HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010 to all of You!
May the 2010 be full of happinesses, success and joy in all your endeavors!
- GöNES Family
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May the 2010 be full of happinesses, success and joy in all your endeavors!
- GöNES Family
Thursday, 31 December 2009
Wednesday, 30 December 2009
Few clips from Aarju's Birthday !
All these photos are randomly chosen from my movie camera! These are the photos that I took yesterday during the celebration of Aarju's 2nd Birthday!
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A popular song by Ruby Bist
She couldnot denied to sing when we requested her to sing again and again. Her melodious voice compelled us to say, "one more" and "one more"
We are very thankful to her!
A popular song by Ruby Bist
Ruby Bist is an amateur singer, trying to sing amid of all nepalese friends in Goettingen, Germany! Eventhough she is an amateur singer, but she has shown tremendous possibilty to be a professional in future. She just need little more practice and encouragement by you all!
Birthday song for AARJU !
Children are more than happy to participate a happy birthday celebration!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY 2 AARJU
We celebrated second birthday of our daughter AARJU at Goettingen, Germany amid of small gathering.
Sunday, 27 December 2009
Uncontrolled sand excavation in Tinau river, Butwal
This is the photo which I have taken 3 years back at Tinau river, Butwal Nepal. The river Tinau, has been providing employment to thousands of poor people and lucrative benefits to few crushers and businessmen. The excavation of sands and stones from the river and its legal (illegal) export to India, has many environmental impacts too. In the photo, we can see that the people have already excavated the sand from the underneath a development activities. In the picture, we can see that it is the "NAHAR HEAD (Canal Head)" of Tinau river on the past, from where already sand and gravels taken away. This is very risky to the worker also because anytime the upperstructure could be broken and buried them! Also, on the backgrounds we can see many houses on the middle of Tinau river. This place used to be one corpse burying places (Chihanghari) and many times the TINAU FLOODS had swaped it.
Is there any controlling organisation? Does BUTWAL Municapality or District Development Committe, Rupandehi have any responsibility? If some accidents happened then who should be blamed! Also,
Friday, 25 December 2009
Few photos of newly born Aryan Budthapa
These are few photos of Aryan Budthapa, born at 21 December 2009 in University Hospital of Georg August university, Goettingen, Germany! Mother Basanti Budthapa and his sisters could be seen on the photos.
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Thursday, 24 December 2009
Congratulation to Sangam Paudel
Gold medal to SANGAM
Master Sangam and his teammates demonstrating the Shield towards audience! What a jubilation! What a big achievements at this early age!
Not only, master Sangam, but also the parents were honoured for the environment provided to their son. School honored his parents with this certificate and prize!
The winner's certificate!
Master Sangam and his team members with Shield!
Chief guest of final competition presenting certicate and gold medal to winning team!As our forefathers rightly said that the Better fruiting plants show their smooth leaves from the beginning, Mr. Sangam Paudel has been showing tremendous talent from this early age. As the father, so the son (A Geniticists View) has challenged the Darwinism of environmental impacts on! As the parents Dr. Lok Nath Paudel has nurterd him with high level of intellectuality and well environment for study, Master Sangam has been pouring millions of happinesses not only to his family but all of us!
He has recently won the first prize, gold medal and to his school, St. Xavier Godavari, in Kathmandu Valley Inter School Spelling Competition. There were more than fourty schools competed for the programme! There were several stages of competition, and in final round master Sangam won the first prize. He was the team leader of his team (Primary School). The competition was very hard as many other tough teams were participated. The whole final competition was live telecasted by Nepal's number one private television channel, Kantipur!
Master Sangam is the student of grade VI at St. Xavier School, Godavari Nepal. He has always demonstrating his outstanding performance in other extracurricular activities! Similarly, in his whole life, he has never occured second! Sangam, always the first, in his class is the pride of all of us! As he has been moving ahead, we have many more expectation from him! We expect other bigger achievements in his life! Anyway, we would like to congratulate not only to Master Sangam, but also to Dr. Lok Nath Paudel and Usha Paudel for this outstanding achievement of son!
Tuesday, 22 December 2009
WELCOME TO ARYAN
We would like to welcome the newest members of Goettingeli Nepalese Society (GöNeS). Aryan borned in the Budthapa family on 21 December, 2009 at the University Medical of Goettingen. He was born at 9:17 O'Clock at the hospital. At the time of birth, his body weight was 3610 grams and 51 cm tall.
The delivery was quite normal and the health of mother and son was the perfectly sound. With the birth of this wonder boy, all the Budthapa family and the members of GöNeS are very happy and in jubilant moods. Father Bharat and mother Basanti, including two sisters Aashma and Ayushma, all are happy to get the newses member into their family. Her grandparents and all the relatives in Nepal, are also extending their blessing to Aryan.
We wish his perfect health and glowing future. Similarly we congratulate his parents, Basanti and Bharat Budthapa, for the birth of Aryan.
We will request all of you readers to extend your blessings to the new born son through this Website also.
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Monday, 21 December 2009
My experience as BEARS' mother
A book by an inspirational woman, who worked hard to rear numbers of wild bear in her house.
I salute her courage, patience and affection to protect wildlife and nature" You are the greatest of the the great mothers!
Sunday, 20 December 2009
Wednesday, 16 December 2009
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
Saturday, 12 December 2009
Friday, 11 December 2009
Thursday, 10 December 2009
GöNES Talk Programme on Global Climate Change
Dear Colleagues,
GöNES cordially invites all the colleagues, living in and around Goettingen to the discussion (talk programme) at Albrecht Thaer weg, 24D/11, 37075 Goettingen at 18:30h s.t., on Thursday, 17 December.
The topic for the discussion is 'the Global climate change- our roles towards mitigation measures'. The discussion programme 'Bahas' will last for 1.5 hours.
All are welcome. If you are joining the Bahas, please come with little preparation about global climate change issues, COP, Nepal's position on climate change, your view on Nepal's cabinet meeting at the Everest Base Camp, Nepal's participation at Copenhagen COP15, REDD and other relevant issues in order to provide more food for fruitful discussion.
We are looking forward to your active participation.
Rajendra KC
Netra Bhandari (will moderate this Talk Programme) Read more...
Sunday, 6 December 2009
The story of transformation of one gangster in the Philipinnes
Souce: CNN.com
At 16, Rhandolf Fajardo reflects on his former life as a gang member.
"My gang mates were the most influential thing in my life," says Fajardo, who joined a gang when he was in sixth grade. "We were pressured to join."
He's not alone. In the Philippines, teenage membership in urban gangs has surged to an estimated 130,000 in the past 10 years, according to the Preda Foundation, a local human rights charity. "I thought I'd get stuck in that situation and that my life would never improve," recalls Fajardo. "I would probably be in jail right now, most likely a drug addict -- if I hadn't met Efren."
Efren Peñaflorida, 28, also was bullied by gangs in high school. Today, he offers Filipino youth an alternative to gang membership through education. "Gang members are groomed in the slums as early as 9 years old," says Peñaflorida. "They are all victims of poverty."
For the past 12 years, Peñaflorida and his team of teen volunteers have taught basic reading and writing to children living on the streets. Their main tool: A pushcart classroom. Stocked with books, pens, tables and chairs, his Dynamic Teen Company recreates a school setting in unconventional locations such as the cemetery and municipal trash dump.
Peñaflorida knows firsthand the adversity faced by these children. Born into a poor family, he lived in a shanty near the city dump site. But he says he refused to allow his circumstances to define his future.
