1 / 23

NEPAL The Mountain Kingdom

NEPAL The Mountain Kingdom. The Bishop’s School La Jolla, CA Frank Carr January 2013. USAID Rule of Law Project 2005 – 2007 Kathmandu NGO. Improve the Rule of Law and Promote a Civil Society Facilitate the drafting of the Nepal Mediation Law

kayla
Download Presentation

NEPAL The Mountain Kingdom

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. NEPALThe Mountain Kingdom The Bishop’s School La Jolla, CA Frank Carr January 2013

  2. USAID Rule of Law Project2005 – 2007Kathmandu NGO • Improve the Rule of Law and Promote a Civil Society • Facilitate the drafting of the Nepal Mediation Law • Conduct training programs for mediators (Commercial Sector) • Work with the Nepal Supreme Court and Patan Appellate Court to establish a court-referred mediation program • 17,000 cases pending at the Supreme Court of Nepal • Drafted Court “Rules of Procedure for Mediation” • Trained judges and court staff • Establish Mediation Centers • Promote the use of mediation in the business community, Bar Association, and Chamber of Commerce

  3. BACKGROUND Geography/Economics History/Politics Ethnic Groups/Religion VISITING NEPAL Tourism Dining in Kathmandu Travel Tips NEPAL PRESENTATION AGENDA

  4. NEPAL Part 1 Background

  5. Map of Nepal—South Asia

  6. Map of Nepal--Elevations

  7. ECONOMICS • Landlocked between two Asian powers - India and China (Tibet) • Historically a trade route between these two countries • Mountains cover 80% of Nepal • In Nepal, Himalayas are 500 miles long and 145 miles wide at widest • Greatest range of altitude on earth - from 100M to 8848M in about 125 miles. • Population • 30 million people - 85% live in rural areas • Literacy rate is 49% • Annual Income of $240/person makes Nepal one of the poorest countries in the world • Business is concentrated on agriculture, tourism, and water supply

  8. ETHNIC GROUPS • Peoples • Mosaic – over 60 ethnic groups • Tibeto-Burmese people in the Himalayas • Thakalis, Tamangs, Gurungs, Magars, Newari and Rais/Limbus • Tibetan refugees • Principals • Co-existence • Tolerance (change – women’s rights) • Language • Many Languages and Dialects • Nepali • English Spoken

  9. RELIGION • Hinduism – 81% • Hindu castes: Brahman to “Untouchables” • Buddhism – 13% • System of Philosophy and Code of Morality • Christianity – 1% • Visible in Schools • Islam – 4% • Border Area with India • Other – 1%

  10. Religion - Hinduism • Polytheistic • Cycle of life, death and rebirth – Karma • Omnipresent God • Shiva – destroyer and reproducer • Vishnu - preserver • Brahma - creator • Ganesh – God of prosperity and wisdom (elephant head) • Hanuman – trustworthy God (monkey) • Vishnu Incarnations – Ten lives • Budda - Teacher

  11. Religion - Buddhism • Gautama Budda • India 6th Century BC • Achieved enlightenment • Three Main Schools • Vajrayana (Nepal and Tibet) • Dharma • Teachings • Karma • Eye - symbol • Stupa –bell-shaped religious structure

  12. Past Political History • 700 BC Kirati Hindu Kingdom – Mongoloid People • 300 BC Small Buddhist Kingdoms - India • 300 AD Hindu Kingdom • 1200 AD Golden Age of Mullas Kings • Muslim Invasion • 1769 Shah Kings - Unification • 1767 - 1816 British East India Company • Constant warfare • 1846 Rana rule as Prime Ministers • Constitutional Monarchy • 1951 Shah Dynasty returns to power • Rana PM ousted

  13. Current Political History • 1990 - Popular uprising - Constitutional Monarchy established • King Birendra, Parliament and Courts • Constitution of 9 November 1990 • Guarantees human rights • Abolished caste system • Numerous political parties arise • Various governments • 1996 – “Maoist” Insurgency • 2001 – Royal Massacre: Crown Prince kills royal family and himself • 2005 – King Gyanendra: declares emergency/dissolves government • 2006 – Popular Uprising/King deposed/Parliament restored • Currently – Unsettled • Maoist join government • Numerous governments • What to do with the former King

  14. NEPAL Part 2 Visiting Nepal

  15. Tourism • Scheduled • Kathmandap “Temple of the Living Goddess” - balcony • Mount Everest Flight – weather • Swayambhunath – Buddhist Stupa “Monkey Temple” • Pashupatinah – Shiva Hindu Temple • Bodhnath –Stupa • Patan – Museum and Museum Cafe • Durbar Square – Shopping • Unscheduled • Tamel – Shopping for crafts • Pushapti Temle and Crematorium • Royal Museum – Former residence of King

  16. Dining in Kathmandu • Hotel • Breakfast and variety • Bottled water • Street Vendors • Avoid • Nepali Food and Culture Experience • Interesting • Cafes and Restaurants • Guide • Bottled water • Indian Restaurants • Numerous - Curry and rice • International – Interesting and affordable • Fire and Ice – Thamel District Entrance - Very good pizza - Foreigners • Rumdoodle – Thamel District Inside – Good meat and pasta – Trekkers hangout

  17. Travel Tips#1 Preparation • Read the Information Packet • Excellent Advice • Health • Food • Money • ATM • Password • Notice to credit card company • Shots and Medication • Cipro • Communications

  18. Travel Tips#2 Environment • Smog • If you have a breathing issue, be prepared • Roving Blackouts • Small flashlight at night • Cleanliness • Hand sanitizer • Bandt • General strike • Tires burning • Easy to avoid

  19. Travel Tips#3 Safety • Crime is very low • Secure your passport and money • Pickpockets at Patan • Street sellers • Be alert • Traffic • Cars, mini-buses, taxis, mopeds, bicycles, and animals • Monkeys • Extremely Aggressive and protected • Do not feed • Do not carry food when touring a site with monkeys • Take off watches and jewelry

  20. Travel Tips#4 Shopping • Hotel • Gift shops are priciest • Thamel • Small business shops • Crafts, jewelry, carpets, pashmina, tea, spices, and tee-shirts • Patan • Shops, street vendors, and individuals • Rules for Shopping • Never pay the original price • Negotiate • Walk • Negotiate • Enjoy the experience

  21. Travel Tips#5 Have Fun • Experience the Nepali culture • Taste the different foods • Enjoy the sights • Meet the wonderful people of Nepal • Namaste

  22. Current Political Situation • Constitutional Assembly • Appointed in 2008 to draft democratic constitution – failed • Parliament • Interim 2007: Former members (208), Maoists (83), Civil Society (48) • Dissolved today • Political parties 9 (2008) to 30+ (2013) • Nepal Supreme Court • Justices 26 (2008) to 6 (2013) • No parliament = no appointment process • Royal Family • Former King – Resides in Nepal/Crown Prince – Exile in Thailand • Mediation Law – Passed by Parliament • Women’s Rights • Interim Constitution of 2007 – equality a fundamental right • Gender Equality Act – repelled discriminatory laws • Domestic Violence Prohibition Act – protection from domestic violence

  23. QUESTIONS

More Related