Category Archives: Columns
The Historic Cabinet Meeting
The Nepalese government held a historic cabinet meeting at Kala Patthar, 5200m, near Everest Base camp. Its purpose was to draw world attention on the effects of climate change in the Himalayas before the Copenhagen Summit.
I think this meeting provided the much-needed world attention on the problems on developing nations as a result of climate change. It was also a call for developed nations to aid developing nations that bear equal, if not more, effect of climate change for green house gases released in the atmosphere disproportionately by countries. Hence, it becomes a world responsibility to help countries unable to fight such radical problems through their own resources. The rapidly industrializing nations and emerging economies like China, India, Brazil and Russia should also announce drastic measures to opt for “Green Energy” for its development and prevent the future crises.
In Nepal, as usual, the critics don’t fail to argue against any act of the government. There are many other governmental activities that need criticism, but not this one. The world news media has covered the event, and it has received the required publicity to draw attention of world leaders on the effect of climate change on the Himalayas and the livelihood of regional people.
Save Dead Languages??
I just read a blog post on the NY Times which asserted that saving dead languages is useless. He argued that if there is just one language it signifies the world coming together in this global age, and the loss of language does not mean the lost of cultures.
He may be right to some extent. A world that speaks one language maybe a sign of the world coming together, but it may also be suppression of one region. So which language do we chose? English? French? Spanish? How about million other languages? Or do we want to have a democratic election and chose the language the majority votes for?
I strongly disagree that one language may symbolize the world coming together. A world can still come together when many different languages flourish. Each language has its own beauty – some are good at emotional expression, others at poems, few at prose – and it would be insensitive of us to abolish languages so that we would have a false feeling of togetherness. And, how is it possible to be sure that many cultures aren’t tied with languages? This is not a thought out post, but rather written in whimsical distress at the blog I read few minutes ago.
Effect of Climate Change on LDC’s
Is the threat of global warming real? A part of me can’t believe that we are still debating the issue when it’s high time we should be acting on it. Even the scientific community has reached a general consensus on the rising world temperature at a rapid rate. And we, the world citizens, have voiced our concern by popularizing Mr. Al Gore for his documentary “An Inconvenient Truth”, and the world leaders are holding conferences to reach an agreement on how to minimize the effect of global warming.
So forget the skeptics.
Recently, I happen to be at a presentation regarding the effects of climate change in Nepal. Nepal, still developing country with little industrialization, releases minimal carbon in the atmosphere. However, it is at a great risk due to global warming, especially in the mountainous region of the country. The presenter gave some very illustrative examples on how global warming is affecting rural life.
Global warming for most of us translates to rising temperature — but the effects are much more than that. Erratic snowfalls, lengthening of season at one region and the shortening of the same season at another region, higher intensity rain for shorter period of time, so forth and so on. Such erratic pattern has hindered the normal lifestyle of people in Nepal’s mountainous region. The remote villages of Manaslu and Mustang are perfect examples.
Houses in these villages have thatched roof as it snowed most of the year and the accumulation of snow kept the houses warm. But recently, the snowfalls are irregular and there have been erratic rainfalls. Therefore, it was no longer feasible for them to have thatched roof. They needed to have sloped roofs of tin. Although it seems to be a simple solution, its impact is numerous. Firstly, people in these regions are poor and people need to spend their saving to change their roofs. Also, these places are famous tourist destinations and the beautiful pattern of the houses as seen from hill-tops has been a major aspect for attracting tourists in these regions. But this beautiful pattern has been broken, as only the rich in the area have been able to change their roofs into tin-sloped ones. And believe me, if you see a picture of the place now, it doesn’t really attract many just by its scenery.
Hence, least developed country like ours need to join/form a group of countries that seem to have minimal voice in regards to global warming but are at the greatest risk. I do hope the UN conference in Copenhagen during December 2009 will bring out some much needed fruitful results.
Perception
I was uncertain about my move. I stood in the corner trying to conceal myself from the mocking crowd. The dress I wore was hiding my intimidation at being noticed. My curled black hair unwillingly fell down my shoulders, as I stood quietly with an empty black eyes and a gaunt face. “So ugly!” the mirror shouted, and it tried to humiliate me. The dress I put on was embarrassed, and the shoes I wore was tentative to take a forward step with me.
Somehow, I thought that you were luckier. You are all blessed. I prayed for your existence. When the sun went up, I felt you beside me. You were very much like me. You covet for no love and no sympathy.
There’s a beautiful mind and embracing heart clad inside an ugly cover. There’s a nut in the shell. There’s a shining sun behind the dark clouds. But not a single soul can disclose the secret of a real beauty, as everyone is blinded by the garish colors and the fickle smiles. I wished you could stay at this place. Apparently, you weren’t blessed with the ‘blessing’ that this world calls real ‘beauty’.
Slowly the sound dies, the color fades, and you fall. Gradually the day goes down and the darkness reigns, and you find no figure ready to accept you. There is a very thick line between you and this world, so you stay on the other side. But you share a complacent smile. You made them this way, and you aren’t sorry. However, they don’t need you anymore. You are exiled. Please return quietly.
