Dear Blaise, Thanks a lot for taking the trouble to reply. It is only in a dialogue like this that we can appreciate each other's points of view; indeed, each other's lives.
>From the little we had heard about you, Muriel and I always knew you were refreshingly different from other businessmen in Goa. We knew that at least you were definitely pro-Goa and not blindly chasing the quick buck that most other entrepreneurs do. We also appreciated the fact that you were thinking out of the box and by introducing the plastic septic tank, were honestly addressing Goa's needs. This is also why we always promote your Shakti water tanks, because after examining one, we genuinely believe that they are "superior by design!" It was with this kind of information, that I approached you at the GCCI auditorium, with a lot of warmth and friendship; also because we are quite close to your folks in Saligao. There was not the slightest intention to 'use' you to "lobby" with your Saligao family, but to sincerely ask you to explain to them the details in the documentation I gave you...especially because I believed at the time that others were keeping the real truth away from them. It is against this back drop that I (and others) were completely baffled that you had reduced the struggle in Saligao to a cheap and selfish NIMBY issue. In spite of having all the documentary evidence to the contrary, you still seem inexplicably fixated with this view. So we will leave it at that and "agree to disagree", as you wisely suggest. We will move on and let our own history as well as the future development of the struggle, do the talking. For now, I am are terribly, terribly sorry that you were so hurt by what came across as questioning your credentials. I had no intention of doing this, as we did not have any idea of the tremendous sacrifice you and your dad had made for Goa. Please forgive me for any perceived attack on your past credentials. It was totally unintentional and not even remotely implied. Since you were writing on the "Story of Goa's development", it appeared that you were not applying your mind to the reasons behind the Saligao struggle. Worse, you were misrepresenting the facts to arrive at pre-determined conclusions that you seemed keen on recording. This was why I said, "If you have Goa's development at heart,,,study the documentation I gave you". It was a response only to that particular column of yours. But that is in the past. For the present, Muriel and I want to first thank you for giving us, in your reply below, a tiny peep into what you and your family have done for Goa. Second, we want to record our deep gratitude and admiration for this sacrifice in the past and your continued efforts to guide Goa's development, especially in the industrial sector. We may not agree with the methods you use in reaching your conclusions, but that does not deny the tremendous effort you put into your vision for Goa and the sacrifice you employ to make it a reality. Third, we would like to congratulate your wife Claire for standing by you as you valiantly battled on. It could not have been easy for her, probably wondering when and if you would return from work, each day. We know that situation well and that is why we would like to salute the two of you for the courage you displayed during that phase of your lives. Beyond that, we would like to offer all the support and solidarity we can for any struggle you undertake for Goa, at that level. To that end we are definitely on the same side! We cannot afford to split ranks because of minor and initial differences of opinion - if they continue to be minor! Since you set out "not to create enemies of friends, but better friends", we would like to say that because of your sharing of the sacrificial roles you and your family played and continue to play in Goa's industrial development, today, we are certainly better friends than before! Warm regards, much solidarity and 'mog asudi' to both you and Claire. Mario...and Muriel. PS1: I am posting this to SaligaoNet. PS2: Since that was a personal reply to your column (URL of which was posted to SaligaoNet), we replied personally to you. The way it was written, with the various personal references to you and others, it was not meant as a reply in the 'Letters to the Editor' column. We request Sujay not to carry it in the Herlad, in its present form. However, as part of the development debate, and without referring to anyone, we do not mind writing objectively on this phenomenon of mobile phone towers in the State. If he finds it suitable, Sujay can then carry it on the Edit page. M&M. ------------------------------------------ On 5 April 2012 10:58, Blaise Costabir <[email protected]> wrote: > Dear Mario > My initial reaction was to ignore this mail as other wise we will go back > and forth. You are entitled to your views and me mine. However since I saw > this marked to a group I thought I should clarify some points. > > Out of the 20 odd congratulatory messages, two were contrary to my view, > one was my wife who felt with so many dear friends in Saligao it was not > correct to get involved as it meant one side would be offended. My reply > was if we think of Goa, who should we make a point with, our friends or our > enemies. The other is your email. > > I am marking a copy to Sujoy the editor of Herald and he may publish your > reply if he feels necessary. Please mark my reply to your friends on > Saligao net as I do not think I have access to them. My points are in red > below. > > My view is not on your tower, my view is asking people to think > before opposing, we want power but not the power station. We want a good > life but not a composting station near our house. Since I do not like > sitting on the fence I have made my point, not to create enemies of friends > but better friends. Why can we not make our views open without it being if > you are not on my side you are against me. I clearly stated, I would > appreciate your agitation more if each of you and your families gave up the > cell phone first. > > The local MLA unfortunately is conditioned to think this ward 20 odd votes > so what should I do. Will he also give up his phone. Will he after reading > about the hazards take a decision that in his constituency there will be no > towers and no cell phones will be allowed or as usual will he play to the > gallery and not