Principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” must never be compromised

COPENHAGEN, Dec. 18, 2009 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao speaks at the leaders’ meeting of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, Dec. 18, 2009. (Xinhua/Wu Wei) (zhs)

COPENHAGEN (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said here on Friday the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” was the core and bedrock of international cooperation on climate change and must never be compromised.

In his speech, delivered at the opening session of the final summit segment of the U.N. climate change conference here, Wen said developed countries account for 80 percent of the total global carbon dioxide emissions since the industrial revolution over 200 years ago.

“If we all agree that carbon dioxide emissions are the direct cause for climate change, then it is all too clear who should take the primary responsibility,” the Chinese premier said.

Developing countries only started industrialization a few decades ago and many of their people still live in abject poverty today, Wen said, “It is totally unjustified to ask them to undertake emission reduction targets beyond their due obligations and capabilities in disregard of historical responsibilities, per capita emissions and different levels of development.”

Developed countries, which are already leading an affluent life, still maintain a level of per capita emissions that is far higher than that of developing the countries, and most of their emissions are attributed to consumption, Wen said.

In comparison, emissions from developing countries were primarily survival emissions and international transfer emissions, the Chinese premier said.

“Today, 2.4 billion people in the world still rely on coal, charcoal and stalks as main fuels, and 1.6 billion people have no access to electricity,” so any action on climate change must be taken within the framework of sustainable development and should by no means compromise the efforts of developing countries to get rid of poverty and backwardness, he said.

Wen urged developed countries to take the lead in making deep quantified emission cuts and provide financial and technological support to developing countries as “this is an unshirkable moral responsibility as well as a legal obligation that they must fulfill.”

Developing countries should, with the financial and technological support of developed countries, do what they can to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change in light of their national conditions, Wen said.

Nepali cabinet meeting on top of world concludes with Everest Declaration

KATHMANDU (Xinhua) -- The historic high-altitude cabinet meeting of Nepali government held to draw the global community’s attention toward climate change and its impact on melting Himalayas has come up with a 10-point “Everest Declaration” Friday.

The cabinet meeting presided by Nepali Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal was held at Kalapatthar, the Base Camp of Mt. Everest (Qomolangma) at a height of approximately 5,164 meters.

“We have successfully conducted our historic cabinet meeting. We would like to thank all the people who have assisted us, supported us and given us help and support to make this event a grand success,” said Prime Minister Nepal in a press conference organized at Syangboche near Everest Base Camp after cabinet meeting.

Nepali Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal (C) waves as he attends the cabinet meeting at the foothills of Mt. Qomolangma (Mt. Everest) Base Camp at Kalapatthar which is approximately 5,164 meters high above the sea level on Dec. 3, 2009. The Nepali Government’s historical high-altitude cabinet meeting, attended by altogether 24 ministers, is held on the base to draw the global community’s attention toward climate change and its impact on melting Himalayas. (Xinhua/Bimal Gautam)

“Mt. Everest (Qomolangma) is an icon of world environment. The 2,700-km East-West range of Himalayas and 1.3 billion people’s civilization, their culture and tradition, natural heritage and tourist development has contribution.”

He added that he would urge the developed countries to look at the impact of the climate change on the poor countries while attending the Climate Change summit in Copenhagen.

Global issue of climate change has negative impact not only on Himalayas and millions of lives living in this arena but also the environment, social-economic development, natural vegetation and tourist development sector, said Nepal addressing the press conference.

Due to climate change, threat of natural calamities like drought, flood, landslide, famine, and glacial outburst is increasing, he added.

“Through Everest Declaration-2009, we would like to express our collective commitment to climate change and open the financial support sector,” Nepal said.

To protect the Mt. Everest (Qomolangma) and rest of the Himalayan range from melting down due to the global warming, Nepali government has declared “Everest Declaration-2009”.

To conserve the vulnerable Himalayas form climate change, to draw the attention of global community, Nepal will cooperate with South Asian nations and the rest of the world, the prime minister said reading the first point of “Everest Declaration-2009”.

To launch a public awareness campaign in the national level to highlight the adverse impact of climate change on local habitants and life style, especially the marginalized people.

The cabinet also decided to extend the territories of Api-Nampa conservation area in Darchula district, Gauri Shankar conservationarea in Ramechhap and Dolakha districts as well as to extend Bardiya National Park.

With the Everest Declaration, the government has committed to increasing the conservation areas in the country from 20 percent to 25 percent and consolidating 40 percent forest area. It also focuses on raising awareness on climate change issues and seeking international commitment and support to address the issues.

The cabinet also decided to add the Banke National Park as a new national park.

A team of around 110 people comprising the 24 Nepali ministers including Prime Minister Nepal, national and international journalists, health and technical teams attended the event.

Worlds largest animal sacrifice festival held in Nepal despite international outcry

BARIYAPUR, Nepal -- The largest festival of animal sacrifice was held successfully in Baryapur,100 miles south of Kathmandu on November 24th in spite of nu- merous national and international pleas to halt what many perceive as a gruesome, cruel and outdated tradition.

The 2-day festival which is held every 5 years attracts up to a million devotees of of Gadhimai - the Hindu goddess of power.

