Goan Voice UK: Newsletter. Issue 2006-02. Jan. 12, 2006

The Goan Voice UK website crashed and the data is being reloaded on to a new site. Again this week, the newsletter is being sent through a temporary resource. Some of the links may not work and you will need to invoke them at a future date. The inconvenience is regretted.

Patricia Rozario Concert on 20 Jan.
Patricia Rozario performs at Wigmore Hall on Fri. 20 Jan. 2006. Tickets £12-£22. For details and online booking click here.

UK: Wimbledon: Great Event For Culture Vultures
5 Jan: Wimbledon Guardian. There is a great mix of fashion and music at Wimbledon Odeon on Thu., Jan. 12. Merton's ethnic minority centre (EMC) is presenting the Multicultural event which will include Irish, Chinese, African, Goan and Gujrati Dance. The show starts at 7pm and tickets cost £5.50 for adults and £3 for children aged five to 12. Click here.

Pupils make Town Hall appeal for road safety
5 Jan: Sheffield Star (UK). Lib Dem councillors yelled out supportive cheers as the kids pleaded with council chiefs to install safety measures at a busy junction in Ecclesall. Matthew Mascarenhas-Keyes, aged 11, lives just yards from the junction.
He told a meeting of the full council: “We are happy to miss school to come here as citizens of Sheffield to express our concerns. "We heard that until someone dies, the council will do nothing. Why should I or my friends die just to change your mind? …” Click here.
[His mother is Stella Mascarenhas-Keyes, author of “Goans In London, Portrait of a Catholic Asian Community.” A Goan Association (U K) Publication. 1979].

Baby Boy is a New Year Joy
6 Jan: Leicester Mercury. He still has not got a name but this little boy will be remembered as Leicestershire's first baby of 2006. James and Tracy Fernandes from Loughborough, celebrated their new arrival at 12.10am on New Year's Day. The couple, of Pinfold Gate, already have a three-year-old daughter, Casey. For photo and text click here.

10 Jan: Bombay. DR VICTOR ALOYSIUS CASTELLINO (aged 93). Father of Judith (Kevin Coelho), Augustus (Maria Menezes), Michael (Lalita Lobo) and Annabelle (Dr. Jerry Braganza). He was a family practitioner in India first and then in London, England. Elected to City Council in Bombay, President of the Catholic Association of Bombay and Vice-President of the Catholic Union of India. Predeceased by his beloved wife, Isabelle. For details/to send condolences click here.

8 Jan. Hackney, London. VICTOR CRECENCIO ALFONSO (ex-Nairobi). Husband of Lucy. Father of Raymond. Alex, Brenda, Cedric and Danny. Condolences to r.alfonso@btinternet.com

23 Dec: London. HENRY DE MELLO (born 1945, ex Mombasa). Loving brother to Branca/Vincent Andrade (La Palma, California), Marta/Newton Da Costa (Toronto), Roserita/Ernest Reis Fernandes (Chichinim, Goa), Gladys Sequeira (Burbank, California) and Vivien/Romero) Dias (Richmond Hill, Ontario).
Funeral services on Tue. Jan. 17 at Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Vincent de Paul Church, 337 Harrow Road, North Kensington, W93RB,(Tel: 0207-229-0487) at 10 a.m. Viewing is being arranged by Cooperative Funeral services, North Kensington, Tel:0208-969-6260. Condolences to viviendias@hotmail.com or romero.dias04@sympatico.ca

Passport
7 Jan: The Journal (Newcastle, UK). … India is likely to offer great bargains. Goaway's flights to Goa from Gatwick and Manchester start at £199 and the same operator offers packages with B&B in Goa and Kerala in January to March from £399. Goaway (020) 7258-7800. Click here.

Yoga’s Homeland
7 Jan: Western Mail (UK). Lois Jones visits Goa taking part in a two week yoga course at the Iyengar Yoga Centre in Arambol. Home is Dunes Dando, a village of bamboo huts, on Mandrem beach. 950 words. Click here.

Diu for a change
7 Jan: Herald-Sun (Melbourne). Think Goa 20 years ago and you have the Indian island of Diu … Diu is a scaled-down version of the popular Indian beach state of Goa, vintage 1960-something ... 844 words.

Now walk on the sea floor in Goa!
9 Jan: Rediff. India's first adventurous underwater sea walk project has been launched in Goa … "One can walk for 20 minutes underwater enjoying the pristine water world. Swimmers and non-swimmers alike can enjoy this unique opportunity to explore the heart of the sea safely," stated Rajiv Somani, managing director, H20 Private Limited. The company has initiated the project on Goa's Baina beach in south Goa. Click here.

