Journalism: How in Bhutan...?

Giving up the note pad and pen of their interest...

Where does it go from here is what hits the minds of journalists in Bhutan having to survive the life while passion is on writing.

 Only the time they forget this concern, is when they are nipped into busy reporting.

While things are more promising for young graduates joining the management team, it was never the same for young journalists interested in reporting and trying to be a voice for voiceless.

The media houses, housing as many young journalists with very few senior seasoned journalists speaks about the current situation of Journalism in Bhutan.

Take a look back, the Bhutan's first journalist became the media controller by taking up bureaucratic seat as the secretary for the Ministry of Information and communication.

GNH: My perspective.....!

GNH is on the way, although is yet to reach there....

I have just realized that our country is not a GNH (Gross National Happiness) country. But a country aspiring for GNH and that promotes GNH as its vision for the world.

Is Bhutan a GNH country? Are all Bhutanese happy? if these are the questions to qualify a country to be called GNH country, Bhutan can never be a GNH country. Bhutan is know by world as GNH country for adopting Gross National Happiness as its development goal against the idea of GDP. It is an aspiration and work in progress not yet achieved. 

This would rely on individuals living in Bhutan, the individuals leading the country and its management of the developmental progress.

Radical ability of GNH......:)

It was not so easy to be within the intellects and academicians discussing most abstract subject as the Gross National Hapiness.

One may lose the logical sense at times when they discuss and argue on psychological aspect of the GNH.

One may even fail to describe your own state of mind at that moment, if you think how so complex the subject is as they offer you different definition of happiness.

Trying to understand GNH throws one into the mess of complications, taking away your happiness as you try to figure out the aspects of GNH.....lolz 

That natural bliss at my Kinder age I miss....!

The Shrunken ice, vivid change.... 

It was a great county side, a village where I grew up. 

Sumthrang village of Bumthang Ura in Bhutan is located just at the foot of a cliff at its north. 

To walk up to its top, one takes about an hour but it is just over half an hour to walk down from the cliff back to the village.

Huge pile of that cliff adorns the tiny village with its magnificent beauty of flowering bushes around and a gush of flowing stream cutting the cliff in to two halves. 

In-Dependent.......?

Glister of sun rays dwelling on to the fading autumn earth. Peoples are at their usual routine and everything is alright.

Cars running up and down for one or other reasons and every kitchen in the house holds with their gas stoves burning busy, preparing the morning breakfast.

Things are all running normal, but nobody is aware of what is happening? No body was at realization that we are officially an independent country but by status totally dependent.

Ped-day a political hot cake.. It still continues to be..!

At the end, we the public are in the field of political game like a ball, played among the players of politicians..... !

Pedestrians day runs in the minds of many like a hot cake, while many criticized and many supported, there is this divisive opinion.

On Demand: A RESULT of the pedestrian's day

This result of an assessment on the pedestrian's day would be the certificate of Bhutan's Leadership in environmental protection, But if only proven with positive impact of the day beyond just a drop in fuel consumption.

Curtsy: Bhutan News Service

So many Tuesdays passed after the government declared it as the pedestrians day. A decision bold enough and a sign of trying means to commit towards environmental conservation. Good enough.

Who is really paying for wild life conservation?

Actually the poor farmers are paying for wild life conservation and is voiced by other national and international agencies...............

curtsy: Climate Himalaya

While the human wild life conflict is seen as natural phenomenon for all living being having to live in one universe, it is more often fought between the wild animals and the villagers who cherish their domestic animals and their crops to whom they depend their livelihoods.

If there is no national and international conservation policies to protect the wild species, the winners will be the villagers who can hunt down or can poisoned the wild animals to death.

But these poor farmers living in villages by the forest sides are adhering to the policies that does not favor much to their interest keeping by the imposed law, although it hardens their livelihoods.

For instance, small tiny land locked country of Bhutan is voiced for its rich biodiversity and forest cover that give shelter to big cats. They are in Bhutan most probably because neighboring countries have used most of their forest and they are being pushed by urbanization in its neighboring countries. So they find solace in this country which protected them at the hardship of poor farmers in the remote villages.

While the farmers are not allowed to kill any of these wild animals and if killed is charged for criminality with huge fines and penalties, their domestic animals and crops lost to the wild animals are never compensated or if compensated.

The agencies concerned for wild life conservation seems to work hard on getting support from national and international donors and agencies interested in wild life conservation to support compensation to the villagers for their lost but gets nothing.

While it is the conservationists interest to save wild life, the burden seems to be put on farmers who do not actually having nothing to gain from conservation.

Why is the government who voices importance of conservation and international agencies who put so much importance in conservation does not comes forward in giving a helping hand to these farmers who tries to support the interest of the global conservationists. Rather than anything else, compensating farmers crops and domestic loss will mean who much conversationists care.

Only Nu500,000 from government(as reported in the MoAF website) was allocated just this time for compensation but international agencies are interested in research and not really conservation. If conservation is the key, they need to help their true partners, the farmer. What if they start to do what they should? do we throw them one after another in jail for protecting their livelihood? Why not step in and be the compensating agency to those poor farmers who loses all what they have for what we call conservation? Isn't this one of the factors that is challenging poverty reduction?

Over 2200 animals have lost in past 10 years in Bhutan according to the figures released on the MoAF's website, all that belongs to poor farmers in remotes corners and nomads living in high mountains. And when these cats pray on the yaks, every kill that counts from 5 to over 10 becomes a property of one poor family.  Who is taking this note?

