New Roots In Afghanistan

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2007-02-06T13:42:00.000-08:00

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With Nancy Pelosi

2007-01-09T21:30:00.000-08:00

The California sunshine beamed upon Washington, D.C. as temperatures in the seventies warmed bi-partisan support for the first woman Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. Sunny skies were forecasted ahead for our nation by taxi drivers, receptionists, and stoic security guards, as they reviewed my credentials from the San Francisco Bay Area with great enthusiasm! “This is an historic moment, for Congress, and for the women of this country. It is a moment for which we have waited more than 200 years,” Pelosi proclaimed, to a roaring ovation in the packed House chamber.

Prior to the historic passing of the gavel, there was a private reception hosted in the Library of Congress in the prestigious Jefferson Room where portraits of ancient women at the helm ordained the mantle of the marble fireplace—foreshadowing the moments which lay ahead. With a reputation for standing gracefully firm and working notoriously hard, Nancy stood only a few feet away with her husband, children, and grandchildren firmly by her side—it was a site to behold. As Nancy spoke of her journey from “The Kitchen to Congress,” I reflected upon my own journey from “The Basement to the Beltway” which has empowered us to take “San Francisco values” to the heart our nations’ capitol with a grounded vision for waging peace in war-torn regions by turning “seeds of terror into seeds of hope.”

The convergence of circumstances which led to this moment began with the “launch” of the vision for Roots of Peace in April 1998, as Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi and Mrs. Kofi Annan joined me at The World Trade Club with a host of hundreds of women whom I gathered to continue the quest to remove landmines from our one earth--the skin of Mother nature. In May 1999, Nancy and Paul Pelosi continued to support our efforts, and attended our private VIP dinner hosted by Robert and Margit Mondavi in Napa Valley—a evening which raised over $30,000 to begin our first Roots of Peace project in Dragalic, Croatia. The U.S. Department of State and CROMAC matched these funds and the project ultimately was valued at $120,000.

As the years rolled by, Nancy continued to support our efforts through a dear mutual friend, Erika Hills (co-owner of Grgich Hills Cellar) who hosted Hermès of Paris luncheons to benefit the efforts of Roots of Peace. En route to a luncheon together on August 17, 2005 to hear about our recent travels to Afghanistan, Erika was tragically killed in an accident where 5 tons of metal flew across the panoramic Silverado Trail—an ironic twist of fate as she was deeply concerned for my safety along the mine-riddled roads of Kabul. Solemnly, we sat next to one another for Erika’s funeral, as Nancy is the type of woman who knows her priorities and weighs the value of friendship and family at the highest echelon.

Now, as I gazed at Nancy’s gracious demeanor with a global sense of “awe,” her words resonated with truth as she stated, “Today we change the direction of our country. We will restore civility, integrity, and fiscal responsibility.” As the 100 legislative hours focus on mitigating the $350 billion in damage to Iraq and the death of over 3,000 brave American troops, I truly hope that Nancy will continue her leadership role by converting “swords into plowshares” in Afghanistan—creating an army of peacebuilders from the bottom up, as we vowed in our initial MINES TO VINES global toast to peace in 1998.

Armed with shovels and plows, Afghan farmers may transform this pivitol “country in transition” back to its’ original namesake—The Garden of Central Asia. Congressional dollars may be appropriated towards sustainable agriculture, as we replicate the Roots of Peace model where over 10,000 Afghan farmers have been trained to grow grapes and over 100 metric tons of fresh fruits and vegetables have been exported to India, UAE, Pakistan, Ukraine, Germany and Russia. While Iraq continues to be a quagmire, there is a “window of opportunity” to win the war on terrorism in Afghanistan—with an army of farmers harvesting and exporting healthy crops!

Lunch with Laura Bush

2006-12-12T09:20:00.000-08:00

Roots of Peace is a “humanitarian organization” which prides itself on balancing the many political landmines which challenge our ability to ground our mission—getting the landmines out of the ground!

Yet, the date of December 4, 2006, marks the 9th anniversary of the signing of the Ottawa Treaty to Ban Landmines whereby 151 nations have signed this historic document where I was present in 1997 to personally witness this somber event featuring Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Jody Williams, who would later join our Roots of Peace Board of Directors with a vision to restore bountiful agriculture on former minefields.

Joining the heart of a mother years ago in Ottawa were distinguished California vintners, Eric Wente (Owner, Wente Wines), Tor Kenward (Senior Vice President, Beringer Wine Estates) and Robert Mondavi Winery/Canada. Respecting the plight of other farmers living in mine affected countries, we made this quest to Canada in the midst of a cold December day to celebrate the seeds we have in common rather than those which separate us. This was the beginning of a dream that would later be turned into reality—worldwide.

Months later, we turned this vision of MINES TO VINES into reality, as we gathered several hundred women to join us at The World Trade Club in San Francisco in April 1998 to go forth on the issue of landmines—this was a “call to action” for women worldwide to take the royal torch lit by the late Princess Diana and light the way forth on the landmine issue. My only credentials were the heart of a mother.

Among the distinguished guests were Mrs. Kofi (Nane) Annan and a relatively “new” San Francisco Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi. Together, we lifted our glasses with a special toast and vision to replace seeds of terror with seeds of hope. Nearly 10 years later, who knew where this stars of our destinies would rise, as the Honorable Nancy Pelosi is destined to be the first woman Speaker of the House!

Thus, I was honored to return to Washington, D.C. on December 4, 2006, to at the invitation of the U.S. - Afghan Women’s Council to attend a special event featuring keynote speaker, First Lady Laura Bush.

President George W. Bush and President Hamid Karzai announced the creation of the Council in 2002, which is co-chaired by Under-Secretary of State, Paula Dobriansky. Quietly sitting in the audience, I realized that this was a most fitting day to feature the inroads made in Afghanistan, as it is considered the most highly contaminated country in the world consisting of an estimated 10 million landmines and UXO’s which prevent the cultivation of agriculture and the sowing of the seeds of democracy. Silently, I recognized the significance of this special day of December 4th, and images of the landmine survivors whom we met only weeks ago remained etched in the forefront of my mind.

The accomplishments of the U.S. - Afghan Women’s Council are vast, and the powerful speakers included First Lady Laura Bush, President John DiGioia of Georgetown University, Ambassador Said Tayeb Jawad, Afghan Ambassador to the United States, and Under-Secretary of State Paula Dobriansky. The backdrop of the traditional Gaston Hall at the first Jesuit University in the United States added to the serious nature of this event, as key individuals pledged their continued commitment towards helping to rebuild Afghanistan on so many levels. This prestigious organization was established to ensure that Afghan women gain the skills and education necessary to participate in all sectors of society and to stimulate private and public assistance for such activities.

As the audience rose to greet The First Lady Laura Bush, she announced a new partnership between the U.S - Afghan Women’s Council and Georgetown University. Over the next two years, the Council and Georgetown will work to help empower Afghan women. The four key areas are: Education, Health, Economic Empowerment, and Political Participation and Training. Such tools will provide construction for a new Afghanistan. It was refreshing to hear the accomplishments amidst the perils, as during the past five years, the U.S. Government has contributed more than $10.3 billion to help Afghan reconstruction.

