Comments for The Pavellas Perspective

Comment on Getting to Know T.E. Lawrence “of Arabia” (1888-1935) by David Kaye Attorney

David Kaye Attorney — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:18:36 +0000

davidkayeattorney.com Thanks for that awesome posting. It saved MUCH time

Comment on What is it to be “Caucasian,” and… by SochiSam

SochiSam — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 09:29:23 +0000

Circassians are an ancient and noble people who were terminated by Tsarist Russia in the mid 19th century and are now living in Diaspora. More than 90% live outside the homeland and less than 1 million live within the Caucasus.

They strongly identify with being Circassian and have the dream of returning to their homeland. Of course, Russia and its policy makes it extremely difficult for them to repatriate (pretty much impossible), however things are changing as there are more talks about their painful history and Genocide. Georgia last year recognized the Circassian Genocide, the first nation in history to do so.

Comment on The Outlook is Grim for the People of Afghanistan by Pakistan Vs USA | Death of 24 Pakistani Soldiers in NATO Air Attacks

Pakistan Vs USA | Death of 24 Pakistani Soldiers in NATO Air Attacks — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 22:46:08 +0000

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Comment on The Outlook is Grim for the People of Afghanistan by Ron Pavellas

Ron Pavellas — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 14:15:49 +0000

Again, check in with the Swedish committee for Afghanistan. http://www.swedishcommittee.org/ Here is a power point presentation, as well: http://www.lakareutangranser.se/Global/Miscellaneous/Humanitar/Presentation%20seminarium/Peter%20Brune.ppt

Comment on The Outlook is Grim for the People of Afghanistan by Ron Pavellas

Ron Pavellas — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 14:05:37 +0000

Here are just a few responses to your ideas and observations: I didn’t like Kabul. It was not of the people, but of the government and all the other governments and NGOs doing their stuff, seemingly largely uncoordinated. When I arrived Kunduz by air, I was taken back to my time of living in the great central valley of California: rich farm lands nourished by rivers from nearby mountains. See the several photos in this sequence: http://ronp.smugmug.com/Travel/Afghanistan-Summer-2005/2447227_zcCjSx#128356948_bifHY. The Afghans in this northern territory and province have been farmers for untold years. They are also carpet weavers and artisans, and shop keepers, and professional people, etc. They have an apparently sustainable way of life, if left alone by invaders and marauders, and if protected by a system of laws and security. The local laws and justice system seem to be well-enough developed; it is at the national level that some things tend to fall apart. There are endemic diseases they need help with, and widespread ignorance in matters of childbirth and maternal health which the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan is bravely and competently addressing. The SCA also helps with potable water projects–wells, etc. China, or Germany (I believe) was helping to build a paved road from Kunduz south to and through Baghlan province (http://ronp.smugmug.com/Travel/Afghanistan-Summer-2005/2447227_zcCjSx#130042158_4Q6Ho) which goes further toward the high mountain Salang tunnel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salang_Tunnel) leading into the Kabul basin (around one mile in elevation, like Denver). So there is an example of infrastructure development. The cascading of events from the Soviet invasion, the chaos of the mujahadeen, the terrible rule of the Taliban caused millions of people to flee Afghanistan: generally Pushtun people to Pakistan and Dari-speaking people to Iran. Now they have been returning to–nothing! Most of their familiar places are gone or ruined and many many people live in UN camps, and other less than satisfactory conditions. Basic survival is the lot of a great many people. That’s about all my fingers and brain can do right now.

Comment on The Outlook is Grim for the People of Afghanistan by Sonja Hendersson

Sonja Hendersson — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 13:59:54 +0000

Look for solutions in your largely over-looked places of abundance, namely, among the women. Enable the sisterhood to be powerful.

