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വായന

27 November, 2009

Standing up to defend Goa

SEBASTIAN RODRIGUES

“So stand up to defend Goa, defend our homeland and global middle class's favorite honeymoon destination from cancerous spread of mining. Speak up for Goa now, before it is too late.”

These are the words of Sebastian Rodrigues of Goa, who has been blogging furiously in defence of his land for the last two years.

Goa is in the midst of an iron, manganese and bauxite rush, and mining is his favorite subject.

Issues related to mining have been put on the backburner by the local and national media. So Rodrigues stepped in to fill void of information through his blog, says Armstrong Vaz, writing in the Korea-based OhmyNews International’s website.

Last year a mining company filed a defamation suit for Rs 500 billion against him in the Calcutta High Court. He appealed to the public for contributions to defend himself in court. The response was encouraging.

Besides taking up professional short research assignments on tribal and land issues in Goa, Todrigues has completed a study 'Land, Mining and Adivasis in Goa', which was funded by 'The Other Media' and is being published in Delhi.
OhmyNews carries an interview which Vaz had with Rodrigues at its website under the heading “Indian Blogger Sued for Defamation.”.

Rodrigues’ blog: MANDGOA

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