The statements, opinions, or views in the following articles may not necessarily reflect that of the Goan Voice Canada.

Gratitude keeps our society human
Excerpts from article by Michael Swan, The Catholic Register,
http://www.catholicregister.org/content/view/2224

TORONTO - Margaret Visser is much too civilized to tell about the incident which sparked her new book, The Gift of Thanks: The Roots, Persistence and Paradoxical Meanings of a Social Ritual.

Catholic Register Editor’s note: In A Gift of Thanks, Margaret Visser tells us how gratitude might change our approach to a very practical problem. Gratitude could save the environment. In fact, it’s the only thing that will, according to this excerpt from her book.

Gratitude, replacing selfishness, greed and disregard, will in my opinion have to be called upon to help us surmount the ecological crisis that now threatens our very existence. Fears of disaster and the laws we make to protect the environment will certainly be necessary as both pressure to act and restraint from further abuse. But fear and the law will not be enough. What is required is nothing less than a conversion: a turning-around of our ideas, a change of heart, an agreement to see things from a new point of view. Fear can cause rather than avert abuses, and there are infinite numbers of ways to get away with selfish convenience or greed if people care only for their own personal interests.

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Excerpts from address of His Holiness Benedict XVI to France on the Occasion of the 150th Anniversary of the Apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary At Lourdes (September 12 - 15, 2008)
MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE WORLD OF CULTURE
Collège des Bernardins, Paris
Friday, 12 September 2008

I would like to speak with you this evening of the origins of western theology and the roots of European culture. I began by recalling that the place in which we are gathered is in a certain way emblematic. It is in fact a placed tied to monastic culture, insofar as young monks came to live here in order to learn to understand their vocation more deeply and to be more faithful to their mission. We are in a place that is associated with the culture of monasticism. Does this still have something to say to us today, or are we merely encountering the world of the past? In order to answer this question, we must consider for a moment the nature of Western monasticism itself. What was it about? From the perspective of monasticism’s historical influence, we could say that, amid the great cultural upheaval resulting from migrations of peoples and the emerging new political configurations, the monasteries were the places where the treasures of ancient culture survived, and where at the same time a new culture slowly took shape out of the old. But how did it happen? What motivated men to come together to these places? What did they want? How did they live?

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Opinion - 'Politics of hope' drowning in swamp of indebtedness
U.S. economic crisis makes a mockery of election promises
Excerpts from: http://www.thestar.com/printArticle/499746
September 16, 2008 Michael Warren

There is mounting evidence that America’s current standard of living is not sustainable, writes Michael Warren.

While Canadians may envy America's "politics of hope" it has a dark underbelly. There is an issue so big, complex and daunting that neither John McCain nor Barack Obama wants to touch it. It is more serious than most Americans imagine. And it has the potential to eclipse and ultimately undermine the election promises and policies of who ever wins the White House in November.

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India a genuine emerging power: Britain
Sep 24, 2008 at 1532 hrs
http://www.indianexpress.com/story_print.php?storyid=365367

Manchester, September 24: British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, considered to be a potential Prime Minister, has heaped praise on India as a “genuine emerging power” from whom the world had “many expectations.”

“India is genuinely emerging as a power and in it the Indian diaspora is a huge source of strength” Miliband said, adding “we are lucky to have such a diaspora.”

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US bans key Indian drug imports

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says it has banned the import of more than 30 generic drugs made by Indian drug firm Ranbaxy.

The FDA said the decision was made after it found manufacturing quality problems at two of Ranbaxy's factories in India. The import ban affects some popular generic versions of antibiotics and cholesterol medicines.

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3 Indians among Forbes Web billionaires
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/Chinas-military

New York, Sept 12: Three Indians, including Indiabulls` Sameer Gehlaut and Party Gaming founder Anurag Dikshit, have been named among the 34 innovators in the `Web Billionaires` list by US magazine Forbes. The internet boom has put 34 innovators on our list of world`s richest, comprising a total networth of USD 109.7 billion, the Forbes report said.

The list includes Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page with the highest networth of USD 18.7 billion and USD 18.6 billion, respectively. Indiabulls' Sameer Gehlaut, the youngest self-made billionaire in India, with a networth of USD 1.2 billion, has featured in the list.

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Tata seeking new sites for Nano
By Rahul Tandon
BBC News, Calcutta
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7622673.stm

The Indian firm Tata says it is actively looking for new sites at which to build the world's cheapest car. Work at Tata's plant in West Bengal state has been suspended since the end of August in a row over land acquired from local farmers. On Thursday the chief minister of the southern state of Karnataka said he had offered Tata 1,000 acres of land to build the car, called the Nano. The Nano is due to be launched in October, but that could be delayed.

