goanet-digest Tuesday, May 28 2002 Volume 01 : Number 4027
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In this issue:
[Goanet] Re: BEWARE OF HEPATITIS "B" VACCINE.
[Goanet] 10QUESTIONS: From the UN to computers for an island school...
[Goanet] 10QUESTIONS: Corruption has led to communalism... says Goa Suraj
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Date: Tue, 28 May 2002 05:27:57 -0000
From: "santoshhelekar" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [Goanet] Re: BEWARE OF HEPATITIS "B" VACCINE.
- --- In [EMAIL PROTECTED], gLoBaL~E~LINKED <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
>But which brand of Hep B Vaccine are we talking about? The one
>presently peddled in Goa? The last one hawked by Lions Club
>International-Shanta Biotechnics? Who has certified that these
>brands are safe? Certainly not the Health Services of the Goa
>govt. How do we know that Goa is not being made a dumping ground
>for expired/sub-standard drugs like so many other products?
>
I would like to congratulate you and others who are trying to look
after the public interest in Goa. I have nothing but gratitude for
your selfless efforts on behalf of all Goans - in Goa and abroad. All
I ask of you is to be a little more circumspect in making public
service announcements. Please try to state clearly and specifically
what your concern is. A headline asking people to beware of Hepatitis
B vaccine in general, and listing bogus side effects is hardly a way
of addressing the issues you have now so eloquently raised.
Cheers,
Santosh
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Date: Tue, 28 May 2002 11:58:10 +0530 (IST)
From: Frederick Noronha <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [Goanet] 10QUESTIONS: From the UN to computers for an island school...
10QUESTIONS*************************************************************
FROM THE U.N. TO THE ISLAND OF CHORAO: THE POWER OF VOLUNTEERING
>From the UN to an island, Alwyn Noronha (46) has opted for a life in Chorao,
a tiny island-village off the Goa capital of Panjim. This returned expat is
now helping the local St Bartholomew School with sprucing up and boosting
its computer education facilities.
Born in Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), he came to Goa at the age of 10 and
studied at Don Bosco's, Almeida's, Loyola's and Dhempe's. For a while, he
tried being a medical rep at Bombay. "They threw me out. Sales in my area
had plunged. From that time I realised I should never do anything involving
people," he laughs.
But his ticket was already booked to go to Vienna, where his uncle was
based. He worked at the Austrian Information Service for Development
Politics, an NGO there; and the International Institute for Applied Systems
Analysis, which he calls a 'Cold War' institution, at Laxenburg, outside
Vienna. Next, he used his computer skills at the UNIDO (UN Industrial
Development Organisation), and finally he spent at decade at the UNOV (UN
Office in Vienna).
Today, after returning back to Goa with wife Lisa Dias-Noronha and family,
he's volunteering with the Goa Linux-for-Schools venture, being supported by
local volunteers and expats like the Goa Sudharop (www.goasudharop.org).
Alwyn represents the skills that an expat-oriented society like Goa could
tap, and productively utilise, if only the structure existed for this.
Schools in this state have already received a limited number of computers
from the regional government. But much more efforts are required if these
computers are to be augmented with more, to offer better resources to
the average student across the state. That's where people like Alwyn fit in.
Excerpts from an interview with the soft-spoken, man of few words....
************************************************************************
FN: What motivated you to get involved with this project?
************************************************************************
To tell you the truth, I got dragged into it. The PCs were coming here anyway
(to the village school, through a donor-project started by expats). I would
be here, anyway. And my wife Lisa was already involved in the school a
couple of years back, through a waste-management project. We've already made
some investment of time in the school with its library project (with books
shipped in from Austria in the past).
************************************************************************
FN: What are your plans as far as the computers go?
************************************************************************
To make sure they are used well.
************************************************************************
FN: How will you manage that?
************************************************************************
We hope to supplement with teaching help. My contribution would be anything
we can do in improving the situation, increasing the number of PCs,
organising training material... above all, actually spending time here.
************************************************************************
FN: What has been the attitude of the school?
************************************************************************
Very positive, extremely cooperative. Everything required (was made
available on time). Funds were managed. Fittings for the computer room was
done quickly, thanks to a cooperative principal and staff. (This has not
been the experience with all other schools benefited from donated equipment,
though. -FN)
************************************************************************
FN: What is the big challenge facing Goa's schools trying to offer students
more access to computers?
************************************************************************
I know too little on this. This is my first involvement in computer
education in schools anywhere, not just in Goa. So we will see what the
problems are...I haven't had any problems so far.
************************************************************************
FN: How does Goa's schools ensure optimum utilisation of computers?
************************************************************************
We want to see after they've done word-processing and spread-sheets what
else could be done. Internet connectivity, and setting up local websites...
************************************************************************
FN: Do you think students would have a problem with the GNU/Linux Operating
System, since it's somewhat different from Windows?
************************************************************************
Basically no. I've never seen LTSP (a networking tool, using a local server,
to share lower-powered computing resources more efficiently) in action, and
haven't used Star Office. (Alwyn is into Lotus Notes, etc) But we will
install and see.
************************************************************************
FN: Why is computer education important for the student in Goa today?
************************************************************************
At this level, it's just exposure that is needed. So that you've seen and
used computers, not just heard about it. Of course, anything new you learn
only broadens your horizons.
It's a whole new toy. We then need someone who can teach simple programming
languages. I always feel making big plans is not good. You have to go step
by step. We first need to learn to type with ten fingers. Once that is over
(move on to other things like) word-processing and spread-sheets and further
on.
************************************************************************
FN: What model do you think would help Goa's schools get faster access to
quality computer education? Should it be based on self-help, the involvement
of expats?
