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The Nepal Digest Sat May 26, 2000: Jestha 13 2057BS: Year9 Volume97 TIssue448
Today's Topics (partial list):
Kathmandu Prostitutes: A Study
120 Classic Nepali books
UN declare the Vesak Full Moon Day as a UN holiday.
Can you help
KHOJ_KHABAR
PoloElephant.com
AFVs News
Assumption Church in Kathmandu
******************************************************************************
* TND (The Nepal Digest) Editorial Board *
* -------------------------------------- *
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* The Nepal Digest: General Information nepal-request@cs.niu.edu *
* Coordinator: Rajpal JP Singh a10rjs1@mp.cs.niu.edu *
* Editor: Pramod K. Mishra pkm@acpub.duke.edu *
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* Dr. Krishna B. Hamal HamalK@dist.gov.au *
* Chapter Coordinators - Canada Chapter (TND Foundation) *
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* TND Archives: http://library.wustl.edu/~listmgr/tnd/ *
* TND Foundation: http://www.nepal.org tnd@nepal.org *
* WebSlinger: Umesh Giri ugiri@uswest.com *
* *
* +++++ Food For Thought +++++ *
* *
* "Heros are the ones who give a bit of themselves to the community" *
* "Democracy perishes among the silent crowd" -Sirdar_Khalifa *
* *
******************************************************************************
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From: "Amulya Ratna Tuladhar" <amulya@infoclub.com.np>
To: "TND" <Nepal@cs.niu.edu>
Subject: Kathmandu Prostitutes: A Study
Date: Fri, 26 May 2000 00:20:26 +0530
KATHMANDU PROSTITUTES: A STUDY
Source: Journal of the Nepal Medical Association, July-September 1995,
32(111): 191-203.
Why this for TND?
Amost all that we know about Nepali prostitutes are hearsay, salacious
boasts, anecdotal reports we have no idea about how representative or
objective they have, yet prostitutes are a very real presence that refuses
to go away. The following is one of the rarer studies partially sponsored
by USAID and conducted by a team of doctors and family planning consultants
in Kathmandu. Some of the findings will alter or dispel some of our
fantasy "facts" about Kathmandu prosititutes.
The Study
341 prostitutes, called commercial sex workers, were studied by getting
their references from police arrest records or contacts such as nanglo
pasales, bus conductors, hotel waiters, IV drug users, hotel employees,
and/or further contacts of other prostitutes.
Prostitute Pickup Points
Ratna Park, Bir Hospital area, Hong Kong Market, Bhadrakali, Shaheed Gate,
Rani Pokhari, Hanuman Dhoka, B us Park, Old Baneshwor, Sinamangal,
Pashupati area, Gaushala, Baudha Bus Station, Chabel and Kalimati and some
mid-to upper class hotels.
Not covered in the study are the many lodges surrounding Dharahara,
Chetrapati-Thamel circuit, and Gongabu Bus Stop.
Prostitute Profiles
About 75% of the prostitutes hailed from outside Kathmandu valley,
confirming the assertion of proud Kathmanduites who often claim all the bad
girls are from outside the valley.
Nearly three-quarters of the Kathmandu prostitutes were literate, with
almost a quarter with 10 + years of schooling. This finding dispels the
notion that "education is the solution to prostitution prevention."
Nearly half of the Kathmandu prostitutes belong to the Chettri-Bahun ethnic
groups, a finding inconsonant with the ethnic groups who are lured into
flesh trade of India.
The girls ranged from 13-38 years in age with 80% in the 15-24 year range.
Two-thirds of the women were unmarried and three-quarters had not given
birth.
An interesting sociological snippet; about half of the prostitutes were
mailis, or second birth-order siblings, reinforcing a Nepali tradition that
the first born, jethi , is the father's favourite and the last born,
kanchi, is the mother's favourite while those in between are no body's
favourite and so prone to abandoned and lost- maybe to prostitution.
Why and How of Prostitution
As expected about half said economic hardship was the reason for entering
the trade. This does not imply destitution, however; a third entered after
seeing the "demonstration effect" of friends and acquaintances doing well
financially. Indeed, 21% entered trade to earn more money - not to earn
roti, kapada- over their existing livelihoods of wage labor, small retail,
carpet industry labor. A small percentage entered in the trade for
"enjoyment of sex" to make up for long separation from husband due to job
or death or divorce or polygamy.
Prostitutes have had their first sex by 19, 25% between 12-14. Over 60%
were initiated into sex by thier boyfriends. More than 60% entered trade at
15-19 yr age, the youngest being 13 yr.
Sexual Practices
Most of the clients were Nepalese and some were Indians. The average
monthly number was eight, ranging from 6-11.
All the clients had vaginal intercourse, but a third had anal intercourse
while a fifth had oral intercourse.