for Goa. > > Have a good day. > > Blaise Costabir > Managing Director > GMI Zarhak Moulders Pvt ltd > website: www.shaktiindia.com > Blog: onyourown-implementor.blogspot.com > > On Thu, Apr 5, 2012 at 2:17 AM, muriel&mario <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Dear Blaise, >> >> When I saw you at the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) seminar >> on World Consumers Day, on 15 March, I felt happy and hopeful. In fact, it >> made my day! >> >> I was happy that at last I found someone, a family member who could talk >> to Claire's mother Joan, (your mother-in-law), Lynette, the widow of her >> late son Alfie and their 3 children. I was hopeful that at last, someone >> from the family would be able to tell them the truth about the radiation >> hazards and other realities connected with the Mobile Phone Tower, less >> than a 100 mts. away from their home, in the Delaney compound opposite. >> >> All you knew of me at the time, was "the gentleman who identified himself >> as a resident of the picturesque village of Saligao". But I knew who you >> were and that was why I went out of my way to meet you and give you a set >> of documentation containing the 5 documents attached here, a CD containing >> the first video documentary of the Delaney Tower >> struggle<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyhIifDf4uw&feature=relmfu>and 10 >> pages of newspaper cuttings. >> >> That package contained our entire case! >> >> The only reason I took the trouble to meet you and give you all this >> material, was because I saw you as the only person who could talk to Joan, >> Lynette and the children and actually help that vulnerable family protect >> themselves from a hazardous mobile phone tower.* >> >> * > > Mario, when you gave me the information and asked me to lobby with my > mother in Law, I was upfront and very clear. I said to you that I cannot > oppose any tower or ask my mother in law to do the same because I use a > cell phone. > You said to me, you wanted it moved 500 mts away to a field and I asked > what about the people around the field. I further added that since I live > in Fatorda, where would the tower there go, there is no 500 mts radius > open space. So my written views should not have surprised you. > > **But what did you do with all this information given on a platter to >> you, in good faith? >> >> You pinched indiscriminate bits and pieces of it, twisted them into poor >> fiction, put words into my mouth and used the shoddy result to hinge the >> rest of your article >> on.<http://www.epaperoheraldo.in/Details.aspx?id=2524&boxid=4127753&uid=&dat=4/2/2012> >> * >> >> <http://www.epaperoheraldo.in/Details.aspx?id=2524&boxid=4127753&uid=&dat=4/2/2012> >> *For example, I did not say any of the following:* >> >> - that I am from the picturesque village of Saligao >> - that I wanted to enjoy the benefits of the mobile phone, but wanted it >> shifted because it spoilt the beauty of the village. >> - that I wanted it shifted 500 mts. away from the "present" location, >> into somebody else's back yard**. >> * >> What I did say was that, the global mobile phone industry was invading >> Saligao, its habitat, its environment and its aesthetic space. I also said >> that it was an assault on the fundamental Right to Life (Art. 21 of the >> Indian Constitution) of an entire community. The invasion and assault, I >> pointed out was effected by international finance, in the form of Multi >> National Corporations that represented the global mobile phone industry. >> In the panel discussion during that seminar, I asked the panelists, if >> there was anything in the Consumer Protection Act to protect consumers from >> such an invasion and assault. >> >> This was the scope of my intervention that day at the GCCI auditorium. >> It is possible that you did not hear me too well as you were sitting in the >> last row of a packed hall. I did not go into the details that you have >> poached and misused from the extensive documentation I voluntarily shared >> with you. >> >> Mario, Let us not split hair on syntax and language. Let us get to > the point.I have referred to nothing from your information as I did not > read it, neither did I read the counter material given by Ashley. That is > not to say I have not gathered my own information on the subject. I am > clear that despite being an unproven hazard, I find the cell phone very > useful. I have stated my view, you are perfectly within your rights to > continue protesting and even stopping the tower. > > >> What you have done is to take the scientific and well documented facts >> from the information I gave you and twist them to form the springboard of >> your entire column. >> Mario you must be reading someone else's column, please quote one line >> from your documents that I have used. > > > >> >> In a summary of the problem given to you, we presented 13 reasons why >> Saligaokars want the mobile tower shifted to a safe place (see attachment >> on press_summary). >> Saligaokars? did anyone oppose the tower in Tony Rex property. I know a >> few who do not agree with your view does that means they are not >> Saligaokars? You contradict yourself when you say you did not ask the tower >> to be moved 500 mts away and here you say moved to a safe place. > > > >> >> In that particular document, our stand is very clear: "We have no >> objection to a tower. But we want it shifted to a safe location, at least >> 500 mts. from residential areas." This is in keeping with a Gram Sabha >> resolution passed on the 19 Feb. 2012. We have even pointed out 2 such >> safe alternate sites, out in the fields, well away from all human >> habitation. >> > Please see this statement in light of my point that Goa needs a > generating station, if every Gram Sabha takes this views where will we go > for power, In that case we need not bother about tower as there will be no > power to charge the cell phones and therefore no need for towers. The TN, > CM has already set the ball rolling by stating that she wants 100% of the > nuclear power generated in her State. By the way how many of those who > voted against the tower are willing to give up their cell phones, I clearly > stated I would appreciate your agitation if you all said that we do not > want the tower it is bad for health and therefore we are giving up our cell > phones. If there is