Good reads
The Wife Upstairs
Rachel Hawkins
Thriller | Mystery
A delicious twist on a Gothic classic, The Wife Upstairs pairs Southern charm with atmospheric domestic suspense, perfect for fans of B.A. Paris and Megan Miranda.
With delicious suspense, incisive wit, and a fresh, feminist sensibility, The Wife Upstairs flips the script on a timeless tale of forbidden romance, ill-advised attraction, and a wife who just won’t stay buried. In this vivid reimagining of one of literature’s most twisted love triangles, which Mrs. Rochester will get her happy ending?
Girl, Wash Your Face
Rachel Hollis
Self Help | Personal Development
Rachel Hollis has created an online fan base of hundreds of thousands of fans by sharing tips for living a better life. Her highly anticipated first book features her signature combination of honesty, humor, and direct, no-nonsense advice. From her temporary obsession with marrying Matt Damon to a daydream involving hypnotic iguanas to her son’s request that she buy a necklace to “be like the other moms,” Hollis holds nothing back. With unflinching faith and tenacity, Hollis spurs other women to live with passion and hustle and to awaken their slumbering goals.
Before The Coffee Gets Cold
Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Fantasy | Japan
In a small back alley in Tokyo, there is a café that has been serving carefully brewed coffee for more than one hundred years. But this coffee shop offers its customers a unique experience: the chance to travel back in time. In Before the Coffee Gets Cold, we meet four visitors, each of whom is hoping to make use of the café’s time-traveling offer. Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s beautiful, moving story explores the age-old question: What would you change if you could travel back in time? More importantly, who would you want to meet, maybe for one last time?
ApEx Roundtable | Experts emphasize urgency of addressing climate change-related loss and damage
Nepal recently experienced a simultaneous occurrence of both drought and flooding, underscoring the urgent need to address the impacts of climate change, particularly in relation to loss and damage (L&D). In this context, ApEx recently organized a roundtable involving climate stakeholders to delve into topics such as L&D, disaster risk reduction, government initiatives, partnerships for addressing L&D, and the role of youth in climate awareness and action. Excerpts:
Embrace climate change as an opportunity
Manjeet Dhakal, climate change expert
Historically, our focus has been primarily on the effects and impacts of climate change, often as a means to attract foreign aid. Yet, we have not been educated about an alternative perspective—a viewpoint that regards climate change as not only a challenge but also an avenue for economic benefits. Fortunately, recent years have witnessed increased dialogue, discussions, media coverage, and research on various aspects of climate change, which is undoubtedly a positive shift.
In Nepal, the cornerstones of our economy—agriculture, remittances, tourism, and hydropower—have all borne the brunt of climate change. While the effects on agriculture, tourism, and hydropower are widely recognized, we have not been adequately informed about its potential impact on remittances. These remittances contribute roughly 23 percent to our Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Notably, around 80 percent of our migrant labor force heads to the Middle East and Malaysia, regions experiencing significant temperature increases compared to the global average. Consequently, our assessment of loss and damage should not be limited to our borders but should extend to encompass consequences beyond our political boundaries.
Necessity of scientific research
Pradip Khatiwada, disaster risk management expert
Numerous scientific studies have examined rainfall patterns and the global temperature rise, both contributing factors to instances of loss and damage. L&D is commonly categorized as economic, affecting livelihoods and property, and non-economic, encompassing issues like loss of life, health problems, psychological distress, displacement challenges, as well as damage to biodiversity and cultural heritage. While economic L&D is frequently discussed, the non-economic aspect has not received adequate attention. Therefore, conducting scientific research to evaluate our circumstances is essential. This research aids in anticipating and mitigating disaster impacts, bolstering our self-reliance. Additionally, communicating research findings effectively to vulnerable communities minimizes disaster-related risks.
While a 1.5°C temperature increase might not significantly affect certain countries, it’s a significant concern for Nepal due to its susceptibility to snowmelt-triggered flash floods and related problems. Unlike the sturdy mountains in Europe, our mountainous regions are delicate and vulnerable, warranting our concern.
Educate local communities on climate change
Bharati Pathak, community forest expert
Indigenous communities have played a pivotal role in revitalizing community forests nationwide, contributing significantly to mitigating climate change effects, including loss and damage. However, these communities possess only a basic understanding of climate change consequences such as floods, landslides, and droughts. The discourse on this matter has largely been confined to urban centers and the privileged class, leaving those directly dealing with climate change aftermath with limited awareness. Thus, extending knowledge-sharing initiatives to rural regions is imperative.
While we have actively participated in 27 Conferences of Parties (COP), do local communities truly comprehend the nature of COP, its discussions, and the resulting agreements? The absence of involvement from those at the forefront of climate change impacts casts uncertainty on our ability to achieve climate objectives.
In an environment where information is scarce, misinformation and disinformation thrive. This is evident in local communities’ understanding of carbon trading, where they sought compensation for only a few trees.
Collaborative efforts for climate action a must
Hari Prasad Sharma, Under secretary, Ministry of Forest and Environment
Nepal’s vulnerability to climate change must be comprehensively assessed, including the degree, severity, and exposure of its impact. With about 68 percent of our land featuring slopes greater than 60°, our susceptibility to climate effects is heightened. Moreover, roughly 30 percent of our land lies at altitudes exceeding 2,500 meters, amplifying its sensitivity in sustaining livelihoods. Thus, our geographic circumstances render us particularly vulnerable.
Though climate change policies exist, practical execution is paramount. Policies often resemble wish lists; our focus should shift towards translating them into actionable steps through meticulous implementation. Given the global move towards cooperative decision-making, addressing climate change necessitates a collective approach. Embracing contemporary methods is crucial to effectively combat this issue.
