Students and area residents had the opportunity last night to see two-time Nobel Peace Prize Nominee Greg Mortenson's speech "Books Not Bombs."
Mortenson's lecture was streamed live from St. Luke's United Methodist Church in Indianapolis.
He spent more than an hour talking about his personal endeavors in Afghanistan and Pakistan as well as the importance of education, especially for girls.
"I am very concerned about the issue of global literacy and the lack of education," Mortenson said. "It's empowering when a woman can read the news and learn about the world around her."
Mortenson, who has been an activist for peace and education in the Middle East since the early 90s, is the New York Times bestselling author of "Three Cups of Tea, One Man's Mission to Promote Peace," and founder of Pennies for Peace.
Pennies for Peace, a program which includes more than 4,500 schools across the United States, was started by Mortenson in 1994 to raise money to fund education projects in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Jackie Engebretson, a first year Doctorate student, has read both of Mortenson's books and said she really enjoyed his point of view on accepting different cultures and religions.
"I just think he's really inspirational, when I read his books it was a unique perspective," Engebretson said. "Just to learn how to have dialog with other cultures and to try to see another perspectives is important."
Mortenson also took a moment to talk about the war in Afghanistan and said before being invaded, Afghanistan had about 800,000 children in school nationwide and that today that number is about 8.5 million, 2.5 million of which are girls.
Megan Gorman, a junior theater major, said she knew after reading Mortenson's first book she had to come hear him talk in person about his travels in the Middle East.
"I think he has a good message to begin with. Being a female, I totally support female education," Gorman said. "I think it's great since he experienced all of this firsthand. He's not just a businessman asking for money."
For more information on Mortenson and how to get involved with his efforts in the Middle East, go to www.gregmortenson.com.
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