Front page advertisement of village street
eats of Asia
I was anguished and appalled to see the front page advertisement of a new restaurant – Village Streets of Asia – in the Herald newspaper this morning, Saturday, November 26, 2022, which depicts a kung foo style artist, knife and fork in one hand poised over his head and a hapless chicken held by the neck in the other hand, obviously intended to be brutally hung, drawn and quartered – all to satisfy the customer’s appetite for gourmet food.
This is indeed the most tasteless, abominable advertisement I have seen to attract customers to sample the fare of a new restaurant in Assagao. The company advertises flavours that will delight the palate, authentic ingredients and promises to transport the customer to the source of its passion – obviously the chicken. But is the hapless animal to be treated in such a cruel and merciless manner to satisfy new cravings for jaded palates? Undoubtedly an animal must be slaughtered before it is brought on the table as food for humans. However there are umpteen laws, directives and guidelines from the government and the courts which prohibit needless depictions of violence on animals. It is also well known that images of violence beget young impressionable minds to believe that violence is acceptable, it is the sign of the fearless “macho” man and this encourages them to commit violence of their own against animals, birds and humans too.
Every day we read in the newspapers of gruesome acts of violence committed by otherwise ‘normal’ members of society against persons they know and who may even be an intimate part of their lives. Parents who conspire to kill their daughter, boyfriends throwing acid on an ex-girlfriend for her refusal to continue the relationship, brothers and sisters whose fight over property ends up in lives lost – a daily dose of violence presented to a society which has grown immune to blood and gore. Is it necessary to further advertise mindless killing in such a brazen manner just to announce a new eating house? Please ask the advertiser to re-draw the copy.
Norma Alvares, Member – State Animal Welfare Board
Has Goa become a haven for drug abusers and peddlers?
Goa is one of the tourist destinations in the world. Tourists come here to relax and enjoy its natural beauty, beaches, to watch and study the historical monuments, and religious structures. Today Goa has become the den of drug abusers and drug peddlers. It has become a popular destination for rave parties and night parties especially on the coastal belt in North Goa. Since August, the state of Goa officially recorded four drug overdose cases of which two were declared fatal. Though the forensic science laboratory report is awaited, the latest case seems to be the tourists who arrived in Goa for a holiday. Besides these two incidents, many other cases of drug abusers and peddlers are reported regularly.
All these incidents point to one fact that there are drug abusers, drug addicts, drug peddlers and drug smugglers in Goa. Drug addicts are those who have become dependent on drugs or substance without which they cannot lead a normal life. Drug abusers are those who take or smoke drugs for pleasure and to have euphoric experience during parties and other social gatherings. Drug peddlers are those who sell drugs to the potential customers. Drug smugglers are those who are involved in transporting drugs from one country to another. Incidentally, of late, Goa has become the safe place for all these activities. The cases of drug abusers, drug peddlers and drug smugglers have become so rampant in Goa that even the police from other state are here to nab the culprits.
It is the bounden duty of the government of the day and the law enforcing agencies in tackling and stopping such activities in Goa. Deterrent punishment must be enforced against the culprits so that others may not fall prey to this ongoing menace in Goa.
Rui Pereira, Navelim
Surge in Covid cases
in China, Australia
Despite its much-criticized zero-COVID-19 policy, China has reportedly slipped deeper into the coronavirus quagmire as it reported a record 31,444 infections on Thursday with many of its cities, including Beijing, resorting to community lockdowns to stem the virus amid worsening wintery weather. Faced with a renewed surge in cases in Beijing, as well as the first deaths from the virus in months, officials have reportedly already implemented some restrictions in several districts, with shops, schools and restaurants closed. City officials also resorted to lockdowns of huge apartment blocks and commercial buildings, confining people to their flats. China says much of its population is vaccinated against COVID-19 but large chunks of the old age population were left out due to concerns over the impact of the vaccines on their health. In Australia an average of 12,551 cases per day were reported in the last week. Cases have increased by 60 percent from the average two weeks ago. Deaths have increased by 38 percent. In India as daily COVID-19 infection counts continue to decrease, the centre reportedly announced that face masks are no longer compulsory during air travel. However, passengers should preferably use them, it further suggested. This is according to the government’s policy of a graded approach to COVID-19 management response. Given the surge in the number of COVID-19 cases in China as also in Australia and probably some other countries, it would be prudent to maintain a check on those entering the country by flight.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Bad roads in city
CCP Mayor Rohit Monserrate’s apology for poor road conditions in the city of Panjim was a good step which is appreciated.
Herald and several writers have pointed out the bad conditions people are facing while travelling on these roads and it is good that he took note. Perhaps he thought the best thing to shut their mouths by apologising.
He said these roads were not done for the last several years which effectively is a criticism of earlier CCP Mayors for not taken up this work.
Apart from roads, other important aspect of their duties are handling garbage, sewage and keeping the city clean. If you ask me, they have failed at all these. All Panjimites know about the garbage spread all over the city, sewage lines never streamlined, the gutters still not repaired, storm drains overfilling with the accumulation of water, etc
I guess earlier Mayors have been warming their chair and pocketing their salary.
Will Rohit, the present Mayor, eventually be the same? Or will his overcome all these issues by executing firstly the roads then step by step the pending jobs? Only time will tell. And hopefully it is planned well.
The work which is going on together in whole Panjim has already created havoc for the residents of this city as there is no road clear to travel anywhere in the city due to excavation and blockage of roads all over the city. I feel this is bad planning by the CCP executing the work all together.
He also promised that no more repairs will be undertaken in future at least for another 15 to 20 years. By that time most of us will succumb and never will be able to see that Panjim will not be dug up again. Only youngsters of his age will witness if again digging is being done some years hence. But I am hundred per cent sure the pipes and cables laid down will necessitates the opening of roads and gutters much before that. This work will be never ending until a thorough study is made with consultation of national and international experts.
Stephen Dias, Dona Paula
