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NEWS from BRAZIL - APRIL 1996
NEWS-BRAZIL ON LINE
Gross National Product to healthcare. Tiny Paraguay is even worse (2.8%), but Brazil loses even to poorer countries like India (6%) and El Salvador (5.9%). And lack of money is just part of the problem. The injustice of the system coupled with greed and corruption guarantees that 30% of the little money spent in healthcare ends up being looted. All of this happens during an Administration that chose healthcare as •one of its two priorities — the other one is education — and appointed a renowned and above-any-suspicion doctor to head the Health Ministry. The fact that minister Adib Jatene isn't
............. Proportionally, Brazil has as many doctors as England with close to 1.5 professionals for 1,000 people. But the country is having a hard time dealing with Third World diseases at the same that it has to face First World ailments. A deficient healthcare system has to fight yellow fever, malaria and schistosomiases while at same time treating patients with arteriosclerosis and cancer. Brazil devotes a mere 4.2% of its
CONTENTS
8 Cover
being able to make any serious inroad in order to solve the heathcare crisis, is an indication according to some of the need for much deeper reforms than the ones tried until now. If Brazil really wants to be admitted into the very private club of industrialized nations, it will need to cure more than its financial endemic troubles and it will need to pay more than just lip service to the health of its people. R.M.
24 Travel report
29
16
Short story
Peregrino Junior's "A Salga"
Politics
Cardoso back in Stanford
18
Cover by Aylan Mello
Economy
37 Travel
The banking system collapse
20 Movies
Alive and well on the Internet
22 Books
Brazilians will be reading this
101.1
http://home.earthlink.net/-brazzil
A nightmare in Rio
What's to be sick in Brazil
Fori
http://www.brazzil.com
DEPARTMENTS
That's Sao Paulo
6 Rapidinhas 14 Letters 45 Brazilian Notas 46 The Cultural Pulse 47 Por ai 49 Classifieds 50 U.S.A. Calendar 52 That's Brazilian
40 Music
Stinging Gabriel, 0 Pensador
54 Special
Brazil: between the Third and First Worlds TIME TO RENEW?
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tT151I I
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Publisher and Editor: Rodney Mello / Editorial Assistant: Graciela Castellanos / Entertainment Editors: Sam & Harriet Robbins / Book Review: Bondo Wyszpolski / Music Editor: Bruce Gilman / Representatives: MIAMI : Nosso Guia (305) 972-3427 - WASHINGTON, DC: Wilson Velloso (Correspondent) (301) 585-6549 - BRAZIL: Celso Sawaia (011)885-9288 E-mail: csawaia©br.homeshopping.com.br NEWS from BRAZIL is published monthly by News from Brazil -2039 N. Ave. 52, Los Angeles, CA, 90042-1024. Application to mail at secondclass postage rate is pending at Los Angeles, CA. Single copy sold for $2. One year subscription for 12 issues is $3 (three dollars) in the U.S., $15 in Canada and Mexico, and $18 (surface mail) in all other countries. No back issues sold. Allow 5 to 7 weeks to receive your first issue. You may quote from or reprint any of the contents with proper copyright credit. Editorial submissions are welcome. Include a SASE (self addressed and stamped envelope), if you want your material mailed back. News from Brazi/assumes no responsibility for any claims made by its advertisers.
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5
Carnaval
Back to Eden
e emigthepho mpany that se te of Minas 0 phon oC dlittle'town o are thrown just forgotfen in an cure coiner of th_ house. When looking ft 'telephone nuthberthe !entire city prefers td uhoffiial people b bitkknames.Th as thelUC ;0()0
eirn,, he Wn èianfhr ex.am nted only as the When stinieotie briquet, the &book uses thair ft:Mowed by name, This farmer .1a, for e de Camilofroth Antoñhtho amilo). Anton ho tio;s father and ci is his grandfather, everybody els'e YoyO, Do (Blue), Portugu aé ightcluh) i
tina numbers ha 93 National çh by Home e from the I3GE Brasileiro de afiaeEstat1stica -
6
Rio's Marques de Sapucal. the avenue where the Escolas de Samba and their characters parade on Carnaval, has become the main annual showcase for budding stars. And this year is no exception. With a story entitled "Creator and Creature- Mocidade lndependente de Padre Miguel won first prize. Among the creatures: Frankenstein, genetic engineering, and computer. But the most celebrated of them were Adam and Eve, both only covered with a vine leaf for a cache-sex. Luiza Ambiel, the new Eve, was already famous due to her Sunday stint as the girl who snatches men in a bathtub on Domingo Legal, a popular TV program. For Beto Simas, Rio's Adam, however, the avenue show was an apotheosis. The 30-year-old swimmer, cyclist and capoeirista has shown an enviable physique and ended up being chosen as the muse of Carnaval '96. Hollywood was watching. and soon after his presentation. Adam left Rio for Los Angeles where he went to discuss details of his participation in the next Jean Claude Van Dam me movie. The married man and father of three children also received an invitation to parade in New York beside Cindy Crawford and Claudia Schiffer.
Naked city Taquara, a little town 40 miles from Porto Alegre, state of Rio Grande do Sul, with an economy based on cattle and agriculture and an obscure archeological museum as its main attraction, hasn't inspired many tourists to drop by. But all of this might change soon. The town's city hall has requested that Taquara be recognized as a tourist community. The idea for such a change came to the city's fathers after a group of nudists decided to create the Clube Colina do Sol, a closed condominium to shelter nudists. The project is grandiose, envisioning a community with 450 houses, 30 shops, five restaurants, a hotel and a camping area. Developed by Naturis, a company owned by Celso Rossi, president of Federacao Brasileira de Naturismo, Colina do Sol already has 15 houses built under large trees and around an artificial lake. A contract prevents people from reselling their houses to non-naturist people. "The place is for those who are tired of their lifestyle and are looking for a simple life, without luxuries and without clothes," explained Rossi. His initial idea was to build the complex in Bahia, but he was discouraged by the opposition of Bahian society to nudism. In Rio Grande do Sul, a population mostly formed by Italian and German immigrants, seems more tolerant of the in-the-buff way of life.
Jn GeograrPahy ztllatt an are in and, alel-efaits„ resuglatp i. fbor etw poor, for exanwl egiessal with_ richest taking 4.8% of all the wealth and the having share . 0 what left. The a0IVsor* t h0oac7rteeel 7n80stlfr , t s to Brazilians own the ea.- issi they live_ in buto 19.8% of these 0 have a telephone. ff are in 75.8% o residences, wash' machines in 24.3% them, while only 12.9 own a freezer. Close t 96,000 households an 330,000 people wet consulted. In an unrelated disclosure, the IliGE ' revealed that in 199,5 Brazil has regained the 8th position in GNP among all countries in , ‘,, the world, swapping ' lace with China and * P just after Canada. coming The Brazilian GNP grew to $677 billion compared to China's $619 billion an d Canada's $774,, billion. The US conies in first with $7.1 trillion olloived by Japan with $3.9 trillion.
Regain' he char News of cri d s the massacreoafzIon sittu ih°anti s. sfcnatihtivietdAni raomnw:e foreigners to Brazil.wI* 94 kotto with only foreign tourists
NEWS from BRAZIL -APRIL 1996
High talk situation has been getting better recently. Last year the number of foreign visitors jumped to 1.8 million. Crime has gone from 1st to 4th place as the main concern of visitors, but most °khan are still ,4complaining about the 'lack of infrastructure in he country.•thi •ngs like traffic signs, bilingual menus, decent taxi cabs. The new data were just released by Embratur, the Brazilian Tourism authority. The favorite ,destination of travelers :continues to be Rio (42% of visitors), followed by ,sao Paulo, which gets .„ just half that amount. Brazil, despite its beaches, the Pantanal and the Amazon, still has a long way to go to fully profit from tourism. Even tiny Uruguay receives more tourists (2.2 million a year) than -Brazil.
Only the US has a bigger „fleet of executive planes I than Brazil. The revelamade by tion „ssociacAo Brasileira de A viacAo Geral (Brazilian Association of General ABAG, which also disclosed that this sector is growing 5% a year in the country. ..,,According to Ivan Correia, ABAG's President, this has to do with the immensity of he the country. he Y he Plane is a necessity," :said. Mexico, Canada and France follOW Brazil in the category.
NEWS from BRAZIL - APRIL 1996
With First Lady Ruth Cardoso offering her two cents in favor of decriminalizing the use of marijuana in Brazil, talking about drugs has become de rigueur among the Brazilian intelligentsia. There's a whole culture and language which goes with the fad. Here's a little lexicon to help you on your trip to understand the phenomenon: barato — a drug's effect baseado, bagulho, bomba — pot bater um (to beat one) — to prepare the cocaine for snorting it bocada (mouthful) — place to buy drugs bode (goat) — urge to sleep branco (white) — faintness canaleta (gutter) -- vein chocolate — hashish dar uma luz (give a light) — transitory high docinho (little candy) — lysergic acid erva do diabo (devil's weed)
— pot fino (the thin one) — pot cigarette fralda (diaper) — pot paper mardita — pot marica (pansy) — any object used to hold the grass palha (straw) -- bad quality pot pedra (stone) — crack pico (prick) — injection in the vein poeira (dust) — cocaine tuim — same as barato tyson (as in Mike Tyson) — strong, knocking-down pot
People
Rain Man Heloisa Vinhas, 23, a Brazilian born in Santos, Sao Paulo, came to Los Angeles to become a star. And she ended up taking part in a scene with no JJ less than Hollywood hot property Tom Cruise even before she could start her theater classes. The March 4 chance encounter, however, is nothing Vinhas would like to repeat. It was a rainy day and she had just left the restaurant where she works as a waitress, the California Chicken Café, in Santa Monica, in Greater Los Angeles, when she was hit by a car while crossing the street on the crosswalk. The driver didn't stop to help her, but Cruise, who was coming behind, stopped his Porsche, followed the ambulance who took her to the UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) and even paid.the $7,000 bill when it became clear that the Brazilian didn't have medical insurance or the money to pay for the operations she needed. Vinhas, despite the gravity of the accident, had only a fractured leg and some ruptured knee ligaments. The next day Cruise called her in the hospital to see how she was doing. Three days after the accident, which happened to be her birthday, came a new surprise from the actor: flowers sent to the hotel where she lives with a happy birthday card signed by Cruise, his wife Nicole and their two children. "He was extremely kind," said Vinhas. "And he is not even one of my favorite actors. I prefer Christopher Lee and Vincent Price."
1V1cMess Are Brazilian McDonald's harnburguers politically correct? They are not, say David Morris and Helen' Steel from the British Greenpeace ecological group. The restaurant chain, according to them, is using meat from cattle that grazes on pastureland planted over, old, devastated Amazon forest. McDonald's refuses to admit att$:' wrongdoing and went to Court, suing IVIorris,and Steel for defamatiertfand asking $10 million iniy damages. The Donald's foes, however,'say that only an indemnification from the restaurant given to charity institution vvil make them stop the crusade
The Brazilian IRS lion has already set up its trap on the Internet. Since mid-March, those ers willing to file eir income taxes ectronically can ownloaa the necessa forms from http vvww.fazenda.gov.b srfirrtrpf.html Thos connected to the communication superhighway who wish send their i9rnlyiiihodem will have to go to an agency of Receita Federal to get a diskette with all the , infonnatio
7
resl • ency. One year after coming to powør, however, the ew • istration has made little if r. . reraes:ein eradicating Third • ta p Des pit. em, 3 there
NEWS from BRAZIL - APRIL 1996
1995 the Brazilian Health Ministry received $15.8 billion to pay its bills. Thanks to this, the Sisterna Unico de Saude (Unified Health System) (SUS) was able to conduct one million doctor consultations a day, perform 4,120 heart surgeries, maintain 508.7 thousand hospital beds, and hospitalize 11,350 cancer patients. In 1989 Brazil became the first Latin American country to tradic ate polio, and measles has been nearly eliminated with only around 1,500 new cases in 1995. And Institut° Butanta, a leading research institution, has just announced that in a few months it will start producing a vaccine for hepatitis B, helping the country rid self of this preventable disease. From the early 50s to today life expectancy has increased from 46 to 65 years. Brazil has 6,500 hospitals and proportionally, as many doctors as England (1.46 professionals for 1,000 people). Quite impressive, huh? All of this puts Brazil just a cut above Paraguay i resources devoted to healthcare and behind countries like India and El Salvador. From the almost $16 billion spent in 95, $2.7 billion were used to pay staff, and another $2.9 billion went to cover old loans. While the US- allocates 12.7% of its GNP to health, Brazil reserves only 4.2% for this purpose. Compare this with France (8.9%), India (6%), El Salvador (5.9%) and Paraguay (2.8%). This means that less than $80 per capita was allotted to healthcare in Brazil last year Argentina this number was whereas od rea7in neighboring . $ the US, $2,300. That's what was being spent in the sector in 1987. The situation hit bottom in funds 1992 when a mere $45.7 per capita from fee was used for healthcare While in 1950 th number of offered by.the state was roughly the same hospital as private sector, the participation of the public sector has decreased to 29% of all beds available. An analysis of the SIAFI's (Sisterna bitegrado de ,Financeira do Tesouro Nacional - NaAdmi reasure Treasure'ss Integrated System of Financial Ad• tional 1995 report shows that President Cardoso v mine moree money to healthcare when he was Finance y Minister in 1994. The government invested 28.29% less in • healthcare than in the previous year. This means a shortfall of $172 million, enough to triple the Proriaica, the largest health program of the federal government which assists children. It's not even a case of cuts across tte board. The total amount of federal invest94 to ,95 foil only 133%. niteots from '94 of .money made 1995 a particularly hard year Lack for the Health Ministry. Preventive medicine had several tuts when compared to the previous year. Sanitary orl_leceived less than 1/4 of what had been promised. work eattonal Health Foundation had a cut l9930%thine their vaccination program. From 1986 to of 5 in percentage of the Gross D 7P/ eosrtioe 1P2r.u6due.rTahpapt means the social has grown from 80.m an increase from $43,986 million to $54.938 million. The health sector, which had received $12.736 million 1999.89 had this amount reduced to $9.347 million in M13 Women have a tougher time. Mortality for mothers in Brazil is 150 for every 100,000 births. In Japan, for example this number is 50 times smaller, with 3 deaths for.every 100,000 births. Around 5,000 women die every year due to pregnancy OT postpartum complicaNEWS from BRAZIL - APRIL 1996
tions. Experts say that 98% of these deaths could be avoided if some basic precautions were taken. Unicef (United Nations Children's Fund) estimates that between 9,000 and 15,000 children annually become orphans due to these deaths. High blood pressure is the main killer, followed by hemorrhages, infections and abortions, but cesareans also contribute to these deaths. And Brazil is the world champion of cesarean deliveries,accounting for 1/3 of all deliveries in the country. There is no recent data about infant mortality, but it is estimated that there are 5,000 deaths for every 100,000 live births. (In the US there are 828.8 deaths for 100,000) The Health Department h has las one of its his number by alf, by 99g • oats to reduce t g Every 24 minutes there is a new case of breast . cancer. Since there is very little preventive medicine, 60% of the women discover the disease when tis already advanced. Tests like the Pap smear used for . detecting cervical cancer that could save many lives some public reduced to five weekly exams clinics in ics thie to the bureaucracy involved in the proceedfore taking office, President Fernando Henrique d °had presented his vision for the healthcare in his platform book Ald'os a Oka, Brasil (Set to Work, Cu Brazil). He wrote: "The crisis in the health sector is undeniable. Its visible face — scrapped hospitai s, pro_e fessionals on strike patients thrown on cots in th corridors, lack of m:aterial and medicine — hides the failure of a model mainly interested in the cure and eatment of diseases:" established aspS9 n,,r0,,,aftertbeing augurfatgedt h , dCeanrd guoesoana maari . ' tgoals for the health sector to reduce child ev mortality and to vigorously Thue Priesidentlwill he satisfied if he can cut in half the mortality rate that is now 453 deaths for every 1,000 hornehildreni' Symptomatically enough twice in the• ast Brazil had announced the elimination of Aedes fever and . ti the Mosquito that transmits yellow e0astates ,now municipalities 1 n Close Dengue eaov gtYiegnP of-the etgoY1Pe,te0111.( ry'o bu ' aditl 9idom 4lanppthpe2ed 95• et r1th es Was 56,20 , anc.11 0o0ef f eust casin the first eight months of 19 As for deng:j ,spread by the Anopheles mosquito, Brazil 't abeen able to lower the incidence of the disease an average of 540,000 cases a year in the last ecad Other Third World diseases such as barber bug verand schistosom.las s spread by contaminated water ' ! . Tarn palt, leastl,e069 municipalities have sellis tosmias. "?Vilile 90% of the population get water andurban sewage Ser l tt 1Vni etlinnlra areas, this number falls t() a regions. Brazil is also haym mere 'cholera which enteredthe country from'g Peru o in 199J. _ 1994 the disease attacked 51,344 people and kiIlc542. The year before, the number of cases was 69,340 and there were 670 deaths. As theo lder e ptila!lottrincreases, Brazil must also in irst World ailments like heart disease and al wi cancer, Tuberculosis is another disease which is making a omeback The disease was being fought successfully in cases annually. This trend, ith- degrease a2% wever, has switched direction again with the inmg
a
Labs Mafia The Associacao Brasileira da Ind6stria Farrnaceutica (Abifarma), which represents the pharmaceutical industry in Brazil, believes that close to 60% of the pharmaceutical labs registered by the organization itself are not legitimate. Abifarma President Jose Eduardo Bandeira de Mello admits that, "from the 352 laboratories that we registered, 200 are not serious.Mello accuses the labs of practicing empurroterupia ("pushtherapy") enticing pharmacy owners to give cl ients their products instead of those prescribed by the doctor. But this is just the beginning of the laundry list of misbehaviors of pharmaceutical labs. Many are accused of using less of the medication's active substance than is declared on the medicine box and sometimes selling placebos in place of medicament. And since getting a license to manufacture a product can take years some labs just get on line, get the license and sell it for a good price to some laboratory really interested in producing the medicine. Medicine in Brazil is a $4-billion-a-year industry which has a stock of 20,000 to 30,000 different brand names. While the World Health Organization recommends a list of 400 basic drugs, the Brazilian market has 10,000 to 12,000. It's believed that if the useless products were taken off the market there will be a 40% reduction in the number of products offered. All numbers are imprecise in this area. How many pharmacies are there? From 40,000 to 60,000. And how many pharmacists? From 30,000 to 40,000. The legislation requires a pharmacist for each pharmacy, but there is no way to enforce the law.
The art o defrauding. Some-of the most com mon t pe oftraud detected: vented surgery - It's common to charge for the more expensive diagnosis in a same field. A headache might become a stroke, for example. Overbilling Hospital charges astronomical prices • for services rendered. Intensive Care Unit - Small surgeries end up taking people to the ICU, but only on paper. Ghost patients - Sometimes the same patient is 1 admitted more than once for the same procedure. Some • dead patients have been readmitted on paper. Other times the services listed vv ere never pro. itied. Unnecessary surgery Some operations are • schedule only to reinforce the bank account of the hospital. Excessive tests — According to a report made by representative Alexandre Cardoso, 80% of all lab tests come back negative and 40(>0 of them are never even picked up. Embezzlement -- Money received from used for everything but health purposes by m ties or states. 10
crease of AIDS cases. AIDS victims who also have tuberculosis offer a higher resistance to medication and facilitate the transmission of this infectious disease. In 1992, there were 74,000 new tuberculosis cases in the country, in 1993 it went up to 91,000 but it is believed that this number has now exceeded 100,000. Even old biblical scourges like leprosy are on the increase. While in the early '80s there were 12 cases of leprosy for every 100,000 people, in the '90s this number has jumped to 20 cases. Brazil is going through a period that experts call epidemiological transition. The country has to deal simultaneously with underdeveloped country diseases, and ailments such as cancer and arteriosclerosis more prevalent in industrialized nations. Sophisticated treatments in Sao Paulo, including heart surgeries, hemodialisis and organs transplants, consume 40% of all the resources destined to health while benefiting only 3% of the population. For lack of money ($3 billion would be necessary) 1,750 new hospitals were started but were never finished. Brazil has 160,000 dentists and every year 8,000 new ones enter the market from 90 odontological schools. But it doesn't help that the Brazilian dentist is considered one of the best — only American and Sweden dentists have more prestige —among its peers around the world. It is estimated that Brazil has 1.5 , billion cavities. In a country where the loss of teeth seems to be considered as natural as the loss of han4k., more than 70% of the over-50 population have lost all its teeth. That means a nation with 25 million toothless mouths. The best Brazilian dentists are visited by clients from Europe and the US, but only 5% of the Brazilian population has access to private clinics in which this first-class treatment is available. The fluoridation of water has existed for 30 years in Brazil, however, only 30% of the population has benefited from it. Despite being the eighth largest economy in the world, Brazil is number 74 in expenses in healthcare. The government is also infamous for late and underpayments. Since 1987, 150 million Brazilians, through the Sistema Unico de Saiide, are entitled to have their health problems taken care of by the state, even though there are still 10 million others left without assistance. Before '87, only those workers paying the extinct INPS (National Institute of Social Welfare) had the right to healthcare. At that time, close to 50 million Brazilians depended on charity when they got sick. Since then, the number of people who spend at least a night in the hospital during a year has increased from 10 million to 15 million. This explains why some health centers don't have enough beds and sometimes NEWS from BRAZIL - APRIL 1996
not even material for bandaging a wound. For sanitarian Eduardo Levcovitz, who works as an aide for the Health Ministry, the new situation means that "health has improved 100% for 40 million people who were excluded from the system and has worsened a lot for the millions who were getting assistance." The situation is naturally better for those 32 million Brazilians who can afford a private health plan. The government indirectly subsidizes these private plans by allowing the taxpayer to deduct 100% of its medical expenses. That means $2 billion a year that the federal government doesn't collect. Private hospitals also get a tax exemption for importing sophisticated medical equipment. That can mean up to $20 billion a year. Since these machines are never used for the SUS clients, the government is studying a way to make them utilized at least 20% of the time to care for the poor population. For the rest of the population things should get better as soon as some measures, like transferring to the municipalities the responsibility of managing all health resources, are fully implemented. The idea is to do away with the state health departments or at least make them just a normative office. The example ofNatal, capital of Rio Grande do Norte, has shown that the new system, being experimented with in 53 cities, can work. Since Natal became responsible for managing the money the federal, monthly bill to pay for hospitals has fallen from $1.7 million to $1 million. The economy allowed Natal to increase by 50% its outpatient assistance. Visits to doctors and dentists also grew by 23% and 28% respectively. Recife, capital of Pernambuco, also has a success story to tell. Their newly equipped and staffed ambulance crews are able to answer a call in ten minutes or less, thereby helping to relieve hospitals for more complex procedures. Recife's favelados (shanty town dwellers) now don't need to take a bus and go downtown for their lab tests. Every morning a minivan visits the six health districts and takes all the material for tests. Many private hospitals, even some with non-profit status, are refusing to take SUS patients. The situation is so chaotic and often so unbelievable that it borders on the absurd. Despite a 190% average increase in the fees the government pays for healthcare in 1995, a doctor receives $2 for a consultation — roughly the price of a shoeshine — and the hospital receives not more than $130 for each normal childbirth. The Associacdo Medica Brasileira's (Brazilian Medical Association) own price list determines that the consultation should cost $20. Doctors get paid an average of $400 a month by the federal government. But this amount can be $100 in some Northeastern states. When Health Minister Adib Jatene himself operated on his fellow minister Paulo Renato of Education the procedure cost the Union $2,145. A little more than 20% ($463.61) went to the team led by Jatene. NEWS from BRAZIL. APRIL 1996
The good minister Adib Domingos Jatene, 67, a renowned heart surgeon born in Xapuri in the state of Acre from Lebanese parents, has been presented as an example of probity. His father died of yellow fever when he was 4 and his mother had to provide alone for four children. As a heart expert he participated in the first Brazilians heart transplants performed by dr. Euricl ides Jesus Zerbini at sao Paulo's Hospital das Clinicas. After serving for some time as Health Minister during the Fernando Collor administration, he came back as the star of Fernando Cardoso's cabinet. So high was his reputation that President Cardoso used to say that his dream was to have a cabinet of Jatenes. The honeymoon, however, seems to have ended. More than once there has been talk that his fall is imminent. Cardoso himself has denied any problem, but he hasn't been very convincing, and in an end-of-year analysis of his first year in office the sociologist-President presented the Education Ministry as an example to follow and the Health Ministry as a mistake to avoid. The accumulated problems from Jatene's department seem too big for just one person to tackle. Jatene, who is known for this British politeness and sardonic humor, is seen by some as a chronic crying baby always asking for money. For months now, he has been insisting that the salvation of his ministry is the CMF, a .25% fee over every check that is written in the country. The tax, which has to be approved by Congress. is not popular and even Cardoso who approved it when it was first announced by Jatene, has distanced himself from the idea more recently. Others have accused Jatene of having political ambitions like the mayorship in Sao Paulo --South America's biggest metropolis — the gorvernorship of Sao Paulo state, or even the presidency. Jatene, a confessed reader of lightweights Sidney Sheldon and Paulo Coelho, who appreciates romantic singers Roberto Carlos and Maria Bethania, didn't change. As he recommends to his patients, he avoids sweets and doesn't smoke or drink. He continues to wake up at 5 in the morning for his daily jogging at Brasilia's Clube do Exercito. He doesn't put less than 12 hours of daily work at his office, starting as early as 6:30 in the morning and never after 7 AM. He hasn't been doing his usual 20 to 30 heart operations a IN e e k , but he continues to perform at least five of these surgeries on weekends. With friends he normally talks about medicine and his ministry. Even when he goes to Fazenda Palmeiras, his farm in Itajobi, in the interior of Sao Paulo, he likes to work and he frequently use his free time to castrate his cattle. Talking last year to a group of businessmen in Rio. Jatene presented himself as the victim of a conspiracy "from the 20% richer people in Brazil-. For him there is no salvation outside the CMF. Said he: -The option is either to pay this contribution or dismantle a system that takes care of the low-income population.- He also said: prefer 1,000 times the tears of defeat than the shame of not having fought. I read this on a truck's bumper sticker. Isn't a beauty?" He has constantly been in Congress always bringing with him an article written by Planning Minister Jose Serra in which his cabinet colleague defends the idea of giving more money to healthcare. That the article was authored before Serra became minister is not a problem. "I know he wrote it when he was only a candidate,- says Jatene with a wry smile. -Any he concludes without finishing his sentence. Despite all his work in 1995. Jatene and the Health Ministry are better remembered for the struggle to get the check tax approved and the Braulio campaign to promote safe sex. Braulio, a talking penis, who starred in a series of TV commercials, got international fame after having provoked the ire of scores of real-life Bran' ios who didn't like the fact of becoming the but of jokes all over the country. Some even sued the government. The campaign was scrapped, but the damage had been made. -To use a name of somebody was a unpleasant blunder," said Jatene 11
