Brazzil
September 2001
Brief and Longer Notes
RAPIDINHAS
Fashion
Those EyesAt Revlon it’s the end of an era. It’s goodbye time to American Cindy Crawford, 35, and welcome party for Brazilian Caroline Ribeiro, 21. Caroline is the new Revlon Girl. Cindy has been spokesmodel for the cosmetic giant since she was 23. About her departure, a Revlon spokesperson declared, "It's a new era. We're moving with the times and we need a new face to reflect that." Revlon, before settling on Caroline, considered hiring two other Brazilian models for the post: world’s number one supermodel Giselle Bündchen and Luciana Curtis. The company announced that Ribeiro will receive $6 million to be Revlon’s new face. Crawford was being paid $3 million a year for her work.
Rogério Chain, Revlon’s manager of marketing in Brazil explained: "Revlon is rejuvenating its image and that’s why it decided to separate the name Revlon from Cindy Crawford, whose face is directly connected to the feminine posture of the end of the ’80s and beginning of the ’90s, a time in which women yearned to be the strong sex and were trapped into specific beauty patterns and coordinated colors. The contemporary woman has free spirit and wants to show herself to the world in her true essence."
Caroline had a hard time as a model and almost gave up after trying to make it in São Paulo, Tokyo and then New York. Agents complained about her protruding teeth and lack of curves. When she arrived in New York in June 1999 the model rented a $350-a-month single where she had to share the bathroom with other residents. One of her strategies to succeed was to abbreviate her name from Caroline Ribeiro Magalhães to Caroline Ribeiro since the last name is very hard for a foreigner to pronounce. She was ready to go back to Brazil when Tom Ford chose her to be the model for Gucci, his company. Soon she would be a supermodel. The Gucci gig opened the doors of Chanel, Louis Vuitton and more recently Valentino.
Caroline is from Belém do Pará, in the Amazon region. She was born on September 20, 1980. That’s the way she once explained the reason of her success: "I think my face is different, it’s exotic—not like normal beauty. I don’t have what you would call perfect beauty. My eyes are a mix of Indian and Portuguese. I can have either a Mexican face, or a Japanese or a Brazilian one. With a face like mine I can play around." Colleagues and journalist have raved not only about her beauty, but also about her pleasant personality.
Music
That Memorable TuneMore than 200 Brazilian journalists, musicians and cultural icons were asked to name their three favorite national tunes starting in 1917 when "Pelo Telefone" (On the Phone), the first Brazilian samba, was recorded by Donga. "Which is the all-time best Brazilian song?" was the question presented. Voters were told to consider among other items melody, lyrics, some historical reason, and even sentimental motives. The stunt was promoted by Folha de São Paulo, Brazil’s most read daily newspaper.
If your own personal list included Tom Jobim (1927-1994), you will be glad to know that seven of Jobim’s songs made the ten most cited tunes. Jobim’s "Águas de Março", from 1972, was the champion, but his name was also remembered for "Chega de Saudade" (3rd place, from 1958), "Retrato em Branco e Preto" (6th place, 1968) and "Garota de Ipanema" (7th place, 1963). Jobim was again considered for "Corcovado" (1960) and "Desafinado" (1958, a tie in 9th place) and "Wave (Vou Te Contar)" (1967, 10th place).
Tom Jobim had 32 of his songs cited, the most songs any author had mentioned. Composer Chico Buarque de Hollanda had the same number of tunes remembered. Surprisingly, according to this criterion, Jorge Ben came in second with 22 tunes mentioned. Only his 1963 song "Mas que Nada", however, won enough votes to be included among the 10 most memorable songs. No song was cited in his most recent phase after changing his name to Jorge Ben Jor. Caetano Veloso had 20 compositions mentioned, which gave him the third place in this category.
In 1999, a search for the best Brazilian song of all times promoted by Globo TV Network found that Ary Barroso’s "Aquarela do Brasil" ("Brazil") was the favorite. This time the results were less chauvinistic. Jobim, with a total of 110 mentions, came well ahead of the second most cited composer, Chico Buarque, who got 69 nods. Vinicius de Moraes (48 mentions) came in third for his collaborations with Jobim, Chico Buarque, Baden Powell, Carlos Lyra, Edu Lobo and Toquinho. Caetano Veloso and Jorge Ben tied in fourth place with 34 citations. The fifth place went to Roberto and Erasmo Carlos, a duo famous for their romantic ballads. They were remembered 24 times by the illustrious panel of voters.
