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Newsletter. Issue 2008-08. April 12, 2008

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CARLSON WAGONLIT TRAVEL & DAN TOURS
A 10-day fascinating trip to
Israel & The Holy Land
Dates: November 18th- 27th 2008
Click for Details

Newsline Canada

Statcan Study: Earnings inequality and earnings instability of immigrants in Canada
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/080409/d080409b.htm

Immigrants move more frequently from one job to another, or have part-time or temporary jobs. As they gain experience in Canada, immigrants are likely to find more stable employment. The study, "Earnings inequality and earnings instability of immigrants in Canada," published in Statistics Canada's Analytical Studies Research Paper Series, provides further insights into the changing fortunes of immigrants in Canada by focusing on the volatility of their earnings.

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5 Million Canadians Are Visible Minorities: Statscan
One in five Canadians will be visible minority by 2017
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
The Canadian Press

The number of visible minorities in Canada has surpassed the five million mark for the first time the census history, as a new wave of immigrants from Asia is changing the face of Canada at a staggering rate, Statistics Canada says. According to new census data released Wednesday, visible minorities now comprise more than 16 per cent of the total population.Their numbers skyrocketed by 27 per cent between 2001 and 2006, more than five times the previous increase of 5.4 per cent.

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RBC Says Ontario Economy On The Cusp Of A Recession

TORONTO, April 3 /CNW/ - According to the latest provincial forecast released today by RBC, the heavy drag from Ontario's trade sector will see the province teeter on the brink of recession, delivering sub-1 per cent growth for 2008, followed by a modest improvement of 1.9 per cent for 2009. "The nationwide hit to Canada's exports will disproportionately affect Ontario because of both its heavy reliance on U.S. demand for its products as well as the unfavourable composition of those exports that are largely focused on automotive and forestry sector goods," said Craig Wright, senior vice-president and chief economist, RBC. "Ontario's exports to the U.S. account for roughly 84 per cent of total exports and about 40 per cent of provincial GDP."

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Is Our Immigration Act in Need of Reform?
Posted on: 31 March 2008 by Sahar Deshmukh
http://www.tvo.org/cfmx/tvoorg/theagenda/index.cfm?page_id=3

The Conservative government has recently proposed changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, which was introduced by the Liberals in 2002. Considering that Canada currently has a backlog of 900,000 applications waiting to be processed, many would say that the Canadian Immigration Act should be revised. The government wants to speed up the process and get more immigrants into the country faster. The new changes would allow the government to reject a would-be immigrant who has already been approved by the immigration officers. It will allow the government to limit the number of immigration applications Canada accepts. It will also set limits on what type of immigrants can enter Canada each year.

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YWCA Toronto Challenges Changes To Immigration And Refugee Protection Act
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2008/02/c9993.html?view=print

TORONTO, April 2 /CNW/ - YWCA Toronto joins with concerned Canadians everywhere to challenge the federal government on its proposed changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. We agree that the backlog needs to be adequately dealt with. As part of the immigrant and refugee serving sector YWCA has advocated for this to happen for years. But a solution to this breakdown in the system should not give the Minister a blank cheque to use unprecedented powers that would create uncertainty and leave Canada's immigration system open to arbitrariness and direct political influence.

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Immigration 'small benefit' to UK
Excerpts from BBC NEWS
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7322825.stm

Record levels of immigration have had "little or no impact" on the economic well-being of Britons, an influential House of Lords committee has said. It says competition from immigrants has had a negative impact on the low paid and training for young UK workers, and has contributed to high house prices. The peers want a limit on immigration levels - a view backed by the Tories.

Minister Liam Byrne says migration has added £6bn to the economy and a points system is preferable to a cap. In their report, The Economic Impact of Immigration, the peers said the government "should have an explicit target range" for immigration and set rules to keep within that limit.

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Vatican: World Has Greater Number Of Muslims Than Catholics
4/1/2000 - By John Thavis
Catholic News Service

http://www.catholic.org/printer_friendly.php?id=27384&section=Cathcom
"For the first time in history, we're no longer at the top. The Muslims have surpassed us," Msgr. Formenti

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - A Vatican official said that, for the first time, the world's Muslim population is greater than the number of Catholics.  Msgr. Vittorio Formenti, who heads the Vatican's statistics office, said the shift was the result of larger families among Muslims. According to statistics at the end of 2006, Muslims now represent 19.2 percent of the world population, while Catholics represent 17.4 percent, he said.  "For the first time in history, we're no longer at the top. The Muslims have surpassed us," Msgr. Formenti said in an interview March 30 with the Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano.

