This is indeed very good news. I suggest this alliance be sustained even beyond these games. Unless the exploited and oppressed organized themselves there is not going to be any challenge to the emergency imposed on them by former colonial alliance for the purpose of neo-colonial agenda. Games are a favored strategy of the global-local elite nexus. In 1983 Commonwealth Heads of States (CHOGM) met in Delhi and came for retreat in Goa. It was hardly a retreat. It was an invasion of people of Goa and long term alterations in tourism policies favoring luxury tourism that benefited largely Tatas who had build their Taj hotel in 1975. New roads were built connecting cities to the coast (Panjim to Siquerim), land of the local people were sough to be acquired forcefully to construct Volley ball court for then British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and her common wealth colleagues to play on. Land was acquired to build heliport so that Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi could land safely. In short retreat was used to create infrastructure for the long term penetration of imperialist mode of development that has exploitation and dispossession of people as its core essence.
Unfortunately it was bad timing for the heads to land up in Goa as State had vibrant student movement then. Progressive Students Union (PSU) launched its street play campaign all over Goa against this bonanza. Nearly 52 street plays was staged withing 72 hours. Awareness picked up new levels. Students then aligned with affected people in Sinquerim and gave a tough fight. All the projects were forced to be cancel and land return back to the families from whom they were taken. Only expansion of connecting road was possible.
Tourism in Goa witnessed new wave protests that many in India are unaware of. I am prompted to write this mainly because there is so much similarity between Goa in 1983 and Delhi in 2010. Both has roots in Commonwealth and snatching away of commons and making people poorer and less dignified. Tourism in Goa is still struggling to invade Goa. And people of Goa have given total resistance till date. Number of projects like these continues to get mocked in Goa. Golf courses, new international airport, casinos, continue to be in the rage of controversy. The protests are no longer limited only to the students alone. It is lot more widespread and fresh students on campus yet to know about what happened in 1983. Our schools and colleges do not think it is wise to include protest history. Our historians do not believe that it is important to consider protests and day to day history making process worth attention. But history is constantly being made irrespective whether intellectuals, historians recognize it or not. They can ignore it at the peril of their profession. It is being made on the streets. It is being made is small village joints. However very little is known to the outside world about the magnitude and intensity of churning in Goa. I write this from the middle of all this in Goa.
Games like these that also includes Olympics are largely used for the purpose of creating consensus for what otherwise would have been scorned at. Nation's dignity is attached here as a clever ploy to morally damage any imaginations of resistance and articulations. This technique has been the invented and fine-tuned in Nazi Germany when Hitler ruled its affairs. There was need for justification for the large scale alterations to facilitate rapid creation of infrastructure. While games took place so often all over the world, it was during Nazi period that games merged with interest of capital and not just physical fitness. Physical fitness in fact took a back seat after win-at-all-cost mindset got on to the boardroom meeting planning for the games and steroids found its way on the global sports scenarios.
It is remarkably simple to argue today that these games wherever they are held has got less to do with physical fitness, showcasing of national pride, and creating harmony between nations. These are merely camouflage for long-term bulldozing of agenda of the world order dominated and dictated by capital. This one of the finest examples wherein the emotion of nation facilitates process of poverty generation with total backing of all the political institutions together with the icing by none other than author of 'Jai Ho'.
As has been argued well in the below notes by the organisers it is pertinent to stress the logic that simmers silently in the commonwealth agenda. It is important to de-construct the latent notions, and agendas. First, the notions. The two words 'common' and 'wealth' are sounding naive and politically neutral till one begins to tinker around as to who is the head of it. It is now well established that England usurped necessary 'wealth' from India's undivided Bengal and Latin America's Brazil. From Bengal via its corporate of the times - East India Company before went about other parts of the world and fighting world wars in the bargain. From Brazil via its senior non-industrial colonial power - Portugal whose political leaders remained indebted to British naval prowess to save their lives on ocean journey from Portugal to Brazil in 1790s when Napoleon Bonaparte decidedly invaded Iberian nation that feasted on grape wine.
The forest products and minerals from these two places laid the basic foundation for the Industrial revolution to kick-start in England and then spread to other parts of Europe. This was the 'wealth'. What is ‘common’? The notion of 'common' is the common destination of these sources. The common destination is industrial enterprise that we today come to know as Industrial Revolution - Minerals got value added and revolved around profits just as Moon revolved around Earth and Earth revolved around Sun. The word Revolution was then used in astronomy with Copernicus and Galileo as its Avant-Garde. The 'common' thus is Industrialization - Common wealth to facilitate British colonial ventures. To reach further in this journey England could hardly remain satisfied with impoverishment of peasants of Bengal and Indigenous people of Brazil. Private company - East India Company had to be reconsidered after the tribal rebellion in 1855 and the revolt of 1857. East India Company had to be turned into full-fledged colonial enterprise backed by State power. The loot of Bengal had to be upgraded into State backing from none other than royal family of England and blessed with authority of loot with rules. Three days ago Arundhati Roy has passing referred to this her latest writings. Now loot has to be sanctioned by common law to repress rebellions that were to become nuisance for the British. Indian Penal Code came up was the first colonial legal intervention in India. It came about in 1860. Indian Evidence Act came after dozen years of preparation in 1872. And since these were not enough to keep people subdued Code of Criminal Procedure was passed the very next year in 1873. So there is common legal framework for colonial administration. It was the case in nineteenth century and it is the case in twenty-first century. So there is obviously common legal framework in colonial India and post-colonial India.
But then, why games? The Agenda. The games, the way they are marketed in the present format are the most palatable way of enacting colonial decrees in Independent countries. It involves not just country's elites who are oblivious direct beneficiaries but also celebrates colonial hangover in a dramatic manner amongst mass of people as the Queen's baton makes round in the state capitals all over India. Athletes and celebrities are roped in, and respect and tools of honor are showered Commonwealth Games to serve the glorious purpose of renewing and refreshing the colonial mindset. This is an important thing to do to ensure that even after decolonization and change in flags in various countries to keep people in perpetual delirium.
This is one of the rare moment of colonial mindset wherein the business-politician-media-artists joins in one chorus, one agenda - massive clearing of path for capital to enter, capital to rule, capital to dominate. This is orchestrated in periodic manner in different countries. This time it is India.
It is with this realization I stand in opposition to Commonwealth Games. It is with this realization that I support the promising alliance of poor from various parts of Delhi. This is a beginning of a marathon even before the games and has to last long after, and it needs to be run as such. I have already joined it!
Sebastian Rodrigues
On Mon, Sep 13, 2010 at 10:27 AM, Kaveri Rajaraman wrote:
What: Several community based groups are coming together to organize a coordinated set of roadblocks and chakka jams in ten different locations around the city, centered around a set of demands relating to displacement, labor and price rise, with the commonwealth games as a focal point. All groups will have a common banner and parcha, but the form of protest will vary based on the affected community's uproar.
When: Tuesday 14th September, 9 am, to target morning traffic.
Demands: The idea is for the mobilization to push the city to granting the demands around stopping the displacement of bastis, stopping the displacement of informal sector workers from the streets, reversing the recent cancellation of tens of thousands of ration cards, paying workers minimum wage and their due rights at games construction sites, providing housing to those displaced and the homeless, taking action against the trafficking of women for the games, returning all funds diverted for the games including from farmer relief and the SC/ST funds, ending privatization and taxation as a way for the city to fund the games and not organizing any more such mega-events in the city.
People from many basti communities around the city have been devastated by the pattern of displacement and evictions planned by the Delhi authorities over the years. The Commonwealth games is just the latest milestone for the city as it races towards revamping itself as a world class city - and following their pattern of displacing all working class people to the periphery of the city. This adds to the escalating cost of living for workers between the lack of affordable housing, transportation costs to their sites of labor spike, labor gets contracted out and wages slashed, and food, water and sanitation provisions to those who are not rendered completely homeless.
The commonwealth games are a sporting event organized between those 72 countries who were former subjects of the British Empire. These former subjects of the Empire consider this to be a source of pride, and this year it is India playing host to the games. The question that arises is - exactly whose pride is this we speak of? Whose common and whose wealth? Sixty three years after freedom from the British Empire, in our country where the ordinary Indian people still sweat to make enough to feed themselves as prices of daily goods skyrocket, the government is throwing money at the Commonwealth Games. In order to make a beautiful "world class city", the Delhi government is frenziedly constructing malls, metros, parks, roads and stadiums, and in the process it has displaced over 200,000 families. The possibility of eviction also hangs over hundreds of bastis, especially 44 that have been slated for demolition in the near future. This demolition drive has been accompanied by a sweeping move to kick ragpickers, hawkers, cycle rickshaw peddlers and beggars off the streets. The slogan of 'elimination of poverty' has now become one of 'elimination of the poor'.
