Remembering the dead...
Last Monday was Dia de Finados (Dia dos Mortos) in Brazil, a day to remember the dead. But how can I forget........., on that day and every other day?
From my photo exhibition in Bergen during Hummingbird's Norway Tour earlier this year, with a special tribute to Roney and Claudiney. Most of the 30-odd works were sold, bringing much needed funds to our work with at-risk kids in Brazil. Special thanks to Foto Knudsen in Bergen for supplying the exhibition free-of-charge with their beautiful, high quality prints on canvas.
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Uploaded on Nov 4, 2009
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The darker side of Rio...
...and the death of a warrior.
A week ago today, Brazilians all over the country were once again witness to the inexcusable attitudes of our police force and the failing public security that they represent, ........and that in a city chosen to host the 2016 Olympic Games.
Brazil's government needs to urgently resolve the growing violence in Rio before they rejoice their recent Olympic conquest.
The tragic killing of AfroReggae's highly respected social coordinator and Conflicts Mediator, Evandro João Silva, during an armed robbery in Rio de Janeiro last Sunday, has in itself cast a blanket of sadness and despair over the entire organisation and those who knew Evandro. But that the details of this terrible crime would be registered on three security cameras situated close to the scene of the crime, capturing not only the actions of the two bandits who attacked, robbed and gunned down Evandro, but also the shocking details of the patrolling policemen's omission to save his life, their subsequent freeing of the criminals only seconds after the crime was commited and then taking Evandro's personal belongings with them in their patrol car whilst Evandro was left to die on the sidewalk, has caused revolt throughout the country.
See what the cameras captured and then try to imagine the frustration of those who admired this humble warrior.......
Evandro had been with AfroReggae since 2001 and occupied an important position in the NGO, responsible for noteworthy social projects in favela communities and prisons, and also coordinating the group's community centre in Parada de Lucas. In december, Evandro was to have finished Pedagogy studies at University and was already planning his Masters.
See this portrait photo of Evandro
Open Letter to AfroReggae from CARF Brazil in Portuguese:
Mais uma vez a violência cala os sonhos.....
A Rede Cultural Beija-Flor (Fundação Criança em Risco), seus alunos, educadores e coordenadores, em especial eu, Gregory John Smith, seu presidente e fundador, estamos mais que tristes, ficamos decepcionados com os seres humanos que continuam a tirar vidas de outros seres humanos por motivos cada vez mais banais.
No caso de Evandro João Silva, estamos falando de alguém que acreditava em uma mudança e, principalmente, na valorização da vida. Coordenar um trabalho social é travar uma guerra muitas vezes injusta, pois acreditamos numa paz que nos leva a viver vulneráveis, pois acreditar às vezes significa enfrentar a violência, e a violência é cega, surda e insensível. Como enfrentar um inimigo assim, que não enxerga o outro, que só ouve a si mesmo e não se importa com a coisa mais valiosa que temos, a vida. Talvez nem com a própria. Como enfrentar?
Caros parceiros desta imensa e interminável luta, não desistam!
Estamos sempre perdendo nossos grandes soldados, mas com certeza, grandes soldados deixam legados inspiradores, que ajudam outros a se tornarem mais fortes e mais próximos da realização destes sonhos coletivos, como os do AfroReggae.
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Uploaded on Oct 25, 2009
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Worlds apart...
...yet as close as family.
(Thank you Eric Feathers, for this title and caption, taken from your previous comment on a similar picture of Hamilton)
McLaren's British pilot Lewis Hamilton, takes a relaxing break from races during last season's Formula One Brazilian Grand Prix in São Paulo, where he scored his first World Championship. Here, Hamilton is seen at our Hummingbird Arts & Cultural Activity Centre together with 16-year old Cleisson, one of our many musical talents of Hummingbird.
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Uploaded on Oct 19, 2009
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Leading the way...
Youth leader Djalma dos Santos in action as conductor for the informal percussion group created during a moment under Formula One Pilot Lewis Hamilton's visit to Hummingbird during last season's Brazilian Grand Prix in São Paulo. As Lewis is an enthusiastic amateur musician, he was delighted with all the rhythmic goings-on at Hummingbird and obviously impressed by all the positive energy created by our drums under Djalma's talented leadership.
About this week's Formula One Races at Interlagos, Lewis Hamilton says:
“I’m really looking forward to this year’s Brazilian Grand Prix – it will be the first time I’ve travelled to Sao Paulo without being in contention for the world championship, and I’m actually looking forward to taking in a bit more of the city and relaxing and enjoying the experience of driving on one of the world’s greatest racetracks.
“My highlights are Turn One, braking into the long left-hander which bends right and takes you out onto the back straight; Ferra Dura, which is a fast right-hander where you body is squeezed hard into the side of the car, and the main straight: you accelerate hard uphill and you can even hear the crowd and the Brazilian drums playing in the grandstands.
One of the greatest things about racing at Interlagos is the crowd. There’s such a great atmosphere; the fans have so much energy and life. It’s a party while you’re working, and it’s great to see everyone happy.”
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Uploaded on Oct 13, 2009
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r e g e n e r a t i o n . . .
McLaren's British pilot Lewis Hamilton, takes a relaxing break from races during last season's Formula One Brazilian Grand Prix in São Paulo, where he scored his first World Championship. Here, Hamilton is seen at our Hummingbird Arts & Cultural Activity Centre, winning the attention of a few of our young people with his musical talents, instead of the hoards at Interlagos with his driving skills.
About this week's Formula One Races at Interlagos, Lewis Hamilton says:
“I’m really looking forward to this year’s Brazilian Grand Prix – it will be the first time I’ve travelled to Sao Paulo without being in contention for the world championship, and I’m actually looking forward to taking in a bit more of the city and relaxing and enjoying the experience of driving on one of the world’s greatest racetracks.
“My highlights are Turn One, braking into the long left-hander which bends right and takes you out onto the back straight; Ferra Dura, which is a fast right-hander where you body is squeezed hard into the side of the car, and the main straight: you accelerate hard uphill and you can even hear the crowd and the Brazilian drums playing in the grandstands.
One of the greatest things about racing at Interlagos is the crowd. There’s such a great atmosphere; the fans have so much energy and life. It’s a party while you’re working, and it’s great to see everyone happy.”
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Uploaded on Oct 13, 2009
7 comments
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