Goa Red Ribbon Fest 2019 to mark World AIDS Day (December 1, 2019)

Human Touch Foundation is organising the 2nd Edition of “Goa Red Ribbon Fest 2019”. The festival is categorized under several major themes including improving the quality of life of those living with HIV, especially children, testing and counselling, fast-track elimination of the epidemic, stigma and discrimination, PrEP, etc. The festival is structured around interactive sessions on themes like Section 377 and HIV; Transgender People, Rights and HIV Vulnerability, Let’s Talk Sex and Beyond Blame: Challenging HIV Criminalisation. There will be exhibits, games, film screenings, stage entertainment and mascots. The info-entertainment based fest will also feature move for the cause – Zumba, flashmob, street play, screening of films and a candlelight memorial. Various creatives and competitions like face painting, human red ribbon formation, quiz competitions, red ribbon tree, selfie contests, tshirt paintings and games are organized to create awareness on HIV prevention, stigma and discrimination.
In line with the theme for this year “Communities make the difference, Human Touch Foundation will also highlight the difference these communities are making to end the HIV epidemic while drawing global attention to the need for their broader engagement in strengthening primary health care.
Communities of people living with HIV and community health workers have played a key role in the HIV response. There is a need to engage them and listen to their stories on making the difference and changing lives, says Peter F. Borges, Founder and CEO of Human Touch Foundation.
The festival is organized with support from Commscope India Pvt. Ltd, Youth LEAD, Corporation of City of Panaji, Lupin Welfare and Research Foundation and The Park, Calangute.
Venue: Jardim Garcia de Orta, Panjim
Date & Time: November 30, 2019, 10.30 am – 10:30 pm, December 1, 9.30 am – 10.30 pm

FESTIVALS
The Goa Art & Literary Festival 2019: This annual festival is organised and hosted by the International Centre Goa and Goa Writers. Expect interactive talk sessions, book presentations and releases, discussions and socials of the literary, musical, educational, cultural kind. Entry is free and open to general public on a first come first basis. Venue: ICG, Dona Paula. Date: Dec 6&7. Time: 10am to 6pm. Details: www.goaartlitfest.com

An Evening of Christmas Carols with the Natal Singers: This much loved carol singing concert is conducted annually by Nayantara de Lima Leitao in aid of Sethu Center for Child Development & Family Guidance. It is hosted by the Sunaparanta Goa Centre for the Arts and is open to all. Christmas spirit is in the air, not to be missed! Venue: Sunaparanta Amphitheatre, Altinho, Panaji. Date: Saturday, Dec 7. Time: 6.30pm onwards. Details: 0832 2421311 or info@sgcfa.org

Jazz Festival: A 2-day Jazz India Circuit festival of jazz like never before. Featuring contemporary jazz musicians from India and around the world, plus music workshops, interactive experiential spaces, a flea market, a food court and feast of art and craft activities. Not to be missed. Venue: International Centre Goa, Dona Paula, Panaji. Date: Sat/Sun, Nov 30 – Dec 1. Time: 6pm onwards. Details: www.jazzindiacircuit.com

Serendipity Arts Festival: Get ready for this now annual festival in its fourth edition this time. Fourteen eminent curators from various multi-disciplinary arts from Goa and India will be showcasing art and crafts, music, dance, theatre, culinary arts, photography…in special projects, bringing together ideas and events. It’s an 8-day event of performances, exhibitions, workshops, symposia, across 13 venues. You cannot miss it. Venue: Panaji. Date: Dec 15-22. Time: Day long. Details: Register for free at https://serendipityartsfestival.com
EVENTS
Arogya Fair: ASSOCHAM is presenting this 3-day fair on good manufacturing practices by Quality Council of India & Export Documentation, workshops in export credit facilities for exporting drugs out of the county by Export Credit Guarantee Corporation (ECGC). The fair is showcasing Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Sowa-Rigpa and will be inaugurated by Union Minister for State AYUSH (I/C) & Defence Shripad Yesso Naik at 11am. Free entry, medicines, health check-up, yoga and much more. Venue: Youth Hostel of India grounds, Near Miramar Beach, Panaji. Date: Nov 30 to Dec 2. Time: 11am to 7pm

WORKSHOPS
Travel Talk: A talk moderated by Ramchandra Salgaonkar in association with BPS Club. Venue: BPS Club, Margao. Date: Saturday, Nov30. Time: 5pm to 6.30pm. Entry is free and open to all. Details: 9923388999
COMPETITIONS
Sweet Dish Making: The All India Women’s Conference, Panaji, is organizing a competition in making sweet dishes, it is open exclusively to women. Interested participants may present themselves with their cooked sweet dish at the venue. Venue: Institute Menezes Braganza Hall, Panaji. Date: Dec 4. Time: 3.30pm. Details: 8055803102

TALKS
Faith, Identity & The Indian Constitution: In the MOG speakers series a talk by Nandita Haksar. The celebrated lawyer, author and activist for human rights will be focusing on today’s conflicts of identity which are on the rise in the country and the role of the law and constitution in dealing with them. Free and open to all. Not to be missed. Venue: Museum of Goa, Pilerne Industrial Estate, Pilerne. Date: Sunday, Dec1. Time: 11.30am to 1pm

Prohibition of E Cigarettes

National organisation for tobacco eradication (India) is extremely happy that “The prohibition of E cigarettes (production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement) Bill 2019” is passed by Loksabha unanimously.
Dr Shekhar Salkar, NOTE (India) Secretary, said the ban will prevent younger generations from getting addicted to E-cigarettes which eventually pave way to smoking cigarettes and to drug addiction also. Government of India now should seriously think of banning tobacco-based cigarettes also eventually tobacco in all forms gradually which causes considerable harm and fatal deceases like cancer.
NOTE (India) hope that this act will be implemented in letter and spirit by government of Goa which is headed by a doctor Dr Pramod Sawant. Health minister Vishvajit Rane also has recently declared his “mission tobacco free Goa” and this act will boost this mission.
NOTE (india) said it will help in all possible ways to get this law implemented in Goa.