Bhumika's American Adventure

So long..farewell, I have to say goodbye

2011-04-27T13:28:00.000-04:00

Dear all,

I started this blog back in 2005,days after Hurricane Katrina. This was my outlet and my constant companion. Although at times I have skipped posting for days, this blog made me think, analyze and also educate myself on number of issues.

Now, I am at a point where I want to strive for more and push myself to take risks. Recently, I have launched a platform for Nepali bloggers-Nepal Blogs; where I hope to create a community for bloggers and readers and discuss Nepal in a different way.

This blog, my home turf, has served its purpose and now with regret I am shutting it down.

I will not delete any content already posted. But there will no new posts. Please follow me at Twitter for updates and you have to visit Nepal Blogs.

Thank you for your loving support and kindness. I hope you will continue to be generous.

In gratitude,
Bhumika

I partied yesterday, did you?

2011-04-07T07:26:00.000-04:00

O yes, that moron Glenn Beck is now out of Fox News and I partied yesterday! With lots of sleep and relaxed time in front of the TV.

Back in the days when I was a rookie blogger( if that is possible.. I mean when is a blogger not a rookie?) I really wanted to start a campaign against Beck. For couple of weeks I did write about him and the harm he was doing , and this was the time when he was at CNN. Imagine my horror when he went totally nuts after starting at Fox!

So, although my idea of Stop Beck campaign failed, I am thankful to those who started their own struggle and showed the real face of this guy to the public. They did a huge service, I believe that.

Now he is gone, it is good. But don't give Fox too much credit for kicking his sorry behind. They had him until he was profitable and when he antics pushed away advertising dollars, only then he was kicked. Fox is not after quality journalism, it is all about revenue.

Anyway, the party is on people!

Sent from my iPhone

Nepal's Current Situation and Role of Citizens

2011-03-30T06:41:00.002-04:00

Libya and Obama: Not impressed

2011-03-29T07:21:00.000-04:00

When the first fighter jets took off for mission Libya, I had a bad feeling. America is already in the middle of two wars, at home economic recovery is limited, so far, to the rich few and then the insanity of all the crap being spread around by the tea baggers is maddening. This is not the time to engage in another war. But never mind..the planes have already taken off and the bills are now coming in.

President Obama did not support popular uprising in Egypt until it was too late to pick sides. People were betting their lives in Tahrir Square and here America was busy calculating if Mubarak had actually outlived his best by date. Egyptian people screamed for change and America was deaf, almost to the D day.

Now in Libya, President Obama is eager to do something. Well, bad move.

First of all, what is now happening in Libya is not looking like a popular uprising. It is the state vs armed rebels. Since when does America conduct air strikes in support of the rebels? Libyan civilians have to be protected but don't support the rebels. Instead of no fly zone, Libya needs UN troops in a peace keeping mission.Save civilians but don't push the situation to point of civil war.

Libyan people will rise up in time. Now, the violence is keeping them silent. Give them the space to come out on their own and take charge. International community's present actions are just escalating the violence. Crazy man Q has to go but the Libyan people get to decide when and how. President Obama and the international community should respect the people's supremacy and retreat now!

Sent from my iPhone

Looking for family members/relatives of Mr. Surya Mohan Adhikari of Boston

2011-03-25T08:03:00.000-04:00

Sad story to share here. Surya Mohan Adhikari, a Nepali, was found unconscious on streets of Boston. He was taken to a hospital by a good Samaritan but so far no one from his family/ relatives of friends have come forward to take care of him. He is 72 years old.

