Clean Goa Initiative meet

Photos taken exclusively for www.goa-world.com by Gordon Lobo
Text courtesy: Gulf-Goans e-Newsletter archives

Around 250 concerned citizens, activists and NGO representatives came out in support of the Clean Goa Initiative public march and demonstration at the Mermaid Garden on October 17th, in spite of the announcement for it being blacked out by most of the local daily press. According to Roland Martins (GoaCan) and Patricia Pinto, who have ample experience with such grass roots initiatives, that was a good turn out indeed. "Usually, we only get about 50 people," said Martins. The venue, facilities and permissions for the march and the event were arranged free of cost by journalist and event manager, Ethel Da Costa.

"We're here today to highlight the severity of the garbage crisis in Goa, to understand the issues involved and to seek solutions. We want to try to find a common platform between government, the tourism industry, and private citizens," said writer Margaret Mascarenhas,who informally anchored the event.

Out of the ten speakers invited to address the gathering, Patricia Pinto was the first. She spoke about sustainable waste in Panjim related to the IFFI this year. She was followed by the Sarpanch of Colvale, Neelkanth Haldankar, who described waste issues confronted by villages and recommended the use of bins in schools. Sanjit Rodrigues, Commissioner of the Corporation of the City of Panjim addressed civic responsibility and slammed Panjim residents for being lazy about segregation and reducing their use of plastics. Wendell Rodricks, who is credited with kick-starting the initiative, gave a forceful call to the public and the government to step up to the plate to preserve Goa's beauty and environment.

A last minute arrival, Dr Cajetan Fernandes, representing the people of Curca asked to address the audience, and was welcomed warmly onto the stage. He said he was sympathetic to the dilemma of Panjim, but warned that the Curca dump was overflowing, and that Curca would not permit any more trucks to dump in the area. A round of applause broke out as he left the podium.

Leo Lobo, described private initiatives such as composting, segregation and recyling, and Dr Oscar Rebello warned about the real and present hazards of improper medical waste disposal and appealed to the public to hold irresponsible practitioners accountable. GoaCan director, Roland Martins discussed grassroots involvement on the garbage issue and also called for a need for the need to broaden the platform of discussion on solutions to include governmental and private parties involved in tourism and beach management. The CEO of Enviroment Solutions announced a plan to set up PET bottle retrieval centres around Goa, and during IFFI. Claude Alvares of Goa Foundation discussed cost effective solutions for towns and villages, but remarked that the government didn't appear to be interested in cost effectiveness, a sentiment echoed by Sandesh Prabhudesai, editor of Sunaparant, who turned out to be one of the most galvanizing speakers and motivators of the evening.

NGOs such as SGPIAG of South Goa, GoaCan, and Green Goa Works, distributed brochures and pamphlets of information to the public. Organisers of the Clean Goa Initiative announced that they would take the movement to South Goa in November.

It seems to be that time of the year when you're suddenly woken up to take stock. The unrest in your heart finds a motive for action, energizing your body with adrenalin. The voices inside you find a platform, and as you forge on this self discovery you find that there are people willing to listen. To lend a hand. Willing to go the extra mile to contribute towards a healthy, humane society. Every initiative starts with a 'Yes.' It's just a matter of time when conviction turns it into 'We Can.' That's how Wendell woke me up one early Sunday morning to tell me that we had to do, what we had to do for Goa. The time was now. The time was right. When I got to my email, there was a letter waiting from Margaret. Goa had had her share of rubbish upto her gills.

The people of Curca had had their share of filth shoved down their throat. Calangute-Candolim-Baga had no idea what to do with their waste. Panjim was gagging with the stench and Colvale ready and up in arms if another truck sneaked by with plastic and garbage for their hills. An initiative can turn into mass momentum if fueled by people power. Unfortunately, a section of the media has been more interested in 'snubbing' the issue rather than taking the problem to the streets and seeking immediate redressal. Garbage is not a `celebrity' issue. It affects the lives of the common man. Sure, it took a celebrity to bring the issue to the national forefront, even as we were getting pretty comfortable barking and getting back into the doghouse with no action. The mantra of any evolving community is the ability of its people to question authority. Because it takes more than just a government to keep the wheels of an economy grinding. This slow awakening is our first step towards declaring 'NO' to garbage. It has begun. It is a `Yes' to Clean Goa. And it's about time.