such a tax. One thing many legisThat meant that when the money was dislators are asking of Jatene is a tributed, the country's most prestigious heart Some numbers plan to fight fraud. "If you don't surgeon was left with $92.70, for five hours change the managerial model for of work. Hospitals: 6372 admissions and consultation," said The situation is more than an invitation North: 491 former Rio's Health Secretary and to fraud, and in recent years Brazilians have Northeast: 1996 current representative Sergio been finding how widespread deception is. Center-West 674 According to an audit by the Health MinisArouca, "the CMF can triplicate Southeast 1977 try last June, 30% of all the money allothe health sector's resources and South 1234 cated to healthcare by the federal governthe money still won't be enough." ment ends up financing items as varied as Michel Temer, the leader of Total of hospital beds: 509,270 sophisticated imported medical devices PMDB (Party of the Brazilian Public: 30% which are never used, parties, pleasure trips Democratic Movement) in the Private: 45.5% and reinforcing the domestic budget of all House, has offered an alternative Philanthropic 21% kinds of people. Fraud is a $2-billion busito the tax proposed by Jatene. College 2.5% ness, representing 30% of all money used Temer wants to see part of the in the health sector. Lottery and Bingo money going Hospitalization: 14,698,988 Computerization of all hospitals didn' t to help the health sector. Even the North: 883,494 work to stop fraud. Some even believe that leaders of the parties friendly to Northeast 4,395,416 the new system contributes to it. Proliferathe government don't think the Center-West 1,014,187 tion of specialized agencies to input hpspiMinister is doing a good enough Southeast 6,090,186 tals' information coincided with an increase cleaning-up job. South 2,315,705 in the average cost of hospitalization. In A 1995 report by the Tribunal some cases these bureaus' owners are former de Contas da Uniao (Federal AuDoctors per 10,000 managers at the Health Ministry who know dit Office) — TCU — revealed people: 14,69 very well the department's mechanics and that there was excessive admisNorth 7.26 frailties. sions of outpatients. The money Northeast 8.18 The average cost of hospitalization had spent ($1.177 billion) on people Center-West 13.99 fallen from $179 to $156 between 1991 and who didn't need hospitalization, Southeast 20.81 1992. In '93 it grew to $165 and then jumped corresponded, according to the reSouth 13.65 to $213 in '94, coinciding with the time the port, to the whole Brazilian popuconsulting firms started to help. In some lation being assisted seven times Hospital beds per cases the inspectors and auditors chosen to in the period from December '93 1,000 people: 3.35 verify the bill presented the government are to December '94. There was fraud North: 2.14 themselves on the audited institution's pay which was very easy to detect, Northeast 2.90 roll. like women having ph im osis opCenter-West 3.88 Despite the problems there are many erations and men giving birth. Southeast 3.60 who defend Heath Minister Adib Jatene' There was health money being South 3.82 idea of instituting the used to promote festive parties or CMF (Contribuicao sobre to help political parties. The audit Movimentacao Financeira), a .25% tax levresulted in the recall of close to ied over every check written in the country, which 1.5 million hospitalization payments countrywide, afwould be siphoned into his department. Jatene believes. ter being discovered that 24.12% of the diagnoses for thatsuch a fee — $5.6 billion a year — would almost hospitalization were fake. double his budget, giving him close do $20 billion to Among the disclosures: Piaui's state Health Secrespend on health. "That would allow us to spend $200 a tary had embezzled $500,000 using $65,000 to buy year with every Brazilian," he says, adding: "Even beer and mineral then our situation would continue precarious." The water, and $9,600 to minister says he would use the money for a 40% get clothes and increase in the fees paid to doctors and hospitals, for shoes for his workpreventive medicine and campaigns to decrease child ers. In the state of mortality. Maranhdo, around One who agrees with the minister is Crescencio 20% of the health Antunes from sao Paulo's Hospital dos Servidores. resources ended up "This is a socially fair tax," he says. "The poor don't in private bank acpay it because they don't use checks. It's time to end counts. this cruel pact in which the government pretends to pay Since taking and the doctor pretends to work." Naturally, there is charge of the Health also a group in the House of representatives who think Ministry, Jatene has like Jatene. They are the so-called bancada da &fide, adopted measures a group of 70 legislators very much interested in health to control fraud. matters and their own pockets. They are hospital ownThe municipality of ers and doctors. Campo Grande do After months of avoiding to tackle the issue, the Sul in the state of legislators don't seem enthusiastic about approving Parana, for ex12
NEWS from BRAZIL - APRIL 1996
ample, was able to hospitalize in one year 60% of its population establishing a record in the country. One such move was to limit hospitalization to 9% of the population of a city. Since nobody has complained about being left without a hospital bed when needed it's assumed that many of the hospitalizations were fake or unnecessary. Such a reduction in just Sao Paulo, where hospitalizations fell from 281,000 a month to 240,000 represented an economy of $112 million in a six-month period. Jatene has also been able to reduce to 25 days the time between a bill is presented and it's paid by the federal government. Private institutions now get the lion's share of the SUS's finances. In the state of Parana, for example, the private sector owns 91% of the hospital beds. Throughout the country only 30% of hospital capacity belongs to the state, although the Brazilian constitution states that the private health institution should be only "complementary" to the public health network. Jatene doesn't intend to change this situation. Says he, "It doesn't matter to us who owns the hospital, but how the patients are cared for." As for medical consultation the public institutions are already taking care of 61% of the demand. Patients haven't being as accepting of medical errors as in the past. In Sao Paulo, for example, the number of malpractice cases being analyzed by the Conselho Regional de Medicina (Regional Board of Medicine) has jumped from 200 to 1200. Every month there are 200 new cases presented to CRM. In Rio, there are 1,000 lawsuits being reviewed and close to 100 new complaints being made every month. In Brasilia, there is at least one complaint a day. Part' of the problem has to do with doctors being ill prepared in a country where 8,000 new physicians graduate every year from 80 medical schools. Around 65% of these new doctors don't have a chance to train in a residence program and go directly from school to hospitals. Condemnations against doctors are rare and malpractice suits can drag for four years or more. Since 1948 Sao Paulo's CRM has prohibited only 14 doctor from practicing medicine. There are some bright spots in all this chaos. One such shining example is the agentescomunitarios (community agents). Created in 1991, this program tries to deal with the lack of doctors in the poorest areas. The program started with 20,000 agents, but it has increased now to more than 50,000 helpers in close to 600 cities. They receive a minimum salary a month ($100) to visit the poorest families in their community bringing sanitary and health advice as well as some over-the-counter medication. The work has been a success mainly due to the missionary spirit of the agents whose main reward has been saving lives. The program that costs 16 million could be easily doubled if there were more money. • NEWS from BRAZIL - APRIL 1996
The first case of AIDS in Brazil was detected ir 1983. Today the registered number of cases has reached 76.396, As in the US. initially the disease was perceiN ed as confined to the gay community and drug addicts. Ten years ago, for each group of 38 men there was only a woman with the 1-1IV virus, in 1995 this rate had changed to one w om an for every three man. Experts say that in 1996 for the first time AIDS would be more prevalent among heterosex u a Is. Around 90% of those with AIDS depend on the government to get assistance and medicine. This year the federal government has budgeted $162 million to spend on the treatment of the disease and on campaigns to prevent it from spreading. The situation is far from ideal. While in Europe and the US an HIV positive can expect to live 40 months after the onset of the disease, in Brazil this period is only 11 months. Even though Brazil already has anti-AIDS medicines such as AZT and DDI, these products are very expensive and they fast disappear from the market. A recent Follut de Sao Paulo special report evealed that two in every 10 undocumented immigrants being treated for AIDS at New York's Saint Vincent Hospital are Brazilians. The institution is the main center for the treatment of the disease in the Big Apple. At the Gay Men's and Health Crisis the situation is similar. From 300 foreigners receiving assistance. 50 are Brazilian. Again, at Queen's Etnmerick Hospital, Brazilian lead the pack. Most Brazilians seem to be able to stay in the US through the so-called -voluntary departure", a procedure that prevents the AIDS patient from leaving the country and then coming back. Since treatment costs around $10,000 a month, many people just give up going back to Brazil. But others prefer buying a green card through a fake marriage after a fake blood test. The Folha article also cites Berkeley Univerty professor Joao Guilherme Biel, who has been studying AIDS in Brazil since 1992. He has interviewed dozens of HIV-positive Brazilians, people who, according to him, see the US as a utopia. Bids accuses the government of having "abandoned" those with AIDS and tells stories of Brazilian scared doctors who wake up AIDS patients throwing objects at them. And for Eduardo T., a former ballet dancer, it's more secure to be soropositive in the United States than healthy in Brazil..- He has no intention of returning to his country. "I went back to Rio for AN 0 months," he says in disbelief, -got mugged and didn't know anyone anymore:1 •
13
"AMERICA, THE UGLY" REDUX I disagree with Mr. Raymond Mataloni's letter in Your March issue. Mr. Mataloni takes exception to the differences that Ana Maria Bahiana (author of the book America from A to Z whose excerpts appeared in the January issue) asserts exist between Latin Americans and North Americans. While I agree that differences in preferences for sports and music are a superficial method of distinguishing between the two cultures, I found his argument that Latin Americans and North Americans are more similar than different because they share the "common thread" of membership in the "new world" naïve and simplistic. Yes, North and Latin Americans were discovered at roughly the same time and clearly represent non-European cultures. However, non-European culture does not translate to similar cultures. Several historical factors helped shape the culture (not to mention the structure of politics, economics, and society) that emerged in Latin America and North America. North America was actually colonized. Families came over to settle in the new world. Latin America was colonized not for settlement but for the purpose of exploitation. Besides, the vast amount of Indians in Latin America had an impact on Latin American culture that did not occur in North America (policy of assimilation versus annihilation). Mariano Magalhaes Iowa City, Iowa
HAPPILY UNHAPPY I gotta give it to you guys atNewsfrom Brazil. You certainly did handle my request quickly and efficiently. About two months ago I sent a snail mail letter from Sweden with $6 enclosed. There was also a very nice, cleanly written letter that clearly stated that I wanted e-mail notification when my subscription was processed. Was my request regarded? Hell no. I talked to my father in the US and he told me that a couple of issues have been received. Thanks, so much, for being so efficient and following simple requests. A (dis)satisfied subscriber, Peter T. Bense Gullbrandstorp, Sweden
PORTUGUESE, PLEASE Amazing but true. News from Brazil You arc invited to participate in this dialogue. Write to: Letters to the Publisher
P.O. Box 42536 Los Angeles, CA 90050-0536 or send E-mail to:
brazziliarazzileom brazilnews4i,aol.com Please, include a phone number in the event me need to reach you. Thanks! 14
gets better all the time. Parabens! You really capture both the tragedy and the joy of Brazil through reporting on difficult social issues, as well as fun, informative pieces like the article on choro or the history of Carnaval. I'd like to see more in Portugues than just literature. If you're afraid it might turn off English-only readers, maybe you could do something bilingual, like the Rapidinhas? Ellen Winogrond Old, fan (I, California SAYING THANKS WITH NEWS I would like to give a gift subscription to Lina Maldonado, of the University of Miami Latin American Program. Lina and her right hand Jesse are instrumental in assisting young Brazilian physicians come to the U.M. and join the world of American style medicine. They not only help in every little detail, they go further and become themselves part of an extended family. I think your magazine would be a welcome monthly addition to their busy small office in the University of Miami Medical School. Thanks for publishing such a quality and informative magazine on the current events (which you are amazingly up to date on) in Brazil... my favorite second country. Scott Ennis Miami, Florida
AT LEAST YOU'RE CHEAP I am a Brazilian living in California for 5 years and majoring in Computer and Information Sciences, I saw your page on the Internet and found it neat and easy to navigate. Congratulations! Among seven or so Brazilian magazines and newspapers, edited in the US, News from Brazil is by far the best one. I really enjoy reading it. Notwithstanding, I don't like its covers; always showing faces. And some articles, with white letters printed on black background don't make a perfect combination. But, for the price we pay for an annual subscription, which is a bargain... Fernando C. de Oliveira San Diego, California
HOW ABOUT THE ADDRESS? I thoroughly enjoyed the article by Daniel
25¢ A COPY
Sampler entitled "Sambaing on Line" (March 1996). However, it would have been nice if he would have at least once mentioned the address on the World Wide Web site so readers could check into the site. Or maybe this is one of those sites where you need the permission of the author to visit? Either way he should have at least given the address. Keep up the good work. R. Buglione rbuglio ne@aol. corn
BE OUR GUEST I read the article "Sambaing On Line" of Daniel Sampler, and I liked it very much! Thank you for publishing it. In our samba school, Imperio do Papagaio, there's a lot of people who are not connected to the WEB, so I came up with this idea of translating the article in Finnish and publishing it in our magazine Sambista. Is it OK? Of course, we will mention the origin of the article, and we will also add a short description of News from Brazil. Your readers can check out the WEB version of the latest issue of our magazine at http://www.eunet.fi/papagaio/ppg/ sambista Jupe - Imperio do Papagaio Helsinki, Finland
THAT WAS AN EPITAPH The article on Mamonas Assassinas in the March issue was great! I'd love to see some more of their song translations in your dext and upcoming issues. I bought the CD recently and your write up and lyrics helped me appreciate much better what the group is all about. I would also like to see in an upcoming issue a list of the top 20 (or 50) Brazilian CDs that you would recommend. With such a shopping list in hand, I'd be better off than buying Brazilian CDs blindly. You mentioned the Tads Cabega Dinossauro CD as being chosen by Jornal do Brasil as the best album of the 80s. That's a good enough endorsement for me, and I look forward to getting the CD. Fred Klara Los Angeles, California
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D
uring a recent brief stop in San Francisco on Brazil. "Representatiwe demociacy has shown a need his way to a visit to Japan, Braz lian Presifor renewal in every countrywhere it has been adopted," dent Fernando Henrique Cardoso announced he said. "Democratic systems face problems such as the endowment of a ch air in Brazdian studies, The .. the citizenry's growia g lact of Interest in politics, low announcement was made to a standing room only voter turnout during eleca ions and, even more seriaudience at Stanford's Dinkelspiel ous .y. a growing degree of hostility Auditorium on March 11. on the psrt of voters with regard to The chair, which will allow po'aticia 7s." Stanford to bring a distinguished Nati(' aal legislatures, he said, "are scholar ofBrazil ta campus each year the natural locus for the continual is funded by a $1 million gift from consensus-building which is the rethe New York baanch of Safra Naquirement if we are to move forward tional Bank of Brazil. It has been in wh le simultaneously safeguarding the planning stages sirce Brazilian the valu:s mast dear to our sense of officials came here in the summer of hationaily, the values without which 1994 to watch the Brazilian soccer no nation can recognize itself." team play in World Cup competiCardoso must negotiate with IS Former visiting professor at politiza I. Parties in an effort to broaden tion. Stanford's connections to BraStanford University, zil go back to its second president, consensus ir, Brazil. "Furthermore, Fernando Henrique John Casper Branner, and include it is essential that the public realm be Cardoso, was back at that the most extensive US research lienlarged so as to increasingly enNorthern California school brary collection on Brazil. compass those who are voiceless tofor one more lecture. Cardoso, 64, who was a visiting day,' he said. While the church and Speaking to a standing only professor of political science at other institutions have played this auditorium the Brazilian Stanford in 1977 when Brazil was role in the past, he said, it is no President talked about the run by a military dictatorship, used longer :nough. An effective leader art of politics, the need to his brief visit to the campus to "praise "has to symbolize something beyond renew representative the art of politics" and defend elected what is oeing debated at the time by democracy all over the politicians at a :ime when, he said, normal oolrical organizations." world and the hard struggle the public seems to hold them in low The pace of government action, to correct the socialregard. The lecture fund provides he said is unfairly characterized as imbalances in Brazil. the Institute for International Stud"gfidlc .:k and inefficiency, whereas ies with support for an annual pubhc the truth is that the congress's schedKATHLEEN O'TOOLE address by a prominent scholar or ule is c verloaded with highly compracticing professional in the field plex issues." Politicians are strugof international relations. gling with the reality that countries have become more Today's politicians face a greater demand for acdiverse economically and politically, he said, and can countability than their predecessors because of the no longer divide their cor stituents into two main classes breakdown of , ntegrated political parties or lasting -the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. coalitions, Cardoso said during his lecture. Voters, he "Individuals and groeps are no longer defined by said, no longer can be neatly defined the roles they play in social relations as holding view s on the right or the of paociction. but primarily by their left, and so demand more accountregional, razial, cultural or religious ability from politician; than they did identit es," he said. As a result, poliwhen political ideology was a more ticians are held accountable to more unifying force. groups with more narrow social deSuccessful politicians also must mands work harder today to t uild a consen"It sum, we are experiencing the sus and to "create space" for fragrnE•ntation of society into groups grassroots groups that are not foror gher.os. This has led to a simplifimally represented by political parcation n a way, since only the marties, said the veterar senator who ket or mass culture is left to unite was elected president last year. Saycitizer ; in forging a national idening he was -proud to be a politician,' tity Bath the values that formed me the man who has forged two political gue that held national societies toparties in the past spoke of modern gether and :he values that guided the political leadership as approximatrelations within them are fading ing Octavio Paz's deinition of hisa way." tory — "a daily invention, a conCardoso said improving the potinual creation; a hypathesis, a risky litical system requires attention to game, a wager against the unforeseethe role of the media, but that "repreable. Not a science, but rattler knowls enzat- we democracy depends on solid edge, not a technical skill, but rather and s -ong institutions, whose pace an art." is cf necessity slower than the flow Restoration of democracy in Braof infoermation." , zil, Cardoso sad, has been "nothing but a first step, one "I acknowledge the imp artant role played by the that is necessary, but in and of itself insufficient if we press in fighting aithoritarianism in Latin America," are to correct the serious social imba ances of our he said, "but the p-ese needs to move beyond an society." The problems, _he said, are not confined to 'adversarial' attitude ti: play a constructive role as
The profesmar is back
16
NEWS from BRAZIL - APRIL 1996
well " As Cardoso left Dinkelspiel Auditorium, a protester with a bullhorn criticized his support for building highways in the Amazon rainforest. The Stanford connection — In his introduct ton of Cardoso, President Gerhard Casper said that Stanford s connection with Brazil began before the university was founded in 1891. John Casper Branner, who became Stanford's first professor of geology and its second president, was a Cornell University student in 1874 wher. he met Emperor Dom Pedro II in Brazil. Together they founded the Geological Commission of the Brazilian Empire. Branner stayed in Brazil until 1880 and returned five times. During the Spanish-American War, Branner briefly was detained on suspicion of being a spy for the US government. Later, apologetic Brazilian authorities decreed to him the right to stop any train any time he wished to investigate plants or geology. (When Casper teasingly suggested that Cardoso grant him the same privilege, Cardoso reminded him that he was a president, not an emperor.) Branner established the basis for Stanford's library collection on Brazil, Casper said. Major research libraries in the United States hold a comb .ned 32,600 volumes on Brazil, and Stanford's collection is 60 percent of the total. Cardoso and his wife, 458 BOGOTA Ruth, were jointly awarded 648 LIMA the Tinker Visiting Professor(2 cities, 3 bags) 683 PERU ship in Latin American Stud659 ies in 1992, but they were ECUADOR unable to accept when he was SANTIAGO CHILE 855 named foreign minister of 633 BUENOS AiRES Brazil. 825 LA PAZ BOLIVIA The new chair in Brazil1569 T KIO • 793 ian stidies will be connected MONTEVIDEO 605 OSAKA to the Center for Latin Ameri770 ASUNCION can Studies, within the Insti605 NAGOYA 899 MENDOZA tute for International Studies. 510 S UL Under the direction of politi625 HONG-KONG cal science Professor Terry Karl, the center recently expanded its teaching and research on Brazil to include a faculty/graduate student To working group that was RT OPEN RETURN launched by Jose Serra, Brazil's minister of planning and budget, during a visit in 1995. A Brazilian Writer in RIO/SAO PAULO (21 DAYS MAXIMUM STAY) Residence Program also has been established, along with new courses, and the GraduPRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE ate Scnoot of Business recently added a study trip to Brazil. 321 E. 2ND ST. - SUITE 1001 688 W. BAKER ST. - SUITE 3 LOS ANGELES, CA 90012 The new chair will be COSTA MESA, CA 92626 (213) 613-0943 (ENG.) named for Joaquim Nabuco, (714) 668-1175 (ENG.) (213) 613-1521 (SPA.) an 18th-century Brazilian cru(714) 668-0515 (SPA.) sader against slavery who became the Brazilian repu9841 AIRPORT BLVD. - SUITE 506 2130 SAWTELLE BLVD - SUITE 112 blic's first ambassador to the LAX, CA 90045 LOS ANGELES, CA 90025 United States, where he was a (310) 641-4894 (ENG. ONLY) (ENG. ONLY) (310) 575-4544 staunch supporter of Pan• Americanism.
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17
honeymoon between th ident and Congress las ora than a a a I wet erarar li,16 rice e rid Hag., now ith s nee. accumulating victories or more than one year, Fernando Henrique Cardoso is being challen. ed in
he government of President Fernando Henrique Cardoso (FHC) experienced serious setbacks in March. After 14 months of victories, he couldn't have approved in Congress a proposal to amend the Constitution which would reform the social welfare system. This was a long needed piece of legislation that among other things, would substitute the period of work for the period of contribution in the country's unjust retirement plan: 30 years for males and 25 years for females. It would have great impact on teachers and other special retirees. A congressman, for example, now can retire after two terms —eight years — and get a full salary for the rest of his/her life. The regulation of such an intolerable benefit is crucial to trim excessive government bills. Furthermore, a Parliamentary Commission Inquiry (CPI) has been formed to investigate the recent spate of bank bankrupticies afflicting the country. These two factors could work against the efforts put forth by the FHC government to keep Congress focused on important reforms. The constitutional reforms are vital to the survival of the 20-month economic stabilization Real Plan. Decreasing government expenditure is critical to balance the budget. A country's budget has two important factors: the tax revenue and the government expenditure. The tax burden on the Brazilian population is already high enough even though few pay their contributions. Thus, tax is not a wise tool to play with when trying to balance the Brazilian budget. Moreover, previous governments have turned blind eyes on government spending and corrected the deficit through tax increases which proved to be ineffective, recessionary and inflationary. Cutting government spending is the right way to go to consolidate the Real Plan. This means restructuring the welfare system, privatizating state-owned enterprises, creating a ceiling on government salaries, and trimming government payroll. Cardoso stated that "without the constitutional reforms, inflation could reach levels of 40 % rather than the current monthly rate of 0.4 %." Cardoso's statement referred back to the mid 1980s when Brazil returned to democracy under Jose Sarney and inflation was 40 % per month. In 1986, Brazil had its worst economic situation with the public deficit at 44.9 % of the country's gross domestic product (GDP). In 1995, on the other hand, inflation had a 22 % annual rate and the deficit was 28.3 % of total GDP. Today, Sarney heads the Senate and he is the key figure behind congressional voting on reform bills. The senate leader's chair gives him the ability to control which pieces of legislation may pass and which may not. Some political analysts believe that Sarney is playing a political game hoping that FHC fails, in this way increasing his own chances to once again become president in the 1998 elections. Eduardo Azeredo, the governor of Minas Gerais and an important political ally to FHC, stated that "it is impossible to believe that people still exist who only make decisions based on thinking about votes". This is very sad! Brazil is changing and the population is becoming more aware of politicians that are too nice but not concerned about the future of the country." Moreover, Azeredo completed: "It is not possible that such an important reform has been voted on under the
18 NEWS from BRAZIL - APRIL 1996
inspiration of self interest. We are talking about subjects that concern the future of Brazil and it should be viewed like that." The welfare amendment needed 318 votes to pass but only received 294. It is interesting to see that by 1998, 18 congressmen will benefit from their special retirement plan which otherwise would have been extinct. The legislators celebrated the victory against the agreement reached between the federal government and the CUT (workers' union). The Social Welfare Minister, Reinhold Stephanes, in an interview with Reuters said that "unfortunately, the people had a lot to gain from the bill, but the elite defeated the people once again." FHC plans to try the original welfare bill in Congress but it is a more austere bill with little chance of passing. President Cardoso refuses to give up decisive constitutional reforms. Another major defeat for the FHC government was the commission set up to conduct a wide-ranging probe into the nation's banking sector, a move that could further slow passages of other constitutional reforms. The CPI requires 29 senators' signatures to install it, but not surprisingly, 11 senators were from Sarney's personal coalition. The banking system in Brazil is going through a restructuring process to end a long period of cover-up losses. Since Gustavo Loyola was appointed to preside over the Brazilian Central Bank, four major institutions have suffered federal intervention after charges of missmanagement of its funds. The latest scandal was a $4.75 billion coverup by failed Banco Nacional which dated back to 1985. It is strange that the blame falls on the government that
brings these corruption scandals up to the surface and not on the ones that contributed to cover these up. The CPI should not be limited to federal interventions in 1995. It would be proper to trace the connections of failed banks back to their state or federal governments to the very beginning — i.e.; Banco Economic° and the governor clf Bahia, Antonio Carlos Magalhaes; Banerj and the gOvernor of Rio de Janeiro, Leonel Brizola; Banespa and sao Paulo's government under Orestes Quercia an1 Antonio Fleury; and Banco Nacional when Sarney wa the Brazilian President and had intimate relationships with Minas Gerais governor and Nacional's owner Magalhaes Pinto. Preside t Cardoso is still holding out hopes that he could block installation of the commission by persuading the parties not to nominate members to the 13member panel. He could expose several politicians if connections were uncovered, but the FHC government has a 92 % popular support rating and such a CPI would only hurt the population. This six month investigative panel would only divert attention from the reforms. The two setbacks contributed to bad performances of both Brazilian stockmarkets: sao Paulo fell 4.41 % and Rio de 'Janeiro 5.25 %. Furthermore, the interest rate in the futures market went up for April contracts from 2.14 % to 2.17% and May contracts from 2.10% to 2.13 %. These are clear indications of market disapproval for the congressional carnaval created around important reforms. Politicians in Brazil should start to look at reforms as being crucial to their own survival because the electorate is looking carefully. Society does not want Congress to throw away what has been • accomplished in the past 20 months.
