The Church in Goa through Caritas-Goa and Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP) has voiced it’s strong opposition at the wanton destruction of Goa’s Environment and Ecology. The Church needs to be commended for voicing its’ support in protecting the Environment particularly in light of the ecological situation in the State, and the destruction of our Environment in Goa with the Government of Goa turning a blind eye and a deaf ear to the cries of the people in Goa who have spoken out in opposition to what is happening.
As the Church has highlighted three of the "degrading conditions" in Goa -- land, the mining industry and garbage menace -- that needs urgent attention and action. The Church in Goa has categorically stated that care for the environment represents a challenge for all of humanity. "If this is not bad governance, what else is? Goans, awaken and together save our hills, our forests, the aam admi of those areas and the rest of us!" reads the message titled 'Environmental Value of Biodiversity - a Common Responsibility'. What a powerful, direct and strong message from the Church in Goa to the Government of Goa and the powers that be whether it’s at the State level, the Village Panchayat Levels or the Government Machinery for wilfully and wantonly abdicating their responsibilities, destroying our Environment and not heeding the voices of the Goan people. More of us need to stand up and speak out against the destruction of Goa’s ecology and Environment. The Government of Goa has no other option but to understand that they are responsible for heeding the voices of the Goan people and not destroy our Goan Environment. They cannot intentionally abdicate their responsibilities to protecting our Environment in order to satiate to satiate their never-ending personal greed. Please share these articles with all Goans so that they understand their responsibility of holding their elected Representatives whether it’s their local MLA or the Panchayat members responsible for all their actions and inactions. Please voice your opinions to the Government of Goa whether through e-mail or writing to the media that you stand behind the clarion call from the Church in Goa to protect Goa’s Environment, Ecology and our Goan Way of Life. The following two articles are from the Herald and Times of India. **************************************************************** Church bodies call for saving environment HERALD NEWS BUREAU PANJIM, OCT 2 The Caritas-Goa and Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP) has appealed to people in the State to promote the environmental value of biodiversity as a common responsibility. In a joint message to mark ‘Social Apostolate Day’ on October 3, the two church bodies stated that care for the environment represents a challenge for all of humanity. "It is a matter of a common and universal duty, that of respecting a common good, destined for all, by preventing anyone from using with impunity the different categories of beings, whether living or inanimate-animals, plants, the natural elements-simply as one wishes, according to one's own economic needs," the message states. Commenting on the ecological situation in the State, Caritas-Goa and CSJP highlighted three of the "degrading conditions" -- land, the mining industry and garbage menace -- that needed urgent attention and action. "Much of our vast cultivable lands, particularly the khazan lands, lie fallow for various reasons. The frequently expressed excuses are that in today's context agriculture is labour intensive, there is scarcity of adequate labour force as most prefer soft jobs and the monsoons are erratic." "Khazans are very often flooded with salt water due to breaches in the neglected bunds and hence paddy cultivation is not economically viable." "We in Goa who were years back self-sufficient, prefer to buy the different varieties of rice available in the market. Quite a number of these highly-priced varieties are of low nutritional value." "Rice has always been the staple diet of Goans. Both Kharif and Rabi (Vaiygonn) crops were grown in many parts; and in the hot season, with water from the field-wells and ponds, chillies, onions, a variety of other vegetables and beans were grown. Sadly this activity is declining. We buy all these from the market," the message added. Claiming that thousands of people in other States 'toil in the soil' for Goan Consumers, the Caritas-Goa and CJSP was heartened to note that some highly educated youth were returning to cultivate their ancestral lands. "This example should get wide publicity to urge others to return to the soil, enrich it and produce our own food," the two church bodies said. Commenting on the mining industry, they noted that illegal mining for iron ore is rapidly destroying Goa. "Politicians make statements that this industry provides jobs to a large number of people and hence must be permitted to prosper." "This only reveals how little these persons in power are concerned about the irreparable destruction of the lower slopes of the Western Ghats, the devastating pollution of air, soil and water which threaten the basic health and well-being of the people of the area, including the labour force." "They seem to be blind to the reality of loss of traditional occupations and livelihood of farmers and others who earned on the produce of the forest. Should not the Government have taken immediate steps to stop illicit mining activities? If this is not bad Governance, what else is it? Goans, awaken and together save our hills, our forests, the 'aam admi' of those areas and rest of us," the message stated. On the issue of garbage menace, the two bodies stated that the picturesque face of Goa has been sullied by mounds of garbage and filth everywhere, be it on beaches, along roadways and markets. "Hotels, casinos, barges, housing societies and even citizens are responsible for this shamefully distressing situation. Sewage is released with impunity in drains, ponds, streams, rivers and the sea. The sewerage system is faulty in most places." "Repairs are slow, if complaints are ever attended to. Where are those responsible? Why are we citizens neglecting our duties to make them accountable," asked the CSJP and Caritas-Goa. They have proposed to organise a meaningful celebration of this day with a discussion on 'Alternative Energies - A Way towards the Future'. ************************************************************ *Goa govt protecting illegal mining: Church (Times of India) * AGENCIES, Oct 3, 2010, 12.03am IST PANAJI: The Church in Goa has accused the Congress-led government in the state of failing to check illegal mining activities. In a message to parishioners on the eve of Social Apostolate Day, two wings of the Church, Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP) and Caritas, said on Saturday that the inability to stop illegal mining reflects poorly on the quality of governance in Goa. "Should not the government have taken immediate steps to stop illicit mining activities? If this is not bad governance, what else is? Goans, awaken and together save our hills, our forests, the aam admi of those areas and the rest of us!" reads the message titled ' Environmental Value of Biodiversity - a Common Responsibility'. CSJP executive secretary Maverick Fernandes and Caritas director Valerino Vaz have endorsed the message received by PTI. "Illegal mining of iron ore is rapidly destroying Goa. But politicians are blind to the reality that traditional occupations are ceasing to exist. Statements by politicians that this industry provides jobs to a large number of people and hence must be permitted to prosper, reveal how little those in power are concerned about the environmental destruction and pollution," the message states. According to government figures tabled in the state legislative assembly earlier this year, 18% of mining exports from Goa are illegal.