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Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2012 21:36:17 -0700 (PDT)
From: Abdella Sifaf <sifaf_at_yahoo.com>
Subject: [dehai-news] Eritrean Festival In Oakland, California Report 2012.
To: dehai-news dehai <dehai-news_at_dehai.org>, Dehai Dehai <dehai_at_dehai.org>,
EBB Oakland <ebb_at_yahoogroups.com>,
eritrean_festival_2011 Oakland <eritrean_festival_2011_at_googlegroups.com>,
PFDJ Oakland <oakpfdj_at_yahoogroups.com>
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--1288386116-138188828-1345178177=:92624
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
=C2=A0ERITREAN FESTIVAL IN OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA: =0AA CELEBRATION OF ERITREA=
NISM =0AOnce again the Eritrean=0AAmerican Communities in the bay area citi=
es of Oakland, San Jose, Santa Rosa,=0ASan Francisco and neighboring cities=
hosted a well-organized three-day annual=0AEritrean Festival starting from=
Friday, August 10, 2012 and ending on Sunday,=0AAugust 12, 2012. It is to =
be recalled that the first Eritrean Festival for=0AEritrean Americans resid=
ing in the western part of the USA was held in Oakland=0A25 years ago and t=
he city has hosted 22 of the 25 annual events held so far.=0AThe cities of =
Los Angeles, Seattle, and San Jose each had their share of=0Ahosting. At th=
is year=E2=80=99s festival, as in the past, all the hard work and sweat=0Ae=
quity that were placed by the hosting Eritrean American communities in the=
=0Aplanning, organizing and undertaking of the prideful event were certainl=
y=0Acommensurate with the level of satisfaction and the sense of national b=
elonging=0Athat all the participants evidently experienced during the festi=
val. =0AThe several tents that were set=0Aup at the venue for the daytime a=
ctivities in which various Eritrean=0Atraditional costumes, artifacts, artw=
ork etc were displayed as well as the=0Acolorful evening cultural performan=
ces by the young and old performers donned=0Ain traditional costumes were i=
ndicative of the fact that wherever they might be=0AEritreans were always c=
ommitted to preserving and transmitting the Eritrean=0Aheritage from one ge=
neration to another. The various vendors too play an=0Aimportant role. All =
the t-shirts, accessories, CDs, DVDs, traditional attires=0Aand other merch=
andise that these vendors had brought to sell at the festival=0Afeatured a =
meaningful and relevant content, whether it be a voice or design=0Arecorded=
, printed or inscribed on the item. =0AThe culinary excellence proved=0Ahow=
delicious the Eritrean food is, evidently devoured by the very many=0Apart=
icipants. The traditional Eritrean beverage prepared by these women too was=
=0Atasty and quenched the thirst of many customers. =0AAs for seminars and=
=0Adiscussions, on Saturday there was a panel discussion about the prospect=
s and=0Achallenges of peace in the Horn of Africa led by the following pane=
lists: Mr.=0AGlen Ford, executive director of Black Agenda Report; Mr. Ephr=
em Madebo,=0Arepresenting Ginbot 7 (May 7), an Ethiopian opposition group; =
Mr. Elias Amare,=0Aan Eritrean American activist currently based in Eritrea=
. The discussion was=0Amoderated by Mr. Issayas Tesfamariam, a researcher, =
university lecturer and=0Ablogger. Mr. Elias Amare, the first one to speak,=
explained at length how and=0Awhy despite the many positive achievements b=
eing registered domestically and=0Aits contribution towards the maintenance=
of peace and stability in the Horn of=0AAfrica the State of Eritrea is bei=
ng portrayed negatively. Mr Ephrem Madebo=0Astarted off by explaining his p=
ersonal connection with Eritrea by way of work=0Aassignment that landed him=
in Eritrean during the military rule. He further=0Aexplained how the rulin=
g minority regime in Ethiopia has marginalized the=0Amajority of Ethiopians=
since it assumed power, thus leading to the creation=0Aand/or revival of s=
everal opposition forces. He pointed out that change was=0Ainevitable in Et=
