A QUARTERLY UPDATE FROM THE SOCIETY OF AFGHAN ENGINEERS SAE eNEWSLETTER Volume 1, Issue 4 Mizan 1390 October 2011 P.O. Box 11520, Burke, Virginia 22009-1520 http://www.afghan-engineers.org/index.html _________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________ _ Dear Colleagues: newsletter Editorial Board This issue of the SAE welcomes Ambassador Hakimi N S I D E T H I S I SSUE eNewsletter (newsletter) as a team member of the Society features the latest events about of Afghan Engineers. 2 President’s Message 2011 election of the Society A Message from Ambassador Eklil officers, meeting of the Society I hope that our colleagues enjoy 3 A. Hakimi members with Ambassador reading the newsletter. Hakimi, and interview with 4 Responses to Readers’ Comments Mr. Wahid Enayat, President of Please let me if you have a Enayat Schneider Engineering, technical article or news for the 5 Technical News from Afghanistan Inc. Also, there are articles SAE eNewsletter; or if you have about organic fertilizer and any questions, comments, or 5 Organic Fruits and Vegetables construction materials testing suggestion regarding the improvement of Society laboratory qualification program 8 Afghan Professional Community activities, especially, the in Afghanistan. News from Abroad contents of the SAE On behalf of the Editorial Board eNewsletter. Your opinions 8 Interview with Mr. Wahid Enayat of the Society of Afghan always count. Engineers, I congratulate University of Florida Admission and Ambassador Hakimi on his new Very Truly Yours, 12 IRF Fellowship Grant Program position as the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of 15 2011 SAE Election Afghanistan to the United States Ghulam Mujtaba of America. He has met three 16 Membership News G. Mujtaba, MS- CE, P.E., CPM times with Society members and 20 Achievements and Awards discussed the possibilities of Editor- In- Chief, Quality Control of Construction participation of the SAE 20 Materials in Afghanistan members in the reconstruction SAE eNewsletter of our beloved Afghanistan. He Membership Application/Renewal has joined the Society of Afghan 23 Updates Engineers, as member of the “The newsletter features the latest Society. The Society has events at the SAE and any other received his generous donations. issues important to the growth of the Society and its members.” The SAE is pleased to have Mr. Hakimi on their team. The 1 | P a g e A QUARTERLY UPDATE FROM THE SOCIETY OF AFGHAN ENGINEERS President’s Message The Environment Week 2011 was from June 5 to 11. In most countries, this week is considered an opportunity to learn more about the local clean environment and what the society as a whole can do to protect it. In Afghanistan however, it was a week that some newspapers; radio programs; and TV stations dedicated segments of their papers and air times discussing the environmental conditions in Afghanistan in general and in Kabul in particular. Unfortunately, the majority of people do not know what the environment means let alone how to protect it. The main contributing factors polluting the environment in Kabul include the following: Overcrowded city and overcrowded households, Unplanned and informal slums (particularly on top of the hills and mountains in Kabul) without water, sanitation, transportation, and other infrastructures, Lack of solid waste management systems and disposal facilities, Too many old vehicles, low quality fuel… old generators, Uncontrolled burning of tires, plastic and other solid waste, Lack of awareness, regulations and/or enforcement, and political well to address environmental problems, Deforestation, Water and wind erosion, and so on. Environmental degradation and pollution in Kabul have become major health and economic issues for the residents of Kabul. Some of the adverse impacts of the pollution have been documented as follows: The Ministry of Public Health of Afghanistan estimates that around 3,000 people die every year from environmental pollution in Kabul. The Ministry reports that there have been nearly 500,000 cases of respiratory illness within the past 9 years According to a 2005-2006 report published by United Nations Environment Program, 60 per cent of the population in Kabul is exposed to elevated concentrations of particulate matter, nitrous oxides and sulfur dioxide. The emissions of old cars reportedly cause 70 to 75 percent of air pollution in Kabul. World Health Organization estimates that suspended particulate matter leads to death of over 0.5 million people in the world and the economic cost of air pollution close to 2% of the Gross Domestic Product. High-density unplanned urban slums place huge demands on limited urban services and infrastructure; including energy supply, waste management, water and sanitation infrastructure, roads, agricultural land while aggravating urban air. With insufficient and no systematic solid waste collection and disposal facilities, the result is large piles of solid waste dumped at every street corner, spread open by scavengers and stray animals. Wind