COMMUNITY NEWS
Toronto: Goan bands and DJs perform
'for peanuts'
13 Dec: Toronto Star. High demand in the GTA led
Focus Dance Band's drummer Francis D'Souza to
restart the band with keyboard player Nezi Dias,
singer Jennifer Sohan and bassist Richi Kallicharan
after a seven-year hiatus. 804 words. [Alert by
Roland Francis via GoaNet].
Click here.
Swindon:
Large numbers expected for mass at Christmas
21 Dec: Swindon Advertiser. Mass congregation numbers
are expected to surge in Swindon at Christmas due to
the influx of immigrants. Catholics from Poland and
Goa are boosting the numbers attending mass with Holy
Rood Church, in Groundwell Road, expecting about 4,500
through the doors during the festive period. There
used to be about 2,000 people at Holy Rood on a Sunday,
according to Monsignor Richard Twomey. But the arrival
of Goans and other nationalities has increased the
congregations. Monsignor Twomey said 8,000 to 9,000
people have arrived in Swindon from Goa … Holy Rood
Infants, Holy Rood Juniors and St Joseph's are all
struggling to meet demand according to the church. 381 words.
Click here.
For the GVUK Swindon supplement
click here.
|
Mombasa: Nadia De Souza is
best all round Student of the Year
21 Dec: Coastweek, Kenya. The Mombasa Academy
Annual Awards Evening began with the Head Girl,
Nadia De Souza and Head Boy, Alim Bhanji, reciting
the peace … The most prestigious award of the night,
The Frank Bentley Shield for The Best All Round
Student of the Year, went to Nadia De Souza.
Click here.
Rev Jules Gomes: A poisonous
suggestion that 'our way of life' is threatened by
foreigners
21 Dec: The Guardian (UK). By Polly Toynbee.
My thanks to the kind reader who sent me the programme
from this year's Christmas carol service at the Old
Royal Naval College chapel in Greenwich. It was written
by the Rev Jules Gomes, chaplain of the college,
and of Trinity College of Music, and also of the
University of Greenwich. Here is the good chaplain's
Christmas message: “More Christians have been
martyred for their faith in the last century
than in any other period of church history. Yesterday's
Herod is today's Richard Dawkins and Polly Toynbee,
seeking the total extermination of all forms of
Christianity …”
Click here.
For a profile of Jules Gomes with a list of some of
his publications,
click here.
Goa holds meeting for resolving
NRI grievances
21 Dec: Times of India. Goa held its first meeting of the
standing committee for NRI grievances in the state
secretariat under the chairmanship of NRI Commissioner
Eduardo Faleiro … Non-Resident Goans who give previous
notice of a specific grievance can attend such meetings
personally or through their duly authorized representative …
At Thursday's meeting several Non resident Goans (NRGs)
including President, International Goan Association of
Toronto Canada ; Director International Goan
Organisation of Ontario, Canada; President of Goan
Association of Abu Dhabi and others made submissions to the Committee.
Click here.
Collien Fernandes shows her nips in see thru dress
23 Dec: Hot Bolly Beauty. Collien Fernandes
was born on September 26th, 1981 in Hamburg,
Germany to a Portuguese father of Indian
descent and a Hungarian mother. She has one
sister, Elaine, who is younger. Collien is a
television host for the channel VIVA as well as
acting. Collien was chosen as the "Woman of the
Year" in both 2003 and 2006 by the readers of
the German Maxim Magazine. She was featured
in and on the cover of the German edition of
4 Maxim Magazines. She was also featured in
Maxim U.S.A., Ukraine, Russia, Spain, etc.
For text and photos
click here.
For some Collien Fernandes video clips
click here.
Labour's Keith Vaz is no
stranger to trouble
23 Dec: The Sunday Telegraph (UK). Keith Vaz has
been dogged by controversy almost from day one
of his political career … In 1999 he became the
first Asian minister in British history when
Tony Blair made him minister for Europe. Born
in Yemen to Goan parents, Mr Vaz was soon
describing himself as "a leading member, if
not the leading member, of the Asian community
in this country" … In July this year, he became
chairman of the influential Commons home affairs
select committee, which is currently scrutinising
anti-terrorism laws … Last night, however, as
he became the subject of scrutiny over his
attendance at a Tamil rally in London last month,
it seemed Mr Vaz's decision to attend the event
might come back to bite him. 506 words.
Click here.
Special Lights Switch-On held
in Merlyn Vaz’s Memory
24 Dec: Leicester Mercury. Special Christmas
tree lights have been switched on in memory
of a councillor. Lord Mayor of Leicester Gary
Hunt and Leicester East MP Keith Vaz were
involved in the ceremony, held in honour of Mr
Vaz's late mother, Merlyn Vaz, who represented
the Charnwood area for 15 years. 219 words.
Click here.
For the GVUK Merlyn Vaz supplement
click here.