Interestingly enough, the most memorable "Águas de Março" interpretation, which serves as reference for all the other versions, is the one sung by the duet Elis & Tom. Elis Regina didn’t like Tom Jobim and didn’t hide her dislike for the maestro whom she called "a bore", "dim-witted", and "old fogey" in the backstage, in 1974, when the Elis & Tom LP was being recorded. Elis, however, needed to revitalize a career that was being derailed by bad press from critics who were demanding more sophistication from her. The partnership with old Tom made the trick for her.
"Águas de Março" appeared on a super brief venture of alternative tabloid Pasquim into the music business. The nonconformist publication in 1972 decided to release simple compacts—a record with a song on each side of the old vinyl disc—to reveal new talents. To guarantee success for the record, their proposal was to release on the other side of the disc an unpublished tune by a famous composer. The new composers were rookies João Bosco and Aldir Blanc with "Agnus Dei". Jobim became their godfather in the recording, with "Águas de Março". There would be only one more release in the collection: that of Fagner being presented by Caetano Veloso.
Women were barely mentioned in this selection. Rita Lee is the first woman to show up in the list. The feisty rocker was mentioned 15 times what guaranteed her an 11th place together with samba composer Cartola. Besides Lee, only Chiquinha Gonzaga and Dolores Duran were remembered. They showed up at the bottom of the list with four mentions each. A big name like Maysa was never mentioned. More recent composers like Marisa Monte, Adriana Calcanhotto, and Zélia Duncan also were snubbed.
Talking for her colleagues, Rita Lee offered some explanation for this oversight: "Women are quantitatively less present in several areas. Only recently we started appearing while patriarchy exists for centuries. Chiquinha Gonzaga is from a time when men would say, "Music is man’s occupation". Dolores Duran was from a time when guys would say, "Women who compose are whores." I’m from a time when Tubby’s Boy's Only Clubhouse used to say, "To make rock you ought to have balls." Cássia Eller is from a time when people say, "You need to be a macho-woman to make music like a man." My granddaughter will be from a time when they will say, "Only a woman could make such a good song."
Águas de Março
"É pau, é pedra,
é o fim do caminho
É um resto de toco,
é um pouco sozinho
É um caco de vidro,
é a vida, é o sol
É a noite, é a morte,
é o laço, é o anzol
É peroba do campo,
é o nó da madeira
Caingá candeia,
é o matita-pereira
É madeira de vento,
tombo da ribanceira
É o mistério profundo,
é o queira ou não queira
É o vento ventando,
é o fim da ladeira
É a viga, é o vão,
festa da cumeeira
É a chuva chovendo,
é conversa ribeira
Das águas de março,
é o fim da canseira
É o pé, é o chão,
é a marcha estradeira
Passarinho na mão,
pedra de atiradeira
É uma ave no céu,
é uma ave no chão
É um regato, é uma fonte,
é um pedaço de pão
É o fundo do poço,
é o fim do caminho
No rosto o desgosto,
é um pouco sozinho
É um estrepe, é um prego,
é uma ponta, é um ponto
É um pingo pingando,
é uma conta, é um conto
É um peixe, é um gesto,
é uma prata brilhando
É a luz da manhã,
é o tijolo chegando
É a lenha, é o dia,
é o fim da picada
É a garrafa de cana,
o estilhaço na estrada
É o projeto da casa,
é o corpo na cama
É o carro enguiçado,
é a lama, é a lama
