Corruption

Let me be frank here, I have never heard of corruption until recently when it has become an issue in our society.  It was not in my vocabulary then, the word corruption. The Anti-corruption Commission in Bhutan was established in early 2006 if I am not wrong and since then has been digging out all the corrupt activities and with the help of all kinds of media, it was communicated to whole nation and that is how I came to know about corruption. First of all I would like to define the word in my own, according to my understanding, “Corruption is an activity, using or abetting the use of what is not ours like public resources, power and authority vested on us with full trust by the King, Country and People”.

Corruption can be big or small; it can be done through a single word or through a single piece of writing. I find the main reason for corruption is the greedy minds of people along with the avenue for them to commit it. If people think enough is enough, there will not be any such cases. And also if the good systems and practices are in place making no room for corruption, definitely no one will be corrupt. If we abstain from any form of corrupt practices that we encounter in life, we are helping firstly to the society and secondly we are clean and there won’t be any obsessive feelings within us. But there are also chances where we are not corrupt but are dragged as corrupt as a result of someone who actually is the main culprit.

If the corruption persist in the society, rich will become richer and poor remains poor. The disparity will be increased. The people with power and wealth and those influential will have all the benefits. As a result of this, it is imperative to root out corruption at an early stage. Corruption is thought to be more prevalent in a democracy where various kinds of political parties are thought to be more vulnerable to corruption. Anything can be done to woo the voters. The other prone areas of corruption include large projects, remote places where people are easy to be cheated, Human Resources recruitment procedures and face to face encounter of clients and an official.  

Corruption is a poison that can affect the entire society. It has got no cure once infected but can be prevented from happening. Government alone can’t take all the responsibilities in preventing the corruption. If every individual think for the same goal of clean society and work in hand in hand, corruption can not only be prevented, but can be rooted out completely. If we take one step further in our mentality, we can be the change we want in our society. We all must abstain from being corrupt and also report corruption before it grows. Corruption affects us ultimately, therefore, we all must work together to make a corruption free society.

Waste Management- An Individual Responsibility

Waste is pest that infests every society. Be it urban or rural, at this point of time, the challenge of waste management is faced by everyone, everywhere. The waste has some connections with the upcoming of civilization and industrialization. But this is not something anyone can take control of. With the increasing number of population, the necessities have grown. When we ask for our needs to mother world, we also have to be accountable of what we do to her.

The waste was not a problem in olden days. People hardly talked about it. No plastics used and the papers used were the hand made that was not readily available. No technology and no constructions. People at that period of time would not have even thought of such menace that we are facing at present. There are different kinds of wastes; Solid waste (degradable and non-degradable), waste water, e-waste, medical waste, industrial waste and mechanical waste from automobile workshops. Some of these waste especially the one which is non-degradable, e-waste and those coming from industrial sites and automobile workshops are very hazardous to every living organism. It pollutes soil, rivers and also the air we breathe in. 

Necessity is mother of all inventions. People invented many things to ease their livelihoods. All kinds of machineries, edibles and technologies have been invented. All these technologies after using it for many years become e-waste. If we happen to visit the landfill sites in every city, major chunk will be e-waste followed by papers and plastics. In Bhutan with the increased import of all the edibles, the plastic wastes have been increased. Almost all the edibles imported are wrapped in plastic covers. All these plastic covers either end up in landfill or are seen everywhere along the road sides and in towns. The improper dumping of waste has increased over a time with the increasing number of people living in the city. The problem has been the same in rural areas because everyone fully depended on the packed foods which are imported. Even the places where there are no inhabitants, the visitors and the passerby could have littered the place. Recently there has been a report that even the far flung religious shrines are faced with waste problems. The littering of the places is all because of the carelessness of the people. Having no love for the Mother Nature and this is how we repay for so much the mother has provided to us. 

