Rodrigo De Paul: Argentina’s bodyguard whose job is to make Lionel Messi’s life easier
Showing posts with label Brazil. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brazil. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 06, 2022
Brazil
Brazil Trounces South Korea, With Flair Vinícius Júnior, Neymar, Richarlison and Lucas Paquetá all scored in the first half for Brazil, which advances to the quarterfinals. ........... That is how carefree a game it was for Brazil, how much joy it took in dismantling an outmatched South Korea squad in the round of 16 on a balmy Monday night in Doha. The Brazilians repeated the same pattern all night — coldblooded goal, happy dance — until the final whistle blew to end their fun. The lopsided score, 4-1, somehow did not fully capture the team’s dominance. ........ the outburst of collective skill, surely cemented its status as one of the favorites to lift the FIFA World Cup Trophy on Dec. 18. ....... Brazil advances to its eighth consecutive World Cup quarterfinal .
Rodrigo De Paul: Argentina’s bodyguard whose job is to make Lionel Messi’s life easier
Rodrigo De Paul: Argentina’s bodyguard whose job is to make Lionel Messi’s life easier
Monday, December 05, 2022
Brazil, Argentina: Superpowers
सिके राउत र बाबुराम भट्टराईबीच भेट मैले संविधान निर्माणको क्रममा संवैधानिक समितिको सभापतिको हैसियतले तत्कालीन सबै विद्रोही समूहहरूको समेत राय लिने क्रममा उहाँलाई सिंहदरबारमा भेट्दा औंला उठाउनेहरू आज गलत साबित भएकोमा खुसी', उनले लेखेका छन्।
अर्जेन्टिना अन्तिम आठमा, सेमिफाइनल पुग्न नेदरल्यान्ड्ससँग भिड्ने
ब्राजिल अन्तिम आठमा, सेमिफाइनल पुग्न क्रोएसियासँग भिड्ने
विश्वकप फुटबल: सेमिफाइनलमा ब्राजिल-अर्जेन्टिनाको सम्भावित भेट र ३२ वर्षअघिको इतिहास
Thursday, January 15, 2015
सांस्कृतिक विविधताको धन र अमेज़न जंगलको जैविक विविधताको धन
राजनीतिमा समावेशी समावेशी जुन भनिन्छ त्यसको गहन महत्व छ। नेपालको जल सम्पदा धन हो। मोदीले त भनेका छन, त्यस जल सम्पदा मात्रले पनि नेपाललाई First World Country बनाइदिन सक्छ। सही कुरा। नेपालमा रहेको जैविक विविधता पनि त्यस्तै धन हो। बिल गेट्स भन्छन, यदि उनले आज शुरू गर्ने हो भने उनले सॉफ्टवेयर कम्पनी शुरू नगर्ने, बायोटेक कम्पनी शुरू गर्ने।
नेपालको जल सम्पदालाई ब्राज़ीलको जल सम्पदासँग तुलना गरिन्छ। अर्को तुलना गर्नेपर्ने जैविक विविधताको रुपमा रहेको सम्पदा पनि हो। ब्राज़िलको अमेज़न जंगल भनेको जैविक विविधतामा नंबर वन। त्यो जंगल फँडानी गरेर खेतिपाती गरेर पैसा कमाउनु भन्दा त्यो जंगल कायम राखेर त्यस बाट बायोटेक कम्पनीहरु शुरू गर्नु आर्थिक फाइदाको हिसाबले आकाश पातालको फरक। सिन्धुलीमा धान खेती गरेर बढ़ी पैसा कमाउन सकिन्छ कि त्यहाँ सॉफ्टवेयरको हब बनाएर बढ़ी पैसा आउने हो? तुलनै छैन। सॉफ्टवेयर हबले तिर्ने टैक्स मात्रको हिसाब गर्ने हो भने हजार, दस हजार गुणाको फरक पर्छ।
नेपालमा जल सम्पदाको विकास त हुनुपर्छ तर जैविक विविधता मास्ने किसिमले होइन। नेपालको जैविक विविधताले भोलि नेपालमा एउटा ठुलो बायोटेक इंडस्ट्री खड़ा गर्ने हो। त्यसको संभावना ख़तम पार्नु मुर्खता हुनेछ।
नेपालमा रहेको सांस्कृतिक विविधताको पनि नेपालमा रहेको जैविक विविधता जस्तै आर्थिक महत्त्व छ। नेपालभित्र सबैभन्दा धनी संस्कृतिहरु मध्येका नेवारी र मैथिलि संस्कृति पर्दछन्। ५०० वर्षअगाडि एउटा समय थियो जति बेला काठमाण्डुमा मल्ल राजाको दरबारमा दरबारको औपचारिक भाषा नै मैथिलि थियो। अहिलेका शासकले सप्तरीमा सुद्धा सरकारी कामकाजको भाषा मैथिली हुन दिएका छैनन्। र त्यो मैथिली संस्कृति थिचोमिचो गर्ने व्यवस्थाको संस्थापक पृथ्वी नारायण शाह हो, त्यसको आधुनिक संस्थापक महेन्द्र शाह हो। त्यो पृथ्वीलाई राष्ट्रनिर्माता भन्दिने, त्यो महेन्द्रलाई राष्ट्रीयताको प्रतीक मानने जति सबैलाई शंकाको दृष्टिले हेर्नु पर्ने हुन्छ।
इतिहासमा त्यस्ता शासक पनि देखिए जिनले नालंदाको पुस्तकालय जलाए, अलेक्सांद्रियाको पुस्तकालय जलाए। पृथ्वी नारायण त्यस केटेगरीका मानिस हुन। नाक कान काट्दै हिँड्ने मान्छे। Barbaric मान्छे। सामन्ती मान्छे। उसले भनेको "चार जात छत्तीस वर्ण" मा गैर हिंदुकालागि ठाउँ छैन। त्यो आधुनिक नेपालको हविगत हुन सक्दैन। महेंद्र त्यसै पृथ्वीका सन्तान हुन। वामे त्यो महेन्द्रको पुजा आज गर्छ। सामन्तीको पुजा गर्ने मान्छे पनि कम्युनिष्ट हुन्छ?
