Categoria: English

Every so often the plutocracy attempts a coup

Leonardo BoffDeixe um comentário

The Brazilian plutocracy (the 71,440 multimillionaires, according to IPEA) has little imagination. It uses the same methods, the same language, the same pharisaic recourse to moralism and combating corruption to hide their own corruption and to mount a coup against democracy, in order to protect their privileges. Whenever a democracy emerges that is open to social issues, plutocrats are filled with fright. They organize a collection of forces that includes sectors of politics, of judicial power, the MPF, the Federal Police, and principally, of the conservative and reactionary press, as is the case of the O Globo conglomerate. They did the same thing with Getulio Vargas, Joao (Jango) Goulart; and now with Lula da Silva and with Dilma Rousseff.

In an interview with la Folha de São Paulo (04/24/2016), Jesse Souza, author of The Stupidity of Brazilian Intelligence, (La estupidez de la inteligencia brasilera, Leya, 2015), a book that deserves to be read, with a critical mind, correctly wrote: «Our moneyed elite has never been committed to the destiny of the country. Brazil is the stage of a dispute between these two projects: the dream of a big and powerful country for the majority, and the reality of a rapacious elite wanting to siphon off everyone’s labor and plunder the wealth of the country to fill the pockets of the half dozen. The moneyed elite rules for the simple fact that it is able to “buy” all the other elites» (Who made the coup and against whom).

In the current process of impeachment, the removal of President Dilma Rousseff, they had a powerful ally: the State’s judicial-police complex, that replaced the bayonets. The vice-president usurped the title of president and mounted a pantomime ministry with several corrupt ministers, and weakened the ministries of culture, communications, and the secretary of human rights of the Blacks and of women, criminally cutting the budgets of health, education, attacking the rights of the workers, the minimum wage, labor legislation, retirement and other social benefits, that were created during the two previous regimes.

Behind the parliamentary coup are the forces mentioned by Jesse Souza. Pope Francis said it well to Leticia Sabatella two months ago, when Sabatella and another famous jurist had an audience with the Pope in Rome, and she shared the threat to Brazilian democracy with the Pope. Pope Francis commented: «that coup comes from the capitalists».

The fact is that we all are tired of so much corruption, justly denounced, and of the delays in the process of impeachment.

No one knows where are we going. Something seems clear: that the social design, mounted since colonialism and slavery with the wealthy casts that were affirmed in power, be it in society or in the structure of the State, is coming to an end.

In times of darkness, such as the present, we need a minimum theoretical framework that brings us light and some hope. The late Arnold Toynbee gives me guidance. He was the British historian who wrote ten volumes about the history of civilizations. To explain the birth, development, maturity and decline of a civilization Toynbee uses an extremely simple but illuminating test: «challenge and response».

Toynbee says: there are always fundamental crises within civilizations. They are challenges that demand a response. If the challenge is greater than the capacity of the response, the civilization enters a process of collapse. If the response to the challenge is excessive, arrogance and the abuse of power emerge. The ideal is to find the equation for an equilibrium between the challenge and response, so that the civilization maintains its cohesion, positively faces new challenges, and prospers.

Returning to the case of Brazil: The moneyed and the powerful cannot respond to the challenge coming from the bases, that in recent years have grown enormously in consciousness and in demanding their rights. No matter how hard the moneyed and powerful manipulate the data, they know that it will be difficult for them to return to the centers of power by means of elections. Hence the reason for the coup. Demoralized, they have nothing to offer to the new Brazil that has escaped from their control.

The legacy of the present crisis will probably be the emergence of a different kind of Brazil, of democracy, of the State, of other forms of popular participation.

The pains of the present are not those of a moribund at the gates of death, but the birth pangs of another type of Brazil, more democratic, more participatory and more sensitive to overcoming the worst wound that fills us with shame: the abysmal social inequality. Finally there will be a more humane Brazil, were we can simply be happy.

Leonardo Boff  Leonardo Boff Theologian-Philosopher  Member of the Earthcharter Commission

Free translation from the Spanish sent by
Melina Alfaro, alfaro_melina@yahoo.com.ar.
Done at REFUGIO DEL RIO GRANDE, Texas, EE.UU.

