Could you outrun a glacial lake outburst flood? Everest region uses the answer for climate change education

Could you outrun a glacial lake outburst flood? Everest region uses the answer for climate change education

Climate change awareness and response “Best Practices” demonstrated by Sherpa village

The massive task of understanding and responding effectively to climate change can be crucial for peoples’ physical, economic, and cultural survival. But how can people with few resources tackle a task that large?

During two days of events in June 2009, UIAA members and the innovative people of the Khumbu (Everest region) of Nepal showed the world how leveraging their special place and culture has helped them to start this task by making it educational, exciting, inclusive, and downright fun. Here are five of the key climate change response "best practices" being used in the Khumbu, which can serve as valuable tools for other mountain regions facing these issues.

Finding Compelling Focal Points
The Imja Tsho Action Run on June 18th and the Khumjung Festival on June 19th were designed to focus local and world attention on the special threats and loss of natural and cultural resources the people of the Khumbu (and other parts of the Himalaya) face from its glaciers melting rapidly as a result of climate change. The two unique climate change awareness events were held at the famous village of Khumjung, an ancient and traditional center of Sherpa culture.

Located along the popular trekking routes to Everest in a broad, flat high valley in Sagarmatha National Park (a World Heritage site), Khumjung also contains the region's first school and the only hospital, both built in the mid-1960s by Sir Edmund Hillary. It is an ideal and appropriate epicenter for spreading climate change awareness, ideas, education, and activism throughout the Khumbu and beyond. Because of the rapidly-melting glaciers nearby, it is also ideal for attracting national and international attention to the dramatic and potentially catastrophic impacts of climate change in the Himalaya.

Creating a Broad Coalition of Stakeholders that Actively Involves Youth

These climate change awareness events were planned and carried out with the help of UIAA members Dawa Steven Sherpa, Ang Tshering Sherpa, and an effective coalition of local and regional stakeholders who wisely included a wide range of ages and perspectives: officials from Sagarmatha National Park, the park’s Buffer Zone Management Committee, the Aama Samuha (Mothers' Group), youth clubs, and social service units such as schools and the famous Khunde Hospital.

Even the monks of the Khumjung Monastery lent their expertise. Accompanied by clashing cymbals and trumpet blasts, they led a sacred dragon and lion down from the hillside to lend their power to fight climate change, bring good luck, energize the crowd, and create a very special educational atmosphere for the events.

The vivacious young adults of Sherwi Yondhen Tshokpa (a local Sherpa students’ group) offered to serve as the leaders of these day-long and into the evening events, and did an outstanding job. Sponsors included Everest summiteer and eco-tourism leader Dawa Steven Sherpa and his Nepali non-profit group iDEAS, Ang Tshering Sherpa and his company Asian Trekking, the Worldwide Fund for Nature/WWF-Nepal, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), and The North Face.

I accompanied a group of national and international media representatives and leaders from WWF-Nepal from Kathmandu to the events courtesy of Network member Ang Tshering Sherpa and Asian Trekking.

Highlighting What Can Be Lost and How to Preserve It

The Imja Tsho Action Run, also called the “Beat-the-GLOF-Action-Run”, was enthusiastically attended by over 1,500 people. It sharply focused attention on the imminent threats of swift, widespread destruction of Himalayan landscapes, lives, livelihoods, arable soil, biodiversity, and cultural resources from spontaneous and catastrophic glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) caused by melting glaciers.

In this exciting new event, almost 140 young men and women, some wearing traditional Sherpa outfits, ran as fast as they could to Khumjung, starting in the early morning from one of the region’s most dangerous glacial lakes, Imja Tsho (Imja Lake) near Island Peak, a popular training climb for Mt. Everest. The 35km (21.75 miles) route took the contestants along the potential path of a GLOF that scientists say could break out at any moment from Imja Lake.

As the contestants dashed across the finish line in Khumjung, all at the event clearly understood that even the fastest runners (3 hours and 15 minutes from Imja Lake to Khumjung) that day could never have outrun a GLOF if they were in its path. The event also emphasized the fact that although mountain people of the world contribute very little to global warming, they must not only respond to huge dangers they face because of it, but also find ways to inspire the rest of the world to act quickly to reduce the output of greenhouse gases to prevent further destruction. The event also inspired a lot of thought and consideration about how feasible it might be to carefully drain dangerous glacial lakes. Our hope is that there might be hydrologists or engineers somewhere in the world who could lend their expertise to addressing this dangerous and destructive problem of glacial lake outbursts.

Communicating the Continual Need for Collaboration, Support and Solutions

The following day, the Khumjung Festival provided important informational updates and reports from regional leaders, officials from Sagarmatha National Park and the Buffer Zone Management Committee, and conservationists from WWF-Nepal, ICIMOD, IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), and the UIAA (International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation). Dawa Steven Sherpa spoke as a WWF “Climate for Life Ambassador” to raise global awareness of the impacts of climate change in the Himalayas and as the overall coordinator of the event representing his non-profit organization iDEAS (which co-sponsored the two days of events).

Speakers that day emphasized the need for all mountains stakeholder groups─local, national, and international─to work together to understand and address the impacts of climate change on the Himalaya and other mountains. Attendees enjoyed the large exhibits of posters, maps, books, and other informational literature about the impacts of climate change that were on display from WWF-Nepal and ICIMOD.

