[Goanet-News] CONTROVERSY: The MOCA replies...
CONTROVERSY: THE MOCA REPLIES Fr. Avinash Rebelo, President Museum of Christian Art Santa Monica Convent -- Old Goa museumofchristian...@gmail.com The Museum of Christian Art (MOCA) has been very much in the news over the last week and unfortunately there has been an extent of misinformation/incorrect statements appearing in the media. The objective of this note is to set the records right. Three years prior to the inauguration of the Museum in 1994, Prof. Teotonio R. De Sousa, then Director, Xavier Center of Historical Research had been entrusted to prepare an inventory of the art objects in the churches and main chapels of Goa, which he did so painstakingly with field assistance of Mr Fausto Colaco and Mr Felix Ferrao. Based on this inventory, Ms. Maria Helena Mendes Pinto (Curator of Arte Antiga, Lisbon) and Ms. M.da Conceicao Borges (also of the same Museum) after a round through the churches and chapels made a final selection of the art objects to be displayed in the Museum. It is unfortunate that a few volumes of this inventory have disappeared from the Museum when at Rachol. Mr. Victor Hugo Gomes a Graduate in Fine Arts, not Museology, was appointed as Junior Curator. His main task was to collect the selected objects from the churches and the chapels. He left the services of the Museum around 4 months after the inauguration of the Museum. We can justifiably say that the Museum has one of the finest catalogues of items on display, in India. The inputs to the catalogue have been culled from the inventory painstakingly produced by qualified Museologists from Gulbenkian and the MOCA and with the support of professional photographers. To say that the Museum has no inventory is displaying total ignorance of fact or deliberate attempt to malign. Providing security cover for a Museum involves providing security guards and electronic surveillance and the extent of coverage by both depends on the budget available. MOCA had been sanctioned an initial budget of Rs 3 lakhs (or Rs. 25000 p.m.) by the State Government for meeting the costs of security guards, subsequently increased to Rs 4.5 lakhs in recent years. Within this limited budget only four guards (from a reputable Mumbai security contractor who has several industrial and commercial clients in Goa) could be paid for doing duty at the Museum on a 24-hour basis. It is unfortunate that there was only one guard at the time around the change of shift on the evening of 25th January, a lapse on the part of the security contractor for which explanation has been sought, as our contract with them stipulates that at any given time there would be 2 guards at the Museum. For the other systems that were put in place the MOCA had to find its own funds. It was able to do so but only to the extent of a CCTV system and a burglar alarm system. The CCTV system was used mainly for surveillance of visitors and it did not have a recording system. Frequent power outages and severe voltage surges often caused damage to the Museum equipment and frequently resulted in erratic functioning and false alarms from the alarm system. Because of this and the risk of a short circuit resulting in fire, a set of keys were kept with the security in charge. Security at the MOCA was provided to prevent theft and burglary. What took place at the MOCA on 25th January was dacoity i.e. armed forceful entry. The cost of provision of armed guards would have been outside our budget. With regard to insurance cover, it may be noted that when MOCA tried to insure the Museum and its objects, we were informed that there were no schemes in India to insure Museums because of the high and indeterminable antiquity value of the objects and even if it were possible the premium involved would have been extremely high. We were also informed that Government owned and sponsored Museums are not insured but usually function under a sovereign guarantee. MOCA had no role to play in either receiving or disbursing of funds for setting up the Museum. The Gulbenkian Foundation and INTACH who funded the project handled this between them and on completion handed the Museum to the Museum of Christian Art Society. No funds were provided by either The Gulbenkian Foundation or INTACH to the Museum for its operation. This was solely the responsibility of the Museum of Christian Art Society. A fund collecting arm of the Museum, 'Amigos de Rachol' under the chairmanship of Bal Mundkur set out to collect funds through donations for the Museum and advertisements for a souvenir brochure. The ambitious target of collection was not met and we were told by 'Amigos de Rachol' that this was because
[Goanet-News] MEET THE AUTHOR: Braz Menezes, author of Just Matata, speaks at the Goa Book Club, Feb 10, 2012 (Fri) 5 pm
Just to say that we will be having a Goa Book Club meet on coming Friday (Feb 10, 2012, at 5 pm, usual venue -- Broadway Book Centre, Panjim) and the author of the recently-published novel *Just Matata*, Braz Menezes, will be there to answer your questions and discuss his work... FN http://www.archive.org/details/BrazMenezes...TheresJustMatataHere Braz Menezes... There's Just Matata Here 1 braz-menezes-author-interview 39:50 embed this Would you like to try our new video/audio player ? (beta!) Braz Menezes, based in Canada, has set his first novel (part of a trilogy) in Goa and Kenya. It's called *Just Matata: Sin, Saints and Settlers*. Matata is Swahili for trouble, as Chico discovers in 1928, after jumping ship on a journey from India to Africa. More from the book's (ISBN 978-0-9877963-0-1) blurb: With some skills and much sweat, he (Chico) navigates the channels open to him under the segregated colonial structure of Kenya, while doing all to keep his heritage alive, and dreaming only of retirement to his beloved Goa. Enter son Lando, two decades later, and all plans are on hold. This audio is part of the collection: Community Audio Keywords: goa; novel; just matata; braz menezes; canadian writing; canadian-goans; emigration; kenya;africa; goa and kenya; architect and urban planner; matata trilogy; sin; saints; settlers Creative Commons license: Attribution 3.0 http://www.archive.org/details/BrazMenezes...TheresJustMatataHere -- FN +91-832-2409490 or +91-9822122436 f...@goa-india.org Books from Goa,1556 http://scr.bi/Goa1556Books Audio recordings (mostly from Goa): http://bit.ly/GoaRecordings --- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---
[Goanet] Goanet Reader-Honeymoon in the Wilds(Elsie Maciel)
Dear Tony(D'Sa) , Thank you for your kind words on my article. Quite honestly, I have been overwhelmed by the positive feedback I've received from so many Goans on the net, and have replied to them all individually. Mervyn and I hope that my article may have revived happy memories of your own days in East Africa. Best wishes and asante sana once more! Elsie --- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---
[Goanet] Black is back
http://www.goanet.org/index.php?name=Newsfile=articlesid=1139 --- Black is back Jumping skin-deep into politics By Cecil Pinto In a stunning declaration at a crowded press conference today columnist Cecil Pinto declared his candidacy for the North Goa Parliament seat. A huge banner in the backdrop has the campaign slogan, Dark brown is the new black! Frederick: Let me get this clear. Your main plank is going to be skin colour? Cecil: My only plank will be my dark skin and the dark skins of my supporters seated here on the dais with me. Will someone please make the lights brighter? Anyone is free to join my campaign as long as they are dark complexioned. Nigel: How do you measure dark complexion? Cecil: Do you see this lump of clay here on the table? This is pure 'chikol' from the bed of the Mandovi River, with of course a few unavoidable mining rejects mixed in it. If your complexion is darker than this chikol please feel free to join us in our fight. Aarti: But what has skin colour got to do with electoral politics? Cecil: What has ethnicity, caste or religion got to do with choosing a candidate? But they are brought up every time to garner votes. I was inspired by Obama. If a black man could become the President of the USA why not a dark brown man represent North Goa in Parliament? Lisa: But Obama did not use his skin colour as his only qualification. Cecil: That's his problem. You must have heard of the Beauty Contestant who answered the question round saying, I will use my breasts to fight for world peace, well I am going to fight colourism using my dark skin. Vidhydhar: But is colourism that big an issue in India as compared to the West? Cecil: Please understand that in the West the bigger problem is racism. When they say 'black' or 'white' they are referring to race rather than skin colour. Racism is another ball game all-together. Here in India within the same race we discriminate based on skin colour. See how many matrimonial adverts mention fair skin as being desirable. Show me one matrimonial advert that has someone actually searching for a darker skinned partner. Govind: Any other examples you have of Goan colourism? Cecil: Sure. Mention a newborn child and the second question after gender, baba or babee, is Nitov asa? which is a euphemism for Is it fair? In fact many years back when I was dating a lovely dark skinned girl my friends at the time used to tease me that if we married our children would have to be named 'cavlo' (crow) or 'koalso' (charcoal) or 'khapri' (negro) or 'kalia' (blacky). Of course they were fair weather friends. Prakash: Since you are contesting only the North Goa seat do you have a strategic alliance with some candidate in South Goa? Cecil: Actually I am looking for a sort of 'running mate' in South Goa. A dark skinned female, so we can have the gender angle also covered. I have found an interesting woman named Melanin in Agassaim who fits the bill. Her mother's name is Melissa and father is Menin. Melwyn: Do you have any specific demands for dark skinned people? Cecil: Of course. Discrimination should be fought with reservations. We demand 30% government jobs to be reserved for dark skinned people. And we should get discounts on the Kadamba buses and on the Konkan Railway and 50% of all actors in Konkani movies should be dark skinned. Nilesh: Why movies? Cecil: Check out our movies. All the actors are either light skinned or use extensive make-up to appear fair. This is not at all representative of real life where there are as many, if not more, dark skinned than light skinned people. This portrayal leads to false aspirations and that is why we have this curious anomaly in India where more fairness cream is produced and sold than life saving antiseptic cream. Alister: Have you actually yourself faced discrimination because of your dark skin? Cecil: Well at many restaurants waiters tend to ignore me. Alister: That could be because of your belligerent attitude, your sloppy dressing and unattractive personality rather than because of your skin colour. Cecil: Ok. Before marriage in dating situations I rarely got to score with the good looking girls. Alister: That probably had to do with your looks, approach, talk, clothes, money etc rather than specifically your skin colour. Cecil: In beach picnic photos only my eyes and teeth can be seen. Alister: Salt water and direct sunlight on the skin have the effect of extra darkening. Foreigners use it all the while for a darker tan. A naturally dark person is a healthier person and less likely to develop skin cancer. Cecil: Really? And what about the fact that I can't get a tattoo because it doesn't show and ….Oiiiee! Hold on you're supposed to be asking the questions and I have the answers. Look at Rama, Krishna, Vishnu, Kali, Draupadi… all described as dark skinned in the Vedas but portayed as light skinned, or even blue, today. The Aryan invasion, followed by centuries of Western
