The Honorable Dennis Haster Speaker of the House
Re: H.R. 5680 (Ethiopian Freedom, Democracy, and Human Rights Act of 2006)
Dear Mr. Speaker: My name is Befekadu Terefe Retta. I’m an election coordinator for the Cook County, Illinois. I am writing you to express my strong opposition to H.R. 5680.

Super Jumbo Airbus A380-800 to Land in Addis Ababa
Addis Fortune (Addis Ababa):- The world's largest aircraft ever, the European Airbus A380, will be landing at the Addis Abeba's Bole international airport, making Ethiopia the first African sky to witness what is often described as "super jumbo" aircraft. It will arrive in mid October 2006

Winner tickets for Tigray Development Association (TDA) sponsored Tombola.
Winner numbers were declared over the mass media in Ethiopia on Sep 14, 1999(ETC) or Sep 24, 2006(EC). Check your ticket and all winners should contact TDA branch offices for help or call TDA International directly. Aigaforum would like to take the opportunity to all who supported this noble cause .

The Ethiopian Government agreed with Opposition Parliamentarians to establish an oversight committee that will have power to investigate and oversight government expenditures. The committee will have its chairman from the opposition this despite EPRDF being an absolute majority.more on this from Reporter

Prof Mesfin on hate Politics

Comment:For what it is worth we wish the professor had said this when many people were asking why CUD supporters and hooligans are targeting Tigreans! Even Aigaforum asked the good folks in Diaspora to stop the madness that was going on in Church halls. Today, although, it is better late than never, we hope it is not ziakelen tihnenes bealemariam! We will take the professors message as good starting point. His understanding about Woyane is his and he has all the right to think as such .

(from Iftin)

US screenings of this extraordinary film about Ethiopian coffee called Black Gold. The film opens in New York and Seattle this weekend and is then being shown around the US - a full list of screenings can be found on the www.blackgoldmovie.com website, click on "Screenings".

UPDATE ON H.R. 5680
On September 29 Congress went into recess to prepare for the upcoming mid-term elections. So far, HR5680 has not reached the House floor for a vote. Your voices are being heard! Following the mid-term elections on November 7, Congress will return until late December when it will officially adjourn. Until then, you should continue your efforts to let your Congressman know that you do not support HR5680. Since Congressmen are returning to their home districts for the November 7 mid-term election, please send your letters to the District Office of your representative. If you do not know the name of your representative, you can go to www.house.gov and type in your area code to get the name of your Congressman. Please fax your letter to the District office. Phone calls are also extremely effective. The Ethiopian community has done a wonderful job in getting the U.S. Congress to listen to their voices. Let’s continue to be heard!
What Have We Learned from HR5680? ......now might be a good time for both the supporters and opponents of HR5680 to reflect on the lessons learned about the democratic process in the United States and the role played by the large Ethiopian American community................More	Sample Letter Subject: Say NO to HR5680 Dear Representative [INSERT NAME OF CONGRESSMAN]: My name is [SENDER’S NAME] and I am a resident of your district. I am writing to express my concern regarding H.R. 5680, “The Ethiopia Freedom, Democracy and Human Rights Advancement Act of 2006,” which is fundamentally flawed and extremely controversial in Ethiopia and among the Ethiopian community in the U.S. ....More

Premier reaffirms Ethiopia’s commitment to ensure Somalia peace (October 4, 2006 )
Prime Minister Meles Zenawi Ethiopia would further strengthen its effort to ensure peace and stability in Somalia...

European Commission President promises 155m Euros for road sector dev't program in Ethiopia
(WIC)Addis Ababa, October 03, 2006 - European Commission President has declared the commission will provide 155 million Euros for the implementation of Ethiopia’s road sector development program

Farcical opinion of a right Winger
G. woldu, Oct 1, 2006:- In an article titled Get Ethiopian troops out of Somalia appeared on Sept ember 25, 2006, ( The Christian Science Monitor) Mr. Winger"s statment “America must be wary of an ally who greats her with a beggar's hand” lacks fairness in judgment...