The meticulously planned event also honored the winners of a regional Interschool Art Competition called “Voices of Khumbu's Children”. Sponsored by ICIMOD, this project was designed to use children’s art and letters to help fight ignorance and inaction by expressing their concerns about inheriting a future impacted by global warming and climate change in the Himalaya and elsewhere.

Also woven into the educational format of the day was a festive native dance competition, sponsored by The Himalayan Trust, which showcased the rich and ancient heritage of the Sherpa people. The high spirits and great pride of the 114 dancers were evident not only in their impressive dancing, but in their decision to have the award money from their competition shared equally by the competitors. In their opinion every dancer was a winner, as the most important aspect of the competition was to participate together to help preserve the priceless cultural resource of their traditional dances. Skilled dance groups from the Khumbu villages of Pangboche, Phortse, Khumjung, Khunde, Namche, and Thame participated at the event, which lasted late into the night until monsoon rains drifted in.

Adopting a Long-term Perspective

Over 1,800 people attended the two days of highly-successful climate change awareness events which were publicized nationally and internationally. As a testament to their success and popularity, the people of Khumjung and the event organizers have agreed to continue the events next year, and encourage ideas on how the region could benefit by making them annual events. Ideas are already bubbling up from the community, including an obvious one for this high-altitude region: “Next year we must add a yak race!”

These events clearly showed that those who value their culture also value their place in the world, and will unite to protect them from the threats of climate change. The best practices demonstrated in these energizing and catalyzing events in the Khumbu can provide inspiration and ideas for other regions struggling to find effective ways to understand and respond to the climate changes impacting their part of the world.

--Linda McMillan

Khumbu Event 2009

Imja Tsho is the fastest growing glacial lake in the entire Himalaya with average rate of growth of 74 m a year in length. They can see and read the signs that GLOFs will only get more frequent. The mountain community in the Everest region now wants to tell the world community that they are aware and are now ready to act. They want scientists, engineers, environmentalists, mountaineers, well-wishers, and all mountain-lovers to support and guide their initiatives to tackle the problem. The iDEAS Team has responded to this call and has taken on the responsibility to help the Sherwi Yondhen Tshokpa to organise the Imja Tsho Action Event 2009 - Beat the GLOF Action Run. This event will be the tipping point from awareness and education into Action. The Sherwi Yondhen Tshokpa (Sherpa Students Group) is a group formed to create a network between all the Sherpa students. They are a non-profit and non-political organization, registered in 2007 in Kathmandu District Office and affiliated to the Social Welfare Council (SWC). One of their main aims is to encourage the participation of youth in promotion and preservation of Sherpa Culture, language and Environment.

The Beat the GLOF Action Run is organised to show the world what lies in the path of destruction. The Action Run will demonstrate that even the fastest runner will not be able to outrun the fury of the Glacial Lake Outburst. The run starts at IMJA Lake, at the source of the biggest threat to the people of the Khumbu. The route will takes us down the path of the Outburst Flood. The runners will run on the paths and bridges that will one day be washed away. They will see the forest and the farmland that will become desolate landscapes. They will cross bridges that will cease to exist. Villages and villagers that will all be gone in a flash.

This devastation will not only cause loss of life and property but could also cause cultural and traditional values to fade and become extinct. It has been said: “Memory lasts only as long as the last person who remembers.” The Action Run will be followed by the Imja Tsho Action Event 2009 – a Festival to take place in Khumjung village on the day following the Imja Tsho Action Run.

The Sherwi Yondhen Tshokpa will be coordinating with youth clubs, social service units, and the local residents to hold a Festival. The theme of this Festival is to focus on the Mountain Communities Culture, heritage, and their crucial role in maintaining and protecting their mountain environment. This will be an occasion for the communities to show their solidarity in taking action to tackle the impacts of Climate Change. National and International experts will be invited to share their studies with the communities, and together to formulate plans of action that are realistic

lhapso Invitation

In The Loving Memory [lhakpa Nuru Sherpa, Lukla]

Sherwi lungba,
Kathmandu

We had a great loss through the untimely demise of one of our beloved friend, "LHAKPA NURU SHERPA" on 2nd december,2008.[Son of Ngima Dorjee Sherpa, Lukla Sherpa Guest House]
Born
2041-10-08

Passed Away
2065-08-17

Students of MBA are establishing "LHAKPA NURU SHERPA MEMORIAL SERVICE FOUNDATION" to undertake various academic and social activities to keep his memory afresh and keep him alive in our memory.

WhiteHouse Graduate School of management has decided to award a special scholarship available to one promising SHERPA student from the underpriviledge Sherpa community from spring 2008 batch of MBA. It will also organize an inter-business School Football Tournament annually on the death anniversary of Lhakpa Nuru. Both of these activities will be conducted under the aegis of the foundation .

Financial contribute for the establishment of the foundation is welcome.

ASTREK Climbing Wall

Sherwi Lungba:

The ASTREK Climbing Wall Designed by French engineer and alpinist Henry Sigayret is built with the purpose to promote climbing as sport among the youth of kathmandu. Consisting of three surfaces, a beginner's wall and two climbing surface in n "L" shape, the wall is designed for all skill levels. It is built with the intention to host international climbing events in the near future. Located in Thamel, the wall is easily accessible to all.

As safty is a priority the astrek climbing wall provides branded ropes, harness, karbiners, and belay devices. Each route is anchored directly on to the frame and ropes are provided by the facility to ensure your safety. Each Climb is under the supervision of a qualified climbing instructor trained under the Nepal Mountaineering Association.

