Brazil Trip 2005 Report

BRAZIL TRIP 2005 REPORT

Prepared by Robert (Bob) Stewart

February 21, 2005

Started with a long, delayed flight (about 36 hours in transit) – why am I doing this? I worry whether I can do it (i.e. give them value for all this cost). (I flew on Thursday through Dallas and Sao Paulo, arrived in RecifeFriday evening and stayed 9 days until the following Sunday departure, arriving back in Calgary Monday.)
Brazil is an amazing country, of contrasts: large; 5th most populous; western/Latin culture; heaven and hell – hell for those trapped in poverty and victims of violence (there are 50,000 homicides annually). I was in Recife (see map in Appendix 1). Of people who work in Recife, 51% live on US$80 per month; unemployment is 33%.
The Kids’ Place video is a good summary that I have to show (about ten minutes).
I visited several Rotary assisted projects:
A home for the elderly (poor) managed by a Rotary Club;
A home for visiting (poor) cancer patients, awaiting hospital treatments;
An eye care clinic/hospital for the poor;
A hospital for the well off (this was not a Rotary project, but was owned by the same people who created and operate the eye care clinic);
An orphanage/day care for the poor children run by an ex-nun (fifty 6 to 11 year olds);
A second orphanage/day care for poor children (16 permanent residents and 200 daily children);
I attended 2 Rotary Club meetings where at one I spoke for less than 5 minutes about the upcoming conference; and at the Club who sponsored me, I made a Powerpoint presentation on Rotary Peace Programs and the Rotary PeacePlus Program, and took questions (for a total of 30 minutes) – see
The conference was held on Thursday (9:00 am to 7:00 pm) and Friday (9:00 am to 6:00 pm), and was a significant success. Approximately 400 people, mostly non-Rotarians, participated over the 2 days. I spoke for 20 minutes on Thursday and 1.5 hours on Friday (including an extensive Q&A period). Of course I had to have a translator assisting with the Portuguese (only a relatively small percentage in Recife spoke English). My Powerpoint presentations were in English and Portuguese (ref. ). All reports were that my presentations were very well received (and that participants would have like to spend more time in dialogue). I had also sponsored a Rotary World Scholar to come from the capital Brazilia to participate and make a couple of smaller presentations. I distributed 30 copies of the R.I. publication “The Seven Paths to Peace” that our Club had helped print, mostly to key Rotarians; and I took a few other peace books and 100 laminated posters for distribution. The Rotarians are already talking about a conference for next year; and I was approached by 2 Rotarians visiting from outside Recife who wished to put on similar conferences and requested my support and possible participation.
On Saturday, I, my host Rotarian Marcia Gama, and the Rotary World Peace Scholar Gert Danielson, were taken by UNESCO Brazil (including Julio Jacobo, senior UNESCO Brazil officer) for a tour of 3 “Open Schools” – schools that are open on the weekends for children/youth to freely come and do a large variety of activities. The largest had 200 youth per day and 25 volunteers. They were incredible: kids voluntarily coming to school, having fun writing, reading, playing games including chess, dancing, playing instruments, art, crafts, etc., etc., etc. and staying out of trouble. Peace education was woven throughout (eg. Posters on walls, room themes; classes on resolving conflicts, etc.) They have been going for 4 years, began in Recife, have spread to over 6,000 schools throughout Brazil, into Argentina, Paraguay, and some other countries, and cost “peanuts” (i.e. from 10 to 50 cents per day per student). Canada could learn and benefit from such a program. (Note also the importance of the volunteers, often University students, learning by teaching and relating to children.)
Ironically, the end of my tour was a visit to a huge property owned by one of the wealthiest men in Brazil who had built a large building five years ago in the design of a British castle to house his personal collection of British historical artifacts (mostly weapons of war) and an arts and culture exhibit. The good news was that it was free admission and a serene place, but I doubt that any poor people could ever gain access.
I was treated like royalty, staying with a Rotarian host family in a heavenly condo on the beautiful beach. I was wined and entertained, met the senior Rotarians in the District, and many “families and friends”. I was part of their family. Parting was tearful for all.
I believe a lot of seeds for peace were planted. We will just have to see what blooms.