"Instead of being discouraged, I promised myself that I would pursue education," he recalls. "I will strive hard; I will do my best." In high school, Peñaflorida faced a new set of challenges. Gang activity was rampant; they terrorized the student body, vandalized the school and inducted members by forcing them to rape young girls, he says.
"I felt the social discrimination. I was afraid to walk down the street."
Peñaflorida remembers standing up to a gang leader, refusing to join his gang. That confrontation proved fateful. At 16, he and his friends "got the idea to divert teenagers like us to be productive," he says.
He created the Dynamic Teen Company to offer his classmates an outlet to lift up themselves and their community. For Peñaflorida, that meant returning to the slums of his childhood to give kids the education he felt they deserved.
"They need education to be successful in life. It's just giving them what others gave to me," he says. Today, children ranging from ages 2 to 14 flock to the pushcart every Saturday to learn reading, writing, arithmetic and English from Peñaflorida and his trained teen volunteers. "Our volunteers serve as an inspiration to other children," he says.
The group also runs a hygiene clinic, where children can get a bath and learn how to brush their teeth.
Since 1997, an estimated 10,000 members have helped teach more than 1,500 children living in the slums. The organization supports its efforts by making and selling crafts and collecting items to recycle. Through his group, Peñaflorida has successfully mentored former gang members, addicts and dropouts, seeing potential where others see problems. "Before, I really didn't care for my life," says Michael Advincula, who started doing drugs when he was 7. "But then Efren patiently dug me from where I was buried. It was Efren who pushed me to get my life together."Today, Advincula is a senior in high school and one of the group's volunteers.
Peñaflorida hopes to expand the pushcart to other areas, giving more children the chance to learn and stay out of gangs."I always tell my volunteers that you are the change that you dream and I am the change that I dream. And collectively we are the change that this world needs to be."
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A sweet short story
A man was polishing his new car; his 4 yr old son picked up a stone & scratched on the side of the car. In anger, the furious Man took his child's hand & hit it many times, not realizing he was using a wrench. At the hospital, the child lost all his fingers due to multiple fractures. When the child saw his father....with painful eyes he asked 'Dad when will my fingers grow back?' The man was so hurt and speechless. He went back to the car and kicked it many times. Devastated by his own actions... sitting in front of the car he looked at the scratches, His son had written 'LOVE YOU DAD'. Â Next day that man committed suicide...Anger and Love have no limits... Always remember..... " Things are to be used and people are to be loved " but the problem in today's world is.... " People are being USED & Things are being LOVED.
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Saturday, 5 December 2009
German Newspaper Coverage on Cabinet Meeting on Mount Everest
German media widely covered the Cabinet meeting of Nepalese Government at Mount Everest! Please enjoy the movie clip.
Thursday, 3 December 2009
Wednesday, 2 December 2009
'Everyone Should Have the Right to Credit'
A Mind blowing interview with Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus from Bangladesh Source: Spiegel Online
SPIEGEL ONLINE: Mr. Yunus, you provide microcredit to people in developing countries through the Grameen Bank. Is a similar program required in Germany?
kers see them as too big a risk. Yet they are the very people who need loans. SPIEGEL ONLINE: Why? The unemployed get state support.
Yunus: That is the usual system in rich countries, like Germany. But there is no incentive to generate new income on unemployment payments. The next payment is coming next month after all. This robs people of initiative. One could also give the unemployed microcredit, allowing them to start their own businesses. Capable people should not sit in front of the television, like zombies, without having something to do. Their potential and skills go unused, their creativity is wasted.
SPIEGEL ONILNE: Would you grant microcredit to every jobless person?
Yunus: Everyone should have the right to a loan. You could say that you'll give someone €100 or loan them €500. It's a better way to distribute money. If only half of the people pay back the money, then it's already a success. And if the person receiving the loan is successful, that will encourage others. Pride returns.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: There are already a lot of opportunities for jobless people to receive subsidies to start a business from the state. The KfW bank, a federal institute, already gives small loans. Why does Germany nevertheless need microcredit?
Yunus: State programs usually have strict bureaucratic procedures, from which there is no deviation. Some people raise their capital from this system and get around the rules. Not because they need the loans but because they know they can trick the system. Others don't even make the cut because they don't fit a certain profile. Also, the state is not necessarily interested in sustainability when providing credit. Finally, the money is financed by tax payers.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: Does that mean microcredit should instead come from private institutions?
Yunus: I don't want to use the word "private." That means that the lender expects to earn money from the loan. I see microcredit as a social business. Social business means that you take on a certain social problem with an enterprise. Profits are then reinvested back into the social business. In addition, costs have to be covered. That is why we demand interest.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: At rather high rates. The Grameen Bank sometimes asks for as much as 20 percent.
Yunus: Of course low interest is good. But when an institution has to support itself, then we can't offer an interest rate that doesn't allow the institution to be run sustainably.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: You've also created programs in developing countries for beggars that don't demand interest payments. Do these loans get paid back?
Yunus: Yes. The rate of repayment is actually very high. We don't take any interest because we don't want to apply pressure. The beggars should feel comfortable taking the money.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: Then where does the motivation to pay the money back come from?
Yunus: If the beggar pays back the money, then they get a new loan with the same conditions. In our experience, it works.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: Would that work also with homeless people in Germany?
Yunus: It's something we should try. It would be a new situation and, of course, I can't tell you now if it would work. I also wouldn't want to give a loan to every beggar, but would try it out first with one. If that works, then one can extend credit to the next person. When one starts, others follow. It worked in Bangladesh and many other countries.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: Which criteria do you set in order to give loans to the poorest of the poor?
Yunus: We first try to understand why someone becomes a beggar. Usually, there was some turning point in their life. It is easy to say that beggars don't want to work but it's possible that this is not at all true. Then we discuss with them what they could do, make a business plan and provide them with funding.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: Does every beggar have a business idea?
Yunus: The human spirit is infinitely creative. If you keep thinking about something, eventually you find a solution.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: Microcredit seems to works so well because there is moral pressure from the community on the person who takes out the loan. However, German culture is very individualistic and people often live anonymously. Would microcredit still work here?
Yunus: Look at New York. There, residents don't usually know who lives next door. When someone dies, it often goes unnoticed. But microcredit is functioning there. Through the programs, we bring people together and suddenly, they have friends. That's where the community pressure comes from.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: Have you been to a country where microcredit didn't work?
Yunus: No. People need money. We live in a world where money is important.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: There are branches of the Grameen Bank, which you founded in 1983, in several countries around the world. When will you open a branch in Germany?
Yunus: I get asked a lot why there still isn't a branch in Germany. But I won't come from Bangladesh and say "I want to introduce microcredit here." Someone has to come to me and say: "Hey, can you help us with this?"
SPIEGEL ONLINE: And no one has asked you yet?
Yunus: A few people once came to me asking for assistance in creating a kind of ecological microcredit bank in Germany. But they lost interest and had other things on their mind.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: Many companies are active in social business -- another idea which started with you. BASF is selling mosquito nets that even very poor people can afford, Danone sells cheap vitamin-rich yogurt, while Veolia has created a social business offering affordable drinking water. Which company will you convince next to undertake a social business?
Yunus: I don't convince anybody. I wait for them to come to me. They don't even have to work with me. They can do it on their own initiative. I don't want to expand my bank, but rather spread the idea.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: Adidas has recently announced that it will also be getting involved in a social business. Did you go to Adidas or did the company ask you for advice?
Yunus: The people from Adidas came to me. They asked me what they could do and then I told them that they need to have a goal, a mission. That could be: No one in the world has to run around without a pair of shoes. The shoe must, of course, be affordable, and that makes it a social business.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: Why are shoes so important?
