Crisis in Kenya

Even though the loss of life has exceed 300, normal life is slowly returning.
The following are excerpts from various sources:

• Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada advises against non-essential travel to Kenya as a result of the current level of violence and instability following the presidential and parliamentary elections held on December 27, 2007.

• For more information go to http://www.voyage.gc.ca/dest/report-en.asp?country=149000

• Canadian travellers already in Kenya should have their travel documents handy in case they choose to leave early. They should also register with the High Commission of Canada in Nairobi. Canadians are advised to exercise a high degree of caution because of the current high threat of terrorist attacks against Western interests in Kenya.

• Telephone calls or emails to folks there indicate that they are all well. No reports of family or friends as victims of violence.

• The holiday festivities at the Goan Gymkhana in Nairobi were cancelled.

• A few families went across the border to Arusha to avoid potential conflict.

• Asian traders in the Lake Victoria town of Kisumu had their shops and businesses looted.

• Religious services to pray for peace were held in main places of worship including the Holy Family Basilica.

• The new President and opposition leader are to hold talks once violence recedes.

• The nation’s Attorney General will be announcing an inquiry on the polling results.

• There are 15,000 Kenyan Canadians in Canada. They have expressed their concerns to the Canadian Government here.

New Year Brings Tax Savings For Canadians
JULIAN BELTRAME

The Canadian Press
December 30, 2007 at 2:23 PM EST
http://www.theglobeandmail.com

OTTAWA — Canadian workers, consumers and businesses will all start paying lower taxes starting New Year's Day. Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's surprise mini-budget in October ushered in $60-billion in tax cuts over five years, with many of those reductions coming into effect on Jan. 1.

According to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, most Canadian families can expect to reduce their tax burden by well over $1,000 by the end of 2008 due to the combined savings from a lower GST, lower federal income taxes and provincial measures. That is good news for Canadians, who Mr. Flaherty says are overtaxed, but also for the economy, says Dale Orr, managing director of Global Insight Canada.

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Immigrating to Canada – Beware of Immigration Consultants
http://www.thestar.com/immigration

Three years after self-regulation, the lucrative immigration consulting industry has failed to purge itself of advisers who operate beyond the reach of the rules. A Star investigation that included undercover reporting and interviews with dozens of consultants, lawyers, police and advocacy groups found major loopholes in a regulatory system that still fails to protect the people who place their trust, dreams and money in the hands of consultants.

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The New Millennium Begins To Unfold

The following is from an Editorial from the Western Catholic Reporter
http://www.wcr.ab.ca/columns/editorials/2007/editorial122407.shtml

Eight years into the new millennium, how are we doing? Has the turn of the millennium made any difference? Did all the spiritual preparation prior to the year 2000 make any lasting difference?

Pope John Paul II put a great deal of emphasis on the new millennium right from the time of his election as pontiff in 1978. Later, he called us to three special years of preparation prior to the 2,000th anniversary of the birth of Jesus.

In early 2001, he issued an apostolic letter, At the Beginning of the New Millennium, in which he again affirmed the importance of the jubilee year. "After the enthusiasm of the jubilee, it is not to a dull everyday routine that we return," Pope John Paul wrote. "On the contrary, if ours has been a genuine pilgrimage, it will have, as it were, stretched our legs for the journey still ahead."

It is easy to look back over the last eight years and say nothing has changed - if anything, things have gotten worse. The problems of global climate change have escalated; abortion is rampant in many parts of the globe; the family has been undermined by same-sex marriage; the scandals of war, poverty and the arms race show no signs of abating.

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Archbishop Condemns Orissa Incidents
1 Jan 2008, 0506 hrs IST,TNN

PATNA: The attacks on Christians and churches in Orissa have shocked the community here which alleged that attack on them on Christmas was a well planned effort to disturb the communal peace. Archbishop of Patna Archdiocese William D'Souza, in a message on Monday, expressed pain over burning of 20 churches, four convents and eight hostels besides attacks on villages and houses.

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Fireworks, Dances Mark Dawn Of 2008
PANJIM, Dec 31: Spectacular fireworks, religious services, musical programmes and dances were held across the state to mark the beginning of the New Year. This year too, Goa was flooded with tourists - domestic as well as foreign and so popular beaches resembled big fairs. [H]

NEW YEAR GIFT: SEZS SCRAPPED
Government to write to Centre to denotify three SEZs

PANJIM: In a New Year gift to the people of Goa, the state government yesterday (December 31) announced scrapping of the Special Economic Zones in the "existing form" with immediate effect and will write to the Central government to denotify the three already notified SEZs in the State. Speaking to reporters at his official residence at Altinho, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said since the state government had no powers to denotify the notified SEZs, it is taking up the matter with the Centre to denotify them. He said that after various political parties and organisations strongly objected to the setting up of SEZs in the state, the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure held consultations yesterday and came to the conclusion that the SEZs were not in the interests of the state and keeping in mind the recommendations of the GPCC, coalition partners - NCP and the Save Goa Front. [GT]

