Thursday, December 29, 2005

Govt urged to make public status of disappeared

Razen Manandhar
Kathmandu, December 28[2005]:

It was like a nightmare for 23-year-old Bhagawati Chaudhari, when she saw a group of armed soldiers dragging her husband from her bed. It has been three years and nine months, and the wife is still waiting for the day the government sends her husband back.
“My husband disappeared from our eyes. We do not know whether he is alive or has been shot dead,” she told this daily today. Her husband was abducted and “disappeared” by security men on the night of Chaitra 29, 2058 BS from her home at Manau village in Bardiya.
“They came in a group, broke the door and dragged my husband, saying they send him back the next morning,” she said.
She was married to Prem Prakash Chaudhary for two years. After living a horrible life of bonded labourers, she started dreaming of her own family at her aunt’s land, by making a thatched shed. But the incident shattered all her dreams. “My son was six weeks old then. He often asks me about his father and I cannot even say that he is dead,” she said. “Rather than abducting him and making me live in misery, I wonder why the army did not kill both of us.”
She is a relative of one among the 848 citizens, whom the state “disappeared” since the Maoists launched an armed conflict a decade ago. The exact number of the total “disappeared” is yet to come because the state never comes up with the data. It is difficult for the public to report about such incidents.
Speaking at the programme organised by the Association of Families of Disappeared People by State here today, a number victims’ families said they won’t go home unless the government makes the whereabouts of the disappeared public.
Mandira Sharma, executive director, Advocacy Forum Nepal, said the present legal provision does not recognise the state’s disappearing the civilians as a crime, which creates problem in finding solution to the problem.
“Any institution which is found involved in disappearing somebody, should be termed criminal and the act should be called as severe a crime as murder.”
===
Martin’s message
KATHMANDU: In a message to the victims’ families, Ian Martin, representative of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal, said: “The disappearance of persons by the State is a continuing human rights violation that does not end until the person’s fate is finally determined. This is one of the most serious violations because, as all of you unfortunately have come to know, it means family members endure agonising periods of uncertainly, sometimes years, before the fate of their beloved ones is known.”
“With UN secretary-general’s support, we will continue to work for clarification of cases of disappearance in Nepal.”

Sunday, December 04, 2005

Still confused

UML organised a mass meeting Friday and the king returned from his tour in Africa. It happened that something took place at Banehsower. I do not know how that happened. I'm still confused.

Sunday, November 27, 2005

Nepal wants well-off nations to pay for climate change

Razen Manandhar
Kathmandu, November 26[2005]:

Nepal has decided to express concern and seek compensation for deterioration of country’s natural resources due to emission of harmful gases by the industrialised nations at an international conference that begins on Monday. As many as 189 countries are participating in the Conference of Parties of United Nations’ Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), to be held from November 28 to December 9 in Montreal, Canada. Joint-secretary of Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, Lok Darshan Regmi, will represent Nepal in the conference. His agenda: how can Nepal benefit from the Clean Development Mechanism.
“I will raise the issue of making the industrialised countries compensate us for the deterioration of our resources, caused due to climate change,” he told The Himalayan Times before leaving the country. He said poor families in Dolakha and Solumkhumbu had to be evacuated due the possibility of bursting of the mountain lakes, which is a direct fallout of climate change caused by the emission of harmful gases into the atmosphere. He claimed that scores of mountain lakes are on the verge of bursting due to the effects of climate change. “We have not harmed the earth. Rather, we have conserved the world environment by following traditional life style, practicing eco-friendly technologies and growing trees. We need to be paid as per the provision of Kyoto Protocol,” he said.
The Kyoto Protocol, effective from February 12, has a provision that the industrial countries should reduce carbon emission and if that is not possible must pay the countries or institutions
that have played a prominent role in growing trees or sequestrating carbon, thus earning carbon credits for lowering the amount of harmful gases in the atmosphere. Regmi says Nepal recently set a record in developing community forests through people’s efforts, earning carbon credits that can be sold in the carbon trading market. Regmi informed, “We will ask the Clean Development Mechanism executive board to accept carbon credits generated by non-renewable sources of energy like bio-mass projects as well.”

