Goan Voice UK: Newsletter. Issue 2008-33. August. 14, 2008

Edna Fernandes: Last Jews of Kerala

10 Aug: Morning Star (UK). Jean Turner reviews the book. During the reign of King Solomon, merchant Jews made Cochin, Kerala, their home. A thousand years later, a second wave of Jews arrived. This set up racial tension between the initial settlers, known as the “Black Jews”, and the new arrivals, the “White Jews”. Fernandes records their family histories, rituals and caste divisions. She follows two such families to Israel, and examines their subsequent disenchantment. 276 words. Click here.
Edna Fernandes was born in Nairobi and grew up in London. She is a former foreign correspondent for the Financial Times, Reuters and Dow Jones. For the Edna Fernandes website click here.

Patricia Rozario: Head to the Tête à Tête
10 Aug: The Express on Sunday (UK). Tête à Tête Opera Festival. Riverside Studios, London W6 …A semi-operatic diversion was soprano Patricia Rozario's Mozart-loving taxi driver in Andrew Gant's Don't Go Down The Elephant After Midnight…Rozario's passengers suffer if they aren't into Mozart. A fare who asks to be taken to the Coliseum is thrown out with an operatic blasting when she learns he's seeing the latest Philip Glass. … The festival runs until next Sunday. Click here.
For the GVUK Patricia Rozario profile click here.

Corryn Rayney: Murder and PR games
10 Aug: The Sunday Times (Aus). ..The senseless death of beautiful, successful Corryn Rayney a year ago has captured the public's imagination like few other crimes ...Uniquely it has also provided legal cover for the media to write about Mr Rayney in the most sensational terms…842 words. Click here.

Canada: Field hockey team looking for an Olympic upset
10 Aug: Mississauga News. Wayne Fernandes scored the shootout winner in the Olympic qualifier… Fernandes and Ken Pereira can trace their roots to Goa…Fernandes comes from a field hockey playing family… Photo and text, 777 words. Click here.

Golf: John Fernandes wins Junior Open

11 Aug: Enfield Independent. John Fernandes shot a superb second round of 69 to win the Enfield Golf Club Junior Open in spite of competing against players almost two years older than him…181 words+ Photo. Click here.
John is the son of Dores and Agnelo Fernandes (ex-Eastleigh, Nairobi) and brother of Thomas and Isabella. For the GVUK John Fernandes supplement click here.
John is in urgent need of sponsorship for a coaching trip to USA. Contact Agnelo, 0794-1176410 or email agnelodafernandes@hotmail.com

Video: Toronto: Merella Fernandes: Honey For Your Allergies?

12 Aug: City News (Toronto). A new, non-invasive, chemical-free allergy treatment may already be on your pantry shelves. It's local honey ..Check Merella Fernandez's experience at a local apiary at the link below. 1m. 44s. Click here.
For the GVUK Merella Fernandez supplement click here.

Overseas Goans and Goan Associations to be networked
13 Aug: Navhind Times. The NRI Commissioner, Mr Eduardo Faleiro has proposed to link Goans abroad through a network based in Goa…a proposal to unite all Goan organisations outside Goa under one global network is also on the cards…a Goa Migration Monitoring Study will focus mainly on Mumbai. Karachi, East Africa, Portugal, United Kingdom, Myanmar, Macau, Middle East, USA and Canada. 608 words. Click here.

Global Goans office by 2010: Faleiro
13 Aug: Times of India. The government intends to set up a Global Goans office in Panaji by December 2009 to unite all Goan organisations outside Goa, whether elsewhere in India, or abroad to redress the grievances of non-resident Goans. 220 words. Click here.

Eugene Correia: Notes from the Goan Convention, Toronto
13 Aug: GoaNet. Eugene Correia, in the fourth and concluding part of Notes on the Goan Convention 2008, held in Toronto, responds to queries posed to him about his own role, that of pre-registration, assistance in securing a visa and divulging of private confidences. 1066 words. Click here.

