When Dr. Meqdes testified before the House Subcommittee on Africa on March 29, 2006, she was thinking of her father, Professor Mesfin Wolde Mariam.当医师在众议院小组委员会作证meqdes非洲2006年3月29日,她父亲思想教授梅斯芬Wolde的训. Professor Mesfin, a prominent Ethiopian human rights activist, has been incarcerated in Ethiopia since November of 2005.梅斯芬教授,著名的埃塞俄比亚人权活动家,一直关押到2005年11月在埃塞俄比亚. In thinking of her father and his situation, Dr. Meqdes also wondered why the United States is not doing more to help democracy in Ethiopia.在父亲和他的思想状况,meqdes博士也想知道为什么美国做得更多帮助民主埃塞俄比亚. As she stated in the hearing, 'Honorable Members, for more than three decades, my personal and family life has been impacted by what my father has committed in his faith and belief that Government belongs to the people and that these fundamental freedoms that we all seek are a necessary element in allowing democracy to flourish in an environment where the rule of law is supreme.�她在听证会上,'荣誉会员,超过三十年,我个人及家庭生活已受到何种爸爸又在他的信念和决心,相信政府属于人民,而这一切的根本,我们追求自由是民主的一个必要因素允许的环境下蓬勃发展的法治是至高无上的.-

Dr. Meqdes believes that the United States has not exerted enough pressure on the Ethiopian Government to release prisoners of conscience like her father.meqdes博士认为,美国并没有施加足够的压力,埃塞俄比亚政府释放良心犯像爸爸. She and many others like her have been speaking out in support of democracy.她和其他许多喜欢她一直在讲出来,支持民主. Dr. Meqdes has been engaging actively to let the world know about her father's struggle for democracy.meqdes博士一直积极从事让全世界知道父亲的争取民主. She spoke at several gatherings throughout the nation, wrote papers and led a hunger strike in opposition to the arrest of the political prisoners.她在几个场合谈到整个民族,撰写论文和带领绝食反对逮捕的政治犯.

On June 27, 2006, three months after Dr. Meqdes' testimony, a comprehensive bi-partisan bill, H.R. 5680, the Ethiopia Freedom, Democracy and Human Rights Advancement Act of 2006 sponsored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ), unanimously passed the International Relations Committee and was forwarded to the full House.关于2006年6月27日,3个月后,医师meqdes'证词,全面碧党派法案,h.r.5680年,埃塞俄比亚自由、民主和人权进步法2006年由克里斯史密斯众议员(住宅-新泽西)和众议员佩恩(四-新泽西)国际关系委员会一致通过,并送交座无虚席. The bill is expected to bring freedom, democracy, human rights and economic development to Ethiopia.法案可望带来自由、民主、人权和经济发展对埃塞俄比亚. On its passage, Rep. Smith said, �Violence against dissidents has increased significantly and yet there have been no credible accounts for the slaughter of protestors in the streets of Addis last year.� He added, �We not only call on the Ethiopian Government to unconditionally release all political prisoners, but establish a program to tangibly assist them.�它通过众议员史密斯说:-暴力政见显着增加,但是没有可信决算屠宰街头示威斯亚去年.-他又说,-我们不仅呼吁埃塞俄比亚政府无条件释放所有政治犯,但为了切实帮助他们建立一个节目.-

