NYTimes OpEd: "More Schools, Not Bombs" for Afghanistan
The New York Times ran an OpEd by Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Nicolas Kristoff calling for more “more schools, not troops” for Afghanistan. We need a lot more like these, because right now we’re trying to rebuild Afghanistan with bombs. Here’s one of the highlights:
The hawks respond: It’s naïve to think that you can sprinkle a bit of education on a war-torn society. It’s impossible to build schools now because the Taliban will blow them up.
In fact, it’s still quite possible to operate schools in Afghanistan — particularly when there’s a strong “buy-in” from the local community.
Greg Mortenson, author of “Three Cups of Tea,” has now built 39 schools in Afghanistan and 92 in Pakistan — and not one has been burned down or closed. The aid organization CARE has 295 schools educating 50,000 girls in Afghanistan, and not a single one has been closed or burned by the Taliban. The Afghan Institute of Learning, another aid group, has 32 schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan, with none closed by the Taliban (although local communities have temporarily suspended three for security reasons).
yes, we started a program to open 40 internet points and install 400 desk tops in the area of Herat:
http://www.filmannexcorp.com/film-annex-in-afghanistan/
its time to move forward and don’t look back!
It begins at the grassroots level. Find out how entrepreneur Francesco Rulli living in New York has teamed with Roya Mahboob from Afghanistan on the Afghan Development Initiative with his version of digital diplomacy. http://www.filmannex.com/posts/blog_show_post/the_international_womens_day_and_the_afghan_education_system/47135
Written perfectly! My theory that I will stand firmly behind is Education of Afghans is what will permenetly destroy the taliban. The first steps are the hardest and where all the risk will be to reape the reward of watching a great country rebuild itself!
http://www.filmannex.com/webtv/afghandevelopment
Great comment. Perhaps you would like this short film report on the UN’s new focus on development and rule of law versus bullets: AFGHANISTAN UN MANDATE FOCUS ON DEVELOPMENT
The United Nations Representative to Afghanistan made point to distance UN efforts from “recent events” (as Koran burning and US soldier murdering 16 civilians including 9 children). Rather, focus will be on development and rule of law.
http://diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/afghanistan-un-mandate-focus-on-development/30248