hiopia and that relationship with Eritrea will return to=0Anormalcy based o=
n the principles of mutual respect for territorial integrity=0Aand peaceful=
coexistence. Mr. Glen Ford lauded Eritrea=E2=80=99s principled and exempla=
ry=0Astance in pursuing a domestic policy of self-reliance and a foreign po=
licy that=0Ais aimed at maintaining regional and international peace and st=
ability and=0Acooperation based on equal partnership. He went on to explain=
that Eritrea is=0Aamong a very few African countries that live up to the r=
eal meaning being=0Aindependent whereas many others have deviated from that=
path. Finally, during=0Athe questions and answer session panelists address=
ed questions from the=0Aaudience fully and satisfactorily. =0AFollowing the=
panel discussion=0AEritrea=E2=80=99s permanent representative to the UN, A=
mbassador Araya Desta, gave an=0Aextensive briefing about the current devel=
opments in Eritrea and its immediate=0Aneighborhood, about the illegal and =
unjust sanctions placed against Eritrea and=0Aabout the efforts which were =
being made to reverse them. =0AThe discussion on Sunday=0Afocused on what n=
eeded to be done to proactively and positively portray=0AEritrea=E2=80=99s =
image. One of the speakers was Mr. Issayas Tesfamariam, who talked=0Aabout =
the need to shift from the strategy of defending the baseless allegations=
=0Amade about Eritrea to that of positive portrayal using our cultural valu=
es and=0Atourist attractions as tools using the concept of what he describe=
d as =E2=80=9Csoft=0Aand smart powers=E2=80=9D. The other speaker, Mr. Elia=
s Amare, focused on how and why=0Awe should use our ability to write as a t=
ool in the fight for portraying=0AEritrea in a positive spotlight. He enume=
rated the steps that ought to be taken=0Ain composing brief, fact-laden, co=
ntent/topic-oriented press releases and/or=0Aarticles and dispatching them =
timely. =0AOverall, the festival was=0Aconducted in a relaxed environment t=
hat had a striking balance of business and=0Apleasure. It was one in which =
old friendships were re-connected and new ones=0Aestablished. The three day=
s came and went swiftly. But, the memories left=0Abehind will remain timele=
ss. A great deal of gratitude is due to all the=0Aorganizers, volunteers, v=
endors, panelists and attendants for making this=0Asplendid Eritrean festiv=
al happen. Pictorial=0AReport =0A
https://plus.google.com/photos/11105760786=
5852045047/albums/5775849780856437233#photos/111057607865852045047/albums/5=
775849780856437233=0AMedia Group =0AEritrean Festival=0AOrganizing Committe=
e
--1288386116-138188828-1345178177=:92624
Content-Type: text/html; charset=utf-8
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
<html><body><div style=3D"color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:ta=
homa, new york, times, serif;font-size:14pt"><div><font size=3D"3" face=3D"=
Times New Roman">=0A<var id=3D"yui-ie-cursor"></var></font><font face=3D"Ti=
mes New Roman"><span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size=3D"3"> </=
font></span><span style=3D"font-size: 11.5pt;">ERITREAN FESTIVAL IN OAKLAND=
, CALIFORNIA: <?xml:namespace prefix =3D o ns =3D "urn:schemas-microsoft-co=
m:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></span></font></div><div><font size=3D"3" fac=
e=3D"Times New Roman">=0A=0A</font></div><div style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 0pt;=
" class=3D"Default"><span style=3D"font-size: 11.5pt;"><font face=3D"Times =
New Roman">A CELEBRATION OF ERITREANISM <o:p></o:p></font></span></div><div=
><font size=3D"3" face=3D"Times New Roman">=0A=0A</font></div><div style=3D=
"margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class=3D"Default"><span style=3D"font-size: 11.5pt;"=
><font face=3D"Times New Roman">Once again the Eritrean=0AAmerican Communit=
ies in the bay area cities of Oakland, San Jose, Santa Rosa,=0ASan Francisc=
o and neighboring cities hosted a well-organized three-day annual=0AEritrea=
