---------------------------------------------------------- ***** CHRISTMAS PARTIES 2002 *****
Dec 21 - GOA-LA, Los Angeles, +1 (714) 821-6168 Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] for a free party announcement Archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/goa-net/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Goanet2003/ ---------------------------------------------------------- Headline: Government crackdown prevents Goans from using real 'Christmas trees' Source: Catholic News Service (Washington DC) 18 Dec. 2002 at: http://www.catholicnews.com/data/briefs/cns/20021218.htm PANAJI, India (CNS) -- Christians in the Indian state of Goa no longer use real "Christmas trees" due to a crackdown by the government's forestry service. Local residents used to cut large branches from casuarina trees along Goa's coastline, but efforts by the forestry service to protect the trees have largely stopped the practice, reported UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand. Michael de Sa, a Catholic in Goa, said the crackdown has taken away much of the Christmas fun. Casuarina trees, whose spiny leaves and drooping branches resemble traditional Christmas evergreens, blanket Goa's 64-mile coastline. Dionosio Carvalho, deputy forest conservator, said his department planted the trees in the early 1970s to control sand erosion and to beautify the area. Don�t forget � you saw it on GoaNet! ======================================================================== Ongoing: Exhibition of paintings, Art Chamber, Calangute www.goa-art.com Dec 14 onwards: Shireen Mody's Goa 2002 exhibition, Arpora. Tel 2276759 Dec 17, 18, 20: Indo-Portuguese furniture, lectures Fundacao Ph 2230728 Jan 19-22: Gauri Divan's studio pottery, Rust, Aguada Rd Ph 2479340 Dec 23-Jan 7: Dayanita Singh's photo exhibition, Art House Tel 2276123 Jan 18-19: International kite carnival at Morgim beach, Pernem ========================================================================
