[Goanet] NEWS: There's cause for worry on the economic front, says BJP
THERE'S CAUSE FOR WORRY ON THE ECONOMIC FRONT, SAYS BJP By Frederick Noronha PANAJI (Goa), April 12 (IANS) There's cause for worry on the economic front, the ruling BJP has cautioned, with party president Jana Krishnamurthy pointing to the worrying situation on debt-servicing, bulging food-stocks in a country where poverty is still a problem, and problems hitting every section of the textile industry. In his tone-setting presidential address to the three-day BJP national executive meet, which got underway in this coastal holiday state on Friday, the party president pointed out that India has to borrow even to meet part of the debt servicing, let alone being able to meet developmental and current expenditure. In such a fiscal situation, he said, tightening up of (the) belt is a must. But, as citizens have face a surcharge on income tax, cut in interest rates on small savings, or a hike in petroleum prices, Krishnamurthy argued that the people expect their sacrifices not to be wasted and suggested that austerity measures by the government will go a long way in winning the goodwill of the common people. It is crucial to have the cooperation of the people for implementation of economic reforms. While they have to tighten their belt... people expect that their sacrifice would go for a noble national cause, he argued. Another issue he highlighted was the pressures on India's textile sector -- mill, powerloom and handloom -- which together provide jobs to millions, second in importance to this country only after agriculture. Today this sector is afflicted with problems. Every one of these sections of the textile industry cries for our attention. Maybe some of their problems are creations of their own, some may be due to high competition from other countries, and perhaps a few owing to the governmental policies and lack of due attention or coordination, the ruling party's chief said. He said due to this lakhs of families dependent on the textile industry are likely to be thrown into the streets and called on the central government to coordinate efforts for a healthy interaction between the textile, finance and small-scale ministries to retore to its health the entire industry. This is most essential as it is facing very stiff competition from foreign goods, said Krishnamurthy. The party chief also coiced concern over bugling food stocks turning into a big headache. India's silos of foodgrains are currently estimated to touch 60 million tonnes, and cross 75 million tonnes during the next procurement. Allocation of foodgrains to 35 kgs a month for 'below poverty line' families along might not be enough, said Krishnamurthy. He argued that such families, being daily-wage earners, needed flexibility on distribution so that they could purchase foodgrain not on a fortnightly or weekly basis, but even on a daily basis. He suggested food coupons as a way out. Krishnamurthy said India's move into second generation reforms is as it should be. But, he also called for a through assessment of the impact of first generation reforms, over whether it had achieved its purpose, accelerated growth and developed the economy, or whether correctives in approach, in direction and in implementation were needed. Economic reform measures are crucial if one is seriously committed to bring the economy out of the mess But the crucial question in this context is how much the party would be able to convince the section of society which is affected by economic reform measures -- specially the second generation (reforms), he added. Earlier in his speech, he looked at the ruling party's recent debacle in regional elections -- in Punjab where we got the worst beating, the Delhi Corporation results which capped our electoral disappointment, in Uttranchal where results proved contrary to public opinion, in UP where we had to be content with the third position while we were reasonably sure that we would retain our number one position. (Indo-Asian News Service) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] Uly, this rivalry is getting silly....
No long replies Uly. Just a few lines. I just have no time or inclination for this goaworld-versus-goacom rivalry that has fuelled this animosity. One don't have to defend oneself. I've helped a little to build GoaNews (and, to a lesser extent, GoaNet). So have others: GoaNet founder Herman, Joel, Eddie even you, at one stage. Anyone is welcome to help. If you feel you can't use legitimate means to fight the intra-website and/or mailing-list competition, tough luck! I'm not going to oblige in getting caught up in a meaningless slugfest of allegations. This is probably the last you'll hear from me on this. Regardless of what charges, flame-baits that come up from the handful of individuals (sometimes using dozens of different e-mail IDs). If you want to damage GoaCom in any way, that's your problem. If you think you can achieve this goal by attacking Joel and Fred, tough luck again. Our own intercine battle is of no relevance, or interest, to readers out there. They must be saying to themselves, 'Oh no, not that again. What a bore!' If you choose to waste readers' time, that's fine. The real battle is to provide the reader a useful service... Best, FN On Fri, 12 Apr 2002, Ulysses Menezes - GOA-WORLD wrote: Fred, You've always being the man to play your politics well. Having a clean slate in front of everyone. I know whats going on in that mind of yours. So, who are you trying to fool. When the party is over your not going to see Fred around. Maybe your domination of Goanet/Goanews may make people feel your doing something out there, but yes they can feel that way cause YOU and goacom don't give others a chance. Your capturing of Goanet/Goanews was at your advantage and I was the guy who was stupid enough to help you guys not knowing your intentions. Anyway, I can see you now sit down and write a long eassy in your defense. Keep lying ! Please dont think you can be the man to choose the path for others. Stay in your place. Regards Uly =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] LINKS: Goa... and its reflections elsewhere...
BOMBAY/MUMBAI * Goan food festival and extravaganza. Bombay Catholic Sabha-GSU and Konkani Porjecho Sad are organising a Goan Fiesta 2002 at Sarita Lawns, Good Shepherd Convent, Andheri (W) adjacent to Good Shepherd Church, on 13th April 2002 from 6 pm onwards in aid of Crisis Intervention Centre of Good Shepherd Convent. This Crisis Centre is run by the Good Shepherd nuns and it involves sheltering, counselling, reconciling, rehabilitating and remployment of battered women. The Goan Fiesta 2002 is being organised by Agnelo Menezes who has organized many such evnts in the past for various charities and trusts... This Goan Fiesta will have a lot of food stalls covering all aspects of Goan cuisine, folk dances, Goan music, mandos, plays, skits, etc, and will be well attended by celebrities from Goa in various fields and disciplines to highlight Goan culture. Contact Agnelo Menezes 261 3292 / 262 0527 (office) / 636 3815 (res). OBITUARY: Fr Carmino Menezes b. 1928 ordained priest 1964 died 31.03.2002 Fr Carmino Menezes, though originally from Goa, was brought up in Indore. His father and elder brother were in the service of the Maharaja of Jhabua. He had a colourful and adventurous priestly life. He was diocesan secretary and procurator from 1968-71. For some years he was in Europe and the US. As Secretary of the diocese he had made wide contacts... He made use of his contacts and influence for the benefit of the diocese and to help others. He retired from active ministry in 1988. After his retirement, he stayed in different places in Goa and Bombay, and finally settled down in the retired priests home in Indore... (Both above from The Examiner, April 6, 2002) See www.the-examiner.org FROM MADURAI: Golden Jubilee of the Jesuit Madurai Province -- Jesuits of Madurai Province celebrate this year the golden jubilee of their province. From 1542 to 1601 the Madura Mission was a part of the Goa Province which commprised the whole of India and beyond.In 1608, Fr Robert de Nobili, who hailed from a noble Roman family, opened a new residence in Madurai and founded the well-known Madurai Mission of the Society of Jesus. (Jivan, News and Views of Jesuits in India, April 2002) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] LINK: Tiatr news from Goa...
[] THE 'GOAN SHAKESPEARE', Rosario Rodrigues, is suffering from cancer and battling for his life in a hospital in Mumbai. To raise funds for his surgery, a number of stalwarts of the Konkani stage will present a grand musical show on April 21 (Kala Academy, Panjim) and April 22 (GVM, Margao). Tickets at Rs 50 only. Cast includes: M Boyer, Prince Jacob, Roseferns, John D'Silva, Pascoal Rodrigues, Menino de Bandar, Mario Menezes, C D'Silva, comedy supremo Humbert, comedian Benevangelisto, comedian Agostino, comedian Domnic, comedian Jesus, comedian Sally, comedian Ambe, comedian Selvy, comedian Peter, comedian Vitorino, Eeley, Annie, Antonette de Calangute, Rosy Alvares, Irene, Jessie, Fatima, Aplon, Rosban, Anthony San, Jr Nelson, Jr Rod, Trio Kings, Menino Mario, Antush, Bonny, Jaju, Osvy, Lucian Dias, Rosary Ferns, Peter de Benaulim, Aniceto-Soccoro-Andrew, Sylvester Vaz, Anil Kumar, William de Curtorim, Lawry, Mario de Vasco, etc... * Tumkam Zai Toxem (That's The Way You Want/Need It), on April 20, 3.30 at Margao. April 14 at Sancoale. Presented by Inacio D'Souza. Contact 782488/551040 * C'DSilva presents today at Varca, 7 pm 'Bandpass', a must for all husbands and wives. Apr 21 Margao (in aid of Cana Benaulim Sports Club), May 5 Mapusa, May 12 Taleigao. Contact 788836 * Pascoal Rodrigues presents 'Bara Horam' (The Twelfth Hour). Showing at Agassim, Batim (Maina), Margao, Ugem, Tivem, Molkorne, Cortalim, Cudawaddo, Sanvordem Bansai, Goa Velha, Nassai, Sucaldem, Sancoal, Caranzalem, Marcel, Navelim Gantamorod, and Calangute. Contact 863242 * Tin Fulam (Three Flours). By the king of the double century Menino de Bandar. Heart touching story, good message, miracle scenery. * Tragedy king maRIO MENEZES's season's best. Uprant Roddon Kiteak Upkarata (Tears Shed Too Late). Cash prizes awarded to baby Eunizya everywhere for superb acting. Margao Apr 16, Panjim May 5, Mapusa May 12. Ph 863939. * John D'Silva's Magnnem. Apr 28 Panjim. Apr 29 Mrg. * Prince Jacob presents 'Rostad'. See it on the Japanese fan stage. Mapusa Apr 14, Panjim Apr 14 (afternooon). Margaoand Agassiam Apr 19. * Mario de Vasco's 'Hanv Tuka Bhas Ditam. Second houseful show at Margao, April 30. * The King of Centuries Roseferns' Zo Hat Painnem Dholoita (The Hand That Rocks The Cradle). Vasco Apr 15, Margao Apr 17. * Peleacho Mog a Konkani tiatro with a message of love... based on the life of Mother Teresa. Releasing in May 2002. Contractors contact 742844 * No one can compete with th escript of Morgad Puth. After 11 shows, going to Batim, Colvale, Vengurla, Asnora, Veroda, Margao, Bodiem, Calvim, Aldona and Poinguinim. * Konkani Heritage Kuwait award-winner jet-speed William de Curtorim presents Bailanchi Dadaghiri, Ghou Ratnagiri. A tiatr that brings back the magic of yesteryears. Guaranteed to bring nostalgia. At Usgao, Diwar (Apr 14), Vasco (Elma, Apr 19). From Apr 22-30 William will be in Kuwait. He plays four different characters/roles. Also hit political songs not to be missed. * Excerpted from adverts in the local press... =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] NEWS: Seaside tilt from T-shirt to trident (for Vajpayee in Goa)
SEASIDE TILT FROM T-SHIRT TO TRIDENT FROM RADHIKA RAMASESHAN http://www.telegraphindia.com/ [The Telegraph, Kolkata] Panaji, April 13: Goa has proved to be a landmark in more ways than one for the BJP and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. In 1995, when the BJP held its first national executive here with its Hindutva tag intact, Vajpayee did something that stunned hardliners: he attended a dinner on the Kalangut beach in jeans and a T-shirt. The sartorial departure, it later emerged, was politically significant. At that time, the BJP was finding it difficult to wipe off the taint of the Babri masjid demolition. So Vajpayee wanted to convey the message that his party had its share of easy-going liberals who did not necessarily subscribe to the Hindi, Hindu, Hindustan slogan symbolised by the dhoti-kurta regimen. The 1995 executive was also important for its policy decisions. The BJP decided to strike strategic alliances wherever it could, keep its ideology flexible to woo secular allies, and consider projecting Vajpayee rather than L.K. Advani as its prime ministerial candidate. In 1999, when the BJP executive met here again, Vajpayee addressed a public rally mostly in English as a goodwill gesture to the Goans. The 2002 session will go down as an event where the Prime Minister wore only dhoti-kurta and addressed a public meeting in Sanskritised Hindi. But, most important, he spoke like a pracharak unmindful of the fact that 30 per cent of Goas population was Christian and was keenly following and reacting to the Gujarat violence as a silent protest march through Panaji today testified. BJP sources explained why Vajpayee had discarded his secular mask. The objective, they said, was as much to soften up criticism within the executive on the poll reverses as to tell the Sangh parivar that he was still one of them. The implicit message: the parivar should not ditch his party as it allegedly did in the recent elections. A discussion on the elections was to have been the main agenda of the executive. Sources said state-level leaders, as well as a section of Central bigwigs, had sharpened their knives to attack the government. But the emphasis would have been on Hindutva and how giving it up has cost the BJP its votes, said a senior member. If the Prime Minister continued to take the plea that he was bound by the National Democratic Alliance agenda, there were people ready to ask him why he went overboard on secularism from time to time with his Kumarakom musings and the tears he shed in the Ahmedabad relief camps. It was high time the Prime Minister told the party what his own stand on secularism was. The sources said the members were even prepared to suggest that if the NDA government had to be given up for the cause of Hindutva, so should it be. The drama over the resignation offer of Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi and Vajpayees anti-Muslim remarks at yesterdays public rally were meant to pre-empt such arguments. The message from his speech is that the BJP is still a party with a difference, said Shivraj Chauhan, BJP youth wing chief and MP from Madhya Pradesh. Our core ideology is cultural nationalism. It has manifested itself in different ways Ayodhya, swadeshi, and now Gujarat. If an attempt was made to equate Godhra with what followed thereafter, it would have amounted to a betrayal of cultural nationalism. BJP vice-president Gopinath Munde said Vajpayees pro-Hindutva speech was a reaction to Congress chief Sonia Gandhis shrill rhetoric on secularism in Guwahati. Goa and Guwahati have to be seen in tandem. We have to keep Sonia in focus for our own political survival and also to keep our allies together and tell them that they cannot fight the Congress separately, the former Maharashtra chief minister said. His logic: the more high-pitched Sonias tone on secularism is, the more difficult it would be for the NDAs secular allies to match it. (ENDS) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=- To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet == For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] LINK: Course in Konkani
Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr (TSKK) of Alto Porvorim will conduct a postgrad Konkani diploma course in the academic year 2002-2003 starting in June. This course consists of 15 credits. The focus of the course will be on Konkani lignuistics. It is prepared to empower teachers and researchers. Besides lectures, seminars and workshop students have to submit a research-paper related to the Konkani language, or literature, or culture. Last date to accept application forms will be May 31, 2002. Further details from TSKK [EMAIL PROTECTED] or phone 415857 or 415864. (ENDS) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] NEWS: Indians protest closure of gurdwara in Kuwait
Indians protest closure of gurdwara in Kuwait from Indo-Asian News Service New Delhi, Apr 18 (IANS) Reports of closure of a gurdwara in Kuwait led to protests in the Indian capital Thursday, with community leaders demanding the reopening of the Sikhs' place of worship. Some two dozen protesters, including Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims, were prevented by police from assembling before the Kuwait embassy where they had planned to protest the closing down of the gurdwara. Officials from the Kuwait embassy said the gurdwara was closed last year as it had not obtained a permit from local authorities that regulate setting up of places of worship. This was, however, at variance with India's official stand that the gurdwara was still functioning. The Indian eternal affairs ministry Wednesday said the Indian mission in Kuwait had ascertained that the gurdwara was functioning and that a landlord-tenant dispute over it had been resolved. Parameet Singh Pamma, a Sikh leader of the National Akali Dal party who led the protestors, handed over to Kuwait embassy officials a memorandum calling for the reopening of the gurdwara. Closing a place of worship of any religion is against humanity. Islam too does not permit this, Pamma told IANS. Babu Bhai, a Muslim wearing a skullcap, said: Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims in India live in peace. We are together and will fight for the reopening of the gurdwara. Kuwaiti officials here dismissed a report in The Hindustan Times that the gurdwara's closure was prompted by sectarian strife in India's Gujarat state, in which nearly 850 people have been killed since February 27, a majority of them Muslims. The gurdwara was closed down last year - much before the incidents in Gujarat, said Khaled Al-Razni, director of the Kuwait embassy's information office. The affair of Gujarat is an internal matter and Kuwait has a policy of not interfering in any country's internal affairs. Kuwait's Constitution guarantees the freedom to practise religion to all persons, including non-Kuwaitis, Al-Razni said. Some people just rented a house and later converted it to a gurdwara. It was allowed to function as there were no complaints. In the absence of complaints from people living in the residential neighbourhood where the gurdwara is located, the local municipal council did not take any notice of its existence. Later, following complaints of inconvenience from neighbours, the gurdwara was shut down. Kuwait is home to 320,000 Indians - the largest expatriate community in that country. Among them are more than 13,000 Sikhs. Relations between the Indians and the Kuwaitis are tremendous, said Al-Razni. Indians hold important positions in our society and they are an essential and important part of the Kuwaiti system and culture. Ties between the two sides, however, have been rocked in recent weeks by the elopement of a Kuwaiti woman with her Indian lover. Although Kuwait initially said the woman, Dhalal Al-Azmee, could remain in India after her marriage, recent reports have said that her deportation has been sought on grounds that she is mentally unstable. -Indo-Asian News Service =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] INTERVIEW: Building bridges from Portugal... via cyberspace
GOANS OVERSEAS: BUILDING BRIDGES FROM PORTUGAL... VIA CYBERSPACE One generation after Portugal and its 451-year-old former colony Goa suddenly snapped their ties, a new generation of expats based there are finding that cyberspace is building bridges that cut across language, political and geographical gaps. Constantino Hermanns Xavier, 20, is of Goan-German origins and lives in Portugal. His father's roots are in Verna, Salcete while his grand-mum still lives in Fontainhas, Panjim. His mum comes from Dusseldorf, Germany. After living in Germany and Brazil, the family has been 22 years in Lisbon, where he lives with his brother Isabel (27) and Leonardo (18). Says he: My interests, besides everything related to Goa, are history, sports (I played football in a district league for three years). I'm also active with my student friends from university at the Centre for Studies in Political Science and International Relations. During a recent sojourn in Goa, he spoke about The Portuguese Political System at the Goa University in February. Currently he studies his third year of International Relations, at the Universidade Nova de Lisboa. Future plans are always open and changing, says he. To understand how expat Goan communities have been using the Net, FREDERICK NORONHA quizzed Xavier [EMAIL PROTECTED]. Excerpts: --- How would you describe your current work as a 'online community builder' for the Goan community in Portugal? --- I'm part of a younger generation of Goans, who were already born outside Goa, here in Portugal, or in some other country. These young people of Goan origin are pretty much fully integrated in the Portuguese society, and have access to Internet and other modern resources. That's why, three years back, I started a website on Goa (that time it was called vivaGoa). I am trying to link this generation upto today's Goa, so they see this place far away in India still exists and is part of them and their ancestors. Besides this cultural and value oriented objective, I also try to pass on the message that Goa maintains a huge potential they can explore: as a holiday spot, as a business opportunity, as a historical place where they can find their roots...and so on. --- What's the size of the Goan community in Portugal? We hear widely varying figures... what does your experience suggest? --- The size of the Goan community in Portugal -- mainly centered in Lisbon and surrounding areas, but also around Coimbra -- is very hard to estimate. Who is a Goan? Do you count younger people like me in? On what criteria? I have heard many figures: numbers are around 10,000 to 50,000. The Goan community consists mainly of Catholics, but there have been always some important Hindu families who are fully integrated into the Portuguese society. There are Goans from different origins and Goans who have arrived at different historical periods: before 1961 we had for centuries a long immigration trend coming from the old Estado Portugues da India. Goans would come (to Portugal) to continue their studies, to work in the public administration, and so on. There are important goans who have achieved great reputation here: Francisco Luis Gomes, Alfredo da Costa, (the ophthalmologist) Gama Pinto and many more. After 1961, following ... the end of Portuguese colonial power in India, many Goans left for Portugal, for professional and academic purposes, for political reasons (the Portuguese authorities encouraged thousands of Goans to emigrate) and also for economical reasons, looking for a better life in Europe. Besides this, a third group of Goans arrived in Portugal after 1974, with the end of the Portuguese colonial regimes in Africa, mainly from Mozambique. These Goans had lived for many years in Africa, and still today they remain a community within the community, strongly attached to their memories from the African continent. As in all immigrant communities, there are strong differences between the elder and the younger generations. In the Goan community, these differences are even more striking. There is a common religion and language with the Portuguese, sometimes even the same educational and cultural values. This makes easier the integration into the Portuguese society, especially for the younger generations, since they have not lived in Goa and were brought up in Portugal. Their friends are Portuguese and they are hardly conscious of their Asian and Indo-Portuguese roots. Curiously, sometimes it's only their darker skin tone that makes them remember that they are not exactly 100% Portuguese. Besides that, they could be as Portuguese as our prime-minister! There are hardly any relations with other
[Goanet] NEW: Launch of CalanguteNet...
Villagers and friends of Calangute (Bardez) might be interested in joining a new mailing list for the widely known and fast-changing Goan beach village. To join, please send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] FN =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] UPDATE: Mapusa and Bardez news... (MapusaPlus)
--- [][][][][][][][][][][][] MAPUSA PLUS [][][][][][][][][][][][][] --- [] Highlights of issue dated April 16-30, 2002 * Management of plastic is imperative, writes Capt Leo Lobo, of the People's Movement for Civic Action (PMCA). If Goa's local population bought home just one plastic bag per day, we would have 14 lakh bags for disposal, daily. Bags which are made of thin plastic not profitable for recycling lie around in the environment for all of 200 to 300 years. * Cartoonist Mario Miranda on late F.N.Souza of Saligao: His early works, which were very much influenced by Goa, and his early writings as well, are excellent. He was in Bombay at the best time for Indian art. He became cynical over the years. But I personally think he's India's best artist. * It took courageous young priest Fr Andriao, Mapusa's current parish priest, to state this year: Spirit of brotherhood will be encouraged... alcoholic drinks will not be served nor allowed in the Church compound, writes Minguel Braganza. * Milagres Fest as Mapusa stays a symbol of Hindu-Catholic amity. Hindu worshippers were seen making offerings of oil and paying their obeisance to Our Lady of Milagres in the Mapusa church, at a time when thousands perish nationwide in flames of religious hatred. * Mapusa's programme included days of togetherness (April15-17), live band Man Machine, folk dances, Konkani musical show, also bands Cream, True Colours, magic shows, etc. * Teresa Trinidade at Sonarbhat Saligao has launched 'Cause Of Our Joy' (COJ), a day-care centre for young girls and women in distress. What is amazing is Ms Trinidade is herself recovering from the trauma of losing her husband and only child Patricia in quick succession. * Ambrose Vaz urges the people of Saligao, Sangolda and Guirim to unitedly oppose the large-scale selling of water before it is too late. Drying of wells in Saligao has been a recent phenomenon in Saligao, he notes. Don't you think that priority of supply of water from the wells in the fields should be to the surrounding fields, rather than to the hotels and construction sites? * Says Sunil Naik of Mapusa: The bridge near the Mapusa Church at the Tar has been recently repaired and painted. The PWD (Roads) needs to be congratulated. * All over Goa, specially in towns, garbage is being freely dumped in open spaces, into adjoining/vacant plots, along the roadside, where it rots, the breeze wafting plastic bags and the stink into the neighbourhood, writes John Eric Gomes. * Sardessai Automobiles at Gaunsavaddo takes up repairs of old and accident-striken vehicles. Shri Laxmi Sweets is one of the oldest sweetmarts near the Mapusa taxi stand, and retails its own brand of assorted Indian sweets. Ann Inst of Hotel Management at Porvorim has announced a contest on vegetable and fruit carving for women and men. * Furtado's is India's leading music house. Offers acoustic pianos, digital pianos, guitars, keyboards, drums, cymbals, violins, wind instruments, tablas, sitars, harmoniums, guitar and violin strings, music software, and much, much more. Panjim Navelcar Arcade; Margao Grace Estate. * Golden Rooster at Sapana Gardens, Alto Porvorim offers young diners a place for a good meal and also where they can let their hair down on a specially designed dance floor. * At Aguada, the mariners of yore loaded as much water as the ship could carry. There was no fear of the ship running aground as it had already cleared the treacherous sand bar. It could sail on to Africa. * YCMOU open university of Nashik to hold its horticultural diploma course exams at Purushottam Walawalkar HSS in Mapusa. Details phone 250043. * Thunder night at Pilerne, April 27 at football grounds. Goa's Men Machine, Revivals and DJ Omar (Dubai craze) to perform. * Moira students of St Xavier's are keeping busy during the summer holidays with a crafts camp. River pebbels, kite paper, old glossy magazines and a little glue ... is being made into paperweights. This adds value to waste. * St Joseph Calangute won the Goa state rural hockey under16 for boys. They beat St Anthony's Majorda 4-0. * Acupuncture at Mapusa: Spondylitis and backache therapy. [EMAIL PROTECTED] or www.asminajyoti.com * Get a free copy of Mapusa Plus, at almost any village of Bardez. Or contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] Free matrimonial ads of upto 25 words. Circulated through: -- Frederick Noronha * Freelance Journalist * Goa * India 832.409490 / 409783 GOAPIX in.photos.yahoo.com/fredericknoronha
[Goanet] CYBERMATRIMONIALS: Goans in the Gulf, UK, Canada... (Apr 26)
C Y B E R - M A T R I M O N I A L S ** LOOKING OUT FOR a life partner? Circulate your message among thousands of Goans for free. For a listing in this column send details to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the 1 MATRIMONIAL. Respondents are requested to verify details for themselves. We carry, in good faith, details as sent in by our readers. Make sure to include an email address to enable you to get faster responses. 41, RUNNING OWN BUSINESS: Roman Catholic, divorced 41, own business, agile, loving and caring looking for RC Goan lady around 35 yrs, graduate and well mannerred and unattached. [EMAIL PROTECTED] BACHELOR SETTLED IN UAE: Goan bachelor settled in U.A.E. seeks homely, sincere good looking,girl age 28 to 30. Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] LADY FROM LONDON: Goan Catholic spinster settled in London for the last 11 years. Seeks friendship maybe leading to a relantionship. Likes to travel dance n cook. [EMAIL PROTECTED] GOAN, BASED IN KUWAIT: R.C. spinster, 35, height 5'2, fair, working in Kuwait, invites proposals from educated R.C.Goans with good family back ground, affectionate and having sober habits. Am looking to settle down in Goa -India in the next year and half. Am a responsible, sincere, loving and easy going person. If you are interesed please send me an email to - [EMAIL PROTECTED] GOAN, 28, IN THE UAE: Proposal invited for Goan spinster, 28 years, working and well settled in UAE, height 5'6, from well-educated bachelor 29-32. Contact at [EMAIL PROTECTED] LOOKING FOR A HONEST MAN: Goan female. Looking for a male aged 48-50, qualified, good family background, divorced or annulled marriage, I am 5'2 tall, wheat complexioned, a B.A. Mgmnt.grad, senior officer in profession, married, divorced, annulled no kids. Looking for an honest man with a good sense of humour. If interested please write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] SEEKING SUITABLE GROOM: Alliance invited from parents for Roman Catholic Goan woman from India 42 yrs, 5'3, graduate, fair, goodlooking, sincere, homely and God fearing working as an Executive Secretary from well educated and well placed bachelors with sober habits and good family background upto 47 yrs from India / Gulf or abroad. Please respond with complete details to [EMAIL PROTECTED] 32, M. IN CANADA: Thirty-two-year old Christian male, based in Canada, working in a technical field, seeks suitable bride upto 30 years old with family-oriented values. Please email [EMAIL PROTECTED] BACHELOR, 34, IN THE GULF: I am 34 years bachelor, graduate in commerce and I seek alliance with a pretty girl with sober habits, independent and well educated girls. I have been employed in the Gulf for the past nine years. Email [EMAIL PROTECTED] MANGALOREAN IN THE GULF: R.C. M'lorean spinster, 37, medium height,wheatish complexion, working in Dubai, smart and goodlooking, coming from a respected and godfearing family, invites proposals from educated R.C. M'lorean/Goans anywhere on the globe with good family back ground, god fearing, affectionate and having sober habits-preferably with similar interests. I love music, singing, dance, films, computers and also cooking. I am a responsible, sincere, loving and easy going person.There is much more to find out. If you are interesed send me an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] GOAN RC BACHELOR: Seeks nice beautiful Goan RC girl. I'm 27 yrs old, 5'8, fair, well-educated, and from a good family. I'm settled in the US and working as an Software Engineer. I'm religious, honest, caring, and trustworthy. I'm looking for a beautiful girl who is 25 yrs old or younger, slim, fair,educated, religious, caring, trustworthy, outgoing, and from a good family. If interested please reply (with a picture, if possible) to [EMAIL PROTECTED] LONDON BASED GOAN, AGED 19 (MALE): I am just looking for someone around my age as a friend (female) for when I go on holidays to Goa and possibly for future marriage. I live with my Dad and Mum, and younger brother. We have our own flat in Goa as well. Most of my relatives are in Goa. I enjoy cycling, table tennis, yoga and watching American movies. Please feel free to contact me by e-mail at [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Make your ad more interesting by including details about hobbies, interests, things you feel passionate about, activities you like to participate in, political views, favourite music and books, typical weekend activities, things you think about... Keep ads to a max of 100 words. Please note, we *don't* carry caste affiliations in these columns. Do you know anyone on the lookout for a suitable match? Feel free to copy this dispatch to them. Invite them
[Goanet] NEWS: Desacho fuddar koslea hatant? (Ixtt)
--- [][][][][][][][][][][][] IXTT [][][][][][][][][][][][][] --- [] Highlights of issue dated April 20, 2002 * Desacho fuddar koslea fuddareanchea hatant? India's future, in who's (which leaders') hands? Bharotachea Prodhan Montream aplem khorem BJP rup dakhovn Musolmanacher tiddog kaddli. Vajpayee showed his true colours by venting spleen on Muslims at Campal on April 12. * Xikxonn 'saffronise' korpache ievzonnecher Sorkaracher tapott. (Supreme Court blocks move to 'saffronise' education) * VHP Sri Lankent (VHP expands in Sri Lanka) * LETTERS: Mhadei nod addailear Mandovi nod sonkottant (Daming the Mhadei river will imperil the Mandovi) * Monxam nant ponn vollerir nanvam (People absent, but names listed on the electoral rolls. Mormugao taluka has some 12,595 names of persons not present. This indicates the level of bogus voting, says D Fernandes). * Pois ravun topsanni (Examining from a distance... Fr Nicolau Pereira, former St Xavier's College principal on remote sensing and related science issues). * BHAROTI SAMACHAR (Indian News) Kankrache piddechea ilazak dhanvddi (Race to build awareness about cancer, held in Delhi) Munglorant Igorjecher holl'lo (Attack on a Protestant church in Mangalore) Dalitacher holl'lo (Congress Dalit worker attached badly in Sardarpur, Ahmedabad) Bispamcho Pongodd Agra (Bishops hold peace meet in Agra) * Internet asa, potr pustokanchi goroz kosli? (With the Internet, is there any need left for newspapers and books, asks Pio Esteves) * EDITORIAL: Dor kornnek, samsorko ani porto zabab asa. Newton's principle: Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Edit looks at how the Gujarat CM Narendra Modi interpreted this principle to justify the violence that killed hundreds, mostly Muslims, in his state. * Goemchim Kazaram. Fr Tomas Lobo on weddings in Goa. * Hanv sontr soltana (Musings On Peeling An Orange) * SONSARAR NODOR: Eye on The Outside World Igroz Matek Anink 6 Bhoktivont (Church takes on six more Blesseds) East Timor vechnukeo (Polls in East Timor) * GOENCHI KHOBOR/Goan News: Akhil Konknni Porixod Munglur / Konkani Conference in Mangalore Janashatabdi Express, novi rail ghaddi. New Bombay-Goa train. Goem Salvar korunk GPYCcho Padyatra. Footmarch by Congress to save Goa. Tiatristancho bhovman: Artistes of the tiatr stage honoured. Jose Vazacho 351vo zolmadis. Pe Jose Vaz's 351st anniversary. * RECIPES/RANDPACHEM REXET: Ambeanchi chetni (Mango chutney) Gorjecheo vostu: 5 tornne ambe par zalole (five raw mangoes); half-kg godd (jaggery). ing (asofateda), 2 kileram sasvam (2 spoons mustard), 5 tornneo mirsango (5 raw chillies) KOROP (METHOD): Tel taponv ing, sansvam ani fenngrek baz. Ambe sol'l ani barik kator ani mov zaisor sizoi. Kailint godd ani udok ghal. Datt zaisor dovlit rav. Pitto kelolo sambar ghal. Soglem borem misoll kor, tambso rong iesor dovor. Uprant aidonant bhorun frizint dovor. Bakrek, unddeak lanv kha. -- By V Monteiro Fry asofateda, mustard and fennugreek. Skin mangoes and cut fine. Boil till soft. Mix the jaggery and water. Stir till thick. Mix all well till turns red. Keep in the fridge, and eat with bread or chappati. * Masses for Fr Angelo. Brestarak (Thursdays) mornings 6.30, 7.30, 8.30, 9.30 and 10.30. Evening 4 and 5 pm. Prayers for the sick after each mass. * KELL ANI KHELLGODDI (Sports and Players): Girgirem gunvlem ani kop Kolkota pavlem! (The tides turned and the cup reached Kolkata). Churchill timicho Yakubu Yusif 6vea NF Ligan sogleam poros chodd gol marpi mhonn man zoddun gelo. Tannem 17 gol marleat. (Churchill player Yakubu Yasif scored the highest goals in the National Football League, 17 in all.) * ADVERT: Simonia Stores, Mapusa Municipal Market. Specialist of all types of Goan sweets, wedding and birthday cakes. * Editor Peter Raposa sfx Phone 219091. [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.goacom.com/ixtt/index.html Circulated through: -- Frederick Noronha * Freelance Journalist * Goa * India 832.409490 / 409783 GOAPIX in.photos.yahoo.com/fredericknoronha * GOANEWS www.goacom.com/news/ Please visit http://www.livejournal.com/users/goalinks Writing with a difference... on what makes *the* difference =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead
[Goanet] NEWS: Hindu leaders silently supporting rightwing British party
Hindu leaders silently supporting rightwing British party By Sanjay Suri, Indo-Asian News Service London, Apr 28 (IANS) Several Hindu leaders have begun silently supporting the far-right British National Party in local elections in towns hit by race riots last year. Rioting in Bradford, Oldham and Burnley towns, the worst that Britain has seen in 20 years, had led to continuing clashes between white youths and Pakistanis and Bangladeshis on the other, but did not involve any youths of Indian origin. The BNP has since then made a policy shift from opposing all immigrants to opposing Muslim immigrants. The BNP has set up an Ethnic Liaison Committee to launch a joint effort with Sikhs and Hindus. Sikh and Hindu leaders in the area are believed to have given their support to a Campaign Against Islam launched by the BNP. The BNP has been distributing CDs and audio tapes of its policies which include a warning to the British people by someone who describes himself as Sikh and who talks of his father hacked to death by mobs during the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947. Several leaders have warned that the BNP is using Hindu and Sikh leaders for tactical purposes and has not given up its anti-immigrant policies. Continuing talks between BNP leader Nick Griffin and Hindu and Sikh leaders since then is now finding expression in the local elections due May 2, according to both BNP leaders and Hindu leaders. We have had the support of Hindus and Sikhs before and now we have that support again, a leader at the BNP campaign office told IANS. The support earlier came in a by-election in Burnley in November 2001 when the BNP took 19 percent of the vote in Trinity Ward and 23 percent of the vote in Lower House ward. Hindu leaders have stopped short of boasting of the alliance with the BNP publicly. But Hasmukh Shah, one of the most influential Hindu leaders in north England, was reported to have met Griffin about that time. Several other leaders within the Indian community warned against any deal with rightwing racists. The BNP's Burnley organiser, local accountant Steve Smith, said after the by-election results: Our rapidly rising vote shows that it's only a matter of time before we win in Burnley. Just over a couple of years ago we only had two members in the town; now we're getting more than one in five votes. --Indo-Asian News Service =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] AVF's posting on expats...
