PETA calls on Sikkim to allow only animal and Eco friendly footwear for school uniforms

Following Himachal Pradesh’s and Punjab’s landmark proposals to require schools to use only animal- and eco-friendly canvas or other non-leather footwear for uniforms, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India has urged all other Indian states  to follow suit.

“This measure would protect animals and the environment and also empower children with the opportunity to be animal- and eco-friendly consumers”, says PETA India Corporate and Government Affairs Liaison, Sarfaraz Syed. Most children naturally care for animals and the environment and prefer wearing more comfortable canvas shoes over leather or other materials, so transitioning to canvas-only shoes for all school uniforms would be a win-win-win situation for all children, animals and the environment. Leather shoes have a highly disastrous environmental and animal welfare cost.

PETA’s undercover investigations have revealed that cows and other animals are often so severely crowded in trucks on their way to slaughter that many animals are seriously injured or die when they are crushed or gored by the horns of others. At slaughterhouses, many animals are skinned and dismembered while they are still conscious.

What’s more, turning the skins of cows, buffaloes, sheep and goats into leather requires massive amounts of toxic chemicals, and runoff from leather tanneries poisons local rivers and streams. The toxic chemicals, those tannery workers are exposed to on a daily basis have been linked to nervous disorders, skin and respiratory infections, and even cancer.

Canvas, on the other hand, requires relatively little maintenance compared to other popular shoe materials, including leather. As a result, it has become extremely popular among environmentalists, who have pushed for the use of canvas tote bags and other applications of the material. With the growing interest in physical fitness, canvas shoes will be the preferred footwear for children in years to come for the comfort that they provide. Canvas is recyclable and a renewable resource, and shoes made from it are biodegradable, can be washed easily and are sturdy enough to stand heavy wear and tear. In addition, the environmental impact of canvas shoe production is negligible in comparison to that of shoes made of other materials. Eco-friendly materials such as canvas are also resistant to bacteria and mould. The non-animal materials used to create eco-friendly shoes make them irritant-free. They do not cause the allergies or skin rashes that shoes made from animals can. When eco-friendly footwear is made with plant-based fibres, skin is able to breathe easily.

This Thursday, the February 7^th movie goers attending the screening of Prashant Rasaily’s ‘Kathaa’ at Vajra will witness the first full length movie produced by Sikkim. After a long wait finally it has come to the state after being halted due to the high entertainment tax. An epic tale of love and friendship, Kathaa is a first Sikkimese feature film produced under the Dream Stream Entertainment production with casts and crews all from Sikkim except two lead characters from Nepal. The 110 minutes long movie is shot entirely in Gnathang, a remote hamlet about 150 Kms form the capital. The film is written and directed by renowned Prashant Rasaily and Shailendra Karki has given a beautiful cinematography to the film.

This special show is being done at Vajra Cinema to raise funds for the film which was made entirely on personal budget, with no involvement of corporate houses. Chief Assistant Director and Promotion manager Aditya Cintury said, “Nobody financed us, the film was made entirely by our own money.

The film was shot during June last year in a record 14 days. Followed by 5 months of post production, Kathaa was first screened in Mumbai where it got huge response despite the language barrier and got selected for the Goteborg Film Fest in Sweden.

director: Prashant Rasaily

The release of the film is fixed for 14^th of February in Gangtok, Darjeeling, kalimpong, Kurseong and Siliguri simultaneously provided the UD & HD Department grants tax exemption by the release date. “We have requested the UD & HD to shrink the entertainment tax and if by 14^th they come up with tax exemption we will release the film or else we will have to shift further but in other places than Sikkim the film will be released on the said date” said the film producer Raj Gadaily.

The film was made at a total expense of 40 lacs. Getting funds was the major problem, which most independent filmmakers face. They had to work with limited budgets. However, things somehow fell into place and Kathaa is now the first full-length Sikkimese feature film. “We are still learning, this is our first production and we want to take good things from here and come up with better in our next production” said Aditya.

There is no any song in the movie with the exception of a theme song, the music of which is provided by Prashant Rasaily and background score by Anti Past Andrew.

Most movie scenes are shot at Gnathang, one of the remote villages of Sikkim. The film is about the loss of love and how the protagonist Kaanchha (Saugat Malla) gets back together with his beloved Kumari (Usha Rajak). It explores the universal themes of dreaming of a life with the lover and coming to terms with the nightmare of losing them. Saugat Malla and Usha Rajak, both from Nepal plays the lead roles and Sikkim’s Timothy Rai is also one of the prominent characters in the film.  

Even before its release the movie got huge admiration and created desire on Sikkimese. Kathaa was selected in the 14th Mumbai International Film Festival 2012 and got picked for screening at the Goteborg International Film Festival in Sweden. This movie has also been sent to Berlinale Film Festival to be held in February 2013. 

The film makers are emerging rapidly from Sikkim and making it big but the state’s high entertainment tax of 75% is distressing the film makers. The government should bring the tax down to boost the film industry here in Sikkim feels the determined film makers.

today morning as i saw from Pangthang

NIEIT spreading Computer Literacy and IT culture

More than 500 students have completed the computer courses and trainings from the National Institute of Electronic and Information Technology (NIEIT) training center located in Sichey, Gangtok. The computer training center which falls under the Department of Electronics and Information Technology, Ministry of Communication and IT, Government of India was started in Sikkim since 2010. The Sikkim government’s IT related capacity building trainings are also done through this centre.

The center is established primarily to encourage, promote and disseminate knowledge in all aspects of computer education and to provide consultancy support and services in computer application for various in the state and its periphery. The center has very good and experienced faculties providing training and consultancy support services. 

The Gangtok centre is now offering various short-term and long-term courses. In long term there are two courses - O-Level and A-Level. The O-Level is equivalent to foundation diploma where IT Application is taught and the A-Level is also and IT Application course which is for advance diploma. These long-term courses are a Joint Scheme of AICTE and Department of IT, Government of India. Recognized by various state governments for employment, the short-term course offers three courses. The Basic Computer Course (BCC), Course on Computer Concepts (CCC) and Financial Accounting (FA).

USFC to bring new international players

The United Sikkim Football Club (USFC) has returned home after a disappointing away tour. In the 26 days long tour United Sikkim played five games in which they managed the draws on 2 occasions against Mohan Bagan and Pailan Arrows but lost other three games. Today at home they started their training with new players coming in. On 10^th January the home team USFC has a game against Mohan Bagan, with which they shared points in the previous encounter at Kolkata. New player Piblo Rodriguez has been brought into the side to fill in the outgoing Michael Rodriguez. Piblo is from Spain and prior to joining the USFC he was playing for the Spanish second division club.

Another new player from Australia is also expected to join the team to strengthen the attacking side of the club. Steve Hayes, New South Wales Player of the Year is a midfielder and can play forward also whenever required. The Australian might join the training from tomorrow.

The coach, Nathan Hall after returning from an exhausting and disappointing away tour has already started preparing for the next game. The inexperience of this young club was exposed after they drew couple of games which they should have won after having the lead till the injury time. Apart from that dreadful game against the Dempo where they conceded 7 goals, United Sikkim had the chance of leveling against Churchill Brothers and Shillong Lajong which they didn’t. “The USFC players need to be mentally tougher towards the end of the game”, said the Coach.

Now with four home games and three away games remaining, USFC feel they can still avoid relegation and let us hope so.

Lepcha Fashion Show

mountain peaks as seen from Gangtok

a coolie delivering goods to shop in early morning at MG Marg