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Planting the Roots of PeaceIn tribute to the September 11, 2001, attacks on USA impacting victims from 70 nations.
Kabul, Afghanistan—August 17, 2010 
 As we arrived in Kabul, we were greeted with the news that Roots of Peace empowered Afghan farmers to sit proudly at the helm of tractors in “full gear” and wheels to move forward. Together, we made HISTORY with the first shipment of overland cold storage container featuring fresh grapes exported from Kandahar, through the Waga Pass, and into Delhi. This feat was accomplished during the 13 days of flooding in Pakistan, and was a leading example of success and determination during extremely harsh weather conditions. Afghan traders living in Kandahar typically make a 3% profit margin on the transport of fresh fruits into Pakistan. Yet, due to the demand for these high quality grapes, the Kandahar traders made a 46% profit margin—creating a historical precedent for the demand of Afghan fruits in India. This news now goes back to Afghan farmers living in rural communities, as they make a natural transition from growing poppies to fresh grapes.    
Kabul, Afghanistan—August 18, 2010  The Roots of Peace Afghan Girls Soccer Team visited us, as they reminisced their European Soccer Tournament in Italy graciously hosted by San Patrignano with an American Soccer Mom! The opportunity to compete on foreign turf was a highlight of their life. Yet, these proud Afghan girls remain seriously focused on future goals in Afghanistan through competitive sports leading to a win/win situation in their homeland.    The Afghan girls seek to “hone their skills” and compete on American soil in 2011—while always keeping their eyes on the humanitarian goal.  
Kabul, Afghanistan—August 18, 2010  As Afghan farmers seek to reap a “harvest of hope”, there is a major election which looms on September 18, 2010 were various factions are running for governmental positions. The streets of Kabul are riddled with election campaigns from a myriad of political candidates.  The “black ink” thrown into the eyes of women's electoral billboards indicates the adversity to female candidates.  Over 44.6% of the population in Afghanistan today is under the age of 14 years old, and the girls ponder their future of their country while seeking educational goals. 
Bagram AFB, Afghanistan—August 20, 2010  Roots of Peace was honored to be invited to spend the night on Bagram AFB in the VIP Executive Quarters through the efforts of Brigadier General Barbara Faulkenberry and General John Campbell.   As an American family dedicated towards peace, I was joined by my husband, Gary, and daughter, Kyleigh, on the base to further our “clear and plant” initiative to restore Afghanistan as the Garden of Central Asia. This is a country which is 80% dependent upon agriculture.  Sobering thoughts immediately flowed through our veins as we were personally escorted by Dr. Carl Freeman, M.D., Chief of Bagram Critical Care, to see the most recent influx of casualties into his unit today. Both Afghans and Americans were treated with the highest quality of respect and care, but the intensity of the wounds grounded us regarding the risk we were taking to “plant the roots of peace.” We vowed to help the Bagram AFB take the wounded Afghan soldiers back via ambulance, as taxi cabs are currently the only source of transport back to their homes after critical care treatment. One cannot turn their eye to the grave suffering and pain on both sides of the battlefield where innocent victims are wounded—viable solutions must be found.    Bagram AFB is home to an estimated 30,000 soldiers who pass through the epicenter of Disney Boulevard every day.  While the familiar site is namesake for a fallen soldier, we shared our own remarkable story of the generosity of Diane Disney Miller, daughter of Walt Disney, who provided the original funding for Roots of Peace to DEMINE/REPLANT the Bagram region in 2003—allowing the footsteps of soldiers to walk in tandem with the footsteps of innocent Afghan children without the fear of landmines beneath either their boots or sandals.   Through the tools of technology, we were able to Skype with ABC7 News Anchor, Cheryl Jennings, cofounder of the Roots of Peace Penny Campaign since September 11, 2003, who joined us in Afghanistan five years earlier on a “Journey of Hope”(See VIDEOS)  Later, we were invited to pay tribute to the private “Fallen Comrade” Ceremony where two Army Rangers and one Navy Seal were saluted as they boarded their final flight—the American flag draped over each casket. As we saluted the three brave fallen soldiers, I was deeply reminded of the risk we were taking as a humanitarian organization—seeking to help Afghans rebuild their country. Leading with faith, not fear, we continued to take footsteps forward after this unforgettably somber moment…
Bagram AFB, Afghanistan—August 21, 2010 We were awaken by the Bagram AFB squadron overseeing our visit, as we were to “rise and shine” for military escort personally provided by the 101st Airborne to fly from Bagram AFB to Bamyan.   As we stood at the Pat Tillman USO center to warm ourselves up with hot coffee, I was reminded of our own San Francisco Bay Area fallen hero who died in gunfire in May 2006—a highly paid football player for Arizona who chose to give his life for his country. The courage in his eyes boldly reminded me of the humanitarian mission which we were en route.   Presidential Airways revved its engines, and the Dash 8-100 safely took us over the mountain pass into the historical city of Bamyan. In tribute to the 50 million “pennies” for peace raised by our daughter, Kyleigh, she was taken into the cock-pit for the ride of a lifetime over the panoramic mountains of Afghanistan.