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Commentary

News Clips from India

News Clips from Goa

Goa Sulks For Being Left Out
PANAJI, Apr 6: The decision of the Congress high command and the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, not to induct any of the Goan members of Parliament in the cabinet during the reshuffle of the Union cabinet carried out today in New Delhi has taken the state Congress by surprise. The Congressmen had been expecting either of the two Goan MPs to be include in the cabinet but the decision of the party leadership to ignore the claim of the state has surprised them. [NT]

Britons Drown At Goan Resort
http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5gkUzTpW3edrAcd2mujxvs9zC6c3A
A British man and woman have drowned off the coast of Goa.

Stanley Horne and Liesel Smith died on Sunday (April 6, 2008) at the resort of Morjim.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We can confirm that two British nationals drowned at Morjim beach in Goa on April 6." The pair, who were both from Dover, Kent, were close friends who had met when they worked as nurses in the same hospital.

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The Caste System in Goa
By Vinayak Khedekar

Understanding the castes, sub-castes and inner groups of Goan society in Hindu fold is a complicated task. In ancient times the divisions where based on traditional occupation. But in a course of history it changed and was based on birth into a particular family. Once it adhered, is continued forever. The field study has discovered at least fifty castes and a number of sub-castes, based on hereditary occupation, that exist in Goa traditionally.The Vedic and mythological sources describes a four-fold system, that is Brahman- knowledge, Kshtriya-bravery, Vaishya-economy and Shudra-the toiling mass.
http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=040615

Pomburpa Summer Camp takes off with a bang
POMBURPA: Known for its famed "Pomburpechem fest" and the ideal picnic spot - Pomburpa spring - the east Bardez village seems to have turned a new leaf, and it has begun the refreshing process with the 'Serula: Son of the Soil Project" for children. It is a summer camp meant for the students of St Elizabeth High School but one with a vast difference in the sense that within a couple of days of its commencement, the enthusiastic students have already returned the Pomburpa spring area to its pristine beauty and clean surroundings, which even the tourism department had failed for do for nearly a decade.

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Leopards on the prowl in Chandor, Paroda
CHANDOR: Leopards are once again on the prowl in the hills bordering the villages of Chandor and Paroda. In the latest incident, a pedigree dog was rescued by a youngster from the jaws of the leopard. Parkash Ooli from Nepal, working for John Douglas Coutinho in Chandor, had taken the five Weimaraner dogs for their regular exercise on the hillock, when a leopard lurking in the bushes grabbed one of the dogs. The young Prakash pelted stoned at the leopard and subsequently hit it with a wooden staff. [GT]

Parish priest assaulted, Quepem explodes
MARGAO: Tilamol-Quepem was tense, following an alleged assault on the local parish priest by two siblings from Kusmon-Quepem on April 4 morning. The incident triggered a spontaneous rasta-roko by the locals whose ire was roused following reports of an assault on the parish priest Fr Lucio Dias. The villagers were also incensed over the considerable delay by the police in arresting the accused duo of Evangelicio D'Costa and his brother Joe. The accused run a photo-copy-cum-STD booth at the local church Fabrica building in Tilamol. The shop had been leased by the Fabrica to Adelina Cardozo from Zambaulim, who in turn had illegally sublet it to Evangelicio. Fr Dias claimed that Cardozo had failed to renew the contract with the Fabrica despite constant reminders. This had forced Fr Dias, who is the Fabrica president, to paste a note on the shutter of the shop asking Evangelicio to contact him and at the same time, locked the shutter early in the week hours of April 4.

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Noted writer Zito no more
MARGAO, Apr 4: Well-known writer and author Zito Almeida passed away in a city hospital here after a brief illness. He was 70 and is survived by his wife, three daughters and a son. Hailing from Banda, Assolna, Almeida was a highly respected writer for around five decades. He was honoured with Dalgado Konkani Academy award instituted in the name of Fr Freddy D'Costa, for excellence in journalism in 2006. He also received the Konkani Bhasha Mandal and Goa Konkani Academy awards for his rich contribution to Konkani language. [H]

Alive in the ancestry of faith
Curtorim has been a fortress of faith for many years. Initially, the village refused to accept Christianity. But an Italian Jesuit priest, Fr Vespesiano Bonamici, is said to have fortified the faith in Curtorim. Curtorim was probably one of the last villages to have adopted Christianity, but it is definitely a pioneer in generosity since the church was the first to be built with public contribution. The first Christians of the village are said to be the three Poi brothers. The priest, who baptised them, gave them his own family name. Ha Poi was christened Emmanuel da Costa and his wife was named Maria. St Alex Church is one of the oldest churches to have been built in Goa. The church was built in 1597 and rebuilt in 1647. [Colin Savio Coelho, GT]

