Brazil rejected 48 million dollars from the US to use in AIDS programs. The reason was the condition imposed. In order to take the money, Brazilian government would have to make a public statement against prostitution and prevent prostitutes from participating in the program.

Aids Federal Program Director Pedro Chequer refused the money remarking that “fundamentalism and Manichaeism do not control Aids.”

The money, which was supposed to be paid in installments until 2008 to cover around 3% of the total cost of the program, will be replaced by the Brazilian government and other friendly countries.

If They Can Do It, So Can We...

President Lula is going to suggest to Brazilian musicians to follow in the steps of Lenny Kravitz and George Benson. The two donated instruments to a benefit auction for the Zero Hunger program in Brazil.

Kravitz guitar was sold for US$ 137,000 (322,000 reais) and the money will be used to build 230 cisterns, much needed during the draught in Northeast Brazil.

Lula was heard saying that if Brazilians could pay that much money for an instrument that belonged to an American musician, how much more they would not be willing to pay for a guitar that belonged to Baden Powell.

Of course.

The French Are Taking Over

When President Lula bought the AeroLula from France, everybody booed. After all, 56 million for a luxury airplane seemed a bit too high for a country whose main project is called Zero Hunger. But things are turning out pretty good, to say the least.

When Monsieur Jean Paul Ardide closed the sale, Brazilians had on a big smile. French government paid the bill and Brazil will only start making payments to France in 10 years. The two countries also made an agreement for investment and exchange of mutual interests. And it is happening already. Few examples:

French Airbus opened in São José dos Campos a manufacturer of airplane parts, a US$ 3 million investment, as part of the agreement.

Michelin is building a new factory in Rio de Janeiro for giant tires. And there is much more coming.

A representative from Jean Nouvel, the office that projected the Guggenheim in Rio (the unending story with no result, remember?), went to Rio in the middle of May to discuss details for the installation of a branch of the Pompidou Center in The Marvelous City.

Slimane Zeghidour, from TV5 went to Brasília to interview Lula for a special to be aired in three parts by TV5, RFI radio and the magazine Paris Match.

L'Occitane, the French beauty brand is opening a spa in Rio so fancy that it includes an H. Stern store.

And last, but not least, there is the recent business deal closed between the French Casino group and Brazilian food giant Pão de Açúcar.

Casino started buying slowly, in 1999. Pão de Açúcar made many investments within Brazil since that time, including the acquisition of the Sendas group.

Now Casino bought 50%, leaving Abílio Diniz (68), respected as a monster in business, as commander-in-chief for the next eight years.

France and Brazil have been exchanging mutual admiration for centuries. Now they are doing good business together.

With mutual respect, without the condescending spirit that sometimes seem to lead some business deals between first and third world countries.

In other words, the French are not threatening with unationalizing the companies, they accept that they should remain Brazilian, with a Brazilian cultural behavior.

So everybody wins and no one feels like they did good business and made money but were somehow robbed of something important.

The Sharp Eye of a Filmmaker...

Brazilian film director Andrucha Waddington, who has a new movie out with mother/daughter actors Fernanda Montenegro and Fernanda Torres, “Casa de Areia” (House of Sand), made a complaint to former Minister José Dirceu during the meeting with artists and producers of art.

His request was a new rule should be applied before one is eligible for tax exemption for investing in culture and the arts using the Rouanet Law, that makes sure part of the money used for cultural projects should go outside the institution's own programs. come around from one place and back to the same place.

According to the filmmaker, Bank Itaú had a profit of R$ 3.7 billion, but should use R$ 30 million for cultural projects. Wonderful, if these numbers went beyond Itaú's own cultural projects, which is not the case.

The young director said that Brazilian entrepreneurs should make a serious commitment to the country's cultural production as opposed to concentrating on their own bellybuttons. Oops!

