Gay Marriage Legal in Nepal

Everyone come for a visit! Who cares about Massachusetts!
Destination Weddings for ALL!

Weird Al Yankovic-Eat It

The Ticket

Abundant Equanimity 

'Equanimity, one of the most sublime emotions of Buddhist practice, is the ground for wisdom and freedom and the protector of compassion and love. While some may think of equanimity as dry neutrality or cool aloofness, mature equanimity produces a radiance and warmth of being. The Buddha described a mind filled with equanimity as “abundant, exalted, immeasurable, without hostility, and without ill-will.”'

- Gil Fronsdal from "A Perfect Balance" (Winter 2005)

The Machine is Us/ing Us (Final Version)

Householder Dharma

'“Meditate on those with whom you are closely connected,” a Tibetan heart-mind training text says. Often our family is the most intense field of projection: we mistake wife, husband, child for our own narrow, accustomed thoughts of them, and for that reason, family can provoke great suffering. But family can act as the richest vehicle for spiritual practice. Spousal abuse, child abuse, elder abuse: when in bondage to suffering thoughts of self and others, family arises as curse. But when we learn to sense the emptiness of our thought habit, and through that our natural reverence and care for others, family arises as profound blessing.'

- Lama John Makransky, "Family Practice" (Summer 2001)

China Response to Border Bullying

China's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Jiang says she has not read any reports of border encroachment around the Lines of Control in Ladakh.  In fact, she says, "China has always strictly honored its commitments."

Indian Defense Minister, AK Antony, also denies the recent claims that China is subversively grabbing land along the border. 

Both of these articles - from Times of India and Press Trust of India - are quite short and without many details.  The TOI article reports Antony saying, "There is only a difference in perception," about the border encroachment.  One wonders about pressure to post some information from an Indian source denying the recent claims...

What is the difference?  How should it be explained?  What are the different perceptions - that China IS harassing nomads along the high mountain plateau border, but India shouldn't perceive it like that?   His words certainly imply that something is going on. 

China and India are in their final rounds of talks to "safeguard peace and tranquility along the border."

Affect vs. Effect

Aardvark - a very easy noun.

Affect is a verb.
Effect is a noun.

most of the time.

Global Tiger Initiative

In this year 2010, the Year of the Tiger, the Global Tiger Initiative launched with a conference including the 13 countries that govern tiger habitat.  The conference was in Kathmandu... (neutral ground? Or where the best facilitators are?) in late October.  During the four days, aims and objectives were established to protect tiger habitat which has reached 10% of the historical range, and make efforts for valuing live tigers rather than dead ones.

This HT article talks about Nepal's initiative to count their tigers starting next week.  Only full grown tigers will be counted.  Estimates were at 121 tigers in Nepal two years ago.

World Bank is involved: this is their tiger website.

Youtube has a page for GTI.



(read some of the reports on the gti website to see if any are appropriate for the Chitwan reader... final report summary?  other academic papers?  how can we link this in with lectures the students will hear?  ask anil and watch youtube pieces to see if any are appropriate for viewing with the students)

Federalism convo

here

and here

new News

new news as of yesterday on CA draft to be released on 18th

interivew to read at work

More Chatter on the HLPM and the CA Circus

The goal (according to this Republica article) is this: "The formation of the mechanism is termed as a breakthrough in the wake of growing political rift between the major political parties in the country."  A Koirala idea, the HLPM (and its three members) is intended to reach directly into the heart of the political stalemate.  When there is no way to move forward, the 'mechanism' takes effect and the three (who, arguably, are causing the problems anyway) have to sit face to face and talk out their differences.  They can't hide from each other anymore.

The deadline for constitution writing is set for May 28, 2010 - now that the HLPM is in place, it's time to get to work, seriously.  Battarai says that if the CA is dissolved, the Maoists will take to the streets - does this mean they are invested in the process and want to see it succeed?  Or is this another round of political chatter?


So is it positive? Negative?

Seems it was an answer to the fourth phase of aggitation by the Maoists under the guise of 'civilian supremacy' - they have clearly been included (or Prachanda has) in the mechanism.  Will this inclusion put a halt to the 24 Jan threat?

It is unclear who supports or is suspicious of the UN efforts to form this HLPM to sort out the government stand still.

"Dahal said that his party would never bow down to any foreign forces for the sake of preserving the national sovereignty and dignity."

