How Afghanistan is on the Leading Edge of a Tech Revolution

[Aria2013]

Read more: http://world.time.com/2013/03/02/how...#ixzz2Mrmr5X64

[Aria2013]

Mobile Technology for Afghan Women

In Afghanistan the use of mobile technology has grown steadily over the past decade. Earlier this month USAID issued a press release stating that, according to a survey conducted, 80 percent of Afghan women now have regular access to mobile phones. Furthermore, 82 percent of the women surveyed believe mobile phones improve their lives. The economic consequence of an increase in technological infrastructure is significant for Afghanistan, since traditionally an increase in telecommunications has been linked to increases in trade and investment.

A conference celebrating technological advances in Afghanistan’s mobile market hosted by the Ministry of women’s Affairs and the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology earlier this month was attended by more than 200 Afghan women, mobile company reps, and Afghan and U.S. government officials. Featured presentations included mobile technology programs like distance-learning literacy, a family hotline facility, an SMS service for teachers and students to track their progress in education, and mobile health applications during pregnancy. Officials who participated agreed that mobile technology empowers Afghan women, provides solutions to common problems Afghan women face, and it is a powerful tool for progress and development. US Embassy Coordinating Director for Development and economic affairs Ambassador Hilda Arellano emphasized the important role the Afghan government plays in creating opportunities for women saying that “if mobile technology is used correctly it can give a voice to the voiceless, vastly expand access to information and education, and lead to economic innovation”.

Can Ambassador Arellano’s statement apply to Afghans in general and women in particular especially in view of Afghanistan’s present social milieu? How realistic is this statement?

aria2013
DET-CENTCOM

[randolph85]

Yeah, go ahead and stop exploiting afghan women for your own ends.

Story on telecommunications in afg - meh
Story on telecommunications in afg with an "afghan women" angle - pay dirt!

centcom, you have done it again.

[Aria2013]

Yeah, go ahead and stop exploiting afghan women for your own ends.

centcom, you have done it again.

Randolph,

Is access to distance learning literacy and health related programs through the use of mobile technology exploiting women? How can that be exploitation? And are you speaking on behalf of all Afghan women living in Afghanistan? Because if you are, you ought to take a look at links below and hear what Afghans, men and women, have to say about literacy. The new generation of Afghan youth, men and women, are very different. They want education, progress, and change for themselves and for their country.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN1iqrAa4L4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fU4FGzO785Y - Example from Bamyan province.

Aria2013
DET-CENTCOM

[randolph85]

Randolph,

Is access to distance learning literacy and health related programs through the use of mobile technology exploiting women? How can that be exploitation? And are you speaking on behalf of all Afghan women living in Afghanistan? Because if you are, you ought to take a look at links below and hear what Afghans, men and women, have to say about literacy. The new generation of Afghan youth, men and women, are very different. They want education, progress, and change for themselves and for their country.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN1iqrAa4L4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fU4FGzO785Y - Example from Bamyan province.

Aria2013
DET-CENTCOM

you personally and your organization are blatantly exploiting the "afghan women" angle. these feel good stories are not fooling anyone, your bosses tear away the sovereignty of afghanistan, kill and imprison countless afghans but you care about afghan women? get out of here with that garbage. also, stop trying to meld centcoms agenda to the common sense conclusion that afghans want education as if occupation, education and progress are one and the same.

should i also share what afghans think of other afghans who work for centcom? as long as we are in the sharing mood.