the future of afghanistan

[Hierophant]

I have been trying, for some time, to garner support for a project in Afghanistan. I have come across great opposition for reasons i'm not quite able to comprehend. The problem of the opium farms and a viable replacement source of income is what i refer to.

At one time the textile industry in afghanistan was great, and the restoration of this industry is what i've been proposing. I believe it is a completely viable industry. It would probably not give ppl the level of income they are used to, in comparison to cultivating opium.

It is my suggestion, that in place of opium farms, every one would be replaced with hemp farms. not the narcotic type of hemp of course. This type of crop would require an extensive infrastructure that would provide employment and income for many afghanis. From farmers to storage facilities, to processing facilities to textile factories to sales and marketing.

Everyone knows that this kind of hemp is a great replacement for fabrics such as cotton and it can be made into anything from fuels to structural elements (ie lumber replacement). The trickle down affect would bleed into the entire economy of afghanistan.

Is this just a pipe dream? would muslims support it? any suggestions to further this kind of project? I welcome all comments.

[Hierophant]

nobody cares?

[sajid]

Hiero

just im a bit confused at the goal of ur thread..

is it actually a like proposal..u woud like to start....i.e the forum members contributing or something....

Thanks

sajid

[Hierophant]

no no sajid, i would never ask anyone to contribute like that. I was just wanting some opinions.

Its pretty obvious to me afghanistan needs a few viable industries if it is going to succeed in the long term. afghans have had great success in the textile industry in the past, so i thought it could be even more successful now. i'm a proponant in the use of industrial hemp but most western governments discourage it. i thought afghanistan would be a good place.

one of my fields of expertise is in structural construction. with a single plant set up, afghanistan could start making plywood sheets and other structural members out of hemp. this would help alot in the housing situation over there.

another hemp plant could be set up for the production of fuels, perhaps for lamps, but even for automotive.

then of course, clothing and other textiles.... also poppy farmers need an alternative right?

[Malcom]

Good idea, hemp doesn't fly in the west because it gets confused with the drug. Every dollar spent fighting alquida is a dollar that won't be spent on the new econimy

[hen]

Heiro,
I like it. I wonder if you could e-mail your idea to someone in Afghanistan with the power to do anything about it. what about the UN?

It is true that the Taliban did essntially stop opium production in the year 2000-01. Now it is on the rise again. A shame .

Hen

[Hierophant]

thanks hen, malcom, sajid;

i'm a little skeptical of the UN at this point, and would rather continue my efforts privately. ... at least untill i can get the backing of a few groups. understanding the politics of afghanistan and the ways of its people, the less outside influence the better. It is crucial, to me, to get the support of any and all muslim groups already working in afghanistan.

I'm willing to do all the neccessary engineering for these projects pro bono. I can probably swing the donation of building materials. Convincing locals to make the switch fromopium to hemp will be close to impossible with there being such a hugh difference in profit. but perhaps a little pride will push them in the right direction.

[hen]

Go for it Hiero!

[Consider]

Peace,

Its a good idea but slightly impractical at the moment. The situation is far from stable at the moment in afghanistan and I sincerely think that the karzhai goverment wont last long...

As a result I dont think there will be any kind of government who will enforce any kind of environmental etc,.. issues...they cant even sort out little problem, although your suggestion is far more farsighted than karzhais mobile network...hardly anyone can barely afford to use the telephone i guess...

Doesnt anyone realise that although the taliban numbered a few couple of thousand (please check, i read something somewhere but i might eb making it up) they were in control of the whole country, whereas the karzhai govt can hardly control their ministers being attacked........

hmmmm.....I think education needs to be strengthened at the same time......

[Hierophant]

i agree education has gotta be a priority, and i agree that the karzhai group is not the partner to take, unless it is decided that he stay on. (i highly doubt it)

i'm not prepared to start this tommorrow anyways ;) as long as the next afghan gov't provides a safe environment, i've got a dozen companies willing to volunteer materials and a dozen more that could be convinced to follow suit after them.

initiatives like i suggest are going to be crucial, in my opinion, to making a stable government in afghanistan feasible.

[Outcider]

Hierophant's idea of hemp cultivation is outstanding in my mind, although this comment is more related to the subject "The Future of Aghanistan".

