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A4 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday September 19 , 2001 EL C O M E AGON L T D S in c e m Group fears reprisals will further marginalize Afghanistan women By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF A group of Oakville women is among the masses appalled at last week's terrorist attacks in the U.S. and they worry over the prospect of war -- for many reasons. For the past two years, the group of just over a dozen men and women has been working to upgrade the lives of down-trodden Afghanistan women. "Because we know how their lives are, those very people who have nothing, living in such poverty and dire circumstances, w e'd hate to see them bombed," said Bev LeFrancois of Oakville's Canadians In Support of Afghan Women. The Oakville group was established about two years ago after then Homemaker's Magazine editor, and Oakville resident, Sally Armstrong wrote a story about Afghan women -- an article through which those women cried out for help. "W hen I looked at the need and the fact we were being asked for help, I personally had to take action," said LeFrancois. Similarly, now, though the local group's first thoughts are with those who suffered in last week's terrorist attacks, LeFrancois said "It would be wrong not to speak up" about the precarious position many probably aren't even aware of when it comes to the people of Afghanistan. During the 1980s, the Soviets invaded Afghanistan, a country of 25 million that's bordered by Iran, Pakistan and China. In those years, the U.S. funded weapons in sup port of the Afghan faction called the mujahideen. However, after the Soviet withdrawal in 1992, the country continued to be a war zone as numerous fac tions struggled for power. In 1996. the Taliban seized 95% of power. This group, whose name translates to seekers or students, espouses an ultra-extremist Islamic movement. After years of war, the Afghan people are virtual ly destitute and the arrival of the Taliban -- a gov ernment recognized globally only by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates -- has left Afghan women without the most common human rights. "I consider their plight almost as a form of gender apartheid," said LeFrancois. In a country where women once enjoyed educa tion, employment and personal freedom, women aren't allowed in public without wearing burqa, a head-to-toe garment with Only a mesh opening at the eyes. The garment itself has become expensive to afford. Women can't go out without the company of a close male relative -- and therefore don't go to school or work in a country where they once made up 70% of teachers, 40% of doctors and 50% of gov ernment workers. Care from male doctors isn't allowed and since there aren't a lot of female physicians working, women and girls die of easily treatable diseases. Women must walk without making noise and are forbidden to laugh in public. Resistance results in stoning, beating, dismem berment, torture and death. Lobbying the United Nations not to recognize the Taliban government was a first step said LeFrancois. In the past year, the local Canadians In Support of Afghan Women group has been fundraising. Donations are collected at awareness speeches group members make about the situation. Donations are also collected through a Card & Mesh project which is an information card with a small swath of mesh representative of the obscured view women have in public in Afghanistan while wearing the burqa. Craft and needlework items are collected from Afghan women at a refugee camp in Pakistan and sold -- with 100% of the profits returned to the women. A 700-student school, Nazoo Anna Girls' School, in a refugee camp in Peshawar, Pakistan is support ed by the group so that girls can be educated and one day return to their country. Oakville resident Deb Ellis, an author who won the G ovem or-G eneral's Award for Children's Literature this year, is also donating 100% of sales for her book The Breadwinner to the cause. The globally-sold book is the true story of a girl who dressed like a boy to go out and support her family. "Our focus is to support the women in any way possible," said LeFrancois. "As part of a group that's been very concerned about the horrific way women have been treated in Afghanistan already, and then to see them bombed, would be terrible," said LeFrancois. "We urge caution in the rush to seek retribution on nations such as Afghanistan. The people of Afghanistan are victims of terrorist rule of the Taliban, and have been suffering under 25 years of war. We must differentiate between the victimized Afghan people and the terrorists who have taken them hostage," wrote LeFrancois in a letter-to-theeditor. 1930 W elcom ing new executives, businesses, and professionals to Oakville. We offer a com plim en tary corporate gift and informa tion package courtesy o f the Oakville business community. If you are a new executive, or if your company is new to Oakville, please call W endy Budisavljevic at (905) 466-5186 for your complimentary corporate information package. We also offer an exciting business sponsorship programme. Bob Rae guest speaker at Cdn. Club tomorrow The renam ed C anadian Club o f H alton Peel will hold its inaugural m eeting o f the season tom orrow night at the O akville C onference Centre. G uest speaker for the event is form er O ntario P rem ier Bob Rae w ho w ill be speaking on `S oftw ood lum ber and NAFTA'. The evening begins w ith a cash bar at 6 p.m. follow ed by dinner at 7 p.m . C ost is $28 for m em bers and $38 for non-m em bers. The O akville C onference C entre is located at 2515 W y ecro ft R oad at the H o lid ay Inn E xpress, ju s t east o f Bronte Road. 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