BRAZIL
OLÉ!
A new political agenda has been thrown open and Brazil finds itself at a crucial moment. >> Pg03
Brazil’s brilliant victory against Spain led to the fourth title of the Confederations Cup. >> Pgs 12/13
ON THE STREETS
July 02nd – 15th 2013 LONDON EDITION
www.brazilianpost.co.uk • Issue n. 90
TROPICALIA FEVER
A new documentary directed by Marcelo Machado about the Brazilian musical movement Tropicalia arrives in the UK for screenings in July and August. Discover what this 1960s cultural revolution says about Brazil and its surprising connection to London. Read more on pages 2 and 8 >>
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July 02nd – 15th 2013
Culture CINEMA
Tropicalia: A Brazilian cultural revolution Documentary directed by Marcelo Machado on the Brazilian musical movement Tropicalia comes to the UK to be screened in July and August
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By The Brazilian Post
he Brazilian musical movement Tropicalia, born in the counterculture atmosphere of the late 1960’s is still with us today. Icons of the generation such as Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil went on to be known throughout the world, and to this day, the movement is a reference for young people and adults who seek, through art, a voice of creative defiance. Times might have changed, thankfully Brazil’s military dictatorship is a far away memory for some. But, in the heat of the protests that have covered the streets of the country since the beginning of June, the documentary Tropicalia arrives to the UK at a good moment, with the first screening in London on 5 July at
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ach day brings with it news of more protests in Brazil. The anger and police brutality on the streets seemed at odds with the sense of jubilatione after a beautiful demonstration of the quality of Brazilian football in the final match of the Confederations Cup (pages 13 and 14), which made Brazil champions with 3 x 0 defeat against Spain. All of these ups and downs and wider considerations have been reflected on your and on my own Facebook timeline. In this climate of protests and change much has been shaken,
Jorge Benjor, Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Rita Lee and Os Mutantes and Gal Costa
the Curzon Soho (see all dates on page 8). “London was always a music Mecca and I am so proud to show my movie there. I am sure that the British audiences interested in music will be surprised on how incredible the Tropicalist movement was and compare with the similarities from what was happening in the north”, said Marcelo Machado, director of the documentary, to The Brazilian Post. First screened in Brazil in 2012 in Brazil, Tropicalia revives, with excellence one of the richest and most controversial periods in the history of Brazil. Tracing the movement from the starting point in 1967, with Popular Music Festival conducted by TV Record, until the exile of Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil to London in 1969, after being arrested by the repressive forces of the military dictatorship (more on page 8).
In rare footage from 1967 Caetano Veloso is seen singing “Alegria, Alegria” with the Beat Boys, the same footage shows Gilberto Gil and Os Mutantes playing “Domingo no Parque” - two performances that marked the beginning of the Tropicalia movement. Of course, the documentary also explores, the pinnacle of this new means of expression, the album “Tropicália” or “Panis et Circenses” featuring Gil and Caetano, Gal Costa, Tom Zé, Os Mutantes, Nara Leão, the poetry of Torquato Neto and arrangements of Rogério Duprat. It also highlights how the movement spread to the cinema of Glauber Rocha and the theatre of José Celso Martinez Corrêa. There are, of course, some controversial moments in the documentary, inevitable given the adverse political circumstances of the time and a fight against the dictatorship that, on many occasions was
highly contradictory in rhetoric and action. The much-disparaged avant-garde songs of the Tropicalia movement criticised the military regime in a more anarchic and subversive way, unlike other songs of that time. One of the most recurrent criticisms that “tropicalistas” received was for the use of electric guitars in their music. Many traditional musicians and nationalists believed that the new music was influenced by American culture, which was seen as a threat to Brazilian music. The main objective of the Tropicalia movement was not to use music as a “weapon” to combat political dictatorship that existed in Brazil. For this reason, it was equally criticised by those who defended the protest songs. The tropicalists believed that aesthetic musical innovation was already revolutionary in itself. Considering the political conflicts surrounding Tropicalia are great references to better understand what is happening in Brazil today. The cultural value of the movement certainly makes it one of the most important periods of our history. The documentary of Marcelo Machado is impeccable in this regard. For those who lived through that time, even non-Brazilians, the Tropicalia film will surely bring a wholesome sense nostalgia; the young faces of Caetano, Gil, Bethania, Gal, Rita Lee and company will make the viewer once again feel that youthful rebellion, when everything seemed possible in a world in revolution. For those who were not born, there is a strange sense that we have missed out on something, but which we can draw inspiration from. Continued on page 8 >>
EDITORIAL including the assessment of President Dilma Rousseff, who dropped 30 points in the polls according to the latest survey Datafolha. In fact, the political situation of the country has changed and, from now on, all government actions enter into another stage of review by the citizens. By taking to the streets, Brazilians show that the idea is to go beyond current perceptions of democracy, the search now is for society participation in decisions that effect them. See more on what the protests mean for Brazil in analysis
by Guilherme Reis, on page 3. Times have changed, but it is not impossible to consider protest today when we talk of Tropicália. According to Tom Zé, the movement was began a way of thinking which took the Brazil out of the Middle Ages. It is timely that a documentary presenting the Tropicália political-cultural movement , directed by Marcelo Machado, hits screens in the UK. To discover the relationship of this movement with London in the late sixties, long before the summer screenings of this film, read the page 2 and 8.