Here is a portion of email I received,

A Nepali with name Surya Mohan Adhikari, 72 has been admitted in ICU of Beth Israel Hospital, Boston for many days and needs help. He was found
unconscious in the street some where in Cambridge [exact locality unknown] and taken to the hospital by an American women voluntarily. Nobody
[Nepalese] has so far meet him at the Hospital yet and the status of his known relatives in USA and Boston area is unknown. Since his condition is
very critical and unattended, Hospital authority is looking for his relatives or a representative of Nepalese community here in Boston. If
anybody know him and his relatives, please try to find his condition at the Beth Isreal Hospital. FYI, he used to work in Janak Sikchya Samgari Kendra while he was in Nepal
and now lives in Cambridge (Around Harvard) MA alone. Please forward this email to as many people here in Boston.
I will send you further update if I find. The news is here http://tinyurl.com/5r6hpq2 (Nepali)

With solidarity,
Uttam Babu Shrestha
Forwarded by Maheshwar Pant
Boston
maheshwarpant@gmail.com

Rebecca Novick at HuffPo on Nepal and Tibet: I disagree

2011-03-21T06:53:00.000-04:00

As a Nepali my observation on international media's coverage of Tibet issue and Nepal is bound to be biased. I am not a journalist, so I don't even have the veil-no matter how flimsy, of confessed unbiased reporting.

Over the weekend I read Rebecca Novick's post at HuffPo on Nepali authorities' violent crackdown on Tibetan refugees and their supporters in Kathmandu, on anniversary of Tibetan uprising.

The photo blog, was shot entirely from an outsider's perspective and did not offer anything from the Nepali side or the Tibetan side. Yes, Novick is sympathetic to the Tibetan cause but that is all, just the cause. That is not enough to understand this situation.

Why do Tibetans want freedom, what is happening now in Tibet and what is the effect of international community's support of this "cause" has to be discussed too. Just focusing on the oft repeated "Tibetans want freedom and the Chinese and Nepalis don't want that" is not going help.

I understand the scope of the post may not be such as to allow these deep issues to be discussed or analysed, then I offer a solution. Instead of clogging up already heated discussion on Tibet with one sided posts that offer little insight, it would have been better if Novick just shared the pictures of Nepali police acting badly.The readers will draw their own conclusion.

What is now happening in Tibet is sad and very concerning. International community and the media should be more proactive on this. I support, whole heartedly, Tibetan demands for freedom, rights, respect and their cultural heritage that is now being hurt deliberately. But fly-by posts on international publications of repute and following-like the HuffPo, do more harm than good.

Rebecca Novick's posts presents a picture of Nepal that could easily put the country as a Chinese protectorate run by a Beijing's puppet. And that is so wrong. She comments on the badly behaving police,

"The police are armed with lathis, six-foot-long bamboo sticks. A local reporter tells me that their riot gear is a gift from the Chinese Embassy..."

I am ashamed by the acts of Nepali police, Tibetan people and their supporters have rights to voice their opinion freely as Nepal is a democratic state. But accusing the police of being influenced by the Chinese Embassy? that is going too far even by already stretched Nepali standards.

Yes, Nepal is a close ally of China. So? is it wrong to be close with your neighbors? China regularly helps Nepal with equipments and technology, not because Nepal is run by China. It is because Nepal is poor and needs that support.

It is amazing that Western intellectuality and the media so easily expect a poor nation with limited resources to measure up to the high standards to behavior when the same standard is seldom applied to those with influence. Nepal is regularly squeezed in the international media on Tibet, is the same done to China- in scale comparable to actual guilt?

No way. China is far too important and influential to be seriously messed around with. But Nepal, ya lets screw them. Sad reality of our world!

Should Nepal give refuge to Sri Lankan political refugees

2011-03-18T08:26:00.000-04:00

A while back a short report on couple of Sri Lankan political activists seeking refuge in Nepal caught my attention. Kantipur says that that the 7 activists are from the opposition party and worked for Fonseka's election campaign.

Former General Sarath Fonseka was given much credit for Sri Lankan army victory over rebels Tamil Tigers but he was then target of much hatred from the government. He lost bid for presidency and now a group of people are in Nepal, claiming to be his supporters and seeking refuge.

Nepali government has rejected the request.I am wondering whether Nepal should have acted differently.

Sri Lanka and Nepal have close diplomatic relations and as members of SAARC they have worked together in number of areas to increase mutual cooperation and because of religious aspect-Buddhism, the two countries are on good terms.

