Afghan, Coalition Forces Distribute Sewing Machines

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, July 10, 2008 – Afghan and coalition forces, in conjunction with a local women’s center, distributed more than 130 sewing machines to women in the Gereshk district of Afghanistan’s Helmand province July 5 and 6.

A representative of the Afghan government’s Department of Women's Affairs was present to speak with the local women and to encourage the economic empowerment of Afghan women.

The sewing machines will allow women to provide income for their families, especially widows who were dependent on their husbands for support. Some of the women travelled from villages more than 65 kilometers away, officials said.

Greatest labor saving devices ever invented -

The wheel
The grist mill
The fence
The loom
The sewing machine

None require electricity.

(I would add cow and dog, but humans didn’t invent them).

“Greatest labor saving devices ever invented -

The wheel
The grist mill
The fence
The loom
The sewing machine”

You got that right.
I learned to sew on my great grandmothers 1896 Singer Treadle. In the many decades since, I have had many of the dang-fool electric ones, including the fancy and most expensive.
We have never gotten along.
Two years ago, for only $100, I found the exact model/year that I learned to sew on.... The oak cabinet by itself is a beautiful piece of furniture - and the machine still purrs. Sews better, at 112 years old - and without hiccups - than any of the others I had.

In addition, I find the rocking back and forth of the treadle is soothing, as well as excellent exercise for the heart as is uses the muscles in the calves, which act as pumps to send the blood back up to the heart.

Some things can't be improved.

As to giving out sewing machines to the Afghani women, I'm glad they're smart enough to let them take the home and run their own “cottage” business, rather that set up ‘sweat shops”.

Self run cottage industry is perfect for much of this society just coming out of the dark ages. Heck, it's good for any society - It's a big part of business in my state...especially for mothers - they work the hours they want, can make or less depending on how much they want to work and have no child care, transportation costs to eat up half their bottom line.

I thought including the fence was creative - but, when you think about it, the fence might be number one. ;)

Years ago, I saw a program on TV, where they analyzed a skelaton from a cave. It turned out to be a woman, suffering from horrible arthrites, etc, who had spent her entire life on her knees, grinding grain with a mortor and pestal. They said she must have been in horrid pain, when she died.

Then they said, she was probably 18 at death.

I promptly went out and looked up how to build a mill.

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