Sustainable development

This definition is supportive and parallel to WECD report, which states the sustainable development as, "Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations ...

By Birodh Pandey

The word "sustainable development" has occupied a place of most importance in the world community after it was coined in Stockholm Conference on Human Conference in 1972. Since then the word has literally stood up as new alternative ground for environmental planning, management and associated environment-friendly developments.

The momentousness of the word even grew after the World Commission on Environment and Developments (WECD) report entitled "Our Common Future" and the World Conservation Union’s (IUCN) "Caring for the Earth", adopted the theme of the word to answer the improvement of livelihood of people by living with harmony with nature.

IUCN’s Caring for Earth in simple definition says, "Improving the quality of human life within the carrying capacity of supporting ecosystem".

This definition is supportive and parallel to WECD report, which states the sustainable development as, "Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs".

Both these definitions recommend living and adopting developmental practices and policies that are committed for the protection of life-supporting capacity i.e. natural resources and hence ensuring the survival of mankind in healthy ecosystem.

‘Caring for the Earth’ has listed nine fundamental principles for sustainability which on the whole is framed into one phrase i.e. "ethics of living sustainably", that addresses people as part of the nature and their social obligation towards each other.

To respond to the global environmental challenges, National Planning Commission of Nepal in mid eighties devised a National Conservation Strategy (NCS) in collaboration with IUCN incorporating a long-term perspective on sustainable natural resources management. NCS basic themes and ideas are that Nepal will always be heavily dependent on natural resources for its developmental objectives and so these resources must be managed in such a way as first to enhance, and then sustain their inherent productive capacity.

It also adds that to improve the lives of present and future population sustainable development and conservation must be firmly linked.

Basically NCS has four objectives but in brief the objectives call for an integrated sustainable approach to manage the diverse natural resources of Nepal to ensure the prosperous healthy living.

Independent Group on South Asian Co-operation held in the year 1991 referring to the Sustainable Development Strategy of South Asia has prioritized the mobilization of community development initiatives for sustainable development and development should be undertaken with community participation and local resources at disposal. The paradigm to it is the glorious community forest in the mid-hills of Nepal that has answered the needs of the rural community.

However, questions have been raised why we have not been able to live within the norms of sustainable development after we have framed the strategy? It’s ambiguous to say now that we have always lived in harmony with nature. Our present trend of developmental activities shows that we have forgotten to consolidate the concept of sustainability into our policies and developmental programs. One of the possible answers to the question is that we have failed to combine the indigenous wisdom with modern technologies and developments.

The next thing is that we are always after the ambitious projects, which, in no way befit our geographic and economic conditions. Our planners and bureaucrats talk of big hydropower’s forgetting the ecological disasters that are likely to be emerged in near future. What we need is community based local projects like the small hydropower plant of Ghandruk village, that is not only feasible to locals but also in tune with the environment, a reflection of true sustainable development.

Although the world sustainable development was coined in the early seventies the core theme of the word had been existing in Nepal since time immemorial. History has revealed that Nepalese had profound tradition of using natural resources at their disposal for the subsistence during harsh environmental conditions. Economic necessity and deep-rooted cultural and spiritual values guided the conservation of resources in the past hence ensuring the sustainability.

There are still some true examples of sustainable development that Nepal has been able to retain. For example the prominent terraces in the hills are an excellent example of sustainable agricultural farming ensuring the conservation of soil, an essential life-supporting element.

But with the quest of adopting wrong modern developmental practices we have deteriorated our natural bases. Our development should be locally based, utilizing the resources at vicinity and focussing on the community. For example our planners should focus to promote the local cottage industries that can also attract foreigners and enhance the economic status of the people and consequently the country. These small local based enterprises also help boost our cultural identity contrary to the big industries causing pollution.

Ample evidences of sustainable development are recorded in the stone inscriptions dating back to Lichavi period, which are related with the conservation and construction of canals, and water spouts. What we need at present is to the revival of the forgotten practices and adopt it, which can help support, utilize and protect Nepal’s valuable natural resources.

Lucia, the queen of Lights

By Soni Adhikari

For Hindus, the term, ‘festival of light’ sounds something special and entertaining celebration, as it indicates the festival of Dipawali whereas, in Swedish culture this term has quite a different identification.

In a country like Sweden, which lies at the Arctic Circle (66 1/2 degree North), December is the coldest and the darkest month of the year. It is the time when the whole landscape is enveloped with thick snow (about 1 meter from the surface) which adds a contrasting picture to the dark nature so as to glorify the country’s beauty. The northern part of Sweden, known as Lapland, is the coldest region where the thermometer reads 30 degrees below 0 and which is nothing unusual. Moreover, this wild natural beauty seems to be illuminated by the magnificent festival. It does not refer to the festival of Christmas that falls on 25th December. It is the festival called Lucia, which is celebrated on 13th December. The utter darkness of the nature seems to be decorated by candlelight.A young girl is dressed in a sophisticated manner. She gets a special crown on which few candles are lighted and she also holds a candle on her hand. She is known as the queen of light. She is accompanied by a singing procession attended by other beautiful girls who, too, hold candles on their hands. Lucia, with her attendants parade through homes and workplaces through out Sweden, radiating light & beauty.It is said that light plays a great role upon human beings that desperately want to brighten their prospect in life. No one can ignore the light that illuminates one's destiny. A man whose life is overshadowed by failure & frustration, does not celebrating festivals to seek hapiness in life. For him, the festival largely loses its significance. However, a man who is able to achieve success in his life, finds heavenly bliss in such celebration. Is it possible to negate the heart overflowing with pride & satisfaction when one is nominated as the winner of the greatest award like the Noble Prize?

A few days before Lucia, they hold a grand ceremony in Stockholm City Hall-the Nobel Prize ceremony. It is really a precious time for the few people who are actually invited to have a grand dinner that every one would like to attend. Stockholm the city by water & sometimes called the Venice of the North, warmly welcomes its visitors, especially the Nobel Prizewinners who are in Stockholm at this time of a year are usually awakened by a Lucia procession. How fortunate is the postcolonial writer, VS Naipaul who is able to reap the finest corn of his struggle in the field of English literature.

Two days after the celebration of the great ceremony he alongwith other winners of the Nobel Prizes
will be enjoying the heart-warming view of Stockholm in the night of Lucia festival.

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