Development Has Damaged Goa’s Environment

Development Has Damaged Goa’s Environment



Development has damaged Goa’s environment Says Jairam Ramesh, Union Minister for Environment and Forests. It is indeed heartening to know that there is someone in the Government if not in Goa at least in Delhi, who is talking about facts and is holding his fort despite pressure from other ministries. It’s been known that the Road Transport and Highway Minister along with Civil aviation minister have been pushing Mr. Ramesh for NOC through protected land for roads and airport projects which Mr. Ramesh has refused on the grounds of environmental protection. I say good work Mr Jairam Ramesh even though he failed to protect our humble dwellings from the CRZ axe.

Stand for the truth and fight for the right or parish in the gutters of corruption. We do need development as long as it is constructive development and not destructive or at the cost of our ecology and our environment. If we go ahead with development at the cost of our ecology and our environment how long will we enjoy the fruits of the destructive development? What will happen to posterity when there in no fresh water to drink, no enough trees left to take in our carbon dioxide and give us oxygen? What will happen when, there is no land available for cultivation, as most the cultivable land is taken by mega projects bringing up concrete jungles and land that will be left, will be scorched and made barren by the infertile residue of mining dust and rejects? What will happen to people living in and around the mining areas as they have been breathing in the dangerous dust day in and day out because of the air pollution? Is this destructive development at the cost of our ecology, environment and life both animal and human, really worth it?



Mr. Ramesh rightly said that we should strike a balance between environment and development so that we live in harmony with nature and our surrounding, respect nature and we will survive a wee bit longer is the message which should be given out to the people.

Though Mr. Ramesh said the right things about protecting our environment, I was mush confused and amused as to what development he was referring to, after thinking for a long time I came to the conclusion that what he perceives as development, is the same sinister development that our over expressive and overbearing PWD Minister was referring to, namely mega projects. What constructive development have we witnessed in Goa? What has the government done to alleviate the water and power scarcity problem in Goa? Has there been any development in our educational policy? Has there been any developmental changes in our public health policy? Has there been even a marginal changes in our employment policy? Has the unemployed number decreased in any way? Has road safety improved in any way? Has crime and frauds especially by politicians come down in any way? Has our government done anything yet to stop illegal mining and deforestation? What has our government done to protect our fields, hills, mangroves, cummunidade lands and low lying fertile lands from builders and developers coming up with mega projects, that do not help us Goans nor can we afford them? Most importantly has governance improved in any way? The answers are frightening indeed and our politicians call it development! If at all there is development, it should be in these above categories, so that the quality of life in Goa improves only then, we can call it development, else it is just degeneration and destruction of our natural resources.

Goa’s green cover is fast depleting and the ugly bald hills and filled up mangroves and fertile low lying fields and the open craters left over by mining have become the landscapes at the moment, a host of oversized mega housing projects have covered most of our coast today, this summer has been the hottest and the rains are less than normal, this has been the effect of the attack on our ecology and environment and as things stand and the apathy of our politicians towards nature, future looks bleek and gloomy.

There is indeed a lot at stake in Goa at the moment and if we ignore it now, we will loose everything and posterity will curse us for not thinking of them and acting accordingly. I request Mr. Jairam Ramesh to put pressure on the Goa Government to stop illegal mining and take firm action against those involved in it without any bias. Protect our ecology and our environment at all cost. The Environment Ministry’s decision to grant Goa “Special Status” is much appreciated.


Freddy Agnelo Fernandes
Dubai - UAE

13/07/2010


Link article:
The government today put on hold granting of environment clearance for mining proposals in Goa till the state finalises its mineral policy.
In a letter to Goa chief minister Digambar Kamat, environment minister Jairam Ramesh conveyed his decision to put a moratorium on consideration of mining proposals for Goa till the state finalises its mineral policy. Kamat had earlier requested Ramesh to put on hold the environment clearances to proposals as the state was in the process of evolving a mineral policy.
“I am advising the officer concerned to return all the proposals to the proponents which are pending for consideration and not to accept any new proposals for the state of Goa,” Ramesh wrote in a letter to Kamat.
He said the Environment Ministry was also planning to conduct an environmental impact assessment study of all the mining activities across the country.
Ramesh said he was planning to rope in Nagpur-based National Environmental Engineering Research Institute to conduct this study to identify remedial measures to reduce the impact on environment by mining activities.

Courtesy:DNA
February 22, 2010

Global Goan Convention in Oman

Global Goan Convention in Oman



The 4th Global Goan Convention opened with flair and finesse, the location was well set within the Indian Embassy in Oman , within close proximity of the British and the American Embassies, for once I felt proud to note that the Indian Embassy had a much bigger area than the rest.


The convention started with the welcome song and lighting of the lamp by the elite dignitaries and the main office bearers of the Organizing Committee. The atmosphere and the ambience was very good. The welcome address by the President of the Organizing Committee, Mr. Flynn De Lima said a lot about his personality and his ability in organizing events of such scale. Dr Mario De Souza was his diplomatic self but stressed as he pointed out deficiencies that needed to be rectified by the NRI Commission.



The address by the NRI Commissioner His Excellency Mr. Eduardo Faleiro, was well presented if one may say so, his usual flair and theatrics combined had people smiling and laughing and promised to do whatever he can for the NRG’s, there was not a single “no” I cannot do it attitude, in his talk but one will have to wait to see, if things discussed will infact be put into prospective.



The simplicity and the charm of His Excellency, The Indian Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman, Mr. Anil Wadhwa was very much obvious as he mixed freely with the participants and the organizers, we had heard a lot about him, his good work and his simplicity, which did not take long for us to affirm. In his address he poured out platitudes of the Goan Community in Oman, said that Goans in Oman were well respected and law abiding, he also said that he never came across, situations wherein he had to intervene with the Local Government for the sake of Goans. He also said Goans in Oman , greatly contributed to the unity and progress of the Indian community in Oman . It was indeed a proud moment, for all of us Goans who were present, to be Goans,



Dr. Satish Nambiar, the President of the Indian Social Centre too amply praised the loyalty and the unity along with the good civility shown by the Goan community in Oman , the contributions made to the Indian Community too were expressed.



Dr. Oscar Rebelo, the orator he is, spoke well and made sure that we all understood that in 1961, it was the united Goa that fought and won, but in 1966 it was a divided Goa, which means, it was Goan v/s Goan that fought with each other during the Opinion Poll, then again 20 years later, in 1986 again it was it was Goan v/s Goan fighting for Konkanni, yet again 20 years later in 2006 it was Goan v/s Goan fighting against the Regional Plan and asked for how many more years would we be fighting each other ? He further gave us four points that are to be looked at if we need any semblance of a chance to come out of the muck we are in. 1st that we should be a totally secular Goan Community no matter what. 2nd that we protect our environment at all cost. 3rd We maintain steady growth along with environmental ambiance. 4th Law and order with equal measures for all without any distinction in class or creed. A very sound theory and a perfect recipe for Goa .

As I reflected on the speech, it was very much true, it just struck me that post 1961, our esteemed corrupt politicians were responsible for all the major upheavals in Goa , which were a direst result of their greed for money and power, playing Goans against Goans for their own selfish benefits, and we Goans kept falling for it.

Agnelo Fernandes MLA from Calangute and the Chairman of EDC
spoke well about the schemes brought forth by his department, he also spoke of the tourism activities in his constituency..

Simon D’Silva, the President of Goan Welfare Association, Doha , Qatar , spoke of the present scenario and asked that employment and investment opportunities be created for NRG’s

Prajal Sakhardande was just outstanding as he portrayed pre liberation, post liberation and the present day Goa with vivid slides, his knowledge of the history of Goa is unmatched. Fantastic presentation.
Rajendra Kerkar was at his humorous best as he picked on the Goan politicians while explaining the importance of preserving our ecology and environment and explained the deadly affect on Goa if the water of river Mandovi was diverted.

He also explained the connection of numerous folk songs and religious songs with mother nature and asked us to fight tooth and nail to preserve our ecology and our environment, and stop the destruction of our natural heritage.

Arwin Mesquita from Abu Dhabi, place before us the reality, that at the way things are going on in Goa, our Goan Identity and our culture is at stake and emphasized the need to protect our Goan Identity and our culture, and explained the means and ways to do it.

Freddy Fernandes from Dubai, humbly yours explained in details the ills of mega housing and mining and asked the people to help put an end to the atrocities against mother nature and asked the people to elect clean and incorruptible people if they want, Goa to be there tomorrow, along with a good future for Goa, themselves and for their future generations.

John Desa from Qatar , stressed on the need to protect our land for the future and not to sell it to outsiders, so that what happened to the East Indians (Koli’s) in Bombay should not happen to Goans. He also stressed on the importance of 80% jobs for Goans to be implemented and said all this could be possible only through special status for Goa .
Benedict Lobo from Dubai , spoke about his creation “Radio Goa” wherein one can experience nostalgic Goa at the click of a mouse, and his wish to protect the essence of Goan music. Radio Goa also provides an opportunity to Goans to interact with each other online or in person by participating in a number of get-togethers organized by him in the UAE.

