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A UMNS Web-only photo by Paulino Menezes, WCC Brazilian President Luiz Inacio “Lula” da Silva greets members of the World Council of Churches.

PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil (UMNS) — In a special appearance before the World Council of Churches’ 9th Assembly, the president of Brazil expressed his continuing gratitude for the council’s support of the Brazilian people over the years.

“Decades ago, when we were fighting for democracy in our country, we found in the World Council of Churches not only moral and spiritual incentives but active solidarity and effective support for us to go on believing in our own battles,” said Luiz Inacio da Silva during a Feb. 17 address.

“Lula,” as he is a popularly known, is a former labor leader who was elected president in October 2002. He was introduced by Catholicos Aram I, moderator of the WCC Central Committee and primate of the Lebanon-based Armenian Apostolic Church, who welcomed him “in the spirit of Christian fellowship, love and solidarity” on behalf of more than 350 churches from around the world.

Aram said the Brazilian president knows the crucial role that civil society plays and what it means to have a people-oriented government. “Under your leadership, this country has embarked on an active process of democratization and economic and social reconstruction,” he added.

But some Brazilians are frustrated about overall progress on social needs and some of the government’s policies, and a demonstration could be heard outside the plenary hall as Lula began his speech. He acknowledged the commotion, noting, “The guests have probably perceived that democracy is very strong outside here.

“For a country that went through 23 years under a totalitarian regime, there’s no more pleasant noise than a people shouting, against or in favor,” he continued. “It doesn’t matter, as long as they’re shouting.”

Lula said he is grateful to the WCC for many reasons, but mentioned in particular the period when the council “received, between 1970 and 1980, one Brazilian who is one of the most respected educators in the world, who was persecuted and forced to leave our country.”

That Brazilian, the late Paulo Freire, author of a well-known book, Pedagogy of the Oppressed, worked as a consultant at the council’s headquarters in Geneva and was able to carry out projects for freedom in many countries, he added.

Lula also saluted the WCC for its continuing emphasis on hunger and poverty. “In this assembly, the values that dignify human existence continue to be more vigorous than ever.”

His government, along with colleagues from France, Chile and Spain, began organizing in 2004 with other heads of states on those issues. “Since then, we have promoted a new financial mechanism for international funds to fight hunger and poverty,” he told the assembly. “We know that concrete actions by governments are necessary to achieve the results we expect.”

But the participation of civil society also is crucial, along with the spiritual strength “to build a kingdom of justice in a world of inequities,” Lula said.

During his 36 months in office, 77 percent of Brazilians who had lived below the poverty line have been receiving a family stipend, have had their children enrolled in school and have had access to health care, he said.

By “combining emergency programs on a broad scale with structural changes,” more jobs have been created — nearly 4 million in three years, by his count — and a massive loan program has been established for workers. A national household survey showed that between 2003 and 2004, 3 million Brazilians rose from absolute poverty to cross the poverty line, he said.

Electricity is coming to some rural areas for the first time, and by 2008, “we hope we will have no one left in Brazil living without electric power.”

Education also has been a key area of reform. Brazil’s national congress “has just approved a new law which is fundamental for Brazil,” the National Fund for Basic Education, Lula said. It provides increased funding for education through high school.

The congress also will vote on university reform, which would grant autonomy to universities and university extension programs. The government is creating four new federal universities and 32 extension programs in small and medium-sized cities in the interior. It also is building 32 new technical schools, according to the president.

Many of these actions came from the input and mobilization of civil society, said Lula, who added that he had participated in 17 national conferences addressing such issues.

The WCC assembly continues through Feb. 23.

*Bloom is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in New York.

News media contact: Linda Bloom, New York, (646) 369-3759 or newsdesk@umcom.org

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Resources

World Council of Churches 9th Assembly

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World Council of Churches

Country Profile: Brazil