Sex Incomes
80% provided all night sexual entertainment at average of Rs 445 ($ 1 = Rs
70), ranging from Rs 100- Rs 1500. A fifth of commercial sex workers
charged by the coitus, an average of Rs 262 per act, mostly between Rs
100-200, one-sixth charging upto Rs 600 per coitus.
The average monthly income from sex was Rs 3667. Compare this to Rs 2500, a
NGO gives a MBA in Yr 2000 and Rs 3500 for a Masters degree private school
teacher in Yr 2000!!
Rs 3667 in monthly income at Yr 1995 prices is even more attractive when we
remember that prostitutes have other sourxces of income as well. Indeed,
they were able to save a fifth each month .
Sexual Hygiene
Although 77% were aware of condoms only 3% (9 out of 341) actually used it
always; the main reason being the clients' displeasure.
The vast majority (82%) had some knowledge about the risk of sexually
transmitted diseases such as viringee syphilis and AIDS but only a third
visited clinics for checkup, treatment or abortion. The major in-house
remedy against STD was to clean the vagina with dettol, antiseptic liquid,
after sex.
As a result 72% had at least one of the four symptoms of sexually
transmitted disease such as pelvic inflammatory disease, ulcerative
disease, urethritis, and vaginal discharge. About a fifth had VDRL, or
venereal disease; a tenth had infectious Hepatitis B but only 3 out 341 had
HIV positive test. This would discharge the commonly held notion that
prostitutes are a major source of HIV spread in Nepal- maybe, but not
Kathmandu prostitutes. In 1995, there were 105 Nepalese who tested HIV
positive and 40 women among them, yet only 3 of the 341 Kathmand u
prostitutes were HIV positive.
*****************************************************
Date: Mon, 22 May 2000 22:13:40 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Pramod K. Mishra" <pkm@duke.edu>
To: The Nepal digest Editor <nepal-request@cs.niu.edu>
Subject: Re: Who's afraid of Nepali literature? 120 Classic Nepali books (fwd)
Thanks, Ashu, for this great list. It's good for all of us, even
though
many of us may have read or heard about many of these writers and their
works. As Manjushree pointed out, there are obvious gaps in the
preparation of this list. And in my view, the gap has come about for
two
primary reasons. One, Khagendraji either forgot or deliberately didn't
include some writers. In poetry, for example, Banira Giri is a major
omission. It's not that she's just a feminist and so deserves
representation but that her poetry represents, both in form and
content,
innovation, craft, challenge, and a deep human sensibility. But then
Ma
Bi Bi Shah and Chandani Shaha also are important for a number of
reasons.
During the Panchayat period, critics offered prasasti only. It is time
now that the general public read them and the critics historicized
them.
For all I know, they may have written some fine pieces.
In short stories, Bhawani Bhikshu's name is not there. It is not only
that Bhikshu represents the Tarai but that in Bhikshu one can find the
representation of life in the Tarai.
In the prose section, Tana sharma's Belayat tira Baralida and his
interesting travelogue about the US Pataal Prabaas deserve inclusion in
any list, whatever one's assessment of the writer's politics.
In drama, an unforgivable omission is that of Ashesh Malla, the young
playwright who, despite charges of plagiarism against him, kept alive
the
experimental theater in Kathmandu through his plays and his theater
group
Sarvanam.
This list needs to be widely circulated beyond the Kitab group. Could
you put this list and the comments on it together for TND? I'd highly
appreciate.
The other reason for the gap has deeper sources toward which Manjushree
just hinted. One obvious source for this lack is Hinduism in general
and
Brahminism in particular, and this applies not just to Nepali
literature
but Maithili, Bengali, to some extent even Hindi and all other
languages
of South Asia that have come down from Sanskrit. Because literacy was
traditionally the sanctioned privilege of the Brahmins, it is for the
most part only the men among the Brahmins who formed the pool out of
which writers and intellectuals came. The situation is too obvious in
Nepali to deserve elaboration here. What was only religiously
sanctioned
privilege for the Brahmin men in India punctured to some extent by the
incursions of foreing cultures (Arabic, Persion, English), on the one
hand, and internal reform movements within Hinduism (Bhakti movements
and
the vernacularization of both Hinduism and Sanskrit), in Nepal this
privilege received political and legal backing in the hands of the
Hindu
rulers (Malla, Shaha and then Rana rulers in increasing intensity). To
make it short, because literacy and education were confined to the
high
castes, particularly the
Brahmins, writers also came mostly from this group. Even now, people
who
are not Nepali-speaking Hindu high castes do not generally identify
with
the Nepali language. And it's not just because they speak a different
language. It is primarily because they have been discriminated
explicitly by the Ranas and implicitly by the mandarins of the
Panchayat
system. There has not been a serious concerted movement (intellectual
movement I'm speaking here) to break this ideology of
discrimination--politically, intellectually, and religiously. Only a
religious hold over the language is enough (as in Maithili) to stifle
creativity, but when the political and intellectual structure ally with
the religious, only God or adversarial intellectuals can help. One of
the reasons why Christianity transformed Europe is by introducing
widespread
literacy, first in theory and then, with political transformations, in
practice. Before Christianity, there may have been Druids and King
Arthurs in Western Europe, but the ideology of widespread literacy
didn't
exist.