As Goa decks up yet again donning the war paint to host the 36th International Film Festival of India, no fancy cars and glittering dinners will quieten the disquiet stirring in the homes of the people of Curca and Colvale as more trucks head their way laden with the garbage of the city. The villagers do not care about the foreign delegates. They do not care about the awards. They do not care about stars canoodling under the palm trees or going ga-ga over prawn balchao. Surely, the film festival has given Goa the credit she deserves internationally as the unrivalled jewel of the country. She is, undoubtedly. But the needs of the people of Goa still continue to be basic. Safe drinking water, uninterrupted power supply, competitive education and a healthy environment for growth continue to be our priorities. The `Clean Goa Initiative' seeks to find solutions to diffuse Goa's humungous garbage time-bomb through a solution driven public campaign at the Mermaid Garden on October 17 (a peaceful rally will begin from the Church Square, 5.30pm onwards to the garden) even as the government struggles to find solutions to Goa's waste management. But does it only take a government to make a healthy State? What is our contribution in maintaining vigilance? Have we educated ourselves enough on how not to generate excess garbage? Are we brushing up on our civic responsibility as bonafide citizens? It is us, the people of Goa, who must now step forward and assist in finding solutions at our own grassroot levels through self-help community programmes and initiatives, since every government in Goa has failed to identify and work towards providing long term solutions that could buffer Goa's economic prosperity. You and I are equally responsible to ensure that we are alert of the ways in which the government spends the tax-payers money.

You and I must doubly ensure that the government spends wisely on providing basic infrastructure to enhance our quality of life. You and I must assist in building a society that seeks solutions. When we are vigilant at home can we rise up to being vigilant citizens of the world. The Chief Minister offers sincere assistance in solution finding, but it is the people of Goa with the help of the media (too much negative press lately only blinds readers towards more prejudices, instead of getting to the bottom of the problem), who must ensure that the government keeps its commitment strong (Goa needs garbage treatment plants and desperately). And that we all join hands and work toward building a healthy, safe Goa for the children of tomorrow. Time to join forces of conviction and selflessness to walk Goa proudly towards the 21st century.

Crowd / Cecil Waving Flanked By Jose & Ted / Cecil Flanked by Sons & Outflanked by Jose & Floriano

The Clean Goa Initiative-began with a petition written by two Goans seeking to draw attention at the Central Government level to the waste management crisis in Goa and requesting intervention, beginning with a rational and responsible waste management strategy for IFFI in Panjim this year.

The initiative, which also calls for the State government to appoint an independent committee of qualified individuals to identify key problem areas and recommend cost-effective solutions for the State at large, has become a growing proactive people's movement, endorsed by numerous Goa-based NGOs and activists, hundreds of Goans and non-Goan residents of Goa, as well as by a number of film professionals and opinion makers from all over the country who consider Goa a national treasure and want to help.

In culmination of the endorsement campaign, there will be a public demonstration of support for the Clean Goa Initiative in Panjim on October 17, 2005. The demonstration will begin with a solidarity march at 5:30 pm from the Panjim Church square to the Mermaid Garden.

This campaign event is co-ordinated by Wendell Rodricks, Margaret Mascarenhas, and Ethel Da Costa, along with Goa-based activists and NGOs, in the public interest. It is managed by Think Geek Media and Productions. The theme is Goa Waste Management Issues and Solutions. Speakers at the Mermaid Garden will include Patricia Pinto, Sandesh Prabhudesai, Sanjit Rodrigues, Roland Martins, Wendell Rodricks, Sandeep Jacques, and others. Chief Minister, Pratapsingh Rane, has been invited to address the public on the issue. A brief Q and A with the press will follow.

Citizens and villagers from all over Goa who are concerned and want to be better informed about this issue are encouraged to participate. Those who attend are requested to bring their own food and beverages to the event and to take their garbage away when they leave.

We are writing to you to draw attention to the deteriorating waste management crisis in Goa and the fear that the population influx generated by IFFI will exacerbate the existing problem to dangerous levels.

Background:
A few months ago, a wall of the unsegregated garbage dump in the village of Curca, where the city of Panjim was dumping, collapsed due to heavy rains, spewing waste into the village. In response, villagers all over Goa rose up in protest and so far have successfully impeded the municipalities of Panjim, Ponda and Mapusa from disposing their voluminous waste on village land. Dumping began along highways (see attached photos) and under the Panjim Patto Bridge. Subsequently, two petitions, one from the residents in and around the Patto area, and one from local activist Floriano Lobo, regarding the disastrous effects of the state and municipal authorities' willful disregard of the indiscriminate dumping were filed in the Mumbai High Court. They have been converted into PILs and are pending hearing.

