World

By Thiago Mattos
TheSequitur.com Contributor
Aug. 7, 2007 

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil –- It’s all about the party.

International events like Al Gore’s much-hyped eight-city Live Earth concerts, the election of Christ the Redeemer as one of the new seven wonders of the world and the 15th Pan American Games put a spotlight on Rio de Janeiro this July.

And brought us more and more parties.

On July 8, Live Earth in Rio – the only free one in the series of eight worldwide concerts – set up stage at Copacabana Beach. The place was full of people, stars and, of course, energy – electronics giant Philips was even one of the sponsors.

Although there was no question about how much pollution these simultaneous worldwide shows generated or how big their carbon footprint was (a lot), the context of the newest good deeds coming from corporate and government initiatives itself deserves special attention.

Even if the message had a serious commitment to Mother Nature, nobody there on the beach was really touched by the issue. “Why now?” we might ask. What was Al Gore doing during his days as Clinton's vice president? But that’s the kind of dangerous question that makes people wonder if you’re from the Republican Party the moment it leaves your lips.

Even if the message had a serious commitment to Mother Nature, nobody there on the beach was really touched by the issue. It was just a big party – where the paid stars barely showed little if any concern about the Earth's many problems – that had space only for drinking and dancing. And in a beautiful display of irony, smoking.

Meanwhile, Rio is known as the “Wonderful City,” and now boasts one more "wonder." Cristo Redentor - or "Christ the Redeemer," the giant statue of Jesus standing on a mountaintop over Rio - was recently elected as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, defeating other monuments such as the Eiffel Tower in France, England's Stonehenge and the Statue of Liberty. Woo-hoo, what about one more party, huh?

All these parties and galas are simply distracting the public and keeping them far from asking dangerous questions.All these parties and galas are simply distracting the public and distracting us from asking dangerous questions. What do the ordinary citizens get with this victory? A policy to preserve the monument? Any change in the way they take care of it? Any new investment in the place? Christ won, so what?

So, nothing. We just keep on partying. Just like the decadent in the late days of the Roman Empire cared only for their “bread and circuses,” we seem to have no cares beyond being fed and entertained.

And without breaking stride, the Pan American games arrived - another opportunity for Rio de Janeiro to sell herself out.

All over the city there’s a sensation that something great is taking place. Policemen are everywhere, tourists walk calmly along the streets and the people are pleased with the ongoing party. While there’s a big celebration going on, there’s happiness. And we cheer, and there’s no time for dangerous questions.

And the party goes on.

Thiago Mattos, a TheSequitur.com contributor and Editorial Board member-at-large, writes about Brazilian and world issues in his blog, Sangue de Barata, and is a founding member of Poesia & Cia, a Brazilian alternative magazine.