By Professor Adugnaw Worku (24 March ‘09) Have you ever wondered why dictators spend sleepless nights scheming and conniving on how to keep their people in the dark and go all out to censor magazines and newspapers, block websites, and jam radio broadcasts? The short answer is that they do so because they know the power of information and they fear their people to have such power. Dictators do two things simultaneously; they block out alternative sources of information and then engage in misinformation and disseminate pure propaganda. They exercise zero tolerance for diverse viewpoints and inconvenient truths and persecute those who bear such truths. The Bible says, “You shall know the truth and the truth will make you free”. When people are well informed and have knowledge at their disposal, they become difficult to control. And it is not by accident that dictatorial regimes target their educated citizens and harass and persecute them mercilessly until they submit, or kill them outright if they continue to resist.
I was once watching a whale and dolphin show and I heard the trainer say, “the more intelligent the animal the harder it is to train”. Animal training relies on control and behavior modification and some animals are too intelligent to submit to mindless and repetitive orders. So, the trainer resorts to tricks, bribes, and brain washing. Eventually, the animal submits and follows its trainer’s orders. Dictators use exactly the same tactics to control their citizens and add considerable coercive power to their arsenal to force compliance and submission. When tricks, bribery, and brain washing don’t work, dictators resort to blackmail, harassment, intimidation, and relentless persecution to break the individual’s God-given free will. Sadly, they often succeed and herd human beings like sheep with an iron fist.
The free flow of information and the dissemination of knowledge pose imminent danger to the power of dictators. Hence, they exercise strict monopoly of the mass media and ensure that their subjects hear and read only the officially pre-filtered propaganda. This practice is an old trick in politics and it is as if all dictators attend the same school to learn it. The technology of censorship has evolved through the years but its philosophy and practice have remained remarkably constant.
According to Ralph Waldo Emerson, Napoleon Bonaparte feared the power of the pen much more than the power of the gun. Napoleon is reported to have said, “If I were to give the liberty of the press, my power could not last three days”. Matthew Lesro said, “Those who control information are the most powerful people on the planet”. Yes indeed! People who monitor, manage, and censor the contents of information have the most potent power in their hands.
My interest in this subject was triggered by a recent report in Ethiopian Review, Ethiomedia, and Ethioforum regarding the unblocking of previously blocked websites in Ethiopia. The report was too good to be true and in fact it was. Websites considered critical of the Ethiopian government were apparently blocked once again within a few days of the original report. And the information blackout in continues unabated. But if there is a will, there is a way. There is at least one technology dictators in third world countries have not been able to control yet. And that technology is television broadcasting via satellite downlink. It is estimated that there are millions of satellite dishes in Ethiopia today. And these satellite dishes are found not only in Addis Ababa but also in other cities around the country.
Apparently, our people in Ethiopia are able to watch BBC, CNN, and even Eritrean Television in the privacy of their homes. If the Ethiopian government had the capability to block satellite downlinks, they most definitely would have blocked Eritrean Television. But the simple fact is that the Ethiopian government can’t block such systems. And this brings me to the most important point of this article.
For those who may not know, there is an Ethiopian television service called Ethiopian Television Network, ETN for short. This television service is poised to play a critical role in broadcasting its programs directly to Ethiopia via satellite downlink and will do so free of charge to those in Ethiopia. It also has the capability to broadcast to a world wide Ethiopian audience using streaming technology. And anyone living anywhere can access ETN’s current and archived programs 24 hours and seven days a week using high speed Internet. This ambitious television network has multiple channels covering business news, current affairs, religious programs, documentaries, entertainment, diet and health, children’s programs, society and culture, sport, and much more. For those in the Diaspora, it is a home away from home. And for those in Ethiopia, it will be source of reliable information at no cost.
Visitors form Ethiopia and elderly parents and relatives who stay at home all alone and all day will love watching Ethiopian Television Network. They can choose the channel they want to watch and listen to the programs in their own language as well as enjoy the company of their people on TV. You have no idea what this means to them. When my aunt came to the United States, I turned ETN on for her and she was absolutely delighted. She watched the religious channels more than any other, but she also enjoyed watching drama, comedy, documentary, and music. For just US$10 a month, this is the best gift you can give to those Ethiopians in the Diaspora who stay at home alone.