carries germs and stingy smells from the dumps to all over the neighborhood and inhaled by the residents. High-density settlement on top of the hills and mountains in Kabul without proper drainage, sanitation and access to clean water is another major cause of air pollution in Kabul. Runoff from rainfall and snow- milt transport human waste down the hills and deposited it on mostly dirt streets below. The waste is then carried by vehicle tires onto paved roads. When dry, the waste will be grounded into very fine particles, which can easily be blown into the air by moving traffic and wind and pollute the air. During the Environment Week 2011, experts in radio and TV shows and in newspapers discussed ways to reduce pollution and prevent further deterioration of the environment in Kabul and in Afghanistan. Nearly every expert agrees educating the public is a must in protecting the environment. A systematic and long term environmental awareness campaign supported by public and private sectors is urgently needed for protecting the environment and preventing its further deterioration. 2 | P a g e A QUARTERLY UPDATE FROM THE SOCIETY OF AFGHAN ENGINEERS I urge all of the SAE eNewsletter readers and experts in environmental sciences to share their knowledge and expertise in assisting the government and educating the public about the importance of protecting the environment with Afghanistan and Afghans and to propose cost effective solutions that would mitigate the damages done and prevent further deterioration of the environment. Abdul Hadi Rakin, P.E. A Message from Ambassador Eklil A. Hakimi September 1, 2011 Dear Society of Afghan Engineers, I am honored to be a member of your prestigious organization and I look forward to participating in your future programs. Afghanistan has come a long way in the past decade. Afghanistan is now a democracy with a thriving independent press. There is an emerging and vibrant civil society. Our healthcare system provides basic services to two-thirds of the population. Up to eight million students are enrolled in schools; close to 40% of the students are female. Lastly, Afghanistan’s economy is improving and there is great potential in our infrastructure and mineral resources industry. As engineers we understand the significant role engineering could play in the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan’s infrastructure. The knowledge, technology, and expertise that engineers contribute are crucial to the reconstruction effort. Engineers hold a particularly important role in developing Afghanistan’s infrastructure and mining industries, industries that have the potential to create millions of jobs and strongly boost the Afghan economy. We are embarking on a new era in Afghanistan’s history and now, more than ever, our country needs the help of its engineers. I encourage all of you to get involved in the reconstruction/development process in Afghanistan. By working together we can bring peace and prosperity back to our country. Sincerely, Eklil A. Hakimi Ambassador of Afghanistan “I encourage all of you to get involved in the reconstruction/development process in Afghanistan. By working together we can bring peace and prosperity back to our country.” Editor’s note: Ambassador Eklil Hakimi is ambassador of Afghanistan in Washington, D.C. He joined the Society of Afghan Engineers. His biography is included Membership News section of the SAE eNewsletter. 3 | P a g e A QUARTERLY UPDATE FROM THE SOCIETY OF AFGHAN ENGINEERS Responses to Readers’ Comments The SAE eNewsletter editor, received comments related to the third quarterly newsletter, which was published in July 2011. The comments have been addressed to the Editor-In-Chief, SAE eNewsletter (Editor). The responses to the comments and notes are also provided by the Editor. The responses to the readers’ comments have been sent by the emails. In order to make the information to the point, some parts of the correspondence have been deleted. The deletions include the closing part of the responses, Editor’s name, his title, and signature. The following are their comments and Editor’s responses: Professor Zabihullah Hamidi’s comments, from Australia: Ustad Mohtaram, Thanks for sending me the latest eNewsletter. It is a great job you perform. Wish you all the best. Hamidi. Editor’s Response: Dear Ustad Mohtaram Hamidi Sahib Salam: Thanks for the email and kind words. I am very pleased to know that you have received the SAE eNewsletter in Australia. I have copied the newsletter editorial board members and they will be very pleased to see an email and comments from their well respected former Kabul University professor. Thanks for the valuable suggestions and advices that you have provided for the improvement of the newsletter. Last year you helped us and reviewed articles for SAE Conference. The Society members appreciated your advices. We are looking forward to the receipt of your continued professional contributions to the newsletter by sending your technical articles, comments, suggestions, and advices. Mr.