Gerald Howarth Attacks Joanna Lumley’s ‘Disgraceful’ Gurkhas Campaign

A Conservative defence minister has said the “disgraceful” campaign by Joanna Lumley on behalf of the Gurkhas has led to some of his Aldershot constituents leaving the town.

Gerald Howarth, the minister for international security strategy, said the number of Nepalese men who had served in the British Army deciding to move the the UK was putting too big a strain on local services.

In 2009 Lumley, with the backing of David Cameron and Nick Clegg, helped convince the then Labour government to allow Gurkhas who retired before 1997 the right to settle in the UK.

But speaking on BBC Radio Surrey on Monday, Howarth said the decision had been a mistake and was adversely affecting his constituency, which is the home of the British Army.

Miss Nepal Malina Joshi is WWF’s Young Conservation Ambassador

24 NOV, KATHMANDU. WWF Nepal formally welcomed Miss Nepal-World 2011, Malina Joshi as the sixth Young Conservation Ambassador for WWF Nepal amidst a function organized in Kathmandu on 24 November 2011.

“It is indeed a pleasure to welcome Malina as our sixth Young Conservation Ambassador. I am hopeful that Malina will be able to take the message of biodiversity conservation amongst the younger generation. I would also like to acknowledge with gratitude, Sadichha’s commitment and contribution for biodiversity conservation during her tenure as WWF’s Young Conservation Ambassador” said Anil Manandhar, Country Representative of WWF Nepal.

UN Gen Secy agrees to support greater Lumbini development

THT ONLINE

KATHMANDU: Former Prime Minister and Chairman of the UCPN-Maoist Pushpa Kamal Dahal, aka, Prachanda met United

Former Prime Minister and Chairman of the UCPN-Maoist Pushpa Kamal Dahal shakes hand with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday at UN headquarters in New York.

Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday at UN headquarters in New York.

Dahal is in New York as the Chairman of the High Level National Steering Committee for the development of Greater Lumbini, seeking international assistance for the development of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, located in Rupandehi district, about 300 km southwest of Kathmandu.

During the meeting, Dahal briefed the UN Secretary General about the commitment of the Government of Nepal to develop Lumbini as a world peace city as a pilgrimage and a heritage city with inclusive livelihood programs for the people living around there.

Prachanda explained to Ban Ki-moon that the recently formed High Level National Steering Committee reflects strong and long-term commitment of the Government of Nepal to the preservation and development of all aspects of Greater Lumbini with a
multi-stakeholder approach through national and international support.

While urging Moon to form a broader Lumbini development international committee under his chairmanship, Dahal said, spiritual dimension of Lumbini for world peace fits in very well with the noble ideals of peace and justice of the United Nations.

“Lumbini would be developed as an enduring source of international peace, harmony and understanding.”

ब्रिटिश म्युजियमलाई बुद्ध जन्मस्थल जानकारी सच्याउन थप दबाब दिऔं

कान्तिपुरमा यही कार्तिक १६ मा नविन पोखरेलद्धारा तयार पारिएको सामग्री “ब्रिटिश म्यूजियममा वुद्ध भारतमा जन्मिएको भ्रामक सन्देश“, नेपालीपत्रको बर्ष ६ अंक १८ मा प्रकाशित नबिन पोखरेलकै “….बुद्धबारे जताततै भ्रम” र नेपालीपत्रकै सोही अंकमा नै प्रकाशित रामकुमार श्रेष्ठद्धारा लिखित “नक्कली लुम्बिनीले उब्जाएका जटील प्रश्न” पस्चात म्युजियमले आफ्नो फेसबुक पेजमा कुटनीतिक भाषा प्रयोग गरी आफूले बुद्ध भारतमा जन्मिएको भनी उल्लेख नगरेको भनेको छ भने नेपालमा जन्मेको भनी भन्न पनि सकेको छैन । 

म्युजियमकै भाषा यस्तो छ: In light of recent comments about the Buddha’s birthplace, we would like to reassure you that the Museum does not state that the Buddha was born in India. We state that the Buddha was born into a small kingdom that flourished in north-eastern India in about 500 BC. The kingdom covered a reasonably wide area in the northern plains, along with several others of the time. When the Buddha’s mother was expecting, the family decided that she should proceed north to the hills to give birth. This she did, but gave birth along the way, in Lumbini at foot of the Himalayas. The site of Lumbini is in Nepal about 20 miles from the modern border with the Republic of India. If you are aware of an instance where the incorrect information is written or posted please let us know where so we can look into it. You are welcome to leave comments about this subject on the main wall but please note that comments about this subject on unrelated posts will be deleted as they are off topic. Please see further information about commenting in the info tab.

