In 1995, David Korten’s book “When Corporations Rule the World” warned that multinational corporations prioritize profit over people, exploiting communities and environments while undermining local governance. Korten’s vision of corporate dominance eroding democracy and sustainability resonates powerfully in Goa today, where the state is being transformed into a coal hub. The expansion of coal handling, railway double-tracking, and transportation serves powerful conglomerates, turning Goa into a mere corridor for their wealth while harming its people and ecology. Goans, slow to heed Korten’s message, now face the consequences but are responding with innovative resistance. This article explores how Goa’s coal crisis proves Korten’s warnings true and highlights creative ways the community is fighting back to reclaim its future.
Corporate Control: Turning Goa into a Coal Conduit
Korten argued that corporations, when unchecked, exploit resources and communities for global profit, often cloaked as economic progress. In Goa, this is evident at Mormugao Port, where major conglomerates dominate coal imports and handling. These firms manage millions of tons of coal annually, destined for steel plants in neighboring states like Karnataka and Maharashtra. Goa serves as a pass-through, reaping minimal economic benefits while bearing significant environmental and social costs. The government’s role in approving massive port expansions—doubling or tripling coal-handling capacities—shows how corporate interests often override local priorities.
The railway double-tracking project from Hospet to Vasco further illustrates this corporate grip. Initially promoted as a boost for tourism and connectivity, its true aim is to increase freight capacity for coal and other minerals. This project cuts through ecologically sensitive areas, including forests and wildlife sanctuaries, requiring the felling of thousands of trees and threatening biodiversity. It also encroaches on private lands and disrupts communities along the tracks. Despite public opposition, the project advances, driven by the needs of industrial giants who profit from coal while Goa pays the price. This mirrors Korten’s warning of corporations twisting market principles into a form of tyranny that prioritizes shareholder value over human and environmental well-being.
The ecological toll is stark. Coal dust from handling and uncovered rail wagons pollutes air and water, coating homes, contaminating wells, and washing onto beaches. This pollution damages fisheries and tourism, Goa’s economic lifeblood, as visitors shy away from blackened shores. Health impacts are equally dire, with fine coal particles linked to respiratory diseases like asthma and bronchitis, particularly affecting children and the elderly. The government’s leniency toward lax pollution controls, such as inadequate dust suppression, allows corporations to externalize costs onto Goans, embodying Korten’s critique of profit-driven negligence.
Politically, the state’s alignment with corporate agendas erodes trust. Opposition leaders accuse the government of favoring select conglomerates through tailored policies, like port dredging for larger coal shipments or fast-tracked clearances. Promises to limit coal expansion are contradicted by plans to double transport volumes, revealing a disconnect between rhetoric and action. This dynamic reflects Korten’s concept of “market tyranny,” where economic power concentrates in the hands of a few, sidelining democratic voices and local needs.
Proving Korten Right: Profit Over People
Goa’s coal crisis validates Korten’s thesis that corporations distort economic systems to serve their interests, often at the expense of communities. The state’s role as a coal corridor generates wealth for distant shareholders but leaves locals grappling with polluted air, water, and diminished livelihoods. Scientific evidence of environmental harm—rising particulate matter and water contamination—is dismissed or downplayed by corporate defenders, echoing Korten’s warning of corporations acting as a “malignant cancer” that grows unchecked. The assault on Goa’s environment and health underscores how corporate rule perpetuates inequality, as villagers face displacement and workers endure hazardous conditions while profits flow elsewhere.
The erosion of democratic processes is equally telling. Protests against coal projects are met with resistance, sometimes forceful, limiting public influence over decisions that shape their lives. This power imbalance aligns with Korten’s call to dismantle concentrated economic power to restore true market competition and community well-being. By prioritizing corporate gains over Goa’s heritage and health, the state’s trajectory proves Korten’s foresight: unchecked corporate power risks turning vibrant regions into exploited zones.
Creative Resistance: Reclaiming Goa’s Future
Goans are not standing idle. Inspired by their cultural and environmental heritage, they’ve launched creative responses to counter the coal menace, blending activism, art, and innovation. Grassroots movements have gained momentum, particularly the campaign to protect Mollem’s forests from railway and highway projects. Youth-led initiatives organize vigils, flash mobs, and street art, such as murals of endangered wildlife, to draw attention to the ecological stakes. These efforts have garnered national and international support, amplifying Goa’s fight beyond its borders.
Social media plays a pivotal role, with campaigns using hashtags to share videos, memes, and petitions that expose coal’s impact. Local artists have turned protest into performance, hosting poetry rallies and composing songs that weave Goa’s identity into calls for resistance. One striking initiative involves transforming coal dust into sculptures displayed at community exhibitions, symbolizing pollution’s chokehold while raising funds for legal challenges. These creative acts not only protest but also reframe coal as a cultural and existential threat, rallying Goans around shared values.
Community-driven solutions offer sustainable alternatives. Eco-tourism cooperatives in villages near protected areas promote guided nature walks, highlighting biodiversity as an economic asset over coal. These initiatives create jobs and reinforce Goa’s identity as a green destination. Citizen science projects empower residents to monitor pollution, using mobile apps to track coal trains and document environmental violations, providing data for legal battles. Public interest litigations, often funded through crowdfunding, challenge questionable clearances, holding corporations and government accountable.
Innovative economic resistance includes boycotts of products linked to coal conglomerates, encouraging local markets to thrive. “Green hackathons” bring tech enthusiasts together to develop tools like real-time air quality trackers, empowering communities with evidence to demand stricter regulations. These efforts align with Korten’s vision of community-centered economies, where local agency counters corporate dominance.
Learning from the Past
Goa’s coal crisis is a stark reminder of Korten’s warnings in “When Corporations Rule the World.” By allowing corporate interests to transform the state into a polluted corridor, Goans face the consequences of ignoring such insights. Yet, the tide is turning. Through creative resistance—art, technology, and community action—Goans are reclaiming their voice. To secure a coal-free future, these efforts must scale: stronger legal challenges, broader eco-tourism, and unified public pressure can shift policy toward sustainability. Goa’s struggle is a microcosm of a global fight, proving that when communities heed the call to resist corporate rule, they can forge a hopeful, resilient path forward.