AVF's post on an 'expat Goans voice' raises some interesting issues, contains some views one can't agree with, and makes charges which one would rather not get caught up in. Some points for brainstorming: * The view that large sections of the Press in Goa doesn't care much about Goa is not a myth. But that has more to do with the urge to make quick profits. If a new newspaper is set up, what guarantee is there that it won't go down the same road? * An advert blitz just might not really convince anyone. * What are the low-cost options to build up a media-diversity in the years to come? Do none really exist? Does one have to necessarily follow the route of starting major new newspapers? * The Internet might be an elitist medium at this point of time; but what is likely to be the situation two years down the line? Already many in Goa have access this medium? Is there any way of granting more access to the Internet to more people in the state? Free modems for schools (not a heavy investment)? Encouraging more youngsters to gain from the Net? Opening up school labs for community use in non-school hours? * Seeking to build up a newspaper that represents a community or caste group (this was the case in the past for much of the 20th century; not sure about the present) would be a disaster. What is needed is media institutions who would be simply willing to tell the truth, without censorship. But is that asking for too much? * Just pouring in money into Goa could well be counter-productive, and attract the wrong sort of interest. Instead, to make sure money is well spent, would it be possible to, say, offer scholarships to young students to study journalism/media studies outside Goa? (There are virtually no such courses in Goa.) * What happens when the interest of the expat is seen as running counter to that of the Goa-based Goan? Is there some way of harmonising these? The need for a free and vibrant press is a must for any society. In the 'sixties, 'seventies and early 'eighties, there was virtually no media diversity, particularly in the English-language press. The arrival of Herald (1983) and Gomantak Times (1987) did something to change that situation. But, papers too mature, and once circulation grows, there's a tendency to become pro-establishment, leading to the newer papers suffering from similar ailments as the earlier ones. As one firmly believes, a society that cannot think for itself, and generate its own ideas... is as good as an enslaved society. But finding a solution is a far, far more complex issue that AVF suggests. FN On Tue, 30 Apr 2002, goanet-digest wrote: -- Date: Tue, 30 Apr 2002 06:46:13 + From: A. Veronica Fernandes [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Goanet] EXPATRIATE GOANS VOICE. EXPATRIATE GOANS VOICE. The expatriate Goans and especially Gulf Goans have shown lot of interest in the affairs of Goa and its well being. Regretably our efforts are directed only to help financially Goan affairs without any collateral rights and =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=- To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet == For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] NEWS: Audience weeps while watching film on Gujarat violence
Audience weeps while watching film on Gujarat violence By Ehthashamuddin Khan, Indo-Asian News Service New Delhi, Apr 30 (IANS) A nearly 100-strong audience here watching a documentary on the brutal Gujarat violence broke down and wept at the scenes of butchery and bloodshed. Besides about 70 invitees, 30 victims of the violence watched burnt and rotten corpses and heard survivors' heart-rending tales in journalist Pankaj Shankar's documentary, In the name of Faith. In stunned silence they heard victims describe how neighbours they had never wrong betrayed them to Hindu fanatics and how the police remained passive in the face of what they called a well-organised carnage. A moved Mahesh Bhatt, the noted filmmaker, said: All of us are responsible for the carnage because of our indifference and apathy. But Bhatt urged the victims not to confuse the Gujarat government with the people of India, saying: We do not share the feelings which made you victims. Dilawar, 11, and his eight-year-old sister Salma from Mehsana town of Gujarat described how a mob killed their parents in front of them. A weeping Dilwar said: They surrounded us and started throwing stones. Then they entered our house, locked the door and electrocuted my father and mother. He couldn't go on any more and there was a soul-searching silence punctuated only by his sobbing. Documentary producer Shankar was the first to break it. Let us ask ourselves how long we will remain silent. It was the first time a film was screened on the victims of Gujarat's sectarian violence that has claimed about 920 lives since February 27. Houses and business establishments belonging mostly to Muslims were burnt and looted while Chief Minister Narendra Modi's government and police in the western state have been accused of siding with the killers and arsonists. A girl screamed on the screen: Is the government only yours (for Hindus)? Are they not for us Muslims too? Don't we too live here? Are we not Indians? Shankar said: When she said this to me, I was confused. With which Hindus should I associate myself? Those who burnt Muslims or those who saved them? Those who didn't take part in the violence are larger in number but they are silent and don't have the courage to protest. The 30 survivors who came to New Delhi to tell the media about the situation blamed the Gujarat police for supporting the killers and rapists. Zahira, 28, from Vadodra town, said: They stripped me in front of my brothers and then burnt my brothers alive. I have named the people who did it but police didn't listen to me. I can't go back to my village. Nearly 15 people raped a neighbour, said Noorjahan from Ahmedabad. The police directed the mobs to attack and kill us. The documentary showed a man holding up a policeman's identity card to show that police participated in the arson and looting. An emotional Valson Thampu, a Christian priest, apologised to the victims that he didn't do anything to help them. He said: For the first time in my life I am ashamed of being a religious man because the carnage was done in the name of religion. We don't want religion any more. --Indo-Asian News Service =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] Goa to US calls at Rs 3 per minute?
This is what is being promised. After VoIP (Voice-over-IP) belatedly got legalised in India from April 1, 2002, the benefits of low-cost long-distance telephony might be just about reaching Goa. Railton Electronics of Porvorim's Landscape City, run by Sanjay Bhaiya, is promising Caltiger's solution to the user in Goa. Railton [EMAIL PROTECTED] says Caltiger's Internet Telephony Cards work through Net2Phone the world's largest player. PC-to-phone calls from Goa to the US (by their estimates, unverified by me) cost Rs 3 per minute. This rate is also being offered to other countries as an introductory offer. Lesser-useful PC-to-PC calls anywhere in India are priced at Rs 1.20 per minute. They're also talking about exciting IP (internet protocol) telephony devices for the first time in India. But one has to buy prepaid cards for Rs 500, which are valid for three months from the date of first call made. This means that such offers are useful mainly for cyber centres, PCOs, and other bulk users like hotels, travel-agents, etc. This is not intended to be an endorsement of the efficacy of the product, and I have no commercial interest in the same. Nonetheless, there is an exciting potential in such ideas in an expat-oriented state which has suddenly touched the second-highest density nationwide (meaning, after Delhi, Goa ranks second in terms of numbers of telephones per hundred population). For someone who believes in the power of information and communication technologies, ICTs, if properly applied, this is surely interesting. FN *** =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] Links to http://www.freenewsgoa.net
Some news currently up at www.freenewsgoa.net -- it costs to tell the truth -- Forwarded message -- NCP says 'no' Quislings Friday, May 03, 2002 - 01:46 PM GMT+5:30 Can the Congress in Goa afford to renominate defectors and hope to win the election, or will it suffer a public backlash? The party, which is in a one-to-one battle in this state with the BJP, saw three of its governments sink since 1998, with wholesale defections, writes Deccan Herald's Devika Sequeira * DEMOCRACY IN DANGER in GOA Friday, May 03, 2002 - 01:38 PM GMT+5:30 This is the Goa Church's Diocesan Service Centre for Social Action's statement for the forthcoming elections. Corruption, communalism... and the debate-provoing suggestion to identify and promote a third candidate, if the choice is between a communal and a corrupt one. Do you agree? * Church puts BJP on the defensive in Goa Thursday, May 02, 2002 - 06:31 PM GMT+5:30 Devika Sequeira of Deccan Herald says the BJP has found itself at a disadvantage in the Assembly election here, due to its handling of the communal violence in Gujarat * Goa CM blames Gujarat violence on bad governance Tuesday, April 30, 2002 Sandesh Prabhudesai in Panaji (Courtesy: Rediff.com) reports: Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who belongs to the Bharatiya Janata Party, has said that bad governance is the cause of the communal violence in Gujarat. Good governance by my government in Goa could be adopted as a model by all states in the country that are hit by group violence, the IIT engineer-turned-politician said. * Targetting its guns on corruption: Goa Suraj Saturday, April 27, 2002 - 03:27 PM GMT+5:30 Goa Su-raj party came into being as an answer to the current state of affairs in Goa including politics of aya-Ram gaya-Ram (frequent floor crossings). The party is striving hard to promote good persons to clean the Goan polity. It is perhaps the only political party which does not authorise its executive committee members to contest elections. Goa Su-Raj says it has a vision for good governance and also has an answer to prevent elected members from defecting, says party president FLORIANO LOBO in an interview with Ashley do Rosario. * How to get the most of this site... Thursday, April 25, 2002 - 10:14 PM GMT+5:30 Freenewsgoa.net is still in the beta testing stages. Some tips to get the most of this site, including details of how to post your comments to stories already posted... and how to vote in a poll. * 'India was secular even before Muslims and Christians came here...' Wednesday, April 24, 2002 - 11:40 PM GMT+5:30 Reprinted here is the English text of the speech, delivered in Hindi, by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at a public meeting in Goa on April 12. This speech raked up a major row nationwide, with clarifications coming in from the PMO (Prime Minister's Office). * BJP banking on stability plank to ride back to power in the State Wednesday, April 24, 2002 - 08:06 PM GMT+5:30 The Bharatiya Janata Party claims to swear by a dharma that is entirely against defections. How, then, does it explain its own ascent to power during the 31-month tenure of the just dissolved assembly a la defections? In an interview with ASHLEY do ROSARIO, its general secretary and spokesman, Govind Parvatkar, claims that the party was forced to rely on defections, if only to teach a lesson to the Congress, which was desperately attempting to lure BJP MLAs. He also speaks about the party's chances in the polls, the impact of Vajpayee's speech in Goa, and whether politicians in Goa deserting the BJP will mar its chances. * PARRIKAR: ENGINEERING ANOTHER GOA... Tuesday, April 23, 2002 - 03:51 PM GMT+5:30 WILL HE make it? Metallurgical engineer Manohar Parrikar, who ascended the chief ministership of Goa after engineering defections from the other parties and alloying a quaint but shaky and ideologically-disparate coalition, has made a big gamble. Going in for mid-term elections. PAMELA D'MELLO hears from the Goa CM, just before he faces a crucial poll... on a range of issues. On how he takes on his opponents, what the BJP chances in the election are, the communal situation in the state, taxes on citizens... and whether he changed the rules of the game by jailing political opponents. *
[Goanet] Cooling down in the summer
One new trend in Goa of late is to have (despite the water shortages) summer swimming classes. These are organised both for children and adults, largely in the many hotels that have cropped up and need to keep their facilities non-vacant in Goa's considerably long off-season, for economic reasons. Angels, along Porvorim's CHOGM Road, just finished one batch today. The next batch starts on May 7. Classes are held each morning, roughly between 7 to 10 am, depending on the response, and in the evenings, between 4 to 6.30 pm. Charges for the one-hour-daily training for 15 days is Rs 600 for children and Rs 900 for teenagers and adults. Mr Mahale has been a patient and good-humoured instructor with us over the past fortnight. Details: Tel 412 403 or 414 784 or [EMAIL PROTECTED] Website: www.angelsgoa.com Other hotels in the Porvorim area and elsewhere also hold such courses. The Government-run Campal swimming pool works out cheaper for long-term memberships specially. But there are some typically bureaucratic requirements before one dips in (photographs, doctor's certificate...) --FN PS: I don't have any commercial interest in the above, and didn't get a discount on the fees chargeable. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] MONEYMATTERS: Currency value of the Indian rupee....
Currency rates supplied by InfoLedge.com Your base currency is : INR AED 13.330702 AUD 26.416617 BHD 129.880637 BRL 20.342750 CHF 30.787852 DEM 22.924762 DKK 6.031955 ESP 0.269477 EUR 44.837250 FRF 6.835441 GBP 71.900206 IQD 158.104617 IRR 0.006179 ITL 0.023157 JOD 69.062059 JPY 0.384915 KES 0.625351 KWD 160.435780 MOP 6.096847 NLG 20.346131 NOK 5.917078 NZD 21.941217 PKR 0.817446 PTE 0.223647 QAR 13.450076 RUB 1.567131 SAR 13.056637 SEK 4.827896 SGD 27.157515 TZS 0.050479 USD 48.965000 End of Currency rates AED - UAE Dirham AUD - Australian Dollar BHD - Bahraini Dinar BRL - Brazilian Real CHF - Swiss Franc DEM - German mark DKK - Danish Krone ESP - Spanish Peseta EUR - Euro FRF - French Franc GBP - Pound Sterling GEL - Lari IQD - Iraqi Dinar IRR - Iranian Rial ITL - Italian Lira JOD - Jordanian Dinar JPY - Yen KES - Kenyan Shilling KWD - Kuwaiti Dinar MOP - Pataca NLG - Dutch Guilder NOK - Norwegian Krone NZD - New Zealand Dollar OMR - Rial Omani PKR - Pakistan Rupee PTE - Portuguese Escudo QAR - Qatari Rial RUB - Russian Ruble SAR - Saudi Riyal SEK - Swedish Krona SGD - Singapore Dollar TZS - Tanzanian Shilling USD - United States Dollar =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] Query about kidney-deaths in Goa
Would any specialist have a clue of what the problem is here? This report is from the south of the region of Goa. The issue has been causing a lot of concern here, but there are few answers as to what's the problem. FN KIDNEY CASES ON THE RISE IN CANACONA (SOUTH GOA) 20 deaths occurred due to 'renal failure' HERALD NEWS DESK [Herald, May 6, 2002] PANJIM, MAY 5: Kidney failure cases are on the rise in Canacona -- the southernmost taluka of Goa. According to a press release, till date, as many as 20 cases of mortality due to 'renal failure' have occurred in the taluka. As per the information available, about 41 cases of renal failure were reported during 1996, while 2000 witnessed 26 cases. In 2001, the figure shot up to 38 cases. Earlier, the Pagi and Velip (aboriginal) communities suffered renal failure problems, but of late the problem has been common in almost all the communities. The kidney stone problem is due to trace elements like sodium and calcium oxallate and cadmium which are deposited in the kidneys. The 'renal failure' (kidney failure) may also be due to arsenic, lead and cadmium. Arsenic (ash) causes severe toxic reaction in the lungs, heart, kidney and liver. Arsenic can be recognised by its garlic odour. Traces of arsenic are present in water and food but marine products contain the highest amount as they may contain very high levels of organic forms of arsenic often as 'organobetatine' water soluble as analogue of betaine. The daily intake of arsenic depends to a large extent on the amount of fish or other marine animals consumed. Average daily intake ranges from 25 to 33 LTG, per person, in most parts of the world. Lead poisoning is one of the commonest industrial poisoning. Lead enters into the body through ingestion or inhalation. Lead, which is highly toxic, damages the kidney and also affects the brain, causing mental disturbance, anxiety, delirium and death. Leafy vegetables like lettuce, spinach, potatoes and beans are likely to absorb more lead, whereas tomatoes, corn, beets, squash, egg plant and peppers do not absorb appreciable amounts of lead. Exposure to cadmium fumes leads to kidney failure and kidney stone as well as bone-marrow causing anemia Soya beans, tomatoes and alfaalfa corn accumulate highest levels of cadmium. Aerial part of the carrot, lettuce, and potato accumulate more amount of cadmium. Majority of renal failure patients come from the villages of Polem, Maxem, Nuvem, Chaudi, Kindlebagh, Galjibagh, Talpona, Agonda, Shellar, Aven, Paiguinim, Loliem, etc. The sea water intrusion studies were carried out by means of the well-inventory method. These observations and sea-water intrusion problem along the coastal village wells clearly shows that some well waters are always saline, which is intermixed. The water in some wells turns saline during the months ofApril-May every year, specially during high tide time. So kidney failure, kidney stone problems in Canacona requires a proper evaluation, control and management of sea water intrusions into acquifer zones assumes great importance. Trace elemental geochemistry of well waters along the coastal belt, particularly elements like calcium, sodium, magnesium, cadmium,arsenic, lead and uranium etc provide conclusive evidence for the renal failure and kidney stone problems of Canacona. In the absence of trace elemental geochemistry of the well-water samples identifying these mysterious geo-bio-medical problems of renal failure and kidney stone cases is very difficult. The study requires a coordinated approach between medical professionals, environmental geologists, environmental engineers and public health engineers, adds the press release. (###) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] For Jazz enthusiasts...
Check out this group 'Just Jazz' which plays at the Goa Marriott Resort's 'Ozone' on Wednesday night. Live webcast and MP3-download is at http://www.justjazz.8m.com Also check out Goa's Latino band in a live webcast at http://www.obligato.8m.com The blues band is at http://www.bluespower.8m.com I think Colin, a Mumbai-based Goan featuring in the 'Limca Book of Indian Records' is behind these ventures... FN =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] NEWS: Queen Mother's will with details on Kohinoor kept secret
Queen Mother's will with details on Kohinoor kept secret By Sanjay Suri, Indo-Asian News Service London, May 12 (IANS) A will left by the Queen Mother, giving precise instructions on what should be done with the Kohinoor diamond, is being kept secret by the royal family. Buckingham Palace announced last week that the Queen would not publish the details of her mother's will. The decision has already led to a row in the House of Commons with several MPs demanding that it be made public. A portion of the Queen Mother's will has already been carried out. The decision to parade her crown over the coffin through the funeral processions was stated explicitly by the Queen Mother in her will. According to the will, say media reports here, the crown with the Kohinoor in it would stay in public view right until the last private ceremony in Windsor Castle. But the will is believed to have more to say on what she would have like the future of the Kohinoor to be. The palace is declining to publish the will partly because of sensitivities over the Kohinoor. The decision to parade the Kohinoor, which the British took away after the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, ruler of the princely state of Punjab in India, has been sharply criticised by Kuldip Nayar, Indian MP and former high commissioner in London. The Foreign Office is believed to have recommended the palace play down any issues over the Kohinoor. Earlier, her will had become controversial over what the Queen Mother has left, and over inheritance tax. Labour MP Alan Williams has demanded utter transparency over the will. The will is believed to contain details of the royal family wealth, one of the best-kept secrets in Britain Williams said the Queen should not be allowed to cover up on money. The Queen is exempt from paying any inheritance tax. Williams said the move is obscenely generous. It seems a strange argument to say, 'Because we have so much, we should be exempt.' The Queen Mother is believed to have left a personal estate of 50 million pounds. She received 643,000 pounds a year from the government but she is believed to have spent about two million pounds a year. She employed a personal staff of more than 50. The Queen Mother raised the rest of the family from her investments and from other members of the royal family. Estimates of royal wealth vary widely, from a few hundred million pounds to several billions of pounds. --Indo-Asian News Service =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] FEATURE: Goan lady tops a difficult ailment, to emerge a comedienne
GOA LADY TOPS AILMENT, TO EMERGE A STAND-UP COMEDIENNE By Frederick Noronha If you're suffering from a difficult ailment, even while in the prime of life, what do you do? Become a comedian! That was the choice of Chrystal F. Gomes, a Goan settled in Scarborough, Ontario, in Canada. This is a story of bravery and courage, of this lady of Goan origin, whose family was earlier in Tanzania. She got to grips with multiple sclerosis (MS), and battled shyness to do something she really enjoys -- making others happy with her punch-lines. Not only is she enjoying life and staying away from a kind of fear that paralysis even the boldest, but she is also inspiring others. Including those more fortunate than her. Canadian newspaper 'Toronto Star' termed this a stand-up response to MS (multiple sclerosis). A clear case that laughter is the best medicine. Newspapers in Canada also quoted Chrystal Gomes as saying that her unlikely work as a comic makes her feel accepted. Today Chrystal is the most famous comedian of South Asian origin in the country of her adoption. Sample her humour: Did she face any racial prejudice on shifting from Tanzania to Toronto? Some. And we were pretty sensitive about it. I remember my parents pulled me out of Girl Guides because they didn't like me being called a BROWNIE! Is it true that she's still living with her parents at the family home in Scarborough? Yes. I recently spoke to Mom and Dad about finally moving out. But THEY WOULDN'T LEAVE! But Chrystal's real-life story isn't that funny. MS is an insidious illness of unknown origin that strikes one in 500 Canadians. It is a wasting disease that causes short circuits in the electrical impulses carried by the nervous system, and a relentless foe that attacks slowly and intermittently with increasing severity. There is no known cure. Several years ago, just when life seemed to be getting on fine, it started with a terrible headache that came on suddenly one night. After being a good-student at the Notre Dame High School, she took on a routine clerical job, and then decided to travel abroad. She loved travel, and so decided to make it her work. Chrystal enrolled in the hotel and convention management studies at Centennial College in 1994. To cut the long story short, the next morning, her headache left the whole left side of her face numb. Many tests and two weeks later, it was diagnosed as MS. In days' time, the whole left side of her body was numb. Symptoms just seemed to progress, and they included double vision, eye pain, diminished peripheral vision, slurred or garbled speech, dizziness, inability to walk without assistance, complete loss of hand coordination. She recalls: I couldn't write or feed myself. There was also loss of taste, 'frozen' feet, and a desperate feeling of being trapped inside her own body...to name a few symptoms. I thought I was going to die, but I wasn't so lucky...or so I felt at the time. I was hospitalized for a month-and-a-half, during which time, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), she says. MS is a disease of the central nervous system (the brain and the spinal cord). One's nerves have a protective covering of fatty tissue called myelin, which helps nerve fibres conduct electrical impulses, and send messages to the body. In MS, the body's immune system attacks the myelin, leaving scar tissue called 'sclerosis', in random spots throughout the central nervous system. The damaged areas are also called plaques or lesions. When myelin is destroyed or damaged, the transmission of signals required for normal operation is disrupted because the nerves are not able to conduct electrical impulses to and from the brain. This disruption produces the various symptoms of MS. Long sessions of physiotherapy and occupational therapy followed. Chrystal had the relapsing-remitting form of MS, which means that unpredictable relapses are followed by partial or total remission. Doctors advice: avoid stress. This meant the career she was following, with its long hours, and shift work was no longer viable. She was advised to take on small, easily-reachable goals. For the next few years, Chrystal did temporary office assignments, and continued to 'live' in fear. Fear of having relapses...fear of doing anything that might trigger a relapse. When she wasn't afraid, she was either very sad or very angry. MS was all that I thought about. I read everything I could find about the illness, and I obsessed about it, says the young lady. In 1998, a friend introduced her to a series of courses called The Pursuit of Excellence. These were self-discovery, personal enrichment type courses. She learnt a lot and faced many of her own 'demons'. I realized that there had always been a part of me that wanted to speak out, be a part of society, feel accepted, feel like I belonged. I faced 'who I was', revealed 'who I wanted to be', and admitted 'what was stopping me from becoming
[Goanet] FEATURE: In rain-soaked Goa, water shortages become a politicalissue
IN RAIN-SOAKED GOA, WATER SHORTAGES BECOME A POLITICAL ISSUE PANAJI, May 10: Some two dozen people sat before the man who has been Goa's chief minister on three different occasions, and water surfaced as one of the issues in this part of Saligao constitutency. Saligao, the North Goa constutuency some 8 kms from Panaji, that long voted for ex-Goa CM Dr Wilfred de Souza as its MLA, is just adjacent to the North Goa coastal touristic belt. It is also home to the most rampant sale of water by tankers, from villages like Sangolda, Guirim and Saligao itself. To add to its woes, as the groundwater gets depleted by incessant drawal for sale at around five paisa a litre, parts of the village now get tapped-water supply for just one hour every alternate day. Hotels in the coastal zone, including their swimming pools, meanwhile, somehow get the water supplies they need. We're being cheated of our ground water, and it's being sold, says Mrs Isa Vaz, raising the water issue at a recent campaign meeting for Dr Souza. Pointing to figures thrown up by a study undertaken by concerned villagers, it was noted that four hundred thousand (400,000) litres of water are being sold each day from some nine wells in this village alone. Water is drawn and ferried out of the village by tankers. Goa recently passed a groundwater protection law, which however is still to be effectively implemented. It has also come in for criticism of being ridden with loopholes. Faced with the ire over water, local MLA Dr Wilfred de Souza argued that villagers need not worry about what would be the plight of our children. Souza said that large pipes are already being laid to bring water from dam projects in interior Goa. But it's not so sure whether laying down pipes would ensure that water flows through them. Goa, which gets roughly 300 cms of rainfall (over 100 inches) each year, has been unable to solve the state's water needs through dam-dependent centralised water schemes. Projects like the Salaulim irrigation project have seem over ten-fold cost overruns. Piping in water from the eastern interiors to the populated coastline is also fraught with its own difficulties. In the past, Goa's naturally-evolved water-management strategy dependend on villagers having their own wells. But these are falling into disuse, or can't cope with the insatiable appetite of the hotel and industrial or building lobby. Sometimes, in cases like Saligao, the wells are being simply sucked dry. Facing some angry sentiments, Dr Souza said he himself had accused the ground-water minister of allowing people to rob groundwater, while the water-table was going down. Another villager, Nicholas Sequeira pointed out that Saligao has been suffering due to the extraction of water, while the Goa government did not have sufficient water to meet the needs of the tourism industry. But, he felt, if the new pipeline is sanctioned, the demand for water (which is sold outside the village, including to the Navy colony two villages away) would be dropped. Hopefully, these plans will materialise, he said. Later, in the discussion interspersed with appeals for votes, the MLA also conceded that there is a water problem even close to his home, at the other end of Saligao. Said Souza, a septuagenarian double-FRCS and one-time arguably Goa's best surgeons: I gave my land and made a road (in front of my house). Now, every two minutes -- throughout the day and night -- there's a tanker taking water on that road. He's minting money out of it. I blame myself for making the road. The intention was not to encourage the tankers. Irked over the situation, villagers have been studying the impact of drawing out such large quantities of water on traditional wells in the area. Even in normal monsoon years, they reported, there was a fifty percent increase in wells in the area around where water is being sold that ran dry for the first-time ever in the summer months of April or May. In other parts of Goa too, there have been reports of water shortages coming in, particularly in North Goa. Caretaker chief minister Manohar Parrikar appealed to citizens not to get panicky over the situation. Last monsoons (2001) was a poor one, but the unsustainble water-guzzling industries, tourism, and building-boom is increasingly making its presence here felt. (#) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] POST: Politics in one stanza...