Breaking News: Leaders seal the ‘Peace Deal’

KATHMANDU, NOV 01 – The peace process that was started five years ago in 2006 is likely to witness its logical conclusion. The meeting of the top brass leaders of the major political parties—Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, UCPN (Maoist) and the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha—on Tuesday agreed on contentious issues of the peace process and sealed the deal.

UML leader Bhim Rawal publicised the deal amid a press conference organised at the Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai’s official residence in Baluwatar.

Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, NC President Sushil Koirala and UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal signed on the pact at PM’s residence.

According to highly placed source, the leaders have agreed to integrate 6,500 former Maoist combatants into the Nepal Army in an individual basis. Likewise, the rehabilitation package has been agreed upon Rs. 500,000 to Rs. 800,000 as per the rank of the combatants, the source added.

Meanwhile, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal is trying to take his deputy Mohan Baidya—leader of the party’s hardliner faction—into confidence.

As soon as Baidya agrees, the leaders are close to signing a peace deal, sources said.

Likewise, the leaders have reached an understanding to form a technical panel for the rank determination of the combatants.

ब्रिटिश म्यूजियममा बुद्ध भारतमा जन्मिएको भ्रामक सन्देश

नवीन पोखरेल  लन्डन, कार्तिक १३ -

वर्षेनी विश्वभरका करिव ६० लाख पर्यटकले अवलोकन गर्ने सेन्ट्रल लन्डनस्थित ब्रिटिश म्यूजियममा शान्तिका अग्रदूत गौतम बुद्ध भारतमाजन्मिएको भ्रामक र गलत सन्देश छ ।

‘द डिपार्टमेन्ट अफ एसिया’ कक्षअन्तर्गत ‘द लाइफ अफ द बुद्ध’ शीर्षकमा टांगिएको दस्तावेजमा बुद्धिज्मलाई भारतको धर्मअन्तर्गत राख्दै ‘बुद्धको जीवनी शुरुवात गर्दा उहाँ छैंटौं शताव्दीको मध्यतिर उत्तरपूर्वी भारतको एक शाही परिवारमा जन्मिनुभएको हो’ उल्लेख छ । बुद्धको जन्म महारानी मायाबाट लुम्बिनीको मृगस्थलमा अद्भूत तरिकाबाट भएको त्यहाँ उल्लेख छ ।

‘उहाँ दरवार रहँदा विवाहित हुनुहुन्थ्यो र उहाँबाट एक छोरा भएको थियो । उहाँले आफ्नै आँखाबाट बिरामी, भोका र मृत्यु देखेपछि मानव जीवनमा यी घट्ना किन भइरहेका छन् भन्ने जिज्ञासा लिएर भौतिक जीवन त्यागी बोधगयाको वृक्षमुनी बसि ध्यान गर्नुभएको थियो,’ म्युजियममा उल्लेख छ । उक्त दस्तावेजमा बुद्धको मृत्यु ४८० बीसीमा भएको र उनको समाधिपछि बुद्धका उपदेश शिष्यहरुमा बाँडिएको लेखिएको छ ।

ग्रेट रसेल स्टि्रटमा अवस्थित विश्वकै पहिलो राष्ट्रिय स्तरको यो सार्वजनिक संग्रहालयका कर्मचारीले भने गलत तथ्यबारे अनभिज्ञता प्रकट गरे । ‘हामी त यहाँ उल्लेख गरिएको जानकारीमात्र पर्यटकलाई वर्णन गरिदिने हो, अन्य कुरा थाहा भएन,’ एक कर्मचारीले भने ।

बि्रटिश म्यूजियमका निर्देशक निल म्याकग्रेगोरले विश्व इतिहाससम्बन्धी जानकारी दिन बीबीसी रेडियो फोरमा प्रस्तुत गरेको एकसय श्रृंखलाको ‘अ हिस्टि्र अफ द वल्र्ड इन हन्ड्रेड अव्जेक्ट्स’ मा समेत बुद्धबारे त्यही भ्रमपूर्ण तथ्य प्रसारण भएको थियो ।

What happened to the dream of a Buddhist Mecca?

