Goa Monuments in grave danger with new Act -Interview with Prajal Sakhardande (Target Goa) An appeal to Goa Government‏

Governor of Goa -Dr. S.S. Sidhu

Chief Minister of Goa - Digamabar Kamat

Opposition Leader Mr Manohar Parrikar

Mr Narendra Kumar - Secretary to Governor of Goa

Dear Sirs,

We as concerned Goans have a responsibility to highlight to you, our serious concerns, shock, dismay and protest at the highhanded manner that our rich ancient and priceless heritage is being put at great risk and immeasurable damage by the actions of the Government of Goa in making amendments to the original and perfectly comprehensive Goa Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1978, obviously with a vested interest and hidden agenda that is obvious to all.

While our concerns raised to you tend to be consistently ignored, we demand that you take cognizance of our wishes and aspirations. To that effect we stand behind Prajal Sakhardande's demands in this article from Target Goa that is appended for your reference. I also am attaching the news-report from the Times of India for your reference.

Unfortunately the well-being and interests of Goa and Goans are being sacrificed by the governmenmt of Goa to promote it's hidden agenda and vested interests, whether it be in the failure to of the Government to implement a Regional Plan per the demands of the people, protection of our Goan lands, environment, villages, pandering to the wishes of the Hotel Industry, Real Estate, Casinos, Mining Lobbies and now by this latest attempt to even destroy our rich heritage. Unfortunately "the Golden Hand" that our dear Chief Minister alludes to in his Third Year Anniversary self-congratulatory message makes a mockery of the common man and woman in Goa, by the very anti-people stand that the Government of Goa has adopted in all it's wheelings and dealings against the wishes of the people.

We are shocked how the interests of Goa and Goans continues to be crushed and how the Government of Goa seems to be doing it's utmost best in destroying our rich legacy, heritage and priceless monuments.

To that effect we strongly urge you to immediately respond to the communication that has been send by our Heritage Activists namely to you the the Governor, to the Chief Minister, to INTACH and to to every concerned authority. We are shocked that none of you have chosen to reply.

The people of Goa also ask that you de-notify this Act immediately and restore the status-quo failing which we endorse the decision oto file a PIL with the High Court.

Likewise may I request all concerned Goans to voice their opinions irrespective whether the addressed parties above chose to respond to you or not as from one's previous experience as well as that of Prajal Sakhardande's their intentional silence does tend to be deafening. Please share this message with all concerned Goans.

Roger D’Souza

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Goa Monuments in grave danger with new Act (From Target Goa)

Prajal Sakhardande is worried that the amended Monuments Act gifts Goa’s monuments to any developer to re-erect or re-construct and no one can approach the courts to stop this robbery of our heritage

What are the amendments that have shocked heritage lovers all over Goa?

Our basic objection is why was the need for the Government of Goa to make any amendments to the original and perfectly comprehensive Goa Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1978. That was a good Act where the government was merely the caretaker of the monuments of Goa which belong to the people of Goa. The monuments were to be looked after, i.e. maintained, preserved and conserved by the Archaeological Department in a caretaker capacity. In the new Amendment to the 1978 Act which has been called The Goa Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment) Act, 2010 the “maintenance” clause has been substituted to include “re-construction” and “re-erection” of the monument. It is also in force retrospectively from March 1, 2007. This means that the monuments – forts, churches, chapels, temples can be pulled down and rebuilt.

What are you specifically objecting to?

This Act is highly unconstitutional. It was made into an Act when the Bill was signed by the Governor of Goa Dr S S Sidhu. We object to a number of clauses in the Act; especially the one which says the Government of Goa can invite any other agency or private party to take over the monument. The private party, let’s say a hotel developer from Delhi or Dubai, or Mumbai, can re-construct or re-erect a monument and turn it into a hotel. It could be a Delhi hotel developer.

But surely you or I can approach the courts to stop the gifting away of our heritage?

You and I or any member of the public will not be able to go to court. This is by far the worst clause which says that the courts cannot take cognizance of any case filed by a member of the public. A suit or application can only be filed by the government or after getting permission of the government. And the Governor of Goa S S Sidhu gave his assent to the Bill seeking to amend the Act of 1978. That is why we have written him a letter expressing our fears and protest, but he has not chosen to reply yet.

Have you made your objections known to other authorities?

We have written to the Governor, to the Chief Minister, to INTACH to every concerned authority, but we have not received a single reply. We have to stop this Act. As a last, a very last resort, we will file a PIL in the High Court. We will give them some more time to reply to us. If they do not then we have to do something about it. This is our heritage they are playing with. This belongs to us and to the generations to come.

Can heritage activists work with the Church to get this Act revoked or restored to what it was in 1978?

Yes we can, because there are many churches and chapels in the list of 51 protected monuments.

What is the significance of the clause “in retrospect from March 1, 2007”?

If a letter of intent was issued to a developer on March 1, 2007, allowing him to re-erect or re-construct a fort, then he can take over the fort today and do pretty much as he pleases. We cannot stop him, because the Act forbids the courts from taking cognizance of any cases filed by the public. Our monuments which bind us to our past will be gone forever from our possession.

There are those who would say, so what, let the monuments be used commercially, at least the government will earn some money from them. Would they be wrong?

Yes, they would be wrong. Take a quiet village. The fort will be turned into a five star luxury resort. What is going to happen? Shops will come up, taxis, rickshaws, motorbikes, housing will be built for the staff of the hotel and all the ancillary industries. The poor will string up hutments in the fields and every vacant piece of land. Water and electricity will be diverted to the newcomers. The demography of the village will change with the number of outsiders pouring in. No sewerage, no waste management. Is that what we want? The villages of Goa will have to decide. And they will have to decide soon.

Can you name some of the monuments and the villages they lie in?

1. The Church & Convent of St Francis Xavier, Old Goa

2. Our Lady of the Mount, Old Goa

3. Santa Monica Convent Chapel of the Growing Cross, Old Goa

4. College of St Populo, Old Goa

5. Church of St Peter, Old Goa

6. Gunpowder Factory wall, Ribandar

7. Casa do Polvora, Panvelim

8. Chapel of St Jeronimo, Chorao

9. British Cemetery at Donapaula

10. Franciscan Church of Reis Magos which was the first church in Bardez.

11. Juvem Fort at St Estevam

12. Chapora Fort

13. Temple of Saptakoteshwar, at Narve.

14. Khorjuvem Fort is in immediate danger of being taken over.

15. Cudnem Jain Temple

16. Namazgah at Bicholim

17. Adilshahi Masjid at Surlapar

18. Alorna Fort

19. Shigao Cave

20. Cabo de Rama, Canacona

21. Gate of Rachol Fortress

22. Mormugao Fort

23. Agapur Madhavdev temple

24. Kundaim Cave

25. Khandepar Cave

26. Rivona Buddhist cave

27. Aquem Cave

28. Mahalsa Tank

29. Chandreshwar Temple Paroda

30. Pansaimal rock art

31. Kajzur rock art

32. Consua math

33. Vichundrem Naryandev temple near Rivona

34. Nagueshi temple

35. Kamakshi temple

36. Jain Bhakti temple Bandode

37. Ancient Site of Shantadurga temple at Kelshi

38. Ancient site of Ramnath Temple at Loutolim

39. Ishwar Bhat at Khandepar

40. Saptakoteshwar temple at Opa Khandepar

41. Tiracol Fort which has already been damaged by a hotelier

42. Our Lady of Saude, Sancoale

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New heritage Act is threat to protected Goan monuments - Times of India