Tony D’Souza: Real Life Is (Not) Boring
24 Dec: Publishers Weekly (USA). D’Souza’s Whiteman
won the 2007 Sue Kaufman Prize for First Fiction
from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. His
second novel, The Konkans explores a contemporary
Indian-American family struggling with the pride
and pain of their Goan heritage. 449 words.
Click here.
Toronto: Ida Gomes: Run for the border
26 Dec: China Post. Canadian stores stung by weak U.S.
dollar as shoppers migrate. By Charmaine Noronha …
Ida Gomes hired a bus to take 56 of her closest
friends in Toronto to shop in Pennsylvania, where
each dropped between $500 and $1,000. "I got an
evening gown for $30. That's unheard of here,"
she said. "The girls I went with were going crazy."
… For text
click here.
Ida Gomes and Charmaine Noronha are ex-Nairobi.
For a profile of Charmaine Noronha,
click here.
For a sample of recent articles by Charmaine Noronha
click here.
Ottawa: Greg D'Souza: Brave shopper
26 Dec: Ottawa Citizen … Bargain hunters braved
long line-ups and packed parking lots to snag
Boxing Day deals around the city … smiling Greg
D'Souza showed off the Velodyne DPS-12 sub woofer
he had just purchased for less than half price at
Future Shop … He said the line-ups are more
peaceful in Ottawa than in Toronto, where he used to live.
Click here.
DEATHS
24 Dec: Bambolim, Goa.
WILSON JERRY MONTEIRO. (Born 1969). Son
of late Salvador/Filomena. Brother of Hilario
(London)/late Guilhermina, late Anecito Felix/Gorethy,
Mary/Seby, Olivio/Mary
24 Dec: Streatham, London.
REMEDIOUS FERNANDES (Ex-Malawi, born Cansaulim
1913). Husband of Late Rafael Maria Fernandes
Father of Bertha,( Portugal)/Agnelo; Celis/Mary-Ann;
Pio/Mena, Lisa/Joe; Late Martha/Chris, Grandfather of
Steven, Greta, Gerry, Vera, Jolyne, Olivia, Sarah-Anne,
Gareth, Daniel and Great Grandfather of Heilder, David,
Sylvia, Maria, and Jody. Funeral Details to follow.
Condolences to
menapio@fernandes26.freeserve.co.uk
22 Dec: Ottawa, Canada. ALYMER
D'SOUZA. (Age 68). Brother of Hazel (Frank D’Costa)
and predeceased by Melvyn D’Souza, Trevor
D’Souza and Daphne Netto. Nephew of Arthur
and Pierrette Domingo of Montreal and of
Harriette Braganza of Ottawa. Funeral Mass
on Fri. Dec. 28 at Our Lady of Fatima Roman
Catholic Church, 153 Woodroffe Avenue at 1pm.
Click here.
22 Dec: Mahim, Mumbai. IGNATIUS
FERNANDES. Father of Rosalyn. Brother of
Joe/Joyce, Theresa/Charles (Canada) and
Blossom/Bernard.
20 Dec: Colva, Goa. ALEIXO
ANTONIO DIAS. Husband of Candida. Father
of John/Dumiana, Menino/Ilda, Flora/Arsenio
(Canada), Suzan/Raymond (Holland).
20 Dec: Nairobi, Kenya. PETER D'SOUZA. Husband
of Luiza. Father of Nikki Azavedo and Anthony
D'Souza (UK). Father in law of Daryl Azavedo.
Grandfather to Mark Anthony and Lisa Marie Azavedo.
Funeral on 22 Dec at Don Bosco Shrine, Upper Hill:
1-2 pm viewing of body; 2.00pm Funeral service and
thereafter burial at Langata Cemetery. Condolences to
nicky.azavedo@interfreight2000.com
[Info. from Goan Welfare Society, Nairobi].
20 Dec: Mapusa, Goa, HELEN DE SOUZA: Relict of JB
Clemente de Souza. Mother of Michael (England)/Madeline
(England), late Eustace and Savio/Roosevelt;
Grandmother of Helen, Marianne, Maryjane and Maryanne.
30 Nov. Lisbon. EREMITA MARIA CARMINA
CASTELINO MASCARENHAS (Ex-Mombasa, Star of the
Sea School), Beloved wife of Eddie Mascarenhas.
Mother of Renee (Boston, USA), Arlindo (Geneva) and
Colin (Portugal). Funeral was on 6 Dec. Condolences to
colin.a.mascarenhas@mail.telepac.pt
Down Memory Lane
22 Dec: The Nation (Nairobi). Few sports
personalities of the 1950s in Kenya have stood
out as more outstanding and popular figures than
Albert Castanha who died in Mombasa just over a
week ago, aged 75 … In his tribute, former Goan
Institute Sports Association official and retired
journalist Saude George described Castanha as among
the top role models in the country and as a true
hero who will be greatly missed by his friends in
the sports fraternity in Kenya …
Click here.
