Climate Change Combating Initiation in Nepal

Nepal is a small country in respect to development or globalization. From the past various efforts has been made to combat climate change or to control the emission of greenhouse gas, in this league the outlaw of the VIKRAM TEMPOs in 1999 was major step taken by the Nepal’s government in highlighting the adaptation measures against the green house gas emission .
The two stoke diesel Tempos not only emitted dangerous gases but were proving to be a threat to Kathmandu’s climate. Over the last two decades air pollution in Kathmandu had worsened due to increased of Nitrogen oxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and suspended particulate matter (SPM) levels. The move to ban two-stroke and diesel engine vehicles not only brought the issue of green house gas effect in lime light but on contrary befalls the ban on older vehicles in Nepal.

After that move, the government announced 22 point agenda to improve the vehicle emission level in the country along with the introduction of Nepal Vehicle Mass Emission Standard 2056 on 23 December 1999.

Likewise, with the fall of Vikram tempos, the Electric Vehicles (EVs) Safa Tempos were introduced as an alternative to support the old means of transportation. In recognition of the fall of the vital public system, Vikram Tempo owners were given subsidies, loans and tax free on import of vehicles that met the Euro- I standards. Since then, EVs or Safa Tempo, have been steadily increasing in numbers. Now, according to one of the retailer, Shree Eco Visionary (SEV), there are more than 1000 EVs plying Kathmandu streets handling more than 0.15 million people regularly on daily basis.

Nepal had introduced the first vehicle emission standard in 1995 after the completion of Nepal Kathmandu Valley Vehicle Emission Control Project submitted its report where the emission standard were often modified in the past with pressure from transport entrepreneurs, but now things have changed. The new Vehicle Mass Emission Standard 2056 has set 65 HSU (Hartridge Smoke Unit) for new diesel vehicles and 75 HSU for old ones. For petrol vehicles it was set at 3 percent Carbon Monoxide (CO) for new and 4.5 percent CO for old where the atmosphere of Kathmandu is at eased.

The Improvement in vehicular exhaust emissions came as a result of the government’s promptness in realizing the threat which further helped in channelizing and materializing the policies in assuring the enforcement of a progressively tighter vehicular emission standards where the policy are set in to protect and facilitate the climate.

By Shreedeep Rayamajhi

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The Non State Actors in Climate Change diplomacy in Nepal

Non state actors are all the reaming forces except the state fighting against raising awareness about climates change. The force includes different stakeholders’ like public pressure groups, environment clubs, INGOs, Local NGOs etc. Most prominently in Nepal the INGOs are very active in raising the issues of climate change and its effects. The major of the organizations working in the field are given below:

World Wide Fund (WWF) Nepal
WWF is working to restore and reconnect natural landscapes across the Eastern Himalayas. By 2012, they aim to develop a shared vision with the governments of Nepal for the conservation and sustainable development of the Eastern Himalayas.World Wide Fund, has been actively working in Nepal for raising awareness.
Famed Nepalese climber Apa Sherpa reached the summit of the planet’s highest mountain on 21 May, 2009 and unfurled a WWF banner saying: "Stop Climate Change – Let the Himalayas Live!"As part of the Climate for Life Campaign, which aims to raise awareness of climate change impacts in the Himalayas, the expedition reminds world leaders of their responsibility towards preserving the region as a global heritage. And it calls on them to reach a global climate deal at Copenhagen this December.

International centre for integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)
ICIMOD Nepal has been successfully working in the field of raising awareness in the Himalayan region where the changes have been prominent. It has organized different campaigns
Children express their concerns about climate change and its impact on their environment through art and letter writing competitions, - June, 2009

Himalaya – Changing Landscapes photo in Germany exhibition showcasing the prominent changes in the Himalayan region, - June 2009

Holding different international research for collecting data’s and working in the field to create awareness. More than 40 representatives from global conservation organizations in 15 countries met at a workshop organized by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in Kathmandu, Nepal, to discuss a strategy for coordinated research on global change in mountain biosphere reserves, and especially the possibilities for implementing the ‘Global Change in Mountain Regions’ research strategy (GLOCHAMORE) at different sites around the world, particularly in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region, -Nov 2008

