ANNOUNCEMENT

The next issue of this newsletter will be sent out on Wed 24 Dec: 2008.

COMMUNITY NEWS

UK: Karen Dos Remedios: Travel Weekly's Excellence Award
13 Nov: Travel Weekly (UK). Winner of Best Homeworking Agent: Karen Dos Remedios, Instant Holidays, London… For text and video (segment is at 2m.55s – 3m.15s) click here.
Karen was born in Malawi. She is the wife of Elias Dos Remedios; mother of Nathan and Adam; daughter of Alick and Cassie George (UK and ex-Malawi); sister of Keith and Kay George.

Roy de Souza: Re-targetting options you may be missing
8 Dec: The Edge (Malaysia). Roy de Souza, CEO and co-founder of Zedo Inc. discusses Behavioural Targeting in Internet advertising. 944 words. Click here.
Roy de Souza was born in Nairobi in 1970, the son of Fitz and Romola de Souza; brother of Veena, Maya and Mark; husband of Aisha de Sequeira. For the GVUK Roy de Souza Supplement, click here.

Freida Pinto: Sex scenes in Bollywood are done to titillate randy directors
10 Dec: IANS. Freida Pinto, who starred in Slumdog Millionaire, has revealed that sex scenes in Bollywood are usually shot just for the sake of randy directors, but are eventually edited from films… However, Pinto has stressed that it doesn’t mean that she is averse to do sex scenes for Hollywood directors, when needed. 213 words. Click here.

UK: Golf: John Fernandes picks up six awards
11 Dec: Enfield Today. John Fernandes was rewarded for his hugely successful season by picking up six trophies at Enfield Golf Club’s Presentation Evening. The 16-year-old from Edmonton has been promoted to the Enfield scratch first team… His older brother, Thomas, is currently in his third year of a four year golf scholarship on Kansas and was made captain of the college golf team this autumn… 266 words. Click here.

Draft report on Goan migration being scrutinised, says Faleiro
14 Dec: Navhind Times. The Commissioner for NRI Affairs, Mr Eduardo Faleiro has said that the Draft Report on Goan Migration abroad was submitted to his office and is being scrutinised… The final report will be released early next year. 314 words. Click here.

SE England Goans: Children’s Christmas Party, 2008
14 Dec: GVUK Supplement. By Selma Carvalho. The S.E Goans of England are a small tight-knit community of about 150 families spread along Kent… It was obvious right from the start that a lot of preparation had gone into arranging this Christmas party for the kids. For full text, 300 words, and 5 photos click here.

Churchill Brothers sponsor Kuwait Goan Association Team
15 Dec: Arab Times (Kuwait). It is with pride that Kuwait Goan Association (KGA) Football Team officials have announced that Churchill Brothers’ name will now be shining in Kuwait on the KGA footballers’ jerseys… On the social and cultural circuit, the Kuwait Goan Association has successfully organized Konkani dramas and has also participated in events such as Goa Day and supported Konkani periodicals like “Gulab.” 281 words. Click here.

Goans explore Europe through Portuguese citizenship
15 Dec: Digital Magazine. By Armstrong Vaz. Thousands of Indians from the Portuguese colonies have gone to Europe and settled there after acquiring Portuguese citizenship…Rough estimates indicate that there are more than 50,000 Portuguese Goans in England. + Requirements to apply for a Portuguese Passport… 1419 words. Click here.

London: Michael Lobo: Nearly a million children live in overcrowded homes.
16 Dec: The Guardian. When Michael Lobo was appointed headteacher at St Mary's Roman Catholic primary school in Battersea last September it had been identified as having "serious weaknesses" and Lobo wanted to raise the profile of the school… he enlisted the help of London Citizens, a charity … It soon became clear that many families were living in overcrowded accommodation… "It was a real shock," says Lobo. "The children were coming to school clean and well-dressed. We had absolutely no idea they were living in such conditions." … 1433 words. Click here.

Mississauga: Ray deSouza appointed vice-chancellor of Abu Dhabi University
16 Dec: The Mississauga News. The Chief Administrative Officer, University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) was recently named vice-chancellor of Abu Dhabi University in the United Arab Emirates… Click here.
Prior to joining University of Toronto, deSouza held positions at the University of Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania and University College in London, England. For a profile of him click here.

