Conquest of the Summit

4 Comments read Travel

By Neena Bhandari

Sydney, 16.02.2003 (The Australian/The Hindu/The Week): As the world celebrates this Year of the Mountains and 50 years of the conquest of Mt Everest, SIR EDMUND HILLARY, who along with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, was the first to set foot on the summit of this highest peak in the world, spoke to this correspondent from the quietude of his home in Auckland (New Zealand), where he lives with his wife, June, about the sanctity and charm associated with the Everest climb in his days.

At 83, he still loves the mountains and the challenge of the climb and expressed concern at the recent commercialisation of the peak. Amongst his prized possessions is the ice axe, which he used for cutting steps up to the summit; and the enamelled tin mug, with Hillary inscribed on the side, from which he sipped coffee just before 4 am on the fateful day.

What was the view from the `Roof of the World’ at 29,035 feet?

The view is still distinctly imprinted on my mind — the barren highlands of Tibet, the valleys and big ridges going into India, and other great mountains to east and west from Kanchenjunga on one side to Chomolhari on the other. Continue reading →

Condom on a Tree

0 Comments read Features, Health & Science, Indigenous

By Neena Bhandari

Sydney, 02.06.2002 (Women’s Feature Service): In the remote Western Australian town of Fitzroy Crossing, an innovative scheme has helped in promoting safe sex amongst the Aboriginal community – hanging condoms on trees.

Working on the ‘community knows best’ principle, Nindilingarri Cultural Health Service (NCHS), a grassroots organization, began placing condoms in 300 cm-long PVC pipes and hanging them with wire hooks on river gum and eucalyptus trees – unique condom dispensers. The local people congregate for their evening drink and socializing under these trees. Eight containers were hung at Crossing Inn and another eight a few kilometres away – the two traditional meeting grounds for the community.

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The Tasmanian Tiger’s controversial comeback

0 Comments read Environment & Development

By Neena Bhandari

Sydney, 31.05.2002 (IPS): Scientists at the Australian Museum here were visibly jubilant when they announced recently that they are closer to resurrecting the Tasmanian tiger from extinction through cloning, but other scientists and environmentalists have greeted the news with more sobriety.

Indeed, many are raising questions about the multimillion-dollar project, including whether or not it will help in biodiversity conservation in Australia.

Although these experts concede that the cloning is a “breakthrough”, they argue that conventional conservation deserves more time, energy and resources than it is getting right now, and that technology should be directed towards preserving endangered species, not extinct mammals.

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