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

What do Goans actually want?
Posting on GoaNet
http://www.goanet.org/archivetype.php?name=News&list=goanet
Tuesday February 3, 2009

What do Goans actually want? Fr. Peter Fernandes, SFX.

Finally, the honorable Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat (O'Herald, Be positive on Development) has the courage to ask the public the most important question: "What do you really want?" This question should have been asked long ago, but all this time the cries of the masses fell on deaf ears. How ironic! Yet true. We were being led in the wrong direction by leaders who made a sham of their service to the people.

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Why I Fear The West's Luck Has Run Out
By Luke Johnson
From: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ed725cc4-ecda-11dd-a534-0000779fd2ac.html
Published: January 28 2009

Over the months I have told my colleagues at Channel 4 and the Royal Society of Arts that this is not just a financial hiccup, or something happening to the City and Wall Street.

We need to make programmes, do research and deliver lectures about this moment - because this downturn is very bad indeed. It will sear itself into a generation's memory and scar lives. It may well be the worst slump most of us have ever experienced. It surely needs to be recorded and discussed, while solutions are sought - and in the meantime we have to struggle through it.

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'Slumdog' star thankful for early praise
By Victoria Ahearn, THE CANADIAN PRESS
http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/2009/02/06/8297801-cp.html 

See also Toronto Star Interview:
Slumdog Millionaire star Freida Pinto still just a girl from Mumbai
http://www.thestar.com/Entertainment/article/586856

Actress Freida Pinto, star of "Slumdog Millionaire", smiles between interviews in Toronto on Friday, February 6, 2009. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese

TORONTO - Freida Pinto was thrilled Friday to be back in the city where her acclaimed movie "Slumdog Millionaire" first took flight, noting audiences at the Toronto International Film Festival were among the first to praise the rags-to-riches saga.

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Threads of Change
Noa Glouberman
February 03, 2009
http://www.canadianimmigrant.ca/immigrantstories/career/article/3026

As a little girl sewing alongside her aunt in Kenya, Amrita Sondhi began what she believed would simply be a lifelong hobby. “My aunty Roshan was an amazing seamstress and she lovingly taught me anything I wanted to learn,” says Sondhi, from her yoga and daily wear boutique and studio, Movement Global Design, in Bowen Island, B.C.

“In Kenya, most of the ‘fashion’ I saw growing up was on people who bought it in London or Europe. There was a limited selection in Kenya, so when I wanted the latest styles, I sewed them myself,” she adds, fondly recalling a pair of hot pants in a vertical tribal print.

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CURRY IS THICKER THAN WATER- New Book by Jasmine D’Costa
http://site.jasminedcosta.com/Home.html

Austin Clarke- Winner of The Giller Prize and ommonwealth Literary Prize, writes:

The effulgence of CURRY IS THICKER THAN WATER, Jasmine D’Costa’s first collection of stories, is so rewarding to read, so allegorical and at the same time, so philosophical, that it heralds the confidence I have in this young writer, who has laid down the geography of a narrative that is so gripping, as it introduces me, to the other broad, new ethnicity in Canada’s literary landscape; and it is made all the more effulgent, by its multi-cultural point of view.

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Catholics intolerant, Goa mission congress told
http://www.ucanews.com/2009/02/10/catholics-intolerant-goa-mission-congress-told/print/
On 2009-2-10

PILAR, India (UCAN) -- Catholics are intolerant and exclusivist, representatives of other religions complained at Goa and Daman archdiocese's mission congress. ia_panaji_goa_state_1.gif Catholic-dominated villages in Goa continue to pass illegal resolutions to ban the sale of land to Muslims, Nissar Mohiddin, a Muslim leader, told about 400 participants at the Feb. 6-8 congress.

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Vendors to be moved out of Old Goa heritage complex
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-4114890,prtpage-1.cms
12 Feb 2009,

PANAJI: The thoroughfares at the world heritage complex of Old Goa will soon be decongested as all kiosks and vending activities are to be shifted to designated areas elsewhere.

After an order by the collector to remove all kiosks in its jurisdiction, and taking cognisance of complaints from public and church authorities, the Old Goa panchayat has now decided to streamline all vending activities in the well-frequented area. At present, the area has around 30-35 kiosks doing business legally, the rest are illegal, said panch members.

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Tighter security for Goa carnival
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-4109697,prtpage-1.cms
11 Feb 2009

PANAJI: Carnival floats this year will not only be scrutinized for obscenity, political content and liquor promotion, but for explosives too. The men in khaki will join the team inspecting the decorated tableaux with a fine tooth comb looking for hidden explosives.

No float will be allowed to roll out at any carnival parade without a green signal from the cops. After a terror free Christmas and New Year, Goa’s cops are bracing themselves to ensure that yet another event passes off peacefully.

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Two child labourers rescued in South Goa
“…. the number of reported cases is just the tip of the iceberg.”
12 Feb 2009
Rajeshree Nagarsekar, TNN
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-4114899,prtpage-1.cms

MARGAO: Notwithstanding provisions of the State's unique legislation Goa Children's Act, 2003, the commercial town is witnessing growing incidences of child labour in the absence of a child labour vigilance officer as required by the law.

