| Sajha.com Archives | |
| Username | Post |
| SimpleGal | Posted
on 07-Dec-02 12:17 PM
Dear all, Many a "disturbing" picture of children in poverty, victims of Moaist attacks and numerous other "disturbing" events have been posted on sajha. But what I don't understand is the point you guys are trying to make. Ok, let me make my point here then, since I'm on the topic of making points. Sajha is, by and large, a community where everyone supports each other. It's obvious in the praises that are lorded over to "khatara" writing and so forth. I think it's high time, and I suggest this to Sanji as well, that we extend these supportive intentions and transform them into constructive actions to DO something about the reality behind the pictures. If the tasbirs are speaking, then we who hear them, since that I presume is the intention of the posters--to make us hear whatever's being said--should attend to the concerns. Ruckji's thread "The least we can do" was a superhit on this site. Ruckji, did any constructive/productive actions emerge from the thread? I sincerely hope so. I'm not implying nor presuming sweepingly that, because they are undeclared, we haven't acted toward the causes for which the tasbirs speak. We all may have. Keats said, "Heard melodies are sweet / But those unheard are sweeter." So we don't need to publicize what we may have done earnestly, quietly. BUT what I'm trying to say, and I believe some of the fellow sajhabasis may share my sentiments, is let's try to implement our suppotiveness, in whatever capacity, to the causes behind the tasbirs of people in our dear homeland. There are many of us in Nepal and those of us abroad who may have access to resources that can channel the support back home. I recall Sitaraji once telling me that if you want things done, do it yourself. Individual actions. True, but, as cliched as it may sound, I have to say this: United we stand, divided we fall. Therefore, it's high time that we did something constructive as people who not only genuinely care about how beautiful and solid people's writings at sajha are, but also as citizens, whether in Nepal or elsewhere, of Nepal we truly care and want to share with those of our dear daju-bhai-didi-bahini-ama-bua-and baccha bacchi who may not have resources that God has blessed us with. And fortunately for us, we have also been blessed with the ability to care and share with them. It's time for ACTION. Posting pictures and remarking on the abject living conditions of those REAL people in a still picture is not going to bring food on their empty plates. Let us not be the fingers that point to those conditions, but the hands that reach out and give them what we can and what they need. In peace. |
| Dilasha | Posted
on 07-Dec-02 02:43 PM
Dear Simplegal, I'm glad that you brought this up. You're right, it is time for us to come out of the "kuwa" and "ACT" instead of being mere spectators and just sympathizing over what has happened to the the innocent victims back home. We certainly can do a lot with a collective effort. As we all know, Rabina and Rabin are not the only kids who have been suffering from the violent actions of the Maoists. Pls click on the link for more information. (http://www.nepalnews.com.np/ntimes/issue121/nation_2.htm) There are innumerable people of all ages who have suffered physical and emotional trauma caused by the so called terrorists. I along with Simplegal would like to urge all of you, our fellow Sajhaites to please spare a few hours from your precious time to reflect upon this matter and find ways about how to help these people. I have received quite a few emails from friends who are willing to contribute for this special cause. Next week I am going to establish an account for these two kids so that we can send donations to the organization named INSEC that is actively involved in the rehabilitation of these kids and many others. Therefore people who would like to contribute can contact me for more information. Holidays are coming up so I am sure people will be free for more than a week especially students. It would be very nice if people can get together in their own cities and organize some benefits to help the needy back home. We don't always have to depend on organizations to do so and we have proven that by organizing the fundraising program for the landslide victims here in MN. And if organizations are willing to devote their efforts then that's even better. There are several ways to raise funds some of which I'd like to share with you. These are just some ideas. 1. A social Nepali dinner. 2. Showing Nepali movies. 3. An Auction (people can donate their nepali handircrafts or anything made in Nepal) 4. People who have talents such as singing can organize a small gig and invite the others. 5. Contacting different high schools to arrange a small program for the kids there where we can show one or two dances to them and give them more information about Nepal. 6. Collect funds by personally contacting friends and others (which is what I'm planning to do) 7. I'm sure some of you might be regular church-goers. I have known that people in churches are very helpful for causes like these. So we can visit those churches and talk to pastors about this and they can help us. I know we have tremendous talents in Sajha not to mention professionals in their own respective fields. Folks, let us all think about ways to help our people back home. It can be a small step for all of us but for kids like Rabina and Rabin it will be a tremendous blessing. So let us all awake our humanitarian sides and as Ruck would have said, "do the least we can do". Dilasha You can contact me at dakshinkaali@yahoo.com |
