Pakistanis love to discuss politics with Americans

In Pakistan, politics is a national sport, like cricket. The political scene in this country, as well as the rest of the world, is always followed very closely by the majority of the population. There are over 30 different political debate programs on local TV stations.

The only government they dislike as much as their own is the government of the USA. They know much more about American Foreign Policy than many Americans do. They look forward to discussing politics with each and every American they meet.

The myth of "anti-American sentiment" is in reality, "anti-American Government sentiment". Pakistanis love Americans and are politically astute enough to differentiate between the citizens of a country and their government. When I travel, I always let people know that I am an American and end up in interesting and educational conversations.







When I travel I am never in any danger! If I am by myself and anyone even looks at me cross-eyed, bystanders would jump in to help me immediately.

THE ONLY THING WE HAVE TO FEAR IS FEAR ITSELF!!!!!

Distribution of the Kitchen Recovery Kits

On the morning of Dec.8, fellow Ipswich Rotarian Christyne Vachon and I distributed 50 of Kitchen Recovery Kits in the yard of DOSTI’s Tangi School. Also with us for the event was members of our partner club the Rotary Club of Unitown Peshawar, Zamarud Shah (brown suit jacket and sunglasses) and Mansoor Kahn(short beard and hat) Villagers of the Charsadda region of North West Frontier Province (now known as Kyber-Pakhtunwa or KPK) were picked out according to who was in the direst need.




Helping with the giving were also teachers and students of the local government school. The teachers worked as volunteers to run the DOSTI Tangi School for the poorest children.




I had looked forward to a happy experience of giving but felt immensely inadequate in the face of the massive loss suffered by the people at the gathering. One of the great moments I felt at the end of the event was when the last of my small speech was translated to Pashtu. I had said at the end that we Rotarians in American know that we are all alike. To see all those bearded men with their turbans and robes nod their heads in agreement brought tears to my eyes!








Purchase of the kits suffered from incredible and unprecedented inflation as prices were quoted 4 months ago. The size of all items shrunk by about 30%. The Federal Bureau of statistics reported in an article in today’s paper that from Oct. 2009 to Oct. 2010, prices win went up on the following items in the kits by : 80% for sugar, 160% for lentils, 10% for cooking oil, 14% for compressed natural gas, plastic products 13.7%, 6.5% for rice, 3.2% for flour. This inflation is due to lack of government infrastructure, massive flooding which damaged 30% of the nations crops, inflated transport costs, as well as a shortage due to the smuggling of essential items to Afghanistan where even greater prices can be obtained.

Pakistan Flood Recover - KITCHEN RECOVERY KITS

Two Million people have lost everything they owned in the recent floods in Pakistan...
Urgent assistance in needed in this already volatile region.

ROTARY IS THERE & ROTARY CARES!
Partner clubs are on sight working hard at this moment to assist those in need lest their region implodes.

Ipswich and Unitown Peshawar Rotary Club, are partnering to supply
Kitchen Recovery Kits
These kit consist of : gas cooking cylinder & burner,
pot, plates, cups, soap, cooking oil, 5 kilo bags of sugar, flour and rice. Each kit will ensure that a family will have clean drinking water and cooked food to maintain daily health during the recovery. Items will be of permanent use upon moving to a future location.
Price $79

Tax deductable donations can be made via checks to the Ipswich Rotary Charitable Trust noted "Pakistan Flood" and mailed to the Ipswich Rotary Club,
PO Box 543, Ipswich, MA 01938
more info : Rachel Williams, International Chair
tele : 978-372-1106 or email : literacy7930@mail.com

ROTARY CAN CHANGE THE WORLD!

Here's how:

Partners in Pakistan

Our partner Rotary Club the Rawalpindi Rohtas Rotary Club is working hard to help those suffering in the floods. We will wire funds directly to them so that action can be take immediately. Directions on how to donate directly to those in the flood, along with photo of Zahid Mirza and his son helping, is in the previous post.

More photos at http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/08/severe_flooding_in_pakistan.html

at :

FLOODING in PAKISTAN

In Pakistan flooding has already stranded 20 million people, more than 10 percent of the population. A fifth of the nation is underwater. More than 3.5 million children are in imminent danger of contracting cholera and acute diarrhea; millions more are in danger of starving if they don't get help soon. More than 1,500 have already been killed by the floods.

This is a human disaster. It's also a frightening opening for the Taliban.

The 5000 rotarians in Pakistan are working full time, with their own personal income to assist the afflicted.

If you would like to help by getting a donation to where it will help, your tax deductable donation can be made in the form of a check to the Ipswich Rotary Charitable Trust, noted “Pakistan Flood” and mailed to Ipswich Rotary Club, PO Box 543, Ipswich 01938. Funds will be wired regularly by the Ipswich Rotary Club to their partners, the Rotary Clubs of Rawalpindi Rohtas and Unitown Peshawar.

Iqral School MG in Process with Rotary International

District 7930 Celebrates Literacy Month of March, Internationally!!

Matching Grant for Iqral School in Sardheri, near Peshawar, in North West Frontier Province is now receiving items from the project. Total contribution for the project was $5000. This amount was increased by The Rotary Foundation to make up at total of $US17,000.

Ipswich, Greater Salem,NH, Peabody, Salem & Salem EarlyAct,
Gloucester, Manchester/Essex, Winchester Rotary Clubs

Watertown Rotary Club of District 7910 also contributed.

all contributed to MGs to empower schools for the poor in Pakistan!

Pictured here is:
the new generator to keep the lites on!
bus to bring more girls to school
computers to teach future skills and vocational training
& science equipment for better science education.
also on the way are locally made wooden desks and chairs.