Silent revolutions: conviviality

Leonardo Boff1 comentário

With the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and of the socialism that was its counterpoint (independently of its grave internal problems), capitalism ended up occupying all the space in the economy and politics. With Margaret Thatcher’s assumption of power in Great Britain and that of Ronald Reagan in the United States, the capitalist logic acquired free rein: the complete liberalization of the markets with a breakdown of all controls, the introduction of the minimalist state, of privatization and boundless competition.

The so-called, “happy globalization” was not so happy.

Nobel laureate Joseph E. Stiglitz, could write in 2011: «just 1% of the very rich cause the economy and all the planetary functions to benefit their interests» (“Of the 1% by 1%”, Vanity Fair, May 2011). For this reason, one of the biggest multimillionaires, the speculator Warren Buffet boasted: «yes, class struggle exists, but my class, the class of the rich, is the one leading the struggle and we are winning» (CNN 2005 interview).

It so happens that all the rich types failed to include in their calculations the ecological factor, considering the limits of the natural goods and services as worthless externalities. This also occurs in the economic debates in Brazil, which is behind on this issue, with the exception of a few, such as Ladislau Dowbor.

Alongside the global hegemony of the capitalist system, silent revolutions grew everywhere. They are the base groups, scientists and others with an ecological sense who are teaching alternatives to this way of inhabiting planet Earth. If it continues pitilessly stressing the Earth, she could change and provoke an imbalance capable of destroying a great part of our civilization.

In such a dramatic context arose, “The Coexistence” movement, of groups now including more than 3,200 people all over the world (see http://www.lesconvivialistes.org). They seek to live together (hence, coexistence), caring for one another and for nature, not denying conflicts, but making of them factors of dynamism and creativity. Is the politics of the gain-gain.

Four principles sustain this project: the principle of common humanity. With all our differences, we form one humanity, to be maintained in unity.

The principle of common sociality: the human being is social and lives in several types of societies, whose differences must be respected.

The principle of individuation: even though social, each one has the right to affirm his/her individuality and uniqueness, without harming the other.

The principle of ordained and creative opposition: those who differ can legitimately oppose, but always being careful not to making the difference into inequality.

These principles imply ethical, political, economic and ecological consequences that will not be detailed here.

What is important is to start: to begin from below, with bio-regionalism, with small units of organic production, with generating energy from waste, with a sense of self limitation and just measure, living a frugal consumption and sharing among all. The silent revolutions are gathering energy to be able, in a determinate moment of history, to make the great transformation.

It is important today to accentuate conviviality because presently there are many who no longer want to live together.

Conviviality as a concept was put in circulation by Ivan Illich (1926-2002) in his book Tools for Conviviality, 1973, (La convivialidad, 1975). Illich was one of the great prophetic thinkers of the XX century. An Austrian, he lived great part of his life in the two Americas. Conviviality to him consisted of the capacity to make coexist the dimensions of production and of caring; of efficiency and compassion; of mass producing products and creativity; of liberty and fantasy; of multidimensional equilibrium and of social complexity: all to reinforce the sense of universal belonging.

Conviviality also claims to be an adequate response to the ecological crisis. Conviviality can avoid a real planetary crash.

There will be a new pact or nature with the Earth, and of the social between the people. The first paragraph of the new pact will be the sacred principle of self limitation and just measure; after, the essential caring of all that exists and lives, gentleness with humans and respect for Mother Earth.

It is possible to organize a good society, an Earth of the good-hope (Sachs and Dowbor) where people prefer cooperation and sharing instead of competition and limitless accumulation.
Leonardo Boff is Philosopher and Theologian

No Pope has gone that far in condemning capitalism

Leonardo Boff1 comentário

Michael Löwy is a Franco-Brasilian sociologist and philosopher who knows well Latin-American Christian thinking. It is good to hear his voice in this interview he gave to the «Correio da Cidadania» on June 21, 2016. Here is part of that interview:

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The encyclical letter «Laudato Si’» directly attacks the capitalist system. What does that mean coming from a Pope?