É um passo, é uma ponte,
é um sapo, é uma rã
É um resto de mato,
na luz da manhã
São as águas de março
fechando o verão
É a promessa de vida
no teu coração
É uma cobra, é um pau,
é João, é José
É um espinho na mão,
é um corte no pé
São as águas de março
fechando o verão
É a promessa de vida
no teu coração
É pau, é pedra,
é o fim do caminho
É um resto de toco,
é um pouco sozinho
É um passo, é uma ponte,
é um sapo, é uma rã
É um belo horizonte,
é uma febre terçã
São as águas de março
fechando o verão
É a promessa de vida
no teu coração"
Waters of March
It's stick, it's stone
It's the end of the road
It's a rest of stump
It's a little alone
It's a shard of glass
It is life, it's the sun
It is night, it is death
It's the snare, it's the fishhook
It's peroba of the field
It’s the knot in the wood
Lamp caingá tree
It's the matita-pereira tree
It's wind-resistant wood
Falls of the ravine
It's the profound mystery
It's the you wish or you don’t
It's the wind blowing
It's the end of the slope
It's the beam, it's the span
The new roof party
It's the rain raining
It’s riverbank talk
Of the waters of March
It's the end of the struggle
It's the foot, it's the ground
It's the walk on the road
Small bird in the hand
A slingshot stone
It’s a bird in the sky
It’s a bird on the ground
It's a creek, it's a fountain
It's a piece of bread
It's the bottom of the well
It's the end of the way
In the face the annoyance
It's a little lonely
It's a thorn, it's a nail
It's a point, it’s a dot
It's a drop dripping
It's an tally, it’s a tale
It's a fish, it’s a gesture
It's silver shining
It's the morning’s light
It's the brick arriving
It's the firewood, it's the day
It's the end of the trail
It's the bottle of liquor
Splinter in the road
It’s the house’s design
It's the body in bed
It's the broken down car
It's the mud, it's the mud
It's a footstep, it's a bridge
It's a toad, it's a frog
It's a rest of brush
In the morning’s light
They are the waters of March
Closing the summer
It's the promise of life
In your heart
It's a snake, it’s a stick
It's John, it's Joseph
It's a thorn in the hand
It's the cut on the foot
They are the waters of March
Closing the summer
It's the promise of life
In your heart
It's stick, it's stone
It's the end of the road
It's a rest of stump
It's a little alone
It's a footstep, a bridge
It's a toad, it's a frog
It's a beautiful horizon
It’s a tertian fever
They are the waters of March
Closing the summer
It's the promise of life
In your heart
The best
1st "Águas de Março" (Tom Jobim) (23 votes)
2nd "Construção" (Chico Buarque) (21 votes)
3rd "Chega de Saudade" (Tom Jobim &Vinicius de Moraes) (18 votes)
4th "Carinhoso" (Pixinguinha & João de Barro) (16 votes)
5th "Aquarela do Brasil" (Ary Barroso) (13 votes)
6th "Detalhes" (Roberto Carlos & Erasmo Carlos)
"Retrato em Branco e Preto" (Tom Jobim & Chico Buarque)
"As Rosas Não Falam" (Cartola) (8 votes)
7th "Asa Branca" (Luiz Gonzaga & Humberto Teixeira)
"Domingo no Parque" (Gilberto Gil)
"Garota de Ipanema" (Tom Jobim & Vinicius de Moraes) (7 votes)
8th "Mas Que Nada" (Jorge Ben)
"Sua Estupidez" (Roberto Carlos & Erasmo Carlos) (6 votes)
9th "Baby" (Caetano Veloso)
"Corcovado" (Tom Jobim)
"Desafinado" (Tom Jobim & Newton Mendonça)
"Panis et Circencis" (Caetano Veloso & Gilberto Gil)
"Pérola Negra" (Luiz Melodia)
"Três Apitos" (Noel Rosa)
"Tropicália" (Caetano Veloso) (5 votes)
10th "Beactress" (Edu Lobo & Chico Buarque)
"Dora" (Dorival Caymmi)
