(3rd May, 2012, The Ecologist)--A hydroelectric dam Gibe III in south-west Ethiopia threatens the livelihood of the ancient tribes of the Lower Omo River, say the campaign group Survival Agro-pastoralist peoples have lived with their cattle along the
Lower River Omo in south-west Ethiopia for several thousand years.
From its source in the Ethiopian highlands the Omo flows through one of Africa’s most spectacular landscapes and into Africa’s largest saline lake, Lake Turkana in Kenya. In a harsh and challenging environment, it is a vital lifeline for humans and a rich assortment of wildlife.
The Lower Omo Valley became a World Heritage site. UNESCO describes it “unlike any other place on Earth in that so many different types of people have inhabited such a small area of land over many millennia… The discovery of many fossils there, especially Homo gracilis, has been of fundamental importance in the study of human evolution.”
Every year the Omo floods depositing rich silt along its riverbanks where tribes like the Mursi plant sorghum, beans and maize. In Daasanach land, the river overflows its banks in August and floods large areas of grassland which, as the flood recedes, provide valuable dry season grazing for cattle. However, the Lower Omo tribes are facing new and unprecedented threats to their livelihoods and survival.
The Gibe III dam is being constructed some 200 kms up river. When completed next year it will be the tallest dam in Africa and will destroy the natural flood on which so many tribes rely for cultivation. Read more from The Ecologist »
From its source in the Ethiopian highlands the Omo flows through one of Africa’s most spectacular landscapes and into Africa’s largest saline lake, Lake Turkana in Kenya. In a harsh and challenging environment, it is a vital lifeline for humans and a rich assortment of wildlife.
The Lower Omo Valley became a World Heritage site. UNESCO describes it “unlike any other place on Earth in that so many different types of people have inhabited such a small area of land over many millennia… The discovery of many fossils there, especially Homo gracilis, has been of fundamental importance in the study of human evolution.”
Every year the Omo floods depositing rich silt along its riverbanks where tribes like the Mursi plant sorghum, beans and maize. In Daasanach land, the river overflows its banks in August and floods large areas of grassland which, as the flood recedes, provide valuable dry season grazing for cattle. However, the Lower Omo tribes are facing new and unprecedented threats to their livelihoods and survival.
The Gibe III dam is being constructed some 200 kms up river. When completed next year it will be the tallest dam in Africa and will destroy the natural flood on which so many tribes rely for cultivation. Read more from The Ecologist »
1 comment:
Stop those who brain washing and give guns for the people south Ethiopian and north Kenya people. Ethiopia has no time for poverty and begging bread form anyone else. Calling for all mankind, to help Ethiopia to build gibe3 and millennium dam and stop those brain washer and gun givers of the nomadic people. Ethiopia needs no war. She is trying to feed food to her people, please stop those who are trying to brain washers of the farmers. Peace for the children and the people of the world.
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