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Cultural Brazilian Forum collects proposals from all over the country and points out to new perspectives.
 The Opening Ceremony presented by the actress Camila Pintanga, began with the poem "E Agora José" declaimed by the actor Rogério Fróes - inspiring epigraph from Global Cultural Forum - before the beginning of the workshops. Workshops leaded by Danilo Santos de Miranda (President to the Brazilian Independent Cultural Promoters Network and member of the Directing Counseling of the GCF), Paulo Miguez (Secretary to the Cultural Policies formulation and evaluation of the Cultural Ministry and also a member of the Directing Counseling of the GCF), Dionino Coloperi (Regional SESC/RJ Director) and Arnaldo Niskier (Cultural State Secretary from Rio de Janeiro). The board presented the Brazilian Forum and the Global Cultural Forum to a public composed by producers, artists, journalists, authorities, and representatives of different institutions.
Among them, Sergio Mamberti, Identity and Cultural Diversity Secretary to MINC; Octávio Arbelaez, President to the Latin American La Red; João Roberto Peixe, Cultural Secretary to Recife; Vania Benelli, State Cultural Sub Secretary to Rio de Janeiro and Edmur Mesquita, Joined Cultural Secretary to the State of São Paulo, representing its Secretary Claudia Costio.
Danilo Santos de Miranda opened the workshop speaking about the importance of joining proposals from all over Brazil at the Brazilian Forum. Voted proposals for a cultural action within the country, especially public action whose worries are the education, identity, values and not turned to the show business. "Deep in all different questions as economics, social or politics the cultural role is fundamental for its imaginary work, its diversity and helps each one to see better oneself and others," declared Miranda.
 The proposal presented by the President of the GCF Director Counseling is to turn the cultural policies into the main key to development, " because it is no use giving funds without taking into account the cultural/educational subject". He highlighted the diversities as characteristic of our country. He also reminded that presently any government within the country agrees with such thinking. He let a criticism: "The cultural speech concerning culture is part of all governments but there is a lack in its practice". Mr. President confirms that the current national scenery lives a favorable moment to the accomplishment of an event like the GCF, with the Cultural Ministry reexamining laws and checking new ways of performance.
On the second day, Iara Pietricovsky started discussions highlighting the Cultural Brazilian Forum to be an important counterpoint on the process of the Global Cultural Forum and on the proposal to believe that Another World is Possible, taking advantage of the Global Social Forum as a member of such organization.
Iara made an invitation to all presents: they should think on re-politicizing culture as a transgression over passing the parties senses and reconstructing values for the society. "We must think about our reality starting over those challenges. We cannot not think reality as politics" stated Iara. Afterwards, she left the floor to Valdina Pinto, "Makota" from the "terreiro" (outdoor place where voodoo is practiced) Tanuri Junssara from the "Engenho Velho da Federação" (Old Farm Federation), in Salvador.
Valdina Pinto started her talking invoking Bakulo. Bakulo is an African language term (banto) explaining about the heritage our ancestors left us. Such ancestors are not only referred to Black People but to all human beings who have already passed through our world. So she invoked the city's Bakulo and its first inhabitants.
"According to my knowledge, to my deeds, my feelings, my beliefs we are not alone. Moreover we are not here by chance". Tired of being behind the table, Valdina stood up and sat on the stage floor. "I come from a culture where we get close, sit on the floor, look in the eyes, talk, without anything disturbing the energies", she justified herself.
From all her talking, it is for sure that, each and everyone left the Forum with many questions as: Where do I come from? What is my past like? Where do I go? Who am I? Who is the other one? Simple and obvious things but as they are said in such a simple and direct way it touched the audience who for several times interrupted the "makota" with enthusiastic applauses.
According to her, Brazilians do not know themselves and many times they do not want to. "We have been building manners but we leave people outside. Too much doing, knowing, saying, feeling are left aside".
Making an instigating comparison Valdina stated: "We go up life stairs paying attention to each step or else we jump some, sometimes even two? She asked letting the audience thinking over itself. "Isn't what we jump what is missing to us?" Valdina Pinto talked about things of life. With no pretension she affirmed: "I have no answers for anything. I came here to open up your minds" and she succeeded.
Full coverage of the Cultural Brazilian Forum:
- First day: May 19, 2004
- Second day: May 20, 2004
- Third day: May 21, 2004
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