Friday, November 11, 2005

500-km walk to usher in peace

Razen Manandhar
Kathmandu, November 10[2005]:

Thirty pilgrims will embark on a 500-km march — from the Namobuddha in Kavre to Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha — for world peace tomorrow morning.
“The team will begin their journey from Namobuddha hill on Friday and will finally pray for world peace at the sacred garden of Lumbini after walking for 25 days,” Dr Lam Ty Ni, the coordinator of the pilgrims’ team, told The Himalayan Times today.
Sixty-year-old Dr Lam, also known as Ven Huyen Deieu, came to Lumbini in 1969, in search of peace from war-torn Vietnam and started working for the development of the holy shrine.
The team includes 10 Vietnamese, three Indians, one Japanese, a Korean and 15 Nepalis. The eldest member of the team is 62-year-old monk Lama Karma Lhundrub, while 17-year-old nun Ven Susiloti is the youngest in the lot.
The pilgrimage will pass through Banepa, Patan, Bouddha and Swoyambhu before leaving the valley from Balambhu and Naubishe on November 15. After crossing Baireni, Richoktar, Kirutar, Abukhaireni, Dumre, Damauli and Dulegauda on foot the team will reach Pokhara on November 23.
Worshipping at Peace Pagoda on November 24, the pilgrims will pass through Phedikoda, Rangkhola, Waling, Galyang Bhanjyang Malumga, Arya Bhanjyang, Tansen, Kerabari, Butwal, Bhairahawa and arrive at Lumbini on December 4.
The team will take shelter mainly in Buddhist vihars and public schools.
Dr Lam said the pilgrimage has a spiritual as well as a symbolic meaning. He claimed that the prayer would lead to an atmosphere for peace and hoped that after seeing young and old people walking for peace, the authorities will feel the necessity to do something for the peace.
According to him, all the concerned parties - the political parties, the king and the Maoists should sit together for resolving the decade-long war and let people live in peace and happiness.
He said war and peace are in people’s mind and arousing conscience and compassion helps people replace war with peace.
Ratnaman Skahya, a team facilitator and president of International Buddhist Meditation Centre, said two vehicles will follow the pilgrims for emergency support.

Monday, September 26, 2005

Govt to implement Euro II emission standards

By Razen Manandhar
(The Himalayan Times)
Kathmandu, Septermber 25 [2005]
The Ministry for Environment, Science and Technology (MoEST) is preparing to introduce Euro II standards of emission for new vehicles entering the country.

Lok Darshan Regmi, a joint-secretary at MoEST said, the ministry is making necessary arrangements to introduce the Euro II standards of emission for new vehicles in the country. "We will soon introduce Euro II emission standards. We should have gone for the Euro III standards but this is not practically possible in a country like Nepal," Regmi said.

In general, the Euro I standards allow emission of 2.75 gm/km of carbon monoxide while Euro II allows only 2.20. Thus, the new standards will make obsolete old vehicles and enable entry of new vehicles that emit less smoke and pollutant particles. However, the government’s recent move is drawing mixed reactions from the environmentalists, vehicle owners and dealers.

Dr Toran Sharma, the executive director of Nepal Environment and Scientific Services, said it mattered little whether the government introduces Euro II standards of gases because the Emission Standards 2056, which introduced the Euro I emission standards, is still under question. "The government implemented Euro I standards six years ago but we have yet to see its impact in the quality of air we breathe. We will have to see what changes the implementation of Euro II standards will bring in the quality of air," he said.

Implementation of Euro standards have close links with the quality of fuel used in vehicles, maintenance of vehicles and the quality of roads and at the present context here they are not yet compatible for Euro II standards, he said.

"It is good to introduce a new standard but the government must make necessary preparations to bring desired effect and make the change practical. Slogans are not enough to clean the capital," he said.