Of the people evicted from several locations including Yamuna Pushta, Jehangirpuri, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kirti Nagar, Gadia Lohar Basti, Pusa Road, Jangpura Barapullah Nala, and Lodhi Colony, only a small slice have been rehabilitated, all 40-45 kilometers away from their former sites of residence, in places like Bhalaswa, Bawana, Narela, Sabda, etc. When dumped at these sites, they have found not even the most basic facilities of even dry ground to stand on, let alone housing, or any source of water. On top of these, they have been so far from the rest of the city, without any public transportation, that their ability to travel back to their worksites and earn a living has been severely compromised. In order to pay for the games, the government has removed fuel price subsidies, which has also raised the costs of transportation, and in consequence, food, compounding the problems of these communities. Also, basti residents are facing a situation of sever deprivation with the cancelation of thousands of BPL ration cards. Without APL or BPL cards, they have no access to vital rations. Meanwhile, the poor have not been the only victims of displacement; hostel residents of Delhi University and Jamia Millia Islamia have been evicted to make way for the international attendees of the Commonwealth Games.
Meanwhile, there is a consistent pattern of labor law violation at the various construction sites for the Commonwealth Games. Of the 100,000 odd workers in these sites only a fraction have been registered, and most are nowhere near getting minimum wage or other basic labor rights. These expenditure on these games, organized in the name of national pride, is effectively going only to the large companies, contractors, traders, politicians and capitalists in this business, both nationally and internationally. The 1400 crore budget that the government began with for the CommonWealth games has skyrocketed into a budget that now surprasses 100,000 crore! Hundreds of crores of money slated for SC/ST welfare schemes and farmer relief have been diverted to the games. Ultimately, it is the people who are paying from their pockets for these games.
Organized by: All India Kabadi Mazdoor Mahasangh, All India Kachra Shramik Mahasangh, Beghar Mazdoor Sangharsh Samiti, Bhalaswa Lok Shakti Manch, Delhi Forum, Delhi Solidarity Group, Hazards Center, INSAF, Initiative for Social Upliftment, Mahila Chingari Samuh, Mahila Kalpana Shakti, Mahila Pragati Manch, NACDOR, NGO Sabha, Pehel, PUDR, SADED, Safai Mazdoori ke liye Rashtriya Abhiyan, Samajwadi Jan Parishad, Social Development Foundation, Women's Development Cell Miranda House, Vidyarthi Yuvjan Sabha
“Independence!” “Independence!” “Independence!”. It seems to be very funny that these words are used freely by politicians whereas the very same words do not hold water to the people of Mopa and surrounding villagers where the international airport is on the verge of becoming a reality. To these people, it spells death. What is Freedom? Does it not include freedom of speech and freedom of having a right to livelihood? That is why the talk of independence seems to have become an empty slogan to the villagers of Mopa. When they themselves protest against Mopa airport why does the Government pays no heed to them? Why do the M.L.A’s act as inactive by standing spectators? Why do they deny their basic rights and livelihood? Why do none of the M.L.As render a listening ear to their cry? Such an attitude brings credence to the narrative that our M.L.A’s and their cronies have a share of huge booty from the project. This is why they perhaps cannot identify with the people’s aspiration. This Government is not of the aam aadmi but of the rich Khas aadmi!
Is the Government not robbing the natural resources of the people of Mopa? Like the capitalists, is the Government not guilty of trading on the natural habitats of the people? The conversion of the agricultural land into an airport will certainly bring huge dividends to the Government at the cost of displacing the simple people of Mopa and the surrounding areas by alienating them from their livelihood. How sustainable is this conversion of the natural source of livelihood into a Babu culture of the bureaucratic driven revenue leaking source of Jobs to the locals? How much revenue will stay for the people of Mopa who at present are the masters of their own destiny while they practice agriculture in their lands? Will it not amount to surrender of this autonomy and embracement of a slavery that comes in the garb of an Airport? What jobs will the airport offer the poor unskilled and illiterate people of Mopa? Hence, the discourse that the airport will develop the people is a false propaganda. It offers nothing less than death and destruction of the people of Mopa.
This propaganda of development has invented the underdevelopment of the village of Mopa. The people of the place will simply carry the weight of so called development that will only leave them behind as the blind march of so-called progress will crush them by displacing them from their source of livelihood. If the Government is serious and is genuinely interested in the wellbeing of the people, Why does it imposes a development where they cannot become equal partners? Will not the lack of the skills and expertise of the aviation industry become a divide that cannot be bridged by the people in any discernible near future? By the time they will be rendered fit enough to overcome the divide, will they be not left behind by those who already have the lion’s share of the cake?
The underdevelopment engineered by the Government in the grab of development exposes the hypocrisy of the so called am admi Government. The development that leaves behind the local am admi is indeed clearly anti-people and is rightly resisted by the people. If Government really wants to develop the village of Mopa and its surrounding, why does it not promote horticulture, agriculture and handicrafts etc., which would benefit locals? If the Government is true to its claims why cant it develop the people by helping the poor tenants to become owners of their lands? It is glaringly clear that the airport does not come to develop the people but to prey on their land resources. The lands of the poor framers have become the raw material that will be churned out into an airport that will only increase the profit margins of those hungry predators.
It is even amazing why the opposition that roars like a lion on every other issue in the assembly chooses to remains a silent lamb when it comes to Mopa airport? The silence of the opposition is indeed disturbing. Equally disturbing is the double speak of pro-Dabolim MLA who had almost won his seat by politicizing the Mopa airport. All these leaders seem to have joined the league and the ranks of the hungry predators. It is unfortunate that our chief minister and his forty thieves are busy plotting the underdevelopment in the guise of development. Why cant the politician both ruling and the opposition take a leaf from book of Mamta Benerjee who drove underdevelopment that came to visit Sigur under the guise of the industrial plant of Tata Nano? Goans refuse to be fooled by the propaganda of development. The architects of underdevelopment who hide their vicious plot under the cover of development are finally exposed. We refuse to accept their pseudo-development and re-claim our right to say NO!
Lasse Nordlund, Finland in one of the posters shared following in a gallery during 2nd Conference on Economic Degrowth for Ecological Sustainability and Social Equity, Barcelona 26-29 March 2010.
The fundamental block to social change is not our lack of knowledge about global problems.
Unfortunately, a return to rural based existence and primary production is equated with impoverished lifestyle.
A change to the society also necessitates changes to our social standing within it. Most of us resist change until the very end out of the fear we will loose our place in the social hierarchy.
People in acknowledged positions of power will want to ensure their positions in the midst of any potential social upheaval. Such individuals tend to prefer to oversee others whom they expect to do the "dirty work" of social change.
We should not distinguish between "Handworkers" and "Headworkers". Self-sufficiency is an intellectual challenge also for the headworker.
Current systems of government have gone through a political "Evolution" over hundreds of years. They are optimized to efficiently control large populations of individuals. If this were not the case, these governments would have collapsed long ago.
The belief, that fundamental systemic change is possible within already - existent political channels ensures the dominants society's continuity - regardless of the specific individuals involved.
Job and career specialization are not necessarily related to increased productivity. A division of labour instead ensures a complete dependence between individuals, which disallows them to leave contemporary society.
Let us examine our assumptions of political processes. We must allow for the possibility that what we believe is resistance to injustice is in fact a disastrous support to it.
If you pay taxes and redirect your personal resources back toward the system, it really doesn't matter what you are thinking.
Creating independence from social services, trade and food supply will reliably minimize our contribution to an exploitative system.
Rediscovering the simple life is not so difficult. Learning back to the roots demands less efforts than learning skills for life in an abstract society.
Below links are to my poster titled "Placing metal sensitivity as pedagogic necessity for social movements" that was exhibited at Universitat de Barcelona, Spain from 26-29 March 2010.
There were number of other posters presented and discussed on the occasion. Please click here for their links too.
Number of Power Point presentations were also made and they are available for public. Please click here for the links.
There was second international conference on de-growth happening there and I was one of the two participants from India. You may read up my reflection here.