Australia: Taekwondo champion Rudolph Nunes aims high
17 Dec: Manningham Leader. Rudolph Nunes, am aerospace engineer in training and taekwondo champion is setting his sights on the ultimate goal - to represent Australia at the 2012 Olympic Games… Nunes has just returned from Canada where he won a bronze at the Commonwealth championships. He also won the award for the most outstanding participant… senior Sports Star nominee. 208 words. Click here.

Tony Fernandes: Riding the storm on a wave of expansion
17 Dec: The Straits Times (Singapore) … Air Asia’s founder Tony Fernandes looks like anything but a man under siege… The 45-year-old maverick entrepreneur is the son of a doctor and a music teacher turned Tupperware saleswoman, he was sent to an English boarding school at 12 and later graduated in accounting from the London School of Economics. He has a younger sister who is a lawyer. He is married with two children – a daughter, 15, and a son, eight. He started his own blog (tonyfernandesblog.com) earlier this year to get a handle on what the public thinks of his airline… 1885 words. Click here.

UK Brendan Fernandes: Red wine + chocolate diet
18 Dec: The Sun (UK). We asked Brendan Fernandes, 35, and Sarah Clayton, 41, to try the new diet. Brendan is 5ft 8in and lives with his wife Caroline in Brighton. They both work for expresschemist.com… He says, “I’m stunned. This diet has had a huge impact on my health…
Brendan was born in London, the son of Tom & Elma (ex -Karachi & Goa). Click here.

DEATHS

13 Dec: Piedade, Divar, Goa. TEODOLINDA FRANCISCA AMELIA CABRAL e SILVEIRA. Relict of late Alcantara. Mother of Augusta/ late Sales Da Costa, Alice/Baylon Caldeira (Canada), late Aspulqueta, Efrem/late Tony Carneiro, Domingos Joao, late Alexandre, Mairano/Salima, Angelina, Bemvinda/Tony Godinho. Funeral cortege will leave her residence on 15th Dec. to Our Lady of Piety Church, Piedade.

13 Dec: Panjim, Goa. ALBERTINA DE SOUZA (Ex-Mombasa & Malindi, Kenya). Wife of late Anthony Francis. Mother of Felix/Jane (Nairobi), Larry/Daphne (London), Cassy/Glen (Goa), Bella./Agnelo (Portugal), Cyprian/Carol (Goa), Marlin/Lloyd (Muscat). Grandmother of Iona/Malacy, Liam, Crystal, Lloyd, Tania/Dean, Trina/Sidharth, Tulia, Beverly/Giscard, Michelle/Jorge, Nigel, Wayne. Great grandmother of Zion, Ivo, Zachary. Funeral 16 Dec from her residence "Vanarai" at 4 pm to St Inez Church for Eucharistic celebration followed by burial. Condolences to felixjane2007@gmail.com

13 Dec: Mississauga, Canada. ROMAN VICTOR D'SOUZA (aged 74). Beloved husband of the late Maria. Loving father of Travis. Dear brother of Amy/Nolasco Vaz, Barbara/Michael Fernandes and Joaquim/Linda D'Souza, Betty/Joe Fernandes. Predeceased by Patsy Menezes, Cedric D'Souza, and June Miranda. Friends may call at the Turner & Porter ''Peel'' Chapel on Tuesday. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Francis Xavier Church, Mississauga on Wed. Dec. 17 at 10 a.m. Interment Assumption Cemetery. Click here.

11 Dec: Arusha, Tanzania. DELANO I. DA SILVA. Son of Mr. Marcelino and Mrs. Philomena da Silva. Brother of Doreen and Desmond. Funeral services will be held on Mon. Dec. 15 at St. Joseph's Cathedral in Dar es Salaam at 3:00pm followed by burial at the Kinondoni Cemetery. Rosary will be recited at the Don Bosco Youth Center in Upanga, Dar es Salaam after the burial, at 7:30pm.

11 Dec: Santa Cruz, Goa. MARIA CLARINA DIAS. Wife of late Alvarinho Policarpo Mariano. Mother of Andrew/Bevinda (UK), Martha/Tommy, Artimisia/Evarist (UK), Joaquina/Valeriano, Jhonny/Antoinetta (Germany) and Alvo/Monica (Doha).

11 Dec: Sydney, Aus. CYRIL VERNEM. Husband of Teresita. Father of Errol/Sabrina, Craig/Evelyn and Karen/Douglas. Funeral on Mon 15 Dec. in Sydney.