This is a short comment from Tuesday's Herald... published in the Tuesday Tunes column: Everything is fair and love and war So, what is wrong with Ravi? Even if he 'was once' communal, He is still a Bhandari - - - - - The lotus is saffron The hand demands a ton The watch is all false gilt The leaves are in state of wilt The light house is dim The sickle's chances grim The lion is toothless And the voter, clueless. Contributed by Mayabhushan Nagvenkar. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] Candidates list... for each constituency in Goa
*** CANDIDATES LIST, GOA 2002 ASSEMBLY MAY 30 ELECTIONS: *** 1. MANDREM CONSTITUENCY / PERNEM TALUKA Khalap Ramakant DattaramINC Gawandi Hanumant Ganesh MAG Parsekar Laxmikant Yeshwant BJP Bagkar Anil Shiva SHS Mhamal Ashok Dhaku IND Parab Sangeeta GopalIND Louis Lawrence Fernades IND Satelikar Dhondu Arjun IND 2. PERNEM CONSTITUENCY / PERNEM TALUKA Dayanand Raghunath Sopate BJP Deshprabhu Jitendra Raghraj INC Vasudo Rajendra Deshprabhu MAG Petkar Bharat RamchandraSHS Ajgaonkar Bablo Atmaram IND 3. DHARGALIM (SCHEDULED CASTE RESERVED) CONSTITUENCY / PERNEM TALUKA Amonkar Janardan Arjun MAG Ajgaonkar Manohar Trimbak BJP Dhargalkar Balkrishna Atmaram INC 4. TIVIM CONSTITUENCY / BARDEZ TALUKA Nilkanth Halarnkar NCP Maulinkar Premnath INC Shet Sadanand Mhalu BJP Korgaonkar IndrakantSHS 5. MAPUSA CONSTITUENCY / BARDEZ TALUKA Divkar Prasad Kalidas NCP Francis Pedro D'Souza BJP Braganza Armindo Jose INC Raikar Paresh Atmaram MAG Shirodkar Kiran (Mahadev) Hanumant IND Harmalkar Sanjay Pundalik SHS 6. SIOLIM CONSTITUENCY / BARDEZ TALUKA Chodankar Chandrakant NCP Polle Pandharinath VamanMAG Fernandes Francis Gregorio INC Christopher Fonseca CPI Mandrekar Dayanand Rayu BJP Naik Gokuldas Surya GVP Fernandes AlbainGoa Suraj Party Javaharlal HenriquesIND Narvekar Sanjay Ganesh IND 7. CALANGUTE CONSTITUENCY / BARDEZ TALUKA D'Souza Urban JosephNCP Naik Gajanan Rama CPI Fernandes Agnelo AmancioINC Suresh V. Parulekar BJP Nagvekar Pundalik Manmohan SHS Noronha Edvin Francis JosephGoa Suraj Party 8. SALIGAO CONSTITUENCY / BARDEZ TALUKA D'Mello Trejano Agricio INC D'Souza Wilfred NCP Sayyad Salim Pir Saheb MAG Harmalkar S. Pandurang BJP Kalangutkar Deelip Sonu SHS Prabhu Padgaonkar D Vithal SHS Roland A. D'Souza IND Vishwanath Ramalu Haldankar IND 9. ALDONA CONSTITUENCY / BARDEZ TALUKA Asnodkar Ulhas GopalBJP Chodankar Harihar VithalMAG Narvekar Dayanand GaneshINC Fernandes Joao Rosario Joaquim NCP Fernandes Geraldo John Goa Suraj Party 10. PANAJI CONSTITUENCY / TISWADI Prabhu Parrikar Manohar GopalkrishnaBJP Silimkhan RameshINC Naik Pramod GopinathSHS Dhuma Rajaram Bhonsle IND 11, TALEIGAO CONSTITUENCY / TISWADI Zuwarkar Somnath Datta INC Fernandes Lawrence Jack NCP Monserrate Atanasio UGDP Rodrigues Tony BJP Talwar Shankar Laxman IND Peter Diogo Vaz IND Vijay Anant Palekar IND Silveira Agnelo Mariano IND 12. SANTA CRUZ CONSTITUENCY / TISWADI Gonsalves Victor Benjamin UGDP Fernandes Victoria RomeoINC Makandar Ramzan Imamsaheb MAG Maura Gregorio SebastiaoCPI Laurenco Vincento Domingos NCP Hoble Anil Raghuvir BJP Vaz Matias Caitono GSRP Shirodkar Avdut Raamchandra SHS Amonkar Pundalik AtmaramIND DeSouza Martha Filomena IND Lopes Jose EdgarIND 13. ST. ANDRE CONSTITUENCY / TISWADI Kamat Dhakankar Avinash Govind BJP Pegado Carmo Rafael Andre Jose NCP Pereira Teotonio Paulo UGDP Silveira Francis Manuel INC Sawant Prakash Mahadev SHS Gracias Xavier Joquim IND 14. CUMBHARJUA CONSTITUENCY / TISWADI Parvatkar Govind BhakajiBJP Madkaikar Pandurang MAG Lawrence Minguel Thomas NCP Sawant Nirmala PrabhakarINC Anand Moso Gad SHS 15. BICHOLIM CONSTITUENCY / BICHOLIM TALUKA Gad Vivekanand SukdoNCP Parab Arjun ShrirangINC Patnekar Rajesh Tulshidas BJP Raut Pandurang Dattaram MAG 16. MAEM/MAYEM CONSTITUENCY / BICHOLIM TALUKA Kamalakant Krishna Gadekar CPIM Prakash J. Phadte BJP Prabhu Zantye Harish NarayanINC Kakodkar Shashikala Gurudatta MAG RAne Sardessai aparnadevi Jitendra SHS 17. PALE CONSTITUENCY / BICHOLIM TALUKA Amonkar Ghadi Pradeep Pundalik MAG Amonkar Suresh Kuso BJP Gawas Gurudas PrabhakarINC Ghadi Damodar Krishna SHS Amonkar Subodh Gopi IND Gauns Raghunath Narayan IND 18. PORIEM CONSTITUENCY /
[Goanet] X'tian higher education top India's best-colleges lists; but no
room for complacency... Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Precedence: bulk X'TIAN HIGHER EDUCATION TOPS INDIA'S BEST-COLLEGES LIST... Christian colleges feature in the list of top Indian educational institutions within the country. But their presence is mainly concentrated in fields like Arts and Science and Medicine, while showing a low presence in fields like engineering and law. Jesuit-run Loyola College in Chennai tops the list of Science colleges in India, while Christian Medical College of Vellore stands a clear first among a list of 'Top 10 Colleges' emerging from a survey of academic excellence put out by newsmagazine 'India Today' in its issue dated May 13, 2002. Knowledge today is an international commodity. As the world becomes frenetically competitive, nations realise the value of good quality higher education. India can only stand on a par with the rest of the world if its education system is strong, says the national newsmagazine. India has a total of 10,000 colleges, 250 universities and five million students. This, says India Today, offers bewildering choices to parents and children. India Today began its surveys in 1997, and says this year it gave weightage to facilities available in a college, student-teacher ratios, accessibility of job placements from a college and other factors, while deciding on the list of 'top colleges' in the country. The combination of these new criteria has brought us new winners while some old ones have dropped off, said 'India Today'. It said in the past, it used interviews with some 450 leading experts in order to arrive at the ranking, based on peer review and perception. Commented India Today: In arts, Presidency College, Chennai, which was rated fourth last year, took the top spot, shoving aside St Xavier's College, Kolkata. But in science, the new weightage saw Presidency College, Chennai, tumbled from its pedestal giving way to its neighbour down the road -- (Jesuit-run) Loyola College. It also added, later in its analysis: But it was medicine that produced the biggest upset. Christian Medical College, Vellore, which was rated seventh last year, moved rapidly upwards and ousted the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, from the top slot. But, without getting carried away by the positive achievements, the fact remains that Christian institutions have a poor presence in fields like engineering, and law. Management, a field where Christian educators particularly the Jesuits are known to run only a few, but top ranking institutions, was not rated. Besides, the number of students getting education in top Christian colleges seems to be smaller than in other prestigious institutions. This could imply that only few students could benefit from such quality institutions, leading to charges of elitism. On the Arts front, St Xavier's College in Kolkata is ranked second, Madras Christian College of Chennai is third, St Xavier's of Mumbai if fourth, while Loyola College of Chennai is seventh, and St Stephen's of Delhi is eighth. Commented India Today: St Xavier's College, Kolkata, retained its No.2 position in Arts this year thanks to its increasingly competitive academic content. The days when it was dismissed as a brick-and-mortar recreation of a Bollywood institution are over. A fully-equipped computer lab, an audio-visual room and a professional studio with an editing room have helped cast the college in a new mould. It adds: The most creditable surge this year has been that of Madras Christian College. From last year's 9th place, it has moved up to 3rd. Academics apart, the 365-acre campus with a cricket ground with Australian turf, athletics track and football field continue to be a major draw. Loyola College in Madras tops the Science stream. In the year 2000 it was ranked fourth nationwide, and in 2001, second. This ranking attributes much of Loyola's success to the college administration's futuristic approach. It says: While drawing from its 76-year-old tradition, Loyola has made a conscious effort to blend academic excellence and history. Its restructured syllabus, in effect from 2000-01, is something many educational institutions are trying to emulate. Besides streamlining the academic schedule, the syllabus includes topics such as world religion, heritage, personality development, social analysis, computer literacy, arts for science, science for arts and skill-based training in the last semester. Nobody disagrees with Loyola's hallmark assets like excellent faculty, enviable infrastructure and focussed learning. And Loyola is proud to be a trend-setter in developing the student beyond the knowledge of text books, it quotes Principal Father V. Joseph Xavier as saying. Recently, science education was taken to an all-new dimension with the formation of the Loyola Institute of Frontier Energy (LIFE), an inter-disciplinary group working on projects involving the basic sciences department. With more than 80 published works since its
[Goanet] Query about Tanzania... from a writer in Goa
Dear GoaNetters: Please help Dr Albuquerque if you can. She's a writer, historian and author of books on Santa Cruz (co-incidentally, two separate books on the village in Goa and the suburb in Bombay, both of which share the name). She has also written on the contribution of Catholics to Bombay, a city now called Mumbai officially. One of her recent books was on Goans in Kenya. She also wrote another on Anjuna, the beachside-village turned hippy-haunt in coastal North Goa. (Though the book looks at it's traditional face.) Dr Teresa also happens to be the sister of the famous editor of past decades, Frank Moraes, and the aunt of the poet-writer Dom Moraes. She lives part of the year at their family home in Anjuna. FN On Wed, 15 May 2002, teresa wrote: Hi Rico I want you please to ask your Goan Tanzanites to help me in by way of any data they have that relates to my current biography of Dr.Manoel Francisco de Albuquerque of Anjuna, Goa and Zanzibar.(1869-1956) I'd be most grateful.Thanks Teresa Albuquerque [EMAIL PROTECTED] Tel: Mumbai (91-22) 6499005 Tel Goa (91-832) 273676 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] NEWS: India tempts overseas markets with mango delights
India tempts oversees markets with mango delights By Lola Nayar, Indo-Asian News Service New Delhi, May 16 (IANS) India is promising to make the summer sweeter in overseas markets, especially across the Middle East, with a larger variety of mangoes in its export basket. India is using around 15 tonnes of mangoes and its delightful derivates under a Rs.1 million promotion scheme to tempt consumers in five countries and their neighbouring markets to try out varieties besides the popular alphonso. With an annual yield of around 10 million tonnes, India accounts for over half the global mango production of about 19 million tonnes. But while around 11,000 varieties of mangoes are found in this country, only 20 have commercial value, trade experts say. The idea behind the promotion scheme of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority in cooperation with leading mango exporters is to extend the exporting season beyond the two months when the few popular varieties like alphonso from Maharashtra are in plentiful supply. The promotion began in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with 15 exporters targeting the whole of the Middle East market, which accounts for the largest chunk of mango exports. Dubai is the re-export hub for Oman, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and other Middle East countries. Last week consumers in Britain and Malaysia got a chance to sample tonnes of fresh Indian mangoes, mango pulp, jelly, confectionery and other processed foods displayed at special corners in key shopping centres and special mango dessert served free in select restaurants. The last leg of the promotion started Thursday in Germany and Hong Kong, with some south Indian varieties like kesar, banganapalli, totapuri, swarnarekha and rajapuri sharing shelf space with popular north Indian varieties like dussheri, chausa and langara, which hit the markets in May. The objective of the promotion through special buyer meets is to make the overseas markets aware about the large varieties of commercially grown mangoes, which could be supplied right from March to August, said a senior official of the export authority. At present, the bulk of our fresh mango exports are from March-May, after which in the Middle East we face major competition from Pakistan once their sindri mangoes start arriving, said the official. In Europe, Indian mangoes face competition from low priced varieties from the Caribbean and Latin American countries while Australia, Thailand, the Philippines and Pakistan are the major competitors in Southeast Asia. Mexico is the major supplier to the U.S., which does not import fresh mangoes from India. As the logistical cost of exports to the U.S. works out to Rs.125 per kg, it is not feasible to be competitive in the case of fresh mangoes. India is, however, exporting around 250,000 tonnes of mango pulp to the U.S., a leading exporter said. Through the special promotion and use of modernised reefer for more economic sea transport, India is banking on a 20-25 percent jump in exports from a 45,000-tonne average in the last three years to 60,000 tonnes. The response to the promotion can be gauged from the fact that despite costing 1.5 pounds for one mango, a major Mumbai-based exporter has bagged an order for exporting 10 tonnes of mangoes daily to Britain. Indian fresh mango exports are currently to the tune of Rs.750 million and are expected to go up to Rs.100 million. Export of value added mango products is expected to rise from Rs.3 billion to Rs.4 billion. To make up for a drop in mango production this year, India is paying more emphasis on pre-harvest management in its six mango agriculture export zones that have brought under their wing the 20 major mango clusters in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Through better pre-harvest management, we hope to reduce the annual 30 percent post-harvest losses and improve the quality of our products, said the export authority official. --Indo-Asian News Service =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] NEWS: Why Andrew Lloyd Webber did 'Bombay Dreams' ...
Webber did 'Bombay Dreams' because of Rahman By Sanjay Suri, Indo-Asian News Service London, May 16 (IANS) Andrew Lloyd Webber's Bombay Dreams releases June 19, but he says his musical offering would not have happened were it not for Indian music composer A.R. Rehman. Webber says he did Bombay Dreams because of Rahman. The story came later. I just wanted to find something that Rahman could do as a composer. It all began with a Bollywood song Webber saw on Channel 4 that got him interested in Indian Hindi film music -- and a Bollywood musical. He can't remember which song. I've never been able to find it. I got hold of a compilation of videos to try and find what I saw, which I've still not done. But every one of them was by Rahman and every one of them was great. So I went over to Bombay (Mumbai, which is home to India's gigantic Hindi film industry) and met him there with (director) Shekhar Kapur. And Shekhar introduced us and we just decided to do it. Rahman, Webber says, is in a league of his own. I'm not interested that much in the whole Bollywood genre. A lot of that music is really very Western, but Rahman isn't. He has his own very particular style and turn of voice. I'm not interested in whether it is Chinese, Mongolian or American. All I'm concerned about is a good musical with a good score. What is particularly fascinating, Webber says, is the new turn of voice. He's hugely melodic. These melodies could not have been written by a British person or an American. Speaking about Rahman's score for the play, Webber says: It's very funny in places. It's very moving too. At the end of the day a musical comes down to just this; is the story any good, and are the songs any good. And I think I could say that in this both are first rate. Webber says Rahman could bring Indian music to the West now as no one has before. The kind of music Indians have brought to the West, people like Ravi Shankar and others, was very limited in its reach, really. Now Rahman is popular and writing really good tunes, as Paul McCartney did 30 years ago. He is in my opinion writing that sort of quality of melody... I think it will have an appeal in the West. Webber says he does not know whether Bombay Dreams will set a trend. When you do something, that's the last thing you think of. If you say I want to do this because I want to set a trend, you can be 99 percent certain you're going to have a disaster. He believes the play can do a lot for Asians in Britain. It would be great if some of the younger Asian people see this and feel encouraged to do something more like this themselves. There is so much talent among young Asians here. Webber says he's delighted with the lead actors. We're very lucky we've got two kids who are marvellous. Good singers and good actors, too. Preeya Kalidas and Raza will carry the show with their acting and singing, which will of course be for real unlike in Bollywood. The thing with Bollywood stars, as you know, is a lot of them don't really sing. We have a line in the musical where someone does say, 'Well, here we have the first Indian star who really sings.' It does get a huge laugh. The thing is in London you'd have to sing, you couldn't possibly have the whole thing on track, though we do have one number done to a track, and it is mimed, and then they get it wrong. But that's for a laugh. Webber admits he had had his doubts earlier whether they would find the cast. How many opportunities have there been for Asian musical theatre? When we first started to find out, a lot of the kids would say please don't call me at home, because I'm not sure my parents would like the idea that I'm going for a musical. But when it got a bit of publicity and became respectable, everybody came out of the woodwork. I had to fight for respectability. I think that when everybody heard that Rahman is here doing the music, it was a very great help. Unusually for Webber, he is doing the production and not the music. As a producer, I have to take the decisions about how it's going to be cast, how it's going to be presented. And of course since it's a musical, and that's the kind of thing I do, I have had an input into how the whole thing is structured. You have to make sure the story is right, you have to make sure that the team is 101 percent joined at the hip, and I think they are here, says the director. --Indo-Asian News Service =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] JOBS: More Indian nurses arrive in Britain
More Indian nurses arrive in Britain by Sanjay Suri, Indo-Asian News Service London, May 16 (IANS) The number of Indian nurses arriving to work in Britain has shot up 30 times over the past four years, a new report says. The report by the Nursing and Midwifery Council shows that no more than 30 nurses from India arrived to work in Britain in 1998-99. By 2001-02 that number rose to 994. The pace of migration this year is rising more rapidly. The number of applicants from India is far larger. Many more from this pool of applicants could be recruited now as shortages rise. Britain is short of at least 25,000 nurses, according to estimates by the National Health Service. But that number could rise because many American hospitals have begun to recruit nurses from Britain. The demand for nurses has shot up in the U.S. because the country is facing shortages. Nurses get paid a good deal more in the U.S. than they do in Britain. As shortages increase, the number of nurses coming into Britain will rise, the council says. Indian hospitals, already short of nursing staff, could face severe depletion of nursing staff. Record numbers of people are applying to join the register from overseas, and record numbers are being accepted, the council says. The largest number of applicants came from the Philippines. From 52 nurses in 1998-99, the number rose to 7,235 in 2001-2002. In all, 2,114 nurses came to Britain from South Africa and 1,342 from Australia in 2001-2002. More nurses are coming to Britain from all over the world. A total of 473 came from Zimbabwe, 443 from New Zealand and 432 from Nigeria. Only three nurses came from Pakistan in 1998-99. That number rose to 207 in 2001. In the year ending March 2002, 41,656 nurses and midwives from overseas (non-European Union) countries applied for registration; 43 percent more than in the previous year, the report says. More than 23,000 of these had to undertake a period of supervised practice, while only about 480 were rejected outright. The Philippines and India were the source countries for more than half the applicants. The rise in overseas applications looks set to continue, since the figures also reveal that during 2001-02, the registrations department of the council dealt with around 100,000 applications for information packs and overseas application forms. --Indo-Asian News Service =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] JOBS: US offers tremendous scope for Indian nurses -- recruiter
U.S. offers tremendous scope for Indian nurses: recruiter By Sanu George, Indo-Asian News Service Thiruvananthapuram, May 18 (IANS) U.S. hospitals require some 650,000 qualified nurses and the southern Indian state of Kerala can play a major role in bridging this gap, an NRI businessman has said. I have a contract with 20 leading hospitals in the U.S. who need 2,000 qualified nurses and I have come here to recruit them, Sam Kuzhikala said. Salaries for nurses in the U.S. range from $50,000 to $60,000 a year, he said. Nurses from Kerala have already made a name for themselves in hospitals in the Middle East, where an estimated 100,000 are employed. A majority of hospitals in India also employ Keralite nurses, though no reliable statistics are available. The only stumbling block for Keralite nurses aspiring to work in the U.S. is that they have to first clear the Cgfns examination. Cgfns is the acronym for Commission Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools, which is part of the licensing requirements to work as a registered nurse in the U.S. In India, the Cgfns test is currently conducted only in Bangalore. As of today, there is only one professional centre in Kerala which prepares candidates for this course. Apart from this, aspirants also have to clear examinations in written and spoken English. One way out would be for the government to include the syllabus for these tests in the curriculum of nursing colleges in Kerala, said Kuzhikala. The Kerala government has said it is making efforts to open a Cgfns examination centre in the state. Said M.M. Hassan, minister for non-resident Keralites: We have made contacts with the people concerned in Delhi and are hopeful that this would come through. If that happens, then nurses from Kerala could see their job prospects increase hugely. Kuzhikala also cautioned Keralite nurses who intend to go to the U.S. against being duped by unscrupulous agents and said the state government could play a role in this regard. A career in nursing is much sought after in Kerala with some 800 seats available annually in medical colleges and another 2,500 seats in private nursing schools in the state. --Indo-Asian News Service =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] NEWS: India mulls options ...
