The Dam That Divides Ethiopians

HERE is an interesting article on the Gilgel Gibe III hydroelectricity project underway in Ethiopia that will, when finished, create the second largest hydroelectricity dam in sub-Saharan Africa. It's a big deal complete with big controversy. It's going to more than double Ethiopia's current generating capacity of electricity, potentially solving the country's national energy crisis, but also stands to devastate the lives of hundreds of thousands of tribal families living in the Omo River Valley and virtually destroy Lake Turkana in Kenya which an estimated 300,000 people depend on for survival. These devastating consequences are being denied by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, however the BBC News article liked to above (and again HERE) goes to great lengths to provide a voice for the people living in the affected region, a people who stand to lose everything upon completion of this project.

If you do take a look at the complete article be sure to click on the different tabs across the top of the page and watch the videos, BBC does a great job of providing visuals to relate the full impact of this project.