[Goanet] Goa, Today

[Dr. U. G. Barad]

Goanet members may wish to read below mentioned article by clicking the link
provided or by reading the same article appended here below. 

 

The Link: http://blogs.expressindia.com/showblogdetails.php?contentid=289152

 

 

Best regards,

 

Dr. U. G. Barad

 

Goa, Today
27-03-2008
Dr. Vitull K. Gupta MD

Recent incidents of murders, sex crimes and increasing menace of drugs
has really exposed the tourisms' darker side Goa is facing today
ripping open the cultural conflicts. I feel Goa is being run over by
drugs, sex and crime with active connivance of corrupt politico-
bureaucratic system and law enforcing agencies which in fact is
turning the whole nation in to a great sex, drug and crime hub.

As human rights activist I have watched progressive deterioration of
governance affecting over all law and order situation in the country.
In India increasing criminalization of politics, corruption and apathy
is leading to more lawlessness spreading all around and affecting all
spheres of society what to talk about tourists. It is the poor and
average citizen including the national or international tourists that
emerges bruised and bears the maximum brunt of the collapsing system
and poor and inefficient governance.

Undercurrent of extreme violence in criminal minds is making them time
bombs ready to explode even without any provocation and lack of fear
of law adds fuel to the fire. Until fear of law is instilled among the
criminals and anti social element tourists or otherwise, making them
realize that they can not purchase or escape law, nothing is going to
change. The safety of tourists both domestic and international is
vital but I feel it is inextricably linked with the abysmal state of
our law and order situation and cannot be tackled in isolation.

[Goanet] Pak textbooks build hate culture against India

[Vinay Natekar]

I remember  some days back  there was a debate on Goanet  regarding
Pakistani School Textbooks having hate agenda  against India. One of our
Goanetters had  asked to provide  evidence from reliable sites to
justify this allegation.

Read this news article published in today's TOI.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Pak_textbooks_build_hate_culture_agai
nst_India/articleshow/3898659.cms

 

See how  Pakistan Government   is filling  innocent minds  with hatred
from the childhood  against India and  Indian culture. 

Regards

Vinay

 

[Goanet] The Accidental Activist - It's a thriller

[Venita Coelho]

The Accidental Activist - It's a thriller

By Venita Coelho


Whew! I finally did it. Actually sat down and read the Regional Plan 2021. I 
expected to have to wade through pages of legalese and babu-ese. Instead it 
was a thriller. In crisp clean wording it called a spade a spade and 
suggested a series of radical changes.

In its own words - 'Solid waste management is one of the biggest failures of 
the administration in Goa'. On tourism - 'initiatives are taken in spurts 
and are forgotten.' On building in villages - 'should not consist of massive 
developments or aggressive tower blocks.'

RP2021 points out that 80% of tourists to Goa are Indians, yet the majority 
of the advertising budget is spent chasing low price charter tourists. It 
makes the radical suggestion 'one years advertising budget should be used to 
clean up Goa's beaches, and provide the desperately needed infrastructure in 
those areas. This will earn more goodwill for Goa . than any advertising 
budget would deliver.'

Mining comes in for a scathing indictment for 'long term environmental 
damage being caused' and 'comparatively limited overall economic benefit to 
the state'.

Here's a nasty little fact. While mining uses up 8% of Goa's land mass which 
it lays to utter waste, how much does it contribute to the Goan kitty? A 
miserable 4%. Manufacturing on the other hand contributes 25% of the GDP and 
uses up only 2% of Goa's land mass. The plan suggests that the time has come 
for the Government ' to take a holistic view of the problem and heal the 
huge damage done to the communities living in these areas.'

And on the delicate question of migrants the Plan suggests that we will have 
to make a distinction between those who have 'no long term stake in this 
land' and have contributed to the destruction to it's landscape, and those 
who ' have added so much value to the quality of life in Goa - and it's 
economy.' It believes 'that in this attitude lies sanity - and the future of 
the land.'

The plan repeatedly points out that Goa is fragile and development and 
conservation are 'complementary indicators of growth'. It is clear that its 
mandate is to provide 'development in the context of conservation.' To do 
this it makes two dramatic and far reaching changes.

First the new division of ECO1 and ECO2 are introduced. If properly 
implemented, almost 80% of Goa falls in these two categories. ECO1 is a 
total no development zone. Conversion will be allowed in ECO 2 only under 
the strictest rules. All land coming under these two categories will be 
protected.

The second radical change is the new allocation of FAR. Floor to Area Ratio 
defines how much you can actually build on your land. Overall the FAR has 
been brought down. But even more pathbreaking- the more land you have, the 
lower the FAR and the less you can build. So if FAR is 60 for plots beneath 
4000 sq. mts, for those above it comes down to 40. This is specifically to 
avoid the curse of mega projects.

For the common man it suggests that totally different rules apply to 
building for personal use. Any plot under 350 sq mts gets a blanket FAR of 
80 and further, a simple one window process for all permissions.

So what's the problem?

Between the sweeping changes and vision that are outlined in the RP2021 and 
the on-the-ground reality somehow falls a shadow. Take Pilerne. The Google 
Map of Pilerne shows the lake with dense woods surrounding it. On the draft 
RP2021 plan the area is shown correctly as orchard and ECO2. By the time the 
village map has been sent out, one shore has suddenly become settlement. 
Many such shadows are being discovered as villages study their plans.

The second problem is the process. In an attempt to avoid the mass protests 
that lead to the withdrawal of the last plan, the TF has devised what it 
calls 'down top alongside top down planning'. Unfortunately the process ends 
up being neither here nor there. The people are presented with a full 
fledged plan - and a questionnaire that will somehow reflect their 
'aspirations'. Proper bottom up planning would have meant that the village 
plans came first, created by the villagers, then district plans and lastly 
the RP. Now we have some retro fitting, and nobody is quite sure how this 
will be done.

So is it a good plan? A bad plan? On such an important issue don't let 
anyone else make up your mind for you. Go ahead and read it yourself. It's a 
page turner. (ENDS)

==
The above article appeared in the December 23, 2008 edition of the Herald, 
Goa

[Goanet] 35th Parsvnath National Women's Chess Championship

[Sameer A. Salgaocar]

To All Sports Editors/Sports Journalists

35th Parsvanath National Women Chess Championship



Bhakti makes WIM Norm as Tania beats Kruttika to throw title race wide open



New Delhi (26/12/08) :- Top seed and local favourite International Master 
Tania Sachdev come back strongly to defend her National Women's title with a 
resounding victory against overnight leader Kruttika Nadig of Maharashtra in 
the ongoing 35th Parsvnath National Women Chess Championship at Russian 
Centre for Science and Culture here on Friday.  Meanwhile Goa's Woman FIDE 
Master and World Schools Under 17 Girls Champion Bhakti Kulkarni drew her 
game with Orissa's Woman International Master Kiran Manisha Mohanty to earn 
her second Woman International norm with 4 points out of the nine rounds.



Kruttika and Tania now share the top spot with 6.5 points but the latter has 
a crucial edge in the championship and a golden chance to complete her 
hattrick of titles as the rules stipulate that the result of direct 
encounter be taken into account in case of a tie. Playing the white side of 
French Defence, Kruttika applied the Tarrasch variation and got a 
comfortable position in the middle game but later failed to capitalize on 
the advantage. She made crucial mistakes in the endgame and grabbing the 
opportunity Tania went on to seal the game in her favour in 93 moves. 
Kruttika, however, had something to cheer about in the day as she achieved a 
nine game Women Grandmaster norm.



Soumya Swaminathan enjoys the lone second spot with 5 points as she defeated 
Padmini Rout of Orissa while Women Grand Master Swathi Ghate of LIC got the 
better of third seed WGM Eesha Karavade of Maharashtra.  Monginis Brand 
Ambassador Bhakti Kulkarni achieved her Women International Master norm with 
a draw against Kiran Manisha Mohanty in the most fashionable Gruenfeld 
Defence. The 16 year old student of Chowgule College who is also a former 
National Junior Girls Champion now will aspire to collect full points in the 
remaining two games to ensure a top 6 finish and thus earn a place in the 
Indian team which will be vying for top honours in prestigious tournaments 
abroad in 2009. Bhakti will be earning 20 elo points from this tournament 
and she attributed her improved performance completely to the coaching given 
to her by Dronacharya Awardee Raghunandan Gokhale via the internet. Hailing 
Bhakti's performance, AICF Vice President Sameer A. Salgaocar stated that 
she was well on her way to create history by becoming Goa's first Woman 
International Master and that it was only a matter of time before she earned 
the Woman Grandmaster title as well!

Results of Round 9 :  Pon N Krithika (4.5) drew with Amrutha Mokal (4), 
Bhakti Kulkarni (4) drew with Kiran Manisha Mohanty (3), Swathi Ghate (4.5) 
beat Eesha Karavade (4.5), Padmini Rout (3.5) lost to Soumya Swaminathan 
(5), Kruttika Nadig (6.5) lost to Tania Sachdev (6.5), Nisha Mohota (4.5) 
drew with Mary Ann Gomes (3.5)

Pairings of Round 10 : Amrutha Mokal v/s Mary Ann Gomes, Tania Sachdev v/s 
Nisha Mohota, Soumya Swaminathan v/s Krutttika Nadig, Eesha Karavade v/s 
Padmini Rout, Kiran Manisha Mohanty v/s Swathi Ghate, Pon N Krithika v/s 
Bhakti Kulkarni. 

[Goanet] A poem by Fernando Pessoa

[Communicare Trust]

  A poem to all my students and friends by a great Portuguese writer.
  All the best for 2009.

  A felicidade exige valentia.

  "Posso ter defeitos, viver ansioso e ficar irritado algumas vezes mas,

  não esqueço de que minha vida é a maior empresa do mundo,

  e posso evitar que ela vá à falência.

  Ser feliz é reconhecer que vale a pena viver apesar de todos os 
desafios,

  incompreensões e períodos de crise.

  Ser feliz é deixar de ser vítima dos problemas e se tornar um autor da 
própria história.

  É atravessar desertos fora de si, mas ser capaz de encontrar um oásis 
no recôndito da sua alma.

  É agradecer a Deus a cada manhã pelo milagre da vida. Ser feliz é não 
ter medo dos próprios sentimentos.

  É saber falar de si mesmo. É ter coragem para

  ouvir um "não". É ter segurança para receber uma crítica, mesmo que 
injusta..

  Pedras no caminho?

  Guardo todas, um dia vou construir um castelo..."



  Fernando Pessoa

Re: [Goanet] The Right to Convert

[julian Gonsalves]

I am shocked, saddened and very bothered by these exchanges between Barad 
and Fr Ivo. I cant imagine that whatever religion we are we can stoop so 
low. I think its time to get out and look within our communities to do 
something more meaningful to do than to be taking pot shots at each other in 
this manner( see exchanges below and previously). Everyone has a choice in 
life today and that matters. What happend in the past is a matter of history 
and  its pure waste of good energy to be doing this. Lets look for how we 
can brighten our lives irrespective of religion.I wish i had the luxury of 
time 

Julian 

[Goanet] Pravasi Divas info

[Eugene Correia]

PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIVAS 2009 
January 7-9, 2009
 
THEME - ENGAGING THE INDIAN DIASPORA - The way Forward
 
The annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention provides a much needed platform 
to the Overseas Indian Community for exchange of views on ways and means to 
fulfill their aspirations and expectations from the land of their ancestors. It 
also provides opportunities for exploring mutually beneficial trade & business 
relationships and for networking among the community. Celebration of the day 
every year symbolizes the continued interest of the government of India in the 
progress and well-being of the Overseas Indian Community.