But now, in the era of globalization, the situation has become more
complex.
Pls feel free to disagree.
--------------------------------
From: Pramod Mishra
This list of works in Nepali-language literature and the comments that=20
followed its posting on SCN may suggest the increasing awareness of=20
globally located Nepal's educated folks of the strengths and shortcomings=
of their culture. This conversation also highlights the significance of=20
the internet as a source of information and its dissemination about and=20
for countries and cultures and voices that may not be interesting to=20
those who run their lives by the desires of the consumers and their=20
purchasing power. But at the same time, the fact that this list and its=20
genesis, including the debate following it, could occur at a level of=20
international education and not that of the local level--the village=20
development committee, the district town, and so on--in South Asia also=20
reveals the inherent limitation of this medium.
Anyway, good reading. Please extend the debate.
Best,
Pramod
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 16 MAY 2000 22:21:23 GMT=20
From: Ashutosh Tiwari <ashutosh@post.harvard.edu>
Newgroups: soc.culture.nepal
Subject: Who's afraid of Nepali literature? 120 Classic Nepali books=20
Namaste everyone,
In early 1997, I had an opportunity to spend an afternoon discussing
Nepali literature/sahitya with Khagendra Sangraula =96 a Nepali writer
in Kathmandu. In the course of our conversation, I requested him
to recommend classic Nepali literature books which one can go out, buy
and read in spare time . . .
Below appear his recommendations. Please note that this is only an
informal list for the interested . . .
Hope this list will prove useful to you, fellow-sahitya-premi -- as it
has been to me over the years.