Asian Development Bank offers new poverty benchmark in Asia
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/27/content_9722995.htm

MANILA, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday announced that it has adopted a poverty line that is more accurate and specifically more relevant to the Asia and Pacific region. The new poverty line, called the Asian Poverty Line, is roughly1.35 U.S. dollars per day, the Manila-based regional lender said in a press release to announce its flagship annual statistical publication -- Key Indicators 2008.

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Red alert in Goa, security tightened at tourist spots
Posted online: Sep 22, 2008 at 1708 hrs
http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Red-alert-in-Goa

Panaji, September 22: Goa Police on Monday sounded a red alert in the state apprehending the possibility of a terror strike. IGP Kishan Kumar in a message to all the police stations has asked to tighten the security in their respective jurisdictions.

"The red alert is sounded as we do not want to take any chance and we are undertaking intense checking of all the vehicles," Samy Tavares, special officer attached with the DGP, said.

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Goa's Regional Plan to be open for scrutiny for 90 days
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200809231403.htm

Panaji (PTI): Goa's Regional Plan (RP) 2021, prepared by a task force comprising experts from planning and industry sector, would be open for public scrutiny for next 90 days, its nodal officer said. The draft, which highlights issues like alternative national highway traversing through state's hinterland, doubling up of railway lines and conservation of heritage and eco sensitive zones, was submitted to Chief Minister Digamber Kamat on Monday.

The Plan would be presented to all the 189 village panchayats and 14 municipalities of the state where citizens would be allowed to suggest the amendments, task force's nodal officer Sanjith Rodrigues said.

Rains delay tourist season in Goa
Panaji (PTI): Goa tourism department is worried over continuing rain in the coastal state which has further delayed the tourist season here.

"We hope that there will be increase in the tourists this season. The season is getting delayed because of rains," state tourism director Elvis Gomes said today. The rains have continued lashing the state leaving the sandy beaches wet and sea rough, which is unfavourable for swimming.

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PICTURE FOR TODAY
Joel

The Mannerist Neo-Roman design Church of Saviour of the World in Loutulim, South Goa, was erected by the Jesuits some time in 1581 and re-constructed in the year 1586, according to the book "The Parish Churches of Goa" (Jose Lourenco).

DR WILLY DEMANDS BAN ON BAJRANG DAL
PANJIM: Peeved over reports appearing in a section of the vernacular media about volunteers allegedly belonging to the Bajrang Dal burning his effigy, state NCP president Dr Wilfred de Souza has demanded a ban on the Bajrang Dal. He felt what has started with burning of his effigy might ultimately assume the form of violence as in Karnataka against the Catholic community. "It starts with this. Today it is effigies, tomorrow they will burn human beings. It has happened in Mangalore," Dr Willy remarked while calling upon state BJP president Shripad Naik and opposition leader Manohar Parrikar to control their workers to prevent such happenings. "They are burning my effigy because I brought to notice the matter pertaining to Saligao MLA's affidavit. I am fighting for the law of the land," he charged. [GT]

GBA to place RP 2021 before Core Group
PANJIM: The executive committee of Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA) yesterday decided to place before the core committee the final Regional Plan 2021, for an appropriate decision even as it sought clarification regarding two parallels sets of Development Control/Planning Regulations being promulgated by the Government of Goa, in the final Plan released on Monday. Though the executive committee comprises five members, only four co-convenor Sabina Martins, secretary Rebony Saha, joint secretary Miguel Braganza and treasurer Anand Madgavkar attended the meeting. Co-convenor from South, Shridhar Kamat, abstained. [GT]

Set Up Archaeological Parks, Suggests RP 2021 Task Force
PANAJI: If the state government exercises its political will, Goa’s three former capitals - Chandrapur in Chandor, Gopakapattan in Goa Velha and Agassaim, and Cidade de Goa in Old Goa - could be converted into archaeological parks. Along with these, two other ancient passages may be promoted as heritage trails.

