Ethiopian Encyclopedia

A note to Prof. Richard Pankhurst, asking Him to support us and justifying the project:

Dear Richard and Rita,

Wiki as a computer programme, and the thousands I know in the 'Diaspora' and well at home that would contribute freely one it works, make this a very powerful tool. It is clear ten, twenty paid contributors would make it to 70,000 entries or thereabout in less than two years. Demand? Print it for just a thousand Kebele and upper administrations, rural training centres now opening everywhere, this a sustainable demand. Language of the Country, English, printed in Hamburg? Not of much use to our countryside, well, to Ethiopia as a whole. Useful to a few scholars, that would, in any case, not buy it! Richard, consider it once again, this is a marvelous, real and possible thing. Ahmed Cherinnet and me have adopted it, with the EER as our cultural centre main objective. Costs, really, about 100.000 USD including first print of up to a thousand. Not peanuts, but reachable, possible. Where would you look for seed money? No need for 100,000 to start, no prints for two years, just 15,000 or abti more to secure rent, ten old working computers, a decent internet connection. If You put Your name, bet You, Richard, ETC gives a fast connection for free.

Education, Education, Education, the three program points for Ethiopia:

Education to the environment and territory, to overcome the disaster of climate change, biting and ever more incumbent, to prepare development for our children, Education to change facing the issues of globalization and economic growth, passage to more urban societies, demands for equality, a voice to more. Education to health and social life, tied to the preceding, speedily advancing thanks to aids and fertility information campaigns.

We need tools for this, Amharic is the language, the first tool is articulating the words of change. To be the Change You want to see in Ethiopia you start with words, uttered and understood by peasant and trader, military and poor, rich, old fresh girl and boy. As universal as 'Man', as complicated as 'Epistemology'. Just, Words. In a line a few hundred pages long, explained to all our people by our wise people of all sorts. Printed, as the screen requires power, means, Ethiopian Encyclopedia on the shelf. For us all.

I know, if you two say yes and my closest acquaintances believe in it, it will happen.