Classic Nepali books of EPICS and POEMS
1. Bhanubhakta ko Ramayan
2. Badhu Sickchya by Bhanubhakta
3. Bhakta Mala by Bhanubhakta
4. Tarun Tapasi by Lekh Nath Poudyal
5. Ritu Bichar by LNP
6. Buddhi Binod by LNP
7. Chiso Chulo by Bal Krishna Sama
8. Aago ra Paani by BKS
9. Sakuntal by Laxmi Prasad Devkota
10. Sulochana by LPD
11. Muna Madan by LPD
12. Prometheus by LPD
13. Maaha Rana Pratap by LPD
14. Bhikhari by LPD
15. Manoranjan by LPD
16. Urbasi by Siddhi Charan Shrestha
17. Nirjhar by SCS
18. Gauri by Madhav Ghimire
19. Rajeswori by MG
20. Paapeeni Aama by MG
21. Rastra Nirmaata by MG
22. Kinnar Kinnayri by MG
23. Aaama ko Sapana by Gopal Prasad Rimal
24. Ghoom Nay Mech Maathi . . . by Bhupi Sherchan
25. Lek by Mohan Koirala
26. Surya Daan by MK
27. Nadi Keenaar kaa Maajhi by MK
28. Mohan Koirala kaa Kabita by MK
29. Paari Jaat ka kabita by Paari Jaat (edited by Iswor Baral)
30. Bainsalu Bartamaan by Paari Jaat
31. Dwarika Shrestha kaa kabita by Dwarika Shrestha
32. Krishna Bhakta kaa kabita by Krishna Bhakta
33. Tulsi Diwas kaa Kabita by Tulsi Diwas
34. Bairagi Kainla kaa Kabita by Bairagi Kainla
35. Aagaa ka ful-haru hoon; Aagaa ka ful-haru hoi.nan by Iswor Bhallav
36. Sajha Kabita: published by Sajha Prakashan
37. Pacchis Barsa Kaa Kabita, published by the Royal Nepal Academy.
Classic Nepali books of SHORT-STORIES
1. Roop Narayan Singh kaa Katha
2. Naso by Guru Prasad Mainali
3. Katha-Kusoom, edited by Surya Bikram Gyawali
4. Doshi Chasma by Bisheswor Prasad Koirala
5. Swet Bhairavi by BP Koirala
6. Kathai-Katha by Gobinda Bdr. Gothalay
7. Katha Sangraha by GBG
8. Ek Baato, Anek Mode by Bijaya Malla
9. Parewa ra Kaidi by BM
10. Naya Sadak ko Geet by Ramesh Wikal
11. Birano Desh maa by RW
12. Feri Arko Tanna Ferin.cha by RW
13. Urmila Bhauju by RW
14. Sab, Saalik ra Sahasra Buddha by RW
15. Euta Budho Violin by RW
16. Aadim Desh by Paari Jaat
17. Sadak ra Prativa by PJ
18. Saalgi ko Balatkrit Aansu by PJ
19. Badh-Shala Jaanda Aunda by PJ
20. Gauthali Goond by Shankar Lamichanay
21. Kathastha by Indra Bahadur Rai
22. Bipana Kati-paya by IBR
23. Parasu Pradhan kaa Katha by Parasu Pradhan
24. Dhruba Chandra Gautam ka Katha
25. Pahenlo Goolaaf by Prema Shah
26. Bhim Nidhi Tiwari ka Katha =96 Jetho, Mailo Bhaag . . .
Classic Nepali books of ESSAYS
1. Laxmi Nibandha Sangraha by Laxmi Prasad Devkota
2. Daadeem ko Rookh.nay.ra by LPD
3. Ma, Timi, Tapai, Hajoor by Shyam Prasad
4. Lehak Kasari Bannay? by SP
5. Joonga by Hridaya Chandra Singh Pradhan
6. Tees Rupiya ko Note by HCSP
7. Abstract Chintan Pyaaz by Shanker Lamichanay
8. Namaste by Tara Nath Sharma
9. Belayat teera Baran.lida by TNS
10. Paatal Prabash by TNS
11. Saalik by Krishna Chandra Singh Pradhan
12. Jai Bhundi by Bhairab Aryal
13. Galbandi by BA
14. Khai, Khai by Keshav Raj Pindali
Classic Nepali NOVELS
1. Roop Mati by Rudra Raj Pandey
2. Bhramar by Roop Narayan Singh
3. Ranay by Tulsi Ram Kunwar
4. Pallo Ghar ko Jhyal by Gobinda Gothalay
5. Anuradha by Bijay Malla
6. Sirish ko phool by Paari Jaat
7. (Aaadim Desh by Paari Jaat)
8. Bai.ens ko Manchay by PJ
9. Parkha Vitra ra Ba.hee.ra by PJ
10. Anido Pahad Sangai by PJ
11. Boni by PJ
12. Parivaseet Aaankha.haru by PJ
13. Teen Ghumti by BP Koirala
14. Narendra Dai by BPK
15. Sumnima by BPK
16. Manjari by Daulat Bikram Bista
17. Ek Paila, anekau Yaam by DBB
18. Cha.pai.eka. Anuhaar by DBB
19. Bhok ra Vitta by DBB
20. Jyoti, Jyoti, Maaha Jyoti by DBB
21. Khaireni Ghaat by Shankar Koirala
22. Ghaam kaa Paila.haru by Dhanush Chandra Gautam
23. Sunauli by Ramesh Wikal
24. Abiral Bagcha Indrawati by RW
25. Saagar Urlancha Sagarmatha Choona by RW
26. Maadhavi by Madan Mani Dixit
27. Daapi by Dhruba Chandra Gautam
28. Alikhit by DCG
29. Kattel Sir ko Chot-patak by DCG
30. Naya Ghar by Aahuti
Classic Nepali PLAYS/DRAMAS
1. Prem-Pinda by Bal Krishna Sama
2. Amit Basana by BKS
3. Dhruba by BKS
4. Bhakta Bhanubhakta by BKS
5. Amar Singh by BKS
6. Mutu ko Byatha by BKS
7. Ganga Lal ko chita by Hridya Chandra Singh Pradhan
8. Bhoos ko Aago by Gobinda Gothalay
9. Kohee Kina Barbaad Hos by Bijaya Malla
10. Masaan by Gopal Prasad Rimal
11. Yo Prem by GPR
12. Ojel Parda by Bijaya Malla
13. Jemanata/Yama by Mohan Raj Sharma
Classic Nepali books of LITERARY CRITICISM/ANALYSES
1. Sama.lochana kaa bato-tira by Hridya Chandra Singh Pradhan
2. Kabi Byathit ra Kabya Sadhana by Krishna Chandra Singh Pradhan
3. Saajha Sama.lochana, published by Saajha Praka.shan
.
4. Ghot.lain.haru by Tara Nath Sharma
5. Jhyaal Bata by Iswor Baral
6. Nepali Upanyaas kaa Adhar.haru by Indra Bdr. Rai
7. Ram Krishna Sharma kaa Sama.lochana.haru
8. Basudev Tripathi kaa Sama.lochana.haru
9. Abhi Subedi ka Sama.lochana.haru
*****************************************************
From: Amrit Sthapit <Amrit.Sthapit@newjas.co.uk>
To: "TND (E-mail)" <NEPAL@cs.niu.edu>
Subject: UN declare the Vesak Full Moon Day as a UN holiday.