Yunus: Many people don't know that shoes can protect them from disease. Many parasites get into the body by penetrating the feet. If all children had shoes, we could prevent many illnesses. If Adidas can succeed with this idea, then other businesses will follow. There is a new kind of competition emerging -- the competition to help other people.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: Why do social businesses work?
Yunus: There are two sides to every person: selfishness and selflessness. The selfless part is just as strong as the selfish side, we just haven't admitted that yet. Most businesses are based on selfishness but why can't we build a business on selflessness? To help others is a joy. We don't want to abolish capitalism but complete it. Selfishness and selflessness belong equally there.
Interview conducted by Friederike Ott
Read more...Tuesday, 1 December 2009
Life Story of Sahana Pradhan
सहाना प्रधान नेपाली अग्रणी महिला नेत्री हुन् । उनका जीवनका कति कुरा प्रेरणाप्रद छन् । कति कुरा बडो दुःखप्रद पनि रहेछन् । सबैभन्दा राम्रो त जीवनको उकाली-ओरालीमा साहस र हिम्मतसाथ जुध्न सक्ने उनको क्षमता सम्पूर्ण नारीले मात्र होइन, पुरुषले समेत अनुकरण गर्न योग्य छन् । नेपाल कम्युनिस्ट पार्टीका संस्थापक पुष्पलालकी जीवनसंगिनी सहानाको जीवन निकै संघर्षपूर्ण रह्यो । एमाले नेत्री सहानाको प्रत्यक्ष अनुभूतिमा कस्ता थिए होलान् पुष्पलाल ? उनी पुष्पलाललाई यसरी सम्भिmन्छिन्-
त्यो ००४ साल वैशाख १७ गतेको दिन थियो । हामी राणाविरुद्धको आन्दोलनमा सहभागी हुँदै थियौँ । त्यही दिन कमरेड पुष्पलालसँग मेरो पहिलो भेट भएको हो । मलाई त राजनीतिका धेरै कुरा थाहा थिएनन् । छोरीले पनि पढ्न पाउनुपर्छ भन्ने चेतनाले म र दिदी साधना राणाविरुद्धको आन्दोलनमा सहभागी भएका थियौँ । हाम्रो आन्दोलनको सफलतास्वरूप पद्मशमशेरले ००४ सालमा पद्मकन्या स्कुल खोलिदिए । यसैको विकसित रूप डिल्लीबजारस्थित अहिलेको कन्या स्कुल हो ।
स्कुल त खोलियो तर त्यहाँ प्राइमरी कक्षा मात्र चलाइन्थ्यो । सात कक्ष्ाासम्म त दिदी र मैले बर्मामै पढेका थियौँ । हामीलाई फेरि पढ्न समस्या भयो । पछि हामीलाई घरमै पढ्ने व्यवस्था मिलाइयो । मैले घरमै पढेर पनि टेस्ट परीक्षा पास गरेँ । यसरी मैले ००४ सालमा एसएलसी पनि पास गरेँ ।
साधना दिदी र म पढ्न लखनउ पुग्यौँ । त्यहाँ अमेरिकी मिसनरी 'इजावेला थोर्वन' कलेजमा हामी आइए भर्ना भयौँ । ००४ सालको आन्दोलनमा लागेर भेट भएदेखि नै पुष्पलालजीको मप्रति आकर्षण रहेछ । तर, मलाई त्यो कुरा थाहा थिएन । हुन त त्यस आन्दोलनमा पक्राउ परेर ब्यारेकमा १५ दिन हामी सँगै बसेका थियौँ । हातमा मसाल बोकेर हामी सँगै पनि हिँडेका थियौँ । त्यस आन्दोलनपछि उहाँ बनारस जानुभयो र नेपाली कांग्रेसको कार्यालयसचिव भएर काम गर्न थाल्नुभयो । म लखनउमा पढिरहेको वेला दुईपटक मलाई भेट्न आउनुभएको थियो । पढाइको सिलसिलामा म देशबाहिर पुगेकी हुनाले हाम्रो भेट हुन भने पाएन ।
**
कम्युनिस्ट पार्टीको स्थापनापछि पुष्पलालजी नेपालमा भूमिगत रूपमा आउनुभएको थियो । ००७ सालमा यता आउनुभएको वेला मलाई विवाहको प्रस्ताव राख्नुभयो । हामी दिदीबहिनीको विवाह गर्ने कुरा दिमागबाटै हटिसकेको थियो । मैले पुष्पलालजीलाई 'आफ्नो खुट्टामा उभिएपछि मात्रै विवाह गर्छु' भनिदिएँ ।
००९ सालमा पार्टीको काममा हामी भारत जानलाग्दा पुष्पलालजी नेपाल आउन लाग्नुभएको रहेछ । त्यसैवेला उहाँसँग रेलमा फेरि मेरो भेट भयो । त्यसवेला प्रजापरिषद्सँग मिलेर जनतान्त्रिक मोर्चा निर्माण गर्ने कुरा लिएर उहाँ नेपाल आउन लाग्नुभएको रहेछ । हामी भारतमा एक महिना प्रशिक्षित भयौँ ।
त्यहाँबाट फर्केपछि पुष्पलालजीले फेरि विवाहको प्रस्ताव दोहोर्याउनुभयो । म फेरि आपतमा परेँ । म आफ्नै खुट्टामा उभिन सक्ने भइसकेकी थिएँ । तर, घरमा कसैलाई पनि मैले पुष्पलालजीसँग विवाह गरोस् भन्ने चाहना थिएन । त्यसवेला नेवारमा पाँचथरे र ६ थरे भन्ने चलन थियो । पुष्पलालजी पाँचथरे र म ६ थरे पर्यौँ । हाम्रो जात पनि मिलेन । त्यसमाथि पनि पुष्पलालजीको परिवारमाथि गहिरो आर्थिक संकट थियो । उहाँको परिवारमाथि राजनीतिक रूपले पनि प्रशासनको आँखा परेको थियो । छोरीले दुःख पाउँछे भनेर परिवारले हाम्रो विवाह स्वीकार नगरेको हो । यसैबीच पुष्पलालजीको सबै सम्पत्ति सरकारले जफत पनि गर्यो । विवाहको कुरा चलेपछि हाम्रो घरमा पूरै विरोध भयो ।
साधना दिदीको मनमोहनजीसँग प्रेमसम्बन्ध थियो । तर, उहाँ बाहुन भएको र अरू कुरा पनि ठीकै भएकाले त्यति समस्या थिएन । उहाँहरू हाम्रो नै पहिला विवाह होस् भन्ने चाहनुहुन्थ्यो । पार्टीबाट 'जसरी पनि हामीले विवाह गर्नैपर्छ' भन्ने निर्णय आयो । म पनि विवाह गर्ने निर्णयमा पुगेँ । मेरो परिवारको स्वीकृति भने थिएन । विवाहमा पुष्पलालजीको सबै परिवार आएको थियो । मेरो परिवारबाट भने कोही पनि सहभागी भएन । त्यो ०१० साल माघ २ गतेको दिन थियो । मेरोभन्दा ८/९ महिनापछि साधना दिदीको मनमोहनजीसँग विजेश्वरीमा विवाह भयो । त्यसवेला बुबा, आमा सबै उपस्थित हुनुहुन्थ्यो ।
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पुष्पलालजीको घरको आर्थिक अवस्था निकै कमजोर थियो । त्यसको असर मलाई पनि पर्ने नै भयो । विवाहभन्दा पहिले जस्तो म स्वतन्त्र रूपले राजनीतिमा लाग्न पाइनँ । बुहारी भइसकेपछि छुट्टै बोझ थाप्लोमा आइपर्दोरहेछ ।
