My Culture + Your Culture = Pooja to Party

By Laxmi Giri

The video above is one of the videos for "ExchangesConnect Online Video Contest" by Nepalese youths. Anyone can upload a 3-minute video about what "My Culture + Your Culture" means to you for a chance to win an international exchange program! The contest opened on December 1, 2008 and ends on January 26, 2009.

This contest is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in partnership with Adobe Youth Voices.

Good thing is Nepalese guys are participating on it. They have carefully selected the subject so that they can express the flexibility the Nepalese society to appreciate other cultures. One lady Professor of Culture in Tribhuvan University does Hindu Pooja and one day she participates in Christmas party. This shows harmony among people with different religions in Nepal. In Nepal majority people are Hindu with Muslims, Christians and Buddhists as minors. World is amazing with diverse culture and religions.

My culture plus your culture= understanding and respect to each other.

Nepali scientists able to forecast multiple climate effects

Yogesh Pokhrel

Nepalese scientists and researchers have claimed that they also can forecast climate change and multiple climatic effects in the country with the establishment of Dendro-Lab in the capital.

They said that in order to facilitate and further dendrological works in Nepal, Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), in cooperation with Ev-K2-CNR Italy, had set up a Dendro Lab at its premises.

Dendrochronology or tree-ring dating is the method of scientific dating based on the analysis of tree-ring growth patterns. The technique can date wood to exact calendar years. Tree rings are one important source of what are called proxy-climate indicators or paleeoclimate data.

For this, NAST is organising a training workshop for 18 researchers and university students from a trainer Prof. Dr. Marco Carrer from the University of Padova, Italy.

Dr. Dinesh Bhuju, a senior scientist and training coordinator at the Dendro-Lab Focal Point, said that the tree rings respond to multiple climatic effects such as temperature, moisture and cloudiness, so that various aspects of climate can be studied. "From the analysis of the data obtained from them information can also be acquired about natural disturbance such as hurricane, earthquake, flood, drought, conflagration or erosions," Bhuju said.

He said that analysing the obtained data they could make forecasts about the upcoming disasters and evaluate the previous disasters too.

As an initiative, Dr. Bhuju and Dr. Carrer have established two permanent plots at the tree-line of Sagarmatha National Park in 2007 and collected some 300 tree cores, mainly from Abies and Juniper.

According to Dr. Bhuju, as the tree ring is safe from any human and other manipulations, the prediction made from this method is hundred per cent correct and reliable.

He informed that pine trees like Abies and Juniper, are best for Dendro research. Dr. Bhuju said that they would start their research from the Himalayan region, where the impact of global warming and climate change had been more pronounced.

He, further, said that after the completion of the trial research in the Himalayan region, they would find out the previous climatic change and prediction in the historical palaces, temples, and archeological areas using the same technique.

He said that they would extend their work to each and every climatic and geographical region of the country in the near future so that the concerned authorities in the area would remain alert and could initiate necessary steps to minimise the potential risks and damage.

He said that any environmental activities, favourable or unfavourable, were printed as annual rings of the trees.

Global warming and climate change are of the global concern at the present time. Nepali researchers are now hopeful to make prediction of changing patterns by reconstructing past climatic history through what they call Dendrochronological technique. "We are happy to institutionalize the knowledge and hope to see many researchers using this technique in environmental and archeological studies as well," Bhuju said.

This news article was published on The Rising Nepal. It shows some scientists in Nepal are also doing some research activities where there is no good environment for such activities and hundreds of young science and engineering graduates are leaving the country.

More about Dendrochronoly on wikipedia.

More about NAST

काठमान्डुको फोहर कहिले बन्ला मोहर

बार्ह दिनदेखी काठमान्डुको सडकमै बसेको फोहर अब उठ्ने भएछ। यसपाली लाई त समस्या समाधान भयो भनौ। तर फेरी केहि महिना पछि दोहोरि हाल्छ क्यारे। असारमा म नेपाल हुदा त्यति सार्हो त थियन। तर पनि बागबजारमा फोहर बसिराखेको थियो। कहिले फोहर ट्रक आ उला र उठाउला भनेर। मानौ की बाटोमा फोहरको थुप्रो देखियन भने काठमान्डुनै नै होइन कि जस्तो के। यो तलको फोटो मैले त्यतिबेला खिचेको हो।

