Day 8 - Thapathali Slum

Day 8 -- have finally started shooting something related to my project. I'm trying to discover a link between the economy and strikes --> Photographically it's not so easy to show struggling or food shortages other than going to poorer areas. I found it interesting that (article in Day 7) there are 20,000 people in Kathmandu living in slums and there have been about 800 new squatter families within the past 2 years. I talked to one woman who blamed the sole reason for moving into a slum was because of the constant strikes -- one 16 day one in Kathmandu resulted in the closing of her shop near Bhoudha.

Not to pin point poverty with strikes... it is however indirectly related by hurting more and more businesses thus hurting the economy. There are ways in the west however that are directly related such as the UN trying to transport food to the starving and not being able to. This will be discussed in more detail after my trip to the UN office.

Today it is raining but I have a better understanding on what i'm looking for as far as shooting poverty to tell my story --> I need a sure way, independent of audio or text that will show the suffering of Nepal as a result of strikes.

Day 7

The strikes in Nepal often happen in the Southern Terai region cutting food supplies and fuel to the nation's capital. Also food from the UN that's going to the poorer western region cannot make it in time during a strike. As the strikes occur, the poor people of Nepal are paying with their hunger.

Kathmandu slum area on flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cactus23/sets/72157604452702282/

Slum areas: slum areas like Lonhla, Imukhel, Khapinchen and Chyasal....

http://www.nepalitimes.com.np/issue/2003/09/05/Nation/3990

Another photo of the slum area in Kathmandu along the bagmati

http://www.nowpublic.com/environment/kathmandu-slum-and-polluted-river-bagmati

How strikes in the south cut fuel to the North:

http://newshopper.sulekha.com/news/strike-cuts-off-fuel-supply-to-nepalese-capital.htm

Goat shortage during dashain:

http://beacononline.wordpress.com/2009/09/15/nepal-nepals-capital-suffers-festival-goat-shortage/

Strikes effecting the economy, especially in the west:

http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=79709

Strikes and load shedding link:

http://www.livemint.com/2009/05/07214700/Crisis-in-Nepal-may-affect-pla.html

Everything is linked:

http://www.phillyimc.org/en/maoist-leadership-nepal-bans-strikes

Birgunj is effected by strikes (business capital) during Dashain:

http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/dashain/index.php?story=115

Day 6 - Economist and Student Questions

For the economist (off the top of my head...will add as I go):

1. How do strikes effect the economy in Nepal (in general)?

2. How is the eminent food shortage linked to strikes?

3. Who strikes?

3a. Why?

4. Are strikes a part of Nepalese Culture?

5. What are the main reasons why strikes occur so frequently?

6. Have you ever participated in a strike?

7. What needs to occur in order for this issue to be solved?

8. Could you talk about how strikes played a key factor in the closing of the Biratnagar Jute Mills

Student Questions (for a student who participated or organized a strike):

1. When did you strike?

2. Why?

3. Why is it usually students who strike?

4. How do you strike [what is the process from beginning to end]?

5. Did you achieve your goals?

6. Are you planning to throw a strike in the future?

7. What could be a reason to strike in the future?

8. Do you think this hurts the economy?

9. Are strikes the only way to voice your opinion to the government?

Day 5 - Walk

Last main day of Dashain. Walked southern (not including Patna) Kathmandu, through the center and up to Swyambunath (monkey temple). Going to try to start shooting tomorrow.

I'm going to plan for the worst and hope for the best with this project... it's possible that there won't even be a strike but there are a number of issues linked with the strikes:

1. Food Shortage in the Terai region and western regions

2. The shutting down of businesses and factories

I also still need to get an economist expert which is being worked out (they're still busy from the festival). And I need to get students at the colleges since they're the ones that organize the strikes (they go back to school on Sunday).

Tomorrow I may attempt to go into one of the slums but will need to work out a translator to come with me.

Day 4 - moving

Today and tomorrow are the main days of Dashain so most restaurants and stores will be closed. I'm moving away from where I was to an area that will be easier to catch a cab if a strike occurs. I'm located right in the Boudha area now... can see the stupa from my hotel. Leaving my current hotel I witnessed an incredibly violent fight...had to hold myself back from taking photos...no no Robin, wait for something useful before you create enemies for yourself. They were just drunk teenagers, probably had too much Dashain wine. Moving to the newly found guesthouse will put me right at a major road so I can catch a cab or my friends can pick me up on their motorcycles faster.

I'm now staying at Te-Si hotel: the first two floors of the hotel have wireless and each floor has a sitting area and big balcony which makes it convenient for me. As everyone is celebrating right now I'm not going to go out and shoot but rather work on my dissertation which I am now behind.

Day 3 - Networking

I have 5 or 6 days before the end of the festival still. What I'm going to do to take advantage of the time is to get the entire city wired: I started with eastern Kathmandu (where I live) and south eastern giving my number out to willing young adults (who could speak English). I told them to phone me after the festival if --> 1) They see a strike 2)They hear of a strike somewhere within Kathmandu

I've already got a few phone calls from them to come hang out and drink wine... well at least I know they're willing to call me. I'm doing this using my map in a strategic manner, giving my number out to people who live in all the major areas: Bauddha, Old Baneshwar, New Baneshwar, Baneshwar... Next I'll do the Northern Section.

I covered a lot less ground than I thought I would: although it's not a great distance, I often stop to chat with the people who are going to help me. Everybody is extremely cheerful because of Dashain. Everybody is on holiday.

Day 2 - Boudhanath

Today I met up with Nabraj Lama and we hung out with friends and played cards (for the Dashain festival). The Dashain festival means that there will be NO STRIKES for 7 days which doesn't really matter: I've got quite a few strike photos, I am mostly in need of an economist.

Another thing to think about is how the food shortage is effecting people during these festivities. [food shortage, strikes, load shedding, all tied to the political instability]. I may try visiting the poorer areas in Kathmandu, to interview people who are in need of food.

I also moved out of the backpacker-haven Tamel. I moved near Boudhanath Stupa (pictured above) where most of my friends from the NGO Better World Nepal live. This will make getting to places and days when I have to translate much easier (I usually meet up with them everyday).

My goal for the next 7 days (during Dashain):

1. Find an Economist (arranged by Nabraj)

2. Go to the poorer areas: interviews about the food shortage and money shortage during Dashain

3. Get the city wired for the strikes -- a few people in each area to notify me of a strike in their area

Nepal Final Project - Day 1

Arrived in Kathmandu last night... when I arrived I had to sit through 12 hours of load shedding (power outage) and no water. I was starting to feel a bit sick, as some of my classmates were sick at the Pingyao Photography Festival in which I attended. Bought my power adapter:

called Nabraj (who will help me arrange various things) and chilled out during the rainy day. Tomorrow I'm hoping to move to a more strike-prone area to start getting contacts with the people who organize the protests.

I contacted these guys:

http://www.sejon.com.np/about_us.html

I'll be trying to find an economist to narrate my story because they are the experts on how these frequent "bandhs" effect the economy. One more night in Chitrapati and then off to some other location in Kathmandu.

I have to make sure and take advantage of the time that I do have power: plug my phone/computer in right away to get it charged. Luckily I have a mac now which lasts 6 X longer on battery than my PC.