The First Lady stated, “In Afghanistan, courageous men and women are working every single day to build a stable and a democratic society for themselves. And, more than 7 million Afghans have access to health care. An additional 6 million Afghan children—including 2 million girls—now go to school.” As Shamim and I listened to those words from the front rows of the audience, we thought of the many Afghan children that we have truly helped through our Roots of Peace Penny Campaign!

The closing words by Shamim’s husband, Ambassador Said Tayeb Jawad, resonated in our hearts as he clearly stated, “Like a precious Afghan Embroidery, many hands and different colored threads are working together to restore the fabric of our society.”

As these words echoed through the chambers of Gaston Hall, we recognized that we had a Holiday dream from the heart of our nations’ capitol in Washington, D.C. For it every child in the world were able to gather their smallest denomination of “pennies for peace,” “rubles for peace,” “pesos for peace,” “yens for peace” and any lucky coins found along the road, then we would be able to pave the way for peace during this traditional season of “Peace on Earth.” During these challenging times, it is going to take a miracle. Yet, what better emissaries for peace than children to lead the way for a peaceful tomorrow…

Queen Noor of Jordan

2006-11-14T09:31:00.000-08:00

The finale of our journey to Afghanistan culminated with an invitation by Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan to attend the King Hussein Foundation International PEACE-BUILDERS Gala hosted in New York City. In less than 30 days, this was quite a contrast to exchange our bullet proof vests in the Afghan vineyards for elegant ball gowns in the Big Apple!

Few mothers living in America have shared the experience of walking through a minefield, yet our three smiles depicted our genuine spirit of commitment towards illuminating the landmine issue so that families do not have to suffer the perils of landmines for generations to come…

What had led us to this moment? Seated at our table this evening was and old friend, Jerry White, Founder of Landmine Survivors Network, and it was at this moment that memories began to converge regarding the pathway that led us on a quest to the minefields of the world. Nearly 10 years ago, Jerry had entered the living room of our family home in Marin County, just outside San Francisco, with a compelling story on the landmine issue following the death of the late Princess Diana whom he personally escorted through Bosnia in August 1997.

Overcome with grief after attending her funeral in England, he spoke from the heart. As he sat on our living room couch, he rolled up his pants to reveal his artificial limb much to the surprise of our children who were not yet teenagers. Jerry told his personal story of a young Catholic boy from Brown University hiking the Golan Heights on a beautiful April morning with three buddies. Boom! Suddenly, his leg was torn off and his two friends had to walk him through an unmarked minefield—step by step—as blood spilled from his strapping body as they were all uncertain of the pathway that lay ahead. As a cancer survivor, I suddenly realized that landmines were a cancer to the earth. A childhood friend quietly played “Candle in the Wind” on the piano, as I lifted my glass in a toast that “The world may go from MINES TO VINES…” It was an epiphany of sorts, as a cascade of blood to wine washed through my mind like a wathercolor wash…turning killing fields into bountiful vineyards.

Unknown to our family was the fact that Jerry and the other speakers were destined to win the Nobel Peace Prize on the landmine issue just days later. Jody Williams, 1997 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, would later join our Roots of Peace Board of Directors…The scene was set.

As years went by, Jerry told me the special story of Her Majesty Queen Noor and King Hussein, as his final vision was to eradicate landmines from his beloved country of Jordan. As the King was riddled with cancer, he prepared a special “gift of life” for Jerry upon his visit to Jordan. According to Jerry, the Queen had taken him across the desert in her Land Rover to the banks of a river. Faith was his guide. Upon arrival, a gathering of interfaith clergy appeared as King Hussein and Her Majesty Queen Noor had arranged for the removal of landmines at the site where John the Baptist was said to have performed miracles along the riverbank. Once infested with landmines, these pristine waters were now cleared of these deadly seeds of terror.

My deepest respect for Her Majesty Queen Noor has only grown throughout the years as this story was revealed to me, for her grace radiates from within. Her particular words on this evening called upon global citizens to remember that we are “all sons and daughters of Abraham.” As a Hashemite descendent of the Prophet Muhammad, King Hussein believed he had a responsibility to reach out to and support all people—Arabs, Muslims, and others—to provide hope and opportunity to help them achieve their potential and accomplish their goals. Her Majesty said that he also knew that by focusing on a broader concept of human security—sharing the opportunities and benefits of our world with all people, and enabling them to contribute in return—could we transcend the deprivation and hopelessness that so often lead to conflict and insecurity.

On the eve of our traditional season of “Peace on Earth,” I am reminded of generational wisdom derived throughout the ages from many cultures.

As we prepared to depart on our mission to Afghanistan, several friends of various faiths sent us words of inspiration:

“The Sacred Hoop of any Nation is but one of many that together make the great circle of creation. In the center is a mighty flowering tree of life sheltering all the children of one mother and one father. All life is holy. We are part of the earth and it is part of us. To harm the earth, precious to God—to upset the balance of the circle—is to heap contempt on its creator. Therefore, with all our heart and mind, we must restore the balance of the earth for our grandchildren and the seventh generation.” ---From the Wisdom of Black Elk, Chief of Seattle

“It is a crucial thing to come to a point of decision, to weigh courses of action, to sense the meaning of directions. It is in such a moment that you know ether you are on the side of life or death, and the choice is yours to make. To affirm life is to accept growth, to accept challenge, to move with all of one’s full-orbited intent in response to the deepest that stirs within. Then the miracle takes place, the deepest thing in you, somehow makes contact with the deepest thing in life, and you know that the decision is on the side of life, not death.” ---Howard Thurman, Meditations of the Heart (1957).

“And they shall beat their swords into plowshares
And their spears into pruning hooks
Nation shall not lift up sword against nation
Neither shall they learn war anymore.”
--The Isaiah Prophesy 2:4-5

From minefields to soccerfields

2006-10-31T09:41:00.000-08:00

The Roots of Peace Girls Afghan Soccer Team greeted us with bright smiles on their home turf in Karte Char! Each week for the past several years, they have practiced diligently on the Roots of Peace Soccer Field surrounded by high walls to prevent the public from seeing these talented girls play a team sport.

Respectful of the Muslim culture, they play with long pants and scarves tied around their heads as they balance many worlds on the tip of their cleats. Shamim proudly joined me, as we distributed the official Roots of Peace team warm-ups featuring our logo with the grapevine and dove of peace.

It was especially wonderful to see Ahmad, the coach of the Roots of Peace Girls Soccer Team, as we had originally met him last August 2005 at the ICRC Clinic. My daughter Kyleigh had spoken to him as an 18 year old peer, as he was waiting to have a new leg adjusted where the limb was missing from the waist down. As Kyleigh asked Ahmad what was his favorite thing to do before his “accident”, he replied, “I loved to play soccer!” And, so we hired him on the spot as the official Roots of Peace Coach, where he proudly honed in on the girls’ skills leading them to national victory at the soccer field in Kabul—the same site where women were persecuted for not wearing their burka. Now, with three legs (two crutches and his good leg!), Ahmad represents the spirit of Afghanistan where the word “amputee” represents a badge of courage.