Karachi: Roland deSouza: You can change yourself

13 Aug: The News - International - Pakistan. Although a member of the city’s dwindling Christian community, Roland deSouza says he opted to stay in Pakistan while many others migrated…An electrical engineer by profession, Roland has spent a lifetime advocating human rights, protection of the environment and creating public awareness regarding the rule of law…982 words. Click here.

London: Tony Fernandes: Hospital plagued by pests
14 Aug: Islington Gazette. Barts Hospital and the London NHS trust has had to call out pest control officers on 801 occasions since January 2006 …Former patient Tony Fernandes who was treated for a leg infection at Bart's in June, says he was not surprised to hear of the problems. He said: "This number of infestations is very bad. It is a sign that there is debris being left behind… Click here.

UK: Helen Fernandes: Brain Surgeon's Identity Stolen

14 Aug: Evening Standard (London). Headline: Brain surgeon's identity stolen for facebook slur on gold medallist. Helen Fernandes. Britain's leading female brain surgeon told today how she had her identity stolen on Facebook to attack Britain's new Olympic swimming champion Rebecca Adlington… Why Ms Fernandes was targeted is a mystery. The 41-year-old mother-of-three, who lives in Barrington, near Cambridge, is one of only a handful of female neurosurgeons in Britain…515 words. Click here.
Helen is the daughter of Tennyson Fernandes, (born & brought up in Zanzibar) and Joy (nee Pearson). Tennyson Fernandes was based at Mulago Hospital in Kampala from 1963-65 and now lives in the village of Middleton Tyas, Richmond, North Yorkshire.

GVUK Donations £20 and over received
£20: DeSouza, Carmella & Hubert. Fernandes, Bernard. Lobo, Jerome. Pereira, Eugenia & Ivor. £25: Nunes, Paul; Rodrigues, Manuel C. £40: Dias, Brian. For payment options and the complete list of 2008 Donations click here.

11 Aug. Reading, Berks, UK. RALPH MASCARENHAS (ex-Entebbe, Uganda; ex-RAF; keen hockey player). Beloved husband of Maria Alice (née Botelho). Loving father of Reuben (Hull), Rayson/Olivia (London) and Ravik/Jo (Exeter). Cherished Grandpa of twins Felix and Rafael. A Funeral Mass, followed by Cremation, will be held in Reading in the week commencing 18 Aug; details to be announced. Condolences to ralphalicemascarenhas@gmail.com

11 Aug. Mississauga, Canada. MAXIE RODRIGUES. (Aged 85). Predeceased by her loving husband Augustine and her first born Anthony. Loving mother of Mathew (Maureen), Bernard (Georgina), Nelson, and Isabella (Terry) Barretto. Visitation on Aug. 13. Funeral Mass at St. Francis Xavier Church, Mississauga, on Thu Aug 14 at 10 a.m. Interment to follow at Assumption Cemetery. Click here.

11 Aug: Aquem, Margao, Goa. ANTONIO (TONY) FERNANDES. (ex-Tanga, Tanzania). Husband of Filiciana Cardozo e Fernandes.

10 Aug: Pajifond, Margao, Goa. FR RUI FIGUEIREDO. Son of late Bemvinda/late Joao. Brother of late Alirio/Sarita (England); late Plinio/Pilar (Madrid), Ercilia/late Alu (Saligao), Saozinha/Vincent (Dublin) and Terezinha.

9 Aug. Karachi. LOUIS JOSEPH MARTIS (Minerva Printers). Husband of Angeline. Father of Steve/Rita Martis; Beverley/Vernon D’Cruz and Lynette/Fidelis D’ Souza. Brother of Fr Anthony Martis, Louisa Pinto (Canada), Maggie Travas (Canada). For full details from Daily Times of 12 Aug. Click here.

