News Clips from Goa
by Joel D'Souza & Fred Noronha

Tsunani: A Tale of Woe
The world’s biggest earthquake in 40 years hit southern Asia on December 26 unleashing a tsunami that crashed into Sri Lanka and India, drowning thousands and swamping tourist isles in Thailand and the Maldives killing thousands of people. The tidal waves had an impact on Goa’s shores too towards midnight with the touristy beaches of Palolem and Patnem in South Goa being the worst affected areas. The surging waters kept fishermen, trawler-owners and shack owners awake. The terror-stricken villagers in Patnem, Colomb, Talpona and Palolem stretches vacated their houses and fled to safety, some even climbing hillocks and at the KTC bus stand after the sea level rose dangerously, sweeping the shacks and other structures on the beaches. Nearly 100 trawlers were in deep sea but fortunately they came ashore safely. Dr Satish Shetye from the National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, pointed out that the event took place at 6.30 am IST when the strong shallow earthquake measuring around 8.5 to 8.9 on the Richter scale hit the Indonesian island of Sumatra. For full text click here.

Exposition Ends
Thousands of devotees tried to catch a last glimpse of St Francis Xavier as his sacred relics were carried in a ceremonial procession from the Se Cathedral to their resting place in the Basilica of Bom Jesus on January 2. The devotees stood rapt in prayerful attention, a few had tears in their eyes while others bowed in reverence as the representatives of the deaneries carried the relics in turn. After an eventful 43-day period, in which over 22 lakh of pilgrims of different faiths from all over the world venerated the relics, the 16th Exposition came to an end after the simple but touching ceremony, which lasted nearly four hours. For the organizers and volunteers, what seemed like an insurmountable task three months ago, went of peacefully. And for all the pilgrims and devotees the magic of seeing Goencho Saib wiped out all the hardships of standing in the sun and in long queues. Churches sources at Old Goa claimed that the Exposition was a total success “as it was geared to deepen the faith of our people. The response was manifested in the large attendance during the masses and the veneration.” At least 1,000 priests attended and celebrated masses in different languages during the 43-day event. People stood up in queues from one hour to four hours for the veneration of the Sacred Relics.

Goa A Safe Destination
While the Tsunami disaster wreaked havoc on the industries of popular destinations like Thailand and Lanka, foreign tour operators are looking to Goa as an alternative. While an estimated 200 foreigners were killed in Sri Lanka alone, similar figures were projected from Thailand, another popular charter tourist destination, which receives several times the volume of tourists that Goa receives. As tourists in those countries struggle to return home, cancellations are expected to severely affect their tourism industries. In an attempt to minimize loses, travel companies are looking to offer Goa as an alternative destination. But it has placed the State in a piquant situation as there are not enough rooms to offer. There were charter flights from Holland and Belgium that landed both at Goa and Thailand. “They wanted to know if they could offer Goa instead of Thailand as an alternative destination,” says travel and Tourism Association of Goa vice president Ralph de Souza.

The NRI Convention
	Chairman of NRI Goan Facilitation Centre Chandrakant Keni had appealed to Goans to participate in the Gomant Vishwa Sammelan, a convention of worldwide Goans, to avail of the opportunity to establish contact and promote cooperation with their brethren living beyond Goa. The three-day event began at Kala Academy Complex on 3 January 2005 and concluded on 5th afternoon. For full text click here.

Agony of Pilar Fathers
“No parish and no church remains. All churches, schools, convents in Nicobar Island have been washed off completely. In Car Nicobar, there is even no evidence of the church foundation. It is so bad….We are looking after five parishes, plus our own house. We had 13 priests posted there, and thanks to God, all are safe. In fact, all religious working in Andaman and Nicobar, including the Salesians and Jesuits are safe. For full text click here.

Concerned citizens want withdrawal of CD
What was the intention of the present BJP government to screen the documentary "Goa Freedom Struggle" to young school children? Was it to teach the history of Goa or to spread the ideology of hate? Was it to unite the communities or to divide them along communal lies? These were the most repeatedly asked questions by some scholars and concerned citizens gathered on January 6 to view the documentary at the Xavier Centre for Historical Research wherein the overwhelming consensus was the government should withdraw the documentary and destroy it. The government script committee member, Mr Flaviano Dias, who was present for the screening, drew much flak from the audience that wanted to know how the committee okayed the film despite the glaring errors.