India mulls options as terrorists strike again in Kashmir By Ajit Sahi, Indo-Asian News Service New Delhi, May 19 (IANS) India Sunday brought its paramilitary forces and the Coast Guard under the direct command of the defence services in what is seen as a slow but calibrated step to strengthen its defences as heavy firing continued on its border with Pakistan. Even as yet another brazen terrorist strike was reported on an Indian army camp in Jammu and Kashmir that killed three soldiers and a paramilitary trooper, military officials said Indian and Pakistani troops continued to exchange fire across the border for the fourth straight day. After a late evening meeting that Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had with his top cabinet ministers, defence chiefs and senior security officials, External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh announced that orders placing the paramilitary forces under the command of the army and the Coast Guard under the command of the navy would be issued Monday. No other decision was announced after the meeting of the cabinet committee on security (CCS) even as reporters kept peppering Singh with questions on the possibility of war breaking out on the subcontinent. You have to read what you have to read. I do what I have to do, Singh said in response to a direct question whether signs of a war could be read in the CCS decision. Besides Singh, Home Minister L.K. Advani, Defence Minister George Fernandes, Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha and New Delhi's interlocutor on Kashmir K.C. Pant attended the meeting at Vajpayee's official residence. Army chief General Sunderrajan Padmanabhan, navy chief Admiral Madhvendra Singh and air force vice chief S.G. Inamdar also attended the meeting. Earlier Sunday, Vajpayee met opposition leader Sonia Gandhi to mull New Delhi's response to the heightened terrorist violence in Kashmir, even as the machinegun and mortar crossfire continued along the border. More than half a dozen civilians were injured in the Pakistani firing, said an Indian army officer who claimed that a dozen Pakistan army bunkers had been destroyed. In a daring strike 3 a.m. Sunday, terrorists attacked an Indian army camp at Chasana, 150 km north of Jammu, killing three soldiers and one paramilitary trooper and injuring about a dozen. The killings came five days after terrorists massacred 32 people including seven bus passengers and wives and children of soldiers near Jammu. Mounting anger in India has led many to speculate that India is contemplating a military strike against Pakistan, which it blames for a dragging insurgency in Kashmir. Following the May 14 Jammu attack, New Delhi expelled Pakistan High Commissioner Ashraf Jehangir Qazi to protest Islamabad's continued support to Kashmiri separatists. Qazi has described his expulsion as unfortunate. --Indo-Asian News Service =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] Some music-related sites from Goa
http://www.justjazz.8m.com http://www.obligato.8m.com http://www.bluespower.8m.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] NEWS: New drug law helps police seize properties worth millions
New drug law helps police seize properties worth millions From Indo-Asian News Service New Delhi, May 21 (IANS) An amended and stronger anti-drug law enabled Delhi Police to seize property worth Rs.15.6 million belonging to three suspected dealers. Deputy Commissioner of Police D.L. Kashyap told IANS Dinesh Kumar Gupta, who was arrested last year with heroin in his possession, now has his assets frozen. They include two houses worth Rs.6 million. A woman dealer, reportedly wanted in 18 cases, was arrested last year with 500 gm of heroin. Her husband and two sons also face trial for drug trafficking. Gupta said the woman owns seven houses worth Rs.7.5 million, which have been seized by police. The property of a third alleged drug dealer, who was caught in April with two associates, was also frozen. The houses of the trio are estimated to be worth Rs.2.1 million. Gupta said the earlier law allowed a drug dealer's property to be confiscated after his conviction. But amended last year, it now allows police to seize the property of an accused after his arrest. Police also arrested two men reportedly bringing heroin worth Rs.5.3 million from Uttar Pradesh. A third man, said to be a major supplier in northern India and on the run since April, was also arrested. --Indo-Asian News Service =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] NEWS: Former top cop held for forging documents (New Delhi)
If my memory serves me right, this gentleman served in Goa in the early 'nineties. FN -- Forwarded message -- Former top cop held for forging documents From Indo-Asian News Service New Delhi, May 20 (IANS) A former top police officer, who was once in charge of VIP security, is in the police net for allegedly forging documents to obtain property worth Rs.18 million. Retired joint commissioner of police Y.R. Dhuria, 60, who headed the security branch of Delhi Police, had been eluding arrest since last month when his wife was sent to Tihar jail. But he was arrested Sunday from the Ghaziabad town adjoining Delhi. Soon after his arrest, Dhuria complained of chest pain and was admitted to the Metro Hospital in Noida. He is under doctors' observation. We have arrested him and if doctors say he is in a stable condition we will send him to jail, Assistant Commissioner of Police L.N. Rao told IANS. Investigations have been on since last year when Dhuria was still in the police force. We moved against him after we collected enough evidence. His being in a senior position will not stop us from prosecuting him. Rao said he was trying to obtain land illegally. Delhi Police Commissioner Ajai Raj Sharma, who is of the same batch of Indian Police Service of 1966 as Dhuria, took on the investigations himself as it involved a senior ranking officer. The noose tightened after Dhuria's guards, who were posted under him when he was the home guard chief, were arrested. The two home guards, Shivraj Singh and Chattarpal, were arrested last year after three men lodged a complaint of cheating at the Kanjhawla police station in northwest Delhi. Police said Dhuria had allegedly prepared a general power of attorney according to which Shivraj Singh's wife had acquired the eight-acre land from the complainants, even though there was no exchange of money. The acquisition papers were later sold to Dhuria's wife Kamala for Rs.45 million. The complainants alleged the general power attorney was a fake document and a case was registered last year. Police on arrested Dhuria's wife Kamala April 11 and since then the former official had been eluding the police. Officials said when Dhuria heard that the police was hunting for him armed with an arrest warrant he got himself admitted at the Metro Hospital for heart trouble. Officials caught him at a cinema hall in Ghaziabad where he had come to meet someone after taking permission from doctors to step out of the hospital for a few hours. We got information and arrested him from the spot. --Indo-Asian News Service =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] TWO MINUTE REVIEW: Goa Sings
GETTING INTO THE GROOVE... UNDERSTANDING WHAT THEY'RE SINGING ABOUT Like me, you could be one of those Goans whose family histories made them a third-generation emmigrant. If so, almost certainly, there would be a lot of gaps in your attempts to understand Goan tradition. Blame this, if you like, on the lack of a grandmum around to immerse you into that. Probably it's a good thing! Anyway, don't feel too sorry for yourself, Goa is one state where one-third of the population (a very rough guestimate) comprises expats who have returned after spending some part of their lives in some distant part of the globe. Even if it was just for two years of babyhood, as in this writer's case. If you add to this the number of in-migrants, the number swells even more. Obviously, this is a large market of people who need to understand something about their home-state. Specially it's traditions, its music... Given the new role being played by ICTs (information and communication technologies), we have the means to reach out to a wider audience. Mumbai-based Fausto V da Costa [EMAIL PROTECTED] who happens to be the brother of 'Gulab' publisher-editor-priest Freddy da Costa, puts together this interesting CD of 'remix' mandos, dulpods, dekhnnis, kunnbi songs and folk songs. Fifteen numbers ranging from 'Mando Goencho' (Ho mando Goencho khoro, Nachonk kitlo boro / Hubra haddta haro, Vazlearunch puro) to 'Undir Mama' (Undra mhojea mama, ani hanv santam tuka / Tea mazorichea pilea lagim khell manddinaka) and much more. These are the types of songs that are sung at the traditional (some might say culturally very slow-evolving!) Goan parties. Whichever part of the globe you might be at. The good thing about 'Goa Sings' is that it includes a slim booklet giving the lyrics of all the songs. It also includes a very wide range of traditional Goan songs, and would ensure you don't feel quite left out when the sing-along starts at that next party. The not-so-good thing is that the CD version is priced at Rs 300, when other Indian CDs are selling for less. But then, one has to grant that Konkani's small-sized market does not easily allow for the economies of scale. Undeniably, Fausto and his group have been long and determinedly trying to keep the cultural flag of Goa flying atop the Fort locality's crowded lanes in Mumbai, where he's basied. It would be great if the lyrics booklet -- for the benefit of all of us, sometimes contemptuously referred to as that set of de-nationalised Goans -- had English translations. Given the reality of the many variants of the Konkani language (something not many want to face up to), this becomes all the more relevant. Of course, the Bardexi dialect is sometimes used in song, as it is frequently in the tiatr and some other cultural forms. But suddenly, the song breaks into Xashti... which could be yet another foreign language, especially when it comes to tracing the nuances of lyrics a century or more old. Maybe we have only ourselves, our history, emigration (and the lack of sufficient easy-to-learn Konkani courses) to blame! For those who might be interested, this CD includes * Mando Geoncho * Kai Borelo Komblo * Amnni Gumnni * Kolvontam Nachtai * Istimosanv Rozachem * Tambdde Rozad Pole * Gupit Mog * Undir Mama * Moddganvam Thoveager * Bannavlleche Monte Sokolu * Bokem Mhojem * Te Bainchem Udoku * Tanddela Taz Mar * Askin Koxem Ublem * Maner Kensu * Danv Dadulea * Mhozo Poti Bombaim Gela * Kavllea Kiteak Roddttai * Soglli Rati Bainkodde * Kunnbi Jaki * Roza * Cecilia Mhojem Nanv * Cheddva Go Cheddva * Fulu Jardinantlem * Jimmy * Marikin * Dezembra Mhoino * Manak sotri Lavun Vhor * Hanv Saiba Poltoddi Voitam * Cheddva Za Go Kazar * Ag Fulam Bai * Sho Juana * Dogi Tegi Biatini * Bhikari * Chol Cholotam Zali Rati * Farar Far and a couple of instrumentals. Quite a range. Not difficult to recommend this. I'd rate it at three-and-half of five. Price Rs 300. CD. From Dinfa Productions, 14 Nafees Chambers, 1st Floor, 121-123 Mody Street, Fort, Mumbai 41. Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
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approvedc: TouaregVr6 From: sarnews [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: GoaNet [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Pakistan blasphemy laws -- state willing, political flesh weak Date: Tue, 21 May 2002 09:28:15 +0530 SAR News May 21, 2002 Pakistan Blasphemy Laws: State Willing, Political Flesh Weak By Robin Fernandez Marginalised communities are often disappointed by the inadequate legislative protection given to them by governments. Their lobbying attempts to enlarge the legal umbrella that barely covers their heads are doomed from the start. The State is willing but the political flesh is weak. Perhaps in no place is that more apparent than in Pakistan where the majority of Muslims do recognise the need to protect Christians and other religious minorities from discriminatory laws. But the Government is paralysed by fear of what it has identified as far-right extremists. A small illustration of their grip on the power levers came in May 2000 when no less a person than military ruler, General Pervez Musharraf, announced the withdrawal of a proposed amendment to the blasphemy law. (Musharraf had earlier offered to revise clause 295-C of the penal code which deals with blasphemy). Christians in Pakistan, as a matter of principle, are not opposed to the original 1860 penal code clauses of 295 and 298, both of which are intended to prevent religiously motivated violence and hate crimes. Nor do they dispute the efficacy of the 1927 amendment to clause 295 incorporated as 295-A which reads: Whoever, with deliberate and malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings of any class of citizens...by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representations, insults the religion or the religious beliefs of that class, shall be punished with imprisonment...for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both. Their grouse lies mainly with the legal insertions made by the late military ruler Zia-ul-Haq in the 1980s. These amendments, introduced as 298-A, 295-B and 295-C, for one, do not mention malicious intent to rake up religious sensitivities as a condition for an action amounting to criminal offence. They also prescribe stiffer penalties for blasphemy and focus almost exclusively on the religious sentiments of Muslims, instead of any class of people. In 1990, the Federal Shariat Court upheld the punishment recommended for blasphemy under clause 295-C. It ruled that the only punishment available for anyone convicted of blasphemy is death. Christians have argued in vain on two counts. They say that no member of their community would ever willfully insult or defile the name of Prophet Muhammad or any of his companions. Nor would they ever malign Islam or rebuke adherents of the Muslim faith. Their community leaders say they merely want the Government to prevent people from lodging false blasphemy cases against non-Muslims. Lawyers say the country's blasphemy laws have all too often been invoked for the purpose of grabbing prized land, settling personal scores and eliminating competition for lucrative posts. The human rights watchdog, Amnesty International, lists yet another cause: Charges against Ahmadis (an Islamic sect) and Christians appear to have been brought solely because of their membership in these minority groups. While this is undeniable in several cases, one must differentiate between the obscurantists and the moderates, and the literate and the uneducated - a distinction that was first made by senior administration officials following last September's terror attacks on the United States. The intolerance for which the Muslims of Pakistan are blamed stems from a fringe fundamentalist element. So the State or Government, instead of its powerless masses, is obliged to tame the obscurantists and take concrete measures to protect religious minorities. Apart from throwing into prison dozens of people, the controversial amendments in the penal code have claimed an important life. Bishop John Joseph, the first native Punjabi bishop, committed suicide in May 1998 to protest against the death penalty awarded to a Christian youth for blasphemy. One of the noticeable trends emerging from the misuse of blasphemy laws is the fact that the average victim - in the case of Christians especially - is disadvantaged, barely literate and resident of a rural town in Punjab or Sindh. This is again proof that discriminatory laws are far more menacing to the poor. Thus it falls upon the Government to create legal structures to protect the poor and the defenceless. Human-rights activists believe the charge of blasphemy ought to be thoroughly examined before criminal prosecution can get underway. In most of the cases documented by human rights organisations, the complainant himself is the sole witness to the act of blasphemy that could include desecration of the Koran and insulting or defiling the name of the prophet Muhammad. The verbal testimony thereof is rarely
[Goanet] mentor \MEN-tor or MEN-ter\
Perhaps we could make use of the giant pool of skills available among Goans (both in Goa and overseas) to build up a mentorship network. FN -- Forwarded message -- The Word of the Day for May 22 is: mentor \MEN-tor or MEN-ter\ (noun) 1 capitalized : a friend of Odysseus entrusted with the education of Odysseus' son Telemachus 2 *a : a trusted counselor or guide b : tutor, coach Example sentence: Ms. Ryan was the sort of selfless, dedicated mentor that every high school graduate recalls with great fondness. Did you know? We acquired mentor from the literature of ancient Greece. In Homer's epic _The Odyssey_, Odysseus was away from home fighting and journeying for 20 years. During that time, Telemachus, the son he left as a babe in arms, grew up under the supervision of Mentor, an old and trusted friend. When the goddess Athena decided it was time to complete the education of young Telemachus, she visited him disguised as Mentor and they set out together to learn about his father. Today, we use the word mentor for anyone who is a positive, guiding influence in another (usually younger) person's life. *Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence. Brought to you by Merriam-Webster, Inc. http://www.Merriam-Webster.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] ONLINE SEARCH: Sal of Calcutta (Kolkata)
My friend Joshua Saldanha is searching for some relatives in Calcutta. Any help that could be given would be much appreciated. FN Second here are sketchy details of my lost family branch in Calcutta, could you please help me in locating them. My Dad's late uncle Joaquim Saldanha, commonly known as Sal. Played all instruments,including the sax. He was a music teacher at Frank Anthony Public School, Calcutta. He was married to Ella ( half Burmase, half British ), she was a school teacher. As far as I know she is still alive. He had five children ie my Dad's first cousins: Julian Saldanha - was a great Sax player,well known in Cal. Celine Twins - Laurel and Hardy ( yah believe it or not yah wot names, wot a great uncle i must have had ). 1 more daughter or son, not sure of the gender. Some of the childeren ie Dad's cousins may have migrated to Canada. But my grand aunt ( Ella ) is still in Cal. Her actual name is Cindrella, but everyone calls her Ella. Lived on Princept street ( not sure of the spelling,yah with my great Kenyan prouncation ). But that's in central cal. Think Aunty Ella moved to Lower Circus street. They had a famous band in the 70's known as Sals, play for weddings and all. This picked up from a Kenyan friend who studied medicine in Cal in the 70's. Sorry that's all I have on them Frederick. Know the matter is sketchy but hope you can find them out ok. Sorry for all the trouble am putting you into finding them. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] 10QUESTIONS: Minorities totally exploited by Goa's political parties
TEN QUESTIONS: MINORITIES TOTALLY EXPLOITED BY GOA'S POLITICAL PARTIES-Soter D'Souza TILL A FEW days back, Porvorim-based Soter D'Souza (42) was the general secretary of the BJP's Minority Morcha, the 'minority' front of Goa's ruling party. In a chat with FREDERICK NORONHA, he explains why he quit the post, just before a critical Goa elections. FN: What prompted you to quit the BJP and it Minority Morcha? Minories were not being taken seriously. All the more, the Gujarat riots and certain local incidents (not just the Socorro Muslim prayer hall arson but two other unreported incidents) had led me to review my relations with the BJP. FN: What led you to join it in 1998? The failure of the Congress, both nationally and locally, created a void. I came in contact with (Goa chief minister) Manohar Parrikar and getting to know his vision and attributes. I saw some hope for Goa and Goans. FN: How would you rate Parrikar today? I still feel he has administrative abilities and discipline. But certain compulsions of politics perhaps influenced his decision-making process. The zeal with which he started his tenure, specially his fight against corruption and other illegalities, has almost died out. FN: Looking back, what was the BJP's main achivements and failures in this period? Initially, the BJP was able to show that corruption could be curtailed. Discipline in government administration was another plus. Even the Dayanand Social Security Scheme was a good venture, but it was stretched too much for political reasons. On the other hand, the drive against corruption was not total, leading people to feel that only political opponents were targetted. Instead of contempt for the corrupt politicians, people started sympathising with them. There was not enough effort to break the communal or fundamental image that has been painted of the BJP by the Opposition. In fact, certain incidents have only further substantiated this. FN: In your view, how should the BJP be dealing with the minorities? Unless the BJP seriously reviews its opinions and approaches towards all sections of the minorities, then it cannot be trusted. FN: What is your view of communalism within the minorities? Actually, I do not favour a thinking based on minority lines. It not only sends out a wrong signal, but is also a sort of an inferiority lable. It acts as a means for certain politicians to corner votes. On the other hand, it is also for the majority community to give up their attempts to form communal cliques. It's a two way process; when minorities feel secure, that's the time they will maybe change. FN: As someone who studied for priesthood, what do you feel should be the role of priests, when it comes to politics? A priest should not impose his ideas. Whatever evolves from the democratic process, he should learn to accept it. They should also encourage voters to support good, efficient and sincere candidates, regardless of religious affiliation. Some priests lack in exposure to the feelings and thinking of the majority community. FN: What do you see as in store for the BJP in Goa? If the BJP does not do serious soul-searching to recognise its shortcomings, they're heading towards political rejection. If they do seriously review their strategies and ideologies, they could still hold promise to this state and the country because of their work ethics, discipline and cadre. FN: What's the involvement of minorities in politics in Goa today? The minorities in Goa are totally divided. As a result they have been exploited by political parties. They have allowed themselves to be taken for granted. Many decisions taken by the minorites too might have not been rational, but emotional. Any alternative in Goa should not be built on majority-minority lines. The times require all peace-loving Goans -- from whatever community -- to come together and prevent disruptive forces from getting hold of the political and social fabric. FN: Your reading of the Gujarat carnage on the Goa polls? Although some political parties claim the Gujarat riots will not have an impact on the election results, I beg to differ. The nervourness from some quarters is forcing them to involve Section 153(A) of the IPC to stop filming of certain video-cassettes (about the anti-Muslim violence in Gujarat). It is enough proof that what happened in Gujarat will influence the voter of all communities, cutting across religion and caste. I would not be surprised if a Gujarat-type situation occurs in Goa, and certain statements of inciting of communal disturbances is pointing towards that, while blaming it on the Congress.(ENDS
[Goanet] NEWS: Kanwal Rekhi hits out at Gujarat intolerance
Kanwal Rekhi hits out at Gujarat intolerance By Ela Dutt, Indo-Asian News Service New York, May 22 (IANS) Kanwal Rekhi, the millionaire Silicon Valley entrepreneur, has lashed out at sectarian violence in India that has raised serious questions about the nation's future and its time-honoured secular philosophy. Rekhi, in a column in the Wall Street Journal along with Professor Emeritus of Stanford Henry Rowen, said the severity of the Gujarat communal killings had not yet been highlighted in the American media, but the Indian government's response has begun to raise questions about the character of the world's largest democracy. The handling of the Gujarat riots has shaken the faith of large segments of the population in India's future as a polity that cares for all its citizens, the article said. India is being provoked by Pakistan-based terrorists, but its failure to protect innocent Muslims at home weakens the government both domestically and internationally, Rekhi and Rowen contended. America has come to understand the imperatives of even-handed treatment for its citizens. Until India does so, the people of the world's second-largest democracy (U.S.) will be unable to accord the world's largest democracy the respect that many of us would like to see it deserve, they said. Rekhi and Rowen noted that neither Vajpayee nor Home Minister L.K. Advani had condemned the violence and only stated platitudes, and that the prime minister had actually castigated Muslims around the world as being unable to live in harmony. Unlike President George Bush, who after September 11 went to a mosque and severely condemned any effort to threaten law and order, neither Vajpayee nor Advani has visited a mosque, and neither visited Gujarat during the initial phase of the riots, the two emphasised. Apart from the communal frenzy that took the life of around 950 people, mainly Muslims, in Gujarat, the mounting refugee problem and filthy camps are adding to the image of inaction, the two wrote. During the weeks after riots began in Ahmedabad, the government has conspicuously failed to enforce the law, according to Rekhi and Rowen who echo what the Indian media, human rights groups around the world as well as the European Union have highlighted. The state of things is not because of the state's inability to protect its citizens, but because the Gujarat government's implicit support of rioters and shrugging off the plight of the refugees, the authors pointed out. If anything, the local government's attitude has shifted from lack of interest in its minority citizens before the riots to active hostility afterwards. The atmosphere is such that a state minister in Ahmedabad asked the government to move the victims' camp because it makes his Hindu constituents feel insecure, the column said. While Chief Minister Narendra Modi may be saying things are in control, the police chief in Ahmedabad said his policemen favour rioters who are Hindus. The two also named an Indian bureaucrat who described the Gujarat riots as a state-sponsored pogrom. They attributed Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's inaction to the fact that the Gujarat government is a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, or to the fear that a more rightwing government may come in place if Modi is removed. The Modi government must be removed, and the state should be brought under central control, after which the police force must be replaced with a relatively unbiased army that could enforce the law impartially, the authors contended. Many overseas Indian Hindus donate money to causes in India that they think will help build temples and educate and feed the poor, Rekhi said. Many would be appalled to know that some recipients of their money are out to destroy minorities (Christians as well as Muslims) and their places of worship. Vajpayee could deal a severe blow to such covert causes by simply labelling them as terrorists. --Indo-Asian News Service =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] NEWS: Gujarat carnage video screening prompts govt action in Goa
GUJARAT CARNAGE VIDEO-CASSETTE SCREENING PROMPTS GOVERNMENT ACTION IN GOA From Frederick Noronha PANAJI, May 22: Gujarat cast its long shadow over the Goa elections, with the BJP chief minister of the state, Manohar Parrikar, threatening action against those screening videotapes on the carnage in that city. Goa goes to the polls on May 30. Anti-communalism campaigners have been showing the violence wreaked, allegedly with the complicity or involvement of the Sangh Parivar. Many of the screenshots show victims blaming the BJP and its allies for the violence. In recent weeks, anti-communalism campaigners in Goa had taken forward the drive to highlight the havoc caused by religious bigotry and intolerance in Gujarat, and Congressmen apparently found this material just grist for their party campaign mill, particularly in the minority areas of Goa. Chief minister Parrikar, a self-acknowledged RSS member, came down hard on those screening the video tapes on Gujarat, which he claimed was being done with the intention of inciting communal violence in the state. In another development, the Cuncolim police from South Goa speedily seized the video cassettes at what they described as an unauthorised meeting. Officials charged that the no prior permissions has been taken for the screening, and questioned whether the video promotes communal tension or not. Strangely, the films being shown in the state were by Delhi-based scientist Gauhar Raza (45), whose 'Junoon ke Badhte Kadaam' (Evil Stalks The Land) is his 12th in a series of films, with his earlier themes mainly centering around science and technology. Raza was also in town recently, and spoke emotionally about the impact of the Gujarat violence, and its scale. Another film that was brought here by anti-communalism campaigners was Gopal Menon's film Hey Ram: Genocide in the Land of Gandhi. This too was speedily put-together due to the carnage in Gujarat, in the fallout of the Godhra massacre. This is the usual case of those speaking the truth being labelled as the perpetrators of the crime, said Forum for Communal Harmony campaigner Vidhyadhar Gadgil. But Parrikar has warned that such actions could be viewed as an attempt to incite communal passions and the guilty could be booked under Section 153(A) of the Penal Code. Replying to a query later this evening, Congress central observer Sahai said: The BJP government can seize the cassette, but it can't omit what they have done in Gujarat. Former Congress Rajya Sabha MP John Fernandes argued that the focus on the carnage victims was nothing different from what was depicted by CNN and BBC in the international media. BJP came to power by defections in Goa in October 2000, and Goa is the first state to go to the polls after the Gujarat violence. This has cast its long shadow over the state, though it is not clear who would benefit, since regional factors will play a considerable role here too in the May 30 polls.ENDS =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] COMMENT: Vinod Mehta in Outlook
Vinod Mehta in Outlook Out Of True To ignore clear and present danger is foolish. A Goebbelsian campaign has been gathering strength over the past six weeks or so. The people who gave us the Gujarat carnage are assiduously spreading a canard: they say what we are witnessing in the country today is Hindus vs The Rest of India. The demonisation of the Hindus en bloc (Narendra Modi accuses the media and others of portraying the entire 50 million population of the state as rapists, assassins and thugs), thanks to relentless vilifying and relentless accusations of exclusive responsibility for the riots, it seems, is total. This, of course, is a manifest and preposterous lie. Unfortunately, on the ground, it is to some degree working. Increasingly, one finds mild, moderate, sensible HindusHindus who feel a sense of revulsion over the Gujarat barbarismcome up and complain that they are greatly perturbed, even incensed, at what they perceive is non-stop Hindu-bashing. The 100-odd letters I get every day and the feedback from Outlook correspondents suggests that the propaganda is finding some takers. I understand quiet satisfaction prevails in certain quarters at the success of the brilliant strategya strategy they believe is certain to fetch many votes. How should we counter the lie? First, one must emphasise on every possible occasion that the perpetrators of Gujarat and their associates outside constitute no more than 8 to 10 per cent of India's population. The vast majority of Hindus, including those Hindus who vote the BJP, are as sickened by the events of the past two months as the rest of us. Thus, it is not Hindus vs The Rest of India, it is a tiny minority of Hindus vs The Rest of India. Secondly, those who are on the side of the angels would do well to reduce the decibel level of their denunciation. The perpetrators, happily, stand fully exposed and our combined energies might now be usefully channelled into seeing how the rehabilitation of the riot victims can be speeded up. Hinduism, one of the world's great religions, is in grave danger of falling into the hands of extremists determined to pervert its sublime truths. We cannot allow that to happen. Repositories Of Grace How has secular India faced up to the onslaughts against the Constitution? All things considered, pretty well. The government pretends, or likes to pretend, that without media mischief they would have managed the fallout, but the reality is that civil societyof which media is just one parthas stood shoulder to shoulder in defence of settled national values. What has embarrassed the rulers most is not so much the media coverage as the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Us English-speaking hacks, writing in our out-of-touch English publications, could be dismissed as self-hating Hindus. However, you cannot easily dismiss the investigations and conclusions of a statutory body headed by a retired chief justice of India. I believe Justice J.S. Verma and his team worked with exemplary courage and professional integrity and had the guts to take on both the state and the Union government. The credibility of the nhrc currently is on par with the Election Commission. The highest court in the land has played a salutary role too, as have scores of NGOs and the Minorities Commission. Independent media bodies such as the Editors' Guild have substantiated what the nation already knew. The institutions protecting secular India may be slightly battered and a trifle demoralised but at moments of crisis they come through. Help Lines Lots of enquiries from friends and readers about where they can send money for the Gujarat riot victims. If you are reluctant to send cheques to the CMs relief fund or any other official relief agency for understandable reasons, here are three organisations which will make good use of your money and concern: · Aman Ekta Manch: C/o Jagori, C-54, South Extension-Part II, New Delhi 110 048 · Citizens Initiative: Opposite St Xaviers School, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad 380 009 · ActionAid India Society: ActionAid, 71 Uday Park, New Delhi 110 049 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=- To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet == For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] 10QUESTIONS: Film sought to be banned is a call for peace, harmony: Gauns
Film sought to be banned is a call for peace, harmony: Gauns
BICHOLIM-BASED social activist Ramesh Gauns (51) is a popular figure among
campaigners in the state. For the last 24 years we have been trying at all
levels to inculcate secular values , and this is our main agenda, says he.
So, Gauns was outraged when the BJP caretaker government threatened to slap
communalism charges against those exhibiting a video-film narrating the
reality behind the carnage in Gujarat. This came in the run-up to the May
30 elections in the state. In an interview with Frederick Noronha, the
Forum for Communal Harmony convenor explains what's at stake:
FN: Bans (or threatened bans) of films or books could make it more popular,
would you agree?
Certainly. People will be very much curious to know what exactly the film
contains...
FN: Okay then, *what* does it contain?
Actually there's nothing (objectionable) in the film. It's a cry for
justice, and an explanation of the injustice done (to the Gujarat carnage
victims) by well-organised mobs under the protection of state forces. This
is exposed outright by the common victims of what has been
called 'genocide'. It also shows burnt places -- houses, shops -- left
after the organised violence, and the actual conditions in the relief camps.
More importantly, it gives a message for peace. In the real sense, it is
only a call for peace and communal harmony.
FN: What's your case? Is the action technically legal? Is it politically
biased?
(Technically legal or otherwise) it is clearly politically biased. That
film was shown in T.B.Cunha Hall on May 16/17, where a sizeable crowd saw
it, after being made known to all, including the government agencies,
through the press. If the film contains any objectionable aspects, why
wasn't objection taken to at the T.B.Cunha Hall too? Objections should be
objective, not subjective.
FN: Have you consulted a legal viewpoint on this?
There is a green signal from (all lawyers we spoke to). There is nothing
objectionable. Secondly, these films ('Hey Ram' by Gopal Menon and 'Fear
Stalks The Land' by Gauhar Raza) are being show across the country by
campaigners for secularism.
FN: One argument was that permission is needed to screen a video film.
Permission for what? For a public screening with more than 40 people
gathering, technically yes. But what is the real objection to this film?
That no permission was taken? Or that the film puts out objectionable
content? This is nothing but harassment.
FN: How do you see this action?
Gopal Menon is a well-known activist on people's issues. Issues come up in
a very different (and convoluted) manner in Goa. The BJP caretaker
government doesn't want to get themselves exposed over their party's deeds
in Gujarat. That's why even the smallest attempt to express agony of the
people of Gujarat (is being blocked).
FN: Has a ban actually been imposed?
So far, nothing has been banned. We are anyway going on with the
screenings... in private groups. I would in fact like to suggest all people
concered about humanity and human rights to make it a point to at least
screen this film in their locality. This would expose the brutality of
supremacist thinking.
FN: Your suggest that this issue goes beyond just minority concerns?
Definitely. It's an issue for everyone. People from the majority community
have a concern for liberal thought. Had it not been the case, we would have
long since been a 'Hindu Rashtra'. The Sangh Parivar has tried this for 75
years. But then, why was the BJP then pushed to garnering just 21% of the
votes in Gujarat?
After September 11, terrorism and Islam have been well sought to be
connected by ideologues of a certain political tradition in places like the
US. Now, other political forces here are trying to cash-in on that here too.
FN: There is a debate over whether Gujarat would have an impact on the Goa
polls
I don't think so
[Goanet] Re: Death: Hugo Souza, Raia
Taking the liberty to circulate this note, from Samir Kelekar. I knew Hugo -- but due to geography perhaps we didn't have as much contact we should have had. In the few meetings we had, I was impressed by Hugo's commitment to issues like human rights. He always sent in that fifteen paise postcard to appreciate an issue of NewsSpeak (a critical journal about journalism in Goa, brought out by the Goa Union of Journalists) when we came out with these in the late 'eighties. We need more Hugos in this globe. FN Subject: Death: Hugo Souza To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi Guys: Our dear friend Hugo Souza of Raia, Goa has passed away. He died in the mission hospital in Himachal Pradesh. He probably died of cancer. He had left Goa and all of us a year back, to what he called an unknown destination. Personally, I am deeply indebted to this man who taught me so many things that I cannot even recount. A tremendous credit for what i am today goes to this man who brought out the very best in me always. He was a number one philosopher, who edited the first konkani daily in free Goa. A rank holder from Xavier's bombay, he passed his LLB with a gold medal. He decided to come to Goa leaving Mumbai to contribute to free Goa. His logic was so penetrating that he could beat any one at it. His commitment, integrity and reputation at whatever he did was unsurpassable. This man could have been anything and anyone but he decided to be with his own people and perhaps spent a major time of his life dealing wih kids like me and help us grow up. His belief in india and its potential was tremendous. He was adept in a range of fields but he basically called himself a theoretician. Right from reading puzzle books of Martin Gardener, to discussing world politics, astronomy, law, history, philosophy, sociology, science you name it, this guy had very few peers worldwide. He gives me as much power in his death that he had given in his life. regards, Sam =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] ON SATURDAY, MAY 25: Porvorim meet with candidates
From: John Gomes [EMAIL PROTECTED] Meeting at Azad Bhavan,Alto Betim on Sat 25th May02 from 5PM to6.30PM.All the candidates standing from the Aldona Constitutency namely from the BJP,Congress,MGP,NCP and Suraj party have been invited,and requested to ensure they come in time since this is intended to be a short controlled session where each candidate tells the citizen why they should vote for him, about the party manifesto, and then will follow a question and answer session. It is high time the voter gets involved to change the trends of defections and election of self serving or communal politicians.They must stop voting for personalities based on caste or religion and vote based on competency and developmental issues.Here is a chance for the voters of Porvorim and surrounding areas to see and know their candidates latest views and have a say.He will be listened to, at least before elections.PCAF has taken the initiative to organise this in public interest and hopes all concerned will make it convenient to attend. PCAF is a non governmental apolitical registered body working for the welfare of citizens and is open to all residents of Porvorim and surrounding areas..It has already taken up improvement of water supply with the PWD,security and traffic control with the Porvorim police.The need of the hour is for all NGOs in GOA to network,and become a force to monitor and help each other to keep the elected representatives on the correct path in public interest and the interests of GOA. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] CYBERMATRIMONIALS: Goans in the US, Canada, Dubai, Merchant Navy...
