[War] Ethiopia: Down to the Nitty Gritty

[David McGrogan]

Ethiopia: Down to the Nitty Gritty
Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Desta Aweke
28th of July, 2006

Desta placed his notes carefully on the podium, adjusting them so that the 
leading edge of the sheaf of papers was exactly parallel with the edge of 
the podium itself. A nervous habit that the others in the ministry always 
joked about after his speeches. He cleared his throat and launched into it.

"Ethiopia is a land of agriculture. It is our blood," he started.

In truth, Desta was a weak speaker. His strengths lay away from the public 
eye, in policy meetings and planning sessions, in the "corridors of power" 
where the decisions were made. In that world he knew himself to be a wise 
and wily political veteran. Under the scrutiny of parliament and journalists 
in speeches like this in front of the Constituent Assembly, he always began 
to feel like a child.

He coughed. "The soil is the livelihood of 60% of Ethiopians. It is the 
source of all our major exports. If managed carefully, it is our most 
precious natural resource, and one that will go on providing us with life 
from generation to generation into infinity." He adjusted his collar. 
Zalelew and he had argued for some time over that particular sentence when 
writing the speech. Desta had felt it over-dramatic. As usual, Zalalew had 
had his way.

"But up until now, our soil has not been properly managed," he continued. 
"Our nation is famous abroad as an example of environmental mismanagement 
resulting in drought, famine and chronic humanitarian disaster. Ethiopia as 
a country is synonymous with catastrophe."

He took a sip of water. His hands were sweating. "That cannot be allowed to 
continue. Soil erosion must be arrested, and Ethiopian agriculture rescued 
from the morass it finds itself in. It must be protected for future 
generations. This government is absolutely determined about that, and wishes 
today to make its resolve clear."

It was at this point that, if he were Zalelew, Desta knew he would be 
raising his voice a little and staring out at the assembly with challenging 
eyes. Instead he kept his eyes focused on his script.

"To that end the government has caused to be created a Special Government 
Task Force on Agricultural Improvement, with particular focus on human 
impact on the environment and, conversely, environmental impact on 
agriculture. Its mandate is currently fourfold.

"Firstly, to assess the viability of, and, if viable, to implement, 
reforestation nationwide as an effort to bring the erosion of topsoils to a 
halt."

One of Zalelew's top priorites was preventing erosion of topsoils, widely 
known to have been caused by deforestation and known to be responsible for 
droughts in the past.

"Secondly," Desta continued, drinking more water, "to assess damage caused 
to soils by overgrazing, particularly in the Ethiopian Highlands, and advise 
the government on how best to reduce overgrazing.

"And thirdly," he said, "To create a special branch of the Federal Police to 
protect National Parks from illegal loggers and squatters, to be under the 
jurisdiction of the Special Government Task Force on Agricultural 
Improvement, and the Ministry of Agriculture itself."

The most controversial aspect of the new task force, the creation of the 
special "Park Police" would be costly, and had been heavily debated 
internally within the EPRDF. Desta thanked God that it didn't have to be 
debated by the CUD too. The EPRDF still had a lage majority in the assembly. 
Because of that, it meant the creation of the task force could go ahead with 
a minimum of fuss.

"Finally, to monitor the population levels of species endemic to Ethiopia 
that live in the national parks and are currently listed as endangered, such 
as the Ethiopian Wolf, the Ethiopian Wild Ass, and the Ethiopian Baboon," he 
finished. "It is believed that the Ethiopian National Parks system is among 
the finest in the world, and their status as UNESCO World Heritage Sites is 
to be kept at all costs in the interests of posterity and the promotion of 
tourism.

"Thankyou," he finished awkwardly.

****

Off the podium and back in his customary place in the benches, Desta sat 
back and waited for his heart to stop pounding.

"You did well," said Zalelew, leaning over and winking. "Now were just have 
to answer questions from those CUD jackals and then we can go and get a cold 
one."

Desta smiled. They waited while the first opposition member began his 
question.

================================================

ACTIONS

1. Create a "Special Task Force on Agricultural Improvement" to:
a) Start a nationwide reforestation program to halt topsoil erosion.
b) Assess the environmental damage caused by overgrazing and suggest methods 
of arresting overgrazing.
c) Create a special branch of the Federal Police to protect National Parks 
from illegal loggers and squatters.
d) Monitor the population levels of endangered endemic species.

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