As far as broadcasting to Ethiopia is concerned, here is the deal and the punch line. In order to broadcast to Ethiopia, ETN needs a minimum of 5,000 subscribers. It costs only US$10 a month to subscribe and anyone from anywhere in the world can subscribe if they have high speed Internet access. It is that simple. The technology is ready to go and the program is already in place. For further information, you may go to ouretn.com and check it out for yourself. You may also ask all the questions you have and they will be answered to your satisfaction. And the best way to do that is to contact ETN directly.
Ethiopian Television Network is an independent entity with no affiliation to any other organization, political or otherwise. Its mission is to serve Ethiopians at home and abroad by providing fair, truthful, and balanced programs. And its guiding principles are Ethiopia’s unity and the well being of all her citizens. ETN is committed to promote equality, justice, the rule of law, freedom, human rights, development, education, and much more. It will be a voice for the voiceless and a vanguard for truth against misinformation and censorship.
Finally, I would like to end with a personal note. I have subscribed to Ethiopian Television Network and I am enjoying its programs. I also contribute programs for broadcast every week and find great satisfaction in doing what I can to further the cause of our proud history, our rich culture, and enduring values. In addition, I have agreed to serve on ETN’s governing board. Before I agreed to serve on this board, I made sure that it is free from hidden agendas and divisive tactics. And to the best of my knowledge, I am glad to say that ETN is independent and transparent and has no strings attached to a third party behind the scene. I joined the board determined to contribute to the fulfillment of its lofty and worthy goals.
I would like to invite you to subscribe and make it a robust television service for us and for our children. This television network relies primarily on subscriptions and advertisements and the Diaspora Ethiopian community can play a pivotal role to make it successful and accessible to our people in Ethiopia. I and other board members are willing to answer any questions from anyone and answer them truthfully and completely. The bottom line is this: There is no hidden agenda or mysterious motive other than the desire to provide badly needed service whose time has come. Television is a powerful tool and we have it now. No human organization is perfect and ETN is no exception. But it is an organization that is willing to learn and grow. And together, we can make it strong and vibrant to make a difference.
Let us empower our people with free, fair, and reliable information and stand with them in their fight for freedom and justice. Two hundred years ago, the founders of the United States of America encapsulated what every human being feels and believes deep in his/her heart by saying, “We take these truths to be self-evident. That all men are created equal and are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights. That among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” May God grasp Ethiopia’s outstretched hand and grant her better days ahead so that all her children will be able to enjoy life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
For more information, please click http://www.ouretn.net/ad2.php
March 24th, 2009 at 5:58 pm
NICE ARTICLE ADUGNAW
AS WE ALL ARE VICTIMS OF TPLF, “Oromo and the Somali community of Ethiopia should be part of this coming protest without any preconditions. What we need is to coordinate with the people who are organizing the protest. The good thing is everyone understands that this coming April 2 protest rally in London, for all of us, different nationalities of Ethiopia have one common agenda, to denounce the presence of Meles Zenawi and call for all those who have blood on their hands to face justice.” BY TEDLA ASFAW
March 24th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
Abbaymedia also doing the samething, filtering and censoring information and people`s article and reply.
Can we call abbaymedia and EMF dictators too ?
March 25th, 2009 at 3:57 am
The ethic dictatorship of Meles Zenawi is a period of darkness and depression in Ethiopia. Only the few selected elite members of the TPLF and their families are privileged to enjoy the fruits of the advancements in the information technology. The discriminatory ethnic regime has imposed total information black out on Ethiopians and bombarding them with its endless and stinking lies and propaganda. The members and supporters of the TPLF are asserting their superiority in some of their postings I had read on EMF. They are telling us our weakness lies in our inferiority and as superiors, they have every right to exploit and rule us.
These racial and degrading remarks are part and parcel of the policy of the TPLF and wake up calls for the rest of Ethiopians. They prove the neo-fascistic nature of Meles Zenawi and his TPLF.
March 25th, 2009 at 3:58 am
Lets speak about jazz and post links to most popular sites of jazz music. Here is my favorite:
http://jazz-risioja.blogspot.com/
March 25th, 2009 at 7:00 am
A mad is allways mad and nothing can be expected of him:
You are nonsense and crazy people who allways wish bloodshed in Ethiopia. you allways dream for “Bete mengst-SLTAN” really you are mad. you donot care about Ethiopia and the people of Ethiopia, you care only about your self,non sense,gadamt.But you will never come to power by any means, as you well know it ,you have been defeated severly at the battel field during the 17 years mass struggle, and you want to come by other means by “peace means -Ellection” still defeated and still not dying now it is time burry you -you mad. By the way as you are lumpen and no job you are enjoying yourself by sprying heatred among our people who are buzy of their development efforts deepening their democracy .