While, in the same article he states that the method would "ease political standstill."  

In this Republica article - "Relevance of HLPM", Prachanda says that anyone who is not supporting this new effort is suffering at the hands of foreign pressures. Here, the first priority of the HLPM should be giving itself proper form.

President Yadav stated his feeling of being the head of a political party rather than the president of a functioning parliamentary system.   In this Republica article, the president says, "If the constitution is not written within the time stipulated by the Interim Constitution, it will lead to serious political complications. I am worried about that situation."

It is not clear what the functioning of the HLPM will be.  This forum exists, people in the forum are suspicious about intentions, and others are saying if you are suspicious of this, it is clear you are influenced by outsiders.  But who is facilitating? organizing? keeping watch over the process?  I have read that UNMIN was the one to propose this idea, but I have yet to see written evidence of that fact.  Is India involved?  Will the HLPM be just another facade?  A proper circus tent over the three + rings that are already giving the world a great show?

New Focus on Nationalism

Great Republica Article, despite the typo about the Royal Family Massacre - that happened in 2001, not 2005.  The article calls out the Maoists for changing their agenda because Prachanda is still not in power after their previous wave of tactics. 

"For those not in the loop vis-à-vis Dahal’s juggling of subjects, the Maoists’ latest switch – to fighting for 'national independence' – comes after 'civilian supremacy' failed to fetch him prime minister’s seat."

One Month Limit expires 24 Jan

Indefinite bandh on the way?

Here's a good/clear article from back in December that talks about the Maoist one-month time limit for restructuring the government (i.e. putting Prachanda back in the PM seat).  Maoists are denying the fact that Prachanda, or so it seemed at the time, stepped down in May of his own accord - to save face for the army chief sacking.  Of course, we civilians can't see behind the scenes and it is possible President Yadev strong-armed him, but it just doesn't seem that likely to me. 

Now PM Nepal is encouraging Maoist party back into the governmental proceedings, but will not step down for Prachanda to re-assume the role. 

Maoists continue, in their spare time waiting for this decision on 24 Jan, to focus on getting rid of any Indian puppetry that remains in the Nepali government. 

200 Former Child Soldiers released

200 plus former child soldiers held since 2006 when the conflict officially ended have been released.  They are the first wave to be released from camps monitored by UNMIN and UNICEF.  They were given civilian clothes (no longer wearing their blue Maoist uniforms) and NRs. 10K and sent on their way.  Read about it here.

High-level Political Mechanism (HPM) in Nepal

New buzzwords for getting people to get along and write this constitution - HPM.  (Though the reality being when the document is written, and decisions about how to split up the country are made, 601 members of the constituent assembly will be out of jobs.  And I thought these were volunteer positions!)  Seems HPM is something UNMIN thought up in May.

Here's an commentary on the HPM and the opinions about it: Important political milestone for Nepal or strategic political conspiracy?  At least the stalemate is over - but then again, HPM might just be another acronym for "Fillabuster."

Republica
Nepal News
Himalayan Times

Maoist Fourth Phase - Border Agression

Maoist leaders and their latest crusade: Take the land BACK from India!  Chalo!  The focus is a 75 sq. km. patch of land in western Nepal that has been under occupation since Indo-China war in 1962.  Kalapani in the far west and Susta in Lumbini area - check out International Boundary Consultants on this issue.

Let's watch and see.

Here's an interesting piece from the Chennai Center for Chinese studies about the border issues.  The article well-documents the recent events and decisions of the Maoists in their fourth phase of 'action.'

The Slowest Horse

I don't think I've ever heard a better explanation of myself - horse #4.  There is no Question at all.  I bet there are many ways I can use this analogy for teaching... connected with EN's xeroxed world analogy - that experiencing things first person rather than second or third person is the only way we learn, and also the only way we are able to speak honesty and authentically about anything.  Experience is essential.

"The Buddha's compassion is the basis for the parable of the four horses that he preached when he resided at the Kalandaka Grove. The first horse, he explained, runs swiftly the instant he sees the shadow of a whip. The next horse will run fast the moment his skin feels the whip. The third horse runs when the whip cuts into his flesh. The slowest horse will run only after repeated lashings.