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Re The Internet is giving Brazilian filmmakers a new lease on life. Sites showing Brazil's quality movies made in the last 100 years are springing up all over. And the world seems to be responding in kind by flocking (almost) to these new sites. MARCOS MANHAES MARINS_ This year Brazil is celebrating the centenary of their love for cinema at first sight. Brazilians' romance with motion pictures had its debut in July 1896, in Rua do Ouvidor, a traditional street in Rio de Janeiro, where the first screenings were shown. Just a few months earlier the Lumiere brothers had made their first presentation at the Grand Café de Paris in December 1895. And Brazil is also celebrating another event dealing with motion pictures. It will be toasting the first anniversary of Brazilian cinema's getting on the Internet's World Wide Web, a place so chockfull of fast changes that a month seems more like years, and a year more like decades. Anybody who has access to a WEB browser (software which locates WEB pages according to an electronic address (URL) or some keywords) may find, from anywhere in the world, many sites related to the cinema of Brazil. Using search tools like Altavista -and Yahoo, you 20
have just to enter "brazils and "cinema" to get a list of sites dealing witli-the subject. The most complete and busiest site on the lists is Cinernabrazil whose Thternet address is http:// www.ibaseorg.be—cinemabrazil. From this homepage, as these sites are frequently called, you can ac,cess a plethora of other sites which are spreading Brazilian culture abroad. Cinemahrazil has been on line at the Ibase/Alternex server since September '95 and it pitched its homepage on the WEB on October 18, 1995. Just a few months after the international cinema community had made its presentation at the WEB Cafe, Brazilian Cinema caught up with the movement. The pioneer in this movement was the non-profit Internet Movie Data Base from Cardiff, UK--- http://www.cm.cf.ae.ukfmovies. The first commercial'. WEB site was Hollywood On Line — http://vvww.hollywood.com -- which existed in text-anly since 1995, butrlidn't debut on the World Wide , Web nntil early 1995. Does all of this matter? It seems it does. When USA Tocfrix- online started a poll for Internet users to vote on their choices of Oscar 9&nominees, many Brazilian sites 1; e vote page, and the result was that idclude d a linkt4 o 1 Brazilian 0 u trt o,nominated for best foreign picture received 7,470 votes, much more than the favorite for Best Picture Apollo /3- which got 4,638 nods. Almost as many votes as the favorite best actors Anthony Hopkins (4, a t52-3) and Sus Sarandon (4,642) together! It was like ever afterthe campaign was started by an E-mail message from Sergio Charlab, a sort of guru for many Brazilian net users. was just an innocent poll but a national USA newspaper survey always moves public opinion, which, in turn, might move Oscar voters' opinion, and perhaps, awards destiny. It was worth a try. Independently of any result it was very gratifying to find out the strength of Brazilians united on line. In September 1995, lizternet World (IW) magazine, in its premiere Brazilian edition, published an A to Z guide with about 200 Brazilian homepages. By then, Brazil was just starting to discover the WEB. In February '96, the same guide had-already grown to 1,500 Brazilian sites. Sines the number increases around 20% a month, and • some homepage owners don't submit their URL to be listed, one had better estimate another thousand homepages not listed yet, which will produce a figure of 2,500 Brazilian homepages in April 1996. At just the Ibase/Alternex server (the first WEB server in Brazil) there are 150 sites. And this is just one among 100 webservers, a number which also increases each month. Today Brazil has a potential Internet market of 14 mill on people who have telephone lines. There are already 4 million computers installed. Too few for a population of 160 million people, but more than enough not to be ignored. In the broadcast market, with just 30 million TV sets, more than 90% of the population is covered. The Internet turns- out to be the right place for recovering the Brazilian movie industry, which in the '80s was producing about 100 films a year. The thousands of today will-become millions tomorrow, all looking at photos and clips of Brazilian motion pictures, getting to know its needs, its projects, its promising future. Take the Cinernabrazil site, for example. It was created to announce a documentary on Brazilian media mogul Assis Chateaubr.and, a cultural movie project, and at same time to bring together all the cultural movie projects that were also raising funds by publicly selling shares at the Stock Exchange. From that humble beginning that site became the most complete database for Brazilian movies, now listing 400 titles selected from the 3,000 quality long films that the Brazilian industry has created so far. NEWS from BRAZIL -APRIL 1996
quarterly newsletter. Brazilian movies are Cinema for me is just barely known abroad. The official stuff entertainment, butt love The Internet Movie Data The Internet has inaugurated a new social puler based on equal Brazilian writer Jorge Base, for example, the rights, freedom of speech andfelloWshiOn this new world there is also Amatlo and I would like most complete one, with place for the federal and other "government places you to find videotapes 50,000 titles, in FebruFestival de Br:Isaia s — Site of the traditional film festival prowith Brazilian movies ary '96 had around 100 moted by the government of the Distrito Federal. the country's capital. based on his novels. The The place shows Brazilian movies in competition in 1995. Their Brazilian titles regisaddress: http://www.gdf.gov.br/festival/cinema.html Dona Ftor and Her Two tered, including shorts Festival Internacional de Curtas de So Paulo — It showcases a Husbands tape has aland TV programs. And short film festival promoted by the state of Sao Paulo. The address: ready get here." The site the listings are full of http://www.puc-rio.br/mis m.ovided some clues on smaller and bigger misRiocult — Place of cultural fair in Rio de Janeiro and for Rio's and how to get the tapes for takes. CineMania 95, the Ministry of Culture's events. Address: http://www.eline.com.br/riocult/ Jubiabo, Capitiles de CD-ROM, listed only 15 expositores/expositores.html Areia, Tenda dos MiBrazilian movies and Some ministries also keep cultural WEB pages in their sites: ktgres, Gabriela, all had just 7 filmmakers' Finance Ministry: http://www.fazenda.gov.br/cultura/html/space/ movies based on Amaothers/arte.htm biographies. Ministry of Foreign Relations - ltamaraty - London Embassy: do's novels and inVagner Ferreira de http://www.demon.co.uk/ltamaraty/bsw.html formed her that Tieta Almeida, one ofthe partwith actress Sonia Braners at Fibra Cine Video, ga) is just being fmished. the company behind Pei ffer decided to invest in the movie specially preCinemabrazil, says: "We are giving absolute priority to sented by the site and then ended up being investor get the most on these 400 available long movies. Then, number one on the Individual Sponsor's Page. as a second step, the catalog will include the short Cinemabrazil is presently working hard to include movies and TV programs, but always within the critein its WEB pages more clips from successful Brazilian ria of selecting the ones that were highlights, either for movies and from interviews with renowned Brazilian high ticket revenue or for rave reviews by critics. We filmmakers, such as Nelson Pereira dos Santos, Carlos hear now and then that Brazilian movies are too erotic. Diegues. Arnaldo Jabor, among many alive, and those but this is not the whole story. There are true masterfrom archives (Glauber Rocha - Cannes Golden Palm pieces in our Cinematheques, hundreds of movies 1968, Alberto Cavalcanti, Humberto Mauro, among which received prizes in International Film Festivals many). It also wants to add more clips with actors and or were a box office hit. For the time being, we are actresses easily recognized abroad as Sonia Braga for strictly concerned about listing our best cultural prodDona Flor and Her Two Husbands and The Kiss of the ucts. A virtual distributor is also part of our plans, but Speck,- Woman, not to mention Milagro by Robert we will need sponsors in order to guarantee free service Redford and Femancla Torres (Cannes' Golden Pam to visitors." A very interesting page in the Cinemabrazi I 1988), among others. site is the Comprehensive Summary of Laws for FilmIn 1996 the Cinema of Brazil will change the Brazil ing in Brazil. Two other places deserving a visit are the of the Cinema. Since 1962 Brazil had not been nomiFirst Catalog of Brazilian Movies and the Catalog of nated for an Oscar award. At that time, the movie 0 Films still raising funds, in which you can get all the Pagador de Promessas (The G'ven Word) directed by basic information in case you wish to invest in a Artselmo Duarte, did not get the Academy statuette, Brazilian movie. Photos, clips and a virtual tour can be but it took home the Golden Palm from Cannes. found there. That site was presented to the Ministry of This year, out of the 100 cultural movie projects Culture in January '96 to receive authorization to offer waiting for investors, at least 10 or 20 will succeed in income tax discounts to investors who keep any busiraising funds, and the world will get to know that Brazil ness in Brazil, such as Hollywood's film distributors is not just a couple of beautiful beaches surrounded by and multinational companies. violence. Brazil will show its traditions, its great perLeilany Fernandes, filmmaker and president of the sonalities, those who have built this country. It will Brazilian Movie Industry Workers' Union (STEC), is show its popular culture, entirely in favor of such its art and its goods, so an initiative: "I believe that cultural and comwe don't have to wait to mercial interchange can see either the Ministry All over the Net be increased for all of Culture or RioFilme, countriesand all of them for example, getting As time goes by. the world seems to enjoy hearing more about can benefit from it. their own site in the Brazilian cinema on the Internet. According to Internet principles or lack of them, private and small groups, or even individuals, pop here Internet. It's time to reMarcos Man lilies and there, building what could be called the Brazilian bit of C) bersPace. alize that private initiaMarins, graduated Two examples of that are: tives like Cinemabrazil front Universidade AlterNETive -- A site created by Leandro Indrusiak, a music are much more efficient Federal do Rio de student at Universidade de Santa Maria (state of Rio Grande do Sufi. and authentic than a bigJaneiro, is a filmmaker showing all kinds of alternative culture. poetry. music, theater. cinema. ger and official scheme. and has studied at the etc. Address: http://www.ufsm.brialternet/cine.httn1 Government has to give British _Film Institute. Tati's page - Tatiana, a graphic designer presents here design support to this spontaMarins has been projects, cinema, etc. Address: neous movement. This directing the project /--Tatiana http://www.Incc.br Cilateaubriand Brazilians living abroad are.also helping connect Brazilian cinema is the State's role." Cabeca de Paraiba. to the rest of the world. There are dozens of sites like these two below. Carol Peiffer, an You can contact him who list the others: American who visited through his phone: University, Bloomington, USA. Address: http:// Indiana Brazil about ten years 55-21-971-1567 or Vio ‘‘, indiana.edu/-baiu ago, wrote to CinemaUniversity of Wales. Cardiff. Great-Britain. Address: http:// brazil: "I love cows, I www.cf.ac.uk/uwcc/suon/brazil/braz-soc.html cinernabrazir&x.ibase.org.br write about them in a NEWS from BRAZIL - APRIL 1996
21
Bookwor Eden Variety will be the main ingredient of the recipe to sell books in Brazil this year. There will be food for all tastes, from the pulp-fiction bestseller authors to obscure foreign essayists. Publishers are very optimistic and for the first time in a long time, thanks to a stable economy, are being able to present long-term plans. DIVYA SHUKLA
Brazil and the world are getting ready for the 14th Bienal Internacional do Livro de Sao Paulo (Sao Paulo's Internacional Book Fair), in which publishers introduce their readers and distributors to new editions. The book festival, the largest of Latin America, usually is held at Parque Ibirapuera's Bienal Pavilion, but this time it will take place in the Expo Center Norte from August 13 to 25. The move was prompted by the need to accommodate larger audiences and provide them with better facilities and parking accommodations, this according to Altair Brasil, president of CBL, the company that will promote the event. The book festival's purpose remains unchanged, to serve as meeting grounds between publishers and the public. The focus has never been on actual book sales but on the promotion of books, very similar to fashion shows. The book industry continues to be lucrative in Brazil. Altair Brazil, president of Camara Brasileira do Livro (Brazilian Chamber of Books) projected a 35% increase in profit in 1995 over 1994. The projected profit surpasses the increase in the number of actual publications. There was an increase of 24% in publications in '95 over '94 compared with 4.3% over the previous year. Nevertheless, Paulo Rocco (of Rocco publishers) doesn't believe in the projections, he says that this 22
Sartre among the new releases.
increase is only in the number of editions and it is not a proportional increase in the demand. Brazilian publishers expect 1996 to be a good year for book sales. This optimism is mainly due to the economic stability provided by President Cardoso's Plano Real which helped control runaway inflation to manageable one digit figures in '95. Publisher Atica will focus on travel guides in competition with Folha de Sao Paulo's division called Publifolha. Atica, in partnership with British publishers Dorling Kindersley, published two travel guides (New York and Paris) in the past, and this year they will release travel guides for those planing to visit Roma and London. Publifolha's director, Ricardo Gandour, says that his company's travel guides are popular because they also contain beautiful images. The same applies to Atica's children's book division, which represents 10% of total revenues for that company. Atica will also be investing in "instant books" as it did in 1995 with titles like A Nova Guerra do Vietna (The New Vietnam War) by Jayme Spitzcovsky and Racismo Cordial (Cordial Racism). Both were originally special news stories for Folha. Very popular with Brazilian readers are the reference-type books. Many of these works will be available in CD-ROM and videos this year. During Frankfurt's Book Fair, which took place October of 1995, there was an overwhelming demand for dictionaries, illustrated works, manuals and guides. Will CD-ROM eventually make books extinct in Brazil? No, says Atica's editor Jose Bantim Duarte. He believes that works available in the electronic media format modifies the content of written material similar to translation into a different language. Therefore, it is not a replacement but merely an expansion to the variety of material available to the reader. Even though publishers are branching out and releasing a variety of topics and formats, publishers believe that the Brazilian book buyer will conNEWS from BRAZIL - APRIL 1996
1
Coming this year (a sample) Fiction & Poetry Obra Reanida — Fernando Sabino (Nova Aguilar) Perfeicao — Vladimir Nabokov (Cia de Letras) Ossos de Borboleta — Regis Bonvicino (Iluminuras) Poemas — e.e. cummings (Francisco Alves) Antes o Vera° —Carlos Heitor Cony (Cia. de Letras) 0 Best icirio on Cortejo de Odell — Guillaume Apollinaire (Iluminuras)
Biographies Palimpsest — Gore Vidal (Rocco) A Historia de Lee Oswald— Norman Mailer (Record) Garnett Gal ilei — Ludovico Geymonat (Nova Fronteira) Toulouse-Lautrec - Uma Vida — Julia Frey (Paz e Terra)
Classic Essays 0 Ser e o Nada — Jean-Paul Sartre (Vozes) 0 Imagincirio — Jean-Paul Sartre (Atica) Monsieur Teste — Paul Valery (Atica) Breviario de Estelle(' — Benedetto Croce (Atica) A Dignidade da Poesia — Lezama Lima (Atica) Prefacio a Shakespeare — Samuel Johnson (Iluminuras) Fragmentos para a Historic' da Filosofia — Arthur Schopenhauer (I luminuras) Os Alemeies — Norbert Elias (Jorge Zahar)
Philosophy 0 Finz da Moderizidade — Gianni Vattimo (Martins Fontes) Jacques Derrida — Derrida and Geoffrey Bennington (Zahar)
Art 0 Magico de 0:— Salman Rushdie (Rocco) hnagens— Ingmar Bergman (Martins Fontes) Retratos de Obras e Artistas — Giulio Carlo Argan (Martins Fontes) A Poetica Musical— Igor Stray inski (Zahar) Beethoven: Um Compendio — Barry Cooper (Zahar)
NEWS from BRAZIL -APRIL 1996
finite to purchase best sellers, books on mysticism and biographies. Therefore publishg houses will continue to devote the majority of their resources to books belonging to these subjects. But there are exception to this like publisher Record which is aiming to please its alternative readers with its Contraluz (Against the Light) series which publishes books focusing on homosexuality. The company, however, doesn't intend to abandon the publication .af best-sellers, its biggest source of revenue. Brazilian readers' preferences have historically leaned towards biographies and reference books, but this year there is an overwhelming volume of translations from classic and philosophical works. Some essays have been waiting for translation for decades. Brazilians will finally be able to read in Portuguese Elzbieta Ettinger's biography on German philosopher Martin Heidegger (18891976, who is well-known for his initial adherence to the Nazi movement). Ettinger caused a scandal when her book was released in the '95 Frankfurt Book Fair because of its intimate intellectual and sexual content, which discusses the relationship between Ettinger and the Jewish philosopher Hannah Arendt. Jean-Paul Sartre's (1905-1980) Being and Nothingness will also be translated. Another classic to be available is Monsieur Teste from French poet Paul Valery (1871-1945) in which the author composes an autobiography under an assumed identity. Brazilian author, Sergio Buarque de Holanda, whose books have been out of circulation for a while, will release several new editions this year. And post-modernism will have a chance of gaining popularity though releases from authors Fredric Jameson, Paul Virilio and Peter Sloterduk. Sloterduk, in his book, theorizes about the long term effects of the European Unification and its effects on the politics of the continent. American author Gore Vidal tells of his friendship wi4h Jackie and John Kennedy in Palimpsest. Another American, author Norman Mailer, details Lee Oswald's life prior to John Kennedy's assassination in .4 Hi.sloria de Lee Oswald. Many illustrated works will also be released. Peter Kindersley, chairman of DK Publishers, in interview to newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo said that the concept of illustration isn't new in Brazil, but that the demand for such works is. Words and pictures are complementary and very much recognized especially after the invasion of multimedia in Brazil. In fact, there are those who believe that because of Internet and electronic mail, printed-on-paper material will have to put a tough fight to survive in the country. 23
this, tourist, In h' maiden trip to r in an eventful week; wa&menaced by a pickpocket, swindled b", two yoUng, women, got a chipped bth frorn a defective manhole cove meta dead body, had a stone thro n at his bus n.d even got stung by wasp. But he just might go batkI re onellay. WILLIAM rt4
Scam artists....a chipped tOoth....a dead body..., riot.. .a shattered window,. Scenes from a,soap operatji lines from &sensational newscast? No, just a fevth unusual, unsettling incidents that occurred on my recen to Brazil. The trip wa¬ all bad news, but this definitely the strangest vacation I have ,ever had, My college buddy andi were both making our maiden voyage to South.AMerica. The ideeof taThpOrarily wading the Chicago coolness for the tropical sprintofBrazirseMnded good to us. Our firstrlestination was Rio de Janeiroot city with a two-sided reputation: glamorous and excitin et air-conditioned lo, as it up at.tede , C and intitt .ari lcrUUS 1 om-the airp enoiroserit mo_, a tucepreview of Rio, deserted a Saturday olo Fr am ioeb mornini, Botafo pacabana. L route ri of winch was alongside Guanabar&Ba , w,,:rnost. wasOur lined nf9ortCunatel% the b Y tth majestic pant trees "g zOomed severalI blocks past our. intended dropoS? We dids nor know how to ask the bUS driver to stop'in Portuguese, though it seemed obvious to everyone else on the bits that we anted to disembark.We soon noticedthat all the red , Octagonal signs vise other novices i stated "PARE", like ourselves to say that if you want to advise the attention of yo ouur hloocin ale tfrazi I i an driver. au:lenity ase in Rio was the Hotel Martinique, whose main s proximity to the famed Copacabana beach. The firni!gtht was a bit of a drag, for we were stuck b single bedrooms iitstead of getting one with two separate room with twc t eds. This would not littie been so bad except , forth-efofaocti roomsew :srheso rievm attrinisusiceurlhee,Iw rosiatoyhmthe. , bathroom occupying half the Ow space (When th!)e. : shower is in the room, I, mean th `F ot living space featured radio with two ' The6-foot-by-8-foot stations and an air conditioner, which I turnaed on at night in order to drown out therowdy teenagers next door. After that and a little comP laint .we got lucky and the management moved us into a bigger, better, quieter two bedroom for the rest of our stay there. Our first day was literally a washout, with periodic tropical downpours limiting our activities. My initial encounter with the criminal element ofRin occurred about two blocks from th hotel. A teenage b ut ri hl orsr w e for my wallet. Either he just ip a n annoying prankster almWing s taO lousy c or. This forced me to be valuables (cash, mote cdrefu onscious of my Passport, camera) and:ex immediate surround' g The next morning boarded a fer IuW su Niteroi in order tovielwaStb-eusucYe'aic.)-4coastline of Rio' buildings in the foreground contrast e lumpy and brown hills i the bacicground *h most ous being Sugar Loaf andtorcovado idloticed tha were probably the onty two "tobtisfsôn the entire terry, which serves as a means of transportation o for the Cariocas (a nickname for the locals of Ri) across Guanabara Bay. The Cariocas were ,all dressettntspuall and most ofthe males sported soncerjersey re lie ulic build , obrupebnatil Niterdo were festively painte
IT
24
ate pinks and lime greens and cool blues. ent of Rio took an abrupt turn on a quiet e,beach immortalized by that ngwoman, playing the role,' age and declared that our clothi hithe pointed upwards at a palm tree, rd ad relieved itself uPell tts.'„ She was so filen ng out a napkin to help clean our mess. Our cheerful joined be r five of mpan fourefof the ale cone undo the damage squirted with some four these schemers. valuables m 1. tic; were .naltfluy r shifty vn tealifbm e this •' tuhtrieliez'isnaa They Yrye re the tri mentioned ve;r2l trip. backedaanwsaey orrilhese roud to say-that nothing wa.s lost.„1 did ments mine sink that evening, but the no way!) stains rinsed out with et, but my friend was nailed point• jatnma;joked with him about this teenage giriwitha cast who was performing a new scam fasking us tc, piece of gum for her. The levity of this momem ted once we boarded a city bus. irst, 1 mutt configuration of the typical local us in o be confused with the airconditoned senger must board at the back dr,wJi cepts fares and doles out change *hesa Th enger then proceeds past a waisthigh each the seating area, and exits at the front door„ o the driver. ding behind Me, my friend flashed a five-real er not - he equivalent of a five-dollar bill. While I grabbed two ashiergaVe him insufficient change. At least five ps befOre my friend was properly reimbursed. 'we out to exit at our stop, my friend noticed seemed rather light. He could not believe ex 'era and zoom lens were missing! This w a stun elopment, for both of us are seasoned wOrld travelers Who have never lost any valuables before. My friendtheorized that while he was haggling with the cashier aboutt-the change4lom d eone brushed past him at the turnstile and lifted thirl' o s. He even suggested that the cashier worked, in with the thief by acting as a diVerSion torn d I am actually inclined to believe this *nario. He the nearby "tourist police station" to rephrt the crime, itwas.foregone conclusion that he had seen the last of amera equipment. Too depressed y sightseeing without his camera, Itlen4 dent g out at the beach the next day. I ugar Loaf mountain, but it was now w bn Out tow turn Fwas walking uphill on a sidewalk anhole cover. Instead of staying in place ik help cover, it suddenly tipped, sendring !nee Onto the pavement. My collision h cohere &chipped tooth and an assortment otsc ranes h nothing more serious. I was vs infrastructure. deled cm Atth at this was my personal nadir of this (o on:, that there was nowhere to go the first doorway I could ti, whi ed to be a dental clinic just a block from accido ti tie English was spoken here, with the excep.. ion bei s orthodontist who had recently trained in Chicago or a few months. She explained that it was not necessary to e ct my damaged tooth, but it did have to undergo a bon g process. I spent twi urs having my tooth bonded by the lovely and talented Paula, a young dentist who wore earrings that said "SeTOP" ( not ies "PARE" "PARE" T ?)h. Iffelt like the new arrival at the zoo, as t other dentists scrutinized Paula's skillful . patient. e Wks at the dental clinic Ojai vvas almost ablato forget about m NEWS from BRAZIL - APRIL 1996
The next day. I was actually successful in reaching Sugar Loaf mountain (Pao de Acncar) without injuring myself or getting robbed. A handful of rugged souls are known to climb up the sides of Sugar Loaf, but most people reach its peak by riding a set of two smooth-running cable cars. The views from the peak are truly spectacular. and it was fun to spot various buildings and landmarks in the distance. The lofty Christ the Redeemer statue stands atop Corcovado mountain, with arms outstretched to embrace all of Rio, for richer or for poorer. The favelas, giant hodgepodges of shacks jammed into tie hillsides, form part of the colorful and complex mosaic that is Rio. As I observed the grand panorama around me, comfortably basking in the morning sun, I finally felt relaxed for the first time in Rio. Our merry romp through Rio continued in Centro, now bustling with Cariocas on a typical weekday. My friend was interested in taking a few photos of this classical building. The sculptures atop the building were all curiously wrapped with light-colored fabric, vaguely reminiscent of Christo's Reichstag project which my friend had intently observed in Berlin. The massive building itself was not wrapped, revealing its Corinthian columns. We were intrigued by a political rally taking place in front of the building. Facing the heavily guarded edifice, the main speaker lectured forcefully to a crowd of supporters. The atmosphere within the plaza seemed a bit tense. While watching a newscast if at night, we saw shocking footage of the rally which degenerated into a near-riot. There were bloodied officers, smashed vehicles, screaming protesters being hauled away by the authorities. Rats, we were this close to witnessing mayhem and violence that was unrelated to a soccer match! We departed Rio with bittersweet feelings, my friend's being mostly bitter. We hopped on a bus for a four-hour ride to Parati. A small colonial town along the Atlantic coastline, Parati was a good place to relax between Rio and Sao Paulo. Parati's six-block histo neat area features cobblestone streets and quaint eighteenth-century buildings. I am not quite sure why we spent two days here, however. One would have sufficed. After our intense stay in Rio, I suppose both of us wanted to lay low for awhile. Our place of resider ce featured a pleasant courtyard and an agile gecko (the house pet?). At first I mistook it for a toy on the wall, but then it started to move about in search of food. This creature mast have been the Michael Jordan of geckos, as we cheered each time it sucked down a pesky mosquito and gasped after the rare misses. This spectator sport was nearly as ei tertaining as watching a televised soccer game between two top Brazilian clubs in the "family room" of the inn. The spirited reaction of the proprietors and their friends after a fabulous goal captured the essence of Brazil's passion for futebol After our mellow stay in Parati, it was time for a scenic six-hour bus ride to Sao Paulo. A sprawling gray metropolis with over ten percent of 3razil's population, Sao Paulo is the most populated city in South America and is the third most populated metropolitan area in the world (behind only Tokyo and New York). Interestingly enough, the population density in Sao Paulo is less than that in Rio. We stayed in Liberdade, which is the home of the largest Japanese population outside of Japan at nearly one million. Quite a number, but it is a mere fraction of Sao Paulo's 16.4 million inhabitants. When we dined in a local Japanese restaurant, I was unsure of which "thank you" to utter: obrigado (Portuguese) or arigato (Japanese). We happened upon a pulsating rock concert in a plaza near the Teatro Municipal. I actually recognized one of the band's songs (must be a smash hit in Brazil), though I did not know the name of the group. The acoustics of this outdoor concert were surprisingly good, though not good enough to prevent one druggie from bouncing about the inside of a police wagon. The officers were ceitainly focused on the druggie, for another fellow relieved himself next to the wagon (how nice!). Our evening was capped off by a dead body across the way from the main cathedral. From our vantage point there were no obvious signs of bodily harm: NEWS from BRAZIL - APRIL 1996
how did he d_e? I he lonely corpse attracted quite a curiou crowd: poliee officers, local passersby, plainly attire prostitutes....and two visitors from Chicago. Gee,,,w0, new scam, the "corpse on the sidewalk" trick? My friend an I left the sce le, but the deceased was still waiting to be carried away. On our last day in Sao Paulo (and in Brazil), we visited the Memorial da America Latina, a captivating campus of curvilinear concrete buildings designed by Oscar Niemeyer, Brazil's most notable architect. The centerpiece of the Memorial is a large "bleeding" concrete hand, with a red image of South America superimposed in its palm to reflect the concept of I., ttiti American unity. In my own mind, the, bleeding ham symbolized my freak fall in Rio. We thettli ventured to IL irapuera Park, considered to be Sao Paulo's,t1 equivalent to New York's Central Park. An older grouping of Niemeyer's sttuctures from the 1950's dominates the park, which was quite popular with the rollerblading crowd. The park also features a Japanese pavilion, museums, sculptures1 and a planetarium. While in the park, a wasp jabbed its stinger into my neck. Just my rotten luck, my first wasp sting ever. At least did not seem to suffer an allergic reaction. though the bacK °fitly neck was rather sore for about an hour. Our last meal in Brazil was the feijoada, a stew which is the meal of choice for Brazilians on Saturdays. Just about everyone in this particular diner was enjoying this rich concoction of fatty meats and black beans, accompanied byl rice and greens. We drowned our daily sorrows with refreshing sueos, bet,erages made from Brazil's cornucopia of fruits. How about laranja (orange), morango (strawberry)„., abacaxi (pineapple) or acerola (vaguely cherry flavored) ?4%. The escape from Brazil started on the jam-packed metro. We were informed that our metro ticket was not usable for the airport bus, though we were led to believe otherwise. Oh ; well, the additional fare was not much, not a big deal. Unlike in ft o, the passenger boards the typical Sao Paqi bus at the frort. One then pays a cashier sitting near driver, passes tnrough the omnipresent turnstile and exits the rear door. The bus ride was uneventful....until we drov through one of -hefavelas, and a marble-sized stone crashed through a bas window. Luckily, no one was injured, though I mentally ques' jolted the judgment of the driver for stopping the bus in the middle of this shantytown in order to view the damage from tf e exterior. What was he thinking? After the unscheduled curbside inspection, we proceeded towards the airport as if nothing had ever happened. Soon, my friend and I both spotted a sign which appeared to indicate the terminal for our flight, so we hurriedly followed a man off the bus at this junction. We were puzzled to see the man walking off into the distance; were we to follow him? Dumbstruck, we then realized that this was not the terminal at all, but mere!' a minor stop along the highway for specialized airport employees. The sign which lured us off the bus was actually an advertisement for a certain fast food restaurant, which proudly proclaimed its location at that particular terminal! We were marooned at this kiosk for only a few minutes, as another bus saved the day for us. Naturally, the cashier refused to accept either of our previous ticket stubs, so we paid a third fare in order to reach the airport. As an appropriate epilogue, the announced movie on our flight home ("Apollo 13") was canceled due to technical difficulties. We will definitely be laughing about this surrealistic journey for years to come. Our slice of Brazil had its charms: spectacular natural landscapes, tropical weather, miles of beaches, delicious food and drink, beautiful women, exciting modern architecture. However, the level of crime and poverty in the big cities cannot be ignored. I have never encountered so many distractions, scams, incidents, all concentrated in an &ght-day span. I became rather tentative on this trip, cautious, reacting instead of acting. " The vacation metamorphosed into a Brazilian obstacle course, and neither of us survived unscathed. Despite the mind-boggling series of events, I would welcome a returif trip to Brazil someday. Not soon, but someday. Now, I must send a thank-you note to Paula. 25
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Fish story His rifle never failed him. He had ended many parties in town and once — the case was notorious — he put the sheriff and five officers to run. Stories of his bravery had made him a legend and he was respect by every body. PEREGRINO JUNIOR UM CABRA DISPOSTO
o coisa ruim pra eu achar boa! Fazendo uma careta de nojo, Canuto emborca o copo sem pestanejar, engolindo a cachaca de urn trago. Nao sabia fazer nada sem primeiro "matar o bicho". Foi urn costume que etc trouxe do Ceara — e nunca mais se apartou dele. A cachaca tinha para Canuto, todas as utilidades: abrandava o calor nos dias quentes de bochorno; espertava a lombeira nas noites asperas de friagem. Dor de cabeca e caruara, era corn cachaca que ele curava. Corn cachaca resolvia, tambem, complicacOes e dificuldades. E, ao tomar o seu trago, nunca deixava de rcpetir aquela careta e aquela frase: 0 coisa ruim pra eu achar boa! Cabra tuira, de cabelo bagacento e olhos verdes, Canuto tinha urn jeito despachado de "branco da Bahia". Era homem de poucas palavras, mas sabia dar o seu recado. Disposto e mau, nao tinha medo de caretas. Nem levava desaforos para casa. Regatties e seringueiros, canoeiros e pescadores, todos, naquelas beiradas de rio, conheciam a sua fama de valentao. Logo que chegou do Ceara, fez estrupicios baitas naqueles mundos de seringal. Corn etc ninguem contava lambanca. Cresceu pra banda dele, ja sabia, — Canuto comia o bicho na ponta da lambedeira. Born escopeteiro, o seu rifle nao negava fogo. Desmanchou muito forro a cacete, na cidade, e uma vez — o caso era notorio — deu uma carreira no delegado e mais cinco pracas de policia. Essa lenda de valentia, que correu ligeira todas aquelas redondezas de igarape, criou para etc urn largo prestigio de temor, assegurando-lhe a consideracao e o respeito de toda gente. NEWS from BRAZIL - APRIL 1996
Quando Canuto se casou corn a Raimunda Conceicao, filha do page Possidonio, todo mundo se espantou da coragem dela! — Mulher de topete! NA° tern sobrosso de casar corn um estuporado daqueles! A tropa teve pena do couro dela, antevendo as cocas valentes que Canuto the havia de dar quando estivesse nos seus azeites. Outros explicavam corn malicia a psicologia da escolha. — Mulher é assim mesmo: sO gosta de homem que lhe coce o couro... Canuto dava-the de vez em quando um tapa-olho, para eta conhecer-lhe o peso do braco... E trazia eta num cortado. Trastejou, era na certa, — o pau roncava. Exemplava Raimunda pelos motivos mais d-toas. Nao admitia que eta desse confianca a ninguem. — Mulher enxerida, comigo é na peia! Mas gostava da sua cabocla — e pulou de contente quando eta ficou de barriga. Buchada, pesada, redonda, Raimunda ficou mais feia. Entretanto, foi quando ele achou eta mais bonita. Queria ter urn filho, e andava nas suas sete quinas. Ate parecia ter visto passarinho verde! E depois que eta descansou, nunca mais the pas a mao em cima. Mudou por completo! Ficou manso que nem urn cordeiro! SO vivia para a cunhata que nasceu. Botou na menina o nome da mulher, e, cheio de quindins, nao tirava a pirralha do quarto. Amoleceu, o diabo do homem, corn o nascimento da cunhata! A menina fazia dele gato e sapato. Mal eta choramingava, etc lamentava: — Coitada da chicuta, quer mamar!... Todos os seus cuidados cram par eta. A vizinhanca estava espantada. — Quern havera de dizer que seu' Canuto fosse um homem de tao born coracao! Do ferrabras que etc fora, nao restava mais senao uma vaga recordacao. 0 fato era comentado corn certa magoa nas redondezas, porque a populacao local tinha orgulho da valentia e da disposicao daquele homem brabo cujos destemperos temia, mas admirava. Canuto, porem, nunca mais quis saber de pirilampada, nem de estrepolias. Era o homem da familia; vivia para a sua cabocla e a sua cunhata. A CUNHATA Logo que a menina nasceu, todo cheio de zelos pela filha, Canuto tratou de mandar benze-la. Chamou o sogro, o page Possidonio, e pediu a etc que, por via das dUvidas, curasse a menina de doencas, de cobras e de outros bichos malignos. — Estes matos tern tantos bichos malignos, seu Possidonio! E preciso benzer a cunhata. Seu Possidonio rid() teve duvidas. Pegou uma cobra, cortou-the a ponta da cauda e a cabeca corn urn tercado, e deu 29
os dois pedacos a cunhata pra comer. Depois, rezando baixinho, benzeu a neta: — Em nome da Virgem, Quebranto, mau-olhado, sai-te daqui! Que esta menina Nao é pra ti!