The World Conservation Union (IUCN)
IUCN Nepal has been celebrating Environment Day every year, to renew public commitment towards the environment conservation and also help involve social sectors towards channeling environmental values and broadening public support for the cause. Every year the Organization celebrates the environment day to spread awareness about the increasing environment problems
The IUCN in collaboration with National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC), WWF Nepal and International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), will conduct scoping visits, organize multi-stakeholder consultations to review the draft constitutional provisions, and finalize the constitutional provisions on environmental rights. The project aims at mainstreaming environmental rights and sustainable development principles that represent the interests of all Nepali citizens, with particular attention to those of women, poor and marginalized people into the new constitution of Nepal.

IUCN had recently hosted the 4th Asia Regional Conservation forum in Nepal from September 10-14 2007 and I had covered the news. The regional conference covered the issues of growing energy demand in the region requiring more burning of fossil fuels and increase in greenhouse gas emission in the region. The conference had submitted it drafts and agenda to the related ministry but with the orthodox bureaucracy, it was stocked in pile with the rest.

A lot of activities and things are happening in Nepal regarding raising awareness of climate change. Most of them are either focused in spending their grant money or allocated money but to a level the people have been reached and awareness is flowing in a steadily way. But on real grounds, Nepal face turmoil due to lack of proper environment policy and the orthodox system that lacks effectiveness in monitoring and evaluating these INGOs and NGOs in regard to their work and reports forwarded by them.

By Shreedeep Rayamajhi

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Climate Change Negotiating delegation in Nepal

In Nepal the Ministry of Environment, Science & Technology(MoEST) is the national coordinator which deals for and against the issues, problems and awareness of environment. Though, the ministry receives a small amount from the yearly budget but the Ministry’s work has been limited to an extent.
The Ministry has adopted high priority over the vehicle pollution and its emission issue where recently it initiated the banned of two stoke tempos’ which emitted a lot of green house gases from the valley. Apart from that the ministry has also facilitated the use of the Electric vehicles (EV) known as the Safa Tempos. More or less, there are things happing where the ministry holds rallies and awareness campaign on environment day focusing the various aspects of pollution and conservation, but is limited and questionable.
Facilitating the environment, the Ministry in coordination with the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation has established various programs of community forest and tree plantation which to an extent have given successful results in raising awareness about environment in the locals. Amid the limited resources, orthodox system and bureaucracy, this seems more than what could be expected.
Regarding the international organization, basically there are more than a dozen of international organizations working in the field; most prominently the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), World wide fund (WWF) and IUCN are the basic organizations that work for the cause. The big INGOs with huge grants and funds, hosts various meeting and conferences in 5 star hotels where the donation money is waste in lavish parties. Contemplating the scenario only a negligible amount of money is spent on the real cause. These International organizations highlight their concern over the growing environmental problems within the reports and presentations which are just limited within conferences and meetings. On real ground nothing checks in where Million of dollars are being wasted in the name of awareness.
In one of my experience in a discussion program on climate change and its affects, one of the participant state that, “Nepal being a small country stands no point in the international arena. Our voice stand no where and our contribution towards green house gases is also very less but reality is global warming has hit us hard where physical evidences are clearly visible. In fact raising awareness in Nepal has no point because it would not effect in any way where our voice do no count in the international arena.”
The discussion ended in a controversial way but reality is do we need awareness because till the time powerful countries like US, and UK realize that their emission has affected the atmosphere and till the time they take action against it, I think raising awareness in somewhat like treating nose when u have a tooth ache.

By Shreedeep Rayamajhi

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Anthropogenic greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

Emerging for the Stone Age, humans have demanded comfort and luxury at any cost where nature has suffered the consequence. From deforestation to industrialization, the drive of success, power and excellence has pushed the human race to exploit nature pounding on anything that was available. On one hand, we constantly exploited the resources where as on the other hand we neglected to take into account the by products like gases, smoke and chemicals that were discharged in the atmosphere, which result in chemical fusion and now today it has emerged as a green house effect.

