Number 25. April 16, 1992.

ECOLOGY

- The Non-Governmental Organizations of Brazil question the deadline for voting the "Patents Law"

The Association of Non-Governmental Organizations of Brazil (Associacao Brasileira de Organizacoes Nao Governamentais - ONGs) recently released a note concerning proposed law 824/91, better known as the Patents Law. The American Government as well as the International Monetary Fund are putting on pressure for immediate approval of this law.

The National Congress is expected to vote this law during the first semester of this year, defining an issue that still has not been thoroughly discussed by society, especially in relationship to the patents of living beings. According to the Association's note, it is "very worrying to know that the National Congress will dare to vote this law, disregarding the huge implications which may arise for the socio-economic and technological development of the country, especially in what concerns the control and valorization of the national genetic capital, by Brazilian society".

Jorge Eduardo Saavedrea Durao, the Association's president and Sonia Correa, its secretary, who signed the note, insisted on the extension of the deadline for the study of the proposed law and emphasized the importance of a greater participation of society in the debate.

- Capivari-Monos: A serious threat to the Guarini

A project to construct a reservoir to supply water to the city of Sao Paulo by the Sanitation Company of the State of Sao Paulo (Companhia de Saneamento do Estado de Sao Paulo - Sabesp) in which dams will be constructed on two rivers - the Capivari and the Monos, located in the Serra do Mar in the southern region of the State of Sao Paulo, will bring terrible consequences for indian villages of the Guarini group situated in this area. The waters of the proposed dam will cover as well ancient trails between the indian villages. These trails are absolutely necessary for the indian groups if they are to continue their traditional lifestyle and culture.

Apart from destroying a considerable part of the Atlantic Forest (Mata Atlantica) - an area which by law is preserved and is essential to the indians for their food supply, the project will decrease in up to 60% the waters in the river Rio Branco. This river is an essential source of protein for the indigenous population since it is there that the indians of the Itanhaem village fish. The waters of this river are also the source of the irrigation for the indians' subsistence crops.

The indians from this region, as well as indigenous groups and ecological organizations in the State of Sao Paulo, denounce this aggression against the Guarani group which has suffered enormous injustices from the white population in the last 500 years. The solution for the lack of drinking water for the population of the city of Sao Paulo cannot be resolved at the expense of the indian population which has never destroyed the environment and bears no responsibility if the city of Sao Paulo has badly administered its growth and its water reserves.

Reports indicate that the World Bank has already released US$ 125 million for this project and that the hearing of the environment impact report (called Rima) will take place over the Easter holiday period in semi secret circumstances. Ecology and indigenous groups who work in this area, place much emphasis on the effectiveness of international protest messages to impede this project. We therefore ask you to send such a message URGENTLY to the State Secretary of the Environment in Sao Paulo. Please address your protest messages to Dr. Aloar Caffe, Secretario do Meio Ambiente do Estado de Sao Paulo, Rua Tabapuao, 04533 Sao Paulo, SP.,Brazil; phone (011) 833-0766 and telex (011) 32.621.

- Vale do Ribeiro threatened by dams.

The Movement of People Affected by Dams (Movimento dos Atingidos por Barragens - MOAB), the Land Pastoral Comission (Comissao Pastoral da Terra -CPT) and other entities from the Vale do Ribeira are denouncing the threat to life represented by the building of new dams in the region. Presently around 63% of the power produced in the Vale do Ribeira region is being used by the Companhia Brasileira de Aluminio (CBA) (the Brazilian Aluminium Company), which is owned by the Votorantin group and directed by Antonio Ermirio de Morais. CBA has several hydro-electric plants on the Juquia River situated in the same region (Franca, Fumaca, Porto Raso, Barra, Alecrim and Serraria) and has also constructed the Salto do Iporanga Plant on the River Assungui. CBA plans to raise the present aluminium production of 215,000 to 350,000 tones/year using at least 50% of its own power.