— Urn potoqueiro chue, esse Condeixa do Regatao! —Nunca vi tipo mais emproado! — E saido que sa ele mesmo! —0 traste! — Antipatico e enjoado!
A cunhata, criada corn tipuca e mingau de banana, cedo comecou a deitar corpo e a enfeitar. Canuto ficou desinquieto. Tinha ouvido o page Possidonio contar uma hist6ria de botos que pegavam donzelas, e no p6de deixar de ter um mau pensamento. Veio-lhe mente, que nem um sonho ruim a imagem querida da filha... Esfregou os olhos, afastando o mau pensamento, acariciou corn ternura a cunhata que the veio assentar na perna, e advertiu Raimunda corn voz grave. — Tenha cuidado corn os botos que vadeiam al no perau do igarape, mulher! Raimunda, boa filha de page, sugeriulhe logo urn remedio: —Se esta corn medo que eles peguem a cunhata, é melhor arranjar logo urn couro de jurutai! — Couro de jurutai, pra que, sinha Raimunda? — E o passaro mal-assombrado que livra as donzelas das artes do boto. — E livra mesmo, mulher? — Dizque! Ele nao teve mais sossego enquanto nao arranjou o passaro-fantasma que preserva as donzelas de seducOes e faltas... matou a ave, tirou-lhe o couro e botou-o no terreiro pra secar. Depois, o entregou a Raimunda, para que assentasse a cunhata em riba dele, quando ela ficasse "de paquete", nos tres primeiros dias da puberdade... Alem disto, varreu o chao da barraca corn as penas da cauda do jurutai. Mas s6 ficou tranquil° no dia que Raimunda the fez a comunicacao importante: — A cunhata esta "curada"! Suspirou, aliviado: a filha do seu coracao estava afinal salva da tentacao e do pecado. Nao tinha mais medo do boto...
Um dia, tendo a galeota do regatao atracado na ponta da barranca de Canuto, Totonho Cheira Sovaco de Moo mal p05 os olhos em cima de Conceicao, se engracou logo da cunhata. — Achi, qui curiboca desadorada de bonita! Os olhos dela chega encadeiar a gente!... E deitou uns olhares dengosos pra Conceicao. Mas a menina, ainda muito gita, pois mat entrara na casa dos vinte anos, nao deu confianca ao potoqueiro do Condeixa, de quern toda gente mangava. Olhou-o ate corn desprezo. — Achi! NA° s'enxerga, enxerido! — Que cara zangada, soco! — Ora, me deixa, xodo! Antonio CondeiXa nao desanimou. Nem arrepiou carreira. Toda vez que arranjava pretexto, dava um salto na barraca de Canuto. E ultimamente jachegava ate a fazer propostas a Conceicao. — Se voce quisesse casar comigo, meu bem, eu era o homem mais feliz deste mundo! Conceicao dava urn muxoxo: — Voote! Era so o que faltava — Nao s'enxerga, enxerido? !... Mas sorria, sem raiva.
TOTONHO CHEIRA SOVACO DE MOCA Empregado de urn regatao que arranchava de quando em vez na beira do igarape, Antonio Condeixa era urn curumim ja taludo, mas guenzo e malajambrado, que andava sempre enfarpelado numas roupinhas jiquis. Apesar de feio e enjoado, era metido a sebo. Enxerido que so ele. Desadorado por urn rabo de saia, as cunhas da beira do rio conheciam todas as suas manhas de coi6 sem sorte. Suas farabambas de contador de lambanca irritavam toda gente. E como ele era amarelo que so Mud, lhe botaram o apelido de Totonho Cheira Sovaco de Moca. Os pais de familia implicavam corn ele, e as cunhatas cacoavam das suas roupas jiquis e das suas prosas de contador de lorota. Ninguem o levava a seri°. 30
o mocO Antonio Condeixa estava mesmo embeicado por ela. Rabicho do born. Nao tirava o pensamento de cima da cabocla. Embora temendo Canuto, cuja fama de valentao ainda inquietava aqueles cafundOs de igarape, ele apertava o cerco... E, para ajudar a amolecer o coracao da cunhata tratou logo de arranjar urn "moce. Matou um pavaozinho do mato numa sexta-feira, enterrou ele numa encruzilhada e esperou que a terra lhe comesse a came. Passados uns tempos, entao, a meia-noite de outra sexta-feira, foi la na encruzilhada e desenterrou os ossinhos do bicho, que atirou no igarape. A correnteza carregou todos os ossos menos urn, que ficou de bubuia. E esse ossinho era o "moc6". De posse dele, Ant6nio Condeixa adquiriu a certeza de que havia de ser dono do coracao de Conceicao — e criou mais coragem. Nao ha nada como a confianca para dar audacia. E em coisas de mulher, um pouco de audacia e meio caminho andado.
Uma tarde, passando na montaria pela ponte da barraca de Canuto, ele deu corn os olhos em Conceicao, que estava apanhando flores de murure nos periantas da barraca. Como ia sozinho e nao viu ninguem corn ela, abicou a montaria no tijuco e, pulando por cima das canaranas, ganhou a ribanceira e largou-se atras da moca. — Que esta fazendo aqui, minha nega? — 0 que nao e da sua conta! — Entao, é assim que voce fala corn o seu xodO? — Achi! que confianca sao essas? Ele lembrou-se que trazia no bolso o seu "moco" — e criou animo. — Se voce soubesse como eu the quero bem, Conceicao, voce seria capaz de acabar gostando de mim!... E tentou agarra-la pela cintura. — Me larga "seu" Antonho, senao eu grito! Antonio Condeixa, sentindo frouxa a resistencia da cunhata, insistiu na atitude e apertou-a num afago, docemente, esmagando-lhe os peitinhos duros onde o coracao pulava de emocao, contra os bracos magros e energicos. Rubra de colera subita, querendo libertar-se das maos brutais que a prendiam, Conceicao atirou-se furiosa contra Antonio Condeixa, mordendo-o sem piedade. Diante da reacao violenta da cunhata que o mordera no pulso direito, deixandolhe nas carnes as marcas ensangUentadas dos dentes pequeninos e afiados, ele recuou cheio de dor, corn urn grito rouco de onca acuada e ferida. — Que é isso, Conceicao? Voce me feriu! E tirando o lenco do bolso, comecou a enxugar o sangue que the marejava a dentada do pulso. Espantada corn o ferimento que produzira no rapaz, Conceicao aproximou-se dele corn pena: — Nao foi por gosto nao, bichinho! Foi sem querer... Esta doendo muito ? — Nao... foi nada nao... Já passou... — Se voce quiser me agarrar agora, eu deixo, bichinho!... Achi! esta correndo tanto sangue! Voce deixa eu dar urn beijo al, pra sarar?... Ele sorriu, meio surpreso, meio consolado, mas duvidando ainda. — Se voce quiser... Mas nao esta doendo nao! Eta sugou a ferida corn os labios, estancando o sangue que porejava. Depois amarrou-the o lenco no pulso. E sob o consentimento das primeiras estrelas, que se debrucavam no espelho preto do igarape, no silencio da tarde tranquila, a mataria braba ouviu uma masica suave de tucura... A mamorana, cujas touceiras cresciam a beira d'agua, tocada pelo vento, fazia o seu tipico rumor. — Voote! E a voz da mae da Mamorana... E benzeu-se. Raimunda, dando por falta dela, ficou cuira. NEWS from BRAZIL - APRIL 1996
— Aonde anda voce, minha chera? — Estou aqui na beira do rio, respondeu ela, que vinha vindo pra casa. — Toma tento corn boto, cunhata! Sai da ribanceira, anda! Vai fazer tua rede, que o perau do igarape é a duas bragas dal, e bicho do fundo d'agua nao cagoa! Essa noite foi de consumigao pra cunhata. NA° tirava o Condeixa da cabega. Passou a noite inteirinha em claro. V irava, mexia, e o sentido nao saia dele. 0 pensamento grudado nele que nem passaro em visgo. A CANOA DO DIVINO — Brebare-se bra festa do Difino, "seu" And6nio! Antonio Condeixa já conhecia a escrita: o patrao fantasiado de "Imperador", ia dar uma batida naquelas bibocas. Embora todagente o considerasse judeu, Miguel Jorge era catOlico — e do born. Casado corn brasileira, batizava todos os filhos na igreja e nao perdia missa quando havia padre na cidade. Estava tao adaptado aos costumes do lugar, que era agora o organizador da Festa do Divino Espirito Santo. Havia quem atribuisse a iniciativa de Miguel Jorge a interesse subalterno. — Regatao nao perde vazal... diziam. Mas era devogao, ele fizera uma promessa ao Divino Espirito Santo quando o seu cagula fora picado de cobra. 0 pirralho sarara: ele nunca mais se esqueceu da promessa. Era homem de palavra, apesar de regatao. Tambem, viera pro Brasil tao gito, que já virara quase brasileiro. SO a fala é que ainda estava urn pouco atravessada. Mas corn o tempo is acabar falando direito. Urn mes antes da festa, Miguel Jorge, tomando a frente da procissao, corn o titulo decorativo de "Imperador", em companhia de "Juizes", "Mordomos" e devotos do Divino, metia-se dentro de tr'e's vastas canoas, todas empavesadas de bandeirolas brancas e encarnadas, — uma pomba simbolica pintada no centro e outras esculpidas nos mastros cheios de fitas e guirlandas — e Ia comegava a correr aqueles mundos de mato e dgua. Dois tambores, nas canoas, anunciavam a passagem do cortejo no silencio verde dos igarapes e paranas, dos furos e rios, dos paranamirins e igapos. —Bum... Burn... Quitibum... Bum... As barraquinhas das margens se abriam, contentes, a passagem das "montarias do Divino", e das pontes de atracagao, repletas de homens, mulheres e criangas, que Ihes acenavam corn bandeiras e gestos de alegria, recebiam eles homenagens e esmolas! Nos sitios e rocinhas as montarias atracavam, e a mata acordava corn o fragoido do fundungo. Eram festas de arromba, que reuniam povo de todas aquelas beiradas de rio. A barraca de Canuto daquela feita recebeu a visita do "Divino". Juntou gente como beia para apreciar a festa. De todas as barracas das redondezas vieram NEWS from BRAZIL - APRIL 1996
devotos. Tropa era tanta, que ate parecia putirum. A "Coroa do Divino", que os festeiros conduziam na montaria da frente, dentro de uma bandeja de prata, toda enlagada de fitas, foi levada pra barraca de ,Canuto. Miguel Jorge em pessoa carregava ela. Todos os presentes vinham beija-la na mao dele. E o regatao, cumprindo a risca o ritual da festa do Divino, pousava-a urn instantinho na cabega de cada pessoa que a beijava. Em seguida, colocou-se a Coroa numa mesa no centro da sala, coberta corn a colcha nova que Canuto comprara pra enfeitar a camarinha de Conceigao. Quatro velas ficaram ardendo em volta dela, dia e noite. A barraca de Canuto, apesar de ser casa de pobre, estava corn urn ar festivo e importante. Sendo a pessoa mais conceituada e grauda das redondezas, ele acolhia corn efusao os vizinhos e os conhecidos. — Vao entrando. Nao tenham cerim6nias. Fagam de conta que estao em suas casas. Enquanto os portadores da Coroa descansavam e madornavam no copiar, a sala se agitava num alarido desadorado de festa. De noite, houve ladainha, tirada pelo proprio Canuto, que engrolava corn dignidade eclesiastica urn latinorio divertido e pitoresco — Virgo predicanda... — Ora pro nobis!... — Virgo Potens... — Ora pro nobis!... — Estrella Matutina... — Ora pro nobis!... Acabada a ladainha, foi um deus-nos-acuda. A orquestra — uma rabeca, urn cavaquinho e uma flauta — atacou o seu programa cutuba de polcas e chotes, e a tropa entrou decidida nas dangas. Os homens, em geral, mais graciosos e desenvoltos que as mulheres, cujos passos na sala eram pesados e timidos. Condeixa e Conceigao foram par constante. Enfiavam polca em cima de polca, chegando a levantar poeira. E nem davam mostras de cansago. Era s6 tocar a mirsica, eles estavam arrastando os pes. Ele todo perequete, vaidoso e contente, ela dengosa e assanhada, todacheia de quindins. As outras mogas, mordidas de despeito e inveja, cochichavam pelos cantos, num fuchico danisco. — Que grude, Minha Nossa Senhora! — Nunca vi rabicho tao indecente. — Gente apresentada, soco! 0 ronco da orquestra continuava, indiferente, animando os
pares e espantando os bichos da mata. De repente, por causa de uma pisadela que urn rapaz deu no pe de uma moga, ia havendo urn rob. — Nao enxerga, seu pe de mao de pilao! — Pe de mao de pilao é sua mae! Era uma rixa antiga, entre dois paroaras, que acabaria em conflito, decidindo-se a ponta de faca, se nao fosse a disposicao de Canuto, que respeitado e temido, botando a cabega na porta gritou pros contendores: — Que diabo de bate-boca é esse? Acabem corn essa joga que isto aqui nao casa de Mae Joana! Foi agua na fervura. Os valentOes botaram a viola no saco. Mal receberam as suas esmolas (novilhas, vitelas, carneiros, galinhas, bacorinhos, ovos, tartarugas, paneiros de farinha, beijus, peixe seco, frutas, urn de tudo, menos dinheiro ), os festeiros do Divino deitaram os trocos dentro das canoas e levantaram o panete pra outro sitio,— onde se havia de repetir o mesmo cerimonial, — quebrando o silencio matutino dos rios e igarapes corn o ronco mon6tono do tambor, que acordava num alvorogo de alegria todas as barracas das ribanceiras... Bum-bum... Burn-bum... Burn-bum... Conceigao teve, logo que a Canoa do Divino partiu, dias sucessivos de sonhos e de inquietagao. Nao estava nada tranqiiila. Tivera momentos bons naquela noite animada de fusue. Mas desde que Condeixa partira se lhe fechara o coragao... NA° atinava bem corn o motivo. Mas urn nao-sei-que-diga Id dentro lhe dizia que alguma coisa estava pra acontecer... (Depois da romaria fluvial, era a festa, na cidade. As canoas deviam atracar no porto na vespera do dia do Divino Espirito Santo. 0 programa constava de ladainha, banquete, leilao, dangas e missa cantada. Um nunca acabar de festas! As esmolas arrecadadas, tirantes as que jam servir para o banquete da Comissao, seriam arrematadas em leilao, na praca da Matriz, a fim de arranjar uns bagarotes para pagar a missa e o sermao do padre.) Todo mundo fazia maus juizos sobre a honestidade do regatao: — No frigir dos ovos, Miguel Jorge vai fazer um born arranjo. — Ele tira sempre a sua lambugem. — Qual! desta vez regatao levou uma bucha danada! (Mas Miguel Jorge era, por excegao, nessas coisas de devogao, honrado e sincero.) ...Nao arredava o pensamento daquilo: Condeixa, a festa, a sua situagao... Que ia ser da suavida? Condeixa gostaria mesmo dela? Homem nao gosta de mulher: acostuma... E as tengoes dele seriam boas? Teria ele dangado corn outras mogas nos sitios por onde passara? E, no leilao da Matriz, teria tido coragem de deixar que o outro arrematasse a cuia pitinga que ela ofertara ao santo ? E se ele, na festa, se engragasse de outra cunhata? Feigao dele era de que gostava 31
dela. Mas... Sabia nao! Este mundo da tantas voltas! — Quando e que a gente casa, bichinho? — Ora, minha nega, eu ainda ganho tao pouco — Que e que tern. bichinho? Eu nao fag() questao de estadao... — Mas eu estou liso, Conceicao. — E bem. Mas neste estado é que eu nao posso ficar. Se papal souber, o que é que vai ser de nos? — Agora é impossivel... Vamos esperar que "See Miguel aumente o meu ordenado... E foi se embora, sem atar nem desatar... — Ere catu, minha nega, ate curi!... Aquela noite aziaga, no silencio triste da sua camarinha, escutando o canto agourento do murututu — Credo! — foi urn drama calado de sonhos, de sobressaltos, de incertezas acabrunhadoras. Rolando na rede sem achar posicao, interrogou em vao o destino, e nao pregou os olhos. A primeira cantada do gab o veio encontra-la acordada ainda, de olhos secos, assuntando na vida, sem saber o que fazer. Que e que ia ser da vida dela, minha Nossa Senhora de Nazare? E quando o pal soubesse de tudo?... Nem gostava de pensar... Pegou no sono, ja de manhazinha, quando o sot botou a cara larga de fora, por cima da cabeleira verde das sumaumeiras, para espiar no igarape os banhos dos passaros madrugadores. Inipowistaliditimma 0 BOTO — Pau de muquem td al mulher! Arranje os terens, que eu amanha quero fazer piracui pra salga. — E bem. Mas nao tap de peixe de pele nao, que e carregado e faz mat as suas perebas. Pronta a grelha triangular do muquern, que a trempe de pedras da tucurua agtientava sobre os ticOes acesos, comecaram a assar o tambaqui a fogo brando. Moqueado o peixe, o esmigalharam nos dedos, esfarinhando-o completamente, para leva-lo ao forno de fazer farinha. Feita a farinha de peixe, s6 restava preparar a mojica, pra comer durante a salga, no putirum. Depois dos derradeiros repiquetes de agosto, principiara a vazante. Ia comecar o "tempo da salga". 0 Cel. Borborema, que era o dono de todas aquelas terras da beira do rio, já mandara ordem a Canuto pra organizar o putirum. Canuto avisou a tropa e botou logo o tajapura na proa da sua montaria, pra ter sorte na pescaria e nao ficar saru. A partida para a salga estava marcada pro dia seguinte. Raimunda nao sabia como havia de comecar... Mas tinha mesmo que dizer. Canuto nao podia ir embora ignorando aquela desgraca. Afinal, quando se trancaram na camarinha pra dormir, eta beijou os seus bentinhos tres vezes pra criar coragem e atirando a anagua em cima da esteira do 32
girau, foi desembuchando: — Voce sabe de uma coisa, Canuto? Boto pegou a cunhata! — Qu'e que esta me dizendo, mulher?! —Foi eta mesmo que me disse que o boto tinha pegado eta! Tambem a cunha nao tern juizo, vivia agora bangolando na barranca do igarape... Esta al o que eta queria! — Boto nada, mulher besta! Deixa estar que eu you cacar o condenado que fez mat a cunha, e quando topar corn o miseravel, dou cabo da vida dele! De madrugadinha, quando as primeiras barras do dia levaram a escuridao do ceu sujo, Canuto saiu de casa sem dizer palavra, desamarrou a montaria da ponte, e puxou corn 6dio pras cabeceiras do igarape. Dentro da canoa ele levava tudo o que era preciso pra pescaria: duas linhas, dois "bicos", duas bolas, a buracanga de matar peixe, a quice de fianca, tercado, o uru, o isqueiro, o tabaco, a palha de tanari pro cigarro, os anzois e a sua matalotagem de mojica e cachaca. E mipicando o jacuma — tchaco — tchaco — tchaco — etc nem via o rebojo que a montaria levantava na proa. Estava danado da vida. A cabeca zonza rondava, atopetada de pensamentos maus, que nem urn corropro em riotte de pe-de-vento. Uma dor fina, de Odio, estalava nos seus pulsos, apertava-the a goela, rasgava o seu coracao. Tambem se etc topasse o desgracado que fizera mat a sua filha — Ah! tipo chue! — cosia o condenado de faca! TEMPO DA SALGA 0 putirum estava fervendo. Naquelas beiras encharcadas de lago, urn mundao de gente labutando na salga. Todos os moradores das redondezas, e ate gente mais de longe, se misturavam no vaivern daquela trabalheira: pescadores que vinham mariscar por conta do Cel. Borborema; especuladores que queriam comprar o pescado; regatiaes que farejavam bons negocios. Miguel Jorge — um mama em onca danisco — foi dos primeiros a chegar. Nao quis fazer feitoria no teso pra nao perder tempo nem gastar dinheiro: ficou mesmo na tolda da sua canoa de regatao, onde improvisou uma barraca de lona. Etc e Condeixa all viviam o dia inteiro, no mormaco, negociando corn a tropa do putirum, e era all, a noite, que dormiam, sob a soya caningada dos carapanas.
Nas "ilhas" do alto, junto as reboladas • de palmeiras, alguns pescadores fizeram tejupares de folhas de bacu, corn portas - de japas, e acola, em torno da canoa do regatao e das barracas dos pescadores, era que girava a vida do putirum. A feitoria do Cel. Borborema, que recolhia todo o pescado, estava trepada numa barranca desbeicada do igarape, bem na bocaina do lago, em tempo de se atolar no visgo mole do tijuco. Pitoresca e alegre, a fisionomia do lugar, no tempo da salga. 0 verao claro queimava o ceu, mas a temperatura era agradavel, porque sopravam para refrescar os "ventos de baixo", abrandando o calor do sot brabo. Os bichos do mato e os passaros, contentes, passeavam nas cercanias, fazendo sonora a magia policromica da paisagem enfeitada de sol. Na manha iluminada, que vento de baixo" refrescava, arrepiando a cabeleira verde da mata felpuda, Canuto, mupicou seu jacuma corn talento, ate abicar na ribanceira de feitoria do Cel. Borborema. Chegou corn cara de poucos amigos, sem dar as horas. A tropa, porem, saudouo corn efusao. — Antao, Canuto, como the foi de viagem? — Metre — metre, mupicando rio a riba, mode chegar na hora, antes de ter "caido o vento". — E a obrigacao, cuma ficou? — Vai indo namasque. Na consumica° da labuta de todo dia! E amarrou a cara, sem vontade de in Rodou nos calcanhares, e embicou logo na direitura da canoa do regatao. — Abangue-se, Canuto! bra tomar uma chigrinha de café! ofereceu Miguel Jorge. Mas Canuto recusou corn secura, para cortar conversa. — Eu quero mas é matar o bicho. E, —coisa que etc nao fazia ha muitos anos — emborcando o copo de cachaca, soltou a velha exclamacao do seu tempo de solteiro: coisa ruim pra eu achar boa! Condeixa nao ficou tranquil() corn os maus modos do pal de Conceicao. — Quer ver que a cunha me armou urn catatau corn o Canuto?
-0
BATENDO 0 LAGO A calca grossa arregacada, a curta camisa de algodaozinho panejando ao vento, o largo chapeu de pal ha de tumumazeiro enterrado ate as orelhas, o comprido cigarro de tauari espetado no queixo, Canuto, todo vermelho, cor de tinta de moruxi sentado no "banco do pescador" da proa, os pes fincados na tabua do "fogao", esperando o peixe de harpao em punho, tern oar sinistro de um duende de barro, estranho e duro. Etc na frente, o "joao-de-pau" na popa, governando, a montaria navega macia, que nem asa de pato, e o pirarucu NEWS from BRAZIL - APRIL 1996
trastejou — esta no ferro... Os pescadores, pra matar o tempo, vdo dando corn a lingua nos dentes. — Cunhado, disque Corone Borborema é podre de rico? — Paresque... — Feick dele é de home graudo. — Tern urn dispotismo de terra nestes mundo de igarape. — Antdo, a agua do rio tambem é dele? — E bem... E de quem havera de se? — Tai uma que eu ndo engulo! Antdo o rio, corn agua, peixe, e tudo, é desse homem sozinho? — Tanto é que n6s pescamos e ele é quern vende os "pacotes" — Caboclo aqui a vida inteira neste teco, pro miserave desse Corone Borborema enche o rabo! — Vida é isso mesmo, cunhado: pobre se mata, rico enche a panca! — Esta joca nao esta direita ndo! — Uai! Se as aguas sdo do home, o peixe tambem tern que se... — Que estrovenga mais torta, soco! Caboclo trabaia, e os bagarotes sdo pro Corone Borborema. — Ora, deixa de bondades, cunhado, que pirarucu tá ciringando da sua banda! Os pirarucus dos animais e periantes do Lago Redondo estavam tontos. As canoas e os harpties, agitando de repente O silencio daquelas aguas mansas, espalharam o desassossego entre eles, que, na sua fuga alvorocada, ora escolhiam as touceiras de gerimbecas do matupd, pra se esconder, ora o perau dos furos e dos aguapes. Ainda que perseguidos em debandada, nth) podem eles escapar a fatalidade biologica de um habit° traicoeiro: botar a cabeca de fora, na for d'agua, de quando em vez. — Pirarucu veto matar saudades do harpdo!... exclama o pescador, corn born humor, vendo-o vir procurar a morte na tona do lago, — e o espeta implacavel no bico do ferro. Quando a ciringa denuncia a passagem do peixe, os pescadores ficam atentos na proa das montarias, que se estendem em fila, disciplinadas e silenciosas. Mal o pirarucu irrompe na superficie do lago "para respirar" empinando pra fora cabeca, lombo e cauda ao mesmo tempo, corn urn limpet° que chega levantar urn macareu — balacubau... bolocobo... — o pescador, agil e seguro "manda-lhe" o harpao no lombo rijo. Acaso o primeiro erre o golpe, o outro "secunda-o", alvejando o bicho na direcdo do "bululu", que ele vai abrindo n'agua quando foge... Arpoado, o peixe dispara, numa velocidade doida, aguas abaixo. 0 harp° preso a uma longa corda, o pescador o acompanha na sua montaria maneira e rapida, tenteando a linha, ora soltandoa, ora colhendo-a pra fatigar o peixe e afinal mata-lo. Se o pressente muito grande e possante e se teme quebrar a corda ou alargar a canoa, solta-o corn NEWS from BRAZIL - APRIL 1996
uma bOia de pail, que denunciard, onde quer que ele pare ou morra. A RONDA DOS JACARES A boquinha da noite, pigorando os sobejos das canoas e da feitoria, os jacares se juntam, corpulentos e pesadOes, na borda da galeota do regatdo, corn o focinho a for d'agua, dando rabanadas e mergulhos, na disputa esfaimada dos fatos de peixe e dos restos de comida lancados dentro do igarape. Corn os olhos redondos de vidro esbugalhados, que nem os far6is mal-assombrados de uma boiana, os bichos ficam por au, sob as canaranas da beirada, famintos, ameacadores, medonhos, bulhentos. De quando em vez, se a fome os atormenta, arriscam um passeio ern terra, e galgam o tijuco mole do barranco, numa marcha grotesca e desengoncada, arrastando o largo papo no chdo, cauda e cabeca empinadas, chegam parecer uma assombracdo. Se os curumins da feitoria os enxotam a pedradas, eles disparam numa carreira pesada, sacolejando o corpo, todos arrepiados, a cauda ericada, boca escancarada, ate cairem de novo dentro d'agua — qui-ti-buum... burn... — onde se refugiam, brabos e feios, a dar lambadas uns nos outros, em tempo de alagar a galeota do regatdo. E sdo tantos, Santo Deus! — fervilhando na borda da canoa, dando pinotes, rolando e arengando, mergulha aqui, bota a cabeca de fora acold, — que metem medo. S6 de ye-los — Credo! — Condeixa ficava corn os cabelos em pe. — Voote! Nunca vi tanto jacare junto! CONFISSAO E CASTIGO Canuto assim que chegou da pescaria, foi direitinho pra canoa do regatdo. Ndo estava pra cacoada nao. Enfarruscado, vesgo de raiva, estava assado o homem! Condeixa quando o viu botar o pe no ballet.' da galeota, sentiu urn baticum desapoderado no coracdo. Correu-lhe urn frio de medo na espinha. Viu escrito na cara do homem que ele sabia tudo. E teve vontade de se assurverter de chdo adentro. Canuto, nem respondeu o cumprimento de "seu" Miguel Jorge. Mas foi logo desembuchando os seus maus bofes. — Nem me fale, cunhado! Estou penema. S6 presto mesmo pra pegar pirarucu no choco...