Ramnata Mavlingcar from Abu Dhabi , spoke of the investment opportunities that can be created in Goa that would help both Goans in Goa as well as NRG’s and emphasized on the need to simplify the procedures for investors and proposed a single window process to avoid delays and corruption.

Ulhas Kamat and Nitin Kunkolienkar, members of the NRI Commissioner’s entourage, were at their best, presenting statistics and policies on how good Goa’s economy is and they pictured a very rosy present and an equally bright future, to put in Mr. Kamat’s own words, “statistics are like bikinis, what they revel is seductive but what they hide is indeed vital” very much true but what was hidden was the number of poor people specially from the below poverty line that have benefited from these schemes or the number of applications that are gathering dust due to lack of “vasta” or the money to wet palms.
At the open house for domestic and industrial workers there were a number of issues that were brought up, one being, pension fund or employment opportunities on return, as these workers have to spend all their hard earned money on the survival of the families back home and once retired they have nothing to look back to, here the NRI Commissioner promised them that they will be provided employment opportunities as per their qualification and nature of work done abroad, he also assured them payment that will be equal to what they earned abroad if not more.

Another issue that came up for discussion was the holding of passports of workers by employers, which is against international laws, and the NRI Commissioner along with the High Commissioner assured that they will do everything in their hands to talk to the authorities and solve this matter.

Yet another issue was of a domestic worker, who did not have a contract, she have been refused leave even after four years, she is yearning to get back home to see her family, the High Commissioner himself assured and promised to look in to the matter.

At this point I had to leave but over all it was a very well organized and very well coordinated Convention, the hospitality was outstanding.. The Organizing Committee should be credited for their total professionalism, events of this magnitude are indeed very difficult to handle but The Oman Goan Community did it with ease and aplomb.

The dine and dance too was a success, the music was good, the ambience was nostalgic Goan, people and the delegates meeting each other, exchanging views and ideas, there was certainly no distinction and the floor was never empty, even the High Commissioner and the NRI Commissioner mingled freely in the crowd.
It was indeed a success.

It was good to see a small portion of the diverse Goan Diaspora under one roof, I would like to make a special mention of the young man from Loutolim, who came all the way from Malawi Mr. Vivek Araujo and sang a couple of Konkani songs at the dance. It was good to know, Konkani was still alive and kicking in him

Though it was a success, there were a couple of negatives that were picked up, I was very much hurt and disappointed that English was used as the medium of communication, the coordinators as well as most of the delegates spoke in English, which looked really odd as we had a Goan Convention and Konkani being our Mother Tongue should have been the medium of communication, it looked like most of the delegates left Mother Konkani behind when they boarded the plane for Oman and the Coordinators, in their hurry locked Mother Konkani at their homes before proceeding to the Convention Centre. I just cannot understand why, it is only we Goans that treat our Mother Tongue so disgracefully?

The second being, the initiator of this Convention, the NRI Commissioner Mr. Eduardo Faleiro, was conspicuously and conveniently absent when environmentalists and social activists delivered their speeches, it did look odd, as the initiator of this convention, he should have been present to hear all the speakers, most probably he thought that their speeches were anti Government, but let me assure that none of them were anti Government, what they highlighted were the unhealthy environmental and the mega housing policies of his Government, which are anti Goa and anti Goan, which need to be changed on a priority basis.

The Calangute MLA Mr. Agnelo too seemed to have disappeared into thin air, soon after the first session, I only assume that he could have gone around Oman, to look for equipment to pull the "PRINCESS" ashore or could have been meeting the local civil services, looking for ideas to fight the drug menace in Calangute. A very busy schedule indeed.
Congratulations and well done Oman Goans



Freddy Agnelo Fernandes

The Circus called IPL

The Circus called IPL


This week the Indian media have had its time capsules full to the brim, thanks
to the circus called IPL, a mere sporting event that has been turned into a face
off between two nuclear neighbours. Time and again our Indian media gets carried
away at the smell of blood which could have oozed out of a bruise and not necessarily as a result of a deliberate knife attack on an individual.


IPL in it's third year had it's perverse grandeur start with it's "cattle auction", just a week after the petty petulance stand of Hockey India, it is indeed a situation where in one sees the difference in diversity of the two sports in India. One overwhelms with debauchery and the other mired in misery, the game that was supposed to be the national Game of India, lolling in doldrums, in existential crisis, ostensibly seeking life saving support, where as the clone flaunting with exuberance, it's power of it's vaults.


It is very often seen that the power of money sometimes makes people irrational,
there is a huge hue and cry about the treatment meted out the Pakistani players,
at the IPL auction and what indeed transpire there was not good for the sport
nor for India as a nation. If there were security or availability concerns, those should have been sorted out before hand and the concerned players should have been politely told about it, rather then humiliate them in front of the world. Players are not politicians and they should not be victimised for the politicians short comings. By humiliating the Pakistani players, we have stooped to Pakistan's level and their ideologies, if we are a better nation we should show that we are better by our actions.

On the other hand the Pakistani politicians claim that they have been hit below
the belt and for them it's "izzat ka swal hai", is it not our "izzat ka swal" when their trained terrorists hold sway in India? Politicians, whether Indian or Pakistani, are the same rotten apples, they make mountains out of moles, make people fight against each other, it doesn't matter to them, if the nation suffers because of the words or their deed, as long as their seats are made secure.

I do enjoy the game of cricket very much, but not as much as I use to before the
match fixing episode, lost some interest but even then follows it when I have the time, specially, the early afternoon quickie called T20. This version of the game had a rather controversial start in India, with ICL and IPL locking horns in the first year, in the second year it was bulldozed to another continent because of the "Jamboree" called elections, in India and now into it's third year, it's taken an ugly political turn, looks like this "circus" called IPL has a very strong fan following called "controversy".



Freddy Agnelo Fernandes
Dubai

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gulf-goans/message/27982

Morality On The Ebb

Morality On The Ebb



We have been reading, that the richest, most famous and the best golfer of all times, after all could not be the best husband. The much respected, veteran of politics even at 86, all white, has enough energy to entertain three young damsels, was caught on tape. A much decorated, authorative and high ranking police officer, had a soft corner for teenage girls, leading to culpable homicide. Our very own young energetic politician's weakness for a Rusputin has made him invincible for a while. Rusputins have also claimed attempted rape by Goan taxi driver, who could give the New York Yankees a run for their money. One of our very own Minister has been accused of polygamy, a former minister was accused of molesting a young lady, not so long ago one of the present minister's son was accused of rape of a minor. A few days ago a police constable was accused of attempted rape, not to mention the three police officers ganging up on a sex worker in a moving police vehicle. I note all these happenings in awe, it has action, it has emotions, it has suspense, thrills, aura of politics and plenty of sex, all in all, it looks like explosive material from a Jackie Collins best seller.



Morality, a virtue which most of us looked up to, is indeed becoming abstract, public figures and icons disintegrating, emanating vulgarities, instead of being role models for the younger generation. The media today has been instrumental in spreading sleaze just to upgrade their viewership ratings. All the soap serials, that our young and the old have become addicted too, what sort of a message do they convey ? Our advertising agencies have been making tremendous contribution to immorality. The fashion industry too has been inspiring the youngsters to hide less and show more, and this has not been just limited to social gatherings but has also entered educational institutions, as well as places of worship, which is very sad indeed.


Can we as a family watch TV at home without being embarrassed, I agree, it's not the same world anymore, that we lived in 30 or 40 years ago, but aren't our young innocent kids vulnerable to all the sleaze that's shown on Cable and Dish TV channels? Health can be treated and retained but innocence one lost is lost for ever, misguided youth have been increasing in numbers and there are a host of personalities, criminal as well as eminent, who indulge in taking advantage of such lost young minds. While the criminals use strong arm tactics or their godfathers in high places, to get away, the eminent personalities use their money or power of office to go scot-free.



Tiger Woods can be excused for his indiscretions, being an adult and consented involvement but the people using public office and men in uniform have to be taken to task, along with all the others who have been using their power, influence or money to circumvent and subvert the due process, abetment is also a criminal act.



The politician and public servant nexus is so well anchored, deep-rooted and preponderant, that the common man, is not in a position to take on the nexus. The frequency of involvement of the police, politicians and their kin, in such criminal activities is indeed repugnant, the custodians of the law themselves turn culprits and audaciously tweak the very process of retributive justice in collusion and on the callous behest of their political masters and vice-versa.

For the law to be effective, we have to plug the lacunae in the law and punish the guilty irrespective of their officialdom or status and morality should be given it's due importance in society.