[Goanet] NEWS: Goa Assembly Election 2012: Five Catholic faces in BJP's first list for Goa (Economic Times)
This is another poll gimmnick of Manohar Parikkarr of BJP! Fielding 5 catholic week candidates for the March 3rd Election by Goa unit of BJP under directions from Parikkar and not the decision by central leadership of BJP. Parrikar feels that by fielding 5 catholics he will be pardoned and forgiven for the sins committed by him in the past. No Mr.Parrikar, you are mistaken here or it is your mis-calculation. If you have real love and sympathy for the catholics then please field another 5 catholics and make it to 10 catholics in total out of 40 Ali Baba's In Cumbarjua BJP and MGP are supporting jointly to lone female candidate Ms.Nirmala Sawant against a Catholic Priest FR.Bismarque Dias because you know that neither BJP or MGP can win this seat. These are your week points. Its so easy in Goa to have AFFAIRS with anybody and it is said in Ajay Devgan's hindi movie SINGHAM that the liquor is expensive in Goa then the women. This saying is also applied to all the parties in Goa who can have affairs at anytime, anywhere,anyplace in Goa.This time there are NO courts, No Judges to punish the rapists but people are there to punish the parties. Cheers!!! Carmos Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2012 22:12:03 +0530 From: news.goa...@gmail.com To: goanet@lists.goanet.org Subject: [Goanet] NEWS: Goa Assembly Election 2012: Five Catholic faces in BJP's first list for Goa (Economic Times) 6 Feb, 2012, 04.19PM IST Goa Assembly Election 2012: Five Catholic faces in BJP's first list for Goa PANAJI: In an apparent indication of its eagerness to cast off its pro-Hindutva image, the BJP's first list of 22 candidates for Goa includes five Christians including a former state tourism minister who joined the party recently. The BJP's Central Election Committee had met in Delhi last night to finalise the first list of candidates for the tiny coastal state going to polls on March 3. Catholics constitute a substantial 27 per cent of state's population of about 14 lakh. Mathany Saldanha, a former tourism minister, who was a minister in an erstwhile BJP-led government in the state as a nominee of United Goans Democratic Party, will be in the fray from Cortalim constituency. He will cross swords with Caetan Xavier, a Catholic leader, of the Congress in the Christian-dominated constituency. Glen Ticlo, an entrepreneur, has been fielded from Aldona where he is pitted against Congress' Dayanand Narvekar, a former state finance minister. Carlose Almeida, who recently joined BJP, has been nominated from Vasco. Party's sitting legislator from Mapusa, Francis D'Souza, has been retained, while Calangute, a major tourism hub, will have another Catholic candidate Micheal Lobo trying his luck against sitting Congress MLA Agnelo Fernandes. In the run up to the polls, several Catholic leaders have joined BJP which is going to the hustings under the leadership of former Chief Minister and current leader of opposition in the state assembly Manohar Parrikar. There has been no sustained attempt to get Catholics join the party. In fact, so many people joining the party indicates that BJP is getting more popular in the state, BJP Goa spokesman Vishnu Wagh said. BJP has a pre-poll alliance with regional outfit Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party which once ruled the state. While BJP will contest 31 of state's 40 seats, MGP will field its nominees in 8. The two parties will support an independent Nirmala Sawant in Cumbharjua constituency. MGP was a constituent of state's Congress-led government till a few days ago before joining hands with main Opposition BJP. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/goa-assembly-election-2012-five-catholic-faces-in-bjps-first-list-for-goa/articleshow/11778612.cms --- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php --- --- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---
[Goanet] GCCI Cup Talent Search TT at Panjim(10-12 Feb)
Panjim Table Tennis Club in association with Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sports Authority of Goa JCI St. Inez will be organizing its Annual GCCI Cup, a Talent Search Non Ranking Table Tennis Tournament from 10 to 12 February 2012 (3.30pm onwards), at Indoor Stadium, Campal-Panaji. The Tournament will be held in the following categories: Girls Under 12 and Under 19 Singles, Boys Under 12, Under 17 and Under 21 Singles and Boys Under 21 Doubles. Goa's Top 8 seeded players will not be allowed to participate in the tourney. Participants may submit their entries to Irwin Cordo(9860187323) or Noel Estebeiro(9890057200) latest by 9 February. yours sincerely Sandeep Heble Secretary, Panjim Table Tennis Club 9326129171 --- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---
Re: [Goanet] (no subject)
See http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2012-February/author.html On 7 February 2012 14:27, Desmond Monteiro ddmo...@gmail.com wrote: Many of my messages sent to Goanet have not appeared. I am re-posting, kindly see that same are posted on Goanet. DM --- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---
[Goanet] CII Press Release : CII emphasizes on greater initiatives for RD in the Union Budget
Dear Members of the Media, Would be most obliged if you could kindly carry the appended press release in your esteemed newspaper. Regards, John = CII emphasizes on greater initiatives for RD in the Union Budget Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) wants the next Budget to provide boost to RD initiatives in the economy. Our spending on RD at less than one per cent of GDP compares unfavorably with 3-4 per cent in advanced countries. Indian Industry aspires to be at the forefront of innovation and RD and CII believes that India has the potential to be one of the countries with the highest levels of embedded intelligence in its products and services. Therefore, we must make every effort to double the percentage spend on RD over the next few years, which would be possible only by enhancing the participation of private sector, said Mr. Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII. While emphasizing the need for increasing the share of RD expenditure in the economy, CII, among various measures, has suggested the extension in period as well as scope of Section 35 of the Income Tax Act, which allows weighted deduction of 200 per cent of expenses incurred on in-house RD to select sectors, and expires on 31st March 2012. CII is of the view that not only the period of its applicability must be extended by at least five years but also its coverage must widen to include all sectors of the economy. This is necessary to strengthen our economic power and competitiveness in the international arena by encouraging the use of cutting-edge technology across industry, stressed Mr. Banerjee. Further, CII has observed that the current provisions of deduction under Section 35 even for select industries are very restrictive as some of the activities directly related to research, such as clinical trials held on patients outside the hospitals, bioequivalence studies, regulatory and patent approvals etc, are outside the purview of the benefits. CII has, therefore, recommended that all activities related to research, even if they are carried outside the approved RD facility, should be covered under the provision. Making a case of further extension in the provision of Section 35, CII in its pre-Budget Memorandum wants Section 35 to cover all RD commissioned by firms to academic institutions, public sector RD labs and land and building pertaining to RD. Mr. Banerjee added that India has the potential to emerge as the global hub for research, innovation and design if we could strengthen the incentives for RD activity in the country. Mumbai 7 February 2012 --- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---
[Goanet] Days' summary (02/07/2012)
To Goanet - 1) I went to Mopa early this morning. What strikes you is the near total absence of plastic trash that is widespread almost everywhere in Goa today. Mopa's pristine landscape is like a walk back in time when much of Goa was blessed until India happened to us. All this will change dramatically if the proposed Mopa airport goes through. The dhangar community settled here for ages will be displaced (bought out or forced to relocate), the peace quiet replaced by the usual Indian cacophony. And I don't need to tell you about ghatis and slums mushrooming around big construction projects. The airport at Mopa is a really, really rotten idea. Instead the Navy should be asked to move out of Dabolim and go elsewhere (preferably out of Goa). The only 'contribution' of the Indian Navy to Goa is the usurpation of prime areas of Goan land. 2) Babush Monserrate says he will give 1 government job to every family. Yes, like it is his 'baapaaycho faat.' The reporter should have immediately asked him the going rate for one job - 2 lakhs? 5 lakhs? Why is this man not in jail? r --- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---
[Goanet] Goa's second Liberation must begin!