Dipak KC, the programme officer at Clean Energy Nepal said that the people should welcome the new step despite all constraints accompanying it. "Along with introduction of the new standard, the government should also put stress on implementation and making the country ready for the next step," he said.

The automobile dealers, however, claim the implementation of Euro II emission standards is impossible and not practical in Nepali context. Hikmat Bahadur Mali, the president of Nepal Automobile Dealers’ Association, said implementation of the Euro II emission standards is surely going to take some time because lots of other preparations have to be done before the standard is effectively implemented.

Govt to implement Euro II emission standards

Razen Manandhar

Kathmandu, September 25[2005]:
The Ministry for Environment, Science and Technology (MoEST) is preparing to introduce Euro II standards of emission for new vehicles entering the country. Lok Darshan Regmi, a joint-secretary at MoEST said, the ministry is making necessary arrangements to introduce the Euro II standards of emission for new vehicles in the country. “We will soon introduce Euro II emission standards. We should have gone for the Euro III standards but this is not practically possible in a country like Nepal,” Regmi said. In general, the Euro I standards allow emission of 2.75 gm/km of carbon monoxide while Euro II allows only 2.20. Thus, the new standards will make obsolete old vehicles and enable entry of new vehicles that emit less smoke and pollutant particles. However, the government’s recent move is drawing mixed reactions from the environmentalists, vehicle owners and dealers.
Dr Toran Sharma, the executive director of Nepal Environment and Scientific Services, said it mattered little whether the government introduces Euro II standards of gases because the Emission Standards 2056, which introduced the Euro I emission standards, is still under question. “The government implemented Euro I standards six years ago but we have yet to see its impact in the quality of air we breathe. We will have to see what changes the implementation of Euro II standards will bring in the quality of air,” he said. Implementation of Euro standards have close links with the quality of fuel used in vehicles, maintenance of vehicles and the quality of roads and at the present context here they are not yet compatible for Euro II standards, he said.
“It is good to introduce a new standard but the government must make necessary preparations to bring desired effect and make the change practical. Slogans are not enough to clean the capital,” he said. Dipak KC, the programme officer at Clean Energy Nepal said that the people should welcome the new step despite all constraints accompanying it. “Along with introduction of the new standard, the government should also put stress on implementation and making the country ready for the next step,” he said. The automobile dealers, however, claim the implementation of Euro II emission standards is impossible and not practical in Nepali context. Hikmat Bahadur Mali, the president of Nepal Automobile Dealers’ Association, said implementation of the Euro II emission standards is surely going to take some time because lots of other preparations have to be done before the standard is effectively implemented.

Friday, September 23, 2005

Nepal player in world carbon trade, courtesy Kyoto Protocol

By Razen Manandhar
Kathmandu, September 22
Thanks to the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, Nepal has entered the world "market" of carbon trading, where it can reap the benefits of promoting eco-friendly fuels and contribute to reducing the greenhouse gas effects in the world. Nepal, which remained the only country in the South Asia to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, finally submitted the necessary documents for the ratification last week. The Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement setting targets for industrialised countries to cut down on their greenhouse gas emissions comes into force from February 16, has been so far ratified by over 140 countries. Nepal deposited with the UN the Instrument of Accession at a function organised during the Treaty Event at the UN headquarters last Friday. The process of recognition generally takes three months to complete.

"We have recently become suitable sellers of carbon in the world market," said Joint-Secretary at Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, Lok Darshan Regmi, today.

He said, After ratifying the Protocol, Nepal will get many doors opened to it for dealing with the world against the contribution we have made so far in the area of controlling emission of carbon dioxide and other gases." But to be a eligible candidate selling carbon credit, that is selling the due of reducing greenhouse gases, Nepal will first have to establish a Designated National Authority (DNA) that deals with the developed countries for selling the carbon credit.

Bikas Pande, coordinator of the Climate Change Network-Nepal (CCNN), said the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol itself is not everything but has merely opened the door to wider possibilities. "Our job starts now. We can now go for searching for buyers of carbon we have preserved by introduction of eco-friendly sources of energy, which is called Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Projects" he said.

