[Goanet] Right to Convert
Santosh:if you tell somebody that they will be cured from cancer if they pray for this saint to intercede on their behalf, as soon as they convert, and you sincerely believe what you are telling them, then are you committing a fraud? I have a suspicion that our legal system says no. Otherwise, it would slide down a slippery slope towards all kinds of legal precipices related to religious and ethical matters. Response:In my view, what religion to follow or not is a personal matter and choice. The state has no place in it. The state's role should be restricted to maintaining law and order. In case any complaint of force or fraud or coercion is made, it is the responsibility of the state to investigate and prosecute as per the laws of the land. In reality, conversion is not an issue at all. It is only an excuse for vested interests who want to maintain the status quo vis-s-vis the marginalised sections. They need them for their cheap labour and to exploit them. Once these people are educated and given access to better medical care and employment opportunities, they are unlikely accept domination over them. It is interesting that inspite of the various allegations made and the enactment of anti-conversion laws in 7 states, there has been NOT A SINGLE case of conviction in the last 40 years. Does this not tell the true story? Further, the same people who are protesting against conversions are the first to send their children to christian schools, colleges and institutions and use christian hospitals. Uddhav and Raj Thackeray's children are studying in christian schools. Keshubhai Patel (former CM of Gujarat) sends his grandchildren to St Xavier's. So many BJP / Shiv Sena politicians bring pressure on christian institutions to admit their wards. Why would this be so if they fear conversion? The truth be told, they would like the best for their children but do not want the marginalised sections to benefit for obvious reasons. And the bogey of 'conversion' is a good one to subdue the christians. Regards, Marshall
[Goanet] Ref: Heart to Heart: CM Sir, can you liberate yoursel ffrom delusion?
In support of Message: 4 Date: Sun, 21 Dec 2008 23:58:59 -0500 From: "Ethel Dacosta" Subject: [Goanet] Heart to Heart: CM Sir, can you liberate yourself from delusion? Dear Ethel, "CM Sir, you really should liberate yourself from the delusion that all's well in God's paradise - Goa" Well put, I don't think any other writer in world would have put it any better. Bravo !!! In reality I am very emotional sort of guy, and when it comes to Goa or my little village, Nuem down south, it gets even worse, and when I get emotional, all my different vital parts, of my anatomy start to cry foul, sometimes it's the liver spaying bile like the squid sprays it's ink as a self-defense mechanism or my stomach that goes into reverse gear but most of the time it's Mr. Schume that runs haywire, Oh !! Schume, that's the small motor, the size of my fist that's placed in my ribcage by our "Maker", my heart, I have named him after my favourite F1 personality and Legend Michael Schumacher. As I was going through your very "fact-full" post, all of a sudden I realized, Schume had stepped on the gas paddle and raced to 170 BPM instead of the healthy 72 - 76 BPM and the chassis and the frame started vibrating vigorously, I have made him understand umpteen number of times that this was a '58 model Ambassador and not a 2008 model Ferrari, I just managed to get him under control in the nick of time, At first, it was the President of the GPCC that said Ministers should increase rapport with Aam Aadmi to know the reality of "ground zero" and now the CM says that, opposing development is become fashion for Aam Aadmi. Why don't these imbeciles just understand that they are elected by Aam Aadmi to do the will of Aam Aadmi wants and not force their will on Aam Aadmi, I would definitely like to tell the CM that, what is good for him and his conniving self-indulgent colleagues, is most certainly not good for Goa and Goans. That's Aam Aadmi's decision. You take it or leave it, simple as that. Please don't force your will on Aam Aadmi just because you and your corrupt brigade tend to benefit in cash or in kind from the builders and the mining lobby, at the cost of devastation and destruction of Goa and it's ecology. Hope this Christmas season will enlighten their minds and touch their hearts and change their outlook and work for the betterment of Goan and Goans instead of themselves. Freddy Agnelo Fernandes The content of this electronic communication is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed and any others who are specifically authorized to receive it. It may contain confidential or legally privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or otherwise placing reliance on the contents of this information is prohibited and may be unlawful in certain legal jurisdictions. If you have received this communication in error please notify the sender immediately by responding to this email and then delete it from your system. __ This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System. For more information please visit http://www.messagelabs.com/email __
[Goanet] Conversion and Secularism
Dr Barad: Marshall, before I key in my response on above subject, can I ask you as to your definition of the words Conversion and Secularism? Response: Could you inform us what you understand by the words Conversion and Secularism? I will then respond. I do not have the time or patience to play merry go round with you. You have mastered the art of shoot and scoot. Regards, Marshall
[Goanet] Muntadar Al-Zaidi expected to be shot_Reminds one of the satyagrahis
Muntadar Al-Zaidi expected to be shot after he hurled the first shoe — so no point in making the point that, under Saddam Hussain he would have been killed. Its is interesting how things change and no correlations through analyses are permissible when someone is willing to put his / her life on the line. http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE4BH2XD20081222 And a petition from CodePink: http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/424/signUp.jsp?key=3909 Again, reminds me of the satyagrahis, and the extent to which people are able to stand their ground although many see it differently, perhaps for reasons that are eminently logical to them. In the Goa of today, I feel he would be finished by now. This is speculation, of course but worth swirling in ones mind, before we get too inebriated during Christmas. If time permits also think of the money changers being driven out of the temple, then connect some dots as to our existence. venantius j pinto
[Goanet] Ref: Merry Christmas
Dear Goanetters Let the spirit of Christmas, that, forever and ever endures, Leave it's richest blessings, In the hearts of you and all your loved ones. Wishing you all a very Holy, Happy, Healthy and Blessed Christmas May the joys of the season be yours now and always With much love and sincere good wishes Freddy Agnelo Fernandes D G Jones International Ltd. Dubai Mall - Project P.O. Box 62256 Dubai United Arab Emirates Tel: 00971 44073599 Mob : 00971 50 541 7001 The content of this electronic communication is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed and any others who are specifically authorized to receive it. It may contain confidential or legally privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or otherwise placing reliance on the contents of this information is prohibited and may be unlawful in certain legal jurisdictions. If you have received this communication in error please notify the sender immediately by responding to this email and then delete it from your system. __ This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System. For more information please visit http://www.messagelabs.com/email __
[Goanet] Right to Convert
Vinay Natekar: The conversions by force, fraud and inducements was are under debate. Have a look at the conversions in Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Arunachal Pradesh and their impact on law and order there which compelled some Indian states to implement ban on conversions But Today we can see conversions by enticement and fraud are quite rampant. Mass conversions by the so-called faith healing programmes in the guise of offering social service, etc should be checked at root. Response: Will you kindly enlighten us how many convictions were there under the various anti-conversion acts in the last 50 years? And aren't the VHP/BD the guys creating the law and order problems.Have you been following the news about Orissa, Mangalore, Jabalpur, Delhi, Dangs, etc or not? Conversions are only an excuse to keep the dalits and tribals under the control and domination of vested interests. If the VHP is genuinely interested, they can also work selflessly to uplift the dalits and tribals. But all this entails hard work, commitment and abandoning caste and creed discrimination. Are they ready ? Regards, Marshall
[Goanet] Will someone ask Manohar Parrikar what is his stand on what his party colleague in Orissa has said on the floor of the Orissa Assembly?
BJP legislator Mahesh Sahu is reported to have remarked on the floor of the Orissa Assembly that those who felt apprehensive could go to Italy, Australia or Kerala to celebrate Christmas.(see news item from Indian Express of 19th December below). Will someone (ideally journos) ask Manohar Parrikar what is his stand on what his party colleague in Orissa has said on the floor of the Orissa Assembly? Will he state whether that is the BJP's party line or whether the party is disowning that MLA and if so what is the party's action against that MLA? albertina http://www.indianexpress.com/news/tension-in-kandhamal-as-christian-leader-kidnapped/400298/ Tension in Kandhamal as Christian leader kidnapped Bhubaneswar: Kandhamal continued to remain on the edge after a 45-year-old Dalit Christian, Digal, who is also the Kandhamal district Congress Sevadal president, was allegedly kidnapped by some miscreants shouting Jai Shri Ram. Kandhamal Superintendent of Police S Praveen Kumar said Digal, a resident of Kanjamendi village in K Nuagaon Block of Kandhamal was allegedly abducted in G Udaygiri block on Tuesday evening. "He was returning home along with his son Muna, from the house of Congress MLA Ajayanti Pradhan on a bike when some miscreants accosted him on the road between Telengia and Sitapanga. His son has alleged that he was kidnapped and killed. But we are yet to find his body or the vehicle and have registered a case of kidnapping only. We are searching the area thoroughly for Digal," he said. Raising the matter in the Assembly, Congress president Jaydev Jena alleged that Digal and his son were attacked by a group shouting Jai Shri Ram. Both Jena and his party colleague Satyabhushan Sahu said the incident took place two days ago and the Government must provide information about Digal. Congress's Nalinikanta Mohanty expressed fear that Digal might have been killed as his hat was recovered from the kidnapping site. The alleged kidnapping may worsen the situation in Kandhamal as it comes a week before the December 25 Orissa bandh called by Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati Shraddhanjali Samiti to protest police inaction in arresting Saraswati's killers. Though the BJP is yet to take an official stand on whether to support the bandh or not, the party is readying for a face-off with the BJD over the bandh. BJP legislator Mahesh Sahu created a flutter in the Assembly when he remarked that those who felt apprehensive could go to Italy, Australia or Kerala to celebrate Christmas. Worried over the bandh call, the Government has deployed 45 companies of the CRPF and sealed the district borders. -- (M) 9326137682 "Every flower must grow through dirt." -- Anonymous
[Goanet] Could be Goa?
Hartman writes: Just received the article below from a friend. It's very beautifully written and very eloquent, and strange though it may seem, is signed 'Anonymous'. Somewhere in the article, towards the end, the writer says that where Mumbai goes, the rest of the country follows. How true. Readers may find suprising parallels with what's happening in Goa. Me Mumbaikar The gruesome battleground in South Mumbai has left us Mumbaikars fed up, scared, angry, willing to lash out, especially at the politicians. We now have an incoherent rant against "the other" or "the system". My heart goes out to the victims and this article in no way downplays the magnitude of the human tragedy. Yet as a lifelong Mumbaikar, I have not been able to shake a feeling that people have deliberately refused to grasp the essence of the problem because it is not conveniently gift wrapped with a bow on it. Simply put, there is no "other" to blame. Mumbaikars over decades of greed and rapacity, have destroyed rule of law and corrupted the systems which should have protected us. We are the system. We are the reality of Mumbai. We are its pestilence. It is convenient to demand action, to demand results, somehow, anyhow. Can we believe in a fantasy that a bureaucracy, government and law enforcement apparatus which have never delivered anything meaningful which we have ourselves strangled over the years, can suddenly start delivering results in one narrow sphere of security? AIDS victims don't die of AIDS. They die because AIDS reduces immunity and invites secondary diseases to feast on the weakened host. An AIDS patient can die from a common cold. Terrorists only descended upon the enfeebled carcass of Mumbai to deliver the coup de grace. They are the opportunistic secondary infection. Mumbai was always a symbol of opportunity and accomplishment, with the accompanying corruptions of any big city. But what is Mumbai today? It's a ghettoized city of intolerance where Raj Thackeray can rouse lakhs of people into hatred of an "other", where vegetarians can discriminate openly against the "other" in their buildings, where Muslim enclaves make the "other" uncomfortable in their midst, where a parallel economy and a parallel justice system can thrive. It is a city of corruption, where the police force has been emasculated, where constables have to take bribes to pay off the cost of their postings, where senior officials operate openly in collusion with industrial houses, where human trafficking and child abuse are openly tolerated in plain sight at traffic signals. It is a city of decay, where greedy and corrupt builders can destroy every last inch of breathing space, documents can be faked, BMC officials bought off en masse, protesters can be bullied and threatened, restaurant owners can dump their daily trash in any quiet street corner. It is a city of harassment, where kids on loud motorcycles can whiz about unstopped, where loud pandals and religious displays disturb people way into the night, where poor people live in constant fear of harassment by the police. It is a city of neglect, where we cannot even point to one bylane free of potholes and garbage, not for technical reasons but because it fuels the perpetual motion machine of contracts and corruption. It is a city where the local governance become an enemy of the people, grabbing parks, destroying open mangroves, dumping huge toxic waste in plain view of its citizens. Ask a Mumbaikar from the slums what fun it is to get his kid's birth certificate from the BMC, to get past a police check, to get a lawyer who won't cheat him for common things,to get a judge who won't delay his case indefinitely. A poor "unconnected" person or a single woman would think thrice before walking into a police station to get help and even then would not do it. Above all Mumbai is a city of temporary convenience and compromise with no core values left to hold on to. The euphoria of economic growth justified every short cut and every depredation. Beneath the facade, Mumbai fell apart street by street, tree by tree, victim by victim. Mumbai is not an international city, it is an international joke. It is easier to take offense or retreat behind cliches, than to sincerely ponder the truth of this statement. The city cannot provide roads, fire service, ambulance service, police safety to its people. Those who feel it is "part of the charm" to walk past open garbage and people defecating, to drive on wretched roads, to not have any place to take your child to play, to have parks grabbed by local slumlords, are in denial about their hometown. They add to the apathy which keeps it in decline. We try to talk ourselves into believing that the human vibrancy covers up the physical dehumanization. Each and every one of these acts is perpetrated by a Mumbaikar. Each incident is like an incident of unprotected sex which takes the victim closer to the fatal disease. Each instance of apathy is just like o
[Goanet] VOA News - India Says Prepared for All Measures if Pakistan Fails to Act Against Extremists
What a messy situation. http://www.voanews.com/english/voa-22dec08-1.cfm rubygoes
[Goanet] Goanet Weddings: Joaquim Da Cruz & Ashlyn Lobo (Loutolim)
Loutolim, Salcete (Goa) was the venue for the mid-week (Dec 18, 2008) wedding of Joaquim Da Cruz and Ashlyn Lobo of Vasco. The groom is son of the popular musician Emiliano -- who has entertained Goa with his Latino-style music for a generation and more. Nuptials at 5.30 pm was at the Loutolim Saviour of the World Church, with family, friends and wellwishers witnessing the celebration of Mass that ended around 6.30 pm. While the bridal couple attended tos igning the registers, the rest of the church was treated to a violin solo for about ten minutes by a young woman. All tuned in with rapt attention till the last note. Outside the church foyer, the young couple was greeted and wished. Guests were treated at Crystal Rock, next to Big Foot, a well-decorated brightly lit garden lawn park with a spacious circular dance floor that accomodates 500 couples. Lynx was the band in attendance, with Bambino as emcee. The evening, which lasted till 1 pm, also saw a spacious 30-dish buffet capping the evening. [Inputs: TN] * * * Send your birthday greetings to greeti...@goanet.org
[Goanet] Is religion...