HOLIDAY INFORMATION
Malaria - Sleeping with the enemy
20 Dec: Post Magazine (UK). Many British holidaymakers
are taking huge risks by failing to take anti-malaria
medicine, despite the fact it kills more than one
million people a year. On top of this they are
likely to invalidate their travel insurance …
malaria is found increasingly in places like
Goa and the Caribbean … A worrying statistic
is that around 15% of travellers will not
even bother to research the risks … is it
because the general population is becoming
"more and more blasé" about overseas travel,
with destinations like Bali and Goa becoming
routine? 2182 words.
Click here.
Goa the Casino Paradise
20 Dec: Wirtschaftsblatt (Austria). Goa is
seeking to rebrand its image from a Hippie
hangout to a casino paradise. 574 words.
Click here.
Festive getaway 'will hit peak'
21 Dec: BBC. A record 3.5m Britons will head
abroad for Christmas … The Canary Islands, Egypt,
Goa and Dubai are also proving popular among travellers this year.
Click here.
Go Goa Gone: Charter tourism gives
state the slip
21 Dec: Economic Times. Ever since charter
tourism was first started in Goa in the late
80s, the resort state has been billed as India’s
tourism capital: the gateway to mega-bucks from
the West. More than 20 years later, the wheel has
come full circle. Probably the only state in
India catering to charter tourists, Goa is seeing
a steady decline in the number of foreign
visitors coming every year … people are getting
bored … Goa lacks good entertainment and night life … 477 words.
Click here.
Goa slips on X'mas tourist list as
North offers more
21 Dec: Financial Express … Last Christmas,
Goa happened to be the most sought-after tourist
spot. However, the trend this year is to explore
the beautiful hill stations of north India.
Click here.
Tourists not safe in incredible India
21 Dec: Hindustan Times. Rising incidents of
crimes against foreign tourists has pushed the
Tourism Ministry to send a communication to all
states asking them to speed up the process of
creating a special tourist police force … In Goa,
a big attraction for foreign travellers, several
cases of rape, molestation and other crimes against
tourists have been reported. Officials at the
ministry pleaded inability to intervene directly,
pointing out that law and order being a state
subject, they could only urge the states to take
adequate steps to protect the tourists. 501 words.
Click here.
Familie holder strandferie i Goa
22 Dec: Politiken (Denmark). I delstaten Goa kan
turister nyde strandlivet … 1062 words.
Click here.
Go Goa? Maybe, maybe not
23 Dec: Business Standard. Go Goa? Naah... We say
no Goa, at least this year … Okay, we understand
that Goa is the place to be and it's all about
being on the beach and it's where all the bigwigs
head off to. But it's reached the point when you
actually question whether there aren't enough
places to spend New Year's Eve apart from Goa …
But despite all this, just like last year and the
year before and the one before that, Goa will
continue to be the hottest destination. So if you
don't find other options suitable, then go
ahead and give in: join the crowd and party in Goa! 407 words.
Clic here.
Pack And Go
23 Dec: People (UK). Holiday hotspots. Baga packed
but nowhere to go? Snap up a last-minute bargain...
£500 GOA (7nts, b/b) January 12, Gatwick, £474, Thomas
Cook (
www.thomascook.com or 08450 702530) …
Goa to host first legal electronic
dance festival
23 Dec: Economic Times. Jim Baggot producer of
the Led Zeppelin’s reunion as well as concerts
by Bruce Springsteen and Nelly Furtado is a
consultant for Sunburn Goa 2007, scheduled to
be held over this weekend … Half of the 40
artists performing at Sunburn will be Indian...
The core party is far from free with tickets
currently priced at Rs 2,500 for the two days. It
will go up to Rs 3,500 during the last few days up
to the party … It begins at 10 in the morning on both
days and wraps up by 11pm. With the support of the
local police the festival aims to stay clean. Plain
clothes police among the party-goers will ensure the
Goa-regulars leave their candy and stamp collections at home … 668 words.
Click here.
CHRISTMAS IN THE GOAN WORLD:
Christmas Goan-Style
10 Dec: Indian Food. Most of Goa is Catholic and
Christmas is a huge deal to them. Not only do the
Mamas in every household (ably assisted by their
daughters and daughters-in-law) make mountains
of delicious Christmas goodies in the weeks
running up to Christmas Day, they also turn
out feasts fit to please any king on the Day
itself! Want a taste of Christmas in Goa?
Here're some traditional Goan dishes you
can cook in your own kitchen. Select the link below.
Click here.
Goa: Xmas preparation underway
21 Dec: ANI. Preparations for the forthcoming
Christmas festival are under way all over India
particularly in Kolkata and Goa … Rebecca Ogden,
a tourist from England said, “We find the people
here very friendly. Everyone is in the Christmas
spirit and very helpful …”
Click here.