I would say if you can't support these poor villagers, the farmers are worth defending their own survival and livelihoods than to support an interest which does not belong to them. Conservation programs have lots of money for research, collaring the animals, documenting and hell lots of other activities, but they have no money to compensate the loss of properties of a farmer. How fair is this?

Can we add a legal provision in wild life conservation act that the conservation should not happen at the cost of a farmer's livelihoods or just one provision that shall say a farmer who losses its property to wild animals be compensated by the concerned agency to its actual value?

Wild life conservationists love wild life and puts interest in wild life conservation. At the same time these farmers knows about their domestic animals as much as you know about the wild animals and loves them as much as you do.

So if conservationists take their own means to protect their loving animals, why cant these poor farmers take up measures to protect their loving feeders of their family.

When these poor farmers are supporting because the government law backs the global conservationists. Can that be rewarded with at lest a compensation worth to what they lose.  

Heat waves in America: Who is responsible?

Curtsy: NOAA

News of flood in Russia, and heat wave in America is so painful, bitter and worrying it should be for the world and its leaders.

It is the natural warning of what we are doing to it.

I am sorry for the people of the countries but I also think that it is an indication that a government shall not only commit economic development but future sustainability of wealth with pristine environment for a better climatic conditions.

I might be so rude to say that such climatic conditions shall occur more frequently for those big countries who do not commit and do much for environmental protection and carbon reduction. Because this might at least be the better reason for such countries to give a second thought for a revisit in their developmental polices.

The words I hate....!

The distrust and disrespect is the problem that keeps world away from the constant peace, but often with disruption.

RTI: can't it be for the rural benefit?

RTI would definitely help the rural peoples but if only such provisions are put in place in the act. For instance to take up on one example. There are as as many rural individuals and households whose private lands had to be surrendered for developmental works mostly for road construction, school extension/new construction and hospital and Basic Health Unit (BHU) constructions. But they are still awaiting for the replacement, some are as old as more then a decade, yet unresolved even today.

Traditional conservation can it be for economic boom..?

Loss of traditional structures an economic disaster in making, Dont you think so?

The Rupee crunch in shooting, I think is because of the adaption of modern culture into our housing and construction boom, mainly the housing to be precise.

 If this is not all the one, I believe it is the one of the main cause.

How many aspects of imports does it accompany, the labour import and the materials of different kind that contributes to unemployment and slashing the local products and local traditional structures.

Had we been in our own nation sticked to our own traditional ways but with revolution ofcourse, it would not have been such a economic disaster in making.

As junk as it is: Meet your loving snacks

pics curtosy: aneveningmeal.blogspot.com

We Bhutanese love so many packaged snacks, like lays, Bhuja, Khurkure and so many that come at cost of rupee out flow and serve at no level but another cost. The health, environment and economic consequences. Did we ever knew that?

It according to a group of experts and scientist who met in New Delhi last moth organized by India Centre for Science and Environment, is that there are worse facts as well. Did we bother what they are made of, where they come from, what are their markings are they as true as they are presented?

Black Carbon initiative, is it better or are we diverting?

Check this if the black CARBON initiative is a right initiative....
Confirming carbon's climate effects Researcher helps paint the fullest picture yet of how increases in CO2 helped end the ice age

Isn't our big players stepping backward...... !:(

The spring joy......pictorial tour..!

This may be joyous picture today but may not be tomorrow... so enjoy!

Ah! the atmosphere is changing around the small cottage I live in. often the spring shower, feeding the pristine forest around I see.

 Green grasses popping their heads out from the yellow dry dust.

The peach tree near the cottage is the charm of the surrounding every this season. 

Running water: Health Indicator of our environment

Ice block believed to be the indicator once upon a time (picture given from diff angles):

Sumthrang village is just below a huge cliff. To walk up it takes about half an hour but it is just over 15 minutes to walk down from the the cliff top to the village.
The stream that runs down through the ravine of the cliff was once an indicator to predict next harvest of the later season according to the elderly villagers. The 'SOUND OF FALLING ICE' indicates the good harvest to expect say the villagers.

Very Happy Birth Day Your Majesty! Prayers and Wishes for your long life Because We the people and Drukyul Love you with all our Heart....

Black carbon initiative: A Black out in leadership!

Pics curtsy: Whats up with that?(WUWT)

United State is looked up on as a world's leader among the countries. But, is it a leadership when the country steps back and tries to engage in excuses like “black carbon initiative” when the globe needs a world leader to help out with Carbon (CO2) reduction.

Sumthrang Monastery: Do-Ngoen (blue stone) dzong: Does our history tell...

Sumthrang Monastery: Do-Ngoen (blue stone) dzong: Does our history tell...: Dechenphodrang monastery at the location where the do-ngoen dzong was built I am of not sure if it is true when I read to learn that th...

Piped water is safe drinking?

The pics speaks clear: The leaked pipes at Changzamtok,
Thimphu running down for some buildings blow..

Generally what we think is that a piped water is safe for drinking. Do we confirm that…?
Is it as safe as we think that water is safely reaching your home through the pipe that connects your home till the source?

Its odd up on odd..:(

I was on the way to Gelyong Tshokhang (The national assembly hall). Driving, through the serene winter breeze by the side of Thimpchu(wangchu) river. What would have been the volume of the river some decade ago, when I was not born, people would have been using it for drinking? The volume has obviously shrunken from what once it was some elders say and does any one use it to drink?