| Username |
Post |
| Biswo |
Posted
on 09-Jun-01 09:20 AM
Though marred by controversies, the ascent of King Gyanendra is
already an irreversible. As a constitutional monarch, he will
probably be unable to do alot of things. Yet he can suggest
all the incoming governments in these fields:
1. DRUG ABUSE: No king in our history should be more worried in
this aspect than Gyanendra. Drug dealers have rendered Nepal
into a horrible place to live. The princes Dipendra and Paras
were said to be a regular customers of drugs, and it looks
like Dipendra, otherwise a gentle person, was probably
stimulated by drugs for such merciless killing. Drug has
endangered the legacy of our present king also, as his son
is widely unacceptable to be even a prince. We all cried when
Arun Thapa unsuccessfully tried to extricate himself from
the maze of drug abuse, we also cried when somebody killed
father Gyaphne(Spelling?), now it is time we set out for all
out war against drug dealers/abuse so as to prevent any future
events of such magnitude.
2. Tourism: Nepal's loss in tourism has been boon to Sikkim now.
Sikkim is now a hotspot for tourists. King Gyanendra knows
how tourism industry is playing vital role in our development.
He got to work hard on that.
3. Environment: He did good job, then he messed up in Mahendra
Prakriti Kosh. However, he surely has more knowledge than
our former king in this area. He can work to better Nepalese
environment. What about starting new trekking routes?
4. Education: King Birendra, though was unable to develop our
country, was a good example in having faith in education. He
could have sent his sons to foreign schools for all their
education.(govt pays for that!) But may be because of
Dipendra's alcohol case in Eton or something else, he later
sent all his kids to schools in KTM. This was a great lesson
for our leaders who hurry to send their kids to only foreign
countries. Gyanendra can restore our faith in our education
by sending the kids from his family to Nepali schools.
Finally, I hope King Gyanendra will be a responsible king. He
has a benefit that people really don't expect much from him. If
he does something really good, people will start noticing them.
Kings have two choices, either to rule or win heart. Those who
rule are plain dictators.Those who wins are good leaders. When
you die, all that matters is the heart of the people you lived
among in your lifetime.
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| Puskar |
Posted
on 10-Jun-01 01:25 AM
Interesting thoughts, Biswo. It took King Birendra decades to embellish his public image. A tough challenge lies ahead for Gyanendra. Same applies for the Nepali janata. They need to decide what good they will be able to pull out of Gyanendra. The same people who shouted 'Birey chor, desh chhod' in 2046 are shaving their hair to mourn the royal killings now. If you are praying, also pray for the Nepali people who seem live close to confusion most of the times.
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| nEPALI |
Posted
on 11-Jun-01 08:28 AM
My only concern is his tobacco industry and the health of the people. Somehow, despite protests from the advertisment industry law was passed not to advertise the tobacco products. We need lot more than that and since the King owns a leading cigarette factory, I feel there will be some hesitation to go against the king.
What kind of speech will he deliver if he ever goes to the conference of WHO to abolish the serious tobacco related health problems, which is indeed a problem in Nepal?
It sounds like the president of Philip Morris becoming the president of US.
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| Puskar |
Posted
on 11-Jun-01 01:28 PM
> nEPALI's comment: the advertisment industry law was passed not to advertise the tobacco products
Note that this law is applicable only in the US.
> nEPALI's comment: It sounds like the president of Philip Morris becoming the president of US.
Very true. Very true. King Gyanendra needs to give up his churot ra raski ko factories.
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| nEPALI |
Posted
on 11-Jun-01 02:04 PM
>> nEPALI's comment: the advertisment
>industry law was passed not to advertise the
>tobacco products
>
>Note that this law is applicable only in the
>US.
I think there is a law of not to advertise the alcohol and tobacco products in the electonic media. Yet, the ads can been seen on the hoarding boards and news papers.
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| Puskar |
Posted
on 11-Jun-01 03:36 PM
nEPALI, you are contradicting your own comments. Billboards (hoarding board as you call it) is not electronic media. I am not aware of any law that prohibits advertisement of alcoholic beverages and cigarettes in electronic media. I am only aware of the prohibition of cigarette ads in the US. I don't think Nepal has such law(s).
