For women of Afghanistan, pregnancy and delivery are dangerous. The war torn country has the “world’s second-highest death rate in women during pregnancy and childbirth”, second only to another war torn country Sierra Leone. The medical journal Lancet reports that 78% of these maternal deaths could be avoided. The New York Times reports:
For every 100,000 births, 1,600 mothers die; in wealthy countries the rates range from 1 to 12. In one remote northeastern province, Badakhshan, 6,507 mothers die for every 100,000 births, according to a 2005 report in the medical journal Lancet. In all, 26,000 Afghan women a year die while pregnant or giving birth. The main causes of these deaths are hemorrhage and obstructed labor, which can be fatal if a woman cannot obtain a Caesarean section. Even if the mother survives, obstructed labor without a Caesarean usually kills the baby.
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The announcement of a new ‘Green Ammunition‘ for the military brings up an interesting question. Can war be eco-friendly? I find it interesting (twisted, actually) that something that is designed to kill can be called green.
Now, before you castigate me for being a peacenik hippie who’s missing the point (yes, I am a peacenik), let’s look at the issue.
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by Jennifer Lance on December 1, 2008 · 8 comments
Before we had a preschool/playgroup in our community, we used to take turns gathering in each other’s homes for “mommy/daddy and me” socialization gatherings. On one occasion, a mother brought a bag full of toy soldiers to the play date at my house. I was extremely uncomfortable as the shooting and killing of these little plastic guys ensued. As a child, I never played with toy soldiers or guns, as typically these toys are reserved for boys. As a parent, I have consciously chosen to avoid such toys for my son, as I believe “peace begins in the home”. Why would I want to promote violence in my child’s play time?
[social_buttons]Luckily, my children are not growing up with real life violence surrounding them like the children of Iraq. It is natural for such violence to enter into children’s dramatic play; however, children in Iraq are often mistakenly assassinated for their toy guns. That’s why the organization La’Onf (the Arabic translation for the word nonviolence) has worked to get war toys banned in the Muthanna province. Peaceful Tomorrows, an organization founded by family members of September 11th victims, explains:
One example of La’Onf efforts to apply nonviolent principles in practical ways in the interests of children is the campaign against war toys.
In too many instances soldiers shot and killed children who were carrying toy guns that looked like real guns.
The campaign began with programs in which children could trade in their toy guns for soccer balls. It then expanded into lobbying efforts. La’Onf’s campaign has now resulted in legislation banning the sale of war toys in the province of Muthanna. La’Onf activists hope to see national legislation passed in the near future.
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by Jennifer Lance on September 17, 2007 · 0 comments
The real toy soldiers are children, and it is estimated that 250,000 children are exploited every day by paramilitary, guerrilla, and state-run military groups. Nine countries have been identified as using child soldiers, and eight of those countries receive US military assistance. How could this be?
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by Jennifer Lance on September 14, 2007 · 0 comments
Imagine losing your only brother to a shooting incident, and then having your parents fear for your safety so much that you are not allowed to leave your home. This is what is happening in Iraq to children and their families. Children are being raised in a climate of fear and violence, and in my opinion, this upbringing will fuel further hatred of the United States. According to an article in IRIN,
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My Persian friend sent me a link to these images of the medical crisis in Gaza. The images are disturbing, but they are real, and I feel like we need to look at these images to realize the horrors governments around the world impose on innocent people. For any parent that has had a child in the NICU, these images bring up memories of difficult times; however, I am so ever thankful that the hospital my son was treated in had paper towels, medicine, etc.
The neonatal ICU ward in Al Naser Hospital in Gaza City, Gaza Strip Occupied Palestinian Territory, May 13, 2006. Doctors at Al Naser do not even have paper towels to dry their hands with before assisting patients much less the essential sterilised linens needed to prevent infection and death in infants and those with with compromised immune systems. Many infants in the Neonatal ICU are suffering from severe bacterial infections due to the lack of sterilised equipment and linens.
GAZA CITY, GAZA STRIP OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY – May 8, 2006: An infant with a compromised immune system suffering from severe bacterial infections which were a result of the lack of sterile equipment in the hospital is treated in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Al Naser Hospital in Gaza City, Gaza Strip Occupied Palestinian Territory, May 8, 2006. Doctors at Al Naser do not even have paper towels to dry their hands with before assisting patients much less the essential sterilised linens needed to prevent infection and death in infants and those with with compromised immune systems. After the cessation of aid from America and EU countries, hospitals in Gaza have literally run out of medicine and supplies. Patients die on a daily basis from easily treatable conditions due to lack of supplies such as sterile linens, needles, medicine, chemotherapy treatments etc.
GAZA CITY, GAZA STRIP OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY – May 8, 2006: An infant severely dehydrated and near death is treated at Al Naser Hospital in Gaza City, Gaza Strip Occupied Palestinian Territory, May 8, 2006. This child has suffered malnutrition and dehydration due to the financial status of its family which has been without any salary for almost four months now. Hospitals are seeing a dramatic rise in cases of malnutrition and even starvation as local families run out of money, food and water. After the cessation of aid from America and EU countries, hospitals in Gaza have literally run out of medicine and supplies. Patients die on a daily basis from easily treatable conditions due to lack of supplies such as sterile linens, needles, medicine, chemotherapy treatments etc.
