Million People, Million Trees
As an extension of our work with saving the coconut trees campaign we had in 2016, we are now inspired to take this initiative forward by planting trees across Goa. The theme for this year’s World Environmental Day is ‘Air Pollution’ which is a part of our responsibility, because with thousands of trees being cut in our state in the name of development, we will have
no fresh air to breathe at all. Goa has a population of approximately one million, and if each one of us takes up to planting one tree and looking after it, we can do a huge favor to our environment and our future generations too. Goa ForGiving in association with ‘Think Panjim’ and ‘Transform Goa’ is organizing a tree plantation drive known “Million People – Million Trees “which will be over a period of one year from the 5th of June 2019 – 2020. Through this initiative we aim to plant one million trees all around Goa. Coconut Love
When we speak of Goa, the first visual that hits our imagination are the coconut groves along a lane in a small village. The coconut tree has been an integral and a very important part of Goan culture, Heritage, Music, Cuisine, Architecture, Art, Festivals, and everything that is Goan. With the Government calling the coconut tree a grass, and allowing it to be cut without any requirements of permissions, we are close to losing our identity itself. On 14th January 2016, the Government of Goa amended the draconian law in the assembly. Three days earlier, “Save the Coconut Tree Chipko Movement” was organized by activists on the Guirim- Mapusa highway on the 11th of January 2016. The Coconut Chipko Movement set Goa on fire, people are angry! In the light of this, as the draconian amendment completes one month on the 14th of February 2016, which happens to be Valentine’s Day, we at Goa ForGiving along with the History-Heritage Action Group: Goa organised a unique event, as Armando Gonsalves puts it, the “Coconut Valentine”, wherein we called upon all lovers of Mother Goa, and the lovers of the Coconut Tree, to express their love, thus, symbolically the Coconut Tree becomes St. Valentine.