Anyone who believes exponential growth can go on forever in a finite world is either a madman or an economist" Kenneth Boulding
"The more we extend the sphere of activities about which we can say 'This is not for sale' or 'I can't put a price on this', the richer are our individual and social lives" Andre Gorz
The above three quotations are from inside back cover of the program booklet of the 2nd International Conference on Economic Degrowth for Ecological Sustainability and Social Equity held at Universitat de Barcelona, Spain from 26-30 March 2010.
I was one of the two people from India participated here. Total participation was nearly 500 from 40 countries of the world. I had submitted my abstract for paper presentation and was accepted by the conference scientific committee with due process of screening in place. I was then asked by the organisers in Barcelona to make poster presentation of my theme. I did present my poster to the learned audience with plenty of queries for all the 4 days when my posters along with others were hanged in the gallery for the public display and discussions with the authors. It was a first experience for me but enjoyed it. The title of my poster presentation was 'Placing Metal Sensitivity as Pedagogic necessity for Social Movements'. It was big one meter tall poster visible to all with text and four pictures. I have carried this poster back to Goa and I hope to initiate discussion around it in Goa and other parts of India too. The cost of printing of poster was borne by Friends of the Earth, Finland.
Before Barcelona I was in Helsinki from 23-25 March 2010, Finland where in I was requested to formally speak on the topic 'Metal Sensitivity and degrowth'. I did speak there and faced lots of questions from the public and press in Helsinki. My presentation here was largely on the trends of economic model in India that is based on growth model and how we are got fixed into 'growth trap'. Informally too I had wide ranging discussions with activists, press and scholars in Helsinki. The topics ranged from ongoing movement of people against mining industry in Goa, Current state of movement of Landless Workers Movement in Brazil, Application of Psychoanalysis, and Vipassana meditations for movements, forms of repressions and censorships in European mining areas, distinction between European mining and mining in Goa, Lula as socialist Brazilian president with capitalist onslaught on landless in Brazil, Crisis within MST in Brazil etc.
23 March 2010 I landed in Helsinki. Someone called Marcus was supposed to see me at the Airport. I never spoken or met him before but trusted my guts. There was none that my guts senses as Marcus. Late I realized that he was late or rather my plane landed 5 minutes early and I had no checked in baggage to wait for so in 10 minutes I had done with immigration check out and got into Finair but to railway station. Mira had given me full instructions to her house close to railway station. I got off the bus at railway station and witnessed two highly talented musicians performing on the streets in open with temperature below 0 degree. One of them was playing trumpet. I recognized this after hearing it so often during my childhood for our village feasts in Siolim in a bandstand! The other instrument I could not recognize but guess it is very common in Finland with piano-like hand keys. I went close to them and put my eyes into the eyes one of them in deep curiosity for couple of seconds. Then moved away. After sometime i realize that people were throwing coins into the small purple bag they held in front of them. There was only one bag so they will be sharing the earning. I remembered countless singers and performers in the Indian railway sleeper coaches. The main difference is that performers in Indian railways are never professional artists. In Helsinki they were. Ulla told me the next day that they even earn higher income on streets than through professional artistic engagements.
It was very cold to me and I took cautious stride away from the musicians. In Delhi soon after I had a visa in my hand on 22nd evening from Finland Embassy I had purchased a jacket and a pair of shoes that would protect me from extreme cold. But still I was feeling very cold did not understand why till the next day when Mira gave me her brown and while neck scarf to put around my neck and that was a missing link on my arrival in Helsinki. Marco had not included it in his list of warnings to face Finland cold! Anyway, I saw people walking unusually fast as if all of them are in a mighty hurry and about to miss the train of their lifetime. I was walking slowly wandering in amusement of my new destination. Next day Ulla would tell me that Helsinki is the place in the world where people walk fastest! Wow, I exclaimed! For what on earth? I wondered. Ulla told me that walking fast generated heat in the body that is so necessary to survive in cold temperatures like that of Finland. I now began to slightly shiver as my neck was open and cold breeze would enter my body. I walked and opened the door of railway station and slipped in. Inside it was warm. I felt good. Enjoyed my new surrounding for few moments and then began exploring railway station. Finally I found information counter that Finair bus driver had told me to approach but I had got fascinated with musicians out the station. The girl at the counter told me the direction to Mira's house. She told me it was close by and I could either take a bus or even walk it out. I came out with all the confidence on the road outside the railway station and began wandering which way to go about. I got conflicting advises on the road though pleasing smiles. One boy however directed me with all the conviction. I began to walk little faster but felt cold that I was not accustomed to bear deep inside my body. I changed my mind and headed back inside railway station. If nothing I at least got the warmth of the railway station heating system. For a fraction of second I did miss Goa here. But I had to find my way to Mira. Mira had instructed me to find shop called 'R-kioski' and buy a sim card for my mobile. I located one such shop at railway station and changed my sim card. I now had phone number in Finland. I got is so easily. No photo identy card, no id proofs. In short there is no obsession with security and terrorists as we have in India. I called Mira from the shop itself and told her that I was at railway station in station. She told me to wait there for five minutes, then changed her mind to six minutes. Actually I am used to waiting for hours together and Mira's precision by every minute took me by cultural shock. But anyway I had a joy being lost and found between airport and railway station in Helsinki. Those six minutes I further utilized to look at the restaurants and eating places on the railway station. But I could recognize none! The I found a counter to change money. My brother Alfred who backed me up financially had given me $ 300 and exchanged them for Euros. After this I wend out to look out for Mira but again ended going to those two musicians nearby. I took a stride towards them but beat hasty retreat after felt very cold. Got inside the railway station just to warm myself again. I came out again and I saw someone waving at me. I recognized it was Mira. She was walking as fast as anyone on the railway station, came to me and hugged me tight. It was a warm and deserving hug in Cold Helsinki. I knew Mira since December 2007 when she and her boyfriend came from Bombay' Indian Social Science Congress to Goa and stayed for a week in Colamb, Sanguem. They had a very fond memories of Goa and Vanila plants they had taken from Colamb then were still remaining - she had dried and kept them there for slow consumption. I and Colamb people have her memory when she charged and jumped into the open cast abandoned mine of Damodar Mangalji in Colamb. Mira we realize then was extremely good swimmer. neverthless she had fever next day. Mira and I then walked faster to her place of 'communne' shared by her, Errki, Shakil and few more people. Marcus joined us at Mira's residence at night. Markus and I discovered two common grounds with us: we both had MST in Brazil as our research theme and we both had Vipassana as meditation technique. We had some very intense discussion on these themes. He is coming to India later this month. Marko called up and I realized that he too was well aware of I being untraceable on airport. He assumed that I must have been taken away by police before boarding in Delhi itself hence I must have missed the flight! He told me that "I told people here that in case he has arrived in Helsinki he will surface as he is independent mining person". Marko Ulvila is a main person who played catalyst role to get me into Europe and even successfully negotiated with Ministry of External Affairs, Government of Finland to re-imburse my travel and other expenses while I on on Europe tour. In Helsinki I was pain 60 euros as perdiums and for Barcelona another 396 euros. My hotel costs too was paid through this amount. My travel re-reimbursement is under process currently. The advance for my travel was give by my brother Alfred. He advanced me Rs.55,000/- on one occasion and $ 300 on the another occasion. He was keen that I visit Europe. I am grateful to him as well. Coming back to Finland contacts; it is though Prof. Peter Ronald de Souza, currently a director of Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Simla who encouraged GAKUVED and me to work in collaboration with Finland groups. In this regard he put us in touch with Vijay Pratap of SADED (South Asian Dialogue on Ecological Democracy) in late 2007 while he was still at CSDS, Delhi with Lokniti. Finland groups were connected here.
And within an hour I did surface. I realize the network of my friends in Finland is very efficient and information flow is smooth without any negative entropy. I was welcomed by one and all in Finland and given extremely courteous treatment. I remain thankful to all of them. I am confident we in Goa can match Finnish hospitality anytime in case any of my friends decide to come here and we have demonstrated this earlier not only to Finland friends but friends from all over India and the World over the past three years works with GAKUVED.
I had a 5 hour long walking tour of Helsinki city on 24 March 2010 with Ulla Valovesi as my friend and guide. Temperature was -1 and city was covered with snow. It was first time I was experiencing snow in my life. On this day I also had very interesting discussions with Pertti Simula on theme of 'Direct Democracy'. According to him current form of 'Representative Democracy' involves large scale manipulations and this can be changed if we change our system of governance to 'direct democracy'. I did not long to understand his point and even agree with him to a large scale. however when I proposed this idea at the Barcelona conference working group of Extractive industries I got a comment that countries will split if direct democracy is put in place! Mira, Marko, Markus, Ulla, Oli and Errki has been very kind and hospitable to me while I was in Helsinki. Marko joined me in Barcelona for the Conference.
