VIDEO. Sudanese protest in London England

Members of the Beja Congress participated in a protest demonstration outside the Sudanese Embassy in London England on Saturday, June 21, 2014.

The Beja Congress has joined other groups in marginalized areas like the Nuba Mountains and Darfur, in order to pressure the central government in Khartoum to provide greater peace and security in the country of Sudan.

The protesters would like to have repressive laws abolished. The signs they carry call for hospitals not to be sold. They want no more war in Darfur, and a stop to aerial bombardment. Violence against women needs to be stopped. Genocide in the Nuba mountains needs to be stopped.

The Beja Congress banner (at 3.39) reads "Beja Congress of Easter Sudan for Eternal Peace... Democracy... Equality... Development."



http://youtu.be/1GC6gtjPvP4

Video: Eritrean independence day celebration

Filmed in Tesseney on May 25, 2012 [?]. Include some Beja style dancing.

VIDEO: Summary of the Beja world

Uploaded about a year ago. Almost 8,000 views. Enjoy.

VIDEO: Eritrea's struggle to survive

Featured on the USA Public Broadcasting System over a year ago, this documentary will take you through the history of Eritrea, and into the modern era. It explores the Italian influence, especially in architecture, and their aparthied system. The war for independence against Ethiopia is revealed.  About an hour long, in four parts on youtube.

They're all together on this page.

See it all.

Or see part one below.

VID: Trafficking between Eritrea & Sudan

Refugee camp near Kassala gets 3,000 refugees a month from Eritrea. How many are Beja?

VIDEO: Mongolian nomad yert

Watch a time lapse video as a traditional mongolian home is set up in about 1 hour. It is well structured and designed in a way that it can be easily assembled. The video is only two minutes long.

VIDEO - Sediment behind river dam exposed

When a river is dammed, the water that collects in the lake above the dam stops moving, and the sediment that was carried in the flowing stream sinks to the bottom of the lake.

After some years, when enough sediment has settled, the size of the reservoir for holding water shrinks, and it becomes more difficult to manage the flow of water into irrigation systems or the turbine systems that generate electricity.

It may be possible to raise the dam, to make it higher. This will make a different lake in the same place. The Roseires Dam has been reconstructed to make it higher.

In Egypt, the dam at Aswan was rebuilt a few miles upriver, to create a Lake Nassar, because the dam in original location couldn't be built any higher.

Of course, other factors beside sediment collection have to be considered. These may include environmental issues, cost of operation, the need for more electricity, etc.

Water released from lake
Below is an amazing time lapse video showing the first stage of deconstructing a dam. It was used by an electrical company. Federal law demanded that certain environmental features should be built, and the company didn't want to pay those costs, which were going to be higher than just abandoning the dam.

A tunnel was cut into the dam at the bottom, and as the water is released in a rush, the sediment behind the dam is washed out, creating a new river bed. The dam later will be cut apart and removed.

Watch the video made in October 2011 and discover how much of the lake wasn't very deep. It was about half full of sediment.  Fascinating.


Explosive Breach of Condit Dam from Andy Maser on Vimeo.

Spate Irrigation Problems

Many farmers who work in the regions around Kassala use spate irrigation. This involves building a small dam [about 2 feet high] that is very long, in a "u" shape. The dam essentially surrounds a field on the low side of flat land. This catches the water, which soaks into the land, charging it like a sponge, so that the land is moist. This allows a crop to be planted and grow even after the rainy season is over.

When it rains the water can't run off, and water from land uphill from the field will flow into the dammed area. This uphill water will bring soil with it, which will settle in the standing water. After a few seasons, enough sediment may collect in the field so that it is no longer useful because water will no longer make a "lake" above the dam.

Celebration of ethnic tribes in Egypt!

From the website of the host organization.

The Characters of Egypt Festival is an annual 3-day encounter of diverse cultures from 33 different ethnic groups residing in Egypt.

From 2008 to 2010, Characters of Egypt was hosted by Fustat Wadi el Gemal, 50 kms south of the Red Sea resort of Marsa Alam. This year, in 2011, the festival will be relocated from the desert environment to the Island of Heisa in Aswan on the River Nile. This new location offers an opportunity for the participants to experience different landscapes and cultures in their places of origin.

An estimated 3,000 guests are expected to participate in this year’s event. These are composed of 350 individuals from a variety of Egyptian ethnic groups, 100 volunteers, 100 journalists, media personnel and press, politicians, ambassadors, business people, academics, artists, visitors from Cairo and Alexandria along with foreign tourists.


The festival envisions creating a platform through which a variety of isolated ethnic groups can converge in a festive, communal atmosphere. The event offers a rare opportunity to link diverse cultures and to inculcate values of mutual respect, understanding, tolerance and equality.

Join us in celebrating Egypt’s cultural diversity on October 27-29, 2011 at Heisa Island, Aswan, EGYPT.

Video: Introduction to the Beja People

enjoy!

Eritrea celebrates National Day on May 24

President Omar Hassen Al-Beshir of Sudan sent a message of congratulations to President Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea in advance of the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Independence Day celebrations.

President Omar Al-Beshir wished good health to President Isaias, as well as peace and prosperity to the Eritrean people.

Just a week ago, [May 13] Sudan and Eritrea agreed to abolish entry visas, opening their common borders for free movement of peoples and goods both ways. The two countries have also agreed to facilitate goods and commodities traffic, without restrictions, organise inter-trade and remove all border crossing points that hinder the movement of citizens of the two countries.

[COMMENT] May 24 Independence Day is the most significant National Holiday in Eritrea. On May 24 1991 EPLF forces entered Asmara, re-claiming independence, after a bitter 30 years war against Ethiopian military occupation.

Independence Day is celebrated nationwide in Eritrea, but the most spectacular place to be is in Asmara, where the 1991 victory is celebrated with one week of cultural shows in Cinema Odeon and Bahti Meskerem, carnival on the main streets of Asmara, community feasts, live music on Harnet Avenue, and a colorful celebration at the Asmara Stadium on May 24.

Eritrea loves a big show in the stadium!

East Sudan promo video

This video was shown to all the participants at the Donor and Investment Conference in Kuwait. It offers a general tour of East Sudan.

Conference Details

The International Donors and Investors Conference for East Sudan, takes place in Kuwait.

Visit the conference site.

Download the agenda. One page

Get the project list. 119 pages, 644 kb.

UPDATE: December 1. Some video has been uploaded at the site.

Training Pastoralists in Kassala State

A pilot project was held in October 2008 by PENHA, the FAO, the United Nations and Oxfam Netherlands.

About 30 pastoralists were introduced to new feeding techniques. By closely chopping mesquite pods, sorghum and sesame cake, along with urea and molasses, the animal's diets could be improved. Results showed increased milk yields and better animal health and weight. Participants were given hand operated table size choppers.

Voting in east Sudan.

A short film captures the voting action in different towns in east Sudan. Silent for the first 20 seconds. A complete description accompanies the video on the you tube site.