Peace through education: ‘Three Cups of Tea’ author on G-B swing
The best-selling memoir recounted how Mortenson was inspired by a group of local children to build a chain of schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Back home, a lawsuit was filed against Mortenson last year after a US TV show ‘60 Minutes’ and investigative reporter Jon Krakauer challenged his work, saying he had fabricated and exaggerated parts of his books to boost sales. The lawsuit was, however, dismissed.
The author also recently made a $1 million deal to settle allegations that he misused donations for his own benefit. CAI Communications Director Karin Ronnow, who is accompanying Mortenson on the G-B trip, told The Express Tribune that the Skardu people extended a warm welcome to Mortenson, who had first visited the place in 1993 to climb K2.
In 2009, the Pakistan government had honoured Mortenson Sitara-e-Pakistan award in recognition of his 15-year-long humanitarian efforts. Several US Congressional representatives had nominated Mortenson twice for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009 and 2010.
Noting rampant poverty and lack of education among women, Mortenson built his first school in Korpe village in 1996, she added. “Since then, the CAI has established over 40 schools in Baltistan and a total of 110 schools in Gilgit, Hunza, Azad Kashmir, and Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa,” she added. One of his most trusted men in G-B, GM Parvi also parted ways with him saying that ‘Three Cups of Tea’ was contemptuous against Islam and Baltistan’s culture. Ronnow, however, said that Parvi caused many complications for the organisation.
Ronnow added that Mortenson started charity work in the area, devoid of government attention in sectors like education, 20 years ago.
US drone strikes
During his trip, Mortenson took strong exception to the US drone campaign in Pakistan’s tribal regions.
“I am especially disheartened to see that the US foreign policy in Pakistan is driven by predator drone strikes and humanitarian sanctions,” Mortenson told a ceremony in Skardu on Sunday.
He also said that he was dismayed to see US-Pakistan relations at an all-time low.
“The US policy is based on a fight over access to strategic routes to supply military operations in Afghanistan.” He added that dropping bombs, deploying troops, and building roads will not serve the purpose of bringing about a change in society until and unless people, especially girls, are educated. During the ceremony, the author donated books worth Rs278,000 to the Skardu Municipal Library.
He also committed to cover the cost of Internet service for the library for a year, and purchased two laptops for the librarians.
(ADDITIONAL INPUT BY NEWS DESK)
Published in The Express Tribune, June 4th, 2012.
COMMENTS (14)
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@hash: Let us not condemn each and every NGO just because a single one turn out to be a rotten egg. There are many foreign organizations working in Pakistan providing healthcare, education, and food to millions of our impoverished citizens, and we should appreciate their good work.
I can think of no better program than helping build schools there, and Greg Mortenson is doing it. Most Americans wouldn't even dare visit there, never mind build schools. Efforts to bring women out of the stone age is also commendable and necessary. This is the type of relationship America should have with other countries - helping them with education and medicine. I'd like to see us send more doctors over there too - to help the children and weak.
@Cynic Yes us ostensible Pakistanis have nothing better to do than have a go at the white man all the time. Your patronizing remarking is exactly the reason why people in not just Pakistan but even places like Egypt and other developing countries are becoming increasingly hostile to Western aid. Not only do Westerners assume that us 'ostensible Pakistanis' are just lazy and wait around for Western aid, that Western aid is enough to not only solve all our problems and that questioning and criticising such aid is extremely ungrateful behaviour. Let me just remind you that according to a recent survey us 'ostensible Pakistanis' have been rated as “Philanthropic Capital of the World”, with the highest per capita donation. So yea that pretty such shows that average Pakistanis happen to lift alot more than just a finger to help fellow countrymen!!! http://tribune.com.pk/story/328966/stand-up-for-your-country/
Its regrettable when all the good that Mortenson has done is swept aside on a tide of ingratitude fueled by innuendo and half baked assertions from those with a rather obvious axe to gring.
But its downright appalling that the first people to jump on the anti-Mortenson bandwagon are these ostensible Pakistanis who have never lifted a finger to help the people Mortenson has devoted his life to for two decades.
Love Mortenson
Everything he wrote in his book may not sound true but fact of matter is that overall his performance in remotest parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan has been excellent.In today's world no body works free.Don't tell me that Sattar Edhis works for free.I accept Edhis performance is undoubtedly excellent. By the way allegations against him were thrown out by USA court.
Why is it that the WHITE MAN gets away always scot free! Punishment for them is not that severe.
despite all the controversy, greg mortenson is doing what the pakistanis themselves ought to be doing.
pakistan has enough billionaires (in USA dollars) who can finance and build schools in every corner of pakistan.
don't you think it is the responsibility of pakistani citizens, who claim to love pakistan, to help promote education, set up schools, etc.?
is our professed love for pakistan just empty talk, not requiring any action, sacrifice, paying taxes?
Greg Mortenson book is a complete fabrication.
Federal court in Missoula last week, two Montana legislators – state Reps. Michele Reinhart and Jean Price – filed a claim against Mortenson.
Mortenson is facing a $5million law suit againstclaim that he fooled 4 million people into buying his books by fabricating stories and portraying false events as true, in order to make him look like a hero and to raise money.
so much for Western Values and eastern slave mentality
@Ali not only that those incidents which he mentioned in his book were also not true. He even talked about some names and people whom he never met. He was just a fraud and I wonder why express tribune did not mention another side of story. In Pakistan anyone can come and open his NGO and take 100s of dollars/pounds from Western funding agencies and later hide these funds in their private accounts. Everyone knows that in Pakistan there is no transparency, also we love to vote corrupt leaders who are looting our system so what about these small NGOs.
@Paul
ACtually he has used his so-called charitable organization as a front to gather funds for his chatiry which were then swindled into his own bank accounts. According to the investigations his most of his schools that were shown as thriving, were infact empty.
He's lucky he hasn't gotten jail for it.
It's great to see Mr. Mortenson out in the world helping make it a better place. Despite some flaws, he has done superb work and I wish him the best in all of his efforts. We need more people like Greg Mortenson.