28 Nov. Leighton Buzzard, UK. AGNES AHLUWALIA (ex-Nairobi). Sister of the late Sandy, Therese, Sally, Gerald, Geoffrey, Geraldine, Jacqueline and Peter. The funeral ceremony followed by the cremation was held at Crownhill Crematorium, Milton Keynes, on 4th Dec. Donations to a cancer charity of your choice would be appreciated. Condolences to jacob.joanes@ntlworld.com

23 Nov 2008: Kent, UK. RITA BRIDGET DEANNA DA SILVA (ex-Nairobi). Wife of Bonny Da Silva (ex-Mombasa). Mother of Vanessa Claire & Tania Rose. Sister of Claire Barretto & Don Lobo. Daughter of Diana & Peter Lobo. Rita taught all over in East Africa & in the UK and was The National Trainer For Kenya Girl Guides Association. Private Service held at Blue Bell Hill Crematorium on 2nd Dec. One Month Memorial Service to be held on Sun. 21 Dec. at 6pm at English Martyrs Catholic Church, 37 Frindsbury Rd, Strood, Rochester, Kent ME2 4JA. Condolences to tn_dasilva@yahoo.co.uk

WHO THE BLEEP CARES?
Weekly column by Selma Carvalho. Do leave your feedback at carvalho_sel@yahoo.com

Who the Bleep cares about 12 NRI Goans on a road-trip?

This week 12 NRI Goans from afar as Canada and Mozambique undertook a coming-of-age road trip when they set out to discover their Goan roots. NRI Commissioner, Eduardo Faleiro, told us that, "the programme was intended to acquaint youth of Goan origin, who are not Indian nationals, with Goa in particular and India in general. Most of them have never visited the state, despite the fact that their forefathers were born here."

The coming-of-age road trip is an essential rite of passage. I fear that too few Goan children are ever encouraged to take that road trip or time off after college to discover themselves, their roots, their political views, their inner-most thoughts and aspirations. Instead, we Goans are known to hurry through life, from school to college to work to marriage. Settling down is an all-important occupation for us Goans. So to see 12 young Goans take the time out to return to the land of their forefathers is commendable.

But I'm wary about what discoveries they would have made during a brief state-sponsored tour of Goa. Did they learn anything about its history? Did they learn about its socio-economic makeup, the problems it faces with communalism rearing its ugly head, the remnants of the caste system still segregating society, the inequity of income distribution, the ugliness of its corrupt polity, the ineptitude of governance, the failing education system and the destruction wrecked onto its environment? Or did they just eat some Goan sausages and cruise down the Mandovi river?

Surely the path of discovery into one's roots begins at home with curiosity about one's family background, then includes involvement in the Diaspora community and finally warrants a journey to the homeland. A brief familiarisation trip to Goa is a superficial way of discovering one's roots. I fully appreciate that second generation Goans are more involved with their adopted homelands. Such assimilation is important for no man can live like an island alienated from the mainstream society of his immediate environment. Yet, we cannot live divorced from our past either. Uncovering our cultural and historical past can nurture us, foster us and unfold dimensions to our own personality. It is an enriching experience and we need not wait for a state-sponsored trip to take that first step.

TRAVEL & TOURISM NEWS:

After Israel, Russia too advises its citizens to avoid Goa
11 Dec: IANS. Close on the heels of a travel advisory issued by Israel recommending to its nationals to avoid visiting Goa this season, the Russian government has also asked its citizens to reconsider their trips to the state. Nearly 45,000 Russian tourists visit Goa each season … 289 words. Click here.

Tourism fuels trafficking of humans
11 Dec: Digital Journal (Canada). By Armstrong Vaz. Children trafficked into Goa are for either domestic work or other forms of labour (including begging) or commercial sexual exploitation and become victims of abuse … 963 words. Click here.

Two Russians beaten up in Goa
12 Dec: IANS. Organisers of night parties allegedly beat up two Russians over a property dispute at the Palolem beach in South Goa … Dan Sorokin and Sergey Korbantkov were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of a local hospital Dec 7. “One of those who assaulted us was a policeman in civilian clothes…” said Dan Sorokin, who last year bought nearly Rs.40 million worth property along Palolem beach… 330 words. Click here.

