konknaiu song dedicated to Xavier Dias by Joel Moraes

Farmer carrying the good fight against all odds in Goa

Drone technology: security threats and benefits for police

Drone technology: security threats and benefits for police focus of INTERPOL forum

SINGAPORE – The drone whizzed over the heads of the crowd seated in the auditorium of the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation (IGCI) in Singapore, performing aerial manoeuvres displaying its ability to operate in enclosed indoor spaces.   

A second demonstration showcased drones designed for use in outdoor spaces, highlighting the benefits and also challenges of deploying such technology in public areas. 

Drone technology was front and centre at the IGCI this week during the Drone Expert Forum, a three-day (28 – 30 August) conference which brought together nearly 100 experts from law enforcement, academia and private industry to demonstrate how drones can at the same time be a threat, particularly for critical infrastructure, a tool and source of evidence for police worldwide. 

Organized by the INTERPOL Innovation Centre and Counter-Terrorism unit with the support of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Netherlands Police, the conference was a first step towards developing the global capacity to deal with the emerging threat posed by ‘unmanned aerial systems’ known as drones. 

To this end, continued engagement with experts in the field will assist INTERPOL in facilitating information exchange, as well as developing a set of guidelines and operational procedures for first responders to follow in the event of a drone incident, and to assist forensic examiners in extracting data from drones to support investigations. 

 “The impact of drones on law enforcement activities around the world continues to increase. Daily, I hear of new agencies considering how to use them in law enforcement activities; weekly, I hear of agencies receiving them in connection with active investigations; and it seems that every month a new twist on the drone threat emerges,” said Steve Watson, Chief Executive Officer of VTO Labs, who gave the keynote address. 

 “The INTERPOL Drone Expert Forum has assembled a world-class group of experts and practitioners on the topic of drones and their intersection with law enforcement activities. INTERPOL continues to find ways to exercise leadership and inspiration on new technology topics,” he concluded.

 Drones as a threat

 The potential use of drones in a terrorist incident or attack against a critical infrastructure and soft targets is a growing concern for law enforcement as the availability of drone technology becomes more widespread globally. As drones become less expensive and their potential applications continue to expand, it is expected that countries will witness an increase and evolution of this threat. 

 Recent examples include terrorist groups using drones in surveillance activities and delivering chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive materials in conflict zones, and an environmental group which repurposed a hobby drone to enter the secure airspace of a nuclear site and crash into a building highlighted the current reality of the threat posed by the illicit use of drones. 

 In this respect, experts from the FBI, NATO, the United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate, national police agencies and the private sector underscored the need for a coordinated global law enforcement response which combines the expertise and developments made by various countries, military agencies and private industry to counter the threats posed by the nefarious use of drones.

 “The rising threat of terrorist groups using drones to attack critical infrastructure and soft targets has created a pressing need for the global law enforcement community to exchange information and share best practices. INTERPOL is committed to assisting its member countries protect their critical infrastructure by raising awareness, sharing best practices and facilitating information exchange on terrorist incidents involving drones,” said INTERPOL’s Director of Counter-Terrorism, Patrick Stevens.

 A tool for police

 While drones can be dangerous in the wrong hands, they are also a valuable tool for law enforcement. Participants heard how drones can be used by police to reconstruct a crime scene by using a drone to take pictures of the site from all angles, then feeding the data into a 3D printer. 

Drones can also be used by law enforcement to conduct surveillance, assist with traffic accident investigations, survey natural disaster sites and more. 

 The conversion of drones and artificial intelligence (AI) technology offers additional benefits to enhance current police capabilities, from increasing officer safety and productivity to live-streaming of incidents. 

A source of evidence

 Drones can also be a significant source of evidence to support investigations and prosecutions: analysis of digital data such as speed, height, GPS coordinates and flight records can reveal information about the criminals involved, while physical data such as fingerprints and DNA can also be present. 