The festival was born 260 years ago when feudal land- lord Bhagwan Chaudhary saw in his dreams that his problems would be solved by killing an animal and offer- ing it to goddess Gadhimai.

At least 80% of the attendees of the festival are Indian coming from the nearby states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Animal sacrifice has been made illegal in their respective states.

The festival commenced in the morning hours with the chief priest offering blood to the goddess inside the temple. Afterwords the festival moved to a nearby enclosure where 250 men with the license to kill were let loose on 20000 buffalo's herded up in a nearby enclosure.

Hundreds of thousand devotees who have been waiting since the early morning hours to enter the temple be- lieve that the killing of the animals will bring them prosperity and avert evil forces.

Animal rights groups, activists and politicians from around the world attempted to put a stop to the tradition.

Nepal's president Dr Ram Baran Yadav and prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal ignored all appeals and responded through an official with the following remark: “We will not interfere in the centuries-old tradition of the people.”

The Nepalese Health Minister Umakanta Chaudhari turned up at the site under heavy protection and took part in the worship.

Over 1100 security personal were employed to the festival site due to fear of interference by activist.

The festival organizers reportedly hoped to attempt a new world record by sacrificing more than 500000 animals.

Following the festival the meat, bones and hides of the sacrificed animals were sold to processing and tannery companies in India and Nepal. - Ingmar Zahorsky/ CHINAsia Update

Nepal listed one of top 10 travel destinations in 2010

The magnificent Machapuchre Mountain range as seen
from Sarangkot, Pokhara.
Photo: Ingmar Zahorsky / CHINAsia Update

KATHMANDU (Xinhua) -- Nepal has found its way into the list of top ten travel destinations in 2010 in the world, local newspaper reported on Wednesday.

The Lonely Planet “Best in Travel 2010” has listed Nepal, along with El Salvador, Germany, Greece, Malaysia, Morocco, New Zealand, Portugal, Suriname and the United States, as one of the top ten travel destinations, a statement from Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) said.

“Trekking in Nepal is one of those travel benchmarks, like seeing the Taj Mahal, or diving the Great Barrier Reef, or the first time you eat fried locusts. By the end of your trek, you may vow never to climb anything higher than the stairs around your home town, but the experience of the Himalaya will stay with you for a lifetime,” local newspaper The Rising Nepal cited The Lonely Planet’s list as reporting.

“This is a collection of destinations and experiences that we rate as the stuff people really should consider for next year. Whatever your own style dictates, you should be able to find inspiration in these destinations,” The Himalayan Times cited Adam Bennett, manager of Asia-Pacific communications as saying.

“They’ll take you from the familiar to the far away, both geographically and culturally, and more than likely have you reaching for your travel bag,” Adam Bennett said.

The lists released Monday is The Lonely Planet’s fifth in its annual collection of the best places to go and things to do in the year ahead.

Since the resignation of Maoist ex-prime minister Prachanda,
protest and rioting by members of the Maoist party have been
common practice in Kathmandu. The Maoist have recently
threatened to withdraw from the peace process entirely and
to initiate an indefinate protest until their demands are met.
These actions could bring tourism in Nepal to a complete stop
as the capital might plunge into chaos.
Photo: Ingmar Zahorsky / CHINAsia Update

Chinese embassy in Nepal holds national day reception

Chinese diplomats in gather for a photo at the reception
held at the Hyatt regency to celebrate the 60th anniversary
of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
Photo: Ingmar Zahorsky / CHINAsia Update

KATHMANDU (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Embassy in Nepal held a reception in Nepali capital Kathmandu on Thursday on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. The Chinese embassy officials briefly introduced the progress China has made in the past six decades and especially in the last 30 years since the beginning of the reform and opening-up. China and Nepal are good neighbors, good friends and good partners. China-Nepal traditional friend- ship is deeply rooted in the two peoples, and the cooperation in various fields between the two countries has developed substantially, said embassy officials.

President of the Constitution Committee, Ram R Che
with the new army Chief Mata Rani K.
Photo: Ingmar Zahorsky/ CHINAsia Update

China will continue to support the peace process in Nepal, and provide assistance to Nepal’s economic and social development to the best of its capacity, the officials said. Chairman Subash Nemwang and Deputy Chairman Purna Kumari Subedi of the Constituent Assembly of Nepal, Chief Justice Min Baha- dur Rayamajhi, Chief of Army Staff Chhatra Man Singh Gurung, Foreign Affairs Minister Sujata Koirala, Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal and Vice Chairman Bam Dev Gautam of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) and Vice Chairman Prakash of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), among other Nepali officials and political leaders attended the reception on the invitation of the Chinese ambassador to Nepal Qiu Guohong.

At the stairway leading down to the conference
room an image of Mao announcing the foundation
of the Republic of China 60 years earlier was projected
onto the wall.
Photo: Ingmar Zahorsky / CHINAsia Update

Many prominent Buddhist monks were also invited
to the celebrations. - Photo: Ingmar Zahorsky

They congratulated Ambassador Qiuon the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and expressed their confidence that the friendship between the two countries will develop further.