He added that the possible CDM projects in Nepal’s context could be bio-gas and micro-hydro projects. This apart, Winrock Nepal has identified five other possible areas that Nepal can put forward — vertical shaft brick kilns, improved cooking stove, Safa tempos, solar tuki, and cooking gas produced from solid waste landfill sites. Sandeep Chamling Rai, Climate Change Officer at WWF Nepal, said the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol would make Nepal’s CDM projects implementation easier. "We can work much easier and wider in the future. But for this, the DNA has to be set up as soon as possible," he said.

The Himalayan Times, 23 September 2005, National

Nepal player in world carbon trade, courtesy Kyoto Protocol

Razen Manandhar
Kathmandu, September 22[2005]:

Thanks to the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, Nepal has entered the world “market” of carbon trading, where it can reap the benefits of promoting eco-friendly fuels and contribute to reducing the greenhouse gas effects in the world.

Nepal, which remained the only country in the South Asia to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, finally submitted the necessary documents for the ratification last week.

The Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement setting targets for industrialised countries to cut down on their greenhouse gas emissions comes into force from February 16, has been so far ratified by over 140 countries. Nepal deposited with the UN the Instrument of Accession at a function organised during the Treaty Event at the UN headquarters last Friday. The process of recognition generally takes three months to complete.

“We have recently become suitable sellers of carbon in the world market,” said Joint-Secretary at Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, Lok Darshan Regmi, today.
He said, After ratifying the Protocol, Nepal will get many doors opened to it for dealing with the world against the contribution we have made so far in the area of controlling emission of carbon dioxide and other gases.” But to be a eligible candidate selling carbon credit, that is selling the due of reducing greenhouse gases, Nepal will first have to establish a Designated National Authority (DNA) that deals with the developed countries for selling the carbon credit.

Bikas Pande, coordinator of the Climate Change Network-Nepal (CCNN), said the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol itself is not everything but has merely opened the door to wider possibilities. “Our job starts now. We can now go for searching for buyers of carbon we have preserved by introduction of eco-friendly sources of energy, which is called Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Projects” he said.

He added that the possible CDM projects in Nepal’s context could be bio-gas and micro-hydro projects. This apart, Winrock Nepal has identified five other possible areas that Nepal can put forward — vertical shaft brick kilns, improved cooking stove, Safa tempos, solar tuki, and cooking gas produced from solid waste landfill sites.

Sandeep Chamling Rai, Climate Change Officer at WWF Nepal, said the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol would make Nepal’s CDM projects implementation easier. “We can work much easier and wider in the future. But for this, the DNA has to be set up as soon as possible,” he said.
>http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullstory.asp?filename=
aNPata0ra3qzpfa1a8a8va.axamal&folder=aNPataiaoanaaal&Name=National&sImageFileName=

Monday, August 29, 2005

Friday, June 17, 2005

National Urban Policy in the offing

Razen Manandhar
Kathmandu, June 16:

The government will soon come up with a policy to regulate the
sprawling urban development.
"The draft of the National Urban Policy
(NUP) 2062 is almost ready. We will start discussing it soon," Dr
Mahendra Subba, senior divisional engineer at the Department of
Housing and Urban Development (DHUD), said today.
The policy will
help achieve a "National Urban Framework" and contribute to poverty
reduction and sustainable development by improving relations between
the urban and rural areas. According to the yet unpublished draft of
the policy, North-South Corridors to connect the Himalayan and Terai
regions will be developed. It also targets setting up of Regional
Urban Centres at each development region.

The policy seeks to formulate separate laws for urban land
development and impose extra tax on large open areas in the cities.
Among other things, it also seeks to develop relations with
municipalities and the Town Development Committees.
It further plans
to promote public transportation system with the use of electrical
vehicles and improve road network in cities. The government will
start levying Development Fees, Integrated Property Tax, Tax
Incremental Financing and Municipal Bo-nds to generate funds for the
programmes planned.

