terça-feira, 25 de dezembro de 2012

ITU: Tire as mãos da nossa Internet! [ITU: Hands off our Internet!]

 

FAVOR ASSINAR A PETIÇÃO NO LINK ABAIXO:

SOURCE/LINK:http://www.avaaz.org/po/hands_off_our_internet_i/?crRDEab


To the ITU and all nations meeting at the World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT) in Dubai:

As citizens of the world and Internet users, we call on you to reject any changes to current Internet regulations that would weaken or alter the free and open nature of the Internet, or give any government or body the ability to infringe on Internet users’ rights to free speech, free access to information or privacy. We also demand that any proposed changes to current international Internet regulations be publicly debated, and subject to citizen input and approval. 

=====================================================

Para ITU e todas nações na Conferência Mundial Internacional de Telecomunicações (WCIT) em Dubai:

Como cidadãos do mundo e usuários da Internet, pedimos que rejeitem quaisquer alterações aos regulamentos da Internet atuais que enfraqueçam ou alterem a natureza livre e aberta da Internet, ou dêem a qualquer governo ou organismo a capacidade de infringir os direitos dos usuários da Internet à liberdade de expressão, o livre acesso à informação ou privacidade. Exigimos também que quaisquer alterações propostas para os atuais regulamentos internacionais da Internet sejam debatidos publicamente, e sujeitos a participação e aprovação dos cidadãos.

segunda-feira, 10 de dezembro de 2012

Check out in The Economist_Oil royalties in Brazil: Roll out the barrels



Oil royalties in Brazil

Roll out the barrels
Finally, a deal on sharing out the oil bonanza
Dec 8th 2012 | SÃO PAULO | from the print edition
MOST of Brazil’s vast deepwater oil deposits, discovered in 2007, have yet to be extracted. But its politicians are already sharing out the barrels. Since 1997, when the oil industry was opened to foreign firms, the lion’s share of oil royalties—around 10% of sales revenue—has gone to the states and municipalities where production facilities are located. The federal government gets just over a quarter (in addition to other oil taxes), with local governments elsewhere making do with less than a tenth.
The three states whose coastal waters hold the new finds—Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo and São Paulo—are already among the richest. So the others reasoned that they should get a bigger share of the new bounty. But the constitution describes royalties as a recompense for the extra costs and risks oil brings. The producer states threatened to take the fight to the supreme court. The various bits of government have been arguing ever since.
Five years on, a deal has been reached. On November 30th the president, Dilma Rousseff, signed with amendments a law sent to her by Congress. Royalties from already-auctioned fields will still be shared out according to the old rules. New concessions will pay higher overall royalties of 15%, with more than half of this eventually going to oil-less states and municipalities.
The deal is probably enough to deter producing states from going to court. With a royalties law in place, the government is now free, after a long pause, to start auctioning new blocks again. “Oil firms care more about their total taxes than how they’re shared out,” says João Augusto de Castro Neves of Eurasia Group, a consultancy. “But a constitutional battle would have been unhelpful for a government that is already losing credibility with the private sector.”
Ms Rousseff is insisting that future royalties be spent on education. That will help the government to meet its target of spending 10% of GDP on education by 2020. Brazilian education spending is already in line with the rich-world average, but with much poorer results. There is little reason to believe more money alone will make it better.
from the print edition | The Americas 

sábado, 8 de dezembro de 2012

São Paulo’s First Bike Ride Against Corruption



São Paulo’s First Bike Ride Against Corruption


DATE: December, 9th 2012

Concentration at  9:30 AM

Local: 35 Brigadeiro Luiz Antônio Ave. – Prosecutors Parking Lot (close to Sé’s Subway Station


This event will be a movement for supporting the Popular Statute Against Corruption

Take your bike or just join us in the Parking Lot from 9:30 to 10:30 AM

Invite your friends!



SOURCE/LINK:(I)
(II)



MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE LAUNCHING OF THIS POPULAR INITIATIVE AGAINST CORRUPTION (PLIP EPOCC - PHASE III )
www.facebook.com / manifestabrasil

quinta-feira, 15 de novembro de 2012

OVER 120 YEARS OF BRAZILIAN REPUBLIC: WHERE DID WE COME FROM AND WHERE ARE WE GOING TO?


Over 120 years of Brazilian republic:

Where did we come from and where ARE we goING to?

­­­­­*Gilberto Martins Borges Fo. –
Research and Text

**João Maciel da Silva –
Translation, Edition and Review 

 

This Thursday, Brazil celebrates more than 120 years of Republic. We take this chance for a reflection about how we perceive certain historical facts and their respective interpretations and consequences as to the development of the democratic system in our country — not intending to use up this subject. 

On what concerns to that first historical moment, Brazilian lands were neither “discovered” nor “found”, for this would mean not recognizing, on that occasion, that “brasilis land” was already inhabited by nations of Indians who faced a catastrophic relationship with their “colonizers” (they were both tracked down, hunted inside their own lands and died by diseases brought by the “invaders” themselves.)