—Deija de brosa, Canuto. Nem todo tia tia zanto. Amanita- Zenhor desforra... — Tem jeito ndo. Parece que urubu cuspiu em riba do meu quengo... Lago estava saru, ndo bati nada. Tomou urn copo de cachaca que Miguel Jorge serviu. - 0 coisa ruim pra eu achar boa! E continuou a dar corn a lingua nos dentes, emborcando copo sobre copo. — Estou por conta, "seu" Miguel! E se eu me espalhar, ndo tern homem que me ajunte! Miguel Jorge, prudente e cauto, vendo as coisas malparadas, pretextou um neg6cio na feitoria, e largou-se pra terra. — Com sua lizenza... fou ali, ja folto! Sem dar atencdo a nada Canuto, continuou o seu monolog° ameacador. — Eu ndo tenho nojo de sangue! Ainda acabo tirando o coracdo de urn condenado pelas costas. Depois, virando-se pra Condeixa, que tremia de medo num cantinho da tolda, gritou corn voz sinistra: — Carazue dos trezentos, bota aqui mais urn copo de cachaca! Condeixa, diante do insulto, perdeu a calma, e desgovernado, tremendo que nem varas verdes, derramou a cachaca toda, sem acertar no copo. — Ta doente de maleita, bicho mofino? berrou Canuto, fuzilando o caixeiro corn os olhos esbugalhados. Acovardado, sem poder arredar o corpo do lugar, Condeixa caiu de joelhos nos pes de Canuto, de supetdo, numa suplica inesperada: — Nao me mate ndo, "seu" Canuto, que nao fui eu que fiz mal a ela! Juro pela alma de minha mde: sua filha me levantou urn falso! Nao fui eu ndo "seu" Canuto! Canuto rangiu os dentes corn odio. Estava au i diante dele o miseravel que desgracara sua filha, confessando tudo, mesmo sem ele perguntar. Deu urn urro barbaro de dor e cOlera, e brandindo o tercado que arrancara da cinta, avancou cego de furia contra Condeixa: — Tipo chue como esse peste, o sangue ate suja a faca da gente! Tu s6 serve mesmo é pra pasto de jacare, mundicia! E dando-lhe rapid° golpe brutal no pescoco, viu foi a cabeca dele saltar dentro d'agua. Depois, corn urn pontape violento, jogou o corpo que enlameara de sangue o bailéu da canoa, dentro do rio sujo — qui-ti-bum! — onde os jacares esfomeados fervilhavam de fauces escancaradas, aos guinchos e aos pinotes, entre as piranhas miiidas e vorazes. Na luz calma do luar, ficou boiando, em volta da galeota do regatdo, a garatuj a vermelha de uma nodoa de sangue. "A Salga" was previously published in
Maravilhas do Conto Moderno Brasileiro, Editora Cultrix, 1961. 33
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TRAVEL NEWS from BRAZIL - APRIL 1996
Sao Paulo is another world. It is South America's richest state — the industrial engine that motors Brazil's economy: 30 of Brazil's 50 largest companies are in Sao Paulo, as is 50% of the nation's industry. The state contains South America's largest city — a megalopolis with 17 million inhabitants in the metropolitan SAO PAULO CITY The city of Sao Paulo is Brazil's most cosmopolitan and modern. It is a city of immigrants and ethnic neighborhoods. Millions of Italians came here at the end of the 19th century. Millions of Japanese have come in this century. Millions of Brazilians from the countryside and from the Northeast are still pouring in. From this diversity and industrial development has sprung Brazil's largest, most cultured and educated middle class. These Paulistanos (inhabitants of the city; inhabitants of the state are called ,Paulistas) are lively and make well-informed companions. They call their city' Sampa and, despite constantly complaining about street violence, traffic problems and pollution, they wouldn't dream of living anywhere else. Sao Paulo is on a high plateau and it gets cold in the Brazilian winter and smoggy-hot in the summer. It can be an intimidating place, but if you know someone who can show you around or if you just like big cities, it's worth a visit. At its best it offers the excitement and nightlife of one of the world's great cities. HISTORY Founded in 1554 when a group of Jesuit priests led by Manoel da Nobrega and Jose de Anchieta arrived at the Piratininga plateau, Sao Paulo remained an unimportant backwater for many years. By the beginning of the 17th century it had a few churches and a small village. The growing slave trade in Indians saw the town become a headquarters for the bandeirantes, the slave-trading pioneers who, in their treks into the Brazilian interior, explored much unknown territory. For them, the Treaty of Tordesillas, which divided South America between Spain and Portugal, was nothing more than a line on a map and they were largely responsible for expanding the boundaries of Portuguese territory. By the 18th century, the bandeirantes had turned their attention to mineral exploration and had discovered gold mines in Minas Gerais, Goias and Mato Grosso. Sao Paulo was used as a stopover by the increasing number of pioneers, explorers and fortune-hunters heading for the interior, as well as by sugar dealers on their way to the port of Santos with their shipments. During the early part of the 19th century, two events significantly changed Sao Paulo. The first was the declaration of Brazilian independence, which led to the city becoming a provincial capital. The second occurred a few years later with the founding of the Law Faculty, which attracted a new, transient population of students and intellectuals. As apolitical and intellectual center, Sao Paulo became a leader in both the campaign to abolish slavery and the founding of the republic. The last decades of the 19th century brought dramatic change. The rapid expansion of coffee cultivation in the state, the construction of railroads and the influx of millions of European immigrants caused the city to grow rapidly. Sao Paulo's industrial base began to form, and the import restrictions caused by WW I meant rapid industrial expansion and population growth, which continued after the war. The population reached 580,000 by 1920, 1.2 million by 1940, 2 million by 1950, 3.1 million by 1960, and 5.2 million by 1970. By the year 2005 the population is expected to top 25 million. Orientation Getting around Sao Paulo can be difficult even if you speak Portuguese, have a car, time and money, and know the streets and traffic patterns. For the traveler it takes much longer to get a feel for the layout of Sao Paulo than just about any city in the world. Why? First, it's a big, sprawling city. Second, there is no plan or pattern to the arteries. Third, there are few natural or artificial landmarks by which to orient oneself. There is no ocean or river (of importance), and either few dominating boulevards or so many, depending on how you look at it, that they are of little use to the visitor. Visibility is limited by buildings everywhere. Even maps reflect the difficulty of bringing the city down to comprehensible dimensions. At first glance, they are of practically no use. The solution is to go underground. The Metro, Sao Paulo's subway system, is one of the best in the world. And it's cheap too. Parks, museums, art galleries, zoos, you name it are spread throughout the metropolitan area. It's best to pick t.p Veja at a newsstand or go to a tourism booth for a good list. As a city of immigrants, certain suburbs of sao Paulo are associated with the nationalities that settled there. Liberdade, just south of Praca da Se, is the Oriental area. Bela Vista and nearby Bixiga are Italian. Born Retiro, near Estacao da Luz train station (the Metro runs through here too), is the old Jewish quarter. The large Arab community is based around Rua 25 de Marco, to the north of Praca da Se. In all these areas, you'll find restaurants to match the tastes of their inhabitants. Avenida Paulista, to the south-west of the center, is an avenue of skyscrapers, and the adjoining suburb of Cerqueira Cesar contains the city's highest concentration of good restaurants' cafés and nightclubs. When people refer to Sao Paulo as the 'New York of the Tropics', this is the area they have in mind. Adjoining Cerqueira Cesar is the stylish Jardims district, home to many of the city's middle and upper-class residents. Information Tourist Office— The city's many tourist information booths have excellent city and state maps, as well as Sdo Paulo this Month -- a monthly entertainment NEWS from BRAZIL-APRIL 199U
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guide with an English section. They are also good for bus and metro information. English is spoken. The information booth on Praca da Republica (along Avenida Ipiranga) is very helpful. Balthazar, who works there, is a Paulistano who loves his city and enjoys meeting travelers. It's open daily from 6 am to 6 pm. Paul istanos would not dream of driving in the city without one of several large city street directories. If you are staying in the city for a while, the Guia Sdo Paulo by Quatro Rodas has street maps and hotel and restaurant listings. The Historic Center The triangle formed by Praca da Se, Estacao da Luz train station and Praca da Republica contains the old center of Sao Paulo, and it's certainly worth having a look round this area. A good place to start is the Mercado Municipal at Rua da Cantareira 306. Dating from 1933, this lively market used to be the city's wholesale market until the CEAGESP (a huge new market) was built. Check out the German-made, stained-glass windows with their agricultural themes. Not far from the market is the geographical center of the city, Praca da Se and the Catedral, completed in 1954. There's a lot of busking here, but don't bring any valuables as there are lots of pickpockets and bag-snatchers. Close by is the Patio do Colegio, where the city was founded in 1554 by the Jesuits Jose de Anchieta and Manoel da N6brega. The church and college have been reconstructed in colonial style. A couple of blocks from Praca da Se, in the Largo Sao Francisco, is the traditional Law Faculty of the University of Sao Paulo. The surrounding bars are local student hangouts, especially Bar & Restaurante Itamaraty. Up Rua Libero Badar6 and across the Viaduto do Cha, the bridge that crosses the Vale do Anhangabau, is the Teatro Municipal — pride of the city; it's built in baroque style with art nouveau elements. The area between here and Avenida Ipiranga is for pedestrians only, and gets really busy during the day. There are plenty of clothing stores, shoe shops, bookshops, travel agents, record stores, one-hour photo places and lunch counters. Up on Avenida Ipiranga, on the corner with Avenida sao Luis, is the tallest building in town, the 41-story Edificio There's a restaurant and piano bar at the top as well as a viewing terrace. Strictly speaking, you're supposed to be a customer to go there, so if you're not — act like one. The best time to go up is right on sunset. This is the only time you'll ever get to see the horizon, and as the sun goes down over the nearby hills and the city lights start to sparkle, you could almost convince yourself that Sao Paulo is beautiful. Next to the Italia is another one of the city's landmarks, Edificio Copan, with its famous curve — yet another Niemeyer project. Along Avenida Ipiranga, just past Praca da Republica, is the intersection with Avenida Sao Joao. When people get nostalgic about the city (yes — some do) this is the place they write songs about. Bar Brahma on the corner is a classic bar where you may want to go and try to compose yourself. The area between here and the Estacao da Luz gradually deteriorates. Rua Santa Efigenia is where Paulistanos go for cheap electronic goods, and the area between here and the station is known as Boca do Lixo (Mouth of Trash) — it's a red-light area with strip-tease shows and desperate characters hang out here after dark. Museu de Arte de Sao Paulo (MASP) This museum has Latin America's best collection of Western art, including many French impressionists. There are also a few great Brazilian paintings: the Candid() Portinaris alone are worth the trip. There are also temporary exhibits and a pleasant cafeteria in the basement, and outside on Sundays, from 9 am to 5 pm, there is the Feira de Antiguidades do MASP. The fair is full of old odds and ends, big and small including furniture, books and toys. The museum is open 1 to 5 pm from Tuesday to Friday and 2 to 6 pm on weekends. Go early, as the light can be very bad late in the day. The MASP is at Avenida Paulista 1578. To get there take the metro to Paraiso station, and then change for 36
Trianon. For a bit of R&R after the museum, visit the small park — a tropical oasis in the midst of the mountains of concrete — across Avenida Paulista. Parque do Ibirapuera There's lots to do in this park and many people doing it on weekends. The best way to get here is to take the metro to Ana Rosa station and then catch 'MoncOes' bus No. 675-C. The large edifice across the street from the park is the Sao Paulo state legislature. Just outside the park, at the end of Avenida Brasil, is Victor Brecheret's huge monument `Bandeiras', built in memory of the pioneers of the city. Inside the park is a planetarium, lake, monuments, a Japanese pavilion and several museums. Museu de Arte Contemporfinea — This museum has many of the big names in modern art and a good collection of modern Brazilian artists. It's housed, at least part of it, in the Bienal building, which also has a couple of enormous exhibition halls. The rest of the collection is at the Cidade Universitaria, which is open Tuesday to Sunday from 1 to 6 pm. Museu de Arte Moderna — This is the oldest modern art museum in the country. It's open Tuesday to Friday from 1 to 7 pm, Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 7 pm. Museu do Foiclore & Museu da Aeronautica — These two museums are in the dome-shaped building. The former includes an Afro-Brazilian cult altar and folkloric costumes from all over Brazil. The latter includes the flying machines of Santos Dumont, considered the father of Brazilian aviation. Both museums are open Tuesday to Sunday from 2 to 5 pm. Museu de Arte Sacra & Jardim da Luz — This is the best of many sacred art museums in Brazil. It's at Avenida Tiradentes 676. Take the metro to Tiradentes. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 1 to 5 pm. After your visit you can walk two blocks down Avenida Tiradentes to the park, Jardim da Luz. and the old British-built train station, Estacao da Luz. Museu Lasar Segall — Lasar Segall was a great Lithuanian expressionist artist who made Brazil his home and became leader of the modernistic movement in the country in the 1920s. In addition to his work, the museum gets some very good exhibitions. Unfortunately, it's a long way from town at Afonso Celso 362, Vila Mariana. It's open Tuesday to Sunday from 2.30 to 6.30 pm. Fundacao Maria Luisa e Oscar Americano — Another sight that's a long way from the center, in the posh suburb of Morumbi, is this modern Brazilian home in beautifully landscaped surroundings. It contains lots of imperial antiques and eight oils by the Dutch artist Frans Post, painted in Olinda. This is a great place to come for afternoon tea. It's at Avenida Morumbi 3700 and is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm. The Butanta Snake Farm & Museum— The most popular tourist sight in town, the Instituto Butanta is also an important research center. It has many snakes that are milked for their poison to make serum, and it's quite a sight for both the serpentologist and lay person. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9 am to 4.45 pm, the farm and museum are at Avenida Vital Brasil 1500 at the edge of the Cidade Universitaria. Casa do Bandeirante — Not far from the snake farm is this typical pioneer's abode, with a sugar mill, ox cart and farm implements. It's in Praca Monteiro Lobato and is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm. Interesting if you're in the area. Memorial America Latina — Close to Barra Funda metro station at Rua Mario de Andrade 664, this group of buildings is another Niemeyer creation. Outside is a seven-metro cement hand. Inside are the Center of Latin American studies, an auditorium with free concerts, and various handicraft exhibits. Portinari's painting Tiradentes hangs in the Salao de Atos, and huge panels by Carybe and Poty represent the people of South America. Organized Tours— One of the best ways to see the city, NEWS from BRAZIL - APRIL 1996
saving time and money, is to take an organized tour. Government-sponsored, multilingual bus tours take place on Sundays and cost $2. There are eight different itineraries and they include some of those hard-to-get-to spots. Tickets are available from the tourist booth in Praca da Republica from Tuesday to Sunday. If you have time, buy your ticket a couple of days before, and that'll give you a chance to choose your itinerary. The three hour tours begin from the praca. Places to Eat
The best reason to visit Sao Paulo is to eat. Because of the city's ethnic diversity you can find every kind of cuisine and, if you can spend a few dollars, it's easy to find great food at reasonable prices. There are also a million cheap lanchonetes, great pizzerias and churrascarias, and some of the best Italian and Japanese food that you'll find outside those countries. Paulistanos love to go out to dinner and they go out late. Although they open earlier most restaurants don't fill up until 9 or 10 pm on weekdays and later on weekends. Many stay open on weekends until 2 or 3 am. The places mentioned in this section are the more traditional ones. • That they've been around for a long time is a recommendation in itself, as Paulistanos are very particular diners. The selection given is limited to areas easily reached by public transport. If you have a car or don't mind grabbing a taxi, there are hundreds more places to choose from. The best place to get a listing of good restaurants is in the Sao Paulo lift-out section of the weekly Veja magazine. The bilingual Selo Paulo this Month also has a decent listing with prices included. If you're really keen, Guia Quatro Rodas publishes a small guide to the best restaurants in Sao Paulo and Rio. It's available from any newsstand. Central District
If you're staying here, there are a few inexpensive places that are close by and several notches above the rest. Ponto Chic is a friendly, informal restaurant, but the best reason to go is the famous Brazilian sandwich, the bauru, which Ponto Chic invented many moons ago. The baztru consists of beef, tomato, pickle and a mix of melted cheeses served on French bread. Not only is it popular in urban and backland Brazil, it is also served in Paris. Ponto Chic is only a few blocks from the Praca da Reptiblica at Largo Paissandu 27, and is open until 4 am. Another winner is the Lanches Aliados at the corner of Avenida Rio Branco and Rua Vitoria. It's a cheap lunch spot' with excellent food. The Casa Ricardo features 20 different sandwiches and is reasonable. Open until 7 pm, it's at Avenida Vieira de Carvalho 48. For vegetarians Superbom is pretty fair. It's open Monday to Friday for lunches only (closes at 3 pm). There are branches at the Praca da Republica 128 (4th floor), 9 de Julho 180 and Praca da Se 62. If it's lean meat you seek, Baby-Beef Rubaiyat has three churrascarias: the one in the center is at Avenida Vieira de Carvalho 116. A bit less expensive, Dinho's Place at Largo do Arouche 246 has a feijoada ev.ery Wednesday and Saturday. Also in Avenida Vieira de Carvalho, Carlino, at No 154, is a reasonably cheap Italian restaurant that's been there for over a century. The Bare Restaurante Leao at Avenida Sao Joao 320 has all-you-can-eat Italian meals and a salad bar, at reasonable prices. Ca 'd 'Oro, in the hotel of the same name at Rua Augusta 129, is considered one of the best. It's very expensive; sports jacket and reservations are recommended. Bela Vista & Bixiga — These districts are loaded with Italian restaurants and bars; they're one of the best places in the city at night. In Bela Vista, there are two very good and very Italian restaurants on Rua Avanhandava. Gigetto and Famiglia Mancini have large selections of pastas and wines, stay crowded until very late with the after-theater crowd and are moderately priced. Gigetto is supposed to be an actors' hangout. In Bixiga, Cantina e Pizzeria Lazzarella, Rua 13 de NEWS from BRAZIL-APRIL 1996
Maio 589, isicfull of Brazil kitsch. The live, if dated, music features a mu tilingual sing-along. It's festive and the food is good. Speran a, at Rua 13 de Maio 1004, is one of the best pizzerias in tow n. Cerqueir Cesar There are lots of restaurants and bars in the area boun ed by Avenida Paulista, Rua da Consolacao, Rua E tados Unidos and Alameda Ministro Rocha A evedo. Most are fairly expensive but there are q ite a few reasonable ones. A good sandwich pl ce is the very traditional Frevo, Rua Oscar F ire 603. If you want to be really Paulistano or er one of their beirute a moda and a chope (draft beer). Waiters calling for a chope yell for a rabo de peixe (fish tail). Baguette, another sandwich and beer place at Rua da Consolacao 2426, in front of the cinema, is open 24 hours a day and is packed at 3 am. Almanara at Rua Oscar Freire 523 serves good Arab food. The churrascarias Wessel Grill, Rua Bela Cintra 1855, Rodeio, Rua Haddock Lobo 1498, and Esplanada Grill, Rua Haddock Lobo 1682, are all excellent but expensive. An interesting place with a great view is Jinro, a Korean restaurant on the 25th floor at Avenida Paulista 807. The food is good and the prices reasonable. There are a few French restaurants in the area, but nothing cheap. If bucks aren't a worry, try Marcel at Alameda Lorena 1852. The souffles are famous. There are several fine and reasonably priced Italian restaurants. L 'Osteria do Piero at Alameda Franca 1509 features roast kid with broccoli and agnollotti. It is closed on Monday. Babbo Giovanni, Rua Bela Cintra 2305, has good inexpensive pizza. For a big splurge, many think Massimo at Alameda Santos 1826 is the city's best Italian restaurant. Z Deli at Alameda Santos 1518 is a Jewish deli that's a popular lunch spot with Paulistanos. Vegetarians won't feel left out in this area. Associacao Macrobiatica, Rua Bela Cintra 1235, has a healthy fixed menu and Sattva at Rua da Consolacao 3140 has some imaginative vegetarian dishes. Liberdade — Liberdade has lots of inexpensive Oriental restaurants and good food at the Sunday street fair. There are several good Japanese restaurants to choose from on Rua Tomas Gonzaga. Gombe at No 22 is always full. They have great sushis and sashimis and excellent kushi-yaki. Other favorites include Takao at Rua Barao de Iguape 324 which has a delightful karaoke and the Diego at Praca Almeida Jr 25 with its strong, Okinawan dishes. I
Entertainment
This city swings at night. Everyone is out playing until the wee hours and you feel it — where else can you get stuck in a traffic snarl at 3 am. Sao Paulo's nightlife approaches the excitement, diversity and intensity of New York's. To enjoy it, all you need is money and transportation. The best list of events is probably found in the weekly Veja magazine, which has a special Sao Paulo edition. Another good source is the Ilustrada section of the Folha de Seio Paulo. Rua 13 de Maio in Bixiga hums at night. There are several clubs, restaurants and even a revival movie theater. It attracts a young crowd so prices are reasonable. You can go there, look around and plan out a full evening in one neighborhood. The biggest club is tie Café Piu-Piu at No. 134. They have music every night but Monday: jazz, rock and a sequin-shined, 20gallon-hatted band that plays American country music. Café do Bixiga at No. 76 is a traditional bar that stays open late. Try their pinga corn mel ( ugar cane liquor with honey). Bela Vista i another good area for nightlife. There's lots happening and i's central, although the clubs are not as close together as in Bi iga. Spazio Pirandello at Rua Augusta 311 is always lively the crowd includes both gay and straight clientele. There' art on the walls and a bookstore downstairs. For the best j zz in town try Cafe Teatro Opus 2004, Rua da Consolacao 200'. At the Luar do Sertao (Backland Moonlight) you'll find the music of the sertao, and many Nordestinos swaying to the fcrrós, the xotes and various other wild dances. This music is on of the great cultural treasures of Brazil, and with the mass mi ration from the Northeast to Sao Paulo there's 37
plenty of authentic talent from which to draw. The Bar Brahma is the city's oldest drinking establishment. It's at the corner of Rua Sao Joao and Avenida Ipiranga, in the heart of the central hotel clistrict. From 7 pm to midnight the antique surroundings are accompanied by equally dated live music. The best tables are upstairs. The bar is friendly and relaxing, and is a popular after-work hangout for many Paulistano professionals. Another time-capsule bar is the Riviera Restaurant & Bar at the corner of Rua da Consolacao and Avenida Paulista. This bar takes you back to the seedy '40s. It's inexpensive and unassuming: a good place to go with a friend to talk and unwind. Finnegan's Pub at Alameda Itu 1541 in Cerqueira Cesar is where to go if you want to speak some English. Paulistanos know it as a 'gringo' bar and it gets lively. The Paris Café is the famous café hangout by the university. Vou Vivendo is a medium-size music club/restaurant. It's informal and prices are reasonable. Upstairs there's excellent samba, jazz, etc. It's at Avenida Pedroso de Moraes 1017, Pinheiros. Across the streetthe Avenida Club features orchestra dancing for couples — on Sundays from 10 pm to 4 am. The 18piece orchestra plays old tunes and the dance hall is a fantastic recreation of the '30s scene. Popular discos include Columbia on the corner of Rua Augusta and Rua Estados Unidos, US Beef Rock at Rua Estados Unidos 1626, and Woodstock, Rua Consolacao 3247. The gay scene is lively in Sao Paulo. A popular club is Corintho, Alameda dos Imare§64, with live shows from Wednesday to Sunday starting at 1 JI pm. Homo Sapiens at Rua Marques de Nu and Nostro Mondo at Rua da Consolacao 2556 are a couple of others. Things to buy Shopping is almost as important to Paulistanos as eating out. Those who can afford it like to do it in one of the many large shopping malls that dot the city. For the traveler, these malls don't hold much interest — prices tend to be higher than those you'd find in the center of town. However, if you're a big fan of malls you'll find a list of addresses in the Seio Paulo This Month guide. More interesting are the many markets and fairs that take
place around town, especially on weekends. One of the most popular is held in the Praca da Republica on Sundays from 8 am to 2 pm. It's a great place for people watching. Things for sale include Brazilian precious stones, leather gear, woodcarvings, handmade laces and paintings. Some of the painters, especially the naïve artists, are excellent. My favorite is Tavares, from the interior of the state. His themes include football games and trips to the dentist. Liberdade, the Oriental district, has a big street fair all day Sundays and is only five minutes from the center by metro. The fair surrounds the metro station. A couple of markets worth a look are the.Mercado Municipal and the huge CEAGESP market on Avenida Doutor Gastao Vidigal in the suburb ofJaguare. This huge market is the center of food distribution for the whole city, and is quite a sight. The best time to go is Tuesday to Friday from 7 am to noon, when there's a flower market as well. On other days you just have lots and lots of produce. Another excellent market to check out takes place every weekend in Embu, 28 km from Sao Paulo. It's renowned for its rustic furniture, ceramics. paintings and leather items. You'll find things here from Excerpts from Bra:11 all over Brazil. If you A Travel Survival Ka can't make it to the fair on the weekend, it's 2nd edition, still worth coming durby Andrew Draffen, ing the week, as most Deanna Swaney of the artists have perand Robert Strauss. For manent shops and there are stacks of more information call handicraft stores. Lonely Planet: (800) 275While you're in Embu, 8555. Copyright 1992 have a look at the old Lonely Planet Publications. Jesuit church in the Used by permission. main square; it contains a small sacred art museum and the first oraan made in Brazil.