Pakistan: Christians prepare to
celebrate Christmas
22 Dec: AKI … "We do celebrate Christmas like
the Muslims in Pakistan celebrate their Eids,"
said Herbert Fernandes, president of the
Catholic Association of Pakistan. "We start
our preparations well before 25 December - we
buy new clothes, light-up our houses and
decorate with Christmas trees. You can see
Christmas trees outside many of the houses in
the Sadar area of Karachi where most Christians
live," he said. The old market in city's
Sadar suburb is where Christian families,
originally from the former Portuguese colony
of Goa in India, settled during British colonial rule.
Click here.
UAE: The Christmas dinner debate
22 Dec: Business 24/7 (Emirates). … And as you
might expect, it is no surprise that almost
every hotel in town offers some sort of special
festive menu. From the traditional turkey with
trimmings to the gourmet European goose or the
Goan-style sorpotel, it is all on offer.
Click here.
Global Santa
22 Dec: The Times (UK). While India has a Hindu
majority, the states of Maharashtra, Goa and Kerala
have vibrant Christian communities through historical
associations with Portuguese traders and missionaries.
Bombay has a large Roman Catholic population, who
flock to midnight mass on Christmas Eve and decorate
their homes with Nativity scenes and giant paper
stars. Traditional fir trees are available in the
markets, but many choose instead to adorn banana or mango trees.
Click here.
Scenes from a local nativity
23 Des: Daily News & Analysis. Anuradha Sengupta
recalls a nativity play in Corjuem, near Aldona in Goa.
Click here.
Christmas colour all around Goa
24 Dec: Sahara Samay. Foreign tourists are
thronging the beaches of Goa to witness the rising
sun and enjoy the sand on Christmas. The last minute
preparations for Goa's favourite festival are on in
full swing in the state, with people all set to
usher in the festivities and goodies that the year-end
revelry showers on them.
Click here.
Prices of Chinese-made imported goods
rise during Christmas
24 Dec: ANI. Goa used to celebrate Christmas in
traditional way by making use of homemade or locally-made
items like candies, stars, bells and small figures
of animals and birds, but for the last two years
decorative items are being imported from China.
Click here.
Calcutta: Baked to order
25 Dec: Express India. Octogenarian Denzel
Saldanha runs a small family bakery Nawab Abdur
Rahman Street Kolkatta supplying cakes to order
particularly at Christmas …
Click here.
Oman: Xmas is here — with the
biggest crib
25 Dec: Times of Oman. … the Holy Spirit Catholic
Church, Ghala, has come out with the largest
crib in Oman. The huge, true-to-life crib has
been designed by Mario Ribeiro, a member of
the parish, and erected by the Goan community
of the church …
Click here.
Karachi: Christmas celebrations at
St Patrick’s Cathedral
25 Dec: The News (Pakistan) … The Christmas mass
is to be delivered by his grace, Archbishop Evarist
Pinto himself with the assistance of Father
Francis D’Souza.
Click here.
Mumbai: A white Christmas
25 Dec: Times of India. … The Christmas sweets
are all home-made at the Home for the Aged in
Andheri. December time is for spiritual preparation
at the home. The residents are on their best
behaviour, they make peace with one another …
Christmas is a time when even people who are
in bed come to life.
Click here.
Video: Christmas Celebrations in Goa
26 Dec: InGoaNews. Church service in Goa.
Click here.
Karachi: Christmas at the Braganza’s |
|
26 Dec: Daily Times, Pakistan. On Christmas
day, Yvette Braganza’s sitting room is a vision
of bright colors and glittering lights … at
Anthonian apartments, the building where Yvette
lives, celebrations begin days before the actual
Christmas day – as in many other predominantly
Christian areas of Karachi. 818 words.
Click here.
|
GOA – THE SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE (SEZ) OPPOSITION:
Catholic women oppose economic
zone project
21 Dec: Indian Catholic. About 150 Catholic
women have accused a Special Economic Zone
(SEZ) project of "grabbing our land." Two
Catholic priests, a nun and some lay leaders
accompanied the women at a press conference on Dec.
18 in Mumbai to highlight the government's "high-handedness"
in uprooting them from their land.
Letter petition seeking cleaner
Panaji city converted into PIL
21 Dec: Navhind Times. The Division Bench of
Bombay High Court suggested to constitute
Citizens Committees to monitor noise pollution
for Panaji, while hearing a letter petition
written by Mr Rajan Parrikar of Panaji.
Click here.
For the Rajan Parrikar Panjim in Decay - a photo gallery,
click here.
Mumbai: Catholics welcome separate
minority welfare dept
21 Dec: Indian Catholic. The Bombay Catholic
Sabha while welcoming the setting up of a
separate minority department urged the Maharashtra
government to provide details of areas
which will come under its ambit.
Click here.
Goans to intensify agitation
against SEZs
21 Dec: Business Standard. Fearing the prospect
of becoming minorities in their homeland, Goans
have decided to oppose the setting up of special
economic zones (SEZ) in the state. They have
appealed to all the Indian and foreign tourists
to stay away from Goa during the forthcoming
holiday season of Christmas and New Year, so
that they don’t have to face any inconvenience …
Click here.