As the afternoon unfolded, the Roots of Peace Girls Soccer team presented us a paper tissue kite featuring the colors of Afghanistan—black, red, green and white! Suddenly, we were living the high life as we flew our brightly colored kites in the sky!

Running fast on former battlefields converted into playgrounds, we felt the surge of energy as the roots of peace were firmly grounded beneath our feet. Holding the spool next to our chests, we felt the heartstrings of kite thread connecting our earthly bodies to the skies above! Our colorful kites whisked in the wind as we battled for victory high above the landscape of Kabul.

Surviving the challenges of the week, we ran hard on the soils of Afghanistan and celebrated the fact that we were now were truly kite runners for peace!

President Karzai and the fruits of his soils

2006-10-14T22:29:00.000-07:00

As we walked outside of his offices, one could visibly see the sense of joy in his face! President Karzai gracefully placed his signature hat upon his head and walked into the formal room for a presentation of our fresh grapes and pomegranates. As I presented the boxes that were branded with the ROOTS OF PEACE LOGO of Afghan Sweet Grapes, the marketing concept was clear as his hand reached in to pull out the fruits of his soils.

The pomegranates were branded in a new corrugated box with the term AFGHAN GROWN prominently fixed on the decorated box. I explained that when Roots of Peace originally arrived in Afghanistan, the farmers were carrying the grapes on burlap sacks to market which bruised the fruit and provided no market identification. Now, by establishing the first cold storage chain, Roots of Peace is helping Afghan farmers to export fresh grapes across borders so that there is a shelf life for this beautiful produce.

As he glanced at the box, he saw our new RoP website for the Afghan farmers. President Karzai proudly held up the pomegranate and explained to the audience the best way to eat this delicious fruit harvested from the fields of his boyhood dreams in Kandahar!

Afghanistan’s recent history has left it one of the poorest countries in the world. Agricultural development will go a long way to improve Afghan lives and Roots of Peace is proud to help Afghanistan achieve its potential—one footsteps at a time. The events of the day were later seen on Afghan National Television, as the footsteps of two mothers of Afghan and American heritage brought “hope” to a country in transition.

A special “tashakor” to Ambassador Said Tayeb Jawad, Mrs. Shamim Jawad and Ashraf Haidari for taking the risk to believe in the heart of a mother, as the “gift” of compassion may help to heal the wounds of war in Afghanistan by replacing the scourge of landmines with the nectar of fresh grapes and pomegranates! …From Mines to Vines…

Inshallah!

Fertile grounds for peace!

2006-10-14T22:09:00.000-07:00

I continued to reveal my "recipe for peace" as I explained that in addition to grafting, Roots of Peace has shown farmers how to build multiplication nurseries to grow saplings from cuttings pruned off existing vines. These nurseries—17 in 2005 and 38 in 2006—will help quickly replace missing vineyards destroyed by war and drought. Creating this supply of new plants, expected to be over 300,000 in 2006, is vital to rebuilding production. The demand for saplings is so high that one farmer made over $4,000 off of his nursery! Now, President Karzai’s eyes were really lighting up!

Together with farmers, the Roots of Peace program has built over 1,000 trellising demonstration plots in private vineyards—to show farmers the benefit of this technique on their own grapes in their own fields. The advantage of the trellis is three-fold:
It keeps grapes off the soil where they are susceptible to disease; it makes work for the farmers easier; and leaves more room on the ground for additional plants (no poppies!)
These benefits combine to double the farmers’ income. Roots of Peace has published a manual that shows farmers how to use readily available supplies and equipment to buld the concrete poles themselves for less than USD $7 each! (My own father was in the concrete block business that helped to build San Francisco, so I spoke with a voice of pioneer spirit experience!)

NEW ROOTS IN AFGHANISTAN means helping Afghan products reach international markets and will help them take their own giant footstep forward toward self-sustainability in the creation of alternative livelihood programs. Roots of Peace helped merchants sell over 100mt of chilled fresh grapes in 2005 to markets Afghanistan has never reached before: Germany, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Kuwait, India, and yes…even to Russia with love!

WALK THE TALK means opening new market channels, as Roots of Peace opened the formal first trade between Kabul and Moscow through “clusters of grapes” in sharp contrast to the “clusters of bombs” that sowed seeds of hated into the soils of Afghanistan in the 1970’s. Now, this was fertile grounds for peace!

Sitting next to President Karzai

2006-10-14T22:05:00.000-07:00

As I walked into the Office of the President, I was stunned by the innate beauty of the Afghan craftsmanship that decorated our surroundings for visiting dignitaries. Suddenly, Shamim told me that I would be sitting next to President Karzai in the same seat that Tony Blair and George Bush are placed for formal meetings. Seconds later, the elegant President Hamid Karzai appeared to greet his guests from America as I was escorted by the Minister of Protocol to “the chair.”

A flash of cameras and television lights immediately filled the room, and I knew that I must quickly think on my feet (thank goodness I still had them after walking through the minefields!)

Time was precious, and I delivered my soundbite that Roots of Peace has raised the necessary funds to remove over 100,000 landmines and UXO’s north of Kabul in the once fertile Shomali Plains. Over 6000 Afghan farmers have been trained by us as they produce alternative agricultural livelihoods—terms President Karzai called forth during his recent visit to the United States for the Opening of the General Assembly! The Roots of Peace program works with merchants to communicate improved production techniques and new quality requirements to the farmers they buy from. Marketing experts then help associations of merchants and farmers build the capacity and infrastructure they need to reach international markets—increasing national income and farm-gate prices.

Grape production in the Shomali Valley is now mostly focused on smaller raisin grapes, but farmers are eager to switch to more profitable grapes! Roots of Peace has helped 1000 local farmers “graft” higher value vines onto 6,300 existing roots, allowing them to quickly switch varieties and increase income. The new varieties are large enough for the international market and command much higher prices locally as well!

This was MUSIC to President Karzai’s ears, as the country harvested over 59% higher opium poppy!

The forbidden fruit

2006-10-14T21:28:00.000-07:00

The tremendous honor of being granted a private meeting with His Excellency President Hamid Karzai brought yet another dimension to our journey of hope for Afghanistan, as our footsteps for peace took us through The Palace gates in Kabul. A majestic fortress protected this great President who emanates grace, intelligence and courage as he wakes each morning seeking to bring a brighter new day to the deserving people of Afghanistan.

Pioneering the seeds of democracy on his war torn homeland amidst daily suicide car bombings and NATO forces requires vigilance and great leadership, yet his chiseled face represents a deep sense of peace and grounded confidence. Shamim and I were most humbled to receive this private meeting with President Karzai during this critical “window of time” in Afghan history.

Driving in our bullet proof car through the gates of The Palace immediately elevated our senses. Great beauty amidst great security. Barbed wires arched in endless circles decorated the ancient architectural walls in a haunting beauty. And, majestic pine trees lined the long roadway with snipers rather than birds perched on branches protecting the entrance to this commanding royal structure. Cement barriers filled with bright red geraniums reflected the juxtaposition of war-time culture.