The formation of a separate Ministry to look into the affairs of Overseas 
Indians has sent across a positive signal vis-a-vis the importance India 
attaches to its diaspora. Various steps taken by the Ministry have further 
strengthened the already strong traditional cultural ties of the togetherness 
that the Indian Community has with the land of their forefathers.
 
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention 2009 - Theme: Engaging the Diaspora: The Way 
Forward
 
The 7th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention is scheduled to be held at the 
Chennai Trade Centre, Chennai from 07-09 January 2009. Organised by the 
Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs in partnership with the State Government of 
Tamil Nadu and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), it would be the 
first PBD Convention organized in Chennai.

PBD Conventions provide a platform for exchange of views and networking to the 
Persons of Indian Origin settled all over the world on matters of common 
interest. Such Conventions have helped the Government to better understand the 
expectations of the Overseas Indian Community from the land of their ancestors 
and acknowledge the important role played by it In India's efforts to acquire 
its rightful place in the comity of nations.

Among the decisions taken by the Government of India as a result of wider 
consultations held at these Conventions, are formulation of the Overseas 
Citizenship of India, establishment of Overseas Indian Facilitation Centre, 
Conceptualisation of PIO University, formation of Prime Minister's Global 
Advisory Council of People of Indian Origin, and the proposed India Development 
Foundation. A series of Programs e.g. Know India Program and Scholarship 
Program for Diaspora Children are also designed specifically for Diaspora youth.

Among other things, the 7th PBD Convention would have sessions on the 
preservation of Diaspora language and culture and the importance of Diaspora as 
facilitators and bridge builders. The highlights of PBD 2009 include an 
Exhibition on Trade & Industry, live demonstrations by craftsmen, cultural 
evenings and post convention tours.

The Convention would be inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India on 8th 
January. The President of India would deliver the valedictory address and also 
confer Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards for 2009 on 9th January. 
 
REGISTRATION
  
The online Registration for PBD-2009 is open through the website 
www.pbdindia.org or go directly to the registration page To register, visit:
http://www.pbdindia.org/registration/registration.aspx
 
The MOIA ministry official in a communiqué has suggested to those who want 
participate to register early to avoid any inconvenience related to 
accommodation and other arrangement at a much later date.
 
Contact: N. Balasubramaniyan, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Overseas Indian 
Affairs, Government of India, Akbar Bhawan, Chankyapuri, New Delhi - 110021, 
Tel: + 91-11-24197910, Fax: + 91-11-24197942, Website: www.moia.gov.in or Madhu 
Pillai, Director, Confederation of Indian Industry, The Mantosh Sondhi Centre, 
23, Institutional Area, Lodi Road, New Delhi - 110003, Tel: + 91-11-24629994 - 
7, Fax: + 91-11-24601298, Email: pbd2...@ciionline.org.

[Goanet] Talking Photos: Nustem. Mauli. Pallam. Noketr etc

[JoeGoaUk]

Talking Photos: Nustem, Mauli, Pallam, Noketr etc

Furis/Noketr etc
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk16/3138112475/


Goirumb/Cobweb  Mauli/Spider
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk16/3138941084/

Ruk/Tree or Pallam/Roots
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk16/3138940460/


nustem/Shoutte (under water fish)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk16/3138116571/


joego...@yahoo.co.uk 

for Goa & NRI related info... 
http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/GOAN-NRI/   
For Goan Video Clips 
http://youtube.com/joeukgoa   
In Goa, Dial  1 0 8 
For Hospital, Police, Fire etc

[Goanet] Wow!

[Frederick "FN" Noronha]

1611 links to Goa-related books at the Open Library
http://openlibrary.org/search?q=goa
Help to add yours there! FN
-- 
FN * Independent Journalist http://fn.goa-india.org
M: +91-9822122436 P: +91-832-2409490

[Goanet] God sucks

[Miguel Braganza]

Dears,

I did a double check to find out if an OXYMORON was an abbreviated form of 
"oxygenated moron"  breathing fresh air of a party-less, fireworks-less, 
odour-less and taste-less beach in Goa this Christmas thanks to the Congress 
Party ...till the Sunburn Fest today, on the beach but not a "beach party" for 
the purpose of the licence to operate!!

The Congress party does not party. That is another OXYMORON.

OXYMORON is "putting together words which seem to contradict each other" 
according to the OXFORD dictionary. "Bitter-sweet" is one example. "Congress 
Party" is another this Christmas. I do not know if "God Sucks" qualifies as an 
oxymoron with so many perpetual suckers around. Is Sandeep Heble promising to 
bring perpetual succour to someone felled by a sucker punch ...specially  to 
someone like the right riband Dr. Samir Kelekar, Ph. D [of the Dayanand's IT 
Corp of Goa fame] who seems to be drunk on a non-alcohilic fruit punch 
...perhaps one that got fermented before he drank it.

Mog asundi

Miguel

Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2008 08:17:08 -0800 (PST)
From: Mario Goveia 
Subject: [Goanet]  God sucks
To: goanet@lists.goanet.org
Message-ID: <650202.49352...@web82404.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2008 09:24:47 +0530
From: "Sandeep Heble" 
Samir's post, if read literally, will be a kind of an oxymoron,

Mario responds:
Now, now, Sandeep.  There's no need to start responding to Samir's gratuitous 
insulting post by calling him names:-))

Sandeep wrote:
What I presume he means,  

Mario responds:
Nice try, Sandeep.  After calling him some kind of moron, now you want to make 
up presumptions out of whole cloth to get him off the hook:-))

Sandeep wrote:
Samir's thoughts are not too fundamentally different from those of
some extreme religious believers, who too believe that God sucks. That
is except the God that they believe in!

Mario responds:
There you go again, Sandeep, now comparing Samir to some intolerant religious 
fanatics "...who too believe that God sucks..."  However, on second thought, 
you may be right in this observation:-))









  Add more friends to your messenger and enjoy! Go to 
http://messenger.yahoo.com/invite/

[Goanet] God sucks

[Sandeep Heble]

Mario writes: "Nice try, Sandeep.  After calling him some kind of
moron, now you want to make up presumptions out of whole cloth to get
him off the hook:-))"

My response:
Wrong. I have made my presumptions on the basis of what he has
consistently written over the years, about God in different forums. I
would not let even God off the hook if I knew he/she was wrong. From
his perspective, Samir is perfectly right and I could go on and on
with countless illustrations to prove that.

Whether you may like to hear it or not, God and religion in their
present forms are inherently divisive concepts; and a lot irrational
too. Here in Goa, just look at the number of illegal religious shrines
built on the roads which are creating traffic hazards. Or the
loudspeakers used by temples and Mosques playing loud sermons and
music. God may or may not suck, but the manner in which the believers
interpret God definitely does.

Mario writes:
"However, if you read his opening post on this clearly moronic subject:
http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2008-December/085637.html
- you will see no hint of anything but an insulting attitude towards
God and, by extension, those who believe in God."

My response:
So what's the problem in that? Those who propagate religious
ideologies constantly hurt the scientific and rational sentiments of
the atheists and the non-believers. Will the preachers stop
propagating their beliefs on a Science Day? If they have the freedom
of speech and free expression to propagate their bizarre, illogical,
irrational and even evil ideas, why can't the atheists freely air
their own thoughts? Samir has not done anything wrong and there is no
need for him to go on the defensive. One of the directive principles
of the Indian Constitution is to spread scientific temper and rational
thoughts in the society. He is doing just that.

Mario writes:
"Besides, where did you get the idea that it is only the concept of
God that has brought a lot of misery and destruction to humankind?
Some of the worst tyrants in history had rejected the notion of God
and then went on to account for the deaths and destruction of millions
of innocent victims, for social or political reasons."

My response:
I never said that the concept of God is the only divisive concept.
There may be a lot others too. But God is one such divisive concept,
from Samir's perspective and from the perspective of many other
thinkers like Bertrand Russell. Let them have their say. Period!

Cheers
Sandeep

[Goanet] Order goan food

[Natasha D'Souza]

I would like to order some goan food to be shipped to the States however when I 
click on the link, I notice that it is down.  Are you still in business?  If so 
can you email me your price list and menu. 

Thanks,
Natasha

_
Drag n’ drop—Get easy photo sharing with Windows Live™ Photos.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/photos.aspx

[Goanet] Goa news for December 27, 2008

[Goanet News Service]

Goa News from Google News and Goanet.org
Visit http://www.goanet.org/newslinks.php for the full stories.

*** Tourism to Goa takes beating after Mumbai attacks - The
Associated Press
[Dec 22, 2008]  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/6-0&fd=R&url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ginEZKFv1ofJ2kiVuG7Zd_6AOqXAD957UFE80&cid=1282504076&ei=CndVSeP3NI3KgQOjq4yeAg&usg=AFQjCNEz5PeH_LNmFuXoutTzjyTlCMGORg

*** Goa is safe, no need to worry, says Jaiswal - Times of
India
[Dec 24, 2008]  PANAJI: Goa is completely safe andsecure and
there are no inputs of any terror threat to the state, minister
of state for home affairs, Sriprakash Jaiswal ...
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/0-0&fd=R&url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Goa/Goa_is_safe_no_need_to_worry_says_Jaiswal/articleshow/3888283.cms&cid=1283049405&ei=CndVSeP3NI3KgQOjq4yeAg&usg=AFQjCNEkAi5UoIa0fsi4QOI1t1hI5D8ASg

*** Jessica Alba in Venkat Prabus Goa? - Sify
[Dec 24, 2008]  The movie has Jai, Vaibhav, Premji Amaren and
Arvind Akash in the lead, and is said to be a road film in which
a group of friends go on a trip to Goa. ...
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/2-0&fd=R&url=http://sify.com/movies/fullstory.php?id=14825078&cid=1283504692&ei=CndVSeP3NI3KgQOjq4yeAg&usg=AFQjCNFJM0w5szJ1ZLHEq7E8kofFMbNQug

*** Terror suspect has no criminal record: Cops - Times of
India
[3 hours ago]  Police sources had said that the accused changed
his versions thrice before stating that he came to Goa by the
Sampark Kranti Express on Tuesday and later ...
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/9-0&fd=R&url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Goa/Terror_suspect_has_no_criminal_record_Cops/articleshow/3898242.cms&cid=1283803604&ei=CndVSeP3NI3KgQOjq4yeAg&usg=AFQjCNGMK0OmtfzwFnY4ddBHjiV4wfV2ag

*** New Year bash: Goans loss is Hyderabadis gain - Express
Buzz
[18 hours ago]  With less number of foreigners expected to
visit Goa, due to travel advisories issued by France, US, UK,
Australia and other countries cautioning travellers ...
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/8-0&fd=R&url=http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=New+Year+bash:+Goan%E2%80%99s+loss+is+Hyderabadi%E2%80%99s+gain&artid=uOwnpUIhIFU=&SectionID=xAV59odivTs=&MainSectionID=wIcBMLGbUJI=&SectionName=BUzPVSKuYv7MFxnS0yZ7ng==&SEO=&cid=1283812646&ei=CndVSeP3NI3KgQOjq4yeAg&usg=AFQjCNFa0Vd_a4gX2ScVeYL7q-l1uoQ2nA

