Yr Afon: Aled ac Afon Nil

Line	From	To
-888	0:00:00	0:00:00
-888 - -888	0:00:00	0:00:02
-The Nile flows through -the landscape and lives...	0:00:09	0:00:14
-..of one of the world's -most important countries.	0:00:14	0:00:18
-Aristotle and Cleopatra, -Joseph and Moses...	0:00:18	0:00:20
-..Arabian princes -and Egyptian Pharaohs...	0:00:21	0:00:23
-..have all drunk from these waters.	0:00:23	0:00:26
-Egyptians have lived with -the belief that the river is theirs.	0:00:37	0:00:41
-In some ways, they are right.	0:00:42	0:00:44
-But it's all about to change.	0:00:44	0:00:46
-Ethiopia, -a country further up the river...	0:00:53	0:00:57
-..is building a dam -which could stop the water...	0:00:57	0:01:00
-..reaching Egypt.	0:01:01	0:01:03
-Both sides have threatened war.	0:01:03	0:01:06
-With water now a more potent weapon -than the bomb...	0:01:06	0:01:10
-..I'm travelling -to the river's source...	0:01:11	0:01:15
-..to learn about the dangers -which lurk in the Nile.	0:01:15	0:01:18
-The Nile flows from central Africa -in two primary channels...	0:01:33	0:01:37
-..the White Nile which flows -from the great lakes region...	0:01:38	0:01:41
-..and the Blue Nile which flows -from the Ethiopian highlands...	0:01:41	0:01:46
-..and nourishes land in Egypt.	0:01:46	0:01:48
-I think that it's fair to say...	0:01:55	0:01:57
-..that the Nile has -had its fair share of attention.	0:01:57	0:02:01
-From Moses to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer...	0:02:01	0:02:04
-..it's easy to see why.	0:02:04	0:02:06
-It flows elegantly and silently all -the way down to the Mediterranean.	0:02:06	0:02:11
-It's hard not to romanticize -about it.	0:02:11	0:02:14
-But this is the reality.	0:02:14	0:02:16
-Cairo, in some ways -the Nile's capital city...	0:02:16	0:02:19
-..and an important metropolis...	0:02:19	0:02:21
-..is developing faster than almost -any other city in the world.	0:02:22	0:02:26
-The only source of water available -to Cairo and the rest of Egypt...	0:02:28	0:02:32
-..is the Nile.	0:02:32	0:02:34
-Cairo is a bustling city -and the Nile is its lifeblood.	0:02:48	0:02:53
-Over the past 50 years...	0:03:00	0:03:02
-..the city has doubled in size.	0:03:03	0:03:05
-Today, more than 17 million people -live here...	0:03:05	0:03:09
-..almost as much as the entire -population of Australia.	0:03:09	0:03:13
-There's not enough room -for everyone.	0:03:23	0:03:26
-Some have been driven off the land -and onto the river.	0:03:26	0:03:31
-Abdullah and his young family -live on a wooden boat.	0:03:38	0:03:42
-They live in a community -on the Nile...	0:03:42	0:03:46
-..right in the middle of Cairo.	0:03:46	0:03:48
-Of course, life is difficult, -especially when it's cold.	0:03:53	0:03:57
-Some people live comfortably...	0:03:57	0:03:59
-..and other people, like us, -struggle through life.	0:04:00	0:04:03
-We don't expect much in life.	0:04:03	0:04:05
-Some people are born rich -while others are poor. That's life.	0:04:05	0:04:10
-Abdullah told me that they -live here throughout the year.	0:04:14	0:04:20
-The river provides -for their every need.	0:04:20	0:04:23
-They drink the water and wash -their clothes and family in it.	0:04:23	0:04:27
-I was raised on a boat by my father.	0:04:28	0:04:31
-I worked with him every day -until he died.	0:04:31	0:04:35
-Then I got married.	0:04:35	0:04:37
-My wife comes from El Menoufia.	0:04:37	0:04:40
-She told me that if we wanted -to live together...	0:04:40	0:04:43
-..we had to live together -on the boat.	0:04:43	0:04:46
-They scrape a living by fishing -for as little as 5 a day.	0:04:52	0:04:57
-Thinking about renting a flat -or a house is beyond their reach.	0:04:57	0:05:01
-Despite these difficult -circumstances...	0:05:11	0:05:14
-..Abdullah is more than happy -with his life on the river.	0:05:14	0:05:18
-Before my mother died, she told me -about my birth on the boat.	0:05:24	0:05:28
-I'm like a fish.	0:05:33	0:05:35
-If I was taken from this river, -I would die.	0:05:35	0:05:39
-I love the Nile.	0:05:39	0:05:42
-This passion for the river -is very common among Egyptians...	0:05:47	0:05:51
-..and has been -since the age of the Pharaohs.	0:05:52	0:05:55
-The impression many people have -is of the Pyramids...	0:06:06	0:06:10
-..standing independently -in a quiet spot in the desert.	0:06:11	0:06:14
-In reality, they are in Giza, -on the outskirts of Cairo...	0:06:15	0:06:18
-..about an hour's journey -from the Nile...	0:06:19	0:06:21
