b2b – Page 8 – BIIB Blog

Bhutan to organize first nomadic festival

The first three-day nomadic festival will be held at Wangchuck Centennial Park in Bumthang starting December 26.

Nomads from all over Bhutan will come together dressed in their attires representing their regions and exchange their cultures and traditions.

Hundreds of nomads from Haa, Paro (Soi Yaksa), Thimphu (Naro), Gasa (Laya), Wangduephodrang (Sephu), Bumthang (Chhokhor, Tang, Shingkhar), Trashiyangtse (Bomdeling) and Trashigang (Merak and Sakten)will be participating.

During the three-day festival, various activities like awareness campaign on post-harvest of cordyceps, food safety and hygiene, yak and horse riding competition, yak bull lassoing, yak calf weight guessing and yak milking will be carried out. Traditional sports like dego, khuru, soksum and archery along with traditional songs and dances will be played. Continue reading Bhutan to organize first nomadic festival

Village returns to jungle

Finding life difficult in Khalatsho, once famed for paddy, villagers abandon their homes

Villagers have to take a treacherous path to Dewathang in the winter months

28 November, 2009 – Once famous for paddy, the remote village of Khalatsho in Nganglam, Pemagatshel, is on the verge of being submerged by thickets and reverting into jungle once more.

Of its twelve households, only five remain. It has 15 residents, mostly in their forties, including two children, who will be joining school next year.

Thick overgrown bushes covering fallow paddy land, uncultivated for years, are drawing ever closer to the settlements.

Tigers get as close as to their animal sheds and have eaten up seven of their cattle this year alone. Elephants make loud noises at night and devour their maize, the village staple, which is grown twice a year. Continue reading Village returns to jungle

His Majesty graces the last day of Trashigang Tsechu

November 28: His Majesty the King arrived in Trashigang and graced the final day of the Tshechu. His Majesty offered prayers at the sacred Guru Tshegye Kucham.

Later, His Majesty granted Kidu to 1,114 households from nine Geogs in Trashigang that were affected by recent earthquake, windstorm and fire.

Over the next few days, His Majesty will be personally overseeing the rebuilding of the houses damaged by the recent earthquake. Continue reading His Majesty graces the last day of Trashigang Tsechu

Ex-addicts celebrate being clean and sober

“My name is Dasho Paljor Dorji. I’ve been sober and clean since June 2004 …”

“I’m Dechen Wangmo, 26 years old and I haven’t been drinking alcohol since 2007 …”

“I’m Tshewang Tenzin, a recovering drug user, and I’m proud to say I’ve been sober since November 2006 …”

About 150 recovering drug users and alcoholics gathered at the YDF hall in Thimphu yesterday to celebrate the “clean and sober day”. Most of the participants wore white T-shirts and badges showing their sobriety, as they exchanged stories among themselves about loving the clean life. The T-shirts stated: “Ask me. See me. I am drug and alcohol free” – the theme for the event.

The sober and clean day attracted people from all walks of life, with many forms of addiction and varying lengths of sobriety.

Among the group were nine young men, who are still undergoing detoxification at the Thimphu referral hospital. Continue reading Ex-addicts celebrate being clean and sober

Bhutan to have 2 domestic airports by 2010

Although not on schedule, Bhutan will have two operational domestic airports in Bumthang and Trashigang by 2010, according to the department of civil aviation (DCA).

The aviation department will present to the cabinet, some time this week, an identified site for the construction of an airport in Bumthang.

DCA director general, Phala Dorji, said that Bathpalathang has been identified on the basis of its low operating costs and high safety characteristics. Nine sites in Bumthang were studied. DCA expects a decision from the cabinet by next week. Continue reading Bhutan to have 2 domestic airports by 2010

International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women observed

The International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women is celebrated globally on the November 25 every year. In Bhutan, Respect, Educate, Nurture and Empower Women (RENEW) along with students and community of Babesa and the UN family in Bhutan observed the Day.

It was graced by Her Majesty the Queen Mother, Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuck, the president of RENEW and the Goodwill ambassador of UNFPA. Continue reading International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women observed

World’s tallest Buddha Statue opening in October ’10-Bhutan

16 November, 2009 – Sponsors, who are in the country, express happiness with progress on project. Consecration of the 169-foot bronze statue of Buddha Dordenma, Vajra Throne Buddha, being constructed at Kuensel Phodrang in Changbangdu, overlooking the capital city, Thimphu will be completed by October next year, said one of the main sponsors, Wong Kiam Seng. Wong Kiam Seng, who is in the country, along with other sponsors from Hongkong and Singapore, said, “We’re funding it because of our compassion for Buddhism,” adding that they are happy with the progress of the project. Over USD 30 million has been spent on the project so far, said Wong. Continue reading World’s tallest Buddha Statue opening in October ’10-Bhutan

Asian Businessmen & family contributes to His Majesty’s Earthquake Relief (Kidu) fund

16 November, 2009 – Eight sponsors of the Buddha Dordenma (world’s tallest Buddha Statue) being constructed at the Kuensel phodrang, Thimphu, presented a cheque of Nu 10.09 million (USD 219,200) yesterday to the Prime Minister, Lyonchen Jigme Y Thinley yesterday.
[Note: Keeping in line with our philosophy and as part of our giving back policy, Bridge To Bhutan made a humble contribution to His Majesty’s Earthquake Relief Fund on 20th October 2009] Continue reading Asian Businessmen & family contributes to His Majesty’s Earthquake Relief (Kidu) fund

Microfinance policy crucial to alleviate poverty

Rural credit is crucial in improving lives in the farm

Bhutan needs to adopt a national policy on micro finance. This was the message at a seminar on creating a suitable environment and regulatory framework for micro financing yesterday.

“There is no national policy at the moment,” said Dr Pema Choephyel, a BDFCL agriculture specialist who spoke at the seminar. With a national policy, Dr Pema told Kuensel, rural poverty alleviation would become more effective and faster. “We’ll be able to focus and target groups critically in need of credits,” he said, “It would also steer us in the right direction on how micro financing actually should be instituted according to international standards.”

More than 20 percent of Bhutan’s population live on less than US$ 1 a day, the threshold considered necessary to maintain an adequate standard of living. The government plans to reduce this poverty rate to less than 15 percent by 2013. Continue reading Microfinance policy crucial to alleviate poverty

Quake damage toll rises in Bhutan

The earthquake damage toll in the country, especially in the eastern dzongkhags, has risen. The death toll in Mongar, Trashigang, Trashiyangtse, Lhuentse and Samdrup Jongkhar has increased to 13.

Reports from the east say many people are moving to safer places out in the open. The details of damages are sketchy owing to large affected areas and difficult terrain. Assessment is underway, according to the field personnel deployed to assess the extent of damage and support the people affected by the earthquake need.

“Dzongkhag administration officials are out in the villages assessing the magnitude of the damages. It could take a day or two to compile a comprehensive report,” said the Trashiyangtse Dzongda.

The latest damage figures stand at 1,805 houses, 116 lhakhangs, 165 chortens, 39 schools and 47 government offices. Figures are expected to increase as assessment teams reach the far-flung villages. Continue reading Quake damage toll rises in Bhutan