08 Aug 2022  |   05:42am IST

Letters to the editor ( 08 August 2022)

Poor connectivity in hinterland

It is learnt that throughout Goa’s hinterland people are on the lookout for mobile and data connectivity (Herald August, 6). Citizens reportedly walk for miles through village or jungle roads with their mobile phones hoping to catch an Internet signal.

It is understood that during an emergency people find it difficult to call the police or ambulance service due to poor connectivity. Students from a village in Quepem are seen desperately trying to catch the mobile network. It is true that it is not feasible to install mobile towers in hilly areas due to limitation of range. This could lead to weak signals. Towers need to be installed where the demand is more and where there is need to improve quality of signal strength.

During the pandemic too students had a harrowing time finding Internet connectivity. If there are protests against mobile towers, then there will be instances of weak Internet signals.

There appears to be conflicting views on the impact mobile towers have on human health. Cell phone towers are still relatively new, and many people are understandably concerned about whether the Radio Frequency (RF) waves they give off will possibly have health effects. There is reportedly no strong evidence of any noticeable health effects due to cell towers. Mobile towers however, can prove carcinogenic in extreme cases with someone living close to these towers.

Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco


Pelosi’s trip setback to US-China relations

The controversial visit of the US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan will surely have a huge setback in US-China relations by decades, adding up to an already fractured relationship between the two nations. History tells us that when there is instability and dissonance in political relations between two nations, it primarily leads to military reactions.

And, predictably China has fired ballistic missiles and deployed fighter jets and warships around Taiwan as an immediate response to Pelosi’s visit to Taipei. In recent years there have been mounting tensions in US-China relations over many issues - economic, cyber, spying and security. In short, Pelosi’s visit has paved the way for more friction and collisions between the two nations.

Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai


Taiwan paying the price for Pelosi visit?

Taiwan is paying the price for hosting US Speaker Nancy Pelosi despite threats from Beijing. The US official’s visit to Taiwan has infuriated the Red Dragon, which views the self-ruled island as its territory. On Thursday, China fired ballistic missiles and deployed fighter jets and warships to hold its largest-ever war games around Taiwan. We believe some ballistic missiles landed in Japan’s exclusive economic zone.

China also suspended dialogue with the US on issues from climate change to military relations and anti-drug efforts. These measures intended to punish Washington could have grave repercussions for the region.

N J Ravi Chander, Bengaluru


Close watch needed on China’s ship to Lanka

Following US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, China recently dispatched 27 aeroplanes into Taiwan's airspace. On August 11, a Chinese research and survey ship is anticipated to dock in the southern port of Hambantota, Sri Lanka. Despite the statements made by China and Sri Lanka that the ship is for survey and research it needs to be closely watched since it might be a hidden weapon since wicked China might aim to vanquish India the same way as they vanquish Taiwan.

Now, Bandula Gunawardhana, the head of the Sri Lankan government, made a mistake by allowing it to anchor in the port area.

Vijaykumar H K, Raichur


Public taxis used by Govt Depts

We can notice that several departments (even hi-fi ones) of Central and State governments have hired taxis of different types, probably on long-term basis, that have yellow number plates. The vehicles are perhaps used for official purposes such as to visit other departments or to pick and drop their employees. These vehicles have stickers “On government duty,” or bear the names of the departments and in some cases are fixed with governments emblems such as the “Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath.”

One needs to check whether it is legally permitted to fit emblems on hired vehicles. What happens if these vehicles get stolen or misused after the official trips? It is a mystery that even the cash-rich government departments prefer to hire vehicles for months together instead of buying and appointing their own drivers who could get a gainful employment.

Sridhar D’Iyer, Caranzalem 


Life beyond earth

Nations of the world are using the best of Science known to men and tremendous resources in men and material just to discover even primitive forms of life beyond to answer the riddle; are we alone in the universe? 

The attempts on Mars and in and around Solar System have gone on for years with highest risks involved in the quest for exploration. The question whether we are alone in the known universe is bothering the researchers.

But here on earth deliberate wars are destroying all forms of life for egos of some one. The world is on the brink of nuclear annihilation having not learnt from two world wars and its consequences. One wonders why we are frantically searching for life elsewhere. Are we frightened about our own existence in defence or do we want to expand our friendship with other advanced civilization and gain mutually?

The phenomenal progress has also seen destruction of environment for progress that is threatening the existence of human life. What does it matter that once upon a time life flourished on Mars, when we here we care too hoots of existing life being obliterated here on earth either by humans or by natural disasters. It is reasonable that if we are careless and bent upon destruction of life as we know here why at all search life elsewhere at a cost? Do we intend to inhabit another planet just to save human race from existence or save selective form of life like Noah did knowing for sure that in distant times earth will be dead and disappear with the sun? The science is just wasting time and resources in frantic search instead of preserving every form of life that exists as of today. 

Nelson Lopes, Chinchinim


Keep the corrupt away during panchayat polls

It is clearly evident that, quite a few incumbent Village Panchayat elected representatives indulged in corruption by misusing their power for four terms are still hungry for more. As the saying goes, practice makes one perfect, it goes the same with those who act clean after pocketing public funds, donations from abroad for work which is never done.

Some of them have filed nominations despite being thrown out of their chair. Mind you, yet again they will mesmerise the innocent villagers to vote them to power so that they can start their monkey business again and villagers will have to cry wolf for another five years. The issue with corruption is not just the success of its perpetrator  which seem unfair to most but that it also displaces new, honest, talented candidates who would do a better job with highest integrity and clean governance.

It is  my own personal bad experience with our VP, when my own were misguided to hoodwink me to grab the ancestor house, land and fields.  I conclude with a quote “Integrity, transparency and the fight against corruption have to be part of the culture. They have to be taught as fundamental values." Please screen your candidate and vote; don't get fooled once again by any corrupt candidate.

Gaston Dias, Sarzora 



IDhar UDHAR

Idhar Udhar