[Goanet-News] Egged on by film moguls, Goa mulls pull out of IFFI
Egged on by film moguls, Goa mulls pull out of IFFI From Pamela D'Mello [EMAIL PROTECTED] The Asian Age, Aug 27, Newsmakers Panaji, Aug 26: India's international film festival IFFI co-hosts, the Entertainment Society of Goa is considering pulling out of the film festival, after its push for increased partnership was rebuffed. Propelled by support from film industry moguls keen to take control of the festival and relaunch an expanded glitzier version, the ESG is talking tough about developing its own Goa film festival brand in the ongoing partnership tussle with Directorate of Film Festivals. This year, ESG sought use of its single software platform for registration and ticketing, and a share in programming of Indian premieres, and world cinema. Both were rejected by DFF earlier this week, prompting some tough talking from the Goa semi-government body that co-hosted IFFI for the past four years, since a much-hyped debut in 2004. We were promised a complete handover by 2008.Then they changed their mind. Now we are only asking for a greater role. We do put in 80% of the funds, but are treated like junior partners. This is no longer tenable, ESG general manager Nikhil Dessai told this newspaper. He said ESG and Goa would need to rethink its position, based on the state's long term plan to develop itself as an entertainment and film production hub. The ESG governing board is shortly expected to discuss DFF's rejection and take a call on its future course. One of the options being considered is a new Goa festival brand. ESG's new found confidence to bargain hard, comes from backend support it has from moguls in the film industry and private sponsors waiting to jump in. ESG already has a realistic assessment of its ability to go solo, it claims. Consultants it has been in talks with could bring in 175 top notch festival films, it says. Many see ESG though as a front for a proxy tussle between commercial movie czars straining to increase the razzmatazz and the DFF, which want to retain IFFI's serious avatar, besides compulsions to cater to pan Indian, regional and alternative independent cinema. ESG is already keen to take over Indian premieres, increase the glamour quotient, and bring in Hollywood stars for red carpet openings. DFF has its limitations. An independent festival would mean the possibilities are limitless, and would have a cascading effect, says Dessai, brimming with confidence. Prizes, prize money and categories could be increased, short films brought in, besides other sections. He said sponsors and backers, not just from next door Bollywood, but from Kolkatta, South Indian cinema, and contacts in Cannes and Hollywood, are backing ESG's plans. We've had talks with the industry. They want revolutionary changes -- a greater role for the industry, more business opportunities, more seminars, better films and old ways of functioning will not facilitate that, adds Dessai. (ends) -- Pamela D'Mello M: 9850461649 http://pameladmello.wordpress.com http://www.youtube.com/user/pameladmello
[Goanet-News] Goanet Reader: From Siridao to Swindon
From Siridao to Swindon By Selma Carvalho [EMAIL PROTECTED] Driving through Swindon, I don't get the impression of a factory town. It is lush green with swathes of agricultural land, the streets lined with houses not given to prosperity but neither to the grime associated with industrial hubs. I would find out later that simmering behind the façade of tranquility lies the squalid reality of racism, chicken-factory jobs and over-crowded living quarters. For now, I was making my way to Agnelo De Mello's house, wanting to find out what had brought the diaspora Goan soul to Swindon. Agnelo, ex-president of the Goan Swindon Association, sits in his living room wearing an Islander shirt and wide grin. Musical instruments propped against the wall are a tell-tale sign that music flows freely in his house. He writes rap music and plays in a band. Much like the Biblical patriarch Abraham, Agnelo says he is the genesis of the growing Goan tribe in Swindon. He moved here from the Gulf some twenty years ago. He knew the then manager of the Rover assembly plant and was instrumental in getting jobs for Goans. From this humble seedling, a mighty tree has grown. As per the 2001 UK Census, Swindon had a population of 180,061 of which 1.3% were Indian. Senior Catholic priest, Monsignor Twomey estimates the influx of Goans in recent years to be in the region of 8,000. Although this figure is hard to verify, Swindon has become a substantial concentration of Goans in disapora. The Monsignor notes that his largely Irish Catholic parish has now been replaced by Goans. A large percentage of them are from Siridao, Goa Velha and Agassim. Portugal affords Goans, right to Portuguese nationality. By virtue of the EU's free movement of labour as per the