... the only thing there is to discuss on Goanet? After 13+ years here, it seems as if we're having all our bandwidth clogged up with just one issue. Sad! FN -- FN * Independent Journalist http://fn.goa-india.org M: +91-9822122436 P: +91-832-2409490
[Goanet] GOAN NAMES
Dears I think Valmiki Faleiro's Herald Sunday Mirror article series on Goan names is quite hilarious. But underlying the humour is the fact that giving a name to a child is a political act. An act whereby the identity of the child is sought to be defined. Somewhere after India's independence and around the time of Goa's Liberation one can find many Goan Catholics were given "Indian" names by their parents - Valmiki is one, but also Rabindranath, Gandhi, Aurobindo ... and among girls Sunita, Anita and so on - obviously the parents were announcing their sympathy to Indian nationalism. However some of the names that were given were given to children during Portuguese times were truly millstones around their necks. Often it was done to honour an ancestor. My brother was named Tertuliano, after a grandfather, whom someone had named after someone who was named after some obscure Christian writer. It was a name which my brother detested and so it was made more tolerable by shortening it to Tate, But that too became unacceptable after he went to England where he discovered that there Tate was a surname, and to be addressed by one's surname as in,"Hello Tate" was demeaning. So he switched to using his second name Antonio, which he further shortened to Tony! Now all these name changing shenanigans may create problems for his child in legal affairs as his documents bear different names. Of late there seems to be a trend of creating hybrid names from the names of the father and mother. But sometimes one wishes that the parents were a bit careful when they did this - I'm pretty sure it was a couple named Felicity and Abdon who stupidly decided to name their child Felon. I hope that a Mervin and a Dion don't decide to name their child Melon and a Donald and a Cornelia don't make their son a Con or worse Corny. Surnames are a bit more difficult to manipulate, but here too politics enters. A.K Priolkar exploited this in his clever attack on Goan Christians in 'Who is a Goan?' in Goa Re-Discovered, 1967, when he suggested that they should abandon the Portuguese surnames that came to them after conversion, and either revert to their original pre-conversion names or take up a suitably Goan Hindu sounding one by adopting the name of the village one happens to reside in - like Lotlikar, Calangutkar etc - in order that they appear more nationalised. Anyway, looking forward to see how Valmiki manages to manoeuvre his way through the treacherous minefield of names in his future articles. Cheers Augusto -- Augusto Pinto 40, Novo Portugal, Moira, Bardez, Goa, India E pinto...@gmail.com or ypinto...@yahoo.co.in P 0832-2470336 M 9881126350
[Goanet] KUWAIT: GULAB" Carol Singing Competition
Kala Mogui Kuwait & Gulab Working Committee presents GULAB" Carol Singing Competition Date: 26th December 2008 at 3:30pm Venue: Carmel School Auditorium, Khaitan, Kuwait KMK - Kala Mogui Kuwait
[Goanet] Police Constable Ambadas Pawar
I am glad that at least in one area, I see a significant change for the better. For many many years, the heroic sacrifice of one's life in India did not receive the monetary compensation one would have liked to see given. I hope the following is a typical example of the families of poor victims of 26/11 being compensated. Quote Compensation Pawar's family may get: Rs 25 lakh from state, Rs 14 lakh from Railways; Rs 5 lakh from BMC; Rs 5 lakh from Baba Ramdev; Rs 5 lakh from the emoluments from the police department, including contribution, insurance and gratuity; Rs 1 lakh from the Congress; Rs 40,000 from a corporate house; Rs 33,000 a month for the next five years from a corporate house; 2BHK MHADA flat at Pratiksha Nagar, Antop Hill, worth around Rs 25 lakh. See: http://www.mid-day.com/news/2008/dec/231208-Mumbai-Terror-attack-Constable-Ambadas-Pawar-martyr-hero-top-cops-terrorist.htm -- Roland Francis Toronto +1 (416) 453.3371
[Goanet] re poem
Hi there Since there are some mistakes in the post that has appeared on goanet, I am re-sending my poem. Regards Marinella Aurora of Christmastide- Marinella Proença Josef and Donkey trudged down the path Over rocks, then 'ways of cobbled-stone Donkey nudged on to carry his load: Hallowed Tabernacle to the Prince un-born Viagem into Bethlehem's heart. Stopped here – looked on… Weary and hopeful, enquiring along Good Josef He needed a room To rest his Beloved – So patient but worn Good Josef He needed a room To rest his Beloved – She with child (to be born). And so again He stopped here – looked on… Thanks Be! On thrice-try A Keeper of Inn soon ushered them in To a Manger: warm and small No vacancy it seems Across down the hall Josef helped Mary gently to sit On hay: spun gold That shone by lamp-lit Soon creatures witnessed the Birth of our King 'Jeweled Knight, Prince of Peace' Myriad angels did sing The Manger turned Throne for the Li'l Babe within And trumpets they sounded Sweet shepherds they rounded In – the Magi strutted To bow to our King The Manger turned Throne for the Li'l Babe within. Don't wait for clip-clops Don't wait for door-knocks Just open your hearts To the swaddle-clothed King Save your heart as a Throne For Him and Him alone - Peace and Goodwill For you He shall bring. - Marinella Proença
[Goanet] Conversion and secularism
This message is to Marshall Mendonza. Marshall, before I key in my response on above subject, can I ask you as to your definition of the words Conversion and Secularism? I await your response by return message. Best regards, Dr. U. G. Barad
[Goanet] Goa news for December 23, 2008
Goa News from Google News and Goanet.org Visit http://www.goanet.org/newslinks.php for the full stories. *** Bengal mark return to Elite Division - Cricketnext.com [Dec 21, 2008] PTI New Delhi: Bengal returned to the Ranji Trophy Elite Division after registering a 107-run first innings lead against Goa in the Plate league semi-final ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/5-0&fd=R&url=http://cricketnext.in.com/news/bengal-mark-return-to-elite-division/36865-13.html&cid=1280176578&ei=CjFQSbHVK4KQNfTrsIcC&usg=AFQjCNGmtRX0RddRr6vA4MhiNwVrB3s8ow *** Goa beach party ban leaves Israeli youths in the lurch - Hindu [Dec 21, 2008] Jerusalem (PTI): Goa's decision to cancel all beach parties may force thousands of Israeli youths, who throng the popular Goan beaches every year, ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/1-0&fd=R&url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200812211714.htm&cid=1281398725&ei=CjFQSbHVK4KQNfTrsIcC&usg=AFQjCNEOn7zmfwOFfdSVTOFI3b5Qh-DSBg *** Tourism to Goa takes beating after Mumbai attacks - The Associated Press [5 hours ago] The only thing missing from Goa's beaches are the throngs of merrymakers who normally flock here for the hedonistic year-end parties. ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/0-0&fd=R&url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ginEZKFv1ofJ2kiVuG7Zd_6AOqXAD957UFE80&cid=1282504076&ei=CjFQSbHVK4KQNfTrsIcC&usg=AFQjCNFMnUZQ1oN570hyuZrFLYi1zQ4Kjw *** French woman found dead in Goa - Hindu [7 hours ago] The husband is being treated at the Goa Medical College and Hospital, they said. Both of them were found near a trailer equipped with all the amenities ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/4-0&fd=R&url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/00120081231.htm&cid=1282357618&ei=CjFQSbHVK4KQNfTrsIcC&usg=AFQjCNFb6Bi37zSp8YZ7hXUplhtgf4Tq4g *** 300 Central paramilitary personnel rushed to Goa - Hindu [11 hours ago] New Delhi (PTI): The Centre on Monday sent 375 CRPF and RAF personnel to Goa in the wake of intelligence reports suggesting that the tourist hot spot might ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/2-0&fd=R&url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200812221815.htm&cid=1282444507&ei=CjFQSbHVK4KQNfTrsIcC&usg=AFQjCNHG00mz-pYYUjuCmBq-bo3Ar9Jkag *** Goa year-end beach parties banned after Mumbai attacks: gov\'t - AFP [Dec 20, 2008] PANAJI, India (AFP) ” Beach parties in the Indian resort state of Goa are to be banned over the Christmas and New Year because of security fears following ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/6-0&fd=R&url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ha0aFXo9fLJBza-Zf1zwkPE_xjSg&cid=0&ei=CjFQSbHVK4KQNfTrsIcC&usg=AFQjCNEOa6IyIGZChJ0vWykDa9HmXRCeqQ *** Goa accuses Karnataka of illegally diverting river water - Hindu [Dec 21, 2008] Panaji (IANS): Goa has accused Karnataka of diverting waters from the Mhadei river into the depleted Malaprabha basin and has called a cabinet sub-committee ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/9-0&fd=R&url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200812212111.htm&cid=1282172996&ei=CjFQSbHVK4KQNfTrsIcC&usg=AFQjCNEWJc6udhj-7OkDS95EC1aL09KTTw *** Migrant verification yields results in S Goa - Times of India [Dec 21, 2008] MARGAO: Hordes of migrantsbeing drawn to police stations voluntarily is now a common sight in South Goa. Armed with verification forms, migrants have been ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/8-0&fd=R&url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Goa/Migrant_verification_yields_results_in_S_Goa/articleshow/3871183.cms&cid=0&ei=CjFQSbHVK4KQNfTrsIcC&usg=AFQjCNFqvVzu8SdzaCWdN7x5FRTGKPpRKw *** Rural development to pick up in Goa - Times of India [Dec 21, 2008] The state government is reported to have constructed 2898 houses for the rural poor, the minister told Rajya Sabha member of Parliament for Goa, ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/7-0&fd=R&url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Goa/Rural_development_to_pick_up_in_Goa/articleshow/3871210.cms&cid=0&ei=CjFQSbHVK4KQNfTrsIcC&usg=AFQjCNEzkZgb8RRvMNnQnV2FgEZo6yJJtA *** Jaiswal to visit Goa to review Christmas security - Times of India [9 hours ago] PANAJI: Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal will be in Goa on the eve of Christmas for an internal security review meeting with top state ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/3-0&fd=R&url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Jaiswal_to_visit_Goa_to_review_security/articleshow/3875859.cms&cid=1282481293&ei=CjFQSbHVK4KQNfTrsIcC&usg=AFQjCNGaJUG8QqkHngZRkxM0170msmKg2g Compiled by Goanet News Service http://www.goanet.org/newslinks.php
Re: [Goanet] goa's exchequer
Holy smoke that Aires is writing about Goa's exchequer and ministers. For a man of his integrity and guile, he should be the last person to talk about it. I am not surprised at his somersaults. Recent events involving Aires are still too fresh in memory. But then for someone like me who has been a "victim" of his arrogance all I can say is that the man should be ignored and his views be dismissed as from those of a crank. Eugene
[Goanet] Meet the Prince of Konkani Humour... via You Tube
The Prince of Konkani Humour: Prince Jacob Why did he take to comedy? What's the challenges in producing films in Konkani? What needs to be done to take Konkani stories to the big screen? And what are his upcoming plans? PRINCE JACOB, the popular figure of the Konkani stage (and of the recent film PADRI) spends seven minutes focussing on these issues in an exclusive interview with FN. http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=_nHhHy04Yxk Michael Gracias... on Romi Konkani books and more Goa-based publisher Michael Gracias explains the economics and challenges of promoting books in Konkani in Goa. http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=xxj_6Am7u8w&feature=channel Promoting written Konkani, how? Konkani enthusiast Walter Menezes from Quepem is into poetry, writing and even sketching. He talks of his work, and how even a couple of cross-language book reviews (of Konkani books, but written in English) had their good impact. http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=X2baYcUdZ3M&feature=channel_page Goa's neglected toddy-tapper (render) Jess Fernandes is director of the Qupeme Urban Co-op Credit Society, but his heart is in writing. He has penned 30 books in Konkani, and has collected a wide range of artifacts that related to the lives of the traditional toddy-tapper (render) in Goa. Hear all about this here. http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=nR3IvpS3U1w&feature=channel_page Margao's Rabindra Bhavan Goa got a new cultural centre at Margao, called the Rabindra Bhavan, recently. Some glimpses from the place... if you haven't visited it yet. http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=ncPguiacMeI&feature=channel_page -- FN * Independent Journalist http://fn.goa-india.org M: +91-9822122436 P: +91-832-2409490
Re: [Goanet] The right to convert
--- On Mon, 12/22/08, Vinay Natekar wrote: Mass conversions by the > so-called faith healing programmes in the guise of offering > social service, etc should be checked at root. > Regards > Vinay --- Yes Vinay, right behind you mate. While we are at it let us just stop Christians from celebrating Christmas Mass because Hindus do attend it, tear down their public statues because Hindus do pay homage to them, ban their holidays (Parrikar already tried I believe) and ensure we rewrite India's history so that every child knows that these Christians are the direct descendants of those who brought the Inquisition to India. Otherwise who know, Hindus might want to convert. By the way Vinay, where were you hiding when Christians were being tormented in Orissa? I was waiting for you and Barad to come on Goanet and condemn what was happening. Strangely enough I didn't hear from either of you then. Is this the India you want to create? Hurray. Viva la India. selma
[Goanet] CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS WITH LOT OF VIGLIANCE AND WISDOM IN GOA
