nPosted on May 24, 2017
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| Eritrea is that teeny nation, colored green here, in Northeastern Africa. |
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nEritreans fought a 30-year battle against Ethiopia!
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nAfter all that fighting, on this date in 1991, Eritrean People’s Liberation Front forces moved into the capital, Asmara, and declared independence from Ethiopia.
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nAnd then there were a couple more years of fighting between an independent Eritrea and Ethiopia.
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nAND then there were skirmishes between Eritrea and two other neighboring countries.
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nAND in all this time – more than two decades! – national elections in Eritrea have been postponed over and over again, so…no democracy, yet.
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nAND the Eritrean government drafts people into its armed forces for long – actually, indefinite! – periods of time.
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nAND Eritrea is rated as having one of the worst human rights records and the absolute least press freedom in the world!!
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nSigh.
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nApparently Americans are rarely treated to stories about Eritrea in our media, perhaps partly because of the lack of press freedom enjoyed in the nation. Also, there is very, very little tourism in the nation – which is not surprising! With all the grim facts outlined above, who would go there?
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nBut although some refer to Eritrea as the North Korea of Africa, others say that the capital city of Asmara does not seem – at least to a casual and privileged traveler – as repressive or as unpleasant as advertised. Check out this 2014 travel story.
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nThe landscapes outside of the capital are often gorgeous!
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nAlso on this date:
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Anniversary of the publishing of “Mary Had a Little Lamb”
Anniversary of the publishing of “Mary Had a Little Lamb”
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nMusician Bob Dylan’s birthday
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nInternational Tiara Day
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nQueen Victoria’s birthday
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nDay of Slavic Script, Education, and Culture
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nBotanist Ynes Mexia’s birthday
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nMorse Code Day
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nPlan ahead:
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Check out my Pinterest boards for:
Check out my Pinterest boards for:
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nMay holidays
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nMay birthdays
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nHistorical anniversaries in May
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nAnd here are my Pinterest boards for:
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nJune holidays
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nJune birthdays
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nHistorical anniversaries in June
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