TNN, Sep 29, 2010, 03.00am IST

PANAJI: All 51 state-protected monuments are under threat from a new Act passed by the Goa government, heritage lovers have alleged. They pointed out to clauses in the Act for reconstruction of heritage assets which, they warned, may be misused to alter the character of the assets and hand them over to private parties.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, members of the Goa Heritage Action Group (GHAG) raised apprehensions about loopholes in the Goa Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (amendment) Bill, 2010. The legislation, which was recently passed in the state legislative assembly, seeks to empower the government to carry out re-erection and reconstruction. It also authorizes the government and permits "any other agency" to put any protected monument to re-adaptive use, members pointed out.

"All 51 monuments under the state archives and archaeology department are vulnerable," Poonam Varma-Mascarenhas, a conservation architect and GHAG member, said. She added that the clause about reconstruction may be misinterpreted to alter the character and aesthetics of monuments.

"Reconstruction is carried out in extreme cases of full decay as a last resort. It is the last of the seven degrees of intervention," Varma-Mascarenhas explained. Pointing out that re-erection and reconstruction are broad terms and have been misused in the past to alter the nature of monuments, she added, "The international charters for conservation of historic buildings decree that minimum effective action is always the best."

GHAG executive member Prajal Sakhardande agreed. Pointing out that the Mahadev temple of Curdi had been transplanted stone-by-stone from a site under submergence in the Selaulim dam area to a safer place, he said, "They did not alter a single stone during the process."

Varma-Mascarenhas said reconstruction can be carried out as part of policy in the original Act itself without an amendment. "But an exercise evaluating the historical, architectural, social and cultural values of the monument, to assess the degree of intervention required, is essential," she stressed.

Opposing the handover of monuments to private parties, the heritage lovers said the government's approach to conservation and exclusion of people in these matters increased possibilities of the Act being misused. The fact that Cabo de Rama fort had been omitted from the TCP list and re-included after protests raises suspicions, they added. "The monuments belong to the people and are entrusted to the government, which is considered the caretaker, in good faith," Varma-Mascarenhas said.

GHAG secretary Jack Sukhijia called the implementation of the Act, which was passed during the assembly's monsoon session with retrospective effect from March 2007, as "unconstitutional". "The clause barring courts from taking cognizance of an offence punishable under this Act is objectionable," Sukhijia said.

Sakhardande said GHAG has written to the governor raising apprehensions that the amendment may lead to the destruction of priceless history and heritage. "We are also trying to create awareness and have sought legal opinion. We may file a public interest litigation," he said. He alleged that the disappearance of the 13th century hero stone (Virgal) from Nagvem in Sattari may be part of an antique smuggling racket.

GHAG, which was formed on September 30, 2000, will, meanwhile, observe its tenth anniversary on October 2, with a cultural programme in Panaji, members said.

Tourism leave our coasts alone!

A call to protect India’s coastal ecology from irresponsible and unregulated tourism

EQUATIONS statement on World Tourism Day

27 September 2010

Speaking on the theme of World Tourism Day 2010 “Tourism and Biodiversity” UNWTO (World Tourism Organisation) Secretary-General Taleb Rifai, claims, “Tourism and biodiversity are mutually dependent. UNWTO wishes to raise awareness and calls upon the tourism stakeholders and travellers themselves to contribute their part of the global responsibility to safeguard the intricate web of unique species and ecosystems that make up our planet”. The High Level Dialogue on Tourism, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development, in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, the host of the WTD celebrations, will reportedly debate issues ranging from the economic value of biodiversity for tourism, to how to integrate biodiversity protection into planning for sustainable tourism. We wonder, if apart from the UNWTO itself, anyone else actually believes its propaganda!

Cashing in on Biodiversity

That tourism and biodiversity are mutually dependent is a myth increasingly being propagated. The UN International Year of Ecotourism in 2002 was an earlier global attempt to do this. The purpose these myths serve is to open the doors to the global tourism industry in ecologically fragile areas, and establish tourism as the new patron of conservation, dislodging the role and rights of indigenous people and nature dependent communities. Concepts such as the economic value of biodiversity promote the idea of nature as a tradable commodity, which suits very well a consumptive industry such as tourism.

Tourism is the only industry that sells a product it does not own! The coasts, the rivers, the mountains, the forests and the deserts – are all sold as tourism products – without acknowledging that these exist only because they have been revered as sacred, and protected in sustainable ways, by indigenous and nature dependent communities through their cultural, social and economic practices and their choices of lifestyle and livelihood.

A sorry tale

When one considers the coastal ecosystem holistically, both sea and landward, it is a miracle of rich biodiversity with varied degree of life forms - the sand dunes, beaches, wetlands, mangroves, estuaries, backwater lagoons and coral reefs.

• Mangrove theme park at Pappinissery Panchayat, Kannur, Kerala

Constructed on tidal flats, mangroves and abandoned filtration ponds of thick mangrove vegetation, the site falls within a coastal zone, which is ecologically fragile. The plan involves construction of health clubs, watchtower, food court, recreation centre, conference hall, biotech toilets all proposed to be constructed within the mangrove and inter tidal area.

• Velaghar-Shiroda, Sindhudurg district, Maharashtra

Earmarked for tourism development by the government, the local fisher folk are presently contesting land acquisition and eviction notices served by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) on behalf of a prominent Indian hotel group, which plans to build a five-star hotel and beach resort with aqua-sports.

• Andaman Islands

Most tourism development here particularly in the popular Havelock and Neil Islands is in contravention of the CRZ Notification, 1991. A private resort in Corbyn's Cove Port Blair is located so close to the beach, that sea sand accumulates on the road and in the premises of the resort, which needs to be cleared periodically.

• Seaside resorts at Mandarmani , Purbo Medinipur district, West Bengal

According to the local District Magistrate, construction and running of these hotels has resulted in an ecological disaster. Sandbanks were flattened and the natural vegetation, screw pines, were cut down for construction. Since roads cannot access most of the hotels, cars ply on the beach for tourists to enter or leave the resorts. Red crabs that abound on the beach, as well as other fauna, are crushed under the unregulated vehicular traffic. A rise in pollution has also affected the coastal marine life and dwindling of catch of the local fishing community. Despite the Calcutta High Court issuing a directive that no future construction would be permitted at any place in Mandarmani that fell within the CRZ, construction continues in violation of the court’s order.

• Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu

Rampant tourism development has left no space along the beach and the immediate stretches of land adjoining the sea towards the southern side are completely occupied by the hotel industry. Amusement parks and water theme parks are the recent additions to attract domestic tourists. A theme park, which has planned its operation to cover 4000 visitors a day, has levelled the sand dunes to have an elevated structure for a clear view of sunrise and sunset.

This sorry tale continues along the coast– in Goa, in Andhra Pradesh, in Orissa, in Pondicherry and in Gujarat. Violations involve not just construction in no-construction zones, but flattening sand dunes; rapid coastal erosion; privatising beaches pushing out fisher folk and traditional occupations; letting untreated sewage into the sea, estuaries and backwaters; dismal solid waste management; use of unsuitable building materials and unsustainable energy practices; overburdening fragile ecosystems such as coral reefs and backwaters by increased tourist visitation; and pushing in consumptive models that leave heavy ecological footprints on fragile ecosystems.

Travelling the length of India’s 7500 km coastline is testimony to how tourism development in the pursuit of profits has failed to demonstrate stewardship towards either coastal ecology or the rights of coastal communities.

Coastal Regulation- a battle of two decades to protect the coast

The only notification for the protection of the Indian coast is the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification of 1991. No sooner was CRZ notified, than the attempts to dilute it began!

The first amendment to the CRZ Notification was because of pressure from the tourism lobby. The tourism industry argued that the prescribed 200 meters of “No Development Zone” restricted them from competing with beach hotels of countries where no such restrictions existed. They claimed the tourism industry would require only 25 to 30 kms of India’s 7500 km coastline, and hence relaxing the NDZ from 200m to 50m in CRZ Notification would not harm India’s coastal ecosystem! Under pressure, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) amended the CRZ Notification in 1994 reducing the NDZ area all along tidal water bodies. On being challenged, the Supreme Court quashed the amendment terming the step taken by MoEF as ultra vires, and restored the NDZ. This was a short-lived victory as the CRZ has been amended 21 times between 1994 and 2005, each dilution weakening the regulatory regime, many of these at the behest of the tourism industry.

In the last, few years there has been an attempt to replace the CRZ Notification with a management oriented Coastal Management Zone Notification (CMZ), a move that drew wide protests from coastal movements and civil society organisations, whose key concerns have not been taken into account in recent versions of the notification.

The recent move to exclude the ecologically fragile Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands from the ambit of CRZ Notification 1991 and to bring them under a separate Island Protection Zone Notification is another retrograde step, as it contains no specific regulatory provisions for tourism at all. Up to the year 2003, the construction of tourism establishments within 200m from the High Tide Line in the Islands was prohibited. Under pressure from the tourism lobby, this was reduced to 50m. Even with the diluted provisions, the violations by the tourism industry in the Islands are rife. We wonder what the case will be when tourism does not come stringently under the scanner for violations, past and future.

Sadly, there is little evidence along the Indian coast of tourism industry’s intent to be law abiding, let alone its claim of being a steward of biodiversity.

On World Tourism Day our call is “Tourism – leave our Coasts alone!”

To endorse this statement, contact us at campaigns@equitabletourism.org

EQUATIONS, # 415, 2C-Cross, 4th Main, OMBR Layout, Banaswadi, Bengaluru 560043, India

www.equitabletourism.org

Tar balls sent Goa beaches on a toss

The big disaster of tar balls being washed on the shores of goan beaches is very disasterous, this sticky if come in contact with the skin doesnt go off easily.

Yesterday 31/8/10 the Colva Civic and Consumer Forum called the collector south Goa Mr G.P.Naik to inform him that hardly few people are sent to clean up and he replied that he will inform concerned dept but till late 31st evening no one extra came forward, except a few fire dept personnel who did some work but did not come today as they were instructed to go for tree cutting elsewhere.

Mrs Judith Almeida of the CCCF pleaded with people to come forward and help in the beach clean up, students from Infant Jesus came forward to help along with few volunteers from the Colva village and started the clean up today . As per Judith more people should have come forward to help as it is a big disaster and will affect the tourism industry in a big way , people have invested in hotels and other tourism related ventures but even they had not come to help.

Disaster management cell in Goa seems to be non existent as they did not take the situation under control and people of the village had to do the work, even the panchayat members were not to be seen except for one lady panch member.

Yesterday the labourers brought by some govt agencies dug holes in the sand on the beach and filled it up with the tar , they were later stopped by CCCF volunteers , there was no expert from the govt side as to advice and instruct these men who were sent as to what was the nature of work.

Madonna Almeida

Vanxim Island sale out controversy update

On 20 August 2010 nearly quater of the islanders were attending court in Panjim Collector's office. At the same time person who filed these cases - Mahendra Gaunekar - was taking some foreigners suspected to be Japanese/Koreans/Chinese in boat around Vanxim island in Mandovi river. Gaunekar few years earlier had done arial survey of the island in a helicopter. This time besides the foreigners Gaunekar was reportedly accompanied by Police officer Allan De Sa in plain clothes. Perhaps he was on unoffcial mission to provide security cover to Gaunekar who has already accepted security deposit of Rs.36 crores from the corporate house in Bangalore who calls themselves ozone. Perhaps there is hole in the ozone already and Gaunekar is in search of new buyers. Archbishop Emirus Raul Gaonsalves as well as Archbishop of Goa Felipe Neri Ferrao are so far quite over this embarasing sin commited by the church in Goa. The guys who are on the move are former Chief Minister of Goa Dr. Wilfred D'Souza, his son-in-law Tulio basically in doing damamge control work in reducing negative publicity to the scandal in cupboard. Fr.Victor Rodrigues in the meanwhile instead of confessing the sin has commited another sin by speaking falsehood that Church is not involved in sale of Vanshi island. His statement is recorded onthe page one of Goamantak Times of 14 August 2010. May he be pardoned. Gaunekar in the meanwhile called up the Parish priest of Vanxim and asked him as to under what authority he made the announcement for the public meeting of August 8, 2010 in Vanxim. It looks like Mahendra Gaonekar has been ordained by the Archbishop of Goa as his assistant and hence exercising his authority over the Parish Priests in Goa. Or perhaps after buying off the Archbishop of Goa he wants to do away with non-conformist parish priest. It looks as if Church in Goa is vertically devided on Vanxim sale out and actually running for cover. The Truth shall set you free.

