Rain Water Harvesting workshop

Welcome address to Rain Water Harvesting workshop at Institute Menezes Braganza, Panaji, on 11th Sept. 2007 at 9.45. a.m.,Sponsored by Goa Sudharop in partnership with the Botanical Society of Goa
Good Morning!
Honorable chief guest: Principal. Newman Fernandes, distinguished panel of speakers: Dr. A.G.Chachadi, architect Pravin Sabnis; moderator Dr.K.G.Hiremath; Mr. Miguel Braganza, president of the botanical society of Goa, members of Britto’s old boys association, teachers and guests.

On behalf of Goa Sudharop community development inc. U.S.A., the botanical society of Goa, and Britto’s old boys association, i extend to you all a hearty welcome to this rain water harvesting workshop specially organized for school teachers in Goa.

I believe ,that love of nature and all creation- sentient and in sentient, is the high point of human awareness or spirituality.
hence, i am happy that all of you attending this environmental workshop thus demonstrate that you love nature and desire to work for a safe and peaceful planet that is a home to all creation. sadly, however, our environment today is on a fast- track to irreparable degradation, the consequences of which, as you are well aware, are frighteningly catastrophic!

Environmental scientists of the united nations and other world bodies forewarn us that climatic changes triggered largely by depletion of the ozone layer and global warming which is due to human neglect, myopia and greed for unbridled material prosperity at the cost of mother nature will make all life difficult and unsafe in not too distance a future. catastrophes like tsunami tidal waves, hurricanes, melting of glaciers world over including our Himalayas, rising sea levels, droughts, heat waves, famines, epidemics, etc. will both kill as well as render homeless millions of people world over, besides devastating billions of dollars worth of assets, infrastructure, etc. and also submerge millions of square kilometers of low- lying lands like Bangladesh, Maldives and others.

 Goa Sudharop as an organization dedicated to the cause of all round betterment of goa and Goans views this foreboding scenario with gravest concern, and hence observes 2007 as “year of Goan environment” with a view to create awareness at the grassroots level about the dire need to respect and conserve the environment which is our very life-line.

One of the major aspects of this environmental degradation is the neglect, mismanagement and wastage of, and consequent fast depletion of our water resources, so vital for survival of all creation, and thus called “water of life”. in fact, experts have already warned that water crisis could have uncontrollable socio- economic consequences world over the idea of organizing this rain water harvesting therefore, is our humble effort in that direction, and it is one of the several other programmes and activities that are being implemented this year by Goa Sudharop to drive home the all important message of environmental care and conservation through this RWH workshop for school teachers, facilitated by the distinguished and expert panel of speakers today, We hope to further augment their knowledge and thus empower the school teachers as much as possible on how and why of rain water harvesting or conservation, so that they in turn instruct and pass on the knowledge to their respective school students who would then own help put it to work in their respective homes and neighborhoods.

I feel it’s only appropriate that this workshop, specially organized for school teachers, comes close on the heels of the teacher’s day celebrations held countrywide. teacher’s are potentially powerful force in our society in that they can and do shape and mould our young ones, and thus they are rightly called the architects of the future. Theirs is not a mere occupation for livelihood, but indeed a noble calling in transforming society and nation building. Most of you present here are teachers which makes us happy, and so, our special salutations go to you!

Before concluding, i gratefully acknowledge and proudly say that Goa Sudharop has been fortunate enough in being able to partner with the botanical society of Goa supported by Britto’s old boy’s association, whereby it was possible to have really an appreciable teamwork in the preparation for this workshop which involved a lot of hard work, time and commitment most importantly, Mr. Manuel Braganza was more than a moving force behind it all!

I also wish to express our gratefulness to our honored chief guest, speakers of the day, and the moderator for so spontaneously and enthusiastically agreeing to be with us and support this important workshop and public cause that it serves and last but not the least, i acknowledge the valuable support and inputs of Goa Sudharop’s volunteers; Mrs. Melinda Powel, and Miss Valerie Rodrigues.
Thank you!

Ibonio D’Souza.