I saw a BBC TV document today and, obviously, steps forward are being taken. Yet, I was astonished to see that local men still beat women even in front of cameras!

Should other countries take a firmer grip to end this mediaeval practice?

[Warbot]

Fabulous idea. Now the question is, how to put something like this together?

[Machiavelli]

there are not too many threads on here that I would call 'constructive' Why is this one so short? when all of the destructive threads are so long! fewer people passionate about construction versus destruction?

[Ruqayyah]

I care immensly, something should be done but its not too stable at the moment. We run a Muslim girls school here in the UK, and have dreamed of starting one up in Afghanistan. I think the Taliban were not against this, just the free mixing. It must be hard to put womens education on your list of priorities when your one of the poorest countries in the world, re building your country after decades of war, whilst fighting a civil war, then being invaded by the rest of the world. May Allah help the Afghan people Ameen.

[Chris H]

Consider those who control the countryside apart from Kabul. What would the warlords get from hemp production? From opium they get money for arms and weapons. Why should they give this up and lose their power?

Good idea though, but perhaps better once a centralized government starts having effective control over policing and the economy.

My thoughts anyway.

[fundaMENTAList]

Hierophant,

If you're serious about this, send me an email. I know someone who has set up and raised funding for a number of hemp and flax projects in Eastern Europe, China, and the former Soviet Union.

He might be able to provide advice and more.

[Machiavelli]

Good points Chris. I think the one thing a project like this would give the warlords, is control. (must be the machiavellian in me)

People are already turning their guns in at high rates. still a long ways to go, but if the warlords can put ppl to work, thats the best kind of control! when your own nations unemployment rate drops down to say 5% ppl are happy right? when the rate soars to 20% what happens?

Obviously the warlords would have to be convinced of the long range benifits.

[M.H.Mubarak]

I was mentioning the Hemp proposal to my wife, and she said: "If we are going to help them, let's help them develop their own natural resources. If the U.S. and Russia want that pipeline, Afganistan should get Royalties on the oil trade. Instead of conqour and take, let Afghanistan have it's fair cut."

It makes sense to me. It would certainly stimulate the economy and aliow the Afghans to diversify into other areas, such as hemp production, etc. Oil Dollars far outstrip Poppy Dollars.

[Outcider]

M.H. Mubarak, it makes sense to me, too! Hemp production has been revived with good results in my part of the world as well.

[Machiavelli]

The thing i really like about the hemp production idea, is that afghanistan already has all the skills neccessary. How long till we are buying afghan rugs all over the world? ok, might take a while. might be a good income source tho. maybe even more important, might be a good source of pride.

[Outcider]

I heard in the news today that poppy cultivation continues unabated again and the resulting heroine is dumped in western markets. Another good reason why the possibility of hemp cultivation should not be forgotten.

Each one of us could increasingly buy hemp products where ever they are available.

[jamila]

Machi,

I noticed, as Hierophant, you stopped at 640 posts and took a new identity. When you caught up as Maciavelli, you paused for 4 days on 640. I was almost sure you had taken a third identity, and after another 2 months we'd have a line of three identities all on 640. But then you resumed, so my theory went out the window.

Anything significant about the number, 640?

Just wondering!

Jamila :)

[Machiavelli]

lol a little geometria ;)

[amal]

Hiero
In Afganistan after the geographic book there is oil. Why don't start to exploit it?

[Machiavelli]

you said the key word yourself amal "exploit"

oil may work for a short term fix, but not in the long run. hemp can permeate itself to so many other facets of afghanistan life. oil cannot.

btw, regarding hemp production in afghanistan, negotiations are underway both with government and private industry. now lets just hope some ol sore loosers don't ruin things and ppl recognize whats in their best interests for the future.

[amal]

Machiavelli i just wanted to give him an idea, if the country its rich why don't use this groung richeness? Are other countries in this word which are rich from that. very rich. Need a little investmnent .

[marcdee]

hope u are still paying attention to this thread.

u r not the only one with such an idea, i have gone a step further. if you want to read the full document send an email to marc@spiritaid.org.uk with "Afghanistan" in the subject line, and request Research and Public Consultation Document - i will send you a .pdf file (1MB) detailing the plan.