The scripture uses the parable of the four horses in order to describe four kinds of people on the path of Buddhism. The first kind awakens and moves forward on the path of the Four Noble Truths the instant they hear about the sufferings caused by old age, illness, and death. The second kind moves when they actually see sufferings with their own eyes. The third kind is not affected by the sufferings of others, but when a family member experiences sufferings, they move forward on the path. And the fourth kind is not distressed at all by seeing old age, illness, and death in others or even among family members, but they are pushed forward on the path when they personally experience these sufferings.

The sympathy of the Buddha identifies with the slowest horse, this last group of people that includes most of us."

- Taitetsu Unno, "Number One Fool," (Spring 2008)

China bullies the other side?

While talks seem to be moving forward between India and Pakistan regarding the Kashmir issue, is China using the distraction to agress toward nomads in high mountain areas of Ladakh to lay claim on land? 

This is just an editorial, but...

People better watch their backs.

Many Voices and Concerns on Kashmir Solution

Peace conference called by two separatist leaders of J & K at the Indian International Center seem to speak about the 'real' issues here.  Ethnic group rights in the process need to be heard - many people are greatly affected by the stalemate in the northern areas.  Neither is willing to give an inch to the other and the 'dialogue' process is at a standstill because credibility of this technique has been lost through eruptions of violence in the past 15 years. 

One of the leaders, Sajjad Lone, proposes trade as a means to build trust and build the economy of the region.  Through this, the region can be unburdened by "the monotony of sovereignty."  He released a document called "Achievable Nationhood," the first of its kind since violence in 1989, at the beginning of Jan 2010.  Is this just the type of leadership that the region is needing to emerge from protracted conflict?

The paper calls for tax-free movement of goods between a united J & K. "Lone's peace formula comes a month after Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf said Islamabad would abandon its claim to Kashmir if India agreed to give the territory autonomy under joint supervision by both countries," says Reuters. 

The Danger of a Single Story

Experiential Education Web Resources

An old professor of mine, James Neill put this site together - I believe it had something to do with his PhD.  Here are his fabulous comments on the ELC.


This one is interesting and navigates experiential learning through different perspectives of teacher and learner.

Important Names: 
John Dewey and his groundbreaking educational philosophies striving to understand human interaction with their learning environment and how responsible, dependable, citizens are crafted through meeting with the rawness of the wilderness, and how civil society is shaped through that learning - rugged individualism at its best!

Jean Piaget on theories of cognitive development...

David A. Kolb on experiential learning...
Collection of links/sites, relating to Kolb's work, but also explanations of why they are relevant to the work (also many thoughtful critiques)

More Classroom-based experiential learning here, but lesson plans and resources seem adaptable to any setting.


Team Building "Camp stuff," Initiatives, Trust activities and Processing -
http://www.ultimatecampresource.com/
http://www.thecampwiki.com/index.php?title=Main_Page

Please feel free to add any educational resources that may be helpful to this type of learning!

Obstacle, Inspiration

“If being a woman is an inspiration, use it.  If it is an obstacle, try not to be bothered.” – Khandro Rinpoche. 

Love Us for Who We Aren't

"While we still have our 'self ' intact, that’s the one we love best. We won’t find anybody who will love us as much as we do ourselves. Yet, because of our ego delusion, we believe that there must be somebody like that somewhere. In reality, we should look at this search in a different way. We shouldn’t try to find somebody who will help us to support our self-delusion but rather someone who will help us to get rid of it. That can be the Buddha and his teachings, because such is the essence of the dhamma."

- Ayya Khema, "No Satisfaction," Tricycle Fall 2007

Hero's Journey

"[W]e have not even to risk the adventure alone, for the heroes of all time have gone before us. The labyrinth is thoroughly known. We have only to follow the thread of the hero path, and where we had thought to find an abomination, we shall find a god. And where we had thought to slay another, we shall slay ourselves. Where we had thought to travel outward, we will come to the center of our own existence. And where we had thought to be alone, we will be with all the world."

-- Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth, 1988, p.123

Ethan Nichtern on the Fox News Tiger Woods Buddhism/Christianity comment.

Beautiful Ladakh Images

“If being a woman is an inspiration, use it.  If it is an obstacle, try not to be bothered.” – Khandro Rinpoche. 

Jill Bolte Taylor's Stroke of Insight

Everyone MUST watch this.