24 March evening I joined Ulla in train over to her house in a village called Fiscar. We reached late almost 9.40 pm in night with shivering cold outside. But Ulla's spirit helped me to feel it is all very normal and with her during those 5 hours of walking in snow including on the frozen sea on our way to island and back to the shore at 'Cafe Ursula' my body began to get acclimatized to the new environ that I had suddenly landed into. I leaned that Finland experiences -25 to -40 degrees of temperature and that when they feel cold. -1 degree is quite pleasant and enjoyable too! Spring had just began and ice started to melt. Roads were wet when I landed in Helsinki. Ulla told me that Finland experiences minor floods when ice melts. Few people even had died recently when ice on roof tops of building cracked and came down on people standing below on ground. On 25 March morning I had Finnish break fast. Ulla told me that lots of people from outside Finland do not take Finnish food as it needs courage. I readily put my hands and said I have plenty of it and got on with my new experience with Finnish food. It was very interesting to talk to Ulla's partner Oli. He is a sort of scholar and one of he author contributors along with me, Ulla and several others in book tittled "Sustainable Futures: Replacing Growth Imperative and Hierachies with Sustainable Ways" edited by Marko Ulvila and Jarna Panasen published by Ministry of Foreign Affiars, Finland in 2009. This book has proved to be a hit and Ministry is on its way to get its third re-print. The book can be ordered with an e-mail: keoinfo@formin.fi for free. Oli has been involved these days in his neighborhood community in defense of right to housing. Local government council has taken decision or rather proposed to give up its administration of houses as it does not constitute its 'core areas of work'. Olli and other contests this feels that local government has some undisclosed motives to satisfy certain interests and they are determined to fight back. There was old heater at work in house and house full of books. And two lovely small girls one of whom drew a welcome flower on a piece of paper in anticipation of my visit. I quick accepted it and also drew my trademark rose on the same paper and gave the paper back with plenty of love and affection.
25 March 2010 morning I had to take a flight from Helsinki to Barcelona. From Fiscar village Ulla and I trekked for one kilometer to catch a bus to railway station. On the way she showed me me the flowing river and social history associated with it. She shared with me the struggles around this river. Then she showed me the old rail lines and small locomotive that has now become a museum piece standing unmoved with snow. Fiscar was once upon a time a village of people whose occupation was fishing. Then with industrialization fervor some two centuries back one corporate came here and took over two things: name of the village for itself - Fiscar (famous currently for manufacture of scissors worldwide) and ownership title of the entire village. Villagers became tenants. Fiscar - the corporate started the mining iron in the village and produced first horse cart for Finland. One piece is displayed in the village museum set up by the company and run by the group of artists. After discussion I realized that there is not much scope for dissent against Fiscar and anyone voices out any opinion against the corporate then that person is targeted and ultimately will have to leave the village. Finland city press is brought here offered parties, press in return obliges the corporate by turning itself as its public relations wings. Public relations are very important for corporate. To further boost the public relations Fiscars has given couple of houses to artists and artists do their job well! It is most likely that riverbed in the Fiscar village would be dangerously polluted but this is exactly the holy grail for the Fiscar- the corporate. It cannot be questioned. Censorship at its best!
I got onto the local train after missing direct train to Helsinki. At the Helsinki railway station I was to pick up the posters to be carried for Barcelona conference. Lockers were computerized but opened quickly after inserting electronic key. The railway station was fully computerize. Even toilet opens after dropping Euro coin inside it. I had no Euro with me so I had to hold on till I got into Finair bus to the Helsinki airport.
I landed in Barcelona on 25 March late night. I took Airobus to Plaza Catalunya and my hotel was close by. Still I had to inquire after getting off. I found one man, Indian speaking Bhojpuri there. He as not aware of the hotel and told me to get direction from the nearby taxi driver but before that he warned about the Barcelona's famous pickpockets and told me to escape from the venue quickly. This was a second warning I was getting about the issue. First was by a Italian lady sitting besides me in a flight from Delhi to Helsinki. I had no encounter with any of the pickpockets directly though at the conference at the Universitate de Barcelona one student was robbed of her laptop and she was in tears, compelling organisers to announce and appeal to contribute towards buying her new laptop. "Please give her money and hug". This is the only demonstration I got about the performance of pickpockets of Barcelona.
Inauguration was impressive. Few academics were wearing robes that Indian Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh publicly threw out few days ago and for this reason he was in news. The architecture of the University was old and imposing. It was full of painting of various rulers from Pontiffs to Roman Emperors, from Scientists to Philosophers. Languages that dominated the conference was English, Spanish and Catalan. Catalan has it own constituency of nationalism that arouses passions and controversies in Barcelona and University is located in the ambiance of polemics and tensions. After spending first few days in Barcelona, Spanish suddenly ceased to be alien language to me. I remembered my Spanish Classes at my department in 2002-03 at Goa University: Centre for Latin American Studies (CLAS) when a lady was hired to teach Spanish and Department then headed by Prof. V. Shivkumar had no money to her fees. She left the classes abruptly and we students were left high and dry. My incomplete Spanish suddenly began to glow in my head and number of books and literature in Spanish began to make sense to my linguistic sensitivities. Muy Bueno, Bravo! I spend lots of money in euros that I had as perdium in buying Spanish books. On the theme of conference "Degrowth" Spanish reflections had gone far ahead than reflections in English.
I found the academics and researchers in Barcelona conference were deeply engaged with their areas of work. They do not get fatigued out. On day one of the conference the discussions went upto 10.00 pm in the night in the main hall - Paranimf.
Academic discussions were rigorous and they will be shared through various written productions of the conference. They will be available with at the website: www.degrowth.eu. So keep yourself in tuned.
Conference got over on 29 March 2010. Marko and I then went to see Gaudi architecture of Barcelona. It is an architectural structure that is under construction based on non-linear designs by architect late Mr.Gaudi. I do not carry architecturally sensitive eye to admire the structure and narrate it well here. Perhaps because it was dark when we reach there and I was already tired after few days of exiting academics. And then to tour on the outskirts of Barcelona to Marko's close friend Anne Marie. Ann Marie works with funding agency that supports projects in Latin America and was very critical of the governments of Bolivia and Venezuela for putting ban on foreign funding of NGOs in their respective countries. Anne Marie is Finnish woman married to Spanish husband and they have one playful young daughter. Anne Marie classifies her home as 'Finnish' and made us aware that her family would appreciate if I removed my shoes near the door and then walk inside the house. I willingly obliged as it did not made much difference to my behaviour as my family in Siolim too do not carry sleepers at home. So I was at home there again. Anne Marie's family lives on 14th floor and she can see Jewish mountains from her window. Mountains are named Jewish because few centuries ago Jews were hiding there to escape persecutions in other parts of Europe. Ann Marie and her husband also shared about subjective history of catalan nationalism near Barcelona. They also touched upon days of Faranco's dictatorship in Spain and compulsory military service to males. "Soldier would walk into any house and point out and say I want that youth to fight in the military. And family had no power of dissent." Anne Marie disclosed. But "History differs according to the source" Anne Marie clarified. So told me that her version of history is not the final version. In fact there is no final version of history. Basque is another region in Spain that also fermenting with very strong nationalist movement. In fact few groups that even have violent campaigns for self-determination of Basque nation. There is a separate Basque language that is different from Spanish.
On 30 March 2010 was a meeting of NGOs on the outskirts of Barcelona. Marko and took train that is known as 'tube' - it is like Delhi Metro - after checking out of our hotel Monegal at Plaza Catalunya and got off at Canyelles and walked mountain to find ourself at Vall de CAS MASDEU. This was a group of researchers and activists mostly from Europe and three of us from elsewhere - I from India, Miguel Valencia and David Barkin from Mexico. It is farm house cum commune where many young scholars-activists are living under one roof. They call this way of living as 'commune'. I understood that this has become a major trend in Europe and this system even come to be known as 'Communalism'! Surely shocking for Indian context as communalism here implies strife between various religions. It is welcome re-understanding for me!