*** Now EMRI service to have unique life saving injection -
Times of India
[3 hours ago]  Rane also announced that nine more ambulances
will be added to the EMRI service in Goa. The health minister
said that the aim is to reduce further the time ...
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/7-0&fd=R&url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Goa/Now_EMRI_service_to_have_unique_life_saving_injection/articleshow/3898233.cms&cid=0&ei=CndVSeP3NI3KgQOjq4yeAg&usg=AFQjCNGSKXOcEy0j3AaGBPMxne8xmbV_UA

*** Success of Xmas dances give boost to organisers of new year
parties - Times of India
[3 hours ago]  In Goa, nobody wants to sit at home. People will
have a good time, despite security restrictions, he said. It
seems like despite warnings of terror attacks, ...
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/5-0&fd=R&url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Goa/Success_of_Xmas_dances_give_boost_to_organisers_of_new_year_parties/articleshow/3898236.cms&cid=0&ei=CndVSeP3NI3KgQOjq4yeAg&usg=AFQjCNE_lN8iT0i0TrYVy3RRePDzer6z0A

*** Goa witnesses instability games, terrorist phobia, economic
slump - Sakaal Times
[14 hours ago]  In fact, the coalition politics seem to be the
bane of smaller states like Goa which are always prone to
instability. There was also no scope for increasing ...
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/4-0&fd=R&url=http://www.sakaaltimes.com/2008/12/26150700/Goa-witnesses-instability-game.html&cid=1283960970&ei=CndVSeP3NI3KgQOjq4yeAg&usg=AFQjCNFms69VluNKldXry9Tz4BX0dC-sig

*** Goa celebrates in the shadow of fear - NDTV.com
[Dec 25, 2008]  Fewer people are heading towards Goa this year
after fears that its popularity with western tourists makes it a
high profile target. Christmas in Goa has ...
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/3-0&fd=R&url=http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN2008008&ch=12/25/2008%2011:05:00%20PM&cid=0&ei=CndVSeP3NI3KgQOjq4yeAg&usg=AFQjCNHv6ReX7VLKU4AytoVWBxhF4FyeHA

*** Dahanu pushes Goa off travel list - Times of India
[Dec 25, 2008]  MUMBAI/GOA: Baga in Goa has always been the
favourite vacation destination for the Mulgaokars. Whenever they
needed a break from the dreary city life, ...
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/1-0&fd=R&url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Mumbai/Dahanu_pushes_Goa_off_travel_list/articleshow/3892513.cms&cid=0&ei=CndVSeP3NI3KgQOjq4yeAg&usg=AFQjCNEGG8afq7SyHy0G4ONKoG609puqWQ


Compiled by Goanet News Service
http://www.goanet.org/newsl

[Goanet] Leslie de Noronha

[Frederick "FN" Noronha]

During a search this evening, was pleasantly surprised to find that
the Open Library had the following links to the works of Leslie de
Noronha:

The prism of twilight  by Leslie De Noronha
(Writers Workshop, 1994)
The dew drop inn by Leslie De Noronha
(Writers Workshop, 1994)
Stories. by Leslie De Noronha
(Writers Workshop, 1966)
The Mango and Tamarind Tree by Leslie De Noronha
(Ind-Us, June 1979) Paperback
Stories by Leslie De Noronha
(Ind-Us, April 1995) Hardcover
Poems. by Leslie De Noronha
(Writers Workshop, 1965)
The mango and the tamarind tree. by Leslie De Noronha
(Writers Workshop, 1970)

http://openlibrary.org/b/OL11299178M

Of course, the Open Library requires volunteers to feed in information
about diverse books. So please share your information there, if you
have some, about Goa-related books. All the best, FN
-- 
FN * Independent Journalist http://fn.goa-india.org
M: +91-9822122436 P: +91-832-2409490

[Goanet] The Right to Convert

[MD]

There are historical records of commercial trading between Kerala and Middle
East during 7th Century AD. The Jews and Arabs of the Pre-Islamic period
were among the pioneers of spice trade with Kerala. It is believed that
Apostle of Jesus, St. Thomas himself, introduced Christianity in India in
the year 52 A.D. The early Christians (St. Thomas Christians) were called
Syrian Christians because they followed the Syriac liturgy, a dialect of
Aramaic, the language of Jesus. With the arrival of Portuguese (1498) and
the establishment of their political influence, the Latin rite emerged as an
important factor and a large community of Latin Christians sprang up and
grew, particularly in the coastal areas.  The arrival of Islam in India
could be traced back to the sea port named Kodungaloor, an ancient sea port
located at present day central Kerala. This happened during the life time of
Muhammad, the founder of the religion and the propagator was Malik bin
Deenar. Probably in the 7th century.

The Portuguese though they arrived in India for Trade purpose, sere also
involved in conversion, voluntary or otherwise (many fled to outside
Portuguese controlled areas and even, there were some prominent Hindus who
controlled trade accounting and tax collection etc as Portuguese were mere
soldiers rather than Tradesmen, and there is evidence some Hindu families
were treated with high esteem as they managed trade, accounting for the
Portuguese.

Basically at that time, there was no term as India was neither one country,
nor immigration control and was ruled by several kings, feudatories and was
no at all one India and one rule. Secondly, the Spanish and Portuguese
missionaries deemed Christianity is the true religion and wanted to
propagate and though initially some force may have been used, later, when
rest of Goa was occupied by the Portuguese, such procedure no longer
existed.  All that happened during the time, there was no wireless
communication or internal cyber media.  One should understand.  Even the
Christians who fled Goa for various reasons did not revert to their previous
religion as they felt at home with Christianity and continued their new
faith despite the absence of spiritual head for months together.  Marriages
were conducted at home and solemnized only when the priest was available,
probably the couple may have had children too by the time the Goan priest
showed up to solemnize these weddings!!.  So why all this hue and cry?

[Goanet] The right to convert

[MD]

I am extremely sorry I can't understand this M.Govea, who just wants to
raise some controversy over every subject some one else is discussing.  I am
sorry to butt in, but time and again, despite proven evidence, this guy
seems to disagree with everyone but his foregone conclusions.  He will say,
on the issue of bush thrown shoes at, which is the worst of insults in the
many of the religions, he will argue, if the shoe was thrown at Saddam, he
would have been summarily executed (meaning Iraq is a democratic country
now).  This Govea should concentrate the Trillions of Dollars that was
handed out to the Bush crony billionaires at the same time, the Auto
Industry that supports of millions of US workers is kept waiting for the
handout and cleverly the oil price has been brought down to below $40 a
barrel, millionaire investors have become paupers overnight, so Govea,
please look into some western blogs/websites instead of stirring venom in
this forum or visit a doctor, probably you have contacted jaundice, that's
why whole world seems yellow to you.  And please do not use thesaurus to
make us to do the same, as simple words will suffice, we may not be as
educated as you.

Maurice D'Mello

[Goanet] Goanet Reader: What Goans Have for Breakfast (by Augusto Pinto, first published 1996)

[Goanet Reader]

This essay was first published way back in 1996, and the
author underlines that his favourite book is Wayne Booth's A
Rhetoric of Irony [http://tinyurl.com/8qd8va]

* * *

What Goans Have for Breakfast

By Augusto Pinto
pinto...@gmail.com

"History is the most dangerous
of all the products of the
chemical laboratory of our
mind. It stimulates dreaming,
it intoxicates nations, it
generates in them false
memories, exaggerates their
reflexes, irritates their old
wounds, deprives them of peace
and infects them with
megalomania or mania of
persecution." Paul Valery

The Goan has a strong stomach. He must have, given the spicy
stuff he consumes. This applies to his intellectual diet as
well. The Guide to Goan Food For Thought is of course the
"Letters to the Editor" columns of any of the local dailies.

This article examines one of the most stunning courses cooked
up in 1995. A debate on Goan history, culture and identity
which saw letters on the subject appearing in the papers for
almost every other day of the year.

  The focus will be on the letters of two Mr. P. P.
  Shirodkars -- both great men. The elder one was an
  illustrious freedom fighter, jailed by the
  Portuguese for many years. He later became the
  first Speaker of the Goa Assembly where he was
  renowned for putting down at every opportunity
  Konkani or "Concaannim", that corrupt dialect of
  the Marathi language.

His son who is the Director of Archives is reputed to be a
great historian. It was difficult to distinguish between them
during the controversy but that matters not, as they
obviously shared not only the same name but the same views.

Before proceeding, sample some excerpts from letters that
appeared at the height of the row. First P.P. Shirodkar. "The
persons whose ancestors were converted , mostly to Roman
Catholicism by the barbarous Portuguese should rid themselves
of whatever non-Indian customs, habits and uses they imbibed
from them.  This includes the Portuguese and Spanish surnames
like De Souza, De Miranda, De Lima, De Lisboa and De
Albuquerque, which suggests that their ancestors must have
come from Portugal putting their true local roots in doubt."

Mr. Shirodkar then expressed his distaste for names derived
from trees like "Pinheiro, Oliveira and Carvalho" (pine,
olive and oak) and from animals like "Lobo (landgo in
Marathi)" which he felt were not "of the torrid zone of Goa."
Likewise he said any Hindu or even Muslim family would have
been very insulted "if they were branded with the surname
related to the swine species" or "with the surname Komlo
which is the Konkani meaning of Pinto, and which also refers
to the sexual organs of a male child, when teasing him."

  Within a week Jose Fernandes of Siolim shot
  back,"What is wrong with Pinho, Carvalho (pine,
  oak) etc. in a land that has Mensenkai, Iruli
  (chilly, onion) Zirulli (cockroach) as surnames?

These plants and insects are not of Indian origin either. Is
a Bhandary without bhandar (wealth) or a Jagirdar (landlord)
without land any more relevant than a Pinto among the
casuarinas?

The communalist, casteist and racist overtones which some
felt were apparent in the letter of Joseph Fernandes have
always lurked under the skins of the Christians of Goa. But
never was it aired so blatantly as during this controversy.
How did this happen?

Around the time of the Exposition of the relics of St.
Francis Xavier in 1994, the Xavier Centre for Historical
Research organised a Seminar on the life of the Saint. Dr.
P.P. Shirodkar here delivered a paper entitled, "St Francis
Xavier: An Anti-View" which reportedly created quite a stir.

This enraged one Placido Martins who challenged Shirodkar to
publish his paper in the press. Shirodkar replied on December
28, 1994 in The Navhind Times. Perhaps correctly referring to
the Saint as "Master" Francis Xavier, he blamed him for
being,"solely instrumental in inviting the ignominious
institution of Inquisition to India, which resulted in
unimagined frenzied brutalities on the victims in the name of
heresy and religion, besides committing atrocities to their
near and dear ones for no fault of theirs."

  He stated that this,"left a serious impact on the
  Goan psyche from which even present generations
  have not fully recovered." In his long letter,
  Shirodkar went on to suggest that the Vatican
  should,"de-canonize unholy men to save future
  generations from treading the path of religious
  bigotry." With this all hell broke loose.

Several writers, almost all Christian, wrote hysterically to
the Press attacking Shirodkar's views. The father and son duo
defended their point of view very ably.

