When the U.S. Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, brought to the OAS meeting that she conducted in Fort Lauderdale, the proposal for the organization to create a mechanism "to monitor the quality of democracy in Latin America," Brazilian representative Celso Amorim did not think twice. It is not all right, he said: "Ms. Secretary, democracy cannot be imposed on, it must rise from dialogue."

The idea presented by the United States would open room for direct interventions in any country whose government would be seen as taking a risky path, according to determination by a special committee to be created at OAS.

According to many diplomats of the organization and analysts, the first target would be Venezuela under Hugo Chavez' administration.

Before bringing the matter as an official proposal during an OAS meeting, Condoleezza Rice had made references to the desire of the U.S. present administration to interfere with the politics the U.S. did not see as democratic.

After the meeting, Celso Amorim was very clear when he said Brazil did not accept punitive mechanisms, that what Brazil defends at OAS are solutions that do not represent any kind of interventionism and that no measures should be taken from a viewpoint of "moral superiority."

When Rice pointed out that it was necessary to create an alert system capable of denouncing any undemocratic measures that may occur, Amorim responded by saying that the best preventive action for Latin American countries is to fight poverty and misery.

He reminded his fellow colleagues that this would be the only factor that could threaten democracy.

Brazil was not the only country to oppose Condoleezza Rice's proposal. Other dozen countries did not agree with the US idea, including Latin America's biggest, Mexico, Argentina and Colombia.

They reminded that the OAS' democratic letter, signed by all members in September of 2001, has all the tools needed to deal with problems that might occur and there is no need to create a new mechanism.

President George Bush insisted in the proposal, but when he made a speech about it, he avoided the word 'mechanism,' although he made very clear what he was talking about.

According to President Bush, democratic change and free elections are stimulating, but judging by experience they may be followed by moments of uncertainty.

The American President also said that there are two ways of facing the situation, one, with a vision of hope, the other, one that tries to hurt the democratic process of the last two decades spreading fear, turning neighbor against neighbor, blaming others for his mistakes and failure to bring a better life to his own people.

Miriam Leitão Awarded by Columbia

Brazilian journalist Míriam Leitão was honored by Columbia University with the Maria Moors Cabot Award, one of the most traditional prizes in journalism.

The prize was created in 1938 and dedicated to journalists in the US and Latin America, who have contributed to a better understanding between the Americas and to a free press.

The prize does not aim at a specific work, but to a journalist's career. What made Míriam Leitão's work shine to the juror's eyes was not only her good writing, but her multimedia talent and social awareness. She goes confidently from radio, TV, and newspaper, always showing a strong social concern, present in all writings, which focus mostly in economy.

Newsweek's correspondent in Brazil, Mac Margolis, who nominated Leitão to the prize, according to O Globo said that she has made information on economy more accessible to the public in general. He praised her writing as "clear and attractive."

Míriam Leitão will be in New York to receive the award in a gala dinner at Columbia on October 20. She will also receive a US$ 5,000 prize. "O Globo" newspaper, where she has a daily column on economy, will receive a bronze trophy.

From the same "O Globo," late founder Roberto Marinho and Herbert Moses have received the Cabot Award in previous years.

Soy Loco Por Ti, América

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez has sent word that he will spend Carnaval in Brazil in 2006 to see Rio's Carnaval Parade at the Sambódromo.

What motivated the President's decision was not a Carnaval inclination, but good business spirit. Venezuelan's oil company PDVSA, presently engaged in business deals with Brazilian Petrobras, is sponsoring the samba school Vila Isabel. The theme for the 2006 parade will be "Soy loco por ti, América."

The Deadly Mosquito

The World Health Organization has approved financial support for research that intends to identify genetic differences among malaria parasites found in Brazil and in Africa.

The goal is to discover why in Africa responses to the same drugs applied in Brazil are different. Geneticist Mariano Zalis, from Hospital Clementino Fraga Filho, of the University of Rio de Janeiro, leads the research.
Malaria today affects 480,000 people every year in Brazil and it is one of the biggest world health problems. A new research recently published in Nature reveals that approximately there are one half billion new cases of malaria all over the world every year.