They were in search of cheap handwork for their mono-cultivations of sugar-cane and coffee. But they only found handworkers, in considerable amount, through slavery. About this fact the Brazilian writer, Castro Alves, in his book ‘Navio Negreiro’ appropriately wrote: “It was a terrifying dream…”. With everything under control, the colonizers perceived that menacing enemies could only come from foreign countries: Netherlands, France, and pirate ships without colours. And, it was just during the battles against Netherlanders that burst out in Brazil the very first sparks of the “Feeling of Brazility”.

It’s important to draw attention to many movements against Portuguese Crown, – with or without popular participation – that anteceded republic proclamation, such as Minas Gerais Insurgency, Revolt of the Alfaiates, Francisco Sabino’s Mutiny, Pernambucan Insurrection, Praieira Revolution, and Farrapos’ War.

External facts concerning to Portuguese Crown may be considered, at that time, akin to future event messengers, for example: the invasion threat to Portugal made by Napoleon Bonaparte, the expansion of England and its rising as world potency. 

The former promoted the departure of Dom John VI to Brazil and carried out an important exchange on colony’s scenery that could be explained by the phrase: “colony becomes metropolis and metropolis turns into colony”. 

Dom John VI returned to Portugal and let Dom Peter I as the Prince Regent of Brazil. Due to customary dissensions and difficulties with Portuguese Crown, Dom Peter I achieved that famous Act on September, 22nd. 1822.

However, it’s important to emphasize that the Act had a very high price, which was paid by means of a borrowing to England, – our first Brazilian external debt.

On the other hand, England imposed alterations that rebounded in the just created Brazilian democracy (the Imperial Constitution even though granted) and other benefits.  

Brazil was constituted as an isolated Monarchy into Latin American continent, since that all other colonies had already become Republic.

During the reign of Dom Peter II, the kingdom knocks down in crisis. One of the most important aspects that pressured Republic Proclamation was the empowering of Brazilian Army as a result of those victorious campaigns during Paraguay War. One of its heroes was General Deodoro da Fonseca. By the way, some authors consider that fact as the first military strike in Republic history (LUSTOSA, 2009).Parte superior do formulário

Parte inferior do formulário

 

Republic Proclamation was the closing date of a development process that had been in progress during almost three decades. However, as Saldanha Marinho asserted: “This is not the Republic of my dreams” on the contrary of the thinking of the great initial republican personages conceived that it, well with the democratic aspirations of the contemporary world,  since (…) it was the Economy dictating the changes, that is, “the dictatorship of capitalism,” as Saramago would state, in recent times.

Since proclamation our republic has passed by diverse adverse events to its original conception throughout all those historical paths.  

One of the great problems  related to torturous  paths of our republic is the issue of the corruption that happens previous origins discovery of Brazil the conneted to other domination’ forms.  And, that  contemporaneamente has surprisingly  expanded. 

Plato in the book "Republic", he showed how the tyrant get the power through the manipulation of the ingenuous masses and of as binds, exiles and murderer adversaries, with the objective of transform the given relative political power by the society in be able to absolute.  During this trial of obtaining of the absolute political power, Plato shows like the tyrant I replaced the people of quality that helped to arrive to the power by murderous and corrupt people.  He also creates a personal guard that tortures and kills under his orders or of other people of the hieraquia that he creates.  Finally, Plato shows how the tyrant appeals the wars for distract the attention of the people of his fatal action with the objective of continue it exert the political power." 

In the present time one can observe that the young movement comes reappearing in several countries, including in Brazil.  They were important fights, that face as preparation and previous of big trials in the which we are called it act like revolutionary subjects in this phase that is opened with the economic crisis, that bad began and already is leading such youth massivamente to the streets in several countries like Italy, Germany and Spain and the own one United States of the America, where itself fight against the educational reforms. 

In Brazil, one could verify to establish the importance of the movement of the youth of Brasilia (capital of Brazil), that by the first time in the a directory of the National Union of Students (UNE-Brasília) is chosen with no partisan objectives, as well like this movement here in the MASP, Paulista Avenue of São Paulo and that also happens, in this day, in other capitals.  Therefore these youths are tired of establish through the media cases and more cases of corruption with participation of the political parties  mainly those that are in the power with total impunity. 

 

 

For better comprehension, about the word "corruption" to first sense, the verb "corrupt" has a broader sense than to practical pure and simple of political corruption.  In this first sense, the verb "corrupt" signifies the transformation - harmful for the society - of the personality of the person competence to the position of exercise to be able to about the too citizen (that before of this harmful transformation were considered, by his, not written and written norms equals).  And, by political corruption is the use of the competences legislated by members of staff of the government for illegitimate private ends. 

