Aug 16th, 2010
by khanserai.
The first deaths due to hunger have been reported in Pakistan. People are living in squalor in camps that are being moved as the waters are encroaching further inland. So how will you help?
The needs are as follows in order of priority: saving lives, water, food, shelter, clothing.
Listed below are some practical do and don’ts based on interviews and reports coming in from people I know on the ground:
- DO send money through reputable sources. Avoid the “accounting challenged” institutions. Some trustworthy organizations (and it is not limited to these):
- Do NOT send food. People are asking for basic dry ingredients like rice, flour and lentils. They do not want meat as it is perishable. They do NOT want canned food which they have never eaten before (and they do not have can openers either!). Canned food is thrown, and especially if it is coming from outside Pakistan. People do NOT trust processed food coming from outside Pakistan.
- DO send money so NGOs on the ground can provide food
- Do send money so NGOs on the ground can provide cooking utensils for the survivors
- If you are local then sponsor food being cooked on-site at the camps
- Do NOT send bottled water. People have never used bottled water before and do not trust it. Truckloads of bottled water have been sent back because the victims do not want it.
- DO send money so relief workers on the ground can provide water filtration tablets and filtration systems for the people
- Do NOT send clothes from outside Pakistan. People there ONLY wear shalwar kameez. There is only a teeny tiny fraction of men who would consider wearing trousers. Everything else is useless and gets thrown.
- DO send money so clothes can be bought for the people who have nothing left except the clothes on their backs. Winter will be here in a few short months and the need will become urgent
- Do NOT send medicine unless you are coordinating with some organization on the ground that knows exactly what is the need for that particular location.
- DO send money so local doctors, hospitals and clinics can provide medical assistance for the growing number of sick.
- Do NOT send tents. The NGOs on the ground are providing tents locally. Within weeks the Internally Displaced People (IDP) will be encouraged to go back to the homes and rebuild their lives. Then they will need bricks, cement and other building materials. That is most cost effective if it is procured locally. Mud houses will be reconstructed and tarps will be used to make them more water resistant.
- DO send money so rebuilding efforts can take place in a few weeks time after the waters recede.
- DO send money to NGOs who are working on the ground. The reality is that many of them are partnering with each other, and the government to do local need assessments and relief delivery. This is preventing the duplication of resources and allowing for better coverage. The SCALE however is so big that any amount and every amount is needed.
- DO organize fundraising. Work with an organization on the ground and figure out the cost to sponsor a family or a village for the next 6 months. The victims will need help well into next year so give consistently. Make it a school project or a family project or a community project where you pledge an amount and work towards it. Then follow the progress of those people whom you helped in real terms. Each of us can be instrumental in saving lives without actually being there physically.
- And last but not least, pray for them. The second wave of flooding is starting. Every province in Pakistan has been impacted, from the north to the south. The rains will continue for several more weeks so many more villages, towns and cities will be flooded. Most dams are reaching their max. Canals and barrages are at capacity and rich feudal land owners do not want to divert water in ways that would save lives but destroy their crops. The people on the ground are being left to fend for themselves. NGOs, the army (and some small government efforts) are working hard to help the common man but the scale is overwhelming.
“This has been a heart-wrenching day for me. I will never forget the destruction and suffering I have witnessed today. In the past, I have witnessed many natural disasters around the world, but nothing like this.”
Ban Ki-Moon, UN Secretary-General
Posted in: World.
Tagged: aid · assistance · flood · help · islamic relief · pakistan · unhcr · unicef
Aug 15th, 2010
by khanserai.
Floods in Pakistan have killed more than 1500 people and displaced 20 million (that’s more than the Asia tsunami and Haiti combined). Cholera cases are being found and the next wave of deaths could conceivably come from disease rather than destruction. 
With daily monsoon rains that are not abating, and will continue for another month, virtually all dams and barrages that run the length of the country are poised to flood (assuming they have not already flooded).
As standing crops were destroyed, these 20 million mostly rural populations have no means for livelihood for another year. The situation is so bad that Afghan refugees who have been in Pakistan for more than 2 decades are thinking of going back- a warn-torn country is preferable to the current misery!
To get a scale of the numbers, 20 million displaced is the equivalent of:
- All of New York state- can you imagine the whole state submerged?
- Pennsylvania + Delaware + Maryland – all three submerged and all residents looking for shelter somewhere?
- Michigan + Ohio. Where would the people go?
- Florida state – how will they survive?
For those of you who live in Europe, it would be like losing:
- Austria + Switzerland. Yes, it is like losing two whole countries- submerged and all their residents looking for food, shelter and the basics of life.
- Sweden + Norway + Denmark combined.
For those of you who live in other parts of the world, 20 million is :
- Israel + Jordan + Lebanon combined
- The native population of Saudi Arabia (excluding expats & foreign workers)
- The whole population of Sri Lanka
- All of Chile
We can cut the numbers in many ways but what we always come down to is human misery and very little hope at a mind-boggling scale.
