*** Goanet Reader: We never took the main road... [Principal Mervyn D'Souza of Assagao/Weekender]
-- |Read Valmiki Faleiro's latest column on Goa's traffic entitled: | || | Goa's appalling road sense - 1| |http://www.goanet.org/index.php?name=Newsamp;file=articleamp;sid=418 | -- WE NEVER TOOK THE MAIN ROAD... Principal of St Xavier's High Secondary School, Prof Mervyn D'Souza, tells Reema Kamat about the good ol' days when he was growing up in Assagao. [Weekender, Gomantak Times, March 26, 2006] Professor Mervyn D'Souza has lived in Assagao for more than 35 years. Though born in Africa and schooled in Bombay, he returned to his ancestral home in the early 1970s, and pursued his further studies in the institution he is now the principal of, St Xavier's Higher Secondary School, Mapusa. And this was after having tried his hand at other occupations for awhile. Life does come a full circle for some. The area that our house is located in is called Bairo Alto and it is quite a small vaddo in Assagao. Erstwhile, there was another area that had a large residential settlement, but then, as some say, there came some sort of a plague and wiped out many and forced others to flee from the area. That is how the forest became our village. If you look around while going past the area, you would never think that there was a village there. In fact, Assagao itself is so small and obscure, that its name is a derivation of the words 'assa' and 'gao', which roughly translated means 'there is a village'. This ambiguity, he explains, was caused by the presence of concentrated greenery in the place. So much so that when you come down the hill into our ward, there was a sudden drop in temperature, a very noticeable one at that. You could literally feel a drop of about five degrees of temperature, the atmosphere became that cool. There were so many trees, it was literally like a forest. But having spent years there, the inhabitants themselves knew their way in and around the region. There are very few landmarks like St Ann's Chapel. In fact, people's houses themselves were landmarks; they were well-known and therefore people used to guide each other to places and addresses by referring to the location of these houses, big trees, etc. If his residence was in Assagao and college was St Xavier's, which is quite a distance away -- at least three to four kilometres -- how was the distance covered by Prof Mervyn? By walking of course, how else? he retorts. It may seem quite a distance for students today, who are used to commuting with all kinds of vehicles or public transport at least, but everyone used to walk it out then. In fact, covering the distance while walking briskly took no more than 20 minutes, believe it or not. This was because we never took the main road; we had our little shortcuts through the forests and the trees, narrow little beaten paths known only to us, he reminisces. Prof Mervyn also brings forth his recollections about one of the favourite haunts of his clique when he was a teenager. The spring that is located in one corner of Assagao was a great pleasure to bathe in and the area around it was a popular picnic spot. As youngsters, we used to trudge up and down the hill, breaking off and eating the small fruit like 'boran', 'kaantan' and 'chunnan'. We used to just take off with a small luncheon or snack basket and spend a major part of the day there, till the Angelus bell tolled in the evening, and we used to get back home as instructed. It was good fun. There was no electricity for a few years after Prof Mervyn moved to Goa; this must have been hard, coming from a developed urban area like Bombay which had all kinds of facilities even then. In the beginning, for a little while, yes. But I soon got used to it and it became less cumbersome gradually. I even started getting attached to the laid-back style of living here. Everybody knew and trusted everybody; houses were always open. We could enter anywhere we wanted and were always welcome. Houses were small but strong in those days, he says. My ancestral houses itself is more than a hundred years old. It has been subjected to no modification, except minor repair work and maintenance here and there. Today, sophisticated buildings and complexes are coming up everywhere, especially in cities. But not only do these clog the quality of living with their cloistered existence, they have to have a waterproofing job done every year, the standard of their construction speaks for itself. Today there has been unrestrained cutting of the trees that once made Assagao what it was. There used to be steps where crops were grown, and the trees that were there kept the soil strong. Now, there is a high level of soil erosion and leaching with the arrival of the monsoons. The slopes are starting
*** Goanet News Bytes * March 27, 2006 * Salesians to mark diamond jubilee of presence in Goa
-- |Read Valmiki Faleiro's latest column on Goa's traffic entitled: | || | Goa's appalling road sense - 1| |http://www.goanet.org/index.php?name=Newsamp;file=articleamp;sid=418 | -- [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] / d8 Founded in e88~88e e88~-_/~~~8e 888-~88e e88~~8e _d88__ 1994 by 888 888 d888 i 88b 888 888 d888 88b 888 Herman 88_88 | e88~-888 888 888 __888 888 Carneiro / Y888 ' C888 888 888 888 Y888, 888 Cb 88_-~ 88_-888 888 888 88___/ 88_/ Y http://www.goanet.org * Building social capital. - GOANET NEWS BYTES * MARCH 27, 2006 * DATELINE GOA -- SALESIANS to celebrate their diamond jubilee presence in Goa in early April. On the night of April 4, 1946, Fr V Scuderi landed in Goa. Freed from the post-war time concentration camp, he was to be deported to Italy. He chose to work in then 'Portuguese India' instead. The celebrations will be marked with a cycle-torch rally culminating at Panjim on April 4 (Thursday), novenas to St John Bosco, a mando on Don Bosco (by S Cota, prepared in 1988), a seminar on Don Bosco's educative method, a youth fest, an audio-visual programme on the early Salesians in Goa, a play in Konkani, a sports fest, mela for the marginalised. There are also suggestions for a jubilee project -- training for civic and political leadership for youth (specially in villages and women), starting a community radio station to reach the youth, counselling services in Panjim, and a corpus fund for the education of deserving youth. o Congress-backed Ghanashyam Shirodkar to be Margao civic chief.GT JAANATA RAJA ENDS IN COMPLAINT: A complaint filed by law minister Dayanand Narvekar into the alleged misappropriation of funds by some BJP functionaries regarding the holding of the 'Jaanta Raja' drama at Mapusa has been forwarded to the director general of police for action. (GT) o North Goa MP Shripad Naik is among the 28 BJP MPs whose names figure in the list of those occupying an 'office of profit' according to the news in a national daily. Naik is a member of the National Shipping Board.GT This issue caused a major controversy in Parliament, leading to the resignation (as MP) of Sonia Gandhi, as it is argued that such posts cause a conflict in the ideal separation of judiciary, executive and legislature. o Sports Authority of Goa is spending an estimated Rs 30 million to get the Nehru Stadium at Fatorda in shape for the One Day International between India and England on April 3, reports the Herald. The paper's headline says: Spending Rs 3 crore (Rs 30 million) to earn Rs 25 lakh (Rs 2.5 million). o Mopa tenants meet Churchill. Express concern over losing the prime agricultural land for the proposed airport. Alemao promises to take up the cause of some 50 tenants.H o Water Hyacinth, the fastest growing aquatic weed, is back in the River Sal after a gap of two years, covering a vast stretch of the river from the Khareband bridge and upstream towards Mungul. (H) BROADBAND-BASED state wide area network: Goa government has called for 'expressions of interest' in its plans to establish a high bandwidth broadband network throughout the State with Optic Fibre Cable connectivity coupled with wireless connectivity, as may be needed, throughout the length and breadth of the State within a year. For a region which has been struggling to give its residents transport, telephones and water, your guess is as good on how soon such goals will become a reality. Advert, Herald March 27. o Government of India is inviting suggestions for a new police act. The current police act dates back to 1861! [Advert in Herald] o Margao revellers witness Shigmo floats. (NT) o Communist Party of India Goa secretary Christopher Fonseca on a goodwill visit to China. (NT) o World TB Day observed in Goa. (NT) o Arrangements made for SSC exams in Goa. (NT) o We are forced to travel more than a kilometre to collect water, villagers tell GT. o Government move to refer Comunidade land bill to select panel draws flak. (GT) o Seminar on performance appraisal inaugurated at Xavier's. o Ramakant Khalap thanks government for Tillari project, IT resort plan at Mandrem. Urges state to take a quick decision on Mopa airport issue. (GT) o Toddy-tapping on the verge of extinction at Pernem.(GT) o Commuters upset over hike in bus fares. (GT) Mock court provides good
[Goanet] AIDS HIV
I let this pass when first posted, thinking it was a typo. But the quote is getting repeated. Can someone enlighten us on the relation of pre-marital AIDS test to be a deterrent to post-marital sex? AIDS may be a lifestyle disease - though I have never heard it described that way. Yet, in Goa it was mentioned AIDS transmission may be through re-use of medical equipment (catheters) etc and blood. People also get it from their spouses and babies from their mothers. The only lifestyle way to prevent AIDS is NOT to have sex with anybody other than one's spouse. One will only encourage the spread of AIDS and other STDs, sooner rather than later, with a use condoms and practice safe sex education. That's the experience of the rest of the world. So I hope Goa does not repeat the mistake. Lifestyle (specially as it relates to sexual behavior) does not necessarily start after marriage. It starts young. Hence if a pre-marriage AIDS-test can contribute to a (pre-marriage), sex-free native Goan youth, (without the safe sex bit), the benefits are likely to be long-lasting. Kind Regards, GL Elisabeth Carvalho said However, I don't think an AIDS test is a deterrent to post-marital sex. These men will visit prostitutes after they get married and will infect their wives. That much we can be sure off. AIDS is more a lifestyle disease and unless we inform people to change lifestyles, use condoms and practice safe sex, we won't be successful in preventing its spread. --- afra dias: Well said. It is narrow minded and hasty of Goa to bring this law into force. Just to be THE FIRST TO IMPLIMENT THIS LAW Syndrome. There are other more hidden diseases that the Goans have not taken into consideration. Especially in UK there is a compulsory test for every pregnant woman, what is it? Certainly not HIV. _ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: %(user_optionsurl)s This email sent to %(user_address)s
[Goanet] RE: CA/PS IX: TARGET FIXATION VS OPEN MIND
Again the issue of similarities and differences with civil aviation at Dabolim/Mopa in Goa. I managed to get feedback on this post privately from a couple of American friends. One, David, who is situated in the Northeastern U.S., said he had a relative (since deceased) who was a Navy flier based in San Diego. The other, Mel, a licensed private plane pilot, is settling in the Southwestern part of the U.S. He has visited (perhaps made an expedition to would be the more apt expression!) Goa in the mid-60s. (Maybe the latter expression still applies though the 'nature' of the challenge may have changed with the times!) Anyway, David shed valuable light on the historicity of the situation as well as the process part. As regards the former, he wrote The three [military] sites in San Diego are very constrained, and have been for many years home for the navy fliers on the west coast of the US. So I am not surprised by the response of the Navy and Marines. But he approves of the 'process' currently being followed saying At the same time, it sounded to me as if the city is trying to work through a reasonable process. Mel succinctly highlights the end game aspect. He said, As a civilian pilot of small planes, I don't think civilian and military airspace mix well. Yes, if one were on an island and there was room for only one air-field, but otherwise, it would seem to me that it would make more sense to differentiate the two - and keep them as far apart as possible. The last phrase is the key! Here it is not just Mopa that assumes significance in this connection but Seabird Karwar too! Especially the latter in my opinion. But as David ruefully pointed out, Its hard to get the military to change -- both in San Diego and in Goa! Cheers. _ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: %(user_optionsurl)s This email sent to %(user_address)s
[Goanet] Neri jumps on anti-Mopa bandwagon Calls for movement to shift Navy to Karwar
Neri jumps on anti-Mopa bandwagon Calls for movement to shift Navy to Karwar BY HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, MARCH 27 - Minister for Water Resources, Filipe Neri Rodrigues on Monday emphatically said there's no need for another international airport in Goa other than Dabolim and called for a sustained movement to shift the Navy to Sea bird, Karwar. Sharing the platform of Save Dabolim Airport Committee for the first time at a huge meeting at Chinchinim on Monday, Mr Rodrigues said, Dabolim is already designated as an international airport. Hence, there cannot be a second international airport. Also sharing the platform for the first time is South Goa Zilla Chairperson, Reginaldo Lourenco, a close aide of Goa Speaker Francisco Sardinha. The Minister was categorical in saying a new airport at Mopa cannot come at the cost of Dabolim, Goa and Goans, while lauding the vision and foresight of experts for locating the existing airport at Dabolim. Filipe said he will take up with Chief Minister, Pratapsing Rane the need to retain Dabolim as an international airport and the need for immediate release of the promised central grant for the upgradation of Dabolim. The Minister asked MP Churchill Alemao to request the high-level committee constituted by the Union Civil Aviation Ministry to revert the Union Cabinet decision to close down Dabolim after the commissioning of Mopa. Making an appeal to maintain the age-old ties amongst the Goan population, the Minister underlined the need to convince the people of North Goa to see reason about the adverse impact of Mopa airport on Goan economy. In his address, Dr Ernest Rodrigues said the airport feasibility report clearly shows that the Mopa airport will only benefit southern Maharashtra, including Sangli, Kholapur, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg. While the report says that Mopa will adversely affect the tourism industry in South Goa, it speaks about the immense tourism potential around Sindhudurg, he said and asked whether the Goan MLAs are more concerned about development in Maharashtra. MP Churchill Alemao reiterated that he will not remain with the Congress if the government does not scrap Mopa airport before the Assembly polls. Either the government should scrap Mopa, or I will go with the people, he maintained. Cortalim MLA Matanhy Saldanha said Dabolim has always been a civilian airport and charged the Navy for occupying the airport illegally. Adv Radharao Gracias, Adv Mike Mehta, Albert Leitao, ZP Joe Dias, Gaitonde also spoke. ~(^^)~ Avelino _ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: %(user_optionsurl)s This email sent to %(user_address)s
[Goanet] OFFTOPIC - Sensenbrenner's Immigration Enforcement Bill Passes the House