It's certainly good to celebrate during this festive season but one should not forget what happened in Mumbai recently and God forbid it should never happen in any country again , in Goa we should be very vigilant and use our wisdom wisely during these celebrations, let's not pretend to be carefree on such situations , God has blessed each and every one of us with wisdom and it would be wrong if we know the threat surrounding our nation and yet we tend to take it lightly and are ignorant. The entire Police machinery or even the additional police force sent in by Central Govt may not be enough to prevent or understand what the enemy is planning, each and every citizen in today's India , and human being should be a police ,a spy, a warrior,a protector of the India, of their respective states, people, and themselves we can't be wise after the sad incident happens and can't blame the police entirely, let's be watchful and careful of our families not with fear but being fearless and wise in celebrating this festive seasons in GOA If beach parties are banned , please don't think of how much we would have made and how much we have lost due to this restriction but let's think of how we can avoid casualties and be safe and celebrate it in a true Christmas spirit , let's sacrifice this years celebration by having a low key celebrations ,as a respect to all who passed away in Mumbai and be thankful to God that it never touches Goa never never. Probably we have not been affected that's why we have no clue what it takes to face terror and killings of our loved ones or even if they are not our own . Let's boldly and respectfully see the positive sides of banning these beach parties and not shed tears afterwards due to our own fault. Soem one sent me this TERROR STRIKE PATTERN , i would like to share this with you , one may want to believe it or not , or just ignore it Interesting observation...are they dates pre-planned or mere coincidence? Hi ... check this out ... terror strike pattern!! 13 May JAIPUR June --- 26 July AHMEDABAD August --- 13 September DELHI October - 26 November --- MUMBAI December 13 January - What Next? GOD BLESS YOU ALL Michael _ Find a better job. We have plenty. Visit MSN Jobs http://www.in.msn.com/jobs
[Goanet] Re The right to convert
Albert writes:- None of us have the proper knowledge of religion and of God. Mostly the Roman Catholics boast of their religion as true religion constructed by Jesus Christ and that the pope is the direct descend of Peter who was the \first Pope. I do not want to argue on anything for I have not gone to Heaven and come back to tell you how it looks. None of us including the popes and the bishops and the priest. The only person who had been to heaven and had come down from heaven was Jesus for he was the true son of God. From my childhood it is the same cassette that I have been hearing .Everything is forced down our throats. The so called cathesism was heavily injected like the polio dose by force from childhood. What to do ? The so called poor people live in huts and sometimes the daily wage labourer depends on his daily work to get paid in the evening to buy him bread and honey. Everyone shouts from roof tops. I am a catholic. I go for mass everyday. I do church work. I am this and I am that. But none of the catholics will visit any houses meet people and transfer the word of God to the other. We have been celebrating feasts of Mary.365 in a year .I am sure for many Mary are many. I heard from a very educated person that Valankani Mary is powerful M _ For the freshest Indian Jobs Visit MSN Jobs http://www.in.msn.com/jobs
[Goanet] Growing Up Extreme: On the Peculiarly Vicious Fanatacism of Expatriates
Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2008 11:12:12 +0530 From: "Marshall Mendonza" Frederick had made an interesting observation that many expatriates profess liberal values abroad and are arch conservatives back home. They practice double standards. Secularism for some of them is only skin deep. Here is an article written by Shashi Tharoor in the Washington Post sometime in the 90's but still very relevant today. http://www.geocities.com/indianfascism/fascism/in_usa.htm Mario observes: Marshall, While not denying that some expatriates may be vicious fanatics, may I remind you that there are far more vicious fanatics, as a percentage, back home who are NOT expatriates? There are even some on Goanet. On the other hand Indian expatriates raise and remit BILLIONS of non-fanatic charitable contributions to family members and NGOs, have raised the image of Indians from lowly indentured laborers a few generations ago to the highest rungs of British, Canadian and American society and achievement levels, and were instrumental in helping President Bush and Manmohan Singh to successfully complete the new nuclear power agreement that should transform India into electric self suffiency if properly implemented.
[Goanet] The right to convert
Selma wrote : There cannot be a "sinister and subversive" plot when people have a power to say no. Dear Selma, There is a provision in our Constitutional which gives one right to practice or propagate any religion. There is a right also to ask people to convert. However, when it comes to maintain public order these rights need to be restricted. The conversions by force, fraud and inducements was are under debate. Have a look at the conversions in Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Arunachal Pradesh and their impact on law and order there which compelled some Indian states to implement ban on conversions. Even the Supreme Court ruled that these states had acted legally and within the spirit of the Constitution. Thus, a fundamental right to convert has been denied by the Supreme Court. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?msid=162018 L.K. Advani who has been termed a communal, however he himself rejected ban on religious conversions. http://ibnlive.in.com/news/advani-against-ban-on-religious-conversion/74252-3.html While a person cannot be denied a right to convert himself on his own free will, and after his own study of the religion he wishes to adopt and the one that he wishes to leave, the right to ask someone else to change should be questioned. But Today we can see conversions by enticement and fraud are quite rampant. Mass conversions by the so-called faith healing programmes in the guise of offering social service, etc should be checked at root. Regards Vinay
[Goanet] The Right to Convert
Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2008 11:39:27 +0530 From: "Dr. U. G. Barad" But conversions in India, as they are happening today, are not merely about empowering the poor. It is about a sinister and subversive strategy, hatched in the US, backed by the Bush administration over the years. Mario responds: Dr. Barad, I have good news for you. The Bush administration, which BTW has only been in power since 2001 and has had their hands full in converting 50 million Muslims to freedom and democracy, will be over in another month, so you can begin to transfer the "hatching" to Barack Obama's transition team. Sonal Shah may be able to help you get to the right people. Isn't it "sinister and subversive" to demand in a free society like India that people must continue to profess the religion of their birth even if if they want to follow a different religion after they grow up?
[Goanet] Poema escrito por Sílvia Bragança (viúva do Prof. Aquino de Bragança), depois do s incidentes de Mumbai (Bombaim)
Following Gandhi's steps Following Gandhi's steps INDIA can invite the WORLD To make a Great Peace March Physically and intellectually conceived To grew up our World for new actions Of PEACE and LOVE! The courage of all the staff, military or not, In the process of battle to gain the serenity: To dismantle the tragic operation, The Authorities' safety words help The people of India and of the world, The media fellows with one's life in danger Show us all the events To think and rethink In this inspected phenomenon. WE ALL Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Christian and Jew, all religions people >From south, north, east, west All together, let's join our minds to construct Our destroyed world PEACE and CLEAR mind Must be the vivid Philosophical and practical involvement WE ALL must guess, WE ALL must pray, WE all must realize! Please! You, two hundred and more political leaders Commanding the world, Look for the History And re-created The new world! No problem if the economic power is down Joint the hands To construct A LOVE WORLD To the equal It IS time! The new ERA Please follow the steps... Of many more examples To fully join reality: PEACE, CONSTRUCTION AND LOVE! Sílvia, a war's victim at 1986 29 November 2008
[Goanet] THANKS TO DALGADO KONKNNI AKADEMI
We the family members of late Joao Agostinho Fernandes thank the organisors Dalgado Konknni Akademi, and the Konknni playwright fraternity of the first " Konknni (ROMI LIPI) Sahitya ani Sonvskruti Sommelon" to be held on 20th and 21st December, 2008 for naming the venue, of the convention as "Pai Tiatrist" - "Joao Agostinho Fernandes nagar " - at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao Goa ,and for staging a tiatr written by "Pai Tiatrist " to commemorate his birth anniversary. Indeed we do acknowledge also earlier efforts to name the 1150 AC indoor auditorium after "Pai Tiatrist" on 20/07/2008. It is indeed a great honour bestowed upon him for the cause of Konknni. We also take this opportunity to extend an open invitation to all the organisors and the delegates who would be participating in the two day convention to visit the " House of Pai Tiatrist " during the convention or even thereafter. We are indeed delighted that the State Government of Goa is upon the recommendation of the Rajya Sabha MP Shri Shantaram L Naik, who visited our house on 30/08/2008 considering maintaining the modest 140 year old "House of Pai Tiatrist" , so that it will inspire the upcoming Konknni playwrights to understand how Pai Tiatrist rose to become an icon in Konknni tiatros, even though he came from humble background. His personal effects and orginal works will be preserved in this House for the benefit of visitors. It would also be of interest to know that on the 100th death anniversary on 30/12/1908 of his wife Regina Fernandes, the first lady to act on stage on 22/11/1904, there will be a Eucharistic Mass dedicated to her at the Holy Spirit Church Margao at 8.00 a.m. Friends and well wishers may accept this as the only intimation. We wish the organisors of the "Sommelon" all success and many more to follow. Kindly circulate this message to all Konknni lovers. Ana Maria Carolina Quadros Fernandes, 306, House of "Pai Tiatrist" Modsai, Margao - Goa 403 601 + 0832 2726713 New Email names for you! Get the Email name you've always wanted on the new @ymail and @rocketmail. Hurry before someone else does! http://mail.promotions.yahoo.com/newdomains/aa/
[Goanet] Goa's Sunburn under cloud of doubt
Goa's Sunburn under cloud of doubt 22 Dec 2008, 1354 hrs IST, PTI PANAJI: Sunburn, labelled as Asia's biggest music festival, is facing uncertainty with Goa banning beach parties citing security reasons. The three-day festival was scheduled to start from December 26 at North district's Candolim beach in Goa. Top disk jockeys from across the world were expected to perform at the festival. The state government last weekend decided to ban all beach parties from December 23 to January 5. The decision comes a couple of days after the organisers of Sunburn festival declared their event. The organisers said they have all the requisite permissions, but the district administration has categorically stated that the event would be on hold. "We have all the required permissions and there will be clarity on the issue only today," Manoj Aggarwal, CEO of the organiser Percent D'Mark said. The organisers claim that the festival is not held on the beach but on a private property which gives it immunity from the ban. The festival website www.sunburn-festival.com carries a notice which reads "Conflicting reports in Goa newspapers case doubt on post 10 pm parties on public beaches, but Sunburn runs from 12 noon to 10 pm on private property and has the full backing of the Goa government and local authorities." However, the district administration has said that Sunburn festival is not exempted from the ban. "There are no exceptions for any festival except traditional celebrations," North Goa collector Mihir Vardhan said. The state police officers also contended that they have not issued any no-objection certificate to any of the festival and they are proceeding with the ban orders for security reasons. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Goa/Goas_Sunburn_under_cloud_of_doubt/rssarticleshow/3874075.cms
[Goanet] EXHIBITION: The World of Mario
Mario's works at Hotel Rajdhani, Panaji: A selection of limited edition prints of famous Goan artist, Mario Miranda, along with an array of other items such as portfolio, cards, tiles, books and other gift items, will be on sale at Picturesque Gallery opposite Hotel Rajdhani from December 21, 2008 to January 1, 2009 from 9:30am to 7pm. The selection is made by Gerard DaCunha and will accompany the exhibition, The World of Mario' which is to be held in Mumbai by early January. Goanet A&E http://www.goanet.org
Re: [Goanet] Goan joke
Everyday i learn something new on goanet Today i learnt that there is a 'Joke and a mental Joke'..Without goanet who would have leant all these new things, that popup every now and then! I am having a laugh on the joker, i hope you do as well:-) But there is one problem here. It proves that indeed English is a difficult language after-all and not for all:-) hAVE a nICE dAY Seb
Re: [Goanet] The Right to convert
Date: Sun, 21 Dec 2008 14:37:21 -0800 (PST) From: Carvalho I think I am experiencing forced conversions here in the UK. Every time I am on a bus or walking to my favourite butcher to buy mutton (Muslim butchers sell the best mutton here), I have these Jamaican ladies who come running up to me, guaranteeing eternal salvation through Jesus Christ. No amount of telling them that I am already Catholic seems to dissuade them. They insist I must read the Bible. Maybe there is something about me that says I can't possibly be Christian, like that Madonna T-shirt I keep wearing :-) Mario observes: These Jamaican women obviously Googled "Strange Indian woman with Madonna T-shirt" which led them to you on Goanet where you have loudly and frequently proclaimed yourself to be an agnostic, i.e. fence-sitter, which makes you a perfect target for those who want to pull people to their side of the fence. Just ask them where you can get the best Jamaican jerk chicken or goat curry. Selma wrote: Stop forced conversions in the UK, especially on the Red Bus, since there is absolutely no chance of me getting my British driving license and I have to keep using that bus. Say no to forced conversions :-) Mario responds: Now this is embarrassing - for you to say that you cannot earn a driver's license in a country with the most benign and polite drivers on earth where everyone religiously follows the rules - at least they used to. And, after suggesting how freedom of religion should work and sending both Dr. Barad, a hardworking defender of Hindutva, and the equally hardworking defender of Christianity, Marshall, off on the same constitutional tangent, you are now insisting that people cannot preach and advertise their religion, thereby impeding their freedom of religion:-)) Selma wrote: Wishing everyone a Wonderful Christmas and New Year! Mario adds: Here's adding the same wishes to all Goanetters.