To add treachery, the development of industrialization peaked, tussling in between countries where the industry smoked out gases as a competition for development. The situation worsened when massive deforestation was carried out in the name of settlement and survival.
Weakening the natural recycling mechanism was not a question or query then but today when it has brought big consequences where everybody is bound to think of their past, presence and future.

I strongly believe the international community should concentrate its effort to stabilized or lower the concentration of the green house gases. Moreover, the developed countries should share the large portion of their effort, time and money, as today’s situation has evolved on the base of their development where the entire world is suffering the consequences. The responsibility of greenhouse effect should be distributed to all the countries in respect to their size and development as we all in one or the other way we all have contributed our efforts to push it to this state.
Human development has landed us to this scenario where our development should focus in making the wrong into right. We all have played our parts now a time has come to unit and do a joint effort to make this planet safe and beautiful.

By Shreedeep Rayamajhi

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Privacy and Security issues in Internet

I believe privacy and security are two prominent issues of internet governance that has been contradicting each other due to globalization and commercialization. From its establishment in early 70s, the internet has been proactive in adapting different fields where its expansion has not only brought it into lime light but virtually has attracted a lot of externalities and irregularities. Today, the internet is changing, what is new in a second can literally be out of date within minutes or hours or days. The e-marketing is also growing enabling the easy research and availability of the products and customers from one part of the world to another. One thing that makes internet more happening is its dynamism; internet business is very dynamic and absorbs everything. As once you upload anything it remains constant which is accessible to all within the ease of their fingers on 365 days basis which from commercialization point of view might be good but at times and situations might be scary and unavoidable. To be specific and short, the Internet is a global interconnected Network that facilitates the information exchange process. Internet compromises of millions of computers connected to each other by the helps of servers and clients. Unfortunately during the data transfer process, any computer in between the sender and receiver can easily see or obtain the data with using simple hacking tools like sniffer. For instance, if you want to buy a product online, you need to fill an online form giving your personal details as well as your credit card information. The data then travels from one server to another to the online shopping web server. During this transfer, someone might be watching the information in between. No one knows how often this happens but technically it’s possible and it’s happening. Apart from that it can be prohibited by encrypting the data but since encrypting program and software’s are very costly so it is often neglected by the online shopping administrators and thus the result in extraction of information by some hacker. This example shows that a person’s details go hand to hand with security and privacy issue as disclosure of personnel information deals as privacy issue and capturing the email by another third party deals with the security issue. Similarly, comparing it with the growing e-marketing is completely different scenario. As Especially in the Call center business a personal details like social security numbers, credit card numbers, address, phone no, personal details etc are sold and bought in the form of leads where the buyer pays hefty money for the lead of the clients. Reality is, it’s against the privacy issue but commercialization has controlled the e-marketing in such a way that malpractices like these are happening openly and uncontrollably. Likewise, For example a person staying in India makes a call in US stating that he is in US and asks for the client’s Credit card and other vital information. Though many questions have been raised against these issues but in a way or two security and privacy are breached everyday in one or the other form. From another angel, the freedom of expression used by the social networking sites like face book, HI5, Twitter, Flickr, Tagged etc has resulted in broadcasting false information by wrong doers using various alias. These websites allow free membership and facilitate the users with different tools like blogs, chartroom, forums, groups etc where innocent people are being falsely guided to wrong information and at time are bound to face the consequences. This is an unjustified advantage of internet privacy where the wrong doers are manipulating the security as well as the privacy issue. Nevertheless, the privacy and security issue are very vital part of each other which need to be balanced proportionately where breach of either is illegal but today with the growing internet and lack of effective standard policies and mechanism, people are manipulating the policies where the innocents are bound to suffer the consequences. The related associations should further act accordingly in securing the rights of personal as well as the whole system giving better opportunity for all in respect of equality and security.

By Shreedeep Rayamajhi

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Internet Governance and its role

Today internet has adapted the form of daily lives of people; it basically has reached the level where people do everything in it, from expressing their feelings to their businesses. To an extent it has adapted as a personalized and daily commodity which is more used on daily basis just like any other basic commodity. From the personal information to the financial information to the deep secrets in the form of emails are all stored in the form of strings and variable where the security lies at risk of getting exploited due to lack of proper security policies and mechanism.

