Here are a few testimonies of Kentucky miners speaking from the heart, on issues related to hilltop removal, water, land, and ways of living. They appeared on alternet.org from Jeff Biggers. Jeff Biggers is the author of the new book, Reckoning at Eagle Creek: The Secret Legacy of Coal in the Heartland (Nation/Basic Books). The second part may not be every Goans cup of frak-chau.
The first one of Carl Shoupe gets to the point about what matters most—water. The second one is of Elmer Llyod; very touching. He wishes to live within the law and ardently hopes that the law would be considerate (to a way of life—which incidentally is not archaic). The third speaker Stanley Sturgill mentions that those having an appetite for flat land, should go to where it is and not shave off hills. Over time, JoeGoaUks photos (recently of Curca) makes that it clear that is what has been happening in Goa for too long. My views, are also informed and supplemented through photos by JoeGoaUK, Rajan P. Parrikar's photo documentary, The Rape of Goa ( http://www.parrikar.com/blog/the-rape-of-goa/), as also by others, including text by other writers. In fact, the cross on the hill in Batim (the one which face Pilar) in line with the old Kadamba Marg/Path as in Janpath/Road/Highway, I believe was on the verge of collapse (perhaps now accomplished) on account of the soil not being able to support it. That is patrimony lost, although a dot—an existential one on our emotive panorama—albeit handed/foisted via the Portuguese. But on the other hand there is mind numbing development in progress a little further away. http://blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/2010/02/10/amazing-video-coal-miners-join-historic-rallies-to-end-mountaintop-removal/ More on Jeff Biggers: http://jeffrbiggers.com/ http://www.coal-is-dirty.com/blog/ >From Jeff Biggers page: Bad Manners: India to Big Mining Co: Take This Mine and Shove It http://www.redroom.com/blog/jeff-biggers/bad-manners-india-big-mining-co-take-this-mine-and-shove-it Trailer - Mine: story of a sacred mountain http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acjAo84JMa4 Survival, The movement of tribal peoples http://www.survivalinternational.org/behindthelies/vedanta ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ This is really about awareness. In that sense i truly believe that for Goans, Christianity can give a lot to the people. To mean, beginning with Goan Christians—considering, there are particular institutionalised formalisms within its practice; sharing to those in whose midst one exults and interacts through a lived aesthetic if only we will)—as in imparting meaningful values in being mindful. But in generally what we incessantly see on Goanet is pretence along with seriously gratuitous terms—a vertigo of politesse, and politeness as pretense. And I do make the distinction between Goans on the ground, various Goans sensibilities in Goanity in Goa, outside Goa and the myriad views on Goanet. Use an off color word and we get bent a bit, little realizing that the beast is arching its tongue towards us all. I mean what are up--are people turning in spoons and forks—tuning forks perhaps?! On the other hand we love to pick at things in the assumed spirit of fairness. What fairness is such? Does one try that with ones wife (perhaps), or ones children? How about ones dadlo munis, mensch/hobby hubby? And how many of those "blood-relatives" meaningfully exist with you in the face of such layers of judgement. Or is that judgement only reserved for others. Stuff like, one helps those who are willing to help themselves. Is that self-helping axiom another form of chalaki; aiding one who is street-smart to begin with. I hear wives and sons proudly telling me of such-and-such, to get me to understand the pride they have reposed in their menfolk. And finally I hope this is a bit opaque enough so it racks some far-minded and far-minded brains towards consciousness. venantius j pinto