So, it would be un characteristic for Nepal to anger Sri Lanka's government by accepting these opposition activists. Nepal does not want to be part of internal political tussle in it's neighbor's house. But what if these people are really threatened and in danger if they go back?

I would like to know what kind of investigation the immigration department did before coming to it's decision? And also, do we have a national policy on handling of asylum requests from activists in our neighboring countries.

Here is the link to the Kantipur story I reference: http://www.ekantipur.com/mobile/article.php?news_id=330929

Sent from my iPhone

Japan ,Bahrain and paralysis

2011-03-15T15:28:00.000-04:00

Japan is going through horrible tragedy. As as good friend, the land of rising sun always stood by Nepal, a trusted source of strength and support.

Directly, indirectly I have benefitted from Japan's aid to Nepal. What is now happening in that country now makes me sad, not because of what they have done for Nepal but because what we cannot do for them.

We cannot help them the way the developed nations can, we cannot take away the suffering and we cannot fix what has now been lost. The scale of tragedy is such that even prayers seem too small.

Hundreds of Nepalis work and study in Japan. It gives me hope that, despite a slow start, Japan based Nepali organizations are now sending volunteer teams to help with recovery efforts. This is another chapter in Nepal-Japan friendship. Hopefully, there will be better days ahead.

Bahrain is whole different story. I will not comment on the country's politics but the sheer ineptness of Nepali government in protecting laborers in the country makes me wonder if our government and agencies exist just to take advantage of the people.

I am in emotional paralysis. Sad for Japan and Bahrain, but will be glad when someone teaches Nepali government a lesson in ethics-ok non violent means pls.

Bhumika

Sent from my iPhone

The burqa debate: Is it really about women's rights?

2011-03-15T07:46:00.000-04:00

Women in the World 2011: My Story

2011-03-14T13:37:00.002-04:00

Nepali blogosphere/media and Japan quake

2011-03-11T14:30:00.000-05:00

Friday morning started in a hurry. At 5:30 AM, woke up devastating news of massive quake in Japan. There is a long story, in short-Japan is a very special place for me. So I start to check for news in frenzy..CNN, BBC, Twitter, Facebook..I rush through these site and check on my friends in Tokyo.

My friend and her her family is well and I start to check for news on Nepalis living in Japan. According to 1999 estimates there were 3,400 Nepalis in the country. In past decade, Nepali population in the country has grown largely due to growing number of students and also laborers.I would put the current population of Nepalis(including the illegal immigrants) in Japan at around 11,000-15,000.Not that huge but sizable and growing.

There are more than handful Nepali organization in Japan-various student associations, Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRN), cultural organization. So I checked their websites for updates. Nothing. Some of them hadn't been updated for months.

NRN Japan, probably largest Nepali organization in the country did not have any information for those seeking help, student organization websites were the worst. Here is a list of some of the ones I checked:

NRN Japan

Nepalese Association in Japan

Hokkaido University Nepali Students Association

Even Nepal Embassy Tokyo did not carry any information. It was so frustrating. So I went on Twitter to vent:

ok #nepali embassy in #japan has no update so far on the #jpquake situation and no information of nationals in need for help. #fb

6 hours ago via web

shows how #nepali system works. number of countries are already setting up hotlines 4 their citizens, while nepal embassy naps#jpquake #fb

6 hours ago

NRN #japan is also silent. this is one of the largest #nepaliorganization in japan #jpquake #fb

what is the freaking point of having a website when u update once a year/month? #japan based #nepali organization caught off guard #fb

Finally, hours after the quake struck, Nepali Embassy woke up and got working.

Good news.. #Nepal embassy in #japan springing into action. More information at nepaljapan.com #jpquake #nepaljapan

A positive turn, but Nepali blogs were still no where on the scene. Many of them had not been updated for months, even the ones run by known bloggers.Blogging for Global Voices, I have noticed for past couple of years that Nepali blogosphere (English or Nepali) is progressing very slowly. I can't quite figure out the reason, but while Indian, Pakistani and Bangla blogosphere have been very proactive, Nepali blogs are far away from being real change makers.