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FOOD-STREET ON CITY MENU
PANJIM: If all goes well with the city fathers, the state's capital city may soon boast of a Food Street. Mayor Tony Rodrigues tossed around the proposal on February 9 at the CCP meet. Up for grabs is a Central corpus of Rs.5-crore for a Food Street in Panjim. At the meet, CCP Commissioner Melwyn Vaz was seeking a nod from the Corporation to open an account for kick-starting the process of funds transfer. Although the exact contours of this proposal are still under wraps, Rodrigues felt the Street could prove to be a panacea for the wailing kiosk owners. [GT]

Taxi drivers beg before tourists for alms
Anguished by the failure of the government to meet their demands, members of the Federation of Association of Tourist Taxi Owners and Drivers on Monday found a unique way to air their grievances - they begged before tourists for alms on the Benaulim beach with coconut shells. Over 50 taxi drivers and owners gathered at the Benaulim beach and went around the beach begging before the tourists as they claimed that they reached a such a state that they have to beg to make a living. [NT]

Calangute grapples with contaminated water
In Goa, there are areas where groundwater resources are contaminated due to mushrooming hotels and housing projects. This contamination of water was confirmed sometime back by a study conducted by the World Health isation stating that water in the wells of coastal villages was unfit for human consumption. Water resources in the entire coastal belt of Bardez have been contaminated due to the discharge of sewage onto the ground. Calangute village has been the worst hit with locals claiming that the well water is unfit for drinking and they have to rely fully on public tap water. [Erwin Fonseca, NT]

Engineers urged to protect nature
Nationally acclaimed environmentalist and Chipko movement activist Sundarlal Bahuguna on Monday called upon the future engineers to protect nature and stressed the importance of trees in development of a country. Bahuguna was addressing students of Goa Engineering College at Farmagudi on the importance of nature. "To fight pollution youth should unite people and use the people's power. We should not expect more from government to protect trees," Bahuguna said. [TOI]

Plans to expand road from Pilar to Old Goa draw flak
Villagers of Neura opposed the proposed 25-metre broad major district road from Pilar to Old Goa, stating that it would lead to the demolition of around 100 houses and other structures. At a gram sabha meeting chaired by sarpanch Vinod Kamat, the villagers opposed the project. "More than a 100 houses and compound walls, two chapels, a primary school, several shops and restaurants, a bakery, five wells and other structures would be destroyed, Avelino Fernandes, a Neura resident, said. [TOI]

'24x7' water supply by 2012
Goa is the number one state in water supply sector and with the effective maintenance and operation of the system we are sure to achieve the goal of 24x7 water supply on sustainable basis by 2012 to all areas of Goa state. That is the conclusion of a technical paper "Effective Operation and Maintenance of Water Supply System - Goa Experience" submitted by PWD principal chief engineer AM Wachasundar at the 41st annual convention on Water Utility and Security Management held at Hyderabad recently. [TOI]

Karnataka govt committed to enrich Konkani language
Acharya: The 19th All India Konkani Sahitya Parishad at Kundapur concluded on Sunday paying rich tributes to the Konkani writers, who passed away during the past four years. "Konkani-speaking people are there all over the world. Konkani people are flexible and are ready to adjust anywhere. There are half a crore Konkani people. They have quality and are in literary, music, sports fields," said Home Minister of Karnataka, Dr V S Acharya, and added that Konkani as a language has been there for the past three years at the primary-level in Karnataka. [NT]

586 cases of foreigners owning property in Goa
There have been 586 registrations with the state government as regards the foreigners who own land, flat or house in Goa, as on December 31, 2008. The Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat, in a written reply to the House has also stated that in all, 313 cases, prima-facie in contravention of the Foreign Exchange Management Act 1999, have been established and referred to the directorate of enforcement, acting as a quasi-judicial authority, for further investigation and necessary action. [NT]

Security Of Minorities Must Top Agenda In General Elections:
All India Christian Council Demands
By SARNEWS
http://www.sarnews.in/details.php?n=966

LUCKNOW, Uttar Pradesh(SAR NEWS) --The All India Christian Council (AICC) has demanded that all political parties put the safety and security of religious minorities in the country at the top of their political agenda and manifestos in the coming general elections. This will reassure minorities and ensure that India continues to be the secular country envisaged by its founding fathers and guaranteed by the Constitution, it said.

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Court orders release of Dr A.Q. Khan
By Nasir Iqbal and Syed Irfan Raza
http://www.dawn.com/2009/02/07/top4.htm

ISLAMABAD, Feb 6: The Islamabad High Court declared detained nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan a “free citizen” on Friday, but kept secret the ‘agreement’ reached between him and the government. The court also banned publication of the ‘secret agreement’. Analysts believe the agreement envisages only ‘limited freedom’ to Dr A.Q. Khan.