TSKK SILVER JUBILEE CLOSING CEREMONY
PORVORIM: The Closing Ceremony of the Silver Jubilee Year of Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr (TSKK) was held at TSKK premises on 28 March evening. Archbishop Felipe Neri Ferrão of Goa Archdiocese was the chief guest, and Premanand Lotlikar, President of Dalgado Konknni Akademi; Purnanand Chari, President of Konknni Bhasha Mandal, Margão; Wilson Mazarello convenor of Roman Lipi Action Front; Eric Ozario, President of Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy and Fr Anthony da Silva, S.J. the Jesuit Provincial of Goa Province, were guests of honour.

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PICTURE FOR TODAY
Traditional Goan mansions get another admirable dimension in the beautiful paintings of Akeru Barros-Pereira. Her ongoing exhibition (April 2-6) titled "Houses of Goa 2", held at the Kala Academy's art gallery, depicts a number of traditional Goan houses from Cansaulim in South Goa. The Japanese writer of comics claims that she desired to do something for her husband's ancestral village. The theme she chose aptly for her enchanting paintings has been inspired by local houses which are nestled in lusty greenery.

 Obituary

MEMORIAL MASS

Moraes, Paul (June 29,1949 - April 10, 2008) - A memorial service is being offered by EVA MORAES, HIPO, LEO & GEORGE for their loving son/brother PAUL who passed away peacefully on Thursday,April l0th ,2008. Mass will be celebrated by FR DAVID KIYINGI on Friday, April 25th at 7:00PM at the NATIVITY OF OUR LORD PARISH located at 480 Rathburn Road, Etobicoke, Ontario. A Reception will be held in the Church Hall immediately after the Mass.

People Places and Things

Five Paper Tips from Xerox: Use Less, Use Wisely

TORONTO, March 31 /CNW/ - Memos, reports, invoices, forms, presentations and instructions are the trademark of a busy office - and signal the vital role paper plays in it every day. Yet Xerox Corporation (NYSE: XRX) studies show that office workers throw away 45 percent of documents within 24 hours of printing them.

How can you stay productive while using resources wisely?
Paper is a renewable resource. If you think before you print and choose the paper that's right for the job, you can reduce the environmental footprint of your office. As one of the world's largest suppliers of papers for office printers and copiers, Xerox is sharing five simple tips for smart paper use.

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Toshiba to Showcase Advances in Sophisticated Home Life Support Robot

Toshiba Corporation announced further advances in robotics that take the company closer to its concept of a "life support partner" - a sophisticated robot able to deliver human-centric technologies that provide assistance and support the elderly and young children in the home and in such public places as shopping complexes. One advance enables a robot to distinguish particular voices from among many from multiple directions, and recognize the direction of origin, and interact with the speakers by responding to a repertoire of commands. The other allows a robot to recognize a registered individual and to follow that individual from place to place, even among groups of people. To read full story click here

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US Hindus' concerns about Love Guru
Thursday April 3 2008
http://www.southasianfocus.ca/printArticle/46196

NEW YORK-- The concerns of Hindus in the US that upcoming Hollywood comedy The Love Guru may degrade their institutions has found support from leaders of other faiths, even as the film's producers have agreed to pre-screen it for Hindu representatives before its release.

"It is important that we respect those parts of every faith tradition which are held especially sacred. I applaud Paramount Pictures for being open to the request of Hindu leaders to preview this film and listen to any concerns that may arise for them," said Father Charles T. Durante, a Catholic priest in northern Nevada, in a statement.

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Portuguese Nationality For Goans

Post from: GSFGoesesSemFronteiras@groups.msn.com,
GSFGoesesSemFronteiras@groups.msn.com

Sent by: Michael Gonsalves <michaelgonsalves1@hotmail.com>

Many Goans have been asking details about the Portuguese Nationality Law and how to apply for Portuguese Nationality. They often refer to it as "Portuguese Passport". The term "Portuguese Passport" is not correct. One should not address it as merely a passport. No. It is much more than that.

It is important that people realise this before applying. If you decide to apply for it, you will be applying for a Nationality and not merely a passport.

Why can Goans apply for Portuguese Nationality ?

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Announcements

MEMORIAL MASS

Moraes, Paul (June 29,1949 - April 10, 2008) - A memorial service is being offered by EVA MORAES, HIPO, LEO & GEORGE for their loving son/brother PAUL who passed away peacefully on Thursday,April l0th ,2008. Mass will be celebrated by FR DAVID KIYINGI on Friday, April 25th at 7:00PM at the NATIVITY OF OUR LORD PARISH located at 480 Rathburn Road, Etobicoke, Ontario. A Reception will be held in the Church Hall immediately after the Mass.

