Archive for March, 2008

This is an accidental finding, was surfing for farmer’s rights, came across some interesting links and found all that I will put up below. Well, the Glories of Being A Vegetarian once again!

another inconvinient truth
Source:Another inconvenient truth.org

Here are some compelling facts to begin with:

In April, researchers at the University of Chicago showed that a person eating an average American diet contributes the equivalent of about 1 1/2 tonnes more CO2 to the atmosphere each year than does a person on a vegan diet. That’s more than the difference between driving a Hummer H3 and a Toyota Prius 5,000 kilometers in the city. Startlingly, fully a third of the raw materials consumed in North America are used in meat ‘production.’ Half- to three-quarters of all grain grown in North America is used for this purpose. So is some 15% of fossil fuels. The livestock industry is responsible to an astounding degree for the pollution of our air, lands and waterways.

Nearly three quarters of North American ammonia emissions are due directly or indirectly to animal farming. According to the Worldwatch Institute, farm animals around the world generate 130 times as much bodily waste as the entire human population.

The raising of livestock and the soybeans to feed them is easily the number one contributor to rainforest destruction. More than two acres of tropical rainforest is being cleared per second to graze or feed farm animals. Around the world, topsoil to the tune of tens of billions of tons are lost each year to cultivation of animal feed crops. Raising animals is an incredibly inefficient process.

Depending on the animal, it takes 2 to 10 lbs of grain to get one pound of meat. Think how much less destruction would attend a human world devoted to feeding itself directly with plant foods!
Source: A N O T H E R INCONVENIENT TRUTH

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I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,
May you never take one single breath for granted,
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed,
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance….i hope you dance.

Miss You, is not what I want to say. You know the reason. I’ve seldom missed anyone in my life, other than when they are gone altogether. So, this letter won’t have a “Miss You” anywhere. Still, I will always remember our last meeting on the road. I don’t know about you but I was noticing the “cyenide” (the spelling error) on the wall behind us. Your “Bye” and the “Cyenide” , I was wondering who in the world had time to scribble that. And every time I turned around to see you leave I was embarrassed to see you still waving your hand! It felt strange because I have only watched people leave. I’ve turned back to watch them walk away but never been caught doing so. Real stupid, wasn’t it? To meet on the road when we can’t predict our next meeting. The goodbye protocols make me feel awkward as I am bad with emotions, and you are too when I show mine. Thought I hadn’t noticed? Hehe, I am the observer, my dear.

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Posted: March 28, 2008 in Nice talkin to me

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What of the US Presidential elections to a Nepalese woman? Forget, the influence of US as the Super Power for the time being. Most Nepalese women, would barely know of all the economic diplomacy the country is credited for. US, is but America, to them ( they don’t know of North and South America though) where young people go to study these days. And any guy back from “America” would be the most secure option for their daughters. Still, that would be a minuscule of the entire woman population of Nepal. If most of them could communicate in “slangy” American-English I bet they would say “What the F*** is US presidential elections?” That’s the woman scenario.

nepalese women
We, the Women of Nepal.

The men are a different breed altogether ,aren’t they? Reminds me of a woman journalist who was sharing the problems of a being a one in Nepal. She wakes up to prepare food for the children, the family, ready them for school. Then there is work. Back from work, the domestic chore has to continue. “The men gather for tea after /before work” she said. “Discuss politics, current affairs.” When does a woman have time for all that “caucusing”? That contributes to their lagging behind at times too. So, if that’s a woman journo has to say you can pretty much picturize the situation of the rest. Yah, you could make an “attempt” to make a point by stating “why can’t she look at the news rather than the Hindi-soap operas?” . But I got a good reply for that too, so keep that nuisance to yourself!

women fetching water
Two women sharing the water load on the steps of Gorkha Durbar while I was journeying to the palace in my “leisure”.