In his statement, Rep. Smith was referring to hundreds of political prisoners like Professor Mesfin.他在发言中众议员史密斯所说数百名政治犯一样教授梅斯芬. Professor Mesfin is a 76-year-old retired geography professor and founding member of the Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO).梅斯芬教授是一位76岁的退休教授、地理学创始埃塞俄比亚人权委员会(19). He is the winner of the 2006 Heinz R. Pagels Human Rights Award and among the 10 nominees for the European Parliament's 2006 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.他是2006年冠军亨氏钢筋pagels人权奖10项提名,并在欧洲议会2006年萨哈罗夫思想自由奖. Prof Mesfin is currently one of the prisoners of conscience and a senior member of the main opposition party, Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (CUDP).梅斯芬教授是目前世界上的良心犯、资深会员主要反对党团结民主联盟党(cudp). Along with many others, Professor Mesfin was imprisoned in November 2005 in connection with opposition demonstration against the Ethiopian Government.随着许多其他被囚禁梅斯芬教授2005年11月与反对派示威反对埃塞俄比亚政府. He is not alone at Kaliti Prison, where many of the political prisoners are jailed including Dr. Berhanu Negga, an economics professor and the newly elected Mayor of Addis Ababa; Ms. Birtukan Mideksa, a former judge and vice chairperson of CUDP; and Dr. Yacob Hailemariam, a former UN prosecutor in the Rwanda genocide trial in Tanzania.他不是独自kaliti监狱,那里有很多的政治犯被囚包括伯哈努negga博士、一名经济学教授,以及新当选的市长亚的斯亚贝巴;birtukanmideksa女士、曾任法官、副主席cudp;雅hailemariam博士、一名联合国前检察官在审判卢旺达种族灭绝坦桑尼亚.

During the years leading up to the election, Ethiopia was feted to be one of the African nations with emerging democratic systems.在大选年销量达、埃塞俄比亚是非洲宴请是新兴民主国家体制. Under pressure from the United States and the European Union and in exchange for political and economic support, the 14-year-old Government of Ethiopia held a legislative election on May 15, 2005.迫于美国和欧盟,以换取政治和经济支持14岁的埃塞俄比亚政府举行立法选举2005年5月15日. This election was unparalleled in the country's history.这次选举是无与伦比的,在我国的历史. Many vibrant opposition parties participated, media access was given to the opposition, and international observers were invited for the first time to witness the election.许多朝气蓬勃在野党参加,向媒体接触反对派并邀请国际观察员见证了首次大选. As a result, an astounding ninety percent of eligible voters cast their ballots.由于蒋经国90%合格选民投票. Despite some irregularities, the election was conducted peacefully and was commended by the international community.尽管有一些违规选举和平进行,并受到国际社会的称赞. Many people hoped that democracy was finally emerging and bringing a lasting stability to Ethiopia - a prerequisite for social and economic development.许多人希望民主,终于把一个长期稳定、新兴埃,为社会和经济发展的前提.

But, the post election period turned out to be tragic.不过,邮政选举期间原来是个悲剧. The opposition parties allege that the election was rigged and ballot boxes stolen.反对党声称选举被操纵和票箱被盗. The Carter Center, one of the invited international observers, stated in its final report that the handling of the post election results was disappointing.卡特中心之一的邀请国际观察员在其最后报告,处理后的选举结果令人失望. European Union observers, in their final report, also concluded that the election did not meet the international standard.欧盟观察员,其最后报告,并得出结论认为选举不符合国际标准. A critical dispute between the ruling party, Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) and the opposition parties gradually escalated and stalled the election process.关键争执执政党埃塞俄比亚人民革命民主阵线(来函)与在野党拖延选举过程,并逐步升级. In an effort to unlock the stalemate, CUDP issued an eight-point precondition.力图解开僵局cudp发布八项前提. Several attempts made by donor countries to resolve the impasse failed.几个试图向捐助国未能化解僵局.

CUDP, the party of Dr. Meqdes' father, boycotted the Parliament and called for a civil disobedience.cudp,党博士meqdes'爸爸,抵制国会,并要求对公民抗命. Supporters of CUDP demonstrated and accused the ruling party of fraud.cudp展示及支持者指责执政党舞弊. The demonstration led to violent confrontation.示威导致暴力对抗. Over eighty people were shot and killed by the federal police in a series of pro-CUDP demonstrations, first in June and later in November 2005.超过80人被枪杀,由联邦警察在一系列亲cudp示威首先在2005年11月份,后来. Children and women were among the dead.儿童和妇女在内的亡灵. Seven policemen were also killed at the riot.七名警察被打死也于暴乱. The election dispute brought the country to total crisis.选举争议提请全国总危机.