Project Isiolo – Two Upcoming Events

MaterCare International invites you to join two evenings with Bishop Anthony Mukobo, Bishop of Isiolo, Kenya and Dr. Robert Walley, MaterCare International's Founder and Executive Director.

Making Motherhood Safe
May 21, 2008 – 7:00 p.m.
John Paul II Polish Cultural Centre, 4300 Cawthra Road, Mississauga, Ontario.
For more information, contact Mrs. Kay Newbold 905-793-9637 or email kayen@rogers.com.

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Events

Click to Download TEGSA membership form for 2008..

Health & Wellness

Seven Steps That Lead To Better Health
http://www.thepost.ca/PrintArticle.aspx?e=960775

At least half of all cancers can be prevented through healthy living and policies that protect the health of Canadians.

Take the following steps to reduce your risk of developing cancer.

1. Be a non-smoker and avoid second-hand smoke.
   
   Smoking causes about 30 per cent of all cancer deaths in Canada. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for men and women in Canada. Smoking also increases your risk of developing cancers of the mouth, throat, larynx, cervix, pancreas, esophagus, colon, rectum, kidney and bladder.
   
   If you are a smoker, quit. If you are a non-smoker, avoid second-hand smoke.

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Stop Fooling Yourself Canada!
Embrace The Challenge Of A Healthy Body From Head To Toe

Yves Veggie Cuisine Empowers Canadians With The Launch of A Soy-Centric Microsite For Healthy Eating

TORONTO, March 31 /CNW/ - One single ingredient helps support almost our entire body's health. Nature's magic bean, soy, is the only plant protein to contain all the essential amino acids a person requires for optimal body functioning.

• Bones - enhances the body's ability to slow bone loss and inhibit bone breakdown, helping to prevent osteoporosis.

• Beauty - builds healthy, shiny nails, hair and skin.

• Brain - protects against the accumulation of Alzheimer's disease-related proteins.

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Maple Syrup As A Source Of Antioxidants

MONTREAL, March 28 /CNW Telbec/ - Certain foods contain substances with powerful cancer-fighting properties. When eaten regularly, these "functional foods" can help protect us from cancer, but with no side-effects other than making our taste buds happy! After berries, soy, green tea, spices and even chocolate, now maple syrup is showing its colours: recent scientific studies have confirmed the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory qualities of maple syrup, indicating a possible anti-cancer potential.

Most plants, including many fruits and vegetables, produce an arsenal of molecules that help them defend themselves against infection and the damage caused by micro-organisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses etc.), as well as insects and other predators in their environment. Some of these protective substances play a leading role in our own systems of anti-cancer defence. They fight tumours at the source, before they can reach maturity and become a threat to health. Among such substances are phenolic compounds.

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Don't drink too much water: Study
3 Apr 2008, 0808 hrs IST, REUTERS

NEW YORK: There is no clearcut scientific rationale for the average healthy individual to drink a lot of water -- and it may be downright harmful -- according to two kidney experts. Drinking a lot of water is claimed to be helpful for everything from clearing toxins and keeping organs in tip-top shape to keeping weight off and improving skin tone. At best, however, the evidence to back up these claims is weak, according to a new scientific review published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology .

"There is what I call an urban myth that drinking a lot of water is a healthy thing to do and it leads to people toting around plastic water bottles all day drinking water," Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia said.

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Young Consumers: Spend Your Money Wisely!

TORONTO, March 28 /CNW/ - A new consumer awareness campaign will help young Ontarians make more informed decisions when spending or borrowing money. Young consumers are more vulnerable to scams and are at a higher risk for debt problems. A recent study found that only 66 per cent of Canadians between the ages of 21-30 consider the consequences of rising interest rates when borrowing money.

Consumers aged 18 to 25 have significant purchasing power, but often lack the experience needed to protect themselves against issues like money management, credit risk and identity theft.

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I Was Sick and You Visited Me

I was sick and you came to visit me: time spent at the bedsides of seriously ill patients with poor prognoses*1

Daniel P. Sulmasy MD, PhD , , a, b and Maike Rahn MSa, b
a John J. Conley Department of Ethics, Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers (DPS, MR), St. Vincent’s, Manhattan, New York, New York, USA
b Bioethics Institute of New York Medical College (DPS), Valhalla, New York, USA

Purpose
To learn how much time hospital staff and families spend at the bedsides of seriously ill patients with poor prognoses.

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