-..and far from the idyllic picture -I had in my mind.	0:06:21	0:06:24
-The fact that the illusion -has been shattered...	0:06:27	0:06:30
-..doesn't make the experience -any less memorable.	0:06:31	0:06:35
-The height of sophistication.	0:06:41	0:06:43
-At a time when the Welsh -were baring their backsides...	0:06:43	0:06:47
-..and shouting 'ugh' -with a Welsh accent...	0:06:47	0:06:50
-..the Egyptians built these -perfect geometric masterpieces.	0:06:50	0:06:55
-Why did they build them -so far from the river?	0:06:55	0:06:59
-Today, the Nile is an hour away -in that direction.	0:07:00	0:07:03
-That hasn't always been the case.	0:07:03	0:07:06
-Had I been standing here -2,600 years ago...	0:07:06	0:07:09
-..when the Pyramids were built, -my feet would be wet.	0:07:09	0:07:12
-At that time, -the Nile flowed past the Pyramids.	0:07:18	0:07:23
-During the summer months, the river -would regularly burst its banks.	0:07:23	0:07:27
-It allowed Egyptians -to transport huge blocks...	0:07:28	0:07:31
-..in order to build the Pyramids.	0:07:32	0:07:34
-They had no idea -how the river reached here...	0:07:42	0:07:45
-..during the hot summer months...	0:07:45	0:07:47
-..and they had little interest -in finding out.	0:07:47	0:07:49
-They just thanked the gods -for their generosity.	0:07:50	0:07:54
-Even today, the huge memorials -built for the gods...	0:07:55	0:07:59
-..are a constant reminder -of what is still regarded...	0:07:59	0:08:03
-..the old Egyptian right -to control the river's flow.	0:08:03	0:08:07
-But old rights -belong to a bygone era.	0:08:18	0:08:21
-Shabramant is a little village -on the outskirts of Giza...	0:08:26	0:08:29
-..and on the edge of the desert.	0:08:30	0:08:32
-Compared to the boat family -in Cairo...	0:08:39	0:08:42
-..these people -live comfortable lives.	0:08:42	0:08:45
-However, one thing is missing.	0:08:45	0:08:48
-Clean, fresh water.	0:08:48	0:08:51
-Samir Mohamed -is trying to solve this problem.	0:08:53	0:08:57
-Tap water is no good -for drinking and cooking.	0:09:01	0:09:04
-It's OK for cleaning -but this water is good.	0:09:05	0:09:08
-Villagers can drink and cook -with it.	0:09:08	0:09:12
-It's not a problem with supply.	0:09:15	0:09:18
-Each house has enough water -but the water is dirty.	0:09:18	0:09:22
-Samir sells water to local people.	0:09:22	0:09:24
-In some ways, he's like a milkman.	0:09:25	0:09:27
-Not that his water is as fresh -as a mountain stream...	0:09:27	0:09:31
-..but it's purer than tap water.	0:09:31	0:09:33
-Samir has grabbed his opportunity.	0:09:37	0:09:39
-He used to sell saffron -in a local market.	0:09:39	0:09:42
-He now makes far more money -on his water round.	0:09:43	0:09:47
-I've been doing this -for the past eight years.	0:09:51	0:09:54
-The more I work, -the more customers I get.	0:09:54	0:09:57
-Everyone here, -the villagers and the cafes...	0:09:57	0:10:01
-..buy water from me.	0:10:01	0:10:03
-There wouldn't have been a need for -Samir and his hosepipe 50 years ago.	0:10:09	0:10:14
-But population growth has placed -huge pressure on the water supply.	0:10:15	0:10:20
-Especially for places like this...	0:10:22	0:10:24
-..far from the river -and the city's resources.	0:10:24	0:10:28
-Business is good for Samir.	0:10:31	0:10:33
-People are throwing their money -at him - quite literally.	0:10:33	0:10:37
-There are 800 water men in Cairo.	0:10:38	0:10:41
-They fill their tanks -from wells in the city centre.	0:10:41	0:10:45
-With the population rising, -they work long hours for good money.	0:10:45	0:10:51
-Samir is thinking about buying -a second cart and horse...	0:10:51	0:10:55
-..and even a small lorry.	0:10:56	0:10:58
-Having met some of the people...	0:11:05	0:11:08
-..and started to understand -some of the problems in Egypt...	0:11:08	0:11:12
-..it was easy to sympathize -with their need for more water.	0:11:12	0:11:15
-But they're not the only people -who want more control over the Nile.	0:11:16	0:11:19
-Egyptians are concerned -about dam building in Ethiopia.	0:11:20	0:11:24
-It could affect the amount of water -that reaches Egypt.	0:11:24	0:11:29
-Hostilities have been threatened -by both sides.	0:11:29	0:11:32
-As I leave Cairo and Giza...	0:11:38	0:11:40
-..and head for the Nile's -fertile valley in central Egypt...	0:11:40	0:11:44
-..I was worried that this would turn -out to be an impossible situation.	0:11:45	0:11:50
-And a war over life's most -crucial necessity was inevitable.	0:11:53	0:11:57