Notified SEZ can't be scrapped: Centre
NEW DELHI: The Centre yesterday said state governments do not have the power to scrap notified special economic zones although they can seek cancellation of those that are in the pipeline. "There is no provision under law (for states) to recommend de-notification They have no locus standi to withdraw the notifications to the SEZs," Commerce Secretary Gopal Pillai told reporters when asked about Goa government's decision to scrap all the upcoming SEZs in the state. He, however, said except the three notified zones, there should be no problem about other projects as the Centre would like to honour the sentiments of the state. The three SEZs - Cipla's Meditab Specialties, Peninsula Pharma Research Centre and K Raheja Corpn - have acquired land. [GT]

We will urge the Govt: CM
PANJIM: Chief Minister Digambar Kamat yesterday said the state government would soon write to the Centre to denotify three SEZs, which were earlier notified by it. "We will write to the centre to de-notify three SEZs while 12 SEZ proposals stand scrapped," Kamat told PIT yesterday evening. [GT]

Don't take credit for scrapping SEZs, Cong told
PANJIM: Asking the Congress party and the government not to take credit for scrapping SEZs, Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar has termed the same as a 'New Year victory of the people against a tyrant government'. [GT]

Rao deplores India's declining contribution to world science
PANAJI, Jan 2: Prof CNP Rao, the chairman of the Science Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, said that IT sector had destroyed the Indian talent though IT was contributing to wealth at the cost of developing scientific talent and performance which remained stagnant and on decline as of now, compared to other countries including China. Prof Rao also deplored that India's contribution to world science was as low as 2.7 per cent and it was likely to go down to one per cent in due course. [NT]

Hordes of domestic tourists force foreigners to 'flee' Palolem beach
CANACONA, Jan 2: The popular Palolem beach became the hub of activity for thousands of domestic tourists from all over the country, pushing foreign tourists towards nearby beaches like Colomb, Patnem and Agonda, to escape the rampaging domestic revelers during the festive season. Many of the revelers at Palolem on the eve of the New Year were domestic tourists from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, who outnumbered foreign tourists. [H]

Mater Dei students top in international assessment
PANAJI, Dec 31: For a third year in succession, Mater Dei Institution, Saligao, has topped the Educational Assessment Australia of the University of New South Wales. Seventeen students of the school have been awarded gold medals for securing the highest grade in 2007 IAIS/IAS in the respective categories and subjects viz English, Mathematics, Science and Computer skills. [NT]

Toronto Goans Bring in the New Year In Style

Pictures of Goan Overseas Association’s New Year Bash
Courtesy of Albert Fernandes

( Click to view large )

ReDuX:RMx TWO makes Top Seller and Editors' Pick List - December 4, 2007

Within the first two weeks of its release, ReDuX:RMx TWO makes the CDBABY Editors' Pick and Top Seller lists in the Electronic Nu-jazz genre

Expanding on the world nu-jazz sound of their Volume 1 debut disc, TWO is world cinematic electronica. Latin, Euro, funk, Eastern, Asian and Celtic influences are used to create eleven original tracks that transport the urban soul across the planet. Eddie Paton on guitars and Archangel Menezes on keys sonically take you places with music that excites, soothes and moves. Bob Basa’s melodic bass drives all the tracks. Stylistically diverse guitar solos, vocal touches and an exotic array of world instruments and rhythms on TWO keep you listening. You can hear the influnences of ENIGMA, THE GYPSY KINGS and British Asian electronica on these tracks.

Cinematic in scope, the music on TWO puts you in the mood for anything you can imagine.
Check out sample tracks from TWO at http://www.reduxrmx.com/music.html

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Singing to a world record: Konkani to be on the World Cultural Map
http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=62153#
By Violet Pereira Team Mangalorean

Mangalore Dec 28, 2007: This coastal city will attempt to join the world club or record holding cities across the world. Not just an ordinary record but a cultural record that will defy all human endurance tests in singing. The Mandd Sobhann the cultural ensemble of Mangalore will present a 40 hour non stop singing Konkani songs with the largest congregation of singers as many as 1500 of them will sing in unison. One can imagine the resounding effect it will have on the cultural vibrancy of the city. If the ensemble makes it happen on that day the city will straight away will go into the Guinness book of world records beating the earlier record held by Ubra Brazil where multiple singers sang in a choir for 36 hours in 2004.

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UNLIKELY UTOPIA
THE SURPRISING TRIUMPH OF CANADIAN PLURALISM
Michael Adams - Author
Book: Paperback: DuraBooks | 235 x 159mm | 240 pages | ISBN 9780670063680 | 08 Nov 2007 | Viking Canada |

Most countries accept immigrants, but when it comes to the scale of its immigration inflow and the diversity of its foreign-born, Canada stands alone in the world. Some believe that amid the new world order, driven by ethnic and religious conflict, it is just a matter of time before Canada becomes a battleground in the manner of Lower Manhattan, the London Underground, or the suburbs of Paris.

Does the violence of the world at present—violence seemingly characterized by resurgent tribalism—put the lie to the idea that multicultural Canada can become a utopia? In Unlikely Utopia, Michael Adams says no. He believes that far from being disabused of their pluralist naïveté by the world’s conflicts and bloodshed, Canadians are focusing even harder on the quotidian tasks of helping people of all backgrounds get along—both materially and socially—and that over time Canada is proving to be the “experiment” that worked.

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ETELVINA ASSUMPTA D’SILVA

3 Jan: Velim, Goa. ETELVINA ASSUMPTA D’SILVA. (Aged 81, Ex-Morogoro, Tanzania). Beloved wife of Late Joseph Liborio D’Silva. Loving Mother of Late Frankie/Alba, Romeo/Marie, Edwin/Yolanda, Bryan/Goretti. Loving Grandmother of Sandra/Jesse, Aubrey-Ann/Christopher, Genevieve, Alvin, Ashton, Daniel and Lisa-Marie. Great-Grandmother of Sabrina and Robin.
Condolences to: ad536@hotmail.com

Oscar Peterson: Canada's Jazz Giant Dead At 82
Excerpts from:
http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/288525
http://www.mississauga.com/printArticle/9762

Oscar Peterson died on December 23, 2007 at his Mississauga home.

By the time of his death, 35 years after he moved from Montreal to Mississauga, Peterson was considered a goliath of the keyboards, who was judged in a 2006 book that surveyed experts on who were the best jazz pianists of all time, to be what his father suggested he must be: the best piano player in the world.

"It's a huge, huge loss," Peterson's friend and former student Bill King said from his Toronto home.

"We're getting down to the last of the true jazz icons, and he was one of them," continued King, who produced the Tribute to Oscar Peterson concert that took place in September 2003 at the Living Arts Centre (LAC). That's when Peterson became the first, and so far only, member of the Mississauga Arts Hall of Fame.

Peterson was recognized by the City of Mississauga in 2003 when a street was named for him and he received the highest honour a citizen can receive, the Civic Award of Merit. Oscar Peterson played with and befriended many jazz greats including Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Charlie Parker.
Quote: “It makes you want to sing.” — Ella Fitzgerald, at 74, about Peterson’s piano work.

Oscar Peterson - Simply the Best, a memorial concert tribute to the great musician will be held Saturday, January 12 at 4:00pm at Roy Thomson Hall. The 90 minute celebration of Mr. Peterson's life is free to the public and will include performance, memories and film and video highlights of his spectacular career.

+REGINA MARIA LOPES

Wife of late Felizardo Lino Lopes passed away on January 1, 2008, in Toronto.
Mother of Violet, Leslie, Oscar, Nelson & Yolanda.
Mother-in-law to Zelia & Suzie
Grandmother to Alvin (wife Monica), Kevin(Fiance Azmina), Christopher, Liza, Alister, Desmond, Russell, Oscar Jr. & Great Grandmother to Adrian
Funeral Mass was held at at St. Bartholmew Church in Scarborough, on January 4, 2008, followed by burial at Christ the King Cemetery.

+CAPT. JOSEPH MARTIN FURTADO

31 Dec: Mississauga, Canada.. Beloved husband of the late Clytie. Loving father of Joel (Ingrid), Wendy (Michael) Hessing, Cherished Grandpa of Angelica, Chrisann, Jessica, Emily and Sophie. Dear brother of Josephine (Eric) D’Souza, Letty (Joe) Fernandes, Eric (Lydia) and Jenny (Agnelo) Azavedo.

Funeral Mass held at St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church, on Friday, January 4, 2008

+COLEMAN, Edward Anthony (formerly of Kutchery Road, Karachi), (son of William and Anne Coleman, Son-in-law of James and Josephine LaPorte of Karachi) - Passed away peacefully at Sunnybrook Hospital Toronto on Thursday, January 3, 2008 at 1 AM , surrounded by his family and friends. Beloved husband of Sophia and the late Bernadette. Loving father of Natalie (Wayne) Monteque and Eddie. Brother of Ronald (Maureen), Maureen (Patrick) Pinto, Collette (Werner deceased) Feldschmid, Wilhelmina (Loren deceased) Wilson, Zelma. Brother-in-law of Ivan (Greta) LaPorte, Maureen LaPorte, Inez (James deceased) Savage, and predeceased by Eldon (Isabelle) LaPorte. Mourned by many relatives and friends. Resting at the NEWEDIUK FUNERAL HOME Kipling Chapel, 2058 Kipling Ave. (two blocks north of Rexdale Blvd.), from Monday 2-4 PM and 7-9 PM. Funeral Tuesday, leaving the funeral home 10:00 am to Transfiguration of Our Lord Church, 45 Ludstone Dr., for Funeral Mass at 10.30 am, followed by cremation. Special thanks to Dr. Ross and his surgical team and the critical care unit team at Sunnybrook Hospital. In lieu of flowers donations to the Cancer Society or Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Goan Overseas Association Holds Fundraiser Carnival Dance

The entire proceeds of G.O.A Toronto Carnival Dance on February 2, 2008 will be donated to the family of 9 year old Tara Ann D’Souza to assist with expenses following her serious illness.
For information on the Carnival Dance click on  http://www.goatoronto.com

The following summary of Tara’s condition is taken from www.goatoronto.com

Tara was born without the use of her left arm. She has been undergoing treatment at Sick Kids with minor but encouraging improvements each year. Over the past few years, she became an accomplished figure skater, and even learned to swim and knit. Her accomplishments so impressed her physician at Sick Kids, that he only recently changed her visits from annually to once in two years.

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Global Reunion Gala Dance In Goa
Saturday, 19th January 2008
 
The World Alliance of the Goan Overseas Associations invites all to a grand dinner dance to be held at the famous Mandovi Riviera, Panjim on Saturday, 19th January 2008 from 6.00 P.M. onwards.
Click for Flyer

Calling All World-Wide Siolim Associations

The Toronto Siolim Association is trying to contact the Presidents of the UK, USA & Middle East Siolim Associations.
The purpose is to network on joint initiatives at home and abroad.
Please contact Xavier Carvalho, Past President, email:torontosiolcars@gmail.com.

Card Games
B-bingo
Line Dancing
Konkani Cultural Hour
Doors Open 6.30 p.m.

Mississauga Seniors Centre See Note 1 below

Cost $5/ =
Cheques payable to 55PGA.
Book early to avoid disappointment

Mississauga Seniors Centre See Note 1 below

Cost $5/ =
Cheques payable to 55PGA.
Book early to avoid disappointment

Mississauga Seniors Centre

Since this is Holy Week, normal activities will be suspended.

Mississauga Seniors Centre – Details to follow

Note 1  *The Centre is located on 1389 Cawthra Road, just south of the QEW, (at Arbor Road) to the east of the Cawthra Community Centre & Arena. For transportation take Mississauga Transit bus route # 8

Note 2. For 2008 Events at Mississauga Seniors Centre will take place at the THIRD TUESDAY of each month unless otherwise noted.

Note 3. Please register by mail or email to attend events. This can be done by mail or email:
Mailing address: 55 Plus Goan Association-West GTA
100 City Centre Drive P.O.Box 2097
Mississauga,Ontario L5B 3C6

Email: 55PGA.seniors@gmail.com

Note 4. Admission for events besides AGM is $5.00 payable at door to cover hall rental, coffee.tea & light snacks.

Work Stress Leads To Increased Absenteeism, Disability: StatsCan

CBC News : http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2007/12/19/stress-report.html#skip300x250

Work stress is seriously affecting employees' performances, leading to a decrease in productivity, more missed days from work and increased absenteeism, according to a new Statistics Canada report.

The findings, taken from the 2002 Canadian Community Health Survey, were published Wednesday in Perspectives on Labour and Income, a StatsCan publication.

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Finding Alzheimer’s Before a Mind Fails
Excerpts from: New York Times Article
http://www.nytimes.com
By Denise Grady.

“Alzheimer’s disease may be a chronic condition in which changes begin in midlife or even earlier,” said Dr. John C. Morris, director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at Washington University in St. Louis, where Ms. Kerley volunteers for studies.

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Top Three New Year's Financial Resolutions

Are you the Great Procrastinator? Here are some New Year's Financial Resolutions to get the year started right from Ottawa author and CFP, Robert Abboud. His book, No Regrets, A Common Sense Guide to Achieving And Affording YourLife Goals offers readers timely advice.

"By following these simple suggestions, you will be able to look back on 2008 with No Regrets."
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/January2008/02/c9678.html?view=print

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Forgiveness May Be Good For Health
3 Jan 2008, 1531 hrs IST,ANI SMS NEWS to 58888 for latest updates

WASHINGTON: If you're holding a grudge against someone, waste no time in pardoning him or her, for a study in the January issue of Mayo Clinic Women's Health Source has suggested that forgiveness might be good for your health.

Forgiveness means acknowledging hurt and then letting it go, along with the burden of anger and resentment. According to the journal, having bitterness for someone might affect your cardiovascular and nervous systems.

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