About this Course

In June 2011, seven SNC students and two faculty members will travel with the Truckee, CA-based Bodhi Tree Foundation to deliver pre/postnatal vitamins and medical supplies to the women of Humla, the most remote region of Nepal, deep in the western Himalayas. This trip will be the center of two courses each student will complete; the students will gain traditional academic and real-world knowledge of Service Learning as well as Nepali art and culture. In addition to our service, we will visit many significant cultural and religious monuments for both Buddhists and Hindus. Join us as we prepare for this adventure of a lifetime.

Friday, April 1, 2011

Retreating Glaciers

I read in a book called Darkening Peaks: glacier retreat, science, and society that the glaciers in Nepal are retreating at 3 to 6 feet every year.
This could pose devastating problems for the people we are going to meet. People use the water from glaciers for irrigation in agriculture.
There are also things called glacial lake outburst floods. Glacial lakes get bigger as temperatures rise and sometimes exceed capacity. To find out why that scenario is especially bad, check out the National Geographic article below:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/05/0501_020502_himalaya.html


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The article this picture came from is also interesting:
There is a lot that needs to be done for the people of Nepal. The important thing to remember is that we can help "one step at a time."
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2 comments:

  1. Amye ColeApril 2, 2011 at 9:50 AM

    April, your comments are thoughtful and show the complexity of a multitude of layers that contribute to the economic discussion of the present and future of rural Nepal. Thank you for doing some readings on your own and sharing them with the group. Indeed, the problems of the world can seem so overwhelming - you are exactly right that we are contributing in one step and the 12 of us are absolutely making a difference.

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  2. sbelleci24April 4, 2011 at 9:33 PM

    I found a link from PBS that is similar to this.

    http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/?s=himalaya

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