One could only dream of former times and imagine these great Palace grounds which proudly represented the cultural history which extended outside of these gates to this exotic country of Afghanistan. Shamim quietly whispered that all of Kabul once looked like the palace gardens before the invasion of the Soviets and Taliban—this was the place of her dreams. Palace guards stood tall with machine guns strapped to their ceremonial military attire.

Our “gift” to President Karzai was a simple carton of fresh grapes and pomegranates harvested on former minefields, and this forbidden fruit was carefully examined at every single checkpoint.

Let It Be

2006-10-13T22:46:00.000-07:00

Visibly shakenshaken from the sound of the blast, we stood up and wiped the dirt from our pants. Suddenly, a farmer who had lost a limb to a landmine in the region came up to thank us for helping to restore peace in his village. I felt so unwarrented. There were so many landmines left to detonate, and yet we had just uncovered ONE. Smiling, he limped over to us and presented freshly made "boloonee"--a delicious Afghan bread stuffed with fresh green onions harvested from fields which Roots of Peace had demined. These were very poor people, and they probably sacrificed the food for their family to extend their most sincere hospitality to their visitors. The Afghan people are proud, and it is their culture to extend hospitality to visitors --especially those who make their fields safe for future generations.

As I bit into the warm boloonee, it was the most delicious bread I had ever eaten--perhaps because it was baked by the loving hands of an Afghan mother in appreciation for making the soils safe for her children to play. IMAGINE, if only the world may begin to remove "seeds of terror" from the earth from the ground up --one landmine at a time-- then global citizens may start to break bread with their neighbors again. IMAGINE, if amber waves of grain grew upon former minefields, and the American way may lead to a pathway in Afghanistan where the "roots" of peace may flourish from the ground up--not the top down.

As I walked down the dusty road by myself as the Afghan sun began to set, I realized how far I had come from my childhood dreams in California to bring "hope" to families half ways across the world. Quietly, I began humming another favorite Beattle song: "Let It Be, Let It Be...Mother Mary Calls to Me, Singing Words of Wisdom, Let It Be..."

Yes, there will be an answer, Let It Be... By removing one landmine at a time--turning seeds of terror into seeds of hope...from the fertile soils of Afghanistan.

Gravesite

2006-10-13T22:37:00.000-07:00

Our journey through the minefields continued, as we ventured to a landmine site where a traditional green flag marked the graves of Afghan martyrs. A horror was explained to me that defied any haunting Halloween tale every told to me in my wildest nightmare. The Afghan deminer had come upon another landmine site. The gravesites where families visit to honor their dead were deliberately mined in the areas surrounding the bodies that were laid to rest. An APM landmine was found, and must be immediately removed. This time, we were properly advised to hike to the highest mountain and observe the detonation. Before I left, I stopped to say a silent prayer for the body of the mother, father, or child that was laid to rest in peace after surviving the violent wars that robbed Afghanistan.

The unspoken truth is that the body laying in rest would have the bones blown up in the blast, yet this was a viable alternative to losing the life of a local child who may take wayward footsteps to catch a ball which wandered onto this dangerous site. So, I bowed my head and walked to the top of the mountain.

The dynamite was set on top of the landmine and the fuse was lit. I sat next to the demining coordinator amidst this panoramic valley site. His black walkie-talkie communicated to the deminer below to begin the process. He must be quick, as his life depended on the moment. 2 minutes. 45 seconds. 10 seconds, 5 seconds, 4,3,2,1. BOOM! The blast shook the earth beneath my feet and I accidently knocked the camera out of Shamim's hand! The impact of this small device no larger than a coffee saucer had shaken the earth from a distance ...another one bites the dust.

Run, run quickly!

2006-10-13T22:28:00.000-07:00

Through Roots of Peace funding for demining in Afghanistan, we had helped to remove landmines in the Parwan Canal which allowed melted snows to flow down through ancient irrigation ducts bringing water to the vineyards for thousands of years. Yet, the cruelity of war deliberately mined these canals preventing the waters of life from flowing to the quenched villagers.

The Afghan deminer had spotted a LIVE landmine, and so we gathered around to observe the quiet demining techniques that were required to professionally identify and detonate this deadly seed of destruction. Silence. The deminer carefully excavated the area, and then held out a demining device similar to a hockey stick with a beeper at the end to identify the metal silently poised beneath the soil. The edges of the landmine were now evident, and we were invited down to the site to get a closer look with our camera crew. The magic "wand" was placed in my hands, and it was a frightening experience to silently wave the device back and forth across the soils as I heard the "beep, beep, beep..." indicating that we had found our deadly treasure.

The demining team was very professional. Yet there was an unforeseen emergency! The face of our guide went ashen white, and he shouted for all of us to run quickly as we retraced our footsteps out of the minefield. Villagers scattered into the hills! The camera crew captured this LIVE action on film, as a quiet pastoral setting of professional demining suddenly transformed into a potentially life or death situation.

Once safely beneath a tree located a safe distance away, the breathless deminer told us that we had come upon a rare "MS3" landmine. What did this mean? As he continued to explain, the normal anti-personnel landmines detonate with a minimum of eight pounds of pressure and traditionally riddle this region as the most common seeds of hatred beneath the soils. However, the "MS3" is a rare landmine that detonates as the soils are excavated. Half of the landmine was exposed, as the soils were slowly and gently removed by the deminer as I watched from less than two feet away. As the Soviet cyrillic lettering was exposed, he realized that it was capable of detonating at any moment by exposure to the air.

RUN, RUN QUICKLY! These words were translated in all languages! Due to the professional training of the deminer, I am here today to write these words on a computer with both English and Arabic lettering --trusting that my fingertips will accurately be able to reality that innocent families must experience every day as they live in landmine affected countries.

Sometimes, Friday the 13th is not so lucky for Afghan families living in mine affected regions...

A Magic Kingdom

2006-10-13T22:23:00.000-07:00

As we carefully followed the footsteps of our demining guide, he sincerely thanked me for the generous financial investment made by Roots of Peace which enabled the courgeous deminers to remove over 100,000 landmines and UXO's from the soils of the Shomali Plains located north of Kabul. Gazing into the distance, I thought of all the amazing individuals who gave of their hearts to put Afghanistan back on their feet—without the fear of landmines beneath their plows. Now, I was here to witness the harvest of hope. The hours from our many voluteers, the dedication from our Roots of Peace staff, and the buckets of pennies from school children across America were providing a priceless return on the investment—fruit of the vine and the work of human hands…

Through the generous donations by a most special woman, Diane Disney Miller, we were able to restore childhood dreams for children living in these mine-affected regions. Diane's father was Walt Disney, and she came from a family of visionaries who had the courage to turn their ideas into reality. A quiet “tashakor” from my heart was sent to Diane for truly creating a Magic Kingdom for innocent Afghan families to play and enjoy the fruits of the earth, for little did we both realize that we were funding the removal of landmines around a true traditional Disney Castle in another context of Afghanistan. Images swirled through my mind, as I remembered enthusiastically watching Walt Disney on Sunday evenings as a child and always singing the opening song, "When you wish upon a star, doesn't matter who you are...anything your heart desires will come to you..."