"Eu e a Brisa" (Johnny Alf)
"O Homem da Gravata Florida" (Jorge Ben)
"Inútil" (Roger Moreira)
"Ouro de Tolo" (Raul Seixas)
"Wave (Vou Te Contar)" (Tom Jobim) (4 votes)
Mentioned for more tunes:
1st (32 songs) - Chico Buarque, Tom Jobim
2nd (22 songs) - Jorge Ben
3rd (20 songs) - Caetano Veloso
4th (17 songs) - Vinicius de Moraes
5th (13 songs) - Gilberto Gil
6th (10 songs) - Rita Lee
7th (9 songs) - Arnaldo Baptista
8th (8 songs) - Ary Barroso, Cartola
9th (7 songs) - Roberto Carlos, Erasmo Carlos, Renato Russo
10th (6 songs) - Dorival Caymmi, Luiz Gonzaga
Who was mentioned:
110 votes - Tom Jobim
69 votes - Chico Buarque
48 votes - Vinicius de Moraes
34 votes - Caetano Veloso, Jorge Ben
24 votes - Erasmo Carlos, Roberto Carlos
23 votes - Gilberto Gil
22 votes - Noel Rosa
21 votes - Ary Barroso
19 votes - Pixinguinha
16 votes - João de Barro
15 votes - Cartola, Rita Lee
13 votes - Luiz Gonzaga, Renato Russo
11 votes - Humberto Teixeira
10 votes - Arnaldo Baptista, Edu Lobo, Vadico
9 votes - Dorival Caymmi
8 votes - Luiz Melodia, Paulinho da Viola
7 votes - Cazuza, Nelson Cavaquinho, Raul Seixas, Tim Maia
6 votes - Dado Villa-Lobos (from Legião Urbana), Itamar Assumpção, Milton Nascimento, Newton Mendonça
5 votes Chico Science, Fernando Brant, Guilherme de Brito, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Nelson Motta, Roger Moreira (from Ultraje a Rigor)
4 votes - Aldir Blanc, Chiquinha Gonzaga, Dolores Duran, Jards Macalé, Johnny Alf, Lulu Santos, Sérgio Dias, Toquinho
3 votes - Alice Ruiz, André X (from Plebe Rude), Baden Powell, Bernardo Vilhena, Djavan, Edgard Scandurra, Geraldo Vandré, Gutje (from Plebe Rude), Lobão, Marcelo Bonfá (from Legião Urbana), Otávio de Souza, Paulo Sérgio Valle, Philippe Seabra (from Plebe Rude), Tom Zé
2 votes - Adoniran Barbosa, Alcides Caminha, Aloysio de Oliveira, Angela Ro Ro, Antonio Maria, Arnaldo Brandão, Arrigo Barnabé, Ataulfo Alves, Capinan, Carlos Cachaça, Délcio Carvalho, Dominguinhos, Francis Hime, Fred Zero Quatro, George Israel, Herbert Vianna, Ivone Lara, Jamil Joanes (from Banda Black Rio), João Bosco, Jorge Mautner, Júlio Barroso, Lamartine Babo, Luiz Bonfá, Luiz Tatit, Lupicinio Rodrigues, Matilde Alves, Monsueto Menezes, Nando Reis (from Titãs), Nelson Jacobina, Nilo Romero, Paraná, Paulo Gesta, Regina Porto, Renato Rocha (from Legião Urbana), Roberto Frejat, Rubens Queiroz, Sérgio Sampaio, Théo de Barros, Toni Bellotto (from Titãs), Toninho Horta, Waly Salomão
1 vote - Alexandre Meneses (from O Rappa), Almir Sater, Almira Castilho, Ana Terra, Andreas Kisser (from Sepultura), Antônio Adolfo, Antonio Cícero, Arnaldo Antunes, Arnaldo Passos, Arnoldo Silva, Atílio Versutti, Augusto Boal, Bactéria Maresia (from Mundo Livre S/A), Barmack, Branco Mello (from Titãs), Carlos Gomide, Carlos Laufer, Carlos Lyra, Carlos Stein (from Nenhum de Nós), Cassiano, Catulo da Paixão Cearense, Cesar Costa Filho, Claudio Roberto, Cristóvão Bastos, Cyro Pessoa, Dengue (from Nação Zumbi), DJ Hum, Donga, Dora Vasconcelos, Edson Trindade, Edu K, Egberto Gismonti, Élcio Soares, Ernesto Nazareth, Evaldo Gouveia, Evandro Mesquita (from Blitz), Fausto Fawcett, Fernanda Abreu, Flávio Lemos (from Capital Inicial), Flávio Venturini, Francisco Alves, Francisco Manoel da Silva, Galvão (from Novos Baianos), Garotos Podres, Geraldo Pereira, Gerson Conrad, Gerson King Combo, Getúlio Côrtes, Gonzaguinha, Gordurinha, Guilherme Arantes, Guinga, Guto (from Blitz), Haroldo Barbosa, Hermínio