Immediate Concerns:
The Goa State Government (one of the respondents in both PILs) has decided to hold the IFFI in Panjim for the second time, and successfully lobbied at the Centre to make Goa the permanent venue of the IFFI. The Municipal Corporation of Panjim has repeatedly complained that the State Government never consulted them on their capability in handling the waste issue with regard to IFFI since the inflow of both tourists and the local Goan population who attend events affects the garbage situation. Also the residents of the Kala Academy area suffer the burden of too many vehicles and people. Hence, concerned citizens feel the IFFI, planned for November, should not be held here until active measures are taken to identify and implement precisely how the waste generated by the IFFI in the city of Panjim will be managed, since already Panjim is incapable of handling its present waste output.

Heath Hazards
The lack of waste management infrastructure, has created a situation that is extremely dangerous to the health of the entire population of Goa as well as to visitors. If it continues, Goa will surely find itself in the position of Surat in 1994, which was struck with a plague epidemic. Cases of dengue (a disease hitherto unknown in Goa) have been reported (see press clips attached). Other diseases that occur under such conditions, particularly when water sources are contaminated, e-coli, viral hepatitis, cryptosporadiosis, and giardia infection. In addition medical waste from hospitals all over the state is often being dumped in the open.

Solutions ignored
A number of environment-friendly, cost effective waste management solutions have been repeatedly put forth to the Goa Government by local NGOs and even by some corporates, but successive Goa Governments have not seriously considered them. Recently the Goa Chief Minister admitted to Sunday Midday that there was a problem, but claimed that not enough of the public had come out forcefully on the matter. This is not really the case. Apart from the fact that villagers all over the state have protested, and petitions are being filed in the court, the local press has been reporting daily on the severity of the problem for months (at the national level, NDTV did a prime-time piece on the issue on September 20th). In addition, numerous individuals have written letters to editors, and met with and/or written to concerned government department heads and ministers (Urban development, Tourism, Environment, etc). No one in local government can claim that the problem is not a serious one, or that the Goa government is unaware of its severity, or, in fact, that holding IFFI in Panjim will not compound the problem.

Please Help
Goa is a national treasure. It has the prerequisites for a model state-low density population, educated residents. We, concerned citizens and friends of Goa, for the most part believe that the IFFI and tourism is a good thing for Goa, but not under the present circumstances, without required waste management infrastructure. We ask that the Central Government take cognizance of the waste management problem and lend its support to induce the Goa Government to take the issue seriously and to take monitorable, visible steps to resolve it before it is too late. We also request that events for IFFI be for the delegates alone so that there is no problem for residents of Panjim. Please do not permit open-air screenings of films or art/music entertainment for the locals since crowds will add to the garbage problem. The local residents would be most happy if the best films of IFFI are screened for their benefit at INOX during the week after the festival. Please intervene and convince the Goa Government to address the waste management issue by appointing an independent apolitical body to make the appropriate recommendations with immediate effect and to abide by those recommendations. We need your help.

Footnote by Cecil Pinto: I am a signatory to this campaign but was initially not very enthusiastic as the list appeared to be made up of 'celebrities' - who I have little or no connection with. My attitude was "Ok, it's for a good cause so let's just sign up.". I have just been on the phone with Margaret for more than an hour just now and found out from her that the initial signature campaign was done within severe time restraints and hence she and Wendell just got whoever they could in a hurry. A hundred signatures were needed - and obtained. Now starts the bigger campaign of actually collecting thousands of signatures to show the Government that this is not just the concern of a few celebrities but of everyone who feels for Goa. This particular campaign is specific to the garbage problem that will occur during the IFFI but the larger issue is the general garbage problem looming over Goa. The Goa Government is too busy with other 'political' issues to see beyond their noses. It is time we ordinary folks do what is right and embarrass the Government into action. If we can get the attention of the entire country and the world to the garbage problem that the IFFI will cause then maybe, just maybe, it will also bring attention to the bigger garbage problem in Goa. A long journey begins with a single step. I urge you to add your signature to this appeal. We may not be celebrities but we have a voice too. Let's make it heard. If you are keen on a better, cleaner Goa just write your Name Surname, Occupation - Location and e-mail it to with a line saying "I agree". Please don't indulge in discussion or debate with Margaret who is too busy just compiling the many signatures that are coming in. The debate we shall have here in Goan Cyberspace!