Approval Challenges Senate to Match Effort at Protecting Homeland Security and American Workers By a 239-182 vote the House of Representatives approved the Border Protection, Antiterrorism and Illegal Immigration Control Act, H.R. 4437, on December 16. The legislation, authored by Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), would make improvements in this nation's ability to control rampant illegal immigration. H.R. 4437 calls for a variety of steps to rein-in mass illegal immigration. At the southern border, the legislation authorizes construction of an additional 700 miles of security fencing, similar to the highly effective barrier already in place in the San Diego area. The bill would also require implementation of an electronic verification system to be used by all employers to ensure that the workers they hire are legal residents. Failure to comply with the verification procedure could result in fines of up to $7,000 per violation for a first offense and as high as $40,000 the third time an employer gets caught hiring illegal aliens. Illegal aliens themselves would also face stiffer penalties for violating U.S. immigration laws under H.R. 4437. Illegal entry, now considered a misdemeanor offense, would become a felony and illegal aliens could receive jail time for immigration violations. Sensenbrenner successfully resisted efforts from open borders advocacy groups and cheap labor interests to include amnesty and guest worker provisions in his bill. Some provisions, favored by FAIR and other immigration reform advocates were also omitted from the final version of the bill. An amendment introduced by Rep. Nathan Deal (R-Ga.) that would have denied birthright citizenship to the U.S.-born children of illegal aliens, and another one that would have denied businesses that employ illegal aliens the right to deduct those workers as a legitimate business expense on their taxes, were stripped from the final language. The focus now shifts to the Senate, which must also pass an immigration enforcement bill before it can be sent to the president for his signature. The Senate is expected to take up immigration matters in February, but the prospects for an enforcement-only bill are less favorable than in the House. While Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) has offered legislation similar to the Sensenbrenner House bill, it is widely believed what comes out of the Senate will look more like the McCain-Kennedy legislation that includes a massive guest worker amnesty program. The plan among open borders Senators, who also have the backing of the Bush administration, is to pass their guest worker amnesty bill then combine theirs with the Sensenbrenner bill in a conference committee. The House bill, H.R. 4437, is significantly weaker than the True Comprehensive Reform measure introduced by Representatives Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) and Virgil Goode (R-Va.), favored by FAIR. FAIR will steadfastly oppose any effort to approve a guest worker amnesty bill in the Senate committee. Any legislation that bestows legal status on millions of illegal aliens, even in the guise of a temporary worker program, is an amnesty that most Americans oppose on principle. Moreover, a massive guest worker program is unwarranted by current economic and labor conditions and will harm American workers. An immigration enforcement bill that is balanced by guest worker amnesty provisions is inherently dishonest. As in every instance in the past, what will inevitably happen is that illegal aliens will get their amnesty, cheap labor employers will get access to millions of low-wage foreign workers, while the American people will get a pack of empty promises. On Yahoo!7 Music: Create your own personalised radio station. http://au.launch.yahoo.com/ _ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: %(user_optionsurl)s This email sent to %(user_address)s
Re: [Goanet] Homeschooling in Goa
--- Peter D'Souza [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Thanks for your feedback. From your response and that of others who e-mailed me off-list, the very idea of homeschooling in India seems quite different from what it is in the USA. India is indeed fortunate not to have an ideologically driven home-schooling movement of the type prevalent in the U.S. It is a good thing that the Hindutva zealots were defeated, and were not able to revise high school textbooks to include bogus revisionist history, and garbage such as vedic astrology, vedic mathematics and vedic science. Cheers, Santosh _ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: %(user_optionsurl)s This email sent to %(user_address)s
[Goanet] Fred's bluff
--- Frederick Noronha (FN) [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: PS: I'm no lawyer, and have no specialist domain in this field. But it's time someone called this bluff... if we repeat it often enough, we just might get around to believing it. Fred, What bluff? That Goa was invaded? And annexed without the proper authority (i.e. without a plebiscite) ? Kindly find the difference between invasion and liberation. You will note that East Pakistan was liberated by the Indian Armed forces and Bangladesh created. Why was it not incorporated into India, like Goa was? Many people in Goa do not talk these topics because: 1. They fear arrest 2. They are ignorant of the facts and brainwashed as I was, in school. 3. Couldn't be bothered - let sleeping dogs lie. Yet, the very same people, today aged 60 to 80, who I talked to, confirm what I have said so far, but always end up saying what's the point? The fact has been committed. But the point here, is to maintain history in its right perspective. As a journalist, it would be good for you to investigate why a UN representation by Goans was refused, as alleged by Bonnie Lubega: The Goan Freedom Movement ... a four-men delegation went before the Front Committee of the United nations intending to defend in the world organisation, their cause, but that they were not allowed to mention Goa and the reasons which prompted them to petition the United Nations. . ( http://www.colaco.net/1/goa1964e.htm ) Cheers, Gabriel de Figueiredo. Melbourne - VIC - Australia. ___ On Yahoo!7 Desperate Housewives: Sneak peeks, recaps and more. http://www.yahoo7.com.au/desperate-housewives _ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: %(user_optionsurl)s This email sent to %(user_address)s
[Goanet] AICHEA DISSAK CHINTOP - Marsachi 28vi, 2006!
Zorui Devan ghoddlelem sobit dis udevop aiz sokallim tuka chuklam zalear kaimnozo; bejear zainaka. Tum voch ani arxeant polle ani tantun tuka Devachi vodik sobit rochna disteli. (If you missed the beautiful sunrise God made this morning, do not worry; its alright. All you have to do is look in the mirror and you will see a more beautiful creation of God.) Moi-mogan, Domnic Fernandes Anjuna/Dhahran, KSA _ Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today it's FREE! http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/ _ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: %(user_optionsurl)s This email sent to %(user_address)s
[Goanet] UN urges Goa to end plans for HIV tests on couples
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/5ecaf9f4-bdc1-11da-a998-779e2340.html UN urges Goa to end plans for HIV tests on couples By Jo Johnson in New Delhi Published: March 27 2006 19:51 | Last updated: March 27 2006 19:51 United NationsThe head of the United Nations Aids programme in India on Monday urged the state of Goa to abandon controversial plans to force marrying couples to undergo compulsory testing for HIV. ADVERTISEMENT The legislation would make Goa the first state in India, which is estimated to have more than 5m people with HIV/Aids, to require premarital testing. Dayanand Narvekar, the state's health minister, has said the law would be amended in the July session. Such is the stigma associated with the disease and so costly are the drugs used for treating it that few people voluntarily come forward for testing in India, which may soon overtake South Africa as the country with the largest number of HIV cases. Ninety per cent of people with HIV in India are unaware of their status, but compulsion is always counter-productive, said Denis Broun, UNAIDS country director, in an interview. Critics of such legislation say it would violate privacy, stigmatise entire families and create a black market in false HIV-test results. Compulsory HIV testing before marriage has been proposed in several Indian states but, so far, never enacted. Calls for mandatory testing are a common recourse for politicians wishing to create the impression of a resolute stand against the epidemic. Dormant provisions of Goan law still permit the forced testing and isolation of people suspected of being HIV positive. The introduction of mandatory testing in Goa would run counter to national Aids policy, which encourages voluntary testing based on informed consent, and would reflect the lack of co-ordination between various state agencies. We are not in favour of this at all and we must have a state debate on this issue, said J.J. Dias, project director of the Goa State Aids Control Society, a subsidiary of the central government's National Aids Control Organisation (Naco). Non-governmental organisations say focusing scarce resources on mandatory premarital testing would divert attention away from safe sex awareness programmes and create a false sense of security in the conjugal bed. Tripti Tandon, senior project office at the Lawyers' Collective, a NGO specialising in HIV and the law, says that HIV-negative certificates would further limit the ability of women to negotiate safe sex with husbands they suspect of infidelity. It will simply become a virginity test or a character certificate for the women, Ms Tandon said. Civil rights groups argue that permitting mandatory testing in one context increases the risk that it will become a de facto requirement for employment and access to healthcare. Naco has identified six high-prevalence states, where infection rates among high-risk groups exceed 5 per cent and 1 per cent among antenatal women, a representation of the general population. Of these, four are contiguous states – Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh – where the epidemic has been driven by sex workers. In Manipur and Nagaland, bordering Burma, it has mainly spread through drug use. Wedged between Karnataka and Maharashtra, Goa is in the front line of India's war against HIV. Experts say the country is at a tipping point and in urgent need of mounting the largest prevention programme seen anywhere in the world. Compared with some countries in southern Africa, where HIV rates run as high as 20-30 per cent, India, with an estimated prevalence rate of around 0.9 per cent of the adult population, might seem on top of the epidemic. But the sheer size of the population, at over 1bn, means that for every percentage point added to the adult infection rate another 5m people are thrown on to the resources of an already overburdened health system. -- TUMCHER AXIRVAD ASSUM; DEV BOREM KORUM. Gabe Menezes. London, England _ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: %(user_optionsurl)s This email sent to %(user_address)s
Re: [Goanet] Huge apologies! CHANGE OF INDIAN BROADCAST TIME (Contacto Goa)
--- Desmond Nazareth [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: All: To those of you who tried to watch Episode 5 of Contacto Goa in INDIA today, we really apologise for the following: Our program broadcast started a FULL hour earlier (7:15PM) than we had announced (INDIAN time) because Portugal changed clocks TODAY due to the DAYLIGHT SAVINGS policy -- the Lisbon local time was moved forward by one hour. We were not aware of this change of clocks and nobody who was aware thought of informing us. We can only blame our ignorance, as in India we have no such policy of daylight savings. Desmond, Although I do not have a chance to watch RTPi (as I do not have a cable TV connection), still, Daylight Savings Time is a queer beast. Here too in the antipodes, we have DST, but only affects the southern states (NSW (Sydney), Victoria (Melbourne) and South Australia (Adelaide)), with the dates of change being the last Sunday in Sept and last Sunday in Mar. However, in 2000 (Sydney Olympics) and this year (Melbourne Commonwealth Games), the dates of the changeover were changed, which led to application of special patches to NT and Unix servers, as well as having other inconveniences, like remembering that the date of change is different just for this year. Funnily enough, some people in public service haven't been aware of the change of dates in Melbourne, so that today (we're just past the normal DST changeover, but DST doesn't really change over'till the 2nd week of April due to C'wealth Games) some clocks in public buildings read one hour behind. So also is the clock on my TV and my PC (I did not download the patch). Just to let you know that it is not just Portugal that has the DST changes. Cheers, Gabriel de Figueiredo. Melbourne - VIC - Australia. PS the next great international event in Melbourne is the Grand Prix - the fever has started! On Yahoo!7 Messenger - Make free PC-to-PC calls to your friends overseas. http://au.messenger.yahoo.com _ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: %(user_optionsurl)s This email sent to %(user_address)s
Re: [Goanet] Re: Public execution -Deterrent effect of the Death Penalty
Hi Carmo Thanks for your response. I am glad to learn that you are a medical doctor and indeed in the USA. Until you made this clear I had assumed you were writing from Goa and close to the scene of the brutal murder of Fr Eusebio. In my view, you may be a brilliant doctor technically but it is questionable whether you are also a thinking one who does credit to the learned profession. Nor do I think you make much of an amateur lawyer as even without knowing much about the legal system in India, I believe you have made several errors. Indian law is not based on the Bible (especially the blood-thirsty Old Testament) by any stretch of the imagination. It is largely drawn from English law simply because of the former British connection. This is also true for Canada, NZ and Australia and many parts of Africa. Secondly admission of guilt is not enough for a trial. People admit to crime for unbelievable reasons. In the UK, crime goes up around Christmas because several people in drab circumstances, want the warmth, Christmas season TV, comfort, and even camaraderie of a prison at that time! Strange but true. People who are not quite OK in the head admit to crimes when it is entirely untrue. Thirdly, and very importantly, the law needs to find the real culprit through forensic tests etc and not someone who may admit to a crime for bogus reasons or being of unsound mind. Finally, and even more importantly, the two men are innocent until proven guilty by a proper court. I honestly believe that in the circumstances, you really need to say that your utterances were ill-judged. This would enhance your reputation for being a real man, rather than if you stick to your guns on the absurdity of upside down crucufiction, stoning, public display of execution and harvesting of organs. All good sincere wishes. I will keep my fingers crossed and await your sensible recant! Cornel - Original Message - From: CARMO DCRUZ [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: goanet@goanet.org Sent: Monday, March 27, 2006 2:56 AM Subject: [Goanet] Re: Public execution -Deterrent effect of the Death Penalty Hi Cornel, Thanks for your response and advice, I really appreciate it. Please note that there was no emotional outburst here. It was a response based on my extensive experience on all what is wrong with India during my travels as a hockey player all over India and as a student in Bombay and Bengal... The Naxalbari (Naxalite) movement in Bengal, the Sikh insurgency in Punjab, the Dacoitry in MP, UP... - I have seen it all. I really do not wish such predicaments for our peace-loving state of Goa. I know that we have some B-B... (Do Nothing) type Goans who live comfortably abroad and cannot empathize with the status quo in Goa.. We need to do something different (all within the realms of the the India constitution) and do something that would be a strong deterrent for Bhaille Butchers such as Amit Shukla and Manish Dubey who are looking forward to commit crime in Goa and I am overwhelmed by the public outcry and support for my suggestions. Best Regards, Carmo Carmo Further to your post to Jose below, irrespective of whether Jose is a devout Catholic or not, and irrespective of whether Jose accepts the Bible texts as supplied by you, or not, India does have, and does use, the death penalty by hanging. Justice will therefore normally be done in Goa/India irrespective of those who find the death penalty acceptable or not, as a deterrent. Cornel _ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: %(user_optionsurl)s This email sent to %(user_address)s
[Goanet] Wedding blessing rites!