The United States and the European Union, in an effort to resolve the unrest, issued a joint appeal in November 2005, but the ruling Government of Ethiopia immediately turned it down.美国和欧洲联盟,力图解决的动乱,2005年11月联合发出呼吁,但判决埃塞俄比亚政府立即拒绝了. The U.S. and E.U.美国和欧盟双边 called for release of the political prisoners in the joint appeal.要求释放政治犯的联合上诉. Such requests fell on deaf ears.这些要求置若罔闻. At the time, Former Assistant Secretary for Africa, Herman Cohen said in an interview with the Voice of America, �the Government of Ethiopia,� once considered a symbol of fledgling democracy, �has become authoritarian and even totalitarian�.在当时,非洲事务助理国务卿赫尔曼在接受采访时说,与美国之音-埃塞俄比亚政府,取代一度考虑新兴民主的象征,已成为取代专制极权,甚至取代.

A year after the May 2005 election, the crisis took a different turn.一年后2005年5月大选的危机采取了不同的转机. The ruling government appointed a new mayor and council members for the capital city administration.执政的新政府任命为市长、首都行政会议成员. They replaced the elected representatives who are languishing in prison.他们选出的代表代替那些在狱中憔悴. Some elected legislative members of the opposition party, who were not arrested, were coerced to join the Parliament, in an attempt to split CUDP and give misleading image of the opposition's participation.一些反对党当选立法委员,没有人被捕、被胁迫参加议会企图分裂cudp形象,给误导对方的参与. CUDP formed an international leadership in exile.cudp形成一个国际领导流亡. It also joined alliance with several opposition groups, some of whom have picked up arms against the regime.它也加入在野联盟同几个团体,有的拿起武器反对迫害.

Dr. Meqdes thinks that the US Government has acted in an inconsistent manner in attempting to resolve the impasse.meqdes博士认为,美国政府所采取的方式企图解决矛盾的僵局. Although the U.S. called for peaceful solution to the crisis, it has not exerted enough pressure on the Ethiopian Government to meet the appeal it issued jointly with European Union.尽管美国呼吁和平解决危机它没有施加足够的压力,以满足埃塞俄比亚政府发出呼吁,它与欧盟的关系. For many Ethiopians it seems that the US has put aside its democratic principles and seeks closer ties with the autocratic Government of Ethiopia.许多埃塞俄比亚人似乎已经放下了美国民主原则和要求密切与埃塞俄比亚政府专制. Dr. Meqdes believes promotion of democracy in Ethiopia has been limited and weakened by U.S. security interests in the Horn of Africa.医师认为meqdes促进民主与埃塞俄比亚一直有限公司削弱美国的安全利益,在非洲之角. The U.S. Administration has employed lenient policies on democracy promotion not to disappoint its Horn of Africa main ally in the war against terrorism - the main imperative of U.S. foreign policy post 9/11.美国政府已经对民主促进就业政策宽松不辜负其非洲之角反恐战争主要盟友--美国外交政策的主要当务之急邮9.11

Dr. Meqdes would like Ethiopia to remain an ally.埃塞俄比亚博士meqdes想留一个盟友. But, she does not want to see the United States security interest in the horn of Africa trump its stated commitment in supporting liberty and democracy.但是,她不希望看到美国的安全利益,在非洲之角的杀手承诺支持自由与民主. President Bush has tied the promotion of democracy to U.S. national security interests and indicated that the U.S. would not pay for stability at the price of liberty and democracy.布什总统促进民主与美国的国家安全利益,并表示美国不会支付价格稳定在自由和民主. It is her wish to see the United States stand with the people of Ethiopia and support free press, an independent judiciary, a sound financial system, strong labor unions, as well as a vibrant opposition parties, things that Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice calls the �essential components of decent society�.这是她希望看到美国站在同埃塞俄比亚人民支持新闻自由司法独立,有健全的财务制度,强大工会,以及一个朝气蓬勃在野党东西国务卿赖斯呼吁社会象样的重要组成部分--

It is Dr. Meqdes’ strong belief that lack of democracy in a country like Ethiopia breeds extremism and provokes radicalism.据医师meqdes『坚信缺乏民主国度埃塞俄比亚滋生极端主义和激进主义挑衅. She hopes the U.S. Administration will reconsider its policies and get tough on the authoritarian Government of Ethiopia.她希望美国政府重新考虑其政策的强硬和埃塞俄比亚政府威权. Dr. Meqdes strongly believes that failure to act timely may lead to a growing support for the rise of radical elements and risk constant instability in a country that is vital to U.S. strategic interest in the region.博士meqdes坚信未能及时行为可能导致越来越多的支持和风险不断上升激进分子不稳定的国家对美国在该地区的战略利益.

