Democracy For Nepal

Saturday, May 24, 2025

NRN Movement Needs A Bold Vision

You did not share the link to the article.
— Paramendra Kumar Bhagat (@paramendra) May 24, 2025

Yes, let’s do it.
— Chamath Palihapitiya (@chamath) May 24, 2025

Flexport had the two biggest ocean freight booking weeks in company history in the two weeks since the tariffs on China were paused. 80% growth over the pre-tariff trend line. Not just China surging, Vietnam also setting records.
— Ryan Petersen (@typesfast) May 24, 2025

Do you think it's because people are buying a buffer against future uncertainty?
— Paul Graham (@paulg) May 24, 2025

Sergey Brin says AI is a bigger breakthrough than the internet

the internet, like money, was a shared system that helped people trade and build global networks.

but it didn’t test the limits of the universe.

AI does — because we don’t know how far intelligence can go pic.twitter.com/3H6vndNIVi
— Haider. (@slow_developer) May 24, 2025

Fun fact

Bangladesh is more populated than Russia pic.twitter.com/dQU6hvuKrV
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) May 24, 2025

Rethinking Trade: A Blueprint for a Just and Thriving Global Economy
The $500 Billion Pivot: How the India-US Alliance Can Reshape Global Trade
Trump’s Trade War
Peace For Taiwan Is Possible
Formula For Peace In Ukraine
The Last Age of War, The First Age of Peace: Lord Kalki, Prophecies, and the Path to Global Redemption
AOC 2028: : The Future of American Progressivism

Velocity Money: Crypto, Karma, and the End of Traditional Economics
The Next Decade of Biotech: Convergence, Innovation, and Transformation
Beyond Motion: How Robots Will Redefine The Art Of Movement
ChatGPT For Business: A Workbook
Becoming an AI-First Organization
Quantum Computing: Applications And Implications
Challenges In AI Safety
AI-Era Social Network: Reimagined for Truth, Trust & Transformation

No one in the world respects us now. https://t.co/O0trXe5wfu
— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) May 24, 2025

Stratolaunch’s Hypersonic Plane Breaks Mach 5 and Lands Without a Pilot The Talon-A2 vehicle air-launched from the world's biggest aircraft and piloted itself at hypersonic speeds before landing in California. .......... Hypersonic vehicles have become the latest military prestige technology, and the US seems to be lagging its rivals. That could change after the successful flight of an autonomous and reusable hypersonic aircraft by US firm Stratolaunch. ........... In recent years, both China and Russia have unveiled missiles capable of hypersonic speeds, which means they can travel at more than five times the speed of sound. These weapons are both incredibly fast and highly maneuverable which makes them hard to track and intercept. .......... powered by a 5,000-pound-thrust reusable rocket engine built by US startup Ursa Major. The vehicle was air-launched over the Pacific Ocean by Stratolaunch’s Roc carrier plane—the largest aircraft in the world ......... the Talon-A2 can fly autonomously, which should make it far more useful for testing hypersonic weapon systems.

Scientists Can Now 3D Print Tissues Directly Inside the Body—No Surgery Needed A new bioprinter uses ultrasound to print tissues, biosensors, and medication depots deep in the body............. Our bodies are constantly breaking down. Over time, their built-in repair mechanisms also fail. Knee cartilage grinds away. Hip joints no longer support weight. Treatments for breast cancer and other health issues require removal by surgery. Because the body can’t regenerate those tissues, reconstruction using biomaterials is often the only way. ......... Dubbed deep tissue in vivo sound printing (DISP), the system uses an injectable bioink that’s liquid at body temperature but solidifies into structures when blasted with ultrasound. A monitoring molecule, also sensitive to ultrasound, tracks tissue printing in real time. Excess bioink is safely broken down by the body. ......... Thanks to its versatility, 3D printing has captured the imagination of bioengineers. The technology can be used to make artificial biological tissues, organs, or medical devices. .......... Bioprinters usually deposit one layer at a time. Each layer is solidified using light, then the next layer is laid on top of it. This layer-by-layer process takes time. More recently, an upgraded method called volumetric printing solidifies 3D structures with a single blast of carefully tailored light. The approach is faster but also constrained by how deeply light can pierce tissues. ......... Ultrasound can also trigger chemical reactions. In 2023, Zhang and colleagues engineered a molecular concoction dubbed “sono-ink” that solidifies when blasted with a specific frequency of sound waves. The team 3D printed multiple shapes inside isolated pork belly, liver, and kidneys and patched tissue damage in a goat heart. .......... The system works at roughly 40 millimeters a second, the average speed of an inkjet printer.