Friday, May 20, 2005

Rainwater harvesting can slake Kathmanduites' thirst

Razen Manandhar
Kathmandu, March 19:

The recent downpour was little trouble and more of a relief for Kathmanduites, considering the scarcity of drinking water. Even the government admits it can meet only half the total water demand in the capital city.

Consequently, people have to depend either on expensive water from tankers or rainwater. According to the Environment and Public Health Organisation (ENPHO), over 200 people have installed a mechanism to collect rainwater systematically, to keep the headache of water shortage at bay. "There is no record of how many people collect rainwater. But recently, around 200 people have installed a simple mechanism that helps them collect rainwater," said Rajesh Adhikari, an official at ENPHO.

Among others, Hutaram Baidhya, Prafulla MS Pradhan, Janardan Dhungana, Sangeeta Maskey, Sumitra Manandhar Gurung are some of the one-step-ahead citizens of the capital who have utilised the rainwater and have stopped worrying about water shortage during the dry season.

Officials at ENPHO wonder why the government is not taking any initiative to promote rainwater harvesting as an alternative to tide over the water shortage, though all government officials know it is a simple, cost-effective method.

Those militating against the water crisis allege that the government is guided by the interest of donors who do not want to promote rainwater harvesting as they have already invested a large amount of money in bringing in water through a 26.5 km tunnel from as far away as the Melamchi river.

The former minister for physical development, Prakash Man Singh, and the former mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City had promised to make rainwater collection obligatory last year, but neither has delivered.

Adhikari said from a 100 sq metre rooftop, one can collect four cubic metres of water in March and 35 cubic metres of water in August. "The quality of rainwater is better than what the government provides via pipelines. Even so, air pollution and the surface of catchment areas and collection tanks also matter," he said.

Noted environmentalist and executive director at Clean Energy Nepal, Bhushan Tuladhar, said air pollution also can affect the water quality, but rainwater itself can work as a flush so the rainwater collected after an hour or so is absolutely clean. So far as acid rain and its impact on rainwater harvesting is concerned, Tuladhar said the possibility of chemical pollutants in rainwater cannot be ruled out, but it is not hazardousn Kathmandu valley.

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http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullstory.asp?
filename=aFanata0sa3qzpea1Ra4ta.axamal&folder=aHaoamW&Name=Home&dtSite
Date=20050320

Friday, May 13, 2005

Valley environment turning better

Razen Manandhar
Kathmandu, May 12:

Residents of Kathmandu Valley, rejoice! The air pollution in the valley is literally decreasing, according to reports. Increasing
environmental awareness has wrought this pleasant change.

The government's weekly report states that the air quality of the valley is getting better, with fewer amounts of dust particles.

At the beginning of the year, air pollution level crossed more than 600 micrograms of particulate matter smaller than 10 micrograms per
cubic metre in January. But, last week's report has recorded 294 micrograms as the highest mark.

Nepal's ambient air quality standard is 120 micrograms per cubic metres. Kathmandu Valley has six monitoring stations � Putali Sadak,
Matsya Gaon, Kirtipur, Bhaktapur, Thamel and Patan Hospital � which continuously record and analyse the data.

In the first week of January, Patan recorded 579, which fell to 191 in the first week of May. Similarly, Thamel's 481 climbed down to 76,
Bhaktapur's 287 to 87, Kirtipur's 318 to 55, Matysgaon's 120 to 33. And Pultali Sadak, that recorded 633 in January now provides no data but the last available, that of March, states it recorded 207
micrograms. Robin Man Shrestha, chief of Urban Environment Section, said the positive change was a result of people's awareness about the
environment and hazards to it. "We are doing OK. But a lot still has to be done to make Kathmandu really pollution-free," he said.

Bhushan Tuladhar, executive director, Clean Energy Nepal, said on an average the air ollution had decreased by 6 per cent but there was still scant reason
to be happy with the reports of the air quality monitoring.

"The air quality is improving, but we need to acsertain that the Valley conditions are free from danger before concluding that
anti-pollution drives are bearing fruit."

