by Samantha Nutt, MD.
This is a very thought provoking books about world conflict, aid, the roles of government agencies and NGOs and why some current practices are not achieving positive outcomes.
The author has worked in a variety of world conflict zones and has witnessed horrible tragedies and abuses.
She is really speaking from experience. The stories she relates about her experiences are hair raising and the arguments she puts forward about reducing military expenditures in favour of aid and support of community resources in the field are well thought out. Her suggestions that more money needs to be directed directly to community groups rather than large multinational organizations make sense.
She is a strong proponent of the value of education for women, and I agree with her..
Quotes:
"Nadya.... after everything you hve been through has any of this helped you:?".... When, leaning forward from her mat, she placed her finger in the sand and gently wrote her name...When she was finished she turned to me and said, "Now that I know how to write my own name, I'm going to learn how to write my son's name".
"Aid is wasted without improvements to women's education. Even the most effective humanitariam interventions are stymied by high rates of female illiteracy.in such countries as Afghanistan and Somalia, where girls' education is often seen as antithetical to religious and social norms. Under such conditions the value of educating girls is recognized the moment her mother is able to read and write...the cycle of violence and despair that plagues beleaguered nations will not end so long as women remain marginalized by illiteracy and are catastrophically poor."
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