Fashion guru all set to give Goa a facelift
From Devika Sequeira / DH News Service Panaji: 16th Oct 2005

Designer Wendell Rodricks’ mind is swirling with ideas these days, that have little to do with chiffons or haute couture. Upset with the crumbling infrastructure and civic amenities in his home state where tourism and the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) take precedence over all else, Mr Rodricks is throwing his celeb weight behind the campaign to “clean up Goa.” On Monday, the designer and supporters of the Clean Goa Initiative such as writer Margaret Mascarenhas will be leading a demonstration in the capital to highlight the state’s waste management crisis.

Mr Rodricks says the government must first focus on the needs of local citizens and the civic infrastructure, rather than waste public funds on entertaining film stars during IFFI. “Our medical facilities are in bad shape and garbage is a huge problem in Goa. Let the government tackle these first,” he told Deccan Herald. Mr Rodricks was a special invitee on the state government’s nodal committee overseeing IFFI but resigned his position recently. “It can bring in good business for Goa. I object however, to the wasteful spending and the mess it caused in the city last year. We can’t have the everyday lives of local residents disrupted.”

Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane has promised the event would be less low-key this November, he said. “A film festival is serious business for the buying, selling and promotion of films. It should be handled professionally like a trade fair. “I am for the film festival in Goa, but please tone down the party image,” he said.

Press release

for www.goa-world.com

The Clean Goa Initiativebegan with a petition written by two Goans seeking to draw attention at the Central Government level to the waste management crisis in Goa and requesting intervention, beginning with a rational and responsible waste management strategy for IFFI in Panjim this year.
The initiative, which also calls for the State government to appoint an independent committee of qualified individuals to identify key problem areas and recommend cost-effective solutions for the State at large, has become a growing proactive people's movement, endorsed by numerous Goa-based NGOs and activists, hundreds of Goans and non-Goan residents of Goa, as well as by a number of film professionals and opinion makers from all over the country who consider Goa a national treasure and want to help.

This campaign event is co-ordinated by Wendell Rodricks, Margaret Mascarenhas, and Ethel Da Costa, along with Goa-based activists and NGOs, in the public interest. It is managed by Think Geek Media and Productions. The theme is Goa Waste Management Issues and Solutions. Speakers at the Mermaid Garden will include Patricia Pinto, Sandesh Prabhudesai, Sanjit Rodrigues, Roland Martins, Wendell Rodricks, Sandeep Jarkis, and others. Chief Minister, Pratapsingh Rane, has been invited to address the public on the issue. A brief Q and A with the press will follow.

The idea for the petition came from Shabana Azmi, who told us what to do and how to do it, and that she would lobby it for us in Delhi. There is a perfectly rational explanation for why we initially obtained as many celebrity endorsements as we did: (a) so that it would be clear that those endorsements were authentic, i.e. that we hadn't just taken some names out of a phone book, (b) to get the Minister's attention and show that we had some influential people behind us, (c) because, frankly, when we sent out mailers, the first responses were in fact from celebs, and we were in a hurry--Mrs Azmi was going to be in Delhi the following day; Wendell had a show and would deliver it to Delhi personally, along with his CD of the garbage all over Goa.

Wendell also personally delivered copies of the petition and the CD to Gov. Sunit Rodrigues in Chandigarh, who then personally delivered it to Mrs Sonia Gandhi the same evening.

The use of celebrity endorsement to highlight a cause with people in power is a common strategy the world over, and is in support of, not a replacement for, the work that goes on at the grassroots level. The NGOs that are collaborating with us understand this strategy. I have to say that Cecil's pov on this is unique and I have, so far, not heard it from any of the other hundreds of ordinary citizens and wellwishers who have signed on. Wendell and I are working on several different levels--public and private, celeb and grassroots, government and NGO, local and national/international.

We are continuing the campaign at the local level. The rationale behind targeting the IFFI and asking that it be downsized is to address the immediate garbage problem of Panjim, which according to people such as Patricia Pinto, who has ample knowledge about, and considerable experience with, dealing with the city's waste. If it were just up to me, I would call for a cancellation of the IFFI entirely, and not just its ancillary events. But since this is a collaboration, sometimes we have to compromise on our own individual positions.