~***cls* C Y B E R - M A T R I M O N I A L S ** LOOKING OUT FOR a life partner? Circulate your message among thousands of Goans for free. For a listing in this column send details to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the 1 MATRIMONIAL. Respondents are requested to verify details for themselves. We carry, in good faith, details as sent in by our readers. Make sure to include an email address to enable you to get faster responses. LOOKING FOR A GOAN RC GIRL: Looking for a Goan Roman Catholic girl around 25 to 29 yrs for a 31 yr old MBA bank manager abroad, 5'10 tall, good personality, very well settled, excellent family background, non-smoker, friendly, caring, honest, down-to-earth person with good values. Reply with full details and photograph. Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] GOAN, IN THE US: Goan Roman Catholic spinster, in the US, 26 yrs, slim, attractive and well-accomplished, working as a marketing executive for a multinational company, invites alliance from Goan Roman Catholic professional bachelors in the US. Please reply to [EMAIL PROTECTED] WELL-SETTLED GOAN SPINSTER: Well settled Goan spinster seeking Goan bachelors 33-37yrs preferably settled in Canada. If interested please reply with full details to [EMAIL PROTECTED] SEEKING MATURE, JOVIAL GIRL: Seeking a mature, jovial and sincere girl. Peferably settled in Canada for a Goan bachelor 33 years 58'. Email [EMAIL PROTECTED] 25, RESIDENT IN CANADA: Goan/Mangalorean, 25, intelligent and good-looking, Canadian resident seeks affectionate person who will be more than a husband. He will be my friend and soulmate.E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] BACHELOR, LIVING IN EUROPE: Kind and loving bachelor (living in Europe for the last 10 years) 28 years of age seeks a good, loving and sincere Goan Catholic girl between the age of 18 and 25 for marriage. Must be willing to settle in Europe as I myself live and work there. Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] Do send a picture of yourself if possible and do mention your address or your contact number in the e-mail. Will be visiting Goa this year between Sept 2002 and December 2002. NRI ENGINEER SON: RC Goan parents invite alliance from well qualified professional spinsters 25-28 yrs old for their NRI engineer son 5'10 tall, 32 yrs old and well settled. If interested do email [EMAIL PROTECTED] GOAN BOY IN DUBAI: Parents of smart good looking boy 34 yrs, honest and jovial well settled in Dubai with good, own new business seeks a smart reasonably fair looking educated girl willing to settle in Dubai. Pls mail biodata and latest picture address - P.O.Box 30625 Dubai - U.A.E. and hope 4 the best. Email [EMAIL PROTECTED] ARTSY GOAN GAL? Looking to hear from artsy Goan gal, prefrably in N Am for 40 yr old artsy Goan guy. Must be educated, fit, interesting. [EMAIL PROTECTED] BACHELOR WORKING FOR AN MNC: Alliance invited from well settled, well educated Roman Catholic bachelor for Roman Catholic spinster 28/ 5'6 working for a MNC in UAE email [EMAIL PROTECTED] GOAN MERCHANT NAVY OFFICER: Smart, goodlooking, fair and intelligent Goan Merchant Navy officer, from a good and affluent family. 31yrs/5'8/67kgs. Looking for an interesting, goodlooking and intelligent match. Will be in Bombay in July. If interested please contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Make your ad more interesting by including details about hobbies, interests, things you feel passionate about, activities you like to participate in, political views, favourite music and books, typical weekend activities, things you think about... Keep ads to a max of 100 words. Please note, we *don't* carry caste affiliations in these columns. Do you know anyone on the lookout for a suitable match? Feel free to copy this dispatch to them. Invite them to join GoaNet/GoaNews, by writing in to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with SUBSCRIBE GOANET/GOANETDIGEST as the subjectline. * =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] NEWS: Christian body slams terrorism, calls for peace
Christian body slams terrorism, calls for peace From Indo-Asian News Service New Delhi, May 25 (IANS) A prominent Christian body Saturday urged India and Pakistan to refrain from armed conflict and resolve their differences through peaceful means. The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) called for initiating dialogue between the two countries to deal with terrorism that has seen a sudden spurt during since April and claimed nearly 50 lives in Jammu and Kashmir. Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated following the attack on an army camp May 14 when terrorists mowed down 31 people, mostly wives and children of Indian soldiers, and the assassination of separatist leader Abdul Ghani Lone on May 21. Expressing concern about the possibility of a confrontation between the two nuclear powers, CBCI appealed to both the governments to show restraint. While condemning the latest terrorists attacks, it called upon Islamabad to stop the infiltration of terrorists into Jammu and Kashmir. India and Pakistan must work towards diplomacy and dialogue to avoid the present situation at their borders, said Percival Fernandez, CBCI's secretary general. War, which ends only in the massacre of innocent people on both sides, should be avoided at all costs and both the countries should understand that they cannot afford a war at a time when millions of their people are living in poverty, social injustice, illiteracy and painful economic conditions. Delhi's Archbishop Vincent Concessao said: War is not the right solution to remove terrorism from India and Pakistan. The CBCI is of the firm conviction that Indians and Pakistanis are a peace loving people and they would never want a war between the two countries as a means to fight terrorism, which has affected both the countries and claimed hundreds of innocent lives, a statement issued by the CBCI said. Nearly 30,000 people have been killed in a bloody separatist campaign in Jammu and Kashmir since 1989. --Indo-Asian News Service =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] NEWS: BJP has left Goa's finances in a mess -- Chennithala
10 QUESTIONS: BJP HAS LEFT GOA'S FINANCES IN A MESS -- CHENNITHALA Ramesh Chennithala (46) was Kerala's youngest legislator at 25, has been in parliament for four terms, and this former NSUI (Congress student front) leader is now AICC secretary with with independent charge of seven states and Goa. Sitting in Room 104 -- the Congress 'Press Centre' at the International Centre -- Chennithala directs operations. He tells candidates' aides not to waste time as he sends them off to meet different persons. His statement this is not a Rotary Club election indicates the importance of Goa 2002 to his party. He speaks to FREDERICK NORONHA explaining the Congress perspective before a critical poll: - FN: The general perception is that Congress observers made off with a lot of bags (facing insinuations of corruption in ticket allocation). Your comment? - I'm very sorry to say that this kind of a (propaganda) campaign is going on. I don't understand why. Basically the candidate's selection was done by local leaders. We are here -- incidentally, I'm a here as an AICC secretary, not an observer -- to coordinate and help. We consider (local leaders') reports. Without the local leadership's opinion nothing has been done. There was an election committee, where all local leaders were invited. The screening committee too. On the Central Election Committee, the PCC president and the CLP head were also present. Observers gave their views on certain key constituencies. Without the local leadership's approval, no selection has been done. In each constituency there are three (or more) candidates. We can select only one winnable candidates. The other two (hopefuls) will naturally allege. That has become a practise. - FN: So you're saying no money was involved in the ticket-selection process? - Nothing. These are all... I'm very pained to say. This is a very unfortunate thing. Who is going to pay money? For what? It is very easy to make an allegation. If anybody has any proof, let them come and talk to us. We will take action. We had gone to so many states. Here the people are going to the press, and allegations are coming. It is very unfortunate to cast aspersions like this. I can say it about you also. That we have given money to (put out) good news. This is not going to help anyone - FN: The BJP's plank is good governance, a clean and stable government... - BJP cannot talk about defections. They engineered defections, and Parrikar is the father of defections. This government is itself a baby of defections. They had not got any mandate to rule Goa. They engineered defections with the help of the Union government. Moreover, they've given a ticket to someone who has defected eight times! - FN: What about stability? - They've not given any stability. In sixteen months, Manohar Parrikar himself dissolved assembly. This election is the contribution of Mr. Parrikar. Talk of a clean government is all bogus. Ministers performed with a lot of corruption. - FN: We've had an election forced on Goa probably without even a proper Cabinet decision. Even to other controversial actions of the BJP government, the Congress has been slow to react. Your comment? - On the day of the dissolution itself, our MLAs went to the Governor and Speaker. All means we tried. We attempted our level best. We were not slow. - FN: Congress has foisted the same old faces that have been dominating state politics for two decades and more. Doesn't Goa deserve change? Isn't the party willing to take the risks apart from these individuals, some of whom are badly discredited by now? - That's your opinion as a journalist. They are not discredited. They are good candidates. They're going to win the elections. In fact, we've given 8-9 new faces, if not more. (Another Congress observer, former union home minister of state Subodh Kant Sahai, interrupts to argue: When they go to the BJP they're good. But when they come back to the mother party they're bad people. Is that so?) - FN: What was the three best things Congress can claim
[Goanet] NEWS: BJP tries to enchash war fears; EC seizes video (Devika Sequeira/Deccan Herald)
BJP tries to encash war fears EC seizes video on Gujarat carnage in Goa By Devika Sequeira/ DH News Service The Election Commission has seized video cassette of a documentary on the Gujarat riots that was being shown in many parts of Goa, and has ordered all copies to be withdrawn from circulation here. Joint Chief Electoral Officer R P Pal told Deccan Herald that the cassette had the potential to do damage and the state police had been instructed to seize copies wherever they were in circulation in the state. Also seized were copies of the latest issue of Communalism Combat which features the Gujarat clashes on the cover describing it as genocide. Mr Pal said the matter had been referred to the Chief Election Commission's office in Delhi, for a final decision. But local non-governmental organisations here, responsible for screening the video, said they were deeply distressed by the police action. The Forum for Communal Harmony said it had viewed the documentary Hey Ram, directed by Gopal Menon, and was convinced that it is a very human account. It said, What has happened in Gujarat are acts of planned genocide and the people of India have a right to know the truth. It described the police action as patently illegal and high-handed. This is a matter of serious concern, because it is part of a series of actions by BJP-led governments, at the Centre and the State, against freedom of expression, said the forum's spokesman and former MP Amrut Kansar. The police action comes at the peak of the election campaign here, with the Congress and the BJP locked in a war of words. On the defensive over its performance in Gujarat, the BJP has been struggling to counter the anti-communalism campaign. Some officials in the Election Commission's office here complained that the government was misusing the police machinery to do this.They pointed out that the first copy of the video cassette had been seized not under the instructions of the Election Commission, but of the state government. Bent on shifting the focus away from Gujarat, BJP leaders have of late begun to use the war slogan. Both Mr Pramod Mahajan and Mr Rajnath Singh, said in rallies that a vote for the BJP would be a vote to strengthen the prime minister at this crucial time when we face the threat of war. --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.325 / Virus Database: 182 - Release Date: 2/19/02
[no subject]
approved: TouaregVr6 From: Vicki [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: GoaNet [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Goa polls -- BJP worried over Church influence Goa polls: BJP worried over church influence From Devika Sequeira DH News Service PANAJI, May 26 Keen to gain the acceptance of the minority vote, senior BJP leaders from Delhi have grown worried over the influence the Catholic Church could exert at this crucial stage of the Goa election. Voting is just four days away. Catholics make for 30 per cent of the electorate here, with another five per cent represented by Muslims. A BJP central minister told this correspondent that the feedback had not been favourable to the BJP. The church gave us to understand that they were unhappy with the Congress for renominating defectors. But they are far more disturbed about Gujarat, he said. How deep runs the mistrust after Gujarat, is apparent from the views of the spokesman of the Church Fr Carmo Martins. The BJP has failed to make it clear by its actions that it is any different in Goa, he told this newspaper today. He said the church had been disappointed by BJP Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's complete silence on the killing of minorities in Gujarat. He did not even condemn it, and what's worse, is that the prime minister tried to justify it as a natural outcome of Godhra. The Goa church had earlier issued a circular asking voters to reject corrupt candidates, defectors and those with a communal bias. It has changed its stance since and is asking voters here to reject outright those responsible for the Gujarat carnage. Our appeal to the voter today is to choose between the lesser of the two evils. And corruption is certainly less dangerous than communalism, said Fr Martins. We can never support those who want to force religious minorities to live in fear, he added. Unfazed by criticism for its vocal stance in this election, the church said politics was part of the life of the Church and it would continue to play a role in it --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.325 / Virus Database: 182 - Release Date: 2/19/02
[Goanet] NEWS: Foreign airlines bend backwards to woo Indian travellers
Foreign airlines bend backwards to woo Indian travellers By Deepshikha Ghosh, Indo-Asian News Service New Delhi, May 20 (IANS) Weeks after standardising air tariffs in tune with global norms, international airlines operating in India are bending their own rules to attract the whimsical Indian traveller. Indians don't like to plan much in advance, and they like to change their mind at the last minute. Naturally, new airline rules imposed in April led to a storm of protests from customers because they entailed booking tickets in advance and a heavy penalty for eleventh hour changes. In an earlier era, passengers could book tickets two hours before the flight at almost the same ticket price and get away with rebooking or cancellation by paying a meagre Rs 500 or Rs 1,000. Now West bound foreign airlines have decided relax the stringent fare structure for advance purchases and penalties to woo more travellers. A category of passengers for which ticket purchase was stipulated 21 days before the flight can now buy tickets 10 days before departure and still pay only 60 percent of the published International Air transport Association (IATA). Passengers of the category that could buy tickets for 70 percent of the published fare for purchase seven days in advance can now make the purchase only five days before flying. Although it is still not as accommodative as the pre-April system, airlines hope this will appeal to their customers somewhat. The penalty on unutilised tickets has been reduced from 50 percent of the ticket price to 25 percent. The rebooking fee for outbound sectors also has come down from Rs 5,000 to Rs 3,000. The earlier tariff structure was enforced April 1 by several airlines including Lufthansa, Emirates, Air France, Cathay Pacific, Swiss Air, Alitalia and British Airways. The standardised tariffs meant the fare published on the ticket would be the amount the traveller paid the airlines and any discount would be factored into the printed fare. Before this, the fare printed on the ticket was much higher than the amount paid by the customer. Gauging a very adverse response from Indian travellers, most airlines started bending their own rules barely two weeks after setting the rules, travel and tourism expert K. Joshi said. Joshi pointed out that while the system was functioning very well abroad, its success in India would depend on whether customers were willing to cough up too much money just to change their mind. Besides, foreign carriers are already trying to cope with the problem of low flight bookings and too many empty seats. Airline industry officials said the amended rules would customise the fare structure keeping in mind the special needs of Indian passengers who were prone to be erratic and whimsical about travel plans. Indians have always been used to a more accommodative regime of air tariffs compared to the strict norms in other countries imposed specifically for transparency and accountability in customer services. The new regime was also introduced by India's flagship carrier Air-India (A-I) for flights to New York and Chicago via London. However, A-I has also been forced to relax norms according to customer needs. --Indo-Asian News Service =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] GoaNet UK (Edited by Eddie Fernandes) May 24 issue
COMMUNITY NEWS: Rudy Otter has a 'must read' article about the Asian Chaplaincy, London which appeared in The Universe, 28 Apr. Excerpts: I wish, said Fr Oliver Antao of the UK's Asian Chaplaincy, that we could have a place of our own. I'd like to set up an advice centre -- this is our most pressing need. The contributions of Fr Arthur Moraes, Fr Andrew Fernandes, Olga Carvalho, Michael Lobo and Francisco D^ÒSouza are acknowledged. The 814 word article has been archived at http://www.goacom.com/news/news2002/may/msg00045.html Join in the celebrations at the Asian Chaplaincy this Sunday (see the Events section). From Norma Menezes-Rahim: For all details on World Goaday - UK - celebrating our Goan Heritage for the month of August visit website www.goadayuk.com Internationally renowned opera soprano Patricia Rozario, 44, is an example of the determination that all the winners share. Excerpt from Daily Mail. 17 May. Re. Death of Roldao Menezes on 19 Mar. Terezinha, Carol and Brian write: Many thanks to all Roldao's friends / ex-students who have sent their kind sympathies to us. We appreciate your support, prayers, Masses and caring words conveyed at this sad time. From John D'Souza (Toronto): G.O.A. Toronto is holding a Career Fair on Sun. May 26. Contact: Noella de Souza 416 412 2896 or check http://www.goatoronto.com/events/careerfair02/careerfair.html From Nick DeMello (Toronto): The GOA Toronto hockey teams proved that they are the best in Canada. Last weekend at the Adidas 6-a side Hockey Festival the Women team beat the Boston Field 5-2. In the Men's Final, GOA Toronto beat Toronto Field Hockey Club 5-2.(Junior Star Wayne Fernandes 4; International forward Ken Pereira 1). *** DEATHS: 13 May: Guirim: ARCHANGELA F D'SOUZA, wife of late Joseph, mother of Maria/Neville de Souza (UK), Mercy/Peter Fernandes, Merlin/Salvador Pinto, Myra/Parag Shetkar. 15 May. Cortalim. JOSE MARTIN DOURADO. Husband Of Late Visilda, Father of Mario/Ancy, Late Flavia/ Larry (England), Renato/Jane (England). 18 May: Agassaim: JOSE MARIA SEVERIANO FERNANDES, husband of Tomacina, father of Celestino, Veriano, Alberto, Trindade (London), Menino, Roberto, father-in-law of Maria, Inacina, Reina. *** NEWS HEADLINES mainly from Joel D'Souza in Goa, courtesy of GOACOM, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Despite Goa having more than 100 inches rain annually, there is always inadequate and irregular water and power supply. I had lived in Mombasa, Kenya, for 20 years from 1946 to 1966. Mombasa is an island with a population that is more than a lakh. It used to get hardly 20 inches rain per year, yet we had never experienced any shortage of either water or electricity. There was always abundant water and power supply round the clock. In fact, we never ever stored any water or used any emergency lamps as we do here. Martinho J Fernandes, Goa Velha, in a letter to the Editor, Herald, 22 May.) A report on Ageing in Goa was published on 16 May. It studies the conditions of the elderly that prevails in Goa and gauges the changes in the status of senior citizens The report also surveys the conditions of retirement homes in Goa which is dismal. Copies, price Rs. 150, can be ordered from the Research Institute for Women, Goa, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Goa Assembly Elections -- May 30. Hectic canvassing continues. The Gujarat violence is expected to dim the BJP's hopes of winning but their apparent success in tackling corruption and improving bureaucracy may swing it for them. Mr Parrikar released a statement alleging that the Congress planned to incite communal violence in Goa after Sonia Gandhi's visit of May 23. Fred Noronha reports on that visit at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/goanet/message/21357 Excerpt: Sonia lambastes BJP's misguided ethos at Campal rally. She said, There are many from Goa who live abroad, either as NRIs or as businessmen. They are doing extremely well. They could make a tremendous contribution to Goa. But this needs systematic planning. For an assessment of the position, check: Church holds key in Goa elections. Hindustan Times, 23 May 2002, 412 Words, http://www.hindustantimes.com/nonfram/230502/detNAT12.asp and Margaret Mascarenhas: The lesser of two evils http://groups.yahoo.com/group/goanet/message/21367 ** IN THE NEWS: The May issues of GoaNow is at www.goacom.com/goanow/ and Goa Today is at www.goacom.com/goatoday Interhash Goa 27-29 September 2002. Hashing is a fun run combined with a lots of beer drinking. Goa has been selected as the venue for the next International Hash and thousands will descend from all over the world. There will be a special train and planes from Bombay. Full details at: http://www.goa2002.com/ On 13 Sept. there will be London prelude to Interhash Goa 2002.
[Goanet] NEWS: 'Unconventional' candidates liven Goa polls
'Unconventional' candidates liven Goa polls By Shiv Kumar, Indo-Asian News Service Panaji (Goa), May 26 (IANS) After years of funding politicians, Goan mining magnate Anil Salgaoncar decided to plunge into the election battle himself. Over the years, I have spent enormous amounts of money on politicians of different parties who have done nothing for the mining industry, says Salgaoncar, head of Goa's biggest mining company and a candidate in Sanvordem, a rural area where he has his mines. Salgaoncar is one of 15 unconventional candidates in the race for the 40-seat Goa assembly that goes to the polls Thursday. The others include a beer baron, a singer, a recruiting agent who has sent scores for jobs in the Middle East, alleged operators of illegal gambling parlours, moneylenders and builders. Most of these candidates are contesting as independents. The regional United Goans Democratic Party (UGDP) and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) are backing some of them. Beer baton Monte Cruz is making a comeback in politics after 10 years. The break was well spent consolidating his Belo brand of beer and obtaining a bottling deal with United Breweries. Contesting under the UGDP-MGP banner, Cruz hopes to defeat the incumbent Congress legislator Luis Alex Cardoz. All the boys in the area are working for me, says Cruz, who is plying his dedicated ban of 200 campaign workers with chicken biryani and Belo beer. In the same constituency singer Ulhas Buyao is entertaining the voters with spoofs on Goa's leading politicians. Like Salgaoncar, Buyao says: I had backed several politicians in Goa, but am now I'm contesting for myself. Recruiting agent Mickey Pachecho is using his business clout to the hilt in the campaign. Due to his formidable reputation acquired by sending hundreds of youths to the Gulf and the West for jobs, young people are flocking to his election meetings at Benaulim in south Goa. At his street corner meetings, the proceedings are sober. Only the hundreds of T-shirts distributed among voters thronging the meetings indicate the kind of money Pachecho -- who is taking on veteran politician Churchill Alemao -- has poured into the campaign. Campaigning has turned aggressive, with many candidates plying voters with food, drink and freebies. In a state where bars dot the landscape, watering holes in various constituencies have been earmarked exclusively for workers of different political parties. Some nights there is no beer available anywhere in parts of Goa, says a bar owner from Margao town, Goa's main business area. One candidate reportedly gave away 25 motorcycles in a constituency with less than 25,000 voters. A big landlord with enormous muscle at his disposal has been accused of distributing hundreds of mobile phones in his constituency. Another builder is reported to have repaired the houses of voters. Though every candidate can spend only Rs.300,000 on the elections by law, the limit is easily exceeded. Though there have always been such candidates, this is the first time so many of them are spending so much to make an impact, says a police officer. But Election Commission officials say they have not noticed any candidate exceeding the spending limit. The main battle in this tiny coastal state of 1.3 million people is, however, between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and opposition Congress. There are 210 candidates in the fray for the 40 seats. --Indo-Asian News Service =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] 10QUESTIONS: From the UN to computers for an island school...
10QUESTIONS* FROM THE U.N. TO THE ISLAND OF CHORAO: THE POWER OF VOLUNTEERING From the UN to an island, Alwyn Noronha (46) has opted for a life in Chorao, a tiny island-village off the Goa capital of Panjim. This returned expat is now helping the local St Bartholomew School with sprucing up and boosting its computer education facilities. Born in Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), he came to Goa at the age of 10 and studied at Don Bosco's, Almeida's, Loyola's and Dhempe's. For a while, he tried being a medical rep at Bombay. They threw me out. Sales in my area had plunged. From that time I realised I should never do anything involving people, he laughs. But his ticket was already booked to go to Vienna, where his uncle was based. He worked at the Austrian Information Service for Development Politics, an NGO there; and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, which he calls a 'Cold War' institution, at Laxenburg, outside Vienna. Next, he used his computer skills at the UNIDO (UN Industrial Development Organisation), and finally he spent at decade at the UNOV (UN Office in Vienna). Today, after returning back to Goa with wife Lisa Dias-Noronha and family, he's volunteering with the Goa Linux-for-Schools venture, being supported by local volunteers and expats like the Goa Sudharop (www.goasudharop.org). Alwyn represents the skills that an expat-oriented society like Goa could tap, and productively utilise, if only the structure existed for this. Schools in this state have already received a limited number of computers from the regional government. But much more efforts are required if these computers are to be augmented with more, to offer better resources to the average student across the state. That's where people like Alwyn fit in. Excerpts from an interview with the soft-spoken, man of few words FN: What motivated you to get involved with this project? To tell you the truth, I got dragged into it. The PCs were coming here anyway (to the village school, through a donor-project started by expats). I would be here, anyway. And my wife Lisa was already involved in the school a couple of years back, through a waste-management project. We've already made some investment of time in the school with its library project (with books shipped in from Austria in the past). FN: What are your plans as far as the computers go? To make sure they are used well. FN: How will you manage that? We hope to supplement with teaching help. My contribution would be anything we can do in improving the situation, increasing the number of PCs, organising training material... above all, actually spending time here. FN: What has been the attitude of the school? Very positive, extremely cooperative. Everything required (was made available on time). Funds were managed. Fittings for the computer room was done quickly, thanks to a cooperative principal and staff. (This has not been the experience with all other schools benefited from donated equipment, though. -FN) FN: What is the big challenge facing Goa's schools trying to offer students more access to computers? I know too little on this. This is my first involvement in computer education in schools anywhere, not just in Goa. So we will see what the problems are...I haven't had any problems so far. FN: How does Goa's schools ensure optimum utilisation of computers? We want to see after they've done word-processing and spread-sheets what else could be done. Internet connectivity, and setting up local websites... FN: Do you think students would have a problem with the GNU/Linux Operating System, since it's somewhat different from Windows? Basically no. I've never seen LTSP (a networking tool, using a local server, to share lower-powered computing resources more efficiently) in action, and haven't used Star Office. (Alwyn is into Lotus Notes, etc) But we will install and see.
[Goanet] 10QUESTIONS: Corruption has led to communalism... says Goa Suraj
10QUESTIONS: IN FACT, CORRUPTION HAS LED TO COMMUNALISM IN GOA, SAYS GOA SU-RAJ At sea for 25 years, Floriano Lobo saw the ship of Goa floundering badly when he returned. With his team, this Moira-based 54-year-old thought of forming the Goa Su-Raj as an answer. Running his construction firm out of his village since the mid-nineties, the former radio officer is one of the Goa professionals and businessmen who feels something has to be done. Fast. Fighting a tough battle as a new, small party, the Goa Suraj president says: Our candidates' legs are swollen, I pity them. They're doing door-to-door campaigning silently on their own. The party cannot give them any support except for a few banners. Lobo, who once fought a battle against noise pollution, explains the issues behind the high-decible election campaign, as his party sees it, to FREDERICK NORONHA: --- FN: You have some good candidates, some of your programmes sound catchy. But probably I too might have not voted for Goa Suraj, fearing a wasted vote. --- Voting for a winner is following the herd mentality. People should vote to change the system, and not get bogged down in the same, old corrupt (and of late, communal) system. --- FN: Of corruption and communalism, which do you'll consider the greater evil. Or are both equally bad? --- We consider that corruption has led to communalism. Corruption in the Congress and opportunist parties like the NCP -- specially people like Dr de Souza -- are responsible for the rise of BJP rule in Goa, which would have never been otherwise possible. So, both have to go. --- FN: Isn't money power a major opponenent for any smaller party in the fray? --- We want to eventually root out money power, which is lavished in elections, wasted on banners, posters, flags, rallies, loud-speaker vans. Our next election campaign is going to be a very silent one, without the use of this paraphernalia. Our election process will start very early; in fact it has already started (for the next time round). --- FN: Have you'll learnt any surprising lessons during this campaign? --- Our Benaulim candidate was threatened and pressurised. But this is not the first time. We've been in politics and elections (not as a party though) for long, and know exactly what happens. How money flows, and at what stage of the campaign. On the second-last and last day of the campaigns, virtually on election eve. We wouldn't be bothered about that. It is only meant to cater to the confirmed vote banks, and those who are sought to be swayed. --- FN: On what basis does the voter make up his or her mind, would you say? --- Voters are very, very elusive entities. The affluent voters are not bothered with voting; you really have to give them a strong motive to vote. The middle-class thinking voters are passive. Confused maybe. In this election, the voter is being given an option to throw out communal forces at the cost of accepting corruption. This is a ploy. Basically, every election comes with a ploy. About 25-30% of the electorate is a confirmed vote-bank of different parties. Some percentage could switch at the last moment, when lured with heavy packets, or items like TVs or sarees. --- FN: Reducing elections to a one-point issue seems counter-productive from the voter's perspective. Would you agree? --- In the past too, there were these ploys put out. In 1999, the Congress was given a mandate on the basis of the promises of having a six-member Cabinet and clean faces. Before that, it was (emotive) issues like language. Everything has been reduced to a single-point agenda. This time, it is a fear-psychosis of communalism, vis-a-vis what happened in Gujarat. This is something that can never happen in Goa. --- FN: One view is that the BJP is supporting smaller parties to split the vote. Charges have come up against the UGDP. Your comment
[Goanet] Corruption... and human rights
Interesting to compare with the situation in Goa. FN -- Forwarded message -- Factors that determine the effective protection and promotion of human rights in India: In addition to governmental indifference, there are a number of factors that are determental against the effective protection and promotion of human rights in India. These include: * Widespread corruption at all levels in the bureaucracy, including the law enforcement agencies. * Political interferences in the functioning of the police. * Insufficient training and sensitisation of the law-enforcement agencies in human rights matters. * The lack of an adequately vigilant and empowered citizenry. * Communal, caste, linguistic and other divisions across the country. * Widespread illiteracy. * Great poverty among vast sections of the population... From www.legalpundits.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] A brief journey... (unheard voices column)
A brief journey (UNHEARD VOICES/HERSH MANDER/FRONTLINE MAGAZINE) The saga of Sushila's struggle with AIDS captures the essence of the untold stories of scores of women whose voices have perhaps been lost forever. http://www.flonnet.com/fl1911/19110880.htm SUSHILA'S brothers did not want to send her so far away. But she was growing older, and the prospective bridegroom John, a Goan truck driver, seemed eligible - he was soft-spoken and earned well. He said that he lived alone in his home in Mumbai and assured her brothers that she would be happy with him. Initially, the wedding proposal included a demand for dowry. But Sushila spiritedly opposed this, and ultimately John agreed to accept her without it. The marriage was fixed, and seven years ago, in a modest Bangalore church, Sushila's life was tied to John's. Irrevocably, as it turned out, in many ways, both anticipated and unanticipated. When this proposal first came for Sushila, the youngest of five sisters and brothers in a conservative Catholic family in a village close to Bangalore, the family had debated it for a long time. Her father had died only months earlier, and her elder brothers were concerned and protective about her future. One brother worked as a clerk in an office. The other had become an evangelist after chequered years in the army, some worrying months of heavy drinking, and an unsuccessful experiment in running a furniture store. The brothers lived together, with their families. They were strict with their sisters, and did not allow them even to talk to their own male friends who visited their home. One sister became a nun and was in Bihar; another was married and had two children. Now only Sushila remained. The first shock came when she arrived at her husband's home in Mumbai, just days after their marriage. He had lied to her; he did not live alone. In a small shanty in a sprawling Mumbai slum, John lived with two unmarried brothers and a divorced sister. The next morning itself, he set off on his truck without a word to her, and returned only 15 days later. But this was barely for one or two nights, before he was on the road again. John's family had grown up in the big city, and their ways were very different from those that Sushila had been used to. They would think nothing of visiting tea stalls and the cinema, or talking in the rough, coarse, open way of the city streets. Sushila was desperately lonely and missed the protected world of her family and village. But who was there to speak to? Her husband was rarely home. Sushila returned to her brothers' home in Bangalore when she became pregnant. The child was still-born, and the doctors said that she had contracted some venereal disease from her husband. The miscarriage left her critically ill, and her brothers gave money and blood to save her life. Her husband was hundreds of kilometres away, driving his truck, oblivious of all this. When he returned a whole month later and asked 'where is my child', Sushila was furious with him - for causing the infection, for not caring and for not being there when she needed him most - and she cried out loud and long. Her brothers persuaded John to stay back with them in Bangalore and to give up driving his truck. He agreed, and they found him some work in Bangalore itself. For Sushila, this was the happiest phase of her married life. But it did not last long. One day, only weeks afterwards, he disappeared without warning. Two months later, he returned with his truck, and demanded that Sushila go back to Mumbai with him. Her brothers tried to dissuade her, but she did not want to remain dependent on them. She returned tearfully to her husband's home. He promised to take better care of her this time. The reason for his long absences, he told her, was that he was not a licensed driver and therefore his employers and the police could harass and exploit him. He persuaded her to sell her gold chain, a gift from her family when she was married. He said that he needed the money to pay bribes in order to acquire a bus driver's badge, and he started driving a passenger bus between Mumbai and Goa. Sushila began to see him more regularly. She soon became pregnant again. The child, born in her uncles' care in Bangalore, was a healthy baby girl. Labour was prolonged and painful, and in the end the doctors in the government hospital took recourse to a caesarean section. By the time Sushila returned to Mumbai with her daughter, John had quit his regular job on the Mumbai-Goa bus and was back to driving his truck across the length and breadth of the country. His absences became longer and more uncertain, and in time her unmarried older brother-in-law took to harassing her sexually. Sushila once pushed him down the broken staircase, and he broke his leg. She complained to her husband, but he refused to intervene. Before long, she was pregnant once again. This time, they refused to send her to her brothers' home. After the fifth
[Goanet] More Goa-related discussion groups...
