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We are going to be setting up a newsletter to announce upcoming events, tell about recent events, and educate about the current issues facing mountain communities. We do not have a link to sign up yet, however that feature is coming. For now if you would like to sign up to receive updates please email us your email address to editor.uimf@gmail.com and put the subject line as News Letter.

We are also always looking for volunteers. If you would like to volunteer to help out the Utah International Mountain Forum, please also email editor.uimf@gmail.com with the subject line as volunteer. In that email please include any special skill or connections that you have.

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Thank you for your interest!

Two NEW articles!

Check out two new articles about recent Utah Valley University events held in the last two months! These links are also found on the right hand side of our blog.

http://utinternationalmountainforum.blogspot.com/p/international-mountain-day-celebration.html

http://utinternationalmountainforum.blogspot.com/p/central-asian-dignitary-discusses.html

Happy Holidays!

Links to International Mountain Celebrations

Check out to see live International Mountain Day Celebration in Peru.

http://www.mtnforum.org/imd2011/

http://www.facebook.com/events/148848398553653/

The Daily Universe article regarding UVU's Afghanistan Forum

The Daily Universe, a publication of Brigham Young University, has published the following article regarding Utah Valley University's "Operation Enduring Freedom" event. We appreciate the coverage by the Daily Universe regarding our event.

UVU holds conference discussing conflict in Afghanistan

Dec 03, 2011, 4:31 pmby Jared Gay

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An international conference at UVU discussed the history and progress of Afghanistan since the United States’ became involved in the conflict in the country.

Representatives from different nations involved in the conflict participated in different round table discussions and panels in an attempt to accurately tell the story of the complicated conflict.

“This high level event is centered around a greater understanding for the war in Afghanistan,” said John McClure, one of the organizers of the event, in a news release from UVU. “Ultimately, this will provide a greater understanding for students, faculty and for the community why the war started, what is currently happening and what can be expected in the future.”

The conference began with a round table discussion consisting of Ahmad Zahir Faqiri, the chief deputy of missions in Afghanistan to the U.N., Murad Askarov, the ambassador of Uzbekistan to the U.S., and Baktybek Abdrisaev, former ambassador of Kyrgyzstan to the U.S.

“This is the first time in the course of history of Afghanistan the the people accept military presence,” Faqiri said. “When the Taliban and Al-Qaida were removed from Afghanistan, there were only 500 American forces in Afghanistan. The community, the people, rose against the Taliban and Al-Qaida, and showed them to the Americans, and with the rest of the Afghan community, they took the Taliban out. Afghanistan began to reemerge. Afghanistan became the home of all Afghans, and this was a great achievement for the Afghan government and Afghan people in our lives.”

The doors to change opened up in Afghanistan, but the country is still facing challenges as it seeks to become more self-sufficient than it currently is.

“Since late 2009, everybody’s assessment was that we should have a regional approach toward finding a political solution to the Afghanistan conflict,” Askarov said. “Secondly, Uzbekistan has been doing its best in terms of helping our neighboring country with resources. Since 2009, several northern Afghan provinces, including the capital city of Kabul, have been fully supplied with Uzbek electricity.”

Terrorism, however, still has roots set in Afghanistan that the nation is seeking to weed out.

“Narcotics is a very big issue, and one of the main factors that operates the machinery of terrorism,” Faqiri said, with regards to the large amounts of poppy that is cultivated in Afghanistan to produce opium. “We are working on a plan to provide an opportunity to have alternative cultivation.”

Afghanistan is going to great lengths to find an alternative to opium production. The nation itself has a high content of natural resources currently going untapped.

Faqiri lamented the full picture of Afghanistan not always being shown because terrorism, the Taliban and other disappointing scenarios dominate attention to the country. He did, however, show optimism in the country’s strength and future.

“This is a country with 5,000 years of history, a country with rich cultural heritage, a country with blue sky, snow-covered mountains and hospitable people, a country that contributes to the course of history for civilization and for the enrichment of the culture of the region,” Faqiri said.

http://universe.byu.edu/index.php/2011/12/03/uvu-holds-conference-discussing-conflict-in-afghanistan/

For more information about this event please click the following link:

http://utinternationalmountainforum.blogspot.com/p/operation-enduring-freedom.html

UVU International Mountain Day Press Release

Utah Valley University published the following press release regarding International Mountain Day:

International Mountain Day Agenda

Here is the agenda for tomorrow nights celebration at 6:00pm at the Orem Public Library for International Mountain Day. The celebration is free to the public and will be a fun and enlightening event for all in attendance. Bring your family and join in the celebration!

Event is hosted by the Orem Public Library, Utah International Mountain Forum, Office of International Affairs/Diplomacy, History and Political Science Department, Languages Department, Utah Valley University  

For information, contact: John McClure, Phone: 801-380-7467 or jctmcclure3000@yahoo.com

The mayor of Provo, John Curtis, the President Asylbek Aidaraliev from the International University of Kyrgyzstan, and the mayor of Orem sent us the following letters of special welcome and support to those who attend and participate in our celebration of International Mountain Day. We appreciate the support the City of Provo, the International University of Kyrgyzstan and the City of Orem have shown us!

From Mayor John Curtis of Provo, Utah

From President Asylbek Aidaraliev of the 

International University of Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan

From Mayor James Evens, Orem Utah

International Mountain Day ( at Orem Public Library)

International Mountain Day was established by the UN in 2003. International Mountain Day is "observed every year with a different theme relevant to sustainable mountain development. FAO is the U.N. Organization mandated to lead observance of International Mountain Day.

The theme for International Mountain Day 2011 is "Mountains and Forests ." 

Event is hosted by the Office of International Affairs & Diplomacy, History and Political Science Department, Peace and Justice Studies Department