Hello, fellow Treeleafers!
First off, I'm not sure if this is the right place for this thread, so forgive me if this is better suited for a different section of the forum.
"They say there is a correlation between generosity and guilt." This is a line from the movie Captain America: Civil War, spoken to Tony Stark, by a mother whose son was killed by collateral damage when the Avengers intervened in the battle of Sokovia. Whether or not we entirely agree with the mother's statement, it nonetheless makes me pause and reflect upon my own "bootprint" left in Afghanistan. Did I leave it better or worse? That's not really what this post is about, but in trying to answer this question for myself I came upon a website that is starting to excite me, and has the potential to help me answer my question.
It's also just pretty cool.
From their website:
Below is a TED talk by Combat Flip Flop co-founder, Matthew Griffin who describes the idea behind the company's origination:
They also partner with the following charities:
Aid Afghanistan for Education (AAE)
Mines Advisory Group
Team 5 (medical foundation)
You can read more about the charities HERE.
Anyway, I thought this was one of many ways I could start offsetting my combat bootprint in Afghanistan. If you have time, check out their website and see what you think of their operation.
Gassho,
Eric
#ST
First off, I'm not sure if this is the right place for this thread, so forgive me if this is better suited for a different section of the forum.
"They say there is a correlation between generosity and guilt." This is a line from the movie Captain America: Civil War, spoken to Tony Stark, by a mother whose son was killed by collateral damage when the Avengers intervened in the battle of Sokovia. Whether or not we entirely agree with the mother's statement, it nonetheless makes me pause and reflect upon my own "bootprint" left in Afghanistan. Did I leave it better or worse? That's not really what this post is about, but in trying to answer this question for myself I came upon a website that is starting to excite me, and has the potential to help me answer my question.
It's also just pretty cool.
From their website:
The Mission
Unapologetically, we make cool stuff in dangerous places.
We do this because it's our job to show others what's possible, then encourage them to join us.
Welcome to the Unarmed Forces.
To create peaceful, forward-thinking opportunities for self-determined entrepreneurs affected by conflict. Our willingness to take bold risks, community connection, and distinct designs communicate, "Business, Not Bullets"--flipping the view on how wars are won. Through persistence, respect, and creativity, we empower the mindful consumer to manufacture peace through trade.
As Army Rangers with several Afghanistan tours behind them, Griff and Lee saw a country filled with hard-working, creative people who wanted jobs, not handouts.
Flip flops were just the start. We've taken a product that people in nearly every country on the planet wear, and made it a weapon for change. Right now, all our flip flops are made in Bogota, Colombia, providing jobs and investing in people who desperately need it. We've done that with all the products we sell.
Our USA made Claymore Bag's flip the script, on traditional weapons of war. Instead of carrying bombs, these bags act as a carry-all for business tools like iPad's, laptops and more.
Our Cover and Concealment sarongs are handmade in Afghanistan by local women. Each one takes three days to make, and each sale puts an Afghan girl into secondary school for a week.
The Peacemaker Bangle and Coinwrap are sent to us straight from artisans in Laos - and they're made from bombs. Each bracelet sold clears 3 square meters of Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) from a region rocked by long-term war - saving lives and providing economic opportunity.
As Army Rangers with several Afghanistan tours behind them, Griff and Lee saw a country filled with hard-working, creative people who wanted jobs, not handouts.
Flip flops were just the start. We've taken a product that people in nearly every country on the planet wear, and made it a weapon for change. Right now, all our flip flops are made in Bogota, Colombia, providing jobs and investing in people who desperately need it. We've done that with all the products we sell.
Our USA made Claymore Bag's flip the script, on traditional weapons of war. Instead of carrying bombs, these bags act as a carry-all for business tools like iPad's, laptops and more.
Our Cover and Concealment sarongs are handmade in Afghanistan by local women. Each one takes three days to make, and each sale puts an Afghan girl into secondary school for a week.
The Peacemaker Bangle and Coinwrap are sent to us straight from artisans in Laos - and they're made from bombs. Each bracelet sold clears 3 square meters of Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) from a region rocked by long-term war - saving lives and providing economic opportunity.
Unapologetically, we make cool stuff in dangerous places.
We do this because it's our job to show others what's possible, then encourage them to join us.
Welcome to the Unarmed Forces.
Below is a TED talk by Combat Flip Flop co-founder, Matthew Griffin who describes the idea behind the company's origination:
They also partner with the following charities:
Aid Afghanistan for Education (AAE)
Mines Advisory Group
Team 5 (medical foundation)
You can read more about the charities HERE.
Anyway, I thought this was one of many ways I could start offsetting my combat bootprint in Afghanistan. If you have time, check out their website and see what you think of their operation.
Gassho,
Eric
#ST
Sat Today 
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