The astounding passage of a 57.5 pecent majority referendum to ban new minarets on mosques by Switzerland’s right-wing Volkspartei (People’s Party) embarrassingly underlines (for Genevans and other moderate Swiss) the increasing narrow-mindedness of Switzeland’s mainly German-speaking mountain –but also lowland – hicks. Even more critical, the vote places at risk much of what Switzerland supposedly stands for, notably international finance, quality tourism and global humanitarianism.
Geneva – So, said one of my colleagues, “will you now be traveling on your Swiss or your American passport?”
Cessy, France -- One of the best reasons to live in the Pays de Gex is that it is within striking distance of Burgundy. Historically, Burgundy covered much of eastern France and included Lake Geneva and other parts of Switzerland. Modern-day Burgundy (Bourgogne) is a French administrative region. We can therefore claim some ownership to what I consider to be the land of the best food and wine in France. If we manage to slip out of the office by 1700 on a Friday evening, it's possible to be happily ensconced two hours later in a cozy bistro in Beaune, or Cluny or in one of the other picturesque villages in Burgundy, sipping our Kir, debating on whether to order snails à la bourgignon or poulet de Bresse, while smugly acknowledging that all is pretty well in the world.
KABUL & GENEVA -- Ever since the collapse of the Taliban regime in the fall of 2001, Afghanistan's over-$20 billion recovery effort has been undermined by worsening security, corruption and mixed agendas by the international community. This, however, hasn't prevented a growing number of Afghan entrepreneurs from investing in ways that could be among the most effective tools for bringing peace to their country.
One of these is Hassina Syed, an outspoken 30-year-old former refugee and mother of two. Despite numerous obstacles, including threats by warlords, government officials and rival male interests who deeply resent a female in their presence, Hassina now ranks as one of the most successful entrepreneurs in Afghanistan. Essential Edge co-editor Edward Girardet
recently interviewed Syed in Kabul for ForbesWoman, where they
discussed what it's like to be a female entrepreneur in a highly
traditional and male-dominated society.
Too many decisions about what to do in Afghanistan are based on wishful thinking or a failure to connect with the realities on the ground. As history, including the Soviet occupation of the 1980s, has shown again and again, there are no military solutions. Nor is simply pouring in more aid going to make a difference, particularly if implemented by internationals with little or no understanding of the country's people and culture. If recovery is to succeed, the international community needs to wind-down drastically its top-heavy and costly presence plus place more emphasis on Afghans themselves. It also needs to adopt a clearly stated longterm commitment over at least two decades if Afghans - and the insurgents - are to take the West seriously. Finally, the international community needs to focus more on non-military initiatives, notably informed development and private investment, aimed at the countryside where nearly 80 percent of Afghans live.
Writing in his Coward in Kabul column on The Essential Edge, Edward Girardet, who has covered Afghanistan for 30 years, recently returned to see what experienced aid representatives, diplomats, journalists and others who have worked in Afghanistan since the 1980s, 90s and 2000s think has gone wrong, and what they believe needs to be done to make it right. This piece first appeared on Opednews.com
TUCSON, Arizona - Cocooned in our delusional state of exception, we Americans have achieved what eludes only the scariest of despotic states: We have obliterated truth.
When reality bites, we defang it. We stretch our most basic principles to accommodate profit and personal convenience. We soften ugly words so "torture" can equate to a bad hair day.
The astounding passage of a 57.5 pecent majority referendum to ban new minarets on mosques by Switzerland’s right-wing Volkspartei (People’s Party) embarrassingly underlines (for Genevans and other moderate Swiss) the increasing narrow-mindedness of Switzeland’s mainly German-speaking mountain –but also lowland – hicks. Even more critical, the vote places at risk much of what Switzerland supposedly stands for, notably international finance, quality tourism and global humanitarianism.
KABUL & GENEVA -- Ever since the collapse of the Taliban regime in the fall of 2001, Afghanistan's over-$20 billion recovery effort has been undermined by worsening security, corruption and mixed agendas by the international community. This, however, hasn't prevented a growing number of Afghan entrepreneurs from investing in ways that could be among the most effective tools for bringing peace to their country.
One of these is Hassina Syed, an outspoken 30-year-old former refugee and mother of two. Despite numerous obstacles, including threats by warlords, government officials and rival male interests who deeply resent a female in their presence, Hassina now ranks as one of the most successful entrepreneurs in Afghanistan. Essential Edge co-editor Edward Girardet
recently interviewed Syed in Kabul for ForbesWoman, where they
discussed what it's like to be a female entrepreneur in a highly
traditional and male-dominated society.
Too many decisions about what to do in Afghanistan are based on wishful thinking or a failure to connect with the realities on the ground. As history, including the Soviet occupation of the 1980s, has shown again and again, there are no military solutions. Nor is simply pouring in more aid going to make a difference, particularly if implemented by internationals with little or no understanding of the country's people and culture. If recovery is to succeed, the international community needs to wind-down drastically its top-heavy and costly presence plus place more emphasis on Afghans themselves. It also needs to adopt a clearly stated longterm commitment over at least two decades if Afghans - and the insurgents - are to take the West seriously. Finally, the international community needs to focus more on non-military initiatives, notably informed development and private investment, aimed at the countryside where nearly 80 percent of Afghans live.
TUCSON, Arizona - Cocooned in our delusional state of exception, we Americans have achieved what eludes only the scariest of despotic states: We have obliterated truth.
When reality bites, we defang it. We stretch our most basic principles to accommodate profit and personal convenience. We soften ugly words so "torture" can equate to a bad hair day.