So, I am frustrated..what happened in Japan is a huge tragedy and how sad for a Nepali who cannot find reliable local information on well being of her compatriots in this age of new media explosion.

Women in the World 2011: On Livestream

2011-03-11T07:21:00.001-05:00

Hi all,

I will be attending Women in the World 2011 on this Saturday. You can follow Livestream here. I will be live tweeting the event..so follow me @bhumikaghimire

Fwd: MUSLIMS IN AMERICA

2011-03-10T16:18:00.000-05:00

This is a release I received today. Just an example of the environment we are in. So much hate and misinformation and suspicion.. Feels sad.

Bhumika

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

From: NeverAgainIsNow@live.com
Date: March 10, 2011 6:52:22 AM EST
To: bhumika_g@yahoo.com
Subject: MUSLIMS IN AMERICA

To view banner:www.victoriousamerica.com

Moslems in America

You are Responsible for Peter's Kings Congressional Hearings

Stanley Zir, author

Susan North, editor

Prologue

With Congressman King holding hearings on the radicalization of American Moslems you can be sure that President Barak Obama will chime in to remind Americans that their commitment to religious freedom must be unshakeable. We would like to remind Mr. Obama that tolerance for evil, no matter how it is dressed up whether in religious or secular garb is compliance, not compassion.

We can never expect a failsafe policy in our war against terrorism, but we have every right to demand a failsafe policy to protect us against those who breech the constitutional firewall that protects us from those who are now using their God's name to betray liberty's trust here at home. This betrayal of our covenant of freedom must now be exposed no matter what the cost. We must not be destroyed by those who would manipulate our documents of governance to destroy our fortress of liberty from within.

Any policy that puts America under house arrest, and muzzles our first amendment rights because we chose to speak out against nations whose constitutions honor the subjugation of the human spirit in Allah's name, is a policy that betrays our country's just purpose and noble cause. We are the defenders of liberty in this world. We must not be deterred in this noble quest. We are not tyranny compliant, despite what our enemies might now believe. We are not beholding to tyrannies' decrees. We don't let tyrannies dictate to us what we must do. We are here to end their reign of tyranny in this world.

Our founding fathers left us a recipe for freedom that secures the happiness of mankind, a Constitutional governance that repels tyranny at every turn. That is why we the people must honor this privilege afforded by our founders to secure America as an eternal sanctuary free from those who would use the name of God to deny us our Constitutional rights. In holding these hearings Cong. Peter King is fulfilling his sworn responsible to protect our nation from all enemies domestic and foreign who would destroy our nation from within.

Just three months after the attack on 9/11, I wrote the following on my site Victorious America http://victoriousamerica.com/pledge (a synopsis of this article is below).

Essay: Moslems in America

As Americans find themselves more and more in opposition to the religious tyrannical governances in the Islamic world, it would be wise for the so called moderate Moslem groups in this country to come out now in force and condemn not only the attacks on 9/11, but the Mosque/State religious tyrannical nations of the Arab League that are the breeding grounds for these acts of terrorism, and the homelands of those that attacked us.

People of the Moslem faith who came here to pursue the American dream must speak out and lead the fight to expose the nations of the Islamic world which embrace Mosque/State governmental decrees.

By speaking out against these enclaves of oppression and hatred the Moslem people in America could gain the full support of the American people. This would go a long way in preventing Americans from distrusting them on their position in the war against terrorism. If Moslems do not speak out now and make their position perfectly clear, they will be responsible for creating distrust in the future.

After all, many people came to America to become citizens because they were persecuted for their religious or secular beliefs. After 9/11 shouldn't Moslems, as American citizens, be the loudest in their protests to end the tyranny in the Mosque/State governing institutions in the Islamic world.

Did anyone in the years prior to 9/11 observe any Moslem organization in America willing to visit the country of their origin, as American citizens with the express purpose of talking about the absence of freedoms or the necessity of changes to end the reign of tyranny. I never heard such objections even in America. On the other hand, I heard it from Americans of Cuban descent, and Americans of Chinese descent, whose relatives are still under such tyrannical regimes, but never from the Moslems of America.

