News from Brazil
supplied by Brazil Justice Net
Number 541, October 28,
2005
Note from the editor
Last week, Joanne Blaney wrote on a referendum to ban the possession of firearms for Brazilian citizens. (See News from Brazil, No. 540 on our web site, www.braziljusticenet.org) Last Sunday, the vote was held. The result the referendum did not pass, 64% of voters being opposed to the referendum.
In this edition of News from Brazil
Bishop's Hunger Strike Puts Government's River Project on Hold
If the Brazilian government had had its way, a US$2 billion project to re-channel the Sao Francisco River would soon be under way. But an 11-day hunger strike by Dom Luiz Flavio Cappio, a Catholic bishop residing in the area, brought the project to national attention. The bishop ended his hunger strike on October 6th after President Lula said he would put the project on hold.
The Sao Fransisco River runs through several drought-ridden states in the Central and Northeast of Brazil The government's plan is to redirect a percentage of the river's water to two man-made canals. One would take the river east through the semi-arid regions of Pernambuco and Paraiba, and the other would direct the river north to Ceara and Rio Grande do Norte, again through semi-arid regions. The project promises to resolve water shortage problems where the canals will pass.
Why would the bishop and many other social movements be opposed to such a project.? In Dom Luiz's own words, "For a long time, those in power have wanted [us] to believe that only the water from the Sao Francisco River can resolve the problems that afflict [us] every year during the drought period. It is not the truth. These same problems happen to those who live very close to the river. To have water passing nearby is not the solution if there is not a just distribution of the water. And we have, near and far from the river, many sources of water the water from the rainy season, filling the rivers and streams, the soil and the subsoil. What is lacking is the proper and democratic management of this water, to make it accessible to all, giving priority to the poor.
They do not tell the truth about this project. They will not take water to those who most need it. It will go to existing reservoirs, and the majority of this water will go to irrigation [for large farms], shrimp production and industry. This is written in the project. Besides this, it will make the cost of water more expensive. We are not the beneficiaries of this project. Worse, it is we who will pay for it, providing for those in positions of privilege. "
In his article Re-channeling the Sao Francisco River Reality and Myth, Roberto Malvezzi of the Pastoral Land Commission (CPT) argues the following According to the UN, a region is under going a water crisis when there is less than one thousand cubic meters of water per person per year. The driest state of Brazil, Pernambuco, has 1,270 cubic meters per person per year available. Even Ceara and Piaui, two states which will supposedly benefit from the project have more water available per person than Sao Paulo or Rio de Janeiro. The current problems could be resolved using inexpensive alternative technology.
Hydrologist Joao Abner of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte agrees with Dom Luis that water will be more expensive. "The project is a real Trojan horse for all sectors of the semi-arid economy because the water will be extremely expensive. After the project is completed, water will cost roughly R$0.11 per cubic meter. Currently, water in the region costs R$0.023 per cubic meter." With such high costs, the price of agricultural products will rise and not be competitive on the world market without subsidies from the government. And who will pay for these subsidies (if they are even accepted by the World Trade Organization)? The Brazilian people.
Another problem with the project is that the government considers the flow of water to the new canals to be insignificant, at a rate of 25 cubic meters per second, or 1% of the water that reaches its final destination, the ocean. However, this rate is significant when one considers the rate that is currently available, which is 360 cubic meters per second, of this amount, 335 cubic meters per second are already allocated, meaning nothing will be leftover after the water is directed to the canals. This could present problems for the already taxed Sao Francisco dam system which is the heart of the production of electricity for the Northeast. If the canals are created, it will be necessary to bring in power sources from other areas. This will mean an increase in electric bills for the people. This project is a perfect example of the logic of the so-called "drought industry" large-scale projects, a lot of money, giant companies, and little discussion.
Finally, many say that before anything should be done, the river system needs to be revitalized. "We see that the Sao Francisco is sick, the water is of bad quality. There are 505 municipalities dumping sewage, trash and heavy metals in it. We are slowly dying from it. We have skin diseases and worms. Our crops do not grow the way the used to grow. We do not have fish. They do not grow because there is nothing to feed them. There is no more capybara, or alligator. What we need is that the Sao Francisco be treated. That the springs begin to produce water again, and that deforestation along the banks of the river be stopped," commented Ailson dos Santos Barros, a leader of the Truka people.
