I write in response to Carmen Miranda on mining issues in Goa at the Global Goan Convention 2011 -London (Goanet Digest Vol 6, Issue 718, Message 7).
Proud to be Goan When I first heard that Carmen Miranda was Brazilian I turned Orange, as I am honoured to be Goan and pleased to hear she has cleared this issue on the net that she is indeed Goan. It would have been more appropriate that she let attendees to the Global Goan Convention in London know she was Goan as it appeared some of the attendees that sat through her presentation thought she was Brazilian. I wonder if this made them more attentive? Save a mine, save Goa - stop using metal products Mining in Goa is definitely an important issue and not to be joked about. It has been a great achievement for Ms Miranda to be allocated slots to speak at the Global Goan Convention 2011 in London and other prestigious events but it would be an ever greater achievement if she and her supporters of over 1,000 signatories and those supporting the cause on the net practised what they preached by giving up using all products made out of metal which will have an element from mines in Goa. In case any individual signatory is not familiar with metal products may I present a small sample: medical equipment, fridges, freezers, cookers, irons, plugs and fuse boxes every household item we use has metal components from Goa in them. You would also need to give up electricity (wiring is made from metal), cars, trains and definitely trips to Goa would be a thing of the past as aeroplanes are also made of metal. Powerpoint presentations and professional campaign videos too on the campaign would need to be turned into sign language as computers you use will be out of bounds. It is a bit like making a speech on the devastation taking place in the rain forests of South America and writing your speech on paper, one reason this devastation is still continuing or living in a house made of wood. Strict vegans and vegetarians don't just not eat meat, they also do not use any products made of leather, fur, etc. Furthermore, do the Save the Goa campaigners living abroad and earning their living realise their campaign would lead to unemployment for mine workers, do they even care for their welfare? The Save Goa Campaign UK (name taken from poster on tent at Goan Festival, Cranford) with their financial strength have in their power to bring this mining matter under firm control and stop Goa becoming history. They have the ideal opportunity here to go back to the old days of living in a mud hut with dung flooring, cooking with clay pots and firewood, using their hands to till the soil, etc. because by not using products with metal this would result in at least one Goan mine being closed, one village saved and the first firm step to stopping the rape of Goa's hinterland, thus saving it for future generations. This campaign could mirror the stop smoking campaign the European governments have put in place by working bit by bit to making it socially unacceptable. A few years ago, everyone would have not believed that smoking would be banned in offices and public places but here we are, it has. In fact it is predicted children born in 30 or 40 years time will only see a cigarette packet as a museum exhibit. I am also happy that the Save Goa Campaign UK is considering an on-line petition to encourage worldwide Goans to join . This would fulfil a lifelong dream of our people in Goa that those of us living abroad return home to their villages and lead the simple life our ancestors once led and stopping it being taken over by foreigners. Eco villages could be formed, our people could go back to paddy fields, coconut plucking, fishing, milking cows, grinding flour, a completely happy life without metal from Goan mines. No doubt, this would encourage a new form of tourism. Localise a local issue When the miners in Chile were trapped underground, the Chilean president led his people and took all out action to rescue them at any cost. The whole world held their breath as each minor was brought to the surface alive. This brought tears to my eyes and memories as a teenager of the film Nirmon filmed in Goa which ends in an open mine blasting scene (now available on www.fc-global.com in DVD format). Ms Miranda writes "most Goans in Goa in fact are not aware of the seriousness of the devastation going on in their backyards." I would like to remind her that the mines are in Goa, the villages and villagers are in Goa, the politicians allowing the rape of Goa are also in Goa, and Ms Miranda is in the enviable position of speaking fluent Konkani to enter into dialogue, debate and change with everyone there especially Sebastian Rodrigues in the mining belt, also Cheryl D'Souza and Father Bismarque Dias, the forerunners for the voiceless mining community. There is also a website called www.mandgoa.blogspot.com should readers wish to get more information on this subject. Feedback I receive is that the majority of Goans living in Goa have now become so wealthy from the rising cost of land and property and the tourist trade that there is enough money circulating there for local rich people to sponsor Carmen Miranda's campaign. My suggestions on the way forward is firstly the Save Goa Campaign UK work with local organisations already in place in Goa, not on reinventing the wheel. Secondly, just like the European governments on their stance on smoking, the Save Goa Campaign UK work bit by bit to outlaw the use of metal in all products so that in 30 to 40 years time, a teaspoon can lay alongside a cigarette packet as museum exhibits. The effect of this would be that mines worldwide would close and harmony, in particular, in Goa would be restored,once more a paradise for all of us to return to and continue living the life of our ancestors. This would also serve towards preserving Goan Identity. Unless Carmen Miranda and the Save Goa compaigners UK with their financial strength feel comfortable that it is morally acceptable to use metal products made from mines around our planet (where conditions are much the same, if not worse) just as long as this metal is not from our own backyard in Goa?? With bestest regards. Melvyn Fernandes Thornton Heath Surrey 31 July 2011 [email protected]