In a report containing several heritage-friendly recommendations, the task force on the draft regional plan 2021 has suggested archaeological parks in the three former capitals, a move that has delighted historians and heritage enthusiasts. Excavations carried out in Chandor, the Kadamba capital, by Fr Henry Heras of St Xavier’s College, Mumbai in the thirties and more recently by Archaeological Survey of India uncovered Kadamba period coins, statues and earthenware. [Paul Fernandes, TOI]

Hotels offer 20% rebate to foreign tourists
PANAJI: Twenty per cent discounts by starred and large hotels, and last year’s rates by small and medium hotels are carrots dangled before foreign tourists by the Goa tourism industry for the coming season. Gearing up to face the global economic recession, with potential customers abroad either losing their jobs or paying off

15% drop in foreign arrivals anticipated
PANAJI: The upcoming tourism season may not augur well for the state tourism industry with at last 15 per cent drop in arrival of foreign tourists and charters being projected by the industry, even as the first flight expected to land at the Dabolim airport from Russia on September 28 being deferred till mid-November. According to information provided by Mr Ralph de Souza, president of Travel and Tourism Association of Goa, only 7635 flights from 800 slots booked by tour operators have been confirmed. [NT]

Vessels jostle for space in Mandovi
PANAJI: The 'Riviera riverfront' of Mandovi river - approximately 1-km stretch - is fast turning into a battleground for various departments of the government as casino ships, ferries, barges and fishing trawlers jostle for space. The traffic on Mandovi river at the 'Riviera riverfront' is heavily congested. This stretch of the river has a fishing jetty, ferry ramps on Malim-Betim side and ferries on the Panaji side. Three casinos are moored and one casino berthed (part of the time) at this segment. And to cap it all there is continuous traffic of ore-laden barges and cruise boats ferrying tourists up and down through this stretch along with crisscrossing trawlers. [NT]

Ecoclean outsourced to keep Government hospitals clean
PANJIM, Sep 24: Following increasing complaints of unhygienic condition at State-run hospitals, and more so at Goa Medical College & Hospital, Bambolim, the Government has outsourced sweeping and swabbing of hospitals, dental college and nursing college. The work has been outsourced to M/s Ecoclean System & Solution, Panjim. [H]

Nuvem villagers up in arms over bungalow project
MARGAO: A project of 40 bungalows, spread across around 76,000 sq m, at Pateapur in Nuvem has come under scrutiny following an uproar by the villagers over its plan and the violations by the builder. Nuvem villagers have also got the support of Geraldine Fernandes, who is spearheading the Benaulim villagers action committee. The villagers, along with Geraldine, called on the acting sarpanch, Menino Mascarenhas, on Tuesday and said that the plan itself was faulty, besides pointing out to several irregularities like the retaining wall, sewerage and the set-back from the main road. [TOI]

MORAES, Eva
(nee Rodrigues)

Moraes, Maria Evarista “Eva” – Passed away peacefully on Monday, October 6th, 2008 at Malton Village Long Term Care at the age of 93. Eva is now reunited with her late husband Timothy. Loving mother of Hipo (the late Laura), Leo (Sheila), George (Carmen), the late James, and the late Paul (Audrey). Eva will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by her grandchildren Charlotte, Lorraine (Keith), Judy, Tim (Denise), Susan, Jennifer, Tiffany, Ashley and Devaney, and proud great grandma of Lucas and Marcus. Eva will always be remembered by her brothers, sister, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Visitation at SMITH’S FUNERAL HOME, 1167 Guelph Line (one stoplight north of QEW), Burlington (905-632-3333), on Thursday, October 9th from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. A funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Gabriel’s Roman Catholic Church, 2261 Parkway Drive, Burlington on Friday, October 10th, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. Interment at Burlington Memorial Gardens to follow. www.smithsfh.com

+Anthony (Tony) Nazareth- Mississauga, Ontario

NAZARETH, Anthony Manuel Passed away at Toronto General Hospital on Monday, September 22, 2008. (Ex-Mombasa) Husband of Myrna (nee Abreu). Father of Melanie. Brother of Michael, Dora, Irene and Alina.. Funeral Mass held at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church, Mississauga on Friday, September 26, 2008.

Excerpt from Toronto Star - Date Posted: 2008-09-24

Strong Turnout in East GTA for Life Lease Housing Presentation
By Sal Rocha, VP, Toronto East Goan Seniors Association

The Meeting, held on Sunday September 7, 2008 was well attended in spite of the rain which may have stopped a few from coming. There were 150 registered for the presentation , 75 from St. Francis Xavier’s Senior club and 75 from T.E.G.S.A.

Over 150 attending - Toronto East Life Lease Housing project

The presentation was made by Darrel Carvalho who is heading the initiative, sponsored by the Goan Overseas Association in conjunction with the Goan Charitable Organization Darrel did an excellent job explaining the differences between the Life Lease project and a condominium with the tax savings advantages of the G.O.A charitable status.

