www.fridayweekly.com.np Every Thursday | ISSUE 106 | RS. 20 SUBSCRIBER COPY 22 February 2012 | !) kmfNu'g @)^* ISSN 2091-1092 9 772091 109009 The Dark Issue www.facebook.com/fridayweekly 3 4 6 10 13 14 PAGE 3 FEATURE EVENTS HALLOFFRAME ENTERTAINMENT GOURMET Four personalities opine on Fires, insecurity, impact on Learn more about the Catch exclusive photographs Kantipur Television’s Lalteen Chef Khatri shares some what we can do as individu- education – load shed- Danish and the Nepali cul- from the opening of Bricks Bulletin broadcasts the plight quick tips and tricks on how als to tackle the electricity ding has some serious tural literature at the Yala Café – Kupondole’s latest of the Nepali people. Know to prepare delicious, energy- crisis in the One Question repercussions that we Maya Kendra this week. culinary delight, on this week’s more about this enlightening efficient dishes in these dark section. overlook. Details on What’s On. Hall of Frame. protest. times. Watt Governance— Srishti R.L. Shah ower cuts are an everyday event. As winter begins to seep in gradually, we start to prepare ourselves for it. And once the load shedding schedule is out, this everyday event for the year has Pcommenced. We crib, we’re annoyed, we adjust. We take it in our stride, adapt- ing our schedules to the hours that we do have the luxury of electric- ity. The dinner time discussions, more often than not, entail whether it could actually come down to no electricity at all one of these days, if not then definitely sometime next year. It turns into a serious discus- sion with potential plans to solve the energy crisis, or on some days we wave off the possibility with a chuckle. The almost inherent compla- cency is a bone of contention - its obvious coping mechanism benefits is weighed against it being at the root of the deficient citizen activism. Either way, this daily event governs our lives and guides our rou- tines. Alarms ring off in the odd hours of the night as reminders to run the washing machine or the water pump. Many keep the 2722 message handy on their mobile sets for a quick reference to plan out the most mundane of tasks. For some, just cutting down on TV time will do. There isn’t a day that you haven’t spoken about the power cuts, and it’s the easy ice breaker with strangers. We have all found ways around the facets of our routine that it impacts. We substitute, find alternatives, and amend routine clockwork. This issue, Fr!day explores this routine event through a variety of perspectives. After all, load-shedding is an inescapable event on its own, and ripples of events follow everyday as its repercussions. Media ECS hoto: hoto: P 2 Issue 106 | 22 February 2012 Fr!day cover Let There be Light! bhaya and the Steam doing is a protest through mu- tors or generators, or by getting for fuel, water or gas, than utter Injuns along with Alba- sic. As responsible citizens, we our supplies from the black mar- a word of protest,” she exclaims. tross, Anuprastha, Anil should all do what we can from ket, which is as good as smug- There are those who see this as AUpadhaya, Tripitak and our fields. We are artists and gling,” laments Weise. It is not a problem that will go away now other artistes are putting up a this is one thing that we can do,” the shortage of fuel, gas or elec- that winter days are numbered, concert. Do not be mistaken, shared Abhaya. tricity that appalls her, but the forgetting that the agony will be this is not a charity event; the dearth of mass objection by the back with a vengeance once the main aim of the ‘Let There Exasperation – cause for Nepalis to the way we are being monsoon powered rivers quiet be Lights’ concert is to raise concert treated on a daily basis by our down. The deeply entrenched awareness against the power The event will be taking place own people. “We would rather culture of “ke garnu, yestai ho!” cuts. It seems some of us have on 18 February, at the Lainchor be treated poorly than raise our concerns Weise, and she insists finally shaken of the burden of grounds. “I could drown myself voice; we would rather complain this must change. Anil Upad- inaction that we as a people have in the list of shortages that we privately about how the ‘netas’ are haya, the popular street artist become habituated to. “Load are getting used to living with. busy filling their pockets rather who will also be performing at shedding is not only my prob- Most of us respond to these des- than getting down to problem- the concert, added that the inten- lem. You need it, he needs it, she perate times with criticism – we solving. We are ready to face tion of this concert is to awaken He said, “People from different needs it, we need it, and they criticize until our anger has been hours and hours of darkness, people from this passive hiberna- fields and professions should need it. So basically what we are purged off by installing inver- struggle with the thriving lines tion through the performances. stand up and do what they can do to revive the true meaning of people power among the citizens, whether it’s doctors engineers, musicians or artists, else inaction will affect us and many genera- tions of Nepalis after us.” “Load shedding is not only my problem. You need it, he needs it, she needs it, we need it, and they need it. So basically what we are doing is a protest through music.” The Concert Lineup According to Weise, all the bands will be performing five to seven songs. Also The Steam In- juns will be revealing their new number which is focused on the patience of Nepali people which is both a boon and a curse. “We want to make it short, sweet and to the point. The concert will be starting at 6 p.m. and will con- tinue for two hours. Basically, the entry is free because we are not trying to raise funds here; we are making an effort to make people aware of their rights,” she stated. Visual artist, Chirag Bang- del, will be doing a special ex- hibition to raise funds for the concert. He shared, “As one of my friends wonderfully put it, the best way to tackle an issue is with ‘Creative Collaboration’. I hope with this mass meeting, we will voice out a united statement – “We are concerned”. More than anything I would like this concert to be an awareness en- deavor.” Bangdel clarified that this concert is not against the Government, rather it is the youth letting the Government know that they are very con- cerned, and are willing to help the Government find a solution. He also shared that he will prob- ably be speaking a few words at the concert, and if time permits, he also hopes to donate a few of his art works and try to auction them to help support the event. The expectation “We do not expect a miracle to happen and the loadshedding problem to disappear just because of one concert. However we do expect it will be an eye-opener for many citizens. It will encourage people from different fields to do what they can, to fight for a better Nepal.” said Weise. ! page3 one question make your statement As individuals, what can we do to address the dire energy crisis? In these grim times, many of us introspect – what initiatives can I take towards addressing the energy crisis at a broader level, beyond my own economic comfort standards? Actions that can help in this energy crisis, not just a certain economic strata, but all Nepalis, as a people. Some prominent personalities respond: — Mannat Shrestha We need to act. What we need to do I think as a responsible citizen, each one of is shake up the government. But, it is us can do a lot more than just complain. important that we support positive I have never believed in violent protests. actions as well. Prime Minister Bhattrai has I feel we need to realize that we are been trying to enforce strict rules in the responsible for the state we are in. So hydropower sector, and we should support it is important that we talk about our his decision to do so. problems. I also think it is important for us to make the Government realize what we Malvika Subba is a multifaceted diva - media personality, beauty queen, actor, social activist and are going through, and tell our leaders that entrepreneur. She has represented many causes with her there are more important and serious roles like MTV EXIT Ambassador for Human Trafficking, issues with grave consequences than the Youth Spokes Person for Hunger Free Campaign in petty conflicts in their political parties. 2007,and HIV/AIDS Youth Leader from 2006-2008. She has also worked as the editor for Navyaata Magazine. Currently working with Shangrila Housing as Sales and Marketing Chirag Bangdel is a man with many artistic sides to Manager, Subba is also the Co-Founder and Creative him. He is a RJ who produces and presents many radio Director of House of Alternative Apparel, a retail store. programs, a poet, and a visual artist. Ever since his first solo exhibition in 2000, Bangdel has enjoyed figurative compositions. He has collaborated with the World Bank in Nepal to hold exhibitions for issues and had 53 of his paintings been featured in UNFPA’s 2009 calendar.