-.	0:11:59	0:12:00
-888	0:12:05	0:12:05
-888 - -888	0:12:05	0:12:07
-As I travel through northern Egypt, -on the way to the Nile's source...	0:12:17	0:12:22
-..what strikes me is the power -and presence of the river in Egypt.	0:12:22	0:12:26
-From the hustle and bustle -of Cairo...	0:12:41	0:12:43
-..our journey follows the Nile -through barren plains...	0:12:43	0:12:47
-..before reaching the fertile lands -of the Nile Valley...	0:12:47	0:12:50
-..where the river is once again -central to people's lives.	0:12:51	0:12:55
-Well, at least I can say -I've been on the Nile.	0:13:14	0:13:18
-I almost ended up in it just then.	0:13:18	0:13:21
-It's a privilege to be -with these people.	0:13:23	0:13:25
-They live along the riverbank.	0:13:26	0:13:29
-It's a simple, -rather rickety boat...	0:13:29	0:13:33
-..rather than a cruise ship.	0:13:34	0:13:37
-This is perfect.	0:13:38	0:13:40
-The perfect experience.	0:13:40	0:13:42
-Hamam and Mohamed -are father and son.	0:13:50	0:13:53
-They farm a small strip of land -on the riverbank.	0:13:53	0:13:56
-Mohamed is worried that he'll be -the last farmer's son in the family.	0:13:56	0:14:01
-Since the days of the Pharaohs...	0:14:05	0:14:08
-..Mohamed's forefathers have played -an important part in Egyptian life.	0:14:08	0:14:13
-Their way of life -has hardly changed since.	0:14:13	0:14:16
-They use the same implements -and water channels...	0:14:17	0:14:21
-..that existed -during King Tutankhamen's day.	0:14:21	0:14:24
-It's a tradition -that's quickly dying out.	0:14:24	0:14:27
-The Egyptians have been one -of the most successful nations...	0:14:34	0:14:38
-..in the history of the world.	0:14:38	0:14:40
-The work of the farmers -is partly responsible for this.	0:14:40	0:14:44
-Their greatest asset -is this fertile land.	0:14:44	0:14:47
-It's the most fertile land -in the world.	0:14:47	0:14:50
-When other ancient nations -died of starvation and drought...	0:14:56	0:15:01
-..Egypt would witness a flood every -year which irrigated the land...	0:15:02	0:15:07
-..and nourished the fields.	0:15:07	0:15:09
-The flood allowed the Pharaohs -to transport stone blocks...	0:15:13	0:15:18
-..to the middle of the desert -to build the Pyramids.	0:15:18	0:15:22
-Once the river's water -had drained into the land...	0:15:22	0:15:27
-..it created a layer -of fresh, fertile soil.	0:15:27	0:15:31
-This soil produced enough food -to feed an entire nation.	0:15:31	0:15:35
-The Nile is so important -to the farmers and the land.	0:15:44	0:15:48
-In the olden days, the Nile -would flood for three months.	0:15:48	0:15:52
-When the water drained away, -it was easier to work the land.	0:15:52	0:15:57
-For Mohamed, the old traditions -are being destroyed.	0:16:06	0:16:10
-Large dams have been built -upstream to provide electricity...	0:16:13	0:16:18
-..but they also control -the river's flow.	0:16:18	0:16:21
-They have destroyed the natural -process which regenerated the land.	0:16:21	0:16:25
-The lives and livelihoods -of farmers have changed as a result.	0:16:28	0:16:33
-These days, -harvests are relatively poor.	0:16:33	0:16:37
-Mohamed may well have sown -his final seeds.	0:16:37	0:16:40
-We used to farm without chemicals -but that's changed now.	0:16:43	0:16:48
-We have to use chemicals -to ensure a good harvest.	0:16:48	0:16:51
-They're very expensive.	0:16:52	0:16:54
-The dams have reduced -floodwater levels...	0:17:02	0:17:05
-..and soil quality -deteriorates every year.	0:17:05	0:17:08
-Agriculture in Egypt is on the wane.	0:17:09	0:17:11
-The family has to consider leaving -the land to live in a simple home.	0:17:14	0:17:19
-While we were sitting together -in the fields...	0:17:22	0:17:25
-..it was no surprise to hear that -their future didn't include farming.	0:17:26	0:17:31
-Mohamed wants to open a shop...	0:17:31	0:17:34
-..but his father is worried -about rent payments.	0:17:34	0:17:37
-Whatever happens, -their lives will surely change.	0:17:42	0:17:45
-What's responsible -for all this change?	0:17:46	0:17:49
-I was one of a bus full of people -on our way to see a masterpiece...	0:17:51	0:17:57
-..that took ten years to complete.	0:17:57	0:18:00
-It consists of as much -building material as 17 Pyramids.	0:18:00	0:18:05
-The gigantic Aswan Dam.	0:18:13	0:18:15
-The dam was opened in 1970.	0:18:19	0:18:21
-It was hailed at the time -as Egypt's saviour.	0:18:22	0:18:25
-It now generates 90% -of the country's electricity.	0:18:26	0:18:29