What Is the Genuine Progress Index

http://www.rprogress.org/sustainability_indicators/genuine_progress_indicator.htm

http://www.gpiatlantic.org/

New Peaks open for Tourism in Ladakh

The Times of India published an article saying which restricted areas are now open to foreigners for mountaineering-type pursuits.  This is going to highly imact tourism in Ladakh.

I wonder if this is India's way to lay claim to previously restricted areas... if J & K state then makes tourism dollars off of peaks in the southeaster corridor of the Karakoram, Pakistan and China cannot very well claim any of that land is belonging to them, can they.  The closer India pushes toward the borders, the more tenuous the situation may get.

Don't know if this is such a good idea, India.
And Ladakh, it's time for you to dial up the sustainable eco-tourism business strategies.  Helena Norberg-Hodge, where are you when we need you!

"I would rather be ashes than dust!  I would rather my sparks should burn out in a blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot.  I would rather be as a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than asleep and permanent as a planet.

The proper function of a person is to live, not to exist.  I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them.  I shall use my time."

-Jack London

Powers Of 10

This is a video that I think I watched every year of my primary education, and every time, it rocked my world. The content did, but also the fact that we watched it on a double reel projector that the teacher would have to take 5 mintues to set up before we watched, then i was a bit captivated by the rewinding of the flim after we viewed it.

I also remember that none of my teachers ever wanted to discuss this video at all. They would just show it, and then move on to the next topic in the science book. I wonder why that is.

A good one.

"The most effective way to do it, is to do it." 

 
- Amelia Earhart

Definitions

Balkanization according to wikipedia (including a super cool map that rotates through the years of what the Balkans look like geopolitically since the Ottoman Empire!) 

(Take a moment to support the support of visual learners!)

Project for Awesome: Jhamtse Gatsal!

A Global LAB student of mine from last fall is fundraising for a school she is connected with in Arunachal Pradesh, India.

Music Themes: Motivation

Eye of the Tiger, The Mortal Kombat movie theme  (Eldon used to play during training)

driving repetative bass
minor verse, major chorus
repetitive lyrics that are easy to understand and relate to

Music Themes: Breaking Free or Realization

Don't have a name or an example for this one yet


I-I-I-I-I-I V(siton it) I-I-I-I-I-I  V
with a melodic vocal line, possibly evocative suspended harmony that resolves itself.

Music Themes: Lonliness

together with someone, or many people, but alone in your head.
never happy no matter who you're with.
lonely because you are by yourself, thinking that being with someone or other people would fix the feeling.
missing one particular person, but surrounded by many many others.
no body knows you at all.

Suspension of the same notes or suspended (2 or 4) open picked chord over basic I-IV-V progression (different rhythms or time signatures for different emotions?) and a predictable ii-V-vii7-V-I bridge.

This came from an awful cover of an awful, but interesting song from NYE in Kathmandu (it was so loud I couldn't talk to my friends at the table - the band was literally screaming and I had to put my fingers in my ears to stop the pain) by Hoobastank (worst band name EVER) The Reason.
But there was something insistent and sad about the music.  And the fact that the Nepali singer (which is typical) didn't actually know the English lyrics, but was just singing like we sing when we don't know the words, but we think we know... just singing sounds, was driving me crazy.   

Understanding Federalism

Wikipedia
says it is is a political concept in which a group of members are bound together (Latin: foedus, covenant) with a governing representative head. The term federalism is also used to describe a system of the government in which sovereignty is constitutionally divided between a central governing authority and constituent political units (like states or provinces). Federalism is a system in which the power to govern is shared between national and central (state) governments, creating what is often called a federation. Proponents are often called federalists.

Federalism is the type of politics wherein a group of members create a sovereign constitution with central governing authority and political units.

Wiki uses the example of India as a unique form of Federalism... 28 states and 7 Union territories, but with exceptions based on caste and/or class of individuals or ethnic minorities.  Does this give rise to uncontrollable separatist movements? i.e too much freedom = no enough central control?  

US is given as another example where parts came together to create a functional whole.  Though, the debate continues to rage about state vs. central government control of things like speed limits and health care.

I'm curious about Nepal's process and their vision of the term. 

Engaged Buddhism

Toward a definition of this, I'm collecting perspectives that I find. Thay talks about the term from a Vietnamese Theravadin perspective which, unsurprisingly calls for radical action in every moment to recognize one's true nature.