It is time for the so called moderate Moslem groups to speak out. Your silence on Islamic tyranny and its purpose to radicalize the world, over the years past speaks volumes. Your inaction dishonors the privileges that American citizenship affords you by dishonoring the freedoms you enjoy today. Freedoms – that were secured because of America's on-going battle against the advancement of tyranny and oppression in this world. It is time you totally condemn homicidal bombing against civilians around the world without reservation, and condemn the lies coming from the Islamic world which justify such an agenda.

In a gathering for Moslems in Washington, DC earlier this year not one speaker talked about human rights abuses in the Moslem world. I wonder where Moslem Americans will stand when the United States finds itself in conflict with most of the Moslem nations in the future. Why must we wait for that moment for you to reveal your allegiance?

Therefore, after 9/11 it seems to me that it would be appropriate for these so called moderate Moslem groups in America to once again meet in Washington, DC. This time they need to declare their allegiance to America in the war against terrorism, and their opposition to the reigns of tyranny in their lands of origin.

This one action is the greatest act of patriotism Moslem citizens can make in America to show their allegiance to democracy and our constitution first and foremost. By taking this one step America will achieve the unconditional support of the whole world in our fight against terror. At the same time it will shift the focus of all Islamic nations to open the doors of liberty, freedom and the rule of law.

Henceforth, Victorious America will extend its participation in the process of protecting and defending man's fundamental rights based on the foundation of democratic principles. I will fearlessly challenge and uncover any group, institution, government or nation in the secular or religious world that would desecrate these ideals to promote tyranny and oppression in order to achieve absolute power as the rule of law.

I wrote this in 2001 three months after the attack on September 11, 2001. It is now March 2011. Where were all those moderates hiding for the last ten years?

Stanley Zir, author

NeverAgainIsNow.com

NeverAgainIsNow@live.com

Ted Belman
Jerusalem, Israel
972 (0)54 441 3252

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Peter King is a shame

2011-03-10T07:59:00.000-05:00

Peter King will kick off his extravaganza today. It is going to be a fun day if you are a crazy nut who believes that a whole community deserves to be penalized for mistakes of some.

Peter King supported the IRA a designated terrorist organization and now he wants to grill the American Muslims because some Muslims are terrorists. You can see the irony here and this is no simple irony. Peter King's hearing has given the real radicals and terrorists tool to recruit and has pushed some to be more extremist in their view of America and the west.

There is a better way to do this if King really wants to find out why US Muslims are being radicalized and the scope of the problem. First don't call this a hearing on Islam or Muslims, make it more about homeland security and less about the community.

European Muslims are retreating into urban ghettos and are not assimilating. Why? Because they don't fell included in the mainstream. If nuts like King continue their misguided campaign, America too will see the ghettos.

Sent from my iPhone

Why no men's day!

2011-03-08T06:35:00.001-05:00

100th International Women's Day

Today is 100th International Women's Day. It is wrong to just dismiss this day just as another of these "days" we have to celebrate or remember certain events or people. This day is a reminder that women still need a "day" to celebrate their achievements and contribution while the men's work gets recognized everyday.

Now don't tell me I am bitter against men or that I am anti men, I am just stating the obvious. Why do we need to have one day in a year to honor women if we are equals? Why isn't there a men's day?

This all goes back to the basis of our human society. We are a system that functions by pushing a section behind and promoting the other thus creating a fracture which insures that the powerful will always rule the inferior.

Women are the ones being held back and the men are in power. There are other forms of discrimination too but gender discrimination laid the stone.

This power system has held back women for generations. I am celebrating this day but will be nice if my daughter does not get to celebrate this day because she is celebrated everyday.

Sent from my iPhone

This is Nepal..Dearer when dead

2011-03-07T13:38:00.000-05:00

Legendary Nepali novelist Diamond Shumsher Rana died last week. He is being exalted in his death but where were these people when he was still alive? Stop idolizing people when they are dead, give them the respect when they are still alive to see it.

