Salesian brother leads Indians in anti-pollution battle with mines

Published: 2004-08-23

PANAJI, India (CNS) -- Salesian Brother Philip Neri D'Souza has survived three apparent attempts on his life by men believed working for mining firms. He also has had 30 of them surround him and threaten to set him ablaze. However, the 42-year-old brother says no threat will deter his resolve to obtain justice for tribal peoples in the western Indian state of Goa, reported UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand. Tribal people living near the state's main forest area have opposed iron and manganese mines that pollute their water sources. Brother D'Souza, who is in charge of a Salesian plantation in Goa, has led the anti-pollution struggle since 2000. Venkatesh Prabhudessai, a local Hindu farmer, acknowledged the brother "has revealed a brave new world to the oppressed tribals." The brother's farm is attached to Don Bosco Farmers Rehabilitation Society in Sulcorna, a village in the mining area, about 45 miles south of Panaji, the state capital.

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