With the booming of internet, it has expanded the horizon in facilitating and introducing new services making it possible to virtually do anything that can be thought of whereas on contrary; the internet has also developed various threats and weakness. These loop holes are manipulated by wrong doers in exploiting the innocent which are further mentioned below.

More or less, policies and mechanism have been developed but are very limited and prepared according to the feasibility of developed nation where the developing and underdeveloped countries lies at the stake of uncertainty. This gap between the developed counties and remaining has resulted in a conflict where rules and regulation remains stagnant to each other giving space for externalities and irregularities. This situation has led into manipulation and exploitation where child abuse, cyber crimes, identity theft, copyrights issue, hacking etc are in the trend of rise. Whether it’s about hacking or child exploitation or pornography, internet security today is the most vulnerable issue whish demand a proper mechanism and regulation. Due to absence of standardization in policies and mechanism the externalities are materializing to a new level where it’s establishing itself as threat to everyone in one or the other form. However, the issue of security is high on alert where especially developing and underdeveloped countries are suffering the consequence due to the laps of standard security policy. The time demands standardization in every aspect of internet where growth and further prospect surely depends on that.

According to Jeremy Malcolm, “Multi-stakeholder governance is a fresh approach to the development of public policy, bringing together governments, the private sector and civil society in partnership. The movement towards this new governance paradigm has been most marked in areas involving global networks of stakeholders, too intricate to be represented by governments alone. Nowhere is this better illustrated than on the Internet, where it is an inherent characteristic of the network that laws, and the conduct to which those laws are directed, will cross national borders.”

Thus, the concept of Internet Governance Forum (IGF) is a dynamic approach which gives opportunities to multi stake holders in overcoming the various aspects of net neutrality and digital divide. It also helps in further accessing to establish a uniform mechanism addressing the needs of all the stakeholders from developed countries to developing and underdeveloped countries. Especially the vacuum between the developed and developing /underdeveloped countries needs a certain platform which would address their problems and issues. It would further help in highlighting the corporate or social responsibility prioritizing the rights of information access by completely abolishing discrimination. I strongly believe that IGF is an effective tool which needs to be reviewed as a weapon against irregularities and externalities where the developed nation should endorse it for future growth and prospects.

Advantages of IGF

* A board platform to address issues and problems
* A standard policy and mechanism to address the problems of world over
* Control over digital divide and net neutrality
*No bias system
*Equal opportunity of business and exposure
* Bilateral relationship
* Effectiveness in growth and monitoring of internet
* Issue like pornography, cyber crimes, hacking and exploitation can be easily overcome
* Better security policies

Disadvantages of IGF

* Hard to control and monitor due to number of countries
* Hard for developing and under developed to keep up with developed countries in terms of technology and manpower
* Standard policies means competition which would be hard for underdeveloped and developing countries

Shreedeep Rayamajhi

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CoAS of Nepal Sacked by the Maoist led government

Kathmandu: 3rd May, 2009The Government has sacked present Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS)of Nepal Army Rookmangud Katawal under the Military Act, 2006, and issue a letter of dismissal today . The government has also appointed the Kul Bahadur Khadka as the acting CoAS of the Nepali Army.
The action was done on the preliminary basis of the cabinet meeting held on Sunday where different party leaders of the CPN-UML, MJF and Nepal Sadbhavana Party, boycotted the meeting when Prime Minister Puspa Kamal Dahal proposed the removal.

Following the government decision to sack CoAS Katawal, the main opposition party Nepali Congress has called an all-party meeting at 2PM in its parliamentary party office in Sindhadurbar. Moreover, the Maoist cadres are taking out a victory rally at 3PM .