Nepal's media loves Bryan Adams but hates abortions

2011-02-28T13:00:00.000-05:00

O yes..Nepali media is still all gaga about the Adams concert while no one, except for one magazine, is paying any attention to growing incidents of female infanticide and abortions in capital Kathmandu. Shame!

Bryan Adams comes to Kathmandu and the media acts like his PR agent

2011-02-21T13:31:00.000-05:00

Shameless Nepali media goes Gaga over Bryan Adams concert..what are they? PR agents now?. At times when important national issues like the economy and the law and order situation is getting ignored by the media, this concert gets front page treatment for days! as if this one stupid concert is going to deliver Nepal and all Nepalis from the evils of poverty and lawlessness

Case for limited government in Nepal

2011-02-07T12:59:00.000-05:00

Afghanistan: Opium, poverty, and women

2011-02-01T12:51:00.000-05:00

Also shared at Feministing

By BHUMIKA GHIMIRE | Published: JANUARY 26, 2011 |

Time has a very interesting report on how Afghan infants are given pure opium by their mothers, just so that the child goes to sleep and they can work.

“She unwraps it, breaking off a small chunk as if it were chocolate, and feeds it to four-year-old son, Omaidullah. It’s his breakfast — a lump of pure opium.
“If I don’t give him opium he doesn’t sleep,” she says. “And he doesn’t let me work.”

Opium is also used as a medicine in poor communities. If a child is sick, has fever or when an adult is tired and cannot work-opium is used as a one pill solution. This is created a huge addiction problem in Afghanistan. From childhood people are using opium and whey get older, they are completely addicted.

What is the solution? Start detox programs, educate people about addiction and dangers of opium? Well, these solutions will work only up to a certain point, after that they stop being effective. Why? because the main problem is not opium, it is poverty and status of women.

Afghan mothers in remote villages don’t get time to nurture their children, it is all about work and survival for them. If they don’t work hard, the children can go hungry.Men and women struggling to survive cannot afford to stop working and spend time with their child. In desperation, they drug their child so that they are free to work. It is tragic and heartbreaking, but cruel reality of poverty.

Then there is the issue of women’s rights. In Afghanistan, women are still very much oppressed and much more so in the remote villages. They are poor and they are women-double whammy of discrimination.Because of their lowly status, they have very little say in the family. So, even if a mother is aware of dangers of opium, she is helpless. She has to work and their is no one to look after the child, she is forced to use opium. Men consider house work beneath their status, they will not help out in taking care of a child or do household chores. In fact, men helping their wife are taunted in the community. This is true in case of large number of Asian families-especially in South Asia.

I wish Time had explored this side of the story too, instead of just focusing on the addiction.

Democracy is a flawed system

2011-01-31T11:13:00.000-05:00

Philly Abortion Scandal: Total Disregard for Human Life and Dignity

2011-01-27T13:10:00.000-05:00

Also posted at Feministing by Bhumika Ghimire

Horror story coming out of Philadelphia, of an unqualified doctor performing abortions who allegedly killed babies born alive and endangered lives of numerous patients-one of whom, a refugee from Nepal died after anesthesia overdose , should enrage us all.

This is not about being pro-life or pro-choice, this is about women’s health and poverty.

The doctor in this case, Kermit Gosnell, a family practitioner; knowingly targeted low income, minority and immigrant women. These women were often very desperate and had no other choice but to go to this doctor who performed late term abortions without any training, certification in obstetrics.

The New York Times reported on January 19,

“In the grand jury document, prosecutors called Dr. Gosnell’s clinic “a baby charnel house,” riddled with fetal remains and reeking of cat urine, with furniture and blankets stained with blood. Medical equipment was broken and supplies were reused.
“The real business of the ‘Women’s Medical Society’ was not health, it was profit,” the document stated. It detailed a practice of selling prescription painkillers during the day, and at night, performing abortions for cash for women who could not get them elsewhere because they were too pregnant.”