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NEWS from BRAZIL -APRIL 1996
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his new record Gabriel 0 Penpador yells, "I don't sing well. I'm not d singer. I'm a composer." He is rapper, the thinking man per. He knows that every story more than one side, but with d E So o Comego, his latest alb he has chosen the side that hits the hardest. And he knows like no one to use rhythm and poetry for demolishing and scrutinizing the truth. BRUCE OILMAN
NEWS from BRAZIL-APRIL 1996
fter clobbering brainless blondes, idlyrich playboy heirs, and even the president, Gabriel 0 Pensador is back in the ring pounding at the portals of our perception with his second recording Ainda E So o Comeco (Still It Is Only the Beginning). Tall and slim, with the beard of an adolescent and long curly hair that frames his angled features, 0 Pensador (The Thinker) appears older than his twenty-one years. But there is something even more puzzling about Gabriel. Maybe it is the contradiction between his inoffensive, straightforward appearance and the tremendous thunder of the lyrics he composes. Maybe it is a combination of the naïvetÊ of his appearance with the blitz of success that has come to him so early. Whatever it is, there is nothing perplexing about his message. I've just finished listening again to Gabriel's new disc and to three tracks in particular that have dramatically etched themselves into my memory: Estudo Erraclo (False Study), Mentiras do Brasil (Lies From Brazil), and Fl/ho c/a Pcitria Iludido ( Deceived Son of the Homeland) — the poetic connotation being fl/ho da puta (son-of-a bitch). Rap is the label for this rhythm and this poetry that is scorching my nerve endings and making me restless, and it's great! In general, rappers do not play instruments but are expert manipulators of pre-recorded material. They create sound collages in what many consider a "supposed-art." Since its origin, rap has been connected to a type of indignant language discourse. Singing has always been an insignificant component of rap. What is important, are the words themselves, the lyrics, the message. Sometimes the words are too strong. Gangsta rap, for instance, talks about weapons, bitches (women), and the murder of oppressors. The lyrics in most Gangsta rap have, for many, reached their tired perimeter. Like it or not, rap today is universal. It is well known in North America, all over Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. In the United States rapping over the same monochord tune has too often limited itself to addressing only a narrow sector of social problems, and is only now moving incrementally into new territory. Even in Brazil's fledging rap scene, the group from Rio Ryo Radikal Rep: sings 'foda-se a policia" (the police fuck themselves) in a tune that exploded like a homemade bomb on the TV program Por Acaso (By Chance). On the other hand, some less Obvious mixes by groups like Chico Science & NacCio Zumbi that have mixed the diction of rap with the style of the Northeastern repente, are remarkably innovative. In the Northeast of Brazil, poetic song duels called desafios, are occasions where two repentistas (singers in the desaiu)) improvise insulting or funny verses (repentes) in a strict form, attempting to break the other singer's concentration. In Riofunk is more common than rap. But what is called funk in Rio is really a form of rap that came from Miami. It's perfect for dancing and has lyrics that usually contain a humorous double meaning but really not much of a message. This Rio funk is common at parties where people tend to drink a little too much and get into fights. 39
of funk. In fact, 0 Pensador has participated in declarations against violence and writes lyri, often contain criticisms of the practice, lyrics strive to lessen the violence at Brazilian dances. Yuri, one of 0 Pensador's rapping collaborators. Ainda A SO o Cameo, explained also that aithoL they don't write gangsta rap, they do bell guerrilla array but in a way that is very diftere, those encountered in the 60s and 'Ns. s people involved in Brazilian rap know; genre still is very much off to the Side, n usical forerunner. It was fortunste'for rap scene in Brazil that Gabriel 0 Pensador ' artist who got to the top first and at the right th4. Gabriel broke ground, those who followed (mifl Sao Paulo) received the recognition they ,w Gabriel definitely helped to expand the mar 0 Pen sador feels that some rap music is op . and addresses only fleeting concerns and temp distractions that will not be discussecttomorrOw some concepts like racial and social prejudice', and always have. 0 Pensador is a nancal within' medium, a trail blazer who has had the wherewjtb make Ainda E SO o Comeco excel by divsi textures and ideas within the strict meter of r When the Carioca rapper blew up in parades all over Brazil with his condemnatm,oiç people . 'servitive middle class conventions, , . that when the summer was over the whirlw ncl the man who declared death to the president 4 have calmed down. But with the surprising sales 6 2 thousand copies of his first recording, GabriØl Pensador proved the opposite.-Two years later launched his latest recording, Ainda E S6 o Co which will further provoke those who did not bell . in his artistic longevity. For Gabriel is is too soo rest. He still has lots more to say: , Even without the bombshell To Felix —Maf Presidente (I'm Happy --- I killed the 'Presi Gabriel's first release has made the strongest iiup Brazilian rap in the 90s thus far. LOrabun,a ( Blond), Retrato de urn Playboy (Portrait of a Play 175 Nada Especial (175 Nothing Special) wets as the best manifestations of intelligence fro almost invisible Brazilian rap scene.In To.Feih Matei o Presidente, Gabriel assassinates Pe Collor, the president for whom his mother, Ribeiro, worked as a journalist. The situation was explosive. While 'm working for the president, son was screatni hatred for Collor's regime. When Matel o Pi was released, manyjournalists envied Gabriel and tried to explore her position on. theqb myriad rumors were spreading about her. Gabriel is not ashamed that his mother Collor. He doesn't feel that there was any cr In fact, a short time before Matei o;Ppesideflfr being aired on the radio his mother fought with Collor. She later left Brazil to live in the States but has since returned to Brazil and is now, with Gabriel. Today the son of the famous joint , more famous than his mother. Gabriel has been writing since he Was 16 He started rapping when he was 17 0r.,18,. at
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Filho da r)atria iIuddo, Quando eu vejetaun filho clapitria corn a carnisa dos EsttU Unidos Eu ficoputEtt fico loucoEu fico logo rnordido POr u e fosse urn arnericano euj 41140 iagostar lvlas opior ebrasile quando cisme de user Umajaqueta ou uma carnisetaeOrn aqu* ,.ensto a amr" s pa' aquela porra de bandeiraazul vermelha e brancal Me )ndá s vo assai lng eirnoeT uporto ver Naito no peito de urnbbrb de inanchar tudo de vennelho V ei no sottbe escolher a roupintm certa no arm :atarioQue iu de casa crente:que tava abafando Eu ve 'Lenoir the seg illt t)ja srea :Om to tnai.$ aegentandoll Quando eu vejo um flihoda 4M A candsa dos Estados Unidos (cores dos States o eu vejo um filhi, coin as estrelas e.., as listrals4) ' OS patrio' p trim coma ca in isa dos Estdinuiddos Olio so Ill nem nacionalistas) Quando eu vejo umth fu d itr a mpre nu a caraisa dos Estailos Unidos (cam() o TioiSim :ePi Quando eu vejo urn litho da patria corn a cam isa dos Estado Unidos (amigo val meson que to ti é fudido) E etc saiu dee' crente que tava ablifando E eu flea puto Eu fico triste Ett quase thorando le pena de raiva de tristeza de vergoñhL Quando en vejo esses babacas eases panacas esses path ' * Que tern cora em de ir pra ma Com um bone tau T rseta as cores da baudmr g * a mais nojenta do planet&mli estrelinha Ternb4nquinho e tern vennelho 0 filheo dazilliali s dole nao tern es_ pelho9. En atho quo t bitgeointaudabcapa e oeec O mttersrm a mente aliena sem geevem° 1 pit.ssP ' ern rum° acredita onoenlatadot°tQue. ' tipo kque Bitolado do Supercine dessesittado passado Eu tento me controlar coritla.y 7, dez respiro fundo ID litho da patria d a.ssim clue a pensa qtinat chegar no rnundo? Vestindo essa bandeira de outroP V in es lr t li essa reaPa escrote de submisso baba-gavot Quo v°evrg°ontr vexame quo tragedia que fiasco: 0 ertforcado desftIandoc '` bandeira e en do earraScot Condenado Pareee que merece a iif usar a bandeira da metrepolet na raivece ucolonizado nr o espere eles invadirem a iunazenia Pra saber quea passarnos de nina,mjsera colertia Em ple no secure vinte beirando o ano dois mil Por essas e outras devemos usara bandeira do Braiil E lutar per urn pals ftidido N Estados Untdos settinternacional T*ra oarnuirissafillieitos dap atria co; a ea'o 'till mental!. Quandol ell aVe,ei rills* Estados Unidos litores dos States tom as estr 1 vejo 9 u nu idnuodsm°( etl.utj ti 0 so: i'oms pfl laht uri dotaaPsgnrirm i a nc°a rcui oancaal m is- itettaa)ste usl t 1:'sidIa'k vejo amiss des Estados Iinni° q 1 ) Quando c eu vejo urn fil -' (como o Tio S riat:retritri!;:ecotTsa patina corn a cainisa dos Estados Unidos (amigo vaimeSi que tu ta é fudido) Pm an american and I'd' proud of my flat hathe saki deerstnandw w Bout Gabriel ei pies my friend and I understand nationality LLook gotta have 0 ItY keep your yourself Try to live your reality And maybe we will all'lavJust one nation some day But now use your own flag let me beill Each one has his; own country but life is way above We ii ' talking about hate It's all about love... Amigo c'd ta-Perd enganado Undid(' Ja devia tor sabido o que sao Os Unidos Urn paiS infeliz 0 mais hiptacrita da terra MaItcs eio eiutbecis f que adoratrt guerra Misturados num hi seuicidas de arsa a preconceito Me diz porque essa merda b bandeira no seu peito? 0 gut quo ce quer dizer quando vp, puimsa c?am oicine saex. e altitndo as betas cores dos opressores quo e quer passar pra pessoa que olhar Pro sea peft e num entender de quo lado voce tá? Mas nao precise responder ce ta do lado de baixo Voce é ulna f'ernea no cio co Tie Sam é o sett macho Voge é o capacho dos norte-amer"tcano s Per isso b• ainda acho quo eirisste algum engano Porque eu nao merei a a Passear vestidOCorn Co a retina do inimigo: Os Estados Unidtis
NEWS front BRAZIL. -APRA. 1
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recorded the music To Feltz, Motet o Presidente with a drum machine in eight channels. He took the finished tape to the RPC FM station in Rio. They liked it and asked to have exclusive access to the tape. The station played it for five days before it was censored. Gabriel started being interviewed and was offered contracts with two independent labels which he refused. TO Feltz Was his biggest step in coming out from the unknown. H was very much an amateur at that time and had per ormed his first shows without contracts but continued to experiment until early 1993 when i In September Sony launched his first Sony signed him. disc. Gabriel ad no idea what was going to happen, but luckily the worst part was by then already over. Gabriel's themes speak about violence, the church, and men who beat their wives and children. His work criticizes behavioral concepts that have become accepted patterns of adult behavior. For example, the playboy sons of upper middle-class Brazilian families who depend on their parents' money, probe for sex, and make no attempt to achieve anything on their own; and the "dumb blondes" — attractive men or women who get through life simply by banking their appearance but who refuse to think critically about their behavior. Much of his work expresses ideas that people with integrity accept the axioms. Those who don't, many times are subconsciously attached to following these very patterns. ost of the criticism 0 Pensador receives has little foundation. Even when it is douched in the objective of being constructive, it strives only to create controversy. Gabriel has a consciousness about his work; this stance has not changed. His work is intentionally aggressive and intended to trigger criticism, since that will make people become involved with the ideas. He cannot believe, for ekample, that the Catholic church is still condemning condoms. He is totally in favor of them and feels that condoms should be distributed for free to poor young people in Brazil who don't often use condoms because they don't have the money to buy them. And sex is one diversion the poor layers of society can enjoy chiefly because it is usually free. While corruption exists and is easily identifiable, there will be no lack of subject matter for this torrential composer. In his previous work Gabriel opened fire criticizing ratism, obligatory military service, and didn't stop to spare the impossible life-style of Brazil's homeless kids, and the young girls who become prostitutes. This tine the corrosive lyrics have transformed themselves into a detonating philosophical bomb. His new tatgets are the Americanized youngsters of Brazil, Evangelical ministers, and the government's institutional system of education. Ainda E So Comeco powerfully criticizes, the police, politicians, abusive husbands, and religious fanatics. In Filho da Pcitria Iludido he challenges a Brazilian who is so mentally crippled that he goes out on the streets of Rio wearing a shirt that looks like the flag of the United States. 0 Pensador knows that every story has more than one side, but with Ainda E So o Comeco he has chosen only the side that hits the hardest. Rhythm and poetry are again Gabriel's demolishing weapons in scrutinizing the truth. The new recording employs samples (textures and
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NEWS from BRAZIL - APRIL 1996
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phrases extracted from other songs) from the music of Bob Marley, Rita Lee, Gilberto Gil, Legiao Urbana, Soundgarden, Azymuthi and Tom Tom Club to enrich the non-stop threshing of the disc's themes. In Mentiras do Brasil (Lies from Brazil) Gabriel makes an insightful use of music from the opera 0 Guarani by Carlos Gomes integrated With the dazzlingpandeiro work of Ma rc os Suzano. In keeping with the same voracious creativity that distinguished Gabriel's first project, Ainda E S6 o Comeco harbors the same Intlsive style of writing . thro ugh e o f the raps were created through improvisation. FDP, for example, was born one afternoon when Yuri was at Gabriel's house. They were just improvising with a few ideas and started singing the refrain "Filho da puta/Filho da puta/ • ,I Filho da puta" (Son of a Bitch/Son of a Bitch/Son of a Bitch) over a bass line. Other lyrics were created while Gabriel was driving his car or taking a shower. Notwithstanding, Ainda E S6 o Comeco is a prodigious work, especially when compared to the generation .., of rappers whose vocabulary is limited to anything that rhymes. The development of ' characters and unusual situations is one of the disc's strongest merits. The teacher calling roll in Estudo Errado transports the listener with an archetypal childhood memory. With this second release, Sony has projected sales in the area of 500 thousand units. Production of the new disc was painstakingly thorough. It is a work of superior quality. An, affinity between the technology and quality of material, that listeners find missing at --c:, times with other rap projects, forcefully comes 't.f through. However. A inda E S6 o Comeco, did face some extra difficulties before entering It the market. There were some serious problems with a few of the samples Gabrielmmted ' to use. Producer Fabio Fonseca assumed that ! everything was ready when they were prevented from using samples of Money by Pink Floyd, Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana, and the theme song from the cartoon show The Jetsons. As a result, the arrangements ; that were using parts of this music were, modified at the last minute. And unfortunately, the video Sony wanted to include with the first pressing didn't materialize due to time restraints. Gabriel is comfortable and says that he is happy and secure about his work, that he only wants people to become more aware, more conscious. He is cognizant that young people are not informed, that they seldom read the papers, and in many cases are completely alienated. The lyrics in rap music many times are their only way of knowing about politics,.
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Me tires do Br nde alas Era uma vez duas crtaernhas Urn mundo do viviant Seas nonteseram jtb)sine efeiviiiacr.id-a Ed verde e am arela era a bandeira que a e mas pra isso era precis° saber vestiam Queriam viver sernpre a verdade Os adultos hipacritas provocavam sua ira Pois quern é Pero nao gosta de conviver corn a tnentira Mas Zizinho e Maria eram puros porein sabidos Deixavam tapados um dos lados dos seas ouvidos Pre nao 0 clue escutavam e achavam importante refietir ii adultos conta am El gostav am de ver Ma 4qeustiedrsisal.:Pqtresos eEnntraarTPVroas nem sempre acreditavam $e revoltavam vvendo coesi sas que ate cego já vius mentiras do Brasil Voeese lista coal As E resolveram fazer suns mentiras via pra Brasil Voces e suas
r*meiro de abril!) As maiores mentiras do vio pm... (primeiro de abrili) E ulna
meritira absurda aricabecava a rob Deus 6 brasileiro. (SO se for no fettxtebO1))7sC,e,r.tas. fras , es conllecidas sAo mentiras e ninguem nega (Pot =pro.) A tustica 6 aegal" Quern prega isso canalha (pshl Na0 rt.btarda... E falba! E Zezinho gargalha co espalha) Porque aqui a juat,iyo rusileiro 6 cordial" aha Mas que gracinhin outra mentira bocal (qual?) a, imagina se Ilao fosse!. Seo bra,stieiro amavel, Adolf Hitler 6 um dace gelho Todos querem se dar bem a naa Porque a lei de Gerson 6 ambam qua 0 pobre 6 malandra Mas a °In tvtan se repeita nem as velhosits'size ando sac) as grandes empresaf° e Peva° In sn ralando e Tient ti emPreiteiros Mita ate hate sa prenderam o PC a as bicheiros No pals da impunidade tudo 6 contraditerto laeixam o rest° em liberdade em troc d um simples bode otpiateirio, Qua situacao patetica E real ou ilusdriao cte boato? Zezinho a Maria . process° restauraclo d ' etoicav?ritS..e.ra( que 6 aiores mentiras d Brasil v pe:eguntavam E enquanto so matey= As m
primeiro de abrill) As m a aiores is e suns mentiras 3 30 mbernotti am s lpVn as curia a se as dmeentiras vie pm.... (primeiro de s edntoi r aB tream
smente facilmente Zezinho estava , a e inteligente E tern gente que diz que toda e frente a ulna loura _ (ti_rnueredita merece uma surra Dizem clue beb .mutherbonita .6 burnt vern da cegortna que eresee pals) na mao se barer uma bronha Mas tomauenr.esda no a E eresehesse ele rasInva A lista de mentiras Peaueno 26c avtu t itee '" "M ecrianetn. a, Aids 6 doen d _ autrieritaVa: tri a. griaziliha ficou mocirtha e descobritt ' .()'r Al)rendeCuaa efaglaayr.ingleensteir:Jitt so exi' is.selix'ol)eM om ant eij'e°111ullista qua iirasoe4a3d6Quobata ro clue tern mutt° palavrao Pois foi no cinema tud tame brasi gavitt Is ceirt legerida enadublagetn da televisao iani as verd dq traiiii,i)o lea:hvuisoetsres ri6riadleePuetnrdee.fnc rn so " tas uetilaa tt nidelibCarbdraraidni aait rikarie b des o pats Nossporirta era ritte ererane e egua • burros e isern . sse diz," f nrada 6 • ugueses 0 e° rai3qeuseauntApoaeersaa :11° eoae, 1 . titrapiada sempre deer:iint enm seeailtrIOS a mesm ordesre n era a ete<bla iytPada da faita dartiisar• (sieeneeribea faAlani mnosesasreartPrioldtav Fruara°zimoibnrihde4oes se 0 Pals t lees anises bla... bli, u T s P e d as ern tainbetri a l qua ø sl eoseBartdiarasaiin m irosiam isodral aernstC TA Pinequio teria vel-* E Ilista'‘e°rktillua rreisPilar 0 el:onto-As olesiaabm nientiraid ; 03ss uraassim i eenratiroaas: voces su11.:aila (primeiro d iziainqu Brasil ' meniiras vio Pr (primeiro de ft ales a...virarn qua era viver qua a - do Allard Me,i 13a rn d qua e rnelltir t Presente Zezinho eMaritrdecid. . . nra _ _odo .., ft, tram tnostrar Tinh aln uilmauita e'sPeranc vai rr,r i elite! E clue a Brasil nao 'ancas nune erneresne asp e ra a a1canca Acharant Mas riao clue cIrdanl PoisBe • Pe.flo 1 nto c$, lietoas(9_brasileir doiento rod() omeesrairi samfm eleniar taiihm rvooiso eolseds flag e cacomecarametaesnsigana caused° de set tE nm ft :earicsoa ;uds t o d ae revaoicurealforeneteo(nItrolar m uinapag sr mentiras Qua nmaninaCan E revelaram sua lista corn as a saida pro pars o t:0dis tOa6trrieillav an a doac,onum z rE atrasavam a ord em e progre aaf r arO hod icatriz 0 ci 00r 0 uas fmeejtotn iurarns kthe i sAaeui gbuae.r corn final da iz iras do gut taZezinho e Maria puseram logo na lista d eniiirlis v pria...(prvimeiraosdu sasocdeos e*Bsrusassiimv a B Lor °eanstiiIrV aces e SUSS mentiras vie> abrill) E ao voltarem pra case ertcontraram sett Pai
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NEWS from BRAZIL -APRIL 1996
Once upon a time two little children were living in the world of make believe Their names were Jose and Maria And green and yellow was the flag they wore They wanted to live happily but in order to do it was necessary to always know the truth The hypocritical adults provoked their ire Because those that are pure don't like to live with lies Zezinho and Maria were pure but they were wise They would plug one of their ears So the truth would not go in one ear and out the other They would listen to and believe what was important and think about it On the TV to the stories that the adults would tell They would like to watch but would not always believe They were disgusted by seeing things even a blind person has already seen They decided to make a list of The biggest lies in Brazil You and your lies go to... (April fools!) The biggest lies in Brazil You and your lies go to... (April fools!) And the most absurd lie would be at the head of the list: God is Brazilian... (Only concerning soccer!) Certain cliches are lies that no one denies (For example?) "Justice is blind!" Whoever preaches this is a scoundrel (pssst! Don't tell anyone) Because justice is delayed... And fails! Zezinho bursts into laughter at another ignorant lie (which?) "Brazilians are very cordial" Ahh! What a cute thing to say But imagine if they weren't! If the Brazilian is amiable, Adolf Hitler is sweet Because the law of Gerson is our Gospel Everybody wants to get ahead but shows no respect to older people They say also that the poor are idle But the multitude has a terribly hard life and those who have more status are capitalists and managers But until today they have only arrested Collor's finance deputy and brokers in the animal lottery In a country were people go free without being punished everything is contradictory Everyone goes free in exchange for a neva scapegoat What a pathetic situation Is it real or illusion the process of restoration of ethics? I wonder is it a rumor? Zezinho and Maria asked each other In the meanwhile they would take note of The biggest lies in Brazil You and your lies go to... (April fools!) The biggest lies in Brazil You and your lies go to... (April fools!) Lies have short legs and are easy to deny Zezinho was in front of a beautiful blonde and intelligent And there are people who say that every beautiful woman is dim-witted Those that believe this deserve a thrashing They say the baby is brought by the stork And hair grows on the palm if you masturbate But the little Ze would not believe And if it grew and he scraped it The list °flies increased: Communists eat children, AIDS is a disease of gays. "Lies!" (mister communist, wear condoms!) lsilariazinha became a teenager and discovered it was bullshit That sex will only survive with love She learned to speak English and realized that it wasn't only the Brazilian films that had many four-letter words Because she went to the movies and listened to everything that they had cut from the subtitles and everything they dubbed on the television They wanted the truth without colsorship They wanted freedom They wanted independence or death They asked Cabral's ghost the real history of Brazil and Portugal: "It was not by chance that we discovered your country We Portuguese are not as dumb as in say!" Another joke that was not even funny was that the drought n the Northeast was to blame for its poverty Pardon my faded innocence bla, bla, bla... Because only politicians wanted to know if it would be possible to convert the back lands into an ocean! Also we have thc eternal legend that the government lacks money The flies on the crap change but the lies are always the same... And the list goes on and on without ending With lies that Pinocchio would be ashamed of telling The biggest lies in Brazil You and your lies go to... (April fools!) The biggest lies in Brazil You and your lies go to... (April fools!) They used to say that Brazil was a country of the future But they realized that it was better to live in the present Zezinho and Maria decided to show the world that it is a lie that Brazil does not advance! They were children They were fitted with hope But they did not want to wait because those who wait never reach their goals They found the hypocrisy nauseating And started to become violent (Brazilians are tired of being deceived From now on liars will be hanged And then they started a revolution They controlled all the means of communication And revealed their list with the millions of lies That delayed the order and progress of the nation It was the only way out forthe country To cut out the lies at their roots And as all revolutions leave scars Blood gushed as in a fountain It was a victory of the people and at the end of the conquest Zezinho and Maria burned the list of The biggest lies in Brazil You and your lies go to... (April fools!) The biggest lies in Brazil You and your lies go to... (April fools!) and when they returned home they found their father very affected by everything that they had put in order A new era had started and it was not accidental that the eyes of the father were filled with tears A tear came down and Zezinho realized that he had discovered another lie at this time. ..Men also cry.
NEWS from BRAZIL APRIL 1995
But Gabriel is not only concerned with politics. What he wants is for people to think with their own heads, to pay attention to the concepts that were implanted early on in their behavior, and trust their intuition. What captured Gabriel's attention and opened his eyes were the children who know and love his lyrics. When he realized that kids listen to his music, pay attention, and understand wh at they can, he was challenged, started weighing everything that was happening, and sensed that his work could be som thing very positive for these young peo Ie. This insight is reflected on the disc's cover photo which shows a happy baby wearing headphones —presumably listening to what s inside. Q Pensador makes many criticisms of the police but lives and works around several types of policeman and pays attention to the differences that exist. He feels that .everyone has to be careful and avoid making judgments, know how to express criticism, and have the perception to not exaggerate. These are concerns that Gabriel analyzes closely. For 0 Pensador, it is not a question of thinking lightly about criticism — to criticize lightly is pointless —but to think twice before condemning. After all, empty headed people may also be victims. He wants people to wake up to reality. Although his work is aggressive, he is cognizant that his criticisms are necessary and that his work will stimulate ideas. culptor Auguste Rodin's private vision of the trials and torments of human existence, The Gates ofHell, is a panoramic statement of his own belief that hell is suffered not only by the dead, but by the living; that it is a bleak realm of false goals, lost dreams and unrealized passions. Man with his pride and hopes, strives for fulfillment only to meet his certain fate — disillusionment and ultimate destruction. Brooding over the Gates is Rodin's famous paradox, The Thinker. Representing man's ability to reason and to create, The Thinker sits as if in judgment of his fellow men—and himself. On the back cover of Ainda E So Comeco, Gabriel dares you to take up the headphones, while brooding like a guardian angel over his right shoulder is an illustration of Rodin's The Thinker sporting the rappers' backward baseball cap — a metaphor not lost to the listener. The idea of 0 Pensador, the rapper, is a little controversial. He is always asked how he can rap and still be from the middle class. The fact is that Gabriel has never paid much attention to social class. He has always had both rich and poor friends and always invites
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the most humble people to his parties. When he was living in Sao Conrado he knew many people from the Rocinha favela. On his fourteenth birthday, a group friends from Rocinha came to his party, though intimi tion almost turned them away at the door. Gabriel has also known people who have lived in posh condom ums, but most of his friends are from the poor areas '6e$ Rio. The 21 year old philosopher says he recognizes who his friends are. They are those who like rap, those who like funk, those who like pagode, the people on the beach, the people in the slums, the people from Rio's South Zone, and the people from the North Zone. He feels that Rio is very mixed up and that it doesn't matter what area, north or south, people come from. 0 Pensador is aware that is impossible to establish social divisions in Rio, a tropical Babel that brings together the rich and the poor. To Gabriel it all depends on the uniting element. When everyone was cheering for Brazil in the World CIA they all had the same agenda. When listening to mu is the same. People per se don't irritate Gabriel by being themselves. What irritates him are the pretentious people who intervene in others' lives and those people who need to show off. What he criticizes in his music are empty, f41ii 4 people. He perceives that many people have little respect for the experience of older people, and he is against anything that alienates and leaves a person dependent; tied up. He believes that the church and TV can be considered drugs. It is very easy for Gabriel to express his values and to pass on his message. He composes rapidly. He lives andi breaths his poetry. Once the basic music tracks area recorded, he can come back the following day with they lyrics. His poetry is not in any way sentimental. On the• contrary, it is aggressive, annihilating, and always has conscientious message that brings a social or politicalii, awareness to the listener. The message functions as anli, escape valve for those who are oppressed by socialV conventions. His lyrics are extremely long chronicles of a young man who wants a different world. They do no offer help to endure the pressure of today's world like the books by Paulo Coelho; they offer words to be screamed by a crowd. He approaches themes that reach many people. It is very easy for listeners to identify with his music. Gabriel suspects that music was what gave him his personality, principally the music of Bob Marley. Today he is nouri ished by rap. The more he leans on the vehicle of rap music, the more he gets from it and the more motivated he gets. He feels that he is still opening his first doors off perception. He prefers that people not assume he is a singer. On the track Como um Vicio (Like a Vice) from the new disc,' Gabriel yells, "I don't sing well. I'm not a singer. I'm a composer." Once at a show in Salvador where Julian Marley (son of Bob Marley) was also performing Gabriel decided to show reverence and sing "No Woman No Cry." It was so scary that the musicians, embarrassed by his singing, tried to hide behind their instruments. Gabriel said that it was hilarious. In the future 0 Pensador would like to write for
different medium, but not for the papers, something more free, maybe a book. He doesn't know. He finds that now he is limited by the meter of rap. He has always wanted to write but is now confined by a style of writing that must fit a rigid meter. He notes that before he writes for a different medium he will need to read a lot more and hasn't had much time to read. 0 Pensador did enjoy reading Nelson Rodrigues, the sports writer, author, playwright, journalist, and innovator of a type of theater in which different scenes of action take place on various raised platforms at the same time. Rodrigues was also responsible for creating a scandal in the 60s with some themes he wrote about in 0 Beijo no Asfalto (A Kiss on the Asphalt). The play was on the surface about a man who had an accident on the street and survived by receiving artificial respiration. The underground theme, however, was homosexuality. 0 Beijo no Asfalto created a tremendous controversy at the time. In another line from Como um Vicio Gabriel says, "Pay attention to what I say. Keep that. Hip hop enters through your ears and goes to your head." Gabriel confesses in the tune that he is involved to his bones. He cannot go out. He is already addicted, passionately in love, and dependent on the thoughts that feed his mind and that push him further every day, and asks himself where he would be if it were not this way. Bruce Gilman plays cuica for • Mocidade Independente Los Angeles, received his MA from California Institute of the Arts, and teaches English and ESL in Long Beach, California.
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NEVVS from SRAM. -PPIR11:1998
Brazilian Notas SCOTT ADAMS Now that we're past the fever of Carnaval, I'd though we'd take a break from the CDs, albums and tapes of our Brazilian favorites to showcase those who showcase the music for us, each week in cities throughout the country. These radio DJs work with a true love of Brazilian music to entertain, educate and enlighten us with their own individual personality and programming style. So whether your favorite Brazilian music is samba,forro, choro, MPB (Brazilian Popular Music), bossa nova or smooth Brazilian jazz, feel free to use this guide to find the station nearest you, and make sure to tell your friends in other parts of the country to tune in too! "The Sounds of Brazil!" with Scott Adams Saturday Midnight WNUA FM 95.5, Chicago, IL Saturday 10 pm KCJZ FM 106.7, San Antonio, TX Sunday 10 am KXDC FM 101.7 Monterey/Salinas, CA Sunday 10 am WOTB FM 103.1 Providence, RI Sunday Noon KIFM FM 98.1 San Diego, CA Sunday 8 pm KSSJ FM 101.9 Sacramento, CA Sunday 10 pm KAJZ FM 93.3 FM Austin, TX Sunday Midnight WNWV FM 107.3 Cleveland, OH "Agora Brasileiro" with Eric Taller, Elvira Cola Saturday 2 pm KPFA Berkeley, CA "Coracao Brasileiro" with Dennis Miller Sunday Noon-2 pm WMBR FM 88.1 Boston, MA "Brasil com `S'" with Judith King Saturday 9 pm-mid. WGBO FM 88.3, Newark, NJ "Brasilian Tropicale" with Alvon Griffin NEWS from BRAZIL - APRIL 1996
Wednesday 1-2 pm WMNF FM 88.5, Tampa, FL "Brazilians Love Jazz" with Gina Martell Sunday 6-9 pm WLVE FM 93.9, Miami, FL "A Taste of Brazil" with Dick Conte Sunday 10-11 pm KKSF FM 103.7, San Francisco, CA "Canta Brasil" with John Ii, David Heymann, Maria Jose Sunday 6-8 pm KKUP FM 91.5 Cupertino, CA "Sounds of Brasil" with Sergio Mielniczenko Thursday 9:30-11:30 am KPFK FM 90.7, Los Angeles, CA "One Ocean" with Lilia Albuquerque Sunday 3-5 pm KZYX FM 90.7, Philo, CA "Jazz Tropicale" with Marshall Vente Sunday 10 pm-Mid. WDCB FM 90.9 Glen Ellyn, IL "Horizontes" with Michael Crocket Friday 2-3 pm KUT FM 90.5, Austin, TX "Raices" with Samia Panni, Brian Lottis, Nilsa Lessa Saturday 2-4 pm KBCS FM 91.3 Bellview, WA
ANTONIO
"The Brazilian Fantasy" with Cenir Arruda, Sunday 4-6 pm KUVO FM 89.3 Denver, CO "Island Dreams/Waves" with Clay Yager Friday 7 pm WUMR FM 91.7, Memphis, TN If you know of other Brazilian radio programs not included in this list, please feel free to call me at (847) 486-0031 so that I can include them in a future column. And if you're not fortunate enough to have a Brazilian radio program in your area, call the Program Director at your local jazz or community radio station and tell them of your desire. Who knows? Maybe your name could be added to this list someday! And here's a list of other useful services: The Brazilian Minute: The Brazilian Minute is a weekly syndicated feature that covers the cultural and historical wealth of Brazil. The radio broadcast is made available without charge to Brazilian radio programs by The Montage Communications Group and is underwritten by The Office of Brazilian Consulates General.