काठमान्डुमा फोहर थुप्रिनु के को नौलो भयो र। चोक-चोक र गल्ली गल्लीमा। यसपाली पनि दुई हप्तासम्म फोहर सडकबाट उठेन। मान्छेहरु नाक छोपेर हिड्न बानी परिसके। घर-घर बाट निस्कने फोहरको सहि ब्यवस्थान नहुनले यो समस्या पटक पटक दोहोरिरहेको छ। फोहर निकाल्ने एक ठाउबाट अनि लगेर फाल्ने अर्को ठाउमा। फोहर उत्पादन गर्छ काठमान्डुले अनि गनाउने गन्ध सुग्नु पर्ने अन्य गाउले ले। यो नै गलत छ। जहा फोहोर उत्पादन हुन्छ त्यहीनै ब्यवस्थापन गर्नु पर्छ। घर घरमा निस्कने फोहर बाटोमा फाल्ने अनि बाटोबाट उठाएर ल्यन्डफिल्ड साईटमा लगेर पुर्ने। त्यो पनि टाढा टाढा लग्नु पर्ने। कहीले बागमतीको किनारमा, कहिले बिश्णुमतीको किनारमा पुर्ने अनि कहिले छत्रेदेउराली त कहिले सिस्डोल अनि कहिले बन्चरे डांडा र कहिले ओखरपौवा। अनि त्यहाका बासिन्दाले बिभिन्न माग राखेर आन्दोलन् गर्छन। फोहर लान दिदैनन अनि सहर पुरै दुर्गन्धमा डुब्छ। यो फोहर तह लगाउन बिभिन्न बैज्ञानिक अध्ययनहरुले सल्लाह दिएकै छन। तर किन सरकारी सम्यन्त्र किन परम्परागत ढररा बाट बहिर आउन सक्दैन कुन्नी।

अध्ययनहरुले बताए अनुसार ७०% फोहर प्रङारिक प्रकारको छ। जसबाट प्राङारिक मल बनाउन सकिन्छ। यसो गर्दा त ७०% फोहर स्वत कम भैहाल्यो। अनि बाकी रहेको पनि पुन-प्रयोग गर्न सकिने लाई त्यसो गर्यो भने ल्यन्डफिल साईटमा पुर्ने पर्ने फोहर त निकै कम हुन्छ। अहिले काठमान्डुले दैनिक ३०० टन भन्दा बढी फोहोर निकाल्छ। अन्य देशका शहरहरुमा हेर्यो भने फोहरबाट बिजुली निकाल्ने गरेको पाइन्छ। फोहरलाई जलाइन्छ र त्यसबाट निस्कने तापलाई उर्जा निकाल्न प्रयोग गरिन्छ वा फोहरलाई जलाएर मिथेन जस्ता ग्यास निकाली ती ग्यासलाई उर्जाको रुपमा प्रयोग गर्न सकिन्छ।

कहिले होला काठमान्डुका सडक सफा भएको हेर्न पाउने?

OSU Prof selected to head NOAA

Jane Lubchenco, OSU (Oregon State University) Profesor of Marine biology has been selected to head of NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) by President-elect Obama. She would become the first woman to hold that position and second Prof. of OSU if confirmed by the Senate. She is an internationally-known environmental scientist, ecologist and former president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She has advised the president and Congress on scientific matters. Barack Obama hopes that she will provide passionate and dedicated leadership to NOAA. In her more than three decades of teaching and research period she has worked on various interactions between humans and the environment including biodiversity, climate change, sustainability science, ecosystem services, marine reserves and coastal marine ecosystems.

Her selection suggests that the President-elect's administration sees scientists playing direct roles in the development of any further policies on key environmental issues. Hoping to get back America as a leader in Science and Technology.

To know about Jane, visit her website here.

