Saturday, May 02, 2015

यस संकट काल मा राष्ट्रियता माथि खतरा देख्ने हरु

The politicians in Nepal are making it hard for me. After the disaster struck, one of my resolutions was that I was perhaps going to refrain from making political statements for about a month. But soon I realized that was not a choice.

प्रतिपक्षीले भने- 'राहतका नाममा मुलुकलाई खतरा'

Rome is burning. And these dudes feel like the country's sovereignty is under siege. No, fools, the country itself is under siege. A massive earthquake just hit.


Enough Trucks, Enough Helicopters

There is no excuse for the relief supply logjam at the airport. There are only between 500 and 1,000 villages that need air droppings of tents/tarps, food, water, medicine. Trucks are good for the capital city. Organize soup kitchens - roti/sabji - at all major street corners.

For a few days I was in shock, and I was 10,000 miles away. So, I understand. But now is way past all that. The relief supply logjam at the airport has no excuse.

I hear there are 200,000 tents stuck at the airport. That's enough for everyone who lost a home, and more. Get them out there. Tents/tarps are perhaps the number one need. Just air drop them in every village. Can be done in one day with five helicopters. People will figure out what to do with them. They will distribute among themselves. Trust them that much.

People also know how to use basic medicine, like antiseptics to help with basic wounds. Drop them from the air. Drop food.


Friday, May 01, 2015

The Corrupt Ones Are Worried About Money Laundering!

I am in disbelief.

Money laundering is a manageable problem.

First start with all organizations that are already registered as non profits in their countries of origin. Then get them to comply with 100% online transparency. And let them go do their work. Chances are organizations registered as non profits and with long tracks of good work will not engage in money laundering.

That alone will clear up 90% of the incoming funds.

Speed is of essence.

Shesh Ghale Tells It Like It Is
Mass Action For Relief And Reconstruction
An Insane Act By The Nepal Government

For example, it is a pretty good bet that the NRN organization and Shesh Ghale are not going to engage in money laundering. So let him get with it.

The COC (Center Of Corruption) that is the PMO (Prime Minister's Office) is the ultimate "money laundering" operation in the country.    


What Kills? Earthquakes? Collapsing Buildings? Or A Corrupt Government?

It is said, earthquakes don't kill people, collapsing buildings do. Maybe in Japan. In Nepal, collapsing buildings do kill people, but what really kills is a corrupt government.

Mass Action For Relief And Reconstruction
An Insane Act By The Nepal Government

Politicians and administrators known for their corrupt ways are looking at this biggest tragedy in Nepal's history and seeing this as their ticket to unprecedented wealth, and hence the call to try and grab all incoming aid. Did you note the call for cash? This can not be allowed. Instead, the global attention the earthquake has attracted, and the unprecedented unity among Nepalis it has brought about has to be used to do a thorough job of relief and reconstruction, and to kickstart the country out of its slumber, to take it to its deserved prosperous days.

The first 5,000 people died because they could not run to safety and buildings collapsed on them. The next 5,000 died because no one came for them for days. But another 10,000 might now die because the Nepal government decided to stand in the way of relief work.