[Goanet] The Right to convert
Date: Sun, 21 Dec 2008 22:26:10 +0530 From: "Marshall Mendonza" I believe the Supreme Court ruling was flawed. Refer critique given below. Excerpts: Quote: "And, although many legal luminaries believe that the 1977 judgment was unconstitutional, since it has been ruled by the Apex Court, we must abide by it. This means, as of now, Christians have the right only to communicate their beliefs or expose the tenets of Christianity to others, and not to convert. However, if the person to whom the faith is propagated is convinced and wants to profess or practice on his own volition, he or she has the right to do so." Unquote. http://www.combatlaw.org/information.php?article_id=949&issue_id=34 Mario responds: We got off on this tangent because Dr. Barad turned the thread on its head and cited this Supreme Court ruling inappropriately in answer to Selma's comment that Indians in a free society that guarantees freedom of religion MUST have the right to convert from their religion at birth. Both you and Tehmina Arora are missing the point. The Indian Supreme Court correctly overruled the Orissa High Court on a very narrow issue challenging the state of Orissa for instituting procedures to verify whether Oriyas were converting voluntarily and not under duress or against their will, which has been an allegation in impoverished and socially backward parts of rural India. The state of Orissa was not impeding anyone's freedom of religion, simply monitoring that freedom. That's it. Case closed. None of this prevents Indians from preaching their religion or from voluntarily converting from their religion at birth.
[Goanet] UK House of Lords discusses Orissa attacks
http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/2660/47/
Re: [Goanet] Pakistan -failed state?
Hello Manoj, Just had time to read one chapter of the ebook, but what I have read merits reading of the entire book. The author seems to be balanced while still maintaining a direction he wants to take with the reader. Please tell us something about him. Regards, Roland. On Mon, Dec 22, 2008 at 12:16 AM, Manoj Raikar wrote: > Hello, > > Pakistan failed state? > > Decide after reading attachment > > Regards > > > Manoj Raikar > > Attachment: Pakistan Failed State By Shiv Sastry > > http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/EBOOKS/pfs.pdf > > > > -- Roland Francis Toronto +1 (416) 453.3371
Re: [Goanet] Ref: Oh God, What Did I do ?
Dear Freddy, This is a fit script for a RoseFerns' Tiatr, really. Much appreciated. floriano goasuraj - Original Message - From: "Freddy Fernandes" To: Sent: Monday, December 22, 2008 11:22 AM Subject: [Goanet] Ref: Oh God, What Did I do ? What Should I do ? My name is Dom Pedro and I came from a poor family, I am thankful to my parents for helping me to finish my studies, they had to sacrifice a lot to pay for my education, my younger sister was still in School, though I tried very hard all I could do was get a Commerce degree. I tried to get a decent job but no luck, my parents couldn't afford to pay agents for a job in the Gulf or on the ship, what should I do ? This was the question that vibrated between my ears with great intensity, I was going nuts, just then local elections were announced and every one was on the run and in hunt for candidates and supporters by whatever means. .
[Goanet] It's time for Goans to do introspection: Kamat
CM saying it is become a fashion nowadays to oppose everything. Well I was trying to think of his defination of DEVELOPMENT. 1. Does it mean ,develop and develop in coastal areas and let the people die of MALARIA?2. Does it mean, cut down hills & mountains and expose Goa to environmental disaster?3. Does it mean, let the beaches be full of shacks and beds that common person can cannot even take a walk? ( There was a time when there was lot of place on beach for "DRIED FISH", but now it is only "TWO LEGGED TANNING"- I can see our taste has changed!!! 4. Does it mean, close his eyes and ears and support mining activities 24x7?5. Does it mean, go slow on demands of special status for Goa so that they win a lottery from mega projects?6. Does it mean, keep on allowing migrants and let slumps grow like mushrooms in Goa?7. Does it mean, drive bumper to bumper on the same roads(1960's ) and let people die anytime?8. Does it mean, keep providing clear drinking water to star hotels and let people drink from contaminated pipes?9. Does it mean, keep open skies for charters to land on the same strip of dabolim where two aircrafts can brush each other?10. Does it mean, GOANS should now buy BREAD from outsiders?Oh hoGOOD to see DEVELOPMENT in Goa and Goans can afford to buy BREAD at Rs. 2.50 Well, I think the CM & his team also has on his list of development better life(hosp itals), better education( Universities), better living( enviornment). WHEN??? > Message: 2> Date: Sun, 21 Dec 2008 22:13:00 +0530 (IST)> From: Miguel Braganza > Subject: [Goanet] It's time for Goans to do introspection: Kamat> To: Goanet > Message-ID: <127979.56138...@web8702.mail.in.yahoo.com>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8> > Dears,> > QUOTE "Goa has done a lot of progress and there is still scope for further> development, however, the people are now opposing everything," the Chief> Minister said and added that it is important for people to draw a line with> regard to development. UNQUOTE> > Obviously, the CM does not like the LINE drawn by the people of Goa through the Gram Sabha resolutions across Goa AFTER the TCP Department had a field day with colours ...all in the name of DRP 2021 based VILLAGE PLANS that are removed from the reality!!> > Perhaps, he thinks that the GBA is KPA once more and that GGRM, CCF s, BVAC, GGR, KNS, SVM and other CBOs/CSOs can be wished away like a builder's mid-summer night's dream.> > Mog asundi> > Miguel _ More than messages–check out the rest of the Windows Live™. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/
Re: [Goanet] Foreign Funded charity
--- On Sun, 12/21/08, Sandeep Heble wrote: > > I am not per se against an Indian converting from one faith > to another. If someone is not treated well in his own religion > or ceases to believe in his own religion's philosophies, ideals > and beliefs, that person should well be entitled to convert, but the > conversion must be voluntary, i.e. without the use of unethical > methods like force, fraud or material inducements. > The use of the word material is noted, but I think inducements should be allowed. In my opinion from a legal standpoint judging whether an inducement is used in a conversion activity or not is a tough thing. When you tell somebody that this is the only way you can be saved or that this is the shortest route to heaven, you are by definition using a psychological inducement. Even tougher is to judge whether the inducement used is fraudulent because the whole system is based on belief. A religious belief by its very nature does not have to be supported by scientific evidence. So if you tell somebody that they will be cured from cancer if they pray for this saint to intercede on their behalf, as soon as they convert, and you sincerely believe what you are telling them, then are you committing a fraud? I have a suspicion that our legal system says no. Otherwise, it would slide down a slippery slope towards all kinds of legal precipices related to religious and ethical matters. Cheers, Santosh
[Goanet] Subject: A Letter to the Archbishop of Goa - By Mario Cabral e Sa
Dear Mario Cabral e Sa, Sir, Due to my preoccupation with family matters, the celebrating kind though, I had no time to look into the daily load of newspapers I subscribe to and hopefully I shall be able to catch-up with the goings-on of the past few days. But, as a force of habit, to the point of 'come what may' I always but always do not miss to scan thro' the NT Panorama, for it never fails to deliver. And it did, today, with this letter of yours to our 'Goumvli Bab- Archbishop of Goa. And, Goa World Today has saved me the trouble to transcribe the entire text so that I may venture to make my two bit comments on your said letter. Your have started by identifying two major mainstays of our economy, that of 'mining' and 'tourism'. It is not proper for me to correct an eminent personality of your stature but I think you are very much wrong in your classifications since both these so called mainstays have been looking after not the economy of Goa and Goans but of a few persons who are in charge of these from time to time. As far as mining is concerned, it should be temporarily banned completely until such time that a more disciplined and eco-friendly mining policy is put in place so that Goa's lungs, which are the forests and hills are saved on the one side and people's actual lungs are saved from the chronic dust pollution emanating from this destructive industry. According to me, a policy on the lines of " If the God given mineral deposits do not profit the common man of Goa and on the contrary its extraction jeopardizes his very health and natural cover, let these deposits lie where they are, undisturbed and untouched" would be most appropriate and sound. As far as the tourism industry is concerned, Goa's leadership have been chasing a moving and vapourising cloud. In the bargain Goa has been milched for its goodness of resources and laid wasted for generations to clean up the mess, with no benefits neither for Goa nor for its people. Only those in power from time to time have profited from this mainstay so much so, permit me to say, that they have not been able to look at our golden beaches as our heritage but just milching cows on the one hand and not even having the capacity to put up a simple pedestrian crossing overhead-bridge at the tourist-boating jetty in Panjim. You then talk of 'aggressive negativism' where you have the 'Council for social peace & Justice' heading the anti-SEZ movement, anti RP-2011 etc in mind. With all your precious experience, would you classify these as good for Goa when they were gifts for the moneyed, custom tailored to denude and amputate Goa on the one hand and load it with excess baggage of unwanted and unnecessary human load that would be better-off jettisoned into the Arabian Sea? Could the people who took these decisions be termed as 'trust-worthy and sons/daughters of Goa? You are asking the good Archbishop a question you should ask our leading politicians " Where are the jobs, Sirs?" In the same breath you wax-eloquent about Manohar Parrikar for his Catholics cultivating skills in his usurped constituency of Panjim by naming Fontainhas and Mala which names will never stop giving Goans sleepless nights for the rampage his dear RSS undertook to divest its Portuguese influence. AND if you think Manohar Parrikar has given you moments of joy to wet your pants, then I shall want to tell you a story. I had coaxed a Catholic Gujarati Industrialist (anglo to be precise), a foundry-man, to bring his non polluting, modern 'Engine Block Making Technology' to Goa, to use local produce of 'pig-iron' (instead of transporting the same from Goa to Rajasthan), train Goan workforce etc. This technology was Swiss, could manufacture engine block from JCBs to small cars. Requirement of sand and water was minimum with a requirement of a land plot of approx 100,000 square meters (which was identified, accepted and negotiated for in Valpoi, privately). Mr. Rosario was told by me that Goa sports a Chief Minister who is an IIT'an in Metallurgy and setting up this unit would be no problem. Mr. Rosario invested in two trips to Goa from Ahmedabad but he went away a sour man. He never stopped telling me that my IIT Metallurgist CM told him that he does not understand these things and shunted him to the puppet Pollution Control Board who struck off the project off-hand without looking at it stating that 'foundries' are polluting and cannot be accepted in Goa. But the sad thing is that the same CM introduced umpteen steel rolling mills in Goa which are devastatingly polluting and free of cost power-guzzling. Amen. You say "I wish my request for a meeting with you had been conceded". But than you were asking for the heavens. Didn't you realize that Archbishop Raul Gonsalves had left his trade mark on the administration of the Bishop's palace? You are required to write down what you want to talk to the Bishop about. On
[Goanet] comedy with mog
Hi guys i hope you will enjoy this. with mog from jane http://uk.youtube.com/watchv=Gfm7tM6tRE4&feature=related Sir comedy part 1http://uk.youtube.com/watchv=Vm3Eztter7U&feature=related Sir COmedy Part 2 http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=NeKTqXek3iM&feature=related Sir Comedy part 3 http://uk.youtube.com/watchv=1fBogfSZngs&feature=related Sir comedy part 4 http://uk.youtube.com/watchv=5sG1hFXrto&feature=related Sir comedy part 5 http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=AIeWyN07W60&feature=related Sir comedy part 6 http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=XOY3HYJWWL0&feature=related Mummy comedy part 1http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=XOGEtffu3Z0&feature=related Mummy comedy part 2 http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ntM5isrtNK8&feature=related Mummy comedy part 3 http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=v0LqjwfCsW8&feature=related Mummy comedy part 5http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=k-6Fe4bIT1M&feature=related Mummy comedy part 6
[Goanet] Fast train from Laloo to Digu
It was a party time: One of my friends who had been on holiday to Goa asked me what's happening in Goa and Goans these days. Quick came the answer from another friend: Ask Laloo for starting direct train from his home State to Goa! Prompt came another question from another friend - who will be the passengers in that train do you know? And how Goa Government is going to accommodate them? Bored with the discussion another friend said: Come on.let's enjoy the party. After you go HOME please click on this link to get all the answers on this subject. I'm sharing the link provided by my friend to Goanet members: http://www.dailypioneer.com/144856/Godhra-riot-witnesses-got-Rs-1-lakh-each. html Best regards, Dr. U. G. Barad
[Goanet] Funding of VHP
Extracts:Quote: "But efforts to investigate the VHP's foreign funding have been thwarted. In a 1999 article, Om Prakash Tiwari documents a distressing "missing" file of the VHP. He writes: "The corridors of power in Delhi have mysteriously suppressed a file of the Income Tax Department which was investigating into the fund of Rs 300 crore ($ 62.5 million USD) coming from NRIs allegedly received by VHP. The Income Tax Commsioner Mr. Vishwa Bandhu Gupta said that VHP have received ample amount from abroad.¨ (from South Asia Citizens web) According to Indian Income Tax laws, any religious trust needs to submit its account for governmental review each year. Section 11 of the Income Tax Act prohibits the classification of any organization that spreads religious or caste doctrine as charitable. Each recipient of foreign aid must spend 75% of the funds in the same year it was received. (ibid) The "missing" file prevented the Income Commissioner from auditing the records of the VHP. Since then, the Income Commissioner has been unable to make a case against the VHP. The Commissioner made four notable conclusions: 1) the VHP and BJP are not separate bodies and should be treated as one entity; 2) the VHP did not have any accounts of its expenditure-income; and 3) the construction of a temple (in Ayoodha) is not a social work; and 4) the VHP did not file any return which would determine where it received the large quantity of funds. (ibid) Where then is the money coming from? Below is my effort to trace both the roots--and the funds-of the Sangh Parivar abroad. " Unquote. http://www.sabrang.com/news/zahirsajad.htm Regards, Marshall
[Goanet] Conversion and secularism
