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Last week I quickly read through my daily update on the East African world. A mere glance was all the attention it got that day. I saw that the Ethiopian Government was planning on building hydropower dam in a rural part of Ethiopia, near Somalia, I believe. My first thought was “Great!”.
Electricity is such a problem right now in Addis Ababa, and all over Ethiopia for that matter. Another source of power is very much needed. If your in process of adopting from Ethiopia right now, I’m sure your case or other important paper work has been delayed due to power outages. My agency is having a large problem with this, as their computers, copying machines and basic lights to work with are shut off three times a week. Generators are expensive, and while some agencies can afford them the government offices cannot. These are the effects for adoptive families and their agencies.
Imagine the effects on all the other people in Addis. Shopkeepers who cannot sell things or keep foods fresh without electricity, families trying to run a household without electricity and water(also in rolling rationing). Try and imagine living life in a large, polluted city with little water? In the rural areas, they are used to this and hopefully have water sources to walk to (not that this is an easy way of life by far). In the city however, you cannot run to a stream to take a bath or wash your clothes. I have seen the streams in Addis. I would not want my dog to drink from them, let alone my family and yet this is everyday life for these people.
The article also mentioned that the Ethiopian Government could sell excess power to maintain a profit. Ethiopia needs more income, no doubt about that in anyones minds I’m sure.
So why did a previously on-board and supportive bank recently pull out of the deal to build this dam? The cost of building this dam is about a 1.55 billion Euros, by the way that is roughly three trillion American Dollars. The environmental risks were to much for them to take. Apparently this dam would wreck havic on the Lower Omo Valley and also make negative impacts all the way to Kenya’s Lake Turkana.
So Ethiopia is back to the age old question of Progress vs. Preservation. I have no answers for this. I emphasize with both sides of the argument. I am glad I am not in a position to make any decisions about his frankly. Personally I know that more water in Addis would help my girls’ father and grandmother live easier. I also know it would improve traveling conditions, increase tourism and help the environment in that those pesky generators could be put away.
I also know that when we were traveling throughout the Awash territories, that I was saddened that Ethiopia had not done more to protect the big game in their country. With time and thought Ethiopia could have competed with Kenya for safari’s and eco-tourism. What kind of Earth are we leaving for our kiddos to enjoy and experience?
Ethiopia’s plans for the dam seem well-thought out. They have done Impact Assessment Studies to measure the effects of the dam.
This L.A. Times article is in favor of the dam, stating that the rural lives that would be changed from the Dam, are not all that easy or glamourous anyways. The changes to their lives could be improvements, albeit a different way of life.
Do you have any thoughts about this project?
Photo Credit PSM 2008