There is more culture in this issue with the impressions of Roberta Schwambach on the return of Glastonbury Festival in 2013 (page 15 and 16), for which the The Brazilian Post was the only Brazilian media accredited with access. It is with the face and the colors of Brazil that we present this edition! Enjoy it! See you next edition. Ana Toledo ana@brazilianpost.co.uk Editor in Chief
Brazil | 03
SOCIETY
The voice of the streets and the agenda of a new cycle
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By Guilherme Reis
he demonstrations that swept the streets of Brazil and surprised the world leave no doubt: this is the beginning of a process to redefine Brazil’s democratic system to meet the needs created by the new cycle of development in the country. Exports of natural resources, worldrenowned exercises in soft power and improvements in living conditions allowed Brazil to pick up the pace to become a developed country, especially in the last ten years, with an unprecedented rise in number of middle class citizens. While it is positive to see that the minimum wage has increased considerably, more needs to be done to actually disseminate purchasing power. A middle class family in Brazil has a monthly income of up to 1500 reais (around 450 pounds), this is not enough and these protests have brought that to light. Although the tax rate in Brazil is one of the largest in the world, Public services do not show improvements or good standards in quality. The diversity of agendas presented by protesters since the beginning of June is an example of how necessary it is to review the dialogue between state and population, and reforms that will make Brazil more democratic and more equal. The reforms called for today echo the almost forgotten basic reforms proposed in 1960 by the President João Gulart, who was expelled from the presidency by the military coup that ushered in years of dictatorship and stagnation in 1964. These reforms were not taken into account with the democratisation of the country after 1989 as the process of reinstating democratic rule in Brazil was interrupted by years of neoliberal governments. The perceived economic stabilisation of the country during this period, which is so celebrated and dubbed the work of Fernando Henrique Cardoso, was actually the stabilisation of the bourgeoisie. The arrival of Lula to the presidency in 2002 represented a paradigm shift in the conduct of public policy, focused on social inclusion and poverty reduction, but these did not go far enough, maintaining the privileges of a minority ruling class who hold economic power. The flags that have been forgotten by the Workers Party during their years of government are once again flying high since the demonstrations began, with the struggle for free public transport, media democratisation, greater dialogue between government and protection of civil society and human rights.
CALLS ANSWERED June 24 •
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Governor Geraldo Alckmin and Mayor Fernando Haddad revoke the proposed increase of bus fares, trains and subway which had entered into force on Sao Paulo in early June. The fare is back to 3 reais. In Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes (PMDB) announced the reduction rate of 2.95 to 2.75 reais. Several other cities in Brazil also announced reductions. The government of the state of Sao Paulo suspends adjustment toll highways - which were the scene of many protests and were closed for hours in recent weeks. If inflation in 12 months was applied, the readjustment of the tolls would be at least 6.2%. The rate in the AnchietaImmigrants, that links Sao Paulo to Santos (port city), for example, would reach 22.51 reais (7.50 pounds).
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June 26 •
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June 25 •
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Project to reserve 75% of revenues from royalties from the pre-salt for education and the other 25% for health care is passed in the Congress. The proposal now goes to the Senate. Proposed Amendment to the Constitution 37/11, which would limit the power of criminal prosecutors, is rejected. The Committee on Constitution and Justice (CCJ) of the Chamber of Deputies approves the proposed amendment to the Constitution (PEC), which includes transportation as the social rights of the Brazilian. The proposal will now go to a special committee before
reaching the full Senate. Chamber of Deputies cancelled budget of 43 million reais (12 million pounds) that would be allocated to the Ministry of Communications. The appeal was scheduled to engage the services of information technology and telecommunications, and transmission of video and data transport during the 2013 Confederations Cup and 2014 FIFA World Cup.
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Senate approves bill that classifies corruption and other offenses as heinous crime and changes the punishment for them. The Committee on Constitution and Justice (CCJ) approves a proposed amendment to the Constitution (PEC) that ends with the secret ballot in the analysis of forfeitures of mandates of deputies and senators. The mayor of São Paulo, Fernando Haddad (Workers Party), cancel the bidding municipal bus, which cost 46.3 billion reais (14 billion pounds) and would up to 15 years. Haddad says that process will only happen with popular participation and will open spreadsheets costs with public transportation.
July 3 •
Scheduled date for the vote on the bill that creates the free pass student across the country.
For up to date news and analysis visit www.brazilianpost.co.uk.
Over the last month, the agenda has broadened: outrage over World Cup spending, impunity of corrupt politicians and against “all that is therein.” Everything has become a cause for dissatisfaction; this was followed by the disturbing scenes when right-wing factions also took to the streets. The very disarticulation and lack of leadership which have amplified the revolt, inexperienced in protest, allowed scope for conservatism to try and benefit from the energy of the streets. However we must remember that policy is not made without parties. The other way is authoritarianism, which is something protestors in Brazil have had to rally against in the not so distant past. Following the avalanche of information that has and continues to appear and analysis of journalists and government officials, President Dilma has had to try and quell dissatisfaction in television and personal appearances. She expressed what should have been clear from the beginning: that society wants greater involvement in the development process of the country. Accordingly, she said it would be citizenship, not economic power, which should guide the next steps in Brazil. The president, of course, promised emergency measures that tried to meet all demands and cleverly divided responsibility with the National Congress (read box). Such measures, however, are not enough; the discrediting of the political class, a phenomenon that is not restricted to Brazil (just think of the Occupy movement and PM expenses row), and the resulting gap between state and society places democracy in check: going to the polls every two years is not enough anymore. By placing political reform on the agenda Dilma goes in this direction, since the president wants to begin this process with the participation of society. It is necessary to redefine the role of politician, and the continuity of organising society through demonstrations and debates among social movements are essential to building a real path. The agenda of the new cycle is open and Brazil is finds itself at a crucial moment for broad discussion with society participation and in decisionmaking. There is no room for compromise or for to the opportunist conservative forces that attempted to hijack the protests. The progressive forces are faced with a historic opportunity, let’s see if they make the most of it.