We are becoming little more irresponsible. Our mindset and attitude have to be changed now. We are civilized and have to act like one. There is no one after us to clean up our mess. We have to be accountable of our own activities. We have to start from self. If one of us start thinking about this world and help manage our own waste, remember, one rascal will be reduced. Waste is directly related to anthropogenic activities. If we are mindful of what we do, there should not be a way to create waste. If this could have been the practice long ago, we would not be facing an epidemic outbreak of this waste pest. Now is the high time we look back at our mistakes and let not the next generation suffer because of our uncorrected mistakes. Waste cannot be controlled but can be managed. There are private individuals and also the government workers coming door to door to collect the waste. It is an individuals' responsibility to at least segregate and take to the dumper trucks and dispose it off. If we segregate the waste, it would be useful in many ways. The total amount of waste going to landfill sites will be reduced and also it is a source of income for some as there are people who really believe in "cash in trash". Do not litter, never think 'a small piece of paper would not make any difference, an empty bucket could be filled drop by drop'. We have to be ashamed of ourselves to litter. Even if someone litters, pick it up and teach them a lesson in life. 

DO NOT LITTER, KEEP OUR PLACE CLEAN, USE USE-ME!!!     

Wildlife Conflict- A Conflict in Itself

Bhutan still being the agrarian society in the region, agriculture is still considered the backbone of the nation where government has been investing a lot since the beginning of the plan period in early 60s. People in the villages solely depend on agriculture productions for their livelihood. The survival depends on the efficiency of the collection of harvest for the year.

The farmers are always been challenged by wildlife. Sometimes the effect is devastating that they are left nothing to depend on for the entire year. In the early years, some people have been hunting down those animals which threaten their crop yields. The other challenge for some is that they are not able to hurt animals since they feel that it is a great sin to hurt others. For them the only way to get along is by guarding their fields and shooing the animals either by shouting or threatening them. People spent sleepless nights throughout from the time of cultivation till the harvest. In early years, besides worrying about their survival for the year people were also worried by the heavy taxes being levied on them by the petty leaders. This burden however has been removed from people as benevolent leaders came to the throne.

The more challenging came when government realized the importance of preserving the bio-diversity and the effect of having disturbed the natural food chain. People in the villages were informed about the illegality of hunting down animals. There were no other alternatives then. Many lost their crops to the wild animals and helpless were those poor farmers. Wild cats hunting down cattle, wild boars and others bringing down crop productions and in lower regions of country, both crops and people were threatened by wild elephants. Government has been putting every measure sine then to curb the effect. Government started compensating the loss of crops to wild life and other calamities but the compensation was not able to meet the year’s expenses. It was very difficult to choose upon the two very important issues; the issues of crops being destroyed by the wild animals and the issues of deteriorating the number of wild life as a result of hunt down. Both are very important and have to be promoted. On one hand, government has a mandate of promoting agricultural products to gear towards self-sufficiency and on other hand it is also internationally given importance on the preservation of natural bio-diversity and also considered illegal to hunt down animals.

If both are to be promoted, the wild life conflict would just grow and the dream of gearing towards self-sufficiency would be in air. Both are equally important and even the farmers have now understood the effect of hunting down the animals not only from religious point of view but also from the biology point of view. Our farmers have been very co-operative with the government and government on other hand has been very supportive in maximizing the yield and also various measures were undertaken to minimize the wild life conflict. The government had issued metallic fencing, introduced fire balls to shoo away animals especially the elephants. Recently government has also taken an initiative in providing all farmers an electric fencing which frightens away the animals but are harmless. The electric fencing was well received by the villagers and now government has a plan to introduce same method throughout the country.   

This wildlife conflict has been a conflict for long and still a problem for many in some parts of the region. It is a conflict in itself, a conflict between the two important issues, the issue of maximizing the crop productions and the issue of saving bio-diversity. Hope there will be a peaceful co-existence of all soon. 

There is NO End to What we Want in Life

Before when I was a small boy, I would love to go to school when my brothers and other elders walk to school. I would always tell my parents, when will l be going to school. I would learn from my brother the things that he has learnt from schools. Then it was in 1995, I first went to school with my brother, very much excited in my newly bought school uniform.