Dear GoaNetters, I am posting the following personal message on GoaNet with the consent of the party for the benefit of all: Moi-mogan, Domnic Fernandes Anjuna/Dhahran, KSA Hi Juliet! First of all, please accept my heartiest congratulations in advance on your daughter's wedding in August! Secondly, it is great to know that though in America, you would like to follow Goan custom. Hats off to you Juliet for keeping up Goan culture and traditions in a foreign land! Here is the information you asked for: As soon as the bride is dressed up and before she proceeds to the car to go to church to attend the nuptials, she is made to stand ghorchea altara mukar (in front of home altar) for Bessanv. Please do not forget to light the candles at the altar. In the olden days, until the early 1960's, the only photo that was taken on the auspicious day, was a wedding photo that, too, in a studio. But today, the camera and video man arrive at a bride's place well in advance and begin to click photos and video film right from the time the bride begins to dress up. The clicking and filming continues in the church and ends up in the reception hall. Times have really changed, Juliet! In Goa, besides relatives and friends, neighbors from the ward also come to give Bessanv to the okol because she was a part of the community from her childhood until she grew up. Now that she chose a life time partner, she has to leave the place and shift to her husband's! Therefore, the neighbors feel it is their duty to wish her last good-bye as a spinster; hence, they join in the last farewell wish to the bride along with her parents, relatives and friends. In Goa, it is still a fashion to give a gift to the bride mostly in the form of cash which is placed in bride's hand along with Bessanv. In the olden days, people placed chear annem, att annem or one rupee coins; some old folks still place 50 paise or 1 rupee coins and so do children. Nowadays, it is mostly bills - Rs.50, 100 or 500; seldom, people place a Rs.5 or 10 bill. Relatives and friends from far away places who do not wish to return to the house after the nuptials or will not be present for the reception, hand in their gifts at Bessanv. There are no special prayers at Bessanv before the bride leaves for the church. However, here is the order of blessing as I recall: 1) The parents - father followed by mother 2) The grandparents - grandfather followed by grandmother 3) The eldest brother and his wife, if married, followed by other brothers and their wives 4) The sisters and their husbands 5) Brothers' children - beginning from the oldest to the youngest 6) Sisters' children - beginning from the oldest to the youngest 7) Uncles and aunts - paternal followed by maternal 8) Cousins beginning with the first and followed by the second, third, etc. 9) Bride's relatives - beginning with the eldest and followed by the youngest 10) Elderly neighbors followed by other neighbors 11) Friends in general I hope the above information serves you. Best regards, Domnic Fernandes From : Juliet De Souza [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent : Wednesday, February 1, 2006 8:05 PM To : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject : wedding blessing rites Hi Dominic, As always I enjoy reading your articles on Goa News, your recent one about the radio brought back fond memories. I wanted to ask you a favor. My daughter is getting married in August, the boy is American and we love him, we would like to incorporate our timeless Goan traditions into the wedding and I know that we give the Bensao to the girl when she is all dressed and ready to go to Church, could you tell me a little more about the rite and if there are any special prayers that are said and besides the father and mother, who else does it, my daughter is all for it and thinks it would be beautiful, any help you can give will be appreciated. Recad tuca. Juliet from Los Angeles _ Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today it's FREE! http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/ _ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: %(user_optionsurl)s This email sent to %(user_address)s
[Goanet] 2006 STILL UPSIDE DOWN WORLD
Hi Goanetters, Vivian D'Souza [EMAIL PROTECTED] says, To the proponents of the knee-jerk reaction of crucifying upside down the murderers of Fr. Ferrao, may I respectfully suggest that you start practicing the Yoga pose Sirsa Asana or standing on your head for a period of time. You will find the increased circulation to your heads will bring clarity to your minds and you will also be able to watch the spectacle right side up? Afra says; I do practice 'Sirsa Asana' - do you? I also say; what is the harm if one is a homosexual. One is born that way, it is not a choice. I put the 'spanner-in-the-works' to judge the opinion of narrowminded people. Talking about sex is an anatoma for the Catholics, and talking openly about sex has always been a taboo subject - except now. This practice was thought to us none other than the Priests. Talking about sex, what about Astrology. The Vedas and the Vedantas always excepted that there was a third sex. If you care to study Hindu Astrology you will know. That does not mean one is a Hindu just because one studies astrology - THE FACTS ARE THERE, IF ONE DARES TO LOOK AND LEARN. Homosexuals or be it Heterosexuals not necesarily prefer beauty and handsomeness to poky faced urchins, it is their choice to pick and do whatever takes their fancy. Afra. _ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: %(user_optionsurl)s This email sent to %(user_address)s
Re: [Goanet] Priest Murder Case: Day 10, and today's paper reportings (26/03/06)
--- JoeGoaUk [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: HERALD: page 2 PRIEST MURDER: MORE QUESTIONS CROP UP. Its a week now since the parish Priest of Macazana Fr. Eusebio was done to death brutally, but the story forwarded by the police over the dastardly killing has thrown up more questions than answers. ..theory that both were intoxicated after a beer each sounds hardly convincing. another case is the stab injuries. Findings of the post Morten..the priest wasn't stabbed when he was being smothered or strangulated. Infact, the report as per the police own admission- was categorical in saying that the stab injuries on the body of the priest were all post Morten, implying that the injuries were inflicted on Fr. Ferrao's body after his death ...not yet explained why the two accused person stabbed Fr. Ferrao as many as 27 times when he was already dead. ..place has not come out with a convincing explanation why the two decided to postpone their departure to UP by a day. What made them change their mind and instead proceed to Macazana Church to meet the priest on the 17th is still a mystery Mario observes: I hope Carmo D'Cruz is reading this, and beginning to realize why a legal trial is always necessary so that a judge and/or jury hear all sides of the story, under oath and under cross examination. Things are often not what they seem, and if we listen to Carmo's Guilty because CARMO says so and his demand that the judicial system be bypassed, the truth may come out far too late. _ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: %(user_optionsurl)s This email sent to %(user_address)s
Re: [Goanet] Re: Goan 'Kokno' used derogatorily
--- Elisabeth Carvalho [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I fail to understand how Konkno can be interpreted as a derogatory word. It means Hindu and nothing more. Looking at the word closely, I can assume its etmology comes from the word Konkan. Mario observes: Elisabeth, a) If Kokno comes from Konkan then are we all Koknos, not just Hindus? b) I'm not sure that Kokno is what Manoj found derogatory, or the context in which it was used. I say this because of his statement, ...i am a hindu (goan kokno)and when i read hindu word being used in a derogatory manner,i really feel bad. Maybe Manoj can clarify. I would support any reasonable request or complaint by a non-Catholic Goanetter - with an emphasis on reasonable. As far as I'm concerned I'd like to hear a lot more from them. This forum is not just for Catholics. Elisabeth writes: I also don't understand how the word b b** was thought to be derogatory. Mario observes: I did not take it as such, even though it was addressed primarily to me, a) because Carmo always followed it with Do nothing in parenthesis, and b) the description did not fit. I think it was Jose who first objected to the term and caused the Goanet moderators to blink. Elisabeth writes: I don't know about you Bardezcars but we Shastikar use it as a team of total endearment. Ofcourse we are a gay people. :))) Mario observes: As a Bardezcar, I had NO IDEA that Sashticars were gay:-)) If I were you, I would reconsider the use of that word in it's popular modern usage. _ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: %(user_optionsurl)s This email sent to %(user_address)s
Re: [Goanet] Re: Homeschooling in Goa vs USA
Being different and unaccountable does not necessarily make something more successful or better! Many of the home schooling activities in the US are motivated by religious extremists who do not accept the precepts of modern science (eg. creationism over evolution) and therefore not very different in spirit than the madrassas in Pakistan and Afghanistan who are churning out tomorrows terrorists. Obviously there are many legitimate home school movements and good reasons for homeschooling as well, but in general, due to the preponderence of the negative, I would not give these activities much merit. Homeschooling in India is a different ballgame all together is for the most part driven by lack of access to good institutional education, rather than the desire to institute extreme religious beliefs on their children. In America, if you are poor (and most probably not very well educated), you will most probably live in a place that does not have good schools. This is because schools are funded by local taxes. Poor areas = less taxes = crappy local schools Hence substituting poor institutional education with poor home schooling education will not make any sense. Likewise, if you are well to do (and most probably well educated) and therefore most probably live in a good neighborhood, you will have access to good institutional education that will contain well qualified and motivated educators. Homeschooling may make sense if the parents are well educated, but it may not be necessary in this case. For a brief intro to the motivation of homeschooling in the US, look at: http://parenting.families.com/home-schooling-geca I am suprised that Peter is for greater government intervention in aspects of people's family lives - such as restricting/regulating the rights of adults to get married, or for greater big brother government authority to monitor and track its citizens, but is against secular public education. Since when did it become ok for governments to dictate the moral and religous code of its citizens? Marlon --- Peter D'Souza [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In many cases it seems to involve private tutoring--not necessarily by a parent. It also seems to be anchored to a traditional school board, like the ICSE. Homeschoolers in the USA use their independence from the system to learn in ways that are often alien to the traditional school system and have, as a consequence, a good record of academic excellence. Peter _ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: %(user_optionsurl)s This email sent to %(user_address)s
[Goanet] Priest Murder Case: Day 3 to 7, What Goan Papers reported ? (19-23/3/06) - A summary
Priest Murder Case: Day 3 to 7, What Goan Papers reported ? (19-23/3/06) - A summary 19/03/06 Headlines: MACAZAN PARISH PRIEST MURDERED - NT PRIEST'S MURDER SEND SHOCK WAVES - H MACAZANA PARISH PRIEST BRUTALLY MURDERED - GT CRHISTIAN COMMUNITY OF GOA SHAKEN - H PRIEST'S MURDER RECEIVES WIDE SPREAD CONDEMNATION -H ..The two left the Parish residence telling the Parish Priest they will come back to have dinner- NT ...accordingly, the priest, it is learnt, went to the village market and made some purchases including some food stuff - GT 20/03/06 ..police have received information from a women that they Had reportedly seen the priest with Amit in the Passport Office about 3 months ago - H 21/03/06 CM: WE KNOW WHERE THEY ARE (suspects) - H Mess boy Sunil Rodrigues recounted Fr. Ferrao asked him to prepare extra food for 2 guests who would arriving later on that Friday night. Around 5.30pm Fr. Ferrao rushed to his friends Alcino D Silva who runs a whole sale stores near the church and purchase some rice and later bought some vegetables, fruits and eggs from the Silva's Kiosk at the market - GT D Silva told GT that he asked the priest 'being Friday in the lent season, how come your are buying eggs ? The priest replied that he was having some Hindu guests for dinner. After a long chart Fr. left the place 7pm. Antonetta D costa, a local resident, informed GT that the priest on Friday phoned her asking for coconuts as he require them to cook food for the guests I sent 8 coconuts for the priest she said. The two guests whose names figured on the priest diary as Amit Manish. The mess boy said that Amit even had a bath and Fr. Ferrao offered him a towel and a new pair of shorts and a T-shirt. That night there were vegetables, lady fingers, 'Rosse',rice and omelets for dinner. GT (GT).. it is gathered that the priest who occasionally had a small drinks at dinner, served the beers which he had in stock. He is said to have offered a peg at dinner to the mess boy, who informed that the guests had one bottle of beer each and later went to bed. he claims that having taken the drink he felt fat asleep at around midnight and only awoke next morning. Previous mess boy Praveen Miranda (26) who is presently working as a waiter at Goa Palace was brought to Maina police station for questioning..he recalled that the priest was getting no of visitors. GT Sachin Fernandes said that the Parish priest visited Sirsi chung along with him on January 13 for the feast of Infant Jesus. Fr, Ferrao stayed there 3 days at the local Parish House and would have his meals at my house, Sachin added. GT 22/03/06 MACAZANA PARISH PRIEST'S KILLERS HELD IN NAGPUR - NT Both confessed to the crime. According to DIG Mr. Mishra, Fr Ferrao in the middle of the night went to their room to enquire whether they wre comfortable or not and was returning to his room, when the duo followed him and Manish started asking him about a job opening, Fr. Ferrao told Manish that it was not the time to talk about the job but to sleep. Suddenly, Manish jumped on him and Amit gagged him with a pillow when the priest started shouting for help. Fr. Ferrao picked up a kitchen knife in self defence but Manish overpowered him and stabbed him till he died. The accused confessed to being in a drunken state when the incident took place between 12 - 1 am, DIG said. NT THE DU0 IN PRIEST'S MURDER ARRESTED IN NAGPUR - H Admit to killing and say it was under influence of alcohol. When asked what could be the motive, the DIG said during the investigation Manish had confessed that he was too drunk after consuming beer offered by the priest. He said ..the duo was not used to drinking and the two bottles they had on the fateful night intoxicated them. The cook who was fast asleep in the room had earlier claimed that he didn't hear a single sound during the entire episode. The DIG also said both the accused were fully coperating in the investigation. To a question, DIG (Mishra) replied that there was no other motive, as made out by some people, behind the killing, other than the 'drunken stupour' as confessed by the accused. The examination clearly revealed death by asphyxia and stabbing, DIG said. What led to the murder (based on the confession to DIG) H - Manish come to Goa in Sept 2005 in search of job. -Starts working in a transport company. -He is not happy with the job bcos of low salary. -Meets Fr. Ferrao in a Margao garden sitting sadly on a bench and thinking about his lowly paid job. -Fr. Ferrao assures him help in a getting a good job. -After this chance meeting, Manish meets Fr. Ferrao on 3 0r 4 occasions in Macazana until March 17. Every visit the priest treats him well. -om March 17, he comes to Macazana with Amit Sukla in the afternoon to convince Fr. Ferrao on the job. Fr. Ferrrao reassures him and ask them to come in the night. -Manish and Amit take the last bus and travel to Macazana. -Fr. Ferrao gets dinner prepared