Brazil | 04 |
July 02nd – 15th 2013
4-6 OCTOBER
Brazil’s literature festival launches in the UK with Flipside
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By The Brazilian Post
razil’s first and foremost literary festival, FLIP, will be making its debut in the UK with FLIPSIDE – a vibrant weekend of Brazilian literature, art, music and dance – on the beautiful Suffolk coast from 4th to 6th October 2013. As all eyes turn to Rio de Janeiro in the run-up to the World Cup football in 2014 and the Olympic Games in 2016, interest in Brazilian arts and culture has never been greater. FLIP (Festa Literária Internacional de Paraty) - which celebrated its 10th anniversary last year – has already inspired many young and thriving literary festivals in towns and cities across Brazil. Now it is opening its first venture outside Brazil – a mini-FLIP near Aldeburgh on the east coast of England. “When we first had the idea of setting up a literary festival in Paraty, we hoped to help spread the word about Brazil’s literary and artistic riches to a wider audience,” said Liz Calder, cofounder and president of FLIP, now living in Suffolk. “Little did we imagine that in 10 years FLIP would become one of Brazil’s leading cultural events, with audiences of over 25,000 descending on the small town nestling in the idyllic Bay of Paraty. “Now, in the aftermath of the London Olympics, with the football World Cup in 2014 and the next Games coming up in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, there is an evergrowing interest in Britain in all things Brazilian. In partnership with leading public and private Brazilian and British
FlipSide will take place at Snape Maltings
institutions, we plan to take advantage of that growing interest and bring Brazil’s cultural riches right into the heart of the UK. FlipSide will bring a selection of the best of FLIP to the Suffolk coast, introducing to British audiences some of Brazil’s finest writers, musicians and other artists.” Football, samba and capoeira have travelled comfortably beyond Brazil’s borders; Brazilian cinema has followed in their wake. But Brazilian literature remains a largely undiscovered cultural goldmine – one that is now set to dazzle British readers of all ages. During the first weekend of October, leading Brazilian writers, musicians and other artists will join their UK counterparts to demonstrate how music,
art, dance, literature and the culinary arts are intertwined in Brazilian culture in a party to delight a wide audience – British as well as Brazilian. FlipSide will take place at Snape Maltings, home of Aldeburgh Music and one of the most celebrated music venues in the world. Founded by Benjamin Britten in 1976 as the venue for the Aldeburgh Festival, it hosts some of the world´s premier artistes and orchestras. As with the inaugural FLIP in 2003, FlipSide 2013 will open with a tribute to the poet and lyricist Vinicius de Moraes and composer Antonio Carlos Jobim, who together created Bossa Nova. The tribute will be performed by composer/ musician José Miguel Wisnick, singer Paula Morelenbaum, who toured with
Jobim, and Arthur Nestrovski, guitarist extraordinaire and artistic director of the São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra. Also appearing during the weekend will be the captivating singer/composer Adriana Calcanhotto. Among the writers coming from Brazil are Milton Hatoum, three times winner of the prestigious Jabuti Award (Brazil’s closest equivalent to the Booker Prize), Ana Maria Machado, author of magical books for children and adults and winner of the international Hans Christian Andersen Award, and Andrea Lisboa, whose new novel, Crow Blue, will be launched at FlipSide. They will be joined by British writers who have been guests of FLIP in Paraty including Ian McEwan, Ali Smith and Will Self.
RIO+20 LEGACY
World Centre for Sustainable Development launched by Brazil
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By The Brazilian Post s a major and concrete legacy of the Rio+20 Conference, the Brazilian Government announced the creation of Rio+ Centre, the World Centre for Sustainable Development, at a ceremony attended by Izabella Teixeira, Brazil’s Minister for the Environment and Helen Clark, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator. The Rio+ Centre will facilitate research, knowledge exchange and promote international debate about sustainable development. It will bring together a broad international consortium of partners, consisting of government agencies, United Nations agencies, local governments (including the state government and municipality of Rio de Janeiro), NGOs, universities, think-tanks and the private sector. “For us it’s really important to have a legacy here after Rio+20, in the
city of Rio de Janeiro. Our universities, various sectors of society, the business community and everyone here wants to work hard for this legacy,’’ announced Minister Teixeira, and added that $5 million in seed money for the Centre’s operations had already been secured. UNDP Administrator Helen Clark, welcomed the partnership: “Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff has said that not only is it possible to grow and to include, protect, and conserve at the same time, but also truly sustainable development requires that we do so, and at UNDP we believe the same thing.” “Governments, private sector, and civil society actors will be able to use this Centre to learn from each other’s experiences, identify people and partners with critical expertise, plan ahead, and design programmes and policies. UNDP can contribute with its extensive networks of experience and expertise to this new Centre. We have a long history
of capacity development support, and an established role as an impartial broker who can connect sustainable development initiatives that need to go up scale,” Helen Clark noted. At the moment of its launch, the Rio+ Centre counts on the support of nearly 25 Brazilian and international institutions, which displays the success achieved by the initiative, as well as the inclusive and participatory nature of its conception. Luciano Coutinho, President of Brazil’s Development Bank (Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social, BNDES) stated that “BNDES joins the Brazilian government in supporting the Rio+ Centre and welcomes the UNDP and other partner institutions in this important initiative arising from Rio+20. It will create a unique space for discussion of innovative ideas and actions for building a sustainable world.” According to the official announcement of Brazil’s Ministry of
External Relations, the Rio+ Centre “is born with the mission to be a main reference centre for the promotion of one of the defining debates of this century: the integration between the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development.” The objective behind the creation of the Rio+ Centre is to build on new and innovative mechanisms for engaging the participation of local governments, civil society, business and academia in knowledge exchange and discussions around the subject. From the outset, the Rio+ Centre will provide continuity to the discussions launched by the Rio Dialogues for Sustainable Development (www. riodialogues.com). The Dialogues were launched by the Government of Brazil with the support of UNDP in the lead-up to Rio+20 as a way of actively ensuring inputs of civil society and experts worldwide.
05
Community CHANGING LIFE
Brazilians are returning home the desire to be near family and the advantage of returning to enjoy the tropical climate. “There comes a time when even the city’s beauty is not enough to make us like the cold and rain. The dating stage, at least for me, is over,” she says. In terms of their domestic life, the plans to build a home are in place, but her professional future is still unclear: “I am thinking about opening my own business but do not know how to start”.