 The forms of corruption pierced, but include the bribe, extortion, self-interest, nepotism, political patronage, corruption and peculato.  Although the corruption can facilitate criminal business as the drug trafficking, money laundering and traffic of you will be humans, she does not itself restrain to those activities.  Thomas Jefferson affirm " When men are pure, laws are useless; when men are corrupt, laws are broken".  And, as it affirms the memorialista of the State of Will Dine, Luiz Edgard Cartaxo of Arruda Junior "The slavery is the worst kind of corruption.  The want that we be only conglomerate servants, unscrupulous and, absolutely, no commitment with the well be of the poor peoples.  We should break this dominant cycle that alone serves to others anti-human, immediate interests and anti-Brazil.  It is able to until be that is overstepping in the redundancy of the chauvinism the Brazil.  However, the giant awoke".  And, it is this aspect of the corruption, that  probably is  believe to be one of the most difficult one, therefore itself the corruption exists, receptacle for her exists also. To allow that it exists and penetrates everything in a continuous vicious cycle is the big challenge.  That challenge does not consist of put an end the corrupt, but yes break the links of the chain of this vicious cycle.  The question of the impunity seems to be part of this vicious cycle, exists, to what looks, land for that she is perpetuated.  And, when it mentions that the corruptors will not stay unpunished 'ad eternum' we are referring to the breaks asleep of the "slaves of the corruption", in sum WE.  This means to liberate passes necessarily by an Education of the Citizenship.  . 

Because, the root of the problem is that the candidates, in Brazil to be elected need to buy votes.  And, it is for this and others motives that it dictates political reform, as well like other, in the present context is truly distant and is not going to happen. 

However, it is necessary that we found news strategies with an aim to an instant peaceful revolution inside the own capitalism, as this that occurred recently in the middle East, through an education with available modern resources that can improve the conscience of our voters, parincipalmente that youth that will be voting for the first time. 

 

It is, therefore important mention, that two irrefutable victories exist of the society of world scope:  1) an it based us old Greek philosophy is the democracy and to meritocracy with an aim to fight the roguishness of the corrupt; 2) to second is the capitalism.  Therefore, THE Russian revolution ended up count of the corruption

having like the milestone the fall of the wall of Berlin. 

Beyond that, the Chinese communist revolution is persisting, and is going to grow of frightening form, with participation of him called capitalism of state and with great care  for questions as corruption.  On the other hand this movement should be absent of contrary, religious influence to what occurred recently in the middle East, therefore should be secular, the or any another kind of discrimination. 

 

 

 

The objective of this movement is that the youths take the power with the  political qualification for implant to meritocracia democratic capitalist doing the cleaning the corrupts from  power.  Therefore, "THE mobilization of the youth has  to deepen with the disillusion of sectors more and more broad and that does not carry in his back the defeats of the past and is flood of energies and yearnings for the life, what collides with the capitalism in decadence. 

It becomes essential to rewrite Capitalism and consequently, the new History of Brazil that, hereafter, has the contribution of Brazilian people, because “What people dreams is very far away from reality, but may be very close to our decisions.”

 

 

MAIS DE 120 ANOS DE BRASIL REPUBLICANO:

DE ONDE VIEMOS E PARA ONDE VAMOS?



*Gilberto Martins Borges Filho

**João Maciel R. S. Silva

 

*Pesquisa e texto

**Revisão e copy-desk

 

 

Nesta  quinta-feira , o Brasil comemora mais de 120 anos de República. Aproveitamos o ensejo para uma reflexão sobre como percebemos certos fatos históricos, atuais e suas respectivas interpretações e para o avanço democrático no país, sem pretensão de se esgotar o assunto.

Com relação ao primeiro momento histórico inicial, o Brasil não foi descoberto nem “achado”, pois isto significa não reconhecer que, naquele momento, a “terra brasilis” já era habitada por povos e nações indígenas que tiveram um relacionamento trágico com seus colonizadores (perseguidos e expulsos de suas próprias terras, quando não morriam de doenças trazidas pelos algozes).

Procuravam eles mão-de-obra barata para as monoculturas da cana-de-açúcar e do café. E, somente a encontram, de forma decisiva, na forma de mão

de obra escrava. Sobre isso descreveu Castro Alves, em seu “Navio

Negreiro”: Era um sonho dantesco... Com tudo sob seu jugo, os inimigos mais ameaçadores só vinham agora do exterior: os holandeses, os franceses e os corsários. E, foi justamente na luta contra os holandeses que surgiram no Brasil os primeiros lampejos do sentimento de brasilidade.

É importante destacar que muitos movimentos contra a coroa

portuguesa, com ou sem participação popular, precederam a proclamação da república: a Inconfidência Mineira, a Revolta dos Alfaiates, a Sabinada, a Revolução Pernambucana e a Praieira e a

Guerra dos Farrapos. Fatos externos à Coroa Portuguesa podem ser conside-rados como fatos portadores de futuro naquela época, como as ameaças de invasão de Portugal por Napoleão e a ascensão da Inglaterra como potência mundial. O primeiro promove a retirada de D. João VI para o Brasil e traz uma mudança importante no cenário que pode ser traduzido pela frase “a metrópole virou colônia e a colônia virou metrópole”. D. João VI retornou a Portugal, deixando D. Pedro I como Regente. E este, devido aos constantes atritos com a Coroa realizou o famoso Ato de 22 de setembro de 1822. Entretanto é bom ressaltar que aquele Ato teve um preço alto, pago com um empréstimo à Inglaterra, nossa primeira dívida externa. A Inglaterra em contrapartida exigia modificações que repercutiram nos primórdios da democracia brasileira (a Constituição Imperial, mesmo que outorgada; e outros benefícios). O Brasil se constituiu como uma Monarquia única na America Latina, pois todas as outras colônias tornaram-se Repúblicas.

