The "Three Cups of Sad, Complicated and Greedy Tea" Debate

Afghan School Girls in town on road to Bamian, 2002. Photo: VW

Here's a link to just one of the articles swarming around the Internet, about Mortenson, the author of "Three Cups of Tea" and his alleged fabrication and/or misappropriation of funds for his non-profit.  I think it's interesting that the key characters in this escalating drama are white, American, middle-aged men, and pretty darn wealthy at that.  Maybe that's why journalists typically don't get paid a lot, it keeps them a little more honest.  


Maybe they all should read the Journalist's Code of Ethics:  60-Minutes for coming down too hard on one angle, Mortenson for at the very least, exaggerating and/obscuring the truth and forgetting to hire an accountant, and Krakauer for profiting on a sensational story.  I haven't read the book, I think because I was so immersed in Afghanistan already, and saw lots of evidence that many US NGOs were using Afghans as a way to raise money for US-based interests, not Afghan's. Yes, he built some schools, but the Afghans I spoke with were sick and tired of things started and not finished, or when they were given a hundred pencils and then forgotten about.  I try to remain unbiased, after all, the guy has some good.  But then I think about his $35K speaking fee. That alone could build 140 schools in Afghanistan!

Obama's sister Maya Soetoro-Ng & Int'l project creators at tomorrow's exhibit launch. How could you miss it?

Last chance! RSVP today to join the International Museum of Women and Mills College for a program and reception celebrating the launch of Young Women Speaking the Economy


THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2011

7:00 p.m. program, 8:30 dessert reception

Mills College, Jeannik Méquet Littlefield Concert Hall,

Music Building, 5000 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, CA 94613

Free parking is available on campus. This event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, but please RSVP to

rsvp-vpo@mills.edu to secure a seat.

Young Women Speaking the Economy is an innovative online exhibition featuring the voices and creativity of young women from the Sudan, Philippines, Denmark and United States. 

Meet participants from each country, see their work, and hear from special guest speaker Maya Soetoro-Ng. Soetoro-Ng is an educator, author, and sister of United States President Barack Obama. She will be signing copies of her new book, Ladder to the Moon.

RSVP to rsvp-vpo@mills.edu. Space is limited.

Learn more about the exhibition www.imow.org

Major funding for the project is provided by Museums & Community Collaborations Abroad (MCCA), made possible by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and administered by the American Association of Museums; and by MetLife Foundation's Museum and Community Connections grant. Additional support comes from the Emma Willard School.

Interesting perspective on efficacy of [RED] campaign in combating HIV/AIDs

From Scout Banana

In NYC tomorrow and Friday April 7th and 8th: "The World Through Women's Eyes" film series

Our film FRONTRUNNER is part of a premiere film series being held by the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism in NYC.  The series and panel discussions go all day and into the evening, with screenings of several powerful documentaries, made by and about powerful women.  The list includes: The Sari Soldiers, Poto Mitan, Sisters of the Good Earth, The Greatest Silence, and Pray the Devil Back to Hell.


I am pretty thrilled to be featured alongside such a great list of films and directors, and the post-screening panels promise to be inspiring.  The first day is on campus, the second at the Time Life Building.  For a full program and more info about the films and panelists, visit: http://bit.ly/CUNYfilms  Look forward to seeing you there!

APRIL 7: CUNY GRADUATE SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM
219 W. 40th Street, Third Floor, New York, NY
(between 7th and 8th Avenue)

APRIL 8: TIME LIFE BUILDING
1271 Avenue of the Americas (50th), 8th floor
New York, NY