Too much of consumerism, greed and failure to connect with social issues is distancing us further and further away from our roots and originality. This message was sent across strongly at the lecture given out by Mr Alberto Gomes from La Trobe University, Melbourne University, Australia.

Mr Alberto Gomes was speaking on the topic of ‘Spaces, Places and Histories: A political ecological prospective’, organised by NEST (Nature, Environment, Society and Transformation) at the city hall on Friday.
Ecological problems are also political issues, he said and further elaborated, “We started this campaign along with my friends, way back in 1977. During this process we came across interesting arguments. But, then we were defeated as the whole issue was politicised. From then I realised that environment is not just about ecology but also about politics,” he stated.
Being an anthropologist, Mr Gomes extensively studied aboriginal tribes in Malaysia. From them he learnt the real meaning of sustainable development.
Narrating his experiences in the Malaysian forests, he stated, “For Malaysian tribes, falling of a tree is a sad event. They consider forest as their parents as they are their providers. Also a walk in the forest is a walk in history. Thus, I believe that by displacing tribes we are erasing history.”
These tribes live in perfect harmony with nature. They will not till the land until it is completely degraded. And they only take what is given to them, he informed.
Speaking on the Goa scenario he suggested that there is a need to document and record the lives of Goa’s tribals. Now is the time to sensitise and educate people about such issues, he said.