Sesc SP

Infrastructure – The port of Santos, located in the State of Sao Paulo, is considered the largest port in Latin America. It would be at risk of seeing its competitors taking the lead due to lack of efficiency, old-fashioned design, difficulties to get access to, shortage of investments towards financing modernization, which pose a grave threat to the future of the old port. The leasing of its terminals has resulted in restricting the storage space for goods awaiting for shipping. At present it is said about implementing a policy concerning the transfer of such port infrastructure from the federal government to the State of Sao Paulo. But the project will not go ahead because of an R$ 800 million debt, which the federal administration insists on including in the transfer of the port.

Music – A traditional rural popular kind of music known as musica sertaneja (backlands music) has been reaching an even new audience and attracting young artists. The viola, an instrument that resembles the acoustic guitar but smaller and thinner waisted, consists of a number of strings ranging from five to twelve. The tunings go under a variety of names, depending on the region from where the viola player comes.

Interview – The president of East Timor, Xanana Gusmao, talks to "Problemas Brasileiros" in an exclusive interview. The former guerrilla leader, who fought an armed rebellion against the Indonesian rule, came to power at the last election to lead his people in the reconstruction of the country destroyed by the war. In this process the East Timoreses expect to be helped by Brazilians, an aid considered of great value, because of the common language.

Yanomami – In the northern Amazon along the Brazil-Venezuela border, the Yanomami Indians struggle for survival and try to protect the rainforest against the threat of white people. Still they face a major obstacle: a project, under debate in the Brazilian National Congress, authorizing the commercial exploitation of the mineral resources in the Yanomami lands.

Cinema – The filmmaker Fernando Meirelles shows in "Cidade de Deus" (City of God) the cruelties of life in the poor periphery of Rio de Janeiro. In a faraway suburb the population leads a miserable life in an environment with no infrastructure at all. As a result there is an increase in organized crime, which gains control of the neighborhood terrorizing its inhabitants.

Amazon – A non-governmental organization called Projeto Saude e Alegria has developed a project involving health, disease prevention and social organization intended for communities living on the rivers in the northern region of the country. With the support of this NGO the population has the opportunity to acquire practical knowledge which will help them improve their way of life.

Heritage – The Instituto Historico e Geografico de Sao Paulo (IHGSP) has been facing financial difficulties putting at risk its rich heritage. The IHGSP, once one of the most important institutions in the country as a center of culture, now is trying to recover from the damage.

Os Sertoes – In 2002 we celebrate the hundredth anniversary of Euclides da Cunha’s book "Os Sertoes". Describing the Brazilian army campaign against the citadel of Canudos, inland in the State of Bahia, inhabited by miserable people under the leadership of the religious fanatic Antonio Conselheiro, the author’s analysis on the conflict would have been based on racial theories.