In late February a new twist was given to the brouhaha after
Shirodkar made an innocent remark about a book of Goan
cooking by Gilda Mendonca, which he felt should be correctly
called,"Rom

[Goanet] Sex Scandal: Digambar, Sardin, Parrikar, Mickky, Mauvin, Churchill etc exposed

[JoeGoaUk]

Sex Scandal:  Digambar, Sardin, Parrikar,  Mickky, Mauvin, Churchill etc exposed

http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=UW7ND9VDmkc

Minister Alexo, Nerri, Reginald etc also involved
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=UW7ND9VDmkc

[Goanet] Why God sucks --- a good discussion

[edward desilva]

FNPS: Could we declare this to be Goanet's word of the year? 
CheckMerriam-Webster's Word of the Year 2008
--
Hi Frederick,
What a brilliant idea! Why didn't I think of it first? (may be because some 
people are non-thinkers?)
Any way, to make up for the loss, I suggest you ask LIMKA BOOK OF RECORDS for 
an accolade while I ask Hon. Keith Vaz in UK to recommend Dr Samir (PhD) for an 
OBE.
ED.

[Goanet] Fw: Re: Pre visitors to Goa.

[eric pinto]

--- On Fri, 12/26/08, Santosh Helekar  wrote:

> Did people who lived in India and Goa before the
> missionaries came not have a
> decent face? Did they not have good values?
> 

---
>    My answer:  Nothing indecent about a sunburn ! Also, we
> valued fresh tropical  food, fresh toddy, and heavenly urrak 'off
> the tap',  not some smelly beer.  eric.

Re: [Goanet] Why God sucks --- a good discussion

[Mario Goveia]

Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2008 22:41:21 +0530
From: "Frederick \"FN\" Noronha" 

I would personally not advocate censorship of a word or information merely on 
the basis of which way it cuts :-) 

Mario responds:

While you may "personally not ADVOCATE censorship of a word or information 
merely on the basis of which way it cuts", you often personally censor words 
and information merely on the basis of which way it cuts in your role as a 
Goanet poster and moderator:-))

Here we see you trying to censor an entire topic:
http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2008-December/085608.html

Excerpt:

... 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! 

[end of excerpt]

Followed shortly by:
http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2008-December/085652.html

Excerpt:

While Goanet has a policy for free speech, I see a one-point agenda that drowns 
everything else to be hardly helpful.

[end of excerpt]

[Goanet] Hindu group objects to Christmas event This is the kind of activity the HJS / SS is engaged in. Refer report in Times of India dt 26.12.2008 below.

[Venantius Pinto]

 What is going on in the example you present would be seen as a setup. The
carols took place at another venue, and not "jaadu-tona vashikaran," as the
following statement suggested would be performed, as well as the next
statement expresses, at :
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Mumbai/Hindu_group_objects_to_Christmas_event/articleshow/3892516.cms
Did
something else take place other than the carols?
"However, Sanatan Sanstha spokesperson Abhay Vartak said they objected to
the programme on legal grounds. "We are not against Christmas but we oppose
certain occult practices that were to take place at the Taloja ground. We
objected as we found out that `jaadu-tona vashikaran (countering black
magic)' was to be performed there. This is against our Constitution's Drugs
and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act of 1954,'' Vartak
said."

"Navi Mumbai commissioner of police Ramrao Wagh told TOI, "Neither did we
cancel the programme nor did we ask the group not to perform at the Taloja
school. The institue took the decision to do so after a Hindu group objected
to something called, `magic healing', that was supposed to be held there.""

But there is some hope in our being able to understand the "schisms" though
a paper by S. N. Balagangadhara and Sarah Clarehout; as well as by those
who are tapped into political conduits. I would not normally point to a
scholarly paper but this is currently the best analysis at hand. This paper
looks at the notion of dialogue, and gives an idea of what the Hindu minds
at various levels are going through when they have been confronted. There
are various kinds of confrontations and also various scapegoats. It
eventually leads to violence in various forms. Do dialogue necessarily
help? Hindus, even those who are not from the right wing will come together
when they are questioned and feel uncomfortable as to their rituals,
symbologies and iconographies. This is understandable. The reasoning in the
paper is very complex and extremely valid. The two examples here look at
Ganesa, and Ramakrishna. Additionally they have constructed a dialogical
frame constructed between a Scholar and a Hindu. Needless to say the Hindu
is being subjected to scenarios which forces him to question his own
existence. This is broadly akin to a Christian being questioned / ridiculed
on account of his faith, the virgin birth, etc. But it is still not the
same.

S. N. Balagangadhara's ability and scholastic rigor to engage with Western
forms of discourse and how silencing is effected (to see whether it is it
intentional, one has to digest the paper), by engaging in psychoanalysis and
render mute a devout Hindu, on account of an inability to continue further
in the discourse. I believe language and taboos also play a role. It matters
not to me what Balagangadhara's leanings are. I believe it is possible to be
neutral, and also that time does change people. Right now, I applaud his
rigor. Rajan P. Parrikar, to my knowledge has  been the only person who
introduced to Goanet, a brief note that Balagangadhara had posted to a List.


Are Dialogues Antidotes to Violence? Two Recent Examples from Hinduism
Studies, written by S.N. Balagangadhara & Sarah Claerhout is in the JSRI
archives at:
http://www.jsri.ro/new/?Archive:JSRI_Volume_7%2C_no._19%2C_Spring_2008_-_Interdisciplinary_Approaches_in_Religious_Studies_and_Ideologies
Other papers that are part of Journal for the Study of Religions and
Ideologies (JSRI) may be found here: http://www.jsri.ro/new/?Current_issue

I also believe that the fallout on different parts of our societies in what
is collectively termed Indian society, including Goanet, is that certain
minds, have to take it out somewhere.  That where, could well as be on
Goanet, See Argumentation Theory. Others are driven to do the same. Mayhem,
whatever names it accumulates over time -- also has worked. This dovetails
with changes that take place in strata of society, shifting hierarchies,
loss of captive and cheap labor, worhip itself being questioned, Love being
thrown in peoples faces (perhaps inadvertently), being castgated for
casteist practices in the past -- although things have changed a lot.

Peace people.


Frankly, I ought to be less on Goanet, but am drawn towards filling in the
gaps where certain issues are not addressed or less adequately approached. I
am very disappointed that I for one cannot get answers to the many cultural
questions that I post. But thats OK. That I feel is also a loss to many
others. But, I cannot afford my head to explode either. Although this is an
issue that I would like to share input in, and one has to be committed as
Marshall and the others are, I am not and cannot. I am also preparing for
new works so the energy has to be directed elsewhere.

venantius j pinto


___





> From: "Marshall Mendonza"

[Goanet] You don't get anywhere by standing on the sidelines!

[Miguel Braganza]

Dears,

Lee Iacocca has this to say:
 "If I've learned one thing, it's this: 'You don't get anywhere by
standing on the sidelines waiting for somebody else to take action.
Whether it's building a better car or building a better future for our
children, we all have a role to play. That's the challenge I'm raising
in this book. It's a "Call to Action" for people who, like me, believe
in America'. It's not too late, but it's getting pretty close. So
let's shake off the crap and go to work. Let's tell 'em all we've had
'enough.'"

One could echo those words in goa.

Read the text below obtained from another Goan network.

Mog asundi

Miguel

 - -

WHERE HAVE ALL THE LEADERS GONE?

Remember *Lee Iacocca*, the man who rescued Chrysler Corporation from
its death throes? 
He's now 82 years old and has a new book, 'Where Have All The Leaders Gone?'.

Lee Iacocca Says:
'Am I the only guy in this country who's fed up with what's happening?
Where the hell is our outrage? We should be screaming bloody murder!
We've got a gang of clueless bozos steering our ship of state right
over a cliff, we've got corporate gangsters stealing us blind, and we
can't even clean up after a hurricane much less build a hybrid car.
But instead of getting mad, everyone sits around and nods their heads
when the politicians say, 'Stay the course.'
Stay the course? You've got to be kidding. This is America, not the
damned, 'Titanic'. I'll give you a sound bite: 'Throw all the bums
out!'
You might think I'm getting senile, that I've gone off my rocker, and
maybe I have. But someone has to speak up. I hardly recognize this
country anymore.
The most famous business leaders are not the innovators but the guys
in handcuffs. While we're fiddling in Iraq , the Middle East is
burning and nobody seems to know what to do. And the press is waving
'pom-poms' instead of asking hard questions. That's not the promise of
the 'America' my parents and yours travelled across the ocean for.
I've had enough. How about you?
I'll go a step further. You can't call yourself a patriot if you're
not outraged. This is a fight I'm ready and willing to have. The
Biggest 'C' is Crisis! (Iacocca elaborates on nine C's of leadership,
with crisis being the first.)
Leaders are made, not born. Leadership is forged in times of crisis.
It's easy to sit there with your feet up on the desk and talk theory.
Or send someone else's kids off to war when you've never seen a
battlefield yourself. It's another thing to lead when your world comes
tumbling down.
On September 11, 2001, we needed a strong leader more than any other
time in our history. We needed a steady hand to guide us out of the
ashes. A hell of a mess, so here's where we stand.
We're immersed in a bloody war with no plan for winning and no plan for
leaving.
We're running the biggest deficit in the history of the country.
We're losing the manufacturing edge to Asia, while our once-great
companies are getting slaughtered by health care costs.
Gas prices are skyrocketing, and nobody in power has a coherent energy
policy. Our schools are in trouble.
Our borders are like sieves.
The middle class is being squeezed every which way.
These are times that cry out for leadership.
But when you look around, you've got to ask: 'Where have all the
leaders gone?' Where are the curious, creative communicators? Where
are the people of character, courage, conviction, omnipotence, and
common sense? I may be a sucker for alliteration, but I think you get
the point.
Name me a leader who has a better idea for homeland security than
making us take off our shoes in airports and throw away our shampoo?
We've spent billions of dollars building a huge new bureaucracy, and
all we know how to do is react to things that have already happened.
Name me one leader who emerged from the crisis of Hurricane Katrina.
Congress has yet to spend a single day evaluating the response to the
hurricane or demanding accountability for the decisions that were made
in the crucial hours after the storm.
Everyone's hunkering down, fingers crossed, hoping it doesn't happen
again. Now, that's just crazy. Storms happen. Deal with it. Make a
plan. Figure out what you're going to do the next time.
Name me an industry leader who is thinking creatively about how we can
restore our competitive edge in manufacturing. Who would have believed
that there could ever be a time when 'The Big Three' referred to
Japanese car companies? How did this happen, and more important, what
are we going to do about it?
Name me a government leader who can articulate a plan for paying down
the debit, or solving the energy crisis, or managing the health care
problem. The silence is deafening. But these are the crises that are
eating away at our country and milking the middle class dry.
I have news for the gang in Congress. We didn't elect you to sit on
your asses and do nothing and remain silent while our democracy is
being hijacked and our greatness is being replaced with 

[Goanet] God sucks

[edward desilva]

Hi Sandeep,
Samir said:-(But then, if there is one thing in short supply in this world, it 
is 'thinking'. Samir)
(My post was in response to the long discussion that was going on 
aboutconversions, hence the timing.Samir).
(I would consider the derogratorywords to denigrate non-Goans by calling them 
ghantis much worse thandenigrating a fictional entity called God. Samir)

What you presume is not consistent with what he said during Christmas, if he is 
a 'great' thinking person:
He should have thought about bringing this topic up some other time, He also 
defends himself  by saying that Goans call ALL non Goans ghantis and forced 
conversion etc etc etc.
This is not consistent of what he says that he is, ie. a PhD (self certified? - 
must be).
His defence by implying ghantis and forced conversions during Christmas, and 
God sucks, does not hold water.
(Unless he is psychologically traumatised in wanting to become a Christian 
during Christmas days or just jealous of Christmas and Christians)
God during our 'Joyous' days should be kept apart from politics for a few days, 
- that is what one should be thinking.