Citing the lack of democracy as their main concern, more and more Ethiopians who worked with the Prime Minister Meles’ Government are fleeing.引用缺乏民主为主要关切更多埃塞俄比亚人同梅莱斯总理的政府纷纷逃离. In the last few months alone, over sixty diplomats left the Government and defected in Europe and the United States.在过去几个月中,就有超过60叛逃外交官离开政府和欧洲及美国. According to several media reports, in early September, a prominent prosecutor, who said the Ethiopian government forced him to pursue opposition leaders has also requested asylum in the United States.据媒体多次报道,在9月初,一个突出检察官谁说埃塞俄比亚政府强迫他也搞反对派领导人在美国的庇护请求. 'I have been ordered by the Government to institute charges on CUDP leaders,' said Alemayehu Zemedkun, referring to Ethiopia’s opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party.'我已经下令由政府所费cudp领袖'说zemedkunAlemayehu先生,谈到埃塞俄比亚的反对党团结民主联盟党. 'I have tried to show them the legal impediments.'我试图显示他们的法律障碍. There is not enough evidence … but they insisted.'还没有足够的证据::但坚持.'

Members of the Ethiopian military were not immune to defection.埃塞俄比亚军队成员均不能独善其身叛逃. A high-ranking army General, Kemal Gelchu, defected to neighboring Eritrea, along with several ranking officers and over hundred soldiers.一位高级将领,凯末gelchu叛逃周边厄立特里亚同几位将领和1100士兵. In an interview with the BBC news agency, the General said his hopes of peace had been dashed after last year's turmoil that followed disputed elections.英国广播公司的采访时通讯社一般说,他对和平的希望已经破灭,经过去年的风波之后有争议的选举. He indicated that he would join the Oromo Liberation Front, OLF, a rebel group fighting for the right of the Oromo people, and fight with force in a language Meles’ regime understands.他表示,他会参加奥罗莫解放阵线,奥、反叛集团争取权利奥罗莫人民斗力和语言梅莱斯的政权理解. Few weeks after General Kemal's defection, two more senior army officers followed him in a series of defection.几周后一般凯末尔的出走,两名高级军官随后他在一系列变节.

In few days, H.R. 5680 is expected to be brought to the House floor, unless the Ethiopian Government highly paid lobbyists successfully lobby for its delay.在几天h.r.5680年预计可带来内务楼除非埃塞俄比亚政府高薪游说成功游说美国拖延. Dr. Meqdes calls all democracy-loving individuals to contact their elected representatives and urge them to support H.R. 5680.医师呼吁所有民主meqdes爱好个人接触他们选出的代表,并敦促他们支持h.r.5680年. When H.R. 5680 becomes public law, she hopes it will contribute to the development of a political environment that will actively seek the institutionalization of human rights, the rule of law and democracy in Ethiopia.当5680年成为h.r.公法她希望这将有助于建立一个政治环境,积极谋求制度化人权法治与民主埃塞俄比亚. For now, Dr. Meqdes’ primary wish is to see her ailing father secure his freedom and return to what he loves to do �fight for democracy.现在,博士meqdes<小愿望是看到她生病的父亲,他获得自由,回到他最喜欢做什么?争取民主.

Ethiopia埃塞俄比亚 has been having a troubled economy for a long time and remains a very poor African country.已经有一段很长的时间,困扰经济依然十分贫穷的非洲国家. Coffee holds central importance in咖啡举行中央重视 Ethiopia埃塞俄比亚 's economy because 60 % of all the export earnings of经济因为60%的出口收入 Ethiopia埃塞俄比亚 comes from its export of coffee.来自咖啡出口.