Seven SEZs approved for Goa
22 Dec: Projects Monitor. Soon, the state of
Goa will have seven special economic zones
which have been approved by the state government
as well as the Union government. It will
have two IT SEZs, two biotech SEZs, one pharma
SEZ, one gems and jewellery SEZ, and one
SEZ related to services.
Click here.
Governor laments Goans’ negative mindset
22 Dec: Navhind Times. Observing that a stable
polity for the state and commitment to an
ideology by the politicians as well as the
people would go a long way in development of
Goa, the Governor, Mr S C Jamir today lamented
that Goa has become over-sensitive and in the
bargain a negative mindset has developed
among Goans. 656 words.
Click here.
Anti-SEZ group asks tourists to
leave Goa by Dec 28
24 Dec: Daily News & Analysis. Goa's Movement
Against SEZs (GMAS), a body comprising NGOs and
political parties including main Opposition BJP,
on Sunday asked tourists to leave the state by
December 28 since their agitation would be
intensified and it could take an ugly turn. 266 words.
Click here.
Tourists in Goa asked not to panic
24 Dec: The Hindu. Panaji: The Goa government on
Sunday asked tourists not to get panicky following
a warning-cum-request issued by an anti-SEZ
organisation asking them to leave the State by December 28.
IT Park row: Another complaint filed
against Goa IT minister
24 Dec: PTI. A Goa-based social organisation on
Monday filed a police complaint against state
Information Technology
Minister Dayanand Narvekar alleging criminal
misappropriation, fraud and criminal breach of
trust in the controversial Rajiv Gandhi IT habitat issue.
"The complaint alleges that the minister-led
Information Technology Corporation Limited gave
away 1,80,000 square metres of land at an average
rate of Rs 4,500 per sq metre as against Rs 20,000
to Rs 35,000 per sq metre prevalent in that area,"
said Aires Rodrigues, spokesman of UTT Goenkara, said.
Click here.
SEZ row likely to sour PM’s Goa visit
25 Dec: Business Standard. Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh’s visit to Goa, scheduled for Thursday, only
seems to have fuelled an already intense fight
against SEZs in the state.
Click here.
Remo Fernandes: “Stay away to save Goa”
26 Dec: Times Now. Remo Fernandes, a popular pop
star and playback singer from the state of Goa,
has added his voice to the 'Save Goa Campaign'
and has made an appeal to Indian and foreign
tourists to stay away from Goa this year in order
to keep the state alive.
Click here.
Goa police file case against
Matanhy Saldanha
26 Dec: The Hindu. The Goa police on Tuesday
filed a criminal complaint against the former
Tourism Minister and leader of the Goa Movement
Against Special Economic Zones (GMAS), Matanhy
Saldanha, for warning tourists to leave Goa, as
the group planned to intensify its agitation against SEZ projects.
Click here.
Video: Activists spoil Goa New
Year party for tourists
26 Dec: CNN-IBN. The party might end well
before the New Year in Goa this time. India's most
favoured tourist destination could be off
limits to tourists. 1m.18s.
Click here.
SEZ trouble on the anvil for Goa
26 Dec: NDTV. The state on Wednesday filed a
police case against GMAS Convenor Mathany Saldanha
for conspiring against the State and for making a
statement against public tranquillity … ''If
Saldanha is arrested then we will be forced to
come on the streets,'' said Manohar Parrikar,
Leader of Opposition, Goa.
Click here.
Goa-way, activists tell tourists
26 Dec: The Australian. Armed police are to guard
beachgoers in Goa after activists opposed to carving
out industrial enclaves in India's tourist haven
warned tourists to leave by Friday or face violent protests.
Click here.
BJP defers anti-SEZ protest in Goa
27 Dec: Economic Times. Opposition BJP on Wednesday
decided to stay away from agitation plans against
creation of special economic zones, till December 31
and not disturb the tourists visiting Goa, as the
new year rings in.
Click here.
Armed police guard Goa beaches
27 Dec: The Guardian (UK). Armed police were
deployed on the beaches of Goa yesterday after
activists opposed to the setting up of special
industrial enclaves in India's premier resort
warned tourists to vacate the state by Friday,
or face violent protests. 631 words.
Click here.
Armed police guard tourists
27 Dec: The Times (UK). Thousands of armed police
are being deployed to guard holidaymakers in Goa
after a group campaigning against industrial
parks warned all tourists to leave by the end
of the week or face violent protests. 742 words.
Click here.
Some tourists shunning Goa
over protests
27 Dec: AFP (France). Tourists are cancelling
holidays to the Indian beach resort of Goa over
fears of violent protests against government
plans to build more industrial parks here, an
official and a hotelier said. 357 words.
Click here.
Indian opposition groups
call off protest at popular beach resort
27 Dec: International Herald Tribune. An
opposition group postponed protests against
the building of industrial parks in India's
popular resort area of Goa, saying Thursday
they did not want to hurt the region's tourist industry.