Because of the partisan and religion fueled rhetoric surrounding abortion and women’s health care rights, very little is being done to provide safe late term abortion facilities and also insure that the providers are safe. After Dr. Tiller’s murder, not many doctors are there to provide this services, and frauds like Dr. Gosnell take advantage of the opportunity.

Dr. Gosnell also took advantage of these women’s social and economic status. Poverty absolutely contributed this horror. At Time.com , Belinda Luscomb said on January 20,

“Gosnell’s techniques — using untrained staff, operating the business day and night, not maintaining equipment and not keep up with modern medical techniques (using Demerol is frowned upon these days) — are typical of those in any business trying to cut corners to keep costs low. It’s likely that he was the cheapest abortion provider around in a community that’s not accustomed to the highest health-care standards anyway.”

It is clear, as long as ideology dominates the debate on abortion and women’s health, minorities and women with limited resources are going to be victimized.

comments on Davos World Economic Forum and Gun control

2011-01-26T14:42:00.000-05:00

the gun control thing has totally revved me up. i am just sick and tired of the loons who say guns make us safer. it is not about the constitution for me, it is all about commonsense, people, the constitution is not written on stone and can be amended. gun rights and the battle to keep the rights claims hundreds of innocent lives every day in amercia. guns are so common and they contribute to many fatal accidents. and don't get started on mass shootings.

so why are there people so adamant about this. i mean, they don't have same passion for other constitutional rights. why is the right to keep arms so special?

my comment at Guardian,

i am totally blown away by some of the comments here. the one that takes the cake is

As a woman who never outgrew her annoying childhood habit of being one of the smallest people in the room, I am very, very glad that second amendment opponents have for the most part been unsuccessful in rescinding the fundamental right to self-defense.

@jenniferabel

are you talking about self defense, seriously? what kind of self defense actually? the one that allows a mentally challenged person to buy a gun capable of mass murder in about say 30 secs. the idiot in arizona had a 30 round ammunition gun, did he need that level of self defense? i mean, who was he so afraid of? 9 year old christian taylor green or rep.giffords-someone who pleaded for civility in politics.

you and those who buy into this crazy notion of "guns will help me defend myself" are frankly delusional. guns don't buy safety, proper system do.

and about the gathering of the high and mighty in Davos, Switzerland..I am not that warm and fuzzy

i sound like a cave dweller but i don't get the "Davos thing"! i mean what is the point?

hundreds of important people are some who have bequeathed the title on to themselves, gather in beautiful Switzerland and talk all they want. don't we have similar events..for example the UN General Assembly, G7 meetings, WTO, and the list goes on and on.

i don't understand why the world's powerful and genius need to have these endless events to pump up their already obese ego and waste money and time. if Davos is to be relevant, they have to start by being result oriented and show us what they have achieved..not just the talk but REAL stuff.

and about the gender thing, well i believe that there would be more women in Davos if there was actual work been done there!

now you be the judge!

Panel discussion on caste discrimination and Nepali women

2011-01-25T13:12:00.001-05:00

On Saturday Jan 22, we had a very lively and informative discussion on caste discrimination and Nepali women.I was the moderator and Dr. Drona Rasali and Ms. Sushma Barakoti were the panelists. Dr. Rasali is a very active member of Nepali community in Canada and is also involved in the movement to eliminate caste discrimination from Nepali society. Sushma Barakoti is former president of Nepali Women's Global Network.

As you can see, both panelists brought in lot of experience and expertise into the discussion. You can listen to the audio at this link: Listen here

Hope that you will find it informative. You can read more about caste and Nepal here:

Caste discrimination is not victimless. In Nepal, this practice with roots in ancient Hindu teachings, affects thousands of lives every year and many are trapped in a cycle of victimization at every level.

Poverty, lack of adequate access to employment and various other resources, as well as social exclusion has made the Dalit or the "untouchable" community vulnerable to remaining poor if not in extreme poverty. A majority of the Dalits live well under the poverty line, and discrimination punishes members of this community not only economically, but socially too.

Why are we so afraid of influential women?

2011-01-20T23:01:00.000-05:00