É no reinado de D. Pedro II que o Império entra em crise. Um aspecto importante que influenciou na Proclamação da República foi o fortalecimento do Exército Brasileiro em decorrência das vitoriosas campanhas feitas na Guerra do Paraguai, quando um dos seus heróis foi Deodoro da Fonseca, o que alguns autores consideram como Primeiro Golpe Militar da História da República (LUSTOSA, 2009).

 

A Proclamação da República foi o ponto final de um processo de desenvolvimento que se desencadeava há quase três décadas.

 

Entretanto, como afirmou Saldanha Marinho: “Essa não é a República dos meus sonhos”, pois (...) era a Economia que ditava a mudança, ou seja, “a ditadura do capital” sem o prevalecer a real da democracia como afirmaria Saramago nos dias atuais.

Ao longo de toda esta trajetória desde a proclamação a nossa republica tem passado por diversos eventos adversos a sua concepção original.

Um dos grande percalços destra tortuosa trajetória de nossa república é a questão da corrupção que advém  anterior primórdios do descobrimento aliada a outras formas de dominação. E, que contemporaneamente tem se expandido de forma alarmante.

Platão no livro "República",ele mostrava como o tirano obtém o poder através da manipulação das massas ingênuas e de como prende, exila e assassina adversários, com o objetivo de transformar o poder político relativo dado pela sociedade em poder absoluto.

Durante este processo de obtenção do poder político absoluto, Platão mostra como o tirano substitui as pessoas de qualidade que o ajudaram a chegar ao poder por pessoas corruptas e assassinas. Ele também cria uma guarda pessoal que tortura e mata sob suas ordens ou de outras pessoas da hieraquia que ele cria. Finalmente, Platão mostra como o tirano recorre a guerras para distrair a atenção do povo de sua ação nefasta com o objetivo de continuar a exercer o poder político.”

Na atualidade verifica-se que o movimento jovem  vem ressurgindo em vários países, inclusive no Brasil. Foram lutas importantes, que encaramos como preparatórias e antecipatórias de grandes processos nos quais estamos chamados a atuar como sujeitos revolucionários nesta etapa que se abre com a crise econômica, que mal começou e já está levando tal juventude massivamente às ruas em vários países como Itália, Alemanha e Espanha e o próprio Estados Unidos da America , onde se luta contra as reformas educacionais.

 

No Brasil, pode-se constatar a importância do movimento da juventude  de Brasília, que pela primeira vez no um diretório da União Nacional de Estudantes (UNE-Brasília) é eleito com objetivos não partidários, bem como este movimento aqui no MASP, AVENIDA PAULISTA e que também acontece, neste dia, em outras capitais. Pois estes jovens estão cansados de constatar através da mídia casos e mais casos de corrupção com participação dos partidos principalmente aqueles que estão no poder com total impunidade. 

Para melhor compreensão, acerca da palavra “corrupção”  a primeira acepção, o verbo "corromper" tem um sentido mais amplo que a prática pura e simples de corrupção política. Neste primeiro sentido, o verbo "corromper" significa a transformação - danosa para a sociedade - da personalidade da pessoa alçada à posição de exercer poder sobre os demais cidadãos (que antes desta transformação danosa eram considerados, pela normas escritas e não escritas, seus iguais).

E, por corrupção política é o uso das competências legisladas por funcionários do governo para fins privados ilegítimos.

 

As formas de corrupção variam, mas incluem o suborno, extorsão, fisiologismo, nepotismo, clientelismo, corrupção e peculato. Embora a corrupção possa facilitar negócios criminosos como o tráfico de drogas, lavagem de dinheiro e tráfico de seres humanos, ela não se restringe a essas atividades.

Thomas Jefferson  afirmara "Se os homens são puros, as leis são desnecessárias, se os homens são corruptos, as leis são inúteis". E, como afirma o memorialista do Estado do Ceará, Luiz Edgard Cartaxo de Arruda Junior “ A escravidão é o pior tipo de corrupção. Nos querem servos de conglomerados de potências antinacionais, sem escrúpulos e, absolutamente, nenhum compromisso com o bem estar dos povos pobres. Devemos quebrar este ciclo dominante que só serve a outros interesses imediatistas, anti-humanos e anti-Brasil. Pode até ser que esteja extrapolando na redundância do ufanismo ao Brasil.