Click here.
Video. Goa lovers, take heart!
The party is on
27 Dec: CNN-IBN.
Click here.
GOA NEWS HEADLINES:
GOLDEN OLDIE: Liberation: The Morning After
5 Jan. 1962. Time Newsmagazine. It seemed like
just another Christmas dance in Goa's capital
city of Pangim. 300 Indian army officers shuffled
in time to the music waiting to dance with the only
women who had been inveigled to attend the dance—three
lonely Goan girls. "They don't like us," said an
Indian officer. "They don't want jungle green here.
They want white skins." Despite Indian assertions
that the Goan people were delighted with their
"liberation," Indian troops elsewhere in Goa
were received with similar muted enthusiasm.
No welcoming arches or banners were strung
over the streets, and the few Jai Hind
(Hail India) slogans painted on official
buildings had mostly been slapped on by
the Indians themselves, not by an exuberant
citizenry. Fraternization between the
Indians and the Goans was almost nonexistent … 1294 words.
Click here.
The Invasion of Goa
22 Dec: Expresso (Portugal). Lieutenant
Marques da Silva wrote a book in which he
recounts how he escaped from the prison in
India. Hidden for 46 years his incredible story was
revealed in a book … Photograph and text, 558 words in Portuguese.
Click here.
Lamanis create nuisance to tourists in Salcete
22 Dec: Navhind Times. With the onset of tourist
season, lamanis have started flocking to the
coastal belt of Salcete for their small-time
business activities.
Click here.
Book Review: The Courtyard House of
Goa By Angelo Costa Silveira
23 Dec: Indian Express. Lived Heritage, Shared
Space: the Courtyard House of Goa By Angelo Costa
Silveira, Yoda Press, Rs 495. If, by any chance,
you have wandered away from the Goan beaches to be
floored by its colourful houses built around a
courtyard, then this one is for you. But since the
book is based on a research project by Angelo
Costa Silveira, a conservation architect of Goan
origin based in Lisbon, it has details even of
the size of laterite blocks used for construction …
Click here.
Goa: Screening of new born
baby to be made mandatory'
23 Dec: PTI. Goa government is contemplating the
possibility of making screening of new born babies
mandatory in the state, which will help medicos to
track down and diagnose any deformities in the
initial stage itself.
Click here.
Neha buys a house in Goa
23 Dec: The Times of India. Actress Neha Dhupia
isn't going to miss out on the real estate boom.
She has recently bought a house in Goa, and is
busy doing it up … "I was shooting in Australia
on the beaches. But nothing matches the charm of
Goa with those shacks and all. There's something
about it that can't be defined."
Neha Dhupia was crowned Miss India in 2002 and
competed at Miss Universe 2002, placing in the
top ten. She rose to popularity with her role
in the movie Julie in which she played a Goan girl
who tempts a Catholic priest …
Click here.
Goa: Navy fighter plane
crashes, pilot safe
24 Dec: PTI. A Sea Harrier fighter aircraft of
Indian Navy crashed at Dabolim airport here on
Monday but the pilot bailed out safely as the
incident raised questions whether the force would
be able to sustain its depleted fleet of the
planes in operational preparedness.
Click here.
Israelis, Russians battle
to control Goa 'traffic'
26 Dec: Daily News & Analysis. Foreign gangs
are reportedly having a field day in Goa which,
according to a source is in the throes of a turf war,
with Russian gangs holding sway over the North
while the South is mostly controlled by the Israelis. …
Till the Israelis and the Russians arrived, it
was the Africans, mostly Nigerian students and
Kenyan tourists, who found Goa's beaches a safe
outlet for their drugs … "There is a fierce battle
for grabbing a share of the drug money in
circulation," said a senior police officer
who has served in Goa. "Matters are getting
worse with each passing day as the law-enforcing
agencies in Goa find it difficult to function
independently." 547 words.
Click here.
Goa to finalise Marine Tourism
policy by end of 2008
26 Dec: TravelBiz. Plans to make state hub
for cruise liners and water sports activities …
Click here.
Citizens up in arms over a
‘stinking’ Calangute
26 Dec: Herald. The globally well-known ‘Queen
of Beaches’, Goa’s major tourist destination,
is slowly but surely turning into a ‘Queen of stink.’
Click here.
IN THE NEWS
Dar es Salaam: The Goan Institute
… The Goan Community in Dar es Salaam was
deeply fragmented along class lines. The
Goan Institute was mainly run by men who
worked in the civil service. The Goan
tailors had their own organization which
also had carpenters and cooks as members.
Until the 1950s, Goan tailors were barred
from membership of the Goan Institute …
From: Contesting Social Relations in Communal
Places: Identity Politics among Asian Communities
in Dar es Salaam. By Richa Nagar and Helga
Leitner, in pages 226-251 of Cities of Difference.
Edited by Ruth Fincher & Jane Margaret Jacobs.
