November 21, 2013

Kathy Kelly: "War and Enlightenment in Afghanistan"

The peace activist counters claims rosy claims that life and education for girls and women has improved in Afghanistan. She reports on the current situation there and projects for international communication.

Published on Wednesday, November 20, 2013 by Common Dreams

Excerpt:
"In Afghanistan, prospects may be looking up for U.S. corporate control of crucial oil pipelines in the region; for early military encirclement of anticipated superpower rival China; and for unrivalled access to some 1 trillion dollars’ worth of copper, gold and iron ore, and perhaps 1.4 million tons of rare earth elements vital to Western industry, all of it awaiting extraction from the earth beneath Afghans’ feet.

While mainstream media in U.S. locales with a strong military presence may suggest that the U.S. has convincingly promised enlightenment for Afghan people, regarding women’s rights and girls education, many Afghans wonder how they will fare caught between Western nations ruling the skies above their heads and the mineral resources which those nations are so uncontestably eager to bring out of darkness and into the light.  Do they have a resource curse, they wonder, as other countries will want to avail themselves of these resources and jockey for control.  Why is the U.S. so intent on maintaining security in Afghanistan?  Whose interests do they want to secure? 

I think it’s important to establish skype connections between people living in the U.S. and people who are in Afghanistan. Toward that purpose, I want to encourage people in Colorado Springs and beyond to search for hope and security by listening to young people in Afghanistan tell about their experiences longing for a better world, a world wherein women and children can survive hunger, disease, pollution and illiteracy.   Please visit the Afghan Peace Volunteers at ourjourneytosmile.com and/or listen to their international call on November 21st"

Read full article here