March 25th, 2009 at 11:00 am
Hi, you gadamt EMF you only disply what supports crises in ethiopia, what call upon hatered and bloodshed in in the country ,those articls who support efforts of peace, democracy and development are neglcted and automatically ditected and removed. Okey you only need agly things.
March 25th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
አሁን የአማራ ትግሪ ኦሮሞ ችግር ያለፈበት ወሪ ነው!!! መለስ እስላምን በክርስቲያን ላይ እያስነሳብን ነው ሱማሊ ገብቶ ሰው የገደለው ለአክራሪዎቹ በርታት ነው እስኪ ወንድ የሆነ የወደፊት የአፍሪቃ ቀንድ የእስላምንን ተስፋ ይምልከት ምናልባት ክርስቲያን ታርዶ ካላለቀ
http://somalisforjesus.blogspot.com/2009/01/mansur-mohamed-sfj-martyr-of-year-2009.html
March 25th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Once again professor Adugnaw Superb job -
Thank you Sir
March 25th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
What I gathered from Prof. Adugna’s essay is that ETN to which he is a board member is reaching Ethiopia via sattelite down link like CNN, etc. to empower people (Ethiopians) with “fair, free and reliable information and stand with them in their fight for freedom and justice”. Thiis premise and conclusion do not hold water. In the first palce ETN is one of the website considereda pro-democracy websites eligible for unblocking, because they of no threat as they are now to the current rgime. The one considered a threat are the hardliners, hardlineres both in terms of party and websites with respect to resistance they pose to the current regime for freedom and democracy/ the major national goals that of peace, freedom, territorial integrity, sovereignty, Unity of Ethiopia (one flag, one language and one country of federated states) as opposed to to political model followed by the moderates of maintaining the staus quo.
The media access that was made availble on television via sattlelite is only availble to city city dewellers of the rich and famous in Ethiopia, but not to broad masses as it case with short wave radio transmissions by websites considerd hardliners, which are jammed for being seriously engaged in a campaign for freedom and democracy. ETN as far as I know is far reaching in the diaspora as well as in Ethiopia for Entertaiment and advancing Ethiopian culture but not to to influence the change in the current political culture, rather than than support the politics of deception, subvesion and Tatibo Chika politika” of UDJP and now the coalition Medrek, with Gebru Asrat of Tigrai Harena.
You also used the broad term “dictators” not attribute that to TPLF. Yet the the commentators hit hard on TPLF in reference to this essay.
If you want to tell us ETN is pervasive, whether you are granted access or not. If you want to counter what has been announced in Ethiomedia, you need to show us some evidence of what the prodemocracy website say about being blocked again.
What we need we need are cause effect and comparative analyses, inductive logic to solve the current crises in Ethiopia, not an essay, on “Yes , Information is Power”, which is a common knowledge. The question at hand is to engage Ethiopians to fight for media access, freedom of speech, fredom of press, freedom of assembly, etc.
March 25th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
help
me
March 25th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Adugnaw,
Each time that I go back to Ethiopia, I realize the importance of having the right information. The Ethiopians back home live in total ignorance, sometimes I have to inform them about the political situation there. Your idea is great, but you have to make it happen. I am pledging a certain amount each month.
March 25th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
ፕ/ር አዱኛዉ እግዜር ይባርክዎ!
ትንታኔዎትን ወድጀዋለሁ.
March 25th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Tplf; the tigray peoples mafia government does not care for any one except its own ethinic which is tigray others are just surviving on left over from dedebit mafia so this is the dark era of ethiopia until ethiopians stand up and oust these gangs from ehiopians land and free their people.
March 25th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
I feel sorry For Prime Minster Meles Zenawe,President Girma and members of parliament- they all have to deal with these endless socioeconomic mess that The Amharas dominated governments created for the last 100 years.
March 25th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
Hey Aha,
በግምት ከአመት በላይ ይሆናል ሁሊም የምትሰጠውን አስተያየት ሳነብ ትገርመኛለህ በማንኛዎም issue ሰው እንዲት ሊቃዎም ይችላል እብድ ካልሆነ በቀር::
March 26th, 2009 at 8:22 am
millions of satellite dishes in the country? i didn’t think there were so many TV receivers. does anybody know the real numbers?
