Community Building Meeting II
 

August 23: The Community Building Meeting was hosted by the Getulio Vargas Foundation at their offices in downtown Rio de Janeiro. The Foundation is a well-financed Brazilian institute for social and economic analysis that works to advance the frontiers of knowledge in the Social Sciences. It trains and educates leaders in the private and public sectors and produces and transmits ideas and information that contribute to the socio-economic development of the country.

Forty-five individuals participated in the morning and afternoon discussions with lunch hosted by the Foundation. The day's discussion provided further appreciation for the ideas and concerns of the participants, all of whom are active in civil society or governmental institutions.

Summary Comments

From Left: Jim Garrison talks to Leonardo Boff

"The Commission is trying to create synergies between recommendations and reform. We are in one of the most complex historical opportunities in history in which people are in charge, but not in control. This can be the genesis of constructive social change if the right ideas can converge with the right momentum. The question is, how do you bring individuals of influence together for integrated thought and action?" - Jim Garrison, Commission on Globalization

"Globalization cannot be addressed without addressing inequality." - Bendita da silva, vice-governadora do Estudo do Rio de Janeiro

Wania Santanna

"Brazil is a society that should be able to make a major contribution to globalization. This may say something about our capacity for sustainability of community." - Wania Santanna: Articulação Mulheres Brasileiras.

"We should start the conversation from the point of view of the majority, not those who benefit from globalization. We need a more humanized form of globalization that strengthens each nation's culture and tries to build society from diversity." - Marcos Arruda, Instituto do Politicas Alternativas para o Cone Sul

Cândido Mendes

"There are new stake holders who are social activists. We are willing to fund a meeting of the leaders from Seattle so people can show their hands and we can see their faces. We offer the hospitality of a Brazilian university." - Candido Mendes, Rector de Universidade Candido Mendes

"Environmental issues are more critical than any ideological issues and need to be studied in depth. We should rethink the whole way of using our planet. How will we use limited resources? We need an intergenerational commitment." - Beatriz Bissio, Editor, Cadernos do Terceiro Mundo

"We need to think in systematic ways about a world ethos that considers ecosystems and regards the earth as a living being, that creates a new pact between humans and nature that leads to a world based on an ethic of care." - Leonardo Boff, Theologian

Leonard Boff

Candid Grzybowski holding microphone.

"The feminization of globalization should not be ignored. There is also a movement toward the idea of care and duties of planetary citizenship." - Candido Grzybowski, IBASE

Jacqueline Pitanguy

"The relationship between international trade and human rights is important. Nothing can be done internationally if national efforts are not made." - Jacqueline Pitanguy, CEPIA

"We said no to privatization of potable water and we won through the power of the people. The people's right to serve cannot be taken away. We need to be concerned with organizers." - Oscar Olivera, La Coordinadora, Cochabamba Bolivia.

Oscar Olivera

Ruth Escobar: celebrated actress, cultural ambassador, State Legislature member(1982-1990)

Viviane Senna (2nd from the left), clinical psychologist and President, Ayrton Senna Foundation

"How can we make globalization more humane? Citizenship must be expressed through dialogue." - Ana Batista, Forum 21 RJ

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