1998. 322 pages. ISBN1572303107
Click here.
Enterprising pupils' woollies
will help needy kids in India
20 Dec: Portsmouth News. Pupils have been raising
cash for children in India by making and selling
scarves at their school … Cash raised will go towards
helping children in Goa, India. 231 words.
Click here.
London: The Goan Club
21 Dec: Something Jewish. Excerpts: Two Lubavitch
rabbis, Mendy and Yosef Vogel who set up The Goan
Club in London's West End were accused by Lubavitch
UK of "excessive expenditure" … The Goan Club put on
high profile events and “is the one Jewish space in
the midst of the city, that is not a synagogue, that
is here for you to relax, unwind, refresh
physically and spiritually." 398 words.
Click here.
Obituary: James Leasor: Author
of Sea Wolves
22 Dec: The Independent (UK). Thomas James
Leasor, journalist and novelist: born Erith,
Kent 20 December 1923; married 1951 Joan Bevan
(three sons); died Swallowcliffe, Wiltshire 10
September 2007 … An even better movie, which also
starred David Niven, was The Sea Wolves (1980),
adapted from Leasor's Boarding Party (1978), about
a real-life British attack on a German spy vessel
in the waters off Portuguese – and so neutral –
Goa in 1943.
Click here.
Kenya could rival India as call centre hub
22 Dec: The Times (UK). Kenya is carving out a
niche in business outsourcing as rising wages make
India less competitive. 864 words.
Click here.
Toronto: Xacutti restaurant has closed down
22 Dec: The Globe and Mail (Canada). RIP: Xacutti
on College Street appears to have closed, after a
six-year run. Chef Brad Moore left at the end of
November and the restaurant closed. Chef Moore (also
a partner) cited “shareholder difficulties” in
its demise. He is opening a resto called Eleven,
at Front and Jarvis Streets, in the new year.
Not afraid to say 'Merry Christmas'
22 Dec: National Post (Canada). Patrick Dias,
Dollard des Ormeaux, Que. Writes, “Having spent
my childhood and early adulthood in India and
then soon-to-be Pakistan, I was used to enjoying
the several festive occasions that my fellow
citizens celebrated. The happiness of those feasts
was something to be shared and therefore a "Happy
Christmas" greeting was rarely if ever taken
as offensive by a non-Christian
Mumbai: City’s lofty,
hidden wonders
23 Dec: Daily News & Analysis. Communities, traditions
and times overlap in Mumbai’s churches. Described
are Gloria Church, Byculla; Our Lady of Immaculate
Conception, Borivili; St Peter’s Church of the
Armenian, Fort and St Stephen’s Church, Bandra.
Click here.
Indian visa in high demand in Canada
23 Dec: Times of India. The number of Canadians,
mostly of Indian origin, visiting India has shown
a big spurt during the past two years. The Indian
consulate general in Toronto alone issued 71,000
visas last year and 20,000 Overseas Indian Cards
(OICs) during the past two years.
Click here.
Brangelina's romantic holiday
getaway on deserted Goa beach sparks baby rumors
24 Dec: The Spoof. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie
discovered Goa while filming Angie's movie "A
Mighty Heart". The couple purchased their own
private island there which they named "Bralina-Mar"
and plan to chill out 'au naturel' … Sources
revealed Brad and Angie will usher in the New
Year with locals at a tiny taverna although Angie
will toast with Evian water as she is on a
cleansing diet. 89-year old local dowager and
walking library of historical distortions, Maria
Aurora Noella de Cosmos e Felice Navidade squirmed
with excitement as she said "The entire village has
been spruced up for their arrival.” Note: The
story above is a satire or parody. It is entirely fictitious.
Click here.
Silly Lily: Bollywood drops stereotypes
24 Dec: The Times of India. … The new reel Catholic
is no longer a drunkard, vamp or secretary … There
have been instances in the past when Christian girls
were portrayed as being ‘advanced’. Wearing a
frock or drinking does not tantamount to someone
not having character … 630 words.
Click here.
GOANET HIGHLIGHTS by Cornel DaCosta
Octaviano Fernandes has won the first prize
in an essay competition organised by the Goan
Review Art Foundation (GRAF). This foundation is
a cultural body of the Konkani-English bi-monthly--
The Goan Review published in Mumbai. Octaviano's
essay was titled Astitvachem Dor. Further details,
including information about the other contestants
in the competition are to be found on Goanet.
Is it true that, the Bible clearly emphasises
that, the only way to [eternal] salvation is
through faith in Jesus Christ? If so, do follow
an interesting discussion on this theme and
especially about the implications for the
many who may never have heard about Jesus Christ.
Before the end of 2007 Renoir on Goanet has
two urgent questions for us: a) with regard
to the huge mess up within the Special Economic
Zone (SEZ) Zoning department, how do we let the
Ministers who do not know the meaning of Macro
from Micro economics decide on Zoning?, and b)
when the Opposition talks of corruption at
the IT Habitat in Dona Paula, why does the
CBI and the Income Tax Department not nab
the Ministers? These questions may be a little
'difficult' for us especially over the Christmas
season but keen Goan Voice (UK) readers are
most welcome to help Renoir please.
