Conflict Diamond - Blood Diamond

Also called Blood Diamond, dirty and war diamond as mined in war zone. Civil war, financing insurgency, invading army war effort sort of civil war. It polices war activities. Countries like Angola, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, and Democratic Republic of Congo are diamond mined and still again forbidden countries. These are some of the countries under watch of United Nation. Diamonds in place of different kind of advanced gun, power, dictatorship causing the death of million innocent lives, famishment, insecurity and many more. Rebellion of ages from 8 who was brainwashed and use for destroying lives. These are some of the reason which alert UN to take action against such issue.

The first resolution of the UN is over Angola for mentioning diamonds in the context of raising funds for civil war. UN estimated report of about 20% of toal production in 90’s were sold for illegal purpose and other 15% were conflict in nature. But after UN’s action against such activity, world diamond council report that it is fallen to approximately 1%. Angola is a former colony of Portugal, gained independence in 1975. Too much of independency, unstable government brought civil war and again funded civil war by trading diamonds. Rebellions only source of getting strong. Popular movement for the liberation of Angalo (PMLA) and national union of the total Independence of Angola (UNITA) gave civil war. But, UN found out this source of funding those rebels and in 1998, UN banned other countries from buying those conflict diamond. Today, the country Angola is free from civil war and now holds a strong law for diamond trade. Similarly, President of Liberia Charles Taylor was accused by UN for fueling war between Government of Sierra Leone and Revolutionary United Front (RUF) with weapons & training in exchange for diamonds. And, again UN stopped Liberia from buying conflict diamonds.

KIMBERLY PROCESS CERTIFICATION SCHEME (KPCS): It is a process designed to certify the origin of diamonds from sources of which are conflict free. Its main aim is to prevent rebel groups & their rivals from financing their war aims from diamond sales i.e. preventing these conflict diamonds form other non conflict diamonds. This process is originated from Southern African diamond producing state in Kimberly, Northern Cape, which was approved by UN in 2002 & finally established in 2003.

Gig in Kathmandu – Historic Event

Love Hope Strength Foundation (hereinafter referred to as LHSF) is a non-profit organization. LHSF was established recently in Jan 2007. The main objective of this foundation is to help cancer victim spreading the message that cancer is curable and each and every victim has right to get cured of this disease.

LHSF perform concerts to collect funds. They achieved their aim of helping cancer victim with the huge amount of success. Their first ever concert was on the top of Empire State Building, then on Snowdon in Wales and then New Jersey and this time they came to choose Nepal and named their mission “Everest Rocks”. The group including 6 musicians led by Mike Peters targeted Kala Patthar, Everest Base Camp (5,545m) for the concert and performed it for half-an-hour. With such good intentions and effort, they collect about quarter of a million fund but still not including the sold CDs and DVDs. They also gave their last concert in Nepal on 30 October 2007 in Durbar Square, Basantpur, Kathmandu with other prominent Nepalese Artists including James Pradhan, Nhyoo Bajracharya and other.

The collected fund was provided to Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital. The fund will be used for the helpless cancer victims and for purchasing essential equipment like MRI, CT Scan, Mammography and so on. Not only us but the whole humanity should express our gratitude to LHSF for such good effort and hope they get every success in their upcoming mission of saving cancer victims.
Web Add: www.lovehopestrength.com

Bowling

Really, I don’t know any rule of bowling, especially the points. But, it’s very very exciting to hit those tenpins. There is a special way to hold the ball, you will know when that ball come to your hand. Yes, it is heavy. The player has to roll the ball over the runway, called Lane. The lane is very slippery. You will get a special pair of shoes to play. It’s hard to throw the ball. There is a process of throwing the ball. Each player can roll the ball twice called a Frame. You have to first take 4 steps, swinging the ball simultaneous and leave the ball when you are in the flow not when you get hesitated. And guess what, it’s amazing when you take the strike. The strike is that call when you knock down the entire pin. Ten frames complete a game. If you hit all the remaining pins after your first hit, then it is called a spare. The highest possible score is 300.

Let’s talk about the score. If you hit the strike, you will get 14 point for 1st time. If you hit any 4 pins then you will get 4 point and similarly if you hit 6 pins, then you will get 6 points and so on. For first timer, it will be 45 to 65 and on and on and on….Well about me, I am falling for this game, kind of addicted to it. One should try it.

Bungee Jumping

Bungee Jumping was originated in the South pacific by daredevil rituals, where child of ages 8 to men perform a ritual leap known as Naghol to ensure bountiful harvest and as well as to enter the manhood on Pentecost Island, part of the South Pacific island group of Vanuatu. They first build up the tower for ritual land diving by intertwined branches, no nails are used. Thick liana veins are cut to precise length which is bind to the feet to make the jump. Then putting their faith to the vein they jumped from the higher level, head first to the platform. This is from where mind and soul thrilling adventure is born.