What are YOU doing to help?
* Eye witness accounts mention that whole villages have been swept away and only doorways are left standing
Posted in: World.
Tagged: aid · assistance · cholera · flood · help · misery · pakistan
Aug 31st, 2009
by khanserai.
Strategic communication recently made the news because of a column Admiral Mullen, Chairman of the US Joint Chief of Staff wrote for the Joint Forces Quarterly. His basic point was that by making it an organizing item, strategic communication has become a goal in itself, rather than being a process to enable the larger objectives. Lacking credibility and trust, and by having double standards between words and actions, leaves the US in a position where it is not effective. As he states:
The Muslim community is a subtle world we don’t fully—and don’t always attempt to—understand.
In a similar vein, Beth Noveck, the Deputy Chief Technology Officer from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy gave the keynote address at a United States Institute of Peace event “Smart Tools for Smart Power.” She highlighted the Obama administration goal of renewing the US relationship with Muslim communities, and asked the question of how serious gaming or any other technologies can be used for achieving the purpose (and several others).
There seems to be a general and open acknowledgement in the Obama administration that actions speak louder than words, and the US needs new actions (and policy) to engage with Muslim communities. There also seems to be a void that needs to be filled regarding “what should we do about it?”
How can credibility be built without resorting to propaganda and patronizing? How will a culture of respect and dialogue (that includes listening!) be established when the recent harsh memories are those of arrogance and disregard for human life? Abu Ghraib, Haditha and Guantanamo are not just news stories but the reality for many. It will be a long uphill struggle for hearts and minds requiring a commitment that stretches beyond four year presidential terms.
Posted in: America, mental cud.
Tagged: abu ghraib · gitmo · guantanamo · haditha · islam · Mullen · muslim · Noveck · obama · strategic communication · US
Aug 30th, 2009
by khanserai.
According to some reports 800+ people have been arrested in Riyadh for wearing low-slung jeans and sporting Afros in Saudi Arabia. Mosques in the Eastern Province have warned people that they will be banned if they are caught with either at prayer time and can also be arrested.
The youth arrested were released after their parents were called to get them and after they promised to never do it again. What is more likely: the youth will change their style or avoid the mosque?
An unanswered question is why would a mosque ban a worshipper? Common sense says that if a person if coming to the mosque to pray you want to encourage their good behavior, and use the opportunity to educate them (without the fire and brimstone style boring lectures of course). Crazy fashions are a part of youth and people outgrow them with age.
But banning these young men from coming to the mosque helps neither the youth nor the society. Associating the mosque with an oppressive environment where a person can get arrested for wearing the “wrong” clothes is not conducive for a longer term attachment towards religion, or even respect for local traditions.
An educational approach would be more effective in this case rather than draconian measures.
Posted in: Saudi Arabia.
Tagged: afro · arrest · ban · jeans · mosque · youth
Aug 29th, 2009
by khanserai.
The founder of Blackwater, Erik Prince was officially charged in court on Friday, Aug 29, 2009 with intent to kill .
The plaintiffs hold Erik Prince responsible for 20+ Iraqi deaths, and the defense wants the motion to be dismissed. The Judge, T.S. Ellis III has not issued a ruling yet, however as the Washington Post reports:
Judge T.S. Ellis III expressed deep skepticism about the claims. "Are you accusing Mr. Prince of saying ‘I want our boys to go out and shoot innocent civilians?’ ” he asked the attorneys."These are certainly allegations of not engaging in very nice conduct, but where are the elements that meet the elements of murder? I don’t have any doubt that you can infer malice. What you can’t infer, as far as I can tell, is intent to kill these people.”
It sounds like he has already made up his mind.
Blackwater (wiki link and official Xe website link) is the CIA contractor that was hired to assassinate al-Qaeda leaders in Afghanistan; and also transfer Guantanamo detainees to secret prisons in Asia for interrogations.
There is finally talk of charging Blackwater with war crimes by the Justice Department. Their subsidiaries and them are also currently charged with kidnapping, weapons smuggling, money laundering, tax evasion, child prostitution, illegal drug use and destruction of evidence in the Virginia Eastern Federal District Court under the Alien Tort Claims Act.
Posted in: America, mental cud.
Tagged: Blackwater · CIA · court · Erik Prince · justice · torture · USA · Xe
Aug 28th, 2009
by khanserai.
Despite the Saudi crackdowns on suspected militants, the latest attack by Al- Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) was an assassination attempt against the Assistant Interior Minister for Security Affairs.
Prince Mohammad bin Naif was only slightly injured by the suicide bomber however the security breach was HUGE. Arab News reports:
The king asked Prince Muhammad why was the terrorist allowed in without proper checks, to which the prince replied, “It was a mistake.”
Basically a known militant had indicated that he wanted to turn himself in and thus he was allowed to enter Prince Muhammad’s office without proper checking. AP reports the Prince said:
"I did not want him to be searched, but he surprised me by blowing himself up"
Saudi Arabia will no doubt tighten its security procedures; hopefully it will APPLY it’s procedures to all royal visitors, even if it seems disrespectful to distrust them. It would be good if civil liberties are not further violated in the expected crackdown.
