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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Nepal's cabinet meets on Everest | Nepal's cabinet meets on Everest |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Nepalese ministers have held the world's highest cabinet meeting on Mount Everest, to raise awareness of the effects of climate change. | Nepalese ministers have held the world's highest cabinet meeting on Mount Everest, to raise awareness of the effects of climate change. |
| The ministers signed a declaration on climate change during the meeting, which comes before the Copenhagen climate summit starts next week. | The ministers signed a declaration on climate change during the meeting, which comes before the Copenhagen climate summit starts next week. |
| PM Madhav Kumar Nepal told the BBC the Himalayas were "a global treasure" that needed to be protected. | PM Madhav Kumar Nepal told the BBC the Himalayas were "a global treasure" that needed to be protected. |
| Studies show temperatures rising faster there than in the rest of South Asia. | Studies show temperatures rising faster there than in the rest of South Asia. |
| The studies show the rise has led to a reduced snowfall over the mountains and has caused glaciers to melt. | The studies show the rise has led to a reduced snowfall over the mountains and has caused glaciers to melt. |
| For us, nature is God. But we are not treating our God fairly and that is why we are facing problems Nawang Tenge, monk | For us, nature is God. But we are not treating our God fairly and that is why we are facing problems Nawang Tenge, monk |
| The entire cabinet of 21 ministers travelled in a fleet of helicopters to Kalipatar - a plateau at 5,200m (17,000ft) next to Everest's base camp. | The entire cabinet of 21 ministers travelled in a fleet of helicopters to Kalipatar - a plateau at 5,200m (17,000ft) next to Everest's base camp. |
| Medical equipment, oxygen canisters, soldiers and journalists had already been ferried to the site. | Medical equipment, oxygen canisters, soldiers and journalists had already been ferried to the site. |
| During their half-hour meeting, the ministers - some wearing oxygen masks to help them breathe in the thin air - endorsed a resolution on climate change, which they called the Shara Matar - Top of the World - Declaration. | During their half-hour meeting, the ministers - some wearing oxygen masks to help them breathe in the thin air - endorsed a resolution on climate change, which they called the Shara Matar - Top of the World - Declaration. |
| "We wanted to stress one point: that the Himalayas are a global treasure," Mr Nepal told the BBC. | "We wanted to stress one point: that the Himalayas are a global treasure," Mr Nepal told the BBC. |
| AT THE SCENE Joanna Jolly, BBC News, Syangboche | AT THE SCENE Joanna Jolly, BBC News, Syangboche |
| The ministers sat outside at a specially provided table - complete with table cloth - with a view of Mount Everest behind them. | The ministers sat outside at a specially provided table - complete with table cloth - with a view of Mount Everest behind them. |
| Some wore oxygen masks which had been provided as a precaution against altitude sickness. | Some wore oxygen masks which had been provided as a precaution against altitude sickness. |
| There is growing concern in Nepal about rising temperatures in the Himalayan region that have led to decreased snow fall and glacier melt. | There is growing concern in Nepal about rising temperatures in the Himalayan region that have led to decreased snow fall and glacier melt. |
| The prime minister said he hoped this cabinet meeting would help focus the world's attention on climate change in the Himalayas ahead of the Copenhagen summit next week. | The prime minister said he hoped this cabinet meeting would help focus the world's attention on climate change in the Himalayas ahead of the Copenhagen summit next week. |
| "They are the water towers of Asia, feeding its largest rivers and nourishing hundreds of millions of people downstream." | "They are the water towers of Asia, feeding its largest rivers and nourishing hundreds of millions of people downstream." |
| Crowds of local people, many of them wearing traditional outfits, gathered at the village of Syangboche, from where the ministerial helicopters took off. | Crowds of local people, many of them wearing traditional outfits, gathered at the village of Syangboche, from where the ministerial helicopters took off. |
| Nawang Tenge, a Buddhist monk waiting to greet the minsters on their return, said the meeting gave him hope for the development of the region. | Nawang Tenge, a Buddhist monk waiting to greet the minsters on their return, said the meeting gave him hope for the development of the region. |
| "For us, nature is God. But we are not treating our God fairly and that is why we are facing problems," he told the AFP news agency. | "For us, nature is God. But we are not treating our God fairly and that is why we are facing problems," he told the AFP news agency. |
| "Last year, there was no rain or snow here and the temperatures go up with every passing year." | "Last year, there was no rain or snow here and the temperatures go up with every passing year." |
| Mingma, a 47-year-old inn keeper, said he was glad the government was "taking initiatives before it is too late". | Mingma, a 47-year-old inn keeper, said he was glad the government was "taking initiatives before it is too late". |
| "Usually authorities tend to act only after accidents. We are now hopeful that something might be done," he told the AP news agency. | "Usually authorities tend to act only after accidents. We are now hopeful that something might be done," he told the AP news agency. |
| 'Critical' | 'Critical' |
| Mr Nepal said the mountain range played "an important role in global atmospheric circulation and a centre for unique biodiversity". | Mr Nepal said the mountain range played "an important role in global atmospheric circulation and a centre for unique biodiversity". |
| "The lofty peaks and mighty rivers have inspired civilisations and supported a mosaic of cultural diversity and because of that we need to preserve Mount Everest, the mountains and all those places downstream," he said. | "The lofty peaks and mighty rivers have inspired civilisations and supported a mosaic of cultural diversity and because of that we need to preserve Mount Everest, the mountains and all those places downstream," he said. |
| The trip was funded by a group of Nepalese private organisations, many of them from the tourist sector. | The trip was funded by a group of Nepalese private organisations, many of them from the tourist sector. |
| Environment Minister Thakur Prasad Sharma shrugged off criticism that the meeting was just a costly publicity stunt. | Environment Minister Thakur Prasad Sharma shrugged off criticism that the meeting was just a costly publicity stunt. |
| "The fact is that the glaciers are melting due to global warming. That has become a critical issue and we want to draw global attention to it," Mr Sharma told AFP. | "The fact is that the glaciers are melting due to global warming. That has become a critical issue and we want to draw global attention to it," Mr Sharma told AFP. |
| Mount Everest is the highest point on earth, with a summit 29,035 ft (8,850 m) above sea level. | Mount Everest is the highest point on earth, with a summit 29,035 ft (8,850 m) above sea level. |
| The cabinet meeting comes after the government of the Maldives - the world's lowest-lying country - held an underwater cabinet meeting in October to highlight the threat to their territory from rising sea levels. | The cabinet meeting comes after the government of the Maldives - the world's lowest-lying country - held an underwater cabinet meeting in October to highlight the threat to their territory from rising sea levels. |