and Servico Espiritano de Justica e Paz.

Number 34, June 18, 1992.

URBAN WORKERS

- Government plan damages social welfare.

"The revenue reform which the government intends to approve in

June of 1992 in fact represents the handing over of social

welfare and of accident insurance to banks and insurance

brokerage firms. It will bring about the end of retirement

according to time worked, as well as the devaluation of the

official pension system paid on up to three minimum salaries".

This alert comes from lawyer Annibal Fernandes who is an expert

in welfare law as well as being an adviser to a number of trade

unions.

According to Fernandes, the government project plans to

substitute the present system of contribution for a tax on

cheques and other financial transactions. "This did not work out

in the Argentine, but there it carried out what it was set up to

do: it reduced the financial intake and the payments of the

official welfare and favored pension funds of banks and insurance

firms" criticizes Fernandes. He considers that this moment is

decisive for the "unity of the trade union congresses" and other

entities in society "to defend social rights and the 1988

Constitution".

At a meeting of its national executive, CUT decided to start a

campaign to impeach President Fernando Collor as well as to

defend a discussion of an alternative form of government.

"Corruption invaded the Planalto Palace (Palacio do Planalto i.e.

government headquarters)" remarked the president of CUT, Jair

Meneguelli.

- Toyota - same company, different realities.

Even though it is the same company, the workers of Toyota

Brazil and Toyota Japan have many differences in the areas of

salaries and work conditions. This conclusion was drawn by the

president of the Metal Workers Union of Sao Bernardo and Diadema,

Vicente Paulo da Silva (Vincentinho) who recently returned from a

visit to Japan. He took part in a conference about Toyota

promoted by the International Federation of Workers in Metal

Industries (Federacao Internacional dos Trabalhadores nas

Industrias Metalurgicas - Fitim).

"Any system taken on over there has the participation of the

workers. Here they try to rape the workers" commented Vincentinho

while he decried the lack of transparency present amongst

Brazilian company owners. In his conversation with the world

president of Toyota, Sholchiro Toyota, Vincentinho spoke of the

positive perspectives of Brazil despite the successive changing

economic policies. "The lack of clear ground rules causes them to

draw back and not make investments" lamented Vincentinho.

Vincentinho also had the opportunity to visit Brazilians who

are working in Japan and noted that all such Brazilians went

there with a great disposition to work, but always for a defined

period with plans to return to Brazil and live here. There are in

the region of 130 to 150 thousand Brazilians in Japan. According

to Osvaldo Cavignato of Diesse, the average salary of workers in

Toyota in Japan is U.S. $3.000 per month while in Brazil it is

U.S. $ 557 which is below the average of the other motor assembly

industries. The average in Autolandia is U.S. $605, U.S. $646 in

Mercedes-Benz and U.S. $664 in Scania.

- CUT prepares to discuss affiliation.

CUT has set up a plenary meeting for the month of July to

discuss amongst other topics the question of its affiliation to

the International Confederation of the Organization of Free Trade

Union (Confederacao Internacional das Organizacoes Sindicais

Livres - Ciosl). Even though this topic is likely to be

polemical, it is expected that the affiliation will be approved

at the plenary meeting. What adds strength to this expectation

are the decisions recently taken at national congresses of the

metalworkers and the bank workers of CUT. The metal workers

approved affiliation to Fitim and the bank workers to Feit. Both

of these entities are linked to Ciosl.

Amongst the chief arguments of those against the affiliation is

the fact that Ciosl is a member of AFL/CIO. This North American

trade union congress has inspired "tradeunionism of results".

Those who are in favor of an affiliation argue that the

internationalization of the economy demands a greater presence of

CUT in foreign discussions to defend the Latin American point of

view.

ECOLOGY

Non-governmental organizations and UNCED receive the Vitoria

Declaration.

During the last days of Eco-92, government representatives as

well as non-governmental organizations from all over the world

present in the Global Forum, received copies of the Vitoria

Declaration entitled "In Defense of Life and of the Peoples" ("Em

Defesa da Vida e dos Povos"). The document was prepared by 254

representatives from grass roots movements from 27 countries in

Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe during the

International Conference of Land, Ecology and Human Rights

(Conferencia Internacional Terra, Ecologia e Direitos Humanos)

which took place in Vitoria, State of Espirito Santo between May

24 and 28. The text is emphatic in emphasizing that "it is

necessary that the peoples of the southern continents mobilize

themselves to guarantee material resources and the political will

to bring about transformations" which will favor the lives of

all. Thus, "without popular participation, talk of democracy is a

mockery".

Apart from the Vitoria Declaration, the International

Conference prepared a number of documents analyzing the

international situation as well as proposals for four areas:

agrarian reform, human rights, indigenous peoples and conditions

of life in the cities. At the end of the document, much emphasis

is given to the importance of a strategy which would unite grass

roots struggles which are "directed towards a new planetary model

based on a new relationship of solidarity between peoples and

giving importance to traditional cultures, human rights and the

achieving of an effective democracy and citizenship".