०११ सालमा छोरी उषा जन्मिँदा नेपालमा कम्युनिस्ट पार्टीमाथि प्रतिबन्ध थियो । पार्टी भूमिगत थियो र पुष्पलालजी पनि भूमिगत हुनुहुन्थ्यो । छोरीको हेरचाहले गर्दा पार्टीमा मेरो भूमिका बिस्तारै कम हुन थाल्यो । विवाहपछिको जीवन मलाई अनौठो लाग्दै गयो । एक किसिमको जीवनबाट अर्को कुनै संसारमा पुगेँछु भन्ने लाग्यो । पार्टीको मिटिङमा जाँदा परिवारबाट निकै आलोचना व्यहोर्नुपथ्र्यो । कतिपटक म भागेर पनि मिटिङमा गएकी छु । मलाई ससुराले भने माया गर्नुहुन्थ्यो । पार्टीको काममा सहयोग पनि गर्नुहुन्थ्यो । नत्र त परिवारसँग डराइडराई राजनीति गर्नुपथ्र्यो । मेरो राजनीति र पुष्पलालजीको भूमिगत राजनीतिलाई हाम्रो संयुक्त परिवारले त्यति रुचाएन । अन्ततः हामी छुट्टयिौँ । अब राजनीति मैले चटक्कै छाड्नुपर्यो । नचाहँदा पनि राजनीति छुट्यो ।
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पुष्पलालजी साह्रै नम्र स्वभावको मान्छे हुनुहुन्थ्यो । घरमा मात्रै होइन, बाहिर पनि उहाँ उत्तिकै नम्र हुनुहुन्थ्यो । उहाँ नारी वर्गमाथि आदरभाव राख्नुहुन्थ्यो । हामी सगोलमा बस्दा स्वास्नीमानिसले अबेर खाना खाएको उहाँलाई मन पर्दैनथ्यो । त्यसको विरोधमा उहाँ सधैं बोल्नुहुन्थ्यो । घरमा सबै बुहारीले पढेका थिएनन् । उनीहरूलाई पनि पढ भन्नुहुन्थ्यो ।
त्यसवेला नेपालमा प्राथमिक शिक्षाअन्तर्गत शिक्षकलाई दिइनेे निर्मल स्कुलको तालिम खुल्यो । त्यो निर्मल तालिममा अमेरिकनहरूको पनि सहयोग थियो । नेपाल र अमेरिकाको संयुक्त लगानीमा त्यो तालिम सुरु गरिएको रहेछ । मलाई तालिम लिन वीरगन्ज पठाइयो । त्यसवेला पार्टीको काम पनि गर्नु पर्दैनथ्यो । वीरगन्ज पुगेपछि मैले पिंजडाबाट फुत्केको चराजस्तो स्वतन्त्र भएको अनुभव गरेँ ।
त्यताबाट फर्केर म इलाम गएँ । इलाम जाँदा पुष्पलालजी काठमाडौंमा हुनुहुन्नथ्यो । म गर्भवती पनि थिएँ । न हवाईजहाजको व्यवस्था थियो न त बसकै । वीरगन्ज र इलामको वातावरण धेरै फरक थियो । इलामबाट चाँडै र्फकनुपर्ने भएकोले मलाई अलिकति नमज्जा पनि लाग्यो । पुष्पलालजी पो मलाई लिन आउनुभएछ । हामी दुईजना मात्रै केही समयका लागि प्रकृतिसँगै हराएका थियौँ । र्फकंदा पनि हामी सँगै भयौँ । त्यो क्षण म कहिल्यै बिर्सन सक्दिनँ । त्यस्तो रमाइलो फेरि जीवनमा दोहोरिएन पनि ।
ससुरा पढेकी बुहारी भनेर मप्रति गर्व गर्नुहुन्थ्यो । साह्रै माया पनि गर्नुहुन्थ्यो । कहिलेकाहीँ उहाँ 'सहाना मलाई अंग्रेजी अलिअलि सिकाइदेऊन' भन्नुहुन्थ्यो । म पनि सिकाइदिन्थेँ ।
हामी छुट्टिएर बस्न थालेपछि पनि म ससुरालाई भेट्न हप्ताको एकपटक पुग्थेँ । जाँदा ससुरा हुक्का तान्दै बस्नुभएको हुन्थ्यो । म पुग्नासाथ सासूलाई बोलाउँदै 'ल यहाँ सहाना आइन्, लौ-लौ चकटी हालिदेऊ' भन्नुहुन्थ्यो । उहाँ मलाई एकदमै सम्मान गर्नुहुन्थ्यो ।
मेरी जेठानी हसिना भाउजू (सहिद गंगालालकी पत्नी) मलाई असाध्यै माया गर्नुहुन्थ्यो । मलाई सधैं पढ्न हौस्याउनुहुन्थ्यो ।
शिथिल पार्टी र पुष्पलाल
मैले त पार्टीको काम गर्न छोडिसकेकी थिएँ । पार्टीमाथिको बन्देज हटेको हुनाले ०१३ सालमा अर्धसरकारी जागिर खाएँ । आर्थिक कठिनाइका कारण घर चलाउन निकै गाह्रो थियो । ०१५ सालको चुनावमा पुष्पलालजी कम्युनिस्ट पार्टीबाट, गणेशमानजी कांग्रेस पार्टीबाट उठ्नुभएको थियो । पुष्पलालले चुनाव हार्नुभयो । ललितपुरबाट तुल्सीलाल अमात्यले कम्युनिस्ट पार्टीबाट चुनाव जित्नुभयो । ०१७ सालमा राजा महेन्द्रले गरेको फौजी काण्डपछि सबै पार्टीमाथि प्रतिबन्ध लाग्यो । त्यसपछि पार्टीको काम खुला रूपमा गर्न सम्भव थिएन । पुष्पलालजीसँग ०१७ सालपछि एक वर्षको दौरानमा ४/५ पटक मात्र भेट भएको थियो । पार्टीमाथि प्रतिबन्ध लागेपछि सबैतिर अस्तव्यस्त भयो ।
०१७ साल पुस १ गते बिहान । काठमाडौंको गणेशथान पुग्दा केही मान्छे आएर पुष्पलाललाई खासखुस कुरा गर्दै लिएर गए । मैले केही थाहा पाइनँ । पुष्पलालजीलाई साथीहरूले प्रशासनबाट लुकाउन लिएर गएका रहेछन् । त्यसपछि फेरि उहाँ भूमिगत बस्नुभयो । यसबीच २/३ पटक घरमा पनि आउनुभयो । घर आउनुभएको वेला एकपटक झन्डै पक्राउ पनि पर्नुभएको थियो ।
०१८ माघमा उहाँ भारत जानुभयो । म यतै व्यस्त भएँ । म महिनाको एकपटक पुष्पलालजीलाई भेट्न भारत पुग्थेँ । महिनामा ५/६ दिनमात्र सँगै बस्न पाइन्थ्यो । पुष्पलाललाई भेट्न जान्छे भनेर सरकारतर्फका मानिसमा चर्चा हुन्थ्यो । गुप्तचरहरू अघिपछि लाग्थे । यो क्रियाकलाप १५/१६ वर्ष रह्यो । भारतमा जाँदा अनेकौँ मान्छे भेट्न पनि आउँथे । बिपीलगायत अरू नेताहरूलाई पनि म भेट्न जान्थेँ । ०३३ सालमा जब राष्ट्रिय मेलमिलापको नीति लिएर बिपी नेपाल फर्के, त्यसवेला पुष्पलाललाई पनि नेपाल आउन दबाब दिइएको थियो । तर, उहाँ आउनुभएन ।
भारतमा पुष्पलालजीको बसाइ एकदमै दुःखी थियो । कोठा सुख्खा हुन्थ्यो । फोहोर पनि हुन्थ्यो । खाना पनि पर्याप्त हुँदैनथ्यो । म कहिलेकाहीँ उता पुगेको वेला कोठा सफा गरिदिन्थेँ । यता नेपाल फर्किने वेला १०/१५ दिनका लागि पुग्ने दाल-चामलको जोहो गरिदिएर आउँथेँ । कहिलेकाहीँ भारतका सिआइडी पुष्पलाललाई पैसा र अन्य सुविधा दिएर 'बिपी सानसौकतमा बसेका छन्, तिमी पनि उसैगरी बस' भनेर फकाउँथे । तर, उहाँले कहिल्यै पनि आफ्नो इमानमा सम्झौता गर्नुभएन ।
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हाम्रो घरको आर्थिक अवस्था कहिल्यै सुधि्रएन । म शिक्षिका न थिएँ । धेरै वर्ष अध्यापन गरेँ । त्रिचन्द्र कलेज, पोखराको पृथ्वीनारायण क्याम्पसहरूमा लगातार पढाएँ । पद्मकन्या कलेजमा पनि १० वर्ष पढाएँ । मलाई त्यहाँबाट उँभो चढ्नुपर्छ भन्ने थिएन । यी सब भइरहेको वेला ०३२ सालको विद्यार्थी आन्दोलनलाई सघाएको आरोपमा त्यही वर्षको भदौमा मलाई जागिरबाट निष्कासित गरियो । मैले त्रिचन्द्र कलेजमा ०१८ सालदेखि पढाउन थालेकी थिएँ । मेरो जागिर पनि गएपछि त हाम्रो घरको अवस्था झनै नाजुक भयो । मैले जागिर छोड्दा त्रिविको आवासगृह पनि छोड्नुपरेको थियो । घर खाली नभएको कारणले छोराको साथीको घरमा गएर पनि बसियो । त्यसवेला आफन्तले पनि सहयोग गरेनन् । त्यसपछि मैले केही समय ट्युसन पढाएर घरको आर्थिक अवस्थाको भरथेग गरेँ ।