 Through further development of these capabilities, INTERPOL seeks to support member countries in increasing information sharing on drone incidents and developing their abilities to conduct effective forensic examinations of seized drones.  

“Different countries view drone technology in different ways: some define drones as a weapon, while others categorize them similarly to airplanes. On top of that, police are starting to use drones as a tool in their daily operational work,” said Anita Hazenberg, Director of the INTERPOL Innovation Centre. 

“This conference has helped to bridge these different perceptions, identify similarities and exchange best practices amongst the global community on how to simultaneously address drones as a threat, tool and source of evidence in police investigations,” she concluded.  

 The conference builds upon the outcomes of INTERPOL’s Drone Working Group meetings in late 2017 and early 2018, which laid the foundation for the gathering of knowledge on the challenges and opportunities drones pose for the law enforcement community.   

 Police innovation and technology will also be high on the agenda of the INTERPOL General Assembly session in Dubai in November.

A day on Goa beach.....drums, Russian HIndu wedding, parachute sailing,

Desi Motorcycle Diaries – Youth Adventure Club (DMDYAC)

Desi Motorcycle Diaries – Youth Adventure Club (DMDYAC) is a non-profit organisation that lives up to its motto ‘Success lies in courage’ through the various activities it has held to benefit society. It was an idea that germinated in the mind of Suprajit Raikar, a qualified software engineer with strong leanings towards social work. His empathetic and unassuming personality is apparent when you meet him. The organisation works as an amalgamation of an adventure club and social work. It came into existence in June 2014 in Benaulim, Goa, and its founders are Suprajit Raikar, Deepika Raikar, Siddhesh Kenkre, Srikrishna Mauzo, Pritesh Raiker, and Harish Shirodkar.

While the club engages youth in adventure sports such as mountaineering, trekking, fishing, and biking; it uses this medium to create awareness about the environment and nature, as well as protecting Goa’s unique heritage and identity. By inculcating values and a compassionate outlook towards society, the club hopes to build citizens who will learn to work as a team and imbibe the qualities of a leader. It envisions keeping youth away from destructive influences like alcohol, drugs and cigarettes, which are banned to the club members. Suprajit says, ‘The basic idea is to conduct adventure based on social work practice. Whenever we go trekking, bike riding, etc, we inform the participants about the current issues faced by the locals. Then we work on solutions to overcome problems. One such programme is the 100 Solar Lamps project.’

Recently (May 2017), DMDYAC completed phase two of its 100 Solar Lamps project that involved distributing 85 solar lamps to the villages of Virdi, Vargani, Tudov, Verlem, Salgini, and Pathwadda. The main reason behind this is the intermittent supply of electricity that plagues most towns and villages. Besides, in this day and age, we still have villages that have no electricity at all. These lamps, which are charged using solar energy, can easily replace kerosene or oil lamps to provide illumination in the night. This is environmentally friendly and cost effective, as it saves the villagers the Rs 150 they spend every month on purchasing kerosene or oil. These are people from far-flung areas, who rely on the forest and the nature around them to survive. Currency is a commodity which they can ill afford to spend thoughtlessly. A saving of Rs 150 can go a long way towards financing their trade and children’s education. The Western Ghats have particularly been targeted for this project, with solar lamps to be donated to children from disadvantaged families and studying in government run schools. The Falkar family from Bicholim, who were in the news in 2015 because of they had lived for fifty years without water and electricity supply to their house, were beneficiaries of this project in its earlier phase. The solar lamps were purchased from Waaree Energies LTD.

Another project taken up by DMDYAC is to do with seed bombs. Since the month of May (2017), after combining 5 parts of clay, 1 part compost, 1 part indigenous seed (eg jamun) and water, and then letting it sun-dry, the seed bombs have been produced to be dispersed in different areas, especially the Western Ghats (Sahyadri region). The project will continue up to 20th September 2017 and has had Nirmal Vishwa, Cycling Goa, Siemens, Verna, JCI, Mormugao Port Town and Jagrut Nagrik Manch, Vasco, participate in the project so far. The target is planting 1000 seed bombs.

