Flooding in Nepal

Luckygirl3

I agree that the world needs to pull together, but making that happen is too far on the horizon.

We need to set an example and do whatever we possibly can. We cannot shrug our shoulders and regard it as someone else's problem.

Oh agreed but without the power of states behind a push, I’m afraid more disasters are inevitable.

They are - but let's chip away where we can in our own small way, as well as lobbying MPs etc.

It particularly worries me that travelling by air on a whim is now seen as the norm. Tons of pollutants being chucked into the atmosphere by millions of planes every day just because we happen to fancy a break in a distant country. Maybe we can't do everything we want to .....

Do the British actually manufacture much? All we see is stuff from China these days though we have our own food supply and not so much is imported in that respect. Cars are either Chinese or Japanese or Taiwanese, a very few German and even less Italian.

You can still buy a British made version of most items apart from electronics, and white goods (although many white goods and cars are made in other European countries). I’m a great advocate for buying British, it involves a bit of research and often costs a bit more, but is better quality. German cars and white goods are better than Chinese made.

Terrible. Ive been to Nepal twice and still have friends there in Kathmandu. Fortunately the internet is still operating there and none are involved. Such a mountainous country and parts of it difficult to reach at the best of times.

The people of Nepal are some of the world’s nicest, kindest people.
One of our sons is a disaster management engineer, he helped rebuild after the earthquake there a few years ago and is on his way there now.
A people and place he loves dearly.

Luckygirl3

Until individuals accept that they have to change their lifestyles then this will only get worse.

Do we have the right to jump on an aeroplane whenever we fancy; or to eat produce out of season that has to be flown in; or to shop with Shein/Temu?

People hold their hands up in horror when these dreadful things happen but few are prepared to alter their life in any way that might help.

And I am tired of the argument that says we should not bother just because others do not. We might as well choose to shoplift because someone else does it so what the heck ......

Stop flying unless it is essential; buy British.

Excellent post, Luckygirl3. I too am fed up with hearing "Oh there's no point in our doing anything about climate change until the Chinese and the Americans do more". In fact some Chinese and some Americans are doing quite a lot.

Not everyone who drives everywhere needs to be in a car every time. If those who could go by bus or train did so more often, there would be more room on the roads for those who have to drive as well as giving us a reduction in carbon emissions.

The scenes are unbelievably frightening. It shows how much bigger than the human scale Mother Nature is and how futile (and misguided) attempts to control or reverse climate change.

orly

The scenes are unbelievably frightening. It shows how much bigger than the human scale Mother Nature is and how futile (and misguided) attempts to control or reverse climate change.

Our attempts to create climate change were not futile - they were very effective indeed.

.Good on your son Laura - the people need every bit of help they can get and he will be a great person to assist with his xperience.

as sad as it is, nepal didnt give us a penny for our floods, yet he gives nepal 5b million of our taxes whilst we break our cars in potholes, and the elderly are eating crusts

Nepal is a low income, developing country for goodness sake monami, and the UK is amongst the richest nations in the world. They give us their best fighting men for our army.

Nepal doesn't have "a penny for our floods". Seriously, it's one of the poorest countries on the planet.

As others have said, such lovely people. I do hope they can come through this.

Sueinkent

Really horrifying. The result of decades of deforestation by the Chinese I fear.

I don’t know about deforestation but there has been lot of talk about the safety of the Mega Medog Dam.
It is being built in a very seismic sensitive area.
But we’ll never know, will we. 🤷‍♀️

teabagwoman

And in a country poorly equipped to deal with disasters.

It would seem not; moving equipment and rescue parties there within hours

Luckygirl3

orly

The scenes are unbelievably frightening. It shows how much bigger than the human scale Mother Nature is and how futile (and misguided) attempts to control or reverse climate change.

Our attempts to create climate change were not futile - they were very effective indeed.

It is less about climate change than it is about not paying attention where you build and what nature can and will do, and spending enough money of managing risk.

We do it too - homes here are on the 100 year flood plain; homes build in York moved water to existing homes.

Here, there are so many places that could be affected by flash floods when they're caused largely by torrential downpours.
It's good to have hilly land managed to slow flow in streams & slow run-off with trees & vegetation, but we never know where the next cloudburst's going to happen.
That's how I can't envisage how we can all be protected, even in the UK. Nature is unpredictable & there are so many ways a disaster can happen.
It's good that we understand more ways to help prevent floods, but we really need to stay on the road to net zero don't we, to have any chance of having a relatively stable natural environment where these dramatic events happen only rarely?

It's heartbreaking to hear about this catastrophe and I hope that we will be giving the poor beleaguered people of Nepal as much help as possible at this difficult time. I've never been there but members of our family have and they have told us how lovely the Nepalese are. Plus o/h at one time lived in a town fairly near a Gurkha base, he tells me a more disciplined, polite and respectful people would be hard to find, those who lived close by had the upmost respect for them.

There’s a Gurkha base in my nearest town, and the community Facebook page today is full of sympathy and support. The Rotary are in town collecting for them, they are very much part of the community - and the Town Council put up a message of support, with this lovely picture.

monami

as sad as it is, nepal didnt give us a penny for our floods, yet he gives nepal 5b million of our taxes whilst we break our cars in potholes, and the elderly are eating crusts

How can you possibly compare these things?
Surely you are joking?

Nepal is a very,very poor country. Kindness is not something tit for tat.

monami

as sad as it is, nepal didnt give us a penny for our floods, yet he gives nepal 5b million of our taxes whilst we break our cars in potholes, and the elderly are eating crusts

That’s got to be the most selfish post I ever heard I hope you’re not a real person as you have such a horrible viewpoint How can a poor country like Nepal help the fifth richest country in the world, what a totally stupid comment. Don’t you have any compassion in your bones.

Now there is fear that another flood will occur in the coming days.
Those poor people have suffered enough. That flooding was terrifying.

Luckygirl3

I agree that the world needs to pull together, but making that happen is too far on the horizon.

We need to set an example and do whatever we possibly can. We cannot shrug our shoulders and regard it as someone else's problem.

I’m afraid that isn’t going to happen. You only have to read posts on this small site and see that people are just giving the nod to saving the planet.

monami - I needed yo read your post twice as I was convinced I couldn't be reading it correctly!