Ghost nets pose danger to marine life
Two Olive Ridley turtles which were rescued after they got entangled in a discarded net reportedly died due to injuries they had suffered. According to a fisherman who rescued them, the turtles looked exhausted and both had their hind flippers missing which could have been due to their struggle to free themselves from the net. It may be recalled that recently local fishermen at the Benaulim beach found an injured Olive Ridley turtle which got entangled and trapped in an abandoned fishing net. They immediately worked on freeing the turtle from this discarded net. The turtle which had suffered some injuries due to the contact with the fishing line was handed over to the Forest Department for medical treatment. Incidents of turtles getting entangled in discarded nets have been taking place at a disturbing frequency. It is pertinent to note that the guards deputed on the beaches have their duty restricted to only ensuring nesting of turtles, shifting the eggs and monitoring the hatcheries. The ghost nets which are present in the sea could be killing a lot of marine life besides the turtles. Fishermen need to be educated not to discard old nets in the sea but to dispose off in a proper manner on land. All the ghost nets found along the shoreline need to be removed as they can be pulled back into the seas by the waves.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Go Green in the best way possible
The environment around oneself should be kept clean. Do not abuse the environment around you. It should be protected with great determination and perseverance. This responsibility rests with each and every one of us. When you litter your surroundings, the wind will blow the same back to you. It is only to care and protect the trees that such work is undertaken to provide a greener look. What ‘care’ or ‘protection’ means for our trees – especially the greenery in our urban areas – needs to be standardised. Since it is generally believed that trees constitute the main ‘green’ criteria for the Green Committee, the rest are all left quite perplexed. It is of utmost importance to pay heed to the fact that the planting of trees must be inculcated to the younger generations so that the foundation of planting trees periodically is well and truly laid.
C K Subramaniam,
Navi Mumbai
SIT probe must ensure crime does not pay
The Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is currently probing the rampant fraudulent land grabbing that has been going on in Goa, must be allowed to function free of political interference. But with at least two current Ministers, some ruling party MLAs and BJP leaders too all being part of the mafia of land grabbers it would require a retired High Court Judge to be appointed to monitor this probe and to ensure fairness and independence in the investigation. This SIT’s fate should not be the same as the one which was appointed to investigate the mega illegal mining scam. The fraudulent grabbing followed by sale and transfer of property with forged and fabricated documents has been going on with political patronage besides the tacit involvement and connivance of some advocates, notaries and government officials all being part of this well organised crime. In this modus operandi, dead persons have been shown as alive and vice-versa while this grabbing of land has been going on undeterred in broad daylight.
The SIT is duty bound to probe every case of land grabbing and fraudulent sale regardless of the size of the property and without fear or favour. Every property must be restored to the rightful owners and the perpetrators of these crimes must be mercilessly punished regardless of how politically well-connected they may be. It is vitally important that the findings and action taken in every case must be transparent and readily accessible to the people and not swept under the carpet. Crime must not pay. Justice must not only be done but be seen to be done.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Restore true replica
of National Emblem
On July 11, PM Modi unveiled the National Emblem cast on the rooftop of the New Parliament building in contrast to the lions at Sarnath distorts the representation of our National Emblem. The four lions of the emblem depict the four virtues of India namely power, courage, confidence and pride. The lions are depicted having a sombre and peaceful posture with a glowing smile on their faces. Ironically, the lions on the new cast of the emblem show angry and ferocious lions with open fangs which portrays a wrong face of intolerant India.
A slew of petitions doing the rounds on social media are replete with posts to restore the true replica of the National Emblem.
Everette Assis Telles, Margao
People’s will prevailed in Lanka
The curtains came down on Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s inglorious reign after the embattled Sri Lankan President finally sent his resignation letter by email from Singapore. The development came a day after Gotabaya fled the country and sought refuge on two other islands as protests escalated in the island nation. Sri Lankans savoured the news of the resignation and took to the streets to celebrate. Yet again, the people’s will has prevailed, and the development should herald a new chapter in Sri Lankan politics.
N J Ravi Chander, Bengaluru
Nelson Mandela,
a great man
Human rights, universal brotherhood, world peace, democratic values, conflict resolution, poverty alleviation and women emancipation…can one person champion so many causes? One can recollect only two names —-Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela – who stood for these aforesaid issues. South Africa would not be what it is today but for Mandela. Fighting apartheid to fostering multiracial democracy, the father of modern South Africa was beyond comparison because he knew “it is easy to break, difficult to build “.
The self-effacing stalwart’s seven decades of fight for social justice did not go in vain. The very fact that a person could spend 27 long years in prison for his countrymen, dedicate himself to serve the mankind separated Nelson Mandela from other leaders of his time. Mandela used to say that work seems impossible until it is done. The visionary leader’s devotion to the task at hand is history. Mandela’s qualities of heart and head made him stay put to achieve his goals for the sake of his countrymen who suffered the ignominy of apartheid. Head pointing to the sun, and feet firmly forward, an optimist begets success.
The quality to fight out injustice meted out to mankind was ingrained in his soul so much that he easily resembled our own Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. Mandela’s efforts to bridge the gap between the haves and the have nots also contributed towards his popularity. As a child, he struggled with poverty that metamorphosed him into a challenger of penury in later life. Bharat Ratna, Nobel Peace Prize and South African presidentship were too small for the towering personality.
Mandela could have been the president of South Africa till he wished to, but the man’s dislike for power and pomp was so evident when he sought not to continue in office after five years. Even post-retirement, he did not rest on his laurels, and went on to fight the dreaded AIDS which haunted his countrymen and took away the life of his son. He had his share of detractors; he acted in accordance to his belief that getting up from a fall was as precious as avoiding a fall. Remembering him, and the causes he stood for, are the objectives of Nelson Mandela International Day on July 18.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