Numbers of Brazilians abroad decreases by 20% in two years
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By Nathália Braga hile it might seem that you don’t have to look to far to meet a Brazilian in London, in recent years more and more of them have been returning home. Statistics have shown a reduction of approximately 20% in the number of Brazilians living abroad, currently estimated at 2.5 million (compared with 3.1 million in 2011). Surveys from the Foreign Ministry and community associations indicate a strong trend in the increase in those returning definitively to Brazil, especially those who immigrated less than ten years ago. A major reason for this is the growth of the Brazilian economy and the resulting increase in opportunities for those living in the country or who want to resume life in Brazil. The large supply of jobs is one of the factors that make Brazil a better place compared to several European countries, for example. But despite the good economic times people in Brazil still face challenges. After years living away from economic insecurity, poor health and education public systems (to name the most apparent problems) those adjusting to life back home require guidance and reassurance that they have made the right decision. Someone who is facing this but is determined to return home is beautician Vera Leite, who has been living in London for eight years. Now married to a Finnish man and with a five-year old son, she plans to return to Brazil when the family have saved enough to cover the expense of constructing a house in her hometown, Atibaia, São Paulo State. “After five years living here I started to think about going back to Brazil. Luckily, my husband loves Brazil and cannot wait to go. But I know how expensive it is to have a home and how hard it is to pay the rent, so I decided to wait a little longer to make sure we make the move in the best possible financial condition,” Vera told TBP. Vera also said that the main reasons to leave the UK for Brazil are
Portal of Return
Despite the good economic developments, life in Brazil is not always simple
With these needs and demands of Brazilian expats in mind, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched the Portal Return (www.retorno.itamaraty.gov.br) - which aims to provide information on programs and services for Brazilians who want to return to the country permanently. The initiative, launched at the end of March, had the support of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Ministry of Social Welfare and other partners. The site brings together useful information on documentation, support in opening a small businesses, job training, financial education, welfare, psychological, and other practical issues. There are also helpful links to other organisations, e-mails and contact numbers of partner institutions. According to the General Consulate of Brazil in London, the launch of the website follows other similar actions of the Foreign Ministry, following information released in September 2010. After all, more than readjusting to life in Brazil, the former expats must return to the country in a professional capacity uptake the rights and duties of a citizen. According to the Consulate, those looking to return to Brazil are looking for information on employment, entrepreneurship, how to apply their savings productively, how to re-enter the social security system and legislation on transport of goods and unaccompanied baggage. Unsurprisingly, there is a large demand on practical arrangements regarding documentation. To provide this and other information, the portal was created with partner institutions and state services to support people returning to Amazonas, Bahia, Goiás, Paraná and São Paulo. Launched just over three months ago, the hope is that over time the project will offer further information and add to the number of partners and services are aggregated.
Community | 06 |
July 02nd – 15th 2013
. http://hilarious-consequences.blogspot.co.uk http://www.steaknightcomics.com/ steaknightcomics.com/RRR_BOOKS.html
OMBUDSMAN This is your chance to let the Brazilian Post’s team know what you think. Send your feedback and get involved! Send your emails to contato@brazilianpost.co.uk
“The latest cover of Brazilian Post has introduced the first protests in the state capital led by the Free Pass Movement of São Paulo (MPL). A social manifesto that led to the end of patience with the poor public transportation in Brazil, eventually evolving for a large horizontal nonpartisan movement. But it is important to know where it all began. Based on data from the article, it seems that indignation applies to various faults committed by the Brazilian government, and also the conservative media”.
- Heloisa Moraes, Brasília - Brasil
Community| 07
PROFILE
Jörg Wagner and the habit of art Interview and Photo: Rômulo Seitenfus
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aving travelled from South London with bags of tripods, lights and my assistant Emre Zengin in tow, when we arrived at the North London home of film director Jörg Wagner, the generous offer of a traditional afternoon tea was warmly welcomed. Rather than getting straight into setting up the studio, I first wanted to find out more about the history, life and career of the artist. I would say that the director, producer and screenwriter Jörg alternates between the literal and surreal in a rather Freudian way, in much of his work, he features his best character: himself. Born in a traditional family of German descent in southern Brazil, and brought up under the spectre of the country’s military dictatorship, the gaucho from Porto Alegre was weary of rigid social and family systems, and eagerly sought plurality and open mindedness in several aspects of his life. Finding like-minded creative souls, Jörg experimented with drawing, painting and photography until reaching the cinema, going on to write, direct and produce films like the brilliant “Lost Tango”. Having lived in London for over two decades, Jörg speaks to us in an exclusive interview about the autobiographical aspect in his work and characters, recalls the past in Brazil and reflects on some of his major works. What do you remember from your childhood and teenage years in Brazil and when did the film come into your life? I’m from Porto Alegre and I come from a family of German descent, with a very strict education. Gradually I began to rebel, because I realised that my upbringing reflected the regime of the state. I went to the streets and became politically aware. There was a layer of dictatorship that existed around me. I went to the streets, talking to different people, listened to divergent opinions. This gave me a path out of my horizontal world, I saw and learned many things, witnessed sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll. I lived and did many things. I’ve always been liberal in every way. I have had friends who are transvestites, black, white, rich and never had any problem with their differences, quite the contrary. I Joined the PUC, a Catholic University and this broadened my outlook even more. I sought out human contact, I could see the world differently, looking at other options and came to art, film was another chapter to this story. In your film, “Lost Tango”, people say that the main character Jota,
performed by Márcio Mello, is one of your autobiographical creations. Is this right? Yes, I’m Jota. The name Jota is because my name starts with “J”. Obviously I add fictional elements to the character, it was a sophisticated film, great attention was apid to the cinematography and audio, thanks to competent people on the production staff. But there is also an search to consider. I like the storyline between two worlds, Jota is in a love triangle between Marianne (played by Claire Dodin) and Tereza (Tereza Araujo). In this film, I split direction with Karine Chevalier, my partner at the time. We finished the film and we ended the relationship. Can you sum up the film? The story takes place in an apartment where Jota left a videotape onto which he recorded his uncertainties and insecurities… Yes, Marianne who is going through problems with her family, receives an unexpected visit from Tereza, who is unknown to her and is Jota’s girlfriend who is returning to Brazil to rescue something left behind. Saying she met Jota a long time ago, she discovers the content of thefilm recorded by him. The tape reveals the decaying relationship with his girlfriend and his affair, but it turns out that Tereza is looking for Marianne, not just the tape. The truth is slowly revealed and more mystery unfolds. Why do you chose to have this autobiographical aspect in most of your films? The only person I know is me. My initial view is always shown in my films. It is not something narcissistic; it happens because the only craziness that I know is mine. The others I read and hear [he says, laughing]. The movie “Another World is Possible” is about the World Social Forum. Where did this idea come from? I was in Porto Alegre. I had brought a camera and a microphone to interview people. My intention was to shoot a police officer, for example, and ask him everything. How he was in bed, how he treated women, how it was to be in front of a thief, if he sleep after killing a bandit and so on. I wanted to explore a world that the media does not show. But a friend told me about the World Social Forum and I started to move and know the project. I travelled through five countries with the documentary about the event. I met some interesting people; groups of prostitutes, transvestites, indigenous, intellectuals, writers, artists, teachers, revolutionaries and those disgruntled with the system in general it was great to get in touch with these people. I’m open to know the differences.