सांस्कृतिक विविधताको धन र अमेज़न जंगलको जैविक विविधताको धन बीचको सम्बन्ध नबुझ्नेले नेपालको संघीयताको बहसमा कुनै योगदान पुर्याउन सक्दैन।
नेपालको जल सम्पदालाई ब्राज़ीलको जल सम्पदासँग तुलना गरिन्छ। अर्को तुलना गर्नेपर्ने जैविक विविधताको रुपमा रहेको सम्पदा पनि हो। ब्राज़िलको अमेज़न जंगल भनेको जैविक विविधतामा नंबर वन। त्यो जंगल फँडानी गरेर खेतिपाती गरेर पैसा कमाउनु भन्दा त्यो जंगल कायम राखेर त्यस बाट बायोटेक कम्पनीहरु शुरू गर्नु आर्थिक फाइदाको हिसाबले आकाश पातालको फरक। सिन्धुलीमा धान खेती गरेर बढ़ी पैसा कमाउन सकिन्छ कि त्यहाँ सॉफ्टवेयरको हब बनाएर बढ़ी पैसा आउने हो? तुलनै छैन। सॉफ्टवेयर हबले तिर्ने टैक्स मात्रको हिसाब गर्ने हो भने हजार, दस हजार गुणाको फरक पर्छ।
नेपालमा जल सम्पदाको विकास त हुनुपर्छ तर जैविक विविधता मास्ने किसिमले होइन। नेपालको जैविक विविधताले भोलि नेपालमा एउटा ठुलो बायोटेक इंडस्ट्री खड़ा गर्ने हो। त्यसको संभावना ख़तम पार्नु मुर्खता हुनेछ।
नेपालमा रहेको सांस्कृतिक विविधताको पनि नेपालमा रहेको जैविक विविधता जस्तै आर्थिक महत्त्व छ। नेपालभित्र सबैभन्दा धनी संस्कृतिहरु मध्येका नेवारी र मैथिलि संस्कृति पर्दछन्। ५०० वर्षअगाडि एउटा समय थियो जति बेला काठमाण्डुमा मल्ल राजाको दरबारमा दरबारको औपचारिक भाषा नै मैथिलि थियो। अहिलेका शासकले सप्तरीमा सुद्धा सरकारी कामकाजको भाषा मैथिली हुन दिएका छैनन्। र त्यो मैथिली संस्कृति थिचोमिचो गर्ने व्यवस्थाको संस्थापक पृथ्वी नारायण शाह हो, त्यसको आधुनिक संस्थापक महेन्द्र शाह हो। त्यो पृथ्वीलाई राष्ट्रनिर्माता भन्दिने, त्यो महेन्द्रलाई राष्ट्रीयताको प्रतीक मानने जति सबैलाई शंकाको दृष्टिले हेर्नु पर्ने हुन्छ।
इतिहासमा त्यस्ता शासक पनि देखिए जिनले नालंदाको पुस्तकालय जलाए, अलेक्सांद्रियाको पुस्तकालय जलाए। पृथ्वी नारायण त्यस केटेगरीका मानिस हुन। नाक कान काट्दै हिँड्ने मान्छे। Barbaric मान्छे। सामन्ती मान्छे। उसले भनेको "चार जात छत्तीस वर्ण" मा गैर हिंदुकालागि ठाउँ छैन। त्यो आधुनिक नेपालको हविगत हुन सक्दैन। महेंद्र त्यसै पृथ्वीका सन्तान हुन। वामे त्यो महेन्द्रको पुजा आज गर्छ। सामन्तीको पुजा गर्ने मान्छे पनि कम्युनिष्ट हुन्छ?