Tuladhar conceded that the fact that the air quality of Bhaktapur had improved by 15 per cent. "The main reason for this is the removal of
old-style brick kilns.

It demonstrates that a minor decision of the government on account of public pressure has made a dramatic difference.

Valley environment turning better

Razen Manandhar

Kathmandu, May 12[2005]:
Residents of Kathmandu Valley, rejoice! The air pollution in the valley is literally decreasing, according to reports. Increasing environmental awareness has wrought this pleasant change.

The government’s weekly report states that the air quality of the valley is getting

better, with fewer amounts of dust particles.

At the beginning of the year, air pollution level crossed more than 600 micrograms of particulate matter smaller than 10 micrograms per cubic metre in January. But, last week’s report has recorded 294 micrograms as the highest mark.

Nepal’s ambient air quality standard is 120 micrograms per cubic metres. Kathmandu Valley has six monitoring stations — Putali Sadak, Matsya Gaon, Kirtipur, Bhaktapur, Thamel and Patan Hospital — which continuously record and analyse the data.

In the first week of January, Patan recorded 579, which fell to 191 in the first week of May. Similarly, Thamel’s 481 climbed down to 76, Bhaktapur’s 287 to 87, Kirtipur’s 318 to 55, Matysgaon’s 120 to 33. And Pultali Sadak, that recorded 633 in January now provides no data but the last available, that of March, states it recorded 207 micrograms. Robin Man Shrestha, chief of Urban Environment Section, said the positive change was a result of people’s awareness about the environment and hazards to it. “We are doing OK. But a lot still has to be done to make Kathmandu really pollution-free,” he said.

Bhushan Tuladhar, executive director, Clean Energy Nepal, said on an average the air

pollution had decreased by 6 per cent but there was still scant reason to be happy with the reports of the air quality monitoring.

“The air quality is improving, but we need to acsertain that the Valley conditions are free from danger before concluding that anti-pollution drives are bearing fruit.”

Tuladhar conceded that the fact that the air quality of Bhaktapur had improved by 15 per cent. “The main reason for this is the removal of old-style brick kilns.

It demonstrates that a minor decision of the government on account of public pressure has made a dramatic difference.

Monday, April 25, 2005

Painting seminar and electric vehicles

I went to Shechen Gomba today morning to participate in the regional workshop on thanka painiting.
The gomba was marvellous. I wonder how on earth they get money to construct such gombas? I envy. Newar culture lies on books and living culture you can find in Tibetan miimgrants...
I saw Francis Child, the chief of UNESCO Asia Pacific region. He is not changed at all. I don't know about myself.

Then I went to Hyatt regency to participate in launcing of four electric buses. It was nice idea but it will again have to face adminsitration problem. I wonder when will anybody come in the government who really cares environment of Kathmandu Vally. Everybody knows, they do not want to encourage electric vehicles because they are heavily bribed by the diesel or petrol vehicle dealers. Shame !!!

I was with Min and Pushkar. Puskhar was tell me that it was a tragic event that the governmebnt forcefully acquired the people's land in the name of making a village for poor people but it eventually turned into a grand hotel. Yea, those who do wrong in life will have to face the reult in the same life. The infamouse Angur Baba Joshi is suffereing from a hell.

Enough?

Sunday, April 24, 2005

It's really nice to be felicitated

Yesterday, Kathmandu Metropolitan City felicitated me as an Environment reporter. That was nice. But I missed the chance as I arrived late. Actually, I did not know that I would be given me that honour.

Wonderful, isn't it?

Monday, April 18, 2005

Renkontig'o kaj nova jaro

Karaj,
Unue mi volas respondi al Natalie:
Mi tute ne estas "lerta" raportisto. Kontraue, mi trovas iu tiu ne kontenta kiam ajn mi raportas. Antaue mi preskau regule rapoartis pri E kunvenoj en Nespa por "nepalesperanto". Sed kiam alvers'ig'is kritiko (sen kiale !) ke mi malbone raportas (au mi ne rajtas raporti, mi c'esis).