Sandeep makes a fair point. But whom does he recommend as the alternate? A few days back he posted a news item about the BJP organising a sports event. Is this a pointer to his new loyalties and affiliation? And isn't the word 'liberation' anachronistic considering the present state of Goa within 50 years of the end of Portuguese rule? Which is worse - dying a slow death or being tortured and killed violently? A catch-22 situation indeed for the electorate!!! Regards, Marshall Sandeep Heble: The Congress is scoring one self goal after another. Goa is facing a bleak future with 3 or 4 self centered politicians wanting to control the destiny of our once beautiful state. The World may not end in 2012 but Goa's future most certainly will if we don't act decisively to prevent this. Goa's second Liberation must begin! --- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---
[Goanet] [JudeSundayReflections] 6th Sunday of the Year
5-Feb-2012 Dear Friend, In life, most of the time we keep our distance from people who are sick, deformed, or handicapped. We may not admit it but we are afraid of them. They need our touch; they need to be assured that we accept them as they are. Yet, paradoxically, we love to be touched, we feel honoured when someone important shakes hands with us or gives us a pat on the back. Our God wishes to touch us, His name is Emmanuel, God with us. Let yourself be touched by God this weekend! It can make all the difference! Fr. Jude Sunday Reflections: Sixth Sunday of the Year 'Reaching out to outcasts, the unreachable' 12-Feb-2012 Readings: Leviticus 13: 1-2; 45-461 Cor.10: 23-11: 1Mark 1: 40-45 The first reading from Leviticus describes how a leper had to behave once he had discovered his sickness. He had to leave home and community, he had to wear clothes that made people aware that he was a leper to be avoided and had to announce everywhere that he was unclean. One wonders which caused more suffering, the disease or the rejection and shame and isolation cause by its stigma. While we need to thank God for the gift of good health, are we compassionate towards those who we know are afflicted with dreadful diseases: cancer and aids? Have we written them off? Avoided them? Kept our distance? Treated them like outcasts? Handicap No Barrier Henri Vicardi was born in 1912 in New York City to immigrant parents. He was born without normal legs. He spent most of his early life in a hospital. He did not receive his artificial legs till he was twenty-seven. But what a life he has lived! He has become one of the most respected figures in the fields of rehabilitation and education. He has devoted his life to ensuring that severely disabled individuals might have all the opportunities to achieve their fullest potential as human beings. In 1952 he founded the internationally famed Human Resources Centre in Elberton, Long Island. Henri has been an advisor to every President from Roosevelt to Reagan. Once, an interviewer asked him, Henri where did you get such a positive attitude towards life? His answer was a classic. He said, When the turn came for another crippled boy or girl to be sent to the world, God consulted his council of Ministers and they suggested that they could be sent to Vicardi's family. Francis Xavier in 'The World's best inspiring stories' In the gospel this Sunday, leprosy is the clear theme emerging. People believed that lepers were cursed by God. Yet, a leper and an outcast dared to approach Jesus. He ran the risk of being chased away with stones. But he was determined to meet the one man whom he believed would not reject him. Jesus saw the leper approaching and allowed him to come right up to him. Seeing the pitiful state he was in Jesus took pity on him, and reached out and touched him. It was a symbolic act which no doubt shocked the onlookers. Most of us are afraid of the sick and the very poor. We may give beggars a few coins but we make sure that there is no contact. Jesus touched lepers, sinners, sick people, and the dead. We can imagine how good the leper felt when Jesus touched him. The leper said to Jesus, Sir, I believe you can cure me if you really want to. Of course I want to! said Jesus to the leper and he was healed and the leprosy left him. Jesus also challenges us his followers to reach out to those that society rejects today: prisoners, drug addicts, aids victims, and travellers, those different from us. By the way we deal with people, we can rekindle hope, bring back the zest for life, inspire plans for the future, restore confidence and self respect. We can give people the touch of the master by the way we reach out and communicate God's love. Breaking Boundaries and Reaching Out Many people vividly recall a particular event in their lives years after many similar events have been forgotten. Sportsmen may remember the match where they got their first score despite many better scores since. Some recall the details of their first wage packet even though later ones were more substantial. Others may recall the rain on the night they met their life partner despite all the torrents that have come since. This selective recall operated in the early church when the stories about the life of Jesus came to be written down. In today's gospel, Mark recounts the curing of the leper very early in the ministry of Jesus. For the Jews, leprosy was not only an incurable disease but it was erroneously seen as a sign of God's displeasure and punishment. Lepers were ostracised and forced to live apart from the socially acceptable community. Jesus broke through the conventions, touched the leper and cured him. Desperate for a cure, the victim had turned to Jesus as a last resort and his faith-filled hope was rewarded. Sometimes in our desperation, we need to imitate the leper and challenge Jesus to cure us
[Goanet] Science and Technology Goa - Germany 12 Feb. 2012
*Deutscher Text weiter unten* Dear reader, moving on with our activities we have the pleasure to announce the * * *1st Meeting Science and Technology Goa - Germany* *12 **February 2012 (Sunday), 4:30 pm* Organized by IGSG - Indo German Friendship Society, Goa with the collaboration of National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Staff Club, Goa, at NIO Seminar Hall, at Dona Paula, Panjim. A very informal get together of people with similar interests and experiences. Open to all scientists, researchers, students - also Germans - and their friends, involved or interested in science and technology with the link Goa - Germany. There will be few talks from NIO including overview of NIO's activities, research projects, relation with Germany, experience, etc. Previous registration required: i...@igsg.org or call 9763365050 * * *German Language Course at Carmel College, Nuvem* A German language course for beginners has been held with success during the past weeks in collaboration with Carmel College, at the premises of the College in Nuvem. Pictures of the closing ceremony held on February 2, 2012 can be seen at: German Language Classes http://www.igsg.org/de/GermanLanguageClasses.htm *Goa election 3 March, 2012 - explained in German* A special talk to German speaking people regarding the upcoming elections in Goa and the backgrounds of the sometimes trickery and confused socio-political landscape in Goa. An attempt to discern and clarify what is going on. On 19 February (Sunday) at 4 pm, venue to be fixed. Previous registration required: i...