Land Grab threatens Goan Island

Watch this video on Vanxim Island at this links. click here.

The River Mandovi Cries for Help

Sanghmitra Mainkar, who's from the heavily mined area of Bicholim in Goa, reports how miners dump waste into the beautiful river Mandovi. Although this is illegal, it's being carried on in broad daylight, polluting main water supply channels to critical levels! click here for video.

Himanshu Kumar on why Indians should support Tribals in their resistance...

Himanshu Kumar speaking in the midst of his 3 month long cycle yatra, explains why the nation should support the tribals in their resistance against the govt.

He says that if the govt. wins this battle, it will drive them to winning the war and grabbing land from people illegally and unconstitutionally will become the order of the day.

He urges the activists across the country to get off the net and go amidst the people. That simply by sitting and writing on the internet, one cannot create pressure on the govt. Till such time we don't go amongst the masses we won't be able to awaken them or pressure the govt. to deliver justice to all its citizens.

He urges the people to go to the masses and learn about the grassroot resistance across the country and to support them.

The YouTube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTnncO8kc-Y

Forest Tribes Lose Rights

Goa’s Velip tribal people are battling the Forest Department for the right to use their ancestral lands. The Forest Department has claimed Velip land as a wildlife sanctuary. But the Velip people have used the land, which they see as sacred, for as long as living memory.

Locals claim the Forest Department has named the area as a wildlife sanctuary so it can move the tribal people out and eventually hand the land over to rich mining companies. There are robust deposits of valuable minerals in the area. Mining companies operating in Goa are highly interested in expanding their operations. Many claim the Forest Department hands over protected lands in exchange for large sums of money.

The Forest Department is in the process of removing Velip rights to use the land. They have issued restrictions on Velip people’s movements, built 3-metre stone fences around the area and dug deep trenches along the Velip’s footpaths to prevent them from crossing into the area.

Velips depend on the land to cultivate cashews—a primary source of income for the tribe. Without access to these harvests, the Velips will be robbed of their ability to support their families as they have for so long. Khotigaon is a sacred worship center for Velips, where they honor their deities. To them, it is an irreplaceable space.

In this video, Devidas reports on the Velip people’s situation in Khotigaon.

Mines Deplete Water Supply

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. Please click here for the video report by Devidas Gaonkar.

Videos of police repression on anti-POSCO agitators

1. The video of police oppression on anti-POSCO resisters - the fate of Indian citizens and the face of the state of Orissa

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWOgj0cr3qQ&feature=player_embedded

2. Please find the TV coverage of the Kalinganagar and POSCO videos in News X. Please note the exposure of the lies of the administration about Laxman Jamuda, the leader of BBJM shot dead by the police and the effort to cremate him secretly. Also note the massive preparations, including guns and ammunitions stored in the Kujang Police station to attack the anti-POSCO resistance. As noted elsewhere, the brutal attack on the anti-POSCO resistance by the police has already started.

TATA-POSCO-Vedanta rule

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iNLaf6mAZ0&feature=player_embedded

EPGOrissa

3. Finally, NDTV reports the attack on the anti-POSCO movement

http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/anti-posco-agitation-police-fire-tear-gas-shells-25738.php

Video: Tollem Mine Tragedy (landslide) -Goa

Here is video called "Tollem Mine Tragedy (landslide) -Goa" by JoeUkGoa based on Tollem mines disaster. Click here to view the same.

Video: Seby ... on mining issues in Goa

Here is the video called "Seby ... on mining issues in Goa" by Frederick Noronha. Click here to view the same.

VIDEO: Goa, Goa, Gone ...

Goa, Goa, Gone ... 22 mins documentary. Directed by: Kurush Canteenwala‏

Mining is Goa's second-largest industry after tourism. 8% of this state's land is already under mining, mostly for iron ore. Now, mining activity is intensifying across the state. So is the opposition of citizens to this unregulated industry. This Infochange documentary explores the impact of mining on Goa's environment – one of the world's 12 biodiversity hotspots -- and livelihoods.

Click here to view this video.

Links of CNN-IBN telecast of 'Not all is sunny and peaceful'

CNN-IBN telecast against Goa's mining industry is available here. It is titled 'not all is sunny and peaceful'.

It is further developed version of its earlier documentary. You may get it here again. It was titled 'Mine in Goa Forest defies forest law'.

Sebastian Rodrigues

TV Programmes on Goa mining

Recently CNN-IBN made couple of video stories on Goa mining.

1. First one is about mining in Bicholim and Sanguem Talukas where protests against mining are raging. Click here for the links.
2. The Second video is about illegal mining inside Sanguem Forest at Collem. Click here for its links.

Ambaulim Intruzz Videos

Click on the above screen to view video.

Traditional festival Intruzz Videos are uploaded for you. For Photos and text click here. Festival was orgained on Sunday February 03 2008 in Quepem Taluka's Ambaulim village. This video was possible thanks to creative assistance from Devidas Gaonkar and Larsen Pereira.

Do post your comments and reflections.

Sebastian Rodrigues