Number 30, May 21, 1992.

LATIN AMERICAN INTEGRATION

- The questioning of Mercosul increases.

Representatives from various grassroots movements and churches published a statement questioning the Mercosul at the end of a meeting which took place in Uniao da Vitoria, State of Parana, at the beginning of May. In the statement, they remembered that Mercosul (the Common Market of the South) is an attempt of the integration of the Latin American people by the opening of the borders to the free circulation of goods and services as well as to capital and labor. What really is in question is the fact that the governments of Brazil, the Argentine, Uruguay and Paraguay want to reduce Mercosul to a neoliberal project which will weaken the state; such a project would be subjected to the program of the so called "initiative for the Americas". The message emphasizes that Mercosul will end up being "an agreement which may favor economic development at the cost of social and cultural development, thus contributing to the ever increasing lack of equality and in the long run submitting the countries involved to the whims of the International Monetary Fund".

According to the statement, the grassroots movements should come together to construct a different project from that proposed by the governments. Such a project would have as its objective the integration of the Latin American people; it would prioritize the participation of all social segments and would unite the continent against the international economic dominance exercised by the International Monetary Fund.

URBAN WORKERS

- The present crisis unites the trade union congresses.

The main Brazilian trade union congresses - CUT, CGT, and Forca Sindical managed to put aside their differences and met on May 12. At the meeting they prepared an agenda of 12 priority items. Their intention is now to set up a meeting with representatives of the federal government to discuss the crisis in the country. The presidents of the three congresses who were present at the meeting, believe that it is possible to work on a number of topics together despite their differences.

One of the principal items to be discussed is the minimum salary. In this area the congress presidents support a popular initiative promoted by Diesse to have this topic debated again in the National Congress. They also plan to discuss such topics as recession, Mercosul, unregistered workers (17 million according to CGT) and other themes such as the relationship between trade union entities. The three congress presidents believe that the economic situation is serious affecting the social crisis.

- Chemical Workers Trade Union discusses the industry in the year 2000.

The Chemical Workers Trade Union of the ABC region, Sao Paulo, promoted a seminar between May 18 and 23 which had as its theme "The Chemical Industry in the Year 2000 - Challenges and Perspectives". Workers, company owners, intellectuals and international representatives took part. According to the entity, the objective of the seminar was to attain an overall view of changes in this area with the national and international economical and political situations as a back-drop. The principal topics discusses were: work and technology, new ways of work organization, health and environment and the kind of industry desired.

- The image of former minister Magri is also poor in trade union circles.

The result of the inquiry carried out by the federal police regarding possible crimes committed by former minister Magri are soon expected to be made public. One of the crimes being investigated is illicit enrichment. However, scandals involving Magri's name are also suspected to have taken place in trade union circles. Magri, a former trade union leader is distancing himself from this area at the moment. Two weeks ago, the CGT Congress of Trade Unions elected Francisco Caninde Pegado as its president while Magri left the directory of the entity. In 1991, the Electrical Workers Trade Union (Sindicato dos Electricitarios) of Sao Paulo left the CGT. Magri began his trade union career in this trade union. He left it later to become president of CGT where he remained until 1990 when he became a government minister.

ECOLOGY

- The forum of non governmental organizations support the divulgence of the document "Promessa pela Terra" (Earth Covenant)

The forum of Brazilian non governmental organizations at the request of the Secretary General for Environment and Development of the United Nations is publicizing the Earth Covenant. The basic objective of the Earth Covenant is to give people and institutions the opportunity to sign undertakings and to take on concrete gestures to make the earth a welcoming environment for future generations.

The forum of Brazilian non governmental organizations will promote three meetings during Eco-92. The first will be on May 31 between 10.00 A.M. and 6.00 P.M. The second will be on June 06 between 6.00 P.M. and 10.00 P.M. and the final meeting will take place on June 10 also between 6.00 P.M. and 10.00 P.M.

"Citizenship and Democracy: Our Identifying Words" ("Cidadania e Democracia: Nossas Palavras de Ordem") is the name of the document published in Belo Horizonte at the end of April on the occasion of the 8th. National Meeting of the Forum of the Brazilian Non Governmental Organizations. The document criticizes the international economic model which condemns the absolute majority of the population of the world to increasing misery. It emphasizes the need of facing up to questions of social inequality and environmental degradation also on national levels. Thus " in Brazil, extreme poverty meets up with the opulence of the few. Here one notices as well the use of nature as a disposable item, according to the model of production and consumption in permanent expansion and which is promoted by external agents and reproduced by the dominant national elite".

At dawn on June 03, women from several countries will meet on the Leme beach and will walk towards the sea in a symbolic gesture of the hope of a civilized change which will correct the problems of today. According to Rosika Darcy de Oliveira, a representative of the Women's Movement (Movimento de Mulheres) in the national coordination of the non governmental organizations, " the women choose the sea, which is connected with the coast lines of all the continents, as a messenger to those who are distant from here, but are near to us in our desires, to share this same hope".

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

- During Eco-92 President Collor is expected to permanently define the Yanomami territory.

According to the National Indian Foundation (Fundacao Nacional do Indio - Funai) the demarcation of the Yanomami territory has been concluded. The Commission for the Creation of the Yanomami Park (Comissao pela Criacao do Parque Yanomami) in Sao Paulo is hopeful that President Collor will permanently define the Yanomami territory, thus giving this indigenous group a guarantee to the permanent use of the land. The Commission expects that this event could take place during Eco-92 during the first half of June.