CARLOS
Many of the above radio programs carry this entertaining and informative program as part of their regular programming. If the Brazilian program in your area doesn't carry The Brazilian Minute, call the program host and ask him to include it. A-VID International (800) 750-1941 Brazilian Carnaval Video Tapes Brazil CDs: (617) 666-3747 Brazilian Music (Mail Order) Musicrama: (718) 389-7818 Brazilian Music (Mail Order) Tower Music: (800) 648-4844 Brazilian Music (Mail Order) And don't forget: You can receive a free subscription to The Brazilian Music Review by simply calling The Brazilian Music Review Listener Line at (847) 292-4545. It's America's only publication that covers Brazilian music releases available in this country. The Listener Line also allows you to sample selected new Brazilian albums before you buy. Check it out! Next month we'll return with review of the hottest new Brazilian music. Ate logo!
JOBIM
is is the most-anticipaied release of the year; not jiust for fans of Brazilian music or as,, but for connoisseurs of great songwriting and great music. The fifty-five songs in this collection put Antonio Carlos iobim on display in all of his facets as an artist: guitarist, pianist, vocalist and, of course. composer. included is a containing rare family photographs, interviews, and an extensive essay. coat is devoted ro e; classic vocal renditions Cc's comprises 15 instrumental performances CD .5 provides a chance to hear, side by side. version, of the same songs lay different musicians Ity-f ice songs in this collection feature Antonio Carlos 'shim ing his compositions with great jazz and Brazilian musicians g Stan Gets, loao and Astrud Gilberto, Elis Regina, and many
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Movies ', 1", •
AM? Madame!... -- It all starts when two friends get a phone number that belonged to a palm reader and decide to take the clients for themselves. By Marcelo Saback and Vinicius Marques. In Rio. Dias Felizes -- Love comedy about a couple who stay together through thick and thin. Barbara Heliodora's translation from the Thomas Beckett's play. In Sao Paulo. Intensa Magia -- Maria Adelaide Amaral's play about a family's public washing of dirty laundry during an engagement party. Rosa Maria Murtinho stars. Paulo Cezar Saraceni directs. In Rio. Mary Stuart -- The struggle for power between queens Mary Stuart and Elizabeth I. From Friedrich Schiller. Directed by Gabriel Villela. In Sao Paulo. Nolte Feliz-- A Christmas family gathering becomes a group therapy when people start to share less than charitable impressions about each other. Flavio Marinho wrote and directs. Dramedy. In Rio. Oeste -- Drama. A family feud between two brothers who see the world very differently. Sam Shepard's play directed by Marco Ricca with Renata Sorrah and Xuxa Lopes. In Sao Paulo. Querida Mamde -- The hatelove relationship between daughter and mother. Eva Vilma stars and Jose Wilker directs this Maria Adelaide Amaral's story. In Sao Paulo.
Como Encher um Biquini Selvagem -- Written and directed by multitalented Miguel Falabella with Claudia Jimenez. A story of loneliness in the big city. In Rio.
Todo Mundo Sabe que Todo Mundo Sabe -- Another play from prolific and multitalented Miguel Falabella who also directs it. A socialite struggles to avoid economic disaster. In Rio. 46
rr,
American films just released: Leaving Las Vegas (Despedida em Las Vegas), Georgia (Georgia), Sense and Sensibility (Razao e Sensib-ilidade), To Die For (Urn Sonho sem Limites), Pushing Hands (A Arte de Viver), Get Shorty (0 Nome do Jogo), Heat (Fogo Contra Fogo), Things to Do in Denver When You Are Dead (Coisas para Fazer em Denver Quando Voce Esta Morto), Clockers (Irmaos de Sangue), Four Rooms (Grande Hotel-- Uma Comedia Cinco Estrelas), Now and Then (Agora e Sempre), Father of the Bride (0 Pai da Noiva), Virtuosity (Assassino Virtual) Jamon Jamon (Jamon Jamon) -- Spain -1992 -- The love story between a rich guy and the lovely girl who is the daughter of a notorious prostitute. Directed by Bigas Luna. Jenipapo -- Brazil -- 1995 -- Monique Garden-berg directs. The fascination of an American reporter living in Rio de Janeiro with an activist priest who fight for agrarian reform. La Flor de Mi Secreto (A Flor de Meu Segredo)--Spain-- 1995 --Pedro Almodovar directs this comedy about a writer unable to write three novels she has promised her publisher due to a matrimonial crisis. Mario, Maria e Mario (Mario, Maria e Mario) -- Italy -- 1993 --The fall of Russia wrecks havoc at the life of a socialist couple, husband and wife are communist militants. Ettore Scola directed. II Postino (0 Carteiro e o Poeta) -- Italy -1995 -- Poet Pablo Neruda's friendship with the mailman during the writer's exile in an Italian island. Directed by Michael Radford. 0 Qu4trilho --Brazil -- 1995 -- Fabio Barreto directs Patricia Pillar, Gloria Pires, Bruno Campos, and Alexander Paternorst in this dramatic story of two couples against the morals of the time. The action takes place among Italian immigrants in the south of Brazil. Nominated for the Oscar. Les Silences du Palais (Os Silencios do Palacio) -- France -- 1994 -- By Moufida Tlatly. After the death ofher father, a famous young singer returns to the palace where she was born. Terra Estrangeira (Foreign Land) -- Brazil -- 1995 -- Brazilian flees to Portugal amid economic turmoil in Brazil during the Collor de Mello presidency. Directed by Walter Salles Junior. Two Billion Hearts (Todos as Coraceies do Mundo) -- Brazil -- 1994 -- Murilo Salles's documentary on the 1994 World Soccer Cup. It's FIFA's official film. The White Baloon (0 Bala-o Branco) -- Iran -- 1995 -- The dreams of a little girl whose only ambition is to get a red fish as gift. Jafar Pahani is the director.
Fiction
1.0 Mundo de Sofia -- Jostein Gaarder (Comp. das Letras)
2. 0 Xango de Baker Street J6 Soares (Comp. das Letras) 3. A Profecia Celestina James Radfield (Objetiva)
4. Manhd, Tarde, Noite Sidney Sheldon (Record)
5. Comedias da Vida Privada - 101 CrOnicas Escolhidas Luis F. Verissimo (L&PM)
6. Guia de Leitura de A Profecia Celestina James Radfield and Carol Adrienne (Objetiva) 7. Quase Mem6ria -- Carlos Heitor Cony (Companhia das Letras)
8. Os Catadores de Conchas Rosamunde Pilcher (Bertrand Brasil)
9. Quando a Vida Encolhe Zibia Gasparetto (Espaco, Vida & Consciencia)
10. Ensaio Sobre a Cegueira Jose Saramago (Companhia das Letras)
Nonfiction
1. 0 Guia dos Curiosos
Marcelo Duarte (Companhia das Letras)
2. A Assustadora Hist6ria da Medicina Richard Gordon (Ediouro)
3. Chard - Rei do Brasil Fernando Morais (Companhia das Letras) 4. Paula -- Isabel Allende (Bertrand Brasil)
5. Maud, Emprescirio do Imp& rio -- Jorge Caldeira (Companhia das Letras)
6. Voce Pode Curar sua Vida Louise L. Hay (Best Seller)
7. Anjos Cabalisticos Monica Buonfiglio (Oficina Cultural Esoterica)
8. Minutos de Sabedoria Luis Torres Pastorino (Vozes)
9. Mensagens de Maria para o Mundo Annie Kirkwood (Record)
10.Mulheres que Correm corn Lobos Clarissa Pinkola Estes (Rocco) NEWS from BRAZIL -APRIL 1996
THE CITIZENS' VOICE PRO BRAZILIAN RIGHTS Boston's Brazilian Immigrant's Center has just celebrated its first anniversary in a new house. From now on, the group will share space with the Irish Immigrants Center at 139 Brighton Ave, suite 2, in Allston, Massachusetts. BIC defines itself as a "movement of Brazilian immigrants to organize and work against economic, social, and political marginalization." The effort was born to fight discrimination and abuse mainly in the job place faced by Brazilians in the Greater Boston Area. BIC is also interested in opening the doors for immigrants to educate themselves and their children. Care to join, interested in knowing more? Call (617) 783-8001.
AMAZON HEROINE A former Amazon rubber-tapper who was recently elected to the Brazilian federal senate will be one of the six recipients of the 7th Annual Goldman Environmental Prize. Marina Silva has worked side by side with Chico Mendes creating the empates, peaceful demonstrations against the Amazon deforestation. She has continued to push for the creation of extractive reserves undaunted by Mendes's assassination in 1988. The Goldman Award, which includes a $75,000 check, is the world's largest grassroots environment prize. The award ceremony will happen April 22, at the Herbst Theater in San Francisco. NEWS from BRAZIL - APRIL 1996
In San Francisco on his way to Japan, Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso participated, March 10, in a ceremony to install the first Conselho de Cidadaos in the United States. The councilors constitute across-section of the Brazilian community in San Francisco. Lawyer, religious leader, academic, student organizer, plastic artist and social activist will work side by side with one time soccer star, pizzeria owner and others to improve the lot of fellow nationals who legally or illegally are in Northern California. The ceremony was just the beginning of a process to integrate Brazilians living overseas. New York, Boston, Miami, Los Angeles and other cities with big Brazilian population will soon have their own representatives. Cardoso, an exilt himself during Brazil's military dictatorship, is behind the Council's idea. The Citizens' Councils grew out of his continuing concern with cultural, financial, social and work-related conditions faced by the millions of Brazilians living away from the home country. The councils, which will meet regularly four times a year and more if needed, are primarily advisory groups with no legal power. You want to know more? Call (415) 981-8172
Learn Another Language on Your Own! Learn to speak a foreign language fluently on your own and at your own pace with what are considered the finest in-depth courses available. Many were developed by the Foreign Service Institute ofthe U.S. Department of State for diplomatic personnel who must learn a language quickly and thoroughly. Emphasis is on learning to speak and to understand the spoken language. A typical course (equivalent to a college semester) includes an album of 10 to 12 audio cassettes (10 to 18 hours), recorded by native-born speakers, plus a 250-page textbook. 0 Arabic (Saudi) $185 0 Cantonese $185 0 French $185 o French Level II $215 0 German $185 o Getman Level II $155 0 Greek $185 o Hebrew $255 0 Hindi (Intermed) $185 0 Hungarian $195 0 Italian $185
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CAREER-ORIENTED OPPORTUNITIES ENVIRONMENTAL MARKETING COMPANY, EXPANDING NATIONWIDE, IS SEARCHING FOR MOTIVATED AND TEACHABLE INDIVIDUALS WHO POSSESS LEADERSHIP QUALITIES. ABOVE AVERAGE INCOME, FLEXIBLE HOURS. TRAINING WILL BE PROVIDED. PART TIME / FULL TIME POSITIONS. PLEASE CALL:
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BRAZILIAN
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
SUMMER FESTIVAL '96
STEVEN R. LAN DAAL Member, Arnow ImugArion lArgers ALLauoiop
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An, CALL NOW 213 255-8062 NEWS from BRAZIL - APRIL 1996
FEIRA LIVRE OPEN MARKET CLASSES Portuguese classes - Invididual & small groups. Relaxed, fun, but very efficient and personalized lessons. I'm a native Brazilian instructor with an university degree in languages. Try a free lesson. (415) 647-2766 [123] Looking for a very fast, efficient, and pleasant way to learn Brazilian Portuguese? (415) 9913476 [130] COOKING Best Selling Brazilian Cookbook - Delightful Brazilian Cooking by Eng Tie Ang. Over 130 authentic, quick and easy recipes. $14.95, plus $3.00 shipping and handling. P.O. Box 30818 - Seattle, WA 98103- Phone and Fax (206) 789-3693. [126] HEALTH & FITNESS Lose weight. Keep it off and eat well. Natural herbs treatment. Massage, facial cleansing and waxing. (415) 256-1213 11241 JOB OFFERED
Housekeeper/Child Care Live-in. References required. Must drive. (310)472-7773 [123] US/International company in 30 countries is expanding to Brazil. No experience necessary. Will train. PIT $500 -$2,000; F/ T $2,000 - $6,000 — (310) 3733681 [123] MISCELLANEOUS
Agradecendo graca recebida Orar o Salmo 38 tres vezes ao dia tres dias consecutivos. Publicar agradecendo graca recebida. C. B. [124] Music Brazilian Music in its totality. Samba, bossa nova, chorinho, bald°, axe, and more. Merchant Express- (800) 589-5884.
"Paula Maya and the Earth Tribe", the best Brazilian pop jazz band. Amazing original music. You can also purchase the CD "Paula Maya New Perspective" by mail. Call now: (206) 781-5193 [124] NEWSPAPERS & MAGAZINES Jornais e revistas do Brasil. Recebemos jomais diarios e todas as principais revistas, incluindo masculinas e femininas. Tel. (800) 589-5884.
NEWS from BRAZIL - APRIL 1996
PERSONAL WOMAN SEEKS MAN
Attractive, sophisticated economically independent Brazil km lady seeks nice Americano 4560 for serious commitment. Write to Claudice„SQN-308 Bloco "H" Apt. 605 - Brasilia DF 70000 Brazil [124] Sophisticated, attractive lady with Scandinavian art degree seeks professional, attractive 4758 man — non-American, non smoker—for love eventual marriage. (213) 851-2767 PERSONAL MAN SEEKS WOMAN: American, male, 44 years old,
would like to meet a Brazilian lady. I speak English only. Call (415) 994-8470 (San Francisco) [124] American Doctor, male, seeks Brazilian lady, 18-32 for fun and romance. Must be pretty. I'm very handsome and look Brazilian. (213) 293-8909. Los Angeles area.
American Plastic Surgeon. Internationally recognized. Attractive. Athletic. Has toured Brazil. Seeks intelligent, athletic, attractive, non smoking Brasileira who likes skin diving, aerobics, surfing, outdoor photography & cooking. Ages 22-30. Send photos and C.V. to G.M. - 2318 Washington - Great Bend, Kansas, 67530 - U.S.A. Americano, 38 anos, alto, delgado, branco, olhos azuis, professor de Ingles, procura brasileira 18-30 anos. (310) 2895719 William - Ou: 1223 Broadway #143, Santa Monica, CA 90404 [124] Americano, young 44, honest, romantic, seeks brasileira 27-39. Has toured Brasil. Likes your people, music, soccer. Falo Portugues. Letter/photo to Douglas, 18 Grand Rio Cir., Sacramento, CA 95826 [125]
Blue eyes, 6' tall college grad, business owner, traveler near Marina Del Rey, California, seeks a sharing, caring, sensual relationship with a petite, ethnic, Brasileira— Barrett (310) 3902586 [124]
Divorced white male. 45, seeks for correspondence, friendship, marriage, warm, kind, loving, non-smoking Brazilian women 18-33 years, some English, one child OK. I will complete gradu-
FEIRA LIVRE RATES: 500 a word. Phone is one word. DISCOUNTS: For 3 times deduct 5%, for 6 times deduct 10%, for 12 times deduct 15%. POLICY: All ads to be prepaid. Ads are accepted at our discretion. Sorry, no credit card at this time. Your canceled check is your receipt. Please, include address and phone number, which will be kept confidential. DEADLINE: The 15th of the month. Late material will be held for the following month if appropriate. TO PLACE AD: Send ad with check or money order to: News from Brazil P.O. Box 42536 Los Angeles, CA 90050-0536. ate business school and travel to Brazil June 1998. Serious inquiries only please. Photo and letters: James King, 208 S. Elm St. Apt. C, Greenville, NC 27858, USA. Also E-mail to grjking@ecuvm.cis.ecu.edu [124]
Successful, wealthy, good-looking marriage-minded romantic American comedy writer, 30, speaks a little Portuguese, seeks slender, intelligent, educated, English-speaking, nonsmoking, nonreligious brasileira in L.A. area. Note & photo to: Occupant, P.O. Box 3757, Santa Monica, CA 90408 PERSONAL MAN SEEKS MAN
French American guy looking for friendship with Brazilian men 35-55. (310) 659-3139 or write: Occupant, P.O. Box 16655, Beverly Hills, CA 90209 Handsome gay American man wants gay male pen-pals from Rio and Brazil. Write Roberto — 1086 Post St. #309, San Francisco, CA 94109 USA
Sou gay americano, 28, 6'2", 190, branco. Procuro brasileiro bonito para amizade e mais. Morava no Brasil e agora tenho saudades. (213) 660-2617 [122] Very handsome, professional, kind and generous gay American man who loves truly the music, seeks caring, sincere Brazil man 25 to 45 from Los Angeles or Brazil. Call or write: Occupant 12425 Texas Ave. #13, Los Angeles, CA 90025 - (310) 2078793 [123] PERSONAL FRIENDSHIP
Brazilian guy, 27, looking for friendship, collects post cards. Fabio — PO Box 9091, L.I.C.
NY 11103-0904
Sou brasileira, tenho 16 anos, quero me corresponder com magas e rapazes bras i I e iros, latinos ou americanos que falem portugues ou espanhol. Escrevam para Luciene Pinto — Rua Leonardo Da Vinci, 13 — Senador Camara —CEP 21831100 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil [122] PSYCHOTHERAPY
Chronic & Life Threatening illnesses, A.D.D. & dyslexia, life transitions, bicultural & relationship issues, sexual identity conflict — Edison de Mello, M.D., Ph.D. — MFCC Li c# 021323 — Portuguese/ Spanish/ English. (310) 281-9901 [124]
Emotional & psychological help - Elizabete Almeida MFCC licensed psychotherapist. English/Portuguese. Reasonable rates. (310) 281-7536. [133] RENT
Vacation apartment for renting in Salvador-Bahia at Amaralina Beach (415) 256-1213 [124] REAL ESTATE
BUYING, SELLING, RENTING - Anywhere in the U.S. through National Referral Services. Call Debora Jackson at (703) 548-0700. McEnearney Associates Inc. [122] SERVICES
SOS WORD PROCESSING All types, résumés, term papers, script typing, mailing lists, labels, flyers, laser printing, pickup an delivery. (310) 815-8717 [124]
Silent's — Fine line tattoos. By appointment only. (310) 8428628, (310) 843-1377 or (619) 965-9655 [129] 49
Portraiture conference by Sergio Miceli (USP) at UCLA's Bunche Hall (310) 206-1311
Sancir,;,ha Cruz art photos at The Burbank Media Center Mall (818) 5762902 - Open until April 14 Hello Oiticica & Neville D'Almeida exhibit and films at Los Angeles MOCA (213) 621-1708 - Open until July 15.
COAST TO COAST SHORT WAVE RADIO Radio Nacional da Amaz6nia - Daily, especially on evenings and early morning -6,180 & 11,780 Khz Radiobras - All universal time - From 12 noon to 1:20 PM, in English andfrorn 1:30 PM to 2:510 PM, in Spanish 15,445 Khz BOSTON Coragao Brasileiro - Every Sunday, 12:00 noon with Dennis Miller - 88.1 FM WM BR CHICAGO The Sounds of Brazil - Every Saturday, 10:00 pm Midnight, 95.5 FM, WrILIA with Scott Adams Show Brazil - Every Friday, 8:00 am - 11:00 am, 91.5 FM, WMFO with Edna Moreno Brazilian Style of Music Every Friday, 11:00 am 2:00 pm, 91.5 FM, WMFO with Marlon Catao LOS ANGELES TV Canal Brasil - Every Sunday, 9:00 pm, Continental Cable, Channel 28 RADIO Sounds of Brazil - Every Thursday, Noon - 2:00 pm, KPFK, 90.7 FM with Sergio Mielniczenko Brazilian Hour - Every Saturday and Sunday, 9:00 am - 10:00 am, KXLU., 80.9 FM with S6rgio Mielniczenko, MIAMI RADIO Brazilians Love Jazz -Every Sunday. 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm with Gina Mattoill - Love 94
TUESDAY, 2 LOS ANGELES
8:30 PM - Lula & Afro-Brazil at Zabumba
BEVERLY HILLS 10:30 PM - Katia Morals at Bokaos (310) 6591200
FRIDAY 12 SEBASTOPOL, CAL
7:30 PM Terra Estrangeira (Foreign Land) film at UCLA's Atleinitz Theater (310) 206-FILM
7:30 PM - Umbanda Ritual at Temple Guaracy (707) 829-3462
THURSDAY, 4 LOS ANGELES
8:00 PM - Ciauduarte at Rebecca's (954) 7857766
8:30 PM - Lula & Afro-Brazil at Zabiimba
SANTA MONICA, CALIF.
POMPANO B., FLORIDA CENTURY CITY, CAL. 8:00 PM - The Girls from ipanema at The Century CUE,
10 00 PM - Katia Morals at 14 Below
LOS ANGELES
FRIDAY 5 SEBASTOPOL, CAL
9:00 PM - Renry Flores at Zabumba 9:30 PM - MILA Samba School at Cafe Danssa
7:30 PM - Umbanda Ritual at Temple Guaracy (707) 829-3462
POMPANO B., FLORIDA 8:00 PM Clauduarte at Rebecca's (954) 735 7766
CENTURY CITY, CAL. 8:00 PM - The Girls from lpanema at The Century Club
LOS ANGELES
ANAHEIM, CAL. 7:00 PM - Marcos Santos at Ginga Brazil
SATURDAY 13 NEW YORK 12:00 MIDNIGHT - Tete Maciel & Band at Boca Chica (212) 473-0108
POMPANO B., FLORIDA 6:00 PM - Dunga & Band at Panorama Restaurant (954) 784-8136
SAN FRANCISCO
9:00 PM - Renni Flores at Zabumba 9:30 PM - MILA Samba School at Cafe Danssa
10:00 PM - Entre N6s at Bahia Cabana
ANAHEIM, CAL.
7:00 PM - Sergio 2000 at Ginga Brazil
7:00 PM - Kleber Jorge at Ginga Brazil
SATURDAY 6 NEW YORK 8:00 PM -Star Samba in Aleluia at SOB 212) 307-7171 12:00 MIDNIGHT - Tete Maciel & Band at Boca Chfca (212) 473-0108
POMPANO B., FLORIDA 6:00 PM - Dunga & Band at Panorama Restaurant (954) 7 84-8136
SAN FRANCISCO 10:00 PM - Pandemonium Bard at Bah:A Cabana
ANAHEIM, CAL 7:00 PM Lois & Zelao at Ginga Brazil
LOS ANGELES 9:30PM- ULA Samba Band atZabumba 9.37 PM - Constellation Band at Café
SUNDAY 7 SAN DIEGQ, CAL. 3:30 PM - San Diego Samba School at Café Sew 10:00 PM - Sarnbrasil at Cafe Sevilla
LONG BEACH, CAL 7:00 PM - SambaLa Samba School's big floor show at the Foothill
MOND - Y 8 LOS ANGELES 3:00 PM - Art and Society in Brazilian
50
THURSDAY 11 LOS ANGELES
ANAHEIM, CAL LOS ANGELES 9:30 PM - ULA Samba Band at Zabumba 9:30 PM - Constellation Band at Cafe Danssa
SUNDAY 14 NEW YORK 8:00 PM - Egberto Gismonti &Cristina Ortiz at Carnegie Hall
SAN DIEGO, CAL 3:30 PM - San Diego Samba School at Café Sevilla 10:00 PM - Sambrasil at Cafe Sevilla
LONG BEACH, CAL. 7:00 PM - SambaLa Samba School at the Foothill
TUESDAY 16 LOS ANGELES 7:30 PM - Jenipapo film at UCLA's Melnitz Theater (310) 216-FILM 8:00 PM - Axe, the Brazilian Jazz Ensemble, at Zabumba
THURSDAY 18 LOS ANGELES 8:30 PM Lula & Afro-Brazil at Zabumba
SANTA MONICA, CALIF. 10:00 PM - Katia Morals at 14 Below
FRIDAY 19 SEBASTOPOL, CAL 7:30 PM - Umbanda Ritual at Temple Guaracy
NEWS from BRAZIL -APRIL 1996
calendar - april 96 - u s a. (707) 829-3462
POMPANO B., FLORIDA 8:00 PM - Clauduarte at Rebecca's (954) 7857766
CENTURY CITY, CAL. 8:00 PM - The Girls from Ipanema at The Century Club
LOSAMELES 8:30 PM - Lula & Afro-Brazil at Zabumba
LOS ANGELES 9:00 PM - Renni Flores at Zabumba 9:30 PM - MILA Samba School at Cafe Danssa
ANAHEIM, CAL. 7:00 PM - Sergio
2000 at Ginga Brazil
FRIDAY 26
TV & RADIO
NW YORK
TV
BEVERLYMILLS 10:30 PM - Katia Morais at Bokaos (310) 659-1200
7:30 PM & 10:00 PM - Astrud Gilberto at SOB (212) 307-7171
SEBASTOPOL* CAL
SATURDAY 20 NEW YORK
7:30 PM - Umbanda Ritual at Temple Guaracy (707) 829-3462
8:00 PM & 10:00 PM - Samba Novo at SOB (212) 307-7171
8:00 PM - Clauduarte at Rebecca's (954) 785-7766
POMPANO B., FLORIDA
CENTURXCEEY=A1:
6:00 PM - Dunga & Band at Panorama Restaurant (954) 784-8136
PQMPANCASWTLORIDA 8:00 PM - The Girls from Ipanema at The Century Club
SAN FRANCISCO 10:00 PM - Entre Nes at Bahia Cabana
ANAHEIM, CAL. 7:00 PM - Lois & Zelao at Ginga Brazil
LOS ANGELES 9:00 PM - Katia Morais at De Ja Vu (818) 5473947 9:30 PM - ULA Samba Band at Zabumba 9:30 PM - Constellation Band at Café Danssa
SUNDAY 21 SAN DIEGO, CAL. 3:30 PM - San Diego Samba School at Café Sevilla 10:00 PM - Sambrasil at Cafe Sevilla
LONG BEACH, CAL.
LOSANSELES
NEW YORK
AVAIIENCIOAC 7:00 PM - Marcos Santos at Ginga Brazil
RADIO
LOSINIMELES
9:00 PM - Renni Flores at Zabumba 9:30 PM & 11:00 PM - Katia Morais at La Ve Lee
SATURDAY 27
NEWMRK 8:00 PM - Brazilian Samba Dinner Show at SOB (212) 307-7171
SAN TRANCISCO 10:00 PM - Pandemonium at Bahia Cabana
HOLLYWOOD, CAL.
