news
March 11, 2012
The youth workers in Chang Jiji activity communicate with the youth in the area. The youth discussed possibilities of starting a youth association in Chang Jiji during a forum discussion on 8 March 2012. The association should help youth to keep off the streets, prevent them from drinking and drug abuse and support them to find jobs or go back to school.
The youth workers feel that the situation, although difficult, is changing and that the complete community wants to be involved in making Chang Jiji a better place to live. More initiatives are being picked up and different groups are talking about how to approach the problems in the area.
For more information about the sports program: www.bhutanandsports.org
March 8, 2012
86 centimetres …, Bhutan/The Netherlands, will have it’s US premiere at the 2012 Environmental film festival in Washington on 18 March 2012. Henk de Jong, director bhutan+partners and producer of the film, will attend the premiere which will take place at the national museum of natural history in Washington DC at 3.00 pm.
86 centimetres … is the story of Tashi Dorji, a young farmer, living with his wife, parents and sisters on a small piece of farmland in the Paro Valley. The threat of a possible GLOF shown on the television alerted Tashi. He decided to join the group of workers, leaving behind his pregnant wife and his family, to work at lake Thorthormi to prevent Bhutan and his family from a tragedy. However, the travel, work and living in the mountains make it difficult to predict any outcome, failure or success.
The life, work, feelings of hope and doubt of Tashi are captured in a breathtaking environment covered by a glance of fear for an outbreak and the disaster that would follow. Tashi shares his thoughts and feelings in a natural, sympathetic manner.
86 centimetres… follows Tashi from the day he leaves for Lake Thorthormi till his re-union, three months later, with his family.
86 centimetres … will be presented in Washington with the Bhutan Foundation and shown with the film – Bhutan: land of the black necked crane.
The DVD 86 centimetres … is available through bhutan+partners.
More information: 86 centimetres … flyer , www.86centimetres.org and bhutan+business/environment
March 8, 2012
The Dutch publisher – Informatie Verre Reizen, published the second edition of it’s book about Bhutan; Te gast in Bhutan. Cecile de boer, cowriter and editor, updated the alternative travel book which contains personal stories as well as practical information about Bhutan. For information: www.tegastin.nl
February 26, 2012
The Dutch Friends of Bhutan association organized it’s annual Bhutan celebration on February 25th, 2012 in Scheveningen.
The afternoon program from 2.00 pm to 5.30 pm included film material of the Royal Wedding, an introduction by Marianne Vos world champion cyclo cross, field track, road track and olympic medalist and introduction by Eugene Bay involved in building and decorating the palaces in Bhutan. Mr Ad Phernambucq elaborated on the long standing relationship between Bhutan and the province of Zeeland. The Container, award winning short film from Bhutan,was included in the program.
The afternoon was attended by Bhutanese students and Dutch people with an interested in Bhutan, it’s people and culture. The program was followed by a reception and informal dinner.
February 19, 2012
Henk de Jong, bhutan+partners, visited Bhutan from 5 to 18 February 2012.
Henk worked with the Chang Jiji team on the sport coalition in action program. Henk and the team had a full agenda: planning of activities for the period upto july 2012, community involvement in the program, discussions about continuation of the program after July 2012, evaluation of the program and a closing seminar in June were just a few of the items to be discussed.
Henk also discussed the report on the film industry in Bhutan, including the recommendations made and met with partners elaborating on opportunities to connect European business partners to Bhutanese business partners.
January 19, 2012
Marianne Vos, Dutch cyclo cross, road biker – track racer and Olympic gold medalist, travelled to Bhutan in October 2011. She gave clinics to youth participating in the sports coalition in action program for school dropouts. She also gave a clinic to more advanced cyclists through the Bhutan Olympic Committee. The two groups joined Marianne for a tour from Paro to Thimphu. The youth were enthusiastic: never had they worked with such an experienced top sports women who took time to talk to them about finding personal talents and working to achieve the utmost. To actually cycle with her and learn what it takes to pursue your goals was an experience not to be forgotten.
While in Bhutan Marianne took the opportunity to witness the royal wedding.
Watch the you tube film about Marianne’s experience. English subtitles will be added soon: Marianne Vos in Bhutan
January 10, 2012
86 centimetres will have it’s US premiere at the 2012 environmental film festival in Washington DC. 86 centimetres will be screened on Sunday 18 March 2012 at the national museum of natural history in the nation’s capital.
86 centimetres is a film about Bhutan facing the indisputable effects of global warming; melting ice is weakening the walls of the Himalayan glacial lakes. 350 men and women walked 9 days up to Lunana, high in the mountains, the home of gods and spirits. They put up camp for three months and manually dig an outlet to reduce the volume of the waterlevel in the Thorthormi glacial lake and thus prevent the lake from bursting.
Tashi, a 21 year old farmer, enrols on the gruelling expedition, determined to secure his unborn child’s future and to help prevent a terrible disaster.
86 centimetres follows Tashi from the day he leaves for lake Thorthormi till his re-union, three months later, with his family.
Tshering Gyeltshen and Peter Jan van der Burgh – film directors, Henk de Jong – producer. 86 centimetres is financed by bhutan+partners.
more info
www.86centimetres.org
bhutan+environment
January 7, 2012
Henk de Jong, director bhutan+partners, world citizen and connector according to ‘Eigen’, a magazine for entrepreneurs in the Arnhem region of the Netherlands. The article describes Henk’s experiences in Bhutan and his connection to the country through bhutan+partners.
The full article, in Dutch language, can be found: Eigen – winter edition 2011, page 16 – 19
January 6, 2012
Mr Maarten Desmet and Ms Hanne van Gils conduct a study for bhutan+partners in Thimphu from 2 to 6 january 2012.
The study focusses on CO2 reduction in Thimphu and looks into the four components: mobility, building, food supply and industry.
The study comprises of a desk study and interviews with RGOB officials, entrepreneurs in the private sector in Thimphu city. Mr Desmet and Ms van Gils will investigate the engagement of stakeholders and possibilities to maintain or improve the present situation regarding CO2 reduction in Thimphu town.
Based on the study and interviews the report will describe feasibility of Thimphu to become a signatory to the covenant of Mayors. the report will also include recommendations, time frame and next steps to be taken.
The study is conducted in close collaboration with Thimphu Municipality – Bhutan, Chiel Boonstra – Trecodome, The Netherlands and Maarten Desmet and Hanne van Gils, Belgium.
for more information contact: postmaster@bhutanandpartners.org or phone: +31 (0)313 41 20 98
January 6, 2012
The Friends of Bhutan association in the Netherlands organize a lecture ‘Bhutan – 30 years development’ by Mr Kees Klein, the Honorary Consul to Bhutan in the Netherlands, on 20 January 2012 in The Hague.
Theannual Bhutan Day organised by the Friends of Bhutan will be held on 25 February 2012 at Scheveningen the Hague. The program includes speakers who attended the wedding celebration in October 2011 and a film by a young Bhutanese filmer. The day will be concluded with an informal dinner.
Information about both the lecture on 20th January 2012 and the Bhutan day in February 2012 can be obtained through the secretariat of the Friends of Bhutan: Mr Harry Zonder, postmaster@friendsbhutan.nl
