*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE * Date of release: 25-Jan-2017
*Goenche Mogi Citizens Meet* *GOA (25-Jan-2016): *The Goenchi Mati Movement (GMM) calls all Goans to join the citizens meeting being held on Republic Day at the Panjim Municipal Garden. Over 40 groups from around Goa working on a variety of different issues will be there. What unites us is the desire to hand over Goa to the next generation with a safe and happy environment, just as we found it. Politicians and election candidates may participate, but will be asked to sit and listen and will not be allowed to address the assembled voters. The “Rally for Goa” will take place in the Panjim Garden, next to the Panjim Church (and not Azad Maidan). It will start at 3 pm. There will be more activities than speeches. Cantarists and comedians have agreed to entertain the people assembled at appropriate individuals. The cartoons of Alexyz on issues affecting Goa and its environment will be at a special display at the garden. All people attending will have the opportunity to discuss issues with 40 odd organisations involved in social and environmental issues from north to south Goa. We call upon all Goans to meet with the front line activists, understand what their issues are, and to join us in making these demands to all the political candidates standing for election on February 4, 2017. You can help change Goa's politics forever. Don't give up this chance. It will not come back again. Claude Alvares of the Goa Foundation (one of the organisers) said: “This is the first and only public meeting where citizens will be able to post their grievances and understand issues faced by Goans in other part of the State. We shall then organise to have a list of these issues handed over to all the political parties and to all individual election candidates. This is not a meeting to support any party or candidate.” The Goenchi Mati Movement is a single issue movement which is by policy not aligned with political parties. GMM has asked parties to endorse and incorporate the Goenchi Mati Manifesto into their manifestos for the Goa Assembly elections on Feb 4. The Goenchi Mati Manifesto is available at goenchimati.org/manifesto. It is available in English <https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0uQcUmfKwGReGFpM2FqZU5obXc>, with translations into Konkani (Devnagari, Romi <https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0uQcUmfKwGRYUE0RHR6aFZJZFU>), Marathi <https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0uQcUmfKwGROXNjZWpyTzdJc2M>, Hindi <https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0uQcUmfKwGRUXhCT05Oc0g1UE0> and Portuguese <https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0uQcUmfKwGRdWZIMkxRTzhoblU>. Show your support at goenchimati.org/support. *Aamchi Mati Aamka Zai!* List of the organising NGOs and associations is attached separately to this email. *CONTACT*: Roxanne Coutinho Phone: +91 800 763 6466