-But this has nothing to do with the -true reason for its construction.	0:18:29	0:18:34
-Egypt is one of -the driest countries in the world.	0:18:35	0:18:39
-This is the Aswan Dam.	0:18:43	0:18:45
-Lake Nasser is behind it.	0:18:45	0:18:48
-This dam has fulfilled -all of Egypt's requirements.	0:18:48	0:18:53
-It generates electricity -and it controls the river's flow.	0:18:53	0:18:57
-For centuries, -Egyptians have wanted to control...	0:18:58	0:19:01
-..the natural chaos around them.	0:19:02	0:19:04
-This is what this dam does.	0:19:04	0:19:07
-It controls the river's flow.	0:19:07	0:19:09
-More than any other development -in Egypt...	0:19:09	0:19:13
-..this is responsible -for creating modern Egypt.	0:19:13	0:19:17
-The Nile is one of the -most powerful rivers in the world...	0:19:22	0:19:26
-..but the flow of the river -has been threatened more than once.	0:19:26	0:19:30
-The river relies on rainfall -at its source.	0:19:34	0:19:38
-If there's no rain, there's no Nile.	0:19:39	0:19:41
-One of the worst -instances of drought...	0:19:46	0:19:49
-..occurred during the age -of the Pharaohs.	0:19:49	0:19:52
-The story has been recorded -on a giant stone...	0:19:52	0:19:56
-..just beyond the modern dam.	0:19:56	0:19:58
-For seven long years, the Nile was -nothing more than a dry ditch...	0:19:59	0:20:05
-..an open grave -for the nation's withered bodies.	0:20:05	0:20:09
-The Aswan Dam changed all this.	0:20:23	0:20:26
-For almost 40 years, the dam has -provided water and electricity...	0:20:29	0:20:33
-..to fulfil -the nation's requirements.	0:20:33	0:20:36
-During the 1980s, and -the great droughts in Ethiopia...	0:20:36	0:20:40
-..Egypt had plenty of water...	0:20:41	0:20:43
-..and a full reservoir.	0:20:44	0:20:46
-But not now.	0:20:48	0:20:50
-With a population of 63 million -living along its riverbanks...	0:20:50	0:20:54
-..and the dam adversely affecting -the agriculture industry...	0:20:55	0:20:59
-..Aswan may not be Egypt's saviour -in the future.	0:20:59	0:21:03
-One solution to this problem can be -found in a rather unexpected place.	0:21:13	0:21:18
-The Toshka Project aims to counter -the problems of overpopulation...	0:21:24	0:21:29
-..by irrigating the desert.	0:21:29	0:21:31
-Although I know better, it sounds -like a parable from the Bible.	0:21:35	0:21:39
-The plan is to pump water -from the Nile at Lake Nasser...	0:21:45	0:21:49
-..all the way to the desert, -a distance of 30 miles...	0:21:49	0:21:52
-..to create new homes -and 500,000 acres of new farmland.	0:21:53	0:21:57
-Forgive me for turning back -to the Bible again...	0:21:57	0:22:01
-..but it sounds like a miracle.	0:22:01	0:22:04
-Ahmed Morsi is the man -behind the project.	0:22:04	0:22:07
-I'm irrigating the desert because -I'm certain it can be a success.	0:22:12	0:22:17
-The land will become fertile and -people will be able to live there.	0:22:17	0:22:21
-This project will be as important -as the Pyramids...	0:22:21	0:22:26
-..the Aswan Dam and the Pharaohs.	0:22:26	0:22:29
-It was hard to believe -that such a thing was possible...	0:22:37	0:22:41
-..but the proof is in the pudding, -as they say.	0:22:41	0:22:45
-This is very tasty indeed.	0:22:49	0:22:51
-I don't know how they managed to -grow something packed with juice...	0:22:51	0:22:56
-..from soil -in the middle of a desert.	0:22:57	0:22:59
-You'd struggle to call it soil.	0:23:01	0:23:03
-It's a miracle.	0:23:04	0:23:05
-Ahmed believes that his project -will solve Egypt's problems.	0:23:11	0:23:15
-Despite all this sweet talk...	0:23:19	0:23:21
-..there remains a huge problem -in Toshka.	0:23:22	0:23:25
-They need more water -than ever before...	0:23:29	0:23:32
-..five billion cubic metres -per annum, to be precise.	0:23:32	0:23:36
-Is there anything you can't grow?	0:23:37	0:23:38
-Is there anything you can't grow? - -Everything can grow.	0:23:38	0:23:40
-This has angered some countries...	0:23:42	0:23:45
-..who believe Egypt receives -more than its fair share already.	0:23:45	0:23:50
-The Nile flows through -ten African countries...	0:23:53	0:23:57
-..but Egypt utilizes -most of the water.	0:23:57	0:24:01
-65% of it.	0:24:01	0:24:03
-Little remains -for the other nine countries.	0:24:03	0:24:07
-You'd think -that these divisions existed...	0:24:09	0:24:13
-..because of the natural flow -of the river.	0:24:13	0:24:16
-But no, -nature has nothing to do with it.	0:24:17	0:24:19