Good Business with Pomp and Circumstance

One of the most important names in the design industry is Brazilian. This is what one gets from the International Salon of Design Furniture in Milan. The Campana brothers now pose together as top favorites with Phillipe Stark, Karim Rashid and Jean Nouvel

Like in the fashion world, today's furniture designers become celebrities themselves, distributing autographs, posing for photographs and dealing with a lot of press.

As good businessmen who want to move their business on even further, they talk to all, charm those who seem to need it and go on as top designers selling their furniture all over the places for expressive amounts.

The two brothers closed their first international deal with the famous Italian furniture factory Edra, seven years ago. Now that the Campanas became famous and are wanted by so many, Edra has the privilege to present one new and exclusive piece every year.

Last year, it was the chair Favela, made of pieces of wood recovered from trash, which was a tremendous success with both public and critic. Favela chairs became the thing to have in certain European circles.

In 2005 the Campanas gave Edra a winner table called Brasília. It has a glass top, but a very unusual one. It is made of irregular pieces of mirror, cut one by one forming a mosaic of reflections.

The table caused a blast. On top of this it still features Niemeyer's buildings curves, a tribute paid by the designers to Brasília's main architect and the predominant shapes of the capital of Brazil.

Gay Tourism in Important Destinations

Like New York, Rio de Janeiro is becoming a chosen place for American and European gays. At the Annual Convention of the Tourism Association for Gays and Lesbians, recently held in Germany, Rio was chosen to host the next event, winning over Madrid and São Paulo.

400 gays are expected to attend the Convention in May of 2007. Gay tourists are among those who do most spending, very much loved by resorts, hotels, fine restaurants and stores. They are also known for being loyal customers to those who give them special and unprejudiced attention.

The Client Is Always Right...

A cock spaniel was given a deluxe suite at a fancy hotel in Brasília during the Arab and South American leaders meeting in May. The staff waited on the pet with joy, the tips were very gratifying.

Besides, this was no usual pet - the dog was taken to the meeting to detect the presence of bombs in the hotel. Prevention is never too much. Pleasing the Arabs was not easy, though.

Jalal Talabani, Iraq's President, did not like the installations of the hotel booked for him and transferred to a different one. The new hotel did its best to please the man. Red carpet and even a prayer room with magnetic needles pointing to Mecca, the Muslims' sacred city.

Another hotel changed the decoration of two rooms, bringing in antique furniture to fit Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani and Argelia's President Bouteflika's tastes. And it was not the only one to do so.

One Arab leader brought all 25 wives and occupied a whole floor in a fancy hotel. Even Moroccan cooks were hired to adapt Brazilian food to the Arabs, who, by the way, loved Brazil's tropical fruits.

Over 500 workers of the hospitality industry in Brasília received cultural training by specialists brought all the way from Dubai. Everything to please the client. Who, by the way, is always right.

Seniors Avant Garde...

Brazilian Congress is voting a law supposed to open many doors to senior citizens. According to the new law, they can attend college in public universities without taking the required entrance exams.

Ironically, the bill was introduced by a conservative Senator, known as 'Coronel,' who defends his position saying that “we will have a better country with seniors in school.”

The idea is great, because life experience means knowledge and wisdom. But the subject brings up a question: Will Brazilian public universities be able to keep openings for all involved, the young people seeking the universities to build up a future and all the old people who will go to school to make their presents better? Food for thought...

Tom Wolfe Learns How to Samba in Rio

Tom Wolfe arrived in Rio May 11 to open the International Biennial of Book. First thing he did was to ask his Brazilian editor, Paulo Rocco, to introduce him to Brazilian music. So it was done. Wolfe, between lectures and books, was seen sambaing around Lapa. He just 'faced the music and danced...'

While in Rio, Tom Wolfe signed autographs for his book “I am Charlotte Simmons,” a 700 page novel about life in a fictional university campus in Pennsylvania, in an hedonistic environment of much alcohol and casual sex.