As we do not belong to such courageous tribe, we do not use those vines and such tower. Instead of that, we use high tech webbing worn by rock-climbers. Screw-sealed coupling-links protect the bungee rope to an ankle belt. The cable is made out of multilooped lengths of natural rubber bound together by the same material. Ropes are built to stand 2,000 jumps. Jumps are made from Bridges and other high structure and even from high flying helicopter and balloons. Our country Nepal also possesses the 2nd highest bungee jumping in Bhotekoshi. Many of the Nepalese have done this and many more are ready to go for.

Most of my friends are ready for anytime and I am the only one scared of height but this doesn’t mean I am not into adventures. Yes, I am into Rafting. I had raft for twice, once in Bhotekoshi and second time in Trishuli, such a soul thrilling adventure. Well, one day I will go for this jump too and won’t disappoint them. And, my third trip will be for camping and rafting for a week may be. Well, let’s see.

Mount Everest - Sagarmatha

Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa were the first to succeed Mt. Everest. Yes, this is what we were taught. But there were other unsung heroes who conquer Mt. Everest like George Leigh Mallory and Andrew Irvine before them-nearly 30 years back. These British are among the first adventurers. Mallory charted the first practical route to the summit. As an experience mountaineer, Mallory was chosen as a part of exploration to Everest in 1921. In 1922, he returned to the region with another expedition but unfortunately Seven Sherpas were killed in an avalanche and attempt on the summit is abandoned. In 1924, he raised funds for his third Everest expedition giving lecture tour to Britain and North America. With Irvine he started his expedition but unfortunately they disappeared from the view. They were last seen from the summit on the Tibetan side of Everest 1924. Irvine body were never found but Mallory's body remain were found by Anglo-American Search team in 1999. Mallory died during his 3rd Everest Expedition.

For me, they are the true adventurer with great desire as they explored the summit with inappropriate mapping, rudimentary nature of clothing ad equipments.

Every Mountaineer's dream “Mount Everest – 8848 m”.

Human Trafficking

Trafficker’s easiest hunt – Underage Girls
Biggest problem of every peripheral country like Nepal.
Traffickers are not other but their own aunty, Cousin, newly married husband, so called respected elders of the village and some time their own new father knowingly or unknowingly due to lack of Poverty, Education and communication in the name of good future for herself and the family. Gender inequality is also one of the reason, in this 21st century, how petty, isn’t it?
Trafficker promises these gals a good job abroad and elimination of further poverty and without the decision of their elders like the parents and teachers and on their own decision i.e. the trafficker’s decision. They sold them into the notorious brothel of especially India for less than Nrs. 20,000. The traffickers are being unknowingly promoted by the victims by not revealing the reality of those people to the family and community because of their family prosperity and the fear of getting killed by them. So, many of the innocent girls still and everyday fall for same old tricks which is very awful situation.

Anti girl-trafficking activists have asked the local police authorities especially those stationed near the Nepal-India border to take a good look out for those young innocent helpless girls who are about to leave country. And they track out those girls mostly the young ones who are then get interviewed and cross questioned by these anti-trafficking activists.
As I know, in some Indian railway station, the social workers are always keeping their eyes for such movements with the help of cops. Even thou, from this kind of security, these traffickers get away and the only reason is that these girls are so easy. The girls are so innocent they don’t even know her new workplace. They keep on traveling to their unknown destination and they finally find themselves in prostitution.

About hundreds of Nepalese girls are still get trafficked to India every year. In case of India about 700-1000 of girls get trafficked to brothel owners in New Delhi, Pune, Mumbai and kolkata, when there are so many Anti-trafficker activists/ police because of their innocence girls. The situation has hardly changed. But, we couldn’t say nothing but thanks to Maiti Nepal and other NGO’s like Women’s Rehabilitation Centre for raising awareness of such danger.

YCL's taboo

YCL, Youth Communist League, we can take it as the notorious example of brutality, illiteracy, dictatorship and many more. Smearing the face of civilian including ages from 5 to 65 on the auspicious occasion of dashain since they ordered not to worship/visit the local temple. Thrashing people like animals, no respect for elders and love for the young with Khukuri and canes. They don't even know what they are doing, beating up the old people of aged up to 62 and 65. Worship deities this what old people does for their remaining days. They are just trying to dictate us and they are doing so.
People still can't and will not feature it out the end of such violence, brutality. This is a developing country with the known legislates but still unfortunately no one can stop nobody. So, what does this means? Is this the New Nepal? Now, this is how people have to live their life, is it?
People here, looks like they have no responsibility and respect for himself and others and for the so called beautiful, peaceful country Nepal. Now, is this Nepal?
Such consequences will occur again for many more times and the only reason is that power in the hand of illiteracy.