Afghanistan and Canada's Occupation

Hello all,

I have started posting the column i have been writing for the Kincardine Independent over the last 3 years in blog form. I am new to the whole blog thing, so please be patient with me. This blog has been set up to email some listserves that i have been a part of in the past, so if it is inappropriate to email them - let me know and i will remove them. However, traffic will be low and i will only be posting about once a week.

Hope you enjoy and please, provide feedback so that i can grow as a writer! (column below).

Thanks and take care,
Dave

After eight years of occupation, Afghanistan remains in shambles. Little progress has been brought to rural areas and no eradication of so called ‘terrorist’ organizations achieved. The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission reports only 3% of girls are enrolled in education; most not allowed to progress past the sixth grade. Researchers report ‘development’ money is being funneled to rich Canadians and Afghans, while the poor starve outside of embassy doors. Further, just 29% of people have access to safe drinking water. Nonetheless, after nearly a decade, Canada has maintained a military presence in Afghanistan. But, if humanitarian aid is not working, why are our soldiers sacrificing themselves?

An important factor is Afghanistan’s resources. The World Bank estimates undeveloped mineral deposits could profit over $250 million annually, up from the current $60 million – high-grade iron deposits alone are estimated to be 1.8 billion tones. In addition, rare metals such as tantalum, lithium and cesium, used to manufacture electronics, abound. Canada, the largest global mining economy with over 60% of the world’s mining companies, has major interest in exploiting these resources. Further, recent reports place Afghanistan’s natural gas reserves at 15.7 trillion cubic feet and oil reserves at 1.6 billion barrels – three times Alaska’s reserves.

Transports of gas reserves between central Asia and Pakistan through the proposed Trans-Afghan pipeline project stands to directly benefit Canadian politicians economically. Former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, advisor to Bennett Jones, a Calgary-based energy law firm, has advocated for construction of the 1500 km pipeline to facilitate gas transfers from Turkmenistan. In addition, Harper’s first Defense Minister, Gordon O’Connor, was a lobbyist for military contractors until his election in 2006. Canada is now the sixth largest arms manufacturer in the world. Clearly, Afghanistan represents big money to Canadian interests.

These development projects proceed at great cost to Afghan’s people and environment. Most mining projects will occur in fragile ecosystems, disrupting the sustainable agriculture practiced there for countless generations. In addition, lax environmental regulations will allow mine tailings to contaminate water sources in already arid ecosystems. The Trans-Afghan pipeline will disrupt a huge amount of natural habitat and disturb ecosystem processes.

Most Canadians have questioned our military involvement with little information about Canada’s economic gain from the mission. If more people knew of Canada’s obvious exploitation of a vulnerable country, there would be even less support. Let’s bring our troops home.