Afghanistan – The Copper Republic

I have always held that some similarities exist between Afghanistan and Arizona. The weather is a pretty good match between Prescott, where I have a home now, and Kabul. Elevations are roughly the same. The same sort of climate comparison holds for Phoenix and Kandahar, where I am working as I write this. I have already made the observation that Prescott is on the opposite side of the world from Bamiyan; 180 degrees apart in longitude at the same latitude.

It appears that what lies below the soil is also similar. Arizona has been known as the Copper State. Afghanistan may come to be thought of as the Copper Republic as its mineral resources start to be exploited. The explanation is from Alexandra Zavis in the Los Angeles Times;

Excavating a future in Afghanistan

This bodes well for the future as foreign funds leave the country with the departure of international troops. There is, however, also a vast historical wealth that lies buried in the soil of Afghanistan. Some of that archeological treasure may be sacrificed as minerals are extracted to aid the modern economy of the country.

The Buddhas of Mes Aynak – trailer

Perhaps these Buddhist artifacts serve as a pointer to the impermanence of this world of samsara.

Dan Rather filed this story from interviews with an archeologist working on the site;

(excerpt) Afghanistan Mes Aynak – The Archeology

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