Win A Holiday In Portugal (UK only)
Conde Naste Traveller. Win a two-night break at the luxurious Pestana Palace, Lisbon. The prize, valid for travel before 31 October 2006, includes a two-night stay for two people, including flights and airport taxes. Closing date is 17 Jan. 2006. Details at http://www.cntraveller.com/Competition/

Win A Holiday In Brazil (UK only)
Portland Holidays. 7 night holiday for two adults staying in Brazil. Ends 31 Jan. 2006. For details click here.

Goa cannot take heavy load of migrants: Parrikar
6 Jan: Zee News. Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar said there was a need to contain the increasing migration rate in the state that puts extensive load on Goa's infrastructure. “Goa cannot take heavy load of migrants," Parrikar said while interacting with the Non-Resident Goans (NRGs) on the concluding day of Vishwa Gomantak Sammelan … Speaking on how to curtail the migration, the BJP leader said industries which will not provide employment to the locals should be discouraged in the state. Parrikar also expressed the need to amend the people's representation act to give right of voting to Non-Resident Indians (NRIs). "NRIs have more right to vote than any migrant in the state," he said. Click here.

University of North Dakota signs exchange pact with Goa University
8 Jan: Grand Forks Herald (North Dakota). UND President Charles Kupchella has signed a memorandum of understanding with Goa University. UND students will go to the Goa University and learn about that country's culture and philosophies. Goa University has about 18,000 students on a central campus and 44 affiliated colleges. Click here.

Stop talking
8 Jan: Herald. Can we ask our Non Resident Goans, who demand more and more concessions, what have they done for Goa? … are they willing to do something for Goa without any strings attached to it? … are they willing to give up their lifestyle, their foreign passport and that way of life to come back and settle down in Goa. So NRG’s please stop talking and show us your sincerity and then perhaps the government may do something for you. What is irking is the way the government is bending backwards to help these Non Resident Goans … http://oheraldo.in/node/8324

Catholic Council of India grows with new identity
10 Jan. The Indian Catholic. Click here.

India: Development Of Non-Metro Airports
10 Jan: Press Information Bureau. ... The ten airports that have been identified for development under Phase I are Goa … In respect of Goa Airport, the Terminal Building work will be taken up after acquisition of land from Defence/State Govt. Authorities.
http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=14866

Mopa decision in PM’s hand: CM
11 Jan: Navhind Times. With the fight within the ruling Congress party over the proposed Mopa international airport reaching the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh for a decision, the state government has decided to stay the process for the land acquisition. Click here.

Wipro to start R&D project in Goa
11 Jan: Economic Times. Information Technology (IT) giant Wipro would start its research and development (R&D) project in Goa and the state government has already earmarked a land for the project measuring one lakh square metres at Dona Paula. Other companies intending to start their project there would be charged Rs 2,500 per square metre of land in addition to Rs 1,200 to 1,500 per square metre as infrastructure development charges. Click here.

Goa Government plans to remove grounded vessel
11 Jan: The Hindu. The Goa Government will have to spend close to Rs. 30 crores to remove and dispose of the dilapidated vessel River Princess which stands as an eyesore on the Sinquerim-Candolim coastal belt of North Goa, threatening to endanger beach tourism in the State. Click here.

Book on Goan churches released
12 Jan: Herald. Walking along the corridors of time, Jose Lourenco has researched the architecture of Goan churches and has published the book 'The Parish Churches of Goa" which was released by Archbishop Filipe Neri Rodrigues, at the Bishop's House, Panjim on Wednesday. http://oheraldo.in/node/8531

The increased tension following Iran's decision to pursue the nuclear option as an inalienable right has generated much uncertainty, especially in the West. Understandably, Goanet generated several posts on this issue. However, to placate those who see no relevance of Iran to Goa, Goanet has decided to reject all posts on this and related Middle East issues forthwith. However, as a serious commentator, and in the interests of large numbers of Goans in the Gulf region, I have reservations about such a knee-jerk reaction. In 1990, I witnessed, first hand, the traumatisation and abrupt displacement of Goans following the invasion of Kuwait and the surrounding area. As there is a distinct possibility of serious conflagration in the Gulf area once more, our fellow Goans have more (not less) of a need to know about the tension there, moderated by Goanet, through the Goan media such as the Goan Voice and Goanet which are widely and enthusiastically read in the Gulf region.