Treaty of Rome, Goans have access to UK labour markets. I wondered if they had found the fabled pot of gold at the end of the multi-coloured immigration rainbow? Swindon is an industrial estate, home to companies such as Honda, BMW and Faccenda, one of UK's largest chicken processing plants. It is in factories such as these that Goans find employment. Anyone who has visited a chicken processing unit will vouch that the stench of raw chicken is unbearable and industrial accidents are not unheard off. The Wiltshire paper reported: In March 2002, Faccenda was fined £14,000 by Chippenham Magistrates Court when it pleaded guilty to failing in its duty to protect the health and safety of its staff, after a teenage worker lost two fingers in a chicken-skinning machine. The same year, Faccenda removed the toilet seats in the men's toilets. The staff alleged this was to cut short the amount of time spent in the restrooms. Men had to either squat on the toilets or sit on a rim encrusted by faeces and urine. The supervisory mindsets are military-like. Although Goans pride themselves on their ability to converse in English, in a country like the UK, many find their ability to communicate deficient and, they are averse to re-training. Their lives are condemned to low-skilled jobs. Life at the bottom of the industrial food-chain, however, is competitive. Amongst native Swindonians, there is a feeling that Asians are taking over their jobs. In 2004, rocks were hurled at a coach carrying Goan workers from Faccenda factory. Later in the year, coaches used to bus ethnic workers were vandalised. Faccenda is set to close as of September 2008. Visiting the blog world, I find that some are applauding the closure of Faccenda, seen as an employer of minorities. A source alleges that Goans have had to bribe Recruitment agents with laptops and paid vacation trips, to secure employment. I'm reminded of a Mafia-type protection racket. For all this they are paid a pittance. I called up Storm Recruitment agency, which supplies industrial labour and at one time supplied Faccenda, to find out just how much I would earn if I was willing to stuff chicken-wings into plastic bags. Between £5.52 and £6.00 per hour, which in the UK barely puts a roof over one's head. Goans predominantly live in the town center along Manchester Road, Elmina Road and Broad Street. Living conditions are cramped. Sitting rooms have been converted into bedrooms and rented out at £450 per month. It is common for two or even three households to be living in a house meant for a single family and sharing one bathroom under the most unhygienic of conditions. Karen Leakey, an active community leader who is perhaps more vehemently vocal than most about trash and multiple occupancy homes, made this comment in a Swindon newspaper, We have a large Goan population around here with big families all living in one house - as is their culture, thereby generating large amounts of garbage. Although her point was about the need to improve garbage collection, not all residents of Swindon are sympathetic. One comment was, maybe it is their culture but it is not ours and if it creates a health issue such overcrowding has to stop. What then is the
[Goanet-News] Goanet's 14th Anniversary -- August 25, 2008
Dear Goanetters, Another year has flown by and today is Goanet's 14th anniversary. I'd like to thank each and every one of you for your continued support in making this possible. We owe a great deal of thanks to our dedicated volunteers who put in a lot of work behind the scenes. They are: Frederick 'FN' Noronha (Goa, India) Bosco D'Mello (Toronto, Canada) Viviana Coelho (San Francisco, USA) Christina Pinto (Australia) Avelino D'Souza (Kuwait) Two of our volunteers deserve special mention. Frederick Noronha and Bosco D'Mello have been the pillars of Goanet. They have both gone way beyond their call of duty. Many thanks to those of you who support Goanet through volunteering, making donations, promoting Goanet at events or on your websites, and contributing to discussions on Goanet. Goanet needs your support to grow. We will need you this year more than ever as we expand our services. We will need your donations and time volunteering more than anything. I hope that you will rise to the task when the time comes. Goanet is a non-profit organization that provides a free and valuable service to the community. If you benefit from the service we provide think about your part in supporting us to make this possible. Make a donation to Goanet regularly, no matter how small. Each little bit helps us with maintenance costs. It's easy, just go to the Goanet homepage and click on the button Make a Donation. Thank you all for your continued support. We hope you enjoy Goanet and that you will continue your support for us. Viva Goa! -- Herman Herman Carneiro Founder and Chairman www.Goanet.org Where Goans Connect!