@igsg.org or call 9763365050 * * *Petition* Please support with your signature our Petition to the Government of India regarding the issue of the two months gap and visa facilitation for retired foreigners: http://www.igsg.org/Petition.htm * * *Press articles* * * *Declarations of the General Consul of Germany in Mumbai Dr. Heldman about Goa* In two articles the General Consul of Germany in Mumbai Dr. Leopold-Theodor Heldman is referred to be making statements regarding some problems in Goa, especially those related to the tourism industry. Mr Dean Menezes has been appointed as the new Honorary Consul of Germany in Goa: Please read the two articles (in English) under: Goa's crime scene is not as bad as other parts of the worldhttp://www.igsg.org/de/press_2012-02-07_NovoConsul-en.htm Garbage keeps Germans away from Goahttp://www.igsg.org/de/press_2012-02-07_Herald_Garbage-keeps_Consulate-en.htm *Siemens starts two new factories in Goa* Germany-based Siemens AG's Indian arm, Siemens Ltd, today said its two factories in Goa, which were set up at an investment of Rs 200 crore, have started production. Please read the full article (in English) under: Siemens' new factories in Goa commence productionhttp://www.igsg.org/de/press_2012-02-07_Siemens-en.htm *Foreigners in Goa* A short article in the Goan Daily Herald about the positive contribution of Germans and other foreigners in Goa (in English) under: Foreigners in Goa: a positive contributionhttp://www.igsg.org/de/press_2012-02-07_Herald_Foreigner-positive-contrib-en.htm Liebe Leser, wir möchten Sie heute auf weitere Aktivitäten unseres Vereins aufmerksam machen, sowie auf zwei Artikel aus der lokalen Presse. *1. Treffen Science and Technology Goa - Germany* *12. Februar 2012 (Sonntag), 16.30 Uhr* Veranstalter: IGSG - Indo German Friendship Society, Goa in Zusammenarbeit mit dem National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Staff Club, Goa. Ort: NIO Seminar Hall, Dona Paula, Panjim. Diese Veranstaltung ist als informelles Treffen für Teilnehmer mit ähnlichen Interessen und Erfahrungen konzipiert. Es steht allen, auch deutschen, Wissenschaftlern und Studenten - und ihren Familien und Freunden - offen, die in irgendeiner Weise in Wissenschaft oder Technologie mit dem Link Goa-Deutschland zu tun haben oder daran interessiert sind. Das NIO wird bei dem Treffen einen Überblick über seine Tätigkeit, Forschungprojekte, Beziehungen zu Deutschland usw. geben. Anmeldung erforderlich unter i...@igsg.org oder 9763365050 *Deutschkurs im Carmel College, Nuvem* Der Deutschkurs im Carmel College ist erfolgreich durchgeführt worden. Bilder von der Abschlussfeier mit Zeugnisübergabe finden Sie hier: Deutschkurs Januar 2012 http://www.igsg.org/de/Deutschkurse.htm *Die Wahlen in Goa am 3. März: auf Deutsch erklärt* Viele Deutsche, die hier ihren Winter oder auch nur einen Kurz-Urlaub verbringen, lesen zwar die Tageszeitung, haben aber oft Schwierigkeiten, die manchmal etwas verzwickten und oft verwickelten Gegebenheiten in der soziopolitischen Landschaft Goas zu durchschauen. Bei diesem Treffen, das auf Deutsch stattfindet, soll ihnen mehr Klarheit verschafft werden. Am 19. Februar (Sonntag) um 16 Uhr. Ort wird noch bekannt gegeben. Anmeldung erforderlich unter: i...@igsg.org oder 9763365050 * * *Petition* Wenn Sie sich unserer Petition in Sachen Visum mit 2-Monats-Gap und Visum
[Goanet] Los Angeles Goans - Mother's Day cruise, May 11-14
Hello All, Come celebrate Mothers day from May 11 – May 14 on Carnival Cruises which departs from Long Beach, California and is organized by Selma Rodrigues. The cruise is open to the public and we hope to have our own Goan group on board. All welcome (Goans, non-Goans). This should be fun – so far we have around 9 families committed, the more, the merrier!!! See http://goansofamerica.com/events.html Book early to get the best deals. 3 nights/4 days Baja Mexico Cruise leaves from Long Beach, CA on Friday, May 11th at 5:30pm and returns on Monday, May 14th at 8:00 am. Early Bird Rates Inside Cabin: $ 299/- Window Cabin: $ 329/- These prices are for the Riviera Deck and subject to change, so book early. Tickets are non-refundable. Taxes are $41.60. Every 3rd person and over in the room, charges are $149. Please book on any deck and cabin you wish. Everyone must have necessary travel documents. The Carnival Cruise Lines’ Long Beach Cruise Terminal is located at: 231 Windsor Way Long Beach, California, 90802 Phone: 562-901-3232 Everyone is responsible to make their own bookings and dinner/show reservations. Late dinner seating at 8:15pm followed by the show is preferred. For reservations contact: Robert Wilson (Bob) at Carnival Cruise Lines/ 1.800.819.3902 Ext 85677 OR Kacy at American Express Travel/ 1-800-297-5627/ Option #1, Option #1, Ext 4122 OR Rose D’Silva (Our very own Goan Travel specialist - Rose is not able to get cruise discounts at this time, but can definitely assist with flights and future bookings to India, etc.) - at 818-834-0169 THE GOA IS NOT RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR BOOKINGS, RESERVATIONS, PRICING, CANCELLATIONS, MEDICAL EMERGENCIES OR ACCIDENTS. Please consider purchasing travel insurance. Please email me once you book at ronnie.dalg...@cpranaheim.com so that we have an estimate. Sincerely, Ronnie Dalgado LA GOA President ronnie.dalg...@cpranaheim.com http://goansofamerica.com/index.html --- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---
[Goanet] Outrageous Congress Family Politics
By giving 2 and more seats to one family, The Congress Party has proved that they actually have no principles and now the destruction/corruption which is already serious in Goa, will be enormously magnified; should Goans vote these Families into Power. I am horrified about thinking what will happen, when more of the same kind come into the Goa Assembly. Hindus Catholics Muslims let us shed our differences/divisions brought about the Anti Goan Politicians/Families and let's Vote for Goa on 3rd March 2012. One thing is definite is that the Congress Party must be taught a big lesson this elections, else Goa and Goans will be finished off very soon!! Arwin Mesquita, UAE. -- Please post your comments on my Blog: http://goanidentity.blogspot.com/ Please also see below: 1. Benaulim Village Action Committee: http://www.bvacbenaulim.blogspot.com/ 2. Rape of Goa : http://www.parrikar.com/blog/the-rape-of-goa/ 3. MAND - an adivasi-rights resource centre : http://mandgoa.blogspot.com/ 4. EVERY GOAN SHOULD SEE THIS VIDEO: http://infochangeindia.org/Infochange-documentary.html 5. Goa's Identity Movement group on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com//#/group.php?gid=193497031686 6. Official Government Site NRI Office (GOA): http://www.globalgoans.org.in/ --- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---
[Goanet] Meet Greer and Victor
Meet Greer and Victor http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEoVYH5Kh7U joego...@yahoo.co.uk for Goa NRI related info... http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/GOAN-NRI/ For Goan Video Clips http://youtube.com/joeukgoa In Goa, Dial 1 0 8 For Hospital, Police, Fire etc --- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---
Re: [Goanet] Outrageous Congress Family Politics
Arwin Mesquita arwinmesqu...@gmail.com wrote: [1] By giving 2 and more seats to one family, The Congress Party has proved that they actually have no principles [2] Hindus Catholics Muslims let us shed our differences/divisions brought about the Anti Goan Politicians/Families [3] One thing is definite is that the Congress Party must be taught a big lesson this elections, [4] else Goa and Goans will be finished off very soon!! COMMENT: Preface: Brilliant stuff ... or is it?; In any event .. let's consider the principle'. re #1: On which principle (besides the 'Shakedom pincipals' ) can ANY individual be denied a ticket (NOT seats) to any person just because another member of the family has a seat? re #2: Sure ...this will happen. re #3: And WHO should be elected instead? The Guys who produced the anti-Catholic VCD and the St Francis Xavier haters? re #4: Oh Oh Someone still believes that the Bhangarenchem Goa is left .waiting to be finished? Where is this guy living? In a desert or something? from the Isla jc --- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---
[Goanet] CONTROVERSY: The MOCA replies...