Our heart's desire was to inspire peace from the ground up, so we kept walking...

Children came running from all directions to greet the foreigners to their village. My instincts were to cry out "Be careful where you walk, there's thunder in the ground!" But my English words would not be understood, and somehow I had to trust that their parents had given them mine-risk education.

A moment of truth

2006-10-13T22:13:00.000-07:00

The moment to WALK THE TALK had come, as Shamim and I courageously stood upon the soils of Karizi Mir in the Shomali Plains located north of Kabul.

This gorgeous landscape was the site of the resort for the former King of
Afghanistan, Zahir Shah, who is now referred to as the "Father of the
Nation." The bombed out palace was now the headquarters for The HALO Trust which is the British based demining organization who led the late Princess Diana safely through the minefields of Huambo, Angola. They would now guide the footsteps of an Afghan and American mother through the soils of Afghanistan. Inshallah! (Translated means "God Willing!")

As we suited up in our protective demining gear, they asked for our bloodtype in case of emergency. This was a moment of truth. My own dear mother had passed away only a few months ago, and I prayed that the blood that runs through my fingertips would be protected by my angels above. The chest gear was firmly strapped in, and the protective masks went down over our faces like astronauts preparing for Outer Space--an alien experience for two mothers whose hearts were rapidly pumping blood and leading the way forward...one careful step at a time.

The landscape was surreal, as it was one of the most panoramic tourist destination sites that I've ever seen. As we climbed to the mountain top, we were told that this was the frontline of battle for both the Soviets and the Taliban, and perhaps one of the most heavily mined areas in the world. The paradox of this situation is difficult to express, as the landscape consisted of pine trees lining the royal pathway to this once palacial mountain retreat. The Earth's traditional harvest was evident, as the leaves of the trees were bronze, golden and red as they gently drifted in the soft winds to the grassy fields during this Fall Season.

Yet, the wicked reality of landmines created an illusion as the panoramic landscape was the Devil's Garden rather than a Garden of Eden.

Imagine

2006-10-13T22:05:00.000-07:00

It is Friday the 13th, and I have survived my walk through the minefields of Afghanistan. In Western culture, this is often thought of as an unlucky daywhen the stars line up on the thirteenth day of the month on a Friday. Yet, as I glance down at my ten toes, ankles, and knees, I feel so very fortunate and truly "lucky" to have my limbs in tact--a concept that the world takes so much for granted.

The grounded decision to take interpid footsteps on the most heavily mined soils of the world was made to bring global visibility to the issue of landmines. While Kings, Queens, Presidents and Ambassadors strive to make important policy decisions to remove the "roots of terror" from our soils in a world spinning out of control, perhaps the simple footsteps of two
mothers--Afghan and American--may somehow bring the world back on their feet. Removing ONE landmine at a time seemed like a viable alternative to hiding under our covers in the US, as Shamim and I discussed the reality of walking hand-in-hand though a minefield in Afghanistan last September. Turning seeds of terror into seeds of hope...

After carefully discussing the risks of walking together through a minefield and understanding the reality of perhaps "not" coming home, I remember turning on the radio to calm my thoughts as I drove to pick up my 11 year old son from Middle School in California. A song from the past emeged as I turned up the volume: Imagine by John Lennon. My thoughts gently shifted the words to the music, "Imagine there's no landmines, it isn't hard to do...No hell beneath us, above us only sky..." As I slowly drove into the parking lot of my own alma mater Middle School, I knew that it was my destiny to go to Afghanistan. As I kissed my young son and waved to the other mothers, I somehow knew that I was no ordinary Marin County housewife and there was no way to explain my decision to my contemporaries. Great risk, yet great reward for children living outside of my most privleged community.

Baby Kyleigh

2006-10-12T11:02:00.000-07:00

Tears welled in my eyes, as we drove up to the school to see the new Afghan sign.

…Little did the Afghan children know that "Baby Kyleigh" was baptized in her incubator at 12 days old, as she was not expected to live. She was given a spinal tap and an intravenous tube was inserted into the soft spot of her tiny little head. The nurses at Marin General Hospital consoled me in May 1987, as they prepared me for the stark reality that Kyleigh was not expected to survive. Such heartbreak may only be understood in the heart of a mother —perhaps another mother who may hold a child weighing only eight pounds—and has crawled onto a landmine short-fusing the gift of life. The scales of justice, where eight pounds represents the weight of a newborn child or the ability to detonate a landmine.

Not only did Kyleigh live to survive the ordeal of pain, but she lived to save the lives of hundreds of Afghan children whose names she may never know…

“Tashakor, Kyleigh”…for while your mother is in Kabul, Afghanistan, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for what you have done for other children around the world.

12 million pennies for peace

2006-10-12T10:57:00.000-07:00

We continued our journey to Mir Bocha Kot in the Parwan Valley, where I had visited the previous year with ABC News Anchor Cheryl Jennings and my own daughter, Kyleigh, who was 18 years old at the time. As young Kyleigh peered from the roof of the Roots of Peace cold storage facility, she spotted a large grapevine with only one tent where dozens of children were gathered beneath the hot August sun to learn lessons.

Through a translator, she asked our driver “why” these children had to study in the blazing summer heat without shade? He replied that his own children attended this school and they had no money for tents or school supplies and could never dream of attending an enclosed structure for learning purposes. Quietly, Kyleigh requested that we stop by the outdoor school to say “hello” to the children…

Inspired by the warm greeting from the hearts of Afghan children who could only communicate with the gift of a smile and laughter, Kyleigh set forth on a quest to raise the necessary “pennies” through the Roots of Peace Penny Campaign. ABC News supported her journey to fund a series of tents so that the children may have mock-classrooms in shaded environments for various levels of learning. Pencils, pens, notebooks, and other practical items were shipped from Napa Valley to the Shomali Valley to empower the Afghan children to learn lessons of peace in the next generation.

Over 12 million pennies for peace were ultimately raised to turn war-torn lands into schools and soccer fields in Afghanistan!

Through community support, there were enough pennies raised to establish a 10 room school built out of red bricks to withstand the sands of time. Unknown to us, the Ministry of Education officially registered the new school as the KYLEIGH KUHN ROOTS OF PEACE SCHOOL. The Afghan students greeted us with flowers and a giant heart while we laid the cornerstone of the new school as the building began.

Shamim and I added our “2 Cents” for peace represented by the two American pennies inlaid in cement.

In the Afghan Garden of Central Asia

2006-10-12T10:55:00.000-07:00

The elders of the Qula Bayazid village were patiently awaiting our arrival and proudly gave us a tour of their newly established nursery created by Roots of Peace. Rows of grafted trellis vines, kishmish khana grapes, cherries, pomegranates, and various plant varietals were a living library of the once thriving Afghan Garden of Central Asia. Cuttings from these varietals are sold to other neighboring farmers allowing alternative agricultural livelihoods to thrive. This is the future for Afghanistan.

