goanet-digest Monday, May 20 2002 Volume 01 : Number 3990
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In this issue:
Re: [Goanet] MESSAGE TO ALL GOANS! -- RELIGION V/S ANIMISM SURVEY
[Goanet] Don't create communal tension, Parrikar warns Congress
[Goanet] ANALYSIS: Greenwash -- politicians all the same for Goa's environment
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Date: Mon, 20 May 2002 13:42:07 +0400
From: "Sunila Muzawar" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: [Goanet] MESSAGE TO ALL GOANS! -- RELIGION V/S ANIMISM SURVEY
>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Subject: Re: [Goanet] MESSAGE TO ALL GOANS! -- RELIGION V/S ANIMISM SURVEY
>Date: Mon, 20 May 2002 00:50:22 EDT
>
>In response to the above, I humbly submit: What doth it profit a (wo)man if
>(s)he gains the whole world, but suffers the loss of his/her soul?
>
>There is no point in trying to twist Ash's poignant prophesy for any
>generalizations. Religion (from 'religare') is designed to "bind us back
>from
>jungle rule. IMHO, without religion, Goans would fit the computer prompt of
>Goons :(
Speak for yourself if you like. To generalise with all Goans is to insult
their sensibilities terribly. Additionally, please note that the North West
of Pakistan actually follows organised religion to the T and are famous for
jungle rule or tribal law. Incidentally it is believed that "the evil one" -
Osama is currently in hiding there. And the current barbarism we see
emanating out of Pakistan is also a product of organised religion.
And Buddha actually went to the jungles to meditate and get enlightened. If
all were like Buddha then violence would not have any place in the
world.....so jungles are not that bad after all. :-)
And don't forget that it is in the name of organised religion that the the
Church murdered millions and rendered thousands homeless in their quest to
convert Goans to Christianity.
And it is the efforts of the VHP to actually make Hinduism into an organised
religion which is resulting in the current Hindu militancy and violence.
And how can I forget to mention the current ogre of Islamic terrorism...I
won't bother with details.
Incidentally if you think religion made anyone civilized there is enough
proof to link it with the worst barbarism in the world. It is education,
culture, human values, and society which makes one civilised. Simply going
to a church or temple and following priests blindly (even though they may be
paedophiles or drug addicts) does not make one civilized or get one out of
the "jungle" mentality.
In fact, it is the other way round. If you actually look at the custodians
of organised religion you will find a whole horde of perverts ranging from
paedophiles and child/female abusers to drug addicts to violence
recommenders to revenge fanatics to racists to basic cheats and liars and
egoistic chauvinists. And most people actually follow them blindly in the
name of Jesus, Allah, Ram and whoever. I tell you people have forgotten
Jesus, Allah and Ram. Instead, Satan and the devil reigns supreme with
current religious bodies with the horns showing prominently.
>I would like to initiate a survey of all Goanetters on the following
>question:
>
>Are you "for" or "against" religion?
And what's that going to achieve other than prove that religion is popular
or not among the goanetters ? That does not mean it is good or bad. After
all alchohol is also popular and so is smoking. But whether it is good or
bad is another question. Incidentally, if organised religion was not popular
I would not have to write so many yarns against it. ;- )
>Let us plan to close this survey at midnight, Friday, May 31, 2002.
>
>Hopefully some computer wizard will volunteer to tabulate and provide the
>results :-)
Here's my vote : against organised religion of course. Now why did I even
bother ? ;-)
Cheers,
Sunila
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------------------------------
Date: Sat, 18 May 2002 00:38:02 -0700
From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [Goanet] Don't create communal tension, Parrikar warns Congress
Don't create communal tension, Parrikar warns Congress
The Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Parrikar has warned the Congress against
creating communal tensions to further their prospects in the forthcoming
elections, and said that complaints had been filed with the police against
certain such attempts.
Disclosing this at a press conference here on May 18, Mr Parrikar said
that, as the state's Home Minister, he had taken the matter seriously and
that his government would act strongly against those people who were
planning to create ``artificial communal violence.=92=92 He said that these
unscrupulous elements within the Congress could do things like defacing
religious structures and put the blame on the BJP=92s doorsteps. He had
information that these incidents could take place after the Congress
leader, Ms Sonia Gandhi=92s forthcoming visit to the state. ``I am saying
this with all sense of responsibility," he reiterated.
He said that some of the places that could be targeted by the Congress to
create communal disturbance are Valpoi, Aldona, Bicholim, Mormugao and
Sanguem. He said the Congress was so desperate that it could stoop to any
level to win the election.
The desperation of the Congress was also reflected in the manner it was
trying intimidatory tactics. Congress workers were following BJP vehicles
during campaigning in an aggressive manner, he said. Mr Parrikar informed
that, on one occasion, when he had gone to address a meeting at
Poinguinim, the Congress candidate=92s election vehicle actually came to th=
e
meeting site and had to be removed by the police.
He said these moves demonstrated that the Congress had no issues to place
before the people.
Commenting on the statement of a Congress observer that the BJP=92s promise
on eradicating unemployment could not be taken seriously, Mr Parrikar said
that the people of Goa knew well whom to trust. The BJP had kept many of
its promises and there was no reason to believe that it would not honour
them in the coming days. He informed that the BJP had promised employment
opportunities to 5000-6000 persons, and that promised had been kept. He
said if the party returned to power, the BJP would wipe off unemployment
in the state by 2005.
The Chief Minister said that there was a surge across the state in support
of the BJP. ``A wave is building up in our favour. All our campaign
material is exhausted and we have ordered for more. The rivals are worried
and therefore on the defensive,=92=92 he said.
He said party workers from other camps had begun to join the BJP in large
numbers and added that the media would know of the details as campaigning
goes on.
Talking of the good work done by the government, work that had been
considered "impossible", Mr Parrikar said the government completed in a
flat 28 days pumping of water from river Sal to Amthane. Water problem in
many parts of north Goa has been resolved, he pointed out.
PLEASE VISIT US
www.goabjp.com</a>
FOR MORE ARTICLES & COLUMNS.
THANK YOU.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 20 May 2002 16:42:17 +0530 (IST)
From: Frederick Noronha <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [Goanet] ANALYSIS: Greenwash -- politicians all the same for Goa's environment
GREENWASH: POLITICIANS ALL THE SAME FOR GOA'S ENVIRONMENT
**********************************************************************
Hardhitting stories, news-that-matters, perceptive analysis:
http://www.freenewsgoa.net ... a journalists' cooperative for news
**********************************************************************
Be it the Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party
or any other party in the State, the environment and ecology in Goa has been
reduced to dust and rubble, reports Julian D'Costa in the Herald.
The will to implement a gamut of environment related legislation passed
by the Goa Legislative Assembly in the last few months and years has been
merely superficial and cosmetic.
No doubt, environmental movement has gained moment during recent times,
however much is left to be desired.
Plastics, garbage, mining rejects, bio-medical waste, are some of Goa's
worst environmental problems and demands attention in the form of structured
ecological controls from every government.
The BJP government headed by Manohar Parrikar showed a responsive attitude
towards some environmental issues like garbage disposal. Initially, the
government also took into confidence some NGOs to discuss burning issues.
But issues were not carried to the logical conclusion.
Being a technocrat-chief minister, the environment-conscious citizens had
high hopes from Parrikar but he didn't rise to their expectations.
CRZ regulations continue to be blatantly violated mainly along the North Goa
coast and despite complaints, the government apparently is hand-tied.
On the other hand in South Goa particularly in Cutbona and some other areas
in Salcete, illegal constructions were demolished credit for which also goes
to upright officers like sub-divisional magistrate, Sanjit Rodrigues.
Conversion of thousands of hectares of land was sanctioned by the town and
country planning department.
Garbage: No government has made any headway in evolving a proper
garbage management system, except for providing a legislation, the
implementation of which is yet to see the light of day.
For instance in 1999 the Sardinha government launched with great fanfare
the anti-plastic drive and introduced a ban on use of plastic bags upto
20 microns. However this failed to make an impact.
A second attempt commencing with a ban on use of plastics upto 40 microns is
scheduled to commence on June 1 this year.
"And if things don't work out we will be forced to extend the ban upto 100
microns," Dr Claude Alvares of Goa Foundation said.
The government has claimed that "a major drive" was undertaken to collect
and dispose off plastic garbage which subsequently remained only on paper.
If not for non-governmental organisations, Goa would be laced with
garbage litter, plastic waste and untreated sewerage.
The People's Movement For Civic Action (PMCA) based in Panjim and led by
Patricia Pinto has done yeoman service through garbage management committees
in the capital city and surrounding areas. So also have groups in other
cities taken the initiative of setting up such committees.
But what still remains to be taken care of are the garbage dumping sites,
in Curca and Sonsodo, which are fast deteriorating. Environmentalists
point out that garbage has now become a very serious problem in Goa
having far reaching consequences on the environment.
After the BJP government took over, the Mapusa municipality stopped
dumping garbage on the Assagao hillock as it was affecting residents of
Ganeshpuri. Trucks used to go all the way to Sonsodo for some time until
they were given permission by the PMC to dump garbage at Curca.
Realising the need to have a comprehensive garbage disposal site and a
treatment plant, the government has been trying to locate one at Pilerne for
North Goa while the Mapusa municipal council has identified land at Assagao.
While pointing out to the two garbage sites in Goa, Sonsodo and Curca, which
would soon cease to exist, Dr Alvares has expressed fears that the new
garbage dumping site at Assagao will not offer any relief. "The haste in
which the Mapusa Municipal Council has been trying to take over the land and
commence dumping of garbage would create further problems," he revealed.
According to Dr Claude the new site does not fulfill the requirements under
the garbage management rules and in such case will violate the Environment
Protection Act.
"And if there is no proper management of garbage and its disposal at the new
site which is supposed to last for 25 years, we will oppose the setting up
of the garbage site at Assagao," he said.
"At the higher level, the government is willing to co-operate but not at the
lower level," says Dr Claude adding further, "at the lower level, the local
self governing bodies don't want the involvement of citizens and they don't
want to do proper work either."
Coastal Regulation Zone violations: What also seems baffling is that
CRZ violations continue to acquire the patronage of every government. Nearly
500 such violations both in North and South Goa are awaiting demolition. But
during the last seven months the CRZ Authority has failed to even meet and
decide on the course of action to be taken.
Noise pollution: Noise pollution continues to deafen the state of
Goa.
After a hue and cry over rave parties and the amplified music that has been
disturbing the coastal belts, the efforts to ban use of amplified sound
systems has been limited only to a small section of the society organising
minor festivities, while the major chunk continues to blast away till the
early hours of the morning with the blessings of politicians and the police.
Forest cover: The only area which Dr Alvares feels that has remained
undisturbed is Goa's forest cover. Except for instances where trees have
been felled in urban areas and NGOs attempts to stop tree felling in Campal,
Dr Alvares accepts that the stringent laws have been responsible for the
protection of the forest area.
Mining: As far as mining is concerned, the damage to the environment
by this activity in Goa has been caused largely by rejects dumped into the
river, pumping out of muddy water from the working pits etc.
Damage to agricultural fields has been maximum in the vicinity of
Bicholim, Pissurlem mines, Pale, Codli, Borga. Over 253 hectares of
agricultural land located close to reject dumps have already been
adversely affected.
The total forest area affected by mining till date is estimated to be
over 3000 hectares and it is estimated that about 100 hectares of forest
land would be released for mining activities in the future.
The attempts at denotifying Madei and Netravali as wildlife sanctuaries last
year and the transferring of officers opposed to it, has proven the present
government's --like those in of the past -- soft corner for the mining
lobby.
Soon after the dissolution of the House, the chief minister paid visits to
Curchorem and other areas affected by dust pollution.
Mining activities have also taken a toll on the health of the people of Goa
due to pollution of water due to discharge of mine pit water, effluents,
erosion of waste dumps etc. The most affected rivers are Bicholim, Madei and
Khandepar.
"And yet no government whether the BJP, MGP or Congress are ready to take
any action for the damage caused," says Dr Claude Alvares.
However the only ray of hope has been the Panjim Bench of the Bombay High
Court who has issued directions during the last 3-4 years providing some
respite for people living in the mining areas.
Dr Claude admits that NGOs have an important role to play.
"About 15 years ago governments were hostile to NGOs. But now they accept
the existence of non-governmental organisations. This is visible in the
close rapport established between the government and NGOs on issues
pertaining to garbage, the anti plastic drive," he says.
Ms Patricia Pinto says "Governments past and present do not consider
environmental impact seriously before taking up any project. They are
only concerned with political benefits accrued from development
projects."
"If they would only study a project before forging ahead and involving
NGOs in decisions pertaining to environment, there would be no cause to
complain," environmentalists say.
Ms Pinto is however optimistic that the growing concern for the
environment will have an effect on governments and make them cautious in
the future especially after the hue and cry over the proposed felling of
trees, privatisation of beach management etc.
There is also adequate proof that environmentalists have evolved into a
powerful pressure group, however the unchecked devastation that has
already been brought combined with political compulsions, clearly
indicates that the struggle to save Goa from an ecological nightmare
still has a long way to go.
>From the government side, an environment study was carried out of
flooding and siltation of river Sal while environmental upgradation
proposal for the St. Inez nullah approved in principle.
Environment education was extended to schools on an experimental basis
during which about one hundred schools were covered.
Alternate source of energy -- wind and solar power -- was tapped to provide
power to Chief Minister's official residence in Panjim, Dona Paula jetty and
Dayanand Bandodkar Marg. (ENDS)
------------------------------
End of goanet-digest V1 #3990
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