You said: (Samir's thoughts are not too fundamentally different from those 
ofsome extreme religious believers)
Reply:
That may be so; Christians have not bombed any one and have not forced any one 
to become Christians THESE DAYS, therefore his thoughts and YOURS should be put 
abyss. 
ED.
---
Sandeep said,
What I presume he means, and this is in consistency with what he hasalways 
said, is that the concept of God has brought a lot of miseryand is responsible 
for a lot of destruction to humankind and it isthis religious concept that 
sucks. Not Jesus or Ganesha or any otherGod literally!Samir's thoughts are not 
too fundamentally different from those ofsome extreme religious believers, who 
too believe that God sucks. That is except the God that they believe 
in!CheersSandeep.Sandeep Heble

[Goanet] God sucks

[Mario Goveia]

Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2008 09:24:47 +0530
From: "Sandeep Heble" 

Samir's post, if read literally, will be a kind of an oxymoron,

Mario responds:

Now, now, Sandeep.  There's no need to start responding to Samir's gratuitous 
insulting post by calling him names:-))

Sandeep wrote:

What I presume he means, and this is in consistency with what he has
always said, is that the concept of God has brought a lot of misery
and is responsible for a lot of destruction to humankind and it is
this religious concept that sucks. 

Mario responds:

Nice try, Sandeep.  After calling him some kind of moron, now you want to make 
up presumptions out of whole cloth to get him off the hook:-))

However, if you read his opening post on this clearly moronic subject:
http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2008-December/085637.html - 
you will see no hint of anything but an insulting attitude towards God and, by 
extension, those who believe in God.

Besides, where did you get the idea that it is only the concept of God that has 
brought a lot of misery and destruction to humankind?  Some of the worst 
tyrants in history had rejected the notion of God and then went on to account 
for the deaths and destruction of millions of innocent victims, for social or 
political reasons.

Sandeep wrote:

Samir's thoughts are not too fundamentally different from those of
some extreme religious believers, who too believe that God sucks. That
is except the God that they believe in!

Mario responds:

There you go again, Sandeep, now comparing Samir to some intolerant religious 
fanatics "...who too believe that God sucks..."  However, on second thought, 
you may be right in this observation:-))

[Goanet] The Right to Convert

[Mario Goveia]

Date: Thu, 25 Dec 2008 10:12:12 +0530
From: "Dr. U. G. Barad" 

Only request to the writer is don't run away from
the track which is his specialty!! 

Mario responds:

Dr. Barad,

Here is the answer to your questions:

Selma's post:
http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2008-December/085437.html

Excerpt:

> Freedom of choice is a basic right that an individual must
> enjoy in any progressive society. In matters of utmost
> privacy, and religion is a private matter, the individual
> must be at liberty to determine his own course. If we deny
> him this right, we are enslaving him, bounding him and
> sentencing him to a lesser life.  

Dr. Barad's answer:
http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2008-December/085448.html

Excerpt:

> Article 25(1) of Constitution of India guarantees ''freedom of 
> conscience to every citizen, and not merely to the followers of one 
> particular religion''.  This Article postulates that there is no 
> fundamental right to convert another person to one's own religion 
> because if a person purposely undertakes the conversion of another 
> person to his religion, that would impinge on the freedom of conscience 
> guaranteed to all the citizens of the country alike.

Clearly, Selma is talking about the right of an individual to voluntarily 
change their religion when she writes, "In matters of utmost privacy, and 
religion is a private matter, the individual must be at liberty to determine 
his own course."

In his reponse, Dr. Barad's says that there is "no fundamental right to convert 
another person".  

Dr. Barad obviously did not understand the issue.

Further proof that he did not understand the issue lies in his citing a Supreme 
Court decision, which he also did not understand.  This decision does not 
postulate "...that there is no fundamental right to convert another person to 
one's own religion..."

The decision simply affirmed that the government of Orissa could continue a 
sensible procedure for the police to verify that an Oriya was changing their 
religion voluntarily and not being forced by someone else to do so.

I have no idea what Dr. Barad is trying to prove after catching the bull by the 
tail.

[Goanet] Fw: Anti-Social elements on Home Minister's Radar - Comments

[floriano]

- Original Message - 
From: floriano

To: Ashwin Tombat ; vijayso...@gmail.com ; Herald
Sent: Friday, December 26, 2008 9:18 PM
Subject: Re: Anti-Social elements on Home Minister's Radar - Comments


Anti-Social elements on Home Minister's Radar [???]
State government told to get rid of them [???]
By: Suraj Nandrekar
Herald 26 Dec., 2008

In the wake of terror threat, the Union Minister for Home P Chidambaram has 
written to the State government to get rid of all the anti-social elements.


Goa is already on a high alert with six companies f paramilitary forces 
rushed to the State by the Centre in wake of the threat.


In a four page letter to the Chief Minister Digamber Kamat, Chidambaram said 
"the State capital and all major towns and cities with municipalities should 
get rid of the mafia gangs operating in the city/town, extortion gangs, land 
sharks and loan sharks."


Further the letter states, the Director General of Police, Captain of Ports, 
Superintendent concerned should identify these gangs  or sharks and send a 
clear message to them that they should leave the city or town immediately.


"The police know how to carry out this task. After a few days a determined 
drive should be launched to apprehend leaders of the gangs under the 
National Security Prevention Act  or similar enactments" Chidambaram said in 
the letter.


The letter also asked the Chief Minister and the Home Minister to monitor 
the situation in the State regularly.


"The State government shall with immediate effect, establish a 24x7 control 
room to be manned by a young and energetic officer of the rank of Dy. 
Superintendent/SP in each shift. The Chief Minister and the Home Minister 
should invariably take a meeting every morning with the Chief Secretary, 
Home Secretary, DGP,DG/IG Intelligence and Commissioner of Police (of the 
state capital) to review security situation  and issue suitable guidance, 
" the letter said.


The letter also directs the State to immediately identify major 
establishments, installations and symbolic or iconic structures etc and 
conduct a thorough review of the security arrangements there.


A small team of commandos should be positioned at these places round the 
clock. The Central government is willing to offer assistance to train and 
equip such commandos," the Home Minister wrote.


COMMENTS


When Shivraj Patil was shown the door after the Mumbai terror attack, I was 
wondering as to who would  get into his shoes and still walk without falling 
or getting skinned or twisted in the ankles. Surprise of surprises when 
Chidambaram was announced, I had thought to myself  "I hope this guy is able 
to single out  an AK-47 from the Balance Sheet or the  Financial Report"



The above letter to Goa's CM coming from our esteemed Union Home Minister is 
no surprise. Digamber Kamat and Ravi Naik must have, and still be bursting 
their insides, laughing. Identify the anti-social elements? -  send them a 
warning ?. Does he mean to say that this duo do not know who is who?.  Get 
rid of them? - Ask them to leave?  To where? Kashmir?  Dubai? Israel?


If at all, our esteemed 'Sonia Aunty' should have known better than to put a 
joker in the shoes of India's Home Minister. The previous one had tried hard 
to walk in those shoes and failed miserably. This one, though he is to be 
highly respected as the Country's Finance Minister, has shown to the world 
that he has crammed the books on 'Home Ministry' in the last few weeks and 
have come-up with a justifiable action which is altogether laughable.


Our Union Home Minister must know that Goa sports a Home Minister who has 
sent Victoria- Rudolf & Co.  of the Protector fame -Churchill Alemao  and 
others to jail. Our Union Home Minister must know that our CM has an 
extraordinary public relations with saboteurs, extortionists, arsonist et al 
and he even mixes in their company in broad daylight to the extent that he 
is proud of their patronage in or outside Goa. Our Union Home Minister must 
know that all our Minister's and MLA's unofficial  income  per month which 
lands into their pockets will make their official monthly paychecks look 
like ordinary toilet paper.  Get rid of them?   Ask them to leave??  Joker?


OUR Union  Home Minister must know  that the RADAR  is a specialized piece 
of electronic gadget which has specific performance. For example a '3 cm' 
Radar is fine to identify the enemy objects in clear weather,  but to use it 
in a rainy squall is like committing suicide. That is where the '10 cm' 
radar comes in.  Our Union Home Minister must satisfy himself if our top 
champions know what a 'radar' is, in the first place, before asking them to 
use it to spot  Goa's enemies and terrorists.



Our esteemed  Union Home Minister must know that there are more anti-social 
elements in the government and the police force combined  than all the 
anti-social elements in Goa   put together. The goons who stoned the Police 
Headquarters i

[Goanet] Hindu guerrilla army!! What's this???

[Dr. U. G. Barad]

 

Maoists split in State: Hindu guerrilla army appears, read Pioneer Dec 25,
2006. 

 

Read more on this issue by clicking the link provided here below: 

 

http://www.haindavakeralam.com/HKPage.aspx?PageID=7881
 &SKIN=B

 

Best regards,

 

Dr. U. G. Barad

 

 

 

Re: [Goanet] Why God sucks --- a good discussion

[Frederick "FN" Noronha]

2008/12/25 Miguel Braganza 
>
> 2. Whether Fredrick would like to discuss religion in the
> context of the need for nuptial rites or "canonical"
> marriage for a proclaimed atheist.
> We could also discuss whether the "Original Sin" is
> as  water soluble as all the "paap" of the pagans and
> hence washed away by the baptisimal water poured
> on an unsuspecting child at the behest of the parents.
> At least the pagans consciously immerse themselves
> in the polluted rivers after attaining the so-calle "age of reason"

At best (or worst?) I guess you could say such an attitude sucks!  But
again, I would personally  not advocate censorship of a word or
information merely on the basis of which way it cuts :-)  FN

PS: Could we declare this to be Goanet's word of the year? Check
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Year 2008
http://www.merriam-webster.com/info/08words.htm

Re: [Goanet] Goanet Digest, Vol 3, Issue 1651

[N Chandrasekharan]

Dear Goanetters,
Though belated, I do not want to miss the bus. 
I take pride in wishing an Icon of Goan Journalism.Wishing Mr.Frederick Noronha 
a happy birthday and a beaming New Year 2009.
with regards,
NC
MAPUSA GOA
09423324122




_
Find a better job. We have plenty. Visit MSN Jobs
http://www.in.msn.com/jobs 

Re: [Goanet] Now the mining industry wants 'qualified'

[Tony de Sa]

If this (meaning 'qualified' environmentalists as a requirement for NGOs
working against the ill effects of mining) becomes a norm,  does one's
fundamental democratic right of freedom of speech go overboard?

>In Goa, such legislative proposal is urgently needed," said Mr >Lume, an
official at Fomento, a mining company. "Such a >regulation was mooted in the
past but it gradually fizzled out," >said Mr S Sridhar, executive director
of Goa Mineral Ore >Exporters' Association (GMOEA), when contacted.

I am no legal luminary but I am sure such legislation will be
unceremoniously dumped, by the Courts, in the garbage yard of failed
legislations.

And  again if such legislation does become generalized, should, say,
 Childrens' Rights activists exclusively be children? Or sex worker
activists themselves be sex workers? Or once again should Womens' Rights be
championed only by women?

Worth pondering about, no?

I am sure, JC will be able to throw light on this.

With best wishes for 2009,
-- 
Tony

Tony de Sa
Ph: +91 832 2470 148
M: +91 9975162897
E:  tonydesa at gmail dot com

---
Things do not change; we change.
- Henry David Thoreau

[Goanet] Samir has never been communal

[Mario Goveia]

Carvalho elisabeth_car at yahoo.com
Wed Dec 24 23:43:21 PST 2008

> To my memory he has never been communal.