8 Aug. Goa. MARIO JOAQUIM CARVALHO (aged 96; Ex Nairobi East African Railways). Beloved husband of the late Dolly Carvalho. Father of Xavier, Marian and Tony. Father-in-law to Maggie and Celcia. Grandfather to Candice & Dana. Funeral: 18th Aug at 3.30 pm to St Anthony Church, Siolim.
Condolences can be sent to xaviercarvalho@gmail.com or tonyca1@aol.com or mcarv2000@yahoo.com

6 Aug. Mississauga. CLEOFRIDA D’SOUZA (aged 87). Beloved wife of Vincent for 62 years. Loving mother of Joyce and her husband Pliny Noronha and Rayner and her husband Peter Abreu. Proud grandmother of Conrad, Renata, Marissa, Brennan and Ryan. Click here.

4 Aug: Matol, Verna, Goa. INACIA MARIA DIAS E BRAGANZA. Wife of late Joao Antonio. Mother of Natalina/Oscar Fernandes (Velsao/UK).

London. ROMAULD PEREIRA. Husband of Anna. Father of Anjali. Grandfather of Gia. Brother of Paul/Argentina & Vivien. Funeral Mass at 4.15 pm on 13 Aug. at Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Church, Chembur followed by burial.

India is the last choice of expats
7 Aug: Times of India. India is still the least desired place when it comes to attracting the expatriates for a longer stay, a new survey conducted by global banking major HSBC reveals. Singapore, the US and UAE have emerged as the top three most popular destinations based on four criteria - longevity, earning and saving, luxury and accommodation…In the overall ranking of 15 economies, Jersey, the UK and France emerged as the lowest rated expat destinations. 317 words. Click here.

Goa stares at bleak tourist season
8 Aug: Times of India. Falling tourism arrivals, a cut in the number of flights and rising fuel costs form the backdrop for the Goa Tourism Meet 2008, slated for Friday…Diversify, is the new mantra that tourism will be singing on Friday, at a time when the tourism industry needs a desperate boost to survive competition. 464 words. Click here.

UK: Updated Travel Advisory for Goa
8 Aug. The Times. The Foreign & Commonwealth Office: Female travellers to India are advised to respect local dress and customs. You are advised to take particular care to avoid walking on your own in isolated areas after incidents of sexual assault in Delhi and Goa. Click here.

Goa-n Have Fun.
8 Aug: Review Goa. It’s difficult to know where to start when writing a review for Goa…The people are like no other in the world, they have a wicked sense of humour and are so helpful, friendly and welcoming that it is difficult to come back home. 795 words + comments. Click here.

Ready, set, Goa
9 Aug: The Advertiser (Australia). From poverty to privilege, historic forts and temples to offshore casinos, be ready to experience the gamut of remarkable contrasts in Goa…an insight to life among friendly Goan people…Sadly, occasional alley spaces are littered with debris, with walls covered in graffiti…1181 words.

Bad publicity abroad doesn't spell good news
9 Aug: Times of India. The coming tourist season may see not just a decline in inflow of travellers from the UK, but also Russia and even Sweden…There is a negative Goa wave developing in foreign countries due to agitations and opposition to anything foreign…Taxi drivers in the coastal belts are also concerned…455 words. Click here.

St Francis Xavier attracts Indian Catholics
9 Aug: ABC (Spain). Although St Francis Xavier died in China in 1552, his relics remain in the beautiful Basilica in Old Goa… Until 1950, the remains could be touched by the public…the last time that the faithful could see the body was in 2004, it will be necessary to wait until 2014 to do so again. 575 words, in Spanish. Click here.

UK warns citizens about Goa
11 Aug: MSN News. … "In 2007, 40 British nationals died in Goa. Ten of these deaths were attributed to drug or alcohol abuse," it reads. The advisory which is timed two months ahead of the formal tourist season in Goa, has a special mention for it … Goa attracts around 400,000 foreign tourists, of which more than 50 per cent are UK nationals, who have even purchased properties in the coastal state. 255 words. Click here.

Tourism, Mopa and Contradictions. By Savio Falleiro
12 Aug: Navhind Times. Recent press reports forecasting a bleak coming year for tourism is a cause for concern… it becomes quite paradoxical to hear about plans to develop another airport at Mopa…If having two airports were a must it would be worthwhile to shift the Navy from Dabolim to Mopa…the surest way of attracting more tourists, is by making Goa cleaner regarding garbage, crime and corruption! 475 words. Click here.

