Greetings in that mystical unity in one, H.I.M. Haile Selassie 1st. The Jamaican Rastafarian Development Community (JRDC) is pleased to announce it's hosting of the 2nd Annual "Africa Unite", Bob Marley Birthday Celebration in Shashemane Ethiopia, to be held on February 3rd and 4th 2006 at the 12 Tribes of Israel H.Q. This new annual spectacular cultural and musical extravaganza will be hosted for the second time by the Jamaican Rastafarian Development Community (JRDC) in aid of its Community NGO humanitarian projects.

The first "Africa Unite" celebration staged in Addis Ababa's Maskal Square in 2005 and then carried to the rural Ethiopian 'home' of the late Rt Hon Robert Nesta Marley, Shashemane, was the most significant and widely publicized historic cultural event in Ethiopia's modern history. Both events combined drew an attendance of over 350,000 people, including guests from all over the globe. It was spectacular. The impact on business in Shashemane was tremendous, hotels were fully booked and merchants experienced profit increases, the town of Shashemane was bubbling with excitement, even the street vendors experienced the impact.

This year we are again inviting the business community of Shashemane to participate in the bazaars and exhibitions planned. Seeing that time is short we advise quick responses, as stall rentals have begun and are going fast. The JRDC invites your sponsorship and participation in this year's event. Please arrange a meeting with our representatives for discussions on the details of your participation in the second Annual Bob Marley Birthday Celebration, in Shashemane, Ethiopia.

For further information please contact events coordinators;

Maurice Lee- 251-451 10-41-38

Sydney Salmon- 251-911-60-56-40

Alemu Fikere Sellasie <fikeresellassie@... wrote: 
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit One God Amen!

Dear Gebremedhin;

I agree with you. Our enemy is the devil ... we can overcome the evil with the power of God. The proposal that you forwarded is very important that we need to pray for Ethiopia. God will listen to our quest. If we are committed to ensure that all those who believe can keep fasting in the coming two months.

The fasting season is coming... all the prophets devoted time to seek deliverance from the Lord. There is a formal declaration of fasting and prayer we do not need for another. If we can pass the entire period fasting then we can hold prayers and vigil by going to respective churches at least once in a week every Sunday at 3:00 (pm) Addis time and pray in unison. If we conduct in every region, the prayers, among the Ethiopians, with great mourning, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; seeking the help of God… we will succeed. The teaching of Our Fathers is that "Prayer is good with fasting and alms and righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than much with unrighteousness. It is better to give alms than to lay up gold..." Tobit 12:8

While keeping this all those who are committed to this can hold a regular fasting time and prayer every day. The priests must preach the word of God. Jeremiah wrote ": Therefore go thou, and read in the roll, which thou hast written from my mouth, the words of the LORD in the ears of the people in the LORD's house upon the fasting day: and also thou shalt read them in the ears of all …" 36:6

The prayers must be conducted in humility and love. As the prophets ...King David said, " I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom." Psalms 35:13 Saint Paulos wrote "In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watching, in fasting" the Lord will honor us. 2 Cor. 6:5

Ethiopia is given to St. Mary and we believe that Our Mother will always be with us to help us during the hard times. The Angels, the martyrs and the Saints are with us. 
My God bless Ethiopia. 
Fikeresellassie

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Gebremedhin Samuel <gebremedhin2002@... wrote: 
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit One God Amen.

Dear Brother Fikere,

Let us give thanks to the Almighty God who alone doeth great wonders. I am praying that our Deacons, Priests, Bishops, Patriarch and the entire Holy Synod will take a lead in this prayer vigil for our beloved country.

I am therefore asking any deacon or priests that reads this mail to join in with us and help to coordinate prayers every Sunday wherever you are at 3.00 Addis Time.

I am appealing to the entire Rastafari Community to remember the teaching of His Majesty and join in pray also for Ethiopia at the same time 3.00pm Addis time every Sunday and FAST and Pray. (Ras Nathaniel Note: That is Sunday Morning at 6:00 am Central Standard Time, 7:00 am Eastern Standard Time)

I am asking the leaders in Mehaber Kidusan to also respond and join. Last but not least every Ethiopian whether you are Orthodox, Pentecostal, Catholic, Muslim whatever your calling to God, to join in together and pray in the way that you pray for Ethiopia, its leaders, and its well being.

