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The big guy |
I've been somewhat remiss in performing my newsletter duties. This is due in part to a trip recently taken to visit our reputed ancestors, the chimpanzees in Uganda and gorillas in
Rwanda. There's a 99% DNA match between homo sapiens and the chimps, making them and the bonobos, our closest relatives. It's not clear we've evolved into something better. Had evolution ended with the chimps, gorillas and bonobos, they wouldn't be on the endangered animals list.
I was twenty feet away from the largest gorilla in the world, who weighs almost 500 pounds. Gorillas must consume 14% of their body weight a day. That's nearly 70 pounds a day for the "big guy".
A large male gorilla put his arm around my leg as he passed by. No problem,
they're vegetarians. However, they have been known to pull a tourist to the ground just for fun.
It was a fascinating trip, perhaps my best ever. I highly recommend including a chimp/gorilla visit on your bucket list. If you'd like information about the trip send me an email using
[email protected].
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Remember the loving arms days? |
While absent from the "civilized world" which theoretically includes Donald Trump, Christa and Sharif worked on our educational video translation project. We now have 450 Khan Academy math videos translated into Dari. We should be finished with translating the math videos into Dari within four to six months. The videos are posted on the internet. Christa told me moments ago that the math videos have had 12,859 "hits" as of today! They're using them!!!!
I'm still looking for volunteers to work on producing ESL (English as a Second Language) videos. ESL videos will benefit people of all ages everywhere in the world. Whoever learns English will have more job opportunities and receive higher pay, particularly in developing countries.
It's not, according to Basir, safe enough for Nabi and I to travel to Afghanistan now. While I would certainly like to visit Afghanistan this month, as I have done for the past ten years, Afghanistan is going through a very difficult transition period. The United State's troop strength in Afghanistan went from 125,000 to less than 10,000 in 2015.
The Taliban and ISIS are testing the strength, resources and resolve of Afghanistan's military. Several sources have told me ISIS pays it's fighters $700 plus per month while Taliban fighters receive $500 plus. Afghan soldiers earn less than both and are often not as well equipped. Afghans do not want ISIS or the Taliban to control their lives. Historically, whoever tested Afghan resolve made a mistake. The same will be true for the Taliban and ISIS.
The balance of our most recent Denton shipment arrived and is being picked up today.The 285,000 meals provided by Stop Hunger Now arrived two months ago and have already been distributed.
What you donated and packed will be distributed to refugee families very soon.
The shipment includes another 1,000 solar cookers made possible by Interact clubs in District 5170, 400
indestructible soccer balls donated by One World Futbol and
13 pallets of dog and cat food donated by Purina to Nowzad, Pen Farthing's nonprofit organization.
Nowzad operates two animal shelters in Kabul.
Pen is now authorized to carry a gun and has offered his assistance next time we're in Kabul. A gun packing animal lover, in a country where most don't love dogs, standing his ground against terrorists. He's one of the frontliners we're fortunate to be able to support.
Our next packing party will be in September. Porch privileges will start again that month. For new newsletter recipients, that's when you can drop your stuff off on my porch and we'll get it to Afghanistan from there. Please hang on to your things until then. Even the mice and rats have fled my garage. There's not enough room for their ever expanding families.
While visiting our ancestors in Africa there was plenty of time to reflect. Over the past thirteen years we've progressed from helping hundreds to thousands. The number of TIE volunteers and contributors grew over the years, making that possible. There's no stopping now, not when others are leaving and Afghan families will need us more than ever.
Enjoy the weekend --
Budd
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Loves his veggies. |
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