Non-residents homing in thick and fast
12 Aug: Daily News & Analysis. NRIs account for 15-30% of sales in branded realty developments against 5-15% three years ago. Properties in Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Goa are attracting most of the buyers …UK-based NRIs usually want a second home in India…603 words. Click here.

'People in Goa have peculiar understanding of customer service'
12 Aug: SKRIN Newswire (Russia). Ural Airlines is going to introduce a new scheduled flight to Goa, India. ‘Our last season made it obvious that our travelers are ready to go to India despite the long haul and the peculiar understanding of customer service the indigenous people appear to have,’ says Ural Airlines’ Commercial Director Kirill Skuratov, according to URBC. 172 words.

India deadly for Britons: government report
12 Aug: IANS. Thailand and India are the deadliest destinations for British visitors, said a government report published Tuesday…Thailand accounted for 0.3 deaths for every thousand British visitors and India 0.2 deaths… The publication of the report follows the rape and murder of 15-year-old British holidaymaker Scarlett Keeling in Goa in February. 340 words. Click here.
For the full report with statistics click here.
For the UK Travel Advisory to Goa click here.

Goa has to live with tar balls on beaches
13 July: Navhind Times. Looks like tar balls, a annual blot on Goa’s pearly white and much frequented coastline, are here to stay with experts saying that these tar balls will increase with time. 568 words. Click here.

Win a holiday for two to Goa
Love Guru: Six day holiday for two adults aged 18 or older to Goa, an inflatable massage chair, or a Love Guru Kit. Submit a photo or short video clip of yourself creating an innovative yoga pose… Click here.

Goa has 6,000 IT trained youth jobless
8 Aug: Navhind Times. The president of the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Nitin Kuncolienkar has said that there are around 6,000 unemployed youth in Goa who have completed their IT education/ training at various strata from post-graduation to lower level. 503 words. Click here.

Book Aldona bridge for Rs 6,000 per day!
8 Aug: Times of India. Forget about open-air venues, the famed Aldona cable-stayed bridge could be an idyllic location for a private function at a nominal fee. Believe it or not, one needs to pay only Rs 6,000 per day and Rs 3,000 for half day to use the bridge…502 words. Click here.

Goa Church Cautious About Laws To Protect Old Goa
8 Aug: Indian Catholic. Church people in Goa have taken a cautious stand on a government proposal to protect Old Goa…The proposal would ban new construction within two kilometers of the complex and restrict construction within a wider radius…some "powerful people" have acquired land that once belonged to the Jesuits within the complex…a Hindu minister-turned-land developer is "a prime violator" in the area. 447 words. Click here.

BJP to seek special status for Goa
8 Aug: Zee News. Opposition BJP will move a resolution in the ensuing session of the Goa Assembly seeking special status for the tourist state. "There is large-scale migration into the state because of which the infrastructure has collapsed. We have limited resources within which we have to manage," Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar said … 218 words. Click here.

Recipe: Goa’s traditional pancakes
9 Aug: Times of India. By Melinda Pereira Kamat. Polles are sweetened or unsweetened pancakes prepared on the fourth Sunday of the sacred month of Shravan by the Catholics, Hindus and Muslims in Goa. 888 words. Click here.

A million mutinies now
10 Aug: Times of India. Goans have sat up from their siesta and found half their land under the pylons of housing complexes or hotels…"This shrill rhetoric of Goans versus non-Goans is out to put a jingoistic slant on the issue," says Oscar Dr Rebello…"We're not saying Goa for Goans, we're saying Goans first," insists Cota. 919 words. Click here.

Goa to be declared a 'safe food town'
10 Aug: Times of India. The Indian Government on Saturday announced over Rs 76-crore worth of central assistance to boost the food processing sector in Goa and said the entire state will be declared a "safe food town"… Rs 50 crore for a mega food park in Goa and Rs 15 crore for the modernisation of the Goa meat complex…403 words. Click here.

