A Major Women's Rights Victory in Afghanistan: they can buy

Written By: IGNEOUS
Date: 2006-09-11 17:00:52
<a href="/article/100952940-a-major-womens-rights-victory-in-afghanistan-they-can-buy-an-afghanmade-coca">Article Link</a>

"The economy is getting better... we believe this is a good investment and Afghanistan has the potential for more investment," he told AFP.

Shopkeepers expected good sales from the drinks, which should be marginally cheaper than the average 35 afghani (less than a dollar) for one litre of the imported product...

...With the war-pocked capital still unable to provide its residents with basic facilities, including more than a few hours of electricity every two days, the new plant includes its own well, generators and waste water treatment system.

Dependent on international aid, the country is trying to rebuild after decades of war. With the help of around 30,000 foreign troops, it is fighting an insurgency led by remnants of the Taliban regime ousted in 2001.

The new Coca Cola plant is the biggest investment in the industrial sector since the removal of the Taliban, the Afghanistan Investment Support Agency said...

For full article see various links such as:
<a href="http://www.afghanistan.sc/news/4806">http://www.afghanistan.sc/news/4806</a>
<a href="http://www.afghanmania.com/en/news/0,news,4806,00.html">http://www.afghanmania.com/en/news/0,news,4806,00.html</a>
etc

War, disrupted lives, people forced from their homes, branded as the Taliban and disappear forever. The economy supported by poppyfields and corrupt officals. However we have democracy where foreign capitalists can rake in the money. Truly the American way. Reason enough to send in the invaders as patriots of their country. How so noble a cause.

---
Expect little from life and get more from it.

When I saw the photo of President Hamid Karzai sitting alone in front of
a Coca-Cola sign at the opening ceremony for this U.S. trademark, I
didn't know whether to laugh or weep.

This was the first major business to start up in Afghanistan in the past
10 years. That's not counting the $3 billion annual drug trade.

There are 25 million Afghans with an average income of $200 a year.
That's less than $1 a day. A small bottle of Coke costs 20 cents. True,
the Afghans would be better off without it.

Karzai, looking unhappy, declined a glass of Fanta.

You asked, "Is this what we are fighting for?"

Yes.

---
Michael

So someone opens a factory up - which makes the product cheaper to the people that actually drink the stuff (someone is drinking Coke already if they are importing it) and you get some additional people working. Construction jobs to assemble the plant, maintenance staff, security staff, labourers, engineers to monitor everything, etc... 
 
You guys do nothing but bitch about how nothing is improving, and when some company invests, you start with the sarcasm and BS about how vile Coke is to set up a factory when there is little infrastructure. Who do you think was going to invest in Afghanistan at this point? BMW? Microsoft? Axe Body Spray? Maybe we can relocate a Ford plant from Oakville to Kabul. Oh, wait, on $200 a year, they can't afford tires. 
 
Some people can afford Coke in Afghanistan prior to this. And now more people can because they work at the factory. 
 
What has the NDP done for Afghanistan? Or CAP? Or you? How many jobs have you created? How many people have you helped? What's that? Crickets chirping? How shocking. 
 
What company would you approve of setting up shop in Afghanistan? Is there any? Aid groups help, but only through sustainable economic development will Afghanistan grow. And if that means Coke, McDonalds and Exxon are the first to set up shop, so be it. They are not going to set up shop if they think they can't make money. And they are not going to make money if no-one can buy their products. 
 
If you prefer to try to help set up something else (like say a rug co-op or something) - try one of these links and make a difference. Purchase goods, donate or volunteer, but get off your @ss before you bitch about Coke - at least they are there. Where are YOU? 
 
<a href="http://www.pcpafg.org/Organizations/grsp/">http://www.pcpafg.org/Organizations/grsp/</a> 
<a href="http://www.w4wafghan.ca/w4w_html/projects.htm">http://www.w4wafghan.ca/w4w_html/projects.htm</a> 
 
Or alternatively, here's an online list of organizations accepting donations: 
<a href="http://www.afghan-network.net/Culture/aid-agencies.html">http://www.afghan-network.net/Culture/aid-agencies.html</a>

What has the NDP done for Afghanistan? Or CAP? Or you? How many jobs have you created? How many people have you helped? What's that? Crickets chirping? How shocking.

