THE HIMALAYAN UNIVERSE

End of Nepal monarchy - or trouble? By Charles Haviland BBC News Nepal's most powerful parties have agreed that the 240-year-old monarchy will be abolished, yielding to a demand put by the Maoist former rebels when they walked out of the interim government three months ago. The historic decision reverses a clause of last year's peace agreement which said the fate of the royals would be decided by a popularly-elected assembly. Parliament must now change the temporary constitution. It will be left to the assembly, once elected, to actually scrap the monarchy - but that is looking almost inevitable. The move concludes a dismal year of continuing violence, new militant ethnic sentiment and endless political squabbling - a big contrast to 2006 which saw the end of the Maoist insurgency and, earlier, King Gyanendra's climb-down from direct rule. Punitive acts Although their walk-out meant elections were postponed for a second time, the Maoists say they will now rejoin the cabine...

NEPAL: Biogas technology beginning to make its mark Photo: Naresh Newar/IRIN Nepal's biogas users play a key role in reducing carbon emissions KATHMANDU, 6 December 2007 (IRIN) - Over six million tonnes of carbon emissions could be avoided in the next five years by Nepal through large-scale use of biogas, according to climate change experts. Biogas is a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide produced by fermenting organic matter like animal or human waste, biodegradable waste and municipal solid waste. In Nepal, biogas systems are circular pits filled with cow dung. Constructed near to people's homes, the gas they produce is piped to where the cooking is done. Nearly 85 percent of Nepal's 27 million people live in rural areas and around 95 percent of the rural population burn traditional fuels such as wood and agro-waste. Biogas systems were first introduced in Nepal in the late 1950s and thousands of families now use them. The carbon emissions thus saved in Nepal may be sm...

Second Annual Himalayan Policy Research Conference organized by the Nepal Study Center of the University of New Mexico at Preconference Venue of the 36th Conference on South Asia, U. of Wisconsin --Madison. October 11, 2007 8 am - concludes at 5:35PM Assembly and Caucus Rooms Dear colleagues (attending the 36th SA Conference at Madison [Oct 11-14]): Thank you for showing your interest and support in promoting policy and research knowledge pool on the Himalayan region and the neighboring countries in South Asia. We would like to welcome you to attend our HPRC-2007 sessions (Thursday, October 11). The program details are provided below: South Asia Conference Site: http://southasiaconference.wisc.edu/preconf_1.html NSC's HPRC-2007 Conference Page: http://nepalstudycenter.unm.edu/SeminarsWorkshopsConferences/HPRC_Conferences/HPRC_2007/HPRC_2007.html Please pass on this information to your colleagues attending the 36th Madison SA Conference. We would also like to take this opportunity t...

More article on Moringa.. We continue to gather news and articles on the miracle tree called "Moringa". This from the Philippines. Source: Inquirer But because of the importance of the material to to the whole humanity, we have provided the material with due acknowledgement to the source whose linke is provided above. Thank you The miracle of ‘malungga y’ By Ernesto Ordoñez Inquirer Last updated 03:08am (Mla time) 10/05/2007 Most Read Other Most Read Stories x Business SM Investments sets P3B for hotel projects in ’08 The miracle of ‘malunggay’ Mittal plans $1.6-B Philippine plant Fresh funds await PAL Manila power plant for sale Central bank cuts rate by quarter point Korean plans $103-M Subic condo-hotel complex Peso firmer on capital inflow; nears 7-yr high vs dollar Inflation rises in September, within central bank forecast Meralco capital hike approved From P200 to riches Shares outlook higher after interest rate cut Business Most Read RSS Close this MANILA, Philippin...

Father of Nepal’s gobar gas industry John Finlay (3 October 1938 – 3 September 2007) DAVID MCCONKEY From Issue #366 (14 September 07 - 20 September 07), Nepali Times -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- John came to Nepal from Northern Ireland in 1973 to join the United Mission to Nepal (UMN). After some months of Nepali language study in Kathmandu, he was soon busy sharing his engineering skills with students at the Butwal Technical Institute (BTI). Another UMN staff member, a teacher from Scotland called Sheila Anderson, was working in the northern Gorkha village of Jaubari and as they got to know each other they decided to marry. After their wedding in Scotland in 1975, they returned to work in Butwal where they were also hostel parents to some of the BTI students. At this time John got involved in the development of biogas as an alternative fuel and helped in the production of the very first commercial unit built in Nepal. His passion was...

