Here are some open discussions going on in Kathmandu this week.

Please kindly note:

1. If interested, just show up, ready to discuss and that will be fine.

2. You are not expected to be pro-this or anti-that per se.

3. Expression of challenging, disagreeable and uncomfortably blunt but verifiably valid viewspoints are wholly encouraged to stimulate thoughts and debates.

4. Leave your stuffy credentials at the door. Nobody here cares whether you have a PhD from Stanford or have spent the last several years feeding the homeless on the banks of the Bagmati. Only the quality of your ideas to withstand open scrutiny in a free, open and democratic manner by other intelligent laypeople, usually other Nepalis, matters.

Here's a somewhat dated piece to get you warmed up:

- http://www.sarai.net/journal/pdf/010-015%20(martin).pdf


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Dear All

Martin Chautari is organizing the following discussions coming week at its premises, i.e. Block No.509, Prasuti Griha Marga, Thapathali (phone no. 4256239, 4238050, 4240059). Please note that we have Started a new series of discussion on environment related issues on every alternate Wednesday. It will be coordinated by a network of graduate students of environment science from different six colleges in Kathmandu:

Aaitabare Discussion Series (Sunday)
22 Jan 2006/ 9 Magha 2062 Time: 3 pm
Topic: What will be RPP's Democratic Thought.
Pundit: Khem Raj Pandit, Rastriya Prajatantantra Party (RPP)

Mangalbare Discussion Series (Tuesday)
24 Jan 2006/ 11 Magha 2062 Time: 5 pm
Topic: Condition of Agricultural Research in Nepal.
Pundits: Bhola Man Basnet, Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC)

Media Discussion Series (Thursday)
26 Jan 2006/ 13 Magha 2062 Time: 3 pm
Children Programs in Radio and TV
Sanju Koirala, Nepal Television

Youth Discussion Series (Friday)
27 Jan 2006/ 14 Magha 2062 Time: 3 pm
Topic: Contribution of NYEF for the Development of Young Entrepreneurs
Pundits: Binayak Prasad, Second Vice-President and Manges Lal Shrestha, Member, NYES.

Since I -- like my favorite company Google -- believe in making public-interest
information available to all openly and freely all the time,

I have made a request to one of my long-time friends who's one of the leaders of Nepali civil society groups -- Basanta Ranjitkar who's been organising pro-democracy public rallies in Kathmandu for the past three years -- to post information about the rallies directly on Sajha.com as an act of public service.

This way, more will know where to go, at what time, to do what for (or against)democracy in ways they see fit. I would, of course, leave it up to Basanta's
judgment re: what to post and what not post (and I use his name here with his permission)

Those who have taken part in or have helped Basanta organise rallies in KTM know,
ALL of Basanta-organized rallies:

are OPEN (NOT closed),
are FREE (no arbitrary barrier to entry erected by anyone) and
need no special invitation (you need not be someone's political darling to snag an invitation), and
happen right on the streets of KTM.

oohi
ashu