Climbing is available on daily, weekly, monthly and annual memberships. Specialized courses are availabe on request. The wall can also be booked for private and corporate events.

Book And Documnetry Realeases [Dr. Lhakpa Norbu Sherpa]

Through a Sherpa Window Illustrated Guide to Traditional Sherpa Culture By Lhakpa Norbu Sherpa Vajra Publications, Kathmandu 2008 210 pages

Lhakpa Norbu Sherpa is a forester and environmentalist who is transforming into a dedicated cultural activist. Through a Sherpa Window is an illustrated volume that is encyclopaedic yet accessible, a guide to Sherpa culture presented as part of a larger drive to sensitise the 'educated, younger generation Sherpa'.

As the High Lama of Tengboche suggests in the introduction, this is 'an unassuming work that is one of the best resources on Sherpa culture that has been produced so far'.

Beyond English-reading Sherpa youth, the 210-page volume is bound to emerge also as essential reading for tourists visiting not only the Khumbu region, but other high-Himalayan beyuls (sacred sanctuaries). Translated into Nepali, this work could help the midhill and plains population better understand the highlanders.

The author's goal is to try and preserve an understanding of the traditional lifestyle and beliefs amidst the fast-paced changes that modernisation and tourism have introduced to the Khumbu.
The Sherpa practise the original Nyingma school of Mahayana Buddhism, a 'practical sect' (writes the author) which shares much with the earlier Bon faith including the worship of spirits of land, water, trees and mountains. Sherpa is pronounced 'Sharwa' locally, referring to the people of the east, a reference most likely to origins in the Kham region of eastern Tibet.
Back in 1965, all the roofing in the main Khumbu market of Nauche (Namche) consisted of traditional materials, including slate, wooden slats and bamboo mats. By 1995, every house had corrugated metal roofing, which changes the look of the village 'but saves a lot of trees'.

Traditionally, people carried their own gokpur wooden eating bowls during travels, within the folds of their tunics. No longer. The Sherpa are used to composting human waste, but with the changing economy (decline of farming and arrival of tourists) things have become unmanageable.
The Chinese thermos, the Korean blender and Indian pots and pans are sidelining local utensils. There is an interesting chart showing how the earlier barter trade between Khumbu and Tibet is now exclusively a one-way affair, with imports of 'electronics, carpets, meat, tsampa, butter, noodles, cement, iron products and silver cups' in exchange for simply, 'cash'.

Polyandry and polygamy are both in swift decline, we learn, with the additional information that the former is good family economics, while the latter is favoured by aristocrats. 'Unlike polyandry, polygamy generally leads to conflicts and unhappiness.'
While the transformations are obviously a key concern of the author, the bulk of the text is devoted to explaining the aspects of Sherpa folk and high culture, lifestyle, household and terrain.

What the Khumbu children fear the most is the gobkyokbuk, the dark passageway leading into the main family room of Sherpa houses, where ghosts are said to lurk. Ama Dablang, arguably the prettiest mountain in Nepal, is so named because it looks like a mother wearing a charm box (dablang).

The author's scientific temperament is obvious when he deals with the natural world. He explains the difference between yak (male), nak (female), zopkyok (cross with lowland cow), and the more than a dozen resulting permutatons in progeny. Potato is the staple of the Khumbu today, stewed, mashed, fried, curried and roasted. And yet it is an interloper from the Andes, arriving less than 200 years ago.

Buckwheat (thrau) was probably the earlier staple, but its cultivation has declined because of browsing animals. Why so? The author describes how tourism led to the end of transhumance and the arrival of crossbreeds, resulting in the collapse of community control over livestock movement.

The book presents the definitive explanation for the name Jomolangma (Sagarmatha/Mt. Everest): it is a shortened version of Jomo Miyo Langsangma, one of the five female sister deities of the Himalaya. She provides the boon of food and nourishment.

With fine illustrations by Krishna Gopal Shrestha, with lists and tables that help in the explanation, the book also comes with an index and select reference for further reading. This is such a successful volume that the reader will want to know more.

Review by Kanak Mani Dixit

Sherpa Heritage Model School

Sherpa Heritage Model School By Pasang Sherpa

The key to cultural and economical development of a country is through making education relevant to the local people in terms of their economy, culture, and language. This is especially relevant to a country like Nepal which is made up of more than 35 ethnic groups with a diversity of languages and distinct cultural practices. Because of its relevance to the local culture and language, basic education will become meaningful to the people and will help safeguard & intensify the ethnic identity of the disadvantaged section of the population. Also, making education relevant to the local economy such as through vocational training will meet the needs of upgrading the local socio-economic conditions of the people.Currently, there is still a substantial variation in the educational achievements by gender, geographical regions, and ethnic groups throughout Nepal. In the Solu-Khumbu region of Nepal for example, although Sherpa women enjoy a greater level of freedom than Nepali women from other ethnic groups, all women in Nepal have low social status. Young girls are often needed to work in the fields and do other chores at home. So, they are often taken out of school at an early age or are kept from attending school on a regular basis. Sherpa women play a bigger role in farming, keeping the house in order, looking after lodges, and participate in various social & cultural activities than are the men. Therefore, securing Sherpa women's long term participation in education is vital for developing the agricultural and other local economic activities to ease their lives.