[Goanet] VASCO CIVIC and CONSUMER FORUM - Launched.
ONE man who has a mind and knows it can always beat ten men who haven't and don't. George Bernard Shaw 1856 -1950 0 Friends , Thanks to the efforts of Savio Pereira Andrade , Eugenio Rebello . Capt.Narayan , Linton Barreto and many others in Vasco - We now have the *VASCO Civic and Consumer Forum * This forum was finally launched on the 24th of March 2006 after years of efforts by many of us. Thanks to Roland Martins , one of the very few Goans who MAKES things HAPPEN in Goa ..for ALL of us ,Vasco can now proudly say that it is now part of The Goa Civic and Consumer Action Network (GOACAN)[EMAIL PROTECTED] An Organizations that WORKS .. I am proud to be associated with the work that GOA DESC does in Goa and I am also proud to state that GOACAN was launched on WORLD GOA DAY a few years ago. Thank you Roland .thank you for the TIME you give to make Goa a better place. You also do not use your time in running other Goans down ! God bless you and the work you do. rene barreto 00 GOAN SOLIDARITY DAY - 20.8.2006 000 OOO A GOANET SUPPORTED PROJECT Support Soccer Activities at the grassroots in our villages Vacationing in Goa this year-end - Carry and distributeSoccer Balls Your support will be our SUCCESS ... OOO __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com _ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: %(user_optionsurl)s This email sent to %(user_address)s
[Goanet] FLY OVER TO GOA, LATA
One cannot play to Lata Mangueshkar's tunes on her opposition to the proposed Peddar Road flyover even though we are justifiably proud of her musical achievements. The battle on such issues has to be won or lost on techno-economic feasibility and overall public interest rather than by celebrity names. Any project does cause some inconvenience and discomfort in the construction phase as any woman who is a mother will testify. But like labour pains of residents in the neighbourhood of other flyovers which have been built despite public opposition, this flyover will help ease congestion. Mumbai's surging population is over straining the city's infrastructure, and in particular, the roads. Flyovers are a step towards easing the city's traffic logged roads. Together we have to work to ensure the transformation of Mumbai into Shanghai. Lata Mangueshkar's reported threat to move out of Mumbai if the flyover comes up should be taken in lighter vain. She would be welcome to a much more peaceful Goa where she rightly belongs. Aires Rodrigues Mumbai ___ Yahoo! Photos NEW, now offering a quality print service from just 8p a photo http://uk.photos.yahoo.com _ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: %(user_optionsurl)s This email sent to %(user_address)s
Re: [Goanet] Malicious falsehood
--- Peter D'Souza [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On a related note, one lawsuit-happy Goanetter has threatened legal action against a poster on this list for what he deemed verbal abuse. In fact, he indicated he was doing it on behalf of verbally wounded Goanetters (whether it was with their permission or encouragement I am not certain). The above is a malicious lie directed against me. I have never filed a lawsuit in my life to be subjected to such vengeful name-calling. I have threatened legal action on my behalf alone, not on behalf of anyone else. The legal action that I am going to initiate constitutes filing a criminal complaint against these posters for public slander and private abusive spam emails. Gabe has already posted a news report indicating how law enforcement agencies are now regarding abuse and defamation on internet forums as prosecutable crimes. Cheers, Santosh _ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: %(user_optionsurl)s This email sent to %(user_address)s
[Goanet] RE: No Family Feud Here
Bosco, I had a very friendly discussion with my cousin Dr. Jose Colaco in the Bahamas today. Please note that there is no family feud.. there never was ... and Please withdraw your statement and allusion to the same on the Goanet website. Best Regards, Dr. Carmo D'Cruz, Indian Harbour Beach, Florida _ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: %(user_optionsurl)s This email sent to %(user_address)s
[Goanet] Re: Portuguese Passports
In response to my post pn the subject, Bernardo Colaco wrote (quote): Given your status in Goan society I guess your economic needs were fulfilled in Goa itself and by the Portuguese? Why write his(?) sermon? Dear Bernardo, My economic needs (such as they were and as they are) were not fulfilled in Goa under Portuguese rule but in India, that is Bharat until 1974 and in Goa thereafter - thiteen years after the departure ofthe Portuguese and its rejoining the motherland. ---Tony Correia-Afonso. _ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: %(user_optionsurl)s This email sent to %(user_address)s
Re: [Goanet] Goan 'Kokno' used derogatorily
--- Manoj Ganpatrao Raikar [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: It lools like GoaNet is only for Catholic subscibers,i am a hindu (goan kokno) and when i read hindu word being used in a derogatory manner,i really feel bad. Ask thai Kakodkar how she continued polarising Goa? Do not bury your head in the sand (chowpatty beach) BC ___ Yahoo! Photos NEW, now offering a quality print service from just 8p a photo http://uk.photos.yahoo.com _ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: %(user_optionsurl)s This email sent to %(user_address)s
Re: [Goanet] Re:Portuguese Passports
--- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I have no quarrel with my fellow-Goans or any others wishing to acquire Portuguese citizenship and a Portuguese Passport and fully appreciate and sympathise with the compulsions that drive them to do so. Let us admit that these compulsions are largely economic and there is no need for them to trumpet their loyalty to Portugal and to denigrate India and things Indian in order to justify their actions. Mario adds: Thanks to Big Tony for bringing some sage perspective to this debate. Tony is obviously an Indian Patriot, and is to be commended for keeping his cool in the face of the attacks on everything Indian by the Goan Portophiles. _ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: %(user_optionsurl)s This email sent to %(user_address)s
[Goanet] RE: Goa govt presents feel-good budget
Except for this link and a couple of other (rather plebeian) posts on the Goa government budget, budget analysis in Goa has generally 'Goan' with the wind! HERALD editorialised today about the effect of beer availablity on youngsters. Navhind Times had an op-ed article which was a paean to CM Rane's 'general' financial acumen honed incredibly as a farmer (but precious little about this year's budget specifically)! Yesterday HERALD had a half page write-up about the budget inserted by the Dept of Information Publicity of GOG. Compared to the Business Standard link it was painful reading. It was like a 'dhobi list' of 150 items grouped under 20 different heads in four columns. There was no vision, focus, thematic treatment, direction etc to speak of. I was interested in a few items. Goa Institute of Management has been awarded the second installment of Rs 50 lakhs as a grant. (When did it get the first one?) International Centre has been awarded Rs 1 crore presumably as a single new grant. Goa University meanwhile has received Rs 2 crores. No mention of Mopa is made in the HERALD advt. But elsewhere some one came up with a figure of Rs 4 crores for something related to it. As per the Business Standard link the Goa budget is a 'Rs 4000 crore' one. This figure also finds NO mention in the advt. What are the major sources and uses and the tax burden proposed to be levied on the common man? It seems that merely because of a booming national economy the government fnances such as those of Goa are rosier than one would expect. All in all, the Goa govenment does not cut a very impressive figure, in my lay person's opinion, in financial strategy and disclosure matters. _ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: %(user_optionsurl)s This email sent to %(user_address)s
[Goanet] 7th CAREER INFORMATION FAIR - 10th 11th June 2006 - Rotary club of Vasco
7th CAREER INFORMATION FAIR Lets Shape the future of Goa... PANAJI, GOA - 10th 11th June 2006 http://www.vascowheel.com/career_fair.htm INTRODUCTION A large inflow of Students Parents... Wide Publicity through various media education channels... Catch the students of Goa at peak time, getting set to take their next step in life... Direct interaction with the masses... Personally Managed with our experienced team... This is the focus of the 7th CAREER INFORMATION FAIR which is being organised by the Rotary Club of Vasco-da-Gama, at Don Bosco Oratory, Panaji on the 10th 11th June 2006 (Saturday Sunday) from 2.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. on Saturday and 10.00 am to 7.00 pm on Sunday PROMOTION Free entry to all visitors. Attractive posters displayed at key locations and circulated through proper channels to students all over Goa. Advertisements in the leading local newspapers, besides press meets and banners at prominent locations. Tie up with the leading educational institutions and associations for informing all the school, higher secondary and college students in Goa and for expert guidance. Lecture series on career options by professionals. METHOD OF BOOKING STALLS (for organisations): REGISTRATION FORM duly filled along with a DEMAND DRAFT in favour of Rotary Club of Vasco-da-Gama, payable at Vasco-da-Gama, Goa, MAILED TO: Rotary Club of Vasco da gama Hotel Manish, Ground Floor, F. L. Gomes Road, Vasco-da-Gama, Goa - 403 802. Your Booking along with DD should reach us latest by 25th May 2006. Bookings will be on a 'First-come First-serve' basis. 75% refund will be given for cancellation BEFORE 31st May, 2006. CLARIFICATIONS / QUERIES Rtn. Nilesh Salkar, President Tel: +91 832 250 Cell: +91-9422124144 OR Rtn. M. A. Sundaram 0832-2540289 - for counseling / lecture series information Rtn. Prakash Saraswat (Past President) +91-9822101371or 0832-2511751- for bookings before 5th May Rtn. Bharat Kamat (Imm. Past President) +91-9822443284 - for lecture series/general information Rtn. Hemant Arondekar (President-elect) +91-9822131629 - for bookings after 5th May Rtn. Manish Salkar (Treasurer) +91-9823104570 - for confirmation of payments Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] The 6th Career Information Fair was held at Don Bosco, Panaji on 11th 12th June 2005. http://www.vascowheel.com/6th_cif.htm The participants in last years fair included: British Council of India, United States Educational Foundation, Y-Axis, IVY International Graduate School, London Institute of Technology, JAFFE International, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Finolex Institute of Engineering technology, Rajendra Mane College of Engineering, Maritime Institute- Chennai, Sindhudurg College of Engineering, St. Aloysius College- Mangalore, ICFAI, Frankfinn Institute, IIAS Institute of Management, Ann Institute of Hotel Management, Barclay Institute of Hotel Management, Karavalli College, Institute of Management Studies- Ahmednagar, SPRINGBOARD, Karrox Institute of IT Education and several others. State bank Of India was the lead sponsor. Bank of India and Corporation Bank were also there to give information on Educational loans. Mrs. Ranjana Kakodkar a well-known career consultant of Goa had a counselling centre for information on aptitude tests, the nature of work involved in each type of career, life styles and monetary rewards of careers and many of your Frequently Asked Questions. (FAQs). Over 6000 students and parents visited the Fair to get information and many were able to decide on their career and take admissions in the Institutions of their choice at the venue itself. For more information visit : http://www.vascowheel.com/career_fair.htm = *~Jen Birmingham UK http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VascokarsUnited/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IEIGLC/ __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com _ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: %(user_optionsurl)s This email sent to %(user_address)s
[Goanet] Re: What's happening to Goanet?