अन्तिम अवस्थामा पुष्पलाल
यहाँ बस्न दिक्क लागेर म बनारस लागेँ । पुष्पलालजीसँग पनि भेट्न म उता पुगेकी थिएँ । उहाँसँगै भेटघाटमा हामी आसाम, गुहाटी, लखनउ, दिल्ली आदि ठाउँ घुम्यौँ । त्यसपछि अचानक पुष्पलालजी बिरामी हुनुभयो । त्यसवेला पार्टीको स्थिति पनि राम्रो थिएन । उहाँ बिरामी भएको वेला हेर्न धेरै मानिस आए । भारतीय नेता चन्द्रशेखर पनि उहाँलाई हेर्न आए । बिस्तारै उहाँको अवस्था नाजुक भयो । मेरो जन्मदिन आउँदै थियो । भोलि बिहानै अस्पताल आउँदा पुष्पलालले 'ह्याप्पी बर्थडे सहाना' भन्नुभयो । मैले 'धन्यवाद' भनेँ । त्यसवेला मेरो आँखामा आँसु टिल्पिलाएको थियो । सायद त्यो आँसु गाला हुँदै तलतिर झर्यो ।
त्यसको एक हप्तापछि म बिहानै आइसियूमा पल्टिइरहेका पुष्पलाललाई भेट्न पुगेँ । उहाँको अनुहार फुंग उडेको जस्तो लाग्यो । म बेडनजिक पुग्दा उहाँका आँखा रसाएका थिए । उहाँ पीडाले हुँ-हुँ गरिरहनुभएको थियो । सास बढेको छ । अनुहार फुंग उडेको छ । मैले हेर्न सकिनँ । म पनि निकै रोएँ छु । केहीछिनपछि मलाई मात्र भित्र बोलाइयो । मलाई देख्नासाथ उहाँले अक्सिजनको मास्क झिक्नुभयो । मलाई हेर्दै स्वाँ-स्वाँको आवाजसाथ उहाँले भन्नुभयो, 'सहाना..ति..मीलाई..मैले दुःख मात्र दिएँ, ति..म्रो..निमित्त केही गर्न सकिनँ । अब... अगाडिका कामहरू पक्कै पनि...तिमीले गछ्र्यौ होला ।' सास धेरै बढ्यो, मैले हतारहतार अक्सिजन मास्क लगाइदिएँ । उहाँले बडो कष्टसँग बोलेको मैले हेर्न सकिनँ । त्यहीवेला गिरिजाप्रसादसँग ४/५ जना कांग्रेसका साथी उहाँलाई भेट्न आए । केहीबेरमा डाक्टरले 'हि इज नो मोर' भनेर घोषणा गरे । यो ०३५ साउन ७ गतेको कुरा थियो ।
त्यसै दिनदेखि म विधवा बनेँ । दागबत्ती दिन छो
रा उमेश आएका थिए । पुष्पलालजीको तेह्राँ दिनको काम सकेपछि अरू बनारसबाटै नेपाल फर्किए । म दिल्ली आएँ । दिल्लीको एक रातको बसाइपछि म नेपाल फर्किएँ । त्यसपछि म कहिल्यै फर्केर बनारस गइनँ । Read more...
Monday, 30 November 2009
Goettingen Municipality, Germany
Municipality is called as RATHAUS in German language. This is the example of successful devolution of power to local government. The office have all the right that within its territory as the government has upon the country! What a good example of decentralisation! Nepal could learn from it.
Sunday, 29 November 2009
Children Playing on Weinnachtmann Festival at Goettingen
This is the short movie clip of children playing in Ganzeliesel, goettingen, germany two years ago...
Saturday, 28 November 2009
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
'Father of the Poor' Has Triggered Economic Miracle: Brazils President Lula
Brazil is seen as an economic success story and its people revere President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva like a star. He is on a mission to turn the country into one of the world's five biggest economies through reforms, giant infrastructure projects and by tapping vast oil reserves. But he faces hurdles.
Elizete Piauí has been waiting patiently for hours in the shade of a mango tree. She is wearing plastic sandals and baggy shorts over her thin legs. At 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), the air is shimmering on this unusually hot day in Barra, a small city in the Sertão, the heart of northeastern Brazil. But Piauí isn't complaining, because today is her big day, the day she meets the president, who is working to provide her hut with running water.
The rattle of a helicopter signals his arrival. The white aircraft circles once over the crowd before landing. A motorcycle escort accompanies the Brazilian president to the ceremony.
Lula gets out of the limousine wearing a white linen shirt and a green military hat. Ignoring the local dignitaries in their dark suits, Lula heads straight for the crowd behind a security barrier. "Lula, Papai! (Papa Lula!)" Elizete calls out. He pulls her to his chest and shakes the hands of others in the crowd, allowing them to touch, stroke and embrace him. Beads of sweat are running down his flushed face, and people are tugging at his shirt, but Lula soaks in the attention. He feels at home here, in one of Brazil's poorest regions.
The president spends three days traveling through the Sertão. He knows the route. He came to the region 15 years ago for the first time on a campaign tour, traveling by bus and staying in inexpensive guesthouses. He made stops in every village square, seven or eight times a day, and usually held his speeches from the back of a truck. His voice was usually hoarse and weak by the evening, and he had to change his sweat-soaked shirt up to 10 times a day.