In terms of educational relevance to the geographical regions, the national curriculum alone in the Solu-Khumbu schools does not prepare the Sherpa children to embark in local employment or to create service programs and businesses that will contribute to local development. Agriculture and tourism are two major sectors in the Sherpa economy in the Solu-Khumbu. Training is urgently needed in these two areas in order to uplift the local economic condition. But the national curriculum does not take these needs into account.Furthermore, there is an increased risk of Sherpa language and culture lost in the younger generation because of the increase in Sherpa children attending schools in Kathmandu where the culture and language is predominately Nepali and Hindu. This is due to the belief that the level of local education doesn't prepare the young people well enough to participate in the wider political, economic, and cultural aspects of Nepali society. Therefore, for the sake of their children getting a quality education, the parents have no option but to send their children to the schools in Kathmandu.The building of a boarding/day Sherpa Heritage School in the Solu-Khumbu village and the implementation of an alternative Sherpa curriculum would give the community an option to send children to a quality school near home, thus allowing children to stay in the village to socialize with their families and peers for sustaining their culture and language. The Model School curriculum will give emphasis to Sherpa history and culture, thus instilling a strong sense of cultural identity in the children. In addition, vocational training will start at grade 6 for students to acquire the skills and training needed for local jobs and business developments. In addition, there will be an increase in the number of girls' attendance in the school and efforts will be made by working with the families in the community to secure their on-going participation in the school. As a model school that serves to be flexible enough for education to be meaningful and relevant to the local peoples, it will aim to have a positive impact on the practices of teaching, learning, and the curriculum in the surrounding public schools. Through its learning and teaching resource training and sharing component in the model school, teachers in the model school and the rural schools will share resources and embark on useful discussions for making education relevant to local cultures and economy.The development of a strong teaching and management team is essential to realizing these Sherpa Heritage School goals. That means, great emphasis will be placed upon on-going teachers' training and resource sharing and long term local community participation.

Source: International Organization of folk Art http://www.iovworld.org/

More about Pasang http://www.iovworld.org/features.asp?no=122

Beyul Documentry [The Secred Hidden Valleys]

A Mila Productions

film produced for The Mountain Institute

Supported by the Ford Foundation

This documentary is filmed in the Khumbu valley located at the foot of Mt. Everest. The area is now declared as Sagarmatha National Park and a World Heritage Site. Locals believe that Khumbu is one of the many Beyuls - the sacred valleys of the Himalaya, hidden by the 8th century Buddhist saint Padmasmbhava as refuges for people suffering from the impacts of war, conflicts, famine, or religious persecution. The Khumbu Beyul was discovered by the ancestors of the Sherpa people escaping religious conflict in Tibet.

The film introduces traditional Sherpa views of the Beyul as a sacred space, co-habited by many other natural and supernatural beings, where negative thoughts and actions such as quarreling, polluting, and taking life are discouraged because the place is considered spiritually powerful. It is these positive attitudes and self restraint on part of the people that made Khumbu not only a peaceful place for people to live and visit but also a safe refuge for wild animals and plants. The sympathetic attitudes of Beyul believers supported most Beyuls to become national parks and protected areas. The role of the ancient belief system in conservation however has received little recognition. The lack of recognition, outside cultural domination and the influence of modern education that do not take into account the value of the indigenous knowledge have eroded knowledge about Beyul values. This film reveals both the strength of the Beyul concept in maintaining environmental and cultural integrity of a place as well as the vulnerability of concepts to change. This film is produced to raise awareness among viewers of the role of sacred natural sites such as Beyul in protecting the environment and maintaining harmonious relationships between the land and people throughout the world.

2007, 30 mins, DV-Cam
Language: Sherpa / Nepali / English
Subtitle: English
Concept by: Dr. Lhakpa Norbu Sherpa
Camera: Deepak Bajracharya
Sound: Dawa Lama
Edited by: Deepak Rauniyar/Tsering Rhitar Sherpa
Directed by: Tsering Rhitar Sherpa

Obama's poster for Nepali Voters

Sir Edmund Hillary Environment Award

Nira Gurung

Communications Officer,ICIMOD

Khumaltar, Lalitpur

First Sir Edmund Hillary Himalayan Environment Awardfrom the Himalayan Environment Trust goes toDr. Andreas Schild [17 October 2008]The Sir Edmund Hillary Himalayan Environment Award wasawarded for the first time at a ceremony held at theHeadquarters of the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF)in New Delhi, India, on 14 October 2008 -- marking boththe 20th Foundation Day of the Himalayan EnvironmentTrust (HET) and 50 years of the Indian MountaineeringFoundation. The annual award is given by the HimalayanEnvironment Trust to an organisation or individual foran outstanding lifetime contribution to the cause of theHimalayan Environment.The Honourable Dr. Karan Singh, MP of the Government ofIndia, Advisor to the Trust, and Chairman of the AwardCommittee presented the award to Dr. Andreas Schild,Director General of the International Centre for IntegratedMountain Development (ICIMOD) for his outstandingcontributions, successful leadership, and strong commitmenttowards sustainable development over the last 30 years.The award was received by Mrs. Florence Tinguely Mattliof the Swiss Embassy on behalf of Dr. Schild.

Dr. Schild, in his Vote of Acceptance, highlighted his debtas a mountain person and Swiss citizen, and the debt we allhave, to Sir Edmund Hillary. By climbing Everest togetherwith Tensing Sherpa, Sir Edmund sent a strong message tothe world that mountain people are not just helpers butequal partners, and through his subsequent activities, heshowed that environmental protection and development inthe Himalayas as elsewhere can only be done with and throughthe people who live there.

