The story on biogas by Naresh Newar was refreshing ('Nepal's future is in the dung heap', #234). It is beaming with hope and possibilities of better times. All Nepalis should actively engage in exploring such positivism in these hard times. We can only keep it alive by not forgetting.

Dhiraj Sharma,
Lafayette University, USA

. Shrinkhala Sharma's Nepali Pan column ('23 weeks to go', #234) has written about the very essentials of objective, holistic and no-nonsense journalism that I have been trying to inculcate in young reporters for years. She literally took the words off my mouth. Her write-up should be the introductory as well as concluding part of any journalism curriculum and training/workshop and also the follow-up manual for editors.

Peter J Karthak,
The Kathmandu Post/City Post

. Been meaning to congratulate you on the excellent post-censorship issues of the Nepali Times. The Nepali media may have lost its freedom, but it hasn't lost any of its bite. Your past two editorials (#233, 234) have been bold and beautiful, especially considering they were written while under the censor's sword.

Nira Poudel,
email

. The piece by Manisha Aryal ('Radio activity' #235) on your online edition touched my heart. It also made me feel proud, again, about being Nepali. On one hand, one cannot deny that technology has helped our rural folks to some extent in getting their words across (even words of sorrow). On the other, Nepalis are still the same caring and generous people, who, despite all odds and differences, come to help in times of need.

Dhruba Khanal,
email

. What a heartwarming story on the power of rural radio by Manisha Aryal. Anyone who wants to see the absurdity of the ban on rural FM should read this piece. It proves that by stopping news and information by radio the government is not just hurting the people but also harming its own counter-insurgency strategy because the information gap is being filled by negative rumours and rebel propaganda.

Name withheld,
email