Date: Wed, 17 May 2000 16:25:51 +0100
[Copy of letter issued by Sri Lankan Embassy in Nepal]
EMBASSY OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA IN THE
KINGDOM
OF NEPAL
P.O.Box No. 8802
Chundevi, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu
e-mail: embassy@srilanka.info. com.np
3rd May 2000
Celebration of Vesak Full Moon Day
I am pleased to inform you that the United Nations has adopted
resolution at the last General Assembly Session in 1999 to declare the
Vesak Full Moon Day as a United Nations holiday.
The Government of Sri Lanka took the initiative to moot the resolution
to this effect on the recommendation of the International Buddhist
Conference held in Sri Lanka in November 1998. The resolution was
co-sponsered by all SAARC countries, nine Asian Buddhist countries and
12 countries from the rest of the world.
To mark the international recognition of the Vesak Full Moon Day, the
Embassy is planning to celebrate Vesak in Lumbini in the evening of
Wednesday, 17th of May. The programme commences at 17.30 hours by
illuminating the Sacred Garden with 10,000 lamps, lanterns, and bulbs
and reciting of 'Bhakthi Gee'. The programme would last about 1 1/2
hours.
Yours in Dhamma,
Pamela J Deen
Ambassador
******************************************************************
From: "Selinose Korah" <etginc@mindspring.com>
To: <webmaster-tnd@nepal.org>
Subject: Can you help
Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 13:55:25 -0400
Dear sir:
Can you help me find the e-mail address for the Assumtion Church in =
Kathmandu, Nepal.
I hope I am not being intrusive . Any help will be appreciated.
Kind Regards and Thanks
Sel Korah
etginc@mindspring.com
*****************************************************************
From: "Santosh Shotemba" <santosh@wizoffice.com.sg>
To: <TND@NEPAL.ORG>
Subject: KHOJ_KHABAR
Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 12:02:50 +0800
hi folks,
i'm looking for email adds of handsomes from the class of '87, st. xavier's
that is. sadeep,rana(1&2),tamor,ninja,hada,sudan..and all other good
people..where are you ?
i can be reached at: santosh@wizoffice.com
ciao,
limbu.
*********************************************************
From: <developpement@labo-stbenoit.com>
To: <tnd@nepal.org>
Subject: Re: The Nepal Digest - March 21, 1998 (1 Chaitra 2054 BkSm)
Date: Mon, 22 May 2000 15:11:35 +0200
Dear sir,=20
I would like to know if you could help me in my search of an essential =
oils producer in Nepal.
Actually, I work for a french society especiallized in phytotherapy and =
aromatherapy and we rather work directly with the producers.
Waiting for your answer, best regards,
Melle Aur=E9lie Pailler
Laboratoire Saint Benoit
**********************************************************
From: "Arthur Family" <susie5@tne.net.au>
To: <nepal-request@cs.niu.edu>
Subject: Re: The Nepal Digest - August 6, 1998 (11 Shrawan 2055 BkSm)
Date: Sat, 20 May 2000 23:26:15 +0930
Hi, my name is Katie Bowring, I'm a student at Brighton Secondary School =
in Australia; and I was wondering if you could please help me, as I have =
to do a school project on Nepal. I am having trouble finding any =
information on Australia's relationship with Nepal in trade, migration =
and foreign/political relationships.
Any help/information would be helpful to me. Thankyou for your time.
Katie
P.S.- my e-mail address is snobarama@hotmail.com
if you do decide to help me. Again, thanks.
*****************************************************************
From: MSch267412@aol.com
Date: Thu, 18 May 2000 22:53:25 EDT
Subject: PoloElephant.com
To: webmaster-tnd@nepal.org
Hello,
As the game Polo Elephant associated with beautiful Nepal, we would be
obliged to exchange banners.
Sincerely,
Lee Schmidt
http://www.3dvangogh.com/polo.htm
*****************************************************
From: <docmehta@cordoba.com.sa>
To: <nepal@cs.niu.edu>
Subject: hello
Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 22:11:43 +0300
Dear Adam,
I am Rakesh. Are you the same Adam? Do you remember that we spent =
one beautiful month in Delhi (in 1981) looking for truth of life?=20
Please reply if you are the same person.=20
My Email address is shankarworld@yahoo.com
Regards,
Rakesh
**********************************************************
Date: Wed, 24 May 2000 15:19:05 -0400
To: (Recipient list suppressed)
From: Martin Chautari <chautari@mos.com.np>
Subject:
Dear friends:
Lately, Kamaiya Mukti Andolan is getting momentum in the western region of
Nepal. The Kamaiya revolt against the local landlord has been in the
headlines of many newspapers. Martin Chautari is organising a special
discussion on Kamaiya Mukti Andolan and the recent revolt. Ram Das
Chaudhari, and Keshav Gautam, head, Policy Research and Advocacy
Department, ActionAid Nepal will be the main speakers in the Program.