A very interesting explanation of Nepal's conflict by Laxmi Iyer to the author Martha Legace, Harvard Business School, is copied below from the link given. We have not taken any permission to copy and paste, but since this is so important in the context of Nepal, we thought we would use this information with due acknowledgement to the authors. Laxmi Iyer co-authored a book " Poverty, Social Divisions and Conflict in Nepal " with Quy-Toan Do, an economist of the World Bank which was published in June, 2007. The PDF version of the book is available at this link . High Hills, Deep Poverty: Explaining Civil War in Nepal Posted: 06 Aug 2007 10:00:00 -4000 Q&A with: Lakshmi Iyer Published: August 6, 2007 Author: Martha Lagace Source: http://hbswk.hbs.edu/faculty/liyer.html Civil wars have been the dominant form of conflict around the world since World War II, resulting in approximately 20 million deaths. But it's not just sociologists who are diving into the roots of c...

No matter how much fighting is done for politics, or no matter how much we hypothesise about social transformation, we are heading towards a grim future of this country,instead of getting towards positive transformation, if malnutrition is not addressed. Nation is built by those who grew up with proper nutrition in their childhood. Here is an eye-opening status for Nepal, an article by Tom Atwood on the Kathmandu Post , published in August 9 edition. There is a great war to win! Malnutrition takes toll on GDP, IQ BY TOM ATWOOD KATHMANDU, Aug 9, 2007. Seven years after Nepal committed itself to the task of halving malnutrition by the year 2015 - one of the Millennium Development Goals - general malnutrition remains a serious problem. Over the past 25 years, general malnutrition levels have decreased at a miniscule rate. This obviously means the status of malnutrition as a public health problem will remain for decades to come. . According to the World Bank, decreased productivity and IQ ...

Mahabir Pun of Myagdi bags prestigious Magsaysay award Mahabir Pun: 2007 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for Community Leadership. Mahabir Pun of Myagdi, western Nepal, has bagged the prestigious Raman Magsaysay Awards, for Community Leadership. The Board of Trustees of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF) Tuesday announced that seven Asians bagged this year's Raman Magsaysay Awards, the Asian Equivalent of Nobel Prize. Pun is among three Chinese, a Korean, an Indian and a Pilipino to receive the coveted award. According to the RMAF, Pun, 52, is “recognised for his innovative application of wireless computer technology in Nepal, bringing progress to remote mountain areas by connecting his village to the global village”. Pun is the fourth Nepali to receive the Magsaysay award. He will receive the award amid a ceremony in Manila on August 31. Here is Pun's profile: Nangi Village, where Mahabir Pun was born, rests high in the Himalayan foothills of western Nepal. Here and in sur...

Rainfall over Nepal for July 30 - August 6, 2007: The rainfall for the period July 30-August 6 over Nepal is shifting towards western part of the country, and is mainly on lower half, that is where most of the rainfall will take place (in Mid and Far-western development region’s lower half portions). Otherwise the amount of rainfall is receding all over the country, and perhaps that will be a window of opportunity for relief and rehab operations. The south-east Jhapa district and parts of Illam will get quite some rains. Please refer to earlier post (July 30, 2007), same statements apply. Image 1: Rainfall Prediction for South Asia Rainfall in South Asia: Bangladesh rains are receding too. The West coast of India is getting more rain again. Max rains are concentrated in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal for the week in South Asia. Image 2: Rainfall for Asia continent Thanks to CPC NOAA for the maps .

The following map depicts the flood and land slide situation in a nutshell, as of July 29, 2007 in Nepal. Source: NRCS

Many Terai district settlement and infrastructure is under flood water, and the death toll due to floods and landslides has raised to 72. Thousands of people are familes are displaced, and many children have died due to the spread of water-borne disease. Find below some notes on rainfall for this week: Monsoon Highlights: The rainfall synopsis for Nepal for July 29-August 5: The area under very heavy rains (150mm and more) is very less today (5-8% from 90% last week), and the area under just heavy rains (100 mm or so) is just 35%. Situation seems to be slightly improving; actually little rain in the eastern part of the country across the hills and plains. However, heavy rains are predicted in the far-west part of the country, especially in the plains and hills of Kanchanpur, Kailali, Bardiya, and Banke. Surkhet valley will have high rains as in the past, no less. Although the above terai districts will have heavy rains, the extent or the area of heavy rain is small, and is localized, ...

