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----- Forwarded message from Cecil Pinto <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ----- Date: Thu, 24 Jun 2004 11:16:58 +0530 From: Cecil Pinto <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> From Margaret Mascarenhas <mmasc at sancharnet.in> ----- Fred, I don't think the issue here, at least for me, is about whether (some) NGOs/activists do good work (many do),and it is certainly not about ethnic origins--I don't know where that one came from. It is also not, for me, about dishonesty concerning money matters since to date no one has presented any evidence whatsoever to establish that this is the case. It isn't even about GHAG not doing good work. It has done good work, which is why I have supported it in the past. My objection to GHAG is their repeated use and abuse of OTHERS from whom they solicit support on one pretext and then unilaterally change the agenda when the other(s) are already committed/compromised. It is a question of public misrepresentation.Let GHAG do good work on its own and not enlist public support for causes that turn out to be other than what was originally outlined. That Heta has been dishonest in her representation in soliciting assistance,that she indiscriminately uses people to her own ends, I have personal experience with that, as have numerous others. Had it just been about me, I would and did refrain from comment for over two years, and continued to endorse her work, including the first Fontainhas Festival. Re the second Fointainhas festival, surely you must know that it was not only Alexyx who had a major problem with the way it was handled and with Heta's treatment of individuals once they were roped into the event; I spoke with at least 12 artists who were extremely upset by GHAG's insensitive, arbitrary and autocratic behavior during this Festival. Let's face it: GHAG cannot have a Heritage Festival without artists and musicians--no one would come. When you present a proposal to artists, or whomever, as though you are offering them a parnership in an event, you need to behave democratically and as though that partnership exists. And when GHAG puts itself out there in the public arena, and solicits public endorsement, they had also better be ready for public criticism. Margaret ----- End forwarded message -----