no demand for cell phones there is no need for towers. > Are you sure the safe sites have no human habitation around then or have no > settlement zones which will be inhabited later. Will the tower look > prettier in these safe sites? > >> >> It is difficult to understand why you should have twisted this to mean, >> that we do not want the tower in our backyard, and that it should be >> shifted into someone else's. We have never ever taken such a stand and >> there is nothing in the documentation I gave you, to even remotely suggest >> such a position. >> >> Mario, really now. You are now saying you do not want the tower, you deny > saying to me that it can move to the fields...... > > That press_summary dtd. 14 March, succinctly articulates the entire case >> of the communities protesting the present location of the Delaney Tower. >> It is surprising that a columnist of your technological stature should fall >> so short of journalistic ethics when writing about well documented and >> scientific facts given to you, in black and white. To reduce Saligao's >> entire case to one of "Not-In-My-Back-Yard (NIMBY)" is nothing short of >> pure mischief and an inexpensive way to find a topic for your column! >> >> Mario, this is not Saligao's case. There is a tower at Tony Rex's > place. Those people around are from where? Two, I am not talking about > Saligao, I am talking about Goa's development and the Abreu Vaddo tower > case represents the NIMBY to the hilt. I do not need anyone's research to > write my columns, despite the fact that given my work schedule and > involvement in many social causes it would be easy to use someone else's > thinking and documents. Ofcourse on the other hand it is preposterous for > you to assume that just because you did lots of research it is to be > accepted by all thinking individuals without question? > > Till today, no one has had the scholarship, scientific temper or the plain >> courage to study that document with all its references, engage the village >> in a debate about it, or very simply refute the positions on which the >> community case is based. Like you have bravely attempted in your article, >> many over the last 9 weeks, have taken random pot shots, misrepresented >> scientific fact, beaten around the bush, tried to divert everyone's >> attention with colourful distractions, frustratedly descended into >> 'tantrumy' name calling and mud slinging...or quite plainly caught the bull >> by the tail! >> >> Mudslinging...you did that in your previous para, where you made > nasty comments on my writings. I have tried to avoid dropping to the same > level. I, agree with your view, the information should be given to all but > not many read or do their own study. So it is left to people like you who > can take a message across. However once you have given your information, > let the receiver decide one way or the other. Unfortunately I get the > impression that you believe that if anyone does not support the "NO TOWER" > option he is anti Mario. I am not anti Mario.I simply agree to disagree > with you on this point. > > But if you really have Goa's development at heart, if you have the >> scientific temper to examine the evidence, if you have the patience to >> study the issue as it exists in Goa today, then as we have done with the >> Tower Team and their few supporters, we challenge you to seriously revisit >> the documentation we gave you and discuss the issue threadbare. >> > Boss, to question my credentials or my love for Goa India because I do not > agree with your position is simply untenable. My family has lost land in > Verna for what is termed as development. I have fought initially single > handedly and then with the support of a very courageous NGO, (GOA STATE > INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION) to stop the rape of our industrial estates by the > MLA who belonged to the ruling Congress. This despite opposition from my > wife who feared for my life. Why did I do it? To get more money for my > self? To get land for myself? No simply because I believed goans had > sacrificed land for the development of Goa (my father is one of them) and > their sacrifice was being spat upon by corrupt elements. I wanted that > their sacrifice not be in vain. We have made the difference and that is for > Goa. > Therefore when I hear a person who is simply fighting for a cause > that purely benefits a few, and these few question my credentials I am not > going to sit and take such nonsense lying down. I am not some retired guy > with no work, I have a business to run and kids to bring up and I do what I > think I can for the love of Goa and India. So please do not dare try > and blackmail me into supporting your irrelevant cause by equating it to > some patriotic duty. > > As far as the debate goes, there is no point. Your point is well taken. > However I repeat give up your phones and stick to land lines. I will back > your cause. > >> >> No one is against development, Blaise. >> > > >> Exactly as long as it is NOT IN MY BACKYARD > > > >> >> All we are saying is: make it participative, sustainable, pro-people, >> pro-earth, conservational. Make it just! >> >> Not pro-profit and pro-greed. Not selfish. Not exploitative! >> >> Please examine the your statements above. Are you saying if the > profit is shared so as not to be exploitative it is ok. Participative, you > and all your supporters want the use of the cell phone, so you must have a > tower. Where would you put the tower?. Why was no objection or research > done when a tower was raised at Tony Rex's place.......simple it was not in > my backyard. I rest my case. > > Warm regards. >> >> Mario. >> >> > -- > > -- *"We did not inherit Abreu Vaddo/Saligao/Goa/the Earth from our ancestors, we merely borrowed it from our children." - *Indigenous Wisdom ................................................................ there *is* anOTHERgoa at <http://www.anothergoa.blogspot.in> & <http://www.youtube.com/anothergoa> ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' muriel & mario, c/o FULKAR, 6/22, sonarbhatt, saligao. bardez. goa. 403511. tel: 0832-2278276 / 2409999 <anothergoa AT gmail.com> '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' -- Saligao-Net is at http://groups.google.com/group/saligao-net To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe email [email protected]