| Dilasha | Posted
on 07-Dec-02 02:44 PM
Here's an email I received from the general secretary of INSEC that I'd like to share with you all. ******************************************** Dear Sir/Madam, Thank you very much for your generous response and support. - The main focus on helping these two children will be to provide them basic treatment and to rehabilitate them. But the service will be extended to other affected children from among the displaced population depending on their situation and availability of the resources. - The detailed programme is in the process of development which will include rehabilitation, education and other facilities depending on the resources mobilized through the response that we are receiving nationally and internationally. - The following text will further clarify the concept of our programme, target and objectives. - We will provide you information about our programme that will be developed in due course and how and where we utilized the money. ------------------------------------- Please find the following details: - More than 100 children are reported to have been killed and thousands of others have been orphaned and displaced due to the Moaist war, reports said. More than 7000 people have been killed. The violence has orphaned 1500 children while 3000 have been displaced after their parents fled to relatively safer towns. .......(source Spotlight, 29 Nov. 2002). - Bhakta Bahadur Regmi can't bear to look at his two children and their grievous burn injuries sustained during a firebomb attack on their bus by suspected Maoists on 4 October on Lakhanti Bridge, 70 kms from Simara. "At least they are alive," is all Bhakta Bahadur can say. But he is heartbroken when he remembers how his wife, Anju, died trying to save their children as the bus caught fire. They were the last ones among the 55 passengers to escape after the Maoists threw petrol bombs at the speeding bus. The two others who died in the attack that preceded the three-day Maoist bandh were the bus conductor and an employee of Music Nepal. We ask four-year-old Rabina who hurt her. "Maobadi," she says simply. Rabina looks at her burnt fingers and touches her stomach which is covered in burn tissue. Her six year old brother Rabin has burns all over his face, a gash on his head and a deep cut on his leg. The two haven't yet been told that their mother is dead. Anju Regmi was seven months pregnant. she was rushed to Malangwa hospital, where her baby was still born. she died three days later of trauma and burns.......... (source Nepali Times, 29 Nov.2002) --------------------------------------------------- You can deposit the amount in the following a/c or send a/c. payee cheque to us at INSEC, in Kalanki Tel:(278770) in the following address. If you would like to contribute to the medical treatment and rehabilitation care of Rabina and Rabin Regmi, You can deposit the amount in the following a/c and inform us or send the a/c. payee cheque to us at INSEC, in Kalanki Tel:(278770). If you want to make a direct bank transfer, please use INSEC's account at Nepal Arab Bank Ltd, Lalitpur Branch, Kupondole savings account number: 0810010016901; Swift Code: NARBNPKA We are unable and helpless to bear the bank charges to be incurred on transferring the money. Our Postal Address is: Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC) GPO Box 2726 Kathmandu, Nepal. Tel:(+977-1-) 278770; Fax: (+977-1-) 270551 email: insec@wlink.com.np Web: www.insec.org.np Thanking you. Yours Sincerely, Subodh Pyakurel General Secretary |
| najar | Posted
on 07-Dec-02 03:00 PM
Very timely call S-gal and Dilasha. Come on sajhabasis lets get in action. One of the hassles of contributing money in Nepal is the process of money transfer; some ideas--may be send it through thamel.com (prompt/convenient) (disclaimer: i am not their agent, i read about them only on sajha ad) or any other such agencies and have them deliver to insec a/c or to the office. Or have someone in Nepal deposit the money at Insec's account and reimburse that to their relative/son/daughter/father/uncle in the US. Or just simply tranfer a few dollars via your bank for a good cause in improving someone's lives... |
| sally | Posted
on 07-Dec-02 05:02 PM