Ethiopian Coffee through History埃塞俄比亚咖啡历史

 

While some people believe虽然有些人认为 South America南美洲 as the birthplace of coffee, many credit由于咖啡的诞生地,许多信用 Ethiopia埃塞俄比亚 with the origin of coffee.随着咖啡产地. Some experts regard the indigenous coffee trees in一些专家认为,原咖啡树 Ethiopia埃塞俄比亚 as the only native coffee trees existing today.作为唯一的本土咖啡树今天现存. Ethiopian coffee tradition is at least as old as more than 1000 years, i.e. dating back to 10 ^th century when coffee trees, called Kafa , used to grow in Kaffa area which today is part of^{咖啡是埃塞俄比亚传统的年纪至少超过1000年,即可以追溯到10次}当世纪的咖啡树,称为kafa,用来种植面积在kaffa其中一部分是今天 Ethiopia埃塞俄比亚 .. At that time, coffee was used as food.当时,咖啡作为食物. Perhaps, the Ethiopian nomads were the first to gather coffee beans for large-scale use.也许,埃塞俄比亚的游牧民首先搜集咖啡豆大规模使用.

They would ground the beans down to form small balls that could serve as ration on journeys.他们将地上的豆子下来形成小球可作为口粮就出门. Other Ethiopians used coffee beans in form of porridge or fermented wine.埃塞俄比亚人用咖啡豆等形式稀饭或发酵酒. By the 13 ^th century, the whole Islamic world knew about coffee and within the next two hundred years, Ethiopian Coffee made its way throughout the^{由13世纪,整个伊斯兰世界咖啡和传言在未来200年}埃塞俄比亚全国咖啡破浪前进 Middle East中东 .. It had, by now, started to be used as a restorative medicine.它由现在开始,作为恢复药. Soon Ethiopian coffee became popular in埃塞俄比亚咖啡很快走红 Europe欧洲 ,、 India印度 , and、 America美洲 as well.等. Today, this coffee has an irresistible demand in the coffee business.如今,这种咖啡已不可抗拒的咖啡业务需求.

Production of Ethiopian Coffee埃塞俄比亚咖啡生产

Almost all of the coffee in几乎所有的咖啡 Ethiopia埃塞俄比亚 is produced by farmers on small farms.是农民生产的小农场. Only two percent of all the coffee produced comes from state farms.只有两成来自各国营农场生产的咖啡. Coffee is exported worldwide and the government of全球咖啡出口和政府 Ethiopia埃塞俄比亚 presses so much on controlling countrywide sale of coffee that it costs Ethiopians two to three times more to buy the same quantity than those who import it.     印刷机控制全国那么多卖咖啡,埃塞俄比亚人成本2至3倍多,比那些购买同样数量的进口.

Coffee Tradition in传统的咖啡 Ethiopia埃塞俄比亚

Ethiopian coffee is an enjoyable item among beverages used today.埃塞俄比亚是一个愉快咖啡饮料项目之间使用. Still interesting is the tradition that gives coffee a sacred place in the daily life of Ethiopians.有趣的是传统还是一个神圣的地方,让咖啡的日常生活埃塞俄比亚人. Tradition has it that a shepherd of Kaffa once discovered that his goats were overly excited, playing and dancing on their hind legs.相传kaffa的牧羊人发现他的羊一旦过度兴奋,他们玩跳后肢. He was curious to see some mangled branches with red berries of the coffee tree hanging nearby.他好奇地看到一些支离破碎分行红色浆果附近的咖啡树挂. He ate a few berries and ran home where his wife sent him to tell the same to the monks.他吃了几浆果和妻子送去那里跑回家告诉了和尚一样.

Thinking of the coffee beans as sinful drug, the monks threw them into fire.思想的咖啡豆作为罪恶毒品、僧众投掷成火灾. This produced the characteristic smell of coffee we experience today.这个特点制作的经验,我们今天咖啡香味. They also crushed some beans and mixed the substance in boiling water.他们还有些豆、粉碎混合物质在开水. The aroma produced from this attracted other monks who enjoyed the energy of this strange new drink, and thus coffee became a known commodity.制作这种香味吸引了来自其他僧侣享有这一奇特新能源喝酒因此咖啡成了已知商品.