ANAHEIMMAL4:
MONDAY 22 SAN FRANCISCO 8:00 PM - Aquarela at Herbst Theater. Brazilian senator Manna Silva gets the Goldman Environmental Prize
WEDNESDAY 24 NEW YORK 7:30 PM & 10:00 PM - Astrud Gilberto at SOB (212) 307-7171
THURSDAY 25 NEW YORK
'ANAHEIM iga Brazil - 821 N. Euclid, 778-0266 OS ANGELES Below- 1348 14th St., Santa n a - (310) 451-5040
Danssa - 11533 W. Pico West L.A.- (310) 478-7866 otbill - 1922 Cherry Ave. Beach -(310) 983-9190 NEWS from BRAZIL-APRIL 1996
7:00 PM - Sergio 2000 at Ginga Brazil
LOSANDELES 9:30 PM - ULA Samba Band atZabumba 9:30 PM - Constellation Band at Café Danssa 10:00 PM - Katia Morals at Luna Parl (310) 652-0611
SUNDAY 28 LONGEBEACIVCAL 7:00 PM -SambaLa"Rainha da Bateria" contest at the Foothill
TUESDAY 30
LOSANGELES
7:30 PM & 10:00 PM - Astrud Gilberto at SOB (212) 307-7171
8:00 PM - Axe, the Brazilian Jazz Ensemble, at Zabumba
La Ve Lee 12514 Ventura BL Studio City - (818) 980-8158 Century Club 10131 C stellation 81.-(310) 5 s?--6cp Zaburrtba -10717 Veruce Culver City - (310) 841-65
SAN PIE
Luqui Corporation -Jornal Bandeirantes - 11:00 pm 1:00 am, Dynamic ch. 20, S. South ch. 41, Gold Coast ch. 44, DCI ch. 45
9:30 PM - MLA Samba School at Cafe Danssa
7:00 PM - SambaLa Samba School at the Foothill 8:00 PM - Katia Morals at Moguls (213) 4657449
BIN (Brazilian TV Network) - 11:00 pm - 1.00 am, DCI ch. 40, S. South ch. 51, Adelphia ch. 52, Gold Coast ch. 99
a 0 S-S na. 1600 Mar
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Café Sevilla
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Brasil com S - Every Saturday, 9:00 PM with Judith King, 88.3 FM - WBGO Brazil Street Samba - Every Friday, 10.00 PM with Leo Costa & Alberto Lopes - 89.9 FM - WKCR Radio Amazonia - Every day, 6.30 PM on short wave - 6.185 MHZ TV Brazil Update - Every Saturday, 3.30 PM - Channel 69 Brazilians in America-TV - Every Sunday, 5.30 PM Channel 16 S. FRANCISCO Brasileirinho - Every Wednesday, 9:30 PM, KZSC, 88.1 FM with Renato Frota Brasil Musical - Every Sunday, 1.00 PM - 5:00 PM, Radio Bilingue, 91.5 FM via satellite, with Ricardo and Amarina Pugh - Fresno Canta, Brasil - Every Sunday, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM KKUP, 91.5 FM, with Xuxu, Maria Jose and David Heyman Programa de Domingo Every Sunday, 1:00 PM 2.00 PM, KSQQ 96.1 FM with Lino Bugatti A Taste of Brazil - Every Sunday, 11:00 PM - 12:00 AM, KKSF, 103.7 with Dick Conte Tropicalia Brasiliana - Every Friday, 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM, KUSF, 90.3 with Raimundo Franco
a 51
Boston Area Books Livraria Plenitude
(800) 532-5809 Consulate Consulado G. do Brasil
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yang (415) 986-5737 Vasp
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(510) 451-8315 Food
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(310) 202-6820
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Euroamerica
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(800) 822-1318 52
Clube Bras. San Diego
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ashington DC Area Airlines Transbrasil
(202) 775-9180
Instruction
Varig
(202) 331-8913
Portuguese Lang. Serv.
(415) 587-4990 Money Remittance
Vasp
(202) 822-8277 Banks Banco do Brasil
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(202) 857-0320
(415) 673-0262 Vigo (415) 863-0218
(202) 682-1151 Clubs & Associations
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(510) 945-0138
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(510) 655-9904
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(415) 282-7378
Indigo Blues
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(800) 524-3666
Travel Agencies Rio Roma
(510) 843-2363
Samba, Swing & Suor
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Raimundo Franco
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(619) 233-5979 Import/Export
(310) 455-1772 Clubs & Associations
(415) 587-4990
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Ginga Brasil (510) 428-0698 Escola Nova de Samba
(818) 280-0061 Clothes
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(510) 215-8202
Gula Gula
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(510) 845-9303
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(310) 837-8957
Mozzarela Di-Bufala Nino's
(415) 981-8170 Dance Instruction
(718) 937-0574 Restaurants
(415) 986-4058 (415) 346-9888
Computer Micronet
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(212) 228-2958
Michelangelo Café
(415) 334-0106
(212) 382-1630 (201) 955-1137
Joio's Restaurant Little Rio
Bay Area Brasilian Club
(415) 665-1994 Consulate
The Brasihans
Colusa Restaurant
(415) 526-1500
(415) 661-2788
Cheese Bread House
Samba
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(415) 626-8727
(212) 757-3080 Food & Products
(305) 443-5358
(310) 628-9789
(415) 864-6788
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(714) 720-1522
Remi Vila Real
Café Mardi Gras
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(305) 866-1001
(415) 626-6432
Bibbo
(212) 826-3019
(310) 657-5070
Café do Brasil
(415) 421-BIBO
Brazilian Tropical
(310) 438-3415
(415) 387-1118
(415) 565-3560 Beauty Salon
Florida Review
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Matts Auto Body
Portuguese - A. Frame
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(510) 223-5190 News from Brazil
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Brazilian Delight
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(510) 444-8100 Auto
(718) 545-0608
(305) 374-0032
(415) 832-6219 Printing M. C. Printing
Attorney
(305) 776-1412 Publications
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Dr. Guilherme Salgado
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(305) 781-1113
(415) 871-2201 Physician
(510) 268-8967 Publications
(800) 732-VASP
Dr. Neri Franzon
(305) 374-5235 Restaurants
Musical Instruments Tamborim & Samba
Dalven Hair Design (415) 433-7646 Neyde's
(212) 877-7730
(818) 798-5424
Food & Beverages All Braz. Imp. & Exp.
(213) 938-0523
(800) 727-LUSO
Arnaldo Souza
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(310) 828-7454
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Books Luso-Brazilian Books
Brasilia
(310) 836-3436
(310) 364-0160
New York New Jersey
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(305) 262-8212
Vasp
Via Brasil Travel
(305) 285-6200 Dentists
Decio Rangel
(800) GO VARIG
(305) 372-5007
(310) 839-3788
(310) 285-9670
Airlines
(305) 374-5855 New Port Tours
Braz. Jazz /All Occasions
Accountant Sheila Shanker
yang
Monark Travel
(415) 695-9258 Music Fogo na Roupa Marcos Silva Terra Sul
(415) 752-9782
Banco do Est. de S. Paulo
Braz. Am. Cult. Inst.
(202) 362-8334 Inst. of Brazil. Business
(202) 994-5205 Embassy Embaixada do Brasil
(202) 745-2700 Travel Agencies
Viva Brazil
Intern. Discount Travel
(415) 342-8508
(703) 750-0101
Voz do Brazil
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(415) 586-2276
(703) 527-6977 NEWS from BRAZIL -APRIL 1996
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53
Life has been getting better materially for most Brazilians particularly those who live in urban areas. Distribution of wealth, however, is still very unequal although the poorer are also getting richer even though at a much slower pace. And relationship between income and education is almost linear. A generation ago Brazil was socially as well as economically an underdeveloped country, and within another it may well be an industrialized nation. Now it is at midstream, with the full array of tensions and problems involved in rapid, uneven, ongoing modernization. Brazil is a middle-income country with a fast expanding workforce reflecting a sustained surge of industry and the service sector as well as a high degree of urbanization. Social changes unleashed by these processes have yet to run their course; some — including the role and position of women and blacks — have still to reach maximum momentum. Treatment of Brazil's social dynamics centers on the relationship of social structure to economic and racial considerations — for benefits of growth have been very unevenly distributed in terms of social classes as well as by regions and gender. The broad base of the social pyramid is made up of Afro-Brazilians, a large proportion living in the most backward regions and over half of them women. Their fecundity rates have not dropped as dramatically as those of European extraction, giving lie to the hoary myth that racial problems in Brazil would disappear with time and "whitening" of the population. Indeed, race relations are almost certain in the years ahead to become a much more salient issue in Brazilian national and public life than they have been at any time since the abolition controversy in the 1880s.
NEWS from BRAZIL -APRIL 1996
Education is Brazil's primary channel of social mobility. Substantial upward movement exists, but the key to opportunity is sufficient education to be able to take advantage of expansion of technical, financial, and administrative occupations. Despite tremendous quantitative progress in education since the 1950s, access to schooling is still dramatically less available to rural populations and segments of the urban lower classes than to other sectors of society. Brazil's blacks and mulattoes are a disproportionate share among these heavily disadvantaged groups. Hence it begs the question to say — as Brazilians often do — that this is essentially a socioeconomic phenomenon. Rather the high correlation between dark skin and poverty should be cause for soul-searching. As discussed in this chapter, other groups have arrived later in Brazil, begun near the bottom, and moved up quickly. In religion the Roman Catholic Church is predominant with Protestantism, Afro-Brazilian movements, and Spiritism also important. These are rival but not mutually exclusive, as a significant number of Brazilians mix religious practices. Workforce, Income Distribution, and Social Mobility Education and income are highly correlated in Brazil, but the relationship is more complex than either the interpretation that only those better off to begin with have access to education or the assertion that education leads directly to higher income. Education is the main vehicle for upward social mobility, yet the channel is far from unobstructed, and getting higherpaying jobs on the strength of schooling alone is far from automatic. When the economy is at the high tide of rapid sustained growth, obstacles in the stream of social mobility are submerged, and the opportunity ferry may pass safely over them. But when growth slows to where the economy is producing fewer new jobs than the number of persons entering the labor market, the sandbar of inadequate employment opportunities and shoals of unemployment imperil passage across class barriers. In these situations "who you know, not what you know" comes into play, and the high hopes of many who have struggled and sacrificed for educational attainment founder on the treacherous rocks of color, sex, and even region of origin. As a result, although tens of millions of Brazilians manage to improve their status and
NEWS from BRAZIL - APRIL 1996
level of living, other millions miss the opportunity boat, and millions more become relatively — if not absolutely — worse off.
ranks of uniformed police. Yet women still earn considerably less than do men; in 1987 a high 46.5 percent of women in the workforce earned minimum salary or less in contrast to 27.7 Emp oyment and Labor percent of their male counterparts. Indeed, in 1988 women outnumbered Brazil's economic transformation is men below the minimum salary, and dramatically mirrored in changes that the ratio above ten minimums was have occurred in the workforce. As four men per woman. Black women late as 1950 only 14 percent of the are especially poorly paid. economically active population (EAP) Job figures are distorted by the — then numbering 17.1 million — extremely large informal sector. Thus, were found in industry, with 60 per- during the 1981-1984 recession, decent in agriculture and 26 percent in mand for work in urban areas rose by the service sector. By 1990 those em- 4 million, but employment in the forployed in industry had risen to 22 mal sector — with the employer signpercent, agriculture had declined ing the employee's working book and sharply to 23 percent, and the tertiary hence paying social security and other sector had exploded to 55 percent. wage taxes — fell by 1 million. Yet Quantitative changes were dramatic this labor surplus was largely absorbed as the EAP climbed to 64.5 million by an increase of 4 million jobs in the individuals over age ten by 1990. informal sector. This resulted in 71.5 Whereas in 1940 agricultural laborers percent of the total labor force (inoutnumbered those in industry by five cluding farmworkers) working off the to one, by 1990 industrial employ- I books. Under the subsequent recovment equaled that in agriculture. This ery, many jobs moved from the inforremarkable shift resulted from the in- mal to the formal sector, with a sizable creasing proportion of new jobs re- proportion reverting back as microlated to industrialization. Although businesses encountered hard times over the 1940-1980 span the number from 1987 to 1992. In Brazil small of individuals employed in agricul- businesses in financial trouble go off ture rose by 3 million, those in indus- the books to reduce costs; hence offitry multiplied 5.3 times—an increase cial statistics are often quite misleadof 8.2 million — and employment in ing. The jogo do bicho, or numbers the tertiary sector was up 6.6 times for a much larger increment of 17.8 mil- game, provides an important case in lion. Since 1980 four-fifths of the in- point. Technically outside the law alcrease in the EAP has been in the though generally tolerated by the auservice sector. thorities in major urban centers, it inThis fundamental change in em- volves over $2 billion a year, furployment was accompanied by a dra- nishes stable employment to 50,000 matic rise in the proportion of women individuals in Rio de Janeiro, and proin the labor force. Between 1970 and vides income to 400,000 persons in 1985 women gainfully employed the country as a whole. The largest trebled from 6.1 million to 18.5 mil- "bankers" pay their employees comlion — compared to but 2.5 million in paratively well, provide medical cov1950. By 1993 women composed 38 erage, and even have retirement benpercent of the EAP compared to one- efits. These individuals, as well as the seventh in 1950. The most dramatic growing legions linked to distribution development in the labor market is an of drugs, are not unemployed, no matincreasing proportion of married ter what they may answer to a census women working outside the home, taker. Thus income data based on inwhich helped raise the workforce ratio formation from respondents wary of in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro to running afoul of authorities is rarely under three men to two women by reliable. Moreover, anyone familiar 1989. Although uneducated women ith Brazilian realities knows that any camel& (street vendors) are not from the lower classes are still coniving on the edge of poverty but poscentrated in low-paying jobs, educated women have moved quite rapidly into ibly are doing better than some of the the more desirable careers opened up mall shopkeepers whose overhead xpenses they avoid. But even camel& by modernization and development. Long well-represented among doctors ho have hired several others to sell and lawyers, they are increasingly or them will not admit to being fairly found in the ranks of economists, adrosperous, albeit they have frequently ministrators, security analysts, and quired substantial properties in lowbrokers — as well as finally in the ent areas from which they derive addi-
Fc
55
tional income. When pressed they will explain their possessions by saying they won the lottery or the jogo. Yet they enter the official statistics as having no monetary income. Hence, although official statistics speak of 32 million below the poverty line; scholars have estimated the real figure at below 20 million, perhaps closer to 15 million. Uneven Distribution of Wealth Distribution of wealth in Brazil is extremely unequal, but this does not mean that while the rich have indeed gotten richer, the poor have become poorer in absolute terms — particularly when family rather than individual is taken as the unit of analysis. There has been a trend toward an increased number of wage earners in the Brazilian family, chiefly as a result of the sharp rise in the proportion of working wives. Still, Brazil's industrialization has been accompanied by increased income concentration. In 1960 the top 10 percent of earners received 39.6 percent of total income, and the bottom decile got but 1.9 percent. This gap grew to 48.7 and 0.8 percent at the trough of recession in 1991 as the richest 1 percent of Brazilians received 14 percent of income compared to 12 percent for the poorest. Income distribution in Brazil is couched in terms of proportions of population earning below, at, or above the minimum salary (expressed in monthly terms). This presents a problem of comparability over time, since the value of the minimum salary is far from constant. Nevertheless, such data do help portray the class structure of Brazilian society. As of 1984 some 1.6 percent of Brazil's economically active population could be considered well-off by Brazilian standards, earning over twenty times the legal minimum and sharing 18 percent of total income. An upper-middle class composed of 3.5 percent of the EAP earning ten to twenty minimum salaries received 16 percent of total income. Also middle class were the 8.5 percent of the workforce earning five to ten times the minimum and getting 20 percent of income. Transitional between this lower-middle class and the upper stratum of the working class were the 11.3 percent of the EAP earning three to five minimums and pulling down 15 percent of the income total. By way of stark contrast, the workingclass component earning two to three minimum wages numbered 12.3 percent of the workforce and received 10
56
percent of income. At the margin of the poor were the nearly 24 percent of the EAP earning one to two minimums for approximately 12 percent of total income. The 38.2 percent of the workforce paid below the minimum wage totaled 8 percent of Brazil's income — a chilling contrast to the more fortunate strata. Yet quality of living involves factors beyond income levels, and progress has been made with respect to material conveniences and social services. Social Conditions and Problems Material aspects of life have been improving for many Brazilians, particularly in urban areas. Households with running water increased from 16 percent in 1950 to 71 percent by 1988. This was paralleled with respect to electricity, as the 1950 proportion of 25 percent rose to 86 percent by 1988. As late as 1970 only 26 percent of homes had refrigerators, a share that climbed to 70 percent by 1991. Only 24 percent of families had a television set in 1970; this had exploded to 74 percent by 1991 (over 85 percent in urban areas). Automobiles were owned by only 9 percent of Brazilian families in 1970 but by 198g were found in over a third of homes. As sales rose to record highs in 1993 and 1994, this figure is by now at least 40 percent — with new television sets reaching 7.5 million a year compared to 3.6 million stoves and ovens and over 2 million refrigerators and freezers. Brazilians have a marked propensity to own their residences. In 1987 some 20.6 million families were owners, and only 6.7 million rented. One in seven of Brazil's families lived in dwellings provided by employers or loaned to them by relatives. A great number of lower-income Brazilian families live in substandard homes but at least own them. Still, there are several million families in more dire housing straits, with urban administrations varying greatly in the efforts and resources devoted to their plight. Nationally there is a need for 7.3 million new urban housing units and 2.7 million in rural areas if 60 million Brazilians are not to live in substandard accommodations. Yet far from all these inadequate residences are helplessly so; many are being gradually improved by their inhabitants. Indeed, some experts have revised the figure for clearly substandard units to only 5 million if some doubling up of relatives is taken as normal. Cities: Generations Ahead of the Countryside
In every category of well-being and material conveniences there is a sharp urban-rural disparity, with figures for laggard rural areas in most cases past the 1960 national proportions and closing in on those for 1970. Continuance of trends of the past quarter century will soon sharply reduce the material gap between the vast urban and shrinking rural sectors of society. In regional terms, metropolitan centers in the southern quadrant of the country are well ahead, for there the average income is three to five times the minimum. In brutal contrast, over 60 percent of rural families remain below the minimum salary. Indeed, the states of the southeast and south, with 65 percent of the workforce, have 77 percent of the income earners in the over five minimums bracket. For its part the northeast, with 27 percent of the EAP, has less than 12 percent of the relatively well-off; at the bottom of the income pyramid, this retarded region has 54 percent of families in this distressed situation. Thus, under any analysis, the northeast has far more than its fair share of Brazil's poor and disadvantaged. This is rooted in the fact that in this region there are over three relatively low-paying jobs in agriculture for each one in industry. Even in the northeast 55 percent of industrial workers get more than the legal minimum, compared to only 20 percent of agricultural workers. Social Problems and Policy Certainly, social conditions leave a great deal to be desired in Brazil, but they are changing for the better, and the problem is more one of some elements of society being left behind rather than the lot of the vast majority showing little improvement. Poverty is the fate of several million children neglected if not abandoned by their families. Many are cared for in orphanages and juvenile facilities; hundreds of thousands are street urchins for whom life is perilous and degrading. There are millions of favelados (urban squatters and slum dwellers) in Brazil's cities with a substantial proportion indigent. The largest concentrations are in So Paulo and Rio de Janeiro cities, but swollen northeastern cities like Recife have a disproportionate share. Misinformation abounds concerning birth control in Brazil, where 13 million women of childbearing age have had tubal ligation, and are not candidates for pregnancy. There are estimates of 1.4 million abortions yearly; the most alarming statistic is that one-
NEWS from BRAZIL - APRIL 1996
fifth of deaths of fifteen-to-nineteenyear-old women are probably from badly done abortions. Health care still leaves much to be desired, although there has been steady improvement from a low baseline. By 1984 some 27,552 hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities provided 540,000 beds and employed 932,000 persons. From 1 percent of GDP in 1950, expenditures on health care reached 3.6 percent in 1974 and 5.6 percent by 1982. Yet in 1993 the Ministry of Health was limited to $9 billion in expenditures. The six southernmost states have 70 percent of hospital beds and 68 percent of health-care personnel. Urban residents accounted for 83 percent of hospital internments and 93 percent of specialized treatment. Brazilians are highly subject to internal parasites and poor nutrition, and 11 million Brazilians are estimated to be affected by some infectious disease. Unfortunately, AIDS has become a major health problem just as headway was being made with respect to other infectious diseases. Only a small proportion of cases are reported, but informed estimates of HIV-infected persons run from 400,000 to over 1 million. The Brazilian social security system, although lagging far behind standards of Western industrial nations, has become much more inclusive during the past generation and extends to medical and hospital treatment. As recently as 1950 it covered only 2.9' million individuals but leaped to 30 million by 1988. Individuals receiving benefits rose from 2.3 million in 1971 to 15.0 million by 1994. The government's expenditures in this field were $28 billion in 1994, chiefly for pensions with much of the remainder eaten up by administrative costs. The system urgently needs a thorough overhaul as its 1994 deficit of nearly $2 billion threatens to explode if the comprehensive reform bill before Congress in 1995 is not passed. Education and Increased Income The relationship between income and education in Brazil is nearly linear. Nearly half the 4.9 million persons earning more than ten times minimum salary in 1990 had completed high school, and another 26 percent had attended one to three years of secondary school. In contrast, just 1.2 percent of this top earnings bracket had less than three years of schooling. For 7.0 million Brazilians earning five to ten times the minimum, these pro-
NEWS from BRAZIL - APRIL 1996
portions were 20 percent high school graduates, 28 percent with incomplete secondary education, and only 8 percent with less than three years of formal schooling. At the other pole, a minuscule 0.6 percent of 15.4 million persons earning less than the legal minimum were high school graduates, whereas almost 46 percent had no more than two years of primary school. Even between the extremes — where those with a secondary school education predominate in the upper brackets and are all but absent at the wide bottom of the earnings pyramid — the correlation between education and income is striking: Of the 9.5 million individuals earning three to five times the minimum standard, 31 percent had more than eight years of schooling, compared to 14.0 percent of the 12.7 million earning one to two times the minimum. Put another way, nearly seveneighths of all Brazilian high school graduates earn more than three times the minimum salary; this drops to 53 percent for those with incomplete high school, declines to 36 percent for those with five to eight years of schooling, and slides to 9 percent at less than a year of school. A staggering one-half of the latter group had to make do with less than the minimum salary. In sum, one is not likely to earn well in Brazil without at least a high school education — or to escape poverty without having over three years of schooling. The relationship between lack of education and abject poverty on one hand and a full education and high standard of living on the other is clear and intimate. Any group without unhindered access to educational opportunity has little chance of significant upward social mobility. A look at the school system shows that there are still structural obstacles to anything approaching equal educational opportunity in Brazil, albeit less so in urban centers than in rural areas. Hence the rural poor are much more likely to stay poor from one generation to the next than are their urban counterparts, and the latter have greater chances of upward mobility in the cities of the southern third of the country than elsewhere — especially in the northeast. Education Despite progress in recent years, Brazil's educational system has serious deficiencies. The quality of teaching is often poor, especially at the primary level, where the vast majority attend public schools. Yet this is a price paid for increased access, and space available is catching up to de-
mand in more developed urban centers. Secondary schools have not fully adjusted to the task of educating millions for functioning in an increasingly complex society rather than preparing a few hundred thousand for university entrance. Over the past generation Brazil has managed to build Latin America's largest system of higher education, albeit one of uneven quality between such internationally recognized institutions as the Universities of Sdo Paulo or Campinas and an array of profit-oriented degree factories. Most educators agree that entrance examinations are deeply flawed. Finally there is the absurdity of a system that allows children of the upper and uppermiddle classes to 'fill free public institutions, whereas those who can least afford to pay have to attend private facilities, often working fulltime to pay for their studies. The most serious educational problem is a dual one at the very beginning of the elementary level, which by law begins at age seven. Although there are 31 million seven-to-fourteen-yearolds enrolled, this leaves 3 million out of school. One reason for this is the extremely high rate of failure in the first grade, caused in part by the fact that only a small proportion of these children have had a chance to attend kindergarten. The problem is aggravated by large classes and short school day, and teaching rarely approaches standards set by a ministry preoccupied with higher education. The twofifths repeating the initial year take up space sorely needed for the new crop of seven-year-olds. Only a third make it through eighth grade — averaging twelve years to do so (For the southeast, this is nearly half, but only 16 percent in the northeast.). Just 60 percent of fifteen- to-seventeen-year-olds are in school compared to 90 percent in the seven-to-fourteen-year-old bracket. Expansion, Yes! Improvement, Perhaps? Unsatisfactory as is the present situation, it marks great progress over the extremely restricted access and highly elitist nature of the educational system in the past. In 1857 only one in fourteen seven-to-eleven-year-olds in Brazil was in school; this reached one in seven by 1889, one in five by 1907, nd more than one in two in 1950. ithin a decade the number of stuents had burgeoned to 8.7 million ith 267,000 in high school and 93,000 eceiving higher education. By 1970 lementary student population had
57
exploded to 15.9 million; there were 1 admissions concentrated in this remillion in high schools and 456,000 gion, little change is likely. Congruattending colleges and universities. By ently, 95 percent of Ph.D. candidates 1980 elementary school enrollment are concentrated in the three leading passed 22.5 million, that in secondary states with 70 percent in Sao Paulo schools surpassed 2.8 million, and alone, a clear indication of where the higher education trebled to 1.4 mil- country's research-oriented universilion. In 1985 Brazil had a total of 31.5 ties are. Additionally, the distribution of million students — over six times the 1950 figure — and the number rose to students by field of study is out of line with the job market. The imbalance 42 million by 1994. Many students repeatedly drop out produces large numbers of doctors who of school to work, and thus there are will probably never practice medicine several million primary school stu- and a great excess of lawyers — the dents in their late teens or even their traditional prestige professions for the twenties. In addition, 30 percent of middle class. Yet in marked contrast junior high students, 40 percent of with even the 1960s, there are few high schoolers, and 60 percent of col- fields in which it is not possible to get lege students in Brazil work at full- a first-rate education in Brazil, protime jobs. The lower a family's in- vided one is fortunate enough to get come, the higher the probability that a into one of the small number of qualteenage member does not attend school ity universities and professional at all; in the middle range of family schools. Unfortunately, chances of adwealth the propensity is both to study mission are much greater for someone already from the upper class. and work. Although the 1988 constitution Still a Long Way to Go mandated a sharp increase in educational spending — to 18 percent of the Given that expansion of educafederal budget and 25 percent of state and local expenditures — actual ex- tional opportunity is recent, schooling penditures on education in 1993 were levels remain low. Thus, of those ten a low 3.4 percent of GDP. Yet there is years of age or more in 1988, some a strong trend toward a dominant role 19.1 percent had less than a year of for over 300,000 public schools, as formal schooling. At the opposite exprivate education, particularly paro- treme only 5.5 percent had a year of chial, continues to encounter grave college or more. In between were 11.5 financial problems. Long hegemonic percent who had attended high school, at the primary level, public schools often not graduating, and 6.8 percent now enroll 88 percent of these stu- who had completed the eighth grade. dents as well as 65 percent of second- Also above the median in educational ary students and 39 percent in higher attainment were the 15.6 percent who education, where private institutions had reached the upper primary grades. The large contingent who had gone out number public ones 652 to 241. only through the four elementary grades totaled 17.6 percent, and 23.7 Regional Imbalances percent had finished but one to three Education still varies dramatically years of basic schooling. Literacy figures tell essentially the in Brazil from region to region. Thus, the whole northeast had only 719,000 same story. The 1991 figure of 82 high school students in 1985 with just percent literacy among those ten and a tenth of them in rural areas. (Indeed, older marked substantial progress over in all Brazil there were but 200,000 the 1970 figure of 64 percent. Morerural secondary students.) Over 61 over, most of the residual illiteracy percent of high schools in 1991 were was concentrated in rural areas, parlocated in the seven states of the south ticularly in the northeast, where over and southeast. The over 1 million uni- half the nation's total is to be found; versity students in the south and south- the 1992 estimate was a striking 9.4 east are more than four times the million over age ten. The illiteracy northeast's meager total. Of those rate in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro is graduating from universities, 64 per- down to 9 percent. For urban areas in cent came from the three large states general it is 12 percent compared to 35 and 84 percent from the southeast and percent in rural ones. In light of these considerations the south combined. This disparity is perpetuated by the fact that 61 percent of basic challenges in the field of educathe country's institutions of higher tion are clear. First is the need to make education are in the tri-state area and schooling available in the rural areas. 82 percent in the seven-state region. This involves the difficult task of conWith more than 78 percent of new vincing poor and often illiterate par-
58
ents to send their children to school and keep them there instead of relying on their efforts to supplement family income. Of equal importance is the need to improve the often woefully inadequate quality of elementary school instruction that, particularly in small towns and rural schools, involves an unacceptably high proportion of uncertified teachers and long-term temporaries. This is aggravated by the tendency of experienced teachers to seek transfers to schools in the large towns or to the bloated rolls of supervisors and administrators. Since this often involves political sponsorship in return for electoral support, it is a phenomenon that has proved very resistant to efforts at reform. As it is primarily the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder — the sector with the least political influence — that still lacks access to the educational system, progress in making elementary education more universal will be slow unless there is a concerted effort in this direction by socially responsible elements of the more favored classes. These groups have been effective in pressuring for expansion of secondary and higher education that has characterized the past four decades. Also of priority importance is extending the school day — which in most areas is under four hours, as schools function with one group of students in the morning, another in the afternoon, and a third at night. Yet marked progress has been made toward fuller school days in such places as Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. As with so many of Brazil's needs, the answer lies in a broad-based effort aimed at the roots of the problem, not a narrower quick-fix approach near its highly visible peak. The chief factor inhibiting such root change is that those who most need increased access to education have the weakest voice in setting policy priorities. They are the poor, especially in rural areas, among whom nonwhites are particularly numerous. To a significant degree they are victims of Brazil's peculiar electoral system, since the statewide constituency method for electing legislators means that these individuals who influence distribution of resources are primarily concerned with the urban centers rather than representation of rural constituents. This excerpt was taken from Brazil: Culture and Politics in a New Industrial Powerhouse
by Ronald M. Schneider, Westview Press, 1996, 255pp
NEWS from BRAZIL - APRIL 1996
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