Change your tactics

I am a foreign tourist who is appalled by the bullying tactics the Maoist rebels employ for their own means. They remind me of the schoolyard bully who stands over the weaker

classmates using his fists to extract lunch money or favours just because they can: except instead of fists Maoists use guns and bombs. It is clear that bandhs benefit none. I have overseas money, which I want to spend on things that Nepal is famous for, but I am sitting with it in my pocket. My only grievance is boredom. I wonder how the people in tourism business, who would have directly benefited by the money, would react to this. In my country when there is a strike, it is for better wages or conditions; there are no incidents like people dying because they could not get to the hospital as taxis would not run. I am not here to offer a solution as I am an outsider, it is only an opinion.

The Maoists should know that their protests are not affecting the targeted group, but only the common people. One day these people would unitedly stand against the Maoists and their atrocities. History has shown that thugs and bullies only last for a short time until someone more powerful takes over them. Perhaps it is time for the oppressed to air their grievances in a civilised manner and stop hurting the very people they purport to be helping.

Michael, via e-mail

No wilderness!

None of us would be even surprised when we see "domestic" animals meandering in busy roads and alleyways. Although it may prove to be a rare sight for the tourists, it has been

trivial for us; we stop our vehicle, one time or the other, to let a cow or a buffalo or

pariah dogs to pass us by and cross the road (sometimes even a group of ducks or

chickens for that matter!). Very often such animals cause fatal traffic accidents. Sometimes passers-by are even bitten by stray dogs.

The owners should look after their animals and should not let them go to the streets. Moreover, the municipal authorities should forward strict stipulations to forbid

cattle to roam about on the streets. This wilderness amid metropolis is troublesome and disagreeable and this is not the place where these animals are to be. Let our roads be what they ought to be: arteries for vehicles and people to pass through safely.

Sirsha Bhattarai, KU

Alternative

The exorbitant demand for mass transport and the increasing number of vehicles in the Valley automatically consume more petroleum. And this has substantially contributed to air pollution in the valley. The vehicle emissions in the capital city, which is based on the

breakdown of pollutants annually emitted into the atmosphere, depicts a very disturbing picture with release of poisonous gases like carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide and hydrocarbons.

These gases accumulate in the air. Subjective observations in Kathmandu, especially in the dry season, indicate very high roadside air pollution, besides being dominated by particles and offensive odour due to a large amount of exhausts from vehicles run into seed. Since the Valley resembles an inverted bowl, these pollutants are trapped in the air.

As a result this causes damage to human health, vegetation and crops, monuments and ecosystem. Thus, it is time to find an alternate source of energy to displace consumption of fossil fuel. However, the alternative source of energy should be environment friendly and

affordable.

Asish Ghimire, KU