Russian consulate concerned about citizens' safety in Goa
13 Dec: Times of India. The Russian consulate has advised its citizens to "reconsider their trips" to Goa. This was prompted by the Mumbai terror attack and also because of taxi drivers making anti-Russian slogans, not letting Russian tourists go out of their hotels and stopping coaches… 482 words. Click here.

10 Places to Celebrate Christmas
13 Dec: Forbes Traveller. …Goa: Feast of the Three Kings. Goans celebrate the arrival of the Magi each January in the region's numerous Christian churches. Crowds congregate to watch three boys in glittering costumes chosen as kings make their way to church on white horses. It's a great honor to be chosen, and the boys often come from the most aristocratic families. Click here.

Travel: Birdwatching: Goa
13 Dec: The Guardian (UK). Not just a backpackers' destination, Goa offers rich and diverse birdlife… Sunbird Tours (01767 262522, sunbirdtours.co.uk) offers a guided tour from November 14-29 for £1,990pp inc flights, hotel in Baga overlooking paddy fields, meals and transport… Click here.

Goa: Property: Worried Larinova investors are reassured
14 Dec: Sunday Business Post (Ireland). More than 300 Irish investors who paid a total of €4 million in deposits on properties in India through Larinova have received reassurances that they should be able to get their money back… Earlier this year, the Larinova returned deposits to a number of clients who had bought units in residential schemes in India, which the company began marketing in 2007…. One scheme, Cape Corinth, is in the holiday resort of Goa. 216 words. Click here.

Tourist taxi owners face heat from yellow-black cabs
15 Dec: Times of India. The taxi operators, in Mapusa, and the tourist taxi-owners are at loggerheads with the former blaming the later for unauthorized parking and undercutting hiring rates. There are around 40 yellow and black taxi operators doing business from the Mapusa taxi-stand. More than 100 tourist taxi-owners also operate from an area very near to the taxi-stand… 415 words. Click here.

Proposed golf course in Goa faces stiff opposition
15 Dec: Bombay News.Net. The Goa government's move to set up a golf course on the picturesque Arambol plateau has drawn stiff opposition from various civil society groups…. The facility is intended to attract high spending tourists and carving out a new tourism segment in Goa… Goa presently has two mini golf courses run by two five star resorts… 397 words. Click here.

Tourism still buoyant, but Goa not on hot-list
16 Dec: Times of India. Indian Railways train packages from Bangalore to Goa has taken a hit, almost by 15%, a rather unusual trend. Some bookings have been cancelled from December 25 onwards … 461 words. Click here.

Security measures scare tourists away
16 Dec: Navhind Times. The tourism industry is irked at the erection of sand pits on the main beaches as part of security measures in view of the terror threats and feared that gun totting security personnel were “driving” the tourists away from these main places of attraction in the state and making them feel "insecure"… the industry wants the government to promote Goa more aggressively in United Kingdom and Russia … 495 words. Click here.

Goa's party season low-key after Mumbai attacks
16 Dec: AFP. (France). The Mumbai attacks have cast a shadow over the Indian resort state of Goa, with its famous end-of-year party season likely to be hit as foreigners stay away and security is tightened. 561 words. Click here.

Video. Goa, the party is almost over; tourism hurt
16 Dec: CNN-IBN. The party is slowly ending for Goa's tourism industry. A global economic crisis, followed by the horror of the attacks in Mumbai, could make this tourist season one of Goa's worst ever… arrivals are already down by 20 per cent since October, and could drop further… The chartered flight business is down by nearly 35 per cent… 1m. 40s. Click here.

Goa's New Year eve bash still on
17 Dec: Times of India. While the terror attacks in Mumbai have impacted celebrations in the city, many hotels in Goa have decided to go ahead with their New Year eve parties… Five-star hotels in Goa are charging in-house guests Rs 10,000-14,000… Click here.

Goa tourism industry blames media for fall in tourists
17 Dec: IANS. After global recession and the Mumbai terror attacks, the Goan tourism industry has now trained its sights on the media, holding it responsible for the fall in tourist numbers this season… 370 words. Click here.

£288: A Week in Goa ex East Midlands
17 Dec: Travel Zoo. First Choice is offering a 7-night bed-and-breakfast break to Goa for just £288 per person…You'll depart East Midlands on 5 January, 2009, and spend seven nights at the 3-star Palmarinha Resort in Calangute… Click here.