-- Date: Fri, 31 May 2002 18:54:53 +0100 From: C Fernandes [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [Goanet] ONE GOA Hi Aloysius, I think that you are right. I do not think that Goans do not need any more discussion group. Perhaps, this type of discussion group starts for egoistic reasons. Also, cross postings creates another type of problems. I would appreciate if someone start some innovative ideas to share correct information on Goa and Goan important matters which can help Goans. Regards, Cip London Sorry to disagree, guys. Despite being closely connected with GoaNet for many years now, my (personal) view is: * Anyone is welcome (and free) to start any new mailing list. * Differences in perception could result in different lists being set up. This is neither unhealthy nor unwelcome, provided It's not a coincidence that some of the lists set up after GoaNet sees as its members mainly those who have a differing perception on the benefits of the pre-1961 and the post-1961 eras in Goa. That's fine. Everyone has a right to their opinion... * We shouldn't take this rivalry to heart, and try to work without animosity to each other. * Each list should try to do better, and thus offer the reader a better deal, and a greater number of options. This would lead to greater media diversity, instead of moving to a situation where each list tries to be more and more like each other. (That, IMHO, is what's happening to newspapers in Goa.) * Finally, it would help if we could avoid trying to re-invent the wheel and duplicate each other's initiatives, and instead try to build up a list which 'fills in the gap' by offering something that is currently not being addressed. Agreed that this is not always easy to implement, and sometimes our rivalries gets the better of us. * Of course, the bottomline is: the effective creation of content. Goa, as a society, is in the midst of a crisis to create the content, ideas and opinions that it needs. That's why it's so easy for the news to be manipulated. (Saffron wave in Goa, was there one really?) That's why it is so easy for Goa's priorities to be set by people who have no long-term stake in the region. Unless more content- generation takes place, we will not be throwing up the ideas and information that Goa as a society needs to move ahead. --FN =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] TALK on virii: CSI, Goa Friday, June 7
Dr Anupam Saraph, the Computer Society of India (Goa chapter) Secretary, told me that Sachin Chatte speaks at on computer virii on coming Friday. Do come along for the talk... Time: 6 pm Date: Friday, June 7, 2002 Venue : CSI, 3rd Flr, Naguesh Apts, Opp Navtara, Panjim Market Area All are welcome. This is a talk open to the public. FN =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] Who won where... and some (limited) explanations why
-- DETAILED RESULTS OF VOTES POLLED IN GOA 2002 ELECTIONS Who won where... and some (limited) explanations why -- MANDREM CONSTITUENCY : Candidate Name Party Votes polledLead Margin Khalap Ramakant DattaramINC 5047 Gawandi Hanumant Ganesh MAG 345 Parsekar Laximikant YeshwantBJP 5955908 Bagkar Anil Shiva SHS 652 Parab Sangeeta GopalIND 2958 Mhamal Ashok Dhaku IND 128 Louis Lawrance FernandesIND 165 [Congress rebel Ms Sangeeta Parab spelt Khalap's doom. Khalap, the BJP's number three till recently, was a late defector back to Congress. For ages, he was in the MGP, but has shown a proclivity to switch parties of late.] PERNEM CONSTITUENCY :: Dayanand Raghunath Sopate BJP 4449 Deshprabhu Jitendra RaghurajINC 67782329 Deshprabhu Vasudeo Rajendra MAG 2440 Petkar Bharat RamchandraSHS 190 Ajgaonkar Bablo Atmaram IND 185 [Jitendra, scion of the landlord Deshprabhu family and now into business, seems leagues ahead despite factors like caste.] DHARGALIM CONSTITUENCY ::: Ajgaonkar Manohar Trimbak BJP 84675762 Amonkar Janardhan Arjun MAG 258 Dhargalkar Balkrishna Atmaram INC 2705 [Congress seems to have been nowhere in this picture. A poor candidate? Dhargal is Goa's only constituency reserved for the deprived Scheduled Castes segment.] TIVIM CONSTITUENCY ::: Nilkanth Ramnath Halarnkar NCP 6440 Maulingkar Premnath Arjun INC 4408 Shet Sadanand Mhalu BJP 6961521 Korgaokar Indrakant DattaramSHS 328 [NCP-Congress split gave BJP this unexpected win. Nilkanth was considered a winnable candidate last time too, when battling Dayanand Narvekar here.] MAPUSA CONSTITUENCY :: Divkar Prasad Kalidas NCP 163 Francis Pedro D'souza BJP 83782107 Braganza Armindo Jose INC 6271 Raikar Paresh Atmaram MAG 929 Harmalkar Sanjay Pundalik SHS 315 [BJP, despite some being upset over the ticket going to neo-saffronite Francis D'Souza, won here. There was some unexpected decision over the Congress ticket too, which was expected to go to last-minute party-hopper from MGP-to-Congress, Prof Surendra Sirsat.] SIOLIM CONSTITUENCY :: Christopher Fonseca CPI 377 Chodankar Chandrakant NCP 3235 Polle Pandharinath VamanMAG 527 Fernandes Francis Gregorio INC 5245 Mandrekar Dayanand Rayu BJP 71521907 Naik Gokuldas Surya GVP 98 Fernandes Albin GSRP169 Jawaharlal HenriquesIND 387 Narvekar Sanjay Ganesh IND 347 Vernekar KalidasIND 126 [Another clear case of Congress-NCP split of votes benefitting the BJP. Few expected BJP's Dayanand Mandrekar to win here.] CALANGUTE CONSTITUENCY :: D'souza Urban NCP 243 Naik Gajanan Rama CPI 263 Fernandes AgneloINC 97112070 Suresh V. Parulekar BJP 7641 Nagvekar Pundalik Manmohan SHS 124 Noronha Edwin Francis JosephGSRP230 [The Candolim sarpanch stole the march for the Congress. Parulekar has changed parties a few times in the past; some voices were raised about 'additional' voters being included here.] SALIGAO CONSTITUENCY D'Mello Trejano Agricio INC 3537726 D'Souza Wilfred NCP 4263 Sayyad Salim Pirsab MAG 1682 Harmalkar Sadguru Pandurang BJP 3476 Kalangutkar Deelip Sonu IND 1677 Roland A. D'souza IND 102 Sequeira Savio Victor IND 122 [Dr Wilfred de Souza taking on his former aid Trejano. Surprise of surprises, why did BJP and MGP choose the candidates they zeroed in here? Last time BJP candidate, Deelip Kalangutkar, who had come within 400-odd votes of defeating D'Souza, was not given the party ticket this time, leading
[Goanet] 10QUESTIONS: You don't need to be a minister to serve the people -- Matanhy
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A MINISTER TO SERVE THE PEOPLE -- MATANHY
For 28 years, Matanhy Saldanha (53) was a dissenter known for his
determined fights for public interest causes. He contested the polls
unsucessfully for five times, and finally won in the May-end assembly
elections. But, unlike other politicians in Goa, he opted to stay out of
the BJP-led coalition ministry and declined the offer -- on a platter -- of
a ministership! Quite a change, for a politician in the state.
Known nationwide as a leader of the traditional fishermen in Goa
('ramponkars'), Saldanha from a landed family in Salcete was a veteran of
the 1974 anti-fertilizer pollution campaign, the fishermen's movement, the
anti-sand extraction movement, the campaign against Meta Strips (I only
supported that, it was not my struggle), the language battle, among others.
I can't call myself a campaigner. You can say whatever you want to, he
says modestly, in an interview with FREDERICK NORONHA.
His party, the UGDP, was quick to join the BJP-led coalition. But, without
saying so in as many words, Saldanha drops hints he would have been happier
if the five MLAs of the three smaller parties had to remain united. Don
Bosco's Panjim incidentally might just have to make do without the services
of its long-term high school Biology teacher. But this could be an
interesting man to watch in the assembly... Excerpts from an interview:
**
FN: Why did you refuse a ministership? Nobody does that nowadays...
**
Basically, my people elected me on certain assurances made in the campaign.
The question of my joining or taking over any post did not arise. I know
that I can perform without being a minister, and don't believe one has to
be a minister to do any form of development.
**
FN: But is it true you were offered a ministership?
**
(Avoiding the question) I was not seeking any post from anybody. Not even
the Congress. I know what's behind the post. We've been elected to serve
the people. We can serve as an MLA, and don't have to be a minister to do
so. Finances ought to be distributed equally (among all constituencies) by
any government that be.
**
FN: How do you feel after making it after so many attempts?
**
To tell you frankly, it's an increase of responsibility. For me, it
(standing for elections) was not like going for a cricket orfootball match.
It's something I'm going to do (taking up public issues in the assembly)
and know that I'll have to face a lot of odds to achieve this.
**
FN: What are your priorities as a legislator?
**
Development. Need-based development. Also, planned development. The main
role of a government should be the development of infrastructure. Not only
for industrialists, but also for the people themselves.
May be that's too lofty a goal; but I'm there to show there are new ways of
how politicians should behave and how legsilators should behave.
**
FN: Would you have won if it was not for the UGDP party ticket?
**
That's what people told me; go and join (the UDGP). They said, don't stay
in this (my earlier Gomant Lok Pokx) which didn't seem to have its early
appeal left, and never won despite (trying hard for) three to four elections.
**
FN: But then, anything could be justified, as other politicians have done,
by saying that that is what the people want?
**
That's why I've not joined the BJP or any other (major) party. There are
people with hundreds of ideas. You have to see what the majority thinks. It
was the current circumstances that forced me to behave in a certain way.
Otherwise, I would have had to take 'sanyas' (become a political recluse)
and stay out (of mainstream politics) totally. It is not possible. On the
other hand I was being promised (many things).
**
FN: What's your plans for functioning within the assembly?
**
I will act as an effective legislator. Be critical when I need to be
critical, oppose when I need to oppose, and support when I need to support.
**
FN: Did you think enough 'bad guys' got out-voted in the current polls?
**
I would not like to term anyone 'good' or 'bad'. It's for people to judge.
So many are still there. It is for the people who ultimately elect their
politician, not for us
**
FN: Is this the high point of your career of many years in public life, and
taking up issues of concerns? Or is it just another phase?
**
It's a process. That (my campaigning) was one stage. I told the people that
I would be fighting from inside as well as outside (the assembly). It's a
campaign for a process for change
[Goanet] Winning margins...
Thanks to Jorge for pointing out that the winning margins went in the misplaced column in some case. I know it's no excuse, but I had to convert a bulky XLS (Excel) statement into plain text, and it was around 3:30 am by the time the task was showing signs of getting done. Am grateful for pointing to the corrections needed, weeded out with your eagle-eye as usual Jorge! FN --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.325 / Virus Database: 182 - Release Date: 2/19/02
[Goanet] NEWS: 'Amend law to check Indian political defections'
'Amend law to check Indian political defections' By Ajit Sahi, Indo-Asian News Service New Delhi, June 7 (IANS) Seventeen years after India framed a law to check political defections, politicians and pundits admit the legislation has failed to rein in politicians willing to switch parties at the drop of a hat. Nowhere is the lacuna more visible than in the western state of Maharashtra, where a string of political flip-flops has pushed the government to the verge of collapse. With both the ruling and opposition groupings claiming a right to rule the state on the strength of their numbers in the splintered state assembly, all the major parties have been forced to hide their legislators to prevent them from deserting. Those who have defected are being guarded round the clock by the new political masters. It looks as though the state's ruling Congress party and its ally the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) are not willing to trust their own legislators. Even the opposition Shiv Sena and its ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, are keeping their flock under scrutiny. Politicians have very low moral values that reflect in their shameless defections, said V.B. Singh, director of the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies. The anti-defection law has failed and needs to be changed. Added Congress leader Anil Shastri: There is a total degeneration of values, and there is no such thing as integrity or straightforward politics. The anti-defection law has outlived its purpose and urgently needs to be made stringent. The comments came even as the leading parties in Maharashtra packed off their legislators to different cities outside the state to keep them under virtual custody, fearing they would otherwise be bought over by rival parties. The Congress-led government of Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has been left tottering this week after a string of defections reduced it to a minority. Deshmukh must win a trust vote June 13 to stay on in power. As three NCP and one Congress legislator crossed over to the opposition Sena-BJP combine, the two leading ruling partners sent their legislators to the adjoining Congress-ruled states of Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh. Congress legislators arriving at the airport in Karnataka capital Bangalore Thursday told reporters that they were on a sight-seeing trip. But clearly they had been moved away from the close range of Sena-BJP. They will return to Maharashtra capital Mumbai ahead of the June 13 trust vote. The Sena and the BJP are also planning to send off their 124 legislators to the neighbouring BJP-ruled Goa state to avoid retaliatory Congress-NCP poaching amid widespread charges and speculation that big money has been changing hands. Analysts say the state of affairs in Maharashtra points out the drawback in a landmark anti-defection law pioneered by former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1985. In a bid to check rampant defections that caused much political instability in India, Gandhi enacted a law that barred any defection until a third of a party's MPs or legislators decided to part ways. The law did slow down defections. Now more and more people are arguing that the main loophole in the law - that defection by a third of MPs or legislators is permitted - should go. Said columnist Sudheesh Pachauri: A defecting legislator or MP must resign his seat if he leaves his party on whose ticket he was elected. If he is as popular as he thinks he is, the people would elect him again. Congress leader Shastri agreed: This change in the anti-defection law is a must to end the menace of defections. Every defector must go back to the electorate to get the voters' approval for his decision. Admitted Singh: The anti-defection law has in a way become a facilitator for those who want to defect. Shastri said the law had not been designed to meet the challenges of a multi-party era. In 1985, when it was framed, the Congress was the dominant political party, and luring a third of such a large party was thought near impossible. But now there are parties with just half a dozen MPs and legislators in the house. The one-third clause makes no sense for them. Analysts say the cancer of defections reflects a complete erosion of principled politics that prevailed in the country during the freedom struggle against British rule. The days of Mahatma Gandhi and ethical politics are gone. Now it is all money power. Politicians are willing to be bought and sold like in a fish market, rued Singh. Added columnist Pachauri: Opportunism has become a positive value. Principles are now considered impractical. --Indo-Asian News Service =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join
[Goanet] CYBERFILE: E-spamming at election time
E-spamming at election time --- Elections 2002 in Goa will come to be known among cybersurfers as the one which lead to a whole deal of spamming. The BJP sent out its propaganda to thousands of email subscribers in the state. Whether they wanted it or not. This would probably only increase the irritation-levels of persons finding their mailboxes crowded with unsolicited BJP mail. There were complaints from many sides. The party got to Dishnet's accounts too, and its spam came through here too. This is a note sent in to this columnist, from one reader: Would like to ask you whether our email address with Goatelecom aren't confidential? There is no directory on emails address. How did they give it to BJP party to send us mail? My full email box was flooded with their mails. Another party which emerged as netsavvy -- leave aside its impact (or lack of it) on the election results -- was the newly-formed Goa-Suraj. It set up its web-site months in advance. It also interacted with overseas Goans via cyberspace relatively effectively, notwithstanding the misunderstandings that are wont to come up in anything Goan. Moral of the story? Of course, how net-savvy one is, is perhaps in no way related to the results in the polls. Link to Calangute - For those from Calangute, check out a new (and still small) mailing-list that keeps you in touch with the beach-village via email. Visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/calangutenet or to join the list send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fighting virus -- This is an update again linked to cyber-Calangute, and brought to our attention courtesy journalist Joaquim Fernandes. Check out www.goa4all.com, which is being called a made-in-Calangute site, and has an interesting unique-selling point (USP) in these days where computer Windows virii spread like wildfire. This site has a special 'virus rescue' section. Designed and run by TotalWebSolutions, a company that specialises in web site design, it hopes to evolve into a free portal owned by Vilanova Lobo. Lobo's argument is that when hit by a virus, we don't know what to do and normally spend lots of money of technicians. Many problems can easily be solved by following the simple steps provided on this website, says he. www.goa4all.com/virlist.htm lists newly-found virus, and explains what damage a particular virus wrecks. It offers tips to configure anti-virus software, and cope with the problem. Goa4all.com says its personnel are now available on msn chat for free online consultations on virus related problems, normally in the mornings. Their id is: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Of course, with so many known persons in this business (including Sachin Chatte, who's battling this plague while not radio-jockeying on All India Radio's FM channel) it's hard to put it this way. But fighting Windows virii can be a real losing battle. One's own solution is simple: shifting to the GNU/Linux computer operating system. This has kept my computer, touch wood, virus-free for over a year. All the .exe or .pif or other virii files coming in, simply don't affect it because of this interesting operating system. Unfortunately, GNU/Linux has the image of being a OS for computer geeks. That's what it once was. It is now fast changing. Admittedly, there is still need for much more support services at the grassroot-level, to ensure that people can easily install and run GNU/Linux. Nonetheless, the Goa-based India Linux Users Group (ILUG) has some 190 members on its website. Quite a number, indicating the interest in this new and innovative, and above all 'free' operating system. Check groups.yahoo.com./group/ilug-goa. To join the group, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Football fans - Arunava Chaudhuri's indianfootball.com site recently claimed to have crossed 100,000 hits. This site was launched in April 1998, and would be of interest also to Goa fans of football. (ENDS) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] NEWS: Gujarat has mixed feelings about war
Gujarat has mixed feelings about war By Sukrat Desai, Indo-Asian News Service Ahmedabad, June 10 (IANS) For nearly three months, Gujarat endured sectarian violence that numbed India for its scale and brutality. But some people here are still all for a war between India and Pakistan. But not everyone agrees because they fear it will only cause more deaths and destruction. Dilip Trivedi, state general secretary of the rightwing Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), prefers a military showdown with Pakistan, heedless of the possibility of a nuclear holocaust and the devastating effect on the economy. It's time we stopped the drama of friendship and fought it out, Trivedi told IANS, wielding Hindu mythology as a weapon. We Hindus are not frightened of death. According to our theory of reincarnation, a Hindu never dies. His soul is simply transferred from one body to another. Kaushik Mehta, the VHP's spokesman in the state, is also not averse to war. India should have waged war against Pakistan on December 13 when Pakistan-sponsored terrorists attacked the Indian Parliament, he said. The reference was to a terror strike that left nine people dead in the Indian capital before security forcers shot dead all five gunmen who New Delhi said were Pakistanis. Rightwing groups such as the VHP and Bajrang Dal allied to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have been blamed for the sectarian violence that plunged Gujarat into madness starting on February 27. The violence has left around 950 people dead. Most victims have been Muslims. Tens of thousands of Muslims also lost their homes and took shelter in hurriedly set up relief camps all over the state. The VHP's comments came even as tensions were slowly beginning to abate between India and Pakistan, which have deployed a million troops along their long border sparking fears of a war between them. But the VHP's founder member in Gujarat, K.K. Shastri, strongly opposed war. As an individual, I strongly stand against war, he said. The people of Gujarat have not realised the grave dangers of war. Both India and Pakistan have nuclear warheads. It would not be like the Cold War between the United States and the former Soviet Union. While these two former enemies are geographically distant, India and Pakistan share a border. If war erupts, it is bound to cause widespread destruction. More people echoed the anti-war sentiment. Girish Patel, a lawyer and chairman of Lok Adhikar Sangh, a human rights organization, reiterated that war would mean death and destruction in both the countries. Patel accused the BJP of whipping up war hysteria to deflect people's attention from its all-round failure and the sectarian violence in the state. The BJP has a multi-pronged agenda to create a Hindu nation. The war hysteria is part of it, Patel said. Inamul Iraki, one of the organisers of a relief camp for Muslim victims at Dariakhan Ghummat, wondered if the state was equipped to face a war. Gujaratis have not experienced the terror of war, he said. A single bomb explosion can send chills down their spine. --Indo-Asian News Service =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] NEWS: 100 varieties of mangoes at Indian fest
Mangoes all the way in Tamil Nadu From Indo-Asian News Service Chennai, June 10 (IANS) A little over 100 varieties of mangoes were on display as south India's biggest mango festival got under way in the Tamil Nadu town of Krishnagiri. Tamil Nadu Education Minister M. Thambidurai inaugurated the festival Sunday. The All-India Mango Exhibition, as the show is known, is an annual event that takes place in different parts of India. It showcases mangoes from all corners of the country. At a seminar, experts will present papers on India's national fruit. A music festival has been organised on the occasion. Authorities at Krishnagari, 400 km west of Chennai, have set up a mango park for children where all decorations resemble mangoes. --Indo-Asian News Service =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] FEATURE: The boy who hawked newspapers could become India's first citizen
The boy who hawked newspapers could become India's first citizen (PROFILE) By Deepshikha Ghosh, Indo-Asian News Service New Delhi, June 10 (IANS) The boy who once hawked newspapers rose to become the nation's top scientist and could now become India's 11th president. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, the ruling coalition's choice for the July 15 presidential election, is at once a missile man, dreamer, dervish of Indian defence and the winner of India's top civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, the jewel of India. At least, these are just some of the terms used to describe the self-effacing man who is credited with catapulting India into the elite club of nuclear nations. Kalam the dreamer has always driven Kalam the scientist. We must think and act like a nation of a billion people, he once said, speaking of his desire to produce a reusable missile, which no country in the world has been able to produce so far. Kalam, who in 1998 was honoured with the Bharat Ratna, last made the headlines in 2001 when he suddenly quit his job as scientific advisor to the Indian government - because he wanted to teach the nuances of science to young children. There is a lot more to the slightly built, silver-haired Kalam, not just the fact that he steered India's missile programme and played a key role in the May 1998 nuclear tests. Kalam was born on October 15, 1931, in a remote district in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. His father rented out boats out to fishermen to pay his son's school fees. Kalam received his secondary education in a missionary school and later graduated in science. In order to contribute in the family kitty, he even delivered newspapers for a while. Kalam went on to study aeronautical engineering at the Madras Institute of Technology and, in 1958, joined the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), from where he moved to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). This was the beginning of a period of eminence. Among his early successes was placing the 35-kg Rohini-I satellite on a low-earth orbit with the SLV-III (satellite launch vehicle). After 19 eventful years in ISRO, Kalam returned to DRDO to head the country's Integrated Missile Development Programme and went on to direct the successful launch of the Agni and Prithvi missiles. In his early career, the only time he went abroad was in 1963-64 when National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) invited him to spend four months at the Wallops Island Rocketry Centre and the Langley Research Centre. Kalam, who is known as a great humanitarian, has also pioneered efforts to provide dual use defence technology. In his own words, one of the happiest moments in his life was the sight of a polio-afflicted child walking with callipers made from lightweight metals used for Indian missiles. The pinnacle of Kalam's success and one that made him a household name in the country was the nuclear blasts in Pokhran in 1998. The triumphant scientist later asserted: Do things yourself. Do not indulge in short-cuts by importing equipment. A devout Muslim, Kalam can recite from the Muslim Koran and the Hindu Bhagvad Gita with equal ease. Friends have often seen him bending over a veena, a string instrument depicted as the celestial music maker of Hindu goddess Saraswati, when he is not writing poetry in Tamil, his first language. Kalam is a vegetarian, a teetotaller and a confirmed bachelor. To his friends and colleagues, he is the star who has always been self-effacing. He has been honoured with many a national award. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1981, the Padma Vibhushan in 1990 and the HK Firodia Award for Excellence in Science and Technology in 1996 to name just a few of the awards that have come his way. --Indo-Asian News Service =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] GOAN IN CANADA: Miracle child
Thanks to Mervyn Lobo for forwarding this... FN -- Forwarded Message -- Subject: Brendon De Souza - Miracle Child Date: Mon, 3 Jun 2002 22:26:03 -0400 From: Mervyn Lobo [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Frederick Noronha [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] `You can accomplish anything,' boy declares He fights acute leukemia with day-at-a-time resolve Janice Bradbeer, STAFF REPORTER The Toronto Star Miracle Child --- Brendon deSouza's most perfect day would be to go golfing with Curtis Joseph. But if he's not able to spend some time with his favourite Maple Leaf, then he's just as happy hanging out with his best friends Ñ he has about seven of them Ñ playing his XBOX video games, constructing Lego, or enjoying a game of street hockey or soccer. Brendon, 11, sits in a chair in the family room off the kitchen in his north Mississauga home. He yawns and closes his eyes for a moment. He can tire easily, he says. Because of his fatigue, Brendon has recently started back at school on a three-times-a-week basis after being away from his Grade 6 class at St. Edith Stein School since last January. Last July 27, he received a bone marrow transplant at Sick Kids in an attempt to cure his acute lymphoblastic leukemia (A.L.L.). It is the most common childhood leukemia, affecting the lymphocytes or white blood cells that fight infection. He was in remission for six months until he relapsed in January. Brendon was first diagnosed with A.L.L. in October, 1999, when he was 9 and has endured four rounds of chemotherapy in total, in addition to six radiation treatments. The anti-rejection drugs he took following his bone marrow transplant gave him painful mouth sores and the steroids made his face puff up. But now he looks almost like he used to, says his mother Judy deSouza, 38, holding up a school picture of her son when he was 9, before the cancer was discovered. Staring into the camera is a handsome boy with bright brown eyes and thick black hair. The Brendon now sitting in the chair wearing a Maple Leafs T-shirt is 10 lbs. thinner than his school picture, and his hair has grown back sparser; but his face is still handsome and his eyes show the same resolve. You can accomplish anything. No matter how sick you are, you will get through this if you just think positively, he says softly. After Brendon relapsed, doctors immediately put him on the experimental drug Gleevec. He takes three 100-mg capsules each evening to suppress his cancer and an anti-nausea pill to counteract the drug's side effects. If the Gleevec fails, his oncologist and transplant physician at Sick Kids, Dr. John Doyle, has a colleague in the U.S. who has had some success using experimental therapy with cancer patients. His mother says that these are the only treatment options open to Brendon, who also shares his home with his father Leonard, 42, a shipper and receiver with a marketing company, and his 9-year-old twin sisters, Samantha and Jessica. But Brendon remains composed about his future. I just take it one day at a time, he says quietly, with the wisdom of someone beyond his young years. Adults see cancer as a death sentence, but children don't worry about dying, explains deSouza, who quit her job as a purchasing agent when Brendon first became ill. They just live in the moment and take one day at a time. They never complain about the pain or wonder `why me?' Brendon shakes his head when asked if he's ever wondered `why me.' (A.L.L. generally has a 75 to 80 per cent cure rate in children, but Brendon carries the Philadelphia chromosome, an abnormality that makes his cancer resistant to chemotherapy). He appears more concerned about burning the banana bread in the oven that he helped make or about missing part of a Stanley Cup playoffs game on TV for a school function. Every Wednesday, deSouza takes Brendon to Sick Kids where he has his blood tested. Because of the large amount of blood needed for analysis, a central line was inserted into Brendon's chest to avoid the constant pokes of needles. They're my friends, he says of the doctors, nurses and staff at the hospital. I tell them jokes, he says, and proceeds to rhyme off a couple of his favourites. He enjoys filling up empty syringes with water and squirting them at his nurse, Dave. He recalls when he took another nurse, Chris, to see her first hockey game (yes, he admits, smiling, he finds her pretty). And he always saved a bag of popcorn for the night nurse, Tina, when he was watching a movie during one of his extended hospital stays. The doctors explain everything clearly, he says. They never leave anything out ... Dr. Doyle would even draw on paper what my cells looked like. His mother agrees. The staff would first bring the parents into the office to update them on Brendon's condition and then they would bring Brendon in. They always told him the same thing that they told us ... they never left anything out
[Goanet] OUTLOOK: I am RSS, so I am not communal - Parrikar
http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?sid=3fodname=20020617fname=Goa+%28F%29 INTERVIEW I Am RSS, So I Am Not Communal The BJP's triumphant CM, Manohar Parrikar, spoke to Outlook on the agenda he has set out for himself and the impact of the Gujarat violence on the elections in Goa. Excerpts: What accounts for your success in the elections? People say we won by default. But I believe that we won because of the good governance we provided. Were the Gujarat riots a liability? Gujarat didn't have any impact on the elections. The Congress tried to paint us as a communal party who will kill the minorities. But the voters could see through the lie. My message during the elections was simple: you are not voting for the CM of Gujarat. You are voting for the CM of Goa. The BJP was insignificant in Goa till recently. Is there any change in the outlook of society here? I think there is a soft polarisation. And it's natural for the majority community to view me as someone who will understand their problems. Are you are an RSS man or a chief minister first? Why can't one be both? I am a staunch RSS man and that's why I'm not communal. What I have learnt from the RSS is to maintain justice. The RSS never taught me to be communal. Apart from good governance, what are the changes you want to bring about? I want some changes in the educational set-up. Students must know about their culture. What are the students in Goa learning? They know nothing about their culture. They don't know anything about the freedom movement. There is this accusation that you recruited RSS men in the police force... This is all loose talk. There were 1,800 applications for constables and other posts in the police force. As many as 1,100 were chosen purely by merit. The Christian youth in Goa is not interested in the constabulary. So it may appear as though it is majority community-dominated. That doesn't mean I have saffronised the police force. You are charged with giving away about 20 schools to trusts floated by the RSS. Why 20? There are 69 more. These schools have no students. These are just buildings and benches. I offer to give this infrastructure away to anybody who is interested, including the Church. If the RSS has come forward, what's wrong with that? There is a fear among Christians in Goa about the BJP. What assurance can you give them? Catholics were among those who voted for us. That means they have faith in us. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] OUTLOOK: A beachhead, but the hinterland is another battle
GOA [From OUTLOOK www.outlookindia.com ] A Beachhead, but the Hinterland is Another Battle The victory in Goa is a shot in the arm for the BJP but to replicate it elsewhere may not be easy BHAVDEEP KANG Who are these people accusing us? India was secular even when the Muslims hadn't come here and the Christians hadn't set foot on this soil. Atal Behari Vajpayee in Goa, April 12 Given its small size and a fractured electoral verdict, the BJP's rejoicing over forming a government in Goa may seem a trifle out of proportion. But the party is looking at Goa as a big neon sign pointing the way to victory in the Gujarat assembly poll later this year, followed by a slew of state elections next year. That the Centre took Goa seriously was clear from the fact that Union minister Pramod Mahajan took personal charge, running a highly scientific operation. Each constituency was profiled in detail and while the cash spent wasn't much by Delhi standards, a lot of human effort went into micro-level strategising. The Sangh parivar tends to believe the election saw a polarisation of votes as a result of a strident, Gujarat-oriented Congress campaign. Says BJP MP Vinay Katiyar, The PM's speech during the party's national executive in Goa in April had a big impact. By repeatedly screening video footage of the PM's speech, the Opposition scared off minorities but united Hindus. One of the party's election managers admits the Congress campaign cost the BJP the 32 per cent minority vote. Or else, we would have got 23 seats instead of 17, he says. The polarisation wasn't surprising given the parivar's growing strength in Goa, says a senior RSS pracharak. The number of shakhas has gone up from 65 to 90 in 10 years. The ABVP has a hold over 41 academic institutions and the RSS runs 15 of its own. Some 16 parivar-affiliated organisations, particularly the VHP and Vishwa Bharati, are active there. Of course there is a Hindu backlash, declares the VHP's Acharya Giriraj Kishore. The Congress' pseudo-secularism had its impact. No political party should ignore Hindus. BJP leaders aren't certain yet if the Goa pattern will apply elsewhere but agree the party's gained ground after signalling a return to Hindutva basics. Party president Jana Krishnamurthy feels the tide may have turned. You'll see by the assembly polls next year, the party set-up will be in good shape. But he disagrees that the minorities have rejected the BJP in Goa. That's what the Congress would like to say. They ran their campaign along communal lines but are still called a secular party. If nothing else, the Goa success has improved the morale of party workers by breaking what seemed like an endless losing streak. Party sources say the BJP would exploit Parrikar's impeccable image by asking him to tour several states and address workers there. The BJP expects an easy win in Gujarat, both because the Congress is weak and because of polarisation. But it is feared the BJP might be losing this edge and pressure is building up for early elections, fuelling speculation that the assembly may be dissolved sooner than later. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=- To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet == For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] NEWS: CBI accused of delaying Staines' trail, re-examines witness
CBI accused of delaying Staines' trial, re-examines witness list By Jatindra Dash, Indo-Asian News Service Bhubaneswar, June 13 (IANS) With the defence accusing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of delaying the case of murder of Australian missionary Graham Stuart Staines and his minor sons in Orissa, the investigating agency has decided to call only key witnesses. The CBI is examining its list of witnesses, its supervising officer said. Staines and his two sons, Philip, 10, and Timothy, 6, were burnt alive on January 22, 1999, while sleeping in a van in Manoharpur village in the northern district of Keonjhar. The CBI charged 18 people with the murders. The main accused is Dara Singh, alleged to be a Hindu fanatic. Currently, the CBI has nearly 106 witnesses. But it has produced only 38 of them, said a defence lawyer. Bana Bihari Mohanty, the lawyer, also said that the CBI produced Gladys Staines, Staines' widow, for cross-examination Wednesday though she was not an eyewitness. She told the court she had no direct knowledge about the incident. My husband did not return to Baripada (the headquarters of Mayurbhanj, another northern district) from the jungle camp, she said. On January 23, around 9.30 a.m., I was told my husband and children had been killed. She said Staines was a secretary of the Australian Evangelical Missionary Society providing medical treatment and rehabilitation to leprosy patients in Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar. According to Mohanty, the CBI has not produced or listed two key witnesses who accompanied the Staines to Manoharpur and spent the night there. They are Subhankar Ghose, another Christian priest, and Gilbert Veinz. We are going to file a petition seeking court intervention, Mohanty said. The CBI is deliberately delaying the case. The trial began in the capital in March 2001. On several occasions, either the defence lawyers didn't turn up or the prosecution failed to produce its witnesses. The trial was halted last year when Surat Nayak, another accused, didn't appear on the ground that he had tuberculosis, followed by a hunger strike by Dara Singh, protesting against the poor living conditions in the Bhubaneswar jail where he was held. The next hearing is on Monday. --Indo-Asian News Service =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] 10Q: Birth-pangs are there... but an orchestra is taking shape
* T e n Q u e s t i o n s * GOA: THE BIRTH-PANGS ARE THERE, BUT AN ORCHESTRA IS SOON TO BE BORN Goa means delays and difficulties. But determination can see things through. Nigel Dixon, a British musician and son-in-law of Goa, is currently in the process of giving the finishing touches to the Goa State Strings Orchestra. Originally, we planned to start off in January (2002), straight after 'The Messiah' performance last December. But there were delays, says he. The good news is that his dream-plan is getting going, says Dixon, as he makes an appeal for help from those who believe such a venture should showcase Goa's multifaceted musical talent. Dixon (52) studied music in the University of Durham and is a former choir member of St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. Excerpts from an interview with FREDERICK NORONHA [EMAIL PROTECTED]:~ FN: What stage is you plan at presently? The orchestra is presently rehearsing for its August 14 debut. There has been an excellent response from corporates so far approached and private individuals. Funds already coming in which is very good news seeing that nobody has heard the orchestra as yet!! Concert bookings post Aug 14 are also materialising. FN: What's your view of classical music talent in Goa? As I have said often in the press, there is excellent talent here in Goa. The problem is opportunity and experience. That is what the orchestra is designed to create. FN: What are the 'broken links' in making things happen? No broken links detected so far. This why everything is so encouraging. FN: What are the three strongest points Goan classical music has in its favour? Access to music tuition in certain instruments. The innate musicality that Goans have. Sorry -- cannot think of a third at present!!! FN: What are the three weakest aspects? Susegad attitude -- i.e. lack of commitment. Geographical isolation from major Western classical music centres. The limit of instrumental interest -- i.e. plenty of takers for the violin, piano, guitar and voice but what of all the other instruments? This severely limits the repertoire available for performance. FN: Why did you choose Goa to put your energies in? Came to Goa because of my wife's family links, and, believe it or not, for a less stressful lifestyle!! However, once a performing musician always a performing musician and love the challenge of creating something which is not already available. FN: Can radio help the classical world? How? Classical music on radio is *vital* as it is the only means to introduce the Western music repertoire to local populace. Availability of WCM recordings is virtually zero in Goa and frankly not much better in Mumbai -- particularly of up-to-date performances. This why the (recent reduction of) classical music broadcasts is such a tragedy. Of all music broadcast, WCM is most dependent on high quality FM Stereo broadcasting - 'A' channel just will not do. FN: What will the strings orchestra look like? It will have 13 players, four first-violins, four second-violins, two violas, two cellos and a double-bass. FN: How could expats help out? By giving money! A small amount by foreign standards goes a long way in local currency terms. The whole orchestra can operate on the equivalent of a single person's salary in London or USA. FN: What are the long-term goals? To bring up younger people. To hit the national stage, initially and the international stage eventually. We would like to play a series of concerts in season, at very special and unusual locations. Maybe at a museum or an old Portuguese house, or the ruins of a fort. Musicians here don't realise how good they are... or, should I say, how good they could be. FOOTNOTE: Nigel Dixon can be contacted via email [EMAIL PROTECTED] =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] GOA-RELATED SITE: - http://mmascgoa.tripod.com
Margaret Mascarenhas at Home [1]Interviews with M [2]Margaret's resume [3]Poetry by M [4]Excerpt from Passion Fruit [5]Reviews by Margaret Mascarenhas [6]articles by Margaret Mascarenhas [7]more articles [8]Foreword to Dust MARGARET MASCARENHAS is a consulting editor, columnist and novelist, the author of the best-selling novel, Skin, Penguin India's first fiction title of 2001. She grew up in Venezuela, went to college in the US and currently divides her time between Goa and California. She is working on her new book, Passion Fruit. WORKSHOPS BY MARGARET * AUTHENTIC VOICE * ENGLISH SKILLS PARTICIPATORY WORKSHOP * FROM JOURNAL TO ESSAY * POINT OF VIEW IN FICTION Want to get in touch? You can send her e-mail at: [9][EMAIL PROTECTED] [10]HOW TO ORDER YOUR COPY OF SKIN ISBN 0-14-100465-7 sk2.jpg cover photo: dayanita singh REVIEWS OF SKIN [11]Review by Annie Mathews Vohra at Tehelka.com [12]Review by Anita Nair in India Today [13]Review by Radhika Jha in Outlook [14]Review by Eunice de Sousa at India-Syndicate.com [15]Review by Peter Nazareth, Overseas Digest Review by Sathya Saran in Femina [16]MARGARET'S WEEKENDER COLUMN [17]articles by Margaret Mascarenhas 1.jpg photo: Reboni Saha References 1. http://mmascgoa.tripod.com/id8.html 2. http://mmascgoa.tripod.com/id7.html 3. http://mmascgoa.tripod.com/id6.html 4. http://mmascgoa.tripod.com/id5.html 5. http://mmascgoa.tripod.com/id4.html 6. http://mmascgoa.tripod.com/id1.html 7. http://mmascgoa.tripod.com/id9.html 8. http://www.goa-art.com/gallery/Heta/literature.htm 9. mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] 10. http://www.penguinbooksindia.com/books/aspBookDetail.asp?ID=444 11. http://www.tehelka.com/channels/literary/2001/feb/15/lr021501skinrev.htm 12. http://www.anitanair.net/pages/book_reviews5.htm 13. http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20010430fname=booksbsid=1 14. http://www.india-syndicate.com/wom/ed/30mar001.htm 15. http://216.239.39.100/search?q=cache:4PCfktWrGI8C:www.goacom.com/overseas-digest/current.html%20margaret%20mascarenhas%20%22margaret%20mascarenhas%22hl=enie=UTF8 16. http://www.gomantaktimes.com/WEK.htm 17. http://mmascgoa.tripod.com/id1.html =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] GOA-RELATED SITE: http://www.southernbirdwing.com
Southern Birdwing- Guide for Goan Wildlife Animal Animal Lovers package tours sightseeing goa sightseeing sight seeing India Goa forests jungles goa conservation of natural habitats rehabilitation crocodiles snakes birds animals flowers veterinary wildlife preservers tourist wildlife in goa preserving wildlife wild animals in goa harvey neil goan tarzans trazan taking care of animals in Goa goan wildlife preservers help for animals This is for all Goans and Tourists, who know a little about Goa's Wildlife. It has taken us tremendous time and efforts in bringing the best of Goa to you. Thanking all the People near and far for the wonderful support in making a dream come true . Animals Surf through our site and get to know all about the wildlife out there, waiting for you . marsh mugger This site is designed by [1]Quantum Designs References 1. http://www.quentind.com/ =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] GOA BUDGET: 2002 highlights from Goa, June 14, 2002
+ Goa Budget highlights, June 14, 2002 + * Revenue deficit Rs 886.0 million (Rs 88.60 crore) Primary deficit Rs 1662.0 million (Rs 166.20 crore) Fiscal deficit Rs 4586.4 million (Rs 458.64 crore) [FISCAL deficit is a measure of net borrowings required to fund current consumption and investment expenditure. PRIMARY deficit is the Fiscal Deficit less interest payments.] * Under a Cyberage Student Scheme, computers to all Science Students in Std XII at a nominal cost. Government in negotiations with some companies. Rs 100 million earmarked for scheme. * Government claims sufficient number of computers were provided to all the schools during the course of last year. * In current year, an extended campus of IIT Bomby in Goa is on the anvil. * Number of seats in GMC and various engineering colleges increased by 30 and 400 respectively. * Financial assistance to meritorious students to travel abroad for seminars. * 18 bridges promised in various parts of the state * Feasibility reports on 11 bridge plans in progress (Aldona-Corjuem, Corjuem-Poira, Sanvordem-Curchorem, Pirna-Vajrem, Ugem, Amona-Virdi, Cavelossim-Asolna, Amdai, Khareband and at Chorao). * Bridges intended to be taken up: Gaundalim-Cumbarjua, Mungul bridge (old bridge replaceme~nt), Rassai-Durbat, Tivim-Moira, Alorna(Halarna)-Sal, Bicholim (near KTC bus stand) and Ambeshi-Ganje. * Plan for parking lot at Panjim on BOOT/BOLT basis nearing completion. * Redevelopment of Old Goa Medical College Complex while simultaneously preserving its unique architectural character and the market complex has made considerable progress. * Chief Minister Parrikar proposes to undertake upgradation of infrastructure in the coastal belt of Majorda-Cavelossim in Salcete, Sinquerim-Baga in Bardez and Morjim-Keri in Pernem. * Motorcycle 'pilots' (two-wheeler taxi riders) to be recognised as 'small scale entrepreneur', getting 25% subsidy on purchase of new vehicles. * Sops to industry, mining sector, tourism. * Housing policy promised to offer small plots to homeless Goans. Policy to include a mechanism by which vacant apartments could be safely leased out without fear of getting vacated on time outside the purview of Rent Control Act. (Shouldn't this read without fear of not getting vacated on time.) * Parrikar announces plans for career guidance cell with NGOs help. * Rs 4 million each for Konkani, Marathi. Rs 1 million for development of Sanskrit. * Goa to set up a Sangeet Academy (music academy) in current year. * PARRIKAR QUOTE: Sir, all my efforts have been made keeping this timeless philosophy of the Bhagwad Gita in mind (do not give up, leave the results to the hand of God) and I pledge to carry on with a firmer determination to serve my people -- my Goa -- my God. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] What Goa is (or is not) doing on the IT front...
