Brazilian bishop succeeds in stalling damaging river project
-07/10/05
A Brazilian Catholic bishop who has struggled for 30 years to protect the Sao Francisco River and the poor communities that depend upon it last night ended his high-profile protest hunger strike ñ after President Luiz Inacio da Silva agreed to reconsider a controversial prestige project to re-route it.
Over six hundred local people clapped and cheered after a government official who had visited Bishop Luiz Flavio Cappio went to speak to the Presidentís office on a mobile phone, and then announced that the plan would be reconsidered.
Environmental activists, indigenous Indian groups, churches and labour organizations have all argued, along with Bishop Cappio, that the project will dry up the river, harming the livelihoods and living conditions of millions of impoverished farmers who live along its banks.
ìI declare my fast is suspended in favour of life,î the bishop told his supporters. He stresses that the struggle is not over however, and that he may return to his fast if the Brazilian government reneges on its promise to follow the evidence of proper research and the interests of the community.
The victory was celebrated at this morningís Mass, a ceremony owning much to the influence of grassroots ëbase Christian communitiesí and what is sometimes called ëthe popular churchí in Brazil.
Bishop Cappioís announcement came after a five hour meeting with Minister of Institutional Relations Jacques Wagner in the poor north-eastern town of Cabrobo, 1,100 miles from Rio de Janeiro.
The government representative brought a letter from the president promising talks on the project, which the de Silva administration had claimed would spur development in the drought-ridden region.
The letter pledged more money to rehabilitate the polluted Sao Francisco River, with a proposed constitutional amendment that would guarantee 154 million US dollars a year for the river.
The bishop had attracted huge support for his hunger strike, which was seen as a last ditch effort to activate global concern and to get the Brazilian government to listen to the concerns of 12 million poor people.
Bishop Cappio went on strike on 26 September 2005. He lost ten pounds in weight and has been suffering from dizzy spells and memory lapses. But he is now said to be recovering slowly.
Commentators believe that the controversial river project was pushed through by presidential advisers with an eye on the 2006 election campaign.
There is much disappointment that the social justice commitment of the governing Workers Party (PT) has been mired in compromise and corruption in recent months.
President Luiz Inacio da Silva (popularly known as ëLulaí) came to power in 2002 and was inaugurated in early 2003. His party is unique in Brazilian history, having been formed by a grassroots alliance of labour and union activists, indigenous groups, radical Christians influenced by liberation theology, and greens.
Da Silva has initiated many progressive policies which have benefited the poorest sections of Brazilís deeply divided society. These have included social reforms, bio-security, the disarmament law and the struggle against debt.
However in order to placate the business community, international banks and the US, the PT has been forced into Blairite accommodation with global neoliberalism which critics say has blunted its stance for social justice, failed to tackle corruption, and robbed Lula of the reforming zeal which brought him to office.
The next general assembly of the World Council of Churches will be held in be held in Porto Alegre, Brazil, from 14-23 February 2006.
Brazilian bishop succeeds in stalling damaging river project
-07/10/05
A Brazilian Catholic bishop who has struggled for 30 years to protect the Sao Francisco River and the poor communities that depend upon it last night ended his high-profile protest hunger strike – after President Luiz Inacio da Silva agreed to reconsider a controversial prestige project to re-route it.
Over six hundred local people clapped and cheered after a government official who had visited Bishop Luiz Flavio Cappio went to speak to the President’s office on a mobile phone, and then announced that the plan would be reconsidered.
Environmental activists, indigenous Indian groups, churches and labour organizations have all argued, along with Bishop Cappio, that the project will dry up the river, harming the livelihoods and living conditions of millions of impoverished farmers who live along its banks.
‘I declare my fast is suspended in favour of life,’ the bishop told his supporters. He stresses that the struggle is not over however, and that he may return to his fast if the Brazilian government reneges on its promise to follow the evidence of proper research and the interests of the community.
The victory was celebrated at this morning’s Mass, a ceremony owning much to the influence of grassroots ëbase Christian communities’ and what is sometimes called ëthe popular church’ in Brazil.
Bishop Cappio’s announcement came after a five hour meeting with Minister of Institutional Relations Jacques Wagner in the poor north-eastern town of Cabrobo, 1,100 miles from Rio de Janeiro.
The government representative brought a letter from the president promising talks on the project, which the de Silva administration had claimed would spur development in the drought-ridden region.
The letter pledged more money to rehabilitate the polluted Sao Francisco River, with a proposed constitutional amendment that would guarantee 154 million US dollars a year for the river.
The bishop had attracted huge support for his hunger strike, which was seen as a last ditch effort to activate global concern and to get the Brazilian government to listen to the concerns of 12 million poor people.
Bishop Cappio went on strike on 26 September 2005. He lost ten pounds in weight and has been suffering from dizzy spells and memory lapses. But he is now said to be recovering slowly.
Commentators believe that the controversial river project was pushed through by presidential advisers with an eye on the 2006 election campaign.
There is much disappointment that the social justice commitment of the governing Workers Party (PT) has been mired in compromise and corruption in recent months.
President Luiz Inacio da Silva (popularly known as ëLula’) came to power in 2002 and was inaugurated in early 2003. His party is unique in Brazilian history, having been formed by a grassroots alliance of labour and union activists, indigenous groups, radical Christians influenced by liberation theology, and greens.
Da Silva has initiated many progressive policies which have benefited the poorest sections of Brazil’s deeply divided society. These have included social reforms, bio-security, the disarmament law and the struggle against debt.
However in order to placate the business community, international banks and the US, the PT has been forced into Blairite accommodation with global neoliberalism which critics say has blunted its stance for social justice, failed to tackle corruption, and robbed Lula of the reforming zeal which brought him to office.
The next general assembly of the World Council of Churches will be held in be held in Porto Alegre, Brazil, from 14-23 February 2006.