Please forward the mails to your friends and any other groups who love Ethiopia.

Gebre Medhin Samuel.

Rasponse from General Salem

The Rastafarian Community In Shashamane Ethiopia has some materials to mail out to Rasta organizations.

I need accurate functioning postal mailing addresses for any Rastafari Organizations Worldwide including:

Rastafari Centralization Organization, Theocracy Reign Order of the Nyahbinghi, Mystic Revelations of Ras Tafari, 100 Drums, Iritical House of the Centenary Committee, Ethiopian United Front, Rastafari Mammar Cultural School, Imperial Ethiopian Federation, Rastafari House of Dread, Rasses International Sistrens, Haile Sellassie I Theocracy Government, St. Thomas Bath Nyahbinghi House, Rastafari International Theocracy Assembly, Rastafari Patriotic Unity, Peace Makers Association, Ethiopian World Federation, All Twelve Tribes HQs, Ethiopian Africa Black International Congress (Bobo Ashanti), Rastafari Online, IRASCOM, TTRU as well as Any other Organizations/Houses/Mansions etc..

Please email me any SOLID info you have. Web info is precarious. please send addresses you KNOW are current and legitimate. email addresses are helpful as well but primarily looking for Mailing Addresses. Thank you for your help! your co-worker, bro adam simeon NY

MAIL REPLIES TO: rasadam12@gmail.com 

Greetings and Rastafari Diamond Jubilee Blessings 668 days before the Ethiopian Millennium

The Rastafari Family Worldwide, in celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the Coronation of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I and Her Imperial Majesty Empress Woleta Giorgis Manen, gathered together in diverse places for its annual tradition. The Theocracy Reign Order of the Nyahbinghi in South Florida, just as the priests who chanted prayers before the Coronation of the Emperor and Empress, hosted a traditional seven lights of Ises starting October 31. R.A.S.T.A. Inc., which has hosted a Coronation Banquet over the past six years, presented The Grand Coronation 75th Diamond Jubilee Celebration, a re-enactment presented by Rastafari brethren and sistren of the November 2, 1930 Coronation.

Ras Ilect, a talented tailor, made the red and gold Imperial Vestments and replicas were made of all the Coronation objects such as the Sceptre, the Lances, the Sword, the Orb, the Rings, and the Crowns. After several rehearsals and six nights of Ises, it was time to re-enact the Coronation Ceremony. A standing room only crowd of over 300 Rasses and their families, witnessed the three hour ceremony. Rastafari Bredren, led by Bongo Tawney and Ras Ivi, chanted Psalms throughout as narrators described the activities of the Priests and the Abuna, who chanted blessings in Amharic. The powerful ceremony brought tears to some, and at its conclusion, I&I chanted a joyful sound to His and Her Majesty. A great feast was then served, and later that evening I&I sealed up the Iyabinghi Ises at the Ibernacle.

I&I look forward to the The Grand Coronation 75th Diamond Jubilee Celebration video/dvd which shall be a great educational video providing the world an understanding of the Glory and Majesty and significance of the Coronation of HIM Haile Selassie I and HIM Empress Manen.

During the reasoning sessions, it was proclaimed that the Bill introduced into the Ethiopian Parliament by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi that would give Ethiopian Citizenship to individual members of the Rastafari faith was a Diamond Jubilee Gift to the Rastafari Family Worldwide.

Dr. Jake Homiak, Director of the International Rastafari Archives Project (IRAP) at the Smithsonian Institute, revealed 28 minutes of lost footage which he had just received of the November 2, 1930 Coronation ceremony in Addis Ababa. It will take some time because of legal issues, but he hopes to make this footage and more available to the world. This, then, was another Diamond Jubilee Gift.

On November 3, Ras Nathaniel of the Issembly for Rastafari Iniversal Education (IRIE) met with Fred Oladiende, President of the Foundation for Democracy in Africa, and Anthony Okonmah, Executive Director of the Foundation for Democracy in Africa. The Foundation for Democracy in Africa is serving as the Secretariat for the Western Hemisphere African Diaspora Network (WHADN) of the African Union 6th Region Diaspora Initiative. Though not all the details have been finalized, IRIE and WHADN agreed to work together to implement a proposal to host African Union Educational Forums and Repatriation Census/Skills Database Workshops throughout the African Diaspora in the Western Hemisphere in 2006. Members of R.A.S.T.A. Inc and the Rastafari Community of South Florida were briefed on the meeting with WHADN (which has an office in Miami) and reasoned on the necessity of mobilizing a United Rastafari Front in support of this effort. IRIE hopes to sign the agreement with WHADN soon. This good news was proclaimed as another Diamond Jubilee Gift.