Goa hotels slash rates to lure customers
17 Dec: NDTV. Hoteliers fearing a sharp dip in the number of tourists have already slashed room rates at the busiest time of the year. A five night stay in a 5-star for a couple has dropped 30 per cent from Rs 120,000 to about Rs 80,000 this year as hotels scramble to fill up empty rooms. 253 words. Click here.

No outdoor partying post 10 pm in Goa
18 Dec: Times of India. If you're partying outdoors this season, you may have to shut down the loud music by 10 pm. The state government on Monday decided to strictly enforce existing laws banning loud music after 10 pm. No outdoor partying post 10 pm in Goa … 324 words. Click here.

2.5 Million Tourists visit Goa annually
19 Dec: Dubai Chronicle. Rising numbers of affluent travellers from the Middle East are opting to travel to Goa … more airlines have launched flights to Goa from the Middle East in the past five years… In 2008 there was a surge in inbound air traffic from just half a dozen daily flights to over 40 a day. 954 words. Click here.

FREE PRIZE COMPETITION

Win a safari experience in Kenya
17 Dec: The Daily Telegraph (UK). Return scheduled flights with national carrier, Kenya Airways, return transfers, 7 nights at a 4* hotel in a beachfront position in Mombasa. The stay includes a one night safari experience in Tsavo National Park… Click here.

GOA NEWS HEADLINES

Painful wait for justice
11 Dec: Digital Journal (Canada). By Armstrong Vaz. Scarlett Keeling’s mother Fiona Mackeown is looking forward to justice in regard of her daughter’s rape and murder but the judicial system in Goa is bogged down … The 2001 fake ticket scam regarding the cricket Test match has yet to feature in Court…the 1989 Countermanding of Elections has been going on for the last nineteen years… 934 words. Click here.

Scarlett Keeling: Dead and erased from memory
13 Dec: Deccan Herald. By Colin Todhunter. In February this year Scarlett Keeling a 15 year old from the UK was found half-naked and dead on Anjuna beach in Goa… The CBI have apparently made little headway…Scarlett's murder exposed the seedy side of Goa.. And who really cares about the death of another woman? 635 words. Click here.

Goa doesn’t need migrant labour: CII
13 Dec: IANS. Citing the need for “economic balance”, industry lobby Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Goa’s corporate sector have advocated recruiting locals over migrant labour in the state… “The influx of migrants into Goa to take up jobs in the “lower salary range” is not a healthy trend - and that local labour should be given priority.” 306 words. Click here.

Victor Hugo Gomes: Showcasing History For Posterity
13 Dec: Times of India. Museums filled with antiques are a dime a dozen, but a walk through Victor Hugo Gomes’ out-of-the-box ethnography museum at Benaulim is like turning the pages of Goa’s rich eco-cultural and agrarian history… Photos and text, 932 words. Click here.

Stray Thoughts. By Rajan Narayan
13 Dec: Goan Observer. …paranoia over terrorism was spreading to Goa … the Chief Minister was only concerned about terror attacks on South Goa…. fresh evidence of how political interference is paralysing the police force… more details of the IFFI scams came to light… it is claimed that liquor was the unique selling proposition of Goa… financial meltdown also provides great opportunities… 2542 words. Click here.

Goan Observer is now online and free
13 Dec: Goan Observer: “Goa's first Weekly with fearless reporting, in depth analysis & more.” Some headlines:
Terror Looms over Goa
Coastal Security for Goaput’s Hilly Talukas
Women Can’t Handle The Truth?
Bringing Back Jesus into Christmas
Faxi Mogachi Now On DVD
Digamber Only Concerned With Terror Threat to South Goa
Christmas Cold is Here Finally!
To access the resource check the link, http://goanobserver.com/ every Saturday.

Goa faces neglect behind scenic facade: book
14 Dec: IANS. Domestic violence is 'fairly common' in Goa. One-third of its women suffer from anaemia, and one-fourth is undernourished, says a new book that for a change takes the focus away from the state being a sun-and-sand tourist haven. Titled 'Picture-Postcard Poverty', the book takes a look at what it calls the 'unheard voices, forgotten issues from rural Goa'… the book has been co-authored by journalist Frederick Noronha and social campaigner Kumar Kalanand Mani… 290 words. Click here.