On Sat, 2006-03-25 at 12:59 -0800, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: From: Clinton Vaz [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Goanet] What's happening to Goanet? Enough of this nonsense. The past few months have seen Goanet discussions degenerate into mindless nonsense, name calling and foul language. I'm missing the old Goanet and I don't want to read posts like this that make no sense at all. Yeah, this is really getting to be too much. About 75% of Goanet nowadays is unreadable. At the risk of being called authoritarian, the moderators need to step in and take strong action, else people will be unsubscribing in droves, I'm sure many have already done so. perhaps it's time to unsubscribe. After some time, one figures out which posts to avoid, and which to read. Instead of unsubscribing, you can try what I do every once in a while, when the name-calling, foul language and rubbish gets to be too much. When you subscribed you will have received a mail from Goanet. Go to the appropriate URL there, which is http://www.goanet.org/mailman/options/goanet/ followed by the email address you have subscribed on. Log in using the password that is given in that mail, and put mail delivery off. Wait for a few months, go back there, put mail delivery on, and see if sanity has returned. If not, follow the same procedure again. -- Question everything -- Karl Marx _ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: %(user_optionsurl)s This email sent to %(user_address)s
Re: [Goanet] Priests celibacy
Chris Vaz [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: There is also a need for vigorous debate on the merits/demerits of celibacy in priesthood. This is a valid and burning topic for discussion on Goanet and all venues because most times the issue is 'ducked' and 'weaved'. The subject has been 'swept under the rug' long enough Chris, I agree with you, there sure is a need to debate the merits/demerits of celibacy in priesthood. Can you start the ball rolling? Mervyn3.0 __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com _ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: %(user_optionsurl)s This email sent to %(user_address)s
Re: [Goanet] information required
--- cornel [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: However, I should like to take this opportunity to say how much I enjoyed the Commonwealth Games which came from your lovely city Melbourne. Yes, the opening and the closing ceremonies were great, weren't they? A lot must have literally gone up in smoke for the amount and the imagination of the fireworks displays, especially of the running-lights type! I went for an evening stroll last Sat night with my family and cousins, along the banks of the Yarra, to watch the fishworks (the musical fountains on the fish-sculptures that were used for the opening ceremony). Literally a million other people had the same idea, the place was that crowded. We got to see some of the other open-air shows (there were a dozen others going on at the same time), but most importantly, there was *no* confusion. The organisers and the volunteers really deserve a pat on their backs, as they kept the flow of people moving in an orderly manner. And we had place to sit on the banks of the Yarra and enjoy the show. There was little litter to be seen as all the well-marked bins were regularly emptied (recyclable and non-recyclable), and the crowds were themselves disciplined enough to make use of the bins properly. Both at the opening ceremony and at the closing ceremony, you must have been surprised at the loud cheers for the Lord Mayor, John So. John So (as I had mentioned a while ago), is a first-generation Chinese who has settled in Melbourne, is the longest serving Lord Mayor so far in Melbourne, and has been elected for a second term in office. He is a mild-mannered man and has no airs about him, which has made him so popular - more popular than the Premier of Victoria (a sort of Chief Minister), Steve Bracks, of Lebanese extraction. Being a business man owning two of the top Chinese restaurants in Melbourne, John So knows how to get the City moving, and he did it, like Premier Jeff Kennett, the dynamic predecessor of the current incumbent, who got the State moving in the 90s(as well as gaining the Games for Melbourne, besides wresting Formula 1 from Adelaide). Glad you enjoyed the Games as a whole, though I would say the portrayal of the games here in Australia (by Channel 9) were a bit biased towards showing only the Australian winners. Perhaps the BBC did a better job? Cheers, Gabriel de Figueiredo. Melbourne - VIC - Australia. On Yahoo!7 Music: Create your own personalised radio station. http://au.launch.yahoo.com/ _ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: %(user_optionsurl)s This email sent to %(user_address)s
[Goanet] Flower power (feature on Ashok Dande, in Gomantak Times/Weekender)
Flower power Ashok Dande shows Reema Kamat the arid patch of land that he transformed into a plant lover's paradise. A once-barren piece of land in Nagali, Taleigao, now stands transformed into a lush farmhouse garden, with the exclusive practice of organic farming. The winding paths along lush green carpets of fine blends of grass, colourful rock gardens in different settings, a specially designed pond with cascading water and gracefully floating lilies, exuberantly fruiting coconut palms, varieties of ornamental plants with lush green foliage, are some of the special attractions of this aesthetically laid garden and farmhouse. This is the garden of Ashok Dande, specialist in landscape gardening, horticulture and rock gardens. A beautiful garden is a work of art. When designing a garden, one has to keep in mind personal preferences of aesthetics. Important to take into account is the position and movement of the sun during the year, technical aspects like the point of fulcrum and focal spot, demarcation of recreation area, etc. He is passionate about gardening because he feels we owe it to nature and society to keep the greens alive. THE MOST striking aspect of the garden is the burst of colour it is. I have over 300 varieties of plants. I don't keep ordinary varieties, I prefer something unusual, something rare like hybrid anthuriums, orchids, crotons, exoras etc. Effectively, there are about 10,000 plants in my garden. Though my garden may seem a bit crammed, it is that way because it is designed to be a kind of landscape showroom. The varieties have been specially obtained by Dande from all over India. THE LIME TREE is bursting with bunches of the fruit and it is quite a pleasant deviation from seeing it in a basket at the marketplace. I'm very proud of the yield that my tree produces because it is achieved by using compost manure, a basic solution to our garbage menace. Also, I talk to my plants, I touch them and handle them like they are children. Plants have extra-sensory perception and can perceive the affection in human touch. They bloom when treated humanely. LOCATED CENTRALLY in the garden is the artificial pond, which doesn't look artificial at all, incidentally. The pipes and apparatus used to operate the pump that keeps recycling the cascading water have been hidden from view. Also, I have introduced lotus leaves and water plants and keep the look natural. There are some fishes in the pond too; these consume the mosquito larvae and algae and thus prevent the stagnation of water. THERE ARE ALSO rock gardens all over, that look quite elaborate, but are in fact very simple to assemble and maintain, says Dande. All you have to do is imitate nature. People think putting together a bunch of stones makes a rock garden. But it is not so. You have to select the right type and size of stones to prepare landings or steps for them to rest securely. Special basins have to be made and crevices have to be packed with nothing but coconut fibre so that excess water filters out without taking away the soil. ONE FEATURE of the garden is that the placement of the placement of the plants is mobile and Dande affirms that this aids in changing the appearance and course of the structures overnight, if wanted. This is possible mainly because we have introduced very little concrete and strived to keep everything natural. The concept revolves around arrangements and not construction of structures. Natural material like all kinds of rocks and boulders have been used to assemble them. Even mundane objects have been utilised; a grinding stone serves as a bird feeder. -- Would you like your home or part of your home to be featured on this page? Write to us at [EMAIL PROTECTED] with subject-line HOME DECOR or via snail mail to GT Weekender Look, Gomantak Bhavan, St Inez, Panjim. Please include your phone number and a couple of photographs. (WEEKENDER/GOMANTAK TIMES) -- GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays, reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing among the 8000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of mailing lists. Send feedback to goanet@goanet.org -- Goanet, building community, creating social capital for a decade. -- _ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: %(user_optionsurl)s This email sent to %(user_address)s
[Goanet] Re: Re:Portuguese Passports
Tony CA wrote: that these compulsions are largely economic and there is no need for them to trumpet their loyalty to Portugal and to denigrate India and things Indian in order to justify their actions. But is the issue Portugal? I thought most were using the Portuguese passport as a ticket to head to more affluent lifestyles in the West. Including to the EU. FN _ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: %(user_optionsurl)s This email sent to %(user_address)s
[Goanet] *** GOA NEWS: Mar 27/06 - Goa criminal's haven, Kashmiris maltreated, Alcohol at grocery stores, Sports...
*** GOA NEWS: Mar 27/06 - Goa criminal's haven, Kashmiris maltreated, Alcohol at grocery stores, Sports... *** Is Goa a safe haven for criminals? Is Goa - more particularly the cosmopolitan Margao - a safe hideout for criminals? Yes indeed, remarked a Kerala police officer who was here to take custody of the six contract killers taking shelter in the State after committing two murders back home. More at: http://oheraldo.in/node/11595 *** Kashmiris in Indian state of Goa being maltreated Like other states of India, Goa is also not friendly to Kashmiris, who are here to earn their livelihoods, after migrating from occupied Kashmir in the wake of Indian troops heightened state-terrorism in the held territory. More at: http://www.kmsnews.org/Kashmir%20News/News270306-01.htm *** 'Security cameras will keep tab on miscreants' The Sports Authority of Goa's ambitious plans of installing security cameras at various points is nearing completion. More at: http://oheraldo.in/node/11612 *** Spending Rs 3 cr to earn Rs 25 lakh! The Sports Authority of Goa is spending an estimated Rs 3 crore in getting the Nehru Stadium, at Fatorda in shape for the One Day International between India and England, on April 3. More at: http://oheraldo.in/node/11597 *** Margao Shigmo floats enthrall audience 'Madganvkars' danced to the sounds of 'dhols' (drums) as they reverberated into the streets starting from Holy Spirit Church and culminating at Margao Municipal square to celebrate the traditional Shigmo festival on Sunday. More at: http://oheraldo.in/node/11583 *** 7 held, 1 sentenced as most humorous! Around seven politicians were arrested for various offences from different parts of the State on Sunday and were brought to the 'Mock Court' (Lok Adalat) in the evening to be produced before the judge on the last day of the Shigmo festival, organized by the Panaji Shigmotsav Committee. More at: http://oheraldo.in/node/11584 *** Proposal to sell alcohol at grocery outlets flayed Bailancho Saad has strongly flayed the proposal in the budget to sell beer and wine over the counter in grocery shops to raise revenue. More at: http://oheraldo.in/node/11585 *** Khareband slaughter house in pathetic state Although its slaughter house at Khareband is flouting all norms on health, hygiene and sanitation, the Margao Municipal Council is yet to initiate any action. More at: http://oheraldo.in/node/11582 *** Major works completed, says VM With just about a week left for the third India-England one day international, the Nehru Stadium, at Fatorda was buzzing with activities today with the Sports Authority of Goa going all out to complete the works before time. More at: http://oheraldo.in/node/11611 *** Sporting Goa burst Mahindra's bubble On Saturday Nigerian Clifford Chukwuma's gamble paid off and Sporting Clube de Goa finally ended Mahindra United's unbeaten run in the 10th ONGC NFL. More at: http://sport.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1464948.cms Compiled by: Avelino D'Souza _ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: %(user_optionsurl)s This email sent to %(user_address)s
[Goanet] I'm a Goan... with a Kuwaiti Nationality!