08 |
July 02nd – 15th 2013
MUSIC
What has Tropicalia got to do with London?
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By The Brazilian Post
t was August 1970 and more than 600,000 people were gathered at a farm on the Isle of Wight, southern England, for the greatest music festival ever held. Over five days, the crowd saw performances by The Who, The Doors, Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen, and the last concert of Jimi Hendrix. The surprise of the second day, however, was two Brazilians, still unknown by the public, accompanied by a troupe of naked dancers covered only by a red plastic dress. The pair began to sing in Portuguese, with the sound of jazz flutes and African drums, then they plugged in their guitars and started playing a crazy mix of psychedelic rock, funk and samba. The duo was Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso. The extraordinary images, captured in the documentary Tropicália, directed by Marcelo Machado, were the start of a journey that would take them around the world. In that summer of 1970, they were just exotic figures in the underground scene of London: they played sporadically with the rock band Hawkwind, hung out in art galleries and were part of a hippie commune. Two years earlier, Caetano and Gil collaborated in Brazil, starting the Tropicalia movement, considered highly subversive by the military regime. In December 1968 both were arrested in São Paulo and spent two months in jail, plus another four months under house arrest. As the world watched the first man land on the moon on July 21, 1969, the two friends were preparing to leave Brazil, they would return only in 1972. “Lisbon and Madrid were out of the question because they were also under a heavy dictatorial regime. Paris had a boring music scene. So London was the best place for a musician to be,” Gil said in an interview with The Guardian in 2010. Caetano, Gil and their wives, in addition to their manager, ended up living in a house at 16 Redesdale Street, Chelsea, West London. Together they frequented museums, art galleries, football matches and learned to appreciate the television series Monty Python’s Flying Circus - Caetano, moreover, said that its surrealism influenced some of their more experimental songs.
Mortimer, Marketing & Media LTD CEO Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso in Trafalgar Square
In 1969, Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso were exiled by Brazil’s military dictatorship. The years they spent in London influenced Brazilian and British music forever Caetano, however, did experience a depression in the first year in London, while Gil found reasons to be a little more optimistic. In the same interview with The Guardian, Gil said that they arrived in the British capital in the week that the Beatles released Abbey Road, and had the opportunity to hear Rolling Stones at the famous Roundhouse, besides meeting many other musicians and coming into contact with the reggae music for the first time. While in prison in the years before, Gil adopted a macrobiotic diet and started to meditate and investigate Eastern mysticism. In the hippie scene of London he found people who shared the same interests, and he soon became friends with some of the most relevant figures of the counterculture, including the journalist and singer Mick Farren, and Turner and Thomas Crimble of Hawkwind.
Through Crimble, Gil became involved with a group of bohemians who were organising what would become the first Glastonbury Festival (read about the 2013 edition of the festival on page 15). “One of the models was the Brazilian carnival, a perfect example of a multidisciplinary festival, almost spontaneous and free. I remember having conversations with Gil about alternative medicine, music from Africa and Latin America. He had lots of ideas, and was crucial in the development of the festival,” said Bill Harkin, who designed the original and now world-famous pyramid stage of the Glastonbury Festival. Caetano also made music during the period of exile, but in a more introverted way. He describes his 1971 album, “London London” as a “document of depression.” In it there are songs like “Little More Blue” with the words “One day I had to leave my country, calm beach and palm beach”, with the lament “green grass, blue eyes, gray sky, god bless.” In the case of Gil, his first album in London - Gilberto Gil (Nêga) - included solo performances, acoustic versions of songs of Steve Winwood, The Beatles and Hendrix. But the greatest legacy that England left in the music of Gil was definitely reggae, with a strong influence of Jimmy Cliff, Bob Marley and Burning Spear. The period in which Gil and Caetano spent in London was not an easy situation; they were practically expelled from Brazil. It is undeniable, however, that the passage of England made them more creative musicians. It seems fitting then, that nearly 45 years later, during a period of social action and demonstration that British audiences are being given the opportunity to learn about those inside the Tropicalia movement and how this undeniably Brazilian movement captured imaginations the world over.