CONTROVERSY: THE MOCA REPLIES Fr. Avinash Rebelo, President Museum of Christian Art Santa Monica Convent -- Old Goa museumofchristian...@gmail.com The Museum of Christian Art (MOCA) has been very much in the news over the last week and unfortunately there has been an extent of misinformation/incorrect statements appearing in the media. The objective of this note is to set the records right. Three years prior to the inauguration of the Museum in 1994, Prof. Teotonio R. De Sousa, then Director, Xavier Center of Historical Research had been entrusted to prepare an inventory of the art objects in the churches and main chapels of Goa, which he did so painstakingly with field assistance of Mr Fausto Colaco and Mr Felix Ferrao. Based on this inventory, Ms. Maria Helena Mendes Pinto (Curator of Arte Antiga, Lisbon) and Ms. M.da Conceicao Borges (also of the same Museum) after a round through the churches and chapels made a final selection of the art objects to be displayed in the Museum. It is unfortunate that a few volumes of this inventory have disappeared from the Museum when at Rachol. Mr. Victor Hugo Gomes a Graduate in Fine Arts, not Museology, was appointed as Junior Curator. His main task was to collect the selected objects from the churches and the chapels. He left the services of the Museum around 4 months after the inauguration of the Museum. We can justifiably say that the Museum has one of the finest catalogues of items on display, in India. The inputs to the catalogue have been culled from the inventory painstakingly produced by qualified Museologists from Gulbenkian and the MOCA and with the support of professional photographers. To say that the Museum has no inventory is displaying total ignorance of fact or deliberate attempt to malign. Providing security cover for a Museum involves providing security guards and electronic surveillance and the extent of coverage by both depends on the budget available. MOCA had been sanctioned an initial budget of Rs 3 lakhs (or Rs. 25000 p.m.) by the State Government for meeting the costs of security guards, subsequently increased to Rs 4.5 lakhs in recent years. Within this limited budget only four guards (from a reputable Mumbai security contractor who has several industrial and commercial clients in Goa) could be paid for doing duty at the Museum on a 24-hour basis. It is unfortunate that there was only one guard at the time around the change of shift on the evening of 25th January, a lapse on the part of the security contractor for which explanation has been sought, as our contract with them stipulates that at any given time there would be 2 guards at the Museum. For the other systems that were put in place the MOCA had to find its own funds. It was able to do so but only to the extent of a CCTV system and a burglar alarm system. The CCTV system was used mainly for surveillance of visitors and it did not have a recording system. Frequent power outages and severe voltage surges often caused damage to the Museum equipment and frequently resulted in erratic functioning and false alarms from the alarm system. Because of this and the risk of a short circuit resulting in fire, a set of keys were kept with the security in charge. Security at the MOCA was provided to prevent theft and burglary. What took place at the MOCA on 25th January was dacoity i.e. armed forceful entry. The cost of provision of armed guards would have been outside our budget. With regard to insurance cover, it may be noted that when MOCA tried to insure the Museum and its objects, we were informed that there were no schemes in India to insure Museums because of the high and indeterminable antiquity value of the objects and even if it were possible the premium involved would have been extremely high. We were also informed that Government owned and sponsored Museums are not insured but usually function under a sovereign guarantee. MOCA had no role to play in either receiving or disbursing of funds for setting up the Museum. The Gulbenkian Foundation and INTACH who funded the project handled this between them and on completion handed the Museum to the Museum of Christian Art Society. No funds were provided by either The Gulbenkian Foundation or INTACH to the Museum for its operation. This was solely the responsibility of the Museum of Christian Art Society. A fund collecting arm of the Museum, 'Amigos de Rachol' under the chairmanship of Bal Mundkur set out to collect funds through donations for the Museum and advertisements for a souvenir brochure. The ambitious target of collection was not met and we were told by 'Amigos de Rachol' that this was because
[Goanet] [Photo Blog by Rajan Parrikar] Chicks
Photo Blog by Rajan Parrikar has posted a new item, 'Chicks' Taken this morning at Dhangarwadi, a very old settlement of dhangars (shepherds), in the remote village of Mopa, north Goa. You may view the latest post at http://www.parrikar.com/blog/2012/02/07/chicks/ Best regards, Rajan P. Parrikar parri...@yahoo.com --- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---
[Goanet] ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS: Shifting sands (Pamela D'Mello)
ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS Shifting sands PAMELA D'MELLO in Panaji It is the Congress versus the BJP in Goa, with the once-strong regional parties playing either “spoilers” or “kingmakers”. BY February 16, the last date for withdrawal of nominations, contenders for the Assembly elections scheduled for March 3 in Goa will have less than two weeks for active campaigning. Though there promises to be multi-corner contests and several candidates in each of the 40 constituencies, the battle for Goa is essentially between the ruling Congress and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is making a bid to regain Panaji since its 2000-2005 tenure. For every election after its electoral debut in the State in 1994, the BJP has had a firm chief ministerial candidate. But this time leadership tussles have erupted in the party, with Other Backward Classes (OBC) leader Shripad Naik making an aggressive pitch to re-enter State politics after three terms as Member of Parliament. Naik, the MP from North Goa, has been projected as a Bhandari Samaj leader within the party. The party's central committee has denied him permission to contest the Assembly elections. He went into a sulk and is staying away from the Jan Sampark Abhiyan (mass contact programme) launched by the party. Analysts see the move by the party as one intended to prevent another power centre within the BJP and a possible contest for the top job, thereby consolidating the position of former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who hails from the small and closely networked Gaud Saraswat Brahmin caste, which holds dominant positions in the State's business, professional, media and culture circuits. The OBC-Brahmin contest within the BJP has already become grist to its detractors, but more fundamentally it has thrown open the question of the Gaud Saraswat community's upswing, with at least one newspaper editorial pointing out that it held the posts of both the Chief Minister and the Leader of Opposition in the past five years. The Congress, meanwhile, is approaching the elections with a surfeit of competing generals, each shoring up his position for the legislature party leadership by lobbying for the ticket to be given to loyalists and family members. Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, who moved from the BJP to the Congress just ahead of the 2007 elections, is keen on getting the ticket awarded to a couple of BJP legislators who ditched their party ahead of the elections this time. Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, the ambitious son of Speaker and long-serving Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane, has been buttressing his position in several neighbouring constituencies in and around the interior Sattari taluk his family dominates by giving local youth from his pocket borough government jobs in the health sector. Goa's personality- and family-based politics, a trend the Congress was unable to nip in the bud in 2007, has grown into a gargantuan problem for its managers in New Delhi. In 2007, the Congress denied Vishwajit Rane the ticket, but he contested as an independent. Its efforts to contain South Goa leader Churchill Alemao cost the Congress several seats when his regional outfit, the Save Goa Front, ate into its vote base. The Congress was finally forced to make peace with Churchill because of his damage potential. (Following several attempts by the BJP in alliance with the Save Goa Front, the United Goans Democratic Party (UGDP) and independents to unseat Kamat, the Congress offered ministerships to Save Goa Front supremo Churchill Alemao, in return for his party's merger with the Congress. The lone UGDP legislator, Atanasio Monserrate, joined the Congress to become a Minister, as did one independent, Vishwajit Rane, who became Health Minister.) This time round, the bid to contain family and dynastic politics has delayed the finalisation of candidates for several crucial seats, though the party had announced early that it would favour sitting MLAs. As always, candidate selection is the Congress' biggest nightmare. The Alemao brothers – Churchill and Joaquim, both Ministers in the government – are angling for seats for their children, Valanka Alemao (Churchill's daughter) and Yuri Alemao (Joaquim's son). Home Minister Ravi Naik is also seeking the ticket for his son, with suggestions that the Naik and Alemao sons will be accommodated by the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in two of the six or seven seats it is likely to get after pre-poll alliance talks with the Congress. The Congress has a trickier problem with Education Minister Atanasio Monserrate, whose claim for a nomination for his wife reflects a tussle with a sitting Congress legislator for the control of prime real-estate pockets of suburban Panaji. Given Monserrate's winnability, the Congress cannot afford to ignore him, but it has adopted a strategy to control his growing influence. The party has not forgotten its previous experience with Monserrate: in 2007, he procured the party nomination but
Re: [Goanet] Days' summary (02/07/2012)
On 7 February 2012 06:42, Rajan P. Parrikar parri...@yahoo.com wrote: To Goanet - [a] I went to Mopa early this morning. . Mopa's pristine landscape is like a walk back in time when much of Goa was blessed until India happened to us. (b) the Navy should be asked to move out of Dabolim and go elsewhere (preferably out of Goa). The only 'contribution' of the Indian Navy to Goa is the usurpation of prime areas of Goan land. COMMENT: My dear Rajanbab, How could you make such preposterous statements about those who have liberated us and stayed on to protect us? BTW: I am writing this in OBITER (:-) but Have Goans not been Liberated? Would you not say that Goans are kind of ungrateful? From Tongue-in-chick nagar jc --- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---
[Goanet] Goa news for February 8, 2012