Vanxim (Capao): face-to-face with neo-colonialism in Goa

I had been to Vanxim (Capao) island almost ten years ago with Joel D'souza and together we had done a story. It was beautiful and mesmerizing. The story is till available online if you click here. It was still enchanting and appealing today when I visited the island today August 8, 2010 with the team of around 15 people from all over Goa. But there was a difference. The island had turned into a commodity, property. Ten years ago it was a homeland of the 80 odd or so islanders. Today vocabulary had changed and it is aptly described in a letter written by Fr. Victor Rodrigues, Procurator, Archdiocese of Goa to Mahendra Gaunekar, chief broker and architecture drop out besides son in law of Architect Kurade of Aldea de Goa in Bambolim-Nauxi. In the subject itself of this letter dated 10th November 2009 states "Ref: immovable property - Vanxi at Capao." Church very clearly has been co-opted in the capitalist economy. This was a letter that first time gave a sense that I had run into more than a conventional social problem that can be solved with some quick-fixes. His letter was revealing. Here is a complete text of the same:

"Dear Gaunekar,

As we were re-arranging our records, files and documents in our office, we came across some notices issued by the mamlatdar to us under the Goa Agricultural Tenancy Act in respect of the above mentioned property.

We immediately applied for the certified copies of the relevant papers to the mamlatdar which are received on 4th Novemeber, 2009.

Since the said property has already been sold to you we enclose herewith the said papers received by us to enable you to initiate appropriate steps is so desired."

This letter first time gave me a sense that land has been sold to Gaunekar.

Then further investigation revealed further details: One lakh eighty five thousand square meters of land is sold by the church to Gaunekar on February 11 2006 at the rate of Rs.20/- per square meter. Total value paid to the church in this transaction is Rupees thirty seven lakh two thousand and five hundred.

In another separate transaction total land of 74.16 Acres (three lakh two hundred and seventy five square meters) belonging to Patriarchate of East Indies, the Church was sold via registered deed of Transfer and Assignments of rights on the same date February 11 2006. This time Church was paid Rs. 18,01,650/-. Fr. Arlino de Mello - attorney of Patriarch of East Indies Rt.Rev. Felipe Neri Ferrao - has signed the official documents at the sub-registrar, Ilhas. The other party is of course Mahendra Gaonekar.

The total land amounts to 4,85,275 square meters. For this land on record church has received total of Rs. 55,04,150/-. So here we have a deal. Church selling entire Vanshi (Capao) island to a broker Mahendra Gaonekar.

It is now a matter of history as to what Church in Goa did in 2005. On the one side it propped up Goa Bachao Abhiyan and put in its might behind it to force the government to retract on plans get RP 2011, on the other side it parleyed with broker Mahendra Gaounekar to crystallize the deal in 2006 February 11! No one can beat Church in its diplomacy! It's 2000 years of experience is at work here for sure.

And this is not all. Mahendra Gaonekar received his reward from the massive economic interests involved here to set up tourism villas, golf course and amusement park - Ozone Propex Private limited based at No.38, Ulsoor Road, Bangalore - Rs.30 crores as security deposit. So besides being sole inheritor of wealth massive riches of his father-in-law Kurade from Cuncolim - not only from mushroom trade but also from all the tribal and otherwise in legal possession in post colonial Goa - this is an additional bumper crop. Unconfirmed reports point out that it is business tycoon in kingfisher beer trade Vijay Mallya who is behind all this. Vijay Mallya has already has investments in beer factory in Ponda taluka of Goa and real estate in Candolim.

So its interesting cocktail of alliance between traditional caste-class elites of Goa: Church and merchant capitalists - brahmins with mega capitalists interests of India that can afford to pay Rs. 30 crores as security deposits. Many decades ago Frantz Fanon wrote in his famous book "The Wretched of the Earth" that the newly freed colonies would be turned into neo-colonies via tourism investments. This is so amply true in case of Vanxim (Capao) island in Mandovi river.

Villagers had settled land records according to the Mundcar Act as well as Tenancy Act. Now villagers are lifted to the office of Bicholim deputy collector and negative declarations made to sign under co-ersion and ignorance. Well church is not doing this. It is the agents of the brokers who are doing this. Church only sold the land at twenty rupees and thought it will go scot-free.

Land titles needs to be drastically changed: villagers must be legally deprived of their titles to land if the crores of investment must see the day of light and make sure that globes rich and famous begins their jaunts on Vanxi island in near future. This process has began. Villagers are served with notices from the office of Collector after stable land titles for a decade and half! Even people from Vanxi who works in Mumbai are made to make special trips to Goa only to appear before the hearing on these cases. This is at a time when law commission of Goa headed by Ramakant Khalap has recommended that all the mundcar and tenancy cases be upgraded to full-fledged ownership. But these trends in Vanxi is clearly designed by Church-capitalist nexus towards accumulation of wealth through dispossession of the same from people. Currently it is with people of Vanxi and various techniques including the State offices like Collector, deputy collector of Bicholim and inducted to serve this purpose.

Church is Goa too is headed by an Archbishop and he cares a hoot if Vanxi people are rendered homeless. He can very easily get some nuns and priests to do more charity after people from here are thrown into the gutter. It may even make few people saints. Church has a history full of instances. Brazalian Archbishop once famously remarked "When I serve the poor I am called saint. When I ask why poor I am called a communist!" I wonder what Goa's Archbishop has to say now when he had committed sinful blunder by selling off the island to few merchants of death, death to the Vanxim villagers? Is he aware and conscious what what he has done? I condemn this totally, unequivocally.

If the church in Goa profess to stand in the side of justice then this alliance with the oppressors is totally unexplainable. One side it has deputed full time priest and full time office for Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP) and on the other hand involves itself in these nasty and dangerous action putting lives of entire people of Vanxi into danger? To whom is Archbishop of Goa going to confess your sins to? I sincerely feel Church in Goa is like a headless chicken that has lost all the brains and common sense.

Yet this is a beautiful example of secularism: Catholic and Hindu uniting together for a common purpose - to sell Vanxim island and put its residents and their future generations into grave risk. Perhaps it is co-incident that both the buyer and seller of the island - Archbishop as well as Mahindra Gaunekar are brahmins with common intention. One catholic brahmin sells the land to his fellow hindu brahmin at Rs.20/- per square meter. I paid Rs. 35/- today to take my decent vegetarian lunch. Land sold is cheaper than my lunch! In Panjim rate of land is Rs. 18,000/- per square foot. Not sure it was a gift or more money has exchanged hands off he record. After all Gaunekar has received Rs.30 crores it is unlikely that Church would satisfy itself with Rs.55,04,150/- unless Gaunekar has bullied the Archbishop.

This is second second church scandal that I have came across involving land of Santa Monica society. The first scandal took away land of tribal people in Dulapi and Mangado in Tiswadi and today stand Syngenta pesticides factory that is clicking time bomb that will take in its stride even the Old Goa world famous churches.

