São Paulo greets Bush with samba, ethanol and protest
By Thiago Mattos TheSequitur.com Contributor March 14, 2007
Presdient George W. Bush and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva hold a press conference during Bush's visit to South America. Photo/WhiteHouse.gov
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- President George W. Bush’s arrival in Brazil changed city life for a day, his security scheme causing huge traffic jams and provoking stress and revolt in otherwise normal citizens. By the way, the city is São Paulo and, despite what a Fox News anchor announced, it is not the capital of Brazil.
Bush’s arrival called attention to Brazil’s Department of National Security, which escorted President Bush just after the U.S. State Department strongly criticized Brazil in a report on human rights violations, released one day prior to Bush’s arrival to South America’s largest country.
Brazilians generally agree with criticism of their country’s “numerous serious abuses” in regard to human rights, even if it sounds awkward coming from a government that refuses to sign international “forced disappearances” agreements and seems to promote human rights violations itself. The cases of the missing detainees once held by the Central Intelligence Agency, or even the Guantanamo situation are explicit examples of this hypocrisy.
In fact, it is clear that the so-called help to Latin America recently coming from US is nothing but show. If President Bush really intended to help Latin American countries, promoting free trade seems to be the best way, and now, considering international concerns about climate change, why not the best moment as well?
Critics, however, looked at Bush’s Latin America tour with disdain, having in mind that his main worry is the influence of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez in the region, not any ethanol deal concluded in Brazil.Aware of that, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, or just Lula around here, engaged Bush in vain on the countries’ common interest of alternative fuels, in which Brazil has developed a world leadership. As expected, the push for reduction of American import duty on Brazilian ethanol, $.54 per gallon, apparently was not even considered by Bush.
“What we want is that the USA could come to reduce the subsidies, so important for American farmers but so ominous to the free commerce that we proclaim so much," Lula said in an effort to promote Brazilian ethanol, a 30-year investment in creating biofuel from sugar cane, currently imported by the United States and attached to high taxes.
Bush’s visit was viewed with a variety of perspectives in Brazil. Government leaders saw the trip as a demonstration of Brazil’s international relevance, emphasizing the role of the country as a genuine regional leader – which might even help the country earn a spot on United Nations Security Council.
Critics, however, looked at Bush’s Latin America tour with disdain, having in mind that his main worry is the influence of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez in the region, not any ethanol deal concluded in Brazil.
Far from numerous protests all over the city, President Bush could even find time to dance a little samba on his last stop at a non-governmental organization before leaving Brazil. Fortunately, by the time he arrives in Uruguay – his next stop – all the false bravado surrounding us and bringing chaos to the city will be gone. And hopefully, Fox News journalists will learn where Montevideo is. Thiago Mattos, a TheSequitur.com contributor, writes about Brazilian and world issues in his blog, Sangue de Barata, and is a founding member of Poesia & Cia, a Brazilian alternative magazine.
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