Here are two images showing expected rainfall in South Asia and Asia continent, provided by NOAA Climate Prediction Center The above image for South Asia is subset of larger image covering entire Asia Continent given below. One should look at the image and the given map legend to understand the rainfall scenario. In the map, Nepal is covered by top three classes/colors in the bar scale of precipitation. Minimum of 75 to 100 mm rains is there in every part of the country, although the area covered by this category is only in 5% of the area. The rest of 90% of the country is covered by a rainfall category which is in the range of 100 to 150mm. Remaining 5% is covered by a rainfall range of more than 150mm. All this means, we should anticipate more rains than the last week (July 18-25) rains posted earlier. Districts in east and central east terai were mostly inundated in flood waters last week. What should expect this week? Even more. Expect more districts being soaked in flood waters es...

Here are two maps showing rainfall prediction for the period July 18-25, 2007 presented by Climate Prediction Center, NOAA. Interpretation: The maps show that although there will be rains over Nepal, the intensity will be significantly less than other parts in the region such North-central India, Assam, Meghalaya, Bhutan, Bangladesh. Heavy rainfall is limited to Dolkha, Manang, Bajhang (some in Darchula and Humla), and Jhapa. This map shows less pockets of heavy rains than the earlier predictions. However, the predictions remain unaltered for the regions in India's states of Assam, Meghalaya, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Uttaranchal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar. Source: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/fews/global/asia/

Here are two rainfall prediction maps presented by NOAA Climate Prediction Center, for Asia and South Asia for the period July 16-23, 2007. Please note that heavy rains are expected in Nepal, mainly western part and rest of regions of Bhutan, Bangladesh, North India, Myanmar and Thailand, Indonesia, Indian and Pacific Ocean. All that means, we are in the midst of heavy monsoon season and must be prepared to deal with Floods and Landslides expected through out the region. Source: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/fews/global/asia/south_asia/ http://himalayandisasters.blogspot.com/

The following press statement was released by United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) recently, and reflects efforts made towards establishment of a peacefull democratic Nepal. PRESS STATEMENT by Ian Martin Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General 16 July 2007 I want to update you in particular on the two main aspects of UNMIN’s mandated support to the peace process: the monitoring of arms and armed personnel, and electoral support. As you know, the second stage of registration and verification of Maoist army personnel was carried out at the main cantonment site in Ilam from 19 to 26 June, and the findings were presented on 27 June to the leadership of the CPN(Maoist), detailing those whom the verification teams assessed as aged under 18 on 25 May 2006, and others who were recruited to the Maoist army after 25 May 2006 and are therefore ineligible to remain in the cantonments. UNMIN arms monitors, together with the UNDP registration personnel and UNICEF child pro...

India's ancient tradition of ayurveda says the leaves of the Moringa tree prevent 300 diseases. A beautiful compilation on Moringa Oliefera appeared here on October 3, 2007. http://abeautyful.blogspot.com/2007/10/moringa-oleifera.html The wikipedia link for the Moringa Tree is here . More info on Moringa: www.moringanews.org Information on some medicinal value found here. Commercial farming of Moringa in Thailand: http://www.portalmarket.com/moringatree.html More links on Moringa: Sanjeevani Herbals, a professionally managed drumstick company: www.moringa.net Miracle Moringa - An article by Nancy Willis Moringa oleifera: A Review of the Medical Evidence for Its Nutritional, Therapeutic, and Prophylactic Properties. Part 1. Jed W. Fahey, Sc.D. Trees for Life Journal Moring gateway: Trees for Life Journal Nutrition information on Moringa is here For more info: Moringa News ( MoringaNews.org ) We are thankful to Sivapriya for letting us use this recipe (its source linked at the end) ...

MORINGA: ‘Miracle plant’ with many healing powers By Seye Adeniyi Moringa plant; insets(L-R) are moringa flowers, friuts and it's seeds Many of the orthodox drugs being used to cure diseases today have their chemical formulations from herbs and trees, thanks to technological and medical advancement. Seye Adeniyi, in this report, X-rays the nutritional and medicinal benefits of a ‘miracle plant’ called Moringa Oleifera. If you always complain of body pains, bowel disorder, headaches, fever, flunctuating body temperature, skin infections or diseases, as well as other ailments, then there is good news for you. Also, if you are the type that so much believe in foreign products especially drugs, and who does not believe that anything good can come out of Africa, as it is the attitude and belief of many people, then you need to have a rethink. However, for the benefit of those who have great delight and likeness for natural therapies especially what some people call alternative medicine...

