Internationalization Amazon Humanism Oil

INTERNATIONALIZATION

June 21, 2006

THE INTERNATIONALIZATION OF THE ENTIRE WORLD

Interview of the Brazilian Minister of Education in the United States.

During a debate at a university in the United States, the Minister of Education, Cristovam Buarque, was questioned about his views on the internationalization of the Amazon. The young American student began his question by stating that he hoped for a response from a humanist, not from a Brazilian.

Here is Mr. Cristovam Buarque's response:

Indeed, as a Brazilian, I would simply oppose the internationalization of the Amazon. Regardless of the insufficiency of our governments' attention to this heritage, it is ours.

As a humanist, aware of the risk of environmental degradation affecting the Amazon, I can imagine the Amazon being internationalized, just like everything else that is important to all of humanity. If, in the name of a humanist ethic, we were to internationalize the world's oil reserves. Oil is as important for the well-being of humanity as the Amazon is for our future. And despite this, the masters of the oil reserves feel entitled to increase or decrease oil extraction, as well as to raise or not raise its price.

In the same way, the financial capital of rich countries should be internationalized. If the Amazon is a reserve for all men, it cannot be burned by the will of its owner, or of a country. Burning the Amazon is as serious as the unemployment caused by the arbitrary decisions of speculators in the global economy. We cannot allow financial reserves to burn entire countries for the sheer pleasure of speculation.

Before the Amazon, I would like to witness the internationalization of all the great museums of the world. The Louvre should not belong to France alone. Every museum in the world is the guardian of the most beautiful works produced by human genius. We cannot allow this cultural heritage, just like the natural heritage of the Amazon, to be manipulated and destroyed according to the whim of a single owner or a single country.

Some time ago, a Japanese millionaire decided to be buried with a painting by a great master. Before that happens, this painting should be internationalized.

While this meeting is taking place, the United Nations is organizing the Millennium Forum, but some Heads of State had difficulties attending due to issues at the borders of the United States. I therefore believe that New York, the location of the United Nations headquarters, should be internationalized. At least Manhattan should belong to all of humanity. Just like Paris, Venice, Rome, London, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, Recife—each city with its particular beauty and its world history should belong to the entire world.

If the United States wants to internationalize the Amazon because of the risk posed by leaving it in the hands of Brazilians, then let us also internationalize the entire nuclear arsenal of the United States. If only because they are capable of using such weapons, which would cause destruction a thousand times greater than the deplorable fires in the Brazilian forests.

During their debates, the current candidates for the Presidency of the United States have supported the idea of internationalizing the world's forest reserves in exchange for debt cancellation. Let us therefore begin by using this debt to ensure that all the children of the world have the opportunity to eat and go to school.

Let us internationalize children, treating them, wherever they are born, as a heritage that deserves the attention of the entire world. Even more so than the Amazon. When the leaders of the world treat the world's poor children as a Heritage of Humanity, they will not let them work when they should be going to school; they will not let them die when they should be living.

As a humanist, I accept defending the idea of internationalizing the world. But as long as the world treats me as a Brazilian, I will fight for the Amazon to be ours. And ours alone!

This response was not distributed in the press.

THE INTERNATIONALIZATION OF THE ENTIRE WORLD

Interview of the Brazilian Minister of Education in the United States.

During a debate at a university in the United States, the Minister of Education, Cristovam Buarque, was questioned about his views on the internationalization of the Amazon. The young American student began his question by stating that he hoped for a response from a humanist, not from a Brazilian.

Here is Mr. Cristovam Buarque's response:

.

Indeed, as a Brazilian, I would simply oppose the internationalization of the Amazon. Regardless of the insufficiency of our governments' attention to this heritage, it is ours.

As a humanist, aware of the risk of environmental degradation affecting the Amazon, I can imagine the Amazon being internationalized, just like everything else that is important to all of humanity. If, in the name of a humanist ethic, we were to internationalize the world's oil reserves. Oil is as important for the well-being of humanity as the Amazon is for our future. And despite this, the masters of the oil reserves feel entitled to increase or decrease oil extraction, as well as to raise or not raise its price.

In the same way, the financial capital of rich countries should be internationalized. If the Amazon is a reserve for all men, it cannot be burned by the will of its owner, or of a country. Burning the Amazon is as serious as the unemployment caused by the arbitrary decisions of speculators in the global economy. We cannot allow financial reserves to burn entire countries for the sheer pleasure of speculation.

Before the Amazon, I would like to witness the internationalization of all the great museums of the world. The Louvre should not belong to France alone. Every museum in the world is the guardian of the most beautiful works produced by human genius. We cannot allow this cultural heritage, just like the natural heritage of the Amazon, to be manipulated and destroyed according to the whim of a single owner or a single country.

Some time ago, a Japanese millionaire decided to be buried with a painting by a great master. Before that happens, this painting should be internationalized.

While this meeting is taking place, the United Nations is organizing the Millennium Forum, but some Heads of State had difficulties attending due to issues at the borders of the United States. I therefore believe that New York, the location of the United Nations headquarters, should be internationalized. At least Manhattan should belong to all of humanity. Just like Paris, Venice, Rome, London, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, Recife—each city with its particular beauty and its world history should belong to the entire world.

If the United States wants to internationalize the Amazon because of the risk posed by leaving it in the hands of Brazilians, then let us also internationalize the entire nuclear arsenal of the United States. If only because they are capable of using such weapons, which would cause destruction a thousand times greater than the deplorable fires in the Brazilian forests.

During their debates, the current candidates for the Presidency of the United States have supported the idea of internationalizing the world's forest reserves in exchange for debt cancellation. Let us therefore begin by using this debt to ensure that all the children of the world have the opportunity to eat and go to school.

Let us internationalize children, treating them, wherever they are born, as a heritage that deserves the attention of the entire world. Even more so than the Amazon. When the leaders of the world treat the world's poor children as a Heritage of Humanity, they will not let them work when they should be going to school; they will not let them die when they should be living.

As a humanist, I accept defending the idea of internationalizing the world. But as long as the world treats me as a Brazilian, I will fight for the Amazon to be ours. And ours alone!

This response was not distributed in the press.

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