-It exists because -of an old imperialist agreement.	0:24:20	0:24:23
-In 1929, Britain's Empire stretched -to many territories along the Nile.	0:24:26	0:24:32
-Britain granted Egypt the right -to prevent any developments...	0:24:32	0:24:37
-..which would alter the -river's channel into its country.	0:24:38	0:24:41
-In return for cheap cotton -and an easy passage to India...	0:24:43	0:24:48
-..Egypt was given -complete control of the Nile.	0:24:48	0:24:52
-The greatest surprise...	0:24:54	0:24:56
-..more surprising than the miracle -of growing fruit in the desert...	0:24:56	0:25:01
-..is that this right, which ignores -the claims of other countries...	0:25:01	0:25:06
-..still exists today.	0:25:06	0:25:08
-.	0:25:17	0:25:18
-888	0:25:21	0:25:21
-888 - -888	0:25:21	0:25:23
-My journey along -the banks of the Nile...	0:25:33	0:25:36
-..has been full of unexpected turns.	0:25:36	0:25:38
-Having spent some time in Egypt...	0:25:40	0:25:43
-..the Hollywood-esque image I had -of the river has been shattered.	0:25:43	0:25:47
-As I crossed the border -into a new country...	0:25:47	0:25:50
-..I was about to experience -a bigger surprise.	0:25:50	0:25:53
-From the land of the Pharaohs...	0:26:01	0:26:03
-..the Nile twists and turns -through Sudan...	0:26:03	0:26:07
-..before splitting in two.	0:26:07	0:26:09
-From here, -the main channel becomes two rivers.	0:26:09	0:26:12
-The White Nile, -with its source in Uganda...	0:26:13	0:26:15
-..and the Blue Nile, which takes me -to the source of my story, Ethiopia.	0:26:15	0:26:19
-When I was in Egypt...	0:26:31	0:26:33
-..the Nile twisted and turned.	0:26:35	0:26:38
-It was easily accessible -and ever present.	0:26:39	0:26:43
-It was impossible to avoid.	0:26:44	0:26:46
-Here, in Ethiopia, -it's buried in the landscape.	0:26:46	0:26:51
-I'm not sure how people could reach -the water if they wanted to use it.	0:26:51	0:26:56
-With a bucket and rope, possibly.	0:26:56	0:26:58
-Before I even set foot on land...	0:27:03	0:27:05
-..Ethiopia posed more questions -than ever before.	0:27:05	0:27:09
-But I'd already learnt one thing.	0:27:09	0:27:11
-The relationship -of this country with the Nile...	0:27:12	0:27:15
-..is very different -to the relationship...	0:27:15	0:27:18
-..between Egypt and the river.	0:27:18	0:27:20
-The Nile's source is in Ethiopia.	0:27:26	0:27:29
-This country also provides -90% of Egypt's water supply.	0:27:29	0:27:33
-Far from being poor -in terms of water...	0:27:35	0:27:37
-..this is a country -with evidently more than enough.	0:27:38	0:27:41
-Ethiopia's problem is not -being able to utilize it properly.	0:27:44	0:27:48
-The cruel paradox -for these people...	0:27:53	0:27:56
-..is although this is the country -that provides water for the Nile...	0:27:56	0:28:01
-..it fails to make use of that water -for its own benefit.	0:28:01	0:28:05
-One man who knows this -better than most is Enuew Temesgen.	0:28:10	0:28:15
-Enuew and wife Wubit -own a farm in central Ethiopia.	0:28:18	0:28:22
-Although the Nile flows -right through their fields...	0:28:23	0:28:27
-..Enuew is unable to use -the majority of its water.	0:28:27	0:28:30
-The Nile is far away for me.	0:28:33	0:28:35
-I can't afford a water pump -and I can't carry it in my hands.	0:28:35	0:28:40
-Only my cattle drink the water.	0:28:42	0:28:44
-If I could, I'd happily use the Nile -but I can't.	0:28:44	0:28:49
-Enuew used to work as a farmhand -on other farms.	0:28:56	0:28:59
-He managed to save enough money -to buy a plot of land and marry.	0:29:00	0:29:04
-His family all work together -to make a living for themselves.	0:29:10	0:29:14
-In stark contrast to Egypt...	0:29:23	0:29:25
-..Ethiopia has no irrigation -or water storage systems.	0:29:26	0:29:30
-These farmers -rely on the wet season.	0:29:30	0:29:32
-When it rains, -there's plenty of food.	0:29:39	0:29:42
-In three months' time, -these fields will be dust bowls.	0:29:42	0:29:46
-It's hard to believe.	0:29:47	0:29:48
-I feel as if I've stepped -out of one world and into another.	0:29:53	0:29:58
-My original impression of Ethiopia -and what I've found here today...	0:29:58	0:30:03
-..are two very different things.	0:30:03	0:30:05
-This greenery is thanks -to the farmer's skill...	0:30:06	0:30:09
-..and the fact that it rains -for three months every year.	0:30:09	0:30:13
-It has nothing to do with -Africa's most natural resource...	0:30:13	0:30:17
-..which flows around 100kms -in that direction.	0:30:18	0:30:21