Bello de Carvalho, Humberto de Maracanã, Hyldon, Igor Cavalera (from Sepultura), Ismael Silva, Ivan Lins, Ivan Zigg, Jair Amorim, Jair do Cavaquinho, Jander Bilaphra (from Plebe Rude), Janet de Almeida, Jararaca, Jayme Ovalle, Jeca Mineiro, João Gilberto, João Pernambuco, João Ricardo, Joaquim Osório Duque Estrada, John (from Pato Fu), Johnny Dandurand, José Fernandes, José Marcolino, Ladeira, Leoni (from Kid Abelha), Levino Ferreira, Lúcio Maia (from Nação Zumbi), Luís Capucho, Luís Carlini, Luis Vagner, Luiz Peixoto, Mano Brown, Manuel Bandeira, Marcelo Falcão (from O Rappa), Marcelo Fromer (from Titãs), Marcelo Lobato (from O Rappa), Marcelo Yuka (from O Rappa), Marcos Valle, Marina Lima, Mathilda Kóvak, Mauro de Almeida, Mauro Motta, Max Cavalera (from Sepultura), Moraes Moreira, Murilo Antunes, Ná Ozzetti, Nelson Meirelles (from O Rappa), Neném, Nilton Bastos, Olga Praguer Coelho, Olho Seco, Orestes Barbosa, Orestes de Mattos, Pamps (from Smack), Paula Toller (cantora e composer), Paulinho Mendonça, Paulo César Pinheiro, Paulo Coelho, Paulo Jr. (from Sepultura), Paulo Ruschel, Paulo Vanzolini, Paulo Zdanowski, Pedrinho, Ratos de Porão, Reginaldo Rossi, Renato Teixeira, Ricardo Barreto (from Blitz), Ritchie, Roberto Menescal, Ruy Guerra, Sady Homrich (from Nenhum de Nós), Sérgio Bandeyra, Sérgio Britto (from Titãs), Sérgio Cassiano, Sérgio Sá, Silvio Caldas, Sinhô, Sivuca, Thaíde, Thedy Corrêa (from Nenhum de Nós), Tibério Gaspar, Tom Gomes, Tony Regalia (from Mundo Livre S/A), Torquato Neto, Vinícius Cantuária, Vitor Martins, Waldir Azevedo, Zé da Zilda, Zé Ramalho, Zeca Baleiro, Zeca Mendigo
These big names were never mentioned:
Old guard
Adelino Moreira, Alberto Ribeiro, Alcyr Pires Vermelho, Capiba, Custódio Mesquita, David Nasser, Fernando Lobo, Herivelto Martins, Jackson do Pandeiro, Jacob do Bandolim, Luiz Vieira, Vicente Paiva, Zé Dantas, Zequinha de Abreu
Samba
Assis Valente, Batatinha, Bide, Candeia, Cyro Monteiro, Elton Medeiros, Mano Décio da Viola, João da Baiana, Marçal, Martinho da Vila, Monarco, Moreira da Silva, Nei Lopes, Nelson Sargento, Paulo da Portela, Pedro Caetano, Silas de Oliveira, Synval Silva, Wilson Batista, Wilson Moreira, Zé Keti
Brazilian Blues
Billy Blanco, Maysa, Tito Madi
Bossa nova
Eumir Deodato, João Donato, Ronaldo Bôscoli
’60s
Dori Caymmi, João do Vale, Naná Vasconcelos, Sérgio Ricardo, Sidney Miller, Taiguara
’70s
Alceu Valença, Baby do Brasil, Belchior, Beto Guedes, Ednardo, Elomar, Fagner, Geraldo Azevedo, Lô Borges, Peninha, Pepeu Gomes, Sueli Costa, Walter Franco
’80s
Ed Motta, Eduardo Dusek, Guilherme Isnard (from Zero), Humberto Gessinger (from Engineers do Hawaii), Kiko Zambianchi, Léo Jaime, Marcelo Nova, Paulo Miklos (from Titãs), Paulo Ricardo (from RPM), Supla (from Tóquio), Zé Miguel Wisnik
’90s
Adriana Calcanhotto, Carlinhos Brown, Chico César, Lenine, Marisa Monte, Samuel Rosa, Zélia Duncan
The voters
Abílio Tavares (stage director), Ailton Magioli (journalist), Alberto Guzik (theatrical critic), Alceu Valença (singer and composer), Alcides Nogueira (novelist), Alcino Leite Neto (journalist), Alessandra Blanco (journalist), Alex Antunes (musician and journalist), Alexandre da Cunha (visual artist), Alexandre Matias (journalist), Alexandre Morettin (journalist), Alisson Gothz (performer), Alvin L. (singer and composer), Alzira Espíndola (singer and composer), Ana Lúcia Araújo (journalist), Ana Ottoni (photographer), Anderson Vinícius (rapper), André Barcinski (journalist), Angela Ro Ro (singer and composer), Antonina Lemos (journalist), Antônio Carlos Miguel (journalist), Antônio Rogério Toscano (playwright), Arnaldo Baptista (musician), Arthur Dapieve (journalist), Astrounauta Pinguim (musician), Ayrton Mugnaini Jr. (journalist and musician), Batman Zavareze (videomaker), Bete Coelho (actress), Bia Abramo (journalist), Bruna Monteiro de Barros (journalist), Bruno E. (producer), Bruno Fortunato (musician), Bruno Garcez (journalist), Bruno Gouveia (musician), Bruno Levinson (producer), Caco Galhardo (cartoonist), Carlos Augusto Gomes (journalist), Carlos Bozzo Jr. (journalist), Carlos Calado (journalist), Carlos Careqa (singer and composer), Carlos Eduardo Miranda (producer musical), Carlos Farinha (record shop owner), Carlos Malta (musician), Carlos Navas (singer), Carlos Rennó (composer and journalist), Carminha Fávora Góngora (researcher), Cássia Eller (singer), Ceumar (singer), China (musician), Christiaan Oyens (musician), Christianne Campos (journalist), Cilmara Bedaque (composer), Clarissa Tossin (graphic designer), Claudia Lima (singer and journalist), Cláudio Medusa (DJ), Claudio Tognolli (journalist), Clayton Camargo (engineer), Clayton Jr. (musician), Consuelo de Paula (singer), Contardo Calligaris (psychoanalyst), Cris Braun (singer and composer), Criminal D (rapper), Cristiano Sant'Ana (photographer), Daniel Carlomagno (musician), Daniel Castro (journalist), Daniel Filho (TV director), Daniela Rocha (journalist), Demetrius Caesar (journalist), Denise Mota (journalist), Dionisio Neto (metteur en scène), DJ Hum (musician), Dudu Marote (producer), Ednardo (singer and composer), Edson Cordeiro (singer), Edson Franco (journalist), Edson Natale (musician and producer), Edu K (musician and producer), Elba Ramalho (singer), Eliete Mejorado (singer and actress), Eliseu Paranhos (actor and musician), Erasmo Carlos (singer and composer), Eugênio Lima (DJ), Eunice Raposo (psychoanalyst), Fábio Cypriano (journalist), Fernando Luna (journalist), Fernando Rosa (researcher), Flu (musician), Francesca Angiolillo (journalist), Francisco Alambert (professor of art history), Francisco Martins da Costa (journalist), Gabriel Gaiarsa (journalist), Gilberto Braga (novelist), Guga Stroeter (musician), Guilherme Lopes (producer and DJ), Hagamenon Brito (journalist), Inácio Araujo (movie critic), Iris Cavalcanti (theatrical producer), Israel do Vale (journalist), Ivam Cabral (actor), Ivan Finotti (journalist), Jards Macalé (singer and composer), Jodele Lacher (TV director), João Bosco (singer and composer), João Marcello Bôscoli (music producer), João Parahyba (musician), Jorge Simas (musician), José Teles (journalist), Joyce (singer and composer), Juçara Marçal (singer), Julian Barg (musician), Juliana Monteiro (actress), Juliana Mundim (filmmaker), Junior Deep (producer and DJ), Kid Vinil (musician), Kiko Zambianchi (singer and composer), Kil Abreu (theatrical critic ), Laura Mattos (journalist), Lauro César Muniz (novelist), Lauro Mesquita (journalist and musician), Lenise Pinheiro (photographer), Leon Cakoff (journalist), Letícia Coura (singer), Lincoln Antonio (musician), Lobão (singer and composer), Loop B (musician), Lorena Calábria (TV presenter), Luca Raele (musician), Lúcia Nagib (cinema professor), Luciana Pareja (journalist), Lucio Ribeiro (journalist), Lui Farias (filmmaker), Luís Antônio Giron (journalist), Luiz Calanca (recording shop owner), Luiz Caversan (journalist), Manoel Carlos (novelist), Luiz Henrique Romanholli (journalist), Lulu Camargo (musician), Malu Moura Andrade (journalist), Marcela Franco (journalist), Marcela Tavares (journalist), Marcelo Drummond (actor), Marcelo Ferla (journalist), Marcelo Negromonte (journalist), Marcelo Orozco (journalist), Marcelo Santana Dias (journalist), Marcelo Valletta (journalist), Marcos Augusto Gonçalves (journalist), Marcos Dávila (musician and journalist), Marcos Morcerf (DJ), Maria Ercilia (journalist), Maria Izildinha Pilli (journalist), Marina Person (TV presenter), Mathilda Kóvak (composer), Matinas Suzuki Jr. (journalist), Maurício Tagliari (musician), Monica Ramos (music producer), Mônica Salmaso (singer), Muriel Matalon (actress), Ná Ozzetti (singer and composer), Nelson de Sá (journalist), Nelson Motta (producer and journalist), Newton Moreno (actor and stage director), Patife (DJ), Paula Toller (singer and composer), Paulo Migliacci (translator), Paulo Terron (journalist), Paulo Vieira (journalist), Pedro Sérgio (musician), Pena Schmidt (music producer), Ramilson Maia (DJ), Ramiro Zwetsch (journalist), Raquel Affonso (journalist), Reginaldo Rossi (singer), Regis Bonvicino (poet), Renata Amaral (singer), Ricardo Alexandre (journalist), Ricardo Besen (journalist), Ricardo Cravo Albin (researcher), Rita Lobo (journalist), Rita Wirtti (actress), Roberto de Carvalho (musician), Roberto Mendes (singer and composer), Rodrigo Ferrari Cesar (journalist), Rodrigo Leão (adman), Rodrigo Moura (journalist), Rogério de Campos (journalist), Ruth Slinger (videomaker), Samuel Rosa (singer and composer), Sarah Oliveira (VJ), Sérgio Barbo (journalist), Sérgio Cassiano (musician), Sérgio Dávila (journalist), Sérgio Rizzo (journalist), Silvio Essinger (journalist), Solano Ribeiro (music producer), Suzana Salles (singer), Sylvia Colombo (journalist), Taciana Barros (singer and composer), Teresa Albuquerque (journalist), Thaíde (rapper), Tiago dos Santos Mesquita (art critic), Tom Leão (journalist), Tom Zé (singer and composer), Totonho (musician), Vitor Ramil (singer and composer), Wander Wildner (singer and composer), Wilson Bueno (writer), Wilson Simoninha (singer), Xico Sá (journalist), Xis (rapper), Zé Luiz Soares (producer), Zé Ramalho (singer and composer), Zeca Baleiro (singer and composer).
Ecology
Old Chico BluesThe fight against a project for transposing the waters of the São Francisco River was reinforced. The seminar "São Francisco River: a live-or-die issue," which was held recently in Cabrobó (state of Pernambuco), proposed the creation of a Permanent Forum in Defense of the ‘Old Chico’(the São Francisco river) with the participation of indigenous peoples and social and popular movements of the Northeast region.
The meeting was attended by about 500 participants from non-governmental, environmental and union organizations, representatives of the University of Pernambuco and Cimi (Conselho Indianista Missionário—Indianist Missionary Council) and indigenous leaders of the Truká, Xukuru, Pipipã (state of Pernambuco), Tuxá, Tumbalalá (state of Bahia), Xukuru-Kariri, Geripankó (state of Alagoas), and Xokó (state of Sergipe). The participants pointed our contradictions in the transposition project, which was designed to remove a large volume of water from the São Francisco river at a moment when Brazil is rationing electricity for lack of water in major reservoirs.