Why do church in Goa goes on getting into these scandals? After deep pondering I come the conclusion that Goa has entered into the era of neo-colonialism. The days of social problems are over. Just like Church came to Goa with Portuguese Colonialism, it is today very strong ally of new colonialism whose aim is all round exploitation and expropriation. What is happening in Vanxim (Capao) is exactly this. Church will have to make up its mind if it wants to continue siding with the neo-colonial forces hoping that traditional fear and respect it enjoy is going to overshadow these shady and shameful deeds or go in for drastic overhaul and reverse its alliances and go for full fledged committed alliance with the exploited by pushing for cancelling of the sale documents? Option lies before the church authorities themselves. If it does not reverse its position then it will be turning itself into an object of ridicule every time it speaks of justice. Action is louder than words. Goa's articulate and suave Archbishop would do well to learn this if he does not know as of now.

Any case irrespective of what the church decides the confusion is eroding rapidly. It is no longer a problem of corruption alone, land rights alone, ecology alone. It is a problem of power. It is a problem of tiny minority in Goa all out to sell Goa on a platter. It can be challenged with all the strategies needed to counter neo-colonialism. And today I saw the glimpse of this already. Goenchea Xetkarancho Ekvott (GXE) representative there declared protest at the Lohia Maidan for 15 August 2010. Goa's freedom movement against neo-colonialism has arrived in its twilight. It will become stronger and bolder as morning descends and sun begins to shine bright in the day. People of Vanxim are the children of this twilight of yearnings of freedom and my salute and support to them from the deepest bottom of my heart! I commit myself in their struggle. Their struggle is my struggle too.

Today there were several people from all over Goa who came to support Vanxim villagers. There was GAKUVED President Durgadas Gaonkar outlined history of Santa Monica since 1710 in relation to getting land under their control. He expressed support to the struggling people. he also shared as to how their agricultural land in Dulapi and Mangado had been similarly handed over to industry - Ciba of India limited after being held by Santa Monica Society.

Ida Coutinho of GXE spoke about how villagers in Salcete coast has been cheated by hoteliers and real estate and asked Vanxim people not to fall prey to land sharks. Diego Francis Rodrigues from Terekhol, Pernem in his speech declared that Mudcar law and Tenancy laws are meant for the protection of people and Revenue department is all out to rob people's land title to give them to land sharks. He said that tenancy lands cannot be sold and that why instruments such as MoU, Agreements, and Power of Attorney is used to circumvent the hurdles of land transfer. He pointed out that already 42,000 mundkar cases and 57,000 tenancy cases are languishing in various courts in the State of Goa, and Law Commission chairman Ramakant Khalap has recommended that this be upgraded to full fledged ownership status by December 2012. Dilip Hegde, President of GXE declared his support to the struggle of Vanxim people. Sebastian Rodrigues, Convenor of GOAMAP identified various actors in the great sale of Vanxi island and declared support to the struggle. Number of villagers also spoke. One declared "we need Vanxi to die here". Second one crossed him "If we are driven away from here then how are we going to be able to die here?". "We will make sure that island remains with us to die and also future generations to live" replied the elder man of the village. "We will die while we fight together, we are ready for this". "We are against sand extraction that is going on in Mandovi river very close to the island."

This meeting was just outside the Vanxim Church and was well attended by the villagers. I noticed at least some fear from the few faces had disappeared from the faces of those present. The fear because it is the head of their catholic faith Archbishop himself had sold their land for peanuts. This is an insult as well as shock at the same time. Religion had made them so fearful and unquestioning and now they have to survive only with fearlessness and questing authorities - however mighty and powerful they may be. Church has aligned itself with neo-colonial forces and there is something as drastic in the worldview as the earth shaking volcano. I noticed it when I was there amongst the people in Vanxim.

Even though I shared good respect to Archbishop Felipe Neri Ferrao over the past 18 years I though I have a bigger responsibility to stand up for Truths and Justice. I leave it up to the Universe and History to judge me. I need to side with the truth and justice with all my might with scant respect for the consequences that may follow. Truth is what Jesus stood for. Jesus preached Kingdom. Church preaches Jesus. It has forgotten who Jesus is. Otherwise Church would not have sold Vanxim Island. For how much worth Judas had sold Jesus? Jesus can be re-discovered amongst the exploited like the Vanxi people. He seldom enters Palaces like the one that Archbishop lives in.

May the good sense prevail on all the concerned.

Sebastian Rodrigues

Book review: Mazya Govyachea bhumit by Prabhakar Dhage

By John Fernandes,

Mazya Govyachya Bhumit” literary translation of which comes to “In My Goan Land” a book in Marathi language written by Pudhari local daily editor Shri Prabhakar Dhage which is compilation of thoughts pertaining to Goa, which the author presented in different chapter. Through the Book the author present different issues which are crucial and affects Goa.

In his first chapter “The Cuncolim Revolt” the author highlights that the Cuncolim Revolt which took place in 1583 is the first revolt against the European in the History of India. However he says that as the history is written by the rulers, there is no mentioned about the Cuncolim Revolt anywhere in the history of India. The authors says that it is a revolt to preserve the religious and Cultural identity of Goans.

Through the Chapter “problem of Emigration” the author says it result in change in social, Religious, Economic, cultural aspect of Goan Society. When both parents works abroad then it affect the family bond and directly affect the life of children.

In the chapter “Dudhsagar is danger” the author highlights that the existence of the world famous tourist spot of Goa Dudhsagar is in danger as there is a plan from the Karnataka Government to divert the water of Katla and Palona river to kali river which are the tributary of Dudhsagar . If Karnataka Government succeeds in its plan then the Dudhsagar will die once for all. The rampant cutting of trees by timber lobby, builder, railway contractor also endangers the water fall states the author further. The tourist or visitors who visits the Dudhsager are responsible for endangering the life of the Monkeys over their, as the monkey are provided with artificial food by the visitors such as biscuit, banana the monkey loss their habits of searching for food though the area is full of natural food for the monkey, as a result in the tourist off season the monkey dies of starvation.

In the chapter “The Baina Problem has really solved?” After the Baina demolition drive taken up by the then BJP government the prostitution problem did which Baina was facing did not solve but it aggravated as after the demolition, the prostitution concentrated at Baina spread different parts of Goa. The author says that Goa is known for its prostitution in reported by an Italian Voyager way back in 1666.

“Goan Sea getting rough” the author says tourist are attracted to Goa because of the beaches. The tourism department which promotes tourism for 365 days don’t have any concrete plan to protect Goan beaches. The rampant cutting of mangroves, marvels, release of hazardous waste from the industries and hotels, endangers the sea. If it continues the future of Goan beaches and seashore is in danger warns the author.

In the chapter “Police losing their credibility” the author says that the Goan police works as per the whims and fences of their political bosses. Citing the example of lifting Minister Philip Neri Rodrigues from the Assembly the author says due to political blessing the police ready to do any thing. Only those police have political backing are being promoted. The author further says that there is a nexus between real estate developer, politician, police , bureaucrats including those appointed from Delhi and other intellectual to sell Goa to outsiders for their selfish gains.