As Director General of ICIMOD, Dr. Schild stressed theimportance of transboundary and regional approachesfocussing on upstream/downstream relationships inlight of the issues being raised by climate change,and looked forward to strengthening efforts togetherwith ICIMOD’s Indian partners at national and regionallevel. Mitigation of climate change calls for globalmeasures, but adaptation has to start locally. Theaward symbolised the readiness and eagerness of theIndian authorities to support these common efforts

Sherpa Won Golf Tournament

Sherwi lungba

Ang Norbu Sherpa (Adventure 6000 Pvt. Ltd.) won the second Seagram’s Royal Stag Cup golf tournament which was recently held at Royal Nepal Golf Club. Played under strokeplay full handicap format, Sherpa accumulated 63 net points while U Aung Khin Soe, ambassador of Myanmar, finished second with 67 points. Puspa Rai won the ladies’ title with 71 points and Shastika Shrestha the second spot. Madhukar Yakthumba (RNGC president) claimed the senior section trophy. The tournament was organised by RNGC under the sponsorship of Seagram’s Royal Stag Deluxe Whiskey. Surya Sharma, Srihar SJB Rana and Tashi Sherpa who represented Himalayan Distillery were also felicitated for winning the Kathmandu Scramble Cup 2007/08.

Who is Ang Norbu Sherpa

Ang Norbu SHERPA.

Born in 1967.

Ang Norbu Sherpa started his career as a Sherpa when he was 13 years old, and after, worked as camp and kitchen helper. Became Sirdar (trekking guide) at the age of 18. For number of years in summer, he worked in the Argentière mountain hut and Lac Blanc mountain hut (Chamonix, France), and also in Japan and USA (Colorado). In 1996 he took a mountain guide training from the 'National School of Ski and Mountaineering' in Chamonix, France. As a guide, he scoured the most important trekking routes in Nepal as well as in Ladakh and Zanskar in India and Tibet. He speaks very good Engish and French. He is a managing Director of Adventure 6000 private limited.

http://www.adventure6000.com/

Happy Vijaya Dashami 2065

Plane Crash In Lukla

Oct 8 - Eighteen people on board died and one injured when a small aircraft belonging to the Yeti Airlines crashed in Lukla in the lap of Mt Everest in Solukhumbu district on Wednesday morning.
Fourteen foreign tourists— 12 Germans and two Australian-- and four Nepalis including two crew members died when the ill-fated twin otter (9N-AFE) that took off from Kathmandu to Lukla, carrying 19 people on board, crashed near the Tenzing-Hillary Airport just before landing at 7.30 this morning.
Surendra Kunwar, the captain of the plane, however survived the tragic accident.
Captain Kunwar is undergoing treatment at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in the capital.
The deceased were apparently heading for a trek arranged by the Lama Excursions.
Meanwhile, the deceased Nepalis have been identified as co-pilot Bikash Pant, air hostess Sunita Shrestha, and air passengers S Adhikari and G Sharma.
The Nepal Army is preparing to airlift the dead bodies to the capital.
According to eyewitnesses, the aircraft burst into flames after crash-landing on the sloping airstrip.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) informed that the visibility at the airport was zero due to foggy weather. At least a visibility of 5,000 is required for landing in the mountainous area, the CAAN said.
Lukla's runway is just 20m wide and is set on a slope, with a steep 700m drop at one end.
Lukla's Tenzing-Hillary airport in the eastern Nepal is the gateway to Nepal's Everest region.Meanwhile, the government is forming a commission to look into the place crash.
Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Hisila Yami informed that the commission will be formed to day itself.
She visited injured captain Kunwar at the Hospital and inquired about his health.
Also today, the CAAN sent a team comprising a doctor and two officials to Lukla.

>>>More PhotoGraphs<<<<

source: ekantipur

Press Realesed.