Cop reinstated in nine days after being suspended for laxity
14 Dec PTI. Police inspector Nelson Albuquerque who was suspended for neglecting security at state's border despite high alert, was reinstated in the services, just nine days after his suspension…vehicles were let pass unchecked if they pay mere Rs 10 at the check post… He has been reinstated and posted at the Immigration cell… His brother, Nerlon Albuquerque, a police inspector was suspended in the Scarlett Keeling death case… 195 words. Click here.

SEZs in Goa unlikely to be denotified
15 Dec: Business Standard. “Denotification of the Goa zones is not possible,” a commerce ministry official has said … Officials added that development activities in these three notified zones in Goa were at an advanced stage… 354 words. Click here.

Goa lagging in total sanitation campaign
16 Dec: Times of India. The Indian government has set a target for all states to provide 100 per cent sanitation coverage by 2012 but Goa is lagging behind … Goa needs to build over 40,000 Sulabh toilets to meet the target by 2012. 398 words. Click here.

Police pick up girls from Vasco madrassa
17 Dec: Deccan Herald. Muslim groups in Goa have been deeply offended after a batch of over 70 girl students, some as young as 12 years, were picked up from a madrassa [seminary] in Vasco on Tuesday and put through a background check at the police station… 284 words. Click here.

Neglect charge against Fiona Mackeown dismissed
18 Dec: IANS. Goa’s Women and Child Development department has dismissed a petition against slain British teenager Scarlett Keeling’s mother Fiona Mackeown on a technicality, as the police was already investigating similar charges against her… 367 words. Click here.

Weekly Update
18 Dec: Times of India – Goa edition. Weather: Max = 36.0; Min =22.5 . Humidity 46% to 69%
Exchange rates £= 73.98; $ = 47.70; Euro = 67.98.

On This Day: 19 December 1961
18 Dec: The Associated Press. Goa and two other Portuguese enclaves on India's west coast fall to Indian invaders. Click here.

IN THE NEWS:

Christians Pray For Priests, Nun Arrested In Murder Case
10 Dec: Indian Catholic. Hundreds of priests and nuns were among the 3,000 who attended a prayer meeting for two priests and a nun accused of involvement in a nun's death 16 years ago… the investigators claimed in court that they have enough evidence to prove the trio murdered 21-year-old Sister Abhaya to conceal a sexual escapade… 520 words. Click here.

Uncensored photos of Mumbai terror
10 Dec: Times of India. This is a compilation of uncensored pictures of the Mumbai terror attacks. Some of the pictures may be gruesome and could cause distress. 33 photos. Click here.

Video + Text: Anjum Anand: Goan Food Made Easy
12 Dec: BBC. Episode 5: Video clips: Goan pork vindaloo. Stuffed poppadums. Text: Goan chorizo butty; Goan spiced aubergines; Prawn cake; Baked chutney-stuffed sea bass; Xacutti. Click here.

Miss World'08: Miss India is the first runner-up!
13 Dec: Times of India. Miss India, Parvathy Omanakuttan, made Indians proud standing tall as the first runner-up at the Miss World 2008 contest. She was also the 2nd runner-up at the Miss World Top Model contest that took place on December 3 in Soweto, South Africa. Photo, video and text. Click here.

Ashley Tellis: Dalit, feminist and gay?
13 Dec: Express Buzz (India). My father was a Dalit who was adopted by my maternal grandparents, Roman Catholic once-upon-a-time Brahmins. My mother was a schizophrenic … I am a gay activist…My father’s caste, his dubious origins followed me through the implicitly caste-ridden, racist, prejudiced world of Goan Catholics in which I grew up in Bombay… 679 words. Click here.

Marriage a passport for Indians to Europe
14 Dec: Digital Journal. By Armstrong Vaz. … Raj, Prabhakar and Bharat are now savoring the fruits of Goa tourism success in Europe, courtesy of marriage to foreign nationals … Love and marriage has opened new doors for the trio as they now live and work in Europe along with their wives. Examples … 1319 words. Click here.

RDrunk women create scene at airport
14 Dec: Daily News and Analysis. A group of drunken women caused chaos at the departure gate of Terminal 2C at the Sahar airport, Mumbai, on Friday. They were scheduled to take a flight to Goa and were very drunk… Following an altercation between themselves, the women began flinging champagne bottles at each other…The women then started shouting slogans like 'India is the best' and 'We love India'… 241 words. Click here.

