Afghanistan: This is our reality

[Charleston Chew]

Run time: 03:03 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jSIGoplOgg   Posted on YouTube: March 13, 2011 By YouTube Member: MSFAustralia Views on YouTube: 14   Posted on DU: March 14, 2011 By DU Member: Charleston Chew Views on DU: 737

 
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MSF Australia
Mar 13, 2011

Photos by photojournalist Kate Holt

In this photofilm, patients and caregivers at Boost hospital, Helmand province, highlight - in their own voices - some of the realities of living in Afghanistan today, especially the challenges of accessing healthcare in a war-torn country. Throughout the country, the reality is that few health centres existing on paper are actually functioning. They often lack drugs and medical staff. Roads have become difficult and dangerous. For the patients, access to the few health structures that do work often mean great risk and expense to get to.

The anonymity of patients is respected by not identifying their faces or real names. Médecins Sans Frontières has worked in Boost hospital since end-2009, providing free, quality medical care in a weapons free environment.

http://www.msf.org/msf/articles/2011/03/afghanistan-this-is-our-reality.cfm
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Collateral Damage - Afghanistan

Following the Oruzgan killing of an Afghan family, three Australian soldiers now face a court martial. How could a family with 6 children have been slaughtered? To date there is no evidence any were associated with the Taliban.

Maintaining to this day that they were innocent civilians, the families of those affected by the raid are fuming that their names are still being dragged through the mud. Shortly after the attack, local man Shipiro said, "I asked the interpreter what they said, he said they made a mistake. Instead of the house on the hill, they attacked us". Many questions remain unanswered surrounding what actually happened that fateful day.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x551512
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Media ignores infinite Afghan war

Instead of investigating further, the mainstream media appears to be more concerned with entertainment news, such as the Kardashian's new product, than a war that has claimed the lives of thousands of Americans and innocent Afghan civilians. Founder of Brave New Films Robert Greenwald says I think it's a combination of factors; first of all, it's only been in the last 5 or so years that the networks have forced news to become an income source the same way they look at sports or entertainment.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x539390
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New Year, Same Afghan problems

The United States has been at war for over 9 years in Afghanistan but has yet to see major gains despite claims from the Obama Administration that there has been significant progress. Voices for Creative Nonviolence Co-coordinator Kathy Kelly says this is a land that belongs to the people of Afghanistan. A prior question should be what do Afghan people want for their country? Not, what kind of designs does the United States have on their resources around their geo-political placement.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x539410
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Spending in Afghanistan: up to 2008 and 2009

| January 05, 2011 |
This video and information is courtesy of YouTubes "Ralphdraw3"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x540583
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Damning Report Shows U.S. Strategy Blocking Chance for Peace in Afghanistan

The new report from NYU's Center for International Cooperation is a damning description of the U.S. policies in Afghanistan since 2001, and a warning that the escalated military strategy blocks the road to peace while making the Taliban more dangerous.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x551688
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Afghan Civilian Deaths Hit Record Levels

2010: Afghan Civilian Deaths Hit Record Levels

According to a new report, at least 2,421 civilians were killed in Afghanistan last year, a record high since the U.S. invasion in 2001. U.S. and other foreign deaths also hit their highest levels last year since the start of the war. A total of 499 US troops and 212 other coalition members lost their lives in fighting in Afghanistan in 2010.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x553689
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[annm4peace]

1. thank you.

I try to remember to post from www.rawa.org

I'll send this to others. this Week and next there are protests to end the wars all over the nation..

Write your Congress members and the President
Send them pictures of these images.

[Charleston Chew]

2. Your comment & link are appreciated.

Obviously Afghanistan is not "trending" on Democratic Underground at the moment. It is reassuring to see that someone has not forgotten. Any and links are welcome on this thread.

[Plucketeer]

3. With SO MUCH SHIT

happening faster than one can ingest, it's hard for ANYTHING to "trend" for more than a couple days! Ma Nature - she's not gonna worry about the troubles we cause - at least, not those of any immediacy. But I THINK we need to keep the pressure on what sprouted in Madison. THAT could be the "foot in the door" that leads to REAL CHANGE. Not the hollow promise(s) we were handed that won us a flag for racial equality, but change that COULD SEE folks with course-changing capabilities take the wheel. A course that would take us as far as we can get from the Kamikazi practice known as capitalism and ALL the ills that it spawns! Including the ridiculous occupation and evisceration of Afghanistan - among many cash-sucking idiotic pursuits.

We need to COME home from our overseas outposts. Support Afghanistan by buying it's drug crops and GIVING it to those who cost us BILLIONS trying to intervene. Same way with what comes from south of the border. Fly that stuff into the USA and HAND IT OUT - for free - to those stupid enough to use it!

Afghanistan NEVER attacked us! Mexico & Columbia & all those other drug-harvesting places - they've never attacked us. And yet, THEY and WE suffer because we've got this stupid notion that we can save ourselves FROM ourselves - if only we'll sacrafice enough blood and treasure to decimate anything and everything that doesn't fit the frame of "American Ideals".

[Charleston Chew]

4. kick, new life