March 20th marked the first day of spring, as well as Nowruz (New Year) on the Persian calendar. In celebration of Nowruz and in solidarity with the people of Afghanistan the Peace & Justice Center is hosting a day of kite flying at Burlington's Waterfront Park this Sunday, March 23rd at 10:30 a.m. Nowruz is celebrated worldwide by 300 million people and in 2010 was recognized as the International Day of Nowruz by the United Nations, due to its promotion of peace, solidarity and neighborliness. In Afghanistan the holiday is celebrated by kite fighting, a practice that involves many skilled competitors attempting to slice the strings of the other kites. Being the best kite fighter in ones neighborhood is a very sought after and respect achievement. In order to increase ones odds of attaining such a status kite fighters will sometimes coat their kite strings in rice glue and shards of glass, however, nylon is now preferred.

From 1996 to 2001 the Taliban government banned kite flying on the grounds of it being "un-Islamic." Despite reinstitution as one of Afghanistan's most cherished pastimes "Afghans are more used to the presence of UK and US armed and surveillance drones flying overhead" than kites (Voice for Creative Non-Violence UK). The country has since become the "drone capital" of the world due to the UK's 547 strikes in the past 5 years and a similar, yet unspecified number of US drone strikes. A lack of transparency within the United States drone program leads to uncertainties in the number of strikes and civilians deaths.

While the United States is at war with Afghanistan there are still violations of international humanitarian law being committed. The Fourth Geneva Convention, created in 1949, was designed to protect civilians in a time of war. However, despite their touted accuracy, drones have been causing countless unnecessary civilian deaths, which are far too often deemed "collateral damage." Estimates gather that in 2013 the number of civilians killed in drone strikes increased threefold, therefore accounting for 40% of the total number of civilian airstrike deaths. In light of the remote control aspect of drone warfare there is very little sympathy for or connection to ones perceived enemy, therefore allowing for unfettered killing and a completely transformed face of war.

When drones are not being used for warfare they are geared towards surveillance. While this may not result in the same statistics pertaining to civilian casualties, it presents a different form of trauma. Technically referred to as unmanned aerial vehicles, these machines received the name "drone" due to the noise that is audible when they fly overhead. Since they can hover for up to 80 hours, collecting surveillance information, they often take a large mental toll on civilians.

In order to draw attention to these grave international law transgressions and celebrate a rich Afghan culture Afghan Peace Volunteers have created the Fly Kites Not Drones event. Afghan Peace Volunteers is a "grassroots group of ordinary, multi-ethnic Afghans seeking a life of non-violence, the unity of all people, equality, and self-reliance" (Afghan Peace Volunteers). This event focuses on maintaining some level of normalcy in a war torn country by honoring a revered tradition. Come out and join the Peace & Justice Center as fly kites in solidarity with Afghan Peace Volunteers on Sunday, March 23rd from 10:30am at Burlington's Waterfront Park. Don't forget to bring your kite!