We have been reading, that the richest, most famous and the best golfer of all times, after all could not be the best husband. The much respected, veteran of politics even at 86, all white, has enough energy to entertain three young damsels, the act was caught on tape. A much decorated, authorative and high ranking police officer, had a soft corner for teenage girls, leading to culpable homicide. Our very own young energetic politician's weakness for a Rusputin has made him invincible for a while. Rusputins have also claimed attempted rape by Goan taxi driver, who could give the New York Yankees a run for their money. One of our very own Minister has been accused of polygamy, a former minister was accused of molesting a young lady, not so long ago one of the present minister's son was accused of rape of a minor. A few days ago a police constable was accused of attempted rape, not to mention the three police officers ganging up on a sex worker, in a moving police vehicle. I note all these happenings in awe, it has action, it has emotions, it has suspense, thrills, aura of politics and plenty of sex, all in all, it looks like the explosive material from a Jackie Collins best seller.



Morality, a virtue which most of us looked up to, is indeed becoming abstract, public figures and icons disintegrating, emanating vulgarities, instead of being role models for the younger generation. The media today has been instrumental in spreading sleaze just to upgrade their viewership ratings. All the soap serials, that our young and the old have become addicted too, what sort of a message do they convey ? Our advertising agencies have been making tremendous contribution to immorality. The fashion industry too has been inspiring the youngsters to hide less and show more, and this has not been just limited to social gatherings but has also entered educational institutions, as well as places of worship, which is very sad indeed.

Can we as a family watch TV at home without being embarrassed? I agree, it's not the same world anymore, that we lived in 30 or 40 years ago, but aren't our young innocent kids vulnerable to all the sleaze that's shown on Cable and Dish TV channels? Health can be treated and retained but innocence one lost is lost for ever, misguided youth have been increasing in numbers and there are a host of personalities, criminal as well as eminent, who indulge in taking advantage of such lost young minds. While the criminals use strong arm tactics or their godfathers in high places, to get away, the eminent personalities use their money or power of office to go scot-free.



Tiger Woods can be excused for his indiscretions, being an adult and consented involvement but the people using public office and men in uniform have to be taken to task, along with all the others who have been using their power, influence or money to circumvent and subvert the due process, abetment is also a criminal act.



The politician and public servant nexus is so well anchored, deep-rooted and preponderant, that the common man, is not in a position to take on the nexus. The frequency of involvement of the police, politicians and their kin, in such criminal activities is indeed repugnant, the custodians of the law themselves turn culprits and audaciously tweak the very process of retributive justice in collusion and on the callous behest of their political masters and vice-versa.

For the law to be effective, we have to plug the lacunae in the law and punish the guilty irrespective of their officialdom or status and morality should be given it's due importance once again in society.



Freddy Agnelo Fernandes
Dubai, UAE/Nuem,Canacona

29 December 2009
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gulf-goans/message/27564

Isn't it stupid of Diaspora Goans ?

isn't it stupid of Diaspora Goans to invite corrupt, selfish politicians all the way from Goa ? Shouldn't we show oursolidarity with the Goan activists who are putting their very lives at stake intheir fight to save Goa ? Or is this too a stupid question ? We, some timeshave to counter stupid actions with stupid questions to drive home a point,somzoloi mure Pinto bab ?

In this post and most of my others posts, since I have been active on the net, Ialways blame us Goans or we Goans (me included) and not you Goans, because eventhough I may be a NRG but I am still a citizen of India, I pay my taxes, I sendmy remunerations to Goa and I have not surrendered my Indian passport, even if Ihad the chance to settle overseas, I would not because of the simple reason, Ilike being a Goan and more often then not, I have exercised my right to vote.

Just because I am working outside Goa, does not make me less Goan than thou.



Going back to the stupid question, if you have read my previous articles, I haveexplained and made it very clear as to why we the "NRI worthies" should notentertain our corrupt politicians, it is not that we don't know why people keepon electing the same corrupt people, in most of my post I have mentioned umpteentimes that we should not fall prey to our conniving corrupt politicians, corruptbeget corruption. I have personally not gone and spread my hands before anypoliticians in my entire life, for my own personal wellbeing, yes, for the sakeof the village and our community, I have approached politicians but never everentertained corruption, that's why I have never been scared to call a spade aspade, without any fear of the consequences, be it Dilkush Dessai, Vasu PaiGaunkar, Churchill, or Kavlekar for that matter. I owe these pigs nothing.

As for "NRI worthies" as you called us, talking the talk and not walking thewalk, you have jumped the gun or as it is said jumped to conclusions, though itdoes not perturb me a bit as to what you think of the so called "NRI worthies"like me or the others. I may have not done, what a "NRI worthy" like Dr. AnilDessai has done, but I know what I have contributed to my village and mycommunity, for your information there are two type of workers, those that workto seek adulation, and those that do because they feel, that as a member of thevillage and community it is their duty. Though I may be just a practicingCatholic but I believe in the biblical policy of "let not your left hand knowwhat your right hand is doing" there are times when even my wife of more thantwenty five years does not know what, how or when I do my little for the villageand our community and I am sure there are other "NRI worthies" doing the same.



I do not like to parade my good deeds, but I will tell you about a very smallthing that we do and how it helps the activists in Goa, In our village one "NRIworthy" has started a fund, to use for expenses, in our fight against miners andfor supporting other causes dear to Goa. Even though most of us "NRI worthies"from our place are struggling to make ends meet, we have contributed generously.

It is not just that we have created a fund and left the responsibility to thevillagers, we the "NRI worthies" keep in constant touch with our parish priestand our people, guiding, advising them and giving them moral support and we alsoparticipate actively when ever we are home. At most of the rallies in southcentral Goa, you will find minimum a bus load of our people supporting themovement, if you want you can get this confirmed through Seby the "Naxalite" asour corrupt politicians call him. When we are on holiday for a month, we hardlyget any time to enjoy those holidays because of the present situation, we haveto run from pillar to post to support our people and we do it with a smilingface.



Regarding Arwin Mesquita, I have known him for almost two years and that too,through goanet and since then we meet very often to share our like mindedthoughts, he is one person who could get entry into any country of his choicebut has not done so because he loves Goa and one can see the passion he has forGoa in his writings, he just doesn't right, you can asks the village activistsin south Goa how active he is while in Goa and how he keeps in touch with all ofthem and supports when he is out of Goa. I will not elaborate on his works as heis like me, doing things not for glory.



I have only disclosed this aspect, to bring to the notice of the "NRI worthies"who think that they cannot do anything for Goa from Diaspora and for the benefitof those Niz Goyemkars whose perception of NRG's is like the curtailed vision ofthe proverbial frog in the pond or the well. Now it is up to them, weather theywant to see the NRG's in a broader spectrum of a panoramic view or go back tothe pond or the well, either way, will not bother us, as we intend to continueto do what we do irrespective of the choice that is made.



Sayanora mon ami Pinto

Freddy Agnelo Fernandes--

On The Character of Goans (formerly Re: Swindon Goan Festival)

Wed Jul 7 03:53:23 PDT 2010

DearsTony de Sa < tonyde.sa at gmail.com > wrote a little short story (givenbelow) in the post with the subject line (Re: Swindon GoanFestival) directed towards Freddy Fernandes who, I quote, asked:"Is it a compulsion to invite Goan Politicians for any function by Goans aroundthe world ? I am sure the answer is no...yak yak yak ..."==================Tony wrote:"Dear Freddy,I happened to be traveling to Panjim from Mapusa by cab. Since I was thelone passenger, I struck up a conversation with the cabbie. Apparently, hewas a Goan (Catholic) from say village X. As happens, when Goans meet, theconversation goes something like this; " Arre baba, you are from X do youknow Anton Pedru Ladrao? And do you know Shencor Saulo Sawkar? etc...."During a lull in the conversation, the cabbie told me, " did you know Y isour MLA?" And the conversation went on like this. (I will omit quote marksfor simplicity)Cabbie (C): Arre baba, to koslo re boro munis.

Tony T: Unhh (non-committal grunt)C: To kitem re poixe vantta. Socalchi goddi tenger lokachi ani soggle tekamelltat poixe magpakT: Annh, to poixe vantta? Goddi tor asa zalear zaite poixe zaizatele noi?C: Konakuch rite hattan dhadina. Te dissa, ek gorib bail geli teka meupak.Tichem ghor moddlelem. Tor tika tis hazar (30, 000) rupia dille Tor gorib lokanchi to modot korta. etc........Comment: This is a true story and not a figment of my imagination. So ifthis is the pulse of the aam admi, does it mean that the aam admi wants theMLA to dish out a hand out every time he/ she drops in at the MLA's durbar?Is the aam admi naive not to realize to do this type of charity, the moneyhas to be coming in by some unlawful means? Or does (s)he feel that the MLAis spending his personal fortune?I have also heard of another prominent MLA from South Goa who never refuseshospitality to anyone who visits his place? And that the cauldron of canjiis always on the boil.

So figure it out. The aam admi is indirectly inviting corruption and thenthe same guy complains.

BestTony".....................................................................................................................................................I agree with Tony. There is no doubt a chicken and egg situationprevailing here. But I agree with Tony entirely. At least one reasonwhy the politician is in business is because he knows that he can makemoney because the aam admi knows he cannot get his way legitimately,and feels he has to get around our murderously tangled laws.

