Greg Mortenson

Greg Mortenson
Born December 27, 1957
St. Cloud, Minnesota, United States
Residence Bozeman, Montana, USA
Nationality US
Alma mater University of South Dakota
Occupation Humanitarian, author, Director CAI (Central Asia Institute)
Employer Central Asia Institute
Home town Moshi, Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Title Executive Director
Spouse(s) Tara Bishop
Children Amira and Khyber Mortenson

Greg Mortenson (born December 27, 1957[1]) is an American humanitarian, writer, and former mountaineer. Mortenson is the co-founder (with Dr. Jean Hoerni) and director of the non-profit Central Asia Institute, and founder of the educational charity Pennies For Peace. He is the protagonist and co-author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission To Promote Peace... One School At A Time (Penguin 2007). The sequel, Stones Into Schools: Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan was released on Dec 1, 2009 (Viking 2009).

Early life

From 1958-1973, Mortenson grew up in Tanzania. In early 1958, Mortenson's parents left Minnesota, and sponsored by the Lutheran World Federation, to teach at the Luindai Secondary Girls School, in the Usambara mountains of northern Tanzania. In 1960, Mortenson's father Irvin "Dempsey" Mortenson became the development director of the Good Samaritan Foundation, with a vision to raise funds and establish a teaching medical center in Moshi, Tanzania, called the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center, which was established in 1971. In 1969, Mortenson's mother, Jerene founded the International School Moshi.

Mortenson served in the U.S. Army in Germany from 1975 to 1977 as a medic, and received the Commendation Medal. He attended Concordia College, Moorhead from 1977 to 1979 on an athletic (football) scholarship.[2] After transferring, using a GI scholarship, he later graduated from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, South Dakota, in 1983 with an Associate Degree in Nursing and a Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry.[3]

Transition to humanitarianism

In July 1992, Mortenson's young sister, Christa Mortenson, died from a life-long struggle with severe epilepsy on the morning she had planned to visit the cornfield in Dyersville, Iowa, where the iconic baseball movie Field of Dreams was filmed.

In 1993, to honor his deceased sister's memory, Mortenson went to climb K2, the world's second highest mountain, in the Karakoram range of northern Pakistan. After more than 70 days on the mountain, Mortenson and three other climbers completed a life-saving rescue of a fifth climber that took more than 75 hours. The time and energy devoted to this rescue prevented him from attempting to reach the summit. After the rescue, he began his descent of the mountain and became weak and exhausted. Mortenson set out with one local Balti porter by the name of Mouzafer Ali to the nearest city, but he took a wrong turn along the way and ended up in Korphe, a small village, where Mortenson was cared for by the villagers while he recovered.[4][5]

To pay the remote community back for their compassion, Mortenson said he would build a school for the village. After a frustrating time trying to raise money, Mortenson convinced Jean Hoerni, a Silicon Valley pioneer, to fund the Central Asia Institute. The mission of CAI—a non-profit organization—is to promote education and literacy, especially for girls, in remote mountain regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Hoerni named Mortenson as CAI's first Executive Director.

In the process of building schools, Mortenson has survived an eight-day armed 1996 kidnapping in the tribal areas of Waziristan, in Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province; escaped a 2003 firefight between Afghan opium warlords; endured two fatwās by angry Islamic clerics for educating girls; and received hate mail and threats from fellow Americans for helping educate Muslim children.

Mortenson believes that education and literacy for girls globally is the most important investment all countries can make to create stability, bring socio-economic reform, decrease infant mortality, decrease the population explosion, and improve health, hygiene, and sanitation standards globally.[6] Mortenson believes that "fighting terrorism" only perpetuates a cycle of violence and that there should be a global priority to "promote peace" through education and literacy, with an emphasis on girls' education. "You can drop bombs, hand out condoms, build roads or put in electricity, but unless the girls are educated, a society won't change," is an often-quoted statement made by Mortenson. Because of community "buy-in," which involves getting villages to donate land, subsidized or free labor ("sweat equity"), wood and resources, the schools have local support and have been able to avoid retribution by the Taliban or other groups opposed to girls' education.[7]

Military embrace of Mortenson's approach in Pakistan and Afghanistan

In 2010 the New York Times reported that Mortenson's approach of building schools as a way of improving the situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan is being embraced by the U.S. military. Top military officials are reading his book Three Cups of Tea, and General Petraeus has had meetings with him. The article reported that in 2009 Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, attended the opening of one of Mortenson's school's in a remote village of Afghanistan. The article also said that the book is on the required reading list for senior American military commanders.[5]

Writing

Mortenson and David Oliver Relin are co-authors of the New York Times bestselling book Three Cups of Tea.[8] Listen to the Wind was written by Greg Mortenson and illustrated by Susan Roth. For ages 4-8, this 32 page book recounts the short version of Three Cups of Tea.[9] Stones into Schools: Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan was also written by Greg Mortenson and picks-up where Three Cups of Tea left off. Greg Mortenson builds more schools in northern, mountainous Afghanistan and Pakistan.[10]

Awards and recognition

The Government of Pakistan announced on its Independence Day of August 14, 2008, that Mortenson would receive Pakistan’s highest civilian award, the Sitara-e-Pakistan (The Star of Pakistan), in an Islamabad civil ceremony during Pakistan Day on March 23, 2009. According to Article 259(2) of Pakistan's Constitution, the President of Pakistan—acting on behalf of the State—confers civil awards in recognition of services rendered, gallantry or distinction.