Wolfe surprised journalists revealing his vote for Bush. He said Clinton had the charm but Bush was the soldier who would make history if he succeeds in taking democracy to Arab countries.

Tom Wolfe wore white suits every day during the week he was in Rio and said that he would give Sigmund (Freud) a call to ask the reason for the obsession, if he were alive.

He was entertained about the curiosity around his white suits in Brazil. He hinted that even though he plans to write about the question of status in Brazil, regional differences would make a wonderful subject for a story.

The journalist declared himself a fan of Brazilian sociologist and writer Gilberto Freyre, and talked about the future of literature in his opening conference, saying that the best books written in the XX Century were non-fictional.

Wolfe showed that he knew more about Brazil than anyone could imagine. He even asked singer-songwriter Lulu Santos for his newest DVD at a party where the two sat and talked and became best buddies in the blink of an eye.

Wolfe was one of the first writers of the so-called new journalism, a more sophisticated and rich style that uses rules of literature for non-fictional writing.

About the heritage of the movement, he said on an exclusive interview to Veja magazine that “movements that bring 'new' in the name tend to age poorly.” Although New Journalism is still used in books, there is very little left in newspapers and magazines.

Editors seem to favor short and non-sophisticated texts, because of a belief that today's youth has limited attention. Wrong, said Wolfe, who believes that young people do not care for reading only if the subject bores them.

Tom Wolfe went to Brazil after his son Tony talked to him enthusiastically about the country. Tony, an Art-History student who loves to surf, was in Jundiaí, in the interior of São Paulo state, recently on vacation and fell in love with Brazilian beaches.

That was enough to make the father decide to visit a country that, for a long time, has called his attention. The rest was a matter of contacts between editors to make the proper arrangements. Like opening the International Biennial of Book.

About Rio, Wolf said: It's surrealistic!

Brazilian Is Cannes Winner

Cannes CinéFondation winner was “Buy it Now,” a film that tells the story of a 16 year old New Yorker who loses her virginity through the Internet.

The creative mind behind the winning movie belongs to Antônio Campos, Brazilian student of film at NYU (New York University). Antônio is Lucas Mendes' (Globo International's Manhattan Connection) and promoter Rose Ganguzza's son.

Two Brazilian movies participated in Cannes in the category of films by students, CinéFondation, competing with 16 other films.

CinéFondation had Edward Yang, Chantal Akerman, Sylvie Testud, Colin MacCabe and Yousry Nasrallah as jurors.

The second prize was shared by “Vdvoyom” (A Deux), a film from La Fémis in France, and “Bikur Holim,” a film by Maya Dreifuss, from Tel Aviv University, in Israel.

The third prize was also shared, by Roland Edzrd for “La Plaine” from Le Fresnoy in France, and another New Yorker, Sameh Zoabi, a Columbia University student, with “Be Quiet.”

Toninho Horta Produces George Benson

Toninho Horta is producing the new George Benson album. Benson was doing a show in Toninho's hometown Belo Horizonte and during rehearsal, one of his musicians needed a guitar.

A local producer contacted Toninho to solve the problem and when Benson heard the name, promptly said he would speak to him in person. In fact, Benson wanted to invite Horta for the show and to meet up afterwards.

When the two met, Benson asked Horta to play and show his new compositions. The invite and the yes came instantly, almost at the same time. Horta was given freedom to choose the band and Benson also handed him the repertoire so he could make the arrangements.

They played together and it was in great spirits that they recorded in São Paulo. They will finish recording in July in Los Angeles, after Horta returns from a tour in Europe. George Benson's new CD with Toninho Horta shall be released by the end of the year. With lots of Brazilian swing in it.

The Brazilian of the Century

Chico Buarque was elected The Brazilian of the Century by French newspaper “Le Monde.” The most important newspaper in France had 10 pages on Chico's literary and musical work on its May 19 issue.