Readers of the GVUK may have watched the
UK TV programme 'Arrange Me A marriage' and
wondered how much this new strategy to find
marriage partners actually works? However,
almost simultaneously, a pretty serious debate
is continuing on Goanet about marriage
arrangements among the Goans. There appear
to be two sets of opinions: a) The adults
should pick their own spouses, and b) the
parents should play an active role in the
choice of spouses. The orientation of the
discussion so far suggests that, despite some
living in the West for decades, some Goan
parents are determined to find other 'appropriate'
Goans to marry off their children. Are they
right to do so? Or, if they feel so strongly
about this, should they live in Goa instead
of in the Goan Diaspora?
Finally, Basilio Magno (Spain) has displayed
much enthusiasm for Goa and has composed
several songs and written much about Goa.
However, Magno is also very keen on religion
and has just produced a poem titled Happy
Birthday Jesus. GVUK readers may indeed be
intrigued and curious to read the poem on Goanet.
Please visit the Goanet archives at http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/
To subscribe to Goanet send an email to subscribe@goanet.org
UK: TV & RADIO HIGHLIGHTS By Lira Fernandes
HISTORY DOCUMENTARY:
Victoria's Empire. BBC 2
Sun. 30th Dec. 11:25 to 12:25. Victoria
Wood travels to Calcutta.
DOCUMENTARY: Love in a
Foreign Climate. Diva TV
Sun. 30th Dec: 12:30 to 13:30. Sue talks
about life in Zanzibar, where she and her
partner run a guesthouse …
DOCUMENTARY: Goan Wild.
Travel Channel
Sun. 30th Dec: 19:30 to 20:00. John Hicks
formed International Animal Rescue and is
soley responsible for cleaning up Goa's
stray dog population.
FILM: The Color
Purple. TCM
Sun: 30th Dec. 21:00 to 23:50. Moving
story of an African American woman during
the 1900s and her battle with poverty,
racism and sexism (1985).
DOCUMENTARY: Adoption
Stories. Discovery Home and Health
Mon: 31st Dec. 07:00 to 07:30. A second
generation Indian-American couple from
Texas decides to adopt a child from an
orphanage in Mumbai.
TRAVEL: Globe Trekker.
Travel Channel
Tue: 1st Jan. 04:00 to 05:00. Ultimate
India …Holly Morris gets a close up view
of Indian sanitation; Andrew Dado tries
yoga and Justine Shapiro hugs her way to
spiritual enlightenment.
TRAVEL: Globe Trekker.
Travel Channel
Tue: 1st Jan: 05:00 to 06:00. Ian Wright
travels to the paradise islands of
Mauritius, Seychelles and Reunion.
DOCUMENTARY: Films for
a New India. BBC Radio Four
Tue: 1st Jan. 11:30 to 12:00. First of
two programmes exploring the world of
Indian independent cinema.
TRAVEL: Globe Trekker.
Travel Channel
Fri: 4th Jan. 19:00 to 20:00. Tanzania and Zanzibar.
FORTHCOMING
See
http://www.lanfranc.com/lanfranc_location_2000.pdf
for help in locating Archbishop Lanfranc School, Croydon
Mon. 31 Dec: Dark Star Social
Club presents
a New Year’s Eve Gala Ball at Harrow Leisure
Centre, Christchurch Av. Harrow, HA3 5BD. 7pm to
3am. Music by sensational SECOND NATURE & disco
DYNAMIC ROADSHOW. Tickets: Adults £16 before
15th Dec, £19 thereafter. Children £12 (under
10 yrs). For tickets and details contact
Derrick Pereira 020-8952 8899, Bernie Gracias
020-8723 1322 or email
info@dssclub.co.uk. For the flyer and full details
click here.
GOA members are entitled to 2 tickets at £12 each.
Please contact: Bernie Gracias 020 - 8723 1322.
Sat. 5 Jan: G.O.A. Goan
Extravaganza at Wandsworth Town Hall.
Wandsworth High Street. Time 7pm. Black
Velvet and Say One Do One in attendance.
Dress Strictly Formal. For tickets please
contact Norma Menezes Rahim on 020 8771
4457 or Bernie Gracias 020 8723 1322
Sun. 3 Feb. VIVA GOA
ENTERTAINMENT presents
Traditional RED & BLACK
evening in WEST London -
Old Actonian Assoc. Sports Club, Gunnersbury
Drive, Ealing, W5 4LL. Music by – “LEVEL 4” and
"CHICO." Doors open 2.30 onwards. Limited admittance;
tickets £10/adults & £3/child. Contact Francis/Norman
on 0208 932 9375/ 07957206169/ 0208 647 1887
FOR LATER EVENTS SEE http://www.goanvoice.org.uk/
|