Tamen, por vi mi volas iomete skribi pri la renkontig'o. Jam pasis pli ol unu monato kaj tiam mi ankau ne blogis. Do mal facila renovigi la memoron. Iel, la renkontig'o mem estis akcidento c'ar tio devis esti "kongreso" sed pro la prokrasto de KAEM, g'i malgrandig'is kaj oni nomis g'in renkontig'o. Kvankam oficiala prokrasto, alveno de geesperantistoj de diversaj landoj atestas ke multaj homoj amas Nepalon kaj volas iel subteni Nepalan movadon. Unu venis defiante proteston de siaj familianoj kaj alia ankau havis timeton en siaj koroj ke povas esti problemo en Nepalo. La oragnizo de la reknontig'o ig'is tiel ekzameno por eksterlandanoj c'u oni vere timas Nepalon au ne. Kaj la partopreno de pli ol 20 eksterlandanoj estis la repondo ke ne.

La programo dum kvar tagoj kaj post-kongresa parto ankau estis pli turisma ol Esperanta. Mi ne povas kompreni c'u "kongreso" au "renkontig'o" estas turisma afero au Esperanto-afero. Mi unue volas ke iu klarigu min kiom da pro cento de turismo estas tolerebla dum E-okazoj.

Kaj, pli ol c'io, la gradega profito de la "renkontig'o" estis ke Nepalaj geesperanstistoj trovis tre bonajn, agrablajn, inteligentajn geamikojn, dank' al la "renkontig'o". Mi ne scias kiom da Nepalanoj sukcesis praktiki Esperanton kun la eksterlandanoj (c'ar mi vidis ke inter ili, la Nepalanoj c'iam krokodilis) sed la partoprenantoj bone montris al ni kio vere Esperanto estas.

Mi opinias ke oranizo de "renkontig'o" pli multe valoras ol elspezi monon (de iu ajn au' io ajn) je partoprenigo de Nepalanoj al UK au IJK. Mi jam renkontis tiujn Nepalanojn kiuj antaue partoprenis en UK pere de la fonduso kaj iliaj alig'o al Esperanto-movado en siaj postaj vivoj. La mono, lau mi, falis en rivero.

Do, mi nun volas iomete skribi pri la "nova jaro".

Nepalanoj estas bonsanc'aj ke ili celebras novan jaron tri foje en 365 tagoj.

En decembro venas nova jaro lau la gregora au Europa kalendaro. Preskau c'iuj urbanoj celebras g'in c'ar ili scias ke estas internacia kaj havas ian tian rilaton kun eksterlandanoj. Kaj, c'ar Katmando estas turisma loko, venas multaj turistoj por celebri g'in en Katmando. Do, Nepalanoj akompanas ilin.

En Aprilo venas nova jaro lau la "registara" kalendaro kiu nomig'as "Vikram Ero" . G'i estas oficiala kalendaro ekde pasintaj 80 jaroj. Tiama c'efministro anstatauis la historian kalendaron per g'i c'ar li pensis le la historia kalendaro estis kreita de Nevaroj kiuj estis indig'enoj de Katmando (do tiam Nepalo) kiuj li ege mals'atas. Oni dire estis kreita en Bharato antau 2062 jaroj.

En Novembero venas nova jaro la "kultura" kalendaro kiu nomig'as "Nepal Ero". Eble Nepalo estas la sola lando en la mondo kiu havas sian propran kalendaron kaj estas uzatas je kulturaj aferoj kaj g'is antau 80 jaroj ankau estis nia oficiala kalendaro. Gin iu bonkora homo komencis antau 1135 jaroj kaj estas la plej grava ilo por studi la historion de Katmando Valo de la periode g'is la jaro 880 lau Europa kalendaro. Nun, nur Nevaroj celebras g'in kaj aliaj ofte diras ke "Nepal Ero" estas nur Nevara kalendaro....

Pli ol tio, Budhistoj celebras Budhistan calendaron. Pri kio ne niu volas paroli en tiu c'i Hindua lando. Do lasu min silenti hodiau....