Support a free press in Ethiopia

Abel Wabella is a good man. He wanted to be an engineer. He wanted a normal, happy life.

But he also wanted to talk about the things around him. He wanted to talk about what was affecting his family and friends. He wanted a nation that didn't split itself down ethnic lines, but rather saw itself as a united front against poverty and inequity. So he blogged about it. Nothing special, no different than anyone.

The dictatorship disagreed. For his efforts, he was imprisoned. Tortured. Labeled a terrorist. For nearly two years he rotted in a cell for saying nothing more than the truth he saw in the world.

Today, Abel is free again. In spite of everything, he is more dedicated than he's ever been. He is only getting started.

But he needs your help.

Abel didn't leave prison with money. He left a terrorist. He is blacklisted from any of the jobs his education allows him to do, and the government has little to no interest in supporting his fledgling journalism. Without funds, he will surely fail. With just a tiny bit of capital, he has the opportunity to succeed. To grow. To make the world a better place.

His organization exists because of his will, and his will alone. But it can thrive. It can make a difference. I hope you'll consider helping to make that difference a reality.

Thank you all! You're definitely one of the cool ones.

Evan, Kata (and Abel)

P.S. GoFundMe requires that even though I made an entire episode on this, I have to say who I am and all that. So I am Evan Hadfield, I make the show Rare Earth that these donations are attached to. I'm in contact with Abel through the interview he graciously gave us, and the funds will be spent on his journalistic endeavour, Gobena Street. I'm going to send the funds to him along with the money collected from our Patrons through bank transfer once the campaign is over.