Posted in: Saudi Arabia.
Tagged: al qaeda · assassination · militant · naif · nayef · prince · royal · suicide · terrorism
Aug 26th, 2009
by khanserai.
China produces some 95% of the world’s rare metals, mostly mined in Mongolia. With its virtual monopoly over the world’s rare earth elements (REE) supply, China is considering banning the export of some and drastically reducing the export of others to ensure sufficient supply for its internal demand. So why do we care?
REEs are essential ingredients in a variety of technologies that we rely on: low energy light bulbs, solar panels, wind turbines, semiconductors, smart phones (yes, the iPhone is included in this list), TVs, hybrid cars, smart bombs, lasers, Stinger missiles to name a few. Many industries will be impacted if such a ban is enforced and that will directly reflect on availability and prices in the short to medium term. The existing smuggling trade will flourish.
The Japanese government already has a “Strategy for Ensuring Stable Supplies of Rare Metals” and Japanese companies are trying to create agreements with countries like Kazakhstan and Indonesia to ensure a steady REE supply for themselves.
In the longer term, the supply of REEs will stabilize once again as private companies that were previously driven out of the market by China will reinvest in their mines to meet the gap.
So China is going to cut supplies and Japan is already hoarding- what are other countries planning on doing?
Posted in: Global Economy.
Tagged: china · Indonesia · Japan · Kazakhstan · metal · Mongolia · rare earth element · REE
Aug 25th, 2009
by khanserai.
Did you know that the US Postal Service (USPS) is the second largest civilian employer in the country, after Wal-mart? It has also been running in the red and after cutting 25,000 jobs earlier this year it is offering to pay some 30,000 additional workers to leave.
Facing a $2.6 billion loss in the last quarter (projected to be $7billion by the end of the year), the USPS has been badly hit by the recession. Not only has the volume of regular mail gone down as more electronic options abound (email and electronic bill paying systems), the source of 25% of its revenue in the past has drastically been reduced: JUNK MAIL or as it is euphemistically called “standard mail”!! As all retailers have been hit by dwindling revenue streams they have been forced to cut marketing budgets, and make smarter choices about what fliers/catalogs that need to be sent, and to whom.
Trying to cut costs, USPS has also selected 677 post offices to be closed or merged, mail routes are changing and mail boxes are being reduced. Congress is holding hearings to review the changes that USPS is proposing, including changing their delivery schedule to 5 days a week (instead of the current 6).
On the positive side, at least there are no strikes yet as are being seen in Scotland, England and Northern Ireland protesting similar cost-cutting actions.
We are reaching a stage where the concept of mail needs to be re-examined and revamped to better meet the needs of today’s technology-savvy consumers.
Posted in: America, mental cud.
Tagged: costs · London · mail · Northern Ireland · post · postal service · recession · Scotland · strikes · UK · unemployment · unions · USPS
Aug 24th, 2009
by khanserai.
The controversial CIA program for assassinating al-Qaeda leaders using Blackwater as a contractor is becoming an ever-increasing political problem for the CIA as more information gets revealed. Congress was not informed about the program’s existence when it was formed in 2004. The new CIA Director Leon Panetta (Obama’s appointee) cancelled the program this summer when he found out about it and then informed Congress. The CIA claims that it was in the planning stages only; since then it seems that it was past the planning stages, though it was not successful in it’s seven years.
Congress has launched an investigation into the matter and most importantly the mood is changing on the Hill regarding illegal activity by the CIA. The Washington Post reports that the Obama administration is currently evaluating if they should release:
newly declassified portions of a 2004 CIA report that questions the legality and effectiveness of the agency’s harsh interrogations at secret prisons. Additionally, Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. may order a probe of possible criminal actions by CIA officers and contractors during those interrogations.
It is about time the legislative and judicial branches of the government actually started acting based on their mandates rather than giving a carte blanche to the executive branch as they did for the past 8 years under Bush. The separation of the various government branches is to ensure checks and balances within the system; however the more we find out about the inner working of the past administration, the more we realize that the judicial & legislative branch were made irrelevant by the ever-expanding power of the executive branch.
America needs to re-establish the rule of law for itself, and not just expect it from other countries. People in glass houses should not throw stones!
Posted in: America, mental cud.
Tagged: al qaeda · Blackwater · Bush · CIA · Panetta · Xe
Aug 23rd, 2009
by khanserai.
The outskirts of Riyadh is home to one of the largest camel markets in the Middle East. Spread out over several acres there are camels in every color and size, hay and stalls as far as the eye can see. They are available for purchase as food, as assets or as pets. The next few days posts will feature different pictures taken at the camel souk.
Camel herders today are connected to the modern world with their cell phones!
Posted in: Saudi Arabia Photos.
Tagged: camel · market · riyadh · souk