"He is Still One of us"
Now he travels in helicopters and armored cars, while police cars, their blue lights flashing, lead the way along country roads. Volunteers have set up air-conditioners and buffet meals at Lula's lodgings, and sometimes they even roll out a red carpet. The press criticizes the expense, but it doesn't trouble most Brazilians because they're proud of their president. He has made it to the top, they argue, so why shouldn't he enjoy his success? "He is still one of us," says Elizete, "because he is the father of the poor."
Lula is familiar with the fate of the Nordestinos, as the people in Brazil's poor Northeast Region are called. He was born in the Sertão, but his mother eventually put the children on the back of a truck and took them to São Paulo, 2,000 kilometers to the south. Lula's eventual rise to power began in São Paulo's industrial suburbs. His mother was one of the hundreds of thousands of have-nots who left the drought-plagued Sertão with its dried-up fields and livestock dying of thirst, and migrated to the wealthy south to work as doormen, waiters, construction workers or domestic servants.
In a plan to turn this arid region green, Lula is tapping into the waters of the 2,700-kilometer Rio São Francisco, the lifeline for large parts of Brazil. The river provides water to five states, but it makes a wide loop around the Sertão. Under Lula's plan, two canals will bring water from the river across 600 kilometers (375 miles) into the drought-ridden areas. "It's the least I can do for you," Lula calls out to the people in Barra.
Controversial Project
The mega-project, which requires bridging a 200-meter (656-foot) altitude difference, is slated to cost 6.6 billion Real, or about €2.6 billion ($3.9 billion). Lula has deployed soldiers to the region to excavate the canals. Eight thousand workers toil away at the construction sites as earthmoving equipment digs through the steppe. If all goes well, 12 million Brazilians will benefit from the diversion project, which is scheduled for completion in 2025. It is Lula's biggest and costliest project, and probably also his most controversial.
His supporters liken him to US President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who dammed the Tennessee River in the 1930s to provide electricity to the region and who launched the New Deal, a massive investment program to overcome the Great Depression. But critics see the undertaking as a massive money pit. It has also drawn the ire of environmentalists, and even the Bishop of Barra has already gone on two hunger strikes against it. He fears that the diversion project will only cause the river to silt up even further, and claims that the irrigation would mainly benefit the agricultural sector.
The bishop is nowhere to be found, and we are told he is attending meetings outside the city. In truth, however, the cleric is keeping a low profile. Criticism of the president is frowned upon in his congregation. Lula speaks the language of ordinary people, telling his supporters stories of his youth, of the days when his mother would send him to fetch water and he would return home balancing the heavy bucket on his head. He was five at the time.
Brazil was once called "Belindia," a term coined by a businessman who saw the vast country as a cross between Belgium and India, a place of European wealth and Asian poverty, where the chasm between rich and poor seemed insurmountable. Lula was the first to build a bridge a between the two Brazils.
Now he is both the darling of bankers and the idol of the poor. With the so-called worker-president at its helm, Brazil is attracting investors from around the world. Jim O'Neill, the chief economist at Goldman Sachs, invented the acronym BRIC, for the emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India and China, and predicted a bright future for the South American giant. But his colleagues derided him. China and India certainly had prospects, but Brazil? For decades, the country was seen as a shackled giant, plagued by never-ending crises and inflation.
Rising Economic Power
But today "B" is the star among the BRIC nations, with experts predicting up to five percent growth for the Brazilian economy in 2010. Brazil is currently growing faster than Russia and, unlike India, does not suffer from ethnic conflicts or border disputes. The country of 192 million has a stable domestic market, with exports -- cars and aircraft, soybeans and iron ore, oil and cellulose, sugar, coffee and beef -- making up only 13 percent the gross domestic product.
And because China replaced the United States as Brazil's biggest trading partner at the beginning of this year, the country is not as severely affected by the slump in the US market as it might have been. Brazil's banks are strong and stable, and hardly encountered any difficulties at all during the crisis. Most important, however, is the fact that Brazil is a stable, Western-style democracy.
The country has repaid its foreign debt, and it has even become a lender to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The government has accumulated more than $200 billion in reserves, and the Real is considered one of the world's strongest currencies. International experts foresee a decade of prosperity and growth for the country. Lula predicts that Brazil will be one of the five biggest economies on Earth by 2016, the year Rio de Janeiro hosts the Olympic Games. It will host the soccer World Cup in 2014.
And then there are Brazil's seemingly unlimited natural resources, vast fresh water reserves and oil. Brazil exports more meat than the United States, and China would be in a tight spot without Brazilian soybeans. At aircraft manufacturer Embraer's hangars near São Paulo, Brazilian engineers build airplanes for airlines around the world, including short-range aircraft for Lufthansa.
Read more...Tuesday, 24 November 2009
Friday, 20 November 2009
Thursday, 19 November 2009
Two PhD-student positions in plant ecology at the University of Bern, Switzerland
We are seeking two PhD students highly motivated to work on the relationship of land use, plant biodiversity, and plant-related ecosystem processes. The studies will form part of the plant diversity team of the Biodiversity Exploratory project(http://www.biodiversity-exploratories.de) funded by the German Science Foundation (DFG). The work will involve field work in three diverse regions in Germany, experimental studies in the field, and multi-species experiments in greenhouse and common garden.
The PhD projects will focus on (i) the analysis of land use effects on vegetation and production in grassland and forests, including experimental manipulation of diversity, and (ii) the analysis of functional plant diversity in response to land use.
The positions will be with Prof. Dr Markus Fischer and Dr. Daniel Prati in the Plant Ecology section of the Institute of Plant Sciences of the University of Bern, Switzerland, (http://www.botany.unibe.ch/planteco/). The institute offers a stimulating international research environment and excellent facilities. In addition to projects on plant biodiversity, our group is involved in projects on evolutionary and molecular plant ecology, plant population biology, Alpine ecology and invasion biology. Bern is a beautiful city situated in a beautiful landscape.
The ideal start date is not later than 1 February 2010. The positions are funded by the German Science Foundation for an initial period of 20 months, and we do of course intend to prolong the projects for another 16 months.
Requirements for the positions include a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in biology or a related discipline, a driver’s license, fluency in English and team spirit. Working knowledge in German is advantageous. Ideally, the candidates for these positions should complement each other and have a strong background in population and community ecology, vegetation science, and experimental ecology, and sound knowledge of statistical methods.
Applicants should include a letter of motivation, a curriculum vitae and contact details of two references into one pdf-file and email it to Markus Fischer and Daniel Prati (see email addresses below). In the motivation letter the applicant should outline why she or he wants to go for a PhD degree and why she or he wants to work on biodiversity. The applicant should also present details on her or his experimental and statistical skills. The application deadline is December 15, 2009. For more information on this position, the project and research in our lab contact Markus Fischer (Markus.Fischer@ips.unibe.ch) or Daniel Prati (daniel.prati@ips.unibe.ch).
Read more...
The PhD projects will focus on (i) the analysis of land use effects on vegetation and production in grassland and forests, including experimental manipulation of diversity, and (ii) the analysis of functional plant diversity in response to land use.
The positions will be with Prof. Dr Markus Fischer and Dr. Daniel Prati in the Plant Ecology section of the Institute of Plant Sciences of the University of Bern, Switzerland, (http://www.botany.unibe.ch/planteco/). The institute offers a stimulating international research environment and excellent facilities. In addition to projects on plant biodiversity, our group is involved in projects on evolutionary and molecular plant ecology, plant population biology, Alpine ecology and invasion biology. Bern is a beautiful city situated in a beautiful landscape.
