NYTimes: A School Bus for Shamsia

A School Bus for Shamsia

By DEXTER FILKINS

Published: August 23, 2009

A writer returned to Afghanistan to buy a bus for Afghan girls who were attacked on their walk to school. But it turns out giving isn’t always easy. [More]

-- The Kettle Rumbles

NYTimes: The Women’s Crusade

The Women’s Crusade

By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF and SHERYL WuDUNN

Published: August 23, 2009

The liberation of women could help solve many of the world’s problems, from poverty to child mortality to terrorism. [MORE]

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Some of these people are truly amazing. Seeing what other people have to go through just to be able to read or provide for their kids makes so many of the things that concern people in my world so trivial. When I find myself wasting time, I think about stories like Tererai's. She spent much of her life being told to not educate herself, not to go beyond what was expected of women like her. She was beaten and punished for trying, but in the end, a cattle herder from Zimbabwe DID go to America, IS making a difference for the lives of her children and her people, and WILL achieve all her dreams, including getting a PhD. Wow.

I think we should all ask ourselves what it is exactly that we're doing with our time, wealth, and education. There is more to life than entertainment and luxury.

-- The Kettle Rumbles

Motherhouse, A Social Business in Bangladesh Started by a Japanese Entrepreneur

A friend of mine recently decided to leave the corporate world behind to do something she can be really passionate about. She will be joining Motherhouse, a social business in Bangladesh started by a Japanese entrepreneur. Yamaguchi started Motherhouse after realizing that like most people working in charity organizations that focus on developing countries, she had no experience being in a developing country. She soon made her way to Bangladesh . While trying to figure out a way to help the people there, she discovered the jute fiber, and decided she would try to sell products made in Bangladesh to Japan. Despite the alien surroundings and hardships of living and doing business in Bangladesh, Yamaguchi managed to succeed and build an organization that has inspired my friend to join them and fulfill an inherent need to do something better in her life.

-- The Kettle Rumbles

NYTimes: Central Asia Sounds Alarm on Islamic Radicalism

Central Asia Sounds Alarm on Islamic Radicalism

By CLIFFORD J. LEVY

Published: August 18, 2009

Officials in the region fear that homegrown militants may be moving north to take on the area’s brittle governments. [MORE]

-- The Kettle Rumbles

Asim and Tamreez is fundraising for Friends Of The Citizens Foundation - JustGiving

Asim and Tamreez is fundraising for Friends Of The Citizens Foundation - JustGiving


Posted using ShareThis

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A friend's friend is climbing Mt. Kilamanjaro to raise money for the Citizen's Foundation, which builds schools in urban slums in Pakistan. I commend their efforts and hope they achieve their goals!

- The Kettle Rumbles

Awesome Post from Friday Reflections

"I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do." ~Edward Everett Hale.

http://fridayreflections.typepad.com/weblog/2009/08/the-greatest-mistake-is-to-do-nothing-because-you-can-only-do-a-little.html

-- The Kettle Rumbles

News: CAI Annual Fundraiser in (New Brunswick, NJ)

"Central Asia Institute Annual Fundraiser

With Nobel Peace Nominee Greg Mortenson

Nobel Peace Prize Nominee and co-author of Three Cups of Tea, Greg Mortenson shares his humanitarian life’s work at the CAI Fundraiser on October 24, 2009. He is the director of CAI, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that supports community-based education, especially for girls in remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan."

[More Details]

-- The Kettle Rumbles

News Update from Central Asia Institute

'Click the Share button to create links to this email on popular social networking and bookmarking size like Facebook, Twitter, and Digg.'

Shared via AddThis

Someone stole $400 from Kindergarten students! Greg Mortenson has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize! Greg also now twitters! 240 schools destroyed in the violence in the Swat region. No CAI schools, but still, a sad result from the struggle between the Pakistani government and the Taliban.

BBC: Anger greets Suu Kyi conviction

Anger greets Suu Kyi conviction

World leaders have reacted with anger and disappointment at the conviction of Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi for violating security laws. [MORE]

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Not that I like the conviction at all, but 18 months doesn't seem too bad. At least, they didn't do something ridiculous like sentence her to 5+ years under house arrest. She has spent 14 years jailed in either her home or prison. Kinda makes one thankful for the political freedom we enjoy.

-- The Kettle Rumbles

Book Project Update: ...And...We're Back!

Well..kind of. Sorry for the two week hiatus. I've been busy moving into my new place, and I can't exactly be blogging willy nilly at work! I FINALLY get the Internet installed in my new place this weekend. I can't wait to return to the modern society.

Some Details on the book Project:

Book #1 is indeed #1 as it has taken the lead from Book #4 now being on its 4th reader. Book #4 is currently only with its 3rd reader. Book 11 and Book 5 are still in the running with 2 readers tallied so far.

We've raised over $300 so far for the Central Asia Institute. We also managed to help get a donation for "Free the Children."

Thanks so much to our generous readers for their donations and support.

-- The Kettle Rumbles