The reasoning sessions also received Istimony from Rastafari Family Members who were displaced after Hurricane Katrina flooded New Orleans. Now it is the desire of 26 of them to Repatriate. A letter has been drafted to send to the Ethiopian Government on their behalf.

The Grand Coronation 75th Diamond Jubilee Celebration provided a great strength to all Rastafari bredren and sistren. Forward to Rastafari Inity! Forward to Zion! Forward to the Ethiopian Millennium! REPATRIATION IS A MUST!

African Union Chairman Reaffirms Organization's Commitment to African Diaspora

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - Oct 27, 2005 - Last week Mr. Ralph E. Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, arrived in Ethiopia with a delegation, including four key individuals of the Rastafari faith Nyahbinghi House, with the intent of signing bilateral agreements for travel between the two countries without visas. During this time, Prime Minister Gonsalves held a fruitful meeting with Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and visited the pioneer community of Rastafari in Shashamane. On Friday, October 21st, in Addis Ababa, Mr. Gonsalves held an historic meeting with His Excellency Professor Alpha Oumar Konare, Chairman of the African Union, for the purpose of strengthening political, economic, social and cultural ties between the Caribbean and Africa.

Professor Konare expressed the various challenges which face the continent but remained confident that goals could be attained; especially with the support of the African Diaspora. He stated, "We shall be stronger when we are united." Prime Minister Gonsalves agreed with the Chairman stating, "I share the strategic perspective of the African Union." Chairman Konare also expressed the importance of exchange in the areas of education, culture and sports. Gonsalves supported the Chairman's sentiments and spoke of his own efforts to facilitate direct air links between the Caribbean and Africa, provide scholarships for Ethiopian students in St. Vincent, as well as strengthen economic opportunities between the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) and Africa.

Chairman Konare also recognized former Managing Director of the Bob Marley Foundation Dr. Desta Meghoo - Peddie who facilitated this meeting on behalf of the African Union's Diaspora Africa Forum as well as a committee of volunteer Rastafarians whose goal is to facilitate communication and support for the African Union as it relates to African development through repatriation. The Chairman referred to the great success of the 2005 Africa Unite celebration, which took place in Addis Ababa and was supported by the AU, as an example of cooperative African effort. Chairman Konare expressed the need for galvanizing events, such as African Liberation Day, to be celebrated around the world. Dr. Meghoo - Peddie responded to this timely call to action by stating that the, "The Chairman's sentiments are refreshing to us as we Rastafarians have celebrated May 25th for decades throughout the Diaspora. I am thankful and inspired by his passion for Africa and the African Union's commitment to African Diasporans. I am also thankful for Dr. Adisa's efforts to ensure this meeting of minds could take place." She further explained, "This was an opportunity that could not be missed and needed to be placed in the broader context of African Diasporan relations, hence the meeting was called. We are working for the day when all Africans at home and abroad can travel freely within and to Africa. The bilateral visa agreement is the first step for CARICOM and African nations towards that goal."

Dr. Jinmi Adisa is the head of the African Union's Economic, Social, and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC), also known as the people's parliament of the AU; which will ensure civil society involvement in helping to shape African policies. Dr. Adisa continues to express the African Union's "disposition to work closely with people of African descent and origin towards strengthening relations and linkages." ECOSOCC has recently agreed to provide 20 seats to various Diasporan organizations. Both Chairman Konare and Prime Minister Gonsalves closed the meeting with renewed commitment to enhanced engagements between CARICOM and the AU. In the spirit of such cooperative efforts, the Chairman and Prime Minister spoke of the contributions of great Pan-Africans such as Marcus Mosiah Garvey and Rastafari Bob Marley.

