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Carving the Historic Western Face

The cowboy was an integral part of the old west. Much of life in those times revolved around him. Not only did he act as a cow nurse, herding, driving, and branding, but he also stacked hay, and built corrals and barns. He should be remembered too for his dedicated defense of the brand he rode for, even in the face of death. The Saturday night shindigs wouldn't have been the same without him either. Most cowboys couldn't dance a lick, but as long as that little gal was in his arms, who cared what the feet were doing! These cowboys were tough men. They were independent but when needed they were there. A rare breed! To carve these qualities into a face is indeed a challenge. Bob Lundy takes the carver through three projects, The Cowboy, The Indian, and The Mountain Man. With informative instructions (laced with a good deal of humor) and clear photographs he goes from the raw wood to a finished, realistic portrayal of these characters of the old west. A gallery of 16 other figures is included to give the reader other ideas. This book is written for both the beginner, who is looking for complete how-to information from start to finish, and for the veteran, who is interested only in a tip here and there to improve their work. Lundy approaches his work with an eye for the personality of the characters. He will instill that sensitivity to the reader, giving the carver a feeling of closeness and intimacy with the people who emerge from the wood.

Sudanese refugees from Blue Nile state cross into western Ethiopia through the Kurmuk border crossing.
UNHCR / P. Rulashe / September 2011

UNHCR opens camp in western Ethiopia for Blue Nile state refugees

ASSOSA, Ethiopia, October 7 (UNHCR) – The UN refugee agency has opened a camp in western Ethiopia to accommodate some of the thousands of refugees who have been crossing the border to escape conflict in Sudan's Blue Nile state in recent weeks.

A convoy of buses on Wednesday brought a first group of 395 Sudanese refugees from the border crossings at Kurmuk, Bamza and Almahal to Tongo Refugee Camp, which has been under construction for almost two weeks and has a capacity for 3,000 people.

"We have had to work really hard to get the basics of shelter, water and sanitation in place in a very short time," Richard Ewila, head of UNHCR's field office in the town of Assosa, said. "We are happy to open this new camp and receive the refugees," he added.

The refugee agency and the International Organization for Migration hope to eventually move around 400 Sudanese daily from the border to Tongo, where UNHCR, Ethiopia's Administration for Refugee and Returnee Affairs (ARRA) and its implementing partners are providing protection and assistance.

The first arrivals at Tongo were among some 27,000 civilians who have fled the fighting between Sudan government forces and rebels of the Sudan People's Liberation Army-North since early September.

The new camp, in Ethiopia's Benishangul Gumuz state, is located more than 200 kilometres from Kurmuk – the busiest border crossing – and about 400 kms from Bamza. For security reasons, UNHCR and Ethiopia's Administration for Refugee and Returnee Affairs (ARRA) are keen to avoid the establishment of spontaneous settlement at the border locations.

UNHCR has stepped up efforts to persuade refugees to relocate away from the border areas, where many stay among the local community in the hope of returning to their homes and checking on their property soon. "We left our village without taking most of our belongings," explained Suraya Abdurahman, a 35-year-old mother of seven who was on the convoy to Tongo.

To date, about 5,000 people have agreed to be registered as refugees by UNHCR at the Sherkole Refugee Camp, about 50 kilometres from the border.

But the continuing insecurity, including frequent air strikes on the Sudan side of the border at Kurmuk, has prompted many to start considering relocation.

Before the current Sudanese emergency began, Sherkole was home to some 4,000 Sudanese refugees who elected to stay in Ethiopia after the end of Sudan's civil war in 2005 and South Sudan's declaration of independence this year. But with the latest influx, Sherkole earlier this week reached its 8,000-person capacity.

"Obviously Sherkole won't be sufficient to accommodate more than 8,000, but the increased aerial and ground attacks in Kurmuk and other areas in Blue Nile state were warning enough to move quickly on preparing Tongo for occupation," Ewila explained.

At the beginning of the influx, the new arrivals were mainly women, children and the elderly – generally in good health. Men were staying behind to look after properties. Recently, however, UNHCR staff at the border have seen larger numbers of men arriving, and more conflict injuries.

Refugees are also bringing their livestock and carrying belongings, such as grain mills or furniture, to help them make a living in Ethiopia. As development of the site continues, 80 of the 380 available family sized tents have been pitched. Up to 40,000 litres of water per day is ready for use while additional water sources are being sought.

UNHCR is also purchasing a month's supply of firewood to be distributed by ARRA for cooking and heating. Meanwhile immunization in Kurmuk for 438 children, including 28 Ethiopian locals, was completed at the end of last week. Immunizing of children will continue at Tongo.

"We still have other structures to put up and we will ensure the health and well-being of the refugees, but I am now relieved that, since Sherkole refugee camp has reached its capacity, we now have Tongo ready to accommodate refugees," UNHCR's Ewila said.

By Pumla Rulashe in Assosa, Ethiopia

Dense North Tehran urban sprawl in the shadow of the mountains on which Zoroaster, founder of monotheism, once lived. Tehran (IPA: [t?eh???n]; Persian: ????? Tehran) is the capital and largest city of Iran (khersia), and the administrative center of Tehran Province.

Most Iranian industries are headquartered in Tehran. The industries include the manufacturing of automobiles, electronics and electrical equipment, military weaponry, textiles, sugar, cement, and chemical products. It is also a leading center for the sale of carpets and furniture. There is also an oil refinery located in south of the city.[3]

Tehran is a sprawling city at the foot of the Alborz mountain range with an immense network of highways unparalleled in Western Asia. It is also the hub of the country's railway network. Although a relatively new city that does not evoke the history of other Iranian cities such as Isfahan, Shiraz, or Tabriz, Tehran has numerous large museums, art centers, palace complexes and cultural centers.

In the 20th century, Tehran faced a large migration of people from all around Iran. Today, the city contains a mix of various ethnic and religious minorities, and is filled with many historic mosques, churches, synagogues and Zoroastrian fire temples.

The Backsaver Easy-Haul Apron is a simple but highly effective aid for transporting firewood. This innovative apron is better for your body, and better for getting the task done. The Backsaver is engineered to be ergonomic. This means the weight of the load is centered on your body and distributed between your arms and shoulders. Centering and weight-distribution are ergonomic methods that have been applied for thousands of years. The benefits of the Backsaver's ergonomic design include: * Walking - never again struggle with carrying firewood with your bare hands or carrying a basket one-handed. Walk with ease, with the weight supported equally by your shoulders. * Loading - grab firewood from the pile with one hand while holding your Backsaver with your other hand. * Avoid problems with doors - maintain your balance and a free hand for turning doorknobs. * Stay clean - conveniently functions as an apron, protecting your clothes from dirty firewood. Backsavers are constructed from super-durable black Army Duck Nylon- the same tough-weave fabric used for Condar's TuffDuck bags and wood sling. Double-stitched straps and trim, available in either khaki, silver or forest green. Weatherproof, washable, won't rot or mildew. Rolls tight for easy storage. Made in the USA.