Comment on The Outlook is Grim for the People of Afghanistan by Sonja Hendersson

Sonja Hendersson — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 13:40:05 +0000

Hi Ron! Here are just a few more thoughts to add to your blog discussion.
I am thinking about the agenda and the voices involved. A distant bird’s eye view of the situation to me looks like a big cake with outside forces jostling one another for the largest share of the cake according to their own interests of national security, border security, resource control, migration control, to name a few. What happens when you take off this “cake” layer and try to focus on the core of the situation? At the core, under the “cake” layer of the discussion are people who need to find a voice, and whose voices need to be heard. People who may want to articulate how they want to find joy in their lives. What do they need to be able to articulate this? Their basic needs must be met. You need to ground the discussion by looking at the maternal mortality rates, the literacy rates, the life expectancy rates and the existence of kitchen gardens. Above this layer you need to follow the channels of resource control and the control over the household income.
Who is in control of the agenda? Who should be in control of the agenda? Whose voices are part of the agenda?
What are the agendas of the different parties involved? These agendas range from interest in the natural resources and cash crops to national security, border security and migration control. If I could cut through the complicated agendas of the many parties involved, I might conclude that any party whose own agenda is not purely focused on the realization of the human rights of the Afghan people, especially the women and children (dare I say it?) — that pushing these other agendas may mean that you are inhibiting the realization of the human rights of the people of Afghanistan? But then again, the situation is complicated, and my view is a long way off the sidelines.
You just have to ask if the persistence of this “pie–piece” mentality — that is, dividing up spheres of influence according to one’s own interests, abilities, or needs, could have an extremely long-lasting negative impact on the internal power structure of the country. Look at Cambodia in the post-war rebuilding years and decide for yourself. The economics of supporting these outside “guests” in the country can divert resources from building communities that can meet their own basic needs.
If I were a woman living in Afghanistan, what would I need to be able to articulate my needs? Here I can only guess that this ability to articulate would begin with meeting the needs of my family and children, food, clothing, shelter, feeling safe, as well as safe schools, health care, – it is “Maslow 101” and the hierarchy of needs. One can’t reach the self-realization level until other layers of need have been met.

By the way, what is the soil like? Is anybody “building” dirt, and small kitchen gardens? Do women know how to compost and build kitchen gardens that they can have control over, and so provide food for their families? This small food source can go a long way. Who are the soil-builders? They need to be part of the agenda. Do not underestimate the power of the kitchen garden, as long as women control it and it is used only for food.
I’m thinking about the power of the kitchen garden, composting, building the soil, growing your own food…. Have we overlooked the power of small “invisible” places, like in the women’s arena? Do they have access to the telephone network? Midwives (am I right in that male doctors cannot treat females?) have a huge role in their ability to disseminate information, create channels of communication, and build channels of support among women. Even distributing alphabet charts on paper (which can be folded and hidden) can help women build phonemic awareness for themselves and their children (this is a beginning step in building literacy). What I’m talking about is building the capacity of power within the women’s sphere of influence, and the rethinking of this arena as not a void of power, but as a resource. In short, reframing one’s repertoire of solutions by looking at the spheres of influence you have previously overlooked.
Why does this geopolitical “game” have to be so complicated?
This quote from Mother Theresa just popped into my head: “Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.”

Comment on The Outlook is Grim for the People of Afghanistan by Ron Pavellas

Ron Pavellas — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 00:14:53 +0000

As for basic human right, explore what the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan has been doing since the Soviet invasion in 1979. [Link to a Power Point Presentation showing some of what the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan is doing: http://www.lakareutangranser.se/Global/Miscellaneous/Humanitar/Presentation%20seminarium/Peter%20Brune.ppt

Comment on The Outlook is Grim for the People of Afghanistan by Ron Pavellas

Ron Pavellas — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 16:24:43 +0000

Here’s something I wrote to another person in Facebook: “We are in agreement that the Taliban are very bad guys. The Aghans do not want them back. What they do want is security, which the current weak and corrupt government cannot provide. Now the NATO/ISAF forces will leave in 2 years, gradually, and Afghanistan may well not have the means to provide their own security, except if the army takes over and that will be bad… They are people trying to get along in the world as best they can, despite all the questionable interest other nations and forces have in their country.”

Comment on The Outlook is Grim for the People of Afghanistan by Ron Pavellas

Ron Pavellas — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 16:22:44 +0000

My take on why other people are in Afghanistan is, as they say in the Real Estate business, Location, Location, Location! It’s on the way between east and west, and north and south. The Great Game between Russia and England was North and South (Russia trying to access India); the silk road was between east and west. It all started with Alexander going as far east as he could. It seems the unfortunate people of Afghanistan will not be left alone. Now they have India and China developing their natural resources.