I salute Helga. Not because she has included my name among the real activists. Because she has touched a sensitive spot in us Goans. To elaborate, I shall recount my personal experience with garbage (plastics) vis a vis my alma mater, The St. Xavier's High School- Moira. It so happened that the school students ate 'BUDDI KA BAL' and spilled the plastic wrap all over the road. It was like confetti. When I passed the school in the evening, coming home, I was enraged. I remembered the constant reminder we used to get from our teachers not to throw anything on the road, even our exam question papers. I called the school from home on phone and got the peon who answered as a teacher. Principal is not available, he said. Therefore, I told him the story and requested him to get some boys to clean up the mess, that it is giving the school a bad name. Late evening, the mess was still there.
Next morning, as I was on my way to office, since the mess was there, I picked up each and every piece of plastic. Surprisingly, the plastic carry bag that I had carried was full to the brim. I went to the school and showed the bag to the teachers in the staff room with a little bit of an advice, since the principal was absent. Next day the principal sent for me to thank me and I had an opportunity to reminisce old traditions and education. In the meantime, the school manager, the Moira parish priest Fr. Mariano Proenca who was present for the meeting has taken on himself to keep the school premises clean of litter. He has also become my good friend since he saw me (at the last Christmas day Mass at the Church) clearing the mid-night-mass mess of littered coffee disposable cups from the church compound while the mass was going and the church was full to the brim by christmas day devotees, both inside and outside. Thank you Helga Floriano Lobo goasuraj ----- Original Message ----- From: "Helga do Rosario Gomes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Goa's premiere mailing list, estb. 1994!" <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, October 09, 2005 10:39 PM Subject: Re: [Goanet] Please sign the appeal: IFFI garbage problem > Mario, I ask where are ALL Goans who live in Goa and who are affected by > this problem? Environmentalism should be in all of us and it should be in > inculcated in homes, schools, churches and in temples. Its not for only > Margaret, Wendell, Floriano and a few others to bear the brunt and the pain. > While Panjim is now the focus of attention thanks to a few, Margao is > deteriorating. I hear evangelism is on the rise in this town but a parallel > growth in environmental activism is yet to happen. This renewed awakening in > Christianity could perhaps be used to also foster love for nature and our > responsibility towards future generations. > Helga > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Mario Goveia" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "Goa's premiere mailing list, estb. 1994!" <[email protected]> > Sent: Sunday, October 09, 2005 11:36 AM > Subject: Re: [Goanet] Please sign the appeal: IFFI garbage problem > > > Where are the environmental activists on GX and Goanet > when Goa really needs them? > > --- floriano <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > Further to my report on the bull-dozzing/levelling > > of the mud piles on the > > NH-17 of 6/Oct, (not published on GOANET) where I > > cautioned the Chief > > Officer of the Mapusa Municipality of dire > >
