Tsunami relief collection
Message from Francisco Carvalho on behalf of the GCO
The Goan Charitable Organization conducted a very successful drive at the Annual New Years Dance on December 31, 2004. A table with posters was set up near the entrance of the hall to enhance visibility and frequent announcements were made during the event to encourage members of the community to donate generously.
As a result a total of $11,305.00 was collected and a cheque for the amount was handed over to RED CROSS on January 11, 2005.
Nearly half of the total amount collected came from large donations made by a few very generous persons.
Further amounts are due from outstanding Pledges.
The organization appreciates the volunteer services of Jaidev Menezes without whose assistance it would not have been possible to organize the fundraiser at such short notice.

Cardinal Archbishop Ambrozic ask Catholics to consider taking and active role to defend the traditional meaning of marriage.
Click to see message.
Click to see Sample letter(s) to send to your Member of Parliament.

China and India, are emerging economic giants. Some projections have China overtaking America in 20 years, with India in third spot.
Excerpts from article by:
Haroon Siddiqui, Toronto Star
China and India, which Paul Martin just visited, are emerging economic giants. Some projections have China overtaking America in 20 years, with India in third spot.
China and India, the world's most populous nations at 1.3 billion and 1.03 billion, also have the most dynamic diasporas, at 55 million and 25 million.
It is the genius of Canada that our two fastest growing new communities are Chinese Canadians and Indo-Canadians.
Yet it is also our peculiarity that we are not reaping their full potential. Their homelands are.
Overseas Chinese helped fuel China's boom. Besides investing $60 billion, they lent technological and managerial know-how.
Trying to replicate the model, Mother India is wooing its far-flung children. They earn an estimated $200 billion a year.
Ottawa is only now starting to tap these two Canadian groups to help improve our economic ties with China and India.
Martin's best asset when meeting India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, a turbaned Sikh, were the four Sikh MPs in his delegation: Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh, Ruby Dhalla, and turbaned Gurbax Malhi and Navdeep Bains.
On his mission to Shanghai and Beijing, Trade Minister Jim Peterson took along 376 executives familiar with China.
Next week, a delegation of the Greater Toronto Area Marketing Alliance is headed to India, led by Hazel McCallion, former immigrant-basher.
In Canada, Chinese and Indians are among the most educated and entrepreneurial. Yet new arrivals run into a wall of resistance in having their education and expertise recognized, and finding jobs that fit their skills.
Earlier immigrants who have worked their way into middle and higher management have hit the glass ceiling.
Chinese Canadians total more than 1 million, as of the 2001 census. The number of Indo-Canadians is harder to discern. StatsCan counts them as part of South Asians, of whom there are 1 million. More than two-thirds are Indo-Canadians, if you include Sri Lankan Tamils, who are of Indian origin.
Indo-Canadians are as diverse as the Indians in India, by religion (Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, Christians) and mother tongue.
Five Indian languages (Punjabi, Tamil, Urdu, Hindi and Gujarati) are among the top 25 languages spoken in Canada.
But 80 per cent of Indo-Canadians speak English. Hence their English literary and cultural icons: Rohinton Mistry, M.G. Vassanji, Neil Bissoondath and Deepa Mehta. Hence their vibrant English media.
Despite the odds, both communities have been an economic success, albeit with pockets of extreme wealth and poverty.
Immigrants from Hong Kong saved Vancouver from the 1990s recession. They and Indo-Canadians are the principal source of population increases in the Toronto area. They drive the auto and real estate markets.
"Ethnic businesses," such as international phone cards, are slicing away at the market. About 100,000 people travel to India annually. That's $200 million in air tickets alone. The Indo-Canadian wedding scene in the GTA is estimated at $250 million a year.
Other insights:
Post-tsunami, the Indian and Sri Lankan communities were the first to raise funds and rouse a sleepy Ottawa.
Chinese and South Asians dominate the student bodies at York, Toronto and Ryerson universities, and also the community colleges. Hence the fundraising by these institutions in the two communities.
You wouldn't know much of the above following the Toronto media, which still exoticize or criminalize these people.
But this being Canada, it is the politicians and businesses who don't catch up to its demographics who'll be the biggest losers.

Seniors in Canada- Census reveals that more Seniors Live alone as sole occupants of a private dwelling
The Census of Population and the 2001 Labour Force Survey show that compared to the rest of the population, more seniors live alone as the sole occupants of a private dwelling than any other population group. The Labour Force Survey 2001 shows that nearly three in 10 seniors live alone, rising to almost four in 10 senior women. This represented about one million seniors, mostly widows. The question is: is that a bad thing?
"First, Let's get away from the stereotype that to be old is to be sick, unable to learn new things or pull your own weight," says Ian Logan administrator, New Horizons Tower, a retirement residence at Bloor and Dufferin in Toronto. "But Let's take care that the seniors who are living alone can do so healthily, safely and comfortably and most importantly, stay involved with their community. For full text click here

The Battle on Same-Sex Legislation Has Not Yet Begun
TORONTO, Jan. 28 /CNW/ - A Liberal MP has stated today that a number of his colleagues have made up their mind to endorse same-sex legislation. He will personally stand firm and vote against it but he erroneously concluded that the "die was pretty much cast".
"The battle has not even begun", said Jim Hughes, National President of Campaign Life Coalition (CLC). "We need the MPs who are against same-sex "marriage" and same-sex "unions" to take heart and prepare for a fierce battle on this issue. The Canadian people are stirred up and watching their MPs closely. The Churches are taking their rightful place with a firm defense of marriage which is one man and one woman. They are encouraging their flocks
to act," he continued. "This is not the time for MPs to concede defeat before the issue is even introduced."
"The Prime Minister is so rightly frightened of the results of the vote that he is afraid to allow his cabinet to vote freely," said Mary Ellen Douglas, National Organizer of CLC. "The grassroots people are opposed to this proposed legislation and they need to be heard by their MPs."
Campaign Life Coalition is directing its supporters to contact their MPs and to defeat any MP in the next election who votes in favour of Paul Martin's campaign to change the definition of marriage.