Following our tour of the nursery, the village elder—an 80 year old man with weathered skin, a white beard, and turban wrapped with dignity--seated us beneath the shade of the trees and proudly presented a hand-carved wooden eagle as a symbol of gratitude from the Bagram farmers honoring the vision of Roots of Peace for restoring their agricultural dreams.

Shamim translated his words from Dari into English, and later communicated to me the significance of this proud village elder to publicly present this special gift to an American woman as symbol of deep appreciation in the presence of other village men. This was the highest form of gratitude from a traditional Afghan man. Shamim continued to translate, “We thank the Roots of Peace team for training local farmers who have doubled their income by working their ancient lands. We thank you for not abandoning us during these times of great challenges. If only your team could stay with us for two more years to train our farmers, then the Afghans may have the agricultural tools of knowledge to stand on their own two feet.”

From my tradition, the eagle represents freedom, which in this case has empowered over 6,000 Afghan farmers trained by Roots of Peace to grow alternative agricultural crops.

Before the sun went down on this special day, there was yet another gift to unfold.

Tashakor, Jeff

2006-10-12T10:52:00.000-07:00

Our journey up the Shomali Plains continued north to the village of Qula Bayazid in the Bagram district. The origin of the popular Thompson Seedless Grape savored by Americans originated in this region, and it is with deep pride and a sense of reciprocity that Roots of Peace is able to restore minefields with bountiful vineyards as far as the eye can see! Turning “ideas into reality” across the world was unfolding by the moment.

My thoughts of gratitude were turned to another sort of technological “trader” named Jeffrey Skoll, who was the first President of eBay, allowing traders around the world to compete on the internet. Through his generosity and belief in the human spirit, I was able to visit these remote Afghan traders to help them realize their own dreams in a small way.

Halfway around the world, the Skoll Foundation had no idea how very priceless their gift was to empower the footsteps of a mother to travel to remote villages bringing a sense of ‘hope” during this window of time for transition in Afghanistan. “Tashakor” means “Thank You” in Dari, and I mentally extended those words to the intrepid internet trader, Jeffrey Skoll who was inspiring an army of traders of a different sort.

Sweet Afghan grapes

2006-10-12T10:50:00.000-07:00

Nearly an hour later, our four-wheel drive led us up a winding road riddled with divots as our bodies bounced in rapid motions. Quietly, I prayed that our tires would not bump upon an anti-tank mine, as the rains often wash away the soil in remote areas leaving the density of pressure to detonate these hidden killers of landmines that lay dormant for decades. Nearly 30 years of war in Afghanistan has washed winter snows carrying virtual landmines flowing downstream and left to dry in the clay baked summer sun. Nomads emerged from their tents and herded sheep along narrow paths marked by hundreds of “red and white” painted rocks indicating forbidden ranges in the mine-ridden red zone. The loss of an animal that strays into a minefield may cause an entire family to starve, so the Afghan sheep-herder has to be aware of his surroundings at all times.

As the sun began to rise amidst Koh Baba mountain range, the grapevines were illuminated in golden light. The harvest of hope was realized, as grateful Afghan farmers greeted us in the village of Shakeradara, which translates into the “Sugar Valley”.… Sweet Afghan grapes from the “Sugar Valley!”

Roots of Peace determined that farmers growing the small Kishmishi variety of grape can quadruple their income (from $585/ha to $3,285/ha net revenue) by producing their grapes on trellises and adopting other improved cultural practices. This increase in income is even more dramatic if farmers adopt other practices, such as converting a portion of their crop to green rather than brown raisins or by grafting Taifee or Monukka varieties into their existing Kishmishi vines and selling the resulting fruit as fresh grapes rather than as raisins.

The desire for a market economy

2006-10-12T10:21:00.000-07:00

It is a new day in Afghanistan, and Roots of Peace aspires to greet the sun with a walk through the vineyards of the Shomali Plains located north of Kabul. Our driver picks us up at 4:00 a.m. armed with ammunition of “grapes” not “guns” to escort us to the former frontline of battle that waged in Afghanistan from both the Soviets and Taliban forces.

This is the site where we have turned MINES TO VINES by replacing the scourge of landmines with the nectar of fresh grapes by transforming toxic minefields into bountiful vineyards. Ramadan came early this year on September 24th, and we are engulfed in a Muslim society that begins to fast at daybreak—no eating or drinking until 6:30 p.m.

Imagine the challenge of harvesting in the fields with no nourishment to the human body as they toil beneath the hot sun, yet their spirits remain bright with “hope” and “appreciation” for the Afghan and American mothers who have stepped into their world.

As we drive north with our camera crew, the silhouette of donkeys carrying crates of fresh fruits and vegetables to market line the streets. Innovative Afghan farmers who once dominated The Silk Road continue to market their produce in hundreds of torn metal crates converted into small business stands. I am stunned by the amount of men lining the streets waiting to catch colorfully decorated buses taking them to distant locations for jobs to feed their families. The desire for a market economy is evident, yet their ancient tools prevent the average Afghan farmer from competing in the world trade market. If only they had paved roads with transport vehicles, the Afghan ingenuity may be exported. The “hub” for market independence clearly exists in the dawn’s early light.

A convergence of worlds

2006-10-12T04:25:00.000-07:00

Afghanistan is at a crossroads, and we are firmly standing on the frontline for peace.

The scene of landmine survivors on the streets of Kabul is a common occurrence, yet how can the world ask Afghanistan to stand on its’ own two feet with the paradox of an estimated 10 million landmines sown in their once bountiful soils? The seeds of terror at ground zero must be removed from the landscape in order for this resourceful country to rebuild from the bottom up.

Traveling with Shamim Jawad, wife of the Afghan Ambassador to the United States, has unveiled many unexpected twists in the road. Planning our journey of hope from the comfortable setting of my family home in California, I could only manage the practical aspects that would assure a well-scheduled series of visits to Roots of Peace projects. Yet, as an Afghan and American mother walking in the name of peace, our footsteps through life truly reflect unforeseen pathways of intersection where East meets West.

Born and raised in the decade of the peace movement of the 1960’s, we were both “girls” pursuing our childhood dreams from other sides of the world. While Shamim attended the University of Kabul, Afghanistan, I was graduating from the University of California at Berkeley with a degree in Political Economics of Industrial Societies. As I received my diploma, Shamim’s world began to shatter with the invasion of the Soviets on the streets of her beloved Kabul and her family was forced to evacuate to California leaving all of their worldly possessions behind. My textbook understanding of political strife and conflict resolution could not compare with the on-the-ground experience that Shamim was simultaneously living worlds apart.

