Imagine sending your child to elementary school, knowing there's a chance that brutal thugs might attempt to poison her -- because the very idea of your child receiving an education is so offensive to them.

You can easily see how the system of education in Canada could quickly break down under such awful pressure. Yet this is the situation that Afghans in areas threatened by the Taliban must deal with. An excerpt from The Courage Of Afghan Schoolgirls in the Toronto Star:

I visited the home of Sakina, one of those staff members, and met her daughter Marwa, who was one of the girls directly affected by the attack. Read more »

Where is the outcry by feminists around the world for the women and girls who continue to fall prey to the Taliban wherever they hold sway? The silence is deafening... and nauseating. From NPR:

Earlier this month, two brutal incidents caught the world’s attention. An Afghan woman appeared on the cover of Time magazine, her nose cut off because she fled an abusive marriage. The other was the pregnant widow in Baghdis province accused of adultery. The local Taliban commander ordered 200 lashes and then shot the woman to death. A Taliban spokesman denied responsibility in both cases.

On August 28th, there will be protests held in 100 cities around the world against the stoning of women. If you would like to organize a protest in your community, please visit:
http://stopstonningnow.com/wpress/2261
(Information also in Farsi)

Locations in CANADA:
Toronto 28 August, 2010. Time: 14.00-16.00
At: 250 Front St. West (in front of CBC) Contact: Yadi Mahmodi @ 416 726 9321 wpicanada@yahoo.com

Vancouver 28 August, 2010: Rally at 17.00 (information table at 15.00) At: Front of Art gallery on Robson St. zariasli@yahoo.ca

Hamilton, Ontario 28 August, Time: 14.00-16.00 Front of Jaqson Square mall Contact: Amir Zahedi 905 962 9638

Ottawa, Ontario 28 August, 2010 Time: 12.00-14.00 At: Front of Parliament Hill Contact: ??????????? d_ram@sympatico.ca

Niagara Falls, Ontario 28 of August, 2010. Time: 14:00 to 16:00 Just beside the Falls Contact: Mehran Mahbobi @ 1 647 274 7149 Mehranmahbobi1917@gmail.com

Contact: Yadi Mahmoodi (416) 726 9321

See locations for cities in other countries:
http://stopstonningnow.com/wpress/2249

More Information:
http://stopstonningnow.com/wpress/
http://www.wpiran.org/
http://www.rowzane.com/
http://www.hamidtaqvaee.wpiran.org/
http://notonemoreexecution.org
 

Today is "World Humanitarian Day." On this day, CASC has prepared a translation from Dari of an important declaration issued by a broad cross-section of Afghan democrats, below:

Fear and panic has arisen as the Taliban shows itself in Badakhshan, one of the most secure provinces in Afghanistan. While an unjust and inhuman action like the murder of these aid workers should be condemned in any part of the world, this is a particularly disgrace to the great and wise people of Badakshan, who are world-renowned for their culture and customs, and do not deserve to be associated with this ferocity. Read more »

Some Afghanistan observers have noted that while the 2001 overthrow of the Taliban was carried out for clear realpolitik security objectives, the ensuing conflict has morphed into one where human rights -- and in particular, women's rights -- are at the forefront of our policy goals. In the Guardian this week, an editorial confirms this trend and the importance of standing in solidarity with those women who are on the front lines of the conflict with the Taliban: Read more »

The job isn't finished in Afghanistan. Canadian Forces have already sacrificed much to help Afghans overcome a deadly insurgency that tramples on human rights and murders at will. In the Embassy Magazine, Lee Berthiaume explains why Canadians should stay committed militarily until the mission's objectives are won. An excerpt:

Liberal and Conservative members of the Commons' Special Afghanistan committee have been feeling out public opinion on the idea of deploying several hundred military trainers to Kabul to continue helping Afghan security forces get ready to take over responsibility for their security in 2014. The government has remained mum on the idea.

Meanwhile, by next year, Canada will have fulfilled its pledge to contribute $1.9 billion over 10 years for Afghan reconstruction and development. There has been growing criticism that Canada will fail to finish three signature projects or achieve many of the benchmarks it set for itself following the Manley Panel report in 2008. Some have used this as justification for leaving in 2011. Read more »