Our Glocal Village

Dipesh Dulal's views on global and local perspectives

Background

Probably most of the folks, like us, have been moved by learning that the Sahara Desert used to be under dense green vegetation with blue lines (rivers). Times have changed; demography now has complex characteristics. Historical studies of development and progress are just documented; but where are the lessons? Attending a global climate change conference, somewhere perhaps in Rio de Janeiro, returning back home on super jet with lots of consumer goods as gifts to family – relatives – and friends, forgetting everything on way home, and preparing for next conference : this is an NGO-cycle, where problems (here the climate change) remains on the same status.

Students for a Sustainable Future, a group composed of members from Students for a Democratic Society, Clean Energy for UMD and the Student Sustainability Council, organized the protest to raise awareness about the damage coal mining has on the environment. (Media Credit: Jackie Borowski)

The trend of NGO-cycle is slowly being copied by GOs, CBOs, Academic Organisations and individuals. I’m extremely worried about this.

The industrialisation that began in Europe in mid 1800s still continues with a new look, technology and widespread all over the world. Excemption is the noticeable attempts of Nordic countries and California for their efforts in promoting sustainable trend of resource use and clean energy development.

The advocacy for better system and sustainability is an ant in front of industrial giant.

Nepal : the system that I’m component of

Nepal was under the Rana regime (1846-1950), the darkest period of 104 years, where from extreme feudalism restricted normal Nepalese citizen from educational, economic and any other promising opportunities. The multi-party democracy, non-party democracy, again the multi-party democracy and now the democracy kicking out the monarchy … the series of people’s participation is state has reached its optimum. Still, people are facing problems because of geo-politics, corruption, illiteracy, conservative customs and traditions, 10 year long peoples war led by Maoists, lack or rule of law, and by latest : global economic recession and depletion of natural resources.
I was born in a village near Kathmandu. I’ve not lived in the remotest aspect of Nepal. I’m facing problems in Kathmando too : lack of safe drinking water, air pollution, electriccal energy crisis, mobocracy, leg pullers, and so on. But, I’ve got more inspirations from like-minded folks.

Inspirations

Right from middle school, we’ve learned about the renewable natural resources, green-house effect, ozone layer, in which I found myself more into. Met wide range of students from Nepal (country of richest diversity) during high school and University. Also met, friends and professionals while volunteering and teaching. Now, slowly getting into professionalism. On course, I’ve met and have friendship with manypositive people. I get inspiration from them.

Problem

* How will the future of mother earth, flora, fauna including human beings be secured? Can we ascertain seeing this trend ?
-> No.
* What next?
-> Rebel for better system and sustainability.
* Why ‘rebel’ , doesn’t it sound like violent ?
-> No, we all condemn violence ; but stronger demonstrations are necessary.

Stronger Demonstrations

The world has faced terrorism, autocrats and allied problems. The stronger demonstrations is also against these problems. Primarily, we are focused on establishing global partnerships through better system and sustainability.
I’m graduating from Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu; final exams are lately by May 2009. I’ve got opportunity to meet like minded folks in Ilmenau, Germany in May 2009. Hope that everything goes well. I’m visiting Leeds for a school exchange program. Surely, I’ll meet more good folks around. I joined this context because :

• We need to raise our energy level by meeting like minded friends.
• We can demonstrate by changing ourselves and praising each other for better system and sustainability.
• We can demonstrate by mass participation.
• We can demonstrate by advocating for good reasons.
• We can demonstrate by spreading the voices via papers, internet, TV, radio, and all media.
• We can demonstrate be being examples of better system and promoters/practitioners of sustainable development.

Constraints

I’m not sure, if there are any leg pullers around you. Be sure to kick them off and make a pace for better system and sustainability.