DMDYAC, in collaboration with Raika, has its Bees for Sustainable Development Project as well, to provide tribal people in the Western Ghats with bee boxes to produce honey, which will substantially increase the income of these people.

The travelling DMD Bear is an entertaining way of raising funds that is employed by DMDYAC. The bear is passed from donor to donor after taking a selfie with each of them. The idea was derived from the American ‘Charlie Bear’. At the moment, the adorable teddy, donning fierce biker gear, is with his feet up at home. He has helped collect funds for HelpAge India, an organisation that cares for elderly persons who have been abandoned or do not have the means to support themselves.

DMDYAC has proved time and again that courage is the route to success, and that perseverance and hope can make all the difference when faced with challenges. The club has done and is doing much to make a positive change in society which must be lauded, and we look forward to the fruitful outcome of all its endeavours.

Desi Motorcycle Diaries – Youth Adventure Club (DMDYAC) 

DMD Youth Adventure Club (Facebook Page)

Related articles:  To Bee or Not to Bee: The Answer is as Sweet 

                                    as Honey

                                       

                                      Coconut Pluckers Onlin

Gastronomy, the Traditional Goan Foodie Way

Gastronomy, the Traditional Goan Foodie Way

Iris C F Gomes

Traditional Goan Foodies is one of the many culinary groups on Facebook, with Leanne Mascarenhas, Karen Coutinho Ahmed, Erica Valles and David D’Souza as the administrators of the group. Erica juggles motherhood duties with administration, while Leanne is in finance, Karen is employed with Toronto’s largest publication the Toronto Star, and David is involved in the information technology sector. The group, which was established in 2015, boasts of over 90,000 members and numbers keep growing under the watchful eye of its administrators, among whom David plays a pivotal role.

‘Goan food needed a “Goan only” platform, and that is what we made our primary mission. Right from the get-go, it was never about getting a higher number of members. For us, it was the content that mattered,’ says David. There are other food groups dedicated to Goan food, but most are unable to adhere to their agenda strictly and are constantly losing their way. David and the other administrators were unceremoniously booted out of another food group on Facebook, which they were administrating under a senior administrator, only for trying to maintain a ‘Goan only’ space. They were even warned by administrators of other groups that it would be impossible to keep to the Goan food concept without veering in the direction of different cuisines. Nevertheless, Traditional Goan Foodies (TGF) has proved them all wrong. It may have been a slow start, but as David says, ‘It’s evident now to one and all that our plan was a good one and that Goan food deserved its own platform. Our Goan only focus is what has set us apart from most of the other groups out there, even those dealing with Goan cuisine.’

Extensive work has gone into saving the myriads of recipes received by the group. Working with Facebook’s limitations, the administrators have not just allowed the unimpeded growth of the group, but have made the older submissions on the group accessible at any time to the members as well. TGF has had these recipes painstakingly and carefully categorised in albums. David says, ‘Our biggest strength though I think is in the nurturing environment that we have created in the group.’ Members are not allowed to criticise or judge dishes harshly. Guidance and encouragement is provided so that members can learn and improve and continue sharing their recipes. ‘We are like a large family that is helping each other grow’, he says. Although there have been times when members have left in anger or have been banned for not being authentic and being overly critical, it is but a necessary requirement of development and progress. ‘The love and support among members is something that is wonderful to watch, especially when looking at it from somebody that has been part of it right from the start,’ says David.

The group has plenty of well-known Goan personalities such as Wendell Rodricks and Margarida Tavora of the restaurant Nostalgia. Professional cooks, restaurateurs, caterers, etc are also in the group, and some have admitted to using recipes that have been shared on the group. Despite the restriction-free environment when it comes to using recipes, the responsibility of giving due credit remains with the person using the recipes or photographs. Unfortunately, this does not always happen.