Having said that, I will also say how much I appreciate the effort Cecil Pinto has made to get the word out, despite his initial misgivings and disagreement with parts of the petition. He has been our Net Commander for this initiative, and I salute him.

Clean Goa Initiative

PANAJI: Renowned fashion designer Wendell Rodricks has sought the attention of the authorities in the State and the Centre to the simmering waste management crisis in Goa and sought intervention, beginning with a rational and responsible waste management strategy for the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) here next month.

The Clean Goa Initiative — spearheaded by Mr. Rodricks and backed widely by journalists and other non-governmental organisations and social activists — has decided to mobilise public support and draw the attention of the authorities to the problem.

Margaret Macarenhas, freelance journalist, speaking on behalf of the movement, said: "the movement would grow as a proactive people's movement, endorsed by numerous Goa-based NGOs and activists, hundreds of Goan and non-Goan residents as well as by a number of film professionals and opinion makers from all over the country who consider Goa a national treasure and want to help."

(The Hindu)

CLEAN GOA INITIATIVE

I am with you dear Margaret, support you...agree with you and all your angels-of-mercy with all my hear..soul and being.
Please add my name to the CLEAN GOA INITIATIVE.
Alfred de Tavares,
Stockholm, 2005-10-17

The Clean Goa Initiative -

At 5.30 p.m. the Church square seemed deserted, except for the tourists. By 6.00 P.M. the Mermaid Garden began to see some activity. By 6.15 P.M. there was a good enough crowd to hear Nilkant Halarnkar, the NCP's former candidate of Tivim constituency [ whom Margaret kept calling 'Haldankar' though there is a good distance between Alorna/Halarn and Aldona/Haldana], Sanjit Rodrigues, Roland Martins, Capt. Leo Lobo, Sandesh Prabhudesai and of course, Margaret Mascarenhas and Wendel Rodricks. It is a good beginning. In the audience were Ganesh Javdekar of NavPrabha, Joel D"souza of Goan Observer and Daily Goa News Clippings, the inimitable Alexyz Fernandes, Vijay D'Souza of the Herald, Floriano Lobo of Goa Suraj Party, Dr.Claude Alvares, Mathew Pereira, Ana Marie Goswami and a host of other people. It was a good start to something that may become a movement if the organisers persist beyond Brownie points in the run-up to IFFI. Garbage, like a shadow, will always be with us. We need to manage it to get a good picture.

- Miguel Braganza

From: "Cecil Pinto" <cpinto at sancharnet.in>
The Clean Goa Initiative, which also calls for the State government to appoint an independent committee of qualified individuals to identify key problem areas and recommend cost-effective solutions for the State at large, has become a growing proactive people's movement, endorsed by numerous Goa-based NGOs and activists, hundreds of Goans and non-Goan residents of Goa, as well as by a number of film professionals and opinion makers from all over the country who consider Goa a national treasure and want to help.

GOA ------- FROM STONE AGE TO GARBAGE

The views of South Goa Public Interest Action Group BGO based in Margao with jurisdiction over the entire South Goa District, were distributed to the members of the public at the function held today 17.10.2005 at Mermaid Garden Panaji,organised by Fashion designer Wendall Rodricks, Ms Ethel Da Costa and Ms Margaret Mascarehnas to highlight the issue of Garbage Problem in Goa. The public meet was preceded by a short walk from the Panaji Church square with placards of the participating NGOs (including the SGPIAG from South Goa ) to the mermaid Garden.

Please offer your comments suggestions on the points listed as we intend to prusue the demands with the Minister of Urban Development the Minister of Panchayats the Minister for Environment the Minister for Mining besides the Chief Minister of Goa.
1) ban on all plastics of less than 100 microns in the State
2) ban on all PET bottles in the State.

We also take this opportunity to request the rganisors to bring the movement to South Goa as well, if the issue is to be pursued in right earnest and to the logical conclusion.

GOA ---- FROM STONE AGE TO GARBAGE
Goa abounds with sun, sand, lush trees, sea, rivers lakes springs rivulets hills mountains and extensive biodiversity. Tribals have always lived in harmony with Nature. There was never any problem.

SOLID WASTE is inevitable in the form of bio-degradable contents. later with the industrial
revolution and the information era non biodegradable came into being..