Chico is getting bigger by the minute. For the US, after the success of “Budapest,” he is producing secretly, well, not so secretly anymore, a CD with his songs translated to English interpreted by several Brazilian singers.

“Photograph in Black and White,” “Without Fantasy,” “Eye in Eye,” “Golden Years” are some of the songs that already have English lyrics.

Smile, Chico, smile...

Gilberto Gil Honored in Stockholm

Gilberto Gil, songwriter/singer from Bahia, who is presently the Minister of Culture in Brazil, received an award for life achievement in music in Stockholm in May. Names like Bob Dylan and Paul McCartney have been honored with the same award in previous years.

According to Rio daily “O Globo”'s Ancelmo Gois, Gil did a moving solo rendition of “Flora,” written for his wife, who could not be present. Flora Gil was attacked by gunmen two weeks earlier and needed surgery. Flora is now recovered and Gil, a happier man.

Banned Can Be Good

Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho is one of the best selling authors in the world. He has sold over 65 million books all over the continents.

Few weeks ago in May, Coelho had his latest novel, “Zahir,” prohibited in Iran. His editor was questioned by local authorities to explain the book, chosen as the greatest attraction at the country's most important international book fair.

Paulo Coelho had chosen Iran to do the international launch of the book, which had already sold 2 thousand copies before banned.

The writer is not a bit worried with Iran's authorities decision. It only built even greater expectations around the book, which is now expected to be the best seller of the best-selling author.

Drops * Drops * Drops

* President Bush will go to Brazil in November. Great news.

* President Lula is having a hard time with the crisis of the “monthly contributions” (mensalões) allegedly made by his working party's financial director. PSDB's members (former President Fernando Henrique's party), have been showing a dignified attitude, by not taking advantage of the situation. Minas' governor Aécio Neves said “Lula is not Collor.”

* Rio de Janeiro will host the World Forum of Culture in 2006. Well done.

* The fastest growing air company in Brazil, Gol, started its first international flight to Buenos Aires. It will soon start flights to Europe and US.

* Varig will cancel several flights to US and Europe. One grows and the other shrinks.

*The Brazilian Intelligence Agency (ABIN) is opening branches in Venezuela, Paraguay, Bolivia and Colombia. Up to now, it only had offices in Argentina and U.S. ABIN is also reestablishing contact with DGI, the secret Cuban police.

* Russia has given Brazil its support in the fight for a permanent seat with the UN Security Council. Much obliged, President Lula will go to Russia in October to hear it from President Putin in person.

* Voice of America, the radio station funded by the U.S. to take the American message worldwide, is closing its office in Brazil, located at the Botanic Garden in Rio. Jim Temple, correspondent in the Caribbean, flew from Miami to take care of moving the equipment.

* Bill Clinton praised Brazil's Aids program four times during a lecture he gave at Brown University on the second week of May.

* Heitor Villa-Lobos will have a monument in Helsinki, Finland. Rio's Mayor César Maia was invited by Helsinki's mayor. Why Rio's mayor? Because there is a monument for Sibelius, the Finish conductor, in Rio.

* According to Encyclopedia Britannica, Brazil has the greatest number of counties in the world, 5,562. Japan is next, (3,230), and US (3,141).

* Afroreggae does it again. Brazilian filmmaker Cacá Diegues is directing a movie based on the story of the group, produced by Hermano Vianna. Afroreggae and its band leader Anderson Sá were the theme of the documentary “Favela Rising,” winner of the Tribeca Film Festival.

* Fiction Planet, the band, was in Natal, northeast Brazil, at the end of May.. For those who do not know, the band's guitar player, Joe Summer, is the son of Gordon Matthew Summer. Gordon who? Better said: Sting is the daddy who proudly attended the concert.

Clara Angelica Porto is a Brazilian bilingual journalist living in New York. She went to school in Brazil and at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Clara is presently working as the English writer for The Brasilians, a monthly newspaper in Manhattan. Comments welcome at clara.angelica@gmail.com.

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