++ Below are some official statements, facts and figures that give a hint of what progress Goa has (or has not) made while promising to promote IT in the state: ++ FROM THE ECONOMIC SURVEY 2001-02 * To equip students with IT skills and to compete with recent trends of computerization in education, special courses, viz Computer Software Application (in secondary schools) and Computer Awareness Art (in higher secondary schools) have been introduced. * Upto March 2001, computers have been provided to all higher secondary schools and 97 high schools. (Note: No numbers of computers given mentioned. -FN) A provision of Rs 70 million has been made during 2001-02 to cover all remaining schools and purchase off hardware and software is in progress. * The Dept off IT has been created for evolving a suitable IT programme with the basic philosophy to realize the dream of taking the benefits of ICT to the masses of Goa and aiming to create an e-citizen for all transactions and for all-purposes, towards making Goa the 'intelligent state' of the decade. * Govt claims to have initiated the following infrastructure projects: hi-tech habitat, cyber-city/ICE city, IT resort. * WAN: to involve all departments of the government with various district HQs and the state capital. The various blocks will be linked to district HQs and they, in turn, to the state HQ through a lattice network. * This would enable the government to compress geographically dispersed resources as though they were centralized. Govt can use databases, telecom networks, and standardized processing systems to get the benefits of scale and coordination, while maintaining the benefits of flexibility and service. * INITIATIVES TOWARD E-GOVERNANCE: (i) To use IT in the process of governance and improve its response to its citizens (how will this be done if officials don't respond to e-mail? --FN) (ii) to have connectivity between all its officers (iii) to computerise process of governance so that citizens could file documents required by govt electronically (iv) to connect all depts and district HQ with video conferencing (and e-mail) with the CM's office to allow a channel of communication (v) to put in place a training programme to enable govt employees to use IT to enhance productivity. * Other issues the Economic Survey talks about (mainly lofty principles, low on specific commitments) include e-citizenship, e-democracy, e-administration, e-security etc (see Page 82-84) * Says the survey: It is proposed to set up an International Institute of Information Technology and Management (IIITM). The IIITM would be modeled after the Indian Institute of Technology and would have its own campus, and have the character of a national institution * The common-man in the state is largely unaware of the benefits and potential off IT in his day-to-day life. A massive awareness campaign is therefore required to be launched, to educate people about what IT can mean for improving their quality of life. * Incentives and support being offered to IT: - Exemption from Sales Tax, Sales Tax on Capital Goods, Entry Tax - In principle decided to accord maximum leverage in exemption, wherever possible. - NOC from Pollution Board, within environmental laws and regulations - Zonal regulations sought to be relaxed to permit IT software and IT-enabled commercial services in industrial and commercial zones, residential and mofussil areas located in exclusive buildings - Relaxation in FAR (floor-area ratio) being formulated for IT parks and hi-tech habitat to be established by government. - Concessions from Stamp Duty being formalised to attract investors for rebate on payment of stamp duty on sale deed or lease deed for premises to set up IT software and IT enabled services in IT Park, HiTech Habitat (set up by govt or govt-approved private parks) having minimum facilities like dedicated connectivity and adequate back(?) power. * STEPS INITIATED DURING 2001-2002 IT PROMOTION: (i) Dept with assistance of CII organised a seminar on IT enabled services (ii) Natl Conf on E-Governance was organised on Nov 8-9, 2001. (Just organising seminars? -FN) IT COUNCIL: Two meetings held in April and May 2001. (? Since?) INFRASTRUCTURE: (i) Dona Paula hitech habitat -- to be implemented as joint-venture between GoG and other parties. Process of identifying the JV partner is in an advanced stage (of) finalisation. (ii) Proposed to set up Cyber City/ICE City at Mandrem-Morjim Plateau. Preliminary work of land acquisition started and blueprint will be prepared. (ii) Proposed to create a unique infrastructure as IT Resort for high skilled IT professionals for work-cum-leisure. Official statement says details are being
[Goanet] Chaddas.. and the D'Souzas
Obese Anil Kapoor redeems film on Hindu-Christian amity By Subhash K. Jha, Indo-Asian News Service (byline mandatory) Badhaai Ho Badhaai. Starring Anil Kapoor, Shilpa Shetty, Keerthi Reddy, Amrish Puri, K. Vishwanath, Farida Jalal and Kader Khan. Directed by Satish Kaushik. There's a thin Anil Kapoor and a fat Anil Kapoor, and the twain do meet in Satish Kaushik's comedy about love sunshine and music, though not necessarily the melodious kind. Most of Kaushik's directorial ventures have been faithful adaptations of Tamil-Telugu blockbusters. Badhaai Ho Badhaai is no exception. It adheres to the original in most details and emerges with a frothy fun fare that tries to make a statement on two critical issues: communalism and obesity. But Kaushik's views on Hindu-Christian amity suffer from flabbiness. Fortunately the episode about an overweight Raja losing his girth for love is bracing and absorbing. In the first-half, Raja arrives in a crowded middle-class neighbourhood, which is recreated with a superb eye for detail by cinematographer Rajeev Jain and art director Sharmisha Roy, to stop the hatred between two neighbouring families. The Chaddas and the d'Souzas, we are told in swift flashbacks, began to detest one another when their progenies eloped and got married. The idea of an incorrigible do-gooder bringing peace is as familiar to mainstream Hindi cinema as Rajesh Khanna, Anil and Hrithik Roshan. All three stars have played the domestic saviour in one or more films. But in Badhaai Ho Badhaai, Anil overdoes the sweetness. Fat or thin, Raja is determined to spread the full-cream milk of human kindness. For a long while Kaushik's narrative functions as a relay race. To make sure nobody feels left out, Raja does everything in twos. If the matriarch from the Chaddha family, played by Farida Jalal, gets a smile, so does the one in the d'Souza family, enacted by Rohini Rattangadi. After a while we begin to feel we're watching a well-orchestrated propaganda film on communal harmony. The second half where we go into a flashback with a fat Anil has some wonderful moments. The growing bond between the obese Raja and the screechy feather-brained unfocussed Florence, played by Keerthi Reddy, makes us wonder if the director's own battle with the bulge inspired this section of the narrative. Anil plays the fat man with padded compassion. In scenes of romantic dejection the actor returns to his two old favourites, Raj Kapoor and Kamal Haasan, to play the Chaplinesque loser with podgy poignancy, a highlight of the film. The director also extracts chuckles at the two warring clans' expense. But like all of Kaushik's remakes, this one too suffers from congenital crowdedness. Characters spill out of every nook and cranny. The neighbourhood, though well conceived, is infested with overdone oddballs. Only Kader Khan shines as a screechy classical singer who has everybody running for cover. Some songs, especially Raag banke, done in the neo-classical style of Girish Karnad's Utsav, have been imaginatively filmed against picturesque backdrops. The biggest draw is the wonderful visual aesthetics. Kaushik avoids studio sets to take us into an outdoor freedom denied to most mainstream Hindi films. But he messes up an otherwise cute entertainer with an over-the-top climax where the two warring families run with guns to a lonely spots for a desi equivalent of a duel under the sun. Tact and subtlety aren't the highlights of this film. Though the story is about a Hindu and Christian family at war, Anil's climactic speech seems to be targeted more at Hindu-Muslim tension in India. The vastly gifted supporting cast plays its clichéd parts with stereotypical proficiency. Among the two leading ladies, after two consecutive flops in Hindi, Keerthi as the self-seeking Christian girl proves third-time lucky. She has been dressed and projected very well. Shilpa Shetty as a loud aggressive Punjabi woman masquerading as Anil's wife is a nightmarish synthesis of Kajol in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and Sridevi in her best films. --Indo-Asian News Service =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=- To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet == For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] NEWS: Indian PMO says Time article is in bad taste
Indian prime minister's office says Time magazine article in bad taste From Indo-Asian News Service New Delhi, June 18 (IANS) Indian Prime Minister's Atal Bihari Vajpayee's office has decried a report in Time magazine as being replete with material and factual errors and in bad taste and said his competence to control the country's nuclear capabilities had never been questioned. The report has already been dismissed by India's ministry of external affairs as completely without foundation and a completely biased and ill-informed article. In a rejoinder to the report Asleep at the Wheel? (June 17), Ashok Tandon, press aide to the prime minister, said in a letter to the newsmagazine that what it carried amounted to purely fictitious notions about the prime minister's lifestyle and was not just mischievous but also malicious. Following is the text of Tandon's letter: (text begins) Your report Asleep at the Wheels (June 17) is in bad taste. It carries several factual errors and contains certain observations about the Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, which are nothing but fiction. Mr. Vajpayee is 77 and not 74. His bladder and liver are perfectly normal and he has an average cholesterol level. However, there are more material errors spread throughout the report. Purely fictitious notions about the Prime Minister's lifestyle are absurd and mischievous. He does not take alcoholic drinks. Comments such as He takes a three hour snooze every afternoon on doctor's orders and is given to interminable silences, indecipherable ramblings and, not infrequently, falling asleep in meetings are baseless. A post-lunch siesta is nothing unusual. However, the Prime Minister's punishing schedule keeps him busy from morning to late at night with a short break after lunch. Those familiar with the rigour of Indian politics and the marathon Parliament sessions which the Prime Minister has to cope with can vouch for his fitness. Recently Mr. Vajpayee attended a night-long Parliament session for nearly 12 hours without a break. It is ridiculous to say that the Prime Minister falls asleep in meetings. The use of phrases like he appears confused and inattentive, seems shaky and lost, I am afraid, are, malicious. Mr. Vajpayee has been in command for more than four years and his ability to control the country's nuclear capabilities has never been questioned. The media in India is free and TV crews have filmed him without any restrictions. We have taken strong exceptions to your one-sided report designed to tarnish the Prime Minister's image. Mr Vajpayee undoubtedly is a towering personality and the most popular political figure in the country. (ends text) --Indo-Asian News Service =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] Capt Joe DeSilva
Rene: He's ex-Belgaum. FN From the obituary ad: Death Capt Joseph F X DeSilva (Joe), Navelim-Belgaum, ex-Indian Navy. Son of late Capt Julius and late Jovina DeSilva, beloved husband of Olya, loving father of Alexander (Shurick), Ravi Mark and Dr Natasha. Expired on 18/6/2002 under tragic circumstances. Funeral details to be intimated tomorrow From: rene barreto [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Seaman falls off boat; drowns Fred , Is Joe not the brother of John D Silva ? Joe was our school mate - at St.Pauls in Belgaum. rene Seaman falls off boat; drowns From Our Margao Bureau MARGAO, June 18: Captain of vessel MV Gosalia Prospects, Joe D'Silva died when he fell off the boat, this afternoon. The strong winds had also carried away the vessel, which was later brought back to the Mormugao Port Trust's (MPT) berth. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
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-- Forwarded message -- approved: Vivremember From: Robin [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: GoaNet [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: LETTER FROM PAKISTAN / 'Milestone' for ecumenism in Pakistan A milestone for ecumenism in Pakistan KARACHI: Catholics are hailing the appointment of two Protestant teachers of Greek and Hebrew at their main theological center as a landmark move towards ecumenism. Arne Rudovin, a retired bishop of the Church of Pakistan who has taught Greek, and Hebrew language expert Gerald Mall are to lecture the students of the National Catholic Institute of Theology this summer.Mall is the vice-principal of St Thomas Theological College, located on the premises of the Holy Trinity Cathedral. This is the first time that NCIT has introduced Greek and Hebrew language courses for its pupils. The dean of NCIT, Fr Robert McCullough, made the announcement during the release of the institute's annual report.Fr McCullough was quoted by NCIT students last week as saying that the latest staff recruitment was an important step on the less travelled path to ecumenism in Pakistan. Ecumenism, which is a part of the current academic session at NCIT, has become a popular goal for the two denominations in recent years in the face of mounting persecution. KARACHI: There are believed to be some 200 names for Jesus Christ in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, a Christian scholar said here. Paul Herson, a leading theologist and pastor of the Central Baptist Church on Tariq Road, said that knowledge of those names would enrich the lives of all Christians. Some of the names reeled off by Herson are attributes of Christ. __ You have received this email from TV-Email, developed by Wavetech. For more information on TV-Email click on http://wavetec.com/tv-email =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] 10QUESTIONS: ... does Goan humour have a gloomy side too?
DO WE LAUGH AT OURSELVES? OR, DOES GOAN HUMOUR HAVE A GLOOMY SIDE TOO? Journalist, editor and poet Manohar Shetty edited 'Goa Today' between 1987-93. He has published three books of poems, the last 'Domestic Creatures' from Oxford University Press (New Delhi), and has edited 'Ferry Crossing -- Short Stories from Goa' (Penguin India). Shetty read his poems at Lahti, Finland last year at a literary festival and has been invited later this year to the Vilinica Arts Festival in Slovenia. He also did a special India number for 'Poetry Wales' due out next month. He has ideas to edit a big book on Goa but no arts foundation or grants commissions seem interested, he complains. After all this serious work, Shetty took time to recently look at Goan humour. FREDERICK NORONHA uses the peg offered by Shetty's recently-edited 'humour special' (published by the now government-run Institute Menezes Braganza's journal 'Govapuri', available at its first floor office above Panjim's Central Library at Rs 20.) to discuss the state of Goan writing. This volume contains the first ever English translation of an almost forgotten book -- Jacob e Dulce, set in the 1890s Margao colloquialisms and thought untranslatable; news-reports like 100 sausages stolen from Chandor shop; and Mario Miranda's early illustrations published over five decades ago in a 'Loutulensis League' souvenir! Excerpts: --- After having done the work, what's your view of Goan humour? Does it exist? --- Yes, of course it exists and some of it more sophisticated than the rumbustious 'tiatr'. But there's also a gloomy side, a morbid interest in obituaries, funerals, ghosts and other people's misfortunes. (Note also the sepulchral air in the office of Institute Menezes Braganza and the torture chamber that is the Sub Registrar's office of Births and Deaths. You'd wish you'd never been born. They make Kafka sound like P G Wodehouse). --- What prompted you in choosing this subject? --- The previous issues have all been on the serious side -- the Liberation Struggle, environment and heritage. I thought a humour special would balance that and garner two or three more readers. Incidentally, 'Govapuri' has a nonexistent readership. IMB's idea of distribution is storing all the copies in a godown and posting sentries around it. --- How does the Goan sense of humour (if it exists) compare with other states? --- An awkward question. Can they be comparable? Isn't humour universal? But as in all small, provincial places there's a tendency to believe that they're the only ones with a vast fund of insider jokes. The happy-go-lucky image is media myth. Naivete can be charming, but also dangerous. (Note the distressing election results). --- Has this subject been studied sufficiently? --- Why reduce humour to scholastic drudgery? --- Was it difficult to locate resources? --- Yes. Even the request sent out (via the Internet for material related to Goa-humour) received virtually no response, except for the jokes I picked up from (one of the Goan online) newsletter. In the end I was compelled to use a story of my own, which had nothing to do with Goa (except that I'm quasi-Goan by now), just to make up the numbers. --- What struck you about cartoonist Mario Miranda's early work (which are included in this volume)? --- His eye for detail, his skills as a draughts-man, and the total absence of malice. --- Have any earlier attempts been made of this kind, for instance Peter Nazareth's 'reader' which looks, inter alia, at some humour writing? --- 'Ferry Crossing' does contain a few stories on the funny side, but the general tone is somber. --- What are the next themes for Govapuri? --- My contract with them has not been renewed. This is my sixth, and after my above comments, probably my last issue. Nice way to sign off
[Goanet] Pioneer on Time article about Vajpayee
Pioneer June 17, 2002 http://www.dailypioneer.com/secon3.asp?cat=\story4d=FRONT_PAGE This 'Time' it's really sick By Chandan Mitra (Mr. Mitra is the Editor of Pioneer newspaper.) Aap ko to maloom hoga, kya PM sach-much meetings mein so jaate hain, queried the Chairman of a leading public sector bank last Friday. Unable to figure out the context of his question, I asked him what prompted it. Arrey, aap ne Time magazine ka article nehi padha kya, he elucidated. [SAJA translation: Do you know if the prime ministed really falls asleep in meetings? What, didn't you read the Time magazine article?] I had no knowledge of it then. But within the next few hours I was shown faxes and e-mail printouts of the relevant portions of the impugned report. My conviction that nobody in India reads Time was dented. Even if they don't, in this age of information, relevant portions of such publications will definitely get accessed. Next day, a newspaper extracted the juicy parts and published a brief story. Over two dozen people have asked me since Friday what I thought of the Time report on the Prime Minister. Exasperated, I finally read it Saturday night. Picking up cudgels against a fellow journalist or publication is not done in our profession. It is permissible to pass snide remarks in private about a report's inaccuracy or bias, perhaps put out a counter to put things in perspective, but it's certainly unusual to write a rejoinder especially when it does not involve this writer or his publication. However, as an Indian I was outraged. I was outraged by the supercilious, patronising, white-supremacist, flippant and crassly ill-mannered tone of the piece. I was outraged that a magazine of such awesome reputation could actually publish a catalogue of bazaar gossip, almost totally incorrect and unsubstantiated. I was outraged that not a single person was quoted to confirm even one damaging observation. I was outraged that an American journalist and his redoubtable publication had mocked at the democratically elected leader of a country of one billion people. Americans resorted to similar mockery against their adversaries during the Cold War. Leonid Brezhnev or Mao Tse-tung were often at the receiving end of the poisoned pens of American scribes, pilloried for their alleged fetishes, weaknesses of the flesh and physical disabilities. Since the erstwhile USSR and China were closed societies, it was impossible to ascertain the veracity of such crudely irreverent comments. But to write such gibberish against a man who leads one of the most open societies in the world is not just in pathetic taste but also indicative of a mindset that is contemptuous of non-Western societies. Also, the turgid pieces against Communist leaders of yesteryear were part of the American psychological war to debilitate the enemy. Are we to conclude the Time magazine's tirade against our Prime Minister is a post-script of that strategy? I am not an acolyte of the Prime Minister and meet him but rarely. Still I know him well enough over 25 years and interact sufficiently now to categorically say that Alex Perry's article is a compilation of outright untruths, insinuations, distortions and obnoxious assertions. It is apparent he has never met Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee or spoken to anybody who could give him an authoritative account of the Prime Minister's health or habits. Condescendingly titled, Asleep at the Wheel? and sub-titled As India and Pakistan put up their nukes, is an ailing and frail Vajpayee the right man to have his finger on the button? the article mostly comprises figments of a journalist's imagination. The stuff that have been put in cold print would not have been said by congenitally irreverent scribes even after consuming three stiff whiskies at the Press Club. The Prime Minister is accused of forgetting names, dozing off at meetings and even looking half dead! Indian TV crew are allegedly instructed to shoot him only waist up to avoid showing his ungainly, post-knee surgery gait! Alex Perry then has not lived in India long enough or watched Indian TV channels. While it is true that Mr Vajpayee is an unlikely entrant in an athletic contest, it is a blatant lie that TV cameras are ordered not to show his shuffling walk. As if Indian TV channels would obey even if instructed! If I know their mindset they would focus even more on the lower half of his anatomy if directives to the contrary were given. What does Alex Perry take the Prime Minister's advisers and Indian journalists for? Such things might be happening in the US, but they don't happen here. As for the sharpness of the Prime Minister's memory, anybody who has ever interacted with him shall vouch for his incredible ability for recollection. Just recently as we were travelling to Almaty, he came out of his cabin on the plane to greet journalists and promptly asked me, Ye 'Leh kar hum Sindhu ka dil' ka matlab kya hua? For a fraction of a second, I was stumped but only to
[Goanet] MEDIA 'Time' mag controversy about Vajpayee=20
Time (Asia edition) June 17, 2002 http://www.time.com/time/asia/magazine/article/0,13673,501020617-260747,00.= html Asleep at The Wheel? As India and neighbor Pakistan put up their nukes, is an ailing and frail Vajpayee the right man to have his finger on the button? BY ALEX PERRY NEW DELHI - With reporting by Meenakshi Ganguly and Sankarshan Thakur/New Delhi He drank heavily in his prime and still enjoys a nightly whiskey or two at 74. India's leader takes painkillers for his knees (which were replaced due to arthritis) and has trouble with his bladder, liver and his one remaining kidney. A taste for fried food and fatty sweets plays havoc with his cholesterol. He takes a three-hour snooze every afternoon on doctor's orders and is given to interminable silences, indecipherable ramblings and, not infrequently, falling asleep in meetings. Atal Behari Vajpayee, then, would be an unusual candidate to control a nuclear arsenal. But for four years the Indian Prime Minister's grandfatherly hands have held the subcontinent back from tumbling into war. Despite the fact that he heads the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a constituency stuffed with extremists, Vajpayee has ambitiously pursued peace with neighbor and rival Pakistan, even traveling to the Pakistani cultural capital of Lahore in 1999, vainly hoping to bury the bloody animus of the past and start an era of good feelings. With 1 million soldiers facing each other at high alert on the India-Pakistan border, those days seem long ago. At the same dangerous time, Vajpayee's stewardship is looking less and less comforting. The frail bachelor seems shaky and lost, less an aging sage than an ordinary old man. He forgets names, even of longtime colleague and current Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh, and during several recent meetings he appeared confused and inattentive. After a meeting with a Western Foreign Minister, his appearance was described by one attending diplomat as half dead. At a rare press conference last month in Srinagar, the Prime Minister tottered to the podium=97Indian TV crews are asked to film him from the waist up to avoid showing his shuffling gait=97to find he had trouble understanding questions, repeatedly relying on whispered prompts from Home Minister Lal Krishna Advani. Even then Vajpayee stumbled over his replies. He is very alert when he is functional, says one BJP worker. But there are very few hours like that. Adds one Western diplomat: We have a lot of conversations about his health. Some of his mannerisms come down to his personal style. But some of it is definitely spacey stuff. While no one questions that key decisions on national security and foreign policy are still made by Vajpayee, the focus is now turning to the two men behind the throne: Vajpayee's low-key National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra, and Vajpayee's hard-line BJP colleague of 50 years, 72-year-old Advani. The consensus among observers and diplomats is that the hawkish Advani is preparing to succeed Vajpayee at the next national elections due by late 2004. There is no doubt he is the Prime Minister in waiting, remarks a diplomat. In the meantime, Vajpayee has undergone a sudden conversion from peacemaker to warmonger=97primarily in response to political pressures. Thi= s year's standoff on the border shows the dovish Prime Minister has accepted the argument that war=97or the threat of it=97works. In comments that set o= ff alarm bells around the world, Vajpayee last month spoke twice of an impending decisive battle against India's enemy. Although he has repeatedly said that he does not want war, the Prime Minister has sound strategic reasons for ratcheting up the rhetoric. Since Sept. 11, he has found the international community more sympathetic to the idea of India waging its own war on terror against jihadis in the contended state of Jammu and Kashmir, where many of them have been inserted by Pakistan. And it plays well for India to keep the pot boiling: New Delhi can claim a victim's solidarity with the U.S., avoid addressing the awkward issue of its heavy-handed rule in Muslim-dominated Kashmir=97and just possibly get Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to actually shut down the jihadi industry on his territory, ending what India calls a proxy war. Last week, Musharraf told visiting U.S Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage that he was going to put a permanent end to terrorist incursions into India. Vajpayee's government promised in turn some de-escalation measures, though a withdrawal of troops from the border has been ruled out. The big risk, however, is that no matter what Musharraf does, there are enough jihadis already in Kashmir to keep hammering India with suicide bombs and death squads. Four people were killed by terrorists Friday night in Kashmir, even as heavy shelling continued at the frontier and an unmanned Indian spy plane was shot down by the Pakistani air force. Any small spark can still push Vajpayee to deploy his
[Goanet] INVITE: Talk on Simputers, Saturday morning
Goa Chamber of Commerce Industry in collaboration with the Government of Goa is organising a seminar on Simputers on Saturday, 22nd June at 10 am at the Hotel Mandovi, Panjim. Adv Francisco D'Souza, honourable minister for IT, Government of Goa will inaugurate the event. K.R.Naik, chairman and MD of D-Link (I) Ltd will be the guest of honour Faculty: Dr Vinay Deshpande, chairman and CEO Encore Software Ltd Bangalore Seminar focus: On Simputers, a newly developed low-cost, generic, mobile computing device for universal access with multiple connectivity options. *No delegate fee. Registration opens at 9.30 at the venue. Open to the public * =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] Some websites from Goa
Please check these out www.vascoclub.com www.ancestralgoa.8m.com www.shyamsundargoa.com www.gudms.org =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] FEATURE: Fly by Goa... the state's coast is transforming..