“ Goan Cherapunji is thirsty of development” This chapter starts with, still rural India is being ruled from the cities. The author terms Netraveli of Sanguem taluka is a Goan Cherapunji but is faces water problem during summer season. The problem of water which these area faces is due of mining that are going on in those area. There is wide scope for developing eco tourism, Nature club, krushi tourism, to generate sustainable development and employment opportunities to the local youth but the government is list bother about the same. The government is not bothered to develop ecotourism in those areas it want to promote mining. The author highlights how the mining companies who are all out to loot Goa make false propaganda that if mining stops people in mining areas will die out of starvation. Proving this propaganda to be false and misleading the author highlight that after the stop of mining in Netravali after its declaring as wild life sanctuary in 1999 the people residing there in are now living therein with more dignity then before when mining was going on.

There are also other chapters which deal with other vital issues affecting Goa and Goans. Those who know Marathi language should read this book.

It is not enough to be anti-mining

Nature Environment Society and Transformations (NEST) organized its third lecture in the series of Bikram Dasgupta memorial public lecture series on July 29, 2010 at Bal Bharati high School, Ribandar, Goa. The lecture “Goa: from trading port to tourism destination” was delivered by Raghuraman Trichur, Associate Professor & Department Chair in Anthropology at California State University, Sacramento, USA. Here are some notes from his lively lecture.
Discussion is important for knowledge production. Divides between various social sciences are artificial meant only to protect fiefdoms. Classical political economy is an area where all the subjects are rolled in one. It opens up intentions into actions and opens up various ways of opening up.
In Goa there is no connectivity in what historians say. There is no connectivity established to connect past with the present. Now how to see the connection between past and present? Goa history is a collection of evidences in the form of archival documents. It is like a Bollywood movie that has great characters but no story line to it. We all are living in capitalist society that is held together by conflicts. These conflicts unfold in various manners such as tourism, communalism, mining, racism etc.
Why tourism is so prevalent activity in Goa? Why Goa is dominated by tourism and mining? That is because certain forces are prevalent in Goa. They are called merchant capitalism that involves buying at cheaper rate from someone and selling the same at higher rate to someone else earning surplus in this trade. There are other two varieties of capitalism that is not dominant in Goa namely Industrial capitalism and Finance capitalism. Merchant capitalism in Goa developed in historical way. It is a part of colonialism. Portuguese wanted control of the port to source material from Asia to Europe directly. Earlier trade from Asia used to reach Europe via innumerable intermediary traders. The so called discovery of sea route to India by Portuguese sailor done away with need for intermediary traders. Merchant capitalism has its origin here. With direct trade from Asia to Europe (and also from Latin America to Europe with so called discovery by Columbus) merchants were becoming stronger that caused decline in influence of Feudal and Royal families. However merchants were culturally marginalized, example Jews.
Conversion to Christianity in Goa has not always been with the use of force. Lots of people also converted willingly to escape tyranny of prevalent caste system during Portuguese rule.
Portuguese carried on their colonial administration in Goa through auctioning of revenue collection system. Brahmins in Goa has a characteristic that is different to Brahmins in the rest of India. They are both landowning as well as businessmen. In fact they are merchants first before getting involved in mining. In the 19th century Portuguese Colonial power declined but local elites in the colonies became stronger in local economies. Portuguese had to depend upon local merchants to keep its colonial enterprise afloat.
Post colonial period economy and politics was dominated by elites. This was done through continues engagements in reproduction of dominance and eliminate everyone else. One example to this is in 1990s downfall of Du Pont project in Keri, Ponda was influenced by mining lobby that is dominated by merchant capital. If Nylon 6,6 had to come to Goa then power and influence of dominant elite would have eroded.
1960s witnessed rise of tourism in Goa. This is a historical response of marginalized population of Goa with eye for survival. Five star tourism institutions want to get rid of peasant households on coast. Peasant households erode five star type of tourism through their participation a control in the tourism trade on Goa Coast.
In Goa’s mining industry no processing neither value addition taking place. Merchant Capital and it is very exploitative in mining in hinterland and through environmental costs in tourism. Both do transfer of money and not products.
Tourism did not challenge the dominance of elites. Goa has a particular type of development – short circuit!
It is not enough to be anti-mining or anti-something alone. It is a distraction towards strategy to create power of the excluded people. There is a need to strategize to erode the influence of mercantile capital. In this process it is important to go back to the study of classical material and re-read. You may find gems for your strategy. We don’t have to be destructive but creative and consistent to be successful in the struggle.
Elites in the Merchant capital do many things to deep themselves in dominant position. Writing history is one of them. It is an act of power. Philanthropy is another thing that elites resort to keep themselves in power. There is a need to expose the nexus of dominance of merchant capital in Goa. Mahasweta Devi once asked “Why would soldier wield the sword? Obviously a sword is to eliminate the bad guy!” Pen is more powerful than sword. It is used to write, to convey, and to inform. We have the evidence but not able to connect and interconnect.
During Portuguese rule Ganvkaris were brought under the influence of few families. Rights were changed to ownership rights. Process of state formation is selective process involving only those were are politically engaged.
Tourism in Goa has been important process of confidence building for large number of people in Goa. There is a need to recognize history making ability of people. Historian of Goa has written partial history. We need to politicize what we learn.
There is need to capacity to understand diverse types of capitalism in the world simultaneously. In Goa there is primitive accumulation of capital through real estate as well as mining.
There is a need for creating new forms of resistance like environment movement. There must also be coordination between politics of mining protests groups with tourism protest groups. There is also the need protect state services like Health, Education etc. In 1980s 70% of the price was controlled by the State. Private sector had control over only 30% of the global price determination process. Now the private sector seeks to influence remaining 70% of the economy too. This will drastically push large number of people into marginalized position.
Why we need public-private partnership in Hospitals? Why can’t we just improve public hospitals? In fact public hospitals in Goa like GMC are better and affordable. The aim of private elements is just to exploit.
There is need in Goa to form a small voluntary study group dedicated towards study of classical literature such as 3 volumes of 'Capital'.
Raghuraman Trichur has authored an article titled “Politics of Goan Historiography” wherein his arguments are further elucidated. He also has worked on Goa for his doctoral studies in late 1990s.

Sebastian Rodrigues

Goa: from trading post to tourism destination

Nature Environment Society and Transformations (NEST) invites you to public lecture "Goa: From trading post to tourism destination" by Dr. Raghuraman Trichur, Associate Professor and Department Chair, California State University, Sacramento, California, USA on 29 July 2010 at 3.30 pm at Bal Bharati High School, Ribandar, Goa.