Santosh Helekar chimbelcho at yahoo.com
Thu Dec 25 00:47:13 PST 2008

> I know that Samir is not a communal-minded guy because I know him for 
> more than three decades. 

Mario observes:

Another myth has been exploded by one pithy post on Goanet:
http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2008-December/085637.html

I guess one can fool some of the people some of the time.

Re: [Goanet] Happy Birthday to Frederick Noronha

[Tony de Sa]

Dear Frederick,
A very happy birthday to you. May the ensuing year bring you an abundance of
heavenly blessings, floods of  health happiness and good fortune.

Tony de Sa
Ph: +91 832 2470 148
M: +91 9975162897
E:  tonydesa at gmail dot com

---
Things do not change; we change.
- Henry David Thoreau

[Goanet] How Ajmal was broken

[edward desilva]

http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1216577&pageid=2
“Maria saheb’s Punjabi really helped us in a big way,” the source said. “Most 
times the religious and linguistic barriers become stumbling blocks during 
investigation of sensitive cases. Ajmal felt at ease talking in his mother 
tongue.”

[Goanet] Turning the Tide-Climate Change-Photo Competition -By 31st January 2009

[Jen Lewis]

Dear all,

There is also an international photo competition for youngsters between the age 
of 16 and 25. The entries should be turned in by 31st January 2009. 
The entries are expected to be a series of 10-15 photographs showing the 
effects of climate change in your community, a portrait photograph of yourself, 
biographical information and a text of up to 200 words summarising the effects 
of climate change on your life, on your family and on your community. 

See details below-

Wishing you all the best,

Dr. Jen
 ==

Turning the Tide - Climate Change Photo Competition 
Call for entries
http://www.britishc ouncil.org/ climatechange- turning-the- tide.htm

The British Council and the 'Permanent Mission of the Maldives to the United 
Nations' office at Geneva would like to invite you to take part in 'Turning the 
Tide', a major international exhibition that will take place during the main 
annual Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva in March 
2009. The exhibition, which will be seen by Presidents, Prime Ministers, 
Ministers and thousands of delegates, will showcase the photographs and stories 
of climate witnesses from around the world whose lives and rights are being 
affected by the everyday reality of global warming.

We ask young climate witnesses from around the world to go out into their 
community to create a photographic record of the way in which climate change 
and its consequences are affecting the human environment, including the lives, 
livelihoods and human rights of local people. The photographs should highlight 
the challenges your community is facing and how you are living and coping with 
the changing environment. 'Turning the Tide' is about your own experiences - we 
want to know your climate story.

If you would like to enter the competition you must be between the age of 16 
and 25. By 31st January 2009 we ask you to provide a series of 10-15 
photographs showing the effects of climate change in your community, a portrait 
photograph of yourself, biographical information and a text of up to 200 words 
summarising the effects of climate change on your life, on your family and on 
your community.

A jury including representatives from the British Council, the Maldives 
Mission, the Global Risk Forum Davos and UNESCO will select the best 12 
submissions. The photographs, portraits and stories from these 12 submissions 
will be made up into posters that will be showcased at the UN Human Rights 
Council in March 2009. An online exhibition featuring work by all participants 
will accompany the event.

About the Project
There is now a clear scientific consensus that climate change is real, it is 
man-made and it is having an increasingly devastating impact on natural systems 
around the world. Yet our understanding of the social impact of global warming 
on the lives, rights and livelihoods of millions of people around the world is 
far less evolved. Bridging this gap will be crucial if the world is to move 
towards empathy, solidarity and action.

The 'Turning the Tide' exhibition will be shown at the Palais des Nations in 
Geneva (UN) during the 10th Session of the Human Rights Council. It is designed 
to 'humanise' climate change by showcasing the stories of twelve young people 
from around the world whose lives and rights are affected by the reality of 
global warming. All of their stories also highlight the everyday reality of 
adapting to and ultimately surviving in a changing climate. The organisers hope 
to show the exhibition during the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 
Copenhagen in late 2009.

How to enter
First, please read the terms and conditions carefully. By entering the 
competition and submitting your work you agree to the terms and conditions and 
the standard British Council disclaimer.

To enter the competition you need to submit 10-15 photos, a short text, 
biographical information and a portrait photo by 31 January 2009.

Climate Photos
When you submit your photos, please give your full name and a short 
caption/title for each photo. Also, please indicate the location where the 
photo was taken. We can accept digital phots only and they have to be in jpeg, 
tiff or psd format. Also, please note that the minimum resolution 300 dpi.

You can submit your climate photos in one of the following ways:

You can send them by email to turningthetide@ britishcouncil. ch. You can 
either attach your photo to your email or send us a link to where you have 
published the picture. 

You can upload them on Flickr.com in the group ‘Turning the Tide’. You can 
submit photos easily by clicking ‘Send to Group’ on any of your Flickr photos. 

If you’re not a Flickr.com user, you can sign up for free, upload your photos 
and submit to our group easily. Go to http://www.flickr. com for more 
information. You will find our group here.

You can send them by post on a DVD or CD. Please make sure that they reach us 
no later than 31 January 2

[Goanet] .... has never been communal

[Dr. U. G. Barad]

Dear Goanet Members,

 

I pray to Lord Jesus, on this 25th December 2008, to bless the writer of the
message (reference provided here below) for She does not Know what she was
writing & is writing. 

 

One can check all her writings to Goanet as of date. 

 

Best regards,

 

In the spirit of X'mass 2008 & season to come,

 

Dr. U. G. Barad

 

 

(Message: 9, Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2008 From: Selma Carvalho, Subject: Samir has
never been communal

 

Dear members,

 

I'm one of those people who has a very long memory on Goanet. Infact I pride
myself on my memory. I'm also one of those people who'll remember things and
keep it to myself but let loose when you least expect it.

 

On this Christmas day I have to defend Samir. To my memory he has never been
communal. He was the only Hindu to immediately condemn the Orissa violence
and to my memory has never taken a communal position in political issues.

 

Let us not cruxify someone because we feel like it. He has the right to
voice his opinion, however averse we maybe to that opinion.

 

In the spirit of the season.

 

Selma

 

 

[Goanet] The Right to Convert

[Mario Goveia]

Date: Thu, 25 Dec 2008 13:00:51 +0530
From: "Dr. U. G. Barad" 

I suspect from your using the word - codswallop - that you are a member of
Wikipedia trying to define codswallop or your are trying to divert the
attention of Goans to Wikipedia or you are deliberately using this word for
you have no answer to my questions / responses. 

Mario observes:

I am not a member of Wikipedia.  However, here is what the Merriam-Webster 
Dictionary has to say: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/codswallop

The meaning of codswallop is NONSENSE.

Since you have caught the bull by the tail in your response to Selma's 
hypothesis that Indians must have the right to voluntarily change their 
religion, until you understand the content of the discussion, whatever else you 
write in this thread does not address the topic Selma started. 

Now, if you want to start a new topic on the right of Indians to convert  
others, I will be glad to respond to what you write, if I choose to.

[Goanet] [JudeSundayReflections] Feast of the Holy Family

[Jude Botelho]

26-Dec-2008

Dear Friend,

Christmas is truly a family feast. At Christmas Jesus came to be at home not 
only in the family of Mary and Joseph in Nazareth, but also in the human 
family. We celebrate Christmas at home and visit family and look forward to 
family members and friends visiting us. Those close to us are considered to be 
family members and we are at home with them. Is Jesus at home with us? How can 
we make our homes like the home of Mary, Joseph and Jesus? Enjoy the company of 
Jesus in your home! -Fr. Jude
 
Sunday Reflections:–Feast of the Holy Family ‘Live for others to live together’ 
28-Dec-2008 
Ecclesiasticus: 3:-2-6, 12-14;  Colossians 3: 12-21;   Luke 2: 22-40;

Obedience seems to be an old fashioned virtue today. Families are run on more 
democratic lines today and parents usually don’t order their children to do 
things. Strict discipline and rigid rules seem out of date with today’s 
generation. Yet the first reading reminds us of the duty to respect parents 
especially in their old age. Parental authority was over stressed in the Old 
Testament and at certain times in certain cultures. Yet there is still great 
importance in the command: Honour your father and your mother. Young children 
learn through obedience shown to the parents. As they grow older there is still 
need to show respect for old age. Care and respect for old age can earn God’s 
blessings. While grown up adults are not expected to obey their elderly and 
senile parents, they still have the obligation to care for them and their needs 
as far as possible. Kindness shown to them will not go unrewarded.

Attachment
In the middle of the night a young boy wakes up in a hospital bed. He feels 
very frightened and very alone. He is suffering intense pain: burns cover forty 
percent of his body. Someone had doused him with alcohol and then had set him 
on fire. He starts crying out for his mother. The nurse leaves her night-post 
to comfort him; she holds him, hugs him, whispers to him that the pain will go 
away sooner than he thinks. However, nothing that the nurse does seems to 
lessen the boy’s pain. He still cries for his mother. And the nurse is confused 
and angry: it was his mother who set him on fire. The young boy’s pain at being 
separated from his mother – even though she had inflicted such cruelty on him – 
was greater than the pain of his burns. That deep attachment to the mother 
makes separation from her the worst experience a child can undergo. –In the 
Christian family we learn that God never comes alone, He is always accompanied 
by legions of others
 who show us something of his kindness. In the Christian family we can catch 
something of God who accepts us as we are and who keeps on loving us stubbornly 
till the end. 
Denis McBride in ‘Seasons of the Word’

The second reading taken from the letter of Paul to the Colossians speaks of 
the ideal family life and the virtues and values that should be part of every 
Christian home. To live together we have to love and respect one another. Hence 
there is need of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. We 
have to bear up with one another and be ready to forgive one another in the 
family. Especially as we live constantly with one another there is a tendency 
to take one another for granted and rub one another the wrong way often 
unintentionally. The more we try to see Christ incarnate in the home and in one 
another, the more Christ-like we will become in our dealings with one another. 
Christ is the source and foundation of our family life. Prayer keeps us in 
touch with God, and keeps the family together. 

“Make Me a Great Big Good Man Like My Daddy!”
Once a little boy of five was left alone with his father at bedtime. It had 
never happened before. After some maneuvering and a lot of fun, the father 
finally got the little boy into his night clothes, and was about to lift him 
into bed when the child said, “But daddy, I have to say my prayers.” He knelt 
down besides his bed, joined his hands, raised his eyes to heaven and prayed: 
“Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep; but should I die 
before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.” That was his usual prayer, but 
tonight he looked at his dad, then raised his eyes to heaven and prayed. “Dear 
God, make me a great big good man, like my daddy, Amen.” In a moment he was in 
bed and in five minutes asleep. And then the father knelt besides his son’s 
bedside and prayed, “Dear Lord, make me a great big good man like my boy thinks 
I am,”
P Fontaine in ‘More Quotes and Anecdotes’
 
Today’s section of Luke’s gospel tells of the typical ceremonies in the life of 
a Jewish family from which we may learn today. These ceremonies took place at 
the presentation of Jesus in the temple, the ritual by which parents dedicated 
their new born child to God. The Jews believed that a good family life must be 
centred in a deep reverence for God and His law. According to

Re: [Goanet] Christmas crib pictures

[eric pinto]

--- On Thu, 12/25/08, Sandeep Heble wrote




Here are some of the crib pictures  
---
Why a barn ?  Because the sign outside the Marriot said Palestinians and camels 
not alloewd !!  Sucks !! eric.