The discussion will focus on the questions like "What is Kamaiya issue?
Where will the revolt lead the movement? Will the problem get a definite
solution? How are the political parties handling the issue?
We expect your active participation in the program.
Date: Sunday 15 Jestha 2057/ 28 May 2000.
Time: 5.30pm
Venue: Martin Chautari, Thapathali, Kathmandu.
Subject: AFVs News
1. Chinese Microbuses ready to enter Nepal
Martin Chautari, 25 May 2000
Nine months after diesel Vikram tempos are prohibited from operation in
Kathmandu valley, Microbuses are beginning to enter Nepal. The Microbuses
for which the government has given concessions (99 per cent customs duty
reduction and VAT exemption) to compensate the displaced diesel Vikram
tempo owners have already lined up at Tibet's Khasa. There are 80 petrol
Microbuses with the capacity of 11 passengers lying in Khasa. These
vehicles have to be converted into LPG engines within three months before
they are put into operation. These Chinese Microbuses cost around Rs. 5
lakhs. Already 500 LCs have been opened by entrepreneurs to import
Microbuses from China, Indonesia, and Japan. According to Kantipur daily
(23 May 2000), about 441 battery and LPG operated tempos have been added in
Kathmandu valley after diesel tempos were expelled from the valley. "If
imported Microbuses are to run using petrol, then they have to comply Nepal
Vehicle Mass Emission Standard (2056), otherwise they will be barred from
operation," said Krishna Murari Sharma, Director of the Department of
Transport Management. Though Krishna Murari Sharma maintains that Safa
tempos and LPG vehicles do not need any standards, environmentalists have
long been arguing that there should be standard for LPG vehicles. This is
important, they argue, as Nepal does not have certified agencies who can
convert petrol engines into LPG with a greater reliability and that emit
negligible Carbon Monoxide. For this reason, LPG needs to be monitored by
conducting emission tests.
According to comparative emissions studies, LPG vehicles emit 95 per
cent CO, 59 per cent NOx, and 43 per cent HC less than gasoline engines
(see www.usps.gov/environ/webpages/comp1.html). One company based in
Kathmandu has made a proposal to convert Microbuses into LPG at the cost of
Rs. 42,500 (approx. $ 600) whereas the conversion cost as mentioned in the
above site is $ 2,000-3,000. The low cost of conversion in Nepal may lead
one to suspect that quality of conversion may not be good and result in
unacceptable emissions. This calls for a strong monitoring from the
government based on appropriate standards for LPG vehicles.
2. Bickering over routes looms large
Martin Chautari, 25 May 2000
Around the globe EVs are being promoted by the governments and
environmentalists by giving them incentives and necessary protection. In
Nepal too, the government has given a priority to EV sector for its
promotion. It has enjoyed certain privileges in the form of soft loans,
subsidies, VAT exemption, import duty concessions for its clean image. Of
late, though, there are indications that this sector may not get
protection from the government. There are some rumors that the Valley
Traffic Police and the Department of Transport Management are considering
to prohibit operations of Safa tempos within Ringroad. The Valley Traffic
Police cites slow speeds of Safa tempos as one major factor behind creating
traffic congestion in the valley. However, it is to be remembered here
that Safa tempos have been considered appropriate and therefore
introduced into the valley because of low traffic speed of Kathmandu
Valley.
In the context of tendencies of Safa tempo and LPG vehicle' owners to
provide services in the most common routes, skirmishes over the ownership
over routes have already taken place between LPG-run Tuk-Tuks and Safa
tempos. Particularly Safa tempo owners fear that they might be expelled
from those routes which were previously served by diesel Vikram tempos once
Microbuses come in. Answering the query as to where Microbuses will
operate, Krishna Murari Sharma, Director of Department of Transport
Management said that he would encourage them to run in new routes and
stressed that this also applies for Safa tempos. We can not ask Safa
tempos to stay off routes simply because Microbuses are there. " We are
trying to resolve conflicts over routes between Safa tempos and Tuk-Tuks
through dialogues," said Sharma.