-Ethiopia exists despite -the existence of the Nile.	0:30:21	0:30:24
-It's a very different scenario -to the one we saw in Egypt...	0:30:25	0:30:28
-..where life -revolves around the river.	0:30:28	0:30:31
-This is certainly the case -for Enuew and Wubit.	0:30:37	0:30:40
-Since they don't have the same -benefits as farmers in Egypt...	0:30:48	0:30:53
-..the only thing that Enuew -and his family can do...	0:30:53	0:30:56
-..is carry small amounts -to their home and fields.	0:30:56	0:31:00
-Wubit makes this trip -five times a day...	0:31:05	0:31:08
-..to collect enough water -for cooking and washing.	0:31:08	0:31:11
-I only made one trip and that took -long enough, thank you very much.	0:31:12	0:31:16
-Evidently...	0:31:20	0:31:22
-..they're very skilful and elegant.	0:31:23	0:31:27
-I obviously haven't had -the same deportment lessons.	0:31:27	0:31:31
-Enuew hopes that Wubit won't -have to do this work one day...	0:31:41	0:31:45
-..and that he can start irrigating -the land and feed his family.	0:31:45	0:31:50
-Then our country will flourish.	0:31:55	0:31:57
-Machines will do the work...	0:31:57	0:31:59
-..and the water will be used -to benefit the country.	0:32:00	0:32:04
-If farmers could utilize the Nile...	0:32:08	0:32:11
-..we would have vast areas -of farmland.	0:32:12	0:32:14
-If that happened, -I would be a very wealthy man.	0:32:14	0:32:18
-This vast country has almost four -million acres of good farmland...	0:32:36	0:32:42
-..an area the size of Belgium.	0:32:42	0:32:44
-It's ready to be used and irrigated -to feed the entire nation.	0:32:45	0:32:50
-For this to happen, -the water of the Nile is needed.	0:32:52	0:32:56
-This would also reduce the flow -into Egypt...	0:32:56	0:32:59
-..a situation which would -meet with fierce opposition.	0:32:59	0:33:03
-The political situation -stops any possible developments.	0:33:07	0:33:13
-In the meantime, nothing is done...	0:33:13	0:33:16
-..to help the starving people -of Ethiopia.	0:33:16	0:33:19
-The truth is this country -remains a very poor country...	0:33:38	0:33:42
-..which finds it hard -to support its population.	0:33:42	0:33:46
-That was obvious -even to an old tourist like me.	0:33:46	0:33:49
-For a country so reliant -on the forces of nature...	0:33:55	0:33:58
-..where famine and drought -are old friends...	0:33:58	0:34:02
-..it's no surprise that some people -cling to old beliefs.	0:34:03	0:34:07
-It's a common sight in Ethiopia, -and especially around the Nile...	0:34:15	0:34:21
-..to find groups of people sitting -together on the riverbanks...	0:34:21	0:34:25
-..mumbling verses and throwing -oblations into the river.	0:34:26	0:34:30
-A piece of bread, a cup of coffee, -and sometimes, a live offering.	0:34:30	0:34:35
-The Woito tribe is one of Africa's -most ancient tribes.	0:34:57	0:35:01
-Their way of life has changed little -in thousands of years.	0:35:04	0:35:08
-Life for the Woito tribe -is totally dependant on the Nile...	0:35:17	0:35:22
-..but we don't own the river.	0:35:22	0:35:24
-The Nile is owned by the land.	0:35:24	0:35:27
-As it flows across the land, -the Nile isn't owned by anyone.	0:35:27	0:35:31
-Merewi Tahir, -one of the tribe's elders...	0:35:36	0:35:39
-..explained the respect -they have for the Nile.	0:35:40	0:35:44
-The flow of the world's energy -is in this river, he remarked.	0:35:47	0:35:50
-It belongs to us all -but is owned by no-one.	0:35:50	0:35:55
-Every now and then, the tribe -sacrifices a sheep or a cow.	0:36:00	0:36:04
-Today, a hen or two will suffice.	0:36:05	0:36:07
-Blood will be poured carefully -into the water...	0:36:08	0:36:11
-..making sure that not a drop -touches the ground.	0:36:12	0:36:15
-I'm not sure what difference that -would make but it wouldn't be good.	0:36:15	0:36:20
-The Woito have always lived -on the banks of the Nile.	0:36:24	0:36:28
-They depend on the Nile -for everything.	0:36:29	0:36:31
-They have no land or livestock.	0:36:32	0:36:34
-They fish the river...	0:36:34	0:36:36
-..and use the reeds and papaya -from the riverbank...	0:36:36	0:36:39
-..to make baskets and boats.	0:36:40	0:36:42
-You could say -they worship the river.	0:36:42	0:36:45
-That is precisely -what's happening here now.	0:36:45	0:36:48
-Unfortunately, the hen's fate -has already been sealed.	0:36:48	0:36:52
-The Nile looks after us.	0:37:08	0:37:12
-It provides everything we need.	0:37:12	0:37:15
-When we swam in it as children, -we were never in danger...	0:37:15	0:37:18