TROPICALIA: WHEN AND WHERE Friday 5 July (18:20) Curzon Soho, London (99 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 5DY) Entry: £ 14.75
Sunday 7 July (20:30) Rich Mix, London (35-47 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6LA) Entry: £ 5
Sunday 7 July (19:30) Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle (Stepney Bank Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 2NP) Entry: £ 5
Monday July 8 (20h) Cube Cinema, Bristol (Dove Street South, BS2 8JD) Entry: £ 5
Saturday July 13 (23:30) Rio Cinema, London (107 Kingsland High Street) Entry: £ 8.50
Thursday August 8 Hyde Park Picture House, Leeds (to be confirmed)
Thursday August 22 The Sugar Club, Dublin (to be confirmed)
Marcelo Mortimer marcelo@brazilianpost.co.uk
EDITOR IN CHIEF Ana Toledo ana@brazilianpost.co.uk
Editors Guilherme Reis Kate Rintoul
PUBLIC RELATIONS Roberta Schwambach contato@brazilianpost.co.uk
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Latin America BESIDES BRAZILIANS…
Demonstrations sweep across Paraguay, Uruguay and Chile
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By Agência Brasil
he demonstrations that began in Brazil have spread to neighbouring countries: Paraguay, Uruguay and Chile. At the heart of the daily protests are the same objectives as in Brazil, calls for the combating corruption and improvements in education and health, though there have been some nuances. In Uruguay, the leaders of social movements and non-governmental organisations are advocating “zero impunity” for those responsible for crimes committed during the dictatorship (1973-1985). The protesters have reminded the country of the period of political persecution and disappearances. In Uruguay, so far, the Justice system have so far only sentenced 15 people for crimes committed during the dictatorship, according to official figures. However, the country’s Supreme
Demonstrator arrested in Santiago, Chile
Court considers that crimes committed during the period are prescribed as in 1989, the Parliament of Uruguay passed
a law providing amnesty to those who committed crimes in that period of repression.
In Paraguay, protesters took to the streets to press lawmakers to approve measures to protect the living conditions of retirees and pensioners. Teachers have also voiced concerns over their state retirement plans. Protests have occurred just over a month before the inauguration of president-elect of the country, Horacio Cartes in August. The Paraguayans promoted events on Sunday 30 June when new parliamentarians and local authorities in the country were due to be taking the reigns. Protestors held placard with words fighting corruption and justice. In Chile, students returned to the streets in support of various other professionals in an attempt to pressure the authorities to change the country’s education system. There, higher education is exclusively private, with no public universities. University students and others called for reforms that include the possibility of free public higher education
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July 02nd – 15th 2013
Technology ENERGY
Britain’s power certainly doesn’t lie with the sun
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By Gizmodo.com ell that was it, that was summer. Did you blink and miss it? The nights are drawing nearer once more, and it’s time to break out the warm clothing yet again. Perhaps I exaggerate a little, or even quite a lot — as I write this, I’m sat on a beach enjoying the sun; it’s a gloriously warm, calm evening as it has been with almost alarming frequency for most of the past few weeks (obviously it’s going to rain next week — it’s the second half of Wimbledon!) Casting my gaze out over the water, there are various vessels making their way through the waves in the distance, bound for destinations unknown, but there’s something not quite right. Scanning the horizon, my initial thoughts were confirmed — they’re not moving. All of them, stationary. No, I’m unfortunately not writing this on some far flung skin-kissed isle watching the yachts and liners sail past; I’m at the
east end of the north Kent coast, and what is catching my eye is the London Array. For those unfamiliar, the London Array is in development to become the world’s largest offshore wind farm, comprised of 341 turbines covering 100 square kilometres with a planned generation capacity of 1,000MW (still a pitiful 21 per cent short of Mr Fusion). Generating at its optimum, this single site will generate enough power for 750,000 homes. Right now, however, I could generate more power by rubbing a balloon on the dog if he’d only sit still long enough. That’s quite a problem. When the weather gets warm we all turn on the air-conditioning and fans to dissipate the heat and humidity that we’re so unaccustomed to (although I appreciate that in some schools and offices this is seemingly the opposite); fridges and freezers are working overtime to provide us with chilled snacks and refreshing beverages; sound systems are turned
The EU Renewable Energy Directive sets the target that 20 per cent of the energy consumed within the EU by 2020 will be come from renewable sources
up long into the night. When things turn colder we get even more demanding, running fan heaters, central heating pumps, kettles and much more. All of that uses electricity, a lot of it.
Time to get your calculators out… The EU Renewable Energy Directive sets the target that 20 per cent of the energy consumed within the EU by 2020 will be come from renewable sources. Being an island nation, and a rather breezy one at that, our primary focus for renewable energy is wind turbines, more recently of the massive off-shore variety. Massive is still a bit of an understatement — these things have 120m diameter blades and produce up to 3.6MW each. At the end of 2012 the UK had roughly 8.5GW of wind power generation capacity, which supplied 5.3 per cent of the electricity we used last year. If, as is the case right now (this data is available almost live), the UK’s 8445MW of wind generation capacity is producing just 197MW or 0.12 per cent of the total UK power generation capacity, then we only have 94.82 per cent available (assuming every other source is working at max). Fast forward to 2020, and wind is now expected to be responsible for 28GW, or 15.6 per cent of the total UK capacity. With the same conditions as this evening, wind turbines are generating just 0.36 per cent of the UK total, but because wind makes up a much larger chunk of what the UK uses, the system can now only run at 84.76 per cent of max.
While any power generation network needs some slack built into it to cope with fluctuations (the advert break in Corrie being the most well-known) losing 15 per cent of your national generation capacity just because it’s a calm day isn’t really a good idea. This might not be as much of an issue in summer as the total demand is actually nearly 15 per cent lower on a typical day in July than January, but it’s still not a good problem to have. So what happens on that clear snowy day in January (or entire week that we had a couple of years ago), when we can’t generate enough electricity because there’s no breeze? Simple, we get takeaway — when we need more than we can produce, we purchase it from France, from those oh-so incredibly-renewable nuclear power stations of theirs. Which is another reason why it’s EDF building the new nuclear plant in the UK, not us, because we no longer have the expertise. (That’s a separate rant, let me assure you.) So what do we know? Well we’re an island nation as I mentioned earlier; we’re rather good with water (Rule Britannia!, etc…), so why not tidal? Conservative estimates suggest that there’s the potential to harness 60GW from various different locations and methods at sites around the UK. I’m all for renewable energy production and maintaining our electrical independence from the continent (it’s cheaper if nothing else), but let’s think about choosing a source that even if we can’t control, we can at least predict it for the next few hundred years.