Goa News from Google News and Goanet.org Visit http://www.goanet.org/newslinks.php for the full stories. *** Five families have bigger slice of Congress-NCP ticket in Goa - The Hindu ationalist Congress Party alliance in Goa for the March 3 Assembly elections. The allottees are Speaker Pratapsingh Rane (Poriem); his son Vishwajeet Rane, Health Minister ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=tfd=Rusg=AFQjCNHJQMkcTufB3W3-Z24o1nTb9gsutAurl=http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/other-states/article2869736.ece *** Beti B goes to Goa with Abhi and Ash! - Zee News nd-beti-b-on-a-holiday-in-goa.htmlAishwarya,Abhishek and Beti B on a holiday in Goa http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=tfd=Rusg=AFQjCNH-a1Gv_4TBS00r5LUTKWl27ngBPwurl=http://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/celebrity/beti-b-goes-to-goa-with-abhi-and-ash_105445.htm *** BJP woes in Goa worsen after Gadkari visit - Hindustan Times ay visit to Goa appears to have done more damage than good to the party's image here, ahead of the March 3 assembly election. When Gadkari flew down to Goa Feb 4, one of his major ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=tfd=Rusg=AFQjCNHbqGX5kM0Aw1QC8FFakv9mDjsAkAurl=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Goa/BJP-woes-in-Goa-worsen-after-Gadkari-visit/Article1-808107.aspx *** EC shifts officer who stopped Vadra, revokes order - Hindustan Times lections-ec-to-roll-back-transfer-of-poll-officer-who-stopped-robert-vadras-convoy/articleshow/11799910.cmsUP elections: EC to roll back transfer of poll officer who stopped Robert ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=tfd=Rusg=AFQjCNG8N5KmuscONWVanI_hr6b8oXRXUwurl=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Specials/Coverage/Assembly-Elections-2012/Chunk-HT-UI-AssemblyElections2012-UP-OtherStories/EC-shifts-officer-who-stopped-Vadra-revokes-order/SP-Article10-808085.aspx *** Goa: Commerce Min to Decide on Banning Iron Export - Outlook tlookPTI http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=tfd=Rusg=AFQjCNG5TwQ50kz4G7Y9Pq6lbn6UawDgLwurl=http://news.outlookindia.com/item.aspx?750519 *** Sameer Salgaocar to contest as independent from Mandrem - Times of India w5KAgUg7m8ut_QqAbZIr4hQ http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=tfd=Rusg=AFQjCNHSpS8rlHm00cYCpV62TpaG3WDf3Qurl=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Sameer-Salgaocar-to-contest-as-independent-from-Mandrem/articleshow/11785932.cms *** Travellers forsake risky Goa road for safer routes - Times of India oa highway (NH-17) when he drives down to his ancestral home. He has decided on a safer option, even though it's a longer route.a class= http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=tfd=Rusg=AFQjCNHk_7uIOdPxyOSKdOUNf6-D63iFZAurl=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Travellers-forsake-risky-Goa-road-for-safer-routes/articleshow/11799729.cms *** Satre's limestone cave leaves visitors charmed - Times of India attari and Sanguem.a class= http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=tfd=Rusg=AFQjCNGnotD_h64JLNKcqhnT-u_mAG3IXwurl=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Satres-limestone-cave-leaves-visitors-charmed/articleshow/11799368.cms *** Goa CM seeks divine intervention - Times of India oll survey which predicts equal seats for ruling Congress party and its rival BJP, Goa chief minister Digambar Kamat took recourse to seek divine blessing to win the polls handsomely.a class= http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=tfd=Rusg=AFQjCNGTSkQh-FTn1S92Xqzr-wl4Rh5eKgurl=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mangalore/Goa-CM-seeks-divine-intervention/articleshow/11793639.cms *** Kashmiri group takes back 'happy memories' from Goa trip - Times of India mes of IndiaPANAJI: A group consisting of a former militant, retired teachers, government employees, shepherds and orchard cultivators from Kashmir are currently in Goa soaking up the warm sunshine. On a trip of a lifetime, one they had never dreamt of, ...a class= http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=tfd=Rusg=AFQjCNEwWtw8jaubFKInevfmCyIhdUrjJQurl=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Kashmiri-group-takes-back-happy-memories-from-Goa-trip/articleshow/11800619.cms Compiled by Goanet News Service http://www.goanet.org/newslinks.php --- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---
Re: [Goanet] CONTROVERSY: The MOCA replies...
CONTROVERSY: THE MOCA REPLIES Fr. Avinash Rebelo, President Museum of Christian Art Santa Monica Convent -- Old Goa museumofchristian...@gmail.com Based on this inventory, Ms. Maria Helena Mendes Pinto (Curator of Arte Antiga, Lisbon) and Ms. M.da Conceicao Borges (also of the same Museum) after a round through the churches and chapels made a final selection of the art objects to be displayed in the Museum. It is unfortunate that a few volumes of this inventory have disappeared from the Museum when at Rachol. -snip- We appeal to all Heritage lovers to volunteer with funds and services towards the protection of the precious items in the Museum and come forward with constructive suggestions as opposed to virulent attacks on the Committee members who are giving a lot of their time and energy, with no personal gain, for the preservation of Goa’s heritage. ### --- Fr. Avinash Rebelo, I last visited MOCA a year ago. It is one of my favorite places in Goa. The two questions I have are: 1) Do you have any pictures of the items reported stolen? 2) When you say, It is unfortunate that a few volumes of this inventory have disappeared from the Museum when at Rachol are you suggesting that there are no copies whatsoever of those volumes? I know a lot of non-resident Goans and an international Goan organization that would be interested in supporting the MOCA. These Goans can be generous but they need transparency with the facts first. Mervyn Lobo Toronto --- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---
[Goanet] The Catholic as a political football
The Catholic as a political football Frederick Noronha Elections are near, and it's all so apparent how the Catholic vote is being used as a political football. Or, is it apparent? Citizens and voters are once again allowing their feelings, fears and frustrations to get manipulated. In the past, the big 'C' that frightened everyone among the Catholic voters was 'communalism'. Today, it is 'corruption'. In the 1980s and the 1990s, Congress governments rode to power on the fears of the minority voter. Then, the politics and bias of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party was a major concern, and not without reason. Later, in the middle and late 1990s, a number of breakaway factions - unhappy with what their leaders got from the Congress - began to up the ante, and broke off on their own. Given our electoral system here, most were hugely unsuccessful in electoral terms, starting with Dr Wilfred de Souza's Goa Congress. By the late 1990s, factions thought it fit to waltz with the saffron and conservative politics of the BJP. This trend, starting with Francisco Sardinha in 1999 continues till Matanhy Saldanha, a few weeks back - despite the seeming mismatch with his long protest ideology of the past. Today, as the BJP's long-unsuccessful attempts to build a Hindu votebank show signs of coming further unstuck, the party seems keen to woo the minority vote. Notwithstanding its own statements, stands and strategies of the past. BJP strategists need full marks for recognising the simplistic understanding that the minority voters and their thought-leaders have. Corruption is seen as Number One problem facing Goa today, even if the reality is more complex. It could be argued that a Congress nominee gets support not only because he is corrupt (though that helps), but because he also represents a long-deprived caste group. Likewise, another Catholic middle-class concern that verges on an obsession is the need to protect our skyline. While this can be understood, the fear of the uncertain future can also be manipulated for political purposes, as it indeed is. * * * It is debatable whether citizens have exactly the same interests just because of their shared religious background. But, even assuming this is the case, the Catholic voter in Goa gained little by thoughtlessly supporting the Congress for two decades and more. If the Congress took the voter for granted, the BJP is seeking to manipulate the very same voter, in a more sophisticated manner. Manohar Parrikar wants Goa to believe that he can ride the Marathi-Konkani chauvinism on the MoI issue, at the same time as fulfilling the aspirations of parents who want to choose the medium for their children. Suddenly, the issues of (mostly Catholic) seamen become important enough. The issue of the minority's abysmal access to government jobs has long been raised, and often glibly explained away. An earlier BJP government could simply dismiss the issue of not having a Minority Commission for Goa by noting that an earlier Congress (Rane) government had itself rejected the idea some time around 1995 if one recalls right. Controversial Catholic leaders are built up as much by the ruling as the Opposition, only to find the wider community itself being mocked and defamed in mega-headlines when these politicos do, as expected, something very controversial. Given our electoral system, many less-empowered groups face a similar fate. They have a choice of being made use of by Tweedledee and Tweedledum. Subaltern castes groups, like our aboriginal population - regardless of which religion they hail from - have been repeatedly used just prior to elections, to be discarded soon later. When will we wisen up? http://www.heraldgoa.in/newscategory/Opinions/14 --- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---
[Goanet] QUERY: Any Goanettters in Denmark and Norway??
Looking for information and guidance in Denmark and Norway. Any Goanetters who can assist kindly email offline. Thank you - Bosco --- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---
[Goanet] Gutter Goa
To Goanet - Expectedly the savages from Delhi want to turn Goa into Gutter Kailash - http://www.rediff.com/business/slide-show/slide-show-1-special-land-wars-threaten-goas-beauty/20120207.htm Note the comment that screwing Goa is an unstoppable tidal wave. Aren#39;t you glad now? r --- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---
[Goanet] MEET THE AUTHOR: Braz Menezes, author of Just Matata, speaks at the Goa Book Club, Feb 10, 2012 (Fri) 5 pm
Just to say that we will be having a Goa Book Club meet on coming Friday (Feb 10, 2012, at 5 pm, usual venue -- Broadway Book Centre, Panjim) and the author of the recently-published novel *Just Matata*, Braz Menezes, will be there to answer your questions and discuss his work... FN http://www.archive.org/details/BrazMenezes...TheresJustMatataHere Braz Menezes... There's Just Matata Here 1 braz-menezes-author-interview 39:50 embed this Would you like to try our new video/audio player ? (beta!) Braz Menezes, based in Canada, has set his first novel (part of a trilogy) in Goa and Kenya. It's called *Just Matata: Sin, Saints and Settlers*. Matata is Swahili for trouble, as Chico discovers in 1928, after jumping ship on a journey from India to Africa. More from the book's (ISBN 978-0-9877963-0-1) blurb: With some skills and much sweat, he (Chico) navigates the channels open to him under the segregated colonial structure of Kenya, while doing all to keep his heritage alive, and dreaming only of retirement to his beloved Goa. Enter son Lando, two decades later, and all plans are on hold. This audio is part of the collection: Community Audio Keywords: goa; novel; just matata; braz menezes; canadian writing; canadian-goans; emigration; kenya;africa; goa and kenya; architect and urban planner; matata trilogy; sin; saints; settlers Creative Commons license: Attribution 3.0 http://www.archive.org/details/BrazMenezes...TheresJustMatataHere -- FN +91-832-2409490 or +91-9822122436 f...@goa-india.org Books from Goa,1556 http://scr.bi/Goa1556Books Audio recordings (mostly from Goa): http://bit.ly/GoaRecordings --- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---
Re: [Goanet] Goa's second Liberation must begin!