Goa society seeks support to take over int'l film fest
10 Aug: Times of India. The Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) has asked the film industry to support them in their plan to take over the International Film Festival of India…254 words. Click here.

120 evacuated in Salcete
11 Aug: Navhind Times. Heavy rains accompanied by winds created havoc in South Goa district on Sunday rising the water level of Selaulim dam. The rainwater flooded out some 120 people from their dwelling units in Salcete taluka and submerged several low-lying areas of the district…545 words. Click here.

Flood threatens Goa
11 Aug: PTI. …Many low lying parts of Goa are already under water with most of the rivers crossing danger mark. The flood can get worse, if rains continue for next two days, administration officials contended…253 words. Clikc here.

Incessant rains lash Goa
11 Aug: Navhind Times. Rising water levels rivers and dams causing almost flood-like situation forced the people to shift to safer and higher areas…heavy rains accompanied by gusty winds continued to lash Goa for fifth day in succession…There were several power supply interruptions in the Porvorim and Panaji areas …widespread damage to property…heavy rains and thunder shower would continue over the next 24 hours… 692 words. Click here.

Landslide breaks Goa-Karnataka link

Click to enlarge

11 Aug: Heavy rains snapped Goa's southern link with neighbouring Karnataka following a major landslide along Anmod Ghat, a road running across Molem national wildlife sanctuary…The landslide took place just next to Dudhsagar waterfall, a tourist spot tucked on the western ghat…235 words. Click here.

Goa govt in quandary over denotifying SEZs
12 Aug: Economic Times. The Centre, which has not taken any step till now to denotify the SEZs as demanded by the state, may do so only if the Goa government is able to persuade the developers to hand back the land leased to them and to compensate them. An estimated Rs 500 crore (£60 m) has been invested in the notified SEZs so far. 423 words. Click here.

Editorial: Power to the People: The Great Goan Illusion
12 Aug: Navhind Times. Arun Sinha, deftly uses the analogy of Mrs Lalu Yadev' planning a menu for her family of eleven with that of governance in Goa. He illustrates the inevitable confusion that arises out of seeking consensus on every issue, and using a bottom-up approach for State planning. 1145 words. Click here.

Video: A tribute to Mario de Miranda. By Pamela D’Mello

13 Aug: You Tube. Like thousands of others one came upon the art of Mario Miranda as a five year old in a school text book… 4m.22s. Click here.
On the same page there is a link to Pamela’s other video clip, So Often, which describes the enigma facing Goa’s village development.
For a review, by Frederick Noronha, of Mario Mendonca’s new book, click here.

Leave them alone
13 Aug: The Telegraph (India). The media are violating the right to privacy of children who are victims of sexual abuse. 1314 words. Click here.

Bus conductor taught lesson for misbehaving
13 Aug: Herald. A bus conductor had a lesson to learn when he was brought to the Panjim Police Station for misbehaving with a lady passenger … the passenger alleged the conductor had caught her hand and asked her in an unruly manner to go and stand in one corner of the crowded bus…she works in the police department…286 words. Click here.

Weekly Update
7 Aug: Times of India – Goa edition. Weather: Max = 26.5; Min = 23.0. Humidity 96% to 98%
Exchange rates £= 82.19; $ =42.07 ; Euro = 65.07

Order on foreigners' panchanamas flouted
7 Aug: Times of India. Shocked by the manner in which a police officer carried out the inquest panchanama of the body of a foreign national in 1997, the Goa police passed an order stating that in such cases the panchanama had to be only handled a police officer not below the rank of police inspector. However, till date, the instructions have only remained on paper and have not been followed… the circular has gained significance, following the alleged rape and murder of Scarlett Keeling at Anjuna… Nerlon Albuquerque sent a probationary PSI to conduct the inquest panchnama of Scarlett's body. 535 words. Click here.

Scarlett's mother delays visit to India
7 Aug: PTI. Fiona Mackeown has decided to hold back her visit to India awaiting the lower court's observation in a petition filed against her by an NGO. 190 words. Click here.