Prof. Trichur has completed his doctoral studies on Goa a decade ago and follows developments unfolding in Goa ever since. The lecture is organised as part of ongoing Dr. Bikram Dasgupta memorial public lecture series. This is a third in the series.

At home in Goa

http://www.hindustantimes.com/At-home-in-Goa/Article1-547294.aspx

The summer holidays are here and it’s time once again for a bit of frolicking on palm-fringed beaches. Unfortunately, I have, as usual, put off planning for the vacation till the last moment and now have no option but to go to Goa.

My usual procedure in Goa is to make a mandatory tour of the north and south Goa tourist hotspots and then settle down for some serious gorging and swilling, interspersed with periodic bouts of hard jostling at overcrowded beaches. After all you need to get your money’s worth and it simply wouldn’t do if Mr Sharma of flat 14 C enjoyed himself more than I did.

Thankfully, though, times have changed and I’ve been told that a trip to Goa these days offers a completely different itinerary. Here it is:

Day 1: Visit to the Russian mafia. This is a great opportunity to meet the dreaded Russian mafia right on our doorstep. You will be introduced to their great gang leaders Vladimir Ilyich and Josef Vissarionovich. Warning: Do not carry cash, credit cards or jewellery. Tour operators will provide full security, including bullet-proof vehicle, flak jackets, helmets and security guards with AK-47s. If you desire the experience, however, the Mafia will arrange to kidnap you, on payment of a small fee, so that you could write a short story on ‘I was a hostage of the Russian Mafia’.

Day 2: Visit to the mining mafia. This tour will take you to the hills of Goa, or what remains of them. Do not worry about the dust and the foul air, your operator will provide you with gas masks at no extra charge. You will be taken to the river near the camp, where you can see the amazing sight of the water turning red. You can then experience the thrill of travelling in one of the trucks carrying ore to an artificial mountain made entirely from waste ejected from the mine. You could climb the waste mountain and plant a flag at the top. Or alternatively, you could ski down it. The possibilities are endless.

Day 3: Visit to a restaurant off-limits to Indians. Those with a historical bent of mind wanting to sample conditions that existed during the British Raj will be taken to one of the several areas where Indian tourists are not welcome. Refugees from South Africa pining for the return of apartheid and masochists are welcome. Later on, a night tour of the beaches is perfect for those in search of material for writing crime novels.

Day 4: While the fish in Goa’s rivers may be dying, one particular species is flourishing — the land shark. This trip will take you to some of the biggest of them. Visitors are advised to wave their cheque books and discuss land prices when in the presence of land sharks. That makes them rise to the bait. But remember they are dangerous, apart from being related to the big fish in Panaji.

Day 5: Visit to the jungle. No, we do not mean the forests that used to cover so much of Goa, but to the concrete jungle. If tourists are lucky, they will be able to see real forests being cut down to make way for the concrete jungle or for mines. Who knows, you might even get to see an entire hill being levelled to make way for concrete blocks. Land sharks roam freely in the new jungle.

Best of all, all these familiar things will make you feel completely at home.

Manas Chakravarty is Consulting Editor, Mint

Same story: Russians put on loud music, police stops

At 11.10 pm Russian tourists residing opposite my my house on rent put on loud techno music - Goa Trance, my family was unable to sleep. Police were informed at Siolim police station. At 00.10 am police came and stopped the party. I received a call from the police at 00.15 am that loud music party has been stopped with request to inform them in case tourists resume the music back again.

It is becoming a test of patience to my family.

Sebastian Rodrigues

Police raided the party, loud music stopped

Its 2.28 am in the morning and police from Siolim Police Station has come and stopped the Russian tourists party that was playing loud music next my house. Hope to get peaceful sleep now at least for few hours.

Sebastian Rodrigues

Loud music next to my house at midnight

Tourists staying close to my house are playing loud music. It has started at 2.00 am now. Both the police stations - in Anjuna and in Siolim are alerted and informed about this but no police has come as yet here.

Also tried to call up the residence of Sylvestre Fernandes, Sarpanch of my village but he did not answer the call.


Sebastian Rodrigues

Lound music goes off

It's 3.30 am now and loud music has stopped. Not sure who intimated to stop may be police, may be Sarpanch. This none sense cannot go forever - however rewarding it may be for the people who are renting their houses and to the drug mafia- they have no right to disturb sleep of their neighbors and it has to cease permanently. We need to demonstrate that people of Goa has got guts and we are determined to exhibit them if we need to, in spite of we being peace loving and hospitable.

Sebastian Rodrigues

Siolim Sarpanch's residence intimated about the lound music at my nighborhood

It is 3.25 am now and Police has still not arrived here. Loud music continues and looks I have to spend sleepless hours in the rest of the morning too. I just called up the residence of Sarpanch of my Siolim-Marna village panchayat Sylvestre Fernandes at 08322272262 at 3.25 am and left a message with his son who answered after picking up my phone.

Sebastian Rodrigues

Police at Anjuna and Siolim intimated on loud music

I just called Police station at Anjuna at the phone number 08322273233 and asked them to act against this ongoing party. The police there has directed me to Siolim police station and gave me the following phone number 08322272233 of police outpost in Siolim. Policemen in siolim has asked the direction and said they are coming. I called them at 2.55 am now.

Sebastian Rodrigues

Loud music, drug party in Siolim

Its 2.09 am in the morning and I am shocked out of my deep peaceful sleep 5 minutes ago with loud decibel techno music played for their drug party by my new neighbors. It is not the first time it is happening, but going on for the past two weeks. My parents - mother and father has both been complaining about this and my dad even alerted the local member of Panchayat Rita who represent Marna in Siolim Panchayat.

There were cases of loud music by the Russians who stay close by to my house. I saw on television yesterday people of Morjim rising in revolt against the violent behaviour of Russian in their village. I join chorus one with them against the Russian citizens who are indulging in violent behaviour in Goa. now that I too have become the target of Russian insanity I can't help but blog and blog. i am not sure if I call the police it is going to be of any help but hopefully Police too will read this post and come and raid this ongoing party. Guys at the party has gone insane and are shouting loudly.

You know this has taken away my space to rest, sleep and dream. But what for? What harm did I caused to Russian? Cannot recollect that in my life I have ever disturbed the sleep of any single Russian in my life either in Goa or anywhere in India. So why do I deserve this?

I wish Vikram Verma comes over to my house and stay over for the night and witness all this that goes on first hand so that he can share it with Russian Consulates wherever they are located.

Few days back I witness a regular trend. In the evening parties would start. The girls would be brought to dance and they would break into a song and dance right on the road. The secret of this behavior is not difficult to guess. I and parent could smell the strange smell right inside my house. I could not understand this but my parents told me that it is of some drugs - perhaps canabis or some synthethic drugs. Oh yeah, drug use an its abuse is everyday affairs here for the past two weeks. It is just today that it crossed my tolerance limits and as a first step though I would speak out against this. Not sure if Goa's Home Minister Ravi Naik knows about all this but he is welcome to visit my house to witness loud techno music in this wee hours with rampant drug abuse.