FLY BY GOA, THE STATE'S COAST IS TRANSFORMING FROM GREEN TO GREY CONCRETE By Frederick Noronha PANJIM, June 21: Fly by Goa, and you be in for a shock to minutely observe the changes brought about in India's smallest state over just three decades, as an innovative and just-completed video documentation using hi-tech satellite imagery says. What this (pictoral documentation) seeks to do is take a trip along the Goan coast and show what it looked liked in 1971 and how it looks today, says National Institute of Oceanography (Goa) scientist Padmanabh Sathe. Bridges, industrial estates sprawling across hilltops, small towns getting fast congested and destroyed sand-dunes are some of the features that emerge from Sathe's thirty-minute short-video, which is titled 'Fly by Goa: The Changing Shores'. I'm not a film-maker. So the video turned out something different (from what was anticipated), says Sathe modestly. But by juxtaposing satellite imagery -- a field he intimately works with -- on to video-shooting, he manages to make a point of how rapid coastal change is pinching Goa. Starting the journey at the Kali river, in Karnataka just south of Goa, Sathe winds his way northwards. Some parts of the remote taluka of Canacona -- which has been opening up to tourism only in the last decade or so -- look like what they did in the 'seventies. Canacona incidentally is one of the few areas which has forest, mountain and seashore all in close proximity to each other. But the river Talpona's shoreline has changed significantly, having progressed seawards. This indicates the deposition of new sediments. Rajbag's sandy beach is over 50 metres wide, while Palolem was once famous for its sand-dunes and since has got overrun by tourism. Many places have changed drastically. Tourist shanties of all types crowd Palolem beach in Canacona. On the other hand, there's the secluded Agonda beach -- near where a giant project unsuccessfully tried to come up, getting blocked by villagers and others. From Canacona and Quepem's rugged terrain, we shift to the flat and fertile Salcete, starting with the fishing village of Betul. In 1971, the landscape looked benign. Eastern sides of the shore were wooded. Population pockets were largely far away from the sea-shore, says Sathe, talking of the south Goa sea coast. What the Town Planning authorities should be doing, the people had already done. But that has changed in some areas. In Cavelossim village, high profile tourism activity is visible across the entire beach, and the video catches a mechanised shovel scoop out sand-dunes to be taken to waiting trucks. Benaulim too is beginning to get crowded. Colva is crowded with built-up structures, while a parking lot is placed right on the sand, meaning that it is continuously covered by a layer of sand! One small lagoon on Colva beach, launched amidst much fanfare in the 1970s at Colva, is today treated as virtually a dumping site. Fatorda, a small village of the 1970s, is now visibly changed when viewed from the sky, due to its high-profile football stadium. Mormugao taluka has only two important beaches, the environmentally-degraded Baina and Bogmalo beach. Next, the video and satellite pictures take us through San Jacinto island, the recent Konkan Railway route, and the man-made the Cumbarjua Canal. Chorao island, outside Panjim, symbolises an equilibrium between man and nature, argues Sathe. On the other hand, the neighbouring island of Divar is facing erosion, and invading saline river waters. Today, Divar appears to be sinking. The river is shall-owing, says he. Sathe believes the difference between these two areas is the presence of coastal mangrove plants in Chorao. Mangroves, one of the few species that grow in saline water, have a major role in protecting coastal zones. He also explains the formation of a 'sandbar' across the mouth of the River Mandovi, which blocks navigation of larger vessels for part of the year. Sathe believes that the argument from Konkan Railway re-alignment campaigners -- who wanted to shift the route away from the coast and claimed that reclaimed and low-lying 'khazan' lands would get affected -- wasn't quite valid. But cities too have changed due to congestion and chaotic over-building. In 1971, I was a schoolteacher in Mapusa, and know what the town looked like then, says Sathe, referring to the small commercial capital of North Goa which is now an over-built town, thanks to a mix of the building boom and politicians ever-eager to make deals with corruption. Satellite pictures from the 'eye in the sky' clearly reveal how one-time villages like Porvorim have changed with innumerable housing complexes over the last two to three decades. In 1971, the road to Mapusa was marked by wide open spaces on either side, with the absence of concrete houses, says Sathe. He points to satellite images which seen a confusing mix of varied shades of grey to the untrained eye. But Siolim village
[Goanet] NEWS: Clanging, banging and roaring fans cheer Brazil (Delhi)
Clanging, banging and roaring fans cheer Brazil By Hindol Sengupta, Indo-Asian News Service New Delhi, June 21 (IANS) Madly shaking their green-yellow streaked faces as they jiggled their bottoms and furiously waved the national flag, Brazilian fans cheered the Samba lions to victory in the Indian capital. Clanging giant brass cymbals, giving non-stop whoops of delight and incessantly blowing paper horns and whistles, about 100 Indians and Brazilians gathered at the country's embassy Friday, to wildly cheer their team as it took on England in the World cup quarterfinals. This is like the final for us. Brazil has won the World Cup, grinned 39-year-old Ricardo Pinto, an attaché at the embassy, at the end of the pulsating match. The embassy, donned with hundreds of green and yellow balloons, exploded as the final whistle blew, taking the South American soccer giants to the semi-finals. Sitting in white, cushioned chairs or black metal stools, before a white wall where a projector flashed the television image, the fans rose to their feet almost every time a Brazilian player touched the ball. Goal, goal, gooal! yelled 57-year-old lawyer Anil Mittal, wiping the perspiration from his bald pate, as he fixed the green-yellow Brazilian flag tied as a bandana over his thick spectacles. I've been a Brazilian fan for 30 years. They are the greatest! Mittal said above roar that began from the time Brazil rolled on to the field in Shizuoka, Japan. A huge hush fell on the audience when England striker Michael Owen found the Brazilian net in the 23rd minute. For a moment, the Indians and Brazilians were stunned to silence, their paper horns hanging limply in their hands, the cheer stuck in their throat. Then Saurav Dutta Gupta, a young government employee from Kolkata, shouted: It's okay, they'll make up. Come on, come on Brazil! Even as he spoke, Brazilian ambassador Vera Barrouin Machado clutched a wood carved statuette of Ganesha - the elephant-headed Hindu god who is said to bring good fortune -- and looked decidedly downcast. In a few minutes though, it was back to normal, the roar returned, as did the clanging, accompanied by a duet with a bunch of plastic bottles being banged on the chairs. The aroma of Brazilian tobacco filled the air as the fans chanted: Go, go, go Brazil, go, go, go! Come on Ronaldo, come on Ronaldinho, come on Rivaldo! And come on Rivaldo did, equalising in the 47th minute just before halftime. The crowd went crazy. They did the samba, hugged each other, danced with each other and generally went into the halftime break convinced they would pick the cup. After the break, as the English team ran into the field, the crowd booed. When the curly locks-swinging Ronaldinho shot curled about the heads of the English defence to score the second goal for Brazil, electricity was whizzing through the room. Moments later, when Ronaldinho got a red card, the fans at the embassy couldn't believe it, as couldn't the star ball-player on screen. These English are bloody fakes, said Jose, the husband of one of the embassy officials. From then on, they cheered every time the Brazilian defence downed Beckham or Owen or any of the English players. When the final whistle blew, the balloons started exploding right, left and centre. This is a famous victory, a great victory, a victory we have been looking forward to for a long time, said Machado. Now the cup is ours. --Indo-Asian News Service =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=- To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet == For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] Ben J Pereira, Canada
Could anyone help me to get the email address of Ben J Pereira in Canada? Thanks, FN =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] NEWS: Uma Bharati dreams of India at World Cup
Uma Bharti dreams of India at World Cup From Indo-Asian News Service New Delhi, June 24 (IANS) It's a much, much longer shot than the one wily Brazilian Ronaldinho kicked into the England goal defeating goalkeeper David Seaman in Shizuoka Friday. Can the Indian football XI -- which doesn't figure even among the top 100 world teams -- get a slot among the qualifying top 32? Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Uma Bharti dreams of it. She says she is dead serious about giving a big push to the Indian side so that it gets to play in the grand event -- in future. Cricket is very popular in India and hockey is associated with national pride. I keep football -- equally popular -- at number three, Bharti told ESPN sports channel in an interview telecast Monday. We have, however, failed to do anything in international football (as) we lack seriousness for football. But I am very serious about taking it (the Indian team) to the World Cup. I personally want to encourage football. My ministry is trying its best. No Asian country has ever won the coveted cup in its 72-year history. South Korea would be the first Asian team to play in the semi-final when it takes on Germany Tuesday. Brazil and Turkey play the other semi-final Wednesday and the winners of the two matches will play the finals on Sunday. In a two-part interview, the second of which would be telecast Tuesday, Bharti said a large chunk of money has been allocated for international-level Indian players and more would be spent on good coaching. The government will give contracts to private parties to build infrastructure like stadiums. The minister said India would host the Afro-Asian Games in 2003. We have to organise big games to encourage our players, she said. A sum of Rs.1 billion would be spent on the tournament to be attended by about 94 countries. Bharti ruled out reviving cricket ties with Pakistan, which New Delhi snapped last year citing Islamabad's continued support to anti-India terrorism. India will not play Pakistan in any bilateral cricket match until Pakistan stops cross-border terrorism, she said. Cricket creates a lot of passion, a passion that people cannot control. The minister, however, said India would not back out of any match against Pakistan at the 2003 World Cup cricket in South Africa. That would not amount to reviving cricketing ties, she said. She added that she had taught a lesson to the Indian cricket control board, which had differed with her on this issue. Now we have a good understanding, she remarked. Referring to the stranglehold of politicians on many sports management organisations, Bharti said: Nepotism has to end. The selection process must be cleansed. I will try to make the federations more accountable. She was all praise for Indian sporting talent. There's no dearth of talent in India, she remarked. Athletes who win bronze at the Olympics can win gold. We have failed to support them but all that will change. --Indo-Asian News Service =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] NEWS: Sena-BJP back to toppling game in Maharashtra
Sena-BJP back to toppling game in Maharashtra By Shiv Kumar, Indo-Asian News Service Mumbai, June 24 (IANS) Refusing to be discouraged by their failure to topple the Maharashtra government last week, the opposition combine of Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is hatching another plan to dislodge it. The opposition alliance is now working towards defeating the ruling coalition in a legislative vote during the next assembly session beginning July 29, sources in the opposition told IANS here Monday. Over the next month, the Sena-BJP hopes to build bridges with several legislators who support Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh's ruling coalition to turn them against the government, a Sena leader said. The Sena-BJP plans to oust Deshmukh by forcing a defeat in a vote on the government's budgetary proposals. If that fails, the opposition could bring a censure motion and force yet another vote, he added. Lending credence to the development, BJP leader and former deputy chief minister Gopinath Munde said: The government will surely collapse during the monsoon session (of the assembly). He was talking to reporters at Nanded, 700 km from here, during the weekend. The Sena leader, who preferred anonymity, told IANS that several independent legislators as also those from smaller parties in the 288-seat assembly promised to vote against the government or abstain. On June 13, Deshmukh, who belongs to Sonia Gandhi's Congress party, won a trust vote in the assembly 143-133, ending weeks of a charged-up attempt by the opposition to bring down his government. The victory margin would have been narrower but for assembly speaker Arun Gujarathi's decision to disqualify seven legislators who rebelled from Deshmukh's coalition and crossed to the opposition. The seven legislators have since appealed to the Bombay High Court against the speaker's decision. Deshmukh's troubles had begun late in May when a string of resignations and desertions reduced it to a minority. The Sena-BJP claimed it had sufficient numbers to defeat Deshmukh and replace his government. Both Deshmukh's Congress and former defence minister Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party packed off legislators to the neighbouring state of Karnataka to prevent further defections to Sena-BJP. Although he won the vote, Deshmukh has been acutely aware that his problems are far from over. He is, therefore, now wooing smaller parties and independents. Deshmukh said he indicated he could this or next week expand his cabinet to placate many of them. This week, the government announced duty concessions on private ports in a bid to appease the five-legislator Peasants and Workers Party (PWP), whose resignation from the ruling coalition had sparked the crisis for Deshmukh. The PWP saved the day for Deshmukh when it abstained from the trust vote of June 13. But although the government aimed to please PWP leader Jayant Patil who owns a port in Raigad near here, with its decision, it has not had the desired effect. Patil told reporters that he wanted even greater sops. --Indo-Asian News Service =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] 10QUESTIONS:Once sand-dunes are damaged...
10QUESTIONS :DR KASTURI DESAI ONCE SAND-DUNES ARE DAMAGED, AND A CONCRETE JUNGLE COMES, WHAT CAN BE DONE? Ponda Educational Society College (Farmagudi) botany lecturer Dr Kasturi Desai is a familiar figure to those involved in environmental issues in Goa. Says she: I am convinced that my prime work as a teacher is to bring awareness about different aspects of nature and natural resources to different section of public besides school and college students. Desai, incidentally of Bengali origins but a daughter-in-law of Goa, has done more for Goa's environment than many Goans. She has been vocal against plastic littering, and started a strong movement against plastic carry-bags with the help of the citizens of Ponda since 1991. Recently, she authored a large-size well-illustrated 109 page book 'Sand Dune Vegetation of Goa: Conservation and Management'. In an interview with Frederick Noronha [EMAIL PROTECTED], Dr Desai [EMAIL PROTECTED] explains why sand-dunes are far more useful than their images connote -- vast amounts of shifting sand, barren to plants and hostile to human inhabitants. -- Do Goans understand the importance of sand-dunes yet, in your view? -- There is a very little awareness about the importance of sand dunes. Only a few scientists and activists are talking about coastal dunes. -- What are the mainly under-appreciated utilities of sand-dunes? -- The dune system is a fragile ecosystem which act as barriers to storms and waves. If this ecosystem is not protected the sea enters the land, causing erosion of the coast. Moreover, if not protected by the vegetation the inland desertification increase. It maintains the ground water level. Valuable constructions get damaged in due course of time due to erosion of land. -- Which other states in the rest of the country have a better (compared to Goa) understanding of sand-dunes? -- As such the study of sand dunes was never taken up earlier in any states of India. Only in 1991 sand dunes were included in CRZ I (coastal regulation zone-I, which offers environmental protection). Of course isolated studies were done by Dr. T. Anand Rao and others on the entire coast of India. Some studies were done by Dr.Arvind G. Untawale from N.I.O. But it was only of academic interest. Now some of the coastal universities are taking up studies on the sand dune ecosystem but much work has to be done. -- What, if anything, made this work difficult and challenging? -- This work is the first of its kind in the entire country wherein information about sand dunes all over the world, their classification, characteristic features, locations, plants growing on them, their flowering and fruiting time, nursery techniques have been included. This information is surely going to be useful to general public, academicians, non-governmental and governmental organisations. Different methods of conservation and management techniques undertaken in different parts of the world have also been included. There is an extensive literature survey on the coastal sand dunes. The appendix includes several India and foreign laws and regulation. Recommendations of a seminar on the 'significance of coastal sand dune vegetation' are also included. -- Which villages in Goa still have the best sand-dunes remaining? -- Galgibag (in Canacona), a part of Varca (Salcete), Mandrem and Keri (Pernem) -- In which areas of Goa have the sand-dunes got really destroyed? -- Stretches between Cansaulim to Cavelossim, except isolated small patches, Baina, Anjuna, Calangute, and Baga. -- What were your most interesting or unusual experiences while putting together this book? -- During my visits to different beaches when I went to Mandrem, I was astonished to find such a virgin area still exists in Goa. It is also surprising that even local people never gave any importance to this ecosystem, though unknowingly their houses were well behind the dunes except
[Goanet] Goan doc's work at St Mary's London...
From IndiaCyberMed mailing list... -- Forwarded message -- Anyone tried this? http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/324/7352/1478/c A paediatric online diagnostic tool called Isabel was launched at the Royal College of Physicians in London this week. The tool has been developed by a charity, also known as Isabel, which was launched by Charlotte and Jason Maude, whose daughter Isabel almost died at age 3 years of necrotising fasciitis as a complication of chicken pox, after it was missed by a series of doctors. The diagnostic tool was set up with help from paediatric intensive care consultant Joseph Britto at St Mary's Hospital in London, who helped to save Isabel's life. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] Query on Simputers...
Please see below... FN -- Date: Fri, 21 Jun 2002 23:23:32 -0700 (PDT) From: Joaquim [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Goanet] INVITE: Talk on Simputers, Saturday morning Are the Simputers already on sale in Goa? Has anyone tried this product? can somebody give me the feedback on it if they have used it. Thanks Joaquim Joaquim, D-Link, the (Verna) Goa-based company is talking about beginning to manufacture Simputers in about a month's time. More details below. FN IT'S SIMPLE, THE SIMPUTER GETS ITS FINAL TOUCHES AT THE FACTORY By Frederick Noronha QUITE SOME TIME after it first attracted global attention for the boldness of its goals, the Simputer is slowly marching past finishing line. Some look at it with skeptism; others with hope. It's reputation has spread far and wide, and many are looking out for it to actually hit the markets. The Simputer promises low-cost and sharable computing through a small hand-held device that is capable of undertaking an amazing range of tasks. It could cost as little as US$200 in its low-end versions, while a Simputer Junior is being thought of which could cost even less than that price. This device is aimed at making computing affordable in the Third World's rural areas, which have been largely overlooked by multinationals who complain of a glut in global computing markets even as they make over-powered and over-costly computers that increasingly thousands of millions can't afford. Could this simple computing device -- at least in some small way -- challenge the logic of the market, and underline the need of IT reaching out to the poor? If US-returned Indian scientists can dare to dream to boldly -- despite the many difficulties en route -- could IT really reach out to meet the needs of the commonman, instead of simply mimicking Western trends and rushing where profit margins are maximum? The poor are a largely neglected market, but they too have a huge commercial potential, argues Vinay L Deshpande, the chairman and CEO of the Bangalore-based Encore Software. Deshpande, till a few weeks back, was also the the president of the New Delhi-based MAIT, the association of IT manufacturers. Besides being involved in the design of the Simputer, Deshpande has now gone on to found one of the firms producing this piece of hardware that technology-watchers in India have been playing close attention to. But for IT to be meaningful to the hundreds of millions of poor across India, it needs certain attributes. It should be low-cost, simple to use, and technology should also be 'de-mystified', argues Deshpande. Besides, he argues, hardware in an Indian context need to run independent of the often-unreliable mains-power. It should be rugged and dust-resistant to cope with the heat and dust of this tropical country. Above all, it should be sharable -- just like other costlier gadgets (ranging from refrigerators to a jeep doing a distant trek) are shared in rural areas. In India, technological devices are not owned but shared. If your neighbour does not have a fridge, it automatically means he has the right to keep the milk in your fridge. Same is the case with TVs, says Deshpande. Using a smart-card, the Simputer hopes to be sharable. Even if a Simputer costing Rs 10,000 is too costly for a rural dweller, ten villagers could come together to own that, says he, optimistically. To make the Simputer easier to use, it incorporates icons, graphics and multi-lingual abilities. It also seeks to offer image/sound output and a touch-based input with voice feedback. We hope to use it as a means to address all the population of India, not just literates, argues Deshpande. Proponents of the Simputer like Deshpande believe that this tiny piece of equipment could also help rural Indians find ways of earning a better living. We hope that, in time, a villager could connect a Simputer at a pay-phone booth (which are common across India), dial up to a website, fetch the information about the best price payable for his potatoes using a very simple interface. This would be converted into speech and played back, says he. It could make life simpler too. Even a village postman could take across this small device, and make payments of 'money orders' -- the instrument which have been a popular way of transmitting money across rural India for decades. Using the smart cards, this delivery could be made simpler and far quicker too, argues Deshpande. Likewise, he says, the Simputer would have applications for education and literacy. Given its fairly high resolution 240 x 360 pixels screen, for its small size, it could be used for local language applications. One new application currently being worked on is using Simputers to check the health of mothers and foetus. It is hoped that portable ultrasound sensors could be suitably adapted to connect with Simputers, says Deshpande. Other applications for the Simputer
[Goanet] NEWS: Thanks to the Internet, call rates to US drop drastically
Thanks to the Internet, calls rates to US drop drastically From Frederick Noronha / fred at bytesforall dot org PANJIM, June 29: Three-rupee-a-minute calls that connect you to the US have already landed in Goa. But, it seems, not enough people in this expat-oriented and tourism-influenced state have woken up to the possibilities that these offer. These ultra-low-cost calls became possible for this country of a thousand million only in April this year, when the Central government belatedly legalised the use of VoIP or telephony using the Internet. Of course, there are hints that the line might sometimes be noisy or scratchy. But, given the price, who cares? Buyers are very much satisfied with the quality. Specially when they compare the price, says Sanjay Bhaiya, the Alto Porvorim-based entrepreneur wholesaling the 'pre-paid cards' that allow you to make these low-cost calls via the Internet. To use this facility, you need a computer and Internet connection. Or, you could go to a cyber-cafe that allows you to use one. The good thing about this service is that the person you're calling, at the other end, doesn't also require a computer-and-Internet link to receive your call. Just a normal telephone. It works like this: you buy a 'pre-paid' card for Rs 100, 500 or 1000. You get a password on the card. Then, using the Internet, you dial to caltigern2p.com and download the 'dialer'. Using this, you dial your foreign number, but not before keying in your secret password. Once your call gets through, you're billed at a rate of Rs 3 per minute, a special introductory offer which will soon go up to Rs 5 per minute ... still rather realistic compared to the ultra-heavy national and international phone rates Indians have had to pay all these years. To use this service, you need a computer, Internet connection, and headphone-cum-mike. If you don't have a computer, you can easily go to any cyber-cafe, suggests Bhaiya of Railton Electronics [EMAIL PROTECTED]. The pre-paid cards are valid for three months from the first call made (six months in the case of the Rs 1000 cards). This is a service put out by the Kolkata-headquartered Caltiger -- a firm run by Cris and Joe Silva, that made it to the news a few years ago due to its 'free Internet' service which is not however offered in Goa. US-based Net telephony company Net2Phone is the international technology collaborator. The beauty is that the receiving party does not need to have an Internet connection. Otherwise, you can make PC-to-PC (computer-to-computer) calls without charges (apart from the Internet time costs) via the MSN or Yahoo networks, says Bhaiya. OTHER COUNTRIES: Unfortunately, not all calls to foreign countries are as cheap as those made to the US. Calls to Europe cost Rs 5 per minute. Those to the Middle East -- a region Goa would have a lot of interest in, due to emigration there -- make you poorer by Rs 17 per minute. Bhaiya claims the service has been doing very well in Goa, though clearly not all those who could benefit from such services have logged in. Many cyber-cafes in the state are also yet to take advantage. In April we sold a lot to foreigners. In the Baga-Calangute belt (the Mecca of charter tourists in the state) there were people coming for new thousand-rupee cards every week, says Bhaiya. As he displays a telephone instrument that connects to your computer, he says this could be particularly useful to companies which have regular dealings abroad. Anyway, he points out, it is hardly three months since long-distance Internet telephony got legalised; the impact is yet to be fully felt. Using this, you can call into any land-line phone. Calls to mobile phones cost extra. This card can be used from any place in India, and 're-chargeable' cards are expected to be on offer soon. Incidentally, the cost of international calls was brought down recently, even as far-cheaper Internet telephony was allowed from April 1, 2002. But even then, it would normally cost you between Rs 35 to 50 per minute, says Bhaiya. Bhaiya, contactable on phone 414724 and 416066, says other companies too are likely to offer such low cost Internet telephony services. He names e-phone and Satyam, but, being commercial rivals, is naturally not keen to talk about their strong points. (ENDS) -- Frederick Noronha * Freelance Journalist * Goa * India 832.409490 / 409783 GOAPIX in.photos.yahoo.com/fredericknoronha * GOANEWS www.goacom.com/news/ Please visit http://www.livejournal.com/users/goalinks Writing with a difference... on what makes *the* difference =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help
[Goanet] NEWS-LONDON: Musician John Pandit rejects British honour
Musician John Pandit rejects British honour By Sanjay Suri, Indo-Asian News Service London, June 29 (IANS) And at last now an Indian in Britain who has said no to being honoured as what the British still like to call Member of the British Empire (MBE). For years Indians have forgotten their colonial past to vie for these titles the British government doles out annually. The badges that declare Indians members of the long gone Empire have become a status symbol. Not for John Pandit, better known as Pandit G, from the angry band, the Asian Dub Foundation. He was given an MBE in this year's honours list for services to the music industry. Pandit G has refused to accept the honour because he says he does not believe in the honours system. Pandit G is an angry musician anyway. The music is mixed with political messages about racism in Britain and about contemporary difficulties in India. Not something that could go with the title of Member of the British Empire. In rejecting the title he said: I personally don't think it's appropriate. I've never supported the honours system. There's no point in giving an individual (an honour). To bring people into the establishment won't actually help the organisations. --Indo-Asian News Service =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] Note to Cecil
Cecil, You're taking this rivalry to ludicrous extents. By now it's very clear that you will use any excuse to hit out at GoaNet (and GoaCom, which hosts this mailing-list currently). By extension, anyone who is even remotely associated with GoaNet will become fair-target. IMHO, you would have been a great humour writer, if only you could keep your personal rivalries and dislikes away from writing. It might have also helped if you had targetted someone really worthy of being targetted, instead of a humour-by-insinuation style meant to take off on those you don't like. You seem to be eager to get this forum caught up in all sorts of irrelevant debates. Let's not waste our time and energies getting caught up in all this typically-Goan infighting; can't we all concentrate our energies onto something positive instead? Just imagine what a difference that could have made On the filters, the issue is very clear: filters are a machine-level check to block the possibility of abusive postings from going through. This is a standard procedure used in a number of un-moderated mailing lists. Majordomo and a number of other mainstream software allow for this as part of the package. The rule is -- use foul language, and your post get blocked. Why should we make it easier for anyone to find ways to work-around the filters, and defeat their very purpose? Surely, this is not going to convince you; I don't plan to keep debating endlessly FN PS: I've stripped my signature below of my profession or to the job I do... hope that at least makes you happy. Is this a battle for the freedom of expression, or the freedom of Expressions? With this small note, I request readers of GoaNet not to remain silent, but to let us know about this. If we on the GoaNetAdmin team are wrong, let us know! But let's keep all this intra-mailinglist and intra-website rivalry out of things PPS: I don't have the time, energy or inclination to get caught in this once-in-three-months fatricidal GoaNet-versus-GulfGoans, GoaCom-versys-GoaWorld wars. I've had my say; you can say what you wish... -- Frederick Noronha * Goa * India 832.409490 / 409783 BYTESFORALL www.bytesforall.org * GNU-LINUX http://linuxinindia.pitas.com Email [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Mobile +9822 122436 (Goa) * Saligao Goa India =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] FREENEWSGOA.NET: We don't get big numbers, but...
* Check out http://www.freenewsgoa.net (a journo cooperative venture at putting out the news). * We don't get huge numbers (see stats below), but usually do have some rather *interesting* stories: We've received 3274 pages views since June 2001, 20 today, and 53 yesterday. The best day at all was Sunday, May 12, 2002 (270 pageviews), while Tuesday, May 28, 2002 (1 pageviews) was a realy poor day. Most people visit us on Sunday with a total of 647 pageviews, while Friday is not really our best day with a total of 236 pageviews. In average, our best hour (with) 323 pageviews ) is at 0 o'clock , while only our hardcore-fans seem to show up at 4 o'clock (with only 30 pageviews). This stats are calculated and recorded via PostNuke, a GNU/Linux software that it easy for participating journos to 'submit news' and... in theory at least... update the site at short notice. * Test out the different sections and the stories in each. http://www.freenewsgoa.net/modules.php?op=modloadname=Sectionsfile=index --- What's new: Top cop Julio Ribeiro has a word of advice for Goa police. Goa crime/police reporter Mayabhushan Nagvenkar gets another scoop. Check http://www.freenewsgoa.net--- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
Re: [Goanet] Goa Suraj to hold special convention
I think this is an inadequate understanding for the reasons of the victories of politicians like Dr Wilfred de Souza and Matanhy Saldanha. Perhaps we need to be looking deeper, rather than going by surface-level impressions. FN =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
