INDIAN FAIR RAISES €24,000 FOR HAITI

ADEJE, Monday March 1 2010

ADEJE'S second Indian Fayre on February 7 raised €24,000 for earthquake-torn Haiti, it was announced on Monday.

by JAMES TWEEDIE

South Tenerife Indian Association president Carlos Mirpury and Adeje mayor José Miguel Rodríguez Fraga presented a ceremonial cheque for the sum, which was shared between the Red Cross, United Nations children's fund UNICEF and vegan food relief charity Food For Life.

Mr Rodríguez thanked the Indian community for "the great effort they have made to muster the solidarity of all of us that will help the Haitian people, who have suffered a great catastrophe losing great number of human lives."

More than 200,000 people died in the January 12 catastrophe, with an estimated 300,000 more injured and and 1,000,000 left homeless.

Mr Mirpury thanked Mr Rodríguez for the town hall's help in organising the event.

He said: "In Adeje we feel at home, we have always been welcomed with open arms and we feel that it is due largely to the efforts of all citizens who, like the mayor, have always given us their support and help and have allowed us to teach our culture and take part in yours."

The mystery of the Guanches

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Venezuelan opposition declares "Zero Hour" for regime change

Venezuela’s opposition declared “Zero Hour” in its putsch against the socialist government on Monday — emboldened by US support. Leaders of the Democratic Unity Roundtable (Mud) coalition gathered for the announcement of their takeover plan a day after their unauthorised referendum seeking a mandate for regime change. National Assembly vice-president and Popular Will (VP) acting leader Freddy Guevara said the Mud-controlled parliament would announce the results of the plebiscite on Tuesday. It asked voters to reject President Nicolas Maduro’s calling of a constitutional reform assembly demand the army support the opposition and back a “national unity government.” But before the announcement of the result Mr Guevara said the national Assembly would form a new government on Tuesday — a move beyond its constitutional powers — along with 1,020 local “Zero Hour committees.” He called a “national general strike” for Thursday while on Friday the assembly would again exceed its powe...

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