Then I would long to reach high schools. High Schoolers, they looked very different from the juniors. They speak well, know how to dress up tidily and live in a decent way. When I climbed up the ladder of education, even the tension increased within me. I knew I have to work hard in order to qualify for next level especially when I was in class nine, by then I was in high school. I used to feel proud when I meet some of my younger siblings of junior school who looked envious (just like me). When I was in high school, then I started dreaming of college, a college where everybody lead their own life. I used to hear lots of stories of college days from our teachers and other elders from our village about their college lives. Quite inspiring, I started to work hard and finally I got an opportunity to go to college in Bhutan. Then I thought that is it. When in college, then I was tempted to get a job soon. I longed to finish college life even faster and get a job for myself. I did bachelors degree and fortunately I managed to get through civil service examinations. Then after having done post graduate for one year, I got into job in the year 2013. 

Now what? This is not the end. Now I want to climb up the career ladder as fast as I could and lead a happy life with happy family. I don't know what would be next mission in my life. I understood there is no end to what we want in life. In one way that is how we achieve our dreams and goals in life but on other hand, it is being too much greedy. What so ever, we have to have a mission in life, a mission, a goal that helps us to reach the epitome of good human beings in the society. 

A Typical Village Life in Bhutan

Peace the night is, no honking, no howling and no roaring noises that are usually a nuisance in urban areas. After a daylong hard work, all members of a family get together for a diner. They share all their day’s experiences with the family members and also discuss the plan for the next day. After having a diner, they sit near by fire and talk of many things. Sometimes the parents tell them stories and at the same time teach a lesson to their children in life. Then they go to beds and relax with peace in mind and heart.

People in the village are timed by the crowing of roosters. Before dawn some elder people of the family get up and finish-up all household chores before sun rise. The lights of the day light flickers through the cracks of wooden windows. As the sun rays reach the nearby hill top, mom comes to wake-up all the children who are in a peaceful sleep. She wide opens all windows to make sure the children know that it is a time for them to go for a day’s work. Mom will have readied the breakfast. They all sit down for the breakfast and share responsibilities for the entire day. Daughter will help her mom do the household chores while son will help his father do the external works like fetching of fire woods, fencing, field works, cattle herding and many other physical works. For small children, it’s a time for them to learn from their elders to help parents and most of the time they go out to mingle with other friends of their age and play around.

People in urban places are timed by an alarm clock which is often not respected even by the one who has set it the other day. All get up late and get late to works and schools without breakfast. No breakfasting or lunching or dining together. All take one after another if they wish to take. Many people if it is a government holiday will have no work at all. Some watch TV, some go to play, many sleeps and some chit chat with neighbours. Never gets home on time. Everybody goes out and comes home so late. People in urban areas go to bed with so many tensions: office works, financial constraints, peer pressures and many other obsessive disturbances. A typical village life and an urban life are totally different and I prefer a village kind of life. I refer peace in mind, heart and body.   

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Wish Come True

Every one of us, you and I always make a wish and even if we don’t make a wish, it’s a human instinct to long for something or someone we don’t have in life. For some, they say “oh it is a wish come true for me” when they achieve something unexpected in their way of life. For some it is a way of opening a sentence while giving a talk or to acknowledge someone for having achieved something in their life. Wishes are never same for everyone but there are few who share the same wishes in life. There are so many wishes a person make in his/her life, but how much he/she fulfil depends on how much hard work they put in or sometimes a luck favours.

I was writing this with TV on and it’s a sheer coincidence that I happened to watch the movie “TED” on one of the Hollywood channels. A young boy who was abandoned by all other friends in the neighbourhood got a Christmas gift from his parents, a huge (of his size) teddy bear. He was so happy and that night he wished if that teddy could talk and be friend with him forever. The next morning, to his amusement a teddy bear talked. His wish has come true. That was movie and I am complacent that such miracle will not happen in real life. When I say this, it doesn't mean that I don’t make a wish and I don’t believe that a wish could come true. My wishes are my prayers, every morning and evening, I just pray for well being and happiness of all sentient beings. My dreams are my wishes and I dream to lead a happy life without having to pass through any obstacles in life. My ambitions and desires are my wishes and I desire to be one of the most successful people in this world or at least up to the expectations of my beloved parents and the society.

