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A student examines the origins of bias and ways to break the cycle
At Bingham Academy, our diverse community includes students from a variety of backgrounds, nationalities, and cultures. Occasionally, I hear a younger student ask, “Why does my friend look different from me?”
It’s an innocent question, but the response can significantly influence that child’s attitudes for years to come.
In Ethiopia, racism, as understood in the Western historical context, may not seem like a pressing national issue. Our history differs from that of countries such as the United States or South Africa. However, prejudice still exists here, often manifesting as ethnic bias, religious intolerance, or stereotypes about someone’s origins. Like racism elsewhere, these divisions can be inherited from one generation to the next if left unaddressed.
In today’s interconnected world, where information spreads rapidly through social media, understanding how bias develops is essential, even when the examples originate from other countries.
When Bias Begins
Research indicates that infants as young as six months can recognize differences in appearance. By the age of three, children often show a preference for playing with those who resemble them. While these early inclinations may seem harmless, if left unchallenged, they can evolve into enduring prejudice—whether related to race, ethnicity, or other differences.
Studies also demonstrate that children learn by observation. In experiments involving preschoolers, when an adult consistently treated one individual positively and another negatively, the children reflected those attitudes without any direct instruction. This implies that bias can be communicated through example rather than words.
The Problem with Silence
Many adults refrain from discussing differences to “keep the peace.” However, research indicates that avoiding these conversations can exacerbate the situation. Children are aware of differences, and if no one provides an explanation, they may come to view those differences as negative or shameful.
In Ethiopia, the same principle applies to ethnicity and religion. Silence can inadvertently reinforce stereotypes rather than prevent them.
Nature vs. Nurture
Some scientists suggest that humans have an inherent tendency to prefer what is familiar. In the animal kingdom, this instinct serves as a survival mechanism, protecting against outsiders who may pose new threats.
A well-known experiment at the University of Chicago tested this concept using rats. Initially, albino rats only assisted their own kind in distress, ignoring rats of different strains. However, after living together for a period, they began to help each other, regardless of their differences.
The takeaway? While initial bias may be instinctive, familiarity and interaction can transform suspicion into empathy.
The Four Levels of Bias
Although Ethiopia’s divisions may not always be about “race,” the same framework applies:
Bias is not merely an individual issue; it can be ingrained in the fabric of society.
Why This Matters for Ethiopia
In Ethiopia, prejudice may revolve around ethnicity, language, religion, or differences between rural and urban backgrounds. It can influence who we trust, who we hire, and who we include in our communities.
As Ethiopia becomes increasingly connected to the world through migration, education, and online platforms, these differences will be more challenging to overlook. Understanding how bias develops allows us to respond with empathy rather than fear.
Breaking the Cycle
Research and experience highlight three effective strategies for reducing bias:
In Dr. Walter Gilliam’s Yale study, teachers who frequently interacted with children from various backgrounds and openly discussed bias exhibited less discriminatory behavior. This principle holds true in families, workplaces, and communities: familiarity fosters understanding.
The Takeaway
While we may instinctively gravitate towards the familiar, prejudice is not a foregone conclusion. Environments that promote interaction, empathy, and open dialogue can diminish bias, while isolation and silence tend to amplify it.
In a country as diverse as Ethiopia, the choice is ours: we can allow our differences to divide us, or we can leverage them to create a stronger, more interconnected future.
Noel Thomas is a student Bingham Academy in Addis Ababa
2025 marks the 80th anniversaries of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. It also commemorates the 80th anniversaries of Taiwan’s recovery and the founding of the United Nations.
Learning from history
The World Anti-Fascist War was the largest and most devastating conflict in human history. Its flames engulfed Asia, Europe, Africa, and Oceania. Over 80 countries and regions—home to approximately two billion people—were drawn into the war, which resulted in economic losses exceeding 4 trillion U.S. dollars.
Commemoration is an act of remembrance. Eighty years ago, China was the main battlefield in the East during the war. It was the first to resist fascist aggression, endured the longest, and paid the highest price. In the face of the brutal Japanese invasion and an unprecedented national crisis, the Communist Party of China played a central role in uniting the nation and leading a massive resistance movement.
