Everyone needs resources to survive. Safe water, grain and livestock are among the vital resources Afghans have long toiled to keep producing for themselves and others to make sure their families are fed and their thirst is quenched. Fuel is a resource needed to keep Afghan families warm during the colder months.
And there are resources that can help Afghanistan not simply survive, but thrive. The potential of those resources is explored in the third part of Sada-e Azadi magazine's series on the economy. Minerals like lithium are hidden beneath the soil of Afghanistan and are in great demand around the world. Copper mining is being developed and there is even an agreement to tap Afghanistan's modest oil reserves.
Human resources are also being developed, as we show in a story about dentists who are being trained to treat the tooth problems of Afghan National Army soldiers. As the country increases the number of trained, educated people, these soldiers and their countrymen can expect a higher standard of living.
Even garbage can become a resource. As local officials in various cities consider how to dispose of rubbish, they also have the opportunity to find creative new ways to re-use and recycle materials. Cleaning up the cities will also help preserve the natural resources, like water supplies and plants that make a city more habitable.
We hope that as you read our magazine, you will stop to think about your own resources and how they can be used to improve life for your family, your neighbourhood and your nation.