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Nepal’s PM resigns after tussle of power with the president

May 04,2009 Kathmandu, Nepal: Nepal’s PrimeMinister(PM) Puspa Kamal Dahal resigned from his post of leadership, highlighting the current crisis situation of the inappropriate use of power by the President Dr Ram Bran Yadav against the sack of Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS) Rookmangud Katawal by the government.
The Maoist government had sacked Rookmangud Katawal from his position of CoAS of Nepali Army against the power tussle of Maoist and the Nepal Army. Recently during a national sports Program, Nepali Army drew back its sportsperson from the games, stating that the Maoist sportsmen did not comply the rules.
Briefly stating in a press release, the Nepal Army Media Directorate reasoned that the Maoist sportsmen failed to submit their application during the standard application time and later they participated the games influencing its bureaucratic powers to enter the games, which was against the sprit of sportsmanship.
Highlighting the issue, the CoAS was asked a written explanation to comply the reason behind drawing the army sportsmen from the games where Katawal had submitted the explanation. But undermining the report on Sunday, the Maoist led government using its powers and sacked Katawal under the Nepal Military Act, 2006 and appointed active general Kul Bahadur Khadka as the officiating CoAS of Nepal Army. Despite the fact that other parties had boycotted the cabinet meeting when the PM had proposed the sack of the CoAS Katawal; the Maoist led Government Issue the notice to Katawal.
In repose to the decision the other parties heavily protested against the monopoly of the Maoist led government and demanded the resignation of the PM. Moreover, acting against the situation the President Yadav using his power of president-ship reinstated Katawal as the CoAS of Nepal Army.
In view of the president’s act, the prime minister addressing the nation at around 11:00 GMT on Monday gave his resignation against the public through the communication medium which was later accepted by the president.


By Shreedeep Rayamajhi

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Asna Child Rehabilitation Home

Asna is the garden of love where flowers of different ages blossom, with this theme of humanity; Asna the Child Rehabilitation Home welcomes you to be a part of this enchanting experience to bring smiles to the face of destitute children who have suffered the consequences of their faith and the long conflict in Nepal.
“ I have come to realize more and more that the greatest disease and the greatest suffering is to be unwanted, unloved, uncared for, to be shunned by everybody, to be just nobody (to no one),” Mother Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997).
As ascribed in the words, we at Asna have sheltered orphans who have been abandoned or are the result of the post conflict where they lack their basic rights of education, health and food. These orphans due to lack proper support are bound to face the consequences; more or less they are left behind with the treachery to rot in the restaurants, hotels and streets.
They are vulnerable and are prune to labor and exploitation. So acclimatizing this, in 2004, RCDP-Nepal established Asna Child Rehabilitation Home (ACRH), an orphanage, in Chitwan. The Home was established to provide food, clothing and shelter to orphaned and homeless children.
The facility from its establishment has tried and successfully provided a loving and caring environment and educated the children where they are also provided with skills training so that one day they can survive on their own in future.
At present, we have 26 orphaned children between the age of 6 and 15. They live in a three storey structure. Asna is currently in need of expansion. There are lots of orphaned children that Asna wants to receive and house within its compound but with the on going constriction of space, Asna searches beyond to see prospect of future and resources.
Theme “Be a smile for a reason donate to bring change in an orphans live and see how beautiful the world is.”

“Asna is the hope of light that shine to bring smiles to the face of destitute children, who have suffered what they didn’t deserve,” Merry Smith U.K

Why support Asna?
Nepal is a developing nation and with in its status of growing population, poverty permeates every corner of the country. Due to the years of civil war and the spread of HIV/AIDS, many children have become orphaned. Many continue to become everyday. There is no state help for the orphaned children. They are left to prey for child labor and exploitation or they’re at the mercy of their relatives and friends.
But most families in Nepal are deprived. They can hardly feed their own children. Helping to maintain others children is beyond the means of most people. The only place to turn to for the orphans is the orphanages. Sadly, most of them are already overcrowded. The orphanages regularly turn away the orphaned children because they don’t have enough space. The ones living in there often live in overcrowded rooms. In some orphanages, the children sleep, study and eat in the same room. To have a small play area is a luxury for most orphanages.
Realizing this fact, RCDP Nepal has been working hard to build orphanages in rural and semi-rural areas. The task isn’t easy where at every step, finding financial resources and the manpower is difficult in Nepal. Still, RCDP-Nepal has initiated an effort and is planning to further expand its network with in the rural areas.
Moreover, In Lamatar, another rural region closer to the capital city of Kathmandu, it has not only built an orphanage but is successfully educating and housing orphaned children.

Come be a part of this life time experience and bring smiles to the faces of children who await your companionship and love to cherish your memories for lifetime.