-..because we offered the river -our sacrifices.	0:37:19	0:37:22
-Over the past few years...	0:37:25	0:37:26
-..the sacrifices haven't been -as effective for the Woito tribe.	0:37:27	0:37:31
-The Nile and its environment -is changing...	0:37:32	0:37:34
-..but they don't know -what to do about it.	0:37:34	0:37:37
-As the sun sets -over the Woito tribe...	0:37:41	0:37:44
-..and I head for the hotel before -continuing my journey tomorrow...	0:37:44	0:37:49
-..I remember Merewi Tahir's words.	0:37:49	0:37:51
-The flow of the world's energy -is in this river.	0:37:52	0:37:55
-It belongs to us all -but is owned by no-one.	0:37:55	0:37:59
-.	0:38:05	0:38:05
-888	0:38:10	0:38:10
-888 - -888	0:38:10	0:38:12
-For 4,000 miles, the Nile -flows through forests and valleys...	0:38:23	0:38:28
-..deserts and mountains...	0:38:28	0:38:31
-..over some of Africa's -most glorious landscapes.	0:38:31	0:38:34
-I've followed it -for a part of its journey...	0:38:36	0:38:39
-..travelling through -Cairo and Giza...	0:38:40	0:38:43
-..passing farmland, the Nile Valley -and Ethiopia's fertile land.	0:38:43	0:38:47
-I'm about to reach -the final stage of my journey...	0:38:47	0:38:51
-..the stage which brings me to -the source of the Nile - Lake Tana.	0:38:51	0:38:56
-For those of you well versed -in your Bible...	0:38:57	0:38:59
-..the history of Ethiopia -will be familiar to you.	0:38:59	0:39:02
-I was surprised to discover that -Ethiopia is a Christian country.	0:39:03	0:39:06
-Ethiopia's Orthodox Church is one -of the world's oldest denominations.	0:39:06	0:39:11
-Within the borders of this lake, -there are 37 islands.	0:39:11	0:39:15
-There are monasteries -on some of them.	0:39:15	0:39:17
-We're visiting a monastery today -to unlock the story of the Nile.	0:39:18	0:39:22
-Since Ethiopia is one of the -world's most Christian countries...	0:39:27	0:39:32
-..there has always been -a strong link...	0:39:33	0:39:35
-..between its religion and politics.	0:39:36	0:39:38
-This spiritual bond -is one of the main reasons...	0:39:40	0:39:44
-..why Ethiopia has failed -to use water from its sacred river.	0:39:44	0:39:49
-I've come to visit -Brother Haile Mariam...	0:39:51	0:39:54
-..a young man who's lived as a monk -on one of Tana's islands...	0:39:55	0:39:59
-..for the past ten years.	0:39:59	0:40:01
-He's leading the way to -the monastery's old scriptorium...	0:40:01	0:40:05
-..to reveal why religion has been -such a bone of contention...	0:40:06	0:40:10
-..for his country's development.	0:40:10	0:40:12
-Here's the all-important book.	0:40:16	0:40:18
-Look, here is the explanation -about Egypt.	0:40:22	0:40:25
-The book was made from parchment -and written a long, long time ago.	0:40:25	0:40:30
-In this ancient scripture -from the Middle Ages...	0:40:32	0:40:36
-..it notes how an archbishop -from Egypt visited Ethiopia.	0:40:36	0:40:40
-This line reveals everything.	0:40:42	0:40:45
-In the all-important sphere -of religion...	0:40:55	0:40:58
-..Ethiopia came under the control -of the Egyptian Church.	0:40:58	0:41:02
-Even the archbishop -was sent over from Egypt.	0:41:03	0:41:07
-It's no surprise that Ethiopians -have lived under Egypt's shadow...	0:41:16	0:41:20
-..worried that if they dared -change the river's course...	0:41:20	0:41:24
-..they would lose -their spiritual flow.	0:41:25	0:41:27
-This situation lasted for centuries.	0:41:34	0:41:38
-Then, in 1959, -with Ethiopian confidence growing...	0:41:38	0:41:42
-..the Ethiopian Church -broke free from Egypt.	0:41:42	0:41:45
-As it released itself -from spiritual dependence...	0:41:45	0:41:49
-..Ethiopia left itself open -to a situation of great conflict.	0:41:50	0:41:55
-The Nile is a gift from God.	0:42:08	0:42:10
-If it were a gift from man, -it would have disappeared long ago.	0:42:10	0:42:15
-It will be with us forever.	0:42:16	0:42:18
-With little contact -with the outside world...	0:42:37	0:42:39
-..Brother Haile Mariam -and his community...	0:42:40	0:42:43
-..are unaware -that the future of the Nile...	0:42:43	0:42:46
-..is very unstable.	0:42:47	0:42:49
-125 miles from Lake Tana, -on one of the Nile's tributaries...	0:42:53	0:42:58
-..is a huge concrete structure...	0:42:59	0:43:01
-..which could affect -the river's flow.	0:43:01	0:43:04
-If the river Tekeze -is stopped here...	0:43:07	0:43:10
-..the Nile will also be held back.	0:43:10	0:43:13
-On its completion, -the Tekeze is scheduled...	0:43:21	0:43:24