From the “September 18 Incident” in 1931—widely considered as the first shot of the global anti-fascist war—until Japan’s surrender in 1945, the Chinese people had fought with great courage and sacrifice for 14 years. More than 35 million Chinese civilians and soldiers were killed or injured, including over 3.83 million military personnel. Officially recorded property damage and war-related expenditures exceeded 100 billion U.S. dollars, and indirect economic losses reached 500 billion U.S. dollars.
Through immense national sacrifice, China upheld the eastern front of the World Anti-Fascist War, making a decisive contribution to the Allied Powers’ victory. This crushed Japan’s colonial ambitions and defended the heritage of 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, safeguarded the Chinese homeland, and restored China’s rightful status in the world. China earned the respect of peace-loving countries and peoples around the globe by doing so.
At the same time, the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War laid the foundation for a new international order centered around the United Nations Charter.
War is a mirror that helps us better understand the value of peace. As President Xi Jinping said, “Prejudice, discrimination, hatred, and war only bring disaster and suffering. Mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, peaceful development, and common prosperity are the right path forward.”
Commemoration is also a solemn reminder of the cost of war and the value of peace. The painful lessons of World War II must never be forgotten. History should move forward, not backward; and the world should be united, not divided. All people who love peace around the world must remember the history written in blood and sacrifice. They must resolutely safeguard the outcomes of World War II, uphold true multilateralism, and work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind.
Amid growing global uncertainty and instability, China’s solemn commemoration highlights its unwavering dedication to protecting the victory of World War II, promoting global fairness and justice, and building a community with a shared future for mankind. It also sends a clear message to the international community that, in times of turmoil, drawing on the wisdom of history is essential to summoning the strength and clarity needed to oppose all forms of hegemony and power politics.
The commemoration emblem features symbolic elements of the Great Wall and olive branches. The Great Wall represents the Chinese people’s unity and courage in the face of adversity, highlighting the pivotal role of national spirit in achieving victory over Japanese aggression. The olive branches symbolize that the Chinese people won the peace through an arduous war of resistance, and they unite with people of all other countries to cherish and safeguard peace.
As China remembers the past, it looks to the future. By standing with all peace-loving nations and peoples, China will continue to be a guardian of historical memory, a partner in national development and rejuvenation, and a champion of global fairness and justice. Together, they will strive for a better future for all humanity.
Reunification of China
Looking back on history, Taiwan’s return to China is an integral part of the victory of World War II and the post-war international order. The 80th anniversary will honor the heroic deeds of those who fought for China’s victory, recall the joint resistance of compatriots across the Taiwan Strait against foreign aggression, and reaffirm a clear stance against “Taiwan independence” and external interference. It will also rally collective efforts toward national reunification and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
In ancient times, Taiwan was connected to the mainland. Because of the rising sea level and geological changes, the connected land was submerged, forming the Taiwan Straits and Taiwan Island. The Taiwan Straits runs from the East China Sea in the north to the South China Sea in the south. It is more than 1,300 kilometers long, 200 kilometers at its widest point and 130 kilometers at its narrowest point. Taiwan Island is China’s largest island, located on the continental shelf of its southeast coast. Across the Taiwan Straits to the west lies East China’s Fujian province.
Originating from the ancient Yue people, Taiwan’s indigenous people directly or indirectly migrated from China’s mainland. Taiwan’s written history dates back to 230 AD. During the Three Kingdoms Period, Sun Quan, emperor of Kingdom Wu, sent over 10,000 soldiers and officers to Taiwan (then called Yizhou), and Shen Ying, from Wu, left the earliest description of Taiwan in his Seaboard Geographic Gazetteer. The government of the Sui Dynasty (581-618) dispatched troops three times to Taiwan (then called Liuqiu).
From the middle of the 12th century to the 19th, the Chinese central government exercised effective jurisdiction over Taiwan.
In 1894, Japan launched the First Sino-Japanese War, and in April of the next year, it forced the defeated Qing government to sign the unequal Treaty of Shimonoseki and to cede Taiwan and the Penghu islands to Japan. Once the information was released, large-scale patriotic activities against ceding Taiwan were held nationwide. Troops and residents in Taiwan showed firm determination and awe-inspiring righteousness to safeguard their homeland. They fought against Japan for more than five months with great courage, forcing Japanese invaders to pay a heavy price for occupying Taiwan.
