Ilha das Flores (best documentary/short film ever)

For years and years I've been searching for the subtitles!! Subtitles that would enable me to share with the world this piece of art. Ilha das Flores ("Isle of Flowers") is a Brazilian short film/documentary by Jorge Furtado, shot in 1989 in my hometown Porto Alegre.

The film got many awards over the years. According to IMdB votes, it's the best Brazilian short movie and best Brazilian documentary ever made, and it's the global #15 and #11 (respectively). According to wikipedia, "chosen by European critics as one of the 100 most important short films of the century".

So, today I finally found them - the subtitles :D

Enough said, just enjoy 13min of your time and watch it. And maybe you want to watch it again. And again. Reflect about it. I also would really invite you to post your comments and thoughts here...

Ilha das Flores-sub Eng
Uploaded by Simud

As the closing lines of the movie say (quoting Cecilia Meirelles):

"Free" is the state of those who enjoy freedom.
"Fredom" is a word that feeds the dream of humanity;
that no one can explain, bu everyone understands.

PS: a lot has changed in the Isle of Flowers over the last 30 years. Still, this is the reality of most of our population in the planet today.

I'm going to Antarctica!!

Today I got some news that made me jump from the chair, and I still can't stop laughing and dreaming, even 10 hours later... so I decided to write about it!

I applied last November to the BP-sponsored Expedition Antarctica, where 50 students from all around the world will gather in Ushuaia and travel to Antarctica, over one week, from 25th of March until 5th of April. The goal is to explore and "see" the changes and challenges to our planet happening, and together "act" upon it. Well, not that I need to see Antarctica to believe we are in deep s**t, and yes, probably BP is also contributing to it (not alone, of course), but the opportunity to visit the most remote continent in the world (which only reminds my inspiration Amyr Klink), and connect with (potentially) 50 other people like me is what makes me jump from the chair.

I didn't get in when the final results were announced, in December. The e-mail from today was an invitation for a few extra participants... "In discussion with advisers such as Peter Senge, we have decided to extend a number of invitations to candidates who have demonstrated particular credentials in the area of youth or student networks, or organisations dedicated to exploring innovation and change especially related to climate, energy and inter-related issues."

I also found out that Max Oliva is one of the participants, which means a great start!! :D

Peter Senge is advising on the project, which is led by polar explorer Robert Swan.

I can't say how happy I am!!!!

Powerpoint

I got this message from a friend. It reminded of so many PPTs that I have seen (and have made myself). In a simple way, this is so true, the naked truth. Keep your eyes closed if you prefer, and enjoy your Christmas shopping! :P

Originally published here.

Click here to read Google's translation...


Vou fazer um slideshow para você.
Está preparado? É comum, você já viu essas imagens antes.
Quem sabe até já se acostumou com elas.
Começa com aquelas crianças famintas da África.
Aquelas com os ossos visíveis por baixo da pele.
Aquelas com moscas nos olhos.
Os slides se sucedem.
Êxodos de populações inteiras.
Gente faminta.
Gente pobre.
Gente sem futuro.
Durante décadas, vimos essas imagens.
No Discovery Channel, na National Geographic, nos concursos de foto.
Algumas viraram até objetos de arte, em livros de fotógrafos renomados.
São imagens de miséria que comovem.
São imagens que criam plataformas de governo.
Criam ONGs.
Criam entidades.
Criam movimentos sociais.
A miséria pelo mundo, seja em Uganda ou no Ceará, na Índia ou em
Bogotá sensibiliza.
Ano após ano, discutiu-se o que fazer.
Anos de pressão para sensibilizar uma infinidade de líderes que se
sucederam nas nações mais poderosas do planeta.
Dizem que 40 bilhões de dólares seriam necessários para resolver o
problema da fome no mundo.
Resolver, capicce?
Extinguir.
Não haveria mais nenhum menininho terrivelmente magro e sem futuro, em
nenhum canto do planeta.
Não sei como calcularam este número.
Mas digamos que esteja subestimado.
Digamos que seja o dobro.
Ou o triplo.
Com 120 bilhões o mundo seria um lugar mais justo.
Não houve passeata, discurso político ou filosófico ou foto que sensibilizasse.
Não houve documentário, ong, lobby ou pressão que resolvesse.
Mas em uma semana, os mesmos líderes, as mesmas potências, tiraram da cartola 2.2 trilhões de dólares (700 bi nos EUA, 1.5 tri na Europa) para salvar da fome quem já estava de barriga cheia.