But is all the SOLID WASTE now generated unavoidable?
Ponder a bit . Roll back the clock pre – 1980s ---- women carried bags to the market , children their water bottles to school, food was carted home in tiffins our morning milk came in bottles so also the cold and hot drinks.

What then went wrong --- unregulated use of Plastics takes the blame. Plastics is just fine when it replaces the galvanized iron (GI) pipes that distributes potable water. Plastic is fine where it is used as a substitute for wood . Did we not say “Lets save our forests".

Government through the local self government bodies the Villages Panchayats and the Municipalites have the statutory responsibility to dispose of the solid waste, directly or indirectly through private bodies. They cannot shun of this responsibility. Our taxes take care of this exigency. But wait a minute post 1980’s there has been a large component of unauthorized solid waste.Why disposable satchets for our milk? . Why PET bottles for our hot & cold Why do women need to discard their market bags? Why do we need to have less than 100 microns to cart our food . Is it just a fashion ??? Do we have valid answers, for the filth that we generate, and then cry hoarse pointing fingers to others. This avoidable plastic waste generated is the ONE single factor for the garbage menace that has plagued our state. “ POLLUTER PAYS “ says the highest court of the land . But can we expect our Government to make the multinationals and others subservient to them, when money plays a dominant role in our live

WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SOLID WASTE .

WE DEMAND STOP THE AVOIDABLE USE OF PLASTICS. NO PET BOTTLES NOT PLASTICS LESS THAN 100 MICRONS AS THE FIRST STEP.

NEXT ARRANGE TO HAVE A DAILY DISPOSAL OF WASTE. CONSUMERS SEGREGATE BIO DEGRADABLE & NON BIO DEGRADABLE AT YOUR END.

For SOUTH GOA PUBLIC INTEREST ACTION GROUP

Regd No 171/GOA/2000 dt 12.12.2000
sd/-
TERENCE MAZARELO
PRESIDENT (SGPIAG)
1st Flr Benlix Bldg Opp Fatima Convent Margao Goa
India sgpiag at yahoo.co.in
weblink http://mumbai.sancharnet.in/manojnd   FAX +91 832 2712430
HELPLINE (24 hrs) 9822158584            Tel +91 832 2731373 (O)

Clean Goa initiative

It was exhilarating, being part of the group that gathered opposite the Panjim Church on Monday, and marched peacefully carrying placards to the Mermaid Garden next to the Adil Shah palace.

Despite the hurriedly called up meeting, the crowd was sizeable, and had a cross-section of people from various walks of life. The speakers were inspiring and provided dismal facts about garbage in Panjim and in Goa at large. I hope that this is the beginning of a groundswell of citizen involvement to solve the garbage crisis in Goa, with the help of the Goa government of course. I hope that civic social action groups in various villages set up under aegis of Goa Desc will continue to keep this subject on their radar and get grassroots involvement.

One footnote to the meeting, probably a reflection of my natural paranoia, is that "someone" tried to keep this meeting in the dark. As dusk set in, while the surrounding streets were lit up, the lights at the venue did "not work". The protest meeting continued in the dark nevertheless. Kudos to Wendell, Margaret and Ethel for organizing this peaceful and dignified demonstration, and to all those who attended. Now, lets keep the pot boiling !!!
- Vivian D'Souza

Re: Clean Goa Initiative

I fully support the Clean Goa Initiative; all that is said and done, and being done towards this cause! I therefore add my name to the list of signatories. Lets keep up the good work. Viva Goa.
Nasci Caldeira
Melbourne - Australia

Re: Join the Clean Goa Initiative

Hope the people in Goa don't display the apathy that was discussed here earlier and go out in droves to this meet. It is appropriately timed for the evening office crowd.

And hopefully the rest of us in the diaspora did/will do what we can from the confines of our keyboard.....bombard relevant people - politicians, et al with email messages in support of the Clean Goa Initiative.

Towards a cleaner, greener Goa - just like in the postcard.......

Best wishes - Bosco D'mello (Canada/Porvorim-Goa)

The "CLEAN GOA Initiative*

Dear Cybergaonkars,
This is the copy of Press Note announcing the programme for Monday, 17 October:
The Clean Goa Initiative—began with a petition written by two Goans seeking to draw attention at the Central Government level to the waste management crisis in Goa and requesting intervention, beginning with a rational and responsible waste management strategy for IFFI in Panjim this year.