Africa非洲 has been titled as the cradle of humanity on account of some of the oldest human and human-like fossils found on the continent.被称为人类的摇篮因一些古老的人类和人类化石的发现在大陆一样. Ethiopia埃塞俄比亚 holds central importance in this connection since the oldest human fossils ever found by scientists have been dug out from here.   Scientists and theologians have been equally attracted by these fossil discoveries since they put the religious explanation of human origin to question.中央就此举行重要性自有史以来发现的最古老的人类化石,科学家已经从这里挖.科学家和神学已同样吸引这些化石的发现,因为他们把宗教解释为人类起源问题.

Discoveries of Ethiopian Human Fossils埃塞俄比亚发现的人类化石

The most significant human fossils were unearthed, in 1967 on both sides of出土的人类化石最明显,1967年海峡 Omo下雨 River河 in在 Ethiopia埃塞俄比亚 , by a team of paleontologists led by Richard Leakey.由一支古率领数度. The fossils found consisted of two skulls and some bones and were thought to be 130,000 years old.发现的化石包括两个头骨和一些骨头,被认为是13岁. However, the paleontologists were not, at that time, satisfied with their own dating techniques.然而,古不当时满意自己测技术. Thirty-eight years after that, i.e. in 2005, re-dating of the same fossils with advanced techniques revealed them to be at least 195,000 years old.38年后,即2005年,重测同一化石发现他们拥有先进的技术至少195岁. This finding is in conformity with genetic studies carried out on modern human beings.这一结论是符合现代遗传学研究进行人类.

What brings more heat to the issue of human origin is the discovery of hominid fossils in究竟带来了更多的热量问题是人类起源于远古人类化石的发现 Ethiopia埃塞俄比亚 .. These were creatures closely resembling humans but not truly human in the sense we know them today.这些近似人类的动物,而不是真正意义上的人类,我们知道这些事情. The intermediate morphology of these fossils places them in between man and ape, the conclusion being that man evolved from ancestors that were not truly human.这些化石地点的中间形态在人与猿、结论是,这名男子不是真正从人类祖先.  

The first significant hominid fossil discovered in第一重大发现化石 Africa非洲 was the Taung Child ( Australopithecus africanus) from孩子是显宗(australopithecus加努) Taung显宗 ,、 South Africa南非 .. It is thought to be some 2.5 million years old.它被认为是约250万岁. In 1974, the famous Australopithecine fossil 'Lucy' was unearthed from the Afar depression in Ethiopia .1974年,著名的化石australopithecine'露丝'出土远方抑郁埃塞俄比亚. Its age was calculated to be 3.6 to 3 million years.其计算年龄可获得3.6万至3年.  

Paleontologist Yohannes Haile-Selaissie of the考古维海尔-塞拉西的 University大学 of条 California加州 at在 Berkeley伯克利 discovered a jawbone and teeth at发现颚骨和牙齿 Ethiopia埃塞俄比亚 's Middle Awash area in 1997.国中一片面积97. More fossils including a hominid tooth were found at the same spot in 2001.更包括了智人牙齿化石发现于2001年在同一地点.   These fossils have been dated as over five million years old.这些化石至今已经超过五百万岁.

More recently, hominid fossils of Australopithecus anamensis have been discovered in the Afar desert of eastern最近,australopithecusanamensis智人化石被发现在远方沙漠东部 Ethiopia埃塞俄比亚 .. These are some 4.1 million years old and show all the features of an 'ape-man' i.e. a short stature (compared to modern humans), smaller brain (inferred from the skull size), and bigger teeth.以上是4100000岁面目展现各一个'猿文'即矮小(相对于现代人类)小脑(头颅大小推断)、较大牙齿. Above all, its features reveal bipedal mode of movement i.e. walking on two legs.首先,它的特色即揭示后肢运动方式两条腿走路. This last feature is the connecting point of man and ape.这最后的特点是人与猿的连接点.     

All these discoveries of fossils in这些化石的发现 Ethiopia埃塞俄比亚 appear to support the generally accepted Out of出庭支持公认出 Africa非洲 theory of human origins among evolutionists.人类起源的理论evolutionists.