Contudo, o gigante despertou”. E, é este aspecto da corrupção, que acredito seja um dos mais difíceis, pois se a corrupção existe, existe também receptáculo para ela. O permitir que ela exista e permeie tudo num ciclo vicioso contínuo é o grande desafio. Esse desafio não consiste em acabar com os corruptos, mas sim quebrar os elos da cadeia deste ciclo vicioso. A questão da impunidade parece também fazer parte deste ciclo vicioso, existe, ao que parece, terreno para que ela se perpetue. E, quando menciona que os corruptores não ficarão impunes ‘ad eternum’ estamos nos referindo à parte adormecida dos “escravos da corrupção”, em suma NÓS. Este libertar passa necessariamente por uma Pedagogia da Cidadania. .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Porque,  a raiz do problema é que os candidatos, no Brasil para se elegerem necessitam comprar votos.  E, é por este e outros motivos que a dita reforma política, bem como outras, no atual contexto está deveras distante e não vai acontecer.

 

 

Entretanto, é necessário que procuremos novas estratégias com vistas a uma revolução pacífica  instantânea dentro do próprio capitalismo, como esta que  ocorreu recentemente no oriente médio, através de uma pedagogia com recursos modernos disponíveis que possa melhorar a consciência de nossos eleitores, parincipalmente aquele jovem que estará votando pela primeira vez.

É, pois importante mencionar, que existem duas vitórias irrefutáveis da sociedade de âmbito mundial :

1)               uma  baseado nos filosofia grega antiga é a democracia e a meritocracia com vistas a combater a patifaria dos corruptos;

2)                a segunda é o capitalismo.

Pois, A revolução russa acabou por conta da corrupção tendo como o marco a queda do muro de Berlim.

Além disso, a revolução comunista chinesa está perdurando, e continua crescer de forma assustadora, com participação do chamado capitalismo de estado e com maior zelo para questões como corrupção.

Por outro lado este movimento deve ser ausente de influência religiosa, contrário ao que ocorreu recentemente no oriente médio, pois deve ser laico, o ou qualquer outro tipo de discriminação.

 

 

O objetivo deste movimento é que os jovens tomem o poder com a devida capacitação política para implantar a meritocracia democrática capitalista fazendo a faxina dos corruptos do poder.

Pois, “A mobilização da juventude tende a se aprofundar com a desilusão de setores cada vez mais amplos e que não carrega nas suas costas as derrotas do passado e está cheia de energias e anseios para a vida, o que se choca com o capitalismo em decadência.

Torna-se mister reescrever o Capitalismo e, por conseguinte, a NOVA história do Brasil tem agora a participação do jovem brasileiro, pois, “O que a gente sonha está bem longe da realidade, mas pode estar bem próximo de nossas decisões ”.

 

 

 

 

 

sábado, 10 de novembro de 2012

THE CRYING OF THE CHIEF RAONI SEEMS TO HAVE A STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LETTER FROM THE CHIEF SEATTLE






Letter from Chief Seattle, 1855
Message from Chief Seattle 1855

In 1855 the President of the United States, Franklin Pierce, wrote to Seattle with an offer from the government to buy his people’s land… How did he reply?

-------


The Great White Chief in Washington sends word that he wishes to buy our land. He also sends words of friendship and goodwill. This is kind of him since we know he has little need of our friendship in return. But we will consider your offer. What I say the Great White Chief can count on as truly as our white brothers can count on the turning of the seasons. My words are like stars: they do not set.

How can you buy or sell the sky; the warmth of the land? The idea is strange to us. We do not own the freshness of the air or the sparkle of the water, so how can you buy them from us? We will decide in our time, but every part of the Earth is sacred to my people. Every shining pine needle, every sandy shore, every mist in the dark woods, every glade and humming insect is holy in the memory and experience of my people.

We know that the white man doesn’t understand our ways. One portion of the land is the same to him as the next, for he is a stranger who comes in the night and takes from the Earth whatever he wants. The Earth is not his brother but his enemy; and when he conquers it he moves on. He leaves his fathers’ graves behind and doesn’t care. He kidnaps the Earth from his children. His father’s graves and children’s birthrights are forgotten. His appetite will devour the Earth and leave behind a wasteland. The sight of your cities pains the eye of the red man. But perhaps this is because the red man is a “savage” and doesn’t understand.

There is no quiet place in the white man’s cities. No place to hear the leaves of spring or the rustle of insects’ wings. The clatter insults the ears. But perhaps I am only a “savage” and don’t understand. And what is there to life if a man cannot hear the lovely cry of the whippoorwill or the argument of the frogs around a pond at night? The Indian prefers the soft sound of the wind darting over the face of the pond, and the wind itself cleansed by the midday rain or scented with pinion. The air is precious to the red man for all things share the same breath: the beasts, the trees, the man. The white man doesn’t seem to notice the air he breathes. Like a man dying for days, he is numb to his own stench.