[Goanet-News] Goa news for August 28, 2008
Goa News from Google News and Goanet.org Visit http://www.goanet.org/newslinks.php for the full stories. *** Entertainment body to seek more powers from Centre - Hindu [11 hours ago] Panaji (PTI): The Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) has sought more powers from the Centre to organise the International Film Festival of India. ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/9-0fd=Rurl=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/009200808271750.htmcid=1240258447ei=X-O1SIreNoWMhQPz2JHzCgusg=AFQjCNEyBjC7KgE91E2wYi8ViXvCSlFMQQ *** Goa boils over Opposition leader\'s chamar utterance - Times of India [Aug 26, 2008] PANAJI: Goa Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar's utterance of the word chamar on the floor of the House referring to the Scheduled Caste (ST) community ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/8-0fd=Rurl=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Goa/Goa_boils_over_Opposition_leaders_chamar_utterance/articleshow/3408570.cmscid=0ei=X-O1SIreNoWMhQPz2JHzCgusg=AFQjCNGt4NHGr40NRMNkytt0K6BOaXGqEQ *** Plea against Goa Minister for anti-Bihari remarks admitted - Zee News [6 hours ago] Patna, Aug 27: A local court on Wednesday admitted a petition against a Goa minister for his alleged anti-Bihari remarks that there will be more beggars in ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/7-0fd=Rurl=http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=464893sid=REGcid=0ei=X-O1SIreNoWMhQPz2JHzCgusg=AFQjCNGjdsra3KEwXCOQgk0acGEha_j85w *** Protests in Goa over caste remark - Howrah News Service [4 hours ago] 27: Use of the caste word chamar by BJP former CM Manohar Parrikar in the Goa Assembly, sparked off protests from scheduled castes organisations on ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/6-0fd=Rurl=http://howrah.org/india_news/26297.htmlcid=0ei=X-O1SIreNoWMhQPz2JHzCgusg=AFQjCNERjeLpLOxZ-pcR4qLeQ-iwCJiy_Q *** GOA Signs Petroglyph MMO - Crispy Gamer [2 hours ago] True Games Interactive has signed an exclusive deal with GOA, Oranges Games Unit to publish, distribute and operate True Games upcoming online title from ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/5-0fd=Rurl=http://www.crispygamer.com/news/index.php/2008-08-27/goa-signs-petroglyph-mmo/cid=0ei=X-O1SIreNoWMhQPz2JHzCgusg=AFQjCNH8hABMJX43iCjD0zqj0hr_s-ujdw *** ED suspects huge Fema violations by Russians in Goa - Livemint [3 hours ago] Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate, or ED, the agency responsible for investigating economic crime in India, has sought information from the Goa government ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/4-0fd=Rurl=http://www.livemint.com/2008/08/28004525/ED-suspects-huge-Fema-violatio.htmlcid=0ei=X-O1SIreNoWMhQPz2JHzCgusg=AFQjCNHk-z_RiKOYnBNt4sX2Pn6CDevhtg *** Goa celebrates Gokulashtami - Times of India [15 hours ago] From late Saturday night to Sunday evening, religious rituals marked Janmashtami all over Goa . Prayers were offered on Saturday night and dahi-handi, ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/3-0fd=Rurl=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Goa/Goa_celebrates_Gokulashtami/articleshow/3404537.cmscid=0ei=X-O1SIreNoWMhQPz2JHzCgusg=AFQjCNG4ltTPdOunml49Q7iThGHjFnmw7Q *** Is the school complex plan a viable one for Goa? - Times of India [9 hours ago] The Goa government announced that it has acquired 1.12lakh sq m of land at Cujira for the proposed school complex. Schools from Panaji will be shifted to ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/2-0fd=Rurl=http://o3.indiatimes.com/mytimes/archive/2008/08/27/4937229.aspxcid=1240309620ei=X-O1SIreNoWMhQPz2JHzCgusg=AFQjCNFl-MI6HfMJgbdNx1J_yvOd_89LoQ *** Go Goa - only if you are upmarket and family - Reuters India [10 hours ago] Goa, long a magnet for partying hippies, penurious college students and planeloads of foreign pensioners, now wants only upmarket and responsible family ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/1-0fd=Rurl=http://blogs.reuters.com/india/2008/08/26/go-goa-only-if-you-are-upmarket-and-family/cid=0ei=X-O1SIreNoWMhQPz2JHzCgusg=AFQjCNElB71Mv5T7vFgr0kaBYl9zJuOoHA *** True Games Interactive Signs Exclusive Deal with European ... - MarketWatch [6 hours ago] GOA will exclusively publish, distribute and operate True Games's upcoming online title from Petroglyph Studios. In April of this year,True Games announced ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-0fd=Rurl=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/true-games-interactive-signs-exclusive/story.aspx?guid=%7BEA43D1D3-663A-429F-B99E-769BE6E3F55A%7Ddist=hpprcid=1240402931ei=X-O1SIreNoWMhQPz2JHzCgusg=AFQjCNGQU_UfEHrjCptbIzF9h1I8Cd9MZQ Compiled by Goanet News Service http://www.goanet.org/newslinks.php
