Corruption and Waste Under Attack – 2014

When President Obama announced the decision to “draw down” troops from Afghanistan I was often asked what I thought would happen to Afghanistan. My response remained the same. Three factors impacting the future of Afghanistan     First, what happens in Pakistan. The fighting inside Afghanistan will never cease as long as the Taliban are supported,… Continue reading Corruption and Waste Under Attack – 2014

Zero Option – NOT an Option for TIE

 The news from and about Afghanistan continues to be troubling. Jack Howell brought me the most recent “bad news” article written by Joel Brinkley, recently published in the San Francisco Chronicle, entitled “Greedy Karzai risks U.S. triggering the “zero option”. Long time no report. My apologies. I’ve been in Montana vegging. No, not eating them,… Continue reading Zero Option – NOT an Option for TIE

To Feed Or Not To Feed? That Is the Question.

There is considerable debate among aid organizations regarding what to do with the estimated 35,000 people living in refugee camps in Kabul. They are victims of what one author described as a “pitiless Catch-22 policy” established by international humanitarian aid providers” (click HERE for New York Times article). The World Food program stopped providing food to… Continue reading To Feed Or Not To Feed? That Is the Question.

The Girl Effect: Why Trust in Education invests in girls…Oct. 4, 2011

As “The Girl Effect” so aptly describes, educating girls makes a big difference to society in the long run: * When a girl in the developing world receives seven or more years of education, she marries four years later and has 2.2 fewer children. * An extra year of primary school boosts girls’ eventual wages by 10 to… Continue reading The Girl Effect: Why Trust in Education invests in girls…Oct. 4, 2011

Latest News: From Sticks into Homes… June 16, 2011

What can be more valuable than opium to Afghan farmers? Poplar trees! When the trees are mature, poplar wood fetches a great price, especially with the high demand for buildings and bridges as Afghanistan rebuilds. Even as they are growing, poplar trees can produce cuttings, which can be sold to other farmers interested in a… Continue reading Latest News: From Sticks into Homes… June 16, 2011

Latest News: Green “Waves of Grain” June 7, 2011

  Last fall, at the villagers’ request, we decided to try supplying improved wheat seed to a few farmers. Nabi’s company Pacific Seed donated the seed and we shipped it to Afghanistan.   Well, the grain has not yet been harvested yet but the excitement is in!  Our project manager Maiwand  visited one of the… Continue reading Latest News: Green “Waves of Grain” June 7, 2011