Court to hear petition against Scarlett's mother tomorrow
10 Aug: PTI. The Goa Children's Court will on Monday hear the petition filed against Fiona Mackeown, mother of British teenager Scarlett, by a Goa-based NGO represented by Aires Rodrigues. 269 words. Click here.

Scarlett Keeling: Court against prosecuting mother

11 Aug: UNI. The Children's Court's refused to direct the police to investigate the role of Fiona Mackeown in the death of her daughter British teenager Scarlett Keeling…The complaint, filed by Utt Goenkara spokesman Adv Aires Rodrigues was disallowed the on the grounds that it could only be filed by close relatives, police or a competent authority… 528 words. Click here.

Scarlett Keeling: CBI Lifts Look out Circular against Mannion
12 Aug: PTI. The look out circular (LOC) issued against British National, Michael Mannion, a prime witness in Scarlett death case, has been lifted…Sources confirmed that Mannion has deposed before the central investigating agency for four times… 290 words. Click here.

Scarlett’s mother will meet filmmaker

12 Aug: Daily News & Analysis. Fiona MacKeown has agreed to meet the filmmakers of Rave Party, a movie based on her daughter’s horrific rape and killing in Goa. The film is also supposed to dissect the drug scene in the state. Director Prabhakar Shukla says it is great news for the film. 268 words. Click here.
For the Film website, click here.

DJ Pearl: Defected Get Diverted

1 Aug: Metro (London)…Defected welcomes DJ Pearl, a member of the Submerge collective with festivals such as Goa's 15,000 capacity Sunrise. Pearl will be showcasing her funky, progressive house at Ibiza's Pacha after London… Click here.
Quote from the DJ Pearl website: Having grown up surrounded by music and around vinyl collecting parents who themselves were a part of the Goa music scene back in the 70’s, it isn’t hard to see why music had such a major influence on her. Click here.
For the video, DJ Pearl & Last Vegas - Sexy Girl. 2m.36s. Click here.

Film Review: Hotel Very Welcome
4 Aug: Hollywood Reporter. Los Angeles Film Festival. "Hotel Very Welcome" presents an unflattering series of ugly tourist poster children bumbling around Asia…Befuddled Irish backpacker travels from the deserts of Rajasthan to the beaches of Goa in search of India's best marijuana. In rare moments of drug-induced lucidity, he acknowledges that he's on the run from the prospect of imminent parenthood, occasioned by an ill-advised one night stand… For the film website with trailer etc. Click here.

Text + Video. Anjum Anand: Indian gastronomy gets innovative
7 Aug: CNBC TV18. Anjum Anand has got her own TV show; she has got two books to her credit and third is in the offing. She said, “Now we are going regional…there are different flavours from regions like Goa, Punjab, Kashmir and Kerala…it is fantastic because every region is different…For me, it is an education.” Click here.

Indians better at English than Britons, say teachers
8 Aug: Times of India. Many undergraduates in British universities have such low competence with spelling, punctuation and grammar that despairing lecturers often spend time teaching the basics of English to the English. Lecturers say that international students from India and other former colonies often have higher standards of basic English than their British colleagues… 303 words. Click here.

Conservatives protest desi version of Bible
9 Aug: Times of India. India's first home-grown Bible, meant to help Catholics understand their faith in the context of Indian culture and tradition has run aground with complaints from within its own fold… It suggests creation is a story, Eden is a mythical garden, Adam and Eve's sin was probably a sexual one and so on…854 words. Click here.

South Africa: Top chefs to cook at Goan food fest
10 Aug: The Times (South Africa). The exotic flavours of India and Portugal will mingle at the Goan Food Festival in Durban from August 23 to 30… Bhuvnesh Kumar Verma and Vasco Alvares from the Taj group in Goa will prepare fare characteristic of Goa in the Beverly Hill Hotel’s Sugar Club restaurant…185 words. Click here.