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Slumdog Millionaire gets people's award at 2008 Toronto International Film Festival
Excerpts from article
By Preeti Thandi
Thursday, September 11, 2008 10:21 AM
http://www.mybindi.com/lifestyles/ArticleDetailUI.aspx?RefId=713

“It finally took a Britisher to get an Indian film right,” exclaims a journalist after the press screening of Slumdog Millionaire. Acclaimed director, Danny Boyle’s film at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival is a tribute to India but is not quite about India.

The film has not only received repeated rounds of applause by the TIFF media but is destined to be a major crowd puller and even an Oscar frontrunner. Set in Mumbai the film is the story of an underdog who strikes a jackpot on India’s version of ‘Who wants to be a Millionaire?’ But at the core, the film is a love story interwoven with ecstatic moments. Slumdog Millionaire represents the essence of Mumbai with a sweeping flourish.

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Nativity Feast : By German and Dutch Konkani Association
Report and Pictures by Kevin Coutinho
http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=51295&nKonkani+Association

Sep 17: German and Dutch Konkani Association (GDKA) met on 13th Sept to celebrate Nativity of Mother Mary (Monti Fest). People from most parts of Germany and Holland participated in this gathering.  The celebration started with honoring Mother Mary with fresh flowers along with traditional hymn ‘Sokkod Sangata Meliya’..‘Moriek Hogolsiya’. Then we had blessing of new harvest (which was being brought from Mangalore) by Fr. Robert Rego and Fr. Ivan Lobo, followed by Eucharistic Celebration.

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UNESCO award for Old Goa Palace
3 Sep 2008
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-3438758,prtpage-1.cms

PANAJI: UNESCO 2008 Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards have been announced and the Archiepiscopal Palace, standing between Se Cathedral and Church of St Francis of Assisi at Old Goa, has been selected for 'honourable mention' for conservation efforts undertaken by the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman. The UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards for culture heritage conservation have been instituted to recognise the achievement of individuals and organisations within the private sector, and the public-private initiatives, in successfully restoring structures of heritage value in the region.

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Costa Santan, the life and times af an able-bodied Goan Tarvotti
By Selma Carvalho elisabeth_car@yahoo.com
Posted On: goanet-news-bounces@lists.goanet.org 
September 16, 2008 7:56:07 PM

I have a theory that if you separate the Goan from the sea, he'll wither away. All of our history ebbs and flows with that vast, undulating expanse of blue water. One does not look at the sea with tired eyes but always with hope and anticipation.

Sometime in the late 1800s, able-bodied Costa Santan, embarked on a career at sea, which at one point had him working on a ship listed as the 'Wartern'. Possibly in his twenties, and through the help of a 'Ghat Sarhang' as they were called in Bombay, he landed a job in the merchant navy.

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Russell Peters is: Red, White and Brown
Newest DVD/CD releases September 30, 2008
Excerpt from:

TORONTO, ONTARIO, Sep 03, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- Canada's biggest stand-up export Russell Peters, releases his new live DVD/CD combo, RED, WHITE AND BROWN across Canada on September 30th, 2008 with Warner Music Canada.

Recorded before a sold-out audience at The WAMU Theatre at Madison Square Garden in February, RED, WHITE AND BROWN features material from Peters' record-breaking HOMECOMING TOUR and includes tales of his travels to India and Dubai, as well as his own issues with body hair, the World Cup and yet another take on cheap Indians.

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Massive diamond found in Lesotho
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7628475.stm

Miners in Lesotho have discovered a huge gem stone which may become the largest ever polished diamond. The stone weighs 478 carats and is the 20th largest rough diamond ever found, said Gem Diamonds. The company said the uncut rock was recovered recently from the Letseng mine, owned by the company in Lesotho. The diamond, which is as yet unnamed, has the potential to yield a 150 carat cut stone, and could sell for tens of millions of dollars, the company said. The stone would dwarf the Koh-i-Noor diamond in the British Crown Jewels

TEGSA’s CASINO RAMA TRIP & CRUISE
Image from: http://www.midlandtours.com/Serendipity/barrie.htm   

It was a balmy September 13th morning when TEGSA members filled two buses headed for Rama. Dreaming of the millions that could be won, some imagined that the chips and cookies they were munching on were made of the finest ingredients that only kings and queens were afforded.