Ah, INSEC ... I remember one of their human rights yearbooks, from around '95, that listed people mauled by tigers among the human rights violations. (I think it was tigers. Maybe it was rhinos.) O for the days when people used to worry about protecting their rights from irritable wildlife ... Seriously, I'd very much like to hear more about anything being done to help victims of the violence. Whatever other activities we're all involved in--and I think a lot of sajhapures are pretty active in a lot of ways--I doubt there's a single person who logs onto this site who doesn't spend some time, each day, feeling upset about the impact of violence on innocent people. When I think about the long-term effect of it all on the young, and on the culture of the country, I just want to cry. But Simple Gal is right. Looking at pictures (here or on kantipuronline or wherever), and then crying tears that dry quickly in the central-heated comfort of America, doen't mean a lot--unless it's followed by action. If we can do anything, however small, we should. Najar, I don't know about your bank, but mine charges $30 a pop for each money transfer, whether it's $10 or $1000. I find this very discouraging and limiting. Is Thamel.com more cost-effective? Dilasha, if you open a US account earmarked for this particular purpose, please post about it. People could contribute even small amounts, and know that the whole contribution--minus $30 or whatever a single transfer fee would be--would end up in the right place. |
| Freeek | Posted
on 08-Dec-02 09:26 AM
If you guys are so much interested in helping somebody out, why don't you help me out. I am poor, hungry, stuck in USA, no job, no money, noone that i can call "mine". I don't have any papers, i don't have SScard, W permit. I am not goodlooking, i don't' know much of english, i cant find anybody who could take me out of this mess.There is no difference between those kids and me. I can't even get a job of Dish washer. I am eating from the garbage, and its winter, and if i get sick, i can't even get myself treated. |
| Arnico | Posted
on 08-Dec-02 09:58 AM
SimpleGal, Dilasha, Najar, and Sally. Thanks for starting this thread and getting it going. Yes, let's absolutely get ourselves organized here in Sajhapur to provide humanitarian assistance. With every passing day, every passing act of violence the need becomes more crucial that we who have had the fortune to stay away from the violence step in and help out compatriots who are not in a position to help themselves... I will do my part to help out. Unfortunately don't have much time right now to join the collecting brainstorming here... but will join later... Arnico. |
| SimpleGal | Posted
on 08-Dec-02 11:41 AM
Dear Dilasha, Najar, Sally, and Arnico, I'm so glad to hear that many of us share ideas that I tried to voice in this thread. Dilasha, thanks for your posting. The next two weeks are hectic for me with the close of the semester. But in the meantime, I will do whatever I can to contribute to the brainstorming of ideas to get organized and collect in whatever capacity we can. Dilasha, we talked on the phone about organizing a dohori-sanjh in Boston some time next year. That tentative event, along with many others that we can organize as sajhabasis can be used to not only provide entertainment for all, but also to gear it toward a fundraiser event from sajhabasis and other attendees. Gotta go now for studying for exams, but I will be around in sajha sporadically for the next 2 weeks. Thanks everyone--for the enthusiasm. Little drops of water make the mighty ocean, little grains of sand make the pleasant land! In peace. |
| Puru Subedi | Posted
on 08-Dec-02 11:58 AM
All, Sounds like this is a busy time for eveyone. I am also busy with finals and comp. exams so would not be able to do any fund raising activities. Thanks to eveyone working hard to get this going. As a Sajha basi, I will contribute some fund for this cause and encourge others to do the same... Please keep us posted on where/how to contribute.. -PS |
| najar | Posted
on 08-Dec-02 05:14 PM
Sally, I don't know the details myself as i have not been involved in money transfer system personally; what i wrote were just random thoughts. We transferred some money when i was in college to nepal, but the business office in college did the logistics, so am not sure about the charges. But I agree, if there is an account in the US that we could all deposit our contributions that would terrific. Any sajhabasis aware of such thing? Or perhaps Dilasha would know also as she and her friends recently did a fundraising for Nepal--any lights Dilasha on this? Or anybody else for this matter? |
| Prempujari | Posted
on 08-Dec-02 05:19 PM
Ye hazur haru, Tyo accountant ko post khaali cha? Paisa ko ryang ka thyang milauna ta ma khappis chu ni. Malai ni job chaahiya cha ke, DMO ko talab le "nightclub" jaana pugena kyaa. Vacancy cha bhane bhani bakshiyos, mero choto meetho resume darta garai halchu!! Jhussa kapal, boke daari~~prem pujari!! |
| Soleil | Posted
on 09-Dec-02 11:40 AM
Mero ni bayo-deta halum hai? :) Jhuss kapal, boke daari paani tyanki muni ghar mero, thaun kalanki sauni ki chhori ko hune wala poi, naam mero prem pujari :) |