After having prepared an etno-linguistic manual, linguist Gale Gomes and anthropologist Bruce Albert are in the Yanomami area to check out if this work could help in the communication between health teams and the indians. The translation of one of the four Yanomami languages to Portuguese, French and English is also being carried out. The technique of writing is unknown amongst the Yanomami.

During the 30th General Assembly of the National Conference of the Bishops of Brazil (Conferencia Nacional dos Bispos do Brasil - CNBB) which finished in Itaici on May 08, Bishop Apparecido Jose Dias who is president of the Missionary Indigenist Council (Conselho Indigenista Missionario -CIMI) stressed that " the resistance and the organizations of the indigenous peoples continue to be fundamental so the the indians may conquest their rights and affirm their desire to live in accordance with their own customs, beliefs and traditions". According to Bishop Dias, amongst the causes which provoke violence against the indigenous peoples (26 assassinations during 1992) are the actions and omissions of the government " since the government claims to base its indigenous policy on cultural respect but allows violence as well as the taking over of land and the extraction of riches from the indigenous territories. Since the lack of assistance is general, entire peoples are victims of epidemics which threaten their survival".

BUDGET

- The Budget Commission will examine the federal budget for 1993.

The Mixed Commission of Plans, Budgets and Inspection of the National Congress (Comissao Mista de Planos, Orcamentos Publicos e Fiscalizacao do Congresso Nacional) will study during the next months the federal budget for 1993. According to the Institute for Socio-Economic Studies (Instituto de Estudos Socio-Economicos - Inesc), this same commission hasn't yet inspected the use of the 1992 budget.

Since the Brazilian population has little information about the importance of this discussion, and especially so since this topic can not be left solely to the National Congress, Inesc has defined as a priority to accompany the discussion of the 1993 budget.

The above mentioned Mixed Commission practically only functions during the discussion period and the voting of the budget. According to Article 1, item 11 of the statutes of this commission, its function is to accompany and inspect the accounting, financial, budgeting and property aspects of the budget without hindering the functioning of the other commissions in the National Congress. Inesc is advising entities interested in this topic so that a more fuller popular conscientization may grow up regarding the importance of the budget. More information may be had by phoning 061-226-8093.

CHURCHES

Churches organize a vigil in solidarity with Aids victims.

Churches from more than 40 countries celebrated the 9th. International Vigil in solidarity with aids victims on May 17. In Brazil the event was organized by the National Council of Christian Churches (Conselho Nacional de Igrejas Cristas - Conic). According to official statistics, Brazil has approximately 1 million people with the HIV virus. On a world scale, this number probably is over 10 million. According to Rev. Ervino Schmidt, executive secretary of Conic, "the lack of correct information provokes fear and prejudice. Prevention is the only way to control this epidemic and solidarity is an indispensable fraternal gesture for those involved". The reflection material for the event was prepared by Gapa of Rio Grande do Sul. More information may be obtained at 051-224-5724.

In the city of Sao Paulo, a mothers' group of the Colegio Sao Luis which is run by the Jesuits, released a document on May 13 in which they show their indignation against the discrimination which Sheila de Oliveira has been receiving from the Private Schools' Trade Union (Sindicato das Escolas Particulares) of Sao Paulo. Sheila could not be matriculated in the school which her parents choose for her since she has the HIV virus. Apart from showing their sensitivity in overcoming this prejudice, the mothers made it clear that Colegio Sao Luis would be very happy to receive Sheila.

- Churches organize a seminar about the European Common Market and Latin American integration.

A seminar dealing specifically with theological and economical aspects of the European Common Market and Latin American integration was organized between May 10 and 14 in Santiago, Chile. The event was promoted by the Southern Cone region of the World Council of Churches (Regiao Cone Sul do Conselho Mundial de Igrejas - CMI) and was organized by the Church and Development Commission (Comissao Igreja e Desenvolvimento) of the Center Diego Medellin in Santiago. Approximately 30 representatives were present from Chile, Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil.

- The Cardinal of Sao Paulo - Dom Paulo Evaristo Arns, names episcopal vicars for communication and for builders of pluralist society.

During a meeting with people involved in communication in the city of Sao Paulo which took place on May 11, Dom Paulo Evaristo Arns presented two new episcopal vicars of the archdiocese of Sao Paulo. Monsignor Arnaldo Beltrame was nominated episcopal vicar for communications and Monsignor Benedito Bevilaqua was appointed episcopal vicar to accompany what is defined as the "builders of pluralist society".

Speaking about the 30th. General Assembly of the CNBB which took place in Itaici between April 29 and May 08, Dom Paulo expressed great satisfaction with the study and approval of the text "Education, Church and Society" ("Educacao, Igreja e Sociedade") as well as the election of the 39 representatives of the Bishops' Conference who were picked to represent the Church in Brazil at the 4th. Latin American Bishops' Conference in Santo Domingo next October.

Remembering that the Bishops' Conference of Medellin (1968) awakened the Church to the cry of the poor, Dom Paulo stressed that in the Conference in Santo Domingo the Brazilian representatives will strengthen the Medellin approach. According to Dom Paulo, the Conference of Santo Domingo "should stress the need that social policies not be subjected to economic policies, since at the moment neoliberalism continues to increase the concentration of riches and to marginalize the greater part of the Latin American population".

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