The entire day here was dedicated building de-growth network. Various participants were given posters to identify the groups that could possibly link up with degrowth movement. I wrote three possible initiatives in Goa - Mand, GAKUVED and GOAMAP. I chose to exclude any groups from other parts of India as that would have not been politically correct thing to do considering discomfort of many organizations across India that I am too familiar with. In India there was one person who attend Paris degrowth conference in 2008 - Supriya Singh from Delhi, and along with me this year there was Debal Deb from Kolkatta. Perhaps there could be greater interaction between three of us who has some direct exposure to the discourse. Simultaneously continue the seeding of the ideas on the way and let them germinate where the soil is fertile - organically! In the night I had a long chat with one of the key organisers - Filca. I appreciated the intense efforts put in by organsers but when taking about 'Global South' information was poor and solution proposed were based on presumptions and assumptions still within the growth framework. Filca asked me as as how to change this situation. I told he that few of them my come to India and spend few months in India learning about what is going on ground. There are number of other people from across Europe I had a occasion to share my views with. I also met one Pakistani from Gujarat province who is living in Barcelona for past 24 years and speaks Spanish as well as Catalan. He is into the business of constructions. I asked his as to what is his relations with degrowth. He found himself on defensive and confessed that construction industry is doing damage to the environment and he was feeling guilty. I could not make note of his name though.
31 March 2010 early morning I found my way to Barcelona airport. I was feeling bit sleepy as I was new to the life in communes- beds were models almost like boxes one on top of the other. It was new experience but I got no time at all to explore this life in comfort. After couple of hours landed in Helsinki. I had waiting time of 5 hours on the airport before flying to Delhi. From the airport I activated my Helsinki mobile number and spoke to few people in Finland. One of them was Teivo Taivanen at the Department of Political Science, Helsinki University. Teivo had visited my residence in January 2008 and we had interesting conversation then. I was reviving contacts with him after some gap. Also spoke to journalist Johana Sarjas who had interviewed me on March 24, 2010. She told me that things were shaping fine and first draft was ready. In the meanwhile purchased Suomi-Englanti dictionary at the airport in Helsinki.
In Dehi I stayed from 17 upto 23 March 2010 to get my Visa clearances from the Embassy of Finland. I am thankful for Embassy of Finland for granting of visa to me for nine memorable days. During my time in Delhi number of people have been very kind to accommodate me in their homes. My deep gratitude to Rajiv and Manisha, Madhuresh, Subrat and Mamta. Rakesh Bhatt for his guidance in Visa matters. In Goa my gratitude to my family- parents, brothers, sister-in-laws for all the care and support. GAKUVED team that has provided me with ample freedom to venture and explore life at the pace of my own. In Finland to Marko, Jarna,Ulla, Olli, Errki and Mira. A big thank you to all of you. In Finnish language (suomi) - KIITOS!
Though this sharing is long it is still incomplete and I may write more, I may share more. After all how do you make life most meaningful if not by sharing? This is beginning of degrowth: fearless sharing.
Education in Goa suffered cruel jolt after Satish Rivonkar, vice-president was sacrificed at the alter of mining industry to fuel further the growth mania. In pictures his body is trapped under the tyre of mining truck just the exactly same way entire Goa is trapped under Growth model of development with large population of Goa is its sacrifice. There is an urgent need to dismantle the growth trap. Building separate highways or exclusive roads for mining is only getting further trapped into growth mania. There are some people who wants to do away with suffering of people by launching mission bye-pass to demand for new roads through forests and villages. These views can be expressed only by agents of growth trap who are themselves trapped in under the wheels of mining industry to fuel growth of China, Japan and Europe. The way people of Sanvordem and Curchorem were mobilized by mining industry into 'People's Movement' in second week of February 2010 can at best be termed 'mission suicide'. Continuation of mining in Goa means taking Goa towards suicide with export of every truck of ore that is transported through barges via Zuari and Mandovi rivers that is further loaded in huge foreign vessels in the Arabian Sea few miles away from from Marmagao Port Trust. From Airoplane this phenomena resembles vultures feasting on death of Goa. The exclusive roads for mining is not a solution for growth trap, total stoppage of mining is the solution. My deep support to the family of Satish Rivonkar, to the Students of Guardian Angel High School, Curchorem and to the People of Curchorem and Sanvordem. It is time to apply breaks and dismantle growth mania. Mining must stop. New mining roads plans must be canceled. Its time for de-growth. Its time to move out of rat race of economy. Its time to ponder deeply...
Sebastian Rodrigues Here we reproduce the pictures and text by John Fernandes of what happened on last Tuesday, 30 march 2010 in Tilamol, Quepem.
In a horrifying motor Vehicular accident that shocked entire Quepem involving mining truck one Satish Rivonkar (44) of Tilamol, Quepem and a Vice president of Guardian Angel high school, Curchorem died on the spot on Tuesday 30 March 2010.
The accident which took place at around 12.40 pm involving three vehicles namely a Pulsor Motorcycle bearing Reg. No.GA-09-C-4400, a Tata tipper truck bearing Reg. No.GA-01-W5461 and GA-09-U- 2045 was so severe that the truck bearing registration No,GA-01-w-5461 after the impact dragged the deceased who was traveling on his Pulsor Motorcycle at a distance of 15 mts. His body was smashed into pieces.
After the accident the public blocked the entire Tilamol Curchorem road. However the police diverted the traffic via Xeldem.
The deceased has left behind a widow and a five years old daughter.
Sources informed that soon after the accident police arrived at the spot and try to hide out the body by covering a tarpaulin and try to remove the same which was lying under the wheel of the truck but the agitators did not allowed to remove the same. The body which was crushed under the wheel at around 12.40 pm was not allowed by the public till the South Goa Collector G.P. Naik made his presence at the spot and give a assurance that hence forth mining transport will not be allowed to operate via Tilamol road. At around 4.30 pm Collector G.P. Naik along with S.P. South Allan D’Sa, Dy-Collector Quepem Agnel Fernandes appeared at the spot.
Meanwhile in order to avoid any law and order situation a strong police force from Quepem, Curchorem, Maina Curtorim headed by P.I. Sidhant Shirodkar , Margao police headed by P.I. Santosh Dessai and two buses of Reserve police force with heavy guns were stationed at a site along with Dy-SP Quepem Rohidas Patre , Dy-SP. Margao Umesh Gaonkar, Quepem Executive Magistrate Sudin Nato.
As soon as Collector G.P. Naik appeared at the site there was a heavy argument between the collector and the agitators. The agitators blamed the entire administration for the accident. The agitators were not in a mood to allow the body to be removed till they get an assurance of permanent stoppage of mining transport via Tilamol. It was only when Collector G.P. Naik orally assured the agitators that he will pass a temporary order. After which the body was allowed to remove.
After removing the body lying under the wheel, without the knowledge of the agitators the police took away the truck involved in the accident which angered the agitators. They demanded issuance of challen to all mining truck which were overloaded. Hearing the news that the agitators are demanding issuance of challen the truck which were parked from Tilamol church to Sanfator with the assistance of police and without the knowledge of the agitators took a reveres and seen parked in a hiding place on the irrigation Canal at Sirvoi.
At around 7.00 pm the Quepem Executive Magistrate Sudin Nato served a notification issued by the Collector G.P. Naik prohibiting mining truck from 31st march to 4th April which was not acceptable to the agitators who demanded a permanent ban on mining transport and continued their agitation till filling of this report.
The agitators claimed that the notification issued by the Collector G.P. Naik who is a agent of mining company is farce and an eye wash as all the three days on which the collector prohibited mining transport is a holiday for mining on account maruti guard Zatra and on account of good Friday.
Quepem P.I. Sudesh Narvekar is investigating the matter.
Global climate crisis is nurtured through innumerable small human capital and greed driven actions detrimental to the planet earth, particularly the survival of human species. The hostile ecological changes that are unfolding are a result of degraded political practices directed towards exploitation of nature to harvest increasing expectations of profits. Myriad of small greed oriented small actions across the globe – particularly amongst the high consuming urban communities and financial institutions such as banks and share holders has created this global crisis. The focus of crisis very often gets reflected in the form of rise in water levels that are leading towards submergence of coastal areas and island across the globe. The deeper engine of crisis is very often camouflaged and remains away from public discourse and public scrutiny. The rising conflicts at the source of minerals are often looked upon in isolation and are not connected to the growth mania of various countries of the world in Europe, America, Asia and Australia.
This paper attempts to capture this unfolding dynamic reality of ecological changes and suggest political necessaries to seriously and urgently address the situation in the context of open cast iron ore, manganese and bauxite mining in Goa. The paper examines crisis at various levels for the reasons of analytical clarity and suggests ways to change.