If I accept, I will make one condition: the white man must treat the beasts of this land as his brothers. I am just a “savage” and don’t understand any other way. I have seen a thousand rotting buffaloes on the prairie, left by the white man who shot them from a passing train. I am a “savage” and do not understand how the smoking iron horse can be more important than the buffalo whom we kill only to live. What is man without the beasts? If all the beasts were gone then men would die from a terrible loneliness of the spirit. For whatever happens to the beasts also happens to the man. All things are connected. Whatever befalls the Earth befalls the sons of the Earth.

Our children have seen our fathers humbled in defeat. Our warriors have felt shame. After defeat they turn their days in idleness and contaminate their bodies with sweet food and strong drink. It matters little where we pass the rest of our days; they are not many. A few more hours, a few more winters, and none of the children of the great tribes that once lived on the Earth, or that roamed in small bands in the woods, will be left to mourn the graves of a people once as powerful and hopeful as yours. One thing we know that the white man may one day discover: our God and your God are the same. You may think now that you own Him as you wish to own our land, but you cannot. He is the God of man and his compassion is equal for the red man and the white. The Earth is precious to him, and to harm the Earth is to pour contempt on its creator. The whites too shall pass, perhaps sooner than other tribes. Continue to contaminate your own bed and you will one night suffocate in your own waste.

When the buffalo are all slaughtered, the wild horses all tamed. The secret corners of the forest heavy with the scent of many men, and the view of the ripe hills blotted by telegraph wires. Where is the thicket? Gone. Where is the eagle? Gone. And what is it to say goodbye to the swift and the hunt, the end of living and the beginning of survival.

We might understand if we knew what it was that the white man dreams, what hopes he describes to his children on long winter nights, what visions he burns into their minds so that they will wish for tomorrow. But we are “savages”. The white man’s dreams are hidden from us. And because they are hidden we will go our own way. If we agree, it will be to secure the reservation you’ve promised. There, perhaps we may live out our brief days as we wish. When the last red man has vanished from the Earth, and our memory is just the shadow of a cloud passing across the prairie, these shores and forests will still hold the spirits of my people, for they love the Earth the way a newborn loves its mother’s heartbeat.

If we sell you our land, love it as we’ve loved it. Care for it as we’ve cared for it. Hold in your mind the memory of the land, as it is when you take it. And with all your strength and all your might and with all your heart preserve it for your children, and love it as God loves us all. One thing we know: our God is the same as yours. The Earth is precious to him. Even the white man cannot be exempt from common destiny.





A Carta do Cacique Seattle, em 1855

Em 1855, o cacique Seattle, da tribo Suquamish, do Estado de Washington, enviou esta carta ao presidente dos Estados Unidos (Francis Pierce), depois de o Governo haver dado a entender que pretendia comprar o território ocupado por aqueles índios. Faz mais de um século e meio. Mas o desabafo do cacique tem uma incrível atualidade. A carta:

    "O grande chefe de Washington mandou dizer que quer comprar a nossa terra. O grande chefe assegurou-nos também da sua amizade e benevolência. Isto é gentil de sua parte, pois sabemos que ele não necessita da nossa amizade. Nós vamos pensar na sua oferta, pois sabemos que se não o fizermos, o homem branco virá com armas e tomará a nossa terra. O grande chefe de Washington pode acreditar no que o chefe Seattle diz com a mesma certeza com que nossos irmãos brancos podem confiar na mudança das estações do ano. Minha palavra é como as estrelas, elas não empalidecem.
Como pode-se comprar ou vender o céu, o calor da terra? Tal idéia é estranha. Nós não somos donos da pureza do ar ou do brilho da água. Como pode então comprá-los de nós? Decidimos apenas sobre as coisas do nosso tempo. Toda esta terra é sagrada para o meu povo. Cada folha reluzente, todas as praias de areia, cada véu de neblina nas florestas escuras, cada clareira e todos os insetos a zumbir são sagrados nas tradições e na crença do meu povo.
    Sabemos que o homem branco não compreende o nosso modo de viver. Para ele um torrão de terra é igual ao outro. Porque ele é um estranho, que vem de noite e rouba da terra tudo quanto necessita. A terra não é sua irmã, nem sua amiga, e depois de exaurí-la ele vai embora. Deixa para trás o túmulo de seu pai sem remorsos. Rouba a terra de seus filhos, nada respeita. Esquece os antepassados e os direitos dos filhos. Sua ganância empobrece a terra e deixa atrás de si os desertos. Suas cidades são um tormento para os olhos do homem vermelho, mas talvez seja assim por ser o homem vermelho um selvagem que nada compreende.
Não se pode encontrar paz nas cidades do homem branco. Nem lugar onde se possa ouvir o desabrochar da folhagem na primavera ou o zunir das asas dos insetos. Talvez por ser um selvagem que nada entende, o barulho das cidades é terrível para os meus ouvidos. E que espécie de vida é aquela em que o homem não pode ouvir a voz do corvo noturno ou a conversa dos sapos no brejo à noite? Um índio prefere o suave sussurro do vento sobre o espelho d'água e o próprio cheiro do vento, purificado pela chuva do meio-dia e com aroma de pinho. O ar é precioso para o homem vermelho, porque todos os seres vivos respiram o mesmo ar, animais, árvores, homens. Não parece que o homem branco se importe com o ar que respira. Como um moribundo, ele é insensível ao mau cheiro.
Se eu me decidir a aceitar, imporei uma condição: o homem branco deve tratar os animais como se fossem seus irmãos. Sou um selvagem e não compreendo que possa ser de outra forma. Vi milhares de bisões apodrecendo nas pradarias abandonados pelo homem branco que os abatia a tiros disparados do trem. Sou um selvagem e não compreendo como um fumegante cavalo de ferro possa ser mais valioso que um bisão, que nós, peles vermelhas matamos apenas para sustentar a nossa própria vida. O que é o homem sem os animais? Se todos os animais acabassem os homens morreriam de solidão espiritual, porque tudo quanto acontece aos animais pode também afetar os homens. Tudo quanto fere a terra, fere também os filhos da terra.
    Os nossos filhos viram os pais humilhados na derrota. Os nossos guerreiros sucumbem sob o peso da vergonha. E depois da derrota passam o tempo em ócio e envenenam seu corpo com alimentos adocicados e bebidas ardentes. Não tem grande importância onde passaremos os nossos últimos dias. Eles não são muitos. Mais algumas horas ou até mesmo alguns invernos e nenhum dos filhos das grandes tribos que viveram nestas terras ou que tem vagueado em pequenos bandos pelos bosques, sobrará para chorar, sobre os túmulos, um povo que um dia foi tão poderoso e cheio de confiança como o nosso.
De uma coisa sabemos, que o homem branco talvez venha a um dia descobrir: o nosso Deus é o mesmo Deus. Julga, talvez, que pode ser dono Dele da mesma maneira como deseja possuir a nossa terra. Mas não pode. Ele é Deus de todos. E quer bem da mesma maneira ao homem vermelho como ao branco. A terra é amada por Ele. Causar dano à terra é demonstrar desprezo pelo Criador. O homem branco também vai desaparecer, talvez mais depressa do que as outras raças. Continua sujando a sua própria cama e há de morrer, uma noite, sufocado nos seus próprios dejetos. Depois de abatido o último bisão e domados todos os cavalos selvagens, quando as matas misteriosas federem à gente, quando as colinas escarpadas se encherem de fios que falam, onde ficarão então os sertões? Terão acabado. E as águias? Terão ido embora. Restará dar adeus à andorinha da torre e à caça; o fim da vida e o começo pela luta pela sobrevivência.
    Talvez compreendêssemos com que sonha o homem branco se soubéssemos quais as esperanças transmite a seus filhos nas longas noites de inverno, quais visões do futuro oferecem para que possam ser formados os desejos do dia de amanhã. Mas nós somos selvagens. Os sonhos do homem branco são ocultos para nós. E por serem ocultos temos que escolher o nosso próprio caminho. Se consentirmos na venda é para garantir as reservas que nos prometeste. Lá talvez possamos viver os nossos últimos dias como desejamos. Depois que o último homem vermelho tiver partido e a sua lembrança não passar da sombra de uma nuvem a pairar acima das pradarias, a alma do meu povo continuará a viver nestas florestas e praias, porque nós as amamos como um recém-nascido ama o bater do coração de sua mãe. Se te vendermos a nossa terra, ama-a como nós a amávamos. Protege-a como nós a protegíamos. Nunca esqueça como era a terra quando dela tomou posse. E com toda a sua força, o seu poder, e todo o seu coração, conserva-a para os seus filhos, e ama-a como Deus nos ama a todos. Uma coisa sabemos: o nosso Deus é o mesmo Deus. Esta terra é querida por Ele. Nem mesmo o homem branco pode evitar o nosso destino comum."


 

 SOURCE/LINK:

http://www.raoni.com/news.php

SAY YES TO THE AMAZON, NO TO BELO MONTE. Join the fight on the Amazon Planet Facebook page



Our official Facebook page :
http://www.facebook.com/raoni.com.en
Twitter account : http://twitter.com/Raoni_com

The mobilisation of the citizens of the world through social networks is a major ingredient in the fight to save the Amazon forest, the "green lungs" of the Earth. Joining our official Facebook page and passing on our information and our tweets contributes to tearing down the walls of silence and indifference. The media do not feel concerned by the destruction of this environment vital to all ? We do! So, do you? So let's tell it on one of the only real forums people still have access to.




RAONI’S MESSAGE



For 30 years Raoni, Chief of the Kayapo tribe, has been at the vanguard of the fight to protect the Amazon Rainforest in difficult and often life threatening circumstances.

In 1989, with the help of his friend Jean-Pierre Dutilleux and the singer Sting, he was able to leave Brazil and launch his appeal in 17 countries. Raoni's message was transmitted on most television networks and helped to awaken people consciences: deforestation is not just destroying the last of the Indian tribes; it places the future of each and every one of us in jeopardy. In the year 2010 Raoni returned to Europe to pursue his work and deliver his new message.

