This letter will be sent to artists, curators, students, workers, activists and society as a whole.
Aracruz’ current composition of shareholders are: the Lorentzen Group, 28 %;
Safra Bank, 28 %; Votorantim, 28%; BNDES 12.5 %, and others, 3.5 %.
Publicity speaks in the future tense and yet the achievement of this future is endlessly deferred. How then does publicity remain credible - or credible enough to exert the influence it does? It remains credible because the truthfulness of publicity is judged, not by the real fulfillment of its promises, but by the relevance of its fantasies to those of the spectator-buyer. Its essential application is not to reality but to day-dreams.
John Berger
Ways of Seeing
Dear Minister of Culture Gilberto Gil,
In 1987 I decided that my life was art and I would only register evidences of being alive in the world. Naturally, during the development of the work, the life of everyone started to interest me a great deal, specially those who suffer profound limitations and restrictions to remain alive in the world. I am talking about indigenous peoples, small farmers, slave descendents [quilombolas], people who struggle their whole lives to maintain their traditional ways of living, while desperately trying to avoid being thrown into big city slums, to work as cheap labour in the houses and companies of the masters of this country.
On August 20th, the second stage of Aracruz’ institutional campaign conducted by WBrasil was launched and you again lent your song "Balé de Berlim", to be used in the campaign.
From the moment I decided that my life was art I have developed art pieces which are getting closer and closer to essential life issues. I believe art has to be revolutionary from within, in other words, to reflect a process of internal change of the individual/artist during the process of seeking meaning in the world. This process of change implies that the individual/artist must be aware of the political, social and even environmental implications of their actions in society. The artist now cannot simply dive in their own individual process, seeking meaning, but it is equally necessary to analise, monitor and report the global context for the construction of popular subjectivity, which is done with the sole purpose of increasing the profits and power of predatorial corporations.
I am writing as an artist to you. Did you know that the human rights organization FASE argues that Aracruz acquired land through false promises, threats and the destruction of the local population subsistence sources in Bahia
I have attached to this email a report from SwedWatch, which was developed with the support of Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, or alternatively visit their site (http://www.swedwatch.org/swedwatch/in_english/reports)
The subjects which constitute the main issues of controversy between the opponents and the advocates of the paper and pulp industry in Brazil
_ The effects on the Atlantic rainforest
Cutting down large areas of rainforest. Environmental organizations and biologists also claim that the corporations’ forest recovery program is too limited to preserve the biodiversity of the region.
_ Illegal or unethical land acquisition
According to critics the land acquisitions are often highly problematic even when performed in a legal manner. Aracruz has been accused of illegal appropriation of land from indigenous groups and Afro-Brazilian peasants. This appropriation is supposed to have occurred mainly in northern Espírito Santo during the 1970s. In Bahia
above all been purchased from large ranches. However, SwedWatch has testimonies from peasants who claim that paper and pulp companies have tried to buy their land, although this is an illegal act, since their land is owned collectively.
_ The loss or the minimal gain of employment opportunities
The critics of the paper and pulp industry argue that it generates few new jobs, despite the fact that huge state resources have been invested in this sector.
_ The fast expansion of eucalyptus plantations
There is a widespread fear that the plantations of the paper and pulp companies will continue to expand dramatically. The critics are convinced that the construction of Aracruz’ and Veracel’s paper mill will demand a substantial expansion of the plantations.
_ The decrease of access to water
A number of studies have shown that eucalyptus consumes huge quantities of water. The results of these studies coincide with the claims of the local peasants, who argue that the eucalyptus plantations have drained water courses and lowered the level of groundwater.
The Sweedish Royal Family decided to sell their shares form Aracruz celulose (50% Veracel, and 50 % Sweedish Finish Stora-Enzo) after the Federal Police organized a violent eviction of the indigenous villages Tupinikim/Guarani (Olho d´Água e Córrego d´Ouro) on January 20th, 2006. The repossession action was totally illegal (the public attorney has filed a law suit against the Union demanding compensation for the communities), and had the active participation of Aracruz Celulose. They opened their guest house as headquarters for the operation of the federal Police and lent their tractors (see pictures) to destroy the houses and crops of the indigenous group completely, 13 Indians were injured, one was seriously wounded (see photo).
"There is a place for report writing, lobbying, propaganda, protest and legal challenges but when it is playing by the rules set down by the state it simply postpones the inevitable. Direct action, in stark contrast, challenges the omnipotence of the state and the power of industry. Tactics that have a direct effect on profits make industry sit up and take notice."
- Robert Allen, Republican News
When Via Campesina women destroyed Pine and Eucalyptus GMO seedlings in March of this year, they were fulfilling the long historical tradition of their role in society. Throughout history women have been responsible defending and protecting life, be it seeds or the nourishment of human beings.
When the women from Via Campesina destroyed the GMO seedlings in Rio Grande
It was an action with profound art and life content, which genuinely came from those affected directly or indirectly. A great lesson of where art must be.
As an artist who studies life, part of my aesthetic and artistic research explores numerous ways in which life has being obstructed, destroyed or eliminated. This research will only be completed at the end of my life, until then I will try to ‘infect’ other subjectivities for what I feel are the demands of our time. The artist have to leave the circles of privilege and power and work very hard, tirelessly awakening other subjectivities and then together radically alter the power structure which grows like a cancer sucking, killing, suffocating everything around it.
I would like to make a suggestion to you Gil, in the next Aracruz campaign read the report attached and check the Sweedwatch page http://www.swedwatch.org/swedwatch/in_english/reports, think very hard about the responsibility of the artist with life and the people of the world and do what you think is best.
Warm regards,
Ana Amorim
(1) - Swedish Pulp in Brazil
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