Managing TGF is a challenging endeavour since it has many elements to it and constant monitoring is required. The other administrators chip in when they have time away from their familial and professional duties, but David is a perennial presence. He attributes this to his passion and commitment for the group. ‘Failure is not an option!’ he says. There are people who take grievance to the fact that other administrators do not take on more responsibilities. However, David clarifies, ‘I don't mind. TGF is largely my baby, and as the “job” is voluntary, there's no requirement of the other administrators to do more. They do what they can, and I'm fine with it.’

With no formal training in cooking, David’s passion stems from a childhood love of food preparation, which he appeased by first cooking simple dishes like omelettes and obtaining tips and recipes from relatives. He would try the dishes out on his friends during his college days and later on his family members. ‘Having my daughter was the next step in my culinary journey. I wanted to make sure she had exposure to Goan cuisine, but I didn't want her dealing with our levels of spice. I had to tailor and break down a lot of our regular recipes in order to make them more kid friendly,’ says David. These recipes became a hit with friends, who were soon clamouring for more, and so David continued to grow in his culinary experience, discovering and learning every step of the way.

David’s wife is a professional pastry chef, who does cook at home but prefers baking. She has no problem handing the kitchen over to David, and when she does cook, it is to offer other epicurean options as David leans towards a Goan palette for now. Besides Goan food, the family enjoys a variety of culinary delights ranging from Indian, Thai, Continental, BBQ, etc.

As many of the members of TGF belong to the Goan diaspora, original ingredients necessary for the dishes are not always available to them. For example, you would not find a spice like tirphal in Canada. Using alternative spices can change the flavour. It is a process or experimenting and making alterations based on what works and what does not that can bring you as close as possible to the authentic Goan flavour. The size of the ingredients is important as well. One onion in Canada would be equivalent to two or three smaller Indian onions. David says, ‘This is why I cook with my phone and take pictures of the ingredients and spices used in my recipes. It gives folks an idea of how much of each ingredient they need to add based on where they may be.’

David, of course, has Goan cuisine, with its sumptuous beef roulade, chouriҫo, beef stew, pork amsol, sorak and so many more lip-smacking dishes, on top of his personal list of favourites. He says, ‘It's such a lovely blend of Portuguese and Hindu cultures. While each of the cultures have their own dishes, there are some recipes that are a fusion of both cultures. We are blessed to have a vast array of dishes at our fingertips.’

For Goan recipes by some of the Traditional Goan Foodie members, you can visit the following links:

Dusty's Foodie Adventures 

Xantilicious

 Delicious memories with Alves Fernandes

The Last of The Marrano Jews

Prof Kranti Farias referred to the 'Marrano' Jews and their connection to Goa and other parts of southern India and to Meghalaya in North-East India in her Sunday presentation.

These Marranos were prosperous inhabitants of Iberia whose ancestors were part of the Twelve Lost Tribes of Israel driven out from Canaan (modern day Palestine) by the Assyrians. Assyria then consisted of modern Iraq, Turkey and Iran and was for a very short time a province of Rome. A part of the Lost Tribes fled to Europe mainly Catholic Iberia (the Sephardic Jews) and others fled to the Caucasus region of the Russian and Austro-Hungarian empires (The Ashkenazis).

Portugal had a substantial and prosperous Jewish community but they were harassed to convert by the Catholic kings of the peninsula, along with those of the Islamic faith.

After conversion, the Jews referred to as New Christians continued to practice some of their rituals in secret and came to be known as Conversos. In bouts of religious fervour, mobs frequently dragged them out into public places, tortured and murdered entire families with connivance of the clergy and the civil authorities. It was only with the rule of Dom Manuel, that they were offered respite from harassment and freedom from paying extraordinary taxes for two years. 

Many of these Conversos, also known as Marranos were aware of Portugal's marine forays to India and being natural traders they decided to go to the East Indies not only because of the potential riches those countries offered, but also to avoid persecution from the Inquisition that came to Portugal from Spain.