माघी, कमैया र कम्लरी

photo source

प्रत्यक बर्ष माघे शक्रान्ती लाई नेपालका आदिबासी थारु समुदायले माघी पर्बको रुपमा मनाउछन। घर्-घरमा जाड-रक्सी बनाईन्छ। सुङुर काटिंछ र ढिक्री पकाईन्छ अनि नांच गान गर्दै रमाइलो हुन्छ।आफ्नै परम्परागत किसिमका बिशेष खानेकुरा पाक्छन। अनि कोसेली बोकेर नातेदारको घरमा गै शुभ-कामना आदान प्रदान गर्ने चलन छ। केहि बर्ष पहिले सम्म जाडले मात्तीएका र अतिहुदा बाटोमा लडीराखेका हुन्थे। र यो क्रम आजकल कम भएको हुनुपर्छ। यो महत्वपुर्ण सास्क्रितिक पाटो सङै अरु दुईवटा पक्षहरु माघी सङ जोडीएर आउने गर्छन। पहिलो हो कमैया र कम्लरी प्रथा अनि दोश्रो हो अधीया प्रथा। माघी यो समुदायको नंया बर्ष पनि हो। धेरै बाचा-बन्धन र ब्यवहारीक कुराहरुको सुरुवात र अन्त्य यसै समयमा हुने गर्दछ। अन्य जात जातीले यो पर्ब आफ्नै तरिकाले मनाउछन्। थारु बस्तीमा हुर्केको, बढेको नाताले आफुले देखेका कुराहरुमात्रै यहा राख्ने जमर्को गरेको हु।

कमैया प्रथा अहिले त उन्मुलन् भैसकेको छ। उनिहरुको बिभिन्न मागहरु पुरा गराउन भलै अझै आन्दोलन् गर्न किन नपरोस। दश बर्ष अघि सम्म पनि यो नराम्रो प्रथा हो भनेर सायदै कमै मान्छेले लिन्थे होला। अझै पनि स्कुल जाने उमेरका केटीहरु कम्लरी बसेकै होलान-ठुला नेता देखी सहरियाहरुको मा। तर यो निकै कम् भैसकेको छ। मेरो बिचारमा कमैया र कम्लरी प्रथा दास प्रथाकै आधुनिक र अर्को रुप हो। श्रम शोषण त छदै छ। यो सङ सङै मानसिक, सामाजिक, कम्लरीहरुको यौन शोषण हुन्छ। न्युन पारिश्रमिकमा काम गर्ने, काम गर्ने समय निस्चीत नहुने-उठे देखी नसुते सम्म काम गर्नु पर्ने। बिरामी भयो भने उपचारको कुनै ब्यवस्था नहुने। लाउने खाने को त कुनै कुरै नहुने। कमैयाले बाहिरको काम गर्ने-खास गरि खेतिपाती सम्बन्धी काम। कम्लरीले घर भित्रको सबै काम-नानी बाबु हेर्ने देखी लिएर भान्साको काम गर्नु पर्ने।

मैले त्यति बेला देखे अनुसार हाम्रो गाउ तिरका थारुहरु तिन खालका थिए आर्थिक अनि सामाजिक हिसाबले पनि। सबै भन्दा तल त कमैयाहरु हुने नै भए । अनि त्यसपछि अरुको जग्गा अधिया जोत्ने र नम्बर एक आफ्नै जग्गा भएका अलि सम्पन्न। आफ्नै सम्पत्तीले खान लाउन पुग्ने। नम्बर एक समुहका अलि पढे लेखेका पनि। अनि केहि हल गोरु वा राङा भएकाहरुले अरुको जग्गा अधीया जोत्न पाउछन। गोरु भन्दा राङा नै जोत्ने। त्यसको फाईदा भनेको जोत्ने बेला सम्म जोत्यो अनि बुढो भयो भने मो:मो जिन्दाबाद। गोरुलाई त्यसो गर्न मिलेन। बिचरा एक हल राङा पनि नहुनेहरु कमैया बस्नु पर्ने। परिवार नै अरुको घरमा। बाउ कमैया, आमा ओर्गीनि, छोराहरु गोठालो, छोरिहरु कम्लरी। प्राय जसो लोग्ने मान्छे जुन घरमा कमैया बस्यो त्यही घरमा आइमाई ओर्गीनि हुने। छोरिहरु पोखरा, काठमान्डौ तिर। कतिपय त्यतै हरएर गए। मेरै छिमेकी परिवार आफ्नी हराएकी छोरि खोज्दै हिडेको देखेको छु। ओर्गेनी र कम्लरीको यौन शोषण पनि हुन्छ। त्यसको कुनै सुनुवाई नै नहुने। एकजना जमिन्दारको बिग्रेको छोराले बाबु आमाकै अगाडी छोरिलाई जबर्जस्ती बलात्कार गर्थे। त्यसको कसैले प्रतिकार गरेको मैले थाहा पाइन।