Here is an interesting post on removing Gallstones Naturally. 08.08.06 Removing Gallstones Naturally, Excerpt from “Total Natural Health Approach Towards Recovery and No More Cancer” Dr. Lai Chiu Nan’s Talk in Singapore Posted in Home Remedies at 8:11 am by Doc Emil Gallstones may not be everyone’s concern. But they should be because we all have them. Moreover, gallstones may lead to certain cancers. “Cancer is never the first illness,” Chiu-Nan points out. “usually, there are lots of other problems leading up to cancer”. In my research in China, I came across some material which says that, “people with cancer usually have gallstones.” We all have gallsontes. It’s a matter of how big or how small, how many or how few. One of the symptoms of gallstones is feeling of bloatedness after a heavy meal. You feel you can’t digest the food. If it gets more serious, you feel pain in the liver area. So if you think you have gallstones, Chiu-Nan offers the following method to r...

WFP launches international appeal for US$49 million to support Nepal's peace process 10 Jul 2007 13:23:00 GMT Source: WFP Location: Kathmandu WFP in Nepal is launching a US$49 million recovery programme to assist over 1.2 million people who continue to struggle daily with the effects of the recently ended eleven-year conflict between the Maoists and the Government. According to WFP’s Country Representative in Nepal, Richard Ragan, this represents one of the largest UN initiatives to support the people of Nepal during the transition to a new democracy, and offers donors an opportunity to support a rapid, field-based approach to saving lives and improving livelihoods. Conflict “Despite the political, social and security progress of the last six months, over one million people in Nepal are still struggling with the effects of the conflict – damage to critical infrastructure, and unequal access to basic services. This is on top of food insecurity exacerbated by three years of drought, ...

Water wheel winner From Issue #355 (29 June 07 - 05 July 07) Nepali Times The Centre for Renewable Energy Nepal has won second prize at the international Ashden Award for sustainable energy for its work improving 2,400 water mills (‘Wheels of change’, #354). Lumin Shrestha, director of CRTN received the Enterprise Award from former US Vice President Al Gore in the Royal Geographical Society in London last Friday. The four-year-old water mills program has already helped improve the livelihoods of almost 100,000 households. The centre plans to use the £10,000 prize money to develop a low cost means of generating electricity with a simple magnet alternator using a short shaft water mill to charges batteries that can be used for household lighting purposes. CRTN is supported by the Alternate Energy Promotion Centre and SNV-Nepal. End

It’s a small world after all: German researchers Agence France Presse Bonn, July 5: The world is smaller than first thought, German researchers at the University of Bonn said today. They took part in an international project to measure the diameter of the world that showed it is five millimetres smaller than the last measurement made five years ago. Dr Axel Nothnagel, who led the Bonn researchers, told AFP the difference was crucial in the study of climate change. “It may seem a very small difference, but it is essential for the positioning of the satellites that can measure rises in sea level. “They must be accurate to the millimetre. If the ground stations tracking the satellites are not accurate to the millimetre, then the satellites cannot be accurate either.” The scientists round the number up to 12,756.274 kilometres for the general public. Source: The Himalayan Times

Two Indian companies in fray for Nepal airport project Kathmandu, July 05, 2007 First Published: 12:08 IST(5/7/2007) Last Updated: 12:11 IST(5/7/2007) Two Indian construction companies are in the fray for a project to improve Nepal's lone international airport in Kathmandu. New Delhi's IRCON International Limited and an Indo-Nepal joint venture between Mumbai's Valecha Engineering Ltd and local partner YP Construction are among the six companies that have qualified to bid for the runway and taxiway overlay work at Tribhuvan International Airport. The directorate of the Tribhuvan International Airport improvement project which is overseeing the work - said the entire project cost would be borne by the civil aviation authority of Nepal but declined to mention a figure on grounds that it was a confidential matter. The bidding process is expected to take about two-and-a-half months. The Indian companies will face stiff competition from the Chinese. The other four competitor...

NEPAL: Traditional water mill technology helps boost livelihoods 05 Jul 2007 11:49:58 GMT Source: IRIN Reuters and AlertNet are not responsible for the content of this article or for any external internet sites. The views expressed are the author's alone. DHADING, 5 July 2007 (IRIN) - Sitting in a tiny water mill, popularly known as a 'ghatta' in Nepalese, 65-year-old farmer Ram Sharma waits for his customers to come with their wheat and maize to grind flour for a small fee. Sharma built his 'ghatta' two years ago after he lost all his farmland and property in flash floods that devastated Dhading village in Makwanpur District, 200km east of the capital, Kathmandu. In 2006 floods affected over 50,000 people, including tens of thousands who were made homeless. Nearly 2,000 animals were killed and over 10,000 tonnes of food were destroyed, according to the Nepalese authorities. Life was already difficult for Sharma due to the decade-long armed conflict with Maoist rebe...