By Shreedeep Rayamajhi

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Bird Flu creates Terror in Nepal

Part-2 Bird flu has again been confirmed in Nepal in the village of Sharanamati VDC-2, Jhapa, district in eastern Nepal today after the results came in from London on 20 February 2009. Few days back in Mid January the government had contained the disease in a village of Kakarbhitta where the virus is again at the risk of taking thousand of lives. “The H5N1 avian influenza virus was confirmed Today after the result came in from London where the sample were sent for the further test from the chickens sample of a Poultry farmer Sajibul Rehman, resident of Sharanamati VDC-2,” Confirmed Hari Dahal spokesperson at the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives of Nepal. According to Dahal, “The test were carried out when some 150 chickens in poultry farm died unanimously and later samples were send to London for further investigation.” “Admits the hard hitting situation, a rapid response team has been sent to the area and another team will leave tomorrow. Moreover, the government has tightened the security at the bordering areas,” added he. The situation is so chaotic that people are avoiding seeing chickens at public places. Ram Shrestha a Resident of Kathmandu said, “I have Completely Stopped Eating chickens; we use to take chicken products in our daily meal but after the rumors, we have completely stopped eating chickens.” “The condition had drastically change in the intake of chicken after January and people had started to adapt in the concept of safe chicken but after the confirmation of bird flu in Sharanamati VDC-2, Jhapa, we poultry farmer are completely ruin because its will slash the poultry industry, “ stated a poultry farmer.

Part 1

With the rumors of Bird Flu flying around the Kathmandu valley and in other major bordering cities of Nepal, the supply of chickens and its products has completely halted admits the rumors. Moreover, the situation has drastically gone out of control where people are avoiding eating chicken at their meals and are even avoiding seeing it. Looking at this recession of chicken business, the government has already promoted the message of safe meat by arranging and showcasing different demos of eating safe chicken at public gathering and Medias; but in an underdeveloped country like ours where the poultry business stands as a prominent industry with millions of investment has certainly created a stir in the backbone of the country's depleting economy. Like such, the poultry business is currently facing a completely recession where other flesh business like goats and fish has significantly inclined with around 100% increase in their prices than previous. On January 16, Friday Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda on called an emergency meeting of his cabinet to discuss the epidemic and other crises. Informing about the attack, Information and Communications Minister and government's spokesperson Krishna Bahadur Mahara, informed, "The first outbreak of the disease caused by the Avian Influenza Virus has been detected in the border town of Kakarbhitta in eastern Jhapa district. The government has ordered all poultry in the town as well as other areas within 3 km of it to be culled." Issuing a public notice to keep the disease at bay, the government has also ordered the district administration not to allow the transportation of poultry products within 10 km of the quarantined town. General awareness programs of the dieses including prevention and symptoms of avian influenza in humans like fever, cough, sore throat, and muscle aches to eye infections, pneumonia, and other severe and life-threatening complications are also being raised at both public and private sectors. According to the World Health Organization, nearly 250 people have been killed due to bird flu since 2003. On 25 Jan 2009, The Chinese news agency Xinhua published the news, "No one infected by bird flu in Nepali capital". The news briefs with panic spreading among the public about the bird flu, Nepali authorities confirmed Sunday no person has been infected with the virus and the virus has not spread in the capital Kathmandu, local media reported. Spokesperson at the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives Hari Dahal said, "a few chicken died in the capital recently. We are carrying out the tests but it has not been confirmed yet as to whether the chicken died of the avian virus". Adapting the news, The BBC News UK quoted, "Some 12,000 chickens and ducks have been slaughtered in farms in south-eastern Nepal. After an outbreak of bird flu was discovered there on Friday (Jan 16). The sale and consumption of poultry has been badly hit since the outbreak, the country's first of the H5N1 strain. Thirteen small rapid response teams, each including a doctor, have been pressed into action in Jhapa, in the country's south-eastern corner. India has confirmed an outbreak in its neighboring Sikkim state. No matter what the conditions Kathmanduties have completed boycott chickens and its products from their diet where poultry business is immensely suffering the consequences of rumors.

By Shreedeep Rayamajhi

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