In India, they first went to Cochin where the Zamorin of Calicut welcomed Portuguese traders among whom the Marrano Jews formed a vital force. From Cochin some of them having heard of the rising importance of Goa in the international trade tableau, went to settle there.

Unfortunately the Marranos in Goa had to endure the Inquisition that had travelled with the clergy from Portugal although it was not as severe as the auto-de-fe's in the mother country. However murder being still murder and burning at the stake being as scorching in Goa as it was in Portugal, a part of the Jewish settlers fled to Hindu and Muslim fiefs and small kingdoms along the west coast where they integrated with the local populace but yet remained openly distinct in their Jewish practices until in the latter part of the twentieth century when most of their youth emigrated to Israel under that country's Right of Return offered to Jews anywhere in the world.

The Marranos, being good businessmen and traders, also prospered in the British Empire from some of their Iraqi origins (the Baghdadi Jews). They would inevitably gravitate to Bombay Calcutta and Karachi (all trading ports). A prominent family the Sassoons built several institutions like libraries, schools, synagogues and technical training institutions that form the history of the city even today. They were accepted as part of the city's elite under colonial rule and their Jewish and Asian origins were conveniently and happily forgotten.

It is facile to talk of Muslim terrorists and Sharia law that prevails in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia today, but they have nothing over the Catholic and Christian rulers of past centuries in terms of cruelty, oppression and murder of innocent people that did not conform to their faith. Thankfully Christianity has had its renaissance while the world still awaits the turn of Islam.

Documentary appreciation

Today we are more aware of the documentry films around us because it has became more available to us through film festivals, internet and television. But, good documentary viewing also requires good audience, one that is socially and culturally concious and can appreciate the difference between the good and the bad, the pedestrain, the valuable, sensational and indepth films. To be consciously discerning as an audience, we need to be able to appreciate and relate to the documentary film culture from all over the world. We need to cultivate the capacitities of an evolved documentary viewing enthusiast, so that the experience of watching documentary films can become an enriching experience. For that we need to cultivate an evolved understanding of the language, technique, form and subject matters of documentary films.

This documentary film appreciation workshop by eminent film maker Ajay Raina aims to make the participants not only aware of the potential of documentary films in a general sense but also to empower them towards a more nuanced, enriching and educative experience of watching and understanding documentary films. The workshop would enable us to understand the various ways of making sense of documentary films and of the key dynamics of what documentary films are made up of in terms of language, art, technology and industry.

This workshop is not a comprehensive course in hands-on documentary filmmaking. The accent in this workshop is on developing a more nuanced understanding of documentary form, the language of documentary, its artistic, social and cultural contexts that can produce in us a critical and more ‘rounded’ understanding of the documentary form. Participants of this workshop are not expected to be given instructions in any practical aspect of films eg. how to research, shoot, structure or how to design a shot or how to edit films.

In this course, the stress is more on why and how a documentary film is structured, and presented in a certain way, the historical and cultural context in which the film was produced and received. A rudimentary history of cinema and how it evolved over the years is an important component without which a deeper understanding of documentary form is not possible, while emphasizing its uniqueness and importance as an independent art form.

ELIGIBILITY:

This Documentary appreciation Workshop is designed for people with a serious engagement with Cinema. At the end of this workshop, we expect the participants to develop adequate skills to be able to appreciate and analyse the documentary form of the films, so that they can use the knowledge acquired in this workshop to form a better understanding of documentary film as an art form, to be able to write about documentary films and use documentary films for cultural and social awareness.


TIMETABLE:

The content of the workshop is divided into 2 weeks of screenings, discussions, readings and analysis of various forms, genres and types of documentary films. The objective is to better understand the documentary form through viewing and analysis and to give enough time to all the aspects of documentary form. 

On the last day of the course, the participants will each have to make a 750 – 1000 word presentation about his/her understanding of the documentary form.

30 Seats | 2 Weeks

For Registration and Fees details, please mail with subject line 'Documentary Appreciation Workshop' to themandremhouse@gmail.com