And Goa Police are welcome too. I have read and personally heard so may cases of police in Goa implicating innocent people into drug cases. I was scared that if I speak out then this may happen to me as well. But my home has now become a prison. I have been held captive by the aggression on Goa by the Russians. My sleep at this hours has gone and it is nightmare experience. So I don't care about the consequence any more. I have decided to speak out with all my might, for it is better to be in prison rather than live like slave of the Russian in my own home - literary.

At this wee hour I have nothing else to do. My dignity has been deeply violated and insulted. These writings are my attempt to reclaim it. I appeal to everyone who cares about sleeping peacefully in their homes to join their voices to my voice and do every thing they can so that People of Goa can find liberation from poor behaved, ill mannered, inhospitable and hostile those have cut loose themselves in Goa. You may write to me at sebydesiolim@hotmail.com or call me at my cell 09923336347. We have to unite together and speak out loud for the sake of our sanity and peace in our neighborhood and Goa.

It is 2.40 am now and I stay at 31/A, Igrej Vaddo, Marna, Siolim, Goa.

Sebastian Rodrigues

What Are We Waiting For?

Squeezed between the calamities of tourism and mining, Goa is on the brink, says CARMEN MIRANDA, as she calls for change

Herald 01 January 2010, Panaji

As 2010 dawns, ending another decade, Goa’s destruction continues unabated, driven by the greed of a few people inspired by an economic system that has enormous shortcomings, such as the environmental crisis that threatens to engulf us all.

We could have been the lucky ones, living in Goa with a pristine environment, enjoying the simple things in life, enriched by an idea of prosperity and happiness that did not know the hunger of consumerism that dominates society today and which comes at an enormous cost to planet Earth, and a deadly cost to Goa.

Goa, ‘the Pearl of the East’, among the smallest states in the country, could have been a jewel in the crown of India – a model of sustainable development that valued and cultivated its unique environment, culture and traditions which sustained and guided countless generations. It could have been an inspiration to the rest of the country.

Instead we ended up with a Goa which has lost its ‘pearl’ while being stripped from its lush forests and disembowelled by mining operations, and cursed by the worse kind of tourism one can imagine, fuelled by sex, gambling, drugs and crime.

Our biggest misfortune has been the unscrupulous and ignorant politicians with a misguided approach to development who have dominated politics for decades and whose governance amounted to protection of narrow interests, an assault on Goa’s dignity, traditions and environment, an assault on its capacity to provide a happy, prosperous and peaceful existence. We have been fooled into believing that this is the road to progress, but it has in reality been just a long rugged path of decline.

Economic growth has become an end in itself, and the narrow business interests of building contractors and mining barons have become sacred, riding way above the interests of the rest of the population.

Why?

Why do they have more rights to destroy the environment which is vital for our survival than the rest of us, who want to preserve the fine ecological balance of nature, and who know that our real wealth is in our irreplaceable forests and biodiversity, our water resources, our fertile agricultural land? What about our right to fight for our survival, and mitigate the impact of extreme weather episodes that are about to hit us hard as result of climate change caused largely by business and industry?

The environmental destruction has been justified as being in the pursuit of ‘sacrosanct’ economic growth – a myth that has spectacularly failed and enslaved society, and failed the fragile ecological systems on which we depend for survival.

Fortunately the search for an alternative to current destructive economic model is on, and already producing interesting sustainable possibilities, more in tune with the limitations of a finite planet. The sooner we accept them and put them into practice the better. But first we must challenge the status quo which is threatening our very survival.

Meanwhile Goa, ravaged by greed and irresponsible governance, lingers on precariously, between the Arabian Sea that is beginning to engulf its crowded beaches and the ever-increasing number of denuded gigantic dark brown dusty craters of the mining belt. Squeezed between two calamities, the Goans will soon have nowhere to run…

It’s obvious that many fellow Goans are aware of and fed-up with what is happening in Goa. Their criticism of the politicians in power has been so relentless that if the politicians had any shame and conscience, they would have by now resigned and gone into hiding!

But they cling on, and the list of blunders continues to grow, together with the list of measures that need to be taken urgently, before Goa reaches the point of no return. It is these measures that we need to concentrate on. We need to be clear about what we would do differently in Goa if we were in power, and we must be careful to avoid the pitfalls and perceived developmental needs that have misguided successive governments.

Given that criticism has not budged the culprits an inch nor moved them into changing their ways, I ask you: are we going to continue being merely helpless spectators of the destruction of Goa, or are we going to say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! – and actually do something about it, such as offering or even imposing alternatives?

How can we move forward from just writing about it, into some concrete action that will provoke a radical change? Are we going to get organised, and get down to the business of stopping the plundering and looting of Goa, or are we going to just sit down under a coconut tree singing “adeus kortso vellu pauta, ai mujem kallizo fapsota” and writing excruciatingly painful descriptions of the mess that turned Goa into a place I don’t recognise any longer?

A growing number of Goans now share the feelings of a shattered Goan dream and are yearning for change. There are also potential leaders in Goa who together have the power to provoke a profound and radical change in politics without the colourings of partisan politics.

This is a call to those leaders that have acted in the past, and can do it again now, to unite and focus on the real enemy of Goa – the ruling powers. This ‘cause’ is bigger than our individual ambitions, and calls for bold and swift action to put the culprits in their rightful place – on top of a pile of garbage in the nearest street corner.

Goa’s reputation around the world is practically in the gutter – ruled by clueless men, corruption and crime, Goa does not have much time before it is irrevocably destroyed. It is in our hands the power to impose the end of impudent and shameless cynicism, the end of endemic corruption and institutionalised banditry.

What are we waiting for? For the next election, to recycle the same people into power again?

Enough of this affront of corruption at all levels of the administration and the unruly and unsustainable exploitation of Goa’s resources – everything has limits and we must draw the line now – else the destruction can be irreversible.

When our streets are pilled high with garbage; when agricultural land is piled high with buildings; when all our beaches are polluted and infested with shacks; when our hills and forests are bulldozed flat for mining; when our water tables are emptied by the mining operations, leaving us with dry wells and fountains and silted and polluted rivers; and our politicians have become billionaires – it is time to say enough is enough!

I hope that 2010 will be the year of unity and action among Goans who share a different dream for Goa – the year of courage and vigorous popular movement that produces a real reform in politics and radically changes governance.

It is not going to be an easy ride, but our genuine actions will explain themselves, while conformity and inaction will explain nothing to future generations. It is in our hands to systematically provoke a reform that will scare away from public life those swindlers and crooks who are sucking the blood out of Goa! Otherwise nothing will ever change.

Carmen Miranda is a Goan who frequents between Panjim and London