3. Ill-intentioned news
Martin Chautari, 25 May 2000
Recently there have been floods of news on weeklies (Rastra Bani, Yatayat,
Chhahari) attacking Safa tempos by maliciously stating that batteries of
Safa tempos are poisoning Kathmandu. The news which appeared in succession
in weeklies in almost the same format and same wordings have caught
concerned citizens by surprise. The news quotes that " it is a common
practice to dump lead acid batteries of Safa tempos into ground and which
poisons ground water covering 70 square feet. If water which is so
important to life gets poisoned the extent of damage it will have on=20
living organisms can be gauged easily. Perhaps because of this battery
operated EVs are not allowed to operate commercially in major cities of
India such as Bombay, Delhi, Patna, Madras, Banglore, and Calcutta." Such a
baseless, ludicrous, and malicious accusation which is clearly maneuvered
to benefit fossil fuel lobbies perpetuates ignorance and denies people's
right to genuine information. The news mentions that the above quoted fact
is an opinion of environmentalists without giving their identities.=20
In response to ill intentioned news, we would like to furnish following
rebuttals and clarifications.=20
1. First, lead acid batteries of Safa tempos are not dumped into ground.
In Nepal, used batteries are collected by scrap dealers and sent them for
recycling within the country or across the border to India. The resale
value of lead acid batteries of Safa tempos are good. The study conducted
by Martin Chautari suggests that Safa tempo owners sell used batteries at
Rs. 450 -550 per piece. So no one is fool enough to dump lead acid
batteries recklessly when used batteries could fetch such a good price.
2. Safa tempos are not to be blamed alone for health hazards, if any,
from improper handling of lead acid batteries. In addition to Safa
tempos, other petrol and diesel vehicles use lead acid batteries, though
their quantity may differ. A 1998 study conducted for DANIDA shows that
1770 tons of lead acid batteries were consumed by transport sector in
1998. About 1240 tons of batteries came out as scraps. Today, about 60-70
tons of scrap batteries come from Safa tempos. This amount is quite
small (4 %) in comparison to the total scrap batteries from transport
sector. =20
3. WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT THE DISPOSAL OF USED BATTERIES and
emphasize that recycling be done in an environmentally friendly way. But
this should not and can not be a sole point for rejecting EVs while petrol
and diesel vehicles emits noxious gas in addition to producing used lead
acid batteries.=20
4. And last but not least, to say environmentalists are trying to ban
Safa tempos by attracting attention of concerned Ministries to harmful
effects of lead acid batteries is the most weakest possible argument that
any rational individual ever makes when the world has unanimously views EVs
as one of the most environmentally friendly vehicles.
4. THE POWER ASSISTED BICYCLE (PAB)
(Taken from greenleap)
The PAB is basically a bicycle, weighs only a few kilograms more and
provides power assistance only and can be mass produced to run on sources
of renewable energy.
The 'state of the art' PAB has the potential for making transport systems
far more energy efficient, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reducing
air pollution. The next generation of PABs will be powered from renewable
energy resources and will be the most energy efficient form of motorised
transport ever invented. For all practical purposes the PAB is destined to
join the bicycle and 'Shanks pony' as the only forms of transport that emit
no greenhouse gases.
Both the petrol and electric powered PAB, when they are legally classed as
bicycles, are very economical for consumers because there are no compulsory
registration and insurance fees.The 'state of the art' PAB is basically a
bicycle that needs to be pedalled, the power assist as a general rule is
designed to half the effort required to get from A to B and cannot be used
to wind the PAB up to higher speeds.=20
PABs on the world market
There is now a growing range of electric PABs on the world market with
sophisticated electronic controls and there are around 90 companies
producing PABs world wide. Over 125 models of electric PABs dominate the
market today. In Taiwan at the end of the 1990s they they copied the best
PAB ideas from Japan just as they did in the 1980s with Japanese bicycles
innovations. In 1998 there were 17 Taiwanese companies producing electric
bicycles designed for both the Chinese and European market.
The most important innovation to this time came in 1989 when Yamaha
introduced the second generation of electric bicycles for the Japanese
market. The Yamaha electric "PAS" Prototype was a major design
breakthrough with torque sensors in the cranks linked to the motor controls
for automatic power assistance when it is actually needed.=20
According to Yamaha designers the most difficult problem was using the new
technology for designing the control system that integrated human pedal
power and the power available from the motor in the safest way possible
(Cycle Press 1997) One safety concern was the problem of aggressive young
males using the power assist to go faster and terrorising other cyclists on
shared footways and narrow side streets with lots of pedestrians walking on
the road. The smart computer chip developed by Yahmaha
Another advantage was the precision power unit connected to the chain
without any wheels running on tyres to get clogged up with mud in wet
weather In 1995 after six years of further development the Yamaha PAB was
sold nationwide. From then on many companies in both Europe and Japan
became involved in electric PAB design and production many built their own
PAB designs around the imported Yamaha 'PAS power unit'.
A non profit European organisation recently tested 17 electric PABs and
eight electric mopeds most of which where made in Europe. This company,
Extra Energy, has been around since the 1980s and exists to promote the
benefits of electric/human power hybrid vehicles through publications,
product testing, and raising concerns about the environmental problems of
battery use and disposal. Hannnes Neupert of Extra Energy is concerned that
electric PAB technology is still far from perfect and states:-
We are very aware of the the issues of battery recycling, solar recharging
and the need for =8Csmart or smarter chargers, and have published
considerable information on these subjects, but unfortunately, so far only
in German. The full test results, and lots more general information can be
found at Extra Energies web site www.extraenergy.org.