This is in reply to Message: 3, dated: Sun, 21 Dec 2008, from: Marshall Mendonza under subject titled: Conversion and secularism Marshall writes: ..But what we are also seeing is the harassment of minorities through killing and various kinds of actions and inaction. New legislations, like the conversion statutes, are being drawn up to harass the minorities. The campaign to intimidate the minorities is done both through legal and illegal means. Manipulating the law and using the police to arrest and detain people is yet another form of intimidation. This is what has happened in Pastor Raju's case. Unfortunately, India's secular governance is allowing a large number of such instances of abuse and intimidation to occur. Unquote: http://www.sabrang.com/cc/archive/2006/july-aug06/swatch.html My response: Thanks Marshall you opened the flood gate in Goanet on above topic. Right this time I would only say that what you wrote is not correct. It's other way round. And if you still believe in your version please blame Congress for all the mess they have created in India on this topic. >From my view point: Today Minorities are dominating and ruling Majorities. More on this issue will follow shortly without causing harassment to Goanet moderators. Meanwhile please digest two messages that appeared in Goanet as an response to your posting on JOKE: 1. From Bosco D'Mello (Reference: Message: 4, dated: Sun, 21 Dec under subject: Goan joke, AND 2. From Me with LOVE: (Reference: Message: 6, dated: Sun, 21 Dec 2008 on the same subject) Best regards, Dr. U. G. Barad
[Goanet] CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR GREETING
Hi Goannet staff In behave of me, my wife and my son, WISHING YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND A PROSPORUS NEW YEAR 2009, may child Jesus bless you all and our lovely and beautiful GOA, which we very earger to see. Thanks and Best regards Greg R Utorda/Saudi Arabia
[Goanet] Govt. sponsorred terror on the common man: Our politicians are still not listening
Dears The terrorists attacked the Taj and Trident hotels in Mumbai. Both these hotels are back in business in Mumbai. Their sister hotels will continue to be in business in Goa. The terrorists did not attack Chowpatty or Juhu beaches in Mumbai.These beaches will see life this season while Goa's beaches will be deserted. All this is possibly only due to POLICE INTELLIGENCE. What a paradox that is?? A Moidekar or Benaulekar would have done a better job at the helm of our Administration and Police but we have to make do with Sardarjis becuase Goa University syllabus and Goan attt The Government of Goa seems to have a distinct preference to the rich. The banning of the "beach parties" between 23 December, 2008, and 5 January next are a case in point. The sudden removal of the by now "traditional" food stalls at Miramar circle after an elite Club set up a restaurant is another. Whether the mechanism used is a court, executive order or the almost non-existent police "intelligence", is another matter. Of course, the Government has a vested interest. The establishments of the rich may Luxury, Service, Excise and other taxes from amounts they earn from the corporate sector junkets and other sources. In addition to the statutory ETP or STP, the hotels of the rich also have the mandatory slush funds needed to survive in big business. These are facts of life that every businessman or woman who has survived in business knows. It is as much a part of the "growing up" process as the clandestine sex education. The best business practices are not taught in the B-schools and I am yet to find a person who has learnt to make love through the course content of some "professional" college. One lives to learn, often the hard way if one is poor or "not so rich" in an affluent place like Goa withthe per capita income bloated by those who sell the very entrails of Goa in the form of iron ore. The terrorists attacked the Taj and Trident hotels in Mumbai. Both these hotels are back in business in Mumbai. Their sister hotels will continue to be in business in Goa. If there were fears that their business would face a slump due to poor tourist arrivals, they were misplaced. "Big Brothers" Government of Goa and the Goa Administration are there at their service for a small fee, perhaps payable in kind as complimentary tickets to their shows and other facilities. Relatives and friends keep popping up this season, you see. With low occupancy levels this season, there is really no expense in giving a few roooms for free! With beach parties banned, the borderline cases will opt for the stars. The terrorists did not attack Chowpatty or Juhu beaches in Mumbai. These beaches will see life this season while Goa's beaches will be deserted. We are in the midst of a Global recession or economic melt-down [whatever that means], so the foreign tourists in Goa would normally head straight for the shacks from their rent-back bed-and-breakfast facilities. They are less "fidalgo" than the Gujarati babus and babes on a holiday, but otherwise accustomed to starred hotels in their native lands. If the beaches were not to be deserted the starred hotels would be. Therein lies the terror: the terror of losing mega bucks from foreign tourists to the poor shack owners... if they have the beach parties. They must be banned. The Government did just that. It is heartening to see the shack owners protesting. The media has a responsibility to support the Goan people, native or settler, struggling to earn a decent living through their shacks and gaddas, licenced and paid for. Mr. Cruz Cardozo and the Goa Shack Owners' Welfare Society [G-SOWS] will reap the fruit of their labour, if they persist and persevere in their demand for compensation if the Government is adamant on enforcing the ban. The villagers of Candolim have shown what can be done. The Government has brought in Police reinforcements to prevent a repetition of that success. It is clearly on the side of the mine owners. The Tatas are the pioneers in iron ore mines and steel units, in case it has skipped your mind. More and more mine owners have gone into hotel trade and now into casinos. If they can protect their Portuguese colonial "Titulo de Concessao" to mine ore in Goa with the support of the state and faking an "Opinion Poll", they can also protect their hotel business and increase the number of casinos. It is the same story when it comes to the script for Konkani. Check who traditionally uses the Devanagri script and the Antruzi dialect and you will find all the answers you need. The Tiatr Akademi is another "natok" like the "Opinion Poll" for the gullible. Cough suppresants work only for some time. It is now time to cure the cold, together. Miguel Braganza -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-. Miguel Braganza, S1 Gracinda Apts, Rajvaddo, Mhapsa Goa 403507 Ph 9822982676 miguelbraga...@yahoo.co.in -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-. P.S. The news clipping
[Goanet] Foreign-funded charity
Shrikant Barve:This is it.. Marshall Mendonza The article refered by Dr. Barad. http://www.indianexpress.com/news/conversations-with-foreignfunded-charity/372252/ Response: I found the article in the IE. I asked for the weblink to the page in the ministry of home affairs website which gives all the information about funds and donees. Regards, Marshall
[Goanet] Goa books... available
Dear all: Check out this list of Goa books available with the Other India Bookstore in Mapusa [http://www.otherindiabookstore.com] You can download the list of Goa books in print here (as available with them): http://www.divshare.com/download/6152925-b2f Sorry that some edges of the catalogue have got cut, but my scanner isn't large enough for this. You could pick up a copy of the catalogue from OIBS at Mapusa (behind the Old Mapusa Clinic). Other places with good collections of Goa books include Broadways (Panjim), Mandovi Hotel Bookshop (Panjim) and Golden Heart Emporium (Margao). FN -- FN * Independent Journalist http://fn.goa-india.org M: +91-9822122436 P: +91-832-2409490
[Goanet] Conversion
Sandeep Heble: That person should well be entitled to convert, but the conversion must be voluntary, i.e. without the use of unethical methods like force, fraud or material inducements. Response: Any conversion which is done by force or fraud is no conversion. The Church does not look upon the same as conversion and discourages such conversions, if done at all. Sandeep Heble: The Supreme Court has not banned conversions. In my opinion, what the Court suggests is that every Indian has the fundamental right to propagate his own religion's philosophies and beliefs but the same must be without the ulterior motive to convert, since the whole process of conversion includes a heavy demonizing of the other person's faith which is against the "freedom of conscience" of the other person. The process of conversion must thus be voluntary. Response: The Church does not indulge in demonising another's faith, though it is possible that some fringe fundamentalist groups may do so. It would not be fair to taint everyone with the same brush. Conversion has to be voluntary for it to sustain. Otherwise we would have 'aya rams' and 'gaya rams' as in politics. The very fact that the christians in Orissa are suffering for their faith and living in fear and in relief camps is itself testimony to the genuineness of their conversions.The dalits are deprived of all state benefits on conversion. Yet they continue to remain christians. Ironically, should any of them revert to their former religion, they start getting all the state benefits. Now what would you call that- Inducement, allurement, fraud, coersion? In Orissa, they are being forced to reconvert under threat of death or loss of livelihood.Why are no cases being registered by the police against the VHP/BD? Regards, Marshall
Re: [Goanet] SAVE THE GOA EXCHEQUER
A good opposition party can be respected if they dutifully oppose when they have to(incase of excessive travelling, dinning, dancing, illegal mining, mega projects, crz violations.etc) and not be just mere silent spectators. It appears that whoever is in opposition just waits for the downfall of the government so that they can grab the "KODEL" and when government is in opposition, they wait for their turn again. So its time to GETRID of current government and opposition. Time for REGIONAL parties. > Message: 10> Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2008 05:41:50 +0530> From: "Aires Rodrigues" > > Subject: [Goanet] SAVE THE GOA EXCHEQUER> To: > goa...@goanet.org> Message-ID:> > > Content-Type: > text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1> > Goa Government should take austerity > measures to stop the unnecessary strain> on Goa's exchequer. There has to be > a curb on unnecessary traveling by> Ministers and in particular the foreign > jaunts. The Ministers should keep> themselves fit and trim by not wining and > dining at the people's cost.> > In holding on to his chair Chief Minister > Digambar Kamat has had to walk a> tight rope with some Ministers within his > cabinet not seeing eye to eye.> Time and again the Chief Minister has had to > diffuse virtual in-camera> cabinet bull fights. Infact the brunt and > humiliation Digambar Kamat has had> to face from his own party men and allies > has been a bigger threat than the> official opposition , the Bharatiya Janata Party.> > With all clamoring for Ministerial berths and eyeing exclusively the plum> lucrative portfolios, it only confirms that they have not embarked on a> mission to serve the people but to help themselves and make the best while> it lasts.> > Aires Rodrigues> Ribandar> _ Invite your mail contacts to join your friends list with Windows Live Spaces. It's easy! http://spaces.live.com/spacesapi.aspx?wx_action=create&wx_url=/friends.aspx&mkt=en-us
[Goanet] Little Christmas cheer for Indian tourism
various categories in the state. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has painted a gloomy picture of India's aviation sector. IATA chief Giovanni Bisignani stated that Indian carriers would witness a drop in demand following Mumbai. Ernest Dias of SITA Travels said that while the number of flights coming into the state from Europe remained constant, there has been a 20 percent drop in actual arrivals. Those in the tourism and hospitality trade are hoping that the situation will improve in the coming six months. 'The tourism industry experienced a similar situation after 9/11 in the US. But we are hopeful as the Indian tourism industry is resilient,' said Reddy. Goa is beginning to see foreign and domestic tourists trickle back. Rajeev Narain, president of the Tourism Guild of Agra, said: 'It is high time we changed our focus to domestic tourism to provide continuity and stability and assured revenue. We are hopeful of getting more bookings from next month.' Perhaps 2009, meant to be 'Visit India Year', will bring good tidings and be a new year in every sense of the word! (With inputs from Sanu George, Mohammed Shafeeq, V.S. Karnic, Qaid Najmi, Anil Sharma, Mayabhushan Nagvenkar, Brij Khandelwal and Mayank Agarwal.) http://www.indiaenews.com/business/20081222/166449.htm
[Goanet] French woman found dead in Goa
French woman found dead in Goa Indo-Asian News Service A French woman was found dead in a trailer parked near Vagator beach in Goa, while a man believed to be her companion was lying unconscious next to her, police said on Monday. The trailer, equipped with modern amenities including a mini kitchen, was found parked near Vagator beach, 25 km from state capital Panaji, on Sunday. Police suspect it could be a case of drug overdose. "The post mortem examination will be conducted on Monday. The other foreigner who was conscious has been admitted to the Goa Medical College and Hospital. He is still in a state of shock," a police official said. Although no passport was found, police narrowed down on the nationality of the woman from the number plate on the trailer in which her body was found. Police said they would try and identify the victim on the basis of foreigner registration forms that hotels or guest houses are required to submit to the police. These forms have the personal details of foreign guests. http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=RSSFeed-India&id=c1a40424-db81-4941-98d5-bbeb7c1a6ef8&MatchID1=4856&TeamID1=6&TeamID2=2&MatchType1=1&SeriesID1=1223&PrimaryID=4856&Headline=French+woman+found+dead+in+Goa
[Goanet] Christians Observe 'Protest Fast' To Mark Orissa Attack Anniversary (SAR News)
Christians Observe 'Protest Fast' To Mark Orissa Attack Anniversary By SAR NEWS MUMBAI, Maharashtra (SAR NEWS) -- Activists of a Catholic forum in Mumbai December 21 observed a daylong fast to mark the first anniversary of the violent attacks on Christians in India. The members of the Catholic Secular Forum, a community non-government organization, were protesting the Orissa state government's inaction and calling for protection for the community. Alongside the fast at Azad Maidan was a 'Black Crib' symbolically representing a Christmas crib that was torched near Nagercoil in Tamil Nadu last week, and threats to repeat it in other places. CISF general secretary Joseph Dias told SAR News that attacks by non-state players had increased in vigour in the run-up for Christmas. The saffron brigade -- the pro-Hindu groups -- has reduced the freedom of religion to a farce in Orissa where there has been no respite for a year despite assurances by the Union and state governments, he said. There has been no let-up in the attacks on Christians and the potential danger of attacks increasing during Christmas is even more. State shutdown called off: Despite the calling off of the proposed Christmas bandh, Orissa continued to be a communal cauldron, Dias feels. "The mob terror unleashed by the fundamentalists in Orissa makes it equal if not more disastrous than the Mumbai terror attacks. The government and the citizens therefore need to pay equal if not more attention to communalism and mob terror, if India's secular fabric is not to be torn asunder by extremist elements." He said there was no improvement in the situation in Orissa, as even this Christmas, religious services will be held by over 12,000 persons in 9 relief camps in Kandhamal district alone, and an equal number in another 13 affected districts like Jharsuguda or Bherampur. At least another 30,000 are hiding in the forests of Orissa and thousands of families fleeing to the state capital Bhubaneshwar or other states like Maharashtra, Kerala, Delhi or Goa. The protesters urged the prime minister, the home minister, the chief ministers and political leaders to act and treat communalism as equal, if not more threatening than terrorism, damaging the secular fabric and unity of the country.
