We assist our brothers and sisters who are the unfortunate victims of draught and other human factors. Your assistance is appreciated and it shows you are concerned Ethiopians.

However, in my opinion, there is one thing most important to our wellbeing as a people and as a nation that we terribly undermine for many personal as well as group interests: i.e. the war between Eritrea and Ethiopia. Our brothers and sisters in the current war with Eritrea are shedding their blood and being physically disabled for protecting and defending our boundaries, national pride, territorial integrity, assurance of peace and freedom for all Ethiopians for generations to come. The irony is that the money and other assistance we provide to our people has no use if there is no peace in Ethiopia. Famine victims are because of mainly natural disaster and a lack of planning whereas the war victims are because of Eritrea's aggression.

Let us not forget it is indeed Eritrea who invaded and mounted an unprovoked offensive against Ethiopia. Also, Ethiopians must remember that Eritrea President Isaias Afwerki and his cabinet have a sinister plan to destroy Ethiopia permanently. They have tried by supporting functions to disturb the peace in Ethiopia, transmit false propaganda trying to disintegrate the essence of Ethiopian society and unleashed all forces to win the war and beyond. Thus far Eritrea's leadership faces humiliating defeat and brought unnecessary and unjustified suffering to its people. Consequently, Ethiopia has material and human losses as well.

If Eritrea had unilaterally withdrawn from Badme, Zalambessa and Bure years earlier, when the whole world appealed to them, the disaster would never have happened. The peace process hit a brick wall due to Eritrea intransigence.

I really believe we Ethiopians are peace loving and concerned people. We have no hate for Eritrea and the peace process must continue and bring ever-lasting peace. But if Eritrea and its leadership want to destroy Ethiopia, which they have tried in many ways, but were not successful, Ethiopia has the right to defend its boundaries, protect its national interest and secure and maintain peace and freedom for its citizens.

Everybody wants a peaceful solution, but may be the solution of force, which has many inconveniences, has the merit of speed Ethiopia has demonstrated to obtain peace with Eritrea over the years, we as Ethiopians must seek peace with Eritrea by all means. But if the enemy imposes war or interferes in our internal affairs disdainfully to deprive us peace, national integrity and our national interest, we are forced to go to war and be victorious.

Eritrea's signing of cease-fire with Ethiopia is not as the result of Eritrean good will, and desire for peace, but a decisive military victory by Ethiopia. As the saying goes, "make hay while the sunshine." Ethiopia must accomplish and secure its national interest at this opportune time.

I like to remind my fellow Ethiopians that contributing to the famine is honorable, but if there is no Ethiopia, peace, culture and unity there is no place, people, and country and family to visit and help. So in my opinion supporting the young men and women and their family who are fighting against the invading and sinister Eritrean leadership and its army by paying with their lives for the dignity and freedom of all Ethiopians for generations to come is the obligation and honorable deeds of all Ethiopians despite their personal as well as party affiliations. Our war victims and their family deserve your help.

I call on all Ethiopians in the world to seriously think, especially in North America to stand together in their support of the young men and women at war, and the war victims, financially, emotionally and by writing to all world organizations, senators, congress man and etc., that have influence and/or involvement in this matter. I am asking Walta information Center and Ethiopia/Eritrea conflict Page to post legitimate address to send donations. Please keep looking for address until they post it. Meanwhile make all effort to help.

Also, I would like to remind you of the most dangerous, but little addressed issue of the AIDS epidemic in Ethiopia. While food shortages threaten up to 8 million people in Ethiopia this year, AIDS and poverty are already inflicting an even worse apocalypse on Ethiopia. Nearly 300,000 people died of AIDS in Ethiopia last year - more than 800 a day, health experts say. Nearly a million more are infected with HIV and will probably die within the next eight years. All are your family, but at this rate will be one of your immediate family. No matter where we live, we remain Ethiopians. Whatever happens inside Ethiopia affects our live.

We are unable to solve all these complex issues in Ethiopia, but we can, however, by setting aside our differences, can help our war victims and passionately support those who fight to defend our interest, bring about a permanent and sustaining solution to the war with Eritrea, and famine and AIDS and save lives, or at least give people the chance to die peacefully.