Also, Centrais Eletricas de Sao Paulo - CESP (the State of Sao Paulo Electrical Company) is considering the construction of two dams on the River Ribeira de Iguape (Funil in Iporanga/SP and Batatal in Eldorado/SP). According to MOAB leaders, CESP is deceiving the people with promises such as: the increase of employment, flood control, land compensation, etc. In order to alert the public about the promises, MOAB has investigated the situation of other regions (Pereira Barreto, Aracatuba, and Pontal do Paranapanema/SP) and found out that such promises have not been kept.

In the Vale do Ribeira, the survival of the population and of some indian groups is at stake, as well as the survival of some quilombos (communities of former escaped slaves), even though the survival of these latter groups is guaranteed by the Constitution. The survival of a large part of the Atlantic Forest (Mata Atlantica) which will be flooded by the construction of the dams is also at stake and a series of other socio-economic and environmental disasters are forecast should the dams be constructed. For further information, contact either the CPT or MOAB at (0138)21-2507. The address is: Caixa Postal 302, 11910 Registro, SP, Brazil.

HUMAN RIGHTS

- Manifesto claims that citizens' life in Brazil has little value.

"Maybe we Brazilians, will have difficulties to explain in the future why we accepted to live in a society where the citizens' life has so little value". That is what the manifesto of a group of Brazilian civil society organizations (National Movement of Human Rights, National Movement of Street Children, Health Grass-Roots Movements, Pro-Central Grass-Roots Movements and Health Pastorals) says. It was prepared for World Health Day on April 07. The manifesto also states that there is " a sanitary crisis of huge proportions in Brazil, more serious than others in the past, because we are heading for a dramatic situation of sanitary catastrophes, making a tragic situation even more chronic if the present trend of subordination of the social politics to market logic be confirmed".

The manifesto also adds that Brazil "has still not controlled the major infectious diseases of endemic and epidemic types" which are usually connected with poverty. It also says that this social panorama is expressed "in the amazing, impersonal, and cold statistics" of 50,000 new cases of tuberculosis a year; 600,000 cases and 3,000 deaths due to malaria per year; in the medieval situation of leprosy which, in some regions affects as many as 2,000 people, as well as cholera which by last February had affected 2000 people. It mentions as well the calamity inflicted by such contagious diseases such as measles, diptheria, whooping-cough, and tetanus. Furthermore it states the necessity of launching a national movement for the defense of life, "which will make a radical option of solidarity given the daily suffering of the majority of the citizens".

- Cajamar Institute opens a bookstore called "Caja".

On April 9, Cajamar Institute opened a bookstore and retail outlet called "Caja"; it is located on Avenida Dr. Arnaldo, close to Avenida Paulista, in the center of the city of Sao Paulo.

The "Caja" project aims to help with the divulgation of popular culture and the distribution of trade union, political and grass-roots literature all over the country. Making contact with entities which publish this sort of material of popular education, Caja will attend requests by mail or telephone, besides providing advice on the implantation of sales services throughout the country. Every month, whoever is interested will receive lists of new releases, and texts recommended by the distributor by mail. Caja will also distribute not only literature, but the complete set of video material produced by TVT and other alternative producers, as well as handicraft pottery from the Handicraft Association of Old Goias (Associacao dos Artesaos de Goias Velho). Political and trade union propaganda material (t-shirts, badges, stickers) are also on sale in the store. Geraldo Carvalho, one of the directors of Cajamar Institute, was interviewed by AGEN and emphasized that "this project is expected to be the articulator of a great interchange of popular material produced by the trade unions and grass-roots movements all over the country. This process will enable more people to have access to information and formation concerning the construction of alternatives for the country". Orders and information may be sent to Caja Livraria e Distribuidora, Avenida Dr. Arnaldo 128, 01246 Sao Paulo. Telephone (011)258-5006. Fax (011) 259-8386.

RURAL WORKERS.