Just what did the Americans do for the country that wasn't for their own gain? They destroyed it and the culture of the citizens, then replaced it all with American capitalism. No crickets but a lot of vultures. As that a squawk I hear? A soda pop company to get the economy going. Oh how sweet!

---
Expect little from life and get more from it.

Hey Mikey 
“So someone opens a factory up-…” 
 
Some –freakin –one??? 
You have outdone yerself 
 
<a href="http://www.skolnicksreport.com/cocaccc.html">http://www.skolnicksreport.com/cocaccc.html</a> 
--- We have met the enemy and he is us 
Pogo 
A mind is a fire to be kindled, not a vessel to be filled. 
Plutarch

It's not about the pop, it's about the environment needed for business to thrive. Safe, secure, progressive.

Today, pop. Tomorrow, some sort of heavy manufacturing. Cars for example. That means jobs, taxes, and safety. Something they could use.

---
"I think it's important to always carry enough technology to restart civilization, should it be necessary." Mark Tilden

Tell me oh mystic who knows that the Yanks do nothing out of the good of their heart... what does the US get out of the aid they give to the Palestinians? There is no oil line there, no Coke factories, nothing other than 10 million people that hate the US. Yet without US aid, they can't pay their wages. The Arab world said they'd come to the Palestinian's aid (you know the people who claim to hate the US because of what they've done to the Palestinians by supporting Israel), but they have not. The Palestinians are broke, their rich US hating Arab brothers have abandoned them, and their people are going on strike because they have not been paid for their work for months. The US has many problems, but they give more money to more people that actually hate them than any other country in the world per capita and gross (Afghanistan included). That includes our stingy nation. And spare me the "they give more to Israel" crap... of course they get more - they LIKE them, and Israel is strategic to them. Israeli's don't run out in the streets burning US flags ever time their dog craps in their house screaming that it is the fault of America/Bush. Which is really what you do. Grow up and take some responsibility. If you are so upset about what is going on, do something constructive to make your/our/their lives better.

"Today, pop. Tomorrow, some sort of heavy manufacturing. Cars for example. That means jobs, taxes, and safety. Something they could use."

Why now?
Why after all these hundreds of year would a tribal society be interested in shift from a warlord mentality to western capitalism?

---
We have met the enemy and he is us
Pogo
A mind is a fire to be kindled, not a vessel to be filled.
Plutarch

The jury is still out on whether they'll switch, but at least they'll be given the opportunity.

---
"I think it's important to always carry enough technology to restart civilization, should it be necessary." Mark Tilden

The US has many problems, but they give more money to more people that actually hate them than any other country <<

The USA is hated for reason. You miss the values people place on their own country. The USA has contributed $$$s to replace culture and the destruction they had done prior. They contribute the dollars to gain on their own system, Capitalism. Yes, the American dollar means a lot to those without but it is never without cost to them. Military bases to "freetrade" agreements. Cuba as an example. A country whose citizens became servents to the American rich. El Salvador who lost not only self-respect but all natural resources to the Americans. Iraq, who lost their entire country to the Americans. Flashing the cash by Americans can win a few but not everyones sole.

---
Expect little from life and get more from it.

Afghanistan is a poor country. Crops have failed. 
 
<a href="http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/fromthefield/218275/115799833187.htm">http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/fromthefield/218275/115799833187.htm</a> 
 
The people need good food not Coca Cola plants. What our troops get is Tim Hortons. What values are we really trying to enforce on the good people of Afghanistan? And while Coca Cola and Tim Horton's are becoming firmly implanted the plight of women may change little under the newly installed capitalist friendly administration. 
 
<a href="http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/fromthefield/218275/11577328691.htm">http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/fromthefield/218275/11577328691.htm</a>

, it's about the environment needed for business to thrive<<

Yes, it's called capitalism. It's not democracy, but a means for the wealthy to get richer. It's not progress for one to drink American pop instead of another country's. For some reason you think only the USA can provide work in the country they devastated. A futile war for cheap labour.

---
Expect little from life and get more from it.

"...at least they'll be given the opportunity."

Give it a rest!
Given is it?

Again I ask why after all these years and if they wanted our systen they could have asked for it and the so called free world would have tripped over themselves getting it to them. Further, who is it that will be making that choice?

---
We have met the enemy and he is us
Pogo
A mind is a fire to be kindled, not a vessel to be filled.
Plutarch