Crisis of ecology as crisis of polity
The most direct unfolding crisis of ecology is the brutal assault of industry over the western ghats forest in Goa. The forest is well known and often cited as one of the dozen bio-diversity hotspots in the world. These Sahayadri range of mountains range from southern Gujarat, Maharastra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamilnadu and Kerala. Sri Lanka too is often considered as extension of Western Ghats. Forest and Mining concessions/leases intersect each other in highly dangerous manner in the State of Goa. 825 mining leases granted during Portuguese colonial rule that lasted till 1961 retained its foundational structure after IndianState instead of canceling these mining leases legitimized them with fresh legislations thus making mockery of liberation of Goa as well as spelling doom for ecological status of Western ghats that covers forest area in Goa.
Lets look at the factual position based on statistical co-relations prepared by Ramesh Gauns. Western ghats taluka of Quepem has a total area of 318.25 square kilometers. Out of which 101.58 square kilometers is a forest land. Additional 132.03 square kilomets land is Orchard land. Areas under water bodies in this taluka is 5.76 square kilometer. Number of mining leases in this taluka are 54.
In Canacona the taluka’s total area is 352.04 square kilometers. Out of which forest covers 281.60 square kilometers. Orchard land is 3.70 square kilometers. Area under water bodies is 4.75 square kilometers. There are 2 mining leases in this taluka.
Sanguem taluka is biggest taluka of Goa covering 836.62 square kilometers. Out of this forest covers 570.47 square kilometers of land while orchards cover 149.58 square kilometers. Total area under water bodies is 38.79 square kilometers. There are 295 mining leases are concentrated in this taluka.
Neighboring taluka of Ponda has a total land of 292.78 square kilometers. Out of this 53.69 square kilometers of land is under Forest, 130 square kilometers under orchards and 7.82 square kilometer is under water bodies. There are 50 mining leases in this taluka.
Bicholim taluka that has witnessed mining onslaught for the past over half a century has a total area of 238.80 square kilometers with forest covering 12.20 square kilometers and orchards covering 119.43 square kilometers. Water bodies cover 5.70 square kilometers. And there are 125 mining leases in this taluka.
Sattari taluka has the total area of 489.46 square kilometers. Out of which 278.40 square kilometers is forest land and 118.11 square kilometers is orchard land. 12.36 square kilometers of land is covered by water bodies. This taluka has 81 mining leasese.
All the above are Western Ghats talukas in Goa and together they cover 1687.12 square kilometers of land of which 1130.47 square kilometers is forest land out of Goa’s total forest land of 1360.24 square kilometers, and 271.49 square kilometers is land under orchards. Total area under water bodies is 55.90 square kilometers. These Western Ghats talukas totally has 388 mining leases.
It may be of some interest to place these statistics with wider statistical context in terms of State of Goa. The total geographic area is 3702 square kilometers. It has totally 825 mining leases all granted during Portuguese Colonial times that covers 67,822 hectares.
This is clearly an indication of how dangerous situation Goa is rapidly descending into. The dangerous situation emanates from the fact that first casualty of mining activity is water. Water is something so special on this planet earth that is fundamentally responsible to support life in its innumerable and varied forms. Mining attacks and brutalizes this very foundation of life. This then creates irreversible changes in terms of forest, agriculture, wildlife, character of soil structure, human habitat, birds and animal migration patterns, temperature of the locality, course and depth of water bodies including flowing rivers and myriad other changes. The crisis in ecology surmounts one and all.
The ecological crises however are just not unfolding due to natural occurrences in nature although this too is the case. Mining of minerals fundamentally triggers the crisis in polity. It begins from the tagging of minerals underground as “resources”. This reference is very widely prevalent and has inherent inbuilt aggression. It robs the values of minerals for the sake of them where they are located and their role in shaping the locality and wider surrounding in the way it is. The word “resources” also injects a value loaded idea towards the mineral deposits. It values the minerals for their use value not as they existed for millions of years underground but as in terms of its use value for industry. The value is then calculated in monetary terms.
“This is visibly very clear in case of Goa. Open cast mining industry dealing with IronOre, Manganese and Bauxite has its prevalence in Goa since 1948 when 100 tonnes of IronOre was exported to Japan for the first time, from the times under Portuguese Colonial rule. The industry is basically dig and sell economy located in around 68,000 hectares of land fragmented into 791 mining leases granted during Portuguese colonial regime. Open cast mining of this major industry is principally for export purpose to various countries of the World with Japan being the prominent destination since 1948. In fact Goa’s Ore played major role in resurgence of Japan after being reduced to ashes during the World War II that culminated in dropping of Atom bombs by Americans on Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945.However China overtook Japan as a leading destination of Goa’s mineral exports during past few years. In fact during 2008-2009 Goan exports of ore to China constituted 86% (32,763,721 tonnes) while next to follow is Japan with 9% (3,557,775 tonnes). Europe (Italy, Netherlands and Rumania) got 2% of Goa’s iron ore exports (680,513 tonnes), South Korea got 1% of Exports (545,228 tonnes), Pakistan got 1% of exports (258,029 tonnes), and Middle East (Qatar, Kuwait, Dubai and Saudi Arabia) got 1% (231,457 tonnes). African nation Kenya got fraction of it too -38,500 tonnes.
According to the selected statistics (Amended upto March 31, 2009) on Goan Mineral Ore Exports Compiled by Goa Mineral Ore Exporters’ Association Goa’s exports particularly of IronOre has been increasing at rapid pace. During 2005-2006 it was 25,537,924 tonnes, In 2006-2007 it rose to 30,893,953 tonnes. In 2007-2008 it increased to 33,434,429 tonnes. In 2008-2009 exports jumped to 38,075,223 tonnes out of which 32,629,521 tonnes is to China alone.
Mining companies involved in Goan Iron Ore exports during 2008-2009 includes miners, transporters and real estate companies. The list is as follows: Sesa Goa Limited, V.S. Dempo & Company Pvt. Ltd., Sociedade de Fomento Indl. P. Ltd., Prime Mineral Exports Pvt. Ltd., Fomento (Karnataka) Mining Co. P. Ltd., V.M. Salgaoncar & Bro. Pvt. Ltd., V.M. Salgaoncar Sales International, Chowgule & Company Pvt. Limited, Chowgule & Co. (Salt) Pvt. Ltd., Chowgule & Co. Pvt. Ltd. (Mandovi Pellets), Salgaoncar Mining Industries P. Ltd., Timblo Private Limited, Timblo Enterprises, Damodar Mangalji & Co. Ltd., Bandekar Brothers, V.G. Mehta Exports, Vassaantram Mehta & Co. Pvt. Ltd., Venture Resource Holdings., Venture Real Estate, PEC Limited, Karishma Exports, Karishma Goa Mineral Trading, Rajaram Bandekar (s) Mines P. Ltd., Rajaram N.S. Bandekar & Co. P. Ltd., Narayan Bandekar & Sons Pvt. Ltd., On & Offshore Hitech Engineers P. Ltd., Trimuthi Exports, D.B. Bandodkar & Sons Pvt. Ltd., Shree Bhavani Minerals, Minescape Minerals Pvt. Ltd., Prasanna V. Ghotge, Star PVG Exports, Sri Krishna Enterprises, Gangadhar Narsingdas Agrawal, Fulchand Exports, Baggadia Brothers, Shree Mallikarjun Shipping, Alphine International, MSPL Limited, Ramakanta V. S. Velingkar, Ramakanta Velingkar Minerals, Magnum Minerals Pvt. Ltd., Rika Global Impex Ltd., Muktar Pvt. Ltd., Canara Overseas Limited, Shantadurga Transport Co. P. Ltd., and Adani Enterprises Limited. All these companies has exported Goan Iron Ore to China without any exception. These are the beneficiaries of the Goa’s dig and sell economy to which this trade is the backbone of their economies fetching unimaginable financial rewards without being in any affecting with global depression.
Sesa Goa limited – owned by British corporate Vedanta that is listed on London stock exchange and funded by large number of banks and shareholders world over -has topped the list of exporters with total of 10,345,020 tonnes of export of Iron Ore. Out this 8,977,723 tonnes exported to China, 631,186 tonnes exported to Japan, 212,378 tonnes to South Korea, 265,704 to Europe, and 258,029 tonnes to Pakistan. The company – V.S. Dempo & Company Pvt. Ltd – that Vedanta purchased in June 2009 with all its mining interests in Goa exported total of 4,347,543 tonnes of iron ore to China (3,882,550 tonnes) and Japan (464,993 tonnes). Vedanta’s target of exports for 2009-2010 is whopping 50,000,000 tonnes from its mines in Goa alone. This is larger than last year’s (2008-2009) combined total of all the mining companies export from Goa of 38,075,223 tonnes of iron ore. For Vedanta Goa is a SunshineState! With this known target of one mining company alone destruction of Goa’s ecology and People’s livelihood is guaranteed.
