Sesc SP

Industry – A favorable economic moment and the rise of social classes C and D to the consumer market have prompted the Brazilian auto industry to plan an unprecedented investment program in Brazil. The goal is to meet both domestic and foreign demand.

Nutrition – Pressed by the need to eat out without spending much, millions of people make an option for the so-called street food. This food, however, besides being poor in nutrients and rich in fats, may cause serious risks to health due to a lack of hygiene in its preparation and handling.

Human Rights – Present in virtually every corner of the world, trafficking in people presents certain peculiarities in Brazil, which is simultaneously a country of origin, transit and destination for its victims. The Ministry of Justice structures actions to prevent and fight this crime, in accordance with the Protocol of Palermo, of which Brazil has been a signatory since 2004.

Justice – Public security is one of the main concerns of the Brazilian citizen, given the unpreparedness of the Police, the Judiciary’s extremely morose procedures and the failure of the prison system. To face such situation, the National Council of Justice has drafted a plan to be set in motion this year.

Copyright – Created in the early 1970s, the Central Office for Collection and Distribution (Ecad) has as its mission to charge for the public performance of the songs of the nearly 250,000 artists it represents. Accused of being little transparent, the entity may come to be overseen by the government, according to changes proposed by the Ministry of Culture.

Beekeeping – Brazilian bees are the result of crossbreeding between European and African species, which has given them great resilience. Still, the production of honey presents many flaws, as it is not treated as a true business.

Mining – The manual mining of pegmatite minerals in the Seridó region, on the border along the states of Paraíba and Rio Grande do Norte, is one of the population’s few alternatives for generating income. Exploited by middlemen, miners try to organize in cooperatives to improve their revenues.

Society – Working the land was the primary intention of the Japanese immigrants who arrived in Brazil in the early 20th century. As time went by, however, their descendants started to make an impressive contribution to the development of the country in the most varied fields of knowledge.

Landscaping – It was only as from the 1970s that landscaping achieved recognition and importance in Brazil. Today, as cities expand steadily, posing serious threats to the environment, the work of this field’s professionals is considered essential.

Press – Countless outstanding periodicals appear and disappear in the Brazilian scene. The political stance of these vehicles of communication is pointed as one of the main causes both for their success and demise.

Messianism – The customary absence of ecclesiastical authorities in Brazil’s northeastern outback has led to the appearance of lay leaders, whose work, often, gave rise to social turmoil. The theme, which stirs passions and has never been sufficiently studied, is now beginning to be vindicated in some municipalities in that region.

History – All differences considered, Brazil and the world stand now, in 2010, before choices that may represent a watershed similar to that which led to the Revolution of 1930 and put an end to the so-called Old Republic.

Literature
• In January this year, Brazil lost Wilson Martins, one of the country’s most prestigious literary critics. His works, especially those devoted to rescuing the history of the Brazilian literature, are considered a reference for the new generations of critics.
• Despite a destitute life drowned in alcoholism, writer Lima Barreto is considered one of the great names of the Brazilian literature. His work, only posthumously recognized, is today the subject of study of many young writers and a number of theses and dissertations in universities.

Thematic panel – One of Brazil’s best known architects, Paulo Mendes da Rocha presented to the Economics, Sociology and Politics Council of the São Paulo State Fecomercio, Sesc and Senac a talk on the theme “Architecture and Nature”. In his opinion, architecture represents a peculiar form of knowledge, a way of viewing the totality of a particular issue, allowing thus architects to decisively influence the habitability of the planet.