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July 02nd – 15th 2013
Sport CONFEDERATIONS CUP
The champions are back: Brilliant Brazil’s victory against Spain The most important achievement in this was to highlight the development of the football team
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By Renato Brandão ust under two weeks before kick off the Confederations Cup, the Brazilian team was surrounded by scepticism among fans and sports media, after the uneven performances and unattractive style of the national team in recent years. Two of the signs of this bad time were the fasting four years without a win against world champions and an embarrassing 22th place in the FIFA Ranking. In the two previous friendly matches - 2-2 against England and 3-0 win against France - the team in training directed by Luiz Felipe Scolari did little to answer detractors. Aware of the criticism, Brazil had to play the Confederations Cup as if it was the World Cup, and so they did, defying the odds to win the competition for the fourth time. The most important achievement in this was to highlight the development of the football team. With a team in training, in a short time, Brazil has a ready base and a defined way of playing. If there were doubts that Brazil would be a strong contender for the world title, those doubts disappeared. The team used and should use very well the advantage of playing at home the World Cup. More importantly, Brazilian football regained the prestige and respect it had lost in recent years. The exceptional performance in the final against Spain, the current world champion and twice champion of Europe, was one of those acts that explain why the Brazilian team is historically the best team in world football. However, the victory over the Spaniards cannot lead us to believe that, from one moment to another, the
Four times champions of the Confederations Cup
team is above the generation of Xavi and Iniesta. With merits, Spain has figured on the top step of football in recent years, it is not for a loss in a game that ‘La Roja’ loses the throne. Spain put in a poor show but equally Brazil made a brilliant performance - something that was not a constant, just remember that the team had bad moments against Mexico, Italy, and especially Uruguay. But football does throw up many surprises: The Spaniards had strong defeats against Argentina and Portugal after the World Cup 2010. And in the Confederations Cup 2009, were eliminated by the United States and,
a year later, led the World Cup, what really matters. Brazil had won the last two editions of the Confederations Cup and was then badly at the World Cup 2006 and 2010. The Brazilian team is not exceptional. Technically, still behind Spain and Germany. Brazil has an incredible player in the attack Neymar. Two major players in the defense - Thiago Silva and David Luiz. And other good players who did well in the last 30 days between workouts and games - such as Julius Caesar, Luiz Gustavo, Paulinho and Fred. For almost all the competition, the team showed some deficiencies,
such game speed and keeping th ball in play. Another problem is the lack of proximity between the defence and attack. From another perspective, the highlight of the collective Brazilian team marking by pressure. Besides infecting the fans (which support over the time) and nullifying the opponent, who cannot organize and exchange passes. The coaching staff also has merit to get the players execute well what was planned. Yes, the champions are back, and went well, but cannot get on the wave of euphoria. In the World Cup 2014 will be another story. A good one we hope.
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SPORTS X POLITICS
Is our the World Cup?
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By Renato Brandão he Confederations Cup 2013 can be granted again prestige to the Brazilian squad. But the tournament will also be marked by tear gas and rubber bullets of the security forces. On the night of the decision within the Maracanã, the team was doing brilliant against Spain. But outside the
stadium - refurbished with 1.2 billion reais (£4 billion) of public money and which is for less than 10% of this value to the private sector - hundreds of Brazilians gathered near the stadium to show their discontent with the competition and the World Cup. They were contained violently by police, who were there to make sure nothing get in the way of the spectacle. Similar demonstrations took place throughout the competition, which lasted two weeks. And they should worry about the top hats to the beginning of the FIFA World Cup, a year from now; they probably never imagined they would find such a hostile environment to their business in the country of football. Graffiti (“Go Home, FIFA,” “Welcome to Hell”) in Belo Horizonte walls and the stoning of buses entity in Salvador, demonstrations expressing outrage at a World Cup for high public spending, especially in renovation or construction of 12 stadiums that will be the venue for the international mega event. Apart from overspending, social movements and national NGOs have warned that there are other costs in preparation for the World Cup. According to the popular committees to defend the right of populations affected by the 2014 World Cup, 170 000 households in the twelve host cities were removed, displaced or threatened to leave their homes or commercial locations for projects directly linked to the World Cup.
Protest during the closing ceremony of the Confederations Cup asks annul of the privatization of Maracanã
Street vendors are prohibited, because FIFA defends exclusive sales rights to its sponsors. Labourers who work at construction sites of stadiums came to do some work stoppages, due to the working conditions and wages. The Executive Secretary of the Brazilian Ministry of Sports estimates that have been spent 28 billion reais (9 billion pounds) in the works for the World Cup in Brazil until the month of July. And admits that this value can still reach 33 billion reais (11 billion pounds). It is a value three times higher than in Germany in 2006 and
four times that consumed in South Africa in 2010. Remember that FIFA, a “non-profit” corporation and the sponsors of the World Cup will not need to pay taxes on their profits. The highest body of football assesses that alone should profit US$ 4 billion in Brazil. Both the Brazilian government and FIFA claim that the event will leave for Brazil investments in infrastructure, urban mobility and other sectors. But another legacy will be made with the suppression of democracy, dignity, ethics and legality.
IN DEFENSE AND ATTACK
Defensive midfielder also knows how to play By Tico Silvério
Paulinho must defend Tottenham next season
José Paulo Bezerra Maciel Junior, better known as Paulinho, is the name of the new star of the Brazilian national team. And, despite being pretty much a novice in the green and yellow uniform, Paulinho is showing personality and an eye for goal. The player, who acts as a defensive midfielder in Luiz Felipe Scolari team, is becoming well noted for finding good positions on the field, quality passes, and being a constant presence in the opponent’s area. Paulinho, who first won the trust of demanding Corinthians fans, is now one of the untouchables within the tactical scheme of Scolari. What is most striking is that the player was able to efficiently meet both the defensive need to support to the attackers, appearing as a man in surprise counterattacks and also recomposing the midfield when the team is attacked.