In spite of it all, there is a privileged class of women too, I can’t deny the fact that I am one of them( at least in this context). But caucusing about politics is not my cup of tea, caucusing about anything really for that matter. ( Could be an outcome of not being able to sell myself too). Let me keep that part aside for now and stick to writing which is Indeed my Cuppa Tea :) . So, what of the US presidential elections to me? Keeping aside the US Superpower reality and the Obama Charm so they say, it’s the “Female” thing. An English Man Very Much Politics Interested , friend of mine was telling me how “cunning” ( if I am not mistaken) the Clintons are. ( Correct me, if I got it wrong). But I know nothing of that( I admit my ignorance). Hillary’s all forgiving nature, in the Monica-Lewinsky affair has never inspired me either. But if she won the candidacy and eventually became the First Lady I would undoubtedly celebrate the Victory of A Woman.

women
Source: Internet

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10

Posted: March 21, 2008 in Nice talkin to me
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And because people aren’t dolls that get lost, while you think they‘re being hidden somewhere to be found, your understanding of life is really flawed either due to ignorance or simply because you are incapable of comprehending it. I could be wrong, but I know: I am right.
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The easiest way of blogging would be to put up a couple of pictures and use the over-used excuse ” Pictures tell a thousand words”…may be or may be not. Sometimes pictures tell the story, other times stories paint the picture. Nevertheless I hope these pictures help you understand life in Nepal better!!

The Theme of these Pictures are of course ‘SLOGANS ARE NOT SOLUTIONS’.

BHOKTANTRA

We do not have kerosene, gas, water, diesel, petrol and electricity. Does this country have The Government of Nepal or not? What is this: Loktantra ( democracy) or Bhoktantra( Hungercracy!)?

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An interesting article for People in love with a different preference of food..Early in the month of February, we( a bunch of girls from school) got together in NDs as usual and the discussion shifted to men cause two of my friends were about to get married then, ( one did a week back) ..and the conversation, for a little while, revolved around the prospective as well as the ‘men’ in our lives.. Everyone’s pride was “He Doesn’t Drink”, THANK GOD. Others were “occasionally”..and so on and so forth. And as most of us there were Veggies too, “the guy” being one mattered too.

Two guys, with ditto traits , but one’s a veggie, the other’s not then I would close my eyes and choose the veg! ( as if I got any choice!) :wink: Still, that’s a thought. The bottom line is Food Matters! Or else, we would all rather date on the railings of sidewalks than have coffees, wouldn’t we? And its hard looking at the carnivorous man, tearing the “Masu” from the bone across the table if you are a veg! So , this should make a good read. Njoy!

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It’s in the TKP today. Liked it. so putting it here.. Goes along with the “Women’s Month of March too”…Yo gender discussion pani bastabmai par lagne kuro chahin hoina..I’m realizing the graveity of the Issue and also angry at all those who have made it cheap…lau I’ll save the rest for later..read this for now.

Hillary Clinton, through a lens wrongly

By Deborah Tannen

This isn’t about Hillary. Well, OK, it is. But it isn’t only about her. It’s also about every woman who has ever been underestimated, failed to get credit for work she did or been denied opportunities to do work at which she would have excelled.

With Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s presidential primary victories in Texas, Ohio and Rhode Island last week, Democratic voters continue to evaluate her abilities and her chances of winning in a general election — and are confronting the double bind that women in authority, including Clinton, face: If they speak in ways expected of leaders, they’re seen as too aggressive, but if they speak in ways expected of women, they’re seen as less confident and competent than they really are.

Companies invite me to speak about my research on women and men at work because they want to make sure that they accurately assess everyone’s abilities when deciding whom to promote. Just so, voters need to understand the double bind when deciding who deserves the ultimate promotion to presidential candidate.

On the morning after the Feb. 21 debate in Texas between Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama, I was speaking to a group of women in managerial positions who were being groomed to advance beyond the levels where women tend to plateau. And I realized that everything I was saying about women in professional environments applies to Clinton.

At the end of the debate, Clinton said, “I am honored to be here with Barack Obama” and shook hands with her rival for the Democratic nomination. This struck me as the gracious inclusion of her fellow candidate in acknowledging the public trust and regard that had brought them both so far in the race. But her words were widely interpreted as something tantamount to surrender. That interpretation rang in my ears as I spoke of the many ways that women’s expressions of connection are interpreted in the workplace as self-abasement: A manager invites her subordinates’ input and they think she’s asking them to make decisions for her. A woman says “I’m sorry,” meaning “I’m sorry that happened” and is told, “Don’t apologize, it’s not your fault.” She phrases instructions to a subordinate politely (“Would you do me a favor and type this?”) and her own boss, overhearing, thinks that she lacks confidence.

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