Dear Reema Kamat,I read your article*** We never took the main road... [Principal Mervyn D'Souza of Assagao/Weekender *** from Goanet reader... being a Goan... and so far away from home... I want to share my story with you...Let me tell you a little about myself. My Christian name isand will always be "Anna" my passport name is "Suad".I was born and raised in Kuwait, a relatively small state in the Arabian Gulf . My personal interests overlap a great deal with those of my family members, and I'm extremely close to both my sons. I believe that I inherited my goal-oriented drive from my father and my balance and compassion from my mother. I got married at the age of 19 to a local from Kuwait, had three sons, Nawaf 26, Hadi 18 and Nasser 13. Of course, back then, I was very naive! I'll skip the part about my feelings and how I felt living amidst a different culture. I'm sure there are many stories about the adjustments that newly married couples have to adjust to. Well, for me it wasn't just adjusting to a married life, I had to adjust to an entire new way of life! It was fun to start with. After a while, I got used to most things and had only a few things I found hard to adjust to. These were minor in the complete picture of settling in so, I gave everything my best shot! Despite this fact, I finally got divorced in 1999. As the saying goes, 'life goes on'. It was rather difficult in the beginning. The most difficult adjustment at that time was, learning to cope without my boys. Their father was determined to punish me, so he took them away from me and there was nothing I could do about it. I lived in a beautiful 2 bedroom apartment and I had a lovely job in the best bank in Kuwait. Life was good! So why, with all that going for me should I decide to change my whole life by taking a chance on a journey to a place where who knows how life would turn out? Why? To this day, if I sit down and try very hard to think about it all, I don't really know why. But in all this, I give a lot of thought to one huge emotional problem - my stay-behind family, my sons! Because when I think about leaving them it breaks my heart! Of course, it's not like I'm leaving them forever! But, the thought of being away from them for months is rather hard on me. It's the younger one, Nasser, that I tend to worry about. He may not be with me, but, I know that if I'm here and he wants me, I'm there by his side. The older one, Nawaf, I'll miss him, but I don't worry about him! He's got his studio "Alien Records" that keeps him real busy. Infact, he's working on his second album at this moment. If and when you get the chance, do visit his site www.alien-records.com and you can read all about him there. As there are two of them with the same name, he's known as NG. Kuwait is all very well, and although I am settled here now I'm never quite sure in my heart and soul if I could ever really belong here, as my home ground is Goa! As I said I've been to Goa many times, for a holiday and for family funerals. When ever I watch TV and see many places in Goa, I wonder sometimes how come I never saw that place, or that city, or that historic monument before. I think back to all those things that I did 20 years ago. I had youth, I had challenge, I had a future that stretched out years in front of me. And now, the race is run and the track of life is thundering under the glee and excitement of all those younger people. I'm in the paddock, after the race! I don't want to be left behind! It got me thinking of how wonderful it would be to be back! I've been away from Goa for years! Each time I visited Goa I realized that it's small haven of beauty and charm which have been there for ages will never change. My old home town Candolim, has changed, with several new hotels, house, restaurants, shops, but it still feels like home! It's a place I spent many happy hours when I was growing up as a child. It has a hundred memories that I always recall each time I go there. A great many things change in this world of ours. And as we grow older we tend to think back to those things that were once part of our every day life and wonder if they're still there. One such place was 'The Chapel,' a small church just outside my mother's home "Villa Theresa". It was there I spent many a pleasant evening with friends. I miss Goa a lot and all those little things like riding my cycle, which I can never do here. So, c oming home was not an overnight decision. After my mom's funeral I had a bad time adjusting to her not being around, but never considered at that time to return to Goa for good. It was not until 2001, the year I lost my 18 year old in a tragic car accident. Suddenly, all I wanted to do was run away from here and go to Goa. I did just that! It was then, that I decided to buy a property of my own and build a small home and name it after my son. He loved Goa and always worried me to build a home of our own. Unfortunately, I wasn't
[Goanet] Re: Domnic Fernandes' articles and upcoming book
Frederick Noronha (FN) wrote: I don't agree with the suggestion that don't-share-or-it-won't-sell is the only model that works. Take a look at creativecommons.org for other possible models. Over the years, I have shared a lot of my writing and over 2000 photographs on Goa. At the end of the day, I've gained maybe a hundredfold myself! Of course, the goal of sharing is not to gain oneself; but that is one of the consequences that comes along. Domnic does a great job in writing down his memories. He's a good narrator too. But his work got all the more noticed because it was widely circulated through the internet in general, and via Goanet in particular. Sharing is both good and rewarding. These are the lessons I learnt from the Free Software movement. --FN - Dear Fred, While not totally disagreeing with your viewpoint I don't share your evangelical attitude towards sharing. Sharing as defined by you seems to have no altruistic motive but is just a tool to wider coverage and, hopefully, returns. Cyberscape is a medium that you have exploited well to make a niche category for yourself. Nothing wrong with that. But keep in mind that not all people have your tenacity to actively pursue their writing objectives through cyberspace. I don't think that anyone can accuse Domnic of not sharing his work. All of his writings have been shared in cyberspace and so many of us have been regaled and educated in the process. But Fred, there is a vast difference in content between what Domnic writes and what you write. Besides Fred you write for a living, while Domnic does not. For you to have your writings archived all over cyberspace, as they are, is eventually beneficial for you as you get remunerative paid writing assignments as a result of your visibility. Anyone wanting Goa related content for commercial (or other) distribution knows that Frederick Noronha can provide such content. Also, Fred, you seem to look at the Internet (and GoaNet) as the end-all of everything. That is a very limiting vision. There are thousands of Goans with no access to Internet leave alone having even heard of GoaNet. As you said there are various models that can be followed. You have experimented and benefited from a particular model and that is your due. I don't think you should run down Domnic's model for publishing his work just because it doesn't fit in with your views. Everyone has his own objectives. Cheers! Cecil ===
[Goanet] Priest Murder Case: Day 11, What today's paper says (Monday 27/03/06)
Priest Murder Case: Day 11, What today's paper says (Monday 27/03/06) It seems the case is really dying out now. NAVHIND TIMES: Nothing Special. HERALD: Again, nothing reported. Gomantak Times: Not Much but it Monday's popular feature/columns 'According to Source' titled Psst.GT brings you the juiciest Tidbits on Goa's Politicians, Officers Police And the Credit goes to We never knew that a bottle of beer would turn a person so violent. The Goa police has goofed up once again in the infamous 'beer theory' which we just cannot digest. It is also very clear that the alleged killers of Fr. Ferrao were nabbed by the Nagpur Police in the morning but the Goa Cops have conveniently taken the credit for themselves. Again, in today's GT letter to the editor section one Mr. Jose Deniz of Chandor writes... ..on the other day a non-christian Friend raised the question Many of my Christian friends with whom I was sharing a peg are away from the bars. They say they are observing fast and abstinence specially on Fridays because of the lent season. And how is that your priest was sharing drinks with non-Christians and the young mess boy?? I was aghast. That's it. Soon coming the missing Day 3 to 7 news paper reporting ( A summary ) [EMAIL PROTECTED] for Goa NRI related info... http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/GOAN-NRI/ Konkani Songs, Goan Photos, Tiatr/Film VCDs, Bank interest rates etc etc (for updates etc click below) http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/GOAN-NRI/files/ ___ Yahoo! Messenger - NEW crystal clear PC to PC calling worldwide with voicemail http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com
[Goanet] Re: Domnic Fernandes' articles and upcoming book
On Sat, 2006-03-25 at 08:58 -0800, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: From: Cecil Pinto [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Goanet] Domnic Fernandes' articles and upcoming book Over the years hundreds of people have been asking Domnic to compile all his articles into a book. Domnic and myself have had discussions on the feasibility of publishing such a book and have decided to go ahead. The exact content and format of the book, price, distribution, marketing etc etc has to be fine tuned - but the book is definitely on. Way to go! We're all looking forward to it. One thing, though, you need not be so worried about plagirism on the net. Even if all the articles are available on the net, very few people read long books on the net. Anybody who wants to just has to do a search through the Goanet archives, and copy all Domnic's articles, but it's really a pain to read on-screen. A well-produced book will always sell irrespective of whether the same stuff is available on the net or not. -- Question everything -- Karl Marx
[Goanet] Re: Homeschooling in Goa
Lawrence, others who have responded to this thread, Thanks for your feedback. From your response and that of others who e-mailed me off-list, the very idea of homeschooling in India seems quite different from what it is in the USA. In many cases it seems to involve private tutoring--not necessarily by a parent. It also seems to be anchored to a traditional school board, like the ICSE. Homeschoolers in the USA use their independence from the system to learn in ways that are often alien to the traditional school system and have, as a consequence, a good record of academic excellence. Peter --- Lawrence Rodrigues wrote: See http://dnaindia.com/sunReport.asp?NewsID=1017555CatID=26 DNA Sunday Beyond books and syllabi Saturday, March 11, 2006 19:41 IST Several alternative schools offer innovative methods of education, and appraisal systems where the traditional exam is underplayed or absent:
[Goanet] AICHEA DISSAK CHINTOP - Marsachi 27vi, 2006!
Aplea bhurgeank xikop divn ek boro munis boro testament dovorta. (A good man leaves a good legacy if he leaves his children educated.) Moi-mogan, Domnic Fernandes Anjuna/Dhahran, KSA _ FREE pop-up blocking with the new MSN Toolbar - get it now! http://toolbar.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200415ave/direct/01/
[Goanet] PRESS RELEASE ( EMBASSY OF INDIA )
EMBASSY OF INDIA
KUWAIT
-=-=-=-=-
PRESS RELEASE
The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA),
Government of India is organizing the fifth Internship Programme for Diaspora
Youth (IPDY), now renamed as Know India Programme from 15th May to 12th June
2006. Cast in the nature of an Orientation Programme, it will enable
participants to get exposure to various facets of Indian way of life, culture,
spirituality, adventure and sports, creativity and composite character of
India and interaction with youth from different parts of the country.
The Programme will be held in Delhi and Himachal
Pradesh over a period of four weeks and will be organised by MOIA with the
support of Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) and in coordination with the
Government of Himachal Pradesh as the partner State.
The qualifying age for the Programme will be 18-25
years. The participants should have distinguished himself/herself in a
particular field, should have an abiding interest in India and links with
India through parentage.
The participants will be required to pay for their
international travel costs to Delhi and back, while the expenditure on
internal travel, boarding/lodging, etc relating to the Programme will be met
by MOIA.
The broad features of the Programme will be as follows
Acclimatization with urban India in New Delhi for two days (May 16 17 and
again on June 12, 13) each during the starting and finishing of the
Programme. Exposure to MOIA, calls on Ministers/PM/President, sight-seeing,
shopping, etc. will also be arranged during this period after which the
participants will be taken to Himachal Pradesh;
Home stay in a village for one week, exposure to the Heritage Camp including
national integration camp being organized by NYKS. (Activities in the camp
include lectures on ethics, Indian culture and values, adventure sports,
cultural programmes, yoga, meditation, ayurveda and naturopathy). Opportunity
and exposure for participants to develop their skills in the areas of
sculpture, painting, photography, musical instruments, etc. according to
their choice is also being arranged;
One week trekking programme and local sightseeing;
Calls on important dignitaries in the State Government;
Visits to industrial establishments in Himachal Pradesh.
Interested candidates may send in their nomination along with a detailed bio-
data mentioning areas of special interest and achievements, if any, addressed
to the Embassy of India, Kuwait {Attention: Shri P.M. Thomas, First Secretary
(EP)} not later than Sunday, April 2, 2006.
