Minnesota Midwest Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Support (MMW GERD Support)
History & Accomplishments to Date
March 11, 2020: Reverend Francis Stephanos who initially came up with the idea of “let’s meet to discuss whether there was any interest among us in supporting the GERD against the threat being exerted by Egypt on Ethiopia to force her quit constructing the dam or sign an agreement that is against Ethiopia’s interest” invited about 40 Ethiopians to a meeting out of which 13 community and religious leaders in Minnesota including Bishop Ewostateos of EOC graciously attended the first meeting. All present expressed their frustrations with how Egypt was exerting pressure threatening Ethiopia by stating all options are on the table and influencing US to apply pressure on Ethiopia, and unanimously agreed to organize Diaspora Ethiopians to support Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) that has express objective of uplifting the people of Ethiopia from poverty.
· March 20, 2020: Due to COVID-19 physical distancing guidelines, the second meeting was held through teleconference on 3/20/20. 24 individual Ethiopians living in Minnesota participated. Major decisions made were. Participants asked questions regarding the construction of the Dam and were informed it is being built by funds from Ethiopian people to meet the dire need of electricity and produce enough food for its growing population. The Dam is being built in accordance with the international laws governing the use of rivers crossing through several countries. Concerned countries right from the inception of the idea have been informed and engaged through several meetings. The construction of the Dam doesn’t significantly harm the downstream countries including Egypt. GERD is being constructed on Ethiopian territory and the Nile water originates from Ethiopian highlands and she has God given right to use the Nile water including building the Dam. She doesn’t need anybody’s permission to do that. The Dam will lift her people languishing in poverty and darkness propel the country to progress and prosperity.
Seven individuals were elected to draft a petition to express our support for the construction of the Dam that is intended to change the life of its people for the better. Reject Egypt’s threat to force Ethiopia sign the agreement and call on the US not to support Egypt’s claims and twist Ethiopia a sovereign country to sign the agreement. Bring our petition to the attention of respective Senators and Representatives in each respective State in the Midwest.
Rev. Francis Stephanos/ Convener
Dr. Solomon Gashaw, Dr. Ashagre Atre, Dr. Daniel Abebe, Dr. Elisa Ayana,
Ato Girma Hasen and Ato Mekonen Doyamo.
March 27, 2020: Due to overwhelming interest in the GERD project and genuine desire to stand in solidarity with the Ethiopian people about 62 individuals joined the teleconference from across the Midwest States and alignment with Ethiopian diaspora in other states, community leaders from Illinois, Iowa, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Representatives from the Ethiopian Consulate General in the Minnesota-Midwest also were in the meeting. A draft petition letter was presented and discussed by attendees. To reflect the involvement of community leaders from states beyond Minnesota, the group adopted the name Minnesota Midwest GERD Support (MMW GERD Support).
March 29, 2020: During this teleconference A Task Force comprising of 11 members were elected from the group that met on March 11,2020 and Rev. Francis Stephanos was formally appointed to be its Chairperson and Dr. Tamene Melkamu a Secretary.
April 3, 2020: The MMW GERD Support Task Force nominated Mr. Bayissa Gemeda Didi to serve as Treasurer, considering his professional background and skills. This brought the number of the Task Force to 12 community leaders.
April 17, 2020: During the previous meeting it was expressed that a petition that was not backed with supporters’ signatures may not be taken seriously and as a result it was decided to post online via Change.org for signatures. Currently about 140,000 supporters have signed. The petition can be reviewed here.
April 24, 2020: At this meeting it was decided to form a corporation and obtain Certificate of Incorporation for the purpose of opening a bank account and fundraise. Therefore, a resolution was made to change the 12 members of the Task Force to the Board of Directors and Reverend Francis Stephanos was unanimously and formally appointed a Chairperson, and Dr. Tamene Melkamu was also formally appointed a Secretary.
In order to encompass the ardent supporters in the Midwest the name Task Force was changed to Minnesota-Midwest GERD Support.
The Chairperson, the Secretary, and the Treasurer of the were nominated as the Executive Officers of the Board of Directors of MMW-Midwest Support.
The Chairperson and Treasurer were authorized to open MMW GERD Support bank account for the donations to support the dam construction
May 1, 2020: This was Board of Directors teleconference meeting to which Honorable Deacon Yoseph Tafari of Ethiopian Advocacy Network was invited to brief the MMW-GERD Support on the progress made by the national campaign to support GERD. Deacon Yoseph representing Ethiopian Civil Council and Ethiopian Advocacy Network gave very important information on the efforts to bring Ethiopia’s concern to the US Congress through the Black Coccus, response he was able to receive from the World Bank and Mr. Steve Mnuchin US Secretary of Finance. He also advised our group regarding the petitions and supporters’ signatures. We agreed to work together and continue to exchange information. To leverage collective political capital by involving local chapters of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and African American community more broadly beyond Ethiopian Americans; (2) to influence local US political representatives; (3) to engage diaspora youth; and (4) to involve professionals with expertise relevant to the GERD (e.g., hydrologists, economists…).
May 5, 2020: MMW-GERD Support prepared and Article of Incorporation and submitted it via mail to the Minnesota Secretary of State.
May 15, 2020: A Media committee was established in order to give information to the supporters regarding the Fund raising to support the construction of the GERD. The following were appointed Media Committee. Rev. Francis Stephanos (Chair), Bishop Ewostateos Gebrekristos, Mr. Husen Kadir, Mrs. Asnakech Mengesha, Mr. Oron Ojulu Ochalla.
Respectively fundraising & finance Committee established and the following members were appointed. Mr. Bayissa Gemeda Didi (Chair), Mr. Yared Gebrewold (Secretary), Rev. Yadesa Daba Washo, Dr. Solomon Gashaw, Pastor Endrias Hawaz, Ms. Helen Gurmu and Dr. Tamene Melkamu.
May 24, 2020: Several MMW GERD Support members teleconferenced with community leaders from states beyond Minnesota; including Illinois, Iowa, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Kentucky, and Indiana. The group was joined by Dr. Tekleab Shibru, an Associate Professor of Geomatics at Chicago State University who has written a professional article on the GERD. Representatives from the Ethiopian Consulate General in Minnesota-Midwest also joined the meeting.
May 25, 2020: Over 140,000 signatures have been collected on the petition against the US stance on GERD, describing the diaspora position for a sovereign Ethiopia’s right to build the dam, as well as the opportunity and economic impact for the people of Ethiopia. The current petition captures organizing efforts from various groups across the US, merging 4 different Change.org petitions. Revisions were made to the petition to align it with the position of the government of Ethiopia, taking into consideration the advice provided by the Ethiopia Permanent Mission to the United Nations.