Bhutto’s Death Leaves Many Broken Hearted in Pakistan
Our hearts and prayers go out to the Pakistani people left in the aftermath of the death of a leader who will not soon be forgotten, Benazir Bhutto. Her legacy to help Pakistan regain control over it’s own tribal communities, took her into the international spotlight. Today, her followers mourn a women with the courage of a heroine; her charming ways, teaching a better, more peaceful approach to democracy in Pakistan. She will be greatly missed.
I can’t imagine a more appropriate time for all of us to support grassroots, fair trade programs in Pakistan, who help those greatly affected by the recent political turmoil. One such way is to buy fair trade rugs through JAKCISS rugs.
Created in the early 1970’s, JAKCISS Rugs promotes economic and social justice in Pakistan’s very rural mountainous areas and those greatest effected by the death of Bhutto.
JAKCISS Rugs has been working with Ten Thousand Villages since the early 1980’s bringing a taste of the dynamic weaving traditions found throughout Pakistan to the US and Canada. The rugs are all handwoven, many by Afghan refugees and all looms are given to the artisans for use in their homes. This gives artisans the freedom to work on them from the comfort and safety of their homes and flexibility to balance weaving with the daily tasks important to the survival of rural communities (i.e.: farming). By purchasing JAKCISS rugs, not only are artisan families given a sustainable, living wage, but 4% of the retail sale of a specific rug, goes directly back to the community that wove it. To date, JAKCISS rug program has built over a dozen schools in rural Pakistani villages.
admin @ January 8, 2008