There is now a resurgence of electric PAB sales in Europe with 11
manufacturers already involved including five German companies. According
to some reviews in the trade journals the most important of these for
furthering PAB product development is likely to be Mercedes Benz (Cycle
Press 1998) however that is only speculation at this stage.
THE NEED FOR PABS POWERED BY RENEWABLE ENERGY
World wide there is a need to slowly decouple the growth in fuel
consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from the economic growth. Around
2002/3 there will be a shortfall in world oil production of several billion
barrels a year that will increase year by year to tens of billions of
barrels.=20
While environmental and economic trends show a global phase out of coal's
share of world energy from a peak of 62 percent in 1910 to 23 percent in
1998 despite coal's market price being at an historic low. Hastening coal's
further decline is necessary because its environmental and health costs
have never been higher. and it is imperative to do so if climate change is
to be slowed in the next century.=20
The dark side of free trade for oil is that when the crunch comes military
power will ensure that petrol will still be available for the cars of the
wealthiest one billion people in the world and will not be available for
the essential subsistence needs of the poorest two billion. The inevitable
consequence of oil age globalisation will be a free trade driven mass
starvation. What will happen to the other 4 billion humans beings that are
neither rich or poor is not known at this time.=20
A TECHNICALLY EXCITING FUTURE FOR THE ELECTRIC PAB
Hopefully by 2002 all countries with the resources to do it will be
integrating their electricity from coal, gas, wind and solar sources.
"Least cost planning" as practised by a few companies in the electric power
industry today could be being applied world wide.
Whatever happens the key to being able to efficiently utilise Solar PV on
the supply side is to greatly reduce demand for electricity on the demand
side. A cautionary approach to Solar PV is necessary because while the use
of solar PV can be economically justified to power a 25 kg PAB that
replaces a car trip, it could never be justified for powering electric cars
in countries with abundant coal supplies, because it is currently the most
expensive form of renewable electricity. According to Dies
The prospect for powering electric cars from solar PV is very bad, and
little better for large electric motorcycles. Indeed even with significant
carbon taxes (10c per KWH) it will be at least 5 years before arrays of
solar electric roof tiles fitted on offices factories and homes, will start
to reduce the demand for electricity from power stations by feeding back
electricity into the grid and increasing the overall efficiency of the
entire grid connected electricity supply system.
The electric PAB, when used to replace short car trips of less than 5 km,
is so clean, greenhouse friendly and energy efficient that, at even 30c
kWh, it is a sound investment. When the know how already exists in the
global economy to produce over a billion solar PV roof tiles each year and
the latest wind generators can produce electricity for 8c per kWh, the use
of renewables to power all manner of appliances that greatly reduce the
demand for electricity is clearly justified.
BIKEWAY NETWORKS FOR THE USE OF PABS AND BICYCLES IN HILLY URBAN REGIONS
The economic justification for using bicycles and PABs in OECD countries is
to make more economic use of car fleets. For example the Dutch car fleet is
so much more efficient today than Australia's partly because bicycle trips
substitute for around 8 billion kms of short car trips. Indeed 28% of all
trips made by bicycle by those over 11 years of age in the Netherlands.
In cities built on hills like Sydney the PAB could enable people to cycle
nearly as much as the Dutch do in their flat cities, provided there was a
Dutch-style bikeway network to encourage them and secure bicycle parking at
rail stations. If just two million Australians used PABs instead of cars
for trips of less than 8 kms then the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
would be enormous.=20
>From a strategic transport planning perspective investing in bikeway
networks would be nearly as cost effective in hilly cities as it is in
Dutch cities if clean PABs were used for a high proportion of the total
number of bicycle/PAB trips.What Dutch and Japanese experience shows is
that Given a supportive infrastructure of bikeway networks that are
integrated with the public transport system.=20
Date: Fri, 26 May 2000 16:39:43 -0400
To: (Recipient list suppressed)
From: Martin Chautari <chautari@mos.com.np>
Subject: Correction
Dear all,
In the last issue of AFVs newsletter (25 May 2000) under 'Chinese
Microbuses ready to enter Nepal', we noticed one mistake. Instead of 95 per
cent reduction in CO by LPG vehicles in comparison to gasoline vehicles, it
should read as " LPG vehicles emit almost the same amount of CO as gasoline
vehicles." We apologise for this mistake.
MC
******************************************************************
From: "Selinose Korah" <etginc@mindspring.com>
To: <tnd@nepal.org>
Subject: Assumption Church in Kathmandu
Date: Fri, 26 May 2000 09:43:01 -0400
Hello:
Do you by any chance kmow the e-mail address for the Assumtion Church in =
Kathmandu? I was given pius@ecsl-com.np as the address but it keeps =
coming back.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.. I am located in Florida, USA.
Thank you and Best Regards,
Sel Korah
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