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Dr Khan’s release irks West
http://www.dawn.com/2009/02/07/top2.htm
By Anwar Iqbal and M. Ziauddin

WASHINGTON, Feb 6: The United States, United Kingdom and France have weighed in on a court decision to release nuclear scientist Dr A.Q. Khan from house arrest with statements expressing concerns, even worries.

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Act sincerely, India again urges Pakistan
Wednesday February 4 2009
http://www.southasianfocus.ca/printArticle/64446

NEW DELHI/ISLAMABAD - India this week once again urged Pakistan to act with "sincerity and decisiveness" against the perpetrators of the Mumbai carnage. "Pakistan has become the epicentre of international terrorism," Defence Minister A.K. Antony declared while inaugurating the 11th Asian Security Conference at the Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) here.

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IBM To North American Employees: To Keep Your Job, Move To India(IBM)
Eric Krangel
February 3, 2009
http://www.alleyinsider.com/2009/2/ibm-to-north-american-employees-

Recent announcements of mass layoffs have created new scrutiny around the H-1B visa program, which brings foreign tech workers (mostly from India) to the US for work (at below-market wages, critics say). But IBM (IBM) is going with a novel tack: Instead of bringing cheap Indian workers to America, the company is demanding its American workers move to cheap India and get paid India-standard wages.

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Excessive individualism threatens our children, say experts
http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/whats_happening/media_office/latest_news
02 February 2009

Leading experts today identify excessive individualism as the greatest threat to our children. In a landmark report on A Good Childhood, commissioned by The Children’s Society and published by Penguin, they show that children’s lives have become more difficult than in the past, and they trace this to excessive individualism.

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Tax expert provides Canadians with the top nine tax tips for 2009 - and beyond
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2009/03/c5007.html?view=print

TORONTO, Feb. 3 /CNW/ - As Canadians go about preparing their tax returns, author and tax expert Evelyn Jacks has provided nine tips that can help relieve their stress - and save them money. "Taxes - not volatile markets - are the biggest destroyer of Canadians' wealth," says Jacks, founder and president of The Knowledge Bureau, a leading Canadian financial services institute. To mark the official launch today of her newest book, Master Your Taxes: How to Maximize your After-tax Returns, Jacks has provided Canadians with her top nine tax tips for 2009 - and beyond.

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World Cancer Day Highlights Link Between Overweight and Cancer

New data demonstrates need for greater cancer awareness and more cancer prevention

GENEVA, Feb. 4 /CNW/ -- Today the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) is launching "I love my healthy active childhood," a campaign to raise awareness about the link between excess body weight and cancer.

"Three to four million new cases of cancer could be prevented every year by avoiding overweight and obesity," says Isabel Mortara, executive director of the UICC. "Good habits start early in life, so our focus is on encouraging children to eat a healthy diet and be physically active. An estimated 22 million children under 5 are overweight, and the problem is growing."

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Potential new treatment for prostate cancer developed
February 7th, 2009 - 2:28 pm ICT by ANI -
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/health/

Washington, Feb 7 (ANI): Scientists at Melbourne’’s Burnet Institute claim to have developed a potential new treatment for prostate cancer patients. The team led by Associate Professor Pei Xiang Xing, head of the Burnet Institute’’s Cancer Immunotherapy, has produced a monoclonal antibody to a unique tumour marker for the treatment of prostate cancer.

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Prostate Cancer testing - Ontario government takes a step in the right direction!
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2009/09/c6853.html?view=print

TORONTO, Feb. 9 /CNW/ - The Ontario government recently announced that OHIP will now cover the cost of a PSA test if it is authorized by a physician or nurse practitioner. Until now, Ontario men had to pay $30 to have the test administered. Further, the government has authorized community labs to do the test rather than just hospital labs. This makes it much easier for men to receive the test.

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Budget 2009
The home reno tax credit: what you can do
Thursday, January 29, 2009
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2009/01/29/f-homereno.html

This was going to be a year of hunkering down and putting off fixing up the old homestead, what with economic turmoil gripping not just the country but the entire world.

News of a home renovation tax credit caught the interest of people in Saskatchewan. But since the federal government revealed the Home Renovation Tax Credit in its budget on Jan. 27, 2009, you're starting to think that maybe you might be able to manage a couple of small jobs. After all, if you keep the renovation budget to $10,000, you'll get $1,350 back — a saving of 13.5 per cent.

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Tide Goes Out
Procter & Gamble announces full transition of its powder laundry detergents to a compacted formula in Canada by April 2009

Concentrated detergents in smaller boxes continue to deliver value and performance for consumers and help reduce waste

TORONTO, Feb. 2 /CNW/ - Procter & Gamble Inc. is pleased to announce that beginning in March 2009, it will discontinue its non-concentrated powder laundry detergents and transition its entire portfolio of powder laundry detergents to a concentrated formula. The move will mean that all Tide, Gain, Cheer and Ivory Snow powder detergents will only be available in a compact format. The company will complete the full conversion by April 2009.

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