HUMAN RIGHTS

- Street children set up a Latin American Network.

Street children of various Latin American countries are

organizing a Latin American Network of Children Victims of

Violence (Rede Latino-Americano de Meninos e Meninas Vitimas da

Violencia). A commission which is involved in the organization of

this network had a meeting dealing with this topic during the

last week of May near Lake Yioya, Sao Pedro Sula, in the region

of Penha Branca, Honduras.

The participants showed much interest in the experiences

presented by the Brazilian representatives , especially so in an

experience with girls in the city of Belem, State of Para.

According to the participants, Latin American children live in a

context of violence marked by the challenges of poverty, lack of

housing, lack of sewerage, the present of extermination groups,

prostitution and in some countries even the violence of war.

The Christian Churches through the presence of the World

Council of Churches, the National Council of Christian Churches

of the United States (CNCC) and the Latin American Council of

Churches (Conselho Latino-Americano de Igrejas- Clai) are acting

as facilitators during the setting up of the network. In order to

encourage a greater involvement of the Churches in supporting the

end of violence against children, various Brazilian ecumenical

entities plan to organize regional meetings later this year about

this topic.

RURAL WORKERS

- Police invade campment in Maranhao.

At 4.00 AM on June 08 last, almost 50 police as well as gun-men

invaded the campment known as Pe. Josimo in the municipality of

Ze Doca, State of Maranhao. According to Egidio Brunetto of the

national directory of the Movement of Landless Rural Workers

(Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra - MST), the

campment is completely surrounded and entry and exit of people is

totally hindered. Brunetto goes on to state that the situation is

very tense in the region and he believes that violent conflict

could happen if the landless families are expelled.

Attending a request of the reputed owner of the area, Valdir

Jorge de Mello, judge Luiz Gonzaga Almeida Filho granted the

repossession of the area and demanded the expulsion of the

families in the campment. The MST is calling on individuals and

entities to send messages of protest to the local Court House

demanding that the expulsion of the landless families be

immediately suspended. Such messages of protest may be sent to :

Sra. Lucine Campos dos Santos, Escriva do 2 Oficio, Rua do

Comercio 728, 65.300 Santa Ines, MA, Brazil.

Having attempted during many years to survive in Paraguay, over

400 families of "Brasiguais" have crossed into the State of Mato

Grosso do Sul, Brazil, especially to the municipalities of Sete

Quedas, Tacuru and Amambai. Sectors of the police force, town

councilors (vereadores) and of the local media are trying to

hinder the return of these Brazilian families. As well, at least

9 leaders of the rural workers of the region have received death

threats.

The invasion of the local headquarters of the MST in Porto

Alegre, State of Rio Grande do Sul on June 04 by the police is

having a significant repercussion in the south of Brazil. On the

date in question, approximately 5 federal police carrying a

search and arrest warrant issued by the federal judge of Passo

Fundo against the National Association of Agricultural

Cooperation (Associacao Nacional de Cooperacao Agricola) entered

the headquarters of the MST and examined all the documents and

papers of the entity.

INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY

- Forum of Solidarity with Cuba launched on June 16.

On June 16 at 7.00 P.M. in the Municipal Legislature of Sao

Paulo a Forum of Solidarity with Cuba was launched. The Forum is

composed of entities and grass roots movements of the Greater Sao

Paulo area who wish to deepen solidarity and promote concrete

campaigns of support in favor of the Cuban people. A campaign

entitled "A Drop of Love for Cuba" (Uma Gota de Amor para Cuba")

was also launched; this campaign hopes to offer an oil tanker to

the Cuban people.

The entities and organizations belonging to the Forum are

organizing a signature campaign which will be sent to all the

presidents of the Iberian-American countries. The text which is

entitled "Carta Ablerta a la Segunda Cumbre Ibero-Americano de

Presidentes" requests respect and self determination for the

Cuban people as well as the immediate suspension of the economic,

cultural and political blockades which for the last 30 years have

weighed down the Cuban people. As well, the document requests the

end of political and military threats against Cuba and the

removal of the American base from Guantanamo. The contact address

where the completed signature campaign forms may be sent to is:

Promotora de Solidaridad, Xola 181, Quarto Piso, Colonia Alamos,

CP 03400 Mexico, DF.

- Peru Peace Network promotes a Solidarity Day.

On Sunday June 14, an International Day of Prayer and

Solidarity with the people of Peru took place. The event was

widely publicized by the Peru Peace Network based in Jefferson

City, U.S.A. According to this organization the Peruvian people

"are involved in an increasing spiral of violence of the left and

the right".

Through this event, the organizers hope to condemn the

breakdown of the democratic and constitutional systems of Peru

and the installation of a dictatorial government. They hope to

support the dialogue for a democratic solution which will involve

the participation of all social sectors. They insist that

democracy should guarantee the exercise of civil, political,

economic and social rights of the population especially so since

the economic model in vogue in the country is increasing the

misery of the people.