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| nepaligorkhali |
Posted
on 11-Jun-01 03:46 PM
As far as I know how Surya Tobacco(1/2 owned by Gyanendra)came to Nepal is the best know dirty games that royalities played to dry Neapli rajaswa for their personal wealth accumulation. Surya Tobacco wanted to come to Nepal for time, but Janakpur Churot was doing so good that no foreign companies were allowed in Nepal. Then Gyanendra was offered 50 percent share from Indian Tobacco Company and there was nothing anyone can do to stop him. There goes all the money to India and to Gyanendra's foreign account. This is just an example how these so called "Raja is vishnu's avtar" are drying up country's wealth. I wonder how Nepali people can cry over their chita after so many years of darkness solely due to these selfish royalties. So many of our sisters are selling their flesh in India and these royalties are to be blamed. If they would not have dried out developmental budget, then those poor little girls would have gone to school and would not have spread their legs for few bucks.
Now Gyanendra is a king and god knows what the future would be for so many nepali kids(specially girls). His public record is like sewer water. He can literally sell the country if he gets good deal. Funny thing is that he has been well known person to smuggle nepali gods(stautes) and now he is considered to be god(Vishnu). Oh god please help our country.
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| Biswo |
Posted
on 11-Jun-01 05:01 PM
I think the govt promulated some kind of rule banning the tobacco
advertisement in electronic media in Nepal some two years ago. I
still remember there was some protest from advertisement agencies
and media. But, I am not sure if my memory is failing me now!
People in Nepal can make us clear about this.
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| Gandhi |
Posted
on 11-Jun-01 05:11 PM
Biswoji,
It is true that advertising alcohol and tobacco product in electronic media was banned by the ministry of communication. Ministry of Health provided some sort of financial rebate to Radio Nepal and Nepal Television. It was eminent when the "Surya Bishwa Gatana" anchored by Durga Nath Sharma every thursday (?) was later named "Smoking and Alcohol Less Bishwa Ghatana". It was true until I left Nepal in the beginning of 2001. I don't know if the ready-to-do-anything-for-commission-type ministers have now reinstated the law.
Gandhi
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| Puskar |
Posted
on 11-Jun-01 07:23 PM
Looking at the thread of this posting, one would gather that Gyanendra's number one priority would be to rid of churot ko factory.
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| nEPALI |
Posted
on 12-Jun-01 10:57 AM
This is from kathmandu post.
Smoking trend on the rise: Study
By Nitya Nanda Timsina
KATHMANDU, June 11 - Despite ban on tobacco advertisement in electronic media and other efforts by the government to contain smoking trends, recent studies show aggressive rise in smoking trend.
A study concluded by World Health Organization and the government last month shows a phenomenal rise in smoking trends, especially among youths. According to the report, per capita consumption of cigarette has increased from 170 sticks in 1970-72 to 580 in 1990-92 and to 600 sticks in 2000.
Sailesh Upadhyaya, a WHO official admits that the exposure to smoking is rising in Nepal. Exposure to second hand smoking is also rising, seriously affecting the women and children says, Upadhyaya.
The health implications of smoking and second-hand smoking are rapidly growing worldwide. A recent report in the United States says that the number of people dying of smoking would exceed the HIV/AIDS related toll by 2025. The report mainly puts blame for this ominous trend on aggressive marketing and promotion of tobacco commercials.
Nepali people, especially in the Himalayan region do smoke for ages. Another study by health experts points out women in Jumla, mid-western hilly district, as the most notorious smokers in Nepal. About 70 per cent of the Jumli women smoke, says the study.
Not only active smokers but the case of passive smokers is also on the red. The male smokers in Asia (reports say sixty per cent of the Asian males smoke) expose women and children to smoking environment forcing them to become second hand smokers.
Dr Gopal P Acharya of National Health and Research Council says that smokers have 70 per cent higher chance of dying than the non-smokers due to cancer. Of the total of 4,000 chemical substances in a cigarette, 40 of them are carcinogenic which have lethal implications on human health.
The research also shows that infants exposed to second hand smoke could be at increased risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). While the children exposed to second hand smoke have higher risk of bronchitis, pneumonia and weaker lungs. An estimated 15, 000 people in Nepal die annually of tobacco consumption while 150 cases of coronary heart disease related to smoking is reported yearly at the Teaching Hospital.
Besides ban on tobacco commercials in electronic media, the government has also banned smoking at public places. However, the government decision to ban smoking at public places has been comfortably forgotten, let alone enforcing it.
Along with the deteriorating atmospheric air are the problems posed by uncontrolled sale of tobacco and mushrooming cigarette industries and their aggressive promotion and marketing.
According to WHO commissioned study in 2000, there are as many as 38 tobacco industries in Nepal, mostly small and cottage industries. Among them are the five large-scale cigarette factories.
Health activists point out for an urgent need to check smoking at public places through legal enforcement complimented by effective awareness programme and anti-smoking campaigns.
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