Other groups like the Buddhist Peace Fellowship and The Interdependence Project are looking at developing their own definitions from a social activist standpoint.

A professor of mine is working on a paper striving toward a Buddhist theory of conflict transformation. He is coming from a Japanese Buddhist perspective but makes the point that dependent origination is the glue that holds together the conditions to create conflict and peace, or merely interaction between two sentient beings. From that understanding, one can unpack that judgments and meanings that we, ourselves, place on the interaction creating the aversion or the attachment to each interaction.

This professor of mine calls for responsibility on the inner level as well as the outer level in order to be engaged.

I can't help but continue to be the cynic and say that even according to Buddhism, my understanding is that we are human and predisposed given our afflictions in this realm of existence to humanity and its constraints and opportunities. We can recommit to being 'engaged' on many levels but the real activism is what Thay says it is - reconfirming that commitment by recognizing every time we stray and coming back to the radical nature of the moment.

but who knows.

Gilgit-Baltistan

Historically (? Source) a part of Kashmir (State language is Urdu but linguistics in Baltistan suggest strong connection to Tibeto-Burmese languages as opposed to Persian/Arabic What is the persian/arabic family of languages called?) folks in Gilgit-Baltistan have been under Pakistani rule since 1949. 

India recently made a public claim for the region.  This article verbalizes India's claim that Pakistan is illegally occupying the land there, despite claims from the newly elected Chief Minister Mehdi Shah that the region has no connection to Kashmir.  Elections in November were successfuly administered and CM Shah's win made G/B officially the fifth province in Pakistan. 

India is calling out Pakistan for not addressing human rights violations that have occured in the past few years as the seperatist movement is gaining momentum. 

Watch this region - another example of contracted ethnic conflict where struggle for human rights against oppressive nationalist government is compounded by the fact that many eyes are on the strategic region.  Issues are Karakoram Highway (KKH) for trade with China, Taliban presence in areas north and west of Balitistan, other seperatist movements as a result of central Pakistani government not paying much attention to folks up there - including human rights issues of food and resource accessability, health needs, and education. Read this one about that.

Steven Jenkins - Humbolt State

Professor Steven Jenkins gave a talk at Kathmandu University's Center for Buddhist Studies annual symposium last month about the Buddhist Ethics of warfare. 

I found some podcasts of talks he gave at another KTM-based Buddhist Studies organization - Institute of Buddhist Studies - in spring 2009.  

Prof. Jenkins is writing a book that he mentioned will be out soon.

India and Pakistan - Maps, resources , and glacier melt

Northern Border Conflict or Siachen Conflict refers to the elusive boundary issues in India's northernmost state Jammu & Kashmir.  Eruptions of war, armed conflict, ethnic aggression plague the region as China, India, and Pakistan figure out their stakes.  Other stakeholders are Gilit/Baltisani, Afghani and Tajik peoples living in and on the borders of the Karakoram.

Siachen Glacier
The highest battlefield in the world at 21,000 ft is the glacier set in the Saltoro range (northeast of the Ladakh range) in the Nubra Valley of Ladakh.

I always wonder about the impact of the military presence in Ladakh - benefits and drawbacks for the people, but also the landscape I read this interesting article the other day about environmental impact on this glacier given the melt caused by the military presence there. 

Life Lessons from Stargate: Atlantis

I've always been a fan of scifi novels, fantasy novels, and movies that push the boundaries of technological advancement including elements of apocalyptic themes.  Watching/reading this genre causes me to consider two things: 1. my own mortality and 2. the possibility of limitless human creativity, resourcefulness, and spirit.

Mortality shows itself as the viewer/reader follows the characters along their adventures - identifying with their struggles, challenges, victories, wrestling with trust, individuality, resourcefulness, and courage as they face unending threats on their lives.  I see myself in the stories - or at least, can put myself in the preverbial 'shoes' of the characters quite easily.  I ask myself questions as I'm reading/watching Would I make that decision? Would I have trusted that person?  Could I be that strong and vibrant?  Could I kick someone's ass so efficiently?  How long would it take me to recover from such an ass-kicking?  How are MY leadership skills?  I think this is the reason humans like movies, novels, tv shows.  They are (in their brilliant entertaining way) alternate realities we can identify with that help us cling less fiercely to the reality we identify as our own.