सोलुखुम्बु जिल्लाको उत्तरी दर्ुगम हिमाली भेगका चौरर्ीखर्क, नाम्चे र खुम्जुङ गा.वि.स.हरु पर्यटन ब्यवसायको लागि नेपालकै अग्रणी गन्तब्य हो । यहांको पर्यटन व्यवसायले हरेक बर्षहजारौलाई रोजगारीको अवसर र मुलुकलाई करोडौको राजश्व आम्दानी उपलब्ध गराउनको साथै विश्वमा नेपाल र नेपालीको सकारात्मक परिचय समेत गराएको कुरा र्सवविदितै छ । सगरमाथा राष्ट्रिय निकुन्ज र मध्यवर्ति क्षेत्र अन्तरगत पर्ने उक्त तिन गा.वि.स.का जनतालाई बनजंगलबाट दाउरा संकलन गर्न बन्देज रहेका, मोटर बाटोबाट बञ्चित भएकोे र हवाई जहाजबाट इन्धन लान नपाउने भएकोले पर्यटन ब्यवसाय संचालन र स्थानिय बासिन्दहरुको लागि आवश्यक पर्ने मट्टतिेल, ग्यांस, खाद्यान्न र अन्य उपभोग्य सामानहरु
संसारकै सबभन्दा महंगो हवाई ढ्ुवानीको साधनमा निर्भर गर्नु परेको कुरा यहांलाई अवगत गर्दछौ ।
बिगत केही समयदेखि इन्धन र हेलीकोप्टरको र्सवसुलव सेवाको अभाव, उपलब्ध हवाई सेवाको उच्च भाडा दरका साथै खाद्य र मट्टतिेल डिपो नभएको कारणले समस्यले विकरल रुप लिएको र निकट आउन लागेको पर्यटकीय मौसम अगावै समस्या समाधानको लागि उपाय सोचिएन भने समग्र पर्यटन ब्यवसाय धराशायी भई देशले आर्जन गर्ने राजश्व आम्दानी र देशबासीले पाईरहेको रोजगारी समेत गुम्ने अवस्था टडकारो रुपमा देखिएको बारेमा यहांहरुको ध्यान आकार्षा गराउदछौ । नेपालको प्रमुख उद्योग मध्येको पर्यटन उद्योगलाई टेवा पुरयाउने यस खुम्बु क्षेत्रमा पर्यटन ब्यवसायको बिकास र पर््रवर्धनको लागि यस भेगका जनताहरुले निम्न लिखित अल्पकालिन बंुदाहरु अविलम्ब तर्जु गर्न सम्बन्धित निकायहरुमा पेश गर्दाछौ ।
अल्पकालिन व तत्काल समाधान गर्नु पर्ने कार्यहरुः
१) हवाई भाडा निर्धारण सम्बन्धमा ः
स्थानीयवासी, विद्यार्थी, वृद्ध, अपांग र १२ वर्षमुनिका बालबच्चाहरुलाई सहुलियत दरमा हवाई भाडा निर्धारण गर्नुपर्ने ।
LPC भाडा लिन नपाईने LPC fare
वैज्ञानिक तरिकाले हवाई भाडा निर्धारण गर्नुपर्ने ।
२) विशेष उडान सम्बन्धमाः
प्रत्येक विमान कम्पनीले स्थानीय उडान सेवा स्वरुप हप्तामा २ पहिलो उडान अनिवार्य रुपमा उपलब्ध गर्नुपर्ने ।
३) ढुवानी व्यवस्थापन सम्बन्धमा ः
प्रत्येक ailinece company ले कार्गो शुल्क र भाडादरमा एकरुपता गरि प्रत्येक यात्रुहरुले स्पष्ट देखिने गरी check in counter मा टाँसिनु पर्ने ।
विमानस्थलमा सामान जोख्ने नयाँ यन्त्रको व्यवस्था गर्नुपर्ने ।
ढुवानी सामान परिस्थितिबस रोकिएमा सम्बन्धित निकायले गोदाम सुविधाको व्यवस्था गर्नुपर्ने ।
३) खाद्यान्न र घरयासी प्रयोजनको लागि इन्धन सम्बन्धमा ः
आउदो असोज महिनाके पहिलो हप्ताबाट पदयात्रा शुरु हुने भएकोले पर्यटक र स्थानिय बासिन्दाको लागि इन्धन र खाद्यान्नको सहज रुपमा आपर्ुर्तिका लागि सम्बन्धित निकायसंग अनुरोध गर्दछौ।
सगरमाथा राष्ट्रीय निकुञ्जभित्र उठाउने गरेको पर्यटकयि र पर्वतरोहण शुल्क मध्ये केही प्रतिशत इन्धन र खाद्यान्नको लागि राहत स्वरुप बिनियोजन गर्ने ।
यात्रुवाहक जहाजबाट इन्धन ढुवानीमा प्रतिबन्ध रहेकोले ठुला हेलिकोप्टर सन्चालन गर्ने इजाजत प्राप्त निजि विमान सेवा सन्चालकहरुलाई कम्तीमा पनि एउटा कम्पनीले एउटा हेलीकोप्टर सन्चालनमा ल्याएर यस दर्ुगम क्षेत्रमा इन्धन र खाद्यान्न ढुवानीसेवा उपलब्ध गराउन निर्देशन दिनु पर्ने।
सामान ढुवानीकोलागि निजि विमान सेवा कम्पनीहरुद्धारा सन्चालित हेलिकोप्टरको अभाव कम गनर्, विकल्पको रुपमा सेनाको हेलिकप्टर उपलब्ध गराउने ।
दिर्गाकालिन योजनाको तर्जुमा गर्ने बारेमा
१) महंगो हवाई यातायत र सामान ढुवानीलाई सस्तो र सहज बनाउन र्
पर्यटकहरुलाई सुविधा र सेवा उपलब्ध गराउन खुम्बु क्षेत्रका स्थानिय पर्यटन ब्यवसायिहरुले गरेको लगानीलाई निरन्तर आय आर्जन र कामदारहरुलाई रोजगार दिलाउन तथा हाल लुक्ला लगायत नेपालका अन्य पहाडी विमानस्थलहरुमा सन्चालित साना विमानहरु विश्वमानै उत्पादन बन्द भै निकट भविश्यमा ति विमानहरुको अभाव भै विमानस्थलहरुको भविश्य सुनिश्चित नहुने भएकोले निर्मानाधिन ओखलढुंगा सल्लेरी सडकलाई चौरिखर्क गा.वि.स. सम्म.जोडनका लागि यसै आर्थिक बर्षा बजेट विनियोजन गर्नू पर्ने ।
पदयात्री, भरिया र सामान ढुवानीका लागि खच्चड र याकहरुलाई सुविस्त हुने र बाटो छोटो बनाउन लुक्लादेखि सगरमाथा आधारशिविर र गोक्योसम्मको बाटोलाई ६ फिट चौडा र अपठ्यरा धुमाउरो बाटोहरुको सिधा बनाउने
छिमेकी मुलुक चीनकाृ स्वशासित क्षेत्र टिबटसंग जोडिएको नाम्चे गा.वि.स. वडा नं ९ मा अवस्थीत नाङ्गपाला नाकालाई खुल्ला गरी ब्यापरीहरुलाई ब्यवस्थीत तरिकाले आवतजावत गर्नसक्ने वातावरण बनाई त्यस भेगका स्थानिय बासिन्दाहरुलाई अवाश्यक पर्ने खाद्यान्न र लत्ताकपडा आयात गर्ने जस्ले पर्यटन ब्यवसाय फस्टाउनका साथै सिमावर्ती ब्यपारबाट स्थानिय बासिन्दाहरुलाइृ आवश्यक सामानहरुको सहज र शुलब मुल्यमा उपलब्ध हुने ।
त्यस भेगका ब्यापारीहरुद्धँरँ श्ँेयर प्रणालीमा हेलिकप्टर यातायतको ब्यवासय सन्चालन गर्ने जसले हेलिकप्टर सेवालाई निरन्तरता दिन, अन्य कम्पनीसंग प्रतिर्स्पर्ध गर्न रसहज र सुपथ मुल्यमा ठुला सामानहरुको ढुवानी गर्न ।
सडक यातायतको ब्यवस्था नहुन्जेलसम्म सरसामानको सहज र सस्तो मुल्यमा उपलब्ध गराउन त्यस भेगका बासिन्धहरुको सहकार्यमा सहकारी संस्थाको अवधारणा अनुरुप खच्चड खरिद गरि सुपथ मुल्यमा सामान ढुवानी गर्ने व गराउने ।
२र्)र् इन्धन र खाद्यान्न आपर्ुर्ति
यस क्षेत्रबाट उठाउदै आएको विभिन्न पर्यटकीय र पर्वतिय आरोहण शूल्कलाई त्यस क्षेत्रकार् इन्धन र खाद्यान्न आपर्ुर्ति गर्न कम्तिमा ५० प्रतिशत छुटाउने जसले ग्यास लगायत अन्यर् इन्धन सहज उपलब्ध गराउने र बन जंगलको संरक्षण गर्न सक्ने ।
यी समस्याहरुलाई समयमा समाधान गरी पर्यटन व्यवसायमा पर्ने र सोलुखुम्बुका जनताहरुले भोगिरहेका समस्या प्रति सम्वेदनशील भई कदम चाल्न हामी सोलुखुम्बुका सम्पर्ूण्ा जनताहरु हार्दिक अनुरोध गर्दछौं । यी बुँदाहरुप्रति सम्बन्धित निकायहरु समयमा नै सम्वेदनशील नदेखिएमा हामी चरणबद्ध आन्दोलनमा उत्रनका लागि बाध्य हुनुपर्ने व्यहोर अवगत गराउन चाहन्छौं ।
सम्पर्ूण्ा उत्तरी भेगका सोलु खुम्बु जिल्लाबासीहरु