************************************************************************
At this point, what is needed is (locally-generated) self-help. There has to
be someone to teach students (imaginatively). I'm sure they'll pick up fast.
At a latter stage, we can think of getting bigger.
************************************************************************
FN: What role could expats play now? Some have supported certain schools
from the villages which they themselves trace their roots to...
************************************************************************
If they have teaching skills and ideas on what could be done (to take the
project forward) within the framework available, that would be helpful.
You can contact Alwyn at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 28 May 2002 14:22:06 +0530 (IST)
From: Frederick Noronha <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [Goanet] 10QUESTIONS: Corruption has led to communalism... says Goa Suraj
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
10QUESTIONS:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
IN FACT, CORRUPTION HAS LED TO COMMUNALISM IN GOA, SAYS GOA SU-RAJ
At sea for 25 years, Floriano Lobo saw the ship of Goa floundering badly
when he returned. With his team, this Moira-based 54-year-old thought of
forming the Goa Su-Raj as an answer. Running his construction firm out of
his village since the mid-nineties, the former radio officer is one of the
Goa professionals and businessmen who feels something has to be done. Fast.
Fighting a tough battle as a new, small party, the Goa Suraj president says:
"Our candidates' legs are swollen, I pity them. They're doing door-to-door
campaigning silently on their own. The party cannot give them any support
except for a few banners." Lobo, who once fought a battle against noise
pollution, explains the issues behind the high-decible election campaign, as
his party sees it, to FREDERICK NORONHA:
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
FN: You have some good candidates, some of your programmes sound catchy. But
probably I too might have not voted for Goa Suraj, fearing a wasted vote.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Voting for a winner is following the herd mentality. People should vote to
change the system, and not get bogged down in the same, old corrupt (and of
late, communal) system.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
FN: Of corruption and communalism, which do you'll consider the greater
evil. Or are both equally bad?
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
We consider that corruption has led to communalism. Corruption in the
Congress and opportunist parties like the NCP -- specially people like Dr de
Souza -- are responsible for the rise of BJP rule in Goa, which would have
never been otherwise possible. So, both have to go.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
FN: Isn't money power a major opponenent for any smaller party in the fray?
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
We want to eventually root out money power, which is lavished in elections,
wasted on banners, posters, flags, rallies, loud-speaker vans. Our next
election campaign is going to be a very silent one, without the use of this
paraphernalia. Our election process will start very early; in fact it has
already started (for the next time round).
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
FN: Have you'll learnt any surprising lessons during this campaign?
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Our Benaulim candidate was threatened and pressurised. But this is not the
first time. We've been in politics and elections (not as a party though) for
long, and know exactly what happens. How money flows, and at what stage of
the campaign. On the second-last and last day of the campaigns, virtually on
election eve.
We wouldn't be bothered about that. It is only meant to cater to the
confirmed vote banks, and those who are sought to be swayed.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
FN: On what basis does the voter make up his or her mind, would you say?
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Voters are very, very elusive entities. The affluent voters are not bothered
with voting; you really have to give them a strong motive to vote. The
middle-class thinking voters are passive. Confused maybe.
In this election, the voter is being given an option to throw out communal
forces at the cost of accepting corruption. This is a ploy. Basically, every
election comes with a ploy.
About 25-30% of the electorate is a confirmed vote-bank of different
parties. Some percentage could switch at the last moment, when lured with
heavy packets, or items like TVs or sarees.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
FN: Reducing elections to a one-point issue seems counter-productive from
the voter's perspective. Would you agree?
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
In the past too, there were these ploys put out. In 1999, the Congress was
given a mandate on the basis of the promises of having a six-member Cabinet
and clean faces.
Before that, it was (emotive) issues like language. Everything has been
reduced to a single-point agenda. This time, it is a fear-psychosis of
communalism, vis-a-vis what happened in Gujarat. This is something that can
never happen in Goa.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
FN: One view is that the BJP is supporting smaller parties to split the
vote. Charges have come up against the UGDP. Your comment?
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
That could be a fact, but we don't have any proof. But a person of
Parrikar's manoeuverability would resort to something like that....
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
FN: Frankly, how many votes do you expect?
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
We want to clear the mark of valid votes needed to gain reconition as a
state party. This is about 23,000 votes or two seats.
We expect more than two seats. Why not? Let us be optimistic. Our chances
are good in Santa Cruz, Loutolim, Calangute...
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
FN: What if you'll do badly? Some of your good people who have been fighting
issues like mal-governance and taking stands on corruption could get
cynical?
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
No. We have come to say. This election is just a ... (starting). We could
have sat down and done nothing (since it came so speedily on us). We are a
fighting force, and want to be there. We've taken up this venture without
having the time to even build up grassroot support.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
FN: Considering some of your backgrounds -- you'll are not the type who get
activated only for elections -- wouldn't it make more sense to taken on a
non-party strategy? What about a regional alliance?
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
When we formed this party, we started debates as to the best form of
tackling Goa's ills. One option was a super pressure-group. Political
involvement was another option. We decided the best way to tackle the
corrupt people in power was to give them a challenge in their own field.
This time, there was a good chance for that. If the Congress, MGP, UGDP,
CPI, CPM, Goa Suraj, Goa Vikas Party had all sat on a table, evolved a
programme of sharing, we had an absolutely good chance.
But the major prties are selfish. They have rivalries within themselves too,
the so-called national parties. They showed smaller parties like Goa Suraj
total scorn. They never considered the nuisance value we coudl create. We
would have been satisfied with even two seats in an alliance, instead of
contesting eight independently. (ENDS)
------------------------------
End of goanet-digest V1 #4027
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