UNTIMELY RAIN TRANSFORMS NATURE

AS we all are aware human beings cannot conquer nature or rule over it. Global warming is a presumption of studies. But the “transformation of nature” refers to changes in the natural world, which can be either natural or human-induced. These changes affect ecosystems, species, and the environment as a whole.
For example, deforestation and dam building are human-induced transformations, while geological changes and succession are natural processes. The results of these transformations can be positive, negative or neutral, depending on the specific change and its context.
Overall, nature has its own compulsions in the transformation of the world and the universe, which is unpredictable. Even studies cannot reveal supernatural myth. So untimely torrential rain is an example of natural transformation. Believe it or not.
Here are some results of natural transformations:
Natural transformations bring beological changes like erosion, uplift, and volcanism alter landscapes, creating new landforms and impacting ecosystems which is unavoidable.
Plants and animals and human communities change over time, leading to variations in species composition and ecosystem structure as per natural conditions.
Natural climate fluctuations can alter ecosystems, leading to changes in species distribution and abundance.
Human-induced transformations are temporary as compared to transformation of nature. Like deforestation can reduce biodiversity, alter water cycles and contribute to climate change. But transformation of nature is vast, unavoidable and unpredictable.
—Rajesh Banaulikar, Veigaswado, Arpora

INDIA’S LOVE-HATE RELATION WITH TÜRKIYE
AS a consequence of Operation Sindoor Pakistan deployed tens of Turkish-made drones into India’s western border. In retaliation, on May 15 the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security withdrew the security clearance of the Turkish company ‘Celebi Airport Services Pvt Ltd,’ that provides ground and bridge handling services at nine Indian airports. Yes, we have a prerogative to fire companies when national security is concerned. The company approached the court claiming that they were neither given a notice or a hearing. On May 27, the Bombay High Court vacation bench stopped Mumbai International Airport Ltd from making a final decision on bids invited on May 17 to replace the company. The stay will continue till the courts reopen and the case is heard by a regular bench.
Again, on May 27 a report of the NITO Aayog mentioned Türkiye as one of the countries (besides Australia, Canada, Singapore) from which we could learn best practices to address skill gaps in India’s medium enterprises.
The above two steps by the bureaucrats leave the citizens confused, about India’s and Türkiye’s “love-hate” relation! As in national politics, so in global geopolitics there are no permanent friends or foes. No country can be completely isolated or kept too close for comfort, but all needs to be at arms-length from one another for a peaceful co-existence, trade, employments etc.
—By Sridhar Iyer, Caranzalem

REINING IN GENERATIONAL CALAMITY
The news of a fatal assault at a casino here highlights the need for Goa tourism to rope in Spectrum Gaming as a consultant — as most top-tier international gambling destinations have — before Goa suffers the fate of other crime-ridden Chinese gambling serfs like Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines and Laukkaing (Myanmar).
Last year, a toddy tapper from Benaulim took to crime, along with a college student, to fund their gambling habit. There is a British report about a regional gambling regulator ordering its casinos to shut between 2am to 6am, that’s when as studies most violent crimes occurred. A similar decision was taken in Australia, citing problem gambling peaks late at night. These are just basic stats I’ve compiled as a rank amateur, there are experts with decades of experience setting up gambling venues worldwide. They know which models succeed and which floundered, they have the tools to advise and arm Goa.
Goa needs to reclaim her status as a clean, safe and quality destination for high-end tourists, and that means competing with Thailand. Thailand’s government has resolved to adhere to the gold standard of gambling regulations, Singapore.
We owe it to our future generations to turn the tide, to reverse this curse. Since gambling — aka a generational calamity — is here to stay, it has to be regulated by the best consultant in the business. Concerned Ponjekers, the TTAG president, shack owners, stakeholders in Goa Tourism’s survival must watch a YouTube video titled “Clean, green and unseen: How Singapore sanitized gambling.”
This is particularly important as both the US State Department (Trafficking In Persons wing) and the UNODC have sounded the alarm that casino complexes in ASEAN countries are at times fronts for billion dollar transnational human trafficking rings.
—Chris Fernandes, Miramar