MARCH
1998
LETTERS

A Rebuttal

Regarding Mr. K. Andrew Knapp's reaction to my article "Amazon Ablaze" (December 1997), where he accuses me of making "highly erroneous statements over the practice of sustainable logging," I would encourage him to read my article again. Perhaps the second time, he will understand that my article refers to rainforests in the Brazilian Amazon, where sustainable industrial logging is not ecologically sustainable indeed.

I would also like to remind Mr. Knapp, who seems to be informed, that sustainable logging is not the same as ecologically sustainable logging, which is what I'm referring to in my article. Sustainability of yield of wood produced often clashes with the sustainability of healthy ecosystems. Moreover, I hope that Mr. Knapp is aware that many of the so-called sustainable logging operations in southern and southeastern Brazil are in fact tree farms, most of which replaced the region's primary forests, such as the case with the Mata Atlântica, destroying it to 8% of its original size.

As to his question, "where is the world obtaining its supply of wood products?" I find it puzzling having to explain to someone who seems informed that the world is getting a lot of its wood supply from the rapid destruction of old growth tropical and temperate forests, such as in the decimation of the US primary forests to 4% of its original size, and the arrival of Asian logging companies in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest, after having destroyed their own forests in South East Asia, and now contributing to the worse deforestation rate in the history of Brazil (Brazilian Institute for Spatial Research, INPE - January, 1998 & New York Times, 01/27/1998).

Therefore, my intention is not to "alienate people" with "fictitious and easily disprovable statements," but rather, make people wake up to the truth and take responsibility over how they consume wood. I'm glad that Mr. Knapp is thinking about it.

Beto Borges
Director-Traditional Peoples Program
Rainforest Action Network, CA- USA
bborges@shaman.com 

Mind
Searching

I am a cultural geography student at Southern Oregon University in Oregon. I am researching for a term project paper on Brazil. During my research I have learned much that has corrected many of my misconceptions I will not go into here. I have however been searching for evidence or confirmation of shooting/killing of street children by the police.

I wish so much to try and impart some of the desperateness of the plight of the landless, homeless, unemployed worker and his family in this presentation. I have been trying to get into the workers/regular peoples minds to try and see, as they do, the problems besetting their country. I understand that this is not truly possible but I would like to give my best try. I would appreciate any help you might be able to send my way.

Lewis
Ashland, Oregon
yaeg8599@tao.sou.edu 

Inconditional
Love

Thank you for caring enough about Brazil and the Brazilians to present them as they really are, with all the problems, paradoxes and contradictions that are always part of truly vibrant people and nations. As has often been said, it is not that we don't know about the flaw of those we love, but rather, we love them as they actually are. So too with those of us who love Brazil and her people. Keep up the great work. (Please find enclosed $3.00 for the renewal of my subscription to your wonderful magazine.

Gary McCall
San Diego, California

Down Under
Pirate

I am a young Australian writer who fell in love with Brazil and the Brazilian people. I wrote a book, called Brazilian Booty, which depicts the magic I experienced there. I would be very keen to have my book reviewed in your publication and I'm happy to be interviewed. Where could I send a review copy of my book? Cheers.

Michael X Savvas
Adelaide, Australia
msavvas@usa.net

Candomblé
in LA?

I'm a current Brazzil subscriber and I love it. I'm a student and thought perhaps you could help me with some research I am doing for an

Anthropology of Religion class. I'm very interested in the Afro-Brazilian Candomblé rituals. I just moved to Los Angeles and would like to get in touch with anyone who has information about people practicing Candomblé in the LA area. I am hoping to interview someone who practices Candomblé and if permitted, observe a meeting. A very satisfied subscriber,

Kathy Macpherson
Los Angeles, California
katm@inetworld.net

Ready
to Talk

Congratulations for publishing a magazine about Brazil. I traveled around the world and noticed that, in general, people have very little information about our country. I am Brazilian and live in São Paulo and I am available to exchange ideas with people from other countries about Brazilian behavior, culture, politics, humor, family and social life, etc. Just send an e-mail to: milordsp@hotmail.com  

Milord
São Paulo, Brazil 

TV
Wars

I am a German journalist and I am writing an article about TV shows in Brazil for the magazine TV Today. I heard that you published an article a few months ago on the competition between TV networks Globo and SBT. I would very much appreciate if you could e-mail me this material.

Marcus Luft
Hamburg, Germany
Mluft@tvtoday.de

Searching
for Brazilians

I am an American who speaks very little Portuguese, but who is learning it. I moved from San Diego to Las Vegas five months ago where I was just getting exposed to Brazilian culture. I wonder if there are any Brazilian clubs, organizations, liberal professionals, etc., here in Las Vegas. Though I moved here for career reasons, I'd like to find out more about your people and culture as I would eventually like to visit your country sometime in the near future.

Glen A. Gallimore
Las Vegas, Nevada
gagallimore@earthlink.net 

Question
for the
Consulate

I wish to congratulate you for a wonderful magazine. It makes me very happy to be a little closer to Brazil by reading about it. I live in Las Vegas and have a seven-year-old daughter and my question to you, since I believe you are very well informed is: Can she fly to Brazil by herself? Is it true that she must have a Brazilian passport in addition to her American one, because I'm a Brazilian citizen?

Magali Runnels
Las Vegas, Nevada
brasil@vegas.infi.net 

Too Little
from the
Consulate

I am a Brazilian living in Tampa, Florida, since August and I would like to know if there is any Brazilian consulate or association in the area. I am studying "Advanced English" in the University of South Florida (USF) and one of my courses is culture. Since I need to prepare a paper on my own country (my beloved Brazil!), I would like to illustrate it with catalogues, pictures and videos about Brazil. Can you tell me how to acquire this material? I have been all over and even sent a fax to the Brazilian Consulate in Miami, but all they sent me were some propaganda leaflets.

Carla Lima
Tampa, Florida
clima@tampabay.rr.com

Swedish
May Day

I work as a TV producer in Sweden and I am looking for a TV show called "Happy Birthday". I think it is made in Brazil, but I'm not sure. Could you help me? The program is a family show in which everyone in the audience is celebrating their birthday the actual day of the recording. Two of them are chosen to participate in the show games. The winner gets a really nice present. I read an article in your magazine about the TV situation in Brazil and thought you would be able to help me.

Stefan Malmström
Stockholm, Sweden
stefan@decam.se 

Biasless

Congratulations for the article on Santo Daime and União Vegetal in Brazil. You presented the facts with total impartiality, something that even the mainstream media has not been able to do.

Luiz Algarra
São Paulo, Brazil

Satisfied
&
Thankful

I love Brazzil! No other magazine gives us more exciting news about Brazil. I will be in Bahia this summer and I thank your publication for helping me with information on the places to see and foods to eat. My mother's family is from there and I feel like I am going home. Muito obrigada!

Angela J. Brown
Washington, DC

 

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