Great campaigns with Corinthians, especially in 2012, and good performances with the Brazilian national team have earned the young player interest from numerous team. But everything suggests that Tottenham Hotspur will be the club of Paulinho next season, with the media has been announcing that the agreement between the English club and Corinthians is practically settled. This is not his first venture out of Brazil, the 24-year player passed some very quiet seasons with FC Vilnius Lithuania in 2006, and the Łódź in Poland in 2007. But surely, the story will be very different this time. Paulinho has had a great performance in the Brazilian national team, making fans forget about the absence of Ramires. The only problem is that within the philosophy of our coach (Scolari), which says that defensive midfielder does not need to know how to play, and that of his assistant (Carlos Alberto Parreira), who likes to say that the goal is just a detail, Paulinho is a fish out of water. The hope is that his good performances and his goals may change the opinion of our technical committee, which must once and for all learn that there is more room in the modern game style than a defensive midfielder like Felipe Melo.
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July 02nd – 15th 2013
RACE
Rosberg claims thrilling Silverstone victory
Race was blighted by several spectacular tyre blow-outs
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By Formula 1 (www.formula1.com)
ico Rosberg and Mercedes showed the depth of the progress they have made recently in tyre management by claiming a dramatic victory in the 2013 Formula 1 Santander British Grand Prix at Silverstone on Sunday. In a race blighted by several spectacular tyre blow-outs, Rosberg held off a tremendous late charge from Red Bull’s Mark Webber to claim his second win of the season, whilst Fernando Alonso’s third place for Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel’s retirement for Red Bull meant the gap at the top of the drivers’ standings closed substantially. Rosberg’s team mate Lewis Hamilton led the race from Vettel and Rosberg in the early stages, before becoming the first driver to suffer a left-rear tyre blowout on the Wellington Straight on the eighth lap. Two laps later and Ferrari’s Felipe Massa suffered the same failure before Toro Rosso’s Jean-Eric Vergne made it a hat-trick on lap 15. McLaren’s Sergio Perez was the final driver to suffer a blow-out, this time on the 46th lap. The first safety car of the day was deployed on the 16th lap as marshals cleared up the debris at Stowe corner caused by Vergne’s tyre incident, by which time the teams were telling their drivers to avoid using the kerbs in case they were causing the tyre trouble. When the racing resumed on the 22nd lap Rosberg started the long haul of chipping away at Vettel’s advantage, the German having inherited the lead from
Hamilton. Eventually they were only a couple of seconds apart as they started to lap traffic, but then the world champion’s car rolled to a halt just past the pit entry on the 41st lap, prompting another safety car deployment whilst Vettel’s stricken RB9 was moved off the track. That reshuffled things as Rosberg, Webber and Alonso all pitted. Rosberg timed it best, retaining the lead, but Webber dropped from third to fifth and Alonso from fourth to eighth. Now the race was on, and when the safety car went in at the end of lap 46 Webber pounced immediately on Daniel Ricciardo’s Toro Rosso for P4, then Adrian Sutil’s Force India for P3, before slamming by Lotus’s Kimi Raikkonen for second on lap 49. The Finn had also wanted to pit, but Lotus had missed the chance and he was now powerless on his worn rubber. Webber, who’d recovered brilliantly after tangling with Grosjean’s Lotus at the start, set the fastest lap on the last tour to finish 0.7s adrift of the Mercedes, but it was Rosberg’s race from the moment Vettel stopped. Raikkonen’s slump continued as Alonso fought his way past Ricciardo, Sutil and the Lotus driver, taking Hamilton with him. The two former McLaren team mates finished 0.6s apart, as Alonso snatched a podium finish from one of Ferrari’s toughest races of the year. Like Rosberg and Vettel, who were also warned by their teams of imminent tyre problems, he was lucky, reaching the pits for fresh rubber before suffering the same fate as Massa.
The Brazilian, like Hamilton, staged a superb recovery, aided in part by the safety-car deployments, and despite floor damage, was able to climb to sixth by the end ahead of Sutil, who just kept Ricciardo at bay to the flag. Force India’s Paul di Resta went into his home Grand Prix looking for the sort of hard-tyre run from the back that he’d enjoyed in Canada, but this one was much less straightforward. Nevertheless he managed to score an honourable ninth place from 21st on the grid, as Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg grabbed the final point ahead of the duelling Williams of Pastor Maldonado and Valtteri Bottas. McLaren had another disappointing race; Jenson Button was in the fight for points when the second safety car went in, but slumped dramatically from seventh in line behind it to a bitterly disappointing 13th place by the finish. Perez had also been a contender, running sixth behind the safety car before suffering his tyre failure as the race resumed, eventually obliging McLaren to retire his MP4-28. Alonso said he missed running into the back of the McLaren by a centimetre as his tyre failed. Esteban Gutierrez was 14th for Sauber as Charles Pic maintained Caterham’s qualifying form to head home Marussia’s Jules Bianchi and Max Chilton, and team mate Giedo van der Garde. Romain Grosjean was another to have been in the fight for points, before parking his car in the Lotus garage close to the end to join Vettel and Vergne,
Rosberg reach second win in the season
whose Toro Rosso had suffered damage during its tyre failure, in retirement. The result closes up the fight for the championship. Vettel still leads on 132 points, but Alonso closes with 111 from Raikkonen - whose 25th consecutive points finish saw him break Michael Schumacher’s record - on 98, then Hamilton on 89, Webber on 87 and Rosberg on 82. In the constructors’ stakes, Red Bull have 219 to Mercedes’ 171, Ferrari’s 168, Lotus’s 124, Force India’s 59 and McLaren’s 37.
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