Oh Lord, Won't You Buy Me...

Michael McClure. American poet, author of the legendary song "Mercedes Benz," made famous in the voice of Janis Joplin in the late 60s, is going to Brazil in August. The poet will be autographing his new book A new vision.

McClure's literary work has been unknown in Brazil until now. The poet is commemorating with his new book tour the 50 years of the beatnik movement. Oh Lord, time sure goes by fast...

Brazilian in the Guinness

Brazilian surfer Serginho Laus is the new Brazilian who made it to the Guinness Book. He stayed on the same wave over 6.23 miles, more precisely on a pororoca, the great scary tidal wave that enters the Araguari river, in the state of Amapá, located in the Amazon region. Laos broke the record of the English David Lawson, not on a regular Brazilian beach on the Atlantic Ocean, but in the jungle. Exotic.

Il Maestro in Video

João Gilberto, Il Maestro Supremo, received US$ 208,000 (500,000 reais) to star an ad for Brazilian giant mining company Vale do Rio Doce.

The video shows João singing a piece written by no one else, but world famous Brazil's advertising genius Nizan Guanaes.

It was Guanaes who convinced the bossa nova master to do the ad, after countless phone calls. João, known for his unique personality and ways, finally said yes to a persuasive Nizan.

During three long months the king of bossa nova concentrated rehearsing the new song at a recording studio in Rio, Já Pensou, a bossa about samba, sun and Copacabana, the famous beach.

And no one could say anything, or even think of rushing the artist - everybody knows João will work on one single note for a whole year if he finds it necessary. He will only present a song in public when he feels it is ready. No matter how long it might take.

Patiently, all involved waited. The end result was so good that Nizan Guanaes kept a big smile on for weeks. Or at least until he heard the bad news about the arrest of the owner of Brazil's temple of fashion, Daslu, for tax problems. Guanaes' wife is the manager of the most luxurious department store in São Paulo/Brazil.

Nizan Guanaes owns DM9, the only advertising agency in Brazil to have won a Grand Prix at Cannes, with its campaign for soft-drink Diet Guaraná.

Will Eisner as Told by a Brazilian

Will Eisner, the American comic master storyteller, who died in January of 2005, is known not only for his creations, but for redefining and replacing cartoons among the noble media.

Eisner was honored in Brazil in the documentary "Will Eisner, Profession: Cartoonist," launched in Brazil in 1999. Almost six years later, the film about this amazing American artist, son to Jewish immigrants from Brooklyn, was shown in the US, after being exhibited in Belgium, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Poland.

It happened in July, at the San Diego Comic Con, the biggest cartoon fair in the country, which gives out the most important prize in this media, the Eisner award. With the Brazilian film Will Eisner and the importance of his work become better known.

Bill Clinton's Sax and Charm

Former President Bill Clinton went to Brazil in June for a series of talks. Clinton, who gets a mere US$ 150,000 for each talk, did a series of social run abouts.

After his second lecture in the city of São Paulo, the charming democrat was exhausted after over 100 photos with VIPs and others who asked him during a cocktail party thrown after the event.

But the bright part of the evening was when Clinton was given a sax. A professional charmer, Clinton started playing Manhã de Carnaval, the theme from Black Orpheus, which he did not remember how to end.

No big deal. Bill switched to the winner Summertime and was applauded with enthusiasm. Bill Clinton has been travelling a lot to participate in seminars and talks, and lately, his new best friend actor Anthony Hopkins has become his loyal companion.

While Clinton smiled and pleased, Hopkins exhibited his famous irony. Every time someone approached him to say 'it's a pleasure meeting you,' the cannibal would say bluntly: "I know."

Petrobras and the Arts

José Eduardo Dutra, President of state oil company Petrobras, had told President Lula that he would be running in the upcoming elections of 2006.

Lula asked everyone the same question, and the President made it clear that he did not want any last minute decisions, whoever was to do it, should do it now and not wait for the official deadline in April of next year.

Dutra, a long time friend of the President, resigns from the Petrobras office and goes back to Congress, as a Senator for the small state of Sergipe, in Brazil's northeast.