[Goanet] Soiled Sons and other Tourist Attractions in Goa (George Menezes, Goanet)
Soiled Sons and other Tourist Attractions in Goa George Menezes If there was a fear that tourism was going to take a beating in Goa, think again. There is too much happening in "amchem" Goa. And the happenings are of such exciting proportions that it will attract thousands of Indians and foreigners whose boredom levels have touched bottom, pun intended, like the Dow Jones and the Sensex. Courts and Police stations have specially cleared enormous spaces for tourist attendance. One such court is hearing a case against a well built, good looking guy who has been found wandering in the city and Goa's northern beaches with out wearing his trousers. Not even a "khashti", mind you, said the prosecuting officer. "Are you married?" the judge asks the accused "Yes your honour" says the accused. "Five times. One recently" "And do you have any children?" "Yes your honour" says the accused "Fifteen of them. Some black, some white and two khaki. And one is on the way" The Honorable Judge thinks for a minute, scratches his moth eaten wig, bangs his gavel on the table and says quietly "Case dismissed. The accused obviously has no time to put on his pants" >From what we read in the newspapers and watch on television there appear to be a whole lot of men who have no time to put on their pants in Goa. Hence the fear of a dip in tourism is unfounded. If fact after the high attendance at the Police Stations and courts, where touts are charging entrance fees, tourists mix with locals at "tavernas" and bars to get the real story. Says the father of one such pant-less progeny. "It is all a political conspiracy. My enemies have formed small political parties and are using all the pants they can get as the Party flags. Our sons have no pants to wear. One Party has even made a pact with the BSP and adopted a slogan that says "Caste-less and khashti-less Party" Tourists are also flocking to the Tourism Department's "All Goa Treasure Hunt" to find a very precious and precocious Goan youngster who has disappeared when he was badly wanted. "Baba come home, no?" This is bigger than the "Bigg Boss" or even "Big Brother" and the prize for finding the missing gem is any one's guess. Millions, I am told, considering that the lolly is coming from the tax payer's pockets. Switch to the village of Moira. Tourist buses packed to capacity are wending their way to the colorful and once quiet village of Moira, famous for its special bananas, now a show case for a Banana Republic. The hand out says that Goa's famous "cock fight" or less vulgarly "rooster fight" is being staged at the Gram Sabha (Village Council) office of Moira. The place is crowded with goons preventing genuine members of the Sabha from entering the meeting place. Venita Coelho who calls herself an accidental activist and who wrote a moving and scathing article in the local newspaper is not allowed to speak. She is threatened and intimidated. I quote her own words. "I was threatened with 'We'll see how you step out of your house. We'll see how you live in this village.' I was surrounded by a ring of shouting gesticulating men threatening me with the worst. And what did the police do? They swung resplendently into action -- by grabbing me, pulling me forcibly out of my chair and dragging me to the police jeep. I was driven straight to the police station and held for three hours. The police repeatedly assured me I am not arrested -- but I cannot leave till the PI (police inspector) comes". As you can imagine the tourists are asking for more. The famous bull fights called "dhirio", for example. Goa obliges. They are taken on a journey to every Gram Sabha where there is a total suspension of the rule of law. Blood flows like feni. The tourists are lapping it all up. The blood more than the feni. Obviously it is better to run a Moira Banana Republic that attracts tourists than a constitutionally functioning democracy committed to the rule of law that attracts no one. The next attraction is a re-hash of our famous Carnival with floats moving down the Mandovi River. One float is made up to look like a Court room or may be like a hospital Ward. From a distance the tourists can't tell the difference. Standing defiant, you see the courageous advocate Aires Rodrigues whose fingers have been chopped by hired assassins. Next to him is Prajal who was in the wrong place at the wrong time on the wrong day. Serve the advocate right say the Middle Eastern tourists. How dare he represent a foreign mother whose daughter was allegedly sex-abused by Goan sons of the soil? Back home his whole hand would have been officially cut off in public. Other floats are made to look like garbage dumps disguised as Gram Sabha offices. You see a montage of the faces of a generation of Goan born-again angry citizen activists bruised, battered, neglected, humiliated and betrayed by their own people. Betrayed by friends, neighbours, relatives, people who baptized them and who will one da
Re: [Goanet] The Right to Convert
--- On Mon, 12/22/08, Dr. U. G. Barad wrote: > My response: But conversions in India, as they are > happening today, are not > merely about empowering the poor. It is about a sinister > and subversive > strategy, hatched in the US, backed by the Bush > administration over the > years. Barad, we are not talking about people being given sweeties here or enticed to eat a dollop of ice-cream. We are talking about a change of religion, a change that for most people would require deep examination of their conscience and then an informed decision. There cannot be a "sinister and subversive" plot when people have a power to say no. That is the point I am trying to make. Knowing evangelical groups, I bet they are appealing to people not through money but with the promise of miracles. The miraculous possibility that one's life can change through embracing a new philosophy is a powerful motivator to anyone. You don't have to be poor, living in the tribal belt of Orissa to believe in fairytales. Most of our Catholics living in Goa also believe in these "Born again" fairytales nowadays. The answer to this problem is not legislation or violence. It is education and continuous counter-information. Once you understand something about evangelical groups and the sort of ideology they profess then you can be well on your way to tackling it. I am as much against evangelicals as I am against some of our Goan activists. But I defend the right of both to exist without hindrance in a civil society. Because if we undermine this basic right then we are inturn undermining democracy. Best, Selma
[Goanet] FEDERATION CUP: Bagan Win, Dempo Lose
FED CUP FINAL BARRETO WINS IT FOR BAGAN Dempo Disappoint in Summit Clash Kolkata: Jose Ramirez Barreto, the symbol of Mohun Bagan's resolution and resurgence, guided his team to the summit for the umpteenth time. Karim Bencherifa's bruised and battered side defied the odds in stunning fashion, subduing Dempo Sports Club 1-0 to lift the Federation Cup - for the 13th time -at the Salt Lake Stadium on Sunday. Barreto scored the decisive goal in the 68th minute to maintain the green and maroons' Phoenix-like rise from the ashes. Dempo huffed and puffed, leading to key striker Ranty Martins' expulsion card towards the end, and were ultimately out-thought and outsmarted by the more determined and disciplined side. Mohun Bagan were so much in control, so decisive in their attacks, so quick to respond to crisis, that their fans would have started believing that this could be their year. They were the deserving winners of the Federation Cup. Bencherifa ensured his players were in a positive mood by unleashing Ishfaq Ahmed on the left flank and Lalkamal Bhowmick in the middle, with the intent being clearly on inflicting damage to the Dempo defence. Their hunger was palpable as they looked brisk and business-like right from the opening whistle. Barreto was at the heart of Mohun Bagan's domination, knitting together moves, helping Ishfaq create a shooting opportunity and setting him free for another chance. The Brazilian, blessed with immense stamina, roamed all over the park. One such enterprise saw him pounce on poor defending by Creson Antao to give PC Lalampuiya another chance to expose the growing disorder in Armando Colaco's backline. Pushing Dempo back by force of will, Mohun Bagan began the second half in the same tempo. And then came that moment in the 68th minute. Goalkeeper V.P. Sathish Kumar failed to judge Lalkamal's corner as Mohun Bagan right-back Habibur Rahman Mondal backheaded the ball towards the box from the other end. Barreto made his presence felt in front of the goal, pouncing on the opportunity with a clinical finish in a melee. Trust Barreto and his Mohun Bagan to make crisis look such a silly word. http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOI&BaseHref=TOIGO/2008/12/22&PageLabel=16&EntityId=Ar01600&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T
[Goanet] Churchill makes a case for Romi Konkani
LINGO LIMBO Churchill makes a case for Romi Konkani Margao: Minister for public works and development (PWD) Churchill Alemao on Sunday made a strong case for the inclusion of Konkani in the Roman script as the official language of the state. "Children of the backward classes like Velips, Kunbis and Gawdas will immensely benefit if Konkani in the Roman script is compulsorily taught to them, at least in the primary classes. This will help them to easily adapt to English medium schools as they would have already been familiar with the script (Roman alphabets)," Alemao said. The minister was addressing the gathering at the concluding session of the first Romi Konkani culture and literature conference, organized by the Dalgado Konkani Akademi (DKA) at Margao on Sunday. Voicing concern over the "imminent obliteration" of Goa's identity if Roman Konkani is not accorded the official language status, Alemao lamented the growing affinity of the Goans to the English language which he said was harming the interest of their mother-tongue. Lauding the tiatrists for "striving to keep Roman Konkani alive in the hearts of Goans," Alemao urged the tiatrists fraternity to stay united for the cause of Goa's identity. "If all the tiatrists shed their differences and stay united, it won't be long before Roman Konkani achieves the status of Goa's official language," he stated. Earlier, the DKA adopted various resolutions in support of Konkani in the Roman script. The resolution demanding Konkani in Roman script be accorded official language status along with Devnagri script, ranks high among the list of resolutions adopted. http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOI&BaseHref=TOIGO/2008/12/22&PageLabel=5&EntityId=Ar00505&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T
[Goanet] Growing Up Extreme:On th Peculiarly Vicious Fanatacism of Expatriates
Frederick had made an interesting observation that many expatriates profess liberal values abroad and are arch conservatives back home. They practice double standards. Secularism for some of them is only skin deep. Here is an article written by Shashi Tharoor in the Washington Post sometime in the 90's but still very relevant today. http://www.geocities.com/indianfascism/fascism/in_usa.htm Regards, Marshall
[Goanet] Star Hotels v/s Shacks: Turf battle with a biased umpiring from Govt., media and Church in Goa ?
