With the weekend, I have some free time to respond to your OPEN LETTER. Your rather extensive letter needs an extensive response. So please pardon me that I respond to you in two parts. PART I Thank you for your response. Your are right that I do not live in Goa. Yet, I appreciate your frustration and your vivid description of Goa's and the casino's pollution problem. As I am sure you well know, garbage disposal issues has been a chronic decades-old problem in Goa. Certainly the garbage-disposal problem was not helped with the widely reported kick-backs Goa's elected state representative(s) received from the major grant provided by Japan to set-up a garbage re-processing plant in the state. The major deficiency of your post was that it LACKED THE NAMES AND TITLES of individuals causing the problems AND the NAMES AND TITLES of the government officials who fail to monitor and prevent theses problems. Yet, I would like to move beyond your post and let's think out-of-the-box in lieu of going over the routine posts on this Casino problem on Goanet. There is the theory of "Six degrees of separation." This is something that should be even more pertinent to Goa given the long-standing relationships folks have with each-other extending to many generations. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_degrees_of_separation "Six degrees of separation is the idea that all people are six, or fewer, social connections away from each other. As a result, a chain of "a friend of a friend" statements can be made to connect any two people in a maximum of six steps." Very likely given the longstanding Goan community in towns and villages it would be:1. Much less than six people to make the connection between the victims and the polluters.2. Some of those responsible are likely YOUR OWN relatives, friends and neighbors. If after you have approached these individuals linked to the problems and failed; you, your neighbors and friends (Panjimites and their supporters) have the next best option. This is repeated mass physical demonstrations, morchas and sit-ins in-front of these individuals' offices; publicly displaying your grievances and seeking redress. Non-violent protest and seeking redress of grievances is the hall mark of Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of India. Another avenue to seek redress is the court system; as seen by the success of those affected by Goa's mining industry. I am sure there are very smart attorneys in Goa who are affected by the environmental pollution issues and would be willing to help pro-bono at least in the initial phase. Part II to follow tomorrow. Regards and Best Wishes, GL
