MELTDOWN

Congratulations on your special coverage of the effect of climate change on the Himalaya ('Himalayan meltdown', #371). I climbed Imja Tse in 2002 and just compared the picture of the lake taken in 2006 in your newspaper to mine from 2002. The lake has grown dramatically in size in just four years. For these lakes to burst one doesn't even need an earthquake. Five years ago, Sabai Tsho above Tangnag (Hinku Khola, under Mera Peak) burst its morraine just by an avalanche falling into it. The flood caused terrible damage and casualties downstream. People in Tangnag were lucky. They heard the sonic boom and had enough time to run uphill. Not so lucky for people further down.

Liba Cummings,
Calgary, Canada

. See, Mr Lomborg, Al Gore may not be a scientist but what he is saying is not fiction ('An inconvenient peace prize', #371). You are right that world hunger is more urgent, but climate change will jeopardise food production even more. Besides, if we only diverted a small portion of what governments spend on the military, world hunger can be solved. Gore deserves this honour, it was the right choice.

Saujanya Acharya,
Tokyo

I couldn't help sensing a twinge of jealousy in CK Lal's 'Bogged down' (State of the State, #371) where he uses phrases like 'English-speaking young achiever&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#̵'216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;', 'large white SUV&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;', 'jet-setting ways' about aid agencies and INGOs. What is wrong if aid agencies are giving jobs to the English-speaking youth? Even a single dollar should be considered a gain to the nation's economy. As long as the aid is in the form of outright grants, I see no reason in wasting time analysing and discussing, thereby antagonising donor countries that have their own priorities and their own national interest (or self-interest?).

Sugat R Kansakar,
Kamaladi

I would like to know where Tanka Subba ('Uncertain no more,' #371) gathered his foreign-living Nepali focus group to draw his conclusions on how Nepalis abroad see Nepal. He says they see the country as poor and backward. He accuses them of trying to cut ties with Nepali history, language and culture. As a Nepali living abroad, I want to provide a synopsis of how things are here at my American home:

. My children call my wife and I, Mama and Baba
. My children are enrolled in Nepali dancing classes
. My children eagerly await Dal Bhat at dinner time
. My children and most of our friends' children love to show off their daura suruwal
. There are many Nepali professionals who are continuously gathering to find effective ways to invest in Nepal and ways to create socially responsible investment ventures
. Nepalis living abroad are generous in times of need such as this year's floods.
Still think that Nepal does not mean anything to people who live abroad?

Sushil Bogati,
USA

Thank you for publishing Dr Tirtha Bahadur Shrestha's excellent opinion piece ('Scapegoat', Nepali Pan, #371). He has rightly questioned our cruelty to animals in the name of religious sacrifice and it shows animal sacrifice is not something we should be proud of. Could it in fact indicate our backwardness and primitiveness? The article should open the eyes of every Nepali, specifically the Maoists who are responsible for a war that killed 14,000 Nepalis.

Bhuwaneshor Sharma,
Adelaide, Australia

As an ex-Additional Secretary who innovated the female community health volunteers (FCHV) I found that the article 'Nepal's real heroines' (#371) read more like an indictment not only of our regular culprits: the politicians and the officials, but also the numerous health-related donors and the hundreds of their fat salaried officials. Then, the FCHVs had to be members of and accountable to their respective mothers' groups. The latter were seen as the stakeholders' forum for primary health care in the communities who would together build pressure on the government health system to be increasingly responsive to their needs. But the Ministry of Health and Population apparently no longer cares about mothers' groups. Nepali Times would be doing a great service if it were to do an investigative piece on the irresponsible health managers of Nepal and their donor accomplices.

Bihari Krishna Shrestha,
Chakupat

'Tarai churning' (Tarai Eye #371) helped clear a very blurred picture in my mind. The picture Prashant Jha presents describes a dangerous trend. Criminalisation of politics is accelerating at a pace beyond our control. All national parties, except the UML, have lost their presence in the tarai. This is only helping secessionists, who're led by criminals.

K Kamal,
USA

EK NEPALI

Vijay Lama's Nepalipan ('Nepali ek haun,' #370) is very much relevant in Nepal's present context. Everywhere, there is division. This article should be read by our political pundits. They should pay attention to the Nepali agenda, not their party agenda. Thanks to Vijay Lama for his outstanding thoughts.

Ram Bahadur Kuwar,
China

Absolute power corrupts absolutely. The postponement of the elections now shows that we have swapped one dictator for eight. Why would the parties want an election when they can rule unchecked? I am saddened to see that Jana Andolan II was a waste of time and effort. The country was better off with the king and the Maoists in the jungle. At least then their actions were considered illegal. Now, they roam free. How long will we accept these corrupt, unethical and lawless leaders?

Name withheld

. The Election Commission's report showed that expenditure for the elections was a whopping Rs 510 million. Can an impoverished nation such as ours do away with such an amount for just political upmanship? We should go ahead with the election even if Maoists are not part of it! We can't afford to spend another Rs 1.5 billion for someone else's political whim. The Maoists' idea is to create a political vacuum and exploit it to their advantage.

PB Rana,
email

. It is no surprise that our new republican kings have postponed the
elections. Why give anyone a choice when you can rule without being checked? Mr Prime Minister if you have any integrety, hold the elections and let us choose our leaders rather than forcing yourself on us.

B Bhandari,
email