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GERD: The Ethiopian Flag Project
(Desta Hailu)
Ethiopia is a country that has successfully protected its sovereignty and the pride of its people. Throughout its history, it’s also a country that didn’t give in, even for once, to the invasion or aggression of its enemies. What should also be mentioned here is that sovereignty, brotherhood and growing together are principles that lived with the country.
At the time when the whole African continent fell to the colonizers that came in full force to the scramble the continent, Ethiopia defeated the invading Fascist Italy army in a way that become exemplary to the African brothers. Most Africans then followed in this footstep by the wining later against the colonizers. Most of them have used and represented themselves with the Green, Yellow and Red tricolors of the Ethiopian flag.
In addition to this brevity, the country has been able to flicker a glimpse of light to the new generation with its fight to break free from famine and poverty, overcoming huge sacrifice and bitter struggle in the process. Especially, the whole people of Ethiopia’s fight to overthrow the regimes and orders that are responsible for the country’s poverty and famine is an exemplary struggle to whole Africa.
As it’s known, Ethiopia has come a long way from the times (before 1991) it was known for war, famine and food aid to its current state where the country is undertaking a four billion dollar project without any foreign assistance. This shows the miraculous transformation the country underwent in its economic, political and social strata.
The rapid and sustainable economic growth the country recorded for 15 consecutive years without the use of energy-related resources, its internal stability and its role in pacifying and stabilizing the horn of Africa and the whole continent has made Ethiopia the center of attention and accolades from the international community. Today, the country’s former image of famine and war has made way for an image of a rapid and sustainable economic growth.
By formulating a Growth and Transformation Plan for the second time and by garnering positive results all around, the country has been able to be one of the fastest sub- Saharan countries that are recording rapid economic growth. Its success rests upon the government’s sound Growth and Transformation plan policy and strategy, and its ability to create ‘the development is mine’ motivation within the public.
In relation to this, the plan also aims to protect the health of the public by taking the environment and climate into account within its economic development scheme; demonstrating considerable concern to neighboring countries and to the whole continent.
With this, Ethiopia has become a forefront in carrying the cause of renewable energy source. Ato Meles Zenawi, the former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, was seen arguing for the cause by stating that, the developed and industrialized countries should pay compensation to Africans which are suffering without contributing to the globe’s climate change. As it can recall, he has contributed hugely for African countries in the diplomatic arena with this argument.
After coming to an understanding that it should finish its own homework before knocking on the door of others with regards to the issue, Ethiopia has integrated a plan on getting energy from nonrenewable and nonpolluting
resources, on the second five year Growth and Transformation plan. With this, it has been getting positive result by focusing on renewable energy sources.
On top of this, the country is currently trying to provide what’s surplus within its borders to its neighboring brother countries. By utilizing all its energy alternatives, the country has been able to record successful result on the sector.
And now, by focusing on the Blue Nile River (Abay) that used to flow unjustly, the government has been able to come with the news that heralded its power generating construction; a joyous occasion to the whole people. When the country undertook this “impossible” construction, it has put it to a host of many positive and negative outlooks.
All in all, the whole Ethiopian people, who grow up learning strength and valor from forefathers, have been pouring its finance, knowledge and labor into the project from the moment the construction of the dam was made official, and its half way there for completion. The dam that’s constructed on this river will have a huge contribution for the neighboring and the riparian countries on top of fulfilling the country’s power supply. Infrastructure
Construction demand of our country can have a huge benefit for the country. In addition to this, as it can satisfy the country’s incredibly growing investment demand of man power, It can’t be argued the huge assurances this gives for the country’s development sustainability.
The dam’s project benefit doesn’t stop with this. It will take our economic ties with neighboring countries to the next level. And its contribution on mutual development and creating a long-lasting peace among neighboring countries is huge. Thus, it will play huge role in shrugging–off our poverty that has been ‘a monkey on our back’ and hastening the anti poverty struggle.
Of course, it isn’t hard to guess the huge amount of pride and joy it bestows upon anyone who had the chance to see the committed and enduring way the construction project is moving forward at its age of six.
The whole Ethiopian peoples’ reaction it showed towards the project from the days of its commencement has been the driving engine that has played in the success of the GERD project. The Ethiopian nations, nationalities and people motivation that was exhibited since the days of the commencement is still high, as the promise ‘we will end it, as we started it’ was made by the public after the unfortunate passing of our great leader; who had a huge role in the project.
When we look at the project in hindsight, it’s easy to understand why the public run out of names for it, considering it’s the culmination of all Ethiopians effort to break free from poverty and a project where they poured their labor and knowledge into without hesitation. And also, considering it’s a fervent project for the public. It would not be an exaggeration to claim the pride Ethiopians feels towards their flag is greater than everybody else, as this fact can be attested not only by friends of Ethiopians but by adversaries too.
Be it in the Adwa Batter or yesterday’s War with the Eritrean Government; where every Ethiopian from border to border rallied up to defend their sovereignty, or when the flag is waved on numerous sporting event. All these attest to this truth. And I’m not forgetting our flag being used for the momentous occasion of the commencement of the ‘Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam’s project.
Be it those people who called the project ‘Ethiopian flag project’ or the ones who labeled it ‘the gift of the century’; all of them did this because they understood the projects’ expressiveness of their identity and also because it’s the representation of the footprint of all Ethiopians. In any case, the project waving its bona-fide name ‘the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam’ has, to date heralded our country’s renaissance and served as a fingerprint of our identity. This is also part of the country’s ‘let’s develop together’ principle. Ethiopia is also a country that has been an example of its African brothers; for growing and working together cooperatively and for being sovereign. For instance, the country has demonstrated its brotherhood and partnership by being in the forefront in mediating conflict that arises between our African brothers.
And relating to the country’s day and night effort to break free from poverty, some countries are seen giving various negative remarks out of sheer negativity and unhealthy and illogical fear. This thinking is not acceptable to the Ethiopian people, who sees poverty as its number one enemy and have a long tradition of growing and developing together with its neighbors. Therefore, everybody should understand that this dam is our Sovereignty Project.