n Festival starting from Friday, August 10, 2012 and ending on Sunday,=0AAu=
gust 12, 2012. It is to be recalled that the first Eritrean Festival for=0A=
Eritrean Americans residing in the western part of the USA was held in Oakl=
and=0A25 years ago and the city has hosted 22 of the 25 annual events held =
so far.=0AThe cities of Los Angeles, Seattle, and San Jose each had their s=
hare of=0Ahosting. At this year=E2=80=99s festival, as in the past, all the=
hard work and sweat=0Aequity that were placed by the hosting Eritrean Amer=
ican communities in the=0Aplanning, organizing and undertaking of the pride=
ful event were certainly=0Acommensurate with the level of satisfaction and =
the sense of national belonging=0Athat all the participants evidently exper=
ienced during the festival. <o:p></o:p></font></span></div><div><font size=
=3D"3" face=3D"Times New Roman">=0A=0A</font></div><div style=3D"margin: 0i=
n 0in 0pt;" class=3D"Default"><span style=3D"font-size: 11.5pt;"><font face=
=3D"Times New Roman">The several tents that were set=0Aup at the venue for =
the daytime activities in which various Eritrean=0Atraditional costumes, ar=
tifacts, artwork etc were displayed as well as the=0Acolorful evening cultu=
ral performances by the young and old performers donned=0Ain traditional co=
stumes were indicative of the fact that wherever they might be=0AEritreans =
were always committed to preserving and transmitting the Eritrean=0Aheritag=
e from one generation to another. The various vendors too play an=0Aimporta=
nt role. All the t-shirts, accessories, CDs, DVDs, traditional attires=0Aan=
d other merchandise that these vendors had brought to sell at the festival=
=0Afeatured a meaningful and relevant content, whether it be a voice or des=
ign=0Arecorded, printed or inscribed on the item. <o:p></o:p></font></span>=
</div><div><font size=3D"3" face=3D"Times New Roman">=0A=0A</font></div><di=
v style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class=3D"Default"><span style=3D"font-size=
: 11.5pt;"><font face=3D"Times New Roman">The culinary excellence proved=0A=
how delicious the Eritrean food is, evidently devoured by the very many=0Ap=
articipants. The traditional Eritrean beverage prepared by these women too =
was=0Atasty and quenched the thirst of many customers. <o:p></o:p></font></=
span></div><div><font size=3D"3" face=3D"Times New Roman">=0A=0A</font></di=
v><div style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class=3D"Default"><span style=3D"font=
-size: 11.5pt;"><font face=3D"Times New Roman">As for seminars and=0Adiscus=
sions, on Saturday there was a panel discussion about the prospects and=0Ac=
hallenges of peace in the Horn of Africa led by the following panelists: Mr=
.=0AGlen Ford, executive director of Black Agenda Report; Mr. Ephrem Madebo=
,=0Arepresenting Ginbot 7 (May 7), an Ethiopian opposition group; Mr. Elias=
Amare,=0Aan Eritrean American activist currently based in Eritrea. The dis=
cussion was=0Amoderated by Mr. Issayas Tesfamariam, a researcher, universit=
y lecturer and=0Ablogger. Mr. Elias Amare, the first one to speak, explaine=
d at length how and=0Awhy despite the many positive achievements being regi=
stered domestically and=0Aits contribution towards the maintenance of peace=
and stability in the Horn of=0AAfrica the State of Eritrea is being portra=
yed negatively. Mr Ephrem Madebo=0Astarted off by explaining his personal c=
onnection with Eritrea by way of work=0Aassignment that landed him in Eritr=
ean during the military rule. He further=0Aexplained how the ruling minorit=
y regime in Ethiopia has marginalized the=0Amajority of Ethiopians since it=
assumed power, thus leading to the creation=0Aand/or revival of several op=
position forces. He pointed out that change was=0Ainevitable in Ethiopia an=
d that relationship with Eritrea will return to=0Anormalcy based on the pri=
nciples of mutual respect for territorial integrity=0Aand peaceful coexiste=
nce. Mr. Glen Ford lauded Eritrea=E2=80=99s principled and exemplary=0Astan=
