August 9: World Indigenous Day 2008

Coming August 9 is the 16th World Indigenous Day for 2008. Many different organizations are celebrating it with many programs. NGO-FONIN is organizing "Signature Campaign" in different parts of the valley to raise the voices and issues of indigenous peoples of Nepal.

Dear all,
Namaste/Jhorle

As IPs are celebrating the August 9 as world indigenous peoples day, we are also organizing some of the activities on the occasion. Specifically, we have focused the activities connecting with CA. As the CA is an opportunity for us to raise voice to have a constitution written addressing IPs and other marginalized peoples issues, the activities will be as: signature campaign, submitting appeal to respective CA representative and authorities, so that it could support on creating pressure as well as making aware the respective authorities.

The signature collection campaign has been already stated from 3rd August, which will be carried out till the 9 August and the appeal will be submitted to each CA members (during CA Meeting) organizing a press conference. The date for submitting of the appeal will be decided later (the date will be decided consulting the respective authority) At the mean time we will also be involved in the activities, organized by other IPs and likeminded organizations. We need to make collective effort towards influencing the concerns.

We would also like to request all members, district networks to involve or organize same kinds of activities. For your kind information and references the copy appeal, pamphlets and letter are attached herewith, please find them.

Lalkumari Roca
Rights and Advocacy Officer
NGO-FONIN

More pictures and information you can find at Lohorung Khanawa and NEFIN Website. So I request all for the support of not only the indigenous people but also to the underprivileged groups. Come to Dasarath Stadium at August 9 and celebrate it.

Second Nepal International Indigenous Films Festival 2065

Welcome to the Nepal's greatest indigenous films festival!!

Program Details:
Date: From 6th June to 9th June 2008
Venue: City Hall and Nepal Tourism Board Kathmandu
Time: 10 am to 7 pm

Attractions:

• Films from India, China, Canada, America, Mexico, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Australia, and New Zealand
• Nepali films from Magar, Tamang, Tharu, Newar, Gurung, Limbu, Sherpa, Rajbanshi, Majhi, Chepang, Loba indigenous groups
• Food display of various indigenous peoples
• Handicraft display of different indigenous peoples

Tomorrow is the last day for this event so please hurry! I have taken many pictures. I will publish soon after the event. So just please wait for it. By the way, Lohorung Community has also the food stall and handicraft show.

The program is organized by: IFA (Indigenous Film Archive)
Co-Organizer: National Foundation for Development of Indigenous nationalities (www.nfdin.gov.np)

Supporters: NGO-FONIN, NTB, NIWF, NINSF, Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Society of Indigenous Students, Tharu Kalyankari Sabha, Sunuwar Sewa Samaj, Kirat Yakthung Chumlung, Nepal Chepang Association Chepan Mainstreaming Programme.

9th International Mother Langauge Day Celebrated

The gone 21st of this month was the 9th International Mother Language Day. Our local club Chulachuli UNESCO Club celebrated the day by showing a feature film "Kripa" which was in Gurung language having Nepali subtitle. Indigenous Film Archive (IFA) and "Nepal Rastra Ayog" supported the program. The theme of this year was "International year of Languages". It was presented at Gurukul, Battisputalisadak. There also held the interaction program after the show where Dr. Bajracharya and language expert Mr. Amrit Younjon gave their reactions about the film.

The one of the reactions that I liked about Amrit Ji was that we shouldn't blame for all the nonsense things to "Jhakri' due to the superstitions we have in our village and remote areas coz they are the one who healed our pain and sufferings throughout the centuries. They are the one who cured our wounds and treated us like doctor. Till now also there are not enough doctors in the village and the people have to be dependant to them only.

In the movie there is a girl named Kripa. She has been raised by a man who is deaf called Ode. The role of Ode is played by the director of the film Maotse Gurung. Kripa goes to stay with Ode's sister in the city. After some years she comes back to the village but finds herself in difficult situation with Ode's relationship. Finally she understands it perfectly the truth of their relationship and the film ends.

Some useful links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Mother_Language_Day

http://webworld.unesco.org/imld/

Blog Action Day

15th of October: Blogging and Environment. A nice combination of two makes the Blog Action Day as environment is selected as a theme this year. This day is the environmental friendly movement which will try to aware every boy how each individual can take their own steps for the better environment. If you are a blogger it is the precious time you should talk about environment. In this day everyone can participate in their own way.

Here are only some of the list of things that you could do as an individual to make environment happy:

Consider a smaller point size
Designers are already accused of making the type too small to be readable, but go ahead. A smaller font size can allow you to fit more words on a page, which requires fewer pages, which requires fewer trees, which requires fewer environmental crises.

Opt out of wasteful mailing lists
If you find your office mail box stuffed with computer catalogs and who-knows-what-else that goes straight in the recycling bin, nip that paper waste in the bud by getting off the mailing list. It may take some diligence if you work directly with the sender, but there are national opt-out lists run through the Direct Marketing Association that can eliminate a lot of the unwanted mailings.

Turn used file folders inside out
We bet you’re thinking this is the dumbest idea you’ve seen here yet. But not really. When a job’s complete, clean out the file, refold the thing inside out and you’re ready for a new project. You just cut your file folder expenses in half and saved some poor tree.

Source: http://onehundredthings.wordpress.com. For more things follow the above link.

Many great bloggers have written many things you can do to change the day to help the environment better. Some of them are as follows:

Chirs Garrett:

Freelance Switch:

Blogger Buzz:

So, do you blog about it now?

First anniversary of my blogging

It was the fantastic year of my blogging from the start to the end of the first anniversary of my blogging. I was thinking that when my posting reaches 100 I will give treat to my friends but I don't know when will it happen. September of 2006 was the time when I started blogging. There I posted anything that came to my head without thinking how it affects others thinkings. When I was continuing I became little cautious about my writings. I started to think in detail and posted with some editing which I lacked before. There used to a lot of spelling mistakes too, not to mention the grammar or English phrases.

During the time I met a lot of blog enthusiasts too and got the golden opportunity to make a lots of friends which I think the most valuable rewards of blogging. I got some nice comments and some bad comments too. But it was really nice to get such comments as it develops the attitude of writing and speaking the things which is right. Comments are like the guide for bloggers. It helps us to drive through the right path. Some people thinks that blogging is just waste of time and money if there is no free Internet access. But I think blogging helps you to speak the things which requires a certain good place to express. It is the platform where you can pour your good and bad feelings.

Expressing things develops your skill of communication and self-confidence. When you speak bad feelings then it will relax your body and mind. So I don't think there are any demerits of doing blogging. So I suggest everyone to start blogging if you haven't done it yet. There is not a single reason not to do it.

Well this month happened the switch of my job too which was the hard decision for me to take. I thought it will be nice for me to do it thinking all the things from every angle. I am optimistic about my new job. I hope this will bring some good results to help for my future career.