In August 2008, Mortenson met with then-President of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf, over tea,[11] and in March 2009, Mortenson met with new President Asif Zardari for a cup of tea, upon receiving the Sitara-e-Pakistan award.[12]

On July 15, 2009, Admiral Mike Mullen, U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff paid a visit to Pushgur school, in a remote valley of Afghanistan, to inaugurate one of Mortenson’s new schools, to highlight the military’s new strategy to advocate empowering local communities, build relationships and the significance of education to promote peace. Thomas Friedman, New York Times columnist, wrote about the visit in his column.[13]

Mortenson was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009 and in 2010, by several bi-partisan members of U.S. Congress. According to Norwegian odd-makers, he was believed to have been in a handful of finalists of the Peace Prize that was eventually awarded to Barack Obama on October 10, 2009.

In November 2009, U.S. News & World Report magazine featured Greg Mortenson as one of America's Top Twenty Leaders in 2009.[14]

Mortenson was featured on a Bill Moyers PBS TV Journal 30-minute interview on Sunday, January 15, 2010, discussing the role of the U.S. military and Obama troop surge in Afghanistan, and significant role of girls' education as a determinant of peace.[15]

Family

Greg Mortenson's home is in Montana, where he lives with his wife Dr. Tara Bishop, a clinical psychologist, and their two children.[16] His paternal Norwegian ancestor,[17] Eilert Carlson (1840-1870) was a farmer in Djupvik, Norway, near Tromsø, north of the Arctic Circle, who immigrated by ship to Quebec, Canada in 1864. Later, he went by ox-cart carriage to Starbuck, Minnesota, USA and homesteaded in sod-dung shelters, and set up the first school house near Benson, Minnesota in 1868, one year after migrating to the region. Mortenson's father (1932-1981), Irvin, died from cancer in his mid forties, and his mother, Jerene (born 1933) is a retired elementary school principal living in Alaska.

List of awards

General

In addition, the book Three Cups of Tea received a number of awards; see the awards section of that article.