The Most Awaiting Nepali Movie [ SANO SANSAR]

The Most Awaiting Kollywood Movie SANO SANSAR

Synopsis:

Ravi is an average guy who has just graduated from college. Like most average guys, he doesn't know what he wants in life. Reetu is a not so average girl knows what she doesn't want. Suraj is a sureheaded fellow who knows exactly what he wants in life. Manoj Sizapati (aka Siza) wants what every guy wants ;) ;) Little do they know that they are living in a Sano Sansar where everyone knows everyone even if they think they do not know them...

Release on September 12 @ Jai Nepal Cinema Hall
More Details: http://www.sanosansar.com/

Dalai Lama's Brother Dies

Sat Sep 6, 9:21

- Taktser Rinpoche, the Dalai Lama's eldest brother who championed independence for Tibet, has died in the United States at the age of 86, a spokesman for the Tibetan spiritual leader said Saturday.

Rinpoche -- whose given name was Thupten Jigme Norbu -- died late Friday at his Indiana home after being unwell for several years, R. Chhoekyapa, secretary to the Dalai Lama, told AFP.
"He passed away last night and we informed His Holiness (the Dalai Lama) this morning," Chhoekyapa said by telephone from Dharamshala, seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile in northern India.
"We are all very saddened by the passing," Chhoekyapa said.
News of his death came days after the 73-year-old Dalai Lama was released from a Mumbai hospital, where he was treated for abdominal pain that stirred alarm about his health among his followers.
Doctors later said there was no reason for concern about the spiritual leader's health.
While the brothers were close, they held different views about Tibet's future.
The Dalai Lama advocates a "middle path" policy that espouses "meaningful autonomy" for Tibet, rather than the full independence that some activists are seeking.
But Rinpoche, a retired professor of Tibetan studies at Indiana University, "wanted nothing but full independence for Tibet. In that, he differed from his brother," Chhoekyapa said.
However, "that did not affect his relations with his brother," he said.
Rinpoche, who is survived by his wife Kunyang Norbu, and three sons, was "devoted" to the Dalai Lama, Chhoekyapa said.
Rinpoche was recognised at the age of three as the reincarnated abbot of Kumbum monastery in modern-day Qinghai, one of the most important monasteries in Tibet.
As a result, he was already a prominent figure in Tibet's religious hierarchy even before the Dalai Lama was born.
"Taktser Rinpoche was deeply mistrustful of the Chinese Communist Party's intentions in Tibet," said the Washington-based International Campaign for Tibet.
He also "was a prominent voice advising the Dalai Lama to leave Tibet in the face of what was perceived as direct threats to his own personal safety as well as to the integrity of Tibet itself," the group said.
In 1950, when the Dalai Lama was still in Lhasa, Chinese officials tried to get Rinpoche to travel to Lhasa and persuade the Dalai Lama to accept the "peaceful liberation" of Tibet, according to the group.
Rinpoche agreed to travel to Lhasa to see the Dalai Lama.
But he evaded his Chinese escorts en route and instead conveyed to the Dalai Lama his misgivings about China's influence in Tibet, and urged the Dalai Lama to travel to the border with India, the International Campaign for Tibet said.
The Dalai Lama fled into exile in India in 1959 following a failed uprising in Tibet against Chinese rule.
Rinpoche, who in 1979 he founded the Tibetan Cultural Center in Indiana, wrote various academic papers and books on Tibet including an autobiography, "Tibet Is My Country."
The Dalai Lama now has three siblings who are alive -- two brothers and a sister, his secretary said.

