‘Two Trees

for 2000’

By Elizabeth Celms
Mercer Island Reporter

Ethiopia follows the ancient Coptic — or Ge’ez — calendar, which is about eight years behind the more widely used Gregorian calendar. The New Year traditionally begins on September 11, except for leap years when it occurs on September 12. According to the Ge’ez calendar, it is currently the year 1999 in Ethiopia, which happens to be a leap year.

And so the nation will mark the year 2000 on our Sept. 12, 2007.

In celebration of the new millennium, the Ethiopian government has launched a nation-wide project called “Two Trees for 2000” to address Ethiopia’s growing environmental problems, deforestation in particular.

The campaign gives every Ethiopian the opportunity to plant two indigenous trees, aiming for a total of 60 million trees. The nation has already gone well beyond this goal. As of last week, 600 million trees were planted.

Indeed, “Two Trees for 2000” has attracted international attention, with ambassadors from the European Commission, Israel, Spain, Czech Republic and Serbia participating in the June 5 launch.

The dignitaries commenced the Millennium Celebration outside the capital city of Addis Ababa, where hundreds gathered for brass-band music, patriotic songs and a flurry of tree-planting.

“The Millennium Celebration and ‘Two Trees for 2000’ will mark a very good image not only for this country but also for Africa… it is a unique significance and I think it will do utmost for the further development of this country,” said ambassador of the Czech Republic to Ethiopia, Zdenek Dobias, during the launch of “Two Trees for 2000.”

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and President Girma Wolde-Giorgis were also present at the June 5 celebration, and were two of the first Ethiopians to plant indigenous trees.

For more information, go to www.ethiopia2000.com.