Insights That I Gained

In Canada (and most other first world countries) Rotary Clubs provide programs; in Brazil and other such countries Rotary provides essential public services.
A lot of good things are happening in Brazil, but as a generalization the various organizations do not know what each other is doing to benefit from cooperation and coordination.
While there is a lot of violence (systemic and direct), people should be encouraged by the many good things happening, and build on that.
Teachers are undervalued – they are almost the lowest paid people in the country (primary teachers are paid the equivalent of about US$180 per month; high school teachers about US$400 per month; the minimum wage is about US$130 per month). University professors with a PhD. get less than US$3,000 per month.
It has been observed by others that Brazil seems to lack its own identity (being made up of many cultures from other countries).
I observed that it appears Brazil suffers from a lack of empowerment (the educated people know the problems, and can develop solutions, but they have not yet decided to act together to create systemic change – which admittedly is a challenge).
It is amazing how children still smile and can be relatively happy despite the violence against them.

Recommendations That I Made For Consideration

Initiate a Brazilian Culture of Peace Program with a mission to significantly reduce the incidents and human costs of direct and indirect violence in our communities, and world
Rotary Clubs of the District should partner with Lions and UNESCO (etc.) to provide leadership for a Brazilian Culture of Peace Program.
Develop a website – everything you always wanted to know about building peace in Brazil but did not know who to ask.
Initiate a Brazilian Peacebuilders email listserver for networking, discussion and dissemination of information.
Initiate Annual National Peace Education Conferences
InitiateAnnualState Peace Education Conferences
Translation of key peace materials available, starting with “The Seven Paths to Peace”
Develop Peace Library/Resource Centre(s)
Co-host Exchanges with Canada (eg. Police; military; Peace Missions)
The Rotary World Peace Scholar to develop a submission to UNESCO Brazil with respect to a Facilitator Position for the Brazilian Culture of Peace Program
Recife as a Peace Tourism destination (with its beautiful beaches and “hands on programs”)
Develop a Brazilian Peace Vision to provide a national identity – Brazil can be a significant world force for building peace
Empower yourselves – Brazil has (you have) the power to significantly reduce the incidents and human cost of direct and indirect violence in their communities, and world. But you must decide to act in a much bigger way – time is of the essence.
Rotary Clubs/Rotarians can do so much more to provide leadership, direction and support to build peace.

Conclusions

Peace is work – its hard work.
But I am very glad to have made this trip. I got an immeasurable amount out of it.
I hope that I have made some difference in some people’s lives – I think that I have.
I did have fun, but sometimes you forget that when you are tired and see needless misery.
I was touched – in my head, and in my heart – I have seen these things, both good and bad, with my own eyes.
And I am motivated to redouble my efforts to help bring peace to the world.
I wish Rotary would also -- I wish Canada would also.

My Deepest Appreciation and Thanks To:

Marcia Gama, who initiated the conference and facilitated my participation (despite many challenges)
Fernando Cerqueira and his family, who took me into their home as one of the family
Jorge Lima, as President of RC Boa Viagem, who made it all happen
Alberto F. B. Bittencourt, as District 4500 Governor, who provided his staunch support
Nubia Mesquita, my official translator and dedicated humanitarian
Gert Danielson, who brought a refreshing perspective as Rotary World Peace Scholar, and translator
Dominic Barter, pioneering nonviolent communication in Brazil and hopefully systemic change
Elena Gama and the other young people I met, wonderful representatives of future generations, who also helped me to understand many things
The many Rotarians who took me on tours and talked to me
The many other people that I met who are doing such wonderful service to the Brazilian people who need it most

Respectfully submitted,

Robert (Bob) Stewart E. & O. E.

======

APPENDIX 1 – MAP OF BRAZIL (Recife at most eastern point of Brazil below)