Through Afghan eyes

A note from the editor

Vanessa Baird

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

Increasingly insurgents are using Iraq-style tactics such as suicide and roadside bombings. Fardin Waezi / Aina Photo Agency / Afghanistan

Increasingly insurgents are using Iraq-style tactics such as suicide and roadside bombings.

Fardin Waezi / Aina Photo Agency / Afghanistan

Afghanistan on the edge

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

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Features

Western troops must use different methods and strategies to stop harming civilians.Gulbuddin Elham / Aina Photo Agency / Afghanistan

Losing Afghans

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

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afghanistan-photos.com

A brief history of Afghanistan

The fighting, the pain and the hunger for change

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Two of Aina’s photographers, Farzana Wahidy and Freshta Kohistany, present contrasting images of contemporary Afghan womanhood. Behind them is the Kabul River Bazaar.Fardin Waezi / Aina Photo Agency / Afghanistan

Beyond the burqa

Sex, dating and the struggle for modernity.

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Massoud Hussaini / Aina Photo Agency / Afghanistan

Afghanistan - The Facts

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

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The blight of impunity

Human rights activist Horia Mosadiq takes her Government to task.

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A scene from AH5787, which is touring the country in pursuit of justice.FROZAN

Theatre of justice

Drama is helping victims, writes Hadi Ogal.

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Hearts and minds

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

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Agriculture – on which most Afghans depend – has been neglected.Ali Omid / Aina Photo Agency / Afghanistan

Where has the money gone?

Abdul Basir on the missing aid billions.

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The Opium Bank

A canny village woman talks to NI.

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chicagocriticalmass.org

Pedal power

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.

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Sturdy enough for two: bamboo bikes may be just the ticket in Africa.Bamboo Bike Project / The Earth Institute

Bamboo bikes

Bamboo is so tough and so plentiful it’s used for construction scaffolding all aver Asia. So why not use it to build bikes? It seemed like a good idea to design maestro Craig Calfee and to the Earth Institute at Columbia University in New York City. The two have teamed up to build better bikes for poor Africans in rural areas and stimulate the local bicycle industry in a number of African countries. The NI talked to Bamboo Bike Project co-ordinator and Columbia scientist David Ho.

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Opinion

Waiting in line

Waiting in line

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

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Currents

Bags of initiative: women’s co-operative coordinator Nadia, on North Ambae island.Photo: Anna Hutchens

Fair trade magic

Women profit from new ways of doing business

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Votes for women

Votes for women

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

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Promises, promises – but who is really benefiting?James Low

Money talks

China uses free trade to dominate Tibetans

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Death camps

Death camps

UN negligence is killing child refugees in Kosovo

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Regulars

The lightest touch

The lightest touch

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

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Photo: Larry Downing / Reuters

Alan Greenspan

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.

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Big Bad World - Goodbye Dubyameister

Big Bad World - Goodbye Dubyameister

Polyp says a fond farewell to the Dubyameister.

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A meltdown primer

A meltdown primer

Radical insight and explanation from Waldon Bello.

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St Kitts and Nevis

The facts and figures of St Kitts and Nevis.

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Only Planet - Dominant life-form

Only Planet - Dominant life-form

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

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Film, Book & Music Reviews

A River Called Time

A River Called Time

The fourth novel of Mozambican author Mia Couto

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In the House of Mirrors

In the House of Mirrors

New instrumental album by Hector Zazou and Swara

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9/11 Contradictions

9/11 Contradictions

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

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Hunger

Hunger

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

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A Certain Woman

A Certain Woman

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

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Good Dick

Good Dick

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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