सांस्कृतिक विविधताको धन र अमेज़न जंगलको जैविक विविधताको धन बीचको सम्बन्ध नबुझ्नेले नेपालको संघीयताको बहसमा कुनै योगदान पुर्याउन सक्दैन।
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Feeling Intense About Nepal Hydro
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| Nepal topography. The green/yellow zones hold the Inner Terai valleys. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Feeling Intense About Nepal Hydro
By Paramendra Bhagat (www.paramendra.com)
I harbor pretty intense feelings about Nepal hydro and hopefully I have been infecting some of the people around me.
Nepalis grew up being fed the potential of Nepal hydro. But if the country’s capacity is to produce 50,000 MW (some estimates put the capacity at 200,000 MW) then less than 1% has been produced so far, less than 500 MW. Most of what has been produced has been at the initiative of the government of Nepal with funding from entities like the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and the like. But some small projects have made headway recently through efforts by private individuals in Nepal. That is commendable. There is some serious Chinese and Indian interest in the sector as well. China is especially to be watched. Some Chinese companies look like might swoop in and grab some really big projects.
And then there is the NRN effort. The NRNA is a non profit. It can not be making for profit moves. But it has incorporated a for profit company. That company I believe is investing in one small project in Nepal. That effort is commendable. But I can’t think of one Nepali in NYC who could put a million of his or her money into a project in Nepal when hydro projects routinely ask for tens of millions of dollars. Appealing to the patriotism of the global Nepali population has huge limitations.
My effort is in the hard core for profit sector, the shark eat shark world of global finance. This is early innings. From 500 MW to 50,000 MW might be two decades worth of work. I am going to start out by being the guy who raises money, but down the line my company is going to provide A to Z solutions. My multi-national corporation is also going to do construction work for the dams in Nepal. Fundraising is not going to be enough fun for too long.
And why stop at Nepal? There are hydro prospects in India, in Pakistan, in Brazil. Clean Energy is not limited to hydro. There is wind, there is solar. There are several continents to explore. But one step at a time.
One guy said, but why have not Binod Chaudhary or Upendra Mahato invested in Nepal hydro? Good question. Nepal hydro is a tough nut to crack. Whoever cracks up the Nepal hydro code is going to be bigger than Binod Chaudhary or Upendra Mahato. There is your answer.
My hydro team is going to be the top Nepal hydro team in New York City. I am smart, I am hard working, I am a super networker, I can penetrate Indian circles easily for being half Indian, I speak a few languages, I am no hydro philanthropist or hobbyist, as in I am not some full time lawyer, engineer, doctor, life insurance agent, peddler, business hawker, or whatever trying to wing hydro on the side during nights and weekends. Hydro for me is a serious career move. It is going to be getting full time like attention from me. It is between that and my software interests. If you are not going full time with it, it will be hard for you to compete with me. You might as well bring your projects to me for your small cut. Or you could languish like about 200 Nepalis in New York City who are each carrying PDFs of hydro projects in their email accounts. Those project PDFs are not wine. They don’t get better with time.
Funding necessarily has to be a package deal. Investors in NYC are capable of fully funding, but that’s not the point. If you have local private investors in Nepal and local and regional banks involved that builds trust. Imagine a scenario where a 10 MW project has an ask for $15 million. $7 gets raised in Nepal and the region. $8 gets raised in NYC. Of that $8 million, $1 million gets raised among Nepalis in the city. I can easily think of 20 Nepalis who could put in 50K each if they were interested, several could put much more. I really like the idea of raising 1,000 dollars each from about 100 Nepalis in the city.
But when none of the money has been raised, I ask the Nepal team to find me 10 Nepalis they might know in NYC who would be willing to put 1K each for shares worth 2K in the project. This is not about the money. 10K is not going to move the project. This is about social capital. Those ten people are going to help keep the communication between me and my local team and the Nepal team as smooth as possible. It is also a vote of confidence in Nepal’s hydro potential. As for that million to be raised from among Nepalis, I have been advised that has to be the very final step in the fundraising. Nepalis are going to come in, but not at the beginning. That makes sense. Can’t blame the local Nepalis for wanting to be the icing on the cake. After all, they have some claim to the country.
Investing is for those who have money to spare. If you are making below minimum wage in the shadow economy, chances are hydro projects are not of investment interests to you. That is understandable. Or even if you are making six figures but you have been living beyond your means, chances are you will yawn at the prospect of hydro projects.
And then there is sheer inertia in segments of the community. I went to meet someone. After some small talk I brought up the topic. I’d like to talk to you about Nepal hydro for a few minutes, I said. The guy paused for a few split seconds and said, “Please finish the tea and leave.”
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