The ideal start date is not later than 1 February 2010. The positions are funded by the German Science Foundation for an initial period of 20 months, and we do of course intend to prolong the projects for another 16 months.
Requirements for the positions include a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in biology or a related discipline, a driver’s license, fluency in English and team spirit. Working knowledge in German is advantageous. Ideally, the candidates for these positions should complement each other and have a strong background in population and community ecology, vegetation science, and experimental ecology, and sound knowledge of statistical methods.
Applicants should include a letter of motivation, a curriculum vitae and contact details of two references into one pdf-file and email it to Markus Fischer and Daniel Prati (see email addresses below). In the motivation letter the applicant should outline why she or he wants to go for a PhD degree and why she or he wants to work on biodiversity. The applicant should also present details on her or his experimental and statistical skills. The application deadline is December 15, 2009. For more information on this position, the project and research in our lab contact Markus Fischer (Markus.Fischer@ips.unibe.ch) or Daniel Prati (daniel.prati@ips.unibe.ch).
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
Wonderful and Sobre Carnival at Angermünde, Germany
I have recorded this movie clip during my recent field trip. Please enjoy the rich culture and sobre dance by little girls.
Differences between abroad and Motherland !
An American Professor asked us a very crucial question about the differences between motherland and abroad. We donot know whether we could satisfy him with our answer or not, but the small movie clip about it is here.
Professor Dr. Tom Hammett, a senior professor at world famous Virginia Tech University the USA, has lots of love and faith upon Nepal and Nepalese. We were highly impressed with his fluency in speaking and understanding Nepalese language and culture. He has already worked for the forestry education in Nepal through the USAID project at Institute of Forestry, Pokhara Nepal. He has already visited more than 50 times to our country Nepal.
I have not seen yet any scholar who once visited nepal, doesnot love the country. They always talk about the natural beauty and friendliness of nepalese people. They say that we have tremendous opportunities and possibilities to develop our country, only the problem is that hard work, dedication from political parties and leaders and peaceful environment.
Please enjoy the movie clip and provide your valuable feedbacks...
Sunday, 15 November 2009
Sunday, 8 November 2009
Congratulation to Dr. Babita Paudel
On behalf of nepali society in Gottingen, I would like to congratulate to Dr. Babita Paudel for her success to get a prestigious Alexender von Humboldt Postdoctoral Fellowship (http://www.humboldt-foundation.de/web/home.html). How prestigious and well known is the awards, could be guessed through the fact that the two noble prize winners of this year (Economics) and 43 noble laureates upto now were once the Humboldt Fellow like her.On the basis of my knowledge, Dr. Paudel completed her MSc in Botany from TU, Kirtipur on 2005. Then, on 2009, she did her Ph.D. in Biology from Soonchunhyang University, South Korea. During her Ph.D. she studied the medicinal importance of lichens from the Antarctica. She has discovered several medicinally important compounds from the lichens and published several scientific papers in the international Journals. To continue her such research using Nepali resources, she applied for the postdoct research fellowship to the Alexender von Humboldt Foundation. The foundation accepted her proposal and awarded the scholarship for one year term. She will investigate the medicinal importance of mountainous lichens from Nepal especially from Srinagar, Palpa Tansen; Sarankot, Pokhara; Nagarjun, Kathmandu. She will conduct this research in the Institute of Organic Chemistry, Gottingen University, Germany. The scholarship is one of the best in Germany as well as in the world. It is highly competitive and prestigious. Eventhough she has lots of academic achievements and published her results in international journals of high impact factors, she has simple lifestyle. As rightly said, the action works stronger than the words, she has never shown any pomposity. As She is always been inspiring to all of us, always eager to help and encourage others.
We are proud of this outstanding achievement of Dr. Paudel and we wish her success in future research career.
Greater Nepal " In Quest of Boundary" www.mastinepal.com
This is the sensational video clip about our motherland
Friday, 6 November 2009
Thursday, 5 November 2009
Very attractive Ph.D. scholarship for Nepalese and other nationals
International Center for Development and Decent Work (ICDD): Graduate Schoold of Socio-Ecological Researcg for Development has announces attractive Ph.D. scholarships for underdeveloped countries. Any Nepalese and other people from least developed could apply for the different ph.d. programe. Further details are as follows:
Call for Applications:
20 PhD Scholarship Positions for Students from DAC Countries* at the International Center for Development and Decent Work (ICDD)
Starting March 1st, 2010
Deadline for applications: November 15th, 2009
ICDD is an interdisciplinary and international scientific network of excellence with the head office located at the University of Kassel, Germany and partner universities in Latin America, Africa and Asia. ICDD is funded under the programme “ex)/(ceed - Higher Education Excellence in Development Co-operation” launched by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Under its Graduate School of Socio-Ecological Research for Development, ICDD invites applications for 20 PhD scholarship positions for studnets from DAC countries at the following internationally renowned universities:
8 at the University of Kassel, Germany in the fields of political and agricultural science,
2 at the Tata Institute of Social Science (TISS), India in the field of sociology,
2 at the Universidade Estaduale de Campinas (Unicamp), Brazil in the field of economics,
2 at the University of Witwatersrand (Wits), South Africa in the field of sociology,
2 at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF), Pakistan in agricultural science,
2 at the Universidad Autónoma de Yucatan (UADY), Mexico in agricultural science, and
2 at Egerton University (EGU), Kenya in agricultural science.
Background
ICDD's objective is to create and transfer knowledge on how to create and improve work and income opportunities in rural and urban regions of developing countries in light of globalization, climate change and urbanization. ICDD encompasses various disciplines such as agricultural science, political science, sociology, economics, and has a network of partner universities in Asia, Africa and Latin America. ICDD closely co-operates with International Labour Organisation and NGOs.
One of ICDD's core structures for the inter-disciplinary generation of knowledge is the Graduate School of Socio-Ecological Research for Development. PhD projects within this school may be rooted in either the natural or social sciences and should be focused on actor and problem oriented research on sustainable human-environmental relationships and decent livelihoods. ICDD promotes three research clusters as a common framework for the design of prospective PhD projects:
- 1) Sustainable Value Creation for Decent Work
This cluster focuses on strategies to increase value creation by developing technologies for more efficient and sustainable use of resources and by improving human skills, preferably along agricultural commodity chains. PhD applicants should be interested in analysing spatially and sectorally detailed urban-rural linkages to address the mobility of people, goods, services, money transfers, information, and associated flows of nutrients, energy and water.
- 2) Instruments for Promoting Decent Work
This cluster focuses on the effectiveness of existing instruments in enforcing minimum standards for labour as formulated by the International Labour Organization (ILO) such as public procurement, supply chain governance, and national minimum wages. PhD applicants should be interested in analysing such instruments and their effective implementation in different state contexts. A special focus should be directed towards their impact on or relevance for informal labour relations and particularly on the working conditions and lives of temporary labour migrants.
- 3) Strategies of Empowerment for Decent Work
This cluster focuses on the advocacy of good working conditions within economic and political decision-making processes against the background of eroding capacities of workers to engage in collective action due to the growing informal nature of work. Thereby special Attention is directed towards particularly vulnerable groups, such as domestic workers. PhD applicants should be interested in exploring possible sources and forms of organisations to foster empowerment strategies within informal labour relations.
Scholarships:
PhD students of the Graduate School will be based either at the University of Kassel or at one of ICDD's international partner universities (see above), and will be enrolled in the respective university's PhD training programmes. Please indicate in your application at which university you wish to be located. A joint international workshop programme on subjects of the ICDD, research methods, the linkage between theory and empirical research and for the presentation of the prospective PhD projects will take place every year within the Graduate School.