Allocating resources to educate and foster climate change understanding from a young age is essential, as the youth represent future catalysts for change.
Climate change transcends data
Shrichchha Pradhan, climate activist and Miss Nepal World 2023
Nepal’s cultural practices, adaptability to environmental challenges, and community-driven sustainability efforts offer valuable lessons for the global community. By studying and adopting these practices, societies worldwide can take meaningful strides toward addressing climate change, embracing zero-waste lifestyles, and nurturing sustainability. Entrepreneurship within the climate change realm presents an opportunity yielding multiple benefits, including educating the youth on climate intricacies, promoting sustainable practices, and zero-waste principles.
Understanding climate change extends beyond data; it holds a deep emotional dimension impacting local communities, especially in remote areas. These communities daily bear the brunt of climate change, experiencing its far-reaching consequences in ways statistics cannot capture. Their close connection with the environment has traditionally granted them a profound understanding of nature’s patterns. However, recent unpredictable changes from climate change have disrupted this traditional knowledge. Thus, engaging with these communities and providing targeted education about changing consequences is crucial.
Loss and damage as a moral imperative
Adelle Thomas, lead author of IPCC Reports
Loss and damage (L&D) lacks a universally agreed definition within the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), signifying different meanings for different groups. Nonetheless, L&D generally refers to negative climate change impacts that occur despite mitigation and adaptation efforts.
L&D is often categorized as economic or non-economic. Economic L&D entails quantifiable negative impacts, such as rebuilding infrastructure post-floods or agricultural revenue loss due to drought. Non-economic L&D includes impacts challenging to assign monetary values, like trauma from tropical cyclones or community loss due to displacement.
Both extreme events (heat waves, storms) and slow-onset events (sea-level rise, ocean acidification) contribute to loss and damage.
MPs take on mayor Shah’s action on street vendors
Balendra Shah, the mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC), is reluctant to allow street vendors to carry on with their businesses as usual. In contrast, the neighboring Lalitpur Metropolitan City has effectively managed street vendors by allocating specific time slots for their business activities. According to a study conducted by the Center for Informal Economy and Hope for Change, Nepal, a staggering 89 percent of street vendors in Kathmandu are currently relying on loans due to the actions taken by the mayor. Surprisingly, the federal parliament has remained silent on this issue.
Pratik Ghimire of ApEx talked with whips of the three largest political parties in the parliament to understand their take on this matter related to the informal economy.
Sushila Thing
Whip, Nepali Congress
Kathmandu Metropolitan City functions as an independent governing body with the authority to carry out its own actions. The central government or federal parliament lacks the power to issue commands to them. This matter falls outside our jurisdiction. Nonetheless, due to its significant impact on numerous individuals, this matter deserves attention within the parliament. Regrettably, no political parties have brought up this concern, and even the Nepali Congress has not addressed it in its internal parliamentary party meetings. But I now intend to present this issue during our upcoming meeting.
Mahesh Bartaula
Whip, CPN-UML
When individuals find themselves caught between government regulations, authorities often resort to exerting their power over them. But this is the case of livelihood. In this scenario, the government has a responsibility to assume the role of a guardian for its citizens, particularly those residing below the poverty line and struggling to earn a living. Kathmandu Metropolitan City must provide viable options for these individuals. The CPN-UML, serving as the main opposition party, represents the interests of the general populace and will raise this issue in parliament.
Rupa Sosi Chaudhary
Whip, CPN (Maoist Center)
The issue hasn’t been brought up in the parliament to date. This matter encompasses two primary aspects. Firstly, if our aim is to create an aesthetically pleasing and technologically advanced city, we must adhere to a well-defined strategy. For that, we can’t allow arbitrary business activities. But, on the other hand, considering that street vendors have been an integral part of our community for a long time, it’s neither feasible nor advisable to abruptly stop them from doing business as usual. We must, instead, offer them proper alternatives. I will urge my party and colleagues to collaborate with local units, including the KMC, to address this issue.
Good reads
The Light We Carry
Michelle Obama
Memoir | Self-Help
Michelle Obama offers readers a series of fresh stories and insightful reflections on change, challenge, and power, including her belief that when we light up for others, we can illuminate the richness and potential of the world around us, discovering deeper truths and new pathways for progress. Drawing from her experiences as a mother, daughter, spouse, friend, and First Lady, she shares the habits and principles she has developed to successfully adapt to change and overcome various obstacles—the earned wisdom that helps her continue to “become.”
Plains of Discontent: A Political History of Nepal’s Tarai
Maximillian Morch
History | Politics
Plains of Discontent sheds light on an often-overlooked aspect of the flatlands of the Tarai, where over 50 percent of the country’s population resides. It is in the Tarai that bitter political movements and battles have taken place, raising fundamental questions about Nepali identity and the structure of Nepal as both a nation and a state. To fully comprehend the anger, resentment, and discontent in the Tarai, the book argues, we must delve into its political history. This is a deeply insightful book to gain some perspective on what shapes Nepal.
The Top Five Regrets of The Dying
Bronnie Ware
Self Help | Psychology
Bronnie has had a colorful and diverse past, but by applying the lessons of those nearing their death to her own life, she developed an understanding that it is possible for people, if they make the right choices, to die with peace of mind. In this book, she expresses in a heartfelt retelling how significant these regrets are and how we can positively address these issues while we still have the time. The book gives hope for a better world. It will leave you feeling kinder towards yourself and others, and more determined to live the life you are truly here to live.
