Wednesday, October 25, 2006

What Muhammad Yunus is doing in Bangladesh and elsewhere is important ["Micro-Credit Pioneer Wins Peace Prize," front page, Oct. 14]. Even more significant is his message that ideas and commitment count more than resources. He started with $27 and an idea that allowed the poorest to lift themselves from poverty. He demonstrated that we all have within us the capacity to change the world for the better.

NORMA DANCIS

Rockville

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I was both thrilled and disappointed by the recent selection of Muhammad Yunus for the Nobel Peace Prize.

It was thrilling to see that the Grameen Bank, which has lent over $5 billion to more than 6.6 million people during the past 30 years, is viewed as an instrument for peace. But the disappointment stemmed from the slowness with which international financial institutions such as the World Bank have moved to support these efforts.

In 1993, Mr. Yunus and I were at a conference on ending poverty held by the World Bank, but 14 years later that institution devotes scant resources to micro-credit programs. This could change if members of Congress were to urge World Bank President Paul D. Wolfowitz to increase support for such programs. Then we all could enjoy a little more peace.

NICK ARENA

Hyattsville

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The Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh is well deserved.

Mr. Yunus began his program by giving small loans to Bangladeshi women. The women used the seed money wisely, thrived and repaid their loans. It should be especially significant in Muslim countries, where women are usually undervalued and oppressed, that over 97 percent of the 6.6 million loans made during the past 30 years have been to women.

However, as Bangladesh basks in the glow of Mr. Yunus's award, the spotlight of shame should also be on it. The Bangladeshi government arrested and tortured journalist Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury and now threatens him with death.

Mr. Choudhury's crime? He wanted to write that Arabic is an official language of Israel; that Arab citizens vote and serve in the Knesset and on the Israeli Supreme Court; that they are free to worship; that they get excellent (and often free) medical care; and that their standard of living is the highest in the Arab world. Bangladesh's rulers don't want these truths known.

ROBERTA E. DZUBOW

Fort Washington, Pa.