CYBERSPACE IN GOA TO GO GREEN WITH FOUR CLC TALKS FROM SUNDAY

Prakash Kamat

Panaji,July 01-As the monsoons settle down in Goa, the State's newly-planted initiative called the Collaborative Learning Cafe (CLC) has sowed a series of four interesting sessions dealing with environmental, ecological and related green issues from near and far.

The sessions will be held online from coming Sunday, June 27, 2021, till Wednesday, June 30 from 6.30 pm to 8 pm each day. 

Speakers will be noted national environmentalist Medha Patkar, Rozendo Mendonsa of Mr Farmer, green-campaigner and priest Fr Bolmax Pereira, and seeweed expert and environmental campaigner Gabriella D'Cruz.
On June Sunday, Ms Patkar will speak on Challenges in Environmental Activism.  The TISS-educated Indian social activist is noted for her work on various crucial political and economic issues raised by tribals, dalits, farmers, labourers and women facing injustice.

A day later, on Monday, Rozendo Mendonsa ("Mr Farmer") will speak on landscaping villas, including on the types of garden soil and manure; selection of plants; drainage and water for irrigation.

Fr Bolmax Pereira, the young priest known for his environmental campaigns, will speak on June 29 (Tuesday), on "Amchi Mati -- The Revival of Agriculture: Hope for a better tomorrow for Goa".  His talk will focus on identifying fallow land, generating jobs for youth, the potential of community farming, and support systems.

Marine conservationist Gabriella D'Cruz, who has been called Goa's seaweed queen, on June 30, 2021 will focus on sea biodversity, why seeweed is good for people and the planet, and seaweed farming.

All talks are open to the public on a first-come-first-served basis, at no cost, but registration is mandatory.  Online capacity is limited.  Registration has to be done for each session separately.

The CLC is an initiative of the Friends of the Jesuits of the Goa Province.

This initiative comes in following Jesuit Superior General Fr.  Arturo Sosa call during his 2019 India visit on the society to work to promote an ecological agenda.

Former professor, Fr (Dr) Sosa, a 1948-born Venezuelan priest and the 31st Superior General elected in 2016, the first Latin American to head the global Order, has called for the Society in India to give a pastorial priority to ecology, as a direct response to Pope Francis' 2015 encyclical 'Laudato Si'.

In February 2019, Sosa announced four priorities that would guide the Society's decisions for the next decade.  These were: teaching discernment through the use of the Spiritual Exercises, walking with the poor in their quest for dignity and justice, accompany young people in the creation of a hope-filled future, and collaborating in the care of our Common Home.(eom)