On Dec 1, 1943, the governments of the United States, the United Kingdom and the Republic of China (1912-1949) issued the Cairo Declaration, stipulating, “It is their purpose that … and that all the territories Japan has stolen from the Chinese, such as Manchuria, Formosa, and the Pescadores, shall be restored to the Republic of China.” On July 26, 1945, the three countries signed the Potsdam Declaration (later joined by the former Soviet Union), reiterating, “The terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out and Japanese sovereignty shall be limited to the islands of Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, Shikoku and such minor islands as we determine.”
On Aug 15, 1945, Japan announced its acceptance of the Potsdam Proclamation and unconditionally surrendered, marking the final victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. On Oct 25, 1945, the surrender acceptance ceremony for the province of Taiwan in the China theater of the Allies was held in Taipei. At the ceremony, the representative of China accepting the surrender announced on behalf of the Chinese government that Taiwan and the Penghu Islands were officially again incorporated into the territory of China, and all land, people and administration were put under Chinese sovereignty from that day. With great joy, Taiwan compatriots celebrated its return to the motherland.
On Oct 1, 1949, the People’s Republic of China was founded. At the end of the same year, the Kuomintang retreated to Taiwan after being defeated. As the Chinese People’s Liberation Army was preparing to liberate Taiwan, the Korean War (1950-1953) broke out on June 25, 1950. Exploiting the situation, the US sent troops into the Taiwan Straits to prevent the PLA from liberating Taiwan, and supported the Kuomintang. This is how the Taiwan question came into being.
China must be reunified, and will surely be reunified. We Chinese on both sides of the Straits, all of us Chinese at home and abroad, should jointly uphold the national interest, follow the historical trends, and work together for the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations and China’s peaceful reunification.
JUN WU is Executive Chairman of CCPPNRE
One foggy winter morning in August, my colleagues and I visited flower farms on the hillsides of Menagesha and the Welisso cluster in Ethiopia. During our visit, we heard the sound of hooves behind us. A rural woman, working at the flower company, emerged from the greenhouse riding a donkey that carried a bundle of flowers. “I must be a monkey’s uncle; can this stubborn donkey do that?” one of my colleagues exclaimed. The woman, with a hint of skepticism, responded in a way that seemed somewhat disrespectful. My friend was taken aback and asked, “Why did she make that comment? What mistake did I make?”
In truth, he hadn’t made a mistake. Such disrespect often stems from deep-seated beliefs that challenge traditional roles of rural women in that community. Without donkeys, women working in the flower industry would face significant challenges. Donkeys are not just beasts of burden; they symbolize a partnership that enhances the livelihoods of rural women and empowers them within their communities. In this rugged mountainous area, donkeys are not viewed as obstinate or useless. Misconceptions about their capabilities are often shaped by everyday language. When people compare others to donkeys, it can come off as an insult to their intelligence. The woman riding the donkey does not want her animal companion to be seen as worthless or inflexible.
Using donkeys for transport in Ethiopia’s commercial flower farms is a relatively new approach, especially in regions where greenhouses and packing houses are not optimally integrated. This lack of connection has led to logistical challenges, including workflow inefficiencies, delivery delays, and potential losses in product quality. Therefore, employing donkeys to bridge the logistics gap between greenhouses and packing houses is viewed as an innovative and sustainable solution, particularly in areas where manual trolleys are less feasible.
In highland flower-producing areas of Ethiopia, transporting flowers from greenhouses to packing houses typically involves manual labor, wheelbarrows, and carts, especially in clusters with limited infrastructure. These wheelbarrows and carts usually have one or two wheels, consisting of an upright frame, a base plate, and handles, allowing users to tilt them back and roll them along the ground. They often feature solid rubber wheels and a vertical frame with handles at the top. Farm workers find it easier to handle flowers with hand carts, reducing the likelihood of muscle strain. It is also common for manual laborers to carry plastic buckets filled with flower stems on their shoulders to transport flowers from the greenhouse to the packing houses.