On 7 February 2012 09:48, Marshall Mendonza mmendonz...@gmail.com wrote: [1] Sandeep makes a fair point. [2] But whom does he recommend as the alternate? [3] A few days back he posted a news item about the BJP organising a sports event. [4] Is this a pointer to his new loyalties and affiliation? COMMENT: re #1: OK .but Is he making it fairly? re #2: Hello!!! have you not worked it out already? re #3: And before that he posted about some Art Competition ... Panaji (Panjim when convenient) Bandh and the Comedian Hazare tamasha re #4: New? How about 'Well Known'? WRT Liberation: have you heard the story (from Kerala) about the Mallu the Snake? Here in short (from memory): Man finds badly injured snake Takes it home and looks after it Even allows snake to sleep in his bed - with him (to shelter the snake from the cold) Snake regains strength One night, the Snake bites the man. The Dying Man in horror ...asks ? WHY did you do this to me - after ALL I did for you? The snake replies I am truly sorry, I apologize. Besides, I did not know you were that foolish. I thought you would know that Snakes bite humans. jc --- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---
[Goanet] Sex scandals and Porn
Not that I condone such acts but watching porn seems a minor issue when you compare it to the number of sex scandals that the Congress politicians have been involved in. N D Tiwari, J.B. Patnaik, Jalgaon rape cases, Bobby Murder and so many others enough to make a full series of full length films. And lest we forget, Goa has had its fair share of scandals as well - the Miramar sex scandal, the alleged Rapes and Molestation cases by Congressmen and their kith and kin, etc. A pretty sad and gloomy picture which speaks a lot about the quality of Leaders that we have been bringing into our Assemblies and Parliament. Can't really blame the Party on this one because if they don't give these guys the ticket, the Opposition will. But we the people can act by giving them the boot. No matter which political parties such unscrupulous politicians belong to, we must shun them at the coming election hustings. We are the ones who have let our beloved state down by keeping on re-electing them for the few proverbial pieces of silver which are thrown our way. The second Liberation to clean the level of politics and elect good leaders must begin! Cheers, Sandeep Heble --- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---
[Goanet] Entry tax on visitors
Today's newspapers mention how Belgaum has imposed an entry tax on all visitors to Belgaum. We too should have the same in Goa. This will earn much needed revenue for the government to improve its infrastructure (like the present pot-holed roads, etc.) and also keep a check on all the hordes pouring in to Goa. --- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---
[Goanet] Election fog
Election fog By Eugene Correia A fog is hanging over the elections. It is hard to see the light of day of what is really taking place and how it will eventually turn turn out. Even though candidates for some of the seats have not been released by the two national parties, the Congress and the BJP for the obvious reason of machinations going on within these parties, one can expect a couple of surprises where those who were seen as favourites have been dropped by the wayside. One thing that has emerged clearly is the kiss-and-forget rebonding of the BJP and the MGP. The alliance looks good on paper but it is hard to predict if the parties will remain in each other's embrace if the Congress falls short of majority and woos either the MGP MLAs to join the Congress or come to the same arrangement that helped the Congress to form the government. The alliances that parties get into are marriages of convenience and not solemn ones. They can last a day, months, years or till the end of the term. The wooing season is over and on one side there's the Congress-NCP front and, on the other side, the BHP-MGP front. The third front, GVP-UDGP may slip in sideways, as the combine can do a trick or two in Salcette. Some of those who were denied tickets will jump into the fray as independents, adding more flavor to the election sorpotel. The maddening world of Goan politics is a phenomenon. The state is considered an example of having perfected the art of beating the anti-defection law, which, in the first place, was introduced largely because of Goa changing its government repeatedly within short time. The game of toppling the ruling government by forces within the ruling party MLAs and opportunistic MLAs from the opposition parties is being well played in Goa. It was through shrewd maneauring by the outgoing CM Digamber Kamat that saved his government and saw it serve the full term. It was indeed a creditable performance by Kamat in the face of repeated attempts to dethrone him. With too many in his cabinet gunning for him, Kamat had to be on guard all times. It does not matter how he did it, for, as they say, a captain's job is to bring the ship safely into the harbour in stormy seas. It is still another matter that many would not give Kamat credit for his day-to-day governance and his ability to fight the ring of fire surrounding him in the form of scams and scandals. He may have turned a Nelson's eye to some of the things that hit his government as his term was coming to an end. He was partly engulfed in the mining scandal and the RP2011 fallout. Even if Congress wins, there is no guarantee that Kamat will occupy the CM's chair. At the time of writing, most of the same faces are again facing the electorate. The biggest casualty has been Victoria Fernandes. She seems bewildered why she has been left in the cold. It is hard to believe that she is naive to ask the reason for the step-motherly treatment from the party she loyally represented. She should be asking herself why she went a little wayward in dancing fox-trot with the foxy Parrikar. Dissidence is one thing that needs to be tackled from within the party and not by going to the length of making overtures to the opposition. It could not be that the winability factor has rubbed off her and that her replacement, the very unpredictable, the very unreasonable, the very unsphisticated, Anastacio Babush Monserrate, is a sure bet. The argument that Babush's wife, Jennifer, lost to Victoria narrowly and, hence, the Monserrates have a strong support may make some sense. But in the last five years, much water has flown down the Mandovi and Santa Cruz have prove to be a different case this time. If the circulating rumours of the BJP making a deal with Babush to have a weak Yatin Parekh as Parrikar's main opponent in Panaji and the BJP, in turn, conceitedly supporting Babush in Santa Cruz are true then it does not come as a major surprise. The mystique of Monserrate-Parrikar relationship is hard to unravel. Everything said and done, Santa Cruz will a constituency to be watched for high drama if Victoria's son, Rudolf, sticks to his word of challenging Babush. Babush unabashedly remarked that it is for the voters to decide if he is good or not. As days go by, the fog will be lifted and a clear picture of the whole scene will emerge. Goans will need 3-D glasses to see the actors close-up, almost at their eyes. FOOTNOTE: This piece was written yesterday. With the release of new list by the Congress, the scene has cleared a bit. It will become more transparent on March 13 when nominations close and totally transparent after the last day for withdrawals on March 17. --- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php
Re: [Goanet] The Catholic as a political football
To Goanet - Admin Noronha, Have you asked the editor of Herald in which your doodle appears about the sting operation by Mayabhushan Nagvenkar? According to Nagvenkar#39;s investigation, the pages in which you take a dump is taking its readers for a ride by planting fake items for a price. Don#39;t you have any shame associating youself with a rag that is allegedly taking the Catholics for a ride? Why are you using Catholics as a football to spin your googly? Or are you a covert BJP operative? r --- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---
Re: [Goanet] (No Subject) (Frederick Noronha)
FN See http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2012-February/author.html On 7 February 2012 14:27, Desmond Monteiro ddmo...@gmail.com wrote: Many of my messages sent to Goanet have not appeared. I am re-posting, kindly see that same are posted on Goanet. DM Comment: Administrador Irmao, give a Goan a fish and you feed him for one day, but teach him how to fish and you feed him for life. In the above link you have shown Desmond how to find the authors posting on GN for the month of Feb. 2012. Why not tell all GNers that one way of searching the GN Archives is by typing in a browser window the following: http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/Year-Month/author.htmlwhere the year must be in the format and the month written in Full starting with an uppercase letter e.g. January, August, etc. Capsice? -- ** Tony de Sa tonydesa at gmail dot com ** --- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---
Re: [Goanet] Entry tax on visitors
Hello Desmond: I understand the need for more revenus, however, I don't think it's fair to impose it on visitors. I hope to be a visitor soon and will be paying for a visa and other items. All the money I spend in Goa will be revenue. I doubt though it would be used by the government for road improvements etc. I am amused by your suggestion. I hope you are amused by mine. Best Wishes Patricia Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 19:57:49 +1100 From: ddmo...@gmail.com To: goanet@lists.goanet.org Subject: [Goanet] Entry tax on visitors Today's newspapers mention how Belgaum has imposed an entry tax on all visitors to Belgaum. We too should have the same in Goa. This will earn much needed revenue for the government to improve its infrastructure (like the present pot-holed roads, etc.) and also keep a check on all the hordes pouring in to Goa. --- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php --- --- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---
[Goanet] IT raid on Velim Parish Priest
Not surprised. This is just the beginning of the Great Catholic political folly. As the saying goes, United we stand, divided we fall. As the caravan of mission Salcette rolls through with cheering catholics, the 'Good Friday' is not far. It may give the Catholics a holiday forever. We who scream are fools. -- Soter D'Souza --- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---
Re: [Goanet] CONTROVERSY: The MOCA replies...
