Yesterday, on July 17, 2023, Ethiopians from all walks of life- children, young people, elders, religious leaders, women and people with disabilities- were committedly hurrying to beat the clock and rewrite another history of planting 500 million trees in 12 hours.
Even though the morning appeared to be too cloudy and the rain continued pouring down steadily, Ethiopians, setting a solid plan to stamp their own fingerprints and break their own records, were seen flocking energetically to different sites where they were assigned to plant seedlings.
Starting from dawn to dusk in pursuant to the national call and to plant half a billion trees in a single day, and achieve the set goal by breaking the 350 million seedlings planting record carried out by Ethiopians in 2019 in a single day, millions of Ethiopians across the country were committedly engaged in planting trees.
Among the millions who joined the ambitious tree planting campaign of planting 500 million seedlings in a single day, Edomias Addisu and Yosef Addisu (the twins) were the ones.
The twins, (8 year old), whom the ENA approached to have their say, and planted seedlings at Kilinto Industrial Park in Addis Ababa, expressed their delight for taking part in this historic initiative. As they elucidated, they firmly believe that trees have incalculable benefits in terms of protecting the environment and improving food security of the country.
The other teenagers, Wubrist Alemu and Abush Dugassa also planted seedlings at the Park.
Wubirist said that she will continue contributing her civic responsibility and plant trees thereby to realizing the country’s goal of realizing green growth.
On his part, Abush said the tree planting initiative will lay foundation for the development of the country; and leave a strong legacy for the upcoming generations. He also urged children and young people to give due attention and provide the necessary care for the planted seedlings concurrent to planting seedlings.
At the 500 million seedlings planting campaign carried out nationwide, religious fathers, government officials, states’ chief administrators, ambassadors of different countries including China, France, Poland and Belgium among others, took part.
Equally, Ethiopian embassies in different countries, for instance the Ethiopian Embassy in Djibouti, also participated in the program of planting 500 million saplings in 12 hours.
As some of the participants of this ambitious campaign who were in presence and left their fingerprints in Addis Ababa ICT Park told ENA, we all should join hands and make, Ethiopia, which is our common home, a comfortable and beautiful country.
According to them, the Green Legacy Initiative is becoming one of the demonstrators for Ethiopians’ solidarity and cooperation which we are well known for.
According to Government Communication Service Minister Legesse Tulu said that unity demonstrated on planting trees in Ethiopia must also be replicated on building national peace and development.
The Minister said that Ethiopians from all walks of life are planting trees from 6 A.M in the morning without discouraged by the rain. Mentioning that he, himself, has already planted a number of seedlings, he expressed his aspiration to plant some 100 more trees during the day.
As Ethiopia has been suffering from recurrent drought, greening the country will not only prevent the effects of climate change but will also help to ensure food security for the nation, Legesse added.
The unity and solidarity demonstrated in the Green Legacy Initiative needs to be repeated in all development endeavors of the country, Legesse reiterated.
“As much as we are planting trees in unison, we need to also strive to ensure the establishment of a democratic country whose peace and tranquility is ascertained,” the Minister remarked.
Agriculture Minister Girma Amente, Afar State Chief Administrator Awol Arba, and other federal and regional senior government officials have taken part in the planting campaign launched early this morning at Durufle locality in Afar State.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister Girma said that Ethiopia has formulated a policy to build green economy and is realizing it.
“And this will not only help food security and development but also enable the country to earn foreign currency”, he added.
According to him, this is the day when Ethiopia will show to the world that it can plant 500 million seedlings in a single day.
The Minister further stressed the need to care for the seedlings to be planted.
Afar State Chief Administrator, Awol Arba said on his part that the Green Legacy Initiative will prevent drought vulnerability caused by deforestation.
The Chief Administrator called on sections of the society to actively participate in the campaign and rewrite new history.
“Our target is breaking our own record. The Green Legacy Initiative is an issue of preserving, respecting and developing Ethiopia. It is about changing history and preserving generations. The reason we prefer a day that is free from any social and religious events is to increase the involvement of every Ethiopian in this historic incident. When we prefer Monday, it is for the reason that it is the first day of our working day; and to start it by conserving nature,” said Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on the eve of the seedling planting campaign set to plant on Monday, July 17, 2023.
He further said that Ethiopians’ competition to break the record is with their own selves. And regions, zones, districts and villages will break their own records by planting more than last year. “Each of us has to break our own records.”
“We must not allow misery to break its own record. If it breaks its own record, it means we are defeated. We can beat our problems when we initially beat our own problems, then our surroundings, and finally break the world record. I am ready to plant repetitively tomorrow. What about you?” the Premier asked.
And following his call, millions of Ethiopians across the nation starting from early morning, planted seedlings to the fullest extent, with the target of breaking their own records, then the country’s and finally the international record.
It is to be noted that, Ethiopia in the first phase of the initiative years (2019-2022) planted about 25 billion seedlings. And at the second phase, the nation targets to plant additional 25 billion seedlings.
BY MENGISTEAB TESHOME
The Ethiopian Herald July 18/2023