Gezachew, the duty general manager of Gallica and owner of six donkeys, considers these animals to be the most valuable assets on his farm. He points out that donkeys can perform logistical tasks at a rate eight times that of manual labor. For instance, while a farm laborer can carry about 60 rose stems per trip, a donkey is capable of transporting approximately 480 stems in a single trip from the greenhouse to the packing house. Currently, manual laborers work over eight hours to meet the company’s daily shipment targets, whereas donkeys can work for about 16 hours. This illustrates the physical capability and endurance of donkeys as essential partners in the company’s operations. Although the cost of an average-sized donkey ranges from $82 to $85—equivalent to two months’ salary for a field laborer—it is a worthwhile investment.
Degu, the farm manager at Assela Flower, said, “Our donkeys symbolize flexibility and determination, enabling farms to adapt and thrive amidst logistical challenges during the rainy season. These remarkable animals are known for their resilience, carrying heavy loads with quiet determination that often goes unnoticed. Despite their humble appearance, donkeys possess a unique strength that is both sturdy and reliable, making them invaluable companions in challenging environments.”
While wheelbarrows and manual carts play a significant role in transportation on even terrain, they have several shortcomings, such as instability, difficulty navigating uneven surfaces, and limited load capacity. The single wheel can easily get caught or stuck, complicating the movement of loads. Overall, these options are less suited for rough roads and long distances compared to donkey transport. Additionally, the initial costs of equipment and ongoing maintenance can be quite high.
Recently, there has been a noticeable trend of companies rediscovering and adopting older transportation technologies. This shift is not merely a sense of nostalgia; it reflects a conscious choice to embrace simpler, cheaper, and sometimes more environmentally friendly technologies compared to modern, complex equipment. Essentially, this trend represents a selective re-embracing of certain older technologies for their unique qualities and the valuable experiences they offer.
In the rugged terrain of Menagesaha, Holeta, and the Wilisso Horti Cluster of Ethiopia, flower farms are gradually replacing human labor and hand trucks with donkey transport for moving flowers. Farm workers who previously transported flowers from the greenhouse to the packing house using manual hand carts in this challenging terrain found it required significantly more energy than moving on flat ground. This increased energy expenditure leads to faster fatigue and decreased productivity, making it harder to maintain a high pace of work. The slopes and loose soil complicate quick movement and balance, forcing workers with hand carts to move more cautiously, further reducing the overall speed of transportation.
Most roads in the rugged topography of the Ethiopian highlands are dry weather roads, which become inconvenient for human and manual hand cart transportation during the wet season, hindering smooth operations. The wet season, particularly from June to September, significantly impacts field transport due to heavy rainfall and muddy road conditions, leading to challenges and potential delays in logistics. Even flat roads become muddy and slippery during this period, making it very difficult for hand carts and vehicles to transport flowers from greenhouses to packing houses. As a result, flower-producing and exporting companies in the highland cluster prefer using donkeys for transportation over human and manual hand carts.
Donkeys alleviate the workload for flower companies by reducing the physical strain on laborers who carry heavy loads and perform repetitive tasks.
Recently, flower companies in the rugged topography of Ethiopia have initiated efforts to provide shelter, veterinary services, and proper feeding for donkeys. Gallica Flower has already allocated about 2 to 3 acres, sufficient to accommodate a significant number of donkeys.
In summary, donkeys represent a cost-effective alternative to labor in remote areas, particularly for farms with limited technology and resources. Their ability to navigate uneven terrain makes them ideal for various agricultural tasks. In rugged landscapes, donkeys are valued by businesses as essential transport for flower farms, even in an era dominated by hand carts and motorbikes.
However, as marginalized groups require representation, donkeys also need organizations that advocate for their welfare and raise awareness about their needs, promoting better treatment and care. Flower companies that utilize donkeys for labor have an ethical obligation to ensure their well-being, which includes providing adequate care, proper living conditions, and humane treatment. Ensuring the health and well-being of donkeys can lead to more sustainable and productive outcomes for businesses. Healthy animals are more efficient workers, ultimately benefiting both the animals and the companies that rely on them.
Mekonnen Solomon works at the Ministry of Agriculture in the horticulture sector and can be reached at ehdaplan@gmail.com.
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