- Rural Workers prepare "Rural Struggle Journeys"

CUT, Contag, Landless Movement, the Coordination of Indian Peoples in the Brazilian Amazonia, the Movement of Peoples Affected by Dams, the Movement of Women Farmers, and the Pro-Central (Congress) of Grass-Roots Movements, with the support of the Land Pastoral Commission and the Missionary Indigenist Council, are calling on rural workers to take part in the rural struggle journeys of 1992.

These journeys will be held in three phases. The first will be during the period between April 27 and May 1. The second will be during the last week of May and the third will take place between July 20 and 25. Another important date will be October 12, when events about the 500 Year Campaign, the Indigenist, Black and Grass-Roots Resistance as well as the Foreign Debt will take place.

The main demands the rural workers will make during the journeys will be: land to plant and live, subsidized rural credit, a decent salary, welfare and health care, land demarcation and autonomy for indigenous peoples, as well as the guarantee of the rights of those affected by the construction of dams. This program is aimed to make Brazilian society aware of the importance of the alliance between the different popular struggles in the city and countryside. For further information contact Forum das Jornadas de Luta. Rua Santa Cruz, 281 04122 Sao Paulo/SP. Fax (011) 572-7537

URBAN WORKERS

- CGT and Forca Sindical join the CIOSI directory.

The president of the General Confederation of Workers (Confederacao Geral dos Trabalhadores - CGT), Francisco Caninde Pegado, is one of the five members of the executive committee of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions Organizations (Confederacao Internacional das Organizacoes Sindicais Livres - Ciosl) for Latin America. The first substitute is the president of Forca Sindical, Luiz Antonio de Medeiros. The other substitute is reserved for the Sole Workers Confederation (Central Unica dos Trabalhadores CUT). The latter entity will decide whether they approve or not the affiliation to Ciosl in a meeting set for the beginning of July.

These definitions drawn up in the 15th. Ciosl International Congress - an entity which represents 100 million workers all over the world, reflect the tendency of economic internationalization which in turn demands the participation of the confederations. According to Caninde Pegado, the CGT affiliation which was confirmed at the end of 1991, represented "the opening of doors to a world-wide syndicalism for the entity". The Ciosl congress elected Enzo Frizo, from the Italian Confederation of Trade Unions (Confederacao Italiana de Sindicatos - CISL) as Secretary-General. Out of 49 members of the executive committee, 5 are from Latin America and the Caribbean: CGT (Brazil), CGT (Argentine), CTM (Mexico), CTRP (Panama) and CTV (Venezuela).

- Dieese: 1991 is a year to forget.

According to the analysis published recently by the Inter Trade Union Department of Statistics and Socio-Economic Studies (Departamento Intersindical de Estatistica e Estudos Socio-Economicos - Dieese), 1991 should be forgotten quickly. The recession, with the consequent difficulty in maintaining employment, had as an immediate result the weakening of the bargaining power of the collective negotiations, "although in the last months the agreements negotiated with the employers have represented a slight improvement in the salaries".

Last year, during nearly every month, the unemployment rate was the highest in the last five years, informed Dieese using data from a survey carried out together with the State System of Data Analysis Foundation (Fundacao Sistema Estadual de Analise de Dados - Seade). The number of unemployed people in the Greater Sao Paulo region reached one million. Furthermore, Brazil had a decrease in the "per capita" income, becoming 8% poorer in relation to the previous year without taking into consideration the minimum salary, which in November reached its lowest value since it was established in 1940. Even though it was lower than in 1989 and 1990, the inflation rate (over 500%) is considered "extremely high for the recession of the last two years".

According to Dieese, some items will receive more emphasis in the list of demands of the trade union movement this year: fight against recession as an strategy of fighting inflation, tax reforms, state reforms, privatization, opening of the economy to foreign participation and political negotiation amongst the several social segments.

- The number of lay offs in the banks increases.

According to the National Federation of the Banks (Federacao Nacional dos Bancos -Fenaban), the number of jobs in this sector decreased by 40.000 during last year. Indications are that the number of functionaries will continue to fall. Fenaban states that vacancies have not been filled. The president of the recently created National Confederation of Bankworkers of CUT (Confederacao Nacional dos Bancarios da CUT), Ricardo Berzoini, stated that two of the principle struggles of the entity will be "to combat the intervention in the work force and automation" in the manner in which it is being implanted.