By Sanjaya Dhakal

In the hot, dusty plains of south-western Nepal sits Lumbini, one of the holiest places for about 350 million Buddhists

Some monasteries have been built at Lumbini - but the master plan for its development remain incomplete

around the world.

Centuries ago a baby was born in Lumbini who went on to become the Buddha and many have long cherished plans that Lumbini could be developed into a Buddhist destination, comparable to Mecca, Islam’s holiest site.

But now buildings sit half-finished and empty fields lie neglected. More than a decade after Unesco designated it a World Heritage Site, Lumbini runs the risk of slipping into obscurity and promises to transform the site remain unfulfilled.

The most recent announcement was made by a Chinese group called the Asia Pacific Exchange and Co-operation Foundation, which declared it would raise $3bn (£1.9bn) to develop Lumbini by constructing airports, highways and hotels.

Continue reading the main story

LUMBINI

• Located in the south-western Nepali plains 300km from Kathmandu and very close to India’s border
• Birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, probably around 566BCE, who later become the Buddha
• Designated a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1997
• Surrounded by large zone in which only monasteries can be built and no commercial premises
• The site has a number of ancient ruins of monasteries, a sacred Bo Tree and a bathing pool – more is yet to be excavated

• Buddhism at a glance

But both the Nepalese or Chinese government authorities claim to be in the dark about the grandiose scheme. The group insists that it is preparing a five-year plan to implement their idea of “developing Lumbini like a Mecca city”.

Yet it is unclear what stage the proposals are at and whether they will truly see the light of day.

Another Chinese organisation has proposed building a 100-metre-tall statue of the Buddha in Lumbini at a cost of more than $55m (£35m). The Nepal government has accepted this proposal but the groundwork is yet to begin.

International Folk Music Film Festival, Nepal-2011

Music Museum of Nepal (NEMIM) is going to organize International Folk Music Film Festival, Nepal 2011. Already lots ofindividuals and institutions from different countries are interested to participate in the festival. This program is sponsored and supported by Alliance Fraincaise in Kathmandu; Handicraft Federation of Nepal; Kathmandu University Music Department; Nepal Academy of Music and Drama; Nepal Sanskritik Sansthan; Nepal Cultural Corporation; Oscar International College (College of Film Studies); Sweta Sadan College, Sama; Tribhuvan University Music Department and UNESCO Nepal.

Chief Coordinator: Yadav Kharel, Film Director and Nepal Academician

Overseas Coordinator: Norma Blackstock

Secretary: Homenath Bhandari, Music Museum of Nepal

The Lumbini project: China’s $3 billion for Buddhism

By Melissa Chan

The town of Lumbini in Nepal is where the Buddha was born as Prince Gautama Siddhartha, before achieving

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Former Nepalese King Gyanendra walks on the red carpet in Lumbini along with Queen Komal Raiya Laxmi Devi Shah [Getty

enlightenment more than 2,500 years ago. Now China is leading a project worth $3bn to transform the small town into the premier place of pilgrimage for Buddhists from around the world.  Little Lumbini will have an airport, highway, hotels, convention centre, temples and a Buddhist university. That’s in addition to the installation of water, electricity and communication lines it currently lacks.

That’s a lot of money anywhere – but especially for a country like Nepal whose GDP was $35bn last year. That means the project is worth almost 10 per cent of the country’s GDP. So what does China want back?

The organization behind the project is called the Asia Pacific Exchange and Cooperation Foundation (APECF), a quasi-governmental non-governmental organisation. Its executive vice president, Xiao Wunan, is a member of the Communist Party and holds a position at the National Development and Reform Commission, a state agency.