A post re Goa on Goanet said, ..."it has a semblance of a European ambience and variously touted as the Rome, Venice, Amsterdam etc of the East....[but] its unplanned growth and related urban and environmental woes are becoming the stuff of legend." Do our readers agree with this view?

For many GV(UK) readers, nostalgic about East African days, do read an interesting Goanet piece on the popular Swahili song Malaika.

Seven Steps to a Healthy Anger Release are provided by Kenneth Fernandes. Readers should find these quite helpful.

On the sports and political front Averthan D'Souza has much to offer from the Goa scene for readers abroad.

Finally, Miguel Braganza provides a detailed follow-up on the issues previously raised on Goanet about the theft of artefacts from churches in Goa.

More details can be found at the Goanet archives at http://www.goanet.org Or to subscribe to Goanet, send an email to subscribe@goanet.org

How to marry an NRI, safely
5 Jan. Rediff. Prompted by the increasing incidents of girls who marry non-resident Indians being ill-treated, the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs has drawn up guidelines for people who want their daughters married abroad. The booklet, which will soon be widely distributed, contains precautionary measures Indian families need to take when a marriage proposal arrives from an NRI.
Click here.

Film Review: A bit of dirty dancing
5 Jan: Leicester Mercury (UK). Bollywood kicks off the new year with a bit of dirty dancing in the form of Pooja Bhatt's Holiday, a feelgood movie with Dino Morea and debutante Onjilee Nair. A girl's family holiday to Goa turns into a coming-of-age drama, with starlet Onjilee discovering her inner rhythm when she sees salsa dancer Dino strutting his stuff at her hotel. Dad, though, is not happy … Click here.

Designer does her bit to help neglected animals
6 Jan. Bath Chronicle (UK). Graphic designer Judy Hungerford spent a month at the International Animal Rescue Centre (IAR) in Goa at the end of last year … the 47-year-old heard about the plight of dancing bears in the region while listening to a programme on Radio 4 … During her stay Ms Hungerford, who runs Hungerford Design, also used her graphic design skills to produce publicity banners for the charity, which hosts information stalls at local markets. For more details visit the website, which can be found at www.iar.org.uk/india ,629 words. For full text click here.

Depravity and Degradation
6 Jan: Sky News (UK). Alexander Kilpatrick, a sex tourist has been jailed for a "minimum" of six years. Cumbrian-born Kilpatrick, the first person to be jailed under new "sex tourism" legislation, pleaded guilty to 17 assorted sex offences. He was also banned from working with children, being in company with anyone under 16 or travelling to Africa, Thailand, Cambodia, Goa or Costa Rica. Click here.

New on the menu for '06
6 Jan: USA Today. … In our new list of 100 favorite things for 2006, we say that fun fusion food will go mainstream, as evidenced by the Goan (Indian) avocado salad at Manhattan's Tabla restaurant … For photos of the Tabla click here.

Briton faces trial for child trafficking from India
6 Jan: WebIndia123,com. Douglas Rankin, was arrested here for attempting to smuggle out two foreign boys to London on Christmas Eve … As part of investigations, a police team was rushed to north Goa last week to collect background information on Rankin, who has been residing at Arambol during his stay for the last 10 years. "He took a big house near the beach on lease and rented out a portion of it to foreign tourists, flocking to the coastal state round the year. A search of the house revealed he is an expert in watersports such as surfing and sailing. He also used to train others in it." Click here.

Buying Property in Goa Without First Having Seen It
6 Jan: Daily Mail (UK). David Andrews (55) is a semi-retired landscape gardener who lives in Chester. He has just bought a two-bedroom apartment in Goa for £38,000 without having seen it. “India’s economic growth is promising and I think investing in Goa is a safe bet,” he says. David is about to set off for Goa on a family holiday and to see his property for the first time. “It is a lovely place to go on holiday anyway.” He says. For photo & text click here.

Mariza: A bridge to fado.
7 Jan: The Sydney Morning Herald. Excerpts: Fado was born 200 years ago in the brothels and cafes of working-class Lisbon, when the laments of African slaves blended with the yearnings of Portuguese sailors. Mariza Nunes, 32, goes by one name only and is fast becoming the most famous face of this traditional form. She is one of the lesser-known performers in this year's Sydney Festival … Even when she sang her duet with Sting, she moved in and out of Portuguese and English, and hints of fado kept creeping in. "I always have a little bit of fado when I sing, because it's my music. It's my culture." For photo and full text click here.
Mariza is quarter Goan. From The Independent (UK), 22 Sep. 2002: In 1975, the family returned to Lisbon, where they opened a little restaurant known as Anabela's, after her mother who cooked "African, with a touch of Goan, and very well". [She sang a fado on BBC Radio 4 last week]

