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Remembering Aquino Braganca (b. 6 April 1924), who fought for freedom
of the former Portuguese colonies in Africa. An online tribute
http://aquinobraganca.wordpress.com/ (includes many historical
references, some photographs and documents)
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I was looking at the book "Goa sweet land of mines".
Western Ghats among the top 12 biodiversity hot spots in the world is
being destroyed in front of our eyes. Plants --- some of them of immense
values are being destroyed; animals' habitats are being destroyed. Water
tables are being destroyed. Temperatures are rising.
Goa is being turned red from green. With parts of the earth removed, floods
are becoming the order of the day. Riverbeds are filled with mining
rejects. The book says that for every ton of ore, there are 4 tons of
rejects.
And all this is supervised by the Ministry of Environment and Forests who
is supposed to protect this. Goans who have always depended on nature
to take care of themselves --- good rice, fish, rains, water --- the
most pristine parts of this nature (Sanguem with 65% forest cover etc
and the source of water for South Goa) are being systematically being
destroyed.
The issue is urgent. What can be done ?
Can Goa be made to vote against mining ?
samir
