Prutha Goa

An awareness programme (part of a series of programmes) on the hazards of electronic waste was held at EDC House, Panjim, by the NGO Communicare Trust in collaboration with NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Services Companies) Foundation, CEAMA (Consumer Electronics and Appliances Manufacturers Association) and MAIT (Manufactures Association of Information Technology). This was part of the Digital India Initiative that has begun pilot projects in Bhubaneshwar, Puducherry, Guwahati, Imphal, Indore, Kolkata, Moradabad, Ranchi, Patna and Panjim, to combat the issue of growing electronic waste in India. The e-waste project will be gradually extended to other parts of India to cover all major areas. The objective is to reach out to schools, colleges, producers, consumers, bulk consumers, scrap dealers (kabadiwalas), dealers, etc, using the cooperation of local NGOs to educate them about the rules with regard to e-waste (2016), the problems related to it, and the proper manner of

Colin Braganza is a medical student at Goa Medical College who is soft-spoken and has a special connection with nature, as is revealed through his photographs. His interest in butterflies, which he used to shoot with a 2 zoom mobile phone camera (to help identify them), soon led to photographs of landscapes, birds and generally anything worth photographing. He uses a Nikon p530 camera now to capture any scene that piques his artistic sensibilities. Nature is at its most fragile with the world’s climate spiralling out of control, besides direct onslaughts in the name of progress. How soon will it be before all that is left is just photographs? Our own existence depends on how we react to the disturbing changes that are taking place. We still have the power to do what is best for the environment and reverse to a large extent the pathway to human extinction. “A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thought

While the Earth is struggling under the threat of the complete devastation of its environment, humans continue to plough through nature’s goodness, abusing and taunting her with our lucre-laden plans. Now in the line of attack is Goa; the land of sunshine, beaches and the bountiful coconut tree. The Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) is slowly expanding its reaches to accommodate the temporary housing and transportation of coal from mines in Australia to steel and power plants in Karnataka. In 2012, the Goa State Pollution Control Board ordered the MPT to shut down coal handling operations at berths 10 and 11 because the people of Vasco were suffering the effects of pollution due to coal. Although there was compliance in this regard and limited coal handling at berths 5-A and 6-A, which were leased to Jindal South West Port LTD (JSW), the relief was short-lived. Coal pollution continued to increase because of the increase in coal and coke imports into the port and the low standards of handling

‘I didn’t write this book for anyone above the age of 60,’ says Hartman de Souza, author of the provocatively titled Eat Dust: Mining and Greed in Goa . Goa is seen by most outsiders as the quintessential holiday destination, with its numerous beaches, shacks, and thriving nightlife. Eat Dust shatters the façade that the Ministry of Tourism has built around the true Goa, the Goa devastated by mining and the resulting environmental degradation. Hartman believes that Goa stands as a microcosm for the rest of the country. Its high standards in the areas of literacy, public health, gender equality, reservations, etc, right up to the mid 1980s, could well stand as an example of what is achievable in any state of the country. ‘In fact, Goa is so small, so easily manageable, it could be the most perfect destination in the world,’ says Hartman. Hartman has lowered his target age group from 17-30 to 17-27 because of his belief that by 27 years of age most Indians have arrived at a decision as