खुशीको खबर के छ भने यी प्रथा र बिकृतीहरू बिस्तारै कम हुदै छन। आशा गरौ यो माघीमा गत साल कमैया, कम्लरी र ओर्गिनि बसेकाहरुले पुन नयां सालमा नबिकरण गर्न नपरोस। बास्तवमा यो एककिसिमले दशकौ देखी चलि आएको हुदा जिबन पद्द्ती बनिसकेको थियो। अनि सामाजिक सम्रचनामा घुसेको थियो। अब आफ्नो काम आफैले गर्ने बानि बसाल्ने र आफ्नो जग्गा आफुले जोत्न सके मात्र राख्ने गर्यो भने यो प्रथा कम होला। अर्को तिर ति गरिबहरुको जीबन यापनको बैकल्पिक ब्यवस्था गर्नु पर्छ।

एकपटक फेरि: सखिए हो माघकी गुरि गुरि जांड।

Temporal trend of Power Use shows high in Winter

Power consumption is very important issue. In Nepal there is black out for 16 hrs in every 24 hrs because of power shortage. In developed countries like the USA also it is a matter of concern. For lower class and middle class families, power bill specially in winter, is a headache. Because of cold electricity is used to heat the house. I looked my own electricity for past one year and it shows power use is higher in colder months.

Fig: Shows the temporal trend of power use (kwh) in months in my apartment.

The figure above shows lowest use in August and highest in January. There are different ways to save power to lower your power bill. One way is to use CFL as a source of light. And careful use of heater to heat of your house. Because in winter most of the power is used for this.

I found this page useful to know how to save power money as well Environment. Here are some tips.

(1) Use space heaters to heat only the rooms you're in, rather than a central system that heats the whole house, and turning off the heat when you're not home.
(2) Replace regular light bulbs with compact fluorescents
(3) Turn off your computer when you're not using it
(4) Wash laundry in cold water instead of hot or warm

Compact Fluorescent Lamps: Lesson from Cuba for Nepal

Nepal is having huge power crises recently. Even the capital city, Kathmandu, is facing more than 12 hrs black out in a single day and the government officials have warned that this will increase up to 16-20 hrs after couple of months. Power outage has large impact on people's life, economic activity. education and literally and practically everywhere. Many industries have gone shutdown because of no-power. In response to energy crises, government declared energy crises (emergency) and has decided to make new diesel power plants to produce thermal electricity. And some other ways of solving the problem in short term and long term basis are coming for discussion. One of the alternatives to power plants is to replacing traditional incandescent lamps (IL) by compact fluorescent lamps (CFL). In this post I will try to explain CFL, how it is better than IL in terms of power consumption and pollution.

Three months ago, I replaced 3 IL bulbs in my apartment with CFL and my propose was to save power and ultimately save power bill (money :) ), although CFLs are more expensive than ILs. 60 W traditional IL bulb.s were replaced with 13 W CFLs without compromising light. I have not done calculation how much money I am saving out of it, but I am pretty sure that these CFLs are saving some amount. Now this is more relevant to Nepal's present power crises.

Compared to general service IL giving the same amount of visible light, CFLs use less power and have a longer rated life. The average rated life of a CFL is between 8 and 15 times that of ILs.

The chart shows the energy usage for different types of light bulbs operating at different light outputs. Points lower on the graph correspond to lower energy use.

A typical CFL is in the range of 17 to 21% efficient at converting electric power to radiant power.

While the purchase price of an integrated CFL is typically 3 to 10 times greater than that of an equivalent IL, the extended lifetime and lower energy use will compensate for the higher initial cost. According to a report - A household that invested $90 in changing 30 fixtures to CFLs would save $440 to $1,500 over the five-year life of the bulbs.

Since fluorescent lamps use less power to supply the same amount of light as an incandescent lamp, they decrease energy consumption and the environmental effects of electric power generation. Where electricity is largely produced from burning fossil fuels, the savings reduces emission of greenhouse gases and other pollutants.

Lesson from Cuba: In Cuba, all ILs are exchanged to CFLs in 2007 in an effort to make the country energy efficient and self sustained and banned import and sales of incandescent light bulbs. Cubans are helping their way of power saving methodology in other countries. A small island communist country used to have 16 hrs black out in a day back in 2004. This finally forced the government to find alternative ways to reduce power use. Along with other energy efficient methodologies (solar, wind, bio-fuel, energy efficient buildings etc), the Cuban government started to replace all ILs by CFLs. And this is the first country to do this-energy revolution.

Many other developed and developing countries are now taking similar measures to reduce power use and green house emission by replacing ILs by CFLs.

Nepal can learn great lesson from Cuba in this case.

More about CFLs in Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_fluorescent_lamp