Additional details of the programme is available in the MOIA
website : http://www.moia.gov.in
-=-=-=-=-
Embassy of India, Kuwait
March 26, 2006
[Goanet] Heinous Crimes, Freedom Fighters and Missing Something
Fr. Chico Monteiro was neither pro-Portuguese nor anti-Indian. He was principally: pro-principle. The principle pertaining to ones solemn right to existence and survival in ones place of birth. If politics has the unilateral might to discolor or undo that legitimate right, then, Fr. Chico as a conscientious objector was merely exercising his right and established his legitimate right by forever sacrificing his freedom. POSTSCRIPT: Fr. Chico Monteiro did not perish in a maximum security jail in Patiala where he was contained in solitary confinement for the better part of a year. He died in 1990, in a parish in Alto Porvorim for aged/retired priests overshadowed by a Supreme Court edict (circa 1965), wherein, he was permitted to live in Goa but not leave. Dom Martin _ Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2006 03:09:48 +0530 From: Frederick Noronha (FN) 1. [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Goanet] Re: Re: Heinous crimes, Freedom Fighters Missing Something . To: goanet@goanet.org Message-ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Content-Type: text/plain Floriano Lobo wrote: I can prove to you that at least one person who had been lodged in Aguada jail for mis-appropriating the neighbour's property came out to declared himself a freedom fighter. That's fine. I don't doubt that. Freedom fighters have themselves been saying that (some) people who don't deserve the label have been included in their ranks. The case of the RSS members being packed in by the recent BJP government is a case in point too. That's political. But what I see as questionable is the attempt to by crypto-colonialists to support Portuguese rule by delegitimising ideas of freedom or pouring scorn on the entire class of freedom fighters (as if there was no idealism among them). This is what some are aiming at. This is just that you know that when I say 'most' it remains 'most and does not become 'all' . Most? You are citing one case and then moving to most. Is there some reason or evidence to make such a statement. Is it just your feeling? Could you cite some numbers? Or is this just an opposition politician shooting from the hip (as Manohar Parrikar also tends to do these days... and even did while he was in power!) BTW if I was tht General Candeth at the time of Goa's so called liberation (which is not), I would have set up a judicial bench to identify criminals from freedom fighters before I threw open the prison gates. That would be the responsibility of the liberating forces. This has not happened and therefore I consider that Goa was not liberated but INVADED. If you, however, ever get a hangover over this statement of mine, please let me know. Then, in that case we shall have to refer to the order of the SUPREME COURT OF INDIA may have stated just what I have stated re the liberation of Goa. I think you are getting carried away by your rhetoric. The intent of the Goa-was-invaded-because-the-Supreme-Court-said-so argument is clear the moment one looks where it is coming from. It is the Lusostalgic class that has either never reconciled themselves to a perceived (and possibly real) loss of colonial priviledge, or it comes from those bleeding hearts who live thousands of kilometres away from Goa and need some rationale to explain why they are so far from that spot of earth they claim to love so much. Also the Goa-was-invaded-because-the-Supreme-Court-said-so argument has been repeated ad nauseam and needs to be challenged. (Just like the Goa-missed-two-Five-Year-Plans-and-hence-deserves-more-aid rubbish.) Don't mix legal phraseology with the terminology of political science. In the famous Chico Monteiro case (where a Catholic priest opted for Portuguese citizenship after 1961 and then sought the right to stay on in Goa, without any regulation by the government) the issue was neatly framed, should we say, by a Queen's Counsel Edward Gardner, Q.C., who was interestingly made available by the Salazar regime to the priest. In the 20th century global context of decolonisation -- specially in Asia and Africa -- a large number of colonial powers simply accepted that the sun had indeed set on their empires, and went home. But the Portuguese were an exception. Gardner QC and the battery of lawyers for Fr Monteiro -- A. Bruto Da Costa, M. Bruto Da Costa, P.C. Bhartari, A.K. Varma and J.B. Dadachanji -- sought to make the case that the Occupying Power is bound by certain articles of the Geneva Convention! Quite a twist to what could have been a not-so-unhappy ending of the sojourn of the first European colonial power in Asia of this millennium. Are the words being cited properly? The Supreme Court of India uses the word annexation in a legalistic sense, shorn of the connotations it would have in say Political Science. It also said in the 'Chico' Monteiro case: In the Hague Regulations to which the Geneva Conventions were supplementary the definition of occupation shows that a
Re: [Goanet] Re: Re: Heinous crimes, Freedom Fighters Missing Something .
Dear Fred, Thanks for the colonial diarrhea. No. I am no colonialist or a pussyfoot lover of the 'shaming' so called Goan freedom fighters. Neither have I fallen in 'love at first sight' with Fr. Chico Monteiro et al. I am just a 'GOAN INDIAN' where 'most' will say that they are Indian first and then Goan. Why I say this is because Goa existed before independent India as such came along. So believe you me, and for your kind information, even if I ever take that oath which you so glibly insinuate at, I will take that oath as a GOAN FIRST and then a INDIAN. Maybe the powers that be will have to modify the line in the oath statement appropriately. As far as the Goan freedom fighters go, if they (the genuine FFs) have any self-respect, then they will see to it that the rascals who have infiltrated their ranks are out. Until such time they will have to tag the branded name of 'RASCALS' themselves. And, I have gone to the extent of openly branding such a 'RASCAL'' in the open forum at the TB Cunha hall recently. You say Quote Most? You are citing one case and then moving to most. Is there some reason or evidence to make such a statement. Is it just your feeling? Unquote Just tell me if I have to carry a load of cases to prove my point where just one is not enough??? I have gone on record of asking a Police Inspector once if I required one thousand people behind me to claim my rights as a citizen of India. You have very cleverly skirted the subject of 'JUSTICE' which was my driving point in my post . If you think that you can fire your shots at the pro-colonialists from my shoulders, then you are sadly mistaken. You may take your Anti/Pro Colonial or Anti/Pro-Portuguese, Anti/Pro India Anti/Pro Goa mindset and do with it what you will. I'm not interested. One thing is sure as to what I am not interested in. I am clearly not interested in taking or dishing out bulshit. I follow my nose. And I have found out that this is the only way. I am not bothered about being knowledgeable in all this high fundas that you have dished out. I have no time for that either to confirm or to deny. At this stage I will make another statement here as a G.S. of the party I am leading. The Navy will have to shift to Sea Bird at Karwar and clear the Dabolim Airport. Or else the Central Govt. will have to use its power to acquire the Dabolim Airport for the Navy. Until such time Dabolim Airport will remain a Civilian Airport of Goa. FYI I am not in the business of becoming a power seeking politician that you are so succintly hinting at. In fact I shall never be a difined politician. And if you think that you can cow me down with these useless insinuations, again, you are sadly mistaken. My work has been and is transparent. And, my ultimate aim is to get GOANs of every shade into the mainstream of making Goa what we Goans want it to be rather than helping the hyenas from Delhi and Nagpur and their chamchas in Goa whether they are politicians, journos or plain mindless citizens, to make it what they want it to be. with kind regards floriano goasuraj Check-out the Road Map for Goa at www.goasu-raj.org - Original Message - From: Frederick Noronha (FN) [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: goanet@goanet.org Sent: Monday, March 27, 2006 3:09 AM Subject: [Goanet] Re: Re: Heinous crimes, Freedom Fighters Missing Something . Floriano Lobo wrote: I can prove to you that at least one person who had been lodged in Aguada jail for mis-appropriating the neighbour's property came out to declared himself a freedom fighter. That's fine. I don't doubt that. Freedom fighters have themselves been saying that (some) people who don't deserve the label have been included in their ranks. The case of the RSS members being packed in by the recent BJP government is a case in point too. That's political. But what I see as questionable is the attempt to by crypto-colonialists to support Portuguese rule by delegitimising ideas of freedom or pouring scorn on the entire class of freedom fighters (as if there was no idealism among them). This is what some are aiming at. This is just that you know that when I say 'most' it remains 'most and does not become 'all' . Most? You are citing one case and then moving to most. Is there some reason or evidence to make such a statement. Is it just your feeling?
Re: [Goanet] Re: Fr. Eusebio's murder
Jesus Mario B. Fernandes [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: And what is he talking about abstinence and sacrifice during Lent season? I dont quite know if that is all we have in Christianity. Jesus, Here is is definition of abstinence. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abstinence The priests in every church I have been to since I was five years old have requested parishioners to abstain from alcohol during lent. It seems strange (to me) that a R.C. priest would offer someone alcohol during lent. Mervyn3.0 __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
[Goanet] Re: Goan 'Kokno' used derogatorily
I fail to understand how Konkno can be interpreted as a derogatory word. It means Hindu and nothing more. Looking at the word closely, I can assume its etmology comes from the word Konkan. I also don't understand how the word b b** was thought to be derogatory. I don't know about you Bardezcars but we Shastikar use it as a team of total endearment. Ofcourse we are a gay people. :))) --- Manoj Ganpatrao Raikar wrote: It lools like GoaNet is only for Catholic subscibers,i am a hindu (goan kokno) and when i read hindu word being used in a derogatory manner,i really feel bad.
[Goanet] Re: Public execution
Hello Carmo, As you feel so do many. I too share your sentiments. Yeah the punishment should be severe and immediate, but than who will change the laws? We are no more in a dictatorship government, which we were under Portuguese government, hence laws could be changed, but now we are in democratic government. Also what guarantee is there that the change in law as you are asking for, will not be misused especially now when one can buy witnesses for few rupees and a poor innocent soul is hanged ? 2ndly you have quoted the Bible to Jose, asking him if he is a devout Catholic, but both your quotes are from the Old Testament. And as Catholics we follow more the new testament. Isn't it so? My last querry is that the two persons were caught immediatly inspite of them being away from Goa, Our Police got their due credit, but what about the vandalized crimes, How come none were caught? Is there something fishy in this whole matter? Cheers Jerry Fernandes
[Goanet] Carmo's depiction of Mario
I understand Cornel's discomfort in using the b b** terminology. That's likely, because Cornel is giving the Konkani idiom a literal English translation. That is however not fair to any native language which should be able to hold on and use its own colorful colloquialism. That's like the American phrase your a** is grass referring to being dead- meat after a major screw-up. As was mentioned in the post, B-B colloquially means a do nothing person. To Cornel and others with a vivid imagination, :=)) this phrase may be replaced by B B.:=)) In America we say the indiviudal is sitting on his hands which is not as colorful as B B. So my English friends should not / will not get their knickers in a twist about the B B in amchi bhas.:=)) Kind Regards, GL cornel writes: I want to disassociate myself from the terminology (b b**) used by Carmo in relation to Mario. On reflection, I can't believe that this can be acceptable on Goanet. It simply lowers the tone of any discourse, irrespective of Mario being challenging at times.
[Goanet] Re: Domnic Fernandes' articles and upcoming book
Hello Cecil, Thanks for the information of Domnic's Book. Its great, at last we will have the book that I have been longing to have. Simultaneously, you should also release your book too with all the humour that you have written and made us laugh. Cheers Jerry Fernandes
[Goanet] Re: Writers must be careful Murder Case of Priest.