Bergoglio is not a Marxist and the word «capitalism» does not appear in his Encyclical. But it is clear that to him, the dramatic ecological problems of our times result from the «interactions of the present globalized economy», interactions that create a global system, «a structurally perverse system of commercial relations and property». What for Francis are these «structurally perverse» characteristics? First, it means a system where «the unlimited interests of business» and «a questionable economic rationality» predominate, an instrumental rationality whose sole objective is to increase profit. To Francis, this perversity is not unique to this or that country, but to «a world system, where speculation and the principles of the maximization of profits, and search for financial profitability predominate, one that tends to ignore all context and impact on human dignity and the environment. Through this, the intimate relationship between environmental, and human and ethical degradation, is manifested» Other perverse characteristics of the system are its obsession with unlimited growth, consumerism, technocracy, the absolute dominion of money and deification of the market. In its destructive logic, everything is reduced to the market and the «financial calculus of cost/ benefit». But we know that «the environment is one of those things that market mechanisms are incapable of defending or adequately promoting». The market is incapable of considering the qualitative, ethical, social, human or natural values, namely, the «values that exceed calculation». The “absolute” power of speculative financial capital is an essential aspect of this system, as was revealed by the recent financial crisis. The commentary of the Encyclical is forceful: «saving the banks at all cost, and making the people pay the price, confirms the absolute dominion of the financial sector, with no future, and that can only generate new crises after a long, costly, and seeming cure». Always relating the ecological and social questions, Francis shows that: «the same logic that makes drastic measures to reverse the trend towards global warming difficult precludes attaining the objective of eradicating poverty». There is in the Catholic Church a long tradition of criticism of liberal capitalism, or of the “excesses” of capital, but no Pope has gone as far in condemning capitalism as Pope Francis.

What can the Theology of Liberation teach the leftists of the world, considering its different currents of thought?

In the first place, the Theology of Liberation teaches us that religion can be something other than a simple “opiate of the people”. Moreover, Marx and Engels already foresaw the possibility of religious movements with an anti-capitalist dynamic. The left must treat religious convictions with respect, and consider leftist Christian militants as an essential part of the movement to emancipate the oppressed. The Theology of Liberation also teaches us the importance of ethics in the process of concientization, and of the prioritization of work with the bases, together with the popular classes, in their neighborhoods, their churches, their rural communities, and in their schools.

Is the Catholic Church in Brazil aligned with Pope Francis?

A large part of the Bishops of Brazil’s National Conference of Bishops, CNBB, is aligned with Francis. Some wish that he would go even farther. Others think that, to the contrary, Francis is endangering the doctrine of the faith, and they try to obstruct his proposals. But the Brazilian Church, despite her limitations, particularly with respect to the rights of women over their own bodies -divorce, contraception, abortion- is one of the most progressive in the Catholic world.

If put into practice, the «Preferential Option for the Poor», a framework of ideas and practical actions contrary to the logic of the present political and economic system towards accumulation and retention of capital, clearly would result in violent confrontation. What, in your opinion, would be the position of the Pope towards this?

The Church traditionally seeks to «avoid» violent confrontation. But in the 1968 Conference of the Latin American Catholic Bishops in Medellin, an important resolution was adopted that recognizes the right of insurrection of the people against tyrannies and oppressive structures. As we know, some members of the clergy took their libertarian option and commitment to the struggles of the poor to its logical conclusion, participating in the armed struggles for liberation. That was the case of Camilo Torres, in Colombia, who joined the Army of National Liberation, (Ejercito de Liberacion Nacional), and died in combat in 1966. A few years later, a group of Dominican youth gave their support to the National Liberation Action, ALN, led by Carlos Marighella, in the struggle against the military dictatorship. And in the1970s, the Cardenal brothers and several other religious participated in Nicaragua’s National Liberation Front, (Frente de Liberacion Nacional). It is difficult to foresee, at present, what type of «violent confrontations» will occur against the capitalist system, and it is even harder to know, what would be the Church’s position.

Leonardo Boff is Philosopher-Teologian, Earth Comission.