Now, more than ever, President Lula needs his best men in Congress and all the help he can get during this crisis. Intelligent, loyal and a gentleman, Dutra will be able to give a good contribution during what he refers to as the "worst moment of the history of the Worker's Party (PT)." And unfortunately, Petrobras is losing one of its finest leaders.

Although by choice, Dutra's leaving has a melancholic tone. Since he took office in the beginning of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's administration, Dutra has done an outstanding job at one of Brazil's biggest prides.

The federal oil company has spread business all over the globe and one very important part of Petrobras' actions is the increase of the company's support for the arts.

Petrobras Cultural was given a budget of US$ 25 million (61 million reais) for 2005. And it is not only supporting the two main centers of culture and the arts in Brazil, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, as it did mostly in the past.

According to Eliane Costa, who runs Petrobras Cultural, 58% of all proposals received came from outside of the mainstream, and grant distribution is reaching further these days.

Twenty films to be produced in Brazil will have money from Petrobras Cultural, and six of those will be produced outside of the main centers. Last year, only three out of 28 proposals for filmmaking sent to the office came from outside Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.

Petrobras Cultural has been making a difference in other areas, like music, historic preservation, dance and theater. It was the main sponsor for the Brazilian Film Festivals of Miami and New York. Its sponsorship of Brazil Year in France was sine qua non, contributing for the promotion of Brazilian art in other countries.

José Eduardo Dutra left Petrobras now to help his Worker's Party (PT) to get out of the mud where it seems now stuck. He owes it to the President, to use his power and political ability to help to clarify the heavy clouds hanging over important names such as former Minister José Dirceu. He owes it to his voters as well.

As for Petrobras, let us just hope Petrobras Cultural will remain a priority with José Sérgio Gabrielli, the new President, who served as Financial Director during Dutra's administration. After all, art is the best part of humankind.

Drops

* Henry Moore, one of the main sculptors of the XX century, went to Rio for the opening of the exhibit of 117 of his sculptures. David Mitchinson was the daring curator responsible for the event, at the Paço Imperial. Some of the sculptures weigh over a ton,  not an easy task to transport.

A tremendous success of public and critic. Moore, not a creator of forms like Picasso or Brancusi, reveals with his work ties between classic and modern sculpture, and reflects the restlessness of a generation.

* John Howard, Australia's Prime Minister, goes to Brazil in official visit in August.

* Tam, the Brazilian Airlines, is negotiating with Embraer to buy aircrafts with 100 seats. Despite Embraer's great sales for Europe and North America, there are not too many Brazilian made airplanes flying the skies in Brazil.

* Roberto Jefferson, the congressman one who denounced the monthly payments to buy votes in Congress, is selling more than any celebrity in Brazil. Hundreds of copies of DVDs with his interviews on TV shows are sold everyday and the number of viewers of shows where he appears go up a great deal. It is sad.

* Nike is opening its first stores in Brazil with the Multiplan Group. Starts in Rio, at Barra Shopping in October.

* Ginga, by the way, is Nike's newest line of sportswear, inspired in Brazil. Jum Nakao created the style Capoeira, the star of the new line, inspired in swimming and sport suits worn by celebrities at the Copacabana Palace Hotel in Rio in the 60s.

* Guaraná Antarctica, Brazil's most popular soda, will be launched in the US in the first quarter of 2006.

* Embraer delivered the first of 15 aircrafts ordered by Air Canada. The interesting detail is Canadian Bombardier is Embraer's biggest competition.

* Eumir Deodato, the Brazilian musician, wrote the soundtrack for the TV ads for the Hummer, very popular among the younger crowd, with its old army jeep charm.

* Rodolfo Medina, director of Artplan, was taken by surprise recently in Los Angeles, when he went to a fancy department store. Medina found a perfume called "Escada Rock in Rio," named after the festival created by him and, guess what, without authorization of Artplan. The company's lawyers are now very busy. Oops!

* Club Med is opening its fourth hotel in Brazil, this time in the state of Rio de Janeiro, in Cabo Frio. The resort will be built with Brazilian partners Agenco and Ricardo Amaral.

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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