-..to generate only electricity.	0:43:25	0:43:27
-It has the potential to store -an incredible volume of water...	0:43:29	0:43:33
-..to irrigate the land and prevent -much of the water reaching Egypt.	0:43:33	0:43:38
-If the project is successful, -Ethiopia will build more dams.	0:43:42	0:43:48
-If that happens, -some experts predict...	0:43:49	0:43:52
-..that Egypt will lose -40% of its water supply.	0:43:52	0:43:55
-We're in the middle of nowhere.	0:44:02	0:44:04
-To be honest, we passed -the middle of nowhere an hour ago.	0:44:04	0:44:07
-We're here to see -this beast of a dam.	0:44:08	0:44:11
-Dear me!	0:44:13	0:44:14
-When it's completed -in around 18 months' time...	0:44:14	0:44:18
-..it will be -the biggest dam in Africa.	0:44:18	0:44:21
-I've visited Ethiopia -and I've warmed to the people.	0:44:21	0:44:25
-I've felt a lot of the injustice -about how the Nile should be used.	0:44:25	0:44:29
-Seeing this, half built, gives me -a sense of pride in some ways.	0:44:29	0:44:34
-I almost feel as if I'm one of them.	0:44:35	0:44:37
-I'm not, I know.	0:44:37	0:44:39
-Asfaw Shirga is the site manager.	0:44:46	0:44:48
-He's been working here -for six years.	0:44:49	0:44:52
-He hardly ever sees his family -who live in Addis Ababa.	0:44:53	0:44:57
-He told me how all the work -and sacrifice will be well worth it.	0:45:01	0:45:05
-His children were very young -during the famine of the 1980s.	0:45:07	0:45:11
-He never wants to live -through such a period again.	0:45:11	0:45:15
-The Government aims to change -the lives of the poor...	0:45:18	0:45:21
-..by providing electricity -and building dams...	0:45:22	0:45:25
-..to provide clean water.	0:45:25	0:45:27
-Some have to walk seven hours -for drinking water.	0:45:27	0:45:31
-Our focus is our people.	0:45:34	0:45:36
-Now is the time to eradicate famine.	0:45:41	0:45:45
-The Tekeze project has been -in the pipeline for many years...	0:45:49	0:45:53
-..but any financial backers -from the West...	0:45:53	0:45:56
-..like the World Bank, were scared -off by opposition from Egypt.	0:45:56	0:46:00
-Ethiopia turned its sights -to the East for help.	0:46:01	0:46:04
-Eight years ago, they received -financial support from China.	0:46:04	0:46:09
-The Tekeze is an important turning -point in the country's history.	0:46:14	0:46:19
-It will allow them to use -the Nile's waters.	0:46:19	0:46:23
-In addition to this, the dam -realizes some of Egypt's fears.	0:46:24	0:46:30
-After centuries of allowing the -river to flow through its fingers...	0:46:32	0:46:37
-..Ethiopia's ability -to harness the river's force...	0:46:37	0:46:41
-..will create tensions with Egypt.	0:46:41	0:46:45
-Both sides have already threatened -the possibility of conflict.	0:46:46	0:46:50
-Asfaw believes that -any conflict can be avoided.	0:46:51	0:46:54
-When we do things like this, -to provide for our people...	0:47:02	0:47:06
-..Egypt, our neighbour and friend, -needn't worry at all.	0:47:06	0:47:11
-Previously, there was -no common ground between us.	0:47:11	0:47:15
-Now, we understand -each other better.	0:47:15	0:47:18
-For the first time ever, -the ten countries along the Nile...	0:47:25	0:47:29
-..are meeting to discuss ways -of distributing the water fairly.	0:47:29	0:47:34
-Despite this and despite -Asfaw's positive attitude...	0:47:37	0:47:40
-..the situation remains difficult.	0:47:41	0:47:43
-Agreement between the countries -seems a long way away.	0:47:44	0:47:47
-However, there is hope.	0:47:50	0:47:52
-Ethiopia and Egypt -are working together...	0:47:52	0:47:56
-..to find a solution -for their different needs.	0:47:56	0:47:59
-As I approach -the end of my journey...	0:48:03	0:48:06
-..I'll hold on to that hope.	0:48:07	0:48:09
-There has been so much debate...	0:48:17	0:48:19
-..about who has the right -to control this river.	0:48:20	0:48:23
-However, it continues to flow...	0:48:23	0:48:25
-..blissfully unaware -of the trouble that surrounds it.	0:48:25	0:48:29
-It's almost like a mother -who refuses to take sides...	0:48:29	0:48:33
-..as her children bicker -around her ankles.	0:48:33	0:48:35
-There will be agreement - -they have to agree.	0:48:37	0:48:41
-The last thing these two countries -need is another war.	0:48:41	0:48:46
-I think they've had -enough of those already.	0:48:46	0:48:49
-S4C subtitles by Simian 04	0:49:21	0:49:24
-.	0:49:24	0:49:24

Yr Afon: Aled ac Afon Nil Yr Afon

Similar Content

Factual

Cyfres 2008

Transcript

Download Subtitles

SRT

ASS