Band-e-Amir, Afghanistan—August 22, 2010  Driving over two hours from Bamyan to the seven lakes of Band-e-Amir, we were shaken by the bumpy roads—as South Korean trucks strive to build new highways linking this potential tourist destination.  Our Roots of Peace Afghan Team escorted us to this remote panoramic site where silky waterfalls climb to the sky—only to open up endless horizons of turquoise lakes located in Band-e-Amir.   There remains a vast amount of cultural tourism to be developed, once the landmines are removed and development programs allow Afghans and international visitors to enter the country without fear of war. 
Bam Saray, Afghanistan—August 23, 2010  The Roots of Peace Penny Campaign has raised over 50 million “pennies for peace” since its inception on September 11, 2003! Thus, we were proud to open yet another school built entirely out of “pennies” for over 600 High School Students to attend in a remote village named Bam Saray—translated to “rooftop of the world!”   Children poured from the mountain tops to greet their elders, as the Roots of Peace School was officially opened during Ramadan—a sacred time in Muslim culture when Afghans may not eat or drink from sunrise to sunset. Yet, all found the energy to officially open their new school which was far off the grid of the “greenbelt”—to genuinely serve the future of Afghan children.     The Roots of Peace School in Bam Saray serves as an inspiration to rural villagers living in remote locations, as 44.6% of the total population remains under the age of 14 years old. The library was named in tribute to Shamim Jawad, Chair, Roots of Peace Penny Campaign.  The Bam Saray computer lab was named in tribute to Paula Loyd, former USAID humanitarian worker.  Over 600 potato storage facilities have been built by Roots of Peace in Bamyan since our last visit in 2008—showing the progress made in local development! Bam Saray is a village poised at over 9000 feet amidst the mountains leading to Wardak, and thus the snowfall and temperatures are harsh during the winter. Such well ventilated potato storage facilities help the local families from starving to death.   Roots of Peace provided over 200 spinning wheels for Afghan women to work in their homes in Bamyan during the intensely cold winter months has allowed them to increase their spinning yields over four-fold. Such contributions are deeply appreciated by the Afghan men, as the extra income helps their children attend school and families to purchase the necessary food stocks.  As we entered the homes of young girls, we were greeted with hand-made cards of love.  The Afghans have made hand-made woven carpets of President Obama and posed with vibrant images of "Hope and Change" in the remote highlands of Afghanistan.  Roots of Peace also supports Afghan-made carpets through support of the value chain—from modern spinning wheels to cut and wash facilities which by-pass Pakistani traders.  The Buddhas of Bamyan were 6th century monumental statues of standing Buddhas carved into the side of standing stone cliffs.  Anti-tank mine fragments were visible, as they were placed at the bottom niches, so that when the rocks broke off from artillery fire, the ancient Buddhist statues would receive additional destruction from particles which set the mines off.  The U.S. Department of State, Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement (PM/WRA) has contributed $25,000 towards helping Roots of Peace demine the Bamyan area in tribute to the “pennies” raised by children.   En route, we established the Roots of Peace Internet Computer Lab, and dedicated the room to Diane Disney Miller—in gratitude for her generous donation which allowed us to build upon community service. It was a natural after visiting Disney Drive on the Bagram AFB, which had no affiliation to The Walt Disney Family! The computers were donated by ATIC in Abu Dhabi, which shows the international support from the humanitarian eyes of the Afghan children.   May the sun continue to shine on Afghanistan, as they prepare to reap a “harvest of hope” for new generations… The “exit strategy” for Roots of Peace is to ultimately empower the Afghan farmers and families by providing the tools of agriculture and technology—leaving them a future destiny of prosperity and peace among their own communities.
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