And what better way to start a day of gambling, than to begin the trip with prizes?! First up was a quiz to test Members’ knowledge on the inauguration date of Casino Rama. Although there were many educated guesses, there was no correct answer so the award was rolled into the bingo prizes. Anxious to win some money, Bingo quickly ensued and prizes dispersed from the total cash received. And to top this all, three lucky numbers were drawn and prizes given to the winning members.

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Six in Ten Canadians Concerned Technology Takes Away From Face Time with Family and Friends!
Face time is quality time and it's just better face to face
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/September2008/22/c6853.html?view=print

It's Better Face to Face

Canadians are feeling the strain of technology on their relationships with friends and family, with sixty-one per cent wishing they could go back to a time where reliance on technology wasn't so heavy. "Human interaction moves people emotionally and while electronic communication is efficient to stay in touch, Canadians want and need to complement their relationships with more face time," says relationship expert Allie MacPhail who works with teens, parents, married couples and peers on strengthening their relationships. "Although Canadians, specifically teens and young adults, are often very well connected online and through text messages, many of them feel isolated, lonely and lacking real, personal connections. Quality relationships are more important than quantity of friends and Canadians need to get offline and make face time with their family and peers."
 
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Canadian Cancer Society Calls on Parties to support a National Caregivers Strategy

OTTAWA, Sept. 11 /CNW/ - More than 50 per cent of Canadians are concerned about the financial impact of caring for a sick family member, says a national public opinion poll conducted for the Canadian Cancer Society. Poll results also show that more than 60 per cent of Canadians believe it is likely that they, or their spouse or partner, will be a caregiver to a sick family member in the future.

"A federal election is a good time to ask candidates about our citizens' future needs," says Dan Demers, Director, Public Issues, Canadian Cancer Society. "The Canadian population is aging and increasingly Canadians will be caring for loved ones who have cancer and other serious illnesses that could lead to death.

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Vitamin C Might Help Lower Hypertension
By Alan Mozes
HealthDay Reporter
Friday, September 19, 2008; 12:00 AM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article//AR2008091901851

(HealthDay News) -- Vitamin C may help lower high blood pressure by calming an overactive central nervous system, new Italian research suggests. Using intravenously delivered vitamin C, "our study demonstrated for the first time in humans that we can reduce sympathetic nervous system overactivity, and consequently blood pressure, (by) targeting oxidative stress," said study lead author Dr. Rosa Maria Bruno from the University of Pisa.

Bruno explained that the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is part of the body's central nervous system that controls non-voluntary activities, such as blood pressure. Overactivation of the system has been identified as an underlying foundation for the onset of elevated blood pressure and resulting organ damage.

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Why rubbing it better makes pain go away
By Richard Gray, Science Correspondent
Last Updated: 6:01pm BST 10/09/2008
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth

Rubbing a sore knee or arm after a bump really does help make the pain go away, say scientists.

Researchers have discovered that gentle stroking activates "pleasure" nerves beneath the skin, which then reduce the sensation of pain from other nerves. They found that people who were exposed to painful temperatures on the surface of their skin felt less pain if they were stroked at the same time. The scientists believe signals to the brain from the nerves that detect the pleasurable stroking dampen the signals from nerves that detect pain.

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Interview: Snoring - Research and Treatment
The quiet hero of snoring therapy
Source: http://www.resmed.com.au
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/inconversation/stories/2008/2313016.htm

TRANSCRIPT:

DESLEY BLANCH: Snoring is the cause of sleep apnoea. That's when breathing actually stops, damaging our physiology in the process. King Henry VIII had apnoea, as did Churchill and Brahms, and as do Rosie O'Donnell and Billy Connolly.

Physiologist Professor Colin Sullivan of Sydney University began his work over 30 years ago which has led to a global, multi-billion dollar industry based on masks directing airflows over the user's face. But is it true that apnoea - when people stop breathing as they snore - is behind most of today's vascular disease? And what is next in this immensely important research?

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Canadians may be ashamed of their mid-morning activities

Kijiji Canada explores the psychology behind Canadians' "trashy" habits

TORONTO, Sept. 23 /CNW/ - Independent research shows that some of the Canadians who admit to taking items left curb-side don't think their own behaviour is acceptable, so Kijiji Canada is providing them with an alternative.

Derogatorily dismissed by some as "trash-picking," Kijiji prefers to refer to the practice of discreetly searching for useful, discarded items as "curb-mining." According to Kijiji, curb-miners are, in most cases, residents of the neighbourhoods in which they mine and can often be spotted mid-morning, briefly stopping their car to rummage through a neighbour's curb-side cast-offs.

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