Shesh Ghale Tells It Like It Is



राहत संकलन अन्यौलबारे अर्थ मन्त्री महत

In The News



Time: 1,000 Europeans Still Missing After Nepal Earthquake
CBS News: As chaos subsides in Nepal's capital, death toll climbs
New York Times: 3 Ways Nepalis Are Using Crowdsourcing to Aid in Quake Relief
CNN: Nepal earthquake: Mountain villages are cut off from almost everything
The Guardian: Nepal earthquake: two rescued after five days in Kathmandu building wreckage
The Telegraph: Nepal aid donors 'may halt fundraising' amid fears government will seize donations
The announcement was seen as an attempt by the ruling Nepal Congress Party to seize control of millions of pounds of aid donations being sent from around the world and raised fears that it could be allocated for political considerations rather than humanitarian need. .... Some groups have privately said they will halt their earthquake relief fundraising until the threat of their donations being seized by the government is removed. ........ More than 6,000 were killed, several thousand remain missing, and more than 10,000 were injured. An estimated 70,000 homes were destroyed and more than half a million were badly damaged. The campaign to raise relief funds was dampened by the statement, which caused concern among donor governments...... Foreign aid officials said while it would not stop them deciding how their aid would be spent, it may intimidate smaller NGOs, including many from Britain, who operate social work projects in the country and have raised considerable sums for earthquake relief. ..... The statement was dismissed by foreign governments which said the Nepal government was beset by political wrangling between the Nepali Congress and its Communist coalition partners and had a poor record of aid distribution. ...... "There is no way they're going to co-opt anyone's funds. They might think that but donors will never allow it to happen. The government does not have the capability to run this, that's the reality."
Thousands still missing after Nepal quake
Nepal Aid Workers Helped by Drones, Crowdsourcing
Quartz: Why women are more at risk than men in earthquake-ravaged Nepal
India and China’s geopolitics at play amidst Nepal’s ruins
The Star: How India’s help post-earthquake ended up annoying Nepali leaders
But less than a week later, the efficiency of Modi’s response — part of a wider effort to improve ties with the region since he took office — is having an unintended consequence: It’s made clear just how underequipped and dysfunctional Nepal’s own government has been in the aftermath of the earthquake. ..... Nepal brought up media coverage of India’s response in a meeting with high-ranking officials, triggering a diplomatic flare-up that’s gone all the way to Modi’s office, said a senior Indian official in Kathmandu who asked not to be identified because the subject is politically sensitive. India has had to spend time doing damage control that has distracted from relief efforts, the official said. ....... “What kind of government do we have here? I have not seen a drop of water or food in four days,” the shopkeeper said. “Maybe if we had a leader like Modi who took charge and was decisive in his actions, things would not be this bad.” ...... A front-page headline on The Himalayan Times on Thursday encapsulated the impatience: “Govt slow in distributing relief.” The day before, another front page story said “relief has been pouring in from all corners of the world but the government has no clue about how to get it distributed among the needy, nor is it willing to hold anyone accountable ...” ....... the problem in Nepal is compounded by national politics that were already fragile before parts of the country were torn apart on Saturday. ...... Faced with damages that the country’s finance minister says will exceed $10 billion (U.S.), about half the size of the nation’s economy, Nepal’s 28 million citizens look increasingly vulnerable. ........ “We, of course, all want to leave Nepal in charge,” Wendy Sherman, U.S. under secretary for political affairs, told reporters in New Delhi on Wednesday. “It is their country — how they want to proceed. But I know that they could not proceed forward in this overwhelming disaster. When you have a disaster like this, you’re in trauma.” ..... “All this talk of a new constitution and a new government is an embarrassment — this government is failing its people,” said Magar, a 33-year-old taxi driver in Kathmandu. “What we should do is beat them up and kick them out.”

Survivor

Elon Musk, Chip In

Man atop nine-storey Dharahara tower in Kathmandu when quake struck lives to tell the tale of his survival



Nepal's historic Dharahara Tower collapses, trapping hundreds
Nepal’s famous Dharahara Tower becomes site for selfies after devastating earthquake
See Satellite Images of Nepal Before and After the Earthquake

The idea would be for Elon Musk to build a tall tower where the Dharahara stood, it can be a metal structure like in Paris, it can have solar panels. It would function to provide free WiFi across Kathmandu valley. He can have it called Musk Tower, if he wants. Or Mangal Tower, Mangal being the Nepali word for Mars. What say you, Elon?

Cheap Earthquake Proof Homes

























In Nepal you probably have to use locally available material. In the case of the hills, that boils down to use of stones. When stones collapse on you, that is bad news. The solution perhaps is to use cement instead of mud to keep the stones together. A few bags of cement might be enough for one family.

Earthquakes
Build Earthquake Resistant Houses On A Tight Budget
New Inexpensive Earthquake Resistant Houses
Made In Japan: Earthquake Proof Homes
In Search Of An Earthquake Proof Building
How To Build An Earthquake Proof Building
Earthquake Resistant Structures

There is also a need to rebuild the Dharahara. It has to be a new tower built in the 21st Century. It should primarily be used to beam free WiFi across Kathmandu valley.

I think the Japanese will do a good job of restoring the historical sites, as they have pledged to. They have the know how. Just make sure people don't take away any material!