Dears, Where are the foreign tourists most at risk in a terrorist attack: a jam-packed Starred hotel ballroom /discotheque with limited exits and narrow corridors or Goa's churches at midnight or open air "beach shacks"? If your answer to that question is a "beach shack", one of us must be crazy ...or a hotel owner/manager, a police officer or a bureaucrat who has psyched our CM in doing the unthinkable: banning the beach parties at the height of the tourist season. "Economic terrorists" who frequent the seats of power dare not frighten the Roman Cathoic Church in Goa. Protagonists of Konkani in Roman script or catholics in Kandhmal district of Orissa are a different cup of tea. They can be intimidated into silence. Goa's Churchill is no Winston Churchill, either. Rs. 15 lakhs ...and a promise of more ... can silence the demand for control of the linguistic body with far reaching implications and a budget Rs.2.00 crore per annum, it seems. The mess will go on. The Midnight mass will also go on. Terrorists will attack the Hedonists, SFX will protect all Niz Goykar catholics and Damu-bab will protect the Hindus. the Muslim girls in the Madrasas will have to fend for themselves as they have no known local patron, save Datta Naik who went to jail to protect the rights of the minorities in Baina one mid-summer afternoon in 2004. Thereafter, the animal that the BJP was riding piggy-back walked off from under its butt. The party has not recovered since. I hope it can enjoy a "Khuxalbhorit Natal". I really enjoyed the audio CD its Cultural Cell distributed and recommend it to those who like meaningful Christmas carols and other songs in Konkani and English. After Madras city became Chennai and Madras state became Tamil Nadu, the term Madrasa seems a bit anachronistic. May be they should use a seminal name like a seminary [NOT 'semi nari', as it is often mispronounced.] As far as SECURITY CHECKING goes, sample this: 1. Carrying of liquids and aerosols as hand baggage is banned in airplanes ...but one can put it in the checked in baggage. 2. The CISF questioned me at Dabolim and Mumbai airports about the hermetically sealed packets of Costa's branded "Dodol" I carried for my friends on a recent trip to Bhubhaneshwar. I had to leave the bottle of sealed mineral water at the "security check" because liquids are not allowed in the hand baggage. No not even water! When I reached Bhubaneshwar and was looking for my used can of liquid shoe polish in my checked in baggage, I discovered that I had put it in my hand baggage ...and it had passed all security checks, including four checks at the Chatrapati Shivaji international airport in Mumbai alone!! 3. At the Mumbai airport on my return trip to Goa, I happened to meet the unforgetable Linda D'Souza of the wonderful little restaurant in Fontainhas appropriately called "Viva Panjim". As any genteel lady does, she carried some creams and lotions in the only baggage she had: "Hand or cabin baggage". NO, she could not take it with her the X-ray machine operator told her. If he allowed her, she would be stopped at the "Security Check" anyway and the items would be confiscated or she would not be allowed to travel. In addition he would be questioned for allowing it. Fortunately, I had place in my checked in suitcase and the creams/lotions could go in there. When we reached Dabolim, Linda discovered that one large bottle of oil had remained in her hand baggage after all that fuss!! All this happened in just one week...Monday to Thursday ...at Mumbai International Airport. Did someone say there was a heightened alert in Mumbai after the 26/11 terror attack at the Taj and Trident in Mumbai This cancellation of "beach parties" is an economic strategy, nothing else. It is to ensure that there is no "leakage" of clientele from the 5-star hotel to the beach shacks. You can get permissions for a dance at the "Spice Farms" in the hinterland as they are not in competition with the Beach Resorts. The target of the terrorists are the beach shacks. The terrorists are not armed with AK-47s and grenades. They are armed with slush funds, complimentary stay/dance coupons and Goa Government orders! Capt. Anand Sharma must be some nut to say that the tourists have nothing to fear. They must fear the Congress, the party to which he belongs. Congress men and women will do almost anything for money or favours. The history of modern India is replete with examples to need repetition. It is not as if the judiciary is above all this. The central Cabinet has approved the setting up a National Judicial Council to probe complaints against judges of higher judiciary. [See report below]. About Goa Police, the less said the better. See what happened to Police Inspector Nelson Albuquerque .suspended for inefficiency in Pernem, then reinstated and posted in charge of immigration. The tourists do not complain about inefficiency in "hafta" collection. It is only the "higher ups" who have
[Goanet] Ref: Oh God, What Did I do ?
What Should I do ? My name is Dom Pedro and I came from a poor family, I am thankful to my parents for helping me to finish my studies, they had to sacrifice a lot to pay for my education, my younger sister was still in School, though I tried very hard all I could do was get a Commerce degree. I tried to get a decent job but no luck, my parents couldn't afford to pay agents for a job in the Gulf or on the ship, what should I do ? This was the question that vibrated between my ears with great intensity, I was going nuts, just then local elections were announced and every one was on the run and in hunt for candidates and supporters by whatever means. Our poverty did not deter my parents from up bringing me through sincere Christian virtues, though there was no money and me jobless even than, I refrained from getting my hands on the ill gotten wealth, so lavishly thrown around, like feed for the pigeons in a public square in Bombay, by the corrupt politicians. What should I do ? I was young, I was good with my tongue as I was with my over all knowledge and I was energetic, but my parents were getting old, my sister had to finish her studies and had to marry her off, how long would my parents be able to support and sustain, what should I do ? As tormented as I was and with the search still on for a job, no solution came forth. All my friends were too busy to help me, either in business, in the Gulf or on the ship, I was getting a wee bit sick of being born in a poor family, frustrations and demons started making their way into my head, what should I do ? As my apathy for life started to transcend, I started seeking absolution through anger and guile, and at that vulnerable moment, I was confronted by our local MLA, with a sympathetic ear. I was impressed that he had time for me and my problems and offered me a job as his PA, the clouds in the sky had disappeared and rays of sun shone brightly, the MLA was indeed my saviour, I worked very hard in his election campaign and was rewarded in more ways than I had hoped for. Election were done with. The MLA was elected and became a Minister and with him, my stature too increased. The local MLA was uneducated, I was, he was impressed with all that I did for him and I was applauded by his Party-men too. I did, what I had to Do !!! Things began to simmer for the better and life looked good and I began to prosper. I Soon became the middleman for deals between the Minister and the interested parties, Christian upbringing was "cocooned and mummified" and money was my God as it was of the Minister's, both riding high of the wings of fortune, my small house, turned into a bungalow with a Honda Civic in my driveway. Parents, though questioning, never perusing for the truth, because I had warned them not to interfere in what I do. Along with all the ill gotten wealth came the axis of evil, wine, women and gambling, a life of debauchery, I had become arrogant and inconsiderate to all and did not even realize it. I was young and I had already made a mark and got noticed, I was having a ball of a time, what more could I ask for ? I did what I had to do !!! In a jiffy four years had gone by, I did not realize how fast time passed with all the money that came by, I was amazed at the power and pelf, I had achieved by my sheer guile and gall, I felt good, at last I was emancipated from the dreadful clutches of poverty. That was the past, I had developed an instant amnesia for my past poverty, I knew I did, what I had to do Four good years had gone by in a whiff and I was not just a "fringe factor" any more, I had taken the "centrestage" along with the minister. I was the fast talking, fast acting affluent phenomenal achiever with "greenbacks" banked as far as the Alps. All I did was, what I had to do !!! Next round of elections were announced and the pace of activity was hectic, for my generous contribution to the Party and personal funds, I had won my Candidature, what an achievement ? All I did was, what I had to do !!! All this while I did not realize, that I had done nothing for the people but myself. People had become wise and began to question, why's and the how's. Four years I did not attend any village function, feasts, deaths or births. I wasn't aware if our neighbours and relatives were dead or alive and I was hit by my silliness for over-indulgence with wealth. Oh ! What did I do ? I poured out money like water in a field to make up for my incoherent prescriptions and perceptions but could not win over the public, I might have developed an instant amnesia for my past poverty but the people did not develop amnesia for what I had done or not done. I lost the election, the Party too lost. No power no money. What did I do ? As at times misfortunes come in heap, I fell sick and was diagnosed to have AIDS, the floor on which I stood collapsed, knees became weak, a high flyer brought down to earth in a jiffy as well,
[Goanet] Wishes
Aurora of Christmastide Josef and Donkey trudged down the path Over rocks, then 'wasy of cobbled-stone Donkey nudged on to carry his load: Hallowed Tabernacle to the Prince un-born Viagem into Bethlehem's heart. Stopped here - looked on... Weary and hopeful, enquiring along Good Josef He needed a room To rest his Beloved - So patient but worn Good Josef He needed a room To rest his Beloved - She with child (to be born). And so again He stopped here - looked on... Thanks Be! On thrice-try A Keeper of Inn soon ushered them in To a Manger: warm and small No vacancy it seems Across down the hall Josef helped Mary gently to sit: On hay: spun fold That shone by lamp-lit Soon creatures witnessed the Birth of our King 'Jeweled Knight, Prince of Peace' Myriad angels did sing The Manger turned Throne for the Li'l Babe within And trumpets they sounded Sweet shepherds they rounded In - the Magi strutted To bow to our King The Manger turned Throne for the Li'l Babe within Don't wait for the clio-clops Don't wait for door-knocks Just open your hearts To the swaddle-clothed King Save your heart as a Throne For Him and Him alone Peace and Goodwill For you He shall bring. Marinella Proenca Author of: Heart Beat Poems Awakening GOAN Memories http://www.heartbeatgoa.com
[Goanet] The Right to Convert
This is a reply to Selma carvalho's message No: 9, dated: Sun, 21 Dec 2008 on the subject: The Right to Convert Selma writes: Excellent post Father Ivo. We must make clear the position of the church as it has been for a long time. There is grave misconception out there fuelled by right-wing fundamentalist groups that we must correct. India has gotten into the nasty habit of taking away civil liberties in the guise of upholding its democracy. If there are brutalities in the Gulf carried out against maids, rule that maids cannot work in the Gulf. If HIV becomes prevalent, propose that HIV testing be made mandatory before marriage. If there is a high incidence of foetocide, makes sure that every women is denied the right to know the gender of her baby before birth. And now this court has deliberately split hairs on its definition of what is freedome of religion. It's is a dire sign that barely 60 years after independence our Constitution should come under attack like this. Little by little, we ensure that our civil liberties are being curtailed and India can successful trot its way to a totalitarian country based on some preconceived Raj model. My response: But conversions in India, as they are happening today, are not merely about empowering the poor. It is about a sinister and subversive strategy, hatched in the US, backed by the Bush administration over the years. This is the first para of the article which is titled THOSE THAT SHALL DELIVER... Read more on this issue by clicking the link provided here below: http://www.tehelka.com/story_main.asp?filename=ts013004qaeda.asp Best regards, Dr. U. G. Barad
Re: [Goanet] Goanet Reader: Skin-deep secularism (FN, in the Herald)
- this needs to appear in our dear Gomantak and Tarun Bharat too- prakash --- Goanet Reader wrote: > Skin-deep secularism > > FREDERICK NORONHA builds a > case to show that 'secular' > campaigners in Goa have their > own religious and even caste > biases.
[Goanet] Heart to Heart: CM Sir, can you liberate yourself from delusion?
