Short of breath The marathon United Nations Climate Change Summit did not take off the way that had been anticipated. The meeting of over 190 nations was with the intention of hammering out an accord that could see the action plans to reduce the emissions in a bid to lower the global temperature by 2 degrees. The objective has been recognised but with a non-binding deal that was arrived at, the progress has not been up to the mark. It is true that the finale of the COP 15 had some moments of feeling that the understanding arrived at was far better than having none. The agreement drawn up Friday night by leaders from the US, China, India, Brazil and South Africa has been formally accepted by the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 15). Dubbed the Copenhagen Accord, there is still strong debate on the text which makes it difficult to estimate as to how many countries will sign it as the second part of the story. The accord being non-binding has irked many of the parties who wanted a legally binding deal. They are disappointed this time around. However, the next round or the COP 16 is round the corner towards the end of 2010 in Mexico City, preceded by a major two week negotiating session in Bonn, Germany, scheduled 31 May to 11 June. The Accord is seemingly a “letter of intent” with no legal back up of any sort, and this is what that has made many dub the Copenhagen meet a “failure”. There may still be no doubt that the global warming leading to the climate change owes some to human interventions leading to greater greenhouse gas emissions. However, conflicting claims are being made regarding what amount human activities really add to the CO2 levels in the environment. It is still a tough nut to crack amidst the contradictions floating around. Yet the present accord arrived at has been referred to by US President Barack Obama as a foundation for global action, but there was “much further to go”.That the goals are still there to be achieved is not hidden, which speaks for greater solidarity on the issue if a deal worth its weight to tackle climate change can be achieved. While the Copenhagen Accord gives the continuation of the Kyoto Protocol and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, a total approval has proved to be elusive amidst bitterness. As the heavyweights have said, it will be the foundation but the structure can only be raised with their tacit approval. This reamins the stumbling block. In the meanwhile, more authentic and credible researches ought to be in place to prevent the future catastrophe so conveniently visualised. With the great onus of leading Nepal’s delegation to COP 15, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has highlighted the plight of developing nation like Nepal plagued by the adverse climate portfolio. In his address in Copenhagen, he delved on the seriousness of the climate change problem for the LDCs, while focusing on the adverse on the Himalayas in Nepal and elsewhere. All said and done, with no clear-cut binding pathway, the actions to be taken now rests on the individual discretion of the countries concerned even if they are party to the Copenhagen Accord.

Red faced Illegal sexual activities that are taking place in the hub of the capital in places like Thamel come to the limelight every now and then with reports of arrests of those involved in such acts. In a major raid in Thamel Friday night, the police arrested 33 persons taking part in these indecent activities. For long, the law enforcement agencies have tried to curb illegal sex, but they have not succeeded. Among those arrested are minors and also college girls. Most of those engaged as sex workers have taken the profession out of economic compulsion. Ways to halt these illegal activities should be taken recourse to. Of course, the main one would be to do something about the prevailing impoverishment and depravity. This should be followed by strict laws, so that they deter people from engaging in illegal sex. Furthermore, this is one of the major ways by which sexually transmitted diseases like HIV/AIDS are spread. It is more so to do with the active commercial sex workers. So, for the future of the country this should be discussed in the open and alternative occupations found for the commercial sex workers. In the meantime, the police should exercise extra vigil.