The "Cost" of Overhead

This TED talk moves me.  I get a feeling of real possibility.  A possibility to truly change the way our societal system works.  We are truly in need of a paradigm shift toward addressing "who benefits?" from the way capitalist economies are set up.  These statements feel to me like the on-ramp to building up enough energy and attention to make a shift.

This presenter is talking about raising money for charity.  Though, the charity model is outdated and looking toward rights-based activism affecting legislation or inclusivity models (empowerment) might be more effective in creating systemic change to eradicate human suffering.  These projects still need funding.  They still need overhead to raise money on a scale beyond the bake sale or car wash.

Though, corruption is still a reality: mismanagement of funds, misappropriation of funds, and just plain stealing happens often.  We've got to start somewhere.  It just seems like such a huge hill to climb.

Tibetan Freedom, Nepali Foreign Policy, and Wikileaks

"When caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal said in October that he wouldn't let foreign powers interfere in internal matters, Nepal's Telegraph newspaper called it the 'best joke of the month.'" - LA Times


LA Times article addresses the new Nepali Prime Minister's foreign policy approach with India and China in light of the Wikileaks documents released in December 2010.  The audio files have evidence that Nepali border police are sending Tibetans back to China, paid off by the Chinese government.  The claims that these audio records are true have been denied by both sides. 


Prithvi Narayan Shah, Nepal's Gorkha unifier (conquerer?) coined the phrase, "Yam between two boulders."  This phrase continues to be tossed around today to describe the delicate relationship between these three countries.  The Tibet issue is a bargaining chip China can freely use when negotiating with Nepal government - especially the factions that value strong ties with China.  

You have to do it yourself

"Others’ words can’t measure your practice, and you don’t realize the dharma because of what others say. I mean the real dharma. The teachings others can give you are to show you the path, but that isn’t real knowledge. When people genuinely meet the dharma, they realize it directly within themselves. So the Buddha said that he is merely the one who shows the way. In teaching us, he is not accomplishing the way for us. It is not so easy as that. It’s like someone who sells us a plow to till the fields. He isn’t going to do the plowing for us. We have to do that ourselves. Don’t wait for the salesman to do it. Once he’s made the sale, he takes the money and splits. That’s his part.That’s how it is in practice. The Buddha shows the way. He’s not the one who does it for us. Don’t expect the salesman to till your field. If we understand the path in this way, it’s a little more comfortable for us, and we will do it ourselves. Then there will be fruition."

- Ajahn Chah, "Meeting the Dharma Alone"

Uprising 2010

Short article from Global Times site regarding arrest of Thinley Gyatso, a said 'ambassador' of HHDL, in Nepal two days ago. 

The article seems to be written from a Chinese nationalist perspective citing conservative views regarding Tibet Autonomous Region.  Never clearer is the understanding that Nepal is for One China. 

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

Sino - Indian Relations...

(Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chinese Premiere of the State Council Wen Jiabao)

Is China being aggressive with its international neighbors?  Maybe President Obama is not the only one being bullied.  This blog (from an Indian perspective, it seems) offers detailed commentary on diplomacy between these two giants.

Mr. D.S. Rajan (Director, Chennai Center for China Studies) writes a thoughtful analysis of recent blogs from inside China and what themes he sees coming out of the writing. Themes include a possible Sino-Indian conflict on a large scale, China's movement toward more military presence on its southern borders as of late, Chinese claims on Ladakh (but not Kashmir), capturing of Sikkim, and Nepal as a stepping stone for either country given the current political situation. 

This is an astute synthesis of information.

Chills... It gives me Chills

Michael Moore's Message to Barack Obama and Blue Dog Democrats

This is interesting - I'm fascinated that Michael Moore creates so much controversy with his work.

The "Capitalism: A Love Story" Trailer gives me chills. I really would like to see it. Anyone want to bring me a copy?

Three Day Bandh

December 20, 21, 22 in Kathmandu, Unified Communist Party Nepal - Maoist (UCPN-M) held a strike that disrupted the valley for three days.  There were some violent clashes that took place quite near to the school house and my flat.  L and I decided to stay at one of the major hotels in town for the three days (coinciding with my birthday celebration) to stay informed and be sure that she was able to get to the airport this afternoon.  All went well, and the strike was even called off at noon today.

Many say that Maoists have broken the comprehensive peace accord signed in 2006 made with the government and that force must be taken to keep them in line.  Yesterday, L read an article in the Kathmandu Post saying that China and India have publicly given their support to the government of Nepal to contain and pacify the Maoists sending in ammunition if needed.