Groups who celebrated the event were invited to bring pressure

on governments, the Organization of American States, on the U.S.

government, on the European governments and on the international

financial institutions to take up a position regarding the

Peruvian situation.

Messages supporting the restoration of democracy in Peru may be

sent to: Dr. Joao Baena Soares, Secretario Geral da Organizacao

dos Estados Americanos at fax 001-202-458-3967. The Peruvian

Consulate in Sao Paulo is situated at Rua Suica 114, Jardim

Europa, 01446 Sao Paulo; phone (011) 853-9372.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

- The Missionary Indigenist Council (Conselho Indigenista

Missionario - CIMI) releases a statement concerning the Paiaka

case.

CIMI does not accept or justify "in any situation" the practice

of rape and torture, "let the aggressor be white or indian". In

the same way, it believes that the story carried by "Veja"

magazine regarding the crime of rape of which chief Kalapo

Paulinho Paiaka is being accused "seeks, in the context of Eco-

92, through a serious accusation against an indian well known in

Brazil and abroad, to attack the credibility of the leadership of

the indigenous movement as a whole as well as the credibility of

entities who support this movement". CIMI's statement was

recently released in Brasilia.

In its edition of June 10, Veja magazine (which is the largest

in the country with a circulation of approximately 800 thousand),

published a lead story entitled "The Savage" ("O Salvagem"). It

gives details of an accusation of rape and torture which Paiaka,

one of the best known indigenous leaders outside Brazil, is

reputed to have committed against Leticia Luz Ferreira in

Redencao, State of Para. Leticia teaches Paiaka's children and is

a friend of his family. Doctors who examined Leticia, confirmed

that sexual violence took place. Paiaka has not yet been heard in

court. In an interview to Globo TV on June 11, Paiaka confirmed

the crime. He tried however to make it less serious stating that

he, his wife and Leticia were drunk. Leticia denies this version.

CIMI's statement criticizes as well Veja magazine for the

"revengeful" tone of the article against CIMI and the indigenous

movement. The magazine said that CIMI "insistently" accuses army

recruits of raping indians "without proof". According to CIMI's

statement, this is not true since on the only occasion in which

such a denouncement was made - 1991, by a missionary, the

authorities did not carry out an investigation.

CHURCHES

- The visit of Dalai Lama starts ecumenical initiatives for

peace.

The visit of two weeks which the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai

Lama made to Brazil at the beginning of this month served as an

important impetus for ecumenical initiatives for world peace. The

Christian Churches as well as eastern religious communities,

especially Budists, were involved in important negotiations even

before the arrival of the Dalai Lama in the country with the

Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure an entry visa for the

religious leader. Chinese diplomats put on pressure to prohibit

his visit. The Cardinal Archbishop of Sao Paulo, Dom Paulo

Evaristo Arns, was in contact with the Brazilian Chancellor,

Celso Lafer, on various occasions insisting that the Brazilian

governmental authorities not give in to the pressures coming from

Pequim.

In Rio de Janeiro, Dalai Lama led the large ecumenical events

associated with Eco-92. Joining in prayers with him for peace and

for the integrity of creation were indians, priests, pastors,

lay people and mediums. In one of the celebrations, he was joined

by Archbishop Helder Camara, former archbishop of Olinda and

Recife and who is known on a world level for his work for justice

and peace. In Sao Paulo, Dalai Lama participated in an ecumenical

celebration in the Se Cathedral. Amongst the religious leaders

present on the occasion were Dom Paulo Evaristo Arns, Rabbi Henry

Sobel and Rev. Jaime Wright. He also received the title of

citizen of Sao Paulo from the Mayor, Luiza Eurinda and received a

doctorate "honoris causa" from the Catholic University - PUC. As

well as giving a public lecture in a sports stadium, he also met

with the Buddist community. Before leaving for Buenos Aires, he

participated in a mass in Sao Bento monastery where he stayed

while in Sao Paulo. During the mass, he sung a mantra of Tibet.

- Movement of the Artists of the Journey (Movimento dos

Artistists da Caminhada) stage presentations in Italy.

"Discover the 500 years" is the theme of a series of

presentations which the Movimento dos Artistas da Caminhada from

Brazil are presenting since last month in various Italian cities.

The group of artists include Ze Vicente from Crateus who is one

of the principal cultural animators of the Basic Ecclesial

Communities (CEBs).

Amongst the events promoted by the artists is an exhibition of

paintings concerning the 500 years which has been presented in

Padua, Verona, Bolonha and Turim. Also included are music and

theatre sessions, meetings with missionary groups and solidarity

groups with Latin America. Amongst the promoters of the journey

to Italy is the City Council of Verona, the Pia Sociedade de d.

Nicola Mazza and various organizations belonging to Italian

dioceses.

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