Fr. Avinash Rebelo as President of MOCA washed his hands. If I have precious items in my house and my house is open without doors, I would keep myself alert, and also ask my neighbours to do so, so that no robbery takes place in my doorless house. It was ok during Portuguese time as we used to keep our doors and windows open and have a sound sleep without any untoward incidents. I guess the President of MOCA was dreaming of living in the Portuguese era. Was/Is he not reading the daily news papers and aware of robberies taking place around Goa and alert himself being President of MOCA ? No funds for security is a lame excuse. The poorest in Goa knows how to raise funds to keep hunger away. And MOCA's committee ? A BIG question. By the way, I have never read or heard about lack of funds at MOCA for security purposes. The robbery at MOCA is a pure neglect on the part of the responsible. Or is it like 'Maka kiteak podlam, mojem kain num tem', the trade mark attitudes of Goans in all respects, especially in respect of our bangarachem Goa when it is being robbed of everything by insiders and outsiders. Shame on all involved and responsible. The great robbery took place. Why no resignations so far on moral grounds. B. M. Viegas Kuwait/Goa From: Goanet Reader CONTROVERSY: THE MOCA REPLIES Fr. Avinash Rebelo, President Museum of Christian Art Santa Monica Convent -- Old Goa museumofchristian...@gmail.com The Museum of Christian Art (MOCA) has been very much in the news over the last week and unfortunately there has been an extent of misinformation/incorrect statements appearing in the media. The objective of this note is to set the records right. --- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---
[Goanet] Calling exStudents St. Pauls Belgaum now in Goa
Calling exStudents St. Pauls Belgaum - now in Goa. I am appending a post from Anthony Dennis which is self explanatory. Please feel to pass this info. to any one you may know - who was schooling at St. Pauls Belgaum and is at present in Goa. Thanks - rene barreto Yahoo group: exstudents_stpauls_stjosephs_belg...@yahoogroups.com (Belgaumites) == On 8 Feb 2012, at 04:02, Anthony S Dennis wrote: Hi Guys, Sensing the genuine desire to meet I took upon myself the task of calling Paulites at random. Lets hope we reap a rich harvest. We now have the names, telnos and some email ids and we hope to call and get their postal address as well for mailings. The VENUE is LOYOLA HALL, Law College Road, Miramar 403 001.Telno 246 3635 At the round about in Miramar (beach) please take the 1st. turn to the left ie the Law College Road. The venue is on the left. Opposite the Law College Date time : 11 February 2012, at 1100 AM Payment : We will chip in on receipt of the bills. Spl Request : Will provide you with sheets of paper and request you to provide us with the following data, on arrival : Your batch no. / name in full / telephone mobile no. / postal address / email id Agenda : Just to meet, set up contacts and have a few laughsas we go along memory lanes. Am sure some of you will pack a camera. Thanks to you guys for the efforts put in. Please acknowledge. Anthony S Dennis (1956) MiramarR 246 3514 PS : Hubert Pereira is here from Toronto, William Lobo (Africa - Kisumu), Rene Barreto (London), Lt Col Cyril Braganza (US) Lt Col Sudhir Barge (Pune) and Vivian DSouza (US) now in Soccoro. Born a Goan - will die a Goan !! barretorene goan...@yahoo.co.uk --- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---
[Goanet] YURI ALEMAO – I CHALLENGE YOU TO STOP WATER SUPPLY TO SOUTH GOA by Nisser Dias
As appeared in Niz Goenkar. *YURI ALEMAO – I CHALLENGE YOU TO STOP WATER SUPPLY TO SOUTH GOA* by Nisser Dias http://nizgoenkar.net/newsDetails.php?id=2931 Last week in an interview to a news daily Yuri Alemao boasted that if elected his priority would be to stop water supply to entire south Goa to highlight the importance of Sanguem to the people of Goa. If it was uttered by any other new entrant in politics, I would have let it pass or assumed it was naïve comment. But when it comes from Alemao family, I take it with a pinch of salt. The reason being, they all claim to be born politicians. That politics runs in their blood. Without carrying out any social work in the society, they become dynamic social workers. Then it is said that their hearts yearns for the poor and they strive to alleviate the hardships of the down trodden. Firstly to help the poor, this clan should have their hard earned money instead of ill-gotten wealth that is being distributed. Furthermore distributing money, rice, sugar, gas cylinders and other freebies during Christmas, Diwali in the election year does not end the woes of the poor. However what bothers my mind is how come Yuri’s father Joaquim Alemao who has been exploiting mines in Sanguem for decades, did not see that this constituency was backward. Only now when the demand and price for low grade iron ore has sharply escalated did he realize that Sanguem was backward. Indeed the Urban Development minister was making pots and pots of money through mining (including alleged illegal) all these years that the mining dust clouded his vision to see that Sanguem constituents did not have water supply in their houses. Or is it that Yuri has opened his father’s eyes to the many low grade mine dumps still existing in the taluka that they could trade in? Yuri Alemao’s statement that he would stop water supply to south Goa if he comes to power is utter rubbish. Ironically it is not that the constituents of Sanguem are suffering from lack of water. It is agreed that they do have piped water to their houses. But what is choking the life out of the people of Sanguem and surrounding areas is mining pollution. Is it in the interest of Yuri Alemao and his father to put an end to mining? Partly their bread and butter lies in mining while the other part lies in politics which they have made their business. If not why is Yuri Alemao who is said to be a pilot not pursuing his career at this prime age instead of dabbling in politics? Then we have PWD minister Churchill Alemao (Yuri’s uncle) who has been in the chair for most of his tenure. Water resources also comes under his ambit. He always beats his breast proclaiming his love for Goans. What has he done to augment water supply to the people of Sanguem. Could Yuri tell us? Or could Yuri tell us if he has ever taken up this subject with his uncle. Has he questioned Churchill Alemao how much attention he paid to Sanguem during his terms as South Goa Member of Parliament. I am sure he has not as this young crown prince of Joaquim Alemao started visiting the constituents of Sanguem during the last one year only with assembly election specially the iron ore heaps in mind. Let me educate ignorant Yuri Alemao. Sanguem is blessed with ample of natural water resources which flow throughout the year. However with irresponsible mining that is excavation of earth for iron ore reserves beyond permissible limits groundwater has got diverted in the mining pits and that is the reason constituents of Sanguem are suffering from shortage of water. Hence Joaquim Alemao is equally responsible for the suffering of the people of Sanguem. Instead of making such absurd comments such as stopping of water supply to south Goa, Yuri Alemao would do better if he diverts his energies in trying to improve the education system in Sanguem. Students are studying in cowsheds in this constituency, different divisions are being taught in one classroom by a single teacher. In some cases students have to walk almost five kilometres to reach school, others wake up as early as 5.00am to travel over hills to attend classes. Majority of population in Sanguem is dependent on agriculture but due to rampant and irresponsible mining the sludge has polluted fields and water bodies thereby dealing a body blow to agriculture and livelihood of the people. Forest cover too has also dwindled due to mining. Farmers here were used hills to grow peppers, beetle nut, areca nuts and other vegetation; this too has also been badly affected. Then there is a sizeable population of ‘dangar’ community whose sole livelihood is raising cattle. With flattening of hills they have also been affected. Has Yuri thought of ways to stop speeding mining trucks which kill people on regular basis? I am sure he has not because it will affect his father’s business. Has he thought of mining pollution which is causing all sorts of lung ailments to the people of Sanguem? If so what is his solution to curb it. Is