Source Brazil de Fato, October editions
An Urgent Action Request from the CPT
This week, Brazil Justice Net received the following note requesting a letter-writing campaign regarding a conflict in the state of Pernambuco
Dear Friends at Brazil Justice,
A recent prize-winning film made here in the north coastal region of the state of Pernambuco has as its title "Prado Sugar Plantation – warfare of low intensity in the Atlantic Forest Zone of Pernambuco" (Forest is in italics today, only a precarious 7% maintains its sugar baron threatened existence.)
The film conveys something of the urgency of things that need to be done "yesterday" in the region. The film certainly impresses in its urgency to help the viewer distinguish between the important and the necessary.
We believe here at the CPT that it is necessary to keep you informed about the most recent news on the "7 January 2005" episode. It is a necessary task because what is ultimately at stake is the freedom of women and men, workers and pastoral agents, to exercise their right to "come and go", "unite and organize" without fear of loss of life.
Sum-up of events
As you will know from previous communications, on 7 January 2005, an attempt was made by the private armed militia of the São José Sugar Mill, with the connivance of the Military Police, to kidnap two priestsThomas Hayden, of the St.Patrick´s Missionary Society (Kiltegan Fathers) and James Thorlby, member of the CPT.The two priests had just witnessed and photographed violations of Labour and Environmental Law perpetrated by the São José and also the Santa Teresa Sugar Mills.
Due to your e-mailed insistence and that of other citizenship defence organizations, official investigations into the incident began – albeit belatedly.
A Meeting with the State Procurator, Francisco Sales
CPT, in the persons of James Thorlby and lawyer Daniel Viegas ,accompanied by state attorneys Westei Conde (responsible for "Citizen Rights") and Edson Guerra (responsible for the "Social Function of Property" desk) met with the State Procurator.
The following conclusions were reached
What to do?
The sugar barons with the other powers that be in the "parallel" state of Pernambuco are obviously playing for time so that the crimes committed on 7 January 2005 will be prescribed. The archives are full of these cases. For this reason, the State Procurator, Francisco Sales, was insistent on the necessity for international pressure.
You are requested to send the letter that follows to:
Excelentíssimo Sr. Governador, Jarbas Vasconcelos
Excelentíssimo Secretário da Defesa Social, Sr. João Braga
Os relatórios policiais (Civil e Militar) dos acontecimentos de sete de janeiro de 2005, registrados na 29ª CircunscriçãoPolicial – Igarassu-PE, referente L.P. no. 002/05 são insatisfatórios e contraprodutivos em relação à defesa de direitos da cidadania – neste caso, os direitos de dois padres que sofreram, entre outras coisas, uma tentativa de seqüestro por parte da milícia privada e armada da Usina São José com a conivência da Polícia Militar.
A defesa da cidadania e os direitos inerentes ao exercício da mesma obrigam o poder executivo – ao qual a Polícia está subordinada – a usar este poder para investigar os acontecimentos e apresentar relatórios transparentes sobre este caso.
Confiamos no poder do qual o senhor foi investido para que estas tarefas sejam realizadas.
Continuaremos a acompanhar a evolução do caso.
Atenciosamente,
Governor Jarbas Vasconcelos/ Secretary João Braga
The Police reports (Civil and Military) of the happenings on 7 January 2005, registered at the Igarassu Police Station, report no. 002/05, are unsatisfactory and counterproductive in relation to the defence of Citizen Rights – in this case, the rights of two priests who underwent, among other things, an attempted kidnapping by the armed private militia of the São José Sugar Mill, with the connivance of the Military Police.
The defence of citizenship and the rights inherent to it oblige the executive authority – to which the Police are subordinate – to use this autjhority to investigate the happenings and present reports on this incident that are transparent.
We are confident that these tasks will be accomplished through the power that is invested in you .
We will continue to accompany the evolution of the case.
Yours sincerely,
Conclusion
We here at CPT want to help further the advancement of democracy in other parts of the world and for this reason, end on this note what happened on 7 January 2005 was not just a "Third" World thing. Do you remember what happened recently to Jean Charles Menezes on the streets of London? And, last year, when James Thorlby had "only" suffered three death threats, on being invited by the British Consul in Recife, Pernambuco – Alan Fiori – he was told by the consul that these threats were a "personal affair" and that those involved in land occupations of unproductive latifundiaries (cited specifically in the Brazilian Constitution of 1988 as targets for Land Reform) were engaged in a "criminal activity".
Is this what democracy looks like?
It is not without cause that we here at CPT are seriously concerned with the well-being and safety of those struggling for Citizenship and Land – not only in this region of Pernambuco, but throughout Brazil.
Yours sincerely,
James Thorlby
– a priest with the CPT.
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