Creatures of the Earth, Space theatre ensemble, a fusion of jazz and movement

Creatures of the Earth, a SPACE production, is a 37- minute long piece combining jazz and movement performed by the Space Theatre Ensemble directed by Hartman de Souza, with music composed, arranged and played by Steve Siqueira. The performance revisits the legend of Paikeachi Zor, a sacred spring in the forests of Quepem in South Goa. The creatures of these forests, the earth, the trees, the water and the wind come alive and depict a day from sunrise to sunset, showing the harmony of life and water and then the rampant destruction of the same forests by men infected with greed and their machines. After a recent tour to adivasi parts of Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand the performance has been acted out 110 times so far, in village community spaces, marketplaces and squares, temple and church courtyards and for the general public in auditoriums. The ensemble includes Andrea Pereira (23), Stephie Madurel (19) and Terence Jorge (24). The ensemble is also willing to do more performances on request. ******** The performance essentially encompasses the closely knit relationship of water and life in harmony as opposed to greed and destruction ruining this harmony. In Goa specifically, this relates to the over excess of iron ore mining in the state. Goa being less than one percent of India’s area exports more than 60% of India’s ore to China, where the demand for low-grade iron ore is very high. In Goa even just the mud is low-grade iron ore. This has turned every Tom, Dick And Harry into ore suppliers. Old reject dumps lying in the mines had overnight turned into gold when in 2000 China encourage these imports. That China has been doing this as part of their devious plan to become a world super power comes across clearly because China produces 96% of Neodymium, an element that is key in the manufacture of upcoming ‘green technologies’, but it does not export it in significant quantities to other countries. Iron ore mining in Goa began during the Portuguese reign only by using hand tools. There are certain families that were handed down mining leases as favors for providing support to the Portuguese Government against the Government of India. It is said that even Goa’s independence was delayed only because of the support from these mining families because when India cut off supplies to Goa in order to weaken the Portuguese government, the mining companies helped them to smuggle in goods from Pakistan. Goa ideally known to be a heavenly destination for tourists has recently been declared as a water deficient state. Efforts are on to buy water in from Maharashtra which itself has water shortage problems. Goa also forms a significant part of the Western Ghats one of the top 32 biological hotspots of the world. It has 5 wild life sanctuaries, one bird sanctuary and one national park. Wildlife like tiger, leopard, bison, bears, wild boar and various species of frogs and snakes some of which are yet to be discovered are found in Goa. Goa also has a strong tribal community. These are the Gawdas, Kunbis, Velips and the Dhangars. All of these have been traditional farmers, some skilled craftsman and others cattle herders. All of these occupations have taken a severe setback with the onslaught of mining. Mining dust, which a very fine particulate matter has ruined many crops. With mining companies offering trucks to people like Diwali sweets, many able bodied young men have overnight turned truck drivers. Surveys reveal that the average life of a truck driver is 40 years considering that to drive an 18 tonnes vehicle all of these men turn to alcohol in a major way. The divide and rule policy of the British has favored well with the mining companies who leave no stone unturned to create discord and division between communities so that they can loot and plunder the land. Experts estimate that in the coming 3-4 years Goa will have severe water shortage. A land that was once known for its pearly beaches, lush fields and dense forests will now soon be a gaping red wound in the landscape. There is now a rise of a kind of corporate activism that the mining companies have resorted to divide public opposition to the mining. They say that only the illegal mining must be stopped. The Goans are asking, what is legal about taking away the soil and the water, leaving only red craters and muddy waters for our children when we can all live with the land and not by selling it. REGARDS, TERENCE JORGE SPACE THEATRE ENSEMBLE