But the question remains: Is it legitimate to pick an obscure newspaper article written by someone that nobody knows, and draw any kind of conclusion from it regarding the state of our heritage and conservation efforts? Of course there are problems with some monuments and heritage sites. But on the whole, we have a proven record in that area, and considerable capacity to help other countries in this field. What we are doing around the world is a testimony to that.
You can continue to mislead Goanetters with your petty "fait-divers", aimed at throwing mud at Portugal (your own country, by the way, who would believe that!!!), but one thing is certain: the moment any of your readers sets foot in Portugal all those efforts at brainwashing them will be rendered useless. I have witnessed several times the real "shock and awe" that Goans arriving here for the first time feel. Nothing that they see in Lisbon and in the rest of the country seems to match the picture of Portugal and its people that they were fed upon by some local (and now global) manipulators.
It is a dramatic moment of truth. I just wish a lot more Goans (and by that I mean those in Goa) would be able to come here and see for themselves.
Rui Manuel Colla�o
Lisbon
From: "Teotonio R. de Souza" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [Goanet]Re:Conservation of Portuguese Heritage Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2003 11:16:12 +0100 (Hor�rio de ver�o de Greenwich)
My reference to the article in Lisbon daily <Di�rio de Noticias> of 24 Aug.
would be relevant, despite Rui Cola�o considering it a selective reading.
Full picture may emerge from many fragments. All that we post or produce can
only be fagmentary and a selection based on one's own criteria, or "agenda"
as Rui Cola�o likes to call it. It is obvious that he has his! No one can
provide full picture of anything. Even the so-called *objectivity of
history* is a myth. Real objective history could result (if it will ever
result) from the subjective expriences / narratives of every single
individual.
For those who could not access the link, follows the text. I shall translate the last paragraph: �This researcher comes to the conclusion that our history has seen all along a lack of organization and planning. Her criticism is: "We have a quaint sensibility regarding the heritage. In reality, there is no single policy of conservation and restoration of monuments. If there are restoration projects, there is no concern for archeological excavations. The trend is to capture fast and mass tourism."� ---------- Jangadas de pedra � deriva
by Silvia Costa, Cascais [not anonymous as claimed by Rui Cola�o]
Fortificar e restaurar � pressa, face ao iminente ataque do inimigo, foi uma
das caracter�sticas da incipiente organiza��o militar do reino, nos s�culos
XV e XVI. Seiscentos anos depois, j� n�o se constroem torres, fortes nem
fortalezas, pelo contr�rio, deixam-se ruir. Pontualmente, algum deste
patrim�nio � restaurado, mas com o fim de retirar dele o m�ximo proveito
econ�mico.
As fortifica��es hoje conservadas pertencem ao Ex�rcito e � Marinha, suportam far�is ou centros de instru��o. Outras transformaram-se em hot�is, restaurantes, palacetes, discotecas, como o Forte Velho, em S. Jo�o do Estoril, ou em col�nias de f�rias, como os fortes de Santo Ant�nio do Estoril e de Catalazete. Na Linha de Cascais, que somou no passado 36 fortifica��es entre fortes, fortalezas e baterias, foram restaurados para fins museol�gicos apenas o Forte de Oitavos, em Cascais, e de S. Bruno, em Oeiras.
A grande maioria destas constru��es, uma vez desactivada, foi incorporada no
Minist�rio da Fazenda P�blica e, no s�culo XIX, posta em hasta p�blica. Na
posse de particulares, �acabaram por servir de base � constru��o de
restaurantes e hot�is. No Guincho foram arrasadas, em 1959 e 1964, as
baterias da Gal� e Alta, que deram origem ao Muchaxo e ao Hotel do Guincho,
que, apesar de parecer um forte, nada conservou da arquitectura militar
original�, refere a investigadora Margarida Ramalho. �Outras foram
transformadas em casas apala�adas: Casa Seixas (sede da Capitania de
Cascais), casa da Duquesa de Palmela (Monte Estoril), Casa de S. Roque,
Chalet Barros (Estoril), Hospital Ortop�dico Jos� de Almeida, que nasceu em
cima do Forte de S. Domingos de Rana�.
�A maior parte destas fortifica��es foi mais dissuasora que defensiva. Ou
tinham homens e n�o tinham p�lvora, ou tinham p�lvora e n�o tinham homens,
ou tinham p�lvora e homens e tinham os canh�es estragados�, diz, explicando:
�Em tempo de guerra fazia-se um esfor�o enorme para as construir e restaurar
nos per�odos de paz ficavam ao abandono.� Esta investigadora constata que a
falta de organiza��o e planeamento acompanha a nossa hist�ria: �Temos uma
sensibilidade sui generis em rela��o ao patrim�nio. De facto, n�o h� uma
pol�tica de conserva��o e restauro dos monumentos. Se h� projectos de
restauro, n�o h� o cuidado de fazer escava��es arqueol�gicas. As directivas
s�o voltadas para a capta��o de turismo r�pido e de massas�, critica.
---------
What is happening at home in Portugal differs from the intervention of
Portuguese Foundations abroad. As it happens with all countries and
governments, there is generally a tendency to show the best face to
outsiders. For the Portuguese, it may even represent their old tradition
which they translate as "para o ingl�s ver"! But even this is possible due
to effective intervention of private foundations. Goa has known two of them.
The Gulbenkian Foundation had for long functioned almost as the Cultural
Department of Portuguese government. More recently, since the entry into EU
the government has other sources of funds for its cultural activities. As a
result the Funda��o has shifted many of its activities to areas where the
State still lacks capacity of effective intervention. In matters of
conservation of Portuguese heritage abroad, the Gulbenkian Foundation has
always adopted the policy of getting the local national authorities to ask
for its technical and financial help to restore the physical remains of the
Portuguese heritage in their countries. I am aware of many details of
Foundation's contribution in this respect in different parts of the former
Portuguese empire. Personally, I had the privilege of collaborating actively
in the project of Rachol Museum of Goa Archdiocese. It was done with full
collaboration of INTACH and the local authorities and heritage society in
Goa. A former President of India was the chief guest for its inauguration.
It does not matter if it had to be moved elsewhere for good reasons, but the
Museum remains and so the validity of the project. More recently the
Funda��o Oriente has also been active and doing well. In Goa, the
restoration of the Church of N.Sra. do Monte in Old Goa and of the temple of
Naro�, are excellent illustrations of this sort of intervention. It is a
pity that some should question the morality of the funds! In biblical terms
all money is identified with Mammon! In an ever more globalized economy who
can ever be sure which funds come from where and how? How do we know how
much of the modern facilities that we all enjoy without scruples are not
proceeds of international gun-running and drug peddling? We can react to the
visible links of the world economic chain and protest, but we would be
paralysed if we had to wait till we get to know the source of all and every
fund that makes our everyday life possible.
In any case, the Foundations do not and cannot substitute local governments and their responsibilities. They can make their token (and they have been expensive tokens!) contributions and deserve our appreciation. But in democratic politics even the best intentions and actions are subject to questioning, and even vilification.
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