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By Pitambar Sharma Dahal
सप्तकोशी र कर्णाली गण्डकी शारदा नदी।
रापती शिवदूती का धाराले धोईंदा हुँदी ।।
बिभूती रूप पाएको बन्द्य विबुध चालले।
यशस्वी राष्ट्र नेपाल किर्ति छर्छ हिमालले ।।
धर्तीको ताज नेपाल शिवपार्वतीको घर ।
त्रिविष्टप त्यहीं रम्य,त्यहीं मान सरोवर।।
गन्धर्व गाउँछन् गीत, हिम-मानव नाच्तछन् ।
कस्तुरी घुम्दछन् पाखा पखेरा बास छर्दछन् ।।
काटेर मेघको बार माथि सगर छुन्छ जो।
शिरले जसको टोपी चन्द्र-सूर्य बुनिन्छ जो ।।
अहा!यो राष्ट्रको आफ्नो महिमा छ कति कति ।
परमेश्वरको साक्षात् सुधा भन्डार हो, जति।।
जन्मियौं त्यसमै हामी हुर्कियौं, फुर्कियौं पनि।
यस्तै हो बिधिको खेल दूरदेश पुग्यौं अनि ।।
आमाको काखमा खेल्थ्यौं, थिएनौं दुष्टकान्डमा ।
कुन रेखा र लेखा ले आएछौ न्यू जिल्यान्डमा ।।
जो जो जसोगरी आयौं पायौं नूतन सभ्यता ।
जे मान्यो मनले बन्छ, त्यही बैभव भब्यता ।।
धर्तीको स्वर्ग मानिन्छ महासागरको धरा ।
जता हेर्यो उतै रम्य सबै तर्फ हराभरा ।।
बिशाल धरणी एकै नाम जे जे दिए पनि।
मान्छे आखिर मान्छे हो स्थानले चिनिए पनि।
धरती नापने मान्छे भूमि खन्ड बनाउंछ।
खन्डाधिश बनी ब्यक्ति स्थान नाम जनाउंछ
बाँड्यो आकाश नै उल्ले तेरो मेरो भनी भनी ।
जल,बायु, सबै बाँड्यो, लोकान्तर गयो अनि।।
कर्म बाँडेर मान्छेले पाप यो पुण्य यो गरी।
धर्म, ईश्वर नै बांड्यो उपासना थरी थरी ।।
महाद्वीप भनी सात खन्ड पारी दिए पनि।
भूमी आधार हो मूल जीव निर्जीवको पनि।।
महासागर बाँडेर सातै भाग गरे पनि ।
रस यौटै न हो सार, सुधा,जीवन यो पनि।।
सातै लोक उंधो फेरि सातै लोक उंभो पनि।
बिभाजन गरि मान्छे बिशिष्ट बन्न गो 'अनी ।।
सर्वोच्च सिर्जना मान्छे, जननी बत्सला धरा।
सन्तती जति जे गर्छ सहन्छिन् जननी बरा।।
हिमवत्खन्डका हामी नेपालीहरु लम्किदै।
महासागर को छाल छल्के जस्तै छछल्किदै ।।
आयौ संयोग नौलो आओटे अरुवा महां।
पायौ सद्भावना प्यार माउरी किविको यहाँ।।
नेपाल स्वर्गको शिर त्यहां बस्छन् सबै ॠषि।
यो पनि देश उस्तैछ, महासागरमा बसी ।।
उस्तै भए'नि हे साथी यो साठी उत झन् असी।
जननी जन्म भुमिश्च स्वर्गादपि गरीयसि ।।
About the author: Pitambar Sharma Dahal is current Vice President of the New Zealand Nepal Society. He has more than 35 years of experience in teaching profession. Before he left Kathmandu, he was Nepali Language Department chief of Padma Kanya Campus, BaghBazar , Kathmandu. He had served as Reader in Thakur Ram Campus Birgunj for more than 20 years before migrating to Kathmandu. He has published several articles and poems in various books and news media for long time.
By Pashupati Karmacharya
मैनबत्ती मा
बुद्धको छायां देख्छु
सत्य को बाटो । |
जब म खन्छु
पृथ्वी मजा ले हास्छे
बाच्ने आधार । |
लाजले जुन
घुम्टो भित्र लुकी
हिमाल हेर्छे । |
घाम र जुन
गुलाब को सुभास
मृत्यु झै सत्य । |
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पूर्ण चन्द्रमा
हेरिरहु झै लाग्छ
प्रियसी याद ।
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फेवताल मा
अन्नपूर्ण हिमाल
सर्बाङग नाँङै । |
सुन्दरी केटी
खेतमा हेर एक्लै
योवन गोड्दै |
सकेन हास्न
फुलको सुगन्धमा
आहत मन । |
साहु को दाई
गरीबी तमसुक
बसाइ सर्दै । |
जीवन हाम्रो
दिन दिन को खर्च
लाभ र हानी । |
About the author: Pashupati Karmacharya is a retired government officer. He served Nepal for more than 36 years as a government officer. He has published articles and poems in various books and news media for long time.
