The Greening of Kabul

Lately I've been noticing a lot of freshly-painted green buildings in Kabul. A friend told me the city was doing it, and I figured they had gotten a deal on green paint, or maybe someone's relative was trying to unload green paint on the city.

But the latest story I've heard is far more sinister, ridiculous, and, therefore, believable.

As most of you have heard me complain (repeatedly), Kabul is a dusty place. The civil wars led to the deforestation of the nearby mountains, as trees were blown apart by artillery or chopped down for fuel. So, the local government received a $2 million grant for the "greening" of Kabul.

Paint was cheaper and easier than trees and plants, apparently.