Considering, or believing in, limitless human potential is another point.  Maybe MY limitless human potential (Be all you can be - or how much science can one truly understand in one's lifetime) is on the table and considering it motivates me to be less lazy, but to think about the potential of humans to create protective force fields, teleportation devices, magical potions, medical miracles, identify and utilize psychic abilities, storytelling gifts, and (brace yourselves) create a functioning community of trusting individuals gives me a lot of hope.  Yes, these communities I watch/read are imaginary, but it does leave me with the feeling that even if we are idealizing how humans live and work together, it must be possible to do so on some level.  We wouldn't be imagining these scenarios if we didn't have it in us, right?  (See Future Post about my Will Smith Theory).

So with Death and Hope as my overarching themes, this post is just one big justification for spending time watching an entire tv series from first episode to the last one.  A good/new friend let me borrow the entire discography of the scifi drama Stargate: Atlantis.

I'm not a big tv fan - don't own one, never want to.  But laptops work for tv on my own time.  (I fumble with that justification from time to time - what is it I really *like* about the experience of watching movies and tv episodes... the ability to watch when I want, what I want commercial free? or is this just a big fat time waster.  Most probably, the second.)  But here goes, anyway!

Here are some themes from the show that I want to keep track of for future teaching purposes (like my Tuckman's stages of group development through Fellowship of the Ring):

• building trust - how, why, it takes time, how you benefit from it, teamwork and relying on your teammates.  Does everyone need to be in a life threatening situation to learn to trust people? Is it true that everyone has their special place in the team - like a comic book? 
  
• Specialization - being a doctor, fighter pilot, weapons master, diplomat.   It's the ideal that if a team of specialists are brought together, many parts make a whole.  Reinforces importance of specialization rather than being a jack-of-all-trades.
• drawing/maintaining lines - not being pushed around, not dating the people you work with
• making decisions and taking responsibility for them - leadership, ethics, guilt?
• commitment to ideals and to others you trust are working toward those ideals
• working hard - what exactly does this mean?  Not taking care of yourself?
  
• unachievable perfection = perfect humanity
• authority (John subverting it, Elizabeth holding on to it by her teeth, Sam being even, interested, clear, capable, and nondramatic - I don't question her like I questioned Elizabeth's confidence)
  
• diplomacy (Elizabeth) - negotiations vs. destruction - there's always an ideal for 'peace' and trade relations to exist between civilizations, but do not stand idly by while the other agresses.  Not sure I agree with this one... peace as in 'mutual benefit' on both sides, yes.  And the negotiators are responsible identify the needs of each society and have an agreed-upon treaty or limit to the exchange.  What if one or the other feels they are being taken advantage of?  What if they don't?  What if one needs help and the other has the means to help?  
• development (Explorer teams) - teams explore the galaxy looking for viable trade partners.  They have yet to set up a peaceful treaty in almost 60 episodes (end of season three).  When the teams arrive on a new planet, they always assume the people are 'underdeveloped' living in 'simpler times' with no technology. Their assumption is that technology + warfare capability = developed nation.  (#55 "The Game" where 'Sim City' goes horribly wrong)  
  
• speaking your mind vs. holding your tongue: TACT (Rodney vs. Carson) Making excuses - sometimes it's better just to do it rather than make excuses about things.  It can take too much time.  (Rodney)
  
• Never look away from your enemy - it shows weakness. 
• power/energy/resources are limited and need to be utilized efficiently
  
• Small acts of self-protection can be viewed as aggression toward others, even when it's not meant as that.  You might have a war on your hands in a few episodes.
  
• Canadians say "sorry" and "out" differently than US Americans
• If you find a person-sized slimy cocoon/pod/egg thing, don't go looking for the thing that used to be in it.

Things that don't make sense:
everyone speaking english - even the 'alien' human races.  only the 'bad guys' don't speak english.  The ancients used to speak ancient, but they speak english now. 

Good Quotes: 
"Draw from your past, but do not let your past draw from you."

Protest in Ladakh

I found this image on this yahoo groups site called MadhiUnite The caption read "Protest in Kargil, Ladakh, India."  There's no text or explanation about what the protesters were protesting. 

Kargil district is the western most district of Ladakh, close to the line of control between India and Pakistan.  There is majority population of people following Islam in this district compared to Leh district where the majority identify as Buddhist. 

The Known Universe

A little humility with bedtime.  Will give me sweet dreams.