  

[Goanet] "Un-Common" People, "Common Useage".

[eric pinto]

When close to half a people-group go on to university schooling, they come 
close to being labeled un-common, in my opinion, because, in contrast, only the 
8th and 5th Grades, respectively, were available to ninety percent of children 
in the US and Britain, before the Second War. More learning widens horizons, 
and more material comfort allows one to be more 'giving', as in a higher level 
of concern for the feelings of another. One example: my cats wash each other 
only after a meal !
   Over the decades, I have observed "not pretty'  replace "ugly" in everyday 
conversation.  One tries, now naturally, not to be disconcerting.
   And so, if you can believe it, I do, "suck" has actually come to displace 
the word "stink".  Inclement weather now 'sucks', as does un-fair play at 
sport: the shirt worn by a four year old in NY proclaims 'Boston Sucks' in bold 
letters. That refers to the local baseball team.  The mention of a stink leaves 
you sqeaminish, whereas any connotation to sex is easily displaced in a society 
that consider it 'passe', not relegated to the shadows.
   Nevertheless, I still ordered my then six year old daughter not to use our 
Samir's phrase when on the telephone with friends. eric.

Re: [Goanet] Swindon Syndrome

[Paulo Colaco Dias]

Antonio, 

Compliments of the Season.

Firstly, Swindon is not a London Suburb. It is far from London. It is
actually closer to Bristol than to London.
The distance between London and Swindon is more than 80 miles (130 Kms).

Secondly, are you implying that those educated in the Escolas Primarias
before 1961 were less capable than the ones educated in the primary schools
after 1961? 

I do not think so. 

How were Goans so successful in the ex-British African colonies then? Yes, I
agree the language was a barrier at first, but that did not stop them from
succeeding in the English world.

Best
Paulo Colaco Dias.


-Original Message-
From: goanet-boun...@lists.goanet.org
[mailto:goanet-boun...@lists.goanet.org] On Behalf Of Antonio Menezes
Sent: 26 December 2008 03:21
To: goa...@goanet.org
Subject: [Goanet] Swindon Syndrome

There is an understanding in some quarters that  some Goans are O.K.  in
Swindon
primarily because their Portuguese passports  facilitated their stay in this
London
suburb.  Of course, it is.  But then it is more so because these Goans were
educated in  Church  English schools  which were generously subsidized by
the
post Liberation Governments of Goa  whether of Congress or BJP variety.

[Goanet] A Goan in "Kentucky" !

[eric pinto]

That puts Tony Sinai next door to Tennessee. A respected science researcher, 
he heads a Department at the University of Kentucky.  A grandson of the late 
Gov. Tony Dias, he completed his schooling in the Russian language in Moscow, 
where his father Peter Sinai had been posted by the Foreign Service.  In the 
case of his wife, Gitanjali, it was the Korean language:  I am glad the 
cold-war has ended.  If you decide to google, it is "Anthony Sinai". eric.

[Goanet] GOAN COMM UNITY MAGAZINE - launched.

[renebarreto]

0



Goemkars !



After a very successful year 2008, RadioGoa is pleased to 
announce the launch of : 

GoaMag (Beta Test) at  http://www.goamag.net on 25th Dec 2008

Most of you have been submitting articles and tid-bits to RadioGoa,
some of which we have published on the site.However RadioGoa primarily 
is a Radio Service dedicated in promoting Konkani Music and Goan 
Culture Worldwide and we would like to keep it that way.
So to fill that void we present GoaMag, an on line magazine with social
networking where Goans can connect, meet, discuss, and search for 
others with common interests or likes.Besides subscriptions to magazines 
and other services within GoaMag.


Editorial Board
---

Looking for Volunteers to join the GoaMag team as Authors,Reporters
etc in your respective Countries.


Please write to edi...@radiogoa.net for more info.





Together we can make it happen !










FAQ


1.What is GoaMag?


A.GoaMag is a collective, collaborative effort by a set of Goan individuals.
It is a non-profit venture with a  objective to bring the Global Goans together
and provide them a platform to express themselves.


2.Yeah got that.But what is it anyway?


A.GoaMag is an intergration of Multiple online magazines with built-in content 
management system,Social Networking and all the nitty gritties that come with 
it.

Simply put, It will be a place where Goans will be able to connect with other 
Goans around the World,Share their Pictures,Videos,Articles or perhaps talk to 
each other using the PMS.Or comment on articles on the magazine or have their 
own mini-blog or guestbook under their profile where Goans connect, meet, 
discuss, and search for others with common interests or likes. 

.Much more to come.

3.Why am I not able to see the full site?

A.To use most of the features of GoaMag, you have to register (Free 
Registration)
and log in to GoaMag.

  This also lets you connect with other registered users and to have your own 
'Personal Space' on GoaMag.


4.The 'Submit Article' link does not work for me.How do I submit an article?

A.To submit an article  

(a)You have to register on GoaMag

(b)You have to send a request to edi...@goamag.net to add you as author.


  Once these steps are completed the Submit article link will be active for you 
and you will be able to edit,format or schedule your own articles.All your 
articles will also be available under your profile.

5.Can I host the Magazine or Newsletter of my Goan association or Club on 
GoaMag?

A. Yes.We provide FREE hosting service on Goamag, along with all the features 
and software for running a Mag.The Magazine will be automatically intergrated 
with our registered users and will be displayed on the front page of Goamag.


6.Can my Organization mini-site or Magazine on GoaMag be customized?

A.Yes, the mini-site or Mag can be customized in many ways. From setting 
the site skin, to selecting what charts/content displays on the home page, 
we provide you with the means to give your site it's own character, making 
it unique.

7.What languages does Goamag support?


A.GoaMag supports dual language eg. English/Konkani (Roman).Which means you 
can swicth an article and the Menu system in any of these languages at will 
with a click of a button.Presently this feature is not active as we are still 
looking for konkani translators. 

8.Whats the difference between the tabs "MyImages & "Gallery" in my profile?


A.MyImages can be viewed only by your connections that you have allowed, while 
Gallery is a collection of images you have posted in the Public Gallery which 
is viewable by all.
  
9.What is the role of RadioGoa?

A.RadioGoa is providing the platform for GoaMag,The site is run by like-minded 
independent Goans from accross the Globe.Please check "About Us" section on site
for update.


10.Where can I find more information on GoaMag?


A.http://www.radiogoa.net/goamag/

A Merry Christmas to all Well Wishers


Benedict Lobo.,
RadioGoa.net
http://www.radiogoa.net/

RadioGoaNetMag 
http://www.radiogoa.net/goamag/

RadioGoaNetMag:
Editor : edi...@goamag.net
For the love of Konkani

0


rene barreto - TOGETHER we have MADE IT HAPPEN.
 
RADIO GOA - More MUSIC less TALK ! 

GOANWORLD : http://worldgoan.blogspot.com/
The VOICE of the GOAN DIASPORA : 
http://globalgoanassociations.blogspot.com/

---



   

[Goanet] Can we file PILlike this on Goan Politician on media report?

[SHRIKANT BARVE]

On 26.12.2008 the Petitioner moved the Vacation bench of justice D G Karnik 
and Justice V R Kingaonkar at Mumbai HC for urgent hearing on Monday 
28.12.2008, for granting Interim reliefs.

However the Court turned it down, stating "There is no urgency. Move the 
regular court, after 5.1.2009"

This is about Dawood link with politician and reporting in Times of India.

http://www.roguepolice.com/pil20.htm

Have you read it

Shrikant Vinayak Barve
9403175973


  Add more friends to your messenger and enjoy! Go to 
http://messenger.yahoo.com/invite/

Re: [Goanet] Samir has never been communal

[J. Colaco < jc>]

 Leo Conrad D'Souza  wrote:  I understand being
on the Goanet since its inception, every member is entitled to his/her
opinion.

jc's comments:

1: I agree with the above from Leo
2: Our entitlement to an opinion is subject to that opinion being
based on reason.

3: I cannot say that "Samir has never been communal"
4: What I can definitely say is that I have yet to see the evidence of that.

5: Whoever has been upset with the "suck" comment has excessive exotic
imagination.
6: A tall glass of water and a cold shower is recommended for a 'chill out'.

BTW: While I have the opportunity, May I wish Frederick Noronha  "Ad
Multos Annos"

jc

[Goanet] Goa- net God sucks

[Venantius Pinto]

Dear Shyam Vinayak,
First of all a subtle, gracious and reasonable assessment on how one lives..


Much like the Hindus, the Christians too have this approach to life,
although a lot of it has to do with the way one persists in truth, something
that is becoming a rarity. Free will has been misinterpreted for
centuries, but is still available as an existential rod to hold
onto, and may be approached or practiced radically (a western paradigm to
begin with). What one ought or ought not to do is another issue. I doubt one
encounters the concept of "ought" in Indian laguages -- thankfully.

The mind does its bit to play havoc with the base units of a body (as we
know them) -- molecules, and other stuff of life. The societies we live in.
its inducements, hours, spatial formulations and assorted eye candies are
certainly a catalyst. Energy as such, and its forms are many, is not
something to be played around with. Shakti. But in terms of lifestyle
athough Hindus appeared less extravagant earlier: in the consumption of food
(practically no oil or meat), alcohol, and the measured imbuing of stimuli,
adhering to ways and means of living including even the deeper aspects of
truth (how one sees oneself) in / through yoga for one, and resonating in an
understanding of shakti; in recent years appetites have mushroomed. Although
having a Dharama for conducting life and its events, even Hindus cannot
expect to be, and are not immune from the vagaries of modern society. The
rapacious pace of change may have alerted a few, of a higher order of
consiousness and awareness, but those are not necessarily the learned, at
least one may not presume this is obviously so. But this is a huge
discussion, that I have no doubt you are aware of.

There are those of Christian persuasion who are looking over their shoulders
and changing their lifestyles, and approaches to environmental (as in how
they exist with their fellow man) engagements and encounters. There are
others who are culturally Christian. Let them be. Some of us do not attend
mass too often. Let us be too. Christainity is different things to various
people. Very few people practive Love. But India does needs much of it, and
it is something that could be taught at various levels, but certainly has to
be done one on one too.

I know and have heard of many more Christians who have cancers than Hindus.
And my world is pretty inclusive. Lifestyle? Hedonism? Stresses Unique to
Christians? Cheap Beer? Pork on Steroids? Will this change, at least among
those I know? It better change. What really is a cancer? Cell aberrations.
Some form of energy is going awry for sure. One has to be fluid, working
at approaching life and events through a fluid disposition.

Christians also appear to be wealthy, but to my eye this is not conclusive
say in Goa, although it certainly appears as such. Style and substance are
two different things. Maya is maya -- ilusion. The Buddhists got that right.
In the end we all deteriorate. The pleasures of diseaseless living
incorporates a homogeinity of body, mind and soul, which is visualized
through religion, sexuality and consciousness. To your point, conciousness
is key.

venantius j pinto

From: "damodar vinayak bale" 
Subject: Re: [Goanet] Goa- net  God sucks

When Nature has made provisions for every Human born to live,
who are the ones who make diversions? Every human born has a right to live a
diseaseless life.Can that be achieved? What happens today is diseases are
created and remedies are searched.Those who work to earn during their prime
age,neglecting upkeep of their body,spend their earnings to attend to the
diseases engulfed body at a later age.The limit of earnings cannot be
assessed.But the pleasures of diseaseless living are only known to few.
With best wishes for healthy living,
Shyam V.Bale,Mumbai.