March 26th, 2009 at 9:00 am
Out of 134 countries surveyed by the Geneva Based World Economic Forum, on Freedom of Press Index, Ethiopia ranked 133rd, slightly surpassing Zimbabwe, only. Bravo my motherland, Ethiopia!! (please visit : http://www.weforum.org/en/index.htm for more details.
March 26th, 2009 at 9:35 am
Is it true that ETN uses in its offices the Ethiopian tri-color flag with TPLF emblem printed on the yellow band?
March 26th, 2009 at 10:52 am
Good article - but what Adugaw didn’t realise is that ETN is controlled by the TPLF.
Al Amoudi, Siyie Abraha, Dr. Nega’s Brother, Berhane Mewa - all have a stake on the ETN. They all have link with the TPLF.
Ask a simple question and the answer is there - how could ETN survive a 24 hrs operation with zero income?
Tamagne Beyene is also a loyal friend and puppet of Al Moudin. Go figrue.
March 26th, 2009 at 11:38 am
GENET I DONT KNOW WHAT TYPE OF PEOPLES YOU MEET WHEN YOU GO BACK HOME MAY BE DEDEBIT ANIMALS? OTHERWISE ALL ETHIOPIAN PEOPLES ARE FOLLOWING THE SITUATION EVERY MINUTE AND SECOND
BUT THEY DONT WANT TO PAY UN NECESSARY SACRIFICE THEY KNOW WELL WOYANNES TIME IS OVER
March 26th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Letamo! The previous governments did not create inflation, did not bring up droughts, nor the the current regime. It is a natural phenomena. But the previous regimes combined, did not receive 30-40 billion dollars for development programs and budget support over 18 years as foreign aid grants and humanitarian aids, remitances of 2.00 billion anually combined for the 100 years. Yet, they have managed Ethiopia with peace except for fighting with liberation movements, like TPLF & EPLF that sapped its resources and have maintained the territorial integrity and sovereignity of Ethiopia and managed the integration rather than the disintegration of Ethiopia.
With massive finanacial backing by the western donors and IMF, what are the conditions under which the Ethiopians are in now with the regime that you are sympathizing for? Do you lack common sense?
Tell me about the regimes prepardness to mitigate drought incidence, to fight stagflation, and economic and political stangle hold by TPLF and TPLF affiliated enterprizes and how it has excluded the rest of the society. To which do you think, the 10% growth attributed to, when 10-14% are under starvation, when unemployement is extremly high, targating mainly the Amahara ethnic group, which are already been replaced by Tigrai ethnic goup, and have been marginalized politically and economically in the last 18 years. Blaming the Amahra
for everything does not take us anywhere, except to accelarealate further deterioration of economic conditions and disintegration of the country initiated by the current regime.
Your comment does not help any other ethnic group and your sympathy is unwarrented especially for those teletaffi parties and the president who are used as tools for TPLF regime.
March 26th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Thank You Professor for doing your part.
I ask all of you readers to do your part by writing to IMF, G-20, Tran-Africa forum, EU, US State department…etc to urge them STOP funding dictatorship in Ethiopia.
Do you know that Diaspora Ethiopians pump $ 1.2 Billion to Woyane dominated Ethiopian economy? In other words we are supporting them while they are systematically destroying anything Ethiopian. I also ask you not to send money through Woyane associated Banks and boycott anything Woyane dose and Join any Pro democracy group.
Democracy in Ethiopia is inevitable!
March 26th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Wakyo,
IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT YOU AND ME SAY, REGARDLESS WOYANES STILL RULING US. WOYANES LAUGHING AT US, THEY THINK OF YOU AS UNCIVILIZED SUBHUMAN, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ? ? 18 YEARS PASSED, AND SEEMS WOYANE GETTING STRONGER AND GATHERING MORE SUPPORTERS FROM OROMOS AND SIDAMAS AND OTHER REGION, WE GOT TO COME UP WITH SMART IDEA TO STOP WOYANES.
March 28th, 2009 at 10:56 am
Did you reply been deleted by EMF and Abbaymedia.com ? Well guess what, you are not the only one. EMF now becoming another dicatatorship by selectively deleting replies to push their hidden political agenda.