Bollywood legend in smoking row
7 Jan: BBC News. Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan has been threatened with legal action over a film poster that depicts him smoking a cigar. The film hoarding was put up on 25 December in Panaji, capital of Goa, but was taken down after a week. He appears on the hoarding smoking a cigar... in violation of an Act which bans cigarettes adverts. Bachchan has starred in more than 100 films and was once dubbed the "most famous actor of the millennium" in a BBC News website readers' poll. In 2000, he became the first Indian movie actor to be displayed at Madame Tussaud's wax museum in London. Click here.

Bollywood star sorry for smoking
10 Jan: BBC News. Bollywood superstar, Amitabh Bachchan, has apologised to a Goa-based anti-tobacco group for appearing in a film poster that depicts him smoking a cigar. [The BBC accompanies the text with a photograph of him lighting up! See http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4599906.stm

Goin’ goin’ Goa...
8 Jan: Mumbai Mirror. Now that everyone’s back from their Goa New Year's, we find out what gets VJ Juhi, Mihir Mishra and Karishma Tanna there every year. Click here.

Lessons in peace
10 Jan: Mumbai Mirror. As the Don Bosco priests celebrate the centenary of their arrival in India, they want to universalise their campaign to build ‘little peace builders’ in classrooms … In over 20 schools run by the institution in Western India, exercises in ‘peace education’ [anti-bullying] are already part of the annual curriculum. 621 words. Click here.

The Portuguese encounter - a reign of terror - 1505 to 1658
10 Jan: Lakehouse Daily News (Sri Lanka). It was a scholarly odyssey into the past of the Portuguese where destruction of non-Catholic places of worship was carried out by the Portuguese conquerors of Ceylon between 1505 and 1658 in the name of the service of God and the love of Christ.
http://www.dailynews.lk/2006/01/10/fea04.htm

From bags to riches: the recycling project which starts in India's rubbish tips
10 Jan: The Independent (UK). Using recycled plastic, the rag pickers of an Indian slum are making highly desirable handbags for the boutiques of London and New York … Native by Native, which sells the bags in the UK, promotes them on its website as environmentally friendly. The India Shop, another UK supplier, even carries a picture of the waste bags the handbags are made of on its website, and promotes them as "addressing environmental and social issues". For full text, 1828 words click here.
For photographs of the range of bags see the links below:
http://www.theindiashop.co.uk/acatalog/Eco_friendly_bags.html
http://www.trade.nativebynative.co.uk/shop/products.asp?cat=44

Medics are all set for Indian mercy mission
10 Jan: Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, UK). A team of 10 volunteers South Tyneside General Hospital doctors and nurses are travelling to India to carry out vital operations. The medics will fly out to Mumbai on an 11-day mercy mission at the remote rural B K Walawalkar Hospital, near Goa. 542 words. Click here.

Selective abortion in India common
10 Jan: Toronto Star. Experts are urging the Indian government to enforce laws against prenatal gender checks — and to work to change attitudes — after a study showed up to 10 million female fetuses may have been selectively aborted in India over the past two decades. Click here.

Bahrain: Grateful housemaid reluctant to leave
11 Jan: Gulf Daily News (Bahrain). Maria Rosaria Joana, 62, a housemaid, who hails from Goa, is reluctant to leave Bahrain, where a family has embraced her as one of its own members. She is scheduled to return to India for further treatment six months after undergoing a kidney transplant. The Bahraini family she has worked for over 30 years is to continue to shoulder all the costs of her treatment, for which Mrs Joana said she is very grateful. For photo and text, 312 words click here.

Anger at 'shameful' India gay law
11 Jan: BBC News. India's laws on homosexuality threaten human rights and encourage the spread of HIV, a leading rights watchdog has told the prime minister in a letter. Click here.

Why foreigners love to work in India
12 Jan: Rediff.. . They typically earn about $350 a month and work the phones for six months to a year before chilling on the beaches of Goa, trekking in the Himalayas, or visiting the palaces of Rajasthan . 1266 words. Click here.

Children’s homes become centre for child abuse
15 Jan: Organiser. Could India be the epicentre of human trafficking? Click here.

Subcontinental Drift
16 Jan: Business Week. More Westerners are beefing up their résumés with a stint in India. Click here.

The 4th PBD took place in Hyderabad, 8-10 January. There were many topics of significance to NRIs that were discussed.