Raol Carneiro's message is well thought out and i agree with him. WE DONT KNOW YET THE FULL TRUTH OR FACTS marie This has reference to Mr. Godfrey J I Gonsalves comments My intention of writing this is to express my opinion and urge people to write the most appropriately specially in very sensitive cases, like the murder case of the priest as it affects the community at large. Raul Carneiro
[Goanet] Re: Portuguese passports
(Tony Correia-Afonso wrote: I have no quarrel with my fellow-Goans or any others wishing to acquire Portuguese citizenship and a Portuguese Passport and fully appreciate and sympathise with the compulsions that drive them to do so. Let us admit that these compulsions are largely economic and there is no need for them to trumpet their loyalty to Portugal and to denigrate India and things Indian in order to justify their actions. I have no doubt that if citizenship of Timbutku and a Timbutku Passport conferred the same benefits as a Portuguese one, the queue for obtaining such a Passport would be equally large! Satyameva Jayate!) Hat off to you, sir! You've hit the nail on the head! -- RKN
[Goanet] [JudeSundayReflections] Sunday Reflections - Fifth Sunday of Lent
GROUP EMAIL ADDRESSES * Related Link: http://www.NetForLife.net Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] List owner: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sunday Reflections - An aid to Sunday Liturgy My Groups | JudeSundayReflections Main Page 27-Mar-06Dear Friend,All of us as believers would like to see and experience Jesus. But often we want Jesus on our terms and conditions. We want to feel his power and glory, but we do not want a suffering Jesus. We want a God of power on our side but not one who let's us endure suffering and death. Yet the cross and the crown go hand in hand in Christianity. No death, no life! May we let go, and let God in, this weekend! Fr. JudeSunday Reflections: Fifth Sunday of Lent - We would like to see Jesus! 2-Apr-06 Readings: Jeremiah 31: 31-34; Hebrews 5: 7-9; John 12: 20-30;In the first reading from the prophet Jeremiah the people were reminded that the old covenant made in the desert would have sufficed to establish the chosen people if they had been faithful to that covenant, but they were continuously unfaithful. The prophet tells the shattered people that God has not abandoned them, he is the faithful one and he will make a new and more intimate covenant with them. By the new covenant God is to set aside all intermediaries and even the written law. He himself will write the new covenant in their hearts so that they can grow in their faithfulness to him. God's covenant will no longer be something external but something deep within the hearts of his people. The chosen people will no longer need to follow external laws and practices, only God's love will lead them to the fullness of life."It is impossible to enter the presence of God, whether in a retreat or in a liturgy, as self-made men or women. We cannot enter the covenant blameless or spotless. Nor can we rely on our good works to make us worthy of this covenant. The only contribution we make to this covenant is the acknowledgement of our sins and the trust that we are healed by the redemptive power of God's love. If our experience of the Eucharist is bland or boring, if our liturgies seem lifeless or contrived, could it be at least in part due to the fact that we do not take seriously either our sinfulness or God's forgiveness? After all the words, "I will remember their sins no more" are not very liberating or exciting if people think they have no sins to remember." -- John F. KavanaughThe letter to the Hebrews tells us that Christ experienced anguish in the face of death, and he experienced also the communication barrier between God and men with an extraordinary keenness, because he was at the same time God and man. His response to anguish was prayer and surrender to God. He learnt to obey through suffering. His obedience paved the way to reconciliation; our obedience will do the same for us.Unless a grain dies Several years ago Catherine Marshall wrote an article called "When We Dare to Trust God." It told how she had been bedfast for six months with a serious lung infection. No amount of medication or prayer helped. She was terribly depressed. One day someone gave her a pamphlet about a woman missionary who had contracted a strange disease. The missionary had been sick for eight years and couldn't understand why God let this tragedy happen to her. Daily she prayed for health to resume her work. But her prayers were unanswered. One day, in desperation, she cried out to God: "All right I give up. If you want me to be an invalid, that's your business." Within two weeks that missionary was fully recovered. Catherine Marshall laid that pamphlet aside. She was puzzled by that strange story. It didn't make sense. "Yet" she said, "I couldn't forget that story." Then one morning Catherine cried out to God in words similar to those of that missionary: "God I'm tired of asking you for health. You decide if you want me sick or healthy." At that moment, Catherine said later, her health began to return. The story of that missionary woman and the story of Catherine Marshall illustrate what Jesus is talking about in today's gospel. "Unless a grain of wheat dies, it cannot bear fruit." Or to put it another way, unless we die to our own will, we cannot bear fruit for God. Mark Link in 'Sunday Homilies'Today's gospel extract speaks of the Greeks who approached Phillip with the strange request: Sir, we would like to see Jesus. It would appear to be the wrong question asked at the wrong time. "Far from being intruders, these strangers are most opportune guests: they arrive at the right time, for the 'hour' has come when Jesus will be raised and glorified so that he might draw all men to himself. A strange 'hour' in which every reality will come to signify its opposite: dying is living, losing is winning. To increase and multiply, the grain must decompose in the earth." -Glenstal Missal. 'We would like to see Jesus', should also
[Goanet] Scholarship watch
Scholarship watch TIMES NEWS NETWORK Young Indian men and women, born of Goan parents or those who have been living and working in Goa for the past ten years, can apply for the De Souza Trust Goa Scholarship to fund part or the entire cost of their tuition fees in a UK institution. Since 1998, when the scholarship was first introduced, several Goan students have successfully completed their studies in the UK in subjects as diverse as media management, architecture computing and design, TV documentary making, music therapy, architectural conservation, human rights, communication systems and signal processing and innovation technology and the law. Funds for the scholarship are derived from the estate of Diego Frank de Souza. The scholarship covers part or full tuition fees. All other costs are to be borne by the student. The British Council arranges for a gratis UK visa for the duration of the course. To apply the applicant must be: be an Indian citizen n be resident in Goa or born of Goan parents n be not more than 35 years old n have track record for excellence in academic or extra curricular achievement n have confirmed admission for any technical/ vocational/ academic course of study in the United Kingdom for up to one year. Application forms can be collected from any British Council office or library. Completed forms should reach the British Council by May 31, 06. For details contact the Education Governance and Science Unit in Mumbai on (022) 22790147; email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] - Forwarded by Gaspar Almeida, www.goa-world.com
[Goanet] Goanet News Bytes * March 27, 2006 * Salesians to mark diamond jubilee of presence in Goa
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] / d8 Founded in e88~88e e88~-_/~~~8e 888-~88e e88~~8e _d88__ 1994 by 888 888 d888 i 88b 888 888 d888 88b 888 Herman 88_88 | e88~-888 888 888 __888 888 Carneiro / Y888 ' C888 888 888 888 Y888, 888 Cb 88_-~ 88_-888 888 888 88___/ 88_/ Y http://www.goanet.org * Building social capital. - GOANET NEWS BYTES * MARCH 27, 2006 * DATELINE GOA -- SALESIANS to celebrate their diamond jubilee presence in Goa in early April. On the night of April 4, 1946, Fr V Scuderi landed in Goa. Freed from the post-war time concentration camp, he was to be deported to Italy. He chose to work in then 'Portuguese India' instead. The celebrations will be marked with a cycle-torch rally culminating at Panjim on April 4 (Thursday), novenas to St John Bosco, a mando on Don Bosco (by S Cota, prepared in 1988), a seminar on Don Bosco's educative method, a youth fest, an audio-visual programme on the early Salesians in Goa, a play in Konkani, a sports fest, mela for the marginalised. There are also suggestions for a jubilee project -- training for civic and political leadership for youth (specially in villages and women), starting a community radio station to reach the youth, counselling services in Panjim, and a corpus fund for the education of deserving youth. o Congress-backed Ghanashyam Shirodkar to be Margao civic chief.GT JAANATA RAJA ENDS IN COMPLAINT: A complaint filed by law minister Dayanand Narvekar into the alleged misappropriation of funds by some BJP functionaries regarding the holding of the 'Jaanta Raja' drama at Mapusa has been forwarded to the director general of police for action. (GT) o North Goa MP Shripad Naik is among the 28 BJP MPs whose names figure in the list of those occupying an 'office of profit' according to the news in a national daily. Naik is a member of the National Shipping Board.GT This issue caused a major controversy in Parliament, leading to the resignation (as MP) of Sonia Gandhi, as it is argued that such posts cause a conflict in the ideal separation of judiciary, executive and legislature. o Sports Authority of Goa is spending an estimated Rs 30 million to get the Nehru Stadium at Fatorda in shape for the One Day International between India and England on April 3, reports the Herald. The paper's headline says: Spending Rs 3 crore (Rs 30 million) to earn Rs 25 lakh (Rs 2.5 million). o Mopa tenants meet Churchill. Express concern over losing the prime agricultural land for the proposed airport. Alemao promises to take up the cause of some 50 tenants.H o Water Hyacinth, the fastest growing aquatic weed, is back in the River Sal after a gap of two years, covering a vast stretch of the river from the Khareband bridge and upstream towards Mungul. (H) BROADBAND-BASED state wide area network: Goa government has called for 'expressions of interest' in its plans to establish a high bandwidth broadband network throughout the State with Optic Fibre Cable connectivity coupled with wireless connectivity, as may be needed, throughout the length and breadth of the State within a year. For a region which has been struggling to give its residents transport, telephones and water, your guess is as good on how soon such goals will become a reality. Advert, Herald March 27. o Government of India is inviting suggestions for a new police act. The current police act dates back to 1861! [Advert in Herald] o Margao revellers witness Shigmo floats. (NT) o Communist Party of India Goa secretary Christopher Fonseca on a goodwill visit to China. (NT) o World TB Day observed in Goa. (NT) o Arrangements made for SSC exams in Goa. (NT) o We are forced to travel more than a kilometre to collect water, villagers tell GT. o Government move to refer Comunidade land bill to select panel draws flak. (GT) o Seminar on performance appraisal inaugurated at Xavier's. o Ramakant Khalap thanks government for Tillari project, IT resort plan at Mandrem. Urges state to take a quick decision on Mopa airport issue. (GT) o Toddy-tapping on the verge of extinction at Pernem.(GT) o Commuters upset over hike in bus fares. (GT) Mock court provides good entertainment to Panjim crowd: UGDP supremo Radharao Gracias was very prompt in giving witty answers to every 'charge' that was leveled against him and he was adjudged the 'best humourous politician' at the event held on the occaison of the Shigmo celebrations in Goa. Replying to the 'charge' that it was his autocratic rule which was responsible for the downfall of the BJP
[Goanet] Goanet Reader: We never took the main road... [Principal Mervyn D'Souza of Assagao/Weekender]
WE NEVER TOOK THE MAIN ROAD... Principal of St Xavier's High Secondary School, Prof Mervyn D'Souza, tells Reema Kamat about the good ol' days when he was growing up in Assagao. [Weekender, Gomantak Times, March 26, 2006] Professor Mervyn D'Souza has lived in Assagao for more than 35 years. Though born in Africa and schooled in Bombay, he returned to his ancestral home in the early 1970s, and pursued his further studies in the institution he is now the principal of, St Xavier's Higher Secondary School, Mapusa. And this was after having tried his hand at other occupations for awhile. Life does come a full circle for some. The area that our house is located in is called Bairo Alto and it is quite a small vaddo in Assagao. Erstwhile, there was another area that had a large residential settlement, but then, as some say, there came some sort of a plague and wiped out many and forced others to flee from the area. That is how the forest became our village. If you look around while going past the area, you would never think that there was a village there. In fact, Assagao itself is so small and obscure, that its name is a derivation of the words 'assa' and 'gao', which roughly translated means 'there is a village'. This ambiguity, he explains, was caused by the presence of concentrated greenery in the place. So much so that when you come down the hill into our ward, there was a sudden drop in temperature, a very noticeable one at that. You could literally feel a drop of about five degrees of temperature, the atmosphere became that cool. There were so many trees, it was literally like a forest. But having spent years there, the inhabitants themselves knew their way in and around the region. There are very few landmarks like St Ann's Chapel. In fact, people's houses themselves were landmarks; they were well-known and therefore people used to guide each other to places and addresses by referring to the location of these houses, big trees, etc. If his residence was in Assagao and college was St Xavier's, which is quite a distance away -- at least three to four kilometres -- how was the distance covered by Prof Mervyn? By walking of course, how else? he retorts. It may seem quite a distance for students today, who are used to commuting with all kinds of vehicles or public transport at least, but everyone used to walk it out then. In fact, covering the distance while walking briskly took no more than 20 minutes, believe it or not. This was because we never took the main road; we had our little shortcuts through the forests and the trees, narrow little beaten paths known only to us, he reminisces. Prof Mervyn also brings forth his recollections about one of the favourite haunts of his clique when he was a teenager. The spring that is located in one corner of Assagao was a great pleasure to bathe in and the area around it was a popular picnic spot. As youngsters, we used to trudge up and down the hill, breaking off and eating the small fruit like 'boran', 'kaantan' and 'chunnan'. We used to just take off with a small luncheon or snack basket and spend a major part of the day there, till the Angelus bell tolled in the evening, and we used to get back home as instructed. It was good fun. There was no electricity for a few years after Prof Mervyn moved to Goa; this must have been hard, coming from a developed urban area like Bombay which had all kinds of facilities even then. In the beginning, for a little while, yes. But I soon got used to it and it became less cumbersome gradually. I even started getting attached to the laid-back style of living here. Everybody knew and trusted everybody; houses were always open. We could enter anywhere we wanted and were always welcome. Houses were small but strong in those days, he says. My ancestral houses itself is more than a hundred years old. It has been subjected to no modification, except minor repair work and maintenance here and there. Today, sophisticated buildings and complexes are coming up everywhere, especially in cities. But not only do these clog the quality of living with their cloistered existence, they have to have a waterproofing job done every year, the standard of their construction speaks for itself. Today there has been unrestrained cutting of the trees that once made Assagao what it was. There used to be steps where crops were grown, and the trees that were there kept the soil strong. Now, there is a high level of soil erosion and leaching with the arrival of the monsoons. The slopes are starting to become barren now and there isn't much scope for cultivating produce like the villagers used to. (WEEKENDER/GOMANTAK TIMES) -- GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays, reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing among the 8000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of mailing lists. Send feedback to
