April 5, 2006
Exciting Times
Here is a picture of today's Times, seconds after I finished flicking through it during a coffee break in the UN compound in Addis Ababa this morning.
I didn't get it off a friend just flown in from the UK. I didn't pay DHL to speed it to my doorstep. I bought it in a bookshop ... in Addis.
If you don't live here you won't realise just what an exciting statement that is. Up until yesterday, the most up-to-date British newspapers in town were the week-old copies of the Independent stacked up in the British Council café. People with very good contacts in the British Embassy or DFID could occasionally get their hands on a copy of the Guardian that was just three days out of date. But the best that the rest of us could do was to call early on someone who had just flown in to Bole airport and rifle through their hand luggage.
Yesterday, however, everything changed. BookWorld - the best, really the only book chain in the capital - started selling same-day print-outs of most of the main European and US titles. In many ways they're better then the originals. Whiter, cleaner paper. Slightly bigger print. On the downside, the supplements, including The Times' Section 2, are missing - no daily Sudoku or UK TV listings (it's always good to know what you are missing). And at just under 40 birr a copy (£2.64 as opposed to the current UK cover price of 60p), it's only ever going to be a weekly treat at best.
Posted by aheavens at April 5, 2006 12:06 PM
Comments
Wonderful! I have been thinking a project to start with the NY times...to print the exact print copy of the New York Times that's available online. I guess BookWorld has done it already! The price is a quite steep..but it is a good start! Happy to hear about that!
Posted by: TED at April 5, 2006 2:34 PM
Andrew:
Obviously, you haven't searched Addis that thoroughly for British papers. I am a journalist(used to be before the paper I edited was shut down) and usually get a day-old copies of The Independent, The Times The Guardian and even tabloids such as The Daily mail and Mirror for less that ten birr. In my unfortunate Mondays, I might even be condemned to read The NEWS of The World and Daily Star Sunday. Check at newspaper vendors near the Desta Stationary. I am sure they will give you a "roadmap" for the exploration of British papers. In the mean time, enjoy your whiter The Times.
Posted by: Abiye Tekelemariam at April 5, 2006 6:32 PM
That's good news we had in a long time of change in the captital. I wonder how they manage importing same day prints if not printed locally somehow.
Posted by: tyrel at April 6, 2006 2:15 AM
Well, good for you Mr. British ( or is it Englize?*) The information technology is serving you well even in a country where the government continues to create obstacles to information and communication technologies (ICT) development, and now Ethiopia is ranked at the bottom, 115/115 of countries.
http://www.weforum.org/site/homepublic.nsf/Content/The+US+regains+first+position+in+the+rankings+of+the+World+Economic+Forum%27s+Global+Information+Technology+Report+2005-2006
Another failing grade for Meles and his government, 0 Zero for your PM, Mr Blair, who, just a year ago, “ ….named the Ethiopian leader as one of the key members of his Commission for Africa. Last year, Mr Blair toured Ethiopia and heaped praise on Mr Meles’s democratic and economic policies. Then, he spoke enthusiastically of a new breed of African leader, worthy of much greater foreign support; an issue he personally championed ….” http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2037645,00.html And this is from your paper.
With regards to your April 2 entry the PRs are working hard and not just US tourists… here is one.
Ancient land, modern smiles
Despite whatever hardship it is enduring, Ethiopia is a land of courtesy, manners, and consideration for other people
… The surprises of Ethiopia begin as soon as the plane lands at Addis Ababa's ultramodern Bole International Airport”
http://www.bangkokpost.com/Horizons/06Apr2006_hori001.php
I dont know what to feel...
Oh about Jamie Whyte's book you are reading, the book I read is "crimes aginst logic". Probably the same book with a slightly different title for US edition? Next time I will tell you what I think of it .
* I hope you know by now when an Ethiopian says "Ekele is Englize" i.e some one is refered as English what that mean :) or ask an Ethiopian what he means when he/she says "antee englize".
I like reading your blog from time to time. Hope you are enjoying your life in Addis.
Posted by: D. Gizaw at April 6, 2006 11:44 AM
D. Gizaw,
And what does this have to do with the price of tea in China? (In this case the price of the Times in Addis?) I don't know how what you have to say has to do with Andrew's post. Let the man enjoy this bit of "home." I know how exited I get when I find something that reminds me of home here in the States. Andrew , keep enjoying your paper.
Posted by: diki at April 6, 2006 5:04 PM
I don't know whether to feel sorry for you or not, Andrew. I haven't made up my mind whether I want my newspapers and magazines delivered at home and I drink instant coffee or I get the occasional, expensive, a day old international news while sipping Peacock's double macciato. Tough choice.
Posted by: Fikirte at April 6, 2006 9:24 PM
D. Gizaw,
And what does this have to do with the price of tea in China? (In this case the price of the Times in Addis?) I don't know how what you said has to do with Andrew's post. Let the man enjoy this bit of "home." I know how exited I get when I find something that reminds me of home here in the States. I went crazy when I found a bakery that bakes a cake similar to Enrico's. (Still not as good as Enrico's) Andrew, keep enjoying your paper.
Posted by: Diki A. at April 7, 2006 12:52 AM
Diki A,
How Gullible.
Before attempting to defend anyone read twice what you write and say in public.
More than 15 million people are dying of hunger and malnutrition in you country you tell us, here in the US you go crazy for not finding your “cake”. Let us hope, Mr/Ms.Mario/Maria Antoinette, that is not your regular diet, least you go hungry if they don't bake your “cake”.
My comment was directed to Weyane Meles and, to some extent, to those who prop up his regime, not the bloger/Andrew. Go back and read the comment, and if you can get the report find out where your country stands in the information technology use. At the bottom of all countries.
Be warned, you will not get any response from me any more if you come back with your silly comment.
Try to find some food for your mind too.
Have a nice day.
Posted by: D. Gizaw at April 8, 2006 9:18 AM
Andrew,
I repeat, you have to read "Sweetness in the Belly" by Camilla Gibb.
It is an amazing novel set in Harar and among the Harari and Oromo people of eastern Ethiopia.
There are lots of reviews of this book on line and the author has a web page.
Posted by: Safiya at April 9, 2006 11:09 PM