Monday, May 12, 2025

The Melting Glaciers: A Looming Crisis

Climate change is not a distant threat for South Asia—it is a present and escalating crisis. The region, home to nearly two billion people, is experiencing severe impacts, particularly due to the rapid melting of Himalayan glaciers. These glaciers, often referred to as the "Third Pole" because they contain the largest reserve of freshwater outside the polar regions, are vital for the water security of countries like India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh.(Wikipedia)

The Melting Glaciers: A Looming Crisis

Recent studies have shown that Himalayan glaciers are melting at an alarming rate. Since the start of the 21st century, these glaciers have been losing more than a vertical foot and a half of ice each year, which is double the melting rate from 1975 to 2000. In a symbolic gesture highlighting this crisis, Nepal held a funeral for the Yala Glacier on May 12, 2025, marking its near-disappearance due to climate change. (Phys.org, Financial Times)

The implications are profound. These glaciers feed major rivers like the Ganges, Indus, and Brahmaputra, which are essential for agriculture, drinking water, and hydropower. As glaciers retreat, the risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) increases, posing threats to millions. A study indicates that 15 million people worldwide are at risk from such floods, with over half residing in India, Pakistan, Peru, and China. (New York Post, WIRED, AP News)

Projected Impacts in the Next Two Decades

If current trends continue, the next 10–20 years could see:

Water Scarcity: Glacier-fed rivers may experience reduced flow, especially during dry seasons, impacting agriculture and drinking water supplies.(New York Post)
Increased Flooding: Unpredictable monsoon patterns and GLOFs could lead to more frequent and severe floods.(WIRED)
Agricultural Disruption: Changes in water availability and extreme weather events could threaten food security.
Health Risks: Rising temperatures and water scarcity could lead to increased incidence of heat-related illnesses and waterborne diseases.

Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies

Addressing this crisis requires a multifaceted approach:

Emission Reductions: Implementing policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is crucial to slow down global warming.
Early Warning Systems: Investing in technology to predict and warn about GLOFs and extreme weather events can save lives.(WIRED)
Sustainable Water Management: Developing infrastructure and practices to use water more efficiently will help mitigate scarcity.(time.com)
Community Engagement: Educating and involving local communities in adaptation strategies ensures that solutions are practical and effective.

The Need for Collective Action

The scale of the challenge necessitates mass mobilization. Governments, civil society, and individuals must collaborate to implement and support climate-resilient policies and practices. International cooperation is also vital, as climate change knows no borders.

In conclusion, the melting of Himalayan glaciers is a clarion call for immediate and sustained action. The choices made today will determine the resilience of South Asia in the face of climate change.(Phys.org)

जलवायु परिवर्तन का संकट: दक्षिण एशिया के लिए हिमालयी ग्लेशियरों की चेतावनी

हिमालयी ग्लेशियरों का पिघलना: एक आसन्न संकट

जलवायु परिवर्तन दक्षिण एशिया के लिए कोई दूर की चेतावनी नहीं है—यह एक वर्तमान और तेजी से बढ़ता हुआ संकट है।
लगभग दो अरब लोगों की आबादी वाला यह क्षेत्र, विशेषकर हिमालयी ग्लेशियरों के तेजी से पिघलने से प्रभावित हो रहा है।
इन ग्लेशियरों को "तीसरा ध्रुव" भी कहा जाता है क्योंकि इनमें ध्रुवीय क्षेत्रों के बाद सबसे अधिक ताजे पानी का भंडार है।
भारत, पाकिस्तान, नेपाल, भूटान और बांग्लादेश जैसे देशों की जल सुरक्षा इन्हीं पर निर्भर है।

हाल के अध्ययनों से पता चला है कि हिमालयी ग्लेशियर खतरनाक गति से पिघल रहे हैं।
21वीं सदी की शुरुआत से अब तक ये ग्लेशियर हर साल औसतन डेढ़ फीट ऊँचाई तक पिघल चुके हैं — यह दर 1975 से 2000 तक की तुलना में दोगुनी है।
इस संकट पर प्रकाश डालने के लिए नेपाल ने 12 मई 2025 को याला ग्लेशियर के लिए एक प्रतीकात्मक "अंत्येष्टि" भी आयोजित की, क्योंकि यह लगभग गायब हो चुका है।

