|
Thanks to our Participating Businesses!
|
|
Fair Trade Nepal; After the Earthquake
In a lead up to the Festival of Fair Trade, Denise and I, spent the month of October in Nepal, retracing some of the steps we took thirty years ago. During the many trips since, we have watched the country change, only this time it was different. Not only has Nepal changed politically, socially and economically, especially Kathmandu, but in the aftermath of the April 25th earthquake where we had once seen houses and temples now there was only rubble, tarps and tin shelters.
Interestingly enough on first sight Kathmandu didn't look too have suffered as much as we had expected. But on closer inspection and after talking with our Newari friends we learned that many of their houses in the old Durbar Square areas of Kathmandu and Bhaktapur were uninhabitable. Many of the famous temples in these UNESCO World Heritage sites were also destroyed or badly damaged.
However, as bad as this was, where we found the real damage was in the villages. We trekked for over two weeks through a dozen villages where every house, school and health post was destroyed or dangerously compromised. People are going to spend the winter in temporary shelters, most without electricity, although solar is becoming more common. The good news is people feel they have enough food for winter and have a good supply of wood for cooking.
And the good news in Kathmandu is that despite all the hardship most of the artisans Ganesh Himal Trading works with are back at their crafts. So on Thanksgiving weekend please come and listen to the many tales these crafts can tell, of the sleepless nights camped outside, the fright and incomprehensible movements of the earth, the destruction of sacred places and the loss of friends and family. But also of the people helping one another, of resilience, strong cultures and the joy of getting back to work and gaining an income.
It was so great to see all our friends in Nepal after such and ordeal. It was good to see them smiling, drinking tea and putting their lives back into some kind of order. It will be a long time before Nepal fully recovers from the effects of this natural disaster and they will need all the help we and others can provide. But help and support is what Fair Trade is about. So join us Thanksgiving weekend at the Festival of Fair Trade and help us as we support the people of Nepal.
"After the Earthquake"
Presentation by Ric Conner on his month-long visit to Nepal following the April earthquake will be Saturday, November 28th, 3pm @ Auntie's Bookstore
(402 W Main)
|