India launches citizenship scheme
7 Jan: BBC News. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has formally launched an overseas Indian citizenship scheme for the 25 million-strong Indian diaspora. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4590526.stm

Apply now! India receives 8,000 forms for NRI citizenship
8 Jan: Times of India. India has received some 8,000 applications for overseas citizenship from its Diaspora and the forms will be processed soon, Minister of State for Overseas Indian Affairs Oscar Fernandes said. "More than 8,000 have applied and we expect around 50,000 more applicants for overseas Indian citizenship (OCI)," Fernandes told a press conference on the margins of the 4th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. "The applications are mainly from the US," he added. Click here.

Remittance gateway for diaspora unveiled
8 Jan: WebIndia123.com. Finance Minister P. Chidambaram launched a remittance gateway for overseas Indians to send money to any place in the country within 24 hours. Click here.

NRIs to get voting rights: PM
8 Jan: Navhind Times. After granting citizenship to overseas Indians, the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh today announced that they would soon be granted voting rights. Click here.

Privatisation of Gulf air route likely
8 Jan. Sify. … Overseas Affairs Minister Oscar Fernandes, he said, "Private players are knocking at the doors of the government for new routes. The protected Gulf route is likely to be opened up in the near future." Air India was in the process of substantial augmentation of its fleet and more no frill flights would be launched once it was completed … Click here.

No time to talk about racial bias
8 Jan. The Times of India. The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas has neither the time nor the inclination to talk about the racial discrimination being faced by the Indian diaspora abroad … Union minister of state for overseas Indians affairs Oscar Fernandes said that the government does want to help Indians abroad who are suffering from racial discrimination. The minister said individuals who are fighting racial discrimination cases would also be assisted. Click here.

Centre to set up gender cell for NRIs
9 Jan: Asian Age. The Union ministry of overseas Indian affairs will set up a gender cell to take up the cause of women NRI and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) in their respective countries … 12.8 per cent of Indian women in the US are subjected to domestic violence, the actual percentage could be higher as Indian women may not report domestic violence. Click here.

Welfare scheme for Indians abroad
9 Jan: BBC News. The Indian government has announced new welfare initiatives that would benefit an estimated five million Indian workers all over the world. They include a comprehensive insurance scheme due to begin next month and a welfare fund. Click here.

Andhra Government to create separate department for NRIs
9 Jan: WebIndia123.com. The Government of Andhra Pradesh has decided to set up a separate NRI department which will work for the welfare of the non-resident Andhraites. Click here.

Crime against NRI women growing
9 Jan: Rediff. National Commission for Women chairperson Girija Vyas on Monday expressed concern over the increasing incidence of harassment and crimes against non resident women. Click here.

95pc Gulf NRIs return to poverty says survey
9 Jan. Trade Arabia (Bahrain). Only five per cent of Indians working in Bahrain and the Gulf can manage a comfortable life when they return to their homeland, a survey has revealed. Click here.

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas: No takers for Goa …
10 Jan: Rediff. "Please don't go." was the plaintive plea by a senior Goa government official as one of the less than six visitors attending his presentation got up to leave halfway through the presentation … officials outnumbered the delegates attending the sessions. Goa had to shift their venue at the last moment after Bihar Chief minister refused to conclude his session within the time allotted to him despite repeated requests. Goan officials, after fretting and fuming outside for an hour, decided to shift their session to another room. But by then, many people who may have wanted to attend their session had moved on. Click here.

NRI investors to get realty check
10 Jan: Times of India. In a move that could help potential NRI investors to gauge the genuineness of their investment in real estate, a leading agency has begun grading commercial and residential land projects. The grading, being done by rating agency ICRA Ltd, is for both the buyers and the builders. "This will ensure that buyers get the right price and the quality house or apartment. Given the increasing frauds in real estate projects, this grading would help NRIs in getting the best buy. Click here.

It's pay back time: Kalam to NRIs
10 Jan: Times of India. President A P J Abdul Kalam asked overseas Indians to provide leadership for transformation of Indian villages with their experience and knowledge … He said it was the duty of every Indian and NRI to pay back to their motherland for nurturing them. Click here.

Mon.16/1: BBC 4: 9.00pm (90mins) Asylum
Fleeing persecution, an Afghan chemist, an Algerian scientist and a Somali schoolteacher sought refuge in Britain. For three years, we watch as their children go to school, English is learned and legal decisions are anxiously awaited.

Mon. 16/1: Travel Channel: 9.00pm (60mins) Planet Food : South India
Padma Lakshmi takes to the road again, this time to Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore