NI 417 - November, 2008

Through Afghan eyes

A note from the editor

The war that won't end

‘Good. You’re doing the obvious thing,’ said Zuhra Bahman, one of the contributors to this month’s New Internationalist.

The ‘obvious thing’ in question was getting the main theme – on Afghanistan – written and illustrated by Afghans. I was pleased that she was pleased – but still a little worried by the logistics. Thirty years of armed conflict – yes, Afghanistan’s turmoil began two decades before the Twin Towers fell – has not fostered a rich and vibrant tradition of journalism in the country. Grinding poverty, warlord violence and Taliban strictures denied even the most basic education to large swathes of the population – especially women and girls. Today, press freedom supposedly prevails but the case of young reporter Sayed Parwez Kaambakhsh, who is appealing against a death sentence for downloading material relating to women’s rights, suggests otherwise.

The writers featured here are not to be silenced or intimidated, however. They have provided perspectives that are immediate and insightful; subtle, complex and brave. So have the photographers. Nearly all the pictures were taken by people trained in the remarkable home-grown Aina Photojournalism Institute in Kabul. Some had never held a camera before the institute was established eight years ago. Today they are producing first-rate imagery which is being sold around the world through the Kabul-based AINA Photo Agency/Afghanistan.

Harder to sell these days is the disastrous model of capitalism that flourished under the watch of Alan Greenspan, head of the US Federal Reserve Board between 1987 and 2006. No single person is responsible for the current global crisis but Greenspan was the neocons’ economic guru and he could have read the writing on the wall had he chosen to. All of which makes him an appropriate target for this month’s Worldbeater. Meanwhile, for any nouveau pauvre city banker thinking of trading in the Porsche or the 4x4, we recommend our Special Feature – it’s all about the humble bicycle. Perhaps the ‘bamboo bike’ would suit?

Special thanks to Abdul Basir of the British and Irish Agencies Afghanistan Group for his editorial advice, patience and readiness to make his contacts network buzz for this month’s main theme.

Vanessa Baird for the New Internationalist co-operative.
www.newint.org

The big story

Adaptability is plentiful, as this family in Herat Province demonstrates. But after seven years of occupation, where is Afghanistan heading?

Fardin Waezi / Aina Photo Agency / Afghanistan

NI 417 - November, 2008

Through Afghan eyes

A note from the editor

The war that won't end

The big story

And the West acting like it knows best... again. Isn’t it time we listened to Afghans, asks Vanessa Baird?

Features

How to lose friends and alienate people, by Kabul defence journalist, Khabaryal.

The fighting, the pain and the hunger for change

Sex, dating and the struggle for modernity.

The basics, conflict, aid & social equality in Afghanistan.

Human rights activist Horia Mosadiq takes her Government to task.

Drama is helping victims, writes Hadi Ogal.

Afghan views on WHAM – a key strategy of the coalition forces’ war against the Taliban. Pictures from AINA’s gallery.

Abdul Basir on the missing aid billions.

A canny village woman talks to NI.

Groups, contacts and resources.

When it comes to the future, the car simply can't compete. Chris Webb charts the comeback of the people's best friend – the humble bicycle. And you can even make one out of bamboo.

Opinion

The special Cuban art of queuing dissected by Leonardo Padura Fuentes.

Currents

Women profit from new ways of doing business

For the first time ever women will outnumber men in a national parliament.

China uses free trade to dominate Tibetans

UN negligence is killing child refugees in Kosovo

Regulars

From brandished bottoms to a difficult death, Maria Golia plays nurse for her neighbours.

Looking for someone to blame for the collapse of capitalism as we have known and hated it? Alan Greenspan is as good a target as any.

Polyp says a fond farewell to the Dubyameister.

Radical insight and explanation from Waldon Bello.

The facts and figures of St Kitts and Nevis.

True tales of a mixed-up world

Gort & Klaatu discover Earth’s dominant life-form in Marc Roberts’ latest strip.

Film, Book & Music Reviews

The fourth novel of Mozambican author Mia Couto

The second album by David Byrne and Brian Eno

New instrumental album by Hector Zazou and Swara

25 contradictions about that day in New York by David Ray Griffin

A horrific and unforgettable film about the 1981 Bobby Sands hunger strike directed and co-written by Steve McQueen

Winner of the best novel prize at Cairo International Book Fair, Hala El Badry writes about her life as an Arabic woman.

An off-beat LA-based comedy as a solitary, hostile young woman with a porn addiction. Written and directed by Marianna Palka

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