Heart to Heart By Ethel Da Costa CM Sir, can you liberate yourself from delusion? I've been traveling like a nomad on the loose.wanting fresh air to run through my hair, from mountains to the cities, driving miles of humanity spread across acres of land, some dry, some desolate, some bursting with population and their vagaries..traffic, exhaust, cows chewing on plastic at roadside garbage dumps, drones in office spaces, beating recession, inflation, falling sensex and so many aspirations as we struggle to find balance in a country now experiencing anger, fear, insecurity and loads of questions. I packed my travel bag and set across the borders, wanting to quiet down the stresses of progress at the price of human lives..but CM Sir, your Goa and mine is truly on fire..the flames of anger now stoking high and loud. It seems to me that you've now lost control and credit trying to keep the cockroaches hidden under the carpet. Happens, when you keep sweeping them under, thinking no ones looking, shutting the genuine concerns of people - your voters who have been supporting you initially and are now very angry - with a brute force of power. Lathi charge at innocent anti-mining protestors at Ambauli, pulling people out of their homes and beating them up, while the corruption of land deals, builders lobbies, River Princess, garbage sites and I can't count the scams anymore, continue to haunt our daily, normal lives, abetted by your people in the Secretariat. Have you seen the sorry state of your own city? Margao? And does it strike you that we have more `migrant' than local sharing resident spaces in what was once a lovely town to settle down in? I'm not a regionalist, but CM Sir, even simple road directions from roadside passersby -- if you're lost meandering looking for a sample of peace in your own hometown -- can be had from migrant labourers proudly owning ownership of our land. What happened to my local Goenkars? Hopefully, you know better than me. I no longer recognize Margao. I no longer recognize those places dotted with intimate memories of family outings doing ice-creams at Penguin, dosas at Kamat, biryanis at Longuinous.or the side lanes for burgers during college, or shopping for Christmas at Old Market..I feel like a stranger in my own hometown CM Sir. Because, while I struggle to make a decent ration card and voting card for myself, your `migrant' brethren blessed with the graces of our political grasshoppers flaunt their right to my space so boldly.. Is this the Goa you are bequeathing to the younger generation still learning Goa's history in their schools? Are these the values you are passing down, that lip service will take our State and country to heaven? Tell me CM Sir, are you one of those who cannot differentiate between good people and psychopaths crowding your living spaces, day in and night out, using your good offices for a good, fast buck? Having worked with you professionally, I know a great good exists within your heart. It is that good I seek to appeal, for the greater good of Goa. As leaders, we understand the pressures of running portfolios, seats of power and people management. But a steadfast man/woman is he/she who knows when to draw the line and how. Even if you have to firmly put down a foot, make that two, when things have to be done right. Even in great pressure. Even in greater opposition. Because you are accountable to a higher conscious, your own conscious, the seat the people have put you on and the enormous weight of responsibility absolute power bequests those assigned with it. These are the expectations that have gone awry today. And yes, you are to be blamed a great deal for letting your cronies have the better end of the pie, while the people of this State have been left with the crumbs. Because, finally, you and I know well that the buck stops with the man/woman on the hot seat. Works in life, works in work. Simple. As I write this, I will watch with amusement as another charade of Liberation is played in my backyard. Speeches, medals, and high tea. I avoid all these like the plague. Not because I disrespect the protocol of niceties that go with these deliberations, but because I have lost patience, like the lakh of Goans who now believe that the only way to make their voices felt is to now show it in strength. The River Princess. The mining monsters eating away into our health and environment. The police versus people lobby. The builders lobby who have ruined whatever little patches of green to exfoliate our lungs off the dust settling into our homes and food. Why can't you simply get your act together, boss? You must understand that the people of Goa mean well. But the `grasshoppers' now turned voracious locusts have been eating for too long into our pride as the country's most peaceful, sucegad State with their antics that shame even teenagers high on testosterone. We want to tell you CM Sir, th
[Goanet] Foreign Funded charity
Marshall, I am not per se against an Indian converting from one faith to another. If someone is not treated well in his own religion or ceases to believe in his own religion's philosophies, ideals and beliefs, that person should well be entitled to convert, but the conversion must be voluntary, i.e. without the use of unethical methods like force, fraud or material inducements. The Supreme Court has not banned conversions. In my opinion, what the Court suggests is that every Indian has the fundamental right to propagate his own religion's philosophies and beliefs but the same must be without the ulterior motive to convert, since the whole process of conversion includes a heavy demonizing of the other person's faith which is against the "freedom of conscience" of the other person. The process of conversion must thus be voluntary. I however agree entirely with your positions vis-à-vis the Catholic Church. Below is one of my responses to something similar from another forum: (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GoenchimXapotam/message/15756 ) "The Hindutva outfits must learn to differentiate between radical evangelical outfits and mainstream ones like the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church is no longer into conversions. As a matter of fact, Catholics themselves are against these radical outfits who propagate a very orthodox form of Christianity, a form that the Catholic Church discarded ages back. These radical outfits convert not only Hindus to their orthodox faith but Catholics too. Even the Pope used the word "Rapacious wolfs" to describe these outfits. A Catholic friend of mine complained to me recently about his own brother who was weaned away by such believer groups. He was upset with his brother's subsequent irrational behavior with him and the rest of the family which created serious conflicts and tensions between them. I see no difference between these outfits and Hindu radical outfits like the VHP, Sanatan Saunstha and HJS." I shall elaborate on this subject and pen my own thoughts in a later post. Cheers Sandeep -- Marshall Mendonca wrote on Goanet: 1.The Tehelka story is regarding funding of Pentecostal / Evangelist groups in India. In case you are unaware, the Catholic Church is different from the pentecostal / evangelist church. 2.The BJP was a great fan of George Bush (43) who is a 'born again christian' and about whose groups the story is all about. So I guess, the sangh parivar should have no problem. 3. Receiving funds from abroad is not illegal provided they come through official channels and are subject to audit and disclosure.There has been no information about misuse of funds. 4. There has been a gross miscarriage of justice in the Stanislaus Case. Refer critique below. http://www.combatlaw.org/information.php?article_id=949&issue_id=34 --
[Goanet] Why Atheism May Be The Best Way to Understand God
>From Alternet.org Why Atheism May Be The Best Way to Understand God, by Larry Beinhart (Two excerpts) Nowadays, it is common to hear things like "God is Energy," or the Universe, or Love, or That Which Quarks Come From (heard that one last night, with great conviction and certainty). If the word of God is true, it makes a certain amount of sense that people will kill and die for it. Understanding that is pretty straightforward. But if people are killing and dying for a delusion, then there's some explaining to do. http://www.alternet.org/story/113063/why_atheism_may_be_the_best_way_to_understand_god/ _ venantius
[Goanet] Help Wanted: Composting in the USA & Canada
Dear Goanetters in the US & Canada, While at Greenpeace Sweden, I came across a guy that pointed me to http://www.naturemill.com/ which is an American company that makes composting bins that are small enough to be used in apartments. Some models actually fit into the kitchen cabinets! Prices from 200 - 400 USD, It's rather steep, but I can't help wondering if they are popular there? Can anybody find out some more about this product? If it's found to be great, I would not mind buying the cheapest model 199+15$ that comes to about Rs.10,000/- to try out here and see if we can make cheaper models that work on the same principle. Thanks! Clinton.. Benaulim / Goa +91 9890936828
[Goanet] Souverir of the opening of the new building - Goan Institiue, Dar es Salaam - 3rd December, 1959
Folks, Here is a picture from the 1959 souvenir. If anyone has a picture of a better Goan club house, please post it here. http://www.flickr.com/photos/45002...@n00/3126257891/sizes/l/in/set-72157611432171339/ For those interested in the rest of the souvenir, here it is in its entirety. http://www.flickr.com/photos/45002...@n00/3123396493/in/set-72157611432171339/ Mervyn3.0 __ Instant Messaging, free SMS, sharing photos and more... Try the new Yahoo! Canada Messenger at http://ca.beta.messenger.yahoo.com/
[Goanet] SAVE THE GOA EXCHEQUER
Goa Government should take austerity measures to stop the unnecessary strain on Goa's exchequer. There has to be a curb on unnecessary traveling by Ministers and in particular the foreign jaunts. The Ministers should keep themselves fit and trim by not wining and dining at the people's cost. In holding on to his chair Chief Minister Digambar Kamat has had to walk a tight rope with some Ministers within his cabinet not seeing eye to eye. Time and again the Chief Minister has had to diffuse virtual in-camera cabinet bull fights. Infact the brunt and humiliation Digambar Kamat has had to face from his own party men and allies has been a bigger threat than the official opposition, the Bharatiya Janata Party. With all clamoring for Ministerial berths and eyeing exclusively the plum lucrative portfolios, it only confirms that they have not embarked on a mission to serve the people but to help themselves and make the best while it lasts. Aires Rodrigues Ribandar
[Goanet] VOA News - Mumbai's Attacked Hotels Reopen
http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-12-21-voa10.cfm Have yourselves a Merry Christmas. rubygoes
Re: [Goanet] The Right to convert
--- On Sun, 12/21/08, Mario Goveia wrote: > I am firmly opposed to coercing others to convert against > their will by "force" or "fraud". > However, in a free society that guarantees freedom of > religion, every individual must have the right to > voluntarily change their religion at any time, for any > reason, other than under duress and against their will. - Very good point Mario. I think I am experiencing forced conversions here in the UK. Every time I am on a bus or walking to my favourite butcher to buy mutton (Muslim butchers sell the best mutton here), I have these Jamaican ladies who come running up to me, guaranteeing eternal salvation through Jesus Christ. No amount of telling them that I am already Catholic seems to dissuade them. They insist I must read the Bible. Maybe there is something about me that says I can't possibly be Christian, like that Madonna T-shirt I keep wearing :-) Stop forced conversions in the UK, especially on the Red Bus, since there is absolutely no chance of me getting my British driving license and I have to keep using that bus. Say no to forced conversions :-) Wishing everyone a Wonderful Christmas and New Year! Cheers guys, Selma
[Goanet] Shack owners cry foul over ban on Goa beach parties
Shack owners cry foul over ban on Goa beach parties Panaji, Dec 21: Hoteliers have breathed a sigh of relief at the government's decision to exclude hotels from the ban on parties in Goa, but shack owners are crying foul over it. Gaurish Dhond, Goa Hoteliers and Restaurant Owners Association spokesperson, said the government had done the right thing by banning parties on beaches. "Security cannot be compromised. And a ban on beach parties will not affect tourism in Goa much," Dhond said. He hoped that with hotels being allowed to organise parties and celebrations, tourists would now start making a bee-line to Goa. Vice president of the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) Manguirish Pai Raikar claimed that while the industry as a whole would have to pay a heavy price due to the ban, excluding hotels from the ban was a huge relief. "At least the more secure, indoor venues have been spared from the ban. This is a good sign to some extent," Raikar said. The ban on parties on beaches and open areas comes into force from Dec 23 till Jan 5. Parties and celebrations held within hotel premises and other religious and traditional celebrations like the midnight mass and Christmas revelries have also been excluded from the ban. The ban, however, has led to gloom for the owners of the several hundred shacks or makeshift thatch huts serving refreshments and alcohol on the beaches. Cruz Cardozo, Goa Shack Owners Welfare Society president, claimed that the ban was mischievous in nature and smacked of the government's bias toward rich hoteliers. "Most shack owners were planning to hold modest New year parties. They are a source of income for us. The government's decision has hurt us very badly," Cruz said. Already pushed to the brink following a lean season, Cruz promised retaliation if hotels organised their parties on the beaches. "If there is ban, it should be for all. We won't tolerate hotels organising parties on the beach," he warned. Cruz said that shack owners shell out Rs.30,000 as licence fees each month and that the government was not doing much to protect the interests of the shack owners. "How will we survive? The government has failed to protect the interests of the people," he said. Another shack owner told IANS that the government's ban would only fester corruption as there were several aspects in the ban that were open to a wide range of interpretations. "Look, all your rave and beach party organisers will now have to bribe the district administration to hold beach and rave parties by applying for licences in the name of birthday parties and religious, traditional celebrations. This ban is only a new way to earn money. Terror is only an excuse," said the Calangute based shack owner. Goa has over 300 licenced shacks dotting its coast that are allowed to do business only during the tourist season after which the makeshift structures are brought down. --- IANS http://www.newkerala.com/topstory-fullnews-63215.html
[Goanet] The Right to convert
Sandeep: "There is no such thing as a fundamental right to convert any person to one's own religion and the government can impose certain restrictions keeping in view public order, the Supreme Court has ruled.The court's ruling came while dismissing a petition challenging an Orissa law requiring police verification of all religious conversions. Citing the SC's landmark 1977 ruling in Rev Stanislaus vs Madhya Pradesh, a Bench of Chief Justice V N Khare and Justice S B Sinha said that ''what is freedom for one is freedom for the other, in equal measure''. Response: I believe the Supreme Court ruling was flawed. Refer critique given below. Excerpts: Quote: "And, although many legal luminaries believe that the 1977 judgment was unconstitutional, since it has been ruled by the Apex Court, we must abide by it. This means, as of now, Christians have the right only to communicate their beliefs or expose the tenets of Christianity to others, and not to convert. However, if the person to whom the faith is propagated is convinced and wants to profess or practice on his own volition, he or she has the right to do so." Unquote. http://www.combatlaw.org/information.php?article_id=949&issue_id=34 To me conversions are a non-issue for the following reasons: 1.The population of christians in India has shown a steady decline from 2.7% to 2.3% as per the last census. 2.The anti-conversion laws have been on the statute in some states like Orissa, MP, Arunachal Pradesh for over 30-40 years. During this time there has not been a single case of conviction. This puts paid to the false propaganda expounded by the sangh parivar. 3. In today's world there can be no 'forced conversion' unless backed by the power of the state. Ironically, it is the VHP which is indulging in forced conversion in Orissa and elsewhere. Refer: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/oct/19/orissa-violence-india-christianity-hinduism http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=13213 http://www.zeenews.com/Nation/2008-10-03/473823news.html http://orissaburning.blogspot.com/2008/08/great-conversions-lie.html 4.The bogey of 'forced conversions' in reality exposes the true intentions of the the Sangh Parivar, whose ideologue Golwalkar expounded, "The foreign races in Hindustan must either adopt the Hindu culture and language, must learn to respect and hold in reverence Hindu religion, must entertain no ideas but those of glorification of the Hindu race and culture[..] or may stay in the country, wholly subordinated to the Hindu nation, claiming nothing, deserving no privileges, far less any preferential treatment — not even citizen's rights.' http://www.hindu.com/mag/2008/10/26/stories/2008102650150500.htm 5.The underlying objection to conversions is the fact that the missionaries by uplifting the poorest of the poor by providing them education and healthcare has removed them from the expoitative clutches of vested interests. Regards, Marshall
