Dear Non Resident Goans, Some of us in the UAE are co-coordinating a signature campaign, for Goa. The original will be given to the Chief Minister of Goa and copies to The Governor, Opposition Leader, NRI Commissioner & the Goan Press. Please see attached; the letter & signature list. I request Goans to support this just campaign and co-ordinate it, in your respective regions.
Dear UAE Goans, For those willing to help in this campaign, please contact Mario Rodrigues or me. For this signature campaign, I request you to please exercise, the highest discretion & campaign privately.
On witnessing ground realities, I salute genuine activists in Goa, fighting against Mega-Projects, water/land contamination, destruction of fields/sand dunes on beaches/water bodies/wild life/hills/environment/ecology etc Thanks for selflessly fighting, to save our Beautiful Goa & its Prized Identity.
The activists refuse to be cowed down, intimidated by the Specific MLA’s/Police, Government, Panchayat & all other challenges. See my findings: (1) Strategy is to frustrate activists & make them give up!! Vested interests tire down activists by constant delaying/intimidation tactics. (2) False Police cases on most activists; why no action till date, if cases are genuine? (3) Exception of some, majority corrupt panchas adopt delaying tactics for inspection etc to give time to the builders. (4) Respective quasi-judicial government bodies constantly over-ride Gram Sabha resolutions, postpone dates, no show etc (5) Government bodies supposed to uphold the law delay inspection certificates & many times manipulate the same (6) CRZ norms constantly violated by Builders in collusion with Specific MLA's/Police, Where are the enforcement agencies to protect our beaches? (7) Opposition from some misguided Goans, who I appeal to look at the big picture for Goa & Goans i.e. we can have a good today & bright tomorrow via right/sustainable development; let’s not destroy Goa for short term gains!! "We inherited this beautiful land & its identity, from our ancestors & are responsible for the same to our future generations" (8) While many are concerned only with their careers, businesses, families etc these activists spend a lot of their personal time, money & incur a lot of sacrifice for the benefit of all Goans; including those working (directly or in-directly) against Goa. (9) These activists are an inspiration & hope to us all; especially to those who think that nothing can be done to Save Goa.
Good to see all your comments in concern for Goa. I too would like to help Goa in what ever I can. Can you please let me know how do we support this signature campaign?
Pls contact me on arwinmesquita@gmail.com. This signature campaign was given to CM, Opposition Leader, Eduardo Faliero & Governer and got publicity in the Herald, Sunaprat, Times of India & Gomantak (that I know of)
I will update you on email on next plan of action. Regards, Arwin
See Link: http://www.oheraldo.in/pagedetails.asp?nid=14737&cid=26 re-pasted below.
UAE for Goa backs Colamb locals against mining lobby HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, DEC 30 Colamb villagers fighting a lonely battle against mining lobby for alleged illegal mining are now supported by Goans in the UAE for Goa. The forum of Goans in the UAE for Goa has strongly condemned the strong arm tactics employed against peacefully protesting Colamb villagers, and have demanded action against alleged police persons who misused their powers to harass Colamb villagers. “The forceful, unlawful and illicit police action and with no intervention whatsoever, no concern, uncaring attitude and apathy shown by the government for its people, is a clear indication of your government’s support for illegal mining and does the least to uphold the peoples wishes and their democratic rights,” says their memorandum submitted to the government, recently. They have also started a signature campaign, to draw attention of the State Government towards various issues, which they believe, were handled insensitively. A delegation headed by Arwin Mesquita submitted the memorandum to Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, and copy of which, was also submitted to Governor S S Sidhu, Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar and NRI Commissioner Eduardo Faleiro. Their ten demands placed before the government include, stop mining and hill cutting, no approval for mega housing projects, special status to Goa to safeguard scarce land, take back land allotted to SEZs, control influx of migrants and spreading of slums. They have also demanded that Konkani language should be mandatory for identification and exercising of legal rights in Goa, upgrade sewerage system and recycling waste, set-up task force to realise employment opportunities and strongly pursue the Center, for overseas voting rights to Non Resident Goans and Indians.
Please let me know if I can be of any help for you all. Please contact me directly on vivek.salgaokar@gmail.com if necessary.
You are really doing a good job to save our land and dear Goan. Really thankful to You!
Has Govt. Of Goa taken any actions on this? Or just anouncing it in Public conference and meetings..... Its responsibilty of each and every MLA incharge of specific department to take some quick and strick actions and implement them.
Subject: Goan Identity Movement - Ad hoc UAE committee (RELEASED TO PRESS)
Post the recent signature campaign conducted by UAE Goans and submitted in December 2008 to the Governor, Chief Minister, Opposition Leader & NRI Commissioner, An ad-hoc committee met on 16th January 2009 in Dubai, to discuss opportunities to preserve Goa & its Unique Identity. It was noted and agreed by all, that the present scenario prevailing in Goa, was a result of mismanagement and lack of constructive foresight and if not rectified, it would be very detrimental to the future of Goa and Goans and that it would adversely affect our present and future generations. Among the many ideas suggested for the cause were (1) Setup of international network of NRG's, in view of better coordination and more participation in our constructive programs (2) NRG's to Adopt respective villages so as to concentrate and analyze the problems of individual villages and then direct actions (3) Maximise Awareness Campaign as it was noticed that a lot of Goans were misguided and facts misinterpreted.
Goans willing to support or contribute to this genuine cause are welcome to contact Mr. Benedict Lobo - Dubai (benedictlobo@gmail.com) or Mr. Arwin Mesquita - Abu Dhabi (arwinmesquita@gmail.com)