As we drive together through the streets of Kabul in 2006, we gaze out the window at once familiar scenes of her childhood home—now gated and riddled with bullet holes. The newly build theater where Shamim confidently walked with girlfriends to see the latest Clint Eastwood movie in the 1970’s was now reduced to rubble with only the remnants of a spiral stairway leading to nowhere. Continuing our drive to the Roots of Peace offices in Karte Char, we approached the University of Kabul which is now surrounded by high walls and shattered glass. Yet, Shamim holds her head high…knowing that her life experiences will help to rebuild the foundation of her proud country. Glancing at her profile as she peered at the twisted street scenes of her homeland, my heart was filled with deep respect for a woman that I only knew from the context of Embassy receptions and diplomatic gatherings. This was the profile of a woman of inner strength.

As the bells of Ramadan toll from the Mosques, I recall the words of my grandmother, “Coincidence is a miracle in which God prefers to remain anonymous…”

A courageous handshake

2006-10-11T02:54:00.000-07:00

As we left, the ICRC Security Director thanked me for returning. As he shook my hand, I looked down to feel the cold plastic form embracing my own human tissue. Stunningly, I realized that he, too, was a landmine survivor. His courageous handshake represents the spirit of the Afghan people to overcome adversity, and inspire global citizens to step into a world free of landmines where the seeds of democracy may one day be sown.

Inshallah!

Distracted by a butterfly

2006-10-10T23:47:00.000-07:00

Suddenly, the stories of landmine survivors came pouring out from the room. A young boy, the same age as my own son (age 11) was strapped vertically to a bed. His name was Mirjan, and he was chasing a popular small Afghan MYNAH bird into a tree when he lost his footing and fell into a minefield and broke his back. His concerned parents took him to a doctor and paid him for the surgery with the limited funds they had. Yet, qualified doctors are in such shortage in Afghanistan, and the surgery was botched leaving him paralyzed from the waist down for life. As I brushed his ebony black bangs from the forehead of his handsome face, Shamim gave his a chocolate candy which brought a broad smile that lit up the room!

Walking into the next room, women were walking on bars that would serve as ballet bars in another context of life. Removing their burkas and chader, they were struggling to strike a balance as they navigated on their new prosthesis limbs with painted toenails. Mothers removed blankets revealing tiny limbs of their children who detonated landmines with their tender weight of eight pounds. No language, just hugs. The eyes of mothers worldwide portray a sense of universal compassion that needs no translation.

The orthopedic nurse then walked over, and pulled off her own prosthetic legs.

She continued to explain that she had lost her legs at age 10 while following in the footsteps of her father who sternly told her to follow his every footstep in the heavily mined fields of Chil Saton located in the Karte Char district of Kabul. As a small child, she was distracted by the beautiful butterfly wings that crossed her path. Boom!

Unconscious, her father picked her up in his loving arms and brought her to the hospital. Realizing that her heels had been blown off, the doctors had no choice but to amputate beneath the knee. As she recovered at the ICRC, she found an inner sense of healing as she truly felt the pain of the landmine survivors who entered the clinic each day. Using her mind, she continued to pursue an education in nursing and now works professionally at the ICRC clinic to heal the inner and outer wounds of those who are unfortunate to take wayward footsteps along the forbidden paths of landmines.

As I visited the room full of small children, I pulled out a small plastic bottle of bubbles. The “gift of life” is virtually seen as we share our breath with others to bring forth beauty. The bubbles filled the room and represented the gift of life that we all share, as depicted by the iridescent water that carries our breath and kindness of spirit into the hearts of others. Simple magic, yet priceless gifts of joy to those living in mine affected countries.

Dr. Alberto Cairo

2006-10-10T22:39:00.000-07:00

Dr. Cairo has dedicated his life to this ICRC Clinic in Kabul for the past 17 years, and his professional demeanor is complimented by an incredible sense of humor. As he courageously greets his Afghan “friends” each day, he constantly reminds them that they are not landmine victims, but rather landmine survivors! His medicine is effective in healing the human spirit, as the Afghan smiles greet him as he energetically glides around the facility exuding his Italian charisma.

The profound stories will remain etched in our hearts forever. As Shamim entered this clinic for the first time, her face was frozen as she witnessed the suffering of so many of her own Afghan people. What does one say? What does one do? Sorry isn’t enough. Hundreds of handsome faces unveiling wounds that would never heal or grow back as a result of the blast of a man-made weapon of mass destruction in slow motion. Tears welled in our eyes, yet the magnetism of Dr. Cairo carried us forth to a place of inspiration where our presence ultimately brought hope to those in need. Ultimately, it was our “gift” to visit such an institution.

The heartfelt stories began to emerge, as our smiles evoked the warmth of the human spirit. Shamim translated their stories in Dari, and shared several of her own sentiments.
Her gentle words in their native Afghan language brought forth a sense of trust. She began to translate for the camera the innate sense of determination inherent in the Afghan people amidst the greatest of adversity.

Bleak reality

2006-10-10T20:35:00.000-07:00

As our plane touched down, we were graciously greeted by the Chief of Protocol from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in tribute to our mission. Immediately, we immersed ourselves into the landmine issue by visiting the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) located in Kabul, Afghanistan. There, Dr. Alberto Cairo, welcomed us back to his clinic where we had visited the landmine survivors just one year ago on a journey of hope with ABC News Anchor, Cheryl Jennings, Mike Clark, and our 18 year old daughter, Kyleigh (See www.abc7news.com for video).

While visiting this orthopedic clinic on a previous occasion, nothing quite prepares the human spirit for the bleak reality of seeing over 250-300 landmine survivors arrive EACH day in search of artificial limbs. Men, women, and children who are living examples of Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls with limbs blown off by the blast of a landmine—seeking to be stitched together again.

Afghanistan has an estimated 10 million landmines silently poised beneath the soil, and the knowledge that over 75,000 Afghans had been assigned a number to receive a artificial limb was overwhelming. Each plastic leg, foot, arm and hand is assigned a number corresponding to every patient, as limbs must be adjusted each year as children grow and personal weight changes.

The number of landmine incidents are increasing each year despite the efforts made through mine risk education, and the burden of disabled persons is a huge challenge for a country not yet at peace and struggling to leave twenty five years of war behind.

At the ICRC Clinic - Kabul

2006-10-10T20:12:00.000-07:00

Meeting Shamim Jawad in Dubai

2006-10-10T19:22:00.000-07:00

Continuing my 24 hour journey to Afghanistan, I finally arrived at Ariana Airlines located at Terminal 2 in Dubai. There, I found the familiar face of Shamim Jawad, wife of the Afghan Ambassador to the United States, beaming at me with her beautiful smile as we embraced on the soils of the United Arab Emirates.

We had met on several occasions in both Washington, D.C. and New York to discuss the atrocities of landmines where innocent children are robbed from their childhood dreams in her homeland of Afghanistan which has now become the most heavily mined country in the world.

Many empathetic conversations have occurred over the years with concerned individuals, yet I suddenly realized the deep respect within my heart for this courageous woman of Afghan descent to join me as the International Chair of the Roots of Peace Penny Campaign.

Shamim’s long-term dedication to advocate for women and children’s rights in Afghanistan led us to this moment of destiny. Together, we were determined to walk in the name of peace leaving a legacy of footsteps on behalf of an Afghan and American mother to remove the seeds of terror caused by landmines from our one earth.