1 minuto de silêncio para PAZ na abertura das Olimpíadas 2016

Leonardo Boff5 Comentários
 Estamos enviando a carta em ingles e português que o grupo escreveu solicitando um minuto de silêncio em favor das vítimas de Hiroshima e de vítimas do mundo inteiro, de Nice, de Paris, de Istambul, de Bagdá, dos USA e de Munique e outros lugares, na abertura dos jogos olímpicos. O Presidente do Comité Thomas Bach está se opondo a este gesto de tanta humanidade. Considero uma falta do verdadeiro sentido dos Jogos Olímpicos não acolher este pedido. Os jogos não são um exercício de músculos para ver quem os tem mais ágeis e aptos; os seres humanos não são máquinas. Possuem coração e sensibilidade e desejo de paz,de justiça e de veneração pela memória dos antepassados, vitimados pelo maior ato de guerra da história. Os gregos e latinos bem entenderam o sentido dos jogos unindo corpo e mente. Mens sana in corroer sano. Os jogos do Rio não pode ser apenas a exaltação do corpo físico mas da totalidade do ser humano.
A ideia surgiu em março num encontro no Japão sobre abolição de armas nucleares e desarmamento. Foi enviada carta do prefeito  de Hiroshima para todo o mundo e a idéia está ganhando cada vez mais adesões. Seria considerado falta de solidariedade e humanidade negar este pedido que apenas daria um toque de espiritualidade a este evento.
Tente fazer que esta carta em portugês e inglês chegue ao COI em Lausane, Suiça   Lboff

A abertura dos Jogos Olímpicos de 2016 no Rio de Janeiro será às 20 horas do dia 5 de agosto. No Japão serão 8 horas da manhã do dia 6.

Às 8:15 do dia 6 o povo de Hiroshima fará um Minuto de Silêncio pelas vítimas da bomba atômica que explodiu sobre sua cidade nesse dia e nessa hora, há 71 anos atrás, matando imediatamente milhares de homens, mulheres e crianças.

O Prefeito de Hiroshima sugeriu ao Presidente do Comitê Olímpico Internacional um Minuto de Silêncio na abertura dos Jogos – momento em que todos os olhos do mundo estarão voltados para essa solenidade – juntamente com o Minuto de Silêncio em Hiroshima, lembrando todas as vítimas das bombas, dos testes atômicos, dos acidentes nas usinas nucleares, da mineração do urânio e de todos os tipos de violência no mundo de hoje.

Ele o fez a pedido dos Hibakusha – sobreviventes de Hiroshima e Nagasaki – e em nome dos 7.000 Prefeitos da Associação Prefeitos pela Paz, que ele preside. Os Jogos Olímpicos foram criados para ajudar na construção da Paz entre os povos.

Pessoas e organizações de todo o mundo querem se associar a esta homenagem, vamos juntos pedir um mundo de PAZ!!!

Façamos a nossa parte: inundemos o Comitê Olímpico Internacional com cartas, fax, telegramas e mails apoiando a sugestão do Prefeito de Hiroshima, dirigidos ao:

Mr. Thomas Bach
President of International Olympic Committee
e-mail …………….. pressoffice@olympic.org
fax …………………. 41 21 621 6216
mail address ……. Chateau de Vidy, 1007 Lausanne, Switzerland.

***** (English language) *****

The opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro will be at 8:00 pm on the 5 th August. In Japan, it will be 8:00 am on the 6th.

At 8:15 am on the 6th the people of Hiroshima will observe one minute’s silence in memory of the victims of the atomic bomb that exploded over their city that day and at that time, 71 years ago, killing immediately thousands of men, women and children.

The Mayor of Hiroshima has suggested to the President of the International Olympic Committee one minute’s silence at the opening of the Games – a moment when all the world will be focused on this ceremony – along with the Minute’s silence in Hiroshima, remembering all the victims of the bombs, atomic tests, accidents in nuclear power plants, uranium mining and all kinds of violence in the world today.

He did it at the request of the Hibakusha – survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki – and on be half of 7,000 Mayors of the Mayors for Peace Association, which he chairs. The Olympic Games were created to help in building Peace between peoples. For the first time they take place in a continent without bombs and atomic weapons.

People and organizations from all over the world want to be associated with this tribute, let us together ASKING A world of PEACE!!!

Let’s do our part: let us inundate the International Olympic Committee with letters, faxes, e-mails and telegrams supporting the suggestion of Hiroshima’s Mayor, addressed to:

Mr. Thomas Bach
IOC President
E-mail………………….. pressoffice@olympic.org
Fax………………………. 41 21 621 6216
Mail address……….. Chateau de Vidy, 1007 Lausanne, Switzerland.
To be disseminated as much as possible.