ce in pursuing a domestic policy of self-reliance and a foreign policy that=
=0Ais aimed at maintaining regional and international peace and stability a=
nd=0Acooperation based on equal partnership. He went on to explain that Eri=
trea is=0Aamong a very few African countries that live up to the real meani=
ng being=0Aindependent whereas many others have deviated from that path. Fi=
nally, during=0Athe questions and answer session panelists addressed questi=
ons from the=0Aaudience fully and satisfactorily. <o:p></o:p></font></span>=
</div><div><font size=3D"3" face=3D"Times New Roman">=0A=0A</font></div><di=
v style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class=3D"Default"><span style=3D"font-size=
: 11.5pt;"><font face=3D"Times New Roman">Following the panel discussion=0A=
Eritrea=E2=80=99s permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Araya Dest=
a, gave an=0Aextensive briefing about the current developments in Eritrea a=
nd its immediate=0Aneighborhood, about the illegal and unjust sanctions pla=
ced against Eritrea and=0Aabout the efforts which were being made to revers=
e them. <o:p></o:p></font></span></div><div><font size=3D"3" face=3D"Times =
New Roman">=0A=0A</font></div><div style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class=3D"=
Default"><span style=3D"font-size: 11.5pt;"><font face=3D"Times New Roman">=
The discussion on Sunday=0Afocused on what needed to be done to proactively=
and positively portray=0AEritrea=E2=80=99s image. One of the speakers was =
Mr. Issayas Tesfamariam, who talked=0Aabout the need to shift from the stra=
tegy of defending the baseless allegations=0Amade about Eritrea to that of =
positive portrayal using our cultural values and=0Atourist attractions as t=
ools using the concept of what he described as =E2=80=9Csoft=0Aand smart po=
wers=E2=80=9D. The other speaker, Mr. Elias Amare, focused on how and why=
=0Awe should use our ability to write as a tool in the fight for portraying=
=0AEritrea in a positive spotlight. He enumerated the steps that ought to b=
e taken=0Ain composing brief, fact-laden, content/topic-oriented press rele=
ases and/or=0Aarticles and dispatching them timely. <o:p></o:p></font></spa=
n></div><div><font size=3D"3" face=3D"Times New Roman">=0A=0A</font></div><=
div style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class=3D"Default"><span style=3D"font-si=
ze: 11.5pt;"><font face=3D"Times New Roman">Overall, the festival was=0Acon=
ducted in a relaxed environment that had a striking balance of business and=
=0Apleasure. It was one in which old friendships were re-connected and new =
ones=0Aestablished. The three days came and went swiftly. But, the memories=
left=0Abehind will remain timeless. A great deal of gratitude is due to al=
l the=0Aorganizers, volunteers, vendors, panelists and attendants for makin=
g this=0Asplendid Eritrean festival happen. <o:p></o:p></font></span></div>=
<div><font size=3D"3" face=3D"Times New Roman">=0A=0A=0A=0A</div><div style=
=3D"margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"line-height: =
115%; font-size: 11.5pt;"><font face=3D"Calibri">Pictorial=0AReport </font>=
</span></div><div>=0A=0A<a href=3D"
https://plus.google.com/photos/111057607=
865852045047/albums/5775849780856437233#photos/111057607865852045047/albums=
/5775849780856437233">
https://plus.google.com/photos/111057607865852045047/=
albums/5775849780856437233#photos/111057607865852045047/albums/577584978085=
6437233</a></div><div></font><span style=3D"font-size: 11.5pt;"><font face=
=3D"Times New Roman">Media Group <o:p></o:p></font></span></div><div><font =
size=3D"3" face=3D"Times New Roman">=0A=0A</font><span style=3D"line-height=
: 115%; font-size: 11.5pt;"><font face=3D"Calibri">Eritrean Festival=0AOrga=
nizing Committee</font></span></div><div><font size=3D"3" face=3D"Times New=
Roman">=0A=0A</font></div></div></body></html>
--1288386116-138188828-1345178177=:92624--
Received on Fri Aug 17 2012 - 10:25:06 EDT