For information contact: rastafarialliance4solidarity@hotmail.com 

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia- October 25, 2005-The Prime Minister of St. Vincent, The Honourable Dr. Ralph E. Gonsalves, along with a delegation of four key individuals of the Rastafari faith Nyahbinghi House, arrived in Addis Ababa for discussion with the Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia, as well as, with the Rastafari community in Shashamane. Dr. Desta Y. Meghoo-Peddie, the Interim Director of the Africa Diaspora Forum, and member of a volunteer committee of Rastafarians to the African Union, provides the following report.

At the meetings between Prime Ministers, it was reaffirmed that the Africans in the Caribbean and Ethiopia have historical and spiritual ties. Bi-lateral agreements were signed on Thursday evening between Ethiopia and St. Vincent for travel between the countries without visas. In order to increase travel and build stronger ties, the Prime Minister Dr. Gonsalves spoke about discussions with other CARICOM nations and South American Heads of State to facilitate flights from the Caribbean and/or Brazil to Africa. The Prime Ministers made commitments to pursue cultural, economic and social exchanges between both countries. To ensure these exchanges were properly implemented, Prime Minister Gonsalves requested an honorary consular from St. Vincent to Ethiopia be appointed. To further strengthen this effort, Dr. Meghoo-Peddie has asked the Prime Minister of St. Vincent, the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the African Union to consider supporting a CARICOM office in Addis Ababa to ensure representation of Caribbean nations and to further strengthen the bonds between Africa and the Caribbean.

Considering the role of the Rastafari community in the promotion of Ethiopia and the agitation for such efforts as relaxed rules for travel to Africa, great joy was felt by the delegation and the Rastafari community in Shashamane when the announcement was made that the Prime Minister Meles Zenawi was presenting a bill to the Ethiopian Parliament which would give to individuals of the Rastafari faith the same status as Ethiopian citizens. During the delegation’s visit to the community of pioneer Rastafari in Shashamane, Ethiopia, the Prime Minister of St. Vincent reiterated his dedication to forward progress of the Rastafari community and his desire to facilitate repatriation efforts of the Rastafari community in the Caribbean.

As a speaker for CARICOM, Prime Minister Dr. Gonsalves has made a bold effort in linking the Diaspora with Africa. He agrees that the Rastafari community must “engage in the process and cannot have one foot in and the other foot out.” In reference to the Diaspora recently being recognized, in principle, as the sixth region of Africa, he also states that the Rastafari community has “played an important role historically and deserves to be at the table.” In view of this crucial development in inter-African relations, Dr. Gonsalves encourages Rastafarians and Pan-Africanist, in general, to “put aside our differences and come together on the issues we all can agree upon”; in this instance it is African development and repatriation.

Before the delegation’s departure from Ethiopia, Dr. Meghoo-Peddie presented them with a package of information on the foreign investment opportunities, process and regulations in Ethiopia as well as recent information on the African Union's commitment to the Diaspora. As this visit and respective Prime Ministers have set an example for other Caribbean and African nations for bilateral agreements, Dr. Meghoo-Peddie and Dr. Jinmi Adisa, Senior Coordinator for African Union's CSSDCA/CIDO, coordinated a historic meeting between the Prime Minister Gonsalves and Chairman of the African Union, H.E. Professor Alpha Oumar Konare.

For information contact: rastafarialliance4solidarity@hotmail.com 

The name Katrina means Pure.
 
The dictionary defines Pure as - "Free from adulterants or impurities; Free of dirt, defilement, or pollution; Containing nothing inappropriate or extraneous".  Basically, as it has been said previously...Katrina was a cleansing, a washing away for those cities and states that had been known for sin.
 
Then I started to do some math as I realized that Katrina hit almost 5 years to the date of 9/11. But to be a little more exact it had been 1,814 days since 9/11.  So I decided to go to the Word...I was lead to Revelations chapter 18, verse 14 (1814)
 
¹⁴"They will say, 'The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your riches and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered.' ¹⁵The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand far off, terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn (sounds to me like the merchants are those who supported the sin) ¹⁶and cry out:  "Woe! Woe, O great city, dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet, and glittering with gold (purple/gold? colors of Mardi Gras...hmmm...and don't you get beads), precious stones and pearls!  ¹⁷In one hour such great wealth has ! been brought to ruin!' (about the length of time that Katrina stayed over New Orleans )  "Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea, will stand far off. ¹⁸When they see the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim, 'Was there ever a city like this great city?'

