Nepal, Where Doing the Right Thing Could Be Wrong

At a night club in Kathmandu, I recorded a video of a birthday celebration which included Roman candles on a cake, and aerosol sprays. It could have ended in disaster if not for the big space. I went and shared my concerns with the party-goers, which could have also ended in disaster...for me.

I have discovered that doing the right thing in Nepal could turn out to be the wrong thing to do because things might just not go the way you reasonably expect.

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When in Rome…

Lack of basic science literacy and the desire and tendency to copy western cultural practice has lead to, in Nepal, adoption of some questionable practices. This particular one is the celebration of birthdays but with Roman candles on the cake and use of foam spray even in the presence of naked flame! Why are they an issue? Roman candles contain toxic chemicals and canister sprays, in the presence of naked flame, is highly highly flammable!

Continue ReadingWhen in Rome…