As we gazed into one another’s eyes, we realized that it was time to WALK THE TALK.

Between London to Dubai aboard British Airways

2006-10-10T18:19:00.000-07:00

The new “routes” to Afghanistan took on took on a whole new meaning, as I traveled from London to Dubai aboard British Airways on a mission to plant the “roots” of peace.

Traveling at an elevation of 41,000 feet, I was transfixed on the television monitor aboard the flight. As the icon depicted the geography below, I was awestruck to see the familiar names of Iraqi and other Middle Eastern cities appear before my eyes—Baghdad, Tigress River, An-Najif, Abadan, Kuwait, Wafrah, Al-Qatif, and Qatar. Suddenly, I realized the reality of my mission to Afghanistan, as this high altitude protected our flight from the rocket fire below where the friends of my own children were courageously fighting on behalf of my own country for freedom. This LIVE map was in “real time,” yet the fellow passengers were all passively watching various movie channels--far removed from the experience of flying over a war-zone where courageous American soldiers and innocent Iraqi families were being killed from far below.

Traveling alone, this moment of higher reflection caused me to ponder my sense of deep purpose for taking courageous footsteps to Afghanistan as a mother in the name of peace, as the passengers surrounding me reflected the broader sense of global apathy for the many challenges affecting our world today. Tuned in, yet tuned out. This was not a time to look down, as I closed my eyes and turned to even a high elevation for guidance.

Setting Out to Turn Mines to Vines

2006-10-09T19:22:00.000-07:00

As the Americans celebrate the traditional Columbus Day honoring the discovery of a “new world,” I chose to begin my journey to Afghanistan on this holiday taking footsteps for peace in search of a “old world” where ancient wisdom prevails. Reaping a harvest of hope, Afghan farmers are now replacing the scourge of landmines with the nectar of fresh grapes—literally turning MINES TO VINES.

There are an estimated 10 million landmines in Afghanistan alone, and the seeds of democracy may not be sown when farmers yield only a lethal harvest of toxic landmines. Generational wisdom reminds us that when a grapevine is planted—regardless of the color of our hand or the faith in our hearts—the “roots” will grow with sunlight, water, and a human hand. The grapevine is an ancient icon of peace celebrating the seeds we have in common rather than those which separate us. As this rootstock is cultivated, the choice is in the hands of those who celebrate the harvest worldwide—yielding fresh grapes, raisins, or a fine bottle of wine. While the concept of turning “blood to wine” resonates within Christian cultures as a foundation for peace, the Muslim cultures also celebrate the harvest of fresh grapes and figs which dominated their landscapes for generations. The grapevine represents a “common root” where dialogue for peace may begin in the vineyards.

In 1492, there were no landmines to pierce the skin of Mother Nature as the pristine environment of North America was heralded by the great explorers. Yet, over five hundred years later there are an estimated 70 million landmines silently poised in 70 countries—making it virtually impossible for native discovery and exploration in war-torn countries. What have we done with the sacred land preserved for generations by the elders of the tribes? Whether the boot of a soldier or the sandal of a child, landmines do not discriminate against their intended targets and lay dormant for decades. It takes only eight pounds to detonate a landmine, which prevents a small child from discovering a field of flowers or chasing a butterfly across forbidden fields. Childhoods are robbed when landmines are planted, as over 10,000 women and children step on landmines each year. While there are many global problems in our modern world, there is a cure for the landmine crisis—removal. As a mother of four children, I realize that I have a small voice on behalf of mothers worldwide who silently suffer when their toddler wanders off the path.

With the spirit of discovery for peaceful alternatives propelling me forward, I made a conscious choice to journey to Afghanistan to unveil the former Garden of Central Asia where grapes, pomegranates, melons, cherries and almonds once flourished. The vision for transforming MINES TO VINES began with a simple toast in the living room of our family home in September 1997 following the death of the late Princess Diana who catapulted the issue of landmines to the forefront of the international agenda. Now, nearly ten years later, it is heartwarming to witness the harvest of hope where “clusters of grapes” are transported across borders instead of “cluster bombs” as a result of turning ideas into reality. Peace begins from the bottom up, not the top down. The concept of peace seems so elusive in a modern world amidst the breaking news of nuclear tests in North Korea blaring across the BBC en route to Afghanistan. Yet, my resolve for seeking peaceful solutions for future generations was only strengthened with this news, as we may no longer be paralyzed by fear for the sake of our children’s future. Step by step, we may remove these deadly seed of destruction at ground zero by transforming minefields into bountiful vineyards—one field at a time.

Nearly one third of the countries on our planet today have a landmine problem preventing the seeds of democracy from being sown. The case of Afghanistan is a living example of turning “swords into plowshares” as Roots of Peace has transformed thousands of minefields into bountiful agricultural lands. In the 1970’s, Afghanistan was a regional leader in the production of table grapes and raisins.

The country’s 80,000 hectares of grape vineyards brought in export revenues of $48 million a year; most of the grape crop was exported to India and Pakistan. The domestic market for grapes was worth an estimated $33 million. Years of war with the Soviets and Taliban destroyed many of the vineyards. By 1997, the area of actively managed vineyards had dropped by 45%. The vineyards that remain are given reduced yields due to genetic deterioration, lack of inputs, and loss of technical know-how passed on from grandfather to father to son…

Currently, most Afghan grapevines are gown without trellises, with vines draped along rootstock on the ground which leads to mildew and contamination. By pruning the vine, we double the yield for innocent farmers suffering the aftermath of war. Most Afghan grape growers do not practice pruning. Thinning, soil nutrient replenishment, or modern methods of pest and disease control. The lack of cold storage hampers getting fresh grapes to market.

Yet, Roots of Peace entered Afghanistan in 2001 with a determination to transform MINES TO VINES. Through a grant from USAID, Roots of Peace partnered with the University of California at Davis to bring in new practices to help the Afghan farmer compete within the region by providing alternative agricultural crops. Through private fundraising efforts, over 100,000 landmines were removed north of Kabul in the once fertile Shomali Plains allowing the ancient techniques of farming to be restored. An effort which began from the home and heart of a mother, resulted in revitalizing the Afghan grape industry in Parwan, Kandahar, and Helmand Provinces. Afghan farmers and extention agents are being trained in modern techniques of trellising, pruning and plant protection. Last summer, Afghanistan exported by air freight 45 metric tons of fresh grapes to Saudi Arabia, 26 metric tons to Kuwait, and 20 metric tons to Dubai; the first time that fresh grapes were exported to these countries since the war! Cold storage unites, established by the program, were the key to exporting fresh table grapes. In addition, 1000 metric tons of raisins were shipped to Moscow and Kiev. With the high quality of the grapes produced, Afghanistan has the potential to become a unique producer in the international grape trade!

The ability to witness a “Harvest of Hope” in Afghanistan and share it with the world through a generous grant provided by the Skoll Foundation will open the hearts of many…

Join us, as we take courageous footsteps forward for peace from the hearts of mothers and fathers worldwide who suffer the plight of living in mine affected countries!

Inshallah!