Source: NEW DELHI (AFP)

जनातको स्वस्था माथि खेल्वाड

होसियार ! होसियार !! होसियार !!!
मिनेरल वाटरले तपाईं को ज्यान पनि लिना सक्छ।
विश्वाश नलगे हेर्नुहोस्, कपनको एक पसलमा बेचन रखिएको मिनेरल वाटरको एक झलक


उत्पादन मिती जुन २००८ लेखिएको

अकुव स्पेसल् नमको मिनेरल वाटर, दर्ता नम्बर नभएको

बोटलको फेदमा लेउ लागेको

के तपाईं यस्तो पानी पिउनु हुन्छ?

खै त गुणस्तर बिभाग ??? सरकार कनमा तेल, आँखामा पटटी बआन्देर बसेको छ।
आखिर जिम्मेवोरी कस्को त ???

"Youth and Climate Change: Time for Action" Int'l YOUTH DAY

Sherwi lungba

Aug 12,2008

August 12 is marked as the international youth day. Various youth groups, organizations and others celebrate this day by organizing different programs. This year international youth day is marked with the slogan "YOUTH AND CLIMATE CHANGE: TIME FOR ACTION". Nepal Manabiki Campus, Neiipal band in association with Sherwi yondhen Tshokpa and Nodan Club and Youth campign for program (YOCAP) on tuesday organized a talk program with speakers from different backgrounds, Dr. Minendra Rijal(NC), Pradeep Gyawali(CPN), Sagar (CPN-M), Neiipal Live in concert and cycle rally respectively. The band Neiipal performed their hit numbers like Maile Bolne, Saima daima lai, Exodus along with Tashi Deley, Sadak Baalbalika (dedicated to Street Childers). In a similar way cycle rally organized by YOCAP comprises more than two dozens of people representing political leaders, youth activists, actors, human right activists and journalists along with general public.

खुम्जुङमा चम्किएका तेम्बा

स्वास्थ्य क्षेत्रका लागि राम्रो उदाहरण बनेका छन्, सोलुखुम्बुको उच्च हिमाली क्षेत्र खुम्जुङको खुन्दे अस्पतालका डाक्टर कामी तेम्बा शेर्पा। सोलुको नाम्चेमा जन्मिएका तेम्बा एडमण्ड हिलारीले ४२ वर्षअघि स्थापना गरेको अस्पतालमा २६ वर्षअघि मेडिकल सहायकको रूपमा प्रवेश गरेका थिए। १२ वर्ष सो काम गरेपछि हिलारीले मिलाइदिएको छात्रवृत्तिमा एमबीबीएस गर्न उनी फिजी गए। सन् २००० मा फर्किएपछि पाटन अस्पतालमा दुई वर्ष इन्टर्नसिप गर्दा उनलाई सोही अस्पतालमा काम गर्न अफर आएको थियो। तर दुर्गममा नजान धेरैले दिएको सुझ्ावलाई लत्याउँदै उनी सरासर खुम्जुङ फर्किए र बिरामीको सेवामा जुटे।
सञ्चालनमा आएको धेरै वर्षसम्म पनि खुन्दे अस्पतालमा विदेशी डाक्टरले काम गर्थे। पढेर फर्केपछि तेम्बाले नै डाक्टरकोे सबै जिम्मेवारी पाएका छन्। नेपालको चर्चित पर्यटन क्षेत्र नाम्चे, खुम्जुङ र चौरीखर्कमा निकै लोकप्रिय तेम्बा स्थानीय बासिन्दा, ट्रेकिङ मजदूर र विदेशी पर्यटकका लागि समेत प्रिय डाक्टर बनेका छन्। प्रशंसा र हौसला थुप्रै पाएका तेम्बा भन्छन्, “आफ्नै खर्चले पढ्न सक्ने अवस्था थिएन, हिलारीको योगदानले यस क्षेत्रका बिरामीको सेवा गर्ने सौभाग्य पाएँ।”
क्यानडाको हिलारी फाउन्डेशनले सञ्चालन गर्दै आएको खुन्दे अस्पतालमा रु.२० को टिकट काटेपछि बिरामीले औषधि, बेड, एक्सरे र अन्य सुविधा निःशुल्क पाउँछन्। खुम्जुङमा १८ वर्ष सेवा गरिसकेका तेम्बा भन्छन्, “सुख-सुविधा खोज्दै शहरतिर जाने इच्छा छैन, यहीँका बिरामीको सेवा गरिरहन्छु।”
Source: Himal Khabar Patrika

Directors Blunders

Wow Branded Pirate!!! .... Addidas in those days......

What a combination Bows, arrows and Celluar phone in those days!

Aeroplanes in Trojan Wars!!!