[Goanet] Now the mining industry wants 'qualified' environmentalists in Goa.

[Goa Desc]

 ---
Documented by Goa Desc Resource Centre (GDRC)
Email: goad...@bsnl.in
---
--
Mining industry wants 'qualified' environmentalists
--

by Michael Fisher

Goa's 'traditional miners' and 'authentic' environmentalists have
proposed a concept for an act to regulate the many social workers
and NGOs claiming to be the environmentalists.Whether it is for
mining, emission control, water or air pollutant, the proposal is being
designed as a two-edged sword spelling doom and boon to
businesses, according to industry experts here.

When the new proposal comes into force, it will thwart
pseudo-environmentalists in the guise of NGOs and NGOs will
need environmental permits. The proposal will automatically filter
companies that will be eligible to mine in Goa. Today, new players
are ignoring environmental norms and disturbing the ecological
balance of Goa's ecosystem, said mining experts.

The current meltdown which has affected Goa's mining by 40 to 60
per cent is seen as the right time to reconsider several factors whereby
some industries particularly mining have been affected due to the want
of a regulation system in place and to find a compatible marriage
between industries and environmental standards, said several mining
experts.

"In Goa, such legislative proposal is urgently needed," said Mr Lume,
an official at Fomento, a mining company. "Such a regulation was
mooted in the past but it gradually fizzled out," said Mr S Sridhar,
executive director of Goa Mineral Ore Exporters' Association
(GMOEA), when contacted.

Mr Sridhar agrees that such a regulation is needed to streamline the
mining industry on a better level-playing field. The outspoken
Mr Sameer Salgaoncar, a mining industrialist questions the revenue
source of these social workers called NGOs. He rues that anyone
is licensed to mine in Goa. They ignore scientific and environmental
norms. Pilferage is in full force by unscrupulous elements. "They
break every mining rule bringing disrespect to the industry," said
Mr Joe Luis of Fomento, at a recent press conference.

The past four years of mining boom are believed to have attracted
extortionists in the guise of environmentalists and hence this
environmental act is suited for Goa, mining industrialists said.

Mining in Goa started in the late 60s and early 70s when the state
was fortunate to welcome a visiting Japanese delegation that is
believed to have taught Goa's nascent industrialists the art of
scientific mining, keeping in mind environmental norms and Goa's
beauty. The Japanese also imparted a technology that enriches
the low-grade ore to that of international standards for exports...,
and the rest is history.

Mining became the biggest contributor to Goa's GDP after fishing
and agriculture. Tourism started to trickle in, then. "If it hadn't been
for the Japanese, Goa's mining prosperity may not have existed today,'
said a mining survey expert from Italab.

The mining industrialists Timblo, Salgaoncar, Dempo, Sesa Goa and
Shantilal known as the 'traditional miners', follow the scientific art of
mining. They started implementing and establishing a social order for
the village habitats in the vicinity of the mines. They financially and
socially supported infrastructures such as roads, schools, places
of worship and other amenities.

The turning point was four years ago when the Chinese started to
buy 'mountains' of Goa ore with such speed that it threw the mining
industry out of gear. The new proposal will streamline not only the
mining sector but other industries too. Meanwhile, a Mining Act to
be announced by the Parliament is eagerly awaited.
--
The Navhind Times 25/12/08 page 1
--

GOA DESC RESOURCE CENTRE
Documentation + Education + Solidarity
11 Liberty Apts., Feira Alta, Mapusa, Goa 403 507
mailto:goad...@bsnl.in 
---
Working On Issues Of Development & Democracy
=

[Goanet] International Climate Championship-Application Deadline: 15 January 2009

[Jen Lewis]

Dear all,
Young environmentalists who are passionate about the environment and want to 
make a difference, may please enter this competition by filling out a form 
online. You will be selected as one of 60 young Indians to be ambassadors 
creating awareness of Climate Change. 

Wish you all the best!

regards,
Dr. Jen
(Please forward this to budding environmentalists!)
=
International Climate Championship 2009
Application Deadline: 15 January 2009
http://www.britishcouncil.org/india-projects-lcf-climatechampions.htm

Application form at: https://survey.britishcouncil.org/wix/p8335362.aspx

British Council, in partnership with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), 
has launched The International Climate Champions 2009.
The programme aims to select 60 young Indians as ambassadors to communicate the 
message of Climate Change and work on mitigating its effects in India. 
Climate Champions a youth oriented programme aims to inspire young people and 
work with them towards spreading the word on Climate Change and its effects. 
There are currently 200 International Climate Champions in 13 different 
countries recruited by the British Council through an annual competition and 
the aim is to spread the network to all the countries where the British Council 
works and to engage up to 2000 International Climate Champions.
In 2008, 20 Indian Climate Champions were selected through a country wide 
rigorous competition by an expert jury. Three of these young champions were 
selected as International Climate Champions 2008 and represented India at 
meetings in London and G8+5 summit in Kobe, Japan.

The International Climate Champions competition for India sets out to identify 
60 outstanding young people aged 18-21 who

   can carry out a climate change project in their school/college or community 
   network with like-minded young Champions from around the world, sharing 
ideas and best practice 
   represent India on climate change. 

The 2009 competition to find the next 60 Champions will be open between 5 
December 2008 to 15 January 2009. The new Champions will start their 'year in 
office' in early February 2009.

Eligibility Criteria 

   A permanent resident of India.  
   Between the ages of 18 - 21 years (as on January 2009) 
   Passionate about the environment and climate change.  
   Have a basic knowledge of the facts behind climate change.  
   Be enthusiastic and show determination to make a difference.  
   Happy talking in front of others (don't worry, we're not looking for 
professional TV celebrities!)  

If you meet the above criteria, simply click on the link 'Apply Now' compete 
the entry form and answer a set of 5 simple questions. Registrations will close 
on 15 January 2009.

After you register for the Competition, your entry will be sent directly to the 
competition's judging panel who will mark your entry. 40 entries per region 
(North, East, West, South) will be selected to come to the regional finals 
which will take place at your nearest British Council Office late January 2009.

Regional Finals

If you are selected for the regional finals you will attend a short 20 minutes 
interview with the judging panel. This interview will include

   8 minute presentation featuring a project proposal the prospective champion 
intends to pursue.as an International Climate Champion 
   8 minute interaction session with the Jury 

The judges will then select 15 Champions per region (North, East, West and 
South) and one overall winner.

The overall winner of the competition will attend an international workshop in 
February 2009 in Scotland with winners from 25 other countries to develop 
project ideas and work on communicating your message to others. There will be a 
chance to gain first hand experience of existing climate change projects and 
meet climate change experts.

If you are one of the lucky 60 Climate Champions you will :

   Have opportunities to meet and talk with international specialists on 
climate change 
   Get first hand experience of some amazing projects that are making a real 
difference 
   Receive invitations to speak at regional and possibly national events on 
climate change 
   Have the opportunity to network with similar-minded Champions in 25 
countries around the world 
   A great opportunity to come on board with us 
 
For futher information:
British Council:
Anu Thampi, Email: anu.tha...@in.britishcouncil.org; Tel: 044 - 42050600
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)
Ranjeeta Buti; Email: ranje...@teri.res.in; Tel: 011 - 24682100 
OUR CLIMATE OUR FUTURE OUR VOICE 


==
*~Jen 
Vasco-da-gama, Goa/ Birmingham UK
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VascokarsUnited/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IEIGLC/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GoanStudentsAbroad/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GreenGoa/
==


  

[Goanet] Equality Under The law

[Selma Albuquerque]

 
Dear Goanet

The two bills
introduced recently in Parliament will, when they become law, give the
Government additional powers to probe terrorism and prosecute suspects. The
question for citizens from minority communities, however, is not so much the
robustness of the laws as the earnestness of the authorities to employ them
non-exclusively. For, it is not that there were no laws in force when Sikhs,
Muslims, and, more recently, Christians were the targets of organized
terrorism, but that there was a lack of zeal on the part of police and
government to apply them. As a result, they were beaten, raped and burnt alive
– sometimes by the police and prominent leaders - in an orgy of terror that
ended only when the energy of the attackers was spent. 


What hope then
do we, of the minorities, have that the imminent laws will be used in our
defence? Our founding fathers too made laws and wrote the constitution. We
believed in them and felt secure. No longer. Events in Delhi 
in 1984, Mumbai in ’92-93, Gujarat in 2002 and Malegaon , Orissa and Karnataka 
this year make
us wonder what the future has in store for us.  Expats, like me, who nurture 
the dream of returning to our motherland,
have to think again. We are faced with the irony that we are more protected and
wanted in strange lands than in our own.
 
Yours truly
 
David Albuquerque

 Stay connected to the people that matter most with a smarter inbox. Take a 
look.


  Stay connected to the people that matter most with a smarter inbox. Take 
a look http://au.docs.yahoo.com/mail/smarterinbox

Re: [Goanet] Why God sucks --- a good discussion

[Miguel Braganza]

Dears,
 
Frederick wrote:
"I guess if this was a perfect world, even the most devout theist would
agree that there would have not been any need for a Christ to be born
two millenia ago."
 
Samir endorsed the view that "god sucks". He knows because he has experienced 
it!

Christmas day is an appropriate ocassion to discuss if Christ sucks as good as 
any other god.
 
In the interest of free debate, it would be interesting to  know if:
1. Dr. Samir Kelekar would be interested in debating a godly "suck" during 
Shivratri or Navratri or any other occasion of phallic worship including 
festival at Kavlem and
2. Whether Fredrick would like to discuss religion in the context of the need 
for nuptial rites or "canonical" marriage for a proclaimed atheist.
 
We could also discuss whether the "Original Sin" is as  water soluble as all 
the "paap" of the pagans and hence washed away by the baptisimal water poured 
on an unsuspecting child at the behest of the parents.  At least the pagans 
consciously immerse themselves in the polluted rivers after attaining the 
so-calle "age of reason"
 
Or is that getting too personal for a person who believes in the persona of God 
... who is not another needle  prick?
 
We are all grown up men and women. So let us discuss this topic dispassionately 
through the year 2008 and into  2009. Iconoclasm is an intrinsic atheist 
philosophy ... till one's own icons get shattered. ;-(
 
Let the discussion go on.
 
Mog asundi
 
Miguel


Date: Thu, 25 Dec 2008 04:09:44 +0530
From: "Frederick \"FN\" Noronha" 
Subject: Re: [Goanet] Why God sucks --- a good discussion
Message-ID:
    <8ea78e010812241439l60b665c2l83dfa38434efc...@mail.gmail.com>

I think Samir was testing your spirit of Christian tolerance :-) which
doesn't seem to run too deep in some cases anyway!

2008/12/24 Samir Kelekar :
> http://www.sciforums.com/showthread.php?t=3176
> There is a good discussion on both pro and cons of why God sucks.
> regards,
> Samir

I guess if this was a perfect world, even the most devout theist would
agree that there would have not been any need for a Christ to be born
two millenia ago.

Btw, what is the meaning of 'sucks'? Its connotations seem to vary:

http://www.slate.com/id/2146866/

slang : to be objectionable or inadequate  
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suck

Vulgar Slang To be disgustingly disagreeable or offensive.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Sucks

So, do you still feel Samir's use of language (and attitude) sucks?

FN

--


  Get an email ID as yourn...@ymail.com or yourn...@rocketmail.com. Click 
here http://in.promos.yahoo.com/address