By Mahendra Giri
During my recent South Island tour this incidence occurred when I was entering Dunedin to see around on 27 April. I left High Way 1 (HW 1) and entered Southern Motor Way. Many motorists were overtaking me on the up hill portion. Then came down hill where I moved to right lane. I was not breaking so the car was running at over the speed limit. Other motorists who over took me were now on left lane. I began to realise that something is not right. I was trying to move to left lane and looked at rear view mirror. I saw traffic police behind me. Then I knew it was for me and move to left shoulder and stopped. All of these happened in less than two minutes. This is the first time it happened to me which was never intentional and given a minute I would have corrected myself. The officer told me that my speed was 116k. I saw the ticket It was not only infringement of $120 but demerit points 20 as well.
When it really happened to me then I was interested to look into traffic rules and how I became a violator. Yes, at that moment I became the culprit but in the given situation I still think I was not violating the rules knowingly. It happened so quickly. It was the change of situation that blew my mind for a minute. I was led into the trap.
To talk of demerit points in the Infringement Notice there is contradicting statements. In the page 1 it says “The demerit of speeding offence (if applicable)”, gives speed exceeded over the limit and corresponding demerit points. However on the overleaf information it says “NOTICE: DEMERIT POINTS ARE RECORDED IN RESPECT OF SOME OFFENCES OTHER THAN SPEEDING OFFENCES”.
When I drive outside the urban areas and I see the flow of other speedy traffics on the right side. If I flow with them I would be driving at a speed of 110-120. I feel lucky to be back home in one peace because everybody were much faster on State HW, with a speed of more than 120km. Even Truckies were driving at a speed of 110k plus. Driving at speed limit in one lane road, I felt, is very humiliating. Every one tried to push me to drive faster by coming very close to my bumper which made me nervous sometimes. Then coming near a bypass would be a big relief. I still maintained my speed limit of 100 km but other cars zoo.o..m.. passed me. It is not 70 or 80% but more that 95% of drivers do that (over the limit). Would you believe it? Thus, I felt that I was led to situation when I was noticed.
At places, I even saw sign post with circular white crossed by a single black bar which I understand is a free driving range. In a country of 100 km speed limit why do such sign posts still stand???
What is the objective of issuing a traffic violation ticket? Is it a warning to the driver to watch out from next time? Is it a reminder for the driver to correct himself/herself? Is it a punishment? Is this an extra revenue for the Ministry of Transport (MOT)? Or is it a way to judge the smart work of a COP? A common sense tells me simple warning works best to correct first time violators and a punishment may be counter-productive sometimes. Heavy fine plus demerit points is quite serious for one who never meant to do it . I wounder how legislators of this country feel about this law.
When I told others are driving at crazy speed of 120 plus, the officer replied that the police can not control everywhere. How true that is. Just ten kilo meters away from the incident site there was no one to check as if the rule was “No speed limit”. That shifts the responsibility to MOT and the legislature who created the law. If a law can not be enforced why it is there in the first place? If the law is not suitable for majority of the people the law then looses its essence. I see that happening here. Then, why a person of my age and experience is punished with fine and demerit when majority of drivers drive over the limit, anyway?
Annually, over 400 lives are lost on road accidents and most of them occur outside urban areas. If they really want to save lives, the speed limit should be monitored outside urban area rather than inside. However, there are more COPs in urban than rural areas. This means compliance is not uniform and fatal accidents occur where compliance is weak.
Incidentally, there is a “Free zone” so to speak in South Auckland, where I know the fundamental law was violated, that is, a person was caught driving without a license. After interrogation it was established that the person never had any license in last 30 years. The COP let him go with a warning to get the license within two weeks. Not to mention of other smaller speed limit or parking violations which occur in front a COP in the area.
“Drag Race” is a problem for many people in major cities. Although they are also bound by same set of rules but they are able to continue their entertainment since last so many years.
Some of these incidences makes one wonder “Are we having right laws” or is it “Superficial compliance of the Laws”. Where is the FLAW???
About the author:
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Mahendra is a travel agent. He would appreciate to have any opinions and feedbacks on these questions or similar experiences or otherwise.
E-mail: mahendrag@travelmanagers.co.nz or
Phone 09 580 2245
154B Rockfield Rd, Penrose, Auckland.
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By Giri Raj Kattel
New Zealand lies at a boundary between tropical and temperate zones with strong atmospheric and oceanic circulations. Extending from lower to higher climatic gradients with a vast mass of glaciers in the higher altitudes and latitudes, the climate feedback mechanisms such as variations in dry and wet conditions, glacier melt and the sea level rise all have shown strong sensitivity to recent climate change in New Zealand. New Zealand’s temperature has changed during the last millennium with similar upward curves of the temperature of England. As climate is warming rapidly, the uncertainty in New Zealand is also getting high every year. Major uncertainties in New Zealand include bio-security, sea level rise and health risks. Variation in the general circulation models (GCM) is the great deal of uncertainty. Accuracy in the model predictability and pathways for adaptation to climate change is a prime concern of New Zealand. This requires comprehensive research, data, tools, risk assessment and monitoring and evaluation of climate change.