Audoot Timblo who filed defamation suit of Rs.500 crore against the author of this paper – Sebastian Rodrigues - at Calcutta High Court in December 2008 citing that his writings at GAKUVED blog www.mandgoa.blogspot.com has caused loss of business and existence of Fomento group is in danger if his writings continues has three mining companies in his kitty. The first one is Sociedade de Fomento Indl P. ltd that exported 2,348,970 tonnes to China (3,882,550 tonnes), Japan (453,005 tonnes) and Europe (339,330 tonnes). The second one is Prime Mineral Exports Pvt. Ltd. That exported 1,644,432 tonnes of IronOre to China. The third one is Fomento (Karnataka) Mining Co. P. Ltd that sent 119,964 of Goan ore to China. This way there are 50 agencies that are engaged in export of Goa’s IronOre. Their names are already cited above.
In order to sustain this exports tirade Goa’s hinterlands has been at the brutal receiving ends. Its Forest and agriculture in large number of villages where open cast mining activity is undertaken has been a huge casualty thereby causing crisis of food security for humans and animals alike. Goa’s ground water flow has been drastically changed due to deep mining pits in number of locations thereby leaving village wells, natural lakes, springs, ponds and rivulets dry. Water dependency has developed in the Goa’s mining belt. Number of people has become victims of dangerous Public Health Crisis in the Goa’s mining belt that is yet to be thoroughly investigated. Large number of people of Pissurlem and Keri – in Sattari are suffering from number lung diseases including tuberculosis. While People in and around Rivona in Sanguem suffer from Chicken Gunia almost in epidemic form few months ago in September – October 2009.
Number of voices has cropped up recently highlighting that all is not well with open cast mining industry in Goa and in fact it is rapidly destroying not only the backbone of the local people’s economy i.e. agriculture, but also causing irreversible ecological changes with long term unforeseen consequences. Due to inherent rush of the China boom and lure of foreign currency mining companies are in competition with each other to transform Goa into a desert – all of them working at breath neck speed. This is duly facilitated by mechanized nature of the mining industry with latest sophisticated machinery waging a war against nature and humanity in Goa. Communities has been lured into alcoholism and cleverly fragmented into factions causing frequent strife so that the will of the mining industry prevails.”[1] Clearly crisis in polity is visible.
Crisis of Economy
It is clear that crisis in ecology and crisis in polity are increasingly manifesting itself on the theatre of economy. Economy in both the macro as well as micro sense. At macro level massive beneficiaries has been the mining companies. Their incomes from mining in Goa are several time higher than income of the State of Goa. The by itself is a crisis. How come the wealth generated from the ore in the State of Goa gets distributed in such a scandalous manner? The ecological exploitation has created economic power houses that are unhealthy for society as this has generated power relations based of acute inequality. The existence of inequality is the visible sign of crisis of economy.
At a micro level employment in terms of trucks for villagers has created a arrogant lobby arguing for the mining industry. Their logic is driven by crisis of economy. Their most often repeated argument on the streets with the protestor is that they have taken loans to buy trucks. And in order to pay loans they need to keep their trucks employed with mining companies. Or if protestors feel that they should stop mining transportation then the protestors must pay the loans of the trucks to the banks. The role of banks as large scale behind the curtain beneficiary becomes evident here. The long term interests of sustenance of the life support systems that are rooted in ecology are carefully overlooked.
Humanity suffers at this juncture suffer another major division. Climate crisis often referred as caused by human action. But the major chunk of crisis has been driven by the business houses and the industry. This is also the case of Goa. Mining companies are tiny section of humanity in terms of numbers. Yet they are able to caused massive perturbations across the board – in ecology, in economy and in polity.This section of humanity has gathered lots of power by virtue of their scandalous accumulation of wealth, influence over polity and control over media. This is a case of Goa too.
Overcoming crisis
One of the formidable challenges today has been to overcome the crisis in ecology, crisis in polity as well as crisis in economy. The fundamental paradigms shifts are necessary in the way the life is approached. Not just the life of human species but essential understanding of life support systems on wider canvass. The idea that human species is superior to all other species has to be questioned as human species cannot survive alone by itself. It needs all the known and unknown forces of universe to make itself viable on earth. The idea that human beings – particularly those who uphold private ownership of nature ideology is essentially defective. In fact this is a crisis of understanding that is fuelled by greed and insecurity. This situation gets aggravated when these mindset people takes control of the State and begin to further re-inforce this ideology with State apparatus that includes monopoly over instruments, agencies and justifications for violence. This has largely been the case of Goa in terms of the way it has transformed over the past 80 years. Mining leases legally disposed all other legal titles of people to their land and once leases activated it in practice deprived people including tribal people of Goa. The resistance was met with brute force. The entire edifice of resistance has to undergo drastic and radical change.
Metal Sensitivity – need for sustainable futures[2]
While there has been a large amount of disruption of life and life supporting systems due to rampant mining activities, the aspect of consumption pattern - particularly of metals - has remained largely unaddressed amongst the milieu seeking to do way with anti-sustainable development patterns in operation. The daily routine of battle largely kept theoretical understanding of countering the exploitative process at the source of mining activities viz. stopping the operation of mines, campaigning against police repression on protestors etc something that is so necessary too.
However, those who are the consumers of the products from the mined minerals such as IronOre, Magnesium, Bauxite, Gold, Copper and all other types of minerals, are never questioned. There are multiple classes of people that are involved in conspicuous consumption of the products of the mined products for various reasons such as statement of a class, fashion, luxury and also as psychopathic greed. Today and also earlier it has been a practice to own jewelry – gold, diamond and silver etc – as a symbol of wealth. Possessions of these metals constitutes ‘security’ to some, status symbol to some,statement of class to still others, fashion to the well off classes, etc.There is need for radical need to question these consuming classes. There is need to reflect as to amount of mining is needed to carry on to make these fine products as class statements.
Consumption of Costly cars is another fad of the burgeoning global middle that is growing in leaps and bound India as well as in China. One peculiar habit of this class of people is to buy cars. After one car there is a trend to go for second and third cars. Amount of IronOre that gets concentrated in manufacture of these cars is not only enormous ecological scandal but also huge burden on the people in the mining global mining belts battling mining companies and State repressive mechanisms. The link needs to be strongly built between the consuming classes of the World and the mining companies-State nexus. This consumption pattern spearheaded by upper and middle classes also needs to be targeted in development related resistance discourse in theory as well as systematic practical application to address uncalled for irrational burden of car consumption by consuming classes. It is much wiser to divert the precious metal in improving Public transportation rather than promote through state patronage individual car consumption.
There is also need to be sensitive towards various daily use gadgets made up of metals and dependent upon electricity that is rapidly finding its ways in consumption patterns. Metal gadgets are entering the household consumption agendas in the same way that plastic entered household agendas by destroying India’s well known mud pottery in front of the onslaught of plastic industry. Large amount and variety of mineral are utilized for the manufacture of computers that has also already become household item in middle classes and upper middle classes. Communication systems that are evolving such as e-mail and World Wide Web is largely dependent upon for their applicability on metal consuming gadgets such as computers and mobile phones with economics of profitability being its driving force of their promotion. Evolution in communications technology has even evolved a term called ‘personal computer (PC)’ as one of the very basic concept in its functioning and appeal. The underlying message that one can derive is the computer for personal use. The term ‘Personal’ is distinctly different from ‘Family’, ‘Neighbourhood’ and of ‘Village’. The nature and ideology of these technological gadgets are reflected in their nomenclature itself. It targets individual and then transform and individual into consumer.
Construction industry uses huge amount of metal in the process. Moreover the construction as an industry – also known as real estate industry has transformed itself into profit driven industry. It is engaged in the project of housing and luxury hotel projects that are for the consumption of high spending upper and middle classes. There is a need for critical question on the entire matrix of Construction industry. There is a need to understand the magnitude of metal consumption at various levels by this industry.
There is also need to be metal sensitive when it comes to global war industry. The triple humiliating aspect ofthis industry is that first, it is an industry that is designed to kill human being in variety of ways, secondly, it is one of the largest consumers of metals and thereby ensures steady demand for ore and profitability of the mining industry. Thirdly, it is principally and legitimately financed through public funding by various state agencies. Consent is manufactured to legitimize this industry in the name of law and order and nationalism. Military agencies that includes Army, Navy and Air force of various individual countries as well as international agencies such as NATO, use large amount of metals for their various consumption needs such as trucks, tankers, ships, guns, bullets, protective gears, missiles, various kinds of ammunitions etc. Numbers of States are responsible for creation and promotion of non-state actors to engage in violence so that war industry continuously floats in profits through various kinds of conflicts all over the world. Peace and understanding is essentially valid option in the interest of sustainable future so that abuse of metals by war industry can be restricted. The metal sensitivity in war industry is all the more needed here due to one additional reason too. Number of countries has been considering nuclear option in war. This has led to creation of large networks of nuclear mines, nuclear plants, Military and Science. It is almost a nexus as the nuclear industry has managed to get itself state protection in number of countries and lage amount of public funding is directed towards building steady supply lines and utmost preparedness for nuclear attacks on so-called enemy country. This has been the phenomena especially after the Second World War when USA dropped couple of atom bombs on Japan in August 1945.
Even independent of war industry nuclear industry must be targeted even for civilian purposes. Nuclear mining is one of the most dangerous mining industries causing radioactive hazards. The worst case of nuclear mining in India is in Jharkhand’s Jadugoda Uranium mines. Due to passing of Indo-US nuclear deal, numbers of nuclear reactors that are facing opposition from conscious consumers of electricity in the West – Europe, America and Australia - are all set to relocate themselves in India. Couple new uranium mining sites are also getting cleared in spite of the opposition in Meghalaya and AndhraPradeshStates of India. Few sites are identified for nuclear reactors in number of Indian States including Maharastra. The State of Goa is going to be sandwiched between the two nuclear reactors – one to the South: Kaiga nuclear plant in Karnataka and one to the North : Ratnagiri in Maharastra.
Metal sensitivity is largely being able to be aware of once choices of consumption, one being able to critique and reflect on prevailing pattern of consumption related to metals, being able to reach out and connect with consuming classes and begin process of honest and frank communication, being able to decipher between need based consumption and greed based consumption, being able to willing to make serious effort to search for alternatives and challenge the profit based metal consumption to be replaced by need based metal consumption. To be able to connect loss of livelihood of the indigenous communities in Goa, Jharkhand, Orissa and other places in India, Philippines, Bolivia, East Timor and mines in other parts of the World to global consumption patterns based on overexploitation. It also means being able to disconnect with metal industry and connect with real people and community. It means being able to arrive at inner peace within an individual without greedy consumption of metals in various forms. It also means being able to find safer alternatives to nuclear power plants for electricity consumption. It also means serious re-thinking on our aspirations of life styles being more metal sensitive. Most importantly it means unlearning models of consumption based on greed. It means being willing to learn from various indigenous communities the models of life that is based on non-exploitative terms and integrating them into mainstream. It also means able to apply various societal and state agencies to influence metal sensitive development initiatives and alter existing consumption patterns that are leading the planet towards catastrophes such as nuclear radiation, industrial disasters and climate change. All the three looming catastrophes are caused by industrialization.
Non-industrial low ecological foot print communities such as Adivasi communities provide important lessons in peace, community spirit and non metal consumption pattern that have potentials for clues of solutions for greed based over consumption patterns. Metal sensitivity also means defending these communities. These communities have inhabited the planet and also used metals in most sensible and non exploitative manner towards nature as well as to human communities. It is only modern organized societies that are intensely involved in creating unsustainable future ever since industrial revolution for the past three centuries.
Aiming de-growth
The logic of growth model of development has fuelled and continuously aggravated the climate crisis. The ideology of this model of development is single most factor of disruption of life and life support system in terms of mining in Goa. The important characteristic of this feature is that this model of development is embarked upon by States that espouse capitalist ideology like USA, Europe and Japan, countries that espoused communist ideology like that of China and Countries that experimented with mixed economies such as India. In fact the countries and their varied ideologies have reduced themselves into a mere subset of growth model of development. The repeated recessions has signaled the nemesis of the system world wide and the global economy carries on this model of economy through intense and violent integration of wider and newer areas into the chains of servitude in global political economy – production, distribution, consumption and exchange. Goa is witnessing itself in powerful assertive impulse.
There is a need to undertake re-look at this growth led development model, introspect on it and get into the process of dismantling it. There is a need for powerful and sustain action at the global as well as local levels in this regard. Power of de-growth option will emerge from consistent organization, reflection, evaluation and action on behalf of the mass of people at different levels in coordination with each other.This process that needs to be followed for this is bottom-up approach in organizing with ever deepening clarity of thought and vision.
One element that may be deliberately excluded from this action is violence. This is particularly because the growth model in place uses it so carefully to silence dissenters in ways more than one. It is not possible to embark on creating new models of sustainability based on violence as violence is source as well as model of unsustainability that is so integral part of growth model of development.
There is a need to set up small decentralized de-growth groups all over the state of Goa and beyond for both in order to provoke puncturing of growth model as well as establishing new models of sustainability. These groups must be formed as coalitions of various resistance movements so that they are able connect with consumption and distribution side of the political economy. Establishing these crisp cross linkages will serve as lifeline for dismantling the growth model as well for the evolution of new models with new paradigms and parameters.
The entire State of Goa from the grass roots level must be involved in this process cutting across the all human created barriers. If setting up of groups are not possible then the theme of de-growth must be pushed on the various platforms to promote wider dissemination of ideas and generation of quality debates serving as grinders for action and advancement.
De-growth has to not only be spread as idea – a radical critique of the prevalent system represented by growth model but also must take grip as pedagogy – actual practice of de-growth and rise of economy based on sustainability. This will have be patience project that far exceeds the narrow agendas of any kind of sectarian interests.
The involvement of large number of people in this project will get more minds searching the ways out to dismantle growth model of development as well as creating social infrastructure for the rise of self-dependent sustainable society. Important aspect of this whole endeavor is to take the debate out of the boardrooms of narrow circuits of researchers and get it tested with mass of people out in the open, in spaces and places where collective discussions are practiced. It may be on the streets, on village groups working on democracy, workers collective bargaining for their wages, urban groups of poor fighting for their share of water and food, middle class consumer rights groups demanding efficiency of delivery of gas cylinders at home, women organized to counter male domination, concerned teachers organizing themselves to infuse quality values in their students, student organizations who believe they have a duty towards their country, Members of political parties eager to do public service, Clergy groupings wanting to serve society with motivations from their respective religions, Groups farmers organized into the club, enterprising women that are part of self-help groups. All needs to be included. Greater the inclusion, better and effective it is for the growth model functions with exclusion of the majority. To dismantle this model first thing that is required is inclusion of the majority to evolve sustainable model that rescues society, polity, economy and ecology from crisis, and further go about to build a self-sustaining economy.
So the ‘crisis out there’, after deeper introspection becomes ‘crisis in here’. So the remedy for wider society and polity is also remedy for ones deep and intimate self. There is no dichotomy involved. Personal changes are outcomes of deeper reflections on wider issues. They look insignificant for non-sensitive audience. Sensitivity is the key. Personal reflections do away with dichotomies and the quality of vibrations oozing out from deeper self become purer with every action of introspection. It is a seed of de-growth. It is there in all of us. Point is whether we are willing to slow down and let it germinate.
[1] Rodrigues, Sebastian (2010) “Goa Police as an agency of repression 2007-2009” presented at the State level Seminar on “Human Rights and Environment – A Focus on Goa” at the Department of Political Science, St. Xavier’s College, Mapusa, Goa on International Human Rights Day December 10, 2009.
[2] Rodrigues, Sebastian (2009) “Mining and Displacement of Sustainable Livelihoods in Goa, India” in Ulvila, Marko and Panasen, Jarna (eds) Sustainable Futures: Replacing Growth Imperative and Hierarchies with Sustainable Ways published by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland.
Note: This paper was circulated, presented and discussed at the National Consultation on the Impact of Climate Change on Livelihood and Support Systems held on 16-17 February 2010 at Bio-Medical Ethics Centre, Mumbai. The consultation was organised jointly by four organisations - (IRDWSI), Society for Participatory Action and Reflection (SPAR), and Vikas Adhyayan Kendra (VAK).
Acknowledgments: Prof. Alberto Gomes for his ideas on the concept of Political Ecology
Goa is mostly known for being a top tourist destination, but away from the coast mining is the major industry, and it is severely impacting local water. Click here for video.
Forest Tribes Lose Rights
For video on takeover of tribal forest spaces by the Indian Forest Department click the links here.