People often say that a person without a wish never succeed in life but also have to be mindful that not all wishes we wish could be fulfilled in life. That is where a frustration comes that actually can down us in life. Wishes have to be something that can be fulfilled or other words time bound. If we wish to bring down stars or wish to become princess/prince (if you are not born as one), that is something universally known that it can’t be achieved. So we have to wish intelligently and in a smart manner. With good wish in mind (or some say wish in heart), we will have a clear mission in life that would ultimately lead to a successful life. Best Wishes!

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Waiting for Snow Fall in Thimphu

Thimphu is about 2,460 meters above sea level, surrounded by high hills which are more than 3000 meters above sea level. It lies along the Wangchhu river that runs north-south of Thimphu valley. More than 2,000 households and more than hundred thousand population, Thimphu has grown from a small village like town in early 80’s to one of the busiest and largest city in Bhutan. More than 30, 000 cars plying daily over the city roads and averagely over 100 new constructions being approved annually, city has been challenged with so many problems like traffic congestion and environment degradation.

If we look at some of the pictures back in 80’s of Thimphu, we could see major portion of land being used for cultivation. Now most of these cultivatable portions of land have been developed into concrete buildings and roads constructed every nook and corner of the city, it is very difficult to maintain green areas within city. But however the government of Bhutan always work with a mission to take up the "Green Socio-Economic Development" which is a development without compromising environment in any ways. With that objective, Bhutan has been taking every measure to maintain the sustainability of the pristine natural environment. In a similar way, Thimphu City has been spending certain portion of its capital subsidy in greening the city. Every year a large number of saplings are being planted in every open spaces and many region within the city are identified as environment precincts which is a "no development zone"  

Despite these initiatives, it has been a challenge to control development that jeopardizes the environment. Developments are driven by the needs and it is a mandate for the government to serve the needs of the citizens. The effects of these have been already being experienced with untimely rainfall, drying up of water sources and late or no snow fall. Thimphu used to experience early snow falls during the month Januaries before. Snow fall is one of the exciting moments for young and old. It gives immense pleasure and is also considered as sign of good harvest back in the village. Children go out to play and adults stay inside nearby heaters talking of their past experiences over a cup of hot butter tea or some over a glass of Ara (Locally brewed wine). The day of first snow fall is also a government holiday in Thimphu for the civil servants and school going children. This year, 2015, all the residents of Thimphu have been talking in and out about the snow fall being delayed. Many are expecting in the February month but some are complacent that last year, 2014 it also snowed in the month of March for the second time, so they are still expecting the same this time.

Some people are talking about the climate change effects the reason for late or no snow fall. Even if some nation fights for climate change, they can still face the consequences of climate change of the world. Climate Change is not something we can escape but we can put forth some measures to curb the effects. If the climate change has to be stopped completely, the development in the world has to be stopped or a population growth has to be halted. This can’t be done since the needs for the people have to be served as discussed earlier. But we can neutralize the effect of developments by ensuring the balance between the developmental activities and the environment conservation. If we cut one tree, we have to replace it by planting two trees. This is how we have to manage the use of natural resources sustain-ably.

  

We have to think about our next generation. What we have been enjoying today is the fruit of what we have received from our ancestors. Now it is our responsibilities to hand over the same resources that we enjoy today to our next generation. As a result of our greedy activities, I fear that the time will come for our younger generations when they will just hear the word snow and will not able to experience it. Therefore, Bhutan joins with other nations of the world in fighting the climate change and I would like to urge all individual in this world to at least do not contribute to climate when you can’t contribute to the fight against climate change.

LET’S SAVE THIS MOTHER EARTH.