Garbage Menace
ONE would like to challenge the wisdom of the Education Minister for his quest in selecting the site of the Goa University, which incidentally comes under his constituency, for the garbage treatment plant, which was earlier earmarked for Bainguinim and even cleared by the High Court of Bombay. Holding the education portfolio he ought to have had the highest respect for this seat of education and its serene campus. No wonder our state is still lagging behind in the pursuit of higher education as compared to others.
MICHAEL VAZ, Merces

Saving Democracy
DEMOCRACY is the ‘man-centred’ political philosophy in which people are the focus of attention. There is no better political arrangement than democracy to protect and preserve what is best in human beings. Therefore, democracy entails certain basic rights–the right to express oneself in any form–speech, writing, films, painting and so on; the right of movement, the right to property and the right to live. Democracy is not a straight-jacket monolithic structure; differences in thought and action constitute the core of democracy. However, it is also true that those who are the votaries of democracy and wield political power in the name of democracy are the poor guardians of democracy. When democracy is threatened by certain inimical elements in the country, the so-called protectors of democracy holding the reigns of power hide behind bureaucratic veils and rarely come to the rescue of the people trampled by the despotic entities. Therefore, sociologists are often fond of saying that democracy is a beautiful maiden whom everybody wants to protect; however, in the end, nobody actually does.  
SND POOJARY, Miramar

Cruelty to Animals
BEHIND the façade of entertainment, the ongoing Jumbo circus is a display of animal cruelty. Animals are forced to perform acts mostly out of fear as these animals are beaten and tortured which is evident in the show itself. The camels and elephants were beaten and poked with sticks to perform their unnatural stunts. Cats with belts around the necks were seen panting. Animals like horses which were tied outside and were not a part of the circus seemed to be deprived, neglected and in pitiable condition. Animals should be banned from the circus. Entertainment should not be at the cost of another’s suffering.
SYDEL RODRIGUES, Mapusa

Hazardous to Life
IT is a fact that many transformers along the main road in various parts of Ponda are noticed in exposed condition. They have no proper locking system and are left open, which is dangerous to the lives of pedestrians as also stray-cattle in the area. Such a situation is noticed at the transformer existing behind Canara Bank, the one near ‘Lokvishwas Prathisthan’ at Dhawali and yet another at Tisk along the road leading towards ID hospital. The Electricity Department needs to take the above matter into consideration and initiate early positive action as soon as possible.
PRAVIN U SARDESSAI, Adpai

Called to be Ambassadors for Christ’s   
ON Wednesday, February 17, the Catholic community begins the season of Lent–a time for fasting and abstinence, a time for reconciliation, a time to introspect our role as ambassadors and apostles of Lord Jesus Christ, not just in our homes and parishes but moreover in our society, and particularly at our places of work. During this season of Lent, as workers, let us first worship God, the Heavenly Father and then his divine gift called work. We are all called to be Christ’s ambassadors of Lord Jesus, to propagate his divine ministry through actions of love and forgiveness. We are also called to be apostles of Lord Jesus Christ at our places of work. Joseph Cardinal Cardijn, the founder of the Christian Workers’ Movement, a Workers’ Movement of the Catholic Church had quoted, “Work is not a punishment, a curse, or enslavement, but the cooperation of the labourer with his Creator and Redeemer. But what kind of work? “Without the worker there will he no host, no wine, etc.” He also said, “A worker is worth more than all the gold in the world.” Thus the Christian Workers’ Movement helps workers understand their vocation as ambassadors and apostles of Jesus Christ at their places of work, Church and society. 
CAJETAN PETER D’SOUZA, Mumbai