Al Jazeera article (among others) states that OHCHR says the police used 'excessive force' to deal with the 'peaceful' protesters. The NYT gives an informative perspective here (along with the evocative photo I linked above).  Comments from Democracy Underground about the three day strike.  An Indian paper "The Hindu" reports on the 'peaceful-turned-aggressive' strike here. Dailyindia.com here mentions that the Maoists accuse the government for aggressing first.  Here, and Here, Bloomberg.com insinuates personal tensions between Prachanda and President Nepal are the source of the conflict.  This short article talks about a law recently signed into affect that puts a condition on any aid Nepal recieves from the US - human rights violations must not happen.    

International Politics Major at Peking University -

i'm looking at a student's transcripts from an IP Major in China.
I don't know what year she is, maybe halfway through her studies? 

The course work is mostly Chinese history - Modern Chinese History, Chinese Historiography, History of Social Life in Ancient China, Local Government and Primary Society in Ming and Qing Dynasties, Ancient Chinese History (part 1 and 2), General History of the World (part 2), Special Subjects on Ancient Chinese History Before the Qin Dynasty, Special Subjects on the History of the Sui and Tang Dynasties, Histories of Nationality in Ancient China, Selected Readings on "Zuozhuan".

International Politics, mainly studying Chinese history -  ?  Sounds like just Chinese history to me.

Is it ethical to post this?  One might say: if I have to ask....

More than One Story

Power, stereotypes, and seeing them and others as more than one dimension.

What other examples are there - personal?

Good for - FSS session about perspectives, facilitation (in English) about stereotypes, unpacking assumptions, looking at others in a new light.

Climate Change on Mt. Everest

Nepal Government meets near Everest Base Camp in order to bring attention to issues of climate change and its affect on the Himalayan Region.  AP article Here.

An effective form of political activism on the part of government officials prior to Copenhaggen?
OR
A waste of precious resources to fly the entire cabinet up to 18,000 ft for a meeting?

The Yam between Two Boulders

Good article from Republica about how Nepal needs to be careful moving forward politically.

Unskillfully playing both sides with two giants, Nepal is.  Internal turmoil, and grandiose ideas about trust and relations with the giants will do Nepal, and her Maoists, no good.

Ethnicity and Seperatist Movements

Basques in Spain from CNN - Basque Movement (est. 1959) labeled a terrorist group by the US.

Maoists (Naxals or Naxalites) in India from CNN - Suspected terrorist activity in northeastern India.  These guys have been at it since 1960.

Big Question always arises with students as we are trying to understand the idiosyncracies of the Maoist movement here in Nepal (official est. 1996) - What is the connection between these self-proclaimed separatists?  Do they have similar goals? methods? are they connected by anything other than morphed ideology from Mao's Cultural Revolution in China?  How closely are they following traditional Maoist ideology?  Are they taking cues from each other?

Sanjib ji was telling me the other day that it was only just recently that the Naxalites in India had formally acknowledged the Maoists here in Nepal as a group they could look up to and emulate as they had truly been able to reform government and strive toward the goals set by their ideologies. 

Remains to be seen, no?

The Nonverbal Advantage by Carol Kinsey Goman

Non Verbal Communication can build trust.

Within seven seconds of meeting people, they have already formed their first impression of you.

93 % of the messages people receive have nothing to do with what you actually say.

Four Points -

1. The Gaze - two types of eye contact. Business gaze - apex at the forehead. signals no-nonsense approach. Social gaze - apex at the mouth. Social gaze signals interest. Can be misinterpreted as flirting. Can be confusing to mix them. Women need to be aware that to be taken seriously in business encounters, don't use social gaze.

2. Head Tilt - signal of interest and involvement. positive cues, but feminine gesture indicating submission. also can indicate interest.

3. Body Orientation - degree of face, shoulders, and feet facing a person indicates the status or level of like of that person. Toward you = positive attitude about you. Direct orientation is offputting for men; It's confrontational. Men position themselves on oblique angles. Women are comfortable facing each other. When approaching a male colleague, do so from the side.

4. Mirroring - we subconsiously mirror each other signaling connection or engaged. signals 'like' or 'agreement.' goes both ways - when someone's mirroring you, they like/agree with you. when you use mirroring, you're making others more comfortable through positive relation with the other person.

Miss Thang also talks about the eyebrow lift upon meeting someone - like when you're walking down a busy street full of people and you happen to recognize someone in the crowd.  This gesture tells them that they are important or interesting.  What happens when you do this to someone in the first seven seconds... ??  Positive impression, methinks.