On Friday, APECF held a signing ceremony for the project with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

Buddha Jayanti Quizz Competition

Kapilvastu Day Movement Canada is celebrating Buddha Jayanti 2011 with different programs. In Greater TorontoArea, documentary screening on life of Buddha and an intellectual discourse followed by the movie screening would be organised. In Vancouver, Kapilvastu Day Movement and NCSBC Youth Club (NCSBC YFC) are organizing Quiz Contest on 15th of May, 2011. The Vancouver program is sponsored by PNEFA and PACE Canada College.

Program details and reading materials For the Quiz Competition:

Vancouver Program Details

First Answering Team 1 min
Next Team – 20 second each
Total Questions: 40 Questions
If there is a tie 3 questions will be provided to each team in tie until the tie breaks.

Concentrations
1.       Nepal
2.       Lumbini
3.       Kapilvastu
4.       Buddhist population in Canada
5.       Buddhist Population Worldwide
Date: May 15, 2011
Time:  1:00PM – 3PM
Venue: Bear Creek Park Surrey

Indian grand design to build duplicate Lumbini in vain

Indian efforts to substantiate the birth of Lord Buddha in India by constructing similar duplicate Lumbini in Aligadhawa of Uttar Pradesh have gone in vain.

The recent discovery of the contemporary town of Buddha’s time in Tilaurakot of Kapilbasto by a research team of UK Durham University has thrown cold water on India’s ploy to claim the Light of Asia as belonging to India. The Archaeologists led by Professor Robin Coningham have come up with the findings that there lay remnants of palace, four-land road, city, orchard among others under the earth in the present birthplace of Gautam Buddha.

 

Duplicate Lumbini site being constructed by India in Aligadhawa, Uttar Pradesh

The new draft shows China’s desire to improve ties with Nepal through its heritage institutions

By ANIL GIRI

KATHMANDU, DEC 06 - In a bid to redefine bilateral relations in line with the changed political context of Nepal, China has handed a draft of the new Nepal-China Cultural Cooperation Treaty.

The three-page draft treaty given to Culture Minister Minendra Rijal by visiting Chinese Culture Minister Cai Wu in a bilateral meeting at the Ministry of Culture on Sunday is expected to replace the existing Nepal-China Cultural Cooperation Agreement of 1999. The move comes a year after the northern neighbour offered a renewal of the Nepal-China Peace and Friendship Treaty of 1960. The 1999 Cultural Cooperation Agreement had replaced the first 1964 agreement on Sino-Nepalese Cultural cooperation.

Visiting Chinese Cultural Minister Cai is regarded an influential leader in the Chinese Communist Party. “He (Cai) handed over the copy of the new treaty to our minister. We will address the Chinese offer with due respect later,” Secretary to the Ministry of Culture Mod Raj Dotel said after the meeting.

Cai is here on a three-day trip. “I am here to give momentum to the Nepal-China cultural exchanges and boost the bilateral development partnership,” said Cai after his arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport.

The new draft shows China’s desire to improve ties through its heritage institutions like the Confucius Center as well as exchanges of official and non official trips, tourism promotion and diplomacy deliberations since the last one decade, said an official at the culture ministry.

The new proposal includes exchanges in literature, art, broadcasting, science, religion, photography, publications and education. Sources said the Chinese side has also offered to increase its annual educational scholarship quota to Nepali citizens from its current quantum of 100 to 200.

It has also offered to increase the number of tourists coming to Nepal significantly. “It offers more exchanges and cooperation on the cultural front, reflecting new political dimensions of Nepal,” said an official.

It has also offered to provide scholarships to Nepali bureaucrats, including those from the military and non-military fields. The Nepali side has offered to build a Buddhist Circuit around the birthplace of Gautam Buddha in Kapilvastu, Rupandehi and Nawalparasi districts to attract Buddhist tourists to Nepal. Sources said the Chinese side has responded to this proposal positively and that the visiting Chinese minister will visit Lumbini to inspect the prospects.

@The Kathmandu Post