Why judge by skin colour? By Anushka Asthana
10 Aug: The Observer (UK). We all know it's wrong to judge by skin colour ... so why do we do it? … for millions of people, skin colour is still a contentious issue… it matters greatly in India where wedding adverts include a request for 'complexion', with 'fair' counting as good and 'very fair' as excellent… 1058 words. Click here.

Philip Lobo: PhD from a laundromat in London.
12 Aug: The Age (Australia). A notorious trades college for international students may be forced to shut … it is alleged college heads sold qualifications for between $10,000 and $30,000 to visa-seeking international students who did not attend classes…The college directors are Philip Lobo, 60, of Dubai, where the college has a campus… In 2002 Mr Lobo was expelled after listing tertiary qualifications he did not have. He had claimed to have a PhD from a university whose postal address corresponded with a laundromat in London. 511 words. Click here.

Tesco enters Indian retail business
13 Aug: Times of India. After wooing many Indian realty majors and retailers, UK's largest retailer Tesco has decided to go solo by developing a cash-and-carry business with an investment of £ 60 million in the first two years. It has simultaneously zeroed in on a tie-up with Trent, the Tata group retail arm, to develop the latter's discount hypermarket format. 474 words. Click here.

On the theme of 'Environmental degradation of Goa' Prasad Vaman Raicar presents a short article about environmental concerns in today's Goa. He praises the Goans for their greater environmental awareness compared to those in many other Indian states. However, he cautions us that, the environment is now placed on the backburner while the the focus has moved to construction activities.

A pertinent question and theme for an article by Sujay Gupta is titled 'NGOs: Where do you get your money from?' This article first appeared on 8/8/08 in the Herald, Goa, newspaper. Many sharp questions are raised and a trenchant demand by Gupta is made for transparency on the source of NGO finances and expenditures in Indian states.

The perennial question of Goans and their crab mentality is currently very much in the picture on Goanet. Ordinarily, I may not have re-visited this theme, but several recent posts have generated new thoughts about this topic. One not to be missed is by Freddy Agnelo Fernandes from Dubai. It has a 'scientific observational twist' to it even though Freddy claims no particular expertise in science.

Veteran journalist Frederick Noronha provides an excellent review of two books under the caption 'A tale of two cartoonists'. This draws our attention to the careers of Goan cartoonists Mario de Miranda, and Alex Raphael Fernandes under the pen-name of Alexyz. Their careers are fascinating in their own right-- starting from their former base in "Bombay rather than Mumbai" but much information is provided to us to hopefully add these volumes to our home bookshelves.

With no pun intended, a vet of vet Kevin Saldanha's article titled 'Community initiatives supported by veterinarians' surprised me somewhat when I learned about how many Goans have worked in this highly competitive professional field. Kevin's online forum for Goan veterinarians worldwide has a membership of approximately 45 currently. Of these, about a dozen reside in the Toronto area. I would be curious to discover how many Goan vets there are in Greater London.

Finally, I reiterate that, Goanet is often the source of very unusual articles and U.P. Kamath's article 'History: Those un-earthly paddy fields of Goa' explores the "unusual" construction of Goa's paddy fields over the centuries. So interested has Namath been about these Goa features that he has examined them using Google Earth to understand their unusual formations. He wants to know much more about them and any Goan Voice (UK) readers who can throw light on these paddy fields is welcomed to respond to Kamat.

COOKERY: Market Kitchen Diaries. UKTV Food
Saturday 16th Aug. 13:30 to 14:30. Recipes include Goan chicken with poha rice…

TRAVEL: India with Michael Palin. UKTV Documentary
Saturday 16th Aug. 22:00 to 23:00. Michael Palin travels to Amritsar and Shimla

TRAVEL: Earthwalkers. Travel Channel
Saturday 16th Aug. 23:00 to 23:30. Jinja, Uganda is a place that's home not only to the source of the River Nile but also the world's greatest sequence of class five rapids

TRAVEL: Julian and Camilla's World Odyssey. Travel Channel
Sunday 17th Aug. 21:00 to 22:00. Mumbai.

