Bernice Pereira wrote <bernicepere...@yahoo.com>To: goa...@goanet.orgsubject:
Re: [Goanet] FW: Respect our Right to IdentityHi Freddy,Glad you are back on
Goanet.I really hope we live to see this new era. Goans in Goa and all over the
world are grumbling and when you approach them for support, the response is "Oh
so-and- so is also trying but you know it's a waste of time". I don't think so.
I feel "Never say die".I'm in Dubai just now for a short stay, and the other
day I watched that super movie "Capitalism - a love story". Nothing to do with
love, but it shows exactly what happened in USA during the Bush administation.
This is exactly what is happening in Goa - the money is only going into the
hands of the powers-that-be.at the cost of the environment. We have to somehow
wake people out of their lethargy and bring about a change. Everybody may not
read Goanet. We might be a small group of committed people, but each of us must
pass the message to every Goan we know, in ou
r own friends circle, no matter which part of the world he belongs to and
bring about an awareness of what is happening in our beloved state. Many people
dont have an idea of the magnitude of the problem We have to have signature
campaigns against every new project created in the name of development which
will harm the ecology and environment. Very important also, we have to kick
these "bhaile" out and make life difficult for them. We have to also influence
the locals into understanding that these "bhailes" will take away their jobs
and the jobs of their children. We have to do this just now - there's no time
to lose. The future is very bleak for us. You take a Goan out of Goa and see
how hard he/she works. I wish they would work just as hard in our own
state.BerniceComments : Camilo FeranandesBernice is spot in her above post.
It is wrong to say it is a waste of time. Better late than never and better
to light a small candle than curse the darkness. Yes no matter whe
re we live or work, end of the day we are Goans and are passionate about our
beloved Goa and should do whatever we can no matter how small to save Goa.
Most people are aware of the magnitude of the problems facing Goa but
unfortunately barring some dedicated, sincere Goans most feel the problem will
just disappear on its own and take the attitude it is not in my backyard so why
bother. They are indifferent to the serious problems facing Goa. It is this
attitude that gives the advantage to corrupt politicians and builders.
We should unitedly come together and give support to some dedicated, passionate
and sincere leaders (who are just a handful) who are doing their bit in a very
fierce and difficult environment what with muscle power and money. We should
stand by them and give full support and the first is by actively participating
whenever any meeting/protest is held. Most of the politicians even the
Catholic local politicians who were elected with high hopes and expectations
are only interested in their own betterment. They know they dont need the
local Goans as they can count on the migrant votes. Then again most Goans due
to economic reasons or for bettering their prospects are working abroad or
settled abroad. They go down to Goa only on holidays and have no voting
rights. Some Goans staying in Goa feel that Goans who are abroad have no
concern about Goa which is abolutely false. All sincere lovers of Goa wherever
they are based should collectively and unitedly come together to
protest and highlight the problems facing Goa and give full support to
dedicated leaders who are leading the protests. If there are any protests in
any place in Goa, apart from many coming from far away places to give support
the locals residing there first of all should come in full strength and not
sit comfortably in their homes thinking others will do it.
It is the also the foolish attitude of many Goans who will work and do any and
all jobs abroad but would be reluctant to have the same dedication to do jobs
in their own homes. They feel it is below their dignity and would employ
outsiders i.e. "bailies" to do the job. Can we then blame these bailies then
to come and take up the jobs here? Contrast this to life abroad. Here
everyone tries to do his/own job in the best way possible i.e. doing most jobs
DIY (do it yourself) themselves and only as a last resort when they are not
in a possible to do certain difficult/skilled jobs would a tradesman be called.
Even now we local Goans are getting outnumbered by outsiders and very soon we
will be become strangers or outsiders in our own Goa. Another important lesson
Goans must realize as Freddy mentioned in his post is that we should avoid
selling our ancestral property to others particularly outsiders. I know this
is easier said done then, what with family property fights and the exorbitant
prices that are being offered but as far as possible no matter what the
problems are, ancestral property should be preserved and not sold. After all
this is a gift from our ancestors and hence should be kept as a holiday home
and not sold to greedy builders who like hungry vultures are just waiting to
pounce on poor local Goans and where Goans are facing property problems. Goa
is already raped and destroyed and before it is fully ruined we should wake up.
After all it better late than never.Best wishes,Dev borem korumCamilo Fernandes
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