Sunday 17 May 2009

Goan Short Term Gain

The “Short Term Gain & Long Term Loss” attitude by most Goans is destroying Goa & its identity; in addition to creating health hazards e.g. cancer, land/water contamination etc. Look across the world for the effects of this “Small minded” thinking e.g. Global Warming; Plant & Animal species are pushed into extinction daily, by our impatience for instant gains and humans also face disastrous consequences!!

In Goa, Calangute has severe Water Contamination today and its people have only themselves to blame. We can’t change the past but we can learn lessons, avoid destructive development going forward and maybe even rectify past mistakes. But sadly, most Goans still fail to see the hazards that they are creating/allowing and will wake-up only too late i.e. when their own homes/families are affected; and then there are those blinded by the fast buck they can make “today” by selling Goa to the highest bidder i.e. tainted politicians, greedy builders & land grabbers (from outside Goa).

Countries are putting in measures to address Global Warming, which includes increasing agriculture, green cover and Goa is going in the opposite direction!! Germany for instance has high taxes to discourage buying Real Estate for profits and instead favours personal usage only. In Goa, Mega-projects are pursued with any care to long term ill-effects; in order to satisfy the immediate greed of politicians, investors, builders & related businesses. Also on Public Projects, do we question our “Construction Happy Politicians and even Specific Religious leaders who abuse their roles & mislead their followers, for selfish gains”. New public projects e.g. Hospitals, Schools, Government Buildings etc must be evaluated in detail with all facts and all options/avenues addressed and then only should genuine projects be allowed; but I know of “public projects” being constructed primarily for the immediate profit objective!! To Quote Mahatma Gandhi “There is enough for everyone’s need but not for everyone’s greed”

Arwin Mesquita, UAE.

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