यह केवल बर्फ के पिघलने की बात नहीं है — इसके दूरगामी प्रभाव हैं:
गंगा, सिंधु और ब्रह्मपुत्र जैसी नदियाँ इन्हीं ग्लेशियरों से निकलती हैं। ये नदियाँ खेती, पीने के पानी और जलविद्युत के लिए आवश्यक हैं।
जैसे-जैसे ग्लेशियर पीछे हटते हैं, ग्लेशियल झील फटने (Glacial Lake Outburst Floods - GLOFs) की घटनाएँ बढ़ती हैं, जो लाखों लोगों के लिए खतरा बनती हैं।
एक अध्ययन के अनुसार, दुनिया भर में 1.5 करोड़ लोग GLOFs के खतरे में हैं, जिनमें से आधे से अधिक भारत, पाकिस्तान, पेरू और चीन में रहते हैं।

अगले 10–20 वर्षों में संभावित प्रभाव

यदि वर्तमान रुझान जारी रहे, तो अगले दो दशकों में दक्षिण एशिया को निम्नलिखित संकटों का सामना करना पड़ सकता है:

जल संकट:
ग्लेशियरों से मिलने वाला पानी धीरे-धीरे कम हो जाएगा, जिससे सूखे मौसमों में सिंचाई और पीने के पानी की समस्या होगी।
बाढ़ का खतरा:
अनियमित मानसून और GLOFs के कारण अचानक बाढ़ें आम हो सकती हैं।
कृषि में अस्थिरता:
पानी की उपलब्धता में बदलाव और चरम मौसम की घटनाएं खाद्य सुरक्षा के लिए खतरा बनेंगी।
स्वास्थ्य संबंधी खतरे:
बढ़ते तापमान और जल संकट से गर्मी से संबंधित बीमारियाँ और जलजनित रोग बढ़ सकते हैं।

समाधान और अनुकूलन की रणनीतियाँ

इस संकट का मुकाबला करने के लिए कई स्तरों पर प्रयासों की आवश्यकता है:

ग्रीनहाउस गैस उत्सर्जन में कटौती:
वैश्विक तापमान को नियंत्रित करने के लिए उत्सर्जन में तत्काल कमी जरूरी है।
पूर्व चेतावनी प्रणाली:
GLOFs और चरम मौसम की भविष्यवाणी करने वाली तकनीकों में निवेश कर जानमाल की रक्षा की जा सकती है।
जल प्रबंधन का आधुनिकीकरण:
जल उपयोग की दक्षता बढ़ाने के लिए बुनियादी ढाँचे और व्यवहार में सुधार आवश्यक है।
जन सहभागिता:
स्थानीय समुदायों को शिक्षित करना और उन्हें समाधानों का हिस्सा बनाना स्थायी परिणाम देगा।

एकजुट जन आंदोलन की आवश्यकता

इस संकट का सामना करने के लिए केवल सरकारी नीतियाँ काफी नहीं होंगी।
हमें समाज के हर स्तर पर जन आंदोलन की आवश्यकता है — नीति-निर्माताओं, नागरिक संगठनों, स्कूलों, और व्यक्तिगत स्तर पर।
जलवायु परिवर्तन सीमाओं को नहीं मानता, इसलिए अंतरराष्ट्रीय सहयोग भी अत्यंत आवश्यक है।

निष्कर्ष

हिमालयी ग्लेशियरों का पिघलना एक गंभीर चेतावनी है।
यह केवल पर्यावरण की बात नहीं है — यह जल, खाद्य, ऊर्जा और मानव जीवन की सुरक्षा की बात है।
आज लिए गए निर्णय यह तय करेंगे कि दक्षिण एशिया जलवायु संकट का सामना कैसे करेगा।
अब भी समय है — अगर हम संगठित, जागरूक और सक्रिय हो जाएं तो सबसे बुरे परिणामों से बचा जा सकता है।

Pages

Saturday, May 24, 2025

NRN Movement Needs A Bold Vision

Monday, May 12, 2025

The Melting Glaciers: A Looming Crisis

The Melting Glaciers: A Looming Crisis

Projected Impacts in the Next Two Decades

Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies

The Need for Collective Action