Honorary doctorate degrees

Bibliography

Greg Mortenson on national TV

Notes

  1. ^ The Writer's Almanac for December 27, 2009, Garrison Keilor, American Public Media
  2. ^ Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn. - Promoting Peace with Schools[dead link]
  3. ^ Greg Mortenson Bio.[dead link]
  4. ^ "Fresh Air", with Terry Gross, National Public Radio (NPR), February 7, 2002
  5. ^ a b Elizabeth Bumiller. "Unlikely Tutor Giving Military Afghan Advice". The New York Times, July 17, 2010.
  6. ^ "Another Way to stop Terrorism", Parade magazine, March 5, 2006.
  7. ^ "It Takes a School, Not Missiles", NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF, New York Times, Op-Ed Column, July 12, 2008.
  8. ^ "Paperback Nonfiction Bestsellers", The New York Times, March 16, 2008,
  9. ^ Listen to the Wind Hardcover
  10. ^ Stones into Schools: Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan Hardcover
  11. ^ All Things Considered (2008-08-23). ""Three Cups of Tea With Pakistan's Musharraf"". National Public Radio. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93902559. Retrieved 2010-04-09. 
  12. ^ Bozeman Chronicle Coverage of the Award Ceremony, March 23, 2009
  13. ^ Friedman, Thomas L. (2009-07-08). "Teacher, Can We Leave Now? No.". Op-Ed Columnist (The New York Times). http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/19/opinion/19friedman.html. Retrieved 2010-04-09. 
  14. ^ a b Mulrine, Anna (2009-10-22). "Greg Mortenson: Promotes Peace Through Girls' Schools". U.S. News & World Report. http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/best-leaders/2009/10/22/greg-mortenson-promotes-peace-through-girls-schools.html. Retrieved 2010-04-09. 
  15. ^ a b "Interview with Greg Mortenson". Bill Moyers Journal. Watch & Listen. PBS. 2010-01-15. http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/01152010/watch2.html. Retrieved 2010-04-09. 
  16. ^ Greg Mortenson bio, www.gregmortenson.com
  17. ^ http://korseberg.com/tekster/ronnogs_family.pdf
  18. ^ "The Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Recipients List". Peaceabbey.org. 2005-11-20. http://www.peaceabbey.org/awards/cocrecipientlist.html. Retrieved 2010-06-23. 
  19. ^ "Graven Award - Church Relations | Wartburg College - Waverly, Iowa, USA". Wartburg.edu. http://www.wartburg.edu/churchrelations/graven.html. Retrieved 2010-06-23. 
  20. ^ “”. "Greg Mortenson - US Center for Citizen Diplomacy". YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2PLyf_UrO8. Retrieved 2010-06-23. 
  21. ^ "Saint Louis University Presents Highest Honor to 'Three Cups of Tea' Best-Selling Author". Saint Louis University. 2008-11-03. http://www.slu.edu/x27158.xml. Retrieved 2010-04-09. 
  22. ^ [1][dead link]
  23. ^ Hasan, Khalid (2008-08-18). "Pakistan to honour American who built 45 schools in NAs". Daily Times. http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\08\18\story_18-8-2008_pg7_11. Retrieved 2010-04-09. 
  24. ^ "ArchonAward". Nursingsociety.org. 2009-11-04. http://www.nursingsociety.org/Media/Pages/ArchonAward.aspx. Retrieved 2010-06-23. 
  25. ^ http://www.austincollege.edu/category.asp?352
  26. ^ "NEA's Human and Civil Rights Awards". National Education Association. http://www.nea.org/grants/17859.htm. Retrieved 2010-04-09. 
  27. ^ Nair, K.B. (2010-02-12). "Author Greg Mortenson Gets Doshi Award". India Journal. http://www.indiajournal.com/pages/event.php?id=9920. Retrieved 2010-04-09. 
  28. ^ "Laura Linney Wins 2010 Common Wealth Award for Dramatic Arts 2010/05/03". Delaware.broadwayworld.com. http://delaware.broadwayworld.com/article/Laura_Linney_Wins_2010_Common_Wealth_Award_for_Dramatic_Arts_20100503. Retrieved 2010-06-23. 
  29. ^ "Mortenson to receive Salem Award - SalemNews.com, Salem, MA". The Salem News. 2010-03-08. http://www.salemnews.com/punews/local_story_067111043.html. Retrieved 2010-04-09. 
  30. ^ "Christophers honor 13 authors & illustrators for books about love, courage & communication across cultures". The Christophers. 2010-04-07. http://www.christophers.org/Page.aspx?pid=1144. Retrieved 2010-04-09. 
  31. ^ "Author Greg Mortenson receives Lanterns Award | Video | abc7.com". Abclocal.go.com. 2008-08-20. http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/video?id=7376492. Retrieved 2010-06-23. 
  32. ^ "Principals Award Humanitarian Greg Mortenson for Commitment to Schools". NAESP. 2010-03-29. http://www.naesp.org/Press_Release_Greg_Mortenson.aspx. Retrieved 2010-06-23. 
  33. ^ "Greg Mortenson | Creativity Foundation". Creativity-found.org. http://creativity-found.org/laureate-prize/archive/greg-mortenson1/. Retrieved 2010-06-23. 
  34. ^ "The Power of Performance: How Theater Can Teach Kids". Edutopia. http://www.edutopia.org/literature-for-life-theater-inspires-students-read. Retrieved 2010-06-23. 
  35. ^ http://www.freedomfestival.org/2010/06/greg-mortenson-author-of-‘three-cups-of-tea’-to-appear-at-freedom-awards-gala-in-provo
  36. ^ [2]
  37. ^ "Commencement Address by Greg Mortenson". Lewis & Clark College. http://www.lclark.edu/org/commence/address08.html. Retrieved 2010-04-09. 
  38. ^ "Greg Mortenson to Speak at 2009 Colby Commencement". Colby College. 2009-05-24. http://www.colby.edu/news_events/press_release/mortenson.cfm. Retrieved 2010-04-09. 
  39. ^ "No Child Left Behind". CBS News. 2009-01-04. http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4697470n. Retrieved 2010-04-09. 
  40. ^ "'Pennies for Peace'". FOX News. 2009-05-30. http://www.foxnews.com/search-results/m/22397039/pennies-for-peace.htm. Retrieved 2010-04-09. 
  41. ^ Amanpour, Christiane (2009-10-09). "Greg Mortenson is educating the children of Afghanistan one school at a time". CNN. http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2009/10/09/amanpour.afghan.mortenson.cnn. Retrieved 2010-04-09. 
  42. ^ 03/27/2009 (2009-03-27). "'Three Cups' for Peace". ABC News. http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=7193877. Retrieved 2010-04-09. 
  43. ^ "Excerpt: ‘Three Cups of Tea’". Books. MSNBC. 2007-11-20. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/21883828. Retrieved 2010-04-09. 
  44. ^ Post Video To Facebook (2008-08-20). "Q&A with Greg Mortenson". C-SPAN. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/280546-1. Retrieved 2010-04-09. 

External links