Obituary

William Amario Xavier Mascarenhas
Jan 15, 1918 - Jan 5, 2005
Born January 15th 1918 in Jamkhandi, India and passed away peacefully in his 87th year January 5th 2005 in Hamilton, surrounded by his loving family. Beloved husband of Anne Melwyn for 54 years and father of seven devoted children, Ruth (Tony), Jude (Brigitte) Merl (Toddy), Mark (Clarerose), Hazel (Bob), Denzil (Yhuela), Nigel (Lysandra), and cherished grandfather to Michelle, Ryan, Darrell, Rachael, Daniel, Michael, Melissa, Tanya, Samantha, Kyle, Tyler, and Emma. Predeceased by his parents Rosario and Estrelina, brothers and sisters Olive, Alfred, Timothy, Joe, Hilda, and survived by Gabriel, Felix, and Sonny.
William was a World War II veteran who traveled widely and saw action in many countries including Burma, Ceylon, Abyssinia, Egypt, and East Africa where he settled after the war, working as an accountant for the Ministry of Health, Uganda Government. He married in Sangolda,Goa, where he was raised and together with Anne and the family lived in Uganda, England, and Canada where he moved to in 1978 and enjoyed many years of wonderful retirement. He was proudest most of his wife, children, and his grandchildren who knew him as "Papa". William loved nothing better than a good gathering of family and friends who he enriched immeasurably with his quiet gentle spirit, generosity, selfless love, and concern. A faithful servant of the Lord, he will be sadly missed by family and friends around the world.
Visitation at the P.X. DERMODY FUNERAL HOME, 796 Upper Gage Avenue (between Fennell and Mohawk) on Friday from 5-9 p.m. Parish Prayers at 8:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church on Saturday January 8, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. Burial at Resurrection Cemetery. On-line condolences www.pxdermodyfuneral.com

5 Jan: Toronto, Canada. SOCCOR CARVALHO (ex-Dar es Salaam) Husband of Anita. Father of Maria Funeral mass on Sat. 8 Jan. at the Merciful Redeemer Church, located at Erin Centre/Glen Erin Drive, in Mississauga. Time of the Mass is yet to be established due to another funeral mass already scheduled. Enquiries to Patricia Pereira 905-569-2423

December 3, 2004, BERTHA D'SOUZA, Former teacher at St. Isabelle's School (Mazagon), Canossa School (Mahim), passed away in Mumbai, India. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, January 8 at 9 a.m. at St. Bonaventure Church, 1300 Leslie, Toronto. Please contact 416-424-4984 for more information.

People Places and Things

Chris D'Souza
The new face of diversity in Dufferin-Peel.
Toronto Star
By Tess Kalinowski
Jan. 1, 2005. 09:07 AM
Chris D'Souza knew some people would have a problem with him before he took the job as equity officer of the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board in June 2003.
Because of his brown skin, some people have had a problem with D'Souza since he was born in Toronto 39 years ago. He's never let his experience of racism steer his life. Still, he hadn't expected to find opposition to diversity policies among senior teachers. For full text click here.

Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas 2005
You are well aware of the PBD 2005 in Mumbai in January. Attached are photo's of two Youth delegates [Rhys Lobo and Roger Martin] from Vancouver who have been selected as part of the 50 Youth worldwide to be delegates at the conference.
They will be representing the Indian Youth Diaspora of Canada and I believe this is quite an achievement. Given the undesirable publicity our Indian youth have been getting in the areas of gang violence and drugs I believe it would not hurt to publicise some of the positive side too!
I have also attached an itinerary from the Govt of India which describes how these Youth interns will be made aware of their cultural and business heritage and groomed to be spokespersons of India upon their return to their country of origin.
The entire cost [other than the airfare] for this 18 day Internship is borne by the Government of India.
For more information on the PBD please see the web site at www.indiaday.org

Those were the days - January 1977 G.O.A. Toronto newsletter.
Click on the images to enlarge

Events
For listing of events in 2004 please click here

Announcements

World Youth Day Cologne 2005
	http://www.wjt2005.de/index.php?id=6&si=1

Health & Wellness

Alzheimer's & Cancer
Curry 'may slow Alzheimer's'
	A spicy ingredient of many curries may be an effective treatment for Alzheimer's disease, say researchers. A team from the University of California at Los Angeles believes that turmeric may play a role in slowing down the progression of the neurodegenerative disease. The finding may help to explain why rates of Alzheimer's are much lower among the elderly in India than in their Western peers. For full text click here.
Turmeric is the crucial ingredient
'Curry is cancer fighter'
	A key ingredient of curries could help prevent or manage colon cancer, according to research being carried out in Leicester. The news comes just days after cold and flu experts recommended a spicy dish as the perfect antidote to winter sniffles. Researchers at the oncology department of Leicester University noticed that, out of 500 patients diagnosed with colon cancer, only two were Asian, despite 20% of the city's population being Asian. For full text click here.
Curry and rice: could be healthy