The initiative, which also calls for the State government to appoint an independent committee of qualified individuals to identify key problem areas and recommend cost-effective solutions for the State at large, has become a growing proactive people's movement, endorsed by numerous Goa-based NGOs and activists, hundreds of Goans and non-Goan residents of Goa, as well as by a number of film professionals and opinion makers from all over the country who consider Goa a national treasure and want to help.

In culmination of the endorsement campaign, there will be a public demonstration of support for the Clean Goa Initiative in Panjim on October 17, 2005. The demonstration will begin with a solidarity march at 5:30 pm from the Panjim Church square to the Mermaid Garden.

This campaign event is co-ordinated by Wendell Rodricks, Margaret Mascarenhas, and Ethel Da Costa, along with Goa-based activists and NGOs, in the public interest. It is managed by Think Geek Media and Productions. The theme is Goa Waste Management Issues and Solutions. Speakers at the Mermaid Garden will include Patricia Pinto, Sandesh Prabhudesai, Sanjit Rodrigues, Roland Martins, Wendell Rodricks, Sandeep Jarkis, and others. Chief Minister, Pratapsingh Rane, has been invited to address the public on the issue. A brief Q and A with the press will follow.Citizens and villagers from all over Goa who are concerned and want to be better informed about this issue are encouraged to participate. Those who attend are requested to bring their own food and beverages to the event and to take their garbage away when they leave.
Please be there!
M&M.
--
PS: Kindly note our new e-ddress: Muriel & Mario <anothergoa at gmail.com>
and make the change in your e-ddress book. - M&M.
.................................................
there *is* anOTHERgoa - the garbage dump
perched on a hill overlooking Saligao, for instance!
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' muriel & mario, 4/4 tabravaddo, opp. st. anne's chapel, saligao. bardez. goa. 403511. tel: 0832-2278276 / 2409999    <anothergoa at gmail.com>
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Deccan Herald 16 Oct - Clean Goa

Please support and thank all those who are working on the Clean Goa initiative. Besides celebrities like Wendell Rodricks and author Margaret Mascarenhas, others have joined the movement. Be a part of of a better Goa, please do your bit. Regards, George Pinto      georgejpinto@yahoo.com World G.O.A.N network Fashion guru all set to give Goa a facelift. By Devika Sequeira 16 Oct: Deccan Herald. Designer Wendell Rodricks is throwing his celeb weight behind the campaign to “clean up Goa.” On Monday, the designer and supporters of the Clean Goa Initiative such as writer Margaret Mascarenhas will be leading a demonstration in the capital to highlight the state’s waste management crisis. Full text at: http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/oct162005/national19442920051015.asp

I love my city. A few of us feel its pain as passionately one would feel a broken heart. It's a passionate confession of idealism that makes people want to do more than that is demanded of them. It is a call of duty and responsibility, not of politics, to contribute in the growth of a city that is steeped in history, victory, triumphs and failures. A city that has been victimized by politics. A city that has been promised much and ditched at the altar. A city that despite flooded streets, stinking garbage, life threatening malaria, double-speaking activists, pseudo leaders, insensitive planners and small thinking citizens divided by religion drunk politik who resort to violence and vandalism not debate, continues to hold her own,
hold her head up. Panjim is a survivor. And so are those who believe in change.

Ethel Da Costa (Heart 2 Heart - www.oheraldo.in)

This first of its kind Gulf-Goans e-newsletter is dedicated to Goans around the Globe. http://www.goa-world.com/ Team, moderated by Almeida Gaspar since 1994 & presented by Ulysses Menezes, owner of http://www.goa-world.com website.
Upcoming events in Kuwait:
* Colva Feast of Infant Jesus on 27th Oct. at Holy Family Cathedral celebrated by Colva United Centre (CUC)
* BBSC Fiesta 2005 - 3rd Nov. organized by Bombay Boys Sports Club.
* The Sentinels presents "COUTURE MANTRA 2005" - multidimensional Fashion Show & Theme Party on 10th Nov at Faker Eldeen Palace.
* Traditional Colva Nite on 24th Nov. Details Tel 2613680, 2648731
* Children Party "FELIZ NATAL 2005" on 2nd Dec organized by Crystal Focus Club
* Goan Heritage Program organized by Club.9 at Hilton Kuwait with "Pure Magic" & "Stepping Stones" on 8th Dec.
CLEAN GOA Initiative

http://www.goa-world.com/goa/clean/