in 1994 Giovanni was elected as president of the cycling Federation of the central region. Giovanni played a great role for the development of cycling, in Eritrea. He is a tireless citizen, who dedicate his time for the development of Eritrea’s cycling. He introduced for the first time, mountain bike race and the disabled wheelchair competition in Eritrea. Giovanni produced many cyclists and still continues to produce, by offering multi-sport materials.

Tarik kididm bishikleta ab Ertra 1936-2011.

This week also, Eritrea’s national Cycling teams have been in Doha, Qatar for the last 8 days taking part in the 89th world cycling Championships, and it is no surprise to hear the team did well throughout the competition, with Natnael Berhane finishing 13th in the elite men road race championship. By now we all have been accustomed to Eritrean cyclists succeeding in every cycling competition endeavor, they partake in. A sight, Giovanni Mazzola will continue to enjoy from the heavenly above.

In memory of Giovanni Mazzola: 1938-2016.

Eritrea Participates at the 11th World Potato Congress

https://shabait.com/2022/06/03/eritrea- ... -congress/

LOCAL NEWS

Jun 3, 2022

A team of Eritrea researchers and experts are participating in the 11th World Potato Congress being held in Dublin, Ireland from 30 May – to 02 June 2022.

According to information from the participants, the congress includes presentations, focus sessions, poster presentations, technical tours, and networking by renowned scientists and international speakers on the challenges and opportunities in the potato business; health and nutrition; Innovation; sustainability; food security, and development.



Eritrea is participating in the overall sessions and is also sharing its experience, with posters exhibition. It’s also worth mentioning that Eritrea’s experience has been quoted by three scientists from CIP, Teagasc, and Vita in their presentations.

It is to be noted that Eritrea has registered remarkable achievement in the potato sector, and has secured adequate potato seeds both for the highland and the lowland areas of the country.

More than 900 delegates from 61 countries, are participating at the 11th World Potato Congress.




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Eritrea and its quest for Social Justice.

Equal right of all citizens to health, education, work, food... these are, the same rights, the Eritrean ppl espoused during its independence struggle. To Learn and Fight- For the demands of the struggle and Future Eritrea.

Eritrea's core principled value is incorruptible, "...and it works".
@SebleEphrem



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ገማግም ባሕሪ "በይሉል" ንኡስ ዞባ ደቡብ ደንካልያ @AhmedaniMohamm1




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At @EriStarukMedia, we pride in young Eritreans who assert their proud National Identity. Send us your Proud Eritrean Images to share with the world at large. All we ask is, it Must only be yours. #EritreaShinesAt31

ሀለም አቀፍ ስብስባ ለማረግ መስብስብያ ያስፈልጋል እኮ የቀበሌ መስብስቢያ ይዘህ ዓለምን መጥራት ህ በራሱ ያስቃል። ይህንን ከመመለስ ጠቅላላ ኢንተርኔቱን ሙላው መልክቴን ለመሽፈን ብለህ ። የፈለግህው ብታረግ እወነታው ኤርትራ ከቀበሌ ስብስባ በላይ ሌላ ማረግ አትችልም። እንደው ላበረታታህ ያህል አማሮችም ያው ያንተው እድል ነበር የሚጠብቃቸው ትግሬዎች የስብስባ አዳራሽ ባይገነቡላቸው። ስብስባ ቦታብቻ አይደለም ተስብሳቢው የሚያድርበት ቦታ ሁሉ ያስፈልጋል ያ ሁሉ የተስራው በትግሬዎች እንጂ በአማሮች ስላልሆነ ትንሽ ዝና በል።