ARTS: Afternoon Play.BBC Radio Four
Monday 18th Aug. 14:15 to 15:00. It is 2025, Bhavna is an astronaut and soon to be the first Indian woman to fly to Mars.

DOCUMENTARY: Barry Vera - Feast India: Discovery Travel and Living
Monday 18th to Sun. 25 Aug. 18:30 to 19:00. Barry Vera has a daily slot for the week, presenting Indian food from different regions

ARTS: Afternoon Play. BBC Radio Four
Thursday 21st Aug. 14:15 to 15:00. Sex for Volunteers. Romantic comedy by Laura Marney and David Ramos Fernandes. When Suzy's husband takes a job abroad (Saudi), her sister encourages her to join a team of first-aiders.

Sun. 17 Aug. 3 pm. Croydon. Konkani Dramatic Association UK presents John D'Silva's 25th Silver Jubilee production tiatr, "NATTOK" Charlie Chaplin from Goa coming to London with his best performance artistes. Plus artistes from UK. Archbishop Lanfranc High School, Mitcham Rd. Croydon. Ticket: £12.00 or £10.00 in advance. Contact Judy Pacheco 02087632606// 07949403741. For the flyer click here.

Sun.17 Aug. G.O.A. Family Fun at HSBC Sports Club, Beckenham, Kent. Contact: Richard Fernandes - 020 8300 5347, Vince Fernandes - 020 8764 8780

Sun. 17 Aug. G.O.A. Men’s Football Tournament at HSBC Sports Club, Beckenham, Kent. Contact: Darren Fernandes - 07956 117703

Mon. 25 Aug. G.O.A. Sports Day at Archbishop Lanfranc School, Mitcham Road, Croydon. Contact: Peter Rodrigues 020 - 8399 4883. For stall applications: Norma Menezes-Rahim 020 - 8771 4457

Sun. 31 Aug. SE Goans Summer Festival at Hurstmere School, Hurst Rd, Sidcup, DA15 9AW. Starts at 1pm. Music, food stalls, side stalls, entertainment. If you require a stall at £30 contact Chris Pinto 01322400732 or Dominic 07854490617

Sun. 31 Aug. World Goa Day at the Friars, Aylesford, Kent ME20 7BX. Open-air mass at 12.30pm followed by a picnic in the extensive grounds. Please arrive by 12.00pm for a prompt start. Contact Fiona Lobo on 020 8656 3317 fiona.lobo@blueyonder.co.uk for further details or Rose Fernandes on 020 8409 8388 rosefernandes@milnet.uk.net for car sharing arrangements (both drivers and passengers).

Sun. 7 Sep: Ex-Aden and Friends Get Together. Archbishop Lanfranc School Mitcham Road, Croydon. 1pm to 7pm. Tickets, includes meal: Adults £10; children (age 3-10) £5. Bring Your Own Drinks. Music by Yemeni. For tickets and info: Tony 0208 281 0460. Frank 0208 653 8642. Sarto 0208 670 3059. Thomas 0208 768 0565. Bosco 0208 684 9154. Chris 0208 679 8703. Gloria 0208 656 3994. Dress Smart Casual – no jeans or trainers). Donations of prizes gratefully received.

Sun. 7 Sep. G.O.A. Volleyball Tournament at HSBC Club, Lennard Road, Beckenham, Kent. Contact: Richard Fernandes 020 8300 5347

10 -15 Sep. On the occasion of the 150th Anniversary Celebrations of Our Lady of Lourdes the Goan Chaplaincy has organised a Pilgrimage to Lourdes/Nevers for 5 days by Luxury Coach - 3 star Hotel - 3 mins from Grotto. (Full Board at Hotel) All Masses at Lourdes/ Bartres/ Nevers; Walking Tour of St. Bernadette. £ 250. Please Contact:- Cilla Hermann On 020 8684 7671 for further details. Book early to avoid disappointment.

Sat. 27 Sep. SE Goans Belgium day trip. Shopping, seaside, site seeing. Contact Sharon Pinto 01322400732