710 6 - 12 June 2014 20 Pages Rs 50

#710 6 - 12 June 2014 20 pages Rs 50 SACRED BASIL EDWARD TEO SPLASH BUILDING BRIDGES THIS IS IT orkers splash fresh saffron water on BY RUBEENA MAHATO the Boudhanath stupa on Saturday Wto mark the beginning of Saka Dawa, PAGE 15 the fourth month of the Tibetan Buddhist calendar. EVERY BREATH NOT BUSINESS This holy month mark the CONSTITUTIONAL birth and enlightenment WE TAKE AS USUAL The air pollution emergency in The global battle against DÉJÀ VU of the Buddha, who the region calls for coordinated climate change will be won THE DEADLINE taught that keeping the “invironment” clean data sharing and response or lost in Asia BY DAMAKANT JAYSHI is as important as protecting the external environment and nature. PAGE 4 PAGE 5 PAGE 19 2 EDITORIAL 6 - 12 JUNE 2014 #710 A FOSSIL ECONOMY he government is working to present the first full achievements. The unseemly greed with which MPs from budget in four years to an elected parliament. This is a We cannot afford a business-as-usual the ruling coalition have demanded pork barrel funds for Tgood sign, and one that could finally spur development strategy for economic growth because their constituencies to be raised from Rs 1 million to Rs 5 spending and ensure accountability. Theoretically. million is disheartening. The haste with which ministers Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat says the budget they are economically and politically (including Mahat) have doled out unspent cash from the last will reflect the country’s medium-term objective of spurring not sustainable. A fossil economy budget to their home districts doesn’t arouse much hope. economic growth and creating jobs. The aim is to put the To achieve the 2022 GDP per capita target, Nepal’s country on track to graduate from the ranks of Least- will doom us. economic growth needs to average 8 per cent over the next Developed Countries to Developing Country category by eight years. Provided our investment climate improves (very 2022. The decrease of Nepal’s absolute poverty rate from 45 unlikely given the current draft of the new FDI policy and per cent to 23 per cent in 15 years shows that this may not the harassment of existing investors) and political stability be as far-fetched as it sounds. is achieved with the writing of the new constitution, it may With the appointment of Govinda Raj Pokhrel to head be possible to double the economic growth rate. the National Planning Commission, we now have an Considering the present governance deficit, rampant “energy man” at the top policy-formation body. Pokhrel has corruption and the stranglehold on natural resource experience from his former job in the Alternative Energy exploitation by politically-protected organised crime, Promotion Centre implementing renewable energy projects eight per cent growth would be a disaster. The devastation in rural areas. of the Chure forests in the past two years because of the Although Nepal’s crippling electricity crisis gets all the proliferation of unregulated, rampant mining carried out by headlines, a lot has been achieved behind the scenes in rural appropriately named “crusher” quarries is just one example. energy self-sufficiency. The campaign to make all Nepali Even though President Ram Baran Yadav himself has taken homes smoke-free by 2017 through locally-manufactured this up as a prestige project, the ecologically fragile 1,000 fuel efficient stoves will not just reduce the pressure on km Chure Arc is being denuded before our eyes. forests, improve the health of women and children, but In this state, what would eight per cent growth mean also reduce black carbon emissions. Since 80 per cent of for air pollution, ground water depletion, the state of the Nepal’s population is still reliant on biomass for energy, Bagmati and other rivers, the mismanagement of urban this important goal affects far more people than the price of garbage, the proliferation of banned pesticides? gasoline in Kathmandu. Switching to a green economy would help mitigate The spread in the use of household biogas from farm some of the corrosive side-effects of growth that only looks waste in rural Nepal is another achievement that has at GDP per capita or income poverty. Green growth is not gone almost unnoticed. There are now more than 350,000 just about preserving nature, but an economy that becomes biogas plants all over the country that run on cowdung and more inclusive and sustainable as it grows. When planning latrine waste – more per capita than India or China. This this budget, Minister Mahat must look beyond revenue from was possible because of simple, maintenance-free designs petroleum and vehicle sales taxes, for example, and offer appropriate for Nepal. But more importantly, soft micro loans incentives and subsidies for renewable energy. made installation easy and affordable. A similar formula for We cannot afford a business-as-usual strategy for microhydro and household solar would transform Nepal’s economic growth because it is not economically and energy landscape within a few years. politically sustainable. A fossil economy will doom us, Unfortunately, signs are not good that the current environmentally and strategically. Alternate energy is no budgetary exercise will learn from any of these past longer just a new age fad, it is mainstream economics. YOUR SAY www.nepalitimes.com JUDICIAL DEBATE judiciary. The proposal was made by come forward to report rapes because goes green', Sunir Pandey, #709). No matter what the managed the newly appointed Justice Gopal most of the time the blame is put on Let Kathmandu rot, it deserves that. resolution of the turf battle between Parajuli and quickly received a vote of them and they are made guilty for Far more return on investment to judiciary and parliament may be, support. dressing a certain way and being in a put money into other parts of Nepal. the fact remains that the nominated The Supreme Court should respect certain place. People willing to commit Pokhara Basi judges and the Chief Justice all have the freedom of speech and the right to crimes against women are everywhere tainted images. information of the general public and so the blame must not be put upon a Hope Sajha Yatayat doesn't get The Supreme Court Chief refrain from taking any vindictive action certain culture or geography. corrupted with time. Justice Damodar Prasad Sharma against Kantipur and Setopati. Freedom Rjackson33 Abhishek Dahal was found to have been using six of press is essential to bring light to government vehicles for his personal matters especially related to corruption. Sometimes I wonder what we HOLIDAYS GALORE use, the existing provision entitles In bringing the truth to the public, such women have done to deserve such ROFL Ass-ji ('May Day! May Day!', him to one. Chief Justice Sharma media houses are in fact creating treatment from the men (and women) in Ass, #709). But in all seriousness, is also said to be building a lavish possibilities for a stronger judiciary that our lives. Women are hated and killed can we start a petition so that these 24-room mansion in the city and can serve the need of the people, not from the moment they are conceived. holidays are included in the ofﬁ cial has appointed three people on just work for selected politicians and Power to the sisters #YesAllWomen calender, I mean these are very government salaries to oversee the moneybags. Ankita legitimate reasons to celebrate. construction process. Anil Karki I am most excited for Prachanda By recommending such I wonder if cultural and religious Integrated Pest Management Happy Birthday and National controversial judges, the Judicial #YESALLWOMEN differences play a part. For eg: Hindu (IPM) does not mean "chemical free" Disintegration Day. Bring out the Council exposed its true nature. Spot on Trishna Rana ('#Yesallwomen', ideas of purity encourage patriarchy as stated in the article. It simply Black Label and tandoori and let the These appointments, an act of Trishna Rana, #709). Women are and caste. means that growers use chemicals celebrations begin. political favoritism and nepotism not a homogenous entity and our David Seddon only when there is biological need Kali if given continuity will jeopardise struggles and stories are diverse. to control pests, and as part of the justice system in Nepal and Sometimes one group of women are Violence against women cuts an integrated approach that uses prevent establishment of the rule of knowingly/unknowingly working to across religion, region, social class, chemical, cultural (such as crop law. In order for the judiciary to be oppress another group. That said, caste, education (yes, highly educated rotation), mechanical (such as independent, it requires independent there deﬁ nitely is a common thread that people indulge in bride burning just as tillage, and biological (ladybugs, Weekly Internet Poll #710 judges. binds us together and if we could work frequently as someone who has yet to etc) controls. While adoption of Q. Do you think policeman Ramesh Kharel did a good job The Supreme Court has on creating solidarity while also being ratchet up a few degrees), language IPM typically reduces pesticide use as the in charge of Kathmandu Valley’s security? sought action against Kantipur very open and honest about listening to and so many other social, cultural, and (much depends on what you were Total votes: 711 daily and Setopati digital paper women who are less privileged, it would economic divisions. doing before), it is incorrect to equate for raising questions about the really help take the feminist movement Namah IPM with "chemical free". Yes honesty and integrity of recently forward. Raj appointed Supreme Court judges, Joan Hinz LETHAL VEGGIES including Chief Justice Sharma.

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