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Brazil Justice Net dedicates this edition of News from Brazil to the local
effects of neo-liberalism in Brazil. This report is in three parts an editorial
from the Jornal Cantareira, a community newspaper from a poor
neighborhood in Sao Paulo; and two stories from the same newspaper of the
difficulties people face as a result of neo-liberal polices which demand that
governments cut back their spending on such things as job-training programs,
education and health care.
Editorial
In the last few decades in Latin America, countries have adopted the
neo-liberal model for economic/political development. This neo-liberalism, which
has other names such as "minimal government" or "cost
reduction," means in practical terms social exclusion and the reduction of
rights gained by workers.
This model of government does not prioritize policies of social inclusion that
guarantee quality of life. Education, health, sanitation, environment, public
security, income generation projects these are not the priorities of the
government, and therefore millions of people are excluded from these common
goods.
This neo-liberalism, instead of promoting sustainable development and bettering
living conditions for the population, condemns millions to misery. In Sao Paulo,
for example, one can see in the local government of the poor parts of the city a
total absence of the public powers, as evident in health posts, emergency rooms
and hospitals.
The neo-liberal politicians who are in power in the local and state governments
maintain the current social exclusion, as is evident in their budgets--no funds
not even to alleviate the situation, much less to implement programs which would
put an end to social inequities. The few programs that do exist only promote
dependency, and not dignity and responsible citizenship.
It is time that we stand up and put into practice another economic model, a plan
for public polices that promote participation and active citizenry, that make
possible a social control that respects the life and dignity of all peoples.
Civil society has a fundamental role in the struggle for an ethical, cultural
democracy. The struggle, the persistence, the critiques, the vigilance and the
pressure from social movements are fundamental to keep alive the desire and the
dream to create another world.
Picking Trash in the Periphery
"Thirty years ago, I came to Sao Paulo with a dream of bettering my
life. I came with my wife, and soon after we arrived, we had our first child. It
was very difficult to find a place to live and to find work. For a long time we
lived with relatives until I finally got a job. I thought that my dream was
going to become a reality. I went out and rented a house. But the happiness of
poor people does not last long. I became unemployed and couldn't pay my rent any
longer. We moved all over the city, and I finally came here and got a little
shack alongside the sewage. I did odd jobs and my wife worked as a domestic.
" Thus the story of Wilson Santos do Nascimento, 55, father of five.
The greater part of the population of the city are migrants, who, like Wilson,
left their lands, their people, their culture, their customs, and adventured off
in hopes of a better life.
"Today I am a trash picker, together with my wife. We make just enough to
sustain our house and help our children, who are now married, have children of
their own, and also have financial difficulties. Two of them also live in
shacks, almost in the sewage," said Wilson.
Collecting recyclable material on the streets is not an easy job. Besides having
to go up and down the steep hills of this neighborhood, the couple face
prejudices and discrimination. Even more as a woman. "I was embarrassed to
be a trash picker. In the beginning, I used to break our carts so that we
wouldn't have to go out. Our neighbors used to stare at me and make comments,
and this used to make me uncomfortable. Later I began to think, well it is this
job that puts bread on the table, that helps me to sustain my family. Now I am
no longer embarrassed," said Maria Lucia, Wilson's wife.
"We earn R$7.00 (US$3.50) per day, and this only when we have the good luck
to find things of value. We receive a lot of help from people--clothes, food,
other things. My youngest is in the Urban Youth Project, and brings home a
little bit.
"I suffer a lot in my life. To be a father in this situation, to see your
children grow without being able to offer the minimum that a child needs. Today
I see my children going through the same thing, and I cannot do anything about
it. That hurts," Wilson commented.
Many parents raise their children in poverty, but with care and love are able to
pass on an example of concern for other and self. "I consider myself to be
lucky as I raised all of my children and not one of them went down the wrong
path, none of them use drugs, thank God. I am proud to be the father of these
kids."
Health Care and the Poor
"Here we lack medical specialists. I waited two years before I could
see an orthopedist. I have been waiting since December of last year to get an
internal exam. Only last week was I allow to be put on the waiting list. Now we
will have to see how long it takes to schedule the exam," complained Neide
Filipe da Silve, 58, who lives in Carumbe [a poor neighborhood on the periphery
of the city of Sao Paulo].
Dejanira de Alencar Silva, 63, added, "The problem of the Carumbe health
post is the treatment we receive. We come here, and it takes a long time to be
attended. But we see the workers talking among themselves and just telling us to
wait. We have to stand for a long time in long lines. Some of the workers are
rude to us, and this just irritates us more."
But it is not only the health care workers who are attend the people poorly
"Some of the doctors do not even look at the patient, they don't even talk
to us. This leaves us feeling badly, and our self-esteem goes in the trash. It
seems like they are afraid to talk to us poor patients," continued
Dejanira.
As if poor treatment were not enough, there are other problems
"Prescription medicine is difficult to find at the health post. If the
price of the medicine is more than five bucks, they don't have it. Usually I
have to take the prescription and go all the way to the center of Sao
Paulo," said Dejanira.
"They say on TV and on the radio that they have doctors, they have medicine
for all. It's a lie. They don't have anything. Just walk around the health posts
and hospitals of the poor neighborhoods," said Neide.
Some have not been able to control their frustrations. One of the posts recently
had its roof broken, an act of vandalism in retaliation for the poor service.
Wanderlei de Paula, a member of the health post's board of directors commented,
"The situation really is precarious. It does take a long time to schedule
exams. We lack doctors, especially in posts which do basic care. I am not in
favor of vandalism. Those who did it think they can resolve everything with
violence. But we are trying to pressure the public powers for better service.
But few are willing to spend the time in meetings trying to resolve the
conflicts. It is also necessary to see that the city government is responsible
for the lack of doctors and medicine. It is responsible for the bad treatment of
the public, and for the trash that is left behind at the entrance. We look for a
health place, and we have trash, flies, rats and sewage at health post entry
ways."
Source: Jornal Cantareira, August, 2006
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