Scholarships will be awarded for four years under the precondition of a successful extension after one year. The scholarships will cover a country-specific monthly allowance according to DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) standards. All scholarships will include travel expenses for south-north and south-south mobility if necessary and funding for field research and the participation in Graduate School and ICDD activities.
Application Requirements:
- Cover Sheet (cf. attachment)
- above average MA/MSc degree in a disciplines related to the above topics / fields
- proof of English language proficiency
- academic or vocational experience in one of the disciplines related to the thematic field of development and decent work
- letter of recommendation from a professor of the ICDD network
- summary of master thesis (1500 words), if applicable
- preliminary PhD project proposal including topic, research question, short overview of the relevant literature, theoretical approach, research design and methodology (2.000 words)
Please submit your detailed curriculum vitae and scanned copies of the following documents with your application:
- certificate and transcript of records of your recognised bachelor and master degrees in the original language, listing all subjects and grades (If you have not yet completed a Masters program, please include a letter from the person responsible for the program testifying the likelihood of successful completion of the program);
- certificates / proof of English language proficiency;
- university entrance examination certificate listing all subjects and grades (in the original language);
- certificates of additional studies and completion of studies listing all subjects and grades (in the original language);
- translations of all of the above-mentioned documents, if the language of the mentioned certificates is not German, English, French, Spanish or Portuguese.
- certificates of previous professional/vocational experience (if applicable).
Applications with all necessary documents must be submitted electronically as a single pdf** no later than the 15th of November 2009 to:
gradschool(at)icdd.uni-kassel.de
Officially authenticated photocopies of all documents and translations will have to be presented, if selected for admission.
or contact: Mrs. Simone Buckel, phone + 49(0)5618047395, buckel(at)icdd.uni-kassel.de
* Countries eligible for Official Development Assistance of the OECD as approved by the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) in August 2009.
** Please assemble all items for your application in one single pdf document with the completed cover sheet as the front page and preferably with a list of contents as the second page. Applications consisting of multiple files will not be accepted.
Tuesday, 3 November 2009
Ph.D. position in Soil Science: Gotttingen University Announces
At the Büsgen-Institute of Soil Science of Tropical and Subtropical Ecosystems, Georg-August University of Goettingen we offer a position of:
PhD Student / DoktorandIn (TV-L E 13/2)
beginning January 2010 for 3 years. The successful candidate will work on the BMZ funded project “Developing carbon and biodiversity assets for multifunctional landscapes in the Upper Mekong” with case studies in China, Thailand, Myanmar and Laos. The specific task of the PhD student will be the ‘Quantification and modeling of carbon stock changes by land-use management systems and the development of a respective landscape based baseline and carbon monitoring methodology’. Five sites were selected: Two sites in China, Xishuangbanna province, and one site in Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand each of which one site (probably Thailand) will be the main study site. The aim of the project is to support the development of carbon and biodiversity assets for multifunctional landscapes in the upper Mekong region.
Project description: The landscape is undergoing a rapid change due to agricultural intensification and regional trade markets with the consequence of above- and belowground C stock changes. The objectives of this research project are: 1) to determine the soil C stock changes of chronosequences from secondary forests, to agroforestry (rubber, tea), mono-species plantations to agriculture, 2) modeling these changes with models like RothC or Century model, 3) development of landscape based carbon baseline and monitoring methodology considering existing standards.
Applicants should hold a M.Sc. or diploma degree in ecology, soil science, environmental sciences, geosciences, forestry, biology or related disciplines. The successful candidate is expected to be in Asia for prolonged periods to carry out research works with regular visits to the home institution for discussions/data analysis/writing. Excellent knowledge of English is essential. Basic knowledge of an Asian language or willingness to learn it is necessary.
Please send your application at soon as possible to:
Dr. R. Brumme
Buesgen Institute -Soil Science of Tropical and Subtropical Ecosystems
Buesgenweg 2
37077 Goettingen, Germany
Email: rbrumme@gwdg.de
Read more...
PhD Student / DoktorandIn (TV-L E 13/2)
beginning January 2010 for 3 years. The successful candidate will work on the BMZ funded project “Developing carbon and biodiversity assets for multifunctional landscapes in the Upper Mekong” with case studies in China, Thailand, Myanmar and Laos. The specific task of the PhD student will be the ‘Quantification and modeling of carbon stock changes by land-use management systems and the development of a respective landscape based baseline and carbon monitoring methodology’. Five sites were selected: Two sites in China, Xishuangbanna province, and one site in Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand each of which one site (probably Thailand) will be the main study site. The aim of the project is to support the development of carbon and biodiversity assets for multifunctional landscapes in the upper Mekong region.
Project description: The landscape is undergoing a rapid change due to agricultural intensification and regional trade markets with the consequence of above- and belowground C stock changes. The objectives of this research project are: 1) to determine the soil C stock changes of chronosequences from secondary forests, to agroforestry (rubber, tea), mono-species plantations to agriculture, 2) modeling these changes with models like RothC or Century model, 3) development of landscape based carbon baseline and monitoring methodology considering existing standards.
Applicants should hold a M.Sc. or diploma degree in ecology, soil science, environmental sciences, geosciences, forestry, biology or related disciplines. The successful candidate is expected to be in Asia for prolonged periods to carry out research works with regular visits to the home institution for discussions/data analysis/writing. Excellent knowledge of English is essential. Basic knowledge of an Asian language or willingness to learn it is necessary.
Please send your application at soon as possible to:
Dr. R. Brumme
Buesgen Institute -Soil Science of Tropical and Subtropical Ecosystems
Buesgenweg 2
37077 Goettingen, Germany
Email: rbrumme@gwdg.de
Monday, 2 November 2009
Wish you a very successful Journey !
Mr. Dev Raj Gautam
Mr. Bharat Budthapa
Two of our friends, Mr. Dev Raj Gautam and Mr. Bharat Budthapa are flying to the Philippines tomorrow
(3rd November) morning for their research projects. They will be involved in the research project in Leyte, the Philippines. The Visyas state univesity and Georg August University are jointly implementing this research project.
Dev Raj Gautam will be engaged in assessing the Soil Carbon whereas Bharat will work on forest inventory. With this project work, they will acquire modern technologies and skills for their professional career.
They will return Goettingen on 3rd December, 2009. We would like to extend our best wishes for their nice, pleasant and successful journey!
Read more...
(3rd November) morning for their research projects. They will be involved in the research project in Leyte, the Philippines. The Visyas state univesity and Georg August University are jointly implementing this research project.
Dev Raj Gautam will be engaged in assessing the Soil Carbon whereas Bharat will work on forest inventory. With this project work, they will acquire modern technologies and skills for their professional career.
They will return Goettingen on 3rd December, 2009. We would like to extend our best wishes for their nice, pleasant and successful journey!
Sunday, 1 November 2009
International PhD Program Tuebingen, Spring 2010
The Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology and the Friedrich Miescher Laboratory in Tuebingen, Germany, invite applications for PhD positions in: Evolutionary Biology, Ecological Genomics, Developmental Genetics, Animal Development , Plant Development, Quantitative Genetics, Molecular & Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Structural Biology and Bioinformatics Highly qualified applicants from all countries are invited to apply. All applicants must hold or anticipate receiving a Diploma or Masters degree by the time of their start as a PhD student at our institutes. Candidates have to be fluent in written and spoken English. The positions are funded by Max Planck Fellowships.
Application form, evaluation forms (2 needed) and all details about our online registration are available by clicking the title of this announcement.
Application deadline is November 25, 2009.
After the review of completed applications selected candidates will be invited for personal interviews in Tuebingen during February 10-12, 2010. Read more...
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