Lake Wakatipu (photo courtesy of : proprphotos.com)
New Zealand deserves to be a part of one of the oldest tribes, Tangata whenua, which have strong links to water. Their awa is an important part of their whakapapa. Lakes sustain taniwha, protect waahi tapu and provide valuable resources (e.g., mahinga kai). Majority of New Zealand's freshwater species are endemic (found only in New Zealand). Hydrological modification, drainage, pollution and sedimentation, nutrient enrichment, deforestation, abstraction and invasion are the most common practices in New Zealand lakes. About 90% of New Zealand’s wetlands have been modified. More than 228 species of aquatic plant and animals have been introduced in New Zealand waters. Recent rate of global warming has further exacerbated the rate of ecosystem change including invasion, interbreeding, over-harvest, habitat loss and the extinction of some of endemic species from New Zealand lakes.
Majority of New Zealand lakes has potential to respond to recent global warming impacts. High altitude lakes in Southern Alps, in particular, are highly sensitive because of their remoteness and limited human disturbances. Solar radiation in these lakes determines light and temperature modulated by winter ice-cover and wind. Rapid warming gradually influences the depth and duration of the water column stratification, which in turn influence oxygen consumption, alkalinity and acidity. Water balance has influence on changes in lake levels and water residence time. Lake level changes alter structure of shoreline habitats and sediment distribution resulting in changes in salinity and ion concentration. Changes in water residence time can influence nutrient availability including the catchment modifications, hydrology and biogeochemical processes such as mineral weathering and organic production. The biogeochemical processes modulated by climate change are recorded in the sediments with annual or subannual basis. Chemical and biological archives such as oxygen isotopes, diatoms, chironomids, cladocerans and ostracods are formed in lake sediments, when climate is constantly forcing over lakes they become important indicators of climate change. Changes in species diversity and assemblages of aquatic biota provide an insight of the impacts of climate change. The diversity and assemblages of the biological remains can be used for direct temperature reconstruction and compared with instrumental temperature records on how accurately we have predicted the climate change in the last 100 years and so and help for future modeling.
Lakes formed by volcanic eruptions in New Zealand’s North Island are important indicator of global warming. Some of these lakes have annual lamination of sediments, which provide year-to-year variations in climate. In 2004, a group of scientists from the University of Canterbury and the University of Auckland jointly published a paper in a leading American journal, Geophysical Research Letters that annually laminated maar lakes in Auckland have considerable potential to respond to climate change in North Island. New Zealand’s climate is profoundly influenced by 20th century El-Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). ENSO brings extreme weather events with drought, flooding, bush fires and tropical cyclone. Annually laminated lake such as Lake Onepoto in Auckland has shown the strong ENSO events. The sedimentary deposits such as tephra of the New Zealand’s largest volcanic lake, Lake Taupo not only provide the time of eruption but also suggest the effects of climate change during the eruption. Many New Zealand lakes are geothermal in origin. Dissolved salts in these lakes are climatically oriented. Bicarbonates salts are controlled by weathering of rocks and soils by carbonic acid, chlorine salts from precipitation and geothermal water, and sulphate salts from sulphuric acid from geothermal steam. Many lowland shallow coastal New Zealand lakes have a tendency to change due to global sea level rise. During dry seasons, coastal lakes are inundated by marine intrusion influencing the diversity and assemblages of freshwater biota.
New Zealand has already experienced extreme draught, sea level rise and severe weather patterns associated to anthropogenic global warming and it has posed a serious threat for its economy. The positive aspect in New Zealand is it has ratified the Kyoto Protocol to reduce the green house gas emissions by 2012. However, New Zealand still needs to work hard to keep the emission in 1990 levels by 2012. More importantly, New Zealand needs to invest more money on research on global warming. New Zealand has a window of opportunity to research on sedimentary deposits from a variety of lakes located from high altitudes to lowlands and volcanic, geo-thermal to sub-Antarctic, to understand climate change efficiently. This provide an insight of climate change along regional scale and assist scientists in developing effective strategies on adaptation and vulnerability to climate change in the 21st century.
About the author: Giri Raj Kattel is a current executive secretary of the New Zealand Nepal Society. He has a PhD on climate change and mountain lake ecosystems from University College London, UK and M.Sc. in freshwater ecology from the University of Otago, New Zealand. He is currently associated with the School of Geography, Geology and Environmental Science, University of Auckland and the Institute of Geosciences, Johannes-Guttenberg University, Mainz, Germany.
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