Berzoni pointed out that the salary (just under US$ 170 per month in private banks and in the region of US$ 350-400 for the average bank worker in other banks) has been greatly devalorized. In the state banks the situation is also bad. In the last two years, the number of workers in the Banco do Brasil fell from 133.000 to 112.000. At the moment, the average salary in this latter bank is approximately twice the average salary in other banks but a number of years ago it had been three times the average salary of such banks. The biggest private bank in the country, Bradesco, had 128.000 workers in December of 1989 and 90.000 at the end of last year. The trade unionists point out that the number of agencies did not suffer a proportional reduction. In many cases the agencies increased in number thus giving poorer service to the bank users who frequently have to join huge lines to be attended.

- Deputy presents a project against punishments.

Federal Deputy Jose Cicote of the Workers Party (PT) and also vice mayor of the city of Santo Andre, presented a law proposal in Congress. If this proposal were voted into law, a dismissed employee would be guaranteed their salary until the truth of the alleged problem which led to dismissal could be investigated. "If it is discovered that a just motive for dismissal does not exist, the employee would reassume the functions exercised at the time of the suspension" says the text of the proposed law.

According to the deputy, as it exists at the moment, the law permits that the suspended employee does not receive a salary until it is proven whether or not there existed a grave motive for the dismissal. "Apart from the slowness to which such judicial actions are subjected, there exists the presumption of guilt on the part of the employee, even before the truth can be examined. The suspension of an employee, is in fact indirectly, their dismissal because of an accusation" according to Cicote.

According to the deputy, the worker is punished without proof of a grave fault and and he points out that according to the 5th. article of the Constitution, item LVII, nobody will be considered guilty until they have been judged. He goes on to say that his proposal when it becomes law, will avoid many injustices.

DEMOCRATIZATION OF COMMUNICATION

- The National Campaign for the Law of Democratic Information is launched.

The above mentioned campaign was launched on April 09 last in the National Congress. "Without democratization of communication, there will never exist the democratization of society" - this is the slogan of the campaign which is promoted by the Coordination Commission of the National Forum of Democratization in Communication (Comissao Coordenadora do Forum Nacional de Democratizacao da Comunicacao). This campaign will attempt to mobilize civil society and also members of the National Congress in favor of the law of democratic information.

The starting point of the campaign is that democratization of communication is a necessary step towards a real democracy in the country. For the organizers of the campaign, this includes the end of the classical monopoly of communication which in turn controls a huge political force since the general population is exposed to the effects of such communication. This situation favors the weakening of popular power and facilitates the transferral of political power to the channels of communication, especially so to television. This campaign is being mobilized by the 238 entities which form part of the National Forum for the Democratization of Communication.

CHURCHES

- CNBB (National Conference of Brazilian Catholic Bishops) will elect representatives for Santo Domingo in their assembly.

The representatives of the Brazilian Catholic Bishops in the Santo Domingo Meeting, Dominican Republic, will be picked at their general assembly which will take place in Itaici, Indaiatuba, State of Sao Paulo between April 28 and May 08. Brazil will have almost 50 representatives at the Santo Domingo Meeting whose central theme will be "New Evangelization, Human Promotion and Christian Culture". A part of this group of representatives will be composed of cardinals, archbishops and bishops who form part of the directories of the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM) and of the CNBB.

Apart from the selection of representatives for Santo Domingo, the bishops will discuss as a central theme at the assembly at Itaici, the educational question and christian demands in this area. In this discussion they will use a basic text which has been discussed and emended a year ago in dioceses, parishes, religious communities and in catholic schools. Another important topic of discussion in the assembly will be urban pastoral activity. The bishops are preoccupied with evangelization in urban regions, which are characterized by secularization, religious indifference and by the influence of the new religious movements, many of which are non christian.

The reproduction of this material is permitted as long as the source is cited.