FROM PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

New Delhi, May 31 (PTI) Noted environmentalist R K Pachauri today said the Himalayan glaciers are melting at a “very rapid speed”, but did not refer to his earlier assertion that the glaciers could disappear by 2035, for which he had come under sharp attack from the government and others.

“Glaciers are melting at a very rapid speed,” Pachauri, Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), said when asked if he still maintains that Himalayan glaciers could disappear by 2035.

Despite the fact that the issue is “serious”, he said “little concern has been shown by the government so far to address the issue of melting of Himalayan glaciers.”

“Though the issue is part of one of the eight mission of National Action plan for climate change announced in 2008, nothing concrete has been done so far to address the problem,” Pachauri told PTI. Read the rest of this entry »

Gangtok: Butterfly researcher Dr Krushnamegh Kunte is working on a 3-year survey project to refresh the database on butterflies found in Sikkim.

Till now, historical database on butterflies collected so far since 1850’s record 650 species but as it has been pointed out-this data was of an era when the territories of Sikkim extended up to Darjeeling-Doors in South and Chumbi Valley in North. Today, the geographical coverage of Sikkim is smaller leading to doubts that whether these species are still found here.

“As per historical records built up since 1850’s since the first work on butterflies and other wildlife species began, there are 650 butterfly species found in this region. Nothing is known systematically today how many of them still occur in Sikkim because areas where butterflies were also found previously are not in Sikkim today. One major reason for my research is that I want to come up with an updated figure of how many butterfly species are found here”, said Dr Kunte.

Dr Kunte, who is also the president of Indian Foundation for Butterflies, just recently completed a month-long survey in Sikkim. He intends to come regularly to Sikkim for his survey which he is targeting to complete in 2013.

“We know that there are butterflies here in Sikkim but we don’t know how many of them are and which rare species are found here. We want to do a habitat mapping and population census which will be very handy for the State forest department for conservation and management plans”, said Dr Kunte. Read the rest of this entry »

Anil Subba

Gangtok: Anil Subba, a 9 year old child from Kabi, North Sikkim is waiting for financial support from people, he is suffering from Tuberculosis Meningitis and is admitted at STNM hospital Gangtok since 17th January, 2011.

Speaking to media Mamta Subba mother of the child said that the hospital had referred to Siliguri for further treatment but due to financial problem they could not afford the expenses. She further added that they were farmers and that the child was suffering from the disease for the past four years. He was taken to Siliguri before and after treatment he was fit but suddenly he became ill last December, 2010 and has been admitted to STNM hospital since then. Mrs. Mamta further informed that she had not received any financial support till now from the people or from any Ministers. “If I get financial support my child would recover”, she said. She has appealed to all people to generously support to save her child.

Dr. C.K Nepal speaking on this issue informed that the child was under treatment for the last five months and is suffering from Tuberculosis Meningitis. He said that the child needs consultation of an expert Neurologist and that he had shown slight improvement in the treatment given. Read the rest of this entry »

THE HIMALAYAN BEACON [BEACON ONLINE]

Nataraja Print Tights that were earlier on offer on Manish Arora's website

Internationally acclaimed “Manish Arora” fashion label removed the leggings, harem-pants and skirts depicting the image of Lord Shiva in Nataraja form from its website, which protesting Hindus had termed repugnant.

Dancing Nataraja Layered Miniskirt, knee-length Dancing Nataraja Harem Pants, and Dancing Nataraja Leggings, which were earlier available on Manish Arora Online Store for EUR 570, EUR 405, and EUR 250 respectively; were not seen on the company website www.manisharora.ws today. Famous entertainers like Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Rihanna, Kate Moss, Katy Perry, and M.I.A. have reportedly worn Manish Arora designed dresses in the past.

Well known Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, who spearheaded the protests, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today commenting on this development, said that it was “step in the right direction”. Zed urged the designer-manufacturer Manish Arora to issue a public apology, stop selling and immediately recall all such legwear from worldwide stores which showed Hindu Lord Shiva.

Rajan Zed, the President of ... who first voiced concern over the depiction of Lord Shiva's images on leggings and tights.

Lord Shiva was meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not to be desecrated by wearing on the legs and other lower parts of the body for the mercantile greed of a fashion house, Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, argued and added that it was disturbing to see image of Lord Shiva, who was highly revered in Hinduism, on the legs.

Rajan Zed thanked various Hindu organizations as well as Jewish and Buddhist leaders who supported this protest. Symbols of any faith, larger or smaller, should not be mishandled, he stressed.

Hinduism was the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion adherents and a rich philosophical thought and it should not be taken lightly. Inappropriate usage of Hindu deities or concepts for commercial or other agenda was not okay as it hurt the devotees, Zed pointed out.

Rajan Zed further said that in view of his Indian heritage, Manish Arora should have known better the significance of Lord Shiva and how much venerated he was among Hindus. Read the rest of this entry »