The project for transposing the waters of the São Francisco river was designed by the federal administration for the alleged purpose of solving chronic drought problems in the Northeast region by making a large volume of its waters available for irrigation projects in the states of Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba and Pernambuco. The final document of the seminar, however, reports that "about 70 percent of the water that the project would make available would be used in large irrigation undertakings in the region and would not, as alleged, bring any benefits to those who suffer the consequences of the drought in the above-mentioned states, as only 5 percent of the population of semi-arid areas in the Northeast would benefit from the project." In the Northeast region, 18 indigenous peoples would be negatively affected by the transposition.
The Brazilian electricity crisis has shown that the lack of water in the Northeast and the drastic reduction in the water volume of the São Francisco river clearly reveal the political inconsistency of the transposition project. According to the federal administration, water levels in reservoirs of plants that use waters from the São Francisco river are critically low.
The project could also meet economic interests of corporations and politicians who will use it to try to get reelected in 2002. Because of the low water volume in the São Francisco river, the transposition will only be possible if the waters of the Tocantins river are also diverted. For this purpose, a dam would be built in the Sono river (a tributary of the Tocantins river) close to the bounds of the Xerente indigenous area. The course of the Tocantins river would be modified through pumping, making the transposition and a huge financial investment possible.
The participants in the seminar closed the final document requiring, among other measures, the immediate preparation of a project to revitalize and preserve the São Francisco river and its tributaries using the public funds set apart for its transposition. They also request the creation of mechanisms to ensure social control over the use of these funds and of the waters of the river. Regarding the cyclic drought problem, they state the following: "We believe that any projects designed to fight drought problems must take into account the need to restore and preserve traditional knowledge that enables affected populations to deal with the drought, so that typical cultures of semi-arid regions may be valued and the caatinga region preserved through sustainable management practices as a feasible ecosystem for the population of the region." The final document of the seminar "São Francisco River: a live-or die issue" was sent to the Federal Prosecution Service, the Chamber of Deputies, the Federal Senate, the ministry of Mines and Energy, and the Office of the President of the Republic.
Music
A Classical ComebackAccording to The Washington Post correspondent Max Margolis, an ancient opera house in the midst of the Amazon jungle is again attracting tourists. The luxurious Teatro Amazonas, built when the then billionaire city of Manaus—once the only place in Brazil on the regular route of British and other European liners—has been totally remodeled and refurbished to its past glories. Its ace in the hole is a 65-piece Philharmonic orchestra made almost entirely of expatriate Russians, Ukrainians, Byelorussians, Bulgarians, Czechs and other Slavs, picked for their attested talents.
The cloud now hanging over the showplace, some 1,000 miles up the Amazon, is the fear that it may fall prey da capo to a blow like the one that snuffed out its short period of bright success and prosperity. The coup de grace came in the first decade of the 1900's, when the Amazon rubber boom blew up. Somerset Maugham was not there, but he might have written the tragedy of decay that a few rubber tree seedlings ("kidnapped" by the British and taken to the Federated Malay States) visited on rubber's natural birthplace.
The current fear is that Manaus, scheduled to lose in 2013 its status as a Custom-Free Tax Zone, may go under again. Legislation creating the Free Zone, passed to prop up the moribund economy of the area, expires on that date. If in the intervening 12 years Amazônia can't find molto accelerando other income-producing businesses to add to tourism, it might be curtains un'altra volta for Mozart and Verdi in the rain forest.
Life
Just like kangaroosBrazilian babies weighing in at 3 lbs or less are now being dealt with by the kangaroo method all over the country. Instead of being put in incubators, the babies are wrapped up with paper to the body of the mother, the father, a big sister and any appropriate person. The special paper forms a kind of marsupium (abdominal pouch), guaranteeing continued human warmth and other needs. The method, created by a Colombian doctor, is being taught in 7 birthing centers that serve as radiating nuclei for the dissemination of the successful technique.