Calcutta: New Lounge Bar
16 Dec: Spero News. The Catholic Secular Forum (CSF) says there has been no let up in the attacks on Christians and the potential danger of attacks increasing during Christmas is even more... Thousands of families have fled … The conditions in relief camps are similar to Nazi concentration camps, where inmates are starved and medical conditions are pathetic… 915 words. Click here.

Bebinca: Yule be different
16 Dec: The Scotsman. Sick of mince pies? Rewrite your Christmas menu … No Goan Christmas is complete without Bebinca, a simple and tasty layered cake … It is also made in the Philippines at this time of year, with rice flour, where it is known as bibingka…. [Recipe included]. Click here.

St Xavier’s, Bombay and Liverpool University ink MoU for new institute
16 Dec: Daily News and Analysis. While St Xavier’s College prepares to celebrate its 140th anniversary in 2009, it entered into collaboration with Liverpool Hope University (UK). The two institutes signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Monday to establish an ‘Institute for Research on Education and Society’ for collaborative research projects… 261 words. Click here.

GOANET HIGHLIGHTS
BY CORNEL DACOSTA

While we may have heard much about the magnitude of the recent terrorist attack in Mumbai it is worth reading about the human stories associated with the attack. Click here to read a father’s moving account of his son's death in Mumbai that first appeared in the Press Trust of India.

Much has also been written about trying to discover the origins of the terrorists in Mumbai, and who may have funded and supported them in a clearly well organised attack. The single surviving terrorist has provided vital clues but is it true that Pakistan or even China may have had a hand in this outrage? A further point is that the USA had supposedly alerted India about the potential attack. Indeed, there are ever so many features to this event and an article titled 'Don't do this to an American' reveals much. To read it, click here.

The availability of land and resources for educational purposes is always a contentious issue in Goa, but now we learn about a Government project to set up an Educational Estate in Salcete. Do read about this project. Click here.

It should come as no surprise that many tourist sites in Goa are apprehensive that terrorists may strike anywhere at any time. Extensive coverage of this issue appeared in last week's Goan Voice (UK) but the suggestion that 'Hoteliers request 9-ft compound walls' is worth finding out about – click here. Would the many UK Goans who visit Goa in the holiday season be re-assured about their safety behind such proposed walls or would they find them a major intrusion when on holiday?

Finally, as in many other places, we note the disappearance of many a traditional occupation over the years. In Goa, the toddy tapper is one example illustrated under the title of ’Has the Goan Render gone into oblivion?" Several posters have responded to this question and indicated that those in traditional occupations like fisherfolk are keen for their children to attend school and college and take up careers that are rather different from what their parents did. No doubt, GVUK readers will have noted such changes and are welcomed to let Goanet and GVUK have their observations and commentary about such changes in Goa.

Please visit the Goanet archives at http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/
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DOCUMENTARY: Rhythms From Africa. SA Direct
Sat. 20th Dec. 10:00 to 11:00. Taarab, an Ocean of Melodies. 2,000 years of dhow trade across the Indian Ocean have created a culture of mutual understanding, exemplified by the music found in Zanzibar.

COOKERY: Indian Food Made Easy. BBC 1
Sat. 20th Dec. 11:30 to 12:00. Kashmiri Cuisine. Anjum Anand presents simple recipes for delicious, healthy Indian food.

REALITY SHOW: 101 Challenges. Channel 4
Sat. 20th Dec. 12:30 to 13:20. This week the boys are in India for the final leg of their trip and they are going out with a bang. Watch Online

HISTORY DOCUMENTARY: Making History. BBC Radio Four
Tue 23rd Dec. 15:00 to 15:30. Vanessa Collingridge visits Southall, Middlesex, where listeners ask about the story of immigration from East Africa.

RELIGIOUS: Belief. BBC Radio Three
Wed 24th Dec. 20:45 to 21:15. Joan Bakewell talks to Marina Warner who, although brought up Catholic abandoned her faith in her twenties while writing her second book Alone of All Her Sex: The Myth and Cult of the Virgin Mary.

FILM: Earth. Sky Movies Indie
Thu 25th Dec. 14:30 to 16:12. A Parsi family in Lahore see their Muslim and Hindu friends violently divided as partition follows British withdrawal from India. 1998.

