HEART TO HEART (FEB 5, 2006 -Herald) By Ethel Da Costa Addicted to change
My girls have taken on a new role. And believe me, I'm so proud that they've picked up tips from what looks like a crazy, manic, hectic schedule they see their mom setting up every single day, without any room for lectures on self-support systems. Between hurried bites of breakfast, or whatever little that manages to get inside my mouth, and handling a cell phone long showing signs of wear and tear, my elder daughter has voluntarily donned the hat of a 'Mission Chaka Chak Panaji' inspector. And with great ado. The younger one follows suit by telling the driver that he must not litter in the car park because 'Mama is going to fire you'; not take her favourite CDs from the car without her permission, and not to carry his tiffin in a plastic bag.
My elder has told her school girlfriends and the regular grocer that 'Mom says no plastic,' and "if you don't listen, my mom is going to write about it and you'll be in trouble.' The neighbouring shopkeepers look at my housekeeper with apprehension every time a purchase has to be made, so I already have a list of errant storekeepers who still haven't adhered to the 'No Plastic' dictat in town. I'm feeling like a war veteran (and now I have a house team too) weathered, creased brows, sleepless eyes, poison pen in handbag, and sword in the belt, notwithstanding the looks of concealed suspicion from vendors within my building vicinity. It's war on plastic. And interestingly, the soldiers proudly wearing the war paint are little children and students, which prove that the kids of today are more conscientious than the adults of yesterday. It's time to change our mindset. And its time to perform, with rulebook, fine, green bin, black bin in hand and the whip, if need be.
Another conscientious citizen taking the war on garbage and plastic to its artistic conclusion is photographer Gasper deSouza. His collection of stark black and white `Bomb in the Plastic Bag' collection inspires and provokes a thought process with his ability to capture, compose and cajole a reaction. Combining creativity and passion for photography, Gasper presents the humane underbelly of waste and the toxic relationship of her human emissaries living day-to-day with dirt. That's your garbage and mine and the fool who still uses plastic.
The collection goes public at the 'Gagged by the Bag,' A Festival of Alternatives at the Municipal Garden from February 9 to 12. The citizen centric festival organized by the Corporation of the City of Panaji urges a return to paper, cloth and jute and embracing a healthy way of life. Its also salute to H Britton, Wilmix, the pre-primary students of Teddy Tots, Cliffy's gang of merry musicians and others who get together at the Band Stand to take home the message of a safe planet, beginning with us. We are the custodians of Goa. Begin with your homes and then take charge of your neighbourhood. We urge you to join your might with this mission, and come belt a tune at the same time. For those dog headed about evolving to change and sitting tight on your ego donkeys, you're counting your days on the planet buddy. Dump that plastic before toxic gets you.
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