Greg Mortenson Information

Greg Mortenson, who has established 55 schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan through the nonprofit Central Asia Institute, will be featured Sunday in a Parade magazine story linking earthquake-relief efforts in Pakistan to fighting the war on terrorism. The Parade article coincides with the release of a book by Mortenson about his experiences with the CAI, an organization he founded in 1993. In the magazine article, Mortenson appeals to the international community to respond more generously to Pakistan's Oct. 8 earthquake, which killed more than 74,000 people, including 18,000 schoolchildren. "Even more than Katrina and the tsunami, the international community has largely forgotten about Pakistan's earthquake, and now, in the middle of the winter, hundreds of people are still dying. And nearly 1 million children whose schools collapsed and their education stopped last October have nowhere to go to learn how to read and write," Mortenson said. Next week, he will appear on several national television and radio programs promoting his book. Appearances will include "MSNBC Live" with Contessa Brewer on Monday; "Live From CNN," Tuesday; and ABC's "Good Morning America" on Wednesday. The book, "Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission To Fight Terrorism and Build Nations, One School At a Time," is based on his view that education is the best way to foster peace and regional stability. In November 2004, Mortenson received the Jeannette Rankin Peace Award from the Rocky Mountain College Peace Institute in Billings. He has also received the Vincent T. Lombardi Champion Award and the Al Neuharth Free Spirit of the Year Award. "What I really hope this book will do is promote a campaign for peace to reverse the crippling effects of poverty and illiteracy, which is ultimately the only solution to effect stability in impoverished, fragile societies; wielding a big stick, evoking sanctions and dropping bombs will never bring peace or a victory on terror," he said. The Central Asia Institute catapulted to national attention with a ...