Number 328, December 3, 1998.
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Dear Readers -
Due to an unexpected emergency, we were unable to send out News From Brazil
last week. Please accept our apologies!
SEJUP
Our principal topics this week are:
EDUCATION
- Brazil Spends Disproportional Amount on University Students, Study
Reveals
LAND ISSUES
- Conflict Over Land Ends in 3 Deaths
- Roots of injustice
POLITICS:
- Dialogue of the Opposition
EDUCATION
- Brazil Spends Disproportional Amount on University Students, Study Reveals
A recent study of education spending among so called ôdevelopedö and
ôdevelopingö countries revealed that Brazil spent 5% of its GNP on
education - the same amount spent by the U.S. and Belgium. However, Brazil
spends much more money to educate university students than elementary
school students: the country spends on each university student US$14,000
while it spends on each elementary school student US$870. Among
ôdevelopedö countries, the average spending on a university student is
US$8,700 and US$3,500 on elementary school students. The same study
revealed that Brazilian elementary school students spend less time in the
classroom than almost all of the other 42 countries studied. Brazilian
kids spend 667 hours per year in the classroom, while U.S. kids spend 958.
Malaysians spend 1,140. Brazil also was one of the lowest ranking
countries in the area of teacher salaries. A first year public school
teacher will receive US$4,402 compared to the US$18,486 that teachers in
ôdevelopedö countries receive.
Source: Folha de S o Paulo, 24 Nov 1998
LAND ISSUES
- Conflict Over Land Ends in 3 Deaths
Two members of the MST (the Movement of Those Without Land) and one
security guard of a fazenda (a large farm) were killed in the early morning
of November 28. The deaths occurred on a settlement in Laranjil and on a
fazenda in Quer ncia do Norte, both in the state of Paranß. In Laranjil,
after finding the body of a young 17 year-old MSTer, members of the group
reacted and shot at two private security guards, one of whom died. Since
1994 when Incra (Institute of National Agrarian Reform) gave the land to
the MST, there has been conflict between the MST and the former landowner.
In Quer ncia, ten hooded men attempted to scare off 150 families from an
MST occupation. A 51 year-old MSTer was shot and killed. The owner of the
occupied fazenda, now in prison accused of drug-trafficking, denied having
any foreknowledge of the attack.
Source: Folha de S o Paulo, Nov. 28, 1998
- The roots of injustice.
Parallel to the spreading of Capitalism in the world is the aggression and
ABUSE of the environment. The three major problems at the end of this
century are hunger, abuse of the environment and unemployment.
More than ever we have to reflect and face these problems. It is a question
of survival. The relation between humans and the earth is in crises. The
earth is sick says Leonardo Boff. Many institutions are educating people
about this phenomenal. The earth, which is the source of life, has become
an instrument of greed and of exploitation. There are multitudes of workers
working in singular conditions in Brazil, masses of people whom the free
market does not want; they are only necessary when a political issue needs
to be executed. Here emerges the great social problem, according to the
logics of the free market; there is not enough room for everyone.
The social world is sick. Unemployment, violence, hunger, war, corruption,
the list goes on. Eduardo Galeano says "never was the world so unjust in
it's sharing of food as it is now with the present system of world
governing who talk of "market economy" where they themselves slide deeper
and deeper into impunity. The media present this unjust reality in such a
swift fashion that it appears as something foreign, that does not happen,
there is little or no analysis, thus helping the perpetrators to continue
organizing and increasing the inequality." The International Organizations
like the World Monetary Fund and World Bank, etc., only function to
regulate and supervisor the services of the big corporations.
Our Brazilian history was constructed to support the metropolises of
Portugal û large landowners and slavery. Today the same agrarian structure
of large property owners is spread through the whole of Brazil, with the
roots of injustice, misery and violence growing deeper and deeper.
On the one hand agrarian reform works on paper. In practice however, the
little victories have come about due to the Landless Movement (MST). The
MST have received various international awards for their courage and
bravery in organizing and struggling for their constitutional rights.
Rights, that every Brazilian citizen has to a piece of land in order to
work and live with dignity. The fact needs to be noted that as long as
there is no radical alteration in the present structure, the only awards
will be increases hunger, violence, misery and a growing dehumanization of
humanity.
Source: Mundo Jovem, November 1998
POLITICS:
- Dialogue of the Opposition
After the first round of elections, president Fernando Henrique Cardoso
seemed favorable to dialogue with the opposition. But at the same time, he
continued to attack them. ItÆs necessary to remember that during his
entire first term, he took every opportunity to discount the opposition.
He was never able to achieve effective negotiation in Congress. All this
indicates how quickly he learned the lessons of conservative rhetoric. Or,
how the governing elites of Brazil have adopted basically three attitudes
with regard to the opposition. The first consists of repressing the
opposition - pure and simple. A second is discounting the opposition -
safely done when the government has the majority of political and social
support. The third is demanding dialogue or consensus in moments of
crisis, specifically when the government is confronting difficulties.
As I already underlined, FHC opted up until now for the second attitude,
basking in the success of the real plan. But the face of a crisis, he
suddenly wants dialogue. The proposal is not sincere. Treat it as a
political manouver. If the opposition accepts the proposal for dialogue,
the government will only negotiate on secondary issues and avoid the not
the essential questions. If we donÆt accept dialogue, the government will
use our refusal as an escape valve in relation to the difficulties of the
crisis, arguing that the opposition doesnÆt want to collaborate, that the
opposition is not patriotic, and that it wants the worst for the country.
Democracy is founded on dissent. The roles of the government and the
opposition are well outlined. The governing party governs. The opposition
has the role of watchdog, of critiquing and presenting alternatives.
Hearing these opposing sides, the public/the people discuss and reflect on
its choices between the two political camps. The periodic elections serve
to confirm the platform of the governing party or to effect a shift in the
government toward the oppositionÆs platform.
The governing party and the opposition dialogue and negotiate in
appropriate forums of democratic insitutions. In the federal sphere, the
appropriate forum for negotiation between the two sides is Congress - the
House and the Senate. In these forums government iniciatives and the
oppositionÆs alternatives enter into contact; they can oppose one another,
go deeper or produce solutions.
In the present political circumstances of the country, it makes no sense
that FHC has called the leaders of the opposition to dialogue. This
comportment doesnÆt fit the democratic model. Bill Clinton didnÆt convoke
his republican rival, Bob Dole, to dialogue. Neither Tony Blair nor
Helmut Kohl have invited their opposition to dialogue.
The principal point of the countryÆs immediate agenda is fiscal reform.
The government already accepted the terms of reform with the IMF. The
decision was unilateral and the fundamental points of the adjustment have
been put forward as a closed package. The package that the government will
present to society is recessive and will increase unemployment. What
reason would the opposition have to assume any onus for this package? The
opposition, evidently, has a social and political responsability and must
contribute to a solution to the crisis. For this reason, it must present
alternative fiscal reforms to the government, principally to avoid the
weight of adjustment falling on salaried and middle class people, and
social programs. If FHC is sincerely concerned with dialogue, he must
propose it in Congress, through his leaders there. In the appropriate
forums, the PT is ready to negotiate and will never refuse to dialogue.
Any other proposal for dialogue outside of appropriate forums should be
seen as trap with the aim of legitimating the attacks that the government
makes on the opposition.
Jos Genoino
Deputado Federal (PT-SP)
Source: Informe Inesc 87, October 1998
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