Let us take an example: Joao de Moira wants to build a house in thelittle plot he owns, but according to the prevailing laws - about 1sq. m. of setbacks cannot be provided by him. So no house for Joao.What should Joao do? He cannot afford to buy a plot of land at thecurrent extortionist rates. Everyone sympathises with his plight andagrees that he is not troubling anybody by not giving 1 sq. m. ofsetbacks but laws are laws. Even when everyone knows that the law isan ass.

In the end the problem was solved by Dada, his friendly panch, whotells him to go ahead and construct and not even ask him for a bribe.

Of course in the next election, Joao's vote is assured.

But more importantly, when Kantilal the big builder decides to convertall the remainig banana plantations of Moira into concrete jungles,Dada is the conduit to get all the permissions.

Now who will object to what? Certainly not Joao who has got a personalfavour and would not like to sour relations with Dada.

So O dear Tony, you are absolutely right as usual. As you say, "Theaam admi is indirectly inviting corruption and then the same guycomplains." Or even better does not complain at all.To revert to Freddy Fernandes's stupid question, "Is it a compulsionto invite Goan Politicians for any function by Goans around the world?" my answer would be, " Why do you sit in foriegn lands and givesermons to others? Why don't you come to Goa and live here and raiseyour voice wherever you see injustice?" Because the problem in Goa isthat there is not a critical mass of people who are like you darling,whose voices can count.

If such eloquent chaps like you could come to Goa to raise your voicealong with other very eloquent chaps like Jose Colaco, SantoshHelekar, Mario Gouveia, Arwin Mesquita and so on and so forth, thenmaybe we could all do something to change the state of affairs thatprevails over here.

Instead NRI worthies like you love giving sermaos even when you knowthat it is your physical presence and not your words that isimportant.

No Cheers
Augusto--

Augusto Pinto
40, Novo Portugal,Moira, Bardez,Goa, IndiaE pintogoa at gmail.com or ypintogoa at yahoo.co.in P 0832-2470336M 9881126350

Good, Sincere Politicians In Goa - A Myth Or A Mystery?

Good, Sincere Politicians In Goa - A Myth Or A Mystery?



Like the rest of India, Goan politics too has been infested with criminal elements. Records show that a good number of politicians in the Goa Assembly have criminal records or have been known or suspected to have links with criminal elements. We Goans have somehow lost our astuteness and our dignity, as we have been electing the same tainted and corrupt politicians over and over again. Now we have allowed the soaring eagles, to turn themselves into vultures.

Goa is know to be only second to Kerela in literacy, in India, but we certainly do not, do any justice to this record, as we mostly elect the corrupt, fraudulent, illiterate and the worst of politicians to run our government. If we do not translate our high percentage of literacy into effective understanding while electing able, capable and honest men and women, if we cannot display even a modicum of intelligence in electing good people, what is the use of our high percentage of literacy? It has indeed become an unmitigated and an unconscionable tragedy.


Most parties are only interested in giving election tickets to people who can bloat up their party funds and do not look at the qualities and the character of their candidates. As usual all parties pledge that no tainted person will be given a ticket, but unfortunately, it’s not practiced by the eloquent preachers and most criminals are sheltered and feel secure under the ambit of these parties, as a result of which most parties have a striking similarity of afflictions. Thus the edifice of a supposedly good governance is raised on the foundations of criminality and we are least moved by it’s impact nor repelled by it’s horror, as it has only become a natural progression for us, Goans, a perfect hatchery for all the ills.

Though politics and corruption should be antithetical, the two entities are inseparable in Goa and one without the other is untenable. It has been that way for some time now. Our Goans politicians and bureaucrats are become the epitomes of corruption, once in a while our sleuths pick up one or two small fries for corruption trying to pull wool over the eyes of the common men, while the big sharks continue their plunder unabated, protected by the very same sleuths for a share of the spoils, if not, all the minister would have been picked up and locked in the dock by the sleuths with ease.

Of late we have been hearing of the privatization of our heritage sites and forts, what’s our Government upto ? Our heritage sites and forts should be protected and preserved and not try to destroy those “signatures” or remnants of our historic past through commercialization, the authenticity and the exuberance of these places must be preserved at all costs, money only is not everything, these monuments are somehow connected with our lives and our past and they should not be left at the mercy of the highest bidders.

Our politicians have scant respect for nature and even more so for our environment, Governments round the world are worried about global warming, the depletion of the ozone layer and the receding of fresh water tables and are planning strategies for long term sustenance of what’s left, but our Goan politicians are going berserk to kill the goose that’s laying the golden eggs for them, not realizing the magnanimity of their callous actions.

Our politicians are going at break-neck speed to devour all our natural resources, not thinking of the future or our posterity and are further contributing to all the adverse causes of destruction and degradation. A lot of them are involved in illegal mining or support illegal mining, hill cutting, filling of mangroves, fields and low-lying areas, tilting the balance of nature in the wrong direction, which can only increase the misery and sufferings of the common men.

It is indeed a tragedy that Maoist have spread over most of North-eastern and central regions of India, but what is worse, is the fact that we Goans elect politicians who are on better than the Maoist, and to avert this tragedy there is only one option. We must accord the same treatment to the corrupt officers and criminal politicians that we would plan for Maoist leaders. As one group is draining the life-blood of the country, while the other is out to destroy the state by allowing crime and corruption to flourish, with no constructive agendas as such, and both entities are equally dangerous for our survival, our upliftment and our developmental progress.

If we want Goa and Goans to survive, by all means, we will have to force viable variations, for a change in the present form of governance, which will have to be thought out carefully, it will be a daunting task no doubt but certainly not impossible, if we all think positively and be committed to the cause of Goa. If only we truly love Goa we will be able to bring this change in governance. Or good, sincere politicians in Goa , will only be a myth or a mystery?



Freddy Agnelo Fernandes
Dubai – UAE
www.goa-world.com

6 July 2010

Why Diaspora Goans Invite Corrupt Politicians?

Why Diaspora Goans Invite Corrupt Politicians?



Is it a compulsion to invite Goan Politicians for any function by Goans around the world? I am sure the answer is no. So why invite them, can any one tell me of one Goan politician in the present Vidhan Sabha who is not corrupt or not supporting the other corrupt politicians or not supporting the degradation of Goa, for a share of the spoils and well being? If there exists even one he deserves all our adulation. Chief guests or guests of honour should be role models with impeccable records and character so that other who are present at the function may look up to them for inspiration.
Why not invite some educationists, intellectuals, literary figures, credible social workers, environmentalists or even some of our highly regarded priests or other religious figures, who said it has to be only politicians?

As I see things, I know I am not wrong, I strongly feel those who invite these corrupt politicians, want to score some brownie points against their names and be in good books with the politicians, so that they can use them to legalize a few of their illegalities or get their other work done, when they go back home. Then there are some others, who are natural born politicians bootlickers who just can’t help but keep on licking their boots. For all those who think that they can make use of these corrupt politicians once in Goa, just forget it, they will not even entertain you unless you offer them a bag full of notes.

I know of one person, at whose house two relatives who are now ministers use to frequently visit, he used to entertain them at his cost not just at his home but overseas too where he use to work, whenever they visited. One day the man asked one of the same ministers to help him to get admission for his son in a professional college, even though the boy had a very good percentage the minister told the father that he’ll have to shell out a lot of cash for his son’s admission. This is what our politicians are, fortunately the boy got admission in a professional college but in a different faculty.

In Konkanni there is an adage “hanv maka ani Dev peleak” as far as the politicians are concerned they work for themselves and leave others to God.
Watch out all you Goans who want to score brownie points with our Goans politicians, you all will be disappointed and don’t regret later and if you are bootlickers, continue doing so till your tongue wears out and I assure you, even then you’ll be expected to continue and if you stop your backside will be kicked to kingdom come.
Don’t say I didn’t warn you !!!


Freddy Agnelo Fernandes,
Dubai - UAE


www.goa-world.com
July 6, 2010


ON GOAN DIASPORA
http://www.colaco.net/1/CieloGoanDisaspora1.htm
http://www.colaco.net/1/CieloGoanDisaspora2.htm


ON GOAN ELECTIONS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uTqL2cc4hk&feature=related

The Enemy Within

The Enemy Within


Goa, a jewel on India's crown as it was known, was blessed with beautiful pristine beaches on it's west coast and high range of mountains called the western Ghats on it's eastern border, full of diversely rich forms of flora and fauna for it's crown, along with different species of wild life as it's inhabitants and rich varieties of ore for her underbelly. The very geographical location had made Goa a paradise, call it the Maker's or Nature's generous gift to the people of Goa.

The first chapter in Economics tells us that, our wants are unlimited and the truth is, they are insatiable too, and in the quest to be the masters of commerce and economics, greed evolved as the worst evil, that has taken over in totality the human mind, body, heart and soul. As vision is blurred by greed, people fail to see the long term disasters that await them, in their pursuit for short term gains. Goa is the prime example of this great folly.

We have heard the moralist story of the goose that laid the golden eggs, umpteen number of times since we were kids, yet we fail to learn the ethical moral of the story, when faced with reality. It's not just a story for building up morals in kids, but also for grown up adults, not to fall prey to glandular greed.

Today, Tourism is the bread and butter of most Asian developing countries, each competing with the other to get the lager slice of the tourism pie. Goa was struck by the hippy culture which started off on it's pristine beaches way back in the late sixties, and thus spread the word of the new found jewel to the outside world, Goa, in it's virginity was a sight for sore eyes, tourists then flocked to see this new found paradise on earth, and over the years the word of Goa's serene scenic beauty spread like wild fire and thus Goa was posted as the top destination in world Tourism.

Tourist were attracted to the natural beauty of Goa, mountains full of trees, fields lush and green, springs, rivers, lakes and most of all the endless clean pristine beaches, the generosity, simplicity and the good will of Goans added to the flavour, more than making up for the lack of basic infrastructure that the western world was used to, but they still made a bee line, over and over again and still they couldn't get it out of their system.

Now with the ever increase in tourism, the seeds of evil greed were sown, politicians and bureaucrats forgot their promises to work for the good of man and sold their souls to the devil, looking for ways and means, more foul than fair to enrich themselves, using the clout of their political power and position, taking optimum advantage of gullible Goans. Preservation of our natural beauty to enhance tourism was forgotten and corruption flourished and became the 'modus oparandi', the name of the game. Land being acquired and sold to the highest bidder and unwarranted development in the form of mega housing, putting more pressure on the already weak over burdened infrastructure, destroying our hills, fields and plains started the rape of virgin Goa.

With increase in tourism, criminal activities too increased, drug trade at it's highest, murders and rapes everyday occurrences, gambling and prostitution flourishing, our corrupt politicians and police patronizing criminals for their share of the spoils, our pristine beaches littered with waste, shacks and beds, some areas even cordoned off by elite mafisos. The maiden has indeed lost her most precious virtue, she has been violated. Goa is no more virgin.

The lives of coastal Goans have become a living hell, as basic amenities are atrocious and prices of land, housing units and durable commodities rising steeply, law and order situation are at it's worst and to add to all their woes, the mother of all woes CRZ has come in furry destroying the homes and devastating the lives of poor Goans. How will the poor coastal Goans survive? Or will they have to move to the cities to survive, creating a vacuum in coastal Goa ? Why do they have to pay the price for the greed of some men in the name of commerce and economics?

Mining has no doubt contributed a great deal to the coffers of the Goa Government, initially even the limited form of mining had an adverse effect on ecology and the water bodies, but not to a great extent. Now with wealth dangling in front of our noses, overtaken by greed, we have gone full throttle, shredding the underbelly, least interested in the devastation and havoc caused to the crowning glory of the western Ghats, displacing it's very inhabitants, the wild life and destroying the water bodies, a life line to the very existence of human and wild life.

The rural villages where rampant mining is carried out, have had to bear the worst atrocities, air pollution being on the high, not only most of their houses are covered in dust but they also have to breathe in the dust, causing health problems. The field which the people of these areas lived on, were rich and fertile, today they remain barren and scorched, covered by the rejects and the unfertile dust of mining. Their wells, ponds, springs and streams have gone dry over the years. Police and politicians have become puppets of the mining barons intimidating and harassing the locals who are fighting for their right to survive. How will these people survive in their villages? Or will they have to move to the cities to survive creating a vacuum in rural Goa? Why do they have to pay the price for the greed of some men in the name of commerce and economics?

The cities too are congested and polluted with the infrastructure crumbling, sewage overflowing, garbage becoming a monstrous issue with no solution in sight, traffic ever increasing, parking vastly inadequate and unplanned, taps more often dry, than running, bulbs and tubes more often off, than lit, life in urban Goa, is already mired in misery, so how will rural and coastal Goa survive in urban Goa? More importantly will Goa survive?

Mining and tourism are the main sources of income for the Goa government, but at what cost ? When nature is destroyed the ambience changes and this in turn, can lead to a catastrophe, as we all saw in the case of floods at Canacona. The fury of nature is what man has failed to conquer. To survive we have to respect nature and live in ambience with nature.

We blame the politicians for all the ills in Goa and it's true, they are the culprits, they are the traitors, they are the rapists, but the million dollar question is, WHO ELECTED THEM? The enemy is within, we need not go far in our search, it's each one of us contributing to the rape of our beloved Goa by our inaction, doing nothing, to right, the wrong we did in electing the corrupt, the selfish and the heartless, we are our own worst enemies. We need to get our priorities right and elect good people, with ethics, honest, hardworking and with true love for Goa in their hearts, to run Goa. This is the only choice we have. Are there any takers?


Freddy Agnelo Fernandes
Dubai/Nuem, Canacona
Jan 28, 2010

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gulf-goans/message/28065
www.goa-world.com

GBA's Ultimatum To The Government

GBA's Ultimatum To The Government

Venita Coelho in her article, 'Back to square one' on Herald dated 23rd Feb, has exposed the conniving, devious policies of the Kamat Government, the original RP 2012 was forced into the bin by the Goan people led by the GBA. It was the united front put forth by the GBA that forced the corrupt Kamat Government to back off and then it came up with RP2021, which infact was just a reincarnation of the RP2012 and more confusing.

The RP2021 was infact even more erroneous, where a lot of major structure and zones were conveniently missed out, misrepresented and misinterpreted and placed before the masses for public participation, deadlines were extended and people's proposals were submitted even after all the effort and time that the activists and the people put in to rectify the anomalies of the draft, nothing seems to have changed. It's been nearly a year now and the Kamat Government has failed to bring forth the final draft of RP 2021 for public scrutiny, to see if the people's proposals were enacted upon.

Meanwhile the Government making use of the loopholes in it's own laws, continues to support and abet projects that have been objected by the public, without divulging any information to the public on those projects, taking the Goan people for a jolly good ride. The corrupt Government of Mr. Kamat has not listened to the peaceful pleas of the people and the degradation of our environment and our ecology continues unabated while we have been seething in anonymous rage, watching and waiting for the finalisation of RP2021.

Enough is enough, this Kamat Government has been known for creating a surfeit of issues and then digressing from them, without actually trying to solve them in earnest, believing that given time, people tend to forget these issues. We do need to ramp up our compulsions manifold to ascertain our convictions of protecting Goa and Goans and not let our efforts be stymied at every turn and junction by the skewed perspectives of our corrupt politicians. It is high time we take a firm stand, to protect our interests, for a better future for ourselves and our children.

The GBA has rightly given the corrupt Kamat Government an ultimatum, as the people of Goa have been left with very little sartorial choices and the only option left, is to take to the streets and admonish the Kamat Government not to take the Goan people for granted. I sincerely hope and pray that the people of Goa will fully support the GBA with mass participation and force the corrupt Kamat government to pay heed to the demands of the people of Goa and abdicate it's seditious policies.

We have done it before and we can do it again. GBA Jai Ho !!

Freddy Agnelo Fernandes
Feb 23, 2010

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gulf-goans/message/28511
www.goa-world.com
________________________

As published in Herald / 23 February 2010


Back to Square One

- By Venita Coelho


Well, here we are back to square one 'fighting one more time' to get a Regional Plan that we are happy with. What a long journey it has been all to end up in the same place all over again. Three years ago Goa spilled out onto the roads to protest a Regional Plan that was disastrous. So vociferous were the protests and so many were the protestors that the Government actually cancelled the RP2012 and promised that it would include the people's sentiments in the next plan. While the next plan ended up making no one entirely happy, there was a window for villages respond to the plans and to fill in a questionnaire asking for the development they wished for their own villages. It was months of hard work for both the GBA and various villages. I got laryngitis, twice, after explaining day after day just exactly how to tackle the RP2012. GBA members ended up exhausted and mentally drained. With no official training from the government, village regional committees and concerned citizens struggled with the task set them. Deadlines were extended time and again, but finally it was done. We heaved a sigh of relief too early, it now turns out.
All that hard work has gone into limbo along with the Regional Plan. There are no assurances as to when the Regional Plan will be finalised. Neither do we know what exactly is going to be finalised in it. Will the village plans made by the villagers hold importance or be swept aside by the government's plans? Will what we have asked for clearly as villages, be respected? What kind of development will finally be foisted on us? There are no answers and above all there is no Regional Plan. Like the Holy Grail, it remains lost in the mists of government procedures. And in the meantime, the doors have been flung open. While we wait eternally for the RP to be finalised, permissions are being handed out hand over fist. Amendment 16 an 16A is a nice little loop hole through which any project can be shoved once it is branded government project. When the Pilerne Action Committee asked for details of building NOC's handed out while we wait for the RP to finalised, the terrifying official reply was that they were numerous and details could not be given without diverting the staff from day to day work. You can imagine the volumes of NOC's that have been handed out! While we, good citizens, patiently wait for the Government to do the right thing, the government itself is busy subverting its own laws by using this window to pass neumerous projects which it refuses to inform us about.
We have been taken for a royal ride. Like children being diverted with a lollipop, we were handed the RP2021 with so called 'peoples participation'. That participation was never quantified, nor was it made clear whether it would be respected or included in the final plan. And, having taken the bait, while we waited around for the RP to be finalised, it was business as usual behind the scenes. There is no gentler way to put it we have been made absolute fools of. What are these neumerous projects? What rules do they follow? Do they respect the areas marked out in the RP2021? Under what guidelines are they being passed? The government can't inform us it would take diverting the staff from day to day work to give us these answers.
In this context it comes as a relief that the GBA has decided to hand out an ultimatum, saying it will take to the streets from 4 March if this passing of projects is not stopped, and a date is not set to finalise the RP. We have done our best to co-operate with the government like good law abiding citizens, working within the parameters the government gave us. But enough is enough. When the government breaks its own laws, creates convenient loop holes, and chooses to keep citizens in the dark about its activities then that government has lost its right to civil obedience. It's time to take to the streets again. That seems to be the only language this government understands. We have fought this fight before and we will do it again. Let the government beware! This time we are wiser. You can't fool all of the people all of the time Mr Kamat.



http://www.oheraldo.in/newscategory/Opinions/14
http://www.goablog.org/posts/goa-bachao-abhiyan-save-goa-campaign/

Goa's Categorically Categorical Chief Minister

Goa's Categorically Categorical CM


Goa's CM Digamber Kamat has categorically stated that there is no question of giving new mining leases and indicated that he had written to the Centre not to consider mining proposals for environmental clearances from Goa. Should Goa sigh, a sigh of relief? Or is it like many others, just another categorical statement by our categorical CM?

During the last assembly elections our CM had categorically stated that Congress in Goa would not succumb to political blackmail, so how come, there are traitors in his cabinet? After the Margao blast our CM had again categorically stated that, Goa will not tolerate terrorist elements on it's soil, so how come the institution connected with the bombers, is still very much breathing, breeding and active, and the politician with links to the institution is still a member of his cabinet?

Our CM had umpteen times categorically stated that the half buried mermaid off the Candolim coast would cease to be a landmark for environmental depravity? Isn't it still there as a tourist attraction, displaying our Governments lackadaisical attitude towards environment protection?

Our CM had also categorically stated that the perpetrators in the swords case in Margao would be brought to justice at the earliest. Does anyone know categorically what happened to the case? In the garbage case, even after categorically stating that it would be sorted out at the earliest, it's still a monstrous issue.

During the last Parliamentary election the CM had categorically assured, coastal Goans, that they would do all in their power, to protect their humble dwellings from the CRZ axe, has it categorically happened?

Last year CM Kamat had made a categorical statement that a comprehensive mining policy would be in place before January 2010, which now has been pushed to mid-March, there was yet another categorical statement made by our CM that stern action would be taken against illegal miners. Has illegal mining ceased to exist in Goa? Has any categorical action been taken against erring miners ? So why can't our categorical CM for once stop his categorically categorical blabber and give us some categorical action?


Freddy Agnelo Fernandes
Feb 24, 2010
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gulf-goans/message/28528
www.goa-world.com

The Ethics Of Politics In Goa Has To Change

The Ethics Of Politics In Goa Has To Change



Goa's coalition government, was infact just a marriage of convenience, it was not a relationship that was built on trust, integrity and fidelity, infact it was full of deceit, hypocrisy, distrust and of course adultery. The premarital bonding it's self, was a disaster, wherein the odd spouses refused to sign the dotted lines of book of convenience and the mass wedding was in disarray, only after prolonged deliberations and discussions, on the terms of plump positions and status in the family business were assured, only then was the marriage finally solemnised amidst pomp and gaiety, with the blessing of the elite in-laws from Delhi, Bombay and Goa itself.


Although it's been more than two years for this marriage of convenience, things are far from hanky-dory, as expected the marriage has been rocked by claims of infidelity and domestic violence and was on the verge of collapse, on more occasions than not, but managed to survive, only because, the greed and the enticement for plump positions and status, was all, that the spouses were interested in. The wellbeing of the family and the community 'To hell with it' !

The forty year itch hit this marriage of convenience pretty early, we could even call it the 40 days itch and now the wide cracks are really showing and the cantankerous couples are becoming bolder, vociferous and even shameless, washing their dirty laundry in public. Their insecurities are most certainly obvious and getting worse by the day. The frequent visits to the marriage councilors, set up by the in-laws in Delhi and Bombay are become more of a habit than a necessity and that too at the cost of the tax payer, even as Goa is mired in debt upto it's neck.

In the last couple of days it looked like this marriage had reached the point of no return, the aggrieved spouses had formed an union called the G7, initially it did sound something like the elite group of industrial nations called the G8, G7 may not be as famous or as powerful as the elite G8, but are surely a force to recon with in paradise lost called Goa. From the very first day, this marriage was bound for the rocks but somehow managed to survive even the latest storm, but for how much longer it will hold on ? Only time will tell.



For some decades now we have seen the quality of governance deteriorating at a very rapid rate, so much so that today it's become a cesspool of corruption and greed, and only getting worse. The G7 movement is a further reminder to the Goan electorate, that our elected representative are only concerned about their welfare and least bothered about the wellbeing of the general public or our state. Our MLA's and Ministers have been too busy with issues that are extraneous to Goa and Goans, rather than in relative issues that are seriously affecting the day to day lives of Goans and are burgeoning into major impediment in the path of their progress.



While there are infinite number of critical issues, that we Goans are drowning in, our politicians hardly seem to have the time or the inclination, to take up these issues in earnest, whereas they have ample time, to trade in trite banalities against each other to promote, protect and safeguard their own personal selfish interests. This is not something new that's been happening in Goa, it's been going on for a couple of decades now, and it's rather very unfortunate that we Goans have accepted or allowed it continue without a cringe or even a twinge.



We are all aware, that most of the funds that Goa receives for development, somehow vanish into thin air without a whiff, it's only common knowledge where all the conduits lead to, even as we struggle to survive, with the more than two decades old infrastructure at our disposal, which is outdated and outpaced by the ever growing population and to make matters worse, we have allowed, the rampage of destructive development, to overburdened our already tattered and battered infrastructure which infact has, paradoxically brought an overall degradation to the quality of life in Goa. As far as constructive development in concerned, I am sorry to say that, Goa portrays a very digressing and polarised landscape at the moment.



Disparity is what rules Goa today, every nuke and corner of Goa is up in arms, agitating for it's very own survival, so much so that, while our politicians behave like petulant kids, agitations have become a part of our intricate lives. Our elected representatives, ensconced in their ivory beds with greenbacks for mattresses and inflated bank balances for a pillow, hatching unsuspecting and intricate plots to destroy Goa and inflate their own fortunes, have consigned our dreams and aspirations of a golden Goa to oblivion and this is what we have brought on ourselves, by electing these unambiguous swindlers.



We seriously need to contemplate and get our priorities right and put our act together. For long we have thought, that good governance was the preserve and prerogative of the central parties. History has been a witness to various events, where greatness was sacrificed at the alter, and mediocrity selected for the crown, but now we should be wiser, shouldn't we ?

The ethics of politics in Goa, have been deliriously obtuse, if not egregious. What conjures up an air of sadness is not just the quality of governance on offer, but the absence of any pride or even the will, to seek and elect good people, in Goa today. We most certainly, need to immediately change this aspect, if Goa and Goans have to survive, revive and thrive and this attitude should not be transient in anyway, but firmly imbedded in the mind and heart of every Goan at large. A change is what, is required and for that, it's our perception that has to change, so let us all be the change that we want.



Freddy Agnelo Fernandes
Dubai - UAE
Mar 24, 2010

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gulf-goans/message/28971

Tar On Goan Beaches Has Become Seasonal

Tar On Goan Beaches Has Become Seasonal


In Goa a lot of things are seasonal, Goan weddings too are mostly preferred during the holidays, Diwali, Christmas or the summer Holiday. So also harvesting, and the conventional fruits too have their seasons, so do dogs, apart from all these, during the end of the summer, April, May we have another season for tar balls to make way to the shores, I have been a witness to this absurd phenomena for a couple of decades and as time goes by the amount of this unhealthy and unwarranted residue just keeps on increasing.

The whole year round we have visitors from all over the world visiting Goan beaches and our coastline, although our beaches are far from being what they use to be, they are still accessible, but come April, May we are stuck with tar deposits all along our coast, in our village because of the smallness of the seafront it's appalling to see four to six inches of tar all along our beach front making a mess of our beach, the only option we have is to set fire to it late in the evenings, otherwise we have to wait for the heavy monsoons to come and wash it away.

During this particular season every year this aberration makes it's presence felt, affecting sea life, birds and us humans as well. Most of us in the village like to have a dip in the sea before we proceed to the spring which is just a few steps away from the sea, but during this particular time, if you venture into the sea, you could have a tan that the Africans could envy, and the tar even reaches the spring, making it unusable.

Though our authorities have been notified about the tar deluge no action has come forth. What can be the source of this highly pollutant chemical compound?

From were does this tar come? Can it be the ships, barges, oil tanks or even the Zuari Agro-chemical factory? This particular phenomena occurs year after year without fail. So there must be some one or some people, who do some process which results into the pollution of our beaches and our environment. Our Authorities have to find this source and stop this deadly deluge.

Although year after year this particular problem is highlighted by the media, our authorities have not taken any action nor have they come up with any action plan to stop this aberration. Countries like Japan, Singapore and the USA have placed stringent law against defaulters polluting their water, and even a stain or a blob in the sea by the vessel, will immediately invite repercussions that will give the defaulting companies or the owners, sleepless nights and burn a huge hole in their finances as well.

Why can't we have these stringent laws in place to protect our beaches and our environment ? If one visits the Cutbona jetty in south Goa, it's appalling to see oil and diesel spilled all over the floor as well as the water and nobody cares, over the years, the shell fish, cockles, mussels, snails and oysters have all but disappeared from this area, even the crabs smell of oil. When will our authorities wise up or will they ever?


Freddy Agnelo Fernandes
Dubai - UAE

________________

Link article:
PANAJI: Sea water bringing along blobs of viscous material and depositing these on the beaches of Ashvem in the north and Benaulim in the south is turning tourists away. As summer draws to a close, the sea churns out all the dirt and the grime in the form of tar balls that wash up on the shore.

At Ashvem beach, while some tourists and locals alike on Friday seemed unfazed by the floating grime, others preferred not to venture into the reddish brown water. "The water leaves a sticky film on the body," said a middle-aged tourist.

Though this is an annual feature, the government hasn’t ever made special plans to clean the beaches of these tar balls. Director of tourism Elvis Gomes said the maintenance of hygiene on Goa’s beaches has been tendered. "The contractors have to monitor cleanliness and hygiene on beaches," he said. But the contractors do not seem alive to the problem though these contracts extend up to the end of May.

Tar balls are formed by the sea whipping up the oil heavy polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons lying at the bottom of the sea formed by the oil discharged by ships when at port. "When the sea starts churning, they cohese from liquid fractions into solids," Dr Joe D’Souza, a microbiologist said. He added, "sometimes, if the density is less, they float on the surface like foam."

A study conducted some years back by Dr D’Souza had collected two separate samples of tar balls from the beaches of Goa and sent for analysis to PetroLab GMBH, in Speyer, Germany. Using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry the analysis of the tar balls revealed the presence of 16 polyaromatic hydrocarbons of which benzo(a)pyrene and naphthalene are known to be highly carcinogenic.
(Times of India)

Also view
http://www.goaaquatics.com/gallery_goa.html

Goyem kaal, Goyem aiz, Goyem faleam astolem ?

Konkani Speech - by Freddy Agnelo Fernandes
(Global Goan Convention - Muscat 2009)

Goyem kaal, Goyem aiz, Goyem faleam astolem ?

Your Excellency, the Indian Ambasador to the Sultanat of Oman Mr. Anil Wadhwa, Amchea sogleamchea volkicho ani apurbayecho Goy'cho put, videxi aslolea Bharat Nagrikamcho Commissioner manadik Shri. Eduardo Faleiro, her mukeli Soire ani mojea bhou mogall Goy'karano. Aiz vhod khuxallkai ani obhiman maka bhogta tumchea mukar ubo ravun bagh ghevounk hea no-via ak'kea sonvsarant ximpodlolea Goy'karamchea maha-mellaveant, ani upkar attoitam Dr. Mario-ache, thannem maka ho soyoug dhilo mhunn. Hanv tumcho abbari Dr. Mario. Argam attoitam Oman Goy'karanche ani magtham tumkam uppot bessanvam sorgimchim.

Hanv tumkam ek prosn vichartam ani ravtam tumi to sogot eka tallen ditoleat mhunn, Ami Goy'kar ? Anik ek paut tumkam vichartam, ami Goy'kar ? Khosle Goy'kar ? Nizache Goy'kar, Hoi ami nizache Goy'kar, sarkem asa, punn ami thondanuch nizache Goy'kar mhunn ucharlear zaina, ami tem khorneanim dhakovunk zai, amchea holddeant asunk zia, poile swater niz Goy'karachem khaliz, niz Goy'karachi Konkani jib amchea thondant ani Goy' mattecho mog, husko ani dhasti dhavunk zai amchea rogtant, rakhunk ani samballunk amche Goy mattek, nistor mon'xeanchea hatatlim, je Goy' mattek broxtacharan bhorun thicho bolathkar korunk sodtat, thedna-ki amchean mhunnonk zata, ki, oi ami niz Goykar mhunnon. Asa hem amche sovem ? Ami khosle Goy'kar ? Jivak borem dislem itke soggot niz Goy'kar hangasor asat tem polloun.

Maghtam amchea mukeli Pauneam ani heram Soiream thaim, thannim okmanit zauvchem nhoi, jedna hanv uloitam amchea aamdharam ani rajkarbaream-chea khortutam voir, punn tem borea monan, somzun ani nittai-er haddunk vavurunk moji khalti maghnim tumche sovem.

Amche Maim baxen ek mhunni asa “vellachi ghoddi ani somdirachi sukti bhorti, khonnakuch ravona” “time and tide waits for no men” he mhunnent soglemch sott asam. Hoi, mogall Goy’karamno, vellachi ghoddi ani somdirachi sukti bhorti khonnakuch ravona, faleam kitem astolem vo kitem zat’tlem, khonnachean sangonk zait ? Faleam khonnen pollelam ? Aicho dis gorjecho, aichem kam faleam keddinch soddchem nhoi, mhunn amchea purvozani amkam sanglam. Amcho ani amchea burgeamcho fuddar boro zat’tlo zalear aizuch ami vauvrunk zai, aichea kortutamchem amkam faleam mukamoll distolem. Vellachi ghoddi ani somdirachi sukti bhorti khonnakuch ravona ! Time and tide waits for no man.

Aiz ami ektovleam, somsarant ximpodlolea Goy’karamchea maha-mellaveant “Galfant asl’lo Goy’kar” ho hettu ghevun. Videxant asl’lea dor eka Goy’karachi chintnam ani sopnam asta, ami kedna Goyeam pavtole-gai mhunn, punn hatunt ek motto prosn uprasta, Goy’eant amkam kitem rauvta ? What awaits us in Goa ? Or what do we go back to ?

Adlea temparlem bangarachem Goyem amchem, irrvea zadhamni borlelem, ghirestkayechem bhandar tem aslem, tiche ankvar suropayecho ani sundortayecho onnbhov ghevunk, baile desantle toxech purai Bharatant rauvpi zantte toxe nentte axeta-let, udenttechem Roma-xar mhunn ucharlolem, Bharat desheachea mukuttar loklokit thik mhunn pacharlolem, turistamchem tikkan mhunn porgottlolem, kitleai pauvti bhetton, thanchi thaan (thirst) bago nasli, anikui bhettonk tim axetalim, bailo lok ximittacheo vhod imaroti pollounk eanat, nam mhunnon vingle dongor vo nixonton zallim mollam, bailo lok ganvchea nitol swast vathavoranak ani ankwar suropayek bulta, ani hench ami sambalunk ani vadovunk moji sorkara thaim maghnim, and it is the natural beauty of Goa that needs to protected, preserved, nourished and harnessed to develop our tourism industry.

Ami addlea tempachem jednam chinttanv, (the good old days) tednam amkam, amchea sadeponacho, udharponacho, mog-moipasacho ugdas ieta, khoslich dhasti nastonam jietalet, swast vathavaranacho, swas ghevun, nitol udik pieun, ghorchem pikoilem jevon jevun, ani somdirantlem tajem nustem khavun sukki asle. Soglem sovai aslem ani sompeponim mello, Ghoram amchim disa 24-voram ugtim aso, khonnui to zanv, vatsuream kednach portim naslim, te dis ekdomuch annondache asle. Aiz te dis amkam mevot-gai ? Aiz ami toxem khorunk xoktanv-gai ? Will we ever get those days back ? Nam, Aichi poristiti toxi nam. It is certainly different now. Unfortunately things have changed drastically.

Koslem duvens Goy’eank laglam ? Udorgotichea narrear amche irrve dongor ani zaddam nanch khorun udoileant, dongor foddun, xetam bhorun amchea peryavaranacho satyanas khela, vhod vhod imaroti bandun amchea disadispotea jivitache halo-val keleat, hea mega housing-ant, ghoram ghevunk Goy’karank putvota ? Nam, mogall Goy’karano, tor hem khonak ani kiteak bandthat ? He udorgothiche paunde nhoi, him noxtachi paulam zavun asa. Osli noxti udorgoth Goy’karank kityak zai ? Hanv mhunnona Goy’chi udorgoth zanvchi nhoi mhunn, but what we need is constructive development and not destructive development. Ami amchem atrun pollun amche paim sodunk zai. Ami 21-via xenkdeachi vatt thankthanv punn azzun-i amkam favo titli bijli ani ghoroz titlem udok Goy’karank poile swater mellona, zaite khelle ganvani loak sanjeche 5-hora fudden tube light-i pettoun dhovortat, kiteak, tilsanz zatoch teo pettonat, bijili pavona, toxench zaietch khelle ganvani “public” nolla-xim vo tankara-xim aidonachi vhodli khota (line) khorun, axen udkachi vhatt poletat, osle poristetent amcho sorkar maha-imarotimk khoxi porvangi dita ? Zait amche rajkarbari oslea ganvani azunhoi pavunk nant ?


Mina vorvim anik ek vhod odruxt Goy’cher ailolem asa, khudd amchea Vidhan Sobeant, zababdharechea mon’xan mutlam ki, zaite amche aamdhar ani montri akaidixer minant baghidar asat mhunn, azuni 40-sam voir akaidixer mina khonni-ni, min khaddit asat, hem itle sobemazar cholta astonnam, amcho sorkar kuddea-chem dhong ghevun asa. Bharatache Unch niyailayen (Supreme Court) hukum ghatlolo asa ki, khuichea-i “rakon mapllelea” swatimchea (protected areas) 1-Km bhountim, min khadunk zainam mhunn, totakpachi ghoxt mutlear, Peryavaran Mantralayan, oslea 3 (tin) zageancher min khadunk, Goy’eant porvangi dil’li asa. Unch niyailayecho kitem respet ?

Amche irrve dongor ani mollam amkam anik kitlo tem mhunn dhektolet te amchean sangonk zainam, hem orixit noxt amchea swast peryavarancho ani nitol vataverancho bosm kortolem. Bharat sorkarachi eauzon asa purai Bharatant zomniche 33% (tokke) irrve asche mhunn, aslolea tea ranache 50% (tokke) tor noxt khorun udiole, tor 33% khuiche urtole ? Sorkarachi hi eauzon Goy’chea peryavaranacheo khel-bai-io xeo distat. Sorkar cholovpi munisuch aplea sorkarache kaide moddtat tor, kaide anik kiteak ? Minachea vatharant zaiteo baim-eo sukleat, khondare, toleo ani zori pasun noxt zaleat, varea baxen, udokui mon’xakullak ekdomuch ghorjechem. Mon’xean, peryavarana borobor ani tichea sangata paul marchem, nhoi tor munis sandtolo, anik ek mhunni asa, “vetak cukot tor vaunvak sukta” uprant roddon faido nam. Udorgothchea nanvan, poixeamchea axen peryavaran noxt khorop sarkem nhoi, kiteak mon’xeakullacho fudhar peryavaranacheruch asa.

Ak’kea sonvsarak loak peryavaranam khatir zuzta punn amchea Goy’ant, khonakuch poddonk nam, ami peryavaranacho valor zanna zavun-uni to mandun ghenant. Poixeamche axen mon’xak khuddo kela, poixeamchea fuddem amkam anik kainch dissona, oxem khorun ami peryavaran sambalche boldek, tem noxt khorpac amcho tenkko dila, ani hachi amkam zap dhinvchich podteli. Je porim ami vethanv te porim 33% irrvem Goyem kedinch asonk xokchem-nam.

Amche montri mhuntat, minamcho dhondo anikui fuddem vorcho punn thacho peryavaranacher, ani mon’xeamcher unnean unnem osor poddcho (minimum impact). Goy’eant min khaddunk laglear kitlim vorsam zalim? Anik unnean unnem osor mhuntat to khoslo ? Mina khonnitli mati denvun amcheo nodi purvot aileo, ani vaunvtea udokachi vhatt bondh zavunk paulia, baimeo, toleo, khondare sukot aileat ani uloleanchem udok noxt zavun, mon’xank toxem zonvarank khotro asa, pikavolichea xetant, minachi matti poddon xetam noxt zaleant, mina-khonnichea vatharani roste sarke nasson zaite obgathak sompodleat, toxench thea vatharant tanchim ghoram ani pempde (lungs) dulan bhoron asa, ani kitlech, torechea duvensak sampodlole asat, zalear ho unnem osor koso zavunk xekta, ho unnem osor zalear, choddan chod osor kitem astolo ? Parman-hatiyaramcho attak (a nuclear holocaust), Goy’eant, Purtugez tempar thaun min khadtat tor amchea sorkaran azunui “mining policy” kiteak mandunk nam ? Bailea, ontrollavelea praneank ti mandunk ravta ? Are we waiting for the aliens to draft it for us ? Hea vhel’lar, hem ekdomunch mothvachem ki ami hea modur ani ekdomuch gorjechea prosnacher amchem lokx ghalun ani goroz podlear forsanui hea odruxtacher zoit zoddunk, amchi Goy’chi nazuk sobitai ani sundortai amchea fudlea pindgeank sambalchi.

Hea amche cholvolint amchea ammdharani ami montreani dudvamchea forsan mining-gak ani bilder-rank aplo tenkko dil’lo asa, thor osle porititint Bab Feleir-acho kitem vichar ? Goy’chem nixonton zanvchem ? vo Goyem sambalchem ?

Goy’eant kaidea mandavoll ekdomunch bigodleli asa, brostachar ek dhanvte ghadiea sarko, ekdomunch hat-bhair paula. Hakach lagon, amcho Goy’cho sorkar, halta-dolta, adlouta, khod-khodta ani amchea pulam baxen kedn-ai podunk xokta. Kaido-vhevosta amcheam rostem baxen biglot asa, kaim dissam poilim tin disank 10-modim mel’lolim, bomb funtleat ani disan dis choreo, khui pauvlam amchem Goyem ? Brostachar, udhorgothichea paundear ek vhod adkhod zaun asa, zo meren brostachar vostolo te meren Goy’eant khoslich udhargoth zaunchi nam.

Kaido mutleli vost fokt amkam ghoribank, poixe aslole mon’xank khoslech kaide lagonat, amche aamdhar montri chodxe tanchea poxeamchea forsan akaidixer khama koteleank aplo tenkko ditat ani innocent mon’xank pidhapid formaitat. Je kaidean, aplea hok’ak khatir, mina ani “mega project-tam” virud zoggodtat thankam rokdech dhorun, bondkhonint ghalun, pidhapid ditat, ani “encounter” khorun marpachi dhomki passun ditat.

Amchem, bolaikechem, toxench xikxon kendrachi poristiti itli bigodloli asa ki, bitor voichem poilem, 100 paut chintchem poddtat, amcho monis vo burgo, hatunt bitor vo hache bhair boro astolo-gai mhunn ? Hakach lagon zaitech ghorib, zanchekodde tankona, te pasun aplea mon’xank ani burgeank “private” hospitalant ani scholani dhadtat. Aiz Goy’ent hi poristiti zal’li asa.

Ami amchea burgeank ani fudlea pindgank kitem dhovrunk sodtanv ? Khosli girestkai ? Ami sokt chintunk zai, ani aizuch chintunk zai, vellachi ghoddi ani somdirachi sukti, bhorti khonakuch ravona. Amchem adlem, kaalchem Goy’chem chinttun amchim kalza-monak sontostat, suseg-shanti mel’lta, Amchea aichea Goy’chem chintlear dolleant fokt dukham ietat, ani amche ghirestkai ektaupache axek lagon Goy’chi suropai ani sosnikai khobar khorun udoit zalear, faleam Goyem astolem ? Atam vell paula, khorneani amchem niz Goy’kar-pon rakunk, Uttat Goy’karam-no, “vellachi ghoddi ani somdirachi sukti bhorti khonnakuch ravona,” “vethak cukot tor vanvak chuktole”. Faleam Goyem aschem zallear Rakkon khorat Goy-mattechi.

Hea soggot noxtank ek zabab asa, ani thantuntleannuch Goychem ani Goy’karamchem boreponn zavunk zata, them mhutllear bore nitol monnache ani nitol khalzache mon’xank niudun haddunk, je fokt Goychea ani somajeachea borepnna pasot vauvurtole, Goyeant borem sason zai tor, sason choloipi bore asunk zai, thaka lagun moji khalti maghnni Bab Faleiro thaim, zo Congress sorkaracho ek vorixt khambo zavun asa, magtham ieta thea elisanvant bore nitoll, Goy’cho ani Goy’karamcho husko aslole ummedvar amkam divunk.

Baxon khobar khortam, Swargi Ravindranath Tagor-achea utrani “hea tol-moleantlean ani koxtantlean uttum-di mojem Goyem” “Through all this turmoil and tragedy let my Goa awake”

Peryavaran rakhat, Goyem rakhat, Bharat Jai ho, Goyem Jai ho, Viva Goa

Dev borem khorum.

[Source: http://goanidentity.blogspot.com/2009/11/konkani-speech-freddy-agnelo-fernandes.html ]