Dear goanet readers I am not sure how many of you will be aware that in early February last year in the United Kingdom, a soup was brought out by Convent Garden called Goa Carnival soup. This soup was in a colourful neat tetra-pack, and on one side the story of the Carnival in Goa was printed which I was pleased to read. It was sold nationally in their thousands and I am certain was a good money spinner, did very well indeed with the "Goa" label taking centre stage amongst other products on supermarket shelves around the country.
Goa has now become a successful brand name and everyone worldwide wants a slice of it. The reality is we have no more slices to give away unless we wish to turn our land into a playground for the rich and famous with the local inhabitants taking back stage or pampering to the needs of market forces. In the coming free and democratic elections, our community worldwide will have their eyes on and be looking to our brothers and sisters in Goa who have "personal power" to all come out in force and vote without the need or be influenced by a bribe. To all stand up and be counted. We need candidates to take office and work with our local community to safeguard our way of life and the last remains of paradise that we have and restore it back to us. Sometimes I wonder why we all left our beautiful homeland. Most of us who live abroad have our hearts and souls lying on the beaches of Colva, Calungute and Candolim to name a few. Let's hope in years to come we will even have a place to sit on our pristine clean beaches, free of litter, peacefully looking out at the Arabian sea at the close of each day watching a golden sunset. Rose Fernandes Thornton Heath, Surrey United Kingdom 8 January 2012 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---------------------------------------------------------------------------