“I came to you ten years ago to explain my concerns regarding the destruction of the Amazon Rainforest. I talked to you about the fires, the burning sun and the strong winds that would blow if man continued to destroy the forest.

You have supported me and given me the means to mark out the boundaries of our ancestral lands. This has now been done: it is an enormous area, full of wildlife, flowers and fruit. It is the most beautiful forest.

Above all, to all those who have given us money or help, I want top say on behalf of the Kayapo people ... thank you. Nambikwas ...meikumbre.

I have come back today because I am once again very concerned.

I have heard that you too are now worried. The strong winds have come and have destroyed your forest. You are experiencing the same fear that we have experienced.

I tell you this, if man continues to destroy the earth, even stronger winds will come ... not just once ... but several times ... sooner or later. These winds are going to destroy us all.

We all breathe the same air, we all drink the same water, we all live on the same planet. We must all protect it.

People have started to trespass on our land again. The woodcutters and gold miners do not respect the reserves boundaries. We do not have the means to protect this enormous forest of which we are the guardians for you all.

I need your support. And I ask for it before it is too late.

Thank you."



Meikumbre
Raoni
A Message from Floyd Red Crow Westerman



About 150 years ago, in a letter to the President of the United States, Chief Seattle warned of his concern about the environment. He stated that "Man did not weave the web of life, he is merely one strand in it ... And what he does to the web, he does to himself ...All things are connected, continue to contaminate your bed and you will one night suffocate in your own waste...

Since indigenous peoples have had little to do with the industrial world, it is tragic that we are the victims of this inevitable fate.

In the Indian way of life, we pray to the spirit world and our creator through the tree. I continue to pray every day for the indigenous peoples of the world, for Raoni and for our survival."



Floyd Red Crow Westerman
Sioux Spiritual Leader

The Rainforest Association France



The Rainforest Association France (AFV) is a non-profit association, founded in 1989 to help save the Amazon Rainforest and the Indian tribes who live there.



The Birth of the Association

This initiative was instigated by Raoni, chief of the Kayapo tribe, several other Indian tribe chiefs and celebrities concerned about the massive deforestation in the Amazon, in order to create an organization which will represent and fight for their cause in Europe.



The Work

In 1989, following Raoni's appeal, the sum of 3 million French francs was raised from about 10,000 donations. This and other funds raised across the globe by other Rainforest Associations enabled the boundaries of the present Kayapo reserve to be drawn and a health and education programme action plan to be implemented in the Xingu region.

AFV is currently dedicated to the implementation of the Raoni Institute project, the aim of which is to ensure the long term future of the largest protected area in the Amazon.

AFV organized Chief Raoni's European tour in May 2000 in order to publicize this project. This tour relaunched the campaign to save the tropical rainforests and enlisted the support of many including the French President, Mr. Jacques Chirac, and the French Minister for the Environment, Madame Dominique Voynet, who financed the feasibility study for the Rainforest Institute.

This study was carried out in the summer of 2000 and the report was ratified buy both the French and Brazilian governments. Armed with this report, the AFV s organized a second European tour for Raoni in June 2001 in order to obtain the necessary funding for the rainforest institute. However, after the September 11, 2001 tragedy in New York and the election of President Bush, the relentless efforts of the AFV have brought little results., nobody cared anymore. As a consequence, the Indians, including Chief Raoni have lost crucial support. The destruction of the rainforest accelerates at an unprecedented rate.

A series of hydroelectric dams are under construction in various parts of the Amazon forest and a recent law is facilitating the devastation of protected areas.

The reservation, the largest in the Amazon, is plagued with corruption and devastated by unscrupulous loggers.

In 2011, the AFV is searching for new ways to finance the construction of the Raoni Institute and establish the boundaries of the Kapoto Nhinore area were Raoni’s ancestors are buried. This is Raoni ‘s last dream. It would protect the eastern flank of the reservation, the most threatened by deforestation and urban development.

Your support is crucial.

Rainforest Association France
The Board of Directors



Honorary President: Jean-Pierre Dutilleux, founder,filmmaker
President: Nathalie Gaillard, art gallery owner.
Vice- President: Bernard Laine, founder, former president (89-90), journalist,
Vice- president: Gert Peter Bruch, communications
Secretary: Maximilien Giraud Laine

Supporting Committee

President : Henri de Bontin
Chris Braeckman, Alain Canu, Elie Chouraqui, , Etienne Dembour, Robert Denis, Gabriel Dornay, Jacqueline Dutilleux, Remy Gaston Dreyfus, Evelyne Gelin, Mick Mahe-Gerriet, Mamine Pirotte, Josee Roumilhac, Alain Schlumberger, Michel Viet, Heidi Eckes-Chantre, Alberto Lenzi, Stanilsas et Isabelle De Sadeleer, Michel Gast, Jean-Francois Gallois, Ginger Lindbergh, John , Geri and Jimmy Cusenza.


RAONI INSTITUTE



A MULTI-PURPOSE CENTER IN THE HEART OF THE AMAZON RAINFOREST (BRAZIL) FOR THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT