Commemorating Mahatma Gandhi
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jROXV5h0HvR7Aw6koGZr7EoDhm5w

MUMBAI, India - India commemorated the 60th anniversary of Mohandas Gandhi's assassination Wednesday, January 30, 2008, with his great granddaughter scattering the peace icon's ashes in the sea off the country's most bustling metropolis. Gandhi, who led the nonviolent struggle for independence from Britain, is still revered as the moral conscience of the nation and pictures of his wizened, smiling face are everywhere in India, from the country's rupee notes to murals along the highway.

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Newcomer Strategy Group Nets $830,000 In Funding
Thursday January 24 2008 - BY TINA DEPKO, Staff Writer
Excerpts from:  http://www.northpeel.com/printArticle/41768

A task group that is looking for ways to make it easier for new immigrants to settle in Peel has received a huge financial boost. The Peel Newcomer Strategy Group is getting $830,000 from the federal government. The money will be used over the next two years to develop a co-ordinated service delivery model to enhance social and economic integration of newcomers in the region.

The group consists of members from government, businesses and social service providers, such as United Way of Peel. "It is in the best interest for the community to have a strategy that makes Peel an attractive place because we need to get workers and when they do come here, to expedite their integration," said Evelyn Myrie, director of the Peel Newcomer Strategy Group. "When people come to Canada, they think they are going to come into employment in their chosen career field and they are very disappointed when that doesn't happen. I would like to see Peel region become a model in how it attracts newcomers and keeps them."

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Immigrants In Quebec And B.C. Starting To Do Better Than Those In Ontario
From: hrreporter.com,
January 21, 2008

Canada needs to overhaul its immigration policy to favour younger candidates like foreign students and temporary workers, according to a new study. One of the biggest barriers immigrants to Canada face is the inability to transfer foreign qualifications and work experience, but these are less of a barrier for younger immigrants and temporary foreign workers, according to the study by researchers at the Universite de Montreal.

"There is a serious lack of consistency between the government policy of wanting to attract qualified new immigrants to the labour market, and the reality that confronts those immigrants when employers refuse to recognize their experience and qualifications," states the study.

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Cholera Threatening Kenya, Warns Caritas
January 23, 2008

NAIROBI, Kenya (Zenit.org): Caritas is concerned that the delicate situation of refugees in Kenya could worsen to a cholera epidemic. After contested Dec. 27 presidential elections, some 250,000 people fled their homes amidst a wave of violence.

The situation is especially critical in the Archdiocese of Kisumu, where a cholera epidemic is most feared. For now, the aid organization affirmed, the refugees are receiving food and basic necessities. However, Caritas launched an appeal for $2.6 million to continue providing for the thousands currently depending on the organization for sustenance.

New Jesuit Superior To Focus On Service
http://www.theindiancatholic.com/report.asp?nid=10226
January 23, 2008 - By Marta Lago

ROME (Zenit.org): As Jesuits, as Christians and as people of God, we are called to serve the Church, the world and the Gospel, the new superior-general of the Jesuits said in the Mass of thanksgiving for his election. Father Adolfo Nicolás, 71, was elected superior-general of the Society of Jesus on Saturday. The order is in Rome celebrating its 35th General Congregation.

The priest succeeds Father Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, 79, who presented his resignation after having led the order for nearly 25 years. Father Nicolás presided over the Sunday Eucharist and was received with applause from the countless faithful who participated in the celebration.

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Economic Turbulence Will Leave 5 Million Unemployed: ILO

GENEVA (ICNS) – Economic turbulence largely due to credit market turmoil and rising oil prices could spur an increase in global unemployment by an estimated 5 million persons in 2008, the International Labour Office (ILO) said Wednesday in its annual Global Employment Trends report (GET).

The new projection for 2008 is in contrast to 2007, a watershed year in which sound global GDP growth – of more than 5 per cent –, led to a “stabilization” of global labour markets with more people in work, a net increase of 45 million new jobs and only a slight increase in the number of people unemployed, to a total of 189.9 million persons worldwide, an ILP release noted.

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Pope Will Not Attend Quebec Eucharistic Congress
By DEBORAH GYAPONG
Canadian Catholic News Ottawa

Pope Benedict has sent his regrets he will not attend the 49th International Eucharistic Congress in Quebec City June 15-22.

Cardinal Marc Ouellet, archbishop of Quebec, said the pope will send a representative to the congress that coincides with the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec. Ouellet cited the pope's packed schedule and concerns about maintaining the health of the 81-year old pontiff.

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Roots Of Kenya's Crisis Lie In Its Colonial History
By Caroline Elkins - Sunday, January 6, 2008
Special to The Washington Post

As Big Ben struck midnight, Londoners welcomed in 2008 by cheering a blaze of fireworks above the Thames skyline. But the new year has been marked by far less happy conflagrations in several fledgling democracies that had once been part of Britain's empire. Days earlier, Pakistan had been rocked by the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto. Iraq seems trapped in a cycle of terror and counterterror. Afghanistan looks much the same. Zimbabwe squirms under Robert Mugabe's thumb.

Now Kenya, too, appears to be on the brink. The East African country -- widely seen as a model of economic and democratic progress since 2002, when the 24-year dictatorship of Daniel arap Moi was swept aside -- has been moving toward an ethnically charged civil war since a disputed election on Dec. 27. President Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner of a second term after a vote that opposition candidate Raila Odinga denounces as rigged and that European Union observers agree was seriously flawed. As tens of thousands of Kenyans flee their homes and hundreds lie dead, part of the blame rests with Britain and its imperial legacy.

The immediate cause of the crisis was Kenya's delicate ethnic balance. The incumbent president, Kibaki, is a member of Kenya's largest and probably most powerful ethnic group, the Kikuyu, who total about 22 percent of the population; his rival, Odinga, is a member of the Luo, who comprise some 13 percent of the populace and live predominantly in western Kenya. In their bitter contest, in which Odinga promised to end ethnic favoritism and spread the country's wealth more equitably, ethnicity was the deciding factor, and a marred victory on either side had always been likely to spark violence. Both men are rich, elitist African politicians who have far more in common with each other than they do with their supporters; in their struggle over power, both are using their followers as proxies in a smoldering war.

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Indian Companies Have Surprised The World: Kamal Nath
Thursday, 24 January , 2008,
http://sify.com/finance/fullstory.php?id=14595041

Davos: The global challenge posed by the emergence of companies from India and other rapidly developing economies has taken the world by surprise, Commerce and Industry Minister, Kamal Nath, said Thursday.

Speaking at a breakfast session organised by industry body Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Boston Consulting Group in Davos, he said many of these companies had been taking advantage of India's burgeoning technology sector and large population of young people.

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Indian Economy Will Gallop Despite US Turmoil Says Indian Prime Minister
Friday, 25 January , 2008, 16:51
http://sify.com/finance/fullstory.php?id=14595041

New Delhi: The Indian economy can sustain an economic growth of 9-9.5 per cent despite the global financial turmoil, even as it hopes for steps by the US to contain the damage, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Friday.

"We live in an increasingly interdependent world and therefore an international financial crisis could impact on the growth of emerging countries including our own," Manmohan Singh said.

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Sister Karuna Mary Braganza Among Padma Awards
http://www.theindiancatholic.com/report.asp?nid=10257
January 26, 2008

NEW DELHI (ICNS): The Indian government has honoured Sister Karuna Mary Braganza, a former principal of Sophia College, Mumbai known for her selfless work among the poorest and socially deprived with Padma Shri. She and selected others are among the winners of Padma awards given by the Central government on the eve of Republic Day.

Among the other prominent Christians are sociologist Prof TK Oommen, who was a member of the Sachar Committee, and Kerala-based eye specialist Dr Tony Fernandez. Everest summiteer Edmund Hillary, who passed away a few days ago in New Zealand, is among the recipients of Padma Vibhushan.

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World Alliance of Goan Overseas Association (WAGOA) Inaugural Meet In Goa
Excerpts from files by Cyril D’Cunha & Antonio Mascarenhas

“You can take a Goan out of Goa but it will be difficult to take Goa out of a Goan,” said Tony Colaco, the General Secretary, World Alliance, and President of the Goan Overseas Association in Sydney, Australia, pretty much summing up the essence of the theme "We still call Goa home", for the inaugural "Non-Resident Goans Reunion Nite" held at the Mandovi Riviera, Panaji, on January 19 , 2008

Colaco explained that World Alliance of Goan Overseas Association (WAGOA) was an umbrella body of Goan Associations worldwide, whose endeavour was to bring together overseas Goans to speak with one voice and unity and "Be proud to be Goans".

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Valentine's Day Web guide
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/January2008/24/c3788.html?view=print

Online now, just in time for Valentine's Day, is a new Web guide that can show any guy what he needs to know to use flowers to get, keep, impress or redeem himself with women. Savedbythebud.com is a free site that combines information, illustrations to show why flowers should be major weapons in any man's struggle to win the affections of the opposite sex. It was created by the Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center (NFBIC), http://www.bulb.com , in Danby, Vt. The site shows the type of guy who might normally discount flower power exactly why and how he should use nature's chick magnets to his advantage. The idea is backed up by science.

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Fish Licence-Free On February Family Fishing Weekend
Local Events Highlight Staying Safe On Ice And Good Conservation Practices

TORONTO, Jan. 28 /CNW/ - Minister of Natural Resources Donna Cansfield is inviting Ontarians to bundle up and take part in the second annual winter Family Fishing Weekend on February 23 and 24.

"The licence-free family fishing weekend is an opportunity for both novice and experienced anglers to take part in local events where they can learn about ice fishing, ice safety and the importance of conservation," said Cansfield. "I am pleased to join the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters and other partners in encouraging everyone to get outdoors and enjoy this popular winter sport with family and friends where ice conditions permit safe fishing."

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+ Writer Lino Leitao

24 Jan: Dorval, Quebec, Canada. LINO LEITAO (aged 77; ex-Uganda, born Varca, Goa Husband of Olga. Beloved father of Andrew/Lisa, Rodin/Nicola, and Sheila/Francis. Author of the Gift of the Holy Cross as well as many short stories. Funeral on Saturday, February 2nd at St. Veronica’s Parish, Dorval, Quebec. H9S 1M6. Visitation at 1:30 p.m. followed by funeral mass at 2:30 p.m. Condolences to leitaofamily@hotmail.com

The following are excerpts from The Writer Union Website
http://writersunion.ca/ww_profile.asp?mem=57&L=L&N=Lino%C2%A0Leitao

Lino Leitao was born in Goa, a former Portuguese Colony in India. He studied in Portuguese and English schools and attended the University of Karnataka in India and Concordia University in Montreal. His stories have been published by Goa Today, Gulub, Gomantak Times (Goa); Afro-Asian Quarterly, Journal of Asian Litearature (Michigan State University), The Toronto South Asian Review, Massachusetts Review, Short Story International (New York),The Antigonish Review and others. His articles on Goan issues have been published in Herald, Gomantak Times, Navhin Times (Goa), and in South Asian Studies Papers, no. 9 - Goa: Continuity and Change - University of Toronto, Centre for South Asian Studies, 1995.

PUBLICATIONS:
The Man and His Writings. English trans. Goa, India: Xavier Centre of Historical Research, 2000.
The Gift of the Holy Cross. Leeds, England: Peepal Tree Press, 1999.
Six Tales. Cornwall, ON: Vesta Publications, 1980.
Goa Tales. Cornwall, ON: Vesta Publications, 1977.
Collected Short Tales. New York: Carleton Press, 1972.

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February is Heart Month

Every year, tens of thousands of people across Canada put their hearts into making a difference to the lives of others by participating in the Heart and Stroke Foundation's largest grassroots fundraising initiative - Heart Month.

Some demonstrate their generosity of spirit by donating to our worthy cause. Some experience the great satisfaction that comes with raising funds using our easy online fundraising tool. And others enjoy volunteering their time to meet with friends and neighbours as they rally support for our cause through door-to-door fundraising. Whether it's time or money you're able to contribute to Heart Month 2008, we invite you to experience the joy of giving by helping us raise funds for vital life-saving research. Great things happen when you put your heart into it. Make a difference, volunteer today!

http://putyourheartintoit.kintera.org/htmlcontent.asp?cid=74599

New York Chain Eateries Must Post Calorie Counts
Tue Jan 22, 2008 
By Edith Honan

Excerpts:
NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York again sought to force fast food chains to display calorie counts on their menu boards on Tuesday after a federal judge quashed a similar proposal last year.

The rule affects restaurants with 15 or more locations nationwide such as fast-food chains Burger King, McDonald's and Wendy's but also casual dining chains such as Ruby Tuesday and IHOP Corp's Applebee's. The city believes the new rule will be allowed because it subjects all restaurants with more than 15 locations to the same requirement while its previous rule only affected restaurants that were following voluntary federal nutritional labeling guidelines.

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US Doctors In India To Promote Vegetarianism ....
Thu Jan 24 21:10:55
Sent by Dr. Kevin Saldanha to www.goanet.org

Studies are now finding that serious cardiac disease is reversible on a vegan diet http://www.gentleworld.org/health/cholesterol.htm 

A research conducted by the Doctors from Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), USA, proved the efficacy of low-fat vegetarian diet in reversing blood sugar levels of people with type II diabetes. "The westernization of the diet has played a major role inthe diabetes epidemic. America should Easternize its own diet. If Americans learn to eat dal, rice, and palak, they would be slimmer and healthier," said Dr Neal Barnard president of CRM.

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Canadian Doctors Feel Overworked: Survey
From: hrreporter.com
January 22, 2008

35 per cent of physicians plan to cut back on their practice. Canadian doctors are feeling overwhelmed and frustrated by their inability to properly serve their patients' health needs, according to a recent survey.

The survey of more than 20,000 doctors and doctors-in-training across the country found 75 per cent of respondents felt inadequate funding of the health-care system, paperwork, bureaucracy and an undersupply of doctors and other health professionals are curtailing the amount and level of care they are able to provide patients.

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Mobile Phone Radiation Disrupts Sleep, Causes Headaches
http://www.andhranews.net/Health/2008/January/21-Mobile-phone-radiation-30413.asp

Researchers from the US and Sweden have found in a study, funded by some of the worlds biggest phone makers, that radiations emitting from mobile phones cause headaches and interrupt vital sleep patterns. The researchers - from Wayne State University in the US and Swedens Karolinska Institute - say that participants who were exposed to mobile radiation during the study were found to experience headaches, change of moods, confusion, and trouble in sleeping.

Sydney, January 21 : Researchers from the US and Sweden have found in a study, funded by some of the world's biggest phone makers, that radiations emitting from mobile phones cause headaches and interrupt vital sleep patterns. The researchers - from Wayne State University in the US and Sweden's Karolinska Institute - say that participants who were exposed to mobile radiation during the study were found to experience headaches, change of moods, confusion, and trouble in sleeping.

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