Reminder: Submissions due soon for Peace Journalist magazine
The Peace Journalist, a semi annual magazine, seeks submissions on peace journalism projects, research, courses, seminars, etc. However, we are not looking for general submissions about peace projects, unless they entail a media/journalism angle. Submissions should be 500-1500 words, and sent to me at steve.youngblood@park.edu by March 8. Photos are encouraged, and submissions are welcome from everyone.

To see the previous edition of the magazine, click on this link.

Strike makes for an interesting first day at UoG
GONDAR, ETHIOPIA—It was an atypical first day of class for the new semester at the University of Gondar (UoG).

What made my first meeting with my Broadcast Writing students unique wasn’t the students or the setting. The students, all young men, were excellent. They seemed inquisitive, and enthusiastically participated in class activities. The journalism department let us meet in their computer lab, which is equipped with new computers and software. It even has a smart board. The lab isn’t hooked to the internet yet, but they’re working on it.

Today, we talked about the elements of news, and what makes a story newsworthy. Later, I’ll introduce peace journalism, and we’ll discuss how to write broadcast and multimedia news in a professional, non-inflammatory way.

Unfortunately, only about half my students were able to make it to class. Normally, I’d be steamed about this. However, those who couldn’t make it had a pretty good excuse.

Since Monday, all motorized transportation has been suspended in Gondar. This means no taxis, buses, or bajajes, small three-wheeled vehicles. All transportation is shut down as part of a larger anti-government strike in the region that has shuttered businesses and schools. Today is the strike’s last day.

Those who couldn’t make it to my UoG class literally couldn’t make it to my class, since they had no way of getting to campus. I’m anticipating a full house at our next class session on Friday.

My big send off
Before heading up to class this morning (literally, up 216 steps and two large hills/mountains), my Fulbright colleague and friend Tim sent me off with a photo shoot. Now, Tim is nothing if not...thorough. He went online, found my CV, and calculated how many years I’ve either attended school or taught—thus the number 49. I’ll take him at his word, though I suddenly feel a million years old.

Strike begins today; All peaceful around university
(Gondar, Ethiopia)—It’s day three of a six-month long state of emergency in Ethiopia, and day one of a three day general strike here in Gondar. During the three day strike, myself and my Fulbright scholar brethren are hunkered down, safely, in our apartment complex.

The anti-government strike has stopped all forms of public transportation, both buses and bajajes, usually ubiquitous three wheeled taxis. I stood and watched the typically busy street just outside our apartment block for about 15 minutes, and could count on one hand the number of motorized vehicles (mostly big trucks) that passed by. Motorized transport seems to have been at least partially replaced by horse drawn carts, which seem much more prevalent than usual.

I’m pleased to report that the numerous donkeys that traverse our street appear undaunted by the strike.

The strike has also closed down most, if not all, retail businesses in Gondar. In my neighborhood, a friend reports that all of our haunts are shuttered, including the tiny TG grocery store and the Red Fox, a hotel/restaurant that serves the best foul (delicious spicy beans) in the hemisphere. 

I walked up 216 steps (see previous post) without stopping because I was curious as to how the strike is affecting the University of Gondar. I had expected the place to be dead, but instead, hundreds of students were making their way to and from class, or their dorms. I chatted with two grad students as they left class. In perfect English, the young men told me that some classes are being held today, while some are cancelled. As for journalism, my department, our classes this week start Wednesday. Will I meet my class then? I should know more tomorrow.

There are a number of unconfirmed reports about a strong police presence around the central market and downtown area, called the piassa. There are also rumors of unrest in these parts of town, but again, these are unconfirmed. I can definitively report that the area in and around our apartment and the university has been calm. I have no reason to believe that it won’t stay that way.

I can't wait to greet my reporting students on Wednesday, or if not, Friday at the latest. 

For more, see: http://www.africanews.com/2018/02/19/defiance-strike-in-ethiopia-s-amhara-region-over-state-of-emergency/

UPDATE, MONDAY, 19 FEB—Since the post below, the state of emergency has been clarified. It will last six months, and could include a possible four month extension. Protests are banned, as are “publications that incite and sow discord.” Whether this clause will be used to further stifle journalists remains to be seen. So far, the situation hasn't yet impacted the internet.

--For more about the state of emergency: http://stream.aljazeera.com/story/201802190713-0025591

--For the strong U.S. reaction against the state of emergency: http://allafrica.com/stories/201802190383.html

Despite State of Emergency, I'm Fine
(Gondar, Ethiopia)—First, a brief message to my mom and wife: I’m fine.

That needs to be said, I suppose, when one is residing in a country where there is an official state of emergency, which was declared by the Ethiopian government yesterday. Details about what exactly this might entail, and how long it might last (reports say three or six months) are still to be announced. 

News outlets are reporting that this state of emergency won’t be much different than the recent 13 month state of emergency that ended last August. If this is so, then some civil liberties could be suspended, and the military given more freedom to make arrests. The last state of emergency included periods where the internet was disconnected for the entire country, and other times where only social media were blocked. So far, the internet remains untouched by the authorities, as evidenced by this post.

The state of emergency follows the surprise resignation last week of the prime minister. Mass protests against the government have rocked Ethiopia since 2015.

Here in Gondar, locals have organized a three day protest and strike (stores closed, no transportation, etc.) slated to start on Monday. No one knows how large the protests will be, or how many will participate in the strike.

Seven Americans (Fulbrighters and their families and me) held a conference call with the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa this morning to get updated on the situation. Mostly, the message was that no one really knows the ramifications yet of the state of emergency, so sit tight.

We are certainly in no danger at this point. The compound where we live is extremely safe and well guarded, and our neighbors (other professors and their families, mostly) keep a close eye on us. We will hunker down here during the duration of the strike and protest period, however long that might last. 

Today, my friend and colleague Tim and I had what he called a “guys shopping trip” to stock up on food and beverages in case the local grocery stores do stay closed longer than a few days. We are well provisioned now, having ample supplies of water, pasta, fruit, and of course, beer.

My classes next week at the University of Gondar may or may not be held, depending on how the situation unfolds. I’ll be in touch with my department chair Mustofa.

I was supposed to leave for a two-hour trip to Bahir Dar tomorrow to lecture at the university and meet with journalists. However, after consulting with the embassy, I’ve decided to postpone that trip. The concern wasn’t me getting there, but rather getting home Tuesday afternoon. If there are large protests, roads could be blocked. Better to stay safe at home, with my beer. Once things settle, I plan to go to Bahir Dar in March.

Before you beseech me to come home, please keep in mind that there is no place that is immune from violence, or from protests. The unrest in Baltimore, Maryland and Ferguson, Missouri (in my home state) wasn’t that long ago. Gun violence is everywhere, the Florida school shooting being the latest example. Would I really be safer lecturing in the U.S. than at the University of Gondar or the Gondar Community School, where I’m teaching an intro to journalism class for seventh graders?

Unless things change dramatically, I’m not leaving until May, when I’m scheduled to come home. I have too much left to accomplish here. Currently, I believe that the risk is manageable, and involves nothing more complex than keeping in touch with the embassy and my Ethiopian colleagues, and staying at home with my American colleagues and my beer.

I’ll be fine.

For more about the state of emergency in Ethiopia:

Al Jazeera, Reuters, Addis Ababa Standard