From Ras Ravin I

360 DEGREES

The revolution of mankind has come around full circle; Rastafari in His Kingly character has arrived upon the face of creation once again.
When mankind first entered the creation, they came in naked and natural, as the birds and the bees, free of greed and hatred, they came as caretaker of the garden, and they were the ultimate gardeners.
They realized they were naked and tried to hide that realization by cutting their hair and shaving their faces and began to develop and wear clothes, to try and remove their association to all things natural.
After being deceived by their choices and they discovered that they had fallen from the grace of the most high, they began to live in their lie of dominion, creating for themselves the story of evolution, denying the creator Jah Rastafari, making laws to govern our father's creation, they began to terrorize the animals and the birds and the trees, and eat them of the earth, they got deeper and deeper into their greed and need for control.
Mankind in discovering their natural capability to learn, began their conquest to conquer and destroy all evidence of their divine connection to the Irator, their ability to discover allowed them develop new "technologies," with which they used to divide and rule the creation.
They have raped and plundered each other, and created all manner of idolization and beast worship, denying the truth and the right for the wrong and the lie. They have turned women into men and men into women, and developed weapons of mass destruction, man has committed genocide and taught lies and corruption to his children, and they have built their churches and universities from which they have graduated thieves, murderers and pedophiles.
Now the hour is at hand, when they shall be judged according to their works, and no one shall escape the judgment, not even the dogs that piss upon the walls of Babylon shall escape.
Massa day done, come rally round the throne of Jah Rastafari, Selassie I, cause H.I.M. art the owner of creation, the great paymaster, the first and the last, beginning without end - King Alpha and Queen Omega.
"And he hath on the vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of Kings and Lord of Lords." Rev. 19:16
"And I saw an angel proclaiming with a loud voice, who is worthy to open the book and loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much.... and one of the elders said unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David had prevailed to open the book and to loose the seals thereof." Rev. 5:2-5
You can run but you cannot hide from the Father of Creation.
Hail Jah Rastafari, Haile I Selassie I
King of Kings- Lord of Lords- Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah- Light of the World.

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Information briefing:
The Significance of the launch of the Economic Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOC) of the African Union for the African Diaspora in the UK

Date: Thursday 14 April 2005
Venue: Africa Centre, 38 King Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 8JT
Time: 3pm to 5pm

The Economic Social and Cultural Council of the African Union (ECOSOC), was launched on 29th March 2005, as a fully-fledged organ of the Union with responsibility for bringing the insights of African civil organisations to the decision making process of the Union.

It was established under the provision of Article 5 and 22 of the African Union Constitutive Act, to act as a vehicle for building a strong partnership between governments and all segments of African civil society and for achieving the goal of creating a people-centred African community. The launching if ECOSOC is viewed as an opportunity for African civil society to play an active role in charting the future of the continent, organising itself to contribute to the Union’s policies and programmes.

Its General Assembly comprises 150 seats, 130 for civil society organisations from inside Africa and 20 for African civil society organisations in the Diaspora. The members from the Diaspora will be nominated by the African Union, after the African Union’s Permanent Representative Committee has defined the Diaspora at a meeting expected to start on April 11th 2005.

This briefing will provide the background to the formation of ECOSOC, its role, rules and, the role of the Diaspora in its operations.

Chairperson: Dr. Tajudeen Abdul Raheem, Director of Justice Africa

Speakers:

Tor-Hugne Olsen - Co-ordinator, International Liaison Officer, Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum will focus on The Composition of ECOSOC, its’ statutes and draft rules, the task of the Interim ECOSOC General Assembly, its’ elected officials, and the resolutions of the first meeting of the Interim ECOSOC General Assembly.

Ms Kiiza Ngonzi, HIV/AIDS program Co-ordinator for Justice Africa will give an overview of the speeches given by the Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Alpha Oumar Konare, and the newly elected President of the Interim General Assembly of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the African Union (ECOSOCC).Professor Wangari Maathai, and discuss the role of civil society and ECOSOC within the AU’s structures.

Dr Adotey Bing, Director Africa Centre will discuss the opportunity and challenge presented by the formation of ECOSOC for the African Diaspora in general and in the UK in particular, and if possible indicate the decision of the PRC discussion on the definition of the Diaspora.