FILM: Bend It Like Beckham. BBC 1
Thu. 25th Dec. 23:45 to 01:35. The comic tale of a young Asian woman who joins the local semi-professional football team but opts not to tell her traditionalist family, who want her to go to law school and settle down with a nice Indian boy. 2002

FORTHCOMING

See http://www.lanfranc.com/lanfranc_location_2000.pdf for help in locating Archbishop Lanfranc School, Croydon

Fri. 26 Dec. 7pm till 1am. Slough Goans Christmas Dance at the Polish Association Club, Stoke Poges Lane. Music by “Say One Do One”. Adult Tickets £12 before 8th December. Tony/Suzy Rodrigues 01753 675072, Paul 07956 496 190. Sold out every year so please buy your tickets early to avoid disappointment

Sat. 27 Dec. 7.30pm -12.00. Leicester. Christmas Dance at Our Lady of Good Counsel Hall, Peebles Way, Leicester, LE4 7ZB. Dancing to Say One Do One from London. Dress code formal-Red and Black. Snacks, spot dance prizes, fantastic raffle prizes. Bring your own drinks and enjoy with friends and family. Adult £10.00, 11-16yrs £2.00 and children below 11 free. Book now. Tel Clara 0116 2767336 or Victor 0116 2555891 or Joyce 0116 2664202. All cheques payable to Mrs Maria C Fernandes, 43 Marston Road, Leicester LE4 9FE.

Wed 31 Dec: St Diogo's Association (UK) invites you to the 'New Year Eve Ball' at Bishop Thomas Grant School, Belltrees Grove, Streatham, London SW16 2HY from 7pm - 1am. Dancing to the sounds of live music by the fabulous band 'Black Velvet' with many prizes and surprises. Buffet/Dinner and Snacks are included in the ticket. For further details please contact Apolonia DeSouza 020 8686 1876 and Evan D'Souza 020 8427 8569. Please book early as no tickets will be sold at the door.

Wed 31 Dec. North London Goans invites you to the ‘New Year’s Eve Dance’ at Woodside High School Hall (Formerly White Hart Lane School, Opp. New River Sports Centre), White Hart Lane, Wood Green, London, N22 5QJ Music by LEVEL 4 (Band) & Press Play (Disco). From 7pm – 2am For tickets contact any of the following: - Tony Gomes 020 8245 1364, Seby D'Silva 020 8245 5463, Joe Telles 020 8443 1014, Oboe Noronha 020 8340 0439, Cos Fernandes 020 8888 8659, Meredith Soares 020 8803 4173, John Fernandes 020 8881 4579, Frank Mendes 020 8888 1400 or Bernadette Dias 020 8361 9417. Book early to avoid disappointment, tickets will not be sold at the door

Wed 31 Dec. From 7pm to 1am. You are invited to the traditional New Year's Eve Ball at Our Lady of the Visitation Church Hall 358 Greenford Road - UB6 9AN Goa's Top Most & Entertaining Band, BREAKTHRU which will thrill you through the night & Disco – A. Strictly Formal. Prices Adults £10 and Children 5 to 12 years £5. No tickets sold at the entrance. Contact: Maria 07944754998, Francisco 0208 3574281, Warren 07758280028 or Carlos 0208 2487387

Wed. 31 Dec: ‘Oh…What a Night in Goa’ Plumstead Dinner Dance New Year's Eve Gala Ball. Dancing to the sounds of Music Mania Disco. 7pm to 1am. Strictly formal. Prices (with dinner) Adults £12.50 and Children 5 to 15 years - £7.50. Advance Booking - No Tickets Sold at the Gate. Contact: Tony Joanes: 020 8265 9644/07791637730. Paul Barretto: 020 8311 1195/07951383262. Joe Fernandes: 020 8301 2608/07834753005. Click here. email: musicmaniadisco@yahoo.co.uk

Wed 31 Dec: Saligao Association UK invite you to a memorable New Year's Eve Ball at Tolworth Recreation Centre, Fullers Way North, Tolworth, Surrey KT6 7LQ from 7.00 pm to 2.00 am. Music by Mellow Tones, delicious food from Shirley's Kitchen. For tickets contact Sergio Coelho 020 8543 4681, Zemira Fernandes 01895 259947. Please book early as no tickets will be sold at the door.

Sat. 3 Jan: G.O.A. GOAN EXTRAVAGANZA at Wandsworth Town Hall. Contact: Norma Menezes-Rahim 020 – 8771 4457. Bernie Gracias 020 -8723 1322

FOR LATER EVENTS SEE http://www.goanvoice.org.uk/