Monday, June 6, 2011

The Symbolic “Broom”, our filthy politics, and Nepal's deteriorating environment

by Prashant Singh

On the occasion of the World Environment day (June 5), some one hundred cyclists started a rally at 7 AM from Sherpa Mall- Durbar Marg, that sits at the heart of Kathmandu demanding “Cleaner Environment- Cleaner Politics” in Nepal. They pedaled their way to BICC, the building that has been hosting the mammoth 601 member constituent Assembly (CA) for more than three years now. They were joined by scores of other protesters at BICC. Together, they cleaned up the outside of the CA building using brooms, and urged the CA members to clean up the inside of the CA. WE all know that a number of CA members in recent months have been charged with indulging in corrupt activities- many of them currently under arrest.

Sunil Pant, a CA member received a broom with 601 bristles from the protestors who urged Mr. Pant to ask his fellow members to unite and work for the country. Sunil Tamang, a 19 year old student who has just finished a solo-trekking across the breadth of Nepal to see the impacts of climate change pointed out that just as a broom is not effective until all the bristles are tied together, the CA will not be effective until the lawmakers agree and work on the Nation’s common interest together. Sunil (Tamang) was speaking from experience having seen the plight of Nepal with his eyes in last several months.

Environment and Peace in Nepal are interlinked. The chaos and corruption has been causing the plundering of Nepal’s forests by criminals seen widely to be hands in glove with the politicians and the enforcement authorities. The situation has helped the poachers to kill Nepal’s globally significant wildlife species at will. Deteriorating environment means increased incidence of poverty and societal conflict in Nepal as the nation’s largely rural population heavily depends on natural resources. Amidst several other advantages, the completion of peace process, and promulgation of the new constitution would help Nepal’s environment.

One hopes the good sense prevails in coming days.

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