GREEN BHUTAN

 

Carpeted in forest nestled high up in the eastern Himalayas BHUTAN is one of the the greenest countries in the world.

Amazing Facts;

The forests cover 70 percent of the kingdom and

absorb around three times more carbon dioxide than the country of around 750,000 people emits.

Consequently Bhutan charges tourists $250 per day to avoid mass tourism in order to sustain green environment.

Bhutan is also called as Shangri-La for its magnificent mountainous beauty.

Bhutan , encircled by china one side and India on the other , a tiny kingdom of 14,800 square miles just the size of Maryland.

Bhutan is carbon negative because its work force  is largely engaged in Forestry or agriculture.

By 2020Agriculture is slated to be entirely organic .

By 2030, the country hopes to recycle all of its waste. Bhutan’s constitution stipulates for Gross National Happiness and not bound by economic growth alone.

 

Taking a cue

 China and India jostling, both ,with climate change pollution and what not, can take cue from tiny wise Bhutan and thus increase the forest land following as an compulsory administrative measure with lucrative financial incentives to start with.

Pollution is largely man made problem and needs adequate solutions to wriggle it out to a great extent.

Bhutan’s commendable leadership is laudable as they refuse to budge from the commitment of keeping the kingdom Carbon negative.

The people of this so called Utopian country want democracy for the welfare of society.

The country held ist round of voting in September 2018 and final on 18^th October 2018.

The first round results have shocked voters by voting out the party in power and regulating the unknown DRUK NYAMRUP TSHONGE Party  to the forefront runners status.

The youth unemployment ,corruption, abysmal poverty dampened the spirits of people and want  Monarch  to cede power to Prime Minister and Parliament.

The women are battling for the menace of sexism rampant in Bhutanese society.

Women Representation

Out of 188 candidates who fought the primary round of third democratic elections only 18 in September 2018 ,only 18 are women candidates. Women want more of its representatives to be in the Parliament to vouchsafe for their problems of leading safe and respectable lives in sex driven society.

The Bhutanese government through a consultative process, tried to push for 20 percent quota for women but failed to muster support.

 India Bhutan Relations

India ,unfortunately , in july 2013 resorted to withdraw all subsidies on the cooking gas and Kerosene to Bhutan, arguably the unquestioned ally

among the neighbours, thus creating huge crisis in the kingdom and impinging upon the bilateral relations severely.

The cut was seen as a result of Bhutan’s cosying up to Beijing.

However following the visit of the king Jigme Wanchuk, to New Delhi recently, the Govt of India has extended credit facilities to the tune of Rs 1000 crores .

The bilateral relations, since, then has been once again excellent one.

 

AFGHANISTAN CONFLICT

 Nearly 170 Afghans killed  and many more injured in poll-related violence on Saturday ,20^th October 2018.

Most of the killings were in Kabul in multiple explosions , as per acting health Ministry spokesman Mohibullah Zeer.

Amidst the threat from Taliban the voting has been extended to Sunday in 360 polling centres across the country.

Despite the threat of violence large number of voters turned up at the polling centres to caste their votes.

Seventeen years ago, President George W. Bush sent American troops to fight out permanently the Islamic Jehadis.

US diplomats are currently holding high level talks with Taliban to end the bitter long fighting .

America desires to keep its hold on Afghanistan .

Taliban wants America and other allies to quit the country so that they could rule the country accordingly.

Afghans would like to have full say in running the country affairs without any hindrance from outside either from Washington or elsewhere.

But US argues that American presence is needed to ensure that Taliban doesnot fail to follow through the deal provisions clause by clause after negotiating a deal with American negotiators.

American point of view is valid as lookingto the deadly attack carried out by Taliban on Provincial governor’s compound in Kandhar on Thursday. This deadly attack killed   not only Kandhar police chief Abdul Raziq but also tried to target the US Army. General chief Austin Miller who escaped unhurt by the providence of nature.

 

Conclusion

But peace seems inevitable as both sides are tired of fighting